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Jan 10, 2025 | 
thestrad.com | Tim Homfray
A quartet to watch, as this inventive programme proves
The Strad Issue: January 2025
Description: A quartet to watch, as this inventive programme proves
Musicians: Malion Quartet
Works: Beethoven: String Quartet in F major op.59. no.1 ‘Rasumovsky’.
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Nov 29, 2024 | 
thestrad.com | Tim Homfray
An affectionate portrayal of a Romantic master at his most intimate
The Strad Issue: December 2024
Description: An affectionate portrayal of a Romantic master at his most intimate
Musicians: Maxim Rysanov (viola) Julian Bliss (clarinet) Dasol Kim (piano)
Works: Schumann: Fantasiestücke op.73 (arr. Rysanov); Adagio and Allegro op.70; Märchenerzählungen op.132; Märchenbilder op.113; songs from Dichterliebe op.48 and Liederkreis op.24 (arr.
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Nov 29, 2024 | 
thestrad.com | Tim Homfray
Performances of much-loved concertos are given with due drama
The Strad Issue: December 2024
Description: Performances of much-loved concertos are given with due drama
Musicians: Gautier Capuçon (cello) London Symphony Orchestra/Antonio Pappano
Works: Elgar: Cello Concerto. Walton: Cello Concerto
Catalogue number: ERATO 5021732264831
Gautier Capuçon opens Elgar’s Cello Concerto in fruity dramatic splendour.
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Nov 1, 2024 | 
thestrad.com | Tim Homfray
An evergreen concerto is compellingly reframed The Strad Issue: November 2024 Description: An evergreen concerto is compellingly reframed Musicians: James Ehnes (violin) Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra/Edward Gardner Works: Sibelius: Violin Concerto; Two Humoresques op.87; Four Humoresques op.89; Two Pieces op.77; Two Serenades op.69; Suite op.117 (JS185) Catalogue number: CHANDOS CHSA5267 James Ehnes is stylish and captivating in the opening paragraph of Sibelius’s Violin Concerto, from its...
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Oct 18, 2024 | 
thestrad.com | Tim Homfray
Profundity and spiritedness go hand in hand in this Romantic masterpiece
THE STRAD RECOMMENDS
The Strad Issue: November 2024
Description: Profundity and spiritedness go hand in hand in this Romantic masterpiece
Musicians: Vilde Frang (violin) Thomas Hoppe (piano) Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin/Robin Ticciati
Works: Elgar: Violin Concerto; Carissima. Lloyd Webber: The Gardens at Eastwell ‘A late summer impression’ (arr.
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Oct 4, 2024 | 
thestrad.com | Tim Homfray
A classic concerto is heard a fresh setting to moving effect The Strad Issue: October 2024 Description: A classic concerto is heard a fresh setting to moving effect Musicians: Raphaela Gromes (cello) National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine/Volodymyr Sirenko Works: Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor; works by Charnetskyi, Havrylets, Shevchenko and Silvestrov Catalogue number: SONY CLASSICAL 19802825742 This is essentially a recording of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, but it was recorded after the...
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Oct 4, 2024 | 
thestrad.com | Tim Homfray
A second volume of quartets impresses with its drama
The Strad Issue: October 2024
Description: A second volume of quartets impresses with its drama
Musicians: Calidore Quartet
Works: Beethoven: String Quartets: op.59 nos.1–3 ‘Rasumovsky’; op.74 ‘Harp’; op.95 ‘Serioso’
Catalogue number: SIGNUM SIGCD872 (3 CDs)
The Calidore Quartet is working backwards through Beethoven. Having already recorded the late quartets, it has now reached the middle five.
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Aug 16, 2024 | 
thestrad.com | Tim Homfray
Tim Homfray visits London’s Wigmore Hall for the performance of Brahms and Dvořák on 16 June 2024
The Gould Trio brought big-hearted, vibrant playing to the opening of Brahms’ C minor Third Trio, leading to dynamic dotted rhythms and a warm, syrupy second subject. There was some gentleness in the development, but this was overall a driving, dynamic performance. The players caressed the second movement with delicate, precise dotted-rhythm dialogues and some sparing vibrato.
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Aug 16, 2024 | 
thestrad.com | Tim Homfray
Tim Homfray visits London’s Wigmore Hall on 9 June 2024 for a performance of Smetana and Janáček
The Pavel Haas Quartet was firmly on home ground in this Sunday morning concert, with works by Smetana and Janáček. There was powerful rhetoric from violist Šimon Truszka at the opening of Smetana’s E minor First Quartet ‘From my life’, before giving way to the melting E major theme, floating and delicate, drawing the listeners in. The development was compulsive, with a thrilling drive to the climax.
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Aug 8, 2024 | 
thestrad.com | Tim Homfray
An album with a hauntingly powerful message about our planet
The Strad Issue: August 2024
Description: An album with a hauntingly powerful message about our planet
Musicians: Trey Lee (cello) Georgy Tchaidze (piano) English Chamber Orchestra/Emilia Hoving
Works: Lintinen: Cello Concerto. Piazzolla: Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas (arr. Lee). Schubert: Four Lieder (arr.
