Tuesday, 11 July 2017

Cheltenham Chamber

BBC Music magazine free cover disc of chamber items played by Radio 3 New Generation Artists past and present. Live performances from Cheltenham Festival.

Schumann piano trio; Veronika Eberle violin, Nicolas Altstaedt cello, Francesco Piemontesi piano.

Weber clarinet quintet;  Annelien Van Wauwe clarinet, Quatuor  Van Kuijk

Tuesday, 23 May 2017

Old Testament Angst

Mendelssohn Elias ( Elijah )

Performers : Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin, RIAS Kammerchor, conducted by Hans-Christoph Rademann. Marlis Petersen soprano, Lioba Braun mezzo, Maximilian Schmitt tenor, Thmoas Oliemans baritone.

Light period informed performance rather than heavy Victorian mode.

Saturday, 20 May 2017

Completing A Prokofiev Set

Prokofiev piano sonatas nos 1 - 5.

Performer Peter Donohoe piano.

Completing my collection of all Prokofiev piano sonatas with only number two duplicated. This disc might not be an absolute library choice but is an excellent performance.

Thursday, 18 May 2017

Carl And Dmitri For A Birthday

BBC Music magazine cover disc. I put these to one side if there is duplicate repertoire and I thought that was going to be the case here when it was highlighted that it would feature Nielsen's 4th symphony, The Inextinguishable. However, on arrival it also contains a performance of Shostakovich's 9th symphony which is one of the few that I yet to have a recording of.

The reason for the disc is to celebrate the 70th birthday of Sir Mark Elder who is conducting the Halle Orchestra.

Wednesday, 17 May 2017

A Little Night Music

Chopin : The Nocturnes.

Performer : Maria Joao Pires, piano.

All 21 nocturnes on two CD set in exemplary performances.

Monday, 15 May 2017

Sound Of The Czech Countryside

Martinu Cantatas.

Performers : Prague Philharmonic Choir, conducted by Lukas Vasilek.

Four secular cantatas, settings of poems by Miloslav Bures on traditional folk themes. Chamber ensemble accompaniment and soloists taken from the choir.

Tuesday, 9 May 2017

Revival Of Interest In Important Influence

Adolph von Henselt piano works

Performer : Daniel Grimwood piano

Revival of interest in once leading piano composer / performer of German heritage but inspiration of the Russian piano school. Grimwood plays a period piano.