{"id":3791,"date":"2017-09-15T13:43:08","date_gmt":"2017-09-15T12:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.larkreviews.co.uk\/?p=3791"},"modified":"2017-09-15T13:43:08","modified_gmt":"2017-09-15T12:43:08","slug":"cdsdvds-september-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/?p=3791","title":{"rendered":"CDs\/DVDs September 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
Puccini: La Boheme<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n
Teatro Regio Torino, Gianandrea Noseda<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n
UNITEL 742608<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

Though the production has many strengths there are a number of nagging concerns. Modern dress is not one of them, but the huge stage often dwarfs the cast, who are lost within the plethora of windows at the back. The production itself makes little of the updating, and the Caf\u00e9 Momus scene is remarkably conventional, the main worry being how these students managed to get into a restaurant which is so obviously up-market. Act three works the best, both visually and dramatically.<\/p>\n

Of the singers, Kelebogile Besong\u2019s Musetta and Massimo Cavalletti\u2019s Marcello are the strongest both dramatically and vocally. Neither the Mimi nor Rudolfo are positive enough in the first act and are visually engulfed by the set. As above they are at their best in act three where they have space to move about and sing more freely. Gianandrea Noseda\u2019s handling of the score is polished and well-paced.<\/p>\n

Shakespeare: Cymbeline<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
RSC, Stratford upon Avon<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
OPUS ARTE OA 1242<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

Melly Still\u2019s modern dress production was given at Stratford last year, where we were fortunate enough to see it live. The recording here does full justice to the impact of the production with Bethan Cullinane a quietly impressive Innogen and Marcus Griffiths a dangerous Cloten. In the course of the narrative it made little difference that Cymbeline himself was played by Gillian Bevan as a distinctly dangerous queen \u2013 if anything it added a certain frisson to a part which can too easily seem old and doddery. A fine addition to the growing number of splendid recordings from the RSC.<\/p>\n

JS Bach: Keyboard concertos<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
Sonya Bach, piano, English Chamber Orchestra<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
RUBICON RCD 1006<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

This is a strange release if only because of the lack of information given with it. We know a great deal about Sonya Bach and her fine reputation, but there is virtually nothing about the works themselves or the approach to the recording. While she brings a bravura technique to the Bach arrangements, the style and sound are entirely modern and often fiercely aggressive. The instrument is not named but as the recordings were made in St John\u2019s Smith Square one can assume it is their Steinway \u2013 not a particularly apt choice for Bach as this cd unfortunately demonstrates.<\/p>\n

The Baroque Bohemians<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n
Red Priest<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n
RPR RP 014<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

This is a total and unique delight throughout. Don\u2019t expect authenticity in the conventional sense, but do expect to be thrilled by the sheer daring of the approach. I doubt if you have heard Telemann, Byrd or Vivaldi like this before but the musicianship is superb and the panache of the approach drives all before it. As with all of the finest scores, they are still here for others to play and record in more conventional ways if that is what you desire. For me \u2013 I just wish more concerts had this level of life and enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

Debussy: Jeux; Khamma; La Boite a Jououx<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n
Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Lan Shui<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n
BIS 2162<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

This is a most impressive recording. If the two major works here are less familiar that is because they were both completed or orchestrated by other hands. Not that there is any hint that this is not fully authentic Debussy, and one to which Lan Shui responds with immaculate sensitivity. Much of the scoring is remote and hushed, and Shui creates a distant shimmering sound which is both apt and captivating. Khamma is a brief ballet score whose narrative Debussy did not warm to but, needing the money, felt obliged to complete. Its introspective textures are finely spun and we don\u2019t really need to worry about the story!<\/p>\n

Dvorak: Piano Trios<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n
The Tempest Trio<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n
NAXOS 8.573723<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

Dvorak\u2019s Piano Trio No 1 Op 21 was written in 1875 and revised in 1877, its lyrical qualities obvious from the start. By contrast the second quartet in G minor, composed in 1876 is more introvert and may reflect Dvorak\u2019s personal tragic circumstances at the time. The Tempest Trio came together having previously had individual careers as soloists, and this recording follows the success of their first cd of Dvorak trios.<\/p>\n

Szymanowski & Karlowicz violin concertos<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n
Tasmin Little, violin, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Edward Gardner<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n
CHANDOS CHSA 5185<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

Szymanowski\u2019s first violin concerto from 1916 is written in a single movement and full of lightning changes of mood and texture. It is about as far away as one could imagine from his near contemporary, Mieczyslaw Karlowicz, whose concerto is richly romantic both in style and structure. The lyrical second movement is particularly impressive and it is strange that the work is not far more familiar given how close it seems to Bruch and Elgar. Szymanowski\u2019s second violin concerto was one of his last major works to be completed and is dedicated to the violinist Paul Kochanski who had assisted in its creation. Fine performances of all three works from Tasmin Little. It would be good to hope we hear the Karlowicz now in repertory.<\/p>\n

Mozart: Piano concertos and divertimenti<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, piano, Manchester Camerata, Gabor Takacs-Nagy<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n
CHANDOS CHAN 10958<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

While the two concerti date from 1784 the Divertimenti are much earlier, dating from Mozart\u2019s teenage years. Not that there is anything juvenile about them even if he was still very much under Leopold\u2019s thumb at the time of their creation.<\/p>\n

Sparkling performances throughout from Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and secure accompaniment from the Manchester Camerata.<\/p>\n

Strauss: Oboe concerto; wind serenade<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n
Alexei Ogrintchouk, Royal Concertgebouw wind players, Andris Nelsons<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n
BIS 2163<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

While the oboe concerto will be very familiar it is the two other works which command attention here. The early Serenade in E flat major dates from 1881 when the composer was only seventeen, but the Sonatina comes from the same very late stable as the concerto. As such they make a fascinating and most acceptable coupling. Alexei Ogrintchouk\u2019s approach is stylish and Andris Nelsons brings a mellifluous sensitivity to the wind players.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Puccini: La Boheme Teatro Regio Torino, Gianandrea Noseda UNITEL 742608 Though the production has many strengths there are a number of nagging concerns. Modern dress is not one of them, but the huge stage often dwarfs the cast, who are … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3791"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3791"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3791\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3792,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3791\/revisions\/3792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}