Classical CD Reviews
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Nicola Benedetti: The Silver Violin = WILLIAMS: Schindler’s List Main Theme; KORNGOLD: Tanzlied des Pierrot from Die Tote Stadt; Violin Concerto in D; Marietta’s Lied from Die Tote Stadt; GARDEL: Por una cabeza; SHOSTAKOVICH: Romance; Andante; Prelude; HESS: Ladies in Lavender Main Theme; MARIANELLI: My Edward &I from Jane Eyre; SHORE: Concertino from Eastern Promises; MAHLER: Piano Quartet in A Minor – Nicola Benedetti, violin & ens. & orch. – DeccaPublished on May 18, 2013
Violinist Nicola Benedetti pays homage to the Silver Screen with a host of romantic and passionate film score arrangements, of which those by Erich Korngold provide the original impetus.
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies No. 4 in B-flat; No. 7 in A – Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/ Joshua Bell, concertmaster & cond. – Sony ClassicalPublished on May 18, 2013
The first in a projected complete symphony series, but it’s a little too early to predict the outcome.
BACH: The French Suites; Allemande and Menuet fr. Suite in E-flat; Menuet and Sarabande from Suite in a – Colin Tilney, clavichord – Music & ArtsPublished on May 17, 2013
A marvelous representation of these pieces that succeeds on every level.
FRANCK: Violin Sonata in A Major; Melancolie; Prelude, Fugue and Variation in B Minor; R. STRAUSS: Violin Sonata in E-flat Major; Auf stillem Waldespfad – Augustin Dumay, v./ Louis Lortie, p. – OnyxPublished on May 17, 2013
Dumay and Lortie collaborate on two post-Romantic violin sonatas of passion and power, their architectural beauties pre-eminent in these thoughtful renditions.
DEBUSSY: Children’s Corner; Suite bergamasque; Danse; Deux Arabesques; Pour le piano; Masques; L’isle joyeuse; La plus que lente – Angela Hewitt, piano – Hyperion DEBUSSY: Préludes, Books 1 and 2 – Philippe Bianconi, p. – la dolce volta “Hommage à Claude Debussy” = DEBUSSY: Images, Books 1 & 2; Estampes; Arabesque No. 1; CARLO GRANTE: Debussy-Pastiche; ALFREDO CASELLA: A la manière de. . .Claude Debussy; DUKAS: La plainte, au loin, du faune; ROBERTO PIANA: Image d’un faune – Carlo Grante, p. – Music & ArtsPublished on May 17, 2013
Three Debussy releases with something to offer. On points, Angela Hewitt is the winner, but Carlo Grante offers the most interesting program of the three.
SCHOENBERG: Verklaerte Nacht; SCHUBERT: String Quintet in C Major – Janine Jansen & ens. – DeccaPublished on May 16, 2013
Two brilliantly effective works from the opposite ends of the Romantic period are rendered with fervent passion by players from the recent Utrecht Chamber Music Festival.
“If You Love for Beauty” = ADAMS: Am I in Your light?; CHAUSSON: Poème de l’Amour et de la Mer; HANDEL: E vivo Ancora (Ariodante); Frondi tenere e belle (Xerxes); MAHLER: Rückert Lieder – Sasha Cooke, mezzo/ Colburn Orch./ Yuhuda Gilad – Yarlung RecordsPublished on May 16, 2013
A rising star in great repertory with fantastic sound. Need convincing?
GESUALDO: Responsories; Miserere; VICTORIA: Lamentations for Holy Saturday – Tenebrae/ Nigel Short – DGG ArchivPublished on May 16, 2013
A rather rare and extremely effective comparison of two diverse composers.
BACH: The English Suites – Richard Egarr, harpsichord – Harmonia mundiPublished on May 15, 2013
Consistency abounds, but interpretation is not matched by choice in execution.
PHILIP GLASS: Symphony No. 3; Suite fr. “The Hours” – Manitoba Ch. Orch./ Anne Manson/Michael Riesman, piano – Orange Mt. MusicPublished on May 14, 2013
Mostly for those with a complete Philip Glass collection.