All The Strad articles in Web Issue – Page 109
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ReviewMišek Double Bass Sonatas no.1 in A major op.5 & no.2 in E minor op.6, Concert–Polonaise
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Elegant performances of rare double bass repertoireMusicians: Szymon Marciniak (double bass) Joanna Lawrynowicz (piano)Composer: Mišek Polish-born Szymon Marciniak, now principal double bassist of The Hague Philharmonic, puts in impressive performances on his first volume of sonatas and miniatures by ...
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ReviewThe Unknown Enescu Vol.1: Music for Violin. Works by George Enescu
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A welcome exploration of lesser-known gems from the Romanian masterMusicians: Sherban Lupu (violin/conductor) Masumi Per Rostad (viola) Marin Cazacu, Dmitry Kouzov (cello) Ian Hobson, Ilinca Dumitrescu, Samir Golescu (piano) Enescu Ensemble of the University of IllinoisComposer: EnescuThis CD has two geographical centres: ...
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ReviewDvorák: Cello Concerto in B minor op.104, Symphony no.9 in D minor ‘From the New World’
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: An interesting Italianate take on a Czech masterpieceMusicians: Mario Brunello (cello) Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia/Antonio PappanoComposer: Dvorák This live recording made during the Santa Cecilia orchestra’s 2011/12 season couples a feisty account of Dvo?ák’s ‘New World’ Symphony ...
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ReviewGál: Serenade in D major op.41; Trio in F sharp minor op.104. Krása: Tanec; Passacaglia and Fuga
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A disc of string trios where time and place play an inescapable roleMusicians: Ensemble Epomeo: Caroline Chin (violin) David Yang (viola) Kenneth Woods (cello)Composer: Gál, Krása Here is music for string trio by two composers of Jewish heritage from the ...
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ReviewBrahms: Piano Quintet in F minor op.34, Clarinet Quintet in B minor op.115
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A cantabile approach to Brahms that works better in one work than the otherMusicians: Tokyo Quartet, Jon Nakamatsu (piano) Jon Manasse (clarinet)Composer: Brahms Here are two cherishable masterworks unmistakably by the same composer yet utterly different in expressive profile. The Piano Quintet ...
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ReviewFauré: Piano Quintet no.2 in C minor op.115, Piano Trio in D minor op.120, La bonne chanson op.61
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Performances that tap the nostalgic element in Fauré’s musicMusicians: London Bridge Ensemble, Matthew Truscott (violin) Graham Mitchell (double bass)Composer: Fauré The London Bridge Ensemble’s passionate first movement of Fauré’s Second Piano Quintet, with its moments of sad reflectiveness, sets ...
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ReviewTales of Enchantment. Guy: Hommage Á Max Bill, Going Home for solo double bass, Tales of Enchantment. Biber: Mystery Sonatas nos.6, 9 & 15. Kurtág: Hommage Á J.S.B. Trad.: Veni Creator Spiritus
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A violin–bass partnership explores music new and oldMusicians: Maya Homburger (Baroque violin) Barry Guy (double bass)Composer: Guy, Biber, KurtágThe tantalisingly narrow divide between musical free-falling and reassuring certainty is a special feature of this immaculately engineered duo recital. The seven pieces that ...
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ReviewNikolayev: Violin Sonata. Prokofiev: Violin Sonata no.2. Schnittke: Suite in the Old Style
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: An enterprising self-published exploration of Russian musicMusicians: Chavdar Parashkevov (violin) Natasha Kislenko (piano)Composer: Nikolayev, Prokofiev, Schnittke Bulgarian violinist Chavdar Parashkevov impresses, for the most part, with this disc of Russian music – more so than one might imagine given that ...
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ReviewSchumann: Piano Quintet in E flat major op.44. Dvorák Piano Quintet in A major op.81
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Spontaneous Schumann wins over tautened Dvorák in this well-intentioned couplingMusicians: Elias Quartet, Jonathan Biss (piano)Composer: Schumann & Dvorák From the outset this is a reading of Schumann’s Piano Quintet where a self-generating spontaneity sees the unbridled happiness of the ...
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ReviewCorelli: Concerti grossi op.6
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Polished solo playing in Corelli’s set of twelve string concertosMusicians: Avison Ensemble/Pavlo Beznosiuk (director/violin)Composer: CorelliThis first album in the Avison Ensemble’s project commemorating the 300th anniversary of Corelli’s death offers well-considered period-instrument accounts that are stylish, imaginative and technically assured. Tempos are ...
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ReviewSchubert: String Quartets in A minor D804 ‘Rosamunde’ & D minor D810 ‘Death and the Maiden’
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Schubert that benefits from an undemonstrative period sensibilityMusicians: Doric QuartetComposer: SchubertThe Doric Quartet, which has been winning repeated acclaim for its series of recordings for Chandos, here presents a rewarding disc of two of Schubert’s greatest quartets. It is all superbly crafted, ...
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ReviewSchubert: Arpeggione Sonata D821. Dvorák: Silent Woods, Rondo op.94. Janácek: Pohádka, Presto. Martinu: Variations on a Slovak Theme. Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A rewarding musical tour of central EuropeMusicians: Adam Mital (cello) Olimpia Tolan (piano)Composer: Schubert, Dvorák, Janácek, Martinu, BartókThis programme of central European music fulfils a long-cherished plan by Swiss cellist Mital, who is, he writes, particularly attracted to the music of the ...
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ArticleEnglish Violin Duos. Works by Aitchison, McCabe, Moeran, Croft, D. Matthews & Rawsthorne
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A satisfyingly executed disc of music for two violinsMusicians: Retorica: Philippa Mo, Harriet Mackenzie (violin)Composer: Aitchison, McCabe, Moeran, Croft, D. Matthews & Rawsthorne Inspired by friendships with composers John McCabe and David Matthews, this young British violin duo has fashioned a ...
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ArticleThe Silver Violin. Works by Korngold, J. Williams, Gardel (arr. Lenehan), Shostakovich, Hess, Marianelli, Shore & Mahler
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A fluent account of the Korngold Concerto in a filmic settingMusicians: Nicola Benedetti, Alexander Sitkovesky (violin) Tom Dunn (viola) Leonard Elschenbroich (cello) Ksenija Sidorova (accordion) Greg Knowles (cimbalom) Alexei Grynyuk (piano) Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Kirill KarabitsComposer: Korngold, J. Williams, Gardel (arr. Lenehan), Shostakovich, ...
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ReviewBaroque Chamber Works. Works by Bertali, Buxtehude, Jenkins, Pandolfi Mealli, attr. Kertzinger, Muffat, Schmelzer & Stradella
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Stunning recordings of little-known 17th-century chamber musicMusicians: FantasticusComposer: Bertali, Buxtehude, Jenkins, Pandolfi Mealli, attr. Kertzinger, Muffat, Schmelzer & StradellaFantasticus makes an impressive recording debut with this programme of inventive, virtuoso chamber music by mostly 17th-century Italian and German composers. Its ...
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ReviewAutumnal. Knussen: Violin Concerto*, Autumnal† , Secret Psalm‡, Choral, Whitman Settings, Prayer Bell Sketch, Requiem ? Songs for Sue, Ophelia’s Last Dance
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A generous 60th birthday present for one Britain’s leading composersMusicians: Leila Josefowicz*, Alexandra Wood† ‡ (violin) Huw Watkins† , Ryan Wigglesworth (piano) Claire Booth (soprano) BCMG, BBC Symphony Orchestra/Oliver KnussenComposer: Knussen This second all-Knussen release on the enterprising ...
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ArticlegEIGENgARTEN. Music by Nørgård, Nordentoft, Nordheim, Kulenty, Henze, Evensen, Lorentzen & Scelsi
The Strad Issue: January 2012Description: A welcome collection for solo violin let down by a sense of detachmentMusicians: Helge Slaatto (violin)Composer: Nørgård, Nordentoft, Nordheim, Kulenty, Henze, Evensen, Lorentzen & ScelsiNorwegian violinist and contemporary-music specialist Helge Slaatto’s disc focuses on 20th-century Scandinavian music for solo violin, with pieces ...
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ReviewKurtág: Signs, Games and Messages. Ligeti: Viola Sonata
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: January 2012Description: Challenging but rewarding solo viola repertoire from a master playerMusicians: Kim Kashkashian (viola)Composer: Kurtág, Ligeti I don’t know whether the term ‘easy listening’ is still fashionable, but the music on this CD could fairly be described as its complete opposite. ...
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Article
Violinist Nicola Benedetti receives MBE in New Year Honours list
Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti has received an MBE in the New Year Honours list. She was honoured for services to music and to charity. Benedetti has worked with organisations such as Sistema Scotland and the Nordoff Robbins music therapy charity, and has been an outspoken supporter of music education.Elsewhere on ...
