NEW & RECENT ARTICLES
[New] Completions
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first performance of Adam Pounds' Second Symphony by John
France
Short
Reviews & Second Thoughts: Winter 2019-20/2 by Brian Wilson,
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Fred
Lax - An English flautist in America by Stuart Scott
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Discographies - a major update by Mike Herman
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Friday January 24th
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concertos Nos 1 &
2, Rondo - Boris Giltburg (piano) Royal Liverpool PO/Vasily Petrenko
rec. 2019 NAXOS 8.574151 [73:51] [RC] Performances
to rank with the best, but also the bonus of the splendidly played
Rondo.
Paul
BEN-HAIM (1897-1984), Ernest BLOCH (1880-1959)
& Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957) Cello
Concertos - Raphael Wallfisch (cello) BBC Ntl O of Wales/Łukasz
Borowicz rec. 2018 CPO 555273-2 [67:34] [SG]
More riches, constituting an excellent addition to this increasingly
impressive series.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony No. 9 Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Parsifal Prelude & Good
Friday Spell - Royal Concertgebouw O/Daniele Gatti rec. 2018
RCO LIVE RCO18008 SACD [80:34] [RMo]
Lovely, if not flawless, performances.
Antonin
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) & Aram KHACHATURIAN
(1903-1978) Violin Concertos - Rachel Barton-Pine (violin)
Royal Scottish Ntl O/Teddy Abrams rec. 2018 AVIE AV2411
[73:22] [NB] More individual and nuanced orchestral accompaniments
exist elsewhere.
Eugene
GOOSSENS (1893-1962) Phantasy Concerto, Symphony
No.2 - Tasmin Little (violin) Melbourne SO/Sir Andrew Davis rec.
2018/19 CHANDOS CHSA5193 SACD [68:21] [JW] Preparation
and execution alike are admirable.
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphonies Nos 80 & 81, Piano
Concerto - Lucas Blondeel (fortepiano) Le Concert d’Anvers/Bart
Van Reyn rec. 2016 FUGA LIBERA FUG755
[62:06] [SSi] Fine performances which are only a little let
down by the lack of some repeats.
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Kaleidoscope -
Shin-Haea Kang (piano) rec. 2019 OEHMS OC1713
[72:53] [JWe] Buy this disc!
Pyotr
Ilych TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) & Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981) Violin Concertos - Johan Dalene (violin)
Norrköping SO/Daniel Blendulf rec. 2019 BIS SACD BIS2440
[58:47] [WH] A new, young virtuoso shines in an unusual coupling.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) I Due Foscari - Leo Nucci
(baritone) Guanqun Yu (soprano) Rundfunk O & Ch/Ivan Repušic
rec. 2018 BR KLASSIK 900328 [73:00 + 28:40] [MC]
Led by baritone Leo Nucci, this is an excellent recording
of I Due Foscari.
English
Piano Trios Trio Anima Mundi rec. 2017
DIVINE ART DDA25158 [77:53] [JF] Each
one of these five ‘trios’ is special and deserves
our attention.
Thursday January 23rd
Dieterich
BUXTEHUDE (1637-1707) Complete Organ Works - Harald
Vogel (organ) rec. 1986-93 MDG 314 2148-2 [7
CDs: 484:44 & DVD] [MC] This set should have great appeal
to both those familiar with and new to Buxtehude.
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Piano works - Idil Biret (piano)
rec. 2018/19 IDIL BIRET ARCHIVE 8.571401-02 [79:05
+ 79:09] [JF] I was inspired, moved and entertained.
Gottfried
FINGER (c. 1655-1730) Music for European Courts
and Concerts - The Harmonious Society of Tickle-Fiddle Gentlemen/Robert
Rawson rec. 2018 RAMÉE RAM1802 [66:47]
[JV] Fascinating and musically compelling portrait of a composer,
whose oeuvre fully deserves to be explored.
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Samson - Joshua
Ellicott (tenor), Sophie Bevan (soprano), Tiffin Boys’ Ch,
Dunedin Consort/John Butt (harpsichord) rec. 2018 LINN
CKD599 [3 CDs: 204:14] [RWe] The older Samson
by The Sixteen is not eclipsed, but we now have another superb
recording to place alongside it.
Enno
POPPE (b. 1969) Rundfunk - ens mosaik rec.
2019 WERGO WER7388-2 [57:19] [RHa] Enno
Poppe gives the synthesiser a HIP workover – it’s
not for the faint hearted.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Nutcracker
- State Academic SO of Russia "Evgeny Svetlanov"/Vladimir
Jurowski rec. 2019 PENTATONE PTC5186761 SACD
[86:25] [NB] Skilled and technically impressive but disappointingly
literal.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) La Traviata - Ermonela
Jaho (soprano), Placido Domingo (baritone), O Royal Opera House,
London/Antonello Manacorda rec. 2019 OPUS ARTE DVD OA1292D
[149 mins] [RJF] Even if this performance lacks some vitality
in Act One, the total impact of the final Act has great strength
and shows Ermonela Jaho at her best.
Erich
Kleiber and Jean Martinon (conductors) The Decca
78s - London PO rec. 1947-1949 ELOQUENCE 482 9386
[64:10 + 63:34] [JW] A valuable twofer.
Magnificat
rec. 1970-2016 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95928
[14 CDs: 880:10] [SSi] This is a highly interesting and engaging
set, with much to recommend it.
Johanna
Martzy (violin) Swiss Radio Broadcast Recordings
rec. 1947-69 MELOCLASSIC MC2035 [60:56] [SG]
These add considerably to Martzy's slender discographical
legacy.
Wednesday January 22nd
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Requiem - RIAS Kammerchor,
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin/Łukasz Borowicz rec. 2018
ACCENTUS ACC30474 [56:13] [RMo] A disc to
intrigue and engage the Bruckner aficionado.
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Nocturnes, Première rapsodie,
Marche Écossaise, La Damoiselle élue - Sergio Castelló
López (clarinet) Sophie Bevan (soprano) Anna Stéphany (mezzo)
Hallé O & Ch/Mark Elder rec. 2018/19 HALLÉ CDHLL7552
[64:56] [RHa] Yet more ravishing Debussy from Sir Mark and
his revitalised Hallé.
Jacques
OFFENBACH (1819-1880) Cello Duos - Xavier Phillips,
Anne Gastinel (cellos) rec. 2019 LA DOLCE VOLTA LDV71
[69:44] [GPu] An unexpected side of Offenbach which should
prove enjoyable for far more than the audience of cello students
for which the music was originally written.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Winterreise - Mathias
Hedegaard (tenor) Tove Lønskov (piano) rec. 2018 DANACORD
DACOCD865 [75:45] [JF] Hedegaard is brilliant at
capturing the massive mood swings inherent in this song cycle.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-56) Complete Music for Piano 4-Hands
- Roberto Plano, Paola Del Negro (piano duet) BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 95675 [2 CDs 129:12] [PBW] This excellently
performed and recorded collection is an outstanding bargain.
Dmitry
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) The Bedbug; Love &
Hate - Mannheim Opera Ch, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz/Mark
Fitz-Gerald rec. 2019 NAXOS 8.574100 [58:54]
[NB] One for the enthusiast rather than the general collector.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1959) Der Rosenkavalier -
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) Christa Ludwig (mezzo) Eberhard
Waechter (baritone), Philharmonia Ch & O/Herbert von Karajan
rec. 1956 PRISTINE PACO167 [3 CDs: 190.58] [PCG]
This remains one of the great Rosenkavaliers on disc, and
contains one of the best casts ever assembled either on stage
or in the studio.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Le Trouvère - Giuseppe
Gipali (tenor), Franco Vasallo (baritone), Marco Spotti (bass),
Ch & O Teatro Communale di Bologna/Roberto Abbado rec. 2018
DYNAMIC CDS7835.02 [79:54 + 79:52] [GF] Always
fascinating to encounter alternative versions of standard works.
Erling
Blöndal Bengtsson (cello) A Tribute: The Danish
Radio Recordings 1958-1998 Vol. 2 rec. 1958-1998 DANACORD
DACOCD845 [75:09 + 70:40] [JW] Another finely
restored example of this cherished artist’s radio discography.
Music
For My Love Vol. 3 Ukrainian Festival O/Paul
Mann rec. 2018 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0504 [70:45]
[WH] Music of the highest quality in performances to match.
Tuesday January 21st
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Quartets - Klaviertrio
Hannover, Konstantin Sellheim (viola) rec. 2019 GENUIN
GEN19673 [76:25] [PRB] Highly enjoyable.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphonies No. 1 & 3 - Bergen
PO/Edward Gardner rec. 2018 CHANDOS CHSA5236
SACD [81.25] [RC] Fine, convincing performances
that just fail to join my favourite versions
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony No. 1 - Philharmonie
Festiva/Gerd Schaller rec. 2019 PROFIL PH19084
[50:30] [RMo] Makes the strongest possible case for the symphony’s
consideration – or even its rehabilitation.
Nicolás
Ruiz ESPADERO (1832-1890) Piano Music Vol. 1 - José
Raúl López (piano) rec. 2018/19 TOCCATA
CLASSICS TOCC0544 [71:52] [RCh] Attractive echoes
of the 19th century Parisian piano salons from a sunny
Caribbean island.
Antônio
Carlos GOMES (1836 – 1896) Lo schiavo
- Svetla Vassileva (soprano) Massimiliano Pisapia (tenor), Ch
& O del Teatro Lirico di Cagliari/John Neschling rec. 2019
DYNAMIC CDS7845.02 [63:27 +
68:50] [GF] A worthwhile acquisition for readers with an inquisitive
mind.
Joachim
KACZKOWSKI (1789-1829) Violin Concertos - Marucha
Agnieszka (violin), SO Filharmonii Lubelskiej im. Henryka Wieniawskiego/Rodek
Wociechh rec. 2019 ACTE PRÉALABLE AP0470 [70:45]
[JW] Another unknown brought to life by this enterprising
label.
Dame
Ethel SMYTH (1858-1944) Fête Galante; The
Boatswain’s Mate, Entente Cordiale Liza LEHMANN
(1862-1918) The Happy Prince - Charmian Bedford
(soprano) Carolyn Dobbin (mezzo) Lontano Ens/Odaline de la Martinez,
Light SO/Sir Adrian Boult rec. 1939/2018 RETROSPECT OPERA
RO007 [76:34] [JW] Warmly committed and winning performances.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) & Richard WAGNER (1813-1883)
Works for cello & piano - Norbert Anger (cello) Michael
Schöch (piano) rec. 2017 OEHMS OC1701
[78:54] [CSe] A generous recording, comprising both the unfamiliar
with the familiar in new guises, and offering much enjoyment and
discovery.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Nutcracker
- Septura rec. 2019 NAXOS 8.574157 [65:24]
[MP] An original and very welcome presentation of traditional
Holiday confection.
Charles
Munch (conductor) Works by Auber, Bridge & Nielsen
- Boston SO rec. 1953-56 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC572
[67:50] [JQ] A very interesting addition to the Munch discography.
Monday January 20th
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Complete Works for Piano
and Cello - Ori Epstein (cello), Omri Epstein (piano) rec. 2018
LINN RECORDS CKD627 [84:42 + 70:50] [DRD] Enjoyable
and highly proficient renditions of one of the cornerstones of
the chamber repertoire.
Joly
BRAGA SANTOS (1924-1988) Complete Chamber Music
Vol. 1 - Quarteto Lopes-Graça, Leonor Braga Santos (viola),
Irene Lima (cello) rec. 2017/2018 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0207
[78:48] [JW] I can’t really imagine anyone being impervious
to Braga-Santos’s warmth and wisdom.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony No. 6 - London SO/Sir
Simon Rattle rec. 2019 LSO LIVE LSO0842 SACD
[56.01] [MW] A fine performance, in wonderful sound, splendidly
captured, and nearly a very great one.
Carlo
GESUALDO DA VENOSA (1566-1613) Sacrarum Cantionum,
Book I - Odhecaton; Ensemble Mare Nostrum/Paolo Da Col rec. 2013
RICERCAR RIC343 [63:27] [BW] Unaccompanied
recordings of this intense music are preferable.
Robert
GROSLOT (b. 1951) Concertos - Jan Michiels (piano)
Ilia Yourivitch Laporev (cello) Eline Groslot (harp) Brussels
Philharmonic/Robert Groslot rec. 2017/18 NAXOS 8.579057
[65:04] [RHa] The second disc in Naxos’s Groslot series
offers three attractive new works in committed performances and
fine sound.
Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Violin Concerto,
Clarinet Quartet, Cello Sonata - Henry Merckel (violin) Guy Deplus
(clarinet) Robert Gendre (violin) Enrico Mainardi (cello) Fritz
Lehmann (piano) Lamoureux O/Roger Désormière rec. 1948-53 FORGOTTEN
RECORDS FR1568 [73:49] [SG] Much food for thought.
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858–1924) Tosca –
Zinka Milanov (soprano) Jussi Björling (tenor) Leonard Warren
(baritone) Rome Opera House O & Ch/Erich Leinsdorf rec. 1957
PRISTINE AUDIO PACO163 [2 CDs: 113:29] [GF] Andrew
Rose has worked miracles on the sound to illustrate how good a
set this is.
Einojuhani
RAUTAVAARA (1928-2016) Vigilia - Niall
Chorell (tenor), Tuukka Haapaniemi (bass), Helsinki Chamber Choir
/ Nils Schweckendiek rec. 2018 BIS BIS-2422 SACD
[70:34] [JQ] A wonderful new recording of a composition of
great sincerity and eloquence.
Einsamkeit,
O Stilles Wesen German Cantatas of the Baroque
- L‘arpa festante/Christoph Hesse rec. 2017 CHRISTOPHORUS
CHR77437 [67:13] [DJB] An interesting programme on
paper, but the overall effect is one of lack of contrast.
Minimal
Works Alessandro Viale, Assunta Cavallari (piano)
Rebecca Raimondi (violin) rec. 2018 KHA RECORDS KHA018
[47.42] [GH] Worth exploring
