Latest Music Reviews
Eldbjørg Hemsing’s Debut Release Attractive But Underwhelming
by James Imam
Naturally, artists making initial ventures into the busy marketplace of audio releases want to stand out from the crowd, and there are two options open to them: offer fresh perspectives on well-known works, or shed light on undiscovered repertoire. In her debut release, Norwegian violinist... Continue Reading
Reference Recording: The Panocha’s Essential Dvorák String Quartets
by David Hurwitz
The Panocha Quartet’s complete Dvorák cycle remains the finest yet produced, and a testament to the great Czech tradition of quartet playing. This three-disc set drawn from the larger box, billed as “the essential string quartets,” does exactly what it says it does, and will... Continue Reading
Under the Radar: Hans Henkemans’ Philips Debussy Recordings
by Jed Distler
It is safe to say that the Dutch pianist Hans Henkemans (1913-1995), who also composed throughout his life, was not exactly a household name, certainly not in the United States. Yet he had a fascinating career. Along with his musical training, Henkemans also studied to... Continue Reading
Shi-An Costello Does It Differently
by Jed Distler
Glenn Gould’s infamous remark to the effect that the only excuse for recording a piece is to do it differently appears to be Shi-An Costello’s credo, his mantra, and his modus operandi. Hell, let’s be honest, it’s also his gimmick. Costello doesn’t just mix and... Continue Reading
Universal Power: Jonathan Harvey’s Sacred Works
by James Imam
The output of late British composer Jonathan Harvey is uncommonly broad. Take the famous Mortuos Plango, Vivos Voco, for example, which was realized at IRCAM in 1980 and shows the composer at the forefront of electro-acoustic experimentation in Europe. Then consider that a series of... Continue Reading
Sterile Pinafore from Scottish Opera
by David Hurwitz
This sterile, bloodless performance, recorded in concert, is difficult to comprehend. Richard Egarr conducts a mincing, precious, charmless account of the score featuring a consistently light, “period style” sort of dry articulation and a dynamic range hovering around mezzo. Just mezzo. Add to that the... Continue Reading
Time Travel With Arvo Pärt
by Jens F. Laurson
This first complete recording of all of Arvo Pärt’s symphonies amounts to aesthetic time travel. From his avant-garde beginnings to his deliciously enchanting tintinnabuli-style minimalism, they cover the major stages of the Estonian composer’s work. It’s great to have the symphonies of one of the... Continue Reading
Beyond Bach & Vivaldi
by David Vernier
In the old days when people used to go to a record store, buy a recording, then take it home and have a couple of friends over to listen, sometimes they might play a little game: try to identify the composer/artist/music. This disc of baroque... Continue Reading
Norman Krieger’s Brahmsian Reserve
by Jed Distler
The arresting intensity and individual profile distinguishing Norman Krieger’s 2007 Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 recording with JoAnn Falletta conducting the Virginia Symphony Orchestra doesn’t spill over into this more recent account of the Second concerto. To be sure, Krieger’s solid technique and well-modulated sonority... Continue Reading
Leif Ove Andsnes Explores Sibelius
by Jed Distler
Much of the publicity surrounding Leif Ove Andsnes’ Sony Classical recital of piano works by Sibelius implies that this music was essentially unknown before Andsnes took up the cause. Not true, of course, but the music tends to be neglected, mostly due to the fact... Continue Reading
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