Classical Music
Vivaldi put this opera together using, in part, arias associated with two famous singers: the “Moorish” (i.e., half-African) Vittorio Tesi and the castrato Farinelli.
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This disc stands comfortably in the company of Beethoven and Bartók performances by the Emerson, Tákacs, Alban Berg, and Juilliard Quartets.
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Bottom line: these are excellent performances and a valuable documentation of Elliott Carter’s early work.
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Egon Wellesz’s Weimar era critique of the cruelty of nations that are victorious in war still rings hauntingly true.
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A welcome addition to Scottish percussionist Colin Currie’s endlessly fascinating discography – as well as to Austrian maverick HK Gruber’s.
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If this is your first Bluebeard’s Castle, Susanna Mälkki’s recording makes for a fine, occasionally inspired, introduction.
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There’s much to enjoy here and admire, both in the performances and the selections on hand, which hardly dwell on the usual suspects or limit themselves too narrowly.
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At this point in his career, Mayr is contributing to the development of the musicodramatic conventions that would set the stage for the masterpieces of Donizetti, Bellini, and Verdi.
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Throughout these Études, Driver’s playing marries tonal warmth with textural precision.
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Each month, our arts critics — music, book, theater, dance, and visual arts — fire off a few brief reviews.
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Arts Commentary: Rich in Creativity — But Nothing Else