Classical Music for Aficionados
Sergei Prokofiev CLASSICAL SYMPHONY Orpheus Chamber Orchestra DG 1988 Symphony no.1, op.25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLT55kPIFCo Cheers |
Sergei Prokofiev
ROMEO AND JULIET Chicago Symphony Orchestra Sir Georg Solti Decca 1983 Notes: "The symphony, finished in September 1917, was almost the last work written before Prokofiev left his homeland for the United States in wake of the Russian revolution. Romeo and Juliet was one of the first works he composed on his return...." Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op.64 (selections) Act 1 - 3. The Street Wakens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85WuuP73Czk Act 1 - 4. Morning Dance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52EXQkJLweA Act 1 - 13. Dance of the Knights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIUi8gAC-1w Act 1 - 19/21. Balcony Scene - Romeo's Variation - Love Dance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TSi5u9tFmk Cheers |
Yes, of course, Orpheus is a chamber orchestra. However, in this case…… Note that Prokofiev’s “Classical Symphony” is scored for double winds (two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons), two horns, two trumpets, timpani and strings. They kept the number of strings to a minimum, but otherwise pretty much a full size orchestra by most standards. “Romeo and Juliet”. One of my very favorite works and an orchestration tour de force. It features throughout and fairly prominently a tenor saxophone . Unusual for a major orchestral work where typically the use of saxophone, when used at all, is very limited. An interesting factoid which I think may have significance and goes to the point of your quoted historical “Notes” is the fact Prokofiev borrowed (reused) some of his own music from his “Classical Symphony”for use in the later score of “Romeo”. In a sense, one could say that it ties together the moves from Russia to America and then back to Russia. Quiz: what is that borrowed music that can be heard in both works? Hint: it is not one of the movements that you posted, but is one of the movements in the link below. You posted a fine performance, but as far as I’m concerned no one understands this music like the great Russian conductors and great Russian orchestras. This is my favorite recording of “Romeo”: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nbUBb_5tVFMfsoMmxEae3BW1TD3ktdigc Btw, the link above is highlights from the recording of the complete ballet by Gergiev/Kirov. Couldn’t find the complete on YouTube. |
Quiz: This, 'The Quarrel' seems to sound a lot like Stravinsky's "A Soldiers Tale." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-ezvwLxXXc&list=OLAK5uy_nbUBb_5tVFMfsoMmxEae3BW1TD3ktdigc&i... Will listen to the entire thing later this evening. Cheers |
Sergei Prokofiev VIOLIN CONCERTO Maxim Vengerov (violin) London Symphony Orchestra Mstislav Rostropovich Teldec 1994 Notes:"When Stalin launched his second major attack against the composers of the Soviet Union in February 1948, two of the nation's most prominent composers were among the main defendants. One sat in the front row, the other in the last. In the front row was Sergei Prokofiev. Way in the back sat a nervous Dmitri Shostakovich, who left the room every few minutes to smoke a cigarette. No scene could better characterize the two contemporaries. The one self-confident, the other apprehensive..." Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No.1 in D major Op.19 I Andantino https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jWNWfMzJQY II Scherzo - Vivacissimo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9uN9IeEifU III Moderato https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CDIgXyCcR0 Cheers |
Dmitri Shostakovich VIOLIN CONCERTO Maxim Vengerov (violin) London Symphony Orchestra Mstislav Rostropovich Teldec 1994 Shostakovich Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor Op. 77 (op.99) I. Nocturno https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmjzdly29lk II. Scherzo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_CSz437Yy8 III. Passcaglia IV. Burleske https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHEGl8gYZXw Cheers |
Shostakovich: Stalin's Composer? - WW2 Biography Special https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=827zsCiQ_YY&t=69s From a very good WWll series. Cheers |
Giacomo Puccini THE ULTIMATE PUCCINI COLLECTION London Compilation 1998 Notes give a brief synopsis of each song plus talks about movies in which Opera comprises much of the soundtrack. Turandot / Act 3 - "Nessun dorma!" (Luciano Pavarotti) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6mhrP00MGs&list=OLAK5uy_kFBSHKyaD46JLJRU26j-1dzn-htr584bM&i... Gianni Schicchi - O, mio babbino caro (Dame Kiri Te Kanawa) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EIixBWoI5U&list=OLAK5uy_kFBSHKyaD46JLJRU26j-1dzn-htr584bM&i... Madama Butterfly / Act 2 - "Un bel dì vedremo" (Regine Crespin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBh9aG89Jhg&list=OLAK5uy_kFBSHKyaD46JLJRU26j-1dzn-htr584bM&i... Tosca / Act 2 - "Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore" (Birgit Nilsson) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQhGuOyKiYw&list=OLAK5uy_kFBSHKyaD46JLJRU26j-1dzn-htr584bM&i... Cheers |
IMO Prokofiev is bested by only Sibelius and Carl Nielsen among modern composers . IMO, his best " Romeo and Juliet" is the Previn /LSO outing is the greatest. Most of all he did with the LSO is never been bested. Celbidache did a stunning Classical and his 3rd Piano Concerto with the Berliners but is hard to find on Urania. Ormandy also did an fine 1and 5 .As did Thomes Sandard with Royal Scottish on Linn . Valery Gergiev had the Russian touch on many labels and is can’t miss on all of them. My fav piece is his his 6th . Mravinsky’’LenPoPraga/67 my best outing. Nothing wrong with Ormandy's 6 either. Cheers |
My dear friend Len , so good to see you in print again ( I thought you were in the huff with us. Right enough I haven't been contributing either and it's been too hot for headphones as well. Thank goodness it's piddling with rain here now as I can get back to my beloved Bach and I am as happy as a wee pig in s**t just now listening to Maria Jiao Pires playing the masters' Partita No 1 in B Flat Major. What a wonderful pianist she is, playing as if she's spinning gold. I hope you are keeping ok Len." Lang may yer lum reek." Jim. |
Jim , my fav Goldburgs . I think Bach would love her contrapuntality and tempo . https://youtu.be/bOrmEMqW714 |
I'm so glad you liked Pires playing the Bach Len, she really is a wonderful pianist. Len I can see why you like Tureck so much measured ,crystalline and so so accurate , not a note or inflection out of place anywhere. I am going to keep that Goldberg close for a long time to come. Has anyone heard Zimmerman's new traversal of the Beethoven piano Concertos. Absolute magic and a wonderful accompaniment from Sir Simon Rattle , all the slow movements are measured and a luminous quality pervades the whole set . Zimmerman as usual is superlative in his accuracy and phrasing and his playing is astonishing. The main movements are brisk and his runs are super even with not a note clipped or out of place. The recordings are full and enjoyable if maybe a bit on the side but you do hear everything that's going on. |
Sergei Rachmaninoff / Ludwig van Beethoven PIANO CONCERTOS Van Cliburn (piano) Chicago Symphony Orchestra Fritz Reiner RCA Victor Living Stereo 1961, 1962, 1994 Notes:"E-flat major was to Beethoven a heroic key by the evidence of the "Eroica" Symphony which has something of the same proud spirit. Beethoven seems to have been possessed by this tonality in 1809, the year of the concerto, for the piano sonata, Op. 81a, and the so-called harp quartet (op.74), both in E flat, were also composed in this year. It was a year of war; French troops occupied Vienna, and the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte made his headquarters in the palace of Schönbrunn. These outward events had no effect upon the artist Beethoven and his seclusive domain of tones, except to annoy him and impede his work." Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18 I. Moderato - Allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUrotc3cj-s II. Adagio sostenuto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv3NfWt6LzM III. Allegro scherzando https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5GbS96-_xw Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 in E-flat, Op.73 "Emperor" I. Allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5a2TmzBxuU II. Adagio un poco mosso https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwXC4H60ZR8 III. Rondo - Allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeGBUHYYWTI Cheers |
One of the Greatest Artists of the last Century , Wanda Landowski . Her genius shines through these recordings of the 1930"s , https://youtu.be/YV_-OuV2N4U?list=RDYV_-OuV2N4U Her wonderful rendition of Bach’’s Goldburg on the instrument it was written for . https://youtu.be/4jS873pDWNs { this 1933 recording had noise taken out ,bit of her as well} |
Sergei Rachmaninoff PIANOS CONCERTOS Andre Watts (piano) New York Philharmonic Seiji Ozawa Legacy / Sony 1960, 1970 / 2003 Notes:"An embittered battle for and against Rachmaninoff is raging to this day. While some defend him as the last pure Romantic composer, others agree only too readily with the verdict of Igor Stravinsky, who rejected his countryman's extensive tableau-like compositions as "grandiose film music." The truth lies--as so often with art as with life--somewhere in the middle." Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30 I. Allegro ma non tanto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo52-P7TvSg&list=OLAK5uy_kxvGBvq1MS5TnjMcSyXLlcKG75RltQbnM II. Intermezzo. Adagio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZsTV7iQI78&list=OLAK5uy_kxvGBvq1MS5TnjMcSyXLlcKG75RltQbnM&i... III. Finale. Alla breve https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1wKhkLUwgE&list=OLAK5uy_kxvGBvq1MS5TnjMcSyXLlcKG75RltQbnM&i... Cheers |
Sergei Rachmaninoff PIANOS CONCERTOS Philippe Entremont (piano) New York Philharmonic Leonard Bernstein Legacy / Sony 1960, 1970 / 2003 Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op.18 I. Moderato https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nFo3qZZSSw II. Adagio Sostenuto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggWaVKQ6rfo III. Allegro scherzando https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5S7b6R2a98 Cheers |
re Bach Goldberg VariationsThis must be one of the most recorded piano compositions.I have recordings by:
gregory sokolov angela hewitt helmut walcha andre gavrilov keith jarrett glenn gould murrary perahia beatrice rana tatiana nicolayeva nicholas angelich vladmir feltsman gustav leonhardt rosalyn tureck zhu xiao-mei peter serkin igor levit stephen hough andrei gavrilov maria yudina maria tipo jeremy denk ekaterina dershavina I freely admit that if you played one of these recordings, I could not tell you which pianist was playing. I cannot name a "favorite".
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Sergei Rachmaninoff
SYMPHONIC DANCES FOR 2 PIANOS Emanuel Ax (piano) Yefim Bronfman (piano) Sony Classical 2001 Notes: "The fact that Sergei Rachmaninoff was born in the St. Petersburg of czarist Russia and died amidst the palm trees of Beverly Hills, California is curiously apt. Rachmaninoff was what we like to call a "transitional figure"--one foot planted deep in Romanticism, the other reaching toward a somewhat idiosyncratic modernity, making the leap from almost-medieval Russia under the Czar to the flamboyant liberty of the Hollywood Hills." Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 (Version for 2 Pianos) I. Non allegro "Noon" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjhEPbjtJIU II. Andante con moto "Twilight" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH_b5tJEKps III. Lento assai - Allegro vivace "Midnight" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ORC19UnVUw Cheers |
Sergei Rachmaninov SYMPHONY NO. 3 Concertgebouw Orchestra Vladimir Ashkenazy Decca 1983 Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 44 1. Lento - Allegro moderato https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iBJYe8Jwzo 2. Adagio ma non troppo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epRrFctw6Jw 3. Allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBb7MyTxQKU Cheers |
Serge Rachmaninoff / Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky PIANO CONCERTOS Martha Argerich (piano) RSO Berlin Riccardo Chailly Symphonie-Orchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks Kirill Kondrashin Philips Classics 1995 Notes: "...But perhaps the last word should go to the late Eugene List who, after referring to Argerich's capacity, even as a child, to spin off octaves like single notes, went on to salute her as, quite simply, "one of nature's happenings." Rachmaninov: Piano concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgMUgmri1JM Tchaikovsky: Piano concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op.23 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHMsrELwaj4 Cheers |
How a baroque violin concerto should sound . Absolutely magnificent by Midori Sieiler and the Bremer Barockorchester ! https://youtu.be/b42vwZmG6k0 |
I have little doubt that Georg Philipp Telemann is one the most neglected , outside Germany, Great composers . This clips of beauty beyond beauty is one that shows how great he was . https://youtu.be/ufGl19HiAC0 https://youtu.be/vFH__jwWwzo |
Yes , but this is not the American - Japanese .one but a Bavarian- Japanese one who who grew up in Salzburg . Her tone is nice but just control of her instrument is unreal ! She is the Queen of original violin in Europe . Type up her Bio , it is hard to believe the amount she has done , one of the best I ever read on wiki . If I ever get back to Germany {unlikely) I would go a long way to hear her. Bremen is the most blue collar of all the German cities , a wonder it has such a good little band . |
Maurice Ravel BOLERO - DAPHNIS ET CHLOE Orchestre de Paris Daniel Barenboim DG 1982 Notes: "The bolero was originally a brisk Spanish dance, and Chopin's op.19 retains this characteristic tempo. Ravel's piece is much slower than brisk and it may be regarded in two lights -- as a study in orchestration and an essay in the concept of crescendo." "The ballet Daphnis et Chole, which is probably Ravels's masterpiece, was commissioned by Diaghilev..... Ravel started work on it at least three years before the first performance, which was on 8 June 1912. The two orchestral suites, which contain the finest of the music, can be enjoyed without any reference to the scenario of the ballet." Boléro, M. 81 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI73PK06MQc Daphnis et Chloé Suite No.2, M. 57b 1. Lever du jour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_0fcMeJ-m0 2. Pantomime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isddTbtxg6o 3. Danse générale https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E99aRfA-bcs Cheers |
Maurice Ravel LA VALSE (The Waltz) London Symphony Orchestra Pierre Monteux Philips 1962, 1964 / 1995 La Valse, M. 72 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot7Khz-h7zA Cheers |
Maurice Ravel PAVANE pour une INFANTE DEFUNTE Orchestre de Paris Daniel Barenboim DG 1982 Pavane pour une infante défunte https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8gTfv5m8KQ Cheers |
Maurice Ravel
RAPSODIE ESPAGNOLE The Cleveland Orchestra Pierre Boulez Sony 1975, 1983 / 2000 SACD Notes:"Ravel's first important orchestral composition, Rapsodie Espagnole, was written in August 1907. First performed in March 1908, at the Colonne Concerts in Paris, it received a cool reception from the boxes and main floor but elicited an excited response from the upper hall. Although Ravel's brilliant orchestration and distinctive sound were present even in this early composition, it was undoubtedly the work's Spanish flavor that gained it lasting popularity." Rapsodie Espagnole, M. 54 I. Prélude à la nuit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxR6I2Au0Wg II. Malagueña https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r82KTIoEbEE III. Habanera https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCt5UoPsREs IV. Feria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRAEYx5XdEg Cheers |
Maurice Ravel RAVEL’S GREATEST HIT -- THE ULTIMATE BOLERO RCA / BMG 2004 Notes:" "C’est une blague" (it’s a gag), Maurice Ravel once said of his most famous, or infamous, piece. In fact he was proud of BOLERO, which sprang from his own roots in the Basque country on the French-Spanish border." "The Mexican maestro Eduardo Mata brings Spanish grace and languor to his performance with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. The duration of this track is about ten percent longer than the Boston Symphony one on this disc.....Ravel once created a minor scandal by daring to ask the great conductor Arturo Toscanini not to play this piece too fast, to which the ’maestro ultimo’ replied that the public would not accept it at the slower tempo. But Mata demonstrates that, in performing Bolero, as in making love, slow is beautiful." Nat Shilkret & His Orchestra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z48XnQRmQx0&list=OLAK5uy_nK7LFLV92LCBlQt67Y9cwaCWCt66XhJEY&i.. Jacques Fray & Mario Braggiotti (pianos) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDHhrgPCRwQ&list=OLAK5uy_nK7LFLV92LCBlQt67Y9cwaCWCt66XhJEY&i... Evelyn Glennie (percussion) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjMLv3rjTCw&list=OLAK5uy_nK7LFLV92LCBlQt67Y9cwaCWCt66XhJEY&i... Dallas Symphony Orchestra Eduardo mata https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okpIjhTpRAo&list=OLAK5uy_nK7LFLV92LCBlQt67Y9cwaCWCt66XhJEY&i... Cheers |
Maurice Ravel GASPARD de la NUIT Ivo Pogorelich (piano) DG 1983 Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55 1. Ondine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIBOwg8NGmA 2. Le Gibet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvMd03CxPuk 3. Scarbo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LACEbWKb1co Cheers |
Maurice Ravel THE PIANO CONCERTOS Pascal Rogé (piano) Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal Charles Dutoit Decca 1983 Notes: "The piano was Ravel’s instrument. When the G major concerto’s first performance was announced for Amsterdam in March 1931, the composer intended to be the soloist. But illness delayed the work’s completion, and by the time of the postponed premiere on 14 January 1932 in Paris, Ravel decided--despite many hours spent practising the studies of Chopin and Liszt -- that the task was beyond him. Accordingly, he asked Marguerite Long to fill the breach and dedicated the concerto to her." Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Major, M. 83 1. Allegramente https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqCKzFcE5CQ 2. Adagio assai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_e4oBU-RoM 3. Presto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOK3Y2oB96Y Cheers |
"’Bach is a terminal point. Nothing comes from him,,every thing merely leads up to him." Albert Schweitzer On my monthly run to Barnes and Noble for my Gramophone. I found an absolute treasure , ":Gramophone Presents J.S. Bach" A 98 page book with small print that made much of it a 200 pager ! So much on everything Bach in the manner you would expect from the British Classical Bible, very through, unreal so . Can not even begin to say anything other than for a Bach lover the $25 bucks USA is a gift . |
Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov CAPRICCIO ESPAGNOL Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra David Zinman Roberta Alexander (soprano) Philips 1982 Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol, Op.34 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln0TXxiOlBg Overture "May Night" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUssA8Y_GSg The Snow Maiden - Suite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lANKe2J3sQ Cheers |
