2020 will see the 25th anniversary of MusicWeb International.
I think this is amazing and I feel we are a rare survivor. I will
put together a page of anniversary tributes and should you feel
so moved as to send in a short encomium I will be delighted to receive
it. You can read the ones we produced for our 15th
and 20th
anniversaries. - Len
MusicWeb is now selling this label again - Now only £11
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NEW & RECENT ARTICLES
[New] Short
Reviews & Second Thoughts: Autumn 2019/1 by Brian Wilson,
Dan Morgan, Johan van Veen & Simon Thompson
[New] Listening
Studio Report by John Quinn
[New] Piano Trio Discography - Sergei
Rachmaninov
[New] Anthony
Hedges - An obituary by Kenneth Shenton
Jessye
Norman - a short appreciation by Ralph Moore
NOTICES
Richard Tauber chronology available through MWI - see here
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Publishing schedule
Monday: Other reviews (nostalgia, books, jazz, other music); Friday:
Articles
Live performance reviews posted daily at
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Friday October 18th
Mason
BATES (b 1977) Children of Adam Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Dona Nobis Pacem
- Richmond SO & Ch/Steven Smith rec. 2017/18 REFERENCE
RECORDINGS FRESH! FR-732 [61:17] [JQ] Well-recorded
and -performed accounts of two very different Whitman-inspired choral
works.
Carlo
GESUALDO (1566-1613) Madrigali a cinque voci
- Exaudi Vocal Ens/James Weeks rec. 2019 WINTER & WINTER
910 259-2 [60:31] [DC] If you are keen on Gesualdo’s
Madrigali then you owe it to yourself to acquire this recording.
Charles
GOUNOD (1818-1893) St. Cecilia Mass Georges
BIZET(1838-1875) Te Deum - Angela Maria Blasi (soprano) Christian
Elsner (tenor) Dietrich Henschel (baritone) Munich Motet Ch &
SO/Hans Rudolf Zöbeley rec. 1996 HÄNSSLER CLASSIC HC19046
[60:21] [EJW] Beautifully performed.
Karl
Amadeus HARTMANN (1905-1963) String Quartets Nos 1 &
2 Anton WEBERN (1883-1945) Langsamer Satz
- Airis String Qt rec. 2018 CD ACCORD ACD 245-2 [63:09]
[JW] Persuasive accounts.
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No.1 - Minnesota O/Osmo Vänskä
rec. 2018 BIS BIS2346 SACD [56:45]
[MW] A wonderfully insightful, if slightly unusual, interpretation
of a great symphony: worth the attention of any serious Mahlerian.
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) La bohčme – Jussi
Björling (tenor) Victoria de los Ángeles (soprano) Columbus Boys’
Ch, RCA Victor Ch & O/Sir Thomas Beecham rec. 1956 PRISTINE
AUDIO PACO164 [53:43 + 53:31] [RMo] Pristine
gives a classic recording new life with this remastering into Ambient
Stereo.
Michel
YOST (1745-1801) Clarinet Concertos Johann Christian
VOGEL (1756-1788) Symphony - Susanne Heilig (clarinet) Kurpfälziches
Kammer O/Marek Štilek rec. 2017 CPO 555 191-2
[73.17] [CR] An entertaining disc of clarinet concertos from late
18th century Paris.
Music
for Saint Katherine of Alexandria Binchois Consort/Andrew
Kirkman rec. 2018 HYPERION CDA68274 [66:17] [SSi]
The Binchois Consort prove that there is lots to enjoy in English
music before Byrd and Tallis.
Stravaganza
Italian music from 1550-1700 - Sara
Águeda (arpa doppia) Javier Núńez (harpsichord) rec. 2017
DUX 1567 [65:08] [JV] A colourful programme of instrumental
music, a perfect illustration of some features of a period of experimentation
and improvisation.
The
Yiddish Cabaret Works by Korngold, Schulhoff &
Desyatnikov - Hila Baggio (soprano) Jerusalem Qt rec. 2018
HARMONIA MUNDI HMM902631 [59:54] [RHa] The Korngold is
the standout here, although the song cycle is colourfully written
and superbly performed.
Thursday October 17th
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony No. 3 Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Metamorphosen - Sinfonia Grange au Lac/Esa-Pekka
Salonen rec. 2018 ALPHA 544 [75:20] [RMo] Engaging
enough in its own right if ultimately short on heroic impact.
Niels
Viggo BENTZON (1919-2000) The Tempered Piano
- Per Salo (piano) rec. 2019 DACAPO 8.226077 [78:05]
[DC] Bentzon’s brilliant musical will and testament.
Franco
FACCIO (1840-1891) Amleto - Pavel Cernoch
(tenor), Prague Philharmonic Ch, Wiener Symphoniker/Paolo Carignani
rec. 2016 NAXOS 8.660454 [67:55 + 66:46] [MP] Worth
investigating for the curious.
György
KURTÁG (b. 1926) Scenes - Viktoriia Vitrenko
(soprano) David Grimal (violin) Luigi Gaggero (cimbalom) Niek de Groot
(double bass) rec. 2018 AUDITE 97.762 [60:56] The
Edge of Silence - Susan Narucki (soprano) Donald Berman (piano)
Curtis Macomber (violin) Nicholas Tolle (cimbalom) Kathryn Schulmeister
(double bass) rec. 2018 AVIE AV2408 [64:57] [RHa]
Adherents of Kurtág will need no persuasion to acquire both; newcomers
can rest assured that either issue will provide immense satisfaction.
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 6 -
SWR SO/Michael Gielen rec. 1971/2013 SWR MUSIC SWR19080CD
[3 CDs: 172:51] [JQ] A fitting tribute to Michael Gielen,
a Mahler conductor of genuine stature.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Divertimento, Violin Concerti
Nos 3 & 4, Sinfonia Concertante, Duo - Franco Gulli (violin),
Bruno Giuranna (viola), Giacinto Caramia (cello), Angelicum O Milan/Alceo
Galliera, Franco Gulli rec. 1965 DOREMI DHR8081-82
[70:22+65:28] [JW] Elegance, refinement and stylish affinities.
Domenico
SCARLATTI (1685-1757) & Muzio CLEMENTI (1752-1832)
Sonatas - John McCabe (piano) rec. 1981 DIVINE ART
DDA21231 [2 CDs: 57:55+58:30] [JF] A studied
balance between flair, rhythmic freedom and a characteristic attention
to detail.
Mieczysław
WEINBERG (1919-1996) Complete Sonatas for Solo Viola
- Viacheslav Dinerchtein (viola) rec. 2015-17 SOLO MUSICA
SM310 [40.19 + 53.44] [MC] Thoughtful intelligence, technical
expertise and effective tone production.
Belle
époque Works by Debussy, Trojahn, Pierné, Brahms
& Widor - Annelien Van Wauwe (clarinet) O Ntl de Lille/Alexandre
Bloch rec. 2018 PENTATONE PTC5186808 SACD [59:50]
[SSi] This is a very welcome disc of music, with Annelien Van
Wauwe on fine form throughout.
John
Cerminaro (horn) A Tribute rec. 1981-2007 CRYSTAL
RECORDS CD775 [51:23] [MR] A truly delightful disc.
Wednesday October 16th
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin
Sonatas - Jean Fournier (violin) Ginette Doyen (piano) rec. 1952-54
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR1532-34 [3 CDs: 219:582]
[SG] Freshness and energy abound, and the conversational quality
elicited by the two performers is striking.
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Paraphrase de concert sur Rigoletto;
Transcendental Études - Boris Giltburg (piano) rec. 2018
NAXOS 8.573981 [79:30] [JWe] A super recording
from a brilliant pianist.
Franz
REIZENSTEIN (1911-1968) Piano Concerto No. 2; Serenade;
Overture ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ - Oliver Triendl (piano),
Nürnberger Symphoniker/Yaron Traub rec. 2018 CPO 555245-2
[66.37] [GH] An adventurous disc superbly played and recorded.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Schwanengesang Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Vier Ernste Gesänge - Gerald Finley (baritone),
Julius Drake (piano) rec. 2018 HYPERION CDA68288
[73:21] [RMo] Elegantly sung and played, but nonetheless vitiated
by too many artistic miscalculations from Finley and Drake.
Sir
Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) The Travelling
Companion – David Horton (tenor) Julien Van Mellaerts (baritone)
Kate Valentine (soprano) New Sussex Opera O & Ch/Toby Purser rec.
2018 SOMM RECORDINGS CÉLESTE SOMMCD274-2 [66.47 +
57.12] [MC] Entertaining and engaging.
Contemporary
Clarinet Concertos Works by Fajot, Hartmann &
Lindberg - Jean-Luc Votano (clarinet) Quatuor Daniel, Royal Ličge
PO/Christian Arming rec. 2018 FUGA LIBERA FUG752
[73:06] [SB] A superb recording of Magnus Lindberg’s fine
concerto with fabulous clarinet playing throughout.
Emergence
Songs to Emily Dickinson’s texts - Nadine Benjamin
(soprano), Nicole Panizza (piano) rec. 2018 STONE RECORDS
5060192780864 [78:50] [SSi] An excellent selection -
the songs by Juliana Hall and Ella Jarman-Pinto are a real find.
Four Works for wind quartet by Bozza,
Bridge, Francaix, Bennett, Ibert & Arrieu - London Myriad
rec. 2014/18 MÉTIER MSV28587 [55:31]
[JF] Marvellous music in convincing performances.
From
Belcanto to Jazz 150 years of opera phantasies -
Works by Bazzini, Vieuxtemps, Ondricek & Frolov
- Volker Reinhold (violin) Ralph Zedler (piano) rec. 2019 MDG
SACD 903 2134-6 [79:05] [RCh] From melodrama to jazz
high jinks there is lots to enjoy here.
Tibor
de Machula (cello) German Radio Broadcast Recordings
1944-1952 - Works by Boccherini, Saint-Saëns, Schumann,
& Tchaikovsky rec. 1944-52 MELOCLASSIC MC3014
[77:57] [JW] Splendid restorations enhance this valuable release.
Tuesday October 15th
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Organ Works Vol. 3
- Masaaki Suzuki (organ) rec. 2018 BIS BIS-2421
[79:07] [MR] Simply peerless.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770–1827) Symphony No. 9 - Wiener
Singverein, Wiener Symphoniker/Philippe Jordan rec. 2017 WIENER
SYMPHONIKER WS017 [63:13] [MC] One of the most compelling
accounts heard in recent years.
Dora
BRIGHT (1862-1951) Piano Concerto No.1, Variations Ruth
GIPPS (1921-1999) Piano Concerto, Ambarvalia -- Samantha
Ward, Murray McLachlan (piano) Royal Liverpool Philharmonic/Charles
Peebles rec. 2019 SOMM CELESTE SOMMCD273 [75:22]
[NB] A wholly impressive and enjoyable disc – the Gipps
concerto is criminally neglected.
Erich
Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957) Symphony, Theme & Variations,
Straussiana - Sinfonia of London/John Wilson rec. 2019 CHANDOS
CHSA5220 SACD [59.17] [DBi] This ranks as the best surround
recording of an orchestra I have heard; the excellent performance
of a rarity by Korngold adds icing to the cake.
Guillaume
LE DRÉAU (b. 1982) Piano works - Guillaume
Le Dréau (piano) rec. 2018 FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR46LD
[76:45] [JW] Tightly constructed and communicative.
Michaël
LÉVINAS (b 1949) La Passion Selon Marc - Ens
Vocal Lausanne, Lausanne Ch O/Marc Kissóczy rec. 2017 BEL-AIR
CLASSIQUES Blu-ray BAC552 [86:54] [RHa] A fascinating
film which features some exceptional singing and playing in vivid
two-channel sound.
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 1 - Symphonieorchester
des Bayerischen Rundfunks/Mariss Jansons rec. 2007 BR KLASSIK
900179 [54:25] [RMo] A fine performance to vie
with the best, showcasing the gorgeous sonorities of one of the world’s
finest orchestras.
Nikolay
MYASKOVSKY (1881–1950) Symphonies Nos 1 &
13 - Ural Youth SO/Alexander Rudin rec. 2018 NAXOS 8.573988
[58:26] [RC] A worthwhile purchase, with two very contrasting
works.
Ferdinand
RIES (1784-1838) Sextet, Trio & Octet - Franz Ensemble
rec. 2019 MDG 903 2136-6 SACD [70.10]
[CRa] An entertaining disc of little-known music by Beethoven’s
friend.
Mediterranean
Soul - Piero Vincenti (G clarinet) Marsida Koni
(piano) Banda Musicale della Polizia di Stato/Maurizio Billi rec.
2018 AULICUS CLASSICS ALC0021 [77:32] [PRB] Most
entertaining and good fun.
Monday October 14th
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) The Creatures of Prometheus
- Warren Lee (piano) rec. 2018 NAXOS 8.573974 [67:36]
[MZ] A Beethoven rarity in a solid performance though one longs
for a bit more drama and a livelier tempo in places.
Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano Concerto No. 2 Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto No. 2 - Arthur Rubinstein
(piano), Stockholm PO/Antal Doráti rec. 1967 ANTAL
DORÁTI SOCIETY ADL267 [78:51] [JW] A few minor
caveats aside, this has a lot to offer.
Airat ICHMOURATOV (b. 1973)
Orchestral Works - Belarusian State CO/Evgeny Bushkov rec. 2018
CHANDOS CHAN20141 [60:04] [RHa] A relatively new name
with a cosmopolitan background cuts a dash in pieces which are by
turn joyful and melancholy.
Jean-Baptiste
LULLY (1632-1688) Alceste - Judith van Wanroij,
Les Talens Lyriques/Christophe Rousset rec. 2017 APARTE MUSIC
AP164 [80:00 + 70:59] [ST] This is as probably as close
to Alceste as you are going to get - dive in and enjoy it.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Music for Violin Vol. 1 - Ariande
Daskalakis (violin) Paolo Giacometti (fortepiano) Kölner Akademie/Michael
Alexander Willens rec. 2017/18 BIS BIS2363 SACD [78.40]
[DBi] Attractive music well performed and recorded but not the
best of Schubert.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Don Quixote, Cello
Sonata, Zueignung, Ich trage meine Minne - Daniel
Müller-Schott (cello) Herbert Schuch (piano) Melbourne SO/Sir Andrew
Davis rec. 2017 ORFEO C968191 [70:02]
[RMas] A strong performance of Don Quixote paired with an excellent
Cello Sonata.
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Albion’s Journey
ALBION RECORDS ALBCD039 [77:51] [JQ] A rewarding
compilation which opens windows onto some of the less familiar music
by Vaughan Williams.
Erling
Blöndal Bengtsson (cello) The Danish Radio Recordings
1958-1998 - Aarhus SO/Norman Del Mar DANACORD DACOCD845
[75:09 + 70:40] [JF] Another splendid selection of varied pieces
from Bengtsson’s catalogue.
Gateways
Works by Chen, Kreisler & Rachmaninov - Maxim Vengerov (violin),
Shanghai SO/Long Yu rec. 2018 DG 483 6606 [74:21]
[MR] A fine demonstration of China’s oldest symphony orchestra
and a presentation of one of China’s most inspired and inspiring
composers.
Quattro
Violini a Venezia Clematis/Brice Sailly, Stéphanie
de Failly rec. 2018 RICERCAR RIC404 [64:35] [SSi]
A wonderfully entertaining disc, and a most valuable addition
to any collection of baroque Italian music.
