RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

Sir Arthur BLISS (1891-1975) Piano Quartet (1915) [15:38] Sonata for Viola and Piano (1933) [24:25] Oboe Quintet (1927) [22:03] Maggini Quartet: Lawrence Jackson and David Angel, violin; Martin Outram, viola; Michael Kaznowski, cello. Peter Donohoe, piano. (Quartet) Julian Rolton, piano. (Sonata) Nicholas Daniel, oboe. Recorded at Potton Hall, Suffolk, England 18-20 December 2001 DDD NAXOS 8.555931 [62:07] [KS]

Bliss is a composer who strikes the perfect balance between sheer aural pleasure and intellectual challenge … see Full Review

Hanns EISLER (1898-1962) String Quartet (1937) Anton WEBERN (1883-1945) Five Pieces for String Quartet Op.5 (1909) Alexander von ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942) String Quartet No.2 Op.15 (1915) Quatuor Johannes: Frederic Angleraux (violin); Jerome Meunier (violin); Nicholas Mouret (viola); Jean-Sebastien Barbet (cello) - No recording information provided in English. DDD MECENAT MUSICAL 222472 [65:30] [MC]

The Webern and Zemlinsky scores are indispensable in any chamber music collection and these performances are out of the top-drawer. … see Full Review

Francisco GUERRERO (1951 – 1997) Complete Orchestral Works Coma Berenices (1996) Ariadna (1984) Sáhara (1991) Oleada (1993) Antar Atman (1980) Orquesta Sínfonica de Galicia/José Ramón Encinar Recorded: Auditorio, Teatro Rosalia de Castro, La Coruña, April and September 1999 and March 2000 COL LEGNO WWE 1CD20044 [54:53] [HC]

Complex, demanding, often gripping, powerfully expressive and ultimately rewarding … see Full Review

Matthew LOCKE (c.1622-1677) Complete Keyboard Works William GREGORY (1651-1687) Almain, Corant and Saraband from Suite in D minor (Melothesia 1673). Terence Charlston (harpsichord, virginals and organ) Recorded at St.Martin’s Church, East Woodhay, September 2001 and Trinity Collage Chapel, Cambridge, December 2001. DDD DEUX-ELLES DXL 1047 [MC]

Performances could hardly be bettered; this release is one to be treasured. … see Full Review

Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879-1936) La Boutique Fantasque (ballet to music of Rossini) P120 (1919) - La pentola magica P129 (1920) - Prelude and Fugue in D major, P158 (1901) BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Gianandrea Noseda - Rec. Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester, 2^nd, 5^th and 6^th October 2002 DDD CHANDOS CHAN-10081 [79’35"] [JP]

I can thoroughly recommend this superb example of technical and musical skill and wonderful performances by the BBC Phil and their new chief conductor. More please!!! … see Full Review

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphony No. 6 (1923) [27.01] Symphony No. 7 (1924) [21.19] Tapiola (1926) [15.42] City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sakari Oramo rec. Birmingham Symphony Hall, 6-8 Jan 2003 WARNER ERATO 0927 49144 2 [64.22] [RB]

If you like your Sibelius served ablaze rather than cool then Oramo is certainly the man for you. I loved this. I think you will too. Magnificent ... see Full Review

Prague String Quartets Luboš FIŠER (1935-1999) String Quartet (1986) Sylvie BODOROVÁ (b 1954) Shofarot-String Quartet No 4 (2000) Otmar MÁCHA (b 1922) String Quartet No 2 (1987) Zdeněk LUKÁŠ (b 1928) String Quartet No 4 Op 213 (1987) - Jupiter Quartet Recorded Domovina Studios, Prague, June and July 2001 ARCO DIVA UP 0044-2 131 [63.40] [JW]

A very strong recommendation. Likeable, winning and effective works receiving committed advocacy … see Full Review

 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH

Leonard BERNSTEIN (1917-1990) On the Waterfront – Symphonic Suite from the Film,Chichester Psalms, On the Town – Three Dance Episodes Thomas Kelly, treble Elizabeth Franklin-Kitchen, soprano Victoria Nayler, alto Jeremy Budd, tenor, Paul Charrier, bass Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Marin Alsop Recorded at Lighthouse, Poole Centre for the Arts, UK on April 14^th-15^th 2003 NAXOS 8.559177 [48:36] [GPJ]

Naxos have produced another winner here; wonderful playing and singing, and a recording which is crystal clear and atmospheric … see Full Review

Mikhail GLINKA (1804-1857) Ruslan and Lyudmila: Overture and Chernamor’s March (1842)* Overture: A Life for the Tsar (1836) Waltz-Fantasia (1856) Spanish Overtures Nos. 1 and 2 (1845) Incidental Music: Prince Kholmsky (1841) Polka in B flat major (1840) (orchestrated Balakirev) USSR Symphony Orchestra/Yevgeni Svetlanov *Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra/Yevgeni Svetlanov Rec 1963 (Ruslan and Lyudmila), 1967 (Waltz, Overtures), 1977 (A Life for the Tsar), 1984 (Prince Kholmsky, Polka) REGIS RRC 1142 [75.55] [TB]

Colourful musicmaking … all Svetlanov’s performances have an authentic feel … see Full Review

George Frederick MCKAY (1899-1970) Caricature Dance Suite (1924) * From My Tahoe Window - Summer Moods and Patterns (1965) * Americanistic Etude, Op. 27 (1924)* An April Suite, Op. 3 (1924) * Dance Suite No. 2 (1938) * Dancing in a Dream (1945) * ² Excerpts from Five Songs for Soprano (1964) * ¹ Every Flower That Ever Grew (1969) * ¹ Suite for Viola and Piano (1948) ³ º William Bolcom, piano * Joan Morris, mezzo-soprano ¹ Logan Skelton, piano ² Sanford Margolis, piano ³ Mahoko Eguchi, viola º Recorded at The Brookwood Studio, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 1999-February 2001. NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559143 [64.00] [NH]

Another Naxos American Classics gem - understated but beautiful folk-and jazz-inflected 20^th century music … see Full Review

 

Hallé: English Rhapsody George BUTTERWORTH* (1885-1916) A Shropshire Lad: Rhapsody for Orchestra (1911) - Two English Idylls (1910-1911) - The Banks of Green Willow (1914) - Frederick DELIUS * (1862-1934) Irmelin: Prelude (1931) - The Walk to the Paradise Garden (1907) - Brigg Fair: An English Rhapsody (1907) Percy GRAINGER † (1882-1961) Brigg Fair (1906) - Trad. Brigg Fair (1908) James Gilchrist, tenor, Joseph Taylor, singer Hallé Choir - Hallé Orchestra/Mark Elder - Recorded 11-12^th October 2002, BBC Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester, UK (*), 17^th October 2002, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester (†) PASSIONATE HALLE CD HLL 7503 [62:47] [GPJ]

A thoughtfully compiled programme, finely recorded, and containing really impressive

Alfred SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) Cello Concerto No.1 (1985-86) - ‘Sounding Letters’ for solo cello (1988) - Four Hymns for cello and instrumental ensemble (1974-77) Torlief Thedéen (cello) - Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra/Leif Segerstam - Recorded at the Danish Radio Concert Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2-3 Nov. 1989 - (concerto) and Danderyd Grammar School, Sweden, 15-16 Sept, 1990 (rest) BIS CD 300507 [70’35] [TH]

This is another clear recommendation for this repertoire and anyone fancying any of the music need not hesitate. … see Full Review

MusicWeb is planning its first recording of previously unrecorded orchestral pieces by Arthur Butterworth. If you would wish to part-sponsor that recording please contact len@musicweb-international.com

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MusicWeb - The International Web Site Founder: Len Mullenger [UK], Classical Editor: Rob Barnett [UK],  Regular Reviewers:   Steve Arloff [UK], Guy Aron [Australia], Tony Augarde [UK], Terry Barfoot [UK], Melinda Bargreen [USA], David J. Barker [Australia], Rob Barnett [UK], Nick Barnard [UK], Robert Beattie [UK], Dave Billinge [UK], Peter Bright [UK], Byzantion [UK], Colin Clarke [UK], Dominy Clements [Netherlands], Michael Cookson [UK], Hubert Culot [Belgium], Evan Dickerson [UK], Gavin Dixon [UK], Robert J. Farr [UK], Christopher Fifield [UK], Göran Forsling [Sweden], John France [UK], Patrick Gary [USA], Pierre Giroux [CAN], Paul C. Godfrey [UK], Michael Greenhalgh [UK], William Hedley [France], Gary Higginson [UK], Neil Horner [UK], Robert Hugill UK], David Jennings [UK], Bill Kenny [UK], William S Kreindler [USA], Ian Lace [UK], Em Marshall-Luck [UK], Oleg Ledeniov [USA]Rob Maynard [UK], David A McConnell [USA], Kirk McElhearn [France], Robert McKechnie [UK], Ralph Moore [RMo] [UK], Dan Morgan [UK], Margarida Mota-Bull [UK], Glyn Pursglove [UK], John Quinn [UK], Carla Rees [UK], Brian Reinhart [USA], Donald Satz [USA], Mark Sealey [USA], John Sheppard [UK], George Stacy, Kevin Sutton [USA], Bert Thompson [USA], Simon Thompson [UK], Zane Turner [Australia], Steve Vasta [UK], Johan van Veen [Netherlands], Raymond Walker [UK], Derek Warby [UK], Brian Wilson [UK], Jonathan Woolf [UK] Leslie Wright [USA]. A complete list of contributors can be seen here

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