It’s already December again. For some years I’ve posted recommendations for recent BluRay/DVD releases and CDs that might prove useful for anyone wondering what to buy as gifts for Christmas. Since they seem to have been fairly popular posts, I’m doing so again – and I’ve added a couple of books, too. (Please note that this is not my best-of-2023 list; that will come at the end of the year and will probably range more widely in terms of some of my more ‘specialist’ – eccentric? – tastes.) Even if some of the films and music releases here are not exactly mainstream, they are ‘accessible’ for anyone with an interest in the arts. I myself always find choosing presents dispiritingly difficult, and am always on the lookout for ideas from friends. It’s in that spirit that I hope some of the suggestions below might be helpful. (Or you could of course just treat yourself!)
NEW BLURAYS/DVDS
(I confess I contributed to the extras for a couple of the following releases, but I am recommending them – and contributed to the extras – because I consider them great movies. And rest assured I won’t get a penny extra for my contributions if they sell well.)
Ingmar Bergman Volume 4 (BFI)
Including some of the great Swedish filmmaker’s finest work of his later years, including Cries and Whispers, Scenes from a Marriage, From the Life of the Marionettes, Fanny and Alexander (picture at top), and the remarkable 1979 documentary Fårö Document.
Twilight (Second Run)
I wrote about this much acclaimed, strange but beguiling film here.
Thieves Like Us (Radiance)
Keith Carradine and Shelley Duvall (below) excel in one of Robert Altman’s most underrated and most touching films.
The Song of Songs (Indicator)
One of the great Dietrich movies, directed by Rouben Mamoulian, now not as well known as he should be but one of the most important filmmakers in 30s Hollywood.
NEW CDS
CLASSICAL:
András Schiff: Clavichord – JS Bach (ECM)
I wrote about this album here.
Stephen Hough: Federico Mompou – Música callada (Hyperion)
If you haven’t heard Mompou’s seemingly simple but subtly beautiful music, Hough’s wonderful second recording devoted to his piano music is a great place to start.
Lars Vogt, Christian and Tanja Tetzlaff: Franz Schubert – Piano Trios etc (Ondine)
The last album recorded by Vogt before his untimely death in 2022, here with his friends the Tetzlaffs in superlative performances of music for piano, violin and cello.
Danish String Quartet: Prism V – Beethoven, Webern, Bach (ECM)
I wrote about this here.
Florian Boesch, Malcolm Martineau: Robert Schumann – Dichterliebe & Kerner Lieder (Linn)
Two lovely song cycles in rich, powerful and marvellously nuanced performances by the baritone and pianist.
NEW MUSIC:
Thomas Adès: Dante (Nonesuch)
Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil’s Grammy-nominated recording of Adès’ first ballet score.
JAZZ, FOLK, ETC:
Graham Collier: Down Another Road @ Stockholm Jazz Days ’69 (My Only Desire)
Bobo Stenson Trio: Sphere (ECM)
I wrote about the two albums above here.
Tyshawn Sorey Trio: Mesmerism (Pi)
I wrote about this trio here.
Frode Haltli: Avant Folk – Triptyk (Jazzland)
I wrote about this album here.
Nils Økland, Sigbjørn Apeland: Glimmer (ECM)
I wrote about this album here.
NEW BOOKS
Laura Cumming: Thunderclap – A memoir of art and life & sudden death (Chatto & Windus)
Characteristically astute, stylish writing from Cumming about Dutch painting – and rather more besides.
Claire Keegan: So Late in the Day (Faber)
A short story, really, but packed with insights and cherishable writing.
notes and observations by Geoff Andrew 