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I too have several versions of 'The Four Seasons', but IMO the best version is by The Drottningholm Baroque Consort on BIS LP-275:Quote:
Originally Posted by AJSki2fly
https://img.discogs.com/RF0A2rbU-KSa...-4137.jpeg.jpg
Followed by The Academy of St Martin in the Fields, cond. Neville Marriner on Decca Argo:
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and The English Consort, cond. Trevor Pinnock on Archiv:
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I also have the Academy of St Martin’s which as you say is pretty good. One of the CDs is https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...c0e84f296d.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by Barry
Which is a bit of a favourite of mine, delicate playing and very interpretative.
This one below is possibly more true to how it was in the day but I have never really warmed to it.
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I will look out your favourite and have a listen
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
So I am having a bit of a classical/CD fest. I thought I would start with some challenging music.
Both these pieces are challenging not only in composition but also in the context of what they are trying to express, Il Canto Sospeso literally means 'The Suspended Song', the notes state " the title is intentionally ambiguous, referring as it does to , to a song that is 'suspended' (in every sense) - in a way entirely commensurate with the situation depicted. The music is interspersed with readings from letters from resistance fighters to love ones who are about to be executed for standing up against tyranny and oppression they opposed. Musically "Nono and for other composers of his generation, serialism represented an attempt to replace traditional structural principles such as melody. harmony and rhythm with and abstract, retional organisation of pitches, note-vales and tone colours." Don't let this put you of, on my first listen I found the piece very hard to fathom, but after each listen I get more from it, the key I believe is to think of the feelings those oppressed as they go to their final fate. It is very moving in my opinion and sobering.
Mahler's - Kindertotenliedener (Songs on the Death of Children) is possibly a better known piece, this based on poems by Friedrich Rückert reflecting on the death of two of his children. I personally struggle with choral and opera but in this instance find the presentation and the vocal aspect extremely expressive and moving conveying the agony and despair of such loss very moving and expressive. maybe personal experience leads to this sense of loss.
I know these are rather sombre and sobering pieces but at the same time very moving, they certainly make you think, and if you have not experienced them I would give them a go. IMO the Live recordings, musical presentation and choral singing are exemplary. by the way I am not sure Romantic is the right style!
digital links below
Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado - Luigi Nono, Gustav Mahler – Il Canto Sospeso • Kindertotenlieder
Label: Sony Classical – SK 53360
Format: CD, Album
Country: Europe
Released: 1993
Genre: Classical
Style: Contemporary, Romantic
https://img.discogs.com/DYDFFTn-UPot...-1980.jpeg.jpg
https://open.qobuz.com/album/0886444594073
https://tidal.com/browse/album/28617958
https://open.spotify.com/album/2qPyf...ThW7Fz66TyAK4g
Palladian Ensemble – The Winged Lion
Label: Linn Records – CKD 015
Format: CD, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1994
Genre: Classical
Style: Baroque
https://img.discogs.com/JC_lLmCkOWet...-6314.jpeg.jpg
1 Sonata Duodecima Composed By – Dario Castello
2 Ciaconna Composed By – Giovanni Battista Vitali
3 Sonata Quarto Composed By – Marco Uccellini
Concerto In F Major RV 100 Composed By – Antonio Vivaldi
4 Allegro
5 Untitled
6 Allegro Suite: (Book III 1626) Composed By – Giovanni Battista Buonamente
7 Gagliarda Seconda
8 Corrente Terza E Quarta
9 Brando Terza
10 Avanti Il Brando
11 Brando Quarto.
12 Canzon Composed By – Francesco Cavalli
13 El Amor Composed By – Santiago De Murcia
14 La Jota Composed By – Santiago De Murcia
15 Sonata A Tre Composed By – Francesco Turini Concerto In D Major RV 84 Composed By – Antonio Vivaldi
16 Untitled
17 Largo
18 Allegro
19 Aria 'Caporal Simon' Composed By – Marco Uccellini
20 Aria 'la Mia Pedrina' Composed By – Marco Uccellini
21 Aria 'Le Scatola Da Gli Agghi' Composed By – Marco Uccellini
I cannot remember how I came across the Fabio Luisi - Richard Strauss cycle of CDs but I purchased of them and find them very enjoyable. For some reason this one has become extraordinary expensive I noticed.
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I'm a great believer in the use of period instruments as would have been used when the composition was made. So I can confirm that the Academy of Ancient Music, cond. Christopher Hogwood is another of my favourites (which I have, and should have cited it).Quote:
Originally Posted by AJSki2fly
My love of period instruments extends to the works of Mozart, Hyden and Beethoven.
(At least you didn't cite the abysmal recording by Nigel Kennedy (though to be fair, it was his recording that re-awakened an appreciation in classical music amongst some of collegues at work. :rolleyes:)
If you want to try something a bit different - have a listen to this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recomp...e_Four_Seasons
Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi The Four Seasons.
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I think it's brilliant! :)
This one gets a big thumbs up it seems, https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/...four-seasons-3Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry
I will see if it is on Qubuz
https://open.spotify.com/album/1shtM...QpySleAbN4mzAA
Vivaldi* - Concerto Italiano, Rinaldo Alessandrini – Le Quattro Stagioni
Label: Naïve – OP 30363
Format: 2 × CD, Compilation
Country: Europe
Released: 2006
https://img.discogs.com/UBiVYOP7wTml...-3522.jpeg.jpg
Hmmm - "They do not merely play the score, they live it. Some may regard the performances as ‘theatrical’ and so they are, but they are acted with total commitment and in good style and taste – and why not?"
Not sure if I would like it; and at £25 I'm not going to try it anytime soon. :rolleyes:
I have just listened to this rendition on QOBUZ and personally found it a very interesting one, I thought it might be worth describing what I felt even if not done that well. I was quite taken aback at times as if I was hearing parts of the music completely differently than before.
For example in the RV 269 "Spring": I Allegro the energy at times in the play is palpable, with huge contrasts
RV 269 "Spring": II. Largo the tonality of the instruments and how they are played to compliment each other is quite stunning.
RV 269 "Spring": III. Danza opening is quite stunning, and then it explodes with the dance.
RV 315 "Summer": I. Allegro non molto, there is a great feeling in the slower/quieter passages and great interplay, then the fast passages are just explosive.
RV 315 "Summer": II. Adagio e piano - Presto e forte - this takes on a very melancholic and nearly harsh feel, and then vibrato sections just take you by surprise, even though you know the piece.
RV 315 "Summer": III. Presto - the apparent and speed a ferocity of the playing generates the feeling of a race against time before the end of summer, there were sections interpreted in ways I had not heard before.
F Major, RV 293 "Autumn": I. Allegro had a great feeling of celebration at the start and then a feeling of finality which was conveyed by the rise and fall of instruments volumes and intensity of playing.
RV 297 "Winter": II. Largo: the paling of violin lines here seemed to hang in the air, extremely atmospheric and it just drew you in.
F Major, RV 293 "Autumn": II. Adagio molto: the playing conveyed a sense of foreboding and decay, a very sombre and ominous feeling at the beginning, you were just waiting for what came next, quite haunting
RV 293 "Autumn": III. Allegro: the contrast between lightness of playing and the heavier sounding sections was huge, at time the dance felling felt like it would stall and trip over itself, quite different to what I have heard before.
RV 297 "Winter": I. Allegro non molto: from the first few bars edge of the seats stuff, full of menace and intensity, stunning virtuoso playing and all together compliment each other beautifully.
RV 297 "Winter": II. Largo: Beautiful playing here conveying the relentless fall of rain drops, with wind whistling.
RV 297 "Winter": III. Allegro: an very immersive representation, it conjures the feeling of skating across ice at breakneck speed and teetering on the edge of catastrophe.
To sum up I rather enjoyed it, it is very well recorded and the players have obviously taken great pains to understand each aspect of the piece and conjure up as expressive representation as they can. Well worth a listen IMO, I certainly will be re-playing it.
here is is on Qubuz
https://open.spotify.com/album/1shtM...QpySleAbN4mzAA
Vivaldi* - Concerto Italiano, Rinaldo Alessandrini – Le Quattro Stagioni
Label: Naïve – OP 30363
Format: 2 × CD, Compilation
Country: Europe
Released: 2006
https://img.discogs.com/UBiVYOP7wTml...-3522.jpeg.jpg
and just look what I picked up today in the local Red Cross shop for £2 and its NM, needed a clean and after sounds great :) , rather enjoying this version
Vivaldi* - The Academy Of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood, Alison Bury, Catherine Mackintosh, Christopher Hirons, John Holloway – Le Quattro Stagioni - The Four Seasons - Die Vier Jahreszeiten - Les Quatre Saisons
Label: L'Oiseau-Lyre – 410 126-1 OH
Series: Florilegium Series –
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: Netherlands
Released: 1984
https://img.discogs.com/p6J_iRgEnBdz...63287.jpeg.jpg