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Wednesday
September 26th
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Masterwork Index: Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade
September Download Roundup #2 by Brian Wilson
NOTICES
The Malcolm Arnold Festival, Northampton 21-22 October
includes the World Premiere of The Dancing Master plus Strauss Die Fledermaus
Julian Lloyd Webber plays the Delius cello concerto
A night at the ballet. Suites from Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker and three Arnold Ballet scores (The programme will include Hobson’s Choice, David Copperfield, Sarabande and Polka and Bridge on the River Kwai march.)Have you seen the NMC Map of contemporary music?
Discs received for review A new feature; updated monthly
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OTHER REVIEWS
BOOK REVIEW Music To-day by John Foulds
NOVERRE PRESS, 2010 facsimile reprint of the 1934 original edition [PCG]
We should be very grateful for such a well-printed and bound reissue. All practising composers should take the opportunity to read and learn from this book.
 Arkivmusic
has over 4000 ArkivCDs which are digital remakes of out-of-print CDs
available nowhere else. New issues now contain full booklet notes
link |
182 reviews completed so far this month.
Wednesday September 26th
Georges BIZET (1838-1875) Carmen - Opera in 4 Acts (1875) Carmen - Magdalena Kožená (mezzo); Don José - Jonas Kaufmann (tenor); Chorus and Children’s Choir of the State Opera Unter den Linden
A highly desirable Carmen.
Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Nineteen Nocturnes
rec. 1965The only reason this new re-mastering doesn’t say ‘Recording of the Month’ is that everyone already agrees it was a ‘Recording of the Century’.
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Sir John Barbirolli conducts Elgar Variations on an Original Theme, Enigma, Op. 36 Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 Elegy, Op. 58
Will give great pleasure to the connoisseur of the partnership between Elgar and Barbirolli.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sir Edward ELGAR The Apostles, Op. 49 [114:29] Soloists, Hallé Choir; Hallé Youth Choir; Hallé Orchestra/Sir Mark Elder rec.2012 English text included
Performed beautifully. Everyone is on quite spectacular form.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johann Jacob FROBERGER (1616 - 1667) Suites and Toccatas
This disc has to be ranked among the best recordings of Froberger's music.
Imogen HOLST (1907-1984) Choral works Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) orch. I HOLST Rejoice in the Lamb: A Festival Cantata (1943, orch 1952)** [15:46]
Imogen Holst’s fastidiously crafted and enjoyable choral music in excellent performances
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756 - 1791) Symphony No. 36 in C major, Linz, Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, Twelve Minuets, K568
Blech’s Linz symphony is excellent and ahead of its time.
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1907-1975) Symphony No. 11 in G minor, The Year 1905 (1957)
rec. 2001. Stereo and multi-channelSACD [59:11] [DM]
A travesty; avoid.
Hye-jin YOON (b.?1971) Thinking Being Irresistibly Burnt
Real Korean music at no risk to sanity and very little expense.
Concertos László WEINER (1916-1944) Concerto for Flute, Viola, Piano and String Orchestra (1941) [23:33] Leon KLEPPER (1900-1991) Concertino for Flute, Viola and String Orchestra (1961) [15:48] Ernest BLOCH (1880-1959) Concertino for Flute, Viola and String Orchestra (1950) [7:59] Ervin SCHULHOFF (1894-1942) Concerto doppio for Flute, Piano and Chamber Orchestra, WV 89 (1927) [19:33]
A decently constructed programme.
Vladimir Gorbach (guitar) Astor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) The Four Seasons [19:33]; Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Sonata K441 [4:57]; Sonata K87 [6:51]; Sonata K27 [4:17]; Sonata K431 [1:16]; Mauro GIULIANI (1781-1829) Rondoletto [6:08] Vicente ASENCIO (1908-1979) La Serenor [5:03]; La Joia [3:03]; La Calma [2:35]; La Gaubança [1:54]; La Frisança [3:23] rec. 2-5 February 2012, St John Chrysostom Church, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.
Exemplary in many aspects, but marred by relatively inferior sonic qualities of the disc.
Erwin Schrott: Arias BIZET, BOITO, GOMES,GOUNOD, MASSENET, OFFENBACH, PUCCINI, SOROZABAL, VERDI
Solid enough and decidedly more than that in places.
Tuesday September 25th
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano sonata 21 Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Partita 2 Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Impromptus
Don’t let the anonymously excellent Bach and Beethoven cause you to miss some remarkable Schubert.
António FRAGOSO (1897-1918) Allegro, Suite Romantique, Piano trio
One of the finest piano trios ever to have come out of Portugal.
Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) String Quartets 2 & 3
The first disc in what is likely to be a must-have cycle for all lovers of 20th century music.
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Operas from the Salzburg Festival 1966, 1982 & 2003
[180:00 +189:00 +169:00] [RJF]
Outstanding singing in three productions spread over thirty-seven years. They illustrate changes in opera performance practice and production policy over that time.
Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Il Trittico
A wonderful addition to the discography.
Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano Concertos 1 & 4, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
This disc raises questions that will only be answered by new recordings from the artist.
Jean RICHAFORT (c.1480-after 1547) Missa pro defunctis Josquin DES PREZ (c.1450/55-1521) Miserere mei, Deus
Sublime inspiration from start to finish.
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Humoreske, Fantasiestucke
Rewardingly excellent playing.
British Clarinet Sonatas Vol. 1 John IRELAND (1879-1962) Fantasy Sonata Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Sonata Arnold BAX (1883-1953) Sonata Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983) Sonata
A self-recommending start to the new Chandos series.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Quam Dilecta - French Romantic Choral Music
A stunning release.
Monday September 24th
Carl Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714 - 1788) Songs
The main interest of this disc is that it brings the solo songs by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach to the attention of those who are not familiar with them.
Tony BANKS (b.1950) SIX Pieces for Orchestra
An enjoyable journey.
Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945) Complete works for violin - Vol.2: Sonata for violin; 44 Duos for two violins
These duos are superb in the enjoyment they give.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Diabelli Variations
The Diabelli Variations as they were heard in Beethoven’s time. An infectious recording that bubbles over with joy.
František BENDA (1709-1786) Four Violin Concertos
Highly accomplished and highly polished and well presented here.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ernest BLOCH (1880 - 1959) Schelomo; From Jewish Life; Voice in the Wilderness Max BRUCH (1838 - 1920) Kol Nidrei
Superb readings and recording of Bloch's output for cello and orchestra, a must-have for all his admirers.
Luigi CHERUBINI (1760-1842) Koukourgi
A very enjoyable piece that adds to our understanding of Cherubini.
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Chansons de Bilitis Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Sonnetti di Petrarca Henri DUPARC (1848-1933) Songs
Exquisitely refined and deeply moving.
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Pomp and Circumstance Marches 3 & 5; Nimrod; Sonata; Sospiri; Severn Suite; For the Fallen
I could not fault this excellent disc.
Karlheinz STOCKHAUSEN (1928-2007) Tierkreis; With interpolation of material by Machaut, des Molins, Ciconia, Pykini, da Bologna, de Cluny and anonymous composers
While questions linger this is atmospheric music.
Friday September 21st
Morton FELDMAN (1926-1987) Spring of Chosroes, Extensions, Vertical Thoughts, Piece for Four Pianos, For John Cage
A collection of Feldman’s works for these two instruments, with especially the 76-minute For John Cage, a great late work.
Morton GOULD (1913-1966) Concerto Grosso, World War I, Holocaust, Formations Suite
An enjoyable reissue offering glimpses of some of the many sides of an underrated composer.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gabriel JACKSON (b. 1962) Beyond The Stars - Sacred Choral Works Vol. II
Gabriel Jackson surely has no finer advocates.
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) String Quartets 13-15
Gripping and responsive.
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony 15
Haitink offers a deep and impressive view of Shostakovich’s last symphony.
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Romeo and Juliet, Symphony 5
Self-recommending to all admirers of Guido Cantelli.
Christian WESTERHOFF (1763-1806) Clarinet Concerto, Concerto for Clarinet & Bassoon, Symphony
An easy choice for anybody who likes music from the era of Weber and young Schubert.
Claudio Arrau - The 80th Birthday Recital Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano sonatas Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Reflets dans l’eau Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Les jeux d’eaux à la Villa d’Este, Ballade 2 Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) Scherzo 1
These are fortunately complementary, charting Arrau at different stages in his later life.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Between Two Worlds
Simply gorgeous; a guaranteed pick-me-up.
Kathleen Ferrier Complete EMI recordings
Leaves one again regretting Ferrier’s early death and realising the loss for the musical life of this country that it entailed.
Thursday September 20th
Carl Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788) The Solo Keyboard Music Vol. 24
Another attractive recording of C.P.E. Bach’s solo keyboard music on clavichord.
Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Masterworks
Enjoyment offered in generous abundance.
Sigfrid KARG-ELERT (1877-1933) The Complete Organ Works Vol. 6
Karg-Elert represented by works that are generally of a slower, softer, more reflective nature.
Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Violin Concerto Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) Violin Concerto, Adagio for Strings
Passionate and memorable.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) The Year 1941, Symphony 5
An auspicious launch of Marin Alsop’s Prokofiev symphony cycle in São Paulo.
Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) La Scala di Seta
One should perhaps be grateful that this exists at all and some enthusiasm is due for the quality of the musical performance.
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Joanna d'Arc
Idiomatic conducting, but mediocre soloists. This live performance only fills the gap of a modern recording for enthusiasts.
Antonio ZACARA da Teramo (c1350/60-1413 or later) Spinato intorno al cor
Captivating performances of music by one of the most intriguing composers of around 1400.
Piano Rarities Vol. 2: French Composers
Every track has its own highly attractive and distinctive features.
Leopold Stokowski - The Blue Danube Waltz and music for strings
True and compelling revelations.
Click for alphabetical listings by composer:
[Part 1 New] [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part 5 S-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L] [Part 7 Misc M-Z]
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