20th Century music

[Peter]

This is all very interesting. Yes, George Gershwin has been a lifelong love of mine too. The man was an absolute hero and every inch American. Bravo!

As an Aussie I thought you'd be gunning for Percy Grainger - an amazingly talented man if rather eccentric!

[Bonn1827]

This is all very interesting. Yes, George Gershwin has been a lifelong love of mine too. The man was an absolute hero and every inch American. Bravo!

[Sorrano]

The works of composers as Penderecki, Crumb, and Ligeti have been good for me. Unfortunately, I do not have the same exposure now to the current trends as I did years ago. The composers mentioned above are staples in my musical diet; no problems here with 20th Century music for me!

[Chris]

There are individual pieces I like, but no composer whose entire output I love, as with Beethoven a few of my other favorites.

Aside from things already mentioned, for me there is George Gershwin and Scott Joplin.

[Bonn1827]

Sorry about posting in the wrong place!

Yes, Bartok would be one of the 4 B's for me - Bach/Beethoven/Brahms/Bartok - that's how highly I rate him. Not forgetting 'Bluebeard' - wonderful!! You're right about the piano concertos - just extraordinary. Shostakovich is an acquired taste, but some say he's the greatest symphonist and chamber composer of the 20th century, so I need to work harder on him. That beautiful 2nd movement in the piano concerto is sheer poetry though.

Today I've ordered Ravel's Piano Trio in A minor - what a work! Have loved it for decades but haven't bought it till now (no money with lots of kids to feed back then).

[Peter]

Really this thread belongs in the main forum I think as it is about classical music so I shall move it there. I'd start at the beginning with Stravinsky and his first 3 ballet scores, especially of course the Rite of Spring - what a revolutionary piece! Bartok would he high on my list - favourites are the piano concertos 2/3, the ballet 'The Miraculous Mandarin' and the music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste. I agree with you about Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet of course, the piano concertos (especially no.3) and much more! Shostakovich I have to be more selective with. Vaughan Williams' 5th symphony, Britten's Peter Grimes, Sibelius' 6th symphony are also favourites of mine. There are loads more if I had the time!

[Bonn1827]

Some people have said they're not into 20th century music or music beyond Mahler. I've just listened to the most fabulous, exquisite performance of Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" in a recording of "Suites 1 and 2" from the ballet by the Philadelphia Orchestra/Riccardo Muti. I've heard quite a few recordings of this work and NONE OF THEM beats this one. To my great disappointment the recording isn't available, except 2nd hand, because "discontinued by the manufacturer".

Prokofiev is but one of a phenomenal range of composers of the 20th century without whom I couldn't possibly imagine life!! Ravel is another to-die-for composer, just to name the two. Not to mention Olivier Messiaen....oh, where to end this!!

Anyone got any ideas about fabulous composers, works and performances of 20th century?