> The Complete Musician (highlights). Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin). Deutsche Grammophon 2 CDs.
This double album is an excellent selection of the highlights. It includes first release of the first movement of her 1974 performance aged 11 playing the Prokofiev Sonata for Solo Violin. Within two years she was being nurtured as a soloist by conductor Karajan and is still in the top echelon of violinists.
Normally I deplore samplers but this is an exception: 23 tracks, true highlights of superior playing of showcase works by the best composers, with sympathetic accompaniment. They run from a Mozart Concerto 1978 debut to Brahms Sonatas in 2010.
Highlight: very brisk Vivaldi "Winter" (Four Seasons).
> Octopus. Chamber music by Anthony Ritchie. Various musicians. Atoll CD.
The opening violin melody symbolises an octopus gliding through water; sinister connotations and hidden depths in the music soon follow.
Divertissiment, bassoon plus a string quintet, performs Rites of Passage (2005) commissioned by Chamber Music NZ. The Nevine String Quartet plays Ritchie's 2003 String Quartet No.3, the longest work.
A Survivor from Rikohu (2006), inspired by a story about oppression of the Moriori, perhaps the most experimental item, was written for Alexa Still (flute, piccolo and Maori flute).
Recordings made in 2008 and 2009 were satisfactory and the music quite interesting.
Highlight: Octopus spreads its tentacles best.
