Reviews – Page 114
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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
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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 ...
