New Releases

[Brian]

Wow, if I had a time machine I know where I'd go in August 1942.

[Madiel]

That is one of my favorite performances of anything ever. It's like they're on fire.

Amen!

[Madiel]

Bear in mind that the 2 piano version came into being along side the orchestral version
(From Wikipedia)

Yes, I was aware. Concurrent versions seem to be better (or maybe that's just confirmation bias talking).

[Madiel]

Interesting!  When did they record it?  I'll have to see if I can find it to listen to. 

PD

It's from the 70s. These days it's in several Ashkenazy collections.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

It's from the 70s. These days it's in several Ashkenazy collections.

Thanks! 

PD

[Klavier]

This statement is too general to make any sense. Some piano "reductions" are simply a practical measure to enable a person to hear music that would otherwise be inaccessible to them. Others are a reimagining of the orchestral work which qualify as a works of art in their own right. The two piano version of Brahms' Haydn variations is magnificent. The two piano versions of the Debussy orchestral works made me understand that the "color" I was hearing was mostly harmony, and not orchestration, as I had previously believed. I can think of numerous piano reductions which are at least as interesting as the orchestral versions of the same piece.

I might be a little biased since I'm a pianist, but I agree, and sometimes piano reductions can expose the lack of compositional "meat" once the pretty colors are removed! From a playing standpoint, it's fun for me to hear how a pianist copes with often extreme technical demands of some orchestral works.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Being an extremely huge fan of this work, I can't miss this. This kind of rarities is always welcome to be tasted. I'm not sure about Jeffrey, but I do have a hunch.

+1.

[kyjo]

This statement is too general to make any sense. Some piano "reductions" are simply a practical measure to enable a person to hear music that would otherwise be inaccessible to them. Others are a reimagining of the orchestral work which qualify as a works of art in their own right. The two piano version of Brahms' Haydn variations is magnificent. The two piano versions of the Debussy orchestral works made me understand that the "color" I was hearing was mostly harmony, and not orchestration, as I had previously believed. I can think of numerous piano reductions which are at least as interesting as the orchestral versions of the same piece.

Fair enough!

[kyjo]

Spotted this on the Chandos website. Looks very intriguing to say the least:



(Klebanov, 1907-1987, was a Ukrainian composer.)

[Mirror Image]

Spotted this on the Chandos website. Looks very intriguing to say the least:



(Klebanov, 1907-1987, was a Ukrainian composer.)

Never heard of him, Kyle, but that particular series is quite interesting. I only own the Ben-Haim one, but enjoyed it immensely.

[T. D.]

Spotted this on the Chandos website. Looks very intriguing to say the least:



(Klebanov, 1907-1987, was a Ukrainian composer.)

That looks really appealing, but I will wait for reviews.
I looked up Klebanov's bio on Wikipedia and found:

Unfortunately, the first symphony "In Memoriam to the Martyrs of Babi Yar" (1945) fell afoul of Stalinist critics who found it anti-patriotic. Being accused of distortion of the historic truth about the Soviet people and of national narrow-mindedness it was exiled for a life in archives. Stalin made his infamous attack on Soviet artists. The Soviet Composers' Union adopted the unwritten rule that one composer would be selected to take the heat for all of them—Klebanov was it. Although Klebanov was spared exile to Siberia, or worse, he was relegated to an obscure existence and spent most of this period composing politically correct works of "socialist realism" with titles like Ode for the Party and "First of May" Symphony. Following thirty years in de facto exile, Klebanov thawed out with the rest of the USSR in the 1980s.

(Only having read this did I recall that I'd previously seen his name in connection with "taking the heat"...)
The works on the CD are from the 1950s, when Klebanov was toeing the political line, so I vaguely fear they could be less interesting than his early or late compositions.

[JBS]

Cover and back of Warner's Bartok set


Also Capucon does Part as both soloist and conductor

[Todd]

A 28'+ opening movement for D960,which has movements split across two discs.  Very thinky.



Guaranteed supreme technical excellence.





Recorded over the summer.  Quite enticing.

[Mirror Image]

Cover and back of Warner's Bartok set


Also Capucon does Part as both soloist and conductor

Both of these have already been mentioned.

[Brian]

NOVEMBER





All three quartets + arranged Op. 118 No. 2







The world's oldest working lute, made by Sixtus Rauwolf in 1590ish, returns to perform music written over 100 years later!





I am super interested in this Kalevala collection. Here's an explanation of how the Sibelius is a world premiere:
"Compared to the first version, Lemminkäinen in Tuonela was reduced by almost a quarter in 1897: the 32-bar introduction was omitted completely and the middle section was substantially shortened. In the 1939 version the structure was further condensed, as Sibelius cut twenty more bars from the latter part of the middle section. The orchestration was also revised and fine-tuned: the harp in the original version was omitted from the 1897 version, and the final version omitted the tuba as well."

[Brian]

NOVEMB-MORE



Unfortunately the Pierne disc is the two suites from each piece, not complete works.



Giorgini's Liszt is one 85' CD with a Bosendorfer. Benediction 17:41, Funerailles 12:22



Second complete Pelleas this year after the Alpha recording.





Scriabin, Alexander - Classical Composer
       3 Pieces, Op. 45
   .   » 1.   No. 1. Feuillet d'Album
   .   » 2.   No. 2. Poème fantasque
   .   » 3.   No. 3. Prélude
Langgaard, Rued - Classical Composer
   .   4.   Sponsa Christi tædium vitæ, BVN 297
Scriabin, Alexander - Classical Composer
   .   5.   Piano Sonata No. 10 in C Major, Op. 70
Langgaard, Rued - Classical Composer
       Afgrundsmusik (Music of the Abyss), BVN 169
   .   » 6.   I. Inflessibile mostruoso
   .   » 7.   II. Frenetico, quasi rondo
Scriabin, Alexander - Classical Composer
   .   8.   Piano Sonata No. 9 in F Major, Op. 68, "Black Mass"
Langgaard, Rued - Classical Composer
   .   9.   Flammekamrene (The Flame Chambers), BVN 221
Scriabin, Alexander - Classical Composer
   .   10.   Vers la flamme, Op. 72

[Todd]

Giorgini's Liszt is one 85' CD with a Bosendorfer. Benediction 17:41, Funerailles 12:22

I'll take it.

[Brian]

I'll take it.

I just streamed her Respighi song album accompanying Bostridge and it is fabulous. Totally beautiful and Respighi throws a whole lot of work her way.

[Todd]

I just streamed her Respighi song album accompanying Bostridge and it is fabulous. Totally beautiful and Respighi throws a whole lot of work her way.

Noted.

Also, spotted the main reason to consider this: Mr Pace.  As timing would have it, his Franck/Strauss/Takemitsu recording with Akiko Suwanai is getting reissued in Japan. 

[kyjo]

That Scenes from the Kalevala BIS disc will be one to look forward to! Even though all the repertoire on it has already been served in fine recordings.