Album of the Evening

[Musicophile]

 

Glenn Gould: French Suites vol. 2 (remaster)

[BacHolz]

From Linn in multiple formats

 

Markku Luolajan-Mikkola

J.S. Bach: Complete Sonatas

Performed on a Baroque cello.

 

 

Purists might protest the choice of instruments, but I don't know enough to know better.

His skills are up to the challenge and his cello sounds superb on my humble system.

[cjf]

Time to stretch the legs a bit and cut some rug

 

 

 

[master]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27364[/ATTACH]

 

Played that a few nights ago... so many hits on that album and Bobby was a regular on my playlist.

 

 

Stepping back into the time machine...

[accwai]

From Linn in multiple formats

 

Markku Luolajan-Mikkola

J.S. Bach: Complete Sonatas

Performed on a Baroque cello.

 

[...] His skills are up to the challenge [...]

 

Hmm... Bach's solo violin partitas and sonatas are quite a bit more difficult than the cello suites to start with. Then it's played on an instrument that is significantly less agile than violin. The guy's insane In any case, album of the evening:

 

Jacques de Gallot: Pièces de Luth

Hopkinson Smith

 

[Musicophile]

Streaming from Qobuz, while watching Wales v. Belgium with half an eye and no sound.

 

[BacHolz]

Hmm... Bach's solo violin partitas and sonatas are quite a bit more difficult than the cello suites to start with. Then it's played on an instrument that is significantly less agile than violin. The guy's insane In any case, album of the evening:

 

Jacques de Gallot: Pièces de Luth

Hopkinson Smith

 

 

My thoughts indeed and I didn't know the artist but learned that he's won a Grammy or two and the reviews were largely favorable.

Maria Nockin in Fanfare wrote;

 

"Some of the passages that require flying fingers from the violinist are even more difficult on the Baroque cello, but his superlative technique overcomes these steep odds. I think he enjoys the challenge of the faster passages while letting the exquisite polish of his artistry come through in the slower, more thoughtful moments. He shapes the musical lines exquisitely and they express thoughts that defy translation into words."

 

 

In the end, I liked what I heard and will enjoy this recording as it's artistry reveals itself.

That's a Smith releasee that I don't have, many thanks...

[EuroChamp]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27305[/ATTACH]

 

Chopin: Etudes. Vigorous, energetic performances by Maurizio Pollini.

 

The sound, from a 24/96 Qobuz download (remaster), is vivid and clear, but a bit unpleasantly clangy.

 

I really like Pollinis 2014 Beethoven Opp. 31/49 in 24/96

 

My album of today is a new buy of the Mendelssohn violin concerto again. This is historical (1944-1960), which again stands for a Heifetz performance second to none - and Pristine Audio XR mastered these masterpieces with great care.

 

https://www.pristineclassical.com/pasc278.html

 

Heifetz plays Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto [24_48]

 

The album consists of three versions of the same concerto:

 

Recording No. 1 (mono/Ambient Stereo):

NBC Symphony Orchestra

conductor Arturo Toscanini

recorded 9th April, 1944

 

Recording No. 2 (mono/Ambient Stereo):

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

conductor Sir Thomas Beecham

recorded 10th June, 1949

 

Recording No. 3 (Stereo):

Boston Symphony Orchestra

conductor Charles Munch

recorded 23rd February, 1959

 

[accwai]

My thoughts indeed and I didn't know the artist but learned that he's won a Grammy or two and the reviews were largely favorable.

Maria Nockin in Fanfare wrote;

 

"Some of the passages that require flying fingers from the violinist are even more difficult on the Baroque cello, but his superlative technique overcomes these steep odds. I think he enjoys the challenge of the faster passages while letting the exquisite polish of his artistry come through in the slower, more thoughtful moments. He shapes the musical lines exquisitely and they express thoughts that defy translation into words."

 

In the end, I liked what I heard and will enjoy this recording as it's artistry reveals itself.

 

Yes, the video for the Grave from Sonata #2

is just exquisite. That's probably the best place for this type of treatment. Also took a quick listen to the sample of Double Preso from Partita #1 on the Linn page. Feels a little funny there. Intonation related? The sample is quite short so really hard to say. But that moment is probably worst case scenario. Haven't listened to sample of the fuges, but from the duration, looks like they're all taken somewhat slow. Those are the real nasties in the set I'm told.

 

In the end, all these would likely be moot point--I just love oddities. Thanks for pointing out

 

That's a Smith release that I don't have, many thanks...

 

You're very welcome. Now a different kind of violin music:

 

Kalyani L. Subramaniam

 

[master]

[BacHolz]

Yes, the video for the Grave from Sonata #2

is just exquisite. That's probably the best place for this type of treatment. Also took a quick listen to the sample of Double Preso from Partita #1 on the Linn page. Feels a little funny there. Intonation related? The sample is quite short so really hard to say. But that moment is probably worst case scenario. Haven't listened to sample of the fuges, but from the duration, looks like they're all taken somewhat slow. Those are the real nasties in the set I'm told.

 

In the end, all these would likely be moot point--I just love oddities. Thanks for pointing out

 

Your welcome, sharing is caring. Pieces that I'm familiar with can sound odd when heard anew in a different timbre.

As to the pace, I can't fault him for expressing a bit of license with slower tempi given the inherent challenges of this transcription.

 

As the Fanfare review noted;

"Luolajan-Mikkola's tempos are slow, and anyone who is looking for a fast cello rendition of the violin partitas and sonatas will be disappointed. The beauty of this interpretation is its contemplative spirit."

[christopher3393]

Guillaume Dufay (1397-1474):

Music for St Anthony of Padua

The Binchois Consort, Andrew Kirkman

 

 

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/notes/55271-B.pdf

[Musicophile]

Brahms: Cello Sonatas - Marie-Elisabeth Hecker - Martin Helmchen

 

 

Outstanding. See my review here: https://musicophilesblog.wordpress.com/2016/07/02/recommended-brahms-cello-sonatas-by-marie-elisabeth-hecker/?iframe=true&theme_preview=true

[Jud]

Brahms: Cello Sonatas - Marie-Elisabeth Hecker - Martin Helmchen

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27389[/ATTACH]

 

Outstanding. See my review here: https://musicophilesblog.wordpress.com/2016/07/02/recommended-brahms-cello-sonatas-by-marie-elisabeth-hecker/?iframe=true&theme_preview=true

 

*Very* interesting. Bach and cello are a favorite combination - will definitely be checking this out, thank you.

[Musicophile]

*Very* interesting. Bach and cello are a favorite combination - will definitely be checking this out, thank you.

 

Sorry to disappoint potentially, but this is Brahms...

[Guidof]

Brahms: Cello Sonatas - Marie-Elisabeth Hecker - Martin Helmchen

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27389[/ATTACH]

 

Outstanding. See my review here: https://musicophilesblog.wordpress.com/2016/07/02/recommended-brahms-cello-sonatas-by-marie-elisabeth-hecker/?iframe=true&theme_preview=true

 

Outstanding indeed!

[Jud]

Sorry to disappoint potentially, but this is Brahms...

 

A minor detail! (But seriously, I am still quite excited to check it out.)

[jiminlogansquare]

Durand Jones & The Indications

 

Just released July 1, this is soul music played and recorded live that's just explosively awesome. I can't wipe the smile off my face. What a great album this is.

[master]

 

Folks before Auto-Tune could sing... I mean really sing.

 

Powerful vocals, simple arrangements in pop, R&B, soul, etc. make this an outstanding debut.

[Musicophile]

Not a big Haydn symphony fan in general, but I never give up trying:

 

 

This one is actually quite nice (redbook from Qobuz)

[Kelly]

 

Great playing and great album.

[Booster MPS]

Brahms: Cello Sonatas - Marie-Elisabeth Hecker - Martin Helmchen

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27389[/ATTACH]

 

Outstanding. See my review here: https://musicophilesblog.wordpress.com/2016/07/02/recommended-brahms-cello-sonatas-by-marie-elisabeth-hecker/?iframe=true&theme_preview=true

 

Oh my! Wonderful. I just can't keep up with your recommendations. Please, please, enough with the great music already!

[Priaptor]

Brahms: Cello Sonatas - Marie-Elisabeth Hecker - Martin Helmchen

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27389[/ATTACH]

 

Outstanding. See my review here: https://musicophilesblog.wordpress.com/2016/07/02/recommended-brahms-cello-sonatas-by-marie-elisabeth-hecker/?iframe=true&theme_preview=true

 

Regardless of our differing POV on other things, this is ultimately a music site and just want to thank you for turning me on to some great music. As I have said before, I am no aficionado on classical music and find your recommendations superb and one of the highlights of this forum. Loved this one and have already listened to it three times.

 

Thanks

[BacHolz]

Last night's SACD listen

 

Armenian Spirit (Esprit d'Arménie)

Jordi Savall & Hesperion XXI

 

 

It had been a long, tiring day and I was tired. Several tracks later I found myself

drifting off and this music took me to delightful foreign lands in my hypnagogic reverie.

[Musicophile]

Oh my! Wonderful. I just can't keep up with your recommendations. Please, please, enough with the great music already!

 

Feel free to put me on your ignore list!