Here are our choices for the best of what’s New In Music This Week: April 28th
TOP CHOICE:
CLASSICAL: Iceland Symphony Orchestra: Atmospheriques – (Sono Luminus)
American composer Missy Mazzoli finds her Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres) joining the works of four composers of Icelandic heritage on this massively interesting album. The album opens with Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s CATAMORPHOSIS – a 21- minute work that had its world premiere by the Berlin Philharmonic in January of 2021. Following Sinfonia is From Space I Saw Earth by composer Daníel Bjarnason. The work was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic for their centennial and was composed to require three conductors.
María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir’s Clockworking for Orchestra was commissioned by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. The album concludes with ÓS written by Bára Gísladóttir. Bjarnason conducts the ISO in this recording.
CHORAL MUSIC: The Crossing: Titration – (Navona Records)
This chamber choir, first formed in 2005, has grown in stature and reputation in the 18 years since they first started. They are the recipients of three Grammy Awards for Best Choral Performance and this album, their 30th, is likely to add at least another nomination.
Titration is a nearly 52-minute work composed by Shara Nova, founder of My Brightest Diamond. The work had its world premiere last summer in Montana. The title takes its name from both a chemical reaction and also a process used in therapy to address trauma. It is clear from listening to the record that Nova is using predominantly the latter definition as her inspiration.
Donald Nally conducts The Crossing who are accompanied by six musicians.
CLASSICAL: Sarah Cahill: The Future is Female, Vol. 3, At Play (First Hand Records)
In 2022 pianist Cahill released her first collection of works composed by woman from around the world. The first album, In Nature, was released in March of that year. The second album, The Dance, was released in October of last year. Today the trilogy is complete with this recording that features music composed by Frangiz Ali-Zadeh, Grażyna Bacewicz, Regina Harris Baiocchi, Cecile Chaminade, Hannah Kendall, Hélène de Montgeroult, Pauline Oliveros, Aida Shirazi, and Chen Yi. Four of the works are having their first-ever recording and two are having their first-ever commercial recording.
This is an album for anyone who wants to hear beautifully played music on the piano that you do not know. But you’ll be glad you took the time to listen to this album. To do so will, no doubt, inspire you to check out the other two albums in the trilogy.
CLASSICAL: Shani Diluka: Pulse – (Warner Classics)
Minimalism is on full display in the 22-tracks pianist Dilute has chosen for this intriguing album. But it’s not just minimalism, you get tracks inspired by Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett, music by Giorgio Moroder (remember Call Me by Blondie? – it’s not that track, but that’s just a reminder of who Moroder was); film composer Craig Armstrong, Julius Eastman and more.
Diluka has assembled a fascinating group of compositions and plays them all beautifully. And why does Danny Boy illicit tears every time?
CLASSICAL: The Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus – Mahler Symphony No. 2 in C Minor “Resurrection” – (Warner Classics)
Conductor Otto Klemperer passed away 50 years. To celebrate that anniversary, Warner Classics is releasing on vinyl this recording that features contralto Hilde Rössl-Majdan and soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. The recording was first issued in April of 1963 (which makes this the 60th anniversary of the recording.)
What makes this recording important is that Klemperer was one of the few people conducting music at this point in time that knew and had worked with Gustav Mahler. This is an outstanding recording I can’t recommend enough.
CLASSICAL: Camille Thomas – The Chopin Project: Complete Chamber Music – (Deutsche Grammophon)
This is a digital only release of one third of pianist Camille Thomas’s trilogy of albums focused on the work of composer Frédéric Chopin. This volume finds her joined by pianists Julien Brocal, Lucas Debargue, Julien Libeer and violinist Daniel Hope.
Her recording is anchored by the Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 8 and the Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 65. There is also Grand Duo concertina sur de thèmes de ‘Robert le Diable’ de Meyerbeer, B. 70 where Chopin shares the writing credit with Auguste Franchomme. Her first volume in The Chopin Project, The Franchomme Legacy was released on March 17th. The third volume is due in June.
JAZZ: Taj Mahal: Savoy – (Stony Plain Records)
The name Henry St. Claire Fredericks Jr. might not seem familiar to you. But you do know him as Taj Mahal. On this album classic songs by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Benny Golson, Louis Jordan, Frank Loesser, Johnny Mercer and more. Maria Muldaur joins Taj Mahal for a duet of Baby It’s Cold Outside.
You know from the opening track, Savoy, that you’re in for the perfect album to unwind and let the world fade away. This is a terrific album.
VOCALS: Rickie Lee Jones: Pieces of Treasure – (BMG Modern)
Several years ago I saw Rickie Lee Jones perform a concert of the music from West Side Story. I went because I love Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s musical, but also to see and hear what the idiosyncratic singer/songwriter would do with songs that had become part of the Great American Songbook.
With this recording you can hear her tackle some of the best known songs of all time: Just in Time; There Will Never Be Another You, Nature Boy, One for My Baby, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, All The Way, Here’s That Rainy Day, September Song (my personal favorite track on the album), On the Sunny Side of the Street and It’s All in the Game.
Light a couple candles, pour yourself some wine, turn off your phone and take a 35 minute break with this aptly named album.
That’s our New In Music: April 28th.
Have a great weekend and enjoy the music!