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Ethelbert Nevin

[September 2025.]

“Musica da camera e per piccola orchestra.” Riccardo ZANDONAI: Var. comps. Trio Guarino, Orchestra da Camera di Trento, Giancarlo Guarino (cond.). Tactus TC 882480 (3 CDs) (www.tactus.it).

Rescued from neglect, a sizeable collection (concertos, songs, string quartet, piano trio, piano pieces). Light but not insignificant. MAYBE.

Elsa BARRAINE: Symphony No. 1 (1931); Symphony No. 2, “Voïna” (1938); Illustration symphonique pour Pogromes d’André Spire (1993); Musique funèbre pour la Mise au tombeau du Titien (1953)*. Alberto Carnevale Ricci* (pno), WDR Sinfonieorchesteer, Elena Schwarz (cond.). cpo 555 704-2 (1 CD) (www.cpo.de).

An electric discovery for the non-Impressionistic French camp, aligned with Roussel and Messiaen, self-possessed, dramatic and poignant. YES.

Jeanine TESORI: Grounded (2023). Cast includes: Emily D’Angelo, Ben Bliss, Ellie Dehn, Kyle Miller, Greer Grimsley, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Yannick Nézet-Séguin (cond.). DG 00028948680955 (www.deutschegrammophon.com).

Despite a scenario offering strong operatic potential, this dispassionate music’s contours and undistinguished tonality fail to persuade. NO.

Afred SCHNITTKE: Cello Concerto No. 1 (1985-86). Matt Haimovitz (vlc), MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, Dennis Russell Davies (cond.). Pentatone PTC 5187 342 (digital only) (www.pentatonemusic.com).

The composer’s near-death experience forged this hard-to-love concerto. Haimovitz can’t catch a break, yet I don’t see a repeat visit. MAYBE.

“Composer’s Notebook 5.” Alexey SHOR: Violin Concerto No. 1, “Seascapes” (2014; arr. 2015)¹; Violin Concerto No. 2, “Phantasms” (2018; arr. 2020)²; Violin Concerto No. 5 (2021; arr. 2021)³. Valeriy Sokolov¹, Nurie Chung², Marc Bouchkov³ (vln), Kyiv Virtuosi^1,2,3, Dmitry Yablonsky¹, Sergey Smbatyan², John Warner³ (cond.). Naxos 8.579143 (1 CD) (www.naxos.com).

A syrupy violin busies over docile string orchestra. Why is Naxos bothering which such insipid and puerile nonsense? Is this pay to play? NO.

“A Portrait.” Francisco COLL: Piedras (2009/10)¹; …de voz aceitunada (2010; rev. 2021, 2023)²; Taleas oblicuas (2023)³; Three Pieces ‘after Turia’ (2020)⁴; Liquid Symmetries (2013)⁵. Felicia van den End² (fl), Christopher Bowman³ (ob), Jacob Kellermann² (guit), Emlyn Stam² (vla), Małgorzata Walentynowicz⁴ (pno), New European Ensemble^1,3,5, Tito Muñoz^1,3,5 (cond.). Challenge Records CC720011 (1 CD) (www.challengerecords.com).

Mostly winners from a promising voice sampled before. Bright details, animated rhythms, form and scale treated unexpectedly. JUST SHY OF YES.