Claude
Loyola ALLGÉN
(1920–1990) Sonata
for solo violin (1989) [161:12] 
Ulf Wallin (violin) rec. September 2002, August,
December 2004, April 2005, Länna Church,
Sweden
BIS-CD-1381-82 [3 CDs: 73:23 + 59:01 +
27:46] [GF]
Outstanding
playing of enigmatic and complex music. While
it does not readily open itself to appreciation
in the end it turns out to be a fascinating
experience. ... see Full
Review
Julian
ANDERSON
(b. 1967) Khorovod
(1994) [13:00]; The Stations of The Sun (1998) [18:15];
The Crazed Moon (1997) [13:27]; Alhambra Fantasy (2000) [11:18],
Diptych (1990) [20:25]
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Oliver Knussen London Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen
rec. Maida Vale Studios, Jan 2000, Watford Coliseum, December 2001 Produced
in association with the BBC. DDD
ONDINE ODE 1012-2 [76:49] [AOz]
Ondine
has done a good public service, by bringing
Anderson’s wonderful, inventive music to audiences
beyond the concert hall ... see Full
Review
Charles
AVISON (1709/10–1770)
Six Concertos Op. 3 (1751) [54.43] Eight Concertos Op. 4 (1755)
[76.34] The Avison Ensemble/Pavlo
Beznosiuk (director, violin soloist) rec. 14-27 October 2004, St. George’s
Parish Church, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NAXOS 8.557905-6 [54.43 + 76.34] [RH]
Stylish
performances of some of Avison’s lesser-known works ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Carl
Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788)
Hamburgische Festmusiken Chorus: Leite mich nach deinem Willen,
H 835, W 227 (1783) [3.19] Cantata for Pastor
Johann Jacob Schäffer H 821m, W 253 (1785) [28.58] Chorus: Mein Heiland, Meine
Zuversicht, H 830, W 221 (1771) [2.10] Cantata for Pastor
Johann Christoph Frederici H 821g, W 251 (1775) [37.16] Chorus: Amen!
Lob und Preis und Stärke H 834, W 226 (1783) [1.40] Himlische Cantorey:
Veronika Winter, Julia Kleiter (sop); Henning Voss, Ulrike Andersen
(alto); Jan Kobow, Henning Kaiser (ten); Sebastian Noack, Ralf Grobe
(bass). Les Amis de Philippe/Lutger Rémy rec.
Sendesaal des Radio Bremen, Germany, 16 October 2004. Notes
in Deutsch, English, Français. Photos of artists, engraving of
composer and of Hamburg. CPO
777 108-2 [73.27] [PSh]
A
no less than spectacular program of music from an unexpected source.
... see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685 - 1750) English
Suite No. 1 in a, BWV 807 [20.43] English
Suite No. 2 in g, BWV 808 [17.12] English
Suite No. 3 in A, BWV 809 [25.02] Chromatic
Fantasy and Fugue in d, BWV 903 [14.02]
João Carlos Martins (piano) rec. Salle
Bulgaria, Sofia, Bulgaria, 1994
LABOR RECORDS LAB 7025-2 [77.11] [PSh]
Some
will think these exceptional recordings are
the best Bach-on-the-piano ever, others will
hate them; you deserve the right to make up
your own mind. ... see Full
Review
Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Flute
Sonatas: B minor BWV 1030[17.28]; E major
BWV 1035 [11.32]; A major BWV 1032 [12.32];
E minor BWV 1034 [13.21]; E flat major BWV
1031 [8.45]
Philippa Davies (Flute); Maggie Cole (harpsichord);
Alison McGillivray (cello) rec. Potton Hall,
Suffolk, 22-24 March 2005
AVIE AV2101 [64.11] [GH]
Beautiful
ensemble playing … a real pleasure. ... An
important cornerstone not only in Baroque
music but also in the entire flute repertoire
... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The
Four Lute Suites on Guitar Suite No. 1 in E Minor, BWV
996 [14:14] Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 997 [17:05] Suite No.
3 in A Minor, BWV 995 [19:53] Suite No. 4 in E Major, BWV 1006a
[19:05] John
Williams (guitar)
rec. 12, 19, 26 Nov, 13, 23 Dec 1974, 10 Feb 1975, CBS
Studios, London SONY CLASSICAL
82876 787382 [70:17] [ZT]
There
is no one best recording of these works, but this version by John Williams
has earned a well-deserved place among the favoured few. ... see Full
Review
Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Goldberg
Variations, BWV 988 [90:24] Fourteen Canons on the Ground from
the Goldberg Variations, BWV 1087 [8:43]
Richard Egarr (harpsichord) rec. Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente, March
2005 HARMONIA MUNDI
HMU 907425.26 [43:26 + 55:41][PB]
Outstanding
sensitivity, superbly recorded, but lacking in energy and drive. ...
see Full Review
P.D.Q.
BACH (1807-1742)? Oedipus Tex &
Other Choral Calamities Oedipus Tex: Dramatic Oratorio
for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra (S. 150) Classical Rap (S.
1-2-3) Knock, Knock, choral cantata (S.4/1) Birthday Ode to
“Big Daddy” Bach (S. 100)
Pamela South (soprano) Dana Krueger (mezzo) Frank
Kelley (tenor) The Greater Hoople Area Off-Season Philharmonic and the
Okay Chorale/Newton Wayland Professor Peter Schickele rec. 22, 24-25
April 1990, no recording location given.
TELARC CD-80239 [64:29][DC]
All
lovers of good parody can find much to enjoy here. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphony no. 3 in E flat major, op. 55 Eroica (1803) [49:54]
Symphony no. 8 in F major, op. 93 (1813) [25:25]
Minnesota Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä rec. June 2005, January 2006, Orchestra
Hall, Minneapolis, Minnesota
BIS SACD-1516 
[76:16]
[BB]
Made
the jump to SACD? Like your Beethoven in the small-modern-orchestra,
HIP-aware style of Harnoncourt? If so this is self-recommending. For
the rest of us, it is best described as good, but variable, Beethoven
at premium price. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Symphony
No. 4 in B flat major, op.60 [33:17] (1. Adagio – Allegro vivace
[11:26]; 2. Adagio [9:22]; 3. Allegro vivace [5:44]; 4. Allegro ma non
troppo [6:45]) Symphony No. 7 in A major, op.92 [42:09] (5. Poco
sostenuto – vivace [14:11]; 6. Allegretto [8:48]; 7. Presto [9:38];
8. Allegro con brio [9:32])
Royal Flemish Philharmonic/Philippe Herreweghe rec. De Roma, Antwerp,
no date given DOMUSIC
TALENT DOM 2929100
[75:42][GPJ]
For
anyone looking for this particular pairing of symphonies, I would have
to recommend this issue very positively. It will be fascinating to
see this cycle unfold. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Symphony no.5 (1805) [35:41]
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein (symphony) How
a great symphony was written (Illustrated talk by Leonard Bernstein,
given in German, French, English and Italian) Members of the Columbia
Symphony Orchestra (illustrated talk) rec. Manhattan Center, New York
City, 25 September 1961 (symphony); Columbia 30th Street
Studios, New York City, 13 July 1961 (talk)
SONY CLASSICAL GREAT PERFORMANCES 82876 78740 2 [66:03] [GPJ]
All
told, a highly successful performance, typical of the conductor in its
expressive power and dynamism, but completely free of his less admirable
mannerisms. ... see Full
Review
Ode
to Freedom Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphony No.9 in D minor Op.125 (1823) [64:00]
June Anderson (soprano); Sarah Walker (mezzo); Klaus König (tenor);
Jan-Hendrik Rootering (bass) Bavarian Radio Chorus; members of the Berlin
Radio Chorus; Dresden Philharmonie children’s choir Bavarian Radio Orchestra;
members of the Saxony State Orchestra, Dresden, Kirov Theatre Orchestra,
Leningrad; London Symphony Orchestra; New York Philharmonic Orchestra;
Paris Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein rec. 25 December 1989, live, Schauspielhaus,
Berlin Video Director : Humphrey Burton NTSC 16:9; PCM Stereo DD5.1
DTS 5.1; Dolby Digital
EUROARTS 2072038 
[94:00] [CF]
A
truly momentous occasion, its sense of history equalled by a masterly
performance of the greatest symphony of all time. It is a fitting epitaph
to one of the finest musicians of the 20th century, Bernstein.
... see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concerto
No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37 (1800) [33:51] Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major,
Op. 58* (1805) [32:23]
Leon Fleisher (piano) The Cleveland Orchestra/George Szell rec. Severance
Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, 14 April 1961; *10 January 1959 DSD
SONY CLASSICAL GREAT PERFORMANCES 82876 78767 2 [66:28][JQ]
On
this occasion I think we should put aside comparisons and just be glad
that these very fine performances by Fleisher and Szell are once again
available. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE
MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concerto No. 4 in G
major, Op. 58 (1806) [32:39] Piano Concerto in D major, Op. 61a (1807)
[39:29] Boris Berezovsky
(piano) Swedish Chamber Orchestra Orebro/Thomas Dausgaard rec. Orebro
Concert Hall 25-26, 28-31 May, 1 June 2001. DDD
SIMAX PSC 1280 [72:08][MG]
Beethoven
concerto playing today doesn’t get any better than this. … see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Complete Piano
Sonatas: No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2/1 (1795) [23.01]; No. 2 in A major,
Op. 2/2 (1795) [27.28]; No. 3 in C major, Op. 2/3 (1795) [26.32]; No.
4 in E flat major ("Grand Sonata"), Op. 7 (1796-97) [27.18];
No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10/1 (1796-98) [17.53]; No. 6 in F major, Op.
10/2 (1796-98) [16.36]; No. 7 in D major, Op. 10/3 (1796-98) [22.15];
No. 8 in C minor ("Pathétique"), Op. 13 (1798-99) [19.14];
No. 9 in E major, Op. 14/1 (1798-99) [13.44]; No. 10 in G major, Op.
14/2 (1798-99) [17.13]; No. 11 in B flat major, Op. 22 (1799-1800) [25.08]
; No. 12 in A flat major ("Funeral March"), Op. 26 (1800-01)
[19.04]; No. 13 in E flat major ("Quasi una fantasia"), Op.
27/1 (16.14]; No. 14 in C sharp minor ("Moonlight"), Op. 27/2
(1801) [15.19]; No. 15 in D major ("Pastoral"), Op. 28 (1801)
[27.25]; No. 16 in G major, Op. 31/1 (1801-02) [23.58]; No. 17 in D
minor ("Tempest"), Op. 31/2 (1801-02) [23.57]; No. 18 in E
flat major ("Hunt"), Op. 31/3 (1801-02) [24.40]; No. 19 in
G minor, Op. 49/1 (1795-98) [7.27]; No. 20 in G major, Op. 49/2 (1795-96)
[8.03]; No. 21 in C major ("Waldstein"), Op. 53 (1803-04)
[25.13]; No. 22 in F major, Op. 54 (1804) [11.21]; No. 23 in F minor
("Appassionata"), Op. 57 (1804-05) [24.07]; No. 24 in F sharp
major ("A Thérèse"), Op. 78 (1809) [10.02]; No. 25 in G major
("Cuckoo"), Op. 79 (1809) [9.05]; No. 26 in E flat major ("Les
Adieux"), Op. 81a (1809-10) [17.53]; No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90
(1814) [13.21]; No. 28 in A major, Op. 101 (1816) [20.43]; No. 29 in
B flat major ("Hammerklavier"), Op. 106 (1817-18) [42.07]
; No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 (1820) [19.04]; No. 31 in A flat major,
Op. 110 (1821) [19.09]; No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111 (1821-22) [25.26]
Andante for piano in F major ("Andante favori") WoO 57 (1803)
[8.01] Craig Sheppard (piano)
rec. live, Meany Theatre, Seattle, January 2003-May 2004. DDD
ROMÉO RECORDS 7233/41 [9 CDs: 77:03 + 77:24 + 72:20 + 76:30 +
75:11 + 69:16 + 74:38 + 65:20 + 64:13][JW]
Subtlety
of dynamics, no overt emotionalising beyond natural constraints, tonal
colour, a clear sense of pacing, and a natural sense of the peaks and
troughs of phraseology ... truly elevated Beethoven playing. ... see
Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Complete piano sonatas
Wilhelm Backhaus (piano) rec 1952-1979
DECCA ORIGINAL MASTERS 475 7198 [8 CDs: 67:40 + 67:12 + 64:53 +
69:06 + 75:34 + 67:13 + 73:55 + 55.52] [IB]
I
enjoyed this set very much. Do I recommend it? – with provisos, definitely.
Is it the only set to own? – with Beethoven, how could it be. Nevertheless…enjoy!
... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony
No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 Eroica (1803) [44:25]
Twelve Contredanses, WoO. 14 (1802): No. 1 in C major [0:28]; No. 2 in A major
[0:32]; No. 3 in D major [1:00]; No. 4 in B flat major [0:28]; No. 5 in E flat
major [1:07]; No. 6 in C major [1:11]; No. 7 in E flat major [0:33]; No. 8 in
C major [0:28]; No. 9 in A major [0:28]; No. 10 in C major [0:57]; No. 11 in
G major [0:31]; No. 12 in E flat major [1:40] Funeral March from the incidental
music to Leonore Prohaska, WoO. 96 (1815)
[4:57]
Romance No. 1 in G major, Op. 40* (c. 1800-02) [5:34]
Romance No. 2 in F major, Op. 50* (c. 1795) [7:04] Katarina
Andreasson (violin)* Swedish Chamber Orchestra Örebro/Thomas Dausgaard
rec. Örebro Concert Hall, May, October 2002. DDD SIMAX
PSC 1281 [71:34]
[MG]
This
performance of the Eroica symphony
lets you see it in a new light and in a context that is itself fresh
and illuminating … see
Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Triple
Concerto in C major, Op. 56 (1803-04) [34:35] Septet in E flat
major, Op. 20 (1799-1800) [39:23] Yefim
Bronfman (piano); Gil
Shaham
(violin); Truls Mørk (cello);
Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich/ David Zinman (concerto) Michael Reid (clarinet);
Florenz Jenny (bassoon); Jakob Hefti (horn); Gil Shaham (violin); Michel Rouilly
(viola); Truls Mørk (cello); Ronald Dangel (double-bass) (septet)
rec. Zurich Tonhalle, 20-21 (c), 30-31 (s) October 2004. DDD ARTE
NOVA CLASSICS 82876 64015
2 [74:21] [DRD]
A
splendid bargain and one I’ll be returning to often! ... see Full
Review
Vincenzo
BELLINI (1801-1835) Beatrice
di Tenda - opera seria in two acts (1833)
Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan, Paola Gavanelli (bar); Beatrice
Di Tenda, his wife, Lucia Aliberti, (sop); Agnese Del Maino, beloved
by Filippo and secretly in love with Orambello, Camille Capasso (mezzo);
Orombello, Lord of Ventimiglia and secretly in love with Beatrice, Martin
Thompson (ten); Anichino, friend of Orombello, John David Dehaan (ten);
Rizzardo Del Maino, Agnese’s brother and confident of Filippo, Raymond
Martin (ten) Chorus and Orchestra of the Deutschen Oper Berlin/Fabio
Luisi rec. Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin. July 1992
BERLIN CLASSICS BC 1042-2 [72.55 + 76.30][RJF]
This
performance will not displace established favourite recordings involving
Sutherland or Gruberova. It is distinguished by the dramatic interpretation
of Luisi, the contribution of the chorus and the singing of Gavanelli.
... see Full Review
Hector
BERLIOZ (1803
– 1869) La Damnation de Faust
(1846) Marguérite –
Marie-Ange Todorovitch (mezzo) Faust – Michael Myers (tenor) Méphistophélès
– Alain Vernhes (baritone) Brander – René Schirrer (bass) Slovak Philharmonic
Choir, Orchestra National de Lille, Region Nord-Pas de Calais/Jean-Claude
Casadesus rec. 4-5 November 2003, L’Auditorium du Nouveau Siècle, Lille,
France NAXOS 8.660116-17
[58.22 + 65.23] [RH]
A
creditable and convincing performance by predominantly French forces;
as such it is worth finding room for on the library shelves. ...
see Full Review
Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869) La
Damnation de Faust (1846)
Marie-Ange Todorovitch (mezzo) – Marguerite;
Michael Myers (tenor) – Faust; Alain Vernhes
(baritone) – Méphistophélès; René Schirrer
(bass) – Brander Slovak Philharmonic
Choir Orchestre National de Lille/Région Nord-Pas
de Calais/Jean-Claude Casadesus rec. live,
4-5 November 2003, L’Auditorium
du Nouveau Siècle, Lille, France.
NAXOS 8.660116-17 [58:22 + 65:23][GF]
The
usual grumble about texts apart this recording
must be given a strong recommendation. ...
see Full
Review
Henri
BERTÉ (1858-1924) Chanson d’amour (The
Song of Love) (1921)
Aimé Doniat (tenor) – Schubert; Lina Dachary (soprano) – Annette (Tilli);
Colette Louvois (soprano) – Jeanette Freda Betty (mezzo) – Nanette
(Lili); André Mallabrera (baritone) – Baron Franz; Gaston
Rey (tenor) – M. Muhl; Germaine Parat (soprano) – Mme. Muhl Studio
orchestra/Jésus Etcheverry rec. Paris, France, 1962. ADD
ACCORD OPERETTE 476 2100 [42:40 + 45:50][RJW]
Tenderness,
warmth and passion … Perhaps Berté’s finest contribution is his adaptation
of Schubert's delightful Rosamunde music ... see Full
Review
Georges
BIZET (1838–1875) Carmen -
opera in four acts (1875) Text: Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy after
Prosper Mérimée's novel
Moralès: Malcolm Walker Micaëla: Marie McLaughlin Don José: Barry McCauley
Carmen: Maria Ewing Frasquita: Elizabeth Collier Mercédès: Jean Rigby
Lilias Pastia: Frederico Davià Escamillo: David Holloway London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Bernard Haitink rec. Glyndebourne Festival Opera, 1985 Director:
Peter Hall Design and Lighting: John Bury Directed for video by Peter
Hall Produced for video by Robin Lough Dolby Digital Stereo, NTSC 4:3,
Colour WARNER DVD 4509-99494-2
[174:00][AB]
Marie
Ewing is excellent in the title role and is supported by a good cast
in this fine production from 1985 Glyndebourne. ... see Full
Review
Giovanni
BOTTESINI (1821-1889) Melodie [7.45]
Concerto in B minor [15.25] Introduction and Gavotte [5.16] Gran
duo concertante for violin and double bass (1880) [15.03] Wolfgang
Harrer (double bass); Christian Altenburger (violin) New
Vienna Soloists/Gert Meditz rec. Palais Schwarzenberg 1983-1986,
and Schottenstift, Vienna 1987 VMS
607 [43.29] [CF]
If
you want to hear a double bass play as you have probably not
heard it do so before, this is the disc for you. ... see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) CD 1 Symphony
No 1 in C Minor, Op. 68 (1876) [46:02] CD 2 Symphony No 2 in D, Op.
73 (1877) [44:29]; Tragic Overture,
Op. 81 (1881) [13:02] CD 3 Symphony No 3 in
F, Op. 90 (1876) [35:36]; Variations on a Theme by Haydn Op. 56a
(1876) [17:16] CD 4 Symphony No 4 in E minor Op. 98 (1885) [41:37];
Academic Festival Overture Op. 80 (1880)
[9:58] Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Orchestra/Marek Janowski rec. 1984-1986, Philharmonic Hall,
Liverpool. DDD SANCTUARY CLASSICS CD RSB 405 [46:02 +
57:31 + 52:52 + 51:35][JWi]
May
not be the best or the ideal introduction or only recording of these
excellent works to have, but it is good and worthwhile. ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony No. 1 in
C minor, Op. 68 (1855/76) [39:32] Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73
(1877)^* [34:39] Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90 (1883)^ [29:18] Symphony
No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 (1884/5) [36:41] Academic Festival Overture,
Op. 80 (1880)* [9:22]
London Symphony Orchestra/^London Philharmonic Orchestra/Felix Weingartner
rec. Abbey Road Studio London/*Kingsway Hall, London, 16, 18 February
1939 (Op. 68); 26 February 1940 (Op. 73); 6 October 1938 (Op. 90); 14
February 1938 (Op. 98); 29 February 1940 (Op. 80). ADD
LIVING ERA CLASSICS AJD 2009 [74:18
+ 75:52][JQ]
This
is an intriguing set that adds significantly to our knowledge and appreciation
of the interpretative history of these four symphonic masterpieces ...
see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Piano
Concerto no.1 in D minor op.15 (1854-58) [49:12] Piano Concerto no.2
in B flat major op.83 (1881) [50:31]
John Lill (piano) Hallé Orchestra/James Loughran rec. 1978, Free
Trade Hall, Manchester. ADD
RESONANCE CD RSB 204 [49:12 + 50:31] [CH]
No.
1 is of interest, no, 2 very disappointing.
... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Piano
Concerto No.1 in D minor (1858) [45:56] Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat
major (1881) [49:56]
Nelson Freire (piano) Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Riccardo Chailly
rec. live, Gewandhaus, Leipzig, 22-26 Nov 2005 (No.2), 13-18 Feb 2006
(No.1). DDD DECCA 475
7637 [45:56 + 49:56] [TH]
Conductor
and soloist engage in some wonderful dialogue
… great artistry caught on the wing ... see
Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Missa
Canonica, Es ist das Heil uns kommen
her , Schaffe in mir, Gott Geistliches
Lied, Ave Maria, O Heiland, reiss die
Himmel auf , Warum ist das Licht gegeben?
Joseph Gabriel RHEINBERGER
(1839-1901) Cantus Missae
The Choir of Westminster Cathedral/Martin
Baker Matthew Martin (organ)
HYPERION CDA67559 [69:31] [MC]
Lovers
of choral music will surely relish this superbly
performed and recorded selection of sacred
works ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Hungarian
Dances - four hands (1-10, 1868; 11-21, 1880) Steven
and Stijn Kolacny (Steinway D piano) rec. DSD, Galaxy Studios,
Mol, Belgium, 28 March 2002. 2.0 stereo and 5.1 surround SACD
tracks, 2.0 stereo CD tracks.
Notes in Nederlands, Français, English, and Deutsch. Photos of artists and composer ETCETERA
KTC 5250 [52.27] [PSh]
The
best version of these brilliant works to date, a must for all Brahms
collectors. ... see Full
Review
Frank
BRIDGE
(1879-1941) The Piano
Music: Volume 1 Capriccio
No.1 (1905) [2:36] Three Sketches (1906) [8:19]
Capriccio No.2 (1905) [4:47] The Hour Glass
(1919/1920) [13:39] Vignettes de Marseille
(1925) [12:27] Sonata for Piano (1921-1924)
[34:57]
Mark Bebbington (piano) rec. Number 8 Arts
Centre, Pershore, Worcestershire, date not
given, pub. 2006
SOMMCD 056 [77:24] [CH]
In
Bebbington’s hands this work – supposedly
one of the masterpieces of 20th
century British music – emerges as an amorphous,
sprawling piece of mediocre ranting. ... see
Full
Review
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony
No 9 in D minor (1896) Vienna
Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein
rec. Großer Musikvereinsaal, Vienna, February-March 1990 Directed by Humphrey
Burton
Picture format NTSC 4:3, PCM Stereo DD 5.1; DTS 5.1 EUROARTS
DVD 2072018 [68:44]
[PCW]
A
performance that defies pre-conceptions ... see Full
Review
Ferruccio
BUSONI
(1866-1924) Fantasia Contrappuntistica a
(1910; rev. 1922) [27.40] Improvisation on the Bach Chorale “Wie wohl
ist mir, O Freund der Seele” (1916) [14.41] Duettino Concertante nach
Mozart b [K459] (1916?) [7.23] Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Fantasie [in f] für eine Orgelwalze
[K 381] (arr. Busoni 1922) [8.19]
Allan Schiller and John Humphries (duo pianists) rec. Royal Northern
College of Music, Manchester, England, 8 September 2003. Notes in English
and Deutsch NAXOS 8.557443
[58.04] [PSh]
Good,
clear performances of some intricate, fascinating music. ... see Full
Review
William
BYRD (1539/40-1623) Playing
Elizabeth’s Tune Vigilate [4:52]
Tristitia et anxietas [10:07] Ne irascaris, Domine [8:06] Prevent us, O Lord
[2:46] O Lord, make they Servant Elizabeth [3:04] Magnificat, from the Great
Service [9:57] Mass for four voices [23:06]
Ave Verum Corpus [3:56] The Tallis
Scholars/Peter Phillips
rec. Tewkesbury Abbey, 2004 GIMELL
CDGIM 992 [65:54]
[DC]
The
Tallis Scholars produce sublime and moving performances in a beautifully
balanced recording. ... see Full
Review
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