John
ADDISON (1920-1998) The Film Music
I was Monty's Double - March (1958) [2:58] * Centennial
Main Theme, arr. Patrick Russ (1979) [4:09] * Swashbuckler Suite
(1976) [5:46] A Bridge Too Far (1977) [10:24] The Maggie -
Song of the Maggie, arr. Shaples (1953) [2:31] Reach for the Sky
(1956) [4:07] Strange Invaders (1983) [9:28] The Man Between
'Berlin Story' (1953) [2:10] Tom Jones Overture (1963) [4:45]
The Charge of the Light Brigade Suite (1968) [7:19] Brandy
for the Parson Opening Titles; End Titles (1951) [3:03] * Torn
Curtain Main Titles, orch. Edward B. Powell [2:22] Touch and
Go Mirror Waltz (1955) [2:41] * Sleuth (1972) [3:08] Carlton-Browne
of the F.O. March, arr. Ronald Hanmer (1958) [1:49] * Murder,
She Wrote Main Theme (1984) [2:10] 
BBC Concert Orchestra/Rumon Gamba rec. Watford Colosseum, 4-5 October
2006 CHANDOS CHAN
10418 [70:50][RB]
Addison
is one of the treasures of the film and television music worlds and
this disc magnificently performed and recorded is ample proof. ... see
Full Review
Heinrich
ALBERT (1870-1950) 8 Duos for Guitars
(1915-1917) Duo No. 6 in D major [12:11] Duo No. 2 in A minor [8:33]
Duo No.1 in C major [7:46]
Duo No. 3 in C major [7:24] Duo
No. 5 in E minor [7:53] Duo No.
4 in G major [7:22] Duo No. 7
in A major [14:30] Duo No. 8
in E major [10:55]
Heinrich-Albert-Duo (Joachim Schrader and Jan Erler, guitars) rec. 4-6
January 2006, Andreaskirche, Berlin
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 603 1429-2 [77:22][DM]
Frankly
I haven’t enjoyed a disc this much in ages and I urge you to audition
it at once. ... see Full Review
Anton
ARENSKY
(1861-1906) Suite
No. 1 in G minor (1885) [32:52] Suite No. 3 (Variations) in C major
[29:51] Introduction to the opera Nal and Damajanti (1903) [6:44]
USSR Symphony Orchestra/Evgeny
Svetlanov rec. 1987. ADD
MELODIYA MEL CD 10 00148 [69:27] [IL]
Enchanting,
exciting, tuneful music delivered in style.
... see Full
Review
Malcolm ARNOLD
(1921-2006)
The
Complete Brass Chamber Music Fanfare
for Louis (1970) [02:07] Brass Quintet No.
1, Op. 73 (1961) [12:23] Fantasy for B flat
Trumpet, Op. 100 (1969) [03:46] Little Suite
for Brass No. 1, Op. 80 (1963) [07:37] Fantasy
for Horn, Op. 88 (1967) [04:16] Little Suite
for Brass No. 2, Op. 93 (1967) [06:38] Fantasy
for Trombone, Op. 101 (1969) [03:13] Little
Suite for Brass No. 3, Op. 131 (1987) [02:25]
Fantasy for Tuba, Op. 102 (1969) [04:32] Brass
Quintet No. 2, Op. 132 (1987) [05:35] Symphony
for Brass, Op. 123 (1978) [23:44]
Fine Arts Brass Quintet/Stephen Roberts with
Bryan Allen and Andy Culshaw (trumpets) (Symphony),
Simon Hogg, Kevin Pitt, and Lyndon Meredith
(trombones) (Symphony); Simon Lenton and Angela
Whelan (trumpets); Tim Thorpe (horn); Katy
Price (trombone); Sam Elliott (tuba) rec.
Wyastone Leys, Monmouth, UK, 2 April 2006
(Symphony); Wyastone Leys, Monmouth, UK, 6-7
June 2006 (Quintets and Fantasies). DDD
NIMBUS NI 5804 [79:21] [TP]
This
disc is filled to the brim with a wide range
of genres of brass music and can be easily
recommended to any fan of brass music. ...
see Full Review
Kurt
ATTERBERG (1887-1974) Cello Concerto
Op.21 (1917-22) [32:52] Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) String Sextet No.2 in G major Op.36 (1864-65) arranged
for string orchestra by Kurt Atterberg in 1939 [35:33]
Truls Mørk (cello) The Symphony Orchestra of NorrlandsOperan/Kristjan
Järvi rec. Concert Hall of NorrlandsOperan, Umeå, Sweden, June 2004
BIS-CD-1504 [69:00][JW]
For
Atterberg admirers though this new disc packs a sizeable and sizeably
sensitive punch ... see Full
Review
Vytautas
BACEVIČIUS (1905-1970)
Poème
électrique for orchestra (1932) [5:29] Piano Concerto No.
1 Sur les thèmes lituaniens (1929) [14:16] Symphony No.
2 della Guerra (1940) [21:07] Symphony No. 6 Cosmique (1960)
[12:17] Graphique for orchestra (1964) [12:57]
Aidas Puodžiukas (piano) Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra/Vytautas
Lukočius (all except concerto); Martinus Staškus (concerto) rec.
Vilnius 2003-2005 first recordings
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0049 [66:06] [RB]
Music
that is often tough and of a type indebted
to Schoenberg. An almost constant wandering
pilgrim-refugee. . ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Motetten Singet
dem Herrn ein neues Lied BWV 225 [14:02] Der Geist hilft
unser Schwachheit auf BWV 226 [9:13] Jesu, meine Freude BWV
227 [22:06] Fürchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir BWV
228 [10:01] Komm, Jesu, komm BWV 229 [9:28] Lobet
den Herrn, alle Heiden BWV 230 [7:01] Ich lasse Dich
nicht, du segnest mich denn BWV Anh. 159 [4:40] The
Hilliard Ensemble (Joanne Lunn (soprano); Rebecca Outram (soprano);
David James (counter-tenor); David Gould (counter-tenor); Rogers
Covey-Crump (tenor, organ); Steven Harrold (tenor); Gordon
Jones (baritone); Robert Macdonald (bass)) rec.
November 2003, Propstei St. Gerold ECM
NEW SERIES 1875 [76:50] [DC]
Bach
may not have heard these works in quite this
way when he was alive, but I’d bet my urtext
he’d have loved every moment ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Concertos
for Harpsichord and Strings Vol. 2 Concerto in A major
BWV 1055 [13:27] Concerto in f minor BWV 1056 [8:38] Concerto
in F major BWV 1057 [14:47]
Concerto in g minor BWV 1058 [11:34] Concerto
Copenhagen/Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord, director) rec. 17-20 January 2005,
The Garrisson Church, Copenhagen. DDD CPO
777 248-2 [48:30] [ABi]
An
extremely worthy competitor in its field. Striking vibrancy of
performance and recorded sound ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685–1739) Der
Zufiedengestellte Aeolus, BWV 205 (1723) [35.30] Unser
Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110 (1725) [21.40] Nancy
Argenta (soprano) (Pallas) Charles Daniels (tenor) (Zephyrus)
Klaus Mertens (bass) (Aeolus) Claudia Iten (mezzo) (Pomona)
Roberta Invernizzi (soprano) Rosa Dominguez (mezzo) Coro dell
Radio Svizzera I Barochisti/Diego Fasolis rec. Auditorium RSI,
Lugano, Switzerland, November 2003, May 2004 ARTS
47717-8 
[57.10]
[RH]
Much
choral and instrumental interest, beautifully taken. Bach’s name-day
cantata displays the master in delightfully unbuttoned mood ...
see Full Review
Sir
Granville BANTOCK
(1868-1946) Overture
to a Greek Tragedy: Oedipus at Colonus
(1911) [15:40] * Josef
HOLBROOKE (1878-1958) The Birds
of Rhiannon Op. 87 (1923) [15:50] Cyril
ROOTHAM (1875-1938) Symphony No.
1 in C minor (1932) [30:57]
* Philharmonia Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley
rec. January 1979, Kingsway Hall (Holbrooke);
September 1976, Henry Wood Hall (Rootham,
Bantock). ADD
LYRITA SRCD.269 [62.30] [RB]
All
in all a fine release which makes a signal
virtue of variety. ... see Full
Review
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) String
Quartet No. 5 (1934) [28:49] Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963) String Quartet No. 4, Op.22
(1921) [21:45] Zehetmair
Quartet: (Thomas Zehetmair (violin); Kuba Jakowicz (violin);
Ruth Killius (viola); Ursula Smith (cello)) rec. June 2006,
Kulturbuhne Ambach, Götzis, Austria. DDD ECM
NEW SERIES 1874 [50:57]
[MC]
This
twentieth century music chamber repertoire from Bartók and Hindemith
is not heard often enough. Many will find this pioneering music
reasonably challenging but the rewards will more than compensate
with repeated hearings ... see Full
Review
Arnold BAX (1883-1953)
Tintagel (1917-19) [12:06] Mediterranean (1922) [3:09]
Symphony No. 2 (1924-26) [36:47] John ANTILL (1904-1986) Corroboree - ballet
suite (1946) [23:14] Eugene GOOSSENS (1893-1962) Tam O'Shanter
op. 17a (1917) [3:05] New
Symphony Orchestra/Goossens; BBC Symphony Orchestra/Goossens (Sym 2);
Sydney Symphony Orchestra/Goossens (Antill); Royal Albert Hall Orchestra/Goossens
(Tam) rec. 1928, London (Bax); 2 November 1956, live BBC broadcast
(Sym 2); Sydney, 5 December 1950 (Antill); London, 31 August 1922 (Tam).
mono. ADD DUTTON CDBP
9779 [68:21][RB]
All
mono but this Bax 2 is iconic among Baxians – stunning music-making
– shame about the sound quality of the symphony ... see Full
Review
Franz Ignaz BECK (1734-1809)
Symphony in D, Op. 4 No. 1 [19:12] Symphony in B-flat, Op. 4 No.
2 [22:22] Symphony in F, Op. 4 No. 3 [18:36] Overture from L’isle
déserte [5:27] La Stagione
Frankfurt/Michael Schneider rec. 18-20 Oct. 2005 Sendesaal, DLF, Köln,
Germany CPO 777 033-2
[65:43] [DB]
Another
unearthed gem, sensitively performed and beautifully recorded … see
Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony
No.5 in C Minor, Op. 67 [32:06] Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphony No.2 in D, Op. 43
[41:28]
Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam/Georg Szell rec. December 1964 (Sibelius),
November 1966 (Beethoven), Amsterdam. ADD
PHILIPS 420 771-2 
[73:33][TP]
If
you love these symphonies, you will want to hear Szell's performances,
and frequently. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Triple Concerto
in C Op.56 (1804) [34:47] ¹ Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Violin Concerto No.3 in G K216 (1775) [23:51]
º Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Double Concerto in A minor Op.102 (1887) [32:56] ² ³ Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1981-1953) Violin Concerto No.2 in G minor Op.63
(1935) [27:42] ³
David Oistrakh (violin) Sviatoslav Knushevitzky (cello) ¹ Pierre Fournier
(cello) ² Lev Oborin (piano) ¹ Philharmonia Orchestra/Malcolm
Sargent ¹ Philharmonia Orchestra/David Oistrakh º Philharmonia Orchestra/Alceo
Galliera ³ rec. No.1 Studio Abbey Road, London, May 1958; Kingsway Hall,
London, 1956. ADD EMI
CLASSICS 3 81487 2 [58:53 + 60:46][JW]
If
you have yet to acquire one or two of these classic recordings you’ll
never regret doing so. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) The Complete Violin
Sonatas Vol.1 Violin Sonata in D, Op.12 No.1 (1797-8)
[20:48] Violin Sonata in C minor, Op.30 No.2 (1801-2) [25:30] Violin
Sonata in G, Op.96 (1812) [29:17]
Peter Cropper (violin); Martin Roscoe (piano) rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk,
4-6 April, 5 December 2006. DDD
ASV GOLD GLD 4023 [75:38] [TH]
You
may be more convinced than me ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770–1827)
Violin Sonatas No. 5 in F Op. 24 “Spring” (1801) [25:08]
No. 7 in c minor Op. 30 No. 2 (1802) [28:17] No. 9 in A Op. 47 “Kreutzer”
(1803) [35:53] No. 10 in G Op. 96 (1812) [29:01]
Yehudi Menuhin (violin), Jeremy Menuhin (piano) rec. 30-31 October 1985
(5, 9), 7-8 July 1986, No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London
EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 381 7562 [61:04 + 57:26] [GF]
Committed
playing from Yehudi Menuhin’s Indian Summer, excellently partnered by
son Jeremy. ... see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Sonata
No. 9 in A major Op.47 Kreutzer (1803) [30:23]
Jacques Thibaud (violin) Alfred Cortot (piano) rec. Salle Chopin and
Salle Pleyel, Paris, 27-29 May 1929
PRISTINE AUDIO PACM001 [30:23][JW]
I
liked Rose’s work with the Long Deccas but not this Kreutzer. ... see
Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Fidelio – opera
in two acts (1814) Anja
Silja (soprano) - Leonore; Richard Cassilly (tenor) - Florestan;
Ernst Wiemann (bass) - Rocco; Theo Adam (bass-baritone) - Don
Pizarro; Hans Sotin (bass) - Don Fernando; Erwin Wohlfahrt
(tenor) - Jacquino; Lucia Popp (soprano) - Marzelline; Kurt
Marschner (tenor) - First Prisoner; William Workman (bass)
- Second Prisoner; Chorus of the Hamburg State Opera; Hamburg
Philharmonic State Orchestra/Leopold Ludwig. rec. Studio Production,
Hamburg State Opera, January 1968. ADD ARTHAUS
101275 
[115:00]
[CC]
A
version of Fidelio that every lover of the opera should see. Moments
of great depth balance out moments of delight ... see Full
Review
Hector
BERLIOZ
(1803-1869) Symphonie fantastique
Orchestra Sinfonica di
Torino della RAI/Sergiu Celibidache Filmed in Turin, 1969. All formats.
Picture format 4:3. Black and white. LPCM Mono sound
OPUS ARTE OA0977D [58:00]
[CF]
It’s
good to have the recording-reticent Celibidache on film, but couldn’t
we have had the rehearsal? In performance he is far less impressive
... see Full Review
Lennox
BERKELEY
(1903-1989) Symphony
No. 1 (1940) [30:59] Symphony No. 2 (1956-57
rev. 1976) [1957 rev. 1976]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Norman Del Mar
(1); Nicholas Braithwaite (2) rec. 1975-76.
ADD
LYRITA SRCD.249 [62:03] [RB]
These
are fine and handsomely recorded performances
… see Full
Review
Lennox
BERKELEY
(1903-1989) Piano
Concerto in B flat Op.29 (1947) [26:13] Concerto for Two Pianos and
Orchestra Op.30* (1948) [32:17]
David Wilde (piano) New Philharmonia Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite
* Garth Beckett, Boyd McDonald (pianos) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Norman
Del Mar rec. 1970, 1979, 1977. ADD
LYRITA SRCD.250 [58.33] [RB]
Berkeley's
two piano concertos finely performed and recorded - the first a serious
work; the second in the nature of a mercurial diversion. … see Full
Review
The
Berkeley Edition - Vol. 6 Michael
BERKELEY (b. 1948) Concerto for Orchestra ‘Seascape’
(2005) [24:21] Gregorian Variations for Orchestra (1982) [17:04] Sir
Lennox BERKELEY (1903-1989) Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra
(1948) [28:43] Kathryn
Stott, Howard Shelley (pianos) BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Richard
Hickox rec. Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, 6-7 January 2006. DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10408 [70:08][TH]
The
Concerto for Orchestra is a real find for
me ... see Full
Review
Harrison
BIRTWISTLE
(b. 1934) Punch
and Judy (1967) [99:25] Pretty Polly:
Phyllis Bryn-Julson (soprano); Judy: Jan de
Gaetani (mezzo); Lawyer: Philip Langridge
(tenor); Punch: Stephen Roberts (baritone);
Choregos: David Wilson-Johnson (baritone);
Doctor: John Tomlinson (bass)
London Sinfonietta/David Atherton rec. London,
September 1989
NMC ANCORA NMC-D138 [47:51 + 51:34] [AO]
Even
if there were alternative recordings available
this would be one to choose because it’s such
a vivid performance. ... see Full
Review
Ernest
BLOCH (1880-1959) String Quartet No.
1 Quatuor à Cordes (1916) [56:20] Piano Quintet No. 2 (1957)
[20:28] Pro Arte
Quartet: (Norman Paulu, Martha Blum (violins); Richard Blum (viola);
Parry Karp (cello)); Howard Karp (piano) rec. Mills Hall, University
of Wisconsin. First Quartet: 18-21 December 1980 released
on LP (LR-120) 1982. ADD
LAUREL LR-820 CD [76:48][GH/RB]
The
Pro Arte and Karp will impress you. They really believe in this music
and convince right from the first bar. Their co-ordinated dynamics are
a revelation and their love of these scores shines through [GH]; This
is playing possessed of a spirit more desperate than ardent [RB] ...
see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Symphony
no. 1 in C minor op. 68 [43:08] Symphony no. 2 in D major op. 73 [46:19]*
Symphony no. 3 in F major op. 90 [33:26] Symphony no. 4 in E minor op.
98 [38:50] 11 Chorale-Preludes op. 122, arr. Henk de Vlieger [28:18]*
Netherlands Philharmonic
Orchestra, Amsterdam/Jaap van Zweden Radio Filharmonisch Orkest Holland*/Jaap
van Zweden rec. April 1999, MCO Studio Hilversum*, June-August 2002,
Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99946 [3 CDs: 43:08 + 74:37 + 72:09] [CH]
If
you want just one set of Brahms symphonies,
at last I can recommend one that’s equally
good all through. ... see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Symphony No.1 in C minor op.68 [50:26] Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Leonora Overture No.3 op.72a
[16:48] Giovanni
BOTTESINI (1821-1889) Fantasia on themes by Rossini (arr.
for cello, double bass and orchestra by Michinori Bunya) [14:15]
Kyril Zlotnikova (cello), Nabil Shehata (double bass - Bottesini)
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim rec. live, 20 August
2006,
Palacio de Carlos V, Alhambra, Granada, Region 0. Disc format: DVD9.
PCM Stereo/DD 5.1/DTS 5.1
EUROARTS 2055538 [85:00]
[DC]
If
people from these nationalities can come together to work so hard and
create such marvellous music together, we are left wondering why something
so easy as deciding not to kill each other is so difficult to achieve
... see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony No. 4
in E minor Op. 98 (1884) [40:38] Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Symphony No. 8 in B minor ‘Unfinished’
D 759 (1822) [24:52 Lucerne
Festival Orchestra/Paul Kletzki Philharmonia Orchestra/Paul Kletzki
rec. Lucerne, September 1946 (Brahms) and at Studio 1 Abbey Road, London,
November 1946 (Schubert)
GUILD GHCD 2319 [65:44][JW]
Both
reflect well in terms of architectural sagacity
and the encouragement of singing tone. ...
see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897)
Violin Concerto Op.77 (1877) [33:34] Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphony No.
4 in D minor op. 120 (1841 version) [24:26]
Northern Sinfonia/Thomas Zehetmair (violin)
rec. The Sage, Gateshead (UK), 8 November
2006; 9-11 December 2006. DDD
AVIE RECORDS AV2125 [57:50] [JWi]
A
fine advertisement for the quality of playing
- and indeed the acoustic - to be heard at
The Sage ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Double
Concerto in A minor Op.102 (1887) [31:57] Violin Concerto in D Op.77
(1878) [40.31] Julia Fischer (violin) Daniel Müller-Schott (cello)
Netherlands Philharmonic
Orchestra Amsterdam/Yakov Kreizberg rec. Yakult Hall, Beurs van Berlage,
Amsterdam, December 2005 (Double Concerto) and December 2006 (Violin
Concerto) PENTATONE
PTC 5186
066 [72:59] [JW]
Far
greater concentration on the rhythmic nature
of the concerto fabric is needed for truly
effective performances. ... see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Sonata in F minor Op.34b (1863-64) [41:39] Five Waltzes Op.39 (1866)
[6:53] Variations on a theme by Joseph Haydn (St Anthony Chorale) Op.56b
(1873-4) [18:28] David
Nettle and Richard Markham (pianos) rec. January 1998, Endler Hall,
University of Stellenbosch, RSA
NETMARK NEMACD500 [67:24] [DC]
Nettle
and Markham at the top of their game. If the idea of neatly obtaining
Brahms’s entire two-piano output appeals, then this fits the bill
in just about every regard. ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833–1897) Die schöne Magelone,
Op. 33 (1861–1869) [55:26]
Paul Mow (tenor); Eric Malson (piano) rec. Town Hall, New York City,
7, 10, 11, 17 May 2006
LYRICHORD LYRCD-6007 [55:26][GF]
Satisfying
if heard in recital but this is for repeat listening. When scrutinizing
the singing through a reviewer’s magnifying glass expectations are only
partly fulfilled. ... see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Ein Deutsches
Requiem Op. 45 (1857-68) Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883) Götterdämmerung (1876) – Siegfried's
Rhine Journey Tristan und Isolde (1865) – Prelude;
Liebestod Evelyn Lear (soprano); Thomas Stewart (baritone) (Brahms)
Orchestre Philharmonique
et Choeurs de l'ORTF/Karl Richter (Brahms), Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt
(Wagner) rec. Salle Playel, Paris, 4 April 1964 (Brahms); Paris, 20
June 1965 (Wagner). NTSC 4:3: Colour Code BW: Disc Format DVD-9: Sound
Format LPCM Mono 2.0 (PCM dual mono): Menu Languages: English, French,
German, Spanish EMI
CLASSIC ARCHIVE DVB 38846093
[102:48][JW]
Technical
frailties lessen the impact of the Brahms, but it does preserve Richter’s
steady-as-she-goes approach. Schmidt-Isserstedt footage is rare and
always to be savoured. ... see Full
Review
A "Hatto
Original" Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Scherzo
in E flat minor, op. 4 [09:20] Intermezzo in A minor op. 118/1
[01:54] Intermezzo in A major op. 118/2 [05:09] Capriccio in
G minor op. 116/3 [03:03] Intermezzo in E major op. 116/6 [03:26]
Intermezzo in C major op. 119/3 [01:40] Ballade
in G minor op. 118/3
[03:20] Intermezzo in E flat minor op. 118/6 [05:18] Rhapsodie in E flat
major op. 119/4 [04:36] 4 Ballades op. 10 [19:57] Deszö Ránki
(piano) no recording information HARMONIA
MUNDI QUI90382 [59:48]
[CH]
Superb
performances of the early pieces ... see Full
Review
Havergal
BRIAN (1876-1972) Symphony
No. 4, 'Das Siegeslied' (1932-33) [49:49] Symphony No.
12 (1957) [11:08] Jana
Valásová (soprano); Slovak Philharmonic Choir; Slovak National
Opera Chorus; Echo Youth Choir; Cantus Mixed Choir; Czech Philharmonic
Choir (4), Brno Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/Adrian Leaper.
rec. Slovak Radio, Bratislava, 3-8 February 1992 (4); 10 February
1992 (12).
DDD NAXOS 8.570308 [60:57]
[CC]
An
intensely valuable disc ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frank
BRIDGE
(1879-1941) Dance
Rhapsody (1908) [18:22] Dance Poem
(1913) [15:38] Two Jefferies Poems:
(1) The Open Air; (2) The Story
of My Heart (1916) [7:44; 4:25] Overture
Rebus (1940) [10:38] Allegro Moderato
for string orchestra (1941) [14:47]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite
rec. 1979. ADD
LYRITA SRCD.243 [71:38] [RB]
Handsomely
presenting the early Tchaikovskian-sumptuous
Bridge, the transitional Bridge and the subtle
and finely dissonant post-Great War Bridge
(Rebus). … see Full
Review
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Piano Concerto Op 13 (1938 rev. 1945) [34:17]
John IRELAND
(1879-1962) Concerto in E flat for Piano
and Orchestra (1930) [24:28].
David Strong (piano) Aalborg Symphony Orchestra/Douglas
Bostock rec. 7-10 June 2006, Symfonien, Aalborg,
Denmark. DDD
CLASSICO CLASSCD 704 [58:37] [JWi]
Well
produced and attractively presented this pairing
of the works by Britten and his teacher is
interesting and informative. ... see Full
Review
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony no. 4
in E flat (1878/1880 version, rev. 1886, Nowak edition) [55:58] Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Don Juan op. 20 (1888) [16:09]
Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester/Otto Klemperer rec. live,
5 April 1954 (Bruckner), 27 February 1956 (Strauss), Funkhaus, Saal
1, WDR Cologne MEDICI
ARTS MM001-2 [72:11][CH]
Altogether,
I think this is a disc for confirmed admirers of the conductor. ...
see Full Review
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony No 8
in C Minor (1890 version, ed. Nowak) [87:20] Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Carlo
Maria Giulini rec. 1984. DDD DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 415 124-2
[33:25 +53:55] Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
Symphony No 8 in C Minor (1887 version, ed. Haas) [82:06] Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Siegfried-Idyll (1870) [19:28]*
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Herbert von Karajan rec. 1976, 1977*.
ADD DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 419 196-2
[58:15 + 43:47][TP]
Giulini's
conception of Bruckner's 8th is immense, while Karajan conjures beautiful
sounds from his orchestra that are impossible to resist. ... see Full
Review
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony no. 9
in D minor Orchestra Sinfonica
di Torino della RAI/Sergiu Celibidache rec. 1969, Turin
OPUS ARTE OA 0976 D
[62:00][CH]
This
performance impresses by its inexorable growth
... see Full
Review
Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
Symphony
No.3 in D minor (1877) [51:10] Symphony No.4
in E flat Romantic (1878-80) [60:33] Symphony
No.5 in B flat major (1876) [60:51] Symphony
No.7 in E major (1881-84) [62:50]Symphony
No.8 in C minor (1884-87, rev. 1889-90) [78:30]
Symphony No.9 in D minor, (1891-1896) [55:10]
Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883) Götterdämmerung;
Siegfried’s Rhine Journey (1876) [10:03] Parsifal;
Prelude Act I (1882)[13:59] Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Les Preludes
[16:40] Bavarian State Opera, recorded Munich,
October 1954 [No.3] Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra,
recorded Baden-Baden, September 1944 [No.4]
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded June
1956 [No.5] Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
recorded Salzburg, August 1949 [No.7] Berlin
Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded Berlin, January
1951 [No.8] Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra,
recorded Berlin, January 1950 [No.9]
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded Vienna,
May 1940 (Siegfried’s Rhine Journey)
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded Berlin,
January 1941 (Liszt) Orchestra of the German
Opera, Berlin, recorded, March 1942 (Parsifal)
Hans Knappertsbusch
ANDROMEDA ANDRCD 9010 [6 CDs: 77:46 +
60:33 + 74:42 + 62:50 +78:30 + 55:10] [JW]
The
performances are in the main of outstanding
power and eloquence. ... see Full
Review
Albertus BRYNE (c.1621-1668)
Keyboard Music Toletole [00:59] Suite in a minor
[05:08] Suite in F [02:53] Suite in d minor [05:55] Suite in D [06:54]
Suite in a minor [11:05] Suite in D [06:30] Suite in d minor [05:45]
Saraband [01:06] Voluntary in a minor [02:47] Suite in D [05:23] Anon. Towle Towle [01:08] John BULL (c.1562-1628) Preludium [00:33] Anon. An Alman [01:32] The Earle of Oxfordes
Gallene [01:09] Albertus BRYNE Totetole [00:58] A ground
to ye organ or harpsichord [01:55] Christopher GIBBONS (1615-1676) 3 Voluntaries for
the single organ: Voluntary in A [01:20] Verse for ye single organ in
D [02:47] Verse in F [02:30]
Terence Charlston (harpsichord, organ, spinet) rec. July 2006, Holy
Trinity Church, Weston, Hitchin; November 2006, St Botolph's, Aldgate
UK. DDD DEUX-ELLES DXL1124
[68:26] [JV]
An
important link between the English virginalists and the harpsichord
composers of the late 17th century. This excellent recording proves
he was a fine composer in his own right ... see Full
Review
Ferruccio
BUSONI (1866-1924) Zwei
Lieder (1879-90) [6:43] Album Vocale (1880-4) [14:42] Zwei
altdeutsche Lieder (1884) [3:45]
Hebräische Lieder (1884) [7:47]
Zwei Lieder (1885) [6:34]
Der Sängers Fluch (1878) [17:34] Goethe-Lieder (1918-1924) [10:19] Reminiscenza
Rossiniana (1924) [1:39] Martin
Bruns (baritone); Ulrich Eisenlohr (piano)
rec. Munich, September 2004. DDD NAXOS
8.557245 [69:03] [ED]
With
passable but hardly world-beating performances this release is
only for those fully intent on exploring a by-way of lieder repertoire
... see Full Review
George BUTTERWORTH
(1885-1916) Two
English Idylls [4:58 + 4:32] The Banks of Green Willow [5:33]
A ‘Shropshire Lad’ Rhapsody [8:35] Peter
WARLOCK (1894-1930) An Old Song for small orchestra
[5:56] Patrick HADLEY (1899-1973) One
Morning in Spring - Rhapsody for small orchestra [3:54] Herbert
HOWELLS (1892-1983) Procession [4:51] Merry-eye
* [8:50] Elegy for viola, string quartet and string orchestra
* [9:05] Music for a Prince * [7:11 + 5:17]: Corydon’s Dance;
Scherzo in Arden London
Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult * Herbert Downes (viola); Desmond
Bradley, Gillian Eastwood (violins); Albert Cayzer (viola); Norman Jones
(cello) New Philharmonia Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult rec. 1970, 1979,
1977. ADD LYRITA SRCD.245
[68.46] [RB]
There
is nothing found wanting about the present
release. … see
Full Review
Dieterich
BUXTEHUDE (1637–1707)
Wacht!
Euch zum Streit gefasset macht [136.55]
Caroline Stam (soprano) Orlanda Velez Isidro
(soprano) Johannette Zomer (soprano) Robin
Blaze (alto) Andreas Karasiak (tenor) Klaus
Mertens (bass)
Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir/Ton
Koopman rec. September 2005, Wallse Kerk,
Amsterdam. DDD
CHALLENGE RECORDS CC72241 [74.28 + 62.27]
[RH]
Can
be highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the music of this
period. ... 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]
[Recommended recordings]
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