April 5th- 9th
Chopin: Complete Waltzes
Alice Sara Ott, piano
Starting off the month of April is Alice Sara Ott's debut album, the complete Chopin waltzes. Ott repeatedly impresses critics and audiences with her recitals throughout Europe and Japan. She's definitely a rising star to watch. Her recital of Chopin gems is the perfect introduction to the composer's bicentennial year.
April 12th- 16th
Mozart: Arias for Male Soprano
Michael Maniaci, male soprano
Boston Baroque
Martin Perlman, director
For Boston Baroque's 20th release on the label Telarc, the ensemble has united with American vocal artist Michael Maniaci, a true male soprano. This is their first recording together, as well as Maniaci's first solo recording with orchestra. Included are arias for male soprano from Mozart's Idomeneo, Lucio Silla, and La Clemenza di Tito, as well as the beloved motet Exsultate, Jubilate. The recording rounds out with two brilliant orchestral numbers, the overtures to Idomeneo and Clemenza.
April 19th- 23rd
Bartok: 44 Duos for Two Violins
Angela and Jennifer Chun, violins
Bartok's 44 Duos for Two Violins are a wonderful study in the integration of folk song into classical music. All but two of the themes are traditional, lifted from the peasant music Bartok gathered in his fieldwork. For this recording, sisters Angela and Jennifer Chun assembled a new grouping of these colorful miniatures.
April 26th- 30th
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos
Gewandhausorchester
Riccardo Chailly, conductor
Conductor Riccardo Chailly's profound musicality illuminates three of Bach's large-scale masterpieces here, on his first recording of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach for Decca. Collected on the first of a trilogy of discs to be released in 2010, these performances of the Brandenburg Concertos showcase Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra's expert soloists. Collectively, they celebrate the orchestra's renaissance under its charismatic Italian music director.