Violist Makes Bold Solo Venture From Bach To Moderns
By Paul E. Robinson
DIGITAL REVIEW – Spanish violist Jesus Rodolfo, 31, has recorded 20th-century works for his chosen instrument by Ligeti and Hindemith, as well as J.S. Bach's formidably challenging Sonata in C major, originally intended for violin.
A Bouquet Of New Discs From Utah And Pacific Coast
By Richard S. Ginell
DIGITAL REVIEW – Five symphony orchestras in the West released new CDs within weeks of each other. Four of them stuck with Tchaikovsky, Berlioz and Saint-Saens, while the Oregon Symphony boldly explored new American music.
Two Major Late Works Continue Rautavaara Survey
By Paul E. Robinson
DIGITAL REVIEW – To honor the late Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara’s 90th year, Ondine has reissued recordings of his strikingly beautiful Harp Concerto, formidable Eighth Symphony, and several shorter works.
Bernstein Videos: Eloquent ‘Tristan,’ Rollicking Haydn
By Richard S. Ginell
DIGITAL REVIEW – Leonard Bernstein's only full-length Wagner opera recording features a starry cast led by Peter Hofmann and Hildegard Behrens, while the Vienna Philharmonic delivers crackling Haydn 88, 92 and 94.
Reflecting On 1968 Through The Glass Of Berio’s ‘Sinfonia’
By Richard S. Ginell
DIGITAL REVIEW – On a CD with the Seattle Symphony, departing music director Ludovic Morlot cleverly casts Luciano Berio's musical collage of a tumultuous year in the heat of Boulez's Notations I-IV and Ravel's La valse.
Back To Blitzstein, Political Roots Of Cradle Will Rock
By Paul Robinson
DIGITAL REVIEW – The premiere of this highly political piece proved to be one of the seminal moments in American musical theater. More than 82 years later, we finally have a recording of the original orchestration.
‘(R)evolution’-ary Opera About Steve Jobs Arrives On CD
By Richard S. Ginell
DIGITAL REVIEW - One of the biggest immediate successes of the 2017 music season was the world premiere of Mason Bates’ The (R)evolution Of Steve Jobs, which is now available in a recording from the inaugural Santa Fe Opera production.
New CD Unearths Three Diamonds, All In The Rough
By Paul E. Robinson
DIGITAL REVIEW – Works by David Diamond, including the first commerical recording of his Symphony No. 6, are roundly unsatisfying in performances by Indiana University ensembles conducted by Arthur Fagen.
Torke Symphony Raises Voice To American Spirit
By Richard S. Ginell
DIGITAL REVIEW - Leading the Philadelphia Orchestra's new recording of Michael Torke's Unconquered, which was inspired by the Battle of Saratoga during the American Revolution, Cristian Măcelaru proves that his star is rising.
Two Impressions Of Debussy (Who Hated That Word)
By Paul E. Robinson
DIGITAL REVIEW – Maurizio Pollini and Alexander Melnikov offer quite different approaches to Debussy's Préludes Book II, not only in conception and tempo, but also in the sonic character of the pianos they play.
De Sabata CD Set Proves Conductor Giant Of His Time
By Paul E. Robinson
DIGITAL REVIEW – From pre-war and post-war, this new four-disc treasury, which restores many of Victor de Sabata's most important recordings to the catalogue, could make his name familiar to a new generation.
Newly Discovered Early Stravinsky Work Comes to CD
By Richard S. Ginell
DIGITAL REVIEW - Though The Rite Of Spring takes up nearly half of this CD's playing time, the main event is Funeral Song, which, whatever its shortcomings, should fascinate anyone who wants to explore Stravinsky's origins.
Archive Retrieves Golden Interviews With Studs Terkel
CHICAGO – When Louis "Studs" Terkel left WFMT in 1997 after 45 years on the air, he took more than 5,600 of his reel-to-reel tape chats with the A-list of culture at large. That treasury of incredible stories is getting new digital life.
Electrifying Lady With Deadly Deal Revisits Via CD
By Matthew Gurewitsch
DIGITAL REVIEW – In Vienna State Opera's 1971 premiere of Gottfried von Einem's Der Besuch der alten Dame, top Wagnerians played townfolk facing the return of a lady (Christa Ludwig), now very rich and bent on cold revenge.
Philly ‘Mass’ On DG Is No Match For Bernstein Account
By Richard S. Ginell
DIGITAL REVIEW - Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads the Philadelphia Orchestra in a live performance recorded three years ago. For the sake of completeness in Deutsche Grammophon's bid to record all of Lenny’s music, it’ll do.
Teen Cellist Makes Brilliant CD Debut In Shostakovich
By Paul E. Robinson
DIGITAL REVIEW – Two gifted young musicians, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, 19, and conductor Mirga Grazinyté-Tyna, 32, display wonderful rapport in Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1. Cello encores round out the disc.
A Quartet Restores Banned Repertoire To Rightful Place
By Mark Kanny
DIGITAL REVIEW – The Clarion Quartet was formed to perform ‘Entartete Musik’ that was suppressed by the Nazis. Breaking the Silence, the group’s new album, resulted from a concert it gave at Terezín concentration camp.
Nielsen CD Affirms Rapport Between Dausgaard, Seattle
By Richard S. Ginell
DIGITAL – Belatedly confronting Nielsen's quirky Third and Fourth Symphonies on CD, fellow Dane Thomas Dausgaard further displays his close musical relationship with his future orchestra, the Seattle Symphony.
Laurie Anderson’s CD ‘Landfall’ Has That Ageless Ring
By Joe Banno
DIGITAL REVIEW – When 70-year-old Laurie Anderson’s speaking voice is first heard on her new, Hurricane Sandy-inspired collaborative album with the Kronos Quartet, it’s like encountering an old friend and a fresh, familiar sound.
