Album Review Erik Bosgraaf: Dialogues

A world premiere recording of a piece by Boulez is reason enough to invest in this disc, but the ‘comprovisations’ which complete the recording cannot help but intrigue. Recorder player Erik Bosgraaf pairs up with ‘laptop artist’ Jorrit Tamminga for a series of seven Dialogues, in which the sound of the recorder is captured and transformed by electronics. However, one can imagine these works being much more successful in a live context: the Dialogues are of variable musical interest, meaning that some stand up to repeated listens much better than others. The situation is not helped by the intricacy of the Boulez.

Read the full review at Sinfini Music.

CD review: Nicholas Daniel and the Britten Sinfonia

Nicholas Daniel shot to fame upon winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition with Vaughan Williams’ oboe concerto, and here he returns to the work on a disc of luscious English pastoralism. Suffusing its lyricism with wistful longing, Daniels gives a performance both reflective and robust. He handles the juxtaposition of lyrical and scherzo-like material with élan, integrating both into a sweeping arch to poignant effect.

Read the full review at Sinfini Music.

CD review: CPE Bach Orchestral Music

Touted as a forgotten pioneer, CPE Bach shines in the spotlight of this new release from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Recorded live at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in 2014 under the baton of Rebecca Miller, this recording brings together five symphonies which show Bach at his finest; bursting with daring gestures and unexpected changes of direction, the music drips with drama.

Read the full review at Sinfini.

CD Review: Dutilleux from Ludovic Morlot and the Seattle Symphony

Bringing together pieces which span almost half a century of Henri Dutilleux’s output, this CD is a labour of love. Conductor Ludovic Morlot knew the composer personally, and his passion for Dutilleux’s music shines through in vivid and sensitive performances. Although there may be 46 years between the first and last pieces on the disc, all three works demonstrate the composer’s keen ear for orchestral sonority: textures are rich and luxurious while possessing a crystalline transparency.

Read my review in full at Sinfini Music.