Claudio ABBADO – A Portrait The Silence that follows the Music A Film by Paul Smaczny Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra conducted by Claudio Abbado Directed by Paul Smaczny.recorded in February 1995 at Gran Teatro Fenice April 1995 (Chamber Orchestra of Europe) at the Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Easter Festival April 1995 (Berlin Philharmonic), and the Cité de la Musique, Paris in August 1995 (Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra) (DVD). ARTHAUS MUSIK 101 048 [60 mins] [JP]

An illuminating study into what makes Abbado tick.… see Full Review

Our American Journey - Traditional Appalachian: ‘Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah’* [4’16"] - Juan de LIENAS (fl. c.1620-1650): ‘Credidi’ [6’31"] - Juan Gutiérrez de PADILLA (c. 1590 – 1664): ‘Versa est in luctum’ [2’45"] - Traditional: ‘Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken* (c1827) [2’54"] - William BILLINGS (1746 – 1800): David’s Lamentation’ (c1800)* [2’18"] - A. M. CAGLE (1884-1968): ‘Soar Away’ (1935) [2’21"] - Steven STUCKY (b. 1949): ‘Whispers’ [6’19"] - Jackson HILL (b. 1941): Voices of Autumn’ (1982) [4’42"] - Brent Michael DAVIDS (b. 1959] ‘The Un-Covered Wagon’ [8’04"] - William HAWLEY (b. 1950): ‘Fuggi, fuggi, dolor’ [3’25"]; ‘Labbra vermiglie e belle’ [4’29"] (Both from The Rime of Tasso (2000)) - Stephen FOSTER (1826-1864): ‘Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair’ ** [3’09"]; ‘Camptown Races’ *** [2’27"] - George GERSHWIN (1898-1937) and Ira GERSHWIN (1896-1983): ‘Love walked in’ ** [5’00"] - Ann RONELL (1908-1993): Willow Weep for Me’ * [3’40"] - Doyle LAWSON, Charles WALLER and Robert YATES: ‘Calling My Children Home* [5’11"] - Traditional: ‘Wayfarin’ Stranger’ * [3’39"] - Traditional: I’m a Pilgrim * [5’21"] - * Arranged/ Adapted by Joseph Jennings - ** Arranged by Gene Puerling - *** Arranged by Jack Halloran Chanticleer directed by Joseph Jennings - Recorded at St. Ignatius Church, San Francisco, California, 24 –31 July 2002 TELDEC 0927-48556-2 [77’52"] [JQ]

Despite my reservations about a few of the pieces this is a very fine disc by an outstanding ensemble. … see Full Review

A Tierras Ajenas: Tunes and Tales from Lost Lands - Esteban DAZA A Tierras Ajenas (In Foreign Lands) "El Parnasso" (1576) - Jewish Traditional Kyria Y'Fefiya - Traditional Sephardic En la mar hay una torre (At sea there is a tower) - Diego PISADOR La mañana de San Juan (The morning of St. John) "Libro de Musica" (1552) - Alonso MUDARA Claros y frescos rios (Rivers, clear and fresh) "Tres Libros de Musica" (1546) - Traditional Arabic from Lebanon Zaranil - Traditional Sephardic Nanita, nana - Improvisation after NARVAEZ Lament - Luys de NARVAEZ Paseavase el Rey Moro (The Moorish King was walking) "El Delfin de Musica" (1538) - Anon Las mas graciosa serrana (The most gracious shepherdess) "Cancioner de Palacio" (1505-1520) - Enriquez de VALDERRAVANO O que en la cumbre (Up at the summit) "Silvia de Sirenas" (1547) - CAPITAN Van y vienen las olas (The waves come and go) "Cancionero Casanatense" (c. 1620) - Luis MILAN Fantasia "El Maestro" (1536) - Anon Dadme albrizias (Rejoice) "Cancionero de Uppsala" (c. 1556) - Pedro ORDONEZ Ay, mudo soy (Oh, I am Mute) included in Daza's "El Parnasso" - Traditional Sephardic, found in Morocco Hija mia, mi querida (My daughter, my dear) - Anon Paguen mis ojos (My eyes shall pay) "Cancioner de Palacio" (1505-1520) - Alonson MUDARRA Gentil Caballero (Gentle Knight) - Anon Pues que no puedo olvidarte (Since I cannot forget you)"Cancionero de la Casa de Medinaceli" (c. 1569) - Jewish Traditional Turkish Melody - Traditional Arabic/Lebanon Lammabada - Robert Dowland Vuestros Ojos (Your eyes) "A Musical Banquet" (London 1610) Clara Sanabras (Voice, Lute, Oud, Guitar, Vihuela) - William Carter (Lute, Guitar) - Abdul Salam Kheir (Voice and Oudh) - Rachel Podger (Violin) - Adrian Lee (Oud) - Rebecca Austen-Brown (Vielle Flute) - Harvey Brough (Voice, Psaltery) - Rachel Hamilton (Harp) - Michael Zolker (Drum, Shakers, Tambourine) - Recorded October 1999, St. Pancras Old Church, London ZENOBIA ZEN402 [63.08] [RH]

Highly recommendable. Songs by turns haunting and infectious, beautifully performed by a talented group of musicians. The perfect window into the lovely world of 16^th century Spanish song … see Full Review

THE CLASSICAL MUSIC OF AZERBAIJAN: Symphonic; Ballet; Concerto; Piano; Opera; Chamber - Volume 1. Symphonic [56.12] - Fikrat AMIROV (1922-1984) Azerbaijan Capriccio (1961) - Kurd-Afshari (1949) - Gara GARAYEV (1918-1982) Leyli and Majnun (1947) - Soltan HAJIBEYOV (b.1919) Karvan (1945) - Ogtay ZULFUGAROV (b.1929) Holiday Overture (1961) - Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra/Yalchin Adigozalov - Volume 2. Ballet [53.12] Gara GARAYEV (1918-1982) Seven Beauties (1952): Waltz; Adagio; Most Beautiful of All Beauties; Procession Path of Thunder (1958): Dance of the Girls with Guitars; Scene and Duet, Adagio; The Path of Thunder, Finale - Fikrat AMIROV (1922-1984)Nasimi (1977): The Dance of Executioners; Nasimi's Monologue; The Girls' Dance; Invasion; The Grief of the Girls; The Protest of Nasimi, Struggle, ImmortalityArabian Nights (1979): Baghdad Market; Dance; Orgy; Volume 3. Concerto [53.37] Vasif ADIGOZAL (b.1936) Piano Concerto No. 4 (1995) - Haji KHANMAMMADOV (b.1918)Concerto No. 2 for Tar and Orchestra (1968) Murad Adigozalzade, PianoRamiz Guliyev, TarAzerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra/Yalchin Adigozalov - Volume 4. Piano [48.17]Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV (1885-1948) Sansiz (1941) (Tamilla Guliyeva, Piano)Ismayil HAJIBEYOV (b.1949)Three Sketches (1971) (Ulviyya Valiyeva, Piano)Gara GARAYEV (1918-1982) Six Preludes (1950) (Murad Adigozalzade, Piano; Elnara Hashimova, Piano) Fikrat AMIROV (1922-1984) (1954-all) (Murad Adigozalzade, Piano): Ballad; Ashug's Song; Nocturne; Humoreska; Lyrical Dance; Waltz; Lullaby; Toccata - Vasif ADIGOZAL (b.1936)Elegy (1992) (Murad Adigozalzade, Piano)Six Preludes (1992) (Elnara Hashimova, Piano) - Rafig BABAYEV (1936-1994) Two Pieces (1994) (Murad Adigozalzade, Piano) - Volume 5. Opera [50.01] Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV (1885-1948) Koroglu (The Blind Man's Son) (1913): Koroglu Overture; Nigar's Aria, First Act-Garina Karimova; Nigar's Aria, Second Act-Garina Karimova; Song of the Khananda (Singer)-Safura Azimi; Dance from the Third Act, Jangi (Warrior) - Arshin Mal Alan (The Cloth Peddler) (1913): Askar's Aria - Ulgar Muradov - Muslim MAGOMAYEV (1885-1937) Shah Ismayil (1916): Overture; Aslan Shah's Aria - Mukhtar MalikovNargiz (1935): Nargiz's Aria - Garina Karimova - Gara GARAYEV (1918-1982) and Jovdat HAJIYEV (b.1917) - Vatan (Motherland) (1945): Mardan's AriaFikrat AMIROV (1922-1984) Sevil (1953): Sevil's Aria - Volume 6. Chamber [61.48]Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV (1885-1948)Arazbari (1928); Ashugsayaghi (1931) Fikrat AMIROV (1922-1984) Nizami (1947) in four partsGara GARAYEV (1918-1982) Preludes for Piano (1950): 1, 2, 3 - Vasif ADIGOZAL (b.1936) Garanfil (1959) (Ramiz Guliyev, Tar) - Agshin ALIZADE (b.1937) Jangi (1982) (Oleg Grechko, Oboe) - Azer REZAYEV (1930) Meditation; Gaytaghi (1994) (Ramiz Guliyev, Tar) - Gambar HUSEINLI (1916-1961) The First Love (1952) (Ramiz Guliyev, Tar) - Hasan REZAYEV (b.1928) Chahargh (1957) (Ramiz Guliyev, Tar) Azerbaijan State Chamber Orchestra - Recordings made Baku, Jan-Feb 1997. DDD - CDs or Cassette Tapes - As a set or individually - CD set reviewed here AZERBAIJAN INTERNATIONAL AICD 1207 [circa 5 hours 49 mins]

If you have a taste for hyper-coloured music and enjoy Borodin, Hovhaness, Ravel, Khachaturian and folk music of the mid-eastern steppe then this set is certainly for you. ... see Full Review

Belcea Quartet - Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) String Quartet in A minor D.804 ‘Rosamunde’ (1824) [36.51] - Quartetsatz in C minor D.703 (1820) [9.32] - String Quartet in Eb D.87 (1813) [26.37] Belcea Quartet - Rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk in July 2002 EMI CLASSICS DEBUT SERIES 7243 5 57419 2 9 [73.19] [CF]

An agreeable programme devised by a string quartet to look out for. … see Full Review

Flute Recital: Belle Époque Georges HUË (1858-1948) Fantasie (1913); Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Morceau de Concours (1898); Benjamin GODARD (1849-1895) Suite de Trois Morceaux (1890); Georges ENESCU (1881-1955) Cantabile et Presto (1904); Charles-Marie WIDOR (1844-1937) Suite for Flute and Piano Op 34(1889); Claude DEBUSSY (1864-1918) Le Petit Nègre (1909) and Beau Soir (1880); Francois BORNE (arrangement with additions by Marina Piccinini) Fantasie brillante on Bizet’s Carmen (1900) Marina Piccinini (flute) Anne Epperson, (piano) Recorded at the New York Academy of Arts and Letters January 2000 DDD CLAVES CD 50-2009 [62.36] [GH]

The word which keeps coming to mind is ‘delightful’ … see Full Review

Erna BERGER (soprano) (1900-1990) Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail ‘Martern alter Arten’ - Idomeneo ‘Solitudini amiche... Zeffiretti lusinghieri’ - Die Zauberflöte ‘O zittre nicht’.’ ‘Der Hoille Rache’ - Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Ines de Castro ‘Non paventar mia vita’. Daniel AUBER (1782-1871) Fra Diavolo ‘Quel bonheur’. Friedrich von FLOTOW (1812-1883) Martha ‘Letzte Rose’. Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1848) La fille du regiment ‘Tyrolienne’ (Act II Entr'acte arranged for soprano). Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Rigoletto ‘Caro nome’. La traviata ‘É strano! É strano! Ah fors' é lui… Follie! Follie! Sempre libera’. Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) La bohème ‘Mi chiamano Mimi’. Madama Butterfly ‘Un bel di vedremo’. Georges BIZET (1838-1875) Les pecheurs de perles ‘Comme autrefois dans la nuit sombre’. Johann STRAUSS Jnr (1825-1899) Die Fledermaus ‘Mein Herr Marquis’ (Laughing Song). ‘Spiel’ch die Unschuld vom Lande’. ‘Frühlingsstimmen’ Various orchestras and conductors. Recorded 1934 to 1949 - All sung in German - Bargain price - Naxos Historical. ‘Great Singers Series’ NAXOS Historical. 8.110733 [74.04min] [RJF]

A disc that should interest enthusiasts of good singing, even if they have already purchased the earlier Decca issue. … see Full Review

Bream: ‘Baroque Guitar Recital’ Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Prelude in d, BWV999 (1721) [1.40] (originally written in c for the lute) Fugue in a, BWV1000 (1720) [5.30] (originally written in g for the lute) Suite in e, BWV996 (1722) [19.02] Gaspar SANZ (c1640-1710) Pavana (1674) [3.56] Canarios (1674) [1.24] Fernando SOR (1778-1839) Fantasy and Minuet (1830) [9.49] Sylvius Leopold WEISS (1686-1750) Passacaille [4.24] Fantasie [2.02] Tombeau sur la mort de M. Comte de Logy (1721) [6.06] Robert de VISÉE (c1650-1725) Suite in d (1686) [11.42] Julian Bream (guitar) Notes in English and German Recorded 1965 [ADD] Mastered in 24 bit at 96 kHz BMG RCA RED SEAL 09026 64001 2 [65.23] [PS]

An enhanced sound reissue of selected tracks from the "Julian Bream Collection." One of the finest guitar Baroque music collections available … see Full Review

Bright Future: More works for young and amateur musicians from Chamber Music 2000 - Joe CUTLER Jiggadybox - Nicola LEFANU (b. 1947) Miniature and Canon - Martin BUTLER Spring Rounds (1998) - Joseph PHIBBS (b. 1974) Trio Semplice - Rachel STOTT Serendipity and Household Objects – 1^st movement - Judith BINGHAM (b. 1952) The Mystery of Boranup - David SAWER Riddle (2001) - Peter SCULTHORPE (b. 1929) From the River - Victor STEINHARDT Piano Quartet – 1^st movement - Wendy HISCOCKS Vibrancy - Graham FITKIN (b. 1963) MacGuffin - Edward Dudley HUGHES (b. 1968) Secret Sky - Michael FINNISSY Bright Future Ignoring Dark Past - Adam GORB Bittersweet - Peter COPLEY Miniature Overture - Cecilia McDOWALL (b. 1951) A Draught of Fishes - Geoffrey POOLE Look Behind You The Schubert Ensemble - Recorded at Champs Hill, Pulborough, West Sussex on 13^th, 20^th and 21^st November, 2002 DDD NMC NMCD080 [56:40] [CT]

An interesting and at times highly entertaining collection of miniatures written for performance by young and amateur musicians. … see Full Review

Adolf Busch: Live Concerto recordings Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Violin Concerto in A minor Op. 53 B108 (1880 rev. 1882) Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1898) Violin Concerto in D Op. 77 (1878) National Orchestral Association conducted by Leon Barzin (Dvořák, 10 December 1944) Basel Orchestra conducted by Hans Münch (Brahms, 18 December 1951) ARBITER 117 [67.24] [JW]

A study in decline and a most unusual, not entirely successful, traversal. … see Full Review

Adolf Busch plays Brahms - Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin Concerto in D major Op. 77 (1878) - Clarinet Quintet in B minor Op. 115 (1891) -
Adolf Busch (violin) Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York conducted by William Steinberg (18 July 1943) - Busch Quartet with Reginald Kell (clarinet), New York, 19 December 1948 MUSIC AND ARTS CD 1107 [66.04] [JW]

Lyrical intensity … seamless affection … see Full Review

The Busch Brothers, Busch Quartet and Guests Live from the 1949 Strasbourg Festival - Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Concerto for Violin and Cello in A minor Op. 102 (1887) - Sextet No. 1 in B flat major Op. 18 (1858-60) - Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Capriccio from Andante, Scherzo, Capriccio and Fuge (Quartet) Op. 81 No. 3 Adolf (violin) and Hermann Busch (cello) with French National Radio Orchestra/Paul Kletzki, 21 June 1949 (Brahms Double) - Busch Quartet with Albert Bertschmann (viola) and August Wenzinger (cello) in the Brahms Sextet, 13 June 1949 - Busch Quartet, 11 June 1949 (Mendelssohn) MUSIC AND ARTS CD 1083 [70.01] [JW]

A far more measured and considered view than their Russian contemporaries … see Full Review

‘The Very Best of’ Montserrat CABALLÉ (soprano) b.1933. CD 1: Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Aida, ‘Ritorna vincitor’. ‘O patria mia’. La forza del destino, ‘Pace, pace mio Dio’. Macbeth, ‘Una machia e qui tutt’ora’. Don Carlo, ‘Tu che le vanitá’. Otello, ‘Ave Maria’. Arrigo BOITO (1842-1918) Mefistofele, ‘L’altra notte in fondo al mare’. Pietro MASCAGNI (1863-1945) Cavalleria rusticana, ‘Voi la sapete’. Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Guillaume Tell, ‘Ils s’eloignent enfin’. Joaquín TURINA (1882-1949) ‘Canta a Sevilla’. (Op 37, 1925). MONTSALVATGE ‘Cinco caciones negras’. (1946). CD 2: Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Manon Lescaut, ‘Il quelle trine morbide’. La boheme, ‘Si, mi chiamano Mimi’. ‘Donde lieta usci’. Tosca, ‘Vissi d’arte’. Madama Butterfly, ‘Un bel di vedremo’. Turandot, ‘Signore, ascolta’. ‘In questa reggia’. ‘Tu che di gel sei cinta’. Gianni Schicchi, ‘O mio babbino caro’ La Rondine, ‘Chi il bel sogno di Doretta’ Vincenzo BELLINI (1801-1835) I puritani, ‘O rendetemi speme…Qui la voce sua soave’. ‘Tornó il riso sul suo aspetto…Vien diletto’. Il pirata, ‘Oh! S’io potessi dissipar le nubi’. ‘Col sorrisso d’innocenza’…’Qual suono..Oh, Solé’. Various orchestras and conductors. Recorded between 1970 and 1980 EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 75891 2 3 [2CDs: 76.21+75.24] [RJF]

One of the greatest and loveliest voices of the 20^th century … see Full Review

Enrico CARUSO (tenor) 1873-1921 - ‘The Complete Recordings’. Volume 5. Naxos Historical. ‘Great Singers Series’ - Charles GOUNOD. (1818-1893) Faust, Act 1 ‘O merveille’. Act 3 ‘Seigneur Dieu’. ‘Eh! quoi! Toujours seule’. ‘Il se fait tard’. ‘Eternelle? O nuit d’amour’. Act 4 ‘Que voulez vous messieurs?’.Act 5 ‘Mon Coeur est penetre’. ‘Attends! Voici la rue’. ‘Alerte! Ou vous etes perdus!’.
With: Geraldine Farrar (sop) Marguerite. Antonio Scotti (bar) Valentin. Marcel Journet (bass) Mephistopheles. Alberto FRANCHETTI (1860-1942) Gemania, ‘Studenti! Udite!’. ‘No, non chiuder gli occhi vaghi’. Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Madama Butterfly, ‘Amore o grillo’. ‘Non ve la avevo detto’. Amilcare PONCHIELLI (1843-1886) La Gioconda, ‘Cielo e mar!’. Ruggero LEONCAVALLO (1857-1919) Pagliacci, ‘No! Pagliaccio non son’ - Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Otello, ‘Ora a per sempre addio’ - Il Trovatore, ‘Mal reggendo’. Se m’ani ancor; Ai nostri monti’. With Loise Homer (m. sop). Aida, ‘Giá I saceradoti adunansi’. ‘Misero appien mi festi’. With Loise Homer (m. sop). Henry GEEHL ‘For You Alone’. Pietro MASCAGNI (1863-1945) Cavalleria Rusticana, ‘O Lola’. Francesco TOSTI (1846-1616) ‘Addio’. Recorded in New York and Camden, New Jersey, in January, March and December 1910 accompanied by the ‘Victor Orchestra’. Bargain Price NAXOS Historical 8.110720 [79.01] [RJF]

Lovely phrasing and honeyed head voice … see Full Review

Pablo Casals – Encores and transcriptions: Volume 1 David POPPER (1843-1913) Chanson villageois Op. 62 No. 2 Vito (Spanish Dance) Op. 54 No. 5 Paul HILLEMACHER (1852-1933) Gavotte tender Edward MACDOWELL (1860-1908) Romance Op. 35 Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Petite Suite – Menuet – arr. Choisnel Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Moment musical – No. 3 D780 arr. Becker Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Abendlied Op. 85 No. 12 – arr. Becker Träumerei – Kinderszenen Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Après un rêve Op. 7 No. 1 arr. Casals Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Evening Star from Tannhäuser Preislied from Die Meistersinger – arr Wilhelmj Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) Prelude Op. 28 No. 15 Raindrop Nocturne in E flat major Op. 9 No. 2 arr. Popper Benjamin GODARD (1849-1895) Berceuse from Jocelyn Anton RUBINSTEIN (1829-1894) Melody in F major Op. 3 No. 1 arr. Popper Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Adagio from toccata in C major BWV 564 arr. Siloti/Casals Enrique GRANADOS (1867-1916) Intermezzo from Goyescas arr. Cassadó Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) The Swan from Carnival of the Animals Max BRUCH (1838-1920) Kol Nidrei Pablo Casals (cello) Nikolai Mednikoff (piano) except Popper’s Chanson villageois Op. 62 No. 2 – Edouard Gendron (piano) Recorded Camden, New Jersey, 1925-28 NAXOS 8.110972 [74.00] [JW]

Mainly sweetmeats and trifles but such was the lot of the cellist on disc … see Full Review

MARCEL CIAMPI (piano) and YVONNE ASTRUC (violin) Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Violin Sonata No. 3 in C minor Op. 45 (1886-87) César FRANCK (1822-1890)
Piano Quintet in F minor (1878-79) Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) La Cathédrale engloutie; Preludes Book I (1910) Lili BOULANGER (1893-1918) Introduction et cortège (1914)
Nocturne (1911) Yvonne Astruc (violin) Marcel Ciampi (piano) Capet Quartet in the Franck
Nadia Boulanger (piano) in the two Boulanger works Recorded 1927-31 MALIBRAN CDRG 115 [72.09] [JW]

Malibran are proving to be truffle hunters extraordinaire when it comes to now forgotten French musicians of the inter-war years. … see Full Review

Sergei Dukachev - Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonata No. 3 in C, Op. 2 No. 3 (1794/5) [26'28] - Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Pavane pour une infant défunte (1899) [5'37]; Jeux d'eau (1901) [5'13] - Robert SCHUMANN (1810-56) Kreisleriana, Op. 16 (1838) [27'21] Sergei Dukachev (piano) - Rec. Maidment Building, Shrewsbury School, on 16th February 2002 DDD DUNELM RECORDS DRD0180 [64.58] [CC]

Despite some impressive and beautiful moments along the way, this recital does not add up to more than the sum of its parts … see Full Review

Mischa Elman plays Tchaikovsky and Mendelssohn Concertos - Piotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Violin Concerto in D major Op. 35 (1878) - Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Violin Concerto in E minor Op. 64 (1844) - Mischa Elman (violin) - Boston Symphony Orchestra/Paul Paray, December 1945 (Tchaikovsky) New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Dimitri Mitropoulos, November 1953 (Mendelssohn) MUSIC AND ARTS CD 868 [62.09] [JW]

Lavish intensity, throbbing, molten vivacity, intense concentration and expressive shading … see Full Review

Finnish Hymns - Volume 2 - Hymns set and arranged for Orchestra arr Olli KORTEKANGAS (b.1955). Early you prepared the way; God who loves the children; arr Ilkka KUUISTO (b.1933) Come Jesus great giver of grace; The earth is the Lord’s; Come, Jesus, great giver of Grace; Spread you wings O lord - arr Jaako KUUSISTO (b.1974) When I see my saviour - arr Harri AHMAS (b.1957) Help me, O Jesus; Lord, you fill the firmament arr., by Herman Rechberger; O Hampt voll arr Kari TIKKA (b.1946) Blut und Wunden; Thank God for the lamb and the covenant; Lobe den Herren - Spirit of Truth; Marching through the desert; Praise God in the highest; arr Kalevi AHO O Jesus. Let me return to you - arr Osmo VÄNSKÄ I remember the day Lahti Symphony Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä - Recorded at the Church of the Cross, Lahti, Finland, June 2002 BIS CD 1349 [66.22] [GH]

An intriguing disc. Beautifully recorded and obviously a labour of love for everyone concerned … see Full Review

Five English Clarinet Quintets - Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983) Rhapsodic Quintet op.31 (1917) [10'51] - Arnold COOKE (b.1906)) Clarinet Quintet (1962): Allegro [5'54]; Andante [7'36]; Rondo: Allegro vivace [3'50] - Elizabeth MACONCHY (1907-1994) Clarinet Quintet (1963): Poco lento [3'25]; Scherzo: Presto [3'03]; Lento [3'24]; Allegro molto [3'02] - Benjamin FRANKEL (1906-1973) Clarinet Quintet op.28 (1956): Moderato [5'45]; Alla Burla [4'43]; Lento di molto [9'36] - Joseph HOLBROOKE (1878-1958) Eilean Shona [3'50] Thea King (clarinet) - Britten String Quartet: (Peter Manning (violin); Keith Pascoe (violin); Peter Lale (viola); Andrew Shulman (cello)) - Rec: 22-25 April 1990, DDD - Previously at full price on CDA66428 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55105 [66.20] [RB]

Three provocative quintets of the fifties and sixties when the world had become old flanked by the Howells from a young world in process of losing innocence and Holbrooke’s work of Celtic witchery … see Full Review

The Very Best of Mirella FRENI (soprano) b.1935. Various orchestras and conductors. Recorded between 1965 and 1986. Bargain Price EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 75909 2 [2CDs: 74.04+75.52 min]

A superb singer and artist at the height of her powers. I commend this issue to all lovers of singing and this artist in particular. … see Full Review

Ignaz Friedman (1882-1948): Complete Recordings Volume 3 - Christopher Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787) arr. Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Gavotte (rec. 9.2.1928) - GLUCK/FRIEDMAN Menuet (Judgement of Paris) (10.2.1928) - Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) arr. Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Hark, hark the lark (10.2.1928) - SCHUBERT/FRIEDMAN Alt Wien (2.3.1928) - Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Polonaise in B flat op. 71/1 (15.2.1929), Mazurkas: f op. 7/3, B flat op. 7/1, a op. 7/2, D op. 33/2, b op. 33/3, b flat op. 24/4, c sharp op. 41/1, A flat op. 50/2, c sharp op. 63/3, C op. 67/3, a op. 67/4, a op. 68/2 (all rec. 13.9.1930 except op. 41/1, rec. 17.9.1930 with an additional performance rec. 10.10.1929 and previously issued only in the USA) - Friedman speaks on Chopin (beginning of talk given on New Zealand Radio, 11.1940) Ignaz Friedman (piano) - Recorded in London, dates as above NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110690 [60:38] [CH]

An essential item in any Chopin collection. … see Full Review

Full Fathom Five - Lyrics by William Shakespeare - Ralph Vaughan WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Three Shakespeare Songs () - Martin LUTZ (b.1974) Two Love Songs - Frank MARTIN (1890-1974) Songs of Ariel () - Nils LINDBERG (b.1933) Three Songs From O Mistress Mine - Knud JEPPESEN (1892-1974) Four Shakespeare Songs () - Jaakko MÄNTYJÄRVI (b.1963) Four Shakespeare Songs () - Sven-Eric JOHANSON (1907-1997) Fancies - sets I and II () Academic Choir of Aarhus/Uffe Most - rec. Lystrup Church, Feb 2001, Mar 2002 DDD DANACORD DACOCD 607 [RB]

Altogether a pleasurable experience. I was especially pleased to encounter the Johnason and the Linbdberg for the first time. ... see Full Review

‘Garden of Serenity II’ (Improvisations by David and Steve Gordon) Zen Garden (30.00) - Monet’s Garden (30.00) - Zen Garden part II (4.49) - Monet’s Garden part II (4.44) Improvised by David Gordon, flute; Steve Gordon, harp and piano. Notes in English including a poem by Andrew Marvell (1621 - 1678). Recorded at Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, USA, July 1996 SEQUOIA X 704 [69.33] [PS]

Exceptional New Age meditation music … see Full Review

Freu Dich Erd Und Sternenzelt: German Music for the Christmas Season HALLE Macht hoch die Tur (1704); BASQUE Gabriel’s Botschaft FOLKSONG Es Sasen vier Engelein Wilhelm TAUBERT (1811-91) Inmitten der Nacht; TYROL MELODY Hirtenlied MEDIEVAL Auf, Auf nun; FINLAND Weihnachtsglocken (1582); THURINGIAN MELODY Susser die Glocken nie klingen (1826); BOHMEN Freu dich, Erd und Sterenzolt; (1526); MELODY Maria durch ein Dornwald (c.1600); Friedrich HIMMEL (1765-1814) Heil’ge Nacht auf Engelsschwingen; RUSSIAN FOLKSONG Sclaf, mein Kindleich; POLISH FOLKSONG Lu la lei Gottessohn; FOLKSONG Schlaf wohl, du Himmelsknabe, du Harold DARKE (1888-1976) Inmitten dustren Winters; Johann REICHARDT (1752-1814) Heilige Nacht The Vocal Trio Recorded live at the Lutheran Church, Karlsruhe, December 2000. Sonya WEISE Prelude and Fugue on ‘O little Town of Bethlehem’; Sonya WEISE Variations on ‘O du frohliche’; Sonya WEISE Welsh Christmas Suite; Sonya WEISE Organ fantasy on ‘The First nowell’; Sonya WEISE Organ Fantasy on ‘All through the night’ Played on the New Organ at the Lutheran Church, Karlsruhe by Daniel Kaiser Recorded in November 2001 DDD BELLA MUSICA BM 31.3065 [51.30] [GH]

Skilful if somewhat unexciting … see Full Review

GREGORIAN CHANT. Early Recordings - Credo IV LU71 - Offr; Terra tremuit with verse Et factus est LU781a Ott 55 - Sanctus I LU18a - Agnus Dei I LU18b - Choir of Benedictine College of Sant’Anselmo, Rome directed by Beatus Reiser and recorded c.1933 - Preface of the Blessed Virgin, Missale Romanum -Sanctus X LU45a - Agnus Dei X LU45b - Comm; Gloriosa LU1319a - Ite IX LU43a - Anti; Alma Redemptoris LU273 - Anti; Regina caeli LU275 - Anti; Salve Regina LU279 - Rorate caeli LU1868b - Attende Domine LU1872B - White Fathers of St Irmenin, Trier recorded c.1929 - Alle; Confitemini LU759 - Anti; Alleluia LU761a - Anti;Vespere autem LU761a - Grad; Haec dies LU778b - Alle; without verse LU779 - Sequ; Victimae paschali LU780 - Intr; Dominus dixit LU 392 - Comm.; In splendoribus LU 395a - Intr; Puer natus est LU408 - Franciscan Fathers of Venray, Holland directed by Eliseus Brüning and recorded May 1930 - Anti; Asperges me LU11 - Kyrie IX LU40b - Sanctus IX LU42a - Anti; Salve Regina LU279 - Alle; Veni Sancte LU880a - Sequ; Veni Sancte Spiritus LU880b - Anti; Miserere mihi and Ps LU264 - Hymn; Te lucis ante LU266c - Anti; Ave Regina caelorum LU278a -Hymn; O Salutaris Hostia LU940z - Monks of St Lawrence Abbey, Ampleforth directed by J BernardMcElligott and recorded September 1930 - Anti; Hosanna LU578b - Comm; Passer invenit LU556a - Alle; Pascha nostrum LU779 - Schola Cantorum of Paris directed by Amédée Gastoué and recorded May 1930 - Grad; Misit Dominus Verbum LU485 - Berlin State Academy Choir directed by Hermann Halbig and recorded January 1930 - Grad; Adjuvabit LU1221 - Alle; Pascha nostrum/Epulemur LU779 -
Les Paraphonistes de St-Jean-des-Matines directed by Guillaume de Van; Agop Agopian, solo recorded March 1936 - Offr; Ave Maria LU1318b - Anti; Salve Regina LU279 - Nuns of St Ehrentraud Abbey, Nonnberg, Salzburg, recorded c1930 - Kyrie X LU43c - Gloria IX LU40c - Credo I LU64 - Common Preface, Missale Romanum - Sanctus IX LU42a - Pater Noster and versicles, Missale Romanum - Agnus Dei IX LU42b - Ite IX LU43a - Rev Vincent C Donovan, celebrant with Choir of the Pius X School of Music directed by Justine Bayard Ward with Achille P Bragers, organ and recorded in May 1929 - Kyrie ad lib IV LU76b - Grad; Convertere LU1007 - Escolania and monks of Montserrat Abbey directed by David Pujol and recorded May 1930 - Intr; Exsurge quare LU504c - Grad; Haec dies LU778b - Comm; Pascha nostrum LU781b- Alle; Pascha nostrum LU779 - Sequ; Victimae paschali LU780 - Monks of St Martin Arch Abbey, Beuron directed by Pius Bihlmeyer and recorded in November 1929 - Alle; Vir Dei Old Graduale 24 - Sequ; Laeta dies old Graduale 17 - Monks of Maria Laach Abbey directed by Anselm Ross with Urbanus Bomm organist and recorded c.1928 - Alle; Venite ad me LU1726b - Offr; Justorum animae LU1172 - Comm; Beati mundo corde LU1727 - Seminary Choir of the Society of the DivineWord of Steyl, Mödling directed by Stanislaus Marusczyk and recorded c.1930 - Kyrie VIII LU37b - Gloria VIII LU37c - Credo III LU68 - Sanctus VIII LU38 - Agnus Dei VIII LU39a - Comm; Quinque prudentes LU1228b - Alle; Assumpta est LU1603 - Dortmund Municipal Conservatory Choir directed by Romuald Peffer and recorded c1929 - Alle; Post Dies Octo LU810 - Alle; Adorabo LU1251b - Anti; Alma Redemptoris LU277 - Anti; Ave Regina caelorum LU278a - Anti; Regina caeli LU278b - Anti; Salve Regina LU279 - Paderborn Cathedral Choirboys directed by Gustav Schauerte with Paul Hebestreit organ and recorded c1929 PARNASSUS PACD 96015/16 [2 CDs 156.41] [JW]

Rarity value of this material is clear … the discs are responsibly presented and attractive. … see Full Review

Arthur Grumiaux. The Boston Recordings Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Partita No. 2 in D minor BWV 1004 – Chaconne (1720) Pietro FIOCCO (c1650-1714) Allegro Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1759-1791) Violin Sonata in G K301 [293a] (1778) Violin Sonata in E minor K304 [300c] (1778) Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Violin Sonata in G minor (1916-17) Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945) Six Romanian Dances (1915) arr. Zoltan Székeley Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Pièce en forme de Habañera (1907-08) Tzigane (1924) Arthur Grumiaux (violin) Gregory Tucker (piano) in Bach, Fiocco and Mozart Paul Ulanowsky (piano) in remainder Recorded 1951-52 PARNASSUS PACD 96028 [67.40] [JW]

Some of the most lofty and beautiful playing … I shall turn to this disc with equal excitement and pleasure. … see Full Review

The Hambourg Legacy: Mark and Michal Hambourg Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Andante spianato in E flat Op. 22 (1834) – Grande Polonaise unrecorded Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Sonata in A flat Op. 26 (1800-01) Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Andante and Variations for Two Pianos Op. 46 (1843) Fantasie in C Op. 17 (1836-38) Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune (1895) arr. Borwick Franz LISZT (1811-1886) St Francis’ Sermon to the Birds Mark Hambourg (piano) and Michal Hambourg (piano) in both Schumann works and the Liszt Recorded 1914 – 1933 (Chopin, Beethoven, Schumann Andante and Variations, Debussy) and in 1995 by Michal Hambourg alone in Liszt and Schumann’s Fantasie ARBITER 109 [75.24] [JW]

This disc honours the continuing Hambourg legacy with refinement and generosity … see Full Review

Hear Them Ring! The Bells of Christmas arr Bruce GREER Good Christian Men, Rejoice Georges BIZET arr Frances LEGGE Callahan March of the Kings (L’Arlesienne) - Paul A MCKLEEVEN ‘Twas Christmas Eve – arr Kevin MCCHESNEY The Twelve Days of Christmas arr Cynthia DOBRINSKI What child is this? arr Betty B GAREE Away in a Manger Donald E ALLURED Carols in Colour – Dale JERGENSON A Flight of Angels –
Donald E ALLURED Bellfest - arr Richard E FREY Coventry Carol arr Cynthia DOBRINSKI Ding Dong! Merrily on High arr Arthiss KLIEVER Masters in This Hall
Judy HUNNICUTT Shepherds, Watching – arr Karen Lakey BUCKWALTER In the Bleak Midwinter Gloriæ Dei Ringers/Richard K Pugsley With Patrick Clark (flute) on the last item No recording details (? 1995) GLORIÆ DEI RINGERS GDCD 019 [57.44] [JW]

Full of lithe and pleasurable novelty … see Full Review

Huberman. Concert and recital recordings - Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Concerto in D Op. 61 (1806) - Sonata No. 9 in A Op. 47 Kreutzer (1803) – First and Third movements - Bedrich SMETANA (1824-1884) From the Homeland T128 (1880) - Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland - Bronislaw Huberman (violin) with The National Orchestral Association conducted by Leon Barzin, recorded New York 1944 (Beethoven Concerto) Ignaz Friedman (piano) in the Kreutzer Sonata – previously unissued takes of the commercial recording made in London in 1930 - Boris Roubakine (piano) in Smetana and Bach, recorded c.1942 ARBITER 115 [69.06] [JW]

An endlessly fascinating, endlessly provocative violinist … admiration and excitement … see Full Review

The Complete New English Hymnal: Vol. 12 The Choir of St. Edmundsbury Cathedral/James Thomas. Organ and Assistant Choirmaster Michael Bawtree Recorded on 4-5 March 2002 in St.Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. PRIORY PRCD712 [75’25"] [JPo]

If you have a connection or deep interest in congregational church music, this disc may appeal; in other words, it is directed very much at a specialised audience. … see Full Review

Il Pastor Fido Madrigals after texts by G. Battista Guarini (1538 - 1612) Heinrich SCHÜTZ (1585 - 1672) - O primavera, gioventu de l'anno Marco da ALIANO (1582 - 1643) - Cingetemi d'intorno Sigismondo D'INDIA (1582 - 1629) - Se tu, Silvio crudel Giaches de WERT (1535 - 1596) - Udite, lagrimosi spirti d'Averno Ruggiero GIOVANELLI (1560 - 1625) - Ah dolente partita Luca MARENZIO (1553 - 1599) - Quell'augelin che canta Domenico Maria MALLI (c. 1602) - Io moro e consolato Benedetto PLLAVICINO (1551 - 1601) - Cruda Amarilli Giovanni G. GASTOLDI (1550 - 1622) - Cieco Amor non ti cred'io Stefano BERNADI (1585 - 1636) - A dolente partita Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567 - 1643) - O Mirtillo, Mirtillo anima mia Marsilio CASENTINI (1576 - 1651) - Partiti e ti consola Claudio SARACINI (1586 - 1649) - Udite, lagrimosi spiriti d'Averno Heinrich SCHÜTZ (1585 - 1672) - Selve beate Giaches de WERT (1535 - 1596) -O primavera, gioventu de l'anno Alessandro GRANDI (c.1575 - 1630) - Udite, lagrimosi spirti d'Averno Sigismondo D'INDIA (1582 - 1629) Quell'augellin che canta Luca MARENZIO (1553 - 1599) - Come'e dolce il gioire o vago Tirsi Cantus Cölln Johanna Koslowsky (Soprano) David Cordier (Countertenor) Gerd Türk (Tenor) Wilfried Jochens (Tenor) Stephan Schreckenberger (Bass) Harald Hoeren (Harpsichord) Konrad Junghänel (Artistic Director and Lute) Recorded 6^th - 9^th May 1991, Sendesaal des Deutschlandfunk, Köln DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI - BAROQUE ESPRIT 05472 77853 2 [72.28] [RH]

An interesting programme of early 17^th century Italian madrigals, cleverly linked via their common literary source, though this early recording is perhaps not one of Cantus Cölln's best … see Full Review

Italian Opera Arias - Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) La Traviata ‘Prelude’. cond. Georges Prêtre. Rigoletto, ‘Questa o quella’. Alfredo Kraus (ten) La forza del destino, ‘Pace, pace, mio dio’ Leontyne Price (sop). Rigoletto, ‘La donna e mobile’. Placido Domingo (ten). Rigoletto, ‘Caro nome’, Anna Moffo (sop). Aida, ‘Celeste Aida’. Placido Domingo (ten). Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Madama Butterfly, ‘Un bel di vedremo’. Leontyne Price (sop). La Rondine, ‘Chi il bel sogno di Doretta’. Anna Moffo (sop). La Boheme, ‘Mi chiamano mimi’. Montserrat Caballé (sop). Tosca, ‘Recondita armonia’..Jussi Bjoerling (ten) La Boheme, ‘Che gelida manina’. Richard Tucker (ten). Tosca, ‘Vissi d'arte’. Leontyne Price (sop); ‘E lucevan le stele’. Placido Domingo (ten). Gianni Schicchi, ‘O mio babbino caro’. Leontyne Price (sop) Turandot, ‘Nessun dorma’, Ben Heppner (ten). Umberto GIORDANO (1867-1948) Andrea Chenier, ‘Come un bel di maggio’. Placido Domingo (ten). Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1848) L'Elisir d'amore. ‘Una furtiva lagrima’. Placido Domingo (ten). Ruggero LEONCAVALLO (1858-1919) I Pagliacci, ‘Vesti la giubba’, Placido Domingo (ten). Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Il barbiere di siviglia, ‘Largo al factotum’ - Recorded 1957-1992. Various orchestras and conductors. Bargain price. RCA/BMG 09026 63978 2 [72.59] [RJF]

At the price this is good enough offering … an hour of its contents will give an opera lover a pleasant journey … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Janácek Quartet. The complete recordings on Deutsche Grammophon - Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) String Quartet in G major K387 - - Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) String Quartet in C major Op. 33 No. 3 The Bird Hob III; 39 - String Quartet in E flat major Op. 33 No. 2 The Joke Hob III; 38 - String Quartet in D minor Op. 76 No. 2 Fifths Hob III; 76 - Roman HOFSTETTER (1742 1815) Attrib Haydn - String Quartet in F major Op. 3 No. 5 Serenade Hob III; 17 - Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Octet in E flat major Op. 20 (with the Smetana Quartet) - Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Quartet in E minor Op. 59 No. 2 Razumovsky - Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) - Piano Quartet in F minor Op. 34 - Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Piano Quintet in A major Op. 81 - String Quartet in D minor Op. 34 - String Quartet in F major Op. 96 American - String Quartet in E flat major Op. 51 - String Quartet in A flat major Op. 105 - Bedrich SMETANA (1824-1884) String Quartet No. 1 in E minor From My Life JB 1; 105 (T 116) - Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1928) String Quartet No. 2 Intimate Letters JW VII/13 Janácek Quartet - With the Smetana Quartet in the Mendelssohn Octet and Eva Bernáthová in the Brahms and Dvořák Piano Quintets - Recorded 1956-63 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 474 010-2 [7 CDs 428.42] [JW]

Astonishingly persuasive interpreters. … a mandatory purchase for admirers of this great quartet … see Full Review

Thomas Jensen conducts Scandinavian Classics - Johan Peter Emilius HARTMANN (1805-1900) Thrymskviden: Triumphal March of the Nordic Gods (1) - Niels GADE (1817-1890) Echoes of Ossian, op. 1 (2) - Johan SVENDSEN (1840-1911) Romance, op. 26 (3) - Fini HENRIQUES (1867-1940) Voelund the Smith: Prelude (4) - Peter Erasmus LANGE-MÜLLER (1850-1926) Renaissance: Prelude (5) - Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Little Suite for Strings, op. 1 (6), Helios, overture, op. 17 (7), The Mother: March (8), Saul and David: Act 2 Prelude (9) - Jan SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Finlandia, op. 26 (10), Valse triste, op. 44/1 (11), Valse lyrique, op. 98a (12) - Finn HØFFDING (1899-1997) "It is perfectly true" – Symphonic Fantasy after Andersen (13) - Svend Erik TARP (1908-1994) Mosaik – Miniature Suite (14) - Knudåge RIISAGER (1897-1974) Little Overture for Strings (15), Concertino for Trumpet and Strings (16), Twelve by the Mail-coach, Ballet: January, May, August, October (17), Paradise of Fools – Suite (18), Two Beggar-pupils’ Songs (19), On the Occasion of – (20) - Carlo Andersen (violin) (3), George Eskdale (trumpet) (16), Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra (1, 2, 3, 18, 19, 20), Danish State Radio Orchestra (15, 16), Royal [Danish] Orchestra (6, 7, 8), Tivoli Concert Hall Orchestra (4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17)/Thomas Jensen - Recorded in Copenhagen, 8^th September 1937 (18), 7^th July 1938 (19, 20), August 31^st 1939 (3), January 31^st & February 22^nd 1941 (6), Summer 1942 (1, 2, 7, 8), July 2^nd 1942 (9, 10), 7^th-8^th September 1942 (5), 7^th & 9^th September 1942 (14), 24^th-25^th January 1945 (17), 23^rd June 1947 (11, 13), 4^th September 1947 (12), 7^th September 1948 (4), 27^th-28^th January 1949 (15, 16) DANACORD DACOCD 523-524 [2 CDs: 71’37"+72’05"] [JW]

Idiomatic and engaging and full of colour and Jensen proves himself yet again, a taut but feeling master of the native repertoire. … see Full Review

Thomas Jensen conducts the Aarhus Civic Orchestra Friedrich KUHLAU (1786-1832) Overture: William Shakespeare* Svend Erik TARP (1908-1994) The Raven, from Suite on Danish Folktunes* Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Ballet music from Le Cid* Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Serenade for Strings in e, op. 20, Salut d’Amour* C. C MØLLER (1823-1893) Aarhus Tattoo* Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune** Piotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Marche Slave, op. 31** Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Sabre Dance from Gayaneh** Bedřich SMETANA (1824-1884) Dance of the Comedians from The Bartered Bride** Johann II STRAUSS (1825-1899) Schatzwalzer, op. 418, Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, op. 214** Johann I STRAUSS (1804-1849) Radetzky March** Aarhus Civic Orchestra/Thomas Jensen Recorded in Aarhus, November 1948*, October 1956** DANACORD DACOCD 497 [73’56"] [JW]

Jensen admirers will like his unaffected directness and those interested in the orchestral byways of post-War Danish musical life will give a listen to these genial discs … see Full Review

Wilhelm KEMPFF: The Complete 1950s Concerto Recordings Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concertos: 9 in E flat K.271, 15 in B flat K.450
Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra with members of the Suisse Romande Orchestra/Karl Münchinger Recorded September 1953, Victoria Hall, Geneva Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concertos: 1 in C op. 15, 2 in B flat op. 19, 3 in c op. 37, 4 in G op. 58, 5 in E flat op. 73 – "Emperor" Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Paul van Kempen Recorded 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29 May 1953, Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin Robert SCHUMANN (1810.1856) Piano Concerto in a op. 54 London Symphony Orchestra/Joseph Krips Recorded 26-27 March 1953, Kingsway Hall, London Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto no. 1 in d op. 15 Dresden Staatskapelle/Franz Konwitschny Recorded 2-3 May 1957, Dresden Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Piano Concertos: 1 in E flat, 2 in A London Symphony Orchestra/Anatole Fistoulari Recorded June 1954, Kingsway Hall, London Wilhelm Kempff (piano), orchestras, conductors, dates and locations as above Limited Edition DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON DG 474 024-2 [5 CDs: 58:04, 66:34, 74:22, 78:53, 73:15] [CH]

Those interested in the history of piano-playing in the post-war period will find some indispensable – even revelatory – items here. … see Full Review

Leonid Kogan (violin): Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1732 – 1809) Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 (1806) - Johann Sebastian BACH (1685 – 1750) Sarabande from Partita for Solo Violin in D Major BWV 1004. - Claude DEBUSSY (1862 – 1918) Beau Soir (1880) - George Frederic HANDEL (1685 – 1759) Violin Sonata in E major, HWV373 - Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906 – 1975) 24 Preludes Op. 34, Nos. 10, 15, 16, and 24 (1932) - Jean-Marie LECLAIR (1697 – 1764) Sonata for 2 Violins in C major, Op. 3, No.3 (1730) - Johannes BRAHMS (1833 – 1897) Hungarian Dance No. 17 in F# Minor (1869) - Nicolo PAGANINI (1782 – 1840) Cantabile (1823) - Manuel de FALLA (1876 – 1946) Suite populare espagnole (1914) Leonid Kogan (violin) with Orchestre National de l’ORTF/ Louis de Froment (Beethoven) - With Andrei Mytnik, piano, (Handel, Debussy and Shostakovitch) with Elizaveta Gilels-Kogan (Leclair) and Naum Walter piano, (Brahms, Paganini and Falla) - All recorded in Paris on 12^th March 1966 (Beethoven and Bach), 26^th March 1962 (Handel, Debussy and Shostakovich), 21^st November 1963 (Leclair), and 1968 (Brahms, Paganini and Falla). (DVD). EMI CLASSICS 7243 4 92834 9 [96.02] [JP]

Great repose and beauty … see Full Review

LOOKING ON DARKNESS - Bent SØRENSEN (born 1958) Looking on Darkness (2000) - Per Magnus LINDBORG (born 1968) Bombastic SonoSofisms - Maja Solveig Kjelstrup RATKJE (born 1973) Gagaku Variations^a - Magnus LINDBERG (born 1958) Jeux d’Anches (1990/1) - Asbjørn SCHAATHUN (born 1961) Lament Frode Haltli (accordion); Vertavo String Quartet^a - Recorded: Sofienberg Kirke, Oslo, August 2001 ECM New Series 1794 (472 187-2) [60:28] [HC]

Not for the faint-hearted, maybe, but well worth the effort. … see Full Review

The Very Best of Victoria de LOS ANGELES (soprano) b. 1923 - CD1: Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Gianni Schicchi, ‘O mio babbino caro’ - Madama Butterfly, ‘Un bel di vedremo’ - La Boheme, ‘Sí Mi chiamano Mimi’. (mono) - Suor Angelica, ‘Senza mamma’ - Pietro MASCAGNI (1863-1945) Cavalleria rusticana, ‘Voi lo sapete, o mamma’. (mono) - Ruggero LEONCAVALLO (1858-1919) Pagliacci, ‘Hui! Stridono lassú’.(mono) - Alfredo CATALANI (1854-1893) La Wally, ‘Ebben? Ne andro lontana’. (mono) - Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) La Cenerentola, ‘Necqui all'affano ..., Non più mesto’. (mono) - Il barbiere di Siviglia, ‘Una voce poco fa’ - Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) La Traviata, ‘É strano!…Ah, fors’ é lui ... Sempra libera’ - Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Le nozze di Figaro, ‘Porgi, amor’. (mono) - Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Tannhäuser, ‘Dich, teure Halle’ (mono) - Lohengrin, ‘Einsam in truben Tagen’ (mono) - Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Manon, ‘Adieu notre petite table’. (mono) - Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893) Faust, ‘Ah! Je ris’ - Georges BIZET (1838-1875) Carmen, ‘L’amour est un rebelle’ (Habanera) - CD2: Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) ‘Auf Flugeln des Gesenges’ - Edvard GRIEG (1843-1897) ‘Ich Ifebe dich’ - Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) ‘Wiegenlied’ - Leo DELIBES (1836-1891) ‘Les filles de Cadiz’ - Xavier MONTSALVATGE (1912-2002) ‘Cinco canciones negra’ - Manuel De FALLA (1880-1942) El amor brujo, ‘Cancions del amor dolido’ and ‘fatuo’ - Joseph CANTELOUBE (1879-1957) Chants d'Auvergne; ‘La pastoura’, ‘Bailero’, ‘Chut, chut’, ‘Uno jionto’ - George Frederic HANDEL (1685-1759) Joshua, ‘Oh! Had I Jubal’s lyre’ - Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) ‘An die Musik’ - Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) ‘Vergebliches Ständchen’ - Henri DUPARC (1848-1933) ‘L’invitation au voyage’ - Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Shéherazade: ‘La Flute enchantée’; ‘Chants populaires’ - Joaquin VALVERDE (1846-1910) ‘Clavelitos!’ - Joaquin NIN (1879-1949) ‘Malaquena’. ‘Granadina’ - Tomás BARRERA (1870-1938) and Rafael CALLEJA (1874-1938) ‘Adios, Granada’ - Gerónimo GIMENEZ (1854-1923) La Tempranica, ‘Zapateado’ Various orchestras and conductors. Recorded between 1950 and 1973 - Bargain price EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 75888 2 [2CDs: 78.34+75.57] [RJF]

A bit of a ‘curates egg’, but there is enough here to satisfy fans and interest others with perhaps less awareness of this singer and her considerable artistry. … 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-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L]  [Part 7 Misc M-Z]
Revolving notes from clipart.com

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