Month: October 2007

Recorded in August 2001 at the Salzburg Festival, less than a month before the tragic events of 11 September, the presentation of songs and readings of music by American composers and texts by American authors seems aimed at a different world. Without venturing into political or social dimensions of the event, the concept of America in August 2001 suggested at times a sense of being impermeable, if not invincible.

Thomas Stoltzer represents German composition in the wake of the Reformation yet still immersed in the contrapuntal richness of the Josquin tradition.

With its fine engineering, the rich score of Mahlerís Sixth Symphony and the superb playing of the Philadelpha Orchestra conducted by Christoph Eschenbach emerge well in this recently released recording.

This must be one of the most interesting collectorsí collections to have appeared in many a year. Personally Iíve always liked any singer from Fernando De Lucia to Rolando Villazon but I never was tempted to collect shellac and therefore didnít have to contact Yves Becko.

RenÈ Jacobsís beautiful 1996 production of Francesco Cavalliís Calisto has garnered many enthusiastic fans over the years.