Classical Music

Classical Music

Pianist Anne-Marie McDermott's Mozart Piano Concerto cycle continues with Mozart's brilliant first original Piano Concerto, the D major Concerto, K. 175, composed at age 17. Volume 2 also presents two of Mozart's unquestionable masterpieces, the powerful concerto in D major, 451, and the ever-popular Concerto in B-flat major, K. 450. McDermott's Mozart Vol. 1 has been met with glowing praise, Donald Vroon in The American Record Guide writing of K. 238: "Her playing is better than anyone else that I've heard. It's so alive! It's as if I never heard this Concerto before."

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REVIEW:

Pianist Anne-Marie McDermott is competitive in her performances here with the best of the considerable recorded competition in this repertoire. If she maintains this high a level of playing throughout the series, she might well be a first choice in this repertory. This is simply excellent Mozart artistry and thus highly recommended.

– MusicWeb International

Brilliance, fluency, clarity and extraordinary communicative powers – Mozart seems to have had them all. Little wonder he was hailed as the finest pianist of his generation – even rivals such as Clementi commented ‘I had never heard anyone play with so much spirit and grace...’

Of course we have no idea how Mozart the keyboard player sounded. We have the reviews and comments of those who heard him perform, and we have the instruments of his time.These do take us some way to understanding performance practice of the day, and the limitations of the instruments, and how composers of the late 18th century worked to test the instruments, and make greater demands upon the constantly evolving fortepiano. On this first complete cycle using instruments of the period, Bart van Oort relishes the timbral possibilities of five carefully restored and copied instruments to convey Mozart’s music as directly as possible without the necessary “translation” when playing a modern grand.This results in a great clarity of sound and structure.

OTHER INFORMATION:
• Includes booklet notes on the repertoire and an introduction by Bart van Oort which addresses the challenges and pleasures of playing Mozart on the keyboards of his time.
• Recordings made in 2000–2005.

Classical Music

Described by the composer himself as ‘the king of instruments’, the organ and its music form a small but not insignificant part of Mozart’s vast œuvre. This new release, performed by acclaimed Italian organist Ivan Ronda, comprises all of his major works for the instrument, including the extended Adagio and Rondo in C minor and the small-scale works from the London Sketchbook. Also included is the charming Adagio in C for the glass harmonica: just 28 bars in length, the work was originally conceived for this curious instrument, which consists of glass bowls that rotate in water, but is equally effective on the organ. Mozart’s output of Church Sonatas – notable for their single movement form – are represented here by the Sonata in C K336, the only one to have a proper solo part for the organ, and was specially transcribed by André Isoir for this recording.

The disc is rounded off with the imposing Fantasia in F minor. Described in Mozart’s own catalogue of work as ‘an organ piece for a clock’, it was commissioned by Count Joseph Deym for a musical automaton that contained a small pipe organ. When transferred to an organ on the scale of that at the Church of Maria Vergine Immacolata in Gallo Cavour, Italy, where this recording was made, it takes on a certain grandeur, and exploits the various echo and dialogue effects of the instrument.

Ivan Ronda is an organist particularly renowned for his authoritative interpretations, and is acknowledged for his fine technique. His tour of the UK took in such prestigious venues as King’s College Cambridge and Westminster Abbey, and he was the first Italian organist to record an album on the historic Baroque organ of the Johanniskirche in Lüneburg, an instrument known to J. S. Bach.

Although Mozart called it “The King of instruments” he wrote comparatively few works for the organ, but what he wrote is of a special quality: the great Fantasia in F minor (a late work) is of deep emotional content, while the Adagio and Rondo KV 617 is in the tragic key of C minor. Also included is the delightful Suite in C KV399, the beautiful Andante in F major KV616 and some works the child prodigy Wolfgang wrote in London, the KV15. Played by Italian master organist Ivan Ronda, internationally acclaimed by guest appearances in such venues as Westminster Abbey and King’s College Cambridge. The booklet contains the information on the organ, artist biography and notes on the music. - Brilliant Classics

Brilliant Classics proudly presents the brand-new 5-album sets series: QUINTESSENCE, attractively priced compact box sets containing essential core classical repertoire in outstanding performances. Aimed at attracting both the discerning classical connoisseur and the classical newcomer it presents the pillars of classical music: Bach Famous Cantatas, Dvorák Complete Concertos and Symphonic Poems. Mozart Complete Wind Concertos and Serenades, Beethoven Complete Violin Sonatas and Cello Sonatas and Sibelius Complete Symphonies and Symphonic Poems. World class performers include Staatskapelle Dresden with Herbert Blomstedt, Netherlands Bach Collegium with Pieter Jan Leusink, Klára Würtz, Timora Rosler, Kristóf Baráti, Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester with Kurt Sanderling and others. The fresh and colorful artwork is eye-catching while the booklet contains liner notes in English. A new series at an unbeatable price! The present release features Mozart’s complete wind concertos and serenades, performed by the Staatskapelle Dresden, Les Violins du Roy, and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra.

First time on CD from the Metropolitan Opera’s archives: Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro. A delightful performance from January 28, 1961 with Roberta Peters, Mildred Miller, Lucine Amara, Kim Borg and Cesare Siepi all at the height of their careers. Conducted by Erich Leinsdorf.

Szell and his Clevelanders are shown at their finest here. The sparkling account of the Haffner is exhilarating, and the performance of the last symphon[y is] equally polished and strong. Yet there is a tranquil feeling to both Andantes that show Szell as a Mozartian of striking sensibility and finesse"

-- Penguin Guide [2003/4 Edition]

This is a DSD (Direct Stream Digital) recording

Mozart's tireless creative drive and the universal power of his music "With this fifth and final CD of my complete recording of Mozart's piano sonatas, I conclude a musical cycle that has been particularly meaningful to me. It has been a truly enriching journey to explore Mozart's development as a composer and pianist through these works, and I am delighted to be able to share this journey with you in it's entirety. The piano sonatas on this recording reflect Mozart's tireless creative drive and the universal aspirations of his music. Each of these works uniquely demonstrates his unrivalled mastery and sense of form, expression and emotional depth." Jean Muller

Young Chinese pianist Ran Jia plays an appealing program with works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Fantasy in C Minor, K 475, and the piano sonatas 3, 6 and 8.

The Staatsoper Berlin presents a new production of Mozart's early masterpiece Mitridate, re di Ponto. This captivating tale of love, power and betrayal revolves around a king and his two sons who vie for the love of the same woman. Under the baton of Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre bring fresh energy and nuance to Mozart's intricate opera seria, while the all-star cast shines with an impressive vocal range. In a staging where different worlds converge, director Satoshi Miyagi and his Japanese production team have created an atmosphere that is nothing short of magical. "Marc Minkowski and his brilliant orchestra Les Musiciens du Louvre [...] a real coup." (Tagesspiegel) "Singing feats of brilliance!" (Berliner Zeitung)

Volume 11 of the 'Next Generation Mozart Soloists' series presents Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major along with Piano Concertos KV 40 and KV 449. The Piano Concerto No. 3 is a very early work, derived from works by other composers, whereas No. 14 was written in 1784 by a fully mature Mozart, who was moving away from functional music towards expressing his ideas in a more dramatic structure. What links the two, says Swiss-Canadian pianist Teo Gheorghiu, is that they are both "concertos mainly joyful and optimistic in expression". French violinist David Castro-Balbi says "of Mozart's violin concertos, No. 5 has the strongest operatic character". These two soloists are accompanied by the Mozarteumorchester Salzburg under the baton of Howard Griffiths.

The Staatsoper Berlin presents a new production of Mozart's early masterpiece Mitridate, re di Ponto. This captivating tale of love, power and betrayal revolves around a king and his two sons who vie for the love of the same woman. Under the baton of Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre bring fresh energy and nuance to Mozart's intricate opera seria, while the all-star cast shines with an impressive vocal range. In a staging where different worlds converge, director Satoshi Miyagi and his Japanese production team have created an atmosphere that is nothing short of magical. "Marc Minkowski and his brilliant orchestra Les Musiciens du Louvre [...] a real coup." (Tagesspiegel) "Singing feats of brilliance!" (Berliner Zeitung)