By Laurie Niles: Welcome to "For the Record," Violinist.com's weekly roundup of new releases of recordings by violinists, violists, cellists and other classical musicians. We hope it helps you keep track of your favorite artists, as well as find some new ones to add to your listening!![]()
Violinist Nemanja Radulovic. Photo by Misha Obradovic.BachNemanja Radulovic, violinDouble Sens ensembleIves DenkStefan Jackiw, violinJeremy Denk, pianoRéveillerBella Hristova, violinMichael Houstoun, piano
Violinist Nemanja Radulovic. Photo by Misha Obradovic.
Serbian-French violinist Nemanja Radulovic explores different sides Bach through three contrasting concertos: the Violin Concerto in E Major, the Double Concerto for Oboe and Violin, and a transcription for violin of the Keyboard Concerto in D Minor. The album also includes four shorter pieces: the "Erbarme dich" from the St. Matthew Passion; a viola transcription of the Prelude from the Cello Suite No. 1; a Sicilienne in A Minor; and the lively Badinerie from the Orchestral Suite No. 2, where Radulovic's violin takes on the flute's role (BELOW).
In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Ives birth, this recording features the composers four violin sonatas, recorded with violinist Stefan Jackiw, as well as remastered versions of Ives' Sonatas No. 1 and 2 for piano, from pianist Jeremy Denks 2010 debut recording. Denk, a longtime proponent of the composer's music, says in his liner notes that Ives' "deepest dream was to create an original musical style, a fresh and uniquely American voice. He achieved this. But it was a voice most didnt want to hear, and still dont. He is one of historys least popular populists ..." Denk writes of the movement in the video below: "'In the Barn' is a joyful disaster. It starts with country fiddling, slips slyly into urban ragtime, and as time passes, every imaginable genre makes a cameooverheated Wagnerian Romanticism, fashionable exoticism, a dizzying tour of the early twentieth century musical world." BELOW: Jackiw and Denk perform the second-movement "In the Barn" from Ives' Violin Sonata No. 2.
Following their recordings of the complete Brahms Sonatas and complete Beethoven sonatas, Bella Hristova and Michael Houstoun turn to French works for violin and piano, featuring sonatas by Ravel, Poulenc, and Fauré. The album includes Ravel's single-movement "Sonate posthume," written some 30 years before the composer's more famous Violin and Piano Sonata No. 2. BELOW: Ravel's Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 Mvt. 1 Allegretto.Music of the Angels - Cello works by BoccheriniSteven Isserlis, celloOrchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
"Has there ever been a composer of more consistent elegance?" Cellist Steven Isserlis obviously thinks not! Isserlis and friends collaborate on this program of Boccherinis concertos and chamber music for cello, including one of the composers numerous string quintets, two each of his cello sonatas and concertos, plus an encore of perhaps the most famous minuet ever written. BELOW: Steven Isserlis talks about recording works by Boccherini.Dmitri Shostakovich: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 1 (Nos. 1-5)Cuarteto Casals
After being subjected to public attacks by the Soviet regime in the mid-1930s, Shostakovich sought new avenues of self-expression by turning to chamber music, and the string quartet became for him the perfect medium for private confession. Cuarteto Casals, which was first formed in 1997 at the Escuela Reina Sofía in Madrid, will embark on an eight-city American tour from November 2 to 13, performing works by Haydn, Mozart, Shostakovich and Brahms. This tour also introduces new member violist Cristina Cordero who joined the group in July. Cristina Cordero replaces Jonathan Brown, a member of 22 years, who has joined the faculty at the Colburn School in Los Angeles. They said in a statement, "This is a new beginning for us, a moment filled with excitement, opportunity and plenty of ambitious projects." BELOW: Excerpt from the album.If you have a new recording you would like us to consider for inclusion in our "For the Record" feature, please e-mail Editor Laurie Niles. Be sure to include the name of your album, a link to it and a short description of what it includes.You might also like:
- For the Record, Op. 305: James Ehnes; Violist Atar Arad; ARC Ensemble; Yo-Yo Ma
- For the Record, Op. 304: Ray Chen's 'Player 1'; London Chamber Ensemble Quartet
- For the Record, Op. 303: Harlem Quartet; Darshan Trio; Yuuko Shiokawa
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