RECORDING OF THE MONTH John ADAMS (b. 1947) Short Ride in a Fast Machine (1986) [4’05"] The Wound Dresser* (1988) [19’19"] Shaker Loops (1978, rev. 1983) [25’28"] Ferrucio BUSONI (1866-1924) arr. ADAMS Berceuse élégiaque (1991) [9’27] *Nathan Gunn (baritone) Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Marin Alsop Recorded at the Lighthouse Poole Centre for Arts, UK, 10 – 11 June 2003. DDD NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559031 [58’20"] [JQ]

Excellent performances in good recorded sound .... an ideal very inexpensive introduction to one of the most stimulating composers currently before the public. Well-nigh ideal. Urgently recommended. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Toward the Unknown Region Malcolm ARNOLD – A Story of Survival - A Film by Tony PALMER Ratio 16:9. Widescreen. All regions. Isolde Films ISO 001 [133:00]also available as VHS [CT]

A remarkably honest and moving portrait of Malcolm Arnold’s extraordinary and often tragic life. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor op.25 (1861) Robert SCHUMANN (1810-56) Fantasiestucke for piano, violin and cello op.88 (1842) Martha Argerich (piano) Gidon Kremer (violin) Yuri Bashmet (viola) Mischa Maisky (cello) Recording: Teldec Studio, Berlin. February 2002 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON DG 463 700-2 [58:17] [MC]

Really great performances with the Brahms undoubtedly a ‘classic’. An indispensable release! ... see Full Review

DISC OF THE MONTH Peter MAXWELL DAVIES (b. 1934) Naxos Quartets: No. 1 (2002) [29’35]; No. 2 (2003) [53’05]. Maggini Quartet (Laurence Jackson, David Angel, violins; Martin Outram, viola; Michal Kaznowski, cello). Rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, on September 30^th-October 2^nd, 2003. DDD NAXOS 8.557396 [72’39] [CC]

A superb, vitally important disc. Naxos is to be congratulated on their foresight in aiding the creation of a cycle of quartets that promises so much. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in f-sharp minor, Op. 1 [26:02] Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in g minor, Op. 40 [24:35] Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 43 [23:44] Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in c minor, Op. 18 [32:26] Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in d minor, Op. 30 [38:23] Stephen Hough (piano) Dallas Symphony Orchestra/Andrew Litton Recorded live in concerts at the Eugene McDermott Concert Hall, Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas TX in May 2004. DDD HYPERION CDA67501/2 [74:41 + 70:54] [KS]

A must have. A revelation. Get it. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Vier letzte Lieder* [20’44"]; Capriccio: Closing Scene* [20’09"] Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Schéhérazade** [15’04"] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Le nozze di Figaro: "Porgi, amor, qualche ristoro" *** [3’36"]; "E Susanna non vien! – Dove sono i bei momenti*** [6’43"] Elisabeth Söderström (soprano) *Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Antal Dorati **BBC Symphony Orchestra/Pierre Boulez ***Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard Recorded: *Royal Festival Hall, London, 3 October 1976; **Royal Albert Hall, London, 3 August 1971; *** Royal Albert Hall, London, 20 August 1960 ADD BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4153-2 [67’46"] [JQ]

Treasurable ... vividly recalls one of the greatest soprano voices of the second half of the last century. The recorded sound is very good in the Strauss ... see Full Review

SURPRISE RECORDING OF THE MONTH Kurt WEILL (1900-1950) The Seven Deadly Sins [35:19] Alabama Song [2:55] The Ballade of Sexual Dependency/Die Ballade der Sexuellen Hörigkeit [2:37] Bilbao Song [5:04] Pirate Jenny/Seeräuber Jenny [4:34] Bertolt Brecht, lyrics Marianne Faithfull, voice Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra/Dennis Russell Davies Recorded at Konzerthaus, Vienna on 5 June, 1997 and at Großer Sendesaal, Radiokulturhaus, Vienna on 9 February, 1998. DDD BMG CLASSICS 82876 60872 2 [50:46] [PG]

This album crosses boundaries and can easily be recommended to fans of rock sensibilities, jazz tonalities or musical theatre and operetta. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sara Mingardo (contralto) Arie, Madrigali e Cantate Tarquinio MERULA (c.1595-1665) Hor ch’è tempo di morire [8:51] Giovanni SALVATORE (1600-c.1688) Allor che Tirsi udia [8:33] Giacomo CARISSIMI (1605-1674) Deh, memoria, e che più chiedi [7:22] Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Vorrei baciarti* (from 7th Book of Madrigals) [5:28] Francesco CAVALLI (1602-1676) Erme e solinghe cime (from La Calisto) [6:44] Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Se i languidi miei sguardi (from 7th Book of Madrigals) [7:14] Giovanni LEGRENZI (1626-1690) Costei ch’in mezzo al volto scritt’ha il mio cor [4:52] Gorge Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Lungi da me pensier [11:45] Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Pianti, sospiri e dimandar mercede RV 676 [10:20] Sara Mingardo (contralto), Monica Bacelli (mezzo-soprano)* Concerto Italiano/Rinaldo Alessandrini Recorded January 2004, Sala Accademica del PIMS, Rome NAIVE/OPUS111 OP 30395 [71:40] [CH]

Fascinating and thrilling; anyone at all interested in baroque music should give this a hearing. ... see Full Review

 

BARGAINS OF THE MONTH

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945) Rhapsody, Op. 1 (1904) [22’45]. Etudes, Op. 18/Sz72 (1918) [11’13]. Suite, Op. 14/Sz62 (1916) [10’34] Sonatina, Sz55 (1915) [4’36]. Out of Doors, Sz81 (1926) [16’41]. Allegro barbaro, Sz49 (1911) [3’02] Andreas Bach (piano) Rec. August 22^nd-25^th, 2003 in Studio 2 of the Bavarian Radio. DDD OEHMS CLASSICS OC348 [68’58] [CC]

Enthusiastically recommended. Bach is a most musical pianist whose understanding of the Bartókian idiom should be sampled. Currently available at a bargain price from Crotchet... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH André JOLIVET (1905 – 1974) The Erato Recordings Cello Concerto No.1 (1962)^a Cello Concerto No.2 (1967)^b Suite en concert (1965)^a Harp Concerto (1952)^c Trumpet Concerto No.1 (1948)^d Trumpet Concerto No.2 (1954)^d Ondes Martenot Concerto (1947)^e Heptade (1970)^d Arioso barocco (1968)^d Flute Concerto No.1 (1949)^f Suite en concert (1965/6)^f Chant de Linos (1944)^g Six Incantations (1936/7)^f Sérénade avec hautbois principal (1944)^g Cinq Danses rituelles (1939, orchestrated 1940/1) Bassoon Concerto (1954)^h Suite liturgique (1942)ⁱ Poèmes intimes (1944)^j Lily Laskine (harp)^c; Jeanne Loriod (ondes Martenot)^e; Colette Herzog (soprano)ⁱ; André Navarra (cello)^a; Mstislav Rostropovich (cello)^b; Maurice André (trumpet)^d; Jean-Pierre Rampal (flute)^f; Maurice Allard (bassoon)^h; Maîtrise de l’ORTF, Jacques Jouineauⁱ; Quintette Marie-Claire Jamet^g; Orchestre de l’association des Concerts Lamoureux; Orchestre National de l’ORTF; Orchestre Philharmonique de l’ORTF; Orchestre Jean-François Paillard; Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg^j; André Jolivet, Alain Lombard^j Recorded: ORTF Studios, Paris, December 1968-January 1969 (Cello Concerto No.1, Cinq Danses), November 1967 (Harp Concerto, Ondes Martenot Concerto); and Eglise du Liban, Paris, May 1966 and April 1967 (flute works), and September 1967 (Bassoon Concerto). No further information concerning the other works WARNER ERATO 2564 61320-2 [78:04 + 71:32 + 76:48 + 71:58] [HC]

May be safely recommended to those who want to investigate Jolivet, in excellent performances and at quite approachable expense. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 (Piano Transcription) S464/R128 (1863-5) Konstantin Scherbakov (piano) Rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk in June 2003 DDD NAXOS 8.557366 [63:05] [PCW]

Each time I have listened to it I have marvelled at Beethoven’s music, Liszt’s conception for the piano, and Scherbakov’s musicianship and virtuosity. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Symphony No.6 ‘Fantaisies symphoniques’ (1951-3) Three Frescoes of Piero della Francesca (1954-5) Orchestral suite ‘Julietta’ (1937) Symphony Orchestra St.Gallen/Jiři Kout Recorded at the Tonhalle St.Gallen, Switzerland, June 2003 (Symphony, Julietta) and March 2004 (Frescoes) ARTE NOVA 82876 57740-2 [63’17] [TH]

Recording: rich and full ... A super-budget winner. ... see Full Review

 

Book Review

 

 

 

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