Tuesday, June 26

A mystery: Did Richard Strauss intentionally quote his youthful Symphony in F minor (1883) in the opening notes of An Alpine Symphony in 1915? Though not otherwise related, both symphonies start with a descending scale figure with the same rhythms and almost identical intervals. If you're aware of any references to this similarity, please write middaymusic@gpb.org. Thanks!

Back in the realm of the known, we do know that there are concerts aplenty going on at the Madison Chamber Music Festival. Tonight's concert with cellist Lynn Harrell is sold out, but you can hear him play Rozsa and Beethoven on this program instead, and catch a later concert in Madison.

Here are some of the best recordings aired today: music of Moravec (including his Pulitzer-winning Tempest), Harrell and Ashkenazy fiercely playing Beethoven, Vladar doing Mozart, and Zacharias and friends doing justice to Schumann. Friendly reminder: Though these are Amazon links, we encourage you to buy through PB-1 .
Paul Moravec: Tempest Fantasy; Mood Swings; B.A.S.S. Variations; Scherzo Beethoven: The Cello Sonatas Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 21 & 24 Schumann: Piano Quintet, String Quartets 1, 2 & 3 - Christian Zacharias, Cherubini Quartet

11 AM

  • Strauss: Symphony in F minor, Op. 12 (1883). Slovak Philharmonic, Halasz (Records International 7005)
  • Rozsa: Cello Concerto: Finale. Lynn Harrell, Atlanta Sym, Levi (Telarc 80518)
12 N
  • Moravec: Scherzo (2002). Trio Solisti (Naxos 8.559323)
  • Pichl: Sinfonia in B-flat, "Melpomene." Toronto Chamber Orch, Mallon (Naxos 8.557761)
  • Grieg: Bridal Procession Passes By. Royal Scottish National Orch, Engeset (Naxos 8.557854)
  • Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69. Lynn Harrell, Vladimir Ashkenazy (London 417 628)
1 PM
  • Mozart: Rondo in D, K. 382. Stefan Vladar, Camerata Salzburg (Harmonia Mundi 901042)
  • Vierdanck: Passamezzo in A minor. Parnassi Musici (CPO 777 205)
  • Schumann: Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 44. Christian Zacharias, Cherubini Quartet (EMI 50819)

Posted by Sarah Zaslaw at 11:14 AM