North East Classical Music: Reviews, News and What's On. Classical Music Concert Listings

From the House of Master Bohm (Melba MR301143)

1:50pm Thursday 6th June 2013

The distinguished Australian harpsichordist John O’Donnell presents musicalogically authoritative performances of George Bohm’s keyboard suites and chorale partitas.

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Morton Feldman: Violin and Orchestra (ECM New Series 4764929)

1:49pm Thursday 6th June 2013

Violinist Carolin Widmann and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Emilio Pomarico, perform Morton Feldman’s Violin and Orchestra. With an almost painterly attention to detail and to texture this slowly unfolding single movement work written in 1979 marked a new direction in his music. Widman moves within the glowing colour field of sound with exquisite delicacy and feeling. Captivating listening.

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String Paths: Dobrinka Tabakova (ECM New Series (ECM New Series 4764826)

1:48pm Thursday 6th June 2013

The richly melodic and sensuous music of Dobrinka Tabakova brings together the spirit of east and west with a contemporary twist. The Concerto for Cello and Strings, written for the cellist Kristina Blaumane, features ravishing playing. The album concludes with the string septet Such Different Paths led by the silver-toned violinist Janine Janson. A deeply-rewarding album.

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Lalo, Berlioz, Saint-Saens (Onyx 4107)

10:34am Thursday 23rd May 2013

Cellist Pieter Wispelwey and the Flanders Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Seikyo Kim, cast fresh light on neglected romantic cello concertos. Lalo’s Cello Concerto in D minor is a strong work in the German tradition, while Saint-Saen’s second cello concerto encapsulates the composer’s flair for style and elegance.

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Max Reger: Organ Works 2CDs (Signum Classics SIGCD329)

10:33am Thursday 23rd May 2013

The two major organ works on these discs show Max Reger at the height of his powers. They are performed by David Goode on the organ at Symphony Hall, Birmingham. As well as the large-scale works, such as Variations and Fugue on an Original Theme, the set includes shorter preludes and fugues. Compelling recitals.

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Rachmaninov & Shostakovich (Onyx 4116)

10:32am Thursday 23rd May 2013

The young German cellist Leonard Elschenbroich and pianist Alexei Grynyuk join forces in an enchanting recording of Rachmaninov’s Cello Concerto in G minor and Vocalise.

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Mahler Symphony No 1, Vladimir Jurowski (LPO-0070)

11:30am Thursday 16th May 2013

Vladimir Jurowski, conducting the London Philharmonic Orchesta, presents a refreshing rendition of Mahler’s First Symphony. This live performance includes the symphony’s original second movement Blumine. An important addition to the discography.

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Sibelius, Halle (HLL 7516)

11:28am Thursday 16th May 2013

The second installment of Halle’s Sibelius cycle under the baton of Sir Mark Elder features a magnificent account of Symphony No 2. Exuding a sense of melancholy and drama, the work is driven to a resounding climax. The album is rounded off with a dynamic rendition of Pohjola’s Daughter and evocative musical portrait of the sea in The Oceanides.

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Richard Strauss: Don Quixote & Till Eulenspiegel (Hyperion CDA67960)

4:54pm Friday 10th May 2013

Strauss’s Fantastic variations on a theme of knightly character, as Don Quixote is subtitled, is one of the composer’s most popular tone poems. The central character of the Don is wonderfully performed by cellist Alban Gerhardt, while Sancho Panza is brilliantly conveyed by violist Lawrence Power.

Palestrina: The Brabant Ensemble (Hyperion CDA67978)

4:53pm Friday 10th May 2013

The Brabant Ensemble, conducted by Stephen Rice, perform Missa Ad coenam from Palestrina’s first book of Mass-settings, as well as antiphons, motets and five Eastertide Offertories. This glorious music is sensitively sung. A must for early music devotees.

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