Used Bin Troll Tweets EEEE.

Ethelbert Nevin

[May 2026.]

“Symphonies & Oratorios.” Felix MENDELSSOHN: Paulus, Op. 36 (1836)¹; Elijah, Op. 70 (1846)²; Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 11 (1824)³; Symphony No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 52, “Hymn of Praise” (1840)⁴; Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, “Scottish” (1841-42)⁵; Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90, “Italian” (1833)⁶; Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 107, “Reformation” (1830)⁷. Julia Kleiter¹, Golda Schultz², Joël Necker², Christiane Karg⁴, Elsa Benoit⁴ (sop), Wiebke Lehmkuhl^1,2 (alt), Werner Güra^1,2,4 (ten), Andrè Schuen² (bar), Georg Zeppenfeld² (bass), MDR Rundfunkchor^1,2,4, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Andris Nelsons (cond.). DG 00289 486 8178 (7 CDs) (www.deutschegrammophon.com).

Who wouldn’t want to hear Mendelssohn’s own orchestra? Stop in for the five symphonies but leave with an appreciation for the oratorios. YES.

““2×33” for piano: Diabelli and Hercher Variations.” Franz HUMMEL: Diabelli Variations (2007); Hercher Variations (2017-19). Yojo Christen, Christoph Preiß, Alexander Maria Wagner (pno). TYXart TXA25199 (2 CDs) (www.tyxart.de).

Hummel’s Diabelli can be clangorous even as the original peeks thru. Hercher continues the windy jam. But counting down 2 x 33 is a slog. NO.

“Beethoven/5, Vol. 5.” Ludwig van BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 (1800). Caroline SHAW: Watermark (2018). Jonathan Biss (pno), Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Malin Broman (cond.). Orchid Classics ORC100433 (1 CD) (www.orchidclassics.com).

Shaw’s reinterpretation of Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto pleasantly surprises. Biss also seems more engaged in this dreamy rewrite. SURE.

“Undreamed Shores.” Michi WIANCKO: To Unpathed Waters, Undreamed Shores (2021). Stephen Andrew TAYLOR: Chaconne/Labyrinth (2020). Kati AGÓCS: Imprimatur (String Quartet No. 2) (2018). Jupiter String Quartet: Nelson Lee, Meg Freivogel (vln), Liz Freivogel (vla), Daniel McDonough (vlc). Orchid Classics ORC100444 (1 CD) (www.orchidclassics.com).

Committed and vigorous, but uneven musically, from four strings as costume (Wiancko, Taylor) to quartet as genre (Agócs). MAYBE OR MAYBE NOT.

“Complete Symphonies, Chamber Works.” Ture RANGSTRÖM: Dithyramb (1909)¹; Symphony No. 1 (1914)²; Vårhymn (1943)³; Symphony No. 2 (1919)⁴; Intermezzo drammatico (1916-18)⁶; Symphony No. 3 (1929)⁶; Symphony No. 4 (1936)⁷; Suite No. 1 (1912)⁸; Capriccio amoroso (1936)⁹; Poem (1942)¹⁰; Mälarlegender (1919)¹¹; Arioso (1942)¹²; Tre dansminiatryrer (1934)¹³; Ein Nachtstück in E.T.A. Hoffmanns Manier (1909)¹⁴; Improvisata (1927)¹⁵; Suite No. 2 (1920-22)¹⁶. Tale Olsson^8,9,10,12,16 (vln), Matts Jansson^{8,9,10,11,12,15,16} (pno), Holmen Quartet: Henrik Jon Peterson^13,14, Sarah Dodd-Falkebring^13,14 (vln), Lennart Falkebring¹⁴ (vla), Niklaas Veltman¹⁴ (vlc), Nörrköping Symphony Orchestra^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7}, Michail Jurowski^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7} (cond.). cpo 555 768-2 (4 CDs) (www.cpo.de).

An attractive repackaging: Working in the twilight of the grand Romantic symphonic tradition, a Swedish autodidact conquering the world. YES.

“Tesela: 30th Anniversary Basque National Orchestra.” Mario LAVISTA: Tres cantos a Edurne (2011)¹. Michael FINNISSY: Zortziko (2009)². Ivan FEDELE: Txalaparta – Folk Dance II (2011)³. Gérard PESSON: Ravel à son âme (2011)⁴. James DILLON: White Numbers (2012)⁵. Peter EÖTVÖS: The Gliding of the Eagle in the Skies (2011)⁶. Isabel MUNDRY: Calles y sueños (2012)⁷. Mauricio SOTELO: Urrutiko urdin (2011)⁸. Orquesta Sinfónica de Euskadi, Diego Matheuz¹, Andrés Orozco-Estrada^2,6, Andrey Boreyko³, Stefan Asbury⁴, Gerd Albrecht⁵, Joana Carneiro⁷, Ari Rasilainen⁸ (cond.). Verso VRS2143 (1 CD) (o/p) (www.verso.es).

A heavy stew documenting the BNO’s 30th birthday. Some pieces will probably endure (Fedele, Lavista, Pesson) others might wither away. MAYBE.