Camille
SAINT-SAËNS
(1835 - 1921) Violin
Sonata in d Op. 75 (1885) [24.25] Violin Sonata
#2, Op. 102 in Eb (1895) [22.54]
Violin Sonata #3] "Triptique," Op.
136 (1910) [13.27] Elégie, Op. 160
(1920) [4.54] 
Ulf Wallin, violin; Roland Pöntinen,
piano Recorded Studio 10 Deutschland Radio
[Lübeck, Germany?] November 2002 Notes
in Deutsch, English, Français. Photos
of performers and composer.
CPO 999 946-2 [65.42] [PSh]
A
violinist in the Heifetz class gives us singing,
virtuoso performances of this passionate yet
well structured music ... see Full
Review
Aulis
SALLINEN (b.
1935) A
Solemn Overture (King Lear) Op.75 (1997) Symphony
No.1 Op.24 (1972) Chorali Op.22 (1970) Symphony
No.7 "The Dreams of Gandalf"
Op.71 (1995/6)
Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz/Ari Rasilainen
Recorded: Philharmonie, Ludwigshafen, June
2002
CPO 999 918-2 [62:58] [HC]
Highly
idiomatic … has an unmistakable ring of authenticity
… see Full Review
Domenico SCARLATTI
(1685-1757)
Sonatas:
complete Keyboard Sonatas, Volume 6
Evgeny Zarafiants (piano) Rec 1-4 November
1999, Phoenix Studio, Budapest
NAXOS 8.554793 [77.32] [TB]
This
imaginatively planned disc serves Scarlatti’s
music well … see Full
Review
Heinrich SCHEIDEMANN
(ca.
1595-1663) Organ Music
Kyrie
summum * Jesu, wollst uns weisen Magnificat
8 Toni Canzon [ex F] O Lux beata Trinitas
* Toccata [ex G] O Gott wir dancken deiner
güte, vs. 1-2 Kom Heyliger Geist Erbarm
dich meiner o Herre Gott, vs. 1-2 Fantasia
ex G Magnificat 6 Toni * Præambulum
ex D Galliarda ex D Alleluja, laudem dicite
Deo nostro
Gwendolyn Toth, organ Jessica Tranzillo, chant
* Recorded on the Meantone Organ in the Jacobuskerk,
Zeerijp, Holland, August 1995
ZEFIRO RECORDINGS ZR102 [78:29] [DS]
You
will only find the birds and sublime chant
on this recording. I recommend it highly ...
see Full Review
Heinrich SCHEIDEMANN
(1595
- 1663) Magnificat
I Toni,Benedicam Domino, after Lassus)
Jeus Christus, unser Heiland (III) Preambulum
in F major, Canzona in F major, Nun bitter
wir den heiligen Geist, Preambulum in D minor,
Mensch, willst du leben seliglich, In dich
hav ich gehoffed, Herr (II), Preambulum in
G minor, O Gott, wir danekn deiner Gut, Herr
Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn (II), De ore
prudentis procedit mel (after Lassus),
Magnificat V Toni,
Julia Brown (organ) Rec. 17-18 September
1999, Central Lutheran Church, Eugene, Oregon,
USA
NAXOS 8.555876 [79.02] [RH]
A
fine selection of Scheidemann’s organ music
played on a modern organ with mechanical action
organ and unequal temperament. ... see Full
Review
Jean-Claude
SCHLAEPFER (b.
1961) Exil
(1994/5)a Motets (1992)b Ascensus
(1995)c Missa Brevis (1997)d
Chant de lune (1995)e Trio
à Karin (1999)f Visibili
et Invisibili (1994)g Linda Wittauer
(soprano)b; Notburga Puskas (harp)b;
Daniel Gobet (viola da gamba)b;
Olivier Theurillat (trumpet)c;
Magali Schwarz (mezzo-soprano)d;
Quatuor Ortysd; Trio a Piaceree;
Choir of New College, Oxford (Edward Higginbottom,
director)g; Orchestre de la Suisse
Romandea; Orchestre de Chambre
de Lausannec; Ensemble Opus Novum
Luzerne; Armin Jordana,
Alan Gilbertc, Dominik Blume
Recorded: Radio Suisse Romande-Espace
2 and Schweizer Radio DRS2 MGB CTS-M 72
[73:22] [HC]
Schlaepfer’s
music - the expression of a sincere and honest
artist. … see Full
Review
Franz Peter
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Goethe Lieder Vol.3
Johannes Kalpers (tenor) Burkhard Kehring
(piano) Rec. Sudwestrundfunk, Karlsruhe, Germany,
22-23 Oct, 7-8 Nov 2002. Deutsche Schubert-Lied-Edition-16
NAXOS 8.554667 [71:45] [MC]
Kalpers
passionately feels every word and expresses
every nuance ... a wealth of lyricism and
an authentic sense of drama. A young singer
with a marked scarcity of vibrato Kehring
accompanies with sensitivity and keen imagination.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Winterreise
Matthias Goerne (baritone) Alfred Brendel
(piano)8 and 10 October 2003 (Live concerts)
Wigmore Hall, London
DECCA CLASSICS 467 092-2 [75.32] [ME]
This
performance is as close to perfection as any
human creation can possibly be. ... see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Winterreise
Ralph Kohn (baritone), Graham Johnson (piano)
Recorded in London, June 2003
OPERA OMNIA OP3869 [68:43] [GPJ]
Despite
the honesty and sincerity of Kohn’s singing,
there is a whole dimension of experience entirely
missing. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH 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 2 [72.39+67.14]
[JPh]
Very,
very attractive, and played superbly. ...
see Full
Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856)
String
Quartet no 1 in A minor, opus 41 no. 1 (1842)
String Quartet in F major, Opus 41 No. 2 (1842)
String Quartet no. 3 in A major, opus 41 no.
3 (1842)
Quatuor Ysaÿe Recorded 28-30 March 2003
(No. 1), 21-24 October 2003 (Nos. 2 &
3), Abbé de l’Epau, France
AEON AECD 0418 [79.05] [TB]
A
compelling combination of good performances
and the completeness of all three quartets.
... see Full
Review
Cyril SCOTT (1879-1970)
Symphony
No. 3, ‘The Muses’a (1937)
[34’45]. Piano Concerto No. 2b
(1958) [20’16]. Neptune (1933, rev.
1935) [24’22].
bHoward Shelley (piano); aHuddersfield
Choral Society BBC Philharmonic/Martyn Brabbins.
DDD No rec. info. available.
CHANDOS CHAN10211 [79’32] [CC]
It
would appear that Cyril Scott is a composer
who has just been sat waiting to be discovered.
Superb performances and a recording of demonstration
quality … This is an essential purchase. ...
see Full Review
Déodat de SEVERAC
(1872 – 1921) Cerdaña
(1908/11) En Languedoc (1903/4)
Jordi Masó (piano) Recorded: Auditorium,
Jafre, Spain, October 2001
NAXOS 8.555855 [67:58] [HC]
Jordi
Masó plays beautifully throughout,
with much subtlety and tonal variety, and
is superbly recorded. ... see Full
Review
Yuri
SHAPORIN (1889-1966)The
Decembrists - opera in four acts (1953)
Moscow, 1954, Historic Recording. Mono. AAD
PREISER 90574 [2CDs: 78.53+78.52] [RB]
Shaporin’s
grand opera continues the exalted Russian
lyric-heroic tradition. Hardly a beat is skipped
in the lineage from Glinka to Mussorgsky to
Tchaikovsky to Prokofiev. Shaporin has a superb
gift for melody with the lightest spicing
from Prokofiev. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906 - 1975) Symphony
#7, Op 60 "Leningrad"
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitri Yablonsky
Recorded Studio 5, State Broadcasting House,
Moscow, Russia, February 2003. Notes in English
and Deutsch. DVD-Audio
playable on DVD players and DVD
Audio players. 48kHz/24 bit 5.1 surround sound,
DTS surround sound, and 5.1 AC-3 Dolby stereo.
Also available on hybrid SACD.
NAXOS 5.110020 [75.12] [PSh][CC]
A superb performance
with the realistic recording this brilliantly
colourful work has always demanded, always
deserved[PSh]
Well worth hearing. The recording triumphs
in the finale [CC]... see Full
Review
and regular CD:
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906 - 1975) Symphony No. 7 Leningrad
(1942)
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky.Rec.
Studio 5, Moscow State Broadcasting and Recording
House, February 2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.557256 [75’17"] [JPh]
More a gentle stroll
than an intensive drama ... A great pity.
... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Symphony
No. 8 in C minor, Op. 65 (1943)
Gürzenich-Orchester Köln/Dmitri
Kitajenko [Kitaienko] [Kitaenko]. Live rec.
from the Philharmonie, Köln, on June
28th-July 2nd, 2003.
DDD
CAPRICCIO
71013 [69’21] [CC]
The
symphonic edifice that is Shostakovich’s Eighth
Symphony seems to become more and more impressive
on every hearing – especially in as dedicated
an account as this one. ... see
Full Review
Dimitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906
- 1975) Symphony
No. 10 in E minor Op. 93 (1953)
Beethoven Orchester Bonn/Roman Kofman.Rec.
Heilige-Kirche Bad Godesberg, Germany, March
28-30, 2003. DDD
MD&G 337 1201-2 [55’26"] [JPh]
A
note-perfect performance and the recording
is stunningly good … at times is really thrilling
but it all sounds way too comfortable. … see
Full Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906
- 1975) Piano
Sonata #2, Op 61 (1942) [27.27] Three Fantastic
Dances, Op 5 (1922) [3.51] Five Preludes (1921)
[6.30] Dances of the Dolls: Lyric Waltz (1952)
[1.41] The Gadfly, Op 97: Short Piece;
Spanish Dance (1955) [2.03] The Limpid
Stream, Op 39: Nocturne (1935) [2.17]
Aphorisms, Op 13 (1927) [13.30] The Golden
Age: Polka (1930) [1.54]
Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Steinway Piano
supplied by Steinway & Sons. Notes in
English, Français, and Deutsch. Photo
of composer. Recorded at Potton Hall, Suffolk,
UK, 24 April and 12 September 2003 CD Stereo
2.0 and SACD Stereo 2.0, and surround 4.0
PCM recording Hybrid
SACD playable on SACD players and CD
players DECCA 470 649-2 [61.43]
The
first credible performance of these magnificent
works, in brilliant sound, a milestone in
the Shostakovich discography ... see Full
Review
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Film
Music: Volume II The Golden Mountains,
The Gadfly, Volochayev Days
BBC Philharmonic/Vassily Sinaisky Rec. New
Broadcasting House, Manchester; 8-9 April
2003. DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10183 [66:08] [IL]
Arresting,
exciting and accessible, first class Shostakovich
film music performed with great style and
attack. Another Chandos triumph ... see Full
Review
Bettina
SKRZYPCZAK (b.
1962) Scene
for violin and cello (2001) Noemi Schindler
(violin) and Christophe Roy (violoncello)
– recorded 14/12/2001, in the Temple St. Marcel,
Paris. Miroirs for mezzo-soprano
and Ensemble (2000) Mireille Capelle (mezzosoprano),
Ensemble Contrechamps Geneve/Susanna Malkki
– recorded 22-23/4/2002 at Radio Suisse Romande
Geneva Fantaisie for oboe solo
(1997) Matthias Arter (oboe) – recorded 1998
at Swiss Radio DRS 2. SN 1993 J for
orchestra (1995) Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonie
Zlin/Monica Buckland – recorded 5/5/2000 in
Zlin. Toccata
sospesa for flute and two percussionists
(1998) Verena Bosshart (flute), Riccardo Bologna,
Eduardo Leandro (percussion) – live recording
10/11/2001 in Radiostudio, Zurich. Concerto
for piano and orchestra (1998) Massimiliano
Damerini (piano) Swiss Philharmonic Orchestra/Mario
Venzago – Live recording in Victoria Hall,
Geneva. Co-production: Swiss Radio DRS2 and
Radio Suisse Romande-Espace2. DDD
MUSIKSZENE SCHWEIZ MGB CTS-M78 [73.07]
[JPh]
Listen
carefully but this is still pretty incomprehensible.
The big disappointment for me was the absolute
absence of any discernible tunes. I wont be
listening to these again for a while. ...
see Full Review
Roger SMALLEY (b.1943)
Oboe
Concerto (1995-6) [20.41] Kaleidoscope
(2003) [9.39] Concerto for Cello and Seventeen
Players (1995-6) [16.57] Alexander
SCRIABIN (1872-1915) transc. Roger
SMALLEY Ten Poems for Chamber
Orchestra (1989-90) [14.34]: Prélude
Op. 45. No. 3; Prélude Op. 48. No.
1; Prélude Op. 48 No. 2; Enigme Op.
52 No. 2; Désire Op. 57 No. 2; Caresse
Dansé Op. 57 No. 2; Prélude
Op. 59 No. 2; Prélude Op. 67 No. 1;
Prélude Op. 67 No. 2; Poème
Op. 69 No. 2.
Joel Marangella (oboe) Raphael Wallfisch (cello)
West Australian Symphony Orchestra/Roger Smalley
15-16 Apr 2003, Perth Concert Hall; 20 Feb
1997, Studio 620, ABC, Perth. DDD
ABC CLASSICS 980 047-5 [RB]
Rewarding
music ... Approachable yet far from anodyne.
Don't miss this. ... see
Full Review
John
Philip SOUSA
(1854-1932) Music
for Wind Band 4 Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
(1922) Sesqui-Centennial Exposition (1926)
Tales of a Traveler (1911) Riders for the
Flag (1927) Ancient and Honorable Artillery
Co. (1924) Coeds of Michigan (1925) Pathfinder
of Panama (1915) The Glory of the Yankee Navy
(1909) Bride Elect Selections (1898) The Aviators
(1931) The Stars and Stripes Forever (1896)
Royal Artillery Band/Keith Brion
Recorded Woolwich Town Hall, London, November
2000
NAXOS 8.559093 [59.02] [JW]
Grandiose
antiquaries … quasi-impressionistic Kiplinesqueries
… the bold, brassy swagger … local colour
… big and Imperial-sounding … see Full
Review
Sir Charles
Villiers STANFORD
(1852-1924) Irish
Rhapsody No. 4 in A minor, Op. 141a
(1913) [18’52]. Becket, Op. 48 (1893)
- Funeral March, ‘The Martyrdom’b
[6’45]. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op.
126c (1911) [37’32].
cMalcolm Binns (piano); abLondon
Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult; cLondon
Symphony Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite;.
No rec. info. Rec. of Piano Concerto No. 2
made in association with RVW Trust. ADD
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD219 [63’20]
[CC]
This
is an invaluable Stanford collection. ...
see Full Review
Ronald STEVENSON
(b.1928-) Passacaglia
on DSCH
Murray McLachlan (piano)
Recorded at King’s Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
15-16 July 1999
THE DIVINE ART CD 25013 [74.59] [CSS]
A
committed performance – only slightly quicker
than the composer’s own. Stevenson has suggested
that the Passacaglia spans a lifetime ...
a living organism. ... see
Full Review
Derek STRAHAN
Past
Life Recall: Verse and music by Derek
Strahan Lucifer
Dialogues from "Eden in Atlantis"
[40.37] London Letters [5.41] First Encounter
with the Devil [9.40] Past Life Recall [9.44]
Experiences with the Anima [9.42] read
by Derek Strahan and Amanda Holdsworth "Soundscaping"
by Sean Peter and Bob Scott. Notes in English
with colour photos of the artists. Recorded
2003 in Marrickville, NSW, Australia
REVOLVE RDS 005 [77.45] [PSh]
Verse
spoken to music, far-out entertainment of
an Anglo-Australian sixties-ish sort ... see
Full Review
You can purchase
this disc through MusicWeb for £10 postage
paid World-Wide
The Strauss Album
Johann
STRAUSS I
(1804-1849) Zampa
Galop, Opus 62 (1832) Radetzky March,
Opus 228 (1848) Josef
STRAUSS (1827-1870) Nightshade
Polka, Opus 229 (1867) Jockey Polka,
Opus 278 (1870) Johann
STRAUSS II (1825-1899) Perpetuum
Mobile, Opus 257 (1862) Emperor Waltz,
Opus 437 (1889) Champagne Polka, Opus
211 (1858) Overture: Die Fledermaus (1874)
Polka: Im Krapfenwald’l, Opus 336 (1870)
Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, Opus 214 (1858)
Waltz: On the Beautiful Blue Danube,
Opus 314 (1867) Thunder and Lightning Polka,
Opus 324 (1868) Memories of Covent Garden,
Opus 329 (1867) Johann
STRAUSS II and Josef
STRAUSS Pizzicato Polka (1870)
Eduard
STRAUSS (1835-1916) Polka: Burning
and Yearning (1895)
The Johann Strauss Orchestra/Christopher
Warren-Green Recorded 7-9 November 2000, Angel
Studios, London
ASV WHITE LINE CD WHL 2157 [67.48] [TB]
Crisply
articulate performances by an authentically
small(ish) band … see Full
Review
Johann STRAUSS
II
(1825-1899) Die
Fledermaus (1873-4) Libretto by Haffner
and Genée Rosalinde (soprano) – Kiri
Te Kanawa; Adele (soprano) – Hildegard Heichele;
Eisenstein (baritone) – Hermann Prey; Dr.
Falke (baritone) – Benjamin Luxon; Alfred
(tenor) – Dennis O’Neill; Prince Orlofsky
(mezzo) – Doris Soffel; Dr. Blind (tenor)
– Paul Crook; Col. Franke (bass) – Michael
Langdon
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden/Placido Domingo Recorded (New
Year’s Eve?) 1984 at Covent Garden, London
Directed for the stage by Leopold Lintberg
and Richard Gregson Directed for video by
Humphrey Burton
NVC ARTS 4509-99216-2 [approx. 176 minutes]
[TH]
Good
value at 3 hours on one disc, but buyers should
bear in mind the technical problems … see
Full Review
Richard
STRAUSS (1864
– 1949) Eine
Alpensinfonie Op. 64, (1915) Richard
WAGNER (1813 – 1883) Orchestral
excerpts from Götterdämmerung,
(1876): Siegfried’s Rhine Journey Siegfried’s
Funeral March Brunhilde’s Immolation Scene
Bavarian State Opera Orchestra/Franz Konwitschny.
Recorded 1952 in Munich. ADD
URANIA URN 22.247 [65.02] [JPh]
Revelatory.
Readings that are absolutely straight with
no attempt at "interpretation".
The orchestra are obviously in their element.
I enjoyed this disc very much indeed. … see
Full Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949):
Der Rosenkavalier - opera in
three acts libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal
The Feldmarschallin, Princess Werdenberg:
Maria Reining (soprano) Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau:
Jaro Prohaska (baritone) Octavian: Jarmila
Novotná (soprano) Herr von Faninal:
Georg Hann (baritone) Sophie, his daughter:
Hilde Güden (soprano) Marianne, Sophie’s
duenna: Stefanie Holeschofsky (soprano) Valzacchi,
an intriguer: Peter Klein (tenor) Annina,
his partner: Dagmar Hermann (contralto) The
Major-Domo to the Feldmarschallin: William
Wernigk (tenor) An Attorney: Alfred Muzzarelli
(bass) An Italian Singer: Helge Rosvaenge
(tenor) Police Inspector: Georg Monthy (bass)
Innkeeper: William Wernigk (tenor) Choir of
the Vienna State Opera
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/George Szell
Recorded by Sendergruppe "Rotweissrot"
at a performance in the Festspielhaus, Salzburg
29 August 1949 (Archive of Austrian Radio
ORF) Der Rosenkavalier: excerpts
Excerpts from Act 1: Introduction [3’04"];
"Wie du warst! Wie du bist!" [3’45"];
"Warum ist Tag?" [4’31"]; "Der
Feldmarschall sitzt im krowatischen Wald…"
[6’32"]; "Da geht er hin…"[4’27"];
"Ach, du bist wieder da!" [1’59"];
"Die Zeit, die ist ein sonderbar Ding."
[10’28"] Excerpts from Act 2: "im
dieser feierlichen stunde…" [3’21"];
"Mir ist die Ehre widerfahren…"
[7’56"]; "Wart, i hau’ dich z’samm…"
[6’41"] Excerpts from Act 3: "Weiss
bereits nicht…" [5’32"]; "Mein
Gott, es war nicht mehr als eine Farce."
[6’30"]; "Marie Theres’!" [8’31"];
"Ist ein Traum, kann nicht wirklich sein…"
[3’01"] The Feldmarschallin, Princess
Werdenberg; Lotte Lehmann (soprano) Baron
Ochs auf Lerchenau: Richard Mayr (baritone)
Octavian: Maria Olszewska (soprano) Herr von
Faninal: Victor Madin (baritone) Sophie, his
daughter: Elisabeth Schumann (soprano) Marianne,
Sophie’s duenna: Anne Michalsky (soprano)
Valzacchi, an intriguer: Hermann Gallos (tenor)
Annina, his partner: Bella Paalen (contralto)
Choir of the Vienna State Opera
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Robert Heger
Recorded in the Konzerthaus, Vienna 20-24
September 1933 Source: HMV DB2060/72 Matrix:
2WX581/606
ANDANTE AND 3985 [4 CDs: 65’53"+53’55"+54’56"+76’18"]
[JQ]
Recommended
wholeheartedly to all who love the music of
Richard Strauss and this wonderful opera in
particular ... a marvellous, human and glorious
score ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH John
TAVENER (b.1944) - A
Portrait CD1
In Alium – Section A (1968) To a
Child Dancing in the Wind (1983) - Movement
1: He wishes for the Cloths of Heaven
The Lamb (1982); The Tyger (1987)
Ikon of Light (1984): Movement 1:
FOS 1, DOXA Movement 2: Piu Intensita,
Mandelion for organ (1981) (extract)
Chant for guitar (extract) (1984) Ikon
of St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (extract)
The Protecting Veil (1989), Section
1 Mary of Egypt (1991) – Act III: Bless
Duet, Akhmatova Songs, Diódia for
string quartet (1997) (extracts) Song for
Athene (1993) CD2 Zodiacs for piano
(1997) Prayer of the Heart (1999) Ikon
of Eros (2000): Movement 2: Eρωη
(Eros) Mother and Child (2002)
(extract) John Tavener Reflects………A Recorded
Interview
NAXOS 8.558152-53 [79:31+75:55] [GPJ]
Of
incalculable value to those wanting to come
to terms with this sometimes perplexing yet
undeniably significant figure in the world
of modern music. … see Full
Review
George Philippe
TELEMANN (1681-1767)
Tafelmusik:
Ouverture and Suite in D major; Quartet in
D minor for two flutes, recorder and continuo;
Concerto in F major for three violins and
continuo; Conclusion in E minor for two flutes,
strings and continuo
Musica Amphion/Pieter-Jan Belder Recorded
at Maria Minor, Utrecht, 2003
BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 92213 [61.13] [GH]
Exciting,
often driving performances and bright recording
... well worth the modest outlay. ... see
Full Review
Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony
No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 (1888) [45’09]. Romeo
and Juliet Fantasy Overture (1870, rev.
1880) [20’39].
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Daniele Gatti.
Rec. Abbey Road Studios, London, on July 31st-August
1st, 2003 (Op. 64) and Watford
Colosseum on May 6th-7th,
1998 (Romeo). DDD
HARMONIA MUNDI USA HMU907381 [65’56] [CC]
This
is a memorable account of the Fifth – no matter
how many versions you have on your shelves,
there should be space for this one. … see
Full Review
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
(1840
- 1893) Mazeppa,
opera in 3 acts, libretto by Viktor Burenin
(1884) [169.00] Mazeppa Nikolai Putilin
Kochubey Sergei Alesashkin Lyubov
Larissa Diadkova Mariya Irina Loskutova
Andrey Viktor Lutsiuk Orlik Viacheslav
Luhanin
Kirov Opera Orchestra, Chorus, and Ballet/Valey
Gergiev Recorded at the Marinsky Theater,
St. Petersburg, Russia, 1996 Video direction,
Brian Large. Stage Producer, Irina Molostova
Booklet in English, Français, Deutsch.
Synopsis, no texts. Photos of the staging.
Originally recorded in two channel stereo,
DRSS reprocessed for surround sound. Subtitles:
English, French, German, Italian, Spanish,
and Chinese. Menus in English. DTS and Dolby
Digital 5.1 sound. NTSC anamorphic 16:9 region
0 [all-regions] No PAL version available.
DVD [format 9]
PHILIPS
EUROARTS 074 194-9 [174.00] [PSh]
A
brilliant production of an under-rated epic
dramatic masterpiece, an absolute must for
all opera lovers, and a good choice for those
who are just getting to know the form ...
see Full Review
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY:
A Naxos Musical Journey
Romeo
and Juliet, Fantasy Overture (1880) [20’16].
Souvenir de Florence Op. 70 (1890-92)
[35’01]. Capriccio italien, Op. 45
[14’50].
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra/Stephen
Gunzenhauser; Vienna Chamber Orchestra/Philippe
Entremont (Souvenir). Aspect Ratio
1.33:1; Dolby Digital and DTS Surround. NTSC
– No Region Coding.
DVD INTERNATIONAL NAXOS DVDI1029 [70’00]
[CC]
So,
some fun and some eyebrow-raising watching
the ‘slide-show’ to the accompaniment of some
glorious music in generally mediocre performances.
… see Full Review
Michael TIPPETT
(1905-1998)
The
Midsummer Marriage (1955) Joan Carlyle
(soprano) Jenifer; Elizabeth Harwood (soprano)
Bella; Elizabeth Bainbridge (mezzo) She-Ancient;
Helen Watts (contralto) Sosostris; Alberto
Remedios (tenor) Mark; Stuart Burrows (tenor)
Jack; Raimund Herincx (baritone) King Fisher;
Stafford Dean (bass) He-Ancient; David Whelan
(baritone) Half-Tipsy Man; Andrew Daniels
(tenor) Dancing Man
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden/Colin Davis. No rec. info. ADD
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD2217 [76’07
+ 77’27] [CC]
Rarely
will you hear an uncompromising twentieth-century
work such as this one sung and played with
such almighty belief. The sheer standard of
orchestral playing almost beggars belief …
No opera-lover should be without this set.
... see Full
Review
Veljo TORMIS
(b.
1930) Two
Songs after Ernst Enno (1948, 1998) Three
Songs from the Estonian epos Kalevipoeg
(1960) Three Setu Work Songs (1976) Four Sangaste
Game Songs (1981) Six Estonian Children Songs
(1989) Thirteen Estonian Lyric Folk Songs
(1972) Heaps of Songs (1973)
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir/Tōnu
Kaljuste Recorded: Concert Hall, Tallinn,
June 1998 and June 1999
CARUS CV 83.400 [76:02] [HC]
Performances
that are all highly idiomatic, superbly sung
with much tonal variety. Be ready for much
musical pleasure. … see Full
Review
Rena VALI (b.
1952) Concerto
for flute and orchestra (1998) Folk Songs
(Set No. 10) for soprano and orchestra (1992):
a) Love song; b) Song for Luristan; c) Lament,
In Memoriam Olivier Messiaen; d) Popular
song from Tehran Deylámân for
flute, oud and orchestra (1995)
Alberto Almarza (flute) Janna Baty (soprano)
George Mgrdichian (oud) Boston Modern Orchestra
Project/Gil Rose Rec. Jordan Hall, New England
Conservatory, Boston, Massachusetts / Houghton
Chapel, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts,
14 February 1998, 25 March 1999, 19-21 December
2000. DDD
NAXOS 8.557224 [64:27] [MC]
If
you want something different to the usual
fare yet remaining approachable then this
release may be for you. Certainly worth exploring!
... see Full Review
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
Macbeth.
Opera in 4 Acts. (Original 1847 version)
Macbeth, Peter Glossop (bar); Lady Macbeth,
Rita Hunter (sop); Banquo, John Tomlinson
(bass); Macduff, Kenneth Collins (ten); Malcolm,
Richard Greager (ten); Lady in Waiting, Ludmilla
Andrew (sop); Doctor, Christian du Plessis
(bar)
BBC Singers BBC Concert Orchestra/John
Matheson First broadcast by the BBC on 15
April 1979
OPERA RARA ORCV 301 [2CDs: 76.08+56.47]
[RF]
Hunter’s
richness and insight as well as vocal clarity
and agility matched with Glossop’s characterisation
and Matheson’s feel for Verdian line make
this a fascinating and for Verdians an unmissable
issue ... see Full Review
Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901)
Simon
Boccanegra - Melodrama in a Prologue
and Three Acts (1857 ‘Original’ version)
Simon Boccanegra, Corsair and Doge of Genoa,
Sesto Bruscantini (bar); Maria Boccanegra,
Simon’s daughter known as Amelia Grimaldi,
Josella Ligi (sop); Jacapo Fiesco, Gwynne
Howell (bass); Gabrielle Adorno, André
Turp (ten); Paola Albiani, William Elvin (bar);
Pietro, Paul Hudson (bass)
BBC Singers BBC Concert Orchestra/John
Matheson Rec. Golders Green Hippodrome, London,
before an invited audience
First broadcast by the BBC on 1st
January 1976 Full Price
OPERA RARA ORCV 302 [2CDs: 71.39+49.29]
[RF]
Countless
hours of pleasure ... A big gap in the catalogue
filled at last and with a good all-round performance.
... see Full Review
Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741)
Mottetti Longe
mala, umbrae, terrores** (RV 629) [15:27]
O qui coeli terraeque serenitas* (RV 631)
[14:41] Vestro Principi divino** (RV 633)
[08:58] Canta in prato, ride in monte* (RV
623) [07:30] Invicti, bellate** (RV 628) [09:27]
Nulla in mundo pax sincera* (RV 630) [13:29]
Anke Herrmann, soprano (*); Laura Polverelli,
contralto (**)
Academia Montis Regalis/Alessandro De
Marchi Recorded in October 2001 Istituto di
Musica Antica Academia Montis Regalis, Mondovi,
Italy DDD
OPUS 111 OP 30340 [69:33] [JV]
An
uneven recording of six of Vivaldi’s motets
– the orchestral playing is brilliant, but
the singers are not always on the same level
... see Full
Review
Wladimir VOGEL (1896
– 1984) Wagadus
Untergang durch die Eitelkeit (1930/1948)a
Worte (1962)b Abschied (1973)c
Hanneke Van Bork (soprano)a;
Lydia Vintura (alto)a; Derrick
Olsen (baritone)a; Martina Bovet,
Karin Maria Krauer (speakers)b;
Kammersprechchor Züricha;
Belgian Radio Choira; Belgian Saxophone
Ensemblea; Festival Strings Lucernebc;
Léonce Grasa, Rudolf Baumgartnerbc
Recorded: Belgian Radio and Nederlands Omroep
Stichting Hilversum, 1968 and Radio Studio,
Zürich, November 1995 (Worte, Abschied)
MGB CD 6128 [40:28 + 53:41] [HC]
Provides
for a badly needed re-assessment of Vogel’s
achievement. … see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Die
Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1868).
Sir Donald McIntyre (bass-baritone) Hans Sachs;
Helena Doese (soprano) Eva; Paul Frey (tenor)
Walther; John Pringle (bass) Beckmesser; Rosemary
Gunn (mezzo) Magdalene; Donald Shanks (bass)
Pogner; Christopher Doig (tenor) David; Robert
Allman (baritone) Kothner; David Hibbard (bass)
Hans Foltz; Arend Baumann (bass) Hans Schwarz;
Stephen Bennett (bass) Hermann Ortel; Christopher
Dawes (tenor) Augustin Moser; Gerald Sword
(tenor) Kunz Vogelgesang; John Miley (tenor)
Ulrich Eisslinger; Lawrence Allen (tenor)
Balthasar Zorn; Neville Wilkie (bass) Konrad
Nachtigall;
Australian Opera Chorus; The Elizabethan Philharmonic
Orchestra /Sir Charles Mackerras. Live at
the Sydney Opera House. PCM Stereo. Picture
format 4:3. Region Code 2,5. Rec.
ARTHAUS
MUSIK 100 122 [2 DVDs: 277’00] [CC]
A
highly recommendable Meistersinger, the whole
of which is greater than the sum of its parts.
... see Full
Review
Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883) Das
Rheingold (1854)
Staatsorchester Stuttgart/Lothar Zagrosek
Recorded live at the Staatsoper, Stuttgart,
28-29 December, 2002 Directed for the stage
by Joachim Schlomer Directed for video by
Janos Darvas and Thorsten Fricke
TDK
10 5206 9 (Running time 152 minutes)
Die Walküre (1851-6)
Staatsorchester Stuttgart/Lothar Zagrosek
Directed for the stage by Christoph Nel Directed
for TV by Janos Darvas and Thosten Fricke
Recorded live at the Staatsoper Stuttgart,
29 Sept. and 2 January 2003 TDK
Euroarts 10 5207 9 DV-OPRDNW [2 discs:
running time 229 minutes] [TH]
Presentation,
camera work and sound quality are all good
but on this evidence it’s hard to see why
this particular Ring was picked for posterity.
... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Tristan
und Isolde Jon Vickers (tenor) Tristan;
Birgit Nilsson (soprano) Isolde; Ruth Hesse
(mezzo) Brangaene; Bengt Rundgren (bass) Marke;
Walter Berry (baritone) Kurwenal; Stan Unruh
(tenor) Melot; Horst Laubenthal (tenor) Shepherd/Young
Sailor; Paul Taillefer (baritone) Steersman;
New Philharmonia Chorus ORTF National
Orchestra/Karl Böhm. Théâtre
Antique, Orange, France, 7 July, 1973 PAL.
4:3. Region 0. Live
HARDY CLASSIC VIDEO
HCD4009 (240’00) [CC]
An
experience to treasure. If only we could hear
more of the orchestral detail … We should
be eternally grateful we have this at all.
It should be in every Wagnerian’s collection.
… see Full
Review
Richard WAGNER
(1813 - 1883) Tristan
und Isolde (1859) [255.48] Kirsten
Flagstad, soprano; Ludwig Suthaus, tenor;
Blanche Thebom, mezzo-soprano; Josef Greindl,
bass; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone;
Rudolf Schock, tenor; Edgar Evans, tenor;
Rhoderick Davies, baritone.
Chorus of the Royal Opera House Coven Garden/Douglas
Robinson Philharmonia Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler
Recorded Kingsway Hall, London, UK, 10 through
23 June 1952 Digitally remastered 2001 by
Douglas Lareter at Abbey Road Studios. Mono.
ADD Notes in English. Photo of the conductor.
Track list and Synopsis. No texts. "Libretto
and English/French translations are available
on EMI Classics website" www.emiclassics.com"
EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 85873 2 6 [67.03 +
68.14 + 64.26 + 56.05] [PSh]
A
newly restored classic, a must have for any
opera lover, one of the half dozen greatest
opera recordings ever made ... see
Full Review
Richard WAGNER
(1813 - 1883)
Tristan
und Isolde (1859) Isolde - Kirsten
Flagstad, soprano; Tristan - Ludwig Suthaus,
tenor; Brangäne - Blanche Thebom, mezzo-soprano;
King Mark - Josef Greindl, bass; Kurwenal
- Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone; Sailor
- Rudolf Schock, tenor;
Chorus of the Royal Opera House Covent
Garden/Douglas Robinson Philharmonia Orchestra/Wilhelm
Furtwängler Recorded Kingsway Hall, London,
UK, June 1952 Wesendonck Lieder with
Flagstad and Moore, recorded 1948
REGIS RRC 4004 [4CDs: 56’05+77’15+73.30+67.17]
[MB]
Furtwängler
remains a yardstick in Tristan and if you
don’t yet have it EMI’s budget priced re-mastering
will be unmatchable value for money. The Regis
offers no musical or commercial value beside
it ... see Full Review
David WARD-STEINMAN
(b.1936) Concerto
No. 2 for Chamber Orchestra (1. Moderately
Fast 2. Very Slow 3. Fast and Vigorous) (1960-62)
[17:15] Paul TUROK
(b.1929)Threnody, op. 54 (1980)
[06:01] Norman DELLO
JOIO (b.1913)Lyric Fantasies
for viola and strings (1975) (Adagio,
Molto Sostenuto, Amabile; Allegro con Spirito)
[14:18] Henry COWELL
(1897-1963) Hymn for String Orchestra
(1946) [05:05] Paul
CRESTON (1906-1985)Partita for
flute, violin and string orchestra, op. 12
(Preamble; Sarabande; Burlesk; Air; Tarantella)
(1937) [16:35]
Karen Elaine, (viola) (Dello Joio) Yossi Aranheim
(flute); Nicholas Ward (violin) (Creston)
City of London Sinfonia/David Amos Rec. Oct
1990, Angel Studios, London. DDD
KLEOS CLASSICS KL5128 [59:31] [RB]
Likely
to open new casements for the listener with
a taste for the melodic yet not bland in 20th
century music. Dello Joio well worth getting
to hear. At bargain price a very welcome return
to the catalogue. ... see Full
Review
Grace WILLIAMS
(1906-1977)
Balladsa
(1968) [17’12]. Fairest of Starsb
(1973) [14’09]. Symphony No. 2c
(1956) [37’51].
bJanet Price (soprano); acBBC
Welsh Symphony Orchestra/Vernon Handley; bLondon
Symphony Orchestra/Sir Charles Groves. Rec.
acBBC Studio One, Llandaff on March
24th-25th, 1979 (originally
released on BBC Artium REGL381); bAbbey
Road Studios, London, on November 22nd,
1973 (originally HMV ASD3006). ADD
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD327 [73.23]
[CC]
Do
explore this music. Before handling this disc
I had not heard any of Grace Williams’ music,
so all three pieces came as something of a
revelation ... Who out of the currently active
record companies will now take up her cause?
... see Full
Review
Grace
WILLIAMS (1906-1977)
Fantasia
on Welsh Nursery Tunesa (1940)
[11’03]. Carillons for Oboe and Orchestrab
(1965, rev. 1973) [10’31]. Penillionc
(1955) [15’49]. Trumpet Concertod
(1963) [13’27]. Sea Sketchese
(1944) [18’55].
bAnthony Camden (oboe); dHoward
Snell (trumpets); abdLondon Symphony
Orchestra, cRoyal Philharmonic
Orchestra/Sir Charles Groves; eEnglish
Chamber Orchestra/David Atherton.
Rec. abdAbbey Road Studios, London
on November 21st-22nd,
1973 (originally issued on ASD3006), cAfan
Lido, Port Talbot, Glamorgan, on May 22nd-23rd,
1971 (ASD2739), eKingsway Hall,
London, in January 1970 (Decca SXL6468). ADD
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD323 [69’45]
[CC]
If
this disc does not quite have the pulling
power of SRCD327, it remains fully worthy
of investigation. The clarity of the recording
is simply marvellous ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH William
Brocklesby WORDSWORTH (1908-1988)
Symphonies:
No. 2 in D, Op. 34 (1947/8) [43’45]; No. 3
in C, Op. 48 (1948) [27’20].
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite.
No rec. info given. DDD
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD207 [71’05]
[CC]
The
performances are eloquent in the extreme and
represent a most persuasive document. Much
of this music is either lively or lovely (sometimes
both) … Do try to hear this disc. … see Full
Review
Alexander WUSTIN
(b.
1943) Memoria
2 (1978)a Song from Tchevengur
(1995)b Hommage à beethoven
(1984)c Agnus Dei (1993)d
Sine Nomine (2000)e Mark Pekarski
Percussion Ensembleacd; Kiril Umanski
(organ)bc; Nikolai Danilin (organ)d;
Armenian Chamber Choir of Moscowb;
New Moscow Choir (Elena Rastvorova, conductor)d;
Moscow Classical Orchestraabce;
Yuri Nikolaevitchabce Recorded:
Mosfilm Studios, Moscow, May 1995 (Agnus
Dei) and December 2002
THOROFON CTH 2486 [65:32] [HC]
Wustin’s
music was entirely new to me. Highly personal,
often gripping woks made a deep impression
of earnestness, honesty and sincerity which
I find most endearing. … see Full
Review
Kôsçak YAMADA
(1886-1965) Overture
in D major (1912) * Symphony in F major "Triumph
and Peace" (1912) The Dark Gate - Symphonic
Poem (1913) Madara No Hana - Symphonic Poem
(1913)
Ulster Orchestra New Zealand Symphony
Orchestra * Takuo Yuasa Rec. Wellington Town
Hall January 2002 (Overture) Ulster Hall,
Belfast 2000-01 (remainder)
NAXOS 8.555350 [58.21] [JW]
The
fine performers make out a case for this music
and for an under-explored area of musical
engagement. … 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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