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Bacewicz - Works for Violin
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Wednesday November
30th
Anton Bruckner (1824–1896)
Symphony No 9 - Budapest Festival Orchestra/Iván Fischer rec. 2021 CHANNEL CCSSA42822 SACD [55]
[RWe]
A modern view (so not unwelcome), enjoyable on its own terms - terms which include its cool objectivity.
Christoph Förster (1693–1745)
Concertos & Cantata - Concert Royal Köln/Karla Schröter (oboe) rec. 2018 MUSICAPHON M56982 [72]
[JV]
An interesting survey of Förster's stylistic development as a composer of instrumental music.
Charles Hubert Gervais (1671-1744)
Grands Motets Pour Louis XV -
Choeur du Concert Spirituel,
Les Ombres/Sylvain Sartre, Margaux Blanchard rec. 2021 CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES CVS073 [57]
[MP]
A very welcome disc from a composer whose works are receiving their premiere recordings.
Jean Sibelius (1865–1957)
Symphony Nos 3 & 5, Pohjola's Daughter - Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Santtu-Matias Rouvali rec. 2018–22 ALPHA CLASSICS 645 [76]
[RC]
Rouvali and the Gothenburg players deliver an excellent Sibelius Third and a somewhat restrained though still convincing Fifth.
Fritz Kreisler (violin)
The Bell Telephone Hour Recordings Vol 2 - Bell Telephone Hour Orchestra/Donald Vorhees rec. 1944–48 BIDDULPH 85020-2 [77]
[JW]
A second helping of Kreisler’s Bell Telephone Hour broadcasts.
Lisette Oropesa (soprano)
French Bel Canto Arias
- Dresdner Philharmonie/Corrado Rovaris rec. 2021 PENTATONE PTC5186955 SACD [65]
[GF] A winner in every respect and a strong candidate for my Recording of the Year.
Artur Rodziński (conductor)
At the NBC Vol 3
-
NBC Symphony Orchestra rec. 1937 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC669 [76]
[GT]
Obligatory for all who are attracted to historical recordings of this glorious period in American music.
Tuesday November
29th
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Violin Concerto Jakov Gotovac (1895-1982)
Kolo Symphonique,
Koleda - Igor Ozim (violin) Orchestre Philharmonique de Zagreb/Milan
Horvat rec.
1958/1961 FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR2079 [68]
[SG]
A welcome restoration of Igor Ozim’s Beethoven.
Leo Blech (1871–1958)
Alpenkönig und Menschenfeind - Ronan Collett (baritone), Hrólfur Saemundsson (baritone), Sonja Gornik (soprano), Aachen Opera Symphony Orchestra/Christopher Ward rec. 2021 CAPRICCIO C5478 [2 CDs: 125]
[PCG]
An extremely valuable and well-presented first recording of a neglected work which by no means deserves its obscurity.
Ronald Hannah (b. 1945)
Chamber works - CANADIAN MUSIC CENTRE PGM2102-2 [56]
[JW] A creative traditionalist whose chamber works exude lyricism and dance.
Matthew Kaner (b. 1986)
Chamber Music - Goldfield Ensemble, Mark Simpson (basset
clarinet), Guy Johnston (cello) rec. 2022 DELPHIAN DCD34231 [70]
[DJB]
Music that I found easier to admire than enjoy.
Gustav Mahler (1860–1911)
Symphony No 5 - Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Semyon Bychkov rec. 2021 PENTATONE PTC5187021 [71]
[DM]
A refreshing take on a much performed symphony delivered with panache and commitment.
Paul Paray (1886–1979)
Works for Piano Vol 2 - Katia Krivocochenko (piano) rec. 2020/21 CIAR CC006 [71]
[RMo]
A second volume of delights showcasing Paray’s melodious invention.
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Works for Solo Piano Vol 6 -
Piano Sonata D845, Impromptus -
Barry Douglas (piano) rec. 2021 CHANDOS CHAN20253 [82] [MG]
Douglas’ focus is ever clear yet the works’ variety is vibrantly revealed.
Monday November
28th
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Symphonies Nos 1-9 Gerald Barry (b. 1952)
Beethoven,
Piano Concerto, Viola Concerto, The Conquest of Ireland, The Eternal Recurrence
- Britten Sinfonia Voices, The Choir of Royal Holloway,
Britten Sinfonia/Thomas Adès rec. 2017-19 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD687 [6 CDs: 420]
[GT]
An important addition to the catalogue of Beethoven symphonic cycles.
Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
Choral Music - Joshua Ryan (organ), Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea/William Vann rec. 2021
SOMM RECORDINGS SOMMCD279 [76] [NB]
A unique and valuable collection, performed with skill and insight.
Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864) Robert le Diable (1831)
-
Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine,
Chœur de l’Opéra National de Bordeaux/Marc Minkowski rec. 2021
BRU ZANE BZ1049 [3 CDs: 216] [PSt]
A very fine first studio recording of a historically very important work.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Complete Piano Sonatas
-
Mao Fujita (piano) rec. 2021 SONY 19658710762 [5 CDs: 301]
[MB] Mao Fujita’s impressively fresh and joyous Mozart sonatas are a superb achievement.
Uģis Praulinš (b. 1957)
L'homme armé - Jānis Pelše (organ), Pēteris Vaickovskis (conductor, voice), Ars Antiqua Riga rec. 2020
SKANI LMIC142 [72] [DC]
Ambitious but frustrating.
Fritz Kreisler (violin) The Bell Telephone Hour Recordings Volume 1
- Bell Telephone Hour Orchestra/Donald Voorhees
rec. 1944-50 BIDDULPH 85019-2 [75] [JW] Kreisler’s radio broadcasts bring a glorious career to a poignant close.
Three Christmas Cantatas
Works by Britten, Bush & Dyson - RCM Chamber Choir, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir David Willcocks rec. 1986
HERITAGE HTGCD151 [68] [JF]
It is good to have these British cantatas back in the catalogue.
Friday November
25th
William Baines (1899-1922)
Pictures of Light -
Duncan Honeybourne (piano), Gordon Pullin (tenor) rec. 2022 DIVINE ART DDA25234 [78]
[JF]
A notable new release.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Violin Concerto
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
The Lark Ascending -
Sinfonietta Riga/Thomas Gould (violin)
rec. 2014 EDITION EDN1058 [60] [RMo]
A refreshingly different take on two seminal works.
Anthoni van Noordt (c1619-1675) Complete Organ Music
- Manual Tomadin (organ) rec.
2020 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95895 [2 CDs: 141]
[JV]
Pretty much ideal performances, with the help of a magnificent instrument.
Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937) Piano
Works -
Krystian Zimerman (piano) rec. 1994/2022 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4863007 [70]
[DMD]
Zimerman at his dazzling, fantastical best.
Christmastide Traditional Christmas Carols arranged for harp
- Harriet Adie (harp) rec. 2022 MPR 113 [48]
[JW]
Dextrous colour irradiates a Christmas harp disc.
Russian Ballads
Works by Kissin, Prokofiev & Shostakovich -
Gabriel Schwabe (cello)
Roland Pöntinen (piano) rec. 2021 NAXOS 8.574377 [78] [SA]
The well-chosen pieces on this delightful disc show the cello in all its majesty.
A Shropshire Lad
Roderick Williams (baritone)
Hallé/Sir Mark Elder rec. 2022 HALLÉ CDHLL7559 [73] [NB]
A richly rewarding recital – superb repertoire skilfully orchestrated and beautifully performed.
Thursday
November 24th
Edward Cowie (b. 1943)
Streams and Particles - Peter Sheppard Skærved (violin), Spectrum Guitar Quartet, Christopher Redgate (oboe) rec. 2016-2021
MÉTIER MSV28612 [82] [JF]
Whatever the theoretical underpinnings of this music, it can be enjoyed abstractly.
Pedro de Cristo (c.1550-1618) Magnificat,
Missa Salve Regina,
Marian Motets -
Cupertinos/Luis Toscano rec. 2021 HYPERION CDA68393 [75] [GH]
Wonderful and little-known sacred works performed with character and sensitivity by a superb choir.
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
A London Symphony, Symphony No 5, Dona Nobis Pacem - London SO, London
PO, BBC SO/Ralph Vaughan Williams rec. 1936-1952
SOMM RECORDINGS ARIADNE5019-2 [2 CDs: 146] [NB]
The composer as conductor triumphantly revealed in revelatory interpretations.
Arc II Works by
Brahms, Ravel & Schumann - Orion Weiss (piano) rec. 2018
FIRST HAND RECORDS FHR128 [77] [DC]
A very fine programme.
Les caractères d'Ulysse
Works by Boismortier & Rebel -
Loris Barrucand, Clément Geoffroy (harpsichords) rec. 2019
CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES SPECTACLES CVS021 [74] [JV]
A most enjoyable production.
Hilary Hahn (violin) Eclipse
-
Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra/Andrés Orizco-Estrada rec. 2021 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 486 2383 [77]
[JW] A concerto disc of two parts; excellent Ginastera, but weak Dvořák.
In Winter’s House
Tenebrae/Nigel Short
Camilla Pay (harp) Joshua Davidson (treble) rec. 2022 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD690 [79]
[JQ]
A Christmas disc to savour.
