MARCH 2000 CLASSICAL CD REVIEWS INDEX disclaimer Classical Editor: Rob Barnett Music Webmaster Len Mullenger: Len@musicweb.uk.net

Classical Editor: Rob Barnett,  Reviewers: Rob Barnett, Ian Lace, Len Mullenger, and:  Richard Adams, Colin Anderson, Terry Barfoot,  Marc Bridle, Arthur Butterworth, Colin Clarke, Paul Conway, Gary Dalkin, Andy Daly, Tony Duggan, Harry Downey,  Gerald Fenech,  Lewis Foreman, David Frieze, Malcolm Galloway,  Ian Marchant, John Phillips, Ailís Ní Ríain, Humphrey Smith, Philip Scowcroft, Colin Scott Sutherland, Andrew Seivewright, Richard Whitehouse, Reg Williamson, Peter Grahame Woolf, David Wright. A complete list of contributors can be seen here

2000 Reviews   [Dec]  [Nov]  [Oct]  [Sep]  [Aug]  [Jul]  [Jun]  [May]  [Apr]  [Mar]  [Feb]  [Jan]

Click here for 1999 reviews  1998 reviews

March 2000 Click here to see thumbnails

COLLECTIVE REVIEWS

MAHLER Symphony No 9 Comparative review by Tony Duggan
WILLIAM ALWYN The complete symphonies on CHANDOS by Rob Barnett
VAGN HOLMBOE A compact biography and survey of the BIS recored cycle of the Symphonies by Rob Barnett
FERNANDO LOPES-GRAÇA 20^TH CENTURY PORTUGUESE COMPOSER Review of four CDs by Rob Barnett
The RUBBRA Recorded Cycle on CHANDOS A major review by Rob Barnett with Gary Higginson, Hubert Culot, Michael Freeman and Paul Conway
SERGEI BORTKIEWICZ THE FORGOTTEN ROMANTIC by Bhagwan N. Thadani

Single Reviews

George ANTHEIL (1900-1959) Concert Music: Symphony No. 4 ('1942'); Symphony No. 6  McKonkey's Ferry (Washington at Trenton); A Concert Overture  Theodore Kuchar conducts the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. NAXOS 8.559033 [67:43] [IL]
ARNE: ALFRED An English Masque Jennifer Smith, Christine Brandis, David Daniels, Jamie MacDougall, Philharmonis Baroque Orchestra and chorale  cond. Nicholas McGegan   Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 75 605 51314 2 [PS]
EDGAR BAINTON Symphony No. 2 in D minor HUBERT CLIFFORD Symphony 1940 JOHN GOUGH Serenade for small Orchestra   BBCPO/Vernon Handley  CHANDOS CHAN 9757 [73 min] [HC]
BARTOK: Duke Bluebeard's Castle Op. 11, Cantata profana Sz 94. Hertha Topper, Dietrich Fischer Dieskau, Helmut Krebs. RIAS Kammerchor, Chor der St. Hedwigs-Kathedrale, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin Ferenc Fricsay  DG Originals Mono/Stereo 457-756-2 73m ADD (Recorded 1951/58) [GF]
Bernstein West Side Story symphonic dances; Gershwin Cuban Overture & Rhapsody in Blue; Grainger Fantasy on Porgy & Bess   Jocelyn Abbott & Laura O'Gorman (piano duet) Cubitt Music ( A Quatre Mains) AOGCD 1. 64' 56" [PW]
SIR ARTHUR BLISS A Knot of Riddles, Angels of the Mind and other songs. Geraldine McGreevy (sop); Toby Spence (ten); Henry Hurford (bar); Kathron Sturrock (pf); Nash Ensemble conducted by Martyn Brabbins  Hyperion CDA 67188/9 (2 CD set) 122' 31" [LF]
SERGEI BORTKIEWICZ (1877-1952) Symphony No. 1 in D Aus Meiner Heimat (1935-36) [36.11] Symphony No. 2 in E flat (1937) [32.10] orchestrated and played on the electronic SYNTHESISER by Daniel Oke  The Bhagwan Thadani Bortkiewicz project. Bortkiewicz Vol. 11 - CD-23 [68.21]
BRUCH: Symphony No. 2 op. 36. Concerto No. 3 for Violin and Orchestra. Andreas Krecher: violin. Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra Gernot Schmalfuss MDG Gold MDG335 0868-2 76m DDD. [GF]
BUSONI 24 Preludes Op 37  BLISS Piano Sonata   Trevor Barnard (piano )   Divine Art 2.5011 [DDD] [72' 58"]. [DW]
Frederic DEVREESE Gemini: Orchestral & Piano Works BRTN Philharmonic Orchestra - Brussels, various conductors including the composer Daniel Blumenthal - piano (and Robert Groslot on Gemini: suite for two pianos) CYPRES CYP1619 [2CDs: disc one - orchestral works: 58:10 / disc two - piano works: 56:19] [GD]
ELGAR - The Sketches for Symphony no 3 elaborated by Anthony Payne. Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Paul Daniel.   NAXOS 8.554719 [54' 59''] [PC]
THE SONGS OF EDWARD ELGAR Catherine Wyn-Rogers (Mezzo-soprano), Neil Mackie (tenor), Christopher Maltman (baritone), Malcolm Martineau (piano)   Somm SOMMCD 220 [PS]
JENNIFER BATE plays British organ music ELGAR AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES Jennifer Bate (organ)  ASV Quicksilva CD ASV 6160 [AS] [RB]
AN IMAGE OF TRUTH The music of DAVID ELLIS Alison Wells, soprano - John Turner, recorder - Joanna Patton, clarinet - Peter Lawson and Keith Swallow, pianos - Jonathan Price, cello - Keith Elcombe, harpsichord - Coull String Quartet William Byrd Singers conducted by Stephen Wilkinson   ASC RECORDS ASC CS CD6 [HC]
FAURE: Piano Quartets Nos. 1 & 2   The Schubert Ensemble of London   ASV Quicksilva CD QS6237 65m DDD. [GF]
JOHN FIELD Nocturnes 1 - 12; Rondo in E (Le Midi); Rondo in E flat (Sonata No 1) Alan Cuckston (piano)   Swinsty Records [DDD] FEW 115 [DW]
ARTHUR FOOTE (1853-1937) Piano Trio No. 1 in c minor (1884) DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH Piano Trio No. 2 Serafino Trio   rec Palma de Mallorca - 17-21 December 1999 SERAFINO TRIO (no number) CD available from the artists. Distribution via www.mp3.com [60 mins] [RB]
GOTTSCHALK: Piano Music for 2 and 4 hands. Alan Marks and Nerine Barrett.  Nimbus NI7045/6 107m DDD.[GF]
REYNALDO HAHN (1875-1947) Piano Quintet (1921) [26 mins] String Quartet No. 1 (1939) [18 mins] String Quartet No. 2 (1940) [23 mins] Alexander Tharaud (piano) Quatuor Parisii   world premiere recordings AUVIDIS VALOIS V4848 [67.45] [RB]
HALVORSEN: Stage Music Vol 1. 'Gurre': Dramatic Suite for Orchestra Op. 17, Askeladden, Suite, The Merchant of Venice - Suite. Latvian National Orchestra Terje Mikkelsen  Simax Classics PSC1198 [GF]
George Frederick HANDEL Handel at the Opera overtures, arias and ballet music   Collegium Musicum 90 conducted by Simon Standage   Chandos Chaconne CHAN 06550 [66:37] [GD]
HAYDN String Quartets Op76, no1 in G; No2 in D minor (Fifths); no3 in C (Emperor) The Lindsays   ASV CD DCA 1076 [DDD] [74' 39"] [DW]
HENZE Works for Two Guitars. "Minette: Canti e rimpianti amorosi" per 2 chitarre; Memorias de "El Cimarrón" for two guitarists (1995) and Drei Märchenbilder aus der Oper "Pollicino" (1980)   Jürgen Ruck and Elena Càsoli (guitars) MDG Gold. MDG 304 0881-2. (59' 56'') [PC]
HERBERT HOWELLS Hymnus Paradisi; A Kent Yeoman's Wooing Song  (premiere recording) Joan Rodgers, soprano - Anthony Rolfe Johnson, tenor - Alan Opie, baritone - BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus - Richard Hickox  CHANDOS CHAN 9744 [65] [HC]
Janácek: The Cunning Little Vixen cast below Kühn Children's Choir, Czech Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra Václav Neumann  Supraphon 10 3471-2 (2 disc set) [TB]
ALEMDAR KARAMANOV (b.1934) Symphony No. 3 (1956-64) Piano Concerto No. 3 Ave Maria (1968)   Vladimir Viardo (piano) Moscow SO/Antonio de Almeida   rec 3 Nov 1994, Moscow Conservatory, Grand Hall MARCO POLO 8.223796 [73.38] [RB]
Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD Juarez - The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex - The Sea Wolf James Sedares conducting the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra   Koch International Classics 3-7302-2H1 [60:35] [GD]
BENJAMIN LEES Symphony no 4 'Memorial Candles'    Kimball Wheeler (soprano), James Buswell (violin), National Symphony of Ukraine, conducted by Theodore Kuohar American Classics Naxos. 8.559002 [DW]
LOCATELLI Concerti Grossi Op 1 nos 1-6    Capella Istropolitana  Jaroslav Krecek. Naxos 8.553445 [DDD] [50' 27] [DW]
BENJAMIN POCHI MA (1964-) The Music of Benjamin Pochi Ma Vol. 1 Symphony in g minor Requiem Ohne Worte and 11 chamber works various soloists, Shanghai Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Li Jian Ping   OMNIS ARS 020-99-672-01 c. 58 mins [RB]
MAHLER: Das Lied Von Der Erde John Mitchinson (Tenor), Alfreda Hodgson (Mezzo) BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Jascha Horenstein BBC Legends BBCL 4042-2 apprx £12  John Mitchinson (Tenor), Janet Baker BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Raymond Leppard The BBC Classic Collection BBCM 5012-2 bargain price approx £5
MARTINU: Julietta cast below Chorus and Orchestra of the National Theatre, Prague cond. Jaroslav Krombholc   Supraphon 10 8176-2 (3 disc set) [TB]
JOSEPH MARX (1882-1964) The Three String Quartets Quartetto Chromatico (1936-37 rev 1948) Quartetto in Modo Classico (1940-41) Quartetto in Modo Antico (1937-38)   Lyric Quartet  world premiere recordings ASV CD DCA 1073 [79.22] [RB]
Billy MAYERL (1902-1959) Light Music for Piano and Orchestra including:- Marigold; Four Aces Suite; Aquarium Suite; Bats in the Belfry, Fireside Fusiliers; Busybody; and Pastoral Sketches. Andrew Ball (piano) Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gary Carpenter MARCO POLO 8.223514 [73:52] [IL]
JOSE VIANNA DA MOTTA (1868-1948) Symphony in A major À PÁTRIA (To the Fatherland) (1895) RDP Symphony Orchestra/Silva Pereira  rec 28-30 June 1, 4-6 July 1977, Lisbon ADD PORTUGALSOM STRAUSS SP 4117 [49:03] Hungarian State Orchestra/Mátyás Antal  rec 21-24 April 1988, Lisbon DDD PORTUGALSOM STRAUSS CD 870016/PS [40:55] [RB]
MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition. TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6, 'Pathetique'. Philharmonia Orchestra Carlo Maria Guilini.  Recorded live in Usher Hall Edinburgh 1961 BBC Legends BBCL 4023-2 [76m] ADD [GF]
NIELSEN complete wind music Selandia Ensemble and guests  Kontrapunkt 32288 60 mins. [PW]
ALAN RAWSTHORNE. Piano Quintet; Piano Trio; Cello Sonata; Concertante for violin and piano; Viola Sonata   Rogeri Trio, John McCabe, Mark Messenger, Helen Roberts, Martin Qutram, Julian Rolton. Naxos 8.554352 [DDD] [70' 05] [DW]
ALAN RAWSTHORNE Music for violin and piano; Music for piano Benedict Holland (violin) Alan Cuckston (piano)   [DDD] SWINSTY RECORDS FEW121CD [DW]
SARABAND FOR DEAD LOVERS, Songs and Piano Music by Alan Rawsthorne Sandra Dugdale (soprano), Martin Hindmarsh (tenor), Alan Cuckston (piano), Rene Atkinson (piano)   [DDD] SWINSTY RECORDS FEW 120 CD  [DW]
RIMSKY KORSAKOV Piano Trio in C minor (1897); MUSSORGSKY Pictures at an Exhibition (arr for piano trio by the Bekova Sisters) Bekova  Sisters   Chandos CHAN 9672 [DDD] [77' 45"] [DW]
EDMUND RUBBRA MUSIC FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO Sonata No 1 Op 11 (1930) Sonata No 2 Op 31 (1932) Sonata No 3 Op 133 (1968) Four Pieces Op 29 Variations on a Phrygian Theme for solo violin Op 105 Krysia Osostowicz (Violin) Michael Dussek (Piano)  DUTTON CDLX 7101 [GH]
Schumann Liederkreis Op. 24, Belsazar, Romanzen & Balladen Op 49, 53 & 64 Nathalie Stutzmann (contralto) Inger Sodergren (piano) BMG 09026 68900 65'53" [PW]
VARIATIONS. Schumann Impromptus Op 5; Beethoven Variations; Schubert Variations (world première recording); Ghost Variations. Brahms Variation on a theme of Schumann Andreas Boyde (piano)   ATH CD23 [DDD] [67' 16"].[DW]
Schnittke, Pärt, Penderecki, Lutoslawski, Gubaidulina etc  . Roman Mints (violin) Evgenia Chudinovich (piano) Black Box BBM1025 65 mins [PW]
SHOSTAKOVICH String Quartets Nos 4, 6 & 8   St Petersburg String Quartet Hyperion CDA67154 70m DDD [GF]
SHOSTAKOVICH Violin Sonata PENDERECKI Sonata for violin and piano PART Spiegel im spiegel SCHNITTKE Sonata No. 3 for violin and piano, Stille nacht (Silent night) Daniel Hope: Violin, Simon Mulligan (piano)   Nimbus NI5631 68m DDD [GF]
JENNIFER BATE plays British organ music STANFORD AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES Including PARRY, Toccata and Fugue Jennifer Bate (organ)  ASV QUICKSILVA CD QS 6222 [AS] [RB]
STRAUSS Metamorphosen, Capriccio sextet, SCHONBERG Verklarte Nacht. Brandis Quartet with Walter Kussner, Dietmar Schwalke, Rainer Zepperitz   Nimbus NI5614 66m DDD. [GF]
DONALD SWANN The Isles of Greece - a cycle of songs for voices and chamber orchestra plus Donald Swann accompanying himself in The Casos Sonnets. Lucinda Broadbridge (sop) Juliet Alderdice (mezz) Jeffrey Cresswell (ten) with instrumental accompaniment/John Jansson.   DIVINE ART 2-5010 [77.41] [PS]
EXPOSÉ - the chamber works of PETER TAHOURDIN: Dialogue no 1 (1971) for violin and piano; Raga Music 1 - The Starlight Night (1985) for soprano and ensemble; Dialogue No 4 (1984) for trombone and percussion; Songs of Love and Fortune (1992) for baritone and piano; Raga Music 4 - For Two (1991) for bass clarinet and percussion;Expose (1995) for solo piano Kirsten Williams, Michael Harvey, Jeannie Marsh, Gerald Gentry, Frederick Shade, Rudolf Osadnik, Arturs Ezergailis, Peter Neville, Barrie webb, Julian Warburton, Bradley Daley, Phillipa Safey, Carl Rosman MD 3205 Move Records  [PC]
JOAN TRIMBLE: Two Pianos - Songs and chamber Music   Various Artists  Marco Polo Irish Composer Series. 8.225059 [PS]
MANFRED TROJAN (1907-83) Fairy Tales and Folk Songs Prince Bajaja (1950 arr 1970) [21.55] The Emperor's Nightingale (1948 arr 1964) [21.22] Czech and Slovak Folk Songs [15.54] Václav Hudecek (violin) Pavel Dreser (accordion) Lubomir Brabec (guitar)   rec 4-6 March 1994, Prague SUPRAPHON 11 2203-2 131 [59.26] [RB]
TRUSCOTT Symphony, Suite in G and Elegy National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, cond. Gary Brain   Marco Polo 8.223674 (60' 52") [PW]
Erkki-Sven Tüür Symphony No.3; Cello Concerto ; Lighthouse for strings. David Geringas (cello) Radio Symphony Orchestra of Vienna, cond. Dennis Russell Davies. ECM New Series 1673 465 134-2 (63 mins) [PW]
JENNIFER BATE plays British organ music PERCY WHITLOCK Organ Music  Jennifer Bate (organ)   ASV QUICKSILVA CD QS 6233 [AS] [RB]
Xenakis Oresteia   Choirs and ensemble, with Spiros Sakkas (baritone) and Sylvio Gualda (percussion) Salabert SCD 8906 49'25" [PW]

Miscellaneous

ENGLISH LUTE SONGS. Works by: Purcell, Lawes, Dowland, Locke, Blow etc. Robin Blaze: countertenor, Elizabeth Kenny: lute Hyperion CDA67126 71m DDD.[GF]
ENGLISH STRING MINIATURES: "Summer Stream": Alan Langford: Four Pieces; Geoffrey Bush: Divertimento; Geoffrey Wright: Two Pieces; Herbert Sumsion: A Mountain Tune; David Lyon: Intermezzo; Anthony Hedges: Divertimento. Royal Ballet Sinfonia/David Lloyd-Jones ASV CD WHL 2121 [PC]
TORTELIER'S FRENCH BONBONS: Works by Hérold, Gounod, Thomas, Massenet, Adam, Chabrier, Auber, Offenbach and Maillart   BBC Philharmonic/Yan Pascal Tortelier   Chandos CHAN 9765 [75' 08''] [PC]
Charlotte CHURCH Various songs and  arias  SONY SK89003 [DW]
RADIO CLASSICS Various composers and orchestras HMV CLASSICS 5 73550 2 [PS]
RENAISSANCE MASTERPIECES   Oxford Camerata, Jeremy Summerly   Naxos 8.550843 [DDD] [69'01] [DW]
OF KNIGHTS AND CASTLES Sinfonia of Cambridge Brass Ensemble/Russell Keable   DUNELM RECORDS DRD 0141
(from 2 Park Close, Glossop, Derbyshire SK13 7RQ) [PS]
Collection: The Land of Mountain and Flood - Scottish Orchestral Music Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by John Wilson  ASV CD WHL 2123 [70:46] [C S-S]
THE ROMANTIC CELLO: Sonatas by PARRY and HURLSTONE, pieces by HARTY    Andrew Fuller (cello), Michael Dussek (piano)   DDD DUTTON CDLX 7102 [PS]
WHALE SPIRIT RISING: MARJAN MOZETICH Fantasia .. sul linguaggio perduto for string orchestra (1981) 14.16 BRIAN ELLIAS Whale Spirit Rising for strings and baritone saxophone (1985) 26.24 KEITH JARRETT Elegy for violin and string orchestra (1985) 18.28 Eleonora Turovsky (violin) David Mott (sax) I Musici de Montreal/Yuli Turovsky   rec Canada 1996-1997 CHANDOS NEW DIRECTION CHAN 9748 [59.18] [RB]
HOPE AND GLORY: Soundtrack to the TV series Music by: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Pachelbel, Wagner etc.   Various Orchestras and conductors. BBC WMSF 6014-2 70m DDD. [GF]
EDWARD & SOPHIE: A Royal Celebration   Official Recording of the wedding service by the BBC BBC WMEF0042-2 55m  [GF]
Richard Rodney BENNETT & John TAVENER Gormenghast  Orchestral score by Richard Rodney Bennett, the BBC Philharmonic conducted by John Harle. Choral music by John Tavener, The Academy of Ancient Music conducted by Paul Goodwin, with The Choir of Temple Church directed by Stephen Layton. Title song sung by Andrew Johnson.   SONY SK89135 [67:20] [GD]
HAMMER FILM COLLECTION Vol 2 GDI Records GDICD005 Distributed by ABM Tel: (0208) 236 2310 Fax: (0208) 236 2312 [PC]
FRANZ REIZENSTEIN - Film Music for "The Mummy"   GDI Records GDICD006. Distributed by ABM Tel: (0208) 236 2310. Fax: (0208) 236 2312. (57' 45'').[PC]

HISTORICAL

The CELIBIDACHE Edition - The Stuttgart Recordings Volume IV: Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)Nocturnes; La Mer; Ibéria (Images pour orchestre No. 2) Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937)Daphnis et Chloé (Suite No. 2); La Valse; Le Tombeau de Couperin; Alborado del gracioso; Rapsodie espagnole SWR Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sergiu Celibidache  DG 453 194-2 3 CDs [163:28] with bonus CD containing La Mer rehearsals [47:59] [IL]
LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI - The Magician   various orchestras  RCA Red Seal - Artists of the Century series RCA 74321 70931 2 2 CD set (CD1 78.10+CD2 70.29) Mid price ADD [RB]
TOSCANINI CONCERT EDITION. Beethoven Symphony No 2 in D, Op 36; Symphony No 4 in B flat, Op 60; Overture Leonore No 3. With broadcast introductions and interval talk by Samuel Chotzinoff. NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini.  Recorded at NBC on 4 November 1939 Naxos 8.110815-16 (2 CDs) [AAD] [95']. [DW]
TOSCANINI CONDUCTS BEETHOVEN. Symphony No 7; Septet, Op 20; Overture Egmont. NBC   Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini.   Radio broadcast 18 November 1939. [AAD] [78' 51"] Naxos 8.110814. [DW]
TOSCANINI CONDUCTS BEETHOVEN. Choral fantasy for piano, chorus and orchestra; Symphony No 9 in D minor 'Choral'.   Anita Dorfman (piano), Jamila Novotna (soprano), Kerstin Thorburg (contralto), Jan Peerce (tenor), Nicola Noscona (bass), Westminster Choir, NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini   . Radio broadcast of 2 December 1939. Naxos 8.110824 [AAD] [80']. [DW]

SPOKEN WORD

REALMS OF GOLD: The Letters and Poems of John Keats Read by Samuel West with Matthew Marsh Naxos Audiobooks NA217412 158m DDD.[GF]

BOOK REVIEWS

The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs (1999) By Ivan March, Edward Greenfield and Robert Layton Paperback - 1600 pages (November 1999) Penguin Books; ISBN: 0140513795  £19.99 (Amazon UK £13.60) [AB]

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A word about the star ratings, they signify:-

excellent	very good	fair	disappointing	avoid

Sometimes the last star will appear bracketed. Thus:

	and
good - nearly very good		almost excellent with some minor reservations

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