Today's new releases include Messiaen's Turangalîla-Symphonie from Yuja Wang and Cécile Lartigau with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons, Chloe Chua's complete set of Mozart violin concertos with the Singapore Symphony, Céline Frisch's spacious account of Bach's Partitas for solo harpsichord, and lovingly-restored archive recordings of Poulenc playing his own works, as well as those of Satie, from the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie
Yuja Wang (piano), Cécile Lartigau (ondes martenot), Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons
Recorded to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the premiere, this performance of Messiaen's monumental 'hymn to joy' drew widespread acclaim when released late last year as a digital-only album; The Guardian particularly praised Yuja Wang's 'delicate filigree', 'virtuoso punctuation' and 'definitely explosive cadenza'.
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Mozart: Violin Concertos
Chloe Chua (violin), Ziyu He (viola), Singapore Symphony, Hans Graf
Singaporean violin prodigy Chloe Chua (who shot to fame as a child and in her early teens, scooping a recording contract with Pentatone in 2023) presents all five of Mozart's violin concertos, alongside two Rondos with orchestra, and is joined by violist Ziyu He for the Sinfonia Concertante K364. Her previous recordings - of Vivaldi and Locatelli, and of Chen Gang and Paganini, drew critical acclaim from BBC Music Magazine for Chua's 'expressive, storytelling violin' and 'supreme confidence'.
Available formats: 3 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Bach: Partitas
Céline Frisch (harpsichord)
The combination of a rich-toned instrument with a relatively gentle attack and a generous acoustic gives Céline Frische's account of the six Partitas of JS Bach a uniquely spacious atmosphere. With so many recordings that seem to come from over-furnished drawing rooms, this one has a distinct gravitas evoking an expansive hallway of polished wood. There's somehow even a hint of the harpsichord's future descendant the piano in these performances - the acoustic, added to some oil-slick-smooth legato moments, almost offering a sneak preview of the possibilities of the sustain pedal.
Available formats: 2 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 16 bit)
A Dark Flaring
Signum Quartett
Juxtaposing Xhosa heritage and influences (particularly in Koapeng's Komeng, Louis van Dijk's Iinjembezi and Fokkens's Glimpses of a half-forgotten future), shades of rock and metal (with Matthijs van Dijk casting the cello in a similar role to the electric guitar) and touches of French impressionism in Rainier's String Quartet, this is a dazzlingly varied album showcasing South Africa's likewise kaleidoscopic musical scene.
(Please note: the digital version of this recording is released next Friday, 25th July.)
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Next Generation Mozart Soloists, Volume 12
Evren Ozel (piano), Jan Mráček (violin), Orf Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, Howard Griffiths
Following his bronze medal at this summer's Cliburn Competition, Evren Ozel makes his recorded debut under the auspices of Outhere's Next Generation Mozart Soloists scheme; the ever-popular Jeunehomme concertos is complemented by K414 in A major (for Evren, a more carefree and gentler work) and by Jan Mráček's unfussy performance of the Violin Concerto No. 2 (K211).
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Concertos From the Caucasus, Vol. 1
Karen Bentley Pollick (violin), Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, John McLaughlin Williams
Three works from the very middle of the twentieth century that were highly popular in their time, but have since fallen by the wayside. Combining necessary deference to Soviet musical orthodoxy with elements of Azeri and Georgian local musical traditions, they are each instantly accessible and melodious. So melodious, indeed, that in 1949 Machavariani reportedly literally sang the violin part of his concerto at a read-through! Perhaps it's for the best that the audio of that event was not recorded for posterity; instead, Karen Pentley Pollick brings his violin concerto, along with those of Gadjiev and Rzayev, back into the repertoire where they belong.
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 16 bit)
North Waves: Gdańsk Contemporary Music
Krzysztof Komendarek-Tymendorf (viola) et al
An album consisting entirely of world premieres, and with a title alluding to Gdańsk's historical role as a cultural melting-pot along the Hanseatic trade routes. Violist Krzysztof Komendarek-Tymendorf is the lynchpin, joined by a variety of musical collaborators in this calling-card for the Gdańsk Academy of Music's role as a powerhouse of creativity on the Baltic coast.
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 48 kHz, 24 bit)
Johann Sebastian Bach: Ach, was ist doch unser Leben?
Pietro Paganini (organ)
Taught and mentored by Ton Koopman, a giant of the early music revival movement and of the harpsichord and organ, Pietro Paganini presents his recorded debut with this unusual smörgåsbord of Bach's organ works. Chorale preludes, trio sonatas, toccatas and fugues (as well as some more doubtfully-attributed pieces) combine with Paganini's choice to perform on a historical instrument from the 1730s to offer a window onto Bach's relationship with the 'king of instruments'.
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 16 bit)
Peter Scott Lewis: Pacific Triptych
Blair McMillen (piano)
The title work on this album of Lewis's piano compositions draws its inspiration from the scenery of the Pacific Coast of North America; Seven Nuggets is a set of miniature sketches of seven uncut gemstones, while the first book of the American Travelogue diptych is a response to scenery and locations across the west, southwest and southeast of the USA. All are performed with vigour by Blair McMillen, praised as 'prodigiously accomplished and exciting' by the New York Times.
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Poulenc plays Poulenc and Satie
Francis Poulenc (piano), Jacques Février (piano), Orchestre National de la RTF, Orchestre des Concerts Straram, Georges Prêtre, Walther Straram
These archive recordings, dating from between 1930 and 1950 provide a unique record of not only Poulenc's music as it would have been heard in his own time, but also the composer's master of the piano itself. Also featured are performances of Satie piano works - the repertoire that helped shape Poulenc's own musical style as he absorbed Satie's clean-cut, un-Romantic music. Poulenc's tempo in the ubiquitous Gymnopédie No. 1 is faster than is often heard today - a refreshingly lilting performance. Lani Spahr's work in remastering these recordings is, as ever, incredible.
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 16 bit)
Donizetti: Zoraida di Granata (Blu-ray)
Konu Kim (Almuzir), Zuzana Marková (Zoraida), Cecilia Molinari (Abenamet), Tuty Hernàndez (Almanzor), Lilla Takács (Ines), Valerio Morelli (Ali); Orchestra Gli Originali, Coro dell’Accademia Teatro Alla Scala, Salvo Sgrò, Bruno Ravella, Alberto Zanardi
Set in the closing years of Muslim Spain, as the Emirate of Granada was inexorably squeezed by the growing power of Castile to the north, this 'melodramma eroica' sees a new and inexperienced king competing with his victorious general for the love of the same woman. The 1822 version performed here is rarely heard - an audio-only recording from 1998 on Opera Rara appears to be the only other recording available.
Available format: Blu-ray
