YUJA WANG - The Vienna Recital : Albéniz · Beethoven · Каpustin · Ligeti · Scriabin (2024) FLAC (image+.cue) lossless

No longer the young sensation, pianist Yuja Wang these days gets Deutsche Grammophon's "The [fill-in-the-city-name] Recital" treatment with several live concert recordings presented as major events, and, indeed, they are. This one was made in Vienna in April of 2022, and it is a remarkable high-wire act in its programming and execution, one that few pianists of the present or past could have duplicated. The usually staid Viennese press reported that the crowd on hand "went wild." One would never know that; Deutsche Grammophon's engineers have stripped out every trace of audience noise, and one wishes for traces of the excitement hearers must have felt as Wang swings from Albéniz to Scriabin to the Russian jazz of Nikolai Kapustin to Beethoven. All that is just in the first half of the show. One can try without success to figure out exactly what makes all this music hang together in Wang's hands; she is certainly one of the few pianists who could successfully follow etudes of Ligeti with one of Glass. The secret seems to lie in the detail she brings to each work. Consider her quick reading of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 18 in E flat major, Op. 31, No. 3 ("The Hunt"), in which she turns the opening gesture, usually gentle, into the call of a hunting horn at the beginning of an active outdoor happening. It is the same throughout, and the music works because it is all done sensitively, and it coheres into what the booklet calls "a musical gallery." An impressive outing from Wang, who continues to live up to and even exceed the high expectations she has generated for herself through publicity. Completely unsurprisingly, this release made classical best-seller charts in the spring of 2024. James Manheim    Tracklist & Credits :

BEETHOVEN : Complete Concertos (Daniel Barenboim · Gidon Kremer · Anne-Sophie Mütter · Maurizio Pollini) 5CD BOX-SET (2011) Serie Collectors Edition | FLAC (image+.cue) lossless

Alle Beethoven Konzerte in einer Sammlung vereint. Das bietet diese Edition: Alle Klavierkonzerte mit Maurizio Pollini, das Violinkonzert mit Anne-Sophie Mutter, das Tripel Konzert mit Mutter, Yo-Yo Ma und Mark Zeltser. Zusätzlich finden sich auf den 5 CDs Raritäten und Arrangements mit Daniel Barenboim, Gidon Kremer, Gil Shaham, Sviatoslav Richter, Herbert von Karajan, Karl Böhm, den Berliner Philharmonikern, Wiener Philharmonikern und dem London Symphony Orchestra deutschegrammophon.com   Tracklist & Credits :

BEETHOVEN : Diabelli Variations · Piano Sonata No. 23 Op. 57 "Appassionata" (Rudolf Serkin) (2011) RM | Serie Les Indispensables de Diapason Nº31 | FLAC (tracks+.cue) lossless

 Tracklist & Credits :

BEETHOVEN : The 5 Piano Concertos (Mitsuko Uchida · Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra · Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks · Kurt Sanderling) 3CD (2005) FLAC (tracks+.cue) lossless

CD1 (previously released individually as Piano Concertos)
 = Klavierkonzerte Nos. 1 & 2 (69:43)

CD2 (previously released individually as Piano Concertos)
= Klavierkonzerte Nos. 3 & 4 (72:21)

CD3 (previously released individually as Piano Concerto)
= Klavierkonzert No. 5 "Emperor" • C Minor Variations (51:19)

Composed By – Ludwig van Beethoven
Conductor – Kurt Sanderling
Orchestra – Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (tracks: 2-1 to 2-6), Symphonie-Orchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks (tracks: 1-1 to 1-6, 3-1 to 3-4)
Piano – Mitsuko Uchida

PABLO CASALS - The Complete EMI Recordings (1926-1955) 9CD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

CD1
J.S. Bach • Cello Suites 1-3

CD2
J.S. Bach • Cello Suites 4-6

CD3
Beethoven • Cello Sonats 1-3

CD4
Beethoven • Cello Sonata 4-5
Brahms • Cello Sonata Nr. 2

CD5
Dvorák • Cello Concerto
Elgar • Cello Concerto
Bruch • Koll Nidrei

CD6
Beethoven • Piano Trio Nr.7 'Archduke'
Schubert • Piano Trio Nr.1 D898

CD7
Mendelssohn • Piano Trio Nr.1 Op.49
Schumann • Piano Trio Nr.1 Op.63

CD8
Haydn • Piano Trio in G Hob. XV:25 Op.73 Nr.2
Brahms • Double Concerto
Boccherini • Cello Concerto in B flat

CD9
E#ncores and showpieces • Sardanes de concert

PABLO CASALS : Cello

BEETHOVEN : String Trios • Piano Trios • Quintet • Sextets • Octet (L'Archibudelli, Mozzafiato, Bylsma) 5CD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

CD1
1-6    Trio For Violin, Viola & Cello In E-flat Major Op.3
7-12    Serenade (Trio) for Violin, Viola & Cello In D Major Op.8

Ensemble – L'Archibudelli
Violin - Vera Beths
Cello - Anner Bylsma

CD2
1-4    Piano Trio In B-flat Major Op.97 "Archduke"
5-7    Piano Trio In D Major Op.70/1 "Ghost

Piano – Jos van Immerseel
Violin – Vera Beths
Cello - Anner Bylsma

CD3
1-4    Trio For Violin, Viola & Cello In G Major Op.9/1
5-8    Trio For Violin, Viola & Cello In D Major Op.9/2
9-12    Trio For Violin, Viola & Cello In C Minor Op.9/3

Ensemble – L'Archibudelli
Cello - Anner Bylsma
Violin – Vera Beths
Viola - Jürgen Kussmaul
 

CD4
1-3    Sextet For 2 Violins, Viola, Cello & 2 Horns In E-flat Major Op.81b
4-5    Duo for Viola & Cello In E-flat Major WoO32 "Duett Mit Zwei Obligaten Augengläsern"
6-8    Quintet for 2 Violins, Viola & 2 Cellos In A Major

Ensemble – L'Archibudelli
Horn – Ab Koster, Knut Hasselmann
Cello - Anner Bylsma,  Lidewij Scheifes (6-8)
Violin – Vera Beths, Lucy van Dael

CD5
1-4    Octet For 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Horns & 2 Bassoons In E-flat Major Op.103
5    Rondino For 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Horns & 2 Bassoons In E-flat Major WoO25
6    March For 2 Clarinets, 2 Horns & 2 Bassoons In B-flat Major WoO29
7-9    Duo For Clarinet & Bassoon In C Major WoO27/1    
10    March For 2 Clarinets, 2 Horns & 2 Bassoons In B-flat Major WoO29    11-14    Sextet For 2 Clarinets, 2 Horns & 2 Bassoons In E-flat Major Op.71    

Ensemble – Mozzafiato
Conductor – Charles Neidich
Bassoon – Dennis Godburn, Michael O'Donovan
Clarinet – Ayako Oshima, Charles Neidich
Horn – Stewart Rose, William Purvis
Oboe – Gerard Reuter, Marc Schachman

MAURIZIO POLLINI — Maurizio Pollini Edition (2002) 13CD | APE (image+.cue), lossless

Celebrating his 60th birthday (5 January 2002) and a 30-year artistic
collaboration with Deutsche Grammophon, the Maurizio Pollini Edition presents a wide-ranging series of DG exclusive artist's classic recordings, personally selected and approved by the Maestro himself.

The Edition comprises 12 single CDs, plus a sensational bonus CD. Almost all the compilations are new, and cover all aspects of Pollini's recording career. There are three CDs of Classical and Romantic concertos, 5 CDs are devoted to the masters of Romantic solo music, and 4 CDs given over to modern repertoire, a central component of Pollini's artistic credo.

What is on the bonus CD? There are two concerto recordings released for the first time internationally. The first is Chopin's First Piano Concerto, taped live at the final concert of the 1960 International Chopin Competition in Warsaw in 1960, where Pollini was the sensational winner at the age of 18. The second is the Schumann Piano Concerto, recorded live at the Salzburg Festival in 1974 with the Vienna Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan.

CD 1: Mozart :
Piano Concerto No.23 / Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 "Emperor"
Maurizio Pollini, Wiener Philharmoniker, Karl Bohm

CD 2:
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos.3 & 4
Maurizio Pollini, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado

CD 3: Schumann:
Piano Concerto Op.54 / Brahms: Piano Concerto No.1
Maurizio Pollini, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado

CD 4: Beethoven :
Piano Sonatas Op.27 No.1 & 2, Op.31 No.2 & Op.53

CD 5: Beethoven :
Piano Sonatas Op.106 "Hammerklavier" & Op.111

CD 6: Schubert :
Sonata in A major D959; Allegretto in C minor D915; 3 Klavierstucke

CD 7: Chopin :
12 Etudes Op.25; Sonata in B flat minor Op.35; Berceuse in D flat, Op.57

CD 8: Schumann :
Fantasy in C; Arabesque / Liszt: Sonata in B minor; La lugubre gondola

CD 9: Debussy :
12 Etudes / Boulez: Sonata No.2
Maurizio Pollini

CD 10: Stravinsky :
3 Dances from Petrushka / Bartok: Piano Concertos Nos.1 & 2
Maurizio Pollini, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

CD 11: Schoenberg :
Piano Works / Webern: Variations Op.27
Maurizio Pollini, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado

CD 12: Nono: Como una ola de fuerza y luz; ....Sofferte onde serene....for piano
and magnetic tape / Manzoni: Masse: Omaggio a Edgar Varese
Slavka Taskova, Maurizio Pollini, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks,
Claudio Abbado

CD 13: Chopin :
Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, Op.11 / Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.54
Maurizio Pollini, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Jerzy Katlewicz
Maurizio Pollini, Wiener Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan

BEETHOVEN : Kreutzer Sonata; SCHUMANN : Violin Sonata No. 2 (George Enescu) (2004) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, Op.47 " Kreutzer"
2    Schumann: Violin Sonata No.2 in D minor, Op. 121
3    Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64

Celiny Chailley-Richez - Piano
George Enescu - Violin

SPOHR, HUMMEL, BERWALD, KREUTZER, BEETHOVEN & SCHUBERT : Septets, Octets & Nonets (2006) 6CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

In hard times, everyone is looking for the killer deal. In respect to wind chamber music of the early romantic period, one could hardly do better than with Brilliant Classics' Romantic Ensembles, a six-CD box set that contains much of the major wind literature from the first half of the nineteenth century. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, a fad in Europe for harmoniemusik -- groups of wind bands that usually played potpourris of operatic hits -- was current. Composers such as Hummel, Kreutzer, Spohr, Schubert, Berwald, and Beethoven here seized upon this format to express more complex and ambitious musical concepts. Beethoven's Septet in E flat, Op. 20, though not as highly regarded some of his symphonies in retrospect, played a major role in establishing Beethoven's reputation as a composer. The Schubert Octet in F, D. 803, and Berwald's Grand Septet in B flat were works that looked to Beethoven's as a kind of model; others represented here to some degree tap into the eighteenth century approach to harmoniemusik and forges something new and original out of it. The early nineteenth century was the most fruitful era of any concerning developments in the wind chamber format; as such groups merged into larger units and became more concerned with popular music, interest among composers in producing works like these began to flag in the latter half of the century.

One of the reasons this modest and innocuous-looking box is so desirable is the performances included. These are not just any groups performing these works, but top-flight ensembles -- The Berlin Philharmonic Octet, the Wiener Kammerensemble, and Britain's the Nash Ensemble. The reason that this can be marketed so cheaply is that all are older recordings, but most are at least digital and the performances are all first-rate. Brilliant Classics' Romantic Ensembles would make a lovely gift for a wind player, or someone specifically interested in wind ensemble music, and the modest asking price won't break the bank. by Uncle Dave Lewis  
All Tracks & Credits

RADU LUPU - Complete Decca Solo Recordings (2010) 10CD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

It takes only 10 discs to contain the complete solo Decca recordings of Radu Lupu, one of the great pianists of the late 20th century. It's also amazing that these few recordings stretch over a quarter of a century, from 1971 to 1995, making Lupu one of the most infrequently recorded of the great pianists; even Argerich and Michelangeli have outdistanced him. Yet even that is not the most amazing thing about this collection; it is the performances themselves, some of which are among the greatest ever made. Has any pianist ever topped Lupu's heroic account of Brahms' F minor Sonata, or his poetic readings of the composer's late piano works? Has any ever equaled, much less surpassed, his deeply inward performances of Schubert's Moments musicaux or his two sets of Impromptus? Has any account of Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata ever glowed brighter, or any reading of the "Waldstein" Sonata ever been more ecstatically serene? And has any pianist ever caught the uncanny mixture of the playful, the romantic, and the diabolical in Schumann's Kreisleriana? Anyone interested in great piano playing should avail themselves of these superlative performances at their earliest possible opportunity. by James Leonard  
All Tracks & Credits

ARTURO BENEDETTI MICHELANGELI - Icon : The Master Pianist Plays Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Schumann, Brahms, Chopin, Rachmaninov, Ravel (2008) 4CD / RM / MONO / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Cunningly, the first track on the first disc of this four-disc set dedicated to Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli's EMI recordings is his heaven-storming 1948 performance of Busoni's arrangement of Bach's Chaconne from his D minor Partita. If after its storms and thunder have faded the listener remains unconvinced of Michelangeli's virtuosity, intensity, and musicality, there is nothing else to be done. Because though the sound of some of the recordings here, including that of the Chaconne, is antique, the brilliance, tone, and depth of Michelangeli's playing is evident throughout. His prewar and war-time recordings of sonatas by Scarlatti and Beethoven are impeccably played and elegantly expressive, and though typically played out of order, his postwar Brahms' Paganini Variations is nearly demonic in its relentless drive. In recordings from the early '50s of three of Mozart's concertos, Michelangeli takes a slower tempo than one might expect, but his right hand's graceful legato and subtle left-hand rubato keeps the tempo flowing. His later, better known stereo recordings of Haydn's concertos are witty and poised, particularly in Nino Rota's two cadenzas. The best-known recordings here are Michelangeli's heroic take on Schumann's Carnaval, his Olympian reading of Ravel's Concerto in G, and his Dionysic account of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 4. Some might reasonably point out that the pianist also made many great recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, but after hearing it, few would deny that his EMI recording of the Bach/Busoni Chaconne all by itself justifies Michelangeli's outsized reputation. by James Leonard  
All Tracks & Credits

SOLOMON - Icon : The Master Pianist Plays Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Grieg, Schumann, Liszt, Scriabin (2008) 7CD / MONO / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Solomon Cutner, known professionally by his first name, was the great English pianist whose severe stroke in 1956 cut short his career in its prime and just at the point where monaural was giving way to stereo sound. With the change in technology, Solomon's discography became instantly dated and, unfortunately, his performances quickly became underrated. This seven-disc set from EMI presents a well-rounded collection of the pianist's finest performances. Even with three of the discs here devoted to Beethoven, the range of Solomon's repertoire is immediately apparent. Here was a pianist who could play Scriabin as well as Mozart and Bliss as well as Brahms. Solomon's technique was adept if not always entirely impeccable, his style was immensely concentrated but wholly objective, and his interpretations were less dramatic and structural than lyrical and sculptural. Some may find his take on Tchaikovsky's concerto too dry-eyed, but few are likely to fault the crystalline clarity of his Mozart or the heroic lucidity of his Beethoven. Even today, Solomon's "Hammerklavier" and "Waldstein" sonatas remain models of transparency and his "Emperor" concerto has a nobility that few others can equal. Though for those unfamiliar with Solomon, seven discs may at first seem a lot, listening to them will likely increase their interest in hearing more from this unjustly neglected master. by James Leonard
CD1 BEETHOVEN
1-3 Piano Concerto Nº5 'Emperor'
4-6 Piano Concerto Nº3
CD2 GRIEG
1-3 Piano Concerto
    SCHUMANN
4-6 Piano Concerto
    BEETHOVEN
7-8 Piano Sonata Nº27
CD3 BEETHOVEN
1-3 Piano Sonata Nº8 'Pathétique'
4-6 Piano Sonata Nº14 'Moonlight'
7-8 Piano Sonata Nº21 'Waldstein'
9-11 Piano Sonata Nº26 'Les Adieux'
CD4 BEETHOVEN
1-3 Piano Sonata Nº23 'Apassionata'
4-7 Piano Sonata N°29 'Hammerklavier'
CD5 BRAHMS
1-4 Piano Concerto Nº2
    TCHAIKOVSKY
5-7 Piano Concerto Nº1
CD6 D. SCARLATTI
1   Sonata in F L384
    J.S. BACH / BUSONI
2   Cantata BWV140 'Wachet auf'
    MOZART
3-5 Piano Sonata Nº11 K331
6-8 Piano Sonata Nº17 K576
9-11 Piano Sonata Nº24 K491
CD7 LISZT
1   Hungarian Fantasia
    SCRIABIN
2-4 Piano Concerto
    BLISS
7-7 Piano Concerto
Credits :
Soloman - Piano
Conductor – Herbert Menges (pistas: 1-1 to 2-6), Issay Dobrowen (pistas: 5-1 to 5-7, 7-2 to 7-4), Sir Adrian Boult (pistas: 7-5 to 7-7), Walter Susskind (pistas: 6-9 to 6-11)
Orchestra – Philharmonia Orchestra (pistas: 1-1 to 2-6, 5-1 to 5-7, 6-9 to 7-4), Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (pistas: 7-5 to 7-7)

CLARA HASKIL - Philips Recordings 1951-1960 Concertos & Sonatas (Beethoven, Chopin, Falla, Ravel, Scarlatti, Mozart, Schubert, Schumann) (2007) 7CD / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Romanian pianist Clara Haskil began her career as a child prodigy at the Bucharest Conservatory under Richard Robert at age 7, making her debut at the age of 10. Haskil ultimately graduated from Alfred Cortot's class at the Paris Conservatoire at 15 with the Prémier Prix to her credit. By the age of 18, however, Haskil was forced to endure the first of many physical setbacks that would hold back her career, in this case an attack of meningitis that kept her in a body cast for four years. Haskil did recover, making her New York debut in 1924 and her London debut in 1926. Although it was late in her career that her name was inextricably linked with the Mozart piano concerti, at this stage Haskil was associated with Romantic literature. Her performances of the Schumann concerto in Philadelphia with Leopold Stokowski were widely praised.

With the outbreak of war, Haskil was trapped in occupied Paris, but was able to escape to Marseilles. There she survived a surreptitious surgical procedure to remove a tumor from her optic nerve, and was then smuggled to Vevey, Switzerland, where Haskil settled for the rest of her days. With war's end she resumed her career yet again, and thereafter enjoyed her greatest successes with a busy concert and recording schedule that took her around the world. Despite her amazing stamina, she proved unable to survive a fall she suffered in a Paris railway station in 1960, and died one month short of her 66th birthday.

With Haskil, musicianship came first and technical matters were irrelevant; she had enormous hands and could play a 12th in her left hand with a fingering of 2-5. Haskil reputedly had an amazing memory, and could accurately play back a piece of music she'd heard only once, even after the passage of several years, without ever having seen the score. The Clara Haskil Prize, awarded once every two years in Vevey, Switzerland, was established in 1962 as a memorial to the pianist. by Uncle Dave Lewis
Tracklist :
CD 1    Domenico Scarlatti (1685 - 1757) Sonata In E Flat Major K.193 - Sonata In B Minor, K.87 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791) Nine Variations In D, K.573 On A Minuet By J.P. Duport - Piano Sonata No.10 In C Major, K.330 - Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937) Sonatine, M. 40 For Piano - Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856) Bunte Blätter, Op.99 -
CD 2    Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856) Kinderszenen, Op. 15 - Waldszenen, Op.82 - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) Piano Sonata No. 17 In D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 "The Tempest" - Piano Sonata No. 18 In E Flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3 -"The Hunt"
CD 3    Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828) Piano Sonata No. 21 In B-Flat Major, D. 960 - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) Piano Sonata No. 17 In D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 "The Tempest" - Piano Sonata No. 18 In E Flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3 -"The Hunt"
CD 4    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791) Piano Concerto No. 9 In E Flat Major, K.271 - "Jeunehomme" - Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, K. 466
CD 5    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791) Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, K. 466 - Piano Concerto No.24 In C Minor, K.491 - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 37
CD 6    Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 37 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791) Piano Concerto No. 23 In A Major, K.488 - Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856) Piano Concerto In A Minor, Op. 54
CD 7    Manuel de Falla Matheu (1876 - 1946) Noches En Los Jardines de España - Frédéric Chopin (1810 - 1849) Piano Concerto No.2 In F Minor, Op.21

ELISABETH SCHUMANN - Icon : Silver Thread of Song (2011) 6xCD BOX-SET / MONO / APE (image+.cue), lossless

The German soprano Elisabeth Schumann was one of the finest lyric sopranos of the 20th Century. She made her professional debut in Hamburg in 1909 and died in 1952, having given her last public concert the previous year. In 1985 the eminent vocal expert Alan Blyth wrote of her: ‘No artist so endeared herself to her public as Elisabeth Schumann. The charm of her manner is legendary; so is the attraction of her slivery voice and outgiving style. Whether in her operatic portrayals, her Lieder or her operetta offerings, she captivated her audiences.’

CDs 1 and 2 contain an unrivalled collection of Schumann's famous recordings of songs by Franz Schubert, the centrepiece of which is Der Hirt auf dem Felsen (‘The Shepherd on the Rock’) with Reginald Kell as the distinguished clarinet soloist. Every one of these songs is illuminated by the singer's unique style of vocal clarity and brightness as well as rhythmic bouyancy and spontaniety.

CD 3 brings together a number of Elisabeth Schumann's recordings of songs by her namesake Robert Schumann, including the famous cycle for female voice: Frauenliebe und-leben. Also on this CD are a group of songs by Brahms including several from the delightful ‘49 Deutsche Volkslieder’

CD 4 begins with Schumann's elegant performances of several soprano pieces by Bach and Handel, which are followed by a variety of contrasting works by Mozart including the main arias for Susanna and Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro and both of Zerlina's solos from Don Giovanni. The Mozart programme continues with an engaging performance of the ‘Alleluja’ from Exsultate, jubilate, a small group of songs and then finally the Benedictus from Mozart’s final work, the moving Requiem in D minor.

CD 5 is a mixed Lieder recital starting with songs by Haydn and Beethoven, then a collection of Hugo Wolf and ending with a group of Richard Strauss compositions, all touched by Schumann's own personal vocal magic.

The final CD opens with three extracts from Der Rosenkavalier that amply demonstrate Elisabeth Schumann's radiant interpretation of Sophie that was acclaimed in theatres around the world. Then we hear Schumann gloriously floating the soprano line in the Quintet from Die Meistersinger, followed by a collection of charming English songs, all sung with impeccable pronunciation. The disc ends with some of the most entertaining performances of arias from Viennese operettas ever put on record that will guarantee to bring a smile of delight to even the most critical listener.

JACQUES LOUSSIER TRIO - Theme and Variations on Beethoven's Allegretto from Symphony No. 7 (2003) APE (image+.cue), lossless

French musical savant Jacques Loussier boasts an illustrious background that includes admittance to the prestigious Parisian Conservatoire National de Musique while still a teenager. His interests in rock -- counting Pink Floyd's The Wall and the Lords of the New Church's Method to Our Madness -- as well as jazz have prevented the artist from being categorized by style or genre. Released in 2003, Allegretto from Symphony No. 7, Theme and Variations features Loussier (piano) in a trifecta alongside Ben Dunoyer de Segonzac (bass) and André Arpino (drums) interpreting ten variations on the Allegretto portion of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. For those unfamiliar, the term Allegretto (translated as "rather fast") refers to the composition's tempo, encompassing a speed of less than 120 but exceeding 108 measures per minute. As he had done in prior outings that incorporated the respective works of Bach, Debussy, and Handel, among others, Loussier approaches the composition with an ear toward the third stream, blending classical pieces with a decidedly jazz orientation. For purists of either, there are the inevitable discrepancies in the trio's elucidations and reinventions. Less critical listeners will find much to enjoy, gaining a better understanding if not appreciation for both in the process. When removed from the traditional context, Symphony No. 7's inherent pacing and overall sentiment are inextricably transformed. This is not only in essence the purpose of the fusion, but also results in the melodies being taken to another level. As should be anticipated, several of the adaptations -- which are delineated chronologically ("Variation One," "Variation Two," etc.) -- are pulled off with alternate degrees of success. Some, like "Variation One," "Variation Four," "Variation Seven," and "Variation Nine" in particular, are notably liberated and swing with authority. Conversely, "Variation Three" and "Variation Five" seem arguably fettered and uncertain. With that in mind, seasoned enthusiasts as well as the nominally curious are encouraged to sample and personalize their own preferences of these bold and (at the very least) adventurous excursions. by Lindsay Planer  
Credits:
Bass – Benoît Dunoyer de Segonzac
Drums – André Arpino
Piano – Jacques Loussier

MARTHA ARGERICH - Martha Argerich Edition : Concertos (2011) 4CD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Martha Argerich Edition: Concertos is one of several box sets issued in 2011 in honor of her 70th birthday. These four discs gather ten complete concertos recorded between 1997 and 2009 for EMI. As an artist as well-known for her loyalty to particular repertoire and particular musicians, most of these works have been recorded by Argerich multiple times. Prokofiev's Concerto No. 3, one of the first concertos she ever recorded, is here in a 1997 performance with conductor Charles Dutoit, one of her best collaborators. The two recorded both Chopin concertos the following year, also included here. Others of Argerich's most frequent collaborators are found on Beethoven's Triple Concerto: Renaud Capuçon, Mischa Maisky, and Alexandre Rabinovitch. The recordings of fellow pianist Mikhail Pletnev's Fantasia elvetica and of Falla's Noches en los jardines de España come from her Lugano Festival, an annual event founded in 2002 where Argerich gathers friends -- her familiar collaborators and new, promising, young musicians -- for music-making. The collection unfortunately does not include Ravel's Concerto in G, the other concerto typically noted as one of Argerich's best interpretations. Yet, it should very well satisfy those who want to get to know Argerich's work in the concerto repertoire as a mature musician at the height of her talent. by Patsy Morita   

MARTHA ARGERICH - Martha Argerich Edition : Chamber Music (2011) 8CD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827):

Violin Sonata No.9 in A major, op.94 “Kreutzer

César Franck (1822-1890):

Violin Sonata in A major

Itzhak Perlman – violin, Martha Argerich – piano

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Piano Quartet in C major WoO36 No.3

Clarinet Trio in B flat major, op.11

Piano Trio in D major, op.70 No.1 “Ghost”

Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849):

Intoduction and Polonaise brillante in C major, op.3

Renaud Capuçon – violin, Lida Chen – viola,
Gautier Capuçon – cello, Marek Denemark – clarinet,
Mark Drobinsky – cello, Mischa Maisky – cello, Martha Argerich – piano

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Violin Sonata No.1 in A minor, op.105

Violin Sonata No.2 in D minor, op.121

Fantasiestücke op.73 (version for flugelhorn and piano)

Märchenbilder, op.113

Géza Hosszu-Legocky – violin, Renaud Capuçon –
violin, Sergei Nakariakov – flugelhorn, Nobuko Imai – viola,
Martha Argerich – piano

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Piano Quintet in E flat major, op.44

Piano Quartet in E flat major, op.47

Andante and Variations in B flat major for two pianos, horn and two cellos, op.46

Dora Schwarzberg – violin, Renaud Capuçon – violin,
Nora Romanoff-Schwarzberg – viola, Mark Drobinsky – cello,
Lida Chen – viola, Gautier Capuçon – cello, Alexandre Rabinovitch – piano ,
Marie Luise Neunecker – horn, Natalia Gutman – cello,
Mischa Maisky – cello, Martha Argerich – piano

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

Piano Trio in G major, Hob.XV:25 “Gipsy Trio”

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847)

Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, op.49

Robert Schumann (11810-1856)

Fantasiestücke, op.88

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Cello Sonata

“La plus que lente” – valse

“Minstrels” – Prélude No.12

Renaud Capuçon – violin, Gautier Capuçon – cello,
Mischa Maisky – cello, Martha Argerich – piano

César Franck (1822-1890)

Cello Sonata in A (transcription of the Violin Sonata)

Béla Bartók (1881-1945)

Violin Sonata No.1 Sz75

Contrasts Sz111 for violin, clarinet and piano

Mischa Maisky – cello, Renaud Capuçon – violin,
Chantal Juillet – violin, Michael Collins – clarinet,
Martha Argerich – piano

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Piano Quintet in G minor, op.57

Piano trio No.2 in E minor, op.67

Leoš Janáček (1854-1928)

Concertino for piano, two violins, viola, clarinet, horn and bassoon

Renaud Capuçon – violin, Allissa Margulis – violin, Lida Chen – viola,
Mischa Maisky – cello, Maxim Vengerov – violin, Gautier Capuçon – cello,
Lucy Hall – violin, Nora Romanoff-Schwarzberg – viola,
Corrado Giuffredi – clarinet, Zora Slokar – horn,
Vincent Godel – bassoon, Martha Argerich – piano

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Piano Quintet in E flat major, op.44

Violin Sonata No.2 in D minor, op.121

Fantasiestücke, op.73

Dora Schwarzberg – violin, Lucy Hall – violin, Nobuko Imai – viola,
Mischa Maisky – cello, Natalia Gutman – cello, Martha Argerich – piano