Monthly Archive: January 2011
TCHAIKOVSKY: Variations on a Rococo Theme; Souvenir de Florence; The Tempest–Symphonic Fantasy – Mstislav Rostropovich, cello/Leningrad Philharmonic Orch./ Gennady Rozhdestvensky/Borodin String Q./ USSR Sym./ Evgeny Svetlanov – Regis
A Tchaikovsky reissue of anomalous but lovely works, brilliantly performed in each case and sonically splendid.
Deconstructing Dad (2010)
In the music technology area, Scott created many different electronic instruments in an effort to come up with one which would create his music automatically for him.
JOSEPH HAYDN: Concerti for Horn No. 1 in D & No. 2 in D; Divertimento a Tre; MICHAEL HAYDN/MOZART: Romance for Horn & String Q.; MICHAEL HAYDN: Adagio and Allegro Molto for Horn and Trombone – Soloists/ Concertgebouw Orch./Henk Rubingh – Channel Classics
If you’re looking for modern-instrument versions of this music, look no further.
French Orchestral Music = CHAUSSON: Symphony in B flat; FAURE: Pelleas et Melisande Suite; HONEGGER: Rugby; Pacific 231; Pastorale d’Ete – Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Netherlands/Jean Fournet – Regis
A defining disc of great French music with spacious sound and performances by the underrated conductor Jean Fournet.
Ray Chen Virtuoso = TARTINI: Violin Sonata “The Devil’s Trill”; BACH: Chaconne from Partita in D Minor; WIENIAWSKI: Legende in G Minor; Variations on an Original Theme in A Major; FRANCK: Violin Sonata in A Major – Ray Chen, v./ Noreen Polar, p. – Sony
This debut album from Berlin (rec. June 2010) “represents who I am,” claims Chen.
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade, Op. 35; Russian Easter Festival Overture, Op. 36 – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Charles Dutoit – Onyx
These are respectable versions of Rimsky’s warhorses, but in a wildly crowded field they just aren’t competitive.
* MENDELSSOHN: String Quartet in D Major, Op. 44 No. 1; Amdante and Scherzo, Op. 81, Nos. 1 and 2; String Quartet in E-flat, Op. 44 No. 3 – Zemlinsky Quartet – Praga Digitals
********* MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ******** Mendelssohn playing of the highest order.
ALBENIZ: Iberia (Orch. Arbos, Surinach) – Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy – Pristine Audio
Vivid and vibrant, the Iberia proves worthy of the Philadelphians in all their Technicolor glory.
LUIGI CHERUBINI: Requiem in c minor – Chamber Choir Stuttgart/Hofkapelle Stuttgart/ Frieder Bernius – Carus
Cherubini was a contemporary of Mozart and his Requiem has many similarities to Mozart’s Requiem.
SCHUMANN: Piano Music = Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp Minor, Op. 11; Kreisleriana, Op. 16; LISZT: Apres Une Lecture de Dante – Helene Grimaud – Regis
Early inscriptions by Helene Grimaud testify to a passionately gifted disciple of Romantic music.
CARLOS SALZEDO Works for Solo Harp – Ballade; Scintillation; Five Poetical Studios; Suite of Eight Dances; Variations on a theme in the Ancient Style – Alice Giles, harp – Tall Poppies: “Bolmimerie” – Works for 7 harps – SHE – Tall Poppies:
Harps Galore from Australia.
Jane Ira Bloom – Wingwalker – Outline
Saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom uses space and time in surprising ways on her newest venture.
Duran Duran – Big Thing (Remastered) – EMI (2 CDs + DVD)
The real bonus in this package is the DVD of a concert from Milan, Italy in 1988.
English Piano Music = Works by IVOR GURNEY, EDWARD ELGAR, and HERBERT HOWELLS – Alan Gravill, piano (GURNEY) / Jeremy Filsell, piano (ELGAR, HOWELLS) – Dal Segno
Interesting piano music well off the beaten path.
Gustav Neidlinger = Arias by MOZART, VERDI, WAGNER, R. STRAUSS – with various soloists & conductors – Preiser
Heldentenor Neidlinger achieves a monumental vocal stature.
MENDELSSOHN: Vol. 1 of Complete Works for Organ – Praludium; Allegro Moderato Maestoso; Theme and Variations; Sonatas Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 6; Variations Serieuses – Martin Schmeding, organ – Ars Vol. 2 – Sonatas 4 & 5; other works – Martin Schmeding – Ars
Eric Werner wrote “next to Bach’s works, Mendelssohn’s Organ Sonatas belong to the required repertory of all organists.”
Nikolaus Harnoncourt – The Symphony Collection – Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Chamber Orchestra of Europe/ Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/ Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/ conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt – Teldec/Warner Classics (5 CDs)
I can’t recommend this set highly enough, and with the ongoing re-release of additional Harnoncourt titles it makes for an especially exciting new year.
Voices: Chant from Avignon – The Benedictine Nuns of Notre-Dame de L’Annonciation – Decca
The first release from Decca of this kind of music in a long, long time. Here’s to more!
“Nordic Sounds” = SVEN-DAVID SANDSTROM: Lobet den Herrn (Praise the Lord); Ave Maria for two sop. soloists & mixed chorus; Hear my prayer, O Lord; Es ist genung (It is enough); other works – Soloists & Swedish Radio Choir/Peter Dijkstra – Channel Classics
Captivating choral sounds in a sonically lush recording!
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli = HAYDN: Piano Concerto in D Major; BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” – Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, piano/Orch. di Torino della RAI/Mario Rossi (Haydn) /Orch. di Roma della RAI/ Massimo Freccia – Tahra
Yet another version of the Emperor Concerto with Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli proves as necessary as it is technically miraculous.
Audio News for January 28, 2011
On Performers Issuing Their Own CDs; Another Side of 3D
JOHN BLOW: An Ode on the Death of Mr. Henry Purcell; PURCELL: Here Let my Life; But ah, I See Eusebia Drown’d in Tears; Symphony for the Flutes; Strike the Viol; others – Carlos Mena & Damien Guillon, counter tenors/Ricercar Consort – Mirare
A surprisingly engaging album of Purcell songs and John Blow’s funeral ode to the same.