Italian 18 Set 2019

The growing catalogue of Platti albums on Brilliant Classics includes his Cello Concertos (BC94722), his keyboard works (BC95118) and a first recording of chamber music (BC94007). Taken together they paint a vivid and engaging portrait of an 18th-century musician/composer who came to exercise on generations of composers writing for the cello. Platti himself was proficient on several instruments but he retained a special affection for the cello, producing as many as 28 cello concertos – even more than Vivaldi – and other works including the 12 accompanied cello sonatas on this album. These are divided into two groups of six, both dated 1725 – just a few years after Bach’s cello suites.

All the music in this programme comes from the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, and most of it was collected by its founder, Richard, Seventh Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion (1745 – 1816). A polymath, lover of music, amateur composer and harpsichordist, musically active from about 1760 until his death, Fitzwilliam created a legacy of exceptional importance to English musical culture.

This decently recorded live session features tenor saxophonist Wardell Gray, trumpeter Art Farmer, pianist Hampton Hawes, bassist Joe Mondragon and drummer Shelly Manne stretching out on eight numbers (most of which clock in at 7-10 minutes). Originally a Xanadu LP, the CD reissue adds "Lady Bird" to the original set, which is highlighted by "The Squirrel," "Jackie," "Donna Lee" and "Get Happy." Because of his consistency and truncated life, every Wardell Gray recording is well worth picking up. Jointly sold with the February 2019 issue of the Italian "Musica Jazz" magazine.

Eduard Van Beinum - Complete Recordings on Decca & Philips [44CDs Box Set] (2023)
EAC Rip | FLAC (tracks+.cue, log) | Run Time: 02:04:22:02 | 10.63 Gb
Genre: Classical | Label: Decca

The complete recordings of Eduard Van Beinum made for both Decca and Philips predominately features the Concertgebouworkest and London Philharmonic Orchestra, where he was Principal Conductor. 44 CDs in their original jackets.

Just as the subtitle says, this six-CD, 158-track collection has "The Complete Hollies April 1963-October 1968". That's everything recorded when singer Allan Clarke, guitarist/singer Tony Hicks, and guitarist/singer Graham Nash, who were the three constants in the band (though drummer Bobby Elliott was there for all but the earliest of these recordings, too). As such, it's a major British Invasion document. Even if it's missing some work postdating Nash's departure in late 1968 which is highly regarded by some fans (including their hits "He's Not Heavy, He's My Brother," "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress," and "The Air That I Breathe"), most fans would agree that the Nash era is by far the band's most significant…

Bononcini’s La decollazione was first performed during Lent of 1709 in the chapel of Emperor Joseph I in Vienna. The rather sober scoring of La decollazione for strings and continuo might be explained by the Lenten presentation, but the vocal and instrumental demands of the piece fully exploited the brilliance of the Viennese musicians, and their skill in opera. At the same time, Bononcini integrated his skills in counterpoint, normally associated with sacred music, throughout the work so that it presents as both worldly and spiritual.