10 classical albums inspired by love
Hattie Butterworth
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Love is our point of departure for exploring classical albums both new and old
A subject matter that pervades much of the pop music world, but also continues to be a source of inspiration for artists and composers in classical music. Moving through ballet, song and contemporary opera, this collection has something for just about everyone...
Daphnis et Chloe
Les Siècles / François-Xavier Roth cond
(Mecenat Musical)
Ravel's ballet based on the ancient Greek novel of the same name is his longest work, at almost an hour long. Following the naivety of the two lovers, Ravel's ballet showcases four distinctive leitmotifs together with passionate, lush harmonies typical of the impressionist movement.
Leoš Janáček String Quartet No 2 'Intimate Letters'
Pavel Haas Quartet
(Supraphon)
The second quartet from the Czech composer is based on his friendship with Kamila Stösslová, a married woman 38 years younger than him. Sending upwards of 700 letters to each other, the work reflects the character of the correspondence between Janáček and his unlikely love interest.
ECHO
Ruby Hughes sop Huw Watkins pno
(BIS)
Reflections on love and loss, this album structured around Huw Watkins's work 'Echo' explores the darker side to love - grief. Taking on the risk of loss, death and pain, Hughes's album brings together contemporary works with those of the classical canon.
The Romantic Cello
Natalie Clein cello Charles Owen pno
(Warner)
Romantic cello sonatas from Rachmaninov and Chopin soulfully performed by Natalie Clein and Charles Owen. The third movement of Rachmaninov's longing cello sonata deserves a special mention as it continues its position among one of the most soulful and emotional sonata movements.
Mark-Anthony Turnage A Constant Obsession
Nicky Spence tenor / Chamber Domaine / Thomas Kemp cond
(Resonus)
A contemporary exposition of love based on the words of five English writers from different periods – John Keats, Thomas Hardy, Edward Thomas, Robert Graves and Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The poems dwell on different aspects of love, brilliantly illuminated by Turnage's setting for tenor and ensemble.
And Love Said...
Jodie Devos sop / Nicolas Krüger cond
(Alpha)
This personal recital features love songs from the three countries that Jodie Devos has considered home: Belgium, England and France. 'A recital that bristles with life and love, at once engaging, beguiling and moving. Highly recommended' says Gramophone's Hugo Shirley.
A Poet's Love
Timothy Ridout vla/ Frank Dupree pno
(Harmonia Mundi)
In Ridout's premiere recording for Harmonia Mundi, the young violist showcases the huge expressive range of the viola, with selections from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and their own transcription of Schumann’s Dichterliebe. The 'Balcony Scene' from Romeo and Juliet deserves a particular recommendation!
George Benjamin Lessons in Love and Violence
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra / George Benjamin cond
(Nimbus)
'In the telling of this oppressive story Benjamin and Crimp are as one. Like Crimp’s text, the music is a model of clarity on the surface, while suggesting an undercurrent of evil, which wells up powerfully in the interludes.'
Love Songs
Angela Hewitt pno
(Hyperion)
Hewitt's personal piano album begins with a passionate account of the Schumann-Liszt ‘Widmung’, widely regarded as one of the greatest piano transcriptions of all time. The remaining love songs are largely transcriptions of vocal music and Hewitt herself explains the motivation for the album as being due to the coronavirus lockdowns of 2020/21: 'It means a lot to me to present you with this recording especially as it was made during a time of great isolation for us all. Love is what keeps us going – love in all its forms.’
Schumann Dichterliebe
Ian Bostridge ten / Julius Drake pno
(EMI)
Winner of Gramophone's 'solo vocal' award in 1998, this album from Ian Bostridge and Julius Drake includes one of Robert Schumann's best known song cycles, 'Dichterliebe' (A Poet's Love) with text by Heinrich Heine. Bostridge's personal account of this work is sure to tug on the heart strings.
