BBC Music Magazine Choices,
BBC Music Magazine - Christmas 2021 Choices
La Nuova Musica's Handel's Unsung Heroes (released on Pentatone at the end of October) occupies pride of place in the Christmas issue - featuring singers Lucy Crowe, Christine Rice and Iestyn Davies and instrumentalists Joe Walters (horn), Thomas Gould (violin), Leo Duarte (oboe) and Joe Qiu (bassoon), the programme focuses on opera arias with obbligato instruments and includes excerpts from Alcina, Ariodante, Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, Rinaldo, and Giulio Cesare. (Listen out for a short but sweet cameo appearance from Hugh Cutting, who recently became the first-ever countertenor to win the Kathleen Ferrier Award, in the latter!).
In case you missed it last week, David's interview about the project with La Nuova Musica's founder and Artist Director David Bates is available here.
Recording of the Month
Handel's Unsung Heroes
Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Paul Sharp (trumpet), Christine Rice (mezzo), Roger Montgomery (horn), Joe Walters (horn), Lucy Crowe (soprano), Leo Duarte (oboe), Thomas Gould (violin), Joe Qiu (bassoon), La Nuova Musica, David Bates
'This is a stunning collection of Handel opera numbers. For originality, risk-taking and erudition, it towers above its predecessors. It also benefits from its mix of soloists – having chosen the music for its expressive licence, David Bates brings together world-class vocal and instrumental virtuosos to perform it.This project is a heroic achievement for all involved.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Orchestral Choice
Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra, Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Susanna Mälkki
'Mälkki and her Helsinki Philharmonic offer performances that are at once satisfying, dazzling and individual. There’s a poise, indeed an elegance, to the basic good posture of these interpretations, held on a taut rein, with shifts of energy splendidly controlled and could have brought the exiled Hungarian composer a new lease of life in the US.'
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Concerto Choice
'Wallfisch, as invariably, reaches the heart of the music without contrivance, pretension or gimmickry...These are performances to treasure by a responsive band of musicians directed by a violinist whose expressive warmth and intuitive gestures afford immense pleasure.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Opera Choice
Rameau: Achante et Céphise
Sabine Devieilhe, Cyrille Dubois, David Witczak, Judith Van Wanroij; Les Chantres du Centre de musique baroque de Versailles, Les Ambassadeurs La Grande Écurie, Alexis Kossenko
'Sabine Devieilhe and Cyrille Dubois enliven the title roles with fervent exchanges and evenly balanced dialogue; and David Witczak is splendidly menacing as the evil genie, Oroès. In short, this is an invigorating and joyous revival of a musically rich opera.'
Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Choral & Song Choice
'The surprises come thick and fast...Her bright soprano can be a bit squeezed in the more conventional love-lyrics, but revels in the unorthodox, and Glynn ranges the colour-palette too. The presentation is both picture- and text-perfect; classy work all round.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Chamber Choice
Oceano: Chamber Music by Sebastian Fagerlund
Minna Pensola (violin), Atte Kilpeläinen (viola), Tomas Djupsjöbacka (cello), Christoffer Sundqvist (clarinet), Paavali Jumppanen (piano), Hervé Joulain (horn), Meta4
'The Finn’s natural outlet for his tautly robust, driving energy has been in opera and orchestral works. Yet his chamber music is no less compelling...By turns ferociously rhythmic, playful and softly luminous, every piece here shares a coherent dramatic arc.'
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Instrumental Choice
'We don’t normally associate Daniil Trifonov with Bach, so this recording is a revelation...Many pianists radiate effort in their attempts to make intellectual sense of The Art of Fugue: Trifonov’s approach seems effortless, at once incisive and tender, purveying pure pleasure from start to finish.'
Available Format: 2 CDs
Christmas Choice
'This newly recorded Christmas disc acts as a sharp reminder of the choir’s abiding excellence...Mike Hatch’s pitch-perfect engineering frames a disc which shies away from the commercial clamour of Christmas, to a more contemplative, spiritual experience.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Jazz Choice
'Golden-era jazz runs right through pianist Bill Charlap and it pours from his fingertips…It’s not all standards and the trio’s take on Kenny Burrell’s dapper ‘Your Host’ is a polished gem. Altogether, this album is an uplifting listen, a perfect antidote to an anxious, complicated world.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Chris O'Reilly - Chief Executive
