CD Reviews
Each week, our professional critics review the latest recording releases, from Bay Area music groups to international releases our editors think deserve your attention.
CD REVIEW
February 3, 2012
The strong-fingered, highly rhythmic, and coolly emotional pianist Joyce Yang chooses a crafty program for her debut disc.
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January 30, 2012
A magnificent, fantastically controlled string quartet marches up the mountain with four Shostakovich quartets, plus a heartfelt bonus work.
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January 25, 2012
A fascinating, rarely heard Czech symphony by Josef Suk meditates on death, and is well worth a hearing.
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January 20, 2012
There’s something for everyone in the music on a new two-CD set that explores a hidden (and openly honest) side of Shostakovich: his movie scoring.
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January 13, 2012
From butterflies to specters, an esteemed pianist’s rendition of Schumann remains fitfully two-dimensional, respectable but too tame.
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January 9, 2012
Joshua Bell with accompanist Jeremy Denk go for the poetry and beauty in Ravel, Franck, and Saint-Saëns.
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January 3, 2012
Top soprano Angela Gheorghiu records a homage album, while EMI repackages Callas's recorded legacy yet again — this time with a new twist.
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December 16, 2011
A CD resplendent with Liszt lieder stands among the finest recorded interpretations available.
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December 13, 2011
An artist who defies the stereotype: To play the violin and then the viola? James Ehnes sounds brilliant on both.
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December 5, 2011
Although benefitting from the usual excellent performance by eighth blackbird, Rinde Eckert and Steve Mackey’s Slide is still uninvolving.
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SFCV Previews
- Fri February 10, 2012 8:00pm