What classical music did you listen to today?

[White Knight]

Antonin Dvorak--Symphony No.6 in D Major, Op.60; Symphony No.2 in B-Flat Major, Op.4 and Symphony No.4 in D Minor, Op. 13. All three symphonies are performed by the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Witold Rowicki.
Anton Bruckner--Symphony No.4 in E-Flat Major {"Romantic"}, featuring Herbert von Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker.
Ludwig Van Beethoven--Symphony No.7 in A Major, Op.92 and Symphony No.8 in F Major, Op.93, once again traversed by Herbert von Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker.
Ludwig Van Beethoven--Symphony No.5 in C Minor, Op.67 and Symphony No.7 in A Major, Op.92, both featuring the Carlos Kleiber led Vienna Philharmonic.

 

[wljmrbill]

Currently watching Great Performances on PBS of La Boheme from the Metropolitan Opera Series.

 

[White Knight]

Anton Bruckner--Symphony No.6 in A Major and Symphony No.8 in C Minor, both performed by the Herbert von karajan led Berliner Philharmoniker. The Sixth is truly majestic, whilst the Eighth--clocking in at some 57 minutes or so--has to be one of Bruckner's "shorter" symphonies; however, it is no less magnificent, with its terse and powerful three movement structure.
Ludwig Van Beethoven--Symphony No.2 in D Major, Op.36 and Symphony No.4 in B Major, Op.60, once again featuring Maestro Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker.
Antonin Dvorak--Symphony No.6 in D Major, Op.60; Symphony No.2 in B-Flat Major, Op.4 and Symphony No.4 in D Minor. All three symphonies are passionately traversed by Witold Rowicki and the London Symphony Orchestra.

 

[White Knight]

Carl Nielsen--Symphony No.1 in G Minor, Op.7 and Symphony No.2, Op.16 {"The Four Temperaments"}, both performed by the Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra under Theodore Kuchar.
Carl Nielsen--Symphony No.1 in G Minor, Op.7; Symphony No.2, Op.16 {"The Four Temperaments"}; Symphony No.4, Op.29 {"Inextinguishable"} and Symphony No.5, Op.50. All four works feature the Ole Schmidt led London Symphony Orchestra. I find the Schmidt/LSO traversals of Nielsen 1 and 2 to be far more passionate than those of Kuchar and the Janacek Philharmonic.
Carl Nielsen--Symphony No.4, Op.29 {"The Inextinguishable"} and Symphony No.5, Op.50, both featuring the Danish National Symphony Orchestra under Michael Schonwandt.For my money, there are no better readings anywhere of two of the most seminal symphonies written in the last century.
Pyotr Chaikovskii--Symphony No.1 in G Minor, Op.13 {"Winter Daydreams"}; Symphony No.2 in C Minor, Op.17 {"Little Russian"} and Symphony No.3 in D Major, Op.29 {"Polish"}. All three works are passionately traversed by Maestro Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic.

 

[Dorsetmike]

Had the misfortune to catch part of "this week's top 30" on Classic FM, one of Einaudi's efforts, not played by him for a change, nor on a tinkly piano but by a harpist who managed to actually put some expression into the piece, I actually left the radio on while it played, usually Einaudi = switch off for me. Reasonable renditions of Brandenburg 3 and "Variations on a theme by Thomas Tallis" were then followed by a movement from Bruckner's 9th which did nothing for me but spoil the feeling left by the preceeding works.

 

[White Knight]

Dmitri Shostakovich--Symphony No.1, Op.10 and Symphony No.7 in C Major, Op.60 {"Leningrad"}, both works featuring the Leonard Bernstein led Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Dmitri Shostakovich--Symphony No.7 in C Major, Op.60 {"Leningrad"}, on this occasion performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Bernard Haitnik.
During my darkest recent days post-op in the hospital and rehab, the defiant opening strains of this great symphony rang in my mind, helping me to fend off the post-op depression I was experiencing due to many factors, amongst them numerous pain-killers and various other factors. I am now home, fully recovered, and ready to fight again!
Carl Nielsen--Symphony No.4, Op.29 {"Inextinguishable"} and Symphony No.5, Op.50, both traversed by Michael Schonwandt and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra.
Jean Sibelius--Symphony No.1 in E Minor, Op.39 and Symphony No.4 in A Minor, Op.63, both featuring Paavo Berglund and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

 

[White Knight]

Antonin Dvorak--Symphony No.8 in G Major, Op.88, featuring Herbert Blomstedt and the Staatskapelle Dresden.
Franz Schubert--Symphony No.6 in C Major, D 589, once again performed by the Herbert Blomstedt led Staatskapelle Dresden.
Ludwig Van Beethoven--Symphony No.1 in C Major, Op.21 and Symphony No.6 in F Major, Op.68 {"Pastoral"}, both traversed by the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell.
Ludwig Van Beethoven--Symphony No.3 in E-Flat Major, Op.55 {Eroica"} and Symphony No.8 in F Major, Op.93, once again featuring Maestro Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra.
Dmitri Shostakovich--Symphony No.8 in C Minor, Op.47, performed by the Vasily Petrenko led Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
The more I listen to the works of Schubert, the more it strikes me how similar he at times sounds like Beethoven.

 

[White Knight]

Dmitri Shostakovich--Symphony No.6 in B Minor, Op.54 and Symphony No.12 in in D Minor, Op.112 {"The Year 1917"},
both featuring the Vasily Petrenko led Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
Dmitri Shostakovich--Symphony No.7 in C Major, Op.60 {"Leningrad"}, once again traversed by Maestro Petrenko and the RLPO.
Dmitri Shostakovich--Symphony No.10 in E Minor, Op.93, performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker under Herbert von Karajan.
Vaughan Williams--A London Symphony; A Pastoral Symphony; Symphony No.4 and Symphony No.6.All four pieces feature Adrian Boult and the London Philharmonic and New Philharmonia Orchestras.
Since my release from the hospital and physical rehab some three weeks ago for major back surgery, I have seemed to be in the mood for haunting, dramatic and "heavy" 20th Century Symphonies; these composers and the aforementioned works fit the bill precisely.
Next up will most probably be some Nielsen, Bruckner and Mahler!

 

[White Knight]

Even in my dotage, I try to be a man of my word. So, in keeping with this precept, and in a continuation of my "styrm und drang" type of mood, tonight I listened to the following, as promised:
Carl Nielsen--Symphony No.4, Op.29 {"The Inextinguishable"} and Symphony No.5, Op.50, both featuring Michael Schonwandt and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. For my money, these two symphonies are among the most powerful and passionate works ever composed.
Anton Bruckner--Symphony No.6 in A Major and Symphony No.9 in D Minor, both traversed by the Herbert von karajan led Berliner Philharmoniker.
Gustav Mahler--Symphony No.6 in A Minor {"Tragic"} and Symphony No.9 in D, both performed by the New York Philharmonic under Maestro Bernstein. As with the two Nielsen Symphonies just alluded to, these two from Mahler also enjoy honored places in my pantheon of great 20th Century works.
Dmitri Shostakovich--Symphony No.11 in G Minor, Op.103 {"The Year 1905"}, featuring Vasily Petrenko at the helm of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. The natives are indeed restless tonight, as well they should be.

 

[JHC]

Well said Steve now I will act like a minimalist for a minimalist work

3 Gymnopedies composed by the French Erik Satie.

 

[White Knight]

On Spotify:

Dmitri Shostakovich--SQ # 4 in D, Op.83 and SQ # 5 in B- Flat Major, Op.92, both performed by the Shostakovich Quartet.
Paul Hindemith--Symphonie "Mathis Der Maler", featuring Herbert Blomstedt and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
First go round with the Hindemith, whilst the Shostakovich is a continuation of my recent rather dark moods and feelings. A perfect combination, I'd say.

 

[JHC]

On Spotify:

Dmitri Shostakovich--SQ # 4 in D, Op.83 and SQ # 5 in B- Flat Major, Op.92, both performed by the Shostakovich Quartet.

Ay Ay Steve and chamber music ?...? I never thought you would make it. very well done old chap :cheers::cheers:

 

[White Knight]

Joseph Haydn--Symphony No.100 in G Major {"Military"} and Symphony No.102 in B-Flat Major, both traversed by the Dennis Russell Davies led Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart--Symphony No.35 in D Major, K.385 {"Haffner"}; Symphony No.36 in C Major, K.425 {"Linz"} and Symphony No.38 in D Major, K.504 {"Prague"}. All three works feature Herbert von Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart--Symphony No.28 in C, K.200; Symphony No.33 in B-Flat Major, K.319 and Symphony No.35 in D, K.385 {"Haffner"}. For these performances, all three symphonies are performed by the Cleveland orchestra under the baton of Maestro Szell.

 

[White Knight]

Ay Ay Steve and chamber music ?...? I never thought you would make it. very well done old chap :cheers::cheers:

Yes, Colin, I have enjoyed his string quartets for quite some time now, finding them to reflect--on a somewhat smaller scale--the "Sturm und Drang" of his larger symphonic works, especially SQS # 4, 5 and 8.

 

[White Knight]

Dmitri Shostakovich--Symphony No.11 in G Minor, Op.103 {"The Year 1905"}, performed by the Vasily Petrenko led RLPO.
Antonin Dvorak--Symphony No.8 in G Major, Op.88, traversed by Herbert Blomstedt and the Staatskapelle Dresden.
Franz Schubert--Symphony No.6 in C Major, D 589, once again featuring the Staatskapelle Dresden under Maestro Blomstedt.
Felix Mendelssohn--Symphony No.3 in A Minor, Op.56 {"Scottish"} and Symphony No.4 in A Major, Op.90, both done by the Herbert von Karajan led Berliner Philharmoniker.

 

[Mat]

I have been discovering the music of Gustav Holst, beyond The Planets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz8wjnRKHfU

 

[JHC]

The Cotswolds were in my backyard and had some of the best beer at the time :cheers:the many small villages were so pretty and took you back to the time when communities were staunch a very beautiful part of Britain.
The music has the sound that conveys the british countryside to a Tee along with Elgar and VW Holst is one of Englands fine sons.

 

[White Knight]

Dmitri Shostakovich--Symphony No.10 in E Minor, Op.93, traversed by the Herbert von Karajan led Berliner Philharmoniker.
Franz Schubert--Symphony No.3 in D Major, D 82; Symphony No.5 in B-Flat Major, D 485 and Symphony No.8 in B Minor, D 759 {"Unfinished"}. All three works feature Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Antonin Dvorak--Symphony No.3 in E-Flat Major, Op.10 and Symphony No.5 in F Major, Op.76, both performed by the London Symphony Orchestra under Witold Rowicki.

 

[White Knight]

Jean Sibelius--Symphony No.5 in E-Flat, Op.82; Symphony No.6 in D Minor, Op.104 and Symphony No.7 in C, Op.105. All three works are traversed by Lorin Maazel and the Vienna Philharmonic. With winter barreling down on the East Coast--at least in New York--what better composer {except perhaps for Nielsen, whom I also adore} to usher in its imminent arrival?
Sergei Prokofiev--Symphony No.3 in C Minor, Op.44; Symphony No.4 in C Major, Op.112; Symphony No.1 in D Major, Op.25 {"Classical"} and Symphony No.6 in E-Flat Minor, Op.111. All four symphonies feature the Seiji Ozawa led Berliner Philharmoniker.
Dmitri Shostakovich--Symphony No.1, Op.10 and Symphony No.7 in C Major, Op.60 {"Leningrad"}, both performed by the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein.
Dmitri Shostakovich--Symphony No.7 in C Major, Op.60 {"Leningrad"}, this rendition featuring Bernard Haitink and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Upon my last listening to both the Bernstein and the Haitink readings of this work, I found the Haitink to be more passionate and nuanced than that of Maestro Bernstein. I am just interested in seeing--or hearing--if I still react the same way to both interpretations this time around.

 

[Contratrombone64]

The marvellous organ of St. John the Divine, New York City.