What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[rbbert]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

Listening to . . . . Radu Lupu - Pianist Extraordinaire Schumann & Grieg Piano Concertos London Symphony Orchestra - Andre Previn, Conductor A Decca/London LP, Recorded in 1973 at Kingsway Hall, London A delightful early morning listen. I love "gentle" concertos of any ilk, and especially those featuring a well played piano - and this record presents two perfectly beautiful examples. Any old Decca LP, recorded by Kenneth Wilkinson is expected to have great sonics and this one certainly does. Plus, the London Symphony, led by that great jazz piano player, Andre Previn, excels here, not to mention that piano genius Radu Lupu who, to my mind, was one of the best of the 20th century, is only fantastic on this recording. NOTE - This long out of print recording is soon to be re-released as a two LP set for only $54.95 (Glad I bought it in the 70's for $3.98.) .

This is also available as an excellent sounding CD from First Impressions Music (Winston Ma's specialty label). Two 30 minute sides don't work too well on one LP IMHO; I remember exchanging at least a half-dozen copies before I found one I could stand to listen to a second time.

[cma29]

Originally Posted by BeerCan

Still exploring classical but I just listened to this and rather enjoyed it

Welcome to the thread, BeerCan.



Classical music holds many rich rewards and in my opinion is the best music genre. Plus, it sounds amazing on a good audio system. Keep exploring and let us know how we can help you in your quest.

[cma29]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

AND, Worthy of note . . . We have just passed 14,000 posts in this thread.

Many thanks to all of you who have made it so informative and so much fun!

Excellent. Go us!

[cma29]

Originally Posted by cma29

Here is something unexpected...

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, Piano Concerto in F major, Porgy and Bess Suite (Catfish Row), Rialto Ripples (Rag)
Stefano Bollani (piano)
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Riccardo Chailly



This is a little strange: quintessential American pieces played a traditional German orchestra, an Italian conductor and an Italian jazz pianist. The world is indeed small and globalized!

How does this come off? The performance of the concerto is considered one of the best available and the Rhapsody is as jazzy as anything you might hear from an American orchestra. Just look at the cover shot. These guys are having fun. The sound is brilliant, detailed, impactful and transparent; much better than on the Beethoven cycle by the same forces. Good stuff.

Gramophone Magazine Disc of the Month, May 2011

I'm enjoying this superb disc again.

[Cody @ TARA]

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Vivaldi Four Seasons

[bart]

Originally Posted by bart

Beethoven - The Complete Sonatas
Ronald Brautigam, fortepiano




SACD 1 of 9

I love the sound of a fortepiano.
The early works here on CD 1 still sound a bit like Haydn and Mozart, and I think this instrument suits the music best.
Playing and sound are excellent.

I will have to see if the later works equally profit from playing on the instrument they were originally written for.

SACD 5: Sonatas 16, 17, 18

I searched in this beloved thread, because I wondered if somebody else had heard these terrific recordings earlier on, because they have been released as separate SACDs and hi-res downloads.
And if you enter 'Brautigam' in the search tool of this thread, you will read wonderful descriptions of almost every disc in this collection, posted by Kaliar, from Québec.
We miss you man!

[bart]

I pulled out another one of our 'old CDs':

Brahms - Violin Concerto
The London Philharmonic, conducted by Klaus Tennstedt



Lukewarm performance, with awful sound quality.
And it really doesn't 'touch' me, as this masterpiece has to do.
This one goes out of the library...

[AudioNut]

Originally Posted by Cody @ TARA

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Vivaldi Four Seasons

Welcome Cody

Please join right in and tell us more. We (or at least I) love The Four Seasons.

[bart]

Brahms - Violin Concerto - Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra
Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan



8 years older than the Kennedy recording, and also digital, so the comparison in sound can be considered a fair one.
Well, the sound here is 8 times better!
And Mutter's playing is at least 80 times better. This performance goes right to the heart.
It is also 5 minutes faster by the way.
I'll play the Heifetz in the near future to have yet another approach.

[bart]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

Welcome Cody

Please join right in and tell us more. We (or at least I) love The Four Seasons.

+ 1.