The Whole Music Experience

Elizabeth Watts The English Concert w/Harry Bicket J.S. Bach Cantatas and Arias Harmonia Mundi I find no shortage of riveting sopranos in the classical realm. And among them, Soprano Elizabeth Watts who debuts on Harmonia Mundi with a collection of J.S. Bach’s cantatas and arias brings extraordinary sensitivity to this religious text while also dazzling us with her vocal finesse. She closes the recording with a showstopper, Cantata 51 which runs from track 13 to 17 and if the introduction to that cantata doesn’t blow the minds of its listeners, nothing will. Bach is known for the challenging aspects of his compositions—only first rate performers need apply. However, Bach’s repertoire isn’t just daunting for musicians, but also for the average music listener. Joining with The English Concert, Watts delivers the mostly somber works ranging from the opening Aria from Cantata 31 , to Cantata 199 (other arias included) and ending with Cantata 51 , as mentioned earlier. Mar...

San Francisco Symphony Michael Tilson Thomas Emanuel Ax (piano) Beethoven Symphony No. 5 and Piano Concerto No. 4 SFS Media/Harmonia Mundi If I had the chance to interview the late Joseph Campbell, I would have asked him about Beethoven’s 5th Symphony . After all, fate knocking at the door followed by a quest into darkness with the eventual emergence into triumph is what Campbell would have labeled, “a hero’s journey.” For Beethoven fate came knocking at the door alright. During the four years it took to write this short and powerful symphony, his hearing deteriorated, he suffered from a finger infection that could have destroyed his career (antibiotics weren’t discovered yet, infections could turn into gangrene…), the woman he loved married another man, and Napoleon occupied Vienna. And yet, the first movement that swayed under the weight of its anger and frustration, also supplies listeners with a few angelic interludes. But the strings burst in anger, the horns rant, a...

Gabriel Ayala & Will Clipman Passion, Fire & Grace Canyon Records I spent the weekend fighting off a lung infection. Fortunately, Yaqui classical/flamenco guitarist Gabriel Ayala and master percussionist Will Clipman’s recording Passion, Fire & Grace arrived in my mailbox. I listened to the recording several times over the weekend, even hitting the replay button. And at times I had wished for a long-play or a double CD because I found the music here enticing, healing, and comforting. There’s nothing worse than dealing with a sickness when you’re alone, and music can often bring comfort as this recording did. The recording supplies its listeners with plenty of flamenco guitar including renditions of work by nuevo flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucìa ( Entre Los Aguas ) and a younger flamenco guitarist Vicente Amigo. Most of the work here was composed by Ayala from the catchy opener Sonoran Nights to the nuevo flamenco piece Allegro that closes the CD. Native ...