Edward
MACDOWELL
(1861-1908) Suite
in E minor Op.10 (1906) [29.44] Fireside Tales
Nos 4 and 5 Op.61 (1902) [7.19] Sonata Eroica
Op.50 (1895) [31.27] Étude de Concert
Op.36 (1889) [4.33] 
Sandra Carlock (piano) Recorded at St Philip’s,
London, August 2004
SOMM CD 043 [74.03] [JW]
I
hope this is the start of a MacDowell series
from Sandra Carlock because she’s clearly
a first class interpreter of his music ...
see Full
Review
Leevi
MADETOJA (1887-1947)
The complete works for solo piano CD 1 Juhlamarssi,
(Festive March) Op. 5 no 1 (1910) [3:39] Kuusi
Pianokappaletta, (Six Pieces for Piano)
Op. 12 (1912) [20:05] (Valssi 3:16]; Kansanlaulu
[2:22]; Scherzino [2:34]; Menuetto vanhaan
tyyliin [4:06]; Kehtolaulu [3:52]; Romanssi
[3:55]) Pianosävellyksiä,
(Three Pieces for Piano) Op. 17 (1912) [4:10]
(Du var mig mera nära (Olit minua lähinnä)
[1:05]; Pieni romanssi [1:51]; Tanssi [1:14])
Pienoiskuvia pianolle, (Miniatures
for Piano) Op. 21 (1914) [8:37] (Iltatähti
[2:23]; Valsette [1:21]; Nocturne [2:29];
Leikki [0:44]; Lasten marssi [1:40]) Pieniä
Pianokappaleita, (Four Small Pieces for
Piano) Op. 31 (1915) [8:27] (Paimenen unelma
[2:54]; Prélude [1:07]; Pieni Satu
[1:37]; Vanha muisto [2:49]) CD 2 Pastoraalisarja,
(Suite Pastorale) Op. 34 (1916) [10:04] (Aamu
[2:21]; Caprice [1:54]; Legenda [3:32]; Valssi
[2:17]) Kuoleman puutarha, (The Garden
of Death) Op. 41 (1918–1921) [14:11] (Andante
andantino [4:02]; Poco lento – con moto [5:09];
Berceuse [4:59]) Vapauden Marssi, (Freedom
March) Op. 42 no 4 (1918) [0:56] Pianosävellyksiä,
(Piano Pieces) Op. 65 (1931) [8:12] (Andantino
[1:55]; Tempo di menuetto [2:29]; Canzonetta
[1:47]; Gavotte [0:48]; Allegro scherzando
[1:12]) Kehtolaulu (Lullaby) (1915)
[2:09]
Mika Rännäli (piano) rec. live
Tulindberg Hall, Oulu Music Centre, 15-16
May 2004. DDD
ALBA ABCD 206:1-2 [45:23 + 35:52] [RB]
A
valuable set, most naturally recorded. It
is played by a fine advocate well attuned
to the music and its endearingly soft melancholia
... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony
No. 1 in D major (1888) [57:24] Lieder
eines fahrenden Gesellen* (1883-5) [15:11]
*Norman Foster (bass-baritone) Vienna Symphony
Orchestra; *Bamberg Symphony Orchestra/Jascha
Horenstein Recorded in 1952; *1953 AAD
PREISER 90669 [72:35] [JQ]
The
songs are very satisfying but I shall try
to hear Horenstein’s later account of this
work in preference to this earlier one. ...
see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony
No. 9 (1909)
San Francisco Symphony/Michael Tilson Thomas
rec. live, Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco,
29 Sept-3 Oct 2004. DDD and SACD 
SFS MEDIA 821936-0007-2 [89.27] [AO]
An
unpretentious family snapshot for those who
know the orchestra well ... see Full
Review
Padre
Giovanni Battista MARTINI
(1706-1784) Requiem
e Missa Solemnis Toccata per l’Offertorio
[5:09] Elevazione [4:06] Post Communio [1:43]
Requiem:- Kyrie-Christe-Kyrie [2:52] Dopo
l’Epistola [0:20] Dies Irae [8:12] Offertorio
[3:42] Sanctus [1:01] Elevazione [4:34] Agnus
Dei [0:54] Post Communio [2:01] Toccata [6:44]
Missa Solemnis:- Kyrie-Christe-Kyrie [2:24]
Gloria [3:44] Per dopo l’Epistola [0:24] Alleluia
[0:28] Offertorio [3:07] Sanctus [0:54] Elevazione
[4:30] Agnus Dei [0:27] Post Communio [2:29]
Toccata per il Deo Gratias [2:54]
Elean Sartori (organ), "Melodi Cantores",
Decio Biavati, Andrea Favari (soloists), Mirko
Maltoni, Mauro Medri, Walid Zogheib/Elena
Sartori Recorded 23rd -25th
May 2002, Church of San Michele in Bosco,
Bologna, Italy
TACTUS TC701306 [62:39] [GPJ]
This
CD makes fairly unsatisfactory listening,
in that much of the music barely makes sense
outside its religious context. ... see Full
Review
Jules
MASSENET (1842
– 1912) An Introduction
to … Werther
Written by Thomson Smillie. Narrated by
David Timson. Music from the complete recording
on Naxos 8.660072-73
NAXOS 8.558173 [79:24] [GF]
The
target-group for this set is those unacquainted
with Werther this doesn’t mean that they are
fools. Smillie with new insights also speaks
to experienced operaphiles. Timson’s conversational
tone feels absolutely right. ... see Full
Review
Saverio
MERCADANTE
(1795-1870) Flute
Concerto in D* (c.1819, rev. Pietro Spada)
[18:52] Flute Concerto in E* (c.1819) [20:28]
Flute Concerto in E minor† (c.1819) [19:41]
Sinfonia on themes from Rossini’s Stabat
Mater (1843) [10:24]
Jean-Pierre Rampal (flute)*† English
Chamber Orchestra*, I solisti Veneti†, Orchestre
National de l’Opera de Monte-Carlo/Claudio
Scimone rec. Church of St. Barnabas, London
in November 1979* (no dates or locations are
provided for the other items)
WARNER CLASSICS APEX 2564 61791-2 [70:55]
[PCW]
Rampal
plays these concertos with obvious affection
and without affectation … see
Full Review
Richard MILLS
(b.
1949) Aeolian
Caprices (1990) [6:00] Soundscapes
for Percussion and Orchestra, (1983) [23:20]
Seaside Dances (1989) [23:52] Fantastic
Pantomimes (1987) [17:00]
Gerhard Mallon, flute Anthony Camden,
oboe Paul Dean, clarinet Neil Crellin, horn
Queensland Symphony Orchestra/Richard Mills
(conductor) (percussion on Soundscapes);
Werner Andreas Albert (conductor on Soundscapes)
Recording location and dates not included
ABC ELOQUENCE 476 7595 [70:50] [PG]
Well
recorded and produced. Music that is convincingly
composed and performed. If you have not yet
experienced Mills’ music, this is probably
as good a place as any to start. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756 – 1791): Symphony
No. 25 in G minor, K.183 [22:33] Symphony
No. 29 in A major, K. 201 [22:09] Symphony
No. 35 in D major, K. 385 ‘Haffner’ [17:54]
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/István
Kertész Rec. Sofiensaal, Vienna, November
1972 ADD
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 7401 [62:54] [ED]
Why
not pick up a few other Kertész volumes
while you’re at it. You can hardly go far
wrong. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756
- 1791) Symphony No.
33 in B Flat KV 319 (1779) [19’20"] Symphony
No. 39 in E Flat KV 543 (1788) [25’52"]
Symphony No. 40 in G minor KV 550 (1788) [25’41"]
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/István
Kertesz. rec. Sofiensaal, Vienna, October
1963 (Nos. 33, 39), November 1972 (No. 40).
ADD
ELOQUENCE 476 7402 [71.05] [JPh]
Very
highly recommended, and a feather in the hat
of Australian Eloquence. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791)
Clarinet
Concerto in A major KV 622 (1791) [29:47]
Carl Maria von WEBER
(1786–1826) Clarinet Concerto No.2
in E Flat, Op. 74 (1811) [21:50] Louis
SPOHR (1784–1859) Clarinet Concerto
No.1 in C min, Op. 26 (1809) [20:00]
Gervase de Peyer (clarinet) London Symphony
Orchestra/Peter Maag. rec. Kingsway Hall,
London, November 1959; Decca Studio No. 1,
West Hampstead, London, January 1961. ADD;
DDD on the sleeve, probably in error
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 7404 [71:57] [JPh]
This
is another bargain from Down Under and deserves
a place on our shelves. Highly recommended.
... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano
Concerto No. 16 in D major, K. 451 [21:58] Sonata in G major for violin
and piano, K. 379 [20:37] Concerto in D major for violin and piano,
K. App. 56/K. 315f [25:12]
Daniel Hope (violin) Sebastian Knauer (piano) Camerata Salzburg/Sir
Roger Norrington Recorded at the Main Hall of the Mozarteum, Salzburg,
17-19 May 2004
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61944-2 [67:47][JR]
Definitely
one to own. The newly completed concerto provides sufficient motivation
in and of itself. It’s not often that “new” Mozart pieces become available....
see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Flute Concerto
No 2 in D major, K314 [17.53] Concerto for Flute and Harp, K299 [27.53]
Flute Concerto no 1 in G major, K313 [24.29]
Patrick Gallois (flute), Fabrice Pierre (harp) Swedish Chamber Orchestra/Patrick
Gallois, Katarina Andreasson (directors) rec Aug 2002, Örebro Concert
Hall, Sweden
NAXOS 8.557011 [70.15][PW]
Verve
and commendable precision ...the lessons of the period instrument
groups have been well learned ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Sonata
in C K.330 [18:41], Variations on a Minuet by Duport K.573 [13:57],
Fantasia in D minor K.397 [05:58], Fantasia in C minor K.475 [13:27],
Sonata in C minor K.457 [18:45]
ZEYNEP Ucbasaran (piano) Recorded 1st-3rd
February 2005 at the Abravanel Hall, Music Academy of the West, Santa
Barbara, California, USA
EROICA JDT 3222 [70:48] [CH]
Some
highly musical Mozart to add this artist’s
growing discography. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791)
Concert Arias Il
re pastore KV 208 (1775) [12:19] Voi
avete un cor fedele KV217 (1775)
[6:18] Ah, lo previdi! KV 272 (1777)
[11:20] Zaide KV 344 (1780) [10:51]
Nehmt meinem Dank, ihr holden Gonner! KV
383 (1782) [3:36] Ch’io mi scordi di te?
KV 505 (1717-1786) [10:20]
Emma Kirkby (soprano) The Academy of Ancient
Music/Christopher Hogwood. rec. Walthamstow
Town Hall, London, November 1988, April 1989.
DDD
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 7459 [55:09] [JPH]
This
is a superb issue, and deserves wide circulation
– well done Universal Australia .... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791)
Exultate,
jubilate KV 165 (1773) [13:27] Regina
coeli KV108 (1771) [13:31] Ergo
interest KV 143 (1772) [5:36] Regina
coeli KV 127 (1772) [5:15]
Emma Kirkby (soprano) Westminster Cathedral
Boys Choir, Chorus of The Academy of Music
(KV 108 and 127), The Orchestra of The Academy
of Ancient Music/Christopher Hogwood. rec.
Kingsway Hall, London, November 1988, April
1989. DDD
ABC ELOQUENCE 476 7460 [47.12] [JPH
This
is a superb issue, and deserves wide circulation
I can recommend it highly. The UK’s loss is
Australia’s gain. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
La
Clemenza di Tito (1791) - Overture
[4'45]; Come ti piace imponi [2'50];
Deh se piacer mi vuoi [5'29]; March
[1'35]; Del più sublime soglio [3'04];
Ah perdona al primo affetto [3'07];
Ah, se fosse intorno al trono [2'16];
Parto, ma tu ben mio [6'56]; Deh,
conservate, oh Dei [7'03]; Torna di
Tito a lato [2'31]; Ah grazie si rendano
[3'27]; Tu fosti tradito [3'21];
Deh per questo istante solo [7'52];
Se all'impero, amici Dei [5'05]; S'altro
che lacrime [1'51]; Ecco il punto,
oh Vitellia [2'17]; Non più
di fiori [7'45]; Tu, è ver,
m'assolvi [4'24]. Philip Langridge (tenor)
Titus; Lucia Popp (soprano) Vitellia; Ruth
Ziesak (soprano) Servilia; Ann Murray (mezzo)
Sextus; Delores Ziegler (mezzo) Annius; László
Polgár (bass) Publius;
Chorus and Orchestra of Zürich Opera/Nikolaus
Harnoncourt. Rec. Grosse Kirche Altstetten,
Zürich, in March 1993. DDD
WARNER APEX 2564 61518-2 [76'32] [CC]
For
anyone who wants an excellent introduction
to this fascinating opera, look no further.
... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756
– 1791) Die Entführung aus dem Serail Teresa
Stich-Randall (soprano) – Konstanze, Nicolaï Gedda (tenor) – Belmonte,
Carmen Prietto (soprano) – Blonde, Michel Sénéchal (tenor)
– Raffaele Arië (bass) – Osmin, Jean Vernier (speaking part) –
Bassa Selim Chorale
Elisabeth Brasseur Orchestre de la Société du Conservatoire/Hans
Rosbaud Recorded at Aix-en-Provence, 11 July 1954
WALHALL WLCD 0064 [58:56 + 51:19] [GF]
This
version impresses on its own terms Well worth
the modest outlay allowing us to hear Gedda,
Stich-Randall and Arië in their early
prime. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756 – 1791) Don Giovanni
Don
Giovanni – Benjamin Luxon (baritone) Leporello
– Stafford Dean (baritone) Donna Anna – Horiana
Branisteanu (soprano) Donna Elvira – Rachel
Yakar (soprano) Don Ottavio – Leo Geoke (tenor)
Zerlina – Elizabeth Gale (soprano) Masetto
– John Rawnsley (baritone) Commendatore –
Pierre Thau (bass) The
Glyndebourne Chorus London Philharmonic Orchestra/Bernard
Haitink Rec. Glyndebourne Festival Opera/Southern
Television Production, 1977. DVD Region 0
ARTHAUS
MUSIK EUROARTS 101 087 [168’00"]
[ED]
A
set that tends to wear its qualities lightly
.... largely because of the voices (Luxon,
Dean and Branisteanu), this set serves as
an appendix to other classic interpretations
... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756 – 1791) Don
Giovanni - Dramma giocoso in two acts
Don Giovanni ... Carlos Álvarez (baritone)
Il Commendatore ... Franz-Josef Selig (bass)
Donna Anna ... Adrianne Pieczonka (soprano)
Don Ottavio ... Michael Schade (tenor) Donna
Elvira ... Anna Caterina Antonacci (soprano)
Leporello ... Ildebrando d’Arcangelo (baritone)
Zerlina ... Angelika Kirchschlager (mezzo-soprano)
Masetto ... Lorenzo Regazzo (bass)
Chorus and Orchestra Wiener Staatsoper/Riccardo
Muti Recorded live at the Theater an der Wien,
26-27 June 1999. DDD
DVD TDK DVW-OPDG [173.00] [RMK]
Musically
very good overall but not a production to
recommend. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-179l) Requiem
in d, K 626 (completed Süßmayr) (1791) [60.00] Edith Mathis,
soprano; Trudeliese Schmidt, alto; Peter Schreier, tenor; Gwynne Howell,
bass. Bavarian Radio Symphony
Orchestra and Chorus/Sir Colin Davis. Recorded NTSC 4:3. Sound PCM stereo
2.0 48/16. Menus in Deutsch, Français, English, Castellano. Notes
in English, Français, Deutsch. Latin text. no translations. DVD
5 format. region 0 [All regions] ARTHAUS
MUSIK RM ARTS 100449 [60.00] [PSh]
An
excellent traditional video version in superior
sound. ... see Full
Review
Tristan
MURAIL (b.
1947) The Complete Piano Music CD
1: Comme un oeil suspendu et poli par le songe (1967); Estuaire
(1971); Territoires de l'Oubli (1978); Cloches d'adieu,
et un sourire (in memoriam Olivier Messiaen) (1992); la Mandragore
(1993) [57.31] CD 2: Les Travaux et les Jours (2003) [39.19]
Marilyn Nonken (piano)
rec. October 2003, University of Manchester, Cosmo Rodewald Concert
Hall. DDD METIER MSV
CD 92097 [57.31 + 39.19] [GH]
I
am constantly possessed by an impression of
something beyond the world, not conventionally
religious, but spiritual. This is music to
which I shall be happy to return. ... see
Full Review
Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)
Tableaux d’une exposition (Pictures
at an Exhibition) (various orchestrations)
(1874) [35:59] men of the BBC Symphony Chorus
(in "Great Gate of Kiev")
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin
Recorded live at Promenade Concert, Royal
Albert Hall, 1 September 2004. DDD Ottorino
RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Pines of
Rome (1924) [22:30]
BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Tadaaki
Otaka Recorded live at Promenade Concert,
Royal Albert Hall, 6 August 2004. DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61954-2 [58:24] [LF]
Not
a version for every day, but a vivid memento
of a great evening ... see Full
Review
Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839
– 1881) Boris Godunov
(1868)
Highlights Prologue: Da zdrávstvuet
tsar Borís Feódorovich! (Coronation
of Boris) Act II: Skázochka pro to
i syo – A preslávny vityá, dostóiny
konovód (Apartments scene) Act III
scene 2: Váshey, strásti ya
nye vyéryu (Polonaise) – O tsaryévich,
umolyáyu (Love duet) Act IV scene 2:
Chur, chur! Kto govorít: ubíytsa?
(Death of Boris) Act IV scene 3: Deo, Gloria,
Gloria (The Simpleton in the Kromy Forest)
Ruggero Raimondi (bass) – Boris Godunov; Vyacheslav
Polozov (tenor) – Gregory/Dimitri; Paul Plishka
(bass) – Pimen; Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano)
– Marina; Nikita Storoyev (bass) – Rangoni;
Kenneth Riegel (tenor) – Prince Shuisky; Matthew
Adam Fish (treble) – Feodor; Catherine Dubosc
(mezzo-soprano) – Xenia; Mira Zakai (mezzo-soprano)
– Nurse; Nicolai Gedda (tenor) – Simpleton;
Jacques Trigeal (tenor) – Lavitski; Michel
Pastor (bass) – Chernikovsky.
The Chevy Chase Elementary School Chorus,
The Oratorio Society of Washington, The Choral
Arts Society of Washington, National Symphony
Orchestra/Mstislav Rostropovich. Recorded
in July 1987, in the John F Kennedy Center
for Performing Arts, Washington DC
WARNER APEX 2564 61520-2 [65:32] [GF]
At
budget price this disc is well worth having
for Raimondi’s beautifully sung and deeply
felt Boris ... see Full
Review
Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931)
Aladdin
Suite (1919) [24:55] Cupid and the
Poet (1930) [5:33] Saga-Drøm
(1907-08) [9:48] Helios Overture (1904)
[9:54] Maskarade: Overture; Prelude
to Act II (1904-06) [8:25] Pan and Syrinx
(1918) [9:10]
South Jutland Symphony Orchestra/Niklás
Willén rec. 8-12 Oct 2002, Musikhuset,
Sønderberg, Denmark. DDD
NAXOS 8.557164 [67:46] [RB]
The
Nielsen-curious could hardly start in a better
place ... essential to any Nielsen collection
... see Full
Review
Nicolo PAGANINI
(1782
- 1840) Violin Concerto
No.1 in B major Op. 6 (1811) [38’00"] Richard
STRAUSS (1864
- 1949) Violin Concerto in D min Op. 8
(1889) [32’03"] Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840
- 1893) Valse-Scherzo, Op. 34 (1877)
[7’47"]
Boris Belkin (violin) Israel Philharmonic
Orchestra/Zubin Mehta (Paganini) Radio Symphony
Orchestra, Berlin/Vladimir Ashkenazy (Strauss)
New Philharmonia Orchestra/Vladimir Ashkenazy
(Tchaikovsky) recorded Thomas Mann Auditorium,
Tel Aviv, Apr 1976 (Paganini), Jesus-Christus-Kirche,
Berlin, Jan 1991 (Strauss), Kingsway Hall,
London (Tchaikovsky). ADD/DDD.
ELOQUENCE 476 7488 [77.25] [JPh]
The
playing of all three works is exemplary. At
Australian Eloquence prices this makes superb
value. ... see Full
Review
Andrzej
PANUFNIK (1914-1991) Sinfonia
Sacra (1963) [21.09] Symphony No. 10 (1988-1990)
[15.56] Cello Concerto (1991) [19.19] 
Andrzej Bauer (cello) Warsaw Philharmonic-National
Orchestra of Poland/Kazimierz Kord rec. Warsaw
Philharmonic Concert Hall, Jan 2000 (Sacra,
10), March 2000 (Concerto). DDD
CD ACCORD ACD 072-2 [55.35] [RB]
Wilhelm
PETERSON-BERGER (1867-1942)
Symphony
No. 5 in B minor Solitudo (1932-33) [28:36] Violin Concerto in
F sharp minor (1928) [34:12]
Ulf Wallin (violin) Norrköping SO/Michail Jurowski rec. 25-26 April
2003, De Geer Hall, Norrköping
CPO 999 984-2 [62:48] [RB]
A
resoundingly successful chapter in CPO's complete
Peterson-Berger project ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH John
PICKARD
(b. 1963) Gaia
Symphony (1991-2003) ([Part One –
Tsunami [13:33]; Window 1 – Water-Fire
[3:05]; Part Two – Wildfire [12:22];
Window 2 – Fire-Air [3:45]; Part Three
– Aurora [11:25]; Window 3 Air-Earth
[2:15]; Part Four – Men of Stone [15:52])
Buy As You View Band/Robert Childs rec. St.
Julian’s School, Newport and Cwmbran Council
Chambers, March 2001 and February 2005 DDD
DOYEN DOY CD188 [62:22] [CT]
A
ground-breaking work for brass band of gargantuan
proportions ... see Full
Review
Patrick PIGGOTT
(1915-1990)Piano Music:
First
Piano Sonata - Fantasia quasi una Sonata (Revised
1975) [22:44]; Eight Preludes and
a Postlude (Third Set) [19:06]; Second
Piano Sonata (1979-1980) [28:54]
Malcolm Binns, piano
Recorded at the Music Hall of the Guildhall
School of Music and Drama, London, on the
26th September and 10th October 2004. DDD
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS430CD [70.44]
[JF]
An
essential recording for all listeners interested
in little know British composers. An interesting
programme of all previously unrecorded music.
... see Full
Review
Sergei
Prokofiev
(1891-1953) The Five Piano
Concertos Piano
Concerto No. 1 in D flat Major Op. 10 (1911-12)
[16:44] Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor Op.
16 (1912-13 revised 1923) [37:38] Piano Concerto
No. 3 in C major Op. 26 (1917-21) [30:44]
Piano Concerto No. 4 (left hand) in B flat
Major Op. 53 (1931) [27:29] Piano Concerto
No. 5 in G major Op. 55 (1932) [24:36]
Oleg Marshev, piano South Jutland Symphony
Orchestra/Niklas Willén Recorded in
Musikhuset, Sønderborg 30 July–10 Aug
2001 DDD
DANACORD DACOCD 584-585 [69:49 + 68:22]
[JF]
This
is a fine addition to the vast list of recordings
of the Five Prokofiev Piano Concertos. It
could well be your first choice. ... see Full
Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)/Mikhail
CHULAKI Ivan
the Terrible, ballet in two acts. Principal dancers: Ivan IV
– Irek Mukhamedov Anastasia – Natalya Bessmertnova Prince Kurbsky –
Gedminas Turanda The
Bolshoi Ballet The Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra and Children’s Choir/Algis
Zhuraitis Rec. Bolshoi Theatre, 1990. DVD Region 0.
ARTHAUS
MUSIK 101 107 [114’00"] [ED]
Of
interest to lovers of ballet. Those whose
passion is Prokofiev’s music in its pure form
must approach with caution. ... see Full
Review
Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Dido
and Aeneas (1689) Nicola Wemyss (soprano)
Dido; Matthew Baker (baritone) Aeneas; Francine van der Heijden (soprano)
Belinda; Penni Clarke (mezzo) Second Woman; Helene Rasker (contralto)
Sorceress; Maaike Poorthuis (soprano) First Enchantress; Yong-Hee Kim
(mezzo) Second Enchantress; Rowena Simpson (soprano) Spirit; Richard
Zook (tenor) Sailor Musica ad Rhenum Choir; Musica ad Rhenum (Franc
Polman, Alida Schat, violins; Örzse Adam, viola; Cassandra L. Luckhardt,
viola da gamba; Menno van Delft, harpsichord; David van Ooijen, baroque
guitar)/Jed Wentz Rec. Church Maria Minor, Utrecht, The Netherlands
on September 13th-14th, 2004. DDD
BRILLIANT CLASSICS SACD 92538 [55'29][CC]
Enjoyable,
then, though soloists variable. Much to delight here, not least from
the 'orchestra' and its all-pervasive sense of style. ... see Full
Review
Joseph
Joachim RAFF
(1822-1882) Cello Concertos Cello
Concerto No.1 in D minor Op.193 (1874) [23.09] Cello Concerto No.2 in
G major Op. posthumous (1876) [29.54] Begegnung Phantasiestücke
for cello and piano Op.86 No.1 (1854) [7.23]+ Duo for cello and piano
in A major Op.59 (1848 revised 1852) [15.35]+
Daniel Müller-Schott (cello) Robert Kulek (piano)+ Bamberg
Symphony Orchestra/Hans Stadlmair No recording details
TUDOR 7121 [76.26] [JW]
Müller-Schott
is the lynchpin of the programme and he has
the measure of Raff’s sometimes wayward and
ill-focused muse ... see
Full Review
Joseph
Joachim RAFF
(1822-1882) Violin Sonatas
Volume 1 Violin
Sonata No.1 Op.73 in E minor (1853-54) [30.41]
Violin Sonata No.3 in D major Op.128 (1865)
[25.45] Chromatic Violin Sonata No.4 Op.129
[14.53] Ariadne
Daskalakis (violin) Roglit Ishay (piano) No
Recording details
TUDOR 7122 [71.37] [jw]
Too
much sugar can kill a Cavatina but a little
sweetener here wouldn’t have gone amiss. ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jean-Philippe
RAMEAU (1683-1764) Les
Indes galantes – Opéra ballet in a prologue and four
entrées. (1735): Libretto by Louis Fuzelier. Prologue
Hébé – Danielle de Niese Bellone – João
Fernandes L’Amour – Valérie Gabail First
entrée: Le Turc généreux Osman –
Nicolas Cavallier Emilie – Anna Maria Panzarella Valère – Paul Agnew
Second entrée: Les Incas du Pérou Huascar
– Nathan Berg Phani – Jaël Azzaretti Don Carlos – François Piolino Third
entrée: Les Fleurs-fête persane Tacmas
– Richard Croft Ali – Nathan Berg Zaïre – Gaële Le Roi Fatime – Malin
Hartelius Fourth entrée: Les Sauvages
Adario – Nicolas Rivenq Damon – Christoph
Strehl Don Alvar – Christope Fel Zima – Patricia Petibon
Les Arts Florissants/William Christie Andrei Serban, stage director
Blanca Li, choreographer Recorded live, Opéra Naional de Paris-Opéra
Garnier on 22, 24, 25 September 2003. Playable in all regions.
OPUS ARTE 0923 D [107:58 + 143:11][JR]
Remarkable
in all respects. A must-have for opera lovers as well as Baroque music
enthusiasts. ... see Full Review
Giulio
REGONDI (1822-1872)
Premier Air Varié, Op. 21 [10:24] – Rêverie, Op. 19 [9:28] – Étude No.
4(b) [3:08] – Deuxième Air Varié, Op. 22 [10:58] Johann
Kaspar MERTZ (1806-1856) From Bardenklänge (Bardic Sounds),
Op. 13: Polonaise No. 1 [2:23] – Polonaise No. 2 [5:48] – Polonaise
No. 3 [4:09] – Polonaise No. 4 [4:32] – Polonaise No. 5 [5:21] – Polonaise
No. 6 [4:41] – Polonaise No. 7 [3:56] – Rondino [7:02]
Ricardo Gallén (guitar) rec. Green Room, Offord Hall, Aurora, Ontario,
Canada, 12–16 September 2002
NAXOS 8.555285 [71:50][GF]
This
disc goes straight into the top-ten list for
guitar recordings ... see Full
Review
Karin
REHNQVIST
(b. 1957) On
a Distant Shore (2000)a [17:47]
Beginning (2003)b [16:08] Arktis
Arktis! (2000/1)c [31:50] I himmelen
(1998)d [3:20]
Martin Fröst (clarinet)a;
Kungsbacka Piano Triob; Swedish
Chamber Orchestraac; Peter Sundkvista,
John Storgårdsc; Adolf Fredrik’s
Girls Choir, Bo Johanssond Recorded:
Örebro Concert Hall, May 2003 (On
a Distant Shore) and March 2004 (Arktis
Arktis!); Västerås Concert
Hall, February 2005 (Beginning) and
Nybrokajen 11, Stockholm, March 2005 (I
himmelen)
BIS CD-1396 [70:33] [HC]
I
doubt that there is a better introduction
to her highly personal sound-world than this
generously filled, superbly and convincingly
played composer’s portrait. ... see Full
Review
Ottorino
RESPIGHI
(1879-1936) La
Campana sommersa (The Sunken Bell) - opera in four acts
(1925-27) Rautendelein ... Laura Aikin (soprano) Enrico ... John Daszak
Ondino ... Roderick Earle The Faun ... Kevin Connors (tenor) Magda ...
Alessandro Rezza The Curate ... Peter Klaveness (bass) The Schoolmaster
... Paul Kong (baritone) The Barber ... David Alegret (tenor) Sorceress
... Ewa Wolak (contralto) Orchestre
National de Montpellier et Choeur Opéra Junior/Friedemann Layer
Rec. live, 4 Oct 2003, Opéra Berlioz – (Le Corum) au Festival
de Radio France et Montpellier
ACCORD 2 CD 476 1884 [73: 40 + 69:39] [AB]
The
premiere world recording of what was probably
the most successful of Respighi's operas in
an excellent performance. ... see Full
Review
Josef
Gabriel RHEINBERGER
(1839-1901) Vom
Goldenen Horn Op.182 (1895) [30.38] Liebesgarten
Op.80 (1874) [13.55] In Sturm und Frieden
Op.170 (1892) [23.18]
Silke Schwarz (soprano) Christine Müller
(alto) Hans Jörg Mammel (tenor) Markus
Volpert (bass) Chia Chou (piano) Freiburger
Vokalensemble/Wolfgang Schäffer Recorded
at SWR Studio, Karlsruhe, February 2005
CARUS 83.177 [68.05] [JW]
Pleasurable,
if not always exciting, listening. ... see
Full
Review
Nikolai
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
(1844-1908) Capriccio
Espagnol Op. 34 (1887) [15:14]Le Coq d'Or suite (1908) [25:27]
Russian Easter Festival Overture Op. 36 (1887) [15:09] Alexander
BORODIN (1833-1887) Polovtsian Dances (1887) [11:16]
London Symphony Orchestra
Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra/Antal Dorati Rec. Walthamstow Town
Hall, 4 July 1956 (Dances); 5 July 1956 (Coq); 9 June 1959 (Capriccio,
Overture). Originally issued on LPs SR90122 (Coq, Dances); SR90265 (Capriccio,
Overture). ADD SACD reviewed in CD format
MERCURY
LIVING PRESENCE 475 6194 SACD [67:06] [PSe]
A
first-class example of Dorati’s art, in recordings
from the "Living Presence" top-drawer.
Essential listening for anyone whose knees
are weakened by seductive orchestral colour.
... see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI
(1792-1868) Le
Comte Ory - An opera in two acts.
Libretto by Eugene Scribe and Charles Gaspard
Delestre-Poirson. First performed at the Théâtre
de l’Académie Royale de Musique, Paris
on 20th August 1828 Count Ory,
a young and licentious nobleman ... Marc Laho
(ten); Countess Adele ... Annick Massis (sop);
Isolier, page to Count Ory and in love with
the Countess Adele ... Diana Montague (mezzo);
Raimbaud, friend to Count Ory ... Ludovic
Tézier (bar); Governor, tutor to Count
Ory ... Julien Robbins (bass); Ragonde, companion
to Countess Adele ... Jane Shaulis (mezzo);
Young Nobleman, friend of Ory ... Colin Judson
(ten); Alice, a young peasant ... Stella Woodman
(sop)
The Glyndebourne Chorus. London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Andrew Davis Recorded at the Glyndebourne
Festival, 1997 Director: Jérôme
Savory; Designer: Ezio Toffolutti; Lighting
Designer: Alain Poison; Lighting Director:
Brian Turner. Directed for video by Brian
Large Picture format NTSC 4:3. Colour. Sound
in linear PCM stereo. Subtitles in English,
German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
WARNER MUSIC VISION DVD VIDEO 0630-18646-2
[141:00] [RJF]
I
cannot see this masterly production being
bettered on DVD in the near future. The high
quality of the ensemble and the unity of the
solo singing is matched by first rate audio
quality and video direction ... see Full
Review
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