NEW & RECENT ARTICLES

My Birtwistle Journey by Jayne Lee Wilson

Composer Greg Caffrey in conversation with Robert Beattie

NOTICES

Latest Acte Prealable releases
AP0536 Roman Statkowski - Works for Piano 3
AP0537 Roman Statkowski - Works for Violin and Piano
AP0538 Koncepcja

MusicWeb is seeking new reviewers for CDs, videos, digital downloads and streaming. If this interests you please send a specimen review to Len Mullenger (Len@musicweb-international.com). We regret this position is unpaid.

You may have noticed that MusicWeb is not a secure site and does not have an SSL certificate. Our URL shows an open lock and we are http rather than https. If this worries you I assure you it is because we do not need one as we do not hold any data on our visitors so your privacy cannot be compromised. Any financial transactions are carried out by the secure third party PayPal.

For 25 years MusicWeb International has never operated a PayWall. We can keep it free if you can be persuaded to make a donation. Click the Donate button top right for more details.

Shopping on-line? Help us by doing it through the MusicWeb sales page.....

---

Tuesday May 17th

Einar ENGLUND (1916-1999) Complete Music for Solo Piano - Laura Mikkola (piano) rec. 2017 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0356 [71:44] [HC] A fine exploration of Englund’s piano music.

Fanny MENDELSSOHN HENSEL (1805-1847) A Woman’s Hand - Helen Cawthorne (piano) rec. 2021 PRIMA FACIE PFCD172 [61:20] [JF] Technically and interpretively perfect – a voyage of delight from end to end.

Albert ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Le Testament de la Tante Caroline - Marie Lenormand, Marion Gomar, Lucile Komitès, Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes/Dylan Corlay rec. 2019 NAXOS 8.660479 [79:00] [SB] Roussel’s comic opera is workmanlike but lacks fizz.

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Jazz Suite No.1, The Age of Gold & The Limpid Stream suites, Suite for Variety Orchestra - Singapore SO/Andrew Litton rec. 2019 BIS BIS-2472 SACD [69:14] [NB] Sophisticated performances of entertaining music.

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Metamorphoses - Le OFF rec. 2019 NOMADMUSIC NMM100 [58:34] [RMo] Something of an odd hodgepodge which is nonetheless beautifully played.

Cool Tunes for the Big Bassoon Susan Nigro (contrabassoon), Mark Lindeblad (piano) rec. 2021 CRYSTAL RECORDS CD980 [59:32] [GPJ] An excellent introduction to this diffident and often neglected instrument.

Symphonies of the Bach Family Berliner Barock Solisten/Reinhard Goebel rec. 2021 HÄNSSLER CLASSIC HC21029 [63:37] [GF] Not a single well-known work within eyesight, but a life-enhancing excursion off the beaten track that should appeal to every baroque enthusiast.

Monday May 16th

Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony No. 4 - Altomonte Orchester St Florian/Rémy Ballot rec. 2021 GRAMOLA 99261 SACD [79:27] [RMo] Ballot’s leisureliness in Bruckner is controversial as always but with its own interest and insights.

Fortunato CHELLERI (1690-1757) 6 Sonate di Galanteria - Luigi Chiarizia (harpsichord) rec. 2017 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 96308 [70:49] [JV] Pleasant sonatas by a little-known composer.

Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) & Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Violin Concertos - Johan Dalene (violin) Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra/John Storgårds rec. 2021 BIS BIS2620 SACD [73:32] [RWe] The only SACD choice for this coupling, in fine performances, especially the Nielsen.

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) La Senna Festeggiante - Gwendoline Blondeel (soprano), Lucile Richardot (mezzo-soprano), Luigi De Donato (bass), Orchestre del’Opéra Royal/Diego Fasolis rec. 2021 CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES CVS064 [80:49] [DBi] Perhaps Vivaldi’s best secular vocal music in a performance which might be equalled elsewhere but is very enjoyable.

British Piano Concertos Simon Callaghan (piano) BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Martyn Brabbins rec. 2021 LYRITA SRCD407 [68:33] [HC] Lesser-known works for piano and orchestra, played with highly communicative enthusiasm.

Sir Eugene Goossens (conductor) Cincinnati Symphony, Vol. 1 Works by Delius, Walton & Vaughan Williams rec. 1941/46 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC654 [76:18] [MSJ] Restorations of sensual and atmospheric performances by Goossens in Cincinnati.

Dimitri Mitropoulos (conductor) The Complete RCA and Columbia Album Collection rec. 1946-1957 RCA 19439888252 [69 CDs] [RCo] Music’s mighty Athenian.

Now the Green Blade Riseth Choir of King’s College, Cambridge/Daniel Hyde rec. 2021 KING’S COLLEGE KGS0065 [77:05] [MR] Daniel Hyde’s unfailingly perceptive and inspired direction in a truly sumptuous demonstration of choral singing.

Friday May 13th

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Così fan tutte - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Lisa Otto (soprano) Nan Merriman (mezzo) Philharmonia Ch & O/Herbert von Karajan rec. 1954 PRISTINE AUDIO PACO189 [3 CDs: 160:33] [RMo] This classic performance is now revealed in new glory.

Poul RUDERS (b. 1949) Harpsichord Concerto - Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord) Aarhus Symphony Orchestra/Leif Segerstam rec. 2020 OUR RECORDINGS 9.70896 [20:58] [PRB] A delicious Danish delight, with more than enough tang to tantalize anyone’s taste buds.

Erik SATIE (1866-1925) Piano Music Vol. 5: Ésoterik Satie - Noriko Ogawa (piano) rec. 2018 BIS BIS-2345 SACD [76:04] [SB] Intense but rather limited pieces from Satie’s involvement with occultism.

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Piano Concerto No. 1, Symphony No. 9 - Yefim Bronfman (piano) Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/Mariss Jansons rec. 2011/12 BR KLASSIK 900202 [46:17] [WH] Superb live performances of two of Shostakovich’s most mercurial works.

Jugendstil Arrangement of works by Mahler & Schoenberg - Beatrice Berrut (piano) rec. 2021 LA DOLCE VOLTA LDV100 [67:33] [DMD] Mahler and Schoenberg as though transcribed by Liszt with magical results.

Mandolin on Stage Concertos by Vivaldi, Paisiello, Lecce & Hummel - Raffaele La Ragione (mandolin) Il Pomo d'Oro/Francesco Corti rec. 2021 ARCANA A524 [66:56] [JV] This disc should convince every sceptic, that the mandolin is an instrument which fully deserves a place on the stage.

The Sweet and Merry Month Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford/Mark Williams rec. 2021 OPUS ARTE OACD9049D [72:17] [MR] May Day celebrations from Magdalen College Oxford have rarely sounded so lovely.

Thursday May 12th

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Cello Concerto, Serenade for Strings - Petr Nouzovský (cello), Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice/Stanislav Vavřínek rec. 2021 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95696 [74:34] [WH] A very fine reading of a favourite concerto.

Emil HARTMANN (1836-1898) Scandinavian Folk Music – Cathrine Penderup (piano) rec. 2021 DANACORD DACOCD 936-937 [2 CDs: 116:26] [JF] The performance of this novel musical byway is committed and expressive.

Charles IVES (1874-1954) & Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) String Quartets - Emerson String Quartet rec. 1990/91 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 435 864-2 [64:40] [PBW] These are superb performances – an essential purchase in every way.

Hieronymus PRAETORIUS (1560-1629) Organ Works - Léon Berben (organ) rec. 2021 AEOLUS AE-11311 SACD [78:46 + 78:29] [SG] Once again, Aeolus mines attractive rarities.

Evert TAUBE (1890-1976) Out There So Quiet & other songs - Torsten Mossberg (tenor) rec. 2020/21 STERLING CDA1857-2 [73:44] [GF] This recording is another feather in Torsten Mossberg’s cap.

Bronislaw Gimpel (violin) Live Vol. 1 rec. 1937-1967 DOREMI DHR-8163-64 [75:26 + 79:14] [JW] The vivid and communicative Bronislaw Gimpel, charted over three decades.

Specchio Veneziano Works by Reali, Vivaldi & Bach - Le Consort rec. 2021 ALPHA 771 [68:00] [JV] Reali could not have wished for better advocates of his forgotten sonatas.

Wednesday May 11th

Marco Enrico BOSSI (1861–1925) Complete Organ Works Vol. 15 - Andrea Macinanti (organ) rec. 2002–21 TACTUS TC862791 [2 CDs: 110:59] [MR] The final volume of this long-running complete Bossi organ music series, comprises an odd assortment of trifles ranging from the sublime to the vaguely ridiculous.

Thomas Alexandrovich de HARTMANN (1885-1956) Orchestral Music - Bülent Evcil (flute) Lviv Ntl PO Ukraine/Theodore Kuchar rec. 2021 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0633 [65:55] [EJW] Enjoyable, unusual orchestral music by a little-known composer.

Franz SCHUBERT (1797–1828) The Fair Maid of the Mill - Nicky Spence (tenor), Christopher Glynn (piano) rec. 2020 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD711 [63:25] [GF] Nicky Spence’s theatrical reading should be a natural choice for those wanting an English language version, but also an interesting alternative for already well-stocked collectors.

Roman STATKOWSKI (1859-1925) Piano Works 3 - Anna Paras (piano) rec. 2021 ACTE PRÉALABLE AP0536 [53:21] [PRB] Yet another new name with something of true merit to say.

Christian Ferras (violin) Concert Tours in Europe 1961-74 MELOCLASSIC MC2049 [77:54 + 76:47] [JW] Ferras in warhorses but also in repertoire new to his discography.

The Myth of Venice Gawain Glenton (cornettos), Silas Wollston (Metal-pipe organ, Organo di legno, virginals) rec. 2021 DELPHIAN DCD34261 [61:50] [GPu] Intriguing and beautifully played.

Salve Regina Motets by Hasse & Porpora - Clint van der Linde (alto), Les Muffatti rec. 2021 RAMÉE RAM2102 [69:07] [JV] Expressive and stylistically convincing performances by Clint van der Linde.

 

---