Book reviews – Page 112
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ReviewSuites and Fantasies – Schnittke: Suite in Old Style; Falla: Suite popular española; Britten: Suite for violin and piano op.6; Milhaud: Le boeuf sur le toit op.58 etc.
The Strad Issue: September 2017Description: A well-programmed recital of contrasts is at the heart of this discMusicians: Joo Yeon Sir (violin), Irina Andrievsky (piano)Composer: Britten, De Falla, Gershwin, Milhaud, Schnittke Catalogue Number: RUBICON RCD 1003 Suites and Fantasies is an aptly broad title for what ...
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ReviewProkofiev: Violin Concertos nos.1 and 2
The Strad Issue: September 2017Description: Tremendously stylish versions of these acerbic Russian concertosMusicians: Matthew Trusler (violin), BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Grant Llewellyn Composer: ProkofievCatalogue Number: ORCHID CLASSICS ORC 100070 If it’s become fashionable in recent years to miniaturise and prettify the Prokofiev ...
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ReviewNowakovski: String Quartet no.1 ‘Songs of Forgiveness’; Blood, Forgotten1; String Quartet no.2 ‘Grandfather Songs’; Lullaby: O Sleep for Me, Sleep
The Strad Issue: September 2017Description: Ancestral sorrows explored in contemporary string quartetsMusicians: Emily Ondracek-Peterson (violin), Voxare Quartet Composer: Nowakowski Catalogue Number: NAXOS 8.559821 The Polish heritage of American composer Mark Nowakowski (b.1978) is a guiding spirit in these chamber works. The subtitles ...
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ReviewGrieg – Violin Sonatas: no.1 in F major op.8, no.2 in G major op.13, no.3 in C minor op.45
The Strad Issue: September 2017Description: An intoxicating, exhilarating recording of lesser-known Grieg Musicians: Maya Levy (violin) Matthieu Idmtal (piano) Composer: Grieg Catalogue Number: PAVANE ADW 7585 Although Grieg’s C minor Sonata (no.3) has been a staple recital favourite for many years, its younger siblings ...
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ReviewFeldman: Patterns in a Chromatic Field
The Strad Issue: September 2017Description: Listen very carefully and this eerily quiet music will draw you inMusicians: Rohan de Saram (cello) Marianne Schroeder (piano) Composer: Feldman Catalogue Number: HAT HATNOWART 2204 (2 CDs) Written in 1981, Patterns in a Chromatic Field is ...
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ReviewFauré – The Music for Cello and Piano: Romance op.69; Papillon op.77; Sérénade op.98; Berceuse op.16; Cello Sonata no.1 in D minor op.109; Morceau de lecture etc.
The Strad Issue: September 2017Description: A brilliantly heartfelt response to Fauré’s most complex cello writing Musicians: Andreas Brantelid (cello) Bengt Forsberg (piano) Composer: Fauré Catalogue Number: BIS 2220 (SACD) Several decades separate Fauré’s many short cello pieces from his two cello sonatas, ...
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ReviewDvořák: String Quartet no.12 in F major op.96 ‘The American’; String Quintet in E flat major op.97 ‘The American’
The Strad Issue: September 2017Description: Mellow and blended flavours in these two ‘American’ chamber works Musicians: Škampa QuartetComposer: Dvořák Catalogue Number: CHAMPS HILL RECORDS CHRCD 110 The Škampa Quartet’s performance of ’s String Quartet op.96 invites direct comparison with the multi-award-winning version from their Czech ...
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ReviewAn Eventful Morning in East London: 21st-Century Violin Concertos – Patterson Allusions for two violins and strings, Prtichard: Wall of Water, Matthews: Romanza etc.
The Strad Issue: September 2017Description: New music from London’s cultural melting pot delivered with conviction Musicians: Harriet Mackenzie (violin) Philippa Mo (violin), English String Orchestra; English Symphony Orchestra/Kenneth WoodsComposer: Patterson, Pritchard, Matthews, Fokkens, Doolittle Catalogue Number: NIMBUS NI 6295 If this disc’s quirky title leads ...
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ReviewBritish Legends – Kelly: Elegy (in memoriam Rupert Brooke) (arr. Decroix), Vaughan Williams English Folk Song Suite, Elgar: Elegy for strings op.58, Bliss: Music for Strings etc.
The Strad Issue: September 2017Description: An almost-forgotten British composer is at the heart of this recital Musicians: St. George QuartetComposer: Kelly, Bliss, Elgar, Vaughan WilliamsCatalogue Number: ADW 7584 This is a curious CD, inspired by the music of the least well-known composer here, Frederick Septimus ...
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ReviewWarp and Weft – Clarke: Suite for two violins and piano, Patterson: Allusions Trio, Jacob: Four Bagatelles, Moeran: Sonata in A major for two violins, Rawsthorne: Theme and Variations
The Strad Issue: September 2017Description: Polishing up some rare, sparkling English gems for stringsMusicians: Midori Komachi, Sophie Rosa (violins) Simon Callaghan (piano) Composer: Clarke, Patterson, Jacob, Moeran, RaswthorneCatalogue Number: EM RECORDS EMRCD 043 EM Records has put all lovers of English music in its debt ...
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ReviewBeethoven: Sonatas for fortepiano and violin op.30: no.1 in A major, no.2 in C minor, no.3 in G major
The Strad Issue: September 2017Description: Complete cycle of Beethoven sonatas approaches the home strait Musicians: Susanna Ogata (violin), Ian Watson (fortepiano) Composer: BeethovenCatalogue Number: CORO COR 16154 In this, the third and penultimate, volume of their Beethoven cycle Ian Watson and Susanna Ogata perform the ...
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ReviewBach Trios – Bach: Trio Sonata no.6 in G major BWV530; Prelude no.19 in A major BWV864; Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme BWV645; Fugue no.20 in A minor BWV889; Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ BWV639
The Strad Issue: September 2017Description: Boundary-crossing Bach played on an unlikely combination of instrumentsMusicians: Yo-Yo Ma (cello) Chris Thile (mandolin, guitar) Edgar Meyer (double bass)Composer: Bach Catalogue Number: NONESUCH 7559 79392-0 A trio formed of cello, double bass and mandolin may seem an unlikely combination ...
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ReviewSerenade - Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence; Valse sentimentale op.51 no.6 (arr. Schmidt); October op.37 (arr. Schmidt); Nocturne op.19 no.4; Serenade in C major op.48
Deliciously rich and full-fat accounts of high Romantic repertoire
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ReviewLeclair: Violin Concertos op.7, no.1 in D minor, no.3 in C major, no.4 in F major, no.5 in A minor
Virtuoso French Baroque concertos given charismatic readings
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ReviewHolt: Third Quartet, Dennehy: The Weather of It, Gilbert: Haven of Mysteries
The Strad Issue: August 2017Description: Exciting performances of new music captured live in London Musicians: Jack Quartet, Doric Quartet, Carducci Quartet, Guy Johnston (cello)Composer: Holt, Dennehy, GilbertCatalogue Number: NMC NMCD216 Wigmore Hall shows its commitment to developing chamber music repertoire with Bracing ...
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ReviewFranck: Violin Sonata, Chausson: Concert for Piano, Violin and String Quartet op.21
Sensitive, natural performances but an arms-length sonic effect
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ReviewDelius: String Quartet in E minor (1917), Elgar: String Quartet in E minor op.83
Wonderfully open-hearted accounts of two Great War English quartets
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ReviewBrahms: Violin Concerto in D major op.77; Violin Sonata no.1 in G major op.78; Scherzo in C minor from ‘FAE’ Sonata
Powerful, spacious account of a mighty Romantic concerto
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Review13 Strings - Bach: Suite no.2 in D minor BWV1007; Partita in D minor BWV1004, Ligeti Sonata for solo viola
Bach and Ligeti performed on an unusual collection of instruments
