 UNEASY
LISTENING - A caricature guide to
20th century composers
by John Minnion 109pp
Paperback ISBN 0-9544499 1 6 [RB]
This
is wonderfully well done as a book of
illustrations. It tells us something
of the psychology of the composer in
each case and does so wittily and not
without taking a few dangerous corners.
... see Full
Review
Eric
Charles Blake
Wars, Dictators and the Gramophone 1898-1945
pp320;
illustrated; laminated cover.published
by Sessions of York, Huntingdon Rd,
York YO31 9HS, England Buy
from MusicWeb £10 plus
postage - immediate delivery
review
JANUARY
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann.Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750)
The
Sonatas and Partitas for Violin
Solo (c. 1720) CD 1 [61:35]
Sonata No 1 in G minor, BWV 1001;
Adagio [4:05]; Fuga [4:49];Siciliana
[3:04]; Presto [3:30]; Partita No.1
in B minor, BWV 1002; Allemanda
[4:37];Double [2:14]; Corrente [3:29];
Double.Presto [3:22]; Sarabande
[3:15];.Double [3:07];Temopo di
Borea [3:30]; Double [3:22] Sonata
No 2. in A minor, BWV 1003; Grave
[4:27];Fuga [7:56]; Andante [5:33];Allegro
[5:16]. CD 2 [68:43] Partita No
2 in D minor, BWV 1004; Allemanda
[4:22]; Courante [2:26]; Sarabanda
[3:28]; Giga [4:03]; Ciaccona [14:00].
Sonata No 3 in C major, BWV 1005;Adagio
[3:22]; Fuga [9:06]; Largo [2:37];
Allegra assasi [4:45]. Partita No.
3 in E major, BWV 1006; Preludio
[3:18]; Loure [3:45]; Gavotte en
Rondeau [2:57]; Menuet I [1:38];
Minuet II [2:26]; Bourée
[1:16]; Gigue [1:49] 
Gidon Kremer, violin rec: Partitas:
25-29 Sept. 2001, Lockenhaus, Pfarrkirche
St. Nikolaus; Sonatas: 10-15 March
2002, Riga, Recording Studio.
ECM NEW SERIES 1926/27 4767291 [61:35
+ 68:43] [ZT]
For
aficionados a significant void will
exist in their collection if this
fine recording is not included.
... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Sonata
in G major, Op. 31, No 1 (1801-2)
[24:39] Sonata in d minor, Op. 31,
No. 2 "Tempest" (1801-2)
[24:31] Sonata in E-flat major,
Op. 31, No. 3 (1802) [24:24]
Paul Lewis, piano rec. April
2005, Teldex Studio, Berlin
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC901902 [73:55]
[KS]
Paul
Lewis is a talent for posterity,
a pianist of such refinement that
he is certain to make a mark in
the world that will long outlast
his time on the planet ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Antonín
DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904) Slavonic
Dances arr. for wind quintet by
Guido Schäfer (Allegro scherzando
op.46,2 [4:49]; Presto, op.46,8
[4:02]; Allegretto grazioso op.72,2
[5:43]; Allegro vivace (presto)
op.72,7 [3:46]) Quartet op.96 in
F, arr. for wind quintet by Guido
Schäfer [25:41] (Allegro ma non
troppo [9:56]; Lento [6:12]; Molto
vivace [3:53]; Vivace, ma non troppo
[5:25]) Bagatelles op.47, arranged
for wind quintet by Volker Grewel
(Allegretto scherzando [3:14]; Tempo
di minuetto [2:37]; Allegretto scherzando
[3:02]; Canon. Andante con moto
[3:24]; Poco allegro [4:27])
Ma’a lot Quintet: Stephanie Winker
(flute), Christian Wetzel (oboe),
Ulf-Gudo Schäfer (clarinet), Volker
Grewel (horn), Volker Tessmann (bassoon)
rec. 10-12 February 2005, Fürstliche
Reitbahn Bad Arolsen. DDD
MDG GOLD MDG345 1356-2 [61:19][GPJ]
Exceptionally
felicitous ... highly skilled arrangements
... world-class playing from all
five members of this stunning group.
... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH André
JOLIVET (1905-1974)
Piano Music: Volume 1 Cosmogonie
(1938) [10:19]; Sarabande sur le
nom d’Erik Satie (1925) [3:57];
Mana (1934) [13:03]; Etude sur les
modes antiques (1944) [3:43]; Deux
mouvements (1930) [15:50]; Romance
barbare (1920) [3:39]; From Bom
Bo (1935) [1:16]; Tango (1927) [3:10];
Algeria – Tango (1934) [2:19]; El
viejo camello (1935) [1:37]; Danses
pour Zizou (1934) [1:01]; Madia
(1935) [0:54]; Sidi Ya Ya (1934)
[6:54]
Pascal Gallet (piano) rec. Salle
Jeanne d’Albret, St-Germain en Laye,
June 2003
MAGUELONE MAG 111.136 [68:58]
André
JOLIVET (1905-1974) Piano
Music: Volume 2 Danses rituelles
(1939) [28:21]; Trois temps (1930)
[7:40]; Deuxième sonate (1957) [18:36];
Berceuse dans un hamac (1951) [2:18];
Danse caraïbe (1963) [0:20]; Danse
roumaine (1949) [1:31]; Chansons
naïves (1951) [15:23]
Pascal Gallet (piano) rec. Salle
Jeanne d’Albret, St-Germain en Laye,
September 2004
MAGUELONE MAG 111.137 [70:16][HC]
An
absolute must for all the Jolivet
admirers but many other will derive
much pleasure from the shorter,
more accessible pieces before facing
the demanding, but ultimately rewarding
challenges of the bigger works.
... see
Full Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony
No. 7 (1908) [78.11]
San Francisco Symphony/Michael Tilson
Thomas Rec. live, Davies Symphony
Hall, San Francisco, 9-12 March
2005.
 SAN
FRANCISCO SYMPHONY 821936-0009-2
SACD/CD [78.11] [DC]
It’s
like a great painting which has
been cleaned for the first time
in generations – restoring and renewing
the sense of awe ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Madama
Butterfly (1904). Cheryl
Barker (soprano) - Cio-Cio-San;
Martin Thompson (tenor) - Pinkerton;
Catherine Keen (mezzo) - Suzuki;
Richard Stilwell (baritone) - Sharpless;
Anneleen Bijnen (mezzo) - Kate;
Peter Blanchet (tenor) - Goro; Roger
Smeets (baritone) - Yamadori; Anrezej
Saciuk (bass) - Bonze; Harry Teeuwen
(baritone) - Yakusidé
Chorus of Netherlands Opera Netherlands
Philharmonic Orchestra/Edo de Waart.
Includes Cast Gallery, Synopsis
& illustrated talk. Subtitles.
All regions. PAL. LPCM Stereo. Rec.
live at Het Musiektheater, Amsterdam
in 2003.
OPUS ARTE OA0936D [2 DVDs: 169'00]
[CC]
A
superb DVD that now becomes my top
recommendation for this opera on
DVD. The production is top-notch,
and the orchestral contribution
the strongest I have yet to hear.
... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS (1864–1949)
Scenes from Salome and Elektra
Elektra (1909): Elektra’s
Soliloquy: Allein! Weh, ganz allein
[9:34]; Recognition Scene: Was willst
du, fremder Mensch? [21:37]; Finale:
Elektra! Schwester! Komm mit uns!
[9:42] Salome (1905):
Dance of the Seven Veils [9:04];
Final Scene: Ah! Du wolltest mich
micht deinen Mund [17:03]
Inge Borkh (soprano), Paul Schöffler
(baritone) (Elektra), Francis Yeend
(soprano) (Elektra), Chicago Lyric
Theater Chorus (Elektra)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz
Reiner rec. 1956, 1954 and 1955.
ADD
BMG-RCA LIVING STEREO 82876 67900
2 SACD [67:10] [GF]
Don’t
miss this one! ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Georg
Philipp TELEMANN
(1681-1767) Pastorelle
en Musique – opera/serenata
(c.1712-21) Caliste – Doerthe Maria
Sandmann (soprano) Iris – Barbara
Fink (mezzo) Damon – Mathias Hausmann
(tenor) Amyntas – Lydia Vierlinger
(alto) Knirfx – Bernhard Berchtold
(tenor)
Capella Leopoldina/Kirill Karabits
Recorded in concert, May 2005
CAPRICCIO
71 054/55 [62.48 + 43.01] [JW]
A
most worthwhile discovery presented
with real élan and scholarly
intelligence ... One of the best
Capriccio releases I’ve reviewed
... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
La Traviata (original
version of the premiere at La Fenice,
6 March 1853). Patrizia Ciofi (soprano)
Violetta Valéry; Dmitri Hvorostovsky
(baritone) Giorgio Germont; Roberto
Saccà (tenor) Alfredo Germont;
Eufemia Tufamo (mezzo) Flora Bervoix;
Elisabetta Martorana (soprano) Annina;
Salvatore Cordella (tenor) Gastone;
Andrea Porta (baritone) Baron Douphol;
Federico Sacchi (bass) Doctor Grenvil;
Vito Priante (baritone) d'Obigny;
Luca Favaron (tenor) Giuseppe
Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro
La Fenice/Lorin Maazel. rec. live
at the Teatro La Fenice, Venice,
18 November 2004. Director Robert
Carsen.  TDK
DV-OPLTLF [146'00] [CC]
A
thought-provoking and excellent
Traviata in the original 1853 version.
The more one watches, the more it
emerges as rich, rewarding and challenging.
A simply fantastic DVD. ... see
Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Echoes
of the East John
WILLIAMS arr. Christian
JENKINS Olympic Spirit
(1998) [2:55] Karl
JENKINS arr. Tony
SMALL The Armed Man
– A Mass for Peace [20:07] *
Traditional
arr. John
IVESON Londonderry
Air [2:56] # Vittorio
MONTI arr. Steve
YORK Czardas [3:46]
+ Martin
BUNCE arr. Steve
BRODIE Marianne
[3:12] §
Herman BELLSTEDT
arr. Robert
CHILDS Napoli
[5:47] * Rodney
NEWTON Echoes of the
East [12:41] Jim
WEBB arr. Barrie
FORGIE MacArthur Park
[9:04] Traditional
arr. Barrie
FORGIE Scarborough
Fair [4:24] Harry
JAMES arr. Bill
GELDARD Trumpet Blues
and Cantabile [2:36] Igor
STRAVINSKY arr. Ray
FARR Infernal Dance
and Finale from The Firebird
(1910) [7:35] David Childs (euphonium)
* Chris Thomas (trombone) #
Owen Farr. (tenor horn) +, Joanne
Deane (flugel horn) §.
Buy As You View Band/Dr Robert
Childs Rec. St Teilo Arts Centre,
Wales, 17 July 2005. DDD
DOYEN DOYCD195 [75:51] [TP]
All
in all a splendid disc of light
brass band fare. Buy and enjoy.
... see Full
Review
A
fabulous DVD and one that will please
and entertain all. Fans of the group
will be delighted and new initiates
will be entertained, no matter what
their musical background. ... see
Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ana
María Martínez: Soprano
Songs and Arias Léo
DELIBES (1836 – 1891) Les
filles de Cadix; Charles GOUNOD (1818 – 1893)
Roméo et Juliette: Je veux vivre;
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858 – 1924)
Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro;
Franz
LEHÁR (1870 – 1948) Die
lustige Witwe: Vilja-Lied; Pablo
LUNA (1879 – 1942) El
Niño Judío: De España vengo; Francis LÓPEZ (1916 – 1995)
Violetas imperiales; Giacomo PUCCINI La Rondine:
Chi il bel sogno di Doretta; Joseph
CANTELOUBE (1879 – 1937)
Chants d’Auvergne: Baïlèro; Giacomo
PUCCINI Madama Butterfly:
Un bel di vedremo; Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887 – 1959)
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 for
voice and 8 cellos: Aria (Cantilena);
Dança (Martelo)
Ana María Martínez (soprano) Prague
Philharmonia/Steven Mercurio Recorded
in the Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum,
Prague, in August 2000
NAXOS 8.557827 [53:26][GF]
One
of the freshest, loveliest and most
musical soprano voices to have appeared
for some time. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ferdinand
RIES (1784-1838)
Piano
Concertos, Volume 1: A flat,
Op. 151, 'Gruss an den Rhein'
(1826) [29'01]; C major, Op. 123
(1806) [31'56]. (both ed. Allan
Badley).
Christopher Hinterhuber (piano)
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Uwe
Grodd. Rec. Michael Fowler Centre,
Wellington, New Zealand, 1-3 Feb
2005. DDD
NAXOS 8.557638 [60'57] [CC]
An
excellent disc. One of the beauties
of Naxos is that one can experiment
with rare repertoire at low cost.
Here that cost is certainly justified.
... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Impromptus
D.899[28:35], Impromptus D.935 [33:54]
SCHUBERT/Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Song
transcriptions: Ständchen S.560/7
[05:12], Auf dem Wasser zu singen
S.558/2 [03:51], Erlkönig S.558/4
[04:28]
Murray Perahia (piano) rec.
22-23 November 1982, Vanguard Studios,
New York City (D.899), 18 December
1980, Columbia 30th Street
Studio, New York City (D.935], 27-28
November and 1-2 December 1998,
Lyndhurst Hall, Air Studios, Hampstead,
London (Schubert/Liszt)
SONY CLASSICAL SK 94732 [76:25]
[CH]
One
of the most beautiful piano records
ever made. ... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Poets
of Sensibility - Vol 3: Der
Tod und das Mädchen;
Der Leidende (3rd
version) Totengräberlied;
Die Mutter Erde; Der Liedende
(2nd version); Die
Nonne; Täglich zu singen;
Klage (D371); Stimme der
Liebe; Seufzer; An
eine Quelle; An die Apfelbäume;
Die frühe Liebe; An
den Mond; Abendlied;
Klage (D436); Auf den Tod
einer Nachtigall D201 and D399);
Auf dem Wasser zu singen;
Lied in der Abwesenheit;
Der Liebende; Minnelied;
Der Traum; Seligkeit.
Wolfgang Holzmair (baritone)
Ulrich Eisenlohr (piano) rec. Munich,
30 November-5 December 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557568 [60:59] [AO]
Highly
recommended for Holzmair’s lyrical,
naturalistic style – the best disc
in this series by far, good enough
for experienced collectors to seek
out ... see Full
Review
February
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Lieder
eines fahrenden Gesellen('Songs
of a Wayfaring Lad')
Symphony No. 1 in D Major,
'Titan' 
Christopher Maltman (baritone)
Philharmonia Orchestra/Benjamin
Zander including discussion
disc rec. Studio One, EMI
Abbey Road (Songs), 11 July 2004;
Watford Coliseum (Sym) 12-14 July
2004. Symphony playable
in DSD Surround and DSD Stereo
on an SACD player.
TELARC 2SACD-80628 [68.32
+ 79.06] [JPr]
Mahler
would have expected it to sound
quite awful' - so why was it
played so well on the recording?...see
Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Malcolm
ARNOLD
(b. 1921) The
Return of Odysseus op. 119 (1976)
[28:20] Darius
MILHAUD (1892-1974) Suite
Française (1944) [15:57]
Ralph VAUGHAN
WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Toward
the Unknown Region (1907) [13:17]
Anne Taylor (sop) (Arnold) The
City of Glasgow Chorus The Orchestra
of Scottish Opera/Graham Taylor
rec. Scottish Opera Centre, Glasgow,
21-22 October 2005. DDD
DIVINE ART 25035 [57:54] [RB]
An
essential purchase for Arnoldists
and Milhaud fans ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Anton
BRUCKNER (1824–1896)
Symphony
No. 9 in D minor Franz
SCHUBERT (1797–1828) Symphony
No. 8 in B minor Unfinished
NDR Sinfonieorchester/Günter
Wand rec. live, Musik-und-Kongressehalle,
Lübeck, 8 July 2001 DVD. DTS
Stereo. LPCM Stereo 
TDK DV-COWAND4 [100:00] [JPh]
A
superb DVD ... a wonderful reminder
of conductor’s art and a fine performance
in its own right. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Francisco
GUERRERO (1528-1599)
Missa
Surge propera [31:12] Usquequo,
Domine [5:24] Ave Maria [4:15]
Hei mihi, Domine [4:21] Surge
propera [7:21] Beata Dei
genitrix [6:22] Ave virgo
sanctissima [3:57] Regina
caeli laetare [4:25]
The Tallis Scholars/Peter Phillips
rec. September 2004, Temple Church,
London. DDD
GIMELL CDGIM 040 [66:57][ABi]
A
substantial and welcome contribution
to the Guerrero discography – a
fantastic marriage of choir and
repertoire. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony
No 4 (arranged by Erwin
Stein)
Christiane Oelze (soprano) Thomas
Christian Ensemble rec. Schloß
Esterhazy, Eisenstadt, Austria,
28-30 May 2004. DDD
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND
GRIMM MDG 603 1320-2 [55’23]
[AO]
The
one version that comes closest to
capturing the logic of the transcription
and the gloriousness of the original
symphony. Real understanding, conviction
and panache. … see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Otto
OLSSON (1879–1964) Requiem
Op. 13 (1901–1903)
Sylvia Lindenstrand (soprano); Inger
Blom (alto); Björn Haugan (tenor);
Olle Sköld (bass) Gustaf Vasa Oratorio
Choir Royal Opera Orchestra/Anders
Ohlson rec. 16 May 1993,
Gustaf Vasa Church, Stockholm
PROPRIUS PRSACD 9086 
[67:44][GF]
Music
of a young man with a positive
view of life ... mirrored by the
lightness and melodious quality
of much of this Requiem. ... see
Full
Review
 RECORDING
OD THE MONTH Sergey
PROKOFIEV (1891–1953)
The
Love for Three Oranges,
Opera in four acts and a prologue
(1921)
Libretto by the composer, for Vsevolod
Meyerhold’s adaptation of L’amore
delle tre melarance by Carlo
Gozzi. English version by Tom Stoppard.
see review for cast Opera Australia
Chorus, Australian Opera and Ballet
Orchestra/Richard Hickox A production
by Opera Australia recorded live
at the Sydney Opera House in February
2005
CHANDOS CHAN 10347 (2) [49:34
+ 49:52] [GF]
Two
of the most amusing hours I have
had for a very long time – and I
am not leading a particularly dull
life. Great entertainment presented
with the highest possible production
values. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
STRAUSS I (1804-1849)
Strauss
Edition, Vol. 7: Mittel
gegen den Schlaf, Walzer op.65 (1833)
[06:52] Jugendfeuer-Galopp (1836)
[02:31] Emlék Pestre (Erinnerung
an Pesth) Walzer op.66 (1834) [07:26]
Cachucha-Galopp op.97 (1837) [02:07]
Gabrielen-Walzer op.68 (1834) [07:36]
Boulogner-Galopp, op.104 (1839)
[01:58] Pfennig-Walzer op.70 (1834)
[06:52] Der Carneval in Paris, Galopp
op.100 (1838) [02:39] Iris-Walzer
op.75 (1834) [06:25] Original-Parade-Marsch
op.73 (1832) [01:56] Erinnerungen
an Berlin, Walzer op.78 (1834) [07:59]
Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina/Ernst
Märzendorfer rec. 1-6 May 2004,
Fatra Concert Hall, Žilina, Slovakia
MARCO POLO 8.225283 [54:22][CH]
The
series reaches a new level of excellence.
... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
Wetz
(1875-1935)
Requiem
Op. 50 in B minor (c. 1920)
[60:06] (Requiem and Kyrie [12:04];
Dies Irae [13:31]; Domine Jesu [8:15];
Sanctus and Benedictus [13:14];
Agnus Die [13:02]) Marietta Zumbült
(sop); Mario Hoff (bar)
Dombergchor Erfurt/Silvius von Kessel
Philharmonischer Chor Weimar/Andreas
Korn Thüringisches Kammerorchester
Weimar/George Alexander Albrecht
rec. live, St. Severi, Erfurt, 27
September 2003. DDD
CPO 777 152-2 [60:06] [JF]
One
of the great unsung requiems in
the liturgical literature. ... see
Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Birgit
Nilsson - Swedish
Radio Concerts Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858 – 1924)
Tosca: Vissi d’arte; Turandot:
In questa reggia; Carl Maria von WEBER (1786
– 1826) Oberon: Ozean,
du Ungeheuer; Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770 – 1827)
Fidelio: Abscheulicher,
wo eilst du hin; Giuseppe VERDI (1813 – 1901)
Aida: O patria mia; La forza
del destino: Pace, pace, mio Dio;
Richard
WAGNER (1813 – 1883) Tannhäuser:
Dich, teure Halle, grüss’ ich wieder;
Rolf
LIEBERMANN (1910 – 1999)
Penelope: Penelope’s aria;
Franz
BERWALD (1796 – 1868)
Estrella de Soria: Estrella’s
aria
Birgit Nilsson (soprano), Swedish
Radio Orchestra/Nils Grevillius
(1, 4, 6), Stockholm Philharmonic
Orchestra/Nils Grevillius (2, 3,
5, 7), Royal Orchestra, Stockholm/Sixten
Ehrling (8), Stockholm Radio Orchestra/Sten
Frykberg (9) rec. Circus, Stockholm,
January 15, 1961 (1, 4, 6), Concert
Hall, Stockholm, August 18-19, 1961
(2, 3, 5), March 5, 1959 (7), Royal
Academy of Music, Stockholm, April
18, 1955 (8), April 13, 1947 (9)
BLUEBELL ABCD 055 [65:28][GF]
There
are not many discs around with soprano
singing that challenges this and
none that surpasses it! ... see
Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH The
Ramallah Concert - West
Eastern Divan Orchestra - Daniel
Barenboim DVD 1: Knowledge
is the beginning - a film
produced and directed by Paul Smaczny
[94:00] DVD 2: The Ramallah
Concert - West-Eastern Divan
Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim [112:00]
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Sinfonia Concertante in E flat
major for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon
and Horn, KAnh.9 (297b) Mohamed
Saleh (oboe); Kinan Azmeh (clarinet);
Mor Biron (bassoon); Sharon Polyak
(horn) Speeches by Nabeel Hath and
Mustafa Barghouti. Ludwig
Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphony No. 5 in C minor Op. 67
Speeches by Miriam Said and Daniel
Barenboim. Encore
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
Nimrod from Enigma Variations
Op. 36
West Eastern Divan Orchestra - Daniel
Barenboim Recorded "live"
at the Cultural Palace, Ramallah,
21 August 2005 and includes an 18
minute documentary directed by Ayellet
Hallerr. Concert produced by Paul
Smaczny Concert Director: Michael
Beyer Documentary Director: Ayellet
Heller Principal Photography: Nyika
Jansco Picture format: NTSC/Colour/16.9
Sound formats: PCM Stereo. DTS 5.1
surround. DOLBY digital 5.1 Region
2-5 encoding. PAL Menu language
English, German, French, Spanish
and Arabic (for Knowledge Is The
Beginning) WARNER
VISION DVD VIDEO 2564 62792-2 [94:00
+ 112:00] [DD]
Quite
simply the best music DVD I’ve ever
seen; it’s so much more than just
music. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH William
ALWYN
(1905-1985) Symphony
No. 4 (1959) [32:13] Sinfonietta
for Strings (1970) [22:51]
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones rec.
Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 2-4
Aug 2004, 4 Jan 2005. DDD
NAXOS 8.557649 [55:04] [RB]
Spirited
and well-recorded performances that
will win new friends for Alwyn.
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Dietrich
BUXTEHUDE (c.1637-1707)
Seven
Trio Sonatas, Op. 2: Sonata
No.1 in B flat major, BuxWV 259
[8:33] Sonata No.2 in D major, BuxWV
260 [9:06] Sonata No.3 in G minor,
BuxWV 261 [10:54] Sonata No.4 in
C minor, BuxWV 262 [8:32] Sonata
No.5 in A major, BuxWV 263 [9:15]
Sonata No.6 in F major, BuxWX 265
[8:15]
John Holloway (violin), Jaap ter
Linden (viola da gamba), Lars Ulrik
Mortensen (harpsichord) rec. 9-10
February, 20-21 September 1994,
Kastelskirken, Copenhagen.
NAXOS 8.557249 [63:13][GPu]
Surely
some of the greatest chamber music
of the baroque period, very well
performed. A remarkable bargain
... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934)
Cockaigne
(In London Town) – Concert Overture,
Op. 40 (1900-01)* Rec. 11 April
1933, EMI Abbey Road Studio No.
1, London Variations on an Original
Theme (‘Enigma’), Op. 36 (1898-99)**
Rec. 28 April, 30 August 1926, Queen’s
Hall, London Pomp and Circumstance
Marches Op. 39 No. 1 in D major
(1901)** Rec. 27 April 1926, Queen’s
Hall, London No. 2 in A minor (1901)**
Rec. 27 April 1926, Queen’s Hall,
London No. 3 in C minor (1904)***
Rec. 15 July 1927, Queen’s Hall,
London No. 4 in G major (1907)***
Rec. 15 July 1927, Queen’s Hall,
London No. 5 in C major (1930) ***
Rec. 18 September 1930, Kingsway
Hall, London Side 3 of the Cockaigne
Overture in "Accidental Stereo"
Rec. 11 April 1933, EMI Abbey Road
Studio No. 1, London
Royal Albert Hall Orchestra
** London Symphony Orchestra ***
BBC Symphony Orchestra * Edward
Elgar (conductor)
NAXOS 8.111022 [67:35] [DC]
There
can be no doubting the historical
value of this Naxos CD ... priceless!
... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Emil
Gilels Edition
Fryderyk CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Nocturne
in C minor Op. 48 No. 1,
Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor
Op. 35 , Polonaise in A flat major
Op. 53 "Heroic", Impromptu No. 2
in F sharp major Op. 36, Piano Sonata
No. 3 in B minor Op. 58 Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Piano
Sonata in B minor , Hungarian Rhapsody
No. 15 "Rákoczy March",Piano
Sonata in B minor ,Hungarian Rhapsody
No. 9 "Peszter Carnaval" , Valse
oubliée No. 1,Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano
Sonata No. 1 in F sharp minor Op.
11 , Arabesque in C major Op. 18
,Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor Op.
22 (with original finale) , Carnaval,
Op. 9 Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano
Sonata No. 2 in D minor Op. 14,
Piano Sonata No. 3 in A minor Op.
28, Piano Sonata No. 8 in B flat
major Op. 84,Visions fugitives (selection)
Op.22 , Toccata Op. 11, March from
"Love for Three Oranges" Alexander
SCRIABIN (1872-1916) Piano
Sonata No. 3 in F sharp minor Op.
23, Piano Sonata No. 4 in F sharp
minor Op. 30,Préludes Op.
74 Nicolai
MEDTNER (1880-1951) Sonata
in G minor Op. 22 Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Suite
Pour le Piano, Images, book I Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Prélude,
Forlane, Toccata, from Le Tombeau
de Couperin, Pavane pour une infante
défunte ,Jeux d'eau Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
6 Morceaux, Op. 19 Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Piano
Sonata No. 2 in E minor Op. 75 Sergei
RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943)
Daisies Op. 38 No. 3, Vocalise
Op. 34 No. 14. Prelude in C sharp
minor Op. 3 No. 2, Prelude in B
flat major Op. 23 No. 2, Prelude
in G flat major Op. 23 No. 10, Prelude
in B major Op. 32 No. 11, Prelude
in G minor Op. 23 No. 5, Etude-tableau
in E flat minor Op. 39 No. 5, Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Four
Ballades Op. 10 , Fantasien Op.
116 Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826)
Piano Sonata in A flat major
Op. 39 Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano
Concerto No. 3 in D minor Op. 30
Pyotr Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano
Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor Op.
23 Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Piano
Concerto No. 1 in E flat major Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano
Concerto No. 1 in E minor Op. 11,
Andante Spianato et grande polonaise
Brillante in E flat major Op. 22
Emil Gilels (piano) USSR State Symphony
Orchestra, Kyrill Kondrashin, Moscow
Philharmonic Orchestra, Kyrill Kondrashin
Recording: 1-1949 (1), 10-1962 (2-4),
6-1952 (5/6)
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92615 [10
CDs: 68.50 + 73.57 + 78.38 + 70.21
+ 50.54 + 66.08 + 78.37 + 72.18
+ 71.27 + 72.12] [JW]
Only
the most sanguine of Gilels admirers
can afford to be without it. The
sound can be problematic, the provenance
not yet fully established but the
performances are, for the most part,
magnificent. ... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Christoph
Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787)
Opera
Arias: Armide: Le perfide
Renaud me fuit [07:55]; Iphigénie
en Aulide: Vous essayez en vain
– Par la crainte [03:39]; Iphigénie
en Tauride: Non, cet affreux
devoir [04:25]; Iphigénie
en Aulide: Adieu, conservez dans
votre âme [03:28]; Alceste:
Divinités du Styx [05:20];
La Rencontre Imprévue: Bel
inconnu [01:59]; Je cherche
à vous faire [02:51];
Paride ed Elena: Spiagge amate
[02:00]; Oh, del mio dolce
ardor [03:12]; Le belle immagini
[03:36]; Di te scordarmi
[04:46]; Orfeo ed Euridice:
Che puro ciel [05:39]; Che
farò senza Euridice [03:46]
Dame Janet Baker (mezzo) English
Chamber Orchestra/Raymond Leppard.
rec. April 1975, London
PHILIPS ELOQUENCE 476 2617 [52:36]
[CH]
In
general a thrillingly sung recital
of music which, apart the two famous
arias, is not particularly well-known.
... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Bo
LINDE (1933-1970)
Violin
Concerto Op. 18 (1958) [26:15] Cello
Concerto Op. 29 (1965) [30:03]
Karen Gomyo (violin) Maria Kliegel
(cello) Gävle Symphony Orchestra/Petter
Sundkvist rec. 5-7 March 2003; 26-28
April 2004, Gevaliasalen, Gävle,
Sweden first issued on Swedish Society
Discofil, 2005
NAXOS 8.557855 [56:18] [RB]
Two
romantic-dramatic concertos full
of explosive action and searing
sunny lyricism. I don’t buy the
suggestion that Linde is a neo-classicist.
Not to be missed ... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Mstislav
Rostropovich Edition Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Symphony-Concerto
for Cello and Orchestra in E minor
Op. 125: Andante [10:00]; Allegro
giusto [16:16]; Andante con moto
[9:50] Nicolai
MIASKOVSKY (1882-1950) Cello
Concerto in C minor Op. 66: Lento
ma non troppo [10:02]; Allegro vivace
[17:13] Mstislav Rostropovich, cello;
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Kyrill
Kondrashin; Recording: 27-12-1972
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Cello
Concerto in B minor Op. 104: Allegro
[14:48]; Adagio ma non troppo [11:45];
Allegro moderato [12:39] Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Cello
Concerto in A minor Op. 129: Nicht
zu schnell [10:43]; Langsam [3:33];
Sehr lebhaft [8:27] Mstislav Rostropovich,
cello; USSR State Radio and Television
Symphony Orchestra, Boris Khaikin
(Dvořák); USSR State Symphony
Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky
(Schumann); Recording: 23-6-1957
(Dvorak); 30-11-1960 (Schumann)
Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Cello
Concerto in A minor Op. 33: Allegro
non troppo [6:00]; Allegretto con
moto [3:50]; Molto allegro [7:59]
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Cello
Concerto No. 1 in C major: Moderato
[7:10]; Adagio [7:09]; Allegro molto
[6:12] Cello Concerto No. 2 in D
major: Allegro moderato [13:32];
Adagio [4:40]; Allegro [4:25] Mstislav
Rostropovich, cello; USSR State
Symphony Orchestra, Victor Dubrovsky
(Saint-Saens); Moscow Chamber Orchestra,
Rudolf Barshai (Haydn); Recording:
14-2-1964 (Saint-Saens), 15-9-1963
(Haydn) Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Variations on a Rococo Theme
Op. 33 [17:36]; Pezzo Capriccioso
in B minor Op. 62 [6:56] Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Minstrel
Song for Cello and Orchestra Op.
71 [4:31]; Melody [7:38] Aram
KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978)
Concerto Rhapsody for Cello
and Orchestra – cello and piano
reduction [22:03] Mstislav Rostropovich,
cello; Unnamed pianist; USSR State
Symphony Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky
(Tchaikovsky); National Symphony
Orchestra of the USSR, Nianonov
(Glazunov); [Moscow Philharmonic
Orchestra, Yevgeny Svetlanov (Khatchaturian)
– claimed in documentation but actually
a cello and piano reduction with
unnamed pianist]; Recording: 30-11-1960
(1), 13-5-1964 (2), 22-9-1949 (3,4),
17-10-1965 (5) Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Cello Concerto No. 1 Op. 107:
Allegretto [5:55]; Moderato [10:20];
Cadenza [4:57]; Allegro con moto
[4:29] Boris
TISHCHENKO (b.1939) Concerto
for cello and 17 wind instruments
and percussion [22:49] Victor
VLASOV Cello Concerto:
Movement 1 [11:00]; Movement 2 [3:05];
Movement 3 [9:46] Mstislav Rostropovich,
cello; USSR State Symphony Orchestra,
Gennady Rozhdestvensky (Shostakovich);
Symphony Orchestra, Yevgeny Svetlanov
(Tishchenko); USSR State Radio and
Television Symphony Orchestra, Gennady
Rozhdestvensky (Vlasov); Recording:
10-2-1961 (Shostakovich), 28-11-1968
(Tishchenko), 13-5-1964 (Vlasov)
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Cello
Sonata in C major Op. 119: Andante
grave [10:08]; Moderato [4:06];
Allegro ma non troppo [7:02] Aram
KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978)
Cello Sonata: Movement 1 [7:28];
Movement 2 [10:24] Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Russian
Song [4:04] Eduard
MIRZOYAN Cello Sonata
[17:54] Mstislav
ROSTROPOVICH Humoresque
Op. 5 [2:08] Mstislav Rostropovich,
cello; Alexander Dedukhin, piano
(1-3, 6-8); Aram Khatchaturian,
piano (4-5); Recording: 10-1-1967
(1-3,4); 11-11-1968 (6-8) Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Concertino
for Cello and Orchestra in G minor
Op. 132: Andante mosso [7:28]; Andante
[5:43]; Allegretto [4:10] Mieczslaw
VAINBERG (1919-1996) Cello
Concerto in D minor Op. 43; Movement
1 [12:45]; Movement 2 [16:54] Lev
KNIPPER (1898-1974) Concerto-Monologue
[15:56] Mstislav Rostropovich, cello;
USSR State Radio and Television
Symphony Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky
(Prokofiev); USSR State Symphony
Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky
(Vainberg, Knipper); Recording:
13-5-1964 (Prokofiev), 25-2-1964
(Vainberg, Knipper) Edouard
LALO (1823-1892) Cello
Concerto in D minor: Prélude (Lento-allegro
maestoso) [12:27]; Intermezzo [5:40];
Andante-allegro Vivace [6:25] Arthur
HONEGGER (1892-1955) Cello
Concerto: Andante-allegro [3:37];
Lento [6:31]; Allegro marcato [5:17]
Henri
SAUGUET (1901-1989) Melodie
Concertante [Cello Concerto in D
major] [22:15] Mstislav Rostropovich,
cello; USSR State Symphony Orchestra,
Victor Dubrovsky; Recording: 14-2-1964
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Cello Sonata in C major Op.
102 No. 1: Andante-allegro Vivace
[7:41]; Adagio-allegro vivace (track
2 and 3) [6:56] Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Cello
Sonata No 1 in E minor Op.38: Allegro
non troppo [11:44]; Allegretto quasi
minuetto [5:27]; Allegro [5:24]
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Fünf
Stücke im Volkston Op. 102: Mit
Humor [3:07]; Langsam [3:07]; Nicht
schnell, mit viel Ton zu spielen
[1:10]; Nicht zu rasch [3:44]; Stark
und markiert [2:19] Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845-1924) Apres
un rêve [3:18] Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Two
Movements from The Firebird [3:09]
Manuel
de FALLA (1876-1946) Ritual
Fire Dance [3:04] D.
MELE Brazilian Dance
– Tijuka [2:35] Mstislav Rostropovich,
cello; Alexander Dedukhin, piano;
Recording: 7-11-1961 (1-3), 11-12-1960
(4-6), 15-12-1960 (7-15) Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Suite
for cello solo No. 2 Op. 80: Declamatio
(largo) [3:26]; Fuga (andante) [3:57];
Scherzo (allegro molto) [1:42];
Andante lento [4:37]; Ciaconna [6:07]
Frank
BRIDGE (1879-1941) Cello
Sonata H 125: Allegro ben moderato
[8:59]; Adagio ma non troppo [4:52];
Molto allegro agitato [7:22] George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Aria [3:44] Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Suite for Cello solo No. 5 in
C minor BWV 1011: Prelude [6:59];
Allemande [3:11]; Courante [1:32];
Sarabande [3:55]; Gavotte, attacca:
Gigue [4:58]
Mstislav Rostropovich, cello; Alexander
Dedukhin, piano; Recording: 11-11-1968
(1-9), 15-12-1960 (10-14) under
exclusive licence from Gostelradiofund,
Russian Federation
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92771
[10 CDs: 63.41 + 62.14 + 61.06 +
58.59 + 72.41 + 63.28 + 63.15 +
62.23 + 63.24 + 66.00][JW]
Concerns
over provenance swept away by the
riches to be found in these ten
excellently filled discs ... see
Full
Review
March
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Kurt
ATTERBERG
(1887-1974) Sinfonia
per archi, Op.53 (1953 arr. 1960)
[29:17] Adagio Amoroso for
violin and orchestra (1967) [8:04]
Intermezzo (1921) [8:26] Prelude
and Fugue (1917 arr. 1933) [3:11]
Suite No. 7 (after Shakespeare’s Antony
and Cleopatra), Op.29 (1926) [13:30]
Camerata Nordica/Ulf Wallin (violin
and conductor) rec. Virserum Kyrka,
Sweden, March, Nov 2004. DDD
CPO 777 156-2 [62:38] [RB]
Utterly
unmissable. Beautiful coaxed and balanced
dynamics, subtle and diaphanous textures
contrast with resinous attack ...
see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Fidelio, Opera
in two acts (1804-05, rev. 1814) CD
1 Leonore Overture No.
2, Op. 72 (1805) [15.46] Fidelio,
Act 1 CD2 Fidelio,
Act 2 Leonore Overture No.
1 in C major, Op. 138 (1807) [11.27]
Leonore Overture No. 3 in C major,
Op. 72 (1805-06) [15.26] Fidelio
Overture, Op. 72 (1814) [06.54]
Kwangchul Youn, bass - Don Fernando
Falk Struckmann, bass-baritone - Don
Pizarro Plácido Domingo, tenor - Don
Florestan Waltraud Meier, mezzo -
Leonore René Pape, bass - Rocco Soile
Isokoski, soprano - Marzelline Werner
Güra, tenor - Jaquino Klaus Häger,
bass - second prisoner, Chor der Deutschen
Staatsoper, Berlin Staatskapelle Berlin/Daniel
Barenboim, rec. May/June 1999, Broadcasting
Hall, main radio station in former
East Germany, Berlin. DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 3984 25249-2 [77.54
+ 79.56] [MC]
A
dramatic and exciting performance.
One of the finest modern Fidelios
on record. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
Sonata No.24 in F sharp major, Op.78
(1809) [11’03] 33 Variations on a
waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op.120 (1823)
[58’37]
Nikolai Demidenko (piano) rec. St.
Paul’s School, London 17-18 Feb 2005
ASV GOLD GLD 4017 [69’40] [TH]
A
release of outstanding interest to
both pianophiles and lovers of this
wild, occasionally wacky, astonishing
masterpiece. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH On
Photography Gavin
BRYARS (b.
1943) And
so ended Kant’s travelling in this
world (1997) [7:50] Three poems of
Cecco Angiolieri (1997) [14:00] On
Photography (1983) [13:14] Arturs
MASKATS (b. 1957) Da ispravitsja
molitva moja (1936) [12:17] Valentin
SILVESTROV (b. 1937) Diptychon
(date of composition not given) [12:17]
Janis Maleckis (piano); Gavin Bryars
(harmonium); Edgars Saksons (percussion);
Monta Martinsone (soprano); Gundars
Dzilums (baritone), Ensemble Cosmos
Latvian Radio Choir/Sigvards Klava
(conductor), Kaspars Putnins (On
Photography) rec. 10-14 January
2005, St. Johns Church; Riga Reformer’s
Church, Riga Latvia.
GBR RECORDS BCGBCD07 [70:39] [DB]
Stunning
performances of new works. ... see
Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Sonata
in B flat minor op.35 [26:39]; Ballade
in G minor op.23 [09:23]; Andante
spianato et Grande polonaise brillante
op.22 [13:34]; Fantasia op.49 [13:29];
Waltz in A flat op.69/1 [04:34]; Waltz
in A flat op.34/1 [05:53]; Waltz in
E flat op. posth [03:11]; Scherzo
no.2 in B flat minor op.31 [10:55];
Mazurka in A minor op.68/2 [03:22];
Mazurka in B minor op.33/4 [06:25];
Mazurka in D flat op.30/3 [03:36];
Berceuse in D flat op.57 [04:34]
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (piano)
rec. Turin, 1962, RAI Radiotelevisione
Italiana
OPUS ARTE OA 0940 D 
[106:00][CH]
A
quite extraordinary experience, something
timeless ... see Full
Review
 RECORD
OF THE MONTH Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
The Complete Piano Works Vol. 2 12
Études [46:57], La Plus que
lente [4:47], 2 Arabesques [6:38],
Hommage à Haydn [2:05], D’un
Cahier d’esquisses [4:23]
Joyce Hatto (piano) rec. Concert
Artist Studios, Cambridge, 28 December
2001 (Études), 4 April 2002
(Arabesques), 10 July 2002 (Hommage
and Cahier), no date given for "La
Plus que lente".
CONCERT ARTIST CACD 9131-2 [65:22]
[CH]
This
looks like becoming a classic version.
Indispensable, and especially recommended
to those who have so far not warmed
to the "Études".
... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH George
ENESCU (1881–1955)
Piano Music, Vol. 2
CD1: Prelude and Fugue in C major
(1903) [15:10]; Nocturne in D flat
major (1907) [20:27]; Scherzo (1896)
[5:58]; Pièce sur le nom de
Fauré (1922) [3:05] CD2: Piano
Sonata No. 1 in F sharp minor Op.
24/1 (1924) [25:08]; Piano Sonata
No. 3 in D major Op. 24/3 (1934) [23:30]
Luiza Borac (piano) rec. 4-5, 7 July
2005, St. Dunstan’s Church, Mayfield,
England
 AVIE
AV2081 (SACD) [44:50 + 48:53]
[GF]
One
must wonder why this music isn’t heard
more often,. Two discs abounding in
ravishing pianism ... hard to imagine
this music better played. ... see
Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Joseph
JONGEN
(1873
– 1953) Piano Music: Volume
2 CD 1 Toccata Op.91 (1929)
[4:05] Sarabande triste Op.58 (1918)
[5:45] Sérénade Op.19 (1901) [5:27]
Deux études de concert Op.65 (1920)
[13:01] Mazurka Op.126bis (1943) [5:16]
Mazurka et Napolitania Op.76 (1924)
[12:32] Première Ballade Op.105 (1936)
[9:00] Deuxième Ballade Op.119 (1941)
[11:58] CD 2 Bourrée dans le
style ancien Op.123 (1942) [8:00]
Sarabande dans le style ancien (1902)
[2:57] Troisème étude Op.84 (1924)
[3:18] Trois pièces Op.102 (1936)
[7:57] Jeux de Nymphes Op.91 No.2
(1927) [3:27] En forme de valse Op.43
(1913) [5:42] Treize Préludes Op.69
(1923) [38:45] CD 3 Dix Pièces
Op.96 (1932) [30:34] Fantasie sur
deux Noëls populaires wallons Op.24
(1902)a [15:07] Pages intimes
Op.55 (1917)a [8:16] Jeux
d’enfants Op.120 (1941)a
[9:19] Trois pièces Op.129 (1950)a
[10:25] Intermezzo-piccolo Op.136bis
(1950)a [2:48]
Diane Andersen (piano); Diane Andersen,
André De Groote (piano duet)a
rec. Recital Studio, Tihange, Belgium,
no date, published 2005
PAVANE ADW 7477-9 [70:59 + 70:59
+ 77:15] [HC]
Pure
joy from first to last, and a must
for all the admirers of Jongen’s music.
All who respond to Debussy’s, Ravel’s
or Ireland’s piano music will find
plenty to enjoy here. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Don
Giovanni (1787)
Wojtek Drabowicz (baritone) - Don
Giovanni; Anatoly Kocherga (bass)
- Commendatore; Regina Schörg (soprano)
- Donna Anna; Marcel Reijans (tenor)
- Don Ottavio; Véronique Gens (soprano);
Keanchul Youn (bass) - Leporello;
Felipe Bou (bass) - Masetto; Marisa
Martins (soprano) - Zerlina; Chamber
Choir of the Palau de la Música Catalana;
Orchestra Academy of the Gran Teatro
del Liceu/Bertrand de Billy. Director:
Calixto Bieito. rec. Gran Teatro del
Liceu, 12, 17 December 2002.
OPUS ARTE
OA 0921 D
[2 DVDs: 156'00][CC]
A
wonderful set, and certainly my preferred
modern-day Giovanni on DVD. I was
left stunned in admiration ... see
Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Nicolò
PAGANINI (1782
– 1840) Guitar Music Grand
Sonata in A major [21:35]; Sonata
No. 4 in D major [3:51]; Ghiribizzi
[8:56]: Nos. 15; 16; 37; 38; 22; Sonata
No. 30 in A major [3:11]; Sonata No.
6 in F major [4:15]; Sonata No. 14
in F major [5:09]; Three Caprices
(originally for solo violin) [14:06]:
Nos. 11; 5; 24
Marco Tamayo (guitar) rec. St
John Chrysostom Church, Newmarket,
Ontario, Canada, 10-13 June 2004
NAXOS 8.557598 [61:04] [ZT]
There
is no finer recording in existence
of Paganini’s music for solo guitar.
... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sacred
Choral Music - Chor des Bayerischen
Rundfunks Francis
POULENC (1899-1963) 1.
Salve Regina [4:12] Missa in G 2.
Kyrie [3:19] 3. Gloria [3:41] 4. Sanctus
[2:25] 5. Benedictus [3:31] 6. Agnus
Dei [4:59] Soloists: Masako Goda,
soprano; Gabriele Weinfurter, alto;
Andreas Schulist, tenor. 7. Ave verum
Corpus [2:08] 8. Exultate Deo [2:37]
4 Bußpsalmen 9. Timor et tremor
[3:02] Vinea me electa [3:44] 11.
Tenebrae facta sunt [4:00] 12. Tristis
est anima mea [3:04] Soloist: Prisker
Eser-Streit, soprano Maurice
DURUFLÉ (1902 -1986)
Quatre Motets sur des thèmes
grégoriennes 13. Ubi caritas
[2:06] 14. Tota pulchra es [1:57]
15. Tu es Petrus [0:56] 16. Tantum
ergo [2:56] Ton
de LEEUW (1926-1996) 17.
Prière [9:02] Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992) O
sacrum convivium [5:10]
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks/Peter
Dijkstra Rec. 16-20 July 2004, Bavaria
Studio, Munich, Germany
OEHMS CLASSICS OC540 [64:06] [GPJ]
A
rare treat for lovers of choral music,
and for lovers of French music too
... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975)
Lady
Macbeth of Mtsensk - opera
in four acts (1934) Libretto: Dmitri
Shostakovich and Alexander Preys,
after the novella by Nikolay Leskov
Katerina Ismailova - Nadine Secunde
Sergey - Christopher Ventris Boris
Ismailov - Anatoli Kotcherga Zinoviy
Ismailov - Francisco Vas Shabby Peasant
- Graham Clark Aksinya - Mireille
Capelle Sonyetka - Nino Surguladze
Chief of Police - Juha Kotilainen
Teacher - John Hurst Priest - Maxim
Mikhailov Old Convict - Yevgeny Nesterenko
Chamber Chorus of the Palau de la
Música Catalana
Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the
Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona/Alexander
Anissimov Stage Director: Stein Winge
Video Director: Toni Bargalló
Recorded live at the Gran Teatre del
Liceu, May 2002
LPCM Stereo, Dolby Digital Surround,
Format - NTSC 16:9
EMI CLASSICS 5 99730 9 [2 DVDs:
187:15] [ABa]
An
exceptionally good performance of
a very important opera that so seldom
appears on the stage. ... see
Full Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Eric
WHITACRE (b.
1970) Cloudburst
and other choral works i
thank You God for most this amazing
day (1999) [6:05] I hide myself (1991)
[2:51] Sleep (2000) [5:33] i will
wade out (1999) [2:45] Go, lovely
Rose (1991) [4:07] When David heard
(1999) [12:57] hope, faith, life,
love (1999) [3:50] Cloudburst* (1993)
[8:25] With a lily in your hand (1991)
[2:27] This Marriage (2004) [2:59]
Water Night (1995) [5:03] A Boy and
a Girl [2002) [4:25] Her sacred spirit
soars (2002) [5:08] Lux aurumque (2000)
[4:08]
Polyphony/Stephen Layton. *with
Stephen Betteridge (piano); Robert
Millett (percussion); pupils of The
Lady Eleanor Holles School, Hampton,
Middlesex rec. The Temple Church,
London, 3-5 January 2005. DDD
HYPERION CDA67543 [70:50] [JQ]
Whitacre’s
a highly significant composer with
a very genuine gift for choral writing
with that priceless ability to communicate
strongly and effectively with his
audience. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Delectatio
Angeli:
Music of love, longing and lament
John
BEDYNGHAM (c.1460) O rosa
bella [3.38]; Bernart
de VENTADORN (1125-1195) Can
vei la lauzete mover [7.15]; Jehan
VAILLANT (fl.c.1360-90) Par
maintes foys [2.49]; Etienne
de MEAUX (fl.c.1300) Trop
est mes maris jalos [3.28]; Francesco
LANDINI (1325-1397) Giunta
vaga bilta [2.35]; Matheus
de PERUSIO (d.1418) le
greygnour bien [4.36]; Johannes
CICONIA (1335-1411) Per
quella strada [3.19]; Guillaume
DUFAY (c.1397-1474) Hélas
mon dueil [3.14]; L’alta belleza tua
[1.38]; Anon
English 13th Century
English Dance; Anon
Spanish c.1300 Four Planctus
(La Huelgas ms) [15.54]
Catherine Bott and friends (Pavlo
Beznosiuk and Mark Levy (medieval
fiddles)) rec. Angel Studios, Islington,
London, April 2001.
HYPERION CDA 67549 [62.26] [GH]
I
enjoyed practically everything that
this disc offered with the Dufay being
the star. I know of no just cause
or impediment why everyone else shouldn’t
do so as well. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Grigory
Sokolov plays
Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms CD
1 and 2 Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
The Art of the Fugue, BWV 1080
(circa 1749-50) Partita No.
2, BWV 826 (circa 1727) rec.
Gramzapis Studio, St. Petersburg,
Russia, 1982 (available individually
on OPUS 111, OP30346) CD 3 Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Rondo in C major, Op. 51, No.
1 (1797) Rondo in G major, Op. 51,
No. 2 (1800) Rondo alla ingharese
quasi un capriccio (Rage over a lost
penny), Op. 129 (1795) Sonata No.
4 in E flat major, Op. 7 (1797) Sonata
No. 28 in A major, Op. 101 (1816)
rec. Villa dei Cedri, Cola di Lazise,
Italy, March 1991 (available singly
on OPUS 111, OP30420) CD 4 Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) 24 Préludes,
Op. 28 (1831-39) rec. Salle Adyar,
Paris, France, June 1990 (available
singly on OPUS 111, OP30336) CD
5 Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Four Ballades, Op. 10 (1854)
Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5 (1853)
rec. Salle Gaveau, Paris, France,
10 December 1992 (Ballades), 20 December
1993 (Sonata) (available singly on
OPUS 111, OP30366)
Grigory Sokolov (piano)
NAÏVE OP30421 [5 CDs: 54:39
+ 55:33 + 71:13 + 60:06 + 66:58][MC]
Accolades
for these sterling performances. Should
anyone want evidence of a true genius
at work then this set provides it
... see Full
Review
HISTORICAL
RECORDING OF THE
MONTH
Lionel Tertis – The Complete Columbia
Recordings 1924-1933
BIDDULPH 80216-2 [4
CDs: 79.39 + 70.55 + 76.04 + 79.27]
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
CD
1 [63:59) Well-Tempered
Clavier, Book 1 BWV 846-869 (1722)  Rec. March
1949 in RCA Studio B, New York,
New York and Feb 1951, Lakeville,
Connecticut CD
2 [68:42] Well-Tempered
Clavier, Book 1 BWV 846-869 (1722) Rec.
February 1951 in Lakeville, Connecticut
CD
3 [54:30] Well-Tempered
Clavier, Book 2 BWV 870-893 (1738-1742) Rec.
June 1951 to
March 1954, Lakeville, Connecticut
CD
4 [64:08] Well-Tempered
Clavier, Book 2 BWV 870-893 (1738-1742) Rec.
June 1951 to
March 1954, Lakeville, Connecticut
CD
5 [61:43] Well-Tempered
Clavier, Book 2 BWV 870-893 (1738-1742) Rec.
June 1951 to
March 1954, Lakeville, Connecticut
CD
6 [64:40]Goldberg Variations,
BWV 988 1(1741-1742) [48:44]
Rec. New York,
5–12 June 1945; Concerto
in D major after Vivaldi, BWV 972
(1708-1717) [8:43]
Rec. 2 July
1946, Lotus Club, New York City;
Fantasia
and Fugue in C minor, BWV 906 (ca.1738)
[3:43]
Rec. Lakeville,
Connecticut, 1957; Prelude,
Fugue and Allegro for Lute in E flat
major, BWV 998 (ca.1740) [12:40] Rec. 20
February 1946, Lotus Club, New York
City CD
7 [64:35] Two-Part
Inventions BWV 772-786 (1723)
 Rec. Lakeville,
Connecticut (1954 - 1955);
Fantasie
in C minor, BWV 919 (after 1712) [1:25]
Rec. 2
May 1946, Lotus Club, New York City;
Three-Part Inventions,
BWV 787-801 (1723) Rec.
Lakeville, Connecticut (1958 - 1959);
Capriccio in
B flat major on the Departure of his
Most Beloved Brother, BWV 992 (ca.1704)
[11:12] Rec.
11-12 September 1957, Lakeville, Connecticut; Partita
for Keyboard no 2 in C minor, BWV
826 (1726-1731) [19:25] Rec.
February and March 1957, Lakeville, Connecticut
Wanda Landowska, harpsichord
(ADD)
RCA RED SEAL 82876-67891-2 LC 00316
[7 CDs:
63:59 + 68:42 + 54:30 + 64:08 + 61:43
+ 64:40 + 64:35] [DC]
At
somewhere just under three pounds
a disc this box comes in as something
of a bargain, so, make the most of
it! ... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH George
Frederick HANDEL
(1685-1759)
Water Music (c.1715-17 rev 1736) Water
Music: Suite No. 1 in F major,
HWV 348 [29’24"] (I. Overture.
II. Adagio e staccato 05:07;
III. Allegro. IV. Andante 06:53;
V. Allegro 03:42; VI. Air 02:29;
VII. Minuet 02:11; VIII. Bourree 02:11;
IX. Hornpipe 02:41; X. Allegro 04:09)
Water Music: Suite No. 2 in
D major, HWV 349 (1717) (I. Allegro 02:07;
II. Alla Hornpipe 02:59; III.
Minuet 01:52; IV. Lentement 02:05;
V. Bourree 01:25 Water Music:
Suite No. 3 in G major, HWV 350
(1717) (I. Sarabande 02:59; II.
Rigaudon I and II 02:38; III.
Minuet I and II 03:34; IV. Bourree
I and II 01:41) Music for
the Royal Fireworks (1749) HWV 351
[20:06]
(I. Overture 07:17; II. Bourree 03:05;
III. La paix 03:23; IV. La rejouissance 03:05;
V. Minuet I - Minuet II 03:17)
Aradia Ensemble/Kevin
Mallon rec. St Anne’s Church,
Toronto, Canada, 5-8 Jan 2005. DDD
NAXOS 8.557764 [71:00] [DD]
A
winner from start to finish - Handel’s
music is given a splendid rendition!
... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Engelbert
HUMPERDINCK
(1854-1921)
Hänsel
und Gretel - A fairy opera
in three acts (1890-93) libretto by
Adelheide Wette Hänsel: Frederica
von Stade (mezzo) Gretel: Ileana Cotrubaş
(soprano) Mother: Christa Ludwig (mezzo)
Father: Siegmund Nimsgern (baritone)
The Sandman: Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano)
The Dew Fairy: Ruth Welting (soprano)
The Witch: Elisabeth Söderström
(soprano)
Children’s chorus of the Cologne Opera
Gürzenich Orchestra/John Pritchard
rec. 1978, Erholungshaus, Leverkusen,
Germany. ADD. CD 2 contains a PDF
file with the libretto in German,
English, French and Italian.
SONY CLASSICAL S2K 96455 [61.22
+ 46.20] [ED]
When
it comes to the music however, this
is a set without a weak link and it
provides continual pleasure. ... see
Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Madama
Butterfly (1904) [135:29]
Victoria de los Angeles (Madama Butterfly,
soprano), Giuseppe Di Stefano (Pinkerton,
tenor), Tito Gobbi (Sharpless, baritone),
Anna Maria Canali (Suzuki, mezzo),
Maria Huder (Kate Pinkerton, mezzo),
Renato Ercolani (Goro and Prince Yamadori,
tenor), Bruno Sbalchiero (Imperial
Commissioner, bass), Arturo La Porta
(Zio Bonzo, bass)
Rome Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Gianandrea
Gavazzeni rec. 1954 (no other information)
La Bohème: Sì, mi
chiamano Mimì [05:01],
Donde lieta uscì [03:09]
Victoria de los Angeles (soprano)
Rome Opera Orchestra/Giuseppe Morelli,
rec. 1954
REGIS RRC 2070 [69:12 + 74:27]
[CH]
A
thrilling and moving experience with
no weak link … a classic set ... see
Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
The
War Symphonies: No. 4 in C minora
(1935/6) [64'12]; No. 5 in D minor,
Op. 47b (1937) [48'09];
No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54c
(1939) [27'53]; No. 7 in C, Op. 60,
'Leningrad'd (1941)
[78'50]; No. 8 in C minor, Op. 65e
(1943) [63'16]; No. 9 in E flat, Op.
70c (1945) [25'45].
Kirov Orchestra, Mariinsky Theatre,
St Petersburg, dRotterdam
Philharmonic Orchestra/Valery Gergiev.
DDD
PHILIPS 470 841-2 [5 CDs] [CC]
A
must for all students of Shostakovich.
... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
Pulcinella*
(1920) [36:22] The Fairy’s Kiss**
(1928) [42:01] Diana Montague, (mezzo)*
Robin Leggate, (tenor)* Mark Beesley,
(bass)*
Philharmonia Orchestra/Robert Craft
* London Symphony Orchestra/ Robert
Craft ** rec. Abbey Road Studio No.1,
London, 3-5 January 1995 (The Fairy’s
Kiss), 31 January and 1 February
1997 (Pulcinella). DDD
NAXOS 8.557503 [78:23] [DC]
This
CD attracts another unhesitating recommendation
and collectors should add it to the
Stravinsky/Craft section on their
shelves. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Sir
Michael TIPPETT (1905-1998)
Concerto for Double String Orchestra
(1938-39) [22.25] Little Music for
String Orchestra (1946) [10.59] Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Five Variants of ‘Dives and Lazarus’
(1939) [11.12] Partita for Double
String Orchestra (1946-48) [20.21]
English Sinfonia/John Farrer rec.
23, 27 November 1995, Walthamstow
Town Hall, London (Concerto); May
1992, Henry Wood Hall, London (Little
Music); 1-2 July 1996, St Giles Cripplegate,
London (Vaughan Williams)
SANCTUARY CLASSICS CD RSN 3057 [65.11]
[DC]
A
welcome collection of interesting
and attractive pieces for strings.
These yield little or nothing to
more expensive versions ... see
Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH The
John Browning Edition 4 Volumes
See
review for details MSR
CLASSICS MS 1120-3 [63.59]
A
heart-warming selection and shows
just what a powerful and impressive
musician he was. Gives a strong insight
into the younger Browning’s sensitive
musicianship. ... see Full
Review
APRIL
2006
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
ARNELL (b.
1917) Symphony
no.3 op.40 (1944-45) [62:07] The
New Age – Overture op.2 (1939)
[9:38] 
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Martin
Yates rec. Glasgow, 4-5 September
2005
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7161 [72:10]
[RB]
The
Arnell Third Symphony: a most impressive
work of epic symphonic weight, circumstance
and moment. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH The
American Cello Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981) Cello
Concerto Op. 22 (1946) [26:54]
Chen YI
(b. 1953) Cello Concerto Eleanor’s
Gift (1998/1999) [15:19] Behzad
RANJBARAN (b. 1955) Cello
Concerto (1998/2000) [29:49]
Paul Tobias (cello) Virginia
Symphony Orchestra/JoAnn Falletta
rec. Chrysler Hall, Norfolk, VA, USA,
26 Jan 2001 (Ranjbaran); 15-16 Feb
2003 (Chen Yi, Barber). DDD world
premiere recordings: Chen Yi and Behzad
Ranjbaran
ALBANY RECORDS TROY648 [72:08]
[RB]
Three
American cello concertos in contrasting
styles. The Chen Yi is in a tough
idiom contrasting with the frank romanticism
of the Barber and the grace and optimistic
favour of the Ranjbaran ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) String Quartets (complete)
(1798-1827) The Borodin Quartet Volume
1: String Quartet Opp. 59 No. 1 (1806)
[39.57] and No. 3 (1806) [32.58] CHANDOS
CHAN 10178 [72.59] Volume 2:
String Quartet Op. 59 No. 2 (1806)
[44.50] and Op. 74 (1809) [33.26]
CHANDOS CHAN 10191 [78.30]
Volume 3: String Quartets Op. 95 (1810)
[22.18], Op. 131 (1826) [38.01] and
Op. 133 (1826) [16.52] CHANDOS
CHAN 10268 [77.24] Volume 4:
String Quartets Op. 127 (1824) [37.22],
Op. 130 (1826) [42.11] CHANDOS
CHAN 10292 [79.39] Volume 5:
String Quartet No. 15 Op. 132 (1825)
[46.13], String Quartet No. 16 Op.
135 (1826) [26.24] CHANDOS
CHAN 10304 [72.48] Volume 6:
Quartets 1 - 6, Op. 18 (1798 - 1801)
[31.44] No. 2 [24.01] No. 3 [26.12]
No. 4 [24.41] No. 5 [32.14] No. 6
[28.03]
CHANDOS CHAN 10381(3) [55.58
+ 51.06 + 60.30]
Borodin Quartet (2005): Ruben
Aharonian (violin); Andre Abramenkov
(violin); Igor Naidin (viola); Valentin
Berlinsky (cello) rec. Small Hall,
and Great Hall, Conservatory, Moscow,
Russia, 2003 - 2006. Notes in English,
Deutsch, Français. [PSh]
For
my money the best set of Beethoven
quartets ever produced. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Mauro
GIULIANI
(1781-1829) Concerto
for Guitar and Orchestra, No. 1 in
A major op.30 (1808) [30:18] Concerto
for Guitar and Orchestra, No. 2 in
A major op. 36 (1812) [29:26]
Edoardo Catemario (guitar) Wiener
Akademie/Martin Haselböck. rec. November
2002, Hofburg Chapel, Vienna.
ARTS 47688-2 [60:02][GPu]
A
vivid recording of delightful music,
played on period instruments, ...
thoroughly charming and in its unassuming
way rather beautiful ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Asger
Hamerik
(1843-1923)
Choral-Symphony
No. 7 for orchestra, chorus and
mezzo Op. 40 (1906) [35:14] Requiem
for orchestra, chorus and contralto
Op. 34 (1886-7) [43:33] Randi Stene
(mezzo)
Danish National Choir DR/Saul
Zaks Danish National Symphony Orchestra
DR/Thomas Dausgaard rec. Danish
Radio Concert Hall, 6-7 Sept 2002
(Requiem); 12-15 May 2005 (Symphony
7).
DACAPO 8.226033 [78.51] [RB]
Two
sensational choral-orchestral works.
One of those CDs where you want
to play it to friends without telling
them beforehand what they will be
hearing. Reactions should be fascinating.
Deeply impressive. A resounding
and sonorous success. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn
(original
piano versions) Der Schildwache Nachtlied
[6:13] Revelge* [7:08] Rheinlegendchen
[3:26] Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?
[2:10] Verlorne Müh’! [7:11] Trost
im Unglück [2:21] Lob des hohen Verstands
[2:59] Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt
[4:14] Lied des Verfolgten im Turn
[4:26] Der Tambourg’sell [6:31] Wo
die schönen Trompeten blasen [8:13]
Das irdische Leben [2:51] Das himmlische
Leben* [8:25] Urlicht* [5:19] “Es
sungen drei Engel einen süssen Gesang”*
[4:22]
Thomas Hampson (baritone); Geoffrey
Parsons (piano) rec. Teldec Studio,
Berlin, November 1991, June 1993.DDD
*World première recording
WARNER CLASSICS 9031 74726-2 [73:06][JQ]
I’ve
heard some very fine recital discs
from Thomas Hampson in the past
but this is one of the finest of
all. An outstanding achievement!
... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Claudio
SANTORO
(1919-1989) Symphony
No 4 Sinfonia da Paz* (1953/4)
[25:29] Ponteio for
string orchestra (1953) [5:48]
Symphony No 9 (1982) [25:00]
Frevo (1953/1982) [2:40]
*São Paulo Symphony Choir
São Paulo Symphony Orchestra
(OSESP)/John Neschling rec.
Sala São Paulo, Brazil, February
2002. DDD
BIS CD1370 [60:12] [PCW]
A
very fine disc and a chance to discover
some music that surely should be
more widely known … see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
CD1 Fantasie for
Piano Four Hands, D940 (1828) [18:45]
Allegro for Piano Four Hands, D947,
“Lebensstürme” (1828) [15:17] CD2
Sonata for Piano Four Hands, D812,
“Grand Duo” (1824) [40:47] Characteristic
March No.1, D968b [6:02] Military
March No.1, D733 [4:39]
Evgeny Kissin (piano) James
Levine (piano) rec. live,
1 May 2005, Carnegie Hall, New York
City
BMG-RCA RED SEAL 82876 69283 2 [34:05
+ 51:33] [DC]
Superb!
The energy and spirit of these live
performances have that quality of
uniqueness which means they can
take pride of place alongside any
studio recording one can name ...
see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975)
Violin concerto 1 in A minor, Op.77
[39:29] a Leoš
JANÁČEK (1854–1928)
Violin concerto, Die Wanderung
einer Seele [11:41] b
Baiba Skride (violin)a
Munich Philharmonic/Mikko
Frank (conductor) b Berlin
Radio Symphony Orchestra/Marek Janowski
(conductor) rec. live, Philharmonie,
Munich, 16-18 April 2004 (Shostakovich),
Berlin, 25 August 2004 (Janáček).
DDD.
SONY CLASSICAL 82876731462 [52:41]
[ED]
White-hot
Shostakovich ... Skride is a serious
artist. More please, and soon! ...
see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
The Wasps (1909)Text: Aristophanes
English
singing translation and narration:
David Pountney
Henry Goodman (narrator)
Hallé
Choir/Richard Suart/James Burton
Hallé/Mark
Elder rec.
26-28 July 2005, Albert Halls, Bolton.
DDD world
premiere recording; studio recordingrecording
in association with BBC and BBC Radio
3 with support from the Vaughan Williams
Estate
HALLÉ CD CD HLD7510 [44:07
+ 61:30] [RB]
Some
may find this an unnerving experience
but it works superbly well provided
you are ready for the salty dialogue.
It’s a small price to pay for the
fascination and delight of hearing
so much familiar and unfamiliar Vaughan
Williams.
... see Full
Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH William
BOLCOM
(b. 1938) Complete
Violin Sonatas First Sonata (1956,
revised version) [21:54] Second Sonata
(1978) [17:59] Third Sonata (Sonata
Stramba) (1993) [21:46] Fourth
Sonata (1994) [15:13]
Solomia Soroka (violin); Arthur Greene
(piano) rec. Britton Recital Hall,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
January 2005. DDD
NAXOS 8.559150 [76:52][PCW]
An
imaginatively varied and powerful
series ... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Robert
SCHUMANN (1810–1856)
Lieder: Fünf frühe Lieder,
op. posth. (1828): Kurzes Erwachen;
Gesanges Erwachen; An Anna I; An
Anna II; Im Herbste; Zwölf gedichte
von Justinus Kerner, Op. 35 (1840):
Lust der Sturmnacht; Stirb, Lieb’
und Freud’!; Wanderlied; Erstes
Grün; Sehnsucht nach der Waldgegend;
Auf das Trinkglas eines verstorbenen
Freundes; Wanderung; Stille Liebe;
Frage; Stille Tränen; Wer machte
dich so krank?; Alte Laute; Fünf
Lieder, Op. 40 (1840): Märzveilchen;
Muttertraum; Der Soldat; Der Spielmann;
Verratene Liebe; from Fünf Lieder
und Gesänge, Op. 127 (1850-1851):
Sängers Trost; From Vier Gesänge
Op. 142 (1852): Trost im Gesang
Thomas Hampson (baritone), Geoffrey
Parsons (piano) rec. Siemensvilla,
Berlin, December 1989
WARNER CLASSICS 2292 44935-2 [66:18]
[GF]
Hampson
during his early bloom ... nimble,
sappy, beautiful, perfectly controlled
and moving effortlessly between
head-voice and chest-voice. ...
see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ernst
TOCH (1887-1964)
Symphony
no 1, Op. 72 (1951-1952) [39:52]
Symphony no 2, Op. 73 (1953) [32:20]
Symphony no 3, Op. 75 (1955) [27:49]
Symphony no 4, Op. 80 (1957) [26:45]
Symphony no 5, Op. 89 Jephtha
(1963) [23:51] Symphony no 6,
Op. 93 (1963) [22:25] Symphony no
7, Op. 95 (1964) [22:18]
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra/Alun
Francis rec. Jesus-Christus-Kirche,
Berlin, Germany (1995 - 2002) DDD
CPO 777 191-2 [3 CDs: 66:38
+ 60:11 + 68:58] [RB]
A
compact and inexpensive introduction
to the seven symphonies of the intricately
inventive Ernest Toch said by himself
to be a dachshund in the USA when
he had been a St Bernard in Germany.
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI (1813–1901)
The Verdi Recordings (Arturo
Toscanini) La Traviata,
I Lombardi: Act III Trio,
Rigoletto: Act IV, Nabucco
(excerpts), Un ballo in maschera,
Luisa Miller: Overture &
Act II arias, I vespri siciliani:
Overture, La forza del destino:
Overture, Aida, Imno delle
nazioni, Otello, Falstaff,
Te Deum: No.
4 Quattro pezzi sacri, Messa
da Requiem
see review for performer and recording
details, NBC Symphony Orchestra/
Arturo Toscanini. Recordings, when
not otherwise indicated, at NBC
Studio 8-H, New York City
BMG-RCA RED SEAL 82876-67893-2
[12 CDs: 75:48 + 76:32 + 76:03 +
71:37 + 36:59 + 68:25 + 45:45 +
62:24 + 61:59 + 55:00 + 77:42 +
77:36] [GF]
At
the ridiculously low price this
box should be an obligatory buy
for every opera lover! ... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Isang
YUN (1917–1995)
Chamber Symphony I (1987)
[26:53] Tapis (1987) [8:23]
Gong-Hu (1984)a
[25:47]
Rana Park (harp)a; Korean
Chamber Ensemble/Piotr Borkowski rec.
Seoul National University Concert
Hall, Seoul, August 2005
NAXOS 8.557938 [61:03][HC]
If
you have never heard Yun’s music and
are willing to give it a try, you
will not be disappointed either by
the pieces or the fine performances
heard here. ... see Full
Review
|
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RECORDING
OF THE MONTH