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British
Light Music: A personal gallery of 20th-century composers
2013 2nd edition
by Philip L. Scowcroft
£15.00 Soft Cover plus postage
BOOK REVIEWS
What We Really Do. The Tallis
Scholars by Peter Phillips Second Edition ISBN: 978-0-95457777-2-8
344pp First published 2003. Second Edition, 2013 The Musical Times
Publications
ARTICLE
THE
FOUR FRESHMEN
It's a Blue World Retrospective RTR 4219
JUDY GARLAND
The Amsterdam Concert, December 1960 First Hand Records
FHR 18
The
Golden Age of Light Music: Fiddles
and Bows rec. 1950-62 GUILD LIGHT MUSIC GLCD 5201
[72:03]
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LATEST REVIEWS
230 reviews completed so far this month.
Friday 31 May 2013
Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) French Suites - Colin Tilney (clavichord) rec. 2009
MUSIC & ARTS CD-1268 [60:21 + 63:08] [JW] Intimacy
married with refinement in a truly unaffected but often affecting way.
Georges BIZET (1838-1875)
Carmen: highlights - Tatiana Troyanos, Plácido Domingo, José
van Dam, Kiri Te Kanawa, LPO/Sir Georg Solti rec. 1975 DECCA ELOQUENCE
480 3520 [74:55] [SFV] This captures
Solti at the peak of his powers and popularity.
Joseph HAYDN (1732–1809)
Symphonies 102, 103 - Mozarteumorchrester, Salzburg/Ivor Bolton rec.
2011 OEHMS CLASSICS OC421 [53:32] [BW] The
slightly mean playing time is the only cloud on the horizon.
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Symphony 29; Kassation; Divertimento - European Union Chamber Orchestra/Hans-Peter
Hofmann rec. 2012 BARN COTTAGE RECORDS BCR011 [79:04] [TB] The
European Union Chamber Orchestra offers splendid performances of the
dance music but that of the Symphony No. 29 is somewhat under-characterised.
Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)
Pictures at an Exhibition Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano
Sonata in D - Alice Sara Ott (piano) rec. 2012 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON
479 0088 [72:29] [DC] Good Mussorgsky,
powerful live performances.
Florent SCHMITT (1870-1958)
Complete Original Works for Piano Duet and Duo - Volume 2 - Invencia
Piano Duo rec. 2010/11 GRAND PIANO GP622 [59:07] [WK] Great
charm as well as technical prowess.
Georg Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767)
Ouvertures pittoresques Arte dei Suonatori/Martin Gester rec.
2012 BIS-SACD-1979 
[77:12] [DC] A release with curative powers.
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
A Tribute to Giuseppe Verdi - Selected recordings 1914-1962
- Various singers, conductors and orchestras rec. 1914–1962 PREISER
RECORDS PR93484 [73:20 + 77:19] [RM] For
all its vocal splendours, this bargain vintage compendium can also be
seen as a lament for a lost age and tradition.
Black Manhattan - Volume
2 - Soloists, The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra/Rick Benjamin rec. 2012
NEW WORLD RECORDS 80731-2 [71:31] [JW] Many
black theatrical composers and lyricists to enjoy on this disc.
Grand Hotel - Tom
Jenkins (violin) Reginald Kilbey (cello) Jack Byfield (piano) BBC Grand
Hotel Orchestra rec. 1951/52 DINMORE DRD 056 [76:29] [JW] It’s
good to welcome Jenkins back to the fold.
Thursday 30 May 2013
Anton ARENSKY
(1861-1906) Five Suites for Two Pianos Piano Duo Genova
and Dimitrov rec. 2010
CPO 777 651-2 [79:56] [Byz]
A
full-length disc of tremendous entertainment value and lyrical invention.
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1826) Complete Piano Duets - Amy and Sara Hamann (piano) rec.
2010 GRAND PIANO GP 619-20 [48:21 + 46:55] [BR] One
of Grand Piano’s best releases yet, a great experiment fully committed-to.
A Venetian
Coronation Works by
Giovanni & Andrea GABRIELI James
O’Donnell and Timothy Roberts (organs) Gabrieli Consort and Players/Paul
McCreesh rec. 1989
VIRGIN CLASSICS 6026782 [71.17] [PCG]
This
Virgin recording remains something very special.
George GERSHWIN (1898-1937)
Song Book, Three Preludes, Rhapsody in Blue - Corinna Simon (piano)
rec. 2012 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 604 1795-2
[59:00] [BR] A real winner of a disc, Gershwin
songs and miniatures played with panache. There are even rarities!
Aram KHACHATURIAN
(1903-1978) Concerto-Rhapsody, Sonata-Monologue Sergei LYAPUNOV
(1859-1924) Violin Concerto - Hideko Udagawa (violin) Royal PO/Alan
Buribayev rec. 2011 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD312 [57:49] [JW] It
pains me to say it, but this disc wasn’t an easy or enjoyable listen
for me.
Alexander LEVINE (b. 1955)
The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Tenebrae/Nigel Short
rec. 2012 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD 316 [77:05] [JQ] A
beautiful and imaginative score, superbly performed by Tenebrae.
Olivier MESSIAEN
(1908-1992) Vingt regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus Eugeniusz
Knapik (piano) rec. 1979 DUX 0848/49 [56:57 + 73:11] [JQ] A
prodigious achievement and a notable addition to the discography of
this masterpiece.
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Symphony 7 - New York PO/Kurt Masur rec. 1998 WARNER
APEX 2564 65938-7 [74:45] [JQ] A straightforward,
very reliable performance though others dig deeper.
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
Il Corsaro Bruno Ribiero (tenor) – Corrado, Andrea Papi
(baritone) – Giovanni, Irina Lungu (soprano) – Medora - Teatro Regio
di Parma Ch & O/Carlo Montanaro rec. 2008 UNITEL CLASSICA
722408 
[119.00] Will appeal to those who want
to hear and see everything that Verdi wrote.
Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741)
The Four Seasons (arr. Lucian Moraru) for panpipes and string
quintet - Gheorghe Zamfir (panpipes) Traffic Strings rec. 2006 SON
ART 005 [35:35] [Byz] Devourers of
tuneful crossover or musical kitsch need not hesitate.
Wednesday 29th May 2013
Max BRUCH (1838-1920)
Scottish Fantasy Op. 46 [30:35] Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor Op.
26 [25:16] Romance for violin and orchestra in F major Op. 85 (arr.
Guy Braunstein) [8:36] Guy Braunstein (violin) Bamberger Symphoniker-Bayerische
Staatsphilharmonie/Ion Marin rec. 2011. SACD
TUDOR
7188 [64:27] [JS] Performances of this
quality are certainly unusual.
Antonín DVORÁK
(1841-1904) Violin Concerto in A minor, Op.53, B108 (1879) [32:16]
Max BRUCH (1838-1920) Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor (1868)
[24:01] Julia Fischer (violin) Tonhalle-Orchestra Zurich/David Zinman
rec. 2012 DECCA 478 3544 [56:29] [JW] Athleticism
and focused tone but the orchestral contribution is wanting.
Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
Violin Concerto, Op.61* [53.49] Introduction and Allegro,
Op.47 [14.39] Nigel Kennedy (violin) * London Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon
Handley rec. 1983/4 EMI MASTERS 4332872 [68.47] [PCG] A
recording and performance that belong in the collection of every Elgarian
who loves this concerto.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Carlo GESUALDO
da Venosa (1566 - 1613) Sesto Libro di Madrigali La
Compagnia del Madrigale rec. 2012 DDD GLOSSA GCD 922801 [77:55][JV]
An example of superb madrigal singing.
Piotr MOSS (b.1949) Orchestral
and Chamber Works soloists and 'Amadeus’ Chamber Orchestra/Agnieszka
Duczmal rec. 1997-2007 DDD DUX DUX0879 [75:17] [RB] Good
to hear Moss’s distinctive voice.
Sigismund Ritter von NEUKOMM
(1778-1858) Chamber music - Kammerensemble Classic der Deutschen
Oper Berlin rec. 2010 CPO 777 621-2 [54:43] [BR] Some
composers are forgotten for a reason.
Antonio SOLER (1729-1783)
13 Sonatas Luigi BOCCHERINI (1743-1805)
Fandango (from: Guitar Quintet in D, G.448), transcr. for two harpsichords*
- Richard Lester (harpsichord) David Ponsford (harpsichord II*) rec.
no details given (compilation). DDD NIMBUS NI5906 [72:49] [Byz]
There are few if any better advocates for
these pieces than Lester.
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
La forza del destino - Chorus and Orchestra of Maggio
Musicale Fiorentino/Zubin Mehta rec. 2007 Subtitles in Italian (original
language), English, German, French, Spanish
Booklet notes in English, German, French 
ARTHAUS
MUSIC BLU-RAY 108 046 [189:00] [RF] Though
less than perfect this is the best available modern video recording
of this melodic and dramatic work.
Flute
Concertos Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Flute Concerto
[18:43]
Charles T. GRIFFES (1884-1920)
Poem for Flute and Orchestra [10:10]
Frank MARTIN (1890-1974)
Ballade for flute, string orchestra and piano [7:05]
Jacques
IBERT (1890-1062) Concerto for flute and orchestra [19:29] -
Thomas Jensen (flute) South Jutland Symphony Orchestra/Giordano
Bellincampi rec. 2011 and 2012
DANACORD DACOCD 725 [55:41]
[DC]
Image busting performances – no more
frilly flutes.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Music for Two Organs
– The Viennese Habsburg Court of the 17th Century
See end of review for track-listing Johannes Strobl, David Blunden (organs)
Choralschola der Cappella Murensis rec. 2011 Hybrid SACD, stereo and
multichannel. Reviewed in SACD stereo Sung texts and translations provided
AUDITE 92.653
[72:36] [DM] Radiant music, superbly played,
sung and recorded; a must for Baroque buffs, organ fanciers and audiophiles
alike.
Tuesday May 28th 2013
Tor AULIN (1866-1914) Four Swedish
Dances, Three Dances from Gotland, Master Olof - WDR Radio O, Cologne/Niklas
Willén rec. 2011 CPO 777 775-2 [65:59] [BR] Tor
Aulin, violinist, here conjures up the dance spirit of Grieg and even
a bit of Elgarian melancholy. Well worth your time.
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
24 Preludes (orch. Peter Breiner) Royal Scottish Natl O/Jun
Märkl rec. 2011 NAXOS 8.572584 [36.54 + 39.31] [JWh] Fine
orchestrations in quality performances.
Peter LEA-COX (b.1945)
Of Times and Seasons - Songs & Anthems - Lesley-Jane
Rogers (soprano) Jennie-Helen Moston (piano) rec. 2012 DIVINE ART
DDA25109 [73:02] [JF] Explore slowly
and enjoy the diversity on offer here.
Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911)
Das Klagende Lied Alban BERG (1885-1935) Lulu-Suite
Anna Prohaska (soprano) Dorothea Röschmann (soprano) Anna Larsson
(contralto) Johan Botha (tenor) Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor/Wiener
Philh/Pierre Boulez rec. 2011 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 9891
[64:34] [JQ] If you don’t mind having a foreshortened
account of Das klagende Lied this disc is a compelling proposition.
Nicholas RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
(1844-1908) Scheherazade, The Legend of the Invisible
City of Kitezh (excpts) St Petersburg PO/Yuri Temirkanov rec. 2009-2011
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD 320 [58.10] [PCG] This
Scheherazade is absolutely marvellous, one of the best available.
Frederic RZEWSKI
(b. 1938) The People United Will Never Be Defeated!
- 36 Variations on ¡El Pueblo Unido Jamás Será Vencido! Ole
Kiilerich (piano) rec. 2009 BRIDGE 9392 [59:46] [DM]
Illuminating, even revelatory; Ole Kiilerich is a pianist to watch.
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Winterreise Peter Anders (tenor) Michael Raucheisen
(piano) rec. 1945 ACANTA 233690 [73:16] [RMo]
This large-scale reading is an essential purchase for the devotee of
Schubert Lieder.
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
La Forza Del Destino Donna Leonora (Violeta Urmana) Don Carlo
di Vargas (Carlo Guelfi) O & Ch of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino/Zubin
Mehta Maggio Danza rec. 2007 ARTHAUS MUSIK 107
325 [2 DVDs: 178:00] [IL] Slightly flawed
nevertheless a powerful La Forza Del Destino.
The Berlin Kroll Opera House:
The Middle Of Germany - A film by Jörg Moser-Metius Prod.
1980 EUROARTS 2001738
[59:00] [RMay] More about Republic Square than
about the history of the Kroll.
The Klemperer
Edition - Romantic symphonies and overtures New/Philharmonia
O/Otto Klemperer EMI CLASSICS 4043092 [10 CDs: 746:07] [CH] On
this showing Klemperer was a greater conductor of Berlioz, Franck and
Tchaikovsky, and indeed of Johann Strauss, than he was of Beethoven
or Brahms.
Monday May 27th 2013
Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Metamorphosis Transcriptions for piano -
Angelika Nebel (piano) rec. 2012 HÄNSSLER CLASSIC 98.004 [55:48]
[Byz] Short
running time aside, this is a very impressive release.
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Symphonies 1 & 3 - WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln/Jukka-Pekka Sarasterec.
2013 HÄNSSLER PROFIL PH13028 [78:36] [MC]
Whilst
not usurping Klemperer-EMI this is an excellent release that I will
reach for often.
Ferruccio BUSONI (1866-1924)
Piano Music Vol. 8 - Wolf Harden (piano) rec. 2012 NAXOS 8.572845
[65:17] [CC]
In short, a fascinating disc and a vital
part of this unfolding series from Naxos.
Gaetano DONIZETTI
(1797-1848) Don Gregorio - Giorgio Valerio (baritone)
Giorgio Trucco (tenor) Elizaveta Martirosyan (soprano) Luca Ludovici
(bass) O & Ch Donizetti Festival, Bergamo/Stefano Montanari rec.
2007 DYNAMIC CDS 579 [63.29 + 64.32] [RJF]
It
might not eclipse L’Elisir d’Amore or Don Pasquale but this is a happy
romp giving a firm indication of talents to come.
Edward ELGAR
(1857-1934) Cello Concerto
Bedrich SMETANA (1824-1884)
Selections from
Ma Vlast - Zuill Bailey (cello) Indianapolis
SO/Krzysztof Urbanski rec. 2012
TELARC TEL-34030-02 [64:20]
[GA]
A performance of the Elgar cello concerto that is thoughtful
and rich in feeling.
George Friedrich HANDEL
(1685-1759) Bad Guys Arias from Tamerlano, Teseo,
Amadigi, Ariodante, Giulio Cesare, Ottone - Xavier Sabata (counter-tenor)
Il Pomo d’Oro/Riccardo Minasi rec. 2012 APARTÉ AP048 [53:04]
[GF] I
became totally engrossed in this repertoire.
Eleni KARAINDROU (b. 1939)
Concert in Athens - Eleni Karaindrou (piano) Kim
Kashkashian (viola) Jan Garbarek (tenor saxophone) Vangelis
Christopoulos (oboe) Camerata O/Alexandros Myrat rec. 2010 ECM
NEW SERIES 2220 [54:28] [DC]
See if this takes your fancy...
Francis
POULENC (1899-1963) Gloria, Organ Concerto Eric SATIE (1866-1925)
Parade, Prélude du Rideau Rouge, Deux Morceaux en Forme de Poire -
Rosanna Carteri (soprano) Maurice Duruflé (organ) Georges Auric and
Francis Poulenc (pianos) French Radio and Television 0 & Ch/Georges
Prêtre rec.1937/1961 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC324 [65:36]
[JQ]
Very good new transfers of landmark recordings
of two key Poulenc scores.
Gioachino ROSSINI
(1792-1868) Adelaide Di Borgogna - Jessica Pratt (soprano)
Daniela Barcellona (mezzo) Bogdan Mihai (tenor) Nicola Ulivieri (bass)
O & Ch Teatro Comunale di Bologna/Dimitri Jurowski rec. 2011
ARTHAUS MUSIK 108 060
[137:00 +17:00 bonus] [RJF]
Great
Rossini singing in a tolerable production from the lovely Pesaro theatre.
Viktor ULLMANN (1898-1944)
Piano SonataS 4-7 - Maria Garzón (piano) rec. 2012 HÉRITAGE HTGCD
246 [76:28] [SA]
Music that’s all the more heartrending
to listen to when you know the back-story.
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