Recording reviews – Page 114
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ArticleFor Seasons - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; plus works by Bach, Nils Frahm, Chilly Gonzales, Rameau, Max Richter, Schumann, Tchaikovsky and Weill
The Strad Issue: June 2016Description: Colourful Vivaldi thrills amid an eclectic mix of miniaturesMusicians: Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Daniel Hope (violin/director)Composer: Vivaldi, Bach, Nils Frahm, Chilly Gonzales, Rameau, Max Richter, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, WeillCatalogue Number: DG 479 6922Following his Four Seasons ‘recomposed by Max Richter’, Daniel Hope turns to ...
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Article4 Cities - Fazil Say: Cello Sonata ‘Four Cities’, Debussy: Cello Sonata in D minor, Janácek: Pohádka; Presto for cello and piano, Shostakovich: Cello Sonata in D minor op.40
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: June 2017Description: A musical grand tour that inspires a first-class cello-piano partnershipMusicians: Nicolas Altstaedt (cello), Fazıl Say (piano)Composer: Fazil Say, Debussy, Janácek, ShostakovichCatalogue Number: WARNER CLASSICS 9025867249Sivas, Hopa, Ankara and Bodrum: these are the four Turkish cities evoked so vividly by Fazıl ...
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ArticlePaganini: 24 Caprices; Introduction & Variations in G major on ‘Nel cor più non mi sento’ from Paisiello’s La molinara; Duo merveille (duet for one); Caprice d’adieu, Pine: Introduction, Theme & Varia
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: July 2017Description: Terrific solo Paganini holds its own in a competitive catalogueMusicians: Rachel Barton Pine (violin)Composer: Paganini, PineCatalogue Number: AVIE AV2374 (2 CDs)Sound is crucial in Paganini, especially if you call your album ‘Bel Canto Paganini’. My first reaction on listening to ...
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ArticleFranck: Violin Sonata in A major, Fauré: Romance in B flat major op.28, Szymanowski: Violin Sonata in D minor op.9; Romance in D major op.23; Notturno e Tarantella op.28
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: June 2017Description: A powerful, strongly performed recital from an outstanding duoMusicians: Tasmin Little (violin), Piers Lane (piano)Composer: Franck, Fauré, SzymanowskiCatalogue Number: CHANDOS CHAN 10940To sound its finest, Franck’s chromatically charged, sensually alluring Sonata requires playing of devoted intensity, and that is precisely ...
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ArticleReflecting the Seasons: Vivaldi by Tim Kliphuis Trio & Orchestra
The Strad Issue: May 2017Description: Sparkling Vivaldi seen though a stylish gypsy jazz lensMusicians: Tim Kliphuis (violin), Nigel Clark (guitar), Roy Percy (double bass), Stellenbosch University CamerataComposer: Vivaldi, Tim KliphuisCatalogue Number: SONY CLASSICAL 88985352002There is no shortage of alternative approaches to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, from Astor Piazzolla ...
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ArticleSaint-Saëns: Cello Concerto no.1 in A minor op.33; Cello Sonatas: no.2 in F major op.123, no.3 in D major op. posth. (first recording)
The Strad Issue: May 2017Description: Poetic and well-balanced playing that’s full of colourMusicians: Emmanuelle Bertrand (cello) Pascal Amoyel (piano) Lucerne Symphony Orchestra/James GaffiganComposer: Saint-SaënsCatalogue Number: HARMONIA MUNDI HMM 902210This cellist-orchestra-conductor-label collaboration has brought us Shostakovich, Dutilleux, Rihm and Dvorák, and it’s fascinating how the established dynamic throws ...
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ArticleSkog: Violin Concerto no.1; Nilsson: Violin Concerto no.1
The Strad Issue: May 2017Description: Making the best case for ultimately undemonstrative musicMusicians: Cecilia Zilliacus (violin) Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra/Anna-Maria Helsing, VästerŠs Sinfonietta/Fredrik BurstedtComposer: Skog, NilssonCatalogue Number: 1 DB PRODUCTIONS dBCD179Two accessible contemporary violin concertos by Swedish composers, given persuasive performances by their compatriot Cecilia Zilliacus, make for ...
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ArticleTchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings; Sibelius: String Quartet in D minor op.56 ‘Voces intimae’
The Strad Issue: May 2017Description: Delicious moments in the ‘boosted’ string quartet soundMusicians: Orchestra of the Auvergne/Roberto Forés Veses APARTE AP139Composer: Tchaikovsky, SibeliusCatalogue Number: APARTE AP139In an age when Sibelius’s op.56 String Quartet is so often played without anything like the intimacy its title speaks of, you ...
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ArticleTchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major op.35; Lalo: Symphonie espagnole op.21
The Strad Issue: May 2017Description: Two virtuoso concertos given immaculate live performancesMusicians: Augustin Hadelich (violin) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Vasily Petrenko, Omer Meir WellberComposer: Tchaikovsky, LaloCatalogue Number: LPO 0094This CD is curiously compiled from two live concerts given nearly a year apart in London’s Royal Festival Hall. The link, ...
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ArticleProkofiev: Cello Sonata in C major, Rachmaninoff: Cello Sonata in G minor, Tchaikovsky: Romance; Meditation
The Strad Issue: May 2017Description: Rich and reflective interpretations of Russian cello repertoireMusicians: Nina Kotova (cello), Fabio Bidini (piano)Composer: Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, TchaikovskyCatalogue Number: WARNER CLASSICS 0190295924607 Nina Kotova brings a full, rich cantabile to the broad and masculine melody that opens Prokofiev’s C major Sonata. Her C-string ...
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ArticleKreisler: Complete original works for violin and piano
The Strad Issue: May 2017Description: A treasure trove containing Kreisler’s complete accompanied oeuvreMusicians: Kees Hulsmann (violin) Marian Bolt (piano)Composer: Fritz KreislerCatalogue Number: CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC 72749 (2CDs)Although Itzhak Perlman recorded many of these pieces (alongside the arrangements) on a series of albums for EMI/Warner over a period ...
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ArticleHungarian Treasures – Bartók: Piano Quartet in C minor op.20, Dohnányi: Piano Quartet in F sharp minor, Kodály: Intermezzo for String Trio
The Strad Issue: May 2017Description: Composers’ youthful periodsMusicians: Notos QuartetComposer: Bartók, Dohnányi, KodályCatalogue Number: SONY 88985411882‘Hidden gems’ might have been a more fitting description than ‘treasures’ in the album title, since these three Hungarian works for piano quartet are seldom heard – but then again the Dohnányi ...
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ArticleElgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations op.33; Nocturne; Andante cantabile; Pezzo capriccioso op.62
The Strad Issue: May 2017Description: Two cello concerto classics leave one wanting moreMusicians: Johannes Moser (cello) Suisse Romande Orchestra/Andrew ManzeComposer: Elgar, TchaikovskyCatalogue Number: PENTATONE PTC 5186 570From the massive, sweeping chords that open Elgar’s Concerto it is clear this is going to be a big, broad-brushed interpretation. ...
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ArticleBorodin: Piano Quintet in C minor; Cello Sonata in B minor (reconstr. Goldstein); String Quartet no.2 in D major
The Strad Issue: May 2017Description: Early and mature works trace a composer’s developmentMusicians: Goldner Quartet, Piers Lane (piano)Composer: BorodinCatalogue Number: HYPERION CDA 68166In terms of musical interest, there’s a clear dividing line here between the sub-Brahmsian Piano Quintet and Cello Sonata on the one hand, both composed ...
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ArticleBeethoven: String Quartet in F major op.59 no.1 ‘Rasumovsky’; Shostakovich: String Quartet no.10 in A flat major op.118
The Strad Issue: May 2017Description: Polarised choice of repertoire yields wide-ranging resultsMusicians: Armida QuartetComposer: Beethoven, ShostakovichCatalogue Number: AVI-MUSIC 8553368Having made crisp and freshly minted recordings of Mozart, Ligeti and Bartók, this young German ensemble (winner of the ARD Competition in 2012) has turned to pillars of the ...
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ArticleBach: Cello Suites
The Strad Issue: May 2017Description: A worthy if over-careful journey down a road well travelledMusicians: István Várdai (cello)Composer: BachCatalogue Number: BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95392 (2CDs)It seems to be every cellist’s dream to record the Bach Suites, but it is a route lined with peril. István Várdai’s well-recorded version ...
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ArticleBel Canto: The Voice of the Viola - Vieuxtemps: Sonata op.36; Élégie op.30; Capriccio op.55, Mazas: Le songe, Casimir-Mey: Prélude no.15, Bellini: Casta diva, Donizetti: Il faut partir; Ô mon Fernand
The Strad Issue: May 2017Description: Proving the viola can be a match for any operatic tenorMusicians: Antoine Tamestit (viola), Cédric Tiberghien (piano)Composer: Vieuxtemps, Mazas, Casimir-Mey, Bellini, DonizettiCatalogue Number: HARMONIA MUNDI HMM 902277 The past few years have seen several viola players – Kim Kashkashian and Nils Mönkemeyer ...
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ArticleFricker: String Quartets nos.1–3; Adagio and Scherzo
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: May 2017Description: Compelling, challenging and deeply satisfying British musicMusicians: Villiers QuartetComposer: FrickerCatalogue Number: NAXOS 8.571374 (2CDs)Any Bartók or Shostakovich aficionado should enjoy getting to grips with the quartets of Peter Racine Fricker (1920–90), which here receive magnificently assured, mostly premiere recordings. The ...
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ArticleElgar: Cello Concerto in E minor op.85, Martinů: Cello Concerto no.11
The Strad Issue: April 2017Description: Gabetta's exhilarating Martinů and melancholy Elgar concertos, captured liveMusicians: Sol Gabetta (cello), Berlin Philharmonic/Simon Rattle; Krzysztof UrbańskiComposer: Elgar, MartinůCatalogue number: SONY CLASSICAL 8898530792 Sol Gabetta’s vividly recorded live performance of the Elgar Cello Concerto with Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic offers ...
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ReviewBartók: String Quartets nos.2, 4 and 6
Beauty and muscular intensity abound, just as they should in Bartók
