conductors Archive
ELGAR: Symphony No. 2; Carissima; Mina; Chanson de Matin – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orch./Vasily Petrenko – Onyx Classics
A very worthwhile addition to the Elgar resurgence. EDWARD ELGAR: Symphony No. 2; Carissima; Mina; Chanson de Matin – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orch./Vasily Petrenko – Onyx Classics ONYX4165, 69:44 [Distr. by Harmonia mundi/PIAS] (3/24/17) ***1/2: Sir Edward Elgar wrote two symphonies, relatively late in life and they have a long history of fairly sparse performance. […]
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 4 in E-flat Major “Romantic”; WAGNER: Parsifal – Good Friday Music – Berlin Philharmonic Orch. (Wagner)/ Vienna Philharmonic Orch./ Wilhelm Furtwaengler – Praga Digitals mono
Two Furtwaengler post-War performances remind us of his spiritual commitment to the German tradition. BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 4 in E-flat Major “Romantic”; WAGNER: Parsifal – Good Friday Music – Berlin Philharmonic Orch. (Wagner)/ Vienna Philharmonic Orch./ Wilhelm Furtwaengler – Praga Digitals mono SACD PRD/DSD 350 130, 77:32 (3/24/17) [Distr. by Harmonia mundi/PIAS] ****: Wilhelm Furtwaengler’s […]
British Music – Conducted by Sir Charles Groves = ELGAR, DELIUS, VW, BRIAN, HOLST, WALTON, BRIDGE & Many Others – Warner Classics (24 CDs)
True to its advertisement, this set brings together a fine selection of British music led by a devoted practitioner of his craft. British Music – Sir Charles Groves = ELGAR: Nursery Suite; Funeral March from Grania amd Diaramid, Op. 42; Severn Suite, Op. 87; Caractacus, Op. 35: Complete Cantata; Woodland and Triumphal March; The Crown […]
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 – Hallé Orch./BBC Northern Sym. Orch./ Sir John Barbirolli – Pristine Audio
This previously-unreleased Barbirolli/Bruckner Ninth bristles with ardent energy and yearning devotion. BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 in d minor (Original Version), WAB 109 – Hallé Orchestra/BBC Northern Sym. Orch./ Sir John Barbirolli – Pristine Audio PASC 486, 57:43 [avail in various formats from www.pristineclassical.com] ****: Producer and recording engineer Andrew Rose resurrects a taped BBC performance of […]
Schillings conducts = SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8, “Unfinished”; SCHILLINGS: Mona Lisa: Prelude and Arrigo’s Serenade; BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, “Eroica” – Berlin State Opera Orch./ Max von Schillings – Pristine Audio
More from the historical legacy of an imperfect man but capable musician, Max von Schillings. Schillings conducts = SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8 in b, D. 759 “Unfinished”; SCHILLINGS: Mona Lisa, Op. 15: Prelude and Arrigo’s Serenade; BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55 “Eroica” – Berlin State Opera Orch./ Max von Schillings – […]
VERDI: Aida (complete opera) – Anja Harteros (Aida)/ Other soloists/ Orch. & Chorus of Santa Ceclia/ Pappano – Warner Classics (3)
A twenty-first Aida to set the stage and the bar very high. VERDI: Aida (complete opera) – Anja Harteros (Aida)/ Jonas Kaufmann (Radames)/ Ekaterina Semenchuk (Amneris)/ Ludovic Tezier (Amonasro)/ Erwin Schrott (Ramfis)/ Marco Spotti (Il Re)/ Paolo Fanale (Messaggero)/ Eleonora Buratto (Sacerdotessa)/ Orch. and Chorus of the Dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecelia/ Antonio Pappano – […]
Audio News for April 12, 2016
Classical Artists Speak to the Audience – A change has happened in the classical music world – more and more artists speak directly to the audience about the music they are about to play. Audiences love this; they get more of a sense of the artists as people. The idea of maintaining an aura of […]
*********** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ************ RACHMANINOV: Sym. No. 2; LIADOV: The Enchanted Lake – Bergen PO/ Andrew Litton – BIS
A glorious performance of sumptuous demeanor and satisfying execution. * RACHMANINOV: Symphony No. 2 in e, Op. 27; LIADOV: The Enchanted Lake – Bergen PO/ Andrew Litton – BIS multichannel SACD 2071, 70:54 [Distr. by Naxos] *****: I’ve always thought Rachmaninov the true Russian composer; something about his melodies and rich textures bespeak an authenticity […]
SHOSTAKOVICH (arr. Rudolf Barshai): Chamber Symphonies, Op. 110a; Op. 49a; Op. 118a – The Dmitri Ensemble/ Graham Ross – Harmonia mundi
Interesting adaptations, but I prefer the originals.
![“Perfect Polyphony” [TrackList follows] – Tallis Scholars/ Peter Phillips – Gimell (2 CDs)](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/TALLISperfectpolyphony.jpg)
“Perfect Polyphony” [TrackList follows] – Tallis Scholars/ Peter Phillips – Gimell (2 CDs)
An exceptional introduction for those who are not familiar with this superlative ensemble.
*NIELSEN: 6 Symphonies (complete) – Lucy Hall, sop./ Marcus Farnsworth, bari./ London Sym. Orch./ Sir Colin Davis – LSO Live (3 SACDs + Blu-ray)
************ MULTICHANNEL SET OF THE MONTH ************
Absolutely essential for all Nielsen lovers.
![Mercury Living Presence: The Collector’s Edition 3 [DiscList follows] – Mercury/Universal (53 CDs)](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MercLivingPresenceVol.3.jpg)
Mercury Living Presence: The Collector’s Edition 3 [DiscList follows] – Mercury/Universal (53 CDs)
The third and last multi-CD set covering the audiophile recordings of Mercury Living Presence.
SAINT-SAENS: Cello Concerto No. 1 in a; LALO: Cello Concerto in d; FAURE: Elegy in c – Kim Cook, cello/ Philharmonica Bulgarica/ Valeri Vatchev, Grigor Palikarov – MSR Classics
Cook has a fresh appeal and brings considerable talent to these readings.
RAVEL: La Valse; Ma mere l’Oye; Tzigane; Bolero; Pavane pour une infante defunte – Gordan Nikolic, violin/ Netherlands Phil. Orch. Amsterdam/ Carlo Rizzi – Tacet audio-only Blu-ray
Outstanding hi-res readings that hold up well under scrutiny.
“Mass & Motets” = BRAHMS: Missa canonica; Motets (2); other Motets (2); Motets (3); Fest- und Gedenksprüche; Swedish Radio Choir/ Peter Dijkstra – Channel Classics SACD “Choral Works” = BRAHMS: Warum ist das Licht gegeben?; Intermezzo in B minor; Gesänge (5); Schicksalslied; Motets (3); Fest- und Gedenksprüche; Drei Quartette – Philip Mayers, Angela Gassenhuber (piano)/ Cappella Amsterdam/ Daniel Reuss – Harmonia mundi
Two superb examples of Brahms’s choral expertise.
“Mass & Motets” = BRAHMS: Missa canonica; Motets (2); other Motets (2); Motets (3); Fest- und Gedenksprüche; Swedish Radio Choir/ Peter Dijkstra – Channel Classics SACD “Choral Works” = BRAHMS: Warum ist das Licht gegeben?; Intermezzo in B minor; Gesänge (5); Schicksalslied; Motets (3); Fest- und Gedenksprüche; Drei Quartette – Philip Mayers, Angela Gassenhuber (piano)/ Cappella Amsterdam/ Daniel Reuss – Harmonia mundi
Two superb examples of Brahms’s choral expertise.
HANDEL: Messiah – Lucy Crowe, sop./ Andrew Staples, alto/ Tim Mead, tenor/ Christopher Purves, bass/ Le Concert D’Astree/ Emmanuelle Haim – Erato (2 CDs)
Less than I had hoped for, but more than run-of-the-mill, with some glorious moments.
Memorial Concert for Claudio Abbado, Blu-ray (2014/2015)
A flawed tribute to one of the truly great musicians of this century.
BRAHMS: German Requiem – Sally Matthews, sop./ Simon Halsey, bar./ London Sym. Orch. and Chorus/ Valery Gergiev – LSO Live
The orchestra and chorus shine, but does Brahms truly reveal himself?
JACOB DRUCKMAN: “Lamia” = That Quickening Pulse; Delizie Contente Che L’Alme Beate; Nor Spell Not Charm; Suite from Medee; Lamia – Boston Modern Music Project/Lucy Shelton, sop./Gil Rose – BMOP/sound
Great overview of some of the last works of this important American composer.
The Colón Ring: Wagner in Buenos Aires, Blu-ray (2013)
A fascinating film that documents a unique attempt at summarizing Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
* BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 2 – Orch. de la Suisse Romande/ Marek Janowski – Pentatone Classics
************** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ************
A superbly crafted recording that hits on every level.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
