New Releases

[Madiel]

All in all, I stand by this. Is there the odd chance that the result may be my very favorite from the hundreds of Brandenburgs available? I suppose. So what?


PS/ Out of curiosity, really, some time ago I picked up the Ensemble Caprice recording, which intersperses arrangements of pieces from the Shostakovich Op. 87. It's a mighty fine performance, and give them credit for imaginative presentation.

I would give them absolutely zero credit for that kind of novelty for the sake of it.

No one complains there are too many brands of car available when another brand is launched. They just choose the one they want. MOST people don't decide that a particular one is more worthwhile because it comes with a bonus hairdryer.

Don't want another Brandenburg? Don't buy it!

[Brian]

I would give them absolutely zero credit for that kind of novelty for the sake of it.

Well, it sounds like they did a good job of it and Karl liked it. BIS recently had a Brandenburg set with all star soloists and six new commission premieres for the same instrumentations as the six originals (loosely...5 had a typewriter) but unfortunately I didn't like any of the new stuff.

[Karl Henning]

Well, it sounds like they did a good job of it and Karl liked it. BIS recently had a Brandenburg set with all star soloists and six new commission premieres for the same instrumentations as the six originals (loosely...5 had a typewriter) but unfortunately I didn't like any of the new stuff.

Well, good money for those who wrote them, I suppose .... (the typewriter has, in our day, become something of a curious antiquity—was thinking about that t'other night when I was watching Chas Beaumont's "Valley of the Shadow" from season 4 of The Twilight Zone.

[prémont]

Well, it sounds like they did a good job of it and Karl liked it. BIS recently had a Brandenburg set with all star soloists and six new commission premieres for the same instrumentations as the six originals (loosely...5 had a typewriter) but unfortunately I didn't like any of the new stuff.

Yes, these commissioned new works are indeed horrible listening particularly in this context. I have made my own version on CDR containing the Brandenburgs exclusively.

[staxomega]

Didn't like it as much as existing recordings, both from pianistic and interpretive perspectives. Wouldn't recommend. Others may disagree.

Any thoughts on her Berg/Schoenberg/Zimmerman/Liszt disc if you've heard it? It was part of my Berg Piano Sonata comparison a while back and it was one of the most individual interpretations, not sure what I made of it.

[Mirror Image]

Coming out next month:



I'm definitely looking forward to this recording. Just when I was about ready to write Deutsche Grammophon off as one of the most confused classical labels of our current time, this Gubaidulina appeared in a search on JPC.

[amw]

Any thoughts on her Berg/Schoenberg/Zimmerman/Liszt disc if you've heard it? It was part of my Berg Piano Sonata comparison a while back and it was one of the most individual interpretations, not sure what I made of it.

I have not, but I'll take a listen at some point.

[Harry]

Looks quite interesting.

[Brian]

Includes the Petrarch sonnets in the sung versions.







World premiere of the full orchestra version of Gran Partita by Franz Gleissner
Violin Concerto in E flat falsely attributed to Mozart, actually anonymous

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Saint-Saens complete symphonies set on Erato, Cristian Macelaru conducting the Orchestre National de France with Olivier Latry on organ.
That's the third set in two years I think after the boxed up Naxos/Malmo cycle, which was highly acclaimed, and the Kantorow cycle on BIS with organist Thierry Escaich.

[amw]

World premiere of the full orchestra version of Gran Partita by Franz Gleissner
Violin Concerto in E flat falsely attributed to Mozart, actually anonymous

If this is K268/365b, it is currently and fairly reliably attributed to the extremely well-named Johann Friedrich Eck (1767?-1838), a composer and violinist who Mozart knew personally and is otherwise so obscure I'm not sure there are any other pieces by him available on record.

[André]

The Ida Haendel set should be self-recommending. SWR has issued these fine recordings singly before. Although Müller-Kray is little known, he is a very good conductor in the german tradition, holding the post of Generalmusikdirektor in Stuttgart until his death in 1969. And of course, Haendel's artistry is unique.

Edit: they are fine sounding studio (not live) recordings.

[Brian]

If this is K268/365b, it is currently and fairly reliably attributed to the extremely well-named Johann Friedrich Eck (1767?-1838), a composer and violinist who Mozart knew personally and is otherwise so obscure I'm not sure there are any other pieces by him available on record.

Would not surprise me if a label willing to market Eck as "New Mozart" would also be misleading about his name being Eck.

I'm pretty excited about the Haendel set.

[Gurn Blanston]

If this is K268/365b, it is currently and fairly reliably attributed to the extremely well-named Johann Friedrich Eck (1767?-1838), a composer and violinist who Mozart knew personally and is otherwise so obscure I'm not sure there are any other pieces by him available on record.

You are probably right about 'none on record'. I certainly haven't seen any.

Here is the text from Köchel 6:
K6 Anh C 14.04         K1 268       K3 365b   
Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in Eb
First published by André in 1799; a contemporary writer stated work had been written around 1784 and played to the young Violinist Johann Friedrich Eck in Munich by Mozart, although Constanze stated that if authentic, it dated prior to this; K1 placed in works of 1776; in later 19th Century believed first and last movements might contain some Mozart material later reworked by unskilled hand; Oldman believed stylistically similar to Sinfonia Concertante K365 and work was completed by Eck; K3 placed in 1780; K6 removed from authentic works.   

Comparing this concerto with known Violin Concertos by Eck, Lebermann (Musikforschung-1978) concludes works is probably by Eck and written sometime before 1790.

I haven't heard it, but not being by Mozart doesn't mean it sucks. I'll have to check it out.

[amw]

It appeared in a number of early "complete sets", including at least those by Christiane Edinger and Mayumi Fujikawa. Presto also lists recordings by Jacques Thibaud (1927) and Christian Ferras (1954). All of these except the Edinger precede its removal from the Köchel catalogue, and I think this would be only its second recording since that point.

It's a nice piece, not really up to Mozart's standards but at least as good as some of the earlier concertos by Mysliveček.

[Brian]

Anda cover art

[Gurn Blanston]

It appeared in a number of early "complete sets", including at least those by Christiane Edinger and Mayumi Fujikawa. Presto also lists recordings by Jacques Thibaud (1927) and Christian Ferras (1954). All of these except the Edinger precede its removal from the Köchel catalogue, and I think this would be only its second recording since that point.

It's a nice piece, not really up to Mozart's standards but at least as good as some of the earlier concertos by Mysliveček.

That explains why I haven't run across it, since I don't do historic recordings. Being a fan of Mysliveček, I think that's probably a comparison that would intrigue me. I'll look into it, since I am really quite fond of violin concertos from the Classic Era. Thanks for the info.

[Karl Henning]

That explains why I haven't run across it, since I don't do historic recordings. Being a fan of Mysliveček, I think that's probably a comparison that would intrigue me. I'll look into it, since I am really quite fond of violin concertos from the Classic Era. Thanks for the info.

Corn to your sickle, I was thinkin'.

[Gurn Blanston]

Corn to your sickle, I was thinkin'.

Aye, right in the old sweet spot!   

[amw]

Almost every piece contains narration or spoken word. I try to keep an open mind, but any piece of music where I can understand the text is not something I want to listen to under any circumstances. For everyone else who likes avant-garde or experimental music, this is obviously a major addition to the discography and merits close attention.

[Mirror Image]

Coming out early next month:



Without question, this is most definitely a must-buy for me as I've enjoyed the other installments of this series.