Rebel Takes Goldberg Beyond the Variations
There here are two things I can count on with a Rebel release. First, it won’t be the usual early music fare. Second, it will have performances that command my attention. “Johann Gottlieb Goldberg:...
View ArticleWuorinen’s Eighth Symphony complex and compelling
Charles Wuorinen’s Eighth Symphony and Fourth Piano Concerto are hard music to perform, and hard music to listen to. But they’re worth the investment of time and energy both for performers, and...
View ArticleBerl Senofsky in Concert – a legend returns
Berl Senofsky, though an influential and respected artist, didn’t record a lot. So his reputation rests mainly on accounts of those who heard him in performance or studied with him. This new release...
View ArticleHoracio Gutiérrez – Chopin and Schumann
Sometimes liner notes can make a difference. In the booklet for this release, Stephen Wigler suggested that Chopin’s Op. 28 Preludes might be considered a single cycle comprised of very short works, as...
View ArticleGarrick Ohlsson’s Purposeful Scriabin
Garrick Ohlsson is no stranger to the music of Alexander Scriabin — and in his hands, Scriabin’s music becomes a little less strange. Ohlsson’s recorded a cycle of Scriabin’s Poèmes, Études, various...
View ArticlePoul Ruders’ Fiery Fifth Symphony
In one sense, this release of Poul Ruder’s Fifth Symphony isn’t much of a bargain. The entire album clocks in at 26:30, far below the average of 72 minutes for a classical release. But folks who shop...
View ArticleDionne Jackson’s Love Letter
Parisian Inspirations is the kind of recital recording I like — one where the artist has a personal connection with every work. In the liner notes Dionne Jackson writes, “I feel a direct lineage to...
View ArticleMartin Perry pairs Weisgall and Hindemith
Martin Perry couples two works the complement each other — one’s very well-known, the other deserves to be. The well-known work is Paul Hindemith’s Ludus Tonalis. This 1942 masterwork is a summation of...
View ArticleGregory and Sinchuk excel with Rachmaninoff
Rachmaninoff wrote very little for violin and piano, but that didn’t stop others from transcribing his music for those instruments. This recording collects Rachmaninoff’s three violin and piano works,...
View ArticleGregory Mertl Piano Concerto – music with a strong narrative
How to best to describe the music of Gregory Mertl? According to the composer, it “often enfolds as a narrative generated from its opening ideas.” The three works on this release all have a...
View ArticleSeattle Symphony Shines with George Perle
George Perle didn’t come to orchestral composition until fairly late in his career. But as this new album shows, it was worth the wait. Maestro Morlot and the Seattle Symphony deliver strong,...
View ArticleQuattro Mani Restructure Piano Duo Concept
The new release from the Quattro Mani is aptly titled “Re-Structures.” Steven Beck and Susan Grace restructure the concept of a piano duo, making it more of a keyboard duo. And that’s an important...
View ArticlePaul Chihara Takes the A Train and Mixes Genres
Paul Chihara composes for films. Film scores must support the narrative and communicate emotion. And it must do it in a way that instantly connects with the viewer. That skill set works well for...
View ArticleCooperstock Delivers Nuanced Performances of Bernstein Piano Music
Leonard Bernstein was an accomplished pianist and a prolific composer. And yet his oeuvre for solo piano is surprisingly small — small enough to fit onto two CDs. The first disc of this release...
View ArticlePaul Lansky – Idle Fancies Keep Gwen Dease Busy
Paul Lansky has been creating an impressive catalog of percussion music since the 1990s. This release features three exceptional works for solo marimba, written for some exceptional performers. “Three...
View ArticlePoul Ruders – Occam’s Razor
The cover of this release shows two old friends sharing a moment — composer Poul Ruders and guitarist David Starobin. Their 30+ year relationship has been extraordinarily fruitful. This release...
View ArticleMcDermott Delivers Intimate Performances of Haydn Sonatas
This release is a follow-up to McDermott’s 2014 release of Haydn Piano Concertos and Sonatas. This time, Anne-Marie McDermott presents an entire program of solo sonatas. Haydn’s sonatas have a...
View ArticleCraig Morris Delivers an Exciting Program of Solo Philip Glass
Craig Morris presents a fascinating program of Philip Glass music. Although considered a minimalist, most of Glass’ recorded music is for ensembles (both large and small). Glass’ best-known works are...
View ArticleGarlands for Steven Stucky
Steven Stucky was both a successful composer and an influential teacher. His Second Concerto for Orchestra won the Pulitzer Prize. Stucky produced a large number of works and taught some of the most...
View ArticleRune Most Delivers Engaging Performances of Mozart Flute Music
A quick check on Arkivmusic.com revealed over 80 releases of Mozart’s flute concertos in print. So why should anyone pay attention to this release? Simple — the quality of the performances. Rune Most...
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