This release features a selection of works written at the very beginning, and at the very end of Richard Strauss’ career. In a way, it’s not surprising at the consistency of style in these works. In those later years, Strauss became increasingly nostalgic for those earlier times. A good example is the Duett-Concertino for clarinet […]
CD Review
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Explosive performance of Allan Pettersson Violin Concerto
You could consider Swedish composer Allan Pettersson a musician’s musician. His symphonies, though rarely performed in concert halls, are considered ground-breaking masterworks. Since 2009 maestro Christian Lindberg has been moving through Pettersson’s orchestral catalog. This release is but the latest in his string of outstanding Pettersson recordings. The official title of the major work on […]
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Anne-Marie McDermott performs Mozart with exuberance and precision
Volume two of Anne-Marie McDermott’s Mozart series builds on the success of volume one. McDermott’s playing is as beautiful as ever. There’s apparent chemistry between her and the Odense Symphony Orchestra. Though each of the three concertos on this release has a different conductor, there’s a remarkable consistency in the interpretations. Piano Concerto No. 15 […]
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Torbjörn Iwan Lundquist: Suites for Orchestra – Fine Film Scores
Torbjörn Iwan Lundquist had a varied career: bandleader, conductor, classical composer — and film composer. A musical jack of all trades and master of all. The two works in this release are suites from two of Lundquist’s films. And the performances are conducted by the composer. As a film composer, Lundquist blended popular and classical […]
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Danacord reissues Anton Rubinstein Cello Sonatas
The Anton Rubinstein cello sonatas were originally released by Danacord as a DMM LP. Direct metal mastering ensured a high level of sonic accuracy. When this recording was released in 1986, it was the last word in analog high fidelity. Also included with this reissue is Rubinstein’s Piano Trio No. 5. This is the first […]
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Eleanor Alberga string quartets show individuality
Jamaican-born composer Eleanor Alberga brings a fresh perspective to the string quartet genre. Alberga is also a concert pianist. At times when all four instruments play chords the ensemble seems to resemble a piano. But Alberga is also married to a violinist, and her writing for strings is idiomatic and practical. She also has a […]
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Johann Stamitz Op. 3 Symphonies a mixed bag
Naxos has released two numbered volumes of Stamitz symphonies. This doesn’t seem to be part of that set. Rather, it focuses on Johann Stamitz’ Op. 3, a compilation of works written over a six-year period. If I had to place them stylistically, I’d say they represent a transition from style galant of Johann Christian Bach to the […]
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Myroslav Skoryk Violin Concertos 1-4; great music from Ukraine
This is the start of a two-volume traversal of violin concertos by Myroslav Skoryk. Skoryk, a major figure in Ukrainian music wrote a total of nine concerti. He was a prominent composer both in the Soviet and post-Soviet eras. Skoryk uses Ukrainian folk elements in his music, but not in obvious ways. Skoryk wrote his first […]
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Early Telemann cantatas still show great skill
This release features three Georg Philipp Telemann works for countertenor. More precisely, it presents three early works by Telemman (for countertenor). Not that I could hear much difference. Telemann in his twenties was already a skilled composer. There are no awkward moments in any of these works. And while his style grew in complexity, these pieces benefit […]