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SFS Media

Classical Album Review: Michael Tilson Thomas Conducts Alban Berg

The San Francisco Symphony is a model of complexity: tonally warm but texturally clear; rhythmically on edge but never abrasive in character; beautifully blended throughout.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Gil Shaham, Michael Tilson Thomas, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, SFS Media

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: 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.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Aaron-Copland, Deutsche Grammophon, Kirill Gerstein, Leonard Berstein, National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic, Naxos, SFS Media, Songfest, Thomas Ades, Totentanz

Classical CD Reviews: Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Ives, Conrad Tao’s “American Rage,” and Gianandrea Noseda conducts Shostakovich

Michael Tilson Thomas delivers a towering Ives Fourth; pianist Conrad Tao’s American Rage is hard-edged and defiant, but also poignant and stirring; Gianandrea Noseda’s Shostakovich Fourth is ferocious.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Conrad Tao, Gianandrea Noseda, LSO Live, Michael Tilson Thomas, SFS Media, Warner Classics

Classical Music CD Reviews: H&H’s Haydn & Mozart, Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony, and Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette

Handel & Haydn Society’s Haydn and Mozart is about as good as it gets; Martyn Brabbins’ recording of A Sea Symphony is one of the year’s best releases; and for elegance and technical command, you can’t go wrong with Tilson Thomas and his San Francisco Symphony.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: BBC Symphony, Berlioz Roméo et Juliette, Coro, Handel & Haydn, Handel & Haydn Society, Hyperion, Martyn Brabbins, Michael Tilson Thomas, SFS Media, Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony

Classical CD Reviews: Tesla Quartet plays Haydn, Ravel, and Stravinsky, Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Bernstein, Aspects of America

Aspects of America, from the Oregon Symphony and its music director Carlos Kalmar, is at once superbly played, astutely programmed, and aesthetically necessary.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Aspects of America, Carlos Kalman, Leonard Bernstein, Michael Tilson Thomas, Orchid Classics, Oregon Symphony, Pentatone Records, SFS Media, Tesla Quartet

Classical CD Reviews: Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Schumann and “The Gershwin Moment”

The San Francisco Symphony delivers performances of chamber-like sensitivity and remarkable transparency.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Music, Review Tagged: Kirill Gerstein, Michael Tilson Thomas, Myrios Classics, SFS Media, The Gershwin Moment

CD Reviews: Orchestral Music by Mason Bates — A Welcome Addition to the Canon.

Mason Bates’ music isn’t afraid to smile. If it doesn’t always run deep, it’s at least always engaging and pleasant to encounter.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: BMOP/sound, CSO Resound, Mason Bates, orchestral music, SFS Media

Classical Album Reviews: Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no. 3 and Mass in C (SFS Media), Music for Harp (Innova)

Beethoven’s Mass in C is the highlight. Would that the San Francisco Symphony’s performance of the Third Concerto had more electricity.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Review Tagged: Emmanuel Ax, Innova, Michael Tilson Thomas, Music for Harp by Bay-Area Composers, San Francisco Symphony, SFS Media

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