Recent posts

#21

Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: Sinding Violin Sonatas 1-3

Last post by Mark Thomas - Yesterday at 07:42

Mine too. It's on the list.

#22

Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: Saint-Saëns: Déjanire

Last post by eschiss1 - Yesterday at 03:59

That's what I'd expect the composer of his two string quartets (both late works) and 2nd violin and cello sonatas (which I enjoy- I definitely prefer the 2nd violin sonata to the first, by a lot- but are somewhat "spare" by comparison) to sound like on the whole?...

#23

Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: Conrado del Campo: String ...

Last post by eschiss1 - Yesterday at 03:58

Thanks for even this lukewarm recommendation and interesting and unfortunate history of choices - I feel inclined to at least sample something of his, not having heard of composer or work.

#24

Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: Enescu Symphonies 1-3/etc.

Last post by eschiss1 - Yesterday at 03:53

Given that Enescu's (imho amazing) octet dates from only about two years after that 1898 symphony (and the octet, in turn, maybe 5 years before the better-known/published E-flat symphony) it was, I think, a good creative period in his life... (which is not a statement of the relative value of his music between periods- that's not how I mean the statement.)

#25

Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: Non-operatic Suppé world p...

Last post by semloh - Yesterday at 03:00

As I said before, I listened to it again and, apart from some fetching orchestration and a few decent tunes, it just didn't do anything for me. You only have to listen to some of the composer's exciting overtures to notice the difference in quality. IMHO, of course.

Yes, indeed.
As for DH, he's excellent - when you happen to agree with him! 

#26

Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: Enescu Symphonies 1-3/etc.

Last post by Alan Howe - Monday 20 May 2024, 22:31

Hurwitz has just posted a video in which he says that the new set was 'sabotaged' by the orchestra and engineers - and I think he may be right. I was certainly unimpressed by the sound but couldn't put my finger on what was wrong. Anyway, at this stage I'd advise caution about purchase and point anyone interested in the music to the excellent three CDs conducted by Lintu on Ondine.
Link to Hurwitz's video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuVoU6OBuuY&list=PLAjIX596BriEwSbnDlmBIpVglgIp9Pf5i

#27

Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: Conrado del Campo: String ...

Last post by Ilja - Monday 20 May 2024, 22:11

Del Campo has become mainly known for his quartets, which run the gamut from (literal) melodrama to a kind of dance suite. He is a bit of an exception among Spanish composers for his incorporation of German influences (inclusing the use of Wagner-like Leitmotifs), particularly earlier in his career. However, his reputation has rather suffered because of his unwavering support for Franco's regime, and his part in creating an arch-conservative artistic climate during the dictatorship. A bit like a Spanish Max von Schillings, although not nearly as nasty. It seems that recently something of a revival has started. 

The 8th quartet is a work that I would qualify as "lean" both in its melodies and instrumentalization, but I did think it had some trouble sustaining interest for its entire 45+ minutes. Over two decades later, he worked it into a piano quintet with the title "Episodio de una vida combatida y dolorosa" (Episode of a life of struggle and pain). That one's perhaps a tad too substantial at over an hour. I didn't know the 9th quartet, but from the samples that quartet sounds a bit more entertaining than its predecessor. 

#28

Recordings & Broadcasts / Sinding Violin Sonatas 1-3

Last post by Alan Howe - Monday 20 May 2024, 19:21

...forthcoming from Lawo Classics:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9626689--christian-sinding-violin-sonatas-nos-1-3

Gorgeous - and right up my street!

#29

Recordings & Broadcasts / Conrado del Campo: String Quar...

Last post by Alan Howe - Monday 20 May 2024, 19:16

...forthcoming from MarchVivo - two substantial late-romantic works:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9622972--conrado-del-campo-string-quartets-nos-8-9

#30

Composers & Music / Re: Did AI just kill classical...

Last post by Maury - Monday 20 May 2024, 18:01

I think this is more of an issue for pop music. You have to always follow the money. Paying royalties is a big expense of streaming music. So "AI" (as it is currently very loosely and sloppily defined)  allows someone to generate music "in the style of" and avoid royalty payments. Any more positive use is just icing on the royalty cake. Since classical music is such a small percentage of music streaming it doesn't make any sense for those streamers to worry about it. I think the aspect stated above where printed music is played back through software is helpful but also no big deal. Playback software of scores has existed for over 25 years commercially and not really AI.