RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Arnold
SCHOENBERG
(1874-1951) GurreliederTove
- Karita Mattila (soprano) Waldtaube - Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano)
Waldemar - Thomas Moser (tenor) Klaus-Narr – Philip Langridge (tenor)
Bauer, Sprecher – Thomas Quasthoff (bass-baritone) 
Rundfunkchor Berlin MDR Rundfunkchor Leipzig Ernst Senff Chor Chorus
Director Simon Halsey Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Sir Simon Rattle
Recorded September 2001, Philharmonie, Berlin
EMI Classics 7243 5 57303 2 9 [DDD] [59:46] [50:28] [CT]
Recorded
just a week after the tragedy of September 11th this stunning
performance of Gurrelieder heralds a new era both for Simon Rattle and
the Berlin Philharmonic…see Full
Review
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-75)
Chamber Symphony Op. 110a. Alfred
SCHNITTKE (1934-98)Concerto
for Piano and Strings.
Moscow Chamber Orchestra/Constantine Orbelian (piano).Recorded at Skywalker
Sound, Marin County, California, 5 & 7 March 2000
DELOS DE 3259 [47:37] [CC]
There
is not enough here, musically, to deserve a recommendation. Just over
three-quarters of an hour is unacceptable these days, surely, especially
at full price…see Full Review
Robert
SCHUMANN
(1810-1856) The Four Symphonies Genoveva
Overture [9.17] Manfred Overture (1849) [11.56]
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Rafael Kubelik rec Berlin, 1963, 1964,
stereo, ADD Two discs each available separately
ELOQUENCE Deutsche Grammophon 463 200-2 [78.06] (symphonies 1-2)
ELOQUENCE Deutsche Grammophon
463 201-2 [75.14] (symphonies 3-4)
Blessedly
sane readings with a really warm big Brahmsian sound. The brass and
especially the French Horns are wondrous. These are readings you can
live with and learn from. … see
Full Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856) Symphony No. 1 in B flat "spring'
Symphony No. 2 in C major Symphony No. 3 in E flat 'Rhenish' Symphony
No. 4 in D minor Overture, Scherzo and Finale
Dresden Staatskapelle Wolfgang Sawallisch Rec September 1992, Lukaskirche,
Dresden EMI Classics
5 67768-2 (2CDs: 77.16, 71.15) [TB]
With
splendid standards of music making , recording and presentation this
is a benchmark and self-recommending issue...see Full
Review
Cyril SCOTT (1879-1970)
Two Pieces Op 47 Lotus Land, Columbine Two Pierrot Pieces Op
35 Pierrette Poems Trois Danses tristes Op 74 Over the Prairie; Two
Impressions Piano Sonata No 1 Op 66
Dennis Hennig, piano Recorded 1991
ABC CLASSICS ELOQUENCE 465 737-2 [79’27] [JW]
From
the hot house of Lotus Land to the tough formalities of the Sonata this
is a strongly recommended disc…see Full Review
Alexander
SCRIABIN
(1872-1916) Symphony
No. 1 (1901) * Symphony No. 2 (1902) Symphony No. 3 Divine Poem (1905)
Poem of Ecstasy (1908) ** Prometheus - Poem of Fire (1910)
*** Stefania Toczyska (sop) * Michael Myers (ten) * Westminster Choir
* Frank Kaderabek (trumpet) ** Dmitri Alexeev (piano) *** Choral Arts
Society of Philadelphia *** Philadelphia Orchestra/Riccardo Muti rec
Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Feb 1985 (1), Feb 1989
(2), March 1990 (Ecstasy), Apr 1988 (3), Apr 1990 (Prometheus)
EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 67720 2 1[CD1: 50.38; CD2: 68.16; CD3:
69.20] Budget[RB]
This
is a splendid set with sumptuous sound and a propulsive pulse. A safe
yet far from predictable choice. … see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-75)
Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54a.The
Execution of Stepan Razin, Op. 119b
bAnatoly Lochak (bass) Russian State bSymphonic Cappella
and Symphony Orchestra, Valeri Polyansky.Recorded in aMosfilm
Studio on June 18th, 1999 and bGrand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory
on June 14th, 2000.
CHANDOS CHAN9813 [59’00] [DDD] [CC]
Polyansky
is a reliable guide in the Sixth but the disc is worth its price for
Stepan Razin alone…see Full Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
The
Bolt: Suite from the Ballet Op.27a (1933) Suite No. 1 for Stage Variety
Orchestra, Jazz Suite No. 1 (1934) Tahiti Trot Op. 16 (1928)
Russian State Symphony
Orchestra conducted by Dmitri Yablonsky Moscow State Broadcasting and
Recording House, Grand Studio 5 October 2001 DDD Stereo
NAXOS CD 8.555949 [62:14] [DB]
Shostakovich
with his hair down. An excellently recorded disc you will either love
or loathe … see Full Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-75)
String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110. Alexander
BORODIN (1833-87)
String Quartet No. 2 in D Maurice RAVEL
(1875-1937) String Quartet in F
Borodin String Quartet (Rostislav Dubinsky, Yaroslav Aleksandrov, violins;
Dmitri Shebalin, viola; Valentin Berlinsky, cello). Recorded live in
Leith Town Hall as part of the Edinburgh Festival on August 29th (Borodin)
and August 31st 1962 (Shostakovich/Ravel).
BBC Legends/IMG Artists BBCL4063-2 [ADD] [73’42] [CC]
Even
great quartets have off days, and it does rather seem that this disc
represents two of them. Disappointing…see Full
Review
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk Opera
in four acts Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano) Nicolai Gedda (tenor)
Ambrosian Opera Chorus London Philharmonic Orchestra Mstislav Rostropovich
EMI Classics CMS 5
67776 2 [CD1: 77.50 CD2: 77.03] ADD Midprice [RM]
A
stunning recording. You might not like it or even enjoy it but overcome
your prejudice and buy it…see Full
Review
Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
The Complete Symphonies
Symphony No. 1- 7,Kullervo Symphony,Tempest Suites Nos. 1and
2 Iceland SO/Petri Sakari
(apart from Kullervo) Johanna Rusanen (sop); Esa Ruutunen (bar);
Laulun Ystavet Male Choir/Turku PO/Jorma Panula (Kullervo)
NAXOS WHITE BOX 8.505179 [5 hours 58mins]
Sakari
patently loves this music. Many smaller details register with finely
calculated compulsion. Music imbued with vitality and an icy quickening.
see Full Review
Jean SIBELIUS
(1865-1957) Symphony
No. 2 [43.38] Symphony No. 7 [22.31]
Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy rec Broadwood Hotel, Philadelphia,
17 Mar 1957 (2); 1 May 1960 (7)
SONY CLASSICAL SBK 53509 [66.25] [RB]
I
have been hearing a lot of Sibelius recently and I will very happily
return to this disc for listening pleasure. ... see Full
Review
Jean SIBELIUS
(1865-1957) Four
Lemminkainen Legends (1895) Pohjola's Daughter (1906) The
Bard (1913) London
SO/Colin Davis rec 17-19 Jan 2000, Watford Colosseum, Watford, UK
RCA BMG 74321 68945 2 [75.25] [RB]
Davis's
Lemminkainen lacks the very roguish vigour that is central to the antiheroes
exploits. Good interpretations of The Bard and Pohjola. ... see Full
Review
Jean
SIBELIUS
(1865-1957) The
Maiden in the Tower (1896) [36.40] Pelléas et Mélisande
(1905) [25.46] Valse Triste (1903) [4.47]
Solveig Kringelborn (sop) Lilli Paaskivi (mezzo) Lars-Erik Jonsson
(ten) Garry Magee (bar) Ellerhein Girls' Choir Estonian National Male
Choir Estonian National SO/Paavo Järvi rec 23-26 March 2001, Estonia
concert hall, Tallinn
VIRGIN CLASSICS 7243 5 45493 2 8 [67.38] [RB]
If
you are curious (and you should be) you need not hesitate. Virgin for
Sibelius's Maiden. ... see Full Review
Valentin SILVESTROV
(1937-) Symphony
No. 5 (1980-82) [45.49] Exegi Monumentum (1985-87) [22.16]
Sergej Jakovenko (bar) (Exegi only) Ural Philharmonic Orchestra,
Yekaterinenburg/Andrej Borejko rec 1992, Yekaterinburg Philharmonia,
in presence of composer who was also present for the editing and remastering
of these recordings.
MEGADISC CLASSICS MDC 7836 [68.10] [RB]
Silvestrov
5 rears up in striking beauty - voluptuously done; the theme swelling,
rising and bursting in languorous technicolour. ... see Full
Review
Robert SIMPSON AN
INTRODUCTION TO THE STRING QUARTETS
An Illustrated Talk by Malcolm Macdonald £10.00 + 95p p&p (£8.00
+ 70p p&p) from 2 Park Close, Glossop, Derbys. SK13 7RQ
DUNELM RECORDS DRD 0110 (CD) (DR0110(mc) cassette) [67.00?]
Simpson’s
quartets are much less frequently heard in live concerts than the Shostakovich
or Bartók but they are a comparable achievement. This issue will,
I hope, argue their case and is strongly recommended. … see Full
Review
Bedřich SMETANA (1824-1884)
Má
Vlast (My Country) A cycle of symphonic poems Vyšehrad (1874)
[14.16] Vltava (The Moldau) (1874) [12.29] Šárka
(1875) [9.50] Z českých luhů a hájů (From Bohemia’s
Woods and Fields) (1875) [12.13] Tábor (1878) [12.17]
Blaník (1879) [13.42]
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Karel Ančerl AAD: recorded
at the Dvořák Hall of Rudolfinum, Prague on 7/10/13/14 January
1963 SUPRAPHON 11
1925-2 011 [75.05] [PL]
Ančerl
and his wonderful orchestra are
the ‘real thing’. Buy, hear and believe!... see Full
review
Ethel
SMYTH
(1858-1944) The Troubadisc Chamber Music and
Lieder cycle
Four Volumes:- Volume 1 and 2 TRO-CD 03 (2CDs) Volume 3 TRO-CD 01405
Volume 4 TRO-CD 01417 Volume 1 Violin
Sonata op. 7 (1887) [27.08] String Quintet op. 1 (1883) [26.58] Volume
2 Cello Sonata op. 5 (1887) [20.42] String Quartet in e minor (1902,
1912) [38.12] Renate Eggebrecht-Kupsa (violin) (violin sonata) Friedemann
Kupsa (cello) (cello sonata) Céline Dutilly (piano) (sonatas)
Fanny Mendelssohn String Quartet (quartet and quintet) Johanna Varner
(cello) (quintet only) rec 6, 7, 13, 14 Aug 1990; 1, 12, 13 Nov 1990,
Studio 3 des Bayerischen Rundfunks, München, Germany ADD TROUBADISC
TRO-CD 03 [2CDs: 54.33+59.20] Volume 3 Four Songs for
mezzo and chamber ensemble (1907) [20.20]: Odelette; La Danse;
Chrysilla; Ode AnacréontiqueThree Songs for mezzo
and piano (1913) [14.06]: The Clown; Possession; On
the Road Double Concerto for violin, horn and piano (1926) [26.24]
Melinda Paulsen (mezzo) (all songs)
Ensemble: Ulrike Siebler (flute); Renate Eggebrecht-Kupsa (violin);
Georgi Georgiev (viola); Friedemann Kupsa (cello); Corinna Zirkelbach
(harp); Alexander Gotowtschikow (percussion); Johannes Schmeller (ltg)
Angela Gassenhuber (piano) (Three Songs) Renate Eggebrecht-Kupsa (violin);
Franz Draxinger (horn); Céline Dutilly (piano); (Double Concerto)
rec 1, 2 May, 7, 8, 28 July 1992, Bauer Studios, Ludwigsburg, Germany
DD TROUBADISC TRO-CD 01405 [61.37] Volume 4 Five Lieder Op.
4 for baritone and piano (1877) [15.27]: Tanzlied (Büchner);
Schlummerlied (v. Wildenbruch); Mittagsruh (v. Eichendorff);
Nachreiter (Groth); Nachtgedanken (Heyse) Five Songs
Op. 4 for baritone and piano [13.22] (1877) Vom Berge; Der
verirrte Jäger; Bei eine Linde; Es wandelt was wir
schauen; Schön Rohraut (all v. Eichendorff apart from
last song which is Mörike) Cello Sonata in c minor (1880) [26.11]
Three Moods of the Sea for baritone and piano (1913) [11.40]:
Requies; Before the Squall; After Sunset (all Arthur
Symons) rec 27, 28 Mar, 1, 2 Oct 1997, Bauer Studios, Ludwigsburg, Germany,
DDD TROUBADISC TRO-CD
01417 [67.53] [RB]
The
Troubadisc series is invaluable with some surprising pleasures as well
as some predictably joyous inspirations. … see Full
Review
Padre
Antonio SOLER (1729
- 1783) Sonatas for harpsichord Volume 8
Gilbert Rowland (harpsichord) Recorded in Epsom College Concert Hall,
July 2000 DDD Stereo
NAXOS CD 8.555031 [76.26] [DB]
A
superb and well filled disc of brilliant sonatas, well played, well
recorded and a must have purchase. … see Full Review
David W SOLOMONS Songs
of Solomons Stephen
Taylor (counter-tenor) Jonathan Leonard (piano)
DA CAPO MUSIC LTD NCC2003 [PS]
Mr
Taylor’s accomplished and sensitive singing does much for these songs
… see Full Review
Sir
Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924)
Songs
and Devotional works Kathleen
Ferrier (contralto), Thomas Allen (baritone), Timothy
Byram-Wigfield (tenor), Timothy Barber (treble) Choirs
of King's and St John's Colleges, Cambridge Frederick Stone (piano)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conds.
George Guest/Edward Higginbottom/David Hill/Roger Norrington Rec. BBC
Studios, London 1952; Winchester Cathedral 1990; The Colosseum, Watford
1996; New College Chapel, Oxford 2000 The British Music Collection,
Decca DECCA 470 384-2
[62.07] Midprice[RW]
Not
a balanced view of the composer's output; more reflective of what is
available in the Decca catalogue. … see Full
Review
Maximilian STEINBERG
(1883-1946)
Symphony No. 2 (1909) Variations for Orchestra (1905)
Göteborgs SO/Neeme Järvi rec Göteborg Concert Hall, Aug/Oct
1998 DG 471 198-2
[49.53] [RB]
Torrid
Slavonic performances of both the graceful variations and the gloomily
brilliant symphony. No doubt symphonies 3, 4 and 5 will follow over
the next few years. If so they are unlikely to find a more dedicated
team than DG, Järvi and the orchestra at Göteborg. ... see
Full Review
Johann STRAUSS II (1825-1899)
Josef STRAUSS (1827-1880) Eduard
STRAUSS (1835-1916) Waltzes
and Polkas Johann
Strauss Orchestra of Vienna Willi Boskovsky Rec 1980-1985, Baumgartner-Kasino,
Studio Rosenhügel, Polyhymnia Sudio, Vienna
EMI FRANCE 5 74528 2 (5CDs) [TB]
Willi
Boskowsky (1909-1991) remains the world's most famous interpreter of
this repertoire. Even more than a decade after his death his influence
is still profound, his reputation every bit as strong. And this set
of five CDs from French EMI tells us why.... see Full
Review
STRAUSS
GALA Unidentified
soloists (CDs 4-5), Radio Bratislava Symphony Orchestra/Otto Aebi Location
and recording date not given
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99083 [5 CDs, 61’33", 63’04", 56’12",
71’13", 61’37"] [CH]
An
overall recommendation is difficult. Two out of three orchestral discs
are fairly good and the operettas will give you a nice guessing game.
...see Full Review
Richard
STRAUSS Der
Rosenkavalier Marianne Schech (soprano)
Kurt Böhme (bass) Irmgard Seefried (soprano) Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
(baritone) Rita Streich (soprano) Chorus and Orchestra of the Dresden
Opera Karl Böhm (conductor)Recorded at the Lukaskirche, Dresden,
in December 1958DG 463 668-2 [3CDs: 187’38"] [CF]
This
is a set to listen to from start to finish, omitting nothing. … see
Full Review
Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
Petroushka
and Rite of Spring (Boston S.O./Pierre Monteux)
– recorded 1959, 1951. ADD Song of the Nightingale and
The Fairy’s Kiss (Chicago S.O./Fritz Reiner) – recorded 1956,
1958 ADD Dumbarton Oaks (NDR SO/Günter Wand). – recorded
1984 BMG RCA 74321
846092 (2 CDs) [66.23+61.09]
Monteux
brings a special authenticity to these performances unsurpassed in grasping
the correct blend of drama, pathos and irony. A useful alternative to
the supercharged versions which are now routine. … see Full
Review
Arthur SULLIVAN
The Church Music
Keble College Choir (Mark Laflin, with Gavin Plumley, organ) (in conjunction
with the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society)
PRIORY RECORDS PRCD 691 [65.00?] [PS]
Sullivan
was a master of melody and he did not stop writing tunes when he composed
for the church. Strongly recommended. … see Full
Review
Sir
Arthur SULLIVANThe
Martyr of Antioch
Catherine Foster (sop); Gillian Knight (contr.); Stephen Brown (ten.);
Gareth Jones (bar.); Stephen Godward (bass); Clive Woods (organ); Northern
Chamber Orchestra and Sullivan Chorus Conducted by Richard Balcombe
Recording of performance at Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, Buxton, August
2000 SYMPOSIUM 1289
[78.41] Midprice [PS]
A
committed and accomplished performance and while occasionally one has
to bear in mind this is a "live" recording, the release is
highly recommendable in shedding light on a long-dark corner of English
oratorio… see Full Review
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893)
Symphony No. 4 (1877-8) [44.48] Francesca da Rimini (1876) [24.34]
Bamberger Symphoniker/José
Serebrier rec Konzert und Kongresshalle 'Sinfonie an der Regnitz', Bamberg,
Feb 2001 (Sym), Feb 2000 (Francesca)
BIS-CD-1273 [70.20] [RB]
Impressive
in the myriad freshly imagined details rather than the overall span.
... see Full Review
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony
No. 5 (1888) [54.54] Marche Slave (1876) [9.49]
West Australian SO/Vladimir Verbitsky rec 1994 Australian Broadcasting
Corporation DDD ABC CLASSICS
ELOQUENCE 446 058-2 [54.30] [RB]
Verbitsky
is well served by orchestra and by ABC in a sane yet far from workaday
interpretation of the Symphony. ... see Full
Review
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony
No. 6 Pathétique (1892) [44.40] Romeo and Juliet (1870)
[20.19] Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra/Claudio Abbado (6) Boston SO/Claudio Abbado (Romeo and
Juliet) rec 1974 (6); 1971 (Romeo) ADD
DG ELOQUENCE 457 309-2 [67.47] [RB]
Lower
key but emotionally well shaped performances with the highlight being
the Boston Romeo. ... see Full
Review
Peter I TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Violin
Concerto Niccolo PAGANINI (1782-1840)
Caprices op 1
Ruggiero Ricci, violin New Symphony Orchestra Malcolm Sargent Recorded
1950 PEARL GEM 0136
[70.47] [JW]
A
fine, mid-period salute to a violinist of exceptional and highly personalized
gifts. … see Full Review
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Violin
Concerto (1878) [35.37] Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Romeo and Juliet (selection from the two suites)
(1935) [21.52] Václav
Hudecek (violin) Czech PO/David Oistrakh rec Smetana Hall, Municipal
House, Prague, 20 May 1972, The Prague Spring Festival, AAD.
SUPRAPHON SU 0216-2011 [57.33] [RB]
Welcome
as a record of the event but not a Tchaikovsky interpretation to fell
the favourites ... vivid Prokofiev though! ... see Full
Review
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840
– 1893) Piano
Concerto no. 1 in B flat minor
1812 Overture Arkady
Sevidov, piano Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Samuel Friedmann
Concerto recorded October 1996, Overture recorded July 1996, Russian
Broadcast and Recording Department, Studio 5, Moscow
ARTE NOVA CLASSICS 74321 43327 [50:06] Superbudget [GPJ]
If
you are desperate for this particular coupling, you might try this to
see whether you can live with the performances – otherwise my advice
would be ‘steer clear’! … see Full Review
Peter I TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Piano
Concerto Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Etude
in F minor La leggierezza, Au bord d’une source,Hungarian Rhapsody
No 15 Rakoczy March Frederic CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Polonaise No 3 Op 40 No 1 Military,Polonaise
in A Flat major Op 53, Heroic Fantasie Op 49 Etude Op 25 No
3 Etude Op 10 No 8 Etude Op 25 No 1
Solomon, piano Halle Orchestra Hamilton Harty Recorded 1929-1932
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110680 [74’34] [JW]
Solomon’s
earliest recordings. Elegant and fascinatingly aristocratic this disc
will go some way to showing why he deserves the soubriquet "great"…see
Full Review
Ernst TOCH
(1887-1964) Symphonies
No. 2, Op. 73 and No. 3, Op. 75.
Berlin Radio Symphony OrchestraAlun FrancisRecorded in the Jesus-Christus
Kirche, Berlin in April and June 1999.
CPO 999 705-2 [DDD] [60’11] [CC]
This
is a superb disc of wonderfully fascinating music just waiting to be
discovered…see Full Review
Percy TURNBULL (1902-1976)
The
Songs and Part Songs - Nancy Argenta (soprano) Roderick Williams
(Baritone) Robin Bowman (piano)
The Joyful Company of Singers - Director Peter Broadbent
SOMM CD 020 [63.00?] [CSS]
Songs
full of felicities. Dark moments are few. Melody lines, essentially
simple, nevertheless take some lovely turns. Well served here. … see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872
–1958) Symphony
no.4 in f minor (1934)
Mass in g minor (1923) Six Choral Songs (1944)
London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus, Richard Hickox Singers/Richard
Hickox Recorded at All Saints’ Church Tooting January 2001 (symphony
and songs) and January 2002 (mass)
CHANDOS CHAN 9984 [68:20] [GPJ]
From
shattering aggression via spirituality to honest populism those who
have been waiting with bated breath for this issue are not going to
be disappointed in any way – hurry, hurry, hurry! … see
Full Review
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958):
SYMPHONIES 1 – 8
Symphony 1, "A Sea Symphony", with Isobel Baillie, soprano, John Cameron,
baritone, London Philharmonic Choir, 450 144-2 [67.48] Symphony 2, "A
London Symphony"; Partita for Double String Orchestra, 461 008-2 [72.18]
Symphony 3, "A Pastoral Symphony", with Margaret Ritchie, soprano; Symphony
5 in D, 461 118-2 [72.16] Symphony 4 in F minor; 6 in E minor, 461 117-2
[74.27] Symphony 7, "Sinfonia Antartica", with Margaret Ritchie, soprano,
and Sir John Gielgud, speaker, London Philharmonic Choir; Symphony 8
in D minor, 461 116-2 [73.22]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Boult Recorded MONO 1952 - 1958
DECCA ELOQUENCE (AUSTRALIA) Symphony 1: 450 144-2 [67.48]Symphony
2, 461 008-2 [72.18]Symphony 3/ 5 461 118-2 [72.16]Symphony
4/6 461 117-2 [74.27]Symphony 7/8 in D minor, 461 116-2 [73.22]
[JH]
True
classics of the gramophone. Not one of these performances is less than
magnificent. Dated sound though the ear soon adjusts to the limitations.
… see Full Review
Francois VERCKEN Lucernaire
(Office of the Body and Blood of Christ)
Les Petits Chanteurs de Lyon/various instrumentalists/Jean-Francois
Duchamp Recording of a live performance given at a conference of L’Association
Art d’Église in the church of St Jacques, Rheims, on 4 June
1994. PAVANE RECORDS
ADW 7331 [49.00] [AAS]
The
bleak opening bars (sample 1) provide an ominous warning of the
pain in store. … see Full Review
Richard WAGNER Der
Ring Des Nibelungen Sung in German Badische Staatskapelle
Günter Neuhold (conductor) Recorded live at the Badischen Staatstheater
Karlsruhe, Germany between 1993 and 1995 Das Rheingold [149’29"]
Die Walküre [216’17"] Siegfried [233’25"]
Götterdämmerung [245’29"]
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99801 [14CDs: 14 hours 4’40"]
For
those who are as yet uninitiated into this miraculous music, it is an
inexpensive introduction and for that alone one should be grateful.
… see Full Review
Richard
WAGNER
(1813-1883) Tannhäuser
Peter Seiffert , Jane Eaglen, Thomas Hampson,Waltraud Meier
Staatsopernchor Berlin
Staatskapelle Berlin/Daniel Barenboim Rec June 2001, NLG Berlin
TELDEC 8573 88064 2 [3CDs: 66.38+71.50+56.14] [TB]
Although
slow and introspective at times Barenboim with great concentration ensures
dramatic variety and tension while maintaining the flow of the musical
design. … see Full Review
Errollyn WALLEN Dervish
for cello and piano, Are you worried about the rising cost of
funerals? five simple songs for soprano and string quartet, Louis'
Loops for toy piano, Horseplay for ensemble, In our lifetime
for baritone and tape, The girl in my alphabet for two pianos
Matthew Sharp (cello);
Dominic Harlan (piano) (Dervish) Patricia Rosario (sop); David
le Page (violin); Kirsty Staines (violin); David Aspin (viola); Joseph
Spooner (cello); Philip Headlam (conductor) (Five Simple Songs)
Margaret Leng Tan (two toy pianos) (Louis' Loops) Continuum Ensemble/Philip
Headlam (Horseplay) Mike Henry (bar) (In Our Lifetime)
Douglas Finch; Errollyn Wallen (pianos) (The Girl in My Alphabet)
rec Cowell Theatre, Fort Mason Centre, San Francisco, USA (Louis'
Loops); March 1990, Wallen Music Centre, London (In Our Lifetime);
8-9 Oct 2001, Potton Hall, Suffolk, England; 25 March 1999
AVIE AV 0006 [70.11] [RB]
Wallen
is a brashly creative, open-minded composer striding with confident
abandon from jazz, to Tippett, to spirituals, to Schoenberg, to Mediterranean
mystery. ... see Full Review
Johann Gottfried WALTHER (1684-1748)
Concerto
by Meck (Antonio Vivaldi RV 275) Concerto by Torelli, Concerto by Gregori,
Concerto by Taglietti, Partita on the Choral Meinen Jesum lass ist nicht,
Partita on the Choral Jesu meine Freude, Choral Hilf, Gott, das mirs
gelinge Thierry LANCINO (b 1954) Prisme
Dominique Ferran, organ
Recorded on the Yves Severe organ, Notre-Dame-la-Grande, Poitiers, March
1998 K617090 [71.50]
[JW]
On
this fine disc we hear four of the transcriptions, two Partitas and
a Choral Prelude. Makes a splendid case for Walther … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Sir
William WALTON
(1902-1983) The Centenary Edition CD1:
Cello Concerto Symphony No. 1 CD2: Scapino: A Comedy Overture
Violin Concerto Symphony No. 2 CD3: Façade, Suites
Nos I and II Viola Concerto Variations on a Theme by Hindemith CD4:
Coronation March: Crown Imperial Coronation March: Orb and
Sceptre* Belshazzar's Feast Coronation Te Deum* Suite: Henry
V (adapted by Muir Mathieson)
Robert Cohen (cello), Tasmin Little (violin), Paul Neubauer (viola)
Bryn Terfel (bass-baritone), Timothy Bryam-Wingfield (organ) Bournemouth
Symphony Chorus, Waynflete Singers, L'inviti, Choir of Winchester Cathedral
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Andrew Litton, *David Hill Rec Nov 1993
(CD1), March 1994 (CD2), March 1996 (CD3), Guildhall, Southampton; May
1991 (CD4: Coronation Te Deum, Orb and Sceptre), February
1995 (CD4: remainder), Winchester Cathedral
DECCA 470 508 2 [4CDs: 73.57, 68.31, 71.25, 78.51] budget price
[TB]
This
reissue warmly welcomed as an outstanding contribution to the centenary
year. … see Full Review
Takashi YOSHIMATSU
(b.1953) Symphony
No. 4 Op. 82 (2000) Trombone Concerto, Orion Machine’ Op. 55
(1993) Atom Hearts Club Suite No. 1 Op.70b (1997/2000)
Ian Bousfield, trombone BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Sachio Fujioka Recorded
at Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester, March 2001
Chandos CHAN 9960 DDD [61:22] [CT]
Much
of this music is delightful, particularly the symphony where Yoshimatsu
wears his heart unselfconsciously on his sleeve. The BBC Philharmonic
plays beautifully with Ian Bousfield a fine soloist in the concerto…see
Full Review
Domenico ZIPOLI (1688-1726)
Cantate: Dell’offese a vendicarmi (1),
Mia Bella Irene (2), Sonata for violin and basso continuo (3),
Sonate d’Intavolature: Canzoni in D minor, F, E minor, C, G minor, Toccata,
All’Elevazione in F, All’Elevazione in C, All’Offertorio, Al Post comunio,
Pastorale (4) Adriana
Fernandez (soprano) (2), Victor Torres (baritone) (1), Pablo Valetti
(3), Ensemble Elyma [Eduardo Egüez (arch-lute), Hannelore Devaere
(harp), Ricardo Massun (viola da gamba, baroque violoncello)]/Gabriel
Garrido (1-3), Dominique Ferran (organ) (1-4) Recorded 27-30 August
1993, Córdoba (Argentina) (1-3), 8-10 Oct. 1993, Monticello (Corsica)
(4) K617 K617037 [65.39]
[CH]
An
excellent overall presentation of a composer – and organ – worth knowing.
… 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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