What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[Antonmb]

Beethoven: The 5 Piano Concertos
Alfred Brendel, piano
Wiener Philharmoniker, Simon Rattle conducting
Philips (1999)

Listening to disc 2, concertos 2 and 3. This is a very nice collection. Brendel is of course brilliant, and the orchestra and sound are very good, although Rattle’s “allegro con brio” sometimes lacks a bit of brio. Compare, for example, the 1st movement of No. 3 with that of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra with Charles Mackerras conducting, on Linn. Artur Pizarro’s piano isn’t quite on a level with Brendel, but the pace of the movement under Mackerras feels more energetic.

[bart]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

We had “Dance of The Blessed Spirits” for the exit music at our wedding. [emoji846]

Wonderful, heavenly piece.
I'm sure it brought the both of you lots of luck.

[Antonmb]

Revisiting this recording, it’s quite beautiful.

Originally Posted by Antonmb

Manuel de Falla: Fantasia Baetica & Other Piano Music
Garrick Ohlsson
Hyperion (2018), 24/96 files

Interesting music, and Ohlsson’s playing is very good, as is the recording.

[eljr]

Brabant Ensemble / Stephen Rice
Jacob Obrecht: Missa Grecorum & Motets

Release Date January 5, 2018
Duration01:14:00
Genre
Classical
Styles
Choral
Recording DateJanuary 26, 2017 - January 28, 2017
Recording Location
All Saints' Church, East Finchley, London

[bart]

Bach - Harpsichord Concertos vol. 1
Fabio Bonizzoni
La Risonanza
via Qobuz




I have so much versions of these concertos, nevertheless I liked this album a lot.
As always with Challenge, excellent recording.

[bart]

Cecilia & Sol - Dolce Duello
Cappella Gabetta, Andrés Gabetta
Qobuz 24/96




Excellent album, with la Bartoli's singing wonderfully supported (and more!) by Sol Gabetta.

[Antonmb]

Bach: The Sonatas for Violin & Harpsichord
Rachel Barton Pine, violin
Jory Vinikour, harpsichord
Cedille (2018), via Qobuz

The playing is excellent and the harpsichord and violin are perfectly balanced. A very nice recording.

[cma29]

Just got this...

South America
Alberto Lysy & Antonio Lysy

South America pays tribute to the historic and contemporary ingenuity of musicians and composers from South America, including Astor Piazzolla, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Carlos Gardel, Antonios father the violinist Alberto Lysy, and new work by the Argentine bandoneon master Coco Trivisonno. In South America, Antonio and Yarlung break new ground once again, using SonoruS Holographic Imaging technology to enable Antonio to play every part in a cello orchestra. This recording includes harpist Marcia Dickstein Vogler in Villa-Lobos Black Swan for harp and cello, flutist Anastasia Petanova in Villa-Lobos Jet Whistle for flute and cello, and Coco Trivisonno in three of his arrangments of Volver, Divina and Yo Te Bendigo, songs immortalized by Carlos Gardel. Coco is one of the last living members of Astor Piazzollas intrepid ensemble. As standard in Yarlung albums, Antonio's performances with Marcia, Anastasia and Coco are all single takes. The Kodaly Duo and Antonios father Alberto Lysy: Along with pianist Martha Argerich, Antonio's father the violinist Alberto Lysy remains one of South Americas most celebrated classical concert musicians. Alberto learned this work with the composer in advance of a performance with Gaspar Cassado in 1958. Alberto's next performance of the Duo was with Jacqueline Du Pre. Later, Antonio and Alberto became major performers of the piece.

Here is a five-star review I found in Amazon:

In 1958 cellist Bernard Greenhouse and composer Heitor Villa-Lobos organized a concert at New York's Town Hall of The Violoncello Society, a newly formed group led by Greenhouse and made up of many of the top cellists of the day. The concert, which was recorded and released on an LP, though unfortunately never re-released on CD, included a number of Bach Preludes and Fugues from the Well-Tempered Clavier. These were adapted by Villa-Lobos in 1941 for "an orchestra of cellos". In his score he asks for a minimum of ten, and in the end Greenhouse rounded up 32 cellists for the recording.

In this new Yarlung Records disc Antonio and Alberto Lysy provide a well-chosen selection of South American music for cello and violin, and a few other instruments. In a tour-de-force of technology and musicianship, and in a tribute to his hero Bernard Greenhouse, cellist Antonio Lysy multi-track recorded between 16 and 28 cellos playing 4 to 7 parts in one of Villa's Bach fugues, and in Pablo Casals' multi-cello piece Les Rois Mages (The Three Kings). Producer Bob Attiyeh provides a complete explanation in his excellent liner notes. The effect is quite stunning.

There's much more on this disc. Two popular Villa-Lobos pieces show up, featuring Antonio's cello with two guests: O canto do cisne negro (The Song of the Black Swan) with harpist Marcia Dickstein Vogler; and Assobio a Jato (The Jet Whistle) with Anastasia Petanova on flute. There are a number of works from Argentina featuring Coco Trivosonno on bandoneon. Finally, there's a major work for father and son, with Alberto Lysy on violin: Zoltán Kodály's Duo for Violin and Cello. This is a well-planned, beautifully-played and expertly recorded disc.

I find this program very interesting and the recorded sound is excellent.

[cma29]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

Evaristo Felice Dall'Abaco: Concerti à più Istrumentí; Opera Sesta
Il Tempio Armonico, Alberto Rasi conducting
Stradivarius (2009)

I think Julian first posted this gorgeous set several years ago. It’s well worth revisiting.

I finally got my copy of this two-disc set and it does not disappoint.

[cma29]

Also, just got this...

Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D minor ‘Wagner Symphony'
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Andris Nelsons



My first time hearing this music. The orchestra plays the soft part very nicely allowing for the brass tuttis to really shine. The DG recording is quite good. I'm looking forward to forthcoming Bruckner releases from Andris and his new orchestra.