Brian Reinhart pens the third MusicWeb International review for Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 and Dvořák Rusalka Fantasy recording: “The Pittsburgh Symphony is one of the world’s great orchestras, here displaying rich, lush old-world strings which bring to mind conductor Manfred Honeck’s experience in Vienna. The brass section is thrillingly punchy and forward, as is the timpanist. Honeck has good ideas about the symphony, like occasionally dialing back the…
“The University of Texas Wind Ensemble is one of the finest in the country, and its frequent appearances on disc have been cause for celebration…for fans of new music…this has a lot of appeal. I’m especially fond of Frank Ticheli’s clarinet concerto, which is brilliantly crafted. But the symphony reveals new strength over repeated listens, too. As mentioned, Keith Johnson’s recorded sound is exemplary, but turn up the volume to fully realize this disc’s potential.”…
MusicWeb International names Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony’s BEETHOVEN: Symphony Nos. 5 & 7 recording a “Recording of the Month”! “Over the course of 12 pages, conductor Manfred Honeck sets a new standard for excellence in CD booklets. He walks us through these two beloved Beethoven symphonies, moment by moment, pointing out details we may have missed – and indeed, over years of listening, I’d missed quite a few. His notes are personal, explaining…
Brian Reinhart of MusicWeb International takes a listen through the new Nadia Shpachenko Woman at the New Piano recording and finds a real downside: “If there’s a downside to this release, it’s that we might start expecting a new one every year. Nadia Shpachenko has done heroic work here, and the composers provide stimulating listening. I will be returning with special interest to the works by Matheson and Schoenberg. Adam Schoenberg has an orchestral recording…
MusicWeb International‘s Brian Reinhart “digs in” to Joel Fan and the Northwest Sinfonietta’s Dances for Piano and Orchestra recording: “For piano lovers, this CD is like an ice cream sundae, with hot fudge drizzle, Spanish peanuts, a ribbon of cream, and a booze-soaked cherry on top. It’s pure pleasure, first note to last, with a generous heaping of sugar … There’s even a Wedding Cake. … Pianist Joel Fan, who presumably herded this programme together,…
The Roberto Moronn Pérez Andrés Segovia Archive recordings get a double-review on MusicWeb International: “Roberto Moronn Pérez never puts a foot wrong in his admirable recitals, and occasionally you wonder if mediocre material is being really sold by his excellent delivery. Not so with especially great discoveries by the likes of Pahissa, Donostia, Presti and Martelli. Pérez deserves great credit for unearthing much of this music. … What an excellent series this is proving to…