October 2018 Staff Picks

Our October staff picks feature albums and playlists that we’re listening to this month! Each featured release has been handpicked by our staff along with a brief quote. Want to listen to the featured release? Simply click “Listen Now” in each review section. Happy listening!

“It was a nice surprise for me to discover this great unknown Portuguese composer, especially on the beautiful piano concerto, very well interpreted by a fantastic Goran Filipec.” – Philippe | LISTEN NOW

“On account of BACHtober, I am listening to unCLASSIFIED’s Bach Essentials!  Perfect for anyone wanting to obsess over Bach’s prolific catalogue, but also perfect listening for your school or workday.  It’s one of those staples you’ll keep going BACH to…” – Natalie | LISTEN NOW

“My pick is the incredible Magnificat and sundry choral works from the Estonian composer, Toivo Tulev. I’m a big fan of music from the Baltic and I confess to not knowing his name before this fine Naxos recording. The raucous opening of the Magnificat, scored only for crashing cymbals, departs from the usual solemn adaption of the Magnificat text, yet is no less moving as a result. I look forward to hearing more.” – Sean | LISTEN NOW

“It’s wedding season!  I have several good friends who are getting married this year, and they are all deep into the planning stage. I’ve pointed them all to the unCLASSIFIED Wedding Day Classical playlist for some inspiration while they pick music for their big day. It’s full of great options—from familiar choices to some not-so-well-known options. It’s a great selection of songs to help make the happiest day of your life a little more special.” – Caitlin | LISTEN NOW

“Richard Strauss’ ‘Alpine Symphony’ is one of my favorite tone poems of all time. Depicting a mountaineer’s ascent to the top of a great summit, the work was inspired by Strauss’ experiences as a young man, when he and a group of hikers got caught in a storm while climbing a mountain. You can hear the influences of this experience in the music, which depicts different elements of the journey, including sunrise, sunset, an alpine pasture, a waterfall, and more. The Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra is in fine form and the recording quality is absolutely stunning.” – Kris | LISTEN NOW

“With this collection of concertos, Miguel Kertsman creates a compelling soundscape with unique orchestration, including the use of a shofar. Kertsman also pays homage to the music of Brazil in ‘Concerto Brasileiro’, inspired by deep cultural influences and adding percussive color from the traditional Brazilian pandeiro drum. An exciting journey!” – Jesse | LISTEN NOW

“I have been enjoying ‘Lullabies for Mila’, dedicated to Alessio Bax’s daughter, Mila. The album begins with a moving dedication: ‘This album is not only a carefully curated playlist of soothing classics to calm a baby and perhaps make him or her fall asleep quicker. It is also a gift from parents to their children, with the hope that they will share music with their loved ones, not just to entertain them but also to enrich their lives.’ It is a lovely collection of works by various composers played with passion and tenderness.” – Trudy | LISTEN NOW