Used Bin Troll Tweets S.

Ethelbert Nevin

[September 2016.]

edicionessingulares_es1019

Antonio SALIERI: Les Danaïdes (1783-84). Cast includes: Judith van Wanroij, Philippe Talbot, Tassis Christoyannis, Katia Velletaz, Thomas Dolié, Les Chantres du Centre de musique baroque de Versailles, Les Talens Lyriques, Christophe Rousset (cond.). Ediciones Singulares (2 CDs, 1 Book) (http://www.edicionessingulares.com/).

A group wedding that ends badly for all. Salieri’s early French success stems from Gluck’s influence. Elegant presentation, lovely book. YES.

tactus_tc841908

Giovanni SGAMBATI: Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra, Op. 15 (1878-80); Cola di Rienzo, ouverture (1866); Berceuse-Rêverie, Op. 42, No. 2 (1909; arr. Jules MASSENET, 1910). Francesco Caramiello (pno), Nürnberger Philharmoniker, Fabrizio Ventura (cond.). Tactus TC 841908 (1 CD) (http://www.tactus.it/).

While Italians were besotted with opera, Sgambati turned the other way with a majestic piano concerto blending Brahms and Liszt. MEZZO MEZZO.

naxos_8553898 bis_347

Johan SVENDSEN: Symphony No. 1, Op. 4 (1867); Symphony No. 2, Op. 15 (1877). Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Bjarte Engeset (cond.). Naxos 8.553898 (1 CD) (http://www.naxos.com/).

Johan SVENDSEN: Symphony No. 1, Op. 4 (1867); Symphony No. 2, Op. 15 (1877). Two Swedish Folk Tunes. Gothenberg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi (cond.). BIS CD 347 (1 CD) (http://www.bis.se/).

Grieg’s forgotten symphonic peer. Svendsen’s wife burned No. 3 which influenced Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler plot. Engeset proceeds quite tamely: NO.

Svendsen’s No. 1 is a student effort; No. 2 is more mature but conservative. Järvi’s livelier pacing does improve the overall effect: MAYBE.

hyperion_cda67693

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN: String Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 4 (1792-95); String Quintet in C major, Op. 29 (1801). The Nash Ensemble: Marianne Thorsen, Malin Broman (vln), Lawrence Power, Philip Dukes (vla), Paul Watkins (vlc). Hyperion CDA67693 (1 CD) (http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/).

Unfamiliar, less-polished Beethoven: Op. 4 updates a wind octet; with its vivid stormy finale, Op. 29 is his only true string quintet. MAYBE.

arabesque_z6592

“Mozart and Schnabel, Volume 3.” Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491 (1786)¹; Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat major, K. 595 (1791)²; Rondo in A minor, K. 511 (1787)³. Artur Schnabel^1,2,3 (pno), The Philharmonia Orchestra¹, Walter Susskind¹ (cond.), The London Symphony Orchestra², Sir John Barbirolli² (cond.). Arabesque Z6592 (1 CD) (o/p).

Historic recordings from 1948 (K. 491) and ’34 (K. 595), including Schnabel’s unusual Lisztian dissolving non-tonal cadenzas for K. 491. YES.

sony_sk46686

“Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Thirty two short films about Glenn Gould.” Var. comps. Glenn Gould (pno). Sony SK 46686 (1 CD) (https://www.sonymusicmasterworks.com/).

A 23-item patchwork, mostly Bach. If not deterred by Toscanini’s Tristan, a flimsy excuse for bumping into Gould’s Sibelius and Strauss. NO.