Category Archives: Playlists

Playlist – Josef Suk (born 4 January 1874)

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by Ben Hogwood

Today marks 150 years since the birth of Czech composer Josef Suk in Křečovice, south of Prague, on 4 January 1874.

Over the last 25 years or so, Suk, has enjoyed a mini-musical renaissance, thanks in part to the advocacy of conductors such as Libor Pešek and Sir Simon Rattle. Yet he remains a composer whose music still doesn’t get out that much.

Closer inspection reveals an innovative musical mind, proud of his Czech ancestry but taking in influences from the likes of Brahms as well as Dvořák, who, as well as being Suk’s teacher, became his father-in-law when he married daughter Otilie.

Suk wrote evocatively about nature and the seasons, but a good deal of his music was inspired by family connections, such as the piano suite About Mother, or Czech / Bohemian heritage and history, as in the large orchestral work Praga.

Hopefully 2024 will see more performances of Suk’s music, so that attached Tidal playlist will help set the scene. It introduces the orchestral works for which he is best known, but also some fine chamber and piano compositions. Get a flavour for the music for Suk below:

https://embed.tidal.com/playlists/a43b1560-a91d-48ed-8dd4-e0bb1393ba7e?layout=gridify

In appreciation – Maurice Bourgue

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Recently we learned of the passing of a maestro of the oboe, the French instrumentalist and conductor Maurice Bourgue.

Bourgue was not just a cultured oboist – he led a wind octet in his own name and was a respected conductor, too. This playlist celebrates his primary art, with works by Albinoni, Schumann, Elliott Carter, Saint-Saëns and Poulenc:

Published post no.2,010 – Wednesday 15 November 2023

In appreciation – Yuri Temirkanov

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This week we learned of the death of a legendary Russian conductor, Yuri Temirkanov, at the age of 84. Temirkanov enjoyed extended stints as principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and also the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. You can read in detail about his critical reception at the Gramophone website, but to complement it, here is a playlist of recordings loaded with his repertoire specialities from his home country:

Published post no.2,000 – Sunday 5 November 2023

In appreciation: Kaija Saariaho

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Yesterday we learned the very sad news of the death of Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho at the age of 70. Saariaho blossomed as a unique voice in 20th and 21st-century classical music, her music notable for its picturesque qualities and colourful, often exotic instrumentation.

Thankfully a good deal of her work has been recorded by the ever-enterprising Ondine Records, who put this playlist together in celebration of her 70th birthday earlier in the year:

Meanwhile you can watch Vista, one of Saariaho’s most striking recent orchestral works, in the performance below with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Susanna Mälkki

In appreciation – Menahem Pressler

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by Ben Hogwood

Yesterday the sad passing of pianist Menahem Pressler was announced, at the ripe old age of 99.

Pressler was a true great, a founding member and ever-present in the great Beaux Arts Trio. The playlist compiled below can only give a glimpse of his greatness, but it hopefully gives an idea of his musicality, technical ability and awareness. The trio by Haydn included here is a delight – the Beaux Arts recorded all of his trios – but elsewhere there is much to enjoy: