Brief Notes
Our collection of 25 further reviews includes various tributes, tales and twists
James Francis Brown
The Heavens and the Heart
The Choir of Royal Holloway, et al Resonus RES10227
This is likeable stuff. Brown’s largely accessible style is most inventive in the depictions of countryside scenes from his childhood in the Clarinet Concerto, the central work here. ( JP) HHHH
Castelnuovo-tedesco Pianoworks David Witten (piano) Albany TROY1732 Bright performances of pieces written as far apart as 1924 and 1960; they showcase Castelnuovotedesco’s imaginative flair. The older works – like Le Stagioni – are the most beguiling. (MB) HHH
Chaminade Piano Works
Mark Viner (piano)
Piano Classics PCL10164
A charming listen. Chaminade is an unsung hero of her time, and this disc showcases just how colourful her music is. Mark Viner plays with panache, his renditions light and sensitive. (FP) HHHH
Debussy Jeunes Années Jonas Vitaud (piano), et al Mirare MIR 392
This is a lovely dip into Debussy’s early music, from 188598. Jonas Vitaud leads the way as solo pianist, concerto soloist and song accompanist. His sound is always velvety, and his musical friends are on form too. (RF) HHHH
Domeniconi Concertos Amadeus Guitar Duo, et al Naxos 8.573977
Looking firmly towards the Middle East, Concerto Mediterraneo and Oyun for two guitars and orchestra are full of atmospheric writing. The soloists occasionally fail to emerge from the general hubbub. ( JP) HHH Dvo ák • Janá ek • Martin String Works
Orchestre d’auvergne Aparté AP195
A nicely programmed trio of Czech works for strings, from affable Dvo ák to jagged Martin , is played with lightness and grace. One or two ragged edges don’t mar the whole. (JP) HHHH
Eller Violin Concerto, etc
Baiba Skride (violin), et al
Ondine ODE 1321-2
Estonian composer Heino Eller was a wonderful orchestrator, as revealed in these beautiful, if slightly forgettable, works. Skride, Elts and co, however, give the strongest advocacy for them with terrific playing. (OC) HHHH
Onslow String Quintets
Elan Quintet Naxos 8.573887
Here are two of the 34 string quintets written by Georges Onslow (1784-1853), a composer greatly admired by Schumann. And these are genial, enjoyable works, in lively performances by the Elan Quintet. (RF) HHHH
Paderewski Piano Works Rados aw Sobczak (fortepiano) Dux 1503
A fascinating piano portrait of Paderewski. From the salon miniatures to the full-blooded, Rachmaninov virtuosity of the 1903 sonata, Rados aw Sobczak plays with panache. (RF) HHHH
Poulenc Concertos
London Philharmonic Orchestra, et al LPO-0108
A thoroughly enjoyable, reliable set of well-curated recordings. The wind section is particularly commendable throughout, glistening over the top of the orchestra and choir. (FP) HHHH Reich Sextet; Double Sextet Ekkozone/mathias Reumert Mode 300 Danish chamber group Ekkozone gives vibrant, rhythmically true and dynamically nuanced performances of these Minimalist masterworks. They’re both captured in great sound, too. (OC) HHHH
Rossini Overtures
Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna Pentatone PTC 5186 719 Exciting and vibrant interpretations of Rossini’s overtures, but a collection of works with near identical structures means that the power of the individual pieces is slightly lost. (FP) HHHH
Schnittke Chamber Works
Jan Michiels (piano), Viviane Spanoghe (cello) Et’cetera KTC 1626
The vivid recording quality helps these works for cello and piano pack a punch, if indeed Schnittke’s brilliantly skittish
– and occasionally unnerving – compositions need any further muscle. (MB) HHH
Scriabin Late Piano Works
James Kreiling (piano)
Odradek ODRCD366
Remarkably assured, beautifully shaped playing by Kreiling of Scriabin’s knotty, post-romantic soundworld. Many highlights in this two-cd set, but the ‘Insect’ Tenth Sonata captivates. (OC) HHHHH
Stravinsky The Soldier’s Tale Roger Waters (narrator), et al
Sony Classical 19075872732
Roger Waters, of Pink Floyd fame, is the star turn as narrator. His Germanic (or is it Russian?) accent for the Devil leaves a bit to be desired, but it’s otherwise a characterful performance. (JP) HHHH Zelenka Missa Sancti Josephi Stuttgart Chamber Choir, et al Carus 83.279
If you don’t know the music of the 18th-century Czech composer, this is an ideal place to start. Singing, choral and solo, is spot on, the orchestral playing vibrant and exciting. (OC) HHHHH
American Saxophone Sonatas Works by B Heiden, L Lunde, et al Danilo Russo (saxophone), et al
Da Vinci Classics C00126
A lovely variety of works, showcasing the diversity of music written for the saxophone. Sadly, the pitching and lack of sensitivity make this a difficult listen. (FP) HH
Bach Recomposed Cello Suites Peter Gregson (cello), et al DG 483 5529 Despite some slightly weak cello playing, these suites rearranged for a five-person cello ensemble, analogue synthesizers and solo cello create a magnificent soundworld and the voicing of the multi-layering is effective and enveloping. (FP) HHH
Garlands for Steve Stucky
Works by Harbison, Weir, et al Gloria Cheng (piano), et al Bridge 9509 Thirty-two new piano pieces composed in tribute to the late Steven Stucky, imbued with the anger, confusion and sorrow of grief, and the joy of memory. Intense and eloquent. (MB) HHHH
He(a)r
Works by Stefansdottir, Tally, et al Nordic Affect Sono Luminus DSL-92224 The latest album from this Icelandic ensemble is ‘an ode to hear, here, hér and her’, hér being the Icelandic word for here. These new pieces for Baroque instruments, voices and electronics are often atmospheric and subtle. (RF) HHH
Portraying Passion Works by Weill, Paus & Ives Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, et al Lawo LWC1164 Crystal clear at the top, breathily seductive in its lower reaches, Tora Augestad’s mezzo voice is as versatile as it is enticing. Could she, though, occasionally conjure up a little more sass and spite? (JP) HHH
Ref lections Works by Rachmaninov, etc Arseny Tarasevich-nikolaev (piano) Decca 483 3922 This young pianist sure can play – and his performances of Scriabin, Medtner and Rachmaninov are meltingly lovely. A little more sardonicism wouldn’t go amiss in the Prokofiev, however. (OC) HHH
Salut d’amour Works by Sarasate, Elgar, et al Sueye Park (violin), et al BIS-2382 If you’re going to put together a collection of violin favourites these days, it needs a bit of a twist or personality. Nice though this one is, there’s not enough of a golden gleam or magic to set it apart from the crowd. (RF) HHH
Variations Sérieuses Works by Beethoven, Bizet, et al Lilit Grigoryan (piano) Orchid Classics ORC100088 An assertive and beyond-her-years performance from the Armenian pianist; the titular work by Mendelssohn is a joy, the Bizet and Szymanowski rare treats. (MB) HHHH
Visions Take Flight Works by Karim Al-zand, et al ROCO/MEI-ANN Cheninnova 016 An impressive debut disc of commissions for Houston’s ROCO ensemble. Plenty of highlights, but Bermel’s stirring Murmurations and Dilorenzo’s colourful Jabberwocky are of particular note. (MB) HHHH Reviewers: Michael Beek (MB), Oliver Condy (OC), Rebecca Franks (RF), Freya Parr (FP), Jeremy Pound ( JP)