Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Danse Macabre op. 40 (1874) [6:43] The Carnival of the Animals
(1886) [23:11] Allegro Appassionato for cello and orchestra
op. 43 (1875) [3:49] Symphony No. 3 in C minor op. 78 (1886) [34:12]Bacchanale
from Samson and Delilah (1877) [6:44]* 
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Louis Frémaux Christopher Robinson
(organ) Paris Opéra Orchestra/Georges Prêtre* rec. 1963 (Bacchanale),
1973-4. CLASSICS FOR
PLEASURE 3822332 [75:17] [RB]
A
good Saint-Saëns collection with a splendid Third Symphony delivering
more pleasure for longer than many ‘definitive’ versions. ... see Full
Review
Giovanni
Battista SAMMARTINI (1700/1-1775)
Gersualemme sconoscente ingrata (1759) [37:24]
Confitebor [7:19] Symphony in E flat major [6:08] Symphony in
G minor [7:22]
Silvia Mapelli (soprano); Miroslava Yordanova (mezzo); Giorgio Tiboni
(tenor); Filippo Ravizza (harpsichord) Symphonica Ensemble/Daniele Ferrari
rec. 24-26 March 2005, Sala Congressi di Villa Vigoni, Loveno di Menaggio,
Como NAXOS 8.570253
[58:12][GPu]
The
music is little-known, but interesting and attractive, the performances
are good, but one can imagine better … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Complete
Keyboard Sonatas Vol. 8 Sonata in A Kk181 [3:42]
Sonata in E Kk496 [4:48] Sonata in C Kk420 [4:25] Sonata in F
minor Kk466 [6:39] Sonata in B flat Kk441 [2:59] Sonata in B
minor Kk87 [6:13] Sonata in D Kk96 [4:50] Sonata in G minor Kk426
[5:48] Sonata in A flat Kk127 [5:29] Sonata in F minor Kk462
[5:18] Sonata in A minor Kk382 [2:24] Sonata in C Kk485 [5:08]
Sonata in A Kk101 [4:27] Soyeon
Lee (piano) rec. Performing Arts Centre, Country Day School,
Ontario, Canada, 6-8 January 2006 DDD NAXOS
8.570010 [62:10] [PCW]
The
recording is worth a special mention – well up to the high standard
Norbert Kraft has previously set on various discs for this label.
The documentation is also decent and the only thing that feels
cheap about this disc is the price. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Complete
String Quartets Vol. 7 Quartettsatz in C minor D103 (1814)
[8:11] String Quartet No. 5 in B flat D68 (1813) [16:22] String
Trio in B flat D471 (1816) [7:59] Five Minuets and Six Trios
D89 (1813) [14:08] Overture in C minor for String Quintet*
D8 (1811) Ed. Hess [9:07] Kodály
Quartet; * with Gyözö Máthé (2nd viola) rec. Phoenix
Studio, Budapest, Hungary, 18-22 July 2005 DDD NAXOS
8.557126 [55:48] [PCW]
Cultured
but not over-refined playing; no masterworks on the programme but
enough of interest to sustain the attention … see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphony
No.2 in C major Op.61 (1845-46) [35:21] Overture to ‘Scenes
from Goethe’s Faust’ (1853) [7:38] Julius Caesar, Overture
Op.128 (1851) [8:25] Symphony No.4 in D minor Op.120 (original version,
1841) [23:40] Swedish
Chamber Orchestra/Thomas Dausgaard rec. March 2005 (Symphony No.2);
March 2006, Örebro Concert Hall, Sweden
BIS SACD-1519 
[75:54]
[DC]
There
is a lightness and manoeuvrability about these
performances which is bright and attractive.
... see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Carnaval
op.9 (1835) [32:11] Kreisleriana op.16 (1838) [31:59] Noveletten
op.21 (1838): no.8 in F sharp minor [11:51] Faschingsschwank
aus Wien op.26 (1840) [22:40] Allegro in B minor op.8
(1831) [10:00]
3 Romanzen op.28 (1839): no.2 in F sharp [03:29] Fantasie in C
op.17 (1836) [32:04] Alicia
de Larrocha
(piano) rec. June 1978, Roslyn Hill Chapel, London (Carnaval), May 1971,
Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London (Kreisleriana, Allegro, Romanze, Novelette),
June 1975, Kingsway Hall, London (Fantasie), November 1987, Studio No.1, Abbey
Road, London
(Faschingsschwank) DECCA ELOQUENCE
476 9910 [76:09 + 68:34] [CH]
Good,
often very good, performances which are surpassed elsewhere. ... see
Full Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Papillons Op.2
(1830) [14:48] Davidsbündlertänze Op.6 (1837) [34:06] Thema mit Variationen
WoO24 (Geister-Variationen) (1854) [12:30] Album für die Jugend Op.68
(1848) [74:21] Cédric
Pescia (piano) rec. La Chaix-de-Fonds, Salle de Musique, Switzerland
(Opp.2, 6); Lausanne, Chateau Fallot (WoO24; Op.68)
CLAVES 50-2603-04 [61:28 + 74:21][JW]
Warm
and attractive readings. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Concertos CD1 Piano
Concerto No. 1 in C minor, Op. 35 (1933) [21:58] Piano
Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102 (1957) [19:54] Three
Fantastic Dances, Op. 5 (1922) [3:24] Cristina Ortiz
(piano)
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Paavo Berglund rec. September 1975, Guildhall,
Southampton. ADD CD2 Violin Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 99
(1948) [37:19] Violin Concerto No. 2 in C sharp minor,
Op. 129 (1967) [28:13] David Oistrakh (violin) Leningrad
Philharmonic Orchestra/Yevgeny Mravinsky (Concerto No. 1) Moscow Philharmonic
Orchestra/Gennady Rozhdestvensky (Concerto No. 2) rec. November 1956,
Leningrad (Concerto No. 1), September 1968, Moscow (Concerto No. 2).
ADD CD3 Cello Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 107 (1959)
[28:19] Cello Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 126 (1966)
[36:22] Alexander Ivashkin (cello) Moscow Symphony Orchestra/Valeri
Polyanski rec. October 1997, Moscow. DDD
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 7620 [3 CDs: 45:18 + 64:46 + 64:41] [TB]
With
recordings that span a period of more than
forty years the recorded sound varies enormously;
but the quality of the performances is such
that the whole enterprise can be enthusiastically
recommended. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) The
Golden Age - complete ballet Op.22 (1930)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/José Serebrier rec. Henry Wood Hall,
Glasgow, 23-26 May 2006. DDD
NAXOS 8.570217-18 [76:41 + 67:01][SH]
This
Naxos double has no faults whatever. ... see Full
Review
John
Philip SOUSA (1854-1932) Music
for Wind Band Vol. 6 Easter Monday on the White House
Lawn (From Tales of a Traveller) ed. R. Mark Rogers
(1928) [2:20] The Golden Star (1919) [4:40] The Dauntless
Battalion (1922) [2:51] Sextet from The Bride Elect (Arr.
Herbert L. Clarke) (1897) [2:17] The Federal March (1910)
[2:33] Three Quotations (Suite for Band) ed. R. Mark
Rogers (1895) [13:27] Liberty Bell (Arr. Brion/Schissel)
(1893) [3:45] The Gridiron Club (1926) [3:21] La
Reine de la Mer (1886) [7:10] The Chariot Race (1890)
[5:31] The Gladiator (1886) [2:53] New Mexico March (1928)
[3:06] The Picador March (1889) [3:02] Royal
Artillery Band/Keith Brion rec. Woolwich Town Hall, 15-16 January
2002. DDD NAXOS
8.559132 [56:56] [PCW]
Beautifully
clean and slightly understated playing … see Full
Review
Richard
STRAUSS
(1864-1949) Elektra (1906) Eva
Johansson (soprano): Elektra; Marjana Lipovšek.(mezzo): Klytemnestra;
Melanie Diener (soprano): Chrysothemis; Alfred Muff (baritone): Orest;
Rudolf Schasching (tenor): Aegisth Chor des Opernhauses Zürich, Orchester
der Opernhaus Zürich/Christoph von Dohnanyi Martin Kušej (Stage Director)
rec. Zürich, 30 November, 4 December 2005. DDD All regions NTSC
TDK DVWW-OPELEK 
[102:00]
[AOz]
Don’t
give this DVD to anyone as a Mother’s Day
gift unless you want to alienate your friends
and family. That said, you’ll want to experience
it yourself. It’s gut-wrenchingly powerful.
... see Full
Review
Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
CD 1 Petrouchka
(original 1911 version) [36:24] Feu
d’artifice op.4 (1909) [3:51] Le
Sacre du Printemps (revised 1947 version) [35:09] CD 2 L’Oiseau
de feu (1910) [35:09] Scherzo fantastique
op.3 (1908) [13:06]
Philharmonia Orchestra/Eliahu Inbal rec. Abbey Road Studios, London,
August 1989 (Firebird, Scherzo); The Maltings, Snape, November 1989
(Le Sacre) WARNER
CLASSICS APEX 2564 64377-2 [75:40 + 65:52][DC]
A
one-size-fits-all entry into the world of Stravinsky’s three great early
ballets ... see Full Review
Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
Apollo
(1928, rev.1947) [28:36] Concerto in D for Strings (1946) [11:57]
Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) 20
Visions Fugitives for piano Op.22 (1915-17) [26:15] arr. Rudolf Barshai
(I-VI, VIII-XVI) & Roman Balashov (VII, XVII-XX)
Moscow Soloists/Yuri Bashmet rec. Schloss Neuhardenberg, Berlin, Germany,
11-14 July 2006. DDD
ONYX 4017 [66:57] [DC]
Bashmet
proves once again that there is plenty more
to say through the medium of the small string
orchestra. ... see
Full Review
Carlos
SURINACH
(1915-1997)
Melorhythmic Dramas (1966) [21:54]* Symphonic Variations (1962)
[15:58] Feria Magica Overture (1956) [5:12] Sinfonietta Flamenca
(1950) [12:41] Louisville
Orchestra/Robert Whitney Louisville Orchestra/Jorge Mester* rec. Louisville,
1967 (Melorhythmic Dramas), 1965 (Symphonic Variations),
1956 (Feria Magica Overture) and 1954 (Sinfonietta Flamenca)
FIRST EDITION FECD0039
[55:43] [JW]
Surinach
is a cure for low spirits. Splendour guaranteed
... see Full
Review
Józef ŚWIDER (b.1930) Jubilate
Deo [2:55] Pater noster (1986) [4:44] Wierzę (Credo) [2:34]
Salve Regina [5:08] Czego chcesz od nas Panie (1983) [3:49] Lux perpetua
(1987) [3:38] Vocalisa “pax” [3:27] Missa minima [4:28] Moja piosnka/Mein
Liedchen (1983) [2:29] Ave maris stella [3:17] Requiem aeternam (1996)
[5:08] Da pacem Domine [4:43] Laudate pueri [2:42] Cantus gloriosus
[3:59] Te Deum [19:35] Katarzyna
Trylnik (soprano); Czesław Gałka (baritone): Arkadiusz
Skotnicki ,Piotr Sutt (precussion); Julian Gembalski (organ) Polski
Chór Kameralny/Jan Łukaszewski
rec. February 2005, St Nikolai, Gdansk CARUS
83.176 [73:19][GPu]
A
representative selection from the work of a leading ‘mainstream’ Polish
composer of choral music … see Full
Review
Sergei
TANEYEV (1856-1915) String
Quintet in G, Op. 14 (1903) [38.55] Paul Rosenthal, Ilya Teplyakov
(violins); Aleksey Koptev (viola); Leonid Shikayev, Peter Rejto
(cellos). Anton ARENSKY (1861-1906) String
Quartet in A minor, Op. 35, for two cellos (1894) [27.41] Ik-Hwan
Bae (viola); Paul Coletti (viola); Michal Kanka, Peter Rejto
(cellos). rec. Winter Chamber Music Festival, Tucson, Arizona,
USA, 2003?. Notes in English. TUCSON
FESTIVAL F03-2 [66.41][PSh]
A
brilliant recording of two unfamiliar masterpieces which should
be in every collection. ... see Full
Review
Boris
TCHAIKOVSKY (1925-1996) Symphony
No. 1 (1947) [32:17] Suite: The Murmuring Forest (1953) [13:26]
Suite: After the Ball (1952) [16:54]
Volgograd Philharmonic Orchestra/Edward Serov (Symphony)
Saratov Conservatory Symphony Orchestra/Kirill Ershov (Suites) rec.
Volgograd Central Concert Hall, Russia, 17-20 June 2006 (Symphony);
Great Hall, Saratov Conservatoire, Russia, 15 January 2006 (Murmuring
Forest); 13 June 2006 (After the Ball)
NAXOS 8.570195 [62:38][BB]
The
Symphony will not displace any of the twentieth-century “greats,” but
makes for compelling listening and deserves to be played in Western
concert halls. ... see Full Review
Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840–1893) 1812
Overture Op. 49 (1880) [16:59] Romeo and Juliet – Fantasy
Overture after Shakespeare [20:48] Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Pohjola’s
Daughter – Symphonic Fantasy, Op.49 (1906) [14:59] Valse
triste (from Kuolema, Op.44) [5:52] Karelia
Suite, Op. 11 [15:35] Tanglewood
Festival Chorus (1812) Boston Symphony Orchestra/Colin
Davis rec. Symphony Hall, Boston, March 1980 (1812; Valse
triste), April 1979 (Romeo and Juliet; Pohjola’s
Daughter; Karelia Suite). ADD PENTATONE
CLASSICS PTC5186 164 SACD Hybrid [74:34] [JPh]
So,
if you must have this combination of items this is a reasonable
issue but bear in mind that there is competition ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893)
Violin Concerto in D (1878) [35:53]Sérénade mélancolique for
violin and orchestra (1875) [9:27] Valse-Scherzo for violin and
orchestra (1877) [7:46] Souvenir d’un lieu cher (Souvenir
of a beloved place) for violin and piano (1878) [15:54]*
Julia Fischer (violin) Yakov Kreizberg (piano)*
Russian National Orchestra/Yakov Kreizberg rec. Souvenir: MCO
Studio 5, Hilversum, April 2006; DZZ Studio 5, Moscow, April 2006
PENTATONE PTC5186095
[68:25] [IL]
Fischer’s
awesome talent makes for a performance that can compare with the
best in this very popular concerto. Imaginative, intelligent programming
... see Full Review
Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Swan
Lake, Op. 20: suite* (1875-6) [27:44] The Nutcracker,
Op. 71: suite (1891-2) [23:08] The Sleeping Beauty,
Op. 66: suite (1888-9) [20:00] Boston
Symphony Orchestra/Seiji Ozawa rec. Symphony Hall, Boston,
*November 1978; December 1990. ADD, DDD DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON ENTRÉE 477 5009 [71:04] [SV]
I'm
not sure that Ozawa's performances are necessarily the best choices.
Then again would any of DG's back-catalogue have been any better?
... see Full Review
Peter TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Violin Concerto in D major, Op.35 (1878) [30:11] Romeo and Juliet,
Op.18 (1869) [19:56] Modest MUSSORGSKY
(1839-1881) (arr. Ravel)
Pictures at an Exhibition (1874) [30:23]
Itzhak Perlman (violin) Philadelphia Orchestra/ Eugene Ormandy rec.
1979? EUROARTS 2072128
[81:24] [OW]
An
absolute essential for violin fans, and certainly worth snapping
up by the casual buyer. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958) The Wasps overture (1909) [9:59] A
Sea Symphony (1909) [66:20]
Susan Gritton (soprano) Gerald Finley (baritone) London Symphony
Chorus London Symphony Orchestra/Richard Hickox rec. Barbican Centre,
London, 3-4 June 2006. DDD
CHANDOS CHSA 5047
[76:17][MG]
Overall
the recording, playing and singing of this Hickox version set a new
standard … see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Fantasia
on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (1910) [17:06] The Wasps (Overture)
(1909) [9:07]
Fantasia on ‘Greensleeves’ (1928) [4:36]George
BUTTERWORTH (1885-1916) The Banks of Green Willow (1913) [5:47]Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Variations on an Original Theme (Enigma) Op.36 (1899)
[31:13] London Symphony Orchestra/André Previn
rec. Kingsway Hall, London, 26 January 1979 and No.1 Studio, Abbey Road, London,
27-28 November 1978 (The Wasps, Enigma Variations), 30 November 1971 (Greensleeves),
and 15-16 December 1976 (Green Willow).
British Composers Series EMI
CLASSICS 3 82157 2 [68:25]
[DC]
Previn’s
characterisations in the ‘Enigma’ variations populate your room
with real people…... see Full Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Messa da Requiem
(1874) (No. 1. Requiem aeternam; Kyrie Eleison; No. 2. Dies irae; Tuba
mirum; Liber scriptus; Quid sum miser; Rex tremendae; Recordare; Ingemisco;
Confutatis; Lacrymosa; No. 3. Domine Jesu; Sanctus; No. 4. Sanctus;
No. 5. Agnus Dei; No.6. Lux aeterna; No.7. Libera me; Requiem aeternam;
Libera me) Fiorenza
Cedolins (soprano); Luciana D’Intino (mezzo); Ramon Vargas (tenor).
Rafal Siwek (bass) Choir and Orchestra Filarmonica of the Fondazione
Arturo Toscanini/Zubin Mehta rec. live, Salla Santa Cecilia, Auditorium
Parco del Musica, Rome, 30 January 2005. DDD Sound format, DD 5.1. DTS
5.1. LPCM stereo. Picture format 16:9 anamorphic NTSC Introductory essay
in English, German and French Subtitles in Italian (original language),
English, German, French and Spanish
TDK DVD VIDEO DVWW-COVREQ
[93:00][RJF]
Whilst
not displacing the very best versions of this work on DVD, this issue,
in excellent sound, with an Italian chorus in good form and soloists
and conductor giving the music its due, is a worthy addition to the
catalogue. ... see Full Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Simon Boccanegra -
Melodrama in a Prologue and Three Acts (revised edition) (1881)
Simon Boccanegra, a sometime corsair and Doge of Genoa - Gordon Hawkins
(bar); Maria Boccanegra - Simon’s daughter known as Amelia Grimaldi
- Nuccia Focile (sop); Jacapo Fiesco, a Genoese nobleman - Vladamir
Vaneev (bass); Gabrielle Adorno, a Genoese gentleman in love with Maria
- Paul Charles Clarke (ten); Paolo Albiani, a courtier - Yaron Windmüller
(bar); Pietro, another courtier - Martin Snell (bass) New Zealand Symphony
Orchestra and Chorus/Marco Guidarini rec. Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington,
New Zealand, 10-12 March 2000, New Zealand Festival 2000. DDD
MORRISON MUSIC TRUST MMT 2045-46 [75.36 + 64.01][RJF]
With
the benefits of a live performance, idiomatic conducting, and a vibrant
recording allied to an outstanding portrayal of the title role, this
recording thrilled my Verdian soul, as I am sure it would have warmed
the great man himself. ... see Full
Review
Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS
(1887-1959) Chamber Music
The Jet Whistle (1950) [9:42]Quintette instrumental for flute,
violin, viola, cello and harp (1957) [16:28]Song of the Black Swan
for violin and harp (1917) [2:52] Duo for violin and viola (1946)
[16:28]Five Songs (transcribed for flute and harp by Lorna McGhee
and Alison Nicholls) Vida Formose (Beautiful life) (1943) [2:48]
Nesta Rua (On this Street) (1943) [2:27] Modinha (1926)
[1:46] Chanson de Cristal (Song of Crystal) (1950) [3:28] Cancão
do Marinheiro (Sailor’s Song) (1936) [3:18]
Mobius: Philippe Honore (violin); Ashan Pillai (viola); Michael Stirling
(cello); Lorna McGhee (flute) and Alison Nicholls (harp) rec. St Michael’s
Church, East Woodhay, May-June 2003
NAXOS 8.557765 [59:16] [JW]
A
splendid recital of some hard-to-resist Villa-Lobos. ... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) O
qui coeli terraeque serenitas (RV 631) [11:37] Salve
Regina (RV 617)* (09:08] Laudate pueri Dominum (RV 601)** [22:59] Vos
aurae per montes (RV 634) [13:04] Suzie
LeBlanc (soprano), Gottfried von der Goltz (violin) (*), Claire
Guimond (transverse flute) (**), Peter Frankenberg, Frank de
Bruine (oboe) (**) Teatro Lirico/Stephen Stubbs rec. April,
September 1998, Doopsgezinde Kerk, Haarlem, Netherlands. DDD CHALLENGE
CLASSICS CC72027 [58:48] [JV]
A
recording by an excellent singer and a splendid ensemble, but the
dramatic power of Vivaldi's vocal music is only partly exploited
... see Full Review
Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741)
Complete Bassoon Concertos - Volume 4 Concerto in D minor, RV
481 [9:56] Concerto in F major, RV 485 [9:18] Concerto in C major, RV
477 [10:39] Concerto in A minor, RV 499 [8:07] Concerto in C major,
RV 470 [9:50] Concerto in G major, RV 494 [9:35]
Tamás Benkócs (bassoon) Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia/Béla Drahos rec.
7-9 May 2005, Phoenix Studios, Budapest. DDD
NAXOS 8.557829 [57:26] [GPu]
Another
pleasant addition to an enjoyable series, featuring a very fine
soloist … see Full Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Die Walküre (1856)
[224:01] Robert Gambill
(tenor) - Siegmund; Angela Denoke (soprano) - Sieglinde; Attila Jun
(bass) - Hunding; Renate Behle (soprano) - Brünnhilde; Jan-Hendrik Rootering
(bass-baritone) - Wotan; Tichina Vaughn (mezzo) - Fricka; Eva-Maria
Westbroek (soprano) - Gerhilde; Wiebke Göetjes (soprano) - Ortlinde;
Stella Kleindienst (mezzo) - Waltraute; Helene Ranada (contralto) -
Schwertleite; Magdalena Schäfer (soprano) - Helmwige; Nidia Palacios
(mezzo) - Siegrune; Maria Theresa Ullrich (contralto) - Grimgerde; Margit
Diefenthal (contralto) – Roßweiße Chorus and Orchestra of the Stuttgart
State Opera/Lothar Zagrosek rec. live, Staatstheater Stuttgart, 29 September
2002; 2 January 2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.660172-74 [3 CDs: 67:37 + 79:04 + 77:20][CC]
A
mixed Walküre, then. This is an interesting, honest account that never
in truth overwhelms as mature Wagner should but nevertheless provides
much to admire. ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813–1883) Die
Walküre (1870) John
Keyes (tenor) – Siegmund; Kurt Rydl (bass) – Hunding; Albert
Dohmen (bass-baritone) – Wotan; Charlotte Margiono (soprano) – Sieglinde;
Linda Watson (soprano) – Brünnhilde; Doris Soffel (mezzo) – Fricka;
Dorothy Grandia (soprano) – Gerhilde; Ellen van Haaren (soprano) – Ortlinde;
Natascha Petrinsky (mezzo) – Waltraute; Hebe Dijkstra (contralto) – Schwertleite;
Turid Karlsen (soprano) – Helmwige; Irene Pieters (mezzo) – Siegrune;
Marina Prudenskaja (contralto) – Grimgerde; Qiu Lin Zhang (contralto) – Rossweisse;
Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest/Hartmut Haenchen rec. live,
De Nederlandse Opera, September 2005 ETCETERA
KTC5501 [4
CDs: 62:44 + 53:31 + 35:09 + 67:21] [GF]
The
freshness and rethinking of the music or rather the return to the
sources, make this a tempting proposition. ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813–1883) Siegfried (1876) Jon
Fredric West (tenor) – Siegfried; Heinz Görig (tenor) – Mime;
Wolfgang Schöne (bass) – The Wanderer; Björn Waag (bass) – Alberich;
Attila Jun (bass) – Fafner; Gabriela Herrera (soprano) – Forest
Bird; Helene Ranada (contralto) – Erda; Lisa Gasteen (soprano) – Brünnhilde
Staatsorchester Stuttgart/Lothar Zagrosek rec. live, Staatstheater
Stuttgart, Germany, 1 October 2002, 5 January 2003. DDD NAXOS
8.660175-78 [4 CDs: 54:17 + 50:50 + 72:17 + 62:58] [GF]
Much
to admire in this latest instalment in the Naxos Ring. Even though
it doesn’t oust the top contenders, it can hold its own in a crowded
field. Newcomers could do much worse than starting here - and at
budget price too! ... see Full
Review
Johann
Jakob WALTHER (1650-1717)
Hortulus Chelicus Mainz, 1688 Suite
No. 9 in C minor [10.43]; Sonata No. 8 in E major [7.59]; Aria
No. 14 in G minor [6.48]; Suite No. 6 in B minor; [14.27] Suite
No. 20 in E minor [10.05]; Serenata No. 28 in D major [13.06];
Passagagli No. 7 in D minor [9.39] Maya
Amrein (cello); Shizuko Noiri (theorbo); Andrea Marchiol (clavecin;
organ) Les Plaisirs du Parnasse/David Plantier (violin, director)
rec. 14-18 November 2005, Salle du Volkshaus, Basle. Switzerland.
DDD ZIGZAG TERRITOIRES
ZZT 060902 [73.31] [GH]
Fine
and highly civilized music and we are fortunate indeed that it
has been so wonderfully researched and executed. ... see Full
Review
Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Der Freischütz (1820)
Ernst Kozub (tenor) – Max; Gottlob Frick (baritone) – Kaspar; Franz
Grundheber (baritone) – Kilian; Arlene Saunders (soprano) – Agathe;
Toni Blankenheim (baritone) – Cuno; Edith Mathis (soprano) – Ännchen;
Tom Krause (baritone) - Prince Ottakar; Bernhard Minetti (baritone)
– Samiel; Hans Sotin (baritone) - the Hermit Chorus
and ballet of the Hamburg State Opera Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra/Leopold
Ludwig Directed for TV: Joachim Hess rec. Hamburg, 1968 NTSC All regions
2007
ARTHAUS MUSIK 101 271 [123:00][AOz]
Not
a first choice Freischütz. However it gives valuable insight into how
opera can be enhanced as art movie. And, Edith Mathis! Her singing alone
should justify the price of this DVD. ... see Full
Review
Sylvius
Leopold WEISS (1686-1750) Lute
Sonatas Volume 2 Sonata No.5 in G for solo lute [20.33] Sonata
No.25 in g for solo lute [22.46] Sonata No.50 in Bb for solo
lute [32.16] Robert Barto
(baroque lute by Andrew Rutherford) rec. St. John Chrysostom Church,
Newmarket, Canada, 8 September 1996. Notes in English and Français.
NAXOS 8.553988 [75.45]
Sylvius Leopold WEISS (1686-1750)
Lute Sonatas Volume 6 Sonata No.7
in c for solo lute [17.51] Sonata No.23 in Bb for solo lute [22.53]
Sonata No.45 in A for solo lute [33.56]
Robert Barto (baroque lute by Andrew Rutherford) rec. The Green Room,
Offord Hall, Aurora, Ontario, Canada, 7 October 2002. Notes in English
and Deutsch. Photo of artist.
NAXOS 8.555722 [74.41][PSh]
Filling
a huge and important gap in the repertoire and delighting and entertaining
us as well. ... see Full Review
Silvius Leopold
WEISS (1687-1750) Lute Sonatas - Volume
8 Sonata No. 36 in D minor [24:01] Sonata No. 19 in F major [23:03]
Sonata No 34 in D minor [16:07]
Roberto Barto (baroque lute) rec. 17-20 October, 2005, Green Room, Offord
Hall, Aurora, Ontario, Canada. DDD
NAXOS 8.570109 [63:11][MS]
Lute
music glorious in its variety and sheer beauty … the playing marked
by its sensitivity and technique. Another winner. ... see Full
Review
Silvius
Leopold WEISS (1687-1750) Lute Sonatas
- Volume 1 Sonata in B flat major No.25/S-C No. 49 (after 1725)
[31:33] Prelude and Fantasie in C minor (c.1719) [5:18] Sonata in A
minor No.16/S.C.No. 43 (after 1725) [36:42]
Yasunori Imamura (lute) rec. Evangelische Kirche St Martin in Kilchberg,
Switzerland, August 2004
CLAVES 50-2613 [74:42][JW]
Imamura’s
fluent and satisfying start to what one hopes will be an odyssey of
similar proportions to that of Barto. Individualism and stylistic awareness,
... see Full Review
Otfrid
von WEIßENBURG (c.800-870) Liber
Evangeliorum Invocatio Wola drútin mín [1:30] Invitatorium
Praeoccupemus faciem Domini [9:18] Hymnus Vox clara ecco intonat
[2:03] Lectio I This sint búah frono [3:00] Responsorium Aspiciens
a longe [7:30] Lectio II Ward after thiu irscritan sár [2:50]
Responsorium Sancta et immaculate virginitas [2:33] Responsorium
Suspice verbum Virgo Maria [2:49] Lectio III Fûar tho sancta
Mária [3:36] Responsorium Beatam me dicent omnes generationes
[2:29] Responsorium Ecce apparebit Dominus [2:42] Hymnus Veni
redemptor gentium [3:10] Lectio IV Wúntar ward tho máraz
[1:41] Responsorium O magnum mysterium [3:29] ResponsoriumBeata
Dei Genitrix [2:05] Lectio V Tho wárum thar in lánte [2:16]
Responsorium Hodie nobis coelorum Rex [3:40] Responsorium
Verbum caro factum est [4:48] Lectio VI Thar was ein mán alter
[2:14] Responsorium Adorna thalamum tuum Sion [4:48] Oratio
Giwérdo uns geban drúhtin [2:58] Antiphona Alma Redemptoris Mater
[1:53] Ensemble Officium/Wilfried
Rombach rec. 13-14 June 2005, evangelische Kirche, Gönningen DDD
CHRISTOPHORUS CHR 77279 [73:34][MS]
A
beautiful, restrained distillation of the ‘Liber Evangeliorum’ performed
to perfection and faithful to the work’s spirituality ... see Full
Review
Ermanno
WOLF-FERRARI (1876-1948) Canzoniere
on Tuscan Folk Poetry: Forty-Four rispetti, stornelli ed altri
canti Op.17 (1936) [56:12] Gemma
Bertagnolli (soprano) Sandro Naglia (tenor) Fulvio Bettini
(baritone) Antonio Ballista (piano) rec. SMC di Campajola,
Ivrea, December 1997 LA
BOTTEGA DISCANTICA BDI38 [56:12]
[JW]
Performances
are rather small scale but there’s an attractive uniformity to
them and they do present the “44” in usefully consolidated form.
... see Full Review
Charles
WUORINEN (b. 1938) Cyclops 2000
(2000) [23:29] A Reliquary for Igor Stravinsky (1974) [16:21]
London Sinfonietta/Oliver
Knussen rec. May 2001, October 1994, London.
LONDON SINFONIETTA SIN CD4-2006 [39:50][AOz]
An
important milestone ... captures an exciting moment in the orchestra’s
development and helped seal its reputation as well as Wuorinen’s. ...
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]
