Gustav MAHLER Symphony
No.5 in C sharp minor 
Junge Deutsche Philharmonie Conducted by Rudolf Barshai
Laurel Records Laurel-905 [69:33] [TD]
If
you buy only one new Mahler recording this year make sure it's this
one. Versions of Mahler symphonies of this calibre arrive very seldom.
It is the finest recording of the Fifth Symphony currently available.
see Full Review
Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911)Symphony
No. 5 Gurzenich Orchestra
Cologne James Conlon Rec September 1994, StudioStraáe, Cologne
EMI Classics 5 74979-2
[71.04]
Despite
many fine things and in spite of its merits this performance cannot
rank with the very best...see Full Review
Gustav
MAHLER
(1864-1911) Symphony No.6 in A Minor
(1903-05) San Francisco
Symphony Michael Tilson Thomas (Recorded "live" at Davies
Symphony Hall, San Francisco, September 12-15 2001) Hybrid SACD - playable
on SACD and standard CD players.
SFS MEDIA 821936-0001-2 2 CD set [87.30]. [TD]
This
a Mahler Sixth Symphony with contemporary resonance superbly played
and recorded. It competes with the best. … see
Full Review
Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959)
Symphony
No. 3 (1944) Symphony No. 5 (1948)
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine/Arthur Fagen Recorded 10-15 March
1995 Grand Concert Studio of the National Radio Company of the Ukraine,
Kiev. NAXOS 8.553350
[60.31] [JF]
Excellent
production of final instalment in the cycle. This makes a good introduction
to the symphonies. One deep work and one that exudes happiness. A good
buy. … see Full Review
Pietro MASCAGNI (1863-1945)
Parisina Sung
in Italian Libretto by Gabriele D’Annunzio Three-act revised version
(1913) Soloists Chorus
of Radio lettone National Orchestra of Montpellier Languedoc-Roussillon
Enrique Diemecke (conductor) Recorded live at Opéra Berlioz-Le
Corum on 22 July 1999
NAÏVE AT 34103 [3 CDs 156’ 18"] [CF]
Full
of engaging music and in very good sound this is well worth having for
its rarity value – pity about the tenor though…see Full
Review
Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Violin
Concerto * Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Violin Concerto Joseph
Szigeti, violin London Philharmonic/Thomas Beecham * Halle Orchestra/Hamilton
Harty Recorded September 1933 (Mendelssohn), December 1928 (Halle)
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110948 [64’12] [JW]
Whilst
the Mendelssohn preserves some weaknesses and idiosyncrasies this is
mandatory listening for the Brahms…see Full
Review
Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Violin
Concerto Max BRUCH (1838-1920)
Violin Concerto No 1 Camille SAINT-SAËNS
(1835-1921) Havanaise, Introduction and Rondo capriccioso
Ruggiero Ricci, violin
London Symphony Orchestra Pierino Gamba Recorded 1958 (Mendelssohn,
Bruch) 1960 (Saint-Saens)
DECCA ELOQUENCE 461 369-2 [68.22] [JW]
Very
nice transfers of recordings now over forty years old – you would never
know - and an autumnal cover photograph of a rather desiccated looking
birch tree. Nothing desiccated about the performances though. … see
Full Review
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH Olivier
MESSIAEN
(1908-92) Complete organ works
Jennifer Bate Recorded in Beauvais Cathedral 1980-82 and Eglise du Saint-Trinité,
Paris, May 1987 REGIS
RRC1086, 1087, 2051, 2052 (available separately or as a 6-disc boxed
set)
Olivier Latry Recorded
in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, July 2000
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 471 480-2 (six discs)
I’ll
pre-empt anyone looking for a quick either-or recommendation: both sets
are outstandingly well played with sensitivity and imagination. … see
Full Review
Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-92)
Livre
du Saint-Sacrament (1984)
Anne Page, organ Recorded in Norwich Cathedral, February 2000
GUILD GMCD7228/9 [1:39’49"] [PQ]
Free
of the heavy reverence which belabours other performances and gentler
than some recent versions, this is an affecting performance. … see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano
Concerto No. 21 in C major, K467 Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K491
Piotr Anderszewski (piano
& director) Sinfonia Varsovia Rec 7-9 August 2001, Philharmonic
Hall, Warsaw VIRGIN
CLASSICS VC 545504 2 [59.30] [TB]
If
you want to explore the potential of this wonderful music and hear more
and more in it with each engagement, then this is well worth hearing
and owning. … see Full Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Mass
in C minor, K427 (1782)
Barbara Bonney (soprano), Arleen Auger (soprano), Hans Peter Blochwitz
(tenor), Robert Holl (bass), Rundfunkchor Berlin (Dietrich Knothe, Chorus
Master), Sigurd Brauns (organ), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, cond.
Claudio Abbado recorded 1991: DDD
SONY SBK89777 [52.44][PL]
Abbado’s
performance is wide-ranging, delivering most satisfyingly on every aspect
of this hugely varied score. A fill-up – the rule rather than the exception
these days on budget-priced reissues – would have been nice. … see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Three
Divertimenti on The Marriage of Figaro, for three basset horns
Adagio canonique, K484d Adagio, K411 Allegro assai, K484b Adagio, K580a
Adagio, K484c Anton STADLER (1753-1812)
Terzetten for three basset horns
Jean-Claude Veilhan (clarinet and basset horn). Eric Lorho (basset horn),
Jean-Louis Gauche (basset horn), Catherine Delaunay (clarinet), Jean
Jeltsch (basset horn) Rec 29 June to 1 July 1995, Chapelle Notre-Dame
de l'Hor, Moselle
K617 K617060 M7 865 [64.19] [TB]
Not
great music but full of vitality and as a delightful diversion from
the cares of life. … see Full Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756 – 1791) Apollo et Hyacinthus Opera
in three acts Œbalus…Markus Schäfer (tenor) Melia…Christian Fliegner
(age 13 soprano)* Hyacinthus…Sebastien Pratchske (age12 soprano)* Apollo…Christian
Günther (age 12 alto)* Zephyrus…Philipp Cieslewicz (age 13 alto)*
With Christian Immler *Soloists from the Tölzer Knabenchor
L’Ensemble Baroque de Nice / Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden DDD
PAVANE RECORDS PRESTIGE ADW 7236/37 [CD1: 37.33 CD2:43.10] [RM]
Those
are small quibbles about a CD which gives us a seriously different musical
experience. If you do not have the (adult) Philips recording (422 526-2)
this should be added to your collection: indeed if you do have that
recording then add this for it is so very different. … see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791)Sonata in C major, K310 Sonata in A major,
K331 Sonata in F major, K332
Christian Zacharias (piano) Rec January 1985 (K330), October 1958 (K331),
July 1984 (K332), Historischer Reitstadt, Neumarkt
EMI Classics 5 74983-2 (64.25) [TB]
An
uneven disc. He can be sensitive and tighly focused rhythmically but
in K331 ill-judged and lacking in taste...see Full
Review
Carl ORFF (1895-1982)
Carmina
Burana (1946) Hei-Kyung
Hong, soprano Stanford Olsen, tenor Earle Patriarco, baritone Gwinnett
Young Singers/Lynn Redmon Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Donald
Runnicles Rec Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta, Georgia,
4-5 November 2000
TELARC CD-80575 [59.42] [AT]
Easy
to get much enjoyment from this performance – but the competition in
a crowded field is such that this version does not live with the very
best. … see Full Review
Slavko OSTERC (1895-1941)
Orchestral Music Classical
Overture, Suite (1929), Three Dances, Symphonic Movement, Four
Symphonic Pieces
Slovenian Radio and TV SO/Samo Hubad Rec 1990s, Slovenia, DDD
SAZAS DD 0259 [71.00]
Osterc
was a contemporary of Hindemith and a friend of Hartmann. There is something
of both to be heard throughout this disc. … see Full
Review
Sir Charles Hubert Hastings PARRY (1848-1918)
I was glad (orch. Gordon Jacob), Judith:
Long since in Egypt’s plenteous land, Blest pair of Sirens, Jerusalem
(orch. Elgar). Choir
of Winchester Cathedral, Waynflete Singers, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/David
Hill Recorded in Winchester Cathedral, June 1990 Songs of Farewell:
1. My soul, there is a country Canterbury Cathedral Choir/Allan
Wicks Recorded in Canterbury Cathedral, October 1983 English Lyrics:
Bright Star, When comes my Gwen, O mistress mine, Blow, blow, thou
winter wind, A Welsh lullaby, When lovers meet again, On a time the
amorous Silvy, When we two parted, Love is a bable, Weep you no more,
When icicles hang by the wall, Looking backward, Take, o take those
lips away, There be none of beauty’s daughters, And yet I lover her
till I die, From a city window, Thine eyes still shine for me, Marian,
No longer mourn for me, There Robert Tear (tenor), Philip Ledger
(piano) Recorded in the Church of George the Martyr, London, February
1977 DECCA 470 378-2 [78’05"] [CH]
A
lopsided representation of Parry, but admirers of British song will
be glad to have the Tear recordings back in circulation. … see Full
Review
Moses PERGAMENT
(1893-1977) Violin
Sonata (1918-20) [30.25] String Quartet No. 1 (1918-22) [37.20]
Nils-Erik Sparf (violin) Bengt Forsberg (piano) Lysellkvartetten
rec Studio 2, Radiohuset, 15-16 Nov 2000 (sonata); 17-19 Aug 2000 (quartet)
PHONO SUECIA - MUSICA SVECIAE
- PSCD 711 [67.45] [RB]
Another
horizon-broadening lesson for this listener. Highly recommendable to
the Gallic-Mediterranean stream. … see Full
Review
Allan PETTERSSON (1911-1980)
Symphony
No. 14 (1978)
Stockholm PO/Sergio Comissiona rec Stockholms Konserthus, 3-4 Dec 1981,
DDD PHONO-SUECIA PS
CD 12 [47.42] [RB]
A
raw pioneering performance of this monumental symphonic statement of
torture and despair. ... see Full Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Romeo
and Juliet, Op. 64 (1936) (excerpts)
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Esa-Pekka Salonen Recorded at the Philharmonie,
Berlin, October 1986 DDD
SONY ESSENTIAL CLASSICS SBK 89740 [55.16] [TH]
In
many ways, this Salonen disc combines the Previn (EMI) and Maazel (Decca)
approaches very well, so as a cheap, all-round highlights recommendation,
it will be very hard to beat. … see Full
Review
Serge PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Symphony
No.1, Op.25 ‘Classical’ [14.24]
Sinfonietta, Op.48 [20.53] Claude DEBUSSY
(1862-1918) orch. Ravel Sarabande [4.57] Danse [5.27]
Darius MILHAUD (1892-1974) La
Création du Monde, Op.81 [16.41] Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Chamber Symphony for String Orchestra,
Op.110a (arr. Rudolf Barshai) [27.39] Symphony No.14 for soprano, bass,
strings & percussion, Op.135 [50.07] Makvala Kasrashvili (soprano),
Mikhail Krutikov (bass) Lausanne Chamber Orchestra conducted by Alberto
Zedda (Prokofiev, Debussy, Milhaud), and Alexander Lazarev (Shostakovich)
Recorded at La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland, April, 1999 (Prokofiev,
Debussy, Milhaud), and Lausanne University, April, 1990 (Shostakovich)
DDD VIRGIN CLASSICS 7243 5 62050 2 4 [2 discs, 62.49; 77.59]
[TH]
Excellent
collection, well-recorded and expertly played, but with only a qualified
recommendation. … see Full Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI La
Bohème Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Sung in Italian Rodolfo
- Jussi Björling (tenor) Mimi - Victoria de los Angeles (soprano)
RCA Victor Chorus and Orchestra Sir Thomas Beecham (conductor) Recorded
at Manhattan Center, New York in March/April 1956 mono
EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 67750 2 2 [2CDs: 107’21"] [CF]
An
electrifying performance … orchestral playing quite stunning and the
singing thrilling. Both of the principal soloists were among the finest
exponents in their day … see Full Review
Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858-1924) La
Boheme (highlights). Mimi, Renato Scotto (sop). Rodolfo, Alfredo
Kraus (ten). Musetta, Carol Neblett (sop). Marcello, Sherrill Milnes
(bar). Colline, Paul Plishka (bass).
Trinity Boys Choir. Ambrosian Opera Chorus. National Philharmonic Orchestra.
Cond. James Levine. Recorded August 1979. Walthamstow Town Hall, London.
Budget Price. EMI
Encore Series 574985 [64.46] [RF]
Scotto
showing signs of a wobble as pressure is put on the voice. Nonetheless
an effective and emotionally taught performance. Kraus phrases with
elegance and his plangent tone and well-supported voice lie easily on
the ear. Enjoy! … see Full Review
Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858-1924) Tosca - Opera in three
Acts Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi,
The chorus and orchestra of La Scala, Milan/Victor de Sabata Recorded
at La Scala, Milan in August 1953
EMI CLASSICS (‘Great Recordings of the Century’ series) CMS 5 67756
2 [109:34] [IL]
In
short this is the Tosca to die for – a true classic of the gramophone
and a set that just has to be in every opera-lovers’ collection and
a fitting celebration of 100 EMI Great Recordings of the Century. …
see Full Review
Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858-1924) Tosca Maria Caniglia
, Beniamino Gigli, Armando Borgioli
Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Reale dell’Opera, Rome Oliviero de
Fabritiis
Recorded in Rome, September 1938 Disc 2 also contains highlights from
another Tosca, recorded in Paris in 1931, sung in French by Ninon
Vallin, Enrico di Mazzei, Arthur Endreze and Paul Payan.
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110096-97 [2 discs, 78.23, 75.14] Mono ADD Superbudget
[TH]
Gigli
sings with warmth, humanity, and even humour - a difficult balancing
act that can only come from real familiarity with the role and if Caniglia
does not spit venom her sincerity is moving and she sings total honesty
… see Full Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI
(1858 – 1924) Puccini’s Heroines: ‘The
Power of Love’
Kiri te Kanawa (soprano) & Lyon Opera Orchestra, cond. Kent Nagano
(the Intermezzi are orchestral items) except as follows: Barbara Hendricks
(soprano) & Orchestre National de France, cond. James Conlon* Cristina
Gallardo-Domas (soprano) & Münchner Rundfunkorchester, cond.
Maurizio Barbacini** Jennifer Larmore (mezzo-soprano), Hei-Kyung Hong
(soprano) & Münchner Rundfunkorchester, cond. Jesús
Lopez Cobos*** DDD WARNER
CLASSICS 0927-44282-2 [68.53] [PL]
A
lifetime’s experience on the stage and in the studio though the voice
doesn’t glow quite like it used to. … see Full
Review
Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
The Three Symphonies Symphony
No. 1 in D minor Op. 13 (1897) [44.08] Symphony No. 2 in E minor Op.
27 (1907) [47.13] Symphony No. 3 in A minor Op. 44 (1936) [38.44] Vocalise
for orchestra, Op. 34 No. 14 (1915) [6.22]
Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy Rec Town Hall, Philadelphia, PA,
USA, 28 Feb 1966 (1); 19 Apr 1959 (2); 20 Dec 1967 (3); 18 Oct 1967
(Vocalise) ADD
SONY ESSENTIAL CLASSICS SB2K63257 [CD1: 70.50; CD2: 66.03] Superbudget
[RB]
A
burnished classic of the gramophone. Ormandy nurtured sumptuous steadfast
string tone and precision of attack within a close-up Rachmaninov tradition.
Forget political correctness and let Ormandy guide you through the Second
Symphony … see Full Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor, Op 18 (1900) [34.03]Piano Concerto No
3 in D minor, Op 30 (1909) [43.09]
Yefim Bronfman (piano) & The Philharmonia, cond. Esa-Pekka Salonenrecorded
5-8 October 1990 in Abbey Road Studios, Studio 1, London: DDD
SONY SBK89734 [77.12] [PL]
So,
one hell of a disc: the pleasure-per-penny factor, were we able to calculate
such a thing, is definitely towards the top of the scale. … see Full
Review
Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) Piano
Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 36 Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano Sonata No. 7 in B flat, Op. 83
Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Piano
Sonata No. 5 in F sharp, Op. 53 Alexei Sultanov (piano). Recorded at
the Teldec Studio, Berlin in November 1990 (Prokofiev, Scriabin) and
February 1992 (Rachmaninov). [DDD] WARNER APEX 0927-40830-2 [54’23]
[CC]
Really
this disc is only recommendable if you are searching for this particular
coupling. … see Full Review
Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Aleko
- opera in one act Gothenburg
Opera Chorus/Martin Andersson Gothenburg SO/Neeme Järvi rec Gothenburg
Concerthall, Aug 1996
DG 453 453-2 [58.19] [RB]
An
easy first recommendation for this version of Rachmaninov's early Tchaikovskian
opera made compelling by the voices of Leiferkus and Guleghina and by
the tight direction of Neeme Järvi. … see Full
Review
Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937)
Violin
Sonata + Piano Trio # Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Violin Sonata + Cello Sonata *
Arthur Grumiaux, violin + Istvan Hajdu, piano + Maurice Gendron, cello
* Jean Francaix, piano * Beaux Arts Trio # Recorded 1962 (Ravel Violin
Sonata) 1963 (Debussy Violin Sonata) 1964 (Debussy Cello Sonata) 1966
(Debussy Trio) ELOQUENCE
PHILIPS 468 306-2 [68’02] [JW]
There
is simply no substitute for this kind of elevated music making. A superb
disc. … see Full Review
Maurice RAVEL
(1875-1937) The complete solo piano music
Angela Hewitt (piano) recorded in Reitstadel, Neumarkt, Germany, 20-23
March 2000, and Henry Wood Hall, London, 11-14 August 2001 DDD
HYPERION CDA 67341/2 [138.11] [PL]
Supremely
musical playing. … see Full Review
Joaquín RODRIGO
(1901 - 1999) Complete Orchestral Works 1 Soleriana:
Suite para orquesta (1953) Zarabanda lejana y Villancico (1930)
Cinco Piezas Infantiles (1925) Asturias Symphony Orchestra conducted
by Maximiano Valdés DDD Stereo NAXOS 8.555844 [60:56]
Superbudget [DB]
A
charming collection of rarely played Rodrigo, mostly well played and
entirely well recorded, which seems to suggest that we already know
the best works. ...see Full Review
Sigmund
ROMBERG
(1887-1951) The
Desert Song (1926) Harry Welchman, Edith Day, Dennis Hoey, Sidney
Pointer New Moon (1929) Evelyn Laye, Howett Worster, Ben
Williams Drury Lane Theatre Orchestra/Herman Finck Rec. 1927 and 1929
Robert STOLZ (1880-1975) The
Blue Train (1927) 
Lily
Elsie, Bobby Howes, Arthur Margetson, Cicely Debenham Prince of Wales
Theatre Orchestra/Charles Prentice Rec. 1927
PEARL GEMM CD 9100 [69.10]
Unusually
these recordings from the late 1920s use the original casts and theatre
orchestras. Authentic voices in historic sound. … see
Full Review
Joseph
Guy ROPARTZ
(1864-1955) Petite
Symphonie (1943) [19.46] Pastorales (1950) [17.44] Sons
de Cloches (1913) [11.26] Sérénade Champêtre
(1932) [9.13] Divertimento (1947/8) [10.44]
Orchestre de Bretagne Pascal Verrot Recorded at Quartz, Brest, October,
1995 DDD TIMPANI
1C 1043 [70.08] [TH]
If
you love French repertoire or just enjoy investigating generally, you
may well get more out of this disc than I did. None of the music offends
in the slightest, but I doubt if any of it will give you the feeling
that you’ve made a real discovery. … see Full
Review
Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1869)
Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Zürich Opera Reinaldo Macias, Carlos Chausson, Vesselina Kasarova,
Manuel Lanza, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Elizabeth Rae Magnuson Orchestra of
the Opera House Zürich / Nello Santi Directed by Grischa Asagaroff
Recorded live at the Opera House Zürich, April 2001
EuroArts/TDK
10 5124 9 DV-OPBDS [JL]
DVD
is able to make the most of the visually stunning designs in this very
fine Zürich Opera ensemble production that has a strong international
cast including one of the Rosinas of our time in Vesselina Kasarova.
… see Full Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI
(1792-1868) Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Rosina
– Victoria de los Angeles Figaro -- Sesto Bruscantini Almaviva
– Luigi Alva Basilio – Carlo Cava Bartolo – Ian Wallace
Berta – Laura Sarti Fiorello – Duncan Robertson
Glyndebourne Festival Chorus (chorus master Myer Fredman) Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra/Vittorio Gui Recorded in No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London
October, 1962 ADD EMI
GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY CMS5677622 [2 CDs: 71.27+69.59]
Medium price [TH]
Anyone
coming new to this opera can safely invest in this set, knowing they
will experience a glimpse of a great Rossini tradition. … see Full
Review
Nino ROTA (1911
- 1979) Concerto
for Harp [20.52] Concerto for Bassoon [17.03] Castel del Monte [10.07]
Concerto for Trombone [13.28]
Luisa Prandina, harp Paolo Carlini, bassoon, Guido Corti, horn Andrea
Conti, trombon I Virtuosi Italiani/Marzio Conti Rec. Auditorium Panduera,
Cento, Italy, November 2000
CHANDOS CHAN 9954 [61.52] [AT]
The
works on this disc are not profound enough to reward repeated listening,
but its virtues of simplicity and good nature make a very pleasant treat
now and again. … see Full Review
Norman
Harvey RUTHERLYN (1934-)
The
Churchill Music Czech
National Symphony/Vladimir Valek
available from: This England, PO Box 52, Cheltenham, GL50 1HT. £8.50
[PS]
For
many this release’s curiosity value may outweigh its uneven invention.
… 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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