Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic do justice to a lot of Tchaikovsky’s orchestral music, while John Eliot Gardiner and the London Symphony play Robert Schumann’s famously-dense orchestrations with clarity. But Michael Stern’s account of The Planets completely lacks mystery.
Music
Classical CD Reviews: Julia Wolfe’s “Fire in my mouth,” Donnacha Dennehy’s “The Hunger,” Derek Bermel’s “Migrations”
Julia Wolfe’s Fire in my mouth is one of 2019’s most memorable recordings; Donnacha Dennehy’s The Hunger, a meditation on the Irish potato famine of the mid-19th-century, leaves an indelible impression; Derek Bermel’s Migrations is a grand celebration of one of America’s great living composer at the top of his game.
Rock Concert Review: Fontaines D.C. — From Dublin With Love
Fontaines D.C. are gonna be big, or at least as big as a real rock band can be these days. And they’re making it all look effortless.
Rock Concert Review: Jack White with the Raconteurs — Very Much in the Moment
On the same week that heavy prog-rockers Tool scored the No. 1 album in the country, it was great to see Jack White let down his wavy black hair, smile a bunch, and kick out the jams with his buddies.
Rock Feature: Roger Daltrey of The Who — How Can He Afford to Tour?
If there is any theme that runs throughout the story of Roger Daltrey’s life as he tells it, it’s that he has always needed more money to – as he so folksily puts it – “pay the bills.”
Music Preview: The Waterboys Bring the Action to Boston and Northampton
The Waterboys has always existed as Mike Scott’s vehicle for his egalitarian musical vision.
Jazz CD Review: Miles Davis’ “Rubberband” — Stretch Your Ears
Heard as a Miles Davis record pure and simple, Rubberband is one of the strongest from the comeback period.
Arts Feature: When Aretha Franklin Snapped Me
Looking at that photo now, soon after the anniversary of her death, Aretha’s shutter-snap of connection with me seems a blessing.
Jazz CD Review: Pianist Erroll Garner — Remastered Sessions from His Prime
Octave is issuing twelve sessions (“newly restored and expanded”) of Erroll Garner material from the ’60s and ’70s, when the popular pianist was at the height of his career.
Jazz Recording Review: “Jazz and Art” — Paying Musical Homage to Painting
For me, about half of the compositions here successfully reflect the artistic visions of the painters that inspired the music.
