PPI's new recordings roundup for February
Nothing soothes the soul during the dark days of February quite like music. (Especially if it's accompanied by a hot toddy!) So if you're feeling an acute case of the mid-winter blahs, be sure to check out these albums we currently have on rotation:
Andras Schiff's sprawling survey of J.S. Bach's works for solo clavichord
a breathtaking new recording of Vassos Nicolaou etudes from Tamara Stefanovich
and Mitsuko Uchida's elegantly brooding recordings of Schubert and Beethoven lieder with tenor Mark Padmore
ANDRAS SCHIFF
J.S. BACH: CLAVICHORD
Schiff thinks of the sound of the clavichord as an invitation into "a new world, a quiet oasis in our noisy, troubled times." And on a new album of J.S. Bach for ECM Records, he's bringing listeners even closer to the sounds of Bach's day in a collection of early works that showcase the composer's deep affection for this intimate instrument's expressive potential.
TAMARA STEFANOVICH
VASSOS NICOLAOU: 15 PIANO ÉTUDES AND FRAMES
A longtime advocate for Nicolaou's captivating music for solo piano, Stefanovich delivers astounding readings of the composer's etudes, teeming with thrilling rhythms and ethereal effects. Plus, the fabulous Pierre-Laurent Aimard joins Stefanovich for Nicolaou's Framesfor four hands, which Stefanovich calls "a true jewel of originality."
MITSUKO UCHIDA AND MARK PADMORE
SCHUBERT: SCHWANENGESANG / BEETHOVEN: AN DIE FERNE GELIEBTE
Two masters of German art song take on two of the most beloved lieder cycles in this magnificent live recording from London's Wigmore Hall. Written just a decade apart, these cycles from Beethoven and Schubert offer a wealth of moods and emotions for Uchida and Padmore to bring to life in immaculate style, making this the perfect companion to sunny Sunday mornings and late-night listening alike.