BOOK
REVIEWS
Love
Me Tender –
The Stories behind the world’s best-loved
songs by
Max Cryer. Frances Lincoln Limited. ISBN 978-0-7112-2911-2.
[IL]
An
intriguing little book that would make an
ideal Christmas stocking filler. ... see Full
Review
LATEST
CD REVIEWS
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FRIDAY November 28th
Furore George
Frideric HANDEL (1685–1759) Opera
Arias 
Joyce
DiDonato (mezzo) Les Talens Lyriques/Christopher Rousset rec.
2008 VIRGIN
CLASSICS 5190382 [75.08] [RH] 
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Complete
Music for Solo Keyboard Ronald
Brautigam (fortepiano) rec. 1998-2002 BIS
BIS-CD-1731/33 [15 CDs: 17:04:37] [KM] 
For
fans of the instruments or neophytes, this is a bargain not to
be missed ... see Full
Review
Karl
JENKINS (b.
1944) The Concertos Sarikiz, Quirk, La
Folia, Over the Stone, Allegretto London
SO/Karl Jenkins rec. 2007/8 EMI
CLASSICS 5002352 [79:50] [BBr]
Nothing
deep or profound, just well crafted and very enjoyable ... see Full
Review
Per
NØRGÅRD (b.
1932) String Quartets 7-10 Kroger
Quartet rec. 2006/7 DACAPO
8.226059 [70:54] [HC] 
Quite
strong stuff but well worth the effort ... see Full
Review
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Don
Juan Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1857) Violin Concerto Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Rückert-Lieder František
Novotný (violin) Karla Bytnarová (mezzo) Brno PO/Martin Turnovský rec.
live, 2007 ARCO
DIVA UP 0108-2 131 [61:56] [GP-J]
Overall
a firm ‘also-ran’, despite Novotný’s impressive and valuable Korngold
... see Full Review
Simeon
TEN HOLT (b. 1923) Canto
Ostinato Kees
Wieringa (piano); Polo de Haas (piano) rec. 2007 ET’CETERA
KTC1367 [75.29] [GH]
Highly
thought-provoking, but I may not play it again ... see Full
Review
Sir
Michael Tippett (1905-1998) String
Quartets Vol. 1 Quartets 1, 2 & 4 Tippett
Quartet rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570496 [64:37] [JF]
Will
appeal strongly to all interested in Tippett’s chamber music ...
see Full Review
The
Catalan Piano Album Jordi
Masó (piano) rec. 2006 NAXOS
8.570457 [79:00]
A
gem, full of unusual and delightful music, played by a wonderful
pianist. ... see Full Review
Marie
Delna The Complete Published Recordings (& Jeanne
Marié de l’Isle - selected recordings) Marie
Delna (soprano) Jeanne Marié de l’Isle (soprano) rec.
1903-10 MARSTON
52056-2 [76:39 + 79:48] [JW]
A
light mezzo voice and very beautiful ... see Full
Review
ings Christina
Petrowska Quilico (piano) rec. 2007 WELSPRINGE
PRODUCTIONS WEL0008 [73:04 + 62:33] [BBr]
One
of the most fascinating selections of music I’ve ever come across
... see Full Review
THURSDAY November 27th
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685–1750) Cantata
BWV11 & arias from Passions and Mass George
Frideric HANDEL (1685–1759) Arias from Samson,
Messiah & Judas Maccabeus Kathleen
Ferrier (contralto) London PO/Sir Adrian Boult rec. 1949/52 NAXOS
HISTORICAL 8.111295 [73.49] [RH]
Profoundly
moving performances, strong musicality and emotional truth ...
see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano
Sonatas - Volume 4 Nos 5-7, 15, 19, 20, 29 & 30-32 Paul
Lewis (piano) rec. 2008 (?) HARMONIA
MUNDI HMC901909-11 
[3
CDs: 59:30 + 60:30 + 64:13] [DJB]
A
triumphant completion of a Beethoven cycle for the ages … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ross EDWARDS (b.
1943) Symphonies 1 & 4 Adelaide
Chamber Singers, Adelaide Phil Ch, Adelaide SO/Richard Mills
rec. 2002 ABC
CLASSICS 476 6161 [60:00] [TP]
A
first class production that deserves to find a wide audience ...
see Full Review
Luca
FRANCESCONI (b.
1956) Etymo, Da Capo, A fuoco,
Animus IRCAM,
Ensemble Intercontemporain/Susanna Mälkki rec. 2006/7 KAIROS
0012712KAI 
[69:15]
[HC]
I
doubt that these performances will ever be bettered ... see Full
Review
Arthur
HONEGGER (1892-1955) Film
Scores Regain, Crime et Châtiment, Le
Démon de l’Himalaya, L’Idée Slovak
PCh, Slovak RSO/Adriano rec. 1992/3 NAXOS
FILM MUSIC CLASSICS 8.570979 [74:40] [JW]
Well
researched and very well performed ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY (1809-1847) The
Symphonies - Vol.2 String Symphonies 7 & 12, Symphony
4 Heidelberger
Sinfoniker/Thomas Fey rec. 2007 HÄNSSLER
CLASSIC CD 98.281 [68:55] [TP]
Fey
is a fine conductor. Would that I could say the same about his
Mendelssohn ... see Full
Review
Sergei
Sergeyevich Prokofiev (1891-1953) Cinderella Agnès
Letestu Paris Opera Ballet, Paris Opera O/Koen Kessels rec.
live 2008 OPUS
ARTE OA0997D 
[2
DVDs: 360:05] [WK]
A
sumptuous package ... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Manfred symphony, The
Voyevoda Royal
Liverpool PO/Vasily Petrenko rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570568 [68:51] [RMAY]
Randall
THOMPSON (1899-1984) The
Peaceable Kingdom, Alleluia, The Last
Invocation, Mass of the Holy Spirit, Fare Well Schola
Cantorum of Oxford/James Burton rec. 2008 HYPERION
CDA 67679 [77.02] [GH]
In
every way a fine CD ... see Full
Review
Urban
Requiem Scott
LINDROTH (b. 1968) Spin Cycle Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) (arr. Lee Brooks) Introduction
and Rondo-Capriccioso Eric
WHITACRE (b.1970) October Michael
COLGRASS (b.1932) Urban Requiem Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) (arr. Guy Duker) Overture
on Russian and Kirghiz Folk Songs John
Philip SOUSA (1854-1932) Nobles of the Mystic Shrine Youngstown
State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble/Stephen L. Gage rec.
2002-6 NAXOS
8.570946 [64:06] [BM]
Another
excellent release in this great series … see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Cantatas, Vol. 40 Lobe
den Herren, den Machtigen Konig der Ehren, BWV137, Tue
Rechnung! Donnerwort, BWV168, Gott der Herr ist Son
und Schild BWV79, Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet,
BWV164 Yukari
Nonoshita (soprano); Robin Blaze (counter-tenor); Makoto Sakurada
(tenor); Peter Kooij (bass) Bach Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki
rec. 2007 BIS
BIS-SACD-1671 [57:22]
[PB]
One
of Suzuki’s finest yet. ... see Full
Review
Luciano
BERIO (1925–2003) Chemins
IV, Fourteen Duos, Récit Pierre
BOULEZ (b. 1925) Dialogue de l’ombre double Anton
WEBERN (1883 – 1945) Quartett Vincent
David (saxophones); Ensemble Quaerendo Invenietis/Renaud Déjardin
(Chemins, Recit) rec. 2007 AEON
AECD0860 [56:32] [HC]
An
agreeably varied release … first rate playing and musicality ...
see Full Review
Vinko
GLOBOKAR (b.
1934) Der Engel der Geschichte, Les
Otages SWR
SO Baden-Baden und Freiburg/Fabrice Bollon and Martyn Brabbins,
Experimentalstudio des SWR, Freiburg Bayerischen Rundfunks
SO/Arturo Tamayo rec. 2004/6 COL
LEGNO WWE 2SACD 20609 [59:32
+ 62:13] [DB]
A
challenging pair of large-scale works. … see Full
Review
Christoph
Willibald GLUCK (1714–1787) Iphigénie
en Aulide, La Rencontre imprévue, Don Juan José Van
Dam, Anne Sofie Von Otter, Lynne Dawson, L'Opéra National de
Lyon O/John Eliot Gardiner rec. 1981-90 ERATO
2564 695620 [4 CDs: 66:57 + 65:50 + 73:38 + 78:10] [MC]
This
is splendidly performed and recorded ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Peer
Gynt Suites 1 & 2, Funeral March in Memory of Rikard
Nordraak, Old Norwegian Melody with Variations, Bell
Ringing Bergen
PO/Ole Kristian Ruud rec. 2003-5 BIS
BIS-SACD-1591 [70:50]
[SV]
A
must-have ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) La
Bohème Angela
Gheorghiu, Ramón Vargas The Metropolitan Opera O & Ch/Nicola
Luisotti rec. live,2008 EMI
CLASSICS 2174179 [136:00] [IL]
I
cannot fault this production ... see Full
Review
Fountains Maurice
RAVEL (1875–1937) Jeux
d’eau, Pavane pour une infante defunte, Miroirs Claude
DEBUSSY (1862–1918) Suite Bergamasque, Les
soirs illuminés par l’ardeur du charbon Pour le Piano John
Chen (piano) rec. 2006 ABC
CLASSICS 476 6834 [71:29] [BBr]
A
very enjoyable disk in every way ... see Full
Review
Canti
Drammatici Peteris
VASKS (b.1946) Piano
Quartet Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano
Quartet 3 Ensemble
Raro rec. 2007 SOLO
MUSICA SM119 [70:12] [TB]
This
CD should bring long-term rewards ... see Full
Review
A
Noble Noyse of Musicke The
Royal Wind Music rec. 2004 LINDORO
MPC-0118 [63:15] [JV]
Performed
well, but lacks coherence and suffers from less than ideal recording
... see Full Review
Powerplant Includes Steve
REICH (b.1936) Electric
Counterpoint Kraftwerk Tour
de France, Radioactivity, Pocket Calculator Javier
ALVAREZ (b.1956) Temazcal Powerplant
rec. 2003-8 SIGNUM
RECORDS SIGCD143 [49:55] [DC]
Is
this is where contemporary percussion is going? ... see Full
Review
TUESDAY November 25th
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cantatas -
Vol. 39 Bach
Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki rec. 2007
BIS BISSACD1641
[72:42][PB]
Another
satisfying offering in this landmark project ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Actus Tragicus
Amsterdam Baroque
Orchestra and Choir/Ton Koopman rec. 1994
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72289 [61:01][TB]
Koopman
in performances well judged and sensitively drawn ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) The Complete Chamber Music
Various artists
HYPERION CDS44331/42 [12 CDs: 805:15][JFL]
This
Hyperion set is my pick among the bunch ... see Full
Review
Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Roberto
Devereux Chorus
of the Bergamo Musica Festival; Corrado Casati Orchestra of the Bergamo
Musica Festival/Marcello Rota rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.660222-23 [54.39 + 72.39][MM-B]
Does
Devereux absolute justice and is very good value for money ... see Full
Review
Andrew FORD (b
1957) Night
and dreams: the Death of Sigmund Freud Arnold SCHOENBERG (1974–1951)
Ode
to Napoleon
London Sinfonietta/David Atherton
rec.
2000 & 1973 DECCA
ELOQUENCE 4800461 [72:41][BBr]
Anyone
with an interest in the music of our time will welcome this disk ...
see Full Review
Georg
Friedrich HÄNDEL (1685-1759)
Water Music; Music for the Royal Fireworks
Ensemble L’Arte dell’Arco/Federico Guglielmo rec. 2004
CPO 7773122
[66.05][MM-B]
Will
warm you even without a fire! ... see Full
Review
Ermanno
WOLF-FERRARI (1876–1948) La vedova scaltra
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro La Fenice, Venice/Karl Martin rec.
2007 NAXOS 8.660225-26
[75:25 + 66:17][GF]
A
far from negligible reading of an attractive opera ... see Full
Review
Marianne
Fiset (soprano) Maurice RAVEL (1875–1937) Shéhérazade
Claude DEBUSSY (1862–1918) Proses lyriques Antonin DVOŘÁK (1841–1904) Song to the Moon (Rusalka)
Marianne Fiset (soprano); Marie-Ève Scarfone
(piano); Orchestre de la Francophonie Canadienne/Jean-Philippe Tremblay
rec. 2007
ANALEKTA AN28761 [45:28][BBr]
Well
worth having ... see Full Review
Folk
Songs and Ballads – Alfred Deller, the Complete
Vanguard Records
Alfred Deller (counter-tenor) and others
VANGUARD CLASSICS MC193 [7 CDs: 78:19 + 44:32 + 74:13 + 60:47 +
56:12 + 66:38 + 61:01][JW]
Deller
admirers will cast envious eyes on these boxes ... see Full
Review
Nan
Merriman
Nan Merriman (mezzo); various accompanists rec.
1943-49 PREISER 89706
[75:31][JW]
A
snapshot of the art of American mezzo Nan Merriman ... see Full
Review
MONDAY November 24th
Max BRUCH
(1838-1920) Violin Concerto No. 1 Niccolò
PAGANINI (1782-1840) Violin Concerto No. 1
Alexandra Soumm (violin); Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz/Georg
Mark rec. 2007 CLAVES
502808 [61:43][JW]
A
serious entrant … Romantic affiliations and technical armoury ... see
Full Review
Anton BRUCKNER
(1824-1896) Symphony
No. 5
Orchestre National de France/Lovro von Matacic rec.
1979
NAÏVE V5000 [77:07][SV]
Not
basic library choice but the occasional insights are worth studying
... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frédéric CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Ballade No. 2; selection of Mazurkas &
Waltzes; Impromptu No. 2; Piano Sonata No. 2
Maurizio Pollini (piano) rec. 2008
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4777626 [57:08][MC]
Innate
musicality and great nobility ... see Full
Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Piano Trio
No. 3 Bedřich SMETANA (1824-1884)
Piano Trio
Gelius Trio rec. 2007
THOROFON CTH2549 [69:03][JW]
Not
a first choice but this is a trio to watch ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Cristóbal de
MORALES (c.1500-1553) Magnificat etc.
The Brabant Ensemble/Stephen
Rice rec. 2007 HYPERION
CDA67694 [72.39][GH]
I
knew that I would like this disc almost from the start ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858–1924) Tosca
Renata Scotto
– Tosca; Placido Domingo – Cavaradossi; Philharmonia Orchestra/James
Levine rec. 1980 EMI
CLASSICS 2088272 [46:08 + 70:11][GF] 
Hardly
a first choice but has a great deal to offer ... see Full
Review
Max
REGER (1873-1916) Piano
Quartet Op. 133; String Trio Op. 141b
Aperto Piano Quartet rec. 2002-7
NAXOS 8.570786 [59:52][KS]
Rich
harmonies and virtuoso piano writing make for a good listen ... see
Full Review
Ernst TOCH (1887–1964)
Violin Sonata No. 2; Burlesken, for piano;
Three Impromptus, for cello; Piano
Quintet
Spectrum Concerts Berlin rec.
2007
NAXOS 8.559324 [68:57][BBr]
Excellent
disk, fine performances and crystal clear recording ... see Full
Review
Anthony
Collins conducts British Music by Sir
Arthur SULLIVAN (1842-1900), Henry
BALFOUR GARDINER (1877-1950), Percy
GRAINGER (1882-1961), Ralph VAUGHAN
WILLIAMS (1873-1958) and Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934)
New Symphony Orchestra & London Symphony Orchestra/Anthony Collins
rec. 1952-6 BEULAH
1PD26 [57:40][JF]
A
fantastic disc, sheer beauty of sound, depth of engendered emotion ...
see Full Review
Garden
of Early Delights
Pamela Thorby (recorders), Andrew Lawrence–King (harp
and psaltery) rec. 2006
LINN CKD291
[67:01][BBr]
A
fascinating and most enjoyable recital ... see Full
Review
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