Joseph
CANTELOUBE
(1879-1957) Songs
of the Auvergne - series 1-5 (23 songs) (1923-30) Maurice
EMMANUEL (1862-1938) Chansons Bourguignonnes du Pays de
Beaune - Dawn Upshaw (soprano) 
Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Lyon/Kent Nagano - rec 1 Apr
1994, Auditorium Maurice Ravel, Lyon; 28-31 Aug 1996, Opéra National
de Lyon ERATO 0927
44656 2 [103.42] [RB]
Will
be preferred by those who like modern sound and a languid Delian approach
to their Canteloube. Lovely singing from Upshaw. ... see Full
Review
George
Whitefield CHADWICK (1854-1931)
Symphonic
Sketches (1895-1905) [30.07] Melpomene Overture (1887) [13.03]
Tam O’Shanter (Symphonic Poem) (1915) [19.27] Suite Symphonique
(1909) [35.62] Aphrodite (Symphonic Poem) (1910) [28.18] Elegy
(1887) [7.50] Czech
State PO/Jose Serebrier recorded Stadion Hall, Brno 2-5 April 1995 (Sketches,
Melpomene, Tam); 3-7 June 1996 (Suite, Aphrodite, Elegy)
REFERENCE RECORDINGS RR-2104CD [62:50+72:25] [RB]
This
two-fer is warmly recommended for fine rare repertoire and typically
sprung, lively sound with power and subtlety aplenty. ...see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Frédéric CHOPIN
(1810-1849)
THE PIANO WORKS
Various performers[Contents listed complete at foot of review] 13 CD
set DDD BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 99802-1-13 [GPJ]
It
represents almost unbelievable value and musically, it is simply a gold-mine.
… see Full Review
Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849)Piano
Sonata No. 3 op. 58 (1844) [26.59]Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise
brillante op. 22 (1834) [14.28]Étude op. 10 No. 2
(1830) [1.25] Étude op. 10 No. 5 (1830) [1.40]Étude
op. 25 No. 11 "Winter Wind" (1834) [3.40]Nocturne op.
9 No. 1 (1830) [5.46] Nocturne op. 9 No. 2 (1830) [4.23] Nocturne
op. 15 No. 2 (1831) [3.33]Impromptu op. 66 (1834) [4.58]
Yundi Li, pianoRec. Teldec Studio, Berlin, 9/2001
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 471 479-2 [67.00] [AT]
Is
there a musical personality at work here? The answer I think is a qualified
yes. … see Full Review
Frédéric CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Cello
Sonata Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Cello Sonata Jamie
Walton (cello); Charles Owen (piano) Recorded 18-19 Dec 2001, Netherhall
House, London SOMM
SOMMCD 026 [64.36] [TB]
Well
judged and rather more satisfying, I feel, than some recordings by more
famous names. … see Full Review
Muzio CLEMENTI
(1752-1832) Compsizioni per pianoforte (Works
for Piano) vol. 4 Sonata
in B flat major, op. 13 no. 4 Sonata in F major, op. 13 no. 5 Sonata
in F minor op 13. no 6 "Batti, batti" from Mozart’s opera
Don Giovanni,Fantasie, avec variations, sur l’air, Au clair de la
lune, Minuetto a tempo di ballo, composed by Mr. Collick, with 5
variations Sonata in C major op. 37 no. 1 Sonata in G major op. 37 no.
2 Sonata in D major op. 37 no. 3 The Black Joke, theme with 21
variations, Wo2 Maria Tipo,
piano Rec: Date unknown, Museo Teatrale alla Scala di Milano, Italy.
WARNER FONIT 0927 43315-2
[143.00] [KM]
An
attractive set, featuring some beautiful music very well played by Maria
Tipo. Clementi is one of those pivotal composers who deserves more recognition.
… see Full Review
RECORD
OF THE MONTH Cecil COLES
(1888-1918)
Music From Behind The Lines: Overture: The Comedy of Errors,
Fra Giacomo, Scherzo in A minor, Four Verlaine Songs: "Fantastic
in appearance", "A slumber vast and black", "Pastoral:
The sky above the roof", "Let’s dance the jig", From
the Scottish Highlands, Behind the Lines
Sarah Fox, soprano, Paul Whelan, baritone. BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Martyn
Brabbins Rec. City Hall, Glasgow on 12 and 13 December 2001 DDD
HYPERION CDA67293 [62'44] [PB][IL]
Music
that is solemn, poignant and majestic. Coles died in the Great War but
unlike Butterworth, Kelly and Farrar he had no committed champions to
keep his music before the public.[PB]
A penchant for the dramatic and a gift for writing evocative, atmospheric
music.[IL] … see Full Review
Justin CONNOLLY
(b. 1933)Night Thoughts Sonatina No. 2: Ennead
Op. 26 (2000) for piano Nocturnal Op. 33 (1991) for flutes, piano,
double bass and percussion Tesserae F: "Domination of Black"
Op. 15f (1999) for bass clarinet Scardanelli Dreams Op. 37 (1997-98)
for mezzo-soprano and piano
Nicholas Hodges (piano) Nancy Ruffer (flutes) Corrado Canonici (double
bass) Julian Warburton (percussion) Andrew Sparling (bass clarinet)
Sue Anderson (mezzo-soprano) Recorded at St George’s Brandon Hill, Bristol
January 31-February 1 and June 19, 2000 DDD
METIER MSV CD92046 [72:57] [CT]
A
long overdue disc of challenging yet rewarding chamber works by a British
composer who is all too little represented in the catalogue. … see Full
Review
Estevan
DACA
(1537-1590) El Parnasso (1576):
Villancicos and Fantasia El Cortesano:-
Jose Hernandez Pastor, counter-tenor Ariel Abramovich, vihuela Recorded
at the church of St. Michael Valladolid, Spain August 2001
ARCANA A316 [61.20] [GH]
A
Spanish Dowland: singer, composer and lute-player. His music is at its
best when it is melancholy … see Full Review
You may sample, download or purchase
this disc
Richard
DANIELPOUR
(born 1956)
An American Requiem (2001)
Stephanie Blythe (mezzo-soprano); Hugh Smith (tenor); Mark Oswald (baritone);
Pacific Chorale; Pacific Symphony Orchestra/Carl St. Clair Recorded:
Segerstrom Hall, Orange County Performing Arts Centre, Costa Mesa, CA,
November 2001 REFERENCE
RECORDINGS RR-97 CD [62:58] [HC]
A
powerfully expressive work in a superbly committed reading … see Full
Review
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934)
The
Song of the High Hills (1911-12) [25.58] Eventyr - Once upon
a time (1915-17) [15.20] Sleigh Ride (1887 orch 1889) [5.49]
Five Songs from the Norwegian (orch. Bo HOLTEN)†: Slumber
Song (Bjørnsterne Bjørnsen) [3.53]; The Nightingale
(Theodor Kjerulf) [2.44]; Summer Eve (Johan Paulsen) [3.37];
Longing (Theodor Kjerulf) [3.19]; Sunset (Andreas Munch)
[5.00] Henriette Bonde-Hansen (sop) † John Kjøller (ren); Helle
Høyer Hansen (sop); Aarhus University Choir; Hummerkoret; Aarhus
Chamber Choir ‡ Aarhus
SO/Bo Holten - rec: 19-23 May 2001, Frichsparken, Aarhus DDD
DANACORD DACOCD 536 [65.43][RB]
A
highly desirable disc with splendid interpretations of the Song of the
High Hills and the Norwegian Songs ... see Full
Review
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934)
Paris
– The Song of a Great City, In a Summer Garden, Summer Night on the
River, The Walk to the Paradise Garden (from A Village
Romeo and Juliet), A Song of Summer
London Symphony Orchestra/Anthony Collins - Recorded 1953-54
ELOQUENCE DECCA 461 358-2 [62’08][JW]
This
is truly to understand a little better the nature of orchestral genius
and to absorb a beauty born of a conductor’s selfless gifts. … see Full
Review
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934)
Frederick Delius in Norway The
British Symphonic Collection: Vol.8 Symphonic Poem: On the Mountains,Seven
Songs from the Norwegian, Norwegian Bridal Procession by Grieg,
orchestrated by Delius Melodrama: Paa Vidderne
Jan Lund (tenor) Peter Hall (narrator) Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra/Douglas Bostock Recorded in Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool on
3, 4, & 7 August 2000
CLASSICO CLASSCD 364 [79’52"] [CF]
Straussian
melodies - lushly orchestrated - glorious music … see Full Review
François DEVIENNE (1759-1803)
Six
Sonates pour le basson avec accompagnement de basse, (Six Sonatas for
bassoon with bass accompaniment)
Masahito Tanaka, bassoon, Shin-iciro Nakano, harpsichord, Ken-ichi Kamizuka,
'cello
Recorded October 1998 in Akigawa Kirara Hall, Tokyo
PAVANE ADW 7416 [62:46] [GPJ]
Stunning
technical facility, even tone, and superb intonation. … see Full
Review
You
can sample, download tracks or purchase this disc
Guillaume
DUFAY (c.1399-1474)
SACRED
MUSIC FROM BOLOGNA - 915 - Vasilissa, ergo gaude; Kyrie Fons
bonitatis; O beate Sebastiane; Gloria and Credo [paired] Sanctus and
Agnus Dei [paired] O gemma, lux et speculum; Supremum est mortalibus;Inclita
stella maris; Gloria Spiritus et alme; O sancta Sebastian.
The Clerks Group directed by Edward Wickham - Recorded at St. Andrews,
West Wratting, August-September 2000
SIGNUM CD023 [60.07] [GH]
Worth
investigation and is always beautifully done. … see Full
Review
You
can sample, download tracks or purchase this disc
John DUNSTABLE (c.1390-1453)
Descendi
in ortum meum, Ave maris stella, Gloria in canon, Speciosa facta es,
Sub tuam protectionem, Veni sancte spiritus, Albanus roseo rutilat,
Specialis virgo, Preco preheminencie, O crux glriosa, Salve regina mater
nire, Missa Rex seculorum Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus dei
Orlando Consort Rec East Woodhay Church, Berkshire, 6-7 Feb 1995
METRONOME MET CD 1009 [74.02] [AT]
An
excellent record that can be heartily recommended to Dunstaple aficionados
and ignorami alike. … see Full Review
You
can sample, download tracks or purchase this disc
Edmundo ECKHART
(1935) Symphonic
Poems:- Beatus Ille (1963) [18.52] Anastasis (1970s?)
[33.13] Moldavian RTVSO/Christian
Florea rec 1994? DDD
GALLO CD-841 [52.05]
If
your taste runs to rhapsodic Straussian neo-romanticism then this is
for you. ... see Full Review
Edward
ELGAR
(1857-1934) Enigma
Variatio ns, Cello Concerto, Cockaigne Overture, Five Pomp
and Circumstance Marches, Violin Concerto
Philadelphia/Ormandy (Engima; Cockaigne) Jacqueline Dupre (cello)
(cello concerto), Philadelphia/Barenboim (cello concerto), Philharmonia/Andrew
Davis (P&Cs), Pinchas Zukerman (violin) (violin concerto),
LPO/Barenboim (violin concerto); rec Philadelphia 8 April 1962 (Enigma);
20 Jan 1963 (Cockaigne); 27-28 Nov 1970, Academy of Music; (Cello
Concerto); EMI Studios, Abbey Rd 5 Apr 1976 (Violin Concerto);
30 Dec 1981 (P&Cs) ADD/DDD
SONY ESSENTIAL CLASSICS SB2K63247 [2CDs: 75.28+79.25]
[RB]
One
of the best kept secrets in the Elgar catalogue - seek it out. Ignore
the Establishment of detractors ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ken Russell’s
ELGAR The
classic BBC TV 100th ‘Monitor’ Programme broadcast on 11
November 1962 - together with a separate showing of the film with commentary
by Ken Russell and Michael Kennedy. Plus Michael Kennedy introduces
"home movie" footage of Elgar at the Three Choirs Festivals
of 1929, 1930 and 1932 and film of Elgar conducting a recording of his
Land of Hope and Glory at Abbey Road Studios black and white
bfi (British
Film Institute) BFIVD 524 
[56
mins – extra material 15 mins] [IL]
Despite
its few flaws this is a wonderful film and it is highly recommended
to all Elgarians … see Full Review
Maurice
EMMANUEL
(1862-1938) Odelettes
Anacréontiques Op. 13 (1911) Musiques Op. 17 (1918)
Vocalise-Étude Op. 24 (1926) In Memoriam Op. 11
(1908) Florence Katz (sop)
Marie-Catherine Girod (piano) Lionel Peintre (bar) (In memoriam)
Claude Lefebvre (flute) (Odelettes) Jean-Marc Phillips (violin)
(In memoriam) Henri Demarquette (cello) (In memoriam)
rec. Théâtre
de Poissy, 3/5 July 1995
TIMPANI 1C1030 [56.30] [RB]
More
delightful discoveries in the realm of French mélodie. Superb
singing by Katz. ... see Full Review
You
can sample, download tracks or purchase this disc
George ENESCU
(1881-1955) Violin
Sonata No. 2 (1899) Violin Sonata No. 3 (1926) Violin Sonata - torso
(1911) Adelina Oprean
(violin) Justin Oprean (piano) rec 11-13 Feb 1881 DDD
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55103 [63.46]
Well
worth its Helios bargain price and an object lesson in the predominance
of gypsy glamour. ... see Full Review
Impression. French Chamber Music
Masterpieces Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845-1924): Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor*
Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937): Piano
Trio Juno’s Band (Jacqueline
Shave (violin); Paul Watkins (cello); Ian Brown (piano); Roger Chase
(viola)*) Recorded at Potton Hall, Suffolk 20-21 June 2000
Metronome MET CD 1048 [57’ 22"] [JQ]
Good,
sensitive and idiomatic performances … see Full
Review
You can sample, download tracks or
purchase this disc
Friedrich
von FLOTOW (1812-1883)
Marta
- ‘Semi-serious’ opera in four acts - Lady Enrichetta: Elena
Rizzieri - Nancy: Pia Tassinari - Lionello: Ferruccio Tagliavini - Plumkett:Carlo
Tagliabue - Sir Tristano di Mickleford: Bruno Carmassi - The Sheriff
of Richmond: Mario Zorgniotti - [The second CD also includes eight arias
by Rossini, Donizetti, Thomas, Verdi, Bizet, Massenet and Wolf–Ferrari
recorded by Ferruccio Tagliavini in Turin between 1940 and 1948] Orchestra
and Chorus - Torino della
RAI/Francesco Molinari-Pradelli - Mono recording made in Turin in July
1955 WARNER FONIT 0927
43552-2 [2CDs: 2hr 15:55mins] [IL]
A
sparkling performance of Flotow’s popular opera so full of merriment
and gaiety. … see Full Review
Richard
FLURY
(1896-1967) Fifty
Romantic Pieces for solo piano (1949); Cathy Aubert-Tackett (piano);
rec. 1995, Conservatoire de Neuchatel, DAD (well that's what it says
in the booklet!) GALLO
CD-908 [62.24] [RB]
Will
be welcomed by those who enjoy Schumann, Chopin, Mendelssohn. Flury
was an arch-romantic. ... see Full Review
Richard
FLURY
(1896-1967) Piano
Quintet (1948) [30.45], String Quartet No. 5 (1955) [28.30], 13 Lieder
for Soprano and Piano (1917-1965) [17.55] - Rosmarie Hofmann (sop),
Margaret Singer (piano), Ulrich Lehmann (violin), Urs Joseph Flury (violin),
Erich Meyer (viola), Stefan Thut (cello); rec 15 Mar 1996; 18 Mar 1996;
10 May 1996 DDD GALLO
CD-866 [78.25] [RB]
A
lovely unassuming collection. Flury a voice out of time. As much a creator
of beauty as Ivor Gurney. ... see Full
Review
Benjamin FRANKEL (1906-1973)
Symphony
No. 1 (1958) [25.33] Symphony No. 2 (1962) [35.36] Symphony No. 3 (1964)
[17.24] Symphony No. 4 (1966) [25.02] Symphony No. 5 (1967) [18.03]
Symphony No. 6 (1969) [28.21] Symphony No. 7 (1970) [28.03] Symphony
No. 8 (1971) [24.14] Overture: May Day (1948) [9.26] Mephistopheles
Serenade and Dance (1952) [6.09] Overture to a Ceremony (1971)
A Shakespeare Overture (1956) The composer introducing his
symphonies 2 and 3 - Queensland SO/Werner Andreas Albert
rec ABC Studio 420, Ferry Road, Brisbane, Australia, May 1993, Apr 1994,
Oct 1994, Sept 1995, April 1999 - CPO 999 661-2 [4CDs: 53.24+59.18+60.03+70.27=243.12]
[RB]
Frankel
stands with Hartmann and Vermeulen - different but just as rebellious;
given to melody, distilled by serial technique, malleably emotional,
lambently orchestrated and flooded with light. … see Full
Review
Benjamin
FRANKEL (1906-1973)
Music for the Movies The
Importance of Being Earnest (1952) Curse of the Werewolf (1961)
The Night of the Iguana (1964) Trottie True (1949) The
Years Between (1946) Footsteps in the Fog (1955)
Queensland Symphony Orchestra/Werner Andreas Albert Recorded 2000, Studio
420, ABC, Brisbane, Australia. CPO
999 809-2 [67.13] [WH]
Themes
are both immediately striking yet also repay repeated listening … see
Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Benjamin FRANKEL (1906-1973)
Complete String Quartets
Nomos-Quartett rec 7-9 Feb 1996, 14-16 June 1996, Zentralsaal Bamberg
DDD CPO 999 420-2
[2CDs: 52.55+37.53] [RB] [HC]
Frankel's
credo was melody and its magnetic communicative power … rapt and saturatedly
lyrical... [RB]
Excellent readings from the Nomos playing with utmost conviction and
commitment. [HC] … see Full Review
Wilhelm FURTWÄNGLER
(1886-1954) Violin
Sonata in D minor No. 1 (1935)
Dong-Suk Kang (violin) François Kerdoncuff (piano) rec. Théâtre
de Poissy, 22/23 Dec 1994
TIMPANI 1C1029 [56.30] [RB]
A
very fine large-scale violin sonata in constant song and imaginative
soulful turmoil. ... see Full Review
You
can sample, download tracks or purchase this disc
Wilhelm FURTWÄNGLER
(1886-1954) Violin
Sonata in D major No. 2 (1938) [44.55] Interview with Hans Müller-Kray
(in German) [7.19] Alexis
Galpérine (violin) François Kerdoncuff (piano) rec. Salle
Adyar, Paris 8/9 June 1989
TIMPANI 1C1001 [52.14] [RB]
Bursting
with symphonic intent. A passionate work deep in the romantic melos.
Its stormy turbulence well caught by Galpérine and Kerdoncuff.
... see Full Review
You
can sample, download tracks or purchase this disc
Wilhelm FURTWÄNGLER
(1886-1954) Piano
Quintet in C major (1935)
François Kerdoncuff (piano) Quatuor Sine Nomine rec. Salle de
Châtonneyre, CH-Corseaux, 17/20 May 1993
TIMPANI 1C1018 [66.16] [RB]
This
passionate music speaks in the language of high-tide romanticism about
1930s uncertainties and of actual and impending nightmares. ... see
Full Review
You
can sample, download tracks or purchase this disc
Wilhelm Furtwängler
(1886-1954) Symphony No. 2 Chicago Symphony
Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim Recorded 12-15 December 2001, Orchestra
Hall, Chicago Teldec
0927 43495 2, 2 discs priced as one (51’52 & 30’15) [MB]
Intensity,
plangent string tone, spontaneity and passion … awe-inspiring see Full
Review
A lanky, discursive and confident late romantic
symphony rooted in the Bruckner-Dvorak tradition and gloriously spun
by the Chicago SO and Barenboim ... see Full
Review
Harmonious
Families Volume 2 Danish Compositions by Fathers and Sons
Niels W. Gade (1817-1890)
‘Mariotta’ Concert Overture (1848/49) ‘Hamlet’ Concert
Overture (1861) Capriccio for Violin & Orchestra in A minor
(1861) ‘Echoes from Ossian’ Concert Overture (1840) Axel
GADE
(1860-1921) Concerto No.2 for Violin & Orchestra in F
Op.10 (1899) The Danish
Philharmonic Orchestra, South Jutland Iona Brown – conductor Christina
Ästrand - violin Recorded Musikhuset, Sønderborg February
1999 [64.30] Danacord
DACOCD 510 [JF]
Another
excellent CD in this Father and Son series. Attractive music with hints
of Schumann, Elgar and Mendelssohn. Well Done, Danacord! ...see Full
Review
Edvard GRIEG
(1843-1907) Peer
Gynt, Op.25 (excerpts from the incidental music) [1876] Act
One: Prelude: In the Wedding Garden; The Bridal Procession Passes;
Halling; Springar. Act Two: Prelude: The Abduction of the Bride
– Ingrid’s Lament; In the Hall of the Mountain King; Dance of the Mountain
King’s Daughter. Act Three: Prelude: Deep in the Coniferous Forest;
Solveig’s Song; Ase’s Death. ActFour: Prelude: Morning Mood;
Arab Dance; Anitra’s Dance; Solveig’s Song. Act Five: Prelude:
Peer Gynt’s Journey Home; Solveig’s Song in the Hut; Whitsun Hymn; Solveig’s
Lullaby. Barbara
Hendricks (soprano) Oslo Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra/Esa-Pekka
Salonen SONY ESSENTIAL
CLASSICS SBK 89898 [63.20] [TH]
A
hugely enjoyable selection, and will be an ear-opener for those who
only know the music through the familiar suites. … see Full
Review
Ferde GROFE
(1892-1972) Mississippi
Suite (1926) [13’38"] Grand Canyon Suite (1931)
[31’57"] Niagara Falls Suite (1961) [22’06"]
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/William T. Stromberg - Recorded 1999
Wessex Hall, Poole Arts Centre, Poole, Dorset, UK
NAXOS DVD/AUDIO 5.110002 [67’41"] [JP]
The
playing of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is exemplary, and the
recorded sound is more than satisfactory. … see Full
Review
Myroslav
GUTEJ (b.
1961) Piano Sonatas No. 1 (1991); No. 3 (1991); No. 4 (1995); No. 5
(1995); No. 6 (1995); No. 7 (1996)
Myroslav Gutej (piano)
KWA RECORDS no number [45.24] [RB]
If
my references to Medtner, Prokofiev, Sorabji and Ravel have piqued your
interest then do not hesitate. You will find this a treat. ... see Full
Review
Reynaldo
HAHN
(1874-1947) Sonata
for Violin and Piano Quintet for Strings and Piano
Denis Clavier (violin) Dimitris Saroglou (piano) Quatuor Denis Clavier
Recorded in the Esplanade Hall, Metz in September 1997
MAGUELONE MAG 111.107 [63.27] [IL]
Beautifully
melodic, here are riches in abundance for the unashamedly romantic.
Impeccably played, this music deserves to be much better known. … see
Full Review
George Frederic HANDEL (1685-1759)
Nabal
- An Oratorio or Sacred Drama in three acts compiled by John Christopher
Smith (1712-1795) - Stephan MacLeod, bass - Maya Boog, soprano - Knut
Schoch, tenor - Francine van der Heijden, soprano - Linda Perillo, soprano
- Junge Kantorei Frankfurt
Baroque Orchestra conducted by Joachim Carlos Martini - Recorded Eberach
Cloister, Eltville am Rhein June 2000
NAXOS 8.555276-77 [2 CDs 132’51] [JW]
An
honourable presentation of a work, the problematical and artificial
nature of which means that recordings will be few and far between. …
see Full Review
Georg
Friedrich HANDEL (1685-1759)
Rodelinda - Dominique Labelle (soprano), Robin Blaze (countertenor),
Ian Paton (tenor), Ewa Wolak (alto), Cécile van de Sant (mezzo-soprano),
Andrew Foster (bass) Philharmonia
Baroque Orchestra/Nicholas McGegan; Rec: June 7 to 13, 2000, International
Handel Festival, Göttingen.
GÖTTINGEN HANDEL SOCIETY - members only - No catalogue number
[166 min.] [KM]
Rodelinda
is relatively well recorded, with good depth and balance between the
orchestra and the soloists.… see Full
Review
Georg
Friedrich HANDEL
(1685-1759) Rodelinda
The Orchestra of the
Age of Enlightenment/William Christie Stage Director: Jean-Marie Villégier
Video format: PAL, 4:3 stereo. English subtitles Rec: Live recording,
June 1998, Glyndebourne Festival. NVC
ARTS 3984-23024-3 [202 min.]
A bit bumpy, it is well worth the ride. … see
Full Review
Georg Friedrich HAENDEL
(1685-1759) Tamerlano
Monica Bacelli, contralto (Tamerlano) Tom Randle, tenor (Bajazet) The
English Concert, Trevor Pinnock Rec: 27-30 June 2001, Sadler’s Wells,
London. AVIE 0001
[181.20] [KM]
A
great work, one that has not been recorded much, and which deserves
to be discovered or rediscovered through this fine set. … see Full
Review
Roy
HARRIS
(1898-1979) Symphony
No. 7 (1952, revised 1955) Symphony No. 9 (1962) Epilogue to Profiles
in Courage - JFK (1964)
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine/Theodore Kuchar Recorded in the
Grand Concert Studio, National Radio Company of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine,
19th - 27th June 1999.
NAXOS 8.559050 [57.49] [NH]
Serious
but highly listenable music from an under-recorded American giant.…..
see Full Review
Joseph
HAYDN
(1732-1809) The Complete Symphonies
Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra, cond. Adam Fischer, with *Rainer Küchl
(violin), Wolfgang Herzer (cello), Gerhard Turetschek (oboe) and Michael
Werba (bassoon) DDD: recorded at the Haydnsaal, Esterházy Palace,
Eisenstadt, Austria
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99925 [CA]
So
relevant, so engaging – timeless. Wit, imagination and dexterity. Energy
and perception suffuse this life-enhancing project. … see Full
Review
Jake HEGGIE (born
1961) Dead
Man Walking (2000)
Susan Graham (mezzo-soprano), Sister Helen Prejean; John Packard (baritone),
Joseph De Rocher; Frederica von Stade (mezzo-soprano), Mrs Patrick De
Rocher; Theresa Hamm-Smith (soprano), Sister Rose; San Francisco Opera
Chorus and Orchestra; Patrick Summers Recorded: (live) War Memorial
Hall Opera House, San Francisco, October 2000
ERATO 86238-2 [78:06 + 67:57] [HC]
A
dramatically gripping work likely to appeal to large and varied audiences
without ever writing down to them. … see Full Review
Piers
HELLAWELL
(b. 1956) Inside
Story for violin, viola and orchestra (1999) The Still Dancers
for string quartet (1992) Quadruple Elegy (in the time of freedom)
for violin and chamber orchestra (1990) Clio Gould – violin, Philip
Dukes – viola, The Vanbrugh String Quartet
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra – Martyn Brabbins - Recorded at Glasgow
City Hall June 2001 (Inside Story and Quadruple Elegy) The Harty Room,
Queen’s University of Belfast, June 2001 (The Still Dancers) DDD
METRONOME MET CD 1059 [76:42] [CT]
Exemplary
performances of three strikingly original Hellawell scores. Inside Story
in particular is a hugely rewarding listen. … see Full
Review
Vagn HOLMBOE
(1909-1996)
Concerto No. 11 for trumpet and orchestra (1948)Concerto No.
12 for trombone and orchestra (1950)Tuba Concerto (1976)
Intermezzo Concertante for tuba and orchestra (1987)
Håkan Hardenberger (trumpet) Christian Lindberg (trombone) Jens
Bjørn-Larsen (tuba) Aalborg SO/Owain Arwel Hughes rec June 1996,
Aalborg DDD BIS-CD-802
[55.26] [RB]
The
Trumpet Concerto is bound to win new friends for Holmboe and is superior
in invention to the really rather good trumpet concerto by Malcolm Arnold.
...see Full Review
Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934) The Planets -
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Serenade for Strings
Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR/Roger Norrington - rec 27-29
June 2001, Stuttgart Liederhalle SWR Live Recording
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.043 [62.10] [RB]
Like
hearing The Planets afresh and I recommend it firmly. … see Full
Review
Herbert HOWELLS (1892
– 1983) Collegium
Regale Te Deum and Jubilate (1944) Collegium Regale Office
of Holy Communion (1956) Collegium Regale Magnificat and Nunc
Dimittis (1945) Preces and Responses 1 and 2 (1967) Take Him, Earth
for Cherishing (1964) Psalm 121 Psalm 122 Psalm Prelude Op.32 No.2 (1916)a
Rhapsody for Organ Op.17 No.3 (1918)
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge; Gregory Moore (cantor); Simon Williams
(tenor); Peter Barley (organ); Stephen Cleobury (director and organa)
Recorded: 1989 (presumably in King’s College Chapel)
DECCA 470 194-2 [78:28] [HC]
The
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge sings beautifully throughout and
the whole is well recorded. … see Full Review
Henry
Holden HUSS (1862-1953)
Piano
Concerto in B major Op. 10 (1898) [31.05] -
Ernest SCHELLING (1876-1939) Suite Fantastique Op.
7 (1905) [29.32] Ian Hobson (piano)
BBC Scottish SO/Martyn Brabbins - rec. 9-10 Jan 1997 - The Romantic
Piano Concerto series Vol. No. 16
HYPERION CDA 66949 [60.50] [RB]
Two
works of contrasted character and intention: one a turbulent hothouse
barnstormer; the other a lilt and glitter cassation. ... see Full
Review
Leoš
JANACEK (1854-1928)
-
CD1:Sinfonietta (1924) [22.26], Lachian Dances (1906)
[20.32], Taras Bulba (1928) [22.34] - CD2: The Cunning Little
Vixen suite (1924) [16.28], Jealousy prelude (1906) [5.39],
From The House of the Dead (1928) [6.02], The Makropoulos
Case (symphonic synthesis by Jose Serebrier) [31.02]
Czech State Philharmonic, Brno/José Serebrier - Rec: CD1: 2-5
Apr 1995; Brno CD2: rec 3-7 June 1996, Brno - originally issued as Reference Recordings
RR-65CD and RR-75CD
REFERENCE RECORDINGS RR-2103 [65.08+59.40] [RB]
The
Serebrier Sinfonietta remains a top recommendation and at this price
this is difficult to resist even if you wanted to. … see Full
Review
Paul
JUON
(1872-1940) - Rhapsody No. 1 for piano
quartet - Trio-Miniatures for violin, cello and piano
- Arioso and Berceuse for violin and piano -
Romance for viola and piano - Märchen for cello and
piano Kammermusik Ensemble
Chamäleon - rec. Radio Studio Zürich, 5 March, 3 Apr, 2 May
1995 GALLO CD-876
[58.31] [RB]
A
little-known scion of Rachmaninov and passionately performed. ... see
Full Review
SOUNDTRACKS
by Wojciech KILAR, Maclej MALECI and Nicholas INGMAN
Wojciech KILAR (b.1932) Shadow
Line, Shadow Song, Elegy, Catamount Concerto, Dawn to Destiny, The Seed,
Master Plan, Dawn over Manderley, Maclej
MALECKI b.1940) Water Mountain, Warsaw Reverie Nicholas
INGMAN Rosebud, An Elegy for Citizen Kane
Studio Orchestra/Jiri Hudec Rec. Not stated
CAMPION RRCD 1303 [59.39] [GH]
A
nice ‘easy listening’ disc to soothe the mind. Mid price. see Full
Review
Zoltan KODALY (1882-1967)
Introductory
speech by Madame Kodaly An Ode. The Music Makers, A Summer Evening
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) The
Music Makers Christina
Wilson, mezzo-soprano Choir of Oxford da Camera Oxford Orchestra da
Camera Howard Williams Recorded live at St John’s, Smith Square, London
24 May 2001 SOMM CD
230 [77’44] [JW]
A
resonant and strongly shaped voice conveying the nostalgia and intimacy
of the music with considerable awareness. … see Full
Review
Herman
D KOPPEL (1908-1998)
Composer
and Pianist Herman D KOPPEL (1908-1998)
Piano Sonata in E Minor Op 1 Variations and Fugue for Piano Op 3
Piano Piece Op 7 Ten Piano Pieces Op 20 Suite for Piano Op 21 Sonata
No 1 for piano Op 50 15 Miniatures Op 97a Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano Sonata in D Major D850 Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Variations on a Theme of Paganini Op 35 Capriccio
in B Minor Op 76 Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Au Lac de Vallenstadt Sonetto 123 del Petrarch
Hermann D Koppel, piano Recorded c1957-80
DANACORD DACOCD 563-64 [2 CDs 135.36] [JW]
Experience
the imagination of Koppel’s playing and the hard-won riches of his compositions.…
see Full Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Jón LEIFS
(1899-1968) Baldr
Op. 34 - A Choreographic Drama in Two Acts (1943-47)
Gunnar Guðbjörnsson (ten) ... Óðin Schola Cantorum/Hörður
Áskelsson Iceland SO/Kari Kropsu rec Jan 2001, Halgrim's Church,
Reykjavik, DDD BIS-CD-1230/1231
[40.05+49.37] [RB]
Tough,
tonal, uncompromising music, rhythmically emphatic, not without melodic
softness, hewn out of granite and adversity. ... see Full
Review
Henry
LITOLFF (1818-1891)
Concerto
Symphonique No. 3 in E flat Op. 45 ational Hollandais (1842)
Concerto Symphonique No. 5 in C minor Op. 123 (1870)
Peter Donohoe (piano) BBC Scottish SO/Andrew Litton rec. 27-28
Oct 2000, Caird Hall, Dundee The Romantic Piano Concerto series - Vol.
No. 26
HYPERION CDA 67210 [65.58] [RB]
A
spirited pair of performances of works that will warm the cockles of
any admirer of Beethoven, Saint-Saëns and Brahms ... see Full
Review
George LLOYD (1913-1998)
Cello
Concerto (1997) The Serf - Orchestral Suite No. 1 (1938,
1997) Anthony Ross (cello)
Albany SO/David Alan Miller - rec 15 Jan 2000 (suite); 22 Apr 2001 (concerto),
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, New York, USA DDD
ALBANY TROY 458 [67.24] [RB]
Lloyd
on resoundingly confident form. Place it alongside symphonies 5, 7 and
8. ... see Full Review
George
LLOYD (1913-1998)
Requiem
(1997) Psalm 130 (1995)
Stephen Wallace (counter-tenor) Jeffrey Makinson (organ) The Exon Singers/Matthew
Owens rec 2002 DDD ALBANY TROY
450 [61.30] [RB]
A
lovely remembrance of a warm-hearted composer who wrote against the
spirit of the times ... dazzling creativity ... see Full
Review
Alexander
LOKSHIN
(1920-1987) Symphony
No. 4 Sinfonia Stretta (1968) [16.41] Trois Scènes
du Faust de Goethe for soprano and orchestra (1980) [37.45] Vanda
Tabery (sop) Philharmonisches
Staatsorchester Bremen/Michel Swierczewski - rec. July 2000, Gutsscheune
Varrel, Bremen, Germany, DDD
BIS-CD-1156 [55.14] [RB]
If
you have a taste for a challenging late romantic modernism do not hesitate.
… see Full Review
Carl
LOEWE (1796-1869)
Lieder:
Dietrich
Fischer-Dieskau (baritone), Hartmut Höll (piano) Rec 1987
Warner Apex 0927447672 [69.21] [TB]
While
Fischer-Dieskau may have been in more commanding voice earlier in his
career, these Loewe songs suit his voice and his vocal understanding
to the full. … see Full Review
Witold
LUTOSLAWSKI
(1913 – 1994) Dance
Preludes (1954, orch. 1955) Mátyás
SEIBER (1905 – 1960) Concertino for Clarinet and String Orchestra
(1928, orch. 1951) Howard BLAKE (born
1938) Clarinet Concerto (1984)
Thea King (clarinet); English Chamber Orchestra; Andrew Litton, Howard
Blake Recorded: May-June 1985 (Blake) and April 1986 (Lutoslawski, Seiber)
HELIOS CDH 55068
[46:41] [HC]
An
attractive programme, superbly performed and recorded. If you did not
get it when first released it is now at customer-friendly bargain price.
… see Full Review
[Detailed listing (last two
days)]
[Part 1 New] [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3
C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part
5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc] [Part
7 Misc]
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