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Presto News - 18th January 2010Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet |
 One of Valery Gergiev’s first recordings - made about twenty years ago - was of the complete ballet score of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet with the Kirov Orchestra. It was to be the first of many important Prokofiev recordings he made with the Kirov, which included a number of the composer's operas and the Piano Concertos (with pianist Alexander Toradze). In 2004 he continued his championing of Prokofiev's works with a complete cycle of the Symphonies, this time with the LSO. That set was widely acclaimed and went on to win a Gramophone Award. Soon afterwards he was appointed principal conductor of the LSO, and he has now returned to the fantastic Romeo and Juliet ballet score with them, which has just been released on the orchestra's own LSO Live label.  Valery Gergiev The first thing to say is that it is a brilliant work, both tuneful and vividly descriptive, able to depict anything from the violence of the feuding families to the poetic nightscape of the balcony scene. Although quite familiar from the three suites extracted from it, the complete two-hour twenty minute ballet score is only rarely performed outside the theatre so the opportunity to hear a world class orchestra like the LSO under a conductor with such a natural affinity to the composer's music is a rare one, and this very competitively priced recording is not to be missed. The LSO play with real passion and energy throughout and every section of the orchestra is superb. The brass are rich and lyrical, noble and melodic or snarling and angry depending on the demands of the music, while the woodwind are on fine form throughout, commenting expressively on the action or portraying the emotions of the characters. The LSO strings fully justify their world-renowned status - souring passionately and tugging at your heartstrings, and flying through the technically demanding passages at great speed with apparent ease. All in all it is a superb reading of Prokofiev's supreme masterpiece, and thoroughly enjoyable throughout. I’ve put on a video trailer of the famous Dance of the Knights, which shows off the orchestra brilliantly. It is slightly faster than you’d often hear but I think works very well at this speed. I suppose some people might say that it sounds too dance-like and not imposing enough, but dramatically I think it is far more powerful, and the contrasts to the slower and quieter sections are far more vivid. It is worth also mentioning while I’m on the subject of Gergiev and Prokofiev that Decca are releasing a budget priced box set of six of his great opera recordings next month which represents fantastic value - full details via the link below.
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 Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev |
 Prokofiev - 6 OperasKirov Opera & Orchestra & Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg, Valery Gergiev |
Chris O'Reilly - chris@prestoclassical.co.uk |
Watch - Dance of the KnightsNew Releases18th January 2010 |
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. |
 Ombre de mon amantAnne Sofie von Otter (mezzo soprano), Chœur et orchestre Les Arts florissants, William ChristieOmbre de mon amant is Anne Sofie von Otter’s first recording of these French Baroque Arias - graceful, temperamental tunes which will delight her fans and thrill Baroque music cognoscenti. Otter’s mastery of diverse musical genres, crystalline diction and exquisite musicality empower her interpretations of French repertoire. Her celebrated Offenbach album and album of rarities of songs by Chaminade are cases in point. Anne Sofie von Otter, every bit a woman of the theatre as she is of song, embodies Charpentier's Médée and Phèdre in Rameau's Hippolyte et Aricie matchlessly, in the grand manner. |
 New Year's Concert 2010Wiener Philharmoniker, Georges PrêtreThe internationally-renowned French maestro Georges Prêtre returns to Vienna’s illustrious Musikverein to conduct the 2010 New Year’s Concert, presenting a compelling programme that combines perennial classics with a selection of intriguing Strauss premieres. |
 Prokofiev & Sibelius - Violin ConcertosVilde Frang (violin), WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Thomas SøndergårdEMI Classics is pleased to announce the signing of Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang. Her first recording features the Sibelius Violin Concerto and three Humoresques and Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1, recorded live with the WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln and conductor Thomas Søndergård. Stephen Johns, Vice President of A&R, EMI Classics, said, “Vilde Frang is a brilliant young violinist and a protégée of Anne Sophie Mutter. It was Vilde’s performance of the Sibelius Violin Concerto that first caught our attention. Her special and unique voice, coupled with playing of great fervour and depth, promises a brilliant debut disc.” |
 Walton - Symphony in B flat minor & Belshazzar’s FeastLondon Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian BoultTwo more splendid Nixa recordings with Sir Adrian Boult, now transferred to CD, join last month’s Sibelius disc on SOMM. This symphony is a real landmark of English composition, and combining it with Walton’s oratorio Belshazzar’s Feast makes this a very collectable disc. The Gramophone review of the original recording referred to the oratorio as a “tour de force” which was “irresistibly exciting”. |
 Glass, P: Symphony No. 7 'Toltec'Bruckner Orchestra Linz, Dennis Russell DaviesThis is the World Premiere Recording of this work and is a Gramophone Editor’s Choice. It was originally commissioned and performed by Leonard Slatkin and the National Symphony Orchestra. The symphony was composed in 2004 and is dedicated to the Toltec civilization that lived in Mesoamerica from 500 BC – 500 AD. |
 Bach, J S: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1-6 BWV1046-1051 (complete)Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Riccardo ChaillyIn 2010, Maestro Riccardo Chailly releases Johann Sebastian Bach for Decca for the very first time. Having conducted the illustrious Gewandhaus Orchestra since 1986, this esteemed conductor’s association with Leipzig is but one year less than Bach’s. Played on modern instruments, Chailly’s Bach beautifully demonstrates that vivid, stylistically aware performance is not the exclusive preserve of period instrument ensembles. Every concerto of this first release - the Brandenburg Concertos - showcases the Orchestra’s expert soloists. Collectively, they celebrate the orchestra’s renaissance under its charismatic Italian music director. This release will be followed up later in the year with new recordings of the St Matthew Passion and Christmas Oratorio. |
 Mendelssohn - Concertos for Two Pianos and OrchestraThe Silver Garburg Piano Duo, Beyerische Kammerphilharmonie, Christopher HogwoodThese concertos show two sides of Mendelssohn’s musical language: the E major concerto is bright, transparent, “classical”, while the A flat concerto embodies the magnificence, weight and drama of the romantic era. The accompanying ensemble contributes significantly to the outstanding quality of the recording. |
 Joachim Raff - The Symphonies, The Suites for Orchestra & OverturesBamberger Symphoniker & Bayerische Staatsphilharmonie, Hans StadlmairThis boxed set of 9 CDs brings together all the TUDOR recordings of all the Raff Symphonies, as well as The Suites for Orchestra and the Overtures. Raff was born in Switzerland and studied music while working as a school teacher. He later took up composition full time and was a prolific composer. |
 BBC Radio 3 CD ReviewSaturday 16th January 2010 |
Building a Library - Rachmaninov: The Isle of the Dead - Symphonic Poem, Op. 29 |
 First Choice(coupled with Symphonies Nos 1-3; Symphonic Dances Op 45; The Bells Op 35)Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy |
Disc of the Week |
 Bach - MagnificatBach: Magnificat BWV243; Missa BWV235; Fuga sopra il Magnificat BWV733; Prelude and Fugue BWV541Maria Keohane (soprano) / Anna Zander (soprano) / Carlos Mena (alto) / Hans-Jorg Mammel (tenor) / Stephan MacLeod (bass) / Ricercar Consort / Philippe Pierlot (director) |
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