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LATEST CD REVIEWS (last two days)

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Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Fidelio (1814) Leonore (mezzo) – Angela Denoke Florestan (tenor) – Jon Villars Don Pizarro (baritone) – Alan Held Rocco (bass) – Laszlo Polgar Marzelline (soprano) – Juliane Banse Jaquino (tenor) – Rainer Trost Don Fernando (bass-baritone) – Thomas Quasthoff Arnold Schoenberg Choir Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Simon Rattle Recorded in concert at the Philharmonie, Berlin, 25-28 April, 2003 EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 57555-2 (2CDs: 65’58+44’17) [TH]

Difficult to see this version toppling existing recommendations. … see Full Review

Giles FARNABY (c1563-1640) "Farnaby’s Dreame" For two Virginals */*** [01:14] Muscadin * [01:16] Fantasia * (M.B., No. 5) [05:06] Meridian Alman * [01:42] Mal Sims * [01:28] Alman * (M.B., No. 22) [01:02] Rosseter’s Galliard * [02:16] Wooddy-Cock * [06:09] A maske * (M.B., No. 33) [01:49] Pawles Wharfe * [02:08] The Old Spagnioletta * [00:56] Fantasia * (M.B., No. 12) [03:52] His Humour * [01:28] A Maske * (M.B., No. 31) [02:11] The King’s Hunt * [02:06] Fantasia * (M.B., No. 7) [03:46] A Gigge * [01:17] Gallarda * [01:34] Tell mee Daphne * [01:54] Spagnioletta * [02:00] Fantasia * (M.B., No. 10) [03:42] A Maske ** (M.B., No. 32) [01:07] Alman (Johnson, set by Farnaby) ** (M.B., No. 23) [00:43] Fantasia ** (M.B., No. 6) [03:31] Pavana (Johnson, set by Farnaby) ** [05:45] Why aske you ** [01:59] Giles Farnaby’s Dreame ** [00:57] Quodling’s Delight ** [02:52] Lachrymae Pavan (Dowland, set by Farnaby) ** [08:01] A Toy ** [01:11] (M.B. refers to the series Musica Brittannica, in which a number of Farnaby’s compositions have been published) Pierre Hantaï, harpsichord (Italian harpsichord by F.A, 1677 *; Flemish harpsichord by Ruckers, Antwerp 1624 **); Elisabeth Joyé, spinet (French, 17th century ***) Recorded in February and March 1990 in the Museum of Chartres (*) and the Unterlinden Museum at Colmar (**), France DDD ACCORD 476 057-2 [76:27] [JV]

Farnaby may be a rather obscure composer of the Elizabethan era, his music is imaginative and often virtuosic – well worth hearing … see Full Review

Nicholas Zumbro plays de Falla and Granados Enrique GRANADOS (1867-1916) Goyescas Book I El Pelele, Crepusculo, Los requiebros, Coloquio en la reja, El fandango de candil, Quejas ó la maja y el ruiseñor, Intermezzo Goyescas Book II El amor y la muerte; Balada, Epilogo; Serenata del espectro Manuel de FALLA (1876-1946) El Amor Brujo, Pantomine, Scene-Chanson du feu-follet, Nicholas Zumbro (piano) Recorded at St Silas Church, London (1994?) CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9004 [72.24] [JW]

Zumbro shows fine affinities with Spanish music – its colour and rhythm … see Full Review

Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1928) Violin Sonata (1914-21) [16’03] Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Violin Sonata No.1 in F minor, Op.80 (1946) [27’05] Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) 19 Preludes, from Op.34, transcribed for violin by Dmitri Tsiganov [23’19] Kai Gleusteen (violin) Catherine Ordronneau (piano) Recorded at Crear Studios, Scotland, 2-4 September 2002. DDD AVIE AV 0023 [67’00] [TH][JW]

Works well on its own terms as an enjoyable recital [TH]
This is an attractively programmed disc but it’s been badly recorded. [JW]… see Full Review

Lars-Erik LARSSON (1908-1986) God in Disguise (Förklädd Gud) Op. 24 (1940) [29.12] A Winter's Tale (En vintersaga) - four vignettes to Shakespeare's play Op. 18 (1937) [9.53] Little Serenade (Liten serenad) Op. 12 (1934) [10.34] Pastoral Suite (Pastoralsvit) Op. 19 (1938) [13.30] Sven Wollter (narrator) Jeanette Kohn (sop) Thomas Lander (bar) Jönköping Chamber Choir Jönköping Sinfonietta/Christopher Warren-Green rec. Dec 2001, Feb 2002, Jönköpings konserthuset, Sweden. DDD INTIM MUSIK IMCD 082 [63.00] [RB]

Confident feel-good music not afflicted with blandness or facile emotion. ... see Full Review

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891 - 1953) Ivan the Terrible: Oratorio from the film score, Op. 116 (1942-5) (arr. 1960 Stasevich/Slatkin) [65.27] Claudine Carlson, Mezzo-soprano. Baritone soloist uncredited. St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Leonard Slatkin Recorded March 1979. Location not given. Notes and technical information in English. Photos of Prokfiev and from the film. Digitally remastered by Paul Stublebine. Originally on Vox/Turnabout QS LP CD tracks 2.0 track stereo. SACD tracks 2.0 track stereo and 4.0 track surround. All tracks have index points when appropriate. Hybrid SACD playable on SACD players and CD players. MOBILE FIDELITY UDSACD 4003 [65.27] [PSh]

A very well played, fine sounding version of what may soon become a high resolution, surround sound war-horse ... see Full Review

Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano Concerto No. 1 in F# minor Op.1 (1891) Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor Op.18 (1901) Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Op. 30 (1909) Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor Op.40 (1927) Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor (1934) Oleg Marshev (piano)Aarhus Symphony Orchestra/James Loughran Rec. Frichsparken, Aarhus, May/Oct 2001 DDD DANACORD DACOCD 582-583 [3CDs: 165.38] [JF]

A fine version of the famous Rachmaninov Concerti. Certainly one to consider owning beside Ashkenazy, Shelley and Argerich. Well presented. … see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Carnaval, Op. 9 Papillons, Op. 2 Kinderszenen, Op. 15 Arabeske, Op. 18 Nelson Freire, piano Recorded at Auditorio Massimo, Lugano, December 2002 DECCA 4739022 [59:57] [DS]

Freire enthusiasts should love the performances, sound deficiencies or not. … see Full Review

Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) String Quartet No. 1 in C major Op. 37 (1917) String Quartet No. 2 Op. 56 (1927) Camerata Quartet Rec. Concert Hall, Karol Szymanowski State Music School, Warsaw, April 2000 DUX 0366 [35.34] [JW]

I admired the Camerata’s playing – if timing considerations are against them I don’t think you’ll be disappointed by the performances. … see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Don Carlos. Opera in Five Acts (sung in Italian) (1886 Modena and 1867 Paris versions) Philip (King of Spain), Jaakko Ryhänen (bass); Don Carlos (Infante of Spain), Lars Cleveman (ten); Rodrigo (Marquis of Posa), Peter Mattei (bar); The Grand Inquisitor, Bengt Rundgren (bass); Elisabeth de Valois (Philip's Queen), Hillevi Martinpelto (sop); Princess Eboli (Elisabeth's lady-in-waiting), Ingrid Tobiasson (m.sop); Tebaldo (Elisabeth's page), Iwa Sörenson, (sop); The Count of Lerma (A Royal Herald), Klas Hedlund (ten); An Old Monk, Martti Wallén (bass); A Voice from Heaven, Hilda Leidland (sop)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm/Alberto Hold-Garrido Recorded at the Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm on 18^th December 1999 and 22^nd and 27^th January 2000 Bargain Price NAXOS OPERA CLASSICS 8.660096-98 [3CDs: 78.51+70.18+45.40] [RF]

Other than Mattei’s singing, I regrettably find little to recommend in this issue, particularly now the price is matched by better sung versions elsewhere. … see Full Review

 

 

 

 

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonatas: No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 (1801) [13’38]; No. 15 in D, Op. 28, ‘Pastorale’ (1801) [21’15]; No. 16 in G, Op. 31 No. 1 (1802) [24’01]. Artur Schnabel (piano) Rec. Abbey Road Studio No. 3, London, on April 10^th-11^th, 1933 (No. 14), February 3^rd and 17^th, 1933 (No. 15) and November 1935 and January 15^th, 1937 (No. 16). ADD Complete Beethoven Sonata Society recordings vol. 5 NAXOS GREAT PIANISTS 8.110759 [58’54] [CC]

There is a wealth of experience on display here. … see Full Review

Sir Lennox BERKELEY (1903-1989) Symphony No. 4 (1977-78) Michael BERKELEY (b. 1948) The Garden of Earthly Delights (1998) Cello Concerto (1983) Alban Gerhardt (cello) BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Richard Hickox Recorded Brangwyn Hall, Swansea; 17 and 18 December 2002 DDD Berkeley Edition: Volume Three CHANDOS CHAN 10080 [65:09] [CT]

Another fine instalment in Chandos’s Berkeley Edition, with the promise of more to come. … see Full Review

Umberto GIORDANO (1867 – 1948) Andrea Chenier (1896) Maddalena di Coigny – Maria Caniglia (soprano) Andrea Chenier – Beniamino Gigli (tenor) Garlo Gerard – Gino Bechi (baritone) Countess di Coigny – Giulietta Simonato (mezzo-soprano) Madelon – Vittoria Palombini Bersi – Maria Huder Roucher – Italo Tajo Fouquier –Tinville – Giuseppe Taddei Mathieu – Leoni Paci Fleville - Giuseppe Taddei The Abbe – Adelio Zagonara L’Incredibile - Adelio Zagonara Majordomo – Gino Conti Dumas – Gino Conti Schmidt – Gino Conti Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala Opera House, Milan/Olivero de Fabritiis Recorded Milan November 1941 by La voce del padrone Umberto GIORDANO (1867 – 1948) Andrea Chenier (excerpts) Giacomo Lauri Volpi (tenor) Recorded 1941 Antonio Cortis
Recorded 1930 Cesare Formichi (baritone) Recorded 1927 Claudia Muzio (soprano) Recorded 1935 Francesco Merli (tenor) Recorded 1928 Aureliano Pertile (tenor) Recorded 1930 NAXOS 8.110275-76 [2CDs: 53.41+74.53] [RH]

A fine, dramatic performance with a superlative cast. … see Full Review

George Frederic HANDEL (1685-1759) Ballet music Alcina (HWV 34) [25:47] Terpsichore (HWV 8b) [11:10] Il Pastor fido (HWV 8c) [10:22] English Baroque Soloists/John Eliot Gardiner Recorded in March 1984 at St Luke’s Church, London DDD WARNER ELATUS 2564-60335-2 [47:21] [JV]

A recording of ballet music by Handel which isn’t often performed – almost 20 years old, it still sounds quite good, despite some shortcomings … see Full Review

Joseph Martin KRAUS (1756-1792) "Complete Piano Music" Rondo in F (VB 191) [09:00] Sonata in E flat (VB 195) [19:52] Scherzo con variazioni (VB 193) [11:59] Larghetto (VB 194) [00:42] Sonata in E (VB 196) [32:07] Swedish Dance (VB 192) [03:47] Zwei neue kuriose Minuetten (VB 190) [01:51] Jacques Després, piano (Steinway) Recorded in October 2000 in Convocation Hall, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada DDD NAXOS 8.555771 [79:19] [JV]

This first recording of the keyboard music by Kraus is a missed opportunity because of a bad choice of instrument … see Full Review

Jacob OBRECHT (1450-1505) Missa Sub Tuum Presidium Confugimus; Benedicamus In Laude; Salve Crux; Beata es Maria; Salve Regina a 3; Mille Quingentis;
Factor Orbis. The Clerks’ Group/ Edward Wickham Recorded at St. Andrew’s Church, West Wratting, February 2003 ASV GAUDEAMUS 341 [69.41] [GH]

For all that I might have preferred more flamboyance and passion in these chaste performances The Clerks’ Group is the best companion in this repertoire. … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH 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] [SA]

I cannot remember a record I’ve enjoyed more this year or one I felt compelled to listen to time after time – a fabulous disc! … see Full Review

Siegfried WAGNER (1869 – 1930) Die Heilige Linde op. 15 (1927) Arbogast, king of a German tribe – John Wegner (baritone) Hildegard, his wife – Dagmar Schellenberger (soprano) Sigrun, his sister – Ksenija Lukic (soprano) Gundelind, his cousin – Mechthild Georg (mezzo-soprano) Fritigern, a king’s son from a neighbouring tribe – Thorsten Scharnke (tenor) Ekhart, a count – Adam Kruzel (baritone) Philo, a minion of the Roman emperor - Volker Horn (tenor) Caius, his messenger - Hein Heibuchel (tenor) Autonoe - Katalin Ilalmai (mezzo-soprano) Antenor – Roman Trekel (baritone) A soldier – Soon-Dong Kwon (bass) Knight – Josef Otten (bass) WDR Rundfunkchor Köln WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln/Werner Andreas Albert Recorded October 8-19, 2001, Philharmonie Köln CPO 999 844-2 [3CDs: 50.01 + 50.53 + 48.13] [RH]

The first recording of the 14^th opera by the son of the more famous Richard; this story of sparring Saxons and Romans is well performed but opera itself rarely grips. … see Full Review

American Women Composers Ursula MAMLOK From My Garden (1983) Designs (1962) Sonata (1988) Ruth CRAWFORD (1901-1953) Sonata (1926) Louise TALMA (b 1906) Sonata (1962) Ellen Taaffe ZWILICH (b 1939) Sonata in Three Movements (1974) Catherine Tait (violin) Barry Snyder (piano) Recorded Eastman Theatre of the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music 1995 GASPARO GSCD-300 [59.41] [JW]

Committed and understanding performances of this bracing music … see Full Review

Andrew GRIFFITHS - baritone WILLIAMS: ‘My Little Welsh Home’; ‘Llanfihangel Bachellaeth’; ‘Gwynfyd’; ’Crwys’Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Don Giovanni, ‘Madamina! Il catalogo é questo’ George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) ‘Thou Art Gone Up On High’ TRADITIONAL ‘Dafydd y Garreg Wen’ (David of the White Rock) LEWIS ‘Cân Yr Arad Goch’ SCHÖNBERG ‘Stars’; ‘Empty Chairs At Empty Tables’ (Sir) Arthur SULLIVAN ‘The Lost Chord’ Mitch LEIGH ‘Man of La Mancha’ Vaughan THOMAS ‘Berwyn’Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Tannhäuser, ‘O du Mein Holder Abendstern’(Sir) William Sterndale BENNETT (1816-1875) ‘The Carol Singers’ Andrew Griffiths (baritone) (b.1968) Accompanist. Annette Brynn Parry (piano) Recorded at the Tabernacl, Machynlleth, Wales. 2003 BERSE RECORDS BECD 1 [50.07] [RF]

The virtue of this disc lies in its variety. While never scaling the operatic heights Griffiths’ singing will give pleasure in the lighter repertoire and, to his compatriots, in the Welsh language songs. … see Full Review

 

 

 

BOOK REVIEWS

Suzanne Rhodes DRAYER A Singer’s Guide to the Songs of JOAQUÍN RODRIGO Scarecrow Press Inc., 266 pages, ISBN 0-8108-4408-7

A useful little book intended to introduce Rodrigo’s songs to potential performers. … see Full Review

Luca Marenzio The Career of a Musician between the Renaissance and the Counter-Reformation by Marco Bizzarini Translated by James Chater Published September 2003 Ashgate; ISBN 0 7546 0516 7; 370 pages, 10 b/w illustrations, 40 musical examples £49.50 MusicWeb price £42.50

This is a book containing much important information about a significant 16^th century composer and it sheds fascinating light on the mechanisms by which a Roman composer in the period might construct a career in music. It is unfortunate that the book’s structure and editing mean that it could be rather off-putting for the casual reader. … see Full Review

OPERETTA by Richard TRAUBNER (1897-1951) 2^nd edition, Routledge, (Taylor & Francis Bks Ltd) 2003 ISBN 0-415-96641-8. pp.498. £20

One of the best reference books of the Musical Theatre is Richard Traubner's book, ‘Operetta’. Originally published in 1983 it is now reprinted in a second edition. … see Full Review

 

THE PENGUIN GUIDE TO COMPACT DISCS & DVDs 2003/4 Edition: The Key Classical recordings on CD, DVD & SACD 2004 Edition Edited by Ivan March
Reviews by: Ivan March; Edward Greenfield; Robert Layton Assistant Editor: Paul Czajkowski Paperback 1566 pp. ISBN 0141013842 £24.99 [RB]

The most wide-ranging and satisfying classical review print source on the market. ... see Full Review

Rudolf Serkin: A Life By Stephen Lehmann Humanities Bibliographer, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, University of Pennsylvania, USA; and Marion Faber, Professor of Modern Languages and Literatures, Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania, USA.Published by Oxford University Press, USA, 27 February 2003 ISBN: 0-19-513046-4 £20 [US$35.00] Hardcover 234mm x 156mm [6-1/8" x 9-1/4"]360 pp.; 53 illustrations. Discography by Paul Farber. [PSh]

An interesting story about a very interesting man, interesting even if he isn’t your favourite pianist. … see Full Review

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