What better way to present a new work than with a world-class orchestra and conductor? Jack Gallagher’s second symphony gets such a treatment, and the results are stunning. JoAnn Falletta and the London Symphony Orchestra perform with assurance, bringing out all the expressive energy of the music. And there’s a lot for them to work […]
orchestral
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Poul Ruders – Nightshade Trilogy
What started out as a simple chamber work has blossomed into a trilogy — and a remarkably cohesive one at that. Poul Ruders composed “Nightshade” for the 10-member chamber group Capricorn in 1987 (and it was released on Bridge Records in 1993). A commission by a chamber orchestra prompted Ruders to compose “Second Nightshade” (1991), […]
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Stephen Douglas Burton – Symphony No. 2 “Ariel”
The “Ariel” subtitle of this symphony doesn’t refer to the lovable Disney mermaid. Rather, it’s the favorite horse of Sylvia Plath, which inspired one of her poems, and the title of the poetry collection Burton selected his texts from. Burton matches the often disturbing beauty of Plath’s poetry with richly scored post-romantic music. He also […]
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Julian Wachner – Works for Orchestra and Voices
In the liner notes for this three-CD set, Julian Wachner writes, “My music lives in a sound world that seeks to balance harmony and melody, movement with stasis, simplicity with chaos, and contemporary techniques with unabashed borrowing from the past.” And for the most part, he succeeds in achieving that balance, as this new three-CD […]
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Kenneth Fuchs – Falling Man Stands Up to Comparison
This release is the fourth such collaboration between Kenneth Fuchs and JoAnn Falletta — and it’s of the same high quality as the other three (see my review of Atlantic Riband). This time around, Falletta and the London Symphony Orchestra present three Fuchs works for baritone and chamber orchestra. Roderick Williams is the baritone soloist, […]
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Joyce Yang: Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1
It seems every pianist has to record the Tchaikovsky 1st, and Joyce Yang’s no exception. So how does her interpretation stack up against the others? In this live recording, Yang seems to approach the work from a fresh perspective, presenting the music on her own terms. Yang avoids the temptation of bombastic drama. She can play […]
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Magnus Lindberg and the New York Philharmonic
Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg served as the New York Philharmonic’s Composer-in-Residence for three years. As this new recording attests, it was time well-spent. The release features three live recordings of Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic performing music Lindberg composed for them. And what compositions! Lindberg’s second piano concerto, finished in 2012, is a […]
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Michael Daugherty Mount Rushmore – monumental music
This new Naxos release features three of Michael Daugherty’s most recent compositions for orchestra — as well the orchestra that commissioned them. And it’s a winning combination. All three works crackle with energy and excitement. The Carl St. Clair and the Pacific Symphony know these compositions well. These are committed and self-assured performances. Mount Rushmore […]
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Tugan Sokhiev marks Stravinsky Anniversary
It’s a remarkable release for a remarkable occasion. May, 2013 is the centennial of the premier of Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” in Paris. While the work no longer incites riots, it has become a repertoire standard, and one that can sound fresh and exotic even today. Naive marks the event with this deluxe release. The […]