SEPTEMBER
Richard
ARNELL
(b. 1917) Piano
Concerto op. 44 (1946) [32:31] Symphony
No. 2 Rufus op. 33 (1955-57)
[33:28] 
David Owen Norris (piano) Royal Scottish
National
Orchestra/Martin Yates rec. Henry Wood
Hall, Glasgow, 19-20 September 2006.
DDD
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7184
[66:29] RECORDING OF MONTH
Richard
ARNELL (b. 1917) Symphony
No. 4 op. 52 (1948) [26:36] Symphony
No. 5 op. 77 (1955-57) [36:48]
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Martin
Yates rec. Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow,
19-20 May 2007. DDD
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7194
[63:49] [RB]
Two
eloquent and exciting major works with
tragic grandeur in their sights. Finely
documented, full-throatedly performed
and recorded ... [CDLX7184] Two fine
symphonies embracing the extremes of
emotion; one devastatingly likeable
and radiantly strong. ... [CDLX7194]...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Malcolm
ARNOLD (1921-2006)
String
Quartet No. 1, Op. 23 (1949) [18:37]
String Quartet No. 2, Op. 118 (1975)
[27:32] Phantasy for String Quartet,
Vita Abundans (1941) [10:50]
Maggini Quartet rec. 14-16 December
2006, Potton Hall, Westleton, Suffolk,
England. DDD
NAXOS 8.557762 [56:59] [MC]
Excellently
performed with the benefit of first
class recorded sound. Arnold a popular
and lightweight composer? Certainly
not with these scores! ... see Full
Review
RECORDIONG
OF THE MONTH Sir
Granville BANTOCK
(1868–1946) Omar
Khayyám - The Ruba’iyat
according to Edward Fitzgerald set to
Music for Three Solo Voices, Chorus,
and Orchestra in Three Parts (1906-1909)
Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo) (The Beloved)
Toby Spence (tenor) (The Poet) Roderick
Williams (baritone) (The Philosopher)
Olivia Robinson (soprano) (First Pot)
Siân Menna (mezzo) (Second Pot)
Edward Price (bass) (Sixth Pot)
BBC Symphony Chorus/Stephen Jackson
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Vernon Handley
rec. Watford Colosseum (Town Hall),
1-2 October 2005, 17-18 February 2007
Three CDs for the price of two This
is a hybrid SACD and was played and
reviewed in standard CD format.
Full notes in English, German and French.
Sung words in English only.
CHANDOS CHSA 5051(3) [3 CDs: 58:14
+ 73:08 + 40:09] [RB]
A magnificent
project ... one of the living musical
treasures of the early twentieth century.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Martin
BUTLER
(b. 1960) American
Rounds (1998) [13:20] Siward’s River
Song (2001)a [5:43] Suzanne’s
River Song (1999)b [4:46]
Nathaniel’s Mobile [9:07]c
Funérailles (2005)c [16:03]
Two Scarlatti Sonatas (arr. Butler,
2005) Sequenza Notturna (2003) [11:37]
Walden Snow (2004)d [3:17]
The Schubert Ensemble (William Howard
(piano)bcd; Simon Blendis
(violin)b; Douglas Paterson
(viola)d; Jane Salmon (cello)a;
Peter Buckoke (double-bass)) rec. Champs
Hill, Pulborough, West Sussex, June
2006. DDD
NMC D120 [72:03] [HC]
The
Schubert Ensemble obviously relish every
moment of the music and play with much
commitment throughout. One of the loveliest
discs I have heard recently ... see
Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Luigi
CHERUBINI
(1760-1842)
Coronation Mass (1825) [50:47] Marche
réligieuse (1825) [5:11]
Philharmonia Chorus Philharmonia Orchestra/Riccardo
Muti rec. 1985. DDD. Texts and Translations
included
EMI CLASSICS 49302 
[56:00] [GPu]
A
glorious performance of a choral masterpiece
… see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809)
Symphony No. 88 in G (?1787) [20:05]
Symphony No. 89 in F (1787) [21:06]
Symphony No. 90 in C (1788) [26:27]
Symphony No. 90 in C: finale (alternative
version) [6:50] Symphony No. 91 in E
flat (1788) [23:00] Symphony No. 92
in G ‘Oxford’ (1789) [24:47] Sinfonia
concertante in B flat for violin, cello,
oboe and bassoon (1792)* [21:24]
Toru Yasunaga (violin); Georg Faust
(cello); *Jonathan Kelly (oboe); *Stefan
Schweigert (bassoon) Berliner Philharmoniker/Sir
Simon Rattle rec. live, 8-10, 14-17
February 2007, Philharmonie, Berlin.
DDD
EMI CLASSICS 0946 3 94237 2 9 [75:47
+ 69:31][JQ]
A
set to lift the spirits. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gottfried
August HOMILIUS
(1714-1785) Ein
Lämmlein geht und trägt die
Schuld - Passion cantata (HoWV
1.2)
Monika Mauch (soprano); Bogna Bartosz
(contralto); Markus Brutscher (tenor);
Hans Christoph Begemann (bass) Basler
Madrigalisten Neue Düsseldorfer
Hofmusik/Fritz Näf rec. March 2006,
Reformierte Kirche, Arlesheim, Switzerland.
DDD
CARUS
83.262 [59:30 + 34:17] [JV]
A
Passion oratorio of impressive quality
- this recording goes straight to the
top of my list of records of the year...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hugo
KAUDER (1888-1972)
String
Quartet No. 1 (1921) [23:14] String
Quartet No. 2 (1924) [17:34] String
Quartet No. 3 (1926) [15:09] String
Quartet No. 4 (1927) [15: 25]
The Euclid Quartet (Jameson Cooper and
Jacob Murphy (violins); Luis Vargas
(viola); Amy Joseph (cello)). rec. 12-14
August, 12-13 November 2005, St. Bridget’s
Church, Solon, Iowa.
CENTAUR CRC 2840 [71:28] [KS]
A
composer with a great gift for melody
... these are works of great richness
and subtlety finely executed by outstanding
performers ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Paul
MORAVEC (b. 1957)
Tempest Fantasy* (2002): I. Ariel [4:16];
II. Prospero [5:35]; III. Caliban [7:05];
IV. Sweet Airs [4:57]; V. Fantasia [7:31]
Mood Swings (1999) [15:52] B.A.S.S.
Variations (1999) [11:32] Scherzo (2002)
[3:52]
Trio Solisti (Maria Bachmann (violin);
Alexis Pia Gerlach (cello); Jon Klibonoff
(piano)); David Krakauer (clarinet)*
rec. January 2002, October 2003. Recital
Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase
College, State University of New York,
USA
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559323
[60:40] [DM]
Captivating
music with consistent energy and focus
… A lovely, natural recording and playing
of real stature make this a very special
disc ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Symphony No. 41 in C major, K551, Jupiter
(1788) [40:48]
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin/Kent
Nagano rec. Philharmonic Hall, Berlin,
DDD. Writers: Reiner Schild and Rolf
Rische Video Directors: Oliver Becker
(documentary), Ellen Fellmann (concert)
Sound formats: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS
5.1. Picture format: NTSC 16:9. Disc
format: DVD 9. Region code: 0 (all regions).
Subtitles: French, Italian, Japanese,
Spanish.
ARTHAUS MUSIK 101 427 
[92:50][MG]
Cleanly
and clearly co-ordinated playing which
combines vertical transparency with
horizontal cogency … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858–1924)
Turandot
(1926)
Alessandra Marc (soprano) – Turandot;
Ignacio Encinas (tenor) – Calaf; Ainhoa
Arteta (soprano) – Liù; Erwin
Schrott (bass) – Timur; Lluis Sintes
(tenor) – Ping; Eduardo Santamaria (baritone)
– Pang; José Ruiz (baritone)
– Pong; Pedro Calderón (tenor)
– Altoum; José Manuel Díaz
(baritone) – Mandarin Coro de Ópera
de Bilbao; Escolanía Ntra. Sra.
de Begoña (Asociación
ars viva) Orquesta Sinfónica
de Euskadi/José Collado rec.
live, Palacio Euskaduna, Bilbao, 21,
24 September 2002. DDD
RTVE 65171 [79:13 + 41:02] [GF]
A
generally good cast, magnificent chorus
and orchestra, excellently recorded,
and – first and foremost – the best
Turandot since Birgit Nilsson. In some
respects Alessandra Marc even surpasses
the Swedish diva. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Maurice
RAVEL
(1875-1937)
Rhapsodie Espagnole (1907) [15:41]
Isaac
Manuel Francesco ALBENIZ (1860-1909)
Iberia (Evocacion; El corpus
en Sevilla; Triana; El Puerto; El Albaicin)
(orch. Enrique Fernandez Arbos) (1907)
[30:51] Manuel
de FALLA (1876-1946) El
sombrero de tres picos (1919) [32:32]
Dresdner Philharmonie/Jörg-Peter Weigle
rec. April 1989, Lukaskirche, Dresden.
ADD
BERLIN CLASSICS REFERENCE 0013902 [69:03]
[RB]
Superb
Iberian music-making and a tonic for
jaded palates ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Kullervo, symphonic poem
for soloists, chorus and orchestra Op.7
(1892) [78:29] (I. Introduction: Allegro
moderato [14:00] II. Kullervo’s Youth:
Grave [15:56] III. Kullervo and his
sister: Allegro vivace [24:19] IV. Kullervo
goes to war: Alla Marcia [9:38]V. Kullervo’s
death: Andante [14:32])
Randi Stene (mezzo); Peter Mattei (baritone)
National Male Chorus of Estonia Royal
Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra/Paavo
Järvi rec. Stockholm, 14-19 March 1997
VIRGIN CLASSICS 3913632 [78:29]
[SH]
Everyone
involved in this recording brings the
sensitivity needed to articulate what
is ‘Baltic’ music as distinct from Scandinavian.
It is done to perfection ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741) The
Rise of the North Italian Violin Concerto:
1690-1740, Volume 2. Concerto for
violin, strings and continuo in B flat,
RV 370 (?1716) [12:22] Arias, for soprano,
strings and continuo, from La costanza
trionfante degl’amori e de gl’odii,
RV 706 (1716) [10:34] Concerto for violin,
two violoncellos, strings and continuo
in C, RV 561 (1728?) [9:33] Concerto/Sinfonia
for strings and continue in E, RV 134
[6:19] Concerto senza cantin,
for violin, strings and continuo in
D, RV 243 [10:33] Arias for soprano,
strings and continuo, from La fida
ninfa, RV 714 (1732) [12:08] Concerto
for violin, strings and continuo in
E flat, RV 254 [14:48]
Adrian Chandler (violin, director),
Mhairi Lawson (soprano), Sarah McMahon,
Gareth Deats (cello), La Serenissima.
rec. 4-7 March 2007, Studio 1, The Warehouse,
London. All texts and translations included.
AVIE AV 2128 [76:38] [GPu]
An
outstanding collection, vividly characterised
and full of energy, of fine - but not
over-familiar - music … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gitta-Maria
Sjöberg -Verdi
and Puccini Arias see
review for details
Gitta-Maria Sjöberg (soprano) Odense
Symphony Orchestra/Matthias Aeschbacher
rec. Carl Nielsen Hall, Odense, Denmark,
24-26 November 2003, 14-19 June 2004
Italian texts included.
DANACORD DACOCD 665 [77:05] [GF]
There
have been more overtly thrilling recitals
with more or less the same repertoire;
few have so consistently delved below
the surface and found the soul of the
characters, presenting them as weak,
vulnerable human creatures. ... see
Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Song of Songs
William
WALTON (1902-1983)
Set me as a seal upon thine heart
(1938) [3:32] Guillaume
BOUZIGNAC (1592-1641) Surge,
amica mea [2:00] Howard
SKEMPTON (b. 1947) Rise up,
my love (2002) [10:38] Gabriel
JACKSON (b. 1962) I am the
Rose of Sharon (2001) [6:13]Francis
GRIER (b. 1955) Dilectus
meus mihi (1987) [7:20] John
DUNSTAPLE (c 1390-1453) Quam
Pulchra es (ca 1430) [1:49] Giovanni
Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (1525-1594)
Descendi in hortum meum (1584) [2:42]
Tomás
Luis de VICTORIA (1548-1611)
Vadem et circuibo civitatem (1572)[9:58]
Jean Yves DANIEL-LESUR
(1908-2002) La cantique des
cantiques (1952) [21:35]
Laudibus/Michael Brewer rec. 14-15 January
2006, St. Giles the Martyr, Kentish
Town, London. DDD Texts and English
translations included
DELPHIAN DCD34042 [65:50] [JQ]
I’ve
found this a most enjoyable and highly
stimulating CD and I hope many other
collectors will derive similar pleasure
from it. ... see Full
Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Das wohltemperirte Clavier (The
Well-tempered Clavier), Book II, BWV870-893
(1739 or earlier – 1744) CD1
No.1 in C major [2:16+1:44]
No.2 in c minor [2:47+2:36] No.3 in
C# major [1:36+1:33] No.4 in c# minor
[3:47+2:18] No.5 in D major [5:13+3:00]
No.6 in d minor [1:37+1:47] No.7 in
E flat major [2:44+1:38] No.8 in d#
minor [4:35+4:20] No.9 in E major [4:44+3:35]
No.10 in e minor [3:26+2:42] No.11 in
F major [3:25+1:33] No.12 in f minor
[2:47+1:56]CD2 No.13
in F# major [3:47+2:20] No.14 in f#
minor [2:52+4:59] No.15 in G major [2:47+1:12]
No.16 in g minor [2:06+2:53] No.17 in
A flat major [4:10+2:19] No.18 in g#
minor [5:03+4:27] No.19 in A major [1:48+1:39]
No.20 in a minor [3:43+1:49] No.21 in
B flat major [4:47+1:59] No.22 in b
flat minor [2:58+5:36] No.23 in B major
[2:10+4:10] No.24 in b minor [1:54+2:05]
Bob van Asperen (Christian Zell harpsichord,
1728) rec. September 1988 and March
1989, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe,
Hamburg. DDD.
VIRGIN VERITAS 3 85795 2 [68:16
+ 73:44] [bw]
At
their new super-bargain price van Asperen’s
two 2-CD sets of the ‘48’ deserve the
strongest recommendation except for
those preferring the piano, who should
go for the impending reissue of the
Hewitt CDs … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Ein
deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 (1868)
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) Hans
Hotter (baritone) Singverein des Gesellschaft
des Musikfreundes, Wien Wiener Philharmoniker/Herbert
von Karajan. rec.
Musikvereinsaal, Vienna, Austria, 20-22,
27-29 October 1947. ADD from
Columbia LX 105/1064.
NAXOS 8.111038 [76:13][CC]
This
performance is forever recommended.
That Naxos has provided a transfer at
such price and quality zooms
the recommendation in on this issue.
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH George
Frideric HANDEL
(1685-1759)
Opera Arias
CD1: Arias and Overtures, 1704-26 CD2:
Arias and Duets from the era of ‘The
Rival Queens’ 1726-28 CD3: Arias and
Overtures 1729-41 see end of review
for details
Emma Kirkby (soprano) Catherine Bott
(soprano, CD2) The Brandenburg Consort/Roy
Goodman rec. St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead
Garden Suburb, London, 25-27 September1995
(CD1); 2-4 January 1997 (CD2); 14-16
June 1999 (CD3). DDD. Detailed notes
in English, French and German. Texts
in Italian with English translation
HYPERION CDS44271/3 [3CDs: 75:39
+ 76:06 + 70:40] [BW]
Delightful
music, delightfully sung, well accompanied
and recorded. At bargain price, irresistible
… see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
CD1 Rienzi:
Overture (1842) [12:00] Lohengrin:
Prelude to Act I (1850) [8:58] Lohengrin:
Prelude to Act III (1850) [2:58] Parsifal:
Prelude to Act I (1882) [13:27] Tristan
und Isolde: Prelude to Act I (1865)
[10:42] Eine Faust-Overtüre (1840)
[11:52] Die Feen: Overture (1833)
[10:56] Kinderkatechismus (1873)
[2:24] CD2 Die Meistersinger
von Nürnberg: Prelude to Act I (1868)
[9:11] Tannhäuser: Overture and
Venusberg Music [21:56] Der
fliegende Höllander: Overture (1841)
[10:32] Symphony in C Major (1832) [41:55]
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra/Zubin
Mehta (Rienzi); Wiener Philharmoniker/Zubin
Mehta (Lohengrin, Parsifal, Meistersinger);
Wiener Philharmoniker/Sir Georg Solti
(Tristan); San Francisco Symphony Orchestra/Edo
de Waart (Faust, Symphony); Concertgebouw
Orchestra/Edo de Waart (Tannhäuser,
Feen, Holländer); Wiener Sängerknaben
with members of the Wiener Philharmoniker
(Kinderkatechismus). rec. 1961-82 ADD/DDD
DECCA ELOQUENCE 442 8283 [78:56
+ 78:39] [TP]
If
you are serious about your Wagner, this
double CD set is an essential purchase
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Jean
SIBELIUS
(1865-1957)
Violin Concerto in D minor (1903) [28:07]Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Violin Concerto in D (1878) [31:37]Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Violin
Concerto in A minor (1904) [20:10]
Jascha Heifetz (violin) London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham (Sibelius);
Sir John Barbirolli (Tchaikovsky, Glazunov)
rec. November 1935 (Sibelius); March
1937 (Tchaikovsky); March 1934, Abbey
Road, London (Glazunov); digitally re-mastered,
2006
EMI CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE
CENTURY 3 61590 2 [80:13] [IL]
Three
classic readings by virtuoso Heifetz
at the height of his powers. A bargain
not to be missed ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Sir
Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924)
Sonata in F major for Clarinet and Piano,
op. 129 (1911) [18:44] (1) Fantasy no.1
for Clarinet and String Quartet (1921)
[11:39] (2) Fantasy no.2 for Clarinet
and String Quartet (1922) [14:37] (2)
Three Intermezzi for Clarinet and Piano,
op. 13 (1879) [08:06] (3) Piano Trio
no.3 in A minor, op. 158 – Per aspera
ad astra (1918) [20:59] (4)
Robert Plane (clarinet) (1, 2, 4), Gould
Piano Trio (Lucy Gould (violin) (2,
4), Alice Neary (cello) (2, 4), Benjamin
Frith (1, 3, 4)); Mia Cooper (violin)
(2), David Adams (viola) (2) rec. 17-19
December 2006, Potton Hall, Westleton,
Suffolk, UK
NAXOS 8.570416 [74:05][CH]
A
Stanford CD première and a convenient
grouping of the three chamber works
with solo clarinet, in excellent performances.
... see Full
Review
OCTOBER
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Bela
BARTÓK
(1881-1945)
Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta
(1936) (I: Andante tranquillo [6:51];
II: Allegro [7:38]; III: Adagio [6:12];
IV: Allegro molto [6:40]) Concerto for
Orchestra (1944) (I: Introduzione-Andante
non troppo-Allegro vivace [10:54]; II:
Giuco delle coppie- Allegro vivace [7:15];
III: Elegia –Andante non troppo [8:34];
IV: Intermezzo interrotto-Allegro [4:38];
V: Finale – Pesante-Presto [9:53]) 
Boston Symphony Orchestra (Music), NBC
Symphony Orchestra (Concerto)/Guido
Cantelli rec. 27 March 1954 (Music);
29 January 1949 (Concerto). ADD Pristine
Audio XR remastering by Andrew Rose
June-July 2007
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC081 [68:36] [SH]
You
must have this CD. It’s the very reference
model of the works in sound so close
to real that it’s truly amazing. Simply
essential ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Samuel
COLERIDGE-TAYLOR
(1875-1912) Légende
(Concertstück) Op. 14
(1897) [7:12] Romance in G Op.
39 (1899) [9:35] Violin Concerto in
G minor Op. 80 (1912) [32:53] Julius
HARRISON (1885-1963) Bredon
Hill - a rhapsody for violin and
orchestra (1941) [11:54]
Lorraine McAslan (violin) London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite rec.
Watford Town Hall, 10-12 January 1994,
(Légende, Concerto, Bredon);
20 January 1994 (Romance). DDD
LYRITA SRCD.317 [61.37] [RB]
A
real feel-good concerto and a work by
Harrison that deserves to live on in
its nostalgia and pastoral contentment.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gerald
FINZI
(1901-1956)
A Severn Rhapsody Op. 3 (1923) [6:14]
Nocturne (New Year Music) Op. 7 (1925)
[10:23] Three Soliloquies for small
orchestra from the Suite - Love’s Labours
Lost Op. 28 (1946) [4:33] Romance for
string orchestra Op. 11 (1928) [8:08]
Prelude for string orchestra Op. 25
(1950s) [5:16] The Fall of the Leaf,
Elegy for orchestra Op. 20 (1950s) [9:14]
Introit for small orchestra and solo
violin Op. 6 (1925) [9:48] Eclogue for
piano and string orchestra Op. 10 (1929,
1956) [10:33] Grand Fantasia and Toccata
for piano and orchestra Op. 38 (1928,
1953) [15:14]
Rodney Friend (violin), Peter Katin
(piano) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir
Adrian Boult New Philharmonia Orchestra/Vernon
Handley (Eclogue, Fantasia) rec. 1970s.
ADD
LYRITA SRCD.239 [79:26] [JW]
Superb
sound caps a mandatory purchase for
lovers of the English muse, and of course
for Finzi lovers in particular ... see
Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Alcina
HWV 34: Ah! Mio cor! Schernito sei
[10:39] Hercules HWV 60: Where
shall I fly? [06:23] Agrippina HWV
6: Pensieri, voi mi tormentate [07:19]
Giulio Cesare in Egitto HWV 17: Cara
speme [05:53] Joshua HWV 64: Oh!
Had I Jubal’s lyre [02:29] Ariodante
HWV 33: Scherza infida in grembo
al drudo [11:30] Theodora HWV 68:
With darkness deep as is my woe [05:51]
Amadigi di Gaula HWV 11: Desterò
dall’empia Dite [05:41] Orlando
HWV 31: Ah! Stigie larve! – Già
latra Cerbero – Vaghe pupille [07:37]
Ariodante HWV 33: Dopo notte, atra
e funesta [06:40] Rinaldo HWV 7:
Lascia ch’io pianga [04:58]
Magdalena Kožená (mezzo) Venice Baroque
Orchestra/Andrea Marcon rec. March 2006,
Gustav Mahler Saal, Kulturzentrum Grand
Hotel, Toblach
ARCHIV PRODUCTION CD 477 6547 [76:34]
[CH]
Clear
away preconceptions and be prepared
for one of the most extraordinary vocal
displays to have been issued in recent
years. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
LISZT (1811-1886)
St.
Elizabeth (The Legend of Saint
Elizabeth) - oratorio for soloists,
chorus and orchestra, S2 (1857-62) Kolos
Kováts - Hermann, Landgrave of
Thüringen (bass) Erzsébet
Komlóssy - Countess Sophie, his
wife (mezzo) Sándor Sólyom-Nagy
- Landgrave Ludwig, their son (baritone)
Éva Andor - Elizabeth, his fiancée,
later his wife (soprano) József
Gregor - Frederick II of Hohenstaufen
(bass) Lajos Miller - Hungarian magnate
(baritone) György Bordás
- the Seneschall (baritone) Dušan Turinič
- the child Ludwig (contralto) Eugenia
Kraičirová - the child Elizabeth
(soprano)
Bratislava Radio Children’s Chorus Slovak
Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra/János
Ferencsik rec. 14-17 July 1973, Reduta
Concert Hall, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
AAD Sung in German with full English
texts and essay
HUNGAROTON CLASSIC HCD 11650-51 [69:48
+ 68:41] [MC]
A
remarkable performance and recording
fully deserving its return to the catalogue
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Francis
POTT (b.
1957) The
Cloud of Unknowing (2006) [88:46]
James Gilchrist (tenor) Jeremy Filsell
(organ) Vasari Singers/Jeremy Backhouse
rec. Tonbridge School, UK, 16-18 February
2007. DDD Texts included
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD105 [45:28
+ 43:18] [JQ]
I
listened, enthralled, to this major
addition to the choral repertoire ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858–1924)
Tosca (1900)
Fiorenza Cedolins (soprano) – Floria
Tosca; Marcelo Alvarez (tenor) – Mario
Cavaradossi; Ruggero Raimondi (bass-baritone)
– Il barone Scarpia; Marco Spotti (bass)
– Cesare Angelotti; Fabio Previati (baritone)
– Il sagrestano; Enrico Facini (tenor)
– Spoletta; Giuliano Pelizon (Baritone)
– Sciarrone; Angelo Nardinocchi (baritone)
– Un carceriere; Ottavia Dorrucci (treble)
– Un pastorello; Orchestra e Coro dell’Arena
di Verona, Coro di voci bianche ”A.Li.Ve.”/Daniel
Oren; rec. live, Arena di Verona, July
2006 Directed for Stage, Set, Costumes
and Lighting Design by Hugo de Ana;
Directed for TV and Video by Loreena
Kaufmann Sound formats: DD 5.1; DST
5.1; LPCM Stereo; Picture Format 16:9
TDK DVWW-OPTOV 
[119:00] [GF]
I
don’t know what’s coming up during the
remaining months but I feel quite certain
that this will be my opera DVD of 2007
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Luisa Miller - tragic
melodrama in three acts (1849) Count
Walter, local landowner – Raffaele Arié
(bass); Rodolfo, Count Walter’s son
– Luciano Pavarotti (tenor); Frederica,
Duchess of Ostheim and Walter’s niece
– Cristina Angelakova (mezzo); Wurm,
Count Walter’s steward – Ferruccio Mazzoli
(bass); Miller, a retired soldier –
Matteo Manuguerra (baritone); Luisa,
Miller’s daughter – Gilda Cruz Roma
(soprano)
Chorus and Orchestra Sinfonica RAI di
Torino/Peter Maag rec. live, RAI auditorium,
Turin. 6 December 1974. ADD
ARTS MUSIC - ARTS ARCHIVES 43088-2 [57.07
+ 79.40] [RJF]
This
excellent live performance features
Pavarotti at the height of his vocal
powers, surrounded by a good cast and
with a sympathetic Verdian on the rostrum.
The live occasion frisson draws the
best from all concerned. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813-1901)
Stiffelio - opera in three
acts (1849)
Stiffelio, A Protestant minister of
the Gospel – Placido Domingo (tenor);
Lina, Stiffelio’s wife caught in adultery
– Sharon Sweet (soprano); Stankar, an
elderly officer and Lina’s father –
Vladimir Chernov (baritone); Jorg, an
elderly minister – Paul Plishka (bass);
Raffaele, a nobleman – Peter Riberi
(tenor); Dototea, Lina’s cousin – Margaret
Lallimore (mezzo) Metropolitan Opera
Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra/James
Levine. Stage director: Giancarlo Del
Monaco; Set and costume design by Michael
Scott; Video director: Brian Large rec.
live, Metropolitan Opera, New York,
November 1993 Picture format: NTSC/Colour/4:3
Sound formats: PCM Stereo. DTS 5.1.
DOLBY digital 5.1 Menu language: English.
Subtitles: Italian (original language),
English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese.
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 0734288
[116:00] [RJF]
Long
thought lost, this superb dramatic opera
is given in naturalistic sets. With
an outstanding performance by Domingo
celebrating his 25th anniversary
at the Met, it is a must buy for Verdi
enthusiasts ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Symphonic Syntheses
by Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977):
Das Rheingold
(1853-4): ‘Entrance of the Gods into
Valhalla’ (ed. by Stokowski) [8:11]
Tristan und Isolde
(1857-9): ‘Prelude to Act I’; ‘Liebesnacht’;
‘Liebestod’ [36:33] Parsifal
(1878-82): Symphonic Synthesis from Act III
[15:51] Die
Walküre (1854-6) ‘Magic Fire Music’* and ‘Ride of
the Valkyries’+ (arr.* ed.+ Stokowski)
[13:53]
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra /José
Serebrier rec.
Concert Hall, Lighthouse, Poole, UK.
10-11 June 2006
NAXOS 8.570293
[74:28][IL]
Ravishing
performances of Stokowski’s sumptuous
take on Wagner. This will undoubtedly
figure in my outstanding releases for
2007. Don’t miss it ... see Full
Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
Belá
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Concerto
for Orchestra (1945) [38:49] The
Miraculous Mandarin (1919) [31:36]*
Laurenscantorij Rotterdam Choir*, Royal
Concertgebouw Orchestra/Riccardo Chailly
rec. May 1995 and May 1997*, Great Hall,
Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. DDD
DECCA 458 841-2 
[70:54][TP]
An
individual and essential Bartók album
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934)
Edward Elgar - The Collector's
Edition The Masterpieces
– The Greatest Artists The symphonies,
concertos, orchestral, choral, chamber
and piano music plus CD30: Elgar conducts
Elgar see review for full contents list
rec. London,. Liverpool, Manchester,
1963-1990. (CD30: 1929-1933) ADD/DDD
EMI CLASSICS 5036032 [30 CDs: 1904:17]
[RB]
Elgar
in iconic recordings drawn from the
EMI vault. A shining bargain for the
Elgar explorer ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937)
CD1 Boléro (1928) [14.56]
Shéhérazade: Ouverture de féerie
(1903) [13.47] Rapsodie espagnole
(1907) [16.06] Menuet antique (1909)
[6.19] La Valse (1920) [12.35]
CD2 Ma Mère l’Oye (1908)
[36.44] Le Tombeau de Couperin (1917)
[17.56] Pavane pour une infante défunte
(1899) [6.32] Alborada del gracioso
(1905) [7.53] Une Barque sur
l’océan (1905) [7.18] CD3
Daphnis et Chloé (1912) [56.25]
Valses nobles et sentimentales (1911)
[16.35]
Marcel Gallègue (trombone) (Boléro)
André Sennedat (bassoon) (Alborada)
Michel Garcin-Marrou (horn) (Pavane)
Choeurs du Théâtre National de l’Opéra
Orchestre de Paris/Jean Martinon rec.
Salle Wagram, Paris, July–October 1974,
DDD
EMI CLASSICS TRIPLE 5008922 [3 CDs:
63:23 + 76.23 + 73.00] [RB]
Fortunate
the collector who chances on this set;
delight and revelation await. At bargain
price this is a gift that will cast
its smiling spell for years to come
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Federico
Moreno TORROBA (1891–1982)
Sonatina
(1965): (1. Allegretto [3:50];
2. Andante [3:40]; 3. Allegro
[4:01]) 4. Burgalesa (1928) [2:35] Suite
Castellana (1926): (5. Fandanguillo
[2:18]; 6. Arada [2:59]; 7. Danza
[2:26]; 8. Madroños (1954)
[2:49]) Castillos de España:
(9. Alcázar de Segovia
[2:53]; 10. Alba de Tomes [1:16];
11. Montemayor [1:28]; 12. Zafra
[2:03]; 13. Manzanares del Real
[1:08]; 14. Sigüenza [1:47];
15. Simancas [1:32]; 16. Turégano
[2:20]; 17. Torija [2:45]; 18.
Calatrava [2:51]; 19. Redaba
[1:43]; 20. Alcañiz [1:30];
21. Javier [2:46]; 22. Olite
[2:11]; 23. Nocturno (1926) [3:33])
Aires de la Mancha: (24. Jeringonza
[1:32]; 25. Ya llega el Invierno
[1:44]; 26. Copilla [0:48]; 27.
La Pastora [1:57]; 28. Seguidilla
[1:54])
David Russell (guitar) rec. Mechanics
Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts, 11-13
February 1996.
TELARC CD-80451 [65:57] [GF]
For
anyone who wants a cross-section of
Federico Moreno Torroba’s music for
guitar in modern sound, this is a clear
first recommendation. ... see Full
Review
NOVEMBER
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770 – 1827)
The Nine Symphonies CD 1 Symphony
No. 1 in C Major, Op.21 (1800) [26.56]
Symphony No. 3 in E Flat, Op. 55, Eroica
(1803) [49.34] CD 2 Symphony No.
5 in C Minor, Op.67 (1807) [31.10] Symphony
No. 7 in A, Op.92 (1812) [38.55] CD
3 Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op.36 (1801)
[31.02] Symphony No. 4 in B Flat, Op.
60 (1806) [33.05] CD 4 Symphony No.
6 in F, Op.68, Pastoral (1808)
[36.57] Symphony No. 8 in F, Op.93 (1812)
[25.39] CD 5 Symphony No. 9 in D Minor,
Op.125, Choral (1824) [65.45]
Angela Denoke (soprano); Marianna Tarasova
(mezzo); Endrik Wottrich (tenor); Matthias
Goerne (baritone) Moscow State Chamber
Choir Russian National Orchestra/Mikhail
Pletnev rec. Moscow, State Conservatory,
June-July 2007
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 6409 [5
CDs: 76.37 + 70.16 + 64.15 + 62.47 +
62.27][DC]
Incredibly,
it does almost everything it says on
the tin. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dietrich
BUXTEHUDE (1637–1707)
Eine Lübecker Abendmusik
Benedicam Dominum (BuxWV 113)
[11:42] Gott hilf mir (BuxWV
34) [13:34] Wie wird erneuet, wie
wird erfreuet (BuxWV 110) [11:18]
Wo soll ich fliehen hin? (BuxWV
112) [15:03] Mein Gemüt erfreuet
sich (BuxWV 72) [07:54] Herr,
ich lasse dich nicht (BuxWV 36)
[07:36] Ihr lieben Christen, freut
euch nun (BuxWV 51) [10:37]
La Capella Ducale Musica Fiata/Roland
Wilson rec. 20–22 November 2006, St.
Nikolaus- und Ulrichskirche, Nürnberg-Mögeldorf,
Germany. DDD
CPO 777 318-2 [78:18] [JV]
The
best recording of Buxtehude's sacred
music ever made ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto No. 5 in
E flat, Op. 73, “Emperor”a (1810) [38:18] Piano Sonata
No. 28 in A, Op. 101b (1816)
[20:58]
Hélène Grimaud (piano) aStaatskapelle
Dresden/Vladimir Jurowski. rec.
aLukaskirche, Dresden, December
2006; bSiemens-Villa, Berlin,
July 2007. DDD Includes
promotional DVD
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 7149 [59:16][CC]
Grimaud
remains one of the most individual –
and hence unclassifiable – pianists
of today. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897)
Double Concerto in A minor Op.102 (1887)
[34:25] Clarinet Quintet in B Minor
Op.115 (1891) [37:56]*
Renaud Capuçon (violin), Gautier Capuçon
(cello), Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester/Myung-Whun
Chung; Paul Meyer (clarinet), Capuçon
Quartet rec. Osterfestspiele - Grosses
Festspielhaus (Salzburg, Austria), Grazer
Kongress – Stefaniensaal (Graz, Austria),
Wiener Musikverein (Vienna, Austria),
8-10 April 2007; Paris, Eglise du Bon
Secours, 9-10 July 2007*. DDD
VIRGIN CLASSICS 3951472 [72:21]
[TP]
One
of the essential purchases of 2007 ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849)
24
Preludes op. 28 [39:15] Prelude in A
flat major [00:50] Prelude in C sharp
minor op. 45 [04:36] 2 Nocturnes op.
62 [13:13]
Rafał Blechacz (piano) rec. July
2007, Hamburg-Harburg, Friedrich-Ebert-Halle
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 6592 [58:08]
[CH]
The
tiny group of living great pianists
is now a little larger. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1907)
Stabat Mater Op. 58 (1876-77)
Yvonne Kenny (soprano); Eva Randová
(mezzo); Wieslaw Ochmann (tenor); Ján
Galla (bass) Prague Philharmonic Chorus
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Vaclav
Neumann. rec. Vladislav Hall, Hradčany,
Prague, 1989. PCM Stereo; 4:3
DVD 9; NTSC
ARTHAUS MUSIC 
102109 [87:00] [CC]
It
is Neumann’s evident passion for every
note of the score that shines through
most. This is a very special DVD that
deserves every success ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gerald
FINZI
(1901-1956)
Clarinet Concerto Op. 31 (1949) [29:19]
Cello Concerto Op.40 (1956) [41:06]
John Denman (clarinet) Yo-Yo Ma (cello)
New Philharmonia Orchestra/Vernon Handley
(clarinet concerto) Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra/Vernon Handley (cello concerto)
rec. 1977, 1979. ADD
LYRITA SRCD.236 [70:28] [JW]
This
will look good on your shelves next
to the Boult-Lyrita disc of Finzi miniatures
… one of those “ah, yes” moments one
sometimes gets with Finzi when everything
seems so utterly right ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No. 8 (1908)
Twyla Robinson (soprano); Erin Wall
(soprano); Adriane Quieroz (soprano);
Michelle De Young (contralto); Soimone
Schröder (contralto); Johan Botha (tenor);
Hanno Müller-Bracchmann (baritone);
Robert Holl (bass); Tobias Berndt (organ)
Chor der Deutschen Staatsoper Berlin;
Rundfunkchor Berlin; Aurelius Sängerknaben
Calw; Staatskapelle Berlin/Pierre Boulez
rec. Jesus-Christus Kirche, Berlin,
April 2007
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4776597 [23:44
+ 61:32] [AOz]
A
truly amazing performance and recording,
exceptionally vivid and life-affirming
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ottorino
RESPIGHI (1879-1936)
Fontane
di Roma (1914-16) [17:05] Pini
di Roma (1924) [23:07] Il tramonto
(1918) [15:46]* Roman Festivals
(1929) [24:27]
Christine Rice (mezzo)* Orchestra dell'Accademia
Nazionale di Santa Cecilia/Antonio Pappano
rec. concert and sessions 11-23 January
2007, Sala Santa Cecilia, Auditorium
Parco della Musica, Rome. DDD Text of
Il tramonto in German, Italian,
English and French; liner notes in English,
German and French.
EMI CLASSICS 3944292 [80:41] [TP]
With
incredible music-making, Pappano deserves
to do very well with this release...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Torvaldo e Dorliska Dramma
semiseria in two acts (1815)
Torvaldo - Francesco Meli (ten); Dorliska,
Torvaldo’s wife - Darina Takova (sop);
Giorgio, custodian of the Duke of Ordow’s
castle - Bruno Pratico (bass); Duca
d’Ordow - Michele Pertusi (buffo bass);
Ormondo, Captain of the Duke’s Guard
- Simone Alberghini (bass-bar); Carlotta,
Giorgio’s sister - Jeanette Fischer
(sop) Prague Chamber Choir Orchestra
Haydn di Bolzano e Trento/Víctor Pablo
Pérez rec. live, Teatro Rossini, Pesaro
Festival, Italy, August 2006 Performed
in the Critical Edition by Francesco
Paolo Russo for the Rossini Foundation
in collaboration with Casa Ricordi Director:
Marioi Martone; Sets: Sergio Tramonti;
Costumes: Lubomír Mátl; Video Director:
Tiziano Mancini Filmed in High Definition.
Presented in dts digital surround sound,
PCM 2.0. Vision 16:9 Colour. NTSC Menu
language English. Subtitles in Italian
(original language), English, German,
French, Spanish and Chinese. Notes and
synopsis in Italian, English, German,
and French
DYNAMIC 33528
[2 DVDs: 157:00][RJF]
This
superb Pesaro staging and performance
of Rossini’s rarely performed opera is
even better when seen than merely heard.
It will not readily be surpassed ... see
Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH MA
Sicong
(1912-1987)
Music for Violin and Piano
Dragon Lantern Dance (1953) [3.34]
Mountain Song (1953) [4:16] Madrigal
(1944) [3:37] Inner Mongolia Suite (1937)
[15:47] Lullaby (1935) [4:59] Lantern
Dance Festival (1952) [4:58] Amei Suite
(1981) [7:27] Rondo No. 1 (1937) [5:37]
Tone Poem of Tibet (1941) [22:54]
Ku Hsiao-mei, (violin); Lu Ning (piano)
rec. Salt Lake City, Utah, November
2006
NAXOS CHINESE CLASSICS 8.570600 [71:05]
[AOz]
What
we hear on this recording is a highly
subtle creation based on western form
but completely in keeping with the fundamental
spirit of Chinese chamber music ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Symphony
No.10 in e minor, Op.93 (1953) [52:25]
Detlev GLANERT
(b.1960) Theatrum bestiarum
(A Theatrical Bestiary) Songs and Dances
for Large Orchestra (2005) [22:25] WDR
Symphonie-Orchester Köln/Semyon
Bychkov rec. 12-17 April 2005 (Shostakovich),
21 December2006 (Glanert), Kölner
Philharmonie, Cologne, Germany. DDD/DSD
Booklet with notes in German, English
and French. 
AVIE
AV2137 [75:06] [BW]
Probably
the best version of Shostakovich 10
now on the market. The Glanert coupling
is a bonus for those who like it but
can easily be ignored by those who don’t
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Erkki-Sven
TÜÜR
(b. 1959)
Symphony No.4 “Magma” (2002)a
[31:06] Inquiétude du fini (1992)b
[18:29] Igavik (2006)c [4:37]
The Path and the Traces (2005) [12:36]
Evelyn Glennie (percussion)a;
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choirbc;
Estonian National Male Choirc;
Estonian National Symphony Orchestra;
Paavo Järvi rec. Estonia Concert Hall,
Tallinn, June 2006 Texts and translations
included
VIRGIN CLASSICS 3857852 [67:23]
[HC]
These
impeccable performances are a pure joy
from first to last ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI (1813–1901) Il
trovatore (1853)
Stella Roman (soprano) – Leonora; Leonard
Warren (baritone) – Il Conte di Luna;
Margaret Harshaw (mezzo) – Azucena;
Jussi Björling (tenor) – Manrico; Giacomo
Vaghi (bass) – Ferrando; Lodovico Oliviero
(tenor) – Ruiz; Inge Manski (soprano)
– Inez; John Baker (bass) – Gypsy
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
and Chorus/Emil Cooper rec. live
broadcast, Metropolitan Opera, New York,
27 December 1947 Audio restoration by
Ward Marston
WEST HILL RADIO ARCHIVES WHRA-6010
[68:57 + 61:25][GF]
One
of the most sensational historical ‘finds’
for many a moon ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI (1813–1901)
Presenting Aprile Millo - Verdi
Arias Ernani: 1.
Sorta è la notte … Ernani, involami
[5:05] Il trovatore: 2. Tacea la
notte [4:15] Macbeth: 3. Una
macchia è qui tuttora! [7:32] Otello:
4. Mi parea … Piangea cantando …
Ave Maria [17:28] La forza del destino:
5. Pace, pace mio Dio [6:20]
Un ballo in maschera: 6. Morró, ma
prima in grazia [4:52] Don Carlo:
7. Tu che le vanità [11:53] Aida:
8. Ritorna vincitor … L’insana parola
… I sacri nomi [6:48] 9. Qui
Radames verrà … O patria mia [7:20]
Aprile Millo (soprano) London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Giuseppe Patanè rec. St. Barnabas
Church, Woodside Park, London. publ.
1986 Texts and translations included
EMI CLASSICS 
47396 [71:41] [GF]
One
of the finest Verdi recitals from the
final quarter of the 20th century …
should be in every opera collection.
Super! ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH 20th
Century Piano Sonatas Alban
BERG (1885-1935) Piano Sonata
Op.1 (1908) [10:46] Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Piano
Sonata No. 2 (1936) [12:17] (Maessig
schnell [3:01]; Lebhaft [2:04]; Sehr
langsam – Rondo: Bewegt [7:11]) Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Three
Piano Pieces (1894) [10:21] (Andantino
[3:27]; Andantino grazioso [3:50]; Presto
[2:58]) Karl
Amadeus HARTMANN (1905-1963)
Piano Sonata ’27 April 1945’ [31:16
including alternative finales] (Bewegt
[4:45]; Scherzo: Presto assai [3:50];
Marcia Funebra: Lento [10:26]; Allegro
risoluto (1st version) [6:28];
Allegro furioso (2nd version)
[5:41])
Allison Brewster Franzetti (Blüthner
concert grand piano) rec. California,
USA 15-16 November 2004; Engineer Leslie
Ann Jones
NAXOS 8.570401 [64:55][SH]
A
brilliant musician with academic knowledge
as well as sensitivity is rare ... see
Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Grandes
Pièces Symphoniques: Ian
Tracey plays French Organ Works
Charles
Tournemire
(1870-1939) Improvisation sur
le Te Deum (1930) (edited
by Maurice Duruflé, 1958) [6:50] Joseph
Bonnet
(1884-1944) from Douze Pièces;
Elves, Op. 7 (No. 11) [3:53] Lamento,
Op. 5 (No. 2) [4:08] Camille
Saint-Saëns
(1835-1921) from Sept Improvisations,
Op. 150; Allegro giocoso (No. 7) [3:39]
César
Franck
(1822-1890) Grande pièce symphonique,
Op. 17 (1860-2) [23:44] Andante serioso
– Allegro non troppo e maestoso – Andante
– Allegro – Andante – Andante serioso
– Allegro Eugene
Gigout
(1844-1925) from Dix Pièces;
Scherzo (No. 8) [4:17] Charles-Marie
Widor
(1844-1937) Symphonie,
Op. 13 No. 4 (1872) [26:22] I Toccata;
II Fugue Moderato assai; III
Andante cantabile, Dolce;
IV Scherzo Allegro vivace;
V Adagio; VI Finale Moderato
Ian Tracey (organ) rec. Liverpool Anglican
Cathedral, 27 June 2006. DDD/DSD Booklet
with notes in English, French and German
CHANDOS CHSA5056
[73:52][BW]
First-class
performances and recording make this
the ideal CD for beginners and aficionados
of the French organ repertoire alike:
very strongly recommended … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Mady
Mesplé - Airs d'Operettes
Victor
MASSÉ (1822–1884) Les Noces
de Jeanette: 1. Air du Rossignol:
Au bord du chemin qui passe à ma porte
[9:24] André
MESSAGER (1853–1929) Madame
Chrysanthème: 2. Écoutez, c’est la
chant des cigales [4:19]
Oscar STRAUS (1870–1954)
Trois valses: 3. La valse interrompue
(1900): Je t’aime quand meme [3:40]
4. La valse du destin (1937): Mais
c’est le destin peut-être [3:29]
5. La valse du destin (1937) e ne
suis pas ce que l’on pense [2:34]
Franz LEHÁR (1870–1948)
Das Land des Lächelns: 6. Entrée
de Lisa: Merci pour ce charmant accueil
[3:19] Die lustige Witwe: 7. Chanson
de Vilya: Là-bas dans nos rudes vallées
[6:05] Jacques OFFENBACH (1819–1880)
Pomme d’Api: 8. Couplets de Catherine:
Bonjour Monsieur, je suis la bonne
[3:05] Reynaldo
HAHN (1875–1947) Ciboulette:
9. Moi j’m’appelle Ciboulette
[2:07] Charles
LECOCQ (1832–1918) La petite
mariée: 10. Je tenais Monsieur mon
Époux [2:11] 11. Pour vous sauver,
on se dévoue [2:08] Les cent vierges:
12. O Paris, gai séjour [6:02]
Mady Mesplé (soprano) Orchestre Philharmonique
de Monte-Carlo/Pierre Dervaux rec. Salle
Garnier, Monte-Carlo, 9-13 June 1980.
ADD
EMI CLASSICS
47545 [48:57] [GF]
The
programme is wholly attractive and Mady
Mesplé’s by turns warm and glittering
singing makes this one of the loveliest
operetta recitals I have come across
... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Noël
Nouvelet
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Frohlocket ihr Völker auf Erden
[1:22] Michael
HEAD (1900-1976) The Little
Road to Bethlehem [3:08] Bob
CHILCOTT (b. 1955) Shepherd’s
Carol [2:56] German
14th Century arr.
John RUTTER (b.
1945) Quem pastores Laudavere [1:42]
John
RUTTER Mary’s Lullaby* [3:34]
Kenneth
LEIGHTON (1929-1988) Coventry
Carol [3:06] Jonathan
RATHBONE (b. 1957) Corpus
Christi Carol [4:25] Judith
WEIR (b. 1954) Illuminare
Jerusalem* [2:43] Morten
LAURIDSEN (b. 1943) O magnum
mysterium [6:02] French
trad. arr.
Stephen JACKSON (b. 1951) Noël
Nouvelet*[4:15] Naji
HAKIM (b. 1955) Ding dong!
Merrily on high [2:14] Humphrey
CLUCAS (b. 1941) Love came
down at Christmas* [2:04] Paul
EDWARDS (b. 1956) No small
wonder* [2:38] Franz
GRUBER arr.
Jonathan RATHBONE Silent
Night [3:55]
John GARDNER (b. 1917) Tomorrow
shall be my dancing day*[1:51]Arr.
Nigel SHORT (b. 1953) Away
in a manger* [3:09]
Arr. Malcolm SARGENT (1895-1967)
Hawaiian Lullaby [2:14]
Mel TORMÉ arr.
Ward SWINGLE (b. 1927) Christmas
Song [3:20]
English trad. arr. Andrew
CARTER (b. 1939) The Twelve
Days of Christmas [5:17]
Vasari Singers/Jeremy Backhouse *Jeremy
Filsell (organ) rec. St. Jude’s, Hampstead
Garden Suburb, London, 10-12 November
2006 texts and translations included
GUILD GMCD7314 [60:06] [JQ]
Offhand,
I can’t think of a better disc of Christmas
music for you to find under your tree
on December 25th ... see
Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Kate
Royal: DEBUSSY
L’Enfant
prodigue - Air de Lia; DELIBES
Les Filles de Cadix - Chanson
espagnole; CANTELOUBE
Chants d‘Auvergne: Baïlèro;
Malurous qu’o uno fenno; La delaïssádo;
RAVEL
Vocalise en forme de habanera (orch;
Hoerée); STRAVINSKY
The Rake’s Progress: No
word from Tom; My father! Can
I desert him; I go, I go to him;
ORFF
Carmina Burana: In trutina;
R. STRAUSS
Wiegenlied, Op.
41/1; Morgen!, Op; 27/4; Ich
wollt’ ein Strãusslein binden,
Op. 68/2; GRANADOS
Goyescas: Queyas,
o la maja y el ruiseňor;
RODRIGO
Cuatro Madrigales amatorios;
TRADITIONAL
The Sprig of Thyme
Kate Royal (soprano) Academy of St.
Martin in the Fields/Edward Gardner.
rec. Abbey Road Studios, London, no
date supplied
EMI CLASSICS 394419-2 [65:14] [CC]
This
disc bodes well for a singer of clear
and huge talent. ... see Full
Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805)
String
Quintet in A Minor Op. 25 No. 6 [23:48]
String Quintet
in C Op. 25 No. 4 [19:52] String
Quintet in D Minor Op. 25 No. 1 [15:55]
String Quintet
in E Op. 11 No. 5 – Minuetto [3:40]
Europa Galante (Fabio Biondi, Enrico
Casazza (violins); Ernesto Braucher
(viola); Maurizio Naddeo, Antonio Fantonuoli
(cellos)) rec.
Montevarchi (Toscare), Italy, 5-8 December
1999
VIRGIN CLASSICS 50999 503 4082 8 [59:97][JS]
Quite
simply the most enjoyable recording of
the music of Boccherini that I have ever
heard ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony
No.4 in E minor Op.98 (1885) [41.48]
Hungarian Dances Nos. 2, 4-9 (1868)
[22.51]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Marin
Alsop rec. Blackheath Concert Hall,
London, 21-22 March 2005 (Symphony);
Colosseum, Town Hall, Watford, 22-23
April 2006.
NAXOS 8.570233 [64:39][DC]
Top
Brahms! ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Antonín
DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904) CD1
Symphony No. 5 in F major Op. 76
(1875) [37:47] Othello Overture Op.
93 (1891) [13:42] Scherzo Capriccioso
Op. 66 (1883) [12:41] CD2 Symphony
No. 7 in D minor Op. 70 (1885) [37:03]
Symphony No. 8 in G major Op. 88 (1889)
[36:42] CD3 Symphony No. 9 in
E minor Op. 76 “From the New World”
(1893) [40:24] Bedrich
SMETANA (1824-1884) Vltava
from Ma Vlast (1874) [12:04]
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra/Mariss Jansons
rec. Konserthuset, Oslo, Norway, 1988-1992.
DDD
EMI CLASSICS TRIPLE 5008782 [3 CDs:
64:20 + 73:45 + 52:28] [TP]
Mariss
Jansons has a wonderful way with Dvořák.
Exuberant performances, fresh and exciting,
keenly attentive to intricacies and
united in purpose and attack. You will
not hear tighter Dvořák playing
anywhere ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934)
The
Planets, H125 Op. 32 (1914-16) [49:15]
St Paul's Suite, H118 Op. 29
(1913) [12:38] Brook Green Suite
(1933) [7:14]
Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth
(Brook Green) rec. St Augustine’s
Church, Kilburn, London, October 1993
(Planets; St Paul’s);
CTS Studio, London, August 1994. DDD
originally issued in 1994 as Tring International
CD TRP007
ALTO ALC 1013 [69:26] [RB]
An
extremely fine Holst disc. Handley’s
Planets ablaze with character and grippingly
recorded, a big band St Paul’s, all
generously coupled with the Wordsworth
Brook Green. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Nikolai
MEDTNER (1880-1951)
Complete Works for
Violin and Piano: Vol.1 Violin
Sonata No.3 in E Minor, Op.57 "Epica"
(1938) [46:34] Three
Nocturnes, Op.16 (1909) [13:50]
Fairy Tale, Op.20,
No.1 in B flat minor (arr. Jasha Heifetz)
(1909) [3:14]
Laurence Kayaleh (violin), Paul Stewart
(piano). rec.
Pollack Hall, Schulich School of Music,
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec,
Canada, 18-20 December 2006. DDD
NAXOS 8.570298 [63:47][TP]
This
disc will kindle within you an affection
for this neglected composer ... Bring
on volume 2! ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797–1828)
Die schöne Müllerin, D795
(1823) [65:13]; Schwanengesang,
D957 (1828) [52:40] Lieder,
Op. 80 (1826): No. 1 Der Wanderer
an den Mond [2:35]; No. 2 Das
Zügenglöcklein [5:26]; No. 3 Im
Freien [5:32] Winterreise,
D911 (1827) [75:16]
Olaf Bär (baritone), Geoffrey Parsons
(piano) rec. 16-20 June 1986, Lukaskirche,
Dresden (Die schöne Müllerin); August
1989, No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London
(Schwanengesang; Lieder Op. 80); December
1988 (Winterreise). DDD
EMI CLASSICS 5009342 [3 CDs: 66:13
+ 66:11 + 75:16] [GF]
There
are few better readings of these song-cycles
available at any price ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH A Portrait
of Thomas Tallis Thomas
TALLIS (1505-1585) CD1
Ave Dei Patris Filia [15:33]
Salve Intemerata [15:51] Sancte
Deus [5:58] Hear the Voice and Prayer
[3:15] If Ye Love me [2:13] A New Commandment
[2:50] Gaude Gloriosa [17:11]
Loquebantur variis Linguis [4:15]
Magnificat for Four Voices [11:56]
CD2 Te lucis ante terminum (festal)
[2:07] Christ Rising Again [4:39] O
Lord, Give Thy Holy Spirit [2:05] Purge
me, O Lord [1:48] Verily, Verily I Say
unto You [1:42] Remember Not, O Lord
God [4:34] O Lord, in Thee Is All My
Trust [2:42] Tunes for Archbishop Parker’s
Psalter [8:36] Salvator Mundi, Salva
Nos 1 [2:19] O Sacrum Convivium
[3:15] In Manus Tuas [1:51] Absterge
Domine [5:31] Miserere Nostri
[2:18] Salvator Mundi, Salva Nos
2 [2:21] Spem in Alium [10:03]
Lamentations of Jeremiah I [7:48] Lamentations
of Jeremiah II [12:20] Blessed Are Those
That Be Undefiled [4:16]
Chapelle du Roi/Alistair Dixon From
Signum SIGCD001 and SIGCD002, rec. St
Augustine’s Church, Kilburn, London,
23-25 October 1996, 10-13 February 1997;
SIGCD003, SIGCD010, SIGCD016, SIGCD022,
SIGCD029, rec St Jude’s Church, Hampstead,
London, 28-30 May 1997, July 1998, 12-14
October 1998, 24-26 July 2000, 13-15
November 2000; SIGCD036, rec. All Hallows
Church, Gospel Oak, London 24-27 September
2002. DDD. Booklet with notes in English
but no texts.
PORTRAIT CLASSICS PCL2101 [79:07
+ 79:45][BW]
This
2-CD distillation of a highly-recommended
9-CD series is very welcome at its new
bargain price. Go out and buy it or
the complete set on Signum ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Swan
Lake op.20 – Highlights Introduction
[02:58] Act I: 1. Scène
[02:17], 2. Valse [04:28],
8. Danse des coupes [03:44] Act
II: 10. Scène [02:50],
11. Scène [04:36], 13d.
Danses des cygnes [01:19], 13e.
Pas d’action [06:14] Act III:
20. Danse hongroise [02:46],
5b. Pas de deux [02:55], 24.
Scène [02:15] Act IV:
27. Danses des petits cygnes [03:40],
29. Scène final [06:01]
Steven Staryk (violin); Tibor de Machula
(violoncello) Concertgebouw Orchestra/Anatole
Fistoulari rec. February 1961, Concertgebouw,
Amsterdam
DECCA ELOQUENCE 442 9032 [46:10]
[CH]
Whatever
the ultimate judgement on Fistoulari,
he made a great record here. ... see
Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Soprano
Duets Elisabeth
Schwarzkopf and Irmgard Seefried -
Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567–1643) 1.
Io son pur vezzosetta pastorella
[3:06] 2. Ardo scoprir [3:33]
3. Baci cari [3:07] 4. Dialogo
di ninfa e pastore [4:08] Giacomo
CARISSIMI (1605–1674) 5.
Detesta la cativa sorte in amore
[4:10] 6. Lungi omai [2:31] 7.
Il mio core [3:31] 8. A piè
d’un verde alloro [3:10] Antonin
DVOŘÁK (1841–1904) Moravian
Duets, Op. 32, Nos. 1-13: 9. Ich
schwimm’ dir davon [2:17] 10. Fliege,
Vöglein [2:41] 11. Wenn die Sense
[1:09] 12. Freundlich
lass uns scheiden [1:00]
13. Der kleine Acker
[1:04] 14. Die
Taube auf dem Ahorn [1:21]
15. Wasser und Weinen
[2:30] 16. Die
Bescheidene [1:38] 17.
Der Ring [2:07] 18.
Grüne, du Gras! [3:12]
19. Die Gefangene
[2:07] 20. Der
Trost [3:23] 21.
Wilde Rose [2:43] Engelbert
HUMPERDINCK (1854–1921) Hansel
und Gretel: 22.
Suse, Liebe, Suse … Brüderchen, komm,
tanz mit mir [9:38] Richard
STRAUSS (1864–1949) Der Rosenkavalier:
23. Herrgott im Himmel! (Presentation
of the Silver Rose) [11:26]
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Irmgard Seefried
(soprano) Gerald Moore (piano) (1-21),
Philharmonia Orchestra/Josef Krips (22);
Wiener Philharmoniker/Herbert von Karajan
(23) rec. No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road,
London, 25-27 May, 1955 (1-21), 26-27
September, 1947 (22); Musikvereinsaal,
Vienna, 9 December 1947 Texts and translations
included
EMI CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE
CENTURY 3 92057 2 [75:56][GF]
One
of the most magical moments in the world
of recorded opera. Go out and buy! ...
see Full
Review
DECEMBER
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Christmas
Oratorio BWV 248 (1734) 
Malin Hartelius (soprano)/Kristina Hammarström
(alto)/Jörg Dürmüller
(tenor)/Detlef Roth (bass)/Capella Amsterdam/Combattimento
Consort Amsterdam/Jan Willem de Vriend
rec. 24-30 September, 15 October 2006,
Waalse Kerk, Amsterdam
CHALLENGE CLASSICS 
CC76607 [JQ]
Displays
understanding and affection for the
music … a consistently satisfying and
invigorating account of this wonderful
music. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
2 & 3-part Inventions, Partita 2
Janine Jansen (violin); Maxim Rysanov
(viola); Torleif Thedeén (cello) rec.
2007
DECCA 4759081 [DC]
Gorgeous,
through and through ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ernest
BLOCH
(1880-1959)
Violin Concerto, Baal Shem, Suite
Hébraïque
Zina Schiff, Royal Scottish Ntl O/José
Serebrier rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.557757 [TH]
Bloch’s
major works for violin and orchestra
in thrilling performances and demonstration
sound ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Michael
TIPPETT (1905-1998)
Piano Concerto, Fantasia on a theme
of Handel, Piano Sonatas 1-4
Steven Osborne, BBC Scottish SO/Martyn
Brabbins rec. 2006/7
HYPERION CDA67461/2 [DC]
If
this were a desert island choice, it
would be Osborne I would want to have.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Romantic
and Virtuoso Works for Organ Volume
2
Garth EDMUNSON
(1900-1971), John
IRELAND (1879-1962),
Joseph KROMOLICKI
(1882-1961), Oreste
RAVANELLO (1871-1938)
Guy ROPARTZ
(1864-1955) Louis
VIERNE (1870-1937) Guy
WEITZ (1883-1970)
Jane Parker-Smith (organ) rec. 2007.
DDD
AVIE AV2144 [CB]
Full
marks for innovative programming, wonderful
playing, a superb recording and excellent
presentation. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Terezín/Theresienstadt
Songs
and chamber works
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4776546 [SA]
An
absolute must for anyone interested
in sampling music by those whose lives
were cruelly cut short by a monstrous
ideology ... see Full
Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Violin Concerto; Academic
Festival Orchestra; Tragic Overture;
Rhapsody for alto
Arthur Grumiaux (violin); Concertgebouw
Orchestra, Amsterdam/Eduard van Beinum
rec. 1958
PHILIPS ELOQUENCE 4429788 [TP]
With
an hour and a quarter of excellent music-making,
intelligently coupled and priced at
the bottom of the market, how can you
possibly pass this up? ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Joseph
CANTELOUBE
(1879–1957)
Chants d’Auvergne, Triptyque,
Chants de France
Véronique Gens (soprano) Lille-Région
Nord Ntl O/Serge Baudo rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.570338 [HC]
Véronique
Gens sings beautifully throughout and
shows a fine understanding … perfectly
at ease ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH
Gabriel’s
Greeting - Medieval English
Christmas Music
Sinfonye rec. 1993
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55151 [BW]
Another
excellent Helios reissue – a Christmas
recording with a difference which won’t
break the bank, so it should also inspire
you to purchase Sinfonye’s other CDs
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS (1864–1949)
Songs of Love and Death
Hedwig Fassbender (mezzo), Hilko Dumno
(piano) rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.570297 [GF]
The
best Strauss recital I have heard for
many a moon ... see Full
Review
