Giovanni
SGAMBATI (1841-1914)
Messa
da Requiem op.38 (1895-1905) - Joern Wilsing (bar) - Joachim Schall
(violin) Philharmonischer
Chor Heilbronn - Mitglieder des Staatsorchesters Stuttgart/Ulrich Walddörfer
- rec Stadtkirche Schwaigern, Stuttgart, 1990. DDD
CARUS 83.121 [79.21] [RB]
A
requiem in which the Fauré-like reticence of plainchant meets
the drama of apocalyptic visions ... see Full
Review
Rodion
SHCHEDRIN (b.1932)
The
Carmen Ballet (1967) [42.30] - Georges
BIZET (1838-1875) Carmen Suite No. 1 (1875) [11.54]
Orchestre Philharmonique
de Monte-Carlo/James DePreist - 24-27 June 1996, Salle Garnier of the
Casino of Monte-Carlo, Monaco. DDD
DELOS DE 3208 [54.32] [RB]
A
spot-on version of how the suite might sound in the concert-hall … ideal.
... see Full Review
Dimitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Festive
Overture, op.96 (1954) - Concerto no.2 in F for piano and orchestra,
op.102 (1957) - Symphony no.5 in D minor, op.47 (1937)
Dallas Symphony Orchestra/Andrew Litton, conductor/pianist - Recorded
May 19th-20th 1998 (Symphony, overture), September
30th 1998 - (concerto), McDermott Hall, Meyerson Centre,
Dallas Texas DELOS
DE 3246 [73:59] [GPJ]
A
non-starter, I fear. … see Full Review
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphony
No. 1 (1899) [36.22] - Symphony No. 7 (1924) [22.49]
New York PO/Leonard Bernstein - rec. Philharmonic Hall, New York City,
USA, 14 Mar 1967 (1); 28 Mar 1960, 12 Oct 1965 (7) ADD - Bernstein Century
Series SONY CLASSICAL
SMK 89576 [58.35] [RB]
Sibelius
with safety protocols disengaged. Stirring stuff even if the 40 year
old sound quality is beginning to tell ... see Full
Review
Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
The
complete works for violin and orchestra - Violin Concerto Op.47 (1903-1904,
rev. 1905) - Two Serenades Op.69 No.1 in D major (1912) - No.2
in G minor (1913) - Two Pieces Op.77 No.1 Cantique: Laetare anima
(1914) - No.2 Devotion: Ab imo pectore (1915) - Two Humoresques Op.87
No.1 in D minor (1917, rev. ?1939) - No.2 in D major (1917, rev. 1923)
- Four Humoresques Op.89 No.1 in G minor (1917, rev.1923) - No.2
in G minor (1917, rev.1923) - No.3 in E flat major (1917, rev.1923)
- No.4 in G minor (1918, rev.1922) - Suite for violin and strings
Op.117 (1929) - Christian Tetzlaff (violin)
Danish National Symphony Orchestra / Thomas Dausgaard - Recorded Denmark,
February 2002 VIRGIN
CLASSICS 5455342 [78:47] [JL]
All
Sibelius’s violin and orchestra works on one disc for the first time,
including a fine performance of the great concerto. … see Full
Review
Myra
Hess (1890-1965); the complete pre-War Schumann recordings Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Carnaval
Op. 9 (1833-35) Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 54 (1841-45) Vogel
als Prophet from Waldszenen Op. 82 No. 7 1848-49)
Myra Hess (piano) Orchestra conducted by Walter Goehr Recorded 1931-38
NAXOS 8.110604 [62.12]
[JW]
Glittering
but cool musicality … see Full Review
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Festive
Overture (1954) [6.17] - Symphony No. 10 (1954) [52.23]
Helsinki PO/James DePreist - 19-20 April 1990, Hyvinkää Hall,
Hyvinkää, Finland DDD
DELOS DE 3089 [54.32] [RB]
Patent
integrity ... good versions of these works recorded in natural sound.
... see Full Review
Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Tone
Poems Pohjola’s Daughter, opus 49 (1906) [14:01] The Oceanides,
opus 73 (1914) [10:18] Tapiola, opus 112 (1926) [18:43] En
Saga, opus 9 (1892) [18:54] The Bard, opus 64 (1913) [8:07]
Iceland Symphony
Orchestra/Petri Sakari Recorded in Reykjavik, Iceland, 19-23 June 2000
DDD NAXOS 8.555299
[70:04] [KS]
Gripping,
engaging, stirring, often heart-rending, … the sweep of a great tale
… see Full Review
Kaikhosru Shapurji SORABJI
(1892-1988)The
Complete Songs for Soprano
Trois Poèmes (1918-19): Correspondances (Charles
Baudelaire) [2:41]; Crépuscule du Soir Mystique (Paul
Verlaine) [2:42]; Pantomime (Paul Verlaine) [1:26] Chrysilla
(Henri de Régnier) (1915) [3:01] Roses du Soir (Pierre
Louÿs) (1915) [3:01] The Poplars (Jovan Dučić)
(1915) [3:05] l’Heure Exquise (Paul Verlaine) (1916) [2:13]
Vocalise (1916) [2:21] I was not Sorrowful (Ernest Dowson)
(1917) [2:30] l’Étang (Maurice Rollinat) (1917) [2:37]
Hymne à Aphrodite (Laurent Tailhade) (1916) [4:59]
Apparition (Mallarmé) (1916) [2:40] Trois Chants:
(1941): 13. Le Faune (Paul Verlaine) [1:31]; Les Chats (Baudelaire)
[3:01]; La Dernière Fête Galante (Paul Verlaine)
[2:33] Trois Fêtes Galantes (1919?): l’Allée
(Paul Verlaine) [2:44]; A la Promenade (Paul Verlaine) [2:57];
Dans la Grotte (Paul Verlaine) [2:02] l’Irrémédiable
(Charles Baudelaire) (1927) [6:10] Arabesque (Shamsu’d Dīn
Ibrāhīm Mīrzā) (1920) [1:37]
Elizabeth Farnum (soprano) Margaret Kampmeier (piano) Recorded Aug-Nov
1999 and Aug 2000: Patrych Sound Studios, Bronx, NY, DDD
CENTAUR CRC 2613 [56:01] [RB]
Not
a composer of direct tunefulness. Ecstatic harmonic complexity. … diaphanous
iridescence … see Full Review
Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
The
Firebird (1910 version) - The Rite of Spring (1913 rev 1947)
Columbia Symphony Orchestra/Igor Stravinsky - Recorded 1960-61
SONY SMK89875 [75.20] [JW]
Whichever
other recordings you may have this is a mandatory purchase … statements
of lasting value. … see Full Review
Music
for Cello and Piano:
Matthew TAYLOR (b.1964)
Five Fantasy-Pieces Op. 30 (Composed between March
and August, 2002):- 1. Allegretto innocemente [3:42] - 2. Misterioso,
sotto voce, sempre sostenuto [3:37] - 3. Molto vivace [2:09] - 4. Liberamente,
tranquillo [4:36] - 5. Vivo [1:41] - Anniversaries and Intermezzi
(compiled in this grouping in 1999):- 1. Blumenstück (Flower-Piece)
(1995) [3:30] - 2. Allegro misterioso (1982, rev. 1999) [1:10] - 3.
Tango (1998) [1:19] - 4. Intermezzo (1993) [3:01] - 5. Alla Valse (1999)
[2:37] - 6. A Belated Birthday Prelude (1999) [3:21] - Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Fantasiestücke Op. 73; Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Three Pieces Op. 78.
Diane Porteous (cello); Matthew Taylor (piano) - Rec. 21
November 2002, St. Cyprian's Church, Glentworth Street, London, NW1
6AX DUNELM RECORDS DRD0196
[50:56] [CF]
Having
myself conducted one of Taylor’s orchestral works I remain convinced
that his name is one to watch out for. … see Full
Review
Thomas TALLIS (c.1505
- 1585) The Complete Works, Volume 5 Music
for the Divine Office - 2 Respond: Audivi vocem de coelo (4vv) [3’29]
Respond: Candidi facti sunt (5vv) [4’32] Respond: Honor virtus et potestas
(5vv) [5’49] Respond: Homo quidam fecit coenam (5vv) [5’05] Hymn: Te
lucis ante terminum (ferial) (5vv) [1’35] Hymn: Te lucis ante terminum
(festal) (5vv) [2’07] Antiphon: Natus est nobis hodie [0’52] Hymn: Veni
redemptor gentium [7’35] Hymn: Jam lucis orto sidere [4’04] Hymn: Ecce
tempus idoneum [4’12] Hymn: Ex more docti mistico [7’13] Antiphon: Clarifica
me pater [4’33] Organ: Clarifica me pater II [1’03] Organ: Clarifica
me pater III [1’10] Hymn: Iste confessor [5’05] Alleluia: per te Dei
genitrix [5’01] Offertory: Felix namque II [12’29]
Chapelle du Roi/Alastair Dixon
Andrew Benson-Wilson (Organ) Recorded at St. Jude’s, Hampstead, London
on 12-14 October 1998 (Nos. 1-6), and at the Chapel, Knole House, Kent
on 23-24 May1999 (Nos. 7-18)
SIGNUM SIGCD016 [77’53] [JPo]
A
suspicion of alto "hootiness" but otherwise balance and standard
are everything one could wish. … see Full
Review
Pyotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Piano Concerto No 2 in G major Op 44 (1880) -
Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Piano Concerto No 2
in G minor Op 22 (1868) - Joyce Hatto (piano) - Mark Manning (violin)
and Adrian Creighton (cello) in the Tchaikovsky
National Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra/René Köhler
Recorded 2000? CONCERT
ARTIST/FIDELIO CACD 9085-2 [68.20] [JW]
Hatto:
wise, adept, lyrical but technically imposing … see Full
Review
Souvenir De Florence Peter
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-93) Souvenir
de Florence in D minor, Op. 70 (1890-2) [34’52] Ernest
BLOCH (1880-1959) From Jewish Life – No. 1, Prayer (1924,
arr. Kindler) [4’53] Kurt ATTERBERG
(1887-1974) Suite for Violin, Viola and Orchestra, Op. 19 No. 1
[9’50] Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Crisantemi
(pub 1890) [5’55] Richard WAGNER (1813-83)
Wesendonck-Lieder – Traume (1857, arr. Schule) [5’08]
Alberto Lysy (violin); Paul Coletti (viola); Antonio Lysy (cello) Camerata
Lysy, Gstaad/Alberto Lysy Rec in the Kirche Saanen, Switzerland, in
June 1985. DDD CLAVES
CD50-850762 [62’42] [CC]
The
principal attraction is its varied programming … Worthwhile for the
Tchaikovsky and the Atterberg. … see Full
Review
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) The
Tempest, Op.18 (1873) [23’57] Hamlet, Op.67 (1888) [19’56]
1812 Overture, Op.49 (1880) [16’50] Oregon Symphony/James DePreist
Recorded in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, Oregon 7-8
Sept 1988 DDD DELOS D/CD 3081 [61’03] [TH]
Idiomatic,
well paced performances, all beautifully played and captured in glorious
sound. … see Full Review
Veljo TORMIS (b.1930)
-
Two Songs after Ernst Enno (1948) [8.00] - Three Songs from
the Epos 'Kalevipoeg' (1960) [11.26] - Three Set Work Songs
[6.32] - Four Game Songs from Sangaste [7.35] - Six Estonian
Children's Songs [5.38] - Nine Estonian Harvest Songs [10.35]
- Thirteen Estonian Lyric Folk Songs [19.25] - Heaps of Songs
[4.57] Estonian Philharmonic
Chamber Choir/Tönu Kaljuste - rec. Estonia Concert Hall, Tallinn,
June 1998, June 1999. DDD
CARUS 83.400 [76.02] [RB]
Roundedly
melodic, warmly cocooned, violently tuneful, thunderous in affirmation,
evocative of spirituals, primitive-ecstatic and lyrical ... see Full
Review
Marc-Anthony
TURNAGE
(b.1960) Greek - an opera in one act (1987) - Quentin
Hayes (bass): Eddie - Richard Suart (bass): Dad, Café Manager,
Chief of Police; Fiona Kimm (mezzo): Wife, Doreen, Waitress 1, Sphinx
2; Helen Charnock (sop): Mum, Waitress 2, Sphinx 1;
Greek Ensemble directed by Richard Bernas - Recorded at the Henry Wood
Hall, London, November 1992
DECCA 473 426-2 [78.23] [GH]
Pitches
the opera at you hot and strong … see Full Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Aida
(1871) - Kurt Rydl (bass) Ramfis - Luciano Pavarotti (tenor) Radames
- Stefania Toczyska (mezzo-soprano) Amneris - Margaret Price (soprano)
Aida - Kevin Langan (bass) the King of Egypt - Colenton Freeman (tenor)
a Messenger - Susan Quittmeyer (soprano)a Priestess - Simon Estes (baritone)
Amonasro - San Francisco Opera Ballet
Orchestra and Chorus of the San Francisco Opera/Garcia Navarro - Stage
Director, Sam Wanamaker - Directed for video by Brian Large - Digitally
remastered, 1998 - Recorded at the War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco,
1981 WARNER MUSIC
VISION/NVC ARTS 3984-22366-2 [163.00] [JL]
Pavarotti,
creating Radames for the first time, and Margaret Price as Aida, are
the main attractions in this lavish 1981 production. … see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813
- 1901) La
Traviata (1853) - Marie McLaughlin (soprano) Violetta Valery
- Walter McNeil (tenor) Alfredo Germond - Jane Turner (mezzo-soprano)
Flora Bervoix - Christopher Thornton-Holmes (bass) Marchese d’Obigny
- Gordon Sandison (baritone) Baron Douphol - John Hall (bass) Doctor
Grenvil - David Hillman (tenor) Gastone - Enid Hartle (soprano) Annina
- Martyn Harrison (tenor) Giuseppe - Brent Ellis (tenor) Germont - Charles
Kerry (bass) Messenger - Chorus and Orchestra of Glyndebourne Opera
Chorus and the London Philharmonic
Orchestra conducted by Bernard Haitink. Set Design: John Gunter, Stage
and Television Direction by Peter Hall. recorded in 1988 at Glyndebourne
(DVD). ARTHAUS 100 112
[138 minutes] [JP]
The
principals are absolutely superb with very strong, characterful singing
and good acting. … see Full Review
Giuseppe
Verdi (1813
- 1901) Rigoletto (1851) -
Gilda - Maria Callas (Soprano); Rigoletto - Pietro Campolonghi (Baritone);
Duca di Mantova - Giuseppi di Stefano (Tenor)
Orchestra e Coro del Palacio de Bellas Artes di Citta del Messico/Umberto
Mugnai - Recorded live 17 June 1952, Mexico City
URANIA URN 22.223 [RH]
By
no means a first choice recording, but nonetheless a valuable record
of Callas performing 'Gilda', and what a performance it is … see Full
Review
Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959)
Symphony
No. 3 (1919) - Symphony No. 9 (1952) Ouverture de l'Homme Tel (1952)
SWR Radio Symphony Orchestra
Stuttgart/Carl St Clair - Rec March 1998 (Symphony No. 3), July 1999
(Symphony No. 9), April 2000 (Ouverture), Stadthalle Sindelfingen
CPO 999 712 2 [61.25] [TB]
Played
with urgent commitment and full tone. The recorded sound can be a little
lacking in bloom. Compositions well worth our time and trouble … see
Full Review
Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741)
‘Concerti’ -
Concerto for flautino, strings and basso continuo in D major, op. 10/3
‘Il gardellino’, RV 428 [08:59] - Concerto for alto recorder, strings
and basso continuo ‘tutti gli instrumenti sordini’ in F major, op. 10/5,
RV 434 [08:42] - Concerto for alto recorder, strings and basso continuo
in G major, op. 10/6, RV 437 [07:19] - Concerto for strings and basso
continuo in g minor, RV 155 [08:48] - Concerto for alto recorder, 2
violins and basso continuo in F major, RV 108 [07:25] - Concerto for
tenor recorder, strings and basso continuo in G major, RV 438 [09:12]
- Concerto for strings and basso continuo in a minor, RV 127 [04:08]
Maurice Steger (recorders)
- I Barocchisti/Diego Fasolis - Recorded in April and June (RV 108)
2000 at the Auditorio Stelio Molo, Lugano, Switzerland DDD
CLAVES CD 50-2010 [54:39] [JvV]
A
recording of some of Vivaldi’s most popular works – different, but debatable
... see Full Review
RECORD
OF THE MONTH Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741)
Violin Concertos -
Concerto for violin, strings and basso continuo, in F major, Op. 4,
No.9, RV 284, ‘La Stravaganza’ - Concerto for violin, strings and basso
continuo, in G major, Op. 4, No.12, RV 298, ‘La Stravaganza’ - Concerto
for violin, strings and basso continuo, in G minor, Op. 9, No. 3, RV
334, ‘La Cetra’ - Concerto for violin, strings and basso continuo, in
E major, Op. 9, No. 4, RV 263a, ‘La Cetra’ - Concerto for violin, strings
and basso continuo, in D minor, Op. 9, No. 8, RV 238, ‘La Cetra’ - Concerto
for violin, strings and basso continuo, in A major, Op. 9, No. 2, RV
345, ‘La Cetra’ Ensemble
La Partita/Sulamit Haecki (violin) - Recorded April-May 1996, Kirche,
Zurich-Altstetten, Schweiz. DDD
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 94.006 [65:07] [MC]
A
marvellous release … with playing of this calibre I would have loved
to have heard the remaining concertos in the sets … see Full
Review
Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741) La
Cetra, op. 9 (1727) Concerto #1 in C Major, RV 181a Concerto
#2 in A Major, RV 345 Concerto #3 in A Major, RV 345 Concerto #4 in
E Major, RV 263a Concerto #5 in A minor, RV 358 Concerto #6 in A Major,
RV 348 Concerto #7 in B Flat Major, RV 359 Concerto #8 in D minor, RV
238 Concerto #9 in B Flat Major, RV 530 Concerto #10 in G Major, RV
300 Concerto #11 in C minor, RV 198a Concerto #12 in B minor, RV 391
I Musici. Rec: May, June,
September 1964, La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
PHILIPS 473 310-2 [129.40] [KM]
A
disappointing recording of some fine concertos, which suffers from a
lack of inspiration and poor sound … See Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
‘Il Cimento dell’Armonia e dell’Invenzione’ Opus 8: (1725) Concerto
for solo violin in E, #1, ‘La primavera’ RV 269 [10.01] Concerto for
solo violin in g, #2, ‘L’estate’ RV 315 [9.54] Concerto for solo violin
in F, #3, ‘L’autunno’ RV 293 [10.39] Concerto for solo violin in f,
#4, ‘L’inverno’ RV 297 [8.36] Concerto for solo violin in Eb,
#5, ‘La tempesta di mare’ RV 253 [8.59] Concerto for solo violin in
C, #6, ‘Il piacere’ RV 180 [8.22]
Massimo Quarta, solo violin Yuko Tanaka, harpsichord continuo. Moscow
Chamber Orchestra/Constantine Orbelian Notes in English Recorded at
Skywalker Sound, Marin County, California, USA, September 16, 2000 A
"Virtual Reality" surround sound recording Dolby 5.1 encoded.
DELOS DE 3280
[56:32] [PS]
A
fine performance of this very often heard music. But, wait for the SACD
… see Full Review
William WALTON (1902-1983)
The
Complete Songs:- The Winds, Tritons, Beatriz's Song, Under the Greenwood
Tree, Three Facade Settings: Daphne;
Through Gilded Trellises; Old Sir Faulk ,Anon in Love: Fain
would I change that note; O stay, sweet love; Lady, when I behold
the roses; My love in her attire; I gave her cakes and I gave her ale;
To couple is a custom ,A Song for the Lord Mayor's Table: The Lord Mayor's
Table; Glide
Gently; Wapping
Old Stairs; Holy Thursday; The Contrast; Rhyme, Three Facade Settings:
Long Steel Grass; Tango
- Pasodoble; Popular Song
Felicity Lott (sop) Martyn Hill (ten) Graham Johnson (piano) Craig
Ogden (guitar) Rec. 1996, DDD The English Song Series, Vol. 1: reissue
of Collins 14932 NAXOS
8.557112 [52'20"]
Now
capturing much more of the humour and charm of the music … a must-have
… see Full Review
Jan Dismas ZELENKA (1679-1745)
Requiem in c, ZWV 48
Brigitte Fournier (soprano), Brigitte Balleys (contralto), Kenzo
Ishii (tenor), Niklaus Tüller (bass), Berner Kammerchor Berner
Kammerorchester/Jörg Ewald Dähler Recorded September 1984,
Berner Münster
CLAVES CD 50-8501 [47’ 44"] [CH]
A
generally excellent presentation of a work which is worth knowing. …
see Full Review
Alexander
ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942)
Symphony
No. 1 in D minor (1892) [26.52] Symphony No. 2 in B flat major (1896)
[41.49] Slovak
Radio SO (Bratislava)/Ludovit Rajter (1) Slovak PO/Edgar Seipenbusch
(2) rec 12-15 Dec 1989, Concert Hall, Slovak Radio, Bratislava (1);
Nov 1985 Concert Hall, Slovak Philharmonic Previously issued on Marco
Polo 8.220391 (1); 8.223166 (2)
NAXOS 8.557008 [68.41] [RB]
Two
symphonies very decently prepared, performed and recorded. An expressionist-revolutionary
in his conformist twenties keeping to the tracks of German romanticism.
... 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]