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TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 "Pathétique" SCHUBET: Lieder ROSSINI: Petite Messe Solennelle Russian conductor Kirill Petrenko (b. 1972)\ was named music director of the Berlin Philharmonic succeeding Sir Simon Rattle. Petrenko has wide experience in opera and on he concert stage. His appointment has created new excitement in the Berlin community. Here now is his first recording since being named leader of the famous orchestra, Tchaikovsky's symphony No. 6. No specific performance date is provided, ad engineers have provided a smooth audio picture with little use of rear speakers. Brass is quite subdued, perhaps because of the engineering. The BPO has made memorable recordings of this popular symphony in the past, notably by Wilhelm Furtwängler, Igor Markevith and Herbert von Karajan. This new one doesn't challenge any of them. Do not confuse Kirill Petrenko with another Russian conductor, Vasily Petrenko (b. 1976) who has a distinguished career with leading Russian orchestras. He is best-known for his association with he Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra which he has led since 2001. During his tenure he has made a remarkable series of recordings including Shostakovich orchestral works and Tchaikovsky symphonies. Many of these have been praised on this site. German soprano Anna Lucia Richter is an exciting young singer on the international scene. She already has appeared with major orchestras and conductors including Bernard Haitink and Riccardo Chailly, and is a favorite at the Lucerne and other festivals. Her opera career so far focuses on Mozart and early music; I'm sure more dramatic roles will soon appear. Richter is particularly fond of lieder, and we can her on the generous new Pentatone SACD (TT:80:∞8). She sings a wide variety of lieder, the major work is Der Hirt dur dem Felsen in which she is joined by clarinetist Matthias Schorn. The recordings were made May 2018 in MCO Studio 1 in Hilversum and the engineering team has provided a very realistic audio picture. Complete texts and translations are When Rossini composed his Petite Messe S solenelle (1863-1867 ), he was in "retirement" after delighting audiences with his many operas, both comic (Barber of Seville) and serious (William Tell). After completing it, he wrote, " Is this sacred music which I have written or music of the devil? Surely there is nothing Mephistophelean about this lovely score. Rossini originally wrote it for soloists,forte pianos and small chorus—perhaps that explains why he called it "petite." He later orchestrated it, and that is what is heard on this splendid new recording. This music isn't heard very often although there are about a dozen recordings including ones led by Ricardo Chailly and Riccardo Muti This new version is excellent in every way with first-class soloists. Gustavo Gimeno has been Music Director of the Luxemburg bourg Orchestra since 2015 and Pentatone already has issued a number of recordings of varied repertory. The recording was made March 2018 in Luxembourg's Philharmonie and engineer have provided a most realistic sound, Complete text and translations are included. R.E.B. (June 2019) |