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.
Warner Classics
Classical CD Reviews: George Li plays Tchaikovsky, Jansons conducts Shostakovich, and Andris Nelsons conducts BSO premieres
Terrific, fiery playing from George Li, one of the most compelling young pianists on the scene; Mariss Jansons’ recording of Shostakovich’s Tenth trudges from start to finish; irrefutable proof of Andris Nelsons’ excellence as a new-music conductor.
Classical Music CD Reviews: Strauss/Korngold’s “Eine Nacht in Venedig,” Berlioz’s Requiem, and Ethel Smyth’s Mass in D
Among the reviews: a terrific, important release that celebrates one of the most interesting – and hitherto overlooked – composers of the late-19th- and early-20th centuries in style. Don’t miss it.
Classical CD Reviews: Petrenko conducts Elgar, Gardner conducts Mendelssohn, and Alain Lefévre’s My Paris Years
Vasily Petrenko’s Elgar disappoints, Edward Gardner’s Mendelssohn excites, and Alain Lefévre’s Paris is delights.
Classical CD Reviews: Bernstein Complete Piano Music, “Chaplin’s Smile,” and Parry Piano Trios
A trio of fine discs: Leonard Bernstein’s music for solo piano, Charlie Chaplin’s songs, and Charles Hubert Hastings Parry’s trios.
Classical CD Review: Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia plays Saint-Saëns
This is one of the year’s standout orchestral albums and it’s a special treat to catch the ensemble live on these shores so soon after its release.
Fuse CD Reviews: Jan Vogler plays Tchaikovsky, Benjamin Beilman’s “Spectrum,” Kenneth Woods conducts Elgar
Spectrum is a stylish, intelligent, and enjoyable disc played by a couple of musicians from whom we can expect big things.
CD Reviews: Schumann’s Cello Concerto, “Visions,” and Janowski’s “Ring of the Nibelungen”
Jean-Guihen Queyras wraps up a Schumann concerto trilogy in style, pianists Christina and Michelle Naughton play with panache and color.