One epic gospel and some Jewish roots
Our July round-up also features Herbert Blomstedt and Alfred Cortot
Christopher Tyler Nickel’s The Gospel According to Mark (Avie AV2562) isn’t a box-set collection, but an epic single work spread across seven discs. The Canadian composer has set the entire English text of the gospel from the King James Bible, with the Vancouver Contemporary Orchestra providing robust support to storyteller-singers Catherine Redding, Fabiana Katz, Carman J Price and Steven Bélanger.
Seven hours is a lot, so breaks are advised. You have to admire his vision, though, and the performances are compelling.
Even more compelling is Herbert Blomstedt – The Complete Decca Recordings (Decca 485 3281), which captures the Swedish conductor’s acclaimed recordings for the label across 33 discs. His years at the helm of both the San Francisco Symphony and Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestras are accounted for in glittering takes, including his thrilling Sibelius symphony cycle with the American ensemble. There’s so much more, though, with everything from Beethoven to Hindemith, not to mention original jacket artwork and a thorough 76-page book.
Though his 1940s wartime allegiances might have been questionable, there was no doubting the musical prowess and influence of the French pianist Alfred Cortot. The Warner Classics Edition (Warner Classics 5419747194) is a 40-disc collection of recordings spanning a huge range of repertoire from Couperin to Chopin. Indeed the latter was a particular focus for Cortot and his music dominates the selection, recorded as early as 1926. These 2012 remasters sound top notch too.
From Jewish Life (SWR Music SWR19434CD) is a fascinating five-disc collection that shines light on a short-lived movement in early 20thcentury Russia to bring about a Jewish classical music idiom. It was Rimsky-korsakov who challenged his Jewish students to seek out their musical traditions and combine them with western classical music, and much of that work – alongside other examples – is gathered here in recordings made 1999-2004. Fine performances, too, from the likes of Tabea Zimmermann, Jascha Nemtsov and Wolfgang Meyer.