Brief Notes
Antheil Serenades 1 & 2 etc Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen CPO 555 196-2
Cinematic works with swagger and sway from Antheil’s later, more tonal period; save for 1921’s The Golden Bird. The German players are on point and the recording top-notch. (MB) ★★★★
Asheim • Tchaikovsky
Orchestral Works
Ensemble Allegria et al Lawo LWC 1191 There’s some gorgeous playing from Ensemble Allegria in tuneful Tchaikovsky, but Asheim’s Høgsongen is less immediately appealing. (RF) ★★★
Beethoven
Violin Sonatas Nos 3, 6-8
Lorenzo Gatto (violin), Julien Libeer (piano) Alpha Classic ALPHA 565
This duo’s playing bursts with lively energy and good taste without short-changing the rawness that gives Beethoven its edge. It’s a substantial programme too: the third volume of the complete violin sonatas. (RF) ★★★★
Berio • Macmillan • Verbey Trombone Concertos
Jorgen van Rijen (trombone) et al BIS BIS-2333
Trombonist Jörgen van Rijen is a force to be reckoned with – his scintillating playing brings these three thrilling modern concertos to life. The Royal Concertgebouw is on superb form. (OC) ★★★★★
Bernardi Lux Aeterna etc
Voces Suaves et al Arcana A470
To get an idea of the soundworld of Stefano Bernardi, an Italian plying his trade in early-17thcentury Salzburg, think Monteverdi but without the flamboyance. He benefits from nicely nuanced performances here. ( JP) ★★★★
Philip Glass Piano Works
Feico Deutekom (piano)
Orange Mountain Music OMM 6052 Deutekom combines performances of Glass’s solo piano pieces with arrangements of his orchestral works. A fascinating new window onto the US composer’s hypnotic world. (OC) ★★★★
Daniel Herskedal Behind The Wall Elin Torp Meland (oboe) et al
Naxos 8.574189
More familiar as a jazz tubist, Herskedal turns composer here for this trio recording of works inspired by his travels in the Middle East.
The results are dynamic, engaging, joyful and emotive. (MB) ★★★
Tõnu Kõrvits
Hymn to the Nordic Lights etc Estonian National Symphony
Orchestra et al Ondine ODE 1349-2 Korvits’s music is all about atmospherics,, which shine through on Leaving Capri for strings and Silent Songs for clarinet and orchestra. The Estonian National Symphony does its compatriot proud. (OC) ★★★
Damian Montagu
A Walk into Reverie
Tippett Quartet et al
Moonshot WUECD03
A meditative walk through the South Downs inspired these soundscapes, with simple melodies and the sounds of birds and rivers. It may not set the world alight, but it’s a pleasant stroll. (FP) ★★★
Pilati
Preludio, aria e tarantella etc Moscow Symphony O/adriano Naxos 8.574168
The orchestral style of Mario Pilati (1903-38) was largely light-spirited and folky. The orchestra clearly enjoys itself here in his sunny Neapolitan world. ( JP) ★★★
Respighi • Shchedrin
Orchestral Works
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra BR Klassik 900183
Mariss Jansons leads live performances of Carmen-suite and The Pines of Rome with electricity and pizzazz. Despite a slightly clumsy opening, it soon marches into strong and sturdy territory. (FP) ★★★
Schumann
Piano Quintet; Piano Quartet Engegård Quartet et al Lawo LWC1189 Stirring, nimble performances of two chamber masterpieces. The quartet’s playing is as cool and luminous as the moody cover suggests, achieving a fine blend with the pianist. (RF) ★★★★
Tcherepnin Narcisse et Echo etc Bamberg So/borowicz CPO 555 2502 Tcherepnin plunges us deep into the wooded world of Ovidian mythology with atmospheric orchestral writing reminiscent of Ravel or Debussy. This is gorgeous stuff, sublimely played. (JP) ★★★★
Telemann Recorder Sonatas Caroline Eidsten Dahl (recorder) et al Lawo LWC1181
A sprightly collection of recorder sonatas, with plenty of forward momentum, measured breath control and balance of sound. A few lapses in tuning aside, it’s a wellproduced, reliable disc. (FP) ★★★
Villa-lobos
Harmonica Concerto etc
São Paulo Symphony Orchestra et al Naxos 8.574018
An enjoyable tour of the Brazilian’s concertos and chamber works including the lesserknown, winsome Harmonica Concerto. The Guitar Concerto gets a fine advocate in soloist Manuel Barrueco. (OC) ★★★★
Widor Organ Symphonies 1 & 2 Wolfgang Rubsam Naxos 8.574161 Playing on Chicago University’s fourmanual Skinner, Rübsam begins his Widor cycle.
I do wish he’d stick to tempos, particularly in the quicker movements, but there are some lovely colours on show. (OC) ★★★
Zane Zalis I Believe
Solitude-chor Stuttgart
Ars Produktion ARS 38 291
A fine live recording of Zalis’s account of the Holocaust.
The lyrical score and Broadway-style vocals make for a modern, accessible work. (MB) ★★★★
Boston Symphony Commissions Works by Timo Andres et al Boston Symphony Orchestra et al Naxos 8.559874
US composing is in rude health if this set of BSO commissions is anything to go by. George Tsontakis’s Sonnets for horn and orchestra is the sparklingly expressive jewel in this crown. (MB) ★★★★
Compositrices
Works by L Boulanger et al Juliette Hurel (flute), Helene Couvert (piano) Alpha Classics ALPHA 573
An intelligently programmed, sensitively played disc. Add Mel Bonis, Clémence de Grandval and Augusta Holmès to your listening list of female composers. (RF) ★★★★
Debora’s Canary
Piccolo Works by Fabio Luppi et al Debora Rosti (piccolo)
Da Vinci Classics C00217
An interesting programme, but with slips in octave leaps and a lack of consistency in tone, the performance is not the tidiest. It would benefit from a more colourful interpretation too. (FP) ★
Genesis
Works by Scarlatti, Rameau et al Bartosz Glowacki (accordion) et al Dux DUX 1585
Glowacki’s debut album is a masterfully curated selection, spanning Scarlatti to Gubaidulina. Unafraid to explore the darker realms of the instrument, here is an artist with real promise. (FP) ★★★★
Latin Four Hand Piano Works by Lecuona et al
Duo Lontano Genuin GEN 20685
From Gardel in Argentina to Gottschalk in the Caribbean, there’s plenty of colour and variety in this traversal of Latin America. A shame it’s all a little primly played. (JP) ★★★
Not Now Bernard & Other Stories Works by Bernard Hughes et al Orchestra of the Swan et al
Orchid Classics ORC100115
The children’s stories set to music by Bernard Hughes have oodles of character. Alexander Armstrong’s narration, charming in those stories, feels out of place in the Ireland and Weir. (MB) ★★★
Song Lied Can
Works by Clara Schumann and Rhian Samuel
Katharine Dain (soprano), Paul Carey Jones (bass-baritone) et al
Ty Cerdd TCR027
This is a strong programme. Standout moments include the utterly beautiful Beim Abschied (Schumann) and the premieres of The Flowing Sand and The White Amaryllis (Samuel). (RF) ★★★★
The Spider’s Feast
Works by Roussel & Dukas Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire BIS BIS-2432
In Roussel’s hands, lunchtime at the web is a sumptuous combination of rich orchestration and feisty drama. The starter and pudding are provided by Dukas, with terrific performances throughout. ( JP) ★★★★