This marks the seventh recording of Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s music by Elisaveta Blumina. And, in my opinion, her performances remain just as true to Weinberg’s personality as they did in the first. The release features Weinberg’s Piano Quintet, one of his most successful — and authentic — works. Weinberg composed the work in 1944, while Soviet […]
Chamber music
-
-
Classical Interviews – Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival
We spoke with David McCormick, executive director of the Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival, about this year’s virtual Chamber Music Festival. Daily releases of performances from around the world from September 15 – 24th at cvillechambermusic.org. A total of 10 performances, each accompanied with artist interviews, bios, harmonic pictures, and more. For more on the Charlottesville Chamber […]
-
Emil Hartmann Chamber Music – Worth Exploring
In the liner notes violinist, Elisabeth Zeuthen Schneider writes that Emil Hartmann was influenced by Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann. “With Hartmann, this influence is enhanced by his simplicity and sincerity.” As I listened to this collection of Hartmann chamber works, I had to agree. The melodies were similar to Mendelssohn’s, especially in their general […]
-
Trio Fontaine Excel with Swiss Piano Trios
This release features piano trios by two Swiss composers: Hermann Goetz and Hans Huber. And they’re performed by a Swiss ensemble, the Trio Fontaine. Hans Huber is an important figure in Swiss music. He wrote eight symphonies, six concertos, six operates, and a variety of other works. Huber was a late-Romantic composer, with a style […]
-
Musica Fiorita explores early string quartets
Franz Joseph Haydn may be the father of the string quartet. But who was the grandfather? Musica Fiorita presents some candidates in this program of pre-Classical string quartets. The combination of two violins, viola, and cello was not common during the Baroque. Most instrumental ensembles included a basso continuo (keyboard plus cello) to fill out […]
-
Michael Daugherty evokes Woody Guthrie — and more
I’ve said in previous reviews that Michael Daugherty is a national treasure. And this release adds credence to that argument. Daugherty regularly reinterprets aspects of American life and culture in his music. The works are complex yet accessible, blending classical and traditional music. They sound as American as Aaron Copland, yet as far removed from […]
-
Classical Interviews – Fiona Hughes
Photo by Leslie KippFiona Hughes is the Artistic Director and violinist for Three Notch’d Road. Fiona spoke with us about the styles of music Three Notch’d Road performs, what it means to play instruments from the period of the piece, and the last concert she played before the pandemic. For more on Fiona Hughes, visit […]
-
Pioneers: Piano Works by Female Composers
Hiroko Ishimoto presents an illuminating program of piano music spanning almost 300 years. And all of it by women. It’s a terrific recording, with exceptional performances. I heartily recommend it. Before digging into the details, let’s do a little thought experiment. What if this were a recording of similar music — by male composers? Well, […]
-
Beethoven remasters reveals the genius of Wilhelm Kempff
Had Beethoven composed nothing other than the 32 piano sonatas, his genius would have been acknowledged. These works are at the summit of the piano repertoire, and many of them are still represented in the core repertoire on the concert stage today. Beethoven intended them as studies, and there is a reference to a concert […]