2 CDs
Monday August 20 2007
I recently bought two CDs, both works by Barber.
The first one is conducted by Marin Alsop, one of my heroes, and a fantastic American Music interpreter. Back in the day, she used to be the conductor of the Eugene Symphony. Being the protege of the first oboist who happened to be the personnel manager, I got to hang around backstage during rehearsals a lot and attended many concerts. Later, I got to do an internship with him as we went to Santa Cruz to do the Cabrillo Music Festival, where he did production and Maestra Alsop conducted. I got to spend more time with her, and enjoyed seeing the “real” side of her. I admire her very much, and continue to follow her career.
The CD is very interesting and features several rare works, including Barber’s unfinished work, Canzonetta, and the Capricorn Concerto, named after his recluse retirement home where he drank his life away in depression and despair. I really enjoyed the pieces, and I appreciated the ways she as a conductor was able to interpret it. However, I did not enjoy the oboist’s playing, which felt very choppy to me. When I listen for legato, I listen for one who “plays in between the note”, and has flawless transitions from note to note without change in color, dynamic, tonal quality, etc. It is the same as if someone were singing, they don’t change their color, dynamic, and tone quality as they sing each note. It sounds even, flowing, and smooth. I clearly prefer Lucarelli’s recording of the Canzonetta, although the strings in Maestra Alsop’s CD is clearly more “shimmery”
The second CD I bought was an old recording of the Atlanta Symphony performing works by Barber. It was quite nice as well, and I particularly enjoyed Patrick McFarland’s English Horn playing. His solo in the School for Scandal Overture has beautiful phrasing, and very controlled nuances. It is certainly some of the nicer English Horn playing I’ve ever heard. (My favorite still being St. Louis Symphony, Ravel Piano Concerto in G with Alicia de Larrocha.)
nat*
Aug 22, 2007
Alicia de Larrocha’s a fantastic pianist! I highly recommend her rendition of the 12 Spanish dances by Granados. Good stuff 
Aug 21, 2007
Hey Cooper ... I’ll have to check out these CDs. I worked with Alsop when she was auditioning for San Jose Symphony (RIP). We’ll have to yak when you get here.
I also worked with Alicia de Larrocha. What an artist! She came here several times. One time she did the Emperor Piano Concerto. And then I am 99% sure it was the Ravel she did too. (Pretty pathetic that I can’t remember THAT, when I would be playing the EH, eh? I know I’ve done it at least three times. Once last year, once with Jean Philippe Collard and once with, I think, Larrocha.)
Did you get my email? Just sent it. Do let me know about the offer.
(And maybe you can tell me if my knives are worth salvaging or if I’ve ruined them all together. Sigh.)
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