Paul Wranitzky is gradually emerging from the shadows of his colleagues. Both Haydn and Beethoven preferred Wrantizky as a conductor of their works. His opera “Oberon” directly inspired Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” In 1790s Vienna, Wranitaky’s music was performed as often as that of the Big Three — if not more so. Recordings like this […]
Chamber music
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George Walker Piano Sonatas – Exceptional
George Walker’s music, in my opinion, isn’t performed as often as its quality merits. Apparently, Steven Beck thought so, too. He’s not only the performer on this release, he’s also the producer. And he fills both roles quite nicely. The album includes all five of Walker’s piano sonatas, spanning a half-century. The first sonata from […]
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Josef Labor Chamber Works for Wittgenstein — and others
This release features two works commissioned by Paul Wittgenstein. Wittgenstein was a piano student of Josef Labor. Wittgenstein lost his right arm in the First World War. After the war, he continued his career by building a body of work for the piano left hand. His former teacher received his first commissions. Labor was a […]
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Felice Giardini and Johann Christian Bach – more alike than different
The title of this release, “The Courts of Turin and London,” suggests contrast. It implies a vast difference between the music of Italy and England in the 1760s. But the liner notes explore the similarities and cultural ties between the two cities. And the two composers represented even more so. Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782) worked […]
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Jouni Somero presents Palmgren’s “American” music in Vol. 4
Selim Palmgren studied with Ferruccio Busoni. So it’s not surprising that he had incredible pianistic chops. Palmgren’s keyboard skills let his musical imagination roam unfettered — especially in his piano music. This volume of Grand Piano’s series features works written during Palmgren’s time in America. Palmgren emigrated to the United States in 1921. He joined […]
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Pál Hermann Complete Surviving Music Vol. 2 ensures legacy
Volume One in this series featured Pál Hermann’s orchestral works. This volume presents his surviving chamber and instrumental music. “Surviving” is the operative word in this series. Pál Hermann (1902-1944) was one of the foremost cellists of the 1930s. This Hungarian artist was also an innovative composer. He had studied with both Béla Bartók and […]
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Kaleidoscope Sky – London Trio excels with Rosner and Cooman
This release presents music by two American composers with two very distinctive styles. Arnold Rosner used Medieval and Renaissance music as a starting point for his own work. Carson Cooman’s music is also tonal, although he seems inspired by Century trends. Rosner’s Piano Quintet No. 2, Op. 103 is one of the high points of […]
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Paul Lansky Angles — great chamber music
This is volume 17 of Bridge’s Paul Lansky series. It presents four recent compositions by Lansky. And it’s an album I really like. The works vary in forces and show this composer at the top of his game. “Four’s Company” (2018) was composed for David Starobin’s guitar class. The work takes four very simple concepts […]
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HyeJin Kim beautifully performs early Clementi
Consider this the origin story. Muzio Clementi had a long and (mostly) successful musical career. He was a pianist, composer, publisher, and piano manufacturer. His popularity at times rivaled that of Haydn and Beethoven, both as a performer and a composer. There is no shortage of Clementi piano sonata recordings. Most focus on his mid-to-late […]