Edward MacDOWELL
(1860-1908)
Piano
Sonatas: No. 1 Tragica Op. 45 (1891-2)
No. 2 Eroica Op. 50 (1895) No. 3 Norse
Op. 57 (1899) No. 4 Keltic Op. 59 (1900)
Charles Tomlinson
GRIFFES (1884-1920) Four Roman
Sketches Op. 7 (1915-16) Three Preludes (1919)
Rhapsody in B minor (1912, rev 1914) Fantasy
Pieces Op. 6 (1912-15) De Profundis (1915)
Sonata (1917-18) The Pleasure Dome of Kubla
Khan (1912) Three Tone-Pictures Op. 5 (1910-12)
Legend (1915)
James Tocco (piano) Recorded Musical Arts
Centre, Indiana University, early 1980s
GASPARO GALLANTE GG4-1007 [4CDs 54.18
+ 42.47 + 45.17 + 45.00] [JW]
The
experience of these two streams of American
piano composition in all their individual
power. … see Full
Review
Sir John
Blackwood McEWEN (1868-1948)
String
Quartet No. 8 in E flat major (Allegro
piacevole; Larghetto; Allegretto) (1918) [14:13]
Dedicated to Philip L. Agnew String Quartet
No. 2 in A minor (Allegro marcato - Presto
- Tempo I; Andante quasi adagio - Poco più
mosso; Vivace - Molto meno mosso - Vivace;
Finale. Allegro vivace - Poco meno mosso).
(1898) [29:27] A Little Quartet 'in modo
scotico', No. 15 (Allegro giocoso - Molto
tranquillo e legato; Adagio piacevole molto
tranquillo; Vivace. Reel time - Lento). (1936)
[16.39] To my friend R.C. Wyse
Chilingirian Quartet (Levon Chilingirian
- Charles Sewart violins; Asdis Valdimarsdottir
viola; Philip de Groote cello) Rec. Snape
Maltings Concert Hall, Suffolk, 3-5 May 2002.
DDD premiere recordings
CHANDOS CHAN 10182 [60.27] [RB]
Streaming
playfulness, bustle and musing reflection.
Tunes that would have spoken directly to Vaughan
Williams. Extraordinary convulsively tumultuous
writing Once heard never forgotten. ... see
Full Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony
No. 2 in C minor Resurrection Rae Woodland
(soprano) Janet Baker (contralto) BBC Chorus
and BBC Choral Society
London Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski
Recorded 30th July 1963 at the
Royal Albert Hall Mono
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4136-2 [79’59]
Resplendent
… a model not just of its time but of ours
too. … see Full
Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1864-1911) Symphony
No.4 in G major (1899-1901)
Laura Claycomb (Soprano) San Francisco
Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tilson Thomas Recorded
"live" at Davies Symphony Hall,
San Francisco, 24-28 September 2003 Hybrid
SACD - playable on SACD and standard CD players
SFS MEDIA 821936-0004-2 [62.28] [TD]
Tilson
Thomas and the SFSO in Mahler go from strength
to strength with a Fourth from the grand tradition.
... see Full Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No. 5 in C sharp minor (1901-2) Symphony No.10
in F sharp minor (1910) Reconstruction and
instrumentation after Mahler’s sketches by
Rudolf Barshai
Junge Deutsche Philharmonie/Rudolf Barshai
Recorded in 1999 in the Philharmonie, Berlin
(5) and September 12th 2001 in the Konzerthaus,
Berlin (10)
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92205 [2CDs: 143.39]
[TD]
The
best Mahler Fifth on record is now coupled
with a Tenth to treasure. Barshai’s Mahler
is not to be missed. … see Full
Review
Igor
MARKEVITCH (1912
– 1983) Piano
Concerto (1929)a Cantate (1929/30)b
Icare (1932, rev. 1943) Martijn van den Hoek
(piano)a; Nienke Oostenrijk (soprano)b;
Men’s voices of the Nederlands Concertkoorb;
Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra/Christopher
Lyndon-Gee Recorded: Musis Sacrum, Arnhem,
April 1998 (Piano Concerto, Cantate)
and April 1999 (Icare)
MARCO POLO 8.225076 [65:40] [HC]
This
series is a brave and enterprising venture
that deserves the warmest recommendation …
see Full
Review
Pietro MASCAGNI
(1863-1945) Cavalleria
Rusticana (1889) Turridu (tenor) –
Jussi Bjoerling Santuzza (soprano) – Zinka
Milanov Alfio (baritone) – Robert Merrill
Lola (contralto) – Carol Smith Mamma Lucia
(mezzo) – Margaret Roggero
Robert Shaw Chorale RCA Victor Orchestra/Renato
Cellini Recorded in mono 1953 (Manhattan Center?)
REGIS RRC 1162 [71’12] [TH]
If
you want this team of soloists at low price,
you could give it a try ... I would try before
you buy. ... see Full
Review
William MATHIAS
(1934-1992)
Clarinet
Concerto, Op. 68a (1975) [17’40].
Harp Concerto, Op. 50b (1970) [26’32].
Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 40c (1968)
[26’58].
aGervase de Peyer (clarinet); bOsian
Ellis (harp); cPeter Katin (piano);
aNew Philharmonia Orchestra, bcLondon
Symphony Orchestra/David Atherton. Rec. aWatford
Town Hall in April 1977 (from Argo ZRG882);
Kingsway Hall, London, in bJanuary/February
1973 (Decca SXL6607); cJanuary
1971 (SXL6513). ADD
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD325 [71’12]
[CC]
One
of the most impressive Lyrita offerings, this
disc is the ideal starting point for any investigation
into the music of William Mathias ... see
Full Review
William
MATHIAS (1934-1992)
Dance
Overture, Op. 16a (1961) [6’36].
Divertimento, Op. 7b (1958)
[11’26]. Invocation and Dance, Op.
17a (1961) [11’37]. Prelude,
Aria and Finale, Op. 25b (1964)
[10’39]. Sinfonietta, Op. 34c
(1967) [13’10]. Laudi, Op. 62d
(1973) [12’10]. Vistas, Op. 69d
(1975) [13’14].
aLondon Symphony Orchestra, bEnglish
Chamber Orchestra, dNew Philharmonia
Orchestra/abdDavid Atherton; cNational
Youth Orchestra of Wales/Arthur Davison Original
recordings made under the auspices of the
Welsh Arts Council. Rec. abKingsway
Hall, London in January/February 1973 (from
Decca SXL6607), bJanuary 9th,
10th and 23rd, 1970
(from SXL6468), cnot known (from
BBC REC222), dWatford Town Hall,
on April 5th, 6th and
14th, 1977 (from Argo ZRG882).
ADD
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD328 [78’53]
[CC]
William
Mathias’s love of life is the first thing
that strikes the listener. This collection
of shorter works … could serve as the ideal
introduction to Mathias’s music. ... see Full
Review
Olivier MESSIAEN
(1908-1992) Des
canyons aux étoiles (1971-1974)
[89.44] Oiseaux Exotiques (1955-1956)
[14.07] Couleurs de la Cité Céleste
(1963) [16.56]
Paul Crossley (piano) Michael Thompson
(horn) James Holland (xylorimba) David Johnson
(glockenspiel) London Sinfonietta/Esa-Pekka
Salonen Rec. London, 1988?, DDD
SONY ESSENTIAL CLASSICS SB2K87951 [66.49+54.30]
[RB]
Salonen
focuses on precision, angularity, accurate
tonal painting and rhythmic shaping. He directs
a feeling performance of Des Canyons with
much more humanity than his Turangalila …
see Full Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992)
La
Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ
(1965-1969) Yvonne Loriod, piano Arturo
Muruzabal, cello Martine van der Loo, flute
Harmen de Boer, clarinet Peter Prommel, marimba
Ruud Stotÿn, vibraphone Henk de Vlieger,
xylorimba
Ludwig van Gijsegem, tenor Reiner Holthaus,
baritone Choir of the BRT, Brussels Groot
Omroepkoor and the Radio Symphonie Orkest,
Hilversum/Reinbert de Leeuw Recorded live,
Great Hall, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, 29 June
1991. DDD
NAÏVE - DISQUES MONTAIGNE MO 782170 [2CDs:
100:01] [KS]
I
encourage all lovers of music, regardless
of experience or knowledge, to invest in this
recording - it is bargain price. Opportunities
to hear this music very rare; to walk away
not having experienced it at all would be
a loss indeed. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano
Concerto No. 11 in F major, K.413 (1782-83)
Piano Concerto No. 22 in E flat major, K.482
(1785)
Matthias Kirschnereit, piano Bamberg
Symphony Orchestra/Frank Beermann Recorded
at Sinfonie an der Regnitz, Bamberg, March
2001 (K.482), January 2002 (K.413) The Piano
Concertos, Volume 5
ARTE NOVA CLASSICS 74321 98337-2 [57:56]
[DS]
Given
the super-budget pricing of Arte Nova discs,
I definitely recommend Volume 5 for the wonderful
performance of the Concerto in F major. …
see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756
- 1791)
Sacred Choral Works see review for details
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92113 [15 CDs]
A
fine achievement from the Chamber Choir of
Europe, recording all of Mozart’s sacred music,
marred only by some disappointing soloists.
... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART
(1756-1791) Cosi
fan Tutte (1789) Dramma giocosa in
two acts, libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte Fiordiligi
(soprano) – Dorothea Röschmann Dorabella
(mezzo) – Katharina Kammerloher Ferrando (tenor)
– Werner Güra Guglielmo (baritone) –
Hanno Müller-Brachmann Despina (soprano)
– Daniela Bruera Don Alfonso (bass-baritone)
– Roman Trekel
Chorus and Orchestra of the Berlin State Opera/Daniel
Barenboim Directed for the stage by Doris
Dörrie Directed for TV by Michael Beyer
Recorded at the Berlin State Opera, 1 September,
2002
TDK DVOPCFT [2 DVDs: 179 minutes] [TH]
This
is certainly a thought-provoking and inventive
production, nowhere near as awful as some
critics would have you believe. … see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791)
Così
fan tutte (1790). Ina Souez (soprano)
Fiordiligi; Luise Helletsgruber (soprano)
Dorabella; Heddle Nash (tenor) Ferrando; Willi
Domgraf-Fassbänder (baritone) Guglielmo;
John Brownlee (baritone) Don Alfonso; Irene
Eisinger (soprano) Despina;
Chorus and Orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival/Fritz
Busch.
From Mozart Opera Society DB2474/9; DB2583/93S.
Rec. by HMV at The Glyndebourne Theatre, Sussex
on June 6th, 1934 and June 25th-28th,
1935. ADD
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110280/81 [2CDs: 154’21]
[CC]
This
invaluable document shows exactly why Busch,
Glyndebourne and Mozart are inextricably linked
in the annals of recorded sound. One would
be hard-pressed to find a better cast for
this opera in any period. A wonderful achievement
... see Full
Review
Romantic Music from Estonia Iwan
MULLER (1780-1854)
Grande
Polonaise for Harp with obbligato Clarinet
and Bassoon [9:39]; Fantasy on Themes from
Operas by Rossini Op.27 [19:08]; Duo
Concertant for Clarinet, Bassoon and Harp
[7:57]; Romanza di Blangini for Clarinet
and Harp [5:58]; First Fantasy on a Barcarolle
for Clarinet and Harp [4:17]; Duet on
Three Arias from Armida by Rossini
for Clarinet, Bassoon and Harp [21:05] ; Variations
on Mozart’s aria "O dolce Concento"
[7:48].
Olivier Darteville (clarinet) Rachel Talitman
(harp) Luc Loubry (bassoon) Emmanuel Chaussade
(alto clarinet). No rec. info. DDD
TALENT DOM 2910 84 [64:13] [PCW]
Nothing
profound here but something of a find – recommended
… see Full Review
Modest MUSSORGSKY
(1839-1881) Pictures
at an Exhibition (1874; orch. Maurice
Ravel 1922) (1), A Night on the Bare Mountain
(1867; arr. and orch. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
1886) (2) Alexander
BORODIN (1833-1887) In the Steppes
of Central Asia (1880) (3) Nikolai
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Capriccio
Espagnol, op. 34 (1887) (4)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ančerl
Recorded in the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum,
Prague, June 1968 (1, 2), January 1965 (3),
December 1964 (4)
SUPRAPHON SU 3664-2 011 [65:14] [CH]
Right
now I can’t think of performances of these
works that I’d rather hear. ... see
Full Review
Per NØRGÅRD (b.
1932) Borderlines
– Violin Concerto No.2 (2003)a
Dream Play (1975, rev. 1980) Voyage into the
Golden Screen (1968)
Rebecca Hirsch (violin)a Copenhagen
Philharmonic Orchestra; Giordano Bellincampi
Recorded: Tivoli’s Concert Hall, April-May
2002 and Danish Radio Concert Hall, November
2002 (Borderlines)
DACAPO 8.226014 [52:07] [HC]
Thought-provoking,
uncompromising stuff that vastly repays repeated
hearings …warmly recommended. This magnificently
produced disc is a must for all Nørgård
fans … see Full Review
Julian ORBON (1925
- 1991) Symphonic
Dances (Danses Sinfonicas) (1957) Three Symphonic
Versions (1954) Concerto Grosso (1961)
Asturias Symphony Orchestra/Maximiano Valdes.
recorded in the Casa Municipal de Cultura,
Aviles in 1998. DDD
NAXOS 8.557368 [66’17"] [JPh]
Decidedly
tonal … watered down Copland with a Spanish
idiom. Concerto Grosso: the most deeply felt
work … one of Orbon’s loveliest creations
… see Full Review
Michael T. OTTO Spin
Trumpet Der
Erlkönig for Bb trumpet, speaker
and piano 9 lustige Fanfaren und ein Lied
for Bb trumpet (solo) cafordenforca
1 for Flügelhorn solo Calme for
Flügelhorn and piano Leon’s Cry
for Trumpet and piano Alp(en)traum
for Didgeridoo, Shell and Flügelhorn
cafordenforca II for trumpet
solo Sotù for Didgeridoo
and Shell a simple evening song for
Flügelhorn and piano
Michael T. Otto, Bb trumpet, flügelhorn,
muschelhorn, didgeridoo; Claudia C. Otto,
speaker; Andrea Grözinger, piano; Sepp
Schlotter, techno play-a-long (sic); Peter
Madsen, jazz piano Recorded La salle de concert
of the chateau Montfort Langenargen,
February 2003
THOROFON CTH 2484 [53.21] [GPJ]
This
is a strange but actually quite attractive
CD: it could, for example, provide highly
atmospheric background music for a certain
kind of drinks party … see Full
Review
Mario PAGLIARANI
(b.
1963) Domenico
Scarlatti gioca ai videogames for bells and
synthetic sounds (1990) Pierrot Lunatique
for voice, flute / piccolo, clarinet, bass
clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (1993)
Annemieke Cantor (voice), Sergio Zampetti
(flute), Angelo Bassi (clarinet), Fabio Arnaboldi
(violin), Paola Arnaboldi (violoncello), Federica
Falascondi (pianoforte), directed by Mario
Pagliarani. Berweg. Una passeggiata attraverso
la serie del Violinkonzert di Alban Berg for
violin and piano (1995) Marianne Aeschbacher,
Violin, Risch Biert (pianoforte). Inferno
(…der Weg gehult in Schnee) for reciter, voice,
flute, violoncello, harmonica, pianoforte
and percussion (1996) Mario Cel (reciter),
Roberto Balconi (voice), Hieronymous Schadler
(flute), Claude Hauri (flute), Claudio Jacomucci
(harmonica), Risch Biert (pianoforte), Michael
Quinn, p (percussion), directed by Mario Pagliarani.
Canzone fantasma. Omaggio a Paul McCartney
for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello and
raganella (1996) Ensemble Oggimusica –
Marina Chiaese, (flute). Fabio Di Casola (clarinet),
Roberto Valtancoli (violin), Guido Boselli
(violoncello), directed by Denise Fedeli Una
pozzanghera. Omaggio a Ludwig e a Johannes
for clarinet, violoncello, and pianoforte
(1998) Luca Medici (clarinet), Claude
Hauri (violoncello) and Simona Crociani (pianoforte)
Rarefatto cantabile for large orchestra
(1999 – 2000) L’Orchestre de la Suisse
Romande, conducted by Andrew Litton Johann
Sebastien scrive ad Anna Magdalena for bells
and synthetic sounds. Co-production: RSI-Rete
e RSR-Espace 2, rec. 1995 – 2000. DDD
Musiques Suisses MGB CTS-M75 [72.41]
[JPh]
If
this idiom appeals to you, I wish you luck
in trying to uncover something from the contents
of this disc. I failed completely. … see Full
Review
Sir Hubert PARRY
(1848-1918)
Overture
to an Unwritten Tragedya (1893)
[10’25]. An English Suite in Ga
(c1921) [20’57]. The Birds (1883) –
Bridal Marchb [5’21]. Lady
Radnor’s Suite in Fa (1894)
[13’25]. Symphonic Variationsa
(1897) [12’53].
aLondon Symphony Orchestra, bLondon
Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult. No
rec. info. ADD All works except for the Bridal
March recorded in association with The
RVW Trust.
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD220 [64’09]
[CC]
Surely
there has been no greater interpreter of Parry’s
music than Sir Adrian Boult? … The recording
quality throughout is superb. ... see Full
Review
Niccolò PICCINNI
(1728-1800) Le
donne vendicate (The Revenge of the
Women) Musical intermezzi for four voices
in two parts Count Belleza, an eccentric knight
… Vincenzo Di Donato (tenor) Lindora, a simpering
girl, niece of … Giuliana Castellani (soprano)
Ferramonte, the ladies’ champion … Mauro Buda
Aurelia, novel reading friend of Lindora’s
… Sylva Pozzer
I Barocchisti/Diego Fasolis
CHANDOS CHACONNE CHAN 0705(2) [2CDs: 103:21]
[IL]
A
delightful, fast-moving witty farce with a
strong cast. ... see Full
Review
Amilcare
PONCHIELLI (1834-1886)
La
Gioconda - opera in four acts La Gioconda,
Maria Callas (soprano); Enzo Grimaldi, Gianni
Poggi (ten); Barnaba, Paolo Silveri (bar);
Laura Adorno, Fedora Barbieri (mezzo); Alvise,
Giulio Neri (bass); La Cieca, Maria Amadini
(mezzo) Turin Radio Symphony Orchestra and
Cetra Chorus/Antonio Votto Recorded Auditorium
RAI, Turin, from 6th to 10th
September 1952 Appendix: Maria Callas:
‘Three arias’Vincenzo
BELLINI (1801-1835)Norma
‘Casta Diva’ I Puritani ‘O rendetemi
speme…Qui la voce sua soave’. ‘Vien diletto’
Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883) Tristan und Isolde Liebestod’
Recorded for Cetra on 9th, 10th
and 8th of September, respectively,
1949 Bargain Price NAXOS
HISTORICAL 8.110302-04
(3CDs 54.04+76.46+59.17 min) [RF]
Those
wanting to hear Callas in as near pristine
voice as she was ever found on record will
find much interest and enjoyment here. Pity
about the tenor though. … see Full
Review
Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Piano
Sonata No.6 in A major, Op.82 (1940) Piano
Sonata No.4 in C minor, Op.29 (1917) Ten Pieces
from Romeo and Juliet, Op.75 (1937)
Nikolai Lugansky (piano) Recorded at
Teldec Studio, Berlin, 23-25 October 2003
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61255-2 [75’08] [TH]
Full
of subtly shaded nuances ... lets Prokofiev’s
unique melodic style shine through. ... Lugansky
also shows us his virtuoso stripes and finds
space for delicate contrast ... see Full
Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Romeo
and Juliet. Scenes from the Ballet,
Op. 64 (1935-36) [46’51"]: Montagues
and Capulets (Suite 2/1) [5.45"]; Juliet,
the Little Girl (Suite 2/2) [3’59"];
Masks (Suite 1/5) [1’49"]; Romeo and
Juliet (Balcony Scene: suite 1/6) [6’32"];
Friar Laurence (Suite 2/3) [2’50"]; Dance
of the Antilles’ Girls (Suite 2/6) [2’28"];
Dance (Suite 2/4) [1’58"]; Death of Tybalt
(Suite 1/7) [4’16"]; Romeo and Juliet
Before Parting (Suite 2/5) [9’15"]; Romeo
at Juliet’s Grave (Suite 2/7) [7’29"]
Peter and the Wolf: Tale for
Children with Narrator and Orchestra, Op.
67 (1936)* [23’30"] *Eric Shilling (narrator)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ančerl
Rec. Rudolfinum Studio, Prague, 24-28 August
1959; *February 1963 ADD Karel Ančerl
Gold Edition Vol. 16
SUPRAPHON SU 3676-2 011 [70’33"]
[JQ]
It’s
for the Romeo and Juliet that I unhesitatingly
recommend this. Great music recorded by a
conductor whose greatness is fully demonstrated.
Outstandingly responsive orchestral playing
to savour. A disc to treasure. ... see Full
Review
Sergei
Prokofiev (1891
- 1953) Romeo
and Juliet ballet Suite #1, Op. 64A (1936)
[26.20] Romeo and Juliet ballet Suite #2,
Op. 64B (1936) [29.32] Romeo and Juliet ballet
Suite #3, Op. 101 (1946) [17.39]
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/Paavo Järvi
Recorded in the Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio,
USA, 18 November 2002, utilising the DSD recording
system. Notes in English Also available on
SACD 90597.
TELARC CD-80597 [74.57] [PSh]
An
excellent performance and recording of this
brilliantly dramatic music, the perfect choice
for many collectors ... see Full
Review
Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858-1924) La
Bohème (1896) Mimi – Renata
Tebaldi (soprano) Rodolfo – Sándor
Kónya (tenor) Musetta – Laurel Hurley
(soprano) Marcello – Frank Guarrera (baritone)
Schaunard – Clifford Harvort (baritone) Colline
– Jerome Hines (bass) Benoit – Fernando Corena
(bass) Alcindoro – Lorenzo Alvary (bass) Parpignol
– Emil Filip (tenor)
Orchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera/Fausto
Cleva Rec. New York Metropolitan Opera, 14
March 1964. ADD Bonus tracks: Georg
HANDEL –
Ombra ma fù (Xerxes) Franz
SCHUBERT –
Ständchen (Schwanengesang) Johannes
BRAHMS –
O wußt’ ich doch den Weg zurück
op.63 Richard STRAUSS
–
Zueignung Op.10/1 Vincenzo
de CRESCENZO –
Rondine al nido Ruggero
LEONCAVALLO –
Mattinata TRADITIONAL
–
Virit már a Szarkaláb Zoltán
KODÁLY –
Recruitingsong Giacomo
PUCCINI –
E lucevan le stelle (Tosca) Giacomo
PUCCINI –
Ch’ella mi creda (La Fanciulla del West)
Umberto GIORDANO
–
Amor ti vieta (Fedora) Sándor
Kónya (tenor) Otto Seyfert (piano)
Rec. Betlehem USA, 5 February 1966. ADD
GALA GL 100.727 [2CDs:76:19 + 74:04 =
150:23] [PCW]
Sándor
Kónya as Rodolfo was the star of this
show….Tebaldi’s Mimi must surely be better
heard on other recordings … see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Turandot
(1926) Eva Marton (soprano) Turandot; José
Carreras (tenor) Calaf; Katia Ricciarelli
(soprano) Liù; Jean-Paul Berger (bass)
Timur; Robert Kerns (baritone) Ping; Helmut
Wildhaber (tenor) Pang; Heinz Zednik (tenor)
Pong; Kurt Rydl (baritone) Mandarin; Waldemar
Kmentt (tenor) Altoum
Vienna Boys Choir Vienna State Opera Chorus
and Orchestra/Lorin Maazel. Rec. live in the
Staatsoper, Vienna in 1984. ADD
SONY CLASSICAL SM2K90444 [126’34] [CC]
Maazel’s
pacing triumphs over problems of casting,
balance and sometimes intrusive applause to
leave one with a fulfilled impression at the
close of the work. … see
Full Review
Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858-1924)
Tosca:
Vissi d’arte; Le Villi: Se come
vuoi; Manon Lescaut: In quelle trine
morbide, Intermezzo, Act III, Sola, perduta,
abbandonata; Sole e amore*, La Bohème:
Sì, mi chiamano Mimì; Donde
lieta uscì, Canto d’anime*, Madama
Butterfly: Un bel dì vedremo, Intermezzo,
Act II, La Rondine: Ch’il bel sogno
di Doretta, Morire*, Suor Angelica: Senza
mamma, Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino
caro; Turandot: Signore ascolta, Tu
che di gel sei cinta
Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano), Orchestre de
l’Opéra National de Lyon/Kent Nagano,
items marked * with Roger Vignoles (piano)
Recorded at the Opéra National de Lyon
from 14th-22nd May 1996
WARNER CLASSICS ELATUS 2564 60681-2 [63:24]
[CH]
Fans
will find much to enjoy ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Tosca
(1900).Adriana Guerrini (soprano) Floria Tosca;
Gianni Poggi (tenor) Mario Cavaradossi; Paolo
Silveri (baritone) Baron Scarpia; Jan Emanuel
(bass) Cesare Angelotti; Carlo Badioli (bass)
Sacristan; Armando Benzi (tenor) Spoletta;
Eraldo Coda (bass) Sciarrone; Giulio Biellesi
(bass) Un Carceriere; Elvina Ramella (soprano)
Un Pastore; Chorus and Symphony
Orchestra of RAI, Torino/Francesco Molinari-Pradelli.Rec.
Turin, Italy, 1952. mono ADD
WARNER FONIT 5050466-3305-2-9 [105’46:
42’03 + 63’43]. [CC]
None
of the singers’ flaws is sufficient to divert
attention from Molinari-Pradelli’s considered
yet exciting conception. This should, I believe,
be heard, especially at the price. ... see
Full Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Tosca
- opera in three acts Tosca, Maria
Callas (sop); Cavaradossi; Giuseppe Di Stefano
(tenor); Scarpia, Tito Gobbi (baritone); Angelotti,
Franco Calabrese (bass); Spoletta, Angelo
Mercuriali (bar); Sacristan, Melchiorre Luise
(bar).
Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro alla Scala,
Milan/Victor de Sabata Recorded August 1953
in Teatro alla Scala, Milan Restoration Engineer,
Mark Obert-Thorn
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110256-57
[2CDs: 42.35+65.56] [RJF]
Exalted
moments of involvement and identification
of singer and role rarely caught on recording.
You can confidently add this re-mastered version
of a truly great, iconic, recording to your
collection. Highly recommended. ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI
(1858-1924) Tosca
(1900) Maria Callas (Tosca), Giuseppe
Di Stefano (Cavaradossi), Tito Gobbi (Scarpia),
Franco Calabrese (Angelotti), Angelo Mercuriali
(Spoletta), Melchiorre Luise (Sacristan),
Dario Caselli (Sciarrone/Gaoler), Alvaro Cordova
(Shepherd)
Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro alla Scala,
Milan/Victor De Sabata Recorded 10th-14th,
16th and 18th-21st August 1953 in the Teatro
alla Scala, Milan
EMI CLASSICS 5 85644 2 [2 CDs: 43:12+66:22]
[CH]
One
of the greatest recorded performances of an
opera ever made, and EMI still seem to hold
the trumps in their own transfer. ... see
Full
Review
Alexandre RABINOVITCH-BARAKOVSKY (b.1945)
Pura Cosa Mentale CD1
Six Etats Intermédiaires:
La Vie; Le Rêve; La Transe; Le Moment
de la Mort; Réalité; l’Existence.
(Symphony based on the Tibetan Book of the
Dead Bardo Thödol) (1998) [52.46]
Musique Populaire (1980) [18.44]
CD2 La Triade: Le Deuil; La
Transe; Le Silence (Sinfonia Concertante for
amplified violin and orchestra) (1998) [28.50]
Trois Invocations (1995) [20.02]
La Belle Musique No. 4 (1987)
[17.58]
Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra/composer
(Six Etats); Martha Argerich/composer
(two amplified pianos) (Musique Populaire);
Yayoi Toda (violin), Orchestra di Padova e
del Veneto/composer (Triade); Filarmonica
Quartet/composer (celesta) (Invocations);
Mikhail Adamovitch, Alexéi Ieriomine,
Anatol Batagov, composer (amplified pianos)
(La Belle Musique No. 4). Rec. 5 Oct
2002, Belgrade (Six Etats); 2 Apr 1992,
Warsaw (Musique Populaire); 10 May
1999, Padova (Triade); Nov 2001, Paderewski
Hall, Lausanne (Invocations); Mikhail
Adamovitch, Alexéi Ieriomine, Anatol
Batagov, composer (amplified pianos) (La
Belle Musique No. 4).
MEGADISC CLASSICS MDC 7812/11 [71.30+66.50]
[RB]
Sensuous
minimalism with trance-inducing overtones
... the presence of Argerich will bring in
many... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV
(1873 - 1943) Piano
Concerto #2 in c, Op 18 (1901) [32.38] Piano
Concerto #3 in d, Op 30 (1909) [40.55]
Konstantin Scherbakov, piano Russian
State Symphony Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky
Recorded in Studio 5, State Recording House,
Moscow, Russia, 25 May 2002 CD tracks in 2.0
stereo. SACD tracks in 2.0 stereo and 5.1
surround sound. DSD Hybrid
SACD playable on CD players and SACD players
NAXOS 6.110013 [73.33] Discrete 5.1 surround
sound at 48kHz 24Bit, Dolby 5.1 (AC-3), and
DTS 5.1. DVD-Audio playable
on all DVD players & DVD-audio players.
NAXOS 5.110013 [73.33] [PSh]
A
quite good Second Concerto, the best Third
Concerto I’ve ever heard; stupefyingly brilliant
sound in 8 different flavours … see Full
Review
Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943)
Piano
Concerto No. 2 (1901) Barry Douglas (piano)
London Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tilson Thomas
Rec. 1992, London Piano Concerto No. 3
(1908)
Byron Janis (piano) Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles
Munch Rec. December 1958, Boston
BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 55269-2 [71.20]
[TB]
Janis:
a major talent and this performance serves
his reputation well. Douglas too, though an
artist of a later generation, is a distinguished
pianist with a reputation that goes before
him. ... see Full
Review
Sergie RACHMANINOV
(1873 – 1943) Divine
Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Op.
31
Deacon Tobias Simms(Celebrant); Proto-deacon
Peter Scorer (Deacon) Choir of King’s College,
Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury Recorded Chapel
of King’s College, Cambridge, UK, July 2003
EMI CLASSICS 5576772 [75:11] [JL]
If
you do not mind your Russian Orthodox Liturgy
in English cathedral choir sound, then this
is magnificent. ... see Full
Review
Jean-Philippe
RAMEAU
(1683-1764) Castor
and Pollux (1754 version) Castor
– Colin Ainsworth (tenor) Pollux – Joshua
Hopkins (baritone) Télaïre – Monica
Whicher (soprano) Phébé/Hébé
– Meredith Hall (soprano) Jupiter – Giles
Tomkins (bass baritone) Cléone – Renée
Winick (soprano) Le Grand Prêtre – Brian
McMillan (baritone) Mercure – Joey Niceforo
(tenor) A Spartan Soldier 1 at the end of
Act 1 – Michael Lee (tenor) A Spartan Soldier
2 at the end of Act 1 – Matthew Lee (tenor)
A Voice at the end of Act I – Lorelle Angelo
(soprano) Another Voice at the end of Act
I – Catherine Lippitt Erickson (soprano) Opera
in Concert
Arcadia Ensemble/Kevin Mallon Recorded
in Grace Church on the Hill, Toronto, February
2003
NAXOS 8.660118/19 [2 CDs: 140.43] [JW]
The
combination of the balletic, purely orchestral
and juxtaposed aria and recitativo elements
creates an organically satisfying and enlivening
work At superbudget price this twofer gets
a warm recommendation. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Jean-Philippe
RAMEAU (1683-1764)
Platée
Paul Agnew (Platée) Mireille
Delunsch (La Folie / Thalie) Yann Beuron (Thespis
/ Mercure) Vincent Le Texier (Jupiter) Doris
Lamprecht (Junon) Laurent Naouri (Cithéron,
un Satyre) Valérie Gabail (L’Amour
/ Clarine) Franck Leguerinel (Momus)
Les Musiciens du Louvre-Grenoble/Marc Minkowski
Choreography: Laura Scozzi Rec: February 2002,
Opéra National de Paris au Palais Garnier
Sound format: Dolby Digital 5.0, DTS 5.0,
LPCM stereo Subtitle languages: GB, D, F,
ES, IT Picture format: 16:9 and 4:3 Picture
standard: PAL Region code: 2 TDK
DV-OPPLT [150 mins] [KM]
I
cannot praise this DVD enough - the music,
singing, and performances are impeccable.
... see Full Review
Jean-Philippe RAMEAU (1683-1764)
La Princesse de Navarre, interludes
for the comédie-ballet by Voltaire
Marilyn Hill-Smith, Eiddwen Harrhy, Frances
Chambers, Judith Rees (soprano), Michael Goldthorpe
(tenor), Peter Savidge (baritone), Ian Caddy,
Richard Wigmore (bass) English Bach Festival
Singers and Baroque Orchestra/Nicholas McGegan
Recorded in March 1979 at St Barnabas Church,
London ADD
WARNER ELATUS 2564-60536-2 [55:47] [JV]
A
reissue of the only recording to date of Rameau’s
music for Voltaire’s comédie-ballet
– the singing is rather unstylish and lacks
subtlety … see Full
Review
Alan RAWSTHORNE
(1905-1971)
Symphonies:
No. 1a (1950) [22’56]; No. 2, ‘A
Pastoral Symphony’b (1959)
[19’47]; No. 3 (1964) [32’03]
abLondon Symphony Orchestra/aSir
John Pritchard, bNicholas Braithwaite;
cBBC Symphony Orchestra/Norman
Del Mar. With bTracey Chadwell
(soprano). Rec. acKingsway Hall
aon March 25th, 1975,
cin April 1967; bin
Watford Town Hall on August 25th-26th,
1993. ADD/bDDD Original recordings
of Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3 made in association
with The British Council; Symphony No. 2 recorded
with the support of The Rawsthorne Trust.
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD291 [74’47]
[CC]
Well
worth hearing – do try to listen also to the
Naxos Piano Concertos disc if Rawsthorne’s
music appeals. Highly recommended. ... see
Full Review
Max REGER (1873-1916)
Chorale
Fantasia on "Wie schön leucht uns der
Morgenstern" (How brightly shines the morning
star), Op. 40, No. 1 Organ Pieces, Op. 59,
Nos. 7-9 Introduction and Passacaglia in F
minor, Op. 63 Organ Pieces, Op. 59, Nos. 10-12
Chorale Fantasia on "Halleluja! Gott zu loben,
bleibe meine Seelenfreud!" (May the praise
of God remain my soul’s joy!), Op. 52, No.
3
Josef Still (organ) Played and recorded
on the Johannes Klais Organ (of 1974) of the
Trier Cathedral, Germany, on 21-22 October,
2001. Organ Works Volume Four
NAXOS 8.555905 [76:33] [MC]
Still’s
technically assured performances are exemplary
throughout. The superb recorded sound is warm
and detailed. A strong recommendation at any
price. ... see Full
Review
Joseph Gabriel RHEINBERGER
(1839-1901)
Sonata
No. 12 in D flat major, Op. 154, (1888) Seven
of the twelve Trios for Organ, Op. 189, Nos.
6-12 (1897) Sonata No. 13 in E flat major,
Op. 161, (1889)
Wolfgang Rubsam (organ) Rec. Rieger-Sauer
Organ (The Great Organ) of Fulda Cathedral,
Germany 8-10 January, 2002. Organ Works Volume
5
NAXOS 8.557184 [69:29] [MC]
An
enjoyable recording for lovers of organ works
from the Romantic period, works that may need
several plays before they reveal their treasures
to the listener. ... see Full
Review
Ferdinand RIES
(1784–1838)
Piano
Quartet in F minor, Op. 13 Piano Quartet in
E flat major, Op. 17
Daniel Raiskin, viola Mendelssohn Trio
Berlin: Stephan Picard, violin Ramon Jaffé,
cello Andreas Frölich, piano Recorded
at Immanuelkirche, Köln-Rondorf, Germany,
March 2002
CPO 999 885 [51:51] [DS]
With
excellent music and superior sound and performances,
I strongly recommend acquisition of the recording.
… see Full Review
Gioacchino ROSSINI
(1792-1868)
Otello
- Opera in three acts. Libretto by
Francesco Berio di Salsa Otello, José
Carreras (ten); Desdemona, Frederica von Stade
(sop); Elmiro, Samuel Ramey (bass); Rodrigo,
Salvatore Fisichella (ten); Jago, Gianfranco
Pastine (ten); Emilia, Nucci Condo (Mezzo);
Lucio, Keith Lewis (ten)
Ambrosian Opera Chorus/John McCarthy Philharmonia
Orchestra/Jesús López-Cobos
Recorded London September 1978
Bargain price
PHILIPS CLASSICS DUO 475 448-2 [2CDs:
78.48+74.07] [JL]
This
very fine 1978 recording - strong all round
– is reissued by Philips in their "Duo"
series. Cheap but no libretto. ... see Full
Review
Gioacchino ROSSINI
(1792 - 1868) Petite
Messe solenelle Lucia
Mazzaria (soprano) Helen Schneiderman (alto
)Kenneth Tarver (tenor) Reiner Holthaus (bass)
Roberto Szidon (piano) Richard Metzler (piano)
Detlef Dörner (harmonium)
SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart/Rupert Huber
Recorded 1995
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.053 [79.33]
[RH]
A
fine, if large-scale, performance which is
rather let down by the soloists. ... see Full
Review
Edmund RUBBRA (1901-1986)
Symphonies:
No. 6, Op. 80 (1953/4) [32’40]; No. 8, Op.
132, ‘Hommage à Teilhard de Chardin’
(1966-68) [24’55]. Soliloquy for Cello
and Orchestra, Op. 57 (1947) [15’02].
Rohan de Saram (cello) London Symphony Orchestra/Vernon
Handley (Soliloquy). Philharmonia Orchestra/Norman
Del Mar No recording details given ADD
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD234 [72’38]
[CC]
A
most impressive disc … 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]