Three Spectacular Local Releases

Intrepid Cool Cleveland contributor and music critic Kelly Ferjutz has scored a trifecta of sonic splendidness for readers this week. And in her usual lively way, she has highlighted these three local CD releases for Cool Cleveland readers -- all with an eye on the holidays. With new releases by Grammy winner Angelin Chang, CityMusic Cleveland and the Cleveland Orchestra, the classical music fan in your life is about to have a whole lot to rave about.

Angelin
Angelin Chang
Sabintu Records

Cleveland’s Grammy-winning pianist, CSU professor Angelin Chang has a new solo piano CD available, just in time for holiday giving! It’s spectacular, and would be a welcome addition to the music library of anyone who enjoys great piano music played in the grand style! (Or an inspiration to any young piano student you might know!)

Ms. Chang is a joy to watch in performance, because she exudes a very satisfying visual effect of ‘poetry in motion’. On this CD, you can hear the poetry in the music she’s chosen to perform—great romantic standards of the 1800s by the acknowledged masters of that art: Liszt, Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Chopin. Actually, Liszt appears twice, the second time in a transcription of Bach's Prelude and Fugue in A minor.

Her interpretations ae flawless, in spite of a couple of not-quite accurate notes. To me, these prove that she’s a very warm, and extremely human artist, not a robot. Listen for the little ritards or accelerandos to become aware of this for yourself.

The piano is not identified, but is probably the grand old Steinway of Drinko Recital Hall—a veritable treasure in itself, with its resonance and depth of sound. I don’t think you could ever get tired of listening to this CD, as each time you’ll hear something new in the music.

The CD is available at http://angelinchang.com/products.html and worldwide shipping is available.

CityMusic Live
CityMusic Cleveland
CMC

Three works are featured on this new CD produced by the very ambitious CityMusic Cleveland and its music director & conductor, James Gaffigan. Danses concertantes was the first work composed by the Russian Igor Stravinsky after he came to the US just before the outbreak of WWII. He specialized in danceable music, and indeed it’s difficult to sit still while listening to this engaging piece. The liner notes for the CD state that it was recorded in concert, brilliantly demonstrating the bright, lively sound achieved by the ensemble—and the rapt attention paid by the audience.

Concertmaster Michi Wiancko is, at heart, an international soul, thus inspiring composer Margaret Brouwer (head of the composition department at CIM) to produce a concerto particularly suited to the violinist. The three movements: Narrative, Ballad and Gypsy each take inspiration from a different musical partiality of the soloist. Having been a violinist herself, Dr. Brouwer knows how to make the instrument sing.

And then, there is Mozart. One of his last three great symphonies, the No. 39 in the bright and happy key of E-flat Major (K.543) receives a lustrous performance that will guarantee hours of pleasurable listening. As many times as I’ve heard this symphony in performance, I’ve never heard the clarinets so enchanting as on track 11, the menuetto. The finale really clips along at a smart pace.

This is the next best thing to actually being at one of CityMusic Cleveland’s exhilarating concerts. You can sample as well as purchase a copy for yourself or a gift at the website. (There are also others of the groups CDs available.) Go to http://www.citymusiccleveland.org.

Beethoven Symphony No. 9
Cleveland Orchestra
Deutsche Grammophon

For the first time in several years, The Cleveland Orchestra has a new CD available, in addition to the marvelous DVD reviewed here a couple of months ago.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the CD consists of one work – Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 9, sometimes referred to as the ‘Ode to Joy’. In addition to the orchestra and music director Franz Welser-Möst, there is also The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus (prepared by its director Robert Porco) and four internationally renowned soloists: soprano Measha Brueggergosman, mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor, tenor Frank Lopardo and bass 'René Pape. The recording was made at concerts in Severance Hall in January, 2007.

The work crackles with energy and forward propulsion throughout. Mr. Pape sings with emphasis and clarity in his solo and Mr. Lopardo’s tenor rings heroically. Ms. O’Connor isn’t given all that much to do, but she lends clarity and intelligence to her role, while Ms. Brueggergosman’s clear and lustrous soprano easily soars over the combined musical forces.

Mr. Welser-Möst always excels at these huge works, and this is no exception. The performances last January drew raves in Cleveland and Miami, and here’s your chance to hear it for yourself. Released on Deutsche Grammophon, this CD is widely available as well as from the orchestra’s web-site: http://www.clevelandorchestra.com or by calling the Cleveland Orchestra Store at 231-7478.

From Cool Cleveland conributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com

Wanna get reviewed? Send your band's CD (less than 1 year old) to: Cool Cleveland, 14837 Detroit Avenue, #105, Lakewood, OH 44107
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