Colin Maier, oboe
CMCD 001
ISBN# 0 6129733093 5
www.colinmaier.com
I had SO MUCH FUN interviewing Colin Maier (pronounced MYer). Look under the "Classical Chat" line-up to listen to the entire interview online. He has very interesting things to say about music education, creativity and serendipity. His "path" as an oboe-accrobat has been so unique, and charmed, and his resolve to take the stuffiness out of classical music so good-hearted, that he is a joyous new note in classical music. His CD is a mix of standard "classical repertoire, new compositions, jazzy works and performance art pieces... and read all the fine print on the cover... many hidden little jokes. Colin tours internationally as a member of the very popular "Quartetto Gellato," has worked with Cirque du Soleil, as an actor, and in one piece on the CD multi tracks on many instruements to form the "All -Colin Chamber Ensemble." Definitely NOT for those seeking "classical background music," this is his first "solo" recording and it is a refreshing break from the norm... as he is himself!
CLICK THIS LINK to see Colin's performance as
the mythic violinist at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9LT20ogbCs&feature=related
ON A CLEAR MORNINGMUSIC FOR FLUTE AND PIANO
Immanuel Davis, flute
Kathe Jarka, violoncello
Timothy Lovelace, piano
MSR 1356
ISBN# 6 8158513562 4
My delight of the week. Chamber music from the turn of the 1900s. Beautiful performances of some less known works by Gaubert, a contemporary of Debussy. Primarily known as a flautist, his works are considered servicable, if not ground-breaking or important and are certainly engaging and melodic. Albert Roussell dedicated one of his works to Gaubert.
& ORANGO PROLOGUE
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Master Chorale
D.G. 6868-02
ISBN# 0 2894790249 2
Shostakovich's excessively odd opera about a monkey who can talk (or sing, as the case may be - think "Planet of the Apes" as a short opera) is paired with his 4th Symphony. These are not the most accessible works of his. We played only a few snippets to give you a musical taste-test. The performances are, of course, world-class... so if this is your cup of tea, this may be both the only recording of Orango, and a very good one, for your modern music library.
Joanne Polk, piano
Bridge 9367
ISBN# 0 9040493672 2
This CD contains a nice cross-section of works by the Mendelssohns, with a focus on the works of Fanny. This seems to have been a labor of love of recognized piano virtuoso Polk, so it is a special gift from her talented fingers to us.
OF JUIDTH LANG ZAIMONT
Elizabeth Moak, piano
MSR 1366
ISBN# 6 8158513662 1
These are extremely challenging works, both for the pianist, and the listener. I would have preferred to hear these works mixed with more traditional or melodic works, especially as the magnificent ability of Moak is made very evident in these little known works. This one is not for the faint of heart.
Thanks again to Erin Sweeney, our S.U. practicum, who gets the CD pix and info. together for this posts.
Kara Dahl Russell