Reviews – Page 125
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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 ...
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ReviewNew Seasons. Glass: Violin Concerto no.2 ‘The American Four Seasons’. Kancheli: Ex contrario. Pärt: Estonian Lullaby. Umebayashi: Yumeji’s Theme
The Strad Issue: September 2015Description: Kremer imbues contemporary fare with characteristic intensityMusicians: Kremerata Baltica/†¨Gidon Kremer (violin)Composer: Glass, Kancheli, Pärt, Umebayashi:Gidon Kremer’s propensity for imbuing everything he plays with contemporary emotional resonances continues to provide a refreshing slant on the classics of yesteryear. Yet it is as a ...
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ReviewCapriccioso. J.-L. Duport: Etude no.7. J.-P. Duport: Etude no.8. Piatti: Twelve Caprices; Capriccio sopra un tema della Niobe di Pacini. Popper: Etude no.29
The Strad Issue: September 2015Description: Meneses finds the musicality in a disc of cello studiesMusicians: Antonio Meneses (cello)Composer: J.-L. Duport, J.-P. Duport, Piatti, PopperA large percentage of this disc is devoted to Piatti’s Caprices, with the added bonus of his tour de force spectacular Capriccio sopra ...
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ReviewFranck: Violin Sonata in A major. R. Strauss: Violin Sonata in E flat major; Allegretto in E major; Wiegenlied; Waldseligkeit; Morgen
The Strad Issue: September 2015Description: Thrills without spills in this pair of high-Romantic violin sonatasMusicians: James Ehnes (violin) †¨Andrew Armstrong (piano)Composer: Franck, R. Strauss:Some play the first movement of Franck’s Violin Sonata as a reverie; others give it impulse and purpose. James Ehnes and Andrew Armstrong, a ...
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ReviewKing of Instruments; Instrument of Kings. Darke: Violin Sonata no.1 in E minor. Pantcheff: Sonata for Violin and Organ. Sumsion: Violin Sonata in E minor
The Strad Issue: September 2015Description: Twenties sonatas by a pair of church-music composersMusicians: Rupert Marshall-Luck (violin) †¨Duncan Honeybourne (piano/organ)Composer: Darke, Pantcheff, SumsionHerbert Sumsion and Harold Darke are probably best known for their liturgical music. Their violin sonatas are early works, both for the composers and for the ...
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ReviewBerlioz: Harold en Italie; Intrata di Rob-Roy Macgregor; Rêverie et Caprice
The Strad Issue: September 2015Description: Ehnes switches from violin to viola in Berlioz’s Byronic vistasMusicians: James Ehnes (violin/viola) Melbourne Symphony Orchestra/Andrew DavisComposer: BerliozBerlioz’s mighty ‘symphony with solo viola’ Harold in Italy is preceded on this carefully planned disc by the composer’s only work for violin, Rêverie et ...
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ReviewBritish Works for Cello and Piano Vol.4. Bennett: Cello Sonata. Hoddinott: Cello Sonata no.2. Leighton: Partita. Lutyens: Constants
The Strad Issue: September 2015Description: Sterling advocacy for four sonatas of the past centuryMusicians: Paul Watkins (cello) Huw Watkins (piano)Composer: Bennett, Hoddinott, Leighton, LutyensThis brilliantly recorded disc showcases some works from the grittier side of British music from the second half of the 20th century. Each of ...
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ReviewBeethoven: Violin Concerto in D major op.61; Symphony no.8 in F major op.93. Brahms: String Sextet no.1 in B flat major op.18
The Strad Issue: September 2015Description: Dumay lives dangerously as soloist, conductor and chamber playerMusicians: Augustin Dumay (violin/conductor) Sinfonia Varsovia, Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra; Svetlin Roussev (violin) Miguela da Silva, Marie Chilemme (violas) Henri Demarquette, Aurélien Pascal (cellos)Composer: Beethoven, BrahmsAugustin Dumay’s musical attributes are demonstrated here in solo, conducting ...
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ReviewBach & Beyond Vol.2. Bach: Solo Violin Sonata BWV1001; Solo Violin Partita BWV1002 BARTÓK Sonata for Solo Violin SAARIAHO Frises
The Strad Issue: September 2015Description: Authoritative readings of music old and new – and newishMusicians: Jennifer Koh (violin)Composer: BachThere’s a feeling of power in reserve about Jennifer Koh’s playing, which is never louder than lovely, and underneath the sleekly sustained lines and discreetly tapered phrase-ends is the ...
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ReviewBartók: Violin Concerto no.2. Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor
Description: Sparkling Mendelssohn and the best Bartók Second for agesMusicians: Augustin Hadelich (violin) Norwegian Radio Orchestra/Miguel Harth-BedoyaComposer: Bartók, MendelssohnAugustin Hadelich has won acclaim for playing and programming, his 2014 Sibelius/Adès disc becoming one of the ‘Top Classical Albums of the Year’ in the New York Times. I can’t ...
