Classical music recommendations

[Dragonlily]

Duchess! Have a great time.

Is it against the rules to be jazzed about a classical concert?

[duchess of malfi]

Music is a great joy to me. I think that its OK to get excited about being able to go to any concert.

As a matter of fact, when the great horn soloist stood up to take his bow last night at the NY Philharmonic concert, the girl behind us started yelling

You're a badass! You're a badass!

. That tickled me. And he was, indeed, very very good.

[Damelon]

Try, should you get the chance, to listen to Jean Sibelius’ works.

Mahler told Sibelius his famous statement about the symphony being a world. Sibelius later stated that while other composers would give the audience a cocktail, he would give them just pure water. In contrast to his contemporaries, his music is very concise.

His Seventh (and last) Symphony is the antithesis of Mahler. Short in time, a little over 20 minutes, the symphony plays in one movement, but is formatted like a four movement symphony. Yet the transitions are seamless. I have this recording: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/ ... =classical

Also, his Violin Concerto has become a favorite of mine lately. Try this recording by Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Staatskapelle Dresden. www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000001 ... 77-3681728

[duchess of malfi]

If you enjoy the playing of Anne-Sophie Mutter, don't miss this:
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/ ... =classical

It was written especially for her as a gift of love.

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This record is permeated by love. Bernstein's Serenade was inspired by Plato's Symposium, a series of paeans to love in all its multifarious aspects; Previn's Concerto was inspired by, and composed for, Anne-Sophie Mutter, whom he married shortly afterward. Many distinguished composers, such as Penderecki, Lutoslawski, Currier, and Rihm, have written concertos and other works for Mutter, but surely this one must be especially close and dear to her, and she certainly plays it that way. It is designed to bring out her strengths to best advantage: her stunning virtuosity, her ravishingly beautiful tone, flawlessly pure on all strings, at any tempo, with a glorious radiance in the top register. The part bristles with runs at top speed, double stops, jumps across the whole fingerboard (opening with a leap over about four octaves), and makes full use of her limitless palette of tone-colors. Of the Concerto's three movements, the first and longest is lush, tonal, with broad, soaring melodies and stark contrasts, alternating between fast and slow, lyrical and vigorous sections; the second is more spare, dissonant, mysterious, ominous. The third, and best, is a set of variations on a German children's song, subjecting a simple tune to enormously clever, inventive rhythmic and harmonic distortions and stylistic manipulations. The recurring original melody is played with great affection, revealing its past and present meaning to composer and performer. The orchestration is luscious; the work's style is clearly influenced by Previn's multi-faceted career. As often happens with music written for a specific player, Mutter's performance, recorded live on this disc, will be hard to match.

Bernstein, another composer of protean versatility, also draws upon his enormously varied, eclectic stylistic experience in the Serenade. Its four movements loosely resemble a concerto. After a stratospheric violin solo, the first movement turns into a charming, exuberant waltz with a jazzy flavor; the slow second movement is sensuous, graceful, yearning, the third is a brilliant Scherzo, the last is rich, assertive, dissonant, and frankly jazzy. The performance is superb. --Edith Eisler

[matrixman]

Maybe I haven't given Sibelius a fair shake. I recall one time trying to listen to a CD of one of his symphonies, but it bored me. Maybe it was the impatience of youth that prevented me from appreciating Sibelius's solemn style. Or maybe his musical language simply doesn't speak to my imagination. I do actually like a number of slow, solemn works. (Like those of Arvo Part or Henryk Gorecki.)

On the other hand, Anne-Sophie Mutter can make just about any piece of music sound exciting to my ears.

Can't speak for the music of Previn or Bernstein, but I have listened to Mutter's recording of Penderecki's Violin Concerto that the review mentions. I revere Penderecki and Mutter, so this was a divine partnership. Beautifully stark music and wickedly awesome violin playing. Anne-Sophie rules! Simple as that. Okay, you've made me look it up: Krzysztof Penderecki: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 2 "Metamorphosen"

The gushing reviews at Amazon pretty much say it all.

[duchess of malfi]

Something that people might find very moving (or might extrememly hate! ) is a modern piece by American composer John Adams, which he was commisioned to compose by the New York Philharmonic in memory of the many victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It is called On the Transmigration of Souls. Rather than making it a political or patriotic statement, Adams instead makes a statement of love and grief. He uses the orchestra, two live choirs, and pre-recorded materials to make a many layered and very unique work.

[matrixman]

I've never heard the piece, but it sounds like it was a fitting way to commemorate 9/11. I think any overtly political statement in the music would have, perhaps, cheapened the spirit of the occasion.

I've heard a couple of pieces by John Adams. One is Shaker Loops, one of those minimalist works that's either hypnotic or boring, depending on your mood.

The other is The Chairman Dances, a whimsical and oddly poignant concert suite from Adams's opera Nixon In China. The stage scene is something like this, if I recall correctly: Chairman Mao is gazing at a portrait of his dead wife on the wall, and as he looks at her, his memories bring him back to a more innocent time. During his reverie, his wife comes alive and steps down from the painting, and they both dance for a time. The music ends wistfully as the wife returns to her portrait, leaving Mao by himself once again. Anyway, it's a sweet and very accessible piece of music -- not at all dissonant or intimidating for a modern composition.

[Usivius]

wow, some great referrals here... Can I throw out one? Give a listen to Bela Bartok. I was interested in him after so many 'rock' musicians said they were influenced by his music (Zappa, Fripp to name two). One of my favourites is the "Romanian Folk Dances"...

[matrixman]

Yes, sir, big fan of Bartok here. I recommended his Concerto For Orchestra and Music For Strings, Percussion & Celesta on the first page. I absolutely love these two works.

[Worm of Despite]

His string quartets are required listening, too. Don't be left out in the cold! Only cool kids listen to the B-man.

[The Laughing Man]

I just came in here to beat all of your classical asses............

[Worm of Despite]

Too busy smoking from my ivory pipe whilst listening to fancy music to care.

[Fist and Faith]

Yes, indeed. When, on Foul's recommendation, I listened to King Crimson's Red, I immediately sent him Bartok's string quartets. The influence in Providence is clear. I haven't enjoyed many things in my life as much as the independent study I did on the quartets in grad school.

[The Laughing Man]

I'm still going to beat your asses.

[Fist and Faith]

'k

[Damelon]

I'm still going to beat your asses.

[duchess of malfi]

I'm still going to beat your asses.

You can kiss my soft and sexy white butt, boy.

[The Laughing Man]

welllllllll, I DID like the version of Led Zep's Kashmir done by the London Philharmonic ......does that count?

(there is no way your butt is prepared for The Esmer's kisses, Duchess. )

[duchess of malfi]

A CD I listen to quite often is of Led Zep covers done by a string quartet. It's fun.

[danlo]

I prefer Dread Zepplin, it's even MORE fun!