What are you listening to?

[mcq]

Many thanks, Sean, that's very kind.

[Seán]

Not only I, but Goethe, Haydn, Karl Böhm, Charles Dutoit, Sören Kierkegaard, Arthur Rubinstein, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Ferenc Fricsay, Eugéne Delacroix, Johannes Brahms, Anton Bruckner, Giuseppe Verdi, Lucchino Visconti, Ingmar Bergman and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau among many others thought so.

Once Rossini was asked who was the greatest composer, he answered: Beethoven, and when asked about Mozart he said: Mozart was not a composer, he was Music itself.

Who am I to argue with them? Was any thought given to Bach I wonder? I must say that I have mentioned Mahler, Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, et al, on other forums and on Facebook too and none elicits the adoration that Bach attracts.

No composer ever was more celebrated (concerts, recordings, lectures, expositions, etc) than Mozart in the 1992 Bicentennial, not even Bach in 1985.
Mozart is the most recorded composer ever, and the one most often recorded.
He also was #1 in a survey among the USA top symphony orchestras of who was their favorite composer.

And did you know that Mahler´s last word before he died was "Mozart"?

I didn't know that, perhaps he saw the face of God? ;)

[Ciaran]

Das Lied von der Erde, which is perhaps Mahler's finest single achievement, is given a transcendent performance of great depth and emotional sweep, beautifully sung by Violeta Urmana and Michael Schade, and informed throughout by Boulez's trademark clarity of line in which each phrase is lovingly sculpted and every nuance in the score gently teased out for maximum expressivity.

I agree: I remember being bowled over by Boulez's Das Lied when it first came out. I still think it's probably the best I've heard. His recordings of the orchestral songs are irresistible too.

[Jose Echenique]

Das Lied von der Erde, which is perhaps Mahler's finest single achievement, is given a transcendent performance of great depth and emotional sweep, beautifully sung by Violeta Urmana and Michael Schade, and informed throughout by Boulez's trademark clarity of line in which each phrase is lovingly sculpted and every nuance in the score gently teased out for maximum expressivity.

I agree: I remember being bowled over by Boulez's Das Lied when it first came out. I still think it's probably the best I've heard. His recordings of the orchestral songs are irresistible too.

Oh Lord, have you heard Bruno Walter´s Das Lied von der Erde with Kathleen Ferrier? or Klemperer´s with Christa Ludwig? and what about Haitink´s with Janet Baker?

[DaveF]

[Seán]

Das Lied von der Erde, which is perhaps Mahler's finest single achievement, is given a transcendent performance of great depth and emotional sweep, beautifully sung by Violeta Urmana and Michael Schade, and informed throughout by Boulez's trademark clarity of line in which each phrase is lovingly sculpted and every nuance in the score gently teased out for maximum expressivity.

I agree: I remember being bowled over by Boulez's Das Lied when it first came out. I still think it's probably the best I've heard. His recordings of the orchestral songs are irresistible too.

Oh Lord, have you heard Bruno Walter´s Das Lied von der Erde with Kathleen Ferrier? or Klemperer´s with Christa Ludwig? and what about Haitink´s with Janet Baker?

Haitink's is wonderful, it's my favourite. I have the Klemperer, Reiner, Bertini, Rosbaud and Runnicles, I have yet to listen (attentively) to the Klemperer, Reiner, Rosbaud and Bertini.

[fergus]

Had a Renaissance music session earlier, suitably on vinyl LOL!








That second LP is riotously wonderful in places with a real party like atmosphere on a number of tracks!

[Peter]

Oh Lord, have you heard Bruno Walter´s Das Lied von der Erde with Kathleen Ferrier? or Klemperer´s with Christa Ludwig? and what about Haitink´s with Janet Baker?

I simply adore Ferrier's voice and, like you, find her work with Mahler astounding in its reach into the sublime. Quite a recording!

[Peter]

Had a Renaissance music session earlier, suitably on vinyl LOL!








That second LP is riotously wonderful in places with a real party like atmosphere on a number of tracks!

That seems like a fabulous evening. I hope you had plenty of wine to accompany your Renaissance romp!

[Peter]

Listening to Rooley's Monteverdi:



Had a great time earlier listening to Verdi's Aida (Callas/Tucker/Gobi/Serafin [EMI}). I was comparing it to Tebaldi's Aida, but I must say that I prefer Callas in the role. There is just something about her voice. I think I have a severe crush on her voice at the moment.