Buried treasure
Cimarosa Il Maestro di Cappella Philippe Huttenlocher; Lausanne Chamber Orchestra/armin Jordan Erato STU 71059
I discovered this little opera as a child in my first flute teacher’s apartment. Cimarosa is well known to flute players, as he wrote a wonderful and popular concerto for two flutes. In this brilliant work, he brings us into an orchestral rehearsal to witness the conductor going through all sorts of emotional states. It’s all superbly expressed in the music, which shines a light on the text in a way that reminds me of the Mozart/da Ponte double-act.
Amy Beach Piano Quintet
Ambache Ensemble
Chandos CHAN9752
This is vibrant and expressive music
– you hear Beach’s strong personality in it. The Piano Quintet (1905) is a masterpiece she performed herself a good 40 times during her lifetime, and the Variations written for the San Francisco Chamber Music
Society are inventive and mysterious.
The Ambache Ensemble gives an intense performance on this terrific recording. Hofmann Octet, Serenade and Sextet
Berolina Ensemble
MDG 9481808
This Berlin-based ensemble has a mission to bring neglected works back to life. Like so many composers, Hofmann has almost been forgotten despite the tremendous success he enjoyed during his lifetime. Composing in the late 19th century, Hofmann’s works are very much of their time, but this disc is the perfect celebration of what chamber music is about: lines interlacing with charm and elegance, instruments blending their sounds then emerging. The Berolina Ensemble is fresh and colourful, giving this recording a festival-like atmosphere. Pahud’s ‘Dreamtime’ is on Warner Classics