I plan three posts for this five-Tuesday month, the first of which launches a three-part monthly set that will share all four of Robert Schumann's symphonies, beginning with the "Spring" symphony, as an early harbinger of the spring equinox a mere three weeks away. By age 30, Robert Schumann was already a successful composer of chamber music, including piano music and lieder. But in order to be able to make a living from composing he needed to achieve success in what was 0 Likes ...
First, three more brief pieces from the Brilliant "French Piano Concertos" box set. Cécille Chaminade Concertstuck for Piano and Orchestra Rosario Marciano, piano Luxembourg Radio Orchestra Louis de Froment, conductor I'd never heard of Chaminade before purchasing the box set. I found this piece enjoyable. I'd definitely listen to her other works. Darius Milhaud 5 Études Michael Korstick, piano 0 Likes ...
Bach Sonata for Solo Violin, No. 1 Sergiu Luca, violin Nathan Milstein, violin Paul Galbraith, guitar (his own transcription) I own three recordings of the complete Bach solo violin (Luca, Milstein, & Galbraith), plus Hilary Hahn's incomplete set from 1997. I am going to try to listen to all recordings for a given piece on the same day, to try to compare them. The music is sufficiently great that I think that won't get repetitive. In 0 Likes ...
Brahms Cello / Piano Sonata No. 1 Jacqueline de Pré, cello Daniel Barenboim, piano I never listened to this before (I think), and I loved it, especially the first two movements. For the 1st movement I just wrote down in my notes "Wow!". The second sounded familiar, perhaps it has been used in a movie or something like that? Nearly all of the Brahms that I own (which isn't that much!) is chamber music (the exception is the violin concerto), 0 Likes ...
Chopin Nocturnes, Op 48/1 & Op 48/2 Maurizio Pollini 48/1 was great, I really liked it. 48/2 I'm not sure sure about. I don't think I really "get" it, but upon a second listen it started to come together more. Maybe I'll really love it after a few more listens! Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 2 London Symphony Orchestra Igor Markevitch I liked the theme in movement 2, and all the thrilling stuff in the 4th movement. 0 Likes ...