LATEST
CD & DVD REVIEWS
203 reviews
completed so far this month.
Thursday
February 28th
Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Mazurkas 
Russell Sherman (piano) rec. 2007
AVIE 2262 [66:43 + 59:08] [BR]
Are
these eccentric readings of the Chopin mazurkas interesting? Yes, they
are. Are they good? I can’t be sure.
Jean-Frédéric
EDELMANN (1749
- 1794) Sonatas
Sylvie Pécot-Douatte (harpsichord, fortepiano) rec. 1998,
PHAIA MUSIC PHU012.14 [3 CDs: 213:27] [JV]
Edelmann's sonatas are well worth investigating but this set
has serious production errors.
Philip
GLASS (b.
1937) Einstein on the Beach (highlights) Documentary: The
Changing Image of Opera
Philip Glass Ensemble rec. 1984
ORANGE MOUNTAIN MUSIC OMM0083 [77:00 + DVD 58:00] [KM]
If you care about Philip Glass’s Einstein on the Beach you simply must
get this if only for the DVD documentary.
Joseph
HAYDN (1732 - 1809) Die Jahreszeiten, Die Schöpfung
Helen
Donath (soprano) Adalbert Kraus (tenor) Kurt Widmer (bass) Süddeutsches
Madrigalchor, Ludwigsburger Festspiele O/Wolfgang Gönnenwein
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94384 [4 CDs: 248:08] [GF]
As
a first recording of the two oratorios one could feel satisfied with
Gönnenwein but others are to be preferred.
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Piano Sonata, Three Petrarch
Sonnets Enrique GRANADOS (1867-1916)
Goyescas: El amor y la muerte
Domenico Codispoti (piano) rec. 2011
ODRADEK 855317 003035 [62.10] [PCG]
An
excellent pianist one would look forward to encountering in different
repertoire which could be enjoyed without invidious comparisons.
Jean
RICHAFORT (c.1480-after
1547) Requiem
Huelgas Ensemble/Paul van Nevel
HARMONIA MUNDI HMA1951730 [60:53] [BW]
An attractive reissue at an attractive price.
Kurt
ROHDE Chamber Music
Axel Strauss (violin) Genevieve Feiwen Lee (piano) Ellen Ruth Rose,
Kurt Rohde (violas) Left Coast Chamber Ens/Matilda Hofman, Empyrean
Ens/Mary Chun
INNOVA 839 [76:28] [DC]
Comes
up with the goods.
Glenn
Gould - The Schwarzkopf Tapes Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Drei Lieder der Ophelia, Burleske
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) Glenn Gould (piano) Toronto SO/Vladimir
Golschmann rec. 1955-1988
SONY CLASSICAL 88725441362 [56:37] [JQ]
This
issue is strictly for Gould completists.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) The Verdi Opera Selection
- Vol. 1: Il Trovatore, Don Carlos & Rigoletto rec. 1978-2006
ARTHAUS
MUSIK 107524 
[4
DVDs: 526:00] [RJF]
These
three productions represent the ancient and the more modern, even outlandish!
At the price they represent good value even if you throw one away.
Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Symphonies 6 & 7
São Paulo SO/Isaac Karabtchevsky rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.573043 [68:18] [Byz]
Works
that are grandly romantic and atmospheric, bursting with drama, local
colour and international appeal.
Wednesday
February 27th
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Billy Budd
John Mark Ainsley (tenor)London PO/Sir Mark Elder rec. 2010
GLYNDEBOURNE GFOCD 017-10 [3 CDs: 164:06] [PCG]
Despite
the many virtues of this new set the Hickox Chandos version is to be
preferred.
Ernesto
LECUONA (1895-1963)
Piano music
Clara Rodríguez (piano) rec. 2004
NIMBUS NI6214 [66:54] [JW]
Clara
Rodríguez’s Lecuona selection is as fine as anyone’s.
John
McCABE (b.
1939) Visions
Iain Farrington (organ) BBC Singers/David Hill rec. 2009/10
NAXOS 8.573053 [71:49] [JF]
An
eye-opening exploration of a facet of McCabe’s music otherwise little
represented.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Arias & lieder
Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) Ch & O Deutschen Oper Berlin/Donald Runnicles
DDD
DECCA 478 5189 [74:21] [JPr]
Kaufmann
is intelligent enough to leave these intense, stamina-sapping and vocally
demanding roles to those born to sing them.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Carl Maria von WEBER
(1786 - 1826) Violin sonatas, Piano quartet
Isabelle Faust (violin) Alexander Melnikov (fortepiano) Boris Faust
(viola) Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt (cello) rec. 2011
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC 902108 [70:11][MS]
Music
as full of substance as it is energy and nuance performed with style
and sensitivity on period instruments.
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
The Wasps – Aristophanic Suite, Fantasia on Greensleeves
Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
Enigma Variations
Kansas City SO/Michael Stern rec. 2011
REFERENCE RECORDINGS RR-129 [61:06] [JQ]
A
most enjoyable disc. Fine performances and superb sound.
Chicago
Moves
Gaudete Brass rec. 2012
CEDILLE RECORDS CDR 90000 136 [63:00] [BR]
An
excellent introduction to the latest in brass quintet music. I hope
there is more to come from these composers and performers.
Energico
Works by
Paganini, Takemitsu, Llobet & Boyle
Marco Ramelli (guitar) rec. 2012
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6218 [58:48] [SA]
A young guitarist about whom I’m sure we’ll hear a great deal more.
A
European Odyssey
London
Schubert Players and friends rec. 2010-11 various locations
NIMBUS NI6195 [3 CDs: 226:56] [JW]
Despite
the odd looking package I’m glad I listened.
Irvin_Epoque
Irvin Venyš (clarinet), Epoque Qt, David Pavelka (bass) rec. 2011
ARCO DIVA UP 0147-2 131 [56:25] [JW]
A
handful of works by Czech and Slovak composers across two generations
with three works from the Americas.
Tuesday
February 26th
Alexander
BERNE (b. 1969) Self Referentials
- Vols 1 & 2
Alexander Berne and the Abandoned Orchestra
INNOVA 838 [54:38 + 44:55] [DC]
A
remarkable journey.
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Symphony 8, The
Golden Spinning Wheel, Scherzo Capriccioso
Malaysian PO/Claus Peter Flor rec. 2010-2011
BIS 
BIS-SACD-1976
[79:28] [TB]
With
imaginatively chosen couplings, this strong performance of Dvořák's
Symphony No. 8 is well worth hearing.
Jewish
Spirits Osvaldo
GOLIJOV (b.1960) The Dreams and Prayers of
Isaac the Blind Ernest BLOCH
(1880-1959) Jewish Life, Abodah
Michel Lethiec (clarinet) Itamar Golan (piano) Artis Quartet rec. 2008-2011
SAPHIR
PRODUCTIONS LVC 1175 [47:32] [SA]
An
opportunity to get to know the magic of klezmer in a classical music
framework.
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Organ Concertos Vol.
2 Paolo
Grazzi (oboe) La Davina Armonia/Lorenzo Ghielmi (organ) rec. 2012
PASSACAILLE PAS990 [74:16] [BW]
This
impressed me greatly right out of the box.
Johann
Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778 - 1837) Violin Sonatas
Michael Jarvis (fortepiano), Paul Luchkow (violin, viola) rec. 2011
MARQUIS
MAR 81419 [62:53] [JV]
Intimate
and sensitive performances of three sonatas by Hummel.
Alla
PAVLOVA (b.1952) Symphonies 7 & 8
Saule Rinkeviciute (violin) Lithuanian State Symphony/Gintaras Rinkevičius
rec. 2012
NAXOS 9.70183 
[54:19] [RB]
Have
you given up on modern symphonies as sources of melodic reward? Pavlova
will restore your faith.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Oberto
Giovanni Parodi (bass) Francesca Sassu (soprano) Fabio Sartori (tenor)
O Ch of the Teatro Regio, Parma/Antonello Allemandi rec. 2007
C MAJOR 
720104 [124:00 + 10:00] [RJF]
In
the intimate setting of the small theatre in Verdi’s hometown,
in period costume znd with simple sets, this performance and staging
have many virtues.
Leo
Blech Overtures and Dances
London SO rec. 1931
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 354 [77:48] [JW]
Blech
as conductor unshackled from the confining best accompanist role.
Lieder
zur Weihnacht in der
Dresdner Frauenkirche
Peter Schreier (tenor), Hansjorg Albrecht (piano, organ) rec. 2000
BERLIN CLASSICS 0300428BC [61:64] [MC]
Schreier
sounds fresh and spontaneous, demonstrating a fine feeling for the texts.
Miserere
A Sequence of Music for Lent, St. Joseph, and The Annunciation
Ch of
Westminster Cathedral/Martin Baker Peter Stevens (organ) rec. 2011
HYPERION CDA67938 [79:15] [JQ]
A
beautifully performed, discerningly chosen programme.
Monday
February 25th
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
St John Passion
Ian Bostridge (tenor) Neal Davies (bass) Carolyn Sampson (soprano)
Iestyn Davies (counter-tenor) Roderick Williams (bass) Polyphony; O
Age of Enlightenment/Stephen Layton rec. 2012
HYPERION CDA67901/2 [53:45 + 64:25] [JQ]
This
desirable new recording deserves a place in the front rank.
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Symphony 1 Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Overture A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Chicago
SO/Sir Georg Solti rec. 1971
ICA CLASSICS ICAD 5089
[68:00] [CF]
Warmth,
romanticism, love and tenderness.
Philip
GLASS (b.
1937) Tara Hugo sings Philip Glass
Tara Hugo (mezzo) various accompanists, Trevor Gureckis (conductor/pianist)
rec. 2012
ORANGE MOUNTAIN MUSIC OMM 0084 [50:41] [MC]
Those
who enjoy the music of Philip Glass should not hesitate.
Andrés
ISASI (1890-1940)
String Quartets 0 & 2
Isasi Qt rec. 2010
NAXOS SPANISH CLASSICS 8.572463 [55:00] [Byz]
Elegance,
wistfulness, folk influences, memorable melodies, minor keys and a lack
of pretentiousness.
David
JENNINGS (b.1972)
Piano Sonata, Sonatinas 1-3, Prelude and Fugue, Three Lyrical Pieces,
Miniature Suite, Harvest Moon Suite
James Willshire (piano) rec. 2012
DIVINE ART DDA 25110 [78:10] [JW]
A
composer admirably equipped in writing for the piano.
Daniel
PURCELL (c.1670-1717)
The Unknown Purcell - Sonatas
David Pollock (harpsichord) Hazel Brooks (violin) rec. 2011
CHANDOS CHAN 0795 [75:32] [JV]
This
project of putting Daniel Purcell into the spotlight has turned into
a rather tame affair.
Johann
STRAUSS I (1804-1849)
Strauss Edition - Vol. 22
Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina/Christian Pollack rec. 2011
MARCO POLO 8.225342 [78:09] [Byz]
It
is hard to object to such effortlessly tuneful and jauntily rhythmic
music.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901)
Un giorno di regno
Guido Loconsolo (baritone) Andrea Porta (buffa bass) Anna Caterina
Antonacci (mezzo) Ch & O Teatro Reggio, Parma/Donato Renzetti rec.
2010
C MAJOR 720304
[119:00 +10:00 (bonus)] [RJF]
A
joy to watch and to hear. An absolute must for all Verdi lovers.
Israel
Philharmonic 75th Anniversary Concert
Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso Fryderyk CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Piano Concerto 1, Scherzo 2 Ernest
CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Poème Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony 8
Julian Rachlin, Vadim Repin (violin) Evgeny Kissin (piano) Israel
PO/Zubin Mehta rec. 2011
EUROARTS 2059098
[concert: 95:00; documentary: 52:00] [DC]
A
celebration and a warm invitation.
Russian
Trumpet Concertos by
Arutiunian, Vasilenko, Shakhov, Goedicke & Böhme
Reinhold Friedrich (trumpet) Göttingen SO/Christoph-Mathias
Mueller rec. 2011/12
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 901 1770-6
[61:26] [SA]
A
little box of absolute delights with a real power to surprise.
Friday
February 22nd
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1826) / Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Symphonies 1 & 6 (transcr. for
piano)
Gabriele Baldocci (piano) rec. 2012
DYNAMIC CDS 731 [71:10] [Byz]
Should
entertain and satisfy in equal measure.
Heinrich
Ignaz Franz von BIBER (1644 - 1704) Mystery
Sonatas
Julia Wedman (violin), Felix Deak (cello, viola da gamba), Lucas Harris
(archlute, theorbo), Julia Seager Scott (harp), Charlotte Nediger (harpsichord,
organ) rec. 2010
DORIAN SONO LUMINUS DSL-92127 [73:26 + 55:20] [JV]
Certainly
not middle-of-the-road.
Josquin
DESPREZ (1440-1521) Psalm Settings
Weser-Renaissance Bremen/Manfred Cordes rec. 2009
CPO 777 588-2 [70:26] [MS]
Beautiful
singing of colourful and charged Psalm settings - a winner.
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Horn Concertos 1 & 2; Divertimento
Michael HAYDN (1737-1806) Romance
for Horn and String Quartet; Adagio and allegro molto for Horn and Trombone
Jasper
de Waal (horn) Concertgebouw CO/Henk Rubingh rec. 2009
CHANNEL CLASSICS SACD CCSSA30210
[55:00] [BW]
If
the coupling suits, go ahead - but consider alternative couplings.
Hildegard
of Bingen (1098-1179)
Sinfonye/Stevie Wishart rec. 2012
DECCA 476 5117 [52:36] [DC]
Nice
moments, but something of a halfway house.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Tosca
Angela Gheorghiu, Jonas Kaufmann, Bryn Terfel, Royal Opera House O/Antonio
Pappano rec. 2011
EMI CLASSICS 4040639 [120:00]
[JQ]
A
stunningly good account of Puccini’s “shabby little shocker”.
Bravo!
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) L’occasione fa il
ladro
Elizaveta Martirosyan, Fanie Antonelou, Württemberg PO/Antonino
Fogliani rec. 2005
NAXOS 8.660314-15 [45:22 + 42:11] [GF]
A
lovely opera well served by the performers.
Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Complete Works for Piano
Pina
Napolitano (piano) rec. 2011
ODRADEK 855317003004 [55.09] [PCG]
Communicates
the “expressive and romantic force” of the music.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Der Rosenkavalier
Cheryl Barker, Catherine Carby, Manfred Hemm, Opera Australia/Andrew
Litton rec. 2010
OPERA AUSTRALIA OPOZ56026DVD
[200:48] [TB]
This
live recording recaptures the atmosphere of what must have been a special
occasion.
Gino
Marinuzzi Opera Overtures and Intermezzi
O del Teatro alla Scala/Gino Marinuzzi rec. 1936-42
PREISER PR93486 [78:45] [JW]
Marinuzzi
should be far better known than he is.
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