A long journey can seem shorter if it’s done with people you enjoy. Schubert’s Piano Trio in E-flat major, D.929 is such a journey. And it was one made all the better with the Trio Vitruvi. This release is the trio’s debut recording. And it’s a well-chosen one. The youthful Trio Vitruvi approach Schubert’s 50-minute […]
Classical
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Alessandro Rolla Viola Concertos Not Fully Served
Alessandro Rolla, a contemporary of Mozart, was perhaps the greatest violist of his age. And he was a pretty good violinist, too. After all — he taught Paganini. As was the practice of the time, Rolla the composer wrote concertos for Rolla the virtuoso to take on tour. This release includes two of those viola […]
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Ruth Gipps Symphonies — Old Fashioned? Well-crafted!
The 21st Century seems to be the time for the re-discovery of women composers. Obscurity could result from many factors. Some careers were frustrated by societal conventions, as with Amy Beach. Sometimes race was the issue, as with Florence Price. In the case of Ruth Gipps, it seemed to have been something not uncommon with […]
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Steve Elcock Orchestral Music – A Fresh Voice Finally Heard
It’s an old story. Many composers write “for the drawer.” That is, they create music with no expectation of performance. And, for the most part, the drawer is where this music belongs. That’s not the case with Steve Elcock. Primarily self-taught, Elcock has been quietly writing — and storing away — his music since the […]
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#ClassicsaDay #WomensHistoryMonth 2019 Week 1
For the third year in a row, the #ClassicsaDay theme for March is women composers. As I’ve done before, my post includes not just contemporary composers, but creative women from the Middle Ages on up. As an additional challenge, I made sure I hadn’t duplicated any of my selections from previous years. Below are my […]
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Christoph Graupner Solo and Dialogue Cantatas Surprisingly Light and Airy
CPO continues their exploration of Christoph Graupner’s catalog with a selection of his solo and dialogue cantatas. There’s a lot to choose from. This set includes five of his 177 surviving sacred cantatas. They span a decade, from 1709 to 1719. Yet all five cantatas are surprisingly consistent in style. In these works, the music […]
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Moyzes Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2 – Welcome Reissues
In the olden days, Naxos released mid-priced basic repertoire recordings under their own name and more esoteric music under full-priced Marco Polo (“the label of discovery”). It’s always good when Marco Polo title are rereleased under the Naxos label. It exposes the music to a wider potential audience, as Naxos’ lower prices encourage listeners to […]
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Fresh Batch of Papandopulo Concertos Most Welcome
Every work I’ve heard by Boris Papandopulo is an absolute gem. And, apparently, just as rare. The liner notes have this rather cryptic sentence: “Owing to the still limited access to his musical estate, a comprehensive, meaningful, and synoptic assessment of Papandopulo’s oeuvre remains impossible.” Boris Papandopulo, a legend in his native Croatia, wrote prolifically […]
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Rune Most Delivers Engaging Performances of Mozart Flute Music
A quick check on Arkivmusic.com revealed over 80 releases of Mozart’s flute concertos in print. So why should anyone pay attention to this release? Simple — the quality of the performances. Rune Most offer fresh insights into these well-known works. Most plays a modern wooden flute. Its smooth, mellow sound is close to what Mozart […]