Classical Editor: Rob Barnett             Founder Len Mullenger: Len@musicweb-international.com


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[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc] 
                  


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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

Necil Kazim AKSES (1908-1999)  Violin Concerto Cihat Askin (violin), Hannover Radio Philharmonic Orchestra/Rengim Gokmen rec 31/08/2000, Hannover CPO 999 799-2 [45'16"]

This is the only recording of Akses's Violin Concerto we will need - buy it now if a romantic wallow appeals.

Sir Malcolm ARNOLD  Symphony no 5, op 74 (1961) Symphony no 6, op 95 (1968) National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland/Andrew Penny Recorded in the National Concert Hall, Dublin, 24-25 January 2000 NAXOS 8.552000 [57:17] [AS]

This disc will have an appeal well beyond the confines of the Malcolm Arnold Society.

Malcolm ARNOLD (b.1921) The British Music Collection Guitar Concerto Eduardo Fernandez (guitar)/ECO/Barry Wordsworth English Dances LPO/Boult Symphony for Brass Instruments Philip Jones Brass Ensemble/Howard Snell Brass Quintet Philip Jones Brass Ensemble/Philip Jones rec: 1954 (English Dances); 1970 (Quintet); 1979 (Symphony); 1990 (Concerto). DECCA 468-302-2 [75.03] [RB]

This is a coupling which, while not dazzlingly perfect, offers intriguing contrast aplenty. The Guitar Concerto is the easy winner

Sir Malcolm ARNOLD Classic film scores The Roots of Heaven (1958) David Copperfield (1970) Moscow Symphony Orchestra/William Stromberg Recorded at the Mosfilm Studio, Moscow, 4-7 April 2000 MARCO POLO 8.225167 [62:09] [AAS]

A disc to recommend as a comprehensive guide to Arnold's unique melodic, harmonic and orchestral world. Performance and recording: excellent.

Malcolm ARNOLD (b. 1921) String Quartet No.1 Op.23 (1949) String Quartet No.2 Op.118 (1975) Quintet op.7 (1944, rev. 1960) Phantasy for String Quartet "Vita Abundans" (1941) The Ceruti Ensemble of London Recorded : London, November 2000 GUILD MUSIC GHCD 7216 (70:37) [HC]

The Ceruti play with assurance and affection. An appropriate tribute to Arnold on his 80th birthday. Hear the splendid, long-neglected Phantasy Quartet. Unreservedly recommended.

George ANTHEIL (1900-1959) McConkey's Ferry (Washington at Trenton): A Concert Overture (1948) Symphony no 4 ('1942') (1944) Symphony no 6 (1948) National Symphony Orchestra of the Ukraine/Theodore Kuchar Recorded at the Grand Concert Hall of the National Radio Company of Ukraine, 18-22 December 1998 NAXOS 8.559033 [67:43] [AAS]

Nothing particularly original in the way he deploys a conservative tonal language. Nevertheless, the music is tuneful, full of energy and drive, widely contrasted in moods and brilliantly orchestrated; Antheil also reveals a sure grasp of structure and form

BACH (1685 - 1750) Goldberg Variations   Konstanze Eickhorst, Piano Rec: November 1993. ANTES EDITION BM-CD 31.9048 [78.22] [KM]

An average recording of the Goldberg Variations, with little that makes it stand out from any of the dozens of other piano recordings of this work.

BACH (1685 - 1750) Trio Sonatas BWV 525 - 530 Duo Fraal - Jacques Lesburgueres, flute, Hans-Wolfgang Brassel, Harpsichord rec August 1991 ANTES EDITION BM-CD 31.9005 [63.37] [KM]

A disastrous recording that massacres some of Bach's finest music.

BACH (1685-1750) Sonatas and Partitas for Violin BWV 1001 - 1006 Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord BWV 1016 - 1017 Sonata for violin and harpsichord in E major * [16.51] Sonata for violin and harpsichord in C minor * [15.21] Arthur Grumiaux, violin * Egida Giordani Sartori, harpsichord Rec: Nov. 1960 (BWV 1001, 1006), Feb. 1961 (BWV 1002, 1005), Mar. 1961 (BWV 1003, 1004), June 1963 (BWV 1016, 1017). PHILIPS 464 673-2 [146.05] [KM]

This classic 1960s recording of what is, arguably, one of Bach's greatest works is one of the best. The exceptional sound makes this a must-have disc.

J. S. BACH Sonatas and Partitas, Vol. 2  Yehudi Menuhin, Hephzibah Menuhin, Wanda Landowska. NAXOS 8.110964 [79:06] [SN]

Recorded in the era before the "historical informed performance" movement. Strong violin tone from Menuhin.

Samuel Barber (1910-1981) Orchestral Works volume 1  Overture The School for Scandal, op 5, Symphony no 1, op 9, First Essay for Orchestra, op 12, Symphony no 2, op 19, Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Marin Alsop Recorded at Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, 8-9 December 2000 NAXOS 8.559024 [69:47] [AAS]

Performance and recording are first class and this disc is a 'must' for anyone who enjoys late-romantic music with something new to say.

Arnold BAX (1883-1953) London Pageant (1937) Concertante for cor anglais, clarinet, horn and orchestra (1948-9) Suite from Tamara (1911) Cathaleen-ní-Hoolihan (1903) Gillian Callow (cor anglais); John Bradbury (clarinet); Jonathan Goodall (French horn) BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Martyn Brabbins rec Studio 7, BBC, Manchester, 17 May 23 June 2000 DDD CHANDOS CHAN 9879 [74.33] [RB]

A warm and well imagined collection with the everyone up to their highest standards.

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 Jean SIBELIUS Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43 Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Georg Szell recorded 11 / 1964 (Sibelius) and 11 / 1966 (Beethoven) in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. PHILIPS 464 682-2 [73.53] [JP]

Whatever you do, don't miss this issue - you will be repaid a hundred times over in pure pleasure as a result of buying it.

BEETHOVEN Diabelli Variations Op. 120 Piotr Anderszewski (piano) Recorded 2000 VIRGIN CLASSICS 7243 5 45468 2 2 [63.10] [CF]

Anderszewski evidently has no need to be dissatisfied with his recording of a work he seems to have made his own.

BIZET (1838-1875) The Fair Maid of Perth (sung in English) Soloists BBC Theatre Chorus Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham Taken from 'live' broadcasts from BBC Studio 1, Maida Vale on 5 & 6 June, 1949 BEULAH 1-2PD23 [134.33] [JQ]

Admirers of Bizet and Beecham should snap this up, the more so since this is a 'live' performance caught on the wing and a splendid example of Beecham's art in music.

Sir Arthur BLISS  The Film Music of Sir Arthur Bliss  1. Welcome the Queen.  2. Things to Come Concert Suite arranged and reconstructed by Philip Lane. 3. The Royal Palaces Suite. 4. Caesar and Cleopatra Suite from the incidental film music edited and arranged by Giles Easterbrook and Malcolm Binney. 5. War in the Air Theme. Rumon Gamba conducting the BBC Philharmonic Chandos CHAN 9896 [73:11] [HC]

BBC Philharmonic play with verve, assurance and enjoyment. A magnificent addition to the expanding CHANDOS Movies Series.

Seóirse BODLEY (b.1933) Symphony No 4 , Symphony No 5 "The Limerick Symphony" National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland/Colman Pearce Rec. 1-2 June 1999 in The National Concert Hall, Dublin MARCO POLO 8.225157 [72:38] [PW]

Bodley has made a point of keeping his symphonic writing accessible. These works are cast in the mold of Sibelian late romantic mainstream symphonic composition.

Philippe BOESMANS (b. 1936) Wintermärchen Libretto after William Shakespeare by Luc Bondy and Marie-Louise Bischofberger Soloists,  Orchestre Symphonique et Chœurs de la Monnaie/Antonio Pappano, AKA Moon, rec live, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Brussels, 10 December 1999 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 20/21 469 559-2 DDD [2CDs:CD1 65:57; CD2 53:27] [CT]

A fine release that will give many opera lovers a good deal of pleasure.

Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Death in Venice (1973) Robert Tear (ten) Alan Opie (bar) Michael Chance Glyndebourne Chorus London Sinfonietta/Graeme Jenkins rec 1990, BBC TV - filming location not given ARTHAUS DVD 100 172 - PAL [138.00] [PGW]

Robert Tear, in one of the finest assumptions of his career, takes us right into the flawed, troubled heart of this famous writer. If you are a Britten enthusiast but not yet a DVD devotee, this is the one to go for - its important balletic component demands to be Seen as well as Heard.

George BUTTERWORTH (1885-1916) The British Music Collection Six Songs from 'A Shropshire Lad' (1911) Bredon Hill and other songs (1912) A Shropshire Lad (1912) Two English Idylls (1911) The Banks of Green Willow (1913) Benjamin Luxon /David Willison (songs) Academy of St  Martin-in-the-Fields/ Neville Marriner rec. 1975 (orchestral); 1976 (songs) DECCA 468-802-2 [56.08]  [RB]

These interpretations do high justice to that treasury and, in the case of the songs, Luxon and Willison bid fair to be the reference point for all other recordings.

[Part 1 New]  [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc] 
 


Classical Editor: Rob Barnett,  Reviewers: Rob Barnett, Ian Lace, Len Mullenger, and:  Richard Adams, Colin Anderson, Arthur Baker, Grace Barber, Terry Barfoot,  Peter Bates, Marc Bridle, Arthur Butterworth, Frank Cadenhead, Colin Clarke, Paul Conway, Jim Cooke, Gary Dalkin, Andy Daly, Tony Duggan, Harry Downey,  Christopher Fifield, Lewis Foreman, Simon Foster, John France, Julian Hellaby, Christopher Howell, Simon Jenner, Stephen Lloyd,   Kirk McElhearn, Gwyn Parry-Jones, John Phillips, John Quinn, Ailís Ní Ríain, Humphrey Smith, Philip Scowcroft, Adrian Smith, Colin Scott-Sutherland, Andrew Seivewright, Paul Serotsky, Christopher Thomas, Richard Walker, Richard Whitehouse, Jonathan Woolf, Peter Grahame Woolf, David Wright. A complete list of contributors can be seen here


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Any opinions expressed in reviews or articles on this site are those of the author and  do not necessarily represent the views of the site owner, Len Mullenger or the Editors.  Reviewers and authors retain copyright in their work unless it has been paid for or commissioned by the site owner.

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