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Pentatone

Classical CD Reviews: François-Xavier Roth and Schumann, Herbert Blomstedt and Brahms, and Daniel Barenboim and Elgar

Françoix-Xavier Roth delivers a must-have cycle of Robert Schumann’s symphonies; Herbert Blomstedt’s Brahms’s Symphony no. 1 is spacious, restrained, and – too often – dull; Daniel Barenboim’s latest Elgar installment features a regrettably unsung masterpiece.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Daniel Barenboim, Decca, Francois-Xavier Roth, Herbert Blomstedt, Myrios Classics, Pentatone

Classical CD Reviews: Michael Tilson Thomas’ “From the Diary of Anne Frank,” Nielsen Symphonies nos. 1 & 2, and Arabella Steinbacher’s “Four Seasons”

This San Francisco Symphony release proves to be a fitting send-off for music director Michael Tilson Thomas; there’s much to admire in the Seattle Symphony’s playing of Carl Nielsen’s first two symphonies; fiery energy from both violinist Arabella Steinbacher and the excellent Münchener Kammerorchester make their new disk a gem.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Arabella Steinbacher, Carl Nielsen, Michael Tilson Thomas, Münchener Kammerorchester, Pentatone, Seattle Symphony, SFS Media, Thomas Dausgaard

Classical CD Reviews: Beethoven Complete Piano Concerto Box Sets

It’s Beethoven’s 250th birthday year: reviews of four sets of the complete piano concertos from, respectively, Paul Lewis, Stewart Goodyear, Inon Barnatan, and Stephen Hough.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Alan Gilbert, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Harmonia Mundi, Hyperion, Inon Barnatan, Jiri Belohlavek, Orchid Classics, Paul Lewis, Pentatone, Stephen Hough, Stewart Goodyear

Classical CD Reviews: Offenbach Fantastique!, Mascagni’s “Cavalleria rusticana,”and Rossini Project vol. 2

More proof that Offenbach’s is a remarkable body of work; a serviceable, but not particularly notable, Cavalleria rusticana; another installment in the Rossini Project, brilliantly curated, stirringly played and sung, and beautifully recorded.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: concerto, Genuin, Pentatone

Classical CD Reviews: “Aspects of America: The Pulitzer Edition,” Morton Gould “Symphonettes,” and Lindberg conducts Bernstein

Lovers of American music, don’t miss Aspects of America: The Pulitzer Edition ; Lindberg’s recording of Leonard Bernstein’s first two symphonies lacks a compelling command of the musician’s singular voice; the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra tackles four pieces by Morton Gould.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Arthur Fagin, Aspects of America: The Pulitzer Edition, Bis, Christian Lindberg, Leonard Bernstein, Morton Gould, Naxos, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Pentatone

Classical CD Reviews: Herbert Blomstedt conducts Mahler, Christopher Jacobson plays Saint-Saëns & Poulenc, and Kirill Petrenko conducts Tchaikovsky

Herbert Blomstedt conducts a powerful version of Mahler’s valedictory essay, organist Christopher Jacobson provides a so-so “Organ” Symphony, and Kirill Petrenko’s initial recording as the chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic is lovely.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Berliner Philharmoniker, BR Klassik, Christopher Jacobson, Herbert Blomstedt, Kirill Petrenko, MAHLER, Pentatone, Saint-Saëns & Poulenc, Tchaikovsky

Classical CD Reviews: Finley & Drake’s “Schwanengesang,” Bostridge & Adès’ “Winterreise,” Meglioranza & Uchida’s “Die schöne Müllerin”

Reviews of three superior vocal recordings, featuring baritone Gerald Finley, tenor Ian Bostridge, and baritone Thomas Meglioranza.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: CD Baby, Gerald Finley, Hyperion, Ian Bostridge, Julius Drake, Pentatone, Reiko Uchida, Thomas Ades, Thomas Meglioranza, Winterreise

Classical CD Reviews: Jansons’ “Resurrection” Symphony, Harding’s Mahler Five, and Steinbacher’s Strauss

Two Mahler symphony entries: one is above average, the other a disappointment. Violinist Arabella Steinbacher delivers a first-rate and strongly recommended disc.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Review Tagged: Arabella Steinbacher, BR Klassik, Daniel Harding’s Mahler Five, Harmonia Mundi, Mariss Jansons’ Resurrection Symphony, Pentatone, Strauss

Classical CD Reviews: Sir Neville Marriner — The London Recordings, Richard Strauss, Ein Heldenleben, James MacMillan String Quartets

A winning reminder of Sir Neville Marriner’s impressive stylistic range as a conductor, a fine recording of a much-loved and -played Richard Strauss tone poem, and a striking, powerful presentation of the string quartets of James MacMillan.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Capriccio, Ein Heldenleben, Hyperion, James MacMillan String Quartets, Pentatone, Richard Strauss, Sir Neville Marriner: The London Recordings

Classical CD Reviews: Jonathan Nott conducts Ligeti, Herbert Blomstedt conducts Mozart, Kopelman Quartet Performs the Kissin String Quartet

Jonathan Nott does right by Ligeti and Herbert Blomstedt does the same for Mozart. You didn’t know that Evgeny Kissin, the piano virtuoso, was also a composer? Join the club.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: BR Klassik, Herbert Blomstedt, Jonathan Nott, Kissin, Kopelman Quartet, Nimbus, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Pentatone, String Quartets

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