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“Fresh Dimensions” = CRAIG MADDEN MORRIS: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra; PAUL JOHN STANBERY: Robert McCloskey: The Life for Me – Frank T. Restesan, violin/Hamilton Fairfield Sym. Orch./Paul John Stanberry – Navona

“Fresh Dimensions” = CRAIG MADDEN MORRIS: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra; PAUL JOHN STANBERY: Robert McCloskey: The Life for Me – Frank T. Restesan, violin/Hamilton Fairfield Sym. Orch./Paul John Stanberry – Navona

by | Jul 3, 2016 | Classical CD Reviews, Index to All Reviews

A couple of new names and some very refreshing melodies. “Fresh Dimensions” = CRAIG MADDEN MORRIS: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra; PAUL JOHN STANBERY: Robert McCloskey: The Life for Me – Frank T. Restesan, violin/Hamilton Fairfield Sym. Orch./Paul John Stanberry – Navona NV6026 [Distr. by Naxos], 55:48 (2/12/2016) ***1/2: I confess I had not really heard of composers Morris or Stanberry before but thanks to this disc I am glad to become somewhat acquainted with their work. Morris’ Concerto for Violin and Orchestra presented here was originally written for violinist Christine Kwak. It is lovely work that has a decidedly “Americana” feel to it and each movement echoes some aspect of folk material or countryside living. I was especially taken with the buoyant and rather Barber-esque second movement, “Breezes.” Soloist Frank Restesan does a very fine job with this work, that I think all violinists should get to know. Paul John Stanbery was also new to me. Stanbery is currently music director of the Hamilton Fairfield Symphony, the featured orchestra on these recordings and conducted by Stanbery. His mentors and teachers included conducting studies with Emil Raab, Ivan Trusler, Robert Porco and John Leman. He studied composition with Wallace DePue and H. […]

Best of the Year Discs for 2012

by | Dec 28, 2012 | Best of the Year

* = 12 Best Multichannel Discs of the Month CLASSICAL (Incl. HI-RES), CLASSICAL REISSUE & CL. VINYL ACHRON: Complete Suites for Violin and Piano –  Shaham/Erez – Hyperion CDA 67841 VOLKMAR ANDREAE: Symphony in C Major, Op. 31; Notturno and Scherzo, Op. 30; Music for Orchestra, Op. 35; Kleine Suite, Op. 27 – Bournemouth Sym. Orch. / Marc Andreae – Guild GMCD 7377 ARNOLD: Overtures – London Philharmonic/ Malcom Arnold – Reference Recordings HRx 176.4/24bit files HR-48 * BACH: Sonatas No. 1 in b, BWV 1014; No. 3 in E, BWV 1016; in g, BWV 1020; in b, BWV 1030; in E-flat: Siciliana – Lara St. John, v./ Marie-Pierre Langlamet, harp – Ancalagon SACD 139 BEETHOVEN: Diabelli Variations – Andreas Staier, fortepiano – Harmonia Mundi HMC 902091 * BERLIOZ: Symphonie fantastique; Ov. to Beatrice and Benedict – Scottish Ch. Orch./ Robin Ticciati – Linn SACD CKD 400 YORK BOWEN: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2 – BBC Philharmonic/Sir Andrew Davis – Chandos 10670 BRAHMS: Sym. No. 1 – Furtwaengler/Hamburg Philh. – Tahra TAHRA FURT 2010 * BRITTEN: War Requiem – Soloists/ Choir of Eltham College/ London Sym. Chorus/ London Sym./Gianandrea Noseda – LSO Live SACD LSO0719 (2 discs) ALFREDO CASELLA: Concerto for Orchestra; War […]