Tristan Murail
Current Listening Vol IX [2023]
Here we go again. In the past, this popular thread had to be re-started a number of times because the files got to big for the software used. The latest restart was with volume VIII, which accidentally practically coincided with the start of the new year 2022. Many members thought this was actually a good idea to pick a new year for a new thread, so with 2023 upon us (already or soon, depending on where you live), we are starting a new thread.
Links to previous Current Listening threads:
Current Listening Vol I
Current Listening Vol II
Current Listening Vol III
Current Listening Vol IV
Current Listening Vol V
Current Listening Vol VI
Current Listening Vol VII
Current Listening Vol VIII
A few suggestions (as if anyone bothers reading this):
Many members appreciate if you would not just post a CD cover or an embedded YouTube link. It would be helpful if you would post at least a short description (like composer, work, performers). This holds especially for videos, because not all YouTube videos can be seen in every country, and they tend to disappear over time.
It would be even better if you can post a little bit about your own take on what you are listening to. No need for extensive reviews, but a few lines would make the thread clearly more valuable to other members.
These are suggestions, not rules. They are not subject to intervention by the moderating team.
Have fun, Happy New Year, and enjoy listening to classical music as always!
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I am not a huge fan of Callas as many opera lovers would be. But I will give the role of Tosca to her, no question about it. This live 1965 Met production is my favorite Tosca recording. Of course, since it is not an official recording you have to expect less than upscale sound. But it is electrifying throughout, to say the least. Callas might have passed her prime vocally by then but she is dramatically gripping! Also my favorite tenor, Franco Corelli is thrilling here without his usual over-indulgence. Cleva must have had him under firm control.
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 8
Pierre Boulez: Staatskapelle Berlin (2007)
- Magna Peccatrix: Twyla Robinson (soprano)
- Una poenitentium: Erin Wall (soprano)
- Mater gloriosa: Adriane Queiroz (soprano)
- Mulier Samaritana: Michelle DeYoung (contralto)
- Maria Aegyptiaca: Simone Schröder (contralto)
- Doctor Marianus: Johan Botha (tenor)
- Pater ecstaticus: Hanno Müller-Brachmann (baritone)
- Pater profundus: Robert Holl (bass)
Rundfunkchor Berlin/Simon Halsey
Aurelius Sängerknaben CALW/Eberhard Friedrich
Tobias Berndt (organ)
Information copied from MusicWeb. It's oddly quiet in this thread today. I'm giving this symphony another try; it's not something I dislike but I usually prefer the other Mahler symphonies over it. The pedal notes in the organ are particularly well-recorded; I'm sure this would be great with proper subwoofers (which I don't have).
Steber is a dream Minnie. She runs circles around Tebaldi, Nilsson, or Neblett. Surprise! Del Monaco sings soft in some passages. I never heard him singing like this anywhere else (it might be tougher to find a recording in that he does than finding a smiling picture of Glazunov). He always belts out as if he is mighty pissed off at something. There is even a video clip where Olivero relaying the conversation she once had with del Monaco and he admitting that he couldn't sing softly if he tried. Of course, here he belts out magnificently in the right places.
However, the real star to me is Mitropoulos. He oversees the entire going with masterful guiding hands. I also believe he convinced del Monaco to sing softly. I see a few instances like that. If the singer respects the conductor they behave. Corelli under Cleva (Tosca), Karajan (Carmen), Stokowski (Turandot) / del Monaco under Mitropoulos. Not just limited to singers/conductors relationship. Barenboim (pianist) subduing Rattle (conductor) in Brahms PC1. Berlin Philharmonic toning down Bernstein in M9. Also it is very possible Callas toned down Corelli in Tosca, Price affected Corelli in Carmen - I heard her saying she threw a chair at him during the recording session, enraged over his selfish behavior.
Anyway, this is the greatest Fanciulla! Nothing ever comes close.
Good morning.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: String Quartets (Amadeus Quartet, DG, 6 CD's)
Mozart's quartets already featured in my early morning listening July last year. Time for a repeat, because his String Quartet Nr. 14 in G major (K 387) has been selected as quartet of the week (link). Today it is CD4: KV 428, 464, 136, 137.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: String Quartets (Amadeus Quartet, DG, 6 CD's)
Mozart's quartets already featured in my early morning listening July last year. Time for a repeat, because his String Quartet Nr. 14 in G major (K 387) has been selected as quartet of the week (link). Today it is CD4: KV 428, 464, 136, 137.
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