BListener's Choice

Music of Latin American Masters: Revueltas, Villa-Lobos, Ginastera, Chávez, Orbón, Estévez

2011-02-28T21:16:00.000-06:00

Unfortunately I cannot say that I enjoyed this Dorian Recordings CD box. I have listened to it in full twice, and some tracks several times to force me to find something to relate to. In most cases I succeeded, but regardless, that is far for me to enjoy. There is a definite similarity in the pieces, which I failed to discriminate clearly. For someone who is not familiar with Latin American

Monteverdi: Madrigals

2011-01-14T18:10:00.000-06:00

When I first started this collection, this box-set was in the first purchase I made. I listened to it, and was bored. Due to methodological discipline, I wanted to publish the corresponding post, so I listened to it again. I AM CURED !! This is one of the best purchases I have done, and the price is fantastic for such a wonder. Really a little piece of heaven (ok, ok, I take it back). And well,

Leopold Mozart: Die Bauernhochzeit, Musikalische Schlittenfahrt, Sinfonia burlesca

2010-09-11T17:55:00.000-05:00

This is a very nice, simple CD. It's value is markedly historical, but nevertheless the music is good to listen to. The Ensemble Eduard Melkus plays authentic instruments, which adds fullness to the sonic experience. And precisely, due to the comments written by the author himself, we know how he thought of his instrumentation for the enjoyment of the pieces. On Josef Starzer 10 Dances, I cannot

Schumann: Kinderszenen, Waldszenen, Papillons, Three Romances[Kempff]

2010-09-11T11:11:00.000-05:00

Beautiful Eloquence/Deutsche-Grammophon CD boasting Wilhelm Kempff's interpretation of small piano pieces by Robert Schumann. Wilhelm Kempff shows his great range and amazing clear play under any circumstance. I personally think he is too harsh sometimes, but his control is superb. Kinderszenen and Three Romances were recorded in 1973; Waldszenen in 1974; and Papillons in 1967. Kinderszenen, op

Paganini: Concerto per violino e orchestra #1

2010-09-11T10:21:00.000-05:00

Niccolò Paganini's violin concerto is fantastic anytime, but the second part is splendid for a peaceful weekend morning. I now rename Perpetuela as "Flight of the Hummingbird", especially confirmed in the passage where the violin hovers in the background, and the flute comes in. Salvatore Accardo does a magnificent job. Charles Dutoit conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Galleria

Schubert: Impromptus, Moments musicaux, Piano Sonatas [Kempff]

2010-08-25T00:28:00.000-05:00

Kempff makes each note count for itself, and his control is superb at all times, through pianissimo or fortissimo passages alike. Moments musicaux Nice interweaving of echos, like jumping wild dogs in the bushes in #1. Ah, famous #3. No wonder it is known by itself. Lovely tempo for the theme in #4, and its baroque-like variation. Piano Sonatas Beautiful lyricism in movement 1 of D664. What a

Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies (Furtwängler)

2010-08-18T23:14:00.001-05:00

This is a 5 CD set from EMI Classics. As the booklet acknowledges, these interpretations will lack the free will and brave exploration of the more trying years. Perhaps Wilhelm Furtwängler wanted a more parsimonious work than in previous endeavours. This must be because the situation did not call for such a stern position on his part, but as well, for the weight of the tradition of the Wiener

Beethoven: Piano Concerto 4 & 5

2010-08-15T22:41:00.000-05:00

Excellent. Beautiful concerti, and one can always count on Pollini for a forceful virtuoso interpretation. And Beethoven asks for one, of course. Name Key Catalogue MovementsObservations Konzert für Klavier & Orchester #5Ebop.73Allegro Adagio un poco mosso-attacca Rondo. Allegro Emperor Konzert für Klavier & Orchester #4Gop.58Allegro moderato Andante con moto Rondo. Vivace Maurizio

Chopin: Polonaises (Pollini)

2010-08-15T22:12:00.000-05:00

Authoritative interpretation. Strong, commanding. Great force from transparently virtuoso Maurizio Pollini. Perfectly strict left hand in Polonaise héroïque. Deutsche Grammophon CD, with Maurizio Pollini, piano, recorded 1976 Name Key Catalogue InstructionObservations Polonaise 1C#mop. 26 #1Allegro appassionato Polonaise 2Ebmop. 26 #2Maestoso Polonaise 3Aop. 40 #1Allegro con brio 'Militaire

Wilhelm Kempff: Great Pianists of the 20th Century

2010-08-08T09:57:00.000-05:00

This CD from Philips Great Pianists of the 20th Century is the second of a 3 part view of Wilhelm Kempff, as chosen by Alfred Brendel, who admired Kempff. I would have to agree that Michael Steinberg, whose comments appear in the accompanying booklet, that Kempff is particularly simple (I would add sober) in all these interpretations. I, and now I am sure I am being shallow as my opinion

Tchaikovsky+Rachmaninoff (Van Cliburn): Piano concerto (1 bzw 2)

2010-08-07T12:48:00.000-05:00

Tchikovsky's 2nd movement is just a superb piece, alternating peacefulness and exuberance. Precisely the setting for a superb performance. The 3rd movement interspersed French arpeggiate cannot betray its Slavic origin with its theme of winds and strings with exclamations from the metals. Rachmaninoff's concerto is so superbly performed that the interpretation itself can be or not transparent

Schubert: Lieder

2010-08-05T23:11:00.001-05:00

This combination can never go wrong: Schubert, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore. This is one of the safest CD's to buy, just lovely and inspiring. These lieder allow Fischer-Dieskau to show a vast range of dynamics and emotions, while Gerald Moore shows how well he merged into the singer's intention. My favorite accompanying pianist. I have to say that I am deeply touched by "Das

Mahler: Rückert-Lieder (Kindertotenlieder, 5 Rückert-Lieder, fahrendes Gesellen)

2010-08-02T00:23:00.000-05:00

This is a Great Recordings of the 20th Century CD from EMI, including 2 song cycles, a song set, and a glorious repetition of single song song from a second set. The set and one cycle are poems by Rückert, while the other cycle is Mahler's unlove poems. The lyrics are included in Spanish, French, German (original, all), English. I have to say that by far the best translation of the three is the

J.S. Bach: Die Sonaten für Viola Da Gamba und Cembalo

2010-08-01T16:35:00.000-05:00

I have to concur with a couple of the reviews in the Amazon page, in that this CD irks me. Like a dozen mosquitoes swarming around an ear for an hour. I can only say that I bought this CD as a recommendation based on the very talented performers, with the added plus of the sound of original instruments: Jordi Savall, viole de gambe Pellegrino Zanetti, Venise 1550 (sonata 1) (à sept cordes) Barak

Lipatti: Bach, Liszt, Bartók

2010-08-01T15:10:00.000-05:00

I have to say that Dinu Lipatti is amazing. Despite this fact, I could not enjoy Liszt nor Bartók, as I expected (due to my taste of authors, of course). But Busoni's adaptation for piano of Bach's BWV 1052 - Concerto for harpsichord No.1 in D minor in the hands of Dinu Lipatti is just sublime. Name Key Catalogue Musicians Observations JS Bach: Concerto for harpsichord #1DmBWV 1052Eduard van

Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps, L'oiseau de feu, u.a.

2010-08-01T14:16:00.000-05:00

I feel this music more as being incidental... or spatial. It is more of sensation evocation, rather than emotions... more a music for the skin, than a music for the heart or mind. In an earlier version of this same post I wrote I (ashamed to confess, as usual :*( ) did not find a particular connection to Le Sacre du Printemps. Conversely, I even feel relieved when I listened to L'oiseau de feu.

Bartók: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra #1,#2

2010-06-26T18:12:00.001-05:00

Béla Bartók's work is always quite compact. There is no waste of space or time. Play of the first concerto is so hasty, that I personally cannot find the subtle interpretation I am used to expecting from Pollini (and I am sure it is because of my simpleness in taste). But thankfully he makes up for it in the 2nd one, especially in the second movement. On other topic, the swirling of the

Shostakovich: Cello Concertos #1,2; Satires

2010-06-26T15:43:00.002-05:00

If one read the booklet included in this Yedang CD, written by Boris Gontarev, one would think this is a marvelous product. He speaks so warmly about all the (major) musicians involved... Alas, my opinion is much lesser than that. Yet, both concerti are a playful way of developing a lyrical theme, quite melodic in fact. Regardless, these concertos are necessary in a good music collection.

Beethoven: Violin Concerto; 2 Romances

2010-06-16T14:19:00.000-05:00

I must say that I was not thrilled by this CD. I mean, the pieces are fantastic, and the small orchestration allows for details that are not usually available in other more modern big philharmonic interpretations. Like the flute in the 3rd movement that is always hidden, or at least from me, in other versions. I personally think the cadenza is too ornamented and not in the same spirit as the

Brahms: Piano Concertos

2010-06-15T22:22:00.000-05:00

This is a fantastic CD from Deutsche Grammophon. Great virtuosismo and expressiveness. The orchestra is soft and full in the 2nd concerto. Supreme combination of Claudio Abbado and Maurizio Pollini. Then I listened to the Tragic Ouverture, which was new to me. Energetic and melodic, delightful. Lastly I would comment on the beauty of the first and third movements of the 1st concerto. All

New 4-column Template

2010-06-09T16:52:00.001-05:00

I thought I should write a small post commemorating the advance this blog has suffered today. It went from a 2-column template to being 4-column. This was motivated because of the integration and new tools that Amazon and Blogger now offer. Plus I now have a Google click-through, as well as a sell via Amazon. Thanks to those two benefactors, I am 1/10th of a US dollar richer. ;-) I eliminated

Maestros de la Música Clásica (Aguilar)

2010-06-09T11:13:00.000-05:00

I have almost ended gathering the Aguilar: Grandes maestros de la música clásica collection. It is a collection that started as a set of 25 CD's, later became 35, and finally concluded as 40 CD's. Each CD costs less than 3USD, and have some excellent performances. The selection of authors and pieces makes every CD, when not an instant favorite (especially for beginners or education), sure a good

Haydn: Symphonies 94 "Surprise" & 96 "Miracle"

2010-06-09T00:07:00.000-05:00

This is a simple CD. Easy listening of very courtly music. It will be quite familiar to most listeners, and one cannot go wrong giving this Decca CD as a gift. Christopher Hogwood directs (and plays the fortepiano) the Academy of Ancient Music on authentic instruments of the period. Name Key Catalogue Musicians Observations Symphony #96D"Miracle"Adagio - Allegro Andante Menueto & Trio:

Dvořák: Piano Works Played on Dvořák's Own Bösendorfer Piano

2009-09-27T20:17:00.003-05:00

I personally did not like this alto CD. I am not someone that enjoys the idolatry of a person nor its objects; so even listening to a 1879 piano belonging to the composer, did not light my imagination.Radoslav Kvapil is too harsh for my taste, but according to his biography he certainly has the qualifications to interpret these in his own way. The listener must decide.1-8 Humoresques, Op.1019-13

Chopin:Préludes/Impromptus

2009-09-22T09:13:00.006-05:00

I might be saying a blasphemy, and I declare myself guilty. But this is the best CD I have found to be working, while listening to it. They are so varied and melodious. Sweet or strong, energetic or reflexive. Beautiful interpretations by Claudio Arrau. In this Philips/Decca CD, Arrau plays Chopin, with recordings from 1974 and 1981. 24 Préludes, Op.28C Am G Em D Bm A F#m E C#m B G#m F# E#m Db