Streaming Classical

Streaming Classical (23-2)

While it’s true too much HiFi gets in the way of listening to music, my case is mild as I religiously sample a lot of new albums every day. What is true though is that the more I write about Audio the less I write about Music. It’s been months (close to half a year) since my last long streaming article! Not that there are that many readers in that sector, but I know there are a few loyal friends.

Orchestral
In this interval, I have to say the most-fun orchestral album was Suppe’s obscure Around the World in 80 days from Janacek PO under Dario Salvi (Naxos). with the very colorful music and playing befitting the subject. Nielsen Symphonies are personal favorites, and the new cycle by the Danish National under Fabio Luisi started with the most famous ones, 4th and 5th, in dynamite performances and sound (DG)! A second luxuriant and refined Ravel album from Robert Trevino and his characterful Basque National O (Ondine) has become one of my test discs. A highly Satisfying Mahler 3rd from the very reliable team of Tonkunstler Orchestra under Yutaka Sado (orchestra’s own label) rivals my favorites, LSO/Horenstein (oop) and previously recommended Berlin RSO/Rogner (Eterna). And I have listened to a lot of always interesting Marcus Bosch, mostly with the Aachen SO and the more period-informed Cappella Aquileia (Coviello, CPO etc).

Pianists
The most remarkable solo album during this time is Leif Ove Andsnes’ Dvorak Poetic Tone Pictures (Sony), a marvelous and unorthodox and little-known cycle with moments of almost orchestral splendor. A Two-Piano recital by Aimard and Stefanovich (Pentatone) centers on Messiaen’s almost hour-long masterpiece, Visions de L’Amen. Great sound! For lighter, but not trivial fare, Nicolai Kapustin’s Piano Concerto etc played by Frank Dupree and friends (Cappricio) are a rollicking joy, particularly suitable for those into jazz.
I came to know William Youn, whose solo Mozart (Oehms) imho has more depth than the feisty and well-reviewed Mao Fujita (Sony). Youn also has recorded the complete Schubert Sonatas in excellent performances (Sony). I also played many albums of under-appreciated Kun Woo Paik (DG, Decca, but I think not universally released). Another find is pianist Herbert Schuch who seems to be good in everything (Oehms).

Violinists
Tops is Vilde Frang’s impeccable Stravinsky and Beethoven Concertos, sensitively conducted by another eminent violinist Pekka Kuuisto (Warner). This has become my test disc. Hilary Hahn continues to confound with her too overly controlled playing, less and less fresh as years passed by, but her new album is notable for the not often recorded Ginastera, with the excellent Frankfurt RSO (their youtubes are uniformly excellent) under Orozco-Estrada (DG, sound not the best in the Dvorak). I am very impressed by the musicality of little-known Natalia Lomeiko, in a variety of music and on a variety of labels! Finally, I have previously recommended Swedish Cecilia Zilliacus, and her recent Saint Saens album is just wonderfully enticing (BIS).

Violists
Exceptionally musical is Nils Monkemeyer, whose Walton Concerto disc with the excellent Bamberger SO under Markus Poschner is a winner (Sony). The fillers are great too! And then there is the Timothy Ridout’s Elgar Concerto (composer sanctioned transcription that is not often recorded). The fillers are good too (Harmonia Mundi).

Cellists
Crossover prone Maya Beiser has an interesting Glass album (Islandia). Previously recommended Christian La Marca’s new Legacy album is centered on the Haydn Concertos and nicely filled out, with impeccable support by the usually excellent Concert de la Loge under Julien Chauvin (Naive).

Recorder
Now, I don’t often listen to the recorder (outside of baroque formations), but young virtuoso Lucie Horsch’s latest, Origins (Decca), is incomparably programmed and a joy!

Chamber
A winning Dvorak Album comes from Jan Vogler and friends (Sony). His no-name colleagues (many young Americans) are amazingly good! I also urge you to sample Mozart with Friends (Sony) - you will find names mentioned above, Monkemeyer and Youn, as well as Julia Fischer and Sabine Meyer etc - stars all!

Chamber Orchestra
Arguably, this category has the most interesting offerings. There is a relatively recent trend of featuring chamber orchestra reductions of big works. Although less hefty, the more transparent texture often brings insights (if the arrangement is good). A case in point are some recent Dutch Het Collectief offerings (Alpha). They are a formidable ensemble. All their albums are worthwhile. Most poignant is Mahler Das Lied von der Erde, transcribed and recorded by their long-time leader, the indefatigable Reinbert de Leeuw just before his death (there used to be a time when most new European music passed through his hands). Their earlier Janacek disc is superb too. The ensemble lives on, and the most recent album concentrating on the Second Viennese School, Transfiguration, is also splendid. Another Dutch offering, from the superb Camerata RCO (meaning players from the formidable Concertgebouw), Sennsucht (also Alpha), features a superb reduction of Mahler’s 4th Symphony, filled out by Berg songs. These albums are by musicians who, despite concentrating on modern works, have deep ties to the past. Another interesting album is offered by Marianne Picketty and Le Concert Ideal, L’Heure Bleue (Evidence), that juxtaposes Hidegard von Bingen with more modern composers, centered on Klaus Amadeus Hartmann’s Concerto Funebre.

Modern Music
There are just too many slow moving “minimalist” music out there, also too many Baltic and Icelandic “phenomena”. Myself, I’d rather take the always interesting Caroline Shaw. I recommend her latest The Wheel (Alpha).

Vocalists
A surprising number of vocal discs engaged me (aside from the Mahler etc mentioned above). Heading the list would have to be Julia Bullock’s Walking in the Dark (Noneuch). Barber’s Knoxville, Summer of 1915, has always been a favorite. Here she unusually juxtaposes with many popular tunes that fit with her sensibility, and it works. I’ve long been a fan of Veronique Gens, and her latest Poulenc album, La Voix Humaine (Alpha), is a gem for the center piece. If you are into more static and dark pieces, I’d recommend Ruby Hughes’ Echo (BIS), a collaboration with pianist Huw Watkins. And I must recommend Diana Damrau in Strauss Four Last Songs (Erato; with the BRSO under Jansons) as one of the few that can go up to classics, like Schwarzkopf.

Historical
Although it is slotted into here, Nelson Freire’s Memories - The Unreleased Recordings (Decca), derive from European radio archives, and most cuts are in very decent sound. The Bartok PC1 and Brahms PC2 are just gems. A must. As a Ruth Slencynska fan, I’m glad some of her old recordings (on Orpheus, similar to MHS, have been re-issued by Musical Concepts) have been re-issued.