Picks of the Year: 1997

We read that the classical record business is in bad shape.  This is most unfortunate; but from the standpoint of the serious music lover, there has never been such a wide range of repertoire available—and so well performed and so superbly …

Flagello: Concerto Sinfonico for Saxophone Quartet

NICOLAS FLAGELLO: Concerto Sinfonico for Saxophone Quartet (1985) (NY Premiere) Allegro non troppo Lento movendo (quasi all barcanola) Allegro giusto Manhattan School of Music Philharmonia, Lawrence Leighton Smith, conductor. The New Hudson Saxophone Quartet. Nicolas Flagello, one of the last of America’s …

An American Tapestry. HOVHANESS: Symphony No. 2, “Mysterious Mountain.” PISTON: The Incredible Flutist. W. SCHUMAN: New England Triptych. IVES: Three Places in New England. GRIFFES: The White Peacock

AN AMERICAN TAPESTRY.  Andrew Litton conducting the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.  DORIAN DOR-90224 [DDD] ; 73:00.  Produced by Andrew Keener. HOVHANESS:  Symphony No. 2, “Mysterious Mountain.”  PISTON:  The Incredible Flutist.  SCHUMAN:  New England Triptych.  IVES:  Three Places in New England.  GRIFFES:  The White Peacock. This is an ideal CD for the general listener …

KHRENNIKOV: Napoleon Bonaparte (Ballet)

KHRENNIKOV Napoleon Bonaparte (Ballet) – Pavel Ovsyannikov, cond; Presidential Orchestra of the Russian Federation – RUSSIAN DISC  10 070 (69:08) For many years Tikhon Khrennikov was known in the West only as First Secretary of the Composers Union under Joseph Stalin, a position for which he …

IVANOVS: Symphonies: No. 5; No. 12, “Sinfonia Energica.”

IVANOVS:  Symphonies:  No. 5; No. 12, “Sinfonia Energica.”  Dmitry Yablonsky conducting the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra.  MARCO POLO 8.223332 [DDD]; 66:13.  Produced by Victor and Marina A. Ledin. It seems to me that the “CD revolution” and Fanfare were made for each other.  While the past twelve years …

G. WILLIAMS: Symphony No. 2. Ballads for Orchestra. Fairest of Stars

G. WILLIAMS:  Symphony No. 2.  Ballads for Orchestra.  Fairest of Stars.  Vernon Handley conducting the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra.  Sir Charles Groves conducting the London Symphony Orchestra.  Janet Price, soprano.  LYRITA SRCD-327 [ADD]; 69:15.  Produced by Bob Auger and John Willan. This is a most welcome release, providing …