Gubaidulina's Jetzt immer Schnee and Perception

 

Sad news: yesterday we heard the news that Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina has passed away, aged 93. She had been my favourite living composer for decades, taking over from Tōru Takemitsu in 1996. In her memory I'm posting the very first CD that I bought of her works in 1995. Two outstanding works, Jetzt Immer Schnee (for Chamber Ensemble and Chamber Choir, on Verses by Gennadi Aigi) and Perception (for Soprano, Baritone and Strings, on Verses by Francisco Tanzer). They are performed by Stella Kleindienst, Siegfried Lorenz, the Netherlands Chamber Choir, and the Schönberg Ensemble under Reinbert de Leeuw. R.I.P. .

 

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Concertos by Gerald FInzi

The term "second best" often sounds a bit disrespectful. However, when I state that to my taste English composer Gerald Finzi (1901 - 1956) gave us the second best concertos for cello and for clarinet (behind Moeran and Mozart) it is very high praise indeed. Lyrita made the wise choice to combine them on one album, played by Yo-Yo Ma with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and by John Denman and the New Philharmonia Orchestra, both under Vernon Handley. A magnificent CD.

 

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Death and the Maiden by the Takács Quartet

One of my favourite chamber music CD's. The two most famous Schubert string quartets (No. 13 in A minor 'Rosamunde' D804 and No. 14 in D minor 'Death and the Maiden' D810), for me two of the best three string quartets ever composed, in impeccable performances by the Takács Quartet. Top notch Hyperion sound (as usual), and impressive cover art by Adolph Hiremy-Hirschl (1860-1933).

 

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Malcolm Arnold's Dances

 

This is such a fun disc, combining all six sets of dances composed by British composer Sir Malcolm Arnold: English (two sets), Scottish, Cornish, Irish and Welsh. They are performed by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra under Andrew Penny on a Naxos CD.

 

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French String Quartets by Quatuor Ebène

 

The three 'best' French string quartets combined on one CD in great performances by the Quatuor Ebène on Virgin Classics. Most classical music lovers would agree that Claude Debussy's  String Quartet in G minor from 1893 and Maurice Ravel's String Quartet in F major from 1903 are the top two. For a third there are a few candidates, but for me the clear third choice is Gabriel Fauré's String Quartet in E minor from 1924. A wonderful CD.

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Pieces of Africa by the Kronos Quartet

The Kronos Quartet played a major role in the introduction of contemporary classical music to me. This was the very first album of them I bought and it is still a favourite. Eight works by African composers with lots of African influences in the sounds. Warmly recommended.

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Chopin's Nocturnes by Maria João Pires

Chopin's Nocturnes are for me among the most beautiful works ever composed for the piano. There is no shortage of famous pianists recording them all (a double CD is required), but in the end I have a weak spot for the versions by Maria João Pires on Deutsche Grammophon. Sheer beauty and definitely a desert island disc for me.

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Speak Low: Kurt Weill Songs by Anne-Sofie von Otter

 

 

A Deutsche Grammophon CD with works by Kurt Weill (1900-1950) sung by Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter, accompanied by the NDR Sinfonieorchester under John Eliot Gardiner. Thirteen songs, including evergreens like My Ship, Surabaya-Johnny and I'm A Stranger Here Myself, as well as the complete The Seven Deadly Sins. If I could keep just one Kurt Weill CD, it would be this one. The cover photograph, depicting a scene that could have been taken in a Berlin nightclub in the 1920's, is by Denise Grünstein - a fabulous example of Chiaroscuro.

 

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Chamber music by Brahms and Dvořák

 

 

This CD has been a long-time favourite of mine. It was one of my first chamber music albums, combining two pieces I still consider in my top 3 for that genre: Johannes Brahms' autumnal Clarinet Quintet and Antonín Dvořák's mercurial 'American" String Quartet (the third being Franz Schubert's String Quintet). The performances by the Delmé String Quartet and Heith Puddy on clarinet are very fine indeed. If I could keep only one chamber music CD, this would be the one.

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Moeran's Concertos

You have never heard of the English composer Ernest John Moeran (1894 - 1950)? I don't blame you - even at classical music discussion sites his name hardly rings a bell with many members. I have loved him ever since I got my first CD of his works (his only symphony) in the 1980s - he is a solid top20 composer to my taste. The CD shown above is a marvel. If I could save only one Moeran CD it would be this one. His Cello Concerto (played by Raphael Wallfisch with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta under Norman Del Mar) is for me the very best ever composed for that instrument (yes, even better than Dvorak and Elgar), and his Violin Concerto (played by Lydia Mordkovitch and the Ulster Orchestra under Vernon Handley) is almost as impressive. The two short orchestral works (Lonely Waters and Whythorne's Shadow, played by the Ulster Orchestra under Vernon Handley) are welcome bonuses. 

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Mahler's Song Cycles

 

 

Gustav Mahler is widely recognized as an important composer, especially for his symphonies. I find it surprising that even among classical music aficionados there are many who have never listened to his orchestral song cycles. The three best (note that Das Lied von der Erde is an unnumbered symphony, not a song cycle) are collected on this CD, sung by baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (accompanied by the Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks under Rafael Kubelik), Kindertotenlieder and Rückert-Lieder (accompanied by the Berliner Philharmoniker under Karl Böhm. This Deutsche Grammophon CD is one of my desert island discs: the song cycles are among the best ever composed, and Fischer-Dieskau nails them from start to finish.

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Virtapenko's Concertos

 

 

Under "Classical Albums" I will be posting some of my favourite classical music CD's, usually as they say "off the beaten path". Starting with one of my favourite CD's of 21st century compositions. Olli Virtaperko (1973) is a Finnish composer. This is my only CD with his works, but this is heaven for someone who like me loves unusual concertos. The first track Romer's Gap (2016) is a concerto for amplified cello and sinfonietta; the soloist is Perttu Kivilaakso, member of the Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica. Multikolor (2014) is a concerto for baritone saxophone (played by Joonatan Rautiola) and small chamber orchestra. It gives me associations with the didgeridoo at places. The final track Ambrosian Delights (2015) is a concerto for knifonium and chamber orchestra. The knifonium is a vacuum-tube-based analogue synthesizer, designed by Jonte Knif, who also plays the beast in this concerto. I really enjoy the sound of this instrument, and Virtaperko combines it well with the chamber orchestra. Funny sounds, yes, but also a fun listening experience. Highly original. The orchestra on this Ondine CD is Jyväskylä Sinfonia under Ville Matvejeff.

 

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