RECORDINGS OF
THE MONTH
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
English
Suite No. 2 in A minor, BWV807 Partita No. 1 in B flat, BWV825 Partita
No. 2 in C minor, BWV826 English Suite No. 3 in G minor, BWV808
Anne-Marie McDermott (piano) Recorded 26-29 April 1999, St George's,
Brandon Hill, Bristol
GMN C0112 [63.26] [TB]
One
of the best discs of Bach's keyboard music. Confirms the quality of
the music, and there can be no higher praise. … see Full
Review
George
ENESCU
(1881-1955) String
Octet, Op.7 (1900) - Piano Quintet, Op. 29 (1940]
Kremerata Baltica with Andrius Zlabys (piano) - Gidon Kremer - Recorded
at the Angelica-Kauffman Saal, Schwarzenberg, Austria, June 2000 (Octet),
and at the Probesaal der Philharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Ludwigshafen,
Germany, November 2001 (Quintet)
NONESUCH 7559-79682-2 [73.11] [TH]
Unerring
precision, fervour and big-boned yet sensitive … see Full
Review
EDWARD
GREGSON Concerto for Orchestra ALUN HODDINOTT Concerto
for Orchestra JOHN McCABE Concerto for Orchestra
RLPO/Douglas
Bostock Rec 2001, Liverpool
CLASSICO
CLASSCD 384 [78’08"]
[PC]
I
will be returning to this exceptional disc again and again. … see Full
Revie
Ignaz
PLEYEL
(1757-1831); Symphony opus 3, number one in D (B. 126)
; Symphonie Concertante number 2 in F for piano and violin (B. 115)
; Sixth Symphonie Periodique in F (B. 140) ;
Jakub Dzialak, violin ; Riccardo Bovino, piano ; Zurich Chamber Orchestra/Howard
Griffiths ; Recorded in the Kirche Neumünster, Zurich, July 27-30,
2000. DDD ;
CPO
9997592 [55:09] [KB]
A winner through and through … see Full
Review
Francis POULENC (1899-1963)
Les
Animaux Modèles (1941) - Sinfonietta (1948)
Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg/Jonathan Darlington - Recorded
Luxembourg Conservatoire, 15th – 19th September
1997
TIMPANI 1C1041
[70:42] [GPJ]
lovingly
shaped, sharply characterised, tight yet flexible. The Luxembourg Philharmonic
play superbly … see Full Review
STOCKHOLM
CHAMBER BRASS NOW -
Anders HILLBORG (b.1954) Brass Quintet
(1998) - Eino TAMBERG (b.1930) Music
for Five op.86 (1992) - Per MÅRTENSSON
(b.1967) I-Ching Variations (1998-9) for brass quintet and
live electronics - Poul RUDERS (b.1949)
Break Dance (1984) for piano and brass quintet - Luciano
BERIO (b.1925) Call (1985) - Joakim
AGNAS (b.1969) Tango (1996) - Yong-Won
SUNG (b.1977) Pandragon (2000) - Fredrik
HÖGBERG (b.1972) Melancholy Tango (2000) for five brass
players and their voices
Stockholm Chamber Brass, Per Mårtensson, electronics, Frederik
Ullén, piano - Recorded January 2001 at Danderyd Grammar School,
Sweden
BIS-CD-1213 [62:53]
[GPJ]
These
extremely difficult modern works made to sound effortless, directing
attention to their quality and expressiveness rather than their uncompromising
modernity. … see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH
Frank
BRIDGE (1879-1941)
Enter
Spring (1924) [18.11] - Summer (1912) [9.37]
- Christmas Dance - Sir Roger de Coverley (1918) [4.17] - Cello
Sonata (1940) [23.13] - Go Not Happy Day [1.37] - rec ADD/DDD
DECCA The British Music
Collection 470 189-2 [57.11] [RB]
The
more romantic impressionist Bridge in a satisfying though rather short-timed
collection. ... see Full Review
Edward
ELGAR (1865-1934)
Symphony
No. 1 (1908) [48.43] - Symphony No. 2 (1911) [51.35] - Introduction
and Allegro (1905) [14.16] - Serenade (1892) [12.04]
LPO/Solti (symphonies); English Chamber Orchestra/Britten (Intro
& Allegro); Academy of St Martin in the Fields/Neville Marriner
(Serenade) - rec 1968 (Serenade), 1969 (Intro),
1972 (1), 1975 (2), Kingsway Hall, Maltings Snape (Intro) ADD
DECCA The British Music
Collection 473 082-2 [2CDs: 127.15] [RB]
An
alchemist in this music. An exhilarating experience. First choice for
the Second Symphony ... see Full Review
Benjamin
FRANKEL (1906-1973)
Symphony
No. 1 (1958) [25.33] - Symphony No. 2 (1962) [35.36] - Symphony No.
3 (1964) [17.24] - Symphony No. 4 (1966) [25.02] - Symphony No. 5 (1967)
[18.03] - Symphony No. 6 (1969) [28.21] - Symphony No. 7 (1970) [28.03]
- Symphony No. 8 (1971) [24.14] - Overture: May Day (1948) [9.26]
- Mephistopheles Serenade and Dance (1952) [6.09] - Overture
to a Ceremony (1971) - A Shakespeare Overture (1956)
- The composer introducing his symphonies 2 and 3
Queensland SO/Werner Andreas Albert - rec ABC Studio 420, Ferry Road,
Brisbane, Australia, May 1993, Apr 1994, Oct 1994, Sept 1995, April
1999
CPO 999 661-2 [4CDs:
53.24+59.18+60.03+70.27=243.12] [HC]
Frankel’s
symphonies have now - at long last - been given their due. Recommended
without reservation. ... see Full
Review
Roy HARRIS
(1898-1979); Symphony No. 7 (1952, revised 1955); Symphony No.
9 (1962);
Epilogue
to Profiles in Courage - JFK (1964); National Symphony Orchestra
of Ukraine/Theodore Kuchar. Recorded in the Grand Concert Studio, National
Radio Company of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine, 19th - 27th
June 1999.
NAXOS
8.559050 [57.49] [RB]
The sunrise, the rolling horizons, vigour and muscular glory. Don't
miss this wonderful disc ... see Full Review
Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934)
Choral
Hymns from the Rig Veda (1908-12) [12.16] Savitri - A chamber
opera in one act (1908) [30.43] Seven Partsongs [20.05] The
Evening-Watch (1924) [4.26] A Fugal Concerto (1922) [7.26]
St Paul's Suite (1912-13) [12.33] The Perfect Fool - ballet
music (1923) [10.43] Egdon Heath (1928) [12.49] The Hymn
of Jesus (1920) [21.46] A Moorside Suite (1928) [14.26] Rec
1961-1994 ADD DDD
DECCA
The British Music Collection 470 191-2 [149.30] [RB]
Quite
simply the best and most economical introduction to the extra-Planetary
Holst ... see Full Review
Julius
KATCHEN, piano -
Volume 1: Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto No 1 - Piano Concerto No 2 - Rondo in B Flat Major
- Piano Concerto No 3 - Piano Concerto No 5 - LSO - Piero Gamba
DECCA 460 822-2 [2 CDs 149’59] -
Volume 2: Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto No 5 - Choral Fantasia - Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto No 13 K415 - Piano
Concerto No 20 K466 - Piano Concerto No 25 K503 - Piano Sonata in A
Major K331 - LSO conducted by Piero Gamba (Beethoven) - New Symphony
Orchestra of London conducted by Peter Maag (K415) - Stuttgart Chamber
Orchestra conducted by Karl Munchinger (K466, K503)
DECCA 460 825-2 [2 CDs 152’54] -
Volume 3: Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Piano Concerto No 1 - Piano Concerto No 2 - Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Concerto - Fantasie in C Major
- LSO conducted by Pierre Monteux (Brahms No 1) - LSO conducted by Janos
Ferencsik (Brahms No 2) - Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by
Istvan Kertesz (Schumann)
DECCA 460 828-2 [2 CDs 157’24] -
Volume 4: Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Piano Concerto No 1 - Piano Concerto No 2 - Mephisto waltz - Funerailles
- Hungarian Rhapsody No 12 - Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907)
Piano Concerto - Modest MUSSOURGSKY (1839-1881)
Pictures at an Exhibition - Mily BALAKIREV
(1837-1910) Islamey - LPO conducted by Ataulfo Argenta (Liszt
Concertos) - Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Istvan Kertesz
(Grieg)
DECCA 460 831-2
[2 CDs 134’41] -
Volume 5: Pyotr I TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Piano Concerto No 1 - Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Piano Concerto No 3 - Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Hungarian Fantasie - Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano Concerto No 2 - Rhapsody on
a Theme of Paganini - Erno DOHNANYI (1877-1960)
Variations on a Nursery Theme - LSO conducted by Piero Gamba (Tchaikovsky,
Liszt) - LSO conducted by Istvan Kertesz (Prokofiev) - LSO conducted
by Georg Solti (Rachmaninov No 2) - LPO conducted by Adrian Boult (Rachmaninov
Rhapsody and Dohnányi)
DECCA 460 834-2 [2 CDs 152’22] -
Volume 6: George GERSHWIN (1898-1937)
Piano Concerto in F - Rhapsody in Blue - Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Piano Concerto for the Left Hand - Piano
Concerto in G - Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra - Bela
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Piano Concerto No 3 - Mantovani
and his Orchestra (Piano Concerto in F) - LSO conducted by Istvan Kertesz
(Ravel, Rhapsody in Blue, Bartok) - LSO conducted by Benjamin Britten
(Britten)
DECCA 460
837-2 [2 CDs135’10] -
Volume 7: Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Sonata Op 111 - Piano Sonata op 57 Appassionata -
33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli Op 120 - Six Bagatelles Op 126
- Polonaise Op 89 - Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Piano Sonata in C Major K545 - Piano Sonata in
B Flat Major K333/315c
DECCA 466 714-2 [2 CDs 142’39] - Volume 8: Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Fantasie in C Major Fantasie
- Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Carnaval
- Toccata in C - Arabeske - Claude DEBUSSY
(1862-1918) Clair de lune - Manuel
de FALLA (1876-1946) Ritual Fire Dance - Frederic
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano Sonata No 2 Op 35 - Piano Sonata
No 3 Op 58 - Fantasie-Polonaise Op 66 - Polonaise Op 53 - Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Rondo Capriccioso - On Wings of Song
Arr Liszt - J S BACH (1685-1750) Jesu,
Joy of Man’s Desiring Arr Hess
DECCA 466 717-2 [2 CDs 145’34] [JW] - All recordings Volumes 1-8
made between 1955-69
Pianism
and musicality such as Katchen’s come but rarely and should be embraced
when they do. A set of major importance. … see Full
Review
Ernest
John MOERAN (1894-1950)
Symphony
in G minor (1937) [44.30] Sinfonietta (1940) [23.03]
Bournemouth SO/David Lloyd-Jones rec: 4-5 June 2001, Wessex Hall, Poole
Arts Centre, Poole, Dorset, DDD
NAXOS 8.555837 [67.33] [RB]
I
came to this disc with exalted expectations which have been met. A superb
bargain. ... see Full Review
The
Art of Anne Sofie von Otter - Georges
BIZET (1838-1875) Carmen-Habanera,
L’amour est un oiseau rebelled - Carmen-Gypsy Song, Les tringles des
sisters tintaient - Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Le Nozze di Figaro-Non so più - Le Nozze
di Figaro-Voi che sapete - Don Giovanni-Batti, batti o bel Masetto -
Cosi fan tutte-Smanie implacabili - Cosi fan tutte-Soave sia il vento
- La Clemenza di Tito-Parto, ma tu ben mio - Mass in C Minor-Laudamus
te - George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Ariodante-Dopo notte, atra e funeste - Hercules-Begone, my fears,
fly, hence away - Hercules-Cease, ruler of the day, to rise - Il pianto
di Maria –Se d’un Dio fui fatta Madre - Messiah – O thou that Tellest
- J S BACH (1685-1750) Mass in B
Minor – Qui sedes ad dextram Patris - St Matthew Passion – Buss und
Reu - Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Oh
Solitude - Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Elijah – Oh rest in the Lord - Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Ave Maria - An Silvia - Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Rheinlegendchen - Lieder eines fahrenden
Gesellen – Ging heut’ morgen über Feld - Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Lullaby - Jacques
OFFENBACH (1819-1880) Les Contes d’Hoffmann-Barcarolle-belle
Nuit - Les Contes d’Hoffmann-Une poupée aux yeux - Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869) La Damnation de Faust-Le Roi de Thule
- La Damnation de Faust-D’amour l’ardente flamme - Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Frauenliebe und Leben-Du Ring an meinem
Finger - Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Haugtussa-Ved
Gjaetle-Bekken - Giacomo MEYERBEER (1791-1864)
Mina - Cécile CHAMINADE (1857-1944)
L’Anneau d’argent - Je Voudrais… - Erich
Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957) Mariettas Lied - Come away,
Death - Percy GRAINGER (1882-1961) The
Sprig of Thyme - Gunnar HAHN (b 1908)
Visa från Lappland - Kurt WEILL (1900-1950)
One life to live - Benny ANDERSSON (b
1946) and Björn ULVAEUS (b 1945) Like
an Angel passing through my room - Elvis COSTELLO
(b 1954) For the stars - Franz Xavier
GRUBER (1787-1863) Stille Nacht - Mel
TORME and Robert WELLS The Christmas
Song
Anne Sophie von Otter,
soprano with various accompaniments
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 472 474-2 [2 CDs 75’45 and 76’58] [JW]
A
well chosen selection and a solid decade’s worth of distinction, exploration
and achievement. … see Full Review
Michael
PRAETORIUS (1571-1621)
Seven Dances from Terpsichore (1612) -
Anthony HOLBORNE (1547-1603) Dances from ‘Short
Airs Both Grave and Light’ (1599)- Christoph
DEMANTIUS (1567-1643) German and Polish Dances (1601)-
Thoinot ARBEAU Dances from
Orchesographie (1589)
Praetorius Consort directed by Christopher Ball - No other recording
details given
REGIS
RRC 1076 [77.09] [GH]
Highly
recommended, with lively and colourful performances especially as it
is at bargain price. … see Full Review
William
WALTON (1902-1983)
Cello
Concerto * [24’03"] - The Twelve** [12’13"] - Coronation Te
Deum*** [10’25"] - Variations on a Theme by Hindemith**** [23’04"]
- Façade: excerpts from Suites 1 & 2***** [8’41"] -
*Pierre Fournier (cello); Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - ** Ann Dowdall
(sop); Shirley Minty (contralto); Robert Tear (ten); Michael Wakeham
(bar); London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra - ***London Philharmonic
Choir and Orchestra - ****Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - *****BBC Symphony
Orchestra
Conducted by
William Walton - Recordings: *Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 23 August 1959;
** and ***Westminster Abbey, London, 2 January 1966; ****Royal Festival
Hall, London, 8 March 1963; *****Royal Albert Hall, London, 20 August
1968
BBC Legends BBCL
4098-2 [79’05"][JQ]
An
invaluable disc ... just the sort of issue that make the BBC Legends
series so important … see Full Review
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[Detailed listing (last two
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[Part 1 New] [Part 2 A-B] [Part
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7 Misc]
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