Modern Brewery Age back issues from May 2008:
Approaches to Debussy: An Interview with Pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet
May 01, 2008; ... My meeting with Jean-Efflam Bavouzet is to take place at the Solti Studios, set in a comfortable suburb of North London. The place is a haven of peace and tranquility, and as I am early I get a chance to quaff coffee while looking around: a marked-up copy of the Bach Saint Matthew Passion with ...
Letters
May 01, 2008; ... Thank you for the thoughtful, perceptive, and fair-minded review of the Beethoven complete edition from am@do [Fanfare 31:3]. Jerry Dubins has done an excellent job of detailing some of its strengths and weaknesses. I purchased the set as soon as it was available, and I am in complete agreement ...
Ballade. Valse romantique. Tarantelle styrienne (Danse). Images oubliées. Estampes. Pour le piano. Masques. L'isle joyeuse. D'un cahier d'esquisses
May 01, 2008; ... DEBUSSY Ballade. Valse romantique. Tarantelle styrienne (Danse). Images oubliées. Estampes. Pour le piano. Masques. L'isle joyeuse. D'un cahier d'esquisses * Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (pn) * CHANDOS 10443 (65:49) This is Volume 2 of Bavouzet's unfolding Debussy series for Chandos; Volume 1 ...
JoAnn Falletta Revisted, Four Years Later
May 01, 2008; ... Hard to believe though it is, the last time JoAnn Falletta and I spoke was four years ago for an interview and feature piece in 27:4. If her schedule was hectic then-shuttling between Buffalo and Virginia in her dual capacity as conductor of both the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Virginia ...
Piano Concerto No. 1.1 Capriccio in d, op. 116/1. Intermezzo in a, op. 116/2. Ballade in B, op. 10/4
May 01, 2008; ... BRAHMS Piano Concerto No. 1.1 Capriccio in d, op. 116/1. Intermezzo in a, op. 116/2. Ballade in B, op. 10/4 * JoAnn Falletta, cond; Norman Krieger (pn); Virginia SO * ARTESIE 4 (63:10) Live: Norfolk, Virginia 2/2007(1) My initial reaction upon receiving this CD was one of skepticism ....
Scottish Fantasy/Thaïs: Meditation
May 01, 2008; ... BRUCH Scottish Fantasy. MASSENET Thaïs: Meditation * JoAnn Falletta, cond; Michael Ludwig (vn); Virginia SO * HAMPTON ROAD 5 (35:35) Live: 1/2007 Ready the rack, for I confess to apostasy. There are those for whom Heifetz reigns supreme and can do no wrong. For them, latter day ...
Church Windows. Brazilian Impressions. Rossiniana
May 01, 2008; ... RESPIGHI Church Windows. Brazilian Impressions. Rossiniana * JoAnn Falletta, cond; Buffalo PO * NAXOS 8557711 (65:26) My reference recording for Respighi's Church Windows has long been the Reference recording with Keith Clark conducting the Pacific Symphony Orchestra. And while I'm not ...
Parables.1 Souvenirs.2 Café Music3
May 01, 2008; ... SCHOENFIELD Parables.1 Souvenirs.2 Café Music3 * JoAnn Falletta, cond;1 Prague Philharmonia;1 James Russo (pn);1,2,3 James Ehnes (vn);2,3 Edward Arron (vc)3 * BLACK BOX 1109 (53:46) This one is a bit tough for me to deal with. Not being one of Fanfare's modern-music mavens, I can't ...
BORROWED TREASURES: Works for Flute, Clarinet, and Guitar
May 01, 2008; ... BORROWED TREASURES: Works for Flute, Clarinet, and Guitar * Debra Wendells Cross (fl); Robert Alemany (cl); JoAnn Falletta (gtr) * VIRGINIA ARTS FESTIVAL 901 (68:00) GRANADOS (trans. Rivoal/Lambert) Danzas espagñolas: Oriental; Arabesca. PIAZZOLLA (trans. Falletta) Oblivion. DEBUSSY ...
Livia Sohn Recreates the Excitement of a Bygone Violinistic Era
May 01, 2008; ... Violinist Livia Sohn's collection of operatic fantasies, ranging from simple (and not so simple) arrangements of tunes to complex pastiches and virtuosic sets of variations, hearkens back to an era when violinists composed and played such works for eagerly receptive audiences. Assuming that ...
OPERA FANTASIES FOR VIOLIN
May 01, 2008; ... OPERA FANTASIES FOR VIOLIN * Livia Sohn (vn); Benjamin Loeb (pn); Geoff Nuttall (vn,1 va2) * NAXOS 8.570202 (66:15) HUBAY Fantaisie brillante on Bizet's "Carmen." RAFF Duo on Themes from Wagner's "Lohengrin." STRAVINSKY (arr. Dushkin) Mavra: Parasha's Aria. GOLIJOV (arr ....
Cyprien Katsaris and Piano 21-"Attracted like a Magnet"
May 01, 2008; ... "I remember very precisely," says pianist Cyprien Katsaris. "When I was three and a half, my parents bought a piano for my sister, who is a little bit older than me. I have a mental image of when the transportation guys brought it and put it in the living room-I was attracted like a magnet and ...
Retrospections: A Conversation with Wayne Peterson
May 01, 2008; ... Wayne Peterson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1992, has had a distinguished career as a composer and has written more than 60 scores for orchestra, chamber ensemble, and chorus. Both Peterson and the Alexander String Quartet teach at San Francisco State University and it is there ...
String Quartets: No. 1; No. 2; No. 3, "Pop Sweet"
May 01, 2008; ... PETERSON String Quartets: No. 1; No. 2; No. 3, "Pop Sweet" * Alexander Str Qrt * FOGHORN 1994 (60:55) Wayne Peterson, as mentioned above, has had a close relationship with the Alexander String Quartet for many years-they're the dedicatees of his Scond Quartet-so it's natural that he ...
Philip Ficsor on American Double and "The Bolcom Project"
May 01, 2008; ... A word on how this interview and feature piece came to be. Robert Maxham, Fanfare's regular contributor of interviews with violinists and reviews of violin repertoire releases, was first in line to receive this assignment. Unfortunately, due to personal family matters he was unable to accept the ...
Violin Sonatas: No. 1; No. 2; No. 3, "Sonata Stramba"; No. 4. Sonatina. Duo Fantasy. Pastorale. Fancy Tales. Suite for Solo Violin. Ghost Rags: Graceful Ghost Rag
May 01, 2008; ... BOLCOM Violin Sonatas: No. 1; No. 2; No. 3, "Sonata Stramba"; No. 4. Sonatina. Duo Fantasy. Pastorale. Fancy Tales. Suite for Solo Violin. Ghost Rags: Graceful Ghost Rag * Philip Ficsor (vn); Constantine Finehouse (pn) * ALBANY 959 (2 CDs: 132:40) Those readers who are not newcomers to ...
Symphony No. 1. Divertimento.1 Sinfonietta
May 01, 2008; ... KOMEI ABE Symphony No. 1. Divertimento.1 Sinfonietta * Dmitry Yablonsky, cond; Alexey Volkov (alto sax);1 Russian PO * NAXOS 8.557987 (64:35) Morihide Katayama's extensive program notes detail the influence of the German symphonic tradition-primarily via Klaus Pringsheim, a student of ...
Recuerdos de viaje. Espagne (Souvenirs). Azulejos. La vega. Navarra
May 01, 2008; ... ALBÉNIZ Recuerdos de viaje. Espagne (Souvenirs). Azulejos. La vega. Navarra * Guillermo González (pn) * NAXOS 8.570553 (72:35) Guillermo González, born in Tenerife, is a distinguished pianist who has been recording Spanish repertoire for Naxos; I greatly enjoyed his recent two-CD set of ...
Mass in d. Nun danket alle Gott. Befiehl du deine Wege. Sanctus (2 versions)
May 01, 2008; ... ALTNICKOL Mass in d. Nun danket alle Gott. Befiehl du deine Wege. Sanctus (2 versions) * Jörg Straube, cond; Norddeutscher Figuralchor; Musica alta ripa (period instruments) * CARDS 83.168 (50:33 *) In 1748, two years before his death, Sebastian Bach wrote to his cousin, Elias, regarding ...
Symphonies: No. 4; No. 5
May 01, 2008; ... ARNELL Symphonies: No. 4; No. 5 * Martin Yates, cond; Royal Scottish Natl O * DUTTON 7194 (63:49) The career of Richard Arnell (b. 1917) initially promised much. After training under Ireland at the RCM, he moved to the U.S., where his overture The New Age was performed at Carnegie Hall, ...
Los esclavos felices: Overture. Overtures: op. 1; op. 20. Symphonie à grand orchestra
May 01, 2008; ... ARRIAGA Los esclavos felices: Overture. Overtures: op. 1; op. 20. Symphonie à grand orchestra * Paul Dombrecht cond; II Fondamento (period Instruments) * FUGA LIBERA 522 (59:06) It's difficult to assess the potential of composers like Mendelssohn, Reger, and Distler, whose careers were ...
Concerti grossi after D. Scarlatti: No. 3 in d; No. 5 in d; No. 6 in D; No. 9 in C; No. 11 in G; No. 12 in D
May 01, 2008; ... AVISON Concerti grossi after D. Scarlatti: No. 3 in d; No. 5 in d; No. 6 in D; No. 9 in C; No. 11 in G; No. 12 in D * Pablo Valetti, cond; Café Zimmermann * ALPHA 907 (77:58) Charles Avison (1709-1770) spent much of his life in and around Newcastle-upon-Tyne where he was born and died ....
Il tutore e la pupilla: Overture. Symphonias: in G, op. 6/1; in F, op. 8/4. Sinfonia concertante in D.1,2 Flute Concerto in D
May 01, 2008; ... J. C. BACH Il tutore e la pupilla: Overture. Symphonies: in G, op. 6/1; in F, op. 8/4. Sinfonia concertante in D.1,2 Flute Concerto in D * Gottfried von der Goltz (vn),1 cond; Anne Katherina Schreiber (vn);2 Kart Kaiser (fl); Freiburg Baroque O (period instruments) * CARUS 83.307 ...
Piano Sonatas, op. 17: No. 1 in G; No. 2 in c; No. 3 in E[musical flat]; No. 4 in G; No. 5 in A; No. 6 in B[musical flat]. Andante in B[musical flat]
May 01, 2008; ... J. C. BACH Piano Sonatas, op. 17: No. 1 in G; No. 2 in c; No. 3 in E[musical flat]; No. 4 in G; No. 5 in A; No. 6 in B[musical flat]. Andante in B[musical flat] * Anthony Spiri (pn) * ARTE NOVA 844310 (75:18) Johann Christian Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach's youngest son, was about 20 years ...
Brandenburg Concertos
May 01, 2008; ... BACH Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051 * Trevor Pinnock, cond; European Brandenburg Ens * AVIE 2119 (2 CDs: 94:23) This will be a short review for so much music, and you can blame Trevor Pinnock. Things are so good here (but not perfect) that rehashing details about these six ...
Secular Cantatas: No. 30a; No. 207
May 01, 2008; ... BACH Secular Cantatas: No. 30a; No. 207 * Gustav Leonhardt, cond; Monika Frimmer (sop); Robin Blaze (ct); Markus Schäfer (ten); Stefan MacLeod (bs); Les Chantres de Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles (Olivier Schneebeli, dir); Café Zimmermann (period instruments) * ALPHA 118 (72:44 ...
Cantatas: No. 42;1-4 No. 103;2.3 No. 108;2-4 No. 6(1-4)
May 01, 2008; ... BACH Cantatas: No. 42;1-4 No. 103;2.3 No. 108;2-4 No. 6(1-4) * Masaaki Suzuki, cond; Yukari Nonoshita (sop);1 Robin Blaze (ct);2 James Gilchrist (ten);3 Dominik Wörner (bs)4 (period instruments) * BIS 1611 (75:31 *) In the spring of 1725 Bach was on a roll, nearing the completion of his ...
Dialogue Cantatas: No. 57; No. 152; No. 49
May 01, 2008; ... BACH Dialogue Cantatas: No. 57; No. 152; No. 49 * Rainer Kussmaul, cond; Dorothea Röschmann (sop); Thomas Quasthoff (bbar); Berlin RIAS CCh (James Wood, dir); Berliner Baroque Soloists * DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 001005202 (61:00 *) The surprising title of Dorothea Schröder's introductory ...
Cantatas: No. 82a; No. 199; No. 146: Sinfonia. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in b
May 01, 2008; ... BACH Cantatas: No. 82a; No. 199; No. 146: Sinfonia. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in b * Florilegium; Johannette Zomer (sop); Ashley Solomon (fl) (period instruments) * CHANNEL 23807 (Hybrid multichannel SACD: 78:24 *) As a collector one has to decide where to store a disc with a concert-style ...
Christmas Oratorio
May 01, 2008; ... BACH Christmas Oratorio * Jan Willem de Vriend, cond; Malin Hartelius (sop); Kristina Hammarström (alt); Jörg Dürmüller (ten); Detlef Roth (bs); Combattimento Consort Amsterdam; Cappella Amsterdam * CHALLENGE 76607 (2 Hybrid multichannel SACDs: 138:09 *) It is obvious that no expense has ...
Italian Concerto, BWV 971. Toccata in c, BWV 911. Duets for Organ: BWV 802-805. English Suite No. 6 in d, BWV 811
May 01, 2008; ... BACH Italian Concerto, BWV 971. Toccata in c, BWV 911. Duets for Organ: BWV 802-805. English Suite No. 6 in d, BWV 811 * Angela Hewitt (pn) * DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON ELOQUENCE 442 9446 (62:01) This enjoyable program was Angela Hewitt's first recorded recital. In fact, it was part of the ...
Magnificat/Dixit Dominus
May 01, 2008; ... BACH Magnificat. HANDEL Dixit Dominus * Emmanuelle Haîm, cond; Natalie Dessay (sop); Karine Deshayes (sop); Philippe Jaroussky (ct); Toby Spence (ten); Laurent Naouri (bs); Les Concert d'Astrée * VIRGIN 95241 (56:06 *) What a wonderful contrast! Handel's Dixit Dominus and Bach's ...
5 Preludes and Fugues. 8 Chorale Preludes. Trio Sonatas: No. 1; No. 3. Partita on O Gott, du frommer Gott. Fantasia and Fugue in g. Toccata and Fugue in d, BWV 565. Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C. 8 "Little" Preludes and Fugues
May 01, 2008; ... BACH 5 Preludes and Fugues. 8 Chorale Preludes. Trio Sonatas: No. 1; No. 3. Partita on O Gott, du frommer Gott Fantasia and Fugue in g. Toccata and Fugue in d, BWV 565. Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C. 8 "Little" Preludes and Fugues * Ton Koopman (org) * NOVALIS 150185 (3 CDs: ...
Gamba Sonatas: in g, BWV 1027; in D, BWV 1028; in g, BWV 1029. Violin Partita in d: Chaconne (trans. Inoue)
May 01, 2008; ... BACH Gamba Sonatas: in g, BWV 1027; in D, BWV 1028; in g, BWV 1029. Violin Partita in d: Chaconne (trans. Inoue) * Yuko Inoue (vdg); Kathron Sturrock (pn) * QUARTZ 2050 (56:09) It was once thought that Bach wrote his three sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord as early as 1717-1723 ...
Gamba and Harpsichord Sonatas: in G; in D; in g, BWV1027-1029. Trios: in g; in d, BWV 583-584. Keyboard Sonatas: in a, BWV 967; in D, BWV 963
May 01, 2008; ... BACH Gamba and Harpsichord Sonatas: in G; in D; in g, BWV1027-1029. Trios: in g; in d, BWV 583-584. Keyboard Sonatas: in a, BWV 967; in D, BWV 963 * Mikko Perkola (vdg); Aapo Häkkinen (hpd) * NAXOS 8.570210 (75:42) These two young Finnish artists have turned out an excellent disc that ...
The Well Tempered Clavier: Book 1
May 01, 2008; ... BACH The Well Tempered Clavier: Book 1 * Richard Egarr (hpd) * HARMONIA MUNDI 907431 (2 CDs: 125:00) This may not be the scholarly review this set undoubtedly deserves. (Complaints should be directed to our Editor). The fact is, I am a lifelong aficionado of Bach on the piano and until I ...
Well Tempered Clavier, Book I
May 01, 2008; ... BACH Well Tempered Clavier, Book I * Craig Sheppard (pn) * ROMÉO 7258 (2 CDs: 118:56) Adding to his growing discography of the keyboard works of J. S. Bach (see reviews of the Partitas in 30:1 and the two- and three-part inventions in 30:4) pianist Craig Sheppard has now committed to ...
The Well-tempered Clavier, Book I
May 01, 2008; ... BACH The Well-tempered Clavier, Book I * Andrew Rangell (pn) * BRIDGE 9246 (2 CDs: 105:30) Bach's WTC has had a number of recent outings on disc, the latest of which was Book I performed live by Craig Sheppard. By the time you read this, the review of Sheppard's account should have ...
Polonaises, F 12. Sonata in D, F 3. Fantasia in a, F 23
May 01, 2008; ... W. F. BACH Polonaises, F 12. Sonata in D, F 3. Fantasia in a, F 23 * Robert Hill (fp) * NAXOS 8.557966 (64:21) Here we have some very interesting keyboard compositions by Bach's eldest son, Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, performed on the fortepiano by the eminent keyboardist, Robert ...
Divertimento/Introduction and Allegro/From Holberg's Time
May 01, 2008; ... BARTÓK Divertimento. ELGAR Introduction and Allegro. GRIEG From Holberg's Time * Christopher Warren-Green, cond; Megaron O * ALTARA 1015 (57:12) Bartók misnamed his work for string orchestra when he dubbed it a divertimento: it is much deeper than the word might imply. Even though it ...
L'armonia delle sirene
May 01, 2008; ... BASSANI L'armonia delle sirene * Tadashi Miroku (ct); Silvia Rambaldi (hpd) * TACTUS 642702 (66:42 *, no translation) In many ways, this is just another album of pleasant 17th-century vocal music by yet another Italian composer of little renown. Giovanni Battista Bassani (c. 1650-1716) ...
Symphony No. 6.1 Irish Landscape. Overture to Adventure. Rogue's Comedy Overture. Work in Progress Overture
May 01, 2008; ... BAX Symphony No. 6.1 Irish Landscape. Overture to Adventure. Rogue's Comedy Overture. Work in Progress Overture * Norman Del Mar, cond;1 Vernon Handley, cond; New Philharmonia O;1 Royal PO * LYRITA 296, analog1 (75:43) Stated in a nutshell, this is the best recording of Bax's greatest ...
Street Dance
May 01, 2008; ... BECKMAN Street Dance * Patrick Beckman (pn) * MMC 2165 (44:57) Patrick Beckman is a composer/pianist based in Illinois. His compositions are primarily for solo piano, although he has also produced a substantial body of choral work. This release is devoted to Street Dance, an extended ...
Piano Concerto No. 1.1 Piano Sonata No. 7: Menuetto/Klavierstüke: op. 119/1; op. 119/3/Piano Concerto in a2
May 01, 2008; ... BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1.1 Piano Sonata No. 7: Menuetto. BRAHMS Klavierstüke: op. 119/1; op. 119/3. MENDELSSOHN Piano Concerto in a2 * Mieczyslaw Horszowski (pn); Mauritz van den Berg, cond;1 Frederic Waldmen, cond;2 Omroep CO;1 Musica Aeterna2 * ARBITER 154, mono (78:02) Live: Omroep ...
String Quartets: No. 13; No. 14; No. 16. Grosse Fuga
May 01, 2008; ... BEETHOVEN String Quartets: No. 13; No. 14; No. 16. Grosse Fuga * Auryn Qrt * TACET 130 (2 CDs: 124:13) Although the Auryn Quartet has been together for two decades, this release has provided my first exposure to the group. I trust it will not be my last. In every way these are ...
Symphonies: Nos.1-8; No. 9(1)
May 01, 2008; ... BEETHOVEN Symphonies: Nos.1-8; No. 9(1) * Hugh Wolff, cond; Melanie Diener (sop);1 Nathalie Stutzmann (mez);1 Jorma Silvasti (ten);1 Dietrich Henschel (bs);1 Bavarian RCh (Michael Gläser, dir);1 North German RCh (Werner Hans Hagen, dir);1 Frankfurt RSO * hr-musik.de 39-07 (5 CDs: 350:44 *) Live: ...
Symphonies: No. 1; No. 6, "Pastorale"
May 01, 2008; ... BEETHOVEN Symphonies: No. 1; No. 6, "Pastorale" * Osmo Vänskä, cond; Minnesota O * BIS 1716 (Hybrid multichannel SACD: 68:24) The superlative Vänskä/Minnesota Beethoven cycle continues without a hitch. The opening movement of the Symphony No. 1 possesses a tensile strength and thrust ...
Symphony No. 3, "Eroica"
May 01, 2008; ... BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3, "Eroica" * Günther Herbig, cond; Berlin SO * BERLIN 1392 (49:39) At a time when one can purchase a complete set of the Beethoven symphonies for around $36, a stand-alone recording of the "Eroica" retailing at one-third the cost of a set would seem to be a wild ...
Symphonies: No. 5; No. 8
May 01, 2008; ... BEETHOVEN Symphonies: No. 5; No. 8 * Philippe Herreweghe, cond; Royal Flemish P * PENTATONE 5186 316 (Multichannel hybrid SACD: 54:16) This disc represents Volume 2 of a set of the complete Beethoven symphonies currently in progress (the first volume, on the Talent label, included ...
Piano Trios: No 1 in E[musical flat]; No 3 in c
May 01, 2008; ... BEETHOVEN Piano Trios: No 1 in E[musical flat]; No 3 in c * Peabody Tr * ARTEK 38 (64:12) For those unfamiliar with this fine group (formed in 1989), it should be noted that it is currently the "resident ensemble" at the Peabody Institute. This CD marks its second in what apparently is ...
Piano Trios: No. 3; No. 5, "Ghost."/Piano Trio No. 4
May 01, 2008; ... BEETHOVEN Piano Trios: No. 3; No. 5, "Ghost." HUMMEL Piano Trio No. 4 * Daniel Sepec (vn); Jean-Guihen Queryas (vc); Andreas Staler (pf) * HARMONIA MUNDI 901955 (70:19) Prepare to be stunned! If this is the way an audience first heard Beethoven's C-Minor Piano Trio played in 1795 or ...
West Side Story
May 01, 2008; ... BERNSTEIN West Side Story & * Leonard Bernstein, cond; Kiri Te Kanawa (Maria); José Carreras (Tony); Tatiana Troyanos (Anita); Kurt Ollmann (Riff); O and Ch * DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 000958200 (76:36 *) & The Making of "West Side Story" DVD (88:19) In 1957, Bernstein was ...
Painted Shadows of Chldhood.1,2 3 Musical Aphorisms.3 3 Brief Conversations.3,4 Snap Shots: 3 Views of a Forgotten Place.5 Constellations1
May 01, 2008; ... BETTS Painted Shadows of Chldhood.1,2 3 Musical Aphorisms.3 3 Brief Conversations.3,4 Snap Shots: 3 Views of a Forgotten Place.5 Constellations1 & * Donald Betts (pn);1 Richard Stoltzman (cl);2 Tim Betts (va);3 Heather Netz (vn);4 Kairos Str Qrt5 * MMC 2163 (65:11) & PDF copies ...
Serenade and Theme and Variations.1 10 Waltzes, op. 56. From the Animal Kingdom. From the Plant World
May 01, 2008; ... BLUMER Serenade and Theme and Variations.1 10 Waltzes, op. 56. From the Animal Kingdom. From the Plant World * John Bailey (fl); Mark Clinton (pn); Moran Woodwind Qnt1 * CRYSTAL 757 (70:47) This is the third disc devoted to the music of Theodore Blumer (1881-1964) that has seeped out of ...
Stabat mater
May 01, 2008; ... BOCCHERINI Stabat mater * Flavio Emilio Scogna, cond; Barbara Vignudelli (sop); Benedetto Marcello CO * TACTUS 740208 (45:42 *) This work has appeared in both versions several times. The original setting for soprano was made in 1781, but only the 1800 version with two more soloists added ...
Trios, op. 14/1-6
May 01, 2008; ... BOCCHERINI Trios, op. 14/1-6 * La Real Cámara * GLOSSA 920308 (2 CDs: 86:29) This gorgeously produced and packaged set of Luigi Boccherini's complete op. 14 trios is played with obvious commitment by La Real Cámara, an Italian Baroque group with sparkling technique but, to my ears, a ...
Piano Concerto No. 1. Variations on a Theme by Haydn
May 01, 2008; ... BRAHMS Piano Concerto No. 1. Variations on a Theme by Haydn *Jiri Belohlávek, cond; Cédric Tiberghien (pn) * HARMONIA MUNDI 901977 (69:29) After a number of only so-so to disappointing recent releases of Brahms's D-Minor Piano Concerto to come my way, here at last is a new one I can ...
Violin Concerto in D.1 Symphony No. 2
May 01, 2008; ... BRAHMS Violin Concerto in D.1 Symphony No. 2 * Eugene Ormandy, cond; Zino Francescatti (vn);1 Philadelphia O * BIDDULPH 80225, mono (74:19) That this is a monaural recording can only be determined from reading the jewel case insert for recording dates and for an indirect statement of ...
Violin and Cello Concerto, "Double."1 Clarinet Quintet2
May 01, 2008; ... BRAHMS Violin and Cello Concerto, "Double."1 Clarinet Quintet2 * Myung-Whun Chung, cond;1 Renaud Capuçon (vn); Gautier Capuçon (vc); Gustav Mahler Youth O;1 Paul Meyer (cl);2 Capuçon Qrt2 * VIRGIN 95147 (72:21) Brahms's "Double" Concerto has received a lot of attention, both in brand new ...
String Quartet No. 2 in a/String Quartet in F
May 01, 2008; ... BRAHMS String Quartet No. 2 in a. DESSOFF String Quartet in F * Mandelring Qrt * AUDITE 97505 (60:21) Though the Brahms quartet leads off the program here, it's the quartet by Felix Otto Dessoff (1835-1892) that's the more noteworthy item. As you can see from his dates, he was an almost ...
String Quartet No. 3 in B[musical flat]/String Quartet in g, op. 42/1
May 01, 2008; ... BRAHMS String Quartet No. 3 in B[musical flat]. HERZOGENBERG String Quartet in g, op. 42/1 * Mandelring Qrt * AUDITE 97504 (67:57) This is one of the other two companion discs mentioned in my review of Audite 97505 elsewhere. On three separate CDs-this one being Volume 2-the Mandelring ...
Die Schöne Magelone.1 Nachtwandler. Von ewiger Liebe. In Waldeseinsamkeit
May 01, 2008; ... BRAHMS Die Schöne Magelone.1 Nachtwandler. Von ewiger Liebe. In Waldeseinsamkeit * Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (bar); Hermann Reutter (pn);1 Günther Weissenborn (pn) * AUDITE 95.581 (64:34 *) Broadcast: Cologne 11/23/1952;(1) 6/15/1954 Could it be possible that, during his lifetime, a work ...
Clarinet Sonatas: No. 1 in f; No. 2 in E[musical flat]
May 01, 2008; ... BRAHMS Clarinet Sonatas: No. 1 in f; No. 2 in E[musical flat] * Jon Menasse (cl); Jon Nakamatsu (pn) * HARMONIA MUNDI 907430 (44:04) I began having doubts about this assignment as soon as the CD arrived from Tenafly. Who is more critical of a clarinetist-sometimes unfairly-than another ...
Symphony No. 4. Hungarian Dances: Nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10
May 01, 2008; ... BRAHMS Symphony No. 4. Hungarian Dances: Nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10 * Cristian Mandeal, cond; "Georges Enescu" Bucharest PO * ARTE NOVA 464930 (57:57) Having turned in scathing reports on Mandeal's Brahms First and Second Symphonies, (Fanfare 30:6 and 31:2, respectively) I am now in receipt ...
Symphony No. 4. Hungarian Dances: Nos. 2, 4-9 (arr. Breiner)
May 01, 2008; ... BRAHMS Symphony No. 4. Hungarian Dances: Nos. 2, 4-9 (arr. Breiner) * Marin Alsop, cond; London PO * NAXOS 8.570233 (64:39) With this release, Marin Alsop completes her Brahms symphony cycle with the London Philharmonic for Naxos. Her First Symphony received a lukewarm, qualified ...