Louis Andriessen The Only One Nora Fischer, soprano Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor Nonesuch Records Louis Andriessen is in poor health. The eighty-one year old composer finished his last work, May, in 2019. It received a belated premiere (sans audience due to the pandemic) in December 2020 by Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century andContinue reading “Louis Andriessen on Nonesuch (CD Review)”
Category Archives: Recordings
Marco Stroppa on Kairos (CD Review)
Marco Stroppa Miniature Estrose – Primo Libro (1991-2003, revised 2009) Erik Bertsch, piano Kairos CD Pianist Erik Bertsch’s debut recording for Kairos is of composer Marco Stroppa’s most highly regarded piano works, the first book of Miniature Estrose. Bertsch was the first pianist to perform it in its entirety in Italy. The overall arch ofContinue reading “Marco Stroppa on Kairos (CD Review)”
Five Experimental Recordings
Five Experimental Recordings Anna Heflin The Redundancy of the Angelic: An Interluding Play Shannon Reilly, Emily Holden, violins; Anna Heflin: viola, voice, composer, writer Infrequent Seams cassette and download “I’m sitting on a galaxy. Stars and moons blanket the deep red spa chairs. I rest on constellations. Space itself supports me. Luna lifts me.” ThusContinue reading “Five Experimental Recordings”
Douglas Boyce: Hunt by Night (CD Review)
Douglas Boyce Hunt By Night: Chamber Works by Douglas Boyce counter)induction; Trio Cavatina; Beth Guterman Chu, viola; Schuyler Slack, cello, Ieva Jokubaviciute, piano New Focus CD In selecting the fifteenth century “L’Homme Arme” tune as the centerpiece for his quintet by the same name, composer Douglas Boyce demonstrates an affinity for connecting music of theContinue reading “Douglas Boyce: Hunt by Night (CD Review)”
Rhodri Davies – Transversal Time
Rhodri Davies Transversal Time Ryoko Akama: electronics Rhodri Davies: pedal harp, electric harp Sarah Hughes: zither Sofia Jernberg: vocals Pia Palme: contrabass recorder Adam Parkinson: programming Lucy Railton: cello Pat Thomas: piano, electronics Dafne Vicente-Sandoval: bassoon Confront Recordings Co-commissioned by Huddersfield Festival, Chapter, and Counterflows Multi-instrumentalist Rhodri Davies created the piece Transversal Time in 2017.Continue reading “Rhodri Davies – Transversal Time”
Artist of the Year – Igor Levit
2020 Artist of the Year – Igor Levit I was fortunate last year to hear pianist Igor Levit’s US debut, where he played a Beethoven concerto with an ebullient demeanor that was truly stirring. He has remained a touchstone artist for me throughout the pandemic. Levit has been generous in sharing mini-recitals via his TwitterContinue reading “Artist of the Year – Igor Levit”
Best of 2020 – Vivaldi’s Il Tamerlano
Il Tamerlano Antonio Vivaldi Bruno Taddia, Bajazet; Filippo Mineccia, Tamerlano; Delphine Galou, Asteria; Sophia Rennert, Irene; Marina De Liso, Andronico; Arianna Vendittelli, Idaspe; Accademia Bizantina, Ottavio Dantone, director Naïve Vivaldi Edition Vol. 65 In recent years, there has been a reconsideration of Antonio Vivaldi’s stage works. A Vivaldi Edition is appearing on the Naïve label,Continue reading “Best of 2020 – Vivaldi’s Il Tamerlano”
Best of 2020: Simone Dinnerstein
A Character of Quiet Simone Dinnerstein, piano Orange Mountain Music Pianist Simone Dinnerstein has been playing Philip Glass’s music live for the past few years. Her interpretations, recorded on an Orange Mountain CD (Glass’s label) reveal dynamic subtleties and a romantic sensibility that creates a sense of vulnerability in the three etudes presented here; manyContinue reading “Best of 2020: Simone Dinnerstein”
Best of 2020: Ingrid Laubrock
Ingrid Laubrock Dreamt Twice, Twice Dreamt Intakt 2xCD Dreams can be a potent force for creators. Saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock has harnessed her subconscious to make her strongest work yet. Dreamt Twice, Twice Dreamt is a double album, the first CD featuring a chamber orchestra and the second CD small ensembles, both performing the same dream-basedContinue reading “Best of 2020: Ingrid Laubrock”
Harold Shapero on BMOP (Best of 2020)
Harold Shapero Orchestral Works Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose, conductor BMOP Sound Composer Harold Shapero (1920-2013) was a central figure during the mid-twentieth century. A member of the Boston neoclassical group of composers, he was one of the first professors hired by Irving Fine for a new composition program at Brandeis University. Shapero hadContinue reading “Harold Shapero on BMOP (Best of 2020)”
