Schmidt D C Network Programming Vol 2 2003

Barb Wired Tour Vol. 2 is the second of two volumes of Empress Valley’s ambitious nine disc compilation of important tapes from Ron Wood’s New Barbarians side project in support of his solo album Gimme Some Neck. Picking up where The Drug Dealer Tapes Vol. 1 (Empress Valley EVSD 196/200) leaves off, Vol. 2 contains four discs with another hour of the tour rehearsal tape along with two complete shows…

Volume Two of the Complete String Concertos of Ignace Pleyel (1757-1831) includes some charming, if undistinguished. music that sounds like Haydn with bits of Mozart mixed in. At one time among the most celebrated of Europe’s composers, Pleyel’s work has fallen into obscurity; so, we can be grateful that some talented instrumentalists are taking up his mantle again. A competent kapellmeister and more than competent master of diverse forms, Pleyel seems to employs the three-movement format for his Viotti-like concertos; the recording gives us the alternative ending, a 4/4 Rondo, to his violin concerto.

This MDG Gold disc Orchestral Works, Vol. 2 brings four pieces of Antonio Rosetti (or, if you prefer, Antonín Rösler) to the CD catalog that have never been recorded. This isn't much of a stretch of the imagination, as Rosetti's orchestral output is enormous; the contents of this disc include only three out of his 44 symphonies and a single flute concerto out of the 12 composed by Rosetti. Most of this music is neglected, so the automatic question that comes up is whether there is actually something to look forward to in further investigating Rosetti, or if he is to remain one of those marginal figures in the classical era that only scholars seem to know or care about.