Inbal and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra are nearing completion of their Mahler cycle, which on the whole is highly distinguished. This two-disc set gives us the climactic Ninth Symphony, arguably the greatest work of its kind composed in this century, and the opening Adagio of the Tenth in the Erwin Ratz 1964 edition. Presumably Inbal rejects the Deryck Cooke performing version, which is an immense pity because judging from his incandescent interpretation of this first movement, he would have something special to tell us about it.
The debut show for Mel, Boz, RF and Ian and what a fantastic atmosphere this soundboard recording has! The band are incredibly animated, clearly delighted to be away from their basement rehearsal room and obviously enjoying the liberation of being onstage. The shouts of encouragement and approval being exchanged – often in mid-song – give this recording an astonishing intimacy. Highlights include Fripp’s razor-sharp lines in the chorus section of Cirkus. There's an enchanting version of Lady of The Dancing Water with winsome backing vocals from Ian, trimmed with some rich baritone sax. And listen out for the running lines and slashing chords from LTIA pt1 as they make their debut during a radically different and experimental Sailor’s Tale.
Like his father, Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi is an internationally renowned classical music conductor of Estonian heritage with a deep catalog of recordings. Born on December 30, 1962, in Tallinn, Estonia, he and his family moved to the United States in 1980. His education includes studies at the Tallinn School of Music, the Curtis Institute of Music, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute. For a decade he served as music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra prior to being named music director of the Orchestre de Paris.
In 2006, Nicholas Angelich released his first disc of Brahms' solo piano music: a coupling of the ballades, the rhapsodies, and the Paganini Variations. He followed that up in 2007 with a two-disc set containing Brahms' four sets of late piano music. Both releases were simply fabulous. Blazingly virtuosic, deeply expressive, and immensely powerful, these were Brahms' performances to treasure.