New Releases

[prémont]

June. I have been wishing for a new all-Binchois album!

Yes, me too. There are far too few recordings of Binchois' works.

[Roy Bland]

[Selig]

This instrument was made by Johannes Daniel Dulcken in Antwerp, in 1745. It is a double manual harpsichord with a compass of FF – f3, and a disposition of 2 x 8', 1 x 4'. The harpsichord has a spruce soundboard with a gilt-metal rose, and ebony naturals and ivory accidentals. The name batten is marked:

IOANNES DANIEL DULCKEN ME FECIT ANTVERPIA, AD 1745

The inseparable outer case is made of black painted wood with gold accents. The soundboard is painted with floral decorations. The trestle stand is made of 12 turned spindles painted black with gold accents.

Restored to playing condition in 1960-1961, by William Dowd, this Dulcken harpsichord is currently used in concerts and featured on recordings by the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society.

Samples here: https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/the-joannes-daniel-dulcken-harpsichord-johann-sebastian-bach-goldberg-variations/hnum/12226537

[Que]

Samples here: https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/the-joannes-daniel-dulcken-harpsichord-johann-sebastian-bach-goldberg-variations/hnum/12226537

I love Flemish harpsichords.    One hour and 40 mins is the longest performance of the Goldbergs I've ever encountered! 

[Selig]

I love Flemish harpsichords.    One hour and 40 mins is the longest performance of the Goldbergs I've ever encountered! 

Forgetting Vartolo?  But yes, that length is making me sceptical

[San Antone]

Interesting how Bach and the performer take a very back seat to the instrument and maker.  Odd, IMO.

[Que]

Forgetting Vartolo?  But yes, that length is making me sceptical

Oh God, Vartolo....    Don't get me started! 

[Mandryka]

Forgetting Vartolo?  But yes, that length is making me sceptical

Here he is on a modern instrument "after" the Dulcken

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAsqKdqX96g

[prémont]

I love Flemish harpsichords.    One hour and 40 mins is the longest performance of the Goldbergs I've ever encountered! 

Donner-wetter!!

From what I heard of clips and on youtube Donner is even more patience-demanding than Vartolo and Watchorn together.

[Mandryka]

Donner-wetter!!

From what I heard of clips and on youtube Donner is even more patience-demanding than Vartolo and Watchorn together.

Indeed.

[Roy Bland]

Popov Symphony 4

[ultralinear]

Popov Symphony 4

Interesting!  It's just been uploaded to YouTube:

[foxandpeng]

Thanks for this ⬆️. I really enjoy Popov's music, so having Symphony #4 from Melodiya is fantastic!

[Selig]

Out this week

[bioluminescentsquid]

Am I late to the party on this one? Party is a good adjective here. A lush (maybe too lush) take on this music, oftentimes with multiple things tinkling away from the background.

[JBS]

A stealth release from Warner. Official date is May 23.

These 16 CDs offer a comprehensive and meticulously curated journey through Bizet's major works, bringing together exceptional performances by top-tier artists. Operas: 9 CDs, featuring two versions of Carmen the legendary 1964 version by Maria Callas and Nicolai Gedda under the baton of Georges Prêtre, and the original version restored by Fritz Oeser in 1964, recorded in 2012 by Simon Rattle with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Magdalena Kožená and Jonas Kaufmann. Orchestral Works: 3 CDs Piano Music, Songs, Choral Music, and Arrangements: 1.5 CDs (including the two Carmen Fantasy his famous opera inspired to both Pablo de Sarasate and Franz Waxman) Historical Recordings dating from 1903 (!) to 1943: 2.5 CDs Booklet includes an extensive biography by French specialist François Laurent.

[vandermolen]

Glazunov: I helped to choose the shorter works here (Finnish Fantasy) and wrote the booklet notes. Out (here at least) on June 6th. I like the cover painting ('Ice-breakers on the Neva'):

[Mandryka]

Not sure how he's playing the sonatas here.

[Mandryka]

There's a sneaky peek on spotify -- sounds very interesting indeed. Intimate.

[prémont]

Not sure how he's playing the sonatas here.

On pedal-harpsichord I suppose. Interesting to compare with his organ version for Alpha.