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The Best of 2008 - All Classical Picks
 Here are your All Classical hosts favorite classical releases from this past year. Thanks to a special partnership with ArkivMusic, a portion of the proceeds benefits your station, so enjoy The Best CDs of 2008!
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John Pitman's Picks
john@allclassical.org
 Schubert: Piano Quintet "trout;" Mozart: Piano Quartet In E Flat / Zukerman, Bronfman, Et Al
This new RCA CD pairs two chamber music works which are just naturally beautiful in their own right. But this new performance is of extraordinary beauty and warmth. It has just the right level of energy without feeling rushed, and a wonderful attention to detail. The players are led by pianist Yefim Bronfman and violinist Pinchas Zukerman, and they sound like a group of old friends who know just how to bring out the best in one another.
Chopin: Complete Preludes / Rafal Blechacz
23-year-old Polish pianist Rafał Blechacz, winner of the 2005 Chopin competition in Warsaw, plays these preludes with more expression, warmth and freshness than I have heard in years with these extraordinarily original, beautiful and, sometimes, shocking pieces. Pianists with technical ability are plentiful; pianists who possess the ability to express themselves through music are very rare, and Mr. Blechacz displays it here.
John Burk's Picks
johnb@allclassical.org
 Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No 1, Etc / Argerich, Et Al
Martha is paired with cellist Mischa Maisky for some absolutely stunning live recordings from the 2006 Lugano Festival. I simply can’t recommend this music by these superb artists highly enough. And another thing—enhanced CDs are music CDs to which data tracks have been added. They’ll play on your CD player but in the CD or DVD-ROM drive in your computer, these tracks often include music videos, photos, liner notes, Web features, and other content. Bonus!
Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending; Tavener / Benedetti, Litton
A popular staple of the violin repertory (The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams) and several quietly transporting pieces by the contemporary composer Sir John Tavener. Featuring the hot Scots violinist Nicola Benedetti and the London Philharmonic Orchestra with Andrew Litton conducting.
Edmund Stone's Picks
edmund@allclassical.org
 Vintage Cinema - Music From King Kong, Robin Hood, Spellbound, Sunset Boulevard, Etc / Erich Kunzel, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
This is the 87th Telarc recording by Kunzel and the Cincinnatti Pops. It covers the first 30 years of Hollywood blockbusters, from "King Kong," "Robin Hood," and "Spellbound," to "Sunset Boulevard," "On the Waterfront," and "El Cid" We’re treated to Max Steiner, Miklos Rosza, Erich Korngold, Franz Waxman, Alex North, and Leonard Bernstein in this high-resolution CD, which comes with a descriptive booklet with notes on each movie.
Atonement - Original Soundtrack
This late 2007 release gained traction when Marianelli earned an Oscar nomination and subsequently the Academy Award in 2008 for "Atonement". The composer incorporates the sound of a typewriter, used sparingly but with great effect. The layered score is built organically and we’re treated to multiple simultaneous themes that work together but never interfere with the movie's direction. It's the second time pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet has worked on a Marianelli score—the first was the nominated "Pride and Prejudice."
Ed Goldberg's Picks
ed@allclassical.org
 Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Pinnock, European Brandenburg Ensemble
Pinnock first recorded the Brandenburgs 20 years ago. His reverence for the music has been replaced by a desire to highlight the new and daring quality of Bach’s music in its time. These performances do just that, approaching the material as though it were newly-discovered. I’ve enjoyed playing these for our listeners, and appreciate Pinnock’s fresh take on what have become warhorses of the repertoire.
Birds On Fire - Jewish Music For Viols / Fretwork
The title is something of a misnomer, as most of the music can not be definitively attributed to Jewish composers, and one ringer is a contemporary composer. The music was composed for the Tudor court in England at a time when Jews were officially banned from Britain, but whose music sneaked in as “Venetian.” The only overtly Jewish composer represented is Salamone Rossi, whose entire career was spent in Mantua. So, what do we have? We have well-played late-Renaissance/early Baroque music, and modern material which, while good, jars in context. Still, I like this CD for the period music, the good performances and the Rossi selections.
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All Classical SPOTLIGHT
Music for July 4th
Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, picnics and parades, but music-making is at the top of our list this Saturday. Sprinkled throughout the day are familiar tunes by Peter Schickele, George Gershwin, Amy Beach and others. Also, enjoy incredible singing by Austin-based Conspirare on First Impressions at 3 p.m., along with more American music on The Score, Chicago Symphony and Club Mod.
From all of us at All Classical, have a lovely holiday.
Carry the Torch
Mozart's Magnificent Voyage, Beethoven Lives Upstairs, Daydreams and Lullabies . . . these are just a few of the many titles in the award-winning Classical Kids Series. As part of our increasing commitment to you, throughout the summer you'll be able to listen to any of these delightful CDs any time you like at the touch of a button via our web site. Carry the classical music torch for the young person in your life. Share the magic of Classical Kids.
Click to hear all ten Classical Kids recordings.
Your Trip of a Lifetime
Spend 10 remarkable days learning about the history and beauty of South Africa with your All Classical host John Burk and our CEO Jack Allen. Visit colonial towns, premiere wine regions and experience your first safari. Call Mary at 503-802-9405 to join other classical music lovers on this small group expedition.
Click here to see full itinerary.
Notice Something New?
We're proud of our new partnership with renowned lifestyle and nature photographer (and Portland resident) Craig Tuttle.
Check out his iconic images of the Pacific Northwest at various places on our website and then discover other images at his website link below.
Click here to see more of Craig Tuttle's images.
Don't Miss A Beat
All Classical's printed newsletter, Clef Notes, published its last issue this month, but you can sign up for our weekly electronic newsletter, eNotes. Use the eNotes sign-up link below to receive all the same station information as the printed publication, but with added environmental consciousness. As always, if we can be of assistance, call the station toll free at 1-888-306-5277.
Click this link to sign up for eNotes.
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Fiesta / Dudamel, Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra
Mahler: Symphony No 8 / Boulez, Robinson, Wall, Botha, Et Al
Schoenberg, Sibelius: Violin Concertos / Hilary Hahn, Esa-pekka Salonen, Swedish Radio S.O.
Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven / Rafal Blechacz
Ravel: Complete Piano Works Vol 2 / Artur Pizarro
