What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[Toccata]

Behold, Sokolov's debut on DG! The rather distant mic placement robs the piano of some body, but it certainly doesn't detract from the phenomenal playing. Here's the program:

W. A. MOZART
Piano Sonatas KV 280 · KV 332

FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN
24 Préludes op. 28
2 Mazurkas op. 68 No. 2 · op. 63 No. 3

ALEXANDER SCRIABIN
2 Poèmes op. 69

JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU
Les Sauvages

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ BWV 639

[AndyPandy]

It varies Bart, from poor (CD 01 - Mozart) and to really bad eg the Scarlati etc (CD 16). But I forgive it for the playing, which is superb.

I can't recommend the set for audiophiles, it really demands you listen through the noise to the music. I think Decca should have done some more work on this set. The playing is something else.

[AndyPandy]

Now this: very nicely played; especially the Schumann. Playing an .iso rip of the SACD.



You wouldn't buy it for the cover art..

[Toccata]

Wow-wee! No one beats the balls-to-the-wall intensity of this performance. The 24 bit/96kHz remastering sounds great--aside from a slight shrillness in the upper strings and brass. You'd never know it from the cover, but this also includes a fine performance of Walton's Viola Concerto by Yuri Bashmet.

[ehoove]

Julian Bream And His Friends
Boccherini - Guitar Quintet
Haydn - Guitar Quartet
RCA Red Seal - LSC - 3027
The master at work with a great cast!
Well recorded, and very enjoyable.
Regards,
Jim

[bart]

Originally Posted by Toccata

Behold, Sokolov's debut on DG! The rather distant mic placement robs the piano of some body, but it certainly doesn't detract from the phenomenal playing. Here's the program:

W. A. MOZART
Piano Sonatas KV 280 · KV 332

FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN
24 Préludes op. 28
2 Mazurkas op. 68 No. 2 · op. 63 No. 3

ALEXANDER SCRIABIN
2 Poèmes op. 69

JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU
Les Sauvages

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ BWV 639

He's a genius.
We bought a CD box after the live recital we heard a couple of years ago.
It had all the CDs from him until that moment.

[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 7 Sonatas 26, 27, 29

'Das Lebewohl' and 'Grosse Sonata für das Hammerklavier' included here.
And I have to say I don't miss the sound of a grand piano.
It touched me in a way my other discs I own can't.
This might become my go-to version of the 'Hammerklavier'...

[bart]

Weinberg - String Quartets Vol. 4
Quatuor Danel



These albums are in permanent rotation here, I have the box with all 6 albums.
Intriguing music that, not surprisingly, just like Shostakovich, gets under your skin and touches in a deep way.

[ehoove]

Currently listening to:
Cesar Franck - Symphony in D minor
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Charles Munch Conducting
RCA Victor LM-2131 (Mono Shaded Dog)
This is one that is very well done, but by one of my lesser known composers. I'm trying to expand my listening horizons with works new to me.
Regards,
Jim

[ehoove]

Listening to Tape this afternoon:
Stokowski Encores
The Czech Philharmonic - The London Symphony
London Phase 4 R2R 7.5 ips
Wow what an enjoyable compilation of works, and one forgets how great a medium R2R tape is. Fantastic!
Regards,
Jim