MusicWeb reviewers select their Recordings of the Year
Reviewers were allowed a totally free choice. They were not restricted
to discs they had reviewed.
PART TWO Part
1
Click on cover to read a full review
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John
Quinn |
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Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Overture:
La Forza del destino* [734"];
Messa da Requiem [8318"]
Carlo Maria Giulini in conversation
with Michael Oliver [644"]
_files/smallredball.gif)
Ilva
Ligabue (soprano); Grace Bumbry
(mezzo-soprano); Sándor Kónya
(tenor); Raffaele Arié (bass)
Philharmonia Chorus/Wilhelm Pitz
Philharmonia Orchestra/Carlo Maria
Giulini Rec. 26 April 1964; *16
May 1961, Royal Festival Hall, London.
mono ADD
BBC
LEGENDS BBCL 4144-2 [5459"
+ 4718"] [JQ]
Issued
to mark the great Italian conductor's
90th birthday, there could scarcely
be a finer tribute. The recorded
sound has some limitations but the
performance does not. There are
fine soloists and a superb chorus
and orchestra. Above all, there's
the maestro himself, displaying
total conviction and dedication.
On the evening of 26 April 1964
he was on fire. This is an incandescent,
almost driven reading, which blazes
with conviction from first note
to last. This extraordinary performance
of the Verdi Requiem is an awesome
achievement. I doubt I'll ever hear
a better one. I haven't changed
my mind since the verdict of my
original review: "Absolutely
superb! Indispensable! Buy it!"
JQ
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Great
Conductors of the Twentieth Century:Dimitri
Mitropoulos Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911): Symphony
No 6 in A minor* [7439"] Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869):
Roméo et Juliette. Symphonie
Dramatique; Op. 17 - Excerpts **
[4628"]: Introduction; Roméo
Seul; Scène damour; La reine
Mab, ou la fée des songes;
Roméo au tombeau des Capulets
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918):
La Mer*** [2236"] Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949):
Salome: Dance of the Seven Veils****
[849"] *WDR Sinfonieorchester
Köln (Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester)
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Dimitri Mitropoulos
Rec. *Klaus-von-Bismark Saal, WDR,
Cologne, 31 August 1959; 30th
Street Studios, New York, **22 October
1952; ***27 November 1950; *****3
November 1956. ADD
EMI CLASSICS GREAT CONDUCTORS OF
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY 7243 5 75471
2 3 [7442"+7818"]
[JQ]
One
of the finest volumes in this series.
It includes individual and strongly
characterised readings of La Mer
and of substantial excerpts from
Berlioz's Roméo et Juillette.
Fine though these performances are
they are dwarfed by a shattering
live account of Mahler's Sixth symphony.
The orchestra plays out of their
skins and copes heroically with
the strenuous demands made upon
them by both composer and conductor.
I can only say, borrowing Michael
Kennedy's felicitous phrase in reviewing
another performance that I was "left
drained yet elated by this devastating
masterpiece of a symphony."
The Mahler is the highlight of the
set but the whole anthology offers
examples of great, inspirational
conducting and it is music making
that demands to be heard.
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Richard
STRAUSS
(1864-1949)
Vier letzte Lieder* [2044"];
Capriccio: Closing Scene* [2009"]
Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Schéhérazade**
[1504"] Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Le nozze di Figaro: "Porgi,
amor, qualche ristoro" ***
[336"]; "E Susanna non
vien! Dove sono i bei momenti***
[643"] 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 [6746"]
[JQ]
Another
notable release from BBC Legends.
This delightful programme includes
performances of Mozart and Ravel
by the great Swedish soprano. However,
the greatest interest lies in superb
renditions of music by Richard Strauss.
In the closing monologue from Capriccio
Söderström conveys the
vulnerability and sensuousness of
Countess Madeleine to perfection.
She sings with glorious expressiveness,
using the words superbly, and her
tone is consistently expansive and
lustrous. The performance of the
Four Last Songs is every bit as
excellent. Indeed, this is one of
the finest readings of these wondrous
songs that I've heard. This treasureable
disc contains singing of great distinction
and vividly recalls one of the greatest
soprano voices of the second half
of the last century. This is a disc
which gave me the utmost pleasure
from start to finish and which ought
to be in the collection of every
aficionado of great singing. JQ
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John
ADAMS (b.
1947) Short
Ride in a Fast Machine (1986)
[4:05] The Wound Dresser (1988)
[19:19]
Berceuse élégiaque
(1991) [9:27] Shaker Loops
(1978, rev. 1983) [25:28]
Nathan Gunn, baritone
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Marin
Alsop Recorded at the Lighthouse
Poole Centre for Arts, UK, 10-11
June 2003. DDD NAXOS
8.559031 [58:20]
I
had thought that the recording of
Adams' On the Transmigration of
Souls, which
I also reviewed in October might
be one of my choices. However, further
reflection and the comments of a
friend whose judgement I particularly
respect, have made me wonder if
that work will stand the test of
time. However, I have no such doubts
about the pieces included on this
CD, especially Shaker Loops and
The Wound Dresser. Marin Alsop leads
a quite splendid performance of
the former. Her very fine reading
stands up very well, I think, in
comparison with the composer's own
superb recording. Nathan Gunn is
the excellent soloist in The Wound
Dresser, a masterly score. All of
Marin Alsop's discs that I've heard
to date have impressed me but I
fancy that this may be her most
important achievement to date in
the studio. This CD seems to me
to offer an ideal (and very inexpensive)
introduction to the music of one
of the most interesting and stimulating
composers currently before the public.
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John
SANDERS (1933-2003)
Festival
Te Deum** [711"] A Prayer of
Cardinal Newman [320"] The Firmament**
[636"] Soliloquy for Organ**
[507"] The Gloucester Service:
Magnificat* [507"]; Nunc Dimittis*
[335"] Dedication* [213"]
My beloved spake [258"] Requiem
[2313"] I will lift up mine
eyes* [401"] Toccata for organ*
[402"] A Prayer* [321"]
The Choir of Gonville and Caius
College, Cambridge/Geoffrey Webber
Organists: Francesca Massey* and Thomas
Hewitt Jones** Recorded in Gloucester
Cathedral 21-24 March, 2004 DDD British
Church Composers Series, Vol. 1
PRIORY PRCD 831 [7234"]
[JQ]
John
Sanders (1993-2003) was Organist
of Gloucester Cathedral from 1967-1994.
Besides all his notable achievements
as an organist and conductor he
was, as this CD demonstrates, a
fine, eloquent composer who wrote
for the human voice with exceptional
understanding. At the heart of the
programme is his Requiem (1998)
for unaccompanied choir. This is
a consoling and dignified work of
great beauty. All the music in this
recital exhibits great compositional
and technical skill and will give
listeners great pleasure. This CD
provides proof in abundance that
fine liturgical music is still being
written to enlighten us in these
troubled times. The performances
by the choir of Gonville and Caius
College, Cambridge under Geoffrey
Webber are splendid.
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Donald
Satz |
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Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750) Goldberg
Variations, BWV 988
Pierre Hantaï,
harpsichord Recorded at Doopgezindekerk
de Haarlem (Pays-Bas), 2003
MIRARE MIR
9945 [78:40]
Ten
years after his outstanding version
of the Goldberg Variatiions on the
Naive label, Hantai gives us a second
recording that is darker and richer
in emotional content than the earlier
release. The new interpretation
is also more improvisatory with
sharper contours and greater use
of rhythmic hesitations and tempo
changes. Both versions are exceptional
and mandatory for a Bach enthusiast's
music library. DS
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Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Well Tempered
Clavier: Book I, BWV 846-869
Till Fellner, piano Rec. Jugendstiltheater,
Vienna, September 2002
ECM NEW SERIES 1853/54 B0002285-02
[54’05 + 60’41]
A
superb interpretation of the greatest
body of music ever created. Fellner's
style is informed by lean textures
of pristine quality, rounded contours,
subtle intensity and exceptional
detailing of inner voices and the
interplay among musical lines. Most
compelling, Fellner offers a very
warm and affectionate set of performances
combined with an incisive portrayal
of the underside of the human condition.
An essential recording for Bach
fans and piano enthusiasts. DS
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Frederic CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Ballade in
G minor, Op. 23 Ballade in F major,
Op. 38 Ballade in A flat major,
Op. 47 Ballade in F minor, Op. 52
Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49 Barcarolle
in F sharp minor, Op. 60 Polonaise-Fantaisie
in A flat major, Op. 61
Burkard Schliessmann,
piano Recorded Friedrich-Ebert-Halle,
Hamburg, April 2002 Hybrid SACD
playable on SACD players and standard
CD players 
BAYER RECORDS
BR 100 348 CD [70:54]
An
expert and highly interesting set
of Chopin performances from one
of the greatest pianists of current
time. Schliessmann displays a fabulous
technique, superb musical instincts,
and an inquisitive nature. His blend
of intuition and intellect is riveting,
and listeners will experience a
truly unique look at these Chopin
masterpieces. In the standard CD
format, the soundstage is exceptional
with a rich and well-detailed environment.
In the multi-channel format, the
sound is more expansive, revealing
nuances not available in the standard
format. DS
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Johann
Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
The Six French Suites, BWV
812-817
David Cates, harpsichord Recorded
Takilma, Oregon, November 2001
MUSIC & ARTS
1124 [2CDs - 95:00]
Although
David Cates skips second subject
repeats, his performances are the
most consistently excellent on record.
He offers an abundance of buoyancy
and poignant utterances, employing
a fascinating staggering technique
where musical lines are played slightly
after the beat. With superlative
clarity and richness of sound, these
imaginative and daring interpretations
are a first choice for those new
to the French Suites.DS
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Nikolay
MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950)
Violin Concerto in D minor, Op.
44 (1938) Mieczyslaw
VAINBERG (1919-1996)
Violin Concerto in G minor, Op.
67 (1960)
Ilya Grubert, violin Russian Philharmonic
Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky Rec.
Studio 5, Moscow State Broadcasting
and Recording House, February/March
2003
NAXOS 8.557194
[66’49]
A
stunning recording of two masterful
violin concertos never paired before
on record. Myakovsky's rapturous
Concerto is in the grand romantic
tradtion and possesses a host of
memorable themes. The Vainberg Concerto
is a harrowing work reflecting the
composer's musical response to a
debilitating and brutal dictatorship.
Performances are exceptional, especially
the solo work of Ilya Grubert. This
is one of the most rewarding discs
I have ever heard from the Naxos
label, and I consider it essential
for fans of Russian music and the
violin. DS
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Paul
Serotsky |
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Havergal
BRIAN (1876-1972)
Symphony No. 1 The Gothic
(1919-1927)
Eva Jenisová (sop), Dagmar
Pecková (alto), Vladimir
Dolezal (ten), Peter Mikulás
(bass) Slovak Philharmonic Choir,
Slovak National Opera Chorus, Slovak
Folk Ensemble Chorus, Bratislava
City Choir, Lucnica Choir, Bratislava
Children’s Choir, Youth 'Echo'
Choir CSR Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava),
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra/Ondrej
Lenard rec. Concert Hall, Czechoslovak
Radio, Bratislava, 29-31 March,
16-22 Oct 1989. DDD
NAXOS 8.557418-419
[59.11+54.56]
It
may be "only" a reissue,
but it is a god-send! This glorious
music, which outdoes even Mahler
and Berlioz at their most massive,
visionary and - yes! - intimate,
is now widely available in Naxos's
bargain-basement. However, the production
itself is far from "bargain
basement" - it's very decently
packaged and retains all the substance
of the original Marco Polo issue's
documentation. Considering the utterly
extraordinary demands of the music,
the recording is miraculously clean
and spacious, yet detailed, capturing
performances of uncommon incandescence
and missionary zeal. Available for
little more than the price of a
pizza, but infinitely more involving
and edifying, there is really no
excuse for not owning this magnificent
monument, which surely deserves
to be included in any list of "The
Great Achievements of the Gramophone".
P Se
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Paul
Shoemaker |
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Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906 - 1975)
Symphony
#5 in d, Op 47 (1937) [47.57] Symphony
#9 in Eb, Op 70 (1945) [25.44] Kirov
Orchestra/Valery Gergiev Rec. Martti
Talvela Hall, Helsinki, Finland,
30 June 2002 (5); Mariinsky Theater,
St. Petersburg, Russia, 18 May 2002
(9) Note in English, Français,
Deutsch. Photo of the composer and
of the conductor. CD tracks in 5.1
AC-3 sound. Super Audio tracks in
2.0 stereo and 5.1 surround. Hybrid
Super-Audio CD SACD playable on
cd players.
PHILIPS 470 651-2 [73.53]
Gergiev’s
beautiful, intense, richly detailed
version of this often recorded work
moves at once to the top of the
list, firmly establishing the conductor’s
position among the very greatest
of this or any age. P
Sh
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Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873 - 1943) Piano Concerto
#2 in c, Op 18 (1901) [32.38] Piano
Concerto #3 in d, Op 30 (1909) [40.55]
Konstantin
Scherbakov, piano Russian State
Symphony Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky
Recorded in Studio 5, State RecordingHouse,
Moscow, Russia, 25 May 2002 CD tracks
in 2.0 stereo. SACD tracks in 2.0
stereo and 5.1 surround sound. DSD
Hybrid SACD playable on CD players
and SACD players
NAXOS 6.110013 [73.33] Discrete
5.1 surround sound at 48kHz 24Bit,
Dolby 5.1 (AC-3), and DTS 5.1. DVD-Audio
playable on all DVD players &
DVD-audio players. NAXOS 5.110013
[73.33]
Perhaps
nobody should be performing the
Second Concerto right now (this
requires idealism and innocence,
two qualities not to be found in
Russia or indeed anywhere in this
world.) but this is a splendid Third
Concerto, performed as well as anyone
ever has done, presented, in the
DVD-Audio version, with sound so
accurate and powerful it sets a
new absolute benchmark. This is
the single finest surround sound
orcherstral recording ever made.
How long will it keep the crown?
P
Sh
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George
Frideric Handel (1685 - 1757)
Theodora, HWV
68, oratorio in three acts, text
by Thomas Morell (1750)
[207.00]
Theodora-
Dawn Upshaw Didymus - David Daniels
Valens - Frode Olsen Septimus -
Richard Croft Irene - Lorraine Hunt
[Lieberson] Keyboard continuo, Jonathan
Hinden; Cello continuo, Susan Sheppard;
Theorbo continuo, Elizabeth Kenny.
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment/William
Christie Stage Director and video
direction, Peter Sellars. Sets,
George Tsypin; Costumes, Duná
Ramicová Recorded at the
Glyndebourne auditorium, East Sussex,
England, 1996. Brief synopsis and
track list in English. On-screen
menus in English. Subtitles in English,
Français, Deutsch. Format
DVD-9, NTSC 4:3 colour. Region code
2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Dolby digital 2.0
stereo. Region 1 version available
on Kultur video, 
WARNER
MUSIC VISION 0630-15481-2
[207.00]
The
silly staging adds a little welcome
comic relief for this unrelievedly
solemn work, but nothing can distract
from the extraordinary vocal and
dramatic qualities of Upshaw, Daniels,
Croft, and Hunt-Lieberson. The one
absolute must-have opera recording
released this year. P
Sh
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Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835 -
1921) Symphony #3, Op
78 Organ (1886) [34.44]
Berj Zamkochian, Aeolian-Skinner
organ; Bernard Zighera and Leo Litwin,
pianos. Recorded 6 April 1959. Claude
DEBUSSY (1862 - 1918)
La Mer (1905) [22.52] Recorded 9
December 1956 Jacques
IBERT (1890 - 1962)
Escales (1922) [15.21]
Ralph
Gomberg, oboe solo Recorded 10 December
1956 Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles
Munch Recorded in Symphony Hall,
Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Restored
and remastered to DSD at Soundmirror,
Inc. 3.0 and 2.0 stereo. Notes in
English, Deutsch, Français.
Technical and historical notes in
English.
Hybrid SACD playable on CD players.
RCA/BMG 828766-61387-2
[73.04]
One
of the finest recordings of anything
ever made, presented here in a virtually
perfect SACD version of the newly
discovered three-channel original
analogue master tape from 1959.
Easily brushes aside all the competition,
incuding that from other recent
high resolution releases—both
in performance and sound. P
Sh
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Kevin
Sutton |
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Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
Sonata
No. 2 for violin and piano in D,
Op. 94a [24:10] Eugène
YSAE (1858-1931) Sonata
No. 3 in d minor "Ballade" for unaccompanied
violin, Op. 27, no. 3 [6:59] Ernest
CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Poème,
op. 25 [14:41] Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Sonata for violin and piano
no. 1 in d minor, op. 75 [23:51]
Jack
Liebeck, violin Katya Apekisheva,
piano Rec. Wathen Hall, St. Pauls
School, England, 25 May, 2 July
2003. DDD
QUARTZ QTZ 2002 [70:00]
One
of the finest young talents to appear
on the music scene in some time,
Jack Liebeck plays with passion
and conviction coupled with great
refinement and intelligence. This
is one of the best recital discs
to have come across my desk in some
time indeed.
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John
ADAMS (b.
1947) Short
Ride in a Fast Machine (1986)
[4:05] The Wound Dresser (1988)
[19:19]
Berceuse élégiaque
(1991) [9:27] Shaker Loops
(1978, rev. 1983) [25:28]
Nathan Gunn, baritone
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Marin
Alsop Recorded at the Lighthouse
Poole Centre for Arts, UK, 10-11
June 2003. DDD NAXOS
8.559031 [58:20]
The
best of the American big-three minimalist
composers, John Adams is an original
and unique voice in music in this
country. Marin Alsop proves herself
to be the great white hope of US
conductors in these outstanding
renditions of some fascinating music.
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Joaquín
RODRIGO
(1901-1999) Concierto
pastoral for flute and orchestra
(1978) Dos miniatures andaluzas
for string orchestra (1929)
Adagio para instrumentos de viento
(1966) Fantasía para
un Gentilhombre (1978) arranged
for flute by James Galway Joanna
Gfroerer (flute) Asturias Symphony
Orchestra/Maximiano Valdés
Recorded at the Auditorio Principe
Felipe, Asturias, June 2002 Complete
Orchestral Works Volume 8
NAXOS 8.557801 [62.36]
A
fascinating composer whose works
for orchestra have been sadly neglected,
this series is a treasure trove
of interesting and refreshing music.
Anyone who dismisses Rodrigo as
merely a guitarist with a couple
of big hits need look no further
than here.
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Christopher
Thomas |
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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
These
days I would not expect to be breaking
with convention in naming a DVD
as one of my discs of the year.
What may be somewhat unusual however
is the fact that this is a documentary,
but I make no apologies for its
inclusion in my shortlist. Tony
Palmer’s powerful, riveting
and remarkably frank portrait of
Malcolm Arnold makes for compulsive
viewing and even alongside Palmer’s
other filmic achievements (his portrait
of William Walton, At the Haunted
End of the Day is another favourite
of mine) this stands out as a triumph
of the medium. It is certainly not
all cosy yuletide viewing yet I
defy anyone not to be utterly drawn
in by this fascinating insight into
the life and music of a tortured
yet remarkable man. CT
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Elizabeth
MACONCHY (1907-1994) Complete
String Quartets String
Quartet No. 1 (1932/33) String Quartet
No. 2 (1936) String Quartet No.
3 (1938) String Quartet No. 4 (1942/43)
String Quartet No. 5 (1948) String
Quartet No. 6 (1950) String Quartet
No. 7 (1955) String Quartet No.
8 (1967) String Quartet No. 9 (1968)
String Quartet No. 10 (1972) String
Quartet No. 11 (1976) String Quartet
No. 12 (1979) String Quartet No.
13 Quartetto Corto (1984)
Hanson
String Quartet (Quartets 1-4) Bingham
String Quartet (Quartets 5-8) Mistry
String Quartet (Quartets 9-13) Rec.
St, Martin’s Church, East
Woodhay, 19-21 April 1989 (Quartets
1-4) Radley College, Abingdon, 28-30
March 1989 (Quartets 5-8); Radley
College, Abingdon, 5-7 April 1989
(Quartets 9-13) DDD
FORUM
FRC 9301 [3 CDs: 59:00
+ 69:27 + 64:02]
Although
a re-release this is the first time
Elizabeth Maconchy’s quartets
have appeared packaged in a boxed
set. Originally on the Unicorn Kanchana
label this fine cycle, one of the
very best by any British composer,
has been out of the catalogue for
far too long so it’s great
to see it back The Hanson, Bingham
and Mistry Quartets all give performances
of conviction and at bargain price
it’s an opportunity too good
to miss. CT
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The
Film Music of Ralph
Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Volume 2 49th Parallel
(1940) (Suite edited by Stephen
Hogger) The Dim Little Island (1949)
(Partially reconstructed by Stephen
Hogger) The England of Elizabeth
(1955) (Suite edited by Stephen
Hogger)
Emily Gray (soprano) Martin Hindmarsh
(tenor) Chetham's Chamber Choir
Rumon Gamba conducting the BBC Philharmonic
Orchestra Recorded Studio 7, New
Broadcasting House, Manchester,
30 September- 1 October 2003
CHANDOS
CHAN 10244 [70:47]
Following
on from Volume One, which featured
the first recording of the complete
score from Scott of the Antarctic,
chief interest here is in the incidental
music for the 49th Parallel. Again
this is the first complete recording
and what glorious music it contains.
The England of Elizabeth is more
familiar thanks to Muir Mathieson’s
truncated suite but this reconstruction
of the complete suite by Stephen
Hogger reveals new joys. A disc
that no VW enthusiast can afford
to be without. CT
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Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Symphony no. 4 in F minor (1934)
Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 (1906) Flos
Campi (1925)
Paul
Silverthorne, viola Bournemouth
Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Paul
Daniel. Recorded March 2003 in The
Concert Hall, Lighthouse, Poole,
UK.
NAXOS 8.557276
[62.34]
This
is a last minute addition to my
discs of 2004 and as I write I am
still working on the unfinished
review. Having listened to Paul
Daniel’s scintillating recording
of Vaughan William’s Fourth
Symphony twice now however, I simply
had to include it in my list. It
follows on from Daniel’s authoritative
reading of the Sea Symphony and
once again the Bournemouth Symphony
Orchestra respond to his direction
with tremendous commitment. For
some years my benchmark recordings
of the work have been the composer’s
own recording and the inimitable
Vernon Handley. For sheer excitement,
if not perfection of orchestral
performance, VW himself cannot be
beaten. Yet amongst modern recordings
Daniel at last presents us with
a true rival for Handley. Add to
this a beautifully atmospheric Norfolk
Rhapsody No. 1 and Flos Campi with
a first class soloist in Paul Silverthorne
and this is a winner of a disc.
CT
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Johan
van Veen |
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Francois
COUPERIN (1668-1733)
Complete Chamber Music
CD1 ‘Les Nations’ Volume
1 1st and 2nd ordres [48.28] CD2
‘Les Nations’ Volume
2 ‘3rd Ordre ‘L’Impériale’
4th ordre ‘La Piémontoise’
[48.44] CD3 Concerts Royaux ; [49.35]
CD4 Les Goûts-réunis
Part 1 Concerts 5-8 [55.52] CD5
Les Goûts-réunis Part
2 Concerts 6-14 [63.32] CD6 ‘Le
Parnasse ou L’Apothéose
de Corelli’ and Concert Instrumental
sous le titre D’Apothéose
de Lully’ [42.16] CD7 La Sultane;
La Superbe; Le Steinquerque; Pièces
de Violes (2 suites) Le Rossignol
en amour [60.01]
Musica
ad Rhenum/Jed Wentz Recorded at
the church of Maria Minore, Spring
2004
BRILLIANT CLASSICS
92178 1-7 [7 CDs - timings
listed above]
This
is a set of extraordinary importance.
It is the first time in history
one ensemble has recorded Couperin's
music for instrumental ensemble
completely. And the interpretation
is of the highest quality, technically
flawless, and full of imagination.
This release at a bargain price
is the best possible way to make
Couperin's instrumental music better
known, which it fully deserves.
JV
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Georg
MUFFAT
(1653-1704)
Complete Clavier Works
Partita in d minor [03:51] Partita
in d minor [14:14] L’Amerande,
Prelude in F [01:02] Partita in
F [11:55] Partita in F [10:24] Gigue
in G [01:15] Partita in C* [17:13]
Siegbert
Rampe, harpsichord (Bernhard von
Tucher, 2002, after anonymous instrument,
Bavaria/Austria, c.1650), clavichord
(*) (Jörg Gobeli, 2000, after
anonymous South-German instrument,
c.1670) Recorded in August 2003
at the Oranienburg of Schloss Nordkirchen,
Germany
MDG
341 1213-2 [60:34]
In
several ways the keyboard pieces
by Muffat throw new light on the
development of keyboard music around
1700. But the attraction of this
disc goes far beyond its importance
in regard to music history. Muffat's
keyboard works presented here for
the first time are just excellent
music, well worth listening to.
And the performance by Siegbert
Rampe does them full justice. JV
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Un
Concert pour Mazarin – Italian
music in 17th-century French manuscript
collections Philippe
Jaroussky, alto La Fenice: Jean
Tubéry (cornet, mute cornet
& direction), Gebhard David
(cornet, mute cornet), Enrico Onofri,
Alessandro Tampieri (violin), Emilia
Gliozzi (cello), Jérémie
Papasergio (bassoon), Matthias Spaeter
(archlute), Jean-Marc Aymes (harpsichord,
organ) Recorded in June 2003 at
Saint-Michel in Thiérache,
France DDD
VIRGIN CLASSICS 5 45656
2 [60:48]
This
disc presents a number of pieces,
mainly by Italian composers, which
became known in France in the seventeenth
century either through manuscript
copies or printed editions. The
programme is a mixture of sacred
and instrumental pieces and definitely
contains some of the finest and
most exciting music of the 17th
century. Philippe Jaroussky has
a very beautiful voice with an unusually
high tessitura. Both his and the
ensemble's performances are first-rate.JV
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Johann
Georg PISENDEL (1687-1755):
Violin Sonatas
Anton Steck, violin; Christian Rieger,
harpsichord
CPO 999 982-2 [61:11]
This
is a very interesting and musically
fascinating recording, which shows
that Pisendel wasn't just Germany's
most brilliant violin player at
Bach's time, but also a first-rate
composer. No matter how virtuosic
some pieces or passages in them
are, Anton Steck masters them with
ease. His interpretation shows a
deep understanding of the character
of German baroque music. Christian
Rieger supports him with his driving
continuo playing. This is a very
eloquent and passionate plea for
Pisendel's oeuvre.JV
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Georg
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Dixit Dominus HWV 232 (1707)
Antonio CALDARA (c.1670-1736)
Missa dolorosa – Messa a 4
voci (1735) Crucifixus a 16 voci
Balthasar-Neumann-Chor Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble/Thomas
Hengelbrock Recorded at the Festspielhaus
Baden-Baden, March 2003 SACD
DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI
82976 58792 2 [63.07]
One
of the best-known sacred works from
Handel's Italian period is getting
an exciting and dramatic performance
here. Like Handel Caldara worked
in Rome for a number of years, but
composed this Mass setting for the
imperial court in Vienna. It is
a relatively concise work, but quite
expressive. Even more so is the
16-part Crucifixus, which was circulating
in many copies in the 18th century,
which is not surprising considering
the bold harmonies and strong text-expression
in this short piece. The performance
leaves nothing to be desired. JV
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Patrick
Waller |
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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]
“A
must have. A revelation. Get it.”
wrote Kevin Sutton. So I did and
it is. I don’t much like applause
on records but I was virtually joining
in at the end of these performances.
Hough’s sizzling interpretations
took my breath away. Litton and
the Dallas Symphony Orchestra are
in total sympathy. Christopher Howell’s
review shows that their approach
will not suit all tastes but I can’t
see anyone being agnostic. PCW
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Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Harmonies
Poètiques et Réligieuses
(1845-52) Invocation Ave
Maria Bénédiction
de Dieu dans la solitude Pensée
des morts Pater noster Hymne de
l’enfant à son réveil
Funérailles Miserere d’après
Palestrina Andante lagrimoso Cantique
d’amour
Steven
Osborne, piano Rec. 2003
HYPERION
CDA67445 [2CDs: 83.48]
A
neglected, important work superbly
played and recorded on two discs
for the price of one.PCW
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Robert
SIMPSON (1921 – 1997)
Symphony No.11 (1990) Variations
on a theme by Nielsen (1983)
City
of London Sinfonia/Matthew Taylor
Recorded: St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead,
London, December 2003
HYPERION
CDA 67500 [54:55]
Hyperion’s
cycle of Simpson symphonies is complete
at last. The 11th Symphony may lack
the toughness of the previous two
but it’s a fine work and the
Variations on a Theme of Nielsen
is the perfect coupling. Excellent
performances under the direction
of the symphony’s dedicatee
and in great sound. PCW
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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]
Each
time I have listened to this disc
I have marvelled at Beethoven’s
music, Liszt’s conception
for the piano, and Scherbakov’s
musicianship and virtuosity. Listening
to this disc is truly an uplifting
experience.PCW
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Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Symphony No. 4 in F minor (1935)
Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 in E minor
(1906) Flos Campi – Suite
for viola, chorus and orchestra*
(1925)
Paul
Silverthorne* (viola) Bournemouth
Symphony Chorus* and Orchestra/Paul
Daniel Rec. The Lighthouse, Poole,
March 2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.557276
[62:34]
Warning:
check volume control before pressing
“play”. The impact factor
of this recording is right at the
top of the scale. Allied to tremendously
well-played and committed orchestral
performance is sound quality of
stunning immediacy. PCW
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Jonathan
Woolf
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In
Memoriam Jacques Thibaud (1880-1953)
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Violin Concerto Op.61 Orchestre
de Chambre de Lausanne/Victor Desarzens,
recorded live in 1950 Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Violin Concerto No.4 K218 Concertgebouw/Eduard
van Beinum, recorded live in 1948
Edouard
LALO (1823-1892)
Symphonie espagnole Op.21 (1873)
(omitting Intermezzo) Sinfonie Orchestre
das Hessischen Rundfunks/Winfried
Zillig, recorded in the radio studio,
1951 César
FRANCK (1822-1890)
Violin Sonata (1886) Jean Laforge
(piano) recorded in a studio broadcast,
1952 Jacques
Thibaud (violin) with accompaniments
as above
TAHRA TAH 499-500
[2 CDs 67.43 +53.54]
I
choose this because all are previously
unreleased. The Beethoven was one
of the greatest omissions from Thibaud's
discography and though fallible
we can still hear something of the
provocative sweetness that so imbued
the Frenchman's playing. Thibaud
was a marvel and no admirer of his
art can be without this two disc
set, presented with such care and
tendresse by Tahra. JW
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Stokowski’s
Classic 1947-49 Columbias Vol. 3
and live broadcasts Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Symphony No. 6 [29:16] Piotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
Romeo and Juliet [19:07]
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
Symphony No. 35
Haffner [15:17] Thomas
Jefferson SCOTT
From the Sacred Harp [7:46]
Jaromir WEINBERGER
Polka and Fugue from Schwanda the
Bagpiper [7:30] New
York Philharmonic Orchestra/Leopold
Stokowski Rec. Carnegie Hall, 1949,
RVW/Tchaikovsky licensed from Sony.
Other tracks live concert performances
Produced in association with the
Leopold Stokowski Society
www.stokowskisociety.net
CALA
CACD0537 [78:58]
Remastering.
Original source material. Going
back to the lacquers. This release,
one in a pleasingly long line from
Cala, shows what can happen when
a company has access to sonically
superior source material and employs
it brilliantly. The VW has never
been heard in such stunning sound
- cast off all your previous issues.
Ditto the Tchaikovsky. JW
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Erich
Kleiber. Decca Recordings 1949-1955
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphony No.3 in E flat major
Op.55 Eroica Concertgebouw Orchestra,
recorded May 1950 Symphony No.3
in E flat major Op.55 Eroica Vienna
Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded
April 1953 Symphony No.5 in C
minor Op.67 Concertgebouw Orchestra,
recorded September 1953 Symphony
No.6 in F major Op.68 Pastoral
Concertgebouw Orchestra, recorded
September 1953 Symphony No.6 in
F major Op.68 Pastoral London
Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded
February 1948 Symphony No.7 in
A major Op.92 Concertgebouw Orchestra,
recorded May 1950 Symphony No.9
in D minor Op.125 Choral Hilde
Gueden (soprano), Sieglinde Wagner
(contralto), Anton Dermota (tenor),
Ludwig Weber (bass) Singverein
der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde,
Wien Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
recorded June 1952 Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826)
Symphony No.1 in C major Op.19
Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra,
recorded January 1956 Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Symphony No.40 in G minor K550
London Philharmonic Orchestra,
recorded April 1949 Four Deutsche
Tanze K600 No.1, K600 No.5, K602
No.3, K605 No.3 Symphony No.39
in E flat major K543 Cologne Radio
Symphony Orchestra, recorded January
1956 Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Symphony No.9 in C major Great
D944 Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra,
recorded November 1953
Erich
Kleiber, with orchestras and recording
dates as noted above
DECCA
ORIGINAL MASTERS 475 6080
[6 CDs: 79.51 + 73.09 + 71.30
+ 66.05 + 61.11 + 80.58]
In
the year of his son's death here
is a handsome tribute to Erich
Kleiber. In sometimes multiple
recordings we can follow his taut
logic through a relatively slender
Decca discography. My preference
is for the Vienna recordings over
the Amsterdam - but I wouldn't
willingly trade any, such is his
consummate conviction. JW
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