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25th October 2023

BBC Music Magazine Choices, BBC Music Magazine - November 2023 Choices

by Chris O'Reilly

BBC Music Magazine November 2023A 'dynamic and vivid' postscript to Fabio Luisi's Gramophone Award-winning cycle of the Nielsen symphonies with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra takes top honours in next month's issue, with reviewer David Nice musing that 'Any previous notions I had that Nielsen’s Violin Concerto of 1911 inhabits a different, more Romantic world than his last major works for flute, clarinet and orchestra of the late 1920s was turned on its head by the sheer personality of these three performances.'

Other albums mentioned in despatches include the late Lars Vogt's 'cherishable' accounts of two Mozart piano concertos with the Orchestre de chambre de Paris on Ondine, a 'joyous, even raucous' interpretation of Fux's La Corona d'Arianna from Zefiro and Alfredo Bernardini on Arcana, and a 'valuable addition to the choral library' from the Choir of St John's College Cambridge under their former Director of Music Andrew Nethsingha on Signum.

Recording of the Month

Nielsen: The Concertos

Nielsen: The Concertos

Bomsori (violin), Ulla Miilmann (flute), Johnny Teyssier (clarinet), Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Fabio Luisi

'The chameleonic protagonist is the great Dane himself, inhabiting at least four temperaments in each concerto…the soloists tune into that with unparalleled vividness, responding so sensitively to their orchestral colleagues.'

Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC

Orchestral Choice

Mahler: Symphony No. 2

Mahler: Symphony No. 2

Mari Eriksmoen (soprano), Jennifer Johnston (mezzo), Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus, Santtu-Matias Rouvali

'This is special indeed, and given such spectacular engineering (by Tom Stokes under producer Andrew Cornall), anyone wanting a Second in state-of-the-art sound should be happy with it…The Philharmonia Chorus sounds like it's bolstered by professionals; soprano power in the great climax has never blazed better.'

Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC

Concerto Choice

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 9 & 24

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 9 & 24

Lars Vogt (piano/director), Orchestre de chambre de Paris

'Vogt's ensemble with his attentive orchestra is close-knit, while at the piano there's not a hint of compromise, nor need for any. He sounds on top form, with his typically vivid articulation and sparkling touch, while his generously lyrical phrasing incorporates unfailing attention to detail.'

Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC

Opera Choice

Fux: La Corona d'Arianna

Fux: La Corona d'Arianna

Monica Piccinini (Venere), Carlotta Colombo (Arianna), Marianne Beate Kielland (Teti), Rafał Tomkiewicz (Bacco), Meili Li (Peleo); Zefiro, Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Alfredo Bernardini

'La Corona d'Arianna is wonderful in this version by director Alfredo Bernardini, who drastically shortened the opera due to 2022 COVID measures...The band's playing is joyous, even raucous, as Bernardini gives players space to relish Fux's superb scoring. Treat yourself to this immersive Baroque experience.'

Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC

Choral & Song Choice

New Millennium

New Millennium

Choir of St John's College Cambridge, Andrew Nethsingha

'The choir's musicianship is superb and its vocal balance perfectly calibrated; the textures vibrant and the sensuous beauty of the John's sound is expertly captured by Signum. New Millennium demonstrates how young composers are expanding traditional notions of how music can interact with faith…A valuable addition to the choral library.'

Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC, Hi-Res+ FLAC

Chamber Choice

Beethoven: Piano Trios, Vol. 2

Beethoven: Piano Trios, Vol. 2

Alexander Sitkovetsky (violin), Isang Enders (cello), Wu Qian (piano)

'This is a delight: sprightly, well-articulated playing which bounds with vitality. The Archduke starts in an almost improvisatory spirit...The energy of the performance is driven by the pianist Wu Qian, absolutely attentive to all of Beethoven’s quirky markings and sudden sforzandos.'

Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC

Instrumental Choice

Bach & l'Italie

Bach & l'Italie

Justin Taylor (harpsichord)

'Taylor brings youthful vitality and flair to these performances, responding to Bach’s ever-changing idiom with quicksilver playing...Admirable, too, are the colours and quasi-orchestral timbres that he draws from the noble 1730 harpsichord housed in the Château of Assas, France.'

Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC, Hi-Res+ FLAC

Jazz Choice

where are we

where are we

Joshua Redman (saxophone), with Gabrielle Cavassa (vocals), Joe Sanders (bass), Brian Blade (drums), Aaron Parks (piano)

'Such is the freshness of his music, the 54 year old has retained a youthful air of unpredictability...Redman has said that he was looking for a new musical role, not only as soloist and leader, but also as supportive accompanist and interlocutor. where are we delivers on all counts.'

Also available on vinyl.

Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC

Chris O'Reilly - Chief Executive

Chris grew up in London and studied cello from the age of 5. He never did enough practice to get really good at it, but caught a passion for Classical music which would stick with him forever. He has wide ranging musical tastes, still plays Chamber music and particularly loves Mahler.

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