Monthly Archive: October 2016
Koussevitzky conducts Rare American Symphony Performances = HARRIS: Sym. No. 5; HILL: Sym. No. 1; DIAMOND: Sym. No. 2 – Boston Sym. Orch. – Pristine Audio
Three eminently American, powerful symphonies find their debut performances with Koussevitzky restored. Koussevitzky conducts Rare American Symphony Performances = HARRIS: Symphony No. 5; HILL: Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op. 34; DIAMOND: Symphony No. 2 – Boston Sym. Orch. – Pristine Audio PASC 484, 77:49 [avail. in var. formats at www.pristineclassical.com] *****: Producer and engineer Andrew Rose deserves an honorable mention for the sheer effort lavished upon these previously unreleased, live performances by Serge Koussevitzky of classic American repertory, often from sources in originally sad shape. From BSO archives, 1943-44, Rose has virtually resurrected wartime concerts that fueled much for the aesthetic morale of our country during this critical period. The Roy Harris Symphony No. 5 – based on a process the composed called “autogenesis,” a kind of through-composed technique of building upon kernels of musical material played early and extended in their musical possibilities, a la Beethoven’s Fifth – is dedicated to the Soviet Union, at the time busy repelling the Nazi horde. The music contains aggressive, martial aspects: the first movement Prelude evolves from thirds, sixths, and repeated notes. The second movement Chorale capitalizes (rec. 27 February 1943) on the BSO’s strong suit of strings and brass: […]
GYÖRGY LIGETI: Sonata for solo viola; Lux aeterna; Three Fantasies after Friedrich Hölderlin; ROBERT HEPPENER: Im Gestein – Susanne van Els, viola/Capella Amsterdam/musikFabrik/ Daniel Reuss – HM/Gold
A very eclectic but interesting collection of modern works. GYÖRGY LIGETI: Sonata for solo viola; Lux aeterna; Three Fantasies after Friedrich Hölderlin; ROBERT HEPPENER: Im Gestein – Susanne van Els, viola/Capella Amsterdam/musikFabrik/Daniel Reuss – Harmonia mundi Gold HMG 501985, 64:31, (8/19/16) [Distr. by PIAS] ***1/2: Hungarian “modernist” composer György Ligeti was one of the more prominent voices of the post-war avant-garde movement in eastern Europe. He was never a proponent of serialism and developed a style that was bold and unsettling, yet never very comfortably fit with any of the trends that academic Europe was so adherent to. So, he found himself needing to emigrate to Germany in 1966 and spent the rest of his life trying to forge a reputation for himself. To this day, Ligeti is known mostly for a few key and revolutionary works; such as Atmospheres, Requiem and the present Lux aeterna. (All three of which were used to great effect by filmmaker Stanley Kubrick in his revolutionary 2001: A Space Odyssey.) Lux aeterna has always been one of my favorite of Ligeti’s works and, together with the Requiem, created whole new approaches to choral writing. It is simultaneously a beautiful yet very creepy work that […]
JOHN ADAMS: The Dharma at Big Sur; My Father Knew Charles Ives – BBC Sym. Orch./ John Adams /with Tracy Silverman, electric violin – Nonesuch (2 CDs)
JOHN ADAMS: The Dharma at Big Sur; My Father Knew Charles Ives – BBC Sym. Orch./ John Adams /with Tracy Silverman, electric violin – Nonesuch 2-CD disc set 79857-2, 52:00 (9/26/06) ****: John Adams at his best with an East Coast and West Coast-themed musical offering. This is not a new disc, as it was released in 2006. But it is an important disc from one of the world’s greatest living composers, John Adams. This two disc set offers The Dharma at Big Sur, which comprises the 2003 title piece by Pulitzer Prize–winning composer John Adams, as well as My Father Knew Charles Ives, also from 2003. Both pieces are performed by London’s BBC Symphony Orchestra and conducted by the composer. The first piece, The Dharma at Big Sur is a musical offering reflecting on Adams’ move from the East to the West coast of America. Says the composer: “I immediately began searching my mind for an image, either verbal or pictorial, that could summon up the feelings of being an emigrant to the Pacific Coast—as I am, and as are so many who’ve made the journey here, both physically and spiritually. Coming upon the California coast, the Western shelf […]
MacMILLAN: Violin Concerto; Symphony No. 4 – Vadim Repin, v./Groote, voice/BBC Scottish Sym. Orch./ Donald Runnicles – Onyx Classics
MacMillan’s style has evolved over the years and here are two of his best works! JAMES MacMILLAN: Violin Concerto; Symphony No. 4 – Vadim Repin, v./Groote, voice/BBC Scottish Sym. Orch./ Donald Runnicles – Onyx Classics ONYX 4157, [Distr. by HM/PIAS], 65:24, (10/28/16) ****: I have heard many works by Sir James MacMillan over the years, starting with his The Berserking and all of them are very creatively scored and quite interesting to listen to. It is also true that, for me, many of his early works were a bit of a ‘wild ride’ with ample dissonance and an almost paranoid or dark tone and an energy that seemed relentless at times. Much of MacMillan’s music over the years has addressed religious themes and utilized sacred text, in reflection of his devout Catholic faith and also in examining a wide range of social and political turmoil through his writing. In recent years, MacMillan has written music with a broader appeal and a bit less message and implication behind the sound. I think the Violin Concerto comes across this way. Written for the present soloist, Vadim Repin, this concerto is a three-movement work that takes its cue from Scottish dance forms […]
![“The Bach Project, Volume 2” [TrackList follows] = Todd Fickley, organ – MSR Classics](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/BACHVol.2.jpg)
“The Bach Project, Volume 2” [TrackList follows] = Todd Fickley, organ – MSR Classics
The promise of greatness continues in this superb second volume. “The Bach Project, Volume 2” = BACH: Prelude and Fugue in C major, bwv 545; Chorale: Ein’ feste burg ist unser gott, BWV 720; Chorale: Nun danket alle gott, bwv 657 (“Leipzig” chorale No. 7); Trio sonata No. 2 in c, BWV 526; Chorale: Von gott will ich nicht lassen, BWV 658 (“Leipzig” No. 8); Concerto in a, BWV 593 (after Vivaldi: Concerto for Two Violins and Strings in A minor, Op.3, No.8); Sechs choräle von verschiedener art (“Schübler” chorales); Toccata and Fugue in f major, BWV 540 – Todd Fickley, organ – MSR Classics MS 1562, 73:21 [Distr. by Albany] *****: I’ll probably have to put this at the beginning of every disc in this series, so here it is: go to Vol. 1 to get an overview of exactly what the Hauptwerk technology is that allows this series to progress from organ of choice to organ of choice without actually being on site! For volume two we are using the Marcussen & Son organ from the Netherlands (1973). This is a much bigger instrument than the small 1721 Dutch instrument in volume one, and features a six-second reverb […]
Lean – Lean – Music Wizards
Lean in and listen: trio music which is loose and lingering. Lean – Lean [TrackList follows] – Music Wizards 712411776534, 57:16 [9/16/16] ****: (Jerome Sabbagh – tenor and soprano saxes; Simon Jermyn – electric bass, effects; Allison Miller – drums, bike, effects) Lean is a New York City-based trio consisting of saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh, bassist Simon Jermyn and drummer Allison Miller. To appreciate what this forward-driving jazz threesome can do, follow the dictates of the trio’s self-titled debut…and lean in. Listen closely. Pay attention. This hour-long album is rich with compositional creation, improvisational imagination and masterful musicianship. Sabbagh is from France but has called NYC home since the early ‘70s. He’s played with Victor Lewis, Bill Stewart, Billy Drummond, and others; and has led or co-led several groups over the years. Jermyn was raised in Ireland and since moving to New York City has been on stage with John Hollenbeck, Tony Malaby, Dan Tepfer, and many more; issued solo records; and is associated with other NYC-area bands. Miller fronts Boom Tic Boom and is a member of Honey Ear Trio; has performed with songwriters Ani DiFranco and Natalie Merchant; and frequently sits in with the house band for late-night talk-show […]
Lauren Bush, vocals – All My Treasures – Self-produced
Lauren Bush – All My Treasures – Self-produced, 52:17 ***: (Available as an MP3 download on Amazon) An uneven effort but shows promise. (Lauren Bush – vocals; Brandon Allen – sax; Miguel Gorodi – trumpet; Kieran McLeod – trombone; Liam Dunachie – piano; Andrew Rodd – bass; David Ingamelis – drums) Lauren Bush (no relation to the other Bush clan) is a vocalist who presently resides in the UK, but has Canadian roots. In this self-produced release entitled All My Treasures, she tries to do what has eluded many other hopefuls (especially without the support of a recognized record label): make a breakthrough in the tough world of jazz/pop music. As Bush outlined in the self-written liner notes (which by the way were printed in mice type and were very difficult to read) said each tune chosen is “like a little jewel to me” which she hoped to share with a wider audience. Starting with the Bob Dorough ditty “I’ve Got Just About Everything I Need”. The arrangement is by the highly regarded Canadian bassist Don Thompson and snaps along at a brisk pace. While Bush bristles with energy she has a voice that is somewhat thin in tone, and […]
The Marx Brothers = The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, Duck Soup – Blu-ray (3)
A Silver Screen Blu-ray collection of the first five (and funniest) Marx Bros. movies. The Marx Brothers = The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, Duck Soup – Blu-ray (3) (1929-1933/2016) Cast: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx, Margaret Dumont Directors: Victor Heerman, Norman Z. McLeod, Joseph Santley, Robert Florey, Leo McCarey Studio: Paramount/ Universal Studios Home Ent. 61181320 (10/18/16) Video: 1:33 for 4:3 B&W Audio: English mono PCM Subtitles: English SDH, French Extras: See below Length: TT: 408 min. Rating: ***** At least three of the four Marx Brothers are the reigning kings of comedy on film and they remain one of the most iconic comic teams of all time. And these – their first five films for Paramount – are the most hilarious of all their work – the later ones for MGM get more serious are are not filled with comedy sketches, witty dialogue and plenty of gags like these five. The first one, from 1929, was actually the first all-talking and music sound film – The Jazz Singer only has a part with sync sound. And this was when many films had the sound on separate discs that had to be synced […]
Imperium, Blu-ray (2016)
A thriller again about an uncover agent – this time of white supremacist groups. Imperium, Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Toni Collette, Burn Gorman, Nestor Carbonell, Sam Trammell Director: Daniel Ragussis Studio: Grindstone/ Lionsgate Premiere (11/1/16) Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9 screens, HD 1080p color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish Extras: Commentary track with director and writer Michael German, “Living Undercover” featurette, “Making Imperium,” Interviews with cast & crew, Trailer gallery Length: 89 min. Rating: ***** This is a third undercover-type of story, like The Night Manager and The Infiltrator. You might want to view the second and third extras first before seeing the feature. The rather nebish rookie FBI desk worker is recruited by his boss because she feels he has the personality that will fit him into the white supremacist movement. He is forced to shave his own head and read much white supremacist literature, including Mein Kampf. (Radcliffe is the same actor who played the corpse in Swiss Army Man.) This is based on true events in the life of FBI undercover man Michael German, who was the writer on the film and worked with actor Radcliffe as well as the director, for whom this was […]
GRANADOS: March of the Defeated; Torrijos; Suite on Galician Songs – Barcelona Sym. Orch. & Chorus/ Pablo Gonzalez – NaxosGRANADOS: Concerto in c “Patetico”; ALBENIZ: Concierto fantastico; Rapsodia espanola – Melani Mestre, p./ BBC Scottish Sym. Orch./ Martyn Brabbins – Hyperion
Two CDs involving Enrique Granados. GRANADOS: March of the Defeated (1899); Torrijos (1894); Suite on Galician Songs (1899) – Barcelona Sym. Orch. & Chorus/ Pablo Gonzalez – Naxos 8.573263, 54:47 (4/4/16) ****: GRANADOS: Concerto in c “Patetico”; ALBENIZ: Concierto fantastico in a, Op. 78; Rapsodia espanola – Melani Mestre, p./ BBC Scottish Sym. Orch./ Martyn Brabbins – Hyperion CDA67918, 76:58 (4/4/16) (Distr. by HM/PIAS) ****: All of these works are getting their first recording (partly in observance of the centenary of his death), and although Granados is known mainly for his solo piano music, these two CDs show off some of his orchestral music. The painful march of the defeated is not identified as to what battle this is from, and the composer’s talent for lyrical writing is shown in his incidental music for the play Torrijos. The suite on folk songs uses Galician melodies and dance rhythms in an effort to reflect the landscapes of this region. Barcelona is a wonderful city, and its symphony orchestra is excellent in these world premiere recordings. The Cor Madrigal choir is heard only in three of the five sections of the Torrijos incidental music. Sonics are fine for the standard CD format. […]
“Soaring Solo – Unaccompanied Works II” – Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio, violin & viola – MSR Classics
Don’t think twice about getting this wonderful recital. “Soaring Solo – Unaccompanied Works II” – Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio, violin & viola – MSR Classics MS 1627, 73:32 [Distr. by Albany] *****: This is Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio’s second solo disc, the first called “Going Solo” following this same sort of format. Here, the artist says “Soaring effortlessly high above the clouds. That is the sensation I enjoy when I am in the perfect performance zone. It is a feeling of tremendous freedom and peace. As if I am weightless, I am soaring on air currents looking passively down on the tumultuous world below as the music flows past my ears. When I decided to record a second CD of solo pieces for violin and viola, Soaring Solo was the title that came ‘out of the blue’ and drifted into my consciousness.” Interesting, and no doubt pertinent to this fine violinist/ violist when selecting this program, but I am not sure how much it matters to the listener or our appreciation of the music. What is important is the wonderful technical acumen she brings to each piece on this recital regardless of instrument played, and the superb tonal qualities she manages on each. The […]
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 4; SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 10 – Leningrad Philharmonic Orch./ Yevgeny Mravinsky (1955) – Praga Digitals
Two Mravinsky performances from the Prague Spring 1955, of which the Shostakovich seems “definitive.” BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 4 in B-flat Major, Op. 60; SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 10 in e minor, Op. 93 – Leningrad Philharmonic Orch./ Yevgeny Mravinsky (1955) – Praga Digitals PRD 350 115, 79:28 [Distr. by Harmonia mundi/PIAS] ****: Praga Digitals restores two performances from the 3 June 1955 Smetana Hall concert of the Prague Spring Festival, here featuring the esteemed Russian conductor Yevgeny Mravinsky (1903-1988). Already known for the intense discipline he instilled into the Leningrad ensemble, Mravinsky gleans alert responses from his woodwinds – especially his principal flute and bassoon – for the opening Adagio – Allegro vivace first movement in the Beethoven B-flat Symphony. No less commanding, Mravinsky’s tympani reveals the new power Beethoven had brought to the percussion of the Classical symphony. Once the mysterious and even ominous b-flat minor Adagio passes us, the ensuing Allegro assumes frenetic and unbuttoned energies, volatile as they are irreverent. The capacity for direct lyricism in Mravinsky’s color arsenal reveals itself in the Adagio second movement, a fervent song in sonata-form, sans development. Winds and strings converge in massive – although not particularly warm – harmony. What makes […]
George Robert, sax – Plays Michel Legrand – Claves
George Robert, sax – Plays Michel Legrand – Claves 50-1607, 55:16 ***: (George Robert, alto saxophone/ Torben Oxbol; arrangements and orchestral parts) Michel Legrand at the movies, on sax. With the passing of George Robert (1960-2016), we have lost a very fine jazz musician and esteemed educator. He played with many of the top big bands, including Lionel Hampton and Phil Woods. A longish stint with Tom Harrell is also a highlight of his discography. Robert is quite a traditional alto stylist with an even, burnished tone that recalls Benny Carter. On the record under review, he demonstrates his impeccable taste in negotiating unabashedly Romantic music without indulging in effects or tumbling into mawkishness. Most jazz listeners identify Michel Legrand with his momentous 1958 big band recording. It was a real Napoleonic conquest, recruiting the top modern players in original arrangements of jazz standards. One might have thought that a Gallic Gil Evans was in the making. However, events proved otherwise. Although, Legrand returned to specifically American jazz now and again, he directed his professional attention to French film music. He earned an enormous reputation for his soundtracks to The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Summer Of ’42, and Brian’s Song. Perhaps […]
A Slight Departure – Birdsong at Morning (Blu-ray + CD)
See review in Hi-Res category.
A Slight Departure – Birdsong At Morning – Expanded Edition (Video & Pure Audio Blu-ray + CD) – Blue Gentian
A Slight Departure – Birdsong At Morning – Expanded Edition (Video & Pure Audio Stereo Blu-ray + CD) – Blue Gentian 008, 53:22 (7/21/15) ****: A very unusual video Blu-ray plus CD and unusual hi-res music too. (1st Amazon button may be for the CD alone, the 2nd for the Blu-ray) (Alan Williams – acoustic & electric guitar, marimba, vibraphone, vocals; Greg Porter – bass, backing vocals; Darleen Wilson – electric guitar, backing vocals; Ben Wittman – drums, percussion; Robert Holmes – electric guitar; The Mehr Aufgaben Orch. – strings; David Moore – musical saw; Helen Sherra-Davies – violin solo; Thomas J. – electric, acoustic guitar) Birdsong At Morning is an unusual group. The core group consists of Alan Williams (songwriter, guitar, vocals), Greg Porter (bass) and Darleen Wilson (electric guitar). The first configuration occurred in the folk/rock band Knots and Crosses. Problems with their label impeded any measurable success. Then Birdsong At Morning was firmed and filmed…Their debut in 2011 was a 4-CD box set, Annals Of My Glass House. With a combination of folk/pop music and orchestrated strings, the core talent of these individuals has been articulated. Birdsong Act Morning has returned with a new release that showcases the […]
Audio News for October 21, 2016
Musical America 2017 Awards – went to pianist Juja Wang for Artist of the Year, to Andrew Norman for Composer of the Year, to Finnish Susanna Mälkki for Conductor of the Year. to bass-baritone Eric Owns for Vocalist of the Year, and to Eighth Blackbird for Ensemble of the Year. Noisy Audiences and Music – The Irish Times has a current article on Noisy Audiences and Classical Music. A couple in front of the reporter kept up an intermittent conversation thruout the entire concert. A few seats away a man was constantly swigging water from a large plastic bottle, while others here and there were busy texting away with their phones in silent mode. Irritating clapping – applause for the sake of applause – broke out after each movement of a symphony only added to the overall atmosphere of casual inattention. And the article didn’t even mention movies, where many of the audiences act just as they do at home watching TV, with everyone talking out loud. Ah, the advantages of listening to recorded music… Bluetooth Audio Set for Big Improvements – The people behind Bluetooth will move all audio applications into a new low-energy radio, called BLE for Bluetooth […]
“Dragon” – Works for alto sax & sax quartet – Albany / DANIEL SMITH: Jazz Suite for Bassoon – Summit
A nice classical-jazz couple of CDs featuring bassoon & sax. “Dragon” – Works for alto sax & sax quartet [TrackList follows] – William Perconti, alto sax/ Alloy Sax Quartet – Albany TROY1440, 49:25 ****: DANIEL SMITH: “Jazz Suite for Bassoon” [TrackList follows] – Daniel Smith, bassoon/ Bruce Boardman & Steve Grey, p./others/ The Caravaggio Ensemble – Summit DCD 656, 40:37 ****: These works represent traditional Western classical music combined with jazz, pop, folk music, and even Asian and African music. The Alloy Saxophone Quartet was formed in order to explore contemporary music, Perconti is a graduate of Bowling Green State University, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory and the U. of Iowa. He is currently on the faculty of Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho. There are eight separate works on the disc, by composers such as Rzewski, Joan Tower, Allen Blank, Hilary Tann and Joseph Martin Waters. Four works by Frederic Rzewski are performed: They consist of his various Spots. The Allan Blank work is titled Contrasts, and consists of give separate numbered movements. The combination of sax and sax quartet seems to be much more to the point than that of sax and piano. Smith is allegedly the most-recorded bassoonist in the […]
“Encores: BACH, HANDEL, TELEMANN, MOZART” – Polish Ch. Orch. /Jerzy Maksymiuk – MD&G
“Encores: BACH, HANDEL, TELEMANN, MOZART” – Polish Chamber Orchestra /Jerzy Maksymiuk – MD&G 3210181-2, 50:01 [Dist. by E1] (9/30/16) ***: Some of this CD makes a good demo. B01IG479L4 Just making it onto the US market, this MD&G from 1984 features the great Polish Chamber Orchestra under its legendary conductor Jerzy Maksymiuk in early digital sound that was already being tamed by the Detmold Tonmeisters. It’s not true of all the tracks, but there are moments when you understand MD&G’s reputation for making music and sound indivisible: at the beginning of the slow movement of CPE Bach’s Cello Concerto in A Major Wq 172, in what sounds like an well-upholstered, pre-Urtext edition, when the strings have almost a two-minute introduction, you can hear such sculpted detail, especially in the middle and lower strings, that when Ewa Wasiotka enters with that famous melody, so beautiful (and an octave higher than usually played) the contrast is breathtaking. On the other hand, they use a phantasmagoric edition for Handel’s Queen of Sheba Sinfonia that is so deliriously filled with re-orchestrations, added trills and ornaments, and recorded in hi-res surround with such spectacular brilliance, that it should become an iconic demo track. The rest of […]
Trios from Our Homelands” – REBECCA CLARKE: Piano Trio; ARNO BABAJANIAN: Piano Trio; FRANK MARTIN: Trio on Pop Irish Melodies – Lincoln Trio – Cedille
We got a duplicate of this, so here is a second review opinion on the same recent CD. “Trios from Our Homelands” – REBECCA CLARKE: Piano Trio; ARNO BABAJANIAN: Piano Trio in f-sharp; FRANK MARTIN: Trio on Popular Irish Melodies – Lincoln Trio – Cedille CDR 9000 165, 64:15 ****: Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) narrowly lost the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Chamber Music Award in 1919 for her Viola Sonata. When Mrs. Coolidge revealed the runner-up, she reported, “You should have seen [the judges’] faces when they saw [the sonata] was written by a woman.” It was unheard of for a woman to be a composer in the early 20th century. Clarke also narrowly lost the award in 1921 for her Piano Trio. She went on to write songs and chamber music and lived until the ripe age of 93. Clarke’s Piano Trio is a work of considerable emotional substance and musical creativity. The piano boldly opens the first movement which theatrically alternates sensitive lyricism with rhapsodic drama, ending quietly. The viola sings a wistful lullaby in the folk-like Andante. The cheerful last movement opens with a dance between the strings and piano which is broken by an ardent interlude. The ending […]
“Under Stalin’s Shadow” = SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies Nos. 5 in d, 8 in c, 9 in E-flat; Suite from Hamlet – Boston SO/ Andris Nelsons – DGG (2 CDs)
A fine follow-up to the Grammified first release. “Under Stalin’s Shadow” = SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies Nos. 5 in d, 8 in c, 9 in E-flat; Suite from Hamlet – Boston SO/ Andris Nelsons – DGG 479 5201 (2 CDs), 76:44, 80:54 [Distr. by Universal] ****: It’s very nice to hear the BSO back on DGG. It’s also nice that they have engaged in a Shostakovich project. The first disc won a Grammy award, and the next promised recording will have Symphonies 6 and 7. The composer, who is now reaching a popularity that didn’t seem possible during the cold war, is being reassessed in a number of ways, turning away from the more overtly political associations that so mark many recordings and performances, and emphasizing the humanity of the man’s music in the midst of incredibly difficult circumstances. So the title of this release seems a little strange considering that fact that Maestro Nelsons himself says that this music is applicable to any listener, whether understanding of the circumstances it was written in or not. Oh well, I guess you need catchy marketing to sell records these days! But from a purely musical standing these are excellent readings all. The Eighth […]
RATKJE: “And Sing” – Cikada with the Oslo Sinfonietta with vocals by Maja S.K. Ratkje – 2L
RATKJE: “And Sing” – Cikada with the Oslo Sinfonietta with vocals by Maja S.K. Ratkje – 2L multichannel SACD and Pure Audio Blu-ray – 2L-124-SABD (9/30/16), 44:00 [Distr. by Naxos] **: Ultra-contemporary music that will not be pleasant for all listeners. I hardly know how to review this disc from 2L. It contains two works for vocalist and instrumental group. Most of both tracks consists of odd vocalizations, and frankly wailing sounds that left me unsettled and uncomfortable. I love contemporary classical music, but I think this short collection will be a little far out for most of our readers, this reviewer included. This album interleaves the composer’s own voice as a performer with the ensemble sound of Cikada and the Oslo Sinfonietta. In And sing while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep the voice is pre-recorded, and the sound files are played through speakers placed among the musicians. In Concerto for Voice, the composer is performing live a solo part for amplified voice, using much wider dynamics and improvisation. While performing has influenced and inspired Maja S. K. Ratkje’s composing, the opposite is also true – even though it’s too simple to say that she improvises like a composer […]
TCHAIKOVSKY: Serenade melancolique; Valse-Scherzo; Violin Con. in D; Souvenir d’un lieu cher – Jennifer Koh, v./ Odense SO/ Alexander Vedernikov – Cedille
A great bargain to have the complete violin and orchestra pieces on one disc! TCHAIKOVSKY: Serenade melancolique, Op. 26; Valse-Scherzo, Op. 34; Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35; Souvenir d’un lieu cher, Op. 42 – Jennifer Koh, violin/ Odense SO/ Alexander Vedernikov – Cedille CDR 90000 166, 74:20 [Distr. by Albany] ****: Jennifer Koh is a terrific violinist. Since her debut twenty-odd years ago, she has gradually ascended in the public and critical eye as one of the most astute, intelligent, and boldly provocative artists around. Her contract with Cedille has been a godsend, as they have allowed her a lot of latitude in putting together thought-provoking and cleverly significant programs. Any one of them is rewarding, so you can hardly go wrong by simply tossing a coin and picking. Here she returns to some of her roots, telling us in the notes that Tchaikovsky has been part and parcel of her musical existence since a very early age, and her relationship with conductor Alexander Vedernikov is also time-tested and long-standing. Tchaikovsky had only a short relationship himself with the violin, all of his works for the instrument being completed within a three-year time span. None of them, including the […]
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
