NEW & RECENT ARTICLES
[New] The Cello Concerto
Project - a new update
Forgotten Artists 29: Tauno
Hannikainen by Christopher Howell
Vaughan Williams's Fifth Symphony
- a survey update by William Hedley
The Malcolm Arnold Festival
2022 - a preview by Rob Barnett
NOTICES
Latest Acte Prealable releases
AP0539 Grazyna
Bacewicz - Works for Violin
MusicWeb is seeking new reviewers for CDs,
videos,
digital downloads and streaming. If this interests you please
send a specimen review to Len Mullenger
(Len@musicweb-international.com). We regret this position is unpaid.
You
may have noticed that MusicWeb is not a secure site and does not have an
SSL certificate. Our URL shows an open lock and we are http rather than
https. If this worries you I assure you it is because we do not need one
as we do not hold any data on our visitors so your privacy cannot be
compromised. Any financial transactions are carried out by the secure
third party PayPal.
For 25 years MusicWeb International has never operated a
PayWall. We can keep it free if you can be persuaded to make a donation.
Click the Donate button top right for more details.
Shopping on-line? Help us by doing it through the
MusicWeb sales page.....
Monday October
31st
John Luther Adams (b. 1953)
Sila: the Breath of the World - The Crossing,
JACK Quartet,
Musicians of The University of Michigan Department of Chamber Music,
University of Michigan Percussion Ensemble rec. 2021
Reviewed as a digital download from a press preview CANTALOUPE CA21177 [57]
[DMD]
One of the genuine masterpieces of the twenty first century finally makes it on to record.
Aleksander Nowak (b. 1979)
Syrena - Ewa Biegas (mezzo-soprano), Bartłomiej Duś (saxophones), AUKSO Chamber Orchestra of the City of Tychy/Marek Moś rec. 2020
ANAKLASIS ANA017 [68] [RHa]
The unusual blend of marine allusion and human frailty in this haunting ‘eternal melodrama’ is most convincing.
Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Suite No 1, Fantaisie-Tableaux, Symphonic Dances - Nikita Fitenko, Katerina Zaitseva (pianos) rec. 2020
CLASSICAL RECORDS CR-183 [57] [MML]
Performances that immediately sweep aside thoughts of comparison.
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Viola Concertos, Overtures, Fantasias - Antoine Tamestit (viola), Sabine Fehlandt (viola), Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin/Bernhard Forck rec. 2020
HARMONIA MUNDI HMM902342 [69] [JV]
An excellent performance of Telemann's ground-breaking viola concerto, but a poor decision elsewhere.
Una Bourne (piano)
Australian Recording Pioneer: HMV Recordings rec. 1914-1926 - APR 6037 [2 CDs: 155] [RCh]
A forgotten pianist in dazzling and charming performances.
Fantasie Fantasiestücke by Schumann
and others - Georg Arzberger (clarinet)
Julian Riem (piano) rec. 2022 FARAO CLASSICS B108117 [67]
[LP] Hoffman inspired, Robert Schumann initiated - a musical subgenre entertainingly explored.
Violin Concertos by Black Composers through the Centuries
-
Rachel Barton Pine (violin)
Encore Chamber Orchestra of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra/Daniel Hege
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Jonathon Heyward (Price)
rec. 1997/2022 CEDILLE CDR90000214 [73] [JW] A rather sub-par reissue hitched to a good new recording of Florence Price’s Violin Concerto No 2.
Friday October 28th
Howard Hanson (1896-1981)
American Romantic -
Roberts Wesleyan College Chorale/Robert Shewan,
Rochester Chamber Orchestra/David Fetler
rec. 1981 HIGH DEFINITION TAPE TRANSFERS HDTT1475 [68] [JW]
A fine Hanson restoration covers a swathe of his compositions.
Thomas de Hartmann
(1884-1956) Orchestral music -
Elan Sicroff (piano)
Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine/Tian Hui Ng rec. 2021 NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6429 [70]
[LD]
Newly discovered jewels from this neglected Ukrainian composer.
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Symphonies Nos 61,
66 & 69 Johann Michael Haydn (1737–1806)
Toy Symphony - Basel Chamber Orchestra/Giovanni Antonini
rec. 2020/21 ALPHA 690 [82]
[SG]
Antonini’s Haydn Symphony cycle goes from strength to strength.
Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937)
Lottery for Husbands - Wiesław Ochman
(tenor), Marcin Bronikowski (baritone), Rafał
Bartmiński (tenor),
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice/Michał Klauza
rec. 2011 POLSKIE RADIO PRCD2039 [69] [EJW]
Whilst not characteristic of his music in general, the work adds to this important composer’s discography.
Vikingur Ólafsson (piano)
From Afar
rec.
2022 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4861681 [103]
[DMD]
A rare misfire from the great Icelandic pianist.
Sápmi Nordic Choral Music
-
Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble/Erik Westberg
rec. 2018-21 SWEDISH SOCIETY DISCOFIL SCD1184 [58]
[GF]
Be transported to a faraway country without borderlines and a cultural and musical life of its own – you won’t regret it.
Thursday
October 27th
Hugo Alfvén (1872-1960)
At Home with Hugo Alfvén - Elin Rombo (soprano), Peter Friis Johansson (piano) rec. 2021
BIS BIS-2575 SACD [67] [WK]
Stands on its own as a collection of some the composer’s best songs and piano works.
Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)
La fille du régiment - Sara Blanch, Adriana Bignagni Lesca, Donizetti Opera Orchestra/Michele Spotti rec. 2021
DYNAMIC 57943 Blu-ray [144] [RWe]
An effective relocation and design of the full text of Donizetti’s opéra comique, very well performed.
Ian Venables (b. 1955)
Requiem Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
Anthems - Choir of Merton College, Oxford,
Oxford Contemporary Sinfonia/Benjamin Nicholas (organ) rec. 2021 DELPHIAN DCD34252 [78]
[JQ]
This disc is outstanding in every respect.
The Cloud of Unknowing
Kim Hellgren (viola)
Markus Wargh, Aaron Sunstein (organ)
Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble/Erik Westberg rec. 2019-21 SWEDISH SOCIETY DISCOFIL SCD1185 [60]
[GF] Superior singing and thrilling new repertoire.
Mirabilia Musica
Echoes from late medieval Cracow
- La Morra rec. 2020 RAMÉE RAM2008 [62]
[JV] Fascinating survey of what was written and performed in late medieval Cracow.
Efrem Zimbalist (violin)
The Auer Legacy Vol. 1 rec. 1911-1939 BIDDULPH 85018-2 [73] [JW]
The crystalline, frustrating art of Leopold Auer’s patrician student.
Wednesday October 26th
Nicolaus Bruhns (1665–1697)
Cantatas and Organ Works Vol. 1 - Yale Institute of Sacred Music/ Masaaki Suzuki (organ) rec. 2016/2017 BIS BIS-2271 SACD [87]
[JV]
A good start to an important project.
Simon Laks (1901-1983)
Works for Cello -
Holger Groschopp (piano) Adele Bitter,
Mischa Meyer (violoncello) rec. 2020/22 CYBELE 362203 SACD [60]
[DC]
All of Simon Laks’ music for cello on a single, excellent disc.
Nikolay Medtner (1880–1951)
Complete Piano Sonatas Vol. 3 - Paul Stewart (piano) rec. 1997/2021 GRAND PIANO GP888 [77]
[SA]
Medtner’s achievements are underpinned by superb interpretations of these amazing works.
Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)
The Golden Cockerel - Dmitry Ulyanov (bass) Nina
Minasyan (soprano) Orchestra & Chorus of the Opéra National de Lyon/Daniele Rustioni
rec. 2021 NAXOS NBD0150V Blu-ray [128]
[MP]
A darkly inventive production and mostly superb cast score a hit.
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)
Thanksgiving for Victory, Serenade to Music, Job - BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Boston Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult rec. 1943/46 SOMM RECORDINGS ARIADNE5018 [76]
[NB]
Important historical documents crowned by a stunning ‘Job’ from Boston.
Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901)
Aïda - Renata Tebaldi (soprano), Mario Del Monaco (tenor), Santa Cecilia Academy Chorus & Orchestra/Alberto Erede rec. 1952 PRISTINE AUDIO PACO194 [2 CDs: 143]
[RMo]
Once again, Pristine’s reincarnation brings enormous value-added quality to a classic recoding.
Giaches de Wert (1535-1596)
Versi d’Amore - Late Madrigals and Canzonette
-
Voces Suaves rec. 2021 ARCANA A536 [59] [GH]
These wonderful performances of madrigals cast a new light on one of the greatest masters of the sixteenth century.
Tuesday October 25th
Paul Ben-Haim (1897–1986)
Music For Strings - Talia Or (soprano), Bettins Aust (clarinet), Christine Steinbrecher (harp), Bayerische Kammerphilharmonie/Gabriel Adorján rec. 2021 AVI-MUSIC AVI8553497 [61]
[SB]
Attractive music by this German-Jewish refugee composer.
Johannes Brahms (1833–97)
Symphonies 1-4, Double Concerto - Gordan Nikolitch (violin), Tim Hugh (cello), London Symphony Orchestra/Bernard Haitink rec. live, 2003–2004 LSO LIVE LSO0570 [4 SACDs: 244]
[RWe]
Almost twenty years on, Haitink’s LSO cycle is enjoyable, but with a focus on form and integrity more than expression or engagement.
Miloslav Kabeláč (1908-1979)
Mystery of Time -
Miroslav Sekera (piano)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra/Marko Ivanović rec 2019-2021 SUPRAPHON SU4312-2 [76]
[RHa] A long overdue digital recording of a long-forgotten Czech orchestral treasure, belatedly being rediscovered.
Gustave Kerker (1847–1923)
Musicals - NDR Radiophilharmonie/Howard Griffiths rec. 2009 CPO 777509-2 [2 CDs: 93]
[MP]
Kerker’s music struggles to come to life again, despite this enthusiastic and well-performed disc.
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Concerti per violino X ‘Intorno a Pisendel’
- Le Concert de la Loge/Julien Chauvin (violin)
rec. 2021 NAĎVE OP7546 [61]
[MS] A superb addition to Naďve’s outstanding Vivaldi Edition: six intriguing and captivating collection of violin concerti persuasively played.
Auf jenen Hoh'n
Works by Brahms, Mahler & Martin - Hanno Müller-Brachmann (baritone), Hendrik Heilmann (piano) rec. 2021 MDG MDG9082231 SACD [62]
[WH]
A sombre programme, superbly performed and recorded.
Hans Rosbaud conducts French Music
Monique Haas (piano)
Südwestfunk-Orchester Baden-Baden rec. 1950-62 SWR CLASSIC SWR19115CD [4 CDs: 310]
[JW] A master technician brings verve and dynamism to French repertory.
