Reconsidering Bartók: The Orchestral Works

BARTÓK: Kossuth. Four Pieces for Orchestra. Budapest Symphony Orchestra (in Kossuth) and Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra (in Four Pieces) conducted by Arpad Joó. SEFEL SEFD-5005 (digital), produced by Brian Culverhouse. BARTÓK: Suite No. 1. Two Portraits.Budapest Symphony Orchestra conducted by Arpad Joó. SEFEL SEFD-5006 (digital), produced by Brian Culverhouse. BARTÓK: …

David Amos conducts Modern Masters

David Amos conducts Modern Masters Harmonia Mundi is inaugurating a new series of recordings under the heading “Modern Masters,” and the first three releases have just arrived. A varied selection of repertoire is eatured–primarily accessible works of the 20th century–in …

A Persichetti Perspective

PERSICHETTI: String Quarets Nos.1-4; New Art String Quartet. Available from Department of Music, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281. 2 LPs, $10.  This is the kind of recording most composers dream about: beautiful in every aspect, from layout to annotation to …

A Muczynski Retrospective

Robert Muczynski is, along with Lee Hoiby, one of America’s most distinguished traditionalist composers still active today, from the generation that came of age during the years following World War II. He is also one of the most widely and …

“New York Philharmonic: An American Celebration”

Following the successes of their two previous packages, New York Philharmonic: The Historic Broadcasts 1923-1927 (released in 1997) and New York Philharmonic: The Mahler Broadcasts (released in 1998), New York Philharmonic Special Editions has just issued their third such deluxe package: a ten-CD set …

A Continuing Reassessment of Samuel Barber

Five recent releases, several of which make substantial contributions to the Samuel Barber discography, prompt these reflections. A Solstice disc, featuring pianist Lilia Boyadjieva, offers a number of pieces never before recorded, and is probably the most valuable CD solely …