RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH All is Bright Jan Pieterszoon SWEELINCK (1562-1621) Hodie Christus natus est [2:24] Anon c. 1420 There is no rose [3:35] Dietrich BUXTEHUDE (c. 1637-1707) In dulci Jubilo [5:20] 14^th Century German harm. Michael PRAETORIUS (1571-1621) Lo, how a Rose e:er blooming [2:20] Peter CORNELIUS (1824-1874) The Three Kings [2:51] William WALTON (1902-1983) What cheer? [1:12]; King Herod and the cock [2:10]; Make we joy now in this fest [4:21] Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983) A Spotless Rose [3:21] Eric WHITACRE (b. 1970) Lux Aurumque [3:54] William MATHIAS (1934-1992) A babe is born, Op. 55 [3:12]; Sir Christèmas [1:22] Franz GRÜBER (1787-1863) Stille Nacht [3:14] Jennifer HIGDON (b. 1962) O magnum mysterium [7:38] Charles IVES (1874-1954) A Christmas Carol [1:55] Daniel PINKHAM (b. 1923) Sweet Music [4:36] Ned ROREM (b. 1923) While all things were in quiet silence [2:32] Anon. English, arr. Steven Pilkington The Coventry Carol [4:07] Virgil THOMSON (1896-1989) O My Deir Hert [2:27] Welsh trad. Deck The Hall [1:14] Tom VIGNIERI (b. 1961) Hodie Christus natus est [4:32] Christòpheren Nomura (baritone); John Finney (organ) Trinity Handbell Ensemble Handel and Haydn Society Chorus Handel and Haydn Society Orchestra/Grant Llewellyn Recorded 11-13 April 2005 at Methuen Memorial Hall, Methuen, Mass., USA. DDD AVIE AV 2078 [72:07] [JQ]

A seasonal gift for a musical friend. The perfect solution. You may be tempted to keep it instead as a treat for yourself. This excellent CD will be in my player this Christmas Eve! ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Préludes, première livre (1910) [37:57], deuxième livre (1913) [38:26] Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded 4^th January and 16^th March 2001 at the Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge (UK) CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9130-2 [75:08] [CH]

Sunlit and poetic playing. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Nicholas-Jacques LEMMENS (1823-1881) Grand Fantasia in E minor (The Storm) [12:34] Sigismond Ritter von NEUKOMM (1778-1858) Grand Dramatic Fantasia [13:31] Louis-James-Alfred LÉFEBURE-WÉLY (1817-1869) Scène Pastorale [11:11] Henry HUDSON (1854-1912) Storm Fantasia (Life and death at St. Bernard’s Hospice) (1913) [11:51] Samuel Gatty SELLARS (1887-?) An Ocean Tempest (1924) [8:39] Franz LISZT 1811-1886 St Francis of Paola walks upon the waters (arr. REGER) (1901) [10:48] David CLEGG (1867-1923) A Church Service interrupted by a thunderstorm [11:19] Kevin Bowyer (organ) rec. Blackburn Cathedral, 26-27 October 2004. DDD REGENT RECORDS REGCD217 [79.58] [JWe]

Kevin Bowyer’s ‘The Storm’ is one of the great organ recordings of all time ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphony No 40 in G minor, K550 [35:02] Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Das Lied von der Erde* [64:57] *Brigitte Fassbaender (mezzo)Francisco Araiza (tenor) Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Carlo Maria Giulini Recorded live at the Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, 2 August 1987 ORFEO C 654 052 B [35:02 + 64:57] [JQ]

The Mahler is another treasurable example of Giulini’s superb, inspiring and perceptive musicianship. All his admirers and, even more so, all those who love this wondrous score should hasten to hear it. ... see Full Revie

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Edmund RUBBRA (1901-1986) Improvisation for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 89 (1956) [12:25] Improvisations on Virginal Pieces by Giles Farnaby (1938-39) [14:11] Violin Concerto (1959) [30:29] Krysia Osostowicz, violin Ulster Orchestra/Takuo Yuasa rec. Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 25-26 May 2004. DDD NAXOS 8.557591 [57:04] [KS]

Makes me want to seek out more music by this composer and these performers. Should definitely be added to your collection. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852 - 1924) Piano Quintet in D minor, Op. 25 (1886) [37:13] String Quintet No. 1 in F major, Op. 85 (1903) [27:25] Piers Lane, piano (Op. 25) Garth Knox, viola (Op. 85) RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet Recorded in the Henry Wood Hall, London, 17-19 November 2004. DDD HYPERION CDA67505 [64:42] [MC]

I am at a loss why anyone would not wish to add this superb Stanford chamber release to their collection. Wonderful music and marvellously performed. Highly recommended. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johann Paul VON WESTHOFF (1656-1705) Sonatas for violin and basso continuo, 1694 Sonata IV in d minor [10:57] Sonata III in d minor [12:39] Sonata II in a minor [11:25] Sonata V in g minor [11:08] Sonata VI in g minor [10:47] Sonata I in a minor [12:11] Les plaisirs du Parnasse: David Plantier, violin; Maya Amrein, cello; Shiruko Noiri, archlute; Andrea Marchiol, harpsichord rec. April 2004, Church of Frasnes-le-Château, France. DDD ZIG-ZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT050201 [69:13] [JV]

The first recording ever of these sonatas by one of the most important German violinists of his time - one of the most important releases in recent times ... outstanding music in a splendid performance ... see Full Review

 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo-soprano): Opera Proibita Alessandro SCARLATTI (1660-1725) Cantata per la Notte del Santissimo Natale: All’arme sì accesi guerrieri - Aria della Pace [02:38], Il Giardino di Rose (Oratorio La Santissima Vergine del Rosario): Mentre io godo in dolce oblio – Aria della Speranza [04:48] George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno: Un pensiero nemico di pace – Aria della Bellezza [03:55] Antonio CALDARA (c.1670-1736) Il Trionfo dell’Innocenza: Vanne pentita e piangere – Aria di Santa Eugenia [08:46], La Casitità al Cimento (Il Trionfo della Castità): Sparga il senso lascivo veleno – Aria di Flavia [02:58] A. SCARLATTI Sedicia, Re di Gerusalemme: Caldo sangue – Aria di Ismaele [05:26] HANDEL Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno: Come nembo che fugge col vento – Aria del Piacere [05:10] A. SCARLATTI Il Giardino di Rose (Oratorio La Santissima Vergine del Rosario): Ecco negl’orti tuoi … che dolce simpatia – Recitativo ed aria della Carità [02:14], San Filippo Neri: Qui resta … L’alta Roma - Recitativo ed aria della Carità [04:12] HANDEL Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno: Lascia la spina, cogli la rosa – Aria del Piacere [05:53] A. SCARLATTI Sedicia, Re di Gerusalemme: Ahi! Qual cordoglio … Doppio affetto – Recitativo ed aria di Ismaele [02:31] CALDARA Oratorio per Santa Francesca Romana – Si piangete pupille dolente – Aria di Santa Francesca [07:35], Il Martirio di Santa Caterina: Ahi quanto cieca … come foco alla sua sfera – Recitativo ed aria dell’Imperatrice Faustina [03:04] HANDEL Oratorio per la Resurrezione di Nostro Signor Gesù Cristo: Disserratevi, o porte d’Averno – Aria dell’Angelo [04:41], Notte funesta … Ferma l’ali – Recitativo ed aria di Santa Maria Maddalena [07:30]
Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo-soprano) Les Musiciens du Louvre – Grenoble/Mark Minkowski
rec. 27-29 Aug 2004, 11, 16-22 Feb 2005, Salle Wagram and Eglise du Liban, Paris DECCA 475 6924 [72:05] [CH]

Bartoli has done it again. In an age well-endowed with mezzo-sopranos she still stands out as a phenomenon. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH THOMAS HAMPSON - Arias
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1736 – 1791) Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo (Cosi fan Tutte); Un bacio di mano, K541; Ich möchte wohl der Kaiser sein!K539 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770 – 1827) Prüfung des Küssens, WoO 89; Mit Mädeln sich vertragen, WoO 90 Joseph HAYDN (1732 – 1809) Dice benissimo, Hob XXIVb:5; Un cor si tenero, Hob XXIVb:11 Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1736 – 1791) Vedro mentr’io sospiro (Le Nozze di Figaro) Franz SCHUBERT (1797 – 1828) Sei mir gegrüsst; Der Jäger ruhte hingegossen (Alfonso und Estrella) Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1736 – 1791) Mentre ti lascio, K513; Io ti lascio, K Anh.245 Thomas Hampson (baritone) Concentus Musikus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt Recorded Musikverein, Vienna, 23-27 May 2003 WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62257-2 [61.22] [RH]

A well put together programme, beautifully performed and making a good case for a group of often neglected arias. ... see Full Review

 

 

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BARGAIN OF THE MONTH

 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Dame Janet Baker (contralto) Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Frauenliebe und Leben op.42 [21:39] Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Heimliches Lieben D.922 [04:33], Minnelied D.429 [02:07], Die Abgeblühte Linde [03:55], Der Musensohn D.764 [01:59] Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Die Mainacht op.43/2 [03:46], Das Mädchen spricht op. 107/3 [01:14], Nachtigall op.97/1 [02:30], Von ewiger Liebe op.43/1 [04:41] Dame Janet Baker (contralto), Martin Isepp (piano) Recorded in 1965 for Saga REGIS RRC 1225 [47:16] [CH]

Glorious lieder singing … snap it up. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1916)
CD1 Symphony No. 1 in E major Op. 26 (1901) * [50:38] CD2 Symphony No. 2 in C minor Op. 29 (1902) [48:14] Poem of Ecstasy Op. 54 (1908) ** [20:02] CD3 Symphony No. 3 Divine Poem [Op. 43] (1905) [48:40] Prometheus - Poem of Fire Op. 60 (1910) *** [20:47] Stefania Toczyska (mezzo) * Michael Myers (ten) * The Westminster Choir * Frank Kaderabek (trumpet) ** Dmitri Alexeev (piano) *** The Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia *** Philadelphia Orchestra/Riccardo Muti rec. Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Feb 1985 (1), Feb 1989 (2), March 1990 (Ecstasy), Apr 1988 (3), Apr 1990 (Prometheus) licensed from EMI Classics BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92744 [3 CDs: 50.38 + 68.16 + 69.20] [RB]

This is a splendid set with sumptuous sound and a propulsive pulse. A good yet far from predictable choice. … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Souvenirs de Venise Gioacchino ROSSINI La regata veneziana* [4’24"] Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Canzonetta veneziana Wo0158a No. 23** [1’22"] Franz SCHUBERT Gondelfahrer D808 [1’42"] Felix MENDELSSOHN Venezianisches Gondellied Op. 57 No. 5 [1’55"] Adolf JENSEN Leis’ rudern hier, mein Gondolier Op. 50 No. 4 [2’24"]; Wenn durch die Piazzetta Op. 50 No. 3 [1’41"] Mikhail GLINKA Venetsianskaya noch’ [2’21"] Sergei TANEYEV Venetsiya noch’yu Op. 9, No. 1*** [1’43"] Gioacchino ROSSINI I marinai**** [5’22"] Charles GOUNOD Venise [4’04"] Jules MASSENET Souvenir de Venise [1’33"] Gabriel FAURÉ Barcarolle Op. 7 No. 3 [2’14"] Reynaldo HAHN Venezia. Chansons en dialecte vénetien [16’45"] The Songmakers’ Almanac: *Felicity Lott (soprano); Ann Murray (mezzo-soprano); Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) with**Brian Brooks (violin & Justin Pearson (cello); ***Hugo Dalton (mandolin); **** Richard Jackson (baritone); Graham Johnson (piano) rec. St. Barnabas’s Church, North Finchley, London, 12-13 September 1983. DDD HYPERION HELIOS CDH55217 [49’22"] [JQ]

This is a most enjoyable disc and its return to the catalogue, particularly at the Helios price is to be welcomed most warmly. ... see Full Review

 

 

 

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