Tag Archives: IRR

“One that lov’d not wisely but too well”: Antonenko a thrilling Otello

Verdi: Otello Riccardo Muti/Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO Resound) As destiny would have it, the latest disc to land on the review pile following my final report on the gigantic Tutto Verdi box was this concert recording of Otello from Chicago. … Continue reading

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Virtuosity for virtuosity’s sake: Valentina Lisitsa’s Rachmaninov disappoints

Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4; Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini Valentina Lisitsa; London Symphony Orchestra/ Michael Francis (Decca) The tale of Ukrainian-born Valentina Lisitsa’s unconventional rise to fame through internet clips on Youtube is now relatively well-known. I was … Continue reading

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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

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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

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Idiosyncratic, but thrilling “Winter Daydreams” as Pletnev revisits Tchaikovsky’s symphonies

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.1; Marche Slave Mikhail Pletnev/ Russian National Orchestra (PentaTone) Mikhail Pletnev and his Russian National Orchestra are busily re-recording Tchaikovsky’s symphonies. His earlier cycle for Deutsche Grammophon dates from the mid-1990s and garnered praise, albeit with caveats about … Continue reading

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