BBC Music Magazine Choices,
BBC Music Magazine - November 2024 Choices
Also mentioned in despatches are a 'toweringly magnificent' Bruckner 9 from the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and Paavo Järvi on Alpha, the world premiere recording of George Benjamin's new opera Picture a Day Like This, and a collection of works by British composer Anna Clyne on Sony (featuring Yo-Yo Ma, Avi Avital and New York-based orchestra The Knights).
Recording of the Month
'Played with such warmth and eloquence, the arrangements chosen here often feel as if they were tailor-made for the instrument, while the sensitive programming paints a loving portrait of the Schumann household.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV
Orchestral Choice
'Järvi’s Ninth seems to penetrate new realms of consciousness in a reading as intellectually searing and musically uncompromising as any I’ve heard, Karajan, Wand and Giulini included…A sober, self-abasing, yet toweringly magnificent performance.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV
Concerto Choice
Anna Clyne: SHORTHAND
The Knights, Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Eric Jacobsen, Avi Avital (mandolin), Colin Jacobsen, Pekka Kuusisto (violin)
'Her style seems rather instinctive, often cinematic in scope, and takes inspiration from many sources, be it poetry, painting or other music…The Knights deliver the music with impeccable ensemble, and are perfect advocates of this music.'
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV
Opera & Stage Choice
George Benjamin: Picture a Day Like This
Marianne Crebassa (Woman), Beate Mordal (Lover 1/Composer), Cameron Shahbazi (Lover 2/Composer's Assistant), John Brancy (Artisan/Collector), Anna Prohaska (Zabelle); Mahler Chamber Orchestra, George Benjamin
'Less is more in Picture a day like this with a cast of five and just 22 instrumentalists from the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. With every word of the text set to be heard, Marianne Crebassa is compelling as the Woman through a demanding range of moods and vocal modes.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV
Choral & Song Choice
Brett Dean: Rooms of Elsinore
Jennifer France (soprano), Lotte Betts-Dean (mezzo), Juho Pohjonen (piano) James Crabb (accordion), Andrey Lebedev (guitar), Volker Hemken (bass clarinet), Brett Dean (viola); Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Brett Dean
'This compelling album presents five works prompted by writing an opera on Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy. Each stands on its own, yet they obliquely inhabit its world….Adroitly partnered by pianist Juho Pohjonen, Dean himself is transfixing as viola soloist [in the title-work].'
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV
Chamber Choice
'They’re in excellent sympathy, yet each has individual qualities to bring to the musical table. Denk is supremely fiery at the piano. Bell offsets him with wonderfully consistent, bright and focused sound, while Isserlis’s duskier tone is full of character, able to growl, glide and take risks at the high jump.'
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV
Instrumental Choice
'There is plenty of bounce in Cuiller’s performance of the first movement of the Italian Concerto, but also a degree of poise in his shaping of the opening melody…As a whole this well-crafted, superbly performed recital is one which rewards repeated listening.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res+ FLAC/ALAC/WAV
'His new album, Creole Orchestra, is a 22-piece, multi-hybrid melange of genres that ranges from old school big band to hiphop – and calypso. The swingbeat hit ‘Poison’ is given a new twist by the turntable smears of DJ Logic and urban flow of rapper Brandon Rose, while Jamaican jazz pianist Monty Alexander’s loping reggae number ‘Think Twice’ gets sumptuous harmonies.'
Available Format: CD
Katherine Cooper - Head of Editorial
