What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[cma29]

Originally Posted by bart

Listening to:

Bach - Cantate BWV 147, Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben
La Petite Bande

As we are donators of this ensemble, that was in real danger due to brutal discontinuance of state subsidy, we received this book with a CD included:

So far they are surviving and I'm glad because this CD shows Kuijken's talent once more!
Jesu bleibet meine Freude is probably one of the finest Chorales that exist.

Interesting. Here in the US, orchestras must raise funds privately. If they don't, they just go "out of business".

That's what happened to the New York City Opera last year:

On October 1, 2013, following an unsuccessful emergency fund-raising campaign, the company disbanded and filed for bankruptcy.

[bart]

Originally Posted by cma29

Interesting. Here in the US, orchestras must raise funds privately. If they don't, they just go "out of business".

Carlos, here in Europe, a lot of (even large) orchestras get governmental support.
That is why European orchestras seem to be less in danger than their American colleagues.
But as the crisis continues, and countries have to cut down on expenses, the cultural sector is usually the first one that suffers.
I read an interview with Iván Fischer, who thinks that the landscape of classical music will have changed drastically by 2035.
He doesn't see the same amount of symphonic orchestras survive, and musicians will have to be more flexible and play in different constellations.

[cma29]

^^ Interesting. I think the Gewandhausorchester will survive.

Brahms:
Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83
Nelson Freire (piano)
Gewandhausorchester, Riccardo Chailly



Excellent music, interpretation and recording.

Gramophone Awards 2007, Record of the Year

[Toccata]

The title is a bit of a misnomer since there are only two proper chaconnes, but his playing is brilliant. The sound is basically good but a little over-reverberant for my taste. Does add a nice sense of bloom, though.

[AudioNut]

Originally Posted by cma29

Interesting. Here in the US, orchestras must raise funds privately. If they don't, they just go "out of business".

That's what happened to the New York City Opera last year:

=========================================

I'm on the board (vice chair) of our local symphony orchestra and fund raising is truly a year-round effort. We are in the midst of our annual search for funds and our push to sell season tickets as I write this, and I wonder if we will be able to secure sufficient funding to put on our 2014-2015 season.

Patrons are fewer and fewer, Government and private grants are extremely hard to come-by. Musicians expect higher and higher wages. Large sponsor/donors have cut back in their contributions, and corporate sponsorships have declined.

Ticket sales fail to come close to covering the expenses related to putting on a concert, and younger people don't seem to appreciate the symphony and fail to see the importance of symphonic/classical music, and just don't bother to come to performances.

A sizeable percentage of our regular audience chooses to pick and choose the individual concerts they will attend rather than purchase season tickets, thus making it hard to plan.

As I sit here, we are planning to go ahead and put on our season, but after 51 years here in our community, if things don't change, this could be our last. I met with our executive committee yesterday afternoon and there were not many smiles in the room.

The situation is a little bleak here for good, live, classical music. played by an excellent professional orchestra.

Hey, Y'all, support the arts . . . . send money!!!!

[cma29]

This is nice...

Haydn:
String Quartet, Op. 20 No. 1 in E flat major
String Quartet, Op. 20 No. 2 in C Major
String Quartet, Op. 20 No. 3 in G minor
String Quartet, Op. 20 No. 4 in D major 'Sun'
String Quartet, Op. 20 No. 5 in F minor
String Quartet, Op. 20 No. 6 in A Major
Quatuor Mosaïques (on period instruments)



Very engaging performance that highlights the counterpoint in this music. The recorded sound is natural and atmospheric. The string timbers come through nicely.

[bart]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

=========================================

I'm on the board (vice chair) of our local symphony orchestra and fund raising is truly a year-round effort. We are in the midst of our annual search for funds and our push to sell season tickets as I write this, and I wonder if we will be able to secure sufficient funding to put on our 2014-2015 season.

Patrons are fewer and fewer, Government and private grants are extremely hard to come-by. Musicians expect higher and higher wages. Large sponsor/donors have cut back in their contributions, and corporate sponsorships have declined.

Ticket sales fail to come close to covering the expenses related to putting on a concert, and younger people don't seem to appreciate the symphony and fail to see the importance of symphonic/classical music, and just don't bother to come to performances.

A sizeable percentage of our regular audience chooses to pick and choose the individual concerts they will attend rather than purchase season tickets, thus making it hard to plan.

As I sit here, we are planning to go ahead and put on our season, but after 51 years here in our community, if things don't change, this could be our last. I met with our executive committee yesterday afternoon and there were not many smiles in the room.

The situation is a little bleak here for good, live, classical music. played by an excellent professional orchestra.

Hey, Y'all, support the arts . . . . send money!!!!

I keep my fingers crossed for your orchestra Julian!

[cma29]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

Listening to . . . Brahms Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3

From the recent Decca release Brahms - The Symphonies

Gewandhausorchester - Riccardo Chailly, Conductor

This set was the winner in the Orchestral section of the Gramophone Magazine 2014 recording of the year,

Excellent sound, excellent performances.

Yesterday (Sept 17, 2014) this release was named Gramophone Magazine Disc of the Year, the top disc reviewed by the magazine over the past 12 months. If you see the sheer number of releases reviewed, you can realize this is quite an honor. Yes, it's a good one.

Gramophone Awards: Disc of the Year

[cma29]

This one needs no introduction...

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 'Choral'
Melanie Diener (soprano), Petra Lang (mezzo), Endrik Wottrich (tenor) & Dietrich Henschel (bass)
La Chapelle Royale, Collegium Vocale Gent & Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, Philippe Herreweghe



This recording was released for the first time in 1999 and was one of the first to use Jonathan del Mar's edition in which textual errors and ambiguities were corrected. Now reissued at budget price ($9.50 from Presto Classical), this is an outstanding period instrument version of the Choral and the recording quality is excellent with lots of impact conveying the excitement of the performance.

[cma29]

Originally Posted by cma29

Enjoying this Archiv Collectors Edition box set...

Biber: Sacred and Profane
Discs 3 & 4: The Rosary Sonatas
Musica Antiqua Köln, Reinhard Goebel



These "Rosary Sonatas" are outstanding chamber-like pieces to enjoy while I work today. The recording is vibrant and crisp. This box is a bargain for all those who would like to explore Biber's music.

Playing this again this morning. Just charming and lovely.