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Presto News - 24th December 2007Last thoughts on 2007, first on 2008 |
 With the year fast drawing to a close we have one final chance to have a look back over the past year's releases and a quick peek forward into 2008 and what joys (or otherwise) it is likely to bring. Looking back first, this week the BBC Music Magazine announced the shortlist for their slightly confusingly named 2008 awards (which assesses the best recordings of 2007!). There are 18 discs included and to me it seems a fairly accurate selection of what should be there. We've set up a special BBC awards page for them on the website and also negotiated pretty keen deals with the labels which means all the single discs are just £10.99 and the multi-disc sets are similarly reduced. The winners are decided by public vote on the BBC website and we've put the link to the voting page on our BBC awards page so please exercise your right and vote for your favourites! In the absence of any new releases this week we've also listed them below. Looking ahead, you'll be pleased to hear that Hyperion have now cleared the huge debt they suffered after the lost court case in 2005, and you'll see an increase in the number of monthly releases from them. In February they'll release the third disc in Ex Cathedra's series of Latin American Baroque music following the huge successes of New World Symphonies and Moon, Sun & All Things. In January, tenor Jonas Kaufmann releases his first disc for Decca (Romantic Arias) following the Gramophone Award he won with his disc of Strauss Lieder on Harmonia Mundi. I expect his fame to grow over the year and by the end of it to be challenging Rolando Villazon as the leading tenor of his age. Harmonia Mundi celebrate their 50th anniversary this year and we've got a very exciting series of offers and promotions to help celebrate that remarkable achievement with them (more on this next week), but I know a lot of you will be keen to hear that the final volume of the Paul Lewis Beethoven cycle is currently scheduled for May. There will of course be a lot more, and I'll keep you up-to-date every week in this column with the most exciting ones, but in the meantime it only remains for me to wish you a very Merry Christmas and to say a very big 'thank you' for your custom and loyalty over the past year.
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Chris O'Reilly - chris@prestoclassical.co.uk |
BBC Music Magazine Awards Finalists 2008 |
No new releases this week, but January is looking quite promising. I'll keep you up-to-date as they get released but in the meantime the Future Releases pages are always available for browsing all the forthcoming issues. |
 Orchestral Finalist - Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 1 etcMartha Argerich, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Alexander VerdernikovThe jury says… 'Here’s an excellent, multi-faceted programme which reflects both Shostakovich’s mad-cap humour and his more ‘private’, expressive side. Martha Argerich, at her impetuous best, is joined by a superb line-up of musicians for all three works. A truly charismatic and exhilarating experience.' DJ |
 Orchestral Finalist - Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No. 3, etcJean-Jacques Kantorow (violin), Heini Kärkkäinen (piano), Tapiola Sinfonietta, Kees BakelsThe jury says… 'From the violin’s emphatic first entry in the concerto, over the orchestra’s shimmering hush, to the invigorating romp through the Allegro Appassionato, this is a disc of pure delight with stunning performances, especially from Jean-Jacques Kantorow, of a marvellous programme.' CD |
 Orchestral Finalist - Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Thomas DausgaardThe jury says… 'These performances, including the revelatory first version of the fourth symphony, succeed in providing a genuinely new, and entirely convincing, approach to two familiar works. Chamber-like instrumental lines and a powerful sense of impetus combine here powerfully.' JS |
 Opera Finalist - Bellini: La SonnambulaJaël Azzaretti, Natalie Dessay, Francesco Meli, Carlo Colombara & Sara Mingardo, l’Opéra de Lyon, Evelino PidòThe jury says… 'Rapture, passion, languor – the artists, and Dessay in particular – weave a magic web that illuminates Bellini’s peculiar genius. Musicality, dramatic delivery and brilliance of technique combine to generate an emotional depth out of material often considered clichéd. With his robust top range, Melfi has electric exchanges with the heroine, while Dessay’s performance is simply jaw-dropping.' BJ |
 Opera Finalist - Handel: Il Trionfo del Tempo e del DisingannoNatalie Dessay, Ann Hallenberg, Sonia Prina & Pavol Breslik, Le Concert d’Astrée, Emmanuelle HaïmThe jury says… 'Technically superb, reassuringly stylish, this is an outstanding performance of Handel at the height of his powers and enjoying Oscar-like acclaim in Italy. Haim and her outstanding solo team are in turn graceful, imaginative, stylish and immensely exhilarating in this splendid recording.' GP |
 Opera Finalist - Janacek: Katya KabanovaWelsh National Opera, Carlo RizziThe jury says… 'This English-language performance captures the visceral impact of Janacek’s great tragedy with unerring immediacy. Vividly recorded with magnificent orchestral playing, the drama is delivered with a superb sense of ensemble and pungent characterisation from all involved.' JS |
 Choral Finalist - The Road to ParadiseGabrieli Consort, Paul McCreeshThe jury says… 'McCreesh’s exquisite programme follows the soul’s journey from life through death into Paradise, finding resonances of ancient plainchant in later choral settings. Deeply-felt memorials to JF Kennedy (Howells) and Linda McCartney (Rodney Bennett) contrast with luminous performances of Tallis, Byrd and Britten. And the quality of singing is mesmerising.' HW |
 Choral Finalist - Bach CantatasAmsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Ton KoopmanThe jury says… 'Koopman’s irrepressible enthusiasm and impish wit remain undiminished as he ends his immense 12-year project recording all Bach’s cantatas. Assured vocal soloists, fluent choir and impeccable instrumentalists all meet Bach’s often cruel demands with superb control of style and technique.' GP |
 Choral Finalist - Bolivian Baroque, Volume 2Arakaendar Bolivia Choir, FlorilegiumThe jury says… 'This joyous collection from Florilegium and the newly-created Arakaendar Bolivia Choir provides a vibrant aural picture of the musical heritage from the 18th Century missions. Motets, instrumental sonatas, Villancicos and Bassani’s Missa Encarnación are captured in gutsy, thoroughly enchanting performances.' CD |
Instrumental Finalist - Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 28 & 29Mitsuko UchidaThe jury says… 'Refinement, intelligence, eloquence and intensity: everything you’d expect from Uchida. The opening fanfare of the Hammerklavier commands your absolute attention, and you’ll be unable to drag your ears away even during the unusually slow Adagio, where the bass sings like a cello, and Beethoven becomes your entire world.' AM |
 Instrumental Finalist - Bach: Cello SuitesSteven IsserlisThe jury says… 'No recording of the Suites better captures the expressive nature of the preludes and retains the functional heritage of the dances. Isserlis’ phenomenal technique creates a sense of masterly ease in this cellists’ tour-de-force, matched by fine recording from Hyperion.' GP |
 Instrumental Finalist - Rachmaninov: Etudes tableauxRustem HayroudinoffThe jury says… 'These forthright, beautifully weighted performances keep the emotion in check but never at bay. Op. 39 No. 7 emerges as one of Rachmaninov’s greatest creations in a drama of life and death with playing equal even to the greatness of Richter.' DN |
 Vocal Finalist - Terezín / TheresienstadtAnne-Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano), Bengt Forsberg (piano), Christian Gerhaher (baritone) & Gerold Huber (piano)The jury says… 'The poignant history of the Theresienstadt (Terezin) ghetto, its musicians and composers is now well known. This recital of songs and chamber works brings a broad range of the repertoire to life in performances of the deepest insight and sincerity.' JS |
 Vocal Finalist - Richard Strauss - The Complete Songs, Volume 2Anne Schwanenwilms, Roger VignolesThe jury says… 'Most unusual of today’s great Straussian sopranos, Schwanewilms chooses Lieder tailored to her beauty of line – perfectly complemented by Vignoles – and ability to change colour on a note. Her dramatic skill reaches its zenith of strangeness in the three Ophelia Songs.' DN |
 Vocal Finalist - As Steals the Morn - Handel ariasMark Padmore, The English Concert, Andrew ManzeThe jury says… 'Handel was one of the first Baroque composers to invest his talents heavily in the tenor voice, and here this unique English legacy is powerfully recalled. Through his shading, dynamic range and commitment to the text, Padmore seduces the listener. The band’s crisp and intelligent playing inspire the tenor, whose powerful rhetoric unleashes the vigour of this repertory.' BJ |
 Chamber Finalist - Coleridge-Taylor: Piano Quintet, Ballade & Clarinet QuintetThe Nash EnsembleThe jury says… 'Coleridge-Taylor is best-known, when he’s remembered at all, for his Violin Concerto…but the Nash Ensemble offers us delightful chamber music from the 1890s, of which the Clarinet Quintet is the real find. Dvorak is often the muse; enthusiastically recommended for English romantics.' AM |
 Chamber Finalist - Marin Marais: Suitte d'un Goût EtrangerJordi Savall, Philippe Pierlot, Pierre Hantaï, Rolf Lislevand, Xavier Díaz-Latorre, Andrew Lawrence-King, Pedro EstevanThe jury says… 'Jordi Savall’s pioneering musical and scholarly contributions culminate in this disc. His performance suggests a spiritual connection with Marin Marais. Savall animates the poetry of these works, re-inventing their beauty with stunning execution and expressiveness. Pristine sound quality and a generous booklet make this an outstanding package.' BJ |
 Chamber Finalist - Shostakovitch: String Quartets Nos. 6, 8 & 11Jerusalem QuartetThe jury says… 'This is challenging, unpredictable Shostakovich which always convinces even when the approach is new – as in the headlong, passionate sweep through the quotations from the Second Piano Trio in the Eighth Quartet. The Jerusalems’ tonal range is daunting, too.' DN |
 BBC Radio 3 CD ReviewSaturday 22nd December 2007 |
Building a Library - Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker |
 First ChoiceKirov Orchestra, Valery Gergiev |
CD of the Week |
 Debussy - Complete Works for Piano, Volume 2Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano) |
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