This completes Leila Schayegh’s traversal of Jean-Marie Leclair concertos. This release completes the set of Op. 7 and Op. 10 violin concertos. LeClair was one of the premier violinists of the early 1700s. He’s credited with founding the French school of violin-playing. Bottom line: LeClair was a monster player — and he expected anyone performing […]
Concerto
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Franz Dimler Clarinet Concertos close to Mozart
Franz Dimler was a talented guy. He was hired as a French horn player at Mannheim in 1767. In 1778 he joined the Munich court as a double bass player. And all the while he composed: symphonies, concertos, quartets, and operettas. After his death in 1827, Dimler’s music lapsed into obscurity. So I’m happy to […]
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Johann Wilhelm Hertel Concertos – light and airy
Johann Wilhelm Hertel is classed today as a transitional composer. He was active in the mid-1700s and wrote in the Empfindsamer Stil. The idea behind this “emotional style” was to express natural emotion. This was a departure from the formalized — and focussed — emotional expression of the Baroque. From the Empfindsamer Stil, Classical Era composers would go […]
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Joan Tower scores a hit with Strike Zones
I’m a percussionist by training. And I’m an admirer of Joan Tower’s music. So a disc featuring Tower’s compositions for Evelyn Glennie was a must-review for me. Glennie is one of the foremost percussionists in the world. Her innovative technique is only matched, by her drive to enrich the repertoire. To that end, she has […]
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Anne-Marie McDermott continues superb Mozart series
Anne-Marie McDermott has a very distinctive playing style, especially with Mozart. It’s delicate without being dainty. It’s expressive while neither being too emotive nor overly reserved. McDermott’s playing embodies what I like to think Mozart’s intentions were. But it’s playing that goes deeper than the notes. McDermott’s own personality makes these oh-so-familiar works sound fresh […]
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Alban Beikircher excites with Wolf-Ferrari Violin Concerto
Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari is best remembered for his comic operas. But he was also a talented instrumental composer. And he used his melodic gifts quite effectively. This release features one of his instrumental “hits” and two more that should be. In the early 20th Century, Wolf-Ferrari was known for his comic operas, such as “Il segreto […]
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Paciorkiewicz Violin Concertos Display Fine Craftsmanship
According to Polish composer Tadeusz Paciorkiewicz, “even the best craftsmanship and compositional skills are only a means to achieve the goal of expressing a work.” That philosophy is very much evident in this recording of his music. it features his 1955 Violin Concerto and his 1983 Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra. Paciorkiewicz’s music balances […]
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Tadeusz Paciorkiewicz Violin Concertos in Bracing Performances
According to Polish composer Tadeusz Paciorkiewicz, “even the best craftsmanship and compositional skills are only a means to achieve the goal of expressing a work.” That philosophy is very much evident in this recording of his music. it features his 1955 Violin Concerto and his 1983 Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra. Paciorkiewicz’s music balances […]
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Say Hello to Vítězslava Kaprálová with “Waving Farewell”
Vítězslava Kaprálová is considered one of the Czech Republic’s greatest female composers — and with good reason. She was a student of Vítězslav Novák and Bohuslav Martinu. She conducted performances of her works with both the Czech Philharmonic and the BBC Orchestra. She wrote over fifty compositions, several of which won awards. And she was […]