q

Australia Maintains Status Quo

Australia's central bank maintained its interest rate and the target yield on three-year government bonds as economy experiences severe downturn after measures taken to stem the spread of coronavirus, or Covid-19. At the monetary policy meeting on Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of Australia board kept its interest rate at a record low 0.25 percent.




q

Indonesia's Q1 Economic Growth Eases More Than Expected

Indonesia's economic growth eased more than expected in the first quarter as the coronavirus, or Covid-19, outbreak weighed heavily on consumption, investment and tourism, official data showed Tuesday. Gross domestic product climbed 2.97 percent on a yearly basis in the first quarter, much slower than the 4.97 percent expansion seen in the fourth quarter.




q

Fire & Flower To Close Three Alberta Stores; Q4 Loss Widens

Canadian cannabis company Fire and Flower Holdings Corp. said Thursday that it will close three locations in Alberta under a restructuring plan, enabling it to deploy resources and allocate capital to locations with higher profit potential. The company also reported a net loss for the fourth quarter that widened from last year.




q

Cresco Labs Q4 Loss Widens; Terminates Acquisition Of Tryke Companies

Cresco Labs Inc. on Monday reported a net loss for the fourth quarter that widened from last year as higher costs and expenses offset strong revenue growth.




q

Interface Withdraws FY20 Outlook Amid COVID-19 - Quick Facts

While reporting financial results for the first quarter on Friday, commercial flooring company Interface, Inc. (TILE) said it has withdrawn its previously communicated financial guidance for the full-year 2020, due to the continued disruption of the global economy due to COVID-19, and the significant level of uncertainty created by the global pandemic.




q

Dentsply Sirona Withdraws FY20 Outlook Amid COVID-19 - Quick Facts

While reporting financial results for the third quarter on Thursday, dental solutions company Dentsply Sirona, Inc. (XRAY) said it is withdrawing its previously communicated financial guidance for the full-year 2020 as a result of the uncertainty around the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the business.




q

HMS Holdings Trims FY20 Revenue Outlook - Quick Facts

While reporting financial results for the first quarter on Friday, cost containment solutions provider HMS Holdings Corp. (HMSY) trimmed its revenue outlook for the full year 2020.




q

Avista Lowers FY20 EPS Outlook Amid COVID-19 - Quick Facts

While reporting financial results for the first quarter on Friday, energy company Avista Corp. (AVA) said it is lowering its consolidated earnings guidance for the full-year 2020 to reflect regulatory items, expected net impacts from COVID-19, and losses at our non-utility businesses.




q

E. W. Scripps Q1 Loss Widens, Revenue Up 47.5% - Quick Facts

E W Scripps Co. (SSP) on Friday reported net loss for the first quarter of $11.8 million or $0.15 per share, wider than net loss of $6.8 million or $0.08 per share. The company noted that its first-quarter financial results were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.




q

Alliance Resource Partners Says Q2 Results Will Suffer Due To COVID-19 Pandemic

While reporting its first-quarter financial results on Friday, Alliance Resource Partners LP (ARLP) said its second-quarter results will suffer due to the demand destruction caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.




q

Meridian Bioscience Boosts FY19 Adj. EPS Outlook - Quick Facts

While reporting financial results for the second quarter on Friday, life science company Meridian Bioscience, Inc. (VIVO) raised its adjusted earnings and revenue guidance for the full year 2020, despite the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the unprecedented demand for its Life Science products.




q

PPL Corp. Says FY20 Earnings Outlook Unchanged - Quick Facts

While reporting its first-quarter financial results on Friday, PPL Corp. (PPL) said that through the end of the first quarter, it remained on track to achieve its fiscal 2020 earnings forecast of $2.40 to $2.60 per share.




q

Stock Alert: Inphi Up 8% On Q1 Results, Outlook

Shares of Inphi Corp. (IPHI), a provider of analog and mixed signal semiconductor solutions, are rising more than 8 percent or $8.43 in Friday's morning trade at $107.40 after the company's net loss for the first quarter narrowed and it provided an upbeat outlook for the second quarter. The stock has traded in a range of $39.34 to $116.98 in the past 52 weeks.




q

AES Lowers FY20 Adj. EPS Outlook Amid COVID-19 - Quick Facts

While reporting financial results for the first quarter on Thursday, power company AES Corp. (AES) lowered its adjusted earnings guidance for the full-year 2020, due to the COVID-19-related economic slowdown.




q

Raytheon Technologies Suspends FY20 Outlook Amid COVID-19 - Quick Facts

While reporting financial results for the first quarter on Thursday, aerospace and defense company Raytheon Technologies Corp. (RTX) said it is not providing an outlook at this time, due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding the scope, severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.




q

Quanta Services Slashes FY20 Outlook Amid COVID-19 - Quick Facts

While reporting financial results for the first quarter on Thursday, Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR) slashed its earnings and revenue guidance for the full-year 2020, reflecting the estimated impact of COVID-19 and other factors on operations.




q

Charles River Labs Cuts FY20 Outlook Amid COVID-19 - Quick Facts

While reporting financial results for the first quarter on Thursday, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) slashed its earnings and revenue growth guidance for the full-year 2020, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and its expected impact on the operations, client demand, and financial results.




q

Stericycle Withdraws FY20 Outlook - Quick Facts

While reporting financial results for the first quarter on Thursday, Stericycle, Inc. (SRCL) said it is withdrawing its financial guidance for the full-year 2020 communicated on February 27, 2020, due to the magnitude and duration of the uncertain economic outlook in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.




q

Cooper Tire & Rubber Withdraws FY20 Outlook Amid COVID-19 - Quick Facts

While reporting financial results for the first quarter on Thursday, tire maker Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. (CTB) said it is withdrawing its previously announced financial guidance issued on February 24 for the full-year 2020, due to the rapidly evolving environment and continued uncertainties resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.




q

Bristol-Myers Q1 Results Beat View; Cuts 2020 GAAP Profit Outlook

Biopharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) reported a loss in the first quarter, compared to profit last year. The company cut its GAAP earnings per share and revenue outlook for fiscal year 2020. But it reaffirmed annual adjusted profit guidance.




q

Insight Enterprises Withdraws FY20 Outlook Amid COVID-19 - Quick Facts

While reporting financial results for the first quarter on Thursday, technology company Insight Enterprises, Inc. (NSIT) said it is withdrawing its 2020 financial guidance for net sales and adjusted earnings per share due to the high level of economic uncertainty and disruption caused by COVID-19.




q

Hain Celestial Q3 Profit From Cont. Ops. Surges; Raises FY20 Earnings Outlook

Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (HAIN), an organic and natural products company, on Thursday reported net income from continuing operations for the third quarter of $25.04 million or $0.24 per share, up sharply from $8.78 million or $0.08 per share in the prior-year period.




q

Atlas Air Worldwide Withdraws FY20 Outlook Amid COVID-19 - Quick Facts

While reporting financial results for the first quarter on Thursday, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (AAWW) is providing an outlook for the second quarter of 2020, but its full-year 2020 guidance provided on February 20 of this year no longer applies, and we will provide updates as the year progresses.




q

Laureate Education Q1 Profit Falls; Updates FY20 Outlook - Quick Facts

Laureate Education, Inc. (LAUR) on Thursday reported that its net income for the first quarter was $98.3 million or $0.47 per share, down sharply from $194.3 million or $0.85 per share in the year-ago period.




q

Uber Technologies Q1 Adj. EBITDA Improves; Adj. Net Revenue Up 18%

Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER) reported a first quarter loss per share of $1.70 compared to a loss of $2.26, previous year. On average, 31 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report a loss per share of $0.83, for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. Net loss attributable to Uber Technologies, Inc. excluding the impairment write-downs, net of the tax benefit would have been $1.1 billion. Adjusted EBITDA was negative at $612 million, up $257 million year-over-year.




q

U.K. Airlines, Airports Fear 'Devastating Impact' Of Possible Quarantine Rules

Trade groups expect the British government to roll out new coronavirus travel restrictions on Sunday, including a quarantine for out-of-country arrivals. And they're already pushing back publicly.




q

These Scientists Are On A Quest To Understand How Prevalent Coronavirus Is

A team of scientists at Oregon State University are trying to measure the true prevalence of the coronavirus in Corvallis, Ore., by taking a random sample of the population.




q

So, You're Not Talking Much In Quarantine. Here's How To Keep Your Voice Healthy

With social distancing, many people are speaking less and their voices sound raggedy. NPR's Scott Simon talks with speech pathologist Sandy Hirsch, about keeping the voice sounding as it should.




q

U.S. Labor Productivity Slumps 2.5% In Q1, Much Less Than Expected

A report released by the Labor Department on Thursday showed U.S. labor productivity pulled back by much less than expected in the first quarter. The Labor Department said labor productivity slumped by 2.5 percent in the first quarter after jumping by 1.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019. Economists had expected productivity to plunge by 5.5 percent.




q

EÖTVÖS, P.: Tri sestry (Three Sisters) [Opera] (Chenez, David DQ Lee, Egorov, Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra, D.R. Davies, N. Petersen) (OC986)




q

CASTÉRÈDE, J.: Flute Works (Complete), Vol. 2 - Ombres et clartés / Sonate en forme de Suite / Musique / Wind Quintet (du Toit, Doreen Lee) (8.573950)

Jacques Castérède was one of many composers who refused to abandon tonality and traditional forms amid the stormy avant-garde of the 20th century. The Quintette for winds was written in 1953, the same year that Castérède won the Prix de Rome, and touches of Gershwin appear among its witty colours. Neo-Classical restraint in the Sonate en forme de Suite contrasts with the grittier and more modernist Musique for flute, harp and string trio, and La Belle Époque takes us on a whistle-stop tour of Classical repertoire, parodying famous tunes by Haydn and Mozart.




q

BEETHOVEN, L. van: Fugues and Rarities for String Quartet (Fine Arts Quartet) (8.574051)

The string quartets of Beethoven are among the greatest works of their kind, but he composed other works for quartet which have been neglected. This album is dedicated to these intriguing rarities. Alongside the wild and monumental Grosse Fuge, in many ways the culmination of Beethoven’s achievements in the string quartet genre, this recording further displays his mastery of counterpoint by bringing to light brilliant yet forgotten original versions of his quartets Op. 18, No. 1 and Op. 131, plus six virtually unknown miniatures, including his Preludes and Fugues.




q

GÓRECKI, H.M.: String Quartets (Complete), Vol. 2 - No. 3 / Sonata for 2 Violins (Tippett Quartet) (8.574110)

The Sonata for Two Violins is one of Henryk Górecki’s earliest acknowledged works—its contrasts, instrumental rivalries and sophisticated technique a worthy rounding-off of his formative period. The Third String Quartet with its evocative subtitle ‘…songs are sung’ represents a culmination of Górecki’s preoccupations with elaborate and emotive melodic shapes and closely intertwined harmonies, its final minutes recalling the beauty and poignancy of the composer’s Third Symphony (Naxos 8.550822). The First and Second String Quartets can be heard on Naxos 8.573919, ‘a recording deserving of the very highest recommendation’ (Gramophone).




q

BRETÓN, T.: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 3 (Bretón String Quartet) (8.573037)

Tomás Bretón’s distinguished career as an opera composer and leading figure in Madrid’s musical life at the turn of the 20th century has tended to overshadow the significant contribution he made to Spanish chamber music. He remained true to the historic roots of the string quartet genre—his First String Quartet being a tribute to the Viennese tradition in its Classical poise. The Third String Quartet exudes Mendelssohnian inspiration in its first movement with overtly Spanish idioms, the Allegro no mucho third movement also having been turned into a version for piano trio as the Scherzo andalou. This is the first of two albums of the complete string quartets.




q

WEILAND, D.: String Quartets Nos. 4 and 5 (Melbourne Quartet) (8.574028)

British composer Douglas Weiland has long been acclaimed as one of contemporary music’s most outstanding composers for the string quartet medium, and his evolving cycle has won much admiration. Composed between 2011 and 2012 the Fourth and Fifth Quartets show him at the height of his artistic powers, where he seeks connections across time, and shows a Classical commitment to form, invention and melodic beauty. His conceptions can be Schubertian in scale and scope, while also displaying the influence of Haydn and Bartók.




q

LENNOX, C.: Female Quixote (The) (Unabridged) (NA0406)

Young, wealthy Arabella is obsessed with French romances: brought up by a reclusive widowed father in an isolated castle, she has educated herself through their pages, and been led to believe that their dramas and absurdities are reality. She blindly adheres to their example and interprets her everyday life through their lens, thinking that life consists of uncontrollable passions and murderous violence, and that any man would die for her. Thus she embarks on a series of hilarious misadventures, insistent on the reality of her imaginary world, like Don Quixote before her.




q

BURKE, E.: Philosophical Enquiry into the Sublime and Beautiful (A) (Unabridged) (NA0413)

In A Philosophical Enquiry… Edmund Burke sets out to define the nature of beauty and sublimity, and establish an objective criterion for discussing aesthetics. His definition of beauty as rooted in pleasure and sexuality, and the sublime in pain and survival, aligned him with the empiricists John Locke and David Hume, as he replaced the metaphysics of Plato’s aesthetics with a psychological and physiological perspective. According to Burke, the sublime and the beautiful are experiences that can be explained by biological and sensual factors; thus he proceeds to explain how smooth lines, sweet tastes and middle frequencies of sound can be considered beautiful, and the terror created by high mountains and dark forests can be sublime. These revolutionary ideas ushered in the age of Romanticism, and the Gothic genre of novels, with their delight in horror and fright, and continue to influence aesthetic theories today.




q

Podcast: The resurrection of a requiem. Randall Thompson’s choral masterpiece. (Apr 10, 2020)

THOMPSON, R.: Requiem Philadelphia Singers, David Hayes 8.559789 Join Raymond Bisha in a podcast of artistic discovery as he unveils yet another American classic—Randall Thompson’s Requiem. Reckoned by many to be his most ambitious work, the composer himself considered it to be his masterpiece, yet it has languished for decades on the periphery of the choral performance repertoire. This world première recording fr ...more




q

From the Naxos Blog: Drum roll for a teacher’s role (Apr 17, 2020)

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco I was on a plane a few months ago during which the choice of in-flight viewing didn’t immediately excite, but my eye was caught by a film about Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895-1968). Naxos and its affiliated labels have released numerous recordings of the composer’s works which, to be honest, I find much more engaging than I did the film. In fact, we chose a clip from his Cello Concerto Op. 72 as the intro and outr ...more




q

From the Naxos Blog: Reicha’s rich reach (Feb 21, 2020)

You have to pity those composers who got air-brushed out of the limelight during their time for no other reason than they were contemporaries of the acknowledged masters, and so had to live under the long shadows of composers such as Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and so on. Or, at least, it seems to us that they were unduly neglected. It’s nearer the truth to say that societies of their day did afford them recognition, but the passing of time has not been so acco ...more




q

Podcast: Nino Rota’s works for solo piano. A magical melting pot. (Jan 17, 2020)

ROTA, N.: Piano Solo Works (Complete), Vol. 1 Eleanor Hodgkinson GP827 Raymond Bisha introduces this new release from the Grand Piano label. It’s the opening volume in what is to be the first complete series of recordings of Nino Rota’s works for solo piano, performed by Eleanor Hodgkinson. Nino Rota embraced neo-Classical, neo-Romantic and even neo-Baroque affiliations. His music prized melodic directness ...more




q

Podcast: Richard Danielpour’s oratorio The Passion of Yeshua (Mar 13, 2020)

DANIELPOUR, R.: Passion of Yeshua (The) [Oratorio] UCLA Chamber Singers, Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra, JoAnn Falletta 8.559885-86 Raymond Bisha introduces Richard Danielpour’s oratorio The Passion of Yeshua, a 105-minute work for large chorus, six soloists and orchestra that takes the listener back to Jesus’ final day on earth, removing as much as possible the accretions of history since that moment in ...more




q

GOULD, G.: String Quartet / GULDA, F.: String Quartet in F-Sharp Minor (Acies Quartett) (Gramola99028)

Review by Guy Rickards
Gramophone, May 2020




q

GÓRECKI, H.M.: String Quartets (Complete), Vol. 2 - No. 3 / Sonata for 2 Violins (Tippett Quartet) (8.574110)


Review by Ivan Moody
Gramophone, May 2020




q

STRAVINSKY, I.: Rake's Progress (The) [Opera] (Equilibrium Young Artists, 2018) / HANNIGAN, Barbara: Taking Risks (Documentary, 2018) (NTSC) (ACC-20420)




q

LABOR, J.: Piano Quintet / Piano Quartet (Karmon, Sachse, Grimm, De Groot, Triendl) (C5390)




q

KAPUSTIN, N.: Saxophone Chamber Music (E. Blumina, P. Bruns, Clair-Obscur Saxophone Quartet) (C5369)




q

Chamber Music (Clarinet Quintet) - SCHIFF, D. / ROGERSON, C. / COLEMAN, V. (Clarinet Quintets for Our Time) (Shifrin, Dover Quartet, Harlem Quartet) (DE3576)




q

Opera Arias (Soprano): Bayrakdarian, Isabel - HASSE, J.A. / VIVALDI, A. / GLUCK, C.W. (The Other Cleopatra - Queen of Armenia) (DE3591)




q

TCHAIKOVKSY, P.I.: Piano Trio, Op. 50 / RACHMANINOV, S.: Trio élégiaque No. 1 (Mezzena, Patria, Ballario) (CDS7825)