MusicWeb reviewers select their Recordings of the Year
Reviewers were allowed a totally free choice. They were not restricted
to discs they had reviewed.
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MusicWeb CD
of the YEAR |
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Arnold
BAX (1883-1953)
The Seven Symphonies (1921-1939) Rogue's
Comedy Overture (1936) [9:59] (dedicated to Julius
Harrison) premiere recording 2 Tintagel (1917-19)
[15:13] (dedicated to Miss Harriet Cohen) Interview with
Vernon Handley by Andrew McGregor _files/smallredball.gif)
BBC Philharmonic/Vernon Handley
CHANDOS CHAN 10122 [5CDs: 74:03+77:24+73:41+69:37+60:43]
There were rumours
- there had always been rumours, but finally it seemed the
unbelievable was indeed true that Chandos were embarking
on another complete Bax symphony cycle conducted by Vernon
Handley. Then there were further rumours that, following
the start of the Lloyd-Jones, Naxos, super-budget cycle,
it was no longer thought to be economically viable. And
then, against the odds, and in time for the fiftieth anniversary
of the composer's death, the complete cycle emerged, bathed
in the glorious sunlight of adulatory reviews. We have three
of these for you by Richard
Adams, creator of the Arnold Bax website, Rob
Barnett and Graham
Parlett. Also available is a session
report from Richard Adams. At mid-price this just has
to be in everyone's Christmas Stocking. LM
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CLASSICAL EDITOR
Rob Barnett's CD of the YEAR |
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Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959)
Symphony
No. 4 H305 (1945) [32.07] Tre Ricercari H267 (1938)
[14.05] Piano Concerto No. 4 Incantations H358 (1956)
[18.59]
Josef Páleniček (piano) Brno State Philharmonic Orchestra/Jiři
Pinkas (concerto)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Martin Turnovsky (Symphony;
Tre Ricercari) rec. ADD 1967, 1968
WARNER CLASSICS APEX 0927 49822 2 [65.17]
Turnovsky's Martinů
4 has always commanded a loyal following ... and with good
reason. One of the most luminous, rhythmically alive, optimistic,
mordant, purposeful and celebratory pieces of the twentieth
century. Turnovsky directs a performance that is headlong,
maybe a little splashy on occasions, but radiantly sanguine
and yea-saying. The exuberance of the amber-toned horns
in the last five minutes is an unalloyed joy RB
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Steve Arloff |
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Ethyl
SMYTH (1858-1944) String Quartet in E Minor:
Allegretto lirico [12:10]; Allegro molto leggiero [5:48];
Andante [12:51]; Allegro energico [10:26]
Amy Marcey BEACH (1867-1944)
Quartet in one movement [14:57]: Grave - Piu animato - Allegro
molto - Grave Susan SPAIN-DUNK
(1880-1962) Phantasy Quartet in D Minor [13:11]:
Allegro con fuoco - Andante moderato – Allegro con
fuoco –Piu tranquillo
Archaeus Quartet: Anne Hooley: Violin, Bridget Davey:
Violin, Elizabeth Turnbull: Viola, Martin Thomas: Cello
Recording location and dates not given.
LONTANO RECORDS LORELT LNT 114 [69:23]
These three works are superb
examples of chamber music at its best and show the composers
as equals of anyone writing at the time. The music is beautifully
constructed, wonderfully tuneful and excellently played,
with committed performances that help make the disc a real
discovery. It shames those record companies that seem to
ignore the fact that throughout history there have been
many women composers whose music demands to be better known
than it is. This disc is a superlative example of that.
SA
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Terry Barfoot |
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Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Vier Zigeunerlieder, Opus 112 Nos. 3-8 (1891);
Rosmarin, Opus 62 No. 1 (1874); O süsser Mai,
Opus 93 No. 3 (1884); In stiller Nacht (Deutsche
Volkslieder No. 8) ; Quartette, Opus 112 Nos.
1-2 (1891); Funf Gesänge, Opus 104 (1888); Gesänge
fur Frauenchor 2 horns, & harp, Opus 17 (1860) ;
All meine Herzgedanken, Opus 62 No. 5 (1874);
Waldesnacht, Opus 62 No. 3 (1874) ; Abschiedlied
(Deutsche Volkslieder No. 9); Quartette,
Opus 92 (1884)
Trinitatis Kantori, Per Enevold (conductor)
Ellen Refstrup (piano), Susanne Skov & Irene Lewis (horns),
Sofie Guillois (harp) Recorded 2001-2, Songenfri Kirke,
Virum
Classico ClassCD 438 (68.42)
This
imaginatively compiled collection explores some really interesting
byways of the Brahms catalogue, but it is not all that it
seems. The issue is that much of the music cannot in truth
be called 'profane choral works', as the title details tell
us. There are the delightful Gesänge for women's chorus,
with two horns and harp, and other pieces for mixed voices,
but the remaining items are better described as profane
vocal chamber works. Having made the point there is no need
to labour it, however, since the repertoire featured remains
of the highest quality, though little known, while the performances
are of the highest calibre.
There are full texts and translations in the well produced
booklet, though some of them are rendered difficult to read
by the choice of grey shading on half the paper (what purpose
does this serve?). The individual items taken from
larger collections complete an interesting and varied
collection. With good, well-balanced sound, these performances
make up an unusual and distinctive programme that serves
this great composer well.TB
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Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Overture (1826) & Incidental
Music (1843) ; Overture: Ruy Blas (1839)
Rebecca Evans (soprano) Juyce di Donato (mezzo soprano)
The Oxford & Cambridge Theatre Company Le Jeune Choeur
de Paris Ensemble Orchestral de Paris John
Nelson Rec 13-16 December 2001, Orchestre National d'Ile
de France, Alfortville
Virgin Classics 7243 5 45532 [77.12]
Mendelssohn
followed the trend of many of his contemporaries - Liszt
and Berlioz, for instance - by responding to the creative
possibilities offered by literary and pictorial sources.
The Overture was therefore an important type of composition
for him, gaining an independence away from the context of
preceding an opera or other stage work.
Mendelssohn was commissioned to write the music for Ruy
Blas in 1839, in connection with a Leipzig production of
the play. This typical Hugo tragedy, with passionate emotions
and irreconcilable conflicts, was 'cordially disliked' by
the composer; but that did not prevent him from creating
one of his most stirring and effective orchestral works,
whose stature is apparent from the initial sonorous chorale
statement, setting the tone for the whole. This dramatic
rendition completes this most appealing new issue, a splendid
addition to the catalogue.TB
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Einojuhani RAUTAVAARA (born
1928) Symphony No. 7 'Angel
of Light (1994); Angels and Visitations (1978)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Hannu KoivulaRecorded 6-7 April 2001, Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow
Naxos 8.555814 [56.02]
Rautavaara
is one of the most imaginative and distinctive of living
composers. His range is exceptionally wide: the distinguished
Finnish musicologist Kimmo Korhonen has described him as
'at once romantic and intellectual, mystical and constructivist'.
His creative life has developed through a great many stages
stylistically, allowing to include different elements and
features within individual works. In this sense he
is a true 'post-modernist' not restricted to a narrowly-defined
expressive or technical approach. As he has matured
so this process has gained in significance; certainly since
the 1970s Rautavaara has consciously been creating a synthesis
of various stylistic influences.
Both
pieces featured here are substantial compositions, playing
for 35 and 20 minutes respectively. This is the first performance
to come from an orchestra outside Finland and the first
to come at bargain price.
The expressive range is wide, with some impressive music
for brass and percussion as well as passages atmospherically
relying upon the strings. With splendid playing and good
recorded sound, this can receive a confident recommendation.
TB
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Rob Barnett |
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Arnold
BAX (1883-1953) Symphony No. 6 (1934); Into the
Twilight (1908);Summer Music (1920)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones; rec.
2002, Glasgow DDD
NAXOS
8.557144 [57.46]
A
most beautiful piece slashed and ravaged into an emotionally
cogent and superbly gripping piece of music-making. Has
British music ever produced a moment more shockingly visceral
than the elemental heaven-clawing triumph instantly crumbling
to dust in the finale? Make no mistake this is outstanding
Bax a violent and sensuous reading. RB
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Joseph
MARX
(1882-1964) Natur-Trilogie
(1922-5):-1. Ein Symphonische Nachtmusik (1922);2. Idylle
- Concertino über die pastorale Quart (1925);3. Eine Frühlingsmusik
(1925)
Bochum SO/Steven Sloane rec. Maximilianpark, Hamm, Germany,
11-15 June 2002. DDD
Complete Orchestral Music: Volume 1. ASV CD DCA 1137
[64.19]
Unambiguously
the work of a nature ecstatic. The music is discursively
rhapsodic, sunny, bold, soused in melody and eloquent with
the voices of nature. An impressionistic South German voice
soaked in the quintessence of lyrical expression. RB
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Samuel BARBER (1910-81) Symphony
No. 1 Op. 9 (1936); Essay No. 1 Op. 12 (1938); Essay
No. 2 Op. 17 (1942) ;Night Flight Op. 19a (1944);
Music for a Scene from Shelley Op. 7 (1933);Knoxville;
Summer of 1915 (1948)
Molly McGurk (sop) (Knoxville)
London Symphony
Orchestra/David Measham (Symphony; Essays;
Night Flight)
West Australian Symphony Orchestra/David Measham (Knoxville;
Shelley) rec. 1973. ADD
REGIS RRC
1139 [78.04]
A smashing
Barber orchestral collection in which the superheated radiance
of the orchestral works of the 1930s and 1940s contrasts
with the distilled nostalgia of Knoxville, his most
penetratingly poignant and moving work. RB
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Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Symphony No. 6 (1923);Symphony No. 7 (1924); Tapiola
(1926)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sakari Oramo rec.
Birmingham Symphony Hall, 6-8 Jan 2003
WARNER ERATO 0927 49144 2 [64.22]
Driven,
heated, impetuous and passionate in a way I do not recall
hearing before in the Sixth. Oramo might almost be another
Mravinsky in the belligerent impetus with which he infuses
and sets fire to Sibelius's pages. Any Sibelian must hear
this version. Tapiola: the opening pages are soaked
with accelerant and goaded forward in a way you may find
startling. You might think such 'impatience' would damage
the music. Not at all. If you like your Sibelius served
ablaze rather than cool then Oramo is certainly the man
for you. Magnificent. RB
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Georgy SVIRIDOV (1915-1998)
Oratorio Pathétique (1959) Valery
GAVRILIN (1939-1999) A House on the Road -
symphonic suite on the poem by A. Tvardovsky
Raisa Kotova (mezzo) Alexandr Vedernikov (bass) Grand Choir
of USSR Radio and Television Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra
of Moscow Radio/Vladimir Fedoseyev rec. live concert recordings,
1979 (oratorio), 1985 (suite) ADD Recordings from Russian
State Foundation of Radio and Television
RELIEF CR991053 [65.05]
Two
monuments of Soviet music. Gavrilin, intensely melodic
and as represented here occupies a long lyric tradition
which in modern times has also surfaced in symphonies by
Boiko and Silvestrov and stretches back to the grand tableaux
of Tchaikovsky's three symphonic ballets. Sviridov
Oratorio Pathétique - Vedernikov stands at
the hub, orator, stentor, goader of the people, defiant,
courageous, rallying and florid. The very embodiment of
the Russian bass. He veers consummately between sung heroism
and bellowing, hectoring magnificence. Breathtakingly stirring
music with many subtle and instrumentally acute gestures.
Sviridov - a man at peace with the affecting emotional language
of the lyrical singers in Russia's artistic history. RB
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Colin Clarke |
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Franz
Peter SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Lieder with Orchestra:
Rosamunde – Romanze, D797 No. 3 (1823) [3’17]. Die
Forelle, D550(orch. Britten) [2’21]. Ellens Zweiter
Gesang, D838 (orch. Brahms) [3’07]. Gretchen am
Spinnrade, D118 (arr. Reger) [3’26]. An Silvia,
D891 (orch. anon) [2’59]. Im Abendrot, D799 [3’45].
Nacht und Träume, D827 [3’44]. Gruppe aus Tartarus,
D583 [3’04] (all arr. Reger). Erlkönig, D328(arr.
Berlioz) [4’02]. Die junge Nonne, D828 [4’45] (arr.
Liszt). Die schöne Müllerin, D795 – No. 10, Tränenregen.
Die Winterreise, D911 – No. 20, Der Wegweiser. Du bist
die Ruh’, D776. Schwanengesang, D957 – No. 9,
Ihr Bild (all arr. Webern). Prometheus, D674(arr.
Reger). Memnon, D541. An Schwager Kronos,
D369 (both arr. Brahms). An die Musik, D547. Erlkönig,
D328 (both arr. Reger). Geheimes, D719
(arr. Brahms). Schwanengesang, D957 – No. 4, Stänchen
(arr. Offenbach).
Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo); Thomas Quasthoff
(bass-baritone) Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Claudio
Abbado. Rec. live, Grand Salle, Cité de la musique, Paris,
in May 2002. DDD
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 471 586
A fascinating disc
of a clutch of major composers having their say on a selection
of Schubert songs. The concept could hardly have had better
advocates - both Otter and Quasthoff emerge triumphant.
Rewarding listening.
CC
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Ervín
SCHULHOFF (1894-1942) Hot Music: Suite dansante
en jazz, WV98 (1931) [13’24]. Piano Suite No. 1, WV69
(1924) [13’02]. Cinq Etudes de jazz, WV81 (1926)
[12’06]. Second Suite, WV71 (1924) [9’34]. Elf Inventionen,
WV57 (1921) [16’57]. Hot Music: Zehn synkopierte Etüden,
WV92 (1928) [10’53].
Kathryn Stott (piano) Rec. Nybrokajen 11, Stockholm, Sweden
in June 2001 DDD
BIS CD1249 [79’40].
Kathryn Stott proves a staunch
advocate of the music of Ervin Schulhoff. The music on this
disc, though exhibiting a variety of influences from Bach
to ragtime, show Schulhoff as having a compelling voice
of his own. CC
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Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Etudes-tableaux (1911-16):
Op. 39 – No. 1 in C minor [3’12]; No. 2 in A minor [7’08];
Op. 33 – No. 2 in C minor [2’25]; No. 6 in E flat minor
[1’46]; No. 9 in C sharp minor [3’00]. Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Sonatine (1903-5) [11’16].
Miroirs (1904-5) [28’28].
Lise de la Salle (piano) Rec. Studio Tibor Varga, Sion,
Switzerland, in September 2002. DDD NAÏVE
V4936 [57’12]
De la Salle turns in playing
beyond her tender years in a superb recital of Rachmaninov
and Ravel. Any small reservations I may have are banished
by the sheer potential of this young lady. CC
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Michael Cookson |
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Frank
BRIDGE (1879-1941) String Quartet No. 1 (1906)
[29.01] String Quartet No. 3 (1926) [30.35]
Maggini Quartet rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, England, 18-20
June 2002
NAXOS 8.557133 [59.35]
The
Magginis have plundered some more treasures from the vaults
of early twentieth century British chamber music with this
Naxos release of the first and third quartets of Frank Bridge.
Increasingly Bridge is being performed and recorded as a
composer in his own right as opposed to being the teacher
that Benjamin Britten famously visited at Friston, in Sussex
for private composition lessons.
All four string quartets that Bridge produced
are well regarded and closely trace his development as a
composer. The first quartet from 1906 is a dark, late-romantic
work but not written in the pastoral style associated with
the quartets of his contemporaries, as one might expect
such as Howells, Delius and Vaughan Williams. By contrast
the third quartet of 1925-26 sees Bridge progressing to
a harmonic idiom approaching that of Bella Bartok and Alban
Berg.
The
Magginis go from strength to strength and are in pristine
form displaying an equality of engagement with a real unity
of performance. Another sure-fire winner from the champion
Naxos stable and my CD of the year.
MC
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Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Pellegrina’s Delight: Sonatas
and chamber music for oboe Sonata in C minor for oboe
and basso continuo (harpsichord and cello) RV 53 (c. 1716-17)
Sonata in C major for violin, oboe, obbligato organ and
bassoon RV 779 (c. 1708) Sonata in G minor for oboe and
basso continuo (harpsichord and bassoon) RV 28 Trio sonata
in E minor Op. 1 No. 2, for oboe, violin and basso continuo
(harpsichord and cello) RV 67 (c. 1705) Concerto in C minor
for oboe, violin and bassoon with basso continuo (organ
and violone) RV 106 (c.1720) Sonata in B flat major for
oboe and basso continuo (harpsichord and bassoon) RV 34
Sonata in C minor for oboe, violin, bassoon and basso continuo
(harpsichord and violone) RV 801 (c.1715-20)
Gail Hennessey (baroque oboe) Nicholas Parle (harpsichord
and organ) Rodolfo Richter (violin) Sally Holman (bassoon)
Katherine Sharman (cello) Peter McCarthy (violone) Rec.
St. Andrew’s Church, Toddington, Gloucester, England, 19-22
November 2002 DDD
SIGNUM RECORDS SIGCD037 [75:13]
The
release ’Pellegrina’s
Delight’
is a joy from start to finish and a testament to Vivaldi’s
undoubted genius. It is good to have this wonderful disc
of Vivaldi works imaginatively themed around the oboe and
a most welcome change too from yet another version of the
ubiquitous ‘Four
Seasons‘!
What is particularly impressive in this selection
of chamber works is how Vivaldi finds a wide variety of
expression and a kaleidoscope of colours. There is a free-flowing
stream of joy and invention with the additional benefit
of memorable tunes. All the chosen works on the release
are really exceptional, however I must single out the remarkable
and appealing Sonata in C major for oboe, organ, violin
and bassoon, RV 779 for special praise. The interplay
of the quartet of instruments is impressive and Vivaldi
excels himself with the imaginative blend of variety, tone
colour and lyricism. I just love Vivaldi’s
inspired use of the baroque organ in the score that so reminded
me of a fair-ground organ.
The performance of the ensemble players using
period instruments is a delight, so intensely alive with
a feeling of the real joy of music making. Vivaldi’s
writing is superb and although the adage states that music
cannot be played better than what it is, the players almost
succeed. This is a release to savour and is my baroque record
of the year. A special recording which I recommend with
my strongest advocacy.
MC
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Georg
Phillipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Concerto for flute
in G major TWV 51: G2 Concerto for two flutes, violone,
strings and continuo TWV 53:a1 (from Tafelmusik)
Concerto for transverse flute, strings and continuo, TWV
51:D2 Concerto for flute, oboe d’amore, viola d’amore, strings
and continuo TWV 53:E1 Concerto for flute, strings and continuo
in D, TWV 51:D2
Emmanuel Pahud, flute; Rainer Kussmaul, violin and leader;
Georg Faust, cello; Wolfram Christ, viola d’amore; Klaus
Stoll, violone; Jacques Zoon, flute; Albrecht Mayer, oboe
d’amore. Berliner Barock Solisten, Rainer Kussmaul, conductor.
Recorded in 2002, with the cooperation of the Deutschland
Radio. DDD
EMI CLASSICS 57397 [66:26]
Telemann
composed these five inventive and endearing flute concertos
for varied and colourful instrumental combinations namely
the violone, cello, violin, oboe d’amore, viola d’amore
and a second flute.
Emmanuel Pahud’s exceptional flute playing
is of a standard so elevated that I would not have thought
possible to achieve but never in a way that detracts from
Telemann’s intensions. Interestingly the soloist chooses
to play a modern flute which is in contrast to the period
instruments played by the Berlin Baroque Soloists
The
release of late-baroque concertos is spellbinding and will
win Telemann and Emmanuel Pahud in particular many admirers.
MC
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La
Belle Homicide - Manuscript Barbe Ennemond
GAULTIER ‘le vieux’ (1577-1651) Prelude
in D minor Canarie in D minor L’Immortelle
in D minor Carillon in D minor La Poste in
D minor Prelude in A minor Tombeau de Mezangeau
in D minor Rene MEZANGEAU
(c. 1680- c.1738) Sarabande in D minor Francois
DEFAUT (1604-1672) La Superbe in D minor
Denis GAULTIER ‘de Paris’ (1603-1672)
La belle homicide in A minor La douce in
E minor Jacques GALLOT (details
unknown) La Montespan in A minor La Psyche
in A minor Les castagnettes in A minor Dialogue
in C minor La Lucrece in F sharp minor
Charles MOUTON (1678- c.1700) La Princesse
in A major La Malassise in F sharp minor Gavotte
in F sharp minor Le Mouton in F sharp minor Chaconne
in G minor Le Perier in G minor Depart/Double
in F sharp minor Nicholas
DEBUT (1678-c.1692) Sarabande in C major
Rolf Lislevand (Lute) Recorded in April 2003 in Maguelone
Abbey, Palavas les Flots, France DDD
ASTRÉE NAÏVE E 8880 [62:27]
Award
wining soloist Rolf Lislevand using a eleven-course baroque
lute gives a revelatory recital of unaccompanied seventeenth
century French lute music on the Astree Naïve label. Lislevand
states in the booklet notes that probably never since the
period when this lute music was written has such beautiful
music been performed by so few people. His sentiments are
pretty accurate and I cannot understand why such wonderful
music has been ignored for so long.
The
lute playing is exceptionally fluent and the phrasing is
perfectly judged with a sense of real involvement and empathy
for the works. Through Rolf Lislevand’s amazing playing
of these excellent compositions and near perfect acoustics
this release was a revelation to me and touched my emotions
in a most unique way leaving me with a remarkable sense
of spirituality that I have never previously experienced
with any recording.
The
sound quality is in demonstration class and I could easily
imagine being alongside the lutenist during the actual night
recording session. I urge listeners who wouldn’t normally
purchase a recital of lute works to hear this superlative
recording.
MC
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Robert Farr |
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Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Inessa GALANTE (soprano) -
Arias from Verdi’s late operas Un ballo in Maschera,
‘Ma dall’ arido stelo divulsa’. ‘Morro, ma prima in grazia’;
La forza del destino, ‘La Vergine degli angeli’.
‘Pace, pace mio Dio’; Aida, ‘Ritorna vincitor’.
‘O patria mia’; Don Carlo, ‘Tu che le vanitá’;
Otello, ‘Piangea cantando’.. ‘Salce, salce’
(Willow Song) ‘Ave Maria’; Falstaff, ‘Sul
fil d’un soffio etesio’ ; Requiem, ‘Libera
me’
Choir of the Stockholm School Riga Latvian National Symphony
Orchestra/Terje Mikkelsen Recorded in January 2003 at Riga
Recording Studio Latvia
CAMPION RRCD 1349 [72.52min]
New
opera recordings are rare these days and those I have reviewed,
including Naxos’ ‘Don Carlos’ and ‘Turandot’ as well as
EMIs ‘Carmen’ and ‘La Gioconda’ have not displaced, or even
threatened, established favourites. However, in respect
of re-issues, often at very competitive prices, the situation
has been very different. I particularly enjoyed a number
of Russian operas on the ‘Relief’ label in their
‘Silver Edition’, particularly Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘May Night’
(CR
991044) and Dargomyzhsky’s ‘Russalka’ (CR 991059) each
on two CDs.
Both
of these Russian Radio Recordings or well recorded and performed
under Fedoseyev’s idiomatic baton and are new to the UK
catalogue filling major gaps therein. However, my favourite
re-issue is of Mark Obert-Thorn’s magic remastering of Verdi’s
‘Il Trovatore’ with Björling
as the eponymous hero and Zinka Milanov as Leonore (Naxos
8.110240-41).
Verdi singing of this quality is too rare these days and
I celebrated when I found it on my disc of the year;
Inessa Galante singing ‘Late Verdi Arias’ (Campion
RRCD
1349). She is due to sing Aida with Scottish Opera
in December. If you can get there then go, I haven’t heard
Verdi singing of this vibrancy and quality since Milanov’s
early1950s peak.
RJF
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Tony Haywood |
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Alban
BERG (1885-1935) Wozzeck (1925):
Opera in three acts (fifteen scenes), Op.7, libretto by
Alban Berg, after Georg Büchner’s play Woyzeck
Wozzeck (baritone) – Andrew Shore, Marie (soprano)
– Josephine Barstow, Drum Major (tenor) – Alan
Woodrow, Andres (tenor) – Peter Bronder, Captain
(tenor) – Stuart Kale, Doctor (bass) – Clive Bayley,
Idiot (tenor) – John Graham-Hall -Margret
(mezzo) – Jean Rigby, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir,Philharmonia
Orchestra/Paul Daniel. Recorded at Watford Colosseum, 14-18
July, 2002 DDD Opera in English series
CHANDOS CHAN 3094(2) [2CDs: 34’00+57’43]
Just when
you thought you knew an opera well, there comes along a
version to make you listen afresh. The obvious reason here
is the translation, earthy, direct, yet sensitive to the
subtleties inherent in the original. But it is also the
performers, from Andrew Shore’s pathetic anti-hero, Josephine
Barstow’s mature yet poignant Marie to Paul Daniel, whose
full-blooded, passionately intense reading of the score
places the opera firmly in the romantic tradition. Unmissable.
TH
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Georges
BIZET (1838-1875) Carmen, Opera
in Four Acts (1873-75) Libretto by Meilhac and Halévy, after
Mérimée Carmen (mezzo) – Anne Sofie von Otter,Don
José (tenor) – Marcus Haddock, Escamillo (baritone)
– Laurent Naouri, Micaëla (soprano) – Lisa Milne,
Zuniga (bass) – Jonathan Best, Mercédès (mezzo)
– Christine Rice, Moralès (baritone) – Hans Voschezang
Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra/Philippe
Jordan Directed for the stage by David McVicar Directed
for television by Sue Judd Recorded live at Glyndebourne
Opera House, Sussex, England, 17 August, 2002
BBC OPUS ARTE OA 0867 D 
[2 Discs: 220 mins]
This thrilling production
gets right to the heart of Bizet’s famous tragedy, dusting
down many cobwebs along the way. The flamboyant young Philippe
Jordan’s brisk, energetic conducting ensures a high-octane
orchestral contribution that is enjoyable in its own right.
Couple this with a smouldering, beautifully sung central
performance from the one-time queen of cool, Anne Sophie
von Otter, an intelligent, character-led staging (with superb
costume design) and you have a real Carmen for our times.
TH
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Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Ein Heldenleben, Op.40
(1899) [46’51] Metamorphosen for 23 solo strings
(1945) [27’53] WDR
Symphony Orchestra, Cologne/Semyon Bychkov Recorded in the
Philharmonie, Cologne, Jan. 2001 (Heldenleben) and Studio
Stolberger Strasse, Cologne, Feb. 2001 (Metamorphosen) DDD
AVIE
AV 0017 [74’44]
This
disc was as much a surprise to me as the other reviewers
who praised it to the hilt. It’s not that I didn’t trust
Bychkov with the music; it’s more that I didn’t expect such
superb playing (rivalling any of the great orchestras) or
quite such a revealing sense of the re-examining of old
favourites. These much-loved warhorses, effectively book-ending
the composer’s career, are given readings that thrill and
move in equal measure. Bychkov refuses to play to the gallery,
yet is able to juxtapose the swagger of the early piece
with the sense of loss and resignation at the heart of the
later work. TH
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Neil Horner |
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Celtic
Magic - Chamber music and songs by Peter Crossley-Holland
and his circle Peter CROSSLEY-HOLLAND
(1916-2001) The Nightingales (1945)
* ³ Ode to Mananan (1999) ¹ ³ The Weather the Cuckoo Likes;
The Piper (1945) * ³ Two Songs (1996) * ¹ ³ Lullaby (1943/2001)
³ ° Trio (1940) ¹ ² +
Twilight it is (1944) * ³ John
MANDUELL (b. 1928) "C-H" Recitative
and Aria (2002) ° + Edmund
RUBBRA (1901-1986) Oboe Sonata in C, Op. 100
(1958) ² ³ Julius HARRISON
(1885-1963) Philomel (1938); I Know a Bank (1928) *
³ John IRELAND (1879-1962)
The Holy Boy (1919) ³ ° David
COX (1916-1997) The Magical Island (1996) * ¹
³ Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Six Metamorphoses after Ovid, Op. 49 (1951) ²
Lesley-Jane Richards, soprano * John Turner, recorder ¹
Richard Simpson, oboe ² Keith Swallow, piano ³ Richard Howarth,
violin° Tom Dunn, viola +
Recorded at Manchester University Department of Music, 28th
and 29th August 2002.
CAMPION CAMEO 2026 [79.26]
The title
says it all - a wonderfully revelatory disc of Celtic-inspired
music. Recorderist John Turner takes no prisoners yet again!
Superb!
NH
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Carlos
NUÑEZ Un Galicien en
Bretagne Tro Breizh
, Noite Pecha ¹ Gavotte-Pandeirada ¹ Une Autre Fin de Terre
² Karante Doh Doue 4 Polka de Karnoëd An Hini
A Garan ³ º The Three Pipers Saint Patrick's An Dro Yann
Derrien ª Bretoña Un Galicien Libre à Paris ² Ponthus et
Sidoine *
Carlos Nuñez and his band with:- Alan Stivell,
Celtic harp, voice ¹ Jordi Savall, viola de gamba * Dan
Ar Braz, electric guitar ² Gilles Servat, voice ³ Bleunwenn,
voice º Eimear Quinn, voice ª Les Kanerion Pleuigner (Morbihan),
male voice choir 4 Recorded in Galicia, Brittany,
Catalonia and Ireland, dates not given).
SONY/SAINT GEORGE 5110222 [46.16]
A truly
happy and fruitful collision of Breton and Galician music
with Jordi Savall adding his considerable talents to proceedings.
NH
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Hayren:
music of Tigran Mansurian and Komitas Tigran
MANSURIAN (b. 1939) Havik (1998) Duet for Viola
and Percussion (1998) KOMITAS
(1869-1935) (adapted by MANSURIAN) Garun a, Krunk
(3 versions), Chinar es, Hov arek, Hoy, Nazan, Tsirani tsar
Oror (2 versions) Antuni
Kim Kashkashian, viola Robyn Schulkowsky, percussion
Tigran Mansurian, piano, voice Recorded at Teldec Studio,
Berlin, May 2000.
ECM NEW SERIES 1754 461831-2 [54.25]
There have been at least two subsequent discs featuring
the music of Armenian composer/poet/priest Komitas - Eicher's
ECM gets there first yet again. Brilliant. NH
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Christopher Howell |
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Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Mayrhofer-Lieder, Vol. 2
Am See (second version) D124, Augenlied D297, Liane D298,
Abendlied der Fürstin D495, Sehnsucht D516, Schlaflied
(Schlummerlied) (first version) D527, Am Strome D539, Uraniens
Flucht D554, Iphegenia (second version) D573, Atys D585,
Erlafsee D586, Beim Winde D669, Die Sternennächte D670,
Abendstern D806, Auflösung D807
Christiane Iven (mezzo-soprano), Burkhard Kehring (piano)
Recorded 8th-10th April and 22nd-23rd May 2002 in Studio
2, Bavarian Radio, Munich, Germany Deutsche Schubert Lied
Edition 12
NAXOS 8.554739 [60:05]
A little known but outstanding
Lieder singer and a fine pianist make an exceptional contribution
to Naxos's ongoing Schubert series. The programme itself
contains some rare gems. CKH
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Songs
In Season Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Frühlingslied, op. 34/3
Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907)
Våren, op. 33/2 Ottorino
RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Il
giardino Staffan STORM
(b. 1964) Ur "Våren på Djurgården"
- Solomadrigal Aaron COPLAND
(1900-1990)
Nature, the Gentlest Mother, No. 1 Charles
KOECHLIN (1867-1950) L’été
Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911)
Ablösung in Sommer
Hans GEFORS (b. 1952) Förra
sommorn Franz SCHREKER
(1878-1934) Sie sind so schön Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845-1924) Automne, op. 18/3
Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Es rauschen die Winde Gerald
FINZI (1901-1956) Before and after Summer,
op. 16/2 Jan SIBELIUS
(1865-1957) Arioso, op. 3 Piotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Winter Evening,
op. 54/7 Thomas JENNEFELT
(b. 1954) Isarna Malena
Ernman (mezzo-soprano), Francisca Skoogh (piano) Recorded
8-11 January 2002, Studio 2, Sveriges Radio, Stockholm,
Sweden
NYTORP MUSIK NYTORP6 [56:10]
A super singer who brings
everything she does to life. The varied and fascinating
selection includes some songs written specially for her,
but she is equally outstanding in Mendelssohn and Mahler.CKH
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George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Arias
for mezzo soprano Rinaldo: Or la tromba, Cara
sposa, Venti, turbini, Cor ingrato, Lascia ch’io pianga,
Serse: Frondi tenere – Ombra mai fu; Partenope: Furibondo
spira il vento; Agrippina: Bel piacere; Orlando: Fammi combattere
Marilyn Horne (mezzo soprano), I solisti Veneti/Claudio
Scimone Recorded at the Villa Simes, Piazzola, Italy, April
1982
APEX 2564 60519-2 [43:59]
Authentic or not (most of
these were originally castrato pieces), if you want to hear
Handel's operatic writing brought vividly to life you mustn't
miss this. CKH
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Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Lieder: Der Blumenstrauß,
op.47/5, Pagenlied, Des Mädchens Klage, Die Liebende
schreibt, op.86/3, Suleika, op.34/4, Suleika, op.57/3, Reiselied,
op.34/6, Erster Verlust, op.99/1, Auf Flügeln des Gesanges,
op.34/2, Andres Maienlied (Hexenlied), op.8/8, Der Blumenkranz,
Ferne, op.9/9, Scheidend, op.9/6, Reiselied, op.19/6, Herbstlied,
op.84 [not 85 as printed on the cover and in the booklet]/2,
Venetianisches Gondellied, op.57/5, Schlafloser Augen Leuchte,
Neue Liebe, op.19/2, Der Mond, op.86/5, An die Entferne,
op.71/3, Die Sterne schau’n in stiller Nacht, op.99/2,
Frühlingslied, op.47/3, Nachtlied, op.71/6, Volkslied,
op.47/4
Nathalie Stutzmann (contralto), Dalton Baldwin (piano)Recorded
at "La Chartreuse", Villeneuve-lès-Avignon,
December 1989
WARNER ELATUS 2564-60535-2 [58:47]
Although most people know
only one of Mendelssohn's songs there are plenty more worth
hearing and Nathalie Stutzmann's rich contralto voice lends
them a substance which is not always apparent. CKH
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Johann
STRAUSS Senior (1804-1849) Johann
Strauss 1 Edition: Vol. III Es ist nur ein
Wien! (Walzer), op.22, Josephstädter-Tänze, op.23,
Hietzinger Reunion (Walzer), op.24, Frohsinn im Gebirge
(Walzer), op.26, Hirten-Galoppe, op.28, Wettrennen-Galoppe,
op.29ª, Wilhelm Tell-Galoppe, op.29b, Sperls-Feswalzer,
op.30, Des Verfassers beste Laune, op.31, Einzugs-Galopp,
op.35, 3 Ungarische Galoppe oder Frischka, op.36, Sperl-Galopp,
op.42, Contredanses, Oeuvre 44
Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina/Ernst Märzendorfer
Recorded 21st-26th June 2002 at the Fatra Concert
Hall, Žilina
MARCO POLO 8.225253 [54:14]
A notable rise in the musical
level after the first two volumes, partly because of Strauss's
growing maturity and vivid use of the orchestra, but not
least because of the wonderfully stylish conducting of the
veteran Märzendorfer. CKH
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Robert Hugill |
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Lennox
BERKELEY (1903–1989) Sacred Music
Crux Fidelis, Op. 43 No. 1 Missa Brevis, Op. 57 Magnificat
and Nunc Dimittis, Op. 99
Three Latin Motets, Op. 83 No.1 The Lord is my shepherd
Op. 91 No. 1 Mass for Five Voices, Op. 64 Look up, sweet
babe, Op. 43 No. 2 A Festival Anthem, Op. 21 No. 2 Toccata
(from Three Pieces Op. 72 No. 1) Choir
of St John’s College, Cambridge Jonathan Vaughn (organ)
Christopher Robinson (conductor) Recorded 20th, 21st, 23rd
March 2003, Chapel of St. John’s College, Cambridge
NAXOS 8.557277 [75.10]
Superb musicianship helps
shed light on a neglected area of Berkeley’soutput,
with some stunning results. RH
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Alessandro
STRADELLA (1644 – 1682) San
Giovanni Battista - Oratorio in two parts
Erodiade la Figlia – Catherine Bott (soprano)
Erodiade la Madre – Christine Batty (mezzo-soprano)
San Giovanni Battista – Gérard Lesne (alto)
Consigliero – Richard Edgar-Wilson (tenor) Erode –
Philippe Huttenlocher (bass) Les Musiciens du Louvre/Marc
Minkowski Recorded 1992 (Erato)
WARNER ELATUS 2564-60444-2 [75.54]
Brilliant performance by
Catherine Bott helps illuminate this surprisingly modern
work. RH
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Ian Lace |
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Jules
MASSENET (1842-1912) Manon (1882)
Opera in five acts Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Philippe
Gille after the novel by L’Abbé Prévost "L’Histoire
du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut" Manon
Lescaut…Renée Fleming, Le Chevalier des Grieux…Marcelo Alvarez,
Lescaut…Jean-Luc Chaignaud, Le Compte des Grieux…Alain Vernhes
Guillot de Morfontaine…Michel Sénéchal Monsieur De Brétigny…Franck
Ferrari, Pousette...Jaël Azzaretti, Javotte…Isabelle Cals
Rosette…Delphine Haidan, L’Hôtelier…Christophe Fel Orchestra
and Choirs of the Opéra National de Paris/Jesus Lopez-Cobos
Recorded at the Opéra National De Paris/Opéra Bastille,
June 2001 TDK
DVD Video DV-OPMANON [164
mins] IL
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Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-76) Violin Concerto (1938-9; revised
version from the 1950s) William
WALTON (1902-83) Viola Concerto (1961 version)
* Maxim
Vengerov (violin; viola) London Symphony Orchestra/Mstislav
Rostropovich Recorded in March and * December 2002 in Studio
1, Abbey Road, London
EMI CLASSICS 5 57510 2 [64:29] IL
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Roger
QUILTER (1877-1953) A Quilter Compendium
A Children’s Overture (1919)* Where the Rainbow Ends
– Suite (1911) + Three English Dances (1910) + Non
nobis, Domine (1934) ~ Seven Elizabethan Lyrics (1908) ?
Piano solos: Weep you no more ? (1908) The Fuchsia Tree
? (1923) Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal ? (1904) Songs: It
was a lover and his lass (1921) ?? Love’s Philosophy
(1905) ? Come away, death (1905) ¤ Now sleeps the
crimson petal (1904) ¤ O mistress mine (1905) ? Go
lovely rose ? (1922)
* Light Music Society Orchestra conducted by Sir
Vivian Dunn (rec. 1969) + Northern Sinfonia conducted by
Richard Hickox (rec.1989)
~ Finchley Choral Society, Barnet and District Choral Society,
Central Band of the RAF conducted by Wing Cdr. J.L. Wallace
(rec. 1965) ? Sir Thomas Allen (baritone) and Geoffrey Parsons
(piano) (rec. 1989) ? Dame Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano) and
Gerald Moore (piano) (rec. 1967) ? Dame Felicity Lott (soprano)
and Ann Murray (mezzo-soprano) and Graham Johnson (piano)
(rec. 1991) ¤ Ian Bostridge (tenor) and Julius Drake
(piano) (rec. 1999) ? Frederick Harvey (baritone) and Gerald
Moore (piano) and Jack Byfield(piano) (rec. 1965) ? Stephen
Hough (piano) (rec. in 1997, 1986 and 1991) Recordings
made at Abbey Road Studios, London except Seven Elizabethan
Lyrics in St Martin’s, East Woodhay, Berks; Stephen
Hough’s piano solo of Weep you no more in New Broadcasting
House, Manchester; and Now sleeps the crimson petal in the
Theresa L. Kaufman Concert Hall, New York
EMI CLASSICS 5 85149-2 [74:11]
A highly enjoyable EMI reissue
compilation of not only Quilter's most popular songs sung
by A list artists but also excellent performances of his
better-known light orchestral pieces including A Children's
Overture and his suite from Where the Rainbow Ends plus
a real find, the emotionally charged Non nobis Domine. IL
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Arnold
BAX (1883-1953)
The Seven Symphonies (1921-1939) Rogue's
Comedy Overture (1936) [9:59] (dedicated to Julius
Harrison) premiere recording 2 Tintagel (1917-19)
[15:13] (dedicated to Miss Harriet Cohen) Interview with
Vernon Handley by Andrew McGregor
BBC Philharmonic/Vernon Handley
CHANDOS CHAN 10122 [5CDs: 74:03+77:24+73:41+69:37+60:43]
Music Web's CD The Year.
The set Bax enthusiasts had waited years for does not disappoint.
Congratulations to Chandos for having the courage and vision
to release them all together. Handley's readings, virile,
strongly propelled, beauties sharply, uncloyingly etched,
more than ever demonstrate how they were concieved as a
developing saga. IL
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John Phillips |
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Ravi
SHANKAR In
Portrait Disc One – Ravi Shankar
– "Between Two Worlds"
Disc Two – Ravi Shankar – Live in
Concert, Raga Anandi Kalyan, Raga
Rangeela Piloo
Ravi
Shankar Sitar, Anoushka Shankar
Sitar, Bikram Ghosh, and Tanmoy
Bose, Tablas. Recorded July 22nd
2002 at Union Chapel, London.
BBC
OPUS ART Double DVD OA 0853 D
This is a superb production,
and should be in the collections of anyone in the least
bit interested in Indian classical music. The BBC has given
us a pair of discs, the first being a documentary of Shankar’s
life and performing history and the second gives us a live
recital in a very appropriate setting. Although the recital
was given in a church, backdrops have been created to give
a somewhat exotic set which is enhanced greatly by careful
shooting and direction by the unnamed Director.
Both audio and video quality are superb, and the BBC should
be congratulated for this release. JP
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PART TWO
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