Nostalgia
The
Golden Age of Light Music – Continental Flavour -
Volume 2
rec.1930-61 GUILD LIGHT MUSIC
The Golden Age
of Light Music – The Art of the Arranger
Volume 1 rec.1930-60 GUILD LIGHT MUSIC
The
Golden Age of Light Music – Holidays for Strings rec. 1952-61
GUILD LIGHT MUSIC
The
Golden Age of Light Music – Light and Easy rec. 1947-60
GUILD LIGHT MUSIC
LATEST
CD & DVD REVIEWS
240
reviews completed so far this month.
Monday
April 30th
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Organ Transcriptions
Martin
Schmeding (organ) rec. 2011
ARS PRODUKTION ARS 38109 [75:19] [DC]
Superb
release in every regard. An all-round organ hit release.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Violin concertos, Keyboard concertos
Devy Erlih, Henry Merckel, Reinhold Barchet (violin), Kurt Kalmus (oboe)
Rudolf Reinhardt (harpsichord) Pro CO Munich/Kurt Redel rec. 1954/5
FORGOTTEN
RECORDS FR 275-76 [68:03 + 48:43] [JW]
Never
less than interesting.
Francesco
BARSANTI (1690-1772)
Concerti grossi
Banchetto Musicale - Il Piacere rec. 1997
DYNAMIC DM8023 [72:53] [JV]
Good
entertainment and well worth listening to.
Robert
PATERSON (b.1970)
The Book of Goddesses, Freya's Tears, Embracing the
Wind
MAYA, Clockwise, American Modern Ens rec. 2010/11
AMERICAN MODERN RECORDINGS AMR1034 [61:23] [Byz]
Atmospheric,
thoughtful, rhythmic and melodic, this can be enjoyed by believers,
agnostics and atheists alike!
John
RAMSAY (b.1931)
String Quartets 1-4
Fitzwilliam String Qt rec. 2010/11
METIER MSV 28528 [38:32 + 48:29] [DC]
Deserving
of respect and attention.
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Le Comte Ory
Juan Diego Florez, Diana Damrau, Joyce DiDonato, Metropolitan Opera
Ch & O/Maurizio Benini rec. 2011
VIRGIN CLASSICS 0709599 
[2 DVDs: 153:00 plus bonus] [RJF]
Outstanding
singing from the three principals. Quirks of production spoil what should
have been an issue deserving the highest accolade.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Georg Philipp TELEMANN
(1681-1767)
Der Tag des Gerichts, Die Donnerode, Der Herr ist
König
Barbara Schlick, Harry van der Kamp Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine
Konzert/Hermann Max rec. 1990/92
CAPRICCIO C5098 [70:45 + 65:30] [JV]
This
set is a must for every Telemann fan.
Il
labirinto della chitarra Guitar
music from 17th-century Italy
Private Musicke/Pierre Pitzl rec. 2010
ACCENT ACC 24239 [59:04] [JV]
The
music is great and often intriguing, the performances are fine, but
the scoring raises questions.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH A
Musical Journey - Norway
Featuring music of Edvard Grieg
NAXOS 2.110274
[55.57] [RJF]
A
winner for all lovers of Grieg’s music, and his captivating country,
alongside spectacular photography.
Precipitando
Alban
BERG (1885-1935) Piano sonata Leos
JANACEK (1854-1928) V mlhách (In the mists)
Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Piano
sonata
Dénes Várjon (piano) rec. 2011
ECM NEW SERIES 2247 [58:00] [DC]
Highly
intelligent, and with a sprinkling of lustre.
Saturday
April 28th
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Robert
ALDRIDGE (b.
1954) Elmer Gantry - Opera in Two Acts (2007)
Libretto by Herschel Garfein based on the novel by Sinclair Lewis
Soloists, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra/William Boggs rec. 2010 libretto
in English enclosed
NAXOS 8.669032-33 [69:24 + 72:14] [GF]
Totally
captivating.
Alban
BERG (1885-1935)
Concerto for violin and orchestra Paul HINDEMITH
(1895-1963) Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Carl Maria von
Weber ,Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Lars-Erik LARSSON (1908-1986)
Max REGER (1873-1916) Franz
BERWALD (1796-1868)
Louis Krasner (violin) Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra/Fritz Busch;
Kungliga Theatre Orchestra/Fritz Busch ¹ rec. 1938 - 1949
GUILD GHCD 2372 [78:45][JW]
Valuable
live performances.
Ignacio
CERVANTES (1847-1905) 38 danzas cubanas [66:04]
Álvaro
Cendoya (piano) rec. 2010,
NAXOS 8.572456 [66:04] [BR]
Cuban
folk dances, two minutes long, with a saucy air and light-hearted charm.
Josquin
des PRÉS (c.
1440-1521) Anonymous chanson: L’homme armé [0:37] Missa L’homme
armé super voces musicales [40:23] Missa L’homme armé sexti toni [33:06]
The
Tallis Scholars/Peter Phillips rec. 1989. DDD Latin texts, English,
French, German, Italian translations included
GIMELL CDGIM 019 [74:16] [JQ]
A
disc of Josquin Masses to savour
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886)
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1826)
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Alexander SKRIABIN (1872-1915)
Piano Music
Andrea Vigna-Taglianti (piano) rec. 2009. DDD
SHEVA COLLECTION SH027 [70:58] [Byz]
Vigna-Taglianti’s
audiences for now at least should not waste their money on this product.
George
Alexander MACFARREN (1813-1887)
Robin Hood - opera in three acts (performing edition
by Valerie Langfield) (1860)
Soloists, Victorian Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Ronald Corp rec. 2010,
Includes detailed notes and synopsis Libretto downloadable from the
Naxos site
NAXOS 8.660306-07 [78:36 + 79:57] [CH]
Anyone
even minimally interested in opera in Victorian England needs to get
this set.
Michel
Pignolet DE MONTÉCLAIR
(1667 - 1737)
CD 1 Concerts 1 - 6 
Marie-Céline Labbé, Marion Treupel-Franck (transverse flute) rec. 2009,
DDD
RAMÉE RAM 1102 [54:18 + 52:23] [JV]
Very
fine music, exquisite performances - what more do you want?
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) String Quartet No.
7 , String Quartet No. 8 Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Quartet,‘Rasumovsky’
Valentin
Berlinsky Quartet rec. 2010,
AVIE AV2253 [73:58] [DM]
Fine
Shostakovich, unmissable Beethoven. More, please.
Eric
WHITACRE (b.
1970) Water Night **
Julian Lloyd Webber (cello); *** Hila Plitmann (soprano) Eric Whitacre
Singers; London Symphony Orchestra/Eric Whitacre Texts included
DECCA 2796323 [75:56] [JQ]
A
further collection of pieces by Eric Whitacre, including many first
recordings, in first rate performances
The
Scottish Viola –
A Tribute to Watson Forbes
Martin Outram (viola)
Julian Rolton (piano) rec. 2011,
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6180 [68:13] [JW]
A
really worthwhile salute to a splendid musician.
Friday
April 27th
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685
- 1750) Cantatas for the complete liturgical year, Vol. 12
Gerlinde Sämann (soprano) Petra Noskaiová (contralto) Christoph
Genz (tenor) Jan van der Crabben (bass) La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken
rec. 2009
ACCENT ACC25312 
[70:22] [JV]
This
volume in Kuijken's cantata series shows considerable improvement in
expression.
Johann
Jacob FROBERGER (1616-1667)
Libro Quatro of 1656
Webb Wiggins (harpsichord, organ) rec. 2002
FRIENDS OF MUSIC FOM 10-027.28 [67:50 + 55:22] [DC]
Sensitively
programmed and lovingly produced - will not disappoint.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH NEIDHART
(c.1185-c.1240)
A Minnesinger and his 'Vale of Tears' : Songs and Interludes
Ensemble
Leones rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572449 [64:39] [Byz]
Peerless
musicianship.
Michael
NYMAN (b.1944)
Initial Treat/Secondary Treat, Waltz, Bird List Song, M-Work
Michael Nyman Band rec. 1981
MN RECORDS MNRCD123 [41:49] [DC]
Compulsive
listening.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Papillons, Piano sonata, Kinderszenen, Fantasie,
Waldszenen, Geister Variations
András Schiff (piano) rec. 2010
ECM NEW SERIES 2122/23 60.29 + 69.73] [RBe]
Immaculate
phrasing and a wonderful selection of colours and contrasts.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Cello Concerto 1 Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Cello symphony
Johannes Moser (cello) WDR SO Köln/Pietari Inkinen rec. 2011
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 98.643 [62:24] [Byz]
Eloquent,
rich-toned and enchanting.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Lieder
Gillian Keith (soprano) Simon Lepper (piano) rec. 2009
CHAMPS HILL RECORDS CHRCD 018 [60:06] [Byz]
Keith
is thoroughly convincing and communicates the emotional content of Strauss's
ravishing music to great effect.
Works
for Flute by 20th Century Wrocław Composers
Grzegorz
Olkiewicz (flute) Mirosław Gąsieniec, Teresa Worońko,
Maria Szwajger-Kułakowska, Andrzej Jungiewicz (piano) rec. 1992-93
DUX
0826 [59:19] [Byz]
An
ultimately rewarding programme.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
A Musical Odyssey in St
Petersburg
Renée
Fleming (soprano) Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone) Ivari Ulja, Olga Kern
(piano) State Hermitage O/Constantine Orbelian rec. 2009
DECCA 074 3383
[91:00 + 23:00 (bonus)] [RJF]
A
must for every lover of fine singing in wonderful venues in a magnificent
city.
A
Year at York
York
Minster Ch/Robert Sharpe David Pipe (organ) rec. 2011
REGENT REGCD368 [76:54] [JQ]
A
very interesting programme, splendidly executed, tracing the Church’s
year in music.
Thursday
April 26th 2012
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cantatas Vol. 50
Bach Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki rec. 2011
BIS BIS-SACD-1941
[74:57] [MC]
A must for any serious Bach devotee.
Arthur
BENJAMIN (1893-1960) & Leighton
LUCAS (1903-1982) Film Music
BBC Ntl O Wales/Rumon Gamba rec. 2011
CHANDOS CHAN10713 [67:58] [JF]
A superb achievement. Beautifully played.
Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) String Quartets Arne
NORDHEIM (1931-2010) Rendezvous
Oslo Camerata/Stephen Barratt-Due rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572441 [76.45] [PCG]
Admirably
precise playing that sparkles with electricity and brings a delightful
warmth.
Pietro
MASCAGNI (1863-1945) Cavalleria Rusticana
Ruggero LEONCAVALLO (1857-1919)
Pagliacci
Richard Tucker, Eileen Farrell, Anselmo Colzani, Franco Corelli, Lucine
Almara, Metropolitan Opera Ch & O/Nello Santi rec. 1964
SONY CLASSICAL 88691 909992 [76:08 + 70:05] [ST]
An
iffy release, and probably only for die-hard fans of the leads.
Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Vingt regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus
Eugeniusz
Knapik (piano) rec. 1979
DUX 0848/49 [56:57 + 73:11] [DC]
Opens
the door on Messiaen’s vision ever wider.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony 9 Hans
GÁL (1890-1987) Symphony 2
Northern Sinfonia/Thomas Zehetmair rec. 2010
AVIE AV2225 [55:09 + 43:28] [JW]
Perfectly structured work, excellently proportioned.
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) L’Oiseau de feu;
Orchestrations and arrangements
Bergen PO/Andrew Litton rec. 2009/10
BIS BIS-SACD-1874
[71:40] [DC]
A
stunning treat, and one which will give lasting pleasure.
Pyotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Violin Concerto
Max BRUCH (1838 - 1920) Violin
Concerto 1; Kol Nidrei
Michèle Auclair (violin) Austrian SO/Kurt Wöss, Wilhelm Loibner rec.
1950
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR 126 [59:22] [JW]
Energetic,
abrasive and charged with intensity.
John
WILLIAMS (b. 1932) A Tribute
Various orchestras/John Williams
SONY 88691942532 [70:56] [IL]
A
nice nostalgic trip.
Otro
Mundo
WARNER CLASSICS & JAZZ 5186543652 [73:52 + 74:12] [EML]
“The best music from around the world” is a misnomer, to say the least.
Wednesday
April 25th
Arthur
BLISS (1891-1975)
String Quartet No. 2 (1950) [31:31] Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934) String Quartet RTvii/8 – Movement
No.3; Late Swallows (1916-19) [9:32] Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) arr. Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1973)
Chacony in G minor Z730 [6:44] Benjamin BRITTEN
(1913-1973) String Quartet No 2 in C Major, Op 36 (1945) [30:12]
Barbirolli
Quartet rec. 2011,
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6165 [77:58] [JW]
Full
marks for this attractive compilation.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Claude
DEBUSSY (1906-1975)
Complete Orchestral Works for track listing see end of
review
Orchestre National de Lyon/Jun Märkl rec. 2007-2011
NAXOS 8.509002 [9 CDs: 9:08.49] [PCG]
Important
for its completeness but it has other claims to our attention as well.
Bohemian
Rhapsody Antonín
DVORÁK (1841-1904)
(arrangements by Nicholas Ingman)
Members of the Czech Nonet; Helena Hnykovà (violin); František Kuda
(piano) Camerata Nova Prague/Josef Suk rec. Prague, 1988 (?)
MUSICAL CONCEPTS MC114 [76:20][JS]
Very
pleasant but adds little to our understanding or enjoyment of these
wonderful works.
Jean
FRANÇAIX (1912-1997)
Piano Music
Martin Jones with *Richard McMahon, +Adrian Farmer (pianos) rec. 2011
NIMBUS
NI 5880 [3 CDs: 59:23 + 64:48 + 66:54] [PCG]
Françaix’s
music gives enjoyment and pleasure and this collection does just that.
William
Mathias - Santa Fe Suite and Other 20th Century Harp Classics
William
MATHIAS (1934-1992) Santa Fe Suite (1988) [12:40]
Improvisations, op.10 (1958) [5:17] Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845-1924) Une Châtelaine en sa Tour, op.110
(1918) [4:54] Marcel TOURNIER (1879-1951)
Au Matin - Etude de Concert (1925) [3:52] Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Harp Sonata (1939) [10:57] Albert
ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Impromptu, op.21 (1919) [6:26]
Germaine TAILLEFERRE (1892-1983)
Harp Sonata (1957) [10:57] Malcolm ARNOLD
(1921-2006) Fantasy, op.117 (1975) [10:29] Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Suite, op.83 (1969) [14:09]
Elinor Bennett (harp) rec. 1993. DDD
NIMBUS NI 5441 [79:04] [Byz]
Lightness
of touch and ear for detail matched by superb technique, poise and panache.
Verdi
Heroines and Mad Scenes –
Maria Callas Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901), Gaetano DONIZETTI
(1797-1848) Vincenzo BELLINI
(1801-1835)
Maria Callas (soprano) Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra/Nicola Rescigno
rec.1958 CD sleeve notes in English, no sung texts included
ALTO ALC1156 [77.30] [MMB]
A
wonderful tribute to a legendary voice. Callas admirer or not this is
a disc that will enrich any collection.
Clarinet
Sonatas of the 20th
Century Camille SAINT-SAËNS
(1835-1921) Othmar SCHOECK
(1886-1957) Leonard BERNSTEIN
(1918-1990) Mieczyslaw WEINBERG
(1919-1996) Edison DENISOV
(1929-1996)
Dawid Jarzynski (clarinet and bass clarinet); Tamara Chitadze (piano)
rec. 2010
DUX 0799 [76:03] [BR]
A really admirable program, but playing which doesn’t adequately underline
what makes each of its composers unique.
My
First Violin Album Various
performers rec. no details given. DDD
NAXOS 8.578215 [76:44] [Byz]
This
programme is probably catchy enough to get the young listener off to
an enthusiastic start.
Michal
Szymanowski
- piano recital
Ignacy Jan PADEREWSKI,
Fryderyk
CHOPIN, Karol SZYMANOWSKI
Michal
Szymanowski (piano) rec. May 2011,
CD ACCORD ACD 170-2 [66:50] [JW]
An
attractive first disc.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
A Tribute to Tchaikovsky
Vladimir Feltsman (piano) rec. 2011,
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6162 [68:10] [JWh]
Tchaikovsky
miniatures intimately played.
Tuesday
24th April 2012
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Goldberg Variations
Blandine Rannou (harpsichord) rec. 2010
ZIG-ZAG TERRITOIRES 111001 [89:29] [KM]
Love
it or hate it, you cannot deny that this unique, personal approach to
the Goldbergs is one to take note of.
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Les Illuminations
Hans Werner HENZE (b. 1926) Being
Beauteous Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Herzgewächse
Niccolò CASTIGLIONI (1932-1996)
Terzina Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937)
Slopiewnie
Anu Komsi (soprano) Ostrobothnian CO/Juha Kangas; Uusinta Chamber Ens/Sakari
Oramo rec. 2010/11
ALBA ABCD331
[58:15] [WH]
Britten’s
youthful cycle in an unusual programme, magnificently performed and
recorded.
Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Music for String Orchestra
Malmö SO/Bjarte Engeset rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572403 [71:13] [SV]
This
will delight and comes up with splendid depth.
Jules
MASSENET (1842-1912) Mélodies
Sabine Revault d’Allonnes (soprano) Samuel Jean (piano)
Matthieu Fontana (cello) rec. 2011
TIMPANI 1C1191 [50.39] [PCG]
Expands
our views of Massenet’s still underestimated muse to as yet undreamed-of
new horizons.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Die Schöne Müllerin
Dietrich
Fischer-Dieskau (baritone) Gerald Moore (piano) rec. 1951
REGIS RRC1383 [65:23] [JS]
Should
be in the collection of anyone with a love for the music of Schubert.
Henri
TOMASI (1901-1971) Works for trumpet
Eric Aubier (trumpet) Thierry Escaich (organ) Frédéric Mellard (trumpet)
Nikolaos Samaltanos (piano) Orchestre de l‘Opéra Nationale de Paris/Marius
Constant; Ens de Cuivres et Choeur de Rouen/Jean-Philippe Dambreville;
Orchestre de Bretagne/François-Xavier Bilger rec. 1988-2011
INDESENS IND 038 [71:34] [RB]
Adventurous
listeners rewarded with quite remarkable music - tonal yet gaunt, serene
and exciting.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Ernani
Carlo Bergonzi (tenor) Cornell MacNeil (baritone) Leontyne Price (soprano)
Metropolitan Opera O & Ch/Thomas Schippers rec. 1962
SONY CLASSICAL 88691 90996 2 [37:53 + 65:51] [RMo]
The
most vital and uninhibited singing you will ever hear from Leontyne
Price. Self-recommending as long as you are tolerant of mono sound.
Cor!
- Alison Teale plays cor anglais
Alison Teale (cor anglais) Elizabeth Burley (piano) rec. 2010
OBOE CLASSICS CC2023 [76:27] [JW]
This
engaging recital has been extremely well recorded. Admirers of the instrument
should find much to reward them.
Freud
und Lust - Works by Dietrich BUXTEHUDE
(c.1637-1707) Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Johann Christoph BACH
(1642-1703)
Ryland Angel (alto) Holy Trinity Bach Players/Rick Erickson rec. 2005
DEUX-ELLES
DXL1147 [57:52] [JV]
If
you decide to purchase this disc you won't regret it.
Sounds
of Defiance -
Works by Alfred
SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) Joseph ACHRON
(1886-1943) Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Arvo PÄRT (b.1935)
Yevgeni
Kutik (violin) Timothy Bozarth (piano) rec. 2011
MARQUIS
MAR 81429 [68:18] [SA]
A
disc of lasting value that sheds light on works that are heard far too
infrequently.
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