Harald SAEVERUD (1897 – 1992) Symphony No. 5 "Quasi una fantasia" Op. 16 (1941) Oboe Concerto, Op. 15 (1939) Entrata regale Op. 41 (1960) Sonata Giubilata Op. 47 (1969) Gordon Hunt, (oboe) Stavanger Symphony Orchestra/Ole Kristian Ruud. Recorded June 2000 (Symphony No.5 and Oboe Concerto); August 2000 remainder in the Stavanger Concert Hall, Norway. DDD Orchestral Music volume 6 BIS BIS-CD-1162 [59.11] [JPh]

Superb recordings in the normal BIS manner, with similarly excellent performances from the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra. More please! … see Full Review

Sonatas for Flute and Harpsichord Johann Adolphe SCHEIBE (1708-1776) Sonatas for flute and harpsichord obbligato: No. 1 in D major; No. 2 in B minor; No. 3 in A major; Morten RAEHS (1702-1766) Sonata for flute and basso continuo: No. 2 in D major; Sonata No. 3 in C minor Maria Bania, (flute) Lars Ulrik Mortenson, (harpsichord) Recorded at Diamanten, The Royal Library, January 2002 DA CAPO 8.224213 [61.49] [GH]

An enjoyable release although possibly more for the specialist. … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Quintet for Piano and Strings in A major, D.667 ‘Trout’ (1819) Sonata for Arpeggione and Piano in A minor, D.821 (version for cello and piano) (1824) Emanuel Ax (piano) Members of the Guarneri Quartet with Julius Levine (double bass) - Trout Lynn Harrell (cello), James Levine (piano) – Arpeggione Recorded 1984 and 1976 (no other information) DDD/ADD BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 55270-2 [64’53] [TH]

No shortage of serious competition in either piece, but a good budget disc which, if you were to purchase on impulse, would certainly not disappoint. … see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Violin Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 121^a (1851) [27’58]. Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin Sonatas – No. 1 in G, Op. 78^b (1879) [26’38]; No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108^c (1888) [20’06]. Yehudi Menuhin (violin); Hephzibah Menuhin (piano). Rec. ^aParis, May 22^nd and July 3^rd, 1934; ^bAustralia on September 18^th, 1940; ^cLondon on July 1^st, 1936. ADD NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110771 [74’42] [CC]

It is lovely to hear these HMV DBs so lovingly restored. … see Full Review

Rodion SHCHEDRIN (b. 1932) Carmen Suite for Strings and Percussion (1967) Russian Photographs (1994) Velicanie (Glorification) - (1995) Chamber Orchestra of the Kremlin/Misha Rachlevsky.recorded in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory on 17^th January 2001. DDD CLAVES CD 50 - 2207 [75’29"] [JPh]

This is outstanding in every way, provided you are not looking for a more "ethnic" approach to the Bizet arrangement. I enjoyed this disc very much. … see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony No.5 in D minor, Op.47 Suite from Hamlet, Op.116 London Symphony Orchestra/André Previn (Symphony) Belgian Radio Symphony Orchestra/José Serebrier (Hamlet) Recorded 1965 (Symphony) and 1986. ADD/DDD BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 55493-2 [75’39] [TH]

Make no mistake this is a formidable version of this much-recorded Symphony and can still hold its own with the best. … see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-75) Sonata for Cello and Piano, op. 40 (1934) (World premier recording of arrangement for viola by Annette Bartholdy) Sonata for Viola and Piano, op. 147 (1975) Annette Bartholdy (viola) Julius Drake (piano) Recorded at the Henry Wood Hall, London, 10-12 May, 2001. DDD NAXOS 8.557231 [63:07] [MC]

Shostakovich is extremely well served by this release and the viola sonata is undeniably a masterpiece. Effortlessly beautifully playing. … see Full Review

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Pohjola's Daughter (1906) [12.23] The Maidens with the Roses (1909) [3.06] Tapiola (1923) [17.19] Symphony No. 7 (1924) [21.20] Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) The Last Spring [4.52] BBC Symphony Orchestra/Serge Koussevitsky (7) Boston Symphony Orchestra/Serge Koussevitsky Rec. Symphony Hall, Boston, 6 May 1936 (Pohjola); 29 Dec 1936 (Maidens); 7-8 Nov 1939 (Tapiola), 20 Mar 1940 (Grieg); Queen's Hall, London, 15 May 1933. ADD NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110168 [59.00] [RB]

Nice transfers of classic Sibelius. Incredible that we are coming to take for granted such fine discs at super-bargain price ... see Full Review

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Karelia Overture (1892) [8.36] The Wood-Nymph (1895) [22.22] Spring Song (1894) [8.23] King Christian II suite (1898) [24.38] The Dryad (1910) [6.02] Dance Intermezzo (1907) [2.35] Pan and Echo (1906) [4.29] Kuopio Symphony Orchestra/Shuntaro Sato rec Apr, Nov, 2002, Kuopio Music Centre, Kuopio, Finland. DDD FINLANDIA 0927-49598-2 [78.05] [RB]

Nice to see a themed Sibelius album; at the same time running almost 80 minutes. Sibelius is here predominantly miniaturist poet not symphonist.... see Full Review

Antonio SOLER (1729-1783) Harpsichord Sonatas. Volume 9: No. 86 in D major; No. 84 in D major; No. 72 in F minor; No. 132 in Bb major; No. 119 in Bb major; No. 24 in D minor; No. 25 in D minor No. 12 in G major; No. 13 in G major and No. 14 in G major; No. 99 in C major Op. 8 No. 3. Gilbert Rowland (harpsichord) Recorded at Epsom College Concert Hall, Surrey, July 2000 NAXOS 8.555032 [72.41] [GH]

If you are collecting Soler’s sonatas then nothing will get in your way. I might audition another volume before I decide whether to devote shelf-space to this series. … see Full Review

William STERNDALE BENNETT (1816-1875) Piano Concertos: No. 2 in E flat, Op. 4 (1833) [26’16]; No. 5 in F minor (1836, finale ed. Geoffrey Bush) [33’21]. Adagio (ed. Cope) (c.1837) [7’05]. Malcolm Binns (piano) Philharmonia Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite. Rec. Abbey Road Studios, no date given. DDD LYRITA SRCD205 [66’42] [CC]

Strongly recommended. Concerto No. 5 - It is clear there is a remarkable imagination at work here. … see Full Review

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Oedipus Rex (1927, rev. 1948) (1), Symphony of Psalms (1930, rev. 1948) (2) Jean Desailly (speaker) (1), Ivo Žídek (Oedipus) (1), Věra Soukupová (Jocasta) (1), Karel Berman (Creon) (1), Eduard Haken (Tiresias) (1), Zdeněk Kroupa (Messenger) (1), Antonín Zlesák (Shepherd) (1), Prague Philharmonic Choir Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ančerl Recorded in the Rudolfinum Studio, Prague, 17th December 1964 and 22nd-25th January 1965 (1), 7th-8th June 1966 (2) SUPRAPHON SU 3674-2 211 [73:31] [CH]

These performances yield nothing to the many that have followed and are still prime recommendations. … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Arpeggione Sonata, for cello and piano (1824) Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Adagio and Allegro, Opus 70 (1849) Five Pieces in Folk Style, Opus 102 (1849) Suite in C for cello and piano (after Bach) (1853)
Fantasiestücke, Opus 73 (1849) Peter Bruns (cello), Roglit Ishay (piano) Recorded 10-12 June 2003, Rosbaud Studio, Südwestrundfunk, Baden-Baden. DDD HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD98.464 [76.32] [TB]

Excellent performances of these unusual items … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797 - 1828) Mass No. 1 in F Major, D. 105 (1) Salve Regina in A Major, D. 676 (2) Magnificat in C major, D 485 (3) Mass No. 2 in G Major, D. 167 (5) Mass No. 3 in B flat Major, D. 324 (6) Mass No. 4 in C Major, D. 1452(7) Mass No. 5 in A Flat Major, D. 1678 (8) Mass No. 6 in E Flat Major, D. 950 (9) ffertorium, D. 963 (10) Tantum Ergo, D. 962 (11) Deutsche Messe, D. 872 (12) Zdena Kloubova (soprano) (1,2,3) Ludmila Vernerova (soprano) (5, 6) Marta Filova (soprano) (7) Donna Brown (soprano) (8) Sibylla Rubens (soprano) (9, 11) Marta Benackova (mezzo-soprano) (1,3,7) Lenka Smidova (mezzo-soprano) (6) Monica Groop (alto) (8) Irene Friedli (alto) (9, 11) Walter Coppola (tenor) (1,3,7) Richard Sporka (tenor) (5) Rodrigo Orrego (tenor) (6) James Taylor (tenor) (8) Scot Weir (tenor) (9,10) Christoph Genz (tenor) (11) Matthias Goerne (tenor II, bass) (10) Thomas Mehnert (bass) (11) Jurij Kruglov (baritone) (1,3) Roman Janal (bass) (5) Jiri Sulzenko (bass) (6) Miroslav Podskalsky (bass) (7) Michael Volle (bass) (8)
Virtuosi di Praga (1,2,3,4,5,6,7) Oregon Bach Festival Choir (8) Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart (9, 10, 11) Tölzer Knabenchor (12) Prague Chamber Orchestra (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra (8) Bach Collegium Stuttgart (9, 10, 11) Bläser Orchester (12) Andreas Weiser (conductor) (1,2,3) Romano Gandolfi (conductor) (5) Jack Marin Händler (conductor) (6) Ulrich Backofen (conductor) (7) Helmuth Rilling (conductor) (8, 9, 10, 11) Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden (conductor) (12) Recorded 1996 Prague (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) 6-9 July 1996, Silva Concert Hall, Eugene, Oregon, USA (8) 5-7 May 1996, Stadthalle Sindelfingern Germany (9, 10, 11) 1975 (12) BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92183-1/6 [6 CDs: 56.50+74.23+48.59+74.10+40.55] [RH]

A lovely set of Schubert’s sacred music in fine performances; a good place to start exploring this fine repertoire. At super-budget price you can’t go wrong. … see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) The Four Symphonies Symphony No. 1 Spring (1841) [30.40] Symphony No. 2 (1846) [34.38] Symphony No. 3 Rhenish (1850) [31.51] Symphony No. 4 (1841 rev. 1851) [29.27] Staatskapelle Berlin/Daniel Barenboim rec. 12-14 March 2003, Studio 1 NLG, Berlin. DDD TELDEC CLASSICS 2564 61179-2 [72.39+67.14] [RB]

Barenboim turns in a remarkable set … the stuff of which rediscovered joys are made. ... see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphony no.2 in C, op.61 Symphony no.4 in D minor op.120 Philadelphia Orchestra/James Levine Recorded 1977 and 1978 (no further details given) BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 55305 2 [67:54] [GPJ]

Levine’s sure sense of the phrasing and architecture of the music … his players respond superbly. … sustained eloquence bringing out magical moments as well as heady climaxes … see Full Review

Alexandre SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Le Poème de l’Extase * (1906-07) Symphony No. 3 in C minor ‘Le Divin Poème’ + (1903-04) Orchestre de Paris/Daniel Barenboim Recorded at the Salle Pleyel, Paris in October 1986 * and in November 1987 + WARNER ELATUS 2564 60812-2 [72:06] [IL]

Big, beefy voluptuous music. … atmosphere and excitement but the trumpet solo disappoints; … powerful, ardent and delicate but in a competitive field Pletnev on DG would be my first choice … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) The Symphonies CD1 Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39 (1899) Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 52 (1904–1907) Finlandia Op. 26 (1899–1900) CD2 Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43 (1901) [44.10] Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63 (1911) [35.48] CD3 Symphony No. 5 in E flat Op. 82 (1914) [31.14] Karelia Suite Op. 11 (1893) [14.55] Pohjola’s Daughter Op. 49 (1906) [11.51] The Bard Op. 64 (1913) [7.58] CD4 Symphony No. 6 (1923) [27.01] Symphony No. 7 (1924) [21.19] Tapiola (1926) [15.42] City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sakari Oramo rec. Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 7-12 Jan 2002 (CD1), 29 May - 1 June 2000 (CD2), 17-19 Apr 2001 (CD3), 6-8 Jan 2003 (CD4) WARNER ERATO 2564 60294-2 [4 CDs: 75.15+80.00+66.35+64.22] [RB] [JPh]

If you like your Sibelius served ablaze rather than cool then Oramo is the man for you. Magnificent in 2, 5, 6, 7 and Pohjola. Never less than thoughtful and often provocative ... see Full Review

John Philip SOUSA (1854-1932) Music for Wind Band vol. 4 Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (1922) [3:36] Sesqui-Centennial Exposition (1926) [3:44] Tales of a Traveler (1911) [16:25] Riders for the Flag (1927) [2:41] Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co. (1924) [2:37] Coeds of Michigan (1925) [5:26] Pathfinder of Panama (1915) [3:17] The Glory of the Yankee Navy (1909) [3:39] Bride Elect Selections (1898) [10:37] The Aviators (1931) [3:01] The Stars and Stripes Forever (1896) [3:58] Royal Artillery Band/Keith BrionRecorded at the Woolwich Town Hall, London from 29^th-30^th November, 2000 DDD NAXOS 8.559093 [59:01] [PG]

If you appreciate marches even a little such energetic, happy music can do nothing but put you in a great mood. … see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Der Rosenkavalier Eleanor Steber (Die Feldmarschallin), Erna Berger (Sophie), Risë Stevens (Octavian), Emanuel List (Baron Ochs), Hugh Thompson (Faninal), Martha Lipton (Annina), Peter Klein (Valzacchi), Giuseppe di Stefano (Italian singer), Thelma Votipka (Marianne Leitmetzerin), Peggy Smithers (Mahomet), Emery Darcy (Marschallin’s Major-domo), Paula Lencher, Maxine Stellman, Thelma Altman (Orphans), Lois Hunt (Milliner), Leslie Chabay (Animal vendor), Matthew Vittucci (Hairdresser) Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York/Fritz Reiner Soundtrack of American Broadcasting Corporation Telecast, 21 November 1949 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110277-79 [3 CDs: 67:24+52:46+60:56] [CH]

This looks tempting, but it’s really one for the specialists. … see Full Review

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) The Rite of Spring (1913 rev. 1947) Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Romeo and Juliet (1869 rev. 1879 and 1880) Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell (Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra) (1946) Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra/Igor Markevitch Recorded Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, 26 and 27 January 1962 ADD CD ACCORD ACD 115-2 [66.43] [JW]

Markevitch is always worth hearing not least in this kind of repertoire. … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Petrushka (1911, rev. 1947) [34’11]. Le sacre du printemps (1913, rev. 1947) [32’42]. Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ančerl. Rec. Dvořák Hall of Rudolfinum, Prague, in March 1962 (Petrushka) and March 1963 (Le sacre). ADD SUPRAPHON KAREL ANČERL GOLD EDITION SU3665-2 [67’05] [CC]

A remarkable document that should be heard without delay. … see Full Review

Phyllis TATE (1911-1987) Sonata for clarinet and cello (1947) Air and Variations for violin, clarinet and piano (1957) Three pieces for solo clarinet (1980) Karel HUSA (b 1921) Évocations de Slovaquie for clarinet, viola and cello Ingolf DAHL (1912-1970) Concerto a Tré for clarinet, violin and cello (1947) Lee Carroll (clarinet) Roy Christensen (cello) Christian Teal (violin) Rebecca Culnan (violin) Craig Nies (piano) Virginia Christensen (viola) Recorded (? 1989) GASPARO GSCD 330 [77.01] [JW]

Performances are excellent with Lee Carroll Levine bearing her responsibilities as clarinettist with unflinching insight. … see Full Review

Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 13, ‘Winter daydreams’ (1866, rev. 1874) [43’24]. The Snow-Maiden, Op. 12 (1873) [16’14] – Entr’acte; Melodrama; Entr’acte; Melodrama; Allegro vivace. Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio/Vladimir Fedoseyev. Rec. 1998 (venue unspecified) RELIEF CR991045 [DDD] [59’51] [CC]

One of the best in the Fedoseyev/Relief series - highly recommended. … see Full Review

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No 6 in B minor, Op. 74, ‘Pathétique’ [48’39"] Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Tristan und Isolde* Prelude to Act 1 [11’23"]; Liebestod [7’04"] Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler Recorded in Berlin October – November, 1938 and *11 February, 1938 ADD NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110865 [67’05"] [JQ]

The contents of this CD should be mandatory listening for all who relish the art of conducting. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Iolanta (1892) - opera in eight scenes, an introduction and finale [92.24] Olga Myktenko (sop) - Iolanta Benno Schollum (bass) - King René of Provence Andrey Grigoryev (bar) - Robert Piotr Beczala (ten) - Count Vaudémont Vladimir Krassov (bar) - Ibn-Hakia Roman Muravitsky - Alméric Nikolai Didenko - Bertrand Nina Romanova - Martha Bella Kabanova - Brigitte Moscow Chamber Choir/Vladimir Minin Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio/Vladimir Fedoseyev Alla Demidova reads from Pushkin's Eugene Onegin interspersed with scenes from Tchaikovsky's opera (sung by Maria Gavrilova (sop), Irina Chistiakova (mezzo), Sergej Murzayev (bar), Albert Shagidullin (bar), Vitaly Tarashchenko (ten)). [48.00] rec. live, 13 March 2002, Grand Hall, Moscow Conservatory (Iolanta); live, 24 May 1999, Pushkin Concert, 24 May 1999, Great Hall, Moscow Conservatory (readings). RELIEF CR991074 [68.38+70.36] [RB]

Wonderful - a most accomplished and life-imbued version of Iolanta. A top recommendation ... see Full Review

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Seasons Op. 37 bis Nicolai MEDTNER (1880-1951) Improvisation in B flat minor Op. 31/1 Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures at an Exhibition Earl Wild (piano) Recorded London 1966 (Mussorgsky), New York 1969 (Medtner), New York 1976 (The Seasons) IVORY CLASSICS 70903 [75.10] [JW]

Wild’s touch is of memorable depth with grace and sheer charm … grandly seigniorial … see Full Review

Randall THOMPSON (1899-1984) Symphonies Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Symphony No. 1 (1931), [Allegro brioso, 11.19 : Poco adagio, 6.53 : Allegro, 12.40] Symphony No. 2 (1931) [Allegro, 8.25 : Largo, 4.22 : Vivace, 6.22 : Andante moderato, 10.05] Symphony No. 3 (1947-49) [Largo elegiaco, 9.26 : Allegro appassionato, 8.22 : Lento tranquillo, 9.07 : Allegro vivace, 4.57] New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Sedares (Symphony No. 1) and Andrew Schenck (Symphonies No. 2 and No. 3) No recording dates or venues listed. KOCH INTERNATIONAL CLASSICS CD 3-7413-2 [60.12: 32.00] [LN]

Lovely symphonies that speak for themselves … well worth the hearing. … see Full Review

Ludwig THUILLE (1861-1907) Piano Quintet in E flat Op. 20 (1901) [41.20] Piano Quintet in G minor (1880) [23.19] Tomer Lev (piano) Falk String Quartet rec. 1-3 Mar 2002, Champs Hill, Pulborough, Sussex, DDD ASV CD DCA 1171 [65.17] [RB]

I hope that this is not the last we hear of the ardent Thuille. ... see Full Review

Mieczyslaw Samuilovich VAINBERG (Moishei Weinberg) (1919 - 1996) Symphony #5 in f, Op 76 (1962) [45.32] Sinfonietta #1, Op 41 (1948) [22.08] National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra Katowice/Gabriel Chmura Recorded at Grzegorz Fitelberg Concert Hall, Katowice, Poland, 7 March 2003 Notes in English, Deutsch, and Français. Photos of artists and composer. Symphonies Volume 1 CHANDOS CHAN 10128 [67.51] [PSh]

Like Shostakovich with sugar on it, very well performed and recorded ... see Full Review

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) A Sea Symphony (Symphony No. 1) (1909) Joan Rodgers (soprano); Christopher Maltman (baritone) Bournemouth Symphony Chorus and Orchestra/Paul Daniel. Rec. Poole Arts Centre, UK, February 8^th-10^th, 2002. DDD NAXOS 8.557059 [63’54] [CC]

A recording at once clear and spacious, able to take the massive choral statements as well as reproduce accurately the tonal beauty of two of the UK’s best-loved young singers. … see Full Review

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Piano Concerto in C (1926-33 with revised 1946 ending) [27’45]. John FOULDS (1880-1939) Dynamic Triptych, Op. 88 (1929) [29’16]. Howard Shelley (piano); Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley. No rec. info. DDD LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD211 [57’05]

If you are buying this for the Vaughan Williams, you will not be disappointed. And you may just find your mouth agape at the marvels of the Foulds. … see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Aida Renata Tebaldi (Aida), Mario Del Monaco (Radames), Ebe Stignani (Amneris), Aldo Protti (Amonasro), Fernando Corena (Il Re), Dario Caselli (Ramfis), Piero de Palma (Messenger) Chorus and Orchestra of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome/Alberto Erede Recorded August 1952, Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome NAXOS 8.110129-30 [2 CDs, 67:52+76:41] [CH]

A very musicianly transfer of a performance which has no weaknesses and many strengths … see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Sacred Music – 10 Gloria RV589
Nisi Dominus RV803 Ostro picta RV642 Giovanni Maria RUGGIERI (fl c1690-1720)
Gloria RV ANH 23 (1708) Carolyn Sampson and Joanne Lunn (sopranos) Joyce Didonato and Tuva Semmingsen (mezzo sopranos) Robin Blaze (counter-tenor) Hilary Summers (contralto) Choir of the King’s Consort The King’s Consort/Robert King Recorded in St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead, November 2002 except RV803 recorded in All Saints Church Tooting, November 2003 and the Ruggieri recorded in Henry Wood Hall, June 2003 HYPERION CDA 66849 [76.37] [JW]

This is the tenth and apparently final volume in the King’s Consort’s Vivaldian quest. And it ends with a recording coup … see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Six Concertos for wind and string soloists Concerto in D for violin, 2 oboes, 2 horns, strings and timpani RV 562 Concerto in D minor for 2 oboes and strings RV 535 Concerto in C for violin, 2 cellos and strings RV 561 Concerto in D minor for bassoon and strings RV481 Concerto in C for 2 oboes and strings RV 534 Concerto in D minor for 2 violins, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, bassoon and strings 566 I Solisti Veneti/Claudio Scimone
Recorded at Chiesa di San Francesco in Schio, 26, 28 November 2002. DDD WARNER FONIT 5050466-3293-2-5 [61:03] [GPJ]

Definite rough edges, yet the playing has a relaxed quality which arises from the players’ affectionate familiarity with this music and its world. … see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Vespri solenni per la festa dell’Assunzione di Maria Vergine reassembled to approximate a complete vesper cycle as performed by the composer in his time Reconstructed by Frédéric Delaméa and Rinaldo Alesandrini Gemma Bertagnolli, soprano; Roberta Invernizzi, soprano; Anna Simboli, soprano; Sara Mingardo, contralto; Gianluca Ferrarini, tenor; Matteo Bellotto, baritone, Antonio De Secondi, violin. Concerto Italiano, ensemble of voices and instruments/Rinaldo Alessandrini
Recorded in July 2003 at the Teatro Olimpico, Rome. DDD NAÏVE/OPUS 111 OP30383 [149:07] [KS]

Infinite contrast and variety … elegant presentation makes this package very rewarding indeed. Highly recommended. … see Full Review

William WALTON (1902-1983) God Save The Queen, Violin Concerto (1939 rev. 1943) Partita for Orchestra (1957) Symphony No. 1 (1935) Two Pieces for String Orchestra –Henry V: Touch Her Soft Lips and Part and Passacaglia; The Death of Falstaff Berl Senofsky (violin) New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Sir William Walton Recorded in New Zealand, February and March 1964 BRIDGE 9133 A/B [2 CDs: 92.33] [JW]

Essential for Waltonians and full of interest for sympathetic admirers. … see Full Review

Egon WELLESZ (1885-1974) Symphony No. 2 Op. 65 The English (1947-48) Symphony No. 9 Op. 111 (1970) Radio Symphonieorchester Wien/Gottfried Rabl CPO 999 997-2 [75:05] [LF]

I look forward to the third volume of Rabl’s sympathetic championship of Wellesz’s symphonies with impatience … see Full Review

Kôsçak YAMADA (1886-1965) Overture in D (1912) [3’32]. Symphony in F, ‘Triumph and Peace’ (1912) [36’26]. Symphonic Poems: The Dark Gate (1913) [10’53]; Madara No Hana (1913) [7’40]. New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (Overture in D), Ulster Orchestra (rest)/Takuo Yuasa. Rec. Wellington Town Hall, New Zealand on January 30^th, 2002 (Overture in D) and Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, on June 7^th-8^th, 2001 (Symphony) and September 16^th-17^th, 2000 (Symphonic Poems). DDD NAXOS 8.555350 [58’21] [CC]

Highly recommended. Takuo Yuasa’s interpretations show the music in the best possible light (both orchestras play superlatively for him) … see Full Review

 

Eugène YsaŸe (1858 - 1931) Sonatas (6) for Solo Violin, Op 27 (1924) [67.50]: #1 in g "To Joseph Szigeti" [16.40]; #2 in a "To Jacques Thibaud" [12.49]; #3 in d "To Georges Enesco" [7.34]; #4 in e "To Fritz Kreisler" [12.44]; #5 in G "To Mathieu Crickboom" [10.07]; #6 in E "To Manuel Quiroga" [7.56] Ilya Kaler (violin) Recorded at St John Chrysostom Church, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, 9 Dec 2001 Notes in English and Deutsch. NAXOS 8.555996 [67.50] [PSh]

Brilliantly eclectic music for solo violin brilliantly played … see Full Review

Judith Lang ZAIMONT (b. 1945) Callisto: Music for Solo Piano Sonata for Piano Solo (1999-2000) [29:51] Nocturne-La Fin de Siècle (1979) [7:04] Jupiter’s Moons (2000): The Moons Swim in Orbit [1:14]; Europa [3:06]; Leda [4:56]; Io [3:17]; Ganymede [2:48]; Callisto [4:50] Hesitation Rag (1998) [5:45] Joanne Polk, piano Recorded at SUNY Purchase, New York, November 25-27, 2002 DDD ALBANY TROY 617 [62:56] [KS]

One wonders why a pianist of such skill would put in so much time to prepare such an unrewarding recital. … see Full Review

Anton ZIMMERMANN (1741-1781) String Quartet No. 1 in E flat major Op. 3/1 String Quartet No. 2 in B major Op. 3/2 String Quartet No. 3 in F major Op. 3/3 Musica Aeterna Soloists Recorded at the Gothic Church of Liptovská Osada, Slovakia, May 1994 NAXOS 8.553952 [67.44] [JW]

Haydnesque … full of dance rhythms and tonal amplitude. … animated high spirits – spry and sparky … 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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