~Program~
Johannes Brahms: Tragic Overture, Op. 81
Basel Symphony Orchestra, Ivor Bolton
Johannes Brahms’ two overtures, the Academic and the Tragic form a bridge between the composer’s two symphonies. This evening’s performance of the Tragic Overture was released earlier this year on the Harmonia Mundi label.
Frédéric Chopin: Nocturne in C sharp minor, Op. Posth. & Three Nocturnes, Op. 9
Jan Lisiecki, piano
Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki is one of those performers that I style as “a musician’s musician,” By that, I mean that he inevitably seems to be able to channel the composer’s intentions with a minimum of distracting movements while he plays. Jan’s interpretation of Chopin is intertwined with his own Polish roots. Jan records for Deutsche Grammaphon.
Robert de Viseé: Suite in A minor
Thibaut Garcia, guitar
Robert de Visee was a Baroque-era guitarist and composer to the French court. French guitarist Thibaut Garcia released this recording in late 2020.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata”
Andrew von Oeyen, piano
I spoke with American pianist Andrew von Oyen earlier this year about his wonderful new recording of Bach and Beethoven. When you listen to him play Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata” this evening, note his exquisite cantando technique. Andrew knows how to make the piano sing. Andrew records on the Warner Classics label.
Rob Kennedy speaks with Dr. Philip Cave, Associate Conductor for Chapel Music at Duke University.
Sir Edward Elgar: Sospiri, Op. 70
City of Birmingham Symphony, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla
Lithuanian conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla has an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon. This evening she conducts the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Sir Edward Elgar’s Sospiri. The word means a “sigh.”
W.A. Mozart: Serenade No. 10 in B flat (for winds), K. 361 “Gran Partita”
Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin
The Academy for Old Music Berlin (also known as Akamus) plays the Serenade No. 10 in B flat (for winds), K. 361 “Gran Partita” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This dates from 1784. The recording contains both K. 375 which is the better-known serenade and this work.
Antonio Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in B minor, RV 386
Benedetti Baroque Orchestra
Nicola Benedetti, violin
The “Benedetti Baroque Orchestra” is a group of period-performance specialists assembled for this recording. Ms. Benedetti records for Decca. The playing of both Ms. Benedetti and her colleagues is sprightly and thoroughly delightful.
Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet No. 3 in D, Op. 18 No. 3
Chiaroscuro Quartet
“Formed in 2005, Chiaroscuro Quartet comprises violinists Alina Ibragimova (Russia) and Pablo Hernán Benedí (Spain), the Swedish violist Emilie Hörnlund and cellist Claire Thirion from France.” This illustrious group of musicians records on the BIS label.
Rob Kennedy
September 12, 2021