Just Opened, Oct. 28, 2011

The Halloween Scene! We kicked off a weekend of Halloween music with a creepy selection of new CDs... Just Opened.


A SHAKESPEARE ODE
on the Witches and Fairies
Musicians of the Globe
Philip Pickett, cond.
PHILIPS 446689
ISBN# 0 28944 66892 6
A Baroque cantata in homage of Shakespeare (and the land that bore him) and a tribute to his faires, sprites and witches. A fully formed work by a composer who died very young.


SHOSTAKOVICH
The Tale of the Priest
and His Worker, Balda &
Suite from Lady MacBeth
Russian Philharmonic Orch.
Thomas Sanderling, cond.
D.G. 6507
ISBN# 0 28947 76112 9
Fun, cartoony music, an easy introduction to Shastakovich's work.


JOHN CORIGLIANO
The Red Violin &
Phantasmagoria
Michael Ludwig, violin
Buffalo Phil. Orch.
Joann Falletta, cond.
NAXOS 559671
ISBN# 6 36943 96712 6
Corigliano's masterful, modern, challenging Violin concerto is preceeded on this recording by Phantasmagoria, a suite from his opera "The Ghosts of Versailles." Perfect music for your haunted house!


PAYSAGES
Susanna Phillips, soprano
Myra Huang, piano
BRIDGE 9356
ISBN# 0 90404 93562 6
3 Art Song series, Debussy's late "Forgotten Arias", Messiaen's "Poemes Pour Mi" and 4 songs by Faure (favorites). A diverse presentation, both highlighted and made difficult (for fans of melody) by Messiaen's work - it sets Phillips apart from the pack... she's a soprano to watch.


Ce Diabolic Chant
Ballades, Rondeaus & Virelais
of the late fourteenth century
The Medieval Ensemble of London
L'OISEAU LYRE 4759119
(London Decca)
ISBN# 0 28947 59119 1
A joyfully perverse selection of truly early music, expertly performed. Non-imitative polyphony fans rejoice. Mostly a cappella, some works are augmented by early instruments. Not really as "diabolic" as the title, more the torment of courtly love.


RACHMANINOFF
Conducts Rachmaninoff
The Philadelphia Orch.
Sergei Rachmaninoff, cond.
RCA 62532
ISBN# 0 9026 62532 2 7
Digitalization of historic recordings from the 1929 & 1939.These works remain in the regular concert repertoire. Pristine clear sound is not what you will get here, but I would think anyone interested in playing, performing and studying the work of Rachmaninoff has to be interested to hear how he directed his great and well known works himself. For that reason, this is my delight of the week.


THE LISZT PROJECT
Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano
2 CD set
D.G. 15944
ISBN# 0 28947 79439 4
In the midst of the begginning deluge of Liszt recordings (for this 200th anniversary year of his birth), comes this thoughtful set. The majority of the works here are chosen for their influence on later music greats, and the resultant works are also included. Works by Liszt joined by their progeny by Berg, Scriabin, Bartok, Ravel, and others.


We hope you enjoied our creepy crawly Just Opened.
Kara Dahl Russell