What are you currently listening to?

[cilgwyn]

     

This deleted recording with the American diva Beverly Sills (AKA "Bubbles") which is highly regarded in some quarter's,includes bit's that were cut from earlier recording's (and I'm no expert,so I'll leave it that!) It is also notable for the,wonderfully,"eerie sounding" inclusion of Donizetti's original choice of instrumentation,for the "Mad Scene" (see cover photo! That's me in my dressing gown!! :o ;D) a glass harmonica!
Incidentally,when I was in school I asked my teacher if I could learn to play the glass harmonica,but she told me that there were too many kids learning to play it,and she didn't want a classroom full of them!

[cilgwyn]

Richard Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie/ Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Previn    Telarc

     
                                                     
Spectacular! :) I love Previn's Telarc recording of Also Sprach Zarathustra,too!
 
PS:Führer (I mean for!) a more leisurely day out in den alpen,by another very,very,very great man,und maybe pop in ze tavern,on ze vay up,for some tasty german sosinger,see cd on ze right,jawohl! (AH)

[cilgwyn]

     

One of those recordings that get tucked away in the back catalogue of the major's,and they really aren't interested in reissuing it,because it's been superseded by i) a stereo recording ii) better or more fashionable performer's or musician's iii) it's simply,just crap! This one's in mono and it's not bad! A bit more passion in the conducting would have helped! Oh well! According to the critics,none of the recording's that followed are entirely satisfactory. Imho,the one on the right is the best ever! (Marston 3 cd's) And it just is!! The 1911/12 recording technology might be a problem for some,though?!! ::) ;D

[cilgwyn]

Zdeněk Fibich (1850-1900)

     

I really am beginning to like these symphonies now! So,what if he's not Dvořák! He's still good! More expense,though!! :( Three Supraphon cd's of Fibich in the post!! I like Jarvi,as a conductor;but Supraphon are always a good label,in my experience,and there's always something about Czech music played by Czech conductor,in my experience. And,to date,Supraphon have never let me down! (I'm trying to think of a bad recording from that label?!)

I just had to post a photo of Fibich! So,that's what he looks like! Wow! Quite the dapper gent! :o Only 49 when he died,though!! :(

[cilgwyn]

And,back to this very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very great man,if you please! (AH)

[cilgwyn]

Šejna who cracked it for me. I had listened to the Chandos recording's in the past and I'm afraid they didn't make much of an impression on me,at the time. In Senja's hand's they sound more like Dvorak than anyone else,I can think of. Fibich isn't as good at tunes,but there's much to enjoy.I haven't heard Symphony No 1 ot any of the tone poems & shorter works yet;but they're in the post! I wonder how Supraphon's stereo recording's of Fibich,recorded in the 1980's will measure up? I suppose they won't be quite as good;but hearing Šejna first,will hopefully have "opened them up"? If you've tried Fibich and got nowhere and you're not completely averse to mono sound (No 3 is in stereo) I would recommend Senja's recording's,if you can find a copy,at a reasonably low price!

[cilgwyn]

The Voice of Mongolia on 6005khz shortwave,via an online radio in Northern Ireland! And they're picking it up via a shortwave transmitter in Kall-Krekel,Germany! (Now my head is spinning!!) It didn't take long for them to mention,Genghis Khan!! Name a famous Mongolian! Genghis Khan!! Correct! You're going through to the next round!!

Genghis Khan! Another very great man,jawohl! (AH)

[cilgwyn]

Voice of Turkey!

The Voice of Turkey English broadcast on 12035khz shortwave on my own shortwave communication's receiver. A strong signal,with some slight fading & background hum! Segment's on Turkish history,folklore and tips on healthy eating & beauty tips! Things I've learnt from this! Turkish women have very sexy voices! (Can I say that,without being banned?! :o ;D) I think it's the husky,throaty timbre and those sensuous beats. Their pop music is also a bit better than most east european (and beyond!) pop music,I've had the misfortune to hear! Not that I'll be buying any!! They seem to have managed a more successful assimilation of their music and our own. And of course,those husky female voices are,definitely,a bonus! (Funny how the blokes don't sound so good!! ;D) To be honest,back in the days before the internet,Turkey would have been low on my list of radio stations to listen to on shortwave. But there's not that much left! And I've always been fascinated by radio waves since I was a youngster & found I could pick up all sorts of wierd and wonderful things on my parent's portable radio,besides the ones people usually listen to! (Including,the Police! No,not the band! The Dixon of Dock Green variety!) The Voice of Turkey definitely need to get an engineer to sort out their transmitter,though! I'm currently listening to static! Hopefully,it will come on again! (It's gone on & off twice already)

I remember I used to listen to the BBC World Service in bed at night,when I was young and still living with my mother and father! There wasn't any 24hr radio broadcasting back then & you could pick up the BBC World Service on Medium Wave at night. The other children in the village listened to Radio 1 and,in particular,Radio Luxembourg. But the non-stop chart music and inane chatter bored me to tears! ::) I needed food for my brain! Something to think about. (The BBC still had some decent programing,back then!)

Update! The wonky old Turkish transmitter's back on air!! More sexy sounding Turkish women wailing to sensuous beats! :o (Give up Madonna/Adele)!! I'm going to need a cold shower at this rate! :o ;D

[cilgwyn]

Maigret,starring Rupert Davies! A man and his Pipe!!



Watched this on Talking pictures at the weekend! Maigret! The 1960 BBC tv series.My father used to talk about it.He remembered seeing Rupert Davies in the street once. A town in Wales,I seem to remember? (Lampeter?) Quite good! The sort of old tv show I like!! I missed the opening episode,unfortunately! Better than the rubbish on now?!! ;D According to Wikipedia there were four series and 52 episodes. My father liked the original books by Georges Simenon. It would have been nice if my father could have watched it! He probably won't even remember who Georges Simenon or Rupert Davies are now!! :(

[cilgwyn]

Richard Strauss: Symphonia Domestica Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Fritz Reiner      RCA Living Stereo



I love these RCA ling stereo recordings. The sound quality is just as amazing as it's supposed to be,from everything I've read over the years. I've heard contemporary recording's that sound inferior to this. But it's the clarity that makes these recordings so extraordinary. (The recording label,Mercury,is another one) Funny,how I'm enjoying these Strauss tone poems (and 'symphonies') after spending years telling myself that I didn't like them! Although,I kept on liking Also Sprach Zarathustra! This has got to be one of the best recordings of the Symphonia Domestica. I think the whole idea of it is fun! I mean why not compose a symphony about your own home life?!! And if your a composer of genius like Richard Strauss?! (Sorry,not you,Draeseke! ;D) The photo on the front is fun,too!

[guest822]

Richard Strauss: Symphonia Domestica Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Fritz Reiner      RCA Living Stereo



I love these RCA ling stereo recordings. The sound quality is just as amazing as it's supposed to be,from everything I've read over the years. I've heard contemporary recording's that sound inferior to this. But it's the clarity that makes these recordings so extraordinary. (The recording label,Mercury,is another one) Funny,how I'm enjoying these Strauss tone poems (and 'symphonies') after spending years telling myself that I didn't like them! Although,I kept on liking Also Sprach Zarathustra! This has got to be one of the best recordings of the Symphonia Domestica. I think the whole idea of it is fun! I mean why not compose a symphony about your own home life?!! And if your a composer of genius like Richard Strauss?! (Sorry,not you,Draeseke! ;D) The photo on the front is fun,too!

Careful! You might get a visit from those guys with violin cases and flat noses... ;)

[cilgwyn]

Richard Strauss: Symphonia Domestica Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Fritz Reiner      RCA Living Stereo



I love these RCA ling stereo recordings. The sound quality is just as amazing as it's supposed to be,from everything I've read over the years. I've heard contemporary recording's that sound inferior to this. But it's the clarity that makes these recordings so extraordinary. (The recording label,Mercury,is another one) Funny,how I'm enjoying these Strauss tone poems (and 'symphonies') after spending years telling myself that I didn't like them! Although,I kept on liking Also Sprach Zarathustra! This has got to be one of the best recordings of the Symphonia Domestica. I think the whole idea of it is fun! I mean why not compose a symphony about your own home life?!! And if your a composer of genius like Richard Strauss?! (Sorry,not you,Draeseke! ;D) The photo on the front is fun,too!

Careful! You might get a visit from those guys with violin cases and flat noses... ;)

Oh,yes! (Ahem!) And back to zis very great man,jawohl! ;D

[cilgwyn]

Fibich: Symphony No 1,At Twilight & The Romance of Spring Czech Philharmonic Chorus & Orchestra / Karel Šejna      Supraphon



I'm enjoying these Fibich symphonies. This was one of the two Supraphon Fibich cd's that arrived today. It was Senja that " did it" for me. Ancient old recordings made in the 50's and 60's! Most of them in mono! His music makes me think of early Dvořák. He's not as good at tunes,to be quite honest,but I think they are well crafted and beautifully orchestrated. (I think the word might be,"felicitous"?) Nothing epoch making,but I can understand why his own countrymen (and women!) have a high opinion of his music,now! Very relaxing! Nice! The recording's on this particular cd are in (very good) mono!:)  :) NB:I was going to say he was better than Draeseke;but that doesn't sound so good!! ;D Incidentally,The two shorter pieces (At Twilight & The Romance Of Spring" for soprano and bass soloists, chorus and orchestra) are quite delightful & probably even better than the symphony,really;fine & enjoyable as that (undoubtedly,imo) is!

[cilgwyn]

Bohuslav Martinů:
Concerto for Two String Orchestras,Piano and Timpani,H.271 "Double Concerto" (+ Symphony No 3 & Dvořák's Suite in A major) Czech Phil Orch/ Karel Šejna     Supraphon

     

It's always interesting listening to historic recording's like this. The Stereo recording of the Concerto is a little revereberant! The mono recording's are perfectly listenable;but not the best,even from the period they were made in. Karel Šejna is highly regarded by fans;but there isn't allot on the internet about these,particular recording's. But I bought the cd,anyway! The recording of the Third Symphony is the first ever (as far as I know). First recording's are usually interesting or,at the very least,intriguing!

[cilgwyn]

Offenbach: Gaîté Parisienne, Gounod: Faust-Ballet Music,Chabrier:España,Thomas: Mignon: Overture    Boston Symphony Orchestra / Seiji Ozawa       Deutsche Grammophon



I've had this on rotation for a few hours,now! I love the Chabrier and Gounod's Ballet Music for Faust. The Offenbach Ballet put together by Rosenthal is great fun,packed with most of the famous tunes,including the Can-Can,of course! Sparkling performances and the wonderful Toulouse-Lautrec on the front!