At a time when the press has made the public aware of the difficult circumstances that exist for the symphony orchestra in the United States, it is refreshing to find a book that demonstrates unequivocally the nature of that institution and, as a consequence, its power in culture.
Category: Reviews
SCHUBERT: Winterreise
Franz Schubertís song cycle Winterreise has been performed by many fine singers, who keep the work alive in the repertoire and in the imagination of audiences. In recent years the work has been subject to a variety of interpretations, and with this recording, the well-known tenor RenÈ Kollo offers his perspective on the work, accompanied by the young pianist Oliver Pohl.
A Trio of New Year’s Concerts
The first thing I saw when I opened the La Scala DVD was a notice on the back that track 5 plays ìVa! Pensiero da: I vespri siciliani (1855).î One wonders if there is nobody at the La Scala Bookshop who has at least a bit of knowledge of one of the most popular pieces in the operatic repertoire that served Italy for more than hundred years as an unofficial anthem ó the Venice DVD has it right, of course.
LUTOSLAWSKI: Twenty Polish Christmas Carols
Witold Lutos?awski (1913-94) composed vocal works throughout his career, and recording collects several pieces that involve female voices. His set of Twenty Polish Christmas Carols for soprano, womenís choir and orchestra is a late composition compiled between 1985 and 1989 and given its premiere in 1990.
Christmas with RenÈe and Bryn
Though singers have always recorded some of these arias and songs, it was young Leontyne Price who first started a trend by devoting a whole LP to the genre more than 45 years ago.
RACHMANINOV: The Miserly Knight
In its 2004 season Glyndebourne put on a double bill celebrating avarice ó Pucciniís Gianni Schicchi and the much-lesser known The Miserly Knight.
Giulini Conducts Mozart and Mahler
With the passing of Carl Maria Giulini (1913-2005) in June 2005, the music world lost one of its finest conductors. Among his legacy are some critical recordings, which represent the literature that Giulini chose to preserve.
Two Super Audio CD re-releases of Elly Ameling performances for Philips
I admit I jumped at the chance to review these SACD re-releases of performances that were on the very first classical vocal LPís that I owned and overplayed on under-maintained equipment, to the point where I frankly shudder to even try to compare my vinyl versions with the digital.
WAGNER, S.: Der Heidenkˆnig
What an unjust fate for an aspiring opera composer to be born the son of Richard Wagner! Imagine a child of Albert Einstein who dreams of greatness in science, or the son of William Shakespeare sitting down to sketch out his first sonnet. Doubtless you would have a nagging suspicion that you would likely never better your fatherís titanic accomplishments.
The legendary Magda Olivero
What is the difference between a lady who becomes a prima-donna and a prima-donna who becomes a lady? The last one has to be begged as she thinks she has to behave according to her rank. The first one is sure of herself and doesnít need, well letís call it to behave somewhat capriciously.