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The Chronicle Review Corner

Kawamura plays beautifully on this collection of tunes, although it is perhaps a little too well mannered; it’s either for relaxing or zoning out to, not least because it’s often quiet. It’s not po-faced though; there is a fun version of “Peer Gynt’s” “Hall of the Mountain King”, which starts off with an air of playfulness before ending in a speed that is comically ridiculous, the piano equivalent of a rock guitarist shredding.

The album opens with the nostalgic and reflective “October”, Op. 37a No. 10, from Tchaikovsky’s cycle “The Seasons”, a downbeat start. Sibelius’s “Etude”, Op. 76 No. 2, and Brahms’s “Hungarian Dance” are both livelier, the former very crisply played and pleasurable to listen to, the latter louder and more muscular.

Six preludes from Chopin follow, offering a range of styles from dramatic to gentle. What might be side two includes one of Kawamura’s own pieces, “Variations”, one of the gentler pieces.

The highlights are side two: “Clair du Lune”, the aforementioned “Mountain King” and a romantic take on “Ave Maria”.

—Jem Condliffe

@divineartrecordingsgroup

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On 10 October, Métier is thrilled to present Michael Finnissy: Organ Works from acclaimed American organist Forrest Eimold! Don't miss Paul Hindmarsh's marvelous new piece in Classical Music Magazine on the importance of Britain's Brass Bands. A great primer for our new release, Discovering Wilfred Heaton! 3️⃣ Tracks from the 3 October release, Discovering Wilfred Heaton, are #nowplaying on Apple Music Classical and more! Don't miss both of our new Métier new releases on Deezer's New Classical Picks Playlist! ▶️ Listen now in our bio link. Today, Métier presents a “monumental” (The Wire) 4-disc box set from pianist Ian Pace in commanding performances of music by composer Michael Finnissy (b. 1946). On all platforms today at listn.fm/finnissypiano Métier Records is thrilled to release “Because They Have Songs” from composer Edward Cowie and featuring Gerard McChrystal and Richard Shaw! Out now on all platforms ▶️ listn.fm/becausetheyhavesongs “This monumental piano release features Michael Finnissy’s Verdi Transcriptions plus English Country-Tunes, and other compositions inspired by 19th century music. Soloist Ian Pace is a leading interpreter of Finnissy’s work, and has played his complete output for piano. Finnissy’s output is prolific, political and complex – he’s a leading late modernist.… luxuriant but challenging textures of the school often called new complexity.” —Andy Hamilton, The Wire Marvelous new MusicWeb International review for Edward Cowie: Because They Have Songs, before its release this Friday! “Buller is a composer who knows how to imbue feelings with ample warmth, colour and tension that keep the ear immersed in his sonic worlds. The musical language is largely tonal, with some roots in sacred choral traditions, yet with sufficient harmonic pungency to provide underpinnings of meaning to Leah Lax’s empathetic, urgent texts in the two extended works.… Conspirare, led by founding Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson, respond to all of Buller’s emotional gestures with utmost cohesion and flexibility, and the soloists – basses Michael Hawes and Simon Barrad and soprano Emily Yocum Black – are first-rate.” —Donald Rosenberg, @gramophonemagazine “This performance will stay with me for a long time; it is both exquisitely beautiful and inherently melancholic.” —Edward Breen, Gramophone on Haitham Haidar's #Zaytoun