according to Apple, this is the number one album in the Apple Classical app.
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Thanks for highlighting this fine recording, which has really grown on me. The harp makes a very pleasant change, even if piano versions may be first choice for most.
You might also like to try Jenny Lin’s Glass Études.
She is a delightful pianist and those who don’t know it are also strongly recommended to listen to her Chinoiserie.
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Thank you for the Jenny Lin suggestion. I listened to her performance of the complete Glass etudes as well as that of Jeroen van Veen (Brilliant Classics). Also listened to Anton Batagov’s (YouTube) and Maki Namekawa’s, in part, (YouTube), the latter both on Mr. Glass’s Orange Mountain Music label and available via Apple Music. Rebecca Franks, the author of the Building Your Library article I referred to in my initial post, particularly recommended Mr. Batagov’s Live recording in Moscow’s Svetlanov Hall, which she found poetic. I find his use of legato and the Steinway D sound in his performance compelling. Still delighted by Lavinia Meijer’s harp version. Clearly a different bird, but it flies.
Chinoiserie up next in my listening queue. Thank you!
Later: This is a delightful recording. I like her Leo Ornstein A la Chinoise, Op. 39, more than I enjoy Marc-André Hamelin’s performance and I adore Mr. Hamelin’s version. A new favorite. The entire recording, though, is remarkable. Thank you for an incredible and unexpected treat.
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Oh my goodness! Another amazing recording. The Lavinia Meijer Glassworks had me joyfully time-traveling back to my first listen. Her harp playing is uniquely suited to at least some of Mr. Glass’s works. Something wonderfully ethereal in these plucked string signals. No wonder he encouraged her. The sound engineering here, which could have unstrung the recording, is paradigmatic. I’ve sat near a harpist performing before and I’m not sure how she and they caught almost all the instrument’s nuanced microtones without the plucking and physicality in evidence.
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You need at least one Russian version, though? Still think this has something to offer, not least in the speed of the final movement, which is still thrilling.
This remains for me the most satisfying modern version. (So wish the LSO would release the live versions of the last 3, along with a stunning ‘Pique Dame’.)
I’ve always enjoyed Slava’s LPO Tchaikovsky Symphony cycle, which at the moment appears to only be available on a collection of other Russian works.
If memory serves, it was originally available on EMI/Angel, in excellent sound. I believe Gramophone regarded it highly.
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Didn’t know there was one. I’ve always liked his ballet excerpts, and ‘Pique Dame’, so this is very interesting. Will check it out.
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@Richard_Graham “Thrilling” is the perfect descriptor for the 4th by Mravinsky with Leningrad.
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Back from three months away from home. I was using the Qobuz app on my travels. It’s a pleasure to get back to using Roon.
Found this on a search of Hyperion records.That’s the one thing the Qobuz app does better than Roon.
Isserlis plays well. The orchestra here plays and sounds very good indeed. All well known pieces but sit well together here. This was released in 2017.
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Have greatly enjoyed this performance by Mr. Isserlis with DKB. Love this early cello concerto by one of my favorite composers.
Re: Tchaikovsky recordings cited above. I (very adolescent and endocrine) imprinted on an Antal Dorati Romeo and Juliet and now cannot abide anything Tchaikovsky. I know this is a flaw in my character, but I have come to find his composing too, too romantic. Much like my problem with Gaelic music with its piping and rictus smile-along rhythms or, worse, its bathetic, tears in my Guiness, emotiveness. As I say, this is a (well-earned, battle scarred) character flaw. Anything by Mssr. T that is bracingly forward-looking or dispassionate?
Have fallen for the discount of the day at eClassical… and can recommend everyone to do the same for just 7 bucks:
Violin and piano concertos as well as concert pieces as romantic as can get. Really fun to listen to this one!
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Following a great recommendation from @PFBTG for Jenny Lin’s Philip Glass’s complete études and for her superb À la Chinoise (the entire album is superb), I had to have another listen to my favorite Leo Ornstein performance by Marc-André Hamelin for Hyperion label. Ms. Lin and Mr. Hamelin bring different tone and color to À la Chinoise. I cannot choose one above the other.
Following up on Lavinia Meijer’s wonderful harp work, I turned to another excellent harpist and greatly enjoyed her performances. Excellent articulation.
Having recently read Lebanese violinist/composer Layale Chaker praised in both BBC Music and Gramophone and liking the idea of something more avant-garde, I listened to her performances with ETHEL, with great interest. It’s an uneven recording, as one might expect when each member of ETHEL, a reknowned New York based string quartet, provides a composition of his/her own, but it is still a very enjoyable listen. I particularly like the opening piece, Novembers (Ralph Farris), Ms. Chaker’s Vigil and the closing piece, Sketka (Corin Lee).
Finally, after recently listening to Liszt’s Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, I couldn’t resist Jed Distler’s recommendation on Classics Today by Sandrine Erdely-Sayo. I found myself absorbed by yet another excellent Liszt performer. Her performance of Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude was wonderfully sensitive. The Consolations (apparently some wags call them Consolations because they are playable Liszt) are performed to as near perfection as I’ve ever heard and she somehow manages to keep me deeply engaged with Liebesträume, En rêve and Schwanengesang, though I’ve heard them so many times before. Remarkable pianist.
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thank you for posting this. I’m aware of Lala’s works for violin and cello, but did not know he wrote a piano concerto. very nice.
we need a discussion of the Symphonie Espagnole…
I thought I had a recording with Jimmy Lin, but I can’t find it now…
Indeed, the Jean-Jacques Kantorow Concerto russe recording @Arindal suggested is a joy to hear.
Speaking of Pamplona-born virtuoso Pablo Sarasate (of whom George Bernard Shaw wrote he “left criticism gasping miles behind him”) and Édouard Lalo, recall enjoying Maxim Vengerov/Antonio Pappano Philharmonia Orchestra Symphonie espagnole recording.
My favorite recording, though it is not the best recorded, is Arthur Grumiaux/Jean Fournet/Lamoreux Orchestra. Mssr. Grumiaux has such a wonderful singing way with this Lalo composition.
I’ll be listening to Mssr. Kantorow’s recording of this piece after relistening to the Grumiaux and Vengerov recordings. Thank you for the pleasant diversion from a serious thunderstorm.
Later: Mssr. Kantorow/Kees Bakels/Granada City Orchestra performance is thoroughly enjoyable. Rich in vibrato, but expertly deployed. One of my favorite orchestral Symphonie espagnole performances.
Hear hints of Bizet in this piece, particularly in the Intermezzo? Remember that Lalo’s piece premiered before Bizet’s Carmen. Spanish folk music was in the French air at the time and stayed there for some time.
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The first time I heard this album, I think my mind was re-wired in some way.
I can still recall the day, room and stereo on which it was played.
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I had the same reaction to this recording , I have both !!
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