Per la Notte di Natale: Italian Christmas Concertos

Arcangelo Corelli; Giuseppe Torelli; Antonio Vivaldi; Francesco Manfredini; Pietro Locatelli

Concerto Copenhagen; Lars Ulrick Mortensen

Naxos

"These are excellent performances. So even if you’re not especially interested in Christmas music, you can enjoy these Baroque concertos any time of year."

https://www.wtju.net/per-la-notte-di-natale-superb-christmas-concertos/

Per la Notte di Natale: Italian Christmas Concertos

Arcangelo Corelli; Giuseppe Torelli; Antonio Vivaldi; Francesco Manfredini; Pietro Locatelli

Concerto Copenhagen; Lars Ulrick Mortensen

Naxos

"These are excellent performances. So even if you’re not especially interested in Christmas music, you can enjoy these Baroque concertos any time of year."

https://www.wtju.net/per-la-notte-di-natale-superb-christmas-concertos/

https://www.wtju.net/moritz-moszkowski-series-continues-sweet-orchestral-suites/

"These are exceptionally beautiful works. As with the first volume, the quality of the music here more than justifies this project. These are works that (in an ideal world) could easily find a wider audience."

Arthur Bliss: Mary of Magdala

The Enchantress; Meditations on a Theme by John Blow

Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano; James Platt, bass

BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus; Andrew Davis, conductor

Chandos CHSA 5242 SACD

"Mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly shines in “The Enchantress” and “Mary of Magdala.” Her voice can sound warm, with rich honeyed tones. Or it can have a steely edge to it, projecting a menacing strength."

https://www.wtju.net/sarah-connolly-shines-arthur-bliss-cantatas/

Josquin Desprez: Stabat Mater

Marian motets and instrumental songs

Cantica Symphonia; Giuseppe Maletto

Glossa GCD P31909

"These were motets written to inspire contemplation, and they do. Maletto’s direction shapes the music in subtle ways. The ensemble performs calmly, invoking a feeling of serenity."

https://www.wtju.net/cantica-symphonia-masterfully-perform-josquin-desprez/

American Gifts for Marimba Duo

Jack Van Geem and Nancy Zeitsman

Bridge Records 9534

"Jack Van Geem and Nancy Zeitsman are superb marimba players. I was impressed by the recorded sound and with their selection of music."

https://www.wtju.net/american-gifts-presents-new-music-marimba-duos/

Hans Rott: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1

Hamlet Overture, Pastoral Prelude; Prelude to “Julius Casar” Orchestral Suites

Gurzenich Orchester Köln; Christopher Ward, conductor

Capriccio C5408

"The Gurzneich Orchester Köln has a rich, warm sound that’s so well-suited to Rott’s late Romantic music. Rott never fully realized his potential. But the quality of the music in this recording show just how great that potential was. "

https://www.wtju.net/han-rott-orchestral-works-vol-1-potential-realized/

Agnas Zimmermann: The Violin Sonatas

Mathilde Milwidsky, violin; Sam Haywood, piano

Toccata Classics

"Stylistically, I’d place these works somewhere between Schumann and Brahms. But that’s just an approximation. Zimmermann had her own voice, and one I was glad to hear."

https://www.wtju.net/agnas-zimmermann-another-find-toccata-classics/

Henry Purcell: Royal Welcome Songs for King Charles II, Volume III

Harry Christophers and The Sixteen

Coro COR16182

"Not only do I recommend this release to anyone interested in early music, but I also encourage you the check out the other two volumes. They’re all that good."

https://www.wtju.net/harry-christophers-sixteen-new-purcell-release-welcome/

The Evolution of the String Quartet

Music by Giovanni Bononcini, Alessandro Scarlatti, and Maddalena Lombardini

Musica Fiorita

"Franz Joseph Haydn may be the father of the string quartet. But who was the grandfather? Musica Fiorita presents some candidates in this program of pre-Classical string quartets."

https://www.wtju.net/musica-fiorita-explores-early-string-quartets/