On the 1st of February, Chasing The Dragon had the opportunity of recording a live Beethoven concert performed at St. Martin-in-the-Fields. From this event, they have been able to release 2 new recordings featuring the Locrian Ensemble of London, conducted by Rimma Sushanskaya. They were rewarded with a programme of outstanding quality from the finely played Egmont Overture, to the 5th Symphony, by way of the Emperor Piano Concerto, notably well conducted throughout by Rimma Sushanskaya, most able partnering the very fine John Lenehan who gave an outstanding account of the solo part, supported to the hilt by this very gifted conductor and orchestra. Dr. Sushanskaya's performance of the 5th Symphony was in the memorable class, a reading of deep musicianship and interpretive character. Part of The Live Beethoven Series On 180g 33RPM Vinyl LP!
Does Spring Hide It's Joy is an immersive piece by composer Kali Malone featuring Stephen O'Malley on electric guitar, Lucy Railton on cello, and Malone herself on tuned sine wave oscillators. The music is a study in harmonics and non-linear composition with a heightened focus on just intonation and beating interference patterns. Malone's experience with pipe organ tuning, harmonic theory, and long durational composition provide prominent points of departure for this work. Her nuanced minimalism unfolds an astonishing depth of focus and opens up contemplative spaces in the listener's attention.
2022 release. Nonesuch Records releases the first recordings of Steve Reich's Runner (2016) and Music for Ensemble and Orchestra (2018), performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and conducted by Susanna Malkki. Reich says Runner is written "for a large ensemble of winds, percussion, pianos, and strings. While the tempo remains more or less constant, there are five movements, played without pause, that are based on different note durations." Music for Ensemble and Orchestra is an extension of the Baroque concerto grosso where there is more than one soloist," the composer continues. "Here there are twenty soloists-all regular members of the orchestra, including the first stand strings and winds, as well as two vibraphones and two pianos. The piece is in five movements, though the tempo never changes, only the note value of the constant pulse in the pianos. Thus, an arch form: sixteenths, eighths, quarters, eighths, sixteenths. Music for Ensemble and Orchestra is modeled on my Runner, which has the same five movement form."
Vinyl LP pressing. 2019 release. Hania Rani is a pianist, composer and musician who splits her life between Warsaw, where she makes her home, and Berlin where she studied and often works. Esja is her debut solo album and for Rani it is her first, real, personal statement as an artist. "No hiding behind the 'collaborations' or 'projects' anymore. For the very first time, finally - just me, as I am". Recorded at Rani's apartment in Warsaw (the piano room has a beautiful reverb and the space has become part art studio and part sound laboratory for Rani) and at her friend Bergur Þorisson'sstudio in Reykjavik, Esja is a series of beautiful melodic vignettes. Sensual, sensitive, rhythmic, atmospheric, free but harmonious, beguiling and hypnotic, collectively they project a sense of unlimited space and time.
By the time Beethoven composed this work, his output had declined substantially, perhaps owing to his deafness and disappointments in life. The only complete works to emerge from the period of 1820- 1823 were these last three piano sonatas. Even when compared to these imposing works, the "E major Piano Sonata" retains it's status of a masterpiece. With Gould, you'll get excellent interpretations of some of the lesser known works. Even when a movement runs off track, you sense the pianist's excitement and good humor. These are some of the cleanest and most musical performances of Beethoven's last three sonatas ever recorded.
Zarathustra Music is proud to present the world premiere recording of Elliot Goldenthal's 'Symphony in G# Minor' performed by Pacific Symphony under conductor Carl St. Clair. Composer, conductor, and orchestra previously collaborated 20 years before when Pacific Symphony commissioned and recorded Goldenthal's highly acclaimed 'Fire, Water, Paper - A Vietnam Oratorio. ' For the occasion of the orchestra's American Composers Festival 2014, Goldenthal composed his 25 minute symphony, in the obscure yet autobiographical key of G# Minor, especially for the occasion. The work premiered immediately after the composer's 60th birthday in May 2014 and represents Goldenthal's first large-scale concert work since Fire, Water, Paper. In the past 20 years, Goldenthal has garnered three Academy Award nominations (Interview with a Vampire, Michael Collins) and won and Oscar and Golden Globe for his score to Frida. In 2007, Goldenthal was finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Music for his opera Grendel which premiered at Los Angeles Opera and Lincoln Center Festival. In 2013 composed his String Quartet No. 1 'The Stone Cutters' as well as music for Julie Taymor's stage production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' that opened a new theater in Goldenthal's hometown of Brooklyn, NY. In 2013 the Joffrey ballet produced his large-scale three-act ballet Othello at the 4, 000 seat Auditorium Theater in Chicago, and in 2015 the American Ballet Theater revives Othello for it's fourth time at the Metropolitan Opera House. Meanwhile, downtown the composer is providing 'Music & Soundscapes' for the new one-woman show Grounded starring Anne Hathaway at the Public Theater. Goldenthal remains one of the most highly acclaimed and dynamic composers working today.
'La Boheme' is one of the most bewitching of operas, with it's smooth lines, poignant libretto, and sheer musicality. One of Puccini's masterpieces, of course. This is the version featuring Maria Callas as Mimi, supported by a fine cast. Giuseppe Di Stefano sang Rodolfo, Rolando Panerai took the role of Marcello, and Anna Moffo sang Musetta. The key to whether or not 'La Boheme' satisfies, of course is the quality of the singing and orchestral support. The coupling of Di Stefano and Callas in this recording is close to perfection. Anna Moffo's voice is in it's glorious youthful richness and with an excellent La Scala Orchestra under the baton of Antonino Votto this is one of the most interesting recorded versions of 'La Boheme' ever!
Turn This Mutha Out is a Jazz-Funk/Soul LP by drummer Idris Muhammad, originally released in the late 1970s and reissued multiple times, including the 2017/2021. The album is regarded as one of Muhammad's most iconic and groove-driven works, showcasing his signature blend of deep funk rhythms, soulful arrangements, and spiritual jazz overtones.
Ernest Ansermet conducts L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande for this 1954 recording of Borodin's Second & Third Symphonies. Symphony No. 2 in B minor by Alexander Borodin was composed intermittently between 1869 and 1876. It consists of four movements and is considered the most important large-scale work completed by the composer himself. It has many melodic resemblances to both Prince Igor and Mlada, two theatre works that diverted Borodin's attention on and off during the six years of composition. Numbered, Limited Edition 180g 45rpm 2 LP! Mastered by Bernie Grundman from the Original Analog Master Tapes and Pressed at RTI! Deluxe Laminated Gatefold Jackets! Only 2500 Numbered, Limited Edition Copies Worldwide!
Echo Collective's debut album of original material is out on October 30. "The See Within" connects their past with the present, absorbing the experience of collaboration to feed their own inventive beauty. "We spent the last eight years creating music with amazing people, and learning so much," says Leiter. "And when you write your own music, you can't help but bring those people with you." A1. Inflection Point A2. The See WithinA A3. From Last Night's RainA A4. The Witching HourA A5. GlitchA B1. Unknown GatesA B2. RespireA B3. First Brightening
