Kaija SAARIAHO
(b.
1952) Cendres
(1998)a Noa Noa (1992)b
Mirrors (1997 version)c Spins and
Spells (1996)d Monkey Fingers,
Velvet Hand (1991)e Petals (1988)f
Mirrors (1998 version)g Laconisme
de l’aile (1982)h Six Japanese
Gardens (1993/5)i
Wolpe Trio (Lesley Olson, fluteabcg;
Scott Roller, celloacdfg; Susanne
Achilles, pianoae); Andreas Boettger
(percussion and live electronics)i;
Thomas Neuhaus (live electronics)bfh
rec. Sendesaal, Deutschland Radio, Funkhaus,
Köln, May 2001
KAIROS 0012412KAI [72:12] [HC]
All
these pieces get superb, immaculate readings
and are beautifully recorded. A real winner.
... see Full Review
Stellan SAGVIK
(b.1952) Missa Maria
Magdalena Boel
Adler (mezzo soprano) – Maria Magdalena Olle
Persson (baritone) – Jesus Jan Nilsson (tenor)
– Evangelist Madelaine Wibom (soprano) – Marta
Marianne Lundquist (soprano) – Angel Kjell
Gustafson (bass) – Joseph Ralph Gustafsson
and Matthias Kjellgren (organ)
Maria Magdalena Motettkör/Ragnar Bohlin
Stockholm Blåsarsymfoniker/Mika Eichenholz
Recorded live in Maria Magdalena Church, Stockholm,
April 1996
NOSAG CD 017 [78.51] [JW]
This
is never an easy listen but the concentration
seldom sags. Curiosity may well be rewarded.
... see Full Review
Juan
García de SALAZAR (1639-1710)
Complete Vespers of Our Lady Juan
García de SALAZAR and García
de OLAGÜE Salmo
112: Laudate Pueri Dominum [3:05];
Salmo 126: Nisi Dominus
[2:18] García
de OLAGÜE (17th/18th
Century) Verso De Clarin I (Organ)
[0:58]; Verso De Clarin
II (Organ) [0:41] José
XIMÉNEZ (1601-1672) Batalla
Del Sexto Tono (Organ) [4:34]
Anonymous
Benedicamus
Domino (Plainchant) [0:45]
Ministriles de Marias Josep Cabré,
baritone Capilla Peñaflorida Recorded
at Villabuena, Spain, 18- 21 December, 2000
DDD
NAXOS 8.555907 [69:16] [PG]
A
great deal of care has been put into this
album. Well performed and recorded. García
de Salazar’s work, while no longer familiar,
is very good. ... see Full
Review
Giovanni
Battista SAMMARTINI (c.1700/01
– 1775) Il
pianto degli Angeli della pace, J-C 119
Symphony in E flat major, J-C 26
Silvia Mapelli (soprano) Ainhoa Soraluze (mezzo)
Giorgio Tiboni (tenor) Capriccio Italiano
Ensemble/Daniele Ferrari Recorded Monza, Milan,
26 March 2002. DDD
NAXOS 8.557432 [54.09] [RH]
A
rather disappointing foray into the lesser
known reaches of Sammartini’s catalogue. ...
see Full
Review
Alessandro
SCARLATTI
(1660 - 1725) The
Cecilian Vespers (1721) [89.31] Includes
Psalms, Hymns, and Antiphons "Dixit Dominus"
[17.03]; "Cantibus organis" [5.24];
Laudate Pueri" [16.24]; "Valerianus"
[6.03]; Laetatus sum" [17.16]; "Nisi
Dominus" [3.03]; "Lauda Jerusalem"
[3.34]; "Jesu corona" [7.50]; "Magnificat"
[9.40] with brief connecting antiphons and
chants as assembled for the original 1721
performance. Nisi Dominus [14.42] Salve
Regina [14.49] Recorded in 5.1 surround
sound utilising the DSD system before a live
audience in the First Congregational Church,
Berkeley, California, USA, 18 April 2004.
Audi Filia [11.39] Recorded in 5.1
surround sound utilising the DSD system in
the First Congregational Church [no live audience],
Berkeley, California, USA, 20 April 2004.
Susanne Rydén and Dominique Labelle,
sopranos; Ryland Angel, counter-tenor; Michael
Slattery, tenor; Neal Davies, baritone and
chanteur. Philharmonia Chorale; Philharmonia
Baroque Orchestra/Nicolas McGegan Notes in
English, Français, and Deutsch. Photos
of the artists and performance. Complete texts
and translations. Reproduction of manuscript
autograph page. Hybrid
SACD also playable on CD players.
AVIE AV0048 [64.21 + 66.20] [PSh]
The
most exciting high baroque choral vocal music
you can hear anywhere, brilliantly recorded
so every tiny detail is present. ... see Full
Review
Alessandro
SCARLATTI (1660
- 1725) Il
Vespero di Santa Cecilia (1738) [90.11] Nisi Dominus (1738)
[14.42] Salve Regina (1738) [14.49] Audi Filia (1738)
[11.39] Susanne
Ryden (soprano) Dominique Labelle (soprano) Ryland Angel (countertenor)
Michael Slattery (tenor) Neal Davies (baritone and cantor) Philharmonia
Chorale Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra/Nicholas McGegan rec. live 17-18
April 2004, First Congregational Church, Berkeley, California. ‘Audi,
Fili’ recorded without an audience, 20 April 2004 at the same venue.
AVIE AVIE 0048 [64.21
+ 66.20] [RH]
A
first recording of this lovely music ... I
look forward to returning to it. ... see Full
Review
Max von
SCHILLINGS
(1868-1933) Mona
Lisa - opera in two acts (1915) Ein
Fremder/Messer Francesco del Giocondo – Mathieu
Ahlersmeyer (baritone) Eine Frau/Mona Fiordalisa,
Gattin des Francesco – Inge Borkh (soprano)
Ein Laienbruder/Messer Giovanni de’ Salviati
– Hans Beirer (tenor) Messer Pietro Tumoni
– Wilhelm Lang (bass) Messer Arrigo Oldofredi
– Horst Wilhelm (tenor) Messer Alessio Beneventi
– Erich Zimmermann (tenor) Messer Sandro da
Luzzano – Otto Hüsch (bass) Messer Masolino
Pedruzzi – Hanns Pick (bass) Mona Ginerva
ad Alta Rocca – Maria Reith (mezzo soprano)
Dianora, Francescos Töchterchen aus erster
Ehe – Alice Zimmermann (soprano) Piccarda,
Zofe der Mona Fiordalisa – Emmi Hagemann (soprano)
Chor and Orchestra of the State Opera,
Berlin/Robert Heger Recorded 1953 Glockenlieder
Die Frühglocke Die Nachzügler
Ein Bildchen Mittagskönig und Glockenherzog
Peter Anders (tenor) Staatskapelle Berlin/Robert
Heger Recorded May 1943
PREISER 90573 [66.45 + 75.53] [JW]
Though
it’s now perhaps little more than a curio
this is a work that still has the power to
resonate in the mind. ... see Full
Review
Artur SCHNABEL
(1882-1951)
String
Quartet No. 5a (1940) [26’30].
bPiano Trio (1945) [21’50]. Seven
Piano Piecesc (1946/7) [14:18]
aPellegrini String Quartet (Antonio
Pellegrini, Thomas Hofer, violins; Fabio Marano,
viola; Helmut Menzler, cello); bRavinia
Trio (Saiko Sasaki, piano; Rainer Schmidt,
violin; Helmut Menzler, cello); cBenedikt
Koehlen (piano). Rec. Funkhaus Wallrafplatz,
Köln, on aFebruary 20th-22nd,
2002, cOctober 13th,
1992, bHans Rosbaud Studio, Baden-Baden,
on June 23rd, 1997. DDD
CPO 999 881-2 [62’17] [CC]
This
disc is of far more than interest value. Composition
was clearly an important artistic outlet for
Schnabel. Maybe this disc opens the door for
further exploration?. I do hope so. ... see
Full Review
Othmar SCHOECK
(1886-1957)
Erwin
und Elmire op. 25 - Gesänge zu
dem Singspiel von Goethe (1916) [57:02]
Jeanette Fischer (sop) - Elmire, the daughter
of Olympia; Mareike Schellenberger (mezzo)
- Olympia, the mother of Elmire; Hans Christoph
Begemann (bar) - Erwin, in love with Elmire;
Tino Brütsch (ten) - Bernardo, elderly
philosopher. Zürcher Kammerorchester/Howard
Griffiths rec. 8-13 July 2002, Neumünsterkirche,
Zürich. DDD
CPO 999 929-2 [57:02] [RB]
This
little gem of an opera ... high spirits rule
the day ... the cast are its equal in elan
and technique. ... see
Full Review
Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951)
The Music of Arnold Schoenberg, Volume 2.
Concerto
for String Quartet and Orchestra in B flata
(1933) [20’36]; Suite for Piano, Op. 25b
(1921/3) [13’17]. Gurrelieder (1900/1923
chamber version) - Lied der Waldtaubec
[12’56]. The Book of the Hanging Gardens,
Op. 15d (1908) [26’38].
Spoken interview with Arnold Schoenberg rec.
composer’s home, July 1949 [6’31]. aFred
Sherry String Quartet (Jennifer Frautschi,
Jesse Mills, violins; Richard O’Neill, viola;
Fred Sherry, cello); bdChristopher
Oldfather (piano); cdJennifer Lane
(mezzo); cTwentieth Century Classics
Ensemble (New York)/Robert Craft. rec. American
Academy of Arts and Letters, aOct
2002, bdSept 2001, cMay
2000. DDD
NAXOS 8.557520 [79’59] [CC]
A
simply gripping selection of Schoenberg’s
music. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) The Complete
Symphonies
Staatskapelle Dresden/Sir Colin Davis
BMG CLASSICS RCA RED SEAL 82876 60392-2
[PL]
A
uniformly strong ‘library’ set, and I urge
you to hear it. ... see Full
Review
Franz Peter SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
The
Great String Quartets CD1 String Quartet
No. 13 in A minor ‘Rosamunde’, Op.29/1, D.804
(1824) String Quartet No. 14 in D minor ‘Death
and the Maiden’ D.810 (1824) CD2 String Quartet
No. 12 in C minor, D.703 ‘Quartettsatz’ (1820)
String Quartet No. 15 in G major, Op.161,
D.887 (1826)
Brandis Quartet
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92288 [78:35 + 52:45]
[MC]
Warm
expressiveness and sumptuous textures ...
maybe just a touch too cloying ... I certainly
fully intend to revisit this set in the future.
... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Fantasie
in F minor for piano duet, D 940 [18’39] Rondo
in A major for piano duet, D 951 [9’32] Piano
Sonata in A major, D 664 [23’28] Piano Sonata
in A minor, D 784 [23’13] Allegro in A minor
for piano duet Lebensstürme, D
947 [17’14]
Maria João Pires and Ricardo Castro
(piano) Recorded at Igreja da Cartuxa, Caxias,
Portugal, May 2004
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 477 5233 [52’05+41’08]
[TH]
Given
the quirkiness of the programming and packaging,
I can’t imagine buyers being tempted from
much safer recommendations such as Lupu and
Perahia ... see
Full Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856)
Carnaval op.9 (1834/35)
Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Venezia e Napoli (supplement to "Les
Annees de Pelerinage"; 1858) ,Mephisto
Waltz No.1 in A major [11:41] ,Hungarian
Rhapsody No.2 in C sharp minor [10:03]
Jakub Cizmarovic (piano) Recorded July 2003
at the Telos Music Studios, Mechernich
ARTE NOVA CLASSICS 82876 64002 2 [73:47]
[SA]
At
only twenty Cizmarovic certainly has a tremendous
future ahead of him – I wonder if we’ll see
him at the Leeds Piano Competition? ... see
Full Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-56)
Lieder:
Gesänge, Op. 89 (1850) – No.
5, Ins Freie (1850) [2’21]; Myrthen,
Op. 25 (1840) – No. 1, Widmung [2’12];
No. 7, Die Lotosblume [1’54]; No. 21,
Was will die einsame Träne? [2’59];
No. 24, Du bist die Blume [1’58]; No.
25, Aus den östlichen Rosen [1’24];
No. 26, Zum Schluss [2’26];
Gedichte, Op. 36 (1840) - No. 5, Dichters
Genesung [2’47]; No. 6, Liebesbotschaft
[5’37]; Romanzen und Balladen,
Op. 45 (1840) – No. 3, Abends am
Strand [3’11]; Lieder und
Gesänge, Op. 127 – No. 3, Es
leuchtet meine Liebe
[2’12]; Gesänge, Op. 142 (1852)
– Mein Wagen rollet langsam
[2’47]; Gedichte, Op. 90 (1850) – No.
2, Meine Rose [4’51]; No. 3, Kommen
und Scheiden [1’14]; No. 4,
Die Sennin [1’54]; No. 5, Einsamkeit
[2’59]; No. 6, Der schwere Abend
[1’26]; Gesänge, Op. 31 (1840)
– No. 1, Die Löwenbraut
[9’06]; Belsazar, Op. 57 (1840) [4’58];
Lieder, Op. 40 (1840) – Der
Soldat [3’19]; Lieder und
Gesänge IV, Op. 96 (1850) – No.
1, Nachtlied [3’19]; Gesänge,
Op. 83 – No. 3, Der Einsiedler
[3’39]; Romanzen und Balladen
II, Op. 49 – No. 1, Die beiden
Grenadiere [3’16]; Gedichte
aus ‘Liebesfrühling’, Op. 37 (1840)
– No. 1, Der Himmel hat
eine Träne geweint
[2’12]; Minnespiel, Op. 101 (1849)
– No. 4, Mein schöner Stern!
[2’23]
Matthias Goerne (baritone); Eric Schneider
(piano). Rec. Reitstadel, Neumarkt, Germany,
on October 13th-4th,
2003. DDD Texts and translations included.
DECCA 475 6012 [77’36] [CC]
Goerne:
intelligence as well as the natural beauty
of voice. The two come together magnificently
in this sterling Schumann recital. ... see
Full Review
Robert
SCHUMANN
(1810 – 1856): Duets and
Piano Works Duets:
Erste Begegnung Op. 74 No. 1; Liebesgram Op.
74 No. 3; Botschaft Op. 74 No. 8; Mailied
Op. 79 No. 10; Das Glück Op. 79 No. 16;
Frühlingslied Op. 79 No. 19; Die Schwalben
Op. 79 No. 21; Wenn ich ein Vöglein Wär
Op. 43 No. 1; Herbstlied Op. 43 No. 2; Schön
Blümelein Op. 43 No. 3; Mailied Op. 103
No. 1; Frühlingslied Op. 103 No. 2; An
die Nachtigall Op. 103 No. 3; An den Abendstern
Op. 103 No. 4; Ei Mühle, liebe Mühle
Op. 112 No. 20; Ländliches Lied Op. 29
No. 1; Sommerruh (No. opus number); Bedeckt
mich mit Blumen Op. 138 No. 4
PiaNo. Works: Abschied, Op. 82 No.
9 (from Waldszenen); Botschaft, Op. 124 No.
18 (from Albumblätter); Vogel als Prophet,
Op. 82 No. 7 (from Waldszenen); Der Dichter
spricht, Op. 15 No. 13 (from Kinderszenen);
Träumerei, Op. 15 No. 7 (from Kinderszenen)
Anneli and Lilian Druve (sopranos), Lars Hägglund
(piano) Recorded 18 June 1999, in Studio 12
Swedish Television, Gothenburg (piano works)
and 19 June 1999, in Fristad Church.
NOSAG RECORDS CD 046 [57:51] [GF]
However
much I admire the boldness and the ambitions
I think this enterprise should have been restricted
to a more local market. ... see Full
Review
The Mystic and
the Muse: Piano music of Cyril Scott and Roger
Quilter Roger
QUILTER (1877-1953) Three Studies
for piano (Molto Allegro con moto: Molto Allegro
amabile: Vivace misterioso e Legato); Three
Pieces for piano (Dance in the Twilight: Summer
Evening: At a Country Fair); Two Impressions
for Piano (In a Gondola: Lanterns) Country
Pieces for piano (Shepherd Song: Goblins:
Forest Lullaby: Pipe and Tabor) Cyril
SCOTT (1879-1970) Carillon; Rainbow
Trout; Zoo (Animals for piano); Second Piano
Sonata (1935)
Clipper Erickson (piano) Cover: Untitled pastel
by Cyril Scott
DIRECT TO TAPE RECORDING CO DTR 2013 [59.64]
[CSS]
The
playing by this enterprising pianist is authoritative
with no lapses into lush sentiment even in
the lighter Quilter. It is a delightful recording
... see Full Review
Peter SCULTHORPE
(b.
1929) Earth
Cry (1974) [13:55] * Memento Mori
(1993) [14:29] Piano Concerto (1983) [21:26]
# From Oceania (1970; 2003) [5:32]
Kakadu (1988) [15:44]
William Barton (didjeridu)* Tamara Anna
Cisłowska (piano)# New Zealand Symphony
Orchestra/James Judd rec. Wellington Town
Hall, 10-12 Sept 2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.557382 [71:06] [CC]
There
seems to be no-one quite like him. Should
go a long way to propelling Sculthorpe to
his rightful place in our contemporary musical
consciousness. He has important things to
say. We should listen, and carefully. ...
see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906
– 1975) Symphony
No. 4 in C minor Op. 43 (1936)
Kirov Orchestra, Mariinsky Theatre, St. PetersburgValerie
Gergiev. rec. live 20-22 Nov 2001, Mariinsky
Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia. DDD
PHILIPS SACD 4756190 [64:14] [JPh]
A
notable addition to the on-going Shostakovich cycle from Gergiev and
his colleagues, aided and abetted by the recording. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Suite
for Variety Orchestra No.1 (Jazz Suite No.2) (1938) - reconstructed
McBurney Overture on Russian and
Kirghiz Themes Op.115 (1963) Jazz Suite No.1 (1934) Novorossijsk Chimes
Festive Overture Op.96 Ballet Suites The
Bolt Op.27a The Limpid Stream Op.39a (1935) The Golden Age Op.22a (1930)
Film Music Hamlet-Suite
(1964) Gadfly – Suite Op 97a (1955)
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine/Theodore Kuchar Recorded June
1-8 [year?], Grand Studio of the National Radio Symphony Company of
the Ukraine in Kiev
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 6735 [3 CDs: 50.45 + 55.48 + 72.11][JW]
It
takes precision, authority and a good ear
for balance to deliver such consistently enjoyable
performances. ... scores very highly indeed.
... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-75) Chamber
Symphony, Op. 83a (String Quartet No 4, orch. Barshai) (1949) [23:32]
Symphony for Strings and Woodwinds, Op. 73a (String Quartet No 3, orch..
Barshai) (1946) [32:47]
Tapiola Sinfonietta/Jean-Jacques Kantorow recorded at the Tapiola Concert
Hall, Finland, 2-5 May 2001
BIS-CD-1180 [56:57] [PJL]
This
is a challenging and absorbing listening experience. Strongly recommended.
... see Full Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-75) Chamber Symphony,
Op. 110a (String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110, arr. Barshai, 1960)
[22:58] Anti-formalist Rayok*, arr. Spivakov (1948) [19: 35] Prelude
and Scherzo, Op. 11 (1924) [9.52] Alfred
SCHNITTKE (1934-98) Prelude in memory of Dmitri
Shostakovich [5:21] *Alexei
Mochalov (bass) and the Choir of the Academy of Choral Art; Moscow Virtuosi/Vladimir
Spivakov recorded in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, 15-17
May 2003 CAPRICCIO
67 115 [57:46][PJL]
An
outstandingly committed performance, but we are repeatedly made aware
that this piece is an orchestral transcription of a string quartet original.
... see Full Review
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Pohjola’s
Daughter. Symphonic Fantasy, Op. 49* [12’23"] The Maiden with the
Roses (No. 3 from Swanwhite, Op. 54)** [3’06"] Tapiola,
Op. 112*** [17’19"] Symphony No 7 in C major, Op. 105**** [21’20"]
Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) The Last
Spring (Elegiac Melodies, Op.34, No.2)***** [4’52"]
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Serge Koussevitzky; ****BBC Symphony Orchestra/Serge
Koussevitzky rec. Symphony Hall Boston except **** ‘live’, Queen’s Hall,
London; *6 May 1936;**29 December 1936; ***7-8 November 1939; ****15
May 1933; *****20 March 1940. ADD
NAXOS 8.110168 [59’00"] [JQ]
Superb
music making. Great value for money and is
self-recommending. ... see Full
Review
Jean
SIBELIUS
(1865-1957)
Karelia
Music (1893) [44:08] Press Celebrations
Music (1899) [34:27]
Tellu Virkkala, soprano Anna-Kaisa Liedes,
soprano Juha Kotilainen, baritone Tampere
Philharmonic Choir Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra/Tuomas
Ollila rec. Tampere Hall, Jan 1998. DDD
ONDINE ODE 9130 [78:45] [RB]
Sibelius
presented with unshakeable confidence. Outstanding
- one of the glories of the catalogue. No
Sibelian should be without this disc. ...
see Full Review
Sir
Charles Villiers STANFORD
(1852-1924) Requiem,
Op. 63 (1896): Introit [8.03], Kyrie [4.40], Gradual
[4.38], Sequence – Dies Irae [30.21], Offertorium [11.37],
Sanctus [10.07], Agnus Dei et Lux aeterna [11.01]. The
Veiled Prophet of Khorassan - excerpts (1879): Overture [7.53],
Ballet music no. 1 [7.20], There’s a Bower of Roses [5.05], Ballet
music no. 2 [3.17]
RTE Philharmonic Choir, Peter Kerr (ten), Nigel Leeson-Williams
(bass), Frances Lucey (sop), Colette McGahon (mezzo), Virginia Kerr
(sop – Khorassan) RTE National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland/Adrian
Leaper (Requiem), Colman Pearce (Khorassan) rec. National Concert Hall,
Dublin, Ireland, February, September 1994, DDD
NAXOS 8.555201-02 [59:34 + 44:55] [EM]
It
is the Requiem that one should purchase this
disc for. I am convinced that it should be
in the canon of great requiems, along with
the Brahms, Verdi and Fauré. ... see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Charles
Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924)
String
Quartet no.1 in G op.44 (1891) [29:01] String
Quartet no.2 in A minor op.45 (1891) [27:03]
Fantasy for Horn and String Quartet* (1922)
[11:47]
RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet, with Stephen
Stirling (horn)* Recorded 22nd-24th
September 2003 in the Henry Wood Hall, London
HYPERION CDA67434 [68:09] [CH]
Urgently
recommended, and not only to lovers of British
music. ... see Full
Review
Johann STRAUSS
II
(1825-1899) Die
Fledermaus - Operetta in three acts
Libretto: Carl Haffner and Richard Genée
- Revised: Peter Weiser and Otto Schenk
Gabriel von Eisenstein ... Bernd Weikl Rosalinde
... Lucia Popp Frank ... Erich Kunz
Prinz Orlofsky ... Brigitte Fassbaender Alfred
... Josef Hopferwieser Dr Falke ... Walter
Berry Dr Blind ... Anton Wendler Adele ...
Edita Gruberova Ida ... Karin Göttling
Frosch ... Helmut Lohner Iwan ... Karl Caslavsky
Chor der Wiener Staatsoper Ballett der Wiener
Staatsoper
Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper/Theodor Guschlbauer
Recorded live at the Wiener Staatsoper, 31
December 1980 Directed for stage and TV by
Otto Schenk TDK
DVD Video DV-CLOPDFM [169:00] [IL]
A
sparkling performance from a star cast; sumptuously
staged and costumed. A real feast for eye
and ear. ... see Full
Review
Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971) Three
Pieces (1914) 1 – 0:59, 2 – 2:00, 3 –
3:58; Concertino [5:59], Double
Canon: Raoul Dufy in memoriam [6:25] Alfred
SCHNITTKE (1934-98) Canon: In
memory of Stravinsky [6:25] Nikolay
ROSLAVETS (1881-1934) Quartet
No. 3 [12:59] Dmitri
SMIRNOV (b. 1948) Quartet No.
2, I – Andantino [6:20], II – Lento
[8:47] Elena FIRSOVA
(b. 1950) Quartet No. 4: Amoroso
[15:21]
Chilingirian Quartet: Levon Chilingirian (violin),
Charles Sewart (violin), Simon Rowland-Jones
(viola), Philip De Groote (cello) Recorded
27-28 April and 6-7 June 1994 in All Saints’
Church, Petersham, Surrey. DDD
RCA-BMG CATALYST 82876 64283-2 [65’04"]
[BH]
I
can’t praise this quartet and CD enough, both
for the artists’ warm, colorful playing and
for the enticingly different, but well-considered
program. ... see Full
Review
Sergei
TANEYEV (1856-1915)
Concert
Suite for Violin and Orchestra Op. 28
(1919) [42:24]: (I Prelude (Grave) [7:03];
II Gavotte (Allegro moderato) [5:55]; III
Fairy tale (Andantino) [9:26]; IV Tema con
variazioni [13:23]: (Tema (Andantino) [0:57];
Variazione finale e coda [3:56]; Var. I (Allegro
moderato) [1:09]; Var. II (Allegro energico)
[1:27]; Var. III (Tempo di Valse); Var. V
(Presto scherzando) [0:50]; Var. IV Fuga doppia
(Allegro molto) [1:44]; Var. VI (Tempo di
Mazurka. Allegro con fuoco) [1:25]); V Tarantella
(Presto) [6:34]) Entr'acte (The Temple
of Apollo at Delphi) (1895) [5:23] Oresteya
Overture (1889) [16:48]
Pekka Kuusisto, violin Helsinki Philharmonic
Orchestra/Vladimir Ashkenazy rec. House of
Culture (Suite), Finlandia Hall (Entr’acte;
Overture), Helsinki May 2000. DDD
ONDINE ODE 9590 [64:57] [RB]
This
is serious music yet without severity and
full of appealing humanity. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sir
John TAVENER (b.1944)
The Veil of the Temple (2002)
[148’17"]
Patricia Rosario (soprano); Simon Wall, Nathan
Vale (tenors); Thomas Guthrie, Andrew Rupp
(baritones); Adrian Peacock, Jeremy Birchall
(basses) The Choir of the Temple Church, London;
The Holst Singers Instrumental Ensemble; Members
of English Chamber Orchestra/Stephen Layton
Abridged concert version recorded live at
the première performances of the complete
score in the Temple Church, London on 27-28
June (overnight), 1 July and 4-5 July (overnight)
2003. DSD SACD HYBRID
BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876661542 [76’25"
+ 71’52"] [JQ]
This
release is a major event. I cannot recommend
it too highly. ... see Full
Review
Piotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Romeo
and Juliet [20:51] Symphony No. 6 in b minor,
Op. 74 [49:43] Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
(Romeo and Juliet)
St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (Symphony)
Yuri Temirkanov, conductor Recorded September
1989 at All Saints’ Church, Tooting, England
(Romeo) and April 8,9, and 11 1992 at Philharmonic
Hall, St. Petersburg. (Symphony)
BMG-RCA 82876 62320 2 [70:43] [KS]
Temirkanov
knows the tradition, the style and the score
intimately ... see Full
Review
Thomas D.A. TELLEFSEN
(1823-1874)
Sonata
for Piano and Violin op. 19 [26:10] Sonata
for Piano and Cello op. 21 [21:47] Trio for
Piano, Violin and Cello op. 31 [32:59]
Einar Steen-Nokleberg - piano Atle Sponberg
- violin Oystein Birkeland - cello Rec. Sofienberg
Church, Oslo, 9-10 September and 8-10 November
2001
SIMAX CLASSICS PSC 1226 [81:00]. [MW]
Tellefsen,
although relatively unknown compared to some
of his contemporaries, deserves to be more
widely heard ... see
Full Review
Michael
TIPPETT (1905-1998)
Remembering Tippett - Historic Recordings
from the 1940s Fantasy
Sonata (1936-38) [21:09] Concerto for
Double String Orchestra (1938-39) [21:15]
String Quartet No. 2 in F sharp (1941-42)
[20:20] Thomas TALLIS
Spem
in alium [12:02]
Phyllis Sellick (piano) (Sonata) Walter Goehr
and his orchestra (Concerto) Zorian Quartet
(Quartet) Morley College Choir/Michael Tippett
(Spem) Rec. Decca London Studio, Remington
Van Wyk, 1941 (sonata); Levy’s Sound Studios,
73 New Bond St, London, summer 1943 (Concerto);
Decca London Studios, 18-20 Dec 1947 (quartet);
HMV Abbey Rd, 7 Oct 1948 (Spem)
NMC ARCHIVE SERIES NMC D103 [75:16] [RB]
A
specialist CD: generously timed and exhaustively
documented. Recommendable to students of British
music during the 1930s and performance practice
in the 1940s as well as to Tippett fans everywhere....
see Full
Review
Sir Michael
TIPPETT
(1905-1998) The
Rose Lake (1995) The Vision of St.Augustine
(1965)
John Shirley-Quirke (baritone) London
Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Sir Colin Davis
(Rose Lake) Sir Michael Tippett (Vision)
rec. Walthamstow Town Hall, 17 April 1997
(Rose Lake) and 7-8 June 1971 (Vision)
BMG-RCA CATALYST 8287664284 2 [68’19]
[TH]
Whatever
your thoughts about the coupling, The Rose
Lake demands your attention. ... see Full
Review
Michael
TIPPETT (1905-1998)
Boyhood's
End: Allegro non troppo, Andante, Allegro molto, Allegro piacevole
Gerald FINZI (1901-1956) A Young Man's
Exhortation Op. 14: A Young Man's Exhortation, Ditty, Budmouth
Dears, Her Temple, The Comet at Yell'ham, Shortening Days, The Sigh,
Former Beauties, Transformations, The Dance Continued.
Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Who are these children? Op. 84:
A Riddle, A Laddie's Song, Nightmare, Black day, Bedtime, Slaughter,
A riddle, The Larky Lad, Who are these children ?, Supper, The Children,
The Auld Ark. Sechs Hölderlin-Fragmente: Menschenbeifall,
Die Heimat, Sokrates und Alcibades, Die Jugend, Hälfte des Lebens,
Die Linien des Lebens Um Mitternacht
Mark Padmore (tenor) Roger Vignoles (piano)Recorded East Finchley, 11-13
February 2004. DDD HYPERION
CDA67459 [78:11] [AO]
Padmore
sings with exquisite beauty but lacks depth
of interpretation – a Bostridge manqué.
... see Full
Review
Boris
TISHCHENKO (b.
1939) Symphony
No. 7, Op. 119 (1994).
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitri Yablonsky.
Live recording at the Grand Hall, Moscow Conservatory,
February 26 2002
NAXOS 8.557013 [52.42][JW]
There
is a compelling force to this symphony: unsettling,
wearing masks, ultimately military – and catastrophic.
... see Full Review
Ernst TOCH
(1887 - 1964) Capriccetti,
Op 36 (1925) [6.59] Kleinstadtbilder, Op 49
(1929) [11.57] Sonata, Op 47 (1928) [8.05]
Burlesken, Op 31 (1923) [8.54] Konzert-Edüden,
Op 55 (1931) [22.34]
Christian Seibert, piano Recorded WDR Funkhaus,
Köln, Germany, 17 April 2003 Notes in
Deutsch, English, Français. Photo of
composer and performer.
CPO 999 926-2 [59.16] [PSh]
The
intimate thoughts of a great symphonist and
film-score writer. ... see Full
Review
Joaquín TURINA
(1882-1949) Piano Music
1 Danzas
fantásticas Op.22 (1919) Tres danzas
andaluzas Op.8 (1912) Danzas gitanas Op.55
(1929-30) Danzas gitanas Op.84 (1934) Dos
danzas sobre temas populares españolas
Op.41 (1926) Bailete; Suite de danzas del
siglio XIX Op.79 (1933)
Jordi Masó (piano) Recorded in the
Auditorium, Jafre, Spain, April 2003
NAXOS 8.557150 [70.27] [JW]
Masó:
I remain impressed ... a good, crisp touch
and an active command of the idiom. ... see
Full Review
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958) The Nine Symphonies
A
Sea Symphony (Symphony No. 1) (1909) Symphony
No. 2 A London Symphony (1913) Symphony
No. 8 in D minor (1955) Symphony No. 4 in
F minor (1931) Symphony No. 5 in D major (1943)
Symphony No. 6 in E minor (1944) Fantasia
on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (1910) The
Lark Ascending (1921) Fantasia on Greensleeves
(1934) Overture – The Wasps (1909)
Sinfonia Antartica (Symphony No. 7)
(1952) A Pastoral Symphony (Symphony
No. 3) (1921) Symphony No. 9 in E minor (1956-58)
Job – A Masque for Dancing (1930)
Amanda Roocroft (soprano); Thomas Hampson
(baritone) BBC Symphony Orchestra/Sir Andrew
DavisRec. St. Augustine’s Church, London October
1990 (No. 6, Tallis Fantasia, Lark
Ascending) December 1992 (Nos. 4 and 5)
March 1993 (Nos. 2 and 8) April 1995 (No.
9, Job) March 1996 (Nos. 3 and 7) Blackheath
Concert Hall, London, February 1994 (No. 1)
DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 256461730-2 [6 CDs: 65:33
+ 76:54 + 76:30 + 76:22 + 77:27 + 79:11] [CT]
Andrew
Davis and the BBC Symphony Orchestra in an
uneven six CD survey of the VW symphonies.
... see Full Review
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958) Symphony
No. 7 Sinfonia Antarctica American
Symphony Orchestra with (unidentified) narrator
and soprano and Women’s Chorus/Ainslee Cox,
New York premiere performance, 13th
April 1970 Robert
SIMPSON (1921-1997) Symphony No.
3 Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra/Ainslee
Cox American premiere performance, 8th
December 1974 Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Elegy for Strings
Op. 58 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Ainslee
Cox
THEO VAN DER BURG [77.34] [JW]
Two
important American performances led by a strong
and determined conductor. Recordings that
are crude in places but the experience is
visceral ... see Full Review
Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813 – 1901) Attila
- Lyric drama in a prologue and three
acts
Attila, King of the Huns ... Samuel Ramey
(bass) Ezio, a Roman general ... Giorgio Zancanaro
(baritone) Odabella, daughter of the ruler
of Aquileia ... Cheryl Studer (soprano) Foresto,
a knight of Aquileia ... Kaludi Kaludov (tenor)
Uldino, Breton slave of Attila ... Ernesto
Gavazzi (tenor) Leone, an old Roman ... Mario
Luperi (bass) Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro
alla Scala / Muti Recorded live in 1991 at
Teatro alla Scala, Milan
OPUS
ARTE DVD 09478 03010 [118:00] [RM]
An
exuberant performance: the mid-price makes it a real bargain ... see
Full Review
Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813 - 1901)
Don Carlo (1884)
Ferruccio Furlanetto (bass) Philip II Jose Carreras (tenor) Don Carlo
Piero
Cappuccilli (baritone) Rodrigo Matti Salminen (bass) The Grand Inquisitor
Franco De Grandis (bass) A Monk Fiamma Izzo D’Amico (soprano) Elizabeth
of Valois Agnes Baltsa (mezzo) The Princess Eboli Antonelli Bandelli
(mezzo) A Voice from on High Horst Nitsche (bass) The Count of Lerma
Volker Horn (tenor) A Royal Herald Natale de Carolis (bass baritone)
A Flemish Deputy Noel Ramirez (tenor) A Flemish Deputy Petteri Salomaa
(bass) A Flemish Deputy Roberto Servile (bass) A Flemish Deputy Goran
Simic (bass) A Flemish Deputy Alfred Sramek (baritone) A Flemish Deputy
Choirs of Bulgarian National Opera, Sofia, Salzburg Concert Choir and
Vienna State Opera Chorus Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Herbert von
Karajan. Recorded live at the Salzburg Easter Festival,
1986. DVD. (PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital Stereo).
SONY SVD
48312 [179’46”][JP]
Sumptuous
sets, very good, rather than famous, voices and superbly executed by
the orchestra ... see Full Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
I Due Foscari (1844)
Francesco Foscari
... Renato Bruson (baritone) Jacopo Foscari ... Alberto Cupido (tenor)
Lucrezia Contarini ... Linda Roark-Strummer (soprano) Jacopo Loredano
... Luigi Roni (bass) Barbarigo ... Renato Cazzaniga (tenor) Pisana
... Monica Tagliasacchi (soprano) Fante ... Aldo Bottion (tenor) Servant
of the Doge ... Aldo Bramante (bass) Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro
alla Scala, Milano/Gianandrea Gavazzeni Recorded 1988, Teatro alla Scala
(live performance)
OPUS ARTE
OA LS 3007 D [114.48][TB]
This
performance will give much pleasure, if that is the right word for so
remorselessly tragic a work. ... see Full
Review
Toscanini conducts VERDI
Falstaff
- rehearsals (1950) Alice Ford: Herva
Nelli, sop Nanetta: Teresa Stich-Randall,
sop Mistress Page: Nan Merriman, mezzo Falstaff:
Giuseppe Valdengo, bar Dame Quickly: Cloe
Elmo, mezzo Ford : Frank Guerrara, bar Pistol:
Norman Scott, bass
NBC Symphony Orchestra/Arturo Toscanini Originally
issued in 1986; newly restored by Graham Newton
(2003)
MUSIC & ARTS CD-4248(2) [61:51 + 63:17]
[JL]
Buying
these discs will allow you to own an important
historical document on conducting and to hear
one of the greatest conductors lavishing love
on an opera once described by him as "the
most beautiful of all". ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901).
Opera
Explained Series. An Introduction to
Falstaff
Narrative written by Thomson Smillie and
spoken by David Timson Musical extracts taken
from complete Naxos recording (8.660050-51),
conducted by Will Humburg
NAXOS EDUCATIONAL - OPERA EXPLAINED
SERIES 8.558158 [78.54] [RJF]
A
complex opera well explained. However, an
opportunity is missed to give a broader contextual
introduction ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813
– 1901) Il
Trovatore (1853) Pierro Cappuccilli
(baritone) ... Il Conte di Luna Raina Kabaivanska
(soprano) ... Leonora Fiorenza Cossotto (mezzo)
... Azucena Placido Domingo (tenor) ... Manrico
Jose van Dam (bass-baritone) ... Ferrando
Maria Venuti (soprano) ... Ines Heinz Zednik
(tenor) ... Ruiz Karl Caslavsky (bass) ...
An Old Gypsy Ewald Aichberger (tenor) ...
A Messenger
Vienna State Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Herbert
von Karajan. Recorded live at the Wiener Staatsoper,
1 May 1978 Stage Direction – Herbert von Karajan.
DVD. (Dolby Digital Stereo 5.1, DTS 5.1 and
LPCM Stereo).
TDK
DV-CLOPIT [151:00] [JPh]
Another
of TDK’s Opera Videos well worth purchasing.
It should give hours and hours of enjoyment.
Very highly recommended. ... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Orlando
Furioso (1727) [182:40]
Marie-Nicole Lemieux (Orlando, contralto),
Jennifer Larmore (Alcina, mezzo-soprano),
Veronica Cangemi (Angelica, soprano), Philippe
Jaroussky (Ruggiero, counter-tenor), Lorenzo
Regazzo (Astolfo, bass-baritone), Ann Hallenberg
(Bradamante, mezzo-soprano), Blandine Staskiewicz
(Medoro, mezzo-soprano), Choeur "Les
Éléments", Ensemble Matheus/Jean-Christophe
Spinosi
Recorded in June 2004 in the Eglise Abbatiale
de Daoulas, Bretagne, France
NAÏVE OP 30393 [3 CDs: 70:38 + 66:21
+ 45:41] [CH]
A
recording which is not afraid to take risks.
... see Full
Review
Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741)
Orlando
Furioso: Ouvertura, Nel profondo
cieco mondo, Sol da te mio dolce amor, Sorge
l’irato nembo, Vorresti amor da me? Che bel
morirti in sen, Se cresce un torrente, Qual
candido fiore, Chiara al pari di lucida stella,
Al fragor de’ corni audaci, Così potessi
anch’io, Dove il valor combatte, Poveri affetti
miei, Fonti di pianto, Anderò, chiamerò
dal profondo, Con mirti e fiori
Marilyn Horne (Orlando, mezzo-soprano),
Victoria de los Angeles (Angelica, soprano),
Lucia Valentini-Terrani (Alcina, mezzo-soprano),
Carmen Gonzales (Bradamante, mezzo-soprano),
Lajos Kozma (Medoro, tenor), Sesto Bruscantini
(Ruggiero, baritone), Nicola Zaccaria (Astolfo,
bass), Coro Amici della Polifonia, I Solisti
Veneti/Claudio Scimone Recording first published
1978 (no other details given)
WARNER CLASSICS APEX 2564 61512-2 [72:45]
[CH]
Despite
some great names, the new recording of this
opera under Spinosi has made this one redundant.
... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI
(1678-1741) Twelve
Concertos for Violin and Strings Op.8 (Il
Cimento dell’Armonia e dell’Inventione)
Concertos
1-4 The Four Seasons+ No.5 in E flat
major La tempestra di mare RV253 No.6 in C
major Il piacere RV180 No.7 in D minor RV242
No.8 in G minor RV332 No.9 in D minor RV236
No.10 in B flat major La caccia RV362 No.11
in D major RV210 No.12 in C major RV178 Concerto
for two violins in D major RV513#
Louis Kaufman (violin) Peter Rybar (violin)#
Concert Hall Chamber rchestra/Henry Swoboda+
Winterthur Symphony Orchestra/Clemens Dahinden
Recorded New York, 1947 (Four Seasons) and
Zurich, 1950 (remainder)
NAXOS 8.110297-98 [63.51 + 62.43] [PSh]
[JW]
A
brilliant accomplishment, a classic recording
treasure brought stunningly back to life.[PSh]
Kaufman:
opulent expressivity, a compound of molten Elman, MGM warmth and quicksilver
contemporary athleticism ... highly idiosyncratic and personalised [JW]...
see Full Review
Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741)
La Pastorella: Baroque Chamber Concertos from Venice Concerto
La Pastorella (The Shepherdess) for recorder, oboe, violin,
bassoon and continuo in D major, RV 95 (circa 1720s) Concerto for recorder,
oboe and bassoon in G minor, RV 103 Sonata for flute, violin, cello
in C major, RV 801 (circa 1710) Concerto for recorder, oboe, violin,
bassoon and continuo in G minor, RV 105 Trio for lute, violin and continuo
in C major, RV 82 (circa 1729-30) Sonata for recorder, bassoon and continuo
in A minor, RV 86 (circa 1730s)
Fiori Musicali: Pamela Thorby (recorder); Gail Hennessy (oboe); Andrea
Morris (violin); Katy Bircher (flute); Sally Holman (bassoon); Peter
McCarthy (contrabasso); Jennifer Morsches (cello); David Miller (lute
and theorbo); Penelope Rapson (director/harpsichord and organ) rec.
5-7 Oct 2004, St. Marys Church, Everdon, Northamptonshire, UK.
DDD
METRONOME MET CD 1061 [64:00][MC]
Fascinating
and most attractive compact scores from Vivaldi but not presented at
their best. ... see Full Review
Richard
WAGNER
(1813 – 1883): Götterdämmerung,
highlights
Prologue: Dawn; Willst du mir Minne schenken
– Lass ich, Liebste, dich hier – Durch deine
Tugend allein (Brünnhilde, Siegfried)
– Siegfried’s Rhein Journey Act I: Höre
mit Sinn, was ich dir sage! (Waltraute) Act
II: Hoiho! Ihr Gibichmannen (Hagen) – Was
tost das Horn? (Chorus) – Rüstet euch
wohl (Hagen, Chorus) – Heil dir, Gunther!
(Chorus, Gunther) Act III: Brünnhilde!
Heilige Braut! (Siegfried) – Funeral March;
Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort – O ihr,
der Eide ewige Hüter! – Mein Erbe nun
nehm’ ich zu eigen – Fliegt heim, ihr Raben!
– Grane, mein Ross, sei mir gegrüsst!
(Brünnhilde) – Zurück vom Ring (Hagen)
Siegfried Jerusalem (tenor) – Siegfried;
Bodo Brinkmann (baritone) – Gunther; Philip
Kang (bass) – Hagen; Anne Evans (soprano)
– Brünnhilde; Waltraud Meier (mezzo-soprano)
– Waltraute; Chorus and Orchestra from the
Bayreuth Festival/Daniel Barenboim Recorded
in the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, June, July
1992
WARNER APEX 2564 61513-2 [73:18] [GF]
I
will definitely return to this disc, for the wonderful playing of the
orchestra, for the intensity and, in the death scene, for the poetry
of Jerusalem and for Evans’ warmth ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Opera Choruses The Mastersingers
of Nuremberg Finale (excerpts) (Act 3). (David: Goran Eliasson,
ten) The Flying Dutchman Chorus of Norwegian
Sailors and Girls (Act 3). (Steersman: Göran Eliasson, ten)
Tannhäuser Procession into the Hall of Song
(Act 2, Scene 4) Lohengrin Bridal Procession
(Act 2, Scene 4) Rienzi The Messengers of
Peace (Act 2). (Rienzi: Lars Cleveman, ten; Messenger of Peace, Marianne
Staykov, sop) Parsifal The Journey to Montsalvat
(Act 1) (Gurnemanz; Lennart Forsén, (bass); Titurel: John Erik
Eleby, ten)
Soloists
and Chorus of the Royal Swedish Opera. Royal Swedish Orchestra /Leif
Segerstam Recorded at the Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm, Sweden, 14-20
March 2003
NAXOS
8.557714 [77.49][RJF]
Lovers
of operatic chorus singing as well as Wagnerians,
should add this disc to their collection.
It has provided me with much listening pleasure.
... see Full
Review
William WALTON
(1902-1983) Symphony
No. 2 (1959-60) Variations on a Theme of Hindemith
(1962-3) Partita (1957) Violin Concerto (1938-9)
Belshazzar's Feast (1930-1) Capriccio Burlesco
Johannesburg Festival Overture Zino Francescatti
(violin) Walter Cassel (baritone) Rutgers
University Choir
Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy
Cleveland Orchestra/Georg Szell (Symphony,
Variations, Partita) New York PO/André
Kostelanetz (Overture and Capriccio) Recorded
late 1950s-early 1970s
SONY SB2K89934 [2 CDs: 72.21 + 70.41]
[JW]
Vibrant
and musically invigorating set ... see Full
Review
Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Piano
Sonatas Sonata No. 1 in C major Op.24 (1816)
Sonata No. 2 in A flat major Op.39 (1816) Sonata No. 3 in D minor Op.49
(1816) Sonata No. 4 in E minor Op.70 (1822)
Jan Vermeulen (fortepiano) Recorded in Steurbaut Studios, Gent, 1991/92
BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 92441 [65.44 + 55.15][JW]
Worthwhile
as an example of performance practice but
no substitute for Mewton-Wood or Cortot in
their various recordings ... see Full
Review
Dag WIRÉN
(1905-1986)
Romantic Suite Op.22 (1945) [10:53] Concertino
for Flute and Orchestra* Op.44 (1972) [12:20]
Ballet: Plats på scenen Op.32
(1957) [23:27]
*Jan Bengtson (flute) DalaSinfoniettan/Stefan
Karpe Rec. Kristinehallen, Falun in January
1999 DDD
NOSAG CD 041 [47:01][PJW]
No
boundaries pushed back but good, tuneful listening.
The playing of the DalaSinfoniettan and the
recording are most impressive ... see Full
Review
Ermanno WOLF-FERRARI
(1876-1948) Sly
(1927) Sly – Hans-Dieter Bader (tenor)
Dolly – Deborah Polaski (soprano) Der Graf
– Klaus-Michael Reeh (baritone) Mohr – Dantes
Diwiak (tenor) Indianer – William Forney (tenor)
Alter Diener – Sanders Schier
Chinese – Gilbert Dubuc (baritone) Artz/Ein
Freund des Grafen – Barr Peterson (bass) Musiker
– Hans Sojer (tenor) John Plake – Siegfried
Haertel (bass baritone) Snare/Ein Freund des
Grafen – Wolfram Bach Die Wirtin – Gertraud
Wagner (mezzo soprano) Ein Freund des Grafen
– Leonard Delany Rosalina – Monika Frimmer
(soprano)
Choir and Orchestra of the Niedersächsischen
State Opera, Hannover/Robert Maxym Recorded
at the Niedersächsischen State Theatre,
Hannover, November 1982
ARTS 47549-2 [63.30 + 46.24] [JW]
Brittle
and brutal though it may ultimately be, it’s
certainly worth your occasional acquaintance.
... see Full Review
Gabriel YARED
(b. 1949) Clavigo
- Ballet in two parts - after Johann
Wolfgang von Goethe Choreography by Roland
Petit Clavigo ... Nicolas Le Riche Marie ...
Clairemarie Osta The Stranger ... Marie-Agnes
Gillot Carlos ... Yann Bridard Beaumarchais
... Yann Saїz
Corps de Ballet de l’Opéra National
de Paris Orchestre de l’Opéra National
de Paris/Richard Bernas Recorded live at the
Opéra National de Paris, Palais Garnier,
October 1999 TDK
DVD VIDEO DV-BLCLAV [87:00] [I&GL]
Fascinating
modern ballet with wonderfully imaginative
Petit choreography and a memorable Yared score
... see Full Review
Alexander
von ZEMLINSKY (1871–1942)
Eine
Florentinische Tragödie, Op.16 (1916) Libretto by the composer,
after Max Meyerfeld’s translation of the play by Oscar Wilde
Iris Vermillion (mezzo-soprano) — Bianca Viktor Lutsiak (tenor)
— Guido Albert Dohmen (bass-baritone) — Simone Élisabeth Balmas
(violin solo) Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France/Armin Jordan
rec. Live in concert, 13 September 2003, Radio France Paris (Salle Olivier
Messiaen) NAÏVE
V 4987 [60:23] [CW]
Realistically,
two recordings of Eine Florentinische Tragödie
are going to be enough for most collectors,
and the new Naïve simply isn’t compelling
enough to oust those 1997 versions from the
shelf. Now if Bryn Terfel were to have a shot
at it ... 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]