Recording reviews – Page 115
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ReviewBeethoven - String Quartets: in D major op.18 no.3; in F minor op.95 ‘Serioso’; in B flat major op.130
THE STRAD RECOMMENDS The Strad Issue: April 2017Description: Moments of magic in this latest Beethoven set from the Elias QuartetMusicians: Elias QuartetComposer: BeethovenCatalogue number: WIGMORE HALL LIVE WHLIVE 0086/2 (2 CDs) This is the third volume in the Elias’s complete Beethoven cycle, recorded live in the warm ...
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ReviewTchaikovsky: Complete works for violin and orchestra
The Strad Issue: March 2017Description: Koh sees Tchaikovsky's concertante violin works as a serious matterMusicians: Jennifer Koh (violin), Odense Symphony Orchestra/Alexander VedernikovComposer: TchaikovskyCatalogue number: CEDILLE CDR 90000 166 For those who feel repulsed by schmaltzy Tchaikovsky performances, this disc from Jennifer Koh might prove an effective form ...
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ReviewBach: Violin Sonata no.3 in C major BWV1005, Bartók: Sonata for solo violin, Boulez: Anthèmes I & II
THE STRAD RECOMMENDS The Strad Issue: April 2017Description: Masterfully assembled solo recital from a chip off the old blockMusicians: Michael Barenboim (violin)Composer: Bach, Bartók, BoulezCatalogue number: ACCENTUS ACC 30405 This unusual programme demands the kind of disciplined virtuosity that Michael Barenboim (son of Daniel) has in spades. ...
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ReviewStanford: String Quartets - no.5 in B flat major; no.8 in E minor, Joachim: Romanze op.2 no.11
The Strad Issue: March 2017Description: A neglected corner of Stanford's output receives fine advocacyMusicians: Dante Quartet; Krysia Osostowicz (violin), Mark Bebbington (piano)Composer: Stanford, JoachimCatalogue number: SOMM CÉLESTE SOMMCD 0160 The fifth of Stanford’s eight string quartets was written in response to Joseph Joachim’s death in 1907 and ...
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ReviewAsk the Experts: should beginner string pupils have more than one teacher?
Strad readers submit their problems and queries about string playing, teaching or making to our experts
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ReviewBach: The Art of Fugue BWV1080
The Strad Issue: October 2016 Description: Intimacy and ingenuity in Bach’s unfinished book of contrapuntal studies Musicians: Rachel Podger (violin), Brecon Baroque Composer: Bach Catalogue number: CHANNEL CLASSICS CCSSA 38316 (SACD) Bach specified ...
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ReviewCello Rising: from Degli Antonii to Boccherini - Antonii: Ricercata decimal; Boismortier: Sonata II in G major; Boccherini: Sonatas in B flat major G8, in A major G4; D. Gabrielli: Sonata in G major;
The Strad Issue: October 2016 Description: Expressive explorations of early repertoire for cello Musicians: Mime Yamahiro Brinkmann (cello), Björn Gäfvert (harpsichord), Karl Nyhlin (guitar) Composer: Antonio, Boismortier, Boccherini, Gabrielli, Galli, Telemann Catalogue number: ...
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ReviewReger: Violin Concerto op.101 (arr. Rudolf Kolisch)
THE STRAD RECOMMENDS The Strad Issue: October 2016 Description: Reger’s knotty concerto clarified for Schoenberg’s chamber music society Musicians: Winfried Rademacher (violin) Linos Ensemble Composer: Max Reger Catalogue number: CAPRICCO C 5137 Max ...
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ReviewHaydn: String Quartets op.20 nos.1–3 (‘Sun’)
THE STRAD RECOMMENDS The Strad Issue: October 2016 Description: Ibragimova and friends rise to three of Haydn’s ‘Sun’ Quartets Musicians: Chiaroscuro Quartet Composer: Joseph Hadyn Catalogue number: BIS 2158 (SACD) The Chiaroscuro Quartet ...
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ReviewL’Art du Maurice Gendron - Works by Bach, Beethoven, Boccherini, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, Dvorák, Falla, Fauré, Fitzenhagen, Françaix, Granados, Handel, Haydn, Kreisler, Lalo, Messiaen, Moszkowski, Pa
The Strad Issue: October 2016 Description: A collection of the French cellist’s recordings for Philips Composer: Bach, Beethoven, Boccherini, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, Dvorák, Falla, Fauré, Fitzenhagen, Françaix, Granados, Handel, Haydn, Kreisler, Lalo, Messiaen, Moszkowski, Paganini, Popper, Rimsky-Korsakov, Saint-Saëns, Schubert, ...
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ReviewBacewicz: Complete String Quartets
THE STRAD RECOMMENDS The Strad Issue: October 2016 Description: Benchmark recordings of a major Polish composer’s seven quartets Musicians: Silesian Quartet Composer: Grazyna Bacewicz Catalogue number: Chandos CHAN 10904 (two CDs) Still rarely ...
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ReviewMusic at the Habsburg Court - Ragazzi: Sonatas a 4 op.1, no.6 in G minor, no.8 in G major; Timmer: Concerto a 5 in B flat major; Umstatt: Violin Concertos: no.5 in C major, no.6 in B flat major; Vival
The Strad Issue: October 2016 Description: Gabetta and his players explore the music of the Austro–Hungarian court Musicians: Andrés Gabetta (violin) Cappella Gabetta Composer: Ragazzi, Timmer, Umstatt, Vivaldi Catalogue number: DHM 88875 19466-2 ...
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ReviewMozart: Piano Trio in B flat major K502; E major K542; G major K564
The Strad Issue: October 2016 Description: Joyful period performances of three of Mozart’s piano trios Musicians: Rautio Piano Trio Composer: Mozart Catalogue number: RESONUS RES 10168 In a booklet note to this recording ...
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ReviewGlow - J Kuusisto: Jurmo; Loisto; Play II; Play III; Valo
The Strad Issue: October 2016 Description: Finnish violinist turns composer for a debut disc of chamber works Musicians: Meta4, Jaakko Kuusisto (violin), Riitta-Liisa Ristiluoma (viola), Jan-Erik Gustafsson (cello), Paavali Jumppanen, Heini Kärkkäinen (pianos) Composer: Jaakko Kuusisto ...
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ReviewGlazunov: Violin Concerto op.82; Shostakovich: Violin Concerto no.1 op.99
The Strad Issue: October 2016 Description: Sweetness rather than bite in two major 20th-century violin concertos Musicians: Nicola Benedetti (violin) Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Kirill Karabits Composer: Glazunov, Shostakovich Catalogue number: DECCA 478 8758 Benedetti ...
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ReviewArpeggione - Falla: Siete canciones populares españolas; Gluck: Dance of the Blessed Spirits; Leisner: Twilight Streams; Paganini: Variations on One String on Rossini’s ‘Moses’; Saint-Saëns: The Swan;
The Strad Issue: October 2016 Description: Arrangements and new works for the rare combination of cello and guitar Musicians: Zuill Bailey (cello) David Leisner (guitar) Composer: Falla, Gluck, Leisner, Paganini, Saint-Saëns, Schubert, Villa-Lobos Catalogue ...
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ReviewElgar: Piano Quartet in A minor op.84 (arr. Fraser); Sea Pictures op.37 (arr. Fraser)
The Strad Issue: October 2016 Description: Elgar amplified in persuasive manner by Donald Fraser Musicians: English Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra/Kenneth Woods; Rodolfus Choir Composer: Elgar Catalogue number: AVIE AV 2362 Although Donald ...
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ReviewDebussy: String Quartet (arr. Morton); The Girl with the Flaxen Hair (arr. C. Matthews); Jimbo’s Lullaby (arr. Manson), Takemitsu: Funeral Music; Music of Training and Rest; Nostalghia
The Strad Issue: October 2016 Description: Debussy’s Quartet and miniatures writ large, and Takemitsu’s film music Musicians: Scottish Ensemble/Jonathan Morton (violin) Composer: Debussy, Takemitsu Catalogue number: LINN CKD 512 I tend to be ...
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ReviewBrahms: Cello Sonatas: no.1 in E minor op 38; no.2 in F major op.99, Four Serious Songs op.121 (transc. Shafran/Baillie)
The Strad Issue: October 2016 Description: A Brahmsian 60th-birthday present for cellist Alexander Baillie Musicians: Alexander Baillie (cello), John Thwaites (piano) Composer: Brahms Catalogue number: SOMM SOMMCD 0158 Using three different pianos offers a ...
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ReviewFor the Love of Brahms - Brahms: Concerto for violin and cello in A minor, ‘Double’ op.102; Piano Trio no.1 in B major op.8 (original version), Schumann: Violin Concerto in D minor: second movement
The Strad Issue: October 2016 Description: Two great soloists come together for a live ‘Double’ Musicians: Steven Isserlis (cello), Jeremy Denk (piano), Academy of St Martinuin the Fields/Joshua Bell (violin) Composer: Brahms, Schumann Catalogue ...
