4x4
North-West John
REEMAN (b. 1946) Scena (2002)a
[18 :11] Anthony GILBERT (b. 1934) String
Quartet No.4 (2002)b [20 :54] David
ELLIS (b. 1933) String Quartet
No.3 Op.70 (2002)a [27:16] Duncan
DRUCE (b. 1939) String Quartet No.4 (2005)a
[11:44] Manchester
Camerata Ensemblea; Tavec String Quartetb rec.
(live) St Thomas Church, Stockport, March 2005 (Reeman); Bollington
Arts Centre, Cheshire, march 2003 (Gilbert); Stockport Grammar School,
July 2004 (Ellis) and Mellor Parish Church, Stockport, July 2006 (Druce)
CAMPION CAMEO 2046
[78:55][HC]
A
very fine release with four appealing works that clearly deserve to
be heard more than once. I enjoyed it enormously. ... see Full
Review
Believe in Love
– Rare
French and Italian Opera Arias Charles
GOUNOD (1818–1893) Sapho
(1851) - O ma lyre immortelle [5:29] La Reine de Saba (1862)
- Plus grand, dans son obscurité [5:30] Franco
FACCIO (1840–1891) Amleto (1865) - Dubita pur che brillino
[3:40] Carlos GOMES (1836–1896) Salvator
Rosa (1874) - Alla infelice suora–Volate, volate [4:13]
Charles GOUNOD Cinq Mars (1877) - Nuit resplendissante
[5:01] Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835–1921)
Étienne Marcel (1879) - O beaux rêves évanouis!
[3:43] Charles GOUNOD Le Tribut
de Zamora (1881) - Que me dis-tu? [4:40] Amilcare
PONCHIELLI (1834–1886) Marion Delorme (1885) - M’è
tolto, ahimè, d’essere felice [3:45] Umberto
GIORDANO (1867–1948) Andrea Chenier (1896) - La mamma
morta [3:47] Ruggero LEONCAVALLO (1857–1919)
Chatterton (1896) - Benedetta dal ciel [2:09]
Zazà (1900) - Mamma! Io non l’ho avuta mai! [3:07]; Va
via! [2:27] Francesco CILEA (1866–1950)
Adriana Lecouvreur (1902) - Io son l’umile ancella [3:03]
Umberto GIORDANO Siberia (1903)
- Ah! Finalmente! [2:33] Francesco CILEA
Gloria (1907)- Amare! Amar! [2:27]; O mia cuna fiorita
[3:05] Pietro MASCAGNI (1863–1945) Isabeau
(1911) - Venne una vecchierella [3:18] Sì (1919) - Sortita
di Sì [3:24]
Elizabeth Whitehouse (soprano) Orchestra Victoria/Richard Bonynge rec.
14–18 February 2005, Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash University Arts Centre
MELBA
MR 301104 SACD [67:25] [GF]
Readers
with an interest in some operatic by-ways
will find much to enjoy here. All the readings
are well considered and finely executed. ...
see Full
Review
Leon
Björker – Bass
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Die Zauberflöte 1.
Herr, ich bin zwar Verbrecherin [6:31] 2. O Isis und
Osiris [3:17] 3. In diesen heil’gen Hallen
[4:08] Don Giovanni 4. Don Giovanni,
a cenar teco [6:43] Richard WAGNER (1813–1883)
Tannhäuser 5. Gar viel und schön ward hier
in dieser Halle [4:45] Die Meistersinger von
Nürnberg 6. Nicht doch, Ihr Meister [4:02]
Giuseppe VERDI (1813–1901) La forza del destino
7. Il santo nome di Dio Signore [7:26] Requiem 8. Confutatis
maledictis [4:56] Ture RANGSTRÖM (1884–1947)
Kronbruden (The Crown Bride) 9. Stig
Mattsson, jag har kallat på dig [4:41] Kurt
ATTERBERG (1887–1974) Fanal 10.
Vart sjönk vårt människovärde hän [3:12] Charles
GOUNOD (1818–1893) Roméo et Juliette 11. Dieu
qui fis l’homme [6:10] Carlos GOMES (1836–1896)
Il Guarany 12. Alfin giungemmo all’ospitale tetto [2:22]
13. Che siate I benvenuti [5:50] 14. Gentile di cuore
[3:10] 15. Cecilia, esulta. Resto ai nostril lari–Salve
possente Vergine [5:46] Leon
Björker (bass) Helga Görlin (soprano), Simon
Edwardsen (tenor), Einar Andersson (tenor) (tr. 1); Sigurd Björling
(baritone), Folke Jonsson (bass) (tr. 4); Conny Molin (baritone) (tr.
6); Brita Herzberg (soprano) (tr. 7); Jussi Björling (tenor), Hjördis
Schymberg (soprano), Göta Allard (soprano) (tr. 11); Copnny Söderström
(tenor), Henriette Guermant (soprano), Sigurd Björling (baritone), Arne
Ohlson (tenor), Gösta Björling (tenor), Georg Svedenbrant (baritone)
(tr. 12-15); Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus/Issay Dobrowen
(tr. 8); Royal Orchestra (and Chorus)/Herbert Sandberg; Nils Grevillius;
Sixten Ehrling; Leo Blech rec. Concert Hall, Stockholm (tr.
8), Royal Opera House, Stockholm, 1934–1959
BLUEBELL ABCD 102 [74:12][GF]
All
in all this disc offers such magnificent bass singing that it should
be in every respectable vocal collection.... see Full
Review
Box of Delights
Phyllis TATE (1911-1985)
London Fields (1958) [13:14] Samuel
COLERIDGE-TAYLOR (1875-1912) Four Characteristic Waltzes,
Op.22 (1899) – Valse de la reine [4:30] Three-fours – Valse Suite,
Op.71 (1909) arranged by Norman O’Neill No.2 Andante [2:47]; No.5 Andante
molto [4:12] Granville BANTOCK
(1868-1946) Russian Scenes (1899) [14:18] Cecil
ARMSTRONG-GIBBS (1889-1960) Fancy Dress – Dance Suite
Op.82 (1935) [17:22] Elisabeth
LUTYENS (1906-1983) En Voyage, suite for full orchestra
(1944) [15:02] London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Simon Joly (Lutyens)
rec. Tate: March 1988, Walthamstow Town Hall, August 1989, Henry Wood
Hall; remainder in Henry Wood Hall, August and September 1989. DDD
LYRITA SRCD214 [71:32] [JW]
Banish
humdrum days with this delightful collection
... see Full
Review
The British
Book Judith
WEIR
(b. 1954) String
Quartet (1990) [13:27] Edward
ELGAR (1857–1934) String Quartet
in E minor Op.83 (1918) [26:11] Peter
Maxwell DAVIES (b. 1934) Little
Quartet No.1 (1980) [8:50] Little Quartet
No.2 (1977, rev. 1987) [4:03]
Reinhold-Quartett rec. MDR Chorsaal, Augustplatz,
Leipzig, April, December 2005
GENUIN GEN 86065 [52:59] [JS]
The
overall impression is favourable, especially
the Weir and Maxwell Davies. ... see Full
Review
British
Composers Conduct on Acoustic Frederic COWEN (1852-1935) The Butterfly's
Ball Overture (1901) Symphony Orchestra/Cowen rec. 1916 [3:27] Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) The Sea - suite (1910-11)
London Symphony Orchestra/Frank Bridge rec. 1923 [17:17] Gustav HOLST (1874-1934) Beni Mora -
Oriental site (1909-10) London Symphony Orchestra/Gustav Holst rec.
1924 [13:57] Charles Villiers STANFORD
(1852-1924) Songs of the Fleet op.117 (1910) Harold Williams
(baritone) London Symphony Orchestra/Stanford rec. 1923 [22:13] Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Fringes of the Fleet (1917) Charles
Mott, Frederick Henry, Frederick Stewart, Harry Barratt (baritones)
Symphony Orchestra/Elgar rec. 1917 [14:09] Landon
RONALD (1873-1938) In An Eastern Garden (No.2 from
The Garden of Allah) (1920) [4:23]
Arthur Beckwith (violin) Royal Albert Hall Orchestra/Landon Ronald rec.
1920 DUTTON CDBP 9777
[76:13][RB]
An
historically important collection of special interest to British music
enthusiasts and academics. ... see Full
Review
British Music for flute, oboe and piano
Eugène GOOSSENS (1893-1962)
Pastorale et Arlequinade for flute, oboe and piano (1924)
[6:58] Madeleine DRING (1923-1977)
Trio for flute, oboe and piano (1968) [9:56] Richard
Rodney BENNETT (b. 1936) Sounds and Sweet Aires for
flute, oboe and piano (1985) [12:55] Edward
McGUIRE (b. 1948) Three Dialogues for flute and oboe
(1966) [5:10] Rhian SAMUEL (b. 1944)
Shadow Dance for flute, oboe and piano (1984) [4:36] Thea
MUSGRAVE (b. 1928) Impromptu for flute and oboe (1967)
[4:59] Malcolm ARNOLD (1921-2006)
Suite Bourgeoise for flute, oboe and piano (c.1939-40) [11:56]
Nancy Ruffer (flute);
John Anderson (oboe); Helen Crayford (piano) rec. St. Silas Church,
Chalk Farm, London, 18–19 July 2005 (Bennett; McGuire; Samuel; Musgrave);
Potton Hall, Suffolk, 18 May 2006 (Goossens; Dring; and Arnold). DDD
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7181
[57:50][[MC]
Dutton
have released a well performed and recorded disc of delightful British
Music for flute, oboe and piano. ... see Full
Review
Pablo Casals:
Encores and Transcriptions 5 (Complete Acoustic
Recordings 3) Fryderyk CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Nocturne in E flat arr. Popper [3:52]
Frederick CROUCH (1808-1896) Kathleen Mavourneen [2:56]
Thomas MOORE (1779-1852) Believe me if all those endearing
young charms [3:06] Edward ELGAR
(1857-1934) Salut d’amour [2:29]
Katharine Tynan HINKSON Would God I were the tender apple
blossom [3:08] David POPPER (1843-1913)
Gavotte in D, Op. 23 [4:05]
Anton RUBINSTEIN (1829-1894) Romance in E flat [2:59]
Edward MACDOWELL (1860-1908) To a Wild Rose [2:47]
Giovanni SGAMBATI (1841-1914) Serenata Napoletana, Op. 24, No.
2 [3:16] Teresa Clothilde
Del RIEGO (1876-1968) Oh, dry those tears [3:23]
Max BRUCH (1838–1920) Kol Nidrei [9:03]
Alexander GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Mélodie arabe, Op. 20, No. 1 [3:15]
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Adagio from Concerto in D
[4:36] Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Serenade, Op. 67, No. 6 [2:25]
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Sapphische Ode [3:27]
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Mélodie Op.42 No.3
[3:10] Autumn Songs. Op. 37, No. 10 [3:55]
Georg Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Minuet [2:22] Cesar
CUI (1835-1918) Berceuse, Op. 20, No. 18 [3:09]
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Adagio from Adagio and
Fugue in C BWV 564 arr. Siloti [4:16] Enrique
GRANADOS (1867-1916) Intermezzo from Goyescas - arr. Gaspar
Cassadó [4:41] Pablo Casals
(cello) Walter Golde (piano); Romano Romani (piano); Edouard Gnedron
(piano) Unnamed orchestral accompaniment rec.1920-25
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110987 [76:22] [JW]
A
great series for lovers of mouthful titles.
And the longer it proceeds – to all our musical
benefit – the more complicated it gets. ...
see Full
Review
The Cold Dancer –
Contemporary String Quartets from Scotland
Kenneth DEMPSTER (b. 1962) String
Quartet No.4 The Cold Dancer (2005) [12:22] James
CLAPPERTON (b. 1968) The Great Divorce (1990) [16:03] Judith
WEIR (b. 1954) String Quartet (1990) [13:23] William
SWEENEY (b. 1950) String Quartet No.3 (2004) [36:34]
The Edinburgh Quartet rec. no information available, published 2006
DELPHIAN DCD 34038
[78:24] [HC]
Much
very beautiful music to be heard here. ...
see Full Review
Don Quixote in Spanish Music
Joaquín RODRIGO (1901-1999)
Ausencias de Dulcinea (1947-8) [12:24] 1 José
García ROMÁN (b.1945) La resurrección de Don
Quijote (1993-4) [16:45] 2 Francisco
Asenjo BARBIERI (1823-1894) Don Quijote (1861) [9:46] 3 Jorgé
Fernández GUERRA (b.1952) Tres momentos de Don Quichotte
(2004-5) [18:06] Gerardo GOMBAU (1906-1971)
Don Quijote velando las armas (1945) [9:11] Orquesta
y Coro de la Comminidad de Madrid/José Ramón Encinar,
with Lillian Moriani, Victoria Marchante, Celia Alcedo
(soprano); María José Suárez (mezzo); Antonio José Lopez (baritone) 1;
Víctor Arriola (violin) 2; Fernando Cobo (tenor) 3.
rec. 13-22 July 2005, Sede de la Orquesta y Coro de la Communidad de
Madrid, Hortaleza, Madrid
NAXOS 8.570260 [66:12][GPu]
A
pleasant exploration of some Spanish musical responses to Don Quixote
introduces us to some unfamiliar works in a well-paled and well-recorded
programme … see Full Review
Festive
Mass at the Imperial Court of Vienna 1648
Girolamo FANTINI (c.1602-1675) Imperial Sonata No.1 (c.1638)
[3:12] Andreas RAUCH (1592-1656) Atollite Portas, Principes
(1634) [5:15] RAUCH Jubilate Deo for Four Choirs (c.1648)
[3:31] Christoph STRAUS
(c.1575-1631) Missa Veni Sponsa Christi
(c.1620-30): Symphonia-Kyrie-Gloria [8:36] Giovanni
PRIULI (1575-1629) Venite Exultemus in 8 parts
(c.1620) [2:31] STRAUS Missa Veni Sponsa Christi:Credo [8:06] Antonio
BERTALI (1605-1669) Sonata I (c.1640) [2:12]
RAUCH Benedicite for Four Choirs (c.1648) [5:59] STRAUS Missa Veni Sponsa Christi: Sanctus-Benedictus [2:35] PRIULI O Quam Dulcis in 8 parts (c.1620) [3:43] RAUCH Pater Noster for Three Choirs (c.1648) [4:06] STRAUS Missa Veni Sponsa Christi: Agnus Dei [1:55] BERTALI Sonata II (c.1640) [2:01] RAUCH Cantate Domino for Five Choirs (c.1648) [5:59] FANTINI Imperial Sonata No.2 (c.1638) [2:25]
Yvonne Seymour (soprano); Margaret Cable (mezzo); Rogers Covey-Crump
(tenor); Phillip Daggett (tenor); Ian Partridge
(tenor); David Collins (tenor); Stephen Varcoe (bass); Roger
Langford (bass) Yorkshire Bach Choir; Yorkshire
Baroque Soloists; Baroque Brass of London/Peter Seymour rec.
11-13 July 1989, Chapel of St. Mary and St. Eviralda, Everingham
ALTO
ALC 1006 [62:44][WK]
A
reissue from 1989 demonstrating both some
fine little-known music and the expertise
of the Yorkshire Bach Choir at its best. ...
see Full
Review
The Golden Age
of Light Music – Amor Amor - Music
for Romance - see
review for details rec. 1940-56
GUILD
LIGHT MUSIC GLCD 5133 [78:24] [JW]
Another
notch then on Guild’s Light Music bedpost
- insinuating romance from a less than burnished
time. ... see Full
Review
The
Golden Age of Light Music: Continental Flavour
see review for full listing rec. 1930-56
GUILD LIGHT MUSIC GLCD 5132 [77:03] [JW]
Another
successful entrant in this increasingly exhaustive and sometimes
exhausting series ... see Full
Review
Great
Tenor Arias Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) La donna e mobile (Rigoletto)
[3:34] Alfredo Kraus (ten) Philharmonia Orchestra/Julius Rudel (rec.1979);
Celeste Aida (Aida) [4:49] Jose Carreras (ten) Vienna Philharmonic/Herbert
von Karajan (rec.1980); Di quella pira (Il Trovatore) [2:02]
Franco Corelli (ten) Chorus and Orchestra of Rome Opera House/Thomas
Schippers (rec.1965); Ingemisco (Requiem) [3:43]
Luciano Pavarotti (ten); Orchestra of La Scala, Milan/Riccardo Muti
(rec.1987) Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Recondita armonia (Tosca) [2:53] Placido Domingo (ten) National
Philharmonic/Eugene Kohn (rec.1990); E lucevan le stelle (Tosca)
[2:59] Carlo Bergonzi (ten) Orchestra of Rome Opera House/Thomas Schippers
(rec.1965) Che gelida manina (La Boheme) [4:29]Nicolai Gedda
(ten) Orchestra of Rome Opera House/Thomas Schippers (rec.1964) Dovunque
al mondo (Madame Butterfly) [2:59] Jussi Bjoerling (ten), Mario
Sereni (bar) Orchestra of Rome Opera House/Gabriele Santini (rec.1961);
Nessun dorma (Turandot) [4:10] Jose Carreras (ten); Strasbourg
Philharmonic/Alain Lombard (rec.1978) Pietro
MASCAGNI (1863-1945) Viva il vino spumeggiante (Cavalleria
rusticana) [3:08] Jose Carreras (ten) Julia Hamari (mezzo) Ambrosian
Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra/Riccardo Muti (rec.1980); Tutto ho tentato
(L’amico Fritz) [3:11] Luciano Pavarotti (ten); Chorus and Orchestra
of Covent Garden. Gianandrea Gavazzeni (rec.1968) Franz
LEHÁR (1870-1948) Gern hab ich die Frau’n geküsst
(Paganini) [3:17] Nicolai Gedda (ten) Bavarian Symphony Orchestra/Willi
Boskovsky (rec.1977); Da geh’ ich zu Maxim (Merry Widow) [2:53]
Nicolai Gedda (ten); Graunke Symphony Orchestra/Willy Mattes (rec.1967)
Georges BIZET (1838-1875)
La fleur que tu m’avais jetée (Carmen) [4:16] Jon Vickers (ten);
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra/Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos (rec.1970) Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Un’ aura amorosa (Cosi
fan tutte) [4:44] Alfredo Kraus (ten); Philharmonia Orchestra/Karl
Böhm (rec.1963) Gaetano DONIZETTI
(1797-1848) Fra poco a me ricovero (Lucia di Lammermoor)
[3:38] Alfredo Kraus (ten); Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Nicola Rescigno
(rec.1984) Francesco Paolo TOSTI
(1846-1916) Marechiare [3:25] Ruggero
LEONCAVALLO (1857-1919) Mattinata [2:06] Giuseppe
di Stefano (ten); Orchestra/Gian Mario Guarino (rec.1961) Rudolf
SIECZYNSKI (1879-1952) Wien, du Stadt meiner Träume
[4:51) Placido Domingo (ten); English Chamber Orchestra. Julius Rudel
(rec.1986) Friedrich von FLOTOW
(1812-1883) Ach so fromm (Martha) [2:47] Fritz Wunderlich (ten);
Berlin Symphony Orchestra/Berislav Klobucar (rec.1960)
CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 0946 3 82618 2 7 [70:23][TH]
Few
complaints regarding choice of music and performances ... see Full
Review
Heavenly
Harmonies -
Three Trebles from Blackburn Cathedral Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Currite populi
[03:14] Maledetto sia l'aspetto [01:18] Alessandro GRANDI (c1577-1630) O quam tu pulchra
es [03:05] Marc-Antoine CHARPENTIER (1643-1704) Panis angelicus
(H 243) [01:25] Thomas TOMKINS (1572-1656) A Fantasy [03:03]
George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Rodelinda (HWV
19): Art thou troubled (after Dove sei) [04:30] Semele (HWV 58):
Where'er you walk [04:26] Messiah (HWV 56) He shall feed his
flock [04:50]; How beautiful are the feet [02:15] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Magnificat in D
(BWV 243): Et exultavit [02:47]Gottfried Heinrich STÖLZEL (?) (1690-1749) Bist
du bei mir [02:44] Johann Sebastian BACHWas mir behagt,
ist nur die muntre Jagd (BWV 208): Schafe können sicher weiden
[04:19] Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Voluntary
in G (Z 720) [02:45] Evening Hymn (Z 193) [03:48] Joseph CORFE (1740-1820) My misdeeds prevail against
me [02:59] Maurice GREENE (1696-1755) Arise!, Shine, O Zion,
anthem: The Gentiles shall come to Thy light [01:10] Matthew LOCKE (c1621-1677) O Domine
Jesu Christe/ [01:42] Anon. Sweet was the song (Egerton-ms) [01:35]
James NARES (1715-1783) Rejoice in the Lord o
ye righteous [04:28] Peter CORNET (c1560-c1626) Fantasia [02:21]
Maurice GREENE Lord, let me know mine end, anthem:
For man walketh in a vain shadow/ [01:14] Joseph CORFE I will magnify thee, O Lord [02:30]
Thomas Augustine ARNE (1710-1778) Where the bee
sucks [02:32] William CROFT (1678-1727) Voluntary in d minor
[01:56] Pelham HUMFREY (1647-1674) A Hymn to God the Father
[02:29] Michael ARNE (1740/41-1786) Care flies from the
lad that is merry [01:22] Richard DERING (c1580-1630)
Gaudent in coelis [01:44]
Daniel Adams, James Holding,
Thomas Croxson (trebles), Richard Tanner, Greg Morris (organ) rec. March,
April 2002; August 2004, Blackburn Cathedral, UK. DDD
LAMMAS LAMM194D [72:44] [JV]
This
disc is mainly interesting for the singing of the three trebles,
whereas the interpretation of the music is not always satisfying … see Full
Review
Improvisata Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Sinfonia “Improvisata” in C major [3:23]
Giovanni Battista SAMMARTINI
(c.1700-1775) Overture (sinfonia) in G minor J-C 57 (c.1740s)
[9:11] Carlo MONZA (c.1735-1801)
Sinfonia detta “La tempesta di mare” in D major edited Fabio Biondi
[5:44] Luigi BOCCHERINI (1743-1805)
Sinfonia No.6 “La casa del diavolo” (1771) revised Antonio de Almeida
[19:15] Giuseppe DEMACHI (1732-after
1791) Sinfonia “Le campane di Roma” in F major [16:03]
Europa Galante/Fabio Biondi (violin/director) rec. Fondazione Teatro
Regio di Parma, Auditorium Paganini, November 2004
VIRGIN CLASSICS 3 63430 2 [53:38][JW]
Authoritative,
intelligent and entirely successful performances ... see Full
Review
Jewish
Operas Volume 2 David SCHIFF (b. 1945) Gimpel the
Fool (excerpts) (1985) [23.39] (1) Elie SIEGMEISTER (1909-1991) Lady of the Lake
(excerpts) (1985) [17.36] (2) Hugo WEISGALL (1912-1997) Esther (excerpts)
(1993) [11:07] (3)
Gimpel – Gary Moss (baritone) (1) Elka –Megan Besley (soprano) (1) Goat
– Alissa Mercurio (soprano) (1) Apprentice – Michael Gallant (tenor)
(1) Rabbi – Nicholas Phan (tenor) (1) Badkhn – Theodore Bikel (speaker)
(1) Isabella – Carol Meyer (soprano) (2) Blumberg - Robert McPherson
(baritone) (2) Ernesto – Marcus DeLoach (baritone) (2) Esther – Juliana
Gondek (soprano) (3) Xerxes – Ted Christopher (baritone) (3) University
of Michigan Opera Orchestra and Chorus/Kenneth Kiesler (1) Seattle Symphony/Gerard
Schwarz (2, 3) rec. (1) Hill Auditorium, University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor, January 2001; (2) Batsyr University Chapel, Seattle, May 2000;
(3) Benaroya Hall, Seattle, May 1999
NAXOS 8.559450 [54.22][RH]
A
fascinating disc. One well worth exploring if you are interested in
20th century opera. My only real complaint was that it was
too short and could have been twice as long. ... see Full
Review
Walther Kirchhoff (1879-1951)
Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Das
Rheingold (1869) - Immer ist Undank Loges Lohn [4:04] Das Rheingold
(1869) – Über Stock und Stein zu Tal [4:03] Lohengrin (1850) – Nun sei
bedankt [2:33] Lohengrin (1850) – Atmest du nicht mit
mir die süssen Düfte [2:53] Lohengrin (1850) –
Höchstes Vertrau’n [3:47] Lohengrin (1850) – In
fernen Land [3:59] Lohengrin (1850) – Mein lieber
Schwan [4:01] Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1868)
– Fanget an! [3:20] Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
(1868) – Morgenlich leuchtend [3:37] Rienzi (1840)
– Allmächt’ger Vater, blick herab! [3:22]
Die Walküre (1870) – Winterstüwichen dem Wonnemond [2:56]
Siegfried (1876) – Dass der mein Vater nicht is [7:25]
Siegfried (1876) – Freundliches Vöglein, dich frage ich
[4:16] ¹ Götterdämmerung (1869-74) – Zu neuen Taten,
teurer Helde [11:04] ² Götterdämmerung (1869-74)
– Helle Wehr [3:12] ² ³ Götterdämmerung (1869-74)
– Brünnhilde! Heilige Braut [3:31] Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Un ballo in maschera (1859)
– O sag’ wenn ich fahr’ [3:03]
Walther Kirchhoff (tenor) Olga Schramm-Tschörner
¹ Margarete Bäumer ² Alfred
Göbel ³ Unidentified accompanists rec. 1914-32
PREISER 89686 [72:25][JW]
Impresses
by virtue of his powers of characterisation. ... see Full
Review
Erich
Kleiber Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Euryanthe:
Overture (1823) [9:10] Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphony No. 33 in
B flat major K.319 (1779) [20:01] Pyotr
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No. 6 in B
minor Op.74 ‘Pathétique’ (1892) [46:30] Kölner
Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester/Erich Kleiber rec. Funkhaus,
Saal 1, WDR Cologne, 20 January 1956 (Weber), 23 November
1953
(Mozart), 28 March 1955 (Tchaikovsky) MEDICI
ARTS MM003-2 [75:51] [DC]
The
orchestra might not be the greatest Kleiber ever conducted, but
there is a sense of the musicians consciously raising their game
for the old master ... see Full Review
The
Art of Lang Lang
Franz LISZT
(1811-1886) Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in c-charp minor [9:05]
Liebestraum, S. 541 No. 3 [5:46] Peter
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concerto No. 1 in b-flat minor
Op. 23 Allegro con fuoco [7:18] Lu
WENCHENG (1898-1981) Autumn Moon on a Calm Lake (arr. Chen
Peixun) [4:08] Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856) Kinderszenen Op. 15: Traumerei [3:18] Frederic
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Nocturne in D-flat Op. 27 No. 2 (Live)
[6:41] Piano Sonata No. 3 in b minor Op. 58 Finale. Presto non tanto
[5:29] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Piano Sonata in C, K330 Allegro moderato
[6:35] Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in c minor, Op. 18 Adagio sostenuto
[12:27] Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, variation 18 [2:49]
Lang LANG and Lang GUO-REN
Horses [2:52] Yellow River Piano Concerto: Prelude: The song of
the Yellow River Boatmen [3:30]
Lang Lang (piano) Orchestras, conductors, and recording venues not given
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON
442 9484 [69:48] [DB]
A
showpiece to a new popular talent … see Full
Review
The
Language of Love - Songs
of the troubadours and trouvères ANONYMOUS (13th Century) Por
coi me bait mes maris? [2:23] Dansse Real* [3:05] La
Tierche Estampie Roial [3:08] En un vergier [6:56] La
Quarte Estampie Royal [2:50] En ma forest [3:12] Bele
Doette [9:04] La Prime Estampie Royal [3:40] Giraut
de BORNELH (c.1140 – c.1200) Reis glorios [7:32] Gaucelm
FAIDIT (c.1170 – 1230) Lo rossinholet salvatge [9:50] Colin
MUSET (fl. 1200) Volez oir la muse Muset?* [6:50] Bernart
de VENTADORN (c.1130 – c.1200) Can l’erba fresch’ [6:18] Duo
Trobairitz: Faye Newton (soprano, symphonie*); Hazel Brooks
(vielle) rec. 17-18 February, 2005, St. Andrew’s Church Toddington
Gloucestershire,
United Kingdom. DDD HYPERION
CDA67634 [64:55]
[MS]
An
excellent and carefully performed set of French troubadour and
trouvère music; sparse, highly melodious and performed with great
gentleness and candour … see Full
Review
Legendary
British Performers (Classic Archive) ANONYMOUS
Have you seen but the white lily grow Filmed in Paris, 26 December 1972
Alfred Deller and
Mark Deller (counter-tenors); Desmond Dupré (lute/guitar) John
BLOW (1649-1708) Ah, Heav'n! What is't I hear? Filmed
in Paris, 26 December 1972 Alfred Deller and Mark Deller (counter-tenors);
Desmond Dupré (lute/guitar) Henry PURCELL
(1658-1695) Sound the trumpet Filmed in Paris, 26 December 1972
Alfred Deller and Mark Deller (counter-tenors); Desmond Dupré (lute/guitar)
Philip ROSSETER (1567-1623) What
then is love but mourning? Filmed in Paris, 26 December 1972 Alfred
Deller and Mark Deller (counter-tenors); Desmond Dupré (lute/guitar)
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (from Cantata BWV147) Arr.Myra Hess,
Filmed in London, 20 October 1954 Myra Hess (piano) Adagio (from
Toccata, Adagio & Fugue, BWV564) Filmed in London, 20 October
1954 Myra Hess (piano) Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110
Filmed in London, 20 October 1954 Myra Hess (piano) Frank
BRIDGE (1879-1941) Go Not, Happy Day Filmed in London, 7
May 1964 Peter Pears (tenor); Benjamin Britten (piano) Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Down by the Salley Gardens Filmed in
London, 7 May 1964 Peter Pears (tenor); Benjamin Britten (piano) The
Plough Boy Filmed in London, 7 May 1964 Peter Pears (tenor); Benjamin
Britten (piano) Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, K478 - Andante
Filmed in London, 7 May 1964 Benjamin Britten (piano); Emanuel Hurwitz
(violin); Cecil Aronowitz (viola); Terence Weil (cello) Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Scherzo capriccioso, Op. 66
Filmed at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 30 January 1962 Hallé Orchestra/Sir
John Barbirolli Enrique GRANADOS
(1867-1916) Goyescas: Intermezzo Filmed in London,
4 February 1962 Jacqueline du Pré (violoncello); Iris du Pré (piano)
Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Song Without Words in D, Op. 109 Filmed in London, 4 February
1962 Jacqueline du Pré (violoncello); Iris du Pré (piano) Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Allegro Appassionato in B
minor Op. 43 Filmed in London, 4 February 1962 Jacqueline du Pré (violoncello);
Iris du Pré (piano) Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Après une lecture du Dante - Fantasia quasi Sonata Filmed in London,
26 October 1961 John Ogdon (piano) Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Impromptu in A flat major, D899
No. 4 Filmed in London, 15 January 1956 Solomon (piano) NTSC System
4:3; Colour Mode BW; Disc Format DVD9; Sound Format LPCM Mono 2.0 (PCM
dual mono) sound remastered for DVD; Menu Languages E, F, D, E Filmed
in London/Paris 1954-1972 Directed by Patricia Foy, Phil Bates, Walter
Todds, Jacques Brialy
EMI CLASSICS DVB 38846192
[100:12][CF]
The
birth-pangs of music on television laid bare see but there’s enough
here to enjoy the music and the performances for what they are, legendary
gems. ... see Full Review
Lotte Lehmann – Lieder
Recordings, Vol. 2 (1937-1940) Robert
SCHUMANN (1810–1856) 1. Alte Laute, Op. 35, No. 12
[2:29] Johannes BRAHMS (1833–1897)
2. Botschaft, Op. 47, No. 1 [2:08] 3. Das Mädchen spricht,
Op. 107, No. 3 [1:17] 49 Volkslieder: 4. No. 25 Mein Mädel
hat einen Rosenmund [1:40] Carl
SJÖBERG (1861–1900) 5. Tonerna (Visions) [2:25]
CALCOTT (?-?) 6. Drink to me only
[3:06] Hugo WOLF (1860–1903) 7.
Gebet [2:47] 8. Nun lass uns Frieden schliessen [1:55]
9. Frühling übers Jahr [1:45] 10. Auf ein altes Bild [2:24]
11. In der Frühe [2:14] 12.
Auch kleine Dinge [2:18] 13. Und willst
du deinen Liebsten sterben sehen [2:24] 14.
Peregrina I [1:52] 15. Der Knabe und
das Immlein [2:47] 16. Heimweh [2:51]
Robert SCHUMANN 17. Er
und sie, Op. 78, No. 2 [3:48] 18. So wahr die Sonne scheinet,
Op. 37, No. 12 [1:51] 19. Unterm Fenster, Op. 34, No. 3 [1:26]
20. Familien-Gemälde, Op. 34, No. 4 [3:31] 21. Ich denke dein,
Op. 78, No. 3[2:39] Franz SCHUBERT (1797–1828)
Winterreise, D 911: 22. No. 23 Die Nebensonnen
[2:26] 23. No. 13 Die Post [2:07] 24. No. 18 Der stürmische
Morgen [0:45] 25. No. 5 Der Lindenbaum [4:08] 26. No. 20
Der Wegweiser [4:14] 27. No. 15 Die Krähe [2:59] 28. No.
21 Das Wirtshaus [4:32] 29. No. 19 Täuschung [1:17] 30.
No. 22 Mut! [1:27] 31. No. 17 Im Dorfe [2:46] 32. No.
8 Rückblick [2:32]
Lotte Lehmann (soprano) Lauritz Melchior (tenor)
(17–21); Ernö Balogh (piano) (1–6); Paul Ulanowsky (piano) (7–16, 22–32);
orchestra/Bruno Reibold (17–21) rec. 16 March 1937 (1–6), 6 January
1939 (7–16), 30 January 1939 (17–21), 26 February 1940 (22–32). ADD
NAXOS 8.111094 [78:50][GF]
This disc is a must for every
lover of German Lieder ... see Full
Review
Lotte
Lehmann – Lieder Recordings: Vol. 3 (1941)
Robert SCHUMANN (1810–1856) Frauenliebe
und –Leben, Op. 42 (1840) [20:23] Dichterliebe,
Op. 48 (1840) [27:03] Franz SCHUBERT (1797–1828)
Winterreise, D 911 (1827), excerpts [30:22] No. 1 Gute
Nacht [4:23] No. 3 Gefrorne Tränen [2:49] No. 4 Erstarrung [2:54] No.
6 Wasserflut [3:25] No. 10 Rast [4:07] No. 11 Frühlingstraum [4:13]
No. 12 Einsamkeit [2:41] No. 16 Letzte Hoffnung [2:26] No. 24 Der Leiermann
[3:20]
Lotte Lehmann (soprano) Bruno Walter (piano) (Schumann); Paul
Ulanowsky (piano) (Schubert) rec. Los Angeles, 24 June 1941 (Frauenliebe);
13 August 1941 (Dichterliebe), 14, 19 March 1941 (Winterreise)
NAXOS 8.111244 [77:48][GF]
My
admiration for Lehmann in lieder is not only undiminished – it has grown
further. The close recording leaves almost no barrier between the singer
and the listener and in this case lends the songs a rare intimacy. ...
see Full Review
George
London
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Le nozze di Figaro
1. Aprite un po’ quegli occhi [4:04] Don Giovanni
2. Là ci darem la mano [5:32] 3. Finch’ han dal vino [2:49]
4. Deh, vieni alla finestra [2:06]
Jacques OFFENBACH (1819–1880) Les contes d’Hoffmann
5. Scintille diamant! [3:49]
Charles GOUNOD (1818–1893) Faust 6. Vous
qui faites l’endormie [2:55]
Giuseppe VERDI (1813–1901) Aida 7. A te
grave cagion m’adduce, Aida [8:01]
Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839–1881) Boris Godunov
8. Boris’s monologue [5:47] Alexander
BORODIN (1833–1887) Prince Igor 9. Prince Igor’s
aria [7:40] Pyotr TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840–1893) Eugene Onegin 10. Eugene Onegin’s
aria [4:22] 11. Opera’s closing scene [9:33]
Richard WAGNER (1813–1883) Die Walküre 12.
Wotan’s farewell and closing scene [15:12]
George London (bass-baritone) Irmgard Seefried (soprano) (2), Erich
Kunz (baritone) (3), Astrid Varnay (soprano) (7), Valerie Bak (soprano)
(11) Orchester des Wiener Rundfunks/Max Schönherr (1-3, 5, 6, 8), Orchester
des Wiener Staatsoper/Karl Böhm (4), Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks/Hermann
Weigert (7, 9, 12); Richard Kraus (10, 11) rec. 18 October 1951, Vienna
(1,3, 5, 6, 8); 6 November 1955, Vienna (4); 5 October 1953, Munich
(7), 3 October 1953, Munich (9), 30 June, 5 July 1954, Munich (10, 11),
1953, Munich (12) trs. 2-4, 10-11 sung in German; the rest in the original
language ARCHIPEL ARPCD0365
[71:58] [GF]
A
pleasure to hear such steady and attractive singing. Admirers of this
great Canadian should give it a try but the technical quality leaves
much to be desired ... see Full Review
Detailed
listing
(last five
days)]
[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]
[Recommended recordings]