> Classical CD Reviews March 2002 part 2 A-B: Classical MusicWeb (UK)

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PART 2
A to B

[Part 1 New]  [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc]   
             


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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

Sir Malcolm ARNOLD (born 1921) The Collection A Grand, Grand Overture, Opus 57 Carnival of Animals, Opus 72 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley Concerto for 2 Pianos (3 Hands), Opus 104 Serenade, Opus 26 Larch Trees, Opus 3 David Nettle & Richard Markham (pianos) London Musici/Mark Stephenson English Dances, Opus 27 (arr for brass band) English Dances, Opus 33 (arr for brass band) Scottish Dances, Opus 59 (arr for brass band) Little Suite No. 1 for Brass Band, Opus 80 Cornish Dances, Opus 91 (arr for brass band) Little Suite No. 2 for Brass Band, Opus 93 The Padstow Lifeboat, Opus 94 Fantasy for Brass Band, Opus 114 Grimethorpe Colliery UK Coal Band/Elgar Howarth Overture, Beckus the Dandipratt, Opus 5 Anniversary Overture, Opus 99 BBC Concert Orchestra/Vernon Handley Guitar Concerto, Opus 67 Julian Bream (guitar)/Melos Ensemble/Malcolm Arnold Rec RCA 1959 (Guitar Concerto), RCA & Conifer 1992-97 (remainder) RCA-BMG 74321 88392-2 [2CDs: 75.36; 76.04] [JQ]

A hugely enjoyable anniversary tribute to a composer who has given enormous pleasure to performers and audiences for over 60 years. All the performances are fully worthy of the occasion, the sound is first class throughout. see Full Review

Kurt ATTERBERG (1887-1974) Piano Concerto - Rhapsody - Ballade and Passacaglia - Löve Derwinger (piano) - Radio-Philharmonie Hannover des NDR Conducted by Ari Rasilainen - Rec. 29 Feb - 3 March 2000, Grosser Sendesaal Hannover CPO 999 732-2 [54:53] [IL]

A feast for unashamed romantics. Grand Romantic, heart-on-sleeve stuff, over the top music, delivered in bravura performances see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Complete Cantatas, Volume 12 - Cantata BWV8: Liebster Gott, wann werd ich sterben' - Cantata BWV78: 'Jesu der du meine Seele' - Cantata BWV91, 'Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ' - Cantata BWV99, 'Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan' - Cantata BWV107, 'Was willst du dich betrben' - Cantata BWV111, 'Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit' - Cantata BWV114, 'Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost' - Cantata BWV116, 'Du Friedefrst, Herr Jesus Christ' - Cantata BWV121, 'Christum wir sollen loben schon' - Cantata BWV124, 'Meniem Jesum lass ich nicht' - Cantata BWV135, 'Ach Herr, mich armen Snder' - Lisa Larsson, Sibylla Rubens (sopranos), Annette Markert (contralto), Christoph Prgardien (tenor), Klaus Mertens (bass) - Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir Ton Koopman - Rec March 2000, Waalse Kerk, Amsterdam ERATO 8573 85842-2 [3CDs: 65.51, 62.12, 73.10] [TB]

Koopman's performances are eminently sane and beautifully judged. see Full Review

Carl Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788) - The Solo Keyboard Music - Volume 7 [78.34] Sonata in G major, W65/22 (H.56) - Sonata in A minor, W65/25 (H.61) - Sonata in F major, W62/8 (H.55) - Sonata in D minor, W65/23 (H.57) - Sonata in C major, W62/10 (H.59) Miklós Spányi, clavichord - Rec: July 1999, House of the Lukijoki Youth Association, Finland. BIS CD-1086 [78.34] [KM]

Yet another excellent volume of solo keyboard works adds to this monumental series by Miklós Spányi. see Full Review

Carl Philipp Emauel BACH (1714 1788) Sonata in G minor Wq 65/17 Rondo in A major Wq 58/1 - Sonata in C minor Wq 65/31 - Sonata in D major Wq 61/2 - Sonata in F sharp minor Wq 52/4 - Rondo in D minor Wq 61/4 - Sonata in G major Wq 62/19 - Rondo in C minor Wq 59/4 - Sonata in E minor Wq 59/1 - Andante con tenerezza Mikhail Pletnev piano - recorded 10/98 in Teldec-Studio, Berlin DDD DG 459 614-2 [78.27] [JP]

I suspect that this will be one of my discs of the year unless Pletnev does the same thing again. This disc should give any sympathetic listener great pleasure and satisfaction. see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Orgel-Büchlein Norbert Petry (organ) (harpsichord) - Rec May 1990, St Martin de Sarralbe, Moselle SOLVAY K617 K617004 [74.10] [TB]

Petry is an accomplished player, and if occasionally one wonders whether more flamboyance might be possible, his readings maintain a true integrity of style and manner. see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV565 Prelude and Fugue in E flat major, BWV552 Prelude and Fugue in G minor, BWV542 Passacaglia in C minor, BWV582 Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major, BWV564 Herbert Tazechi Rec Teldec May 1984, organ of the Court Church, Dresden APEX 09274 13732 [63.55] [TB]

At bargain price this CD makes an interesting option, since it contains some wonderful music particularly well performed. see Full Review

Granville BANTOCK (1868-1946) King Lear Overture, Kubla Khan, Prometheus Unbound Symphonic Prelude, The Land-Of-The-Ever-Young, The Frogs (Of Aristophanes) Overture, Orion Dramatic Overture, Festival March University of Salford Brass Band-Dr. Roy Newsome Recorded Maxwell Hall, University of Salford DOYEN DOYCD 109 DDD [66:40] [CT]

Roy Newsome and the University of Salford Brass Band acquit themselves well in repertoire that will be essential listening for any Bantock enthusiasts. see Full Review

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

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.

BELA BARTÓK (1881-1945) PIANO MUSIC VOL. 2 Dance Suite, Sz.77 Slovakian Dance, Improvisations,Op. 20,Sz.74 Petite Suite, Sz.105 Romanian Folk Dances, Sz.56 Sonatina, Sz.55 Romanian Christmas Carols,Sz.57 Jenö Jandó (piano) Recorded Phoenix Studio, Prague October 1999 NAXOS 8.554718 [56.03] [TH]

One can safely listen to these Jandó performances. Jandó on home territory here. A series to watch with interest, regardless of the famously tempting Naxos price. see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Trios; Violin Sonata; Cello Sonatas Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)Piano Trio Pinchas Zukerman (violin), Jacqueline Du Pré (cello), Daniel Barenboim (piano) Rec December 1969, January 1970 (Piano Trios), Abbey Road Studios, London August 1970 (cello and piano), Usher Hall, Edinburgh December 1971, August 1972, June, July 1973 (violin and piano), Zehlendorf, Berlin and Abbey Road Studios, London July 1972 (Tchaikovsky), Mann Auditorium, Tel Aviv EMI CLASSICS 5 74447 2 [9 CDs] [TB]

Virtuoso rhythmic attack. Du Pré's Cello Sonatas rich-toned and full of commitment. Recordings warm and ambient. The performances tend to play the music for all it is worth. The Tchaikovsky is the jewel in the crown see Full Review

JUSSI BJÖRLING: PEARL FISHERS DUET/FAVOURITE ARIAS, DUETS 1. Bizet Au fond du temple saint from Les Pecheurs des Perles with Robert Merrill (baritone) (1951), 2 Bizet Flower Song from Carmen (1938), 3. Massenet Je suis seul from Manon (1945), 4. Ah! lève-toi soleil from Roméo et Juliette(1946), 5. Meyerbeer Mi batte il cor from LAfricana (1937), 6. Verdi Celeste Aida from Aida(1951), 7. Verdi Solenne in questora from La Forza del Destino (1951), 8. Verdi Qual pallor from Don Carlos(1951), 9. Verdi Si, pel ciel from Otello(1951) 10. Ponchielli Cielo e mar from La Gioconda (1951), 11. Puccini Dionna non vidi mai from Manon Lescaut (1948), 12. Puccini - Che gelida la manina from La Bohème (1936), 13. Puccini O Mimi, tu piu non torni from La Bohème(1951), 14. Mascagni O Lola bianca from Cavalleria Rusticana(1948), 15. Mamma, quel vino e generoso from Cavalleria Rusticana (1944), 16. Leoncavallo Vesti la giubba from I Pagliacci (1944), 17. Leoncavallo Mattinata (1944), 18. Tosti Ideale (1937), 19. Alfvén Skogen sover, with Harry Ebert (piano) (1938) Jussi Bjørling (tenor) with Orchestra cond. Grevillius (2,5,12,15,16,17), Orchestra of the Royal Opera Stockholm/Grevillius (3,4,11,14,18), RCA Victor Orchestra/Cellini (1,6,7,8,9,10,13) REGIS RRC 1080 [74:58] [GPJ]

Jussi Bjørling may not be the greatest singer of the last century, but he undoubtedly had one of the most supremely beautiful voices. see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833 1897) Cello Sonata 1 in E minor, Op. 38, (1862 1865) Cello Sonata 2 in F, Op. 99, (1886) Cello Sonata arr from Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Op. 78 (1878-79) * Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873 1943) Cello Sonata in G minor, Op 19, (1901) ** Robert SCHUMANN (1810 1856) Adagio and Allegro in A flat, Op. 70, (1849) * 3 Fantasiestuke for cello and piano Op. 70 (1849) ** Yo Yo Ma cello with Emanuel Ax piano Janos Starker cello with Rudolph Buchbinder piano * Janos Starker cello with Shigeo Neriki piano ** recorded 1985, 1991 and 1994 DDD RCA Red Seal 74321 845982 2 CDs [136.26] (budget priced) [JP]

Anyone purchasing this French RCA double disc is in for a very rewarding two and a quarter hours listening see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) - Trio for violin, horn and piano, Opus 40
György LIGETI (b. 1923)
- Trio for violin, horn and piano (1982) Danish Horn Trio Rec October 1998 (Brahms), May 1999 (Ligeti), Vestkirken, Ballerup, Denmark CHANDOS CHAN 9964 [55.02] [TB]

A most distinguished issue, and all praise to Chandos for sanctioning this imaginative combination of composers. see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Clarinet Sonatas: No. 1 in F minor, op. 120/1, No. 2 in E flat, op. 120/2 Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) 3 Phantasiestücke, op. 73 Harold Wright (clarinet), Peter Serkin (pianoforte) Recorded 25-29 August 1992, South Mountain Concert Hall, Pittsfield MA BOSTON RECORDS BR 1005 CD [53.40]

A disc which should preserve the name of Harold Wright for ever more. It achieves a sublime simplicity that is to be wondered at. see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) String Sextets: No. 1 in B flat, op. 18, no. 2 in G, op. 36 Yehudi Menuhin, Robert Masters (violin), Cecil Aronowitz, Ernst Wallfisch (viola), Maurice Gendron, Derek Simpson (violoncellos) Recorded Sep. 1963, Dec. 1964, No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London EMI CLASSICS CDE 5 74957 2 [75.02] [CH]

The quite wonderful playing of no. 1, in particular, makes this an essential disc. see Full Review

Benjamin BRITTEN (1913 - 1976) Temporal Variations, for oboe and piano (1936); Six Metamorphoses after Ovid, for solo oboe (op. 49, 1951); (1) Phantasy Quartet, for oboe and string trio (op. 2, 1933); Two Insect Pieces, for oboe and piano (1935); Suite No. 1, for violoncello (op. 72, 1964) Contrastes (Eric Speller - oboe, Ophelie Gaillard - violoncello, Olivier Peyrebrune - piano), (1) with Agathe Blondel (violin) and Stephanie-Marie Degand (viola)
recorded at Studio Varga, Sion, March 2001 AMBROISIE AMB 9909 [77'07] [PS]

If youre familiar only with "big band" Britten, this programme will be a revelation. If you already know and love the spartan upholstery of "bare-boned" Britten, this programme will be a disappointment. Beautifully packaged and presented, with full if somewhat florid documentation, and poised performances that are too nice to deliver the devastation demanded by the music. see Full Review

 

Martin BUTLER (born 1960) Tin-Pan Ballet (1986) Bluegrass Variations (1987)1 Jazz Machines (1990) On the Rocks (1992)2 Going with the Grain (1991)3 Ruth Crouch (violin)1; Martin Butler (piano)2; Richard Benjafield (marimba)3; Lontano; Odaline de la Martinez
Recorded : St Silas Church, London LORELT LNT 104 [67:08] [HC]

No towering masterpieces here, but entertaining, expertly written works to be enjoyed to the full. see Full Review

Dietrich BUXTEHUDE (1637-1707) Vocal Music, Volume 2 Das neugeborne Kindelein, Der Herr ist mit mir, Fürwahr, er trug unsere Krankheit, Alles, was ihr tut, Magnificat anima mea Johann Reuter (bass) Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir Dufay Collective Ebbe Monk (conductor) Rec 12-14 June 2000, Vejle  Kirke, Ishíj, Denark DACAPO 8.224160 [50.59] [TB]

The performances sound well with singing accurate and intonation and ensemble entirely reliable. Buxtehude's style is both direct and sophisticated. see Full Review

[Part 1 New]  [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc]   


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