Classical CD Review Archive - October 2008 part 5 S-Z : MusicWeb-International

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Giovanni Battista SAMMARTINI (1700/01-1775) Symphonies Orchestra da Camera Milano Classica/Roberto Gini rec. 2005 DYNAMIC CDS460 [72:56][JV]

Disappointing that this doesn't fully reveal the quality of Sammartini's music ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) String Quartet No.2 Anton WEBERN (1883-1945) Langsamer Satz Alban BERG (1885-1935) Largo desolato from “Lyric Suite” Christine Schäfer (soprano); Petersen Quartet rec. 2007 PHOENIX EDITION 133 [46:52][JFL]

Franz SCHREKER (1878-1934) Intermezzo, op.8 (1900) [6:37] Scherzo, op.8 (1900) [6:34] Julius BÜRGER (1887-1995) Legende (orchestral song) (1919) [12:43] Stille der Nacht (orchestral song) (1919) [10:15] Ernst KRENEK (1900-1991) Sinfonie No.1, op.7 (1900) [36:45]

Dietrich Henschel (baritone)
Lucerne Symphony Orchestra/John Axelrod rec. KKL Luzern Concert Hall, Switzerland, 4-5 July 2006 NIMBUS NI5808 [71:47]

[JL]

The Budapest String Quartet Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) String Quintet Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) String Quartets Nos. 1-3 Budapest String Quartet rec. 1941-54 BIDDULPH 802202 [75:14 + 67:07][JW]

Vital and exciting examples of the Budapest’s way with core repertory ... see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Schwanengesang Robert Holl (bass-baritone); Roger Vignoles (piano) rec. 2008 HYPERION CDA67657 [63:17][ST]

Disappointing … mismatch of voice to repertoire and poor balance ... see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797–1828) Lieder Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770–1827) Ah, perfido!; Fidelio: Abscheulicher! Wo eilst du hin? Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano); Edwin Fischer (piano) rec. 1952-4 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111287 [72:45][GF]

One of the most famous Schubert recitals, and some glorious Beethoven ... see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1897–1828) Schubert-Lied-Edition: 28 - Schubert’s Friends, Vol. 3 Rainer Trost (tenor); Ulrich Eisenlohr (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.557567 [69:20][GF]

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphonies Nos. 1-4 etc. Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester/Hans Vonk rec. 1991-1994

EMI CLASSICS TRIPLE 2153102 [63:50 + 66:38 + 65:23][ST]

Tremendous value, appealing on every level in a competitive field ... see Full Review

Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Complete Piano Sonatas Vladimir Stoupel (piano) rec. 2005 AUDITE 21.402 [3 CDs: 67.12 + 57.45 + 43.45][GH]

There are moments in these performances which I shall treasure ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Piano music of Roger Sessions and Ralph Shapey Roger SESSIONS (1896-1985) Sonatas Nos 1 & 3 Ralph SHAPEY (1921-2002) Mutations; Mutations II; 21 Variations David Holzman (piano) rec. 2007 BRIDGE 9243 [79:31][MS]

Something rather special. Expert, perceptive and technically brilliant ... see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH String Quartet No 5 Atrium Quartet see BEETHOVEN SQ10

Bedřich SMETANA (1824-1844) Má Vlast Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Libor Pešek rec. 1989

VIRGIN CLASSICS 5221292 [76:29][ST]

Sir Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Symphonies Nos. 3 & 6 Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones rec. 2006-7 NAXOS 8.570355 [80:18][JQ]

This fine disc is an excellent introduction to Stanford’s symphonies ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) An Alpine Symphony Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester/Franz Welser-Möst Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Te Deum Mozart-Chor Linz; London Philharmonic orchestra/Franz Welser-Möst rec. 1995 & 2005 EMI CLASSICS 2081172 [66:36][GPJ]

Some slight reservations but a worthwhile issue nevertheless, and great value ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Songs with orchestra; Metamorphosen Gundula Janowitz (soprano); Academy of London/Richard Stamp rec. 1988-9 VIRGIN CLASSICS 5221302 [59:33][GPJ]

Janowitz’s voice is truly in a class of its own, one of a kind ... see Full Review

Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4, Violin Concertos; King Roger etc. City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle rec. 1993-2006 EMI CLASSICS 5145762 [4 CDs: 65:13 + 71:20 + 64:59 + 78:28][JWi]

Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Stabat Mater etc. Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir/Antoni Wit rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570724 [59:26][EMc]

An excellent collection of Szymanowski’s choral works in first class sound ... see Full Revie

The Devil’s Trill Music by Giuseppe TARTINI (1692-1770) and Francesco Maria VERACINI (1690-1768) Palladians rec. 2006 LINN CKD292

[61:23][GPu]

Peter TCHAIKOVSKY (1840–1893) Eugene Onegin Wiener Staatsopernchor; Wiener Philharmoniker/Daniel Barenboim rec. 2007 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 0734434

[2 DVDs: 157:00][GF]

Some wonderful singing and acting … somewhat quirky production ... see Full Review

TIPPETT Piano Sonata No 1 - two recordings:
A Tribute to Phyllis Sellick, pianist (1911-2007) François COUPERIN (1668-1733) Pièces pour clavencin 3eme Livre, 14eme ordre Le carillon de Cithère [1:56] Le Pavolet Flotant [2:22] Louis-Claude DAQUIN (1694-1772) Pièces pour clavecin 1er Livre Le Coucou [1:39] Jean-Philippe RAMEAU (1683-1764) From Pièces de clavecin (1724), Suite in D Les Tendres Plaintes [2:59] Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Pastourelle (L’Eventail de Jeanne no.8) [2:13] JACQUES IBERT (1890-1962) Histoires – Le petit ane blanc [1:47] Les Biches – Adagietto (1924) [3:24] Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Images: Book 1 (1905) I. Reflets dans l'eau [4:40] Préludes – Book 2 (1913) Feux d’artifice [4:16] Maurice RAVEL (1875 -1937) Le Tombeau de Couperin (1917) Prelude [2:13]; Rigaudon [2:19]; Toccata [3:54] Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) Prelude - Op.28 No.10 in C sharp minor (1836-1839) [0:26] Etudes - Op.10 No.5 in G flat major (1829-33) [1:44] Harry HODGE Waltz in A flat [2:11] Gavotte and Musette [3:00] Variations in G minor [9:03] Toccatina [2:28] Michael TIPPETT (1905-1998) Piano Sonata No. 1 (1937) [21:11] Phyllis Sellick (piano) rec. 1941/1942 SOMM CD079 [73:56]
Tippett, Hamilton and Wordsworth piano music played by Margaret Kitchin
CD 1 Michael TIPPETT (1905-1998) Piano Sonata No. 1 (1937 rev.1954) [21:42] Iain HAMILTON (1922-2000) Piano Sonata Op. 13 (1951) [19:29] CD 2 William WORDSWORTH (1908-1988) Piano Sonata in D Minor Op. 13 (1939) [28:14] Cheesecombe Suite Op. 27 (1945) [14:03] Ballade Op. 41 (1949) [9:14] Margaret Kitchin (piano) rec. mono, July 1958 (Tippett, Hamilton); April 1959, July 1960 (Wordsworth). ADD Originally from LPs: Tippett, Hamilton: RCS5; Wordsworth: RCS13
Mid Price Double ADD LYRITA REAM.2106 [41:21 + 51:34]

[JW]

Kitchin’s pioneering discs … Sellick’s trail-blazing Tippett ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Geirr TVEITT (1908–1981) Songs Per Vollestad (baritone); Sigmund Hjelset (piano) rec. 2008 SIMAX PSC1223 [60:38][GF]

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Falstaff (arr. Tony Britten) Andy Morton Music Theatre London/Jonathan Gill rec. 2006 SIGNUM VISION SIGDVD001 [118.00][RH]

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Otello NBC Symphony Orchestra and Choruses/Arturo Toscanini rec. 1947 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111320-21 [75:17 + 75:04][PBW]

The Best of Vaughan Williams Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)

Various artists NAXOS 8.556835 [79:00][JWi]

Henri VIEUXTEMPS (1820-1881) Sonata for Viola and Piano Op.108 [32:31] Unfinished Sonata for Viola and Piano Op. Postume No.14 (pub.1884) [28:03] Pierre-Henri Xuereb (viola) Angéline Pondepeyre (piano) No recording details given TALENT DOM 2910 122 [61:33]

[DC]

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) The Four Seasons; L’Estro Armonico Virtuosi di Roma/Renato Fasano rec. 1958-1962 EMI CLASSICS 5094492 [3 CDs; 70:27 + 53:02 + 64:47][JW]

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Six Concertos for Flute, Strings and Basso Continuo op. 10 Konrad Hünteler (flute); Camerata of the 18^th Century rec. 1995 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG31106402 [46:47][CR]

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Gloria Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Magnificat Various artists rec. 1991 CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 2282842 [74.35][RH]

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Overtures and Preludes Various artists rec. 1960-85 BERLIN CLASSICS 0014432BC [58:37][RM]

In spite of short measure I enjoyed this disc a great deal ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Wesendock Lieder; Prelude to Tristan und Isolde Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Lieder; Metamorphosen Lisa Gasteen (soprano); West Australian Symphony Orchestra/Simone Young rec. 2007 ABC CLASSICS 4766811 [73:41][ST]

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Sadler’s Wells Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Reginald Goodall rec. 1968 CHANDOS CHAN3148(4) [4 CDs: 74:34 + 79:54 + 76:50 + 61:26][JFL]

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Parsifal Radio Choruses Leipzig and Berlin, Thomaner Choir; Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra/Herbert Kegel rec. 1975 BERLIN CLASSICS (EDEL CLASSICS) 0184402BC [3 CDs: 79:06 + 75:29 + 65:58][JFL]

As likely to find ardent supporters as vociferous opponents ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813–1883) Der Ring des Nibelungen: The Copenhagen Ring

Royal Danish Opera Chorus (Götterdämmerung) and Orchestra/Michael Schønwandt DECCA 074 3264 [7 DVDs:920:00 + Bonus: 36:00] [TD]

Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Der Freischütz Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Berlin Philharmonic/Joseph Keilberth rec. 1958 EMI CLASSICS 2088212 [65:27 + 68:37][ST]

Enjoy it for what it is and at a very attractive price ... see Full Review

Kurt WEILL (1900-1950) The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny Audra Macdonald (soprano); Los Angeles Opera Orchestra and Chorus/James Conlon rec. 2007 EUROARTS 2056258 [133:00 + 22:00][AOz]

Outstanding is Audra Macdonald as Jenny Smith ... see Full Review

Mieczyslaw WEINBERG (1919–1996) Children’s Songs, Op. 13 (1944/45) [13.35] Beyond the Border of Past Days, Op. 50 (1951) [22:03] Rocking the Child, Op. 110 (1973) [24.32] Olga Kalugina (soprano); Svetlana Nikolayeva (mezzo); Dmitry Korostelyov (piano) rec. Concert Hall of the Gnessin Musical College, Moscow, January 2006, 19, 23 December 2006, 12 April 2007. TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0078 [60.12] [RH]

Should win many converts for an alternative view of Soviet modernism ... see Full Review

Felix WEINGARTNER (1863–1942) String Quartets Nos. 1 & 3 Sarastro Quartett rec. 2006 CPO 7772512 [68:38][BBr]

Interesting but be warned, Weingartner was no Mahler ... see Full Review

Charles WOOD (1866-1926) St. Mark Passion Edward BAIRSTOW (1874-1946) Organ Voluntary Jonathan Vaughn (organ); The Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge/Daniel Hyde rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.570561 [61:46][JQ]

An excellent performance of a work that deserves more attention ... see Full Review

Alexander ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942) Die Seejungfrau; Sinfonietta; Lyrisches Symphony; Operatic Preludes; Cymbeline Suite; Frühlingsbegräbnis; Ein Tanzpoem Gürzenich-Orchester, Köln/James Conlon rec. 1995-2001 EMI CLASSICS TRIPLE 5094562 [3 CDs: 67:07 + 78:18 + 77:04][AOz]

Conlon is important to the genre ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Alexander ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942) Three Pieces for Cello and Piano; Sonata in A minor for Cello and Piano; Trio in D Minor for Clarinet, Cello and Piano Othmar Muller (cello); Ernst Ottensamer (clarinet); Christopher Hinterhuber (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570540 [64:21][JWi]

Exceptional rather than merely pleasant ... see Full Review