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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835 - 1921) Symphony #3, Op 78 Organ (1886) [34.44] Berj Zamkochian, Aeolian-Skinner organ; Bernard Zighera and Leo Litwin, pianos. Claude DEBUSSY (1862 - 1918) La Mer (1905) [22.52] Jacques IBERT (1890 - 1962) Escales (1922) [15.21] Ralph Gomberg, oboe Boston Symphony Orchestra/ Charles Munch Recorded in Symphony Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. RCA/BMG 828766-61387-2 [73.04]

A blockbuster of a recording, the centrepiece of any collection of French music, organ music, or hi-fi demonstration sound! ... ... see Full Review

Giovanni Battista SAMMARTINI (1700/01-1775) Il pianto degli Angeli della Pace, Cantata sacra per soli, orchestra e basso continuo J-C 119 (1751) Symphony in E flat major J-C 26 Silvia Mapelli (soprano) Ainhoa Soraluze (mezzo) Giorgio Tiboni (tenor) Filippo Ravizza (harpsichord) Capriccio Italiano Ensemble/Daniele Ferrari Recorded in Monza, Milan, March 2002 NAXOS 8.557432 [54.09] [JW]

There are attractive things in the cantata even if the vocal performances could have been considerably improved. ... see Full Review

Franz SCHMIDT (1874-1939) CD1 Variationen und Fuge uber ein eigenes Thema [20'16] Praeludium und Fuge Es-Dur [29'23] Toccata [8'51] CD2 Fantasie und Fuge D-Dur [22'57] Vier kleine Choralvorspiele:- O Ewigkeit du Donnerwort [3'13] Was mein Gott will [1'41] O wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen [4'13] Nun Danket alle Gott [1'20] Chaconne [27'46] CD3 Praeludium und Fuge C-Dur [22'58] Fuge F dur [9'09] Vier kleine Praeludien und Fugen:- Es-Dur [6'55] c-moll [9'06] G-dur [11'12] D-dur [9'37] CD4
Choralvorspiel zu Joseph Haydn's "Gott erhalte" [13'00] Der Heiland ist erstanden [10'35] Praeludium und Fuge A-dur [11'55] Toccata und Fuge As-dur [15'55] Andreas Juffinger, organ rec: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin, October 1988 DDD CAPRICCIO 67 093/96 [4 CDs: 58:40 + 61:53 + 68:57 + 51:05] [CB]

Juffinger presents what must have been a mammoth undertaking with virtuosity and commitment. Unfortunately his choice of organ is poor. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Alfred SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) Piano Quintet (1972-76) [27’42"]; Piano Trio (1992) [29’18"] * Barbican Piano Trio: Gaby Lester (violin), Robert Max (cello), James Kirby (piano), with Jan Peter Schmolck (violin on Quintet) and James Boyd (viola on Quintet). Recorded 6 August and 23 November 2000 at St. Georges, Brandon Hill, Bristol. DDD * BLACK BOX BBM1093 [57’03"] [BH]

An outstanding addition to the Schnittke canon. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Gurrelieder (1900-11) Stephen O’Mara (tenor), Melanie Diener (soprano), Jennifer Lane (mezzo-soprano), David Wilson-Johnson (bass), Martyn Hill (tenor), Ernst Haefliger (speaker) Simon Joly Chorale Philharmonia Orchestra/Robert Craft Rec. The Colosseum, Watford, England, 16-20 October 2001 DDD Previously released on Koch International Classics NAXOS 8.557518-19 [66.48 + 51.00]

The opening sequence: among the highlights ... has probably never sounded better than it does here. Pacing and shaping are beautifully judged ... played supremely well. [TB]
Clarity and majesty and a huge sense of occasion ... see Full Review [BH]

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Adagio and Allegro Op.70 (1849) Fantasiestücke Op.73 (1849) Romanzen Op.94 (1894) Sonata in A minor Op.105 (1851) Märchenbilder Op.113 (1851) Tabea Zimmermann (viola) Hartmut Höll (piano) Recorded Sandhausen, January 2001 and February 2003 CAPRICCIO 67 123 [62.03]

An accomplished recital – poetic and reflective, lissom and alert ... see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)The Songs of Schumann Volume 9 Liederalbum für die Jugend Op. 79 with piano pieces from Klavieralbum für die Jugend Op. 68 Felicity Lott (soprano) Ann Murray (mezzo) Graham Johnson (piano) Rec. 20-22 January 2004 (venue unspecified) HYPERION CDJ33109 [78.55] [TB]

There are few if any more sensitive singers than Lott and Murray, whose performances are idiomatic and scrupulously prepared. Each singer maintains a fresh and eager approach ... see Full Review


Heinrich SCHUTZ (1585-1672) Complete Choral works: Box 2
Cantiones Sacrae for four voices (1625) [CD1: 55:05 + CD2: 54:11] Kleine geistiche Concerte, (1636) [CD3: 40:50 + CD4: 33:14] Primo libro de Madrigali (1611) [CD5: 55:42] Alma Mikolajczyk; Kira Boreczko (sop); Maciej Gocman; Luca Dellacasa (alto); Paolo Borgonov (ten); Matteo Bellotto; Garrick Comeaux; Walter Testolin (bass) Basso Continuo: Nicola Dal Maso (violine in sol); Alessandro Orsaria (organ); Matteo Messori (spinet; organ) Capella Augustana/Matteo Messori Rec. Chiesa arcipretale di bedonia (Parma) March-May 2004 (CDs 1-4); Seminary of Piacenza January 2004 (CD 5) BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92440 [5 CDs: 55:05 + 54:11 + 40:50 + 33:14 + 55:42] [GH]

For the student or the Schutz enthusiast this set is genuinely worth investing in. If you are a completist you will want it anyway. ... see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-75) Violin Sonata, Op. 134 (1969) Viola Sonata, Op. 147 (1975) Levon Ambartsumian (violin/viola); Anatoly Sheludyakov (piano) Rec. Hugh Hodgson Hall, University of Georgia Performing Arts Centre, Athens, Georgia, USA, April 2003 PHOENIX USA PHCD 155 [59'51"] [PL]

lacks the necessary dynamic and emotional range ... neither artist plays with believable conviction. ... see Full Review

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1956) Symphony No 2 in D major, Op 43 Finlandia, Op 26 The Cleveland Orchestra/Yoel Levi recorded in the Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio, 2 April 1984 TELARC CD-80095 [48'51"] [PL]

Sound: second to none in the catalogue. Levi: one of that rare breed who give you what the composer wrote without any intrusive ‘interpretation’. ... see Full Review

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphony No.3 in C major, op.52 (1907) [29:57] Symphony No.5 in E flat major, op.82 (1919) [33:49] Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra/Leif Segerstam Recorded at the Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, 3 June 2003 ONDINE ODE 1035-2 [63:57] [GPJ]

A disappointment. Though certain movements work well, Segerstam overplays the contrasts, highlights instrumentation too much, and makes at least one disastrous misjudgement. ... see Full Review

Valentin SILVESTROV (b. 1937) Silent Songs: A Cycle in Four Parts for Baritone and Piano (1974-77) [1:46’51"] Four Songs after Osip Mandelstam for Baritone and Piano (1982) [13’16"] * Sergey Yakovenko (baritone) Ilya Scheps (piano) Valentin Silvestrov (piano on Four Songs) Recording 1986 in Moscow ADD ECM NEW SERIES 9821424[60:00 + 59:19] [BH]

Those with an aversion to some of the harsher examples of contemporary expression might respond to the quiet, non-abrasive qualities of this music ... see Full Review

Kuba STANKIEWICZ Chopin Songbook Op.74 CD1Smutna Rzeka Op.74 No.3 [5.38] Melodia Op.74 No.9 [6.52] Wiosna Op.74 No.2 [6.34] Piosenka Litewska Op.74 No.16 [5.38] Precz z moich oczu Op.74 No.6 [6.38] Zyczenie Op.74 No.1 [5.19] Nie ma czego trzeba Op.74 No.13 [4.55] Dwojaki koniec Op.74 No.11 [7.32] CD2 Sad river Op.74 No.3 [5.36] Out of my sight Op.74 No.6 [6.36] A young girl’s wish Op.74 No.1 [5.20] Elegy Op.74 No.9 [6.51] A Lithuanian song Op.74 No.16 [5.37] Spring song Op.74 No.2 [6.33] Faded and vanished Op.74 No.13 [4.51] The handsome lad Op.74 No.8 [4.33] Death’s divisions Op.74 No.11 [7.31] Inga Lewandowska – voice Kuba Stankiewicz – piano, Keyboards, arrangements Grzegorz Nagorski – trombone Henryk Miskiewicz – soprano saxophone Johannes Strasser – bass Lukasz Zyta – drums Recorded at Polish Radio Studios S2 and S4, Warsaw in June and July 2003 CD ACCORD ACD 129-2 [49.08 + 53.30] [CC]

Too much kitsch. This set is obviously for lovers of jazz ... see Full Review

Johann STRAUSS I (1804-1849) Edition Vol. 5 Contredanses op.44 [05:42], Benefice-Walzer op.33 [06:32], Bayaderen-Galoppe op.52 (Lieblings-Galoppe no.36) [02:40], Gute Meinung für die Tanzlust (Waltz) op.34 [06:34], Contratänze op.54 [05:16], Souvenir de Baden (Helenen-Walzer) op.38 [06:12], Zampa-Galopp op.62a [02:19], Tivoli Rutsch-Walzer op.39 [07:26], Montecchi-Galopp op.62b [02:07], Wiener-Damen-Toilette-Walzer op.40 [07:19], Der Raub der Sabinerinnen, Charakteristisches Tongemälde op.43 [10:21], Das Fest der Handwerker (galopp) [01:31], Tivoli Freudenfest-Tänze op.45 [08:10] Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina/Christian Pollack Recorded 24th-27th November 2003 at the Fatra Concert Hall, Žilina, Slovakia MARCO POLO 8.225281 [72:25][CH]

A worthy follow-up to previous volumes in the series. ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Also Sprach Zarathustra (1896) Ein Heldenleben (1898-9) Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner Recorded in Orchestra Hall, Chicago in March 1954 SCAD Surround SACD Stereo and CD Audio BMG RCA 82876 61389 2 [75:40] [IL & GL]

Even if you have this classic recording don’t hesitate to obtain this upgrade -sensational listening. ... see Full Review
also
Richard STRAUSS (1864 - 1949) Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (1896) [31.53] Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40, (1898) [43.39] Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner Recorded at Orchestra Hall, Chicago, Illinois, USA, March 6-8, 1954 ADD Notes in English, Deutsch, Français. Restored to 2.0 stereo utilising the DSD system by Soundmirror, Inc. Hybrid SACD playable on CD players and SACD players. RCA/BMG - LIVING STEREO - 82876-61389-2 [75.40] [PSh]

If you love Zarathustra, this is the one absolutely indispensable recording of it to own; the Heldenleben is good, too ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Der Rosenkavalier - opera in three acts The Feldmarschallin, Princess Werdenberg - Maria Reining (soprano) Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau - Kurt Boehme (baritone) Octavian - Lisa della Casa (soprano) Herr von Faninal – Alfred Poell (baritone) Sophie, his daughter - Hilde Gueden (soprano) Marianne, Sophie’s duenna – Judith Hellwig (soprano) Valzacchi, an intriguer – Laszlo Szemere (tenor) Annina, his partner – Sieglinde Wagner (contralto) The Major-Domo to the Feldmarschallin –Georg Müller (tenor) An Attorney – Oscar Czerwenka (bass) An Italian Singer – Karl Terkal (tenor) Police Inspector – Franz Bierbach (bass) Innkeeper and Faninal’s Major-Domo – August Jaresch (tenor) Chorus of the Vienna State Opera Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Clemens Krauss Recorded live at the Salzburg Festival, 1953 Trio to the end of Act III - with Viorica Ursuleac Tiana Lemnitz Erna Berger Georg Hann Berlin State Opera Orchestra/Clemens Krauss Recorded 1936 on 78s GUILD HISTORICAL GHCD 2293/95 [3 CDs: 68.07 + 57.01 + 74.18] [JW]

You will need a studio recording or two but for sheer theatrical frisson this Salzburg performance should not be overlooked ... see Full Review

Franz von SUPPÉ (1819-1895) Overtures: The Beautiful Galatea (1865) [6.22] Pique Dame (1864) [7.28] Light Cavalry (1866) [6.26] Poet and Peasant (1846) [9.24] Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna (1844) [7.32] Boccaccio (1879) [6.48] Daniel-François AUBER (1782-1871) Overtures: The Bronze Horse (1835) [6.49] Fra Diavolo (1830) [7.31] Masaniello, or La muette de Portici (1828) [6.26] Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Paul Paray Rec 29 Nov 1959 (Suppé), Cass Technical High School, Detroit; 4 April 1959 (Auber), Old Orchestra Hall, Detroit MERCURY LIVING PRESENCE SACD 470 638-2 [65.44] [TB]

Extraordinarily vivid and immediate results. Performances have real élan and spirit, with both corporate and individual contributions of a high virtuosity ... see Full Review

Giuseppe TARTINI (1692-1770) Violin Concerto in D minor D45* Violin Concerto in G major Violin Concerto in E minor D56 Cello Concerto in A major Violin Sonata in A major Op.1 No.1 Violin Sonata in G major Op.1 No.10 Violin Sonata in F major Op.1 No.12 Violin Sonata in C major Op.2 No.6 Violin Sonata in G minor The Devil’s Trill Pierre Amoyal (violin) except Piero Toso (violin)* Severino Zannerini (cello) I soloisti Veneti Claudio Scimone Pierre Amoyal (violin) Susan Moses (cello) Edoardo Farina (harpsichord) - Sonatas Recorded Villa Simes, 1976 (Concertos) and Église Notre-Dame des Roses, Grisy-Suines 1977 (Sonatas) WARNER APEX 2564 61693-2 [66.08 + 66.43] [JW]

Of value to hear an essentially modern minded fiddler playing with a quasi-authentic set ... see Full Review

Giuseppe TARTINI (1692-1770) Violin Sonatas Le Sonate del Tasso Sonata XV in G major Sonata XVII in D major Sonata XIX in D major Sonata XII in G major Jean Estournet (violin) Thérèse Pollet (cello) Hans Ludwig Hirsch (harpsichord and organ) Recorded Villa Emo, Fanzolo Veneto, 1986 ARTS 47298-2 [49.15] [JW]

Some aspects of the editorship and style may jar but Tartini’s less well-known sonatas will draw sympathetic listeners. ... see Full Review

Boris TCHAIKOVSKY (1925 – 1996) Sinfonietta (1953) Chamber Symphony (1967) Six Etudes (1976)a Prelude The Bells (1996) Ludmilla Golub (organ)a Musica Viva Chamber Orchestra/ Alexander Rudin Recorded: Small Hall, Moscow Conservatory (Six Etudes) and Mosfilm Ton-Studios, Moscow, October 2003, December 2003 and January 2004 HYPERION CDA 67413 [69:49] [HC]

Excellent, meticulously prepared readings, warmly recorded ... see Full Review

Boris TCHAIKOVSKY (1925 – 1996) Chamber Symphony (1967) Signs of the Zodiac (1974)a Four Preludes (1984) Clarinet Concerto (1957)b Margarita Miroshnikova (soprano)a; Adil Feodorov (clarinet)b St. Petersburg Chamber Orchestra/Edward Serov Recorded: Capella Concert Hall, St. Petersburg, 1985 and 1978 (Signs of the Zodiac) NORTHERN FLOWERS NF/PMA 9918 [69:06] [HC]

Interesting light on a much neglected, but distinguished composer whose achievement is worth considering and deserves wider exposure. ... see Full Review

Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840 – 1893) Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op.74 Pathetique (1893) Boston Symphony Orchestra/Pierre Monteux. Recorded 26 January 1955 in Symphony Hall, Boston, U.S.A. DDD SACD BMG-RCA LIVING STEREO 82876 613972-2 [44’14"] [JPh]

A very fine issue, but measly on playing time and value for money ... see Full Review

Georg Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Six Trios 1718 Trio I for oboe, violin and bc in B flat (TWV 42, B1) [07:35] Trio II for recorder, violin and bc in a minor (TWV 42, a1) [09:49] Trio III for transverse flute, violin and bc in G (TWV 42, G1) [09:58] Trio IV for 2 violins and bc in D (TWV 42, D1) [07:48] Trio V for violin, viola da gamba and bc in g minor (TWV 42, g1) [10:15] Trio VI for violin, cello and bc in F (TWV 42, F1) [06:52] Camerata Köln Recorded September 2002, January 2003, Studio of the Deutschlandfunk, Cologne, Germany. DDD CPO 999 957-2 [52:42] [JV]

An excellent recording released at the ensemble's 25th anniversary - congratulations and many happy returns! ... see Full Review

Georg Philipp TELEMANN (1681 - 1767) Musique de Table (Tafelmusik) Productions I, II, III (1733) [258.33] Crispian Steele-Perkins, trumpet; Michael Schmidt-Casdorff, flute; Ricardo Kanji, flute and recorder; Anette Pape, Ku Ebbinge, oboes; Whilhelm Bruns, Christoph Moinian, horns; Jacques Ogg, harpsichord. Lucy van Dael, Sirkka-Liisa Kaakinen, Sajuri Yamagata, Gustavo Zazrba, violins; Staas Sierstra, viola; Riche van der Meer, cello; Anthony Woodrow, violone; Camerata of the 18th Century, Konrad Hünteler flute and conductor; Recorded at Kirche an der Märtmannstraße, Dortmund-ApIerbeck, Germany, 1993. Notes in English, Français, Deutsch. Photo of the artists MDG GOLD 311 0580-2 [4 CDs: 67.35 + 58.48 + 61.00 + 71.10][PSh]

The best available recording of all the Telemann you’ll ever need, enough to keep you busy for a long time, maybe ... see Full Review

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] [PCW]

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. ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813 – 1901) I Lombardi - Dramma lirico in four acts Oronte … José Carreras (tenor) Giselda … Ghena Dimitrova (soprano) Pagano … Silvano Carroli (bass) Arvino … Carlo Bini (tenor) Luisa Vannini, Luigi Roni, Gianfranco Manganotti, Giovanni Foiani and Laura Bocca Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan/Gianandrea Gavazzeni Recorded: 1984, La Scala, Milan DVD NVC ARTS 0927-44927-2 [127 mins] [RM]

An enjoyable. (Christmas) gift for the opera lover who has everything. ... see Full Review


Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
Rigoletto Duke of Mantua – Gino Sarri (tenor) Rigoletto – Ivan Petrov (baritone) Gilda – Orlandina Orlandini (soprano) Sparafucile – Mario Frosini (bass) Maddalena – Lidia Melani (mezzo soprano) Count Monterone – Edio Peruzzi (bass) Marullo – Giulio Mastrangelo (baritone) Giovanna – Rina Benucci (soprano) Chorus of the Teatro Communale, Florence Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino/Erasmo Ghiglia Recorded 1951 Plus arias sung by Ivan Petrov ROSSINI Il Barbiere di Siviglia; Largo al factotum BELLINI I Puritani; Ah! Per sempre Gaetano DONIZETTI La Favorita; Vien, Leonora Giuseppe VERDI Macbeth; Pieta, rispetto amore LEONCAVALLO I Pagliacci; Si può The Orchestra of the Maggio Fiorentino/Erasmo Ghiglia Recorded 1951 PREISER 20017 [67.36 + 67.48] [JW]

I would urge caution here to all but inveterate Verdians. Petrov enthusiasts will want it but the recording problems are such that this is really for specialist interest only. ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Simon Boccanegra (1857) Giancarlo Pasquetto (baritone) Simon Boccanegra; Elena Prokina (soprano) Maria; Peter Sidhom (bass-baritone) Paolo Albiani; Daniel Borowski (bass) Pietro; Alastair Miles (bass) Jacopo Fiesco; David Rendall (tenor) Gabriele Adorno; Yvonne Patrick (soprano) Amelia’s Maid; Kevin Sharp (tenor) A Captain London Philharmonic Orchestra/Mark Elder. Director: Peter Hall. Rec. Glyndebourne Festival Opera in July 1998. WARNER MUSIC VISION/NVC ARTS 3984-23025-2 [143’00] [CC]

Boccanegra - a remarkable piece of music; a remarkable piece of theatre … all credit to Elder and his forces for giving it a performance of such conviction. ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) La Traviata, Melodrama in three acts. Text by Francesco Maria Piave. (Sung in Russian) First Performed 6 March 1858. Teatro La Fenice, Venice Violetta Valery, Yelizaveta Shumskaya (sop); Alfredo Germont, Ivan Kozlovsky (ten); Giorgio Germont, Pavel Lisitsian (bar); Flora Bervoix, Yelena Gribova (mezzo); Gastone, Y Filin (ten); Barone Douphol, Anatoli Yakhontov (bar) USSR State Symphony Orcestra/Alexander Orlov. Recorded 1947 Appendix: Pavel Lisitsian (bar) Verdi Arias Il Trovatore, Il balen Un ballo in maschera, Alla vita che t’arride Un ballo in Maschera, Eri tu? Aida, Ciel! Mio padre (with Natalia Sokolova, sop) GUILD HISTORICAL - THE RUSSIAN LEGACY SERIES - GHCD 2305-6 [65.09+70.14] [RF]

Kozlovsky has an agreeable light, slightly nasal, tenor voice but this is only for collectors interested in the vocal traditions of Russia. Others can be assured that they are missing no fantastic vocal or interpretative revelations. ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901). Il Trovatore - opera in four acts (1853). First Performed 19th January 1853, Apollo Theatre Rome Manrico, Franco Bonisolli (ten); Leonora, Raina Kabaivanska (sop); Di Luna, Giorgio Zancanaro (bar); Azucena, Viorica Cortez (mezzo); Ferrando, Giancarlo Luccardi (bass); Ines, Gisela Pohl (sop); Ruiz, Johannes Bier (ten) Chorus of the Staatsoper Berlin. Orchestra of the Staatskapelle Berlin/Bruno Bartoletti Studio recording 1975, Berlin ARTS MUSIC - ARTS ARCHIVES 43045-2 [68.36+62.54] [RJF]

With RCA-Leontyne Price at mid-price and DG-Bergonzi at bargain price, this issue will struggle to find a niche in the market. Despite that Viorica Cortez’s singing will appeal to many Verdians ... see Full Review

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Dixit Dominus RV595 [22:08] Nulla in mundo pax sincera RV 630 [14:00] Jubilate, o amoeni chori RV639 and Gloria RV 588 [32:09] (Pieces are undated but c. 1713-1719) Jane Archibald, soprano; Michele de Boer, soprano; Anita Krause, mezzo; Nils Brown, tenor; Peter Mahon, counter-tenor; Giles Tomkins, bass Aradia Ensemble and Chorus/Kevin Mallon Recorded on 15th -20th September 2003 at Grace Church on the Hill, Toronto, Canada. Super Audio CD (SACD) NAXOS 6.110064 [68:18] [JF]

A great CD with three lesser known Vivaldi masterworks. But do not confuse with the more popular versions of the Dixit and the Gloria. ... see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Suonata a Quattro al Sepolcro, RV 130 [3.34] In Furore iustissimae irae, RV 626 [14.01] Concerto a Quattro Op. 12, No, 3 RV124 Concerto a Quattro, RV 129 "Madrigalesco" [4.14] Laudate pueri, Dominum, RV 601 [24.32] Sinfonia al Santo Sepolcro RV 169 [3.15] Catherine Bott (soprano), The Purcell Quartet Recorded at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Orford 4-6 March 1996. DDD CHANDOS CHACONNE CHAN 0714 X [56.11] [EM]

A combination of wonderful music and exquisite music-making that I definitely recommend. ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) The Flying Dutchman John Tomlinson (bass – The Dutchman); Eric Halfvarson (bass - Daland); Nina Stemme (soprano – Senta); Kim Begley (tenor - Eric); Patricia Bardon (mezzo-soprano – Mary) The Geoffrey Mitchell Choir London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry Rec. Blackheath Halls, London, 6-11 January 2004. DDD CHANDOS OPERA IN ENGLISH CHAN 3119(2) [64.36 + 77.27] [EM]

Emotionally charged ... capturing the nervous tension in what is an exuberant and passionate performance. ... see Full Review


Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826)
Concertino in E flat, J109 Op 26 (1811) [9.16] Clarinet Concerto #1 in f, J114 Op 73 (1811) [21.02] Clarinet Concerto #2 in Eb, J118 Op 74 (1811) [22.16] Clarinet Quintet in Bb, J182 Op 34 (1815) [5.46] Sabine Meyer, clarinet Staatskapelle Dresden/Herbert Blomstedt (concertos) Württembergisches Kammerorchester, Heilbron/Jörg Faerber (quintet and concertino) Recorded at the Lukaskirche, Dresden, Germany, September 1985 (concertos) Recorded at Kirche auf der Karlshöhe, Ludwigsburg, Germany, November 1984 Notes in English, Deutsch, Français. 8-page catalogue of EMI GROTC recordings. EMI CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 7243 5 67988 2 3 [78.36] [PSh]

Stupendous clarinet playing, a must for students and Weber fans … see Full Review

Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) - completed by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) Die drei Pintos, (The Three Pintos) - comic opera in three acts First presented on 20 January 1888, Leipzig. Don Pantaleone, a nobleman from Madrid, Robert Holzer (bass); Don Gomez, a nobleman from Madrid, Peter Furlong (ten); Clarissa, Don Pantaleone's daughter, Barbara Zechmeister (sop); Laura, Clarissa's maid, Sophie Marilley (mezzo); Don Gaston Viratos, Former student from Salamanca, Eric Shaw (ten); Don Pinto, a country nobleman from Castrilla, Alessandro Svab (bass); Innkeeper, Stewart Kempster (bass); Inez, the Innkeeper's daughter, Sinead Campbell (sop); Ambrosio, Don Gaston's valet, Ales Jenis (bar) Wexford Festival Opera Chorus National Philharmonic Orchestra of Belarus/Paolo Arrivabeni Live recording of the 2003 Wexford Festival Opera production Recorded at the Theatre Royal, Wexford, Ireland, on 22, 25, 28, 31 October 2003 NAXOS 8.660142-43 [39.07+75.15] [RF]

Too much extraneous noise ... The only people likely to enjoy this recording are those who were present at the Wexford performances and who want a memento of the occasion. ... see Full Review

Jan Dismas ZELENKA (1675-1745) Hipocondrie à 7 Concertanti in A major (c.1723) [7.50] Concerto à 8 in A major (1723) [15.51] Simphonie à 8 Concertanti in A minor (1723) [23.19] Johann Georg PISENDEL (1687-1755) Concerto in D major (c.1730) [12.48] Sonata in C minor (c.1730) [3.38] Freiburg Baroque Orchestra/Gottfried von der Goltz Rec 29 September – 3 October 1994, Maria Minor Kirche, Utrecht DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 74321 935532 [63.50] [TB]

With thorough and well presented documentation, this disc does good service to two composers whose music deserves wider recognition. ... see Full Review

Alexander ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942) Der König Kandaules (1935) [131:21] Libretto by the composer after the tragedy by André Gide Reconstruction and completed instrumentation by Antony BEAUMONT Robert Brubaker (ten) – König Kandaules; Wolfgang Schöne (bar) – Gyges; Mel Ulrich (Bar) – Phedros; John Nuzzo(ten) – Syphax; Jochen Schmeckenbecher (bass) – Nicomedes; Randall Jakobsch (bass)– Pharnaces; Georg Zeppenfeld (bass)– Philebos; Jürgen Sacher (ten) – Simias; John Dickie (ten) – Sebas; Almas Svilpa (bass/bar)– Archelaos; Peter Loehle (bass)– Der Kock; Nina Stemme (sop) – Nyssia. Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin, Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg (Bühnenmusik)/Kent Nagano rec. Live at Salzburg Festival, Kleines Festspielhaus Salzburg, 28 July 2002. DDD ANDANTE AN 3070 [70:09 + 61:12] [CW]

One of those rare works which offers fresh philosophical and musical insights on each hearing - gripping, provocative, outrageous and disturbing by turns. ... see Full Review

Bernard ZWEERS (1854-1924) Symphony No. 2 in E flat major (1882/3) * Concert Overture Saskia (1906)● Suite from Incidental Music for Vondel’s Gijsbrecht van Aemstel * Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra/Antoni Wit Recorded in June 2001and made available by NPS Radio ● Radio Filharmonisch Orkest Holland/Jean Fournet Recorded in May 1973 and made available by AVRO Klassiek †Radio Filharmonisch Orkest Holland/Lucas Vis Recorded in September 1980 and made available by VPRO Radio STERLING CDS-1061-2 [57:26] [IL]

Dull, uninspired music – a disappointment ... 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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