NEW & RECENT ARTICLES
Piano Trio Discography: Robert
Schumann
Short Reviews & Second Thoughts: Spring 2020/1 - Part
A ~
Part B by Brian Wilson & Johan van Veen
Beethoven
250, Philharmonia 75 and Decca 90: some recent Beulah reissues by
Brian Wilson
Puccini’s
Gianni Schicchi - A survey by Ralph Moore
Listening
Studio Report by John Quinn
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Friday April 3rd
Jehan
ALAIN (1911-1940) Organ Works - Thomas
Monnet (organ) HORTUS 180 [60:39] [MR] Magnificently
recorded and very well played; shame about the booklet.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770–1827) Piano Concertos Nos 1,
3 & 4, Triple Concerto - Inon Barnatan (piano) Stefan Jackiw (violin),
Alisa Weilerstein (cello) ASMF/Alan Gilbert rec. 2015/17 PENTATONE
PTC5186817 [74.56 + 70.40] [CRa] The Academy of St-Martin-in-the-Fields
makes its first foray into the complete Beethoven piano concertos with
the classy Inon Barnatan.
Natanael
BERG (1879-1957) Symphony No. 4, Piano Concerto, Birgitta
Suite - Jacob Moskopvicz (piano) Royal Stockholm PO/Per Borin, Swedish
RSO/Stig Westerberg, Goran W. Nilson rec. 1976-91 STERLING CDS1019-2
[75:15] [EJW] It gives me pleasure to bring this unusual CD to your
attention.
André
Ernest Modeste GRÉTRY (1741-1813) Raoul Barbe-Bleue
- Matthieu Lécroart (bass) Chantal Santon-Jeffrey (soprano) François
Rougier (tenor) O Nord/Mike Fentross rec. 2018 APARTÉ AP214 [2
CDs: 87:01] [MP] An outstanding presentation of Grétry’s long-unperformed
gothically-comic opera.
Witold
LUTOSŁAWSKI (1913-1994) Symphonies Nos 2 & 3 -
Finnish Radio SO/Hannu Lintu rec. 2018 ONDINE ODE1332-5
SACD [61:40] [SB] Splendid performances of these
now well-established symphonies.
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Turandot - Rebeka Lokar,
Jorge de Léon, Erika Grimaldi, Ch & O Teatro Regio Torino/Gianandrea
Noseda rec. 2018 C MAJOR DVD 748108
[1:55:00] [WH] A fascinating staging of Puccini’s final opera,
well sung and performed without Alfano’s completion.
Jean-Philippe
RAMEAU (1683-1764) Les Indes Gallantes - Claron
McFadden, Sandrine Piau, Zaďre (soprano) Les Arts Florissants/William
Christie rec. 1990 HARMONIA MUNDI HAX8901367.69 [3
CDs: 193:07] [MBu] A necessary addition to any collection of French
baroque music.
Ryuichi
SAKAMOTO (b. 1952) For Mr Lawrence - Jeroen van
Veen (piano) rec. 2019 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95389 [5
CDs: 344:05] [SSi] An enjoyable exploration of most aspects of Sakamoto’s
music.
Richard
STÖHR (1874-1967) Chamber Music Vol. 4 - Conor Nelson
(flute) Mary Siciliano (piano) Velda Kelly, Priscilla Johnson, Judith
Teasdle (violin) Susan Schreiber (viola) Stefan Koch (cello) rec. 2014-19
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0536 [66:39] [JW] Lyrically generous,
well-proportioned and backward looking.
Thursday April 2nd
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Sonatas and Partitas - Alexander
Schneider (violin) rec. 1949 BIDDULPH LAB2055 [2 CDs:
143:38] [JW] A real rarity.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Leonore - Zürcher
Sing-Akademie, Freiburger Barockorchester/René Jacobs rec. 2017
HARMONIA MUNDI HMM902414.15 [70:10 + 69:57] [MSZ] Despite
a few shortcomings, this Leonore is a very welcome addition to a Beethoven
library.
Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1928)
The Diary of One Who Disappeared - Pavol Breslik
(tenor) Robert Pechanec (piano) rec. 2019 ORFEO C989201
[52:29] [RWe] An excellent performance of the main work, but there
is no English translation of the texts.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Lohengrin - Georg Zeppenfeld
(bass) Piotr Beczała (tenor) Anja Harteros (soprano) Ch & O
der Bayreuther Festspiele/Christian Thielemann rec. 2018 DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON 0735616 DVD [209 mins] [MC] Beczała
and Harteros give exceptional performances but the staging is staid
and often ludicrous.
The
French Romantic Experience rec. 2008-19 BRU
ZANE BZ2001 [10 CDs: 732:54] [MBu] A music lover’s
collection should not be without this set.
Fuoco
di gioia! Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Münchner
Rundfunkorchester/Ivan Repušić rec. 2019 BR KLASSIK
900329 [79:55] [MC] This well-filled album of famous choruses
is a treat for opera lovers.
Jin
Yin Yihan Chen (pipa), Cynthia Yeh (percussion), Emma
Gerstein (flute and piccolo), Civitas Ensemble rec. 2018/2019 CEDILLE
CDR90000193 [77:19] [MR] Five outstanding works combining
Chinese and Western concepts and sounds, performed with exceptional
intensity and commitment.
Mateusz
Kowalski (guitar) Classical Guitarist rec. 2018
CD ACCORD ACD251-2 [56:08] [GF] Lovers of guitar music
should invest without delay.
Ton
sur ton Vlaams Radiokoor/Bart van Reyn rec. 2019 EVIL
PENGUIN CLASSICS EPRC0033 [56:09] [JQ] The singing on this
disc is absolutely exemplary in every respect.
Wednesday April 1st
Grażyna
BACEWICZ (1909-1969) Chamber works - Jaga
Klimaszewska (violin) Mateusz Rettner (piano) rec. 2019 DUX
1561 [66:46] [JW] A cleverly selected programme given youthful,
invigorating performances.
Carl
Heinrich GRAUN (1704-1759)/Johann Gottlieb GRAUN (1703-1771)
Apollo & Dafne - Hannah Morrison (soprano)
Main-Barock O rec. 2019 ACCENT ACC 24362 [68:03] [JV]
There is little wrong with the playing and singing, but the dramatic
aspects are seriously underexposed.
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) String Quartets Vol.
11 - Leipzig String Qt rec. 2019 MDG 3072141-2 [65:51]
[DD] A pleasant surprise: early Haydn in fine performances.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Sonatas Nos 16 & 17 - Sviatoslav
Richter (piano) rec. 1956-1957 ALTO ALC1415 [78:54]
[RMo] Indispensable to Richter devotees.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) & Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Double Concertos - Giuliano Carmignola (violin), Mario Brunello
(violoncello piccolo); Accademia dell’Annunciata/Riccardo Doni
rec. 2018 ARCANA A472 [69:57] [BW] Music of infinite
variety that works well in these very enjoyable adaptations.
Kurt
WEILL (1900-1950) Street Scene - Patricia Racette,
Paulo Szot, Ch & O Teatro Real Madrid/Tim Murray rec. 2018 BELAIR
CLASSIQUES BAC162 DVD [160 mins] [MP] An
excellent cast and illuminating production make the strongest case possible
for Weill’s powerful score.
Alle
menschen werden brüder Uwaga!, Folkwang Kammer
O/Johannes Klumpp rec. 2018 ARS PRODUCTION ARS38266 SACD
[62:19] [GF] Rather impertinent treatment of Beethoven’s music
executed with total professionalism.
Family
Connections Charlotte de Rothschild (soprano) Malcolm
Martineau (piano) rec. 1993 NIMBUS NI6395
[64:14] [MBu] A charming idea.
Winter
Corina Marti (recorder, clavisimbalum, organetto) Marie Nishiyama
(harp) Roger Helou (organetto) rec. 2016 AYROS CD04
[61.42] [GH] A very interesting and imaginative collection.
Tuesday March 31st
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Sonatas & Partitas - Tomás
Cotik (violin) rec. 2019 CENTAUR CRC3755/6 [57:43 +
60:50] [RMas] Lithe and efficient Bach.
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Violin Concerto No. 2, Rhapsodies Nos
1 & 2 - Baiba Skride (violin) WDR SO Köln/Eivind Aadland rec. 2017
ORFEO C950191 [57:45] [SSi] Even if this is not
my first choice, it is a welcome and enjoyable performance which I will
be revisiting.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Quartets - Juilliard String
Quartet rec. 1964-1970 SONY CLASSICS 19075992332 [9
CDs: 505:33] [RMo] Much to offer.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto No. 1, Ballades - Royal
Northern Sinfonia/Lars Vogt (piano) rec. 2018 ONDINE
ODE1330-2 [72:14] [MG] A triumphant vindication
of Vogt’s courage in taking on the role of piano-conductor.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Piano Concertos Vol. 5
-Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano) Manchester Camerata/Gábor Takács-Nagy
rec. 2019 CHANDOS CHAN20137(2) [60.49 + 64.22] [CRa]
These are discs to treasure, and play often.
Josef
SUK (1874-1935) Symphony No. 2 Asrael - Bavarian
RSO/Jakub Hrůša rec. 2018 BR KLASSIK 900188
[62:43] [MC] A first-rate recording.
Concertos
From 19th Century Denmark Works by Barth,
Gade & Kuhlau - Lisa Maria Cooper, Flemming Aksnes (French
horn) Oliver Nordahl (oboe) Ian van Rensburg (violin) Aarhus SO/Jean
Thorel rec. 2018 DACAPO SACD 6.220664 [53:56] [DJB]
Elegant and tuneful music, the non-concerto Overture being the pick.
The
Early Horn Ursula Paludan Monberg (horn) Arcangelo/Jonathan
Cohen rec. 2018 HYPERION CDA68289
[78:32] [MR] Early examples of the horn in a concertante role, expertly
delivered by a leading exponent of the natural horn.
Ignaz
Friedman (piano) Complete Recordings 1923-1941
DANACORD DACOCD861-864 [6 CDs: 336
mins] [JW] All pianophiles must know they need Friedman’s
discs.
Monday March 30th
Nadia
BOULANGER (1887-1979) & Lili BOULANGER (1893-1918)
Clairičres - Nicholas Phan (tenor) Myra Huang
(piano) rec. 2019 AVIE AV2414 [53:17] [NB] The
music is important but the style of singing suggests a try-before-you-buy
approach.
Alma
DEUTSCHER (b. 2005) From My Book
of Melodies - Alma Deutscher (piano) rec. 2019 SONY CLASSICAL
19075990192 [50:36] [MBu] Confirms her undoubtedly rightful
footing in the serious, contemporary classical music world.
Samuil
FEINBERG (1890-1962) Piano Sonatas No. 1-6 - Marc-André
Hamelin (piano) rec. 2018 HYPERION CDA68233 [74:33]
[JW] Hamelin powerfully resolves all the technical complications
and dramatic conflicts embedded in these intense works.
Poul
RUDERS (b. 1949) Piano Concerto No. 3,
Cembal d’amore, Kafkapriccio - Anne-Marie McDermott
(piano) Odense SO/Benjamin Shwartz, Andreas Delfs rec. 2016/18 BRIDGE
9531 [59:34] [RHa] Credit to Bridge for annotating Ruders’
every move.
Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Symphony No. 3 Francis
POULENC (1899-1963) Organ Concerto - Iveta Apkalna (organ)
Bavarian RSO/Mariss Jansons rec. 2019 BR KLASSIK 900178
[60.47] [MC] Iveta Apkalna performs with sparkle and resolve.
Eric
WHITACRE (b. 1970) Marimba Quartets - Joby Burgess, Sam
Wilson (marimba & vibraphone), Calum Huggan, Rob Farrer (marimba)
rec. 2019 SIGNUM RECORDS SIGCD625
[21:29] [SA] If you are a marimba fan you will love this sumptuous
sounding disc.
Alexander
ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942) Der Traumgörge -
Pamela Coburn, Janis Martin (soprano), Josef Protschka (tenor), Hartmut
Welker (baritone), Frankfurt RSO/Gerd Albrecht rec. 1987 CAPRICCIO
C5395 [48:19 + 62:39] [PCG] A reissue of a well performed
Zemlinsky rarity but with woefully lacking documentation.
Escales
Sinfonia of London/John Wilson rec. 2019 CHANDOS CHSA5252 SACD
[79:05] [SB] A delightful collection and a real winner.
Royal
Brass Music Maurice André & Jean Pirot
(trumpets), Thurston Dart (director), Robert Veyron-Lacroix (harpsichord
continuo), Ensemble Orchestral de L’Oiseau Lyrique/Pierre Colombo
rec. 1956/58 ELOQUENCE 482 8527 [73:29] [RMas]
A pleasant listening experience.
Other reviews
Jón
Leifs and the Musical Invention of Iceland by Árni
Heimir Ingólfsson publ. 2019 Indiana University Press [DBi]
Of importance because there is so little else published on Leifs.
