Stories for December 7, 2019
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Carr-Petrova Duo with 'Novel Voices' for classical radio
Posted: December 6, 2019 3:07 PM | By: Admin
The Novel Voices Refugee Aid Project, created and directed by the Carr-Petrova Duo, is a project designed to give voice and visibility, through music and film, to the lives and struggles of both local and international refugee communities, and to encourage audiences and artists alike to become connected and involved. Since August 2018, it has brought free, interactive classical music concerts and workshops to displaced populations while increasing awareness of and raising support for both U.S.-based and international refugee-aid programs. in conjunction with the project and recording, Molly and Anna have made themselves available to speak with classical radio today, December 6, 2019. Watch for our tweets throughout the day.
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Ahh ... that's better! Bing Crosby's original Christmas settings, remixed with newly-recorded orchestral arrangements for the LSO / Classical Music Sentinel
Posted: December 6, 2019 12:10 PM | By: Admin
I don't know about you, but every year when I play my Bing Crosby Christmas recordings I can't help but feel that the background vocals, and particularly the orchestral accompaniment, always sound slightly anemic and unidimensional. But now with the magic of audio technology, Crosby's original vocals have been remastered and remixed against fresh new recordings of backup singers and the wonderful London Symphony Orchestra. As Kathryn Crosby herself notes in the booklet: "Hearing Bing's voice with these completely new, beautifully recorded, orchestral accompaniments makes it seem as though he's back after all these years. It's magic." Like using Photoshop software to brighten up an old faded photograph, this type of digital audio manipulation breathes new life into the music. Now I've never really been a proponent of tampering with audio. I've heard digital remasters of older analogue recordings that were actually detrimental and personally, I believe that analogue sounds more natural. One glaring example is a digital remastering of a famous analogue recording of the Alpine Symphony by Richard Strauss on one of the most iconic classical music labels in which the software doing the transfer completely removed the sound of the "wind machine" because it was considered noise. And obviously whoever did the quality assurance tests didn't know the work very well as it was commercially released with this major flaw. But in this case the end result is quite amazing. And of course, this may not be "classical" music but it certainly is a "classic" when it comes to Christmas recordings, to be enjoyed once again! Tracks include It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas Sleigh Ride Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! White Christmas (feat. Pentatonix) I'll Be Home For Christmas Jingle Bells (with The Andrew Sisters feat. The Puppini Sisters) Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Do You Hear What I hear The Christmas Song Little Drummer Boy (with David Bowie) Twelve Days of Christmas (feat. The Puppini Sisters) Winter Wonderland The Christmas Song (feat. The Tenors) White Christmas (Bing solo) SEE THE Classical Music Sentinel PAGE
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Hobgood, Hahn, Getz, Kidjo, Bailey, Schiff and Labeque,Dessner, make Ted Gioia's 100 Best Recordings of 2019
Posted: December 6, 2019 12:00 AM | By: Admin
Here are Ted Gioia's picks for the 100 best albums of 2019 (all styles, all genres) + another 100 'HONORABLE MENTION' albums of merit from 2019 worthy of your attention. Happy listening! Laurence Hobgood Tesseterra Popular Songs Reimagined for Jazz Trio and String Quartet Antón García Abril (composer), Hilary Hahn (performer) 6 Partitas by Antón García Abril Contemporary Music for Solo Violin Stan Getz Getz at the Gate Previously Unreleased Live Jazz Recording from 1961 HONORABLE MENTION - Here are another 100 albums of merit from 2019 worthy of your attention András Schiff: Franz Schubert: Sonatas and Impromptus Classical Music Angélique Kidjo: Celia Afropop Versions of Celia Cruz Songs Bryce Dessner (composer)/Katia and Marielle Labèque (performers): El Chan Extroverted Contemporary Classical Music Philip Bailey (with jazz guest artists): Love Will Find a Way Soul/R&B
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Chicago Tribune 'Best classical albums of 2019'
Posted: December 5, 2019 12:00 AM | By: Admin
The most valuable classical recordings of the year span a vast range, from genre-stretching contemporary music to re-evaluations of standard repertory: Nicola Benedetti: Marsalis Violin Concerto (Decca). Three years ago, violin virtuoso Benedetti played the U.S. premiere of Wynton Marsalis' Violin Concerto in D with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park. This recording, featuring Benedetti with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Cristian Macelaru, reaffirms one's impression of the piece as a lustrous celebration of musical Americana. But the depth and rigor of Benedetti's performance here brings forth deeper aspects of the concerto than were apparent at Ravinia, suggesting Marsalis has given the violin repertoire a major work. Black Oak Ensemble: "Silenced Voices" (Cedille Records). Music by Jewish composers killed during the Holocaust receives new life in this brilliantly conceived album, the Black Oak Ensemble giving voice to scores by Dick Katenburg, Sandor Kuti, Hans Krasa, Gideon Klein and Paul Hermann. The music spans youthful optimism to mature insight and attests to what was lost. But in a measure of hope, the album also includes the world premiere recording of a trio by Geza Frid, who survived the Holocaust and lived to 1989. An indispensable recording. Igor Levit: "Beethoven Complete Piano Sonatas" (Sony Classical). Does the world need another traversal of Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas? Of course it does, for this monolith reshaped the definition of the sonata, expanded the instrument's possibilities and bears endless interpretation and contemplation. Pianist Levit brings considerable intellectual acuity and technical aplomb to this music, which arrives in time for next year's worldwide celebration of the composer's 250th birthday. Third Coast Percussion: "Perpetulum" (Orange Mountain Music). Surely anyone who attended last year's world premiere of Philip Glass' "Perpetulum," commissioned and performed by Third Coast Percussion, felt the joy and rhythmic exuberance of this music. It's now documented on a two-disc set that also includes David Skidmore's similarly propulsive and still more expansive "Aliens with Extraordinary Abilities" and other works. Mahan Esfahani: "Bach: The Toccatas" (Hyperion). Bach's Toccatas carry a measure of mystery, in that definitive scores for this music are impossible to come by, leaving performers ample latitude in ornamentation and other details. Harpsichordist Esfahani applies meticulous scholarship to this process yet has produced a vivid recording built on animated performances appropriate to the toccata form. Jennifer Koh: "Limitless" (Cedille Records). In a bold and stylistically diverse recording, violinist Koh plays a series of duos with the composers of eight works included on this two-CD set. Where else is one likely to encounter music of contemporary composer-pianist Missy Mazzoli, soprano Lisa Bielawa and MacArthur Fellows Vijay Iyer (piano) and Tyshawn Sorey (glockenspiel) in a single project? The sounds are every bit as eclectic as one might expect, a testament to Koh's adventurousness and the creativity of all involved. Rachel Barton Pine: Dvorak, Khachaturian Violin Concertos (Avie). Violinist Pine turns in vigorous readings of two landmarks of the concerto repertoire, accompanied by Teddy Abrams leading the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. The Khachaturian, in particular, benefits from Pine's grit and drive as performer. Her artistry continues to deepen. Yo-Yo Ma: Salonen Cello Concerto (Sony Classical). Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonon's Cello Concerto unfolds on an epic scale, from the immensity of the orchestration to the vastness of its musical gestures. It all may seem a bit lush for some tastes, but the intense colors Salonen draws from the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the ardor of cellist Ma's performance sweep the listener along in their wake. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} SEE ALL Chicago Tribune PICKS
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Tantalizing debut of Margaret Batjer in four violin and orchestra works / New Music Buff
Posted: December 4, 2019 12:00 AM | By: Admin
This is a helluva introduction to the wide ranging talents of violinist Margaret Batjer, currently the concert master of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. OMG, why doesn't this woman have her own web page? Well this BIS recording is a sort of, "here's what I can do across 300+ year of repertoire". BIS is a Swedish based record label with a well earned reputation both for quality sound recording as well as intelligent choice of repertoire. This recording succeeds on both counts. She plays with her familiar colleagues in the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra under conductor Jeffrey Kahane in an arrestingly beautiful recording of music spanning nearly 300 years. The combination of technical skills and interpretive skills (by orchestra and soloist) along with a wonderful sound recording make this a welcome debut for this soloist and leaves this writer wanting to hear more from her and this wonderful little orchestra. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} READ THE FULL New Music Buff REVIEW
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Jason Vieaux's LA reciital makes KCRW: Rhythm Planet: december concert picks
Posted: December 4, 2019 12:00 AM | By: Admin
Jason Vieaux is set for his recital First Congregational Church of Los Angeles - MacArthur Park on Saturday, December 7. The concert is presented by the Los Angeles International Guitar Series and Vieaux will perform music by Bach, Scarlatti, Ellington, and more. I had never heard of Vieaux until 2014 when I received his Grammy-winning album Play. I was completely knocked out by the finesse and authority of his guitar work. Click HERE for tickets and more information. MUSIC NEWS - Written by Tom Schnabel Dec. 03, 2019 for KCRW: Los Angeles - RHYTHM PLANET. SEE THE PAGE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d}
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Molly & Anna from Carr-Petrova Duo are your Louisville artist city guides / Classical Post
Posted: December 4, 2019 12:00 AM | By: Admin
VISITING A CITY CAN BE OVERWHELMING-ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT CITY IS OVERFLOWING WITH EXCEPTIONAL OPTIONS FOR FOOD, DRINKS, ENTERTAINMENT, SHOPPING, AND PLACES TO EXPLORE. LUCKILY, CLASSICAL POST'S NEWEST FEATURE ARTIST CITY GUIDES IS HERE TO CHANGE THAT. What's better than rapidly googling the city you're visiting the night before you get there for the best of the best restaurants, bars, and clubs? Hearing from it first-hand from the classical music artists you love, respect, and admire! In this newest feature section, we hear from the enormously talented Carr-Petrova Duo as they dish on their favorite spots in Louisville, Kentucky-they tell us where to eat, where to stay, what to drink, and how to enter full relaxation mode, no matter where we're visiting. The duo has been performing together since 2005-when they were attending school in New York at the Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music. Separately, each of the duo's members is internationally acclaimed, award-winning soloists who have performed across the globe winning international competitions, Together, the duo is rapidly compiling a remarkable list of accolades in recognition for their stunning musical expression, their refined artistry, and their relentless entrepreneur dedication to social initiatives. If you're planning a trip to Louisville, Kentucky soon, you won't want to miss out on these exceptional destinations from the Carr-Petrova Duo. Headed to Louisville in January? You're in luck! The Carr-Petrova duo will be performing in Louisville on Sunday, January 19th, 2020 at 3 PM as the guest artists for MusicEx concert series at Comstock Concert Hall. Photo credit: David Beyda Meet the two skilled women behind the Carr-Petrova Duo, Anna Petrova, pianist, and Molly Carr, violist.
Sarah McKenzie chats with Judy Carmichael's Jazz Inspired
Posted: December 4, 2019 12:00 AM
Pianist/singer/songwriter, Sarah McKenzie, like so many of her fellow Australians, felt she'd have to leave her beloved country to pursue her dreams, which is exactly what she's done, living in Paris and London, then moving on to Boston to study at the Berklee College of music, and now settling in Los Angeles. Sarah speaks of her experiences with the passion and appreciation of a poet and channels it all into her songwriting, which is featured on her newest CD, Secrets of My Heart. LISTEN TO THE SEGMENT p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d}
Rachel Barton Pine - Dvorak and Khachaturian Concertos is unlikely to duplicate anything in your collection / New Music Buff
Posted: December 4, 2019 12:00 AM
Rachel Barton-Pine is one of the finest and most interesting performers working today. Her unique look at the performing repertoire for her instrument continues to be one of the most salient features of her artistry. Certainly her interpretive abilities are foremost but her choices of neglected repertoire make any release of her recordings a reason to pay close attention. In the past she has recorded many a neglected piece based on her interest in the music. She has featured black composers from the baroque to the present and has managed to resurrect unjustly neglected concerti from composers of pretty much every racial and national description. Here she features two lovely seldom heard concertos. The Dvorak concerto from 1789 and the Khachaturian concerto from 1941. Both are major works and a challenge to the soloist and both fit pretty much into the late romantic genre (arguably that would be "post romantic" for the Khachaturian). The present recording is released on the Avie label which is a progressive independent label which itself boasts an impressive selection of musical works in very fine performances. This disc is a fine example of the work they do and is a great selection for the listener's library. These two concertos were popular in their day but have not seen inclusion in live performances or recordings as much as other romantic concertos. One could speculate endlessly on why this is so or one could simply celebrate the fact that we are getting to hear them in these fine and definitive recordings. All in all a great disc which is unlikely to duplicate anything in your collection but one to which you will doubtless return for sheer entertainment and joy. READ THE FULL New Music Buff REVIEW
There is beauty here, let Lara Downes show you / WOMEN YOU SHOULD KNOW
Posted: December 4, 2019 12:00 AM
"Hey, do you want to go out to the symphony tonight?!" "I sure do, I LOVE symphonic music! What are they playing?" "It's a program of American classical music!" "… oh." It has been nearly a century now since Aaron Copland returned from his studies in France to attempt a grand fusion of American lyrical elements with European classical traditions, and in that fruitful eight score of years American composers have interwoven modern insights with historical melodies to craft a vast body of compelling and challenging music. From Price to Cage and Bernstein to Babbitt, an imposing pantheon of composers have lifted American classical music from the imitative dregs of the nineteenth century to a living and vibrant experimentation that stands firmly in the world's musical vanguard. Yet looking at the American concert scene, that boisterous sense of experimentation and firm pride is nowhere to be seen – take a random program from 1919 and one from 2019 and one would be hard pressed to tell which is which, so little is the last century of American development programmed or requested. Having internalized the condescension of early critics, we have become ashamed of our own music, and to protect ourselves from ridicule, have convinced ourselves that it is boring and somehow beneath our notice. We belittle it, and avoid it, even (and perhaps especially) if we haven't listened to much of it. It takes a rare musical artist to stand up in front of that knee-jerk scorn, that shame-born indifference, and declare, "There is beauty here, let me show you," but for the last two decades that is precisely what pianist Lara Downes has done. With her talent she could have crafted for herself a safe and lucrative career as an interpreter of the standard European canon – offering up Beethoven sonatas and Rachmaninoff concerti to a public that knows what it likes and will happily pay for the sound of it. But from her first album she set herself a distinct challenge, charting at the age of twenty a mission to make her records acts of discovery rather than exercises in familiarity, opening new worlds to those listeners who had the musical curiosity to follow her. I asked her whether she felt trepidation about following such a risky path at a young age… p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} READ THE FULL WOMEN YOU SHOULD KNOW ARTICLE
Pulsations with Angele Dubeau on FM91 - Toledo
Posted: December 4, 2019 12:00 AM
Listeners are well acquainted with the violinist Angèle Dubeau and her ensemble La Pieta through their many recordings. The latest entry in her discography is called Pulsations – a collection of short works by composers with their own unique musical pulse. Angèle joins Haley Taylor for a conversation about the new disc, which contains music by Ludovico Einaudi, Yann Tiersen, Johan Johannsson, and Max Richter among many others. Listen to FM91: Toledo OH, Classical Conversations host; Brad Cresswell discuss with AD. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d}
Francois Mario Labbe makes 'Musical America Worldwide: Top 30 Professionals' for 2019 / laScena
Posted: December 4, 2019 12:00 AM
In operation for more than 100 years in the performing arts industry, Musical America Worldwide unveiled earlier today its Top 30 Professionals of the Year 2019. Congratulations to François Mario Labbé, founder and President of both Analekta et Mazaam Interactive, chosen as one of the professionals on this impressive list of passionate and creative individuals dedicated to making the arts thrive. Musical America Worldwide wrote; "In recent years Labbé has reinvented the company's business model to ensure sustainability. Analekta is now a frontrunner in digital distribution and streaming services, developments that have taken the place of more traditional sources while ensuring wider distribution. "It also offers major exposure to our musicians", he says. "It's been a total change in our way of operating and a rebirth for our company" Born in the Gaspé Peninsula, François Mario Labbé studied communications at the University of Ottawa. He began his career organizing concerts for the Montréal Olympic Games (1976) and the Commonwealth Games. In 1978, he founded his own touring company and became an associate at Specdici. He later co-founded Gestion Artistique Mondiale in 1982, one of Canada's most prominent business management and agency firms, with offices in Montréal and Toronto. In 1984, he bought the company and, for the next eight years, produced over 200 concerts worldwide annually, and no fewer than 1,000 shows (ballet, music, theatre) across Canada. In 1987, François Mario Labbé founded Analekta, today the largest classical recording company in Canada and is among the 15 largest classical labels in the world. As a visionary, he has been able to reinvent the company's business model to ensure its sustainability. Through his efforts, Analekta has earned a strong international profile, notably in the era of digital distribution and streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. It is this same innovative spirit that has fuelled the creation of a brand new digital company, Mazaam Interactive Inc., a subsidiary of Analekta Inc. He is also the producer and manager of violinist Angèle Dubeau and her orchestra La Pietà. Together, they have contributed to the growing popularity of classical music through many tours and TV shows. François Mario Labbé won the Grand Prix Classique at MIDEM in Cannes in 2002 and 2004. For many years, he sat on the board of directors of Montréal's museum of modern art, the SODEC's Commission du disque et du spectacle, ADISQ, and the music sector for Canadian Heritage. In 2017, The Canadian Government named him as a Member of the Order of Canada for his outstanding achievements in the distribution of Canadian music, as well as his involvement in promoting Canadian artists outside the country. He has been a Knight of the Ordre National du Québec since 2010 for his contribution to the development and promotion of Canadian artists. READ mySCENA ARTICLE
Classical Post Q&A's with Ofra Harnoy
Posted: December 4, 2019 12:00 AM
WE'VE SAID IT BEFORE, AND WE'LL SAY IT AGAIN-AS CLASSICAL MUSIC ENTHUSIASTS, THERE'S SOMETHING SO SPECIAL TO US ABOUT GETTING TO KNOW OUR FAVORITE CLASSICAL MUSIC ARTISTS. FROM THEIR DAY-TO-DAY ROUTINES TO THEIR MANTRAS FOR PERFORMING TO THEIR MUST-EAT-AT RESTAURANTS, WE LOVE TO KNOW WHAT OUR FAVORITE CLASSICAL MUSIC ARTISTS LOVE TO LOVE. That's why we're proud to offer one of our newest feature sections in Classical Post, Artist Favorites. In this section, we get to really get to know the best-of-the-best classical musicians-we find out what they love, what they can't live without, and what makes them tick! Today, we're taking an inside look at personal favorites from Ofra Harnoy, a celebrated, Canadian cellist who has recorded more than 40 solo albums; has studied with William Pleeth, Vladimir Orloff, and Mstislav Rostropovich; has given concerts on five continents; and has played at the request of Prince Charles, President Bill Clinton, three Canadian Prime Ministers, and several times for the Imperial Japanese Family. Ofra Harnoy's latest project, Back to Bach, is an album that presents a number of tried and true Baroque favorites on the cello. Though in the past, Ofra had worked with accompanying harpsichord, chamber orchestra, or organ, she chose to use brass as accompaniment for some of the works on this album. Additionally, she's created a cello ensemble through overdubbing and multi-tracking techniques-ultimately, using modern technology to explore this centuries-old music in an entirely new light. READ THE Q&A
Roman Rabinovich talks Haydn with NETNebraska
Posted: December 3, 2019 12:00 AM
Pianist Roman Rabinovich who is currently recording all of Haydn's piano sonatas for First Hand Records, is a great champion of Haydn's music, his explorations of the keyboard sonatas have included a 42-sonata cycle at The Bath Festival and partial cycles at Lammermuir Festival, ChamberFest Cleveland and the Israel Conservatory of Music. Rabinovich has earned a reputation for bringing Haydn's often-neglected keyboard works to life, praised by The New York Times for "admirable interpretations, performed with a rich, full-blooded sound, singing lines and witty dexterity" (Vivien Schweitzer, April 2016). This first volume includes two CDs featuring Piano Sonatas Nos. 36, 32, 29, 52 and 47, as well as Divertimento in E-flat. RR sat down with NETNebraska's Robert Goldberg to discuss the recording. Listen to the attached clip.
| Interview with NetNebraska's Robert Goldberg |
CapRadio classical hosts' pick best music of the decade
Posted: December 3, 2019 12:00 AM
Ear To Ear, as CapRadio Classical Hosts' Victor Forman, Kevin Doherty, Jennifer Reason Pick the Best Music Of The Decade. Choosing the best classical music of the decade is a herculean task, but CapRadio Classical hosts Jennifer Reason, Kevin Doherty and Victor Forman have undertaken the challenge for you in this month's Ear to Ear playlist blog. With everything from new operas to significant reimagining of classic favorites, they have selected the music that has impacted them and our listeners in the past decade. Enjoy! Among Jennifer Reason's picks is Julia Wolfe - "Flowers," from "Anthracite Fields" - Performed by the Choir of Trinity Cathedral Wallstreet, the Bang On A Can All-stars, and Julian Wachner Winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize in Music, "Anthracite Fields" deals with the history of coal mining in the U.S. Anthracite is a form of coal, and there are extensive such mining fields around the area of Philadelphia were Wolfe grew up. This piece honors the hard-working people who sacrificed so much to mine the fields and fuel our nation's rapid growth at the turn of the 20th century. The coal mines produced a seemingly countless number of accidents and victims, many of whom were young boys, as this was before child labor laws. This piece is for them. "Flowers," the track I selected, is a brief respite from the dark tale, and is the recounting of the gardens all the coal miners' wives kept at home. In this new decade, may we continue our progress towards greater human rights and respect for our planet. Among Kevin Doherty's picks Max Richter - "Recomposed: Vivaldi's Four Seasons" - Performed by Daniel Hope and the Berlin Chamber Orchestra German-born British composer Max Richter loved Vivaldi's music as a child, but as he got older, he says he grew somewhat tired of the Italian-Baroque composer's most recognizable opus. He told NPR's Audie Cornish in 2012, "For me, the record and the project are trying to reclaim the piece, to fall in love with it again." And reclaim the piece he did. Richter says he discarded about 75 percent of Vivaldi's material, but what he left in is unabashedly Vivaldi. Often, the experimental nature of new music can be alienating to many listeners, but by incorporating some of Vivaldi's catchiest hooks, Richter gives everyone a little something to hang on to. From there Richter veers off into uncharted territory, using both acoustic and electronic tools to create breathtaking and powerful soundscapes. It just sounds a little bit more "poppy" than the original, if I might be so bold. Listeners often enjoy it when I play selections from Richter's version of "The Four Seasons." I get more comments on it than just about any other piece of contemporary music that we spin on air. It never hurts to give an old standby some new life.
Jackson Browne honors the resilience of Haiti in 'Love Is Love' / RollingStone
Posted: December 3, 2019 12:00 AM
Jackson Browne honors the resilience of Haiti in the video for his recent song, "Love Is Love," released last month. The track will appear on the upcoming benefit album, Let the Rhythm Lead: Haiti Song Summit, Vol. 1, out January 31st, 2020 from Artists for Peace and Justice via Arts Music. Along with Browne, Let the Rhythm Lead features contributions from Paul Beaubrun, Habib Koité, Jenny Lewis, Raúl Rodríguez, Jonathan Russell, Jonathan Wilson and members of the Haitian roots band Lakou Mizik. Along with sharing the "Love Is Love" video, Artists for Peace and Justice also shared a short documentary that delves into the making of Let the Rhythm Lead. WATCH THE VIDEO & READ THE FULL RollingStone ARTICLE By JON BLISTEIN
Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Kent Nagano - The John Adams Album is the WFMT: Featured New Release
Posted: December 3, 2019 12:00 AM
The John Adams Album" continues the award-winning series of recordings from the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Kent Nagano on Decca, released in time for Nagano's final, triumphant season with the orchestra. The recording contains the composer's key orchestral works, including Common Tones in Simple Time and Harmonielehre, conducted by one of his greatest champions. For December 2, 2019, The Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Kent Nagano - The John Adams Album is the WFMT: Chiccago 'Featured New Release.'
The POINT LESS podcast with Ola Onabule: What The Heck
Posted: December 3, 2019 12:00 AM
A bold and powerful nation with imperial ambitions must confront the fact that absolute power may not always equate to certain victory. It must come to terms with the possibility that in this world, other forms of strength and resilience exist. Sublime and transcendental forces, unseen by the naked eye, but infinitely more effective at motivating hearts and minds than brutish strength and bombast. Listen to The POINT LESS podcast with Ola Onabule: What The Heck The POINT LESS podcast is a series that boldly expresses views on social injustice. It is an activist's call - at once a celebration of life and a cautionary take on the social forces that threaten it. Violence, immigration, xenophobia, betrayal, and dignity are themes considered and rendered with a powerful and knowing generosity of spirit.So embodies the artistic - and entrepreneurial - philosophy of Onabulé, whose latest album release, Point Less, is a giant leap forward and deeply soulful Rueful yet optimistic, Onabulé's reach is global. His three-and-a-half octave baritone and the powerful emotions he conveys with it connects with audiences around the world. "Hands-on, self-sufficiency has always been my mantra for survival in the music game," says the songwriter. Produced & Narrated by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px}
Paul Merkelo - The Enlightened Trumpet makes the CBC's '20 favourite Canadian classical albums of 2019'
Posted: December 3, 2019 12:00 AM
Now that December is upon us, it's time not only to dust off our recordings of Handel's Messiah and Bach's Christmas Oratorio, but also to reflect on the year that was. In the past, we've rounded up our favourite Canadian classical albums of the year in a top 10 list. But 2019 yielded such a bumper crop - Canada's classical pianists were especially prolific this year - that we required a longer list (and more superlatives) to say what needed to be said. We're not complaining! Here are the 20 Canadian classical albums that stood out this year. It's been a while since we've been this excited about trumpet concertos and Paul Merkelo, principal trumpet of the OSM since 1995, is the reason. As his album's title suggests, he and the Oxford Phil are playing the most famous concertos from the 18th century - those by Haydn, Leopold Mozart, Telemann and, of course, Hummel. "I have studied these famous trumpet concertos since I started playing at age 10," he told CBC Music. "I was inspired by the recordings of Wynton Marsalis, Timofei Dokshizer and Maurice André." We're pleased to report that Merkelo's album takes its rightful place alongside theirs, with his dazzling technique and positively gleaming tone, nicely supported by an attentive conductor. Trumpet aficionados, take note: Merkelo plays the Hummel concerto on a custom-made E major trumpet and opts for Dokshizer's cadenza in the third movement - and it's a thrilling ride. Paul Merkelo, Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, Marios Papadopoulos, The Enlightened Trumpet (Sony Classical) SEE THE TOP 20 PAGE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px}
Top 10 Albums for December
Alexandre Desplat :
Little Women OMPS
Sony Music announces the release of LITTLE WOMEN (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) with music by Academy Award®, Golden Globe® and GRAMMY® Award-winning composer ALEXANDRE DESPLAT. Available for preorder now, the album will be available in digital, CD and vinyl formats beginning Friday, December 13. Recorded in New York City under the leadership of Desplat, who conducted a chamber orchestra to perform his original compositions, the score serves as a sonic companion to the film's coming-of-age narrative. Making its debut alongside album preorder is the title track from Desplat's score – listen to "Little Women" now. Directed by Greta Gerwig, Sony Pictures' Little Women will make its highly-anticipated theatrical debut on Wednesday, December 25.
Bing Crosby :
Bing at Christmas
On the anniversary of the untimely death of the world's first ‘multimedia' star Bing Crosby, October 14th sees his longtime record label, Decca, together with his widow Kathryn and their children, Harry, Mary, and Nathaniel Crosby, announce the release of the brand new album, Bing at Christmas, via Decca/UMe.
Bing's is the voice that is completely synonymous with Christmas. Now, Bing's utterly distinctive original vocals are set to newly-recorded orchestral arrangements, performed by the UK's most prestigious orchestra, The London Symphony Orchestra, on an album that breathes new life into the best Christmas songs in existence.
The new album gives the world the chance to hear these beloved tracks totally transformed, with today's technical advances. Produced by Nick Patrick, who was behind the hugely successful Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and Buddy Holly orchestral albums, Bing at Christmas boasts a unique sound and warmth that sets it apart from past Bing Crosby releases.
Jon Batiste :
Chronology Of A Dream - Live@The Village Vanguard
The inimitable musician and bandleader, Jon Batiste, sets to release Chronology Of A Dream: Live At The Village Vanguard on November 1. Recorded during his six-night residency in the fall of 2018, the live album is a follow up to his recent critically acclaimed release, Anatomy of Angels: Live at the Village Vanguard, and is part two of the two-part series. You can listen to the first single "HIGHER" and pre-order the album here.
Anatomy of Angels and Chronology of a Dream are two sides of the same coin. Batiste explains, "My compositions on Chronology focus on thematic development within short form structures with memorable melodic themes, while Angels focuses on thematic development within longer form structures that are built for deconstruction, never to be played the same way twice."
Ola Onabule :
POINT LESS
Socially conscious singer/songwriter Ola Onabul' has built an enviable career as an international touring performer and has now turned his attention to the North American market with a newly recorded collection of original songs. Onabul''s meticulous attention to detail in his arrangements and production as well as the support from Sennheiser/Neumann have contributed to the manifestation of an impressive recording.''
Point Less, is a follow up to Onabul''s last album, It's The Peace That Deafens, with the new album boldly expressing his views on social injustice, reminiscent of Marvin Gaye's What's Going On. It is an activist's call - at once a celebration of life and a cautionary take on the social forces that threaten it. Violence, immigration, xenophobia, betrayal, and dignity are themes considered on Point Less, rendered with a powerful and knowing generosity of spirit. Onabul' is rueful yet optimistic.
Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra :
I Shouldn't Be Telling You This
JEFF GOLDBLUM WITH BRAND NEW ALBUM
FEATURING - SHARON VAN ETTEN • FIONA APPLE • ANNA CALVI • INARA GEORGE • GINA SAPUTO
In DUETS WITH JEFF GOLDBLUM - OUT NOVEMBER 1 ON DECCA RECORDS
"I'm crying with ecstasy over this new album. Creatively, I'm happy as a clam. This collection of cohorts (cream of the crop), with whom I get to cavort, is outa this cosmos. Ouch, my crackling cranium! I'm crowing!!!" – Jeff Goldblum
After his live set being hailed as one of Glastonbury 2019's most iconic moments this summer, at which he announced from the stage that a brand new record was in the works, Jeff Goldblum is now set to release an album which will make the listener smile even more than his first one. If that is possible. With his long-time band The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, the enticingly-titled album I Shouldn't Be Telling You This will be released globallyNovember 1 on Decca Records and features an impressive array of surprising duet guests.
Ludovico Einaudi :
Seven Days Walking - Day Seven
Following his sold-out, seven-night residency at the Barbican in early August, Decca announces the release of ‘Seven Days Walking: Day Seven', and the climactic seven-volume collection from composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi – his most ambitious album project yet, with seven albums released over as many months. A solo piano album, ‘Day Seven' is released on 20thSeptember, followed by a complete box set on 27th September, marking the final stop on Einaudi's intimate journey through the snow-capped Alps.
Third Coast Percussion :
Fields
Grammy Award-winning ensemble Third Coast Percussion plays music by international R&B and pop music star Devonté Hynes (aka Blood Orange) on their newest album, Fields, marking Hynes's recording debut as a classical composer. Fields, became available on October 11, 2019, via Cedille Records and features world-premiere recordings of works adapted from music Hynes composed for Third Coast Percussion's 2018 collaboration with modern dance ensemble Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.
Orchestrated, arranged, and performed by Third Coast Percussion, the album's compositions include Hynes's multimovement For All Its Fury, which includes the title track "Fields," Perfectly Voiceless, and There Was Nothing "Seeing what Third Coast Percussion has done with the pieces is magical," Hynes says Hynes is also credited as a performer on tracks that incorporate prerecorded synthesizer passages originally intended for Third Coast's reference in orchestrating the scores, all of which Hynes composed in a digital audio workstation (DAW).
Libera :
Christmas Carols with Libera
The boys who make up the choral group Libera are normal South London kids aged 7 to 16 years. The music they produce is truly extraordinary. Their new album ‘Christmas Carols With Libera' is available on 15 November 2019 on CD plus digital formats through Invisible Hands Music.
Libera are one of the leading worldwide exponents of the British choral tradition and this special collection includes 16 popular carols and a bonus song from the ‘The Snowman'; the evergreen ‘Walking in the Air' is recreated Libera-style. From the traditional‘Once In Royal David's City' and the haunting ‘Carol Of The Bells' to the popular ‘In The Bleak Midwinter', this new CD is packed with favourites but also imbued with the unmistakable atmosphere of a Libera concert. There will be a launch show on 3 December 2019 at 1930 at St John Smith Square, London.
Taking on the mellow and the more upbeat songs in this collection, the boys of Libera had great fun. The likes of ‘Ding Dong Merrily On High' require real precision, as well as purity. Many of the tracks were recorded during a group ‘retreat' to a rehearsal space in an old school, this allowed a true live feel to the process. The boy who took the lead vocal on ‘The Snowman' had just turned 9 years old, whilst the introductions to the French ‘Noël Nouvelet' and the Irish ‘Wexford Carol' are both handled by native French and Gaelic speakers, Libera is as polyglot as ever.
Libera are a phenomenon with 65 million hits on You Tube, they have performed for Popes and Presidents and gained 3 Classical Brit nominations. With shimmering, mystical chords and ecstatic harmonies, they are unlike any other group you have ever heard. The distinctive sound of Libera has travelled the world and has endeared the group to fans all over the world, particularly in the USA, the UK, the Philippines, South Korea and Japan, where their CDs top the mainstream and classical charts and where they pack concert halls and Cathedrals appearing in their trademark flowing white robes on imaginatively lit stages.
The Comet Is Coming :
The Afterlife
"Bridging the gap between experimentation and accessibility" (Rolling Stone), The Comet Is Coming announces the digital release of the group's highly-anticipated mini-album The Afterlife, via Impulse! The Afterlife will serve as a companion piece to the group's breakout album Trust In The Lifeforce Of The Deep Mystery and the lead track "Lifeforce Part II."
"The Afterlife has been a topic of deep consideration and of the keys to spiritual mythology around the world for millennia," claims kinetic keyboardist Danalogue. He continues to state "The two records can be seen as companions, that cannot exist without each other, like day and night, light and dark, creation and destruction. They were made together, at the same time, and have always been intended to be experienced together."
Laura Karpman :
WHY WE HATE
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Laura Karpman (Underground, Paris Can Wait, Step, Black Nativity) has scored the Discovery docu-series Why We Hate. The show is directed by Geeta Gandbhir & Sam Pollard and investigates the human capacity for hatred and how we can overcome it. The 6-parter traces the evolutionary basis of hate and uses stories from past and present to reveal the nature of the primal and universal emotion. Steven Spielberg, Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) and Frank Marshall (Jurassic World, The Sixth Sense) are executive producing the Amblin Television & Jigsaw production with Stacey Offman, Richard Perello (Super Troopers), Darryl Frank & Justin Falvey (The Americans, The Haunting of Hill House), Yael Melamede, Erica Sashin and Steve Tisch (Forrest Gump, The Equalizer). Karpman has previously scored the Spielberg-produced 2002 mini-series Taken. Why We Hate will premiere later this year on Discovery.