|
 RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH
Daniel
Francois Esprit AUBER (1782-1871)
La Muette de Portici - Oscar de la
Torre
(tenor) Angelina Ruzzafante (soprano) Opernchor des Anhaltischen
Theaters Anhaltische Philharmonie/Anthony Hermus rec. 2011 CPO
777 694-2 [65:47 + 69:32] [RW] A
sensitive and admirable reading of Auber's score.
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Violin Concertos 1 & 2 -
Isabelle Faust (violin) Swedish Radio SO/Daniel Harding rec. 2012 HARMONIA
MUNDI HMC 902146 [57:59] [ST] This disc is a winner.
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Trio for flute, bassoon and piano, Serenade,
Clarinet trio - Oslo Philharmonic Chamber Group rec. 2011 LAWO
LWC 1034 [69:29] [JS] An
excellent chance to enjoy rarely heard early Beethoven of real quality
played and recorded with energy and sensitivity.
Aaron
COPLAND (1900-1990) Rodeo,
Dance Panels, El Salón Mexico, Danzón Cubano - Detroit Symphony/Leonard
Slatkin rec. 2012 NAXOS 8.559758 [70:08] [BR] Rodeo, uncut and as grand as it's ever been
played before plus more rarities.
Adalbert GYROWETZ
(1763-1850) String Quartets - Pleyel Qt Cologne rec. 2012 CPO
777 770-2 [72:56] [BR] Inventive,
often-surprising string quartets of which Haydn would have been
proud.
Oleg KOMARNITSKY
(1946-1998) Chamber and Instrumental Music - London Piano
Trio rec. 2011 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0196 [57:47]
[SA] I was bowled over by
this music.
James MacMILLAN
(b. 1959) Tenebrae Responsories and other choral works -
Westminster Cathedral Ch, London Brass/Martin Baker; Peter Stevens
(organ) rec. 2012 HYPERION CDA67970 [72:58] [JQ] A splendid disc that shows yet again that
James MacMillan is one of the most articulate and compelling of
contemporary composers.
Allan PETTERSSON
(1911-1980) Symphony 6 - Norrköping SO/Christian Lindberg
rec.2012 BIS BIS-SACD-1980  [59:50]
[Byz] The always
fundamentally tonal music is propelled constantly
onwards by the sheer force of argument and expression … the listener's
mind is unable to wander.
Sergey PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Complete works for violin -
James Ehnes (violin) Andrew Armstrong (piano) BBC PO/Gianandrea Noseda
rec. 2012/13 CHANDOS CHAN 10787(2) [76:03 + 65:09]
[MC] An outstanding set
which includes quite stunning performances of the two violin
concertos.
Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Piano Sonatas 1-5 - Peter
Donohoe (piano) rec. 2012 SOMM SOMMCD249 [63:00]
[DM] Top-notch
Prokofiev, commandingly played; this is as good as it gets.
Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) The Bells, Symphonic
Dances Rundfunkchor Berlin; Berlin PO/Sir Simon Rattle rec.
2010/12 WARNER CLASSICS 9845192
[71:39] [JQ] An exciting
disc. Simon Rattle does two of Rachmaninov’s greatest works proud.
Cipriano
de RORE (c.1515/1516-1565) Illuxit
nunc sacra dies; Missa Doulce mémoire;
Missa 'a note negre' Brabant
Ensemble/Stephen Rice rec. 2012 HYPERION CDA67913
[72:34] [MS] Beautiful
Renaissance choral music performed with warmth and polish by experts.
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Complete Works for Violin & Piano - Alina
Ibragimova (violin) Cédric Tiberghien (piano) rec. 2012 HYPERION
CDA67911/12 [54:49 + 62:52] [SG] This
is one of the listening highlights of my year, all in all a consummate
achievement.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678 - 1741) Per l'orchestra di
Dresda Vol. 1 - Les Ambassadeurs/Alexis Kossenko rec. 2012 ALPHA
190 [66:04] [JV] A
highly interesting disc which not only sheds light on a lesser-known
aspect of Vivaldi's oeuvre, but also on performance practice in Dresden.
The Sound of Montserrat
Caballé rec. 1970/79 EMI
CLASSICS 721296 2 [5 CDs: 409:10] [GF] Should be in every true opera lover’s
collection. Go out and buy.
Carmina
Latina Cappella Mediterranea; Choeur de
Chambre de Namur; Ensemble Clematis/Leonardo Garcěa Alarcňn rec. 2012 RICERCAR
RIC 334 [62.31] [GH] A
fine disc and well worth searching out. It will bring you much joy.
The Phoenix Rising - Works
by Byrd, Gibbons, Morley, Tallis, Taverner & White
- Stile Antico rec. 2012 HARMONIA
MUNDI HMU 807572 [74:34] [JQ] Glorious examples of Tudor polyphony,
superbly performed and recorded.
|
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Ouvertüre nach
französischer Art François COUPERIN (1668-1733) 8e
Ordre - Jean-Luc Ho (harpsichord) rec. 2011 ENCELADE ECL 1101
[61:56] [JV] As
interesting as the confrontation between Bach and Couperin may be, this
disc leaves me unsatisfied.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Violin Concertos -
Amsterdam Bach Soloists/Thomas Zehetmair (violin) rec. 1994 BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 94666 [62:05] [JV] Zehetmair's
interpretations are compelling and as stylish as one could wish for in
a modern instrument performance.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Mass in B minor, Cantata
147 - Maria Stader, Ernst Haefliger, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau,
Münchener Bach-O & Ch/Karl Richter rec. 1961 PROFIL
EDITION PH13034 [3 CDs: 156:02] [MC] I would be highly satisfied if these
glorious recordings were the only accounts in my collection such is
their superior quality.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Secular Cantatas Vol. 3 - Joanne Lunn (soprano) Hiroya Aoki
(counter-tenor) Bach Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki rec. 2012 BIS
BIS-SACD-2041
[77:26] [MS] A selection
of Bach's secular smaller-scale choral and vocal works in the Suzuki
BIS cantata cycle delights as much as the weightier ones have
done.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Partitas - Malcolm Proud
(harpsichord) rec. 2012 MAYA RECORDINGS MCD 1301
[78:52 + 78:01] [SG] Exceptionally
fine performances, and ones that I will happily return to in the future.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Sonatas and Partitas for
solo violin - Georges Enesco (violin) rec. 1948 FORGOTTEN
RECORDS FR836-37 [61:59 + 68:16] [JW] A rich corpus of truths from one of the most
complete musicians of the twentieth-century.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cantatas Vol. 16 -
Gerlinde Sämann (soprano) Petra Nostaiova (alto) Christoph Genz (tenor)
Jan Van der Crabben (bass) La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken rec. 2012 ACCENT
ACC 25316 [70:07]
[TB] If a smaller
ensemble is the option you prefer, these performances
would be hard to better.
Mili
Alekseyevich BALAKIREV (1837-1910) Complete Piano
Works Vol. 1 - Nicholas Walker (piano) rec. 2012 GRAND PIANO
GP636 [76:23] [SA] An
extremely valuable resource and one that will repay repeated
hearings.
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Violin Concertos 1 & 2 -
Thomas Zehetmair (violin) Budapest Festival O/Iván Fischer rec. 1995 BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 9436 [56:58] [LW] A
budget reissue of reference accounts of the Bartók violin
concertos.
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Piano Concertos 1-3 - Geza Anda
(piano) Berlin RSO/Ferenc Fricsay rec. 1959/60 PRISTINE AUDIO
PASC 388 [78:46] [GPJ] Effectively
‘cleaned up’ versions of truly authoritative performances of these
great masterpieces.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) The Piano Sonatas Vol. 1
- Steven Masi (piano) rec. 2011 CONCEZIO PRODUCTIONS
884501832373 [73:13] [BR] A fine Pathétique coupled to more variable
performances. This could be an interesting new Beethoven cycle.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphonies 7-9 - Christa Ludwig (mezzo) Hans Hotter (baritone)
Philharmonia O & Ch/Otto Klemperer rec. 1957-60 PRISTINE
AUDIO PASC371 [69:21 + 72:13] [DRD] Excellent transfers of famous Beethoven
recordings - still powerful fifty years on.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonatas - Volume 3
- François-Frédéric Guy (piano) rec. 2011/2012 ZIG-ZAG
TERRITOIRES ZZT318 [3 CDs: 210:15] [TB] An impressive achievement.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Egmont &
Leonore Overtures, Symphony 6 - Philharmonia O/Vladimir Ashkenazy rec.
1981/83 DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 7722 [70:52] [DC] Perhaps a little dated, but still luminous
and lyrical.
Vincenzo
BELLINI (1801- 1835) I
puritani Montserrat Caballé, Alfredo Kraus, Ambrosian Opera
Ch, Philharmonia O/Riccardo Muti rec. 1979 EMI CLASSICS
7397692 [3 CDs: 172:19] [GF] Muti’s recording is the one to have.
Alban
BERG (1885-1935) Lulu
- Evelyn Lear (soprano) Paul Schöffler
(baritone) Rudolf Schock (tenor) Gisela Litz (mezzo) Vienna SO/Karl
Böhm rec. 1962 ARTHAUS 101 687 
[135.00] [PCG] As a
version of the original version of Lulu this is unique in the catalogue.
Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Harold in Italy
(arr. Liszt) Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Romance
oubliée Kurt ROGER (1895-1966) Viola
Sonata - Philip Dukes (viola) Piers Lane (piano) rec. 2012 NAXOS
8.573011 [71.53] [PCG] A
superb performance of the somewhat problematic Berlioz transcription
alongside the fascinating Roger Sonata and the original version of
Liszt’s Romance.
Judith
BINGHAM (b. 1952) Choral Music
- Finn Lacey (treble) Jonathan Vaughn (organ) Wells Cathedral
Ch/Matthew Owens rec. 2012 HYPERION CDA67909
[73:00] [JQ] This new
recording is a notable and welcome addition to what I hope is a
continuing series.
Georges
BIZET (1838-1875) Le docteur Miracle
- Marie-Bénédicte Souquet (soprano) Pierre-Yves Pruvot (baritone)
Jérôme Billy (tenor) Isabelle Druet (mezzo) Lyrique O Région Avignon
Provence/Samuel Jean rec. 2012 TIMPANI 1C1204
[58:15] [RMo] A spirited
and entertaining airing.
Richard
BLACKFORD (b. 1972) Not in our time
Paul Nilon (tenor) Stephen Gadd (baritone) Bournemouth SO &
Ch/Gavin Carr rec. 2011 NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6161
[54:13] [JQ] A direct and
visceral musical response to the dreadful events of 9/11: but does the
piece try too hard?
Rory
BOYLE (b.1961) A Box of Chatter
Flutes en Route, Fraser Langton, Calum Robertson (clarinets), David
Hubbard (bassoon), Scott Mitchell (piano), Yvonne Paterson (flute),
George Talmuch (oboe), Aurea String Quartet, Illuminati Wind Quartet
rec. 2013 NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6224 [51:53] [GPJ] Challenging, witty music for woodwind from
this engaging and gifted Scottish composer.
Jean-Baptiste
BRÉVAL (1753-1823) Sonatas for cello or violin -
Fedor Amosov (cello) Alexey Kurbatov (piano) rec. 2011 CENTAUR
CRC3195 [60:41] [JW] Much
here is brief, but often delightfully so.
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Symphony 2 Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1928) Glagolitic
Mass - Tatiana Monogarova (soprano) Marina Prudenskaja (mezzo)
Ludovít Ludha (tenor) Peter Mikuláš (bass) Iveta Apkalna (organ)
Bavarian RSO & Ch/Mariss Jansons rec. 2012 ARTHAUS MUSIK 108
080 
[88:00] [MC] Winning performances.
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Ein deutsches Requiem - Anna Lucia Richter (soprano) Stephan Genz
(baritone) MDR Leipzig RSO & Ch/Marin Alsop rec. 2013 NAXOS
8.572996 [64:13] [JQ] A good performance
of this great work; but several other recordings offer more.
Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
War Requiem - Susan Gritton (soprano) John Mark Ainsley (tenor)
Christopher Maltman (baritone) Wrocław Philharmonic Ch, Gabrieli
Young Singers Scheme, Trebles of New College Ch, Gabrieli Consort
and Players/Paul McCreesh rec. 2013 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD340
[37:20 + 46:45] [JQ] A notable addition to
the discography of War Requiem in Britten centenary year.
Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
Symphonies 1-9 - Staatskapelle Dresden/Eugen Jochum rec. 1975-80 WARNER
CLASSICS 9845832 [9 CDs: 550:06] [PCG] After
nearly forty years Jochum is no bad guide through this music …
a generally magnificent traversal of the cycle.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony 1 - Hamburg
Philharmonic/Simone Young rec. 2010 OEHMS CLASSICS OC 633 [49:08] [SV] Not a particularly good performance … though
it's not for lack of trying.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphonies 4 & 7 -
Munich PO/Christian Thielemann rec. 2006/8 C MAJOR 712304
[74:52 + 72.32] [DBi] If you like your Bruckner 'big' then this is
for you.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony
7 - London PO/Stanisław Skrowaczewski rec. 2012 LONDON
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA LPO-0071 [68:56] [RMo] Anyone acquiring this new budget
recording is unlikely to be disappointed.
Alexander
Chapman CAMPBELL (b. 1988) Ten Sketches
of Light - Alexander Chapman Campbell (piano) rec. 2012 MMC
105 [40:18] [JF] Attractive
music that will appeal to enthusiasts of Einaudi and Gow.
Bob CHILCOTT (b. 1955) Everyone
Sang - Gemma Beeson (piano) Will Todd Trio; Wellensian Consort/Christopher
Finch rec. 2011 NAXOS 8.573158 [64:03] [JQ] Attractive
music by Bob Chilcott on an auspicious debut CD by the Wellensian
Consort.
Eric COATES (1886-1957)
The Definitive Eric Coates - Eric Coates conducts his own compositions
- rec. 1923-57 NIMBUS NI 6231 [7 CDs: 8:50:00] [RW]
Allows us to chart the development of Coates’s
career rather nicely.
Samuel COLERIDGE-TAYLOR (1875-1912)
Undiscovered Piano Music - Waka Hasegawa (piano) METROPOLIS
RECORDINGS MR1301 [59:10] [BR] How this
music isn’t at least used for encores is beyond me. Charming
desserts; pair them with wine.
Francisco CORSELLI
(1705-1778) Music at the 18th-century Spanish court
Nuria Rial (soprano) El Concierto Español/Emilio Moreno
rec. 2002 GLOSSA GCD C80307 [62:33] [JV] Corselli
is a most interesting composer and the performers serve him very well.
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Complete Music for Piano Duo -
Massimiliano Damerini, Marco Rapetti (piano our hands & two
pianos) rec. 2012 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94448 [3 CDs:
214.02] [PCG] For
Debussy completists this issue is self-recommending.
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Four-Hand Piano Music -
Jean-Pierre Armengaud, Olivier Chauzu (piano) rec. 2012 NAXOS
8.572979 [62:16] [DM] Dreary;
avoid.
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Préludes
Books I & II - Craig Sheppard (piano) rec. 2012 ROMÉO
RECORDS 7297 [79:42] [JQ] A very
fine live traversal of Debussy’s Préludes.
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Prélude ŕ l'aprčs-midi d'un faune; Fętes; La Mer Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Ma Mčre l’Oye; Rapsodie Espagnole
Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Scherzo - Pascal Rogé and Ami
Rogé (pianos) rec. 2011 ONYX 4117 [79:08] [RBl] A
sparkling recital of French music with memorable moments.
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934) Sea Drift, Cynara
Gustav HOLST (1874-1934) The Hymn
of Jesus Roderick Williams (baritone) Hallé Ch &
O/Sir Mark Elder rec. 2011/12 HALLÉ CD HLL7535
[62:25] [MC] An
indispensable addition to any serious collection of music for chorus
and orchestra.
Francesco
DURANTE (1684-1755) Neapolitan Christmas
Kölner Akademie/Michael Alexander Willens rec. 2010 CPO 777
571-2 [72:51] [EML] Slightly
mixed. Uneven performances and some soloist problems but beautiful
music that deserves to be better-known.
Antonin
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Serenade for Strings, Notturno, Josef
SUK (1874-1935) Serenade for Strings
Appassionata/Daniel Myssyk FIDELIO FACD036 [64:05]
[SV] Appassionata projects
a vibrant sonority within which each strand is lean and tautly focused.
Intonation and tone quality are beyond reproach.
Antonín DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904) String Quartet 12 Bedrich SMETANA
(1824-1884) String Quartet 1 - Tokyo String Qt rec. 2006 HARMONIA
MUNDI HMU 807429 [53:21] [SG] The Tokyo Quartet’s valedictory recording.
What a way to bow out.
Antonín
DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904) Symphony 9 John ADAMS (b. 1947)
Slonimsky’s Earbox Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971) Le Chant du rossignol
- Bavarian RSO/Andris Nelsons rec. 2010 C
MAJOR 713504
[95:00] [MC] Exemplary,
scrupulously prepared, colourful, committed and compelling.
Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
The Dream of Gerontius - Arthur Davies (tenor) Gwynne Howell
(bass) Roderick Elms (organ) London Symphony O & Ch/Richard Hickox
rec. 1988 CHANDOS CHAN 241-46 [56:32 + 57:57] [JQ] A
recording of Gerontius that has much to commend it but it doesn’t
disturb the existing ‘pecking order’.
Manuel de FALLA (1876-1946)
Noches en los jardines de Espańa César FRANCK (1822-1890) Variations
Symphoniques Joaquin TURINA (1882-1949) Rapsodia Sinfonica
- Valerie Tryon (piano) Royal PO/Kenneth Woods rec. 2012 SOMM SOMMCD
250 [68:57] [TB] An imaginatively compiled
programme - Tryon’s rhythmic intensity is particularly compelling.
Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924)
Piano Music - Angela Hewitt (piano) rec. 2012 HYPERION CDA67875
[72:51] [JW] Hewitt offers extrovert vitality
and some personalised moments.
Nicolas
FLAGELLO (1928-1994) Odyssey, Symphony
2, Concerto Sinfonico Arnold ROSNER (b.
1945)
Symphony 8 - University of Houston Saxophone Qt & Wind
Ens/David Bertman rec. 2011 NAXOS 8.573060 [74.37]
[IL] Challenging music:
Flagello - stark and uncompromising; Rosner - bold and intensely
dramatic. For the adventurous.
Thomas
FORTMANN (b.1951) In Dust we
Trust Piano Trio, Violin
Sonata, Four Pieces for Two Violins - Manrico
Padovani,
Natasha Korsakova (violins) Akemi Masuko (piano) rec. 2012 METIER
MSV 28534 [60.56] [GH]
I can’t say that I like this music but I greatly admire the energy,
both musical and intellectual, that Fortmann has put into it.
Jim FOX (b. 1953) Black
Water Bryan Pezzone (pianos) rec. 2006 COLD BLUE MUSIC CB0037
[18:05] [DC] Stimulating and theatrically
dramatic multi-piano work.
Kenneth FUCHS (b.1956)
Falling Canons, Falling Trio, String Quartet 5 - Christopher
O’Riley (piano) Trio21, Delray String Qt rec. 2011/12 NAXOS
8.559733 [57.24] [GH] There is an individuality
about this music which makes one want to return to it.
Harald
GENZMER (1909-2007) Organ works - Gerhard
Weinberger (organ) rec. 2013 CHROMART CLASSICS TXA 13023
[71:35] [DC] Inspiring
stuff to sharpen the brain and raise uplifting smiles.
Roberto
GERHARD (1896-1970) String
Quartets 1 & 2, Chaconne for Solo Violin - Arditti Qt rec. 2011
AEON AECD 1225 [54:33] [GH] A fine disc, superbly played and well worth
purchasing. The quartets are approachable despite their rarity value.
It’s good to have Gerhard back.
Johann
Adolf HASSE (1699-1783) Harpsichord Sonatas - Luca
Guglielmo (harpsichord) rec. 2011 ACCENT ACC 24255
[70:35] [JV] Interesting
repertoire, brilliantly played on stylistically appropriate instruments.
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Cello Concertos 1 & 2 Josef
MYSLIVECEK (1737-1781) Cello Concerto - Wendy Warner
(cello) Camerata Chicago/Drostan Hall rec. 2012 CEDILLE
RECORDS CDR 90000 142 [72:36] [BR] Really terrific - if you
don’t mind that it totally shuns period performance practices.
Vagn
HOLMBOE (1909-1996) Viola concerto, Concerto for
orchestra, Violin concerto 2 - Lars Anders Tomter (viola) Erik Heide
(violin) Norrköping SO/Dmitri Slobodeniouk rec. 2011 DACAPO
6.220599 [59:18] [DM] Indispensable additions to the
Holmboe discography; sonically distinguished too.
Michael
KIMBER (b.1945) Music for viola(s) - Marcin
Murawski, Edyta Hedzielska, Justyna Kowalczyk, Aleksandra Bazan
(violas) rec. 2013 ACTE PREALABLE AP 0284 [65:02]
[Byz] The wider appeal of
an all-viola programme is hard to gauge; certainly anyone with even the
slackest of viola connections should consider investment.
Tōnu
KŌRVITS (b. 1969) Kreego vihik (Kreek’s Notebook) Arturs
MASKATS (b. 1957) Lacrimosa Pēteris PLAKIDIS
(b. 1947) Fatamorgāna - William Mason
(organ) Ch of Royal Holloway, Britten Sinfonia/Rupert Gough rec. 2012 HYPERION
CDA67968 [61:18] [JQ] Another
fascinating exploration of choral music from the Baltic States,
superbly performed.
Michel
de LA BARRE (c.1675 -1745) La Julie
Camille Poul (soprano) Le Mercure Galant/Serge Saitta rec. 2010 AGOGIQUE
AGO010 [68:19] [JV] The
playing of the ensemble and the individual artists is of the highest
order.
Édouard
LALO (1823-1892) Symphonie Espagnole, Concerto
Russe - Isaac Stern (violin) Suisse Romande O/Ernest Ansermet,
Philadelphia O/Eugene Ormandy rec. 1956-94 PRAGA DIGITALS
PRD/DSD 350 094 [78:06] [DBi] Praga Digitals have come up with yet another
unusual CD of rare but excellent performances.
Gerhard
LAMPERSBERG (1928-2002) Bunte Steine:
Chamber Music - Ensemble Avantgarde rec. 2011 MUSIKPRODUKTION
DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 613 1760-2 [65:40] [Byz] Must be welcomed by anyone interested in
post-war Austro-German music, especially those with ears attuned to the
musical rarefication of the Second Viennese and Darmstadt Schools.
Orlando
di LASSO (c.1534-1564) Biographie Musicale, Vol. 2
- Monika Mauch (soprano), Michael Mantaj (bass) Singer Pur rec. 2012 MUSIQUE
EN WALLONIE MEW1268 [57:14] [BW] Not for beginners but established Lassus
fans should find much to enjoy when performances, presentation and
recording are so good.
Eurico
Tomás de LIMA (1908-1989) Collected Works Vol. 2
- Miguel Campinho (piano) rec. 2012 NUMÉRICA
PRODUÇŐES MULTIMEDIA NUM1249 [73:18 + 67:07] [SA] I can guarantee that this music will
captivate.
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) A Faust Symphony
- Charles Bressler (tenor) Choral Art Society, New York PO/Leonard
Bernstein rec. 1960 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 323 [71:38]
[JQ] A memorable example
of Lennie in full cry with the New York Philharmonic.
James
MacMILLAN (b. 1959) ‘O’ Advent antiphon, Tryst,
Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis - Netherlands Radio Chamber Phil &
Ch/James MacMillan rec. 2011 CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72554
[56:10] [MC] An
excellently performed second MacMillan volume … approachable, with a
reasonable amount of concentration … will certainly bring rewards.
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 2, Ich bin
der Welt abhanden gekommen - Anja Harteros (soprano) Bernarda
Fink (mezzo) Bavarian Radio SO & Ch/Mariss Jansons rec. 2011 ARTHAUS
MUSIK 108 081 [96:00] [DM] An erratic and underwhelming concert; not
remotely competitive.
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 4 (arr. Erwin Stein) Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Prélude ŕ l’aprčs-midi d’un
faune (arr. Bruno Sachs) Sónia Grané (soprano) Royal Academy
of Music Soloists Ens/Trevor Pinnock rec. 2012 LINN CKD438 [64:38] [JS] Performances to treasure.
Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony
7 - Gürzenich O Köln/Markus Stenz rec. 2012 OEHMS CLASSICS OC 652
[73:35]
[JQ] A pretty impressive reading of the
Seventh and a very good addition to Stenz’s Mahler cycle.
Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911)
Das Lied von der Erde Mildred Miller (mezzo) Ernst
Haefliger (tenor) New York PO/Bruno Walter rec. 1960 PRISTINE AUDIO
PACO 094 [63:40] [JQ] An outstanding
new transfer of Bruno Walter’s stereo recording of Das Lied
von der Erde.
Carlo
MARTELLI (b.1935) String
Quartets 1 & 2, Prelude and Fugue, Terzetto - Pavăo Quartet,
Zoe Matthews (viola) Nicola Tait (cello) rec. 2012 DISCADIA
DISCA002 [76:19] [JF] Well-constructed,
always satisfying and ultimately moving. Music I can do business with.
Marianna
(von) MARTINES (1744-1812) Il Primo Amore
- vocal & instrumental works - Núria Rial
(soprano) La Floridiana/Nicoleta Paraschivescu (harpsichord) rec. 2011 DEUTSCHE
HARMONIA MUNDI 88697 885792 [63:04] [Byz] Moderately conservative, consummately
crafted, effortlessly elegant and moreishly mellifluous.
Peter MAXWELL DAVIES
(b. 1934) Strathclyde Concertos 3 & 4 - Robert Cook (horn)
Peter Franks (trumpet) Lewis Morrison (clarinet) Scottish CO/Peter
Maxwell Davies rec. 1991 NAXOS 8.572353 [61:07] Strathclyde
Concerto 2, Sonata 'Sequentia Serpentigena' - Vittorio Ceccanti (cello)
Bruno Canino (piano) Nazionale SO della RAI/Peter Maxwell Davies rec.
2006/12 NAXOS 8.573017 [62:49] [Byz] Naxos
continue to rescue valuable Maxwell Davies recordings from obscurity.
Fanny MENDELSSOHN-HENSEL
(1805-1847) Das Jahr Hirotoshi Kasai (piano) rec. 2011
TALENT RECORDS DOM 2911 118 [59:10] [BR] Fanny
Mendelssohn enthusiasts, unite! New recording of a major piano cycle.
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Wind Concertos - Alessandro Carbonare (clarinet) Jacques Zoon (flute)
Guilhaume Santana (bassoon) O Mozart/Claudio Abbado rec. 2006/09 DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON 477 9331 [62:24] [LW] Fine
performances of Mozart wind concertos, but the competition is strong.
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Piano Concertos 20 & 27 - Ronald Brautigam (fortepiano)
Die Kölner Akademie/Michael Alexander Willens rec. 2012 BIS BIS-SACD-2014
[53:34]
[BW] The most satisfying in this series
so far - if you want the fortepiano in these works, this is your best
choice.
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) String Quartets - Vienna Philharmonic Qt rec. 1961
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 4711 [47:42] [MG] Above
all you feel the music really matters to these players.
David Owen NORRIS (b.1953)
Prayerbook - Navarra String Qt, The Waynflete Singers; Over-the-Bridge;
Choristers of New College, Oxford/composer rec. 2012 EM RECORDS
EMR CD010 [73:57] [JQ] A patently sincere
composition.
Krzysztof PENDERECKI (b.1933)
Piano Concerto - Florian Uhlig (piano) Polish RSO/Łukasz Borowicz
rec. 2013 HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 98.018 [37:50] [Byz] Those
who can overlook Hänssler's abysmal running time need not hesitate
to add this recording to their Penderecki or piano concerto collection,
even if already in possession of the Naxos disc.
Wilhelm
PETERSON-BERGER (1867-1942) Violin Sonata, Suite -
Ulf Wallin (violin) Love Derwinger (piano) rec. 2001/02 CPO
999 703-2 [52:05] [JW] Elegant
and stylistically apt playing of uniformly attractive music.
Manuel
Maria PONCE (1882-1948) Complete Piano Works Vol. 1
- Álvaro Cendoya (piano) rec. 2012 GRAND PIANO GP
638 [59.33] [GH] Cendoya
revels in the exotic sonorities and technical demands.
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) The Gambler
Vladimir Galuzin, Tatiana Pavlovskaya, Sergei Aleksashkin, Larissa
Dyadkova, Mariinsky Orchestra/Valery Gergiev rec. 2010 MARIINSKY
MAR0540 [126:00] [DBi] A very impressive issue that should be on
the shelf of every aficionado of 20th century opera.
Johann
Joachim QUANTZ (1697-1773) Flute Concertos - Mary
Oleskiewicz (baroque transverse flute) Concerto Armonico/Miklós Spányi
rec. 2011 NAXOS 8.573120 [77:34] [BR] Once upon a time, Frederick the
Great played these concertos. Now a flautist has rescued them for these
world-premiere recordings.
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Symphony 1, Piano Concerto
1 - Yevgeny Sudbin (piano) Singapore SO/Lan Shui rec. 2012 BIS
BIS-SACD-2012 [70:58] [DC] Sudbin steals the show once more.
Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Piano Trio Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Cello & Violin Sonatas Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845-1924) Piano Trio - Trio Shaham Erez Wallfisch
rec. 2013 NIMBUS NI 5905 [72:38] [SA] Wallow in some of the most fabulous chamber
music ever written.
Max
REGER (1873-1916) Complete Works for Cello and
Piano - Alexandre Kniazev (cello) Édouard Oganessian (piano) rec.
1997/2008 SAPHIR PRODUCTIONS LVC1103 [3 CDs:
219:02] [JW] Some of the
finest chamber music written for the cello between 1904 and 1915.
Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Semiramide
Alex Penda (soprano) Marianna Pizzolato (alto) Lorenzo Ragazzo (bass)
Camerata Bach Ch Poznań, Virtuosi Brunensis/Antonio Fogliani rec. 2012 NAXOS
8.660340-42 [3 CDs: 221:44] [ST] The cheapest Semiramide on the market … the
quality to price ratio is definitely high.
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Zelmira -
Cecilia Gasdia (soprano) William Matteuzzi (tenor) Bernarda Fink
(mezzo) José Garcia (bass) Ambrosian Singers, I Solisti Veneti/Claudio
Scimone rec. 1989 WARNER CLASSICS 2564 64677-8
[77.03 + 77.07] [PCG] This
will do very nicely for the library shelf.
Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792 - 1868) Le sičge de Corinthe
Lorenzo Regazzo, Majella Cullagh, Marc Sala, Camerata Bach Choir,
Virtuosi Brunensis/Jean-Luc Tingaud rec. 2010 NAXOS
8.660329-30 [75:41 + 76:38] [RM] Sound excellent, ensemble crisp and
energised and singing generally first rate.
Terje
RYPDAL (b. 1947) Melodic
Warrior, And The Sky Was Coloured With Waterfalls
And Angels - Terje Rypdal (electric guitar) The Hilliard Ens,
Bruckner O Linz/Dennis Russell Davies, Wroclow PO/Sebastian Perlowski
rec. 2003/2009 ECM RECORDS ECM 2006 [69:13] [DC] Fizzes with ambition and sonic
spectacle.
Arthur
SCHNABEL (1882-1951) Piano quintet, Piano sonata,
Lieder - Pellegrini Qt, Irmela Roelcke (piano) Sibylle Kamphues (alto)
rec. 2008/9 CPO 777 471-2 [77:27 + 76:01] [SG] Little-known repertoire. Well worth
exploring.
Arnold SCHOENBERG
(1874-1951) Gurrelieder Siegfried
Jerusalem (tenor) Sharon Sweet (soprano) Marjana Lipovšek (mezzo)
Arnold Schoenberg Ch, Vienna PO/Claudio Abbado rec. 1992 ELOQUENCE
480 7055 [59:50 + 47:09] [JQ] A tremendous account of Gurrelieder:surely
one of the foremost versions in the catalogue.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphonies 6 & 8 -
Stuttgart RSO/Sir Roger Norrington rec. 2011 HÄNSSLER CLASSIC
CD93.298 [59:12] [TB] Highly
satisfactory.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Duo Sonata, Rondo, Fantasy -
Tomas Cotik (violin) Tao Lin (piano) rec. 2011 CENTAUR
RECORDS CRC 3250 [59:04] [DC] Cotik and Lin serve the music very well
indeed.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony 6, Music from Rosamunde
- Swedish CO/Thomas Dausgaard rec. 2012 BIS BIS-SACD-1987 [62:46] [DC] Chamber orchestra Schubert, but
with plenty of bite.
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
String Quartets, String Trio; String Quintet - Vienna Philharmonic
Qt, Richard Harand (cello) rec. 1962-64 DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 4712
[66:07 + 53:41] [SG] Capivating performances
… a pleasing addition to any chamber music collection.
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Sonata D.960 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Sonata 'Pathétique' Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Fantasy - Sarah Beth Briggs (piano) rec. 2013 SEMAPHORE SMLMP35
[75:44] [Byz] Technical prowess, crisp articulation,
thoughtful, idiomatic phrasing, an elegant sense of expressive restraint,
meticulous attention to dynamics, physical and mental strength, and
above all a sense of awe.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Concerto Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Piano Concerto - Francesco Piemontesi
(piano) BBC SO/Jiří Bělohlávek rec. 2012 NAIVE V5327
[70:27] [JW] If you are
keen to hear the Dvořák original then go for this one.
Reinhard
SCHWARZ-SCHILLING (1904-1985) Orchestral Works Vol.
2 - Kirill Troussov (violin) Staatskapelle Weimar/José Serebrier rec.
2011 NAXOS 8.572801 [63:28] [Byz] Schwarz-Schilling will appeal to anyone who
admires his broadly contemporary compatriots Pfitzner, Furtwängler and
Hindemith.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony 7 - Royal
Liverpool PO/Vasily Petrenko rec. 2012 NAXOS 8.573057
[79:15] [MC] Petrenko is
in his element. A stunning performance. The RLPO is in inspired form.
John
Philip SOUSA (1854-1932) Music for Wind Band Volume
12 - Royal Swedish Navy Band/Keith Brion rec. 2010 NAXOS
8.559691 [56:06] [JS] Another
disc guaranteed to rouse even the most sedentary of listeners from
their chair.
Johann
STRAUSS (1825-1899) Die
Fledermaus - Herbert Lippert (tenor) Daniela Fally (soprano)
Chor und Ballett der Seefestspiele Mörbisch, Statisterie der
Seefestspiele Mörbisch, Mörbisch Festival O/Manfred Mayrhofer rec. 2012
VL KLASSIK VLMD019
[180:00] [GF] Trust my
wife’s judgement and place your orders.
Richard STRAUSS
(1864-1949) Josephslegende;
Love scene from Feuersnot; Festmarsch
Royal Scottish Ntl O/Neeme Järvi rec. 2012 CHANDOS CHSA5120 [70:38] [NB] A
perfectly competent disc that in no way displaces pre-existing versions.
Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971) The Rite of Spring, The
Firebird Suite - Walther Straram Concerts O/Igor Stravinsky
rec. 1926-29 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 387 [60.36] [PCG] This new transfer enables us to hear the
originals in vastly improved sound.
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Le sacre du
printemps Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Prélude ŕ
l'aprés-midi d'un faune Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Boléro
- Orchestre de l’Opéra National de Paris/Philippe Jordan rec. 2012 NAĎVE
V 5332 [60:12] [DM] Lacklustre
performances, poorly recorded;
look elsewhere.
Johan
Severin SVENDSEN (1840-1911) Orchestral Works Vol.
3 - Marianne Thorsen (violin) Bergen PO/Neeme Järvi rec. 2012 CHANDOS
CHAN 10766 [74:10] [DM] Off
the well-trodden path; worth the detour - just.
Maria
SZYMANOWSKA 1789-1831) Complete piano
works - Sławomir P. Dobrzański (piano)
rec. 2011/12 ACTE PRÉALABLE APO281-83
[3 CDs: 233:39] [DC] A
treasure of charming and graceful discoveries.
Karol
SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937)
Symphonies 1 & 2 - London SO/Valery Gergiev rec. 2012 LSO
LIVE LSO0731 [47:27] [DBi] Excellent performances of two interesting
but uneven symphonies. Should appeal to those who know some Szymanowski
already.
Sergey
TANEYEV
(1856-1915) Complete
String Quartets Vol. 3 - Carpe Diem Qt rec. 2010 NAXOS
8.573010 [62:15] [Byz] The
Carpe Diem Quartet's set is the
one to have.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Rare transcriptions
and paraphrases Vol. 2: Music from the ballets - Anthony
Goldstone (piano) rec. 2011 DIVINE ART DDA25106
[75:55] [Byz] The only bad
thing about this disc is that it is officially the last in the series.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony 3, The
Sleeping Beauty Suite - Gürzenich O Cologne/Dmitri Kitaenko
rec. 2010/2011 OEHMS CLASSICS OC670 [68:19] [CC] A
rewarding disc, without doubt. A sonic and musical triumph, it holds
much to delight.
Alexander
TCHEREPNIN (1899-1977) Complete Piano
Music - Vol. 4 - Giorgio Koukl (piano) rec. 2012 GRAND
PIANO GP649 [58:01] [SA] Another
adorable disc of scintillating music brilliantly played.
Joaquín
TURINA (1882-1949) Piano Music Volumes 7-9 - Jordi
Masó (piano) rec. 2010-12 NAXOS 8.572455/8.572682/8.572915
[66:09 & 62:12 & 61:30] [Byz] Warm and nostalgic, urbane and romantic, the
music focuses on the brighter side of life.
Joaquín
TURINA (1882-1949) Danzas fantásticas, Poema en
forma de canciones, Ritmos, Sinfonía sevillana - Clara Mouriz (mezzo)
BBC Phil/Juanjo Mena rec. 2011-2012 CHANDOS CHAN 10753
[71:25] [BR] Probably
the best one-disc introduction to Turina, both for repertoire and
playing.
Giuseppe VERDI (1813 - 1901)
Great Operas: Ernani, I due Foscari, Rigoletto, Il trovatore &
La Traviata rec. 1973-91 DOCUMENTS 233617 [10 CDs: 615:26]
[GF] Impecunious readers can get five Verdi
operas in decent sound and with several world class singers in top
shape.
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
Don Carlo - Giacomo Prestia (bass) Mario Malagnini (tenor)
Simone Piazzola (baritone) O Regionale dell’Emilia Romagna/Fabrizio
Ventura rec. 2012 C MAJOR 724608
724704
[215:00] [TB & DBi] A firm and
enthusiastic welcome is in order.
Robert
de VISÉE (c.1655-1733) Lute Music - Toyohiko Satoh
(lute) rec. 2012 CARPE DIEM CD-16296 [65.40] [GH] Very civilised music, played and recorded in
a beautifully civilised manner.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Le quattro stagioni
- Enrico Onofri (violin) Paolo Grazzi (oboe) Il Giardino Armonico,
Milano/Giovanni Antonini rec. 1993 TELDEC/DAS ALTE WERK 2564
64763-0 [60:46] [DBi] Not
another four seasons! Yes, and this one you have to hear.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) The Four Seasons
- Europa Galante/Fabio Biondi rec. 1991 NAĎVE LA COLLECTION
NC40018 [54:13] [ST] A
document of performance practice and as a worthwhile musical
experience, this disc still stands up very well.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Magic Fire
and other transcriptions - Risto-Matti Marin (piano) rec. 2009 ALBA
ABCD 353 [71:39] [DM] Magic and fire aplenty; Risto-Matti Marin is
a pianist of style and substance.
Richard WAGNER (1813-1883)
Das Rheingold René Pape, Stephan Rügamer, Nikolai Putilin,
Mariinsky O/Valery Gergiev rec. 2010/12 MARIINSKY MAR0526
[72:21 + 75:21] [ST] This Rheingold is
fair enough but it in no way stands up to the best of the competition.
Richard WAGNER (1813-1883)
Die Walküre Act One - Johan Botha, Nina Stemme, Ain Anger,
Vienna State Opera O/Franz Welser-Möst rec. 2007 ORFEO C875131B
[61:35] [ST] Stemme is a Sieglinde of rare
nobility and authority.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Die Walküre:
Act II - Friedrich Schorr (bass-baritone) Kirsten
Flagstad (soprano) Lauritz Melchior (tenor) Lotte
Lehmann (soprano) San Francisco Opera O/Fritz Reiner rec. 1936
MUSIC & ARTS CD-1272 [74:28] [RMo] A collector's item and the only extant audio
record of the frequent collaboration between the phenomenal Flagstad
and Lehmann.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Das Liebesverbot
- Michael Nagy (baritone) Christiane Libor (soprano) Frankfurt Opera
Ch, Frankfurt Opera and Museum O/Sebastian Weigle rec. 2012 OEHMS
CLASSICS OC 942 [3 CDs: 148.30] [PCG] Will do very well indeed for Wagner
completists as well as being enjoyable for those who like early
romantic comic opera and fancy a bit of a change from Rossini or Auber.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Wagner
at the Organ: The transcriptions of Edwin Lemare - Jonathan
Vaughn (organ) rec. 2012 REGENT REGCD394 [74:40] Variations
on America
Rudolf Innig (organ) rec. 2012 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS
AND GRIMM MDG 917 1809-6 [70:16] [JS] Both discs are extremely well presented but
the Wagner disc is the better demonstration of the art of the arranger.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Der Ring des Nibelungen:
highlights - State Opera of South Australia, Adelaide SO/Asher Fisch
rec. 2004 MELBA MR 301133-34
[77.55 + 76.30] [PCG] This
handsome reissue gives us a selection of excerpts from a fine cycle.
Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786 - 1826) Der
Freischütz Christine Brewer (soprano) Sally Matthews
(soprano) Simon O’Neill (tenor) London Symphony Ch & O/Sir
Colin Davis rec. 2012 LSO LIVE LSO0726
[ST] [64:20 + 58:23] Definitely
worth hearing but doesn’t really hold the field against the
competition.
Charles-Marie
WIDOR (1844-1937)
Organ Symphonies 3 & 4 - Joseph Nolan (organ) rec. 2011 SIGNUM
CLASSICS SIGCD334 [65:01] [DC] Another very fine addition to a terrific
series.
Andrea
Teodoro ZANI
(1696-1757) Complete Cello Concertos -
Martin Rummel (cello) Die Kölner Akademie/Michael Alexander Willens
rec. 2012 CAPRICCIO C5145 [64:17 +
66:03] [Byz] Fine
performances and elegant, creative musicianship.
Mikołaj
ZIELEŃSKI (fl.
1611) Opera Omnia
Volumess 4-6 - Susi Ferfoglia (organ) Collegium Zieleński/Stanisław
Galoński rec. 2010-2011 DUX 0819/0862/0863 [74:21
& 58:57 & 49:22] [Byz] These
are discs that will appeal almost exclusively to collectors of the
period or of Polish music.
Robert
ZUIDAM (b. 1964) McGonagall-Lieder -
Katrien Barts (soprano) Post&Mulder (piano duet)
Asko|Schönberg/Oliver Knussen rec. 2012 CHALLENGE CLASSICS
CC72608 [54.31] [PCG] Not unapproachable or unenjoyable but all
terribly serious.
American Anthem
- Works by Barber, Hanson & Randall Thompson - Ying
Qt, Adam Neiman (piano) Randall Scarlata (baritone) rec. 2012 DORIAN
SONO LUMINUS DSL-92166 [74:02] [MC] I thoroughly enjoyed this impressive disc.
American
Violin Concertos by Menotti, Wiprud
& Barber - Ittai Shapira (violin) Russian PO/Thomas Sanderling
Royal Liverpool PO/Neil Thomson rec. 2001/2012 CHAMPS HILL
RECORDS CHRCD 043 [79:00] [Byz] This CD is a nigh-on irresistible
way to experience the thaumaturgy of violin-with-orchestra.
The
Australian Voices - The Australian
Voices/Gordon Hamilton WARNER CLASSICS 2564 654860
[63:41] [HPR] Rather like
a good mug of hot chocolate, this recording is warm and smooth but
perhaps lacks a little depth.
Ursula
Bagdasarjanz Vol. 4 - Ursula Bagdasarjanz, Melanie
Di Christino (violin) Raluca Stirbat, Fernane Kaeser, Bruno F. Saladin,
Luciano Sgrizzi (piano) rec. 1960/2007 GALLO CD-1251
[54:46] [SG] Another
welcome volume in the excellent Gallo
retrospective of Ursula Bagdasarjanz’ historic recordings.
British
Violin Sonatas - Vol. 1 Howard FERGUSON
(1908-1999) Violin Sonata 2 Benjamin BRITTEN
(1913-1976) Suite William WALTON (1902-1983)
Violin Sonata - Tasmin Little (violin) Piers Lane (piano) rec. 2012 CHANDOS
CHAN 10770 [61:39] [JW] Little
and Lane - Britain’s best ambassadors for native violin sonatas.
Cantus
Arvo PÄRT (b.1935) Für Alina,
Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten, Fratres I, Spiegel im Spiegel Steve
REICH (b.1936) New York Counterpoint Hywel DAVIES
Purl Ground - Kuniko Kato (marimba, vibraphone,
crotales, bells) rec. 2012 LINN CKD 432 [51:40] [Byz] Will appeal greatly to those who consider
minimalism the best thing since sliced bread.
Choral Evensong for
the Feast of St. Augustine The Crypt
Choir of The King’s School, Canterbury/Howard Ionascu David Newsholme
(organ) rec. 2013 THE KING’S SCHOOL KSCD1002
[59:24] [JQ] A well-sung
Evensong from some good young singers.
Choirbook
For The Queen BBC
Singers/Stephen Cleobury; Stephen Disley (organ) rec. 2013 PRIORY
PRCD 1097 [66:32] [JQ] An
important disc of significant
new
pieces of church music in expert performances.
Sir Colin Davis -
Staatskapelle Dresden rec. 1988-2003 PROFIL
EDITION PH13032 [6 CDs: 376:08] [MC] A most worthy six disc collection of live
recordings that pays homage to the memory of Sir Colin Davis with his
cherished Staatskapelle Dresden.
Empassioned
Viktor Bijelovic (piano) rec. 2013 KICKSTARTER.COM
[63:47] [Byz] Fairly ideal
for a new audience, mixing short and medium pieces with one big work.
Enchanted Forest
Arias by Cavalli, Handel, Monteverdi, Purcell & Vivaldi - Anna
Prohaska (soprano) Arcangelo/Jonathan Cohen rec. 2012 ARCHIV
PRODUKTION 479 0077 [70:17] [BW] Small niggles about diction apart, the
singing is as enchanting as the title suggests.
The Eton Choirbook
- Huelgas Ens/Paul Van Nevel rec. 2011 DEUTSCHE HARMONIA
MUNDI 88765 408852 [69:25] [BW] A
must for lovers of early Tudor church music; non-specialists can also
expect to be entranced.
Great Britain
Triumphant! Capella Savaria/Mary
Térey-Smith rec. 2008/09 CENTAUR CRC3073
[62:56] [JS] For students
of the 18th century, there is more than enough to make this an
essential addition to their collections.
Great European
Organs - No.85 St George’s Church, Cullercoats -
Daniel Cook (organ) rec. 2012 PRIORY PRCD1083
[78:11] [JF] An
opportunity to walk the less-trodden paths of British organ
music.
The
French Accent Works by Poulenc, Roussel
& Jolivet - rec. 1928-1958 OBOE CLASSICS CC2025
[76:56] [JW] A cornerstone of both
performance and repertoire and greatly to be welcomed.
Music
of the French Baroque Works by
Rameau, Telemann & Marais - Il Gardino Armonico, Musica et
Saltatoria/Kasper Mainz rec. 2002 ARTHAUS MUSIC 100 395 [60:00] [IL] An adventurous French Baroque programme that
should appeal to devotees of the genre.
Serge Koussevitzky & the New York
P-SO Works by Corelli, Debussy, Ravel, Shostakovich &
Tchaikovsky rec. 1942 WEST HILL RADIO ARCHIVES WHRA-6049
[66:48 + 74:22] [JW] Finely engineered,
excellent repertoire and often magnificent performances.
Frederic Lamond (piano) Rare
Broadcasts and Selected Recordings - Concertgebouw O/Eduard van Beinum
rec. 1921-45 MARSTON 52071-2 [77:37 + 73:32] [JW] Invaluably
expands our appreciation of Lamond’s art.
Latino Gold -
Miloš Karadaglić (guitar) Europäischen FilmPhilharmonie/Christoph
Israel rec. 2011-2013 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 479 1421
[79:39] [OL] Devoted and persuasive,
with evident good taste and style.
The
Lost City Lamentations Through the Ages -
Sospiri/Christopher Watson rec. 2011 NAXOS 8.573078
[62:26] [JQ] An
imaginatively conceived programme that advertises the credentials of
Sospiri most impressively.
Lost Generation
Works by Schulhoff, Tausky & Ullmann - Ulrike Anton (flute)
Russell Ryan (piano) English CO/David Parry rec. 2012 GRAMOLA
98964 [65.25] [GH]
These musicians make an excellent team and clearly enjoy this rarely
played music.
Nordic Spring
Lars Anders Tomter (viola) Terje Třnnesen
(violin) Norwegian CO rec. 2012/13 SIMAX CLASSICS PSC 1264
[61:56] [BR] I couldn’t be
happier with this CD - it’s a pure pleasure.
Piano
Dreams
Yuko Yamashiro (piano) rec. 2012 BELLA MUSICA BM312449
[67:39] [JW] Technique
clean and clear but lacks power. A distinct lack of weight.
Katia
Ricciarelli My Favourite Opera: I
Capuletti e I Montecchi - Ch & O Teatro La Fenice,
Venice/Bruno Campanella rec. 1991 EUROARTS 2001838 [57.49] [RJF] As
well as providing several generous excerpts this film gives interesting
insight into a production of a bel canto work
involving a leading soprano of the time and her colleagues.
Schöne
Nacht, du Liebesnacht rec. 1955-74 EMI
CLASSICS 9283032 [7 CDs: c. 9 hrs] [JS] Will appeal largely to German-speaking
collectors but there is much here for the curious with an interest in
these singers as well as providing ample food for thought on the vexed
question of opera in the vernacular.
Season Songs
Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Winter
Words & songs by Leach, Ben & John Parry
- Richard Edgar-Wilson (tenor) Eugene Asti/Andrew
Leach (piano) Sam Wilson (marimba) rec. 2010/11 EM RECORDS
EMR CD014 [58:58] [JQ] An
interesting collection of English songs, most in first recordings and
all very well performed.
The
Seasons - 20th
Century Music for Wind Quintet by Milhaud Koechlin,
Francais & others - Berlin Phil Wind Quintet rec. 1991-2002 BIS
BIS2072 [4 CDs: 268:43] [DC] No
need to try, just buy!
Georg
Solti: Charisma
and Vitality rec. 1947-1958 DOCUMENTS
233588
[10 CDs: 475:41] [SV] All
but enthusiasts will ultimately find the Mahler and the Verdi mere
curiosities while the Beethoven, Bartók and Brahms performances are
much more.
The
Best of Daniel Taylor (counter-tenor) ATMA
ACD2 3001 [64:38] [JW] If
you’d like to trace Taylor’s early career on disc this is a useful,
though by no means definitive way to do it.
The Trio Sonata in
18th-Century Germany - Works by CPE Bach,
JCF Bach, Fasch, Graun, Goldberg & Telemann
- London Baroque rec. 2011 BIS BIS-CD-1995 [67:00]
[JV] The last disc in a
celebrated series devoted to the trio sonata.
Other reviews
Karl
JENKINS (b.1944) Adiemus Colores
Pacho Flores (trumpet) Miloš Karadaglić (guitar) Rolando Villazón
(tenor) Adiemus Singers La Orquesta de Colores/Karl Jenkins rec.
2012/13 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4791067 [76:33] [Byz] A travesty of all things truly musical or
interesting. It will surely do well.
Jean
WIENER (1896-1982) Suitesŕ danser 1 & 2 Marcel
DELANNOY (1898-1962) Suite ŕ danser - O Hewitt/Maurice Hewitt
rec.1953 FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR826 [58:13] [JW] Quietly elegant, catchy, indelibly Gallic
and inimitably Parisian.
Joy
to the World The King’s Singers rec. 2010
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD 268 [58.39] [EML] An eclectic mix of Christmas carols, popular
Christmas classics, original compositions by British composers and
arrangements of traditional tunes.
Mecyje
Silesian Chamber Quintet rec. 2012 ACTE PREALABLE AP0273
[51:52] [Byz] A
very good advert for traditional music, as done in a tasteful way
On
a Cold Winter’s Day Quadriga Consort rec.
2012 CARPE DIEM CD-16293 [58.59] [EML] On the whole a disc I enjoyed listening to
and no doubt will return to again come the appropriate season.
The
Young Johnny Mathis Wonderful!
Wonderful! rec. 1956-62
RETROSPECTIVE RTS 4214 [GF] One of the finest voices in the world of
popular music 50+ years ago and many of the songs here are among the
best ever written.
Non-Stop
to Nowhere rec. 1942-62 GUILD
LIGHT MUSIC GLCD5206 [70:47] [JF] Designed to give pleasure and raise the
spirits … sometimes just a little sentimental.
Salon,
Light and Novelty Orchestras rec. 1929-46
GUILD LIGHT MUSIC GLCD5204 [JW] A real smattering of string class here.
Antal Dorati and his
recorded legacy by Richard Chlupaty.
Published by Antal Doráti Centenary Society, 2013 398 pages [TF] Loyal fans of the Mercury Living Presence
label and of this colourful conductor will find much to enjoy here.
Articles & notices
Martinů
concertos & concertante works - A discography
prepared by Mike Herman; an extract from the upcoming full national
discography of Eastern European concertos
Download
News 2013/12 by Brian Wilson
