What classical music did you listen to today?

[Sybarite]

The Shostakovich jazz album from yesterday; then a magazine compilation of Gershwin's Cuban Overture, Darius Milhaud's La Création du Monde, 2nd tableau, Debussy's Première Rapsodie, the Shostakovich Jazz Suite No1, Thelonius Monk 'Round Midnight sung by Ute Lemper, Ravel's Sonata for violin and piano – Blues and the presto from Piano Concerto in G, Duke Ellington's The River – IV Lake, Bartók's Contrasts – III Sebes (Bartók is on piano, accompanied by Joseph Szigeti on violin and Benny Goodman in clarinet), and Stravinsky's Ragtime for 11 Instruments (conducted by the composer). Some fascinating stuff there.

Sibelius's second symphony (Vienna Phil, Leonard Bernstein) and Bruckner's seventh symphony (Vienna Phil, HvK – the final recording).

[Sybarite]

Hi Sybarite,

... If you like oboe works, you may also like Poulenc`s Sonata for Oboe and Piano...

Well, Rojo, I found a copy today – on this disc – during a most enjoyable jaunt down to Oxford Street.

Many thanks – very nice. Coincidentally, the sonata that you recommended was written the year that I was born.

Braving the sales crowds, my trip also produced Mozart's piano concertos – a nine-disc set (plus bonus live CD of the concertos for two and three pianos) by the Berlin Phil, with Barenboim.

Albinoni's oboe and violin concertos – I Solisiti Veneti, conducted by Claudio Scimone.

Weill's Kleine Dreigroschenmusik, Mahagonny Songspiel, Happy End, Berliner Requiem, Pantomime I, Death in the Forest and Violin Concerto.

Bruckner's sixth symphony – London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Colin Davis.

John Adams's The Dharma at Big Sur and My Father Knew Charles Ives – BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John Adams.

This lot was all at daft prices – ie incredibly cheap. It's proving a great deal more affordable to build my library than I would have imagined.

(Plus Milos Forman's Amadeus for only a fraction more than the cost of a point of beer)

[Kromme]

Furtwaengler's complete Beethoven symphonic cycle.He is good,very very good.My favourites of the cycle are the 1st,3rd,9th but the absolute thriller is the fifth.He uses a very slow tempo but still manages to be alive and this is the version to listen alongside with Carlos Kleiber's account.

[rojo]

Well, Rojo, I found a copy today – on this disc – during a most enjoyable jaunt down to Oxford Street.

Many thanks – very nice. Coincidentally, the sonata that you recommended was written the year that I was born.

So glad you enjoyed it, Sybarite.

That disc looks very good; Maurice Bourgue is a fine oboist. Of course, the piece with Menuhin must be great. The Trio is a wonderful work as well. Actually, probably all those pieces are good...

Sounds like you hit the jackpot today!

[rojo]

Kromme- I like B`s 1st (and 3,5,6,9) a lot as well, even though I don`t think it`s a fave with most people.

[Kromme]

Well Beethovens 1st is not as popular as his some others but i like it very much.It is Mozartian with an endless melodical beauty and Furtwangler does th best out of several versions i listened

[Kromme]

Beethovens 9th Karajan&Wiener Philharmo****r.Fine performance but requires digital remastering badly

[Kromme]

Now listening to another account of Beethoven's 9th.This time by George Szell & Cleveland Orchestra.Interpretation,orchestral playing and sound is fine but i prefer the tempo to be a little slower

[Ouled Nails]

Gustav Holst: Sommerset Rhapsody; Beni Mora; Invocation for Cello and Orchestra; Fugal Overture; Egdon Heath; Hammersmith.

Giacinto Scelsi: 11 short pieces for different instruments.

Goffredo Petrassi: Sonata da Camera for harpsichord and ten instruments; Beatitudines; Grand Septuor; Sestina d'automno.

Next on my agenda!
Benjamin Britten: Four Sea Interludes, Passacaglia, an American Overture, Sinfonia da Requiem.

[Kromme]

I am going to listen to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Richard Strauss in 3 hours time by Simon Rattle and Berliner Philharmo****r in theri new years eve concert.I hope tihs time i like it

[Kromme]

Well Simon Rattle's approach to Der Rosenkavalier and Don Juan was fine but his re-orchestration and changes of Eljen A Magjar really ruined it all.I hope one day he will accept works as they are and try not to ruin them.
Piano concerto was briliant.

[Sybarite]

More of the Barenboim Mozart – lovely.

And Richard Strauss's Also Sprach Zarathustra – first time I've listened to it on the full stereo (and not on my MP3 or the computer); the second movement reduced me to tears, it's the most voluptuous piece of music that I've ever heard; gloriously, fabulously lush.

[Wunderhorn]

Bruckner's 3rd, Mahler's 5th and Daeseke's 3rd

[Ouled Nails]

Josef Haydn, The Creation-Representation of Chaos;
Wilhelm Stenhammar, Symphony no. 2; Excelsior!;
Alberto Ginastera, Popol Vuh;
John Corigliano, Symphony no.1;
Bechara El-Khoury, Dance of the Eagles; The Gods of the Earth; Night and the Fool; Requiem for Orchestra; Lebanon in Flames; The Contemplation of Christ.

[Kromme]

Strauss family by Zubin Mehta and Wiener Philharmo****r.How did Zubin manage to be boring i have no idea.I want the joy of last year and the year before and 2 years ago and actually all other new years concerts back