Recent Listening and Purchases....

[piqaboo]

Simon Boccanegra 'Joe Green'

As OT said, not a memorable section to hum in the entire piece, but very pleasant listening through-out.
The SDO version was notable for the incredibly well balanced voices. Anya Harteros had demonstrated great courtesy and skill in Don Carlo, pulling back so not to dominate the tenor. In this production, she didnt need to hold back. The male voices were plenty able to hold their own (1 tenor, 1 bass, multiple baritones). It was a delight. Anya is worth seeking out. She is notable for her acting as well as her superb singing.
If the singers had been less complementary, it could be a boring opera. Kudos to Ian and the SDO.

The chorus was heard "from off" more than from on-stage. OT has matered "prudct placement" - he was front and center (stageR) in the first Act and very visible in the 'senate' scene. Most of the group found him when he was torchwaving, but I confess I didnt manage to see him thru the flags and bright lights) He was quite restrained when given a sword to wave .

[Marye]

Il Trovatore.... "Joe Green" as well.

I just love this Opera.. next week Rossini's Tancredi... the week after that we go Ain't Misbehavin', CanStage.

[TJRDN]

It's been many moons since I posted on the forum, so it's great to be back and see this place thriving! I made purchase of the Shostakovich String Quartets with the Fitzwilliam String Quartet on Amazon recently for $25 US. Currently listening to #1 & 2.

[bignaf]

welcome back TJRDN! long time no see!

[TJRDN]

Thanks for the welcome back Bignaf. I'll try not to be so scarce and post now and then.

[piqaboo]

Last night was listening to Beethoven Piano #2 in car. Is it me, or is that piece schizo?
Because I was listening in car, it could be that my attention was divided.

[dai bread]

My latest purchase isn't classical at all. It's Bic Runga's latest album "Birds".

She wrote it after spending some time in Paris, and the French cabaret influence is marked.

It's 11 tracks of very easy listening.

BTW, her diction is near perfect. You can actually hear the words.

[1st_oboe]

Here's some listening for you that does not require any purchasing. These are some of my favorite recordings of... myself.

http://www.myspace.com/arsaxquartet

1) Georgia on my mind - AATB Saxes, all played by me overdubbing on a digital recorder. Arranged by Paul Coats, Bayou Sax Ensemble <sometimes this one just does not play, I may end up uploading something to replace it...>

2) Air for 4 English horns - Originally for SATB sax quartet. My arrangement is in a closed voicing, so there's some interesting "harmonies" Again, all 4 parts are me. This is my favorite, fo course, since I claim English horn as my primary instrument.

3) Summertime - AATB saxes again. I put this one up because it's one of my favorite all time sax arrangements, I played this in my college sax choir, but this recording is all me again. This one is by Paul Coats as well.

4) Ode to an Alligator - This was my professor's favorite song from my sax choir days. I am playing the solo soprano (awful little 20's vintage curved beastie, but I think I did ok with it) I'm accompanied by the Treasure Valley Sax Choir (My invention 4 years ago, and still going strong now that I've moved on) If I remember correctly, the instrumentation is AAATTB. This is from the recording session that we had the bass sax player sitting in with us, but I'm not hearing a bass, so I don't think she played on this song.

Hope you enjoy. I have quite a bit more, but can only post 4 at a time. I'll let you know when I swap them out.

Cheers!
Aaron

[piqaboo]

It must have been fun playing all the parts, 1st.
Did you have headphones so you could hear your first track and keep them all in time?
Ooops - just remembered you have that friend with the official type studio.
Yup, must have been fun. Will try to get to PC tonight for a listen.

[1st_oboe]

yes, I had cans on while recording. I started from the lowest part and worked my way up. A little easier to play in tune with myself that way. The recorder also has a built in metronome that clicks away in the headphones too, that really helps hold things together.