Jonathan Blumhofer

Classical Album Review: Escher String Quartet — Barber & Ives String Quartets

September 19, 2021
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Here is an outstanding recording from the Escher String Quartet of music by two stylistically divergent 20th-century American composers, Samuel Barber and Charles Ives.

Classical Album Review: Composer Joan Tower’s “Strike Zones”

September 3, 2021
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For Joan Tower fans, this disc is a must; for the Tower-curious, it offers an excellent introduction to the composer’s wider work, all of it compellingly played.

Classical Album Review: Andris Nelsons Conducts Shostakovich

September 2, 2021
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Interpretively, this installment in the BSO’s cycle of Dmitri Shostakovich’s fifteen symphonies is occasionally (and a bit surprisingly) spotty.

Classical Album Review: Lincoln Trio’s Splendid “Trios from the City of Big Shoulders”

August 23, 2021
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One of the year’s stand-out releases: full of wonderful music, all of it well worth getting to know, and played to the hilt.

Classical Album Reviews: John Adams’ Chamber Symphonies — Built on Trust

August 3, 2021
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BMOP’s performances of three John Adams chamber symphonies, all conducted by music director Gil Rose, offer welcome, distinctive takes on the triptych.

Classical Album Review: Sibelius Tone Poems — Focused and Bold Performances

July 31, 2021
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The Norwegian soprano’s execution of the vocal line in Luonnotar is nothing short of astounding.

Concert Review: John Williams’s Violin Concerto no. 2 at Tanglewood

July 25, 2021
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On first impression, John Williams’ second violin concerto didn’t strike me as an instant classic, but there’s more than a little here to warrant repeated listening.

Classical Album Review: American Quintets — Why Has it Taken so Long?

July 24, 2021
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This disc from the London-based Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective pairs piano quintets by Amy Beach and Florence Price with Samuel Barber’s haunting “Dover Beach.”

Classical Album Review: “One Movement Symphonies” — Let’s Have a Follow-Up

July 23, 2021
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This is a disc that begs for a sequel (or a whole series).

Concert Review: The Boston Symphony Orchestra Performs Carlos Simon, Sibelius, and Dvorak

July 13, 2021
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The orchestra’s summer home is operating at reduced capacity this season, but it’s wonderful to have the BSO and its public reunited.

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