New Releases

[Madiel]

It's clearly Beyonce.

This!

[Madiel]

Same goes for Australian composers..........the most successful Australian composer I can think of is rarely performed in her own country.

Sia?

Or is it Elena Kats-Chernin, who frankly seems to be the only living Australian composer ABC Classic FM knows about. Drives me a bit nuts.

[Maestro267]

IIRC Oct-Dec is the big release drop period because they want you to buy all of them for Christmas.

Except in Hyperion-land it seems. Quite often, and this year is no exception, they don't release anything in December.

Also, their own page is now updated, as it's November 1st.

[Harry]

Not a new release as such, but put together in a complete box, this Brilliant release seems an attractive offer.
Anyone enlighten me on the artistic quality and sound?

[Brian]

Oddly, though Naxos' database has not yet fully updated for December, they HAVE started adding things for JANUARY, including:



And these two text-only entries:

PIANO SONATA 2 VARIATIONS
Composer(s):   RACHMANINOFF CORRELLI
Artist(s):   ZLATA CHOCHIEVA
Label:   Piano Classics (PNC)

and ***Todd alert***

VINGT REGARDS
Composer(s):   MESSIAEN, OLIVER
Artist(s):   JEAN-RODOLPHE KARS
Label:   Piano Classics (PNC)
2 CD set

[Todd]

and ***Todd alert***

VINGT REGARDS
Composer(s):   MESSIAEN, OLIVER
Artist(s):   JEAN-RODOLPHE KARS
Label:   Piano Classics (PNC)
2 CD set

Any more info on that?  More precisely, is it Jean-Rodolphe Kars, or Father Jean-Rodolphe Kars?  (As if that makes a difference as to whether I buy it.)

[Brian]

Any more info on that?  More precisely, is it Jean-Rodolphe Kars, or Father Jean-Rodolphe Kars?  (As if that makes a difference as to whether I buy it.)

That's all the info available now, sadly. I'd expect more info to pop up in the database the week before Thanksgiving. (Also, it originally said "Jean-Rudolphe"...)

EDIT: Found this page http://piano-classics.com/articles/m/messiaen-vingt-regards-sur-l-enfant-j%C3%A9sus/

[Todd]

That's all the info available now, sadly.

I'm thinking it's new.  As far as I know, he recorded only a few selections of the Vingt Regards in the 70s, which I have, he has recorded comparatively recently, which I don't have, and he has continued to lecture on Messiaen and apparently gives private performances (cited on other sites), so this could be quite the treat.

[Brian]

I think it's new too. 2 CDs implies a lot more recorded Messiaen than we know about from any other source. The prospect of Kars returning to a studio is very exciting.

Unrelated new release:

[Wanderer]

Not a new release as such, but put together in a complete box, this Brilliant release seems an attractive offer.
Anyone enlighten me on the artistic quality and sound?

The op.35 Études by Mark Viner and the Concerti da camera by Bellucci are new recordings. I can say that Viner's op.35 is really excellent. These are pieces whose felicities go well beyond the technical (a precursor set to the gargantuan ambitions of the op.39 Études), some of them successfully reaching for stirring depths of psychological perception, a fact that is not lost on Viner who gives interpretations of considerable insight - and technical mastery. I was much less impressed by the renditions of the concerti, the fault lying mostly with the orchestra and the limp conducting; Bellucci is mostly good, although he does have an annoying toy-piano sonority at times. For an exciting view into these fun, effervescent and quintessentially romantic works, Hamelin on Hyperion still reigns supreme.

As for the rest of the interpretations, Deljavan and Maltempo are excellent with their respective projects, which are quite recent compared to the other recordings on the set. Maltempo's rendition of the op.39 Études, in particular, is really superb; he's insightful, exciting and obviously able to meet the fiendish technical demands.

The others (Laurent Martin et al.) are mostly good, with the notable exception of the Trio Alkan, whose renditions of the chamber works are not to my liking.

[Harry]

The op.35 Études by Mark Viner and the Concerti da camera by Bellucci are new recordings. I can say that Viner's op.35 is really excellent. These are pieces whose felicities go well beyond the technical (a precursor set to the gargantuan ambitions of the op.39 Études), some of them successfully reaching for stirring depths of psychological perception, a fact that is not lost on Viner who gives interpretations of considerable insight - and technical mastery. I was much less impressed by the renditions of the concerti, the fault lying mostly with the orchestra and the limp conducting; Bellucci is mostly good, although he does have an annoying toy-piano sonority at times. For an exciting view into these fun, effervescent and quintessentially romantic works, Hamelin on Hyperion still reigns supreme.

As for the rest of the interpretations, Deljavan and Maltempo are excellent with their respective projects, which are quite recent compared to the other recordings on the set. Maltempo's rendition of the op.39 Études, in particular, is really superb; he's insightful, exciting and obviously able to meet the fiendish technical demands.

The others (Laurent Martin et al.) are mostly good, with the notable exception of the Trio Alkan, whose renditions of the chamber works are not to my liking.

Thank you Tasos. Your excellent reply will help making my decision.

[kyjo]

Out next month:



I'm not familiar with Richard Rodney Bennett's music, but this does look rather interesting. Anyone know much about this composer or have experiences with his music?

Records International's review of this recording sounds very enticing: http://recordsinternational.com/cd.php?cd=11T009

[Brian]

This new quartet, mentored by the Quatuor Ebène and Artemis Quartet, draws its name and inspiration from former Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. two truths and a lie

[San Antone]

This new quartet, mentored by the Quatuor Ebène and Artemis Quartet, draws its name and inspiration from former Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. two truths and a lie

Not.   

[Spineur]

This new quartet, mentored by the Quatuor Ebène and Artemis Quartet, draws its name and inspiration from former Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. two truths and a lie

I have read a lot of glowing reviews of this CD which got a diapason d'or.  I havnt bought it yet but its itching really bad !!

[North Star]

This new quartet, mentored by the Quatuor Ebène and Artemis Quartet, draws its name and inspiration from former Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. two truths and a lie

Quatuor Arod takes its name from Legolas' horse in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic Lord of the Rings trilogy – in Tolkien's mythic Rohirric language, Arod means 'swift'.

[Todd]

Quatuor Arod takes its name from Legolas' horse in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic Lord of the Rings trilogy – in Tolkien's mythic Rohirric language, Arod means 'swift'.

I'm not sure that's any better than taking inspiration from the slugger.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Sia?

Or is it Elena Kats-Chernin, who frankly seems to be the only living Australian composer ABC Classic FM knows about. Drives me a bit nuts.

Liza Lim, who is probably the most internationally performed Australian composer I can think of. ABC Classic FM rarely programme her music, unlike Kats-Chernin. Brett Dean, also getting quite a lot of international attention, seems to be getting more world premieres overseas than in his own country. I do try to see an Australian premiere whenever I can, though.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

PIANO SONATA 2 VARIATIONS
Composer(s):   RACHMANINOFF CORRELLI
Artist(s):   ZLATA CHOCHIEVA
Label:   Piano Classics (PNC)

Lol on Naxos' part. I think that's supposed to be Rachmaninoff's Corelli Variations, not "composer" Corelli.

I have Chochieva's first Rach disc - with the Chopin Variations - and it's a knockout. Looking forward to this one. 

[Todd]

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