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August 2006



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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

 

Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Sonatas – Volume VII: K270-317 CD 1 Sonatas K270-K286; CD 2 Sonatas K287-K301; CD 3 Sonatas K302-K317 Pieter-Jan Beldwer (harpsichord, organ) rec. Dutch Reformed Church, Renswoude, April 2004 (K270-K286); Dutch Reformed Church, Giessen, May 2004 (K289-K301); Dutch Reformed Church, Rhoon, September 2004 (K302-317); Koepelkerk, Arnhem, October 2004 (K287-288) BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92772 [3 CDs: 66:14 + 62:12 + 67:32] [GPu]

 "Many excellencies" without added "improvements" are here very attractively placed before the listener in this highly enjoyable set ... see Full Review

Alfred SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) Film Music - Volume II Clowns und Kinder (1976) [8:44] Der Walzer (1969) [11:20] Die Glasharmonika (1968) [20:50] Der Aufstieg (1976) [14:16] Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin/Frank Strobel rec. Jesus-Christus-Kirche May 2002, February 2004. DDD CAPRICCIO 71061 [55:30] [DB]

Interesting and often very exciting new aspects of Schnittke’s output. ... see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797–1828) Die Winterreise, D 911 (1827) Klaus Mertens (baritone) Tini Marhot (fortepiano) rec. Waalse Kerk, Amsterdam, 29-31 March 2005. DDD ANTOINE MARCHAND CC 72152 [75:35] [GF]

A fresh, personable and individual reading that shows these well-known songs in part in a new light. ... see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Quartet in C minor (1829) [26:58] Piano Quartet in E flat major, Op. 47 (1842) [32:25] Trio Parnassus: (Yamei Yu (violin); Michael Groß (cello); Chia Chou (piano); Hariolf Schlichtig (viola)) rec. 7-9 December, 2005, Fürstliche Reitbahn, Bad Arolsen, Germany. DDD MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM GOLD MDG 903 1414-6 [59:37] [MC]

Enjoyable performances that will fit comfortably on my record shelves. Schumann’s fledgling C minor Piano Quartet proves an attractive and worthy addition to the répertoire. ... see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Quintet in E flat major Op. 44 (1842) [31:05] Piano Quartet in E flat major Op. 47 (1842) [28:25]   The Schubert Ensemble rec. 14-16 November 2005, Potton Hall, Suffolk ASV GOLD GLD 4021 [60:35][TB]

Schumann’s creative personality is well captured by the beautifully judged tempi and phrasing of the Schubert Ensemble. ... see Full Review

Jean Baptiste SENALLIÉ (1687-90?-1730) Troisième Livre de Sonates à violon seul avec la basse continue (1720) Ensemble Baroques Graffiti (Jaroslav Adamus (violin); Jean-Paul Serra (harpsichord); Frederic Audibert (cello)) Eglise de Saint Théodore, Marseille, 4-8 August 2004, DDD ACTE PRÉALABLE APO 115 [79:00] [IB]

Music full of interest and that in the hands of these performers really bounces off the page. ... see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) String Quartet No. 3 in F, Op. 73 (1946) [30:47] String Quartet No. 7 in F sharp minor, Op. 108 (1960) [11:47] String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110 (1960) [20:21] The Hagen Quartet (Lucas Hagen (violin); Rainer Schmidt (violin); Veronika Hagen (viola); Clemens Hagen (cello)) rec. November 2005, Salzburg, Große Universitätsaula. DEUTSCHE GRAMOPHON 4776146 [63:25][KS]

Impassioned, warm perfection … pay attention to the early third quartet ... this is music of great invention. ... see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) The Very Best of Shostakovich CD 1 Festive Overture in A, Op. 96 [5:59], String Quartet No. 8 in C minor III Allegretto [4:10]; Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67 III Largo [5:35]; Cello Concerto No. 1 in E flat, Op. 107 I Allegretto [6:15]; 24 Preludes and Fugues - piano, Op. 87 Prelude and Fugue No1 in C major [6:50]; Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47 II Allegretto [5:08]; Cello Sonata Op. 40 IV Allegro [4:30]; The Golden Age: Ballet Suite, Op. 22a Polka [1:52]; String Quartet No. 3 in F, Op. 73 IV Adagio [5:27]; Symphony No. 9 in E flat, Op. 54 III Presto [2:48]; 24 Preludes - piano, Op. 34 Prelude No. 10 in C sharp minor [2:06]; Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor Op. 77 IV Burlesque [5:02]; The Gadfly Suite Op. 97a Romance [5:52]; Symphony No. 10 in E minor Op. 93 II Allegro [4:18] CD 2 Jazz Suite No. 2 VI Waltz 2 [3:15]; Piano Concerto No. 1 in C minor Op. 35 II Lento [8:31]; Symphony No7 in C Op. 60 Leningrad II Moderato [11:20]; 3 Fantastic Dances Op. 5 Polka [1:07]; Symphony No. 13 in B flat minor Op. 113 Babi Yar II Humour [7:36]; Piano Quintet Op. 57 II Scherzo [3:25]; Symphony No. 1 in F minor OP. 10 II Allegro [4:54]; Piano Concerto No. 2 Op. 102 II Andante [6:38]; Symphony No. 15 Op. 141 IV Allegretto [4:03]; String Quartet No. 7 in F sharp minor Op. 108 III Allegro [5:35]; Tahiti Trot Op. 16 Tea for Two [4:10] Drawn from various artists and recordings in the Naxos catalogue NAXOS 8.552129-30 [66:43 + 61:06] [JWi]

As an introduction to the composer’s work, it gives a wide-ranging and typical selection, which is in itself some achievement. ... see Full Review

Chas SMITH (b.1948) Descent [18:05] Endless Mardi Gras [20:50] False Clarity [9:41] Oja Fin (voice); Chas Smith (stainless steel sheet, jet plane/notch filters, Copper Box, steel guitar, Que Lastas, Jr. Blue, flutes, zither, Guitarzilla, Pez Eater) rec. 2003-2005, TDS Studio, Encino, California COLD BLUE MUSIC CB0023 [48:36][GPu]

Music with its own distinctive sound world, idiosyncratic and yet very much within a Californian tradition … see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony), Op. 64, TrV 233 (1911-15) [54:14]: 1. Nacht (Night) [3:58] 2. Sonnenaufgang (Sunrise) [1:28] 3. Der Anstieg (The Ascent) [2:17] 4. Eintritt in den Wald (Entry into the Wood) [6:08] 5. Wanderung neben dem Bache (Wandering by the Stream) [0:48] 6. Am Wasserfall (At the Waterfall) [0:15] 7. Erscheinung (Apparition) [0:46] 8. Auf Blumigen Wiesen (On Flowering Meadows) [0:56] 9. Auf der Alm (On the Alpine Pasture) [2:37] 10. Durch Dickicht und Gestrüpp auf Irrwegen (Straying through Thicket and Undergrowth) [1:31] 11. Auf dem Gletscher (On the Glacier) [1:04] 12. Gefahrvolle Augenblicke (Dangerous Moments) [1:29] 13. Auf dem Gipfel (On the Summit) [5:19] 14. Vision (Vision) [3:58] 15. Nebel steigen auf (Mists rise) [0:20] 16. Die Sonne verdüstert sich allmählich (The Sun gradually darkens) [0:56] 17. Elegie (Elegy) [2:12] 18. Stille vor der Sturme (Calm before the Storm) [3:07] 19. Gewitter und Sturm, Abschied (Thunder and Storm, Descent) [3:54] 20. Sonnenuntergang (Sunset) [2:15] 21. Ausklang (Final Sounds) [6:35] 22. Nacht (Night) [2:19] Staatskapelle Weimar/Antoni Wit rec. Weimarhalle, Weimar, Germany, 4-6 July 2005. DDD NAXOS 8.557811 [54.14] [MC]

A golden recording of which Naxos should be very proud. ... see Full Review

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Petrushka (1947 version) [34:40] Leonard Bernstein discusses Stravinsky and the Petrushka Ballet [20:39] Pulcinella Suite for Chamber Orchestra (1947 version) [22:55] New York Philharmonic/Bernstein rec. Philharmonic Hall (now Avery Fisher Hall), Lincoln Center, New York City, USA, 5 May 1969 (Petrushka), New York City, 22 July 1970 (Bernstein discusses Stravinsky), Manhattan Center, New York City, 28 March 1960. ADD SONY CLASSICAL 82876 78749 2 [78:14][GPJ]

Despite recordings that will not be to everyone’s taste, these performances bring out the conductor’s best qualities, and are well worth hearing. ... see Full Review

Tadeusz SZELIGOWSKI (1896-1963) Wind Quintet (1953) [18:03] Grażyna BACEWICZ (1909-1969) Wind Quintet (1932) [10:53] Incrustations for horn and chamber ensemble (1965) [15:47] (World Premiere Recording) Wojcieh KILAR (b.1932) Wind Quintet (1952) [15:58] Cracow Philharmonic Wind Quintet: (Krysztof Kawula (flute); Mariusz Pędziałek (oboe); Jan Cielecki (clarinet); Mirosław Płoski (horn); Zdisław Bogacz (bassoon)); Instrumental Ensemble (for Incrustations): (Mirosław Płoski (horn); nna Sikorzak-Olek (harp); Jan Pilch (percussion); Bogusława Ziegelheim (violin); Agata Zając (cello); Marek Kalinowski (contrabass)) rec. 3-4 June 1999, Austrian Consulate, Cracow, Poland ACTE PRÉALABLE POLISH MUSIC AP0044 [61:43] [GPJ]

Not a spectacular disc, but an immensely worthwhile one, which I find has repaid many repeated hearings. ... see Full Review

Matthew TAYLOR (b. 1964) Piano Trio Op. 17 (1993-94) [29:12] String Quartet No. 3 Op. 18 (1995) [17:45] Conflict and Consolation Op. 19 (1996) [17:38] Lowbury Piano Trio (Pauline Lowbury, violin; Ursula Smith, cello; Elizabeth Burley, piano) Schidlof Quartet (Ofer Falk and Rafael Todes, violins; Graham Oppenheimer, viola; Oleg Kogan, cello) Members of the BBC Symphony Orchestra/Martyn Brabbins rec. St. George’s, Bristol, 10 November 1997 (Piano Trio); Music Department, University of Exeter, 19 April 1997 (String Quartet No. 3); St. Augustine’s Church, Kilburn, 13 November 1996 (Conflict and Consolation). DDD TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0015 [65:14] [CT]

Matthew Taylor makes a powerful case for the survival of the symphonic composer in the twenty-first century. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No. 5 in E minor Op. 64 (1888) [45:40] Capriccio Italien Op. 45 (1880) [14:55] Cleveland Orchestra/Georg Szell rec. 23 October 1959 (Symphony), 28 February–1 March (Capriccio), Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio. ADD SONY CLASSICAL 82876 787442 [60:35] [TB]

This famous recording of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth sounds better than ever in its latest transfer from Sony Classical. ... see Full Review

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony no. 2 in C minor, op. 17 “Little Russian” (1879 version) [32:42]; Overture in F major (1866 version) [11:47]; Festive Overture on the Danish National Anthem in D major, op. 15 (1892 version) [12:09]; The Storm (Groza), Overture, op. 76 (1864) [14:37] Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi rec. Gothenburg Concert Hall, Sweden, November 2004 (Symphony) and August 2004 (Overtures) BIS SACD-1418 [72:27] [BB]

Järvi lets the music eloquently speak for itself ... see Full Review

Lasse THORESEN (b. 1949) Chases, Cattle Calls and Charts (2001-2003) Berit Opheim (vocal) BIT20 Ensemble/Jeffrey Milarsky rec. 16-17 February 2005, NRK, Hordaland, Norway AURORA ACD 5042 [55:23] [DC]

Lasse Thoresen’s feeling for his own folk heritage and the sounds which inhabit the landscape of his country run through this music like the words through a stick of Brighton rock. ... see Full Review

Knut VAAGE (b.1961) Someone is Going to Come (2000) Libretto: Jon Fosse and Knut Vaage, adapted from Fosse’s play of the same title She: Siri Torjesen (soprano) He: Ketil Hugaas (bass-baritone) The Man: Nils Harald Sødal (tenor) BIT20 Ensemble/ Ingar Bergby rec. 27-28 March 2004, NRK Studio Minde, Bergen. DDD AURORA ACD 5043 [60:10][GPu]

A chamber opera of real intensity, in a compelling performance … see Full Review

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Fantasia on Theme by Thomas Tallis (1910) [15.36] Erik SATIE (1866-1925) Gymnopédie 1 [2.48]; Gymnopédie 3 [3.17] Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) Adagio for strings, Op.11 [7.28] Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Pavane, Op.50 (1887) [5.42] Percy GRAINGER (1882–1961) Irish Tune from County Derry (Danny Boy) [6.11] St. Louis Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin. rec. Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis, Missouri, 27-28 March 1981. DDD. TELARC CD-80059 [41.42][ED]

Recommended for anyone wanting this mixed programme. ... see Full Review

Marietta VEULENS Piano Cubano - De Algunas zonas del alma, Pieza No.I (De algunas zonas del alma) Música de los niños invisibles Parte I Música de los niños invisibles Parte II Pieza No.II (De algunas zonas del alma) Campanas consonantes La música de la No guerra Desde la ventana (devastación) Parte I Desde la ventana (devastación) Parte II Tambores de invierno Marietta Veulens (piano) rec. no date given. Huntwood Farm Studios, London. UK. DDD LORELT LNT 123 [58:06][GH]

An interesting attempt at serious cross-over held between the music of Cuba filtered through the eyes and ears of a willing exile in London. ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Aida - opera in four acts (1871) Il Re, King of Egypt, Plinio Clabassi (bass); Amneris, his daughter, Fedora Barbieri (mezzo); Radames, captain of the guards, Jussi Björling (ten); Amonasro, King of Ethiopia, Leonard Warren (bar); Aida, his daughter, Zinka Milanov (sop); Ramfis, High priest, Boris Christoff (bass); Chorus and Orchestra of the Rome Opera House/Jonel Perlea rec. 2-18 July 1955, Opera House, Rome Appendix: Un Ballo in Maschera - opera in three acts (1859) - highlights Riccardo, Jan Peerce (ten); Amelia, Zinka Milanov (sop); Renato, Leonard Warren (bar); Ulrica, Marion Anderson (alto); Oscar, Roberta Peters (sop) Metropolitan Opera Orchestra/Dimitri Mitropoulos rec. 9-21 January 1955, Manhattan Center, New York City. Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn NAXOS HISTORICAL GREAT OPERA RECORDINGS SERIES 8.11142-44 [3 CDs: 57.50 + 79.49 + 68.05] [RJF]

An overall singing cast of this quality only comes round every other generation or two at the most. Add superb restoration of the mono sound and this recording of Aida should be part of any Verdi collection ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Un ballo in Maschera - opera in three acts (1871) Riccardo, Count of Warwick and Governor, Massimiliano Pisapia (ten); Renato, his secretary, Franco Fassallo (bar); Amelia, his wife, loved by Riccardo, Chiara Taigi (sop); Ulrica, a fortune teller, Anna Maria Chiuri (mezzo); Oscar, Riccardo’s page, Een Yee You (sop); Silvano, a sailor, Herman Wallén (bar); Samuel, enemy of Riccardo, Tuomas Pursio (bass); Tom, another enemy of Riccardo, Metodie Bujor (bass) Chorus of the Leipzig Opera, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig/Riccardo Chailly rec. live, Zurich Opera House, 23, 26 November 2005. Directed by Ermanno Olmi. TV Director, Don Kent. Stage Design and Costumes, Arnoldo Pomodoro Picture format: 16/9 Anamorphic. Sound formats: LPCM Stereo. DTS 5.1 Sung in Italian with subtitles in English, German, French, Italian EURO ARTS 2055108 [139:00] [RJF]

This modernist production focuses on the actions and emotional relationships of the story. The singing is never less than adequate and the conducting of Riccardo Chailly is superb. ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Les Vêpres Siciliennes - Grand opera in five acts (sung in German) Guy de Montfort, Governor of Sicily, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (bar); Duchesse Hélène, sister of Duke Frederic, Hilde Zadek (sop); Arrigo, a young Sicilian, Hans Hopf (ten); Jean Procida, a Sicilian doctor, Gottlob Frick (bass); Bethune, a French officer, Heinz Borst (bass); Vaudemont, A French officer, Hermann Firchow (bass); Ninetta, Helene’s maid, Gisela Litz (mezzo) West German Radio Symphony Orchestra Cologne/Mario Rossi rec. Köln Funkhaus des WDR, Saal 1. 6-12 January 1955, mono CAPRICCIO 67168-70 [3 CDs: 64.44 + 63.02 + 79.15] [RJF]

With the soloists having little feel for the Verdian idiom, this performance will only appeal to those interested in a performance in German or how particular singers perform in the composer’s work. ... see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concerti per vari strumenti Concerto for two oboes, two clarinets, strings and bc in C (RV 559) [11:32] Concerto for bassoon, strings and bc in A minor (RV 497) [09:46] Concerto for two violins, two recorders, two oboes, bassoon, strings and bc in minor (RV 566) [08:08] Concerto for strings and bc with two oboes in C (RV 534) [08:38] Concerto for oboe, violin, strings and bc in B flat (RV 548) [08:50] Concerto for oboe, strings and bc in D minor (RV 454) [07:42] Concerto for two oboes, two clarinets, strings and bc in C (RV 560) [09:27] Piero Cartosio, recorder; Lorenzo Coppola, recorder, clarinet; Paolo Grazzi, Alfredo Bernardini, oboe; Daniele Latini, clarinet; Alberto Grazzi, bassoon; Stefano Montanari, Stefano Rossi, violin; Orchestra barocca Zefiro/Alfredo Bernardini rec. November 2004, Auditorium of San Salvatore a Rodengo, Brescia, Italy DDD NAÏVE OP 30409 [64:07][JV]

Colourful, bold and technically brilliant performances in a recording which demonstrates the wide variety in Vivaldi's oeuvre ... see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Sacred Music, Vol. 2 Laudate pueri Dominum, RV 600 [22.13]a Stabat Mater, RV 621 (c. 1711) [18.50]b Canta in prato, ride in monte, RV 623 (1723-24) [08.31]a Clarae stellae, scintillate, RV 625 (c. 1715) [11.09]b Tracy Smith Bessette (soprano)a Marion Newman (mezzo) b Arcadia Ensemble/Kevin Mallon rec. Grace Church on-the-Hill, Toronto, Canada, 7-9 May 2005. DDD NAXOS 8.557852 [60.53]

Vivaldi’s sacred idiom alternates passages of great tenderness and sombre beauty, rich in expressiveness, with highly operatic movements of colourful and exciting virtuosity. [MC]
Creditable performances but there are finer performances and I would advise you to save up for one of these [RH] ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Musica Sacra vol. 5 Mottetto RV626 “In furore iustissimae irae” [12:55] (1) Sinfonia in B minor RV169 “Al Santo Sepolcro” [05:03] (2) Laudate pueri RV601 [23:10] (3) Concerto in D minor for violin, organ and strings RV541 [09:07] (4) Concerto in F for violin, strings and harpsichord “per la Solennità di San Lorenzo RV286” [12:27] Sandrine Piau (soprano (1, 3), Stefano Montanari (violin)(4), Marcello Gatti (flute) (3), Ottavio Dantone (Organ) (4), Accademia Bizantina/Ottavio Dantone rec. July 2005, Abbaye de Saint-Michel en Thiérache NAÏVE OP 30416 [62:56] [CH]

It’s beginning to dawn on me that we’re living in a golden age of Vivaldi interpretation. ... see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Six Flute Concertos (c.1728): No. 1 in F major RV 433 ‘La tempesta di monte’ [7:04]; No. 2 in G minor RV 439 ‘La notte’ [8:35]; No. 3 in D RV 428 ‘Il Gardellino’ [9:36]; No. 4 in G RV435 [7:12]; No. 5 in F RV 434 [8:35] No. 6 in G RV 437 [8:04] From ‘L’Estro Armonico’ (with violin): No. 11 in D minor RV 565; [9:40] No. 10 in B minor RV 580 [10:03] Judith Hall (flute); Jaime Laredo (violin) Divertimenti of London; Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Paul Barritt rec. Henry Wood Hall, 1991 (Flute Concertos); 1986 (L’Estro Armonico) REGIS RRC 1243 [68.55] [GH]

A good way to be introduced to good quality Vivaldi concertos … at budget price it offers excellent value. ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Die Walküre - music drama in three acts (1870) Astrid Varnay (soprano) … Brünnhilde Ramón Vinay (tenor) … Siegmund Gré Brouwenstijn (soprano) … Sieglinde Josef Greindl (bass) … Hunding Hans Hotter (bass-baritone) … Wotan Georgine von Milinkovic (mezzo) … Fricka, Maria Graf (mezzo) ... Rossweisse Hilde Scheppan (soprano) … Helmwige Gerda Lammers (soprano) … Ortlinde Hertha Wilfert (soprano) … Gerhilde Elisabeth Scheppan (soprano) … Waltraute Jean Watson (mezzo) … Siegrune Georgine von Milinkovic (mezzo) … Grimgerde Maria von Ilosvay (contralto) … Schwertleite Bayreuth Festival Orchestra/Joseph Keilberth rec. live, Festival House, Bayreuth, 18 November 1955 TESTAMENT SBT4 1391 [4 CDs: 63:41 + 60:50 + 25:48 + 67:25][DH]

This vivid Testament recording, for its principal singers and theatrical revelations, now becomes my favourite stereo Walküre. ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813–1883) Siegfried (1876) Siegfried Jerusalem (tenor) – Siegfried; Graham Clark (tenor) – Mime; John Tomlinson (bass) – Der Wanderer; Günter von Kannen (bass) – Alberich; Philip Kang (bass) – Fafner; Anne Evans (soprano) – Brünnhilde; Birgitta Svendén (mezzo) – Erda; Hilde Leidland (soprano) – Der Waldvogel. Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele/Daniel Barenboim. Staged and directed by Harry Kupfer; Stage design: Hans Schavernoch; Costume design: Reinhard Heinrich; Video director: Horant H. Hohlfeld; Artistic supervision: Wolfgang Wagner rec. Bayreuth Festspielhaus. June-July 1992 NTSC System 16:9; Colour; Region code NTSC 2345; LPCM Stereo Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62320-2 [2 DVDs: 243:36] [GF]

With Barenboim’s deeply involved conducting and a superlative cast of singing-actors in a fanciful, thought-provoking and humorous production this is hard to beat. ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813 – 1883) Götterdämmerung (1876) Heinz Kruse (tenor) – Siegfried; Wolfgang Schöne (baritone) – Gunther; Henk Smit (baritone) – Alberich; Kurt Rydl (bass) – Hagen; Jeannine Altmeyer (soprano) – Brünnhilde; Eva.Maria Bundschuh (soprano) – Gutrune; Anne Gjevang (contralto) – Waltraute; Hebe Dijkstra (soprano) – First Norn; Irmgard Vilsmaier (soprano) – Second Norn; Kirsi Tiihonen (soprano) – Third Norn; Gabriele Fontana (soprano) – Woglinde; Hanna Schaer (mezzo-soprano) – Wellgunde; Catherine Keen (contralto) – Flosshilde, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra/Hartmut Haenchen; Stage director: Pierre Audi; Set design: George Tsypin; Costume design: Eiko Ishioka; Light design: Wolfgang Göbbel; Dramaturgy: Klaus Bertisch; TV director: Hans Hulscher rec. live, Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam, 1999 OPUS ARTE OA 0949D [3 DVDs: 268:00] [GF]

Intensity and concentration …  once one has been captured one forgets the deficiencies. Discoveries to be made ... see Full Review

Kurt WEILL (1900-1950) Die sieben Todsünden (1933) [33:57] (1) Complainte de la Seine (1934) [03:11] (2) Youkali (1935) [05:28] (2) Nanna’s Lied (1939) [03:13] (2) Wie lange noch? (1944) [03:28] (2) Es regnet (1933) [02:59] (2) Berlin im Licht-Song (1928) [01:53] (2) Brigitte Fassbaender (mezzo-soprano) (1, 2), Karl-Heinz Brandt, Hans Sojer (tenors) (1), Hidenori Komatsu (baritone) (1), Ivan Urbas (bass) (1), Radio-Philharmonie Hannover des NDR/Cord Garben (1), Cord Garben (piano) (2) rec. January 1992, NDR, Hanover HARMONIA MUNDI HMA 1951420 [54:47] [CH]

Fassbaender’s emotion-laden voice and psychological involvement make her the ideal singer for Kurt Weill. ... see Full Review

Healey WILLAN (1880-1968) In the Heavenly Kingdom: Hymns, Anthems and Motets Matthew Larkin (organ) Joseph Schnurr (tenor) The Elora Festival Singers/Noel Edison rec. 2004, DDD NAXOS 8.557734 [67:07]

A feast of Willan’s choral music spanning half a century ... see Full Review

Ermanno WOLF-FERRARI (1876-1948) Idillio Concertino for oboe, strings and two horns, Op.15 (1932) [18:51]Concertino for English horn, strings and two horns, Op.34 (1947) [24:33]Suite Concertino for bassoon, strings and two horns, Op.16 (1933) [19:24] Piet van Bockstal (oboe, English horn) Luc Loubry (bassoon)West Saxony Symphony Orchestra (Westsächisches Symphonieorchester)/Hans Rotman rec. 3-5 May 2003, unnamed church, Leipzig, Germany. DDD TALENT RECORDS SACD DOM 2929 90 [63:30] [MC]

Talent Records label should be proud of this wonderfully performed and recorded release. Lovers of late-Romantic music who are looking for something different are well advised to investigate these rewarding scores. ... see Full Review

 



Detailed listing (last five 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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