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Médée
furieuse (Medea's fury) 
Stéphanie d'Oustrac (mezzo); Amarillis rec.
2007
AMBROISIE AM157 [72:28][JV] 
Some
good music but these performances too often lack expression ... see
Full Review
Arthur Nikisch conducts
Beethoven Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Symphony No. 5; Egmont Overture Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Overtures: Oberon; Der
Freischütz Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Le Nozze di Figaro – overture
Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Hungarian
Rhapsody No.1
London Symphony Orchestra & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Arthur
Nikisch rec. 1913-14
DUTTON CDBP9784 [74:42][JW] 
A
homogeneity of sound that to many will be very acceptable ... see Full
Review
Nordic
Voices Djåŋki daŋ Music
by Lasse THORESEN (b.1945), Asbjørn
SCHAATHUN (b.1961), Henrik ØDEGAARD
(b.1951), David BRATLIE (b.1952),
Cecilie ORE (b.1954) and Kåre
KOLBERG (b.1936)
Nordic Voices rec. 2008
AURORA ACD5055 
[71:19][DC]
A
fascinating programme by one of the best vocal ensembles on the planet
... see Full Review
Polyphonic
Vespers for St. Michael's and St. Martin's Days Vespers
for St. Michael's Day [13:01] Mass for St. Martin's Day [08:33]
Vespers for St. Martin's Day [25:31]
Schola Hungarica/Janka Szendrei, László Dobszay rec. June
2006, Our Lady Chapel, Archabbey of Pannonhalma, Hungary. DDD
BUDAPEST MUSIC CENTRE RECORDS BMC CD 128 [47:06]
[JV]
Broadens
the picture of 16th century liturgical practice
... see Full
Review
From the
First Night of the Proms 1943 Announcements
[2:59] National Anthem [1:06] Paul
DUKAS (1865-1935) The Sorcerer’s
Apprentice (1897) [11:43] Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Piano
Concerto No.2 in G minor Op.22 – second movement
omitted (1868) [17:42] ¹ Georg
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Acis
and Galatea – Love in her eyes sits playing
(1718) [7:27] ² Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony
No. 5 in C Minor Op. 67 – first movement only
(1807) [6:40] Lamar
STRINGFIELD (1897-1959) A Negro
Parade (1931) [9:29] Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Theme
and Variations from Suite No.3 Op.55 (1884)
[19:58]
Moura Lympany (piano) ¹ Heddle Nash (tenor)
² London Philharmonic Orchestra/Henry Wood
rec. live, Royal Albert Hall, London, 19 June
1943. ADD
SOMMCD 076 [77:17] 
[JW]
Releases
like this come as amazing surprises.... see
Full Review
Romantic
Residues
James Gilchrist (tenor);
Jaime Martin (flute); Alison Nicholls (harp)
rec. November 2007
HYPERION CDA67725 [66:12][BBr]
Must
for all interested in contemporary British song ... see Full
Review
Roma
Triumphans Music by Luca
MARENZIO (1553-1599), Tomás Luis
de VICTORIA (1548-1611),
Giovanni Pierluigi da PALESTRINA
(1525?-1594), Orazio BENEVOLI
(1605-1672), Giovanni GIORGI (d.1762)
and Vincenzo UGOLINI (1570-1638)
Studio de musique
ancienne de Montréal/Christopher Jackson rec. 2007
ATMA SACD22507
[61:32][GPu]
Not
possessed of the highest in tonal beauty and intensity but it makes
a rewarding listen … see Full
Review
Blanche
Selva – une promenade musicale
César FRANCK (1822-1890)
Violin Sonata Juli GARETTA
Sardana Vincent d’INDY
(1851-1931) Départ martinal, Danses rhythmiques Albert
ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Suite: Sicilienne Isaac
Albéniz (1860-1909) Iberia:
Triana Déodat de SEVERAC
(1872 – 1921) En Vacances: Où l’on entend une veille boîte à musique
Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Dolly suite: Berceuse Barcarolle
Paul DUKAS (1865-1935) Variations, Interlude and Final
Pianists: Blanche Selva, Vincent d’Indy, Lazare Lévy, Moriz Rosenthal,
Georges de Lausnay, Anita Siegel, Babeth Leonet, Yvonne Lefébure rec.
1923-48 RCP 076
[74:17] [JW]
Fascinating
material but misjudged transfers ... see Full
Review
Viktor
Simon (cello) Includes Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Don Quixote Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Tannhäuser (arr. Simon) Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphonies 1 & 15 (fragments
arr. Simon) Viktor
Simon (cello) I Boguslavsky (viola), M Chernyakhovsky (violin)
Tchaikovsky SO of Moscow Radio/Genady Rozhdestvensky, Vladimir
Fedoseyev.
rec. 1963-2006 RELIEF CR991090 [65:22]
[JW]
Simon
the orchestral protagonist and transcriber ... see Full
Review
Simple
Gifts -
King’s Singers 40th Birthday Arrangements
of Folk melodies and popular songs rec.2007/8 SIGNUM
CLASSICS SIGCD 121 [48.46] [GH]
Absolutely
superb. Balance and tuning are miraculous. Just the right atmosphere
... see Full Review
Solomon – The
Master Pianist -Compendium BEETHOVEN, GRIEG,
SCHUMANN, BRAHMS, TCHAIKOVSKY, SCARLATTI, BUSONI,
MOZART, LISZT, SCRIABIN, BLISS rec.
1943-46 EMI
CLASSICS ICON 2 06102 2 [7CDs] 
[JW]
Noble,
characterful and poetic musicianship ... see Full
Review
Solo
Rumores Arturo
MÁRQUEZ (b.1950) Solo
RumoresMarcela RODRÍGUEZ (b.1951) Entre
las ramas rotasRamón
MONTES DE OCA (1953-2006) Ecos del llanoJuan
Fernando DURÁN (b.1963) Entonces el cielo se adueñó de
la nocheHilda PAREDES (b.1958) Sobre
un páramo sin vocesJoaquín
Gutiérrez HERAS (b.1927) Canto lejanoPaul
BARKER (b.1956) Pedro’s ProgressLaurie
ALTMAN (b.1956) Pedro’s StoryAlex
SHAPIRO (b.1962) LuvinaZulema
DE LA CRUZ (b.1958) Arenoso Silvia
BERG (b.1958) Dobles del Páramo Ana
Cervantes (piano)
rec. August 2007 QUINDECIM RECORDINGS
186 [66:06]
[GPu]
An
intriguing and rewarding CD of new music played with commanding
intensity … see Full Review
Songs
of Innocence Trad.
(arr. Benjamin Britten) I wonder as I wander Trad.
(arr. Charles Ives) In the mornin’ Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) Diaphenia, The
Owl, Witches Song, Chamber Music
V, The Rainbow, The Oxen, Little Sir William Michael Berkeley (b.1948) Cradle Song Peter Warlock (1894-1930) The
bayly berith the bell away William Boyce (1710-1779) (arr.
Elizabeth Poston) Tell me, lovely shepherd Michael Flanders (1922-1975) and Donald SWANN (1923-1994) (arr.
Andrew Plant)
The Slow Train Trad. (arr.
Benjamin Britten) Ca’ the yowes George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) (arr.
Maurice Jacobson) Silent Worship Charles Wood (1866-1926) Who is
Silvia Trad. arr. Andrew Plant Caleno
custere me Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) Dirge
for Fidele Roger Quilter (1877-1953) Summer
Sunset Charles Ives Slow March Benjamin Britten Tom Bowling John Jeffries Matthew, Mark,
Luke & John Malcolm Williamson (1931-2003) My
bed is a boat Samuel Barber (1913-1976) Sure
on this shining night Malcolm WILLIAMSON Sweet and low Andrew
Swait (treble); James Bowman (counter-tenor); Andrew Plant (piano)
rec. 2007 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD128 [61:48]
[JF]
Well
written and well presented music at its best ... see Full
Review
Sound
the Trumpet
William CORBETT
(d.1748)
Suite in D major [14:20] Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) Symphonies Gottfried
FINGER (d.1730) Sonatas William
CROFT (1678-1727) Overture John
ECCLES (1668-1733) Suite John
BARRETT (d.1719) Sonata James
PAISIBLE (d.1721) Sonata
Mark Bennett, Michael Laird (trumpet); Frank de Bruine (oboe); Judy
Tarling (violin) The Parley of Instruments/Peter Holman rec. 1995
HELIOS CDH55258 [70:31] [GPu]
An
enjoyable, and instructive, sampler of early English trumpet music
now reissued … see Full Review
The
Story of British Classical Music
see review for details
NAXOS 8.558193-94 [78:20 + 79:02] [EM]
Eclectic
choice of works and wonderfully comprehensive, well-written booklet
... see Full Review
Richard
Strauss Conducts Der Rosenkavalier
Richard STRAUSS
(1864-1949) Der Rosenkavalier Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Die Zauberflöte - overture
Christoph Williabald von GLUCK
(1714-1787) Iphigénie en Aulis - overture
Peter CORNELIUS (1824-1874)
Der Barbier von Bagdad – overture Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Der Fliegende Holländer
– overture Tristan and Isolde - prelude
Berlin PO/Richard Strauss rec. 1926-41
DUTTON CDBP9785 [75:07] [JW]
A
splendid release ... see Full
Review
The Study of Love:
French songs and motets of the 14th century
Gothic Voices/Christopher Page rec. 1992
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55295 [60:09][BW]
For
the confirmed medievalist ... see Full
Review
Surprised
by beauty –
Minimalism in choral music
Gavin BRYARS (b. 1943)
And so ended Kant’s travelling in this world Arvo
PÄRT (b. 1935) The Beatitudes Ruth
LOMON (b. 1930) Transport William
DUCKWORTH (b. 1943) Southern Harmony William
WALKER (1809-1875) Selection from The Southern Harmony
and Musical Companion
Boston Secession/Jane Ring Frank rec. 2007
BOSTON SECESSION BRAVO0720 [51.08]
[RH]
Strong
performances …. if the mix of works appeals look no further ...
see Full Review
Gerhard
Taschner (violin) Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Violin
Concerto Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Violin
Concerto Pablo de SARASATE (1844-1908) Carmen
Fantasy rec.
1953-6 MUSIKPRODUKTION
DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 642 1508-2 [73:39] [JW]
Lightly
bowed and curiously undemonstrative ... see Full
Review
Tango
Romances Astor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Four
Seasons of Buenos Aires José BRAGATO (b.1915) Milontan Devich
Trio rec. 2007 CHALLENGE
CLASSICS CC72178 [52:46] [GPu]
Nuevo
tango meets classical piano trio – and the encounter is a generally
happy one … see Full Review
A
tribute to Boris Tchaikovsky Boris
TCHAIKOVSKY (1925 – 1996) Sextet,
Passacaglia and Fugue, Anyuta – Suite Petr
KLIMOV (b. 1970) Little Fantasy Moments Musicaux Stanislav
PROKUDIN (b. 1970) Three Nocturnes Alexey
VERSHININ (b. 1964) Two Pieces Ksenia
PRASSOLOVA (b. 1970) Five Canons Andrey
GOLOVIN (b. 1950) The Spring Song Anton
PRISCHEPA (b. 1983) The Two rec.
2002-6 RELIEF
CR991091 [75:41]
[HC]
Well
worth exploring ... see Full
Review
Renate
Tebaldi - Voice of Gold
Arias by Verdi, Puccini, Giordano, Cilea and Catalani
- see review for details
rec. 1952-56 REGIS RRC1297
[73.59]
Ideal
for anyone unfamiliar with Tebaldi in all her youthful prime ...
see Full Review
Tortelier
Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
Cello Concerto Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Double Concerto Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Cello Sonata Paul Tortelier
(cello); various accompanists rec. 1959-74
BBC LEGENDS BBCL42362 [71:59][JQ]
An
excellent reminder of the artistry of Paul Tortelier ... see Full
Review
Trio
Lignum - Trialog Johannes
OCKEGHEM (c.1426-1495) Missa sine nomine Zsolt
SEREI (b.1954) Dream Drawings József
SÁRI (b.1935) Trialogue Thomas
TALLIS (c.1505-1585) Felix namque
Csaba Klenyán (clarinet); Lajos Rozmán (clarinet); György Lakatos (bassoon);
Ildikó Vékony (cimbalom) rec. 2006-7
BUDAPEST MUSIC CENTRE BMCCD127 [62:10][GPu]
Out
of the ordinary, intriguing and mostly satisfying
… see Full
Review
BOOK
REVIEWS
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Discover Classical
Music of the 20th Century by David McCleery ISBN:
978-1843792376 Published: 2008 Paperback format 224 pp.
NAXOS BOOKS [MM-B]
An
insightful simple guide to a period of great change in music ... see Full
Review
Sir
Arthur Sullivan’s Grand Opera ‘Ivanhoe’ and its
Theatrical and Musical Precursors by
Jeff S. Dailey Edwin Mellon Press ISBN 978 0 7734 5068 4 220 pp. £69.95
[RW]
A
fascinating read, thoroughly researched and
with a clear style. ... see Full
Review
Click
for alphabetical listings by composer:
[Part
1 New] [Part
2 A-B] [Part
3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]
[Part 5 S-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L]
[Part 7 Misc M-Z]
[Recommended
recordings]
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