Not much remains of the legacy of Johann Wilhelm Wilms (1772–1847). He was a major figure in Amsterdam, admired both as a composer and a pianist. He premiered the concertos of his contemporaries, Mozart and Beethoven, to great acclaim. He was a professor at the Koninklijk Nederlandsch Instituut voor Wetenschappen. He judged composition contests and […]
SACD
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Anders Eliasson symphonies present a unique voice
Anders Eliasson isn’t as well-known outside of Scandinavia as he should be. This release should help remedy that. Eliasson had an epiphany when he attended the Royal Swedish Academy of music in the 1960s. As he wrote, “It was a time of unbearable self-denial. Metrical rhythms, melodies, even particular intervals were all taboo in contemporary […]
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Kaveli Aho Double and Triple Concertos – Definitive Performances
Finnish composer Kaveli Aho is a symphonist. His ideas seem best-suited to large-scale works. Among those large-scale works are 36 concertos, including the two on this recording. And within the subset of concertos, these two are also large-scale. One is a double concerto, the other a triple concerto. Aho composed his double concerto for cor […]
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Singular music from Kalevi Aho
The subtitle for this release is “Seven instrumental solos by the Finnish symphonist.” And that’s significant. Kalevi Aho seems to naturally think in orchestral terms. To date, he’s composed 17 symphonies and almost 40 concertos for a wide variety of instruments. That concerto experience comes into play with his series of solos. Aho’s collaborated with […]
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Jonathan Leshnoff Symphony 3 beautiful and inspiring
The horrors of the First World War were not lost on the artists who survived it. Works written immediately after to commemorate the event were generally quiet, contemplative pieces. The music focussed on the senseless loss of life and eschewed any hints of military glory. Jonathan Leshnoff continues that tradition with his Third Symphony. Written for […]
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Allen Pettersson – Symphony No. 12 delivers emotionally
This is not music for the faint of heart. Allan Pettersson’s 12th Symphony delivers almost a solid hour of unrelenting outrage and compassion for the downtrodden of society. And even if you don’t understand the words the chorus is singing, the singers’ delivery gives you their emotional impact. Petterson set nine of Pablo Neruda’s poems […]
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Hymns of Kassiani – history’s first woman composer
Pop quiz: who’s the earliest female composer you can think of? Chances are, it’s Hildegarde von Bingen. Although her star has risen from obscurity, she’s not the earliest, or perhaps, the most important. That honor belongs to Kassiani, or Kassia (c.810-c.865). Kassia’s career had some significant differences with Hildegard von Bingen, who was born two […]
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Manfred Honeck and Pittsburgh Symphony’s sterling Bruckner 9
It is rare when the quality of the performance, the clarity of the recording, and the insightfulness of the liner notes all come together in one outstanding release. Manfred Honeck’s recording of a live performance of Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony in February 2018 with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in Pittsburgh’s Heinz Hall, released on the Reference […]
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Sarah Connolly shines in Arthur Bliss cantatas
This outstanding release presents three relatively late works by Arthur Bliss. At the time, they were considered a little old-fashioned. Heard now, though, I think they show the originality of Bliss’ vision — and his skill at orchestral writing. Mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly shines in “The Enchantress” and “Mary of Magdala.” Her voice can sound warm, […]