IMO, they are all good performances, and are some of my favourite works…
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Today, an unusual recommendation, Sir Simon Rattle conducting Wagner´s “Rheingold”:
For those, who like the classic recordings, like Solti´s, this might sound a bit like a culture shock. It is a live recording, but sounds more like a rather dry studio one. Particularly dialogue-rich scenes, Rattle is treating like chamber theatre, with recessed orchestra and maximum of intelligibility, fine declamation and a glance of method-acting from the soloists, if that makes sense.
This does not sound like cliché Wagner, but works exemplarily well, even entertaining, despite from rather moderate tempi in Rattle-terms, thanks to a very strong cast, led by Michael Volle (Wotan), Thomas Konieczky (Alberich) and Burkhard Ulrich (Loge). One can hear that every single singer has experience not only with Wagner and dramatic stuff, but Lied and sacred music as well.
The orchestra´s moments to shine are the interludes, which temporarily change the conducting towards emotional and dynamic Wagner as we know it, as well as the finale. The latter seems to thrive towards Rattle´s reading of ´The Valkyrie´ of this cycle. Which is much faster, dynamic and impulsive than the ´Rhinegold´, yet suffering from some unfortunate choices of soloists, which this one is absolutely free from.
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Last Wednesday, 29th July, was the 170th anniversary of Robert Schumann’s death, so it seems appropriate to listen to some of his works.
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Saw her as a teenager playing the Brahms concerto at the Proms, probably over 40 years ago? Still one of the most memorable performances I have ever seen live. Not just her playing but her presence and her connection with the Proms audience. I have loved her recording of the Brahms ever since, although there are plenty of other great performances available.
I do believe I was there , I lived in Brentwood , Essex 1976-1986 and the “Romford Brewery Glee Club” had outings to the Proms which I believe this was one , I certainly recall Brendel playing Brahms 2. Long time ago.
Difficult to imagine a bunch of hairy a**ed Brewer getting organised to listen classical music . The Annual Meeting was in the sample room once the Proms Prospectus was published then we collated a ticket list. The driving force was the Technical Manager and myself but we had some nights as many as 10 people going.
Inevitably the odd pint or 2 and a kebab to round it off.
Them were the days
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Qobuz has this album in 192kHz 24bit.
The following is quoted from Pianist Bruce Liu journeys through the night on disc ‘Lunaris,' out Aug. 7 on DG | Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Liu realized that many of his best musical ideas came to him in his dreams. Now, as a touring artist, he frequently finds himself working late. “It’s often the only time that silence and concentration, in the sense of timelessness, are possible,” he said. His experience of working into the wee hours inspired the idea of an album about moonlight and dreams, darkness and daybreak.
At the heart of “Lunaris” are Beethoven’s legendary “Moonlight” and “Waldstein” sonatas. Around these works, Liu unfolds a program of what he describes as being full of “extraordinary atmosphere and emotional depth.” It brings together iconic piano pieces and hidden gems. Chopin’s Nocturne, Debussy’s Rêverie and Bach’s Prelude in E Minor, BWV 855a (arr. by Alexander Siloti) join contemporary gems by Federico Mompou, John Cage, Agnes Obel and György Ligeti.
“Lunaris” ends with Cage’s hypnotic Dream: “After the whole journey of the album, Dream feels like a place where gravity fully disappears,” Liu said. “So I chose it as the final piece because it does not close the journey, but instead leaves it open.”
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