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Reviews presented in the last week
NEW and RECENT ARTICLES
LISTENERS - Professional or Amateur? - Arthur Butterworth
Richard WAGNER by David C F Wright
The Unknown Walton by David C F Wright
Günther Wand (1912-2002)
New Beginnings in Philadelphia by Robin Mitchell-Boyask
Reviews for Monday Feb 25th
Gustav
HOLST
(1874-1934) A
Choral Fantasia (1930) [18.17] First Choral Symphony (1925) [49.03]
Lynne Dawson (sop) John Birch (organ)
Guildford Choral Society Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Hilary Davan Wetton rec
Guildford Cathedral (Fantasia) and Henry Wood Hall, London, 21, 22, 28 March
1993 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55104
[RB]
While the Ode is austere the Symphony is a cherishable choral work in celebration of words and music. A bargain. ...see Full Review
Fernando
LOPES-GRAÇA
(1906-1994) Paris
1937 for two pianos (1968) Elegia (1953) Piano Sonata No. 4 (1961)
Toccata, Andante and Fugato (1991)
Miguel Henriques (piano) Ana Valente (piano) (in Paris 1937 only) rec St George's
Church, Lisboa, Portugal, 29-31 May 2000
STRAUSS-PORTUGALSOM SP4352 [51.50] [RB]
Lopes-Graça as the percussively stark Stravinskian of the piano. ... see Full Review
Ingram
MARSHALL (b.1942)
Kingdom Come (1997) The
American Composer’s Orchestra Robin Lustig Dunkel (conductor) Hymnodic Delays
(1997) The Theatre of Voices Paul Hillier (director) Fog Tropes II (1993)
for String Quartet and Tape
Kronos Quartet Recorded at various venues 1996 – 2000
NONESUCH 7559 – 79613 – 2 [47.09] [TH]
A disc which shows us a composer at his eclectic best, and although his mode of expression has been fashionable in American contemporary music for some time, the pieces on this CD show us the most human and accessible face of this expression. … see Full Review
Terry
RILEY (b.1935)
Requiem
for Adam (1998) i. Ascending the Heaven Ladder ii. Cortejo Funebre
en el Monte Diablo iii. Requiem for Adam
Kronos Quartet The Philosopher’s Hand (2000)
Terry Riley (piano) Recorded August 2000 at Skywalker Sound, Nicasio, California.
NONESUCH 7559-79639-2 [47:46]
[TH]
This Requiem is both a heartfelt memorial and a celebration of ‘the pulsations of a young life’. Deeply engaging. … see Full Review
Johann
STRAUSS (1801-1849) & Son (1825-1899)
Valses de Vienne Mady Mesplé,
Bernard Sinclair, Christiane Stutzmann, Arta Verlen, Philippe Guadin, Jaques
Loreau, Pierre Saugey.René Duclos Choirs, Orchestra of National Theatre
of Opera Comique/Jean Doussard Rec. 1972, Salle Wagram, Paris, France
EMI 574 103-2 [CD1 44.08 CD2 45.48] [RW]
The soloists blend nicely with the Viennese flavour and the pace set by Doussard is engaging. … see Full Review
Astor
PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992)
Adios Nonino* Milonga del angel* Double Concerto for bandoneon
and guitar*+ Oblivion*^ Tres movimientos tanguisticos portenos Danza criolla
Tangazo Daniel Binelli, bandoneon*
Eduardo Isaac, guitar+ Louise Pellerin, oboe^ Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal
Charles Dutoit conductor Recorded Eglise St-Eustache, Montreal 18 May and 18
October 2000 Decca 468 528-2
[75.47]
Piazzolla’s is an amorphous and limited talent, recycled to breaking point; Vaclav Trojan, like Piazzolla, a film composer and lover of tunes, lies forgotten whilst the modish World Music bandoneon just keeps rolling along. … see Full Review
Reviews for Tuesday Feb 26th
Due to an ADSL failure in France the reviews could not be uploaded
Reviews for Wednesday Feb 27th
George
BARATI
(1913-1966) -
Symphony No. 1 Alpine (1963) [24.56] - Chant of Light (1994-95)
[19.49] - Chant of Darkness (1993) [16.54]
Budapest SO/Lászlo Kováks (symphony) - Czech Radio SO/Vladimir
Válek - rec 20-23 Apr 1998, Budapest (Sym); 29 Sept 1995 Prague (Chants)
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS
8.559063 [61.57] [RB]
Barati the unrepentant, even proud, exponent of modernism. Chant of Darkness the most gripping work in this company lit by a tragic compulsion. … see Full Review
Peter
DICKINSON (b. 1934) A Feature Review:
Three Dickinson CDs on ALBANY Concertos
for Piano,
Organ; Outcry ALBANY
TROY 360 [77.35] Song Cycles
ALBANY TROY 365 [60.06] Rags,
Blues and Parodies ALBANY TROY
369 [62.36] [RB]
A multi-faceted composer too little known whose music is by no means unapproachable. He is extremely sensitive to words and mood but his pellucidly orchestrated concertos should not be overlooked. … see Full Review
Alfreds
KALNINS
(1879-1951) Banuta
(1920 rev 1927-33) Opera in four acts - Regina Frinberga (sop) - Banuta, Karlis
Zarins (bar) - Vizuts, Aleksandrs Daskovs - Valgudis, King, Peteris Gravelis
- Daumants, son of the King, Maija Krigena - Maiga, the King's daughter, Druvis
Krikis - Zvantevaitis, leader of warriors, Ivars Krastins - Burvis, sorcerer,
Oskars Bruveris - Zvalgonis, Andris Blaumanis - Krivs, priest, Karlis Miesnieks
- Krivukrivs, High Priest, Valentina Grinberga - First Priestess, Vera Davidone
- Second Priestess, Lauma Vanaga - Third Priestess
Choir and Symphony Orchestra of Latvian TV and Radio/Aleksandrs Vilumanis
RIGAS SKANU RS010 [CD1 75.06; CD2 75.41] [RB]
If you can't get enough in the way of romantic nationalist operas then don't delay. The only downside is the parsimonious tracking. See Full Review
Goffredo
PETRASSI
(b.1904) I Concerti per Orchestra - Concerto No. 1 (1934)
- Concerto No. 2 (1951) - Concerto No. 3 Récréation Concertante
(1953) - Concerto No. 4 for string orchestra (1954) - Concerto No. 5 (1955)
- Concerto No. 6 Invenzione concertata for strings and percussion (1957)
- Concerto No. 7 (1964) - Concerto No. 8 (1972) - BBCSO (1, 2, 7, 8); Philharmonia
Hungarica (3, 4); Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano della RAI (5, 6)
All conducted by Zoltán Peskó - Rec BBCSO: Maida Vale, London,
8-11 June 1977 and St Pancras Town Hall, 1 June 1978; Hungarica: Marl, Hungary,
Dec 1972; RAI: Giuseppe Verdi Hall, Nov/Dec 1979. ADD all stereo
WARNER FONIT 8573 83274-2 [3 CDs 61.49; 67.16; 43.28] [2.52.33] [RB]
While other ears than mine may discern greater beauties and rewards I am most confident in recommending to adventurous listeners the Fourth and Fifth Concertos. ... see Full Review
ESTONIAN
VIOLIN MUSIC -
Rudolf TOBIAS (1873-1918) Through the
Night (1914) - Artur LEMBA (1885-1963) Poème
d'Amour (1916) - Eugen KAPP (1908-1996)
Nocturne (1927) - Heino ELLER (1887-1970)
Allegretto (1917) Im Mondschein (1918) Abendlied (1921)
Die Kiefern (1929) - Eduard OJA (1905-50)
Aelita's Suite (1932) - Eduard TUBIN
(1905-1982) Meditation (1938) Capriccio No. 1 (1937 rev 1971) - Ester
MÄGI (b.1922) Vesper (1990) - Arvo
PÄRT (1935-2000) Der Spiegel im Spiegel (1978)
Urmas Vulp (violin) - Vardo Rumessen (piano) - Rec Sept-Oct 1996, House of the
Blackheads, Tallinn, Estonia
ERES CD08 [55.30] [RB]
Though a little short on playing time this makes a good and varied introduction to the seeming riches of Estonia's concert music for violin and piano. I hope that there will be more. … see Full Review
Latvian
Patriotic Cantatas Andrejs
JURJANS (1856-1922) To
My Fatherland - cantata (1888) Sing, Rejoice - cantata (1895) -
Lucija GARUTA (1902-1977) Lord, Thy Land
is Burning (1944) Jurjans:
Lilija Greidane (sop); Leima Andersone-Silare (mz); Karlijs Zarins (ten), Sergejs
Martinovs (bass); Latvian Radio Choir/Leonids Vigners Garuta: Janis Sprogis
(ten); Aivars Kranemanis (bar); Aivars Kalejs (organ), Chamber Choir - Ave Sol/Imants
Kokars - rec 1980s, Latvian Radio.
RIGA RECORDING STUDIO RS 020 [RB]
Fervent and spiritual singing with only the To My Fatherland ringing bombastically hollow. The Garuta is an especially imaginative work punching well above the usual patriotic weight. See Full Review
Reviews for Thursday Feb 28th
Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981)
Symphony
No. 2 (1944) [26.38] Cello Concerto (1946) [27.08] Medea - Suite (1947) [23.54]
Zara Nelsova (cello) New SO/composer
rec 1950, Decca, London, mono
PEARL GEM 0151 [77.47] [RB]
The later hyper-romantic Barber of the 1940s in recordings dating from only a few years after the works were written … … see Full Review.
Serge
KAUFMANN Chant
Concertant* Suite Yiddish+ Selah#
Adamah* Duos for Violins*^ L’Eau retrouvee <
Jean-Pascal Introvigne, baritone < Hubert Chachereau, violin * Cecile Moreau,
violin ^ Phillipe Pennanguer, cello + Marie-Josephe Truys, piano + Ad Libitum
String Quintet # Orchestre Bernard Calmel conducted by Bernard Calmel Ensemble
Vocal Melodia directed by Evelyne Schwab < Recorded in the Auditoriom of
l’Ecole Nationale de Musique d’Aulnay-sous-Bois December 1998
PAVANE ADW 7420 [74.02]
Kaufmann’s aesthetic is lyrical, songful and specifically "Yiddish" … see Full Review
Constant
LAMBERT
(1905-51) Volume II - Composer Horoscope
- Music from the ballet (1937) Apparitions - Music from the ballet
(1936) Dante Sonata - Music from the ballet (1949) The Rio Grande
(1927) Liverpool Philharmonic (Horoscope: 1, 3, 5) Philharmonia (Horoscope:
2, 4) Philharmonia (Apparitions; Rio Grande) Sadlers' Wells Orchestra
(Dante) Louis Kentner, piano (Dante) Kyla Greenbaum, piano
(Rio); Gladys Ripley (con) (Rio), Philharmonia Chorus (Rio)
all conducted by Constant Lambert
rec 15 May 1945 (Horoscope); 14 Jan 1949 (all Philharmonia); 20 March
1940 (Dante Sonata) PEARL
GEM 0069 [70.24] [RB]
This balletic compilation is the natural complement to Pearl's volume I. It will go some way to satisfy those fascinated by Lambert the musician and the man. … see Full Review
Nicolai
MEDTNER
(1880-1951) Sonate-Ballade
Op.27 (1913) Sonata Minacciosa 'Sonate Orageuse' Op. 53 No.
2 (1932) Four Skazki Op. 26 (1913?) Sonate-Idylle Op. 56 (1937)
Malcolm Binns (piano) rec 1976
and 1991 (Op. 56) PEARL SHE
CD 9628 [66.14] [RB]
Amidst the more familiar sets do not lose sight of this CD. Binns though recorded up-close is subtle, aristocratic, noble, innocent and poetic. see Full Review
MIDEM
PRIZE WINNER Gabriel PIERNÉ (1863-1937)
Cydalise
et le chevre-pied - ballet in three scenes (1915)
College Vocal de la Cathédrale de Metz Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg
David Shallon (conductor) Conservatoire, Luxembourg: 29 May-2 June 2000
TIMPANI 1C1059 [73.39] [PQ]
Playing rhythmically tight, tempos apt and orchestral sound is so French. Its first prize at MIDEM well-deserved. You need be no particular fan of obscure repertoire to enjoy this. ... see Full Review
Carl
REINECKE (1824-1910)
Music
for Strings. Serenade in G minor for string orchestra; Twelve Tone Poems
for string orchestra; Children’s Symphony, Op. 239
Chamber Orchestra Kremlin/Misha Rachlevsky Recorded in the Great Gall of Moscow
Conservatory, September 2000. CLAVES
CD 50-2107 [67.38] [RDB]
The Kremlin players enter into the spirit of the thing, but even their indulgent vibrato and persistent portamento do not succeed in making this disc more than a charming curiosity....see Full Review
Geirr
TVEITT (1908-1981)
Hundred
Hardingtonar Op. 151 (A Hundred Hardanger Tunes) Suite 2 - Tunes 16- 30 (Fifteen
Mountain Songs) Suite 5 - Tunes 61-75 (Troll Tunes)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Bjarte Engeset Recorded January
2001, Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow
NAXOS 8.555770 [71.31] [GH]
Between Engeset and the RSNO this music is coaxed into shape without effort or artificiality. Highly recommended. … see Full Review
MIDEM
PRIZE WINNER Gio Bonaventura VIVIANA
(1638-1690) ;
Symphonia Seconda ; Aria Sesta ; Aria Quinta ; Capriccio Terzo ; Toccata Prima
; Introduttione Terza ; Aria Quarta ; Sonata Seconda ; Sonata Prima, per Trombetta
sola ; Symphonia Cantabile ; Capriccio Secondo ; Aria Terza ; Symphonia Prima
; Aria Seconda ; Introduttione Prima ; Toccata Seconda ; Sonata Seconda, per
Trombetta sola ; Sonata Prima ; Capriccio Primo ; Baletto;
Gunar Letzbor, violin ; Andreas Lackner, trumpet ; Wolfgang Zerer, harpsichord
; Roberto Sensi, viola da gamba ; Luciano Contini, archlute ; Katalin Sebella,
bassoon ; Rec: August - September 1999, Assumption Church, Hallstatt, Austria.
; ANCANA A302 [79.00]
This recording by a little-known Italian composer is a real gem. The performance, the music and the recording are all impeccable, and this music gives such enjoyment that it deserves to be heard by all. … see Full Review
William
PRIMROSE
Johannes BRAHMS Viola
Sonata No. 1 [20.49] Primrose/William Kapell (piano) rec 5 July 1946, Victor
Viola Sonata No. 2 [18.47] Primrose/Gerald Moore (piano) rec Sept 1937, HMV
Arthur BENJAMIN Elegy, Waltz and Toccata
[15.18] Primrose/Vladimir Sokoloff (piano) rec 22 May 1945, Victor Roy
HARRIS Soliloquy and Dance [12.38] Primrose/Johana Harris
(piano) rec 12 Jan 1942, Victor Fritz KREISLER Praeludium
and Allegro in the style of Pugnani Primrose/Franz Rupp (piano) rec 14 Aug
1941, Victor William Primrose (viola)
PEARL GEMM CD 9253 [73.04]
[RB]
Primrose is always spick and span and attacks notes with a belligerent bow. Brahmsians must not overlook this disc which documents one of the heroes of the viola's renaissance. ... see Full Review
Reviews for Friday March 1st
Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981)
Overture
to The School for Scandal (1931) [8.05] The Janssen Symphony of Los
Angeles/Werner Janssen rec. 11 March 1942, Hollywood Adagio for Strings
(from String Quartet Op. 11) (1932) [7.07] NBCSO/Toscanini rec. 19 March
1942, Carnegie Hall, New York Capricorn Concerto (1944) [14.08]
Julius Baker (flute), Harry Freistadt (trumpet), Mitchell Miller (oboe), Saidenberg
Little Symphony/Daniel Saidenberg rec. 1946, New York Dover Beach (1931)
[7.45] Samuel Barber (baritone)/Curtis String Quartet rec. 13 May 1935, Church
Studio No. 2, Camden, New Jersey Essay No. 1 (1938) [7.21] Philharmonic
Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy rec. 20 Oct 1940, Philadelphia Academy of Music Cello
Sonata (1932) [16.58] Raya Garbousova (cello)/Erich Itor Kahn (piano) rec.
1947, New York Symphony No. 1 (in one movement) (1936) [17.36] Philharmonic
SO of New York/Bruno Walter rec. 23 Jan 1945, Carnegie Hall, New York
PEARL GEM 0049 [79.37] [RB]
Pearl have in this disc and in GEM 0151 cornered the market in Barber archive material. A compelling historical survey in honest and unpretentious sound in performances lacking nothing in their power to move. ... see Full Review
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934)
Piano Music Dance
for Harpsichord (arr for piano) Three Preludes, Five Piano Pieces, Zum Carnival
, Pensées Mélodieuses (No. 2), Badinage (Danse Lente), Presto
Leggiero, Two Piano Pieces Margot la Rouge - Prelude; Duet - arr Ravel, On Hearing
the First Cuckoo in Spring, In a Summer Garden, Florida Suite - selections -
Plantation Dance (At Sunset); Nocturne
Charles Abramovic (piano) Davyd Booth (violin) (Five Piano Pieces No. 4 only)
rec Jan 2000, Longwood Gardesns Music Room, Kennett Square, PA, USA
DIRECT-TO-TAPE DTR2001 [62.10] [RB]
General interest may be limited but for those who opt to purchase there will be few disappointments. We are well served by Mr Abramovic. ... see Full Review
Frederick
DELIUS The Paradise
Garden - A Delius Organ Album A
Song Before Sunrise; Two Aquarelles; Homage to Delius (arr Dom Gregory Murray
[9.25, 4.54] Serenade - Hassan; Prelude - Irmelin (arr Eric Fenby) [2.11;
5.37] Winter Night - Sleigh Ride; Intermezzo - Fennimore and Gerda; Walk
to the Paradise Garden - A Village Romeo and Juliet (arr Robert Hebble)
[6.18] On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring (arr Ernest White) [7.17]
La Calinda (arr Michael Stairs) [4.51] Percy
WHITLOCK Carol
from Four Extemporisations [4.35]
Michael Stairs (organ) Longwood Gardens Organ rec 27 Oct 1997 (Song, Intermezzo,
Serenade), 12 Jan 1987, Longwood Gardens Music Room, Kennett Square, PA,
USA, DDD DIRECT-TO-TAPE DTR9801
[70.40] [RB]
Not as successful an enterprise as the DTR piano disc. Does the cloying tone of the organ (not just this organ, by the way) suit Delius? I think not. ... see Full Review
Marcel
Dupré (1886-1971)
Works for Organ: volume 1 Three
Preludes & Fugues (op 7): no 1 in B major; no 2 in F minor; no 3 in G minor,
Fifteen Versets for Vespers of Common Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary (op
18) Cortège et Litanie (op 19) Variations on a Noël (op 20)
Jean-Pierre Lecaudey (organ) Recorded in the Collegiate Church of St Martin
(St Rémy-de-Provence, France), 7-9 November 1996
PAVANE RECORDS ADW 7382 [67:05]
[AAS]
Excellently recorded, thoroughly recommended. I hope that the second volume of this important collection comes my way! ... see Full Review
Luc
VAN HOVE (born
1957) Carnaval
op het Strand Op.17 (1985) Piano Concerto Op.32 (1995)a Symphony
No.1 Op.25 (1989) Triptiek Op.29 (1993)b Stacked Time Op.26 (1990)c
Symphony No.2 Op.34 (1997)
Levente Kende (piano)a; Henk Swinnen (oboe)b; Tim Vets
(electric guitar)c; Flemish Radio Symphony Orchestra; Etienne Siebens
Recorded: Philips Building, Leuven, January, February and July 2000
MEGADISC MDC 7823/4 [52:28 + 58:09] [HC]
A quite comprehensive survey of Luc Van Hove’s powerfully gripping music. … see Full Review
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony No.5 in C sharp minor (1901-2)
Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam/Rafael
Kubelik (Recorded at a concert in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam on 21 June 1951)
Remastering by Charles Eddi at Sofreson
TAHRA TAH 419 [64.58] [TD]
As a performance I think this is the best of Kubelik’s three available recordings. In this 1951 performance there is much of the vitality of Mahler not to mention the grand tradition of the Concertgebouw orchestra oozing from every bar. … see Full Review
Vitezslav
NOVAK (1870-1949)
In the Tatras (1907) About the Eternal
Longing (1904) Melancholy Songs of Love (1910?) South Bohemian
Motifs (1947) 
Daniela
Strakova (sop) Carlsbad SO/Douglas Bostock rec Lazne III, Carlsbad, Jan 1998
CLASSICO CLASSCD 256
[73.13] [RB]
Not to be missed by aficionados of the late romantic orchestral song cycle and of a great and vernal voice. … see Full Review
Bedřich
SMETANA
(1824-1884) Má
Vlast (My Country) A cycle of symphonic poems Vyšehrad (1874) [15.40]
Vltava (The Moldau) (1874) [11.35] Šárka (1875) [9.43]
Z českých luhů a hájů (From Bohemia’s Woods and Fields)
(1875) [13.09] Tábor (1878) [12.59] Blaník (1879)
[14.15] Czech Philharmonic Orchestra,
cond. Rafael Kubelík DDD: recorded live at the opening concert of the
Prague Spring Festival at the Smetana Hall of the Council House, Prague on 12
May 1990 SUPRAPHON 11 1208-2
031 [77.45] [PL]
Literally incomparable. Buy it, whether or not you have a Má Vlast already on your shelves! … see Full Review
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958) Symphony
No. 6 (1948) [32.46] London Symphony
Orchestra/Adrian Boult rec 23-24 Feb 1949 under auspices of British Council
Scott of the Antarctic (1948) [8.28] Philharmonia Orchestra/Ernest Irving
rec 1949 Coastal Command: Prelude; Sunderland Goes in Close
(1942) [4.52] BBC Northern Orchestra/Muir Mathieson rec 7 July 1943, BBC
49th Parallel - Epilogue (1941) [4.23] London Symphony Orchestra/Muir
Mathieson rec Sept 1943, London The Story of a Flemish Farm - Dawn Scene
(1943) [5.16] BBC Northern Orchestra/Muir Mathieson rec 28 Oct 1944, BBC
The Loves of Joanna Godden (1945) [8.40] Philharmonia Orchestra/Ernest
Irving rec 1947 PEARL GEM
0107 [65.13] [RB]
This is an extremely valuable disc for Vaughan Williams collectors. Never have so many rare vintage film tracks been gathered together. … see Full Review
ELIZABETHAN
LUTE MUSIC FROM ROBERT DOWLANDS VARIETIE OF LUTE LESSONS
1. Daniel Bachelar Monsieurs Almain 2. Laurencini Fantasie
3. Robert Dowland Volt 4. Anon. The first of
the Queens Maskes 5. Anon. The second of the Queens Maskes
6. Anon. The last of the Queens Maskes 7. Anon. The
Witches Dance in the Queens Maske 8. Gregorio Huwet Fantasy 9.
Daniel Bachelar Pavin 10. John Dowland Ferdinando
Earl of Darby, his Galliard 11. John Dowland Fantasie 12. John
Dowland The most sacred Queene Elisabeth, her Galliard 13. John
Dowland Sir John Smith, his Almain 14. - Monsieur
Ballard, his Coranto 15 Alfonso Ferrabosco Pavin 16. John Perrichon Coranto
17. Anon. Volt 18. Jacobus Reis Fantasie 19.
Robert Dowland The Lady Cliftons spirit 20. Robert Dowland Sir
Thomas Monson, his Pavin 21. Robert Dowland Sir Thomas Monson,
his Galliard David Parsons
- Lute Recordings made in the Chapel of Guys Hospital, London in January 1999
METRONOME MET CD 1050 [5713"]
[PW]
Unfortunate that the performances on this disc do not meet the same levels of refinement and elegance that the music sets out to attain. ...see Full Review
BOOK REVIEWS
Guitar Technique: Intermediate to Advanced by Hector Quine. Oxford University Press (£12.95)
Quine’s achievement is remarkable. Clearly, precisely and without ambiguity he explains not only the objectives, but also the pitfalls, of learning the guitar. … see Full Review
Reviews for the Weekend March 2nd
Ludwig
Van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Symphony
No.3 in E flat major "Eroica"
Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester/Günther Herbig Rec 1982, Christuskirche, Berlin
BERLIN CLASSICS 00
9462 BC [49.39] [TD]
A rich, vibrant performance by a neglected craftsman. Happy birthday, Günther Herbig ...see Full Review
Leonard Bernstein conducts West Side Story
Kiri Te Kanawa, José Carreras, Tatiana Troyanos, Kurt Ollmann pick-up
orchestra Leonard Bernstein PCM Stereo 4:3 - full-frame conventional TV ratio
* region 0 * DG DVD
073 017-9 
[89
minutes] [GD]
This 1984 recording was the first to present the score complete. The DVD presents the programme exactly as shown on television. … see Full Review
Aaron
COPLAND (1900-1990) A Copland Celebration - in Three
2CD Volumes ... from Sony Classical Vol.
1: Famous Orchestral and Chamber Works
SONY CLASSICAL SM2K 89323 [CD1:
75.56; CD2: 67.13] Vol. 2: Chamber Works and Rarities
SONY CLASSICAL SM2K 89326 [CD1: 61.41; CD2: 75.00] Vol. 3: Vocal
Works and Opera SONY CLASSICAL
SM2K 89329 [CD1: 75.23; CD2: 65.58] [RB]
Three generous helpings of non-mainstream Copland in historic recordings - most sounding very well indeed. They are outstandingly presented. Forced to choose one there can be no doubt; it has to be volume 3 for its slightly abridged The Tender Land - a special listening experience. ...see Full Review
Johann
Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837)
Caprice op 49, Variations sur un theme, Armide de Gluck op 57, Bagatelles op
107 Nos 1, 3 5, Trois amusements op 105, No 2 "A lAutrichienne", Rondo
op 11, Polonaise op 55, Joanna
Trzeciak, piano Recorded July 1996 Studio S1, Polish Radio, Warsaw
PAVANE ADW 7359 [68.04] [JW]
This most attractive disc shows yet again that Hummel's vein of contemplative virtuosity ran deep. see Full Review
Gordon
JACOB (1895-1984)
Chamber Music for Clarinet Concertino
(for clarinet and piano) [12.09] Five Pieces for Solo Clarinet [10.05]
Three Songs for Soprano and Clarinet [6.03] Clarinet Quintet [29.58]
Daniel Geeting (clarinet) Samela
Aird Beasom (soprano) David Stenske; Melissa Phelps-Beckstead (violins) Richard
Rintoul (viola) Joyce Geeting (cello) rec 5 Mar, 30 Apr, 30 June, Memorial Chapel,
University of Redlands, Redlands, California DDD
PROdigital PRO-9226 [58.38] [RB]
This is a lovely disc - utterly idiomatic and far too easily and unjustly neglected ... see Full Review
Lars-Erik
Larsson Twelve Concertinos (1955-56)
- Volume 1 - 1-7 Flute and Orchestra Op.45 No 1, Oboe and String Orchestra
Op.45 No 2, Clarinet and String Orchestra Op.45 No 3, Bassoon and String Orchestra
Op.45 No 4, Horn and String Orchestra Op.45 No 5, Trumpet and String Orchestra
Op.45 No 6, Trombone and String Orchestra Op.45 No 7
Göran Marcusson: flute Marten Larsson: oboe Urban Claesson: Clarinet Anders
Engström: Bassoon Per Göran: Horn Bengt Danielsson: Trumpet Lars-Göran
Carisson: Trombone. Camerata Roman leader Jan Stigmer Recorded at Paskallavik
Church 1994 INTIM
Music IMCD 030 [74.36] [JF]
This is music that deserves to be well known. Attractive, well written and extremely well played we have a collection of Concertinos by Lars-Erik Larsson that bear all the characteristics of this composers skill, with and inspirations. These are not ‘test pieces’ but works of art. ...see Full Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-75) Piano
Concerto No. 1 (1933) * Piano Concerto No. 2 (1957) ** Cello Concerto No. 1
(1959) *** * Andrê Previn
(piano), William Vacchiano (trumpet), NYPO/Bernstein ** Leonard Bernstein (piano
and conductor)/NYPO *** Yo-Yo Ma (cello)/Philadelphia/Ormandy Piano Concertos:
rec 1960s ADD; Cello Concerto: 1980s DDD
SONY SMK 89752 [69.07] [RB]
Classic Shostakovich; irresistible in the case of the populist Second Concerto. … see Full Review
Thomas
TOMKINS
(1572 - 1656) 1.
Barafostus' dream 2. Pavan of three parts 3. GaIliard of three parts 4. Miserere
5. A sad pavan for these, distracted times 6. Worcester brawls (Worster Braules)
7. What if a day 8. Fancy for two to play 9. Fancy 10. Pavan 11. The Lady Folliott's
galliard 12. Fancy 13. Toy made at Poole Court 14. Pavan Earl Strafford 15.
Galliard Earl Strafford 16. Fortune my Foe 17. Ground 18. In Nomine 19. Ground
Carole Cerasi (harpsichord)
Rec: December 2000, East Woodhay.
METRONOME MET CD 1049 [73.33] [KM]
A fine overview of Tomkin’s varied keyboard music. Cerasi is an excellent performer, and, with the exception of some of the faster pieces where she gets carried away by the tempo, her interpretations are first-rate. … see Full Review
Eduard
TUBIN
(1905-82) Complete Music for Violin, Viola and Piano
Arvo Leibur (violin) Vardo Rumessen (piano) Petra Vahle (viola) rec 11-20
July 1991, Danderyd Grammar School Gymnasium, Sweden DDD
BIS-CD-541/542 [CD1 77.52; CD2 70.32] [RB]
As strongly recommended as the Rumessen triple volume cycle of the Tubin piano music - also from BIS. Not to be missed! ... see Full Review
PASCALE
ROUET - ORGAN DANSES À LORGUE 1.
Bernado Storace Balleto 240"
2. Giovanni Picchi Ballo
alla Polaccha 210" 3. Ballo hongaro 226"
4. Ballo todescha 120" 5. Passe
e mezzo 405" 6. Bernado Storace Folia 437"
7. Anon. Estampie 628"
8. Bernado Storace Chaconne 712"
9. Anon. Intabulata Nova (9 danses) 808"
10. Bernado Storace Passacaille 1223"
11. Pierre Attaignant 6 Danses 721"
12. Bernado Storace Spagnoletta 430"
13. Béla Bartók Danse
ruthène & 5 danses populaire Roumaines 614"
Pascale Rouet Recordings made
on the Christophe Moucherel organ (1725 - rebuilt by Barthelémy Formentelli
1991) in the church of the Abbey of Our Lady of Mouzon on 2 & 3 July 1990
PAVANE ADW 7415 [7038"]
[PW]
Bernado Storace: Unjustly neglected, wonderfully invigorating music that places Storace firmly at the beginnings of the Italian baroque. see Full Review