Thursday, May 24

As a follow-up to Monday's post, in which I bemoaned the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's decision to prune its full-time classical music critic and other important staffers, here are some links of interest:

• the text of Robert Spano's letter to the editor,
• a petition organized by the Atlanta Symphony, to remain online until June 7,
• and an article, "Atlanta Arts Coverage in Turmoil," in Musical America.

Discovery of the day: Alexander Glazunov's String Quintet, from his mid-twenties. Lovely piece. Nice recording, too. Glazunov wasn't a ground-breaking, path-forging sort of composer - he would stay true to the Romantic style of his youth - but what a natural, don't you think?

This is my last playlist for a few days. Alan Cooke not only hosts the Friday requests show as usual; he'll also be with you Memorial Day and all next week. For details on Alan's shows, please see his blog.

11 AM

• Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake: Dance of the Little Swans. London Sym, Thomas (Sony 46592)
• Glazunov: String Quintet in A major, Op. 39. Fine Arts Quartet, Nathaniel Rosen (Naxos 8.570256)
• Falla: Suite Populaire Espagnole. Yuli Turovsky, I Musici de Montreal (Analekta 9897)

12 N

• Vierdanck: Passamezzo in A minor; La sua Gagliarda. Parnassi Musici (CPO 777 205)
• Brahms: Rondo alla Zingarese from Piano Quartet No. 1. Quartetto Gelato (QG 2 70025)
• Liszt: Fantasy on Hungarian Folk Tunes. Louis Lortie, Residentie Orch, Pehlivanian (Chandos 10371)
• Chopin: Polonaise in A-flat, Op. 53. Evgeny Kissin (RCA 82876-68668)
• Aston: Gaude, virgo mater Christi. Stile Antico (Harmonia Mundi 907419)

1 PM

• Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10/1: Prestissimo. Andras Schiff (ECM 1942)
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major. Vienna Phil, Kleiber (DG 447 400)
• Couperin: Les Baricades Mysterieuses. Alexandre Tharaud (Harmonia Mundi 901956)
  

Wednesday, May 23

A couple of you have asked whether this blog will become interactive so you can post comments and converse right here. The idea of a widespread community of music lovers becoming a community of chatters under the Midday Music umbrella sounds great to me. However, I'm told it takes lots of time to monitor public postings and keep a blog clean (with appropriate language, general decorum, etc.). Not that the Midday Music fans I know are anything but well behaved, but given our resources and mission GPB has to think about the potential time commitment in connection with all our blogs. In short: maybe later.

Concerts of note: the LaGrange Symphony's Memorial Day program, and the Atlanta Symphony's pairing of Beethoven's "Pastorale" and Gandolfi's Garden.

11 AM

• Bach, J.C.: Symphony in E-flat, Op. 6/2. Academy of Ancient Music Berlin, Mal (Harmonia Mundi 901803)
• Schubert: Piano Trio No. 2 in E-flat, Op. 100, D. 929. Storioni Trio (PentaTone 5186 050)

12 N

• Offenbach: Four Impressions: Reverie au bord de la mer. Schiefen, WDR Radio Orch Cologne (CPO 777 069)
• Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez. Sharon Isbin, New York Phil, Serebrier (Warner 2564 60296)
• Friedman: Variations on the Rag. Louisville BRass (Centuar 2821)
• Offenbach: Concerto Rondo for cello and orchestra. Schiefen, WDR Radio Orch Cologne (CPO 777 069)

1 PM

• Alfven: Andante Religioso. Norrkoping Sym, Willen (Naxos 8.557612)
• Paderewski: Cracovienne Fantastique. Sang Mi Chung (Centaur 2758)
• Fasch: Overture (Suite) in G major. La Stravaganza Cologne (CPO 777 015)
• Gluck: Dance of the Blessed Spirits. Barthold Kuijken, Tafelmusik, Lamon (Sony 48405)

Tuesday, May 22

This weekend the LaGrange Symphony plays a Memorial Day concert. The Atlanta Symphony performs Beethoven's Sixth ("Pastorale") and Michael Gandolfi's Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Besides those, things are getting pretty quiet in concert land.

But at GPB the show must go on! And it does, with a symphony by a septuagenarian Swede, sounds from South America, and a birthday nod to Wagner, winding up with the bridal chorus from Lohengrin, best known as "Here Comes the Bride."

Featured on new releases: the Accentus chamber choir (Transcriptions 2), Parkening and Sykes (Jubilation), the Georgian Chamber Players (Our Sunday Best), and music of Alfven and Weiss (on Naxos). If it seems as if Naxos discs are proliferating on GPB playlists these days - well, they are. Few labels release as many classical recordings as Naxos, or provide copies as willingly to radio stations.

11 AM

• Alfven: Symphony No. 5 in A minor, Op. 54. Norrkoping Sym, Willen (Naxos 8.557612)

12 N

• Schubert: Litany, D. 334 (transcr Gottwald). Accentus, Equilbey (Naive 5048)
• Weiss: Sonata No. 20 in D minor. Schwab, lute; Ahlert, mandolin (Naxos 8.557716)
  
• Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1: Fugue - Conversation. Nashville Sym cellos, Mogrelia (Naxos 8.557460-62)
  
• Villa-Lobos: Guitar Concerto. Sharon Isbin, New York Phil, Serebrier (Warner 2564 60296)
  
• Pantoje, Rique: Ciranda Bambole; Lamento. Jubilant Sykes, Christopher Parkening (EMI 57591)

1 PM

• Wagner: Die Walkure: Ride of the Valkyries. Met Orch, Levine (DG 447 764)
• Wagner: Tannhauser: Entrance of the Guests. Atlanta Sym Orch and Chorus, Shaw (Telarc 80333)
• Haydn: String Quartet in G major, Op. 77/1. Preucil, Georgian Chamber Players (ACA 20102)
• Wagner: Die Walkure: Magic Fire Music. Royal Phil Orch, Stokowski (RCA 74321 70931)
• Wagner: Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus. Atlanta Sym Orch and Chorus, Shaw (Telarc 80333)

Monday, May 21

NEWS FLASH: Creative Loafing reports that the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Atlanta's daily newspaper, is eliminating its classical music reviewer position. Other AJC arts critics are also losing their slots. For Atlanta-area music lovers, rational responses to this news might include howling like a coyote or tearing out one's hair (or someone else's). Or one could do what Atlanta Symphony music director Robert Spano did and fire off a letter to the editor. In today's paper, Spano writes:

Ours is a city of growth, and this loss would strike a disheartening blow to our ambitious aspirations. If the AJC follows through with this decision, it will distinguish Atlanta as the largest city in the country without a classical music, book or art critic on staff at its major newspaper. ... A newspaper's practice of regularly reviewing fine arts is intrinsic to its civic mission. ... Art matters.

Share your thoughts with me. If, like most GPB listeners, you live outside Atlanta, does your local paper review classical concerts? How do you value that service? If you do read the AJC, how do you feel about the cuts? Is this an inevitable consequence of the shift from a print world to an online world? Please write middaymusic@gpb.org.

And as for today's playlist:

11 AM

• Guastavino: Guitar Sonata No. 3. Victor Villadangos (Naxos 8.557658)
• Rachmaninoff: Russian Rhapsody for piano duo. Bakke and Kafarova (Centaur 2822)
• Mozart: String Quartet in A major, K. 464. Klenke Quartet (Profil 04032)

12 N

• Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue. Jon Nakamatsu, Rochester Phil, Tyzik (Harmonia Mundi 807441)
• Dittersdorf: Sinfonia in A major. Lisbon Metropolitan Orch, Cassuto (Naxos 8.570198)
• Myers: Cavatina. Christopher Parkening (EMI 57591)
• Grainger: Danish Folk-Music Suite. Melbourne Sym, Simon (Cala 4033)

1 PM

• Holst: A Fugal Concerto, Op. 40/2. Pyne, Harmer, English Sinfonia, Griffiths (Naxos 8.570339)
• Ravel: Gaspard de la Nuit. Tzimon Barto (Ondine 1095)
• Glazunov: Overture No. 1 on Three Greek Themes. USSR Sym, Svetlanov (Melodiya 00164)

Thursday, May 17

It's rare you find a piano concerto this topical. John Field subtitled his fifth concerto "L'Incendie par l'orage" - that is, "Fire by Lightning" or "Kindled by the Storm." We hear that work, but in hopes of quelling fire and drought in Georgia, I'm also dousing Field's piece with plenty of soggier pieces. Call today's show the Midday Music rain dance.

(Before we get to the playlist, a notable concert alert. Have you ever seen a double bass concerto? Atlanta Symphony principal bass Ralph Jones is giving his fraction of a world premiere of one tonight. It's John Harbison's Concerto for Bass Viol, commissioned by a consortium of 15 North American orchestras. Over the span of two years, those 15 orchestras are spotlighting their lead double bassists in an ongoing, rolling premiere. This weekend it's Atlanta's turn.)

11 AM

• Glazunov: Five Novelettes, Op. 15: Nos. 1-2. Fine Arts Quartet (Naxos 8.570256)
  
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 6, "Pastoral." Tafelmusik, Weill (Analekta 9831)
  
• Debussy: Ancient Epigraph No. 6, Pour remercier la pluie au matin. Michel Beroff (Denon 78848)
  

12 N

• Alfven: The Mountain King: Summer Rain. Royal Stockholm Phil, Jarvi (BIS 585)
  
• Handel: Water Music, Suite No. 3 in G. Boston Baroque, Pearlman (Telarc 80594)
  
• Chopin: Prelude in D-flat, "Raindrop." John O'Conor (Telarc 80313)
  
• Field: Piano Concerto No. 5, "L'incendie par l'orage." Benjamin Frith, Northern Sinfonia, David Haslam (Naxos 8.554221)
  
• Berlioz: Les Troyens: Royal Hunt and Storm. Royal Phil Orch, Beecham (EMI 47863)
  

1 PM

• Brouwer: Cuban Landscape with Rain. Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (Telarc 80593)
  
• Klenau: Symphony No. 7, "Storm Symphony." Odense Sym, Wagner (DaCapo 8.224183)
  
• Iannaccone: After a Gentle Rain. Clarion Wind Sym, Plank (Albany 280)
  

Wednesday, May 16

Smoke from the South Georgia fires is wafting as far north as Atlanta, giving distant parts of the state a taste of what many Georgians have been enduring for weeks. For tomorrow I'll program water-related music as a kind of rain dance.

Meanwhile, here's an East European first hour (alighting in Russian, Czech and Estonian lands), a French second hour (note that the poems for this Carnival of the Animals were written by Bruce Adolphe, of PT Piano Puzzler fame, and are read by a violinless Itzhak Perlman) and a return to Czech territory to close.

11 AM

• Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme. Sol Gabetta, Munich Orch, Rasilainen (RCA 75912)
• Friml: Dumka. Chase, Buechner (Koch 7662)
  
• Janacek: Violin Concerto "The Wandering of a Little Soul." Baiba Skride, Berlin Radio Sym, Janowski (SonyBMG 731462)
  
• Vasks: Dona Nobis Pacem. Estonian Phil Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orch, Hillier (Harmonia Mundi 907311)
  

12 N

• Ravel: Piano Trio in A minor. Trio Con Brio Copenhagen (Azica 71240)
  
• Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals. Atlanta Sym, Perlman, Levi (Telarc 80443)

1 PM

• Liszt: Totentanz. Louis Lortie, Residentie Orch The Hague, Pehlivanian (Chandos 10371)
Dvorak: Violin Concerto in A minor. Pamela Frank, Czech Phil, Mackerras (London 289 460 316)

Tuesday, May 15

Back in the 80s, America's venerable Columbia record company became part of Sony. Well, now the Sony label has merged with BMG (which incidentally had already absorbed RCA Red Seal). As a byproduct of this conglomeration, the tapes in the closets are mixing and mingling.

Emanuel Ax, for example, recorded one Brahms piano concerto with one orchestra for Sony. He recorded the other Brahms concerto with another orchestra for BMG. Now in a kind of family reunion these two performances have come together in a fresh SonyBMG package. We hear Ax in Brahms's second concerto.

The concert season? Winding down but not over. On air I mentioned the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's "Salute to New Orleans" Saturday at Atlanta's Rialto Center; the Savannah Sinfonietta's toe-tapping, turn-of-the-century-style "Sousa!" program, Friday at Skidaway Island and Saturday and Sunday in Savannah; and Prokofiev, Harbison and Brahms with the Atlanta Symphony.

11 AM

• Schumann: Waldszenen (Forest Scenes). Vladimir Ashkenazy (Longon 421 290)
• Rodrigo: Canconeta. Christopher Parkening (EMI 57591)
• Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E-flat, K. 543. Camerata Salzburg, Kavakos (SonyBMG 82876 842412)

12 N

• Gershwin: Cuban Overture. Rochester Phil, Tyzik (Harmonia Mundi 807441)
• Gershwin: Porgy and Bess, Fantasy (arr. Courage). Joshua Bell, London Sym, Williams (Sony 60659)
• Suesse, Dana (a.k.a. "the girl Gershwin"): Jazz Concerto in D for combo and orchestra. Coleman, Davis, Thomas, American Sym, Fennel (Premier 1055)
• Sousa: Wolverine. USAF Heritage of America Band, Graham (Klavier 11131)
  

1 PM

• Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat. Emanuel Ax, Boston Sym, Haitink (SonyBMG 88697 03510)

Monday, May 14

Phrase for the day: Avè u corpu à viulinu. In the language of Corsica, that means "to be famished," or literally, to have a tummy like a violin - i.e., empty.

11 AM

• Chopin: Impromptu in A-flat; Fantasy-Impromptu in C-sharp minor. Evgeny Kissin (RCA 68668)
• Haydn: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G major. Lukas Hagen, Camerata Salzburg (Profil 07015)
• Feuillet: A l'espagnole. Andrew Lawrence-King (Harmonia Mundi 907335)
• Ginastera: Pampeana No. 2. Sol Gabetta, Munich Orch, Rasilainen (RCA 75912)

12 N

• Mahler: Symphony No. 1. Tonhalle Orch Zurich, Zinman (RCA 87156)

1 PM

• Mendelssohn: Songs without Words, Op. 19/1 and Op. 102/5. Murray Perahia (Sony 66511)
• Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Ballet, Suite No. 3. Cincinnati Sym, Jarvi (Telarc 80597)
• Nielsen: String Quintet in G major. Young Danish String Quartet, Fredericksen (DaCapo 6.220521)

Thursday, May 10

GPB strives to be your source for both great music and NPR News. Now, in general that's great. But the dual mission does make for the occasional constraint. Bach's Goldberg Variations, for example, are too long to fit tidily between hourly newscasts. Today I plead guilty to cutting several variations from the middle so as to squeeze the rest of Bach's masterpiece into one hour. In exchange for those omissions, I'm tacking on two short pieecs that take off from there: a Goldberg-based piano improv, and a Goldberg-based rag. It's not a tradeoff that will win any "historically informed broadcast" awards, but that's just the price we pay for trying to do it all.

(In defense of tampering with Bach, though, I should point out that Glenn Gould - the Canadian pianist whose records turned the Goldberg Variations into a classical cult hit - made judicious cuts of his own. Compare: Whereas Murray Perahia's recording of the piece totals over 73 minutes, Glenn Gould clocked in once at 51 minutes, another time at a mere 38. Gould's tempos are idiosyncratic but not that idiosyncratic!)

11 AM

• Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988. Murray Perahia (Sony 89243)
• Montero: Improvisation on the Theme from Bach's Goldberg Variations. Gabriela Montero (EMI 58039)
• Gladd: The Red Bach Book: The Goldberg Rag. Orlandi, Mazzonetto, Bosio (Naxos 8.577999)

12 N

• Tchaikovsky: Pezzo Capriccioso. Sol Gabetta, Munich Orch, Rasilainen (RCA 82878 75912)
• Feuillet: Chaconne. Andrew Lawrence-King (Harmonia Mundi 907335)
• Holst: Brook Green Suite. English Sinfonia, Griffiths
• Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No. 1. Sol Gabetta, Munich Orch, Rasilainen (RCA 82876 75912)
• Ives: Variations on "America." Simon Preston (Argo 421 731)

1 PM

• Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. Laubin brothers, Preston (DG 419 245)
• Rota: Godfather Suite. La Scala Phil, Muti (Sony 63359)
• Reinecke: Violin Concerto in G minor. Ingolf Turban, Bern Sym, Moesus (CPO 777 105)

Wednesday, May 9

Dietrich Buxtehude, German composer and organist and Bach-inspirer, died 300 years ago today, on May 9, 1707. Hence the repeated presence of his music on today's show. Also, it's good.

Want details on Georgia concerts I mentioned on air? Follow these links, and tell them Sarah sent you. (Just kidding - I've always wanted to say that.) The Augusta Opera is staging La Boheme this weekend. Acclaimed British organist Simon Preston gives a recital Saturday at Spivey Hall. Columbus's professional chorus, Cantus Columbus, serves up Cole Porter songs Thursday at RiverCenter. The Atlanta Baroque Orchestra performs Handel and Haydn Sunday afternoon in Atlanta.

11 AM

• Buxtehude: Duo Sonata in A minor, Op. 1/3. Kraemer et al. (Harmonia Mundi 901746)
• Nielsen: String Quartet in G minor, Op. 13. Young Danish String Quartet (DaCapo 6.220521)
• Barbieri: Don Quixote: Ballet. Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid, Encinar (Naxos 8.570260)
• Handel: Concerto Grosso in G major, Op. 3/3. Academy of Ancient Music, Egarr (Harmonia Mundi 907415)
• Buxtehude: Canzonetta in G, BuxWV 171. Craig Cramer (Naxos 8.557195)

12 N

• Denza: Variations on "Napoli." Joseph Alessi and friends (Naxos 8.570232)
• York, A.: Jubilation. Christopher Parkening (Angel EMI 57591)
• Buxtehude: Praeludium in D minor, BuxWV 140. Paramount Brass (Centaur 2355)
• Tchaikovsky: Concert Fantasy in G, Op. 56. Scherbakov, Russian Phil, Yablonsky (Naxos 8.557824)
• Clarke: Trumpet Tune (attrib Purcell). Simon Preston, Hakan Hardenberger (Philips 434 074)
• Porter, Cole: Ms. Otis Regrets; What Is This Thing Called Love? Andrew Zohn (independent)

1 PM

• Liszt: Piano Sonata in B minor. Martha Argerich (DG 447 430)
• Mozart: Adagio in E major, K. 261. Lukas Hagen, Camerata Salzburg (Profil 07015)
• Puccini: La Boheme: Prelude and Aria. Quartetto Gelato (Marquis 81600)
• Buxtehude: Chaconne. Simon Preston (DG 419 245)

Tuesday, May 8

Today's selection of new and recent releases culminates in an hour with a folksy cast, including a recent piece for the five-stringed viola pomposa. There's only one in the world quite like the amoeba-shaped exemplar that belongs to University of Illinois professor Rudolf Haken, who performs his own concerto for the thing.

11 AM

• Infante: Danzas Andaluzas. Lechner, Tiempo (EMI 58472)
• Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F. Jon Nakamatsu, Rochester Phil, Tyzik (Harmonia Mundi 807441)
• Ravel: Jeux d'eau. Tzimon Barto (Ondine 1095)

12 N

• Cherubini: Faniska, Overture. Sanremo Sym, Bellugi (Naxos 8.557908)
• Medtner: Russian Round Dance. Bakke, Kafarova (Centaur 2822)
• Grieg: Ballade, Op. 24 (orch. Tveitt). Royal Scottish National Orch, Engeset (Naxos 8.557854)
• Mozart: Abduction from the Seraglio, highlights for winds. Moonwinds, Lluna (Harmonia Mundi 987071)

1 PM

• Hoyer, G.: Vignettes from an American Life: Front Porch Rondo. Hartford Virtuosi, LaReau (ERM 6808)
• Powell, J.: In the South, Op. 16. Nicholas Ross (Centaur 2828)
• Haken, R.: Concerto for Five-String Viola. Haken, orch, Benichou (Centaur 2826)

Monday, May 7

Three agendas to start the week off:

1. New releases. All recordings on today's show are hot off the press (or whatever they call the machine that makes CDs).

2. Birthdays. May 7 is a big day for both Brahms and Tchaikovsky; violinist Julia Fischer soloes in works by both. It's also the birthday of Atlanta Symphony conductor Robert Spano, whose new recording of Ralph Vaughan Williams' Fifth Symphony we hear.

3. Weird instruments. You learn something every day. The vis-a-vis, I've learned, is a hybrid keyboard instrument from the 1770s, part harpsichord and part fortepiano. We hear Mozart on one of the two surviving exemplars of this mutant. And don't miss tomorrow's show, featuring the blob-shaped, five-stringed, viola-type creature called the viola pomposa.

And now, your rundown.

11 AM

• Holst: St. Paul's Suite. Northern Sinfonia, Griffiths (Naxos 8.570339)
• Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5. Atlanta Sym, Spano (Telarc 80676)
• Ginastera: Pequena Danza. Fernando Viani (Naxos 8.557911-12)

12 N

• Ginastera: Milonga. Fernando Viani (Naxos 8.557911-12)
• Turina: La Oracion del Torero. Cuartetto Casals (Harmonia Mundi 987072)
• Reinecke: Symphony No. 1. Bern Sym, Moesus (CPO 777 105)
• Mozart: Sonata in D for piano four-hands, K. 381, played on vis-a-vis. Staier, Schornsheim (Harmonia Mundi 901941)

1 PM

• Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major. Julia Fischer, Netherlands Phil, Kreizberg (PentaTone 5186 066)
• Tchaikovsky: Valse-Scherzo, Op. 34. Julia Fischer, Russian National Orch, Kreizberg (PentaTone 5186 095)

Thursday, May 3

Late Romantic blockbusters are sprouting up all over the state this weekend: the Macon Symphony performs Strauss's Ein Heldenleben, the Albany Symphony does Mahler's Fourth, and the Atlanta Symphony plays Bruckner's Fourth. All those pieces feature on today's Midday Music, letting me simultaneously serve our arts community and end my portion of the week really LOUD. It's win-win.

11 AM

• Strauss: Ein Heldenleben. Bavarian Radio Sym, Maazel (RCA 09026-65775)
• Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 3 in A minor. Lise de la Salle (Naive 5080)

12 N

• Vanhal: Flute Quartet in B-flat, Op. 7/2. Uwe Grodd, Janaki String Trio (Naxos 8.570234)
• Scarlatti: Sonata in A-flat, K. 127, on harp. Susan Miron (Centaur 2776)
• Mahler: Symphony No. 4: 1st mvt. Berlin Philharmonic, Abbado (DG 5759)
• Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 25 in G, Op. 79. Paul Lewis (Harmonia Mundi 901903.05)

1 PM

• Hoffmann, J.: Sonata in G major, on mandolin and archlute. Daniel Ahlert, Birgit Schwab (Naxos 8.557716)
• Bruckner: Symphony No. 4, "Romantic": Mvts 3-4. Orchestre des Champs-Elysees, Herreweghe (Harmonia Mundi 901921)

Wednesday, May 2

There's smog in north Georgia and smoke in south Georgia. Don't inhale, but please breathe deeply the salutary music that GPB broadcasts right through the murk. Today on the air, however impure it be, we heard:

11 AM

• Copland: Rodeo: Hoedown. Buffalo Phil, Falletta (Naxos 8.559240)
  
• Copland: The Red Pony, Film Suite. Buffalo Phil, Falletta (Naxos 8.559240)
• Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor: Mvts 2-4. Sergey Khachatryan, French National Orch, Masur (Naive 5025)
  

12 N

• Bazzini: Dance of the Goblins. Maxim Vengerov, Virtuosi (EMI 57164)
  
• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1. Martha Argerich, Royal Concertgebouw Orch, Wallberg (EMI 56974)
  
• Mozart: Rondo in A minor, K. 511. Lise de la Salle (Naive 5080)
  
• Gershwin: Summertime. Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orch (WM 105)
  

1 PM

• Strauss: Oboe Concerto. Lajos Lencses, Stuttgart Radio Sym, Marriner (Hanssler 93.026)
  
• Mozart: Exsultate, jubilate. Carolyn Sampson, King's Consort, King (Hyperion 67560)
• Honegger: Pastorale d'ete. New Zealand Sym, Yuasa (Naxos 8.555974)

Concerts of interest to Midday Music mavens: French pianist Lise de la Salle plays at Spivey Hall Friday, including the Mozart Rondo from today's noon hour. Saturday the Albany Symphony and guest soprano offer Mozart and Mahler while the Macon Symphony and guest cellist serve up Dvorak and Strauss. The Atlanta Symphony and guest pianist thrice perform Beethoven and Bruckner.

Tuesday, May 1

Bookending today's show: major concertos for string instruments by Elgar and Dvorak. (Macon-area audiences can hear that Dvorak Cello Concerto in concert Saturday with the Macon Symphony and guest artist Zuill Bailey. Today's recording features the late, great Mstislav Rostropovich.) In between: performances by pianist Lise de la Salle and mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux, both of whom grace Atlanta-area stages this weekend.

11 AM

• Elgar: May Song. New Zealand Sym, Judd (Naxos 8.557577)
• Elgar: Violin Concerto in B minor. Hilary Hahn, London Sym, Davis (DG 3026)

12 N

• Mozart: Variations on "Ah, vous dirai-je maman." Lise de la Salle (Naive 5080)
• Milhaud: Suite Provencal, Op. 152b. National Orch of Lille, Casadesus (Naxos 8.557287)
• Kuhlau: Grand Trio in F for flutes and piano. Schulz, Schulz, Inui (Naxos 8.570309)
• Handel: Rinaldo, Act 3: Selections. Vivica Genaux, Freiburg Baroque Orch, Jacobs (Harmonia Mundi 901796.98)

1 PM

• Dvorak: Cello Concerto in B minor. Mstislav Rostropovich, London Phil, Giulini (1977; from EMI box set 65701)
• Haydn: Cello Concerto in D major: Rondo. Mstislav Rostropovich, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (EMI 65701)
  

Tuesday, April 24 - Monday, April 30

Monday, April 30
Teenaged French pianist Lise de la Salle performs at Spivey Hall this Friday; on Midday Music she goes at Liszt full force. Saturday the Albany Symphony performs Mozart and Mahler; we hear Mozart's Masonic Funeral Music. In honor of great cellist and all-round musician and mensch Mstislav Rostropovich, who passed away Friday morning, we hear him and fellow luminaries in the finale to Beethoven's Triple Concerto.

11 AM

• Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2. Hough, Dallas Sym, Litton (Hyperion 67501/2)
• Haydn: Piano Trio in A major, Hob. XV:35. Trio 1790 (CPO 777 243)
• Arcas: Fantasia on Themes from Verdi's La Traviata. David Russell (Telarc 80672)

12 N

• Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1. Boston Baroque, Pearlman (Telarc 80368)
• Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No. 1. Lise de la Salle (Naive 5006)
• Medieval Italian and Turkish mss.: Selections. Hesperion 21, Savall (Alia Vox 9848)
• Vivaldi: Concerto in D minor for viola d'amore and lute, RV 540. Rolf Lislevand et al. (Naive 30429)

1 PM

• Mackenzie: Scottish Concerto. Osborne, BBC Scottish Sym, Brabbins (Hyperion 67023)
• Mozart: Masonic Funeral Music, K. 477. Stuttgart Chamber Orch, Davies (ECM 1565/66)
• Beethoven: Triple Concerto in C major: Finale. Oistrakh, Rostropovich, Richter, Berlin Phil, Karajan (EMI 66092)

(Friday, April 27: Requests with Alan Cooke.)

Thursday, April 26
Tie-ins to several Georgia performances: Vivica Genaux's appearance in the Atlanta Opera's Gala Spring Concert; the Atlanta Symphony's rendition of Britten; Lise de la Salle's piano recital at Spivey Hall; Mark O'Connor's performance in Statesboro; and the Georgia State wind ensemble's concert with composer Leslie Bassett in attendance.

• Hasse: Atarserse: "Per questo dolce amplesso." Vivica Genaux, Academy of Ancient Music Berlin, Jacobs (Harmonia Mundi, "Arias for Farinelli")
• Dvorak: String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96, "American." Melos Quartet (Harmonia Mundi 2901509.10)
• Rachmaninoff: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36. Alexander Kobrin (Harmonia Mundi 907404)
• Britten: Canadian Carnival Overture. English Chamber Orch, Bedford (Naxos 8.557198)
• Bach: Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue, BWV 903. Lise de la Salle (Naive 5006)
• Bach: Trumpet Concerto in D after Vivaldi, BWV 972. Alison Balsom et al. (EMI 58047)
• O'Connor, M.: Old Country Fairytale. O'Connor, Ma, Meyer (Sony 68460)
• Bassett, L.: Narratives. Minneapolis Guitar Quartet (Albany 207)
• Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major. Scherbakov, Russian Phil, Yablonsky (Naxos 8.557824)
• Byrd: Nunc dimittis. Stile Antico (Harmonia Mundi 907419, "Music for Compline")

Wednesday, April 25
The Atlanta Symphony performs Elgar this weekend; Georgia State University's Symphonic Wind Ensemble play a concert of music of Bassett and Benson; the University of Alabama's University Singers do Carmina Burana in Spivey Hall; Mark O'Connor brings his Appalachia Waltz Trio to Georgia Southern U in Statesboro; the Valdosta Symphony offer Verdi's powerful Requiem; and Vivica Genaux fronts an Atlanta Opera concert in early May. Today's selections tie in to all that.

• Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance Marches Nos. 1 and 4. Royal Phil, Menuhin (Virgin 91175)
• Falla: Four Spanish Pieces. Daniel Ligorio (Naxos 8.555065)
• Bach: Keyboard Concerto NO. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052. Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Orch (Erato 2292-45545)
• Bassett, L.: Lullaby for Kirsten. North Texas Wind Sym, Corporon (Klavier 11089)
• Orff: Carmina Burana: Introduction and Part 3. Bournemouth Sym Orch and Chorus, Alsop (Naxos 8.570033)
• Benson, W.: Aeolian Song for saxophone and orchestra. Hass, Bohuslav Martinu Phil, Trevor (Albany 331)
• Schumann: String Quartet No. 2 in F , Op. 41/2. Cherubini Quartet (EMi 50819)
• O'Connor, M.: Appalachia Waltz (arr. Meyer). O'Connor, Ma, Meyer (Sony 68460)
• Verdi: Requiem: Selections. Boston Sym Orch & Chorus Pro Musica, Nilsson et al., Leinsdorf (RCA 09026 63747)
• Broschi: Idaspe: "Ombra felice anch'io." Vivica Genaux, Academy of Ancient Music Berlin, Jacobs (Harmonia Mundi, "Arias for Farinelli")

Tuesday, April 24
Taking a deep breath after the fund drive and letting loose with some wonderful long pieces...

• Zelenka: Capriccio No. 5 in G major, ZWV 190. Neu-Eroffnete Orch, Sonnentheil (CPO 999 629)
• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491. Stefan Vladar, Camerata Salzburg (Harmonia Mundi 901942)
• Madetoja: Overture, Op. 7. Finnish Radio Sym, Storgards (Yleis 0005)
• Schumann: Arabesque in C major, Op. 18. Jonathan Biss (EMI 65391)
• Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3, "Scottish." Chamber Orch of Europe, Harnoncourt (Teldec 9031-72308)
• Gershwin: Lullaby. Cleveland Orch, Chailly (London 417 326)
• Faure: Pavane, Op. 50, for orchestra and chorus. Boston Sym Orch, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Ozawa (DG 423 089)
• Fasch: Quadro in B-flat. Epocca Barocca (CPO 777 204)
• Fesca: Symphony No. 2 in D major. NDR Radio Phil, Beermann (CPo 999 869)
• Faure: Fantasy, Op. 79. Marc Grauwels, Belgian Sym, Vandernoot (Naxos 8.555977)

Friday, April 13 - Monday, April 23

Thanks, all who supported GPB during the membership campaign that wrapped up Monday. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Fund drives are always exceptional weeks here. We're all working and thinking and talking in overdrive, behind the scenes and on the air. It's a heightened state of being. It can be exhausting and frustrating at times, but it's a real high at others, when we get riffing on public broadcasting's purpose and those lines light up and the names roll in.

The five F's of membership campaigns, as I see them, are Funds, Feedback, Fellowship, Food, and . . . Fones.

Thanks again, music supporters in particular, for sustaining this unlikely, amazing institution.

For the drive I culled some of the most appealing recordings and rep from recent months' Midday Musics to re-air, then sprinkled in some concert tie-ins and new releases (including a sneak peek at the latest from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, music of Tallis and Vaughan Williams on Telarc). Each show also includes the recommended daily allowance of Mozart from our three-CD thank-you gift, Mozart 250: A Celebration, on Sony Classics. All Mozarts in this long post come from that set.

Working backwards:

Monday, April 23

• Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks, excerpts. Boston Baroque, Pearlman (Telarc 80594)
• Foote: Piano Quartet in C major, Op. 23. Atlanta Chamber Players (ACA Digital 20082)
• Mozart: Symphony No. 35, "Haffner": 1st mvt. Bavarian Radio Sym, Kubelik
• Maxwell Davies: An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise. Boston Pops, Williams (Philips 420 946)
• Bach: Cantata No. 34, "O Ewiges Feuer, O Ursprung der Liebe." Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, Gardiner (SDG 1212)
• Mozart: Piano Sonata in A, K. 331: Rondo alla Turca. Alicia de Larrocha
• Dvorak: Humoresque, Op. 101/7. I Salonisti (DHM 05472 77377)
• Rossini: William Tell, Overture. Atlanta Sym, Levi (Telarc 80334)
• Sibelius: Symphony No. 2: Mvts 3-4. San Francisco Sym, Blomstedt (London 433 810)
• Gliere: Bronze Horseman: Dancing Scene. BBC Philharmonic, Downes (Chandos 9379)

Friday, April 20

• Ravel: Tzigane. Grumiaux, Monte Carlo Opera Orch, Remoortel (Philips 422 274)
• Mozart: Clarinet Concerto: Adagio. Steffens, Bavarian Radio Sym, Davis
• Wagner: Parsifal: Good Friday Music. New York Phil, Mehta (Sony 45749)
• Glinka: Russlan and Ludmila, Overture. Augusta Symphony Orch (n/a)
• Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus. Augusta Choral Society (n/a)
• Vivaldi: Concerto in D minor for two violins, cello and strings, RV 565. Concerto Italiano, Alessandrini (Naive 30301)
• Hovhaness: Symphony No. 60 "To the Appalachian Mountains": 1st mvt. Berlin Radio Sym, Schwarz (Naxos 8.559294)
• Saint-Saens: Violin Sonata No. 1. James Ehnes, Wendy Chen (CBC 1138)
• Mozart: Serenade K. 361, "Gran Partita": Romanze. Bavarian Radio Sym, Davis
• Liszt: La Campanella. Marc-Andre Hamelin (Hyperion 67370)
• Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien. Augusta Symphony Orch (n/a)
• Mozart: Concerto for Flute and Harp: Andantino. Galway, Robles, London Sym, Mata
• Traditional (W. African): Djandjon. John Williams, John Etheridge (Sony 89483)

Thursday, April 19

• Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence. Ying Quartet (Telarc 80685)
• Mozart: Cosi Fan Tutte: "Soave sia il vento." Leontyne Price, Leinsdorf et al.
• Mozart: Don Giovanni, Overture. Staatskapelle Dresden, Davis
• Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A: 1st mvt. Zukerman, Saint Paul Chamber Orch
• Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 4: Rondo. Clevenger, Franz Liszt Chamber Orch, Rolla
• Schumann: Fantasy in C, Op. 131. Mutter, New York Phil, Masur (DG 457 075)
• Mozart: Symphony No. 25 in G minor: 1st mvt. Mozarteum Orch Salzburg, Kuhn
• Shostakovich: Gadfly: Youth (Romance). Ofer, Philadelphia Orch, Chailly (London 452 701)
• Bach: Oboe d'Amore Concerto in G. Abberger, Tafelmusik, Lamon (Analekta 9815)
• Chavez: Trio for flute, viola and harp. Southwest Chamber Music (Cambria 8853)
• Delibes: Coppelia: Act 2, selections. National Phil, Bonynge (London 414 502)

Wednesday, April 18

• Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus. Tolzer Knabenchor, European Baroque Soloists
• Tallis: "Why fum'th in fight?" Atlanta Sym Chamber Chorus (Telarc 80676). NOTE: This brief choral work by Tallis, setting the biblical phrase sometimes translated "Why do the nations so furiously rage," is the theme for the piece by Vaughan Williams that follows. Both performances come from the ASO's newest disc, just out this week.
• Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis. Atlanta Sym Orch strings, Spano (Telarc 80676)
• Infante: Danzas Andaluzas. Karin Lechner, Sergio Tiempo. EMI 58472
• Mozart: Don Giovanni: "Deh, vieni alla finestra." Thomas Quasthoff et al.
• Sowerby: Festival Musick: Fanfare. David Mulbury et al. (Marco Polo 8.223725)
• Mozart: Clarinet Concerto: Rondo. Robert Marcellus, Cleveland Orch, Szell
• Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 5 in D. Wispelwey, Lazic (Channel 22605)
• Offenbach: Tales of Hoffman: Barcarolle. Johann Strauss Orch, Rieu (Philips 314 528 786)
• Grieg: Peer Gynt: Morning Mood. Iceland Sym Orch, Engeset (Naxos 8.557017)
• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466: Romance. Alicia de Larrocha, English Chamber Orch, Davis
• Harbison: Gatsby Etudes. Aizawa (Naxos 8.559243)
• Harbison: Remembering Gatsby. Baltimore Sym, Zinman (Argo 444 454)
• Cobb: Rubber Plant Rag. Italian Mando-Rag Club (Naxos 8.557999)

Tuesday, April 17

• Mozart: Magic Flute, Overture. Mostly Mozart Festival Orch, Brico
• Marcello: Oboe Concerto in C minor. Mion, Concerto Italiano, Alessandrini (Naive 30301)
• Hatzis: Telluric Dances: Snake Dance. Lemieux, Symphony Nova Scotia, Gueller (CBC 5243)
• Mozart: Piano Sonata in F, K. 332: Adagio. Alicia de Larrocha
• Henestrosa: El libra de cifra nueva: Finale. King, Harp Consort (Harmonia Mundi 907316)
• Guarnieri: Four Pieces for Guitar Quartet. Brazilian Guitar Quartet (Delos 3245)
• Hahn: Venezia: "La barcheta." Joyce DiDonata, Julius Drake (Wigmore 0009)
• Mackenzie: Coriolanus: Entr'acte. BBC Scottish Sym, Brabbins (Hyperion 66764)
• Biber: Sonata "La Pastorella." Romanesca (Harmonia Mundi 907134.35)
• Chaplin: City Lights, Overture. City Lights Orch, Davis (Silva 1054)
• Sondheim: A Little Night Music, medley. Boston Pops, Williams (Philips 2606)
• Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante, K. 364: Andante. Lin, Laredo, English Chamber Orch, Leppard

Monday, April 16

• Rontgen: Aus Jotunheim Suite. Rheinland-Pfalz State Phil, Porcelijn (CPO 777 119)
• Serra: Variations for orchestra and piano. Brugalla, El Valles Sym, Brotons (Naxos 8.555871)
• Chopin: Cello Sonata in G minor: Mvts 3-4. Mork, Andsnes (Simax 1063)
• Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik: romance. Tafelmusik, Weill
• Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor: 1st mvt. Cleveland Orch, Szell
• Sibelius: Karelia Suite. Atlanta Sym, Levi (Telarc 80320)
• Liadov: The Music Box. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel (Telarc 60657)
• Wagner: Siegfried: Forest Murmurs. Met Orch, Levine (DG 447 764)
• Mozart: Marriage of Figaro: "Voi chi sapete." Price, English Chamber Orch, Lockhart
• Rameau: Le Temple de la Gloire, Overture. Tafelmusik, Lamon (CBC 5229)
• Mozart: Symphony No. 36, "Linz": 2nd mvt. Bavarian Radio Sym, Kubelik.
• Berlioz: Damnation of Faust: Rakoczy (Hungarian) March. Orch of the Swiss Romande, Ansermet (London 421 634)
• Smetana: Ma Vlast: Vltava (The Moldau). Vienna Phil, Harnoncourt (RCA 82876 54331)

Friday, April 13

• Glinka: Russlan and Ludmila, Overture. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel (Telarc 60657)
• Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F minor. Budapest Festival Orch, Fischer (Channel 21704)
• Mozart: Marriage of Figaro, Overture. Staatskapelle Dresden, Davis
• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 17 in G, K. 453: 1st mvt. Serkin, Columbia Sym, Schneider
• Bax: In the Faery Hills. BBC Phil, Handley (Chandos 10362)
• Shaw: Clarinet Concerto. Yeh, DePaul Univ Jazz Ensemble, Lark (Reference 55)
• Mozart: Exsultate Jubilate, K. 165: Alleluia. Blegen, Mostly Mozart Festival Orch, Zukerman
• Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 4: Rondo. Clevenger, Franz Liszt Chamber Orch, Rolla
• Fasch: Trio in F. Epocca Barocca (CPO 777 204)
• Ravel: Bolero. Royal Concergebouw Orch, Haitink (PentaTone 5186 167)

Friday, April 13

Please support classical music on GPB. Make a contribution at www.gpb.org or call 1-800-222-4788. Thank you! -Sarah, mid-fund-drive

Thursday, April 12

Tomorrow is lucky Friday the 13th, when our spring fund drive rolls into town. Come out and cheer us on! I'm looking forward to getting those calls, reading those names, and feelin' the love for the music. Maintenance of this page may lapse during the week-plus of the drive, but I'll be back a-blogging after the 23rd. Please remember that when you contribute to GPB, you're making possible programming like...well, like this:

11 AM

• Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4: Andantino. Budapest Festival Orch, Fischer (Channel 21704)
  
• Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D major. London Phil Orch, Alsop (Naxos 8.557429)

(Note: We'll hear the remaining movements of Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony tomorrow morning. Both the Augusta and LaGrange symphonies are performing Tchaik 4 this week.)

12 N

• Ravel: Miroirs: Une barque sur l'ocean. Angela Hewitt (Hyperion 67341/2)
• Leo: Cello Concerto in D minor. Mahler, Tafelmusik, Lamon (Analekta 9815)
• Mendelssohn: Octet. Georgia Chamber Players and friends (ACA 20102)

1 PM

• Hartmann: Axel og Valborg. Danish National Sym, Dausgaard (DaCapo 8.226061)
• Thuille: Piano Quintet in G minor, WoO. Triendl, Vogler Quartet (CPo 777 090)
• Fasch: Trio in E minor for oboe, violin and continuo. Epoca Barocca (CPO 777 204)

Wednesday, April 11

In radio land on this overcast day, Midday Music concludes each hour with a Romantic work in a minor key. I'm also giving you tastes of Steve Reich and Alan Hovhaness, two Americans influenced by musics of Asia. Hope it suits your palate.

O thou concertgoer, when not listening devoutly to thine radio, why not hie thee to these: Saturday the Augusta Symphony welcomes pianist Marina Lomazov for Tchaikovsky's sweeping First Piano Concerto. The LaGrange Symphony offers Marcello's Oboe Concerto with Melissa White and a Tchaikovsky symphony next Tuesday, April 17. Also Tuesday - what a deal! - the globetrotting Takacs Quartet trots through Athens for a free concert of Brahms, Debussy and Shostakovich. And the Steve Reich festival wraps up in Atlanta, the Adaskin String Trio and oboe-toting friend visit Auburn, and pianist Angela Hewitt plays Bach in Spivey Hall (see Hewitt's own blog).

11 AM

• Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 43 in A-flat. Fazil Say (Naive 5070)
• Gliere: Duets for Violin and Cello, Op. 39. Laredo, Robinson (Arabesque 6735)
• Davidoff: Cello Concerto No. 2 in A minor. Yang, Latvian National Sym, Mikkelsen (CPO 777 263)

12 N

• Reich: Tehillim: Parts 1-2. Ossia, Pierson (Cantaloupe 21009)
• Broca: Pensiamento Espanol. David Russell (Telarc 80672)
• Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor. Volodos, Berlin Phil, Ozawa (Sony 93067)

1 PM

• Vierdanck: Canzona in C major. Parnassi Musici (CPO 777 205)
• Hovhaness: Return and Rebuild the Desolate Places. Wallace, Royal Scottish Academy Wind Orch, Brion (Naxos 8.559207)
• Brahms: String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 51/2. Takacs String Quartet (London 425 526)