What Are You Listening To?

[Hermes2020]

I have several Alexandre Tharaud recordings, including, notably, his Gaspard de la Nuit by Ravel, and Noches en los jardines de Espana by Falla. I think the performance equals the reference recording by Alicia de Larrocha and sounds better as well. Here is the first part.

 

[Hermes2020]

I can't resist posting parts 2 and 3 of Tharaud's brilliant performance of Noches en los jardines de Espana as well.

 

[Hermes2020]

A few days ago I discovered Peter Mattei's performance of Mahler's song cycle Des Knaben Wunderhorn. His interpretation, and the orchestral accompaniment by the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jochen Rieder, are just perfect. The recorded sound is brilliant as well, reproducing Mattei's perfect German diction clearly. I just had to have it and purchased it online this morning.

Here is the humorous song Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt, in which Mahler makes fun of a priest preaching to the fish in a stream, to no effect on them at all. The balance of his voice with the orchestra is perfect.