Monthly Archive: February 2018
“Change of Keys” = Piano Works by HAYDN; BEETHOVEN; CHOPIN; SCHUMANN/LISZT; DEBUSSY; BARTOK – Carol Leone, piano – MSR Classics
A varied and nicely complied recital played with strength and conviction. “Change of Keys” = HAYDN: Sonata in C, HOB XVI: 50; BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 30 in E, Op. 109; CHOPIN: Ballade No. 1 in g, Op. 23; SCHUMANN (arr. LISZT): Liebeslied “Widmung” S.566; DEBUSSY: L’Isle joyeuse, L.106; BARTOK: Sonata, BB 88, SZ.80 – Carol Leone, piano – MSR Classics MS 1616, 73:09 [Distr. by Albany] ****: Carol Leone, currently a professor of piano at Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of Music, counts among her pedagogues Mieczyslaw Horszowski at the Curtis Institute of Music, and Guido Agosti after earning an honors diploma during a summer at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena. She has the chops for this wonderfully varied and intrepid program, displaying formidable technical acumen and a fine sense of lyricism. Her Haydn is crisp and sturdy, while his student Beethoven’s late work suitably introspective without losing the superb yet odd structure that couches so much of Beethoven’s later music. Chopin’s opus is quite a change, yet Leone manages the transition without a second thought, and the short step to Liszt’s Schumann arrangement proves mild indeed. Only the Debussy seems odd to me here. Not an especially beloved piece […]
Raoul Björkenheim/eCsTaSy – Doors of Perception – Cuneiform
Not your typical prog-jazz fusion. Raoul Björkenheim/eCsTaSy – Doors of Perception [TrackList follows] – Cuneiform, Rune 443 43:05 [10/6/17] ****: (Raoul Björkenheim – electric 6-string guitar, electric 12-string guitar, producer; Pauli Lyytinen – soprano, tenor, alto and bass saxophone, wood flute; Jori Huhtala – double bass; Markku Ounaskari – drums, percussion) Finnish-American guitarist Raoul Björkenheim and his quartet, eCsTaSy [yes, the band’s name is spelled with alternating lowercase and upper-case letters] push outside the limits of prog-jazz on the group’s third release, the 43-minute Doors of Perception. Björkenheim’s previous outings stretched tunes into lengthy sonic excursions. Here, Björkenheim’s music is trimmed down. The longest cut is just short of six minutes, some barely go beyond three minutes. While the pieces are compressed, the overall impact is an album of unconsciously connected impressions with an internal consistency which proceeds from the opening track to the final, tenth piece. Björkenheim and eCsTaSy have been together for seven years and Björkenheim explains, “The band has really developed during the last few years, getting to a point that I had hoped we would reach. We went into the studio with some sketches, but most of the music was created spontaneously, and you get a […]
Mark Murphy – Midnight Mood
A delicious session of top flight vocal inventiveness Mark Murphy – Midnight Mood – MPS0212419MSW 36:59**** ( Mark Murphy – vocals; Jimmy Deuchar – trumpet; Ake Persson – trombone; Derek Humble – alto saxophone; Ronnie Scott – tenor saxophone; Sahib Shihab – baritone saxophone + flute; Francy Boland – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Kenny Clarke – drums ) Mark Murphy died in October 2015 at the age of 83 and with him a style of hip singing that only had a few similar innovators, such as Giacomo Gates and Kurt Elling. Throughout his life, Murphy stayed true to his craft that encompassed a singular vocal style that often bent out of shape vocal lines, and threw in brief passages of vocal scatting that kept the tunes close to jazz styles. In this re-release of the original 1967 recording, Murphy was backed by some key members of The Francy Boland-Kenny Clarke Big Band for a pleasurable session of top flight vocal inventiveness. Murphy starts out with an example of his prowess, as he laces into the Duke Ellington/Ben Webster composition “Jump For Joy” in a cappella intro that leads to a recapnition for the band, followed by his scatting for […]
Paddle to the Sea: Third Coast Percussion – Music by Third Coast Percussion, Philip Glass, Jacob Druckman – Cedille Records
Not what you’d expect from a percussion ensemble, and that’s high praise Paddle to the Sea: Third Coast Percussion – Music by Third Coast Percussion, Philip Glass, Jacob Druckman – Cedille Records CD CDR 90000 175 TT: 78:52 (2/9/18) *** 1/2 I wasn’t sure what to expect from a CD that is all percussion music. I’ve listened to many such selections, and most left me cold and nervous. Not so with Paddle to the Sea, a new CD from the Third Coast Percussion ensemble. The main tracks are from the title tune, conceived as a live soundtrack to the Oscar-nominated 1966 film of the same name, based on a classic children’s story about a Native Canadian boy who carves a wooden figure called Paddle-to-the-Sea and launches him on a solo canoe voyage to the ocean. It’s a very interesting and emotional work, with each track describing different events from the boy’s journey. At times energetic, at times contemplative, the tracks hang together as a really compelling listening experience. Other works on the CD are arrangements the Third Coast Percussion group did for music of Philip Glass and Jacob Druckman. I thought the Glass pieces translated especially nicely to pure percussion […]
RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No. 2 – Serge Rachmaninov/ Philadelphia Orchestra/ Leopold Stokowski – Pristine Audio
An alternate “history” of an established masterwork emerges, seamlessly restored by Mark Obert-Thorn. RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No. 2 in c minor, Op. 18 – Serge Rachmaninov/ Philadelphia Orchestra/ Leopold Stokowski – Pristine Audio PASC 521, 66:39 [www.pristineclassical.com] ****: While purchasing a compact disc that contains only item of music—that lasts approximately thirty-one minutes—may seem exorbitant, Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer Mark Obert-Thorn has created a musical and musicological document in this issue of the Rachmaninov Concerto No. 2, as originally recorded by RCA on 10 and 12 April 1929, as well as the alternate-take performance from the same date. In his accompanying notes, Obert-Thorn informs us that the long-existing version so long available to record collectors represents the lesser-favored incarnation of his concerto. The concerto itself had to fit the 78 rpm format of c. 4-minute takes, so Rachmaninov produced three takes of a series of shellac sides and two takes for others. Between 1940 and 1942, when the original master shellacs had begun to wear down or had in fact been lost, RCA systematically replaced the takes until by the end of the 78 rpm era, all but one of ten sides were substitutes. The alternate version—that preferred by […]
The Ed Palermo Big Band – The Adventures of Zodd Zundgren – Cuneiform
There’s a new ‘super’ hero in town…Frank? Todd? No, its Zodd! The Ed Palermo Big Band – The Adventures of Zodd Zundgren [TrackList and Performers follows] – Cuneiform, Rune 440 74:10 [10/6/17] *****: How would someone combine Todd Rundgren and Frank Zappa’s music? Or, another question, why? When it comes to arranger and band leader Ed Palermo, the question is: what took so long? Palermo has been redoing Zappa’s music with the Ed Palermo Big Band since Zappa passed away in 1993, and has always found new and interesting approaches to Zappa. This time, the Ed Palermo Big Band ingeniously melds Rundgren’s pop material with Zappa’s unique compositions. In the process, Palermo also morphs the two personalities into one individual, using the guise of Zodd Zundgren, a middle-aged, overweight hero who’d rather walk dogs than fight supervillains. Palermo states, “Todd Rundgren holds a very special place in my heart. For most of my high school days my favorite musicians were Zappa and Todd Rundgren.” As a teen, Palermo felt connected to Rundgren’s songs about self-pity, unrequited romance and break-ups. Zappa’s snarky lyrics also fed into the young Palermo’s angst-tinted adolescence. It was natural that Palermo would eventually merge the two […]
Snapshots: ANTHONY PLOG, TRUMPET = Chamber Works for Trumpet by Verne Reynolds; Alan Hovhaness; Fisher Tull; Eugene Bozza; Frank Campo; Anthony Plog; Georges Enesco; Leroy Southers. Crystal Records
A lovely collection of trumpet music, mostly contemporary, all well played Snapshots: ANTHONY PLOG, TRUMPET. Verne Reynolds, Music for 5 Trumpets (performed by Anthony Plog and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Trumpet section); Alan Hovhaness, Sonata for Trumpet and Organ (Anthony Plog, trumpet; Ladd Thomas, organ); Fisher Tull, Three Bagatelles (Anthony Plog, trumpet; Sharon Davis, piano); Eugene Bozza, Caprice (Anthony Plog, trumpet; Sharon Davis, piano); Frank Campo, Duet for Equal Trumpets (Anthony Plog, Russell Kidd); Anthony Plog, Fanfare for Two Trumpets (Anthony Plog, Russell Kidd); Anthony Plog, Animal Ditties – based on poems by Ogden Nash (Anthony Plog, trumpet; Sharon Davis, piano; Hal Smith, narrator); Georges Enesco, Legend (Anthony Plog, trumpet; Sharon Davis, piano); Leroy Southers, Three Spheres (Anthony Plog, trumpet; Ken Wolfson, bassoon; Sharon Davis, piano). Crystal Records CD CD362 TT: 62:28 *** 1/2 Crystal Records has always been a strong advocate of contemporary music and has a large collection of brass music as well. I have several of their discs in my personal collection. So I was glad to see this new disc from Crystal featuring Anthony Plog, one of the greatest trumpet players of our generation, along with the trumpet players from the Los Angeles Philharmonic Brass section. […]
Streams and Podcasts, 11 Feb 2018
This week, The Music Treasury is celebrating the life and works of mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry, on her 80th birthday. An American opera singer, Grace Bumbry is considered one of the leading mezzo-sopranos of her generation, and has been a major soprano for many years. She was a member of a pioneering generation of African-American opera and classical singers who followed Marian Anderson (including Leontyne Price, Martina Arroyo, Shirley Verrett and Reri Grist) in the world of classical music and paved the way for future African-American opera and concert singers. Bumbry’s voice was rich and sizable, possessing a wide range, and was capable of producing a very distinctive plangent tone. Host Gary Lemco will be presenting a selection of her works, by composers Verdi, Handel, Gounod, Strauss, Wagner, Gluck, Schubert, and Bizet. The show can be heard this Sunday, 11 Feb 2018, on the host radio station at Stanford University, KZSU, from 19:00 to 21:00 PST, as well as concurrent streaming on the Internet at kzsu.stanford.edu.
PROKOFIEV: Romeo and Juliet – Milan La Scala Ballet/Orchestra/Patrick Fournillier – Blu-ray
PROKOFIEV: Romeo and Juliet – Blu-ray Cast: Milan La Scala Ballet [Complete List of Dancers below] Romeo – Roberto Bolle Juliet – Misty Copeland Mercutio – Antonino Sutera Tybalt – Mick Zeni Music: Milan La Scala Orchestra Conductor: Patrick Fournillier Choreographer: Kenneth MacMillan Set Designer: Mauro Carosi Costumes: Odette Nicoletti, Lighting: Marco Filibeck Run Time: 160 minutes DVD Release Date: November 17, 2017 Video: 1.77:1 Color. Audio: Dolby, NTSC, Stereo Subtitles: English, Italian Extras: None Dist: Naxos Rating: ****½ It was originally written with a happy ending. I kid you not. More on that later. If you purchase any ballets this year, you could not do much better than Romeo and Juliet by Serge Prokofiev. It’s energetic, fast-moving, gloriously musical, and riveting to watch. The cast look like they’re all in their lower 20s, except Juliet’s nurse, but like the others she is a real pro. You may be familiar with its justly famous themes like “The Dance of the Knights.” But you may not have heard that theme twist and gyrate in its many altered forms throughout the ballet, like as a leitmotif when the villainous Tybalt appears. The dance scene of the principals’ first […]
Prisma: Contemporary works for Orchestra – Music composed by Lionel Sainsbury, Clive Muncaster, Patricia Julien, and J. A. Kawarsky. Multiple Orchestras and conductors – Navona
Compelling contemporary music from lesser known but hight talented composers Prisma: Contemporary works for Orchestra – Music composed by Lionel Sainsbury, Clive Muncaster, Patricia Julien, and J. A. Kawarsky. Multiple Orchestras and conductors – Navona CD NV6141 (2/9/18) TT: 49:00 *** 1/2 Navona is offering listeners another fine disc of contemporary music by composers from both the United States and England. The first work is Lionel Sainsbury’s Time of the Comet Op. 25. It’s a rousing piece celebrating the appearance of the Hale-Bobb comet discovered in 1995 which quickly became visible to the naked eye, It’s performed by the Moravian Philharmonic conducted by Petr Vronsky. The piece is joyous throughout and well orchestrated. Next is Clive Muncaster’s Reflective Thought Patterns performed by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. Starting broadly with Brass and Tympani, it contains many orchestral colors including a marimba, vibraphone and french horn. It’s a good listen from a talented composer. Track 3 is Patrcia Julien’s Among the Hidden. Darker and more restrained than the previous tracks, it starts with a piano soon joined by the Moranvian Philharmonic. It has lovely string melodies, and again, it’s a very listenable piece of contemporary music. Finally, the disc features Kawarsky’s […]
Jeff Hamilton Trio – Live From San Pedro – Capri Records
Hamilton + Hendelman + Luty = small group par excellence Jeff Hamilton Trio – Live From San Pedro – Capri Records 74147-2 53:49**** (Jeff Hamilton – drums; Tamir Hendelman – piano; Christoph Luty – bass) Jeff Hamilton is a drummer of peerless taste and swing. When coupled with his longtime cohorts pianist Tamir Hendelman, and bassist Christoph Luty the resulting ensemble is one of the most accomplished and invigorating trios working in today’s jazz world. Their latest release Live From San Pedro is a delightful reflection of that embodiment. Recorded live in a single performance at the Alvas Showroom in San Pedro California on January 8, 2017, the trio teases out a scintillating session composed of a well recognized bop classic, show tunes, a revisited iconic number from the Ahmad Jamal playbook, and several original numbers from the band members. Let’s begin with the Thelonious Monk piece “In Waked Bud” which Monk wrote for pianist Bud Powell. The idiosyncratic interpretation offered by Monk is not contemplated by Hendelman. Rather it is a statement of smoothness and energy, interjected with some deft bass work by Luty, and Hamilton doing his compelling drumming to propel the group along. The show tunes are […]
Fabien Sevitzky: Indianapolis Symphony, Vol. 3 = Orchestral works by BRAHMS; DVORAK; ENESCU; KHACHATURIAN – Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra/ Fabien Sevitzky – Pristine Audio
A third volume of Fabien Sevitzky recordings brings us the conductor’s penchant for dance music, restored in vivid sound by Mark Obert-Thorn. Fabien Sevitzky: Indianapolis Symphony, Vol. 3 = BRAHMS: Hungarian Dances: No. 1 in g minor; No. 3 in F Major; No. 7 in F Major; DVORAK: Slavonic Dances, Op. 46: No. 8 in g minor; No. 2 in e minor; No. 4 in F Major; No. 1 in C Major; ENESCU: Romanian Rhapsodies, Op. 11: No. 1 in A Major; No. 2 in D Major; KHACHATURIAN: Gayaneh – Ballet Suite – Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra/ Fabien Sevitzky – Pristine Audio PASC 520, 78:56 [www.pristineclassical.com] ****: The spirit of the dance provides the rubric for restoration engineer Mark Obert-Thorn’s latest collection of Fabien Sevitzky (1893-1967) recordings, 1942 and 1953. The rarest of the performances, of the Brahms Hungarian Dance triptych from 1942, derives from the shellacs that had not been reissued since their original incarnation. The slow tempo for the opening of the g minor Hungarian Dance—in the composer’s own orchestral transcription—enjoys a lushly thick, rubato-laden texture that explodes into ripe, gypsy figures. With the composer’s own arrangement of the No. 3 in F by Sevitzky, we might ascribe the […]
SMETANA: Ma Vlast – Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/ Jiri Belohlavek – Decca
Smetana’s epic, national symphonic cycle has a glowing document from the late Jiri Belohlavek and his Czech Philharmonic. SMETANA: Ma Vlast – Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/ Jiri Belohlavek – Decca 483 3187, 76:52 (1/12/18) [Distr. by Universal] ***** Recorded 12-14 May 2014 at Smetana Hall, Prague, this reading of the esteemed 1874 symphonic cycle Ma Vlast celebrates the late Jiri Belohlavek (1946-2017), who twice held the position as Chief Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic. Belohlavek extends the epic tradition of performance that embraces Karel Ancerl, Vaclav Neumann, and Vaclav Talich, each of whom glorified the set of six pieces with a sense of grandeur and historical pathos. The harp solo intones the bardic voice of Lumir, who sings in the opening portrait of the fortress Vysehrad of triumphal pageants and bitter struggles that have passed through the nation. The rising and falling motif bears a kind of foster-child association with Beethoven’s C Minor Symphony. With the introduction of pomp and ceremony, the strings, winds, brass, and tympani combine in solemn procession that can become quite manic in its bucolic and social panorama. The aural imaging of this magnificent tone-picture owes its potent definition to Recording Engineers Vaclav Roubal and Karel Soukenik. […]
Jamie Saft – Solo a Genova – Rare Noise Records
Jamie Saft, a man for all musical seasons…. Jamie Saft – Solo a Genova – Rare Noise Records (Germany) – 63:17 ****1/2: (Jamie Saft – solo piano) To call Jamie Saft an artist with wide musical tastes would be a major understatement. Saft plays piano, Hammond B-3 organ, Fender Rhodes, accordion, and steel guitar. His interests range from opera, folk, heavy metal, and jazz. He has collaborated with Iggy Pop, Roswell Rudd, and John Zorn, and has played on over 150 recordings. His new CD, recently released on RareNoise Records, is his first solo piano album in 25 years. It was recorded in Genova, Italy on March 3, 2017. Using a 9 foot Steinway D-274 piano, Saft casts a wide net to interpret tracks ranging from Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell to ZZ Top and Stevie Wonder. If that is not enough, let’s include Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis, and Miles Davis with Bill Evans. Charles Ives is honored as well. Although the repertoire may be varied, what is a constant is the reverence paid and the stunning presentation. For fans of “Americana” ranging from folk to classical with jazz influences, Saft should be “your guy.” The hall acoustics in Genova, are […]
East of the Sun and West of the Moon: Orchestral Music of Daniel Crozier – Seattle Symphony / Gerard Schwarz / Moravian Symphony / Stanislav Vavrinak – Navona
Compelling contemporary orchestral works by an increasingly lauded composer East of the Sun and West of the Moon: Orchestral Music of Daniel Crozier – Seattle Symphony cond. by Gerard Schwarz and the Moravian Symphony cond. by Stanislav Vavrinak – Navona CD NV6137 (1/18/2018) TT: 45:00 ****: East of the Sun West of the Moon contains two works by composer Daniel Crozier. A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music, Crozier currently teaches Theory and Composition at Rollins College. His output includes symphonic music, operas and solo works. The first piece on the disc is the Symphony no. 1: Triptych for Orchestra. It’s an energetic work, which Crozier says displays his investigations into the narrative story telling power of music. While there is no specific story spelled out, the listener is invited to use their imagination. The disc also offers Crozier’s Ballade: A tale After the Brothers Grimm. It’s a free wheeling and colorful work, loaded with interesting musical ideas, some unique syncopation, and in both works, some bravura performances by the Seattle Symphony and and the Moravian Symphony. The recording took place in different venues, one in Seattle’s wonderful Benaroya Hall, and the Reduta Hall in Czechoslovakia. The halls sounded […]
“Remembering Jacqueline Du Pre” = Cello Concertos by HAYDN; DELIUS; ELGAR – Jacqueline Du Pre, cello – Praga Digitals
Terrific remastering of essential recording by a unique and irreplaceable artist. “Remembering Jacqueline Du Pre” = HAYDN: Cello Concerto in C, Hob. VIIb:1; DELIUS: Cello Concerto, RT VII/7; ELGAR: Cello Concerto in e, Op. 65 – Jacqueline Du Pre, cello/ English Chamber Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim/ Royal Phil. Orch./ Malcolm Sargent/ London Sym. Orch./ John Baribirolli – Praga Digitals PRD 250 380, 80:09 [Distr. by Harmonia mundi/PIAS] *****: Those who love the late great cellist Jacqueline Du Pre do so with a jealousy that borders on the obsessive—count me among them. There has certainly never been another cellist—ever—that to my sensibilities equals her startling and innate musicality, coupled with a love of music so deep as to be almost impenetrable. She was one of a kind, who, like so many others with gifts far beyond mere mortals and rarely deserving of them, left this world far too soon. In this very welcome collection by Praga, which I had hoped would be subjected to the Super Audio treatment but still sound fantastic, we are given two concertos that she virtually defined, and one that is slightly esoteric to the general public, but still remarkable. The latter is the concerto by Delius, once […]
SCHUBERT: Piano Quintet in A, “Trout” – Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin/ Daniil Trifonov, piano/ Hwayoon Lee, viola/ Maximilian Hornung, cello/ Roman Patkolo, bass – DG
A marvelous new recording of a fearsomely immortal work. SCHUBERT: Piano Quintet in A, “Trout”, D 667; Piano Trio in E-flat, “Notturno”, D 897; Standchen, D 957/4; Ave Maria, D 839 – Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin/ Daniil Trifonov, piano/ Hwayoon Lee, viola/ Maximilian Hornung, cello/ Roman Patkolo, bass – DG 00289 479 7570, 55:30 [Distr. by Universal] ****: Besides the “Club Album” (which I can’t believe she really did), Anne-Sophie Mutter’s recordings have grounded nearly to a halt since 2011, even though she tenaciously sticks to the legendary Yellow Label. There was a Dvorak Concerto album in 2014, and now this very welcome release of she and her cohorts in Schubert’s famous Trout Quintet. With all the recordings of this fishy work out there, should we welcome another? In this case, yes! Schubert is tailor made for the Black Forest-born Mutter, and, now in her fifties, her deep intelligence and still flawless technique come to bear in one of chamber music’s most beloved works. Completed in 1819, Schubert’s flowing and always fanciful melodic imagination comes full stride in this most lyrical of all chamber pieces. It wasn’t all Schubert though; the idea for the theme and the scoring were those of […]
Nina Simone – Mood Indigo: The Complete Bethlehem Singles – BMG
Nina Simone’s debut album remastered 60 years later as complete edition… Nina Simone – Mood Indigo: The Complete Bethlehem Singles – BMG/Bethlehem 538320261– Mono LP/ 7” 45 rpm single – 1958 – ****: (Nina Simone – piano, vocals; Jimmy Bond – bass; Albert “Tootie” Heath – drums) Nina Simone’s Little Girl Blue album was her debut as a recording artist, recorded in December, 1958, when she was only 24 years old. It was on Bethlehem Records, and her sole issue for that label. Fourteen tracks were recorded on a single day, and the numbers were split between Nina on solo piano, and as a trio, with bassist, Jimmy Bond, and drummer, Albert “Tootie” Heath. Most of the songs were “first takes,” a testament to Simone’s fully developed talent at such a young age. Bethlehem over the years mined the recordings as an eleven track initial issue (Little Girl Blue), and also as seven A/B singles, but this newly remastered edition is the first to include all fourteen compositions in the order recorded, with “Porgy (I Loves You Porgy)” and “Love Me or Leave Me” as a 45 rpm single on the LP edition. There is also a CD version. Nina […]
Music for Pipe Organ and Symphony Orchestra – The University of Houston Moores School Symphony Orchestra – Franz Anton Krager, music director – High Definition Tape Transfers
Organ and Orchestra in dramatic surround sound. Music for Pipe Organ and Symphony Orchestra – The University of Houston Moores School Symphony Orchestra – Franz Anton Krager, music director – High Definition Tape Transfers cat # HDTT5746 – Special limited edition Blu-ray audio disc Recorded in 24/192 High Resolution 5.0 Surround Sound TT: 77.00 ****: Audiophiles tend to love the sound of a large pipe organ, and this Blu-ray audio disc from High Definition Tape Transfers is sure to please. It contains some familiar works for organ and orchestra, and some that are more obscure but equally worthy. The disc opens with Paul Dukas Fanfare to La Péri. I’ve heard the piece before, I think in my long gone classical announcing days in college. It’s a rousing opener, with organ, brass and orchestra. Next is the Francis Poulenc Concerto for Organ, Strings, and Timpani in G-Minor. It’s well known, and loved by fans of ‘big’ orchestral music, but it has moments of subtlety too. The orchestral colors are very rich, and the organ blend with the orchestra is intricate and interesting. The disc also features Joseph Jongen’s Symphonie concertante for Organ and Orchestra, op. 81. This is also familiar to […]
Martha Argerich and Ruggiero Ricci: Leningrad Recital II, 1961 = Works for Violin w Piano by BACH; BEETHOVEN; FRANCK; BARTOK; PAGANINI; TARTINI – Ruggiero Ricci, violin/ Martha Argerich, piano – Doremi
In this second installment of the Ricci/Argerich Leningrad recitals, they can do no musical wrong. Martha Argerich and Ruggiero Ricci: Leningrad Recital II, 1961 = BACH: Chaconne from Partita No 2 in d minor, BWV 1004; BEETHOVEN: Violin Sonata in D Major, Op. 12, No. 1; FRANCK: Violin Sonata in A Major; BARTOK: 6 Romanian Folk Dances for Violin and Piano; PAGANINI: Introduction and Variations on Paisiello’s “Nel cor piu non mi sento, Op. 38; TARTINI: Violin Sonata in g minor “Devil’s Trill” – Ruggiero Ricci, violin/ Martha Argerich, piano – Doremi DHR-8053, 81:55 (1/15/18) [Distr. by Naxos] *****: The second album dedicated to the 1961 Leningrad appearances by violinist Ruggiero Ricci (1918-2012) and pianist Martha Argerich captures their individual intensities (on April 22) while demonstrating how seamlessly their personalities blend in the common cause of musical realization. Ricci opens solo, with a monumental performance of the 1720 Chaconne from the Second Partita, a testament as much to physical stamina as it remains an awesome tribute to Bach’s inventive genius, with its 64 variations on a ground bass theme. Ricci manages to traverse its musical periods and shifts of mood with a clear sense of linear direction without a moment […]
RESONANT STREAMS: Choral Music from Sun to Sea = Collection of Choral Music—classical to contemporary—on themes of Water and Sun – University of Washington Chorale/ Giselle Wyers, MSR Classics
A compelling collection of choral music from Washington State RESONANT STREAMS: Choral Music from Sun to Sea = Music by Guillaume Bouzignac, Barlow Bradford, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Chinese Folk Song, Gabriel Fauré, Gustav Holst, Lars Jansson, Libby Larsen, Daniel Pinkham, Joshua Rist, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Sacred Harp Hymn, Soila Sariola, Swedish Folk Song, Giselle Wyers – UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON CHORALE- GISELLE WYERS, conductor MSR Classics MS1642 (6/12/17) ****: This is the University of Washington Chorale’s third album, offering a selection of favorite recordings made by the ensemble from 2014 to 2016. It’s a very agreeable collection, with a variety of music from several periods. The Chorale offers a lovely blending of voice, giving us a rich, sonorous sound. Even though the music is from many different periods, the collection works well as a whole, a tribute to the thought in selecting the material. If I was going to nitpick, I’d lose the Rogers and Hammerstein song from Oklahoma as not a perfect fit, but it doesn’t rise to the level of gross distraction. I especially enjoyed the Holst; Hymn to the Waters and Daniel Pinkham’s Awake O North Wind, but almost every track is worthy of inclusion and a listening session. […]
Amit Peled: The Peabody Cello Gang = Works by SCHUBERT; POPPER; HANDEL – Amit Peled, cello/ The Peabody Cello Gang/ Andrea Casarrubios, cello/ Eli Kalman and Hui-Chuan Chen, pianos – CTM
Amit Peled and his students engage us in music of Schubert, Popper, and Handel. Amit Peled: The Peabody Cello Gang = SCHUBERT: Arpeggione Sonata in a minor, D. 821; POPPER: Requiem, OP. 66; HANDEL: Sonata for 2 Cellos in g minor, Op. 2, No. 8 – Amit Peled, cello/ The Peabody Cello Gang/ Andrea Casarrubios, cello/ Eli Kalman and Hui-Chuan Chen, pianos – CTM Classics 50:07 (10/27/17) [www.amitpeled.com] ****: Israeli cellist Amit Peled sports the 1733 Goffriler instrument that formerly belonged to Pablo Casals, and he relishes the mission to spread the “Casals sound” globally. Peled’s association with fellow cellists Bernard Greenhouse and Boris Pergamenschikow gave birth to the idea of assembling Peled’s own students into a chest of players who perform special arrangements for cello ensemble. Peled and his Cello Gang—of three other cellos—open with Schubert’s 1824 Arpeggione Sonata, virtually the only extant composition for this instrumental curio, a hybrid of bowed guitar with frets. A consort of cellos plays the bass line while Peled sails along with the lovely Allegro moderato. The middle movement, an Adagio in E Major, serves as a transition ot the A Major Allegretto finale. Melodious and seamlessly intimate, the work more than […]
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
