tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71727693348765896552024-03-12T21:45:49.215-07:00Jimbo ListensNoteworthy releases of classical musicJimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-19499033294236191022010-11-16T14:54:00.000-08:002010-11-16T14:59:44.096-08:00Lotichius: Piano Concerto No. 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/TOMMS7fu3jI/AAAAAAAAAHk/3JFQSMqOz1I/s1600/EL.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 228px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/TOMMS7fu3jI/AAAAAAAAAHk/3JFQSMqOz1I/s320/EL.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540285485943807538" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">Erik Lotichius: Piano Concerto No. 2 for piano, strings and 3 saxophones - Prima la Musica, Dirk Vermeulen, Eliane Rodrigues</span><br /><br />Ingenious, hilarious, virtuoso, lyrical, invigorating.<br /><br />Brilliant Classics 9158Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-85467412827991088412010-04-01T17:07:00.000-07:002010-04-01T17:09:34.086-07:00Shostakovich: Violin Sonata<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/S7U1THj_exI/AAAAAAAAAHU/KcnncQjOzas/s1600/shostakovich.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 228px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/S7U1THj_exI/AAAAAAAAAHU/KcnncQjOzas/s320/shostakovich.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455325126193019666" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dmitri Shostakovich: Chamber Music</span><br /><br />Some works in this 3-CD box are not all that infrequently performed, such as the <span style="font-weight:bold;">Piano Quintet Op. 57</span> and the second <span style="font-weight:bold;">Piano Sonata Op. 61</span>. But it also includes a few gems one rarely hears, such as the sensational <span style="font-weight:bold;">Violin Sonata Op. 134</span>, in a thrilling performance by Isabelle van Keulen and Ronald Brautigam.<br /><br />Brilliant Classics 7535Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-47035473722500649162010-04-01T17:01:00.001-07:002010-04-01T17:03:26.656-07:00Field: piano concertos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/S7Uz-vKv9RI/AAAAAAAAAHM/v4v839PgR-I/s1600/Field.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/S7Uz-vKv9RI/AAAAAAAAAHM/v4v839PgR-I/s320/Field.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455323676535682322" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">John Field: piano concertos - Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice, Marco<br />Guidarini</span><br /><br />Field is known as the composer who invented the piano nocture. But I find his piano concertos a lot more interesting. The 4 CDs in this box contain a wealth of delightful musical ideas and piano virtuosity.<br /><br />Brilliant Classics 93783Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-15534598563002548052010-04-01T16:54:00.000-07:002010-04-01T17:04:18.803-07:00Gernsheim: Piano Quartets<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/S7Uy_p7SL5I/AAAAAAAAAHE/NafrBY9tG24/s1600/Gernsheim.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 198px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/S7Uy_p7SL5I/AAAAAAAAAHE/NafrBY9tG24/s320/Gernsheim.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455322592796880786" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">Friedrich Gernsheim: Piano Quartets Nos. 1 and 3 - Andreas Kirpal, Diogenes Quartet</span><br /><br />I am playing this CD over and over again because I just can't get enough of it. This music is as passionate as some of Brahms' best chamber music, but it has a very distinct character. Gernsheim (1839-1916) deserves to be rescued from his present obscurity.<br /><br />Brilliant Classics 93997Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-36697193429456878292010-01-01T10:17:00.001-08:002010-01-01T10:19:14.864-08:00Miaskovsky: symphonies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/Sz48XaBJ1lI/AAAAAAAAAG8/1M8a3iYnis0/s1600-h/Miaskovsky.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/Sz48XaBJ1lI/AAAAAAAAAG8/1M8a3iYnis0/s320/Miaskovsky.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421837374219474514" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">Nikolay Miaskovsky: Complete symphonies - Russian State Symphony Orchestra, Evgeny Svetlanov</span><br /><br />Some people may have heard of Miaskovsky (1881-1950), fewer have listened to some of his works, and fewer still know he wrote no less than 27 symphonies, here on 16 CDs.<br /><br />Not all of his symphonies are equally interesting, and the performances are often extremely sloppy. Nevertheless, it was a revelation for me going through so much unchartered territory.<br /><br />Warner Music France 2564 69689-8Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-39384942957619888222010-01-01T09:51:00.002-08:002010-01-01T10:22:40.524-08:00Dohnányi: String quartets 2-3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/Sz42nWRvqsI/AAAAAAAAAG0/dGeUzv7AJjE/s1600-h/Kodaly.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 280px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/Sz42nWRvqsI/AAAAAAAAAG0/dGeUzv7AJjE/s320/Kodaly.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421831051023461058" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ernst Von Dohnányi: String quartets nos. 2 & 3; Zoltán Kodály: String quartet no. 2 - Guarneri Quartet</span><br /><br />Very powerful and original, yet neglected chamber music. The performances are top-notch.<br /><br />Sony 88697158382Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-41815649589061904672010-01-01T09:36:00.000-08:002010-01-01T10:20:54.766-08:00Schönberg: String quartets 1-2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/Sz4y0kNgk3I/AAAAAAAAAGk/3Sd7kQR5pe0/s1600-h/Schoenberg.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 130px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/Sz4y0kNgk3I/AAAAAAAAAGk/3Sd7kQR5pe0/s320/Schoenberg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421826880055579506" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">Arnold Schönberg: String quartets 1-2 - Prazák Quartet</span><br /><br />Truly sublime performances of two enigmatic string quartets that reveal all their heavenly splendour only in the hands of the most able musicians.<br /><br />Praga PRD 250 112Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-58049745177270207172009-09-13T05:16:00.002-07:002009-09-13T05:23:57.611-07:00Britten: Violin concerto<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SqzjXFl4jGI/AAAAAAAAAGc/t_WIud7EyQA/s1600-h/Britten.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SqzjXFl4jGI/AAAAAAAAAGc/t_WIud7EyQA/s320/Britten.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380925640578468962" /></a><b>Benjamin Britten & William Walton: Violin concertos - Ida Haendel, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Berglund</b><br /><br />Britten's concerto is performed with fervour, daring and extraordinary technique. This recording from 1977 deserves a place in every music collection.<br /><br />EMI 764202 2Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-74980764163935379372009-09-13T05:02:00.000-07:002009-09-13T05:08:44.608-07:00Szymanowski: Piano works<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SqzfwpnbSDI/AAAAAAAAAGM/HJNT9Brkc_0/s1600-h/Rudy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SqzfwpnbSDI/AAAAAAAAAGM/HJNT9Brkc_0/s320/Rudy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380921681698834482" /></a><b>Szymanowski: Piano works and works for violin and piano - Mikhail Rudy, Ulf Hoelscher and Michel Beroff</b><br /><br />The piano music by Szymanowski is not well known but highly enjoyable. For an integral edition, the recordings by Sinae Lee are recommended. The recording by Mikhail Rudy on the first CD of the present 2-CD edition covers only about half of his piano works, but the performance is much superior to Sinae Lee's. The second CD in the edition, with works for violin and piano, played by Ulf Hoelscher and Michel Beroff, is less successful. E.g. for the <i>Mythes Op. 30</i>, the recording by David Grimal and Georges Pludermacher (see below) is to be preferred. But on the whole, this budget edition is an excellent opportunity to become familiar with Szymanowski's magical music.<br /><br />EMI 476924 2Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-62666053093504447802009-09-13T04:30:00.000-07:002009-09-13T04:35:37.007-07:00Enesco: Violin sonata no. 3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SqzYD_wvJ8I/AAAAAAAAAGE/tOur1szBXMU/s1600-h/Europa.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SqzYD_wvJ8I/AAAAAAAAAGE/tOur1szBXMU/s320/Europa.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380913217967957954" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Leoš Janáček, Karol Szymanowski, Béla Bartók, Georges Enesco: Works for violin and piano - David Grimal and Georges Pludermacher</span><br /><br />All of the works on this CD are gems that deserve to be much better known. What swept me off my feet was the third violin sonata by Georges Enesco from 1926. The performance fabulously captures the spirit of folk music from central Europe.<br /><br />Ambroisie AM 163Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-82917269668734590292009-04-06T17:35:00.000-07:002009-04-06T17:48:19.792-07:00Bowen: 24 Preludes<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SdqhA8-L-EI/AAAAAAAAAF8/n50j28A59Lo/s1600-h/Bowen.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SdqhA8-L-EI/AAAAAAAAAF8/n50j28A59Lo/s320/Bowen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321742947430692930" /></a> <b>York Bowen: Sonata no. 6, 24 Preludes op. 102 - Joop Celis</b><br /><br />York Bowen (1884 - 1961) is known among a select group of master pianists, but he is almost totally neglected by main-stream classical audiences, which is a shame as there is so much to be admired in his romantic, yet original, idiom, which is full of warmth and dazzling virtuosity. The most remarkable work on this CD is the <i>24 Preludes</i>, which deserves to be mentioned next to the cycles by Chopin, Alkan, Rachmaninov and Shostakovich.<br /><br />Also Volume 2 in the Chandos series, which almost entirely consists of premiere recordings, can be highly recommended, I've seen mention of a Volume 3 as well, but I haven't been able to find it in the UK yet.<br /><br />Chandos CHAN 10277Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-57622728782359558852009-03-14T09:21:00.000-07:002009-03-14T13:34:25.625-07:00Rzewski: The People United Will Never Be Defeated<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SbvaT_d0NwI/AAAAAAAAAF0/P2qYHPDuZW8/s1600-h/Rzewski.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SbvaT_d0NwI/AAAAAAAAAF0/P2qYHPDuZW8/s320/Rzewski.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313080222402492162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frederic Rzewski: The People United Will Never Be Defeated - Ralph van Raat</span><br /><br />This is the most exciting new CD I've heard in a long time. The main work comprises 36 variations on <span style="font-style: italic;">El pueblo unido jamás será vencido</span> by Chilean composer Sergio Ortega. The cycle was composed by Rzewski in 1975, as a tribute to the Chilean people suffering under the military regime, after the US-backed coup in 1973. Irrespective of political connotations, the work is exhilarating, passionate, poetic, ingenious, laden with pianistic virtuosity, and spanning an enormous range of musical expression. The performance by master pianist Ralph van Raat is terrific.<br /><br />Naxos 8.559360Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-53453706911359963722009-01-27T17:30:00.001-08:002009-01-27T17:38:19.938-08:00Jacob TV: Shining city<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SX-1VMFV9aI/AAAAAAAAAFc/nF-yjNL3aFM/s1600-h/jacobtv.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 288px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SX-1VMFV9aI/AAAAAAAAAFc/nF-yjNL3aFM/s320/jacobtv.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296151062436509090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jacob <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ter</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Veldhuis</span> (Jacob TV): Shining city</span><br /><br />This is the second in a series of three boxes with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ter</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Veldhuis</span>' music, each containing two <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">CDs</span>. The first two boxes also each contain a bonus DVD (which seems to be Region 0; in other words playable in all regions). While listening to the wealth of different pieces I went through a rare and wonderful experience of having to completely recalibrate the way I perceive sound and music. The pieces all consist of a collage made out of existing audio material, accompanied by various acoustic instruments, which play a mostly tonal part. What I found striking is how powerful the sounds from the collage are (e.g. snippets from a television commercial, a baby coughing, shouts from an 'evangelist' on Times Square, etc.) and how well these sounds blend together with the acoustic instruments. Highlights for me were the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">exhilarating</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">The Body of Your Dreams</span>, the raw <span style="font-style: italic;">Grab It!</span> and the very moving <span style="font-style: italic;">May This Bliss Never End</span>, a tribute to Chet Baker.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Basta</span> 3091742Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-23753180215946023572009-01-26T22:58:00.000-08:002009-03-14T11:21:11.665-07:00Messiaen: Préludes pour piano<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SX6xUXJPakI/AAAAAAAAAFU/ftkNV1smKUU/s1600-h/Messiaen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SX6xUXJPakI/AAAAAAAAAFU/ftkNV1smKUU/s320/Messiaen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295865175202556482" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Olivier Messiaen Edition Vol. 1 (17 CDs) - Willem Tanke, Peter Hill, Ingrid Kappelle, Håkon Austbø<br /><br /></span>Once again, Brilliant Classics defies the laws of market economy, by the release of this super-budget edition, with Messiaen's complete works for organ, his complete works for piano, and his complete songs, repertoire that usually wouldn't appeal to main-stream audiences.<br /><br />One discovery for me that swept me completely off my feet was the <span style="font-style: italic;">Préludes pour piano</span>, composed when Messiaen was only 20. The idiom is reminiscent of Debussy, but at the same time these eight preludes are unmistakably the work of an independent musical genius. Peter Hill's performance is first-rate.<br /><br />Brilliant Classics 8949<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-65612389792705529422009-01-24T13:33:00.000-08:002009-01-26T22:55:45.702-08:00Rautavaara: Cantus Arcticus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SXuKL65GpfI/AAAAAAAAAFM/YoALJ8XOZII/s1600-h/Rautavaara.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SXuKL65GpfI/AAAAAAAAAFM/YoALJ8XOZII/s320/Rautavaara.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294977724296111602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Einojuhani Rautavaara: Cantus Arcticus, Piano Concerto No. 1, Symphony No.3 - Laura Mikkola, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Hannu Lintu<br /><br /></span>Thanks to the Naxos series, Finnish composer Rautavaara (b. 1928) may finally receive the recognition he deserves. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Cantus Arcticus </span>combines bird sounds with a symphony orchestra, perhaps with more romanticism and less modernism than we would find with say Messiaen, but still very original and touching. Also the <span style="font-style: italic;">Piano Concerto No. 1</span> is exhilarating and illustrative of Rautavaara's personal style.<br /><br />Naxos 8.554147<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-73461580715779229692008-07-05T14:18:00.000-07:002008-07-05T14:22:48.699-07:00Schnittke: Faust Cantata<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SG_lS_31UQI/AAAAAAAAAD4/kdcn1QrXlXw/s1600-h/Schnittke.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SG_lS_31UQI/AAAAAAAAAD4/kdcn1QrXlXw/s320/Schnittke.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219642607691714818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alfred Schnittke: Ritual, (K)ein Sommernachtstraum, Passacaglia, Faust Cantata - Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Leif Segerstam, James DePreist</span><br /><br />This CD contains some of the scariest music you may ever hear. The <span style="font-style: italic;">Faust Cantata</span> later became the third act of the opera <span style="font-style: italic;">Historia Von D. Johann Fausten</span>, which Schnittke was not able to complete fully before his death. A recording of a truncated version of the opera was released by RCA (Hamburg State Philharmonic Orchestra, Gerd Albrecht) but is not available at the moment. It is a disgrace no record company has taken it upon itself yet to record a satisfactory version, comprising all the material that Schnittke left us.<br /><br />BIS-CD-437Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-32651198278068357592008-05-18T14:55:00.001-07:002008-05-18T15:02:02.651-07:00Corelli: Complete Works<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SDCl7fe5V1I/AAAAAAAAADY/pNJ4O8gNKYk/s1600-h/Corelli.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/SDCl7fe5V1I/AAAAAAAAADY/pNJ4O8gNKYk/s320/Corelli.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201840011094873938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Archangelo Corelli: Complete Works - Musica Amphion, Pieter-Jan Belder<br /><br /></span>These 10 CDs with all of Corelli's published work were quite a revelation to me. First because I found there was so much more delightful and highly inventive music than just the <span style="font-style: italic;">Concerti Grossi op. 6</span>, and second because of the superb performance. What a joy!<br /><br />Brilliant Classics 92118<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-84943034717256323192008-03-09T19:03:00.001-07:002008-03-09T19:09:43.062-07:00Dvorák: Violin Sonata<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R9SXHgJuZLI/AAAAAAAAADE/C8xc5QWGwIE/s1600-h/Dvorak.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R9SXHgJuZLI/AAAAAAAAADE/C8xc5QWGwIE/s320/Dvorak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175928026901144754" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Antonin Dvorák: Works for violin and piano - </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gil Shaham and Orli Shaham</span><br /><br />I've known the <span style="font-style: italic;">Sonatina op. 100</span> for a long time, and every so often I hear the <span style="font-style: italic;">Romantic pieces op. 75</span>. For some reason however I'd always overlooked the <span style="font-style: italic;">Sonata in F major op. 57</span>. This fabulous composition from 1880 can hold its own next to some of the more famous violin sonatas from the same era (e.g. Brahms, Franck, Fauré).<br /><br />The performance of all three works on this CD is heartfelt and technically impeccable.<br /><br />Deutsche Grammophon 449 820-2Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-12980824327844041822008-03-07T20:29:00.001-08:002008-03-07T20:30:59.543-08:00Rameau: Pièces de Clavecin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R9IWXgJuZKI/AAAAAAAAAC8/deFwdWwF7i4/s1600-h/Rameau.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R9IWXgJuZKI/AAAAAAAAAC8/deFwdWwF7i4/s320/Rameau.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175223514825647266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jean-Philippe Rameau: Pièces de Clavecin - Christophe Rousset</span><br /><br />"Majestic" is not a strong enough term to describe this music. Rousset's now legendary performance is indispensable for anyone who loves keyboard music from the baroque period.<br /><br />L’Oiseau-Lyre 425 886-2Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-91917953571678354322008-02-25T14:59:00.000-08:002008-02-26T16:15:10.036-08:00Haydn: Piano Sonatas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R8NIxdk4vXI/AAAAAAAAAC0/aL_hpApW1io/s1600-h/Haydn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R8NIxdk4vXI/AAAAAAAAAC0/aL_hpApW1io/s320/Haydn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171056811741592946" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Joseph Haydn: Complete Piano Sonatas - Christine Schornsheim</span><br /><br />Haydn wrote a few keyboard pieces that are not so exciting, but these are greatly outnumbered by many brilliant sonatas, all of which are included here on 13 CDs, played on a number of harpsichords, clavichords and pianofortes. Unless you already know all of Haydn's sonatas, you can expect many pleasant surprises. In addition, I've found Schornsheim's interpretation of Haydn more convincing than any other until now. The sound is wonderful.<br /><br />There is a 14th CD with Schornsheim discussing and demonstrating the different keyboard instruments that were used. This is highly fascinating as well (for those who understand German).<br /><br />The price is a bargain if anything is.<br /><br />Capriccio CAP49404Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-28503902826588672472008-02-20T16:06:00.001-08:002008-02-20T18:50:09.627-08:00Tormis: Forgotten Peoples<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R7zAqtk4vWI/AAAAAAAAACs/YKA432tdPYE/s1600-h/Tormis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R7zAqtk4vWI/AAAAAAAAACs/YKA432tdPYE/s320/Tormis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169218312335834466" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Veljo Tormis: Forgotten Peoples - Musica Intima</span><br /><br />Works by Estonian choral composer Veljo Tormis (b. 1930) are for a large part based on folksongs. If one thinks of folksongs as simple and conventional, one is probably not familiar with the Baltic-Finnish choral tradition. The music is witty, joyful, highly inventive, and at times offering the most daring harmonies. Listen for example to <span style="font-style: italic;">Singing Aboard Ship</span>, the 19th song of the cycle.<br /><br />The performance by the twelve members of the Canadian vocal ensemble Musica Intima is superb.<br /><br />Atma ACD2 2354Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-88250988331457483482008-02-19T16:15:00.000-08:002008-02-19T16:24:23.356-08:00Brahms: Liebeslieder-Walzer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R7txZdk4vVI/AAAAAAAAACk/hILQGE38wYI/s1600-h/brahms.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R7txZdk4vVI/AAAAAAAAACk/hILQGE38wYI/s320/brahms.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168849679587786066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Johannes Brahms: Liebeslieder-Walzer op. 52, Drei Lieder op. 64, Neue Liebeslieder op. 65 – Marlis Petersen, Stella Doufexis, Werner Güra, Konrad Jarnot, Christoph Berner & Camillo Radicke.</span><br /><br />The three included opus numbers with vocal quartets were primarily intended for domestic use. I was therefore somewhat surprised to find such poetic, exquisite and passionate music. Especially in op. 65 we find the richness in harmony and rhythm that is so typical for Brahms. The performance is outstanding. Heartily recommended.<br /><br />Harmonia Mundi HMC 901945Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-44698613318453432312008-02-15T14:54:00.001-08:002008-02-19T16:23:03.991-08:00Brahms: Lieder<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R7YYUdk4vUI/AAAAAAAAACc/Se9ZfjOuC7w/s1600-h/brahms.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R7YYUdk4vUI/AAAAAAAAACc/Se9ZfjOuC7w/s320/brahms.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167344362270014786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Johannes Brahms: Lieder - Bernarda Fink and Roger Vignoles<br /><br /></span>From Bernarda Fink and Roger Vignoles we expect nothing but the very best, and that is what we got. What a delightful CD!<br /><br />Harmonia Mundi HMC 901926<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-39860511926168924862008-02-14T16:27:00.001-08:002008-02-14T16:34:19.781-08:00Ten Holt: Soloduiveldans<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R7Tcftk4vTI/AAAAAAAAACU/ick6arqPSPI/s1600-h/TenHolt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R7Tcftk4vTI/AAAAAAAAACU/ick6arqPSPI/s320/TenHolt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166997109869165874" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Simeon ten Holt: Soloduiveldans 2 & 4 - Ivo Janssen</span><br /><br />Simeon ten Holt is best known for his <span style="font-style: italic;">Canto Ostinato</span>, which exists in several versions (I would recommend the version for two pianos, played by Kees Wieringa and Polo de Haas). But I find this CD with two of his <span style="font-style: italic;">Solo Devil Dances</span> even more exhilarating.<br /><br />Ten Holt's style is perhaps best described as 'repetitive music', in the sense that motives are repeated with small variations, but the music develops so quickly, and with such finesse, that one can only keep up by listening attentively. The fabric of the many quick notes creates a unique kind of aesthetics.<br /><br />The performance by master pianist Ivo Janssen is unsurpassable.<br /><br />VOID 9903Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172769334876589655.post-4015887567250163042008-02-13T13:31:00.000-08:002008-02-13T13:34:48.855-08:00Sinopoli: Lou Salomé<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R7NiB9k4vSI/AAAAAAAAACM/DBi9FwAfWrQ/s1600-h/sinopoli.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2pSMXBWett8/R7NiB9k4vSI/AAAAAAAAACM/DBi9FwAfWrQ/s320/sinopoli.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166580983372758306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Giuseppe Sinopoli: Lou Salomé -</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lucia Popp, José Carreras, Stuttgart Radio Symphony</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Orchestra, Giuseppe Sinopoli</span><br /><br />One of the most important compositions by Sinopoli is the opera <span style="font-style: italic;">Lou Salomé</span>, first performed in 1981. This CD contains two suites with excerpts, which are compelling not due to dramatic effect, but to a deep musical expression, with a magical vocabulary most reminiscent perhaps of the music by Alban Berg.<br /><br />It is a disgrace that no recording of the complete opera is available.<br /><br />Deutsche Grammophon 415 984-2Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712085061836433563noreply@blogger.com0