New CD releases provide splendid performances of remarkable American music, from Barber and Bernstein to recently rediscovered Black composers Florence Price and William Grant Still.
Aaron-Copland
Classical CD Reviews: Thomas Adès’s Orchestral Works, Aaron Copland’s Symphony no. 3, and Leonard Bernstein’s “Songfest”
A terrific release showcases the Boston Symphony Orchestra and composer Thomas Adès. Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony deliver a radiantly honest recording of Aaron Copland’s Symphony 3.
Music Commentary Series: Jazz and the Piano Concerto — Mavericks, 1923-1955
This first group of mavericks all have their roots in the 1920s, but they demonstrate that George Gershwin’s way wasn’t the only way.
Classical Music Review: New England Philharmonic
By Caldwell Titcomb Two important twentieth-century pieces and a work-in-progress made up the final program of the season offered by the New England Philharmonic at the Tsai Performance Center on April 26, with Richard Pittman on the podium. A painting by E. Prampolini inspired by Bela Bartok’s “The Miraculous Mandarin”
Classical Music Review: ‘An American Sampler’
By Caldwell Titcomb The Spectrum Singers, founded in 1980 and still led by John W. Ehrlich, presented a concert on March 29 entitled “An American Sampler.” Taking place in Emmanuel Church, the program was devoted to six composers of distinction, with particular emphasis on Aaron Copland (1900-1990) and Irving Fine (1914-1962). American composer Aaron Copland