Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No.2 in C minor ‘Resurrection’ (1888-94) - Heidi Grant Murphy
(soprano) - Petra Lang (mezzo)
Dallas Symphony Chorus and Orchestra/Andrew Litton - Rec. live in the
Eugene McDermott Concert Hall of the Morton H. Meyerson - Symphony Centre,
Dallas, Texas, 10-13 September 1998 DDD
DELOS DE 3237 [2 Discs: 82’55] [TH]
On
the verge of being a great performance only to let itself down with
niggling details … see Full Review
Jules
MASSENET (1842 - 1912) Werther
(1893) Opera in Four Acts - Libretto: Edouard Blau, Paul Milliet
and Georges Harmann after Goethe; Werther - Marcus Haddock (Tenor);
Charlotte - Béatrice Uria-Monson (Mezzo-Soprano); Albert - René
Massis (Baritone); Sophie - Jaël Azzaretti (Soprano); Le Bailli
- Jean-Philippe Marlière (Baritone); Johann - Jean-Sébastien
Bou (Baritone); Schmidt - Jean Delescluse (Tenor); Käthchen - Mathilde
Jacob (Soprano); Brühlmann - David Roubaud (Tenor); Maîtrise
Boréale Orchestre
National de Lille - Région du Nord/Pas-de-Calais/Jean-Claude
Casadesus - Recorded live at the Auditorium du Nouveau Siècle,
Lille, France, 19th-25th June, 1999
NAXOS 8.660073-73 [2 CDs: 68.17, 52.07] [RH]
Not
a library choice, but an enterprising French recording with a substantially
French speaking cast … see Full Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH William MATHIAS
(1934
– 1992) Missa
Brevis Op.64 (1973)a Rex Gloriae Op.83 (1981) Except the
Lord Build the House Op.89 No.2 (1982)a Angelus Op.90 No.5
(1983)b Veni Sancte Spiritus Op.96 (1985)a The
Doctrine of Wisdom (1989)a Yr Arglwydd Yw Fy Mugail (1989)b
Alleluia (1991)a Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (1992)a
Gloriae Dei Cantores;
James E. Jordan, Jr. (organ)a; David Chalmers (piano)b;
Elizabeth Patterson (conductor) Recorded: Methuen Memorial Music Hall,
Methuen, Mass. (no dates, published 1998)
GLORIAE DEI CANTORES GDCD 026 [74:36] [HC]
Idiomatic
and eminently singable, memorable melodies, dancing and capricious rhythms
… brilliant … see Full Review
Peter
MAXWELL DAVIES
(b.1934) Trumpet
Concerto (1988) Håkan Hardenberger (trumpet) BBC Philharmonic
Orchestra/Elgar Howarth Renaissance Scottish Dances (1973) The
Fires of London/Maxwell Davies. Turris Campanarum Sonantium for
percussion (1970)
Stomu Yamash’ta (percussion) Rec: Glasgow, January 1990 (Trumpet); Manchester,
1975 (Dances); Decca Studio 3, November 1971 (Turris) British Music
Collection
DECCA 473 430 -2
[57.45] [GH]
An
intriguing CD … excellent performances … worth adding to your collection.
If you are not a Max convert don’t start here. … See Full
Review
Johann
Simon MAYR (1763 - 1845) La
Passione, oratorio for solo, choir and orchestra (1794) - Stabat
Mater in C Minor for four voices and orchestra - Maria Jette (Soprano)
- Claudia Schneider (Contralto) - Hartmut Schröder (Tenor) - Robert
Merwald (Bass) - Vokalensemble Ingolstadt - Georgisches Kammerorchester
Ingolstadt Franz Hauk,
director and harpsichord - Recorded at Asam Kirche "Maria de Victoria"
Ingolstadt on 7, 9, 10 April 2001
GUILD GMCD 7251/52 [72.15+67.03] [JW]
Affords
many moments of genuine pleasure … see Full
Review
Erkki
MELARTIN
(1875-1937) Aino
(1907-09) - Opera in Two Acts (prelude, 14 scenes, interlude and epilogue)
Ritva-Liisa Korhonen (sop) - Aino Sauli Tiilikainen (bar) - Vaino Lilli
Paaskivi (mz) - Taina, Aino's mother Pia Freund (sop) - Ainikki, Aino's
sister Aki Alamikkotervo (ten) - Jouko, Aino's brother
Dominante Choir/Seppo Murto Lahti SO/Ulf Söderblom Rec. public
concerts, March 2000, Sibelius Hall, Lahti
BIS-CD-1193/1194 [105.01] [RB]
Students
of the Finnish late-romantic scene will need no second bidding. Do not
expect Tosca-like high jinks. ... see Full
Review.
André MESSAGER
(1853-1925) Symphony
in A (1875) - Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924)
Allegro Symphonique [Suite d’orchestre] Op. 68 (1867-73)
- César FRANCK (1822-1890) Variations
Symphoniques for Piano and Orchestra (1885) - Jean-Pierre Ferey
(piano) Orchestre Symphonique
du Mans/José-André Gendille - Rec. live, concert 29 March
1992 at the Dortoir des Moines of the Abbaye de l’Epau
SKARBO DSK 3921 [59.15] [JW]
Equable
and attractive readings … warmth and attentive musicality … see Full
Review
Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992)
Saint
François d'Assise (1983) - An opera in three acts - eight
tableaux; text by composer; José Van Dam (bar) - St Francis;
Christiane Eda-Pierre (sop) - L'Ange; Kenneth Riegel (ten) - Le Lépreux;
Michel Philippe (bar) - Frère Léon; Georges Gautier (ten)
- Frère Massée; Michel Senéchal (ten) - Frère
Elie; Jean-Philippe Courtis (bass) - Frère Bernard
Choirs of the Paris Opera/Jean Laforge - Orchestra of Paris Opera/Seiji
Ozawa - rec. Radio France 6-9 Dec 1983 Théâtre National
de l'Opéra de Paris
ASSAI 222212 - MU - 752 [61.39+62.19+65.25+40.20] [RB]
Exudes
a masterly spirit fully in character; one senses a composer embraced
by a subject absolutely in sympathy with his spiritual drive ... see
Full Review
Wilhelm MIDDELSCHULTE (1863-1943)
Organ Works: Passacaglia in D minor (1897); Concerto on a Theme
by Johann Sebastian Bach (1906); Canonic Fantasy on BACH and
Fugue on Four Themes by Johann Sebastian Bach (1906)
Gisbert Schneider (organ of Erfurt Cathedral) - Rec. 1-12 Nov. 1997
CYBELE 050.201 [74.31]
[MA]
Perhaps his time is coming. Thrilling music
… blazing out in emphatic glory. … see Full
Review
Ernest
John MOERAN (1894-1950)
The Complete Solo Piano Music Bank
Holiday (1925) The White Mountain (1927) On A May Morning
(1921) Toccata (1921)
Two Legends (1923): A Folk Story; Rune Three Piano
Pieces (1919): The Lake Island; Autumn Woods; At
A Horse Fair Two Pieces (1933): Prelude; Berceuse
Theme And Variations (1920) Summer Valley (1925) Stalham
River (1921) Three Fancies (1922): Windmills; Elegy; Burlesque
Irish Love Song (1926)
Una Hunt (piano) Rec. 2002. DDD
ASV CD DCA 1138 [77.04] [JT]
Appealing
clarity and understanding … beautifully engineered … admirably projects
the fine qualities of Hunt’s performance. Strongly recommended. … see
Full Review
Italo MONTEMEZZI (1875-1952).
L’Amore
Dei Tre Re. Opera in 3 acts, sung in Italian - ‘Pinza
Rarities’. (Magic Flute ‘O Isis’ rec 1928. L’Elisir d’Amore
‘Udite! O rustico’ rec 1938. La Reine de Saba by Gounod, ‘Sous
les pieds’ rec 1946. Simon Boccanegra, ‘Il lacerato spirito’
rec1947. Xerses, ‘Ombra mai fu’. Rec 1947.) Archibaldo, Ezio
Pinza (bass). Fiora, Grace Moore, (sop). Avito, Charles Kullman (ten.).
Manfredo, Richard Bonelli (bar.)
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus conducted by the composer. Live
broadcast performance, Saturday Afternoon February 15th,
1941. Bargain Price
GUILD Immortal Performances GHCD 2234/2235 [74.47+67.07]
[RJF]
This
is as good as it gets with recordings from this source and period. Richard
Caniell is to be congratulated. More Pinza will follow. I for one cannot
wait. … see Full Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Violin
Concerto No. 3 in G major, K.216 (1775) - Adagio and Fugue in
C minor, K.546 (1788) - Symphony No. 40 in C major, K.551 ‘Jupiter’
(1788) Itzhak Perlman
(violin and conductor) - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra - Live recording,
Philharmonie, Berlin, 28 Feb, 2-3 March 2002
EMI CLASSICS 5 47418 2 [68’39] [TH]
This
is something of a non-starter, particularly given the wealth of competition
… see Full Review
José
Iturbi – Mozart - Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano
Concerto No. 20 in D minor K466 (1785) - Concerto for Two Pianos in
E flat major K365 (1779) - Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major K332 (1781-83)
- José Iturbi (piano) with
Amparo Iturbi (piano) - Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra directed by
José Iturbi IVORY
CLASSICS 70908 [68.47] [JW]
Strikingly
persuasive strengths put across with notable success … see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Flute
Quartet in C K.Anh.171 (1778) [16.11] Carl
Maria Von WEBER (1786-1826) Clarinet Quintet in Bb Op.34
(1811) [27.30] Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Sonata for flute, viola and harp (1915) [18.13] Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Introduction and Allegro (1905)
[11.05] Mobius
rec St Michael’s Church, Highgate, London in April 1998
EMI CLASSICS DEBUT SERIES 7243 5 73162 2 4 [73.03] [CF]
A
notable and highly enjoyable disc, not only for its exceedingly high
standard of performance but also for the choice of repertoire … see
Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
La Clemenza di Tito (1791) Opera seria KV 621 Tito Vespasiano
- André Post (Tenor) Vitellia - Claudia Patacca (Soprano) Servilia
- Francine van der Heyden (Soprano) Sesto -Cécile van de Sant
(Soprano) Annio - Nicola Wemys (Soprano) Publio - Marc Pantus (Bass
Baritone) Vocale Ensemble Cocu Musica ad Rhenum/Jed Wentz Recorded August
2002, Maria Minor Church, Utrecht, The Netherlands La Finta Giadiniera
(1775) Dramma giocoso in tre atti, KV 196 Il Podestà
- Ugo Benelli Sandrina - Joanna Kozlowska Belfiore (Il Contino) - Marek
Torzewski Arminda - Malvina Major Ramiro - Lani Poulson Serpetta - Elzbieta
Szmytka Nardo - Russel1 Smythe
Orchestra du Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie/Sylvain Cambreling
Recorded live June 1989. Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Brussels,
Belgium BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 99736 [68.17+72.53+67.24+69.59+62.08] [RH]
Neither
performance is perfect, but they make an excellent introduction for
those wanting to explore unfamiliar Mozart operas … see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Die
Zauberflöte (1791) Sarastro (bass) Matti Salminen Tamino
(tenor) Piotr Beczala Speaker (bass) Jacob Will Priest (bass) Peter
Keller The Queen of the Night (soprano) Elena Mosuc Pamina (soprano)
Malin Hertelius First Lady (soprano) Martina Jankova Second Lady (soprano)
Irène Friedli Third Lady (mezzo-soprano) Ursula Ferri Papageno
(baritone) Anton Scharinger Papagena (soprano) Julia Neumann Monostatos
(tenor) Volker Vogel First Armoured Man (tenor) Kenneth Roberson Second
Armoured Man (bass) Guido Götzen The Three Boys Zürcher Sängerknaben
Chorus of the Zurich Opera
House Orchestra of the Zurich Opera House/Franz Welser-Möst Directed
by Jonathan Miller Recorded live at Zurich Opera House (no date)
TDK DVD
DV-0 PMF [2 discs: 2 hours 31 mins] [GPJ]
Resolutely
fails to take wing … see Full Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756
- 1791) Requiem
in d, K 626 (1791) (52.25) (Mozart’s manuscript edited and elaborated
by Robert D. Levin, 1991) Karina Gauvin, soprano; Marie-Nicole Lemieux,
contralto John Tessier, tenor; Nathan Berg, bass baritone Alain Trudel,
trombone La Chappelle
de Québec; Les violons du Roi/Bernard Labadie Recorded at Troy,
New York, USA, September 2001 Playable on all CD players, Microsoft®
HDCD®format provides high resolution playback on specially equipped
CD players and Windows Media Player 9. Notes in English and French.
Essay by Robert Levin describing his revisions.
DORIAN DOR 90310 [52.53] [PS]
Superb,
transparently recorded, richly operatic … performance of the Levin version
… Those preferring a churchy approach, or the Süssmayer may wish
to look elsewhere … see Full Review
Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)
Pictures
at an Exhibition (1874) - Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) Sonata No 1 in D minor Op 28 (1907)
Joyce Hatto (Piano) - Recorded at the Concert Artist Studios, January
1996 and March 1999
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO CACD 9129-2 [72.27] [JW]
A
frequently spellbindingly fine disc and it deserves wide currency ...
a great performance of the Rachmaninov … see Full
Review
Michael
NYMAN
(b.1944) Facing
Goya – An opera in four acts (2000) Libretto by Victoria
Hardie - Craniometrist 1/ Eugenicist/Art Critic 1/Microbiologist – Winnie
Bowe (soprano) - Craniometry Assistant 2/Art Critic 2/Genetic Research
Doctor – Marie Angel (soprano) - Art Banker/Widow – Hilary Summers (contralto)
Craniometry Assistant 2/Eugenicist/Art Critic 3/ Chief Executive of
a Bio-Tech Company – Harry Nicoll (tenor) Craniometrist 2/Art Critic
4/Genetic Academic/Goya – Omar Ebrahim (baritone)
Michael Nyman Band/Michael Nyman - Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London,
June 2001, March and May 2002, and Snake Ranch, May 2002
WARNER CLASSICS 0927 45342-2 [2 CDs -71’56/ 61’54] [NH]
Nyman
may have written better music but this opera demands to be heard. A
real triumph and essential listening, particularly in such troubling
times … see Full Review
Jacques
OFFENBACH (1819-1880)
La
Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein: Choeur, Récit et
Rondeau "Portez armes!" Vous aimez le danger ... Ah, que j’aime
les militaires", Duo et Déclaration "Oui, Général,
quelqu’un vous aime ... Dites-lui qu’on l’a remarqué", Chanson
militaire "Ah! C’est un fameux régiment", Fantasio:
Ballade "Voyez dans la nuit brune", Duo: "Quel murmure
charmant soudain viens-je d’entendre?", Le Carnaval des
Revues: Symphonies de l’avenir – Marche des fiancés, Madame
L’Archiduc: Sextuor de l’Alphabet "SADE", Les
Contes d’Hoffmann: Entr’acte et Barcarolle "Belle nuit,
ô nuit d’amour", La Belle Hélène:
Chœur de jeunes filles "C’est le devoir des jeunes filles",
Air "Amours divins! Ardentes flammes!", Barbe-bleue:
Couplets "Y’a des bergères dans le village", Ouverture
à Grand Orchestre, Lischen et Fritzchen: Duo "Je
suis alsacienne", La Vie Parisienne: Finale du Deuxième
Acte "Nous entrons dans cette demeure", La Fille du
Tambour-Major: Chanson "Que m’importe un titre éclatant",
La Périchole: Griserie-Ariette "Ah! Quel dîner
je viens de faire"
Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano), Gilles Ragon, Magau Léger,
Laurent Naouri, Jean-Christophe Keck, Jean-Christophe Henry, Christophe
Grapperon, Stéphanie d’Oustrac (singers), Chœur des Musiciens
du Louvre Les Musiciens du Louvre/Marc Minkowski Recorded live at the
Théâtre du Châtelet, date not given
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 471 501-2 [70’ 02"] [CH]
A
lovely programme from a lovely singer, but has she chosen the right
style? … see Full Review
Conor O’REILLY (born
1967) Pie
Jesu (1998) Colin MAWBY (born 1936)
Alleluia! Christus Resurrexit (1991) When David Heard (1987) Gerard
VICTORY (1921 – 1995) Songs from Lyonesse (1984) David
FENNESY (born 1976) Aimhréidh (1997) Kevin
O’CONNELL (born 1958) All the Live Long Way (1988)
National Chamber Choir of Ireland/Colin Mawby Recorded: Temple Theatre,
Dublin, October 1999
BLACK BOX BBM 1030 [62:34] [HC]
A
showcase for the chorus’s multifaceted versatility and excellence, this
selection also makes a good cause for present-day Irish music. … see
Full Review
Carl
ORFF (1895-1982)
Trionfi - Trittico teatrale:- 1.
Carmina Burana - cantiones profanae (1935-36) [55.39] 2.
Catulli Carmina - ludi scaenici (1943) [36.03] 3. Trionfo
de Afrodite - concerto scenico (1952) [40.35] - Carmina
Burana Elfride Trötschel (sop) - Paul Kuen (ten) - Hans
Braun (bar) - Catulli Carmina Annelies Kupper (sop) -
Richard Holm (ten) - Trionfo di Afrodite Annelies Kupper
(sop) - Elisabeth Lindermeier (sop) - Elisabeth Wiese-Lange (sop) -
Richard Holm (ten) - Ratko Delorko (ten) - Kurt Böhme (bass) -
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks/Josef Kugler
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks/Eugen Jochum - rec. München,
Amerikahaus, Theatersaal, Oct 1952 (Carmina); München Herkulesaal
June 1954, Nov 1955 (Catulli); July 1955 (Trionfo). ADD
MONO DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON
474 131-2 [55.39+76.38] [RB]
There
is a special archival case for this handsomely and intelligently prepared
set. ... see Full Review
Serge
PROKOFIEV (1891
- 1953) Romeo
and Juliet ballet, Op 64 (1936)
Juliet: Allesandra Ferri Romeo: Angel Corella Corpo di Ballo del
Teatro alla Scala Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala/David Garforth Choreography
by Kenneth MacMillan (adapted by Parker/Parkinson/Lincoln) Recorded
at Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy, January 2000 PAL 16:9 anamorphic
Colour No region code. Disk format: DVD-9 Sound: PCM Stereo, DTS 5.1,
Dolby Digital 5.1 Special feature: "Soundcheck"
EuroArts
TDK DVD 10 5007 9 DV-BLRAJ [115.00] [PS]
An
excellent, but not the classic, performance … see Full
Review
Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858 - 1924) Turandot:
Lyric Drama in 3 Acts (1924) - Libretto by Giuseppe Adami and Renato
Simoni, after Gozzi and Schiller - Emperor Altoum of China - Armando
Gianotti (Tenor) - Princess Turandot - Gina Cigna (Soprano) - Liù
- Magda Olivero (Soprano) - Calaf - Francesco Merli (Tenor) - Timur
- Luciano Neroni (Bass) - Ping - Afro Poli (Baritone) - Pang - Gino
del Signore (Tenor) - Pong - Adelio Zagonara (Tenor) - A Mandarin -
Giuseppe Bravura (Baritone) - Chorus and Orchestra of the E.I.A.R. Turin/Franco
Ghione - Recorded in Turin, 4th - 15th September
1938 - Turandot (excerpts) - Act I - Signore ascolta -
Liù - Maria Zamboni - Recorded 1926 - Act I - Non piangere,
Liù - Calaf - Aureliano Pertile - Recorded 24th
January 1927 - Act II - Olà, Pang! Olà Pong! -
Giuseppe Nessi, Emilio Venturini, Ariste Baracchi - Recorded 11th
May 1927 - Act II - Ho un casa nell'Honan - Giuseppe Nessi, Emilio
Venturini, Ariste Baracchi - Recorded 15th February 1929
- Act II - O mondo, pieno di pazzi innamorati! - Giuseppe Nessi,
Emilio Venturini, Ariste Baracchi - Recorded 11th May 1927
- Act II - Gravi, Enormi Venerandi - La Scala Orchestra and Chorus
- Ettore Panizza (Conductor) - Recorded live at La Scala, 29th
November 1926 - Act II - In questa reggia - Turandot - Eva Turner
- Recorded 28th April 1928 - Act III - Nessun dorma -
Calaf - Aureliano Pertile - Recorded 24th January 1927 -
Act III - Tanto amore segreto - Act III - Tu che di gel sei cinta -
Liù - Eidé Norena - Recorded September 1932 - Act III
- Diecimilia anni al nostro Imperatore (fragment) - La Scala Orchestra
and Chorus Ettore Panizza
(Conductor) - Recorded live at La Scala, 29th November 1926
NAXOS 8.110193-94
[2 CDs: 78.53, 73:08] [RH]
The
first complete "Turandot", a welcome addition to the Naxos catalogue
and it comes with the added bonus of some fascinating other archive
recordings … see Full Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Tosca
(1896-99) - Libretto by Giacosa and Illica, after Sardou - Floria
Tosca – Maria Guleghina (soprano); Mario Cavaradossi – Salvatore
Licitra (tenor); Baron Scarpia – Leo Nucci (baritone); Angelotti
– Giovanni Parodi (baritone); Scaristan – Alfredo Mariotti (baritone);
Spoleta – Ernesto Gavazzi (tenor);
Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan/Riccardo Muti Directed for the
stage by Luca Ronconi - Directed for television by Pierre Cavasillas
- Recorded live at La Scala, Milan, March 2000
TDK EUROARTS 10 5008 9 [1 disc: 121 minutes] [TH]
Guleghina
in fine voice … Licitre sings with fervour and conviction … see Full
Review
Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943)
Daisies,
after op. 38/3 (1916, trans. 1922, rev. 1940), Lilacs, after op. 21/5
(1902, trans. 1913, rev. 1941), Variations on a theme of Corelli, op.
42 (1931), 6 moments musicaux, op. 16 (1896) - Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) trans. RACHMANINOV
The Fair at Sorochintsy (c. 1880): Finale (trans. 1923) -
Piotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) trans.
RACHMANINOV Cradle Song, op. 16/1 (1872, trans. 1941) -
Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) trans.
RACHMANINOV The Tale of Tsar Saltan (1900): The flight of
the bumble-bee (trans. c.1929)
Scott Davie (Overs piano) - Recorded 7th-10th January 2002, Music Workshop,
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
ABC CLASSICS 472 671-2 [60’ 55"] [CH]
A
disc which can be confidently bought by anyone attracted by the programme.
… see Full Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Transcriptions - Suite from Bach Violin Partita
in E minor - Wohin? (Schubert) - Menuet from L’Arlésienne
(Bizet) - Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mendelssohn)
- Lilacs (Rachmaninov) (1914) - Daisies (Rachmaninov)
(pub 1940) - Lullaby (Tchaikovsky) - Hopak - Sorochintsy
Fair (Mussourgsky) - The Flight of the Bumble Bee (Rimsky-Korsakov)
- Liebesleid (Kreisler) - Liebesfreud (Kreisler) - Polka
de WR (1911) - Etudes-Tableaux Op. 33 (1911)
Joyce Hatto (piano) - Recorded 1996-1999
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9179-2 [69.44] [JW]
Abundant
rhythmic drive and an inwardness and expressivity in Hatto’s hands …
see Full Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Piano
Concerto No 3 in D minor Op 30 (1909) - Six Moments musicaux Op 16 (1896)
- Joyce Hatto (piano) National
Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra/René Köhler - Recorded St
Marks, Croydon in July 1998 and April 1999
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9217-2 [71.44] [JW]
Assurance
and sensitivity are precious gifts and Hatto possesses them in abundance.
… see Full
Review
Joachim RAFF
(1822-1882) Symphony
No. 3 in F major Op. 153 In Walde (1869) - Symphony No. 10 in
F minor Op. 213 Zur Herbstzeit (1879)
Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra (Košice)/Urs Schneider - Recorded
at the House of Arts, Košice, January 1990
NAXOS 8.555491 [69.34] [JW]
Some
slight congestion and a rather backward sound picture but that’s not
problematical. Over to you. … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Einojuhani
RAUTAVAARA (born 1928) Symphony
No. 7 Angel of Light (1994) - Angels and Visitations (1978)
Royal Scottish National
Orchestra/Hannu Koivula - Recorded 6-7 April 2001, Henry Wood Hall,
Glasgow NAXOS 8.555814
[56.02] [TB]
At
once romantic and intellectual, mystical and constructivist … see Full
Review
Sunleif
RASMUSSEN (born
1961) Surrounded
(2000)1 - Arktis (1998)a - Mozaik/Miniature (1999)
- Tilegnelse (1995)a - Trauer und Freude (1999)
Helene Gjerris (mezzo-soprano)a; Caput Ensemble; Guđmundur
Óli Gunnarsson1; Guđni Franzson -
Recorded: Salurinn Kópavogur, Iceland, August 2001 (Surrounded)
and March 2002 BIS CD-1278
[60:36] [HC]
Rasmussen’s
is a quite distinctive voice in Nordic music and this generous, well-planned
and superbly played cross-selection of his recent output is most welcome.
… see Full Review
Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879-1936)
Violin Sonata in B minor (1916-17) - Ildebrando
PIZZETTI (1880-1968) Violin Sonata in A major (1918-19)
Elmar Oliveira (violin) - Robert Koenig (piano) - Recorded 10th
April 1998 ARTEK AR-0001-2
[54.36] [JW]
Splendid
survey of Italian Great War sonatas … consistently virile … soaring
lyricism … see Full Review
Josef
Gabriel RHEINBERGER (1839-1901)
Der
Stern von Bethlehem - Weihnachtskantate op. 164 (1890) - Rita Streich
(sop) - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (bar) - Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks/Wolfgang
Schubert Bayerischen Rundfunks
Symphonie-Orchester/Robert Heger - rec. München, 1968. ADD
CARUS 83.111 [47.42] [RB]
Too
good to be heard only at Christmas ... see Full
Review
Joaquín
RODRIGO (1901-1999)
Concerto
para una fiesta (1982) * [29.03] Concerto Madrigal (1966)
* ** [32.34] Ricardo
Gallén (guitar) * Joaquín Clerch (guitar) * ** Asturias
SO/Maximiano Valdés rec Auditorio Principe Felipe, Oviedo, Asturias,
Spain, 2-4 Oct 2001, DDD Complete Orchestral Works: Vol. 5
NAXOS 8.555842 [61.38] [RB]
While
Fiesta is suspiciously potboiling the Madrigal is very much better.
Good performances ... see Full Review
Ned ROREM (b.1923)
End
of Summer for clarinet, violin and piano (1985) [19.54] - Book
of Hours for flute and harp (1975) [18.39] - Bright Music for
chamber ensemble (1987) [21.18]
The Fibonacci Sequence - Rec. 26-28 Oct 2001 Potton Hall, Suffolk, England
NAXOS 8.559128
[59.59] [RB]
Fastidious
elegance, lucidity of expression, waspish fury and the warmth of the
sun. Go for it! … see Full Review
Gioacchino ROSSINI
(1792-1868) Six
Sonatas for Strings (1804) - No. 1 in G major - No. 2 in A major - No.
3 in C major - No. 4 in B flat major - No. 5 in E flat major - No. 6
in D major Chamber Orchestra
Kremlin/Misha Rachlevsky - Recorded July 1992, Great Hall of the Moscow
Conservatory CLAVES
CD 50-9222 [78.58] [TB]
Playing
is absolutely first rate, witty, with crisp ensemble and a marvellous
bloom to the sound … see Full Review
Frederic
RZEWSKI (b. 1938) Piano Works, 1975-1999
- North American Ballads (1978-9) - The Housewife's Lament (1980)
- Mayn Yingele (1988-9) - A Life (1992) - Fougues (1994) - Fantasia
(1999) - Sonata (1991) - The Road, Parts I-IV (1995-7) - 36 Variations
on "The People United Will Never Be Defeated!" (1975) - De Profundis
(1992) Frederic Rzewski,
piano - Recorded at Odéon 120/The Right Place, Brussels, March
1998 - March 2001. NONESUCH
79623-2 [53.18+55.50+63.03+61.13+64.37+63.47+32.42] [NH]
Superb,
tuneful, experimental, political American music. If you like Ives, Cowell,
I don't know, Neil Young, Pete Seeger, Patti Smith, listen to this!
… see Full Review
[Detailed listing (last two
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]