210
reviews completed so far this month
Monday
October 31st
Doreen
CARWITHEN
(1922-2003) Film
Music 
BBC Concert O/Gavin Sutherland rec. 2010
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7266 [61:31] [RB] 
Some
really fine cinema music here high on sumptuous 1950s confidence.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ross
EDWARDS (b. 1943) Violin concerto Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Violin Concerto
Adele Anthony (violin) Adelaide SO/Arvo Volmer rec. 2009
CANARY CLASSICS CC09 [57:20] [NB]
A
very rewarding disc.
Toivo
KUULA (1883-1918) Songs and Orchestral Music
Susan Gritton (soprano) BBC Concert O/Martin Brabbins rec. 2011
DUTTON EPOCH INTERNATIONAL CDLX 7272 [73:22] [RB]
A
most impressive disc. Glorious.
René
MAILLARD (b.1931) Surviving after Hiroshima, Concerto
Grosso, Concerto da Camera 2
Sarah Jouffroy (mezzo) Royal PO/Dionysios Dervis-Bournias rec. 2009
NAXOS
8.572623 [71:00] [Byz] 
Music
with a neo-Classical feel to it, recalling Stravinsky in spirit if not
in style.
Ottorino
RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Poema autunnale Josef
SUK (1874-1935) Fantasy Ernest
CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Počme
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) The Lark Ascending
Julia
Fischer (violin) Monte-Carlo PO/Yakov Kreizberg rec. 2010
DECCA 478 2684 [69:59] [OL] 
The
entire disc radiates purity.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Die Winterreise
Laurens Bogtman (baritone), Felix de Nobel (piano) rec. 1954
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR 524 [64:25] [CH]
This
revival only shows that some records have been forgotten because they
weren’t especially good.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Don Quixote, Till Eulenspiegels
lustige Streiche, Don Juan
Paul Tortelier (cello) Berlin PO/Rudolf Kempe, Fritz Lehmann rec. 1954/8
REGIS
RRC1371 [73:37] [MC]
I
would be perfectly happy if these accounts were the only ones in my
collection.
Tomás
Luis de VICTORIA (1548-1611) Missa Vidi speciosam
Ch of
Westminster Cathedral/James O'Donnell, David Hill rec. 1984
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55358 [45:07] [MS]
A
welcome reissue of simple, committed singing of beautiful and compelling
music by Victoria.
Classic
Film Scores for Bette Davis - Music by Steiner, Korngold,
Newman and Waxman
National PO/Charles Gerhardt rec. 1973
SONY/RCA RED SEAL 88697 812722 [41:00] [IL]
Nicely
unrestrained readings of these powerfully emotional, melodramatic scores.
Rarities
of Piano Music Schloss vor Husum - Vol. 22
rec. 2010
DANACORD DACOCD709 [77:18] [JF]
Not
a few of these pieces are miniature masterpieces.
Friday
October 28th
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franco
ALFANO (1875-1954) Violin Sonata; Piano Quintet; Nenia
And Scherzino
Mary Ann Mumm, Elmira Darvarova (violin) Scott Dunn (piano) Craig Mumm
(viola) Samuel Magill (cello) rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572753 [66:16]
[RB]
This
is late-romantic music that sings with it face looking into radiance.
Georges
BIZET (1838-1875)
Le docteur Miracle
Christiane Eda-Pierre (soprano) Robert Massard (baritone) Rémy
Corazza (tenor) Radio France O/Bruno Amaducci. rec. 1976
OPERA D’ORO GRAND TIER OPD7077 [51:57] 
[RMo]
Worth
acquiring for its intrinsic, Gallic charm and the quality of the performance.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Die Schöne Magelone
Dominik Wörner (bass-baritone) Masato Suzuki (piano) rec. 2010
ARS PRODUKTION ARS38497 [53:59]
[JS]
A
performance very much worth hearing.
Erik
CHISHOLM (1904-1965) Music for Piano - Vol. 7:
Elegies and Suites
Murray McLachlan (piano) rec. 2006
DIVINE ARTS DIVERSIONS DDV24155 [68:45]
[Byz]
Jam-packed
with inventive, subtle and tantalising rhythms, harmonies and effects.
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934)
Hiawatha, Suite, Légende, Double Concerto,
Caprice and Elegy
Philippe Graffin (violin) Sarah-Jane Bradley (viola) BBC Concert
O/David Lloyd-Jones rec. 2009
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7226 [71:57]
Lebenstanz, Irmelin suite, A Poem of Life and Love,
A Village Romeo and Juliet suite
Royal Scottish Ntl O/David Lloyd-Jones rec. 2010
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7264 [68:06]
[RB]
Mightily
impressive in these hands.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Reinhold GLIERE (1875-1956)
Symphonies 1-3; Horn Concerto; The Zaporozhy Cossacks; The
Red Poppy & The Bronze Horseman Suites; Concert Waltz;
Heroic March; Overtures
BBC Philharmonic/Sir Edward Downes, Vassily Sinaisky rec. 1991-96
CHANDOS CHAN10679(5)X [5 CDs: 348:43]
[RB]
Done
with Chandos style … elite results … voluptuously lyrical and vividly
imagined … The price is irresistible.
Alessandro
GRANDI (c.1586 - 1630) Vespro della Beata Vergine
Deborah
York, Daniel Taylor, Ed Lyon, Peter Harvey, Gächinger Kantorei
Stuttgart, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart/Matthew Halls rec. 2010
CARUS 83.367 [57:50]
[JV]
A
largely unsatisfying attempt to bring Grandi's music to the attention
of a modern audience.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphonies 35 & 36; Piano
Concerto 22; Horn Concerto 1
Radek Baborak (horn) Berlin PO/Daniel Barenboim (piano, conductor) rec.
2006
EUROARTS 2020208 
[116:08]
[TP]
This
is a very enjoyable release and well worth snapping up at its discounted
price.
Philipp
SCHOENDORFF (1565/70-in or after 1617) Missa Usquequo
Domine, Magnificat, Missa super La dolce vista
Philippe DE MONTE (1521-1603) Magnificat, Usquequo
Domine oblivisceris me?
Cinquecento rec. 2010
HYPERION CDA67854 [60:02]
[JV]
One
hour of pure joy.
Songbook
The trebles of Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum/Benjamin Nicholas, Helen
Porter (piano) Carleton Etherington (organ) rec. 2010
DELPHIAN DCD34097 [66:42]
[JQ]
A
happy disc.
Thursday
October 27th
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hector BERLIOZ
(1803-1869)
Grande Messe des Morts
Robert Murray (tenor) Chetham’s School Brass Ens, Gabrieli
Players & Consort, Wrocław PO & Ch/Paul McCreesh rec. 2010
SIGNUM
CLASSICS SIGCD280 [48:25 + 40:17]
[JQ]
At
last we have a recording that, in every respect, does full justice to
the Grande Messe des Morts.
Michael
HURD (1928-2006) The Widow of Ephesus; Mr Owen’s
Great Endeavour
Pippa Goss, Louise Winter, Michael Bundy, City of Canterbury Chamber
Choir, Orchestra Nova/George Vass rec. 2010
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7269 [67:01]
[RB]
Steadfastly
rewarding. Lovely!
Ludvig
IRGENS-JENSEN (1894-1969)
Symphony, Passacaglia
Bournemouth SO/Bjarte Engeset rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572312 [66:47]
[NB]
Congratulations
and praise to Naxos for another winner of a disc.
Jacques
OFFENBACH (1819-1880) The Tales of Hoffmann
Roberto Alagna (tenor) Natalie Dessay (soprano) Sumi Jo (soprano) Ch
& O Opéra National de Lyon/Kent Nagano rec. 1994-6
ERATO OPERA COLLECTION 2564 67266-5 [3 CDs: 172:13]
[ST]
Not
perfect but still immensely enjoyable.
Georges
ONSLOW (1784-1853)
String Quintet, String Quartet
Gérard Jarry, Yvon Caracilly (violins) Serge Collot, Bruno Pasquier
(violas) Michel Tournus (cello) rec. 1972
EDITIONS ANDRÉ CHARLIN CCV1002 [46:00]
[JW]
A
splendid restoration and well worth your time.
Franz
SCHREKER (1878-1934)
Der ferne Klang
Sally Du Randt (soprano) Mathias Schulz (tenor) Stephen Owen (bass-baritone)
Augsburg Theatre Opera Ch, Augsburg PO/Dirk Kaftan rec. live, 2010
ARS PRODUKTION ARS 38 080 [70:05 + 74:17]
[DC]
One
of the best available.
Andrew
SCHULTZ (b.
1960) Endling, Violin Concerto, Once upon a time
Jennifer
Pike (violin) Tasmanian SO/Richard Mills rec. 2008
ABC CLASSICS 476 4519 [67:51]
[RB]
Schulz's
magnetic pull is towards the pensive, steadily glowing and leaning towards
the whisper.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Heinrich
SCHÜTZ (1585-1672)
Musicalische Exequien, Motets
Vox Luminis/Lionel Meunier rec. 1999/2010
RICERCAR RIC311 [55:07]
[JV]
One
of the best recordings of Schütz' Musicalische Exequien.
Per
la Vergine Maria Works
by Monteverdi, Bencini, Melaini, Soler, Scarlatti & Carissimi
Concerto Italiano/Rinaldo Alessandrini rec. 2010,
NAIVE OP 30505 [63.31]
[GH]
The
recording serves only to enhance the music. It allows it to breathe
and the performers are well balanced. Worth investing in.
Songs
of Cricket
London Quartet, Chris Hatt (piano) Alexander L’Estrange (piano) rec.
2011
SIGNUM SIGCD217 [69:00]
[JS]
Overall
I found this disc a disappointment.
Wednesday
26th October
Matthew
CURTIS
(b.1959) Orchestral
Works (Volume IV) A Festival Overture [4:32] Short and Suite (Valse;
Intermezzo; Fancy Free; On the River; Striding Edge) [9:34] Variations
on a Theme of Verdi [10:25] Four Winds Suite [26:20] Autumn Leaves [4:33];
Sterling Silver [7:59]; Summer Serenade [3:34]; Christmas Rush [4:02]
Royal
Ballet Sinfonia/Gavin Sutherland rec. 2008-9
CAMPION CAMEO 2085 [79.47] [RB]
A
magician of light exuberant music in the grand British tradition.
Carl
CZERNY
(1791-1857) Piano
Sonatas - Volume 3
Martin Jones (piano) rec. 2008/ 2009/2010
NIMBUS NI5872/73 [68:56 + 75:23]
[JW]
Fresh
from my enjoyment of volumes 1 and 2 in this series, I find that there’s
no cessation in the latest release
Joăo
Rodrigues ESTEVES
(c1700 - after 1751) Sacred Music
Andrew Carwood (tenor)*, Mike McCarthy (bass)* Christ Church Cathedral
Choir/Stephen Darlington; David Goode, Philip Millward (organ) rec.
1996
NIMBUS NI 5516 [68:06]
[JV]
Delightful
performances of some treasures from the Portuguese musical heritage.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Vasily KALINNIKOV
(1866-1901) Symphony
No. 1 in G minor (1894-1895) [37:37] Symphony No. 2 in A major
(1895-1897) [39:02]
Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra/Kees Bakels rec. 2000, DDD
BIS-CD-1155 [77:29]
[DM]
A
very special disc indeed.
Dariusz
MAZUROWSKI (b.1966)
Electronic
music Pseudaria (2011) [30:59]
Divertimento (2010) [31:58]
Music composed, performed and engineered by Mazurowski rec. 2011 World
Premiere Recordings
ACTE PREALABLE AP0241 [63:02]
[RB]
Atmospheric
and richly varied sound assemblages.
Serge
RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943)
Caprice
bohémien, Op. 12 (1892-94) [17:55] Prince Rostislav (1891)
[14:41] Symphony No 3 in A minor, Op. 44 (1935-36) [40:50]
BBC Philharmonic/Gianandrea Noseda rec. 2010 DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10677 [73:49]
[JQ]
A
splendid disc.
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828)
String Quartet No.13 in A minor, D.804 Rosamunde (1824) [35:36]
String Quartet No.14 in D minor, D.810 Death and the Maiden (1824)
[42:33]
Brandis Quartett rec. 1994/95 DDD
NIMBUS NI5438 [78:35] [OL]
Technically
impeccable performances, a little on the dry side.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Symphony No.6 in B minor Pathétique
(1893) [45:41] Nutcracker Suite (1892) [21:38]
Large Symphony Orchestra, Ministry of Culture, Russian Federation/Gennadi
Rozhdestvensky (Symphony) Moscow State Symphony Orchestra/Pavel Kogan
(Suite) rec. 1989
ALTO ALC1106 [67:43]
[NB]
Even
at bargain price point there are far too many other finer versions than
this of both works – a rare Rohzdestvensky dud.
4
Strings Only:
A Recital for Solo Violin
Ernest BLOCH (1880-1959) Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Paul
BEN-HAIM (1897-1984) Luciano BERIO
(1925-2003)
Herwig Zack (violin) rec.2010/2011
AVIE AV2189 [76:38]
[AM]
A
valuable collection of solo violin works from a very impressive violinist.
English
Violin Sonatas Thomas
DUNHILL (1877-1946) Violin Sonata in F op.50 (1918) [29:47]
Granville BANTOCK (1868-1946) Violin
Sonata no.3 in C (1940) [19:53] Charles Villiers
STANFORD (1852-1924) Violin Sonata no.1 in D op.11 (1880)
[24:59]
Susanne
Stanzeleit (violin), Gusztáv Fenyň (piano) rec. 1994
REGIS RRC1376 [75:34]
[CH]
The
Dunhill is a wonderful discovery and the Stanford is the best of the
two performances now available.
Tuesday
25th October
Christopher
BALL (b.1936) Horn Concerto, Oboe Concerto, Celtic
Moods, Invocations of Pan, A Summer Day
Tim Thorpe (horn) Paul Arden-Taylor (oboe/cor anglais) Roger Armstrong
(flute) Jonathan Burgess (flute) Leslie Craven (clarinet) Emerald Concert
Orch/Adderbury Ens/composer rec. 2002-2010
MUSICAL CONCEPTS MC143 [77:48] [RB]
The
Horn Concerto is a winner.
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Violin Concerti 1 & 2 Viola Concerto
James
Ehnes (violin/viola) BBC PO/Gianandrea Noseda rec. 2010/2011
CHANDOS CHAN 10690 [77:45]
[NB]
A
disc of superb value in playing time terms as well as anything else.
Heinrich
Ignaz Franz BIBER (1644-1704) The Rosary Sonatas for
violin and continuo
Leah Gale Nelson (violin) Daniel Swedberg (theorbo) Dongsok Shin (organ)
rec. 2010
LYRICHORD LEMS 8079 [72:57 + 52:41]
[GA]
Leah
Gale Nelson brings fire and fervour to this very fine, historically-informed
recording of the Biber Rosary sonatas.
Georges
BIZET
(1838-1875) Les Pecheurs de Perles Leila – Pierrette
Alarie, Nadir – Leopold Simoneau Zurga, – Rene Bianco, Nourbad– Xavier
Depraz Orch des Concerts Lamoureux/Jean Fournet
GUILD
GHCD 2382/83 [138:45]
[DBe]
Focused
singing, clean with a tight and bright youthful sounding vibration.
Mikolajus
ČIURLIONIS
(1875-1911) Piano Music, vol. 2
Muza Rubackyte (piano) rec. 1993
NAXOS 8.572660 [69:35]
[Byz]
Rubackyte
pays this music great respect and her lovely lyrical tone, discipline
and expressiveness ensure persuasive performances.
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphonies 4 & 5
Camilla Tilling (soprano)World Orch for Peace/Valery Gergiev rec. 2010
C
MAJOR 702608 [153:51]
[TP]
This
is not everyone’s ideal Mahler, but it is thoroughly enjoyable if you
favour ensemble clarity and thrilling execution over deep emotion.
Teizo
MATSUMURA (1929-2007) Symphonies 1 & 2, To the
Night of Gethsemane
Ikuyo Kamiya (piano) RTÉ Nat SO/Takuo Yuasa rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.570337 [60:50]
[Byz]
Enormous,
almost overwhelming power.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerti 6, 8 &
9 Angela
Hewitt (piano) Orchestra da Camera di Mantova/Carlo Fabiano rec. 2010
HYPERION
CDA67840 [75:23]
[DC]
A
very exciting prospect indeed.
Josef
Gabriel RHEINBERGER (1839–1901) Klavierwerke
Jürg
Hanselmann (piano) Sandra Hanselman-Kästli (piano) rec. 1990-2004
CARUS
83.365 [10 CDs: 11:10:00]
[DC]
A
feast for piano buffs.
Entertaining
Miss Austen - Newly discovered music from Jane Austen’s family
collection
Amanda Pitt (soprano) John Lofthouse (baritone) David Owen Norris (piano)
rec. 2009
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX7271 [73:55]
[RB]
Austen
and music with sprightly and committed performances.
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