~Program~
Anton Arensky: Entrance of Antoine from Egyptian Nights
Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Dmitry Yablonsky
From the liner notes: “Arensky’s ballet Egyptian Nights was written in 1900 and first staged at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg in March 1908, with choreography by Fokin.”
C.P.E. Bach: String Symphony in A
Gli Incogniti, Amandine Beyer
From their website: “Gli Incogniti was founded in 2006 by a group of friends, brought together by the violinist Amandine Beyer. It is named after the Accademia degli Incogniti, an artistic and academic circle that was amongst the most active and libertarian of 17th century Venice. The spirit of this Accademia is indeed what drives the Incogniti today: a taste for the unknown in all its forms, for sound experimentation, research for new repertoire, for rediscovery of the “classics” and of lesser known masterpieces.”
Niccolo Paganini: Capriccio in E flat, Op. 1 No. 23
Alina Ibragimova, violin
Virtuoso music for the violin requires a virtuoso violinist. Alina Ibragimova makes these delightful caprices sound playful indeed.
Robert Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op. 16
Stephen Hough, piano
Writing in Gramophone, Patrick Rucker writes: “Kreisleriana, it could be argued, is far and away the most challenging of the cycles. While Hough’s approach is supremely lyrical, he is especially adept at capturing the sudden, unsettling shifts of tone and mercurial mood swings with which Schumann evokes ETA Hoffmann’s fictional character, Johannes Kreisler. This vivid portrayal of madness could only be achieved by the utmost restraint and poise. Poetic moments are heightened by tasteful asynchronicity of the hands and Schumann’s polyphony is lovingly delineated.”
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Rob Kennedy speaks with guitarist Sean Shibe about his latest release, Camino.
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Antonio José: Pavana triste from Sonata for Guitar
Sean Shibe, guitar
This sonata is the only work for guitar written by Spanish composer Antonio José (1902-1936). It was lost after his death in the Spanish Civil War, but rediscovered in the 1980s. Sean plays this piece and the others on his new CD with consummate grace and lyricism.
Max Bruch: Four Pieces, Op. 70
Adrian Brendel, cello; Simon Crawford-Phillips, piano
On the Hyperion liner notes Tully Potter writes: “In the case of the Four Pieces for cello and piano, Op 70, produced in the late summer of 1896, the dedicatee was Robert Hausmann (1852-1909), the leading German cellist, member of Joseph Joachim’s Berlin quartet and co-soloist with him in Brahms’s Double Concerto.” The performers are members of the Nash Ensemble. The four pieces are an Aria, followed by Finnish, Swedish and Scottish dances.
Astor Piazzolla: The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, JoAnn Falletta
Tessa Lark, violin
The Four Seasons CD features music of Vivaldi as well. And it can be yours as a Thank You Gift for your pledge of support of The Classical Station.
Ernest Chausson: Poéme, Op. 25
Radio France Philharmonic, Mikko Franck
Hilary Hahn, violin
Hilary has this to say about her recording: ““Paris,” says Hahn, “is about expression, it’s about emotion, it’s about feeling connected to a city and a cultural intersection, in a way that’s inspiring for the player and the listener. It has Parisian threads all the way through it. But it’s also a big reference to the arc of my career. I’ve been playing in Paris since I was a teenager.”
Herbert Howells: Psalm-Prelude Set 1, Op. 32 No. 1
Jeremy Thompson, organ
1995 Casavant organ in First Presbyterian Church, Charlottesville, Virginia
Canadian organist Jeremy Thompson celebrates the 25th anniversary of his church’s Casavant organ with a CD on the Raven label including this finely-crafted Psalm-Prelude by English composer Herbert Howells.
Florence Price: Symphony No. 3 in C minor
Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nezet-Seguin
Florence Price (1887-1953), was the first African-American woman to recognized as a symphonic composer. Her 3rd Symphony was commissioned by the Federal Music Project during the Great Depression. The Philadelphia Orchestra has recorded Symphony No. 3 on the Deutsche Grammophon label.
Rob Kennedy
October 10, 2021