April 3-9
Simone Dinnerstein's first recording for Sony Classical, Bach: A Strange Beauty, has the critically-acclaimed pianist returning to Bach, this time combining three transcriptions of his Chorale Preludes, with one of his English Suites and two of his Keyboard Concerti, again revealing her intense and expressive playing style, as well as her individual approach to Bach's music.
April 10-16
WFIU is happy to feature the next volume in the complete works of American composer Barbara Harbach. Harbach's chamber music for reeds, brass, strings, harpsichord, and piano are featured in here. Among the compositions are a set of dances for harpsichord inspired by Spanish flamenco, the blues-tinged Perambultions for trumpet and piano, and music for cello incorporating the American shape-note tradition.
April 17-23
This fourth volume of Gallo Records' celebration of violinist Ursula Bagdasarjanz is really more like two very different albums put together. On the one hand, listeners are treated to the sumptuous restored performances of Bagdasarjanz from the 1960s, including works from the Baroque and early Classical periods. The remainder of the album is devoted to Bagdasarjanz's original compositions for violin and piano, performed by Melanie di Cristino.
April 24-30
At age 76, Gordon Getty is a serious classical music composer in spite of having been pegged by Forbes Magazine as one the richest living Americans. This recording is the first collection of strictly orchestra works by Mr. Getty, being far more well-known for his operatic and choral works. Neville Mariner leads the ensemble in an overture from his retelling of the story of Falstaff, Plump Jack, the score to a ballet based on The Fall of the House of Usher, and a few delightful shorter works.