All Reviews articles – Page 123
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ReviewBloch Schelomo, Voice in the Wilderness. Caplet: Epiphanie. Ravel: Kaddisch
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A poignant tribute to lost generationsMusicians: Raphael Wallfisch (cello) BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Benjamin WallfischComposer: Bloch, Caplet, RavelUnited by a biblical theme, these four works largely utilise the cello as a narrative voice, be it contemplative or commanding as in the two ...
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ReviewClarion Call. M. Berkeley Clarion Call and Gallop. Casken: Blue Medusa. Ferguson: Octet op.4, C. Wood: Septet
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: An adventurous disc of British music for mixed chamber ensemblesMusicians: Berkeley EnsembleComposer: M. Berkeley, Casken, Ferguson, C. WoodLaunched in 2011 the artist-led, download-only Resonus label has notched up close to 30 releases. If this disc is anything to go by – a ...
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ReviewPlay. Works by Monti, Elgar, Paganini, Glazunov, Rostropovich, Fauré, Dvorák, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns, Françaix, Tchaikovsky, Massenet, Popper, Schubert, Gluck, Bloch & Chopin
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Stunning virtuosity from a new young star of the celloMusicians: Edgar Moreau (cello) Pierre-Yves Hodique (piano)Composer: Monti, Elgar, Paganini, Glazunov, Rostropovich, Fauré, Dvorák, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns, Françaix, Tchaikovsky, Massenet, Popper, Schubert, Gluck, Bloch & ChopinA new gladiator enters the arena. If ...
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ReviewBeethoven: Violin Sonatas op.12 nos.1—3, op.23 & op.24 ‘Spring’
Description: Admirable accounts that could have exploited greater possibilities of period styleMusicians: Elizabeth Wallfisch (violin) David Breitman (fortepiano)Composer: BeethovenHistorically informed performances of Beethoven’s music have become an established part of the performance landscape, and this set, bringing together celebrated period-instrument specialists Elizabeth Wallfisch and David Breitman, promises much. ...
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ReviewMansurian: Double Concerto for violin and cello, Romance, Quasi parlando, Four Serious Songs
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Visceral playing on a disc celebrating an Armenian composer’s 75th birthdayMusicians: Patricia Kopatchinskaja (violin) Anja Lechner (cello) Amsterdam Sinfonietta/Candida Thompson (violin)Composer: MansurianIt’s hard to imagine a richer, more persuasive match between performers and music than that revealed on this remarkable, ...
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ReviewBrahms by Heart. Brahms: String Quartets op.51 nos.1 in C minor & 2 in A minor & op.67 in B flat major, String Quintet no.2 in G major op.111
THE STRAD RECOMMENDSThe Strad Issue: January 2014Description: An outstanding set performed entirely from memoryMusicians: Chiara Quartet, Roger Tapping (viola)Composer: BrahmsPrior to op.51, Brahms had made at least 20 attempts (all destroyed) to compose a string quartet worthy of the Viennese tradition that he held so dear. What ...
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ReviewProto: Nine Variants on Paganini. Rabbath: Reitba
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Double takes from two leading double bassistsMusicians: François Rabbath (double bass) Michael Cherlock, Frank Proto (piano/conductor) ESF Chamber Orchestra, Charleston Symphony Orchestra/David StahlComposer: Proto, RabbathTwo of the most eminent bassists around come together for what proves to be a thoroughly enjoyable, thrillingly ...
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ReviewPejaÄeviÄ : Violin Sonatas in D major op.26 & B flat minor op.43 ‘Slavic’, Canzonetta op.8, Menuet op.18, Romance op.22, Élégie op.34, Meditation op.51
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A valuable rediscovery of early 20th-century music from the BalkansMusicians: Andrej Bielow (violin) Oliver Triendl (piano)Composer: PejaÄeviÄThe tragically short-lived Dora Peja?evi? (1885–1923) was born into a highly cultured and wealthy Croatian family who ensured that her exceptional talent for the violin, piano ...
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ReviewHindemith: Viola Sonatas op.11 no.4 & op.25 no.1, Der Schwanendreher, Trauermusik
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: An enjoyable collection of Hindemith’s major works for violaMusicians: Antoine Tamestit (viola) Markus Hadulla (piano) Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra/Paavo JärviComposer: Hindemith Compared with several complete surveys of Hindemith’s viola music already available, Antoine Tamestit’s latest CD presents a conspectus ...
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ReviewDvorák: String Quartet in E major op.80, Miniatures op.75a, Cypresses
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Slightly tame accounts of some of Dvorák's lesser-known music for quartetMusicians: Zemlinsky QuartetComposer: DvorákGiven that Dvorák produced 15 string quartets in all (including his op.1, with two violas), he might be considered to be disproportionately overlooked by many ensembles. Marking its 20th ...
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Review20th century: The American Scene. Copland: Violin Sonata. Carter: 4 Lauds. Cage: Six Melodies for violin and piano. Corigliano: Violin Sonata
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: An enterprising disc marred by variable playingMusicians: Tai Murray (violin) Ashley Wass (piano)Composer: Copland, Carter, Cage, Corigliano It’s a bold ambition – as the fine booklet notes in Tai Murray’s generously filled disc admit – to try to encapsulate the breadth and ...
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ReviewSaint-Saëns: Complete Works for Violin and Orchestra & Cello and Orchestra
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A comprehensive survey of the complete violin and cello works with orchestraMusicians: Elina Buksha, Jolente De Maeyer, Harriet Langley, Maria Milstein, Liya Petrova, Tatiana Samoui (violin), Pau Codina, Wojciech Fudala, Adam Krzeszowiec, Deborah Pae, Noëlle Weidmann (cello), Royal Liège Philharmonic Orchestra/Christian ArmingComposer: ...
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ReviewBritten: String Quartets nos.1–3, Three Divertimenti
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A return to Britten’s quartet oeuvre by a group of pioneering interpretersMusicians: Endellion Quartet Composer: BrittenThe all-British Endellion Quartet has long been a champion of Britten’s chamber repertoire, not least in its EMI recording of the string quartet works almost 30 ...
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ReviewBrahms: Violin Sonatas no.1 in G major op.78, no 2 in A op.100 & no.3 in D minor op.108
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Proof that individuality can have its place in Brahms interpretationMusicians: Ida Bieler (violin) James Maddox (piano)Composer: BrahmsOf the works that I regularly review, few receive such a divergence of interpretation as the three Brahms violin sonatas. This new release from the American-born violinist Ida Bieler falls ...
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ReviewBiber: Fidicinium sacro-profanum
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A vibrant performance of a 17th-century sonata collectionMusicians: Ars Antiqua Austria/Gunar Letzbor (violin/director) Composer: BiberArs Antiqua Austria’s investigation of Biber’s instrumental music continues with Fidicinium sacro-profanum (1683), twelve sonatas scored for one or two violins, two violas and continuo. Combining sacred ...
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ReviewThe Soviet Experience Vol.4: Shostakovich: String Quartets nos.13–15. Schnittke: String Quartet no.3
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: A worthy conclusion to an impressive Shostakovich cycleMusicians: Pacifica QuartetComposer: Shostakovich, SchnittkeThis volume completes the Pacifica’s cycle of Shostakovich quartets. It opens with a clear, searching exposition of the dark 13th Quartet, superbly paced, inexorable, with a tonal range austere at one extreme and ...
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ReviewBaRock Experience. Barrière Cello Sonatas nos.1–3. Vivaldi: Cello Sonatas no.3 in A minor RV43, no.5 in E minor RV40 & no.6 in B flat major RV46
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Some lesser-known Baroque sonatas fare well in the company of familiar VivaldiMusicians: Jelena O?i? (cello) Ljerka O?i? (organ)Composer: Barrière, VivaldiJean Barrière’s sonatas are tremendous, and by rights should be widely played rather than offered as an interesting by-way of Baroque repertoire. They are chock full ...
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ReviewSmetana: String Quartet no.1 in E minor ‘From my life’. Janácek: String Quartets no.1 ‘Kreutzer Sonata’ & no.2 ‘Intimate Letters’
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Performances that bring out the personal nature of the works’ inspirationsMusicians: Jerusalem QuartetComposer: Smetana, JanácekIt is clear from the opening of Smetana’s First Quartet that the Jerusalem players have the quality essential for all these deeply personal works: character, and lots of ...
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ReviewBantock: Violin Sonata no.3. Scott: Viola Sonata. Sacheverell Coke: Violin Sonata no.1
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Welcome airings of long-forgotten British sonatas for violin and violaMusicians: Rupert Marshall-Luck (violin/viola) Matthew Rickard (piano)Composer: Bantock, Scott, Sacheverell Coke It’s always heartening to see efforts to revive the works of lesser-known, or even long-forgotten British composers, and to that ...
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ReviewTubin: Violin Sonata no.1, Suite on Estonian Dance Pieces, Three Pieces, Meditation, Prelude, Capriccio no.2, Cock’s Dance Paganini Caprice op.1 no.24 (arr. Tubin)
The Strad Issue: January 2014Description: Rare repertoire from Estonia lovingly presentedMusicians: Sigrid Kuulmann (violin) Marko Martinu(piano)Composer: TubinEduard Tubin composed a substantial amount of violin music, including two concertos as well as this first large-scale sonata by an Estonian, written shortly after completing his First Symphony in 1934. ...
