Julia Bullock & Salome Jicia Lead New CD/DVD Releases
By Francisco SalazarThis week audiences will get to experience the debut albums of major stars and ensembles as well as the world premiere video recording of a Bellini opera.
Here is a look at the releases from this week that you simply cannot miss.
Walking in the Dark
Julia Bullock makes her solo recording debut on Nonesuch Records. The includes two large orchestral works, Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and the aria “Memorial de Tlatelolco” from John Adams’s “El Niño.” Bullock is featured alongside London’s Philharmonia Orchestra and conductor Christian Reif. Reif also plays piano with Bullock on the traditional spiritual “City Called Heaven” and songs by Oscar Brown, Jr., Billy Taylor, Sandy Denny, and Connie Converse.
The Harlem Chamber Players
The Harlem Chamber Players will release its first-ever commercial digital album. The Harlem Chamber Players performs “The Music of Adolphus Hailstork,” which features three chamber music works.
Carols after a Plague
The Crossing, led by Donald Nally, releases its 29th album on New Focus Recordings. “Carols after a Plague” brings together 12 composers to write new works for The Crossing including music by Tyshawn Sorey, Edith Canat de Chizy, Joseph C. Phillips, Jr., L.J. White, Samantha Fernando, Leila Adu-Gilmore, Nina Shekhar, Vanessa Lan, Mary Jane Leach, Alex Burko, and Viet Cuong.
Marva/Iolanta
The Bayerische Staatsoper releases a double bill on DVD and Blu-ray, Igor Stravinsky’s “Marva,” arranged for chamber ensemble by Paul Phillips, paired with Tchaikovsky’s “Iolanta,” in a reduced orchestra version by Richard Whilds. Directed by Grimme and television director Axel Ranisch, the production features singers of the Opera Studio.
Bianca e Fernando
Dynamic releases the world premiere recording on video of Vincenzo Bellini’s rarely performed opera “Bianca e Fernando.” The performance features the Orchestra and Chorus of the Opera Carlo Felice Genova led by Donato Renzetti, with a new staging by Hugo de Ana. Salome Jicia Giorgio Misseri, and and Nicola Ulivieri star.