Havergal Brian’s reputation these days rests on his first symphony — a record-breaker in size and scope. Thanks to recordings like this one, a more balanced picture of this British composer emerges. The New Russia State Symphony Orchestra directed by Alexander Walker may be far from London, but they manage to capture the inherent Englishness […]
Naxos
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Victoria Bond chamber music full of revelations
Not a lot of Victoria Bond’s music has been recorded. To the best of my knowledge, this Naxos release marks the sixth her music’s appeared on. And only the third album exclusively devoted to her music. Bond has an active career as a conductor, but her catalog of works is also quite impressive. It includes […]
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Grace Williams chamber music get deserved attention
Six Grace Williams chamber works receive their world premiere recordings with this release. It still leaves the bulk of her catalog unrecorded — but it’s an improvement. Williams was one of the most important composers to come from Wales (with William Mathias). She studied with Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gordon Jacobs. Their influence can be […]
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Leshnoff: Symphony gives voice to the VIOLINS of HOPE
Jonathan Leshnoff is a talented composer. And his fourth symphony is a well-constructed work. It has engaging themes, nicely shaped melodies, and a fresh take on tonality. But for me, it didn’t have the desired effect. The liner notes explain the concept of the work in great detail. The project Violins for Hope refurbishes instruments […]
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Rosemary Tuck delivers grand performance of Czerny concerto
This is the second Czerny recording by Rosemary Tuck, Richard Bonynge, and the ESO. That release featured the Grand Concerto in A minor. This one has Czerny’s Second Grand Concerto, and it’s equally grand. Czerny studied with Beethoven and premiered two of his piano concertos as soloist. Czerny’s Second Grand Concerto was started weeks after […]
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Carl Czerny Piano Trios Brilliantly Entertaining
Five piano trio receive their world recording premiers with this release. In a sense, it’s not that big a deal. Carl Czerny wrote over 1,000 works, over 800 of them published. There are still many, many Czerny works awaiting their first recording. The trios presented here are certainly worthy of attention. The 1830 Deux Trios […]
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Early Muzio Clementi keyboard sonatas have their appeal
This release is part of Naxos’ leisurely traversal through Muzio Clementi’s keyboard sonatas. This installment features sonatas from the early part of his career. The Op. 2 sonatas were published in 1779, the Op. 1784. This was the time when Antonio Salieri was still a major composer. Mozart was up to 15 piano concertos; Haydn […]
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Gloria Coates – Piano Quintet and Symphony No. 10 well-matched
Gloria Coates has a unique compositional voice. It’s one I’ve admired since hearing her first symphony (Music on Open Strings). While not all of her 16 symphonies are as immediately accessible as that work, there are some common characteristics. Coates lets her material determine the form of the work. That material and the development of […]
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Joseph Marx Orchestral Works a Welcome Reissue
I’m glad to have this recording back in print. ASV originally released their four-volume Joseph Marx set in 2003. This volume features three of his works written in older classical styles. In a way, they have a similar character to Resphigi’s “Ancient Airs and Dances.” That is, the music may be in an older style, […]