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


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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

Hugo ALFVÉN (1872-1960) Symphony No. 1 (1897) Gustav II Adolf suite (1932) Swedish Radio SO/Stig Westerberg rec 1972 (sym), 1967 (Gustav) The Alfvén Edition Vol. 1. SWEDISH SOCIETY DISCOFIL SCD1101 [75.25] [RB]

Generously served up, this disc is well worth adding to your collection. There is no similarly coupled competition.

The Film Music of Sir Malcolm Arnold, Volume 1 Suites: The Bridge on the River Kwai; Whistle Down the Wind; Hobson's Choice; The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (all arr. Palmer). The Sound Barrier, Op. 38. London Symphony Orchestra/Richard Hickox. Chandos CHAN9100 [DDD] [77'35] [CC]

This first volume of film music shows just how inventive Malcolm Arnold can be. The LSO play with true conviction and, at times, a real sense of fun. Arnold fans who missed this CD the first time round should not hesitate.

BACH: 'Aria' a collection of instrumental and vocal music Amarillis Enfants de la Maîtrise de garçons de Colmar Ambroisie AMB9907 [61.59] [TB]

This disc is enjoyable enough for casual listening, but since the programme is an arbitrary collection, it is unlikely to figure strongly in one's collection in the longer term. On the positive front, some of the recordings are spectacularly good.

BEAMISH (b. 1956) The Caledonian Road, The Day Dawn, No I'm Not Afraid (Six poems by Irina Ratushinskaya), The Imagined Sound of Sun on Stone Swedish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Ola Rudner John Harle, saxophone Sally Beamish, narrator BIS BIS-CD-1161 [DDD 67:21] [CT]

The composer must be grateful to both the performers and BIS for recordings which are quite simply first class in every way. So am I.

BEETHOVEN 6 String Quartets, op.18, String Quartet in F, op.14, String Quintet in C, op. 29* The Lindsays, with Louise Williams* ASV CD DCA 1111-3 [3 CDs, only available separately, 76' 24", 66' 07", 58' 08"] [CH]

CH welcomes the start of a new cycle of Beethoven quartets from the Lindsays

BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concerto No. 1 in C, Op. 15.  Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt, Op. 112.  Choral Fantasia in C minor, Op. 80. Maurizio Pollini (piano);  Vienna State Opera Chorus;  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Eugen Jochum, Claudio Abbado. DG Galleria 469 549-2 [DDD] [63'40] [CC]

A well-programmed and rewarding disc that will return often to my player.

BERLIOZ  Symphonie fantastique; Overture Beatrice et Benedict   LSO/Davis at The Barbican rec 27 & 28 September 2000   LSO 0007 [PW]

It is a pleasure to report that this concert performance (which I had to miss) sounds uncannily close to the sound from a good stalls seat there. The performances of both works are as lithe and vivid as one would expect.

BORODIN String Quartets 1 & 2 The Shostakovich Quartet Regis RRC 1011 [64.38] [SF]

Sadly the rather forward and dry sound, although quite well balanced, cannot have helped the players during the recording. The cellist, in particular, must have felt frustrated by the brick wall of dead acoustic into which he was being asked to sing his heart out.

BOYCE David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan. Ode for St Cecilia's Day The Charms of Harmony Display.- first version.   Patrick Burrowes (boy soprano), William Purefoy (alto), Andrew Watts (counter-tenor), Richard Edgar-Wilson (tenor), Michael George (bass-baritone), Choir of New College Oxford, The Hanover Band/Graham Lea-Cox.   ASV GAUDEAMUS CD GAU 208. [PS]

The arias are memorable, as are the choruses, four of them, which underpin the tragedy much as Handel's oratorio choruses do.

BRAHMS String Quartets Tokyo String Quartet* Brandis String Quartet, with Brett Dean (viola) Regis RRC 2038 (2 discs, 125.33 minutes) [TB]

The Brandis are an excellent ensemble who have made too few recordings; this one, at any rate, shows their true value.This Brahms set can be highly recommended and serves the composer well.

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Classical Editor: Rob Barnett,  Reviewers: Rob Barnett, Ian Lace, Len Mullenger, and:  Richard Adams, Colin Anderson, Arthur Baker, Terry Barfoot,  Peter Bates, Marc Bridle, Arthur Butterworth, Colin Clarke, Paul Conway, Gary Dalkin, Andy Daly, Tony Duggan, Harry Downey,  Christopher Fifield, Lewis Foreman, Simon Foster, Christopher Howell, Stephen Lloyd, John Phillips, Ailís Ní Ríain, Humphrey Smith, Philip Scowcroft, Colin Scott-Sutherland, Andrew Seivewright, Christopher Thomas, Richard Whitehouse, 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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