Love and Death. The Queensland Orchestra. ABC Classics CD
The Queensland Orchestra, conducted by Johannes Fritsch, acquits itself well in nicely recorded performances of this sequence of compositions near the last decade of the 19th century that marked Strauss' maturing and dramatic arrival on the concert stage.
These works rely on orchestral colour and dramatic effects. While this orchestra sounds precise it lacks the elements of brilliance and flamboyance, especially in the brass section, which this music seems to demand.
Only in the final item Death and Transfiguration does the brass really show its muscles, blazing through in style.
But these are three mighty stories.
Verdict: Tone poems worth hearing.
Arie Napoletane. Max Emanuel Cencic (countertenor). Decca CD
Maxim Emelyanychev conducts, and is harpsichord soloist, with the Venice baroque group Il Pomo d'Oro that provides accompaniment to arias by Porpora, Vinci and their contemporaries written for the superbly talented castrati of the day.
Porpora's Quel vasto, quel hero opens with changing moods and coloratura; later in the recital the same composer's Qual turbine che scende provides a high point with its rage, complete with the dark imagery of a tempest in the accompaniment.
The booklet pictures the singer in extravagant poses with colourful brocade jackets and he also provides much colour in his voice.
Auletta's Harpsichord Concerto in D major is a fine finishing flourish.
Verdict: Good arias from Naples.
