It’s an interesting program, coupling Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” with Roxanna Panufnik’s modern take on the same subject. And it’s one that works very well. The connective thread is the talent of violinist Tasmin Little. Little’s performance of the “Four Seasons” with the BBC Symphony Orchestra is a spirited one. Her solo work is beautifully crafted […]
Chandos
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Atterberg symphonies romantic and visionary
The fifth and final installment of Neeme Järvi’s traversal of Kurt Atterberg symphonies is out. And it presents two works that stand in stark contrast. Atterberg’s 1942 “Sinfonia romantica,” is sunny, lyrical, and light-hearted, while the “Sinfonia visionaria” is a thickly-textured study of Nordic gloom. Atterberg’s Symphony No. 7 was written in reaction to what […]
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Neeme Järvi conducts Jacques Ibert: sumptuous
There’s a reason Chandos released this in the SACD format. Neeme Järvi and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande perform Ibert’s orchestral works with sympathy and panache — and subtle inflection. And that means every sonic detail is important. As recorded by Chandos, the orchestra, performing in Victoria Hall, Geneva, has a rich, seamless ensemble […]
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Tasmin Little – British Violin Sonatas Vol. 2
You don’t have to be Czech to play Dvorak, Spanish to play Rodrigo, nor British to play Vaughan Williams. And yet an artist who shares the composer’s nationality often brings a deeper understanding to the music, a certain authenticity to the performances. That thought occurred to me as I listened to British Violin Sonatas, Volume […]
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A Festival of Fucik
Most people have never heard of Julius Ernst Wilhelm Fucik — although they’re very familiar with his music. Fucik, sometimes called the “Bohemian Sousa” wrote a work entitled “Entrance for the Gladiators” in 1887. It was quickly adopted by circus bands, and is now known almost exclusively as the clown’s entrance music. Neemi Jarvi and […]
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Tempesta di Mare – Lully, Rebel, and Marais
This release features the music of Jean-Baptiste Lully along with two younger composers who played in his orchestra: Jean-Féry Rebel (violin) and Marin Marais (viola da gamba). While the three share a certain similarity of style, there are distinct differences — especially when played by Tempesta di Mare. Lully’s “Le Bourgeouis Gentilhomme” reflects Louis XIV’s […]
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An operatic Dream of Gerontius
Sir Andrew Davis has performed “The Dream of Gerontius” with these same forces in live performance. And that may be why this recording sounds so organic. Sarah Connolly, Stuart Skelton, and David Soar sound like they’ve all settled into their roles, and the duets seem sometimes almost conversational. Davis’ vision of Elgar’s massive work leans […]
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Jean-Efflam Bavouzet performs Haydn Concertos
Pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet partners with conductor Gábor Tákacs-Nagy to create some truly individualistic performances of three Haydn concertos. The use of a chamber orchestra (in this case, the Manchester Camerata) is a good one. Haydn’s keyboards concertos have much different character than Beethoven’s, and are well-suited to the smaller, more intimate sound of a chamber […]
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Tasmin Little – British Violin Sonatas
Tasmin Little’s off to a great start with her survey of British violin sonatas. Volume One features Howard Ferguson’s quintessentially British Violin Sonata No. 2, Benjamin Britten’s cosmopolitan Suite for Violin and Piano, and three works by William Walton that fall stylistically somewhere between. Tasmin Little plays them all with an expressive yet precise manner, […]