Recording reviews – Page 125
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ReviewBeethoven: Six String Quartets op.18
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: November 2015Description: A quartet fully alive to the characters of Beethoven’s early op.18 setMusicians: Jerusalem QuartetComposer: BeethovenThe Jerusalem Quartet members bring their own cultivated blend to these extraordinary works without either dampening their novelty or introducing anachronistic mannerisms: they respect the set’s ...
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ReviewTartini: Violin Sonata in G minor ‘Devil’s Trill’; Pastorale in A major op.1 no.13. Veracini: Violin Sonatas in G minor op.2 no.5; in D minor op.2 no.12
The Strad Issue: October 2015Description: Devilish deeds and chromatic caprices from a multinational trioMusicians: Rie Kimura (Baroque violin) Fantasticus: Robert Smith (Baroque cello) Guillermo Brachetta (harpsichord)Composer: Tartini, VeraciniJoined by cellist Robert Smith and harpsichordist Guillermo Brachetta from her ensemble Fantasticus, Rie Kimura prepares the scene well for ...
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ReviewMendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor. Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major
The Strad Issue: October 2015Description: Steinbacher brings sweetness to two 19th-century concert warhorsesMusicians: Arabella Steinbacher (violin) Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Charles DutoitComposer: Mendelssohn, TchaikovskyThe absence of the ‘unusual’ need not equate with a lack of quality. This disc, nicely presented, tidily recorded and admirably accompanied by veteran ...
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ReviewHorner: Pas de deux. Einaudi: Divenire. Pärt: Fratres. Sollima: Violoncelles, vibrez!
The Strad Issue: October 2015Description: The late film composer James Horner’s return to concert musicMusicians: Mari Samuelsen (violin) HŠkon Samuelsen, Alisa Weilerstein, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Vasily Petrenko, Clark RundellComposer: Horner, Einaudi, Pärt, SollimaJames Horner died on 22 June, at the age of 61, when his single-engine plane ...
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ReviewHindemith: Three Pieces op.8; Solo Cello Sonata op.25 no.3; Meditation from ‘Nobilissima visione’; Cello Sonata op.11 no.3
The Strad Issue: October 2015Description: A cellist whose tone could have been made for Hindemith’s musicMusicians: David Geringas (cello) Ian Fountain (piano)Composer: HindemithHindemith’s cello works have perhaps never received the attention given to his pieces for viola or for violin. They are all relatively early works and ...
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ReviewFauré: Piano Trio in D minor. Salter: Piano Trio. Ravel: Piano Trio in A minor
The Strad Issue: October 2015Description: French piano trios illuminated by a British contemporary workMusicians: Fournier TrioComposer: Fauré, Salter, RavelDespite being teacher and pupil, Fauré and Ravel came up with very different ways of approaching the medium of the piano trio. Put a vigorously contemporary work between them ...
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ReviewCaldara: Trio Sonatas op.1: no.4 in B flat major, no.5 in E minor, no.6 in C minor, no.12 in D minor; op.2: no.2 in B flat major, no.4 in G minor, no.8 in F major, no.11 in E major, no.12 in B flat ma
The Strad Issue: October 2015Description: Stylish and perceptively played trio sonatas from SwitzerlandMusicians: Amandine Beyer, Leila Schayegh (violins) Jonathan Pesek (cello) Jörg-Andreas Bötticher (harpsichord/organ) Matthias Spaeter (liuto attiorbato)Composer: CaldaraThis selection from the opp.1 and 2 trio sonatas by Antonio Caldara (c.1670–1736) exemplifies his personal yet Corelli-influenced approach, ...
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ReviewDvorák: Cello Concerto in B minor. Schumann: Cello Concerto in A minor. Tchaikovsky: Pezzo capriccioso in B minor
The Strad Issue: October 2015Description: Rostropovich’s fine concerto recordings remastered in high-definition soundMusicians: Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Adrian Boult; Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, USSR State Symphony Orchestra/Gennady RozhdestvenskyComposer: Dvorák, Schumann, TchaikovskyHere are two of Mstislav Rostropovich’s best concerto recordings. The 1957 Dvorák, from Abbey Road Studio 1, ...
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ReviewBrahms: Cello Sonatas: no.1 in E minor op.38; no.2 in F major op.99. Schumann: Fantasiestücke op.73
The Strad Issue: October 2015Description: Classical restraint in Romantic music for this French duo’s recording debutMusicians: Bruno Philippe (cello) Tanguy de Williencourt (piano)Composer: Brahms, SchumannTwo young French musicians offer promising and subtly interpreted performances of these central works of the Romantic cello repertoire for their debut disc.Bruno ...
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ReviewBeethoven: Complete String Trios
The Strad Issue: October 2015Description: A late-style approach to Beethoven’s early worksMusicians: Jacques Thibaud String TrioComposer: BeethovenBefore he reached the age of 28, Beethoven had produced five works for that troublesome, ill-established genre, the string trio. The First Symphony (1799–1800) lay in the near future, as did ...
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ReviewSonatas for Fortepiano and Violin Vol.1. Beethoven: Violin Sonatas: no.4 in A minor op.23; no.9 in A major op.47 ‘Kreutzer’
The Strad Issue: October 2015Description: Old and new styles come together in period-instrument sonatasMusicians: Susanna Ogata (violin) Ian Watson (fortepiano)Composer: BeethovenThis first instalment of a projected four-volume cycle marks the debut of ‘Coro Connections’, an addition to the Coro label that features performers associated with Harry Christophers ...
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ReviewBeethoven: Violin Sonatas: no.4 in A minor op.23; no.5 in F major op.24 ‘Spring’. Schumann: Violin Sonata no.1 in A minor op.105
The Strad Issue: October 2015Description: Character and colour from a pair of Bulgarian musicians in AmericaMusicians: Dimitri Hadjipetkov (violin) Sarkis Baltaian (piano)Composer: Beethoven, SchumannDimitri Hadjipetkov and Sarkis Baltaian give a firm, incisive performance of Beethoven’s A minor Sonata, opening with a high-spirited dash through the Presto, punching ...
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ReviewComplete String Quartets Vol.1. Bacewicz: String Quartets nos.1, 3, 6 & 7
Description: Poles together: the Lutoslawski Quartet embarks on a Bacewicz cycleMusicians: Lutoslawski QuartetComposer: BacewiczThe seven string quartets of Polish composer GraŠ¼yna Bacewicz (1909–69) have been called the 20th century’s most significant contributions to the genre after those of Bartók. It’s a big claim – but on the strength ...
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ReviewThe Butterfly Lovers. Chen Gang/He Zhanhao: ‘The Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto. Kreisler: Tambourin chinois. Ma Sicong: Nostalgia from Inner Mongolia Suite. Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen. Tchaikovsky:
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: October 2015Description: Lu Siqing’s second ‘Butterfly Lovers’ – with Chinese instrumentsMusicians: Lu Siqing (violin) Taipei Chinese Orchestra/Chung Yiu-KwongComposer: Chen Gang/He Zhanhao, Kreisler, Ma Sicong, Sarasate, Tchaikovsky, Trad, WieniawskiThe ‘Butterfly Lovers’ Concerto is, along with the ‘Yellow River’ Piano Concerto, probably the best-known ...
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ReviewGlazunov: Concerto ballata; Chant du ménéstrel; Mélodie. Prokofiev: Concertino. Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations; Nocturne
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: October 2015Description: Russian recital vies for contention with no less than RostropovichMusicians: Jamie Walton (cello) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Okko KamuComposer: Glazunov, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky:Jamie Walton’s outstanding programme of Russian classics – including the original version of Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations – captures the music’s soaring ...
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ReviewRomantic Metamorphoses. Bloch: Suite. Vieuxtemps: Viola Sonata in B flat major. Bizet/Waxman/Kugel: Carmen Fantasy. E. Zemtsov: Melodie im alten Stil
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: October 2015Description: A collectable viola recital that keeps it in the familyMusicians: Dana Zemtsov (viola) Cathelijne Noorland (piano)Composer: Bloch, Vieuxtemps, Bizet/Waxman/Kugel, E. ZemtsovThird generation in a family of viola players, Dana Zemtsov is a talent to be reckoned with. In this well-planned ...
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ReviewVeracini: Complete Sonate accademiche op.2
The Strad Issue: September 2015Description: Veracini performed with virtuosity and vivacityMusicians: Trio SettecentoComposer: VeraciniTrio Settecento included a taster of Veracini’s Sonata op.2 no.12 on its Italian Sojourn disc, issued almost a decade ago. The group now offers readings of all twelve sonatas op.2, which essentially pay homage ...
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ReviewC. Schumann: Romances op.22. R. Schumann: Violin Sonata no.2 in D minor op.121; Märchenbilder op.113
The Strad Issue: September 2015Description: Bright and brisk performances of music by the two SchumannsMusicians: Nurit Stark (violin/viola) Cédric Pescia (piano)Composer: C. Schumann, R. Schumann:Joseph Joachim, who premiered Robert Schumann’s D minor Sonata, proclaimed it ‘one of the loveliest creations of recent times’. It’s hard not to ...
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ReviewTranscriptions for Strings. Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition. Brahms: Clarinet Sonata in F minor op.120 no.1. Rachmaninoff: Prelude in C sharp minor op.3 no.2 (all arr. Cohen)
The Strad Issue: September 2015Description: String arrangement offers a new view of Mussorgsky’s picture galleryMusicians: Anna Hashimoto (clarinet) †¨Isis Ensemble/Jacques CohenComposer: Mussorgsky, Brahms, RachmaninoffYou’ll be struck straight away by the sound of unison bowed and plucked strings as the art lover marches purposefully into the Hartmann exhibition. ...
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ReviewMendelssohn: String Quartets: no.1 in E flat major op.12; in E flat major (1823); no.4 in E minor op.44 no.2
The Strad Issue: September 2015Description: The Escher embarks on a fine new Mendelssohn quartet surveyMusicians: Escher QuartetComposer: MendelssohnFollowing its recent lithe, expressive recordings for Naxos of the Zemlinsky quartets (reviewed in November 2013 and October 2014), the Escher Quartet launches the first in a three-disc series of ...
