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PART 4
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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

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]



Error processing SSI file

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