Edgar BAINTON (1880-1956)
Viola
Sonata (1922) [18:09] Frank
BRIDGE (1879-1941) Allegretto;
Pensiero; Allegro Appassionato [3:08; 4:04;
2:30] Julius HARRISON
(1885-1963) Viola Sonata (1945) [20:49]
Martin Outram (viola) Michael Jones (piano)
rec. 21-22 Dec 1992, Guildhall School of Music,
London. AAD
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS CD 415R [48:40]
[RB]
Writing
and playing of a very high order bursting
the bounds of conventionality. ... a de rigueur
purchase ... see Full
Review
Erik CHISHOLM
(1904-1965)
Straloch
Suite (1933) [15:59] Scottish Airs
for Children (1940s) [27:54] Sonata in
A An Riobain Dearg (abridged version,
2004) (1939)
Murray McLachlan, piano Rec. Whiteley Hall,
Chethams School, Manchester, 5-7 April 2004.
DDD
DUNELM RECORDS DRD0222/LC-12952 [77:24]
[DHJ]
The
Sonata - a major example of 20th century piano
writing ... the effect is almost overwhelming.
Self recommending ... see Full
Review
Frédéric
CHOPIN
(1810-49) Seventeen
Waltzes
Felicja Blumental (piano) Recorded in New
York, 1959
BRANA RECORDS BR0017 [51’47] [TH]
Some
beautifully refined and distinguished pianism
... see Full
Review
Frederic CHOPIN
(1810-1849)
Twenty-Four
Preludes, Op. 28 [38:21] Prelude Op. 45 [4:07]
Prelude without opus [0:58]
Lydia Jardon, piano Recorded at Neumarkt,
7-8 April 1998 DDD
AR Ré-Sé AR 2001-2 [43:26]
[KS]
Sorry,
this one is a loser ... see Full
Review
Carson COOMAN Threads:
Concerto for Orchestra, Plainsong Variations
for solo cello, Zest: Fanfare for
Orchestra, Sonata for Brass Choir, Beyond
All Knowing for chamber orchestra, Night
Songs for chamber orchestra, Symphony
of Light for string orchestra
Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra/Vit Micka
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/Kirk Trevor
Chicago Brass Choir; Michael Stewart Craig
Hultgren (cello) No recording information
available.
ZIMBEL RECORDS ZR102 [63'52"] [RNB]
Music
that mostly engaged me at the time of listening
but not particularly memorable ... see Full
Review
Claude DEBUSSY
(1862–1918)
Mélodies
de Jeunesse: Apparition, Romance,
Les paillons, Calmes sans le demi-jour,
Regret.Ariettes Oubliées: C’est
le extase, Il pleure dans mon coeur,
L’ombre des arbres, Paysages belges:
chevaux de bois, Aquarelles - Green,
Aquarelles - SpleenProses lyriques:
De rêve, De grève,
De fleurs, De soir.Trois poèmes
de Mallarmé: Soupir,
Placet futile, Éventail
Sandrine Piau (soprano), Jos van Immerseel
(piano) rec. Liège, July 2002. DDD
NAÏVE V4932 [57’25"] [AO]
Piau's
careful phrasing and deft articulation of
the musical line throw the structure of the
songs into focus, allowing us to appreciate
their beauty in pure form ... see Full
Review
Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848)L’elisir
d’amore (excerpts) Adina – Mariella
Devia (soprano) Nemorino – Roberto Alagna
(tenor) Belcore – Pietro Sapgnoli (bartone)
Dulcamara - Bruno Pratico (bass-baritone)
Giannetta - Francesca Provvisionato (mezzo-soprano)
Tallis Chamber Choir English Chamber Orchestra/Marcello
Viotti Rec. All Saints Church, Petersham,
1992
WARNER APEX 2564 61496-2 [71.44] [RH]
An
ideal introduction to this delightful opera
... buy it anyway to hear what the young Alagna
could do ... see Full
Review
Edward ELGAR
(1857-1934)
Symphony
No. 1 Op. 55 [54.27] Cockaigne (In
London Town) Op. 40 [17.00] Symphony No.
2, Op. 63 [62.29] Sospiri, Op. 50 [5.00]
London Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate Recorded
St Augustine’s Church, Kilburn, London 1990
(Symphony No. 2, Sospiri), 1991 (Symphony
No. 1 and Cockaigne) Stereo/DDD
EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 7243 5 85512 2 8 [71.27
+ 67.29] [EM]
Despite
accomplished playing from the LSO all these
works can be found in better versions elsewhere.
... see Full Review
Chen GANG
(b.1935) and He ZHANHAO
(b.1933) The
Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (1959)
Peter BREINER (b.1957)
Songs and Dances from the Silk Road: A
Beloved Rose (Kazakh Folk-Song); The Half-Moon
Climbs (Uygur Folk-Song); Spinning (Gansu
Folk-Song); All at Work (Great North-West
Folk-Song); Sa Hi Long Ba (Uygur Fol-Song);
Lan Hua Hua (Shanxi Folk-Song); Lift Your
Veil (Uygur Folk-Song); Tulufan (Xinjiang
Folk-Song)
Takako Nishizaki, violin New Zealand
Symphony Orchestra/James Judd Recorded at
the Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington, New
Zealand, 8th-10th April
2003
NAXOS 8.557348 [63:23] [GPJ]
Some
excellent playing– no hint of condescension.
An undemanding yet highly enjoyable disc.
... see Full Review
Piano Music of Eric
Chisholm and Friends
Bela BARTÓK
(1881-1945)
Out
of Doors Suite, Vol.1: With drums and pipes
Kaikhosru SORABJI
(1892-1988) Fantasiettina sul nome illustre
dell'Egregio poeta Hugh MacDiarmid ossia Christopher
Grieve MCMLXI Erik
CHISHOLM (1904-1965) Sonata in
A An Riobain Dearg Ronald
STEVENSON (b. 1928) A Threepenny
sonatina Ferruccio
BUSONI (1866-1924) Fantasia Contrappuntistica
(Edizione = Definitiva)
Murray McLachlan (piano) rec. 16, 17, 19 Dec
2003, Whiteley Hall, Chetham's School of Music,
Manchester. DDD
DUNELM RECORDS DRD0219 [78'11"] [RNB]
I
am sure I will return to this CD again and
again, to experience great pianism, unique
sonorities ... see Full
Review
Claude DEBUSSY
(1862-1918)
La
Mer, Prélude à l’après-midi
d’un faune, Nocturnes: Nuages, Fêtes,
Images
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch
Dates/location not given
BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 59416 2 [79:22]
[CH]
A
Debussy of flesh and blood, a creature of
passions, a composer who sings and exalts.
A truly great orchestra under a conductor
who knew how to get the best out of it. ...
see Full Review
Claude DEBUSSY
(1862-1918)
Suite
Bergamasque: Clair de lune, La plus que lente,
Arabesque No.1 , Le petit nègre , Children’s
Corner Suite: The snow is dancing, Children’s
Corner Suite: The little shepherd , Children’s
Corner Suite: Golliwog’s cakewalk, Trois Estampes:
La soirée dans Grenade, Trois Estampes:
Jardins sous la pluie,
Arabesque No.2, Valse romantique, Danse (Tarantelle
styrienne), Pour le piano: Toccata,
Images: Reflets dans l’eau, Images: Poissons
d’or, Mazurka , Rêverie, Préludes,
Book I: La fille aux cheveux de lin, Préludes,
Book I: Minstrels, Préludes, Book I:
La cathédral engloutie
François-Joël Thiollier (piano)
rec. 28 November - 1 December 1994, 13-15
March 1995, 16-18 January 1996, 25-27 September
1996, Temple Saint Marcel, Paris. DDD
NAXOS 8.555800 [78'10"] [RNB]
As
a CD of good performances of a well-chosen
if obvious selection of Debussy’s piano music,
this may be recommended. ... see Full
Review
David DIAMOND (b.
1915) Symphony
No. 2 (1942/3) Symphony No. 4 (1945)
Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz Recorded:
Seattle Center Opera House, September 1989
(Symphony No. 2) and May 1990 (Symphony No.
4)
NAXOS 8.559154 [59:19] [HC]
These
works are simply too good to be ignored. ...
see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH David
DIAMOND (b.1915)
Psalm
(1936) [8:39] Kaddish (1987) [10:44]
Symphony No. 3 (1945) [31:08]
Janos Starker (cello) Seattle Symphony Orchestra/Gerard
Schwarz. Rec. 11-12 Sept 1990; 6 Jan 1991,
Seattle Center Opera House. DDD Originally
issued on Delos DE3103 American Classics series
NAXOS 8.559155 [59:19] [RB]
A
disc not to be missed if you are at all sympathetic
to the tonal-melodic strain in twentieth century
music. Music written from the heart to the
heart ... see Full
Review
Gaetano DONIZETTI
(1796-1848) Lucia
di Lammermoor Tragic Opera in Two
Parts, Three Acts Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano
after Sir Walter Scott’s The Bride of Lammermoor
Lord Enrico Ashton…Renato Bruson Miss Lucia…Mariella
Devia Sir Edgardo di Ravenswood…Vincenzo La
Scola Lord Arturo Bucklaw …Marco Berti Raimondo
Bidebent…Carlo Colombara Alisa…Floriana Sovilla
Normanno…Ernesto Gazazzi
Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro alla Scala
conducted by Stefano Ranzani (Recorded at
La Scala, Milan in 1992)
Opus
Arte DVD OA LS3003 D (140 mins approx.)
[IL]
A
powerfully dramatic and memorable La Scala
production. Recommended. ... see Full
Review
Antonin DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904)
Complete Piano Trios, vol. 1 Trio
in B Major, Op. 21 [32’22] Trio in f minor,
Op. 65 [36’34]
Vienna Piano Trio: Wolfgang Redik, violin;
Matthias Gredler, cello; Stefan Mendl, piano
Recorded December 18-20, 2003 at Fürstliche
Reitbahn Bad Arolsen, DDD
MDG 342 1261-2 [69’09] [KS]
A
winner through and through both musically
and technically. ... see Full
Review
Edward ELGAR
(1857
- 1934) Disc 1: In the South (Alassio),
Op. 50: Overture [20.00] Symphony No.
1, Op. 55: Disc 2: Symphony
No. 2, Op. 63Serenade for strings, Op. 20,
Salut d’amour, Op.12 [3.02] Disc 3:
Froissart, Op. 19 [13.45] Cockaigne
(In London Town), Op. 40 [15.29] Variations
on an Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma":
Disc 4: Violin Concerto, Op.61,
Cello concerto, Op. 85
Leonard Slatkin, London Philharmonic
Orchestra (Discs 1-3), St. Louis Symphony
Orchestra (Disc 4), Janos Starker (cello),
Pinchas Zukerman (violin) Recorded 1989, 1991,
1993, 1997, 2004 BMG Music DDD
BMG-RCA RED SEAL COMPLETE COLLECTIONS 82876
60389 2 [4 CDs: 73’36" + 71’08"
+ 63’50" + 76’40"] [EM]
Top
ranking versions of the symphonies ... performances
of the concertos are not outstanding but will
not disappoint. Dirge-like Enigma ... excellent
value for money overall ... see Full
Review
Edward ELGAR
(1857-1934) Falstaff,
Symphonic Study Op.68 (1913) Romance for
bassoon and orchestra Op.62 (1909-10) Cello
Concerto in E minor Op.85 (1918-19) Smoking
Cantata (1919)
Andrew Shore (baritone) Graham Salvage (bassoon)
Heinrich Schiff (cello) Hallé Orchestra/Mark
Elder Recorded in Bridgewater Hall, Manchester,
21-22 July 2003 (Falstaff, Romance)
and BBC Studio 7, New Broadcasting House,
Manchester, 11-12 October 2003 (Concerto,
Cantata)
HALLÉ CD HLL 7505 [69’42] [TH]
Apart
from some minor quibbles, can be counted a
success, though whether it will displace your
favourites is another matter. ... see Full
Review
Edward ELGAR
(1857-1934) Sacred Choral
Music Give
Unto The Lord (Psalm XXIX) Op.74 (1914) Ave
verum corpus Op.2 No.1 (1902) Ave Maria Op.2
No.2 (1902) Ave maris stella Op.2 No.3 (1902)
O hearken Thou (Psalm V) Op.64 (1911) Te deum
Laudamus Op.34 No.1 (1897) Benedictus Op.34
No.2 (1897) O salutaris hostia (1880, rev.
1888) Great is the Lord (Psalm XLVIII) Op.67
(1912) The Spirit of the Lord (from ‘The Apostles’)
(1903) Go song of mine Op.57 (1909) Seek Him
that maketh (from ‘The Light of Life’) Op.29
(1886 rev.1899) Light of the World (from ‘The
Light of Life’) Op.29 (1886 rev.1899)
Jonathan Vaughn (organ) Choir of St John’s
College, Cambridge Christopher Robinson Recorded
at St John’s College Chapel, Cambridge, July
2003
NAXOS 8.557288 [74.20] [JW]
The
choral performance is exemplary, the acoustic
unproblematic, and the direction at all times
centred on the real musical virtues of this
immaculately chosen selection. ... see Full
Review
Edward ELGAR
(1857
– 1934) Solo Piano Music
Five
Improvisations (1929); Skizze (1901); Presto
(1889); Waltz-Enina (1886); Chantant (1872);
Griffinesque (1884); Sonatina (1889, rev1930);
Imperial March (1897); In Smyrna (1905); Three
Bavarian Dances (1895-7); Serenade (1932);
Concert Allegro Op. 46 (1901) Adieu (1932)
David Owen Norris (piano) Recorded Southampton
University, November 2002
ELGAR EDITIONS EECD 002 [56.45] [AB]
A well presented
disc with authoritative notes by the pianist
... see Full
Review
BOOK REVIEWS
Elgar and the Awful
Female
A most
intriguing short book ... see Full
Review
Elgar’s Legacy
Michael
Messenger has obviously undertaken considerable
research and writes clearly. ... see Full
Review
Gabriel FAURÉ
(1845-1924) Piano
Trio in D minor, Op. 120 (1923) [21:08] Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Piano Trio
in G major ("Premier Trio") (c. 1879)
[22:54] Joseph JONGEN
(1873-1953) Two Pieces for Piano Trio,
Op. 95 (1931) [18:19]
Trio Grumiaux Studio Toots, Brussels,
12-15 November 2002. DDD
KLARA MMP 036 [62:40] [SV]
Vivid,
immediate sonics enhance these marvellous
performances ... see Full
Review
The Gerald
Finzi Collection Gerald
FINZI (1901-1956) CD1: Eclogue
[10:42]; Dies Natalis [25:52]; Forlana
[2:57]; Clarinet Concerto (1949) [27:50];
Magnificat [2:57] CD2: In Terra
Pax [15:29]; Romance [7:13]; Let
Us Garlands Bring (1929-42) [16:10]; Earth
and Air and Rain (1928-1932) [28:55];
Nocturne - New Year's Music [10:02];
Amen (from Lo the full final sacrifice)
(1946) [1:08]
Piers Lane (piano), ECO/Nicholas Daniel
(Eclogue); Philip Langridge (ten),
LSO/Richard Hickox (Dies); Emma Johnson
(clarinet); RPO/Julian Reynolds (Forlana);
Andrew Marriner (clarinet), ASMIF/Neville
Marriner (Concerto, Romance, Nocturne);
Libby Crabtree (sop); Donald Sweeney (bass),
Waynflete Singers, Choir of Winchester Cathedral,
Bournemouth SO/David Hill (Pax); Bryn
Terfel (bar), Malcolm Martineau (piano) (Let
Us Garlands); Benjamin Luxon (bar), David
Willison (piano) (Earth and Air); Choir of
New College Oxford, Edward Higginbottom (Amen)
rec. 1976 ADD (Earth and Air); 1978
ADD (Dies; Magnificat); 1995
DDD (Terra); 2000 DDD (Amen);
1997 DDD (Concerto, Nocturne, Romance);
2003. DDD (Eclogue). 1995 DDD (Garlands)
DECCA 476 2163 [75:28 + 77:07] [RB]
A
wonderful present for anyone who has had their
attention caught by a single Finzi piece and
wants to explore further ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Paul
Le FLEM (1881-1984)
Piano
Quintet (1905) [36:40] Violin Sonata (1905)
[28:57]
Philippe Koch (violin) Alain Jacquon (piano)
Quatuor Louvigny rec. Villa Louvigny, Luxembourg,
Nov 2003-Jan 2004. DDD
TIMPANI 1C1077 [65:37] [RB]
The
surging romance of this music will attract
anyone open to the youthful melodic rush of
Howells, Ravel, Bax and Ropartz. Outstanding.
Glorious. ... see Full
Review
Baldassare GALUPPI
(1706-1785)
The
Complete Piano Sonatas, volume 3 Sonata in
F [5:31] Sonata in A flat [6:14] Sonata in
E [4:31] Sonata in C [9:10] Sonata in D [9:24]
Sonata in G [8:49] Sonata in B flat [8:10]
Sonata in E flat [7:05]
Peter Seivewright, piano Recorded 5-6
January 2002 at the Matt Thomson Concert Hall,
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama,
Glasgow, Scotland. DDD
The Divine Art 25015 [59:05] [KS]
Not
a complete loser by any means, this is definitely
a disc for listeners of a specialized taste
and interest in earlier keyboard music...
see Full Review
Orlando GIBBONS
(1583-1625)
Consorts for Viols see
review for details
Phantasm: Laurence Dreyfus, treble viol and
director; Wendy Gillespie, treble viol; Jonathan
Manson, tenor viol; Markku Luolajan-Mikkola,
bass viol; with Susanna Pell, tenor viol;
Asako Morikawa, bass viol Recorded in September
2003 at the Chapel of Merton College, Oxford,
England DDD
AVIE AV0032 [71:48] [JV]
Vivid
and passionate performances of Gibbons’s viol
consorts, some of which are true masterpieces
... see Full Review
Christoph Willibald
GLUCK (1678-1741)
Orfeo ed Euridice
(excerpts) Orfeo – Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano)
Euridice – Elisabeth Speiser (soprano) Amore
– Elizabeth Gale (soprano) Jean Mallandaine
(harpsichord)
The Glyndebourne Chorus London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Raymond Leppard Recorded Brent Town
Hall, 1982
WARNER APEX 2564 61497-2 [74.21] [RH]
What
fine music making this is; a disc for someone
wanting a memento of Dame Janet’s Orfeo without
adding yet another complete version ... see
Full Review
Christoph Willibald
GLUCK (1714-1787)
Opera
Explained Series. An Introduction to Orfeo
ed Euridice written by Thomson Smillie;
narrated by David Timson
NAXOS Opera Explained 8.558122
[66.17] [RM]
An
adequate ‘explanation’ – but not much more
than that. ... see
Full Review
Todd GOODMAN (b.
1977) Symphony
No 1 Fields of Crimson (2003) I.
June 30, 1863 [7:56]; Evening June 30, 1863
[1:30]; II. Day One [4:22]; Evening
July 1, 1863 [1:19]; III. Day Two [3:04];
Evening July 2, 1863 [1:47]; IV. Day
Three [6:42]; Morning July 4, 1863 [1:47];
Remembrance [4:10]
Carolyn Donaldson (narrator) Altoona Symphony
Orchestra/Nicholas Palmer Recorded live at
the Mishler Theatre, Altoona, 1 March 2003
NO NUMBER [32.47] [PL]
If
the subject matter interests you, this is
worth investigating. If you’re a sophisticated
and demanding listener, and a keen observer
of the leading edge of contemporary American
music, this is well worth avoiding. ... see
Full Review
Percy
GRAINGER
(1882 - 1961) The
Grainger Edition Volume 19 see review
for details
Penelope Thwaites piano Recorded Suffolk,
UK, 2003
CHANDOS CHAN 10205 [75:49] [JL]
An
enjoyable third disc of solo piano music,
safe in the hands of Penelope Thwaites. You
can hear yet another version of County Gardens
and be seduced by Grainger’s ramble on Der
Rosenkavalier. ... see Full
Review
Enrique GRANADOS
(1867-1916) Valses
sentimentales, DLR VII:4 [1890] [15.12]
7 Estudios, DLR IV:4 [undated] [4.41]
6 Estudios expresivios en forma de piezas
faciles, DLR IV:5.1 [1905] [16.00] Bocetos:
Coleccion de Obras faciles, DLR IV:10
[1900] [12.31] Exquise...! Vals tzigane,
DLR VII:7 [undated] [3.17] L'himne dels
morts, DLR V:5 [1897] [2.24] Cartas
de amor: Valses intimos, DLR VII:6 [1892]
[4.33] A la Antigua: Bourrée,
DLR III:19 [1898?] [4.06] Minuetto,
DLR III:17 [1898?] 3.39] La Gondola: Escena
poetica, DLR III:25 [1898?]6.34]
Douglas
Riva, piano Recorded St Martin's Church,
East Woodhay, Hampshire, 5-8 August 2002.
Piano Music Volume 7
NAXOS 8.557141 [72.58] [JF]
Another
excellent addition to the 'Granados Complete
Piano Works' project. No major masterpieces
here, but every single track offers charm,
competence and often sheer beauty. ... see
Full Review
Edvard Hagerup
GRIEG
(1843-1907) Sigurd
Jorsalfar, Op. 22 – Introduction [2.10],
Borghild’s Dream [3.42], At the
Matching Game [3.38], The Northland
Folk [5.58], Homage March [9.17],
Interlude 1 [1.45], Interlude II
[3.34], The King’s Song [4.07] Landkjenning,
Op. 31 [6.30] Bergliot, Op. 42
[18.37] Sørgemarsj over Rikard Nordraak,
EG 117 [7.49] Den Bergtekne, Op. 32
[5.37]
Håkan Hågegard (baritone), Gorild
Mauseth (narrator) Male-voice choir Bergen
Philharmonic Choir, Seim Songkor and Kor Vest
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra/Ole Kristian
Ruud Recorded at the Grieg Hall, Norway, February
and June 2003 DSD
BIS-SACD-1391 [74.36] [EM]
The
performances are excellent ... it makes a
worthy addition to BIS’s ongoing Grieg series.
... see Full
Review
Ricard Lamote de GRIGNON
(1899-1962)
Goya – Sis peces desagradables per
a 10 solistes (Six unpleasant pieces for 10
soloists): Mala noche (A bad night);
¡Que viene el coco! (Here comes the
bogey-man!); El de la rollona (Nanny’s
boy); Bellos consejos (Wonderful advice);
Se repulen (They spruce themselves
up); Las rinde el sueňo (Sleep
overcomes them) Melodia for double
bass and piano Impromptu for violoncello
and piano Bagatel les de final de segle
for violin and piano – Elegia, Cançó,
Serenata, Tocata for flute
Barcino Ensemble, director Adolf Pla Recorded
15th-16th July 2000
at l’auditori Eduard Toldrá del Conservatori
Superior de Musica de Barcelona
LA MA DE GUIDO LMG2040 [42:15] UK Re-release
[GPJ]
An
unusual and highly enjoyable disc, this. Goya
is really worth hearing ... see Full
Review
Ferde GROFÉ
(1892-1972) Mississippi
Suite (1926) Grand Canyon Suite
(1931) Niagara Falls Suite (1961)
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/William Stromberg
Recorded in 5.1 Surround Sound; and SACD/CD
[plays on all CD and SACD players] at Wessex
Hall, Poole Arts Centre, Poole, Dorset, UK
27/28 July 1998. DDD
NAXOS 6.110002 [67:46] [IL]
Big,
big Technicolor music; great fun even in its
banal moments, all conducted with great verve
by movie music specialist, William T. Stromberg.
... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH George
Frideric HANDEL
(1685 - 1759) Theodora,
HVW 68 (1749): "As with rosy steps the
morn..." [9.08]; "Bane of virtue,
nurse of passions..."[6.42]; "Defend
her heav’n!"[6.26]; "Lord, to Thee
each night and day..." [6.06]; "New
scenes of joy..."[6.24]; Serse,
HVW 40 (1738):; "Se Bramante d’amar..."
[6.39]; "Ombra mai Fu..." [3.54]
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Cantata
"La Lucrezia" HVW
145 (1709) [20.51]
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson mezzo-soprano
Harry Bicket, conductor, harpsichord, and
Chamber Organ; Stephen Stubbs, lute and baroque
Guitar; Phoebe Carrai, cello; Margriet Tindemans,
Viola da gamba. Notes in English, Français,
and Deutsch. Photos of the artists. Texts
and translations. Recorded utilising the DSD
system 26 August 2003 at Blackheath Halls,
London, UK (arias); 21 March 2004 King Center,
Denver, Colorado, USA (cantata). CD tracks
2.0 stereo, Hybrid SACD
Tracks 5.1 surround
AVIE AV0030 [67.01] [PSh]
A
stunning performance, a magnificent achievement,
an absolute must-have for Handel enthusiasts
and vocal collectors and students ... see
Full Review
Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809)
Symphony
No. 99 in E flat major [27:59] Symphony No.
101 in D major "The Clock" [28:15]
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Nikolaus
Harnoncourt Rec. Concertgebouw, Amsterdam,
January-February 1988, February 1990 DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61175-2 [56:15] [PG]
Should
a listener have a particular fondness for
these symphonies, this would be a welcome
addition to their collection, as the performances
are exquisite ... see
Full Review
Franz Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809)
Symphony
No. 102 in B flat major, Hob.1:102 [23’29"]
Symphony No. 104 in D major, Hob.1: 104 ‘London’*
[27’09"]
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Nikolaus
Harnoncourt Rec. Concertgebouw, Amsterdam,
January/February, 1988; *July 1987. DDD
WARNER ELATUS 2564 60659-2 [50’58"]
[JQ]
Though
there is much about this disc that is stimulating
my allegiance to Davis is not broken. ...
see Full Review
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809)
String Quartets, Op. 50 (1787-88) No.
1 in B flat major No. 2 in C major No. 3 in
E flat major
Lindsay String Quartet Rec. 24-26 June 2003,
Holy Trinity Church, Wentworth, Yorkshire
ASV GOLD GLD 4007 [70.43]
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809)
String Quartets, Op. 50 (1787-88) No.
4 in F sharp minor No. 5 in F major No. 6
in D major ‘The Frog’
Lindsay String Quartet Rec. 8-10 April 2003,
Holy Trinity Church, Wentworth, Yorkshire
ASV GOLD GLD 4008 [68.53] [TB]
Recommended
as the best available in this repertoire ..
surely the benchmark for years to come. Each
of these marvellous works exudes its own personality
in every bar. ... see Full
Review
Hilmar Örn HILMARSSON
(b.
1958) ENGLAR ALHEIMSINS/ANGELS
OF THE UNIVERSE (OST of the film by Fridrik
Thor Fridriksson) Approach/Dream
Memory,The Black Dog and the Scottish Play,
Degradation, Over the Bend, Colours, Journey
to the Underworld, Shave, On the Road, Another
Memory, Relapse, Coma, Schiller in China,
Helpless, Te Morituri… , Bíum Bíum
Bambaló * , Death Announcements and
Funerals * ,
Szymon Kuran, violin Kristján Eldjárn,
guitar Birgir Baldursson and Sigttryggur Baldursson,
percussion Tómas M. Tómasson,
bass * written and performed by Sigur Rós
Recorded in Hljodhver Althydhunnar and Studio
Syrlandi *, Iceland.
Krúnk/Fat Cat FATOST-CD01 [41.10]
[NH]
A
beautiful soundtrack with a sting in its tail.
Investigation recommended………See Full
Review.
Robin HOLLOWAY
(b.
1943) Violin
Concerto Op.70 (1990) Horn Concerto Op.43
(1980)
Ernst Kovacic (violin); Barry Tuckwell (horn)
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Matthias Bamert
Recorded: Usher Hall, Edinburgh, April 1994
NMC ANCORA D 097 [72:55] [HC]
Holloway’s
music has a remarkable expressive strength.
This NMC re-issue is most welcome, and I urge
all those who missed the original Collins
release to get it. ... see Full
Review
Andrés
Isasi
(1890-1940) Symphony
No. 2 in G minor, Op. 23 (1931) [43.58] Suite
No. 2 in E major, Op. 21 (c.1930) [11.43]
Bilbao Symphony Orchestra/Juan José
Mena Recorded at the Palacio Euskalduna, Bilbao,
Spain: 29th – 31st August
2001
NAXOS 8.557584 [56.08] [JF]
An
attractive issue of music by the little known
Isasi. Totally enjoyable without being totally
revelatory. The Second Symphony’s second movement
is a masterpiece. ... see Full
Review
Charles IVES
(1874-1954)
Violin
Sonatas: No. 1 (c.1914) [22’14]; No. 2 (c.1914)
[14’15]; No. 3 (c.1914) [30’06]; No. 4, ‘Children’s
Day at the Camp Meeting’ (c.1916) [9’42].
Curt Thompson (violin); Rodney Waters (piano).
Rec. Duncan Recital Hall, Rice University
Shepherd School of Music, Houston, Texas,
January 8th-10th (Nos.
1/4), May 26th-27th
(No. 2); December 16th-18th
(No. 3) 1998. DDD
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559119 [76’47]
[CC]
Highly
recommended listening, then. The unswerving
advocacy of these two youthful performers
will, I am sure, win many converts. ... see
Full Review
Charles IVES
(1874-1954) Piano
Sonata No 2 Concord (c.1915, published
1920-1) Varied Air and Variations The Celestial
Railroad Four Transcriptions from Emerson
(No 1)
Steven Mayer (piano) Rec. Toronto Arts Center,
January 2002. DDD
NAXOS 8.559127 [72:35] [PCW]
I
find it difficult to think of a greater 20th
century piano sonata – a modern Hammerklavier…
the performance of Steven Mayer is quite masterly
... see Full Review
Joseph JONGEN
(1873
– 1953)
Piano Quartet Op.23 (1902), Piano Trio Op.30
(1906/7)
Ensemble Joseph Jongen (Diane Andersen,
piano; Eliot Lawson, violin; Jacques Dupriez,
viola; Mark Drobinsky, cello)Recorded: Studio
The Right Place, Brussels, May 2003
CYPRES CYP 1638 [78:33] [HC]
Another
important milestone and a magnificent addition
to the discography.
Jongen? Yes, the Symphonie Concertante, but
what else? Now, you know. ... see Full
Review
Ernesto LECUONA (1895
– 1963) En
una Noche así : On a night like this
: Love Songs : Siempre en
mi corazón, Como presciento, Allàen
le sierra (from Córdoba), Tu no tienes
corazón,Mi mi corazón se fué,
Dome de tus rosas, !No es por ti!, ! Mira!
(from La Habanera), Dame el amor, Que risa
me da, La comparsa, Al din, Se abreiron las
flores, Conga Cuba, Amor tadio, En una noche
así (from the film Carnival in Costa
Rica") Devuélveme el mi corazón,
Primavera de illusion, Me hads dejado, No
me engañarás, Rumba mejoral,
No me mires ni me hables, Mi amor fue una
flor, Canción del amor trist.
Carole Farley (soprano), John Constable (piano)
recorded Stockholm, 19/22 August 2002,.DDD.
BIS CD 1374 [70’28"] [AO]
Other
recordings of Lecuona’s songs do exist, but
this is the one that will put them on the
map. ... see Full Review
Kenneth LEIGHTON (1929-1988)
Four
Romantic Pieces Op. 95 (1987) [21:29]
Sonata for Four Hands Op. 92 (1984-85)
[21:18]
Kenneth Leighton (Opp. 92, 95); Colin Kingsley
(Op. 92) rec. Wigmore Hall, Nov 1987, Feb
1988. AAD
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS CD 408R [42:47]
[RB]
Challengingly attractive
music with jazzy infusions ... see Full
Review
Franz LISZT
(1811-1886)
Twelve
Transcendental Studies (1852), S.139 
Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded 28th December
1990 and 6th January 2001 at the Concert Artist
Studios
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO CACD9084-2 [64:46]
[CH]
Hatto
is in that royal line of Liszt interpreters
who believe that this is great music and is
to be played as such. ... 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]
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