All Review articles – Page 154
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ReviewLa viola romantica. Glinka: Viola Sonata in D minor. Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata in A minor D821. Schumann: Märchenbilder op.113
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Mixed results on a disc of Romantic viola musicMusicians: Danilo Rossi (viola) Stefano Bezziccheri (piano)Composer: Glinka, Schubert, Schumann Earlier this year I reviewed a recording of the Brahms viola sonatas presented by these artists in a similar dual audio/video ...
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ReviewMendelssohn: String Quartets in E flat major op.12 & A minor op.13
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Accounts of Mendelssohn’s early quartets that recognise their Beethovenian influenceMusicians: Minetti QuartetComposer: Mendelssohn Mendelssohn’s string quartets are currently enjoying considerable popularity both in the concert hall and on disc. This new recording comes from the Austrian-based Minetti Quartet, a ...
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ReviewThe Art of Transcription. Bach: Goldberg Variations BWV988 (arr. Sitkovetsky), 15 Sinfonias BWV787—801 (arr. Sitkovetsky)
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A transcription that has become a modern classic back in the hands of its creatorMusicians: Dmitry Sitkovetsky (violin) Yuri Zhislin (viola) Luigi Piovano (cello)Composer: Bach (arr. Sitkovetsky) Dmitry Sitkovetsky began work on a string trio arrangement of Bach’s Goldberg Variations in ...
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ReviewMendelssohn: Violin Concertos in E minor op.64 & D minor, The Hebrides Overture op.26
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A more-than-welcome addition to a crowded discographyMusicians: Alina Ibragimova (violin) Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment/Vladimir JurowskiComposer: Mendelssohn Does the world really need another recording of Mendelssohn’s E minor Violin Concerto? Well, yes, when it’s as good ...
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ReviewCerha: String quartets nos.3 & 4, Eight Movements after Hölderlin Fragments*
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Compelling accounts of music by a modern Austrian masterMusicians: Stadler Quartet, Ulrike Jaeger (viola)* Sebestyén Ludmány (cello)*Composer: Cerha The Salzburg-based Stadler Quartet has an impressive track record in contemporary music, and it shows in this disc of music for ...
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ReviewSvendsen: String Octet in A major op.3. Bruch: String Octet in B flat major
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Two rarely heard string octets that give Mendelssohn a run for his moneyMusicians: Tharice VirtuosiComposer: Svendsen & BruchThe string octet literature is so dominated by Mendelssohn’s exhilarating teenage masterpiece that it has proved almost impossible for other composers to get much of ...
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ReviewPleyel: String Quartets in C major B334, A major B335, E flat major B336
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Good-humoured performances of quartets by a Mozart contemporaryMusicians: Pleyel Quartet KölnComposer: Pleyel These seldom-heard works form the ‘deuxième livre’ (nos.4–6) of Pleyel’s twelve ‘Prussian’ quartets, dedicated to Frederick William II of Prussia. The Pleyel Quartet presents a largely persuasive ...
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ReviewHandel: Violin Sonatas in A major HWV361, G minor HWV364a, F major HWV370, D minor HWV359a, G major HWV358, D major HWV371, A major HWV372 & E minor HWV375
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Some rather over-wrought solo playing is mitigated by a skilled continuo teamMusicians: Riccardo Minasi (violin) Musica Antiqua RomaComposer: HandelThese dramatic, extrovert performances will either delight or displease. Riccardo Minasi is a creative violinist, whose contribution is strong in imagination and personality. His ...
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ReviewPerspectives. Webern: Five Movements op.5. Pärt: Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten. Kurtág: Aus der Ferne III. Högberg: Hitting the First Base. Lutoslawski: Musique funèbre
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A contemplative northern view on music from central Europe and beyondMusicians: Dan Styffe (double bass) Tromsø Chamber Orchestra/Kolbjørn HoltheComposer: Webern, Pärt, Kurtág, Högberg, LutoslawskiThe documentation for this disc tries a little too hard to relate what is primarily a programme of music ...
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ReviewDebussy: Cello Sonata. Fauré: Élégie, Romance op.69, Papillon op.77. Britten: Cello Sonata in C major op.65. Bridge: Mélodie, Scherzo, Spring Song
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: January 2012Description: An auspicious recorded debut from a young Scottish cellistMusicians: Philip Higham (cello) Simon Lane (piano)Composer: Debussy, Fauré, Britten, BridgePhilip Higham plays with the conviction of a far more mature soloist in this debut disc with pianist Simon Lane. Higham, who ...
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ReviewBrahms: Violin Concerto in D major op.77. Berg: Violin Concerto
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Intense performances of two classics of the concerto repertoireMusicians: Renaud Capuçon (violin) Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Daniel HardingComposer: Brahms & BergRenaud Capuçon with the Vienna Philharmonic (VPO) and Daniel Harding form a rich and heady team. These are muscular, forthright performances, which hide nothing ...
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ReviewSchubert: String Quintet in C major D956
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: An account that brings out the depths of light and shade in Schubert’s masterpieceMusicians: Arcanto Quartet, Olivier Marron (cello)Composer: Schubert By employing two cellos in place of the more conventional pair of violas, Schubert heightened the textural contrasts that ...
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ReviewBrittelle: Loving the Chambered Nautilus, Future Shock (for string quartet), Acid Rain on the Mirrordome, Future Shock (for cello), Loon Birds in Meshed Crystal
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Rewards aplenty on a disc where pop meets art musicMusicians: Caroline Shaw (violin) Caleb Burhans (violin/vocals/banjo) Nadia Sirota (viola) Clarice Jensen (cello) Eric Lamb (flute) Megan Levin (harp)Composer: Brittelle On his website, young Brooklyn-based musician William Brittelle describes himself ...
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ReviewThe Art of Instrumentation: Homage to Glenn Gould. Works and Bach arrangements by Silvestrov, Pelecis, Raskatov, Wustin, Vine, Serksnyte, Kancheli, Desyatnikov, Poleva, Tickmayer & Kissine
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A tribute to the Canadian pianist proves more of a homage to BachMusicians: Gidon Kremer (violin) Kremerata BalticaComposer: Silvestrov, Pelecis, Raskatov, Wustin, Vine, Serksnyte, Kancheli, Desyatnikov, Poleva, Tickmayer & Kissine Coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Glenn Gould’s birth in the ...
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ReviewA Different World. Works by Barkauskas, Balsys, Schittino, Salonen, Sher, MacMillan, Watkins & Bacewicz
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A fascinating survey of modern bravura violin repertoireMusicians: Diana Galvydyte (violin) Christopher Guild (piano)Composer: Barkauskas, Balsys, Schittino, Salonen, Sher, MacMillan, Watkins & BacewiczFor this diverse and intriguing disc, Lithuanian violinist Diana Galvydyte brings together contemporary works from the mid-20th century onwards, exploring ...
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ReviewBronislav Gimpel. Works by Sibelius*, Szymanowski† , Wieniawski‡, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Janácek, Tartini & Rathaus
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A rewarding archive collection from a Polish—American virtuoso of the ‘old school’Musicians: Bronislav Gimpel (violin) MartinuKrause (piano) RIAS Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Lehmann*, Alfred Gohlke‡, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra/Arthur Rother† Composer: Sibelius, Szymanowski, Wieniawski, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Janácek, Tartini & RathausBronislav Gimpel (1911–79) was ...
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ReviewDebussy: String Quartet in G minor. Ravel: String Quartet in F major
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Fresh light brought to a familiar coupling of French quartetsMusicians: Talich QuartetComposer: Debussy & RavelIn their highly distinctive ways, these indelible chamber masterworks steer a tantalising musical course between neo-Romanticism and neo-Classicism, with Debussy leaning towards the former, Ravel the latter. Performances ...
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ReviewTelemann: Twelve Fantasias for solo violin
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Too many problems of execution mar an otherwise promising performanceMusicians: Lara Hall (violin)Composer: Telemann It is perplexing that someone as well versed in period violin playing as Lara Hall has chosen to realise Telemann’s fantasias on a modern violin with the goal ...
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ReviewImaginary Room
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A generally enjoyable album from an up-and-coming Polish jazz violinistMusicians: Adam Baldych (violin) The Baltic GangComposer: Adam Baldych Young Polish violinist Adam Baldych is beginning to make a name for himself, and the calibre of this line-up – featuring leading Scandinavian jazz ...
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Review
Last Spring
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Jazz takes on traditional and composed melodies from a resourceful violinistMusicians: Henning Kraggerud (violin/viola/viola concorda) Bugge Wesseltoft (piano)Composer: Kraggerud & Wesseltoft Norwegian violinist Henning Kraggerud seems to move freely between solo and chamber music, between standard repertoire and new commissions. This album ...
