New releases

[Mandryka]

This looks like a fascinating recital of 400 years of music from Palestrina to Debussy on the harpsichord! The latest disc from the wonderful Jean Rondeau.

I’m going to see him do it next week at Wigmore.

[Bryn]

The review in today's Times makes it very enticing: already lined up to stream later.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i...a338d5a4a7483b

Currently on discount promotion for download from eClassical: https://www.eclassical.com/harmonia-...ber-works.html

[JasonPalmer]

Many new releases played and mentioned on "in tune" yesterday...

[Bryn]

Currently on discount promotion for download from eClassical: https://www.eclassical.com/harmonia-...ber-works.html

Just a little cheaper for Hi-Res download than the eClassical discounted promotion, too.

[RichardB]

I can't say that Jean Rondeau's programme appeals to me very much. I don't mean the individual pieces but the way they're put together, which seems to me at the same time excessively "curated" and somewhat arbitrary. The playing is beautiful of course. Listening to the Chaconne by Fux made me want to hear an entire disc of keyboard music by that composer played by Rondeau, but I guess that isn't on the cards.

I felt a bit similarly about the Isabelle Faust Stravinsky Violin Concerto. I'm sure I've never heard a better recording of this piece, which isn't as well known as I think it ought to be.. Also, it's nice to have another recording of the Three Pieces for string quartet and the other little pieces on the CD. But one movement from Apollo to open the programme? Especially when the whole disc is only 44 minutes long - why not the whole ballet?

[MickyD]

I’m going to see him do it next week at Wigmore.

Oh, lucky you, do report back! There are times when I wished I still lived in London.

[MickyD]

I can't say that Jean Rondeau's programme appeals to me very much. I don't mean the individual pieces but the way they're put together, which seems to me at the same time excessively "curated" and somewhat arbitrary. The playing is beautiful of course. Listening to the Chaconne by Fux made me want to hear an entire disc of keyboard music by that composer played by Rondeau, but I guess that isn't on the cards.

I felt a bit similarly about the Isabelle Faust Stravinsky Violin Concerto. I'm sure I've never heard a better recording of this piece, which isn't as well known as I think it ought to be.. Also, it's nice to have another recording of the Three Pieces for string quartet and the other little pieces on the CD. But one movement from Apollo to open the programme? Especially when the whole disc is only 44 minutes long - why not the whole ballet?

Yes, that seems very odd and stingy indeed. I wonder what reasons are behind that? Unusual for Harmonia Mundi.

[Bryn]

Yes, that seems very odd and stingy indeed. I wonder what reasons are behind that? Unusual for Harmonia Mundi.

There have been a few sparsely populated discs issued, of late. Another good reason to subscribe to a streaming service which facilitates offline listening, such as QOBUZ does (I know there are other such services but I have not checked out which or how many).

[Bryn]

There have been a few sparsely populated discs issued, of late. Another good reason to subscribe to a streaming service which facilitates offline listening, such as QOBUZ does (I know there are other such services but I have not checked out which or how many).

Ouch! I posted too quickly, there. The QOBUZ file for the 4th movement of the Violin Concerto mutes after 2'27", whether streamed straight or 'imported' for offline listening. The clock ticks away, but silently, until the start of the first of the 3 Pieces for String Quartet.

Hmm. The QOBUZ contact system appears to be broken. They advise clicking on the [...] icon at the bottom right of the screen. The screen on which this is advised has no such icon. Most other QOBUZ screens also lack it. For those that do have it, it does not lead to a way to raise a fault with them. I have also tried their Facebook page. No luck there, either, so far. Most frustrating. The Presto and Amazon streaming options are beginning to look more attractive.

[Pulcinella]

...

I felt a bit similarly about the Isabelle Faust Stravinsky Violin Concerto. I'm sure I've never heard a better recording of this piece, which isn't as well known as I think it ought to be.. Also, it's nice to have another recording of the Three Pieces for string quartet and the other little pieces on the CD. But one movement from Apollo to open the programme? Especially when the whole disc is only 44 minutes long - why not the whole ballet?

The concerto certainly grabbed my attention, but curious programming indeed.
The Three Pieces (together with the Concertino and the Double Canon) make an interesting filler on this Naxos Szymanowski String Quartets CD:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7952038--szymanowski-string-quartets

[Mandryka]

I can't say that Jean Rondeau's programme appeals to me very much. I don't mean the individual pieces but the way they're put together, which seems to me at the same time excessively "curated" and somewhat arbitrary. The playing is beautiful of course. Listening to the Chaconne by Fux made me want to hear an entire disc of keyboard music by that composer played by Rondeau, but I guess that isn't on the cards.

I felt a bit similarly about the Isabelle Faust Stravinsky Violin Concerto. I'm sure I've never heard a better recording of this piece, which isn't as well known as I think it ought to be.. Also, it's nice to have another recording of the Three Pieces for string quartet and the other little pieces on the CD. But one movement from Apollo to open the programme? Especially when the whole disc is only 44 minutes long - why not the whole ballet?

I also enjoyed the Fux, I thought the Haydn and Debussy were fabulous. It'll be interesting to see next week at Wigmore how much of the colourfulness is due to sound engineering.

[vinteuil]

.

Robert Levin and the AAM 'resume' their survey of the Mozart piano concertos. After a twenty year gap ...

https://aam.co.uk/product/mozart-pia...s-levin-vol-9/

"This release marks the renewal of a landmark project begun in 1993 on the Decca label to record Mozart’s entire works for keyboard. It will be followed by the four final albums of the series later in 2023 and 2024"

.

[MickyD]

.

Robert Levin and the AAM 'resume' their survey of the Mozart piano concertos. After a twenty year gap ...

https://aam.co.uk/product/mozart-pia...s-levin-vol-9/


"This release marks the renewal of a landmark project begun in 1993 on the Decca label to record Mozart’s entire works for keyboard. It will be followed by the four final albums of the series later in 2023 and 2024"

.

I guess better late than never! I wonder if these new recordings will sound much different now they are no longer under the auspices of Christopher Hogwood. It's sad to think that he never completed this cycle nor the admirable Haydn symphony series.

[Pulcinella]

Looking forward to this release: Songs by Edmund Rubbra

https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...-edmund-rubbra

Yes, looks fascinating. Are some first recordings, I wonder? I know the Jade Mountain has been done before.

This earlier today from the composer's son Adrian:

No, it doesn't say which are first recordings but many of them are and It's good to have them all gathered together now!

[silvestrione]

This earlier today from the composer's son Adrian:

No, it doesn't say which are first recordings but many of them are and It's good to have them all gathered together now!