All Article articles – Page 160
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Article
Cultural commentator Norman Lebrecht to write for The Strad
The veteran journalist and string-music lover Norman Lebrecht will be casting his acerbic eye over the string world in a new monthly opinion piece, starting with the March issue of The Strad. The column will be in the magazine only but the conversation will open out on our website. ...
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Article
Argentine violinist and conductor Alberto Lysy dies in Lausanne aged 74
Argentine violinist, conductor and teacher Alberto Lysy has died aged 74. He was a student of Menuhin, with whom he premiered Malcolm Arnold's Concerto for Two Violins and recorded Bach's Double Concerto. Lysy went on to honour his mentor by co-founding the International Menuhin Music Academy in Gstaad in 1977. ...
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Article
The Strad launches new website
Welcome to The Strad's new website. As well as a fresh look, the site now offers new features such as videos and easy one-click access to articles, competitions, directories and our official Twitter feed. There are also more opportunities for you to post your comments on news stories and our ...
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ArticleSaint-Saëns: Cello Sonatas no.1 in C minor op.32 & no.2 in F major op.123, Romance in F major op.36, The Swan, Prière in G major op.158
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: Christian Poltéra (cello) Kathryn Stott (piano) Composer: Saint-SaënsThis is a five-star disc, both in recording quality and performance. Christian Poltéra and Kathryn Stott go right to the heart of the music in confident interpretations that convey the grand expressive ...
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ArticleWieniawski: Violin Concertos no.1 in F sharp minor op.14* & no 2 in D minor op.22†
The Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: Mariusz Patyra (violin) Sinfonia Varsovia/Johannes Wildner*, Sinfonia Iuventus/Gabriel Chmura† Composer: WieniawskiPolish violinist Mariusz Patyra brings much drama, bravura and lyricism to Wieniawski’s two powerful and vastly underrated concertos, particularly to their opening movements, in which his laudable technical assurance and rhythmical control ...
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ArticleDvorák: Violin Concerto in A minor op.53, Romance in F minor op.11. Szymanowski: Violin Concerto no.1 op.35
The Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: Arabella Steinbacher (violin) Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra/Marek JanowskiComposer: Dvorák, SzymanowskiDvo?ák’s Violin Concerto is neither particularly gratefully written for the instrument, nor for much of the time very comfortable in its creative skin. While the musical influence of his friend and supporter Brahms ...
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ArticleGade: Violin Sonatas no.1 in A major op.6, no.2 in D minor op.21 & no.3 in B flat major op.59. Schumann: Nordisches Lied from Album für die Jugend op.68
The Strad Issue: January 20101Musicians: Thomas Albertus Irnberger (violin) Edoardo Torbianelli (fortepiano)Composer: Gade, Schumann I was surprised to discover that New Grove rates Niels Wilhelm Gade (1817–90) as the most important Danish composer of the 19th century, as he’s so rarely, if ever, heard in the concert ...
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ArticleHaydn: String Quartet in G major op.77 no.1. Dvorák: String Quartet in G major op.106
The Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: St Lawrence QuartetComposer: Haydn, DvorákTwo magnificent late quartets in G major by two great composers raise the expectations; but sadly, a lot of water has flowed down the St Lawrence since the eponymous ensemble began its career, and I fear a certain ...
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ArticlePaganini: 24 Caprices op.1
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: James Ehnes (violin)Composer: PaganiniIt was a recording of the Paganini caprices that 14 years ago launched the international career of Canadian-born violinist James Ehnes, and he now revisits the score in an equally superb performance.It is a very literal view ...
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ArticleBirth of the String Quartet Vol.1. A. Scarlatti: Sonate a quattro in D minor. Sammartini: Sinfonia per archi in G major. Boccherini: String Quartet in C minor op.2 no.1. Haydn: String Quartet in D min
The Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: Casal QuartetComposer: A. Scarlatti, Boccherini, Haydn, MozartThe Casal Quartet has proven expertise in 20th-century repertoire and introduces modern techniques and interpretative approaches into its accounts of these five fledgling Classical string quartets, employing vibrato in abundance. However, its members’ use of four ...
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ArticleJoachim: Violin Concertos in D minor op.11 ‘In the Hungarian Style & G minor op.3
The Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: Suyoen Kim (violin) Weimar Staatskapelle/Michael HalászComposer: JoachimJoachim’s name as one of the most profound musicians of the 19th century is linked primarily to his violin playing, although his talent as a composer was of equal potential. His cadenzas are perhaps his most ...
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ArticlePopper Cello Suite op.69, Three Pieces op.11, Im Walde op.50 Piatigorsky Variations on a Paganini Theme
The Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: Wendy Warner (cello) Eileen Buck (piano)Composer: Popper, PiatigorskyFocusing on the tradition of the virtuoso–composer, Rostropovich pupil Wendy Warner has compiled an intriguing programme, half of which is devoted to original works by the Hungarian cellist David Popper. Although he is better known ...
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ArticleBrahms: Cello Sonata no.2 in F major op.99. Kodály: Solo Cello Sonata op.8. Debussy: Cello Sonata. Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme op.33
The Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: Pierre Fournier (cello) Franz Holetschek (piano)Composer: Brahms, Kodály, Debussy, TchaikovskyRecorded live at the 1958 Salzburg Festival, Pierre Fournier proves his credentials as one of the legendary cellists of the 20th century. His performances come across compellingly throughout, despite the poor mono sound ...
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ArticleTansman: Cello Sonata no.2, Two Pieces, Fantaisie, Partita, Quatre pieces faciles
The Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: Cracow Duo: Jan Kalinowski (cello) Marck Szlezer (piano)Composer: TansmanProlific Polish-turned-French composer Alexandre Tansman (1897–1986) has found ambassadors in the vibrant young Cracow Duo and Polish record label Dux. Tansman, whose glittering career centred on Paris, wrote his Second Cello Sonata (1930) soon ...
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ArticleRhapsodic Musings: 21st Century Works for Solo Violin. Salonen: Lachen verlernt. Carter: Four Lauds. Read Thomas: Pulsar. Zorn: Goetia
The Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: Jennifer Koh (violin)Composer: Salonen, Carter, Read Thomas, ZornWhen this disc is loaded into a computer, a menu pops up with links to relevant websites, and the option of viewing a video interpretation of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Lachen verlent, made by artist and filmmaker ...
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ArticleMozart: Violin Sonatas in C major K296, E minor K304, A major K305 & D major K306
The Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: Duo Amadé: Catherine Mackintosh (violin) Geoffrey Govier (fortepiano)Composer: MozartViolinist Catherine Mackintosh has a balance problem. Not that I expect her to fall over any moment, but in her Bach sonatas she was too forward, edging out harpsichordist Maggie Cole, and here her ...
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Article3 Fervent Travelers
The Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: Time for Three: Zach De Pue, Nick Kendall (violin) Ranaan Meyer (double bass)Composer: VariousThis is Time for Three’s third album, but its first major commercial one, combining live and studio recordings. It is an assured blend of popular American styles within original ...
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ArticleSchumann: String Quartet in A major op.41 no.3, Piano Quintet in E flat major op.44
The Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: Takács Quartet, Marc-André Hamelin (piano)Composer: Schumann As is to be expected, the Takács Quartet provides a sumptuous disc here. In places, however, this lush sound can result in a vibrato that is too wide and slow, especially in the descending fifth ...
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ArticleTippett: String Quartets nos.3 & 5
The Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: Tippett QuartetComposer: TippettThis is a superb follow-up to the Tippett Quartet’s first disc of its namesake’s works (reviewed in December 2008). The two quartets here are separated by 45 years, but share a penchant for lyricism combined with a fascination for Beethovenian ...
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ArticleFeldman: Spring of Chosroes. Zimmermann: Violin Sonata. Schoenberg: Phantasy op.47. Xenakis: Dikhthas
The Strad Issue: January 2010Musicians: Carolin Widmann (violin) Simon Lepper (piano)Composer: Feldman, Zimmermann, Schoenberg, XenakisAlthough the booklet note talks about a 20th-century crisis in music for violin and piano, in the hands of young German violinist Carolin Widmann the four sharply contrasting works on this impressive new ...
