Archive for John Quinn
MusicWeb International Review for Kansas City Symphony’s Leshnoff Premiere Recordings
MusicWeb International reviews the Kansas City Symphony, Michael Stern, Stephen Powell, and Joyce Yang’s world premiere recordings of Jonathan Leshnoff: Symphony No. 3 and Piano Concerto: “This is an excellent concerto. It’s thoroughly entertaining, though in saying that I don’t want to give the impression that the music is in any way superficial. Such is not the case; the work is inventive and very accessible and in the second movement depths of feeling are plumbed.…
More MusicWeb Praise for Blessed art Thou Among Women
MusicWeb International‘s John Quinn offers a second review for the PaTRAM Institute’s Blessed Art Thou Among Women recording: “With performers of such pedigree involved, I was keen to hear this latest disc on which they offer a programme of Orthodox hymns in honour of Mary, the Mother of God. … This is an excellent recital. I’ve mentioned only a few of the pieces but I would ask readers to take on trust that the items…
MusicWeb Review for the Excellent Recording of Kurt Sander’ Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
John Quinn reviews the PaTRAM Institute Singers recording of Kurt Sander’s Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrystostom for MusicWeb International: “The performance is conducted by Peter Jermihov who, so far as I’m concerned, has excellent credentials when it comes to Orthodox church music… This is, I understand, the first complete musical setting of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in English and it’s a considerable achievement. … The singers taking part are, I believe, all…
MusicWeb International Reviews the Utah Symphony’s Mahler Symphony No. 8
John Quinn offers the second MusicWeb International review of Thierry Fischer, the Utah Symphony, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s recording of Mahler: Symphony No. 8. “I think it’s appropriate to start this this review by shining the spotlight on someone from the “back room” team. Step forward Mack Wilberg, Music Director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The choral contribution to this performance is as fine as any that I can recall hearing. At a guess…
Teach Me Thy Statutes is a Recording of the Month – Again!
A second MusicWeb International critic has named PaTRAM Institute’s Teach Me Thy Statutes release their “Recording of the Month”! “It’s a very common tactic when writing a review so to structure the argument that a verdict on the disc emerges quite naturally – or such is the hope! – in the closing paragraphs. No need for such a device here: this disc is, quite simply a stunner! In making that statement I’m thinking equally of…
Adam Schoenberg Orchestral Music a Recording of the Month!
Order Now The Kansas City Symphony‘s Adam Schoenberg Orchestral Music recording is a MusicWeb International Recording of the Month! “There is no doubt that the music is technically challenging and the writing is often complex. However, it seems to me that Schoenberg’s achievement in these three scores is that he has written music that, no matter how technically demanding it may be, never leaves the listener behind. There’s absolutely no condescension to the listener yet…
“Thoughtful and Thought-Provoking” Tchaikovsky
John Quinn reviews Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony’s Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 and Dvořák Rusalka recording in MusicWeb International: “In summary Honeck’s performance of this symphony is a thoughtful and thought-provoking rendition of a score that can suffer from over-familiarity.” —John Quinn, MusicWeb International Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 Dvořák: Rusalka Fantasy (arr. Honeck/Ille) Pittsburgh Symphony OrchestraManfred Honeck, Music DirectorFR-720 Reference Recordings Amazon iTunes Native DSD Arkiv Music
MusicWeb International Double Review for Kansas City Saint-Saëns
MusicWeb International offers a double-review for our new recording of Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 “Organ” by Jan Kraybill and the Kansas City Symphony: “The recording captures the ravishing timbres of the instruments very well indeed; there’s real personality to the playing of both soloists…Always tasteful, Jan Kraybill certainly adds majesty to the mix as the finale hoves into view…while the bass drum and cymbals are superbly rendered…The closing pages are grand and glorious, the noble…
MusicWeb International Gives Manfred Honeck a Rave Review!
MusicWeb International‘s John Quinn had yet to hear a Manfred Honeck or Pittsburgh Symphony recording before listening to our new Dvořák/Janáček SACD, and based on this review, it won’t be the last: “I very much respect Honeck’s thoughtful and often perceptive approach and I loved the freshness of the performance. I love this symphony – it’s my favourite Dvořák symphony – and I greatly enjoyed this performance. … All of which leads me on nicely…
MusicWeb International Says Miraculous Metamorphoses is “Well Worth Hearing”
MusicWeb International‘s John Quinn has a new review for the Kansas City Symphony’s Miraculous Metamorphoses recording: “Stern has selected a challenging and exciting programme.… Stern and his players put the music across with dash and no little brilliance. This [Hindemith] score has been a favourite of mine ever since I first encountered it through Abbado’s Decca recording over forty years ago. I enjoyed this Kansas performance very much. … There’s much to admire in the…
Elgar/Vaughan Williams Review in MusicWeb International
John Quinn of MusicWeb International reflects on his introduction to the Kansas City Symphony in our Elgar & Vaughan Williams recording: “This is my first encounter with the Kansas City Symphony…it is clear that under Stern’s leadership they have been presenting very enticing seasons for several years now. … These seem to be exciting days for the music lovers of Kansas City “…engineer Keith O. Johnson has presented these performances in exceptionally fine sound. In…