This release brings together three violin concertos by three close friends — Johannes Brahms, Julius Rontgen, and his wife, Amanda Maier. Rontgen and Maier were both talented violinists. The couple performed together, and even composed together. Brahms would visit the Rontgen home when in town. And Brahms and Rontgen gave public concerts together in Amsterdam. […]
Romantic period
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Schubert Sonatas come together for Anne-Marie McDermott
Sometimes it all comes together — the music, the artist, the venue, the recording. That’s what happens with this release. It features two of Schubert’s most popular and challenging piano sonatas: The Piano Sonata in D major, D.850, and the Piano Sonata in B-flat major, D.960. Both of Schubert’s sonatas are loose in form. At […]
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Arthur Sullivan Incidental Music – Good to be back in print
Good to see this back in print. Naxos first released this album on their Marco Polo label in 1992. It features some of Arthur Sullivan’s other theatrical music. This Irish composer will forever be part of Gilbert and Sullivan. But even in his lifetime, he was well-known for his work outside the “Savoy Operas.” The […]
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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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Auber Overtures Volume 5 goes beyond overtures
One thing I like about Dario Salvi’s Auber series is the variety. Yes, This release’s title is “Overtures 5.” But, like the previous volumes, it’s more than just a collection of overtures. This time the focus is on two Auber operas: Zanetta, and Zerline. Zanetta premiered in 1840. The opera’s heroine is the innocent daughter of […]
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Clara Schumann – Early Piano Works
In early 20th Century music history, she was Mrs. Robert Schumann, wife of a Great Composer. Later histories noted her prodigious talent as a pianist. As the century progressed, Clara’s own compositions were re-evaluated, performed, and recorded. This release adds to our understanding of Clara Wieck Schumann — both as a performer and a composer. […]
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Romantic Piano Fantasies — entertaining if not elevating
In the early 1800s, Sir Walter Scott was a wildly popular writer. As wildly popular as J.K. Rowling would be in the early 2000s. His “Waverly” series started a new genre, historical fiction. Scott would write between 30-48 novels set in historic Scotland, all best-sellers. Carl Czerny published a series of four piano duets inspired […]
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Rheinberger’s Der Stern von Bethlehem shines in reissue
Why isn’t “Der Stern von Bethlehem” a holiday staple, like that Handel joint? I have a theory. Joseph Rheinberger composed his cantata in 1890. During his lifetime it was one of his most-performed choral works. After his death in 1901, though, it lapsed into obscurity. Rheinberger’s style was influenced by the German greats: Brahms, Mendelssohn, […]
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Franz Lachner well served by Evergreen Symphony Orchestra
The Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is a 70-piece Taiwanese ensemble. They’ve recorded eight albums for the CPO label. Although “evergreen” is in their name, none of the music they record would earn that title. But that’s not due to the quality of the music, just the stature of the composers. Franz Lachner was a respected […]