Classical CD Reviews
GORDON GETTY: Usher House – Christian Elsner, Tenor/Etienne Dupuis, bari./Phillip Ens, Bass/Lisa Delan, sop./Orquesta Gulbenkian/Lawrence Foster – PentatonePublished on June 18, 2013
Interesting treatment maintains the feel of Poe’s original.
MOZART: In-Between = Sym. No. 23; Jeunehomme Piano Concerto No. 9, 3 other works; SCHULER: Inbetween for String Q. & Orch. – Zazzo/Ch. Orch. of Geneva/ David Greilsammer – Sony ClassicalPublished on June 18, 2013
Mozart’s music provides pianist-conductor Greilsammer a palette for new experiments in sound and musical spaces, including a commissioned, new work that emphasizes ambiguity as an end in itself.
The Soviet Experience = Vol. III – SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartets 9, 10, 11, 12; WEINBERG: String Quartet No. 6 – Pacifica Q. – CedillePublished on June 18, 2013
The Pacifica Quartet’s cycle of Soviet quartets continues with four from Shostakovich and one from Weinberg, passionately performed and brilliantly recorded.
SCHMITT: Complete Original Works for Piano Duet, Vol. 3 = Marche du 163 R.I.; Feuillets de voyage, Books I – II; Musiques foraines – The Ivencia Duo – Grand PianoPublished on June 17, 2013
The Ivencia Duo extends its survey of Florent Schmitt’s four-hand music with charming fare conceived for musical explorers of all ages, including two world premier recordings.
HAYDN: Piano Concertos No. 3 in F, No. 4 in G, No. 11 in D – Marc-André Hamelin, p./ Les Violons du Roy/ Bernard Labadie – HyperionPublished on June 15, 2013
Hamelin’s innate musicality and sense of style make these special performances indeed.
PAUL CHIHARA, Vol. 2 = Concerto Piccolo (for four violas); Viola Concerto (in one movement); Redwood (for viola and percussion); Sonata for Viola and Piano – BridgeMICHAEL DALMAN COLINA: Baba Yaga, Fantasia for Violin & Orchestra;The Unbearable Lightness of Being; Quinta Del Sordo: Symphonic Poem for Orchestra; Isles of Shoals Concerto for Flute & Orch. – Fleur de Son ClassicsPublished on June 15, 2013
Two contemporary American composers who approach the fusion of classical and popular music from different directions.
Il Divino: The Lute Music of Francesco da Milano – Paul O’Dette, lute – Harmonia mundiPublished on June 15, 2013
The ability of the composer to combine his own improvisatory flair with the variety of traditional forms from the secular and sacred music of the age is one of the things that so attracts O’Dette to this music.
VIVIAN ADELBERG RUDOW, “Sound Portraits” = Orchestral, Chamber and Electro-Acoustical music – London Philharmonic Orch./ Jeffrey Silberschlag/ Orch. of St. John’s/ Ronald Mutchnik/ various soloists/ Vivian Adelberg Rudow, electronics – MSR ClassicsPublished on June 15, 2013
A very mixed bag of some wholly unique and eccentric music.
Wild Songs = STEVE HEITZEG: Wild Songs; Three Graces for Hildur; Loveblessing; Is Everybody Else Alright?; LORI LAITMAN: Four Emily Dickinson Songs – Polly Butler Cornelius, sop./ Victoria Fischer Faw, piano; Heather Barrington & Patti Cudd, percussion – InnovaPublished on June 15, 2013
Interesting and sometimes very moving music, but far too limited for a debut album.
MOERAN: Cello Concerto; Serenade in G; Lonely Waters; Whythorne’s Shadow Guy Johnston, cello/ Rebekah Coffey, sop./ Ulster Orch./ JoAnn Falletta – NaxosPublished on June 14, 2013
Composer Edward Moeran emerges as more than “a singular success” in this fine assortment of concert works.