Two pianistic comebacks (one historical, the other contemporary) feature among today’s new releases: Ivo Pogorelich’s first solo album in nearly twenty years, and a collection of previously unreleased recordings made in the run-up to Vladimir Horowitz’s return to Carnegie Hall following a twelve-year absence from the concert platform. There’s also Bach from Antoine Tamestit and Masato Suzuki, Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn from Johannes Moser and Alasdair Beatson, and a Paris-themed recital from Belgian clarinettist Annelien Van Wauwe.
JS Bach: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord
Antoine Tamestit (viola), Masato Suzuki (harpischord)
Back in 2013, Tamestit’s recordings of the Bach Cello Suites arranged for viola were praised in The Sunday Times as ‘a joy to Bachians and viola fans alike’, whilst Gramophone observed that ‘you are left with the feeling that you're listening to the warmest of violas da gamba’; now he joins forces with Masato Suzuki (son of Masaaki) for the gamba sonatas, performed on the same ‘Mahler’ Stradivarius from 1672 which he used for the earlier recordings.
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
For his first solo recording in almost two decades, the controversial Croatian pianist performs Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas Nos. 22 and 24 and Rachmaninov’s Piano Sonata No. 2.
Available Formats: Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
The Belgian clarinettist and former BBC New Generation Artist takes turn-of-the-century Paris as her inspiration on a programme which includes Debussy’s Première Rhapsodie, Gabriel Pierné’s Canzonetta and Widor’s Introduction et Rondo as well as the world premiere recording of Paris-based composer Manfred Trojahn’s Rhapsodie pour clarinette et orchestra.
Available Formats: SACD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Felix & Fanny Mendelssohn: Works for Cello and Piano
Johannes Moser (cello), Alasdair Beatson (piano)
For his fifth album on Pentatone, German-Canadian cellist Johannes Moser is joined by Scottish pianist Alasdair Beatson for a programme of music by the Mendelssohn siblings, including Felix’s two cello sonatas and Variations concertantes Op. 17, and Fanny’s Fantasia in G minor and Capriccio in A flat.
Available Formats: SACD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 17 & 24
Orli Shaham (piano) St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, David Robertson
On their first studio recording in nearly two decades, Robertson and the St Louis Symphony are joined by American pianist Orli Shaham (Robertson’s wife, and sister of the violinist Gil), described as a ‘first-rate Mozartean’ by The Chicago Tribune; the recording was praised by Classical Source earlier this week for the ‘stylish and sympathetic’ rapport between soloist and orchestra.
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
The award-winning German recorder-player and friends present a programme of music by three composers of different nationalities who played vital roles in the musical life of the Saxon court in Dresden during the early eighteenth century: Johann Adolph Hasse, Francesco Maria Veracini and Jan Dismas Zelenka.
Available Formats: CD, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
This album showcases the results of an international call for compositions ‘reflecting the revolutionary ideas, philosophy and legacy of Karl Marx’, held last year to mark the bicentenary of the philosopher’s birth. The recording features the first, second and third prize-winners in the ensemble category: Andrea Portera’s Wild Rituals, Cecilia Arditto’s The dearest dream, and Alastair Zaldua’s manifesto.
Available Formats: 2 CDs, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
