As I continue to explore the highways and the byways of the classical repertoire, I find that every country has its national treasure. Sometimes, as with Antonin Dvorak, that treasure is shared with the world. Norway’s treasure, David Monrad Johanson hasn’t been — so far. Johansen is Norwegian, but his taste is cosmopolitan. Mixed in […]
CD Review
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Myroslav Skoryk concertos continue to entertain
The final volume of Andrej Vielow’s traversal of Myroslav Skoryk violin concertos doesn’t disappoint. Ukrainian composer Myroslav wrote nine concerti, each with a different character, and yet all with a consistently high level of quality. This volume covers his last five concertos, written between 2004 and 2014. When I play the 5th and the 9th […]
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Kaija Saariaho – True Fire true masterwork
For me, Kaija Saariaho is one of those composers who reward exploration. Her sonic world is so unique, that it can only be appreciated with repeated visits. And, of course, each work yields a different insight into Saariaho’s creative mind. This release features three views into Saariaho’s world. True Fire was composed for baritone Gerald […]
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Jaromir Weinberger – Schwanda and beyond
Show of hands: how many played the Polka and Fugue from “Shwanda the Bagpiper” in their highs school or college band? Jaromir Weinberger’s piece has made him a one-hit-wonder. An as with many composers, it does him something of a disservice. It is true, I think, that in “Schwanda the Bagpiper” all the threads of […]
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Johann Theile – St. Matthew Passion anticipates Bach
Johann Theile was best known as an opera composer. But he did study with Heinrich Schutz and wrote a significant amount of sacred choral works. His St. Matthew Passion dates from 1673 – predating Bach’s by about fifty years. The work features two solo voices; the Evangelist and Jesus. Although it uses Matthew’s narrative of […]
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Karl Weigl String Quartets pure Post-romantic goodness
For most of his career, Karl Weigl built on the Romantic tradition of Fin de Siecle Vienna. But he wasn’t a reactionary. In 1904 he co-founded the Society of Creative Musicians with Alexander Zemlinsky and Arnold Schoenberg. And that’s what makes this release so fascinating. Weigl’s music remained Post-Romantic throughout his life, up to his death in […]
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The elegant refinement of Leopold Kozeluch piano trios
I’m a little late to the party. This is the first volume of Leopold Kozeluch piano trios I’ve auditioned. In this release, the TRIO 1790 presents three more Kozeluch trios. The three trios in this release were published in 1786 and 1787. As was common at the time, they’ve technically named keyboard sonatas. The fortepiano […]
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Gloria Bruni Ringparable symphony delivers powerful message
To say Gloria Bruni is talented would be an understatement. She’s a renowned soprano, violinist, and composer. Her experience as both a vocal and instrumental performer seems to inform the choices she makes as a composer. Her Symphony No. 1 was premiered in 2012 and has nothing to do with Wagner. “Ringparabel” refers to a […]
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Agnas Zimmermann — another find from Toccata Classics
Labels matter. I’ve learned to trust the record label Toccata Classics. They often release music by composers I’ve never heard of (and that’s saying something). But it’s always been music I’ve found worth exploring. So when I saw this release of Agnes Zimmermann’s violin sonatas, I knew I had to audition it. Agnes Zimmermann was […]