BBC Music Magazine Choices,
BBC Music Magazine - Christmas 2022 Choices
Pride of place in the latest issue is occupied by what Berta Joncus describes as a 'truly definitive' recording of Handel's Theodora, released on Erato at the end of October - Joncus praises the 'dramatically riveting performances' of Lisette Oropesa in the title-role and Joyce DiDonato as her confidant Irene, as well as the 'fiery and technically flawless' singing of John Chest and Michael Spyres as the tyrannical Roman governor Valens and his conflicted henchman Septimius.
The festive laurels this year go to a 'simply irresistible' programme of Christmas music by women composers (including Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Cecilia McDowall, Kerensa Briggs and Errollyn Wallen) from Somerville College Choir, Oxford, and their music director Will Dawes on Resonus Classics: read David's interview with Will about the project here.
Recording of the Month
Handel: Theodora
Lisette Oropesa (Theodora), Joyce DiDonato (Irene), Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian (Didymus), Michael Spyres (Septimius), John Chest (Valens); Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev
'This is now the benchmark Theodora; it is optimally cast, dramatically intense and luminously beautiful. Its world-class principals use their fine vocal qualities to deepen their characters. With a precocious band and commanding chorus under Maxim Emelyanychev, the result is spellbinding.'
Available Formats: 3 CDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Christmas Choice
'Somerville College, Oxford was founded in 1879 as one of the first two women’s colleges at the University. So it’s fitting that the College Choir’s Christmas recording The Dawn of Grace should be entirely devoted to women composers...Innovatively programmed, and sung with an uplifting freshness and alacrity, this is simply irresistible.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Orchestral Choice
'There’s plenty of meat in Poulenc’s Sinfonietta, not least in the abundance of memorable tunes...The late Bramwell Tovey is alert to their quality, and especially, as often with Poulenc, to their arch shaping so that one needs to tread lightly on their final notes...Above all, Tovey engenders a sense of energy and fun.'
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Concerto Choice
Beethoven & Stravinsky: Violin Concertos
Vilde Frang (violin), Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Pekka Kuusisto
'Frang’s exquisite tonal subtlety and enhanced range of dynamics allows her to weave in and out of Beethoven’s carefully graded orchestral textures, with a profound sense of listening and responding to everything that is going on around her...If anything, the Stravinsky is finer still.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC, Hi-Res+ FLAC
Opera Choice
Mozart: La clemenza di Tito
Nicky Spence (Tito), Simona Šaturová (Vitellia), Anna Stéphany (Sesto), Chiara Skerath (Servilia), Antoinette Dennefeld (Annio), David Steffens (Publio); Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie, Ben Glassberg
'The title-role is difficult to cast, but Nicky Spence has the range, the fluency and the technique to bring off all the vocal challenges while equally entering fully into the character’s plight...With his ideal choice of tempos and keen sense of balance, [Glassberg's] interpretation reveals all the virtues of Mozart’s score.'
Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Choral & Song Choice
'Degout is convincing throughout, his expressive range spanning both ferocity and vulnerability...The real stars, though, are the period orchestra Pygmalion. The instrumental colours glow and sparkle, and Raphaël Pichon controls blend and contrast with equal care and imagination.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Chamber Choice
A Golden Cello Decade, 1878-1888
Steven Isserlis (cello), Connie Shih (piano), Olivia Jageurs (harp)
'No cellist alive can match the eloquent intent of Steven Isserlis’s line. Every phrase he threads through the warm embrace of Connie Shih’s pianism is articulated and ‘breathed’ with the ardour of a great vocalist, while his mercurial energy sets alight the Allegro vivace [of the Le Beau].'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC, Hi-Res+ FLAC
Instrumental Choice
'If this first volume is anything to go by, the journey will be a joy...Hewitt makes them sound effortless. Her articulation is clean, the pedalling lightly judicious, her fingers nimble and strong, the ornamentation always tasteful, while the clarity of her approach brings out the individual character of each sonata, each movement.'
Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Jazz Choice
'Matched in intensity by trumpeter Stu Hamer’s crackling horn lines, Harriott’s playing is incendiary, ‘as though he’s about to blow his alto apart’ bassist Coleridge Goode later commented. It’s not the first time Swings High has been reissued, but ingenious remastering by Cadillac using the original Melodisc vinyl captures all the action with gin-clear clarity.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Chris O'Reilly - Chief Executive
