Gourmet From Nr.7, 2015

Thomas Søndergård's hybrid SACD of Jean Sibelius' Symphony No. 2 in D major and his Symphony No. 7 in C major is an audiophile showcase that presents two contrasting sides of the composer with optimal clarity. The comparatively lush orchestration of the Symphony No. 2 probably has never sounded better in any recorded format, and the multichannel reproduction of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales brings out its vibrant bass, velvety strings, and sumptuous winds in a resonant acoustic, all of which are essential ingredients in the young Sibelius' post-Romantic sound. Yet the Symphony No. 7 presents the sparer counterpoint and leaner textures of Sibelius' mature phase, so the recording brings out the transparency of the timbres, and the clean separation of parts gives an added spatial dimension. Søndergård's interpretations of both works are wholly sympathetic and masterful, and the orchestra plays with the commitment and vitality that make these symphonies compelling. One hopes this is the first installment of a Sibelius cycle, which would be a great addition to Linn's catalog. Highly recommended.

Bandleader Simon Jeffes composed the leadoff track "Music for a Found Harmonium" on a harmonium he found abandoned on a Tokyo street, which offers an inkling of the musical inspiration that sprang from this remarkable Englishman. As usual, he gathers a loose aggregation of musicians who create stunning, free-flowing acoustic sounds that defy categorization…

The Tirith are one of the new UK-based Progressive / Classic Rock Bands. The band has a long history stretching back to the 70s, the present band reformed in 2010 and have been playing festivals and select gigs since 2011. The band is known for playing a wide variety of music within the Progressive genre and beyond. “Tales From The Tower” is a rare album of real songs performed, interpreted and recorded in the modern progressive idiom, and features the songs of Tim Cox and Richard Cory. Most of the songs on this album are from the time of the first incarnation of The Tirith, they are the classic Tirith songs of our youth.

Ever since the tenure of its chief conductor Eduard van Beinum (1945–59), the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra has cherished one of the greatest Bruckner symphonic traditions in the world. With this release of Bruckner’s Sixth and Seventh Symphonies, Mariss Jansons and his Amsterdam-based orchestra add a new chapter to the RCO’s impressive performance and recording history of Bruckner’s works.

The seventh release in RCO Live's Horizon series features world premieres recorded during three concert seasons. Magnus Lindberg's sumptuous 'Era' – a birthday present from the Concertgebouw Hall to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra - dates from the 2012-2013 season. Both Tan Dun's catchy double bass concerto 'The Wolf' and Richard Rijnvos's 'fuoco e fumo' about the 1996 destruction by fire of the Venetian opera house La Fenice, are from 2015.

Fortepianist Kristian Bezuidenhout continues his multi-disc survey of Mozart's music for solo keyboard with volume seven of the series. The first six have been met with the universal critical acclaim from around the world. This program of this release explores the elegance and drama that are ever-present in Mozart's music. Most notably, Bezuidenhout performs two works influenced by the composer's 1778 stay in Paris - the grandly proportioned Sonata in A minor, K.310 and the dazzling Variations in C on ''Lison dormait'' K.264.