NEW
Taylor Swift, 1989 (TAYLOR’S VERSION) (Mercury, $16.98) – The global year of Taylor Swift continues—besides the The Eras Tour concert movie (playing locally at the Avalon), Ms. Swift unveils her second “re-recording project” of the year, after the April release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). 1989 originally came out in 2014. As Ms. Swift writes: “To be perfectly honest, this is my most FAVORITE re-record I’ve ever done because the “5 from The Vault” tracks are so insane. I can’t believe they were ever left behind. But not for long!”
AVALON NOTE:
The Avalon will also be showing the new documentary, Joan Baez: I Am a Noise, next week for four days only, Monday through Thursday, October 30 through November 2.
EARLY HOLIDAY MUSIC
Samara Joy, A JOYFUL HOLIDAY (Verve, $14.98) – The young jazz singer phenom Samara Joy released a 6-song Christmas album. The rarely performed “Warm in December” (associated with Julie London’s 1956 take) opens the album. “Twinkle Twinkle Little Me” features pianist Sullivan Fortner, and the album ends with a live duet on “The Christmas Song” with Antonio McLendon.
Cher, CHRISTMAS (Warner, $15.98) – Cher unveils Christmas classics with guests Darlene Love, Michael Bublé, and Cyndi Lauper, among others.
Chicago A Capella, MIRACLE OF MIRACLES (Cedille, $17.99) – Traditional songs are mixed with new choral works for Hanukkah. The recording was supported by the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Fund for Vocal Recordings at Cedille Records (which is run by Justice Ginsburg’s son).
NEW CLASSICAL
Miloš, BAROQUE (Sony Classical, $16.98) – Classical guitarist Miloš collaborates with one of the world’s best Baroque ensembles—Arcangelo, directed by Jonathan Cohen—in works by Scarlatti, Vivaldi, Rameau, Handel, Weiss, Marcello, Boccherini, and J.S. Bach.
ARVO PÄRT: ODES OF REPENTANCE (Capella, $18.98) – Capella Romana present Pärt’s Eastern Orthodox choral works as a service of supplication. The service weaves in works such as the Kanon Pokajanen, Triodion, and The Woman with the Alabaster Box.
GRAMOPHONE AWARDS 2023 PART 2
Every year, Gramophone Magazine’s critics vote on their favorite classical CDs of the past season (roughly, autumn of 2022 to autumn, 2023), in categories, as well as conferring special awards.
Another winner, which we have on display:
Instrumental
Nurit Stark, BARTÓK EÖTVÖS LIGETI VERESS (BIS, $20.99) – Nurit Stark plays both violin and viola in a beautiful recital of Hungarian string works. Beginning with Béla Bartók’s Sonata for Solo Violin, she offers three successive generations of composers who wrestled with his legacy: Sándor Veress’s Sonata per violin solo; György Ligeti’s Sonata for Viola Solo; and Péter Eötvös’s Adventures of the Dominant Seventh Chord (in a world premier recording).