Hello everyone,
In the spirit of the old Primephonic community page, and with the encouragement of our indefatigable admin @capriccio (aka Rose Vines) that we could indeed replicate some of the old topics we used to discuss in the golden days of Primephonic,
What are you listening to tonight?
Let's share the most recent album(s)/ work(s) we did/ are going to listen to.
Let me begin 🙋♀️
I've been lately listening to this postmodern composition, Nyx, by Esa-Pekka Salonen:
https://app.idagio.com/albums/e441169d-51fe-45fa-9662-44beb5273c10?trackId=20265796
https://music.apple.com/eg/album/nyx/1005881851?i=1005883673&ls
Now, I'm not terribly fond of postmodern classical music (or postmodern art in general), and I've been racking my brain trying to understand this piece. Gradually, and after many many listens, I found some vestiges of the shadowy goddess of the night in Maestro Salonen's creation.
Still, it's not my cup of tea (I prefer mine stongly melodious, something postmodernist music most certainly is not!), but I can now appreciate it somehow. And who knows? Maybe this would be my gate to the realm of postmodern art🤷♀️.
Here's the composer's own words about Nyx:
https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/46218/Nyx--Esa-Pekka-Salonen/
Cheerio 🤗,
Dinah
I struggle with this type of music, too. However, if I'm first introduced to a piece live, I'm often far more receptive. There's something about that live concert experience, with so much to absorb by multiple senses, that makes me open up and take the music on. I'd have to say, though, that this piece by Esa-Pekka Salonen is unlikely to go on my evening playlist.
I agree entirely: it’s so much easier to appreciate music that is ‘difficult’ or very unfamiliar to my ears, if I first hear it in concert. Especially when one of the performers introduces the work beforehand.
But I love a challenge, and will listen to Nyx on a future evening!
This evening, though, I’m planning to be on familiar ground with Nevermind’s recording of Telemann’s Paris Quartets:
Telemann: Quatuors Parisiens | Stream on IDAGIO
These are among my favourite of Telemann’s works, and what a treat, yesterday, to stumble across this recording after enjoying Nevermind’s new release of CPE Bach and wondering: who is Nevermind?
How could I not know this work by Telemann, Jen? It is exquisite.
I really need to push past my predilection for larger-scale works, choral works and concertos, and delve into small ensembles. I think this might be my time to get into quartets.
Last night, I listened to Sergei Taneyev's Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 30. (Deutsche Grammophon 4775419). Tonight, I plan on listening to his piano trio, also on the same CD.
Oh, for a link, here's one to the second movement which is the one that hooked me when I first heard the piece on Primephonic's weekly suggestion list:
Love Taneyev!
I've been listening to Bach organ music today. Highlights have included the chorale prelude on "O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß" BWV 622 (especially the powerful, chromatic final 30 seconds)
and the magnificent Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor BWV 582
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/passacaglia-in-c-minor-bwv-582/1452163100?i=1452163850
Tonight it's clarinet concertos, etc. by Weber and Rossini. Joyous music throughout. (This was the first CD we bought ... my wife heard it on the radio and went to the shop (as one did in those days) and bought it ... before we even had a CD player.)
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/weber-clarinet-concertos-rossini-introduction-theme/1452630691
Tonight it's clarinet concertos, etc. by Weber and Rossini...
Ha! I'll be listening to clarinet concertos as well-- Phibbs and Mozart. (Well, depending on when I get start, it may just be one of them.)
FYI, the Phibbs is a piece that was suggested to me on Primephonic (RIP!) and was in insta-love.
Tonight Idagio presented me with this delectable morsel:
https://app.idagio.com/albums/vous-avez-dit-brunettes?trackId=41131767
@capriccio that looks so cute. And the titles inside are quite interesting. Might give it a try myself 🤔
Tonight I shall listen again to Winterreise sung by Christine Schäfer with Eric Schneider. This has been one of my great discoveries of the past year. At first I found the sound of the soprano in these very familiar songs rather shrill and her performance of the first song too quick and seemingly understated. However, I quickly got used to her voice and I now find her shaping of the whole cycle totally convincing. For a sample of the power of her performance (and the greatness of the music) try tracks 5, 6 and 7.
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/schubert-winterreise/202505693
Tonight (prompted by @Capriccio's mention of Mendelssohn in another thread) I shall listen to his wonderfully invigorating octet. Is there any more amazing music written by a teenager? (Gretchen am Spinnrade and Erlkönig perhaps; but what else?)
This version was recommended in a Gramophone article on top Mendelssohn recordings.
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/mendelssohn-octet-op-20/277539539?ls
