I came across quite a few cool people and things in 2009, and as the end of the year approaches I’d like to share a few of them with you. Enjoy!
1. Quatour Ebene – this urbane and sophisticated young French string quartet gave an amazing performance in Portland last spring, and their debut album on the Virgin Classics label is simply great. This recording is one of the top available of these three great works of French chamber music.
2. Belcea Quartet – this young British string quartet has an already recorded extensively on EMI Classics, and all of their recordings are highly recommended (especially their Bartok cycle), but I chose their amazing traversal of the Britten quartets and divertimenti, repertoire that is unjustly neglected and also given great performances on this recording. I hope that they are presented in Portland soon!
3. Gerald Finely, baritone – this Canadian singer first came to my attention in the MET’s simulcast of John Adams’ Doctor Atomic. He is a singer of the highest order, and his recording with Julius Drake of Schumann’s Dichterliebe is heart-rending.
4. Yeol Eum Sun, pianist – silver medalist at the 2009 Van Cliburn Competition, Sun is one of those young pianists who plays with a mature artist’s soul. Her encore at the Sunriver Music Festival of Bach’s Sheep May Safely Graze was a highpoint of the festival.
5. Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Zakir Hussain – I knew of these guys separately, but was not prepared for the amazing synergy of their combined talents and genius. Most of what they played with the Oregon Symphony at the beginning of this season is available on an album they recorded with the Detroit Symphony and Leonard Slatkin.
One reply on “my 2009 discoveries”
great to see you talk about the Britten quartets. i’ve been listening to them (especially #2) over the last week. my appreciation of his music continues to deepen over time.