DCD 009 - Laurel Records: the Barshai recordings

This program we introduce a not-so-new label: Laurel Records. Laurel was founded in 1974 by noted film and TV composer Herschel Burke Gilbert, and is run today by his son. I've been a fan of Laurel for some time, and it's very exciting personally to be working with this distinguished label.

The Russian conductor Rudolph Barshai is well-represented with five Laurel releases. Barshai’s career includes work with the giants of Russian music, such as Shostakovich and Rostropovich, and has many highlights too numerous to mention here (although not here).

We sample three of Barshai's recordings with Laurel, and are offering all five for a special price on our website. Enjoy some great, unabashedly romantic music-making with this edition of our podcast.

And don't be shy about speaking your mind! It would be great to have some discussion about the music featured in our podcasts. Whether you love the music or hate my mispronunciations, send your bouquets and brickbats to info@dcdrecords.com.

- Ralph Graves
President, DCD Records



This program, we play the following:

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 5 in D, K.175, Mvt. 1
Sviatoslav Richter, piano; Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra; Rudolph Barshai, conductor
Laurel Records

Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98, Mvt. 2
Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra; Rudolf Barshai, conductor
Laurel Records

Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26, Mvt. 3
Mark Zeltzer, piano; Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra; Rudolf Barshai, conductor
Laurel Records

DCD 008 - New releases -- and a new label

Things have been hopping here at DCD recently, significantly impacting our podcast schedule (as if you haven't noticed). The good news is that we now have even more music to share -- and we intend to do just that. Look for a stepped up podcast schedule beginning with this show. Thanks for your patience and support.

This program we introduce a new label -- Champignon International, the home of the early music group, the Fanfare Consort. In addition to sampling selections from the Consort's two albums, we also give you a first taste of some new releases.

VGo Recordings has a new release featuring Grisha, a young guitar virtuoso from Russia. In addition to that, we also debut a cut from "Violin Solo, Volume 2," on Troubadisc. Renate Eggebrecht performs on the first SACD from this fine German label.

Circulation has continue to grow for our podcast, and we couldn't be happier. If you have a moment, drop us a line. I'd love to know where you're listening, and what you like (or don't). Send your bouquets and brickbats to info@dcdrecords.com

- Ralph Graves


This program, we play the following:

Girolamo Fantini: Sonata “Morone”
Thomas A Freas, clarino; Timothy M. Lewis, organ
Champignon International

Paco de Lucia: Taranta
Grisha, guitar
VGo Recordings

Giovanni Bonaventura Viviani: Sonata Prima per Trombetta sola
Thomas A Freas, clarino; Timothy M. Lewis, organ
Champignon International

Bela Bartok: Sonata for Solo Violin – Mvt. 2 Fuga: Risoluto, non troppo vivo
Renate Eggebrecht, violin
Troubadisc

Archangelo Corelli: Sonata in D major for clarion, two violins and basso continuo
Fanfare Consort
Champignon International

DCD 007 - Music of Tribute, Part 2

This is the second installment of a two-part program. Labor Records has released a series of recordings entitled “Music of Tribute." Each disc mixes music by a particular composer with music written by others in homage, dedicated to, or just influenced by that composer. Four discs have been released so far -- Heitor Villa-Lobos, Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré and Dominico Scarlatti.

The third volume is centered around Gabriel Fauré. In 1920, Fauré resigned as director of the Conservatoire, where he had worked since 1905. The French publication Reveue Musicale invited several of his most prominent pupils to write works to a collection that would commemorate the event. Contributors included Florent Schmitt, Georges Enesco, and Fauré's most famous student, Maurice Ravel.

The most recent release in the series is all about Dominico Scarlatti. Unlike the previous three recordings, there's no tribute collection that the modern works presented are drawn from. Scarlatti's elegent piano sonatas have influenced and inspired many composers throughout the centuries -- this CD presents but a small sampling of them.

These two titles, along with the first two volumes, are available from DCD Records, either individually or at a special price for all four.


And as always, I'd love to hear from you about the program. What elements do you like? What should go? Send your bouquets and brickbats to info@dcdrecords.com.

- Ralph Graves


This program, we play the following:

Fauré: Prelude No. 1 in D flat major, Op. 103, Vladimir Valjarevic, piano
(Labor)

Ducasse: D'un extreme lenteur - Vladimir Valjarevic, Ivailo Nanev, pianos
(Labor)

Ravel: Berceuse for violin and piano - Svetla Kaitcherva, violin; Vladimir Valjarevic, piano
(Labor)

D. Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, L. 486 - Viktoria Lakissova, piano,
(Labor)
Godowsky: Concert-Allegro - Viktoria Lakissova, piano,
(Labor)