Danish composer Louis Glass studied with Niels Gade. While at the Brussels Conservatory, he came under the influence of Anton Bruckner. If nothing else, Bruckner’s symphonies encouraged Glass to think big. Glass’ Symphony No. 4 runs a little short of an hour. The four-movement work is big, but not sprawling. The material simply needs a lot […]
CPO
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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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Kölner Akademie’s Telemann Easter Cantatas Highly Recommended
Let’s be clear. This is a mere sampling of Georg Philipp Telemann’s output for Easter. After all, he composed Easter cantatas and oratorios for about sixty years. And often more than one for a specific date. This release focuses on works composed during the 1720s. Telemann was in his 30s, working in Frankfurt. He was the city’s […]
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Eduard Franck Piano Concertos Receive Their Due
Eduard Franck was a pianist and composer, active in the late 1800s. He studied with Felix Mendelssohn. Franck then went on to have a successful career as a concert pianist and pedagogue. Robert Schumann thought highly of his music. So why isn’t it better known? Franck was something of a perfectionist and continually tinkered with […]
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Amy Beach Works for Piano Duo Twice as Nice
Everything is relative. This release features music by a relatively obscure composer. Further, it features a relatively obscure part of her catalog. The result is a program of exceptionally well-crafted music. Music that reveals new depths with repeated listening. I wish Amy Cheney Beach was as familiar with audiences as other 20th Century composers. Her […]
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Boris Papandopulo: Works for Piano and Strings — Works for Me
Boris Papandopulo was one of Croatia’s most important composers. Almost single-handedly he created a national style of classical music. Papandopulo incorporated Croatian folk music into his work. But that was just the starting point. He had very eclectic tastes and brought other musical forms into his compositions. Twelve-tone technique, jazz, and even post-war avant-garde concepts […]
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David Porcelijn brings fresh excitement to Rontgen symphonies
If you — like me — love the music of Julius Rontgen, then this release is a must-have. If you’re not familiar with this 20th Century Dutch composer, this release is a good place to start. Röntgen was a major figure in Dutch musical life. As a pianist, he performed Brahm’s second piano concerto — […]
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Julius Rontgen choral symphonies get energetic readings
Add three more symphonies to CPO’s traversal of Julius Rontgen symphonies. This amazingly prolific Dutch composer wrote 25 in all. And most remarkable is how varied they are. Some are compact one-movement works, and others are more expansive multi-movement affairs. This release features two Rontgen choral symphonies. Rontgen — among many other things — harmonized […]
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Felix Draeseke String Quartets, Vol. 2 improves upon Vol. 1
Felix Draeseke only wrote three string quartets. The first two were released in Volume 1. Volume 2 rounds out the program with two other chamber works by Draeseke. Not to worry — all these works are worth a listen. Draeseke admired both Richard Wagner and Franz Liszt. His own composition shows their influences, but only […]