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PART 7
Misc. M-Z

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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

 

The McCormack Edition 2 John William CHERRY Dear Little Shamrock (5) Giuseppe VERDI (1813 - 1901) Bella figlia dell’amore from Rigoletto (1,2,3,7) Charles GOUNOD (1818 - 1893) All’erta, All’erta from Faust (1,3,7) George A BARKER The Irish Emigrant (5) Frederick Nichols CROUCH Kathleen Mavourneen (5) Charles MARSHALL I hear you calling me (5) Traditional Believe me if all those endearing charms (5) Liza LEHMANN (1862 - 1918) Oh Moon of my delight (5) Traditional Molly Bawn (5) Ernest R. BALL/Chauncey OLCOTT Mother Machree (5) Victor HERBERT (1859 - 1924) I’m Falling in Love with Someone from Naughty Marietta (5) Dermot MACMURROUGH Macushla (5) Jacob BLUMENTHAL An Evening Song (5) Traditional She is far from the Land (5) Attilio PARELLI The Happy Morning Waits (L’Alba Nascente) (5) Georges BIZET (1838 - 1875) Del tempio al limitar (Au fond du temple saint) from Les Pecheurs de Perles (3, 5) Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792 - 1868) Li Marinari (No 11 from Les Soirées Musicales); Mira la bianca luna (No 12 from Les Soirées Musicales); O meglio mi scordavo from Il Barbiere di Siviglia (3, 4, 5, 6) Amilcare PONCHIELLI (1834 - 1886) Badoer questa notte  from La Gioconda  (3, 6) John McCormack (tenor) Nellie Melba (soprano) (1) Emmy Destinn (soprano) (4) Edna Thornton (contralto) (2) Mario Sammarco (baritone) (3) Victor Orchestra (5) symphony orchestra/Percy Pitt (6) New Symphony Orchestra / Landon Ronald (7) The Acoustic Recordings: vol. 2 - recorded 1910 -1911 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110329 [76:13][RH]

Well worth acquiring as a record of one of the loveliest tenor voices of the early 20th century. ... see Full Review

Mondrian Ensemble Iannis XENAKIS (1922-2001) Ikhoora (1978) [9’28]. Michel ROTH (b. 1976) Verinnerungb (2001/2) [16’15]. Martin JAGGI (b. 1978) Schebkac (2001) [7’29]. Giacinto SCELSI (1905-1988) String Triod (1958) [13’58]. Dieter AMMANN (b. 1962) Gehörte Form – Hommagese (1998) [18’46]. cMondrian Ensemble (abdeDaniela Müller, violin; adeChristian Zgraggen, viola; abdeMartin Jaggi, cello; bWalter Zoller, piano) with cDaniel Sailer (double-bass). Rec. Radio Studio, Zürich on abNovember 28th-29th, cdDecember 21st-22nd, 2002, eDecember 14th, 1999. DDD MIGROS-GENOSSENSCHAFTS-BUND MGB CTS-M 88 [66’06] [CC]

A most interesting disc. It is good to see the names of Xenakis and Scelsi on newly-issued discs ... see Full Review

Now the Green Blade Riseth: A new way to sing hymns and religious songs (arr. Bengt BERG) 1. Det finns djup i Herrens godhet (There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy) 2. När han kommer (When He Comes) 3. Det finns en väg till himmelen (There Is a Road to Heaven) 4. Prisad högt av herders skara (Thou Whom Shepherds Worshipped) 5. Kornet har sin vila (Love Is Come Again) 6. När vi delar det bröd (When we Share the Bread) 7. Gud är en av oss vid detta bord (God and Man at Table are Sat Down) 8. Guds kärlek är som stranden och som gräset (The Love of God is Broad Like the Beach and Meadow) 9. ”Maria”, sa Judas (Said Judas to Mary) 10. Gud, när du andas över vår jord (God, When You Breathe over our Earth) 11. Si, Jesus är ett tröstrikt namn (Your Name, o, Jesus, is a Comfort) 12. Sorgen och glädjen (Sorrow and Joy) 13. En dunkel örtagård (I  Know of a Dark and Gloomy Garden) 14. Gå varsamt, min Kristen (Walk Carefully, o, Christian) 15. O Jesus kär, vad har väl du förbrutit (O, Jesus Mine, whom have you wronged) 16. Blott en dag, ett ögonblick i sänder (Just One Day, One Moment at a Time) 17. Min själ, du måste nu glömma (My Soul, You Must Now Forget) 18. O Kriste, du som ljuset är (O Christ, who art the Light and Day) 19. I hoppet sig min frälsta själ förnöjer (Hope Gives rest to my Redeemed Soul) 20. Bred dina vida vingar (Spread Your Wings Over Me) 21. Lågorna är många (Many are the Lightbeams) 22. O store Gud (How Great Thou Art) 23. I tro under himmelens skyar (In faith ‘neath the Sky) 24. Dina händer är fulla av blommor (Your Arms are Full of Flowers) Sung in Swedish. Recorded 18th, 20th & 21st March, 1981, in Österhaninge Church, Stockholm (tr 1 – 20) and 1983 and 1987 in Johannes Church, Stockholm (tr 21 – 24) Stockholm Cathedral Choir/Gustaf Sjökvist (tr 1 – 20); Johannes Youth Choir/Anders Eby (tr 21 – 24) both choirs with unnamed instrumentalists PROPRIUS PRSACD 9093 [64:51][GF]

Should not be played straight through at one sitting. Taken five or six at a time these always melodic and sometimes catchy hymns are enlightening and stimulating ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Petits Fours: Cello Quartets by Offenbach, Klengel, Fitzenhagen Wilhelm FITZENHAGEN (1848 – 1890) Konzertwaltzer, Ave Maria Op.41; Die Spinnerin Op.59 No.2 Jacques OFFENBACH (1819 – 1880) Adagio; Scherzo Georg GOLTERMAN (1824 – 1898) Deux Morceaux de Salon Op.53: No.2 Nocturne; No.1 Religioso Julius KLENGEL (1859 – 1933) Four Pieces Op.3: Lied Ohne Worte; Gavotte; Wiegenlied; Marsch
Two Pieces Op.5: Serenade; Humoreske Friedrich GRÜTZMACHER (1832 – 1903) Consecration Hymn Op.65 Guillaume PAQUE (1825 – 1876) Souvenir de Curis The Cellists of The London Mozart Players: 1 Sebastian Comberti; 2 Julia Desbruslais; 3 Ben Chappell; 4 Sarah Butcher Recorded: 23rd to 25th January 2002 at St Silas, London NW5 CELLO CLASSICS CC 1007 [66.32] [LB]

A palpable joy - the connoisseur and music lover have in this CD a benchmark recording of some of the classics of the repertoire. ... see Full Review

 

The Red Red Rose: 18th Century Scottish Music Robert BURNS and Stephen CLARKE ‘The Slaves lament; Ae fond kiss; Anon; Four reels from ‘The Caledonian Muse’; Puerto URBANI ‘Cauld Kail in Aberdeen; The Red Red Rose; Now westling winds; Francesco GEMINIANI; The Broom of Cowdenknows; Bonny Christy Burk THUMOTH ‘Chiling o guiry’; Robert BREMNER ‘The Broom of Cowdenknows’; ‘Old Sir Symon the King’; Auld Robin Gray; James OSWALD ‘The Mutual Kiss’; John ABELL ‘Reading ends in melancholy; Robert MACKINTOSH ‘Gavott’; Miss Carnegie’s Minuet; Three Airs; Miss Burnett of Monboddo’s Reel; Mr. Richard Walpole’s reel; Adam CRAIG ‘John Hay’s Bonny Lassie’. Mhairi Lawson, soprano Jamie MacDougall, tenor Concerti Caledonia/David McGuiness rec. Crichton Collegiate Church, Pathhead, Scotland, October 2002; January 2003 DELPHIAN DCD 34014 [70.15] [GH]

Sung with lovely phrasing and grace. Everything is nicely presented. I would be happy to recommend this CD to anyone with an interest in slightly off-beat music. ... see Full Review

Romantic Melody – Bolshoi Theatre Violin Ensemble Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Romance [2.42] Christoph Willibald von GLUCK (1714-1787) Melody from Orfeo [4.00] Nikolai RIMSKY KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Flight of the Bumble Bee [1.07] Georg Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Passacaglia from Harpsichord Suite No.7 – arranged Halvorsen [8.24] Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Valse Sentimentale [2.33] Elegy [5.09] Manuel PONCE (1882-1948) Estrellita [3.19] Enrique GRANADOS (1867-1916) Spanish Dance [4.40] Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Meditation from Thais [4.27] Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Traumerei from Kinderszenen [3.08] Anton RUBINSTEIN (1829-1894) Melody [3.30] Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Songs My Mother Taught Me [3.44] Fritz KREISLER (1875-1962) Tartini – Variations on a Theme of Corelli [3.46] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) - Georges GOUNOD (1818-1893) Ave Maria [6.17] Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Vocalise [7.12] Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Valse Triste [4.43] Bolshoi Theatre Violin Ensemble (all arrangements by G Zaborov) Recorded 1958-66 AULOS MUSIC AMC2-044 [68.44] [JW]

A veritable slice of nostalgia, Melodiya-style, given the kiss of life from Aulos. ... see Full Review

The Salley Gardens- A Treasury of English Song TRADITIONAL
Phyllis TATE (1911-1985) arranged The Lark in the Clear Air [1.40] Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) arranged The Salley Gardens [2.11] Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) arranged How Sweet the Answer [1.59] Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) arranged O Waly, Waly [3.49] Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) arranged I Will Give My Love An Apple [1.16] Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) arranged The Ash Grove [2.19] Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) arranged The Minstrel Boy [1.49] Roger QUILTER (1877-1953) arranged Believe Me if all those Endearing Young Charms [2.02] Roger QUILTER (1877-1953) arranged Barbara Allen [3.20] Herbert HUGHES (1882-1937) arranged She Moved thro’ the Fair [3.00] Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Linden Lea [2.05] Silent Noon [4.10] Alicia SPOTTISWOODE (1810-1900) I know Where I’m Goin’ [1.57] Ivor GURNEY (1890-1937) Sleep [2.33] Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Like to the Damask Rose [3.08] Roger QUILTER (1877-1953) Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal [1.54] Love’s Philosophy [1.23] Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) Twilight Fancies [3.24] Young Venevil [1.48] Peter WARLOCK (1894-1930) Sleep [1.59] Gustav HOLST (1974-1934) The Heart Worships [3.34] Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) Love went a-Riding [1.33] Come to me in my Dreams [3.19] Arnold BAX (1883-1953) Rann of Exile [3.09] Yvonne Kenny (soprano) Caroline Almonte (piano) Recorded in the Iwaki Auditorium of ABC, Melbourne, April 2003 ABC CLASSICS 4761581 [62.19] [JW]

Given the recording problems, and some concerns with Yvonne Kenny’s voice in this recital, I’m afraid my welcome is mixed. ... see Full Review

Ernest Tilkin Servais: Arias and Songs Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1848) La Favorite – Leonore viens [3:31] Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Guillaume Tell – Reste immobile [4:29] Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Rigoletto – Tous deux egaux [4:13]; Au temple ou ma priere [4:23] (a); Vengeance eclatante [2:13] (a) Le Trouvère – Tout est desert, et l’hymne accoutumée... Son regard, son doux sourire [4:37]; C’est l’ordre! Que le fils soit puni [4:32] (b); Sauvé! Sauvé! Bonheur divin [2:41] (b) La Traviata – Lorsqu’a des folles amours [4:19] La Bal masqué – Et c’est toi qui déchire mo name [3:52] Ruggero LEONCAVALLO (1857-1919) Paillasse – Prologue: Bonjour, c’est moi [4:31]; Prologue: Pardon, pardon [4:14] Giuseppe GIORDANI (1744-1798) Chère beauté (Caro mio ben) [3:35] Edouardo di CAPUA (1865-1917) Maria Mari [2:24] Richard BARTHELEMY (?-?) Chi se ne scorda [o]cchiu [2:36] Giacomo MEYERBEER (1791-1864) L’Africaine – Adamastor, roi des vagues profondes [3:42]; L’avoir tant adorée [4:02]Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) La Damnation de Faust – Chanson de la puce [2:55]; Esprit des flammes [2:22]; Devant la maison [2:07] Georges BIZET (1838-1975) Carmen – Je suis Escamillo, torero [3:24] (c) Leo DELIBES (1836-1891) Lakmé – Lakmé, ton doux regard se voile [4:02] Ambroise THOMAS (1811-1896) Hamlet – O vin, dissipé la tristesse [3:58] Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Dichterliebe – J’ai pardonné (no. 7) [2:29] Piotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Pourquoi, Six romances, op 6, no 5 [2:37] Charles BOHM (1844-1920) Comme la nuit [2:20] H J WOOD (?-?) Resignation [4:08] Gaston KNOSP (1874-1953) La Kahena – L’Emir d’amour [3:05] Fernand GOEYENS (1892-1965) Maitresse aimée [2:59]; Pecheur napolitain [2:25] Daniel-Francois-Esprit AUBER (1782-1871) La muette de Portici – Amour sacré de la patrie [3:24] (c, d) Robert PLANQUETTE (1848-1903) La Régiment de Sambre et Meuse [2:32] Francois-Auguste GEVAERT (1828-1908) Vers l’Avenir [2:40] Ernest Tilkin Servais (baritone) with anonymous orchestras and
Yvonne Brothier (soprano); Marguerite Roger (soprano); Fernand Ansseau (tenor); Piero Coppola (conductor) Original recordings made 1920-1931. DDD MUSIQUE EN WALLONIE MEW 0419-20 [56:59 + 56:12] [ED]

Servais emerges the equal of Gobbi ... a seminal release to be urgently acquired by anyone with a passion for the best singing from any age. ... see Full Review

The Art of Yulian Sitkovetsky. Volume 1 Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Violin Concerto in D minor Op.47 (1903 revised 1905) [27.26] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Sonata for piano and violin No. 26 in B flat major K378 (1779) [20.56] Pablo de SARASATE (1844-1908) Spanish Dances; Malagueña Op.21 No.1 (1878-82) [4.48] Spanish Dances; Habanera Op.21 No.2 (1878-82) [4.01] Nicolò PAGANINI (1782-1840) La Campanella (1826) – arranged Fritz KREISLER [5.57] La Campanella from Violin Concerto No.2 in B minor Op.7 (1826) [7.48] Yulian Sitkovetsky (violin) Bella Davidovich (piano) – Mozart, Sarasate Vladimir Yampolsky (piano) – Paganini-Kreisler Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Nicolai Anasov (Sibelius) USSR State Radio Symphony Orchestra/Mark Pavermann (Paganini) Recorded1950 and 1953 AULOS MUSIC AMC2-054 [70.56] [JW]

A warm, generous welcome to these well engineered and transferred discs. More please – and soon. ... see Full Review

Sounds Spontaneous: Improvisations through the Church's Year Advent (Veni Emmanuel) [5'30] (Archer) Advent (Creator alme siderum) [1'26] (Bednall) Christmas (Noel Nouvelet) [4'47] (Archer) Epiphany (O Magi venient) [3'01] (Archer) Candlemas (Ave Maris Stella) [3'28] (Bednall) Lent [2'50] (Bednall) Passiontide (Pange Lingua) [1'29] (Archer) Palm Sunday [3'12] (Archer) Maundy Thursday (Ubi Caritas) [3'10] (Bednall) Good Friday (Passion Chorale) [3'53] (Archer) Easter (Victimae Paschali) [13'45] (Bednall) Ascension (Llanfair) [8'01] (Archer) Pentecost (Veni Creator Spiritus) [6'11] (Archer) Trinity (O Lux Beata) [2'17] (Archer) Corpus Christi (Vexilla Regis) [1'56] (Archer) All Saints (Mount Ephraim) [1'27] (Archer) All Souls (Requiem aeternum and In paridisum) [4'51] Christ the King (Te Deum) [5'57] David Bednall and Malcolm Archer, organ Rec Blackburn Cathedral, 2-3 August 2004 DDD LAMMAS LAMM 176D [77'21] [CB]

While I'm delighted that organists are taking improvisation seriously, I would look elsewhere if I were wanting to buy recordings of really first rate improvisation ... see Full Review

The Spirit Of The Lord Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Three Motets - 4-8vv. a capella, Op.38 (pub. 1905) (1. Justorum animae [3"30']; 2. Coelos ascendit hodie [2"01']; 3. Beati quorum via [3"25']) Six Bible Songs - 1v. and Organ, Op.113 (1909): 4. A Song of Peace [4"29'] Six Hymns, Op.118 (pub.1910): 5. Pray that Jerusalem may have peace [2"04'] Service in A, Op.12. - Chorus and Organ (1880): 6. Magnificat [5"58']; 7. Nunc dimittis [5"12'] Anthem - Chorus and Organ, Op.145 (1914): 8. For lo, I raise up [7"52'] Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) The Light of Life - Oratorio, Op.29 (1896) (9. Light of the World - Choir and Organ [3"59']; 10. Seek him that maketh the seven stars - Male voices and Organ [8"06']; 1. Doubt not thy Father's care - Trebles and Organ [2"27'] The Apostles - Oratorio, Op.49 (1902-03): 12. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me - Choir and Organ [6"38'] Anthem - Choir and Organ, Op.74 (1914): 13. Give unto the Lord [8"18'] Manchester Cathedral Choir/Christopher Stokes. Organ: Jeffrey Makinson. Recorded in Manchester Cathedral, 23-25 June 2003. LAMMAS LAMM 163D [64"06'] [JPo]

Uneven, the Stanford coming off much better than the Elgar ... see Full Review

Leopold STOKOWSKI conducts scenes from Samson and Dalila and Eugene Onegin
Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Samson et Dalila, (Dalila, Risé Stevens, (Mezzo); Samson, Jan Peerce, (ten); High Priest, Robert Merrill, (bar) The Robert Shaw Chorale. The NBC Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski Recorded September 1954. New York Piotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Eugene Onegin, Tatiana, Licia Albanese, (sop) Act 1 scene 2. Tatiana’a Letter Scene Leopold Stokowski Symphony Orchestra/ Leopold Stokowski Recorded February 1951. New York Reissued with the sponsorship of The Leopold Stokowski Society CALA CACD0540 [76.35] [RJF]

Stokowski enthusiasts will welcome this perspective and rare examples of his conducting in this repertoire. Others more interested in the contents should look elsewhere. ... see Full Review

In Sunlight - Pieces for Madeleine Mitchell Michael NYMAN (b.1944) On The Fiddle (1993) [13.26] James MacMILLAN (b.1959) Kiss on Wood (1994) [7.31] A Different World (1995) [7.50] Brian ELIAS (b.1948) Fantasia (1986) [10.57] Nigel OSBORNE (b.1948) Taw-Raw [7.04] Stephen MONTAGUE (b.1943) Folk Dances (2002) [9.34] John WOOLRICH (b.1954) …that is Night (1995) [5.57] Anthony POWERS (b.1953) In Sunlight (1993) [8.30] Stuart JONES Kothektche [4.07] Madeleine Mitchell (violin) Andrew Ball (piano) Recorded at Wathen Hall, St Pauls School, Barnes, May 2004 except Taw-Raw and Kothektche, recorded at the Church of St Edward the Confessor, Mottingham, London, Decembers 2004 NMC D098 [76.15][JW]

Here are some significant British composers in invigorating form; excellent performances and well recorded. ... see Full Review

Great Violinists: Szigeti Johann Sebastian BACH (1685 - 1750) Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra, BWV 1043* (arr. Rust from BWV 1062) (1720) [15.39] Carl Flesch, second violin Orchestra/Walter Goehr Recorded: Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 30 August 1937. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in d, BWV 1052R* (arr. Reitz) (1721) [23.06] Friends of Music Orchestra/Fritz Stiedry Recorded: New York City, NY, USA, 24 April 1940. "Arioso" [Concerto in g BWV 1056R: Largo] (arr. Szigeti) (1721) [3.41] Orchestra/Walter Goehr Recorded: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 6 December 1937 Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in g, BWV 1056R (arr. Schrek/Szigeti) (1721) [11.48] Cleveland Orchestra/George Szell Recorded Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, 13 January 1954 Giuseppe TARTINI (1692 - 1770) Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in d, D.45 (c.1735) [13.04] Recorded: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 6 December 1937 ADD Joseph Szigeti, violin Restored from first edition 12" 78 and 33 rpm American pressings my Mark Obert-Thorn. notes in English, including detailed recording information and track list. NAXOS 8.110979 [67.19] [PSh]

Ranking with the Casals Cello Suites, this is one of the great Bach recordings of all time ... a vital, exciting, depiction of a towering musical force—a must-have for any serious collection. ... see Full Review

The Tend’rest Breast: Settings of women’s poetry. Roger QUILTER (1877-1953) June; A song at parting; Wild cherry. Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) Thy hand in mine; Where she lies asleep; Love went a-riding. Ivor GURNEY (1890-1937) Seven Sappho songs. Lennox BERKELEY (1903-1989) Epitaph of Timas (Three Greek songs); John IRELAND (1879-1962) The advent & Hymn for a child (Two songs sacred and profane) and Love and friendship; Alastair KING (dates not known) Nocturne; The moment; Spell to bring lost creatures home. Madeleine DRING (1923-1977) Don’t play your sonata tonight, Mr. Humphries. Montague PHILLIPS (1885-1969) When April laughs; Hush’d is my lute; Sing, joyous bird. Georgina Colwell (soprano), Nigel Foster (piano) DUNELM RECORDS DRD0237 [58:48] [PS]

This attractive release is built around the theme of English songs with lyrics by women writers - a very pleasant release indeed. Strongly recommended. ... see Full Review


Ukraine Composers' series - Set One Ilya POLSKY (b. 1924) Overture [11:06] Volodomir PODGORNY (b. 1928) Domra Concerto [12:00] Alexandre MAMONTOV  Concert Polonaise [4:10] Dmitro KLEBANOV (b. 1907) Suite No. 2 for string orchestra [12:10] Four Prelude and Fugues for orchestra [22:50] Grigory TSITSALUK (b. 1923) Elegie for French horn and string orchestra [4:40] Nicholai STETSUN (b. 1942) Youth Overture [3:35] Anatoly GAYDENKO (b. 1934) Kursk Karagody [11:26] Vitaly GUBARENKO (b. 1934) Kupalo [6:35] Chamber Symphony No. 2 for violin and orchestra [20:40] Choreographic Scenes from Zaporozhtsy [33:10] Boris Michaev (domra); Mikkola Ostrovsky (horn); Bogodar Kotorovich (violin) Kharkov PO/Vakhtang Jordania rec. no details given but presumably 2004? ANGELOK1 CD-7710-11 [71:09 + 71:26] [RB]

Music in a traditional nationalistic vein - no major revelations but the Gubarenko Chamber Symphony comes darn close ... see Full Review

Eva Urbanova: Italian Operatic Arias Vincenzo BELLINI (1801-1835) Norma – Casta Diva [6:39] Francesco CILEA (1866-1950) Adriana Lecouvreur – Ecco: respiro appena [3:41] (a); Poveri fiori [3:00] Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Thais – Intermezzo [5:28]* (a) Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Edgar – Addio, addio, mio dolce amor! [3:38] Turandot – In questa reggia [6:06] Manon Lescaut – Intermezzo [5:13]*; Sola, perduta, abbandonata [4:59] Alfredo CATALANI (1854-1893) La Wally – Ebben? Ne andro lontana… [4:18] Pietro MASCAGNI (1863-1945) Cavalleria rusticana – Intermezzo [3:33]*; Inneggiamo, il Signor non e morto [4:15]; Voi lo sapete [4:03] Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) La forza del destino – La Vergine degli angeli [3:15] Don Carlo – O don fatale [5:13] Eva Urbanova (soprano) all tracks except *(a) Lucie Svehlova (violin) Prague Philharmonic Choir and Prague National Theatre Orchestra/Ondrej Lenard Rec. live Smetana Hall, Prague, 30 May 2003. DDD SUPRAPHON SU 3763-2 631 [63:48][ED]

Those after more convincing interpretations, more involved and cleanly sung, performances should look elsewhere for a first recommendation ... see Full Review

The Viennese School: Teachers and Followers - Volume 1: Anton Webern Anton WEBERN (1883-1945) Variations, Op. 27 (1936) [7’52]. Stefan WOLPE (1902-1972) Zemach-Suite (1939) [15’38]. Philipp HERSCOVICI (1906-1989) Frühlingsblumen (1947) [0’50]. Drei Klavierstücke (c 1960) [4’24]. Leopold SPINNER (1903-1980) Piano Sonata, Op. 3 (1942/5) [7’16]. Fré FOCKE (1910-1989) Tombeau de Vincent van Gogh (1951) [13’50]. Arnold ELSTON (1907-1971) Rondo (1937) [4’13]. Roland LEICH (1911-1995) Pastorale (1938) [2’21]. Humphrey SEARLE (1915-1982) Threnos and Toccata, Op. 14 (1948) [8’48]. Steffan Schleiermacher (piano). Rec. Fürstliche Reitbahn Bad Arolsen on December 6th-8th, 2002. DDD MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM SCENE MDG 613 1282-2 [67’13][CC]

A typically stimulating mix of probing intellect and an enthusiasm that shines through his polished playing ... a disc of great value. ... see Full Review

Rolando Villazón: Arias Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Le Cid (1885) – Ah! tout est bien fini … O Souverain [4’53]. Manon (1884) – Enfin, Manon … Enfremant des yeuxa [4’45]; Je suis seul! … Ah! fuyez, douce image [4’45]. Werther (1892) – Oui, ce qu’elle m’ordonne … Lorsque l’enfant revient [4’09]; Traduire … Ah! bien souvent mon rêve s’envole … Pourquoi me réveiller [3’38]. Le Roi de Lahore (1877) – Voix qui me remplissez d’une ineffable ivresse [4’10]. Griséldis (1901) – Je suis l’oiseau [2’51]. Roma (1912) – Je vais la voir! Tout mon être frémitb [4’33]. Le MageAh! parais! Parais, astre de mon cielb [3’40]. Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893) Roméo et Juliette (1867) - L’amour! L’amour! … Ah! lève-toi, soleil [4’20]; C’est là … Salut, tombeau spombre et silencieux [6’02]. Polyeucte (1878) – Source déliceuse [4’36]. La Reine de Saba (1862) – Faiblesse de la race humaine! … Inspirez-moi, race divine [5’11]. Mireille (1864) – Mon coeur est plein d’un noir souci! … Anges du paradis [3’33]. Faust (1859) Quel trouble inconnu me pénètre [6’04]. Rolando Villazón (tenor); aNatalie Dessay (soprano); bChoeur et Orchestre Philarmonique de Radio France/Evelino Pidò. Rec. Studio 103, Maison de Radio France, Paris, on March 8th-15th, 2004. DDD Notes, texts and translations included. VIRGIN CLASSICS 5 45719 2 [67’10] [CC]

Villazón is a real talent. To hear these snippets of Le Mage, Roma, La Reine de Saba and Mireille makes one itch to hear the operas complete, recorded to this standard. Well, I can dream, can’t I? ... see Full Review

Violin Magic Zdeněk FIBICH (1850-1900) Poem from Idyll At Twilight, Op. 39 (1893) [02:36] Václav VAČKÁŘ (1881-1954) Vzpomínka na Zbiroh. Serenade [3.27] Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Pavane pour une infante défunte (1899) [5.56] Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Beau soir (c.1880) [5.04] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major (Ouvertüre III.), BWV 1068 [5.24] Georg Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Rinaldo - Lascia ch’io pianga [3.02] Siegfried OCHS (1858-1929) Dank sei dir, Herr from the Cantata con Stromenti Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Pavane Op.50 (1887) [5.42] Apres un rêve Op.7 (1878) [2.50] Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)Když mne stará matka – Songs My Mother Taught Me (Gypsy songs. On text by Adolf Heyduk, Op. 55) (1880) [2.24] Rudolf FRIML (1879-1972) Indian Love Call (from Rose Marie. Operetta in 3 Acts) (1924) [2.44] Ó Rose Marie, ó báje - Act 1: Indian Love Song (from Rose Marie. Operetta in 3 Acts) (1924) [1.54] Johann STRAUSS Jr (1825-1899) Geschichten vom Weiner Wald - Tales from the Vienna Woods Op. 325 (1868) [5.14] Josef SUK (1874-1935)
Pisen Lasky - Love Song, Op. 7, No. 1 (1891-93) [5.08] All arrangements by Otmar Mácha
Gabriela Demeterová (violin) Jana Boušková (harp) Tereza Mátlová (soprano – Debussy, Fauré) Czech Philharmonic Collegium/Jan Chalupecký Recorded at the Domovina Studio, Prague, April 1999 SUPRAPHON SU 3792-2 [54.39] [JW]

The main audience here will be for the charismatic violinist – albeit in rather so-so arrangements. ... see Full Review

Alexia Voulgaridou: A Portrait Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Don Pasquale – Quel guardo… So anch’io [5:48] Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) La Boheme – Donde lieta usci… [3:04]; Si, mi chiamano Mimi…[5:04] La Rondine – Chi il bel sogno di Doretta [3:11] Turandot – Signore ascolta…[2:23]; Tu che di gel sei cinta…[2:22] Gianni Schicchi – O mio babbino caro…[2:21] Vincenzo BELLINI (1801-1835) I Capuleti e i Montecchi  - Eccomi in lieta vesta…Oh quante volte [9:11] Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Manon – Adieu notre petite table… [3:48] Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893) Romeo et Juliette – Je veux vivre… [3:38] Faust – Je voudrais bien savoir…Il etait un roi…Ah, je ris…[11:40] Alexia Voulgaridou (soprano) Munchner Rundfunkorchester/Nicola Luisotti Rec. 24-29 May 2004, Munich. DDD. ARTE NOVA VOICES 82876 57832 2 [60:15][ED]

A voice on the light side but it has conviction and is used tellingly to capture emotion ... Voulgaridou is unafraid to go to her limits: pushing the tone almost to the edge of a note or employ the merest thread of voice ... see Full Review

Water Colours - A Swedish Song Recital by Anne Sofie Von Otter Anne Sofie Von Otter (mezzo) Bengt Forsberg (piano) Stockholm, Sveriges Radio Berwaldhallen, May 2002. DDD DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 474 700 2 [72'56] [RB]

These are magical songs magically communicated by both artists. It is a privilege to have access to such a well chosen and artfully yet naturally interpreted anthology ... see Full Review

Winter’s Tale Richard Rodney BENNETT Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Orchestra (1993) [19:50] RCNM Wind Orchestra/Timothy Reynish Nigel CLARKE Premonitions (1990) [5:29] Ernest TOMLINSON Concerto for Cornet and Brass Band (1974) [16:42] Fairey Band/Allan Withington Gary PETERSON March for Solo Trumpet (1988) [1:15] WOLF and LANDESMAN arr. Winter Spring can really hang you up most † [7:30] With Craig Farr (vibraphone) Dizzy GILLESPIE arr. Reid Gilje Tanga* (1943) [3:43] Thad JONES arr. C. Booker A child is born* [5:00] Martin Winter (trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn†) *Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag/Reid Gilje Rec. Manchester September 2002 (Bennett, Clarke & Tomlinson), Bergen March 2003 DDD DOYEN DOY CD 154 [60:04] [PCW]

A worthwhile disc, one to put on at that time in the evening when you have a little mental energy left … see Full Review

Book Reviews

IBBS AND TILLETT: The Rise and Fall of a Musical Empire by Christopher Fifield April 2005 244 x 172 mm Includes 78 b&w illustrations 724 pages Hardback Ashgate Publishing Limited 1 84014 290 1 £29.95 post free through MusicWeb

This is great big palatial book; that's the first impression and the impression stays. Its splendour is its detail and its finish and it is very readable - packed with good stories but with a fascinating narrative sweep across the decades. ... see Full Review

London - A Musical Gazetteer by Lewis Foreman and Susan Foreman Illustrations: 100 illustrations Number of Pages: 352 Paperback ISBN 0 300 10402 2 PRICE: £15.99 PUB DATE: 31 Mar 2005 [RB]

Indispensable to a world of lovers and addicts of London as well as to those researching classical musical subjects of one sort or another. ... 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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