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PART 5
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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

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]



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