Classical Listening

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Thanks for sharing that.
Amazing what you get out of a 300 year old violin.
I had the opportunity to see Perlman live at the Dallas Symphony in spring of (EDIT) 2010 , performing a piece by Bach.
The other treat that night was Dvorak's Serenade for Strings.

This weekend the DSO is perfoming Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, a performnance that I would certainly have gone too had I learned of it sooner. I am listening to it now.

Here's the Old Castle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ssfDQirqVk

[Emil Miller]

Despite showing extracts of this in the past, here's the complete version. Yuja Wang has the technique of a Goddess and the face of an angel.

http://youtu.be/aQKWHMKvyAk

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Yeah, she's pretty amazing. I stumbled on to this video from that one. I love what she all does here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epQ54...eature=related

[Emil Miller]

Yeah, she's pretty amazing. I stumbled on to this video from that one. I love what she all does here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epQ54...eature=related

She's a phenomenon and I would pay a lot to see her perform Rachmaninov but although she was in London earlier this year, as with her London appearance last year, she played the Bartok 2nd: a concerto I cannot stand, but looking at her schedule for the year I see that she is playing Rach3 all over the place.

[Volya]

I have never before listened to classical music in my life (of my own will). Today, whilst doing my homework, I decided to turn on the radio to see what was on. After sifting through the channels, I ended up on Classic FM and I thought to myself, 'this is quite nice, I guess I'll listen to it'. An hour later, I am still listening and I think I have discovered I actually like classical music quite a lot

I am listening to this at the moment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNRxHyZDU-Q

It is very beautiful.

[Emil Miller]

I have never before listened to classical music in my life (of my own will). Today, whilst doing my homework, I decided to turn on the radio to see what was on. After sifting through the channels, I ended up on Classic FM and I thought to myself, 'this is quite nice, I guess I'll listen to it'. An hour later, I am still listening and I think I have discovered I actually like classical music quite a lot

I am listening to this at the moment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNRxHyZDU-Q

It is very beautiful.

You are lucky to have discovered real music when so many in your age group are frightened of it because they fear not understanding it and remain stuck in the ****.
Rachmaninov was the last of the great romantic composers and the movement you have posted is very much in his orchestral style.
Here is a piece, not by Rachmaninov, but which I hope you will also agree is beautiful music.

http://youtu.be/x6-UGlNyjn0

[Emil Miller]

I don't recall having posted this previously but it stands a repeat performance anytime.

http://youtu.be/5PYt2HlBuyI

[Mr.lucifer]

How can I tell the difference between any of the many performances of a classical piece?

[Emil Miller]

How can I tell the difference between any of the many performances of a classical piece?

That's a very interesting question because there are several factors that come into play when listening to recordings. First there is familiarity with the piece being performed; if you have familiarized yourself with it on one recording, you will hear differences on others, such as clarity, speed of delivery and overall interpretation. Some performances simply leap out at the listener with a vividness that isn't matched by others; this is usually due to the conductor's ability to direct the different sections of the orchestra to achieve the most brilliant effect but there is also the age of the recording to consider because recording techniques have moved on massively since the days of giants like Toscanini, Walter, Furtwangler etc.: even so, there are some performances that are so peerless that they withstand their age and remain unmatched. Then there is the sentimental attachment to a recording that was perhaps the first one that was purchased by the listener and will always be a special reminder of the piece itself, I know this from experience but I am all too grateful for You tube that allows me to hear dynamic performances from the younger generation of orchestral and solo performers who are blazing a trail for the future of great music. The real answer to your question is to keep listening, but a good tip is to choose the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan: possibly the best orchestra and conductor ever, with demonstration quality sound by Deutsche Grammophon but when it comes to soloists, the choice will always be personal.

[Mr.lucifer]

I heard that some performers were brilliant because they weren't afraid to take a few liberties with a piece and thus, giving a fresh take on said music.

Btw, I think the term, greatest recorded conductor, is more appropriate.

[Emil Miller]

I heard that some performers were brilliant because they weren't afraid to take a few liberties with a piece and thus, giving a fresh take on said music.

You are right but there's a limit to which a performer can move away from the original score before it becomes a form of vandalism. A music score has instructions printed below the bars as to how fast. loud or softly a section should be played but these are open to interpretation and this is where individual performances come in.

[Mr.lucifer]

The only one I know of that does this was Glenn Gould. I am also interested in seeing what middle eastern and oriental music is like. That interest was inspired by The Silk Road Ensemble, who do original middle eastern music that was influenced by the tradition of that region.

[Emil Miller]

The only one I know of that does this was Glenn Gould. I am also interested in seeing what middle eastern and oriental music is like. That interest was inspired by The Silk Road Ensemble, who do original middle eastern music that was influenced by the tradition of that region.

Glen Gould got a lot of stick from certain musicologists but is still acknowledged to be among the foremost Bach players in the world.
I believe The Silk Road Ensemble was initially the idea of Yo Yo Ma but I haven't heard them; I'm afraid my knowledge of Oriental music is very sparse except for some CDs bought for me by Chinese friends. I suspect that as China's influence increases in the West, their may well be a greater interest in the music of the Middle and Far East.

[Lokasenna]

I spent the morning on a Puccini binge, which was very nice. Whilst I'm checking my emails (not to mention various fora!), I'm relaxing to a bit of Massenet - I always find this piece so moving.

[Emil Miller]

Btw, I think the term, greatest recorded conductor, is more appropriate.

Karajan's record company, Deutsche Gramophon, engineered some of the finest examples of recorded sound in the history of sound recording and his discs were noted for their demonstration quality. He was, however, a world famous concert and opera performer. I saw him conduct towards the end of his life and the ticket cost me a good deal of money but even before he returned to Berlin after WWII, he'd established a large following in the UK conducting and recording with the newly formed Philharmonia orchestra.
The argument as to whether he was the best ever will probably never be settled but his recorded legacy is outstanding with some stunning performances. And now, thanks to Youtube, also on video.


http://youtu.be/MC515tXR6Xg