tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56073522026-04-17T17:19:56.599-05:00IonartsSomething other than politics in Washington, D.C.Charles T. Downeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978821617871429169noreply@blogger.comBlogger8823125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-54449225623956617932026-04-17T06:09:00.003-05:002026-04-17T06:09:36.981-05:00Critic’s Notebook: Barokksolistene and their Alehouse Sessions at the Konzerthaus
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Bjarte Eike,
Barokksolistene
The Alehouse Sessions
(Rubicon, 2017)
US | UK | DE
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Bjarte Eike,
Barokksolistene
The Image of Melancholie
(BIS SACD, 2014)
US | UK | DE
Jolly Musicke Till You Drop
Hip vibes at the Norwegian baroque hoedown
For the most part, the crowds pouring into the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-36543543635469832292026-04-05T10:16:00.000-05:002026-04-05T10:16:01.692-05:00A (Very!) Fine Messiah From Václav Luks and Collegium 1704
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G.F.Handel
Messiah
Luks/Collegium 1704
Semenzato, Schachtner, Adam, Stražanac
Accent, 2019>
US |
UK |
DE
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G.F.Handel
Messiah
McCreesh/Gabrieli Consort
Röschmann, Gritton, Fink, Daniels, Davies
Archiv, 1997
US |
UK |
DE
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-8871080583048826882026-03-25T19:51:01.147-05:002026-04-14T16:36:11.756-05:00 A Survey of Prokofiev Symphony Cycles
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► An Index of ionarts Discographies
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Continuing my discographies, this is a survey of — hopefully — every extant recorded cycle of the Sergei Prokofiev symphonies. They are listed in chronological order of completion. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-36938242876652953892026-03-21T13:53:00.001-05:002026-03-21T13:53:15.467-05:00RSC's "Hamnet" is the thing at Shakespeare Theatre Company
Kemi-Bo Jacobs (Agnes Hathaway) and Rory Alexander (William Shakespeare) in Hamnet, Royal Shakespeare Company, at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo: Kyle Flubacker
For the first time in Shakespeare Theatre Company's history, the company is hosting a production and cast from Royal Shakespeare Company. The British troupe's intriguing staging of Hamnet, Lolita Chakrabarti's adaptation of the Charles T. Downeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978821617871429169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-63750586354884066612026-03-12T21:30:00.001-05:002026-03-12T21:30:00.109-05:00Critic’s Notebook: Force Majeure! Marianne Crebassa at the Musikverein
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M. Crebassa / F. Say,
"Secrets",
French Songs
(Erato, 2017)
US | UK | DE
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M. Crebassa / Glassberg,
Orch. Ntl. du Capit. de Toulouse
"Seguedilles",
Spanish Songs
(Erato, 2022)
US | UK | DE
Force Majeure! A MET-voice in a MINI-space.
The French mezzo-soprano bewitched and trumpetedUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-21782456439877821092026-03-12T04:35:00.002-05:002026-03-12T04:35:36.428-05:00Critic’s Notebook: Marin Alsop, the RSO and Bruce Liu in "Program vs. Performance"
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F. Chopin,
"Winner of the 2021 Chopin Competition",
Bruce Liu
(DG, 2022)
US | UK | DE
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S. Prokofiev,
The Symphonies
Marin Alsop, OSESP
(Naxos, 6CDs, 2021)
US | UK | DE
Insipid Program, Inspired Orchestra
Under Marin Alsop's baton the proof of the music is in the listening.
On paper,Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-68272800804146198082026-03-12T03:50:00.003-05:002026-03-12T04:29:43.924-05:00Critic’s Notebook: When Alban Berg is the Sweetener: Great Programming with Metzmacher
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K. Weill,
Der neue Orpheus et al.
Carole Farley, M.Guttman, J.Serebrier
(ASV, 1997)
US | UK | DE
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A. Berg,
Lulu Suite, 3 Pieces
D.Gatti, Concertgebouw
(RCO Live, SACD, 2008)
US | UK | DE
A Successful 20th-Century Miscellany
Ingo Metzmacher and the RSO Vienna deliver a colorful evening Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-20024490450112685282026-02-23T08:43:00.004-05:002026-02-23T11:31:52.616-05:00Critic’s Notebook: The Quinteto Astor Piazzolla in Vienna
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A. Piazzolla,
"The Late Masterpieces",
Quinteto Tango Nuevo
(American Clavé, 3CDs, 1993)
US | UK | DE
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A. Piazzolla,
"Mi Buenos Aires Querido",
Barenboim, Mederors, Console
(Warner, 1996)
US | UK | DE
Piazzolla by the Book
Music to fall in love with – but also a distinct lack of flairUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-11771720419740163322026-02-17T06:17:00.007-05:002026-02-23T11:23:49.131-05:00Critic’s Notebook: Evgeny Titov’s New Wozzeck in Graz
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A. Berg,
Wozzeck,
Dohnanyi, WPh
Silja, Waechter et al.
(Decca, 1981)
US | UK | DE
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H. Berlioz,
Les Troyens,
Böhm, Deutsche Oper Berlin
Lear, Fischer-Dieskau et al.
(DG, 1965)
US | UK | DE
The Naked Truth About Graz’s Wozzeck
Every aspect of the new Wozzeck in Graz is better Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-62598490799923272042026-02-04T14:51:00.001-05:002026-02-04T14:51:17.111-05:00How To Build A Top Quality Classical Music Library For $100 (Part 1)
Introduction
The Why, How, and What
This is a reposting (edited and expanded) of an article that George A. Pieler and I wrote for Forbes.com, back in March of 2013 and picks off from these musings: How To Build A Top Quality Classical Music Library For $100 (Prelude), where you can read all about the idea behind the idea. I am re-posting and editing the articles to makes sure they don’tUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-12255428789988482332026-02-02T10:58:00.002-05:002026-02-02T10:59:28.016-05:00Critic’s Notebook: Pannon Philharmonic from Pécs at Vienna’s Musikverein
Also reviewed for Die Presse: Von wegen Touristenfallenkonzert! Eine überraschende Stichprobe im Wiener Musikverein
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C. Debussy
Images, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, Printemps
P.Boulez, Cleveland
(DG, 1992)
US | UK | DE
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W.A. Mozart
Concerto for Flute & Harp
F.P, Orch.18thCt, Hünteler, Storck
(Philips, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-75048039126771050712026-01-29T17:34:00.001-05:002026-01-29T17:34:33.486-05:00Dip Your Ears: No. 285 (A World Premiere Recording of Nadia Boulanger’ Opera)
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Nadia Boulanger
La ville morte
Neal Goren, Talea Ensemble
Melissa Harvey, Laurie Rubin, Joshua Dennis, Jorell Williams
(Pentatone 5187792, 2 CDs)
US | UK | DE
Nadia Boulanger as a Composer
A delightful surprise for lovers of French Impressionism
There is an endless amount of unfamiliar repertoire to be discovered in classical music. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-44482775461762654512026-01-24T10:04:00.000-05:002026-01-24T10:04:10.743-05:00Critic’s Notebook: Martynas Levickis and the Accordion Take Center Stage at the Schubert-Saal
Also reviewed for Die Presse: Akkordeon zu Mittag: Kleiner Seelenjubel für zwischendurch
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Martynas Levickis
Autograph
Bach, Glass, Angelis, Levickis
(Accentus, 2023)
US | UK | DE
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Astor Piazzolla
Aconcagua, Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas
Martynas Levickis
(Accentus, 2021)
US | UK | DE
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-75249079487650176352026-01-23T08:48:00.002-05:002026-01-24T09:49:28.837-05:00Critic’s Notebook: Klaus Mäkelä, Lisa Batiashvili, and the Oslo Philharmonic in Vienna
Also reviewed for Die Presse: Denkwürdiger Brutalismus im Konzerthaus
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P. Tchaikovsky + Sibelius
Violin Concerto(s)
Lisa Batiashvili
D.Barenboim, StaKap Berlin
(DG, 2016)
US | UK | DE
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D. Shostakovich
Symphony No.8
M.Jansons, Pittsburg SO
(EMI/Warner, 2001)
US | UK | DE
Memorable Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-40947716740926297132026-01-22T09:04:00.014-05:002026-01-22T11:17:01.082-05:00The Last Missing Piece of the Kna’ Grail: Knappertsbusch’s 1955 Parsifal from Bayreuth
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Richard Wagner
Parsifal,
Hans Knappertsbusch
Bayreuth Festival, 1955
(Profil Hänssler, 2023)
US | UK | DE
Dip Your Ears: No. 284 (Knappertsbusch’s 1955 Bayreuth Parsifal)
Kna’s long-lost Parsifal, the last one to await full issue, is now available. Was it worth the wait?
Parsifal-Aficionados had to wait a long, long time for this: Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-1166977469259171872026-01-18T07:57:00.001-05:002026-01-18T07:57:34.305-05:00Critic’s Notebook: Early Music Days Resonanzen Open with Jordi Savall and Les Musiciennes du Concert des Nations
Also reviewed for Die Presse: Jordi Savall im Konzerthaus: Zeitreise in die Ära des Langeweile-Vivaldis
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A. Vivaldi
Le quattro stagioni
R.Alessandrini, concerto italiano
(naïve, 2002/2006)
US | UK | DE
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A. Vivaldi
Le quattro stagioni
Alfia Bakieva
J.Savall, Les Musiciennes...
(Alia Vox, 2024)
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-55441503977237564232026-01-17T06:53:00.006-05:002026-01-18T08:00:32.467-05:00Critic’s Notebook: From the Canyons to the Stars... Messiaen, Metzmacher & Klangforum at the Konzerthaus
Also reviewed for Die Presse: Klangforum im Konzerthaus: Ornithologisches und Astrologisches Staunen und Schwärmen
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O. Messiaen
Des canyons aux étoiles
T.Fischer, Hardink, Utah Symphony
(hyperion, 2023)
US | UK | DE
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O. Messiaen
Des canyons aux étoiles
M.W.Chung, Muraro, ORTF
(DG, 2002)
US | Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-74885773700827113372026-01-16T06:13:00.001-05:002026-01-16T06:13:42.701-05:00Critic’s Notebook: Eötvös meets Krasznahorkai — Valuska at the Budapest Opera
Also reviewed for Die Presse: Oper „Valuska“ in Budapest: Lautmalerei der leisen Töne
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P. Eötvös
Three Sisters
Nagano, O.d.Lyon
(DG, 1999)
US | UK | DE
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P. Eötvös
Love and Other Demons
V.Jurowski, LPO
(Glyndeborne, 2013)
US | UK | DE
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P. Eötvös
Atlantis
Eötvös, WDRSO
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-15563952604064039902026-01-14T05:15:00.003-05:002026-02-04T14:54:53.652-05:00How To Build A Top Quality Classical Music Library For $100 (Prelude)
This is a reposting of an article that George A. Pieler and I wrote for Forbes.com, back in 2013. Who knows, how much longer these articles will be available on Forbes (for now, they still appear here, here, and here, although the formatting is already off), in uncorrupted form, so I wish to give them a slightly longer potential lease on life here. (Part 1, Part 2) Not the least as a humble Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-5361837970243635232026-01-11T10:30:00.001-05:002026-01-11T10:30:00.120-05:00 #ClassicalDiscoveries: The Podcast. Episode 021 - Who is Afraid of Franz Schre(c)ker?
Welcome to #ClassicalDiscoveries. Here is a little introduction to who we are and what we would like to achive at the first (or, in a nod to Bruckner, "double-zeroëth" episode). Your comments, criticism, and suggestions remain most welcome, of whatever nature they may be. Comments on YouTube directly are even more appreciated, as they will help the visibility and reach of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-83157195253161458862026-01-10T05:02:00.001-05:002026-01-10T05:02:00.111-05:00 #ClassicalDiscoveries: The Podcast. Episode 020 - Johann Strauss II and his Contemporaries
Welcome to #ClassicalDiscoveries. Here is a little introduction to who we are and what we would like to achive at the first (or, in a nod to Bruckner, "double-zeroëth" episode). Your comments, criticism, and suggestions remain most welcome, of whatever nature they may be. Comments on YouTube directly are even more appreciated, as they will help the visibility and reach of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-711543255694704702026-01-05T13:24:00.005-05:002026-01-14T05:01:32.344-05:00Dip Your Ears: No. 283 (Martin Fröst’s maudlin’ mushy B.A.C.H.)
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Martin Fröst
B.A.C.H.
(Sony, 2024)
US | UK | DE
Martin Fröst and his album of Bach Transcriptions. You have been warned!
Martin Fröst is truly a generational musician who has pushed his instrument places it had not hitherto gone, a paragon of quality in established repertoire and bold, glad explorer of all things new. Occasionally, as with Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-68870315423407229832026-01-04T04:54:00.002-05:002026-01-04T05:13:07.951-05:00 #ClassicalDiscoveries: The Podcast. Episode 019 - Alexander Zemlinsky, the Opera Composer
Welcome to #ClassicalDiscoveries. Here is a little introduction to who we are and what we would like to achive at the first (or, in a nod to Bruckner, "double-zeroëth" episode). Your comments, criticism, and suggestions remain most welcome, of whatever nature they may be. Comments on YouTube directly are even more appreciated, as they will help the visibility and reach of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-87514294936528868382026-01-02T13:54:00.000-05:002026-01-02T13:54:02.666-05:00Critic’s Notebook: Beethoven Tradition with the Vienna Symphony and the Singakademie
Also published in Die Presse: Flüssig und nie überhitzt: Beethovens Neunte im Konzerthaus
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L.v.Beethoven
Symphony No.9
Fricsay, BPh (1957)
(DG, 2001)
US | UK | DE
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L.v.Beethoven
Symphony No.9
Abbado, BPh (1996 live)
(Sony, 1996)
US | UK | DE
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L.v.Beethoven
Symphony NoUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607352.post-37882195092709246092025-12-17T17:42:00.002-05:002025-12-18T09:05:51.587-05:00Critic’s Notebook: An Orgy of Musicality with Ollikainen, Larcher, Strauss, Widmann
Also published in Die Presse: Unbekanntes von Großen – und Großes von einem lebenden Komponisten
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T.Larcher
Kenotaph
H.Lintu, Finnish RSO
(Ondine, 2021)
US | UK | DE
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R.Strauss
Violin Concerto / Aus Italien
M.Poschner, R.Kowalski, O.d.Svizzera Italiana
(CPO, 2017)
US | UK | DE
New Wine Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0