Review: Threes are the charm for Pacific Symphony. The Orange County Register, Dec. 4, 2015.
Noteworthy new and recent recordings
Beethoven: The Nine Symphonies; overtures. Vienna Philharmonic, London Symphony; Concertgebouw Orchestra, Pierre Monteux, conductor. (Decca Eloquence). Editor’s note: Since Monteux recorded the symphonies with different orchestras on different labels, this is the first time this distinguished stereo traversal of The Nine, including two Eroicas and a rehearsal sequence, has appeared all in one set. The conductor was well into his 80s when he made it.
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10; Passacaglia from Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. Boston Symphony, Andris Nelsons, conductor. (DG)
Stravinsky: Complete Edition. Various and celebrated artists. (DG)
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; Variations on a Theme of Chopin; Variations on a Theme of Corelli. Trifonov: Rachmaniana. Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, conductor; Daniil Trifonov, piano. (DG)
Berlioz: Symphony Fantastique; Lelio. Gerard Depardieu, narrator; Chicago Symphony, Riccardo Muti, conductor. (CSO-Resound)
Bach: Goldberg Variations. Beethoven: Diabelli Variations. Rzewski: The People United Will Never Be Defeated! Igor Levit, piano. (Sony)
Ravel: Piano concertos; Faure: Ballade, Op. 19. Tonhalle-Orchester Zurich, Lionel Bringuier, conductor; Yuja Wang, piano.
Leopold Damrosch: Symphony in A; Festival Overture; Marche Militaire (Schubert/Damrosch). Azusa Pacific University Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Russell, conductor. (Toccata Classics)
Songs from the Arc of Life: Kathryn Stott, piano; Yo-Yo Ma, cello. (Sony)
Radu Lupu turns 70
Alex Ross calls him “probably the greatest pianist alive” and it’s hard to argue with the statement. Romanian pianist Radu Lupu turned 70 yesterday. Here’s a review someone wrote of his local solo recital in 1999.
Lupu takes piano to new places REVIEW: His command of tonal colors and musical structure makes for an astonishing recital.
TIMOTHY MANGAN
Published: WED, 2/10/1999
When Radu Lupu sits down at the keyboard and begins to play, you wonder if the thing has been tricked-up somehow. Such sounds, such colors, such a range of attacks seem impossible on a normal piano.
It certainly isn’t possible for a normal pianist.
But then, as he showed Monday night at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, in a recital given under Philharmonic Society auspices, Lupu is something out of this world. His famously gruff demeanor, icy stage presence (he stared down one latecomer) and refusal to grant interviews add to the 53-year-old Romanian pianist’s mystery, but first and foremost, there is the playing.
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 8 (1956)
Leopold Stokowski conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
To read my article on neglected symphonies click here.
To hear other works in my Neglected Symphonies series, click here.
Gustavo Dudamel and Los Angeles Philharmonic perform Britten, Stravinsky and Shostakovich
Review: Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic shine in Stravinsky and Shostakovich. The Orange County Register, Nov. 29, 2015.
Photo: Vern Evans
Los Angeles Opera: ‘Norma’
Review: Los Angeles Opera revives Bellini’s ‘Norma.’ The Orange County Register, Nov. 22, 2015.
Esa-Pekka Salonen’s ‘Karawane’ and Yuja Wang’s Mozart
Review: Esa-Pekka Salonen’s ‘Karawane’ debuts, Yuja Wang plays Mozart. The Orange County Register, Nov. 21, 2015.
Franz Schmidt: Symphony No. 3 (1928)
Vassily Sinaisky conducts the Malmö Symphony Orchestra.
To read my article on neglected symphonies click here.
To hear other works in my Neglected Symphonies series, click here.
John Luther Adams’ ‘Become Ocean’ arrives at L.A. Philharmonic
Review: John Luther Adams’ ‘Become Ocean’ debuts at Los Angeles Philharmonic. The Orange County Register, Nov. 15, 2015.
Neglected symphonies
An article catching you up on what’s been happening on this blog recently …
Neglected symphonies catch online ear. The Orange County Register, Nov. 15, 2015.
To hear works in my Neglected Symphonies series, click here.
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