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
Autumn Journey
- Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Part I: Documentary on the life and work filmed on the occasion
of Fischer-Dieskau’s 70th birthday in 1995 [103:00] Part
II: Recital Franz Peter SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) An Schwager Kronos, Hoffnung,
Auf der Donau, Der Strom, Der Wanderer, Die Götter Griechenlands,
Freiwilliges Versinken, Der Zwerg, Wehmut, Totengräbers
Heimweh, Auf der Bruck, Des Sängers Habe, Am Fenster,
Fischerweise, Das Zügen Glöcklein, Der Kreuzzug,
Des Fischers Liebesglück, Die Sterne, Der Einsame,
Aus ‘Heliopolis’ II, Geheimes, Im Abendrot, Abschied
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
(baritone), Hartmut Höll (piano) rec. live, Opera Theatre, Nuremberg,
1992 (?) WARNER MUSIC
VISION 50-5144 22169-2-9 (KULTUR 4207) 
[188:00] [GF]
Watching
this DVD made for a wholly absorbing evening ... see Full
Review
A-Z
of Pianists With
863 page book with 300 biographies
NAXOS 8.558107-10 [4 CDs: 75:24 + 77:11 + 78:36 + 78:53] [JW]
A
most important resource. Transfers by Ward
Marston ensure quality work. For newcomers
this is a fascinating collection and I daresay
old pianophiles may find a nugget or two here
as well ... see Full
Review
Fiamma
Izzo d’Amico - Opera Arias
Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797–1848)
Maria di Rohan: 1. Infausto Imene … Havvi un Dio [6:07] Don Pasquale:
2. Quel guardo il cavaliere … So anch’io la virtù magica [5:12]
Giuseppe VERDI (1813–1901) Ernani: 3. Surta
è la notte … Ernani! Ernani, involami [6:03] La
traviata: 4. E’ strano! … Ah, fors’è lui … Sempre
libera [8:03] Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858–1924) Turandot: 5.
Tu, che di gel sei cinta [2:23] La rondine:
6. Chi il bel sogno di Doretta [2:57] Suor
Angelica: 7. Senza mamma [4:40] Madama
Butterfly: 8. Un bel di vedremo [4:09] Manon Lescaut:
9. In quelle trine morbide [2:17] La Bohème:
10. Donde lieta uscì [3:07] Jules
MASSENET (1842–1912) Manon: 11. Allons! Il le faut … Adieu, notre
petite table [3:53] Francesco CILEA (1866–1950)
Adriana Lecouvreur: 12. Ecco, respire appena … Io son l’umile ancella
[3:11] Fiamma Izzo
d’Amico (soprano) Münchner Rundfunkorchester/Alberto Zedda rec. July
1987, Studio 1, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Munich texts and translations
in Italian, French, English and German
EMI CLASSICS CDC 7 49233 2 
[52:46][GF] Shows
Fiamma Izzo d’Amico in the best possible light. Had I heard this CD
when it was first released almost twenty years ago I would have prophesied
a great career for the then very young singer ... see Full
Review
Angeli:
Music of Angels, Chant and Polyphony for the Nine Orders of Angels and
the Queen of the Angels ANON
Salve
virgo virginum [2:29] (Latin motet, Worcester Manuscript) Patricia
van Ness (b. 1951) Arcanae I Seraphim [4:48];
II Michael [3:30]; III Lucis angeli [2:43] ANON
O lilium
convallium [3:17] (conductus, Notre Dome repertory) Crawford
Young (b. 1952) Custos desertorum [3:08] Patricia
van Ness Ego
sum Custos Angela [2:59] Hildegard von
Bingen (1098-1179)
O vos Angeli (responsory) [10:52] Shira
Kammen (b. 1961) Au renouvel [4:44] ANON
Gaude
Maria [11:18] (organum/Vesper responsory, Notre Dome repertory)
ANON Te domine / Te dominum
[2:19] (Latin motet, Worcester Manuscript) Anon
Sanctus
Christe yerarchia [9:34] (troped Sanctus, Notre Dome repertory)
Hildegard von Bingen O
gloriosissimi lux (antiphon) [7 :33]
Ensemble P.A.N. (Project Ars Nova: Laurie Monahan (mezzo); Michael Collyer
(counter-tenor); Shira Kammen (vielle and harp); Crawford Young (lute
and tanbur)) with guest ensemble Tapestry (Cristi Catt (soprano); Sandra
Morales-Ramírez (soprano); Laurie Monahan (mezzo); Daniel Tošič
(alto)) and William Hite (tenor), Harlan B Hokin (tenor) and Paul Cummings
(baritone) rec. Studio A, National Music Center, Lenox, MA, 11-14 September
1995. 20-bit DDD with Spatializer © Surround Sound. Booklet with
notes in English and texts in Latin with English translation
TELARC CD-80448 [69:14] [BW]
Medieval-music
specialists will be better served by the likes
of Gothic Voices, but the general listener
will probably find this a very attractive
and soothing CD ... see Full
Review
Arias For Rubini
Vincenzo BELLINI (1801-1835)
Il Pirata - Nel furor delle tempeste ... Del disastro
di queti infelici ... Per te di vane lagrime [9.30] with Filippo
Adami Itulbo; Ugo Guagliardo Goffredo Bianca e Fernando
- Tutti siam? – Si, tutti uniti ... Eccomi alfin, guerrieri
... All’udir del padre afflitto ... Degna suora di Fernando ... Odo
il tuo pianto, o padre [14.45] Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Elisabetta, regina d’Inghilterra
- Che intesi! ... Deh! troncate i ceppi suoi ... Vendicar
sapró l’offesa [12.35] Il turco in Italia - Intesi:
ah! tutto intesi ... Tu seconda il mio disegno ... Si il mio rival deludo!
[5.45] La donna del lago* - Pace non trovo ...
Tu sorda ai miei lamenti ... Ah! come nascondere [6.47] Guglielmo
Tell - Non mi lasciare, o speme di vendetta ... O muto asil
... Vendetta! ... Corriam! voliam! [12.42] Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Marino Faliero - No,
no, d’abbandonarla senza un addio ... Di mia patira o bel soggiorno
... Ma un solo conforto [9.43]
Juan Diego Flórez (tenor) Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale
di Santa Cecilia/Roberto Abbado rec. Sala Santa
Cecilia, Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome, 29 August-10 September
2006, DDD Sung texts enclosed * World premiere recording
of 1825 Paris version
DECCA 475 9079 [71.41] [MMB]
If
Rubini was the stuff of legend, with a voice out of this world,
then we certainly have in Juan Diego Flórez a rightful and perfect
successor ... see Full
Review
British
Horn Concertos Gordon JACOB (1895-1984)
Concerto for Horn and Strings (1950s)
[20:35] Malcolm
ARNOLD (1921-2006) Concerto No.
2 for Horn and Strings, Op. 58 (1956)
[14:03] York
BOWEN (1884-1961) Concerto for
Horn, string orchestra and timpani (1956)
[16:27] Ruth
GIPPS (1921-1999) Horn Concerto,
Op. 58 (1968) [17:11] Gilbert
VINTER (1909-1969) Hunter’s
Moon (1943) [6:22]
David Pyatt (horn) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Nicholas
Braithwaite rec. Watford Town Hall, 10-21
Jan 1994 (Jacob, Bowen, Arnold); Henry Wood
Hall, London, 8-9 Feb 1994 (Gipps, Vinter).
DDD
LYRITA SRCD.316 [74:42] [JW]
Canny,
whimsical, poetic and fruity … an excellent programme ... see Full
Review
Boris Christoff - Russian
Opera Arias & Songs Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839–1881) Boris Godunov (rev. Rimsky-Korsakov):
1. Pimen’s Monologue [5:45] 2. Varlaam’s
Drinking Song [2:35] 3. Boris’s Monologue [6:37] 4. Boris’s Farewell
and Prayer [7:14] 5. Death of Boris [4:38]* Khovanschina
(compl. Rimsky-Korsakov): 6. Dosifei’s Aria [6:26] 7. Song of
the Flee (orch. Rimsky-Korsakov) [3:14] Alexander
BORODIN (1833–1887) Prince Igor (compl. Rimsky-Korsakov;
Glazunov): 8. Prince Galitsky’s Aria [3:50]
9. Khan Konchak’a Aria [7:24] Nikolai
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844–1908) Sadko: 10. Song of the Viking
Guest [3:47] The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and of the Maiden
Fevroniya: 11. Prince Yuri’s Aria [4:25] Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840–1893) Eugene Onegin: 12. Prince
Gremin’s Aria [4:54] trad. 13.
Song of the Volga Boatmen [4:27] 14. The Siberian Prisoner’s Song [4:18]
Modest MUSSORGSKY Songs and Dances
of Death: 15. No. 4 The Field Marshal [4:54] 16. The Spirit of Heaven
[3:18] Boris Christoff
(bass) Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House Covent
Garden*/Nikolai Malko (1), Herbert von Karajan (2), Issay Dobrowen (3-10,
13), Wilhelm Schüchter (11-12); Gerald Moore (14-16) rec. No. 1 Studio,
Abbey Road, London, 3 December 1949 (1), 28 November 1949 (2), 19-20
May 1949 (3-5), 4 May 1950 (6, 10), 8 June 1950 (8), 5 May 1950 (9),
19 March 1952 (11, 12); No. 3 Studio, Abbey Road, London, 3 March 1951;
Kingsway Hall, London, 5 October 1950 (7, 13) Texts and translations
included EMI CLASSICS
GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 3 92054 2 [78:28][GF]
Should
on no account be missed by lovers of great singing ... see Full
Review
The Carols Album
Huddersfield
Choral Society/Joseph Cullen Darius Battiwalla
(organ) rec. Huddersfield Town Hall, 12-14
January 2007; text and translations included
SIGNUM SIGCD108 [74:12] [JS]
Favourite
carols in varied and attractive arrangements,
well sung and recorded... see Full
Review
The
Contralto Voice: Eugenia
Mantelli, Marianne Brandt, Guerrina Fabbri
and Rita Fornia Eugenia Mantelli (1860-1926)
(contralto) Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) La Cenerentola
- Nacqui all’affanno [2:49] La Cenerentola
- Non più mesta [2:26] Il Barbiere di Siviglia
- Una voce poco fa [2:58] Il Barbiere di Siviglia
- Dunque io son [2:58] with Taurino Parvis
(baritone) Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Lucrezia
Borgia - Brindisi [2:46] La Favorite - O mio
Fernando [3:00] La Favorite - Ah, l'alto ardor
[2:43] with Taurino Parvis (baritone) Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Don
Giovanni - La ci darem la mano [3:03] with
Taurino Parvis (baritone) Giacomo
MEYERBEER (1791-1864) Les Huguenots
- Canzone paggio (Vaga donna…) [3:04] Les
Huguenots - No, no giammai di giovin paggio
[2:55] Ambroise
THOMAS (1811-96) Mignon - Leggiadre
rondinelle [2:44] with Taurino Parvis (baritone)
Mignon - Io conosco un garzoncel [Styrienne]
(3:44) Charles
GOUNOD (1818-1893) Faust - Le
parlate d’Amor [3:09] Romeo et Juliette -
Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle [Stéphano’s
Aria] (3:34) Georges
BIZET (1838-75) Carmen - Habanera
[2:44] Carmen - Séguedille [2:49] Carmen -
Chanson bohème [2:13] Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Il Trovatore
- Stride la vampa [2:34] Amilcare
PONCHIELLI (1834-86) La Gioconda
- Voce di donna [3:10] Antonio
LOTTI (c1667-1740) Pur dicesti
[3:22] Paolo TOSTI
(1846-1916) Dopo [3:14] Good-bye
[2:34] Gaetano
BRAGA (1829-1907) Serenata [4:16]
Pietro MASCAGNI
(1863-1945) Ave Maria, Adaptation
from Cavalleria rusticana [3:12] Guy
D’HARDELOT (1858-1936) Sans Toi
[3:03] Anton RUBINSTEIN
(1829-1894) Der Asra [3:00] ALVAREZ
Los ojos negros [3:46] NIETO
and GIMENEZ El Barbero de Sevilla
- Me llaman la primorosa [3:48] Marianne
Brandt (1842–1921) (contralto) Giacomo MEYERBEER (1791-1864)
Le Prophète - Ach, mein Sohn [2:21] Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Lucrezia
Borgia - Trinklied [1:57] Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Frühlingsnacht,
op. 39 no. 12 [1:37] Guerrina Fabbri (1866–1946)
(contralto) Vincenzo
BELLINI (1801 – 1835) I Capuleti
ed I Montecchi - Ascolta…Se Romeo t’uccise
[2:57] VACCAJ
Giulietta e Romeo - Ah, se tu dormi* [2:27]
Gaetano DONIZETTI
(1797-1848) Lucrezia Borgia -
Brindisi [2:18] Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) L’Italiani
in Algeri; Rondo [3:18] Vincenzo
BELLINI (1801 – 1835) I Capuleti
ed I Montecchi - Ascolta…Se Romeo t’uccise
[3:03] Giacomo
MEYERBEER (1791-1864) Le Prophète:
Figlio mio [3:20] Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Semiramide:
Cavatina d’Arsace [4:02] Il Barbiere di Siviglia
- Una voce poco fa [3:33] Rita Fornia (1878–1922)
(contralto) Charles
GOUNOD (1818-1893) Faust: Faites-lui
mes aveux [3:17] Faust: Faites-lui mes aveux
[2:55] Romeo et Juliette: Que fais-tu, blanche
tourterelle [Stéphano’s Aria] [4:08] Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858–1924) Madama Butterfly:
Lo so che alle sue pene [2:12] with Riccardo
Martin (tenor) and Antonio Scotti (baritone)
Fryderyk CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Mazurka, op. 33 no. 2 (Aime-moi)
arranged Viardot-Garcia) [2:16] Benjamin
GODARD (1849-1895) Chanson
de Florian (Ah, s’il est dans votre village)
[2:25] Cécile CHAMINADE
(1857-1944) Tes doux baisers “Madrigal”
[1:55] MEYER-HELMUND
Das Zauberlied [2:47] Dein gedenk’ ich, Margaretha,
op. 12 no. 2 [2:56] BECKER
Frühlingslied, op. 31 no. 2 [2:38] Frülingszeit,
op. 3 [2:59] LASSEN
Allerseelen, op. 85 no. 3 [2:26] HILDACH
Der Spielmann “Du mit diener Fiedel”, op.
15 no. 1 [4:25]
With instrumental and orchestral accompaniment
rec. Eugenia Mantelli, US Zonophones 1905-07:
Marianne Brandt Artistikal/Pathé, Vienna 1905:
Guerrina Fabbri, G & T, Milan, 1903: Rita
Fornia, Victors 1910-12
MARSTON 52053-2 [75:15 + 78:58][JW]
It’s
wearying to keep saying it but Marston has produced another twofer
that
will powerfully appeal to the vocal collector. Intrinsic disc rarity
is one good reason, quality another. ... see Full
Review
Franco Corelli - Verismo
Arias Giacomo PUCCINI (1858–1924)
Tosca: 1. E lucevan le stelle [2:48] Turandot: 2. Non piangere
Liù [2:29] 3. Nessun dorma [2:56] Pietro
MASCAGNI (1863–1945) Cavalleria rusticana: 4. Mamma, quell
vino [3:54] Umberto GIORDANO (1867–1948)
Fedora: 5. Mia madre … Vedi, io piango [7:01] Giacomo
PUCCINI Madama Butterfly: 6. Addio, fiorito asil [1:40]
Francesco CILEA (1866–1950) Adriana
Lecouvreur: 7. La dolcissima effige [2:06] Giacomo
PUCCINI La fanciulla del West: 8.
Or son sei mesi [3:39] Umberto
GIORDANO Andrea Chenier: 9. Come un bel di di maggio
[3:10] 10. Un di all’azzurro spazio [5:37] Fedora: 11. Amor
ti vieta [3:13] Pietro MASCAGNI
Lodoletta: 12. Se Franz dicesse
il vero [4:59] Ruggiero LEONCAVALLO
(1858–1919) Pagliacci: 13. Recitar … Vesti la giubba
[3:40] 14. No! Pagliaccio non so! [3:16] Bonus: Giuseppe
VERDI (1813–1901) Aida: 15. Se quell guerrier
io fossi! … Celeste Aida [4:47] 16. Pur ti riveggo, mia dolce
Aida [12:43] 17. La fatal pietra sovra me si chiuse [10:42]
Franco Corelli
(tenor) Maria Curtis Verna (soprano) (16, 17); Orchestra Sinfonica di
Torino della RAI; Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano della RAI/Arturo Basile,
Alfredo Simonetto, Umberto Cattini; Orchestra Sinfonica e Coro di Torino
della RAI/Angelo Questa (15-17) rec. 1956-1957
URANIA URN 22.319 [78:52][GF]
The
Aida excerpts are the most valuable items here but there are excellent
things among the verismo arias and with such a whole-hearted singer
as Corelli one has to take the bad with the good ... see Full
Review
The Davydov-Fanning Duo Live
in Concert François COUPERIN (1668-1733)
Pièces en concert; Prélude; Siciliène; La Tromba; Plainte; Air de Diable
[10:50] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Sonata No.2 in D major BWV 1028 (1720) [14:01] Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Twelve Variations in F major on
Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen from the Magic Flute Op.66 (1796) [9:37]
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Sonata
in D minor (1917) [10:49] Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Sonata No.2 in D major Op.58 (1843) [27:16]
Dieuwke Davydov (cello) Diana Fanning (piano) rec. live in concert,
no further details
PRIVATE RECORDING [no number] [70:43][JW]
A
good souvenir of this duo in concert ... see Full
Review
Duos d'Operettes
- Barbara Hendricks and Gino
Quilico Rudolf FRIML
(1879–1972) Rose Marie. 1. Indian Love Call [5:35] Sigmund
ROMBERG (1887–1951) The Desert Song: 2. Why wasting your
time [4:44] The New Moon: 3. Wanting you [3:15] The Student Prince:
4. Deep in my heart [5:14] Reynaldo
HAHN (1875–1947) Ciboulette: 5. Nous avons fait un beau
voyage [2:32] André MESSAGER
(1853–1929) Véronique: 6. Duo de l’escarpoette [4:28]
7. Duetto de l’âne [2:22] Maurice
YVAIN (1891–1965) Ta bouche: 8. Valse: Ta bouche a des
baisers si bons [3:46] Henri
CHRISTINÉ (1867–1941) Phi-Phi: 9. Duo des souvenirs [3:08]
Jacques OFFENBACH (1819–1880)
Barbe-bleue: 10. Duo: Tous les deux, amoureux [3:09] Karl
MILLÖCKER (1842–1899) Gasparone: 11. Wie freu’ ich mich,
Sie hier zu she’n … Hüten Sie sich [5:24] Richard
HEUBERGER (1850–1914) Der Opernball: 12. Hier ist die
Uhr … Geh’n wir in’s chamber séparée [5:17] Johann
STRAUSS II (1825–1899) Der Zigeunerbaron: 13. Wer uns
getraut? [3:39] Wiener Blut: 14. Das eine kann
ich nicht verzeih’n … Wiener Blut! Wiener Blut! [5:59] Franz
LEHÁR (1870–1948) Das Land des Lächelns: 15.
Bei einem Tee à deux [4:14] Die lustige Witwe: 16. Lippen
schweigen [2:44] Barbara
Hendricks (soprano), Gino Quilico (baritone) Orchestre de l’Opéra de
Lyon/Lawrence Foster rec. Lyon, Opéra, 19–24 November 1993 Texts and
French translations included
EMI CLASSICS 55151
[66:30] [GF]
A
splendid collection of well-known and less frequently heard operetta
duets, tastefully sung by two of the most beautiful lyrical voices
of the 1990s ... see Full
Review
English
Violin Sonatas
CD1 Thomas
DUNHILL (1877-1946) Violin Sonata No. 2 (1918) [29:47]
Granville BANTOCK (1868-1946)
Violin Sonata No. 3 (1940) [19:53] Charles
Villiers STANFORD (1852-1946) Violin Sonata No. 1 (1880)
[25:39] CD2 Peter Racine
FRICKER (1920-1990) Violin Sonata No. 1 Op. 12 (1951) [15:34] Violin Sonata No.
2 Op. 94 (1986-87) [21:32] Alan RAWSTHORNE
(1905-1971) Violin Sonata (1958)
[15:32] Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Violin Sonata in A minor (1954) [25:14]
Susanne Stanzeleit (violin) Gusztáv Fenyö (piano) (CD1) Julian Jacobson
(piano) (CD2) rec: 1994 (CD1), 1995 (CD2) at St Michael's Church, Highgate,
London. DDD PORTRAIT
PLC2105 [75:34 + 77:52] [MC]
This
Portrait release is a valuable survey of a
selection of English violin sonatas that should
interest and even challenge ... see Full
Review
For
Children Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Für
Elise (1808) [3:33] Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Kinderszenen Op.15 (1838) [18:08] Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Children’s Corner (1908) [15:42] Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) For Children – extracts; Book
1 Nos.1, 3, 5, 16, 35 Book II Nos 18, 34 (1908)
[6:20] Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) O
polichinelo – Prole do Bébé No.1 [0:49] Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Nutcracker Suite (1892) arranged
for piano, two hands, by Dag Achatz [22:29] Dag
Achatz (piano) rec. Nacka Aula, Nacka, April and May 1980; Studio BIS, Djursholm,
May 1983 (Tchaikovsky) BIS
CD158 [68:12] [JW]
Rather
an up-and-down affair all told. Rather difficult to delineate a
target audience as well ... see Full
Review
Gitano
–
Rolando Villazón
sings zarzuela arias
Rolando Villazón (tenor) Orquesta de
la Comunidad de Madrid/Plácido Domingo
rec. Teatro Albeniz, Madrid, 11, 14, 16, 18,
19 July 2006. DDD VIRGIN
CLASSICS 365474 2 8 [57:06] [GF]
A
disc that should be heard by everyone with
a taste for good singing ... see Full
Review
Best
of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir 1.
Belmont – Hymn (By Cool Siloam’s Shady
Rill) [4.12] (adapted by Webbe: arr. Roberton) 2. Peat-fire
Smooring Prayer (from ‘Songs Of The Hebrides’) [4.22] (Kennedy-Fraser:
trans. Macleod; arr. Roberton) 3. Ae fond kiss (3.24] (Burns;
arr. Roberton) 4. Bonnie Dundee (Trad.; arr. Roberton) [2.05]
5. Orlington (Psalm Tune) (Campbell; arr. Roberton) [4.04]
6. An Eriskay Love Lilt (from ‘Songs Of The Hebrides’) [3.52]
(Kennedy-Fraser: arr. Roberton)
7. Ca’ the Yowes (Burns: arr. Roberton) [3.00] 8. The Dashing White Sergeant
(arr. Roberton) [2.02)] 9. Crimond (Scottish Psalm Tune) (Grant) [3.42] 10. Hark,
Hark The Echo Falling (Rothery: di Lasso; ed. Benson) [2.03] 11. The Blue Bird
(Stanford; Coleridge) [3.18] 12. Ellan Vannin (Dear Isle Of Man) (Green; Townsend)
[3.20] (Faux Bourdon by Roberton) 13. All In The April Evening (Roberton; Tynan)
[3.48] 14. White Waves On the Water (Roberton; Plumfield) [2.47] with piano accompaniment
15. Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring (J.S. Bach; Allen) [3.24]
16. The Cloud Capp’d Towers (Choral Album No.19) (Stevens) [2.10] 17. The Faery
Song (from ‘The Immortal Hour’) [1.25] (Boughton; MacLeod) 18. (a) Far Away (Londonderry
Air) (Trad; arr.Jozé; Sigerson) [4.08] (b) The Old Woman (Roberton; Campbell]
19. Go Lovely Rose (Thoman; Waller) [2.35] 20. O Can Ye Sew Cushions? (Lullaby)
(Trad.; arr. Bantock) [3.21) 21. Iona Boat Song (Trad.; arr. Roberton) [2.43]
22. Mice And Men (Set To The Psalm Tune ‘Desert’) [2.11] (Trad.; arr. Roberton)
23. Kedron (Roberton) (2.57) 24. In Silent Night (Brahms: Rothery) (2.38) 25.
All Through The Night (Trad.; arr. Roberton) (3.03) Glasgow
Orpheus Choir/Sir Hugh Roberton rec. AAD. Mono. Transfers from pre-1952 LPs and
78s? REGIS
RRC1280 [76:47] [RB]
A
smooth curve into slumber sweet ... another astutely done winner
from Regis.... see Full Review
The
Glenn Gould Trilogy - A Life
1 - The Idea of Music [73.59] 2 - The Drop-Out
[77.19] 3 - The Quiet in the Studio [76.59]
Written by Michael Stegemann Glenn Gould: Tom Zahner Narrator: Leslie
Malton Other voices: Jean-Theo Jost, Charles Ripley, Pierre Shrady,
Ilene Winkler rec. March - July 2007, WDR Studios, Cologne, Germany
SONY 8869 713064 2 [3
CDs: 73.59 + 77.19 + 76.59] [KM]
An
interesting approach to a Gouldian biography in words, music and
sounds … 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
The
Grand Tradition
George Friedrich
HANDEL (1685–1759)
Concerto No. 2 in B flat Major, Op. 4 [11.18] Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Liebestod (from Tristan und
Isolde) [7.53] Maurice DURUFLE
(1902-1883) Choral varié sur le thème du Veni Creator,
Op. 4 [5.34] Charles-Marie WIDOR
(1844-1937) Andante Sostenuto (from Symphonie Gothique,
Op. 70) [5.46] Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Sonata I in F minor, Op. 65 [15.00] Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Prelude and Fugue in D Minor [10.04]
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Sketch in D flat major Op. 58, No. 3 [2.56] Alexandre
GUILMANT (1837-1911) March on a theme by Handel
[6.35] Richard Morris
(organ) rec. 27-29 June 2006, First Presbyterian Church, Savannah, Georgia.
DDD MSR CLASSICS MS1187
[66.38] [RH]
If
you enjoy the sound of the American symphonic pipe organ from the
1940s and 1950s then buy this disc. Morris displays a superb technique
and dazzling control of the tonal colour ... see Full
Review
Improvisata: Sinfonie
con titoli Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741) Sinfonia ‘Improvisata’ [3:23] Giovanni
Battista SAMMARTINI (1700/1-1775) Overture (Sinfonia) in
G minor [9:11] Carlo MONZA (c.1735-1801)
Sinfonia detta ‘La tempesta di mare’ [5:45] Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Sinfonia No.6, ‘La casa del diavolo’
[19:15] Giuseppe DEMACHI (1732-post
1791) Sinfonia, ‘Le campane di Roma’ [16:02]
Europe Galante/Fabio Biondi rec. 20-24 November 2004, Fondazione Teatro
Regio di Parma, Auditorium Paganini, Parma
VIRGIN CLASSICS 363430 [53:36][GPu]
A
stand-out performance of the Boccherini, supported by characteristically
vivacious playing in some lesser-known works … see Full
Review
I
Sing the Birth Andrew
SMITH (b. 1970) Veni Redemptor gentium [2:36] Plainchant
Hodie Christus natus est [[0:53] Giovanni
Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (c 1525-1594) Hodie Christus natus
est [1:39] Puer natus est nobis. Introit for the Feast of the Nativity
[2:47] Kenneth LEIGHTON (1929-1988)
Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child* [2:58] PÉROTIN
(c.1160-1240) Beata viscera [1:54] William
CORNYSH (c.1465-1523) Ave Maria Mater Dei [2:36] Plainchant
Alma Redemptoris Mater [1:39] Irish
trad. Arr. Alexander CRAIG The darkest midnight in December
[2:05] Peter MAXWELL DAVIES (b. 1934)
The Fader of Heven [1:21] Introit: Vox in Rama [0:53] Clemens
non PAPA (c.1510–c.1556) Vox in Rama [3:08] Introit reprise:
Vox in Rama [0:59] Normandy trad. Arr. New
York Polyphony Away in a manger [2:26] Robert
PARSONS (c.1530-?1570) Ave Maria* [3:35] Coventry
Carol Lully, lulla, thow littel tyne child [2:28] Plainchant
Ave Maria [1:00] Fifteenth-century
English carol Lullay, lullow, I saw a swete semly syght [2:10]
Fifteenth-century English carol Mervele
noght, Josep [5:44] Richard SMERT (fl.
1428-1477) Nowell: Dies wous garde, byewsser [2:52] Plainchant
Veni Redemptor gentium [0:51] William
BYRD (c.1540-1623) O magnum mysterium [4:54] Plainchant
Ecce advenit dominator Dominus [2:07] Clemens
non PAPA Magi veniunt ab oriente [3:18] Andrew
SMITH Nunc dimittis* [2:35] Plainchant
Vox in Rama [0:56]
New York Polyphony (Geoffrey Dunstan Williams (counter-tenor); Geoffrey
Silver (tenor); Scott Dispensa (baritone); Craig Phillips (bass-baritone))
*with Elizabeth Baber (soprano)/Ruth Cunningham (soprano)/Emilie
Williams (alto) rec. St. George’s Church, Stuyvesant Square, New York,
November 2006, April/May 2007. DDD Texts and translations included
AVIE AV2141 [60:55] [JQ]
A
superbly executed and very thoughtfully constructed
recital. I’d urge you to make it part of your
seasonal listening ... see Full
Review
The
Italian Ground Gaspar SANZ (1640-c.1710) Rujero [0:51]; Paradetas [0:27]; Zarabanda [1:43]; Folias [2:05]; La
Cavalleria de Napoles con dos Clarines [1:13]; Canciones [0:29]; Lantururu [0:45]; Dos
Trompetas de la Reyna de Suecia [0:33]; La Esfachata
de Cataluña [0:59]; Canarios [3:38] Lucas Ruiz DE RIBAYAZ (1626-after 1677) Tarantella [5:21] Giovanni Girolamo KAPSBERGER (c.1580-1651) Toccata [2:05]; Colascione [1:49]; Kapsperger [2:32]; Canario [1:57] Alonso MUDARRA (c.1510-1580) Fantasia que contrahaze
la harpa en la manera de Ludovico [2:12] Santiago DE MURCIA (c.1682-c.1732) Gaitas [3:09]; Cumbees [2:19] Bernardo GIANONCELLI (d. c.1650) Tastegiata [1:51]; Galliarda [1:33]; Corrente [1:17]; Bergamasca [2:48] Lucas Ruiz DE RIBAYAZ Españoletas [3:20] Alessandro PICCININI (1566-1638) Chiaccona in
partite variate [2:50] Bellerofonte CASTALDI (1580-1649) Quagliotta
Canzone [3:40] Lucas Ruiz DE RIBAYAZ Chaconas [1:07]; Marionas [1:24] anon The Italian Ground [4:08] Ludovico's
Band ((Ruth Wilkinson (viola da gamba); Marshall McGuire (triple
harp); Tommie Andersson, Samantha Cohen (theorbo, guitar);
Guy du Blêt (percussion)) rec. February 2006, Iwaki Auditorium,
Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Southbank Centre, Melbourne,
Australia. DDD ABC
CLASSICS 4766158 [59:49] [JV]
Fine
music in fine performances, but in many cases not in accordance
with what the composers had in mind ... see Full
Review
Late
Romantic Music for Cello and Piano John IRELAND (1879-1962) Sonata in
G minor (1923) [21:40] Albéric
MAGNARD (1865-1914) Sonata in A major Op.20 (1910)
[31:21] Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Improvisation
from Violin Sonata Op.18 (1888) arranged for cello and piano
by
Parry Karp [9:12] George ENESCU (1881-1955) Sonata
No.2 in C major Op.26 No.2 (1935) [30:54] Sergei
RACHMNAINOFF (1873-1943) Sonata in G minor Op.19 (1901) [36:26] Parry
Karp (cello), Howard Karp (piano)
No recording details UNIVERSITY
OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
SCHOOL OF MUSIC 1913956907 [62:29 + 67:51] [JW]
A
splendid conspectus of cello sonatas. Make an effort to seek this
out ... see Full Review
From Leipzig to London -
Duo Sonatas from the 18th and 20th Centuries Gordon
JACOB (1895-1984) Sonatina for oboe and harpsichord (1963)
[9:30] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Sonata in D for oboe d'amore and harpsichord BMV 1028 [14:35] Stephen
DODGSON (b. 1924) Suite in D for oboe and harpsichord (1972)
[8:41] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Sonata in G for cor anglais and harpsichord BWV 1027 [13:11] Elizabeth
MACONCHY (1907-1994) Three Bagatelles for oboe and
harpsichord (1972) [8:29] Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750) Sonata in G minor for oboe and harpsichord
BWV 1020 [9:19] Michael HEAD (1900-1976)
Siciliana for oboe and harpsichord (1972) [5:50]
Althea Ifeka (oboe, oboe d'amore, cor anglais) Katharine May (harpsichord)
rec. Church of St Edward the Confessor, Mottingham, London, 7-9 July
2005. DDD OBOE CLASSICS
CC2013 [69:44][JF]
For
once I suggest a good old fashioned continuous through-listen for this
album. And then of course you can pick out your favourites. ... see
Full Review
A
Little Nonsense
Ronald BINGE (1910-1979)
The Story of Cock Robin [6:16] The Grand Old Duke [3:21] TRADITIONAL
Oranges and Lemons [1:48] Doctor Foster (arr. Herbert Hughes orch. Cyril
Watters) [1:13] The Jolly Beggar (arr. Victor Hely-Hutchinson) [1:55]
A Good Roarin' Fire [0:46] The Great Meat Pie [1:54] The Harrin' Heed
[1:55] J Michael DIACK Sing
a Song of Sixpence (arr. Mackerras) [2:20] Little Jack Horner (arr.
Mackerras) [2:05] Jack and Jill (arr. Mackerras) [1:56] Liza
LEHMANN (1862-1918) Matilda - (arr.
Mackerras) [2:59] Henry King (arr. Mackerras) [3:00] Victor
HELY-HUTCHINSON (1901-1947) Old Mother
Hubbard (rearranged Mackerras) [2:39] The Owl and the Pussy Cat
[1:58] The Table and the Chair [2:10] The Duck and the Kangaroo [2:37]
Owen Brannigan (bass-baritone)
Pro Arte Orchestra/Charles Mackerras rec. EMI Studio No.1, London, January
1962 DECCA 442 9077
[41:51] [JW]
A
pity if this kind of disc mouldered away in the “Humour” racks. It had
life then and it has life now. I didn’t like all of it – but I did like
a lot of it ... see Full Review
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