Classical Music Recent Picks

Dec 2007 / Jan 2008

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Some featured items are linked via their covers to enable you to read more reviews

Robert Schumann : life and death of a musician, John Worthen.
"This candid, intimate, and compellingly written biography offers a fresh account of Robert Schumann's life. It reveals him as a passionate, resolute musician and thoroughly creative human being, and as the composer of arguably the best music of his generation." (Global Books)

The chronicle of opera by Michael Raeburn.
"'The Chronicle of Opera' celebrates four centuries of music and performance, mixing facts and anecdotes, personalities and stylistic development with hundreds of illustrations. Practical for reference and delightful for browsing... Excellent introduction for the opera novice as well as the more experienced listener." (Booklist)

Play flute today! Level 1 : the ultimate self-teaching method! : a complete guide to the basics
"A fabulous pack for the beginning flutist, this book/CD pack teaches all the essentials, and lets players progress at their own pace! The CD includes audio instruction as well as demo tracks for the exercises complete with background accompaniments. Songs: Chariots of Fire -- Forrest Gump - Main Title (Feather Theme) -- The Man from Snowy River (Main Title Theme) -- Rock and Roll - Part II (The Hey Song) -- We Will Rock You." (Global Books)

New scores

Jehan Alain, Litanies : pour grand orgue.

J. B. Arban, Le carnaval de Venise : air varie for cornet in B^b and piano.

Mike Batt, Bright eyes (brass quartet).

Jack Body, Epicycle : string quartet.

Eve De Castro-Robinson, Chaos of delight. I (bass clarinet).

Eve De Castro-Robinson, Chaos of delight. II (soprano).

Eve De Castro-Robinson, Chaos of delight. III (no. 3) (women's voices).

Maurice Duruflé, Quatre motets sur des thèmes grégoriens [music] : pour choeur a cappella (for a cappella choir).

Easy jazz for young folks (piano score with bass part).

Lilburn, Salutes to seven poets : violin and piano.

Lilburn, Cambridge overture : string orchestra.

Mango walk to Linstead Market.

Claudio Monteverdi, Three sinfonias : Orfeo.

Carl Nielsen, Two fantasy pieces : for oboe and piano, op. 2.

Arvo Part, Da pacem Domine (string quartet).

Telemann, Heroic music : twelve pieces for trumpet and piano.

Telemann, Instrumentals, oboe.

CDs

Pavarotti forever, Luciano Pavarotti.
For millions of people all over the world Luciano Pavarotti literally IS classical music. This outstanding collection of popular opera arias and duets, sacred songs, and Neapolitan favourites is drawn from the finest recordings Luciano Pavarotti has made during an unparalleled career, and presents the definitive profile of one of the most important voices of all time. From "La Donna e mobile", "O sole mio" and "Torna a Sorriento" to Christmas classics "O Holy Night" and "Panis Angelicus", including, of course, his celebrated "Nessun Dorma". Bonus duets with Andrea Bocelli ("Notte e piscatore"), Cecilia Bartoli ("Cherry Duet") and Frank Sinatra ("My Way") included. (Amazon)

Ein Deutsches Requiem, Brahms. Dorothea Roschmann, soprano ; Thomas Quasthoff, baritone ; Runfunkchor Berlin ; Simon Halsey, chorus master ; Berliner Philharmoniker, Simon Rattle, conductor.
"This is a big, monolithic performance of this somewhat monolithic work, but it doesn't sound impenetrable as it occasionally can. The second movement is as gigantic as any might want, but there's great spring in its last few minutes; elsewhere, Sir Simon Rattle leads with a clarity and energy that are decidedly not lament-like. The 4th movement, "Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen," seems to sway under Rattle's baton; it appears as a light interlude. There is great warmth in the "Ich habt nun Traurigkeit" movement and all pomp seems to die away. The fugal moments are crystal clear, even with the large orchestra and chorus (this is clearly not a "period" instrument performance), and both soloists - baritone Thomas Quasthoff and Dorothea Röschmann - sing their music with close attention to the text. The Berlin Philharmonic and Rundfunkchor are superb. This is a beautiful reading of a work that can be forbidding - highly recommended." (Amazon reviewer)

Lieder, Brahms. Bernarda Fink and Roger Vignoles.
"No fewer than 31 Brahms songs are performed here by a superb duo: the exquisite Argentinian mezzo-soprano Bernarda Fink and the versatile British pianist Roger Vignoles, who has accompanied Fink memorably in several previous recital discs. Singing in impeccable German, the singer steers her velvety voice through one gem after another. The more popular songs range in mood from movingly dramatic ("Von ewiger Liebe") to lighter-than-air ("Vergebliches Ständchen"). In "Wie Melodien zieht es mir," Fink is able to shade the sound with complete naturalness while putting the song, not herself, in the foreground. The less immediately recognizable material includes "Der Schmied", in which the description of the blacksmith's hammer and bellows lets out Fink's full voice with no hint of roughness or exaggeration. She's unmatched today for delicacy (listen to the ravishing "An die Nachtigall") and disarming simplicity (as in Brahms's eternally fresh lullaby). Fink can sparkle, too, deliciously characterizing the girl singing about her lover, the hunter of "Der Jäger". Vignoles is as expressive and technically adroit as his partner. Harmonia Mundi contributes its usual immaculate sound. Like the Fink-Vignoles CDs of Schumann, Dvorak, Wolf, and Spanish repertoire, this disc is a joy and not to be missed." (Amazon reviewer)

Kate Royal, Kate Royal
"Described by the Times as "in a class of her own", voices of the calibre of Kate Royal don't come along very often. She's at home in both opera and recital, has an elegant voice and a magnetic stage presence. Kate royal's debut recital is an elegant selection of songs and arias including selections from Canteloube's Chants D'Auvergne, Delibes's popular Chanson Espagnole from Les Filles de Cadix, arias from Stravinsky's The Rake's progress, Lieder by Richard Strauss, and Rodrigo's beautiful Cuatro Madrigales Amatorios." (Amazon)

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