For the Record, Op. 57: Violinist Ayana Tsuji; Cellist Amit Peled; Brook Street Band

May 31, 2018, 12:44 PM · Welcome to "For the Record," Violinist.com's weekly roundup of new releases of recordings by violinists, violists, cellists and other classical musicians. We hope it helps you keep track of your favorite artists, as well as find some new ones to add to your listening!

Ayana Tsuji

Live In Montreal
Ayana Tsuji, violin
Philip Chiu, piano

With this performance of the Sibelius Violin Concerto, Ayana Tsuji won the 2016 edition of the Montreal International Musical Competition. Described by Violinist.com as a "great discovery" and "an artist of consummate taste and persuasive musical power," she was also honored with five further prizes in Montreal, including Best Semi-Final Recital. The disc also includes her performances with pianist Philip Chiu of Stravinsky's Duo Concertante, recorded at the semi-finals, and Saint-Saëns' Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, taken from the quarter-finals. BELOW: Ayana Tsuji and Philip Chiu perform Saint-Saëns’ Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso:

To Brahms, with Love: From the Cello of Pablo Casals
Amit Peled, cello
Noreen Polera, piano

For this album, cellist Amit Peled performs on the 1733 "Pablo Casals" Goffriller cello, which was personally loaned to him by Maestro Casals’ widow, Mrs. Marta Casals Istomin. Casals performed Brahms’ F Major Sonata No. 2 for the composer himself, and recorded the Brahms Sonatas on the Goffriller cello in the 1930s. "This is nothing short of a dream come true," Peled said. "I am humbled and honored to record my favorite composer’s cello sonatas — two of the most beautiful ever written — on an instrument that shaped the voice of the cello in the 20th century. Maestro Casals’ historic and monumental playing of Johannes Brahms’ Cello Sonatas was last recorded on the celebrated Goffriller. My hope is that this current recording, in a respectful and glorifying way, carries into the future the beauty of Brahms and the epic instrument and legacy of our cello Godfather Casals." BELOW: Peled talks about the creation of this recording.

Handel Sonatas for Violin and Basso Continuo
The Brook Street Band

The Brook Street Band offers nine works composed over a span of 40 years, from the German-born Handel’s early years honing his style in Italy to his later years as a leading light in London. Founded in in 1996, The Brook Street Band is named after the street in London’s Mayfair where George Frideric Handel lived and composed for most of his working life.

The Brook Street Band.

If you have a new recording you would like us to consider for inclusion in our Thursday "For the Record" feature, please e-mail Editor Laurie Niles. Be sure to include the name of your album, a link to it and a short description of what it includes.

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