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Presto News - 21st April 2008The Jerusalem Quartet |
 I’d like to tell you a bit about the Jerusalem Quartet this week as they are undoubtedly one of the finest young quartets around. They have just won a BBC Music Magazine Award for their second volume of Shostakovich Quartets and have a new disc out next week of Schubert’s “Death and the Maiden”.  The Jerusalem Quartet The Jerusalem Quartet was formed at a music school in the ancient city in 1993 when the Russian cellist Kyril Zlotnikov encountered two other emigres from the former Soviet Union. Both violinists, Sergei Bresler and Alexander Pavloksy, were born in the Ukraine, while the viola player, Amihai Grosz, is the only native-born Israeli. By 1996 they had started winning awards and were part of the first-ever BBC New Generation Artists scheme between 1999 and 2001. They made their debut recording on EMI’s Debut label and also recorded two cover CDs for BBC Music Magazine. They took a sabbatical in 2003 and since their return have gone from strength to strength. Cellist Zlotnikov used that year to cement his friendship with the Paris-based, Jewish pianist and conductor, Daniel Barenboim. Apart from the obvious things he must have learnt during that year he also now benefits from the loan of Jacqueline Du Pré’s “Sergio Perresson” cello. They now record exclusively for Harmonia Mundi and the forthcoming Schubert will be their Fifth CD on the label. I’ve put the scherzo on the website for you to listen to, and I think you’ll be quickly impressed by their ability to achieve excitement and vitality in the music without ever producing a harsh sound. This ability to always produce a beautiful tone really singles out the few very top quartets from the rest. Overall it is a fantastic performance to which I’ll certainly be returning again and again. Their Award-winning Shostakovich is equally impressive. You can also view all their recordings here.
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 Schubert - Death and the Maiden & QuartettsatzJerusalem QuartetReleased April 28th - but you can pre-order your copy now
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 Shostakovitch - String Quartets Nos. 6, 8 & 11Jerusalem QuartetBBC Music Magazine Awards 2008 - Chamber Award Winner |
Chris O'Reilly - chris@prestoclassical.co.uk |
listen: Schubert: Scherzo from String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D810 'Death and the Maiden'New Releases21st April 2008 |
This is just the pick of the recent releases. The New Releases and Future Releases pages are always available for browsing all the new and forthcoming releases. |
 Reich - Daniel VariationsLos Angeles Master Chorale, Grant GershonComposer Steve Reich has called Daniel Variations "A memorial and a remembrance" of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. He embarked upon the piece at the behest of Pearl's father Judea and the Daniel Pearl Foundation, an organization dedicated to crosscultural understanding through journalism, music and innovative communication. When the piece received its world premiere on October 8, 2006, at London's Barbican Hall (as part of the Barbican's festival Phases, to mark Reich's 70th birthday), the Guardian called it 'A haunting work that circles around alternating ideas of celebration and discord.' 'Daniel Variations' is both moving and unsettling, and, for the most part, understandably dark in tone. |
 Prokofiev & Ravel - Piano ConcertosYundi Li (piano), Berliner Philharmoniker, Seiji OzawaProkofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 is the most brilliant and virtuosic of his concertos for both soloist and orchestra – and one of the least recorded. Yundi Li is joined by one of the world’s greatest orchestras, the Berliner Philharmoniker, under Seiji Ozawa. The Ravel Piano Concerto, a perennial hit with its haunting and jazzy second movement, rounds out the programme |
 Mozart - Piano Concertos Nos. 12 & 24Wiener Philharmoniker, Maurizio Pollini (piano & direction)As with his first Mozart recording, Pollini’s relationship with the Wiener Philharmoniker is again unmediated by a conductor – an enterprise that presupposes the deep mutual understanding of the partners. The result is one of the noblest and most profound Mozart experiences imaginable |
 String Quartets By Opera ComposersRuth Ziesak (soprano), Leipziger StreichquartettAll of these opera composers wrote at least one string quartet. Puccini’s ‘Crisantemi’ is regarded as one of his earliest works. Verdi wrote his string quartet to pass the time during a trip to Naples. Humperdinck’s String Quartet in C major is presented together with Wagner’s on this CD. After all, Humperdinck assisted Wagner for three years in Bayreuth and experienced the composition of Parsifal at close range. Ruth Ziesak sings the soprano role in Respighi’s setting of the poem “Il Tramonto” by Shelley. |
 Vaughan Williams - The SymphoniesBBC Symphony Orchestra, Andrew DavisThis 6-CD set brings together the acclaimed Vaughan Williams recordings from Teldec’s British Line and includes as a bonus two works (The Wasps and Fantasia on Greensleeves) which were not included in the original release. Andrew Davis and the BBC Symphony Orchestra are considered to be interpreters par excellence of this quintessentially British repertoire. |
 Trumpet MasqueJonathan Freeman-Attwood (trumpet), Daniel-Ben Pienaar (piano)“Trumpet Masque” sees renowned trumpeter Jonathan Freeman-Attwood explore his passion for expanding the instrument’s limited chamber repertoire by imaginatively arranging Baroque works previously scored for alternative forces. In “Trumpet Masque”, Jonathan Freeman-Attwood and Daniel-Ben Pienaar take a radical new look at the 17th century with a compelling vision of repertoire historically far-removed from the traditional contexts of both trumpet and piano. |
 A Candle to the Glorious Sun (Sacred Songs by John Milton and Martin Peerson)The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, CambridgeFirst recording of the complete sacred music by the English Tudor composer, John Milton (father of John Milton the poet) coupled with a selection of sacred works by Milton’s renowned contemporary, Martin Peerson. This new recording by the critically-aclaimed Selwyn College choir represents a major contribution to the early music discography. |
 Elgar - Enigma VariationsLondon Symphony & Philharmonia Orchestra, George WeldonGeorge Weldon was conductor of the CBSO until 1951. On this release he is heard conducting the LSO in performances of ‘In The South’ and ‘Sea Pictures’ made at Studio No.1 at Abbey Road in 1953. Conductor and orchestra are joined by contralto Gladys Ripley for the song cycle. The ‘Enigma Variations’ was recorded in 1954 at the Kingsway Hall and produced by Walter Legge |
 BBC Radio 3 CD ReviewSaturday 19th April 2008 |
Building a Library - Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 6 in E minor |
 First ChoiceLondon Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox |
CD of the Week |
 Marc-André Hamelin in a state of jazzMarc-André Hamelin (piano) |
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