Timothy McAllister - Glint - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

An unrivalled compendium on disc of the Beethoven's compositional laboratory, full of experiments that would be refined throughout his career to create the piano's 'New Testament' of 32 sonatas. Under the title of 'early variations', Alessandro Commellato has brought together all those theme with variation sets for solo and four hands piano that were not included in the main catalogue of Beethoven's compositions. In fact not all of them are early the imposing C minor 32 Variations WoO80 are the best-known work here, composed as late as 1806, and the sets on Rule Britannia and God save the King were written a year or two earlier, and perhaps not only for commercially expedient reasons, given Beethoven's admiration for the British resistance to the proclamation of the French Empire. More common, however, are the variation sets where Beethoven was establishing his voice and refining his technique by exercising his imagination on melodies from popular marches and operas by Grétry, Paisiello and Mozart. The composer used these works to curry favour with patrons such as Prince Lichnowsky; even on occasion as dedicatory gifts in order to make amends for his notoriously obstreperous behaviour, such as the variations on a Dittersdorf arietta, 'Es war einmal' (Once upon a time) which he gave in the summer of 1792 to Eleonore von Breuning, daughter of Maria Helena, who had welcomed the young wayward artist into her home. Alessandro Commellato uses an 1823 fortepiano by Joseph Böhm, a Viennese piano-maker whose instruments were known to Beethoven, bestowing on this recording an unusual degree of authenticity. He is a specialist in historically informed performances of Viennese Classicism previous discs for Brilliant Classics include music by Beethoven's pupils such as the cello sonatas of Ferdinand Ries and piano concertos by Johann Nepomuk Hummel.

Schubert Reimagined, is a unique new album revitalising the music of Franz Schubert, featuring renowned cellist Josephine Knight, alongside the highly sought-after vocal group The Gesualdo Six, pianist Simon Crawford-Phillips and Timothy Jones on horn. The carefully curated repertoire includes the slow movement from Schubert's poignant String Quintet D.956, arranged for cello and The Gesualdo Six; the expressive Sonata for cello and piano in A minor 'Arpeggione' D. 821; and captivating Schubert songs delivered through innovative arrangements by Timothy Jones. The album showcases the unique blend of cello and horn, instruments with close proximity to the textures of the human voice, providing a natural musical partnership. With a special rendition of the iconic C major string quintet's slow movement featuring The Gesualdo Six, along with other masterpieces, Josephine Knight weaves a narrative that transcends traditional boundaries, creating a seamless amalgamation of singers and instrumentalists.

Nat Baldwin's forthcoming album People Changes is much like the stark Maine setting in which it was created. The album shows welcome markings of his experimental bent from years as the Dirty Projectors bassist and a former disciple of free jazz legend Anthony Braxton, but the serene isolation of 17 million acres of New England forestland make this cabin-born set intimate and sincere. A lean ensemble of talented, time-proven friends was enlisted for the studio-some dating back to his New Hampshire childhood-chosen specifically to create the album's earnest live sound.