Franco Alfano string quartets, new recording

[eschiss1]

According to Presto Music, Naxos will be adding to their growing list of recordings of Alfano chamber works a new one, of his three string quartets, expected in late August- the first in D major (1918, but heard in its revision of 1924), the 1927 quartet no.2 "in tre tempi collegati" (in C) published by Universal Edition (as quartet no.3) in 1928, and the G minor quartet no.3 (...also published as Terzo quartetto, by the publisher Suvini zerboni in 1949).

Naxos claims these as premiere recordings, which seems likely.

(According to SBN he (or someone...) arranged the intermezzi from his first two string quartets for string quintet and published them as-it-says-on-the-can "Due intermezzi (dal 1. e dal 2. quartetto) : per due violini, viola, violoncello e contrabasso" in 1938... )

[John Boyer]

Wasn't he the composer who finished Puccini's "Turandot"?

[eschiss1]

Yes. If you look up recordings of "Alfano" "quartetto" or similar the few recordings containing those terms are mostly of vocal selections (eg quartets) including items from Turandot.

[tuatara442442]

Now there are some new orchestral music by him on naxos, including Suite romantica and Divertimento for Chamber Orch w/ Pno Obbligato

[Febct]

I've been a collector of recordings of Alfano's music.  Naxos seems to have a thing for him.

But, parenthetically, what the heck has happened to the prices on Naxos CDs? Amazon now wants upwards of US$20 or so. A bit lower on the Amazon UK, but shipping cost wipes out the difference.

Our once and future "budget" label has made it to the big time!

[Alan Howe]

Naxos releases certainly aren't bargain basement any more - I suppose that's inflation for you. While all price hikes are to be regretted, nevertheless I don't really regard Naxos as a budget label any longer - more like just below standard price. And when you consider (for example) that their latest release of Meyerbeer's L'Africana features world-renowned tenor Michael Spyres, they're not putting out bargain-quality material any more. Somebody once opined that Naxos would conquer the world one day. Perhaps that day has come...

[Febct]

Naxos' rise from bargain basement to the penthouse has outpaced inflation.  So it goes.

But you're right - or, perhaps, "somebody" is right.  When I scan my CD shelves, I see tons of Naxos spines looking back at me.  Tomorrow, the world...

[Alan Howe]

It's also the price you pay to get repertoire like Alfano. It's not as if they're putting out Beethoven symphonies with the Back of Beyond Philharmonic...

[Febct]

It's also the price you pay to get repertoire like Alfano. It's not as if they're putting out Beethoven symphonies with the Back of Beyond Philharmonic...

Indeed, and I'm not complaining, mind you.  Just taking note of facts.

The breadth of their catalog is inspiring and I've been introduced to so many, for me, formerly unknown composers on whose music I've taken a chance and have become a fan.  More power to Naxos - at any price!

Anyway - sorry to change the subject. 

[Alan Howe]

No, it's good to talk...

(I've been collecting Alfano too!)

[TerraEpon]

Naxos is easily by FAR the label I own the most discs of. They've been a true god send for both unsung composers.

Also I don't think anyone's mention the other Alfano recording they just released?

https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=8.574533

[tuatara442442]

Also I don't think anyone's mention the other Alfano recording they just released?

https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=8.574533

I did, so the topic resurfaced!