What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[Toccata]

I listened to a live recording by Grigory Sokolov of Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" Sonata. Wow--what a powerful performance. The Fugue is a marvel of clarity. I don't know when or where it was recorded (I downloaded it as an MP3 years ago), but the sound is excellent. Perhaps DG will get around to issuing it now that Sokolov is one of their artists.

[cma29]

Originally Posted by cma29

Just got back from a business trip and found this waiting for me from Presto Classical...

Bach, C P E: Hamburg Symphonies (6) for Strings, Wq. 182 (H567-662)
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock



Lively baroque music expertly played by Pinnock and his crack period orchestra. Gramophone recommended this disc as part of its May 2014 CPE Bach cover story. They say "Pinnock and his band live dangerously in the 18th century's weirdest, most outre symphonies. Thrilling stuff." Yes, good stuff. The recording is excellent.

I just love this disc and keep returning to it. The music is superb and its recording even better.

[Toccata]

After reading Gramophone's feature article on Britten's String Quartet No. 3 and their top choice of the Amadeus Quartet's recording, I bought it, and it does not disappoint.

[bart]

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber - Rosary Sonatas



4 fantastic musicians play these marvelous pieces.
all the way!

[cma29]

Ok, not really music for the season, but I just got this and could not resist playing it...

Verdi: Requiem
Anja Harteros (soprano), Sonia Ganassi (mezzo), Rolando Villazon (tenor), René Pape (bass)
Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Antonio Pappano



A very theatrical and Italian version of the Requiem.

According to Pappano, himself born to Italian parents, "this is a Requiem written by an Italian and I think Italians' relationship to religion is explosive, full of temperament, full of fear..."

and these feelings come across in the music-making.

The icing on the cake is the detailed and dynamic recording that captured the whole thing.

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by cma29

A very theatrical and Italian version of the Requiem.

According to Pappano, himself born to Italian parents, "this is a Requiem written by an Italian and I think Italians’ relationship to religion is explosive, full of temperament, full of fear..."

and these feelings come across in the music-making.

The icing on the cake is the detailed and dynamic recording that captured the whole thing.

I would say the same about this one with the added advantage of excellent surround recording.

[cma29]

Kal - The Scala/Barenboim version looks great too. Both have René Pape in common, an excellent bass.

Barenboin is Argentinian, so he counts essentially as an Italian

[Toccata]

I'm glad to see that Andrew Rangell is making new recordings--those he made for Dorian were great. His new disc of Bach's Art of Fugue is wonderful, too. Perhaps his playing is a little less warm than Nikolayeva's, but not as relentless as Pierre-Laurent Aimard's. Very clear, if slightly too close and dry sound.

[AudioNut]

Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson

I would say the same about this one with the added advantage of excellent surround recording.

Hey Kal . . . somebody gave me a Verdi Requiem with Andrea Bocelli in a leading role . . . . Is this one of the best ones ever, Kal?

No, No, Wait, Wait Kal . . . what you just said included some pretty bad language.

I am glad, though, that poor Andrea is unable to read some of the bad stuff that is written about him.

He is a pretty good crooner, but clearly, he should leave the classical stuff alone.

[PlanarSpeakerFan]

Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A Major. David Shifrin. Deutsche Grammophon. Very soothing for late night listening.

Ken