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Michelangeli:
The Early Recordings Vol. 2 - 1939-51
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano Concerto 15 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Sonata 3 Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Scherzo 2, Berceuse, Mazurkas 25 & 47, Waltz 9 
Arturo Michelangeli (piano) dell’Ente dei Pomeriggi Musicali di
Milano SO/Ettore Gracis rec. 1939-51
NAXOS 8.112052 [74:18]
[JW]
The
young Michelangeli was a wizard and this second volume enshrines the
seeds of his future greatness ... see Full
Review
Moods
–
Piano Music by American Women Composers Marilyn
J ZIFFRIN (b.1926)
Moods (2005) [6:23]; Piano Sonata (2006) [8:55] Elizabeth
BELL (b.1928) Arecibo Sonata (1968 rev 2005) [13:15] Rami
LEVIN Passages (2002) [8:24] Rain
WORTHINGTON Hourglass (1991) [7:57]; Tangents (1996) [10:29];
Dark Dreams (2001) [8:06]; Always Almost (1996) [6:16]
Max Lifchitz (piano) rec. 17–20 December 2007, Chapin Hall (Bernhard
Music Center), Williams College, Williamstown, MA, DDD
NORTH/SOUTH RECORDINGS N/S R 1049 [70:00] [BBr]
There
is insufficient substance in the music … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Moviebrass
Leonard
BERNSTEIN (1918-1990) West Side Story Suite (arr. Marco Pierobon)
[25:22] Samuel BARBER
(1910-1981) Adagio for Strings (arr. Stephen McNeff)
[7:16] John WILLIAMS
(b. 1932), Jerry GOLDSMITH
(1929-2004), James HORNER
(b. 1953) and David ARNOLD (b. 1962)
Space Brass (arr. Marco Pierobon) [17:03] John
WILLIAMS Indiana Jones: Main
Title Theme (arr. Marco Pierobon) [4:27] Danny
ELFMAN (b. 1953)
The Simpsons Theme (arr. Marco Pierobon) [1:38] Franco
MICALIZZI (b. 1939)
and Yuji OHNO (b. 1941) Lupin III:
Main Title Theme (arr. Marco Pierobon) [3:17]
Gomalan Brass Quintet (Marco Braito and Marco Pierobon (trumpets); Nilo
Caracristi (French horn); Gianluca Scipioni (trombone); Oswald Prader
(tuba)) rec. 2007 full tracklist at end of review
NAXOS 8.572244 [59:03]
[RB]
Whoop
it up with the Gomalan. ...
see Full Review
A
Musical Journey –
Germany
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) ('illustrative')
excerpts from: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73, 1877 BRT Philharmonic
Orchestra/Alexander Rahbari (from Naxos 8.550279) Joseph
JOACHIM (1831-1907) ('illustrative') excerpts from: In
Memoriam Heinrich von Kleist, Op. 13, 1877
Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra/Meir Minsky (from Naxos 8.554733)
Picture Format 4:3 No Region Code
NAXOS 2.110534 
[50:12]
[MS]
A
wealth of input for ear and eye can be recommended if only for a couple
of playings … see Full Review
A
MUSICAL JOURNEY - ITALY Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Romeo
and Juliet (1869-1880)* Souvenir de Florence Op. 70 (1869)**
Capriccio italien Op. 45 (1880)***
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra/Stephen Gunzenhauser (from Naxos 8.550030
nla)*,*** Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra/Stephen Gunzenhauser (from Naxos
8.550030 nla)*,*** Vienna Chamber Orchestra/Philippe Entremont (from
Naxos 8.550404)** Picture Format 4:3. No Region Code
NAXOS 2.110253 [72:12]
[MS]
Something
of a collage … see Full
Review
The
Musical Landscape Gordon
JACOB (1895 – 1984) Overture Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872 – 1958) Fantasia on a theme
by Thomas Tallis Edward ELGAR (1857 – 1934) Serenade Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913 – 1976) Variations on a Theme of Frank
Bridge Royal
Academy Soloists/Clio Gould (violin/dir.), rec. 1999 CANTORIS
CRCD 6063 [53:58] [BBr]
Performances
radiate delight and pleasure … see Full
Review
Le
Mystère des Templiers
Ensemble
Organum/Marcel Pérès; Discantus/Brigitte Lesne; Alla Francesca;
Ensemble Gilles Binchois/Dominique Vellard rec. 2009
NAÏVE AMBROISIE AM195 [66:29]
[MS]
Appealing
music and convincing performances. … see Full
Review
Naked
Byrd
William BYRD (c.1540-1623) Ave Verum
Corpus Morten LAURIDSEN (b.1943)
O Magnum Mysterium Thomas TALLIS
(1505-1585) Loquebantur variis linguis Gregorio
ALLEGRI (1582-1652) Miserere mei Henryck
GÓRECKI (b.1933) Totus Tuus John
TAVENER (b.1944) Song for Athene
Armonico Consort/ Christopher Monks rec. 2008
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD180 [55:30]
[BW]
Some
slow tempi and lack of texts spoil an otherwise attractive recording
... see Full Review
Not
Just Dowland Carolyn
Sampson (sop.), Matthew Wadsworth (lute & theorbo), rec.
2008 WIGMORE
HALL LIVE WHLIVE0034 [76.16] [RH]
Riches
to be found here … see Full
Review
Ombre
de mon amant - French
Baroque Arias Marc-Antoine CHARPENTIER
(1634 – 1704) Michel LAMBERT (1610
– 1696) Jean-Philippe RAMEAU (1683
– 1764)
Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo) Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
rec. 2008
ARCHIV PRODUKTION 477 8610 [65:04] [GF]
In
every way a high quality product that no lover of Baroque vocal music
should miss ... see Full Review
Once
upon a time - Children’s
tales for piano and narrator Francis POULENC (1899-1963) The
Story of Babar Richard WILSON (b.
1941) A Child’s London ( Soulima
STRAVINSKY (1910-1994) Three Fairy Tales Henri
BARRAUD (b.1900) Histoires pour les Enfants Haskell
Smith (piano); Robert Aubry Davis (narrator) rec. 1998 ONGAKU
RECORDS
024-114 CD [66:56] [JS]
Either
too literal and studied or pleasant but instantly forgettable …
see Full Review
Perspectives
3 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Sonatas “Pastorale” & “Appassionata”
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Sonata 21
Andreas Haefliger (pno), rec. 2007
AVIE AV2148 [49:08 + 41:31]
[JW]
One
listens with admiration and respect. ... see Full
Review
Phantasy
of Spring Morton FELDMAN (1926-1987) Spring
of Chosroes Bernd Alois ZIMMERMANN (1918-1970) Sonate
für Violine & Klavier Arnold SCHÖNBERG (1874-1951) Phantasy
for Violin Iannis XENAKIS (1922-2001) Dikhthas Carolin
Widmann (violin), Simon Lepper (pno), rec. 2006 ECM
NEW SERIES 2113 [52:25] [DC]
Fascinating
20th century selection. ... see Full
Review
Prague
Symphony Orchestra William
WALTON (1902-1983) Scapino Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Piano Concerto 3 Miloslav KABELÁČ
(1908-1979) Reflections Maurice RAVEL
(1875-1937) Rapsodie espagnole
Peter Katin (piano) Prague SO/Zdeněk Košler, Václav
Smetáček rec. live 1967/8
ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS CD2/2008 [71:43]
[JW]
Another
engaging entrant ... see Full Review
The
Romantic Generation Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Nocturne in B major Op.62 No.1 (1846)
[6:23] Nocturne in D flat major Op.27 No.2 [5:05] Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) - Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
My Joys [3:44] Franz LISZT
(1811-1886) Reminiscences of Don Juan [18:19]
Die Loreley (1856) [5:59] Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856) Davidsbündlertänze Op.6 (1837) [33:44]
Charles Rosen (piano) rec. June, July and October, 1993, American Academy
of Arts and Letters, NYC
NIMBUS NI 2559 [73:14]
[JW]
Palpable
affection – a fitting judgement on his playing throughout ... see Full
Review
Scandinavian
Classics -
Vol. 2 Friedrich
KUHLAU (1786-1832) Incidental music to The
Elf Hill Niels W. GADE (1817-1890) Concert
Overture, Echoes of Ossian,Novelettes for String
Orchestra J.P.E. HARTMANN (1805-1900) Little
Kirsten Overture C.F.E. HORNEMAN (1840-1906) Aladdin,
Fairy-Tale Overture,Gurre-SuiteCarl
NIELSEN (1865-1931) Maskarade - Excerpts Poul
SCHIERBECK (1888-1949) Fête
Galante Overture Peder GRAM (1881-1956) Poème lyrique Svend
S. SCHULTZ (1913-1998) Serenade for
Strings Danish
State
RSO/Erik Tuxen, Launy
Grøndahl rec. 1942-52 DANACORD
DACOCD
673-4 [73:44 + 72:25] [RB]
A
mixed-bag collection of Danish incidental music … see Full
Review
SOLO
+ Øistein
SOMMERFELDT (1919 – 1994) Sonata Saxifraga, op 69a
(1985) [7:41] Ketil HVOSLEF (b
1939) Violino Solo (1980/1989) [15:42] Wolfgang
PLAGGE (b 1960) Duels for two violins (2007) [9:30]
Kjell Mørk KARLSEN (b 1947)
Fantasia Religiosa per violino solo [12:43] Bjørn
KRUSE (b 1946) Memento mori (2002) [14:06] Terje
BJØRKLUND (b 1945) Three Contrasts for two violins
(2007) [11:11]
Stig and Anders Kjellberg Nilsson (violins) rec. November 2006, March
2007, Ullensvang Church, Hordaland, Norway. DDD
2L 
2L47SACD
[70:53]
[BBr]
A
fine example of music from Norway … see Full
Review
Songs
of Springtime E.J.
MOERAN (1894 - 1950) Songs of Springtime & other
short works Arthur BENJAMIN (1893
- 1960) Three Mystical Pieces Edgar
BAINTON (1880 - 1956) Open Thy Gates, Night, In
the Wilderness Leslie HEWARD (1897
- 1943) The Witches’ Sabbath City
Chamber Ch London/Stephen Jones
rec. 1995 BRITISH
MUSIC
SOCIETY BMS417CD [49:35] [BBr]
There
is quality here … see Full Review
Spirit
of Vienna
Johann STRAUSS Jr (1825-1899)
Reiche Mädchen overture, Fanny Elssler overture
Johann STRAUSS III (1866-1939)
March, waltz, and polka from Katz und Maus Siegfried
TRANSLATEUR (1875-1944) Traumverloren waltz
Paul LINCKE (1866-1946) Casanova
waltz Alfons CZIBULKA (1842-1894)
Von der Hochschule polka-mazurka Edmund
EYSLER (1874-1949) Schützenliezel waltz
Joseph HELLMESBERGER (1855-1907)
Veilchenmädel waltz
Die flotten Geister/Christian Pollack rec. 2005
JOHANN STRAUSS SOCIETY JR0160-2 [79:35]
[BR]
More
world premiere recordings of Straussian delights … see Full
Review
Starry
Night Project:
Music Based on Visual Art Matthew
HARRIS (b.1956) Starry Night - Seven Paintings for Violin,
Cello and Piano (1984) Stephen PAULUS
(b.1949) Art Suite for Cello and Piano (1999) Libby
LARSEN (b.1950)
Black Birds, Red Hills - A Portrait of Six Paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe
for B-flat Clarinet, Viola and Piano (1996) Andrew
LIST (b.1956) Noa Noa: A Gauguin Tableau for Violin, Clarinet
and Piano (2008)
MONTAGE Music Society rec. 2008,
MSR CLASSICS MS1264 [62:44]
[OL]
The
entire disc is like a modern "Pictures at an Exhibition":
a wonderful, unforgettable journey... see Full
Review
In
the Still of the Night Anna
Netrebko (soprano); Daniel Barenboim (piano) rec. live, 2009 DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON
477 8589 [68:54] [MC]
You
would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by this engaging
and moving recital ... see Full
Review
Terruño Works
for guitar by Lindsey-Clark, Solis, Sinesi, Gismonti, Falu & Henze Berta
Rojas (guitar) rec. 2009 ONMUSIC
RECORDINGS [58:06] [ZT]
A
refreshing and elevating programme played with bravura and much
passion … see Full Review
Three
Portraits With Shadow Rodolfo
HALFFTER (1900-1987) Suite para
Orquesta,
Marinero en Tierra Ernesto HALFFTER (1905-1989) Canciones
Portuguesas Julián BAUTISTA (1901-1961) Tres
ciudades,
Sinfonía breve Lola
Casariego (mezzo)
Extremadura SO/Jesús Amigo rec. 2009 NON
PROFIT
MUSIC NPM0909 [62:56] [OL]
Energetic,
dense interpretations, which deserve to become the definitive account
of these attractive works ... see Full
Review
Paul
Tortelier -
The Great EMI Recordings rec. 1946-84 EMI
CLASSICS 6 88627 2 [20 CDs] [JW]
Tortelier’s
many admirers will find here much that has slipped through the
net; merits the highest admiration. ... see Full
Review
Trendsetters Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Symphony Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934) First Suite for Military
Band Joseph SCHWANTNER (b.
1943) … and the mountains rising nowhere Percy
Aldridge GRAINGER (1882-1961) Lincolnshire
Posy Peabody
Conservatory Wind Ens/Harlan D. Parker rec. 1998-2008 NAXOS
8.572242 [56:36] [BM]
Core
band repertoire, worth exploring … see Full
Review
The
Virtuoso Quartet César FRANCK
(1822-1890)
String Quartet Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
String Quartet, Op.18/6 Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Moment Musical
Virtuoso Qt rec. 1925-7
HISTORIC RECORDINGS HRMP00032 [72:18]
[JW]
Urgent,
affectionate careful to bring out the intensity ... see Full
Review
The
Virtuoso Viola
Includes Arthur BENJAMIN (1893-1960)
Le Tombeau de Ravel Georges ENESCU (1881-1955)
Pièce de Concert Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Fantasia cromatica Joseph JONGEN
(1873-1953) Introduction et Danse Henry VIEUXTEMPS
(1820-1881) Elégie Nicolò PAGANINI
(1782-1840) Sonata per la gran viola
Roger Chase (viola) Michiko Otaki (piano) rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.572293 [68:43]
[JW]
A
strongly Francophile recital played with assurance and perception …
well recorded ... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Visions
of Beyond Late
works by Liszt, Brahms, Beethoven, Debussy, Chopin, Schubert and
Schumann Edward
Rosser (piano)
rec. 2007 CONNOISSEUR
SOCIETY CD4260 [63:49] [BR]
Not
a recital but a great narrative in music … see Full
Review
WEINGARTNER
Carl Maria von WEBER
(1786-1826)
Der Freischütz - overture Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Rosamunde – Entr’acte Felix
WEINGARTNER (1863-1942) The Tempest – scherzettino
Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826)
Invitation to the dance Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Symphony 3
Basle Symphony Orchestra/Felix Weingartner (Weber, Schubert, Weingartner),
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Felix Weingartner (Mendelssohn) rec. 1928/9
PRISTINE
AUDIO PASC 210 [58:41]
Much
to enjoy in - and to learn from – this new release ... see Full
Review
With
Endless Teares Songs by Robert
JOHNSON (1583-1633), Nicholas LANIER
(1588-1666), Henry LAWES (1596-1662),
Jacques GAUTIER (late C16-before 1660),
Pelham HUMFREY (1647-1674) & Henry
PURCELL (1658-1695)
Johannette Zomer (sop.), Fred Jacobs (lute & theorbo), rec. 2008
CHANNEL
CLASSICS CCS SA 26609 [65:12]
[BW]
Another
enterprising release from an enterprising label ... see Full
Review
Michael
Zadora (piano) - the Complete Recordings
rec.
c.1922-38
APR 6008 [71:53 + 66:51]
[JW]
Splendid
to have this corpus of recordings available in one handy slim-line double
... see Full Review
Zarzuelas
(Highlights) Emilio ARRIETA (1823-1894)
Marina (1871) [39:53] Tomás
BRETÓN (1850-1923) La Verbena de la Paloma
(1894) [39:07]
Amadeo Vives (1871-1932) Bohemios,
Doña Francisquita
NAïVE V5213 [79:00 + 69:56]
[JS]
If
you have a general interest in zarzuela but no real knowledge of it
this will make a splendid addition to your collection.… see Full
Review
BOOK REVIEWS
Let
Beauty Awake:
Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Literature Edited
by Julian Rushton Elgar Editions, hardback 2010
Will
surely add value to your listening pleasure ... see Full
Review
The
Music of Lord Berners (1883-1950) ‘The
Versatile Peer’ by Bryony Jones
Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2003, hardback 155 pages £52.25 post free from
Amazon
Essential
for the musicologist, amateur and professional ... 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]
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