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SIDNEY JONES: "The Geisha" ("A Story of a Tea House")
New London Light Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Ronald Corp, cond
Hyperion CD-67006 (hyperion-records.co.uk)
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Even more successful than some of the Gilbert & Sullivan shows, "The Geisha" had more than 50 years of performances before it, and its composer, slipped into oblivion. The spirited ensemble here recorded should make up for lost time. Light operetta at its best. A charmer.
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CHARLES-VALENTIN ALKAN: Sonatine, Op. 61 (1st movement)
ALKAN: Grande Sonata, Op. 33 (4th movement)
Marc-Andre Hamelin, p
Hyperion CD-20794 (hyperion-records.co.uk)
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Alkan (Web site) was an incredible pianist, recluse, and intellect. His music is like no other (fiendishly difficult, obsessive, brilliantly quirky), and has experienced a real revival in the past quarter-century. Hamelin is perhaps Alkan's best present exponent (though the legendary recordings and books by Ronald Smith should be searched out), and this single CD will give a good introduction to the Alkan mystique. Unbelieveable, and unforgettable.
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BEETHOVEN: Sonata No. 28 (finale)
Russell Sherman, p
GM Recordings CD-2068 (gmrecordings.com)
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A long-time faculty member of the New England Conservatory, Sherman is here 'produced' by label-master and music guru Gunther Schuller. This fifth album, which includes the "Hammerklavier" as well as some of Beethoven's most simple works, completes an integral cycle of Beethoven Piano Sonatas on the GM label, personal and persuasive statements by one of America's foremost 'thinking pianists'.
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CASPAR KITTEL: Arias and Cantatas, Op. 1
Rene Jacobs Ensemble
Harmonia Mundi CD-905247 (harmoniamundi.com)
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In his brief 36 life, Kittel demonstrated real skill in combining Italian and French styles in these early 17th century vocal display pieces, setting some of the best poetic texts (in German) ostensibly as virtuoso exercises for the boys in the Dresden Cathedral Choir (!). Jacobs and company make it all sparkle as if the scores were brand new. Entertaining and engaging, if not timelessly memorable. Beautifully recorded, too, with texts and translations provided.
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"Unarum fidium" (17th century violin music)
JOHANN SCHMELZER: Sonata No. 1
John Holloway, vn; Aliysia Assenbaum, o; Lars Lurik Mortensen, hc
ECM Records CD-1668 (ecmrecords.com)
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Schmeltzer followed Biber as the great virtuoso string-player of early 17th century Vienna, fully embracing the flambouyant and poetic manner of contemporary Italian composers. This is deliciously passionate and expressive music, almost improvisational in its rapture, and Holloway and company present it stunningly.
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"Ignis" (new-old music)
PAUL GIGER: Alleluja; Tropus (based on 11h century chant themes)
Paul Geiger, vn; Marius Ungureanu, vla; Beat Schneider, vcl; Estonian
Philharmonic Chamber Choir
ECM Records CD-1681 (ecmrecords.com)
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Hauntingly lovely, Giger's creations mix ancient Gregorian chant themes with a sometimes folk-like, sometimes minimalist-whirling trio of strings for an imagination-priming experience quite unlike any other. The usual scant ECM annotations tell virtually nothing, but the music says it all. Gorgeous, different, necessary.
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ALBERT MOESCHINGER: "The Clementi Cabin"; Wind Quintet on Swiss Folk Songs
Bern Chamber Orchestra Ensembles
SRI Musica Helvetica CD-113.2 (available from Records International; 888-804-5513)
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Moeschinger is virtually unknown outside Switzerland, yet the wit and charm of his music deserves a wider appreciation. "The Clementi Cabin" contains text and musical 'calling cards' (all created by Moeschinger), ostensibly from a 400-year span of composers—from Adam de la Halle to Ravel—who visited this imaginary Swiss outpost to leave congratulatory messages on behalf of the Bern Conservatory's move to new quarters. A musical joke of a very sophisticated kind. The Wind Quintet is all smiles. A product of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, and not easy to find, but worth the search for collectors of delightful oddities.
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