December 1, 2010

UMS Artists In the Stores and On The Shelves

By Sarah Wilber

Making your lists, checking them twice…

With the holidays fast approaching, many of us are scrambling for creative gift ideas. When you hit the stores, consider the following albums recently released by UMS artists from this season.

Many of the artists who have already visited Ann Arbor this season released albums this year, including Rosanne Cash (The List), the Mariinsky Orchestra with Denis Matsuev (Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini), and the Hot Club of Detroit (It’s About That Time). In addition, the Tallis Scholars (Josquin Masses – Missa Malheur me bat & Missa Fortuna desperata), the Jerusalem Quartet (Haydn: String Quarters vol. 2 – Op. 20 No. 5, Op. 33 No. 3, Op. 76 No. 5), and Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán (Estrellas de la Musica Mexicana) released albums in 2009. Were you able to make any of these performances from the fall? Consider picking up the album and listening to your favorite songs from these concerts again.

Looking ahead to the New Year, several of the artists still to perform on UMS stages have album releases that are sure to make great stocking stuffers. Laurie Anderson (Homeland), Renée Fleming (Dark Hope), and Rafal Blechacz (Chopin: The Piano Concertos) all released solo albums this year, and Wynton Marsalis, Vijay Iyer, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Pinero, and Tony Allen released albums in 2010 recorded with their bands. For those interested in classical music, check out the two new records from the Cleveland Orchestra (Wagner: Wesendonck Lieder/Orchestral Music and Piano Concertos and Miroirs), the New Century Chamber Orchestra (Live: Strauss, Barber & Mahler), and Bach Collegium Japan (Bach Motets) in preparation for their sure to be stellar concerts this winter.