RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

Georg GEBEL d.J. (1709-1753) Johannes Passion (Der leidende. sterbende und begrabene Jesus) Ika Kruse (Ancilla), Dorothee Mields (arias), soprano - Thomas Riede (Petrus), Henning Voss (arias), alto - Mirko Heimerl (Servus), Jan Kobow (Evangelist and arias), tenor - Sebastian Bluth (Jesus), Friedemann Klos (Pilatus), - Klaus Mertens (arias), bass Ensemble inCanto Weimar (Tilo Krause), Weimarer Barock-Ensemble - Director: Ludger Rémy - Recorded 7-15 July 2002 at the Redoute in Weimar DDD CPO 999 894-2 [41:23+61:25] [JVV]

A totally forgotten Passion of an unknown German composer of the 18th century – a splendid work, moving and enthralling – strongly recommended … see Full Review

Paul HINDEMITH (1895 - 1963) Die Harmonie der Welt, Opera in 5 acts (1957) [161.09] Libretto by the composer François Le Roux; Arutyun Kochinian; Robert Wörle; Christian Elsner; Reinhard - Hagen; Sophia Larson; Michelle Breedt; Tatjana Korovina. (all sing multiple roles) - Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus - Marek Janowski, conductor - 260 pages of notes incl. parallel text translations in Deutsch, English, and Français - Recorded at Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin, 27 March 2000 WERGO WER 6642/3/4-2 3 CD [33.41 + 73.18 + 54.28] [PS]

An excellent performance and recording of this magnificent, all but unknown opera … see Full Review

Edouard LALO (1823-92) Complete Piano Trios Piano Trio No.1, in C minor Op.7 (c.1850-52) Piano Trio No.2, in B minor, Op.2 (c.1850-52) Piano Trio No.3, in A minor, Op.26 (1880) Trio Parnassus: Chia Chou (piano); Wolf-Dieter Steicher (violin); Michael Gross (cello) Recorded at Furstliche Reitbahn Bad Arolsen, Germany December 1992 DDD MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 303 0482-2 [77:59] [MC]

This is a most beautiful and appealing release, guaranteed to please chamber music lovers. … see Full Review

Peter Ilych TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23 (1875) Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Piano Concerto No. 4 in C minor, Op. 44 (1875) Joyce Hatto, piano - National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by René Köhler - Recorded at the Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge, United Kingdom, March 1997 - (Tchaikovsky) and January 1999 (Saint-Saëns) CONCERT ARTIST CACD9086-2 [61.47] [WH]

But Joyce Hatto’s tumultuous readings should be in every collection. … see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Inessa GALANTE (soprano) - Arias from Verdi’s late operas - Un ballo in Maschera, ‘Ma dall’ arido stelo divulsa’. ‘Morro, ma prima in grazia’ - La forza del destino, ‘La Vergine degli angeli’. ‘Pace, pace mio Dio’ - Aida, ‘Ritorna vincitor’. ‘O patria mia’ - Don Carlo, ‘Tu che le vanitá’ - Otello, ‘Piangea cantando’.. ‘Salce, salce’ (Willow Song) ‘Ave Maria’ - Falstaff, ‘Sul fil d’un soffio etesio’ - Requiem, ‘Libera me’ Choir of the Stockholm School Riga - Latvian National Symphony Orchestra/Terje Mikkelsen - Recorded in January 2003 at Riga Recording Studio Latvia CAMPION RRCD 1349 [72.52min] [RJF]

If my copy were an LP it would be worn out by now. Meanwhile I will sit and dream of a recording of Galante as Lady Macbeth. … See Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH

Léo DELIBES (1836-1891) Coppélia, ballet in 3 acts (1867) (extracts) Orchestra of the Lyon Opera/Kent Nagano - Recorded in the Lyon Opera House, France, June & July 1993 WARNER APEX 2564 60365 2 [74’39] [TH]

Nagano has such an infectious way with this score that makes it very hard to resist, and at super-budget this will be hard to beat. … see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony no.13 op.113 Babi Yar (1963) - Symphony no.14 op.135 (1970) Mvts. 1-6 (CD1) Mvts. 7-11 (CD2) - Symphony no.15 op.141 (1973) Anatoly Kotscherga (bass) National Male Voice Choir of Estonia in Symphony no.13 - Ljuba Kazarnovskaya (soprano) and Sergei Leiferkus in Symphony no. 14 - Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi - Recorded at Gothenburg Konserthuset, September 1988 (No.15), May 1992 (No.14), November 1995 (No.13) DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 474 469-2 [73:40+80:17] [GPJ]

Not comfortable listening but some of the greatest written in the 20th century … see Full Review

 

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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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