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Hoffnung Music
Festivals 1956,58,61
2CDs:£17
postage included World-Wide [mono/stereo]
This is a must for
all Hoffnung enthusiasts.
Purchase
here
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Hoffnung - A Last
Encore
On 2 CDs lasting
1 hour 45min, this contains all the recordings
of Hoffnung preserved in the BBC archives.
They include the famous and hilariously
funny Bricklayer story. [mono]
£14
postage included world-wide Purchase
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a new Hoffnung
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Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Fantasien
Op.116 (1892) Capriccio [2.28]; Intermezzo [4.26]; Capriccio [3.32];
Intermezzo [4.37]; Intermezzo [2.47]; Intermezzo [3.40]; Capriccio
[2.13] Intermezzi Op.117 (1892) No.1 [4.42]; No.2 [4.05]; No.3
[6.10] Klavierstücke Op.118 (1893) Intermezzo [1.52]; Intermezzo
[6.18]; Ballade [3.25]; Intermezzo [2.44]; Romanze [3.53]; Intermezzo
[5.06] Klavierstücke Op.119 (1893) Intermezzo [3.36]; Intermezzo
[5.11]; Intermezzo [1.32]; Rhapsodie [4.22] 
Elena Kuschnerova (piano) Recorded Studios 1 and 2, Bavarian Radio,
2002-04 ARS PRODUKTION
38 436 [77.00][JW]
A
most worthwhile survey ... It has the strength of its convictions
... see Full Review
Frederic CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op 23 (1835-36) [10:09] Ballade No. 2 in
F major, Op 38 (1836-39) [8:10] Ballade No. 3 in A flat major, Op.
47 (1840-41) [8:00] Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 (1842) [11:36]
Impromptu No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 29 (1837) [4:57] Impromptu No.
2 in F sharp major, Op. 36 (1839) [6:23] Impromptu No. 3 in G flat
major, Op. 51 (1842) [5:38] Fantaisie-Impromptu in C sharp minor,
Op. 66 (1834) [5:49] Bolero, Op. 19 (1833) [8:39]
Eugene Mursky (piano) rec. SWR Kammermusik Studio, Villa Berg, 13-14
August, 17 September 2004. DDD
HÄNSSLER PH04065 [69:24][TO]
Scrupulously
detailed Ballades that too often turn cold and stiff. ... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Aaron
COPLAND (1900-1990) Old American Songs
(orchestral version): * First Set: 1 The Boatmen’s Dance
(Minstrel Song) [3:04]; 2 The Dodger (Campaign Song) [2:15]; 3 Long
Time Ago (Ballad) [3:04]; 4 Simple Gifts (Shaker Song) [1:36]; 5 I
Bought Me A Cat (Children’s Song) [2:10]; Second Set: 6
The Little Horses (Lullaby) [2:49]; 7 Zion’s Walls (Revivalist
Song) [1:56]; 8 The Golden Willow Tree (Anglo-American Ballad) [3:37];
9 At The River (Hymn Tune) [2:52] 10 Ching-A-Ring Chaw (Minstrel Song)
[1:33]; 11 Down A Country Lane [2:51] Eight Poems of Emily Dickinson
**: 12 Nature, The Gentlest Mother [3:55]; 13 There Came A Wind Like
A Bugle [1:32]; 14 The World Feels Dusty [1:55]; 15 Heart, We Will
Forget Him! [2:26]; 16 Dear March, Come In! [2:04]; 17 Sleep Is Supposed
To Be [2:43]; 18 Going To Heaven! [2:50] 19 The Chariot [3:08] Billy
the Kid (selection): 20 Waltz - Molto moderato [3:51]; 21
Prairie Night – Molto moderato [4:42]; 22 Celebration Dance –
Allegro [2:15]
Thomas Hampson (bar)* Dawn Upshaw (sop) ** Saint Paul Chamber
Orchestra/Hugo Wolff Recorded in the Ordway Music Theatre, St Paul,
Minnesota, in September 1992 (Old American, Orchestral Pieces); September
1993 (Eight Poems)
WARNER APEX 2564 62089-2 [59:08][SA]
A
great disc ... see Full
Review
Georg Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Destero
dall empia dite (Amadigi) (1715) M’hai resa infelice (Deidamia) (1741)
Piagero la sorte mia (Giulio Cesare) (1724) Scherza in mar (Lotario)
(1729) Ombre piante; Se’l mio duol (Rodelinda) (1725) Tutta raccolta
ancor (Scipione) (1726) Orrida a gl’occi miei (Ariodante) (1735) Ah.
crudel (Rinaldo) (1711) Sommi dei; Barbaro, partiro (Radamisto) (1720)
Emma Bell (soprano)
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Richard Egarr Recorded 8–10 September 2004,
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
LINN CKD 252 
[51.24][RH]
I
will treasure this disc as a record of a fine singer at a wonderful
peak in her career but I can’t get rid of the feeling that the engineers
could have made her sound even better. ... see Full
Review
Paul Le FLEM (1881-1954)
Works for solo piano: Avril (1910) [5:51]; Vieux calvaire
(1910) [6:23]; Sept prières enfantines (1911) [11:47];
Par grèves (1910) [7:59]; Par landes (1907) [5:55];
Chant des Genêts (1911) [11:42] Violin Sonata (1905)
[29:05]
Marie-Catherine Girod (piano) Annick Roussin (violin) rec. La Clé
d'Ut, 10-12 Nov 1992. AAD Collection Musiques Françaises
ACCORD 476 160 9 [78:42][RB]
Melancholy,
heroic, sombrely optimistic ... echoes with the sound of bells and
the beautiful magnificence of marine landscapes - in wind, rain and
sunshine. I cannot overstate the high quality of this music. ... see
Full Review
Franz LEHÁR (1870-1948)
Das
Land des Lächelns (1929) Romantic operetta in two parts. Libretto
by Herzer, Lohner-Beda and Leon
Sou-Chong: René Kollo (tenor) Lisa: Birgit Pitsch-Sarata (sop) Graf
Ferdinand von Lichtenfels: Fred Liewehr (bar) Mi: Dagmar Koller (sop)
Graf Gustav von Pottenstein: Heinz Zednik (bass) Lin-Po: Herbert Prokipa
Korean Court Ballet Südfunkchor Stuttgart and Radioorchester Stuttgart/Wolfgang
Ebert Musical arrangement by Bert Grund Staged and Directed by Arthur
Maria Rabenalt rec. soundtrack August, September 1973, filmed September,
October 1973. DVD.
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON UNITEL 0040 073 4056 
[100:00][ED]
A
curiosity despite Kollo’s contribution. ... see Full
Review
Karol RATHAUS (1895-1954)
Symphony No. 2 Op. 7 (1923) [33:59] Symphony No. 3 Op. 50 (1942-43)
[42:56]
Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt/Israel Yinon rec. Carl
Philipp Emanuel Bach-Konzerthalle, Frankfurt (Oder), 24-27 June, 8-9
July 2002. DDD
CPO 777 031-2 [77:28][RB]
Moderately
attractive music in a tough idiom requiring some persistence. ...
see Full Review
Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
(1844-1908) Sadko - opera-bylina in
seven tableaux (1898)
Sadko - Georgy Nelepp (ten) Volkhova - Elisabeta Shumskaya (sop) Lyubava
- Valentina Davidova (mezzo) Nezhata - E Antonova (alto) The Sea King
- S Krasovsky (bass) Duda - S Koltypin (bass) Sopel - A Peregudov
(ten) First City Elder - T Chernyakov (ten) Second City Elder - S
Nikolau (bass) Viking Merchant - Mark Reizen (bass) Venetian Merchant
- Ivan Kozlovsky (ten) Apparition - Pavel Lisitsian Minstrels, Jesters,
Soothsayers, Wandering Pilgrims Bolshoi Theatre Chorus and Orchestra/Nikolai
Golovanov rec. 1950, USSR, from Melodiya D-01480-87. AAD. mono
PREISER 90655 [52:17 + 54:36 + 59:51][RB]
Music-making
of real allure ... a fine example in historic sound of one of Rimsky's
supernatural operas ... see Full
Review
Xaver SCHARWENKA
(1850-1924) Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor,
Op. 32 (1873) [28.05] Anton RUBINSTEIN
(1829-1894) Piano Concerto No. 4 in D minor, Op. 70 (1864) [31.23]
Marc-André Hamelin (piano) BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Michael
Stern rec. 18-19 February 2005, Caird Hall, Dundee
HYPERION CDA 67508 [59.41][TB]
Both
concertos rate as worthy of our attention more than a century on,
even though they are not as firmly positioned in the repertory as
they used to be. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
Don Carlo (Four act version) (1867)
Jerome Hines (bass) - Filippo II; Eleanor Steber (soprano) - Elisabetta;
Richard Tucker (tenor) - Don Carlo; Blanche Thebom (mezzo-soprano)
- Eboli; Ettore Bastianini (baritone) - Rodrigo; Nicola Moscona (bass)
- L’Inquisitore; Vilma Georgiou (soprano) - Tebaldo; Charles
Anthony (tenor) - Lerma; Gabor Carelli (tenor) - Un araldo; Louis
Sgarro (bass) - Un frate; Shakeh Vartenissian (soprano) - Una voce
dal Cielo Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus/Kurt Adler Live
recording from the Metropolitan Opera, New York, 5 March 1955
ANDROMEDA ANDRCD 5018 [75:25 + 78:06][GF]
I
can’t think that this will ever be someone’s first choice of Don Carlo,
but admirers of Ettore Bastianini should definitely search it out
and there is enough of good singing elsewhere too to make it a fairly
attractive proposition. ... see Full
Review
Friday
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945)
Piano
Music vol. 4 - for children (gyermekeknek) BB53, Sz.42 (revised
1943) Vol. 1 Based on Hungarian Folk tunes [37:07] Vol. 2 Based on
Slovakian Folk tunes [39:12]
Jenö Jandó (piano) Recorded at the Phoenix Studio, Budapest,
Hungary, 24-27 September, 2002.
NAXOS 8.555998 [76:19] [SA]
I
can’t single out any single piece from the
29 on this disc – I can say I never tired
of them after at least six hearings. ...
see Full
Review
Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869)
Grande
Symphonie funèbre et triomphale, Op. 15 [34’30"] La
Mort de Cléopâtre* [23’08"] Overture Benvenuto
Cellini, Op. 23*** [10’23"] Overture Le Carnaval romain,
Op. 9*** [9’15"] Overture Les Francs-Juges, Op. 3***[13’17"]
Overture Le Corsaire, op. 21*** [8’31"] Les Troyens,
excerpts**: Chasse royale et orage [14’10"]; Ballet
[4’41"]; Marche troyenne [5’20"]
Chorale Populaire de Paris Musique des Gardiens de la Paix/Désiré
Dondeyne *Nadine Denize (mezzo-soprano) * **Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique
de Radio France/Gilbert Amy *** Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg/Alain
Lombard Recorded: Notre-Dame, Paris, 1958; * and ** Studios of Radio
France, Paris, 1980; *** Strasbourg, 1980 ADD
WARNER APEX 2564 62183-2 [57’45" +65’51"] [JQ]
Useful
and enjoyable. If you wish to explore some
of the French master’s less frequently heard
works this is a good and inexpensive anthology.
... see
Full Review
Louis
GLASS
(1864-1936) String
Sextet Op. 15 in G major (1892) [32:46] Piano Quintet Op. 22 in C
major (1896) [38:03]
Christina Bjørkøe (piano) Copenhagen Classic rec. Danmarks
Radio, Radio House, Concert Hall, 9-10 Oct 1999 (op. 15); 23-25 Mar
2003 (op. 22). CPO
777 062-2 [70:47] [RB]
Neither
work touches the heights of the Fifth Symphony
but this is honest music which retains the
capacity to charm and move. ... see Full
Review
Alexander
GLAZUNOV
(1865-1936) String
Quartet No. 3 in G major op. 26 (1886) [27:45] String Quartet No.
5 in D minor op. 70 (1898) [28:45] The Fridays (Les Vendredis
or Pyatnitsy: cycle for string quartet: Prelude and
Fugue (book 1 No. 1) [10:16]; Kuranta (book 2 No. 6) [2:02]
The Shostakovich
Quartet (Andrei Shishlov; Alexander Balashov; Alexander Galkovsky;
Alexander Korchagin) rec. State Radio and TV Committee of the Moscow
Central Recording Studio 1979 (3); 1975 (5); 1974. ADD
REGIS RRC 1211 [69:15] [RB]
I
commend this inexpensive disc to explorers
of the string quartet who already know and
love their Smetana and late Dvorak chamber
music. ... see Full
Review
Reinhold
GLIÈRE (1875-1956)
Symphony
No. 3 in B minor Il’ya Muromets Op. 42 (1911) [93:02] Cello
Concerto Op. 87 (1946-47) [46:26] Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Harold
Farberman (Symphony) Sergei Sudzilovsky (cello)
Russian Cinematic Symphony Orchestra/Sergei Skripka Rec. Dec 1978,
All Saints Church, Tooting, London. DDD (symphony); Mosfilm Studio,
Moscow, July 1986 (concerto). DDD
REGIS RRC 2068 [65:27 + 74:01] [RB]
This
is a real treat for those who like to venture
around the periphery of Russian nationalist
repertoire and like a more spacious approach
to the Symphony. ... see Full
Review
Saburo MOROI (1903
– 1977) Sinfonietta
in B flat For Children Op.24 (1943) [15:46] Two Symphonic Movements
Op.22 (1942) [19:09] Symphony No. 3 Op.25 (1944) [33:20]
National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland/Takuo Yuasa Recorded: National
Concert Hall, Dublin, September 2002
NAXOS 8.557162 [68:15] [HC]
Traditional
... solid, warmly post-romantic and lushly
scored music played with admirable commitment
and conviction. ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1875
- 1945) The Bells, Op. 35 (1912) [35:15]
Spring, Op. 20 (1902) [15:57] Three Russian Songs,
Op.41 [12:04] Alexandrina
Pendachanska Op.35, (soprano) Kaludi Kaludov Op.35, (tenor) Sergei
Leiferkus Opp. 35, 20 (tenor) Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia
Philadelphia Orchestra/Charles Dutoit. rec. Memorial Hall, Philadelphia,
USA, January 1992. DDD
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 7702 [63:55]. [JPh]
All
of Rachmaninov’s works for choir and orchestra.
A nice idea and the performances are more
than satisfactory and allow us to enjoy
these works at super budget price. ... see
Full Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano
Sonata in C minor D.958 [31:30] Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Songs without Words, op. 19: 1 [03.33], 2 [02:18],
3 [02:18], 5 [02:45], 6 [03:07] Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Nocturne in B flat minor op. 9/1 [06:27]
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Images,
Book 1 [15:22], Hommage à Haydn [02:34], L’isle joyeuse [05:55]
Sviatoslav Richter
(piano) Recorded live at Szeged, Hungary in 1972
DOREMI DHR-7766 [76:07] [CH]
Best
left for confirmed Richterites. ... see
Full Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813
– 1883) Lohengrin
(1850) Lauritz Melchior (tenor) – Lohengrin; Astrid Varnay (soprano)
– Elsa of Brabant; Alexander Sved (baritone) – Friedrich von Telramund;
Kerstin Thorborg (mezzo) – Ortrud; Norman Cordon (bass) – Henry the
Fowler, King of Germany; Mack Harrell (baritone) – Herald
Orchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera, New York/Erich Leinsdorf
Recorded at live broadcast on 2nd January 1943 Appendix:
Bridal Chamber Scene (Act III, Scene 2) sung by Lauritz Melchior and
Emmy Bettendorf. Orchestra/Frieder Weissmann Recorded in Berlin 1926
NAXOS 8.110235-37
[3 CDs: 55:05 + 69:49 + 74:26] [GF]
Despite
a glassy string sound this is a thrilling
Lohengrin ... see Full
Review
Ernst
Wilhelm WOLF (1735-1792)
Symphonies:
E flat [16'51]; F [23'51]; C (1786) [17'20]; D [6'54].
Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, Weimar/Nicolás Pasquet.
rec. Concert Hall of the Franz Liszt University of Music, Weimar,
4-6 April 2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.557132 [64'56] [CC]
The
world of the Wind Serenade is never too
far away yet Wolf can attain depths of expression
that seem to post-date his period. Recommended.
... see Full
Review
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BOOK REVIEWS
Eric
Charles Blake
Wars, Dictators and the Gramophone 1898-1945
pp320;
illustrated; laminated cover.published by
Sessions of York, Huntingdon Rd, York YO31
9HS, England Buy
from MusicWeb £10 plus postage
- immediate delivery review
 Christopher
Fifield - Ibbs and Tillett: The Rise and
Fall of a Musical Empire. Just published
by Ashgate. 692 pages, 78 b/w illustrations.
Hardback for only £29.95 post-free in
the UK [review
Rob Barnett] [review
Jon Woolf]
LONDON
– a Musical Gazetteer By
Lewis and Susan Foreman Yale University
Press, New Haven and London, 2005 ISBN 0-300-10402-2
(chalk.paper) 384 pp 107 b/w illus large format
paperback ISBN 0 300 10402 2 £15:99.
.....must
find itself a place on music-lovers’ shelves
beside the British Music Yearbook and is excellent
value for the quite modest price. see Full
Review
CD
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New
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SHOSTAKOVICH
Piano
Trio No 1, Op. 8 Piano Trio No 2, Op. 67 Seven
Songs (Alexander Blok), Op. 127 ArteMiss
Piano Trio
Alžbĕta Poláčková
(sop) UP 0069-2 (CD) £9 postage
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RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Leoš
JANÁČEK
(1854–1928): The
Eternal Gospel, Legend for soprano,
tenor, chorus and orchestra (1913) [18.45]
The Ballad of Blaník (1919)
[8.02] The Fiddler’s Child,
Ballad for solo violin and orchestra (1913)
[11.46] The Excursions of Mr Brouček,
Suite for orchestra (1908-17) [20.58] Gwyneth-Ann
Jeffers (soprano: Angel), Adrian Thompson
(tenor: Joachim of Fiore), Edinburgh Festival
Chorus (The Eternal Gospel) - sung
in Czech Elizabeth Layton (violin) (The
Fiddler’s Child)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Ilan
Volkov rec. 5-6 June 2004 and 7–8 January
2005, Caird Hall, Dundee. DDD.
HYPERION CDA 67517 [59.54] [ED]
All
Janáček fans should be acquiring this
without delay as should those as yet unconverted
... It’s quality all the way. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Die
Entführung aus dem Serail (1782)
Ryland Davies (tenor) Belmonte; Valerie Masterson
(soprano) Constanze; Lilian Watson (soprano)
Blonde; Willard White (bass) Osmin; Pedrillo
(tenor) James Hoback; Joachim Nissmeier (speaker)
Passa Selim
The Glyndebourne Chorus London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Gustav Kuhn Rec. Glyndebourne Festival
Opera in 1980. Producer Peter Wood. PCM Stereo.
Format 4:3. Region: 0 (Worldwide). DVD9. NTSC.
ARTHAUS 101 091 [140'00] [CC]
What
a magnificent opera Die Entführung is! And to have it in this superbly
sung and well-conducted version is a real delight. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jacques OFFENBACH
(1819-1880) Die Rheinnixens or
Les Fées du Rhin (The Fairies of the Rhine)
- A romantic opera in four acts, sung in German (1860-62)
Regina
Schörg (sop) - Armgard; Nora Gubisch (mezzo) - Hedwig; Piotr Beczala
(ten) - Franz; Dalibor Jenis (bar) - Conrad; Peter Klaveness (bass-bar)
- Gottfried; Uwe Pepper (ten) - Peasant; Gaëlle Le Roi (sop) -
Fairy Lithuanian Radio Choir Orchestre National de Montpellier/Friedemann
Layer rec. live, Radio France/Montpellier Festival, France, 30 July
2002. DDD
UNIVERSAL
ACCORD 472 920-2 [3 CDs: 74:57 + 67:50 + 65:55][RW]
This
is a find worthy of inclusion in the wider European repertoire ... even
if Tales of Hoffmann has to be discarded to make way for it. The work
is a treat. ... see Full Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Serge
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
Eugene
Onegin - incidental music (1936) [76:16]
Pique Dame - film music (1936, 2000)
[33:56]
Chulpan Chamatova (speaker); Jakob Küf
(speaker)
Boris Statsenko (bar) Soloists from RIAS Kammerchors
RIAS Kammerchor/Jörn-Hinnerk Andresen
Kevin McCutcheon (harpsichord and piano) Berlin
Radio Symphony Orchestra/Michail Jurowski
rec. Berlin-Dahlem, Jesus-Christus-Kirche
March, Sept 2003, Jan, Feb 2004. DDD
CAPRICCIO 67 149 [76:16 + 33:56] [RB]
Treasure
- at last a Russian language Onegin on CD
- one of the composer's finest and most poetic
scores - do not miss it ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gioachino
ROSSINI
(1792 – 1868) La
Cenerentola (1817) Joyce DiDonato
(mezzo) – Angelina, known as Cenerentola;
José Manuel Zapata (tenor) – Don Ramiro;
Paolo Bordogna (baritone) – Dandini; Bruno
Praticò (bass-baritone) – Don Magnifico;
Patrizia Cigna (soprano) – Clorinda; Martina
Borst (mezzo) – Tisbe; Luca Pisaroni (bass-baritone)
– Alidoro
Prague Chamber Choir SWR Radio Orchestra
Kaiserslauten/Alberto Zedda rec. live, 13
Nov 2004, co-production: Rossini in Wildbad
Festival/SWR Rundfunkorchester Kaiserslauten
NAXOS 8.660191-92 [79:53 + 74:50] [GF]
Rossini
himself, somewhere up there in his gourmet
heaven, salutes this recording with a glass
of spumante. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797–1828)
Die
schöne Müllerin D 795
Jan Kobow (tenor) Kristian Bezuidenhout (fortepiano)
rec. St. Andreaskirche, Berlin, 3-6 Nov 2003
ATMA CLASSIQUE ACD2 2315 [60:56] [GF]
One
of the freshest and most uplifting interpretations
of Die schöne Müllerin I have come
across for a very long time. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Karol
SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937)
Works for violin and piano. Violin
Sonata in D minor Op. 9 (1904) (Allegro
moderato [9:38]; Andantino tranquillo
e dolce [6:44]; Finale: Allegro molto,
quasi presto [5:42]) Lullaby (La
Berceuse d´Aitacho Enia) Op.52 (1925)
[5:25] Nocturne from Op. 28
(1915) [5:52] Roxana´s Song (1924)
[5:37] Dance of the Harnasie (1931)
[6:43] Tarantella from Op. 28
[5:58] Mythes Op. 30 (1915)
Arethusa´s Fountain [6:03]; Narcissus
[7:33]; Pan and the Dryads [8:33])
Krzysztof Bakowski (violin) Anna Górecka
(piano) rec. July 2001, Warsaw Philharmonic
Concert Hall. DDD
CD ACCORD ACD 077 [74.13] [[RB]
The
complete Szymanowski for the genre matchlessly
presented - Bakowski is a real discovery.
Where has Poland been hiding him .... and
why ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Die
Walküre (1851-6)
Siegmund – Poul Elming (tenor) Hunding – Matthias
Hoelle (bass) Wotan – John Tomlinson (bass)
Sieglinde – Nadine Secunda (soprano) Brünnhilde
– Anne Evans (soprano) Fricke/Siegrune – Linda
Finnie (mezzo) Gerhilde – Eva Johansson (soprano)
Ortlinde – Ruth Floeren (soprano) Waltraute
– Shirley Close (mezzo) Helmwige – Eva-Marie
Bundschuh (soprano) Rossweisse – Hebe Dijkstra
(mezzo) Bayreuth Festival Orchestra/Daniel
Barenboim Directed for the stage by Harry
Kupfer Directed for video by Horant Hohlfeld
Recorded live at the Bayreuth Festival Theatre,
June/July 1992
WARNER CLASSICS UNITEL 2564 62319-2
[2 DVDs: 237:00][TH]
We
should be grateful that this highly-praised
cycle is now reaching us on DVD – as recent
Rings go, it takes the biscuit for me. Roll
on the rest! ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Kurt
WEILL
(1900-1950) Symphony
no.2 (1933-34) [29:40] (1. Sostenuto –
Allegro molto [9:47]; 2. Largo [13:10]; 3.
Allegro vivace [6:43]) Symphony no.1 (1921)
[26:50] Lady in the Dark – Symphonic Nocturne
(Concert Suite arr. Robert Russell Bennett)
[17:32]
(1. Andante misterioso ‘My Ship’ [2:53]; 2.
‘Girl of the Moment’ [1:58]; 3. Bolero ‘This
is New’ [3:46]; 4. Allegro alla Marcia [1:09];
5. ‘Dance of the Tumblers’ [1:47]; 6. ‘The
Saga of Jenny’ [5:58])
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Marin Alsop
rec. Lighthouse Concert Hall, Poole, UK, 12-14
Jan 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557481[74:02] [GPJ]
If
you are tempted to think of Kurt Weill as
nothing more than a Sullivan to Bertolt Brecht’s
Gilbert then I beg you to listen to this outstanding
disc. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frank
Braley (piano) Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Années
de pèlerinage, Book 2, Italie (1837-49) – No. 6, Sonetto 123 del Petrarcha
[7'27]; No. 5, Sonetto 104 del Petrarcha
[5'59]. La lugubre gondola II,
S200 No. 2 [7'43]. Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Préludes:
Book 1 (1910) – No. 10, La cathédrale engloutie
[5'57]; No. 9, La sérénade interrompu
[2'31]; No. 5, Les collines d'Anacapri
[2'52]; No. 4, Les sons et les parfumes
[3'06]; No. 12, Minstrels; No.
7, Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest [3'14];
Book 2 (1913) – No. 3, La Puerta del Vino
[3'25]; No. 7, La terrasse des audiences
du clair de lune [4'21]; No. 6, Général
Lavine – eccentric [2'35]. George
GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Rhapsody
in Blue (1924, version for solo piano) [15'24].
Frank Braley (piano). Rec. Live at La Roque
d'Anthéron on August 11th, 2004.
Director Yvon Gérault. Region 0. Picture format
16:9 (4:3 compatible). PAL.
NAÏVE DR2114
[69'27][CC]
This
is a superb recital by an artist whose maturity
and questing mind offer much. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Georgian
Journey – Secular and Sacred Vocal Music
Antchis Chati Choir/Malchaz Erkvanidze
Tsinandali Choir Three elderly singers (Karlo
Urushadze, Guri Sikharulidze, Tristan Sikharulidze)
Recorded Summer 2003 on location in Georgia
RAUM KLANG RK 2304-1/2 [78.43 + 67.45]
[RH]
Should
be of interest to many ... performances
of immediacy and vibrancy .... completely
entrancing ... the discs have accompanied
us on the car stereo in many of our own
journeys. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Cantata No. 170 Vergnugte Ruh, beliebte
Seelenlust (Vergnugte Ruh, beliebte
Seelinlust [6:56]; Die Welt, das Sundenhaus
[1:47]; Wie jammern mich doch die verkehrten
Herzen [7:25]; Wer sollte sich demnach
[1:24]; Mir ekelt mehr zu leben [6:46])
Cantata No.82 Ich habe genug (Ich
habe genug [9:41]; Ich habe genug [1:26];
Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen [11:12];
Mein Gott! Wann kommst das schone: Nun!
[0:59]; Ich freue mich auf meinem Tod
[4:07] Cantata No. 159, Sehet, wir
gehn hinauf gen Jerusalem (Sehet,
wir gehn hinauf gen Jerusalem [3:26];
Ich folge dir nach [4:58]; Nun will
ich mich, mein Jesu, uber dich [1:28];
Es ist vollbracht [5:27]; Jesu,
deine Passion [1:53])
Janet Baker (mezzo); Robert Tear (tenor);
John Shirley-Quirk (bass) Philip Ledger (harpsichord
continuo) St Anthony Singers Academy of St
Martin in the Fields/Neville Marriner Recorded
in the Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London,
January 1966 (BWV 159 and 170) and at St Paul’s
Church, Knightsbridge, London, April 1964
(BWV 82)
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 2684 [69:19][EM]
A
wonderful disc of Bach cantatas with a star
cast from Eloquence. ... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Trios: No. 5 in D, Op. 70 No. 1, 'Ghost'
(1808) [27'48]; No. 6 in E flat, Op. 70 No.
2 (1808) [30'06]; Variations in E flat, Op.
44 (c1792, publ. 1804) [13'49]
Xyrion Trio (Nina Tichman, piano; Ida
Baker, violin; Maria Kliegel, cello). Rec.
Clara Wieck Auditorium, Sandhausen, Germany,
October 20th-22nd, 2004.
DDD
NAXOS 8.557723 [71'43] [CC]
My
recording of the month, without a shadow of
a doubt. A wonderful disc, well recorded and
containing some magnificent playing. Do hear
this. ... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Arthur
BLISS (1891-1975)
Mêlée
Fantasque (1921) [12.00] Checkmate
- complete ballet (1937) [53.03]
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones
rec. 1-9 August 2004, Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow.
DDD
NAXOS 8.557641 [65.03] [TB]
These
Scottish performers capture exactly the essential
spirit of the music and the recording is among
Naxos’s best: atmospheric, clear and bright.
... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Symphony
No. 2 in D, Op. 73 [44:51] Selection of Hungarian
Dances
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Marin Alsop
rec. 21-22 March 2005, Blackheath Concert
Hall, London; 28 March 2005, Watford Colosseum,
UK.
NAXOS 8.557429 [65:06] [KS]
Here
the glory still belongs to the composer, and in Alsop’s hands is lovingly
recreated, held aloft with the utmost respect. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Aaron
COPLAND (1900-1990) Old American Songs
(orchestral version): * First Set: 1 The Boatmen’s Dance
(Minstrel Song) [3:04]; 2 The Dodger (Campaign Song) [2:15]; 3 Long
Time Ago (Ballad) [3:04]; 4 Simple Gifts (Shaker Song) [1:36]; 5 I Bought
Me A Cat (Children’s Song) [2:10]; Second Set: 6 The
Little Horses (Lullaby) [2:49]; 7 Zion’s Walls (Revivalist Song)
[1:56]; 8 The Golden Willow Tree (Anglo-American Ballad) [3:37]; 9 At
The River (Hymn Tune) [2:52] 10 Ching-A-Ring Chaw (Minstrel Song) [1:33];
11 Down A Country Lane [2:51] Eight Poems of Emily Dickinson
**: 12 Nature, The Gentlest Mother [3:55]; 13 There Came A Wind Like
A Bugle [1:32]; 14 The World Feels Dusty [1:55]; 15 Heart, We Will Forget
Him! [2:26]; 16 Dear March, Come In! [2:04]; 17 Sleep Is Supposed To
Be [2:43]; 18 Going To Heaven! [2:50] 19 The Chariot [3:08] Billy
the Kid (selection): 20 Waltz - Molto moderato [3:51]; 21 Prairie
Night – Molto moderato [4:42]; 22 Celebration Dance – Allegro
[2:15]
Thomas Hampson (bar)* Dawn Upshaw (sop) ** Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra/Hugo
Wolff Recorded in the Ordway Music Theatre, St Paul, Minnesota, in September
1992 (Old American, Orchestral Pieces); September 1993 (Eight Poems)
WARNER APEX 2564 62089-2 [59:08][SA]
A
great disc ... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Sergei
RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) Symphony
No. 2 in E minor (1906-7) [66.13]
London Symphony Orchestra/Gennadi Rozhdestvensky
rec. 10-11 March 1988, All Saints Church,
Tooting, London. DDD
REGIS RRC 1210 [66.13] [RB]
Will
rekindle that first fresh shimmer of discovery,
that tremor of the heart, that spine-tingling
indicator that tells you what it was to live
the creation and recreation of this music.
... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Symphony
No. 5 in E Flat Major Op. 82 (1914) [29:06]
En Saga (1892) [17:51] Swan of Tuonela
(1893) [8:18] Valse Triste (1904)
[4:58] Finlandia (1900) [8:32]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Ole Schmidt (Charles
Mackerras: Finlandia only)rec. CTS
Studios, London, 1996. DDD
REGIS RRC 1216 [69:08] [RB]
This
is one of those discs that slips way into
the background all too easily. Sibelians need
this disc. Schmidt’s Fifth could easily stand
as the only version in someone’s collection.
... see Full
Review
 BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ellen
Taaffe ZWILICH (b.
1939) Violin
Concertoa (1998) [26'03] Rituals
for Five Percussionists and Orchestrab
(2002) [25'59]
aPamela Frank (violin); bNEXUS/IRIS
Chamber Orchestra aSaarbrücken
Radio Symphony Orchestra/Michael Stern. aLive
recording in the Kongresshalle, Stuttgart,
Germany on October 18th, 1998,
bGermantown Performing Arts Centre,
Tennessee, USA on March 7th, 2004
Studio recording). DDD
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559268 [52'04]
[CC]
Recommended,
especially for the Violin Concerto. There
is an integrity to the works on this disc
that is most impressive. ... 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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