Category Archives: CD

Vivaldi: Concerti per fagotto III

Vivaldi: Concerti per fagotto III Sergio Azzolini; L’Aura Soave Cremona/ Diego Cantalupi (Naïve OP 30539) Vivaldi was a prolific advocate for the bassoon, composing 39 concertos – more than for any instrument other than his own, the violin. While the … Continue reading

Posted in CD | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Vivaldi: Concerti per fagotto III

Superb Rachmaninov triptych from Bergen

Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances; The Rock; The Isle of the Dead Andrew Litton/Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (BIS) A couple of decades ago, the partnership of Mariss Jansons and the Oslo Philharmonic yielded some terrific discs, initially for Chandos (a splendid set of … Continue reading

Posted in CD | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Superb Rachmaninov triptych from Bergen

A whiff of greasepaint: Verdi crackling with theatricality from Chailly at La Scala

Viva Verdi! Filarmonica della Scala/ Riccardo Chailly (Decca 478 3559) Riccardo Chailly conducts Verdi at La Scala all too infrequently. In the past decade, there has been a 2006 Rigoletto, followed by the Franco Zeffirelli production of Aida, where Roberto … Continue reading

Posted in CD | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Twilight of the Gods: an abattoir of ‘bleeding chunks’

Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen (highlights): DG The cover of “Twilight of the Gods” features Bryn Terfel brooding darkly, a raven perched on his shoulder. Twilight of the Gods? But isn’t Wotan out of the picture by Götterdämmerung? Despite the … Continue reading

Posted in CD | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Twilight of the Gods: an abattoir of ‘bleeding chunks’

Essential listening: Brüggen’s Beethoven

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9; Rebecca Nash, Wilke te Brummelstroete, Marcel Beekman, Michael Tews; Laurens Collegium & Cantorij, Rotterdam; Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century/ Frans Brüggen (Glossa SACD, 5 discs, GCDSA 921116) What is the point of period instrument Beethoven any … Continue reading

Posted in CD | Tagged , , | Leave a comment