Elliott Carter: A Nonesuch Retrospective, a four-disc set featuring the recordings of the composer's works made for the label from 1968 to 1985, was recently released in celebration of the Carter's 100th birthday. "Among tributes to the centenarian master," says the Sunday Times (UK) in its four-star review, "few are as nicely judged as this set of recordings made for Nonesuch." The Buffalo News gives three stars to "this exceptional four-disc box," asserting that the performances it features "give the music its optimal opportunity to be heard."
Elliott Carter: A Nonesuch Retrospective, a four-disc set featuring the recordings of the composer's works made for the label from 1968 to 1985, was recently released in celebration of the Carter's 100th birthday. "Among tributes to the centenarian master," writes the Sunday Times's Paul Driver, "few are as nicely judged as this set of recordings made for Nonesuch." The Times (UK) gives the collection four stars and calls attention to such works as Triple Duo, which Driver describes as "typically gripping and mercurial." Read the review at entertainment.timesonline.co.uk.
---
The Buffalo News gives three stars to "this exceptional four-disc box from Nonesuch." Reviewer Jeff Simon credits the exceptional performers who bring to life these pieces that are widely considered a challenge to play. Writes Simon:
"Tough to play" isn’t an issue for any of these performances that give the music its optimal opportunity to be heard. Under the leadership of the late Teresa (Tracy) Sterne and then Bob Hurwitz, Nonesuch has vigorously championed Carter’s music from the outset. Which means that the Nonesuch box goes all the way from the neoclassic “Minotaur” of the ’50s to his stern, powerful expressionist breakthrough first piano sonata and quartet to the works of the composer in his ’70s, including the “Night Fantasies” for piano, played by the estimable Paul Jacobs.
Read the full review at buffalonews.com.
---
The Detroit Free Press also gives the collection three stars, describing Carter's Nonesuch recordings as "the LPs that helped Carter find a foothold with the public." Reviewer Mark Stryker cites in particular the inclusion of the composer's "breakthrough" Cello Sonata as well as the "indispensible performances here by cellists Joel Krosnick and Fred Sherry, pianists Paul Jacobs and Gilbert Kalish and others." Read more at freep.com.
- Log in to post comments