Alex Ross picks on eMusic again

Continuing a [tradition from last year][traditi], here’s what you can find on eMusic from the [list of recommended 2008 recordings][list of] published by [Alex Ross][Alex Ro]. (Note that CaptWhiffle also has Alex Ross picks for 2007 and 2008 as a [user list on eMusic][user li], something I didn’t notice until I’d almost finished this post.) - “[Crystal Tears][Crystal]”: songs of Dowland, Robert Johnson, Byrd, and others; Andreas Scholl, countertenor, Julian Behr, lute and Concerto di viole ([Harmonia Mundi][Harmoni]). This is 21 tracks (about half of my monthly allotment), but I like early music and the samples sound good, so this is a likely download for me. - “[Heavenly Harmonies][Heavenl]”: music of Tallis and Byrd; Stile Antico ([Harmonia Mundi][Harmoni02]). Same story as for “Crystal Tears.” - [Chopin, Preludes, and pieces by Mompou][Chopin]; Alexandre Tharaud, piano ([Harmonia Mundi][Harmoni03]). This is not on CaptWhiffle’s list, probably because it was released late in the year. - [Brahms and Schumann Lieder][Brahms]; Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, mezzo-soprano, and Julius Drake, piano (Wigmore Hall Live). Several releases on eMusic were also on Ross’s “honorable mention” list; some of these are missing from CaptWhiffle’s list: - [Beethoven’s Symphonies Nos. 2 and 7][Beethov], with Osmo Vänskä conducting the Minnesota Orchestra ([BIS][]). - [Piano works by Salonen, Stucky, and Lutosławski][Piano w], with Gloria Cheng (Telarc). - [Elliott Carter’s Quartets Nos. 1 and 5][Elliott], with the Pacifica Quartet ([Naxos][]). [Elliott Carter’s 100th birthday][Elliott02] was yesterday, so you can download this as a belated birthday gesture if you forgot to send a card. - [Volume 4 of Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas][Volume], with Paul Lewis (Harmonia Mundi). 29 tracks, but even the MP3 release on Amazon is \$27.49. - “[Now][],” The NOW Ensemble (New Amsterdam). I really like this album, and wrote about it previously in the context of the [indie classical scene][indie c] and the role of [New Amsterdam Records][New Ams] within it. New Amsterdam is attracting a lot of interesting artists to its roster (e.g., [Corey Dargel][Corey D], [Victrola][Victrol], [Build][]); some of them I find somewhat meh, but others I really like. Being able to cheaply explore releases from labels like New Amsterdam is one of the great things about eMusic; - “[Mothertongue][Mothert],” Nico Muhly (Bedroom Community/Brassland). I really liked Muhly’s “[Speaks Volumes][Speaks]” (not on eMusic), but after listening to this one a few times I’m still having problems getting into it. The [Sequenza21 review][Sequenz] captures some of my concerns. - “[Scattered Rhymes][Scatter]” (works of O’Regan, Machaut, Bryars, and Dufay), with the Orlando Consort and Paul Hillier conducting the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir ([Harmonia Mundi][Harmoni04]). Ross also posted a list of what he considers to be the [ten best performances of 2008][ten bes]. This is also interesting, and provided me at least one suggestion for future eMusic exploration. [traditi]: http://swindleeeee.com/2007/11/28/alex-ross-picks-on-emusic/ [list of]: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/tny/2008/12/alex-rosss-ten-best-recordings.html [Alex Ro]: http://www.therestisnoise.com/ [user li]: http://www.emusic.com/lists/showlist.html?lid=31865036&nickname=&cs=1#/profile/ajax/lists/showlist.html?lid=31865036&nickname=&cs=1 [Crystal]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Andreas-Scholl-Crystal-Tears-MP3-Download/11201029.html [Harmoni]: http://www.emusic.com/features/hub/harmoniamundi/index.html [Heavenl]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Stile-Antico-Heavenly-Harmonies-Music-of-Thomas-Tallis-Will-MP3-Download/11179072.html [Harmoni02]: http://www.emusic.com/features/hub/harmoniamundi/index.html [Chopin]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Alexandre-Tharaud-Chopin-Pr%C3%A9ludes-Op-28-MP3-Download/11144532.html [Harmoni03]: http://www.emusic.com/features/hub/harmoniamundi/index.html [Brahms]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Lorraine-Hunt-Lieberson-Schumann-Frauenliebe-und-leben-Brahms-8-Songs-MP3-Download/11299059.html [Beethov]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Osmo-Vanska-BEETHOVEN-van-L-Symphonies-Nos-2-and-7-Minnes-MP3-Download/11284386.html [BIS]: http://www.emusic.com/lists/showlist.html?lid=19746927 [Piano w]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Gloria-Cheng-Piano-Music-of-Salonen-Stucky-and-Lutoslawski-MP3-Download/11241811.html [Elliott]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Pacifica-Quartet-CARTER-String-Quartets-Nos-1-and-5-MP3-Download/11135708.html [Naxos]: http://www.emusic.com/label/Naxos-MP3-Download/110399.html [Elliott02]: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/arts/music/12carter.html [Volume]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Paul-Lewis-Beethoven-Piano-Sonatas-Vol-4-MP3-Download/11271832.html [Now]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Now-Ensemble-Now-MP3-Download/11181056.html [indie c]: http://swindleeeee.com/2008/02/24/now-ensemble-and-more-on-indie-classical/ [New Ams]: http://www.newamsterdamrecords.com/ [Corey D]: http://www.automaticheartbreak.com/ [Victrol]: http://www.myspace.com/victrolavictrola [Build]: http://www.myspace.com/buildbuildbuild [Mothert]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Nico-Muhly-Mothertongue-MP3-Download/11211078.html [Speaks]: http://www.amazon.com/Speaks-Volumes/dp/B00169YISO/?tag=frankhecker-20 [Sequenz]: http://www.sequenza21.com/cdreviews/?p=314 [Scatter]: http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Orlando-Consort-Scattered-Rhymes-MP3-Download/11198309.html [Harmoni04]: http://www.emusic.com/features/hub/harmoniamundi/index.html [ten bes]: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/tny/2008/12/alex-rosss-ten-best-performanc.html