Welcome to the first New In Music of 2025. My top selection for New In Music This Week: January 10th is:
CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL: GLASS: AGUAS DA AMAZONIA – Third Coast Percussion – Rockwell Records
The all-percussion quartet has a new arrangement of Philip Glass’s Aguas da Amazonia which was first performed by the Brazilian ensemble Uakti and released on record in 1999.
This recording comes out a few weeks before Third Coast Percussion goes on tour with Twyla Tharp Dance to celebrate her 60th anniversary as a leading figure in modern dance. Aguas da Amazonia will be performed as part of this tour and Third Coast Percussion will be joined by flutist Constance Volk on that tour.
Tharp isn’t the only artist celebrating a major anniversary. Third Coast Percussion celebrates their 20thanniversary this year. This beautiful recording is a great way to introduce yourself to them if you aren’t already familiar with their innovative work.
The rest of New In Music: January 10th are:
CLASSICAL: STRING QUARTETS & SONATAS – Claude Debussy/The Nash Ensemble – Hyperion Records
UK’s The Nash Ensemble is a truly fine chamber music group. Just take a listen to this album that finds the ensemble varying in size from two musicians to a dozen to perform five different works by French composer Claude Debussy.
The ensemble is at its largest for the opening track: Prélude à l’aprés-midi d’un faune. The album continues with Violin Sonata in G minor; Sonata for flute, viola and harp; Cello Sonata in D minor and concludes with the String Quartet in G minor.
This beautiful album contains over 75 minutes of Debussy’s music performed beautifully.
CLASSICAL: AL-BUNDUQIYYA – THE LOST CONCERTO – Giovanni Sollima – Erato
This is a fascinating release that proves that everything old is new again. Composer/cellist Giovanni Sollima has taken a long surviving fragment from Vivaldi’s Cello Concerto in E Minor. It is the viola part. He’s used that fragment as the inspiration for Il Concerto Perduto (The Lost Concerto) to explore the relationship that existed in Vivaldi’s time between Venice (where Vivaldi was) and the eastern Mediterranean and Asia. The result is definitely worth your time.
The album also includes other works by Sollima, other music by Vivaldi, his contemporary Tartini and other regional traditional music.
Al-Bunduqiyya (which is the Arabic name for Venice) was released digitally in March. It is now available on CD as well.
CLASSICAL: NEW YEAR’S CONCERT – Vienna Philharmonic/Riccardo Muti – Sony Classical
It’s time for the annual Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert release. The December 31st concert, with conductor Riccardo Muti leading the Wiener Philharmoniker, is available digitally today. It will be released on CD on February 14th and the DVD/Blu-Ray release of the concert is scheduled for March 7th.
As you would expect, this concert and its recording relies heavily on the music from the Strauss family, There’s one new addition that is of particular interest: Ferdinandus-Walzer composed by 12-year-old Constanze Geiger in 1848 who was friends with Johann Strauss II.
If, like so many people around the world, you want to waltz your way into 2025, this recording is for you.
JAZZ: TENOR MADNESS – Ryan Middagh – Ear Up Records
If you like your saxophones with a bit of a Tennessee twist, you’ll want to check out this wildly entertaining album from musician/composer/bandleader Ryan Middagh.
Joining Middagh for this madness are alto saxophonists Alex Graham and Jovan Quallo; tenor saxophoniss Jeff Coffin, Don Aliquo and Joel Frahm; Kevin Shinskie on alto and tenor saxophones; Jimmy Bowland and Middagh on baritone sax.
Of course, it isn’t just saxophones on this record. The Ryan Middagh Jaazz Orchestra adds 13 more musicians to the mix.
I’ve listened to this recording several times since I was first made aware of it. I have no doubt I’ll be listening to it a whole lot more in the future.
MUSICALS: REEFER MADNESS – LA Cast Recording – Yellow Sound Label
This musical began its life in Los Angeles, so it’s only appropriate that this new recording come from last year’s 25th anniversary production.
The musical was a spoof of the 1936 film that advocated strongly against smoking pot. The music was composed by Dan Studney and the lyrics are by Kevin Murphy.
Amongst the performers on this recording are Darcy Rose Byrnes, J. elaine Marcos, Anthony Norman, one of my favorite performers Nicole Parker and Bryan Daniel Porter.
Parker’s performance of The Stuff is just one of many highlights here.
Completists will want to get the physical CD on January 24th as it has two bonus tracks that are exclusive to that release.
MUSICALS: OLIVER! – London Cast Recording – Warner Classics
Last year producer Cameron Mackintosh teamed up with director/choreographer Matthew Bourne and co-director Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy to bring a new and updated version of Lion Bart’s beloved musical to the stage. The ad line for the new production is “Re-imagined with a Twist.” The results were both a critical and commercial success.
Starring in the production and appearing on this CD and digital release are Philip Franks as Mr. Brownlow; Shanay Holmes as Nancy; Bily Jenkins as the Artful Dodger; Simon Lipkin as Fagin; Aaron Sidwell as Bill Sikes. Four actors are listed as sharing the role of Oliver Twist on the production’s website. At press time I didn’t have information as to who was singing the role on the recording.
If you love this musical, you’ll certainly consider yourself at home with this new recording.
And should you be in London and want to see this production of Oliver!, it is currently running through September 2025 at the Gielgud Theatre. You can get tickets and more information HERE.
OPERA: L’AIO NELL’IMBARAAZO – Donizetti – Naxos Records
If you are familiar with this opera, you probably know it as Don Gregorio. It was originally premiered in 1824 with the name L’aio nell’imbarazzo (aka “The Embarassed Tutor.”) The latter title was a significantly revised version of the original.
The opera tells the story of a father trying to shield his sons from all the wickedness in the world so as to maintain their innocence. Of course, things don’t go quite as planned for him and comedy ensues.
This new recording restores as much of the original opera as Donizetti had composed and orchestrated it.
Performing on this recording as Alessandro Corbelli (baritone); Caterina Dellaere (mezzo-soprano); Alex Esposito (bass-baritone); Lorenzo Liberali (baritone);Francesco Lucci (tenor); Lorenzo Martelli (tenor) and Marilena Ruta (soprano). Hana Lee is on fortepoiano. The Orchestra e Coro Donizetti Opera is led by conductor Vincenzo Milletari.
Fans of Donizetti’s operas will find plenty to enjoy in this recording.
That’s all for New In Music This Week: January 10th.
Enjoy new music!
Enjoy your weekend!
Main Photo: Album art from Third Coast Percussion’s Agua da Amazonia (Courtesy Rockwell Records)