August 2018 is the centennial of Leonard Bernstein’s birth. Many classical radio stations, performance groups, and writers marked the occasion. And so did #ClassicsaDay. Bernstein was known as a composer, conductor, performer and an educator. Since #ClassicsaDay is primarily a music feed, I concentrated on the first two of those roles (and occasionally the third). […]
Classical
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Friedemann Eichhorn Concludes Pierre Rode Series with Elan
Friedemann Eichhorn completes his traversal of Pierre Rode’s violin concertos in fine style. Over the years Eichhorn seems to have internalized Rode’s technique, and perhaps some of his aesthetic. In this recording, he plays with a sweet tone and a light touch. Pierre Rode was one of the most brilliant violinists of his age, a […]
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#ClassicsaDay #Bernsteinat100 Week 2
August 2018 is the centennial of Leonard Bernstein’s birth. Many classical radio stations, performance groups, and writers marked the occasion. And so did #ClassicsaDay. Bernstein was known as a composer, conductor, performer and an educator. Since #ClassicsaDay is primarily a music feed, I concentrated on the first two of those roles (and occasionally the third). […]
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Ruman Gamba Shows Dag Wirén More Than a One-Hit Wonder
I think it must be frustrating to be a one-hit wonder — especially in the field of classical music. Swedish composer Dag Wirén wrote five symphonies, three concertos, five string quartets, nine film scores, several ballets. Yet most orchestras only program one of his works — the Serenade for Strings. The work was dashed off […]
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I Musici Excel with Sammartini
This release is the first complete recording of Giuseppe Sammartini’s Op. 2 Concertos. These concerti had disappointing sales when first published. But by the late 1740s, the collection was selling quite well –especially in England. Sammartini’s concertos artfully balance between extremes. They have robust polyphonic sections, yet remain transparent. They can be played by amateurs, […]
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#ClassicsaDay #Bernsteinat100 Week 1
August 2018 is the centennial of Leonard Bernstein’s birth. Many classical radio stations, performance groups, and writers marked the occasion. And so did #ClassicsaDay. Bernstein was known as a composer, conductor, performer and an educator. Since #ClassicsaDay is primarily a music feed, I concentrated on the first two of those roles (and occasionally the third). […]
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Collegium 1704 Joyfully Performs Myslivecek Concertos and Symphonies
One of the most prominent composers in 18th Century Italy was Czech composer Josef Myslivecek. From about 1763 through 1781 he produced 26 operas, several oratorios, over 50 symphonies, and several violin concertos. He was also a close family friend to the Mozarts — Leopold and Wolfgang. The younger Mozart admired Myslivecek’s music. Some scholars […]
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#ClassicsaDay #NAFTAclassics Week 4
We have an international mix of contributors to the #ClassicsaDay feed. July has significant holidays for two of the three countries in North America. So, at the suggestion of a Canadian contributor, July became #NAFTAclassics, marking Canada Day (July 1) and Independence Day (July 4). Mexico doesn’t have a July holiday, but we decided to […]
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Salomon Jadassohn – a Late Romantic Rediscovered
Salomon Jadassohn is better known as a teacher than a composer. While at the Leipzig Conservatory he taught Edward Grieg, Ferruccio Busoni, and Frederick Delius, just to name a few. As a composer, he completed over 140 compositions. This release features his four Serenades for Orchestra, along with his first symphony and first piano concerto. […]