This week’s Preview! opens with a burst of violin virtuosity. Russian-British violinist Alina Ibragimova plays the Capriccio in A minor, Op. 1 No. 24, by 19th-century Italian violin virtuoso and composer Niccolò Paganini. This is from Alina’s new album entitled Paganini 24 Caprices on the Hyperion label.
French composer Louise Farrenc (1804-1875) was ahead of her time. A brilliant teacher, she was appointed Professor of Piano at the Paris Conservatoire in 1842. Jean Muller plays the Grand Variations on a Theme by Count Gallenburg, Op. 25 accompanied by the European Soloists of Luxembourg, conducted by Christoph Konig. The CD is entitled Farrenc: Symphony No. 1 – Overtures – Grand Variations on the Naxos label.
Richard Danielpour
Photo ⓒ Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
GRAMMY Award-winning American composer Richard Danielpour (1956-) will be our guest on My Life In Music on June 7. Pianist Simone Dinnerstein plays Three Bach Transcriptions which Richard composed for her. The CD is entitled An American Mosaic – Danielpour // Dinnerstein on Supertrain Records.
Among the dozens of new releases commemorating Beethoven’s 250th birthday in 2020 is an album featuring Jerilyn Jorgensen, violin, and Cullan Bryant, piano. This evening, they perform the Violin Sonata No. 3 in E flat, Op. 12 No.
It’s always exciting when a performer shines a light on the music of an unknown composer. So it is with pianist David Korevaar and the music of Italian composer Luigi Perrachio (1883 1966). David who studied with the late, great American pianist Earl Wild, has recorded Perrachio’s Nove Poemetti and 25 Preludes on the MSR label. You’ll hear hints of Debussy, Ravel, as well as overtones of the Russian school. Having said that, Perrachio’s voice is distinctive. David Korevaar plays the “Settecento” from Nove Poemetti following my conversation with him about the music.
Hilary Hahn Photo ⓒ Peter Miller
We’ve played a couple of tracks from violinist Hilary Hahn’s new CD entitled Paris. This evening she performs Ernest Chausson’s Poéme, Op. 25. She is accompanied by the Radio France Philharmonic conducted by Mikko Franck.
Sony Classical is celebrating the Julliard String Quartet’s 75th anniversary with a new release entitled Juilliard String Quartet: Beethoven, Bartok, Dvořák. This famous quartet will play Antonín Dvořák’s American String Quartet in F.
Canadian violinist James Ehnes plays the Sonata No. 4 in E minor for solo violin by Belgian composer and violin virtuoso Eugène-Auguste Ysaÿe. It’s on a CD entitled James Ehnes Ysaye Sonatas for Solo Violin on the Onyx label.
“She’s one of the great American pianists of her generation.”
David Patrick Stearns. The Philadelphia Inquirer
American pianist Anne-Marie McDermott has a new CD of Mozart out. We’ll hear her play the Piano Concerto No. 16 in D, K. 451 accompanied by the Odense Symphony Orchestra with Andreas Delfs conducting.
Samuel Barber completed his Symphony in One Movement in 1935. It is dedicated to his companion Gian-Carlo Menotti. Michael Stern conducts the Kansas City Symphony. Reference Recordings released the recording which is entitled One Movement Symphonies.
Rob Kennedy
May 30, 2021