Met Opera’s newest Carmen releases her debut album, violinist Chloe Chua makes her mark, and Gautier Capuçon jams with some of his cellist friends in this week’s roundup of the most notable new recordings.
“Aigul”
Aigul Akhmetshina, mezzo-soprano
Daniele Rustioni, conductor
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Decca
Whether you loved, hated, or were indifferent to Met Opera’s new Carrie Cracknell-directed production of “Carmen,” there’s no doubt Carmen herself impressed: Aigul Akhmetshina burst on the US opera scene with immense confidence and refined artistry well beyond her 28 years. Her debut album is like a souvenir from Seville and other roles in which the Bashkir mezzo has made her mark early in her career. In addition to “Carmen,” she includes arias from Massenet’s “Werther” and Rossini’s “Cinderella” and “The Barber of Seville,” among others. Akhmetshina proves again she’s a rising star worth your attention.
“Butterfly Lovers & Paganini”
Chloe Chua, violin
Mario Vengazo, conductor
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Pentatone
Another young rising star, violinist Chloe Chua, is a mere 17 years old yet already has one album under her belt. While her debut focused on familiar territory in Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” her follow-up explores more exotic sounds: “The Butterfly Lovers” by Chinese composers He Zhanhao and Chen Gang. (Figure skating fans may recognize it from countless pair skating performances.) Written for a Western-style orchestra and virtuoso solo violin solo, the work beautifully captures Chinese musical language through the use of pentatonic scales and melodies from Shaoxing Opera. Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 rounds out the album, showing Chua has the chops for virtuoso European concertos, too.
“Capucelli”
Gautier Capuçon, cello
Capucelli, cellos
Warner
Imagine cellist Gautier Capuçon getting together with a group of cello-playing friends for a jam session — nothing too serious, just a lot of fun — and that’s essentially what you get with this new album from Capuçon and graduates of his Classe d’Excellence de Violoncelle. Surprising works and arrangements abound, starting with a gorgeously performed cello ensemble arrangement of “The Flowers Duet” from Delibes’ opera “Lakmé” and meandering through Mancini’s “The Pink Panther,” Djawadi’s theme from the TV series “Game of Thrones,” and even the theme from video game Leagues of Legend. It’s certainly an album with broad appeal, filled with joy, humor, and some truly beautiful playing.
