Strauss - Don Quixote [Maisky & Zimmermann/ Mehta-Berliner Philharmoniker]

I bought this disc mainly for the Dvorak coupling, but also with an eye on the Strauss work too, i must admit that i haven't listened to Don Quixote nearly as much, it's still a work i'm coming to terms with, and still learning to appreciate, so on this hearing it was good that some things fell into place, plus the fact that the work is nicely cued into individual variations/tracks, it means it's easier to know where you're at, and what variation you're on.

The two variations that hit home this time were variation 2 'The Battle With The Sheep', and variation 7 'The Ride Through The Air', both are extremely atmospheric, the bleating of the sheep comes from the brass [track 9, 0:19-1:20], annoyed at first, they become agitated, and then really frightened [1:05-1:07], it's clever the way Strauss makes the brass sound like sheep, the ride through the air uses a wind machine, with flutes and piccolos making up a storm [track 14, 0:00-1:14], and the brass adding to the spectacle, with the rolling timpani in the background, the piece gets more darker at [0:40+], as the brass growl more, again a very descriptive use of the orchestra, i need to develop a further love of some of the other variations, a work which i'm beginning to understand and appreciate.

Here's Tortelier & Kempe playing 'The Battle With The Sheep' on YouTube.

Schumann - Piano Concerto [Barenboim/ Fischer Dieskau-London Philharmonic Orchestra]

This is a great coupling, it makes sense to have Schumann's two best concertos on the same disc, and a Husband and Wife combination is ideal.

I must admit i do like the booklet cover [photo by Reg Wilson], but it's also the colour scheme of red and blue that makes the booklet stand out.

Looks like this concerto has been really popular this month, i wrote about both Vogt [1st June 2010] and Anda [4th June 2010] playing the Schumann, i'm roughly playing it once a month, but three times this month!, hmmn.

I certainly enjoyed the first movement, the recording was made in 1974, but is quite good for its age, maybe it doesn't quite have the same 'air' around each section of the orchestra, so you can pinpoint certain instruments against others, maybe not enough bloom on the recording, because this movement used to be a one movement Fantasy, before Schumann composed the other two movements to make it a Piano Concerto, this first movement has it's very own 'slow movement' section in the middle [4:43-6:31], a delightful respite from the more vigorous music around it, it starts with the piano in gently rolling waves [4:43+], the clarinet has a dialogue with the piano [4:58+, 5:28+ & 5:52+], with also the flute joining in, this is the very best part of this movement, a little later there's some nice flowing music [7:00-8:05] between piano and orchestra, and right at the end there's a coda of sorts [14:43-15:40], with the piano playing some nice triplets, while the woodwind chatter away, a wonderful piece of music.

Here's Daniel Barenboim playing the first movement on YouTube, with Celibidache conducting.

Various Composers - Virtuoso Violin Encores [Vengerov/Golan]

Here's a nice recital of violin encores, nice and varied, though maybe a tad too much Kreisler, it gets Vengerov to show off his Strad!.

The booklet cover is interesting, showing Vengerov in a coat and tails, looking like part of the proper establishment, and certainly that goes along with the music, he's a proper respected Classical Violinist, however he's also wearing a pair of jeans, and maybe this also gives a hint of his musical persona, as he is individual, and at times doesn't do things by the book, maybe he's trying to be Nigel Kennedy!.

The two pieces i liked the most are tracks 5 & 12, the Bloch piece is nice and dark, a nice sorrowful lament, well worth getting to know, but it's the last track, Bazzini's 'Dance Of The Goblins' that's truly a final encore piece to bring the house down, it's almost as if Bazzini composed it with exploring every device and ability that the violin has in mind, it's a great variety of fireworks, and i'm sure it's devilishly hard to learn and play.

Each section starts off with the piano making a short 'fanfare', Vengerov comes in with very fast and virtuosi playing [0:02-0:38], this part is very staccato, lots of notes, little cries and sighs here and there, towards the end there's a dramatic extra virtuoso edge to it, this opening section returns a little later [1:34-2:10], and right at the end it comes back again [3:50+], but it soon turns different, as it turns into the showy bravura finale, there's some wonderful pizzicato from Vengerov [4:45-4:50 & 4:56-5:01], notice the piano in the background playing notes in the highest treble of the keyboard, a lovely effect!, what a showstopper!.

Here's Maxim Vengerov playing the Bazzini on YouTube.

Finzi - Eclogue [Lane/ Handley-Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra]

Here's a really nice disc, having three works that are somewhat off the beaten track, and all three are very much worth listening to.

Piers Lane is Australian, he is now 52, and he mainly records for the Hyperion Classical Label.

Gerald Finzi worked very slow on his compositions, plus he was very critical of his works, and would only release that which he was satisfied with, the Eclogue was actually the middle movement in a projected Piano Concerto, but he never fully composed the outer movements, and so this gorgeous slow movement stands on its own.

Finzi's Eclogue starts off as a solo piano piece, with just the piano playing the first minute [0:00-0:57], very much like Ravel's Piano Concerto in G, and similar in soundworld too, it truly has a stunning beauty about it, there's an innocent simplicity which is touching, the orchestra enters [0:57+], and takes up the piano tune, it meanders as a dialogue between piano and orchestra, it always remains gentle and relaxed, even though you can hear a storm far off, the opening reprises now and again, and it ends as gently as it began, something to truly soothe a troubled heart.

Here's Finzi's Eclogue being played on YouTube.

Brahms - Violin Sonata 2 [Weithaas/Avenhaus]

I wrote about the First Violin Sonata from these two Artists last month [27th May 2010], and so on to the Second Sonata,

This time i was touched by the third movement Allegretto Grazioso,

Here's Akiko Suwanai playing the third movement on YouTube.

Beethoven - Violin Sonata 5 [Nishizaki/ Jando]

Takako Nishizaki is Japanese, she is now 66, she has recorded extensively for Naxos, in the early days of Naxos i bought quite a few of their discs as they were cheap, but i have come to learn that the true worth of a disc is, how many times is it worth re-hearing?, the more you listen to a disc, the more you have invested in it, and the more treasurable it becomes, with this criteria in mind, i now feel that many of my Naxos discs were false economy, and i purged a load from my collection, but this is one i have kept as it has become immensely treasurable, it now resides at No28 in my all time listening list.

Again i found the second movement Adagio very moving, the piano creates a gentle rocking rhythm in the bass, which at first the right hand treble plays the main melody over, but then the violin takes over this main melody [0:42-1:15], the piano returns to take control of the melody [2:15-2:47], this time embellished with all sorts of lovely extras, and again the violin comes in to take over [2:52-3:25], and produce wonderful soaring lines, Nishizaki has a nice sweet tone about her, and Jando is majestic, don't for one moment think that because it's a budget disc, that Naxos has shirked on personnel, violin and piano swap places out front, like some sort of Jazz tag duo, it's a lovely slow movement from the young Beethoven.

Here's Gidon Kremer and Martha Argerich playing the Adagio slow movement on YouTube.

Beethoven - Piano Concerto 5 'Emperor' [Ax/Previn-Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]

Well here's my favourite Piano Concerto again, this time with Emanuel Ax & Andre Previn, this was recorded in 1986.

It's hard to pin down Ax's nationality, supposedly he was born in Poland, now 61, he has recorded extensively with Yo-Yo Ma, and his Brahms recordings are very good indeed.

The whole Concerto is a beaut, the outer movements have that zest and undefeatableness, composed in Beethoven's heroic key of E Flat Major, and yet it's the slow movement i enjoyed the most, the very first thing i notice about this slow movement, is that it moves relatively fast, i checked out some other recordings that i love, and their timings for this movement,

Ax / Previn - 7:24

Pollini / Abbado - 7:48

Larrocha / Chailly - 7:53

Grimaud / Jurowski - 8:05

Schiff / Haitink - 8:15

Uchida / Sanderling - 8:21

Arrau / Davis - 8:27

Perahia / Haitink - 8:30

Brendel / Haitink - 8:30

Zimerman / Bernstein - 9:07

Well Ax & Previn really are quite fast, roughly one minute faster than the ideal, and it does show in their interpretation, the slow movement is so serene, it needs a gentle unhurriedness to truly digest into the soul, and yet i can still hear the genius of beethoven shining through, this is one of Beethoven's most glorious slow movements of all, it really puts you in another world.

Here's Krystian Zimerman playing the slow movement on YouTube, with Leonard Bernstein conducting.

Mozart - Clarinet Concerto [Meyer/ Zinman-English Chamber Orchestra]

Paul Meyer is a French Clarinetist, now 45 years old, he's recorded for a number of labels, and has a lovely discography, mainly RCA, but earlier in his career he recorded some wonderful discs for Denon, this recording comes from 1992, he has now also taken up Conducting.

I bought this disc mainly for the other two works, but after listening to it, i find myself being drawn into the wonderful Mozart world of the clarinet.

I really do love the beautiful slow movement, one of the best things he's ever done, the clarinet is truly a gorgeous versatile instrument, the clarinet makes its appearance right at the very beginning, with its creamy and gentle theme [0:00-0:31], the orchestra mirrors the clarinet lines [0:34-1:03], then comes the truly heavenly second theme from the clarinet, even more creamy than the first, [1:07-1:38] this is the best moment in the Adagio, and of course the orchestra mirrors this second theme also [1:40-2:09], in these two minutes, the very essence of the slow movement is laid out, of course there's a very gentle reprise of the opening [4:13-5:52], this time with the first orchestral mirror left out, the whole thing is fairly short and sweet, unpretentious, the Adagio lets the other two movements take care of the more bravura moments, it allows us all the treat of basking in the sheer peace of this music.

Here's Sharon Kam playing the slow 2nd movement on YouTube.

Madonna [The Immaculate Collection]

First off, the booklet and back insert are obviously from Madonna's 'Ray Of Light' album, but i used this album as the art for my 'Immaculate Collection' album, i used rub on transfers on the front cover, and a well placed sticker on the back with rub on transfers for the track listing, it looks great!, far better than the original cover, and i seriously think that 'Ray Of Light' has some beautiful shot pictures of Madonna, and it's her best 'visual' album, a nice make-over that creates a great album into an even greater.

Madonna Ciccone is now 51, this album has sold over 30 million worldwide, not bad huh?.

I enjoyed so many of these tracks, they really hit home, especially tracks 3, 9, 11-12 & 14, i must admit track 14 'Cherish' has this wonderful feelgood factor about it, it's so danceable, but even more i was just was mesmerised by track 12 'Like A Prayer', originally released in 1989, it has that lovely Gospel feel to it, it starts with a Gospel Choir [0:02-0:21], and a Church organ comes in with Madonna praying her intro [0:21-0:41], notice the triangle that comes in [0:38+], so expertly used later, there's a nice beat at the start of the chorus [0:49+], which comes before the first verse [1:07-1:40], where there's a level of sweeter singing, and in the background you can hear that triangle ringing out a complex rhythm, the second verse is more of the same [1:59-2:32], but the words have more meaning,

Like a child, you whisper softly to me

You're in control, just like a child

Now i'm dancing

It's like a dream, no end and no beginning

You're here with me, it's like a dream

Let the choir sing

Afterwards the Gospel Choir kicks in [3:49-4:23 & 5:15-5:49], and it seems to get fairly ad lib at the end, and fades out, but forget the trinity, it's that damn triangle that i remember the most!, hehehehe.

Here's Madonna singing on the video of 'Like A Prayer' on YouTube.

Mahler - Symphony 4 [Henricks/Mehta-Israel Philharmonic Orchestra]

Straight off, what a superb booklet photograph! [by Eric Bach], one of the very best i have in my disc collection, i wish i knew where it was taken, i'm sure it's Switzerland or Austria, the 'tiny' castle on the hill, juxtaposed with the blossoms on the tree, and that lovely blue sky, i wish every Record Label would realise that 'booklets sell discs' for me.

Well, here we are with another Mahler 4, only two days ago i wrote about this Symphony with Jarvi / Finnie [19th June 2010], i really feel that this was a better experience than then, or is it that i was just in the mood today?.

So Zubin Mehta is Indian, something i didn't know, he's 64 and now lives in the United States, this work was recorded in 1979.

Again i so much enjoyed the heavenly slow movement, and the main difference over Jarvi, is that Mehta takes his time over the opening 3 minutes, gently caressing a real beauty, and what a difference in such a lovely beginning!, those heartbeat bass pizzicatos, and those endearing strings [0:00-1:12], the higher violin sweetness which follows doesn't have the same contrast [1:12-1:47], but it much more naturally follows on from the opening, the entry of the oboe [1:47+] is a magical moment, full of pathos, but it's those high violins which follow, and like an elevator into the clouds and heaven beyond, ah those heavenly strings melt me!, they take a turn for the best at [2:45+], and reach their zenith around [3:13], it's so gut-wrenchingly gorgeous!, deeper into the movement there's a refrain / lament which is full of sadness [13:14-14:18], where the cellos are so mournful, again like yesterday, the closing moments are magical, starting with high violin strings full of pathos [16:16+, 17:12+ & 17:33+], quiet, sweet, and gentle, until the explosion erupts [18:33+], the triangle is clearly heard here, trumpets and horns blaze a fanfare, with timpani beating out, while the closing section later is endearing [19:54+], the high violins take a sweet turn, and the harp comes in, Mehta makes a lovely case for these final statements of gentleness and rest, reminds me very much of the closing pages of Saturn from Holst, when i think of this movement, i have in my minds eye a peaceful walk in the woods, and a quiet final rest in heaven.

Here's Sinopoli conducting the third movement on YouTube.

Carlene Carter - Little Love Letters

Well it's a Country music disc!, just in case anyone thought this was a Classical music Blog, in fact i listen to a great variety of different music, sad to say i just seem to be Classical heavy at the moment, and i've thought up ways to change this, i wish every other daily highlight was a non Classical disc.

The American Carlene Carter is now 54 [wow!, she looks so much younger, even if you consider the time gap], this disc was released in 1993, even a single from the album hit the No3 spot in the Country music charts.

As i remember correctly, i bought this album in late 1993 when it first came out, i liked the look of it, plus i was trying to get more into Country music as a new genre, i took a risk and it paid off [i took other risks and they didn't pay off!].

There's lots of songs on this album which are really good, and there's a good variety too, but tracks 2 & 3 are really standout songs, and i've always loved track 3 'Wastin Time With You', it has wonderful honky-tonk piano intro, and this piano is quite a feature of the song, there's a nice piano 'solo' halfway through [1:41-1:56], and a lovely wolf-whistle on the piano after the word dynamite [2:24-2:25], with Carlene thinking of robbing a bank!,

Sometimes at night

My thoughts ignite

In dreams of great escape

A couple sticks of dynamite

And no more working late

The piano ends the album with a neat outro/fade [3:13-3:38], the whole album has Rockers, Ballads, even Gospel all with a Country tinge, this is really not my type of music, and yet i just can't help liking it.

Here's Carlene Carter singing track 2 'Every Little Thing' live on YouTube.

Mahler - Symphony 4 [Finnie/Jarvi-Royal Scottish Orchestra]

Neeme Jarvi is quite new to me in Mahler, this is the first time i've listened to this Symphony under his baton, the only other Mahler/Jarvi experience was this last March listening to his Fifth Symphony for the first time, and again i guess the jury's out, i just find it hard to form a solid opinion on one listen, in fact these two listening experiences are the only Mahler i've written about this year so far!, maybe i'm getting weaned off this Composer!.

Neeme Jarvi is Estonian, now emigrated to the United States, a very prolific recording Artist for Chandos Records, now 73 years of age, this disc was recorded back in 1990.

I enjoyed all of this Symphony, although i must admit that having a Mezzo-Soprano at the end was a wrong choice, as a child's view of heaven, it really should be a more girlish Soprano, the slow Ruhevoll Adagio third movement really stands out, it's Mahler's very best slow movement, full of glorious sweet strings, the movement starts out with gentle and sweet lower strings [0:00+], and it's a heavenly joy when the higher strings come in and play the same tune [0:59+], and it takes until [1:29] until an oboe breaks the strings monopoly, one thing i notice while playing this, is the extensive use of this oboe, especially at the start of this movement, also the trumpets have their moment, in a louder outburst [6:10+], the sour strings accompanied by brittle muted trumpets, later the trumpets play without mutes [11:44+], clearly heard in this recording, and i've not noticed their beauty before, but it's roughly three quartets through where the most magical things happen, the violins achingly come in very high indeed, but very quiet and endearing too [15:22+], with middle strings playing a gentle melody, and a little later the horns fill in the background [16:11+], just a little later those same high violins play very gentle and quiet solo [16:45+], with only the barest of basses in the background, this little section really does take my breath away, before the ending, Mahler gets in one more triumphant outburst, there's this fantastic explosion [17:31+], the timpani blast in, and the brass / trumpets join in, and the timpani hammer out heartbeats [17:46+], a lovely moment, on this recording i find that the Royal Scottish Orchestra can be quite lean, maybe they're a chamber group, but it does bring out the individual instruments, and Jarvi takes advantage of this, also it's a movement of the use of very high violin strings, Mahler uses them to great effect here, i hear some very nice things on this listen.

Here's Bernstein playing this lovely Adagio on YouTube, with the Vienna Philharmonic.

Vaughan Williams - Symphony 5 [Previn-London Symphony Orchestra]

Andre Previn is German, but later became an American citizen in his teenage years, he is now 81 years of age, he has recorded a full cycle of Vaughan Williams Symphonies, quite a pioneering set after Adrian Boult's cycle.

I listened to this while walking through the park, i must admit that this was a glorious experience, i haven't been so deeply touched and affected by VW's fifth for quite some time, nor might i add by any piece of music so deeply for a while, quite a religious experience.

All of the Symphony was truly heavenly, but most especially the third movement Romanza, i must admit that this is packed with really good things, it's hard to single out some highlights, it starts off with the most heavenly soft and delicate strings, like something appearing out of the mist [0:00-0:32], and then a soulful and sorrowful cor anglais tune creates a real mood of melancholy [0:33-0:55], later an oboe and cor anglais have a dialogue [4:50-6:04], with clarinet [5:44+], flute [5:47+], and bassoon [5:52+] joining in, right after the woodwinds and brass get agitated [6:05-6:45], and these shimmering strings come in, with horns in the background [6:45-7:20], the brass / trumpets get angry [7:20-7:38], there's very low woodwind / horns [7:50+ & 8:10+], and these high yet sorrowful strings cry out twice [8:01+ & 8:20+], before the movement returns to the more serene opening, today i was stunned by this masterpiece, and to me this is the Symphony's spiritual centre, i'm a better person for listening to this today.

Here's Previn conducting the third movement on YouTube.

Mozart - Piano Concerto 22 [Uchida/Tate-English Chamber Orchestra]

These are 2 Piano Concertos of Mozart that i don't know as well as the others [20-21 & 24], and it was good to re-acquaint myself with them, and try to get to know these 'middle-late' works better. 

Mitsuko Uchida is of course Japanese, now in her sixties, she recorded the complete Mozart Piano Concertos with Jeffrey Tate in the mid Eighties. 

The two outer movements are especially lively, with some lovely quicksilver playing, i really enjoyed the first movement, it has quite a long orchestral introduction [over 2 minutes], starting off with a noble orchestral / woodwind fanfare, which the bassoon / horns reply to, when this fanfare comes back later [2:52], it now has the piano in reply as well, a nice added touch by Mozart, and of course this new fanfare comes back again [7:53], the orchestra / piano weave their magic throughout, very quintessential Mozart, Uchida and Tate are very genial, bringing out the refinement that Mozart has, never straying into deeper controversial waters, there's a gentleness about Uchida which is simply disarming.

Here's Ayako Uehara playing the first movement on YouTube.

Dvorak - Violin Concerto [Vengerov/ Masur-New York Philharmonic]

Maxim Vengerov the Russian, born in 1974, it seems that he's travelled the world and done everything, some consider him the worlds greatest Violinist, my impression of him is that he can be overconfident and showy at times, sometimes overdoing effects and playing outrageously, also his body mannerisms seem like a puppet on strings, bringing attention to himself instead of the music, in saying all of that, there's no denying he has talent, but he seems an 'actor' too!, and that smug Stan Laurel smile when he plays!, ha ha.

The Dvorak Concerto is very Slavic, it has those stamping dance rhythms about it, however the central Adagio is pure Romantic, the Adagio starts off very gentle, Vengerov plays very restrained, it's a sweet gentle melody, full of nostalgia, with very sparse orchestra [0:00-1:18], the violin becomes more impassioned [1:19-2:36], with a nice swell in the orchestra at the end, lots of sweet solo playing, with some nice trills and colouring [5:44-6:00], a little later trumpets stab away [6:25-6:34], but the stabs become muted as the woodwind softly play the melody [6:34-6:56], the violin starts to sing some of its playful music [6:56-7:20], but then turns to romantic legato [7:20-7:47] with a swell of love, the whole movement is beautiful, well judged by Dvorak, and giving the violin it's chance to really caress our heartstrings.

Here's a very short excerpt on YouTube, of vengerov playing the opening movement of the Concerto.

Vengerov = Biography.

Bruch - Violin Concerto 1 [Midori/Jansons-Berliner Philharmoniker]

Midori Goto, was born in Japan in 1971, she still hasn't hit 40 yet, i thought she was much older, she seems to have been around for so long.

This is very much a famous coupling, these are live recordings with applause at the end, and as such there might be the odd cough or noise that cannot be edited out, also taken on the wing, the editors usually only have one take to edit from, whereas a studio recording, the Artists can listen to playback, and decide to re-record a certain passage that went wrong, on the whole i like studio recordings better.

I must give a mention to the booklet cover, the photo is really good [Lois Greenfield], nice use of browns, and out of focus effect, the lettering and graphics are superb as well, a very pleasing product.

I so much enjoyed all of the movements, especially the last movement, listening to Midori playing, i find she is slightly slow, you get the feeling there is a slight laziness to her playing, there seems a lack of fire and bravura, this is only a slight feeling, she just seems laid back, early on the violin takes the music into the stratosphere, getting louder and higher [2:01-2:14], getting ready for the orchestral explosion of the main tune [2:14-2:31], and then the violin repeats this more gently and nostalgically [2:31-2:49], this whole section is repeated a couple of minutes later [4:30-5:07], a lovely reprise, this is the heart of the movement, reminding us of the beautiful gentle Adagio, at the end of the Concerto there's a nice bravura finish, starting with the violin getting more and more virtuoso [6:46-7:13], with a big ending, the Bruch Concerto is a masterpiece.

Here's Janine Jansen playing the third movement on YouTube.

Bruckner - Symphony 8 [Skrowaczewski-Saarbrucken Radio Symphony Orchestra]

Here's Bruckner's Eighth again, i'm loving this Symphony more and more, and it's good to give a different version a spin.

The Polish born Stanislav Skrowaczewski has recorded a full Bruckner cycle for the Oehms label, considered excellent.

The Eighth Symphony is Bruckner's longest, this performance is just over 82 minutes, only just spilling onto a second disc, interestingly the booklet cover calls it his 'Apocalyptic', i don't know where this name came from, but it surely wasn't from Bruckner, i started a discussion on this on a Classical Music Forum.

Again i was so moved by the mammoth Adagio third movement, on this recording it's almost half an hour long!, longer than a lot of whole Symphonies!, Bruckner's ideas are caressed over a huge canvas, like a vast forest, it's easy to get stuck on each individual tree, and miss the grand architecture of the whole forest, it needs to be listened to dozens of times to gain an understanding of its overall sweep, the very opening is just simply gorgeous, gentle throbbing waves on the lower strings, and then the main tune, on slightly higher strings [0:17+], this becomes the Symphonies 'idee fixe', returning again and again, each time to caress us, it's so hard not to point out the beauty of every tree in Bruckner's forest, as this review will just simply be too long, but i marvel at these opening minutes, Bruckner is a phenomenal genius, in this Symphony he uses a harp, and very effective it is too [2:47-3:18], sometimes the smallest ideas and bends in the road are just overwhelming, how Bruckner sews all his separate ideas together into a cogent quilt is amazing, i like the horns that quietly soothe out of the string mists [7:22-7:47], and the sheer triumphal blaze of glory that starts moments later, but is cut short [8:18-8:28], the 'idee fixe' opening returns [9:41+], this time with more agitation, and with the horns in tow, a very nice variation, it isn't all a soothing mammoth Adagio, there's passion and vigour aplenty, and decibels too!, out of nowhere Bruckner can pull an endearing phrase / section, one such is a short string serenade [19:38-19:55], sweet and gentle, so soothing, an oasis of extra beauty in the middle of something that's already very beautiful, and later a triumphal fanfare of glory [21:57-22:24], but to top it all off, there's this sublime long coda, starting at [23:52+], i could write pages about this, it's the best thing Bruckner ever did, the sad clarinet refrain [24:03-24:40], with the gentle horns in the middle [24:28+], so endearingly nostalgic, and the horns and strings play this heartbreaking duet [25:39+], the final notes are so sad but yet so beautiful, how can anyone not be a devotee of Bruckner after this?, Skrowaczewski gives us a superb rendition, excellently recorded. 

Here's the third movement conducted by Eschenbach on YouTube.

Chopin - Piano Music [Serkin]

The American Peter Serkin is the son of the famous Rudolf Serkin, but not just someone riding the coattails of his Father's fame, but a pianist in his own right too, i was surprised that he is already 63 years old.

This is a nice recital, recorded in 1986 i think, quite heavy on the Mazurka side of things, i must admit that he at times seems a little sloppy, not a very high level of true brilliance, and yet still a pleasing recital, there seems a somewhat bluntness to the piano sound, there isn't that lovely ring that should be there, it could be a fault of the piano, or maybe the acoustic.

The pieces i enjoyed the most were 2, 7-8, 10 & 13, with track 7 [Ballade 4] the most enjoyable, it's Chopin's last Ballade, and my favourite, right at the beginning it sounds like bells chiming [0:00-0:30], especially the first couple of seconds, a great effect, and then the main tune begins [0:31-2:18], nice and quiet, however i must admit that Serkin afterwards plays sections too slow, and there's a lack of intensity in certain places, the opening is repeated halfway through [6:42+], which is slightly louder and faster, there's a more difficult variation of the main tune [8:18-8:58], but even here there's a degree of nonchalance, as if Serkin's going through the motions, later there's a passage that should be filled with a culmination of passion and pathos [9:20-9:40], i hear other Pianists accentuate this passage well, with a tremendous 'sing' from the keyboard, Serkin seems to be somewhat detached, you know, the more i listen to Peter Serkin's playing, the more i now find that i have a problem with, however it's certainly not bad, and the music is beautiful.

Here's Krystian Zimerman playing Ballade No 4 on YouTube.

Beethoven - String Quartet 10 'Harp' [Quartetto Italiano]

Here's a nice surprise!, a box set of Beethoven's Middle String Quartets, i listened to this whole set over a few days, my favourite by far is String Quartet 7 [Op57/1], but this time i was wowed by Quartet 10 even more, this was surprising for me, i'm developing a greater love for those Quartets that are a bit more unknown to me.

I love this boxset, 3 discs of the Middle String Quartets, the middle are my favourites, available cheaply re-issued elsewhere, the original boxset is quite rare now, i like the photo [Arje Plas] taken from a high angle, these are treasurable recordings from the early to mid seventies.

The Quartetto Italiano were one of the greatest String Quartets ever, they recorded prolifically for the Philips label, started in 1945 they disbanded in 1980.

All of the movements were a revelation to me, with the exception of the third, i suppose it's the opening movement which inspired me the most, the key is in E Flat Major, Beethoven's 'Heroic' voice, it has a long Poco Adagio introduction [0:00-2:18], which starts off very hesitantly, as if the players are unsure, with loud outbursts here and there, so when the songlike Allegro comes in [2:19+], it feels like a huge release, an untying of a knot that Beethoven has formed, there's such sweet playing from the violins, and afterward some nice pizzicato [2:19-2:46], this is repeated later [3:44-4:12], and is a joy to hear all over again, later there's some forte/virtuoso playing, with fast bowing on the main tune [5:35-6:00] really thrilling, there's a very inventive passage with lots of pizzicato spread around [7:10-7:33], first the violins bow while the viola/cello pluck, then the viola/cello bow while the violins pluck, this is repeated a second time, and it's so very satisfying, right at the end a violin has some very fast and agitated playing [9:06-9:47], while the rest of the Quartet pizzicato from bass to treble through all the instruments three times, the violin gets stronger while the rest of the group slowly disband pizzicato to bowing, the music gets more and more majestic to a great apotheosis, a wonderful final climax, it's the sweet songlike-ness after the intro that is so much of a lovely release that i remember the most.

Here's the Claudel String Quartet playing the first movement on YouTube.

Bach - Violin Concerto 1 [Hahn/Kahane-Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra]

Here's lovely Hilary Hahn again, this disc is fast becoming a treasure, all four works on the disc are truly inspired, and are excellent interpretations recorded in a wonderful aural perspective, this disc has been in my Blog four times this year.

Again i must make mention of the booklet cover, one of the very best i have ever seen, well done DG for this package.

All of the movements were tremendously inspiring, a nice mix of things, i really do like the first movement, it has that get-go right from the start, launching straight into exhilaration [0:00-0:28], and when Hahn comes in, it's a beautiful transition [0:28+], a lot of the Concerto blurs into one beautiful whole, near the end there's some nice 'strange' notes from Hahn which are memorable [2:35-2:41], deep down it's the sheer exhilaration that gets me, it's a non stop tour de force.

Here's Hilary Hahn playing the first movement on YouTube.

Ponce - 24 Guitar Preludes [Dieci]

Well here's a rarity, Ponce's 24 Guitar Preludes, i bought this disc in a second-hand shop in London, in my efforts to expand my Classical Guitar collection, and to try out a Composer i was unfamiliar with, he's Mexican [1882-1948].

I have loved the Classical Guitar, and feel that it's somewhat a neglected instrument, it's very much a loner of an instrument, and the main pieces composed for it are solo music, unlike say the piano, it doesn't have tons of Concertos and Chamber music composed for it, not only that, but it's harder to listen to the guitar in very long pieces or works, thus it's an instrument born for the miniature.

What a revelation these 24 Preludes are!, the whole work lasts just under 24 minutes, so a minute per prelude, only eight go over the minute mark, and the shortest prelude is 26 seconds, it is amazing to me how much of a microcosmic world you can cram into 60 seconds, and how much variety and invention each prelude can have, each one has an individuality and character unique to the others, a prelude starts, and before you know it, it's finished, Ponce's 24 Guitar Preludes are so phenomenally underrated, and fail to be recorded and listened to, which is a great shame, i must delve into more Classical Guitar music in the future.

The Preludes that really touched my heart this time were 5, 8 & 12, the one that really caught my eye was Prelude 5, in D Major, lasting just 50 seconds, but it's jam packed full of invention and character, it starts off with a lovely singing tone, created very much by the Guitarist using judicious vibrato at the beginning, about halfway through the piece the opening returns [0:22+] with more delicious vibrato, but the second half turns out different, especially towards the end as it goes down towards the bass, it's the opening which holds the magic, a breathtaking use of a few wonderful notes in just five seconds, there's no way it can compete with Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, but at the same time there's possibly a consensus that 'short equals insignificant', plus the guitar is not taken so seriously, now if Ponce had written these preludes for the piano, then they might be better known, my plea is don't disregard the guitar, YouTube is filled with some very surprising miniature masterpieces.

Here's Prelude 5 being played on YouTube.

Sibelius - Symphony 2 [Ashkenazy-Boston Symphony Orchestra]

The Russian Pianist and Conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy straddles two careers, one as a Pianist, the other Conducting, very much like Daniel Barenboim, conducting seems to take up a greater percentage of his time these days, now approaching his mid-seventies, there's no slowing him down.

Sibelius's Second Symphony is by far and away my favourite, full of great tunes and power, there's a wonderful cohesive whole to the Symphony, the last movement brings all the strands together into a satisfying conclusion, it follows straight after the third movement, which builds it up and up and up, and in a blaze of triumphant glory the fourth movement starts, the strings play the main tune while the dark brass [tuba?] oohm-pah-pah in the background [0:00-0:29], with a nice sharp blaze from the trumpets [0:07+], and an equal dull growl from the lower brass [0:15+], the main theme quickly comes back, with powerful strings [0:47-1:15], this whole section is repeated five minutes later [6:46-7:57], the ending is very satisfying, it has lots of repetition for emphasis, hammering home the main melody, the brass pull out all the stops [11:53-12:13], the violins sing high [12:28-12:40], and the whole orchestra goes from dark to light [12:40+], the trumpets/brass steal in [12:52-13:59], loud but restrained at first, but becoming more glorious, and blazing away in one phenomenal triumphant fanfare! [13:24+], while a final drumroll at the end builds up and up [13:37+], what an ending!, seems like Sibelius used every device and trick in the book to hook us into his soundworld.

Here's the fourth movement being played on YouTube.

Brahms - Symphony 1 [Jarvi-London Symphony Orchestra]

The Brahms First Symphony in my opinion is his finest, i am not a fan of his Second and Third, and rarely listen to his Fourth, but this Symphony has always been a masterpiece, i grew up devouring a recording by Giulini.

The booklet and back insert are great, with light and dark green making a wonderful statement, i don't know what happened during the scan i made, the back insert is trying to be a Green Leopard!.

I played this disc while walking into Town and back, and it's good to listen to music on the move, the first movement really got me going, the very opening is so inspired, i love the dark timpani beat [0:00-0:39 & 1:33-2:09], it's like one of them Roman galley slave ships, where the drummer beats out the rhythm!, but it's also those dark stirrings among the strings, a lovely atmospheric start to a Symphony, and Brahms did have a long time to introduce himself to the symphonic world, and what an entrance, one of the greatest symphonic beginnings i can think of, the dark C Minor key is excellent, the Symphony proper only starts after this mammoth intro, and it's a headlong forward motion of incessant power [2:53+], it's relentless rhythm and drive reminds me of Beethoven's Fifth, and Holst's Mars, a third of the way through the movement the same punches land on you again [5:29+], it's almost demonic in the way it slowly ratchets up the screws tighter and tighter, in fact it's a bit like a boxing match, you get rests inbetween rounds, but then another wave of 'hits' gets to you [8:43+, 12:42+, 14:50+], i was really floored by this movement [ok i'm sorry for the pun!], but i think i like being punched silly by Brahms.

Here's Gunter Wand conducting the first movement on YouTube.

Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto [Chang/ Jansons-Berliner Philharmoniker]

It's so good to hear this perennial Concerto, and it's the first time this year i'm writing about it, this is a wonderful disc, and a great coupling, the booklet pic is gorgeous, and Sarah of course!, a treasurable disc.

The Concerto is in E Minor, a favourite key for Mendelssohn, it was one of his most often used keys.

I loved the first movement, there's no messing about with long intros by the orchestra, the violin comes straight in after five seconds!, a lovely forward momentum ensues, it's a fleet, taut Concerto, not big like Beethoven, or rugged like Brahms, i like the way, right at the end of the solo cadenza, how the return of the orchestra naturally dovetails in [8:52-9:15], the orchestra play the main tune, as the violin plays the virtuoso background rhythm, getting stronger and more complex, a very nice experience.

Here's Sarah Chang playing the first movement on YouTube.