Jacqueline du Pré, cello
Elegie in C minor, Op. 24
From Les introuvables de Jacqueline du Pré, CD 4 /6 (2002)
Released by EMI Classics
Fauré: Elégie
A beautiful piece, originally written as a sonata for Cello and Piano in 1883, is performed here by one of the greatest cellist, Jacqueline du Pré.
You can also listen to the orchestrated version Fauré wrote in 1890 at the request of the conductor Edourad Colonne, performed here by Yo Yo Ma.
Feuillet d’album for wind octet, Op.81
William Bennett, flute
Nicholas Daniel, oboe
James Campbell, David Campbell, clarinet
Rachel Gough, Robin Kennard, bassoon
Richard Watkins, Robert Maskell, horn
From French Chamber Music for Woodwinds, Volume One: Debussy and Saint-Saëns – Disc 2 (2008)
Released by Cala Records
Saint-Saëns: Feuillet d’Album for wind octet
Written in 1887 for piano duet, Feuillet d’Album was rearranged by Paul Taffanel, friend of Saint-Saëns and leading flautist, for flute, oboe, two clarinets, two bassoons and two horns.
An intriguing, complex and beautiful arrangement.
L’ Invitation Au Chateau: IX. Act III, Tango
James Campbell, clarinet
Peter Carter, violin
John York, piano
Jacky Guter, vocal
Joanna Elias, vocal
From Maurice Ravel / Francis Poulenc: Chamber Music for Woodwinds (2006)
Released by Cala
Poulenc: L’invitation au château
Francis Poulenc was commissioned to write incidental music for plays and films, and among those, L’invitation au château for the play of the same name by the famous French playwright Jean Anouih.
This is a beautiful, sensual piece, Tango with a French twist.
Ivo Pogorelich, piano
Sonata in E major, K.20, Presto
From Scarlatti: Sonaten (1993)
Released by Deutsche Grammophon
Scarlatti: Sonaten
Son of Alessandro, Domenico wrote 555 sonatas, and after Horowitz made several recordings of them, there was a surge of popularity for Scarlatti, whose work was unfortunately rarely performed in public.
Pogorelich’s interpretation of the sonatas is spectacular, in a very intellectual way, it is articulate, precise, skillful and technically accomplished.
Anne Gastinel, cello
Sonata for arpeggione and piano in A minor (“Arpeggione Sonata”), D. 821
Claire Désert, piano
From Schubert: Arpeggione (2005)
Released by Valois
Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata
This is a wonderful interpretation of the famous Arpeggione by the French cellist Anne Gastinel: extremely expressive, intimate and enchanting.
Isaac Stern, violin
Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 22/II. Romance. Andante non troppo
Philadelphia Orchestra
From Wieniawski/Bruch/Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos (1995)
Released by Sony Classical
Wieniawski: Violin Concerto
This is a wonderful piece played divinely by Isaac Stern. What makes it even more a treat is the fact that Wieniawski’s violin concertos are masterpieces which, unfortunately, are very rarely performed.
Paul Lewis, piano
Sonata no. 8 “Pathétique” in C minor, I. Grave – Allegro di molto e con brio
From Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2 (2007)
Released by Harmonia Mundi
Beethoven: Sonata no. 8 “Pathétique”
This Sonata was written in 1798 when Beethoven was 27, and named Grande Sonate pathétique by his publisher, who was impressed by it’s dramatic sonorities.
This is one of Beethoven most well-known and performed piece, and I just love Paul Lewis‘ mesmerizing rendition , his phrasing is intense, expressive and unique.
Maria João Pires and Ricardo Castro, piano
Fantasia for piano, 4 hands in F minor, D. 940 (Op. 103)
From Résonance de l’Originaire (2005)
Released by Deutsche Grammophon
Schubert: Fantasia for piano
This is one of the most important works for piano that Schubert wrote in 1828, the year he died. He dedicated the Fantaisie to Karoline Esterházy, with whom he was in love.
This rendition, by Pires and Castro, is unique, so delicate and subtle.
Daniel Barenboim, piano
La moza donosa
From Tangos Among Friends (1996)
Released by Teldec
Ginastera: La moza donosa
Many classical musicians have tried to add different genres to their repertoire, whether it is jazz, blues, musicals or something else, but most of the time, the rendition is just a disappointment.
So when I bought this Tango CD with Barenboim at the piano, I had my reservations, but the result is extremely pleasant.
He plays marvelously, with all the sensuality and exoticism you may expect from Buenos Aires, and it is a pure delight.
Mark Padmore, tenor
Paul Lewis, piano
Winterreise, Song Cycle for Voice & Piano, D. 911 (Op. 89) – Book I, Gute Nacht (‘Fremd bin ich eingezogen’)
From Schubert: Winterreise (2009)
Released by Harmonia Mundi
Schubert: Winterreise, Gute Nacht
Based on poems by Wilhelm Müller.
Every time I listen to Gute Nacht, sung by Mark Padmore with Paul Lewis at the piano, I get goosebumps.
I have never heard this song sung and played with so much intensity and sensibility; there are no words to describe it, the music simply goes straight to your heart.
Sign up for newsletter