> Classical CD Reviews March 2002 part 6 Misc: Classical MusicWeb (UK)

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PART 6
Misc

[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

ANDANTE CANTABILE: Romantic Music for Cello and Orchestra
STAMITZ Romance (Cello Concerto no 1)†† (from NAXOS 8.550865); HAYDN Adagio (Cello Concerto no 2)** (from NAXOS 8.550059); RACHMANINOV Vocalise‡ (from NAXOS 8.554381); TCHAIKOVSKY Mélodie for cello and orchestra‡ (from NAXOS 8.554381); RUBINSTEIN Melody in F‡ (from NAXOS 8.554381); TCHAIKOVSKY Nocturne in C sharp minor* (from NAXOS 8.550519); GLAZUNOV Chant du ménestrel(from NAXOS 8.553932); TCHAIKOVSKY Andante cantabile (String Quartet no 1) ‡ (from NAXOS 8.554381); RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Flight of the Bumble Bee‡ (from NAXOS 8.554381); SAINT-SAËNS The Swan (Carnival of the Animals)* (from NAXOS 8.553039); GLAZUNOV Sérénade Espagnole(from NAXOS 8.553932); DVORAK Adagio ma non troppo (Cello Concerto)* (from NAXOS 8.550503); ELGAR Adagio (Cello Concerto)* (from NAXOS 8.550503); BRUCH Kol Nidrei* (from NAXOS 8.550519).
Cellists: ††Christian Benda; **Ludovit Kanta; ‡Vytautas Sondeckis; *Maria Kliegel; †Alexander Rudin, with various orchestras and conductors.Recorded at various times between 1989 and 2000: dates and locations not specified NAXOS 8.555764 [72:54] [AAS]

If you’re looking for a ‘compilation disc’ which offers a broad and well-performed representation of the cello repertoire, look no further than here. … see Full Review

AUSTRALIAN PIANO CONCERTOS Ross EDWARDS (b.1943). Queensland Symphony Orchestra/Myer Fredman, Dennis Hennig (piano) Malcolm WILLIAMSON (b.1931). Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra/Barry Tuckwell, Malcolm Williamson and Simon Campion (pianos) Peter SCULTHORPE (b. 1929). Melbourne Symphony Orchestra/Myer Fredman, Anthony Fogg (piano) Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1982, 2000. ABC CLASSICS 426 483-2 [60:56] [RBr]

The demanding solo parts of all three concertos are handled with a confident virtuosity that speaks of familiarity and affection. … see Full Review

BACHIANA: MUSIC BY THE BACH FAMILY - Johann Ludwig Bach (1677-1731) Overture in G for Strings, 2 Oboes (ad lib.) and Continuo 1. Overture, 2. Air I, 3. Menuet, 4. Gavotte, 5. Air II, 6. Bourée Heinrich Bach (1615-1692),7. Sonata I "a cinque" in C for 2 Violins, 2 violas and Continuo, 8. Sonata II "a cinque" in F for 2 Violins, 2 violas and Continuo - Johann Ludwig Bach Concerto in D for 2 Violins, 2 Oboes, Strings and continuo, 9. Allegro, 10. Adagio, 11. Allegro Johann Christian Bach "Aria Eberlina pro dormente Camilla" for harpsichord solo, 12. Thema - Variations 1-15 Cyriacus Wilche (? - 1667), 13. "Battaglia - anno 1659 composita" for 2 violins, 2 violas and continuo Signr. Pagh (before 1672), 14. Sonata and Capriccio in g for Violin, 2 Violas and Continuo, 15. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Concerto in D (after BWV 249) for 3 trumpets, 2 Oboes, Bassoon, Strings and Continuo, 16. Sinfonia, 17. Adagio, 18. Allegro Musica Antiqua Köln directed by Reinhard Goebel Solo Harpsichord - Léon Berben Recordings made in Cologne, Deutschland Radio, Sendesaal in September 2000 ARCHIV 471 150-2 [75’34] [PW]

It is 15 years since Archiv brought us Musica Antiqua Köln’s disc of vocal music by the family precursors of J S Bach. It is perhaps somewhat surprising that a companion disc of instrumental music should have taken quite so long to produce. … see Full Review

‘SIR THOMAS BEECHAM CONDUCTS BERLIOZ: THE ORIGINAL CBS RECORDINGS’ Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Overture ‘Le Carnaval romain,’ Op. 9, H. 95 ‘Grande Ouverture du Roi Lear,’ Op. 4, H. 53 ‘Grande Ouverture de Waverley,’ Op. 1, H. 26 ‘Grande Ouverture des Francs-Juges,’ Op. 3, H. 23D ‘Ouverture du Corsaire,’ Op. 21, H. 101 Overture to ‘Les troyens à Carthage,’ Op. 29B, H. 133A ‘Marche troyenne’ (Concert version), H. 133B Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham Recorded: 2, 3, 16, 17 December 1954, Walthamstow Town Hall, London SONY CLASSICAL SMK89807 [68:59] ‘SIR THOMAS BEECHAM CONDUCTS MOZART: THE ORIGINAL CBS RECORDINGS’ Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphony No 31 in D Major, K. 297 (300a) ‘Paris’ Requiem in D Minor, K. 626 Elsie Morison (soprano), Monica Sinclair (contralto), Alexander Young (tenor), Marian Nowakowski (bass), BBC Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham - Recorded: 13-14 December 1954, Walthamstow Town Hall, 29 May 1956, EMI Studio No 1, Abbey Road (K. 626); 9 March 1951, Kingsway Hall, 9 May 1951, EMI Studio No 1, Abbey Road (K. 297) SONY CLASSICAL SMK89808 [70:10]Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphony No 35 in D Major, K. 385, ‘Haffner’ Symphony No 40 in G Minor, K. 550 Symphony No 41 in C Major, K. 551, ‘Jupiter’ Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham - Recorded: 30 April and 1 May 1954 (K. 385), 27 April 1954 (K. 550), 22 February 1950 (K. 551), Walthamstow Town Hall SONY CLASSICAL SMK89809 [71:07][MT]

A welcome continuation to a reissue series (evidently originating from Sony UK and not yet picked up by the label’s benighted American division). Further releases are urgently anticipated; Delians especially will have their own wants lists. See Full Review

LE BELLE IMMAGINI Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) La clemenza di Tito: Parto, ma tu, ben mio Christoph Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787) Paride ed Elena: Le belle immagini d’un dolce amore Josef MYSLIVICEK (1737-1781) Abramo ed Isacco: Chi per pietà mi dice – Deh, parlate, che forse tacendo MOZART Le nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete MYSLIVICEK Antigona: Sarò qual è il torrente MOZART Idomeneo: Ah qual gelido orror – Il padre adorato GLUCK Paride ed Elena: O del mio dolce ardor MOZART Lucio Silla: Dunque sperar poss’io – il tenero momento La finta giardiniera: Va’ pure ad altri in braccio MYSLIVICEK L’Olimpiade: Dunque Licida ingrato – Più non si trovano GLUCK La clemenza di Tito:Se mai senti spirarti sul volto MYSLIVICEK L’Olimpiade: Che non mi disse dì! MOZART La clemenza di Tito: Deh, per questo istante solo - Magdalena Kozena (mezzo-soprano), Prague Philharmonia/Michel Swierczewski - Recorded Sep. 2001, Dvorak Hall, Prague DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 471 334-2 [68.18] [CH]

Kozena has a lovely, fresh-timbred voice. This is a disc that should be bought even by those who resist hype on principle. … see Full Review

BLUE WRENS : Piano Music from Australia Geoffrey ALLEN (born 1927) Three Piano Pieces Op.23 (1993/4) Piano Sonata No.4 Op.29 Felix WERDER (born 1922) Monograph (2000) Dorian LE GALLIENNE (1915 – 1963) Piano Sonata (1950/1) Tim DARGAVILLE (born 1962) Night Song (1997)
Michael BERTRAM (born 1935)
Sonatina (1977) Five Pieces for Piano (1984)
Trevor Barnard (piano) Recorded: Melba Hall, University of Melbourne, July and December 1999, September and November 2000 THE DIVINE ART 2.5017 [74:26] [HC]

Trevor Barnard is an ideal performer in this collection of pieces with which he has a long association. Entertaining and well worth investigating. … see Full Review

European Brass Quintet Samuel SCHEIDT (1587-1654) Battle Suite J S BACH (1685-1750) arr H Herforth Wie will ich mich frauen (From Cantata 146) Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Suite Gordon JACOB (1895-1984) Changing moods Ian MacDONALD Sea sketches Frigyes HIDAS (b 1928) Play Nicolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Flight of the bumblebee Jan Van LANDEGHEM (b 1954) Carpe Diem European Brass Quintet Recorded Lemmens Instituut, Leuven 1993 PAVANE ADW 7294 [52.43] [JW]

A thought-provoking finale with some incidental pleasures. … see Full Review

BROADWAY THROUGH THE GRAMOPHONE (1844-1929)
New York in European Footsteps (4 volumes)
Various singers, choruses and orchestras of the Victor, Columbia and Brunswick record companies Volume 1 1844-1909 [CD1 78.16, CD2 75.51] PEARL: GMS 0082 Mono ADD Volume 2 1909-1914 [CD1 75.57, CD2 78.01] PEARL: GMS 0083 Mono ADD [RW]

Two historically significant sets, generously packed and yielding pleasure even across the divide of ninety or so years. … see Full Review

BROADWAY THROUGH THE GRAMOPHONE (1844-1930)
New York in European Footsteps (4 volumes)
Various singers and orchestras of the Victor, Columbia and Vocalion record companies Volume 3 1914-1920 [CD1 72.19, CD2 72.23] PEARL: GMS 0084 Mono ADD Volume 4 1920-1929 [CD1 74.24, CD2 73.50] PEARL: GMS 0085 Mono ADD [RW]

These two sets represent that powerful combination of historical significance and pleasurable listening enhanced by beneficial developments in recording techniques so evident when you compare the sound on the first two volumes with that on the present two. … 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

FLEURS JETÉES: Songs by French Women Composers - Augusta HOLMÈS (1847-1903) La belle Madeleine, Sérénade printanière, Parmi les meules, Chanson lointaine, La haine - Nadia BOULANGER (1887-1979) (* co-composed with Raoul Pugno) Le ciel en nuit s’est déplié, Avec mes sens, avec mon coeur*, Vous m’avez dit*, Élégie, Soir d’hiver - Cécile CHAMINADE (1857-1944) Madrigal, Chanson slave, Rêve d’un soir, Amoroso, Fleur jétée - Pauline VIARDOT-GARCIA (1821-1910) Berceuse cosaque, Bonjour mon coeur, Sérénade florentine, Madrid - Rebecca de Pont Davies (mezzo-contralto), Clare Toomer (pianoforte) Recorded in St. Paul’s Church, New Southgate, London, no date, published 1996 LORELT LNT109 [62.25] [CH]

Rebecca de Pont Davies has something very specially of her own to offer. This CD is assuredly worth the attention of all those who do not restrict their horizons to music they already know and performers that are household names. … see Full Review

FLIGHT: British Flute Music York BOWEN (1884 – 1961) Sonata for Flute and Piano Op.120 (1946) Miniature Suite for Flute and Piano (1907) Roberto GERHARD (1896 – 1970) Capriccio for Solo Flute (1949) Elizabeth MACONCHY (1907 – 1994) Colloquy for Flute and Piano (1978/9) George BENJAMIN (born 1960) Flight (1989) William ALWYN (1905 – 1985)
Sonata for Flute and Piano (1948) Ingrid Culliford (flute); Dominic Saunders (piano) Recorded: St Silas Church, London LORELT LNT 107 [66:16] [HC]

This well-played, well-planned and varied cross-selection of British flute music is well worth having. … see Full Review

FRENCH MUSIC FOR BASSOON - Gabriel PIERNÉ (1863-1937) Solo de Concert op. 35 - Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835 – 1921) Sonata op. 168 - Noël-GALLON (1891 – 1957) Récit et Allegro (1938) - Henri DUTILLEUX (b.1916) Sarabande et Cortège (1942) - Maurice ALLARD (b.1923) Variations sur un thème de Paganini - Pierre GABAYE (b.1930) Sonatine pour Flûte et Basson (1962) - André JOLIVET (1905 – 1974) Pastorales de Noë (1943) Masahito Tanaka, bassoon, Kazue Kojima, piano, Shigeko Tojo, flute, Srika Inoue, harp - Recorded Oct 1995, Mitaka-City Arts-Center Japan PAVANE ADW7349 [64:44] [GPJ]

This CD, then, gets better and better as it goes on, and is an extremely valuable addition to the discography of the bassoon. … see Full Review.

Filippo GRAGNANI (1767-c1812) Sonata Op8 No 3 Mauro GIULIANI (1781-1829) Grande Sonate Op 85 Niccolo PAGANINI (1782-1840) Sonata concertata Luigi Rinaldo LEGNANI (1790-1877) Duetto Concertante Op 23 Phillipe Depetris, flute Pascal Polidori, guitar Recorded Eglise Ste Marie-Madeleine, Biot, July 1993 PAVANE ADW 7298 [69.03] [JW]

Another fine disc of obscure music from Pavane. … see Full Review

GUITAR MUSIC FROM ARGENTINA - Maximo PUJOL (b.1957) Tres Piezas Rioplantenses and Suite del Plata No 1 - Narciso SAUL (b.1957) Boulevard San Jorge - Hector AYALA (1914-1990) Serie Americana by - Carlos GUASTAVINO (1912-2000) Sonata No. 1 - Juan FALU (1948) Tres Piezas - Walter HEINZE (b.1943) Concorancias Victor Villandangos (guitar) - Recorded at St.Johns Church Newmarket, Ontario, February 2000 NAXOS 8.555058 [70.42] [GH]

Vincent Villadongas has an exemplary pedigree particularly throughout South America and plays not only with virtuosity, which is necessary, but also with a natural musicality and elegant sense of phrasing. … see Full Review

GUYS and DOLLS – THE KING AND I - ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDINGS Guys and Dolls: Runyandland Music; Fugue for Tin Horns; Follow the Fold; The Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York; I’ll know; A Bushel and a Peck; Adelaide’s Lament; Guys and Dolls; If I were a Bell; My Time of Day; I’ve never been in Love before; Take Back Your Mink; Luck be a Lady Tonight; Sue me; Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat; Marry the Man Today; Finale - Sarah Brown – Isabel Bigley, Sky Masterson – Robert Alda, Nathan Detroit – Sam Levene, Miss Adelaide – Vivian Blaine, Nicely-Nicely Johnson – Stubby Kaye, Benny Southstreet – Johnny Silver, Rusty Charlie – Douglas Deane, Arvide Abernathy – Pat Rooney Sr. Orchestra cond. Irving Actman - The King and I Overture, I whistle a Happy Tune, My Lord and Master, Hello Young Lovers, March of the Siamese Children, A Puzzlement, Getting to Know You, We Kiss in a Shadow, Something Wonderful, I Have Dreamed, Shall We Dance? Anna Leonowens – Gertrude Lawrence, Lady Thiang – Dorothy Sarnoff, Lun Tha – Larry Douglas, The King of Siam – Yul Brynner, Tuptim – Doretta Morrow. Orchestra cond. Frederick Dvonch Guys & Dolls recorded 1950, The King & I recorded 1951 FORUM FRC6104 [74:18] [GPJ]

If you’re old enough to remember the early 50s, this will take you back in the most painless way possible; if you’re not – get wise! … 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

MUSIC FOR MONA LISA Robin Blaze, counter-tenor
Concordia Mark Levy, director Recorded St Georges Church, Chesterton, Cambridge April 1997 METRONOME MET CD1023 [72.27] [JW]

A singer of tonal beauty and imagination. Mark Levy directs Concordia superbly. This CD is something of a triumph. see Full Review

Organ Recital by Jean-Pierre Lecaudey Nicolaus BRUHNS Praeludium in E Dietrich BUXTEHUDE Ciacona in E; Choral Prelude In dulci jubilo; Toccata in D minor J S BACH Choral Prelude O Mensch,bewein dein Sünde gross (BWV 622); Fantasia & Fugue in G minor (BWV 542) Marcel DUPRÉ Prelude & Fugue in B major Jehan ALAIN Variations on a theme of Clément Janequin; Aria; Litanies Louis VIERNE Finale from Symphony no 1 Jean-Pierre Lecaudey (organ) A live recording of a recital given on 7 May 1994 in the church of Notre Dame de la Platé (Castres, France). PAVANE RECORDS ADW 7351 [65:13] [AS]

A disc warmly recommended to all lovers of organ music. … see Full Review

PRAGUE STRING QUARTETS Lubo FIER (1935-1999), String Quartet (1986) Sylvie BODOROVÁ (b. 1954) Shofarot String Quartet No.4 (2000) Otmar MÁCHA (b.1922) String Quartet No.2 (1987) Zdenek LUKÁ (b.1928) String Quartet No.4 (1987) Jupiter Quartet Recorded Domovina Studio, Prague 2001 ARCO DIVA UP 004-2 131 [63:38] [TH]

All these works inhabit a traditional soundworld that is communicative and enjoyable. The Jupiter are full of character and vitality, with a tonal blend that recalls their many illustrious predecessors and continues the great tradition of Czech string quartet playing. Confidently recommended. 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

Serge RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Prélude Op. 3 No. 2 Prélude Op. 32 No. 12 Prélude Op. 23 No. 2 Serge PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Prélude Op. 12 No. 7 Frederic CHOPIN (1810-1849) Prélude in C sharp minor Op. 45 Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Nine Préludes Op.1 Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Prélude (1913) Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Préludes. Ce qu’a vu le vent d’Ouest (Book 1 No.7) (1910)_La fille aux cheveux de lin (Book 1 No.8) (1910) Les fées sont d’exquises danseuses (Book 2 No.4 (1912) Frank MARTIN (1890-1974) Eight Préludes pour le piano (1948) Erik SATIE (1866-1925) Véritables Préludes Flasques (pour un chien) (1912) Yoko Kikuchi-piano Recorded in the Brussels Royal Conservatory, November 1995 DDD PAVANE RECORDS ADW 7368 [71:54] [CT]

A somewhat uneven disc but worthwhile for a fine complete performance of Frank Martin’s masterful Eight Preludes. … see Full Review

RARE WORKS FOR STRING QUARTET Luigi BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) String Quartet Op 58 No 5 "Cornemuses" Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Quartet No 13 Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Crisantemi; Tre Minuetti Eugene YSAYE (1858-1931) Paganini Variations adapted for quartet Jacques Ysaye Quatuor Arte del Suono Recorded Chapelle de Berchem St-Agathe January 1994PAVANE ADW 7309 [61.20] [JW]

Bobesco and her talented colleagues have given us a well-considered and affectionate disc. … see Full Review

Rarities of Piano Music at ‘Schloss vor Husum’ from the 1992 Festival: Serge Babayan [1 ] Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847): Lied ohne Worte op. 102 No. 4 (1868 poth.) 2:13[ 2 ] Schubert (1797-1828)-Liszt (1811-1886): Der Müller und der Bach 5:19[ 3 ] Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924): No. 5 (after Mozart)(from "Fünf kurze Stücke zur Pflege des polyphonen Spiels") (1923) 4:15 Igor Shukov [ 4 ] Peter Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): Meditation op. 72 No. 5 (1893) 6:23Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915):[ 5] Prélude op. 67 No. 2 (1913) 0:50[ 6 ] Prélude op. 17 No. 6 ( ?) 1:20 [ 7 ] Poème op. 59 No. 1 (c.1908) 2:00 [ 8 ] Prelude op. 59 No. 2(c.1908) 2:12 Peter-Jürgen Hofer  [ 9 ] Manfred Kelkel (1929-): Tombeau de Scriabine op. 22 (1972) 13:55 Prélude (basé sur des fragments des esquisses de Scriabine) Transmutation Bernard Ringeissen  [10] Francis Poulenc (1899-1963): Pastorale (from "Trois Pièces", 1928) 2:41 [11] Claude Debussy (1862-1918): Etude pour les "cinq doigts" d'après M. Czerny (1915) 3:12 Marie-Cathérine Girod  Arthur Lourié (1892-1966):
[12] Valse (1926) 4:01 [13] Gigue (1927) 3:24  [14] Enrique Granados (1867-1916): Mazurka (from "Escenas romanticas")(1930 poth.) 3:04 Marc-Andre Hamelin  [15] Percy Grainger (1882-1961): Colonial Song (1913) 5:36
[16] Marc-André Hamelin (1961-): Triple Etude (after Chopin) 2:04
(op. 10/2 & op. 25/4 & op. 25/11) [17] Vladimir Deshevov (1899-1955) : Gleise (Tracks) op. 16 (1926) 0:52 Kolja Lessing [18] Felix Petyrek (1892-1951): Wurstelprater (1919) (from "Sechs groteske Klavierstücke") 2:16 [19] Berthold Goldschmidt (1903-1996): From the Ballet (1957) 2:58 Daniel Berman  [20] Bach (1685-1750)-Tausig (1841-1871): O Mensch, bewein' dein Sünde groß 4:11 [21] Rozycki (1883-1953)-Ginzburg (1904-1962): "Casanova"- Fantasy 4:09  Recorded live at Husum 1992 DANACORD DACOCD 399 [78.04] [JF]

One does not know where to begin with praise for these discs. This particular one has so many discoveries on it that one wants to explore so many new avenues of listening pleasure. Great stuff and well played too! … see Full Review

Salon orchestra favourites II Josef Rixner (1902-73) Blauer Himmel; Luigi Denza (1846-1922) Funiculi, funicula; Georges Boulanger (1893-1958) Avant de Mourir; Ernst Fischer (1900-75) Südlich der Alpen: In einer Hafenstadt; Terrasse am Meer; Blumen-Corso; Tarantella; Leroy Anderson (1908-1975) Blue Tango; A Ferraris (?-?) Schwarze Augen; Gerhard Winkler (1906-77) A Gerhard Winkler Medley (arr Krome); Edgardo Donato (?-?) A media luz; Oscar Fetra (1854-1931) Mondnacht auf der Alster; Mihaly Erdélyi (b 1928) Puszta Fox; Ralph Erwin (1896-1943) Ich küsse Ihre Hand, Madame; Leroy Anderson (1908-75) Belle of the Ball. Salonorchester Schwann/Georg Huber Recorded in the Tonstudio Teeje van Geest, Sandhausen, Germany, (9-11 February 2001) NAXOS 8.555344 [65:41] [AAS]

What I find most irresistible about this disc is the sheer panache of the playing, which conveys an almost tangible sense of uninhibited enjoyment. … see Full Review

SONGS FROM LATIN AMERICA - Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Modinhas e Canções: Canção do Marinheiro, Lundú da Maqueza de Santos, Cantilena, A Gatinha Parda, Nhapopé. Evocação - Carlos GUASTAVINO (1912-2000)
La Rosa y el Sauce, Bonita Rama de Sauce, Se equivocó la Paloma - Modesta BOR (1926-1998) Triptico sobre Poesia Cubana - Andres SAS (1900-1967) Sei Cantos Indios del Peru - Ernesto LECUONA (1896-1963) Canción del amor triste, Señor Jardinero, La señora Luna, Quiero ser hombre - Lucas ESTRADA (1938-1981) Siempre, La Rosa y tu - Antonio Maria VALENCIA (1902-1952) Tres dias hace que Nina dormida en su lecho está - Alberto GINASTERA (1916-1983) Cinco Canciones Popolares Argentinas Marina Tafur (soprano), Nigel Foster (pianoforte) - Recorded St. Paul’s Church, New Southgate, London, date not given LORELT LNT 112 [74.35] [CH]

On the whole a warm welcome for the repertoire and on balance my reactions to the singer are more positive than not. … see Full Review

Spring in America George ANTHEIL (1900-1959) Violin Sonata No. 1 (1923) [26.14] - Violin Sonata No. 2 (1923) [7.35] Joanna BRUZDOWICZ (b.1943)
Violin Sonata (1994) [14.45] Trio dei Due Mondi for piano trio (1980) [9.38] Robert Szreder (violin) Boguslaw Jan Strobel (piano) Tomasz Strahl (cello) - rec Polish Radio, Warsaw,1996 DDD PAVANE ADW 7355 [65.55] [RB]

An unhackneyed and challenging disc with the dedication of the artists never in doubt. ... see Full Review

Leopold STOKOWSKI - Peter TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No 6 Pathetique - Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Tod und Verklärung - Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra (Tchaikovsky) - New York City Symphony Orchestra (Strauss) Leopold Stokowski - Recorded July 1945 (Tchaikovsky) and December 1944 (Strauss) CALA CACD 0506 [68.52][JW]

Never unmoving – Stokowski was incapable of dullness – but not matched by commensurate structural integrity. … see Full Review

Leopold Stokowski - Peter I TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Nutcracker Suite - Michail IPPOLITOV-IVANOV (1859-1935) In the Manger orch Stokowski - Alexander GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Danse Orientale from Scenes de Ballet - Nicolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Scheherazade - Alexander Hilsberg, violin - Philadelphia Orchestra Leopold Stokowski, conductor - Recorded 1927-1934 CALA CACD 0521 [69.34][JW]

It’s always been this recording of Scheherazade I turn to, despite considerable temptation; something in it is something of the essence of Stokowski himself. … see Full Review

THOMAS QUASTHOFF - A PORTRAIT Thomas Quasthoff (baritone)
Rec 1992 (Bach), 1993 (Schumann), 1995 (Schubert), 1996 (Beethoven), 1997-98 (Mozart) RCA Red Seal 74321 86952 2 [77.21] [TB]

generally a commanding compilation, produced to high standards. … see Full Review

QUEEN ELISABETH INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION 1951 – 2001 Various artists CYPRES CYP 9612 [12 CDs – ca. 15 hours]

This generously filled box is a memento of what has happened over the last fifty years of the Q.E.C.’s history. It contains many fine performances of well-known "war horses" as well as of some of the test pieces written for the finals, some of which have never been played since then, though some of them are really fine works. The sound of these live performances is globally quite satisfying though some recordings show their age. … see Full Review

"RUSSKI PARTES" Orlando di LASSUS Timor et tremor 3’58"
Giovanni P. da PALESTRINA Missa ‘L’Homme Armé’ 29’37" PALESTRINA Alla riva del Tebro 1’51" LASSUS Ecce Maria genuit nobis 2’54" Nicolas DILETSKI Ije obrazu tvoiemu, stsena v burse 2’49" Simeon PEKALITSKI (The Divine Service) Slujba bojia, liturgia 17’18" Alexandre TRETIAKOV Bogoroditse dievo, raduisia 2’27" Nicolas TOLSTIAKOV Priditie ka mnie vse trujdaiuchiisia 3’16" Fedor STEPANOV Otche nach 2’59" Unspecified recording location and dates Ensemble "Russki Partes" PAVANE ADW 7343 [67.09] [PW]

If you like Russian sacred music, there is much here that you can’t get elsewhere, and which is worth having. If you hate Italian music then you’ll also love these renditions. … see Full Review

SEA OF GLASSMÔR O WYDR - ELINOR BENNETT – HARP
John METCALF (b.1946) – Harp Scrapbook
Arvo PÄRT (b.1935) - Pari Intervallo Robert Ap HUW (16th century) – Hun Gwenllian Jeffrey LEWIS (b.1942) – Dreams, Dances and Lullabies Grace WILLIAMS (1906 – 1977) – Hiraeth Arvo PÄRT – Spiegel im Spiegel Robert Ap HUW – Gosteg yr Halen
Philip GLASS (b.1937) – Metamorphosis no.2; Wichita Vortex Sutra Elinor Bennett, harp Recorded at St.Silas Church, London 1994(?) LORELT LNT 105 [71:37] [GP-J]

There are far too few recordings of harp music, particularly modern harp music, in the catalogue. Lorelt are to be congratulated for featuring this fine artist and the music she champions. The recording is excellent – not too close so that we don’t pick up the mechanical sounds of the instrument, but close enough to feel the ‘bloom’ of the tone. … see Full Review

Leopold STOKOWSKI Russian Masterworks Nikolas RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Russian Easter Festival Overture Op 36 Peter TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Humoresque Op 10 No 2 orch. Stokowski Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) The Firebird Suite (1919 version) Serge PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) March from The Love for Three Oranges Op 33a Peter TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No 4 NBC Symphony Orchestra Leopold Stokowski Recorded 1941-42 CALA CACD 0505 [75.24] [JW]

Sonorous and expressive playing and yet more evidence of Stokowski’s vivid personality. Pity better sounding copies could have been used. … see Full Review

The Singers: Maggie TEYTE (1888-1976) Dame Maggie Teyte (soprano) Recordings made: September 1932 (items 1 – 7, 10, 11); November 1932 (items 8, 9, 12, 13); August 1937 (item 21); 1937 (items 14 – 20, 22- 24) DECCA 467 916-2 [63.42] [JQ]

Collectors are advised to snap up this disc while it is available for it is self-recommending to all connoisseurs of fine singing. … see Full Review

BOOK REVIEWS

Richard Aldous. Tunes of Glory – The Life of Malcolm Sargent. Hutchinson 2001. xviii + 302 pp. £18.99

Time for a re-assessment, and in writing this new study Richard Aldous has generally been extremely thorough in his research, so much so that there are clear differences of fact between Aldous and Charles Reid’s Malcolm Sargent: a biography. … 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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