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A revival of Parry's Judith by John Quinn
Strauss' Salome - a survey by Ralph Moore
Stanfordian Thoughts 9: His
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2018/19-1 by Brian Wilson & Dan Morgan
John Joubert - an obituary by
John Quinn
Wagner's Parsifal - a survey by Ralph Moore
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Thursday January 31st
Anton ARENSKY (1861-1906) Piano Trios
-
Trio Carducci rec. 2017/18 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95636 [65.04]
[MC] Ruined by a recording in unpleasant, excessively closely recorded sound.
George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Abbandonata: Italian Cantatas - Carolyn Sampson (soprano),
The King’s Consort / Robert King rec. 2018
VIVAT 117
[74:51] [CC]
A prime release.
Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Madama Butterfly - Ermonela Jaho (soprano) Marcelo Puente
(tenor) Royal Opera House
Ch &
O/Sir Antonio Pappano rec. 2017 OPUS ARTE OABD7244D Blu-ray [149 mins]
[RWe]
A fine production is beautifully captured on this superb Blu-ray disc.
Józef ZEIDLER (1744-1806)
Mass -
Camerata Silesia,
Sinfonia Varsovia/Jerzy Maksymiuk rec. 2017
DUX 1474
[35:59] [MW]
Interesting but not essential listening, very well-performed on a rather brief disc.
Amarae Morti El Léon de Oro/Peter Phillips
rec. 2016 HYPERION CDA68279 [66:24] [JQ] A very rewarding disc.
Wilhelm
Backhaus (piano) Chopin, Liszt, Schumann & encore pieces
rec. 1925-1937 APR 6026 [2 CDs: 160:09] The complete
pre-War Beethoven recordings rec. 1927-1937 APR 6027 [2
CDs: 142:18] More Backhaus - very much to the profit of listeners and collectors alike.
Capriccio EnAccord String Quartet
rec. 2016
ET’CETERA KTC1608
[53:56] [SSi]
This is a well thought out and executed program, a must for
all lovers of music for the string quartet.
Yehudi Menuhin (violin) The First Concerto Recordings - London SO/Landon Ronald,
Sir Edward Elgar rec. 1931/32
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC459
[72:36] [SV]
If you're a devotee of Menuhin or of Elgar, you will want this.
Ruggiero Ricci (violin)
Discovered tapes: Concertos rec. 1951-1978
RHINE CLASSICS RH-008
[6 CDs: 430:57] [JW]
A worthy and significant addition to Ricci’s discography.
Song of Songs Cappella Mariana/Vojtech Semerád
rec. 2017 ET’CETERA KTC1602 [57:20]
Giovanni Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (1525-1594) Volume 7 - The Sixteen/Harry Christophers
rec. 2017 CORO COR16155
[72:01]
[BW]
Two very worthwhile collections, one from very promising newcomers, the
other part of an ongoing series.
Wednesday January 30th
Antoine
de FÉVIN (ca.1470-1511/12)
Missa Ave Maria, Missa Salve sancta
parens - Brabant Ens/Stephen Rice rec.
2018 HYPERION CDA68265 [79:13]
[RHa] The Brabant Ensemble offer spirited
advocacy for Févin’s cause, though I enjoyed
the motets more than the masses.
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Fantasia, Deutsche Tänze, Menuetti - Jenő
Jandó (piano) rec. 2016 NAXOS 8.573934
[73:45] [PRB] An enjoyable disc, combining
a couple of the composer’s more significant
standalone keyboard pieces with some light-hearted
fun pieces.
Michael
HAYDN (1737-1806) Symphonies Nos
13 & 20, Notturno - Deutsche Kammerakademie
Neuss/Lovard Skou Larsen rec. 2015 CPO
555 042-2 [62:39] [TB] The
playing is sensitive and beautifully judged
in matters of tempo and phrasing.
Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Brass sonatas
- Eric Aurier (trumpet) David Alonso (horn)
Nicolas Prost (alto saxophone) Fabrice Willischer
(trombone) Stephane Labeyrie (tuba) Laurent
Wagschal, Hélène Tysman (piano) rec. 2017/18
INDESENS INDE110
[66:00] [SB] Rewarding pieces, well played.
Rued LANGGAARD (1893-1952)
Symphonies Nos 2 & 6; Unnoticed Morning Stars -
Anu Komsi (soprano),
Vienna PO/Sakari Oramo rec. 2017/18 DACAPO SACD 6.220653 [70:40]
[JW] Equally salutary and convincing.
Paolo LORENZANI (1640-1713)
Nicandro e Fileno -
Nils Brown, Jean-Marc Salzmann, Suzie LeBlanc,
Les Boréades De Montréal/Francis Colpron rec. 2017 ATMA CLASSIQUE ACD22770 [65:13]
[GPu]
This confirms one’s suspicions that Lorenzani was a finer composer than has been generally recognized.
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphony No. 39 -
Mozarteumsorchester Salzburg/Bernhard Paumgartner rec. 1966 BELVEDERE 10146 [74:56]
[RMo] Traditional but also graceful and profoundly humane.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Papillons,
Kinderszenen Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Intermezzi, Klavierstücke
- Sarah Beth Briggs (piano) rec. 2018 AVIE
AV2398 [80:54] [SG] An intelligently
constructed recital.
Ah! If I but Knew the Way Back … Songs of Children and of Fairy Lands
- Kateryna Kasper (soprano), Hilko Dumno (piano) rec. 2016 TYXART TXA18117 [72:59]
[GF] A delectable programme.
Minuetto - The Art of the Regal Dance
- Alessandro Stella (piano) rec. 2017 KHA RECORDS KHA0017 [46:47]
[JW] A tough but rather intriguing sell.
Tuesday January 29th
George
ANTHEIL (1900-1959) Symphonies
Nos 3 & 6 - BBC PO/John Storgårds rec. 2018
CHANDOS CHAN10982 [66.52] [IL]
Another colourful and intriguing Antheil
album from Chandos.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
The 9 Symphonies
- MDR Rundfunkcho, Dresdner PO/Michael Sanderling
rec. 2015-18 SONY CLASSICAL 19075872472
[5 CDs: 233.38] [MC] Characteristically stylish
and penetrating performances that are entirely
compelling.
Siegmund von HAUSEGGER (1872-1948) Lieder
- Roman Trekel (baritone),
Cord Garben (piano) rec. 2010 CPO 777 730-2 [68:39] [RMo] Despite the performers’ best efforts, these are unmemorable and meandering.
Olav KIELLAND (1901–1985) & Arne DØRUMSGAARD (1921–2006) Songs
- Marianne Beate Kielland (mezzo-soprano),
Nils Anders Mortensen (piano) rec. 2016 LAWO LWC1145 [77:45] [GF] A fascinating disc, beautifully performed.
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concertos
- Sviatoslav Richter (piano) Rudolf Barshai,
Lorin Maazel,
Kirill Kondrashin
rec. 1966-94 PARNASSUS DVD PDVD1207 [139 mins] [JW] Not especially revelatory, though it does show how much more vivid and engaged he was in the 70s.
Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Trois tableaux symphoniques d’après,
Bacchanale, Symphony No. 3 - Paul Jacobs (organ) Utah SO/Thierry Fischer rec. 2017 HYPERION CDA68201 [75:15] [JQ] A most enjoyable CD - encore, s’il vous plait.
Karl
WEIGL (1881-1949) Chamber works
- David Frühwirth (violin) Benedict Kloeckner
(cello) Florian Krumpöck (piano) rec. 2012/16
CAPRICCIO C5318 [71:36] [JW]
Astutely judged and well projected performances.
Compostela
ad Vesperas Sancto Iacobi Ens Organum/Marcel Pérès
rec. 2004 HARMONIA MUNDI HMO8905301
[78:30] [GH] Not all that interesting.
Maurice Gendron (cello) Works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin & Schumann - Madeleine Lipatti (piano) rec. 1953 FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR1355 [68:33]
[SG] A well-preserved event that carries its age well.
The
Violin Concerto Collection
Scottish CO/Joseph Swensen (violin)
rec. 2002-04 LINN CKR614
[261:16] [SSi] This is a most welcome reissue
with performances that are at least
good, with the Dvořák and the Prokofiev being the highlights.
Monday January 28th
Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869)
The Damnation of Faust Antonin DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Te Deum -
Joan Hammond (mezzo) Richard Lewis (tenor) Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano)
BBC Ch Society,
BBC SO/Sir Malcolm Sargent
rec. 1953/54 CAMEO CLASSICS CC9108 [78.30 + 72.23] [PCG] Dramatic involvement comes and goes but Sargent rises to his reputation as a conductor of choral scores.
Johannes BRAHMS (1933-1897)
Symphonies Nos 1 & 3 - Concertgebouw O, London PO/Eduard van Beinum rec. 1946, 1951
ELOQUENCE 482 5499
[74:02] [JW]
A direct interpretative stance which remains unsullied by any extraneous expressive gestures.
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphony No. 82
Jean-Baptiste DAVAUX (1742-1822) &
François DEVIENNE (1759-1803) Symphonies concertante - Le Concert de la Loge/Julien Chauvin rec. 2017 APARTÉ AP186 [64:38]
[DJB] Wonderfully vivacious playing and two excellent unknown works to accompany a Haydn masterpiece.
Kenneth HESKETH (b. 1968) Knotted
Tongues, Of Time and Disillusionment, In Ictu Oculi
– BBC Ntl O Wales/Christoph-Mathias Mueller rec. 2017
PALADINO MUSIC PMR0092 [54:42] [DC] Make a detour and find out what’s on offer from one of today’s top poets in sound.
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Symphonies Nos 35 & 36 - Netherlands CO/Gordan Nikolić rec. 2017
TACET 2304 SACD
[65:32] [RMo]
Thoroughly enjoyable recordings in exemplary sound.
Krzysztof PENDERECKI ((b. 1933)
Hommage à Penderecki - Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin), Roman Patkoló (double bass), Lambert Orkis (piano),
London SO/Krzysztof Penderecki
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 483 5163
[49:48 + 38:04] [SSi]
A must for all fans of the music of Penderecki and a worthy release in celebration of his 85th birthday.
Leonard SALZEDO (1921-2000) String Quartets Nos 1,
5 & 10 - Archaeus Qt rec. 2017 MPR 104 [57:16] [NB] A showcase for the brilliance of one of Britain's most underrated but individual composers.
Tomás Luis de VICTORIA (1548-1611)
Tenebrae Responsories from Officium Hebdomadae Sanctae - Stile Antico rec. 2017
HARMONIA MUNDI HMM902272
[71:21] [AY]
Another impressive outing for Stile Antico.
Felix WOYRSCH (1860-1944)
Symphonies Nos 4 & 5 - NDR Radiophilharmonie/Thomas Dorsch rec. 2015
CPO 555063-2
[60:44] [EJW]
Uninvolving music, fine recording.
Rachel Barton Pine (violin) Blues Dialogues
-
Matthew Hagle (piano) rec. 2017/18 CEDILLE CDR90000182 [75:51]
[JW] Barton Pine shows the finesse and stylistic assurance of the first-class performer she is.
Friday January 25th
Baldassare GALUPPI (1706-1785) Complete Piano Sonatas Vol. 4
-
Peter Seivewright (piano) rec. 2007-14 DIVINE ART DDA25103 [49:53]
[JF] There is much pleasant listening here, but nothing revelatory.
Andreas HAKENBERGER (1573/74-1627)
55 Motets from the Pelplin Tablature -
Polish Chamber Ch, Musica Fiorita/Jan Łukaszewski rec. 2013 NAXOS 8.573743-44 [73:31 + 75:04]
[RHa] Kudos to Naxos for releasing this fine set of motets by a little-known Polish contemporary of Schutz.
Armas
JÄRNEFELT (1869-1958) Song
of the Scarlet Flower - Gävle
SO/Jaakko Kuusisto rec. 2018 ONDINE
ODE1328-2D [2 CDs: 99:34] [JW] Everything
you’d want from a Nordic score of the
time, or any time.
Boris
LYATOSHYNSKY (1895-1968) Symphony
No.3, Grazhyna - Bournemouth SO/Kirill
Karabits rec. 2018 CHANDOS SACD CHSA5233
[63.23] [DBi] An important addition to the
catalogue in a fine surround recording.
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano Concertos -
Valerie Tryon, Peter Donohoe, Mishka Rushdie Momen (pianos)
Royal PO/Jac van Steen, Boris Brott rec. 2017 SOMM RECORDINGS SOMMCD2682 [77:03 + 72:21]
[RMo] Fleet, musical and unpretentious but with formidable powers of concentration and intensity.
Steve REICH (b. 1936) Sextet,
Double Sextet -
Ekkozone/Mathias Reumert rec. 2014/16 MODE RECORDS MODCD300 [49:54]
[DC] Second to none.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Swan Lake, The Nutcracker - London SO, Paris
Conservatoire O/Anatole Fistoulari rec. 1951/52
ELOQUENCE 482 5225
[75:34 + 62:13] [JW] This enjoyable twofer
shows Fistoulari in the best possible (mono)
light.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Orlando Furioso - Sonia Prina, Michela Antenucci,
I Barocchisti/Diego Fasolis rec. 2017 DYNAMIC
57803 Blu-ray [161 mins] [SSi]
An exciting and opulent production, if not the
best sung version.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Die
Walküre - Birgit Nilsson (soprano)
Jon Vickers (tenor) Metropolitan Opera O/Erich
Leinsdorf rec. 1961 PRISTINE PACO 153
[3 CDs: 195.46] [PCG] A mixed bag: superbly
handled in parts, but in places displaying to
a distressing degree the hazards of live recording.
Bernstein at 100: The Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood
Boston SO/Andris Nelsons, Christoph Eschenbach, Keith Lockhart, Michael Tilson Thomas, John Williams
rec. 2018 C MAJOR Blu-ray 747704 [141 mins] [MMB] If you admire Bernstein and his music, this is definitely one you shouldn’t miss.
