Thursday 23 February 2017

Love That First Quartet

Tchaikovsky string quartets nos 1 and 3.

Performers : The Heath Quartet

Reviews range from extreme enthusiasm to disappointment. I am in the enthusiastic camp. And string quartet no 1 is a particular favourite.

Wednesday 22 February 2017

Classically 18th Century

BBC Music free cover disc. Haydn symphonies nos 44 & 100 plus Mozart symphony no 51.

Performers : BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nicholas McGegan ( 100 ) and Donald Runnicles ( 44 and Mozart )

No 44 the Trauer or Mourning symphony, though not very downbeat. No 100 a London symphony, the Military.

Mozart no 51 a pastiche symphony cobbled together from pre-existing material.

Tuesday 21 February 2017

Mozart In The Middle

Mozart piano concertos nos 14, 26, 17, 21

Performers : Maria Joao Pires piano, Wiener Philharmoniker ( nos 14 and 26 ) The Chamber Orchestra of Europe ( nos 17 and 21 ) both conducted by Claudio Abbado.

Peerless performances finding a middle ground between old school and HIPP.

Saturday 18 February 2017

Hybrid Dramatic Symphony

Berlioz : Romeo et Juliette

Performers : London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev. Olga Borodina mezzo, Kenneth Tarver tenor, Evgeny Nikitin bass baritone, Guildhall School Singers and London Symphony Chorus directed by Simon Halsey.

One of three praised versions of this work that were released almost simultaneously and this rated slightly the least of the three. But it was also the cheapest ! And certainly good enough for me.

Friday 17 February 2017

Overlooked Major Figure

Busoni, Concerto for piano and orchestra with male chorus.

Performers : Garrick Ohlsson, piano.  The Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Christoph von Dohnanyi, chorus master Robert Page.

Mammoth concerto, unique in the repertoire with use of chorus, which is probably the main reason it is so rarely performed.

Thursday 16 February 2017

Karbardinian Themes

Prokofiev string quartets nos 1 & 2, sonata for two violins.

Performers : Pavel Haas Quartet

Spiky first quartet, folk inflected second. Sonata rarity.

Wednesday 15 February 2017

Closer To Bach Than Brahms

Mendelssohn : Paulus, oratorio

Performers : La Chapelle royale, Collegium Vocale, Orchestre des Champs-Elysees. Conductor Philippe Herreweghe.

Melanie Diener soprano, Annette Markert mezzo, James Taylor tenor, Matthias Goerne baritone.

A sprightly, light Bachian performance.