NEW & RECENT ARTICLES

[New] Second Thoughts and Short Reviews: Summer 2020 by Brian Wilson and Johan van Veen

[New] Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde - a survey by Ralph Moore

[New] Piano Trio Discography: Johannes Brahms

Rosemarie Wright - an obituary by Duncan Honeybourne

Verdi’s La forza del destino - A survey by Ralph Moore

Looking at Alan Rawsthorne's Pierrette by John France

Piano Trio Discography: U-Z Composers ~ A note from the compiler

Reconstructing a Pianist – The Enigmatic Eva Wollmann by Göran Tegnér

NOTICES

June 2020 Recordings of the Month Beethoven - String Quartets - Harmonia Mundi Bembo - Produzioni Armoniche - Tactus Díaz-Jerez - Maghek - Signum Classics Shostakovich/Tchaikovsky - Accentus Vivaldi - Violin Concertos - Naïve

New Jazz Reviews
Annie Chen ~ Geoff Cole ~ Ike Quebec ~ French Preservation Band ~ Paul Bley

New from Acte Prealable
Wiktor Labunski (1895-1974) Complete Piano Works
Juliusz Wertheim (1880-1928) Songs Vols 1 & 2

An appeal from The Tallis Scholars

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Publishing schedule
Monday: Other reviews (nostalgia, books, jazz, other music); Friday: Articles
Live performance reviews posted daily at Seen and Heard

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Tuesday June 30th

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Trio 5, Triple Concerto - Beethoven Trio Bonn rec. 2018 CAVI-MUSIC 8553108 [58:44] [GPJ] Intelligent and imaginative performances with a surprising rarity.

Henriëtte BOSMANS (1895-1952) Impressions - Leah Plave (cello) Dan Sato (piano) rec. 2019 Private release [45:09] [JW] Attractive performances.

Bartolomeo CAMPAGNOLI (1751-1827) Duos - Stefano Parrino (flute), Francesco Parrino (violin) rec. 2017 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95974 [76:52] [GPu] A full CD’s worth of pleasantly civilized music.

Tibor HARSÁNYI (1898-1954) Complete Piano Works 2 - Giorgio Koukl (piano) rec. 2019 GRAND PIANO GP807 [72:19] [SA] Music that is always enjoyable, sometimes delightful and occasionally brilliant.

John HAWKINS (b. 1949) Music for Clarinet Vol. 1 - Steve Dummer (clarinets), Yoko Ono (piano), Ivana Peranic (cello), Aidan Smith (bass-baritone) Stane Street Sinfonietta/Holly Mathieson rec. 2019 CLAUDIO BD-A CC6045-6 [58:27] [DBi] A varied and affecting programme of music by a rarely recorded contemporary British composer.

Richard de LEDREDE (c.1260/70-1361) Red Book of Ossory - Anakronos rec. 2019 HERESY 025 [61.41] [MW] Beautifully sung, interesting settings of Latin verses, from 14^th Century Ireland.

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Violin Concerto No. 1 Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No. 5 - Baiba Skride (violin) Gewandhaus O Leipzig/Andris Nelsons rec. 2019 ACCENTUS MUSIC ACC20478 DVD [103 mins] [MG] A stunning performance of the Shostakovich by Baiba Skride.

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No. 4 Jonathan LESHNOFF (b. 1973) Double Concerto - Michael Rusinek (clarinet) Nancy Goeres (bassoon) Pittsburgh SO/Manfred Honeck rec. 2016-19 REFERENCE RECORDINGS FR-738 SACD [61:10] [JQ] A thought-provoking Tchaikovsky Fourth and a delightful new concerto by Jonathan Leshnoff.

Dinu Lipatti (piano) The Complete Columbia Recordings rec. 1947/48 APR 6032 [2 CDs: 144:00] [SG] Pianophiles will welcome this release, the more so given the inclusion of the Janigro collaborations.

The Other Cleopatra Isabel Bayrakdarian (soprano), Jory Vinikour (harpsichord) Kaunas City SO/Constantine Orbelian rec. 2019 DELOS DE3591 [64:06] [GF] A valuable addition to our knowledge of 18^th century “Italian” opera.

Monday June 29th

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Complete Works for Fortepiano and Violoncello - Nicolas Altstaedt (cello), Alexander Lonquich (fortepiano) rec. 2019 ALPHA 577 [74:03 + 70:58] [MZ] What could have been a first-rate set of the Beethoven cello works is let down by the engineering imbalance between the instruments.

Franz KROMMER (1759-1831) Symphonies Nos 6 & 9 - O della Svizzera italiana/Howard Griffiths rec. 2016/17 CPO 555 337-2 [65.04] [MW] Significant additions to the canon of early 19^th Century symphonies, superbly realised.

Sir James MACMILLAN (b. 1959) Symphony No. 4, Viola Concerto - Lawrence Power (viola), BBC Philharmonic/Martyn Brabbins rec. 2019 HYPERION CDA68317 [72:27] [JQ] Fine performances of two notable scores make this CD a compelling proposition.

Guiraut RIQUIER (1230-1292) The Last of the Troubadours - Martin Best Medieval Ens rec. 1981 NIMBUS NI5261 [42.16] [GH] Another fine outing for Martin Best and his ensemble.

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Die Frau ohne Schatten - Stephen Gould (tenor), Camilla Nylund (soprano), Nina Stemme (soprano), Wiener Staatsoper Ch & O/Christian Thielemann rec. 2019 ORFEO C991203 [3 CDs: 209:12] [ST] The finest live Frau we have on CD.

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Musica sacra per alto - Delphine Galou (contralto) Accademia Bizantina/Ottavio Dantone rec. 2018 NAÏVE OP30569 [59:47] [CRo] Another valuable instalment in Naïve’s Vivaldi Edition.

Walter Gieseking (piano) At the Hollywood Bowl rec. 1955-56 MELOCLASSIC MC1041 [78:50 + 79:44] [SG] It’s always a pleasure to savour the playing of this wonderful pianist.

Pilar Lorengar (soprano) The Art of Pilar Lorengar rec. 1966-1983 DECCA 473 317-2 [77:00 + 77:23] [MP] A thoughtfully planned overview of the Decca years of an expressive and graceful artist.

Music for Solo Clarinet Josè Daniel Cirigliano (clarinet) rec. 2017 TACTUS TC930002 [52:35] [JW] A fine concert, spearheaded by the devoted and technically fearless Cirigliano.

Russian Impressions Works by Rakov, Grechaninov, Balakirev & Myaskovsky - Ramón Jaffé (cello) Andreas Frölich (piano) rec. 2000 PALADINO MUSIC PMR0110 [66:44] [MC] Outstanding performances of undervalued works.

Other reviews
Naxos MusicBox [MMB] A very fine resource, which will definitely be engaging for children, its target audience, but for adults as well.

Friday June 26th

Francesco MORLACCHI (1784-1841) Tebaldo e Isolina - Sandra Pastrana (soprano) Laura Polverelli (mezzo) Virtuosi Brunensis/Antonino Fogliani rec. 2014 NAXOS 8.660471-72 [78:11 + 64:47] [MP] Excellent audio engineering makes this enjoyable mainly for those with an interest in rare 19^th century bel canto repertoire.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concertos Nos 5, 15 & 16 - Anne-Marie McDermott (piano), Odense SO/Kenneth Montgomery, Gilbert Varga, Andreas Delfs rec. 2017/18 BRIDGE 9523 [69:54] [RC] Simply excellent Mozart artistry.

Max REGER (1873-1916) Piano Quintet, Cello Sonata No. 4 - Kolja Lessing (piano) Michael Groß (cello) Parnassus Akademie rec. 2016 ETCETERA KTC1562 [67:21] [SB] Characteristic Reger works in full-blooded performances.

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphonies Nos 2 & 3 - NBC SO/Arturo Toscanini rec. 1946-49 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC584 [66:20] [SV] Fine sonic restorations of performances which have their moments.

Marc YEATS (b. 1962) The Anatomy of Melancholy - Ian Pace (piano) rec. 2016/18 PRIMA FACIE PFCD123 [79:48] [RWe] Explorers of contemporary keyboard music have to hear this.

Sir John Barbirolli (conductor) Works by Bruckner, Delius & Sibelius - Hallé O, BBC Northern SO rec. 1963 BARBIROLLI SOCIETY SJB1090-91 [60:02 + 71:05] [JQ] Fifty years after his death, these performances remind us of the magnetism of Sir John Barbirolli.

Beatles Love Bach Cristina García Banegas (organ) rec. 2018 DRAMA MUSICA DRAMAM010 [42:31] [MR] Cristina García Banegas indulges in her twin loves of Beatles and Bach, but does not really communicate this love to those who might listen to this disc.

Ophélie Gaillard (cello) Toquinho - Canto da sereia rec. 2016 APARTÉ AP182 [42:13] [GPu] There are clear flaws and limitations, but also some moments of beauty.

Dénes Kovács (violin) Vol. 1: Concertos rec. 1964-78 DOREMI DHR8101-3 [3 CDs: 212:49] [JW] Kovács proves an admirable inheritor of the Hungarian tradition and an artist well deserving of this salute.

Westwood Wind Quintet Augmented rec. 2015 CRYSTAL RECORDS CD791 [62:40] [SG] Pleasurable listening and top-notch musicianship.

Thursday June 25th

Amy BEACH (1867-1944) & Henrique OSWALD (1852-1931) Piano Quintets - Clélia Iruzun (piano) Coull Qt rec. 2019 SOMM RECORDINGS SOMMCD0609 [66:46] [SG] Two piano quintets that deserve a more established foothold in the repertoire.

Friedrich BRUK (b. 1937) Orchestral Music Vol. 2 - Liepāja SO, Lithuanian State SO/Māris Kupčs rec. 2019 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0543 [77:55] [RHa] Fridrich Bruk’s later symphonies project seriousness and sincerity, angularity and warmth.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto No. 24, Symphony No. 39 - Clifford Curzon (piano), Stockholm PO/Antal Doráti rec. 1960 ANTAL DORÁTI LIVE ADL265 [62:58] [DD] Two unexpected discoveries and a sheer delight.

Johann PACHELBEL (1653-1706) Magnificat - Himlische Cantorey/Jan Kobow rec. 2017 CPO 777 707-2 [74:36] [SSi] An interesting disc that is wonderfully performed by the Himlische Cantorey.

Georg Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) La Querelleuse - Kristen Witmer (soprano), Robert de Bree (oboe), Alon Portal (double bass), The Counterpoints rec. 2019 ET'CETERA KTC1652 [68:39] [JV] If you like Telemann, you will like this disc very much.

Blessed Art Thou Among Women PaTRAM Institute Singers/Peter Jermihov rec. 2018 REFERENCE RECORDINGS FR-737 [79:11] [JQ] Devotees of Orthodox church music can invest with confidence.

Forgotten Provence Martin Best Consort rec. 1994 NIMBUS NI5445 [64.19] [GH] Delightful performances on this haunting disc.

Paul van Kempen (conductor) Complete Philips Recordings rec. 1947-1955 ELOQUENCE 484 0237 [10 CDs: 766 mins] [JW] Admirers of van Kempen should snap this up.

Little Things In Odd Shapes Works by Michael Haydn & Boccherini - Istante Period Instrument Collective rec. 2018 NOVANTIQUA NA35 [55:58] [GPJ] Unfamiliar but delightful music played with charm and style by this fine ensemble.

Soir Païen Alexis Kossenko (flute) Anna Reinhold (mezzo) Emmanuel Olivier (piano) rec. 2019 APARTÉ AP227 [68:00] [WH] Voice, flute and piano combine in a lovely collection of music by lesser-known French masters.

Wednesday June 24th

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Quartet op. 18/1 Unsuk CHIN (b.1961) ParaMetaString Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) Novelletten - Esmé Qt rec. 2019 ALPHA CLASSICS 590 [62:50] [MR] A triumphant debut from an exciting new string quartet.

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Symphonic Variations, Serenade for Strings - London SO/Sir Colin Davis rec 1968 ELOQUENCE 482 9380 [49:42] [DD] Two wonderful and underrated lighter works in vintage performances from a great conductor.

Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Violin Concerto, Polonia - Salvatore Accardo (violin) Mette Christine Østergaard (mezzo) Münchner SO/Douglas Bostock, London SO/Richard Hickox rec. 1991/2000 ALTO ALC1423 [78:27] [RMo] I think you’d have to be a committed Elgarian to view this as essential.

Sir Alexander Campbell MACKENZIE (1847-1935) Complete Music for Solo Piano Vol. 3 - Christopher Howell (piano) rec. 2017 SHEVA COLLECTION SH251 [70:06] [JF] A fine conclusion to this excellent series.

Enrico MARUCELLI (1873-1801), Luigi MOZZANI (1869-1943) & Carlo MUNIER (1859-1911) Works for Mandolin & Guitar - Duo Zigiotti Merlante rec. 2015 TACTUS TC860003 [65:32] [GPu] Mandolin fanciers will certainly want to add this to their collection.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concertos Nos 6 & 13 - Anne-Marie McDermott (piano) Odense SO/Scott Yoo rec. 2015 BRIDGE 9518 [50:50] [RC] Short measure but Mozart lovers will certainly find these accounts most welcome.

Jacques OFFENBACH (1819-1880) Offenbach fantastique! - Leipziger SO/Nicolas Krüger rec. 2019 GENUIN GEN20698 [69:27] [RMay] Maybe not “fantastique!” but there’s material here that’s enjoyably easy on the ear.

Pietro VINCI (c1525-1584) Quattrodeci Sonetti Spirituali - Nota Bene/Sarah Mead rec. 2019 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0553 [59:48] [CRo] A worthwhile excursion into a stimulating corner of late Renaissance repertoire.

Fading A meditative reflection around the ancient Office of Compline - The Gesualdo Six/Owain Park (bass) rec. 2019 HYPERION CDA68285 [63:59] [MP] Finely polished performances of a ravishingly atmospheric programme that is not to be missed.

Blanche Selva (piano) Works by Beethoven, Franck, Garetta, & Severac - Joan Massia (violin) rec. 1929-30 SOLSTICE SOCD351-52 [57:52 + 54:34] [SG] Solstice rehabilitates a distinguished forgotten pianist, in superb transfers.