Classical CD Reviews
ETA HOFFMAN: Piano Sonatas 1-5; SCHUMANN: Kreisleriana – Luisa Guembes-Buchanan, p. – Del AguilaPublished on January 31, 2012
For the Hoffman we have no other choices—fortunately this is not a bad one at all.
‘Gulfstream’ = enhakē and guests plays works of LIBBY LARSEN, PETER SCHICKELE, AARON COPLAND & PETER LIEUWEN – NaxosPublished on January 31, 2012
Very good additions to an appealing combination and American originals!
Art of the Violin = YSAYE: Sonatas Nos. 2 & 4; AULIS SALLINEN: Cadenze; DEBUSSY: Violin Sonata; DAVID LEFKOWITZ: Eli Eli; BACH: Partita No. 2 – Petteri Iivonen, v./ Kevin Fitz-Gerald, p. – Yarlung RecordsPublished on January 29, 2012
A first-rate violin-piano program on disc.
Clarinet Trios by BEETHOVEN, BRAHMS & BRUCH – David Shifrin, clarinet/ David Finckel, cello/ Wu Han, piano – ArtistLedPublished on January 29, 2012
Three staples of the clarinet trio medium in fine performances and recording.
Homage to PADEREWSKI = Jonathan Plowright, piano – HyperionPublished on January 29, 2012
A wide range of compositions in bravura and salon style celebrate Ignaz Jan Paderewski, the Polish virtuoso and political hero, all performed deftly by Jonathan Plowright.
DOMENICO SCARLATTI: Stabat Mater; Madrid Mass; Cibavit nos; Te Deum – Ens. Jacques Moderne/ Joel Suhubiette – LigiaPublished on January 29, 2012
I can think of no better introduction to the sacred music of this composer.
ACROSS THE SEA = Chinese-American Flute Concertos. ZHOU LONG: Concerto; BRIGHT SHENG: Flute Moon; CHEN YI: The Golden Flute – Sharon Bezaly, flute /Singapore Sym. Orch./ Lan Shui – BISPublished on January 25, 2012
Four Chinese-American flute concertos demonstrate the creative integration of two different musical cultures in this beautifully recorded disc.
MOHAMMED FAIROUZ: ‘Critical Models’ = various chamber works – Sono LuminusPublished on January 25, 2012
The cultural eclecticism works but not quite overall.
HANDEL: Agrippina (complete opera) – Soloists/Ak. für Alte Musik/ Rene Jacobs – Harmonia mundi (3 CDs)Published on January 21, 2012
René Jacobs’ Agrippina is as powerful and individual as his ideas about the score, voiced in some very interesting notes to the recording.
Andreas Haefliger: “Perspectives 5″ = BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 29 “Hammerklavier”; LISZT: Annees de Pelerinage: La Suisse – Avie (2 CDs)Published on January 21, 2012
Andreas Haefliger finds spiritual kinship in two towers of the keyboard repertory, which he realizes with powerful sensitivity and charisma.