Monthly Archive: March 2018
Homunculus / Kamus Quartet – Composer: Esa-Pekka Salonen, György Ligeti, Benjamin Britten – Kamus String Quartet – Alba Records
Three contemporary string quartets stunningly played and recorded! Homunculus / Kamus Quartet – Composer: Esa-Pekka Salonen, György Ligeti, Benjamin Britten – Kamus String Quartet – Alba Records SACD/Hybrid Catalog #: 409 – (01/05/2018) TT: 62:00 **** This new multi-channel release, which includes the world premiere recording of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s string quartet Homunculus, and also includes music by Ligeti (String […]
The Music Treasury, 1 April 2018
This week, The Music Treasury is presenting a collection of performances by esteemed composers who could also wield the baton before a responsive ensemble. The dates of the performances range from the electrical era of 78rpm through 1965, live from Boston. The show is hosted by Dr Gary Lemco, and airs 1 April 2018, from 19:00 – […]
Beau Soir = FAURE: Violin Sonata; Berceuse; FRANCK: Violin Sonata; DEBUSSY : La file aux cheveux de lin; Beau soir – Kyung Wha Chung, violin/ Kevin Kenner, piano – Warner Classics
After a substantial hiatus from the recording studio, Korean virtuoso Kyung Wha Chung returns with a soulful program of Gallic music. Beau Soir = FAURE: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, Op. 13; Berceuse, Op. 16; FRANCK: Violin Sonata in A Major; Panis angelicus (arr. Kenner); DEBUSSY (arr. Hartmann) : La file aux cheveux […]
Reich: Drumming – Colin Currie Group with Synergy Vocals – Colin Currie Records
Steve Reich’s monumental composition in good sound and a solid performance. Reich: Drumming – Colin Currie Group with Synergy Vocals – Colin Currie Records CD CCR001 TT: 56:00 (3/8/18) *** 1/2 This was Steve Reich’s breakthrough masterpiece, inspired by his studies of African drumming in the 1970s. There have been many recordings of this work, […]
Re-structures = Piano music by Lansky, Ruders, Machover, Kurtág, Ben-Amots – Quattro Mani – Bridge
Quattro Mani: Re-Structures Piano music by Lansky, Ruders, Machover, Kurtág, Ben-Amots for four hands. Quattro Mani (Steven Beck, Susan Grace)—Bridge 9496—49:00, *** 1/2: I often think of Johann Sebastian Bach when I think of combining multiple keyboard instruments. The image of Bach, with one or more of his sons performing at the Zimmermann Coffee House […]
MAHLER: Symphony No. 9 in D Major – Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra/ Daniel Harding – Harmonia mundi
Daniel Harding realization of Mahler’s last symphony presents the work as an ongoing miracle and paradox of sound and sensibility. MAHLER: Symphony No. 9 in D Major – Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra/ Daniel Harding – Harmonia mundi HMM 902258, 82:37 (3/23/18) [Distr. PIAS] ****: Amidst a personal world of increased uncertainty and loss—the death of […]
CHRISTOPHERSEN: Woven Brass – Oslo Philharmonic Brass – Dual Disc, Hybrid SACD/ Pure Audio Blu-ray
Contemporary brass music in a stunning multi-format package Christophersen: Woven Brass – Dual Disc, Hybrid SACD/ Pure Audio Blu-ray – Oslo Philharmonic Brass (leader Jonas Haltia) (11/1/17) **** What a spectacular recording from 2L! This multi-format disc gives us some tight performances by the Oslo Philharmonic Brass. There music offered is all by Norwegian composer […]
Steve Slagle – Dedication – Panorama
Family, friends, and fellow musicians all make an impact on saxophonist Steve Slagle’s latest album. Steve Slagle – Dedication [TrackList and Performing Artists follows] – Panorama 007, 58:18 [1/4/18] ****: Saxophonist Steve Slagle’s one-hour album, Dedication, is well named. The nine tracks (seven Slagle originals) are each dedicated to someone important in Slagle’s life and/or […]
Black Gardenia – Lucky Star – Vintage Jazz
A self assured vocalist supported by a cohesive band Black Gardenia – Lucky Star – Vintage Jazz 5369123477 46:28*** In horticultural terms, a Black Gardenia is not an actual flower. But in musical realm, Black Gardenia is a Vancouver B.C. based vintage jazz band that combines jazz, country, folk and blues from the 20s,30s and […]
SCRIABIN: The Final Recital = Recreation of Scriabin’s program from his final concert – Jeremey Thompson – MSR
Pianist Jeremy Thompson recreates the composer’s last public appearance as a performer. SCRIABIN: The Final Recital = 2 Preludes, Op. 35; 4 Preludes, Op. 37; Prelude in G Major, Op. 39, No. 3; Mazurka in E Major, Op. 25, No. 4; Etude in b-flat minor, Op. 8, No. 7; Valse in A-flat Major, Op. 38; […]
The Music Treasury, 25 March 2018
This week, The Music Treasury is focusing on the performances by conductor Willem van Otterloo. Talented in many areas, Otterloo opted to study music, where he excelled in both cello performance as well as composition. Though his activity as a conductor was launched in the Netherlands, his career ultimately landed in Australia, where he conceited […]
Hiromi & Edmar Castaneda – Live In Montreal – Telarc
Too much talent at one time and in one place Hiromi & Edmar Castaneda – Live In Montreal – Telarc 00026 72:11**** ( Hiromi – piano; Edmar Castaneda – harp) Sometimes too much talent at one time and in one place is recipe for auditory overload. Such might be the case for the album Hiromi […]
Cantelli: New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, Vol. 3 = Orchestral Works by WAGNER; VERDI; MONTEVERDI; HANDEL; BRAHMS; HINDEMITH – New York Philharmonic/ Guido Cantelli – Pristine Audio
Guido Cantelli’s final U.S. appearances bring potent and lyrical music-making to 1956 Carnegie Hall.
“Portraits: Works for Flute, Clarinet, and Piano” = Works by CHRIS ROGERSON; VALERIE COLEMAN; GUILLAUME CONNESSON; RACHMANINOV; PAUL SCHOENFIELD; PHILIP HAMMOND; IRISH TRADITIONAL – McGill/McHale Trio – Cedille
A wonderful album all the way around. “Portraits: Works for Flute, Clarinet, and Piano” = CHRIS ROGERSON: A Fish Will Rise; VALERIE COLEMAN: Portraits of Langston; GUILLAUME CONNESSON: Techno – Parade; RACHMANINOV (Arr. McHale): Vocalise; PAUL SCHOENFIELD: Sonatina; PHILIP HAMMOND: The Lamentation of Owen O’Neil; IRISH TRADITIONAL (Arr. McHale): The Lark in the Clear Air […]
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons – Rachel Podger / Brecon Baroque—Channel Classics
Vivaldi: Le quattro stagione, concerti, Il grosso mogul, Il riposo, L’Amoroso. Rachel Podger, Brecon Baroque—Channel Classics CCS SA 40318—76:00 [Distr. by Pias] ****: I’ve been following the historically-informed performance movement for most of my life, coming to collect recordings by Hogwood and Pinnock in the late 1980s as a teen. Rachel Podger came on the […]
SCHUMANN: Manfred Overture; Symphony No. 4; BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 – Swiss Festival Orchestra/ Wilhelm Furtwaengler – Audite
Audite restores the last of Furtwaengler’s glorious appearances in Lucerne, Switzerland.
MOZART: Violin Concerto Nos. 4 & 5 – Nikolaj Znaider, violin and conductor/ London Symphony Orchestra – LSO
Nikolaj Znaider proves a facile and elegant purveyor of Mozart’s two greatest violin concertos. MOZART: Violin Concerto no. 4 in D Major, K. 218; Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219 “Turkish” – Nikolaj Znaider, violin and conductor/ London Symphony Orchestra – LSO Live (DSD) LSOO807, 50:28 (3/2/18) (Distr. by [PIAS]) ****: Recorded […]
Ivo Perelman and Matthew Shipp – Oneness– Leo
Ivo Perelman and Matthew Shipp – Oneness– Leo Musical collaboration and communication of the highest order. Ivo Perelman and Matthew Shipp – Oneness – Leo CD LR 823/825 (3-CDs), 49:24, 49:06, 43:52 [3/2/18] *****: (Ivo Perelman – tenor saxophone; Matthew Shipp – piano) How does one select the best of the best? As tenor saxophonist […]
The Show Before The Show – Live At The Penn & Teller Theatre – Capri
A cheerful little earful of musical magic The Show Before The Show – Live At The Penn & Teller Theatre Capri Records 74148-2 60:38****: ( Mike Jones – piano; Penn Jillette – bass) There has been a connection between music and magic for many years, but it was probably best illustrated in 1942 when Harold […]
Lauri Porra: Entropia and other works – Lahti Symphony Orchestra/ Jakko Kuusisto cond – Hybrid SACD BIS
Fascinating modern compositions, but I could live without the Finnish Rap Music Lauri Porra: Entropia and other works – Lahti Symphony Orchestra – Jakko Kuusisto cond – Hybrid SACD BIS 2305 (2/2/2018) TT: 83:18 *** 1/2 Great-grandson of composer Jean Sibelius, Lauri Porra began playing the cello at the age of six, but later switched […]
SUK: Symphony No. 2, “Asrael”; KREJCI: Serenata for Orchestra – Southwest Orchestra of Baden-Baden/ Karel Ancerl – SWR
Karel Ancerl in 1957 delivers his passionate rendering of Suk’s autobiographical Second Symphony.
Musica Baltica Vol.3: FW Markull – Organ Works – MDG
19th Century organ music beautifully played and recorded Musica Baltica Vol.3: FW Markull – Organ Works – MDG (Dabringhaus und Grimm) Cat No: MDG9062048 Hybrid SACD TT: 67:19 (3/16/18) *** 1/2 Friedrich Wilhelm Markull began his career as a child prodigy and was appointed to the post of organist at Danzig’s magnificent St Mary’s Church […]