Recording reviews – Page 138
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ReviewSchumann: Cello Concerto in A minor op.129 Dvorák: Cello Concerto in B minor op.104 Arr. Casals: El cant dels ocells
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Heartfelt accounts of of two Romantic cello concertosMusicians: Pablo Ferrández (cello) Stuttgart Philharmonic/Radoslaw SzulcComposer: Schumann, Dvorák, arr.CasalsSchumann’s Cello Concerto is nothing if not full of feeling and Pablo Ferrández, on this impressive disc, manages to play with huge emotion while still keeping ...
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ReviewSaygun: Suite for violin & piano op.33 ‘Demet’. Janácek: Violin Sonata. Prokofiev: Violin Sonata no.1 in F minor op.80
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A trio of major 20th-century violin works from a resourceful Turkish duoMusicians: zcan Ulucan (violin) Bírsen Ulucan (piano)Composer: Saygun, Janácek, ProkofievAhmed Adnan Saygun was among the first generation of Turkish composers to use the essence of traditional folk melodies dressed in West ...
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ReviewMister Paganini. Paganini: I palpiti op.13, La campanella (arr. Kreisler). Paganini–Kreisler: Violin Concerto in One Movement. Kreisler: La gitana, Petite valse. Albéniz: Malagueña (arr. Kreisler). Ys
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: An ingenious celebration of Paganini and his legacyMusicians: Laurent Korcia (violin) Haruko Ueda (piano) Paris Chamber Orchestra/Jean-Jacques KantorowComposer: Paganini, Kreisler, Albéniz, YsaÿeIn this neatly themed release, Laurent Korcia presents a selection of arrangements centring on Nicolò Paganini, and including homages to the ...
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ReviewMozart: Violin Concertos in B flat major K207, D major K211, G major K216, D major K218, A major K219 & D major K271A
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A disappointing sameyness of tone mars an otherwise interesting approachMusicians: Mirijam Contzen (violin) Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic/Reinhard GoebelComposer: MozartA set of Mozart concertos given by former Tibor Varga pupil Mirijam Contzen and directed by period-instrument specialist Reinhard Goebel (currently concentrating on ‘galant’ repertoire) is ...
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ReviewThe American Premieres 2011–12. Mays: String Quartet no.2 ‘Dreaming Butterfly’. Schoenfield: Three Rhapsodies. Bolcom: Piano Quintet no.2. Harbison: String Quartet no.5
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A string quartet enters its second century celebrating new repertoireMusicians: Pro Arte Quartet, Brian Hsu, Christopher Taylor (piano)Composer: Mays, Schoenfield, Bolcom, HarbisonAfter a century of existence featuring six different leaders, eight second violinists, four violists (German Prevost and Richard Blum served for 35 ...
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ReviewCapriccio. Foss: Capriccio. Dvorák: Romance op.11. Stravinsky: Suite italienne (arr. Dushkin/Silverthorne). Schumann: Violin Sonata in A minor op.105. Mendelssohn: Songs without words op.19 no.1 (arr.
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Confident, authoritative playing on both violin and violaMusicians: Helena Baillie (violin/viola) Tanya Gabrielian (piano)Composer: Foss, Dvorák, Stravinsky, Schumann, MendelssohnThat controversial critic Hans Keller once proclaimed viola playing a ‘phoney profession’, his point being that any violinist would be able to do it ...
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ReviewLachenmann: Gran torso, Reigen seliger Geister, Grido
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Performances so seemingly precise that they neglect the music in the soundsMusicians: Jack QuartetComposer: LachenmannThink of this as a reference item to be dipped into: it’s not easy taking in the complexities of Helmut Lachenmann’s three string quartets in a single sitting. His ‘instrumental musique ...
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ReviewKagel: Piano Trios nos.1–3
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Playfulness and tragedy lie side by side in dazzling performancesMusicians: ImÁ ge TrioComposer: KagelOn the surface, Mauricio Kagel’s three piano trios sound traditional enough, with fairly conventional melodies, often tonal harmonies and precious few moments of avant-garde weirdness. But look further and ...
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ReviewAnyone with a Heart
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Three jazz musicians collaborate in a classical mediumMusicians: Iiro Rantala String TrioComposer: VariousThe make-up of a piano trio means different things to classical and jazz audiences. To the latter, it refers to the classic line-up of piano, double bass and drums of Oscar Peterson ...
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ReviewHaydn: String Quartet in F minor op.20 no.5. Trümpy: String Quartet II
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Restless live recordings of quartets old and newMusicians: Szymanowski QuartetComposer: Haydn, TrümpyFor this second volume in the Szymanowski Quartet’s ‘First Performance’ series, you can choose between watching this live concert on a Blu-Ray disc at a sampling rate of 96,000Hz and 24-bit resolution ...
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ReviewHaydn: String Quartet op.51 ‘Die sieben letzte Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze’
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A performance that finds the spirituality in Haydn’s sacred meditationsMusicians: Casals QuartetComposer: HaydnWith sparing use of vibrato and subtlety in the application of tonal colours, the players of the Casals Quartet bring a suitably devotional approach to Haydn’s ‘Seven Last Words of Christ ...
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ReviewBritten: Cello Symphony op.68, Cello Sonata in C major op.65
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Enlightening accounts of two key Britten works for celloMusicians: Zuill Bailey (cello) Natasha Paremski (piano) North Carolina Symphony Orchestra/Grant LlewellynComposer: BrittenThis live concert performance of the Cello Symphony, captured over two nights in North Carolina, is made extra exciting by its vibrant recorded sound ...
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ReviewBrahms: String Quintets no.1 in F major op.88 & no.2 in G major op.111
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A Brahms disc in which the violas, in particular, shineMusicians: Takács Quartet, Lawrence Power (viola)Composer: BrahmsThese players project Brahms’s thick, symphonic textures with warmth and passion, teasing out countless subtleties with their responsive interplay. Violist Geraldine Walther is outstanding in the first ...
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ReviewBrahms: Cello Sonatas no.1 in E minor op.38 & no.2 in F major op.99, Violin Sonata no.1 in G major op.78 (arr. Brahms), Hungarian Dances nos.1, 2 & 5–7 (arr. Piatti), Lieder (arr. Anon), ‘FAE’ Scherzo
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A complete Brahms cello collection that proves more successful at the smaller scaleMusicians: Jonathan Aasgaard (cello) MartinuRoscoe (piano)Composer: BrahmsThis ambitious project is something of a mixed bag. There are plenty of moments to savour in the clear and ambient recording, highlighted by ...
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ReviewC.P.E. Bach: Violin Sonatas in D major Wq.71, B minor Wq.76 & C minor Wq.78, Arioso in A major Wq.79/70, Fantasie in F sharp minor Wq.80
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: An admirable tercentenary tribute from a Swiss Baroque-violin specialistMusicians: Leila Schayegh (Baroque violin) Jörg Halubek (harpsichord/tangent piano)Composer: C.P.E. BachThis disc features compositions spanning almost 60 years, from the Sonata Wq.71 (1731/rev.1746) through the two galant Sonatas Wq.76 and 78 of the 1760s to ...
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ReviewSibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor op.47, Karelia Suite op.11, Finlandia op.26, Valse triste op.44 no.1, Andante festivo, Valse lyrique op.96a, The Swan of Tuonela op.22 no.2
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A mature reading from a young British violinistMusicians: Jennifer Pike (violin) Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra/Andrew DavisComposer: SibeliusThis sequence of unashamed Sibelius classics deserves the success it is sure to receive. Aged only 24, Jennifer Pike has an unwavering command of the Concerto ...
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ReviewMendelssohn: Variations concertantes op.17, Cello Sonatas no.1 in B flat major op.45 & no.2 in D major op.58, Lied ohne Worte op.109, Assai tranquillo
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A persuasive account of Mendelssohn’s complete works for cello and pianoMusicians: Marie Macleod (cello) MartinuSturfält (piano)Composer: MendelssohnMarie Macleod and MartinuSturfält’s partnership had reached its sixth anniversary when these live performances were recorded. Their compelling accounts, expertly captured in 2009, reveal ...
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ReviewHaydn: String Quartets in G major op.76 no.1, B flat major op.50 no.1 & G major op.77 no.1
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Searching if idiosyncratic Haydn from a polished ensembleMusicians: Modigliani QuartetComposer: HaydnI waxed lyrical about the musical insight, unanimity and polish of the Modigliani Quartet’s first Haydn disc in 2008 (see The Strad, October 2008). This ensemble’s recent Haydn release confirms my opinion, ...
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ReviewNew World Quartets. Dvorák: String Quartet in F major op.96 ‘American’. Copland: Two Pieces, Hoe Down (arr. Cassidy & Thomas). Barber: String Quartet op.11. Gershwin: Lullaby. Brubeck: Regret
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A novel collection let down by indulgence in the headline workMusicians: Brodsky QuartetComposer: Dvorák, Copland, Barber, Gershwin, BrubeckThere is excellent playing on this CD: it starts at track five. The first four contain a fussy, mannered performance of Dvorák's ‘American’ Quartet, which ...
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ReviewReflections. Bridge Viola Sonata (arr. Outram), There is a willow grows aslant a brook (arr. Britten), Pensiero, Allegro appassionato, Allegretto. Britten: Reflection, Elegy, Portrait no.2 ‘EBB’ (arr.
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A pragmatic but rewarding expansion of two composers’ viola repertoireMusicians: MartinuOutram (viola) Julian Rolton (piano)Composer: Bridge, BrittenBoth Benjamin Britten and his composition teacher Frank Bridge were proficient viola players (the latter at professional level), and their writing for the instrument is accordingly ...
