Artist: Joshua Bell.
Album: Voice of the Violin.
Recording Company: Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Recording Date: 2006.
Rachmaninoff Vocalise
Schubert Ave Maria
Faure Apres un reve
Dvorak Song of the Moon
Mozart Laudate Dominum
Donizetti Una furtiva lagrima
Orff In trutina
Mendelsohn May Breezes
Debussy Beau soir
Ponce Estrellita
De Falla Nana
Bizet Je crois entendre encore
R. Strauss Morgen!
I've heard Joshau Bell in concert before at Powell Hall. I bought one of his CD's last Xmas, Voice of the Violin, at Barnes & Noble. I enjoyed the works on this album. Anna Netrebko is also on the last song, Morgen! by Strauss. The songs are so idyllic, I could fall asleep listening to them. Recommended.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Review of Anna Netrebko's Russian Album
Artist: Anna Netrebko.
Album: Russian Album.
Recording Studio: Deutsche Grammophon.
Recording Date: 2006.
Tchaikovsky:
Iolanta Airos No. 1
Romance Op. 38 No. 6
Eugene Onegin Letter Scene from Act I
Rachmaninov:
Song Op. 21 No. 7
Song Op. 4 No. 4
Francesca da Rimini Excerpt from Tableau II
Rimsky-Korsakov:
Tales from the Tsar Saltan from Act IV
The Snow Maiden Scene and Aria from Prologue
The Snow Maiden Finale from Act IV
The Tsar's Bride Scene and Aria from Act IV
Glinka:
A Life for the Tsar Cavitina and Rondo from Act I
Prokofiev:
War and Peace Exerpt from Act I
This was Anna Netrebko's fourth or fifth album for Deutsche Grammophon. It's entirely in Russian with 19th and early 20th century Russian composers. The works of the mighty five play prominently in this work. Much of this I hadn't heard before. But Russian music has become more mainstream within the classical music repartee.
But the "miracle from Saint Petersburg" does her magic with this album. Recommended as a birthday or Xmas present for the discerning opera lover.
Album: Russian Album.
Recording Studio: Deutsche Grammophon.
Recording Date: 2006.
Tchaikovsky:
Iolanta Airos No. 1
Romance Op. 38 No. 6
Eugene Onegin Letter Scene from Act I
Rachmaninov:
Song Op. 21 No. 7
Song Op. 4 No. 4
Francesca da Rimini Excerpt from Tableau II
Rimsky-Korsakov:
Tales from the Tsar Saltan from Act IV
The Snow Maiden Scene and Aria from Prologue
The Snow Maiden Finale from Act IV
The Tsar's Bride Scene and Aria from Act IV
Glinka:
A Life for the Tsar Cavitina and Rondo from Act I
Prokofiev:
War and Peace Exerpt from Act I
This was Anna Netrebko's fourth or fifth album for Deutsche Grammophon. It's entirely in Russian with 19th and early 20th century Russian composers. The works of the mighty five play prominently in this work. Much of this I hadn't heard before. But Russian music has become more mainstream within the classical music repartee.
But the "miracle from Saint Petersburg" does her magic with this album. Recommended as a birthday or Xmas present for the discerning opera lover.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Review of Alison Balsom's Italian Concertos
Artist: Alison Balsom, trumpet.
Album: Italian Concertos.
Recording House: EMI Classics.
Recording Date: 2010.
Antonio Vivaldi, 1678-1741
Violin Concerto in A minor RV356
Benedetto Marcello, 1686-1739
Oboe Concerto in C minor
Tomas Albinoni, 1671-1750
Oboe Concerto in B flat OP. 7 NO. 3
Themes of Domenico Cimarosa, 1749-1801
Oboe Concerto in C minor by Arthur Benjamin, 1893-1960
Antonio Vivaldi, 1678-1741
Violin Concerto in G OP. 3 No. RV310
Giuseppe Tartini, 1692-1770
Concerto in D D53
Tomaso Albinoni, 1671-1739
Violin Sonata Da Chiesa in D minor
Alison Balsom is the type of woman I'd like to marry. Needless to say, that will never happen. Her baroque brass work is elegant. I enjoyed listening to this CD many times. She is one of the leading classical trumpet players active today.
However, this purchase happened by accident. I rummaged through a local Borders during their liquidation sale. I bought the CD on a lark. I was used to listening to Canadian Brass CD's. This work is a nice change. In the future, I need to be on the lookout for more of Ms. Balsom's work,
Album: Italian Concertos.
Recording House: EMI Classics.
Recording Date: 2010.
Antonio Vivaldi, 1678-1741
Violin Concerto in A minor RV356
Benedetto Marcello, 1686-1739
Oboe Concerto in C minor
Tomas Albinoni, 1671-1750
Oboe Concerto in B flat OP. 7 NO. 3
Themes of Domenico Cimarosa, 1749-1801
Oboe Concerto in C minor by Arthur Benjamin, 1893-1960
Antonio Vivaldi, 1678-1741
Violin Concerto in G OP. 3 No. RV310
Giuseppe Tartini, 1692-1770
Concerto in D D53
Tomaso Albinoni, 1671-1739
Violin Sonata Da Chiesa in D minor
Alison Balsom is the type of woman I'd like to marry. Needless to say, that will never happen. Her baroque brass work is elegant. I enjoyed listening to this CD many times. She is one of the leading classical trumpet players active today.
However, this purchase happened by accident. I rummaged through a local Borders during their liquidation sale. I bought the CD on a lark. I was used to listening to Canadian Brass CD's. This work is a nice change. In the future, I need to be on the lookout for more of Ms. Balsom's work,
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Review of The Tallis Scholars' Requiem
Review of The Tallis Scholars' Requiem
Artist: The Tallis Scholars.
Album: Requiem.
Recording Label: Gimmell.
Recording Date: 2005
Tomas Luis De Victoria (1548-1611)
Requiem
Versa est in luctum
Duarte Lobo (1565-1646)
Requiem for six voices
Manuel Cardoso (1566-1650)
Requiem
Non mortui
Sitivit anima mea
Mulier quae erat
Nos autem gloriari
Alonso Lobo (1555-1617)
Versa est in luctum
Credo quod redemptor
Vivo ego, dicit Dominus
Ave Maria
The Tallis Scholars are professional musicians based in the UK who perform Baroque and Renaissance period music. I discovered them in the middle 1990s at a public library. That was when my Latin was still fresh from my undergraduate days. Now, it's rusted away...
However, the works on this CD are from some underrated Spanish and Portuguese composers. One composed works for the death of a 16th century pope. All the music is based for the Roman Catholic Requiem liturgy. It's a two CD work with nearly 2.5 hours of sacred Latin choral music.
The music itself is uplifting and enjoyable. Even if you don't understand Latin. I appreciate it even more from an artistic standpoint because of my 15 years with an Anglican choir singing Tallis and other Baroque masters. But what The Tallis Scholars do on a regular basis never ceases to amaze me.
Artist: The Tallis Scholars.
Album: Requiem.
Recording Label: Gimmell.
Recording Date: 2005
Tomas Luis De Victoria (1548-1611)
Requiem
Versa est in luctum
Duarte Lobo (1565-1646)
Requiem for six voices
Manuel Cardoso (1566-1650)
Requiem
Non mortui
Sitivit anima mea
Mulier quae erat
Nos autem gloriari
Alonso Lobo (1555-1617)
Versa est in luctum
Credo quod redemptor
Vivo ego, dicit Dominus
Ave Maria
The Tallis Scholars are professional musicians based in the UK who perform Baroque and Renaissance period music. I discovered them in the middle 1990s at a public library. That was when my Latin was still fresh from my undergraduate days. Now, it's rusted away...
However, the works on this CD are from some underrated Spanish and Portuguese composers. One composed works for the death of a 16th century pope. All the music is based for the Roman Catholic Requiem liturgy. It's a two CD work with nearly 2.5 hours of sacred Latin choral music.
The music itself is uplifting and enjoyable. Even if you don't understand Latin. I appreciate it even more from an artistic standpoint because of my 15 years with an Anglican choir singing Tallis and other Baroque masters. But what The Tallis Scholars do on a regular basis never ceases to amaze me.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Review of Eroica Trio (1997)
Artists: Eroica Trio.
Album: Eroica Trio.
Publisher: EMI Classics.
Release Date: 1997.
George Gershwin - Three Preludes.
Marice Ravel - Piano Trio (1914).
Benjamin Godard - Berceuse.
Paul Schoenfield - Cafe Music.
I have had this CD for a long time. I discovered the Eroica Trio by accident on a local NPR station when they still played classical music in St. Louis. I could have heard them live when I lived outside of Ames, IA in early 2003. However, I just have several of their CDs.
The Trio has released a ton of albums since their debut CD in 1997. Bryan Miller of the Post-Dispatch called the Erotic Trio because the three musicians looked like Covergirl models. Besides the eye candy, their music is excellent. If you get a chance, do see them in concert. It's worth it.
Album: Eroica Trio.
Publisher: EMI Classics.
Release Date: 1997.
George Gershwin - Three Preludes.
Marice Ravel - Piano Trio (1914).
Benjamin Godard - Berceuse.
Paul Schoenfield - Cafe Music.
I have had this CD for a long time. I discovered the Eroica Trio by accident on a local NPR station when they still played classical music in St. Louis. I could have heard them live when I lived outside of Ames, IA in early 2003. However, I just have several of their CDs.
The Trio has released a ton of albums since their debut CD in 1997. Bryan Miller of the Post-Dispatch called the Erotic Trio because the three musicians looked like Covergirl models. Besides the eye candy, their music is excellent. If you get a chance, do see them in concert. It's worth it.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Bach: Violin Concertos/Gubaidulina: In tempus praesens
Album: Bach - Violin Concertos/Gubaidulina - In tempus praesens
Artist: Anne Sophie Mutter
Recording Company: Deutsche Grammophon
Release Date: 2008.
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Violin Concerto in A minor
Violin Concerto in E major
Sofia Gubaidulina (1931)
In tempus praesens
The Bach recordings are solid pieces. I enjoyed hearing Mutter and her chamber orchestra record them. What can I say about Bach? Other than his works stand the test of time. Because of his staying power, Bach ranks as one of the immortals of classical music.
In tempus praesens is one of those atonal modern pieces that I don't know how quite to react. I do like new pieces of music. Don't get me wrong. Just because I'm a 19th century romantic at heart, I do appreciate 20th century music. And new music should be patronized.
Unfortunately in the words of Bryan Miller, modern classical music became movie soundtracks. I'm of the opinion new music is meant for live performances and recordings. But I fear I don't have the proper musical language to describe In tempus praesens. It's meant to be experience and then judged for what it is. I think that is what Mutter and the composer, Sofia Gubaidulina, intended. But if modern music isn't your forte, then you might want to skip this recording.
Artist: Anne Sophie Mutter
Recording Company: Deutsche Grammophon
Release Date: 2008.
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Violin Concerto in A minor
Violin Concerto in E major
Sofia Gubaidulina (1931)
In tempus praesens
The Bach recordings are solid pieces. I enjoyed hearing Mutter and her chamber orchestra record them. What can I say about Bach? Other than his works stand the test of time. Because of his staying power, Bach ranks as one of the immortals of classical music.
In tempus praesens is one of those atonal modern pieces that I don't know how quite to react. I do like new pieces of music. Don't get me wrong. Just because I'm a 19th century romantic at heart, I do appreciate 20th century music. And new music should be patronized.
Unfortunately in the words of Bryan Miller, modern classical music became movie soundtracks. I'm of the opinion new music is meant for live performances and recordings. But I fear I don't have the proper musical language to describe In tempus praesens. It's meant to be experience and then judged for what it is. I think that is what Mutter and the composer, Sofia Gubaidulina, intended. But if modern music isn't your forte, then you might want to skip this recording.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Review of Hilary Hahn's Bach Concertos
Name: Bach Violin Concertos
Performers: Hilary Hahn & Los Angels Chamber Orchestra
Recording Company: Deutsche Grammophon
Date: 2003
Concerto for Violin, Strings, and Continuo in E major, BWV 1042
Concerto for 2 Violins, Strings, and Continuo in D minor, BWV 1043
Concerto for Violin, Strings, and Continuo in A minor, BWV 1041
Concerto for Oboe, Violin, Strings, and Continuo in C minor, BWV 1060
I bought this CD in October 2010 at a local Borders in St. Louis, MO. I enjoyed hearing Hilary Hahn's work. This album is an hour's worth of Bach violin concertos. I'd hear Hahn when she performed at Powell Symphony Hall back in the late 1990s. I've always been impressed by her technical performance. Hearing on disc is as rewarding as hearing her live.
And there has always been a place in my heart for Bach. The endurance of his music is a testimony to his genius. Though violinists tend to fall back on his work when it comes to performances. I highly recommend this CD for its artistry and flawlessness.
Performers: Hilary Hahn & Los Angels Chamber Orchestra
Recording Company: Deutsche Grammophon
Date: 2003
Concerto for Violin, Strings, and Continuo in E major, BWV 1042
Concerto for 2 Violins, Strings, and Continuo in D minor, BWV 1043
Concerto for Violin, Strings, and Continuo in A minor, BWV 1041
Concerto for Oboe, Violin, Strings, and Continuo in C minor, BWV 1060
I bought this CD in October 2010 at a local Borders in St. Louis, MO. I enjoyed hearing Hilary Hahn's work. This album is an hour's worth of Bach violin concertos. I'd hear Hahn when she performed at Powell Symphony Hall back in the late 1990s. I've always been impressed by her technical performance. Hearing on disc is as rewarding as hearing her live.
And there has always been a place in my heart for Bach. The endurance of his music is a testimony to his genius. Though violinists tend to fall back on his work when it comes to performances. I highly recommend this CD for its artistry and flawlessness.
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