Used Bin Troll Tweets PPP.

Ethelbert Nevin

[November 2023.]

Johann Sebastian BACH: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (1741-42). Víkingur Ólafsson (pno). DG 486 4553 (1 CD, 2 LP) (www.deutschegrammophon.com).

If Ólafsson piloted a ferry, he’d take on water and tip out passengers. This Bach confounds and is rarely soporific or revelatory. MAYBE NOT.

William HERSCHEL: Symphonies Nos. 2, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 17 (ca. 1760-64). London Mozart Players, Matthias Bamert (cond.). Chandos 10048 (1 CD) (www.chandos.net).

Perhaps more famous as an astronomer, the competent (eccentric?) Herschel illustrates why we hold Haydn and Mozart in high regard. MAYBE YES.

Franco ALFANO: String Quartet No. 1 in D major (1914-18; rev. 1924); String Quartet No. 2 in C major, “In Tre Tempi Collegati” (1925-26); String Quartet No. 3 in G minor (1945). Elmira Darvarova, Mary Ann Mumm (vln), Craig Mumm (vla), Samuel Magill (vlc). Naxos 8.579042 (1 CD) (www.naxos.com).

Probably easier to digest than his operas, Alfano’s string quartets slither with surprising chords and queasy ideas much like Janáček. MAYBE.

“Rough Magic.” William BRITTELLE: Psychedelics (2017). Eve BEGLARIAN: None More Than You (2019). Caroline SHAW: The Isle (2022). Peter SHIN: Bits Torn from Words (2019). Roomful of Teeth. New Amsterdam Records NWAM172 (1 LP, digital) (www.roomfulofteeth.org).

Virtuosic voices squandered on gimmicks and gewgaws. Maybe you’ll wince or grimace, but nothing here will make the world a better place. NO.

Missy MAZZOLI: Dark with Excessive Bright (2021)¹; Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres) (2013)²; These Worlds in Us (2006)³; Orpheus Undone (2021)⁴; Vespers for Violin (2014)⁵; Dark with Excessive Bright (2021; arr. string quintet and solo violin)⁶. Peter Herresthal^1,5,6 (vln), Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra¹, Arctic Philharmonic^2,3,4,6, James Gaffigan¹, Tim Weiss (cond.)^2,3,4,6. BIS 2572 (1 SACD) (www.bis.se).

Maybe time will tell. Long decades after Adams and Torke, Mazzoli contentedly runs in place. The works with violin soloist fare best. MAYBE.

Johan SVENDSEN: Symphony No. 1, Op. 4 (1867); Symphony No. 2, Op. 15 (1877); Polonaise No. 2, Op. 28 (1881). Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard (cond.). Chandos CHAN 9932 (1 CD) (www.chandos.net).

Some music is obscure for good reason. Focus may stall in No. 1, No. 2 interests a dash more. The Polonaise pleases because it is short. NO.