What are you listening to now :)

[Megan]

Another round begins for all our discerning and dedicated classical music listeners.




Listening earlier to -

Mozart's Dissonance Quartet. K465


Haydn Quarted in C minor.

[Preston]

Listening to Mischa Maisky play some of Bach's works for solo cello. Is anyone familiar with his playing?

[Zevy]

Listening to Mischa Maisky play some of Bach's works for solo cello. Is anyone familiar with his playing?

Yes. There was an early version that I gave away. I have a set that has a disc with the score, if one wants to watch and listen. Personally, he doesn't do it for me. I would rather listen to a lot of other cellists playing the Bach Suites.

[Preston]

Yes. There was an early version that I gave away. I have a set that has a disc with the score, if one wants to watch and listen. Personally, he doesn't do it for me. I would rather listen to a lot of other cellists playing the Bach Suites.

I have heard his name before, though until two days ago had never heard him play anything. Apparently, a lot of people consider his playing to be phenomenal? Personally, I do not know enough about the cello (or music) to know specifics, but I did enjoy listening to him play movements from Bach's cello suites.

Though, as for the big names, the only cellists I know of are Rostropovich, Pablo Casals, and Yo-Yo Ma. And, unfortunately I have not heard much of them.

[Zevy]

He is a great virtuoso. 'Just not my taste.

[Megan]

Korngold violin concerto
Brilliantly played by violinist, Leonidas Kavakos.

[Roehre]

Today:


Goehr:
Romanza for cello and orchestra opus 24 (1968) 


Ella Fitzgerald – The Cole Porter Songbook

[Bonn1827]

Obviously a man of exquisite taste and refinement (you are), sir!!

Yes, Cole Porter...
What must he have thought when he heard Ella singing his songs - we can only imagine...unless there is documentary evidence of his views somewhere?

I love Porter's lyrics to "Where is the Life that Late I Led" from "Kiss Me Kate". This shows an urbane, international sophisticate representing the zeitgeist!!

"Where is Rebecca - my Becky-Weckio?
Should still she be cruising that amusin' Ponteveccio"!!

Where are our composers of elan and elegance today?

Today's listening, driving into the city, on the national FM network:
Tchaikovsky, Piano Concerto No. 1 - Argerich/Berliner Philharmoniker/Abbado

I couldn't help feeling that, after all, this work is vulgar!! I do enjoy it, but have to be in the mood. I remember having a huge argument with a friend about it years ago when he said that Pytor was a vulgarian who wore his heart on his sleeve. I was indignant, but he was right in some respects.

[Peter]

Obviously a man of exquisite taste and refinement (you are), sir!!

Yes, Cole Porter...
What must he have thought when he heard Ella singing his songs - we can only imagine...unless there is documentary evidence of his views somewhere?

I love Porter's lyrics to "Where is the Life that Late I Led" from "Kiss Me Kate". This shows an urbane, international sophisticate representing the zeitgeist!!

"Where is Rebecca - my Becky-Weckio?
Should still she be cruising that amusin' Ponteveccio"!!

Where are our composers of elan and elegance today?

Today's listening, driving into the city, on the national FM network:
Tchaikovsky, Piano Concerto No. 1 - Argerich/Berliner Philharmoniker/Abbado

I couldn't help feeling that, after all, this work is vulgar!! I do enjoy it, but have to be in the mood. I remember having a huge argument with a friend about it years ago when he said that Pytor was a vulgarian who wore his heart on his sleeve. I was indignant, but he was right in some respects.

Yes I can understand that position for some of Tchaikovsky and I too have a love/hate relationship with piano concerto 1, the 2nd is finer in my view.

[Peter]

Been listening to Mahler's 3rd and 5th symphonies at the proms and some Scarlatti sonatas which never fail to impress with their scope of imagination.

[Bonn1827]

I have an excellent recording of some Scarlatti sonatas played by Murray Perahia. They are lively, imaginative and vigorous little vignettes - and I could never master playing any of them myself. Do you think it merely apocryphal that there was a 'play off' between Handel and Scarlatti to see who was the best on the keyboard (harpsichord/clavichord?). Or did it really happen?

I remember lending this Scarlatti CD to a Deputy Principal at my last school and he consolidated his love of classical music from that and our subsequent long chats!! When I left the school I was surpised to find a CD he'd ordered in from Amazon of Shostakovich's piano music sitting on my desk, wrapped in Xmas paper. It's lovely when we can bring others into the family of music-lovers, and it can be appreciated!!

I enjoy the 2nd Tchaikovsky too - especially that cello obbligato in the 2nd movement.

[Sorrano]

Schumann's Kinderszenen was featured this morning. These are lovely pieces, as well as Album für die Jugend.

[Chris]

Yes I can understand that position for some of Tchaikovsky and I too have a love/hate relationship with piano concerto 1, the 2nd is finer in my view.

It was Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto and Piano Concerto No. 1 that were mainly responsible for my serious interest in classical music, and remain two of my favorite pieces of music.

[Megan]

It was Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto and Piano Concerto No. 1 that were mainly responsible for my serious interest in classical music, and remain two of my favorite pieces of music.

I agree, Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto is one fine masterpiece !

[Roehre]

I agree, Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto is one fine masterpiece !

According to one of the critics at the premiere of the Tchaikovsky Violin concerto the question should be put whether music actually can stink