WQXR's Albums of the Week: Mahler with Blumine, Mozart at Home and Canadian Brass' Schumann

WQKR, one of Classcalite's favorite terrestrial stations at 105.9 FM, suggests three recent discs that offer a new spin on the well-worn: Mahler's Symphony No. 1 with its Blumine movement in tact; a pair of Mozart pianoforte concerti cut-back for the chamber; and Schumann's stuff transcribed for two trumpets, horn, 'bone and long-suffering tuba player Chuck Daellenbach.

Release Date: May 28, 2013
Label: LPO; Catalog: 70
Composer: Gustav Mahler
Conductor: Vladimir Jurowski
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra
Number of Discs: 2
Recorded In: Stereo

40-year-old Russian maestro Vladimir Jurowski presents a bracing rendition of Mahler's First Symphony. This live performance with the LPO includes the Titan's first second movement, Blumine, which the composer originally jettisoned. The explosive first movement horn fanfares, the trio's plodding folk dance, the wonderfully macabre funeral march and the blazing tumult and silky melodies of the finale--all crackle with both style and precision.

Release Date: Jan. 29, 2013
Label: Atma Classique; Catalog: 22532; Spars Code: DDD
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Janina Fialkowska
Orchestra/Ensemble: Chamber Players of Canada
Number of Discs: 1
Recorded In: Stereo

Hoping that Viennese domesticity would bank him some much needed funds, Wolfie often re-cast his concerti for regular, household usage. Ottawa's Chamber Players of Canada join Canadian Pole pianist Janina Fialkowska in such versions of Nos. 13 and 14. The single disc here also tracks the Ah vous dirai-Je, Maman piano variations and, of course, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.

Release Date: June 25, 2013
Label: Opening Day; Catalog: 7438
Composer: Robert Schumann
Performer: Eric Reed, Brandon Ridenour, Caleb Hudson, Chris Coletti
Orchestra/Ensemble: Canadian Brass
Number of Discs: 1
Recorded In: Stereo

Carnaval does a carnival in Op. 9's nine short pieces; Kinderszenen remembers childhood in Opus 15's three. Both were originally written for the keyboard. Transcribed for the instrumentation Robert Nagel helped to popularize by trumpeters Christopher Coletti and Brandon Ridenour, Canuck tubist (and lone original wolf) Chuck Daellenbach says the two have maintained "the musical heart of the work...while adding colors that the piano, even in the hands of the greatest virtuoso, can only hint at."

Tags

WQXR, Mahler, Mozart