ALPHABETICAL LISTING
 

Charles CAMILLERI (b.1931) Four Greek Dances (1950s) - Dirge 11.09.01 (2001) - Duo Sonata (1998) - Divertimento No.2 (1957) - Shomyo - Three Folk Songs from Malta (1971) - Trio No.2^a David Campbell (clarinet, bass clarinet) - Zoë Martlew (cello)^a; Julian Jacobson (piano) - Recorded: no information, published 2003 MERIDIAN CDE 84470 [68:13] [HC]

This attractive and varied selection of clarinet works by Camilleri is superbly well served both by the performers and the recording. … see Full Review

Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano Sonata No.1 in C minor Op.4 (1826) - Piano Sonata No.2 in B flat minor Op.35 (1839) - Piano Sonata No.3 in B minor Op.58 (1844) Joyce Hatto (piano) - Recorded in the Concert Artist Studios in July 1995, June 1997 and January 1998 CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9043-2 [74.20] [JW]

 Those who have followed Hatto so far in her Chopin series will assuredly want to follow her here. They will be rewarded. … see Full Review

Humphrey CLUCAS (b.1941) Urbs Beata (2000) Suite (1993) - Passacaglia (1998) - Sinfonietta (1994) - Toccata (2000) - Credo (1990) - Adoro Te (1994) - Three Plainsong Preludes (2000) - Qui Lux Es (1988) Robert Crowley at the organ of the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban - Recorded: Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban, October and November 2002 LAMMAS LAMM 151 D [66:08] [HC]

Crowley’s impeccable readings are a joy to listen to. Magnificent recording throughout … see Full Review

Henry COWELL (1897-1965) Songs The Morning Pool - April - Song in the Songless - Music When Soft Voices Die - Angus Og - Manuanaun's Birthing - Where She Lies - How Old is Song? - Mother Goose Rhymes - Two Songs on Poems of Catherine Riegger - The Pasture - Spring Pools - The Donkey - Daybreak - The Little Black Boy - Three Songs on Poems of Langston Hughes - Mice Lament - Because the Cat - Three Songs on Poems of Padraic Colum - Firelight and Lamp Mary Ann Hart, mezzo, Robert Osborne, bass-baritone, Jeanne Golan, piano - Rec. Aug-Nov 1996, New York Town Hall, DDD ALBANY TROY 240 [57.38] [RB]

An imaginative and revealing song anthology … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH - Jean CRAS (1879-1932) String trio (1926) - Albert ROUSSEL (1869-1937) String Trio Op.58 (1937) - Jean FRANÇAIX (1904-1997) String Trio (1933) Offenburg String Trio (Frank Schilli (violin), Rolf Schilli (viola), Martin Merker (cello)) - Recorded in Blumenstein Church, 1996 ANTES EDITION BM CD 31.9185 [51.50] [JW]

Worthy ambassadors for this wilful, complex and impressive corpus of music. … see Full Review

Paul DUKAS (1865-1935) Complete Piano Music: Piano Sonata in E flat minor (1901) [46’34]. La Plainte, au loin, du faune (1902) [5’18]. Variations, Interlude et Finale sur un thème de Rameau (1902) [18’48]. Prélude élégiaque (1909) [4’31] Chantal Stigliani (piano) - Rec. at L’Atelier Philomuses, Paris, on February 18th-22^nd, 2002. [DDD] NAXOS 8.557053 [75’31] [CC]

Recommendable, then, especially given the price. … see Full Review

Maurice DURUFLÉ (1902-1986) Requiem, Op.9 (1947), version for choir and organ Four Motets, Op.10 (1960) Missa ‘Cum jubilo’, Op.11 (1966) Mattias Wager (organ), Peter Mattei (baritone) Paula Hoffman (mezzo), Elemér Lavotha (cello) St. Jabob’s Chamber Choir/Gary Graden Recorded at St. Jacob’s Church, Stockholm, Sweden, Nov-Dec. 1992 BIS CD 300602 [70’56] [TH]

It is good to have a digital ‘organ only’ version of Duruflé’s sublime Requiem in the catalogue. … see Full Review

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Requiem, B165/Op. 89 (1890) Térésa Zylis-Gara (soprano) - Stéfania Toczyska (mezzo) - Peter Dvorsky (tenor) - Leonard Mroz (bass) - Choeurs et Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France/Armin Jordan - Rec. Studio 103, Radio France, on January 18^th-31^st, 1981. [DDD] WARNER APEX 0927 49922 2 [109’11: 52’57 + 46’14] [CC]

Warner’s ‘Apex’ series is lumpy in quality, and it has to be admitted that this is one of its more middling offerings. Text and translation would have been nice. … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Hanns EISLER (1898-1962) String Quartet (1937) Anton WEBERN (1883-1945) Five Pieces for String Quartet Op.5 (1909) Alexander von ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942) String Quartet No.2 Op.15 (1915) Quatuor Johannes: Frederic Angleraux (violin); Jerome Meunier (violin); Nicholas Mouret (viola); Jean-Sebastien Barbet (cello) - No recording information provided in English. DDD MECENAT MUSICAL 222472 [65:30] [MC]

The Webern and Zemlinsky scores are indispensable in any chamber music collection and these performances are out of the top-drawer. … see Full Review

George ENESCU (1881-1955) Suites for solo piano: No. 1 in G minor Dans le style ancien Op. 3 (1897) [19.40] - No. 2 in D major Op. 10 (1901) [22.21]; No. 3 Pièces Impromptues Op. 18 (1913-16) [36.54] Luiza Borac (piano) - rec. 23-30 March 2003, Stadttheater Lindau, Bodensee. DDD AVIE AV0013 [79.06] [CW]

Absorbing music, outstandingly recorded. … a self-recommending, quality issue. … see Full Review

Jean FRANCAIX (1912-1997) String Trio No. 1 (1933) [12’38] Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) String Trio No. 2, H238 (1934) [15’04] Ernő DOHNÁNYI (1877-1960) Serenade in C, Op. 10 (1902) [20’00] Trio Sibelius (Hiroe Naba, violin; Fancois Schitt, viola; Jean-Marie Trotereau, cello) - No rec info provided. DDD INTEGRAL CLASSIC INT221.104 [47’42] [CC]

Perhaps he should be known as Ernő ‘fifty minutes’ Dohnányi … An enjoyable disc, despite the low playing time. … see Full Review

Benjamin FRANKEL (1906-1973) The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) - Curse of the Werewolf (1961) - The Night of the Iguana - Pastoral (1964) - Trottie True (1949) - The Years Between (Lullaby) (1946) - Footsteps in the Fog (1955) Queensland SO/Werner Andreas Albert - rec ABC Studio 420, Australia, 31 Oct-2 Nov 2000 DDD CPO 999 809-2 [67.13] [RB]

The range of style is startlingly wide with frothy inconsequentiality sharing the same programme as music of serious psychological depth ... see Full Review

Armstrong GIBBS (1889-1960) Songs Geraldine McGreevy (sop) Stephen Varcoe (bar) Roger Vignoles (piano) Rec. 14-16 Mar. 2002 DDD HYPERION CDA67337 [79.19] [RB]

Another fine garland of song to join the many that adorn the Hyperion catalogue. Superior documentation, design, recording and performance ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Mikhail GLINKA (1804-1857) Ruslan and Lyudmila: Overture and Chernamor’s March (1842)* Overture: A Life for the Tsar (1836) Waltz-Fantasia (1856) Spanish Overtures Nos. 1 and 2 (1845) Incidental Music: Prince Kholmsky (1841) Polka in B flat major (1840) (orchestrated Balakirev) USSR Symphony Orchestra/Yevgeni Svetlanov *Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra/Yevgeni Svetlanov Rec 1963 (Ruslan and Lyudmila), 1967 (Waltz, Overtures), 1977 (A Life for the Tsar), 1984 (Prince Kholmsky, Polka) REGIS RRC 1142 [75.55] [TB]

Colourful musicmaking … all Svetlanov’s performances have an authentic feel … see Full Review

Charles GOUNOD (1818 – 1893) – Roméo et Juliette Juliette - Eide Norena (Soprano) Stephano – Gladys Swarthout (Contralto) Gertrude – Henrietta Wakefield (Contralto) Romeo – Charles Hackett (Tenor) Tybal – Angel Bada (Bass) Benvolio – Max Altglass Mercutio – Giuseppe de Luca (Baritone) Paris – Millo Picco Gregorio – Paolo Ananian Capulet – Louis d’Angelo Friar Laurence – Leon Rothier (Bass) Duke of Verona – Arthur Anderson Orchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera/Louis Hasselmans Recorded from broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera House, New York on 26^th January 1935. Remastered by Ward Marston NAXOS 8.110140-41 [79.16+70.02] [RH]

Despite serious technical limitations, this pre-war recording allows us a glimpse of an earlier performance style. … see Full Review

Edward GREGSON (b.1945) Clarinet Concerto (1994, rev. 2002) Violin Concerto (1999 rev. 2001) Blazon (1992) Stepping Out (1996) Michael Collins (clarinet); Olivier Charlier (violin), BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Martyn Brabbins. Rec. Manchester 21, 22 February 2002 DDD All premiere recordings CHANDOS CHAN 10105 [74:48] [LF]

If you have not come across Gregson before do try this approachable and eloquent music. … see Full Review

Louis GRUENBERG (1884-1964) Symphony No. 2 (1941) [29.20] - Serenade to a Beauteous Lady (1934) [4.37] - The Enchanted Isle (1927) [16.59] Czech National Symphony Orchestra/Paul Freeman - rec. Sept 1999 - Mar 2001, ICN Recording Studios, Prague. DDD - Music from the Fleisher Collection vol. 1 ALBANY TROY 467 [51.17] [RB]

Gruenberg's melodies are not really all that memorable. Nevertheless there is something special in his way with the orchestra .... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Francisco GUERRERO (1951 – 1997) Complete Orchestral Works Coma Berenices (1996) Ariadna (1984) Sáhara (1991) Oleada (1993) Antar Atman (1980) Orquesta Sínfonica de Galicia/José Ramón Encinar Recorded: Auditorio, Teatro Rosalia de Castro, La Coruña, April and September 1999 and March 2000 COL LEGNO WWE 1CD20044 [54:53] [HC]

Complex, demanding, often gripping, powerfully expressive and ultimately rewarding … see Full Review

George Frideric HANDEL (1685 - 1759) Messiah Margaret Price (soprano) - Yvonne Minton (contralto) - Alexander Young (tenor) - Justino Diaz (bass) - Amor Artis Chorale - English Chamber Orchestra/Johannes Somary - Recorded 1971 (originally issued on Vanguard) BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99777-11/12 [74.56+72.38] [RH]

A larger scale recording on modern instruments, there is some stylish singing but the choral contribution is not much more than adequate. … see Full Review

George Frideric HANDEL (1685 - 1759) Belsazar (Belshazzar): Oratorio in three acts for soloists, choir and orchestra Sung in German Belshazzar – Peter Schreier (tenor) Nitocris – Renate Frank-Reinecke (soprano) Cyrus – Ute Trekel-Burkhardt (alto) Daniel – Gisela Pohl (alto) Gobrias – Hermann Christian Polster (bass) Arioch – Joachim Vogt (tenor) A messenger – Günther Beyer (bass) Berliner Singakademie Kammerorchester Berlin/Dietrich Knothe Recorded 1976 (Licensed from Edel Classics) BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99777-8/10 [3CDs: 56.30+53.06+54.31] [RH]

A fine, if slightly old-fashioned, German language performance of one of Handel’s finest oratorios. … see Full Review

Qunihico HASHIMOTO (1904-1949) Symphony No. 1 in D (1940) [46’25] - Symphonic Suite: Heavenly Maiden and Fisherman (1933) [20’38] Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra/Rysuke Numajiri - Rec. Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space on 24^th-26^th July 2001 DDD NAXOS 8.555881 [67’03] [CC]

An entirely recommendable product that should not fail to delight. … see Full Review

Karl Amadeus HARTMANN (1905-1963) The Eight Symphonies Cornelia Kallisch (alto) (1) Arno Bornkamp (baritone saxophone) (2) Bamberger Symphoniker/Ingo Metzmacher rec. Bamberg, Sinfonie an der Regnitz, Joseph-Keilberth - Saal, Kulturraum. 1993-1996 DDD co-production with Bavarian Radio EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 56911 2 5 [3CDs: 72.56+72.33+56.19] [RB]

Beautifully recorded, strangely chilly and chilling documents of avant-garde disillusion and tragedy ... see Full Review

John HAWKINS (b.1949) Voices from the Sea (1985) [20.10] - Variations for Piano [11.52] - Waiting - Tango for viola and double bass [4.10] - Brief Encounters for flute and viola [5.15] - Worlds Apart for double bass and piano [9.33] - Shadows for viola, double bass and piano [3.20] - Disturbed Nights for oboe [6.18] - Gestures (1998) for two violas [4.48] - Quietus for string trio [4.26] Martyn Hill (ten) - Divertimenti/Antony Pay - Kathron Sturrock (piano) - Paul Silverthorne (viola) - Duncan McTier (double bass) - Nancy Ruffer (flute) - Yuko Inouë (viola) - Christopher O'Neal (oboe) - Siân Philips (violin) - Gemma Rosefield (cello) - rec. St. John's Smith Square, London, DDD MERIDIAN CDE 84496 [70.34] [RB]

A distinctive voice on the British scene. ... see Full Review

Franz Joseph HAYDN (1732 - 1809) Variations on "Acht Sauschneider Müssen sein" Hob XVII:1 - Sonata in b, L47, W:30, Hob XVI: 32 - Sonata in D, L34, W:22, Hob XVI: 24 - Sonata in F, L43, W:27, Hob XVI: 29 - Variations in D, Hob XVII:7 - Variations in f, Hob XVII:6 Derek Adlam, clavichord (Derek Adlam, 1982, after Haas 1763) GUILD GMCD 7260 [69.23] [PS]

A remarkable facsimile of clavichord sound, and some of the best Haydn performances I’ve ever heard… see Full Review

Franz Joseph HAYDN (1732 - 1809) Piano Trio #1 in G (1784) [14.38] - Piano Trio #2 in F (1784) [12.46] - Piano Trio #4 in Bb (1785) [14.41] Pro Arte Trio: Anda Petrovici,v; Marin Cazacu, vc; Nicolae Licaret, piano - Recorded at the Atheneum, Bucharest, Romania, 31August 2001 - MLP 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 "Audience" Mix, DTS "Stage" Mix, PCM Stereo - Technical notes in English. No photos or comments on the music or performers - www.aixrecords.com - Mark Waldrep, producer, recording and mastering engineer, and artistic direction - Playable on DVD players and DVD Audio players. Not playable on CD players - DVD Audio AIX IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT 1340 AX [42.11] [PS]

An idiomatic virtuoso presentation of some undeservedly neglected Haydn, presented in brilliant high resolution sound ... see Full Review

Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlsers am Kreuze, H. XX/2 (1786) (The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross) Introduzione I; No. 1 – Vater, vergib ihnen; No. 2 – Fürwahr, ich sag’es dir; No. 3 – Frau, hier siehe deinen Sohn; No. 4 – Mein gott, mein Gott; Introduzione II; No. 5 – Jesus rufet; No. 6 – Es ist volbracht; No. 7 – Vater, in deine Hände; Il Terremoto (Das Erdbeben) - Petra Labitzke, soprano - Gabriele Wunderer, alto - Daniel Sans, tenor - Christof, Fischesser, bass - Nordic Chamber Choir Kurpfälzisches Kammerorchester/Nicol Matt - Recorded at Hotel Wartburg, Mannheim, January 2002 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99788 [55:29] [DS] Comparison Version: Harnoncourt/Teldec

Although the Brilliant Classics version is a little rough around the edges, it fully conveys the music’s text and Haydn’s incisive settings. … see Full Review

Dave HEATH (b.1956) The Celtic - concerto for violin and string orchestra (1994) [14.03] Celtic Air from The Four Elements [9.17] - Flute Concerto The Connemara [14.30] - The Four Elements for percussion and orchestra [27.16] Clio Gould (violin) (Celtic) - Dave Heath (flute) (Connemara) - Kirk Richardson (percussion) (Four Elements) - BT Scottish Ensemble/Clio Gould - rec. Glasgow City Hall, 20-22 Oct 2003, DDD LINN CKD 073 [65.35] [RB]

The Linn and Black Box discs complement each other perfectly. Once you have caught the Heath 'bug' (not difficult) you will have to have both. The Linn is certainly most beautifully recorded and executed. ... see Full Review

Paul HINDEMITH (1895 – 1963) Viola Sonata Op.11 No.4 (1919)^a - Viola Sonata Op.25 No.1 (1922) Michaël LEVINAS (born 1949) Les Lettres enlacées II (2000) - Les Lettres enlacées IV (2000)^b Gérard Caussé (viola); Michaël Lévinas (piano)^a; Quatuor Ludwig^b - Recorded: Espace de projection de l’IRCAM, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, February 2002 (Lévinas) and January 2003 (Hindemith) AEON AECD 0312 [59:50] [HC]

This thought-provoking release deserves the highest praises for the quality of the music, the immaculate performances and the high production standards. … see Full Review

Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Kammermusik (1921-27) Kammermusik No. 1 for twelve solo instruments Op. 24 No. 1 (1921) [15.11] - Kleine Kammermusik for wind quintet, Op. 24 No. 2 (1921) [13.20] - Kammermusik No. 2 for piano Op. 63 No. 1 (1924-5) [18.51] - Kammermusik No. 3, for cello Op. 36 No. 2 (1924-5) [17.26] - Kammermusik No. 4, for violin Op. 36 No. 3 (1924-5) [20.10] - Kammermusik No. 5, for viola Op. 36 No. 4 (1927) [19.00] - Kammermusik No. 6, for viola d’amore Op. 46 No. 1 (1927) [16.04] - Kammermusik No. 7, for organ Op. 46 No. 2 (1927) [16.54] - Konstanty Kulka (vn) (4) Kim Kashkashian (va) (5) - Norbert Blume (va d'amore) (6) - Lynn Harrell (vc) (3) - Ronald Brautigam (pf) (2) - Leo van Doeselaar (org) (7) - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam/Riccardo Chailly - Rec. Feb (7), June 1990, Grotezaal, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. DDD DECCA 473 722-2 [2CDs: 138.04] [RB]

Nearly two hours and twenty minutes of musicmaking and festively brilliant writing and playing. … see Full Review

Franz Anton HOFFMEISTER (1754-1812) String Quartet in F major, Op. 14 No.1 String Quartet in B flat major, Op. 14 No.2 - String Quartet in D minor, Op. 14 No.3 Aviv Quartet: Sergey Ostrovsky (first violin); Evgenia Epshtein (second violin); Shuli Waterman (viola); Iris Jortner (cello) - Rec. Phoenix Studio, Budapest, Hungary from 11-24 November, 2001 DDD NAXOS 8.555925 [59:23] [MC]

Fascinating and adept quartets from an almost forgotten composer and another sure-fire winner from Naxos … see Full Review

Pierre HUGARD (1725-1761) La Toilette: Music for the Pardessus de viole: Suites 1, 2, 3 and 4 Nicholas G. LENDORMY (fl. c.1760) Seconde livre de pieces pour le Pardessus de Viole Hamburger Ratsmusik; Simon Eckert – Pardessus de viole; Hermann Hickethier viola da gamba; Ulrich Wedemeier, theorbo and baroque guitar; Karl Ernest Went, harpsichord, organ Recorded at St.Martin-kirche, Osterhever January 2002 and March 2002 THOROFON CTH 2460 [72.48] [GH]

The recording is very good and entirely realistic. A very pleasurable CD … see Full Review

Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1928) Sinfonietta (1926) [21’58]. Ballad of Blaník (1920) [7’51]. Fiddler’s Child^a (1912) [11’43]. Taras Bulba (1915-18) [22’15]. ^aNils-Erik Sparf (violin); Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Andrew Davis. Rec. Stockholm Concert Hall, Sweden, in November 1996. DDD WARNER APEX 2564-60430-2 [64’21] [CC]

The problem seems to be that this Scandinavian/English combination is just not close enough in spirit to the Czech heart of these works. … see Full Review

John JEFFREYS (b.1927) Curlew Calling: Songs by John Jeffreys (1952-2001)
CD1: The Lone Bird; This night; Sweeney the Mad; Fill me, O stars; Black Stitchel; Sleep; Christ's Nativity; The Birds; I am the gilly of Christ; I saw Love raised upon a tree; At the cry of the first bird; Who is at my window; From Omiecourt; Severn Meadows; In Marley Wood; Corpus Christi; Requiem; Thomas MacDonagh; Curlew Calling; With rue my heart is laden; CD2: Awake thee, my Bessy; And would you see my mistress' face? O Mistress Mine; It was a lover and his lass; The Whin; The Salley Gardens; Yet will I love her; A light wind; The Quarry; Gone is my love from the silver stream; It is winter; Near Spring; When the body might free; 'Tis time I think; The Herons; The High Hills; I will go with my father a-ploughing; Northumberland; All night under the moon; The songs I had; When that I was and a little tiny boy; Scot Weir (tenor) Rainer Hoffmann (piano) SONIC MARKETLC11224 P +C2005 GEMA [2CD set; No duration given] [CSS]

Richly representative of a composer of the most delicate sensitivity to the meanings of words … every nuance of that expressiveness is given voice by Scot Weir and Rainer Hoffmann … see Full Review

Daniel JEISLER (1877-1959) Introduction, chorale and variations for organ (1918) - Erik Mohlin (organ) - Cello Sonata No.1 (1921) - Kerstin Elmqvist-Gornall (cello) and Kent Sjöberg (piano) - Five Songs; Under rönn och syren (1912) - Par ce soir pluvieux (1921) - Les Barques - Rafales d’automne - L’Ile de la mort - Kristina Furbacken (soprano) and Kent Sjöberg (piano) - Adagio for string orchestra Franska radions kammarorkester/Pierre Capdevielle - Recorded 1992 in Göteborg (Organ Introduction) Paris (Sonata and Songs) and from a 1957 ORTF radio broadcast (Adagio) PROPRIUS PRCD 9111 [66.08] [JW]

Performances are very sympathetic and enthusiastic. … see Full Review

Thomas JENNEFELDT (b.1954) Villarosa Sequences (1993-2001): Aleidi Floriasti; Saoveri Indamflavi; Villarosa Sarialdi; Strimoni Volio; Claviante Brilioso; Virita Criosa; Vinamintra Elitavi Jeanette Köhn (sop) St Jacob's Chamber Choir/Gary Graden rec. 20-21 Feb 2001, St Jacob's Church, Stockholm. DDD PROPRIUS PRCD 2029 [66.55] [RB]

Meditative music infused with vibrant light and granitic vigour. ... see Full Review

Norman DELLO JOIO (b.1913) Air Power - symphonic suite (1956) [37.03] John VINCENT (1902-1977) Symphonic Poem after Descartes (1958) [18.57] - Symphony in D - a Festival Piece in one movement (1956) [19.13] Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy - rec. 14 Mar 1957 (Dello Joio) - 4 Jan 1959 (Descartes) - 14 Apr 1957 (Symphony). AAD stereo - American Archives Series ALBANY TROY 250 [75.54] [RB]

Two sober and sturdy symphonic works from Vincent matched with Dello Joio's often exuberant memento of American post-war confidence. ... see Full Review

John JOUBERT (b. 1927) Temps Perdu: Variations for String Orchestra, Op. 99 (1984)
Sinfonietta, Op. 38 (1962) The Instant Moment: song-cycle for Baritone and String Orchestra, Op. 110 (1987) * Henry Herford, baritone * English String Orchestra William Boughton, conductor Recorded at Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham, 21^st March 1987. BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS419CD [63.04] [NH]

A brilliant anthology of an unjustly neglected figure in British music … see Full Review

Norman Dello JOIO (b.1913) Piano Music Prelude: To a Young Musician [3.09] - Diversions [11.20] - Introduction and Fantasies on a Choral Tune [6.37] - Suite for Piano (1940) [6.37] - Lyric Pieces for the Young [13.30] - Short Intervallic Etudes for Well-Tempered Pianists [10.46] - Piano Sonata No. 3 (1947) [16.08] Tanya Stambuk (piano) - rec. 27-29 May 1998, Patrych Studios, NYC. DDD CENTAUR CRC 2469 [69.46] [RB]

Alert and eager in riffs and speed ... welcoming of the many lyrical opportunities ... Will appeal to those captivated by Berners and Lambert. ... see Full Review

Joseph JONGEN (1873 – 1953) Deux mélodies Op.25 (1902) - Deux mélodies Op.45 (1914) - Cinq mélodies Op.57 (1917/8) - Triptyque pour orchestre Op.103 (1937) Mariette Kemmer (soprano); Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo; Pierre Bartholomée - Recorded: Auditorium Rainier III, Monte-Carlo, December 2002 and January 2003 CYPRES CYP 1635 [65:15] [HC]

Jongen’s finest, most colourful and superbly crafted pieces … effortlessly displays remarkable orchestral mastery. … see Full Review

Dimitri KABALEVSKY (1907-1987) Piano Concerto No. 3 (1952) [18.01] Robert MUCZYNSKI (b.1929) Piano Concerto No. 1 (1954) [14.18] - A Serenade for Summer (1976) [8.07] - Suite (1960) [9.16] James Johnson (piano) - Slovenian Radio Symphony Orchestra/Paul Freeman - rec. 13-14 Sept 1989, Ljubljana, Slovenia (all apart from suite); 20 Mar 1990, Fairbanks, Alaska. DDD CENTAUR CRC 2089 [50.59] [RB]

A very successful mix though the playing time is short. Some extremely pleasing music here with playing to match. ... see Full Review

Heinrich KAMINSKI (1888-1946) Music for Cello and Piano (1938) [24.17] Max REGER (1873-1916) Cello Sonata in F major (1904) [29.27] Christoph von Erffa (cello) - Sören Lundström (piano) - rec. 5-7 Sept 1993, Festeburgkirche Frankfurt DDD AUDITE 97.436 [56.09] [RB]

Two intriguing German cello sonatas from composers at ease in the realms of tonality ... see Full Review

Vítĕslava KAPRÁLOVÁ (1915-1940) Portrait of the Composer Military Sinfonietta (1936-37) [14.34] String Quartet (1935-36) [19.25] April Preludes for piano (1937) [9.30] Love Carol for voice and piano (Martinů; Kaprálová - two versions) (1938) [0.48+1.20] Ritornell for cello and piano (1940) [4.13] Partita for piano and string orchestra (1938) [19.26] Waving Farewell for voice and orchestra (1937) [5.16] Czech Symphony Orchestra, Brno/František Jílek Janáček Quartet Lenka Škorničkova (sop) Vilém Přibyl (ten) Ivan Měrka (cello) Jitka Drobilková, Jiří Skovajsa, Jaroslav Smýkal (piano) rec. Brno, 1974, 1975, 1982, 1991, 1998, ADD STUDIO MATOUŠ MK 0049-2 011 [75.14] [RB]

Discoveries aplenty here ... Well worth the quest you will need to make if you want to find this treasurable CD ... see Full Review

Mieczysław KARŁOWICZ (1876-1909) Pieśni - Songs (1892-1898) To a sorrowful Girl Whence the first stars - In the snow - Disillusion - I remember quiet, clear golden days - My soul is sad - Speak to me still - From the erotics - Instead of suns and stars - It goes over fields - On the calm dark sea - Asleep in the splendours of the night - Before eternal night - Weep not over me - In the clam of the evening - Over the wide, wide sea - When the spring arrives - Do not believe what the people say - Sometimes when long I dream - Rust-coloured leaves fall from the trees - The most beautiful songs - Under sycamore Jadwiga Rappé (alto) - Ewa Pobłocka (piano) - rec. Witold Lutosławski Polish Radio Studio, 12-14 Nov 1996. DDD CD ACCORD ACD 043-2 [36.18] [RB]

Between Rachmaninov and Sibelius with subsidiary voices from Tchaikovsky, Chopin and Grieg. Beautifully put across by Rappé and Pobłocka ... see Full Review

Mieczysław KARŁOWICZ (1876-1909) Violin Concerto in A major Op. 8 (1903) [27.26] - Eternal Songs - symphonic poem Op. 10 (1907) [36.09] - Stanisław and Anna Oświeczim - symphonic poem Op. 12 [22.34] Konstanty Andrzej Kulka (violin) - Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra/Kazimierz Kord - rec. Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall, Oct (Op.8), Nov (Opp. 10, 12) 1999. DDD CD ACCORD ACD 071-2 [76.32] [RB]

The splendours of the Violin Concerto … the mountainous romanticism of Eternal Songs … a potent combination. Well worth tracking down. … see Full Review

Flute Concertos Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-78) Flute concerto (violin concerto of 1940 transcribed by Jean-Pierre Rampal in 1968) Jacques IBERT (1890-1962) Pièce pour flute seule (Piece for solo flute) (1936) - Flute concerto (1936) Emmanuel Pahud (flute) - Tonhalle-Orchester Zurich/David Zinman - Recorded October 2002 at Grosser Saal, Tonhalle, Zurich, Switzerland. DDD EMI CLASSICS 5 57563 2 [63:56] [MC]

Pahud has the full measure of these most approachable and rather lightweight scores. … fine performances all round … see Full Review

Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957) The Adventures of Robin Hood - film score (1938) score restorations by John MORGAN Moscow Symphony Orchestra/William Stromberg
rec. Mosfilm Studio, Moscow, Russia, Feb 2003. DDD MARCO POLO 8.225268 [78.27] [RB][IL]

A thorough restoration performed with 'great-hearted' elan and thumpingly well recorded.[RB] One of the very best of Marco Polo’s Film Music series. A thrilling, romantic score beautifully restored and performed. Highly recommended [IL]... see Full Review

Evgeni KOSTITSYN (contemporary) American Requiem I - Osama - Islam is Peace - Sanctus - Osama - Islam is Peace - Sanctus Large Symphony Orchestra/unidentified conductor(not shown on sleeve – could it be the composer?) - recorded (no details on sleeve about location or dates) CDK 015 [50’04"] [JP]

I shall not be listening to this again – twice was more than enough! … see Full Review

Alexander KREIN (1883-1951) Songs from the Ghetto Elegy Op.16 (1913) 1, Jewish Melody Op.43 (1928) 2, Three Songs from the Ghetto Op.29 (1929) 3, Poème-Quatuor Op.9 (1909) 4, Two Hebrew Songs Op.39 (1926) 5, Five Preludes Op.3 (1903-06) 6, Aria Op.41 (1927) 7, Jewish Sketches Op.12 (1909) 8, Adrian Summerhayes (violin) 1 7, Joseph Spooner (cello) 1 2, Jonathan Powell (piano) 1 2 3 5 6 7, Loré Lixenberg (mezzo soprano) 3 5, Elizabeth Drew (clarinet) 8, Almira String Quartet 4 8 Recorded ASV, Macclesfield, January – May 2001 ASV CD DCA 1154 [69.42] [JW]

Highly evocative writing, distinctly impressionist in cast and shot through with Scriabin’s influence. … see Full Review

Robert KURKA (1921-1957) The Good Soldier Schweik - Suite (1957) [18.58] Peter MENNIN (1923-1983) Cello Concerto (1956) [25.42] Walter PISTON (1894-1976) Symphony No. 1 (1937) [27.30] Janos Starker (cello) Louisville Orchestra/Robert Whitney (Kurka); Jorge Mester (Mennin; Piston) rec. 11 Feb 1969, Memorial Auditorium (Mennin); 6 Jan 1978, Macauley Theatre (Piston) Louisville, Kentucky, ADD. no details for the Kurka. American Archives Series ALBANY TROY 044 [72.32] [RB]

Do not miss this opportunity to shake down three works of signal importance to the development of American music. ... see Full Review

Charles LECOCQ (1832-1918) La Fille de Madame Angot operetta (1872) - (complete, abridged, with dialogue in French) - Colette Riedinger (sop) Clairette Angot, Suzanne Lafaye (sop) Mademoiselle Lange, Gabriel Bacquier (ten) Ange Pitou, Georgette Spanellys (sop) Amaranthe, Bernard Alvi (ten) Pomponnet, Louis Musy (bar) Larivaudière Richard Blareau, conductor - Rec. Universal France (Decca) Studios, Antony, France 1958. mono (2 CDs for the price of one) DISCOVERY/ACCORD OPERETTE SERIES 465 883-2 [104:30] [RW]

Sweeps along with delightful melodies and motifs … see Full Review

Charles LECOCQ (1832-1918) Le Petit Duc (The Little Duke) operetta (1872) complete, with dialogue in French Elaine Thibault (sop) Duchess Blanche; André Joblin (ten) The Duke; Claude Cales (ten) Montandry; Jean Giraudeau (bass) Frimousse Choir and orchestra directed by André Grassi Rec. Universal (Decca) Studios, Antony, France 2 CDs for the price of one DISCOVERY/ACCORD OPERETTE SERIES 472 874-2 [97:37] [RW]

A bouquet of excellent ideas, catchy themes and delightful orchestration. … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH - Jón LEIFS (1899-1968) Geysir, Op.51 (1961) - Trilogia piccola, Op.1 (1919-24) - Trois peintures abstraites, Op.44 (1955) -Icelandic Folk Dances, Op.11 (1929-31) - Overture to ‘Loftr’. Op.10 (1927) - Consolation, Intermezzo for strings, Op.66 (1968) Iceland Symphony Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä - Recorded at Hallgrim’s Church, Reykjavik, Iceland 19-21 June, 1996 BIS CD 830 [55’35] [TH]

This is an excellent example of a first-rate composer being put on the musical map by a record company. … see Full Review

Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Années de Pèlerinage. Deuxième Année; Italie S161 Sposalizio - Il Penseroso - Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa - Sonetto 47 del Petrarca - Sonetto del 104 del Petrarca - Sonetto del 123 del Petrarca - Après une lecture du Dante, Fantasia quasi Sonata - Venezia e Napoli S162 - Gondoliera - Canzone - Tarantella Joyce Hatto (piano) - Recorded Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge March 1996 and October 1999 CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9150-2 [71.13] [JW]

Hatto nails her Lisztian credentials firmly to the mast. Texture and drama are held in equipoise to the music’s lasting advantage. … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Matthew LOCKE (c.1622-1677) Complete Keyboard Works William GREGORY (1651-1687) Almain, Corant and Saraband from Suite in D minor (Melothesia 1673). Terence Charlston (harpsichord, virginals and organ) Recorded at St.Martin’s Church, East Woodhay, September 2001 and Trinity Collage Chapel, Cambridge, December 2001. DDD DEUX-ELLES DXL 1047 [MC]

Performances could hardly be bettered; this release is one to be treasured. … see Full Review

Detailed listing (last two days)]
[Part 1 New]  [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L]  [Part 7 Misc M-Z]

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