French
Piano Quartets Alexis
de CASTILLON (1838-1873) Piano
Quartet in G minor Op. 7 (1869) [29:16] Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Piano
Quartet in B flat major Op. 41 (1875) [28:30]
Ernest CHAUSSON
(1855-1899) Piano Quartet in A major Op.
30 (1898) [37:20] Guillaume
LEKEU (1870-1894) Piano Quartet
in B minor (unfinished) (1894) [14:18] 
Quatuor Kandinsky: Claire Désert (piano);
Philippe Aïche (violin); Nicolas Bône
(viola); Nadine Pierre (cello) rec. Laon,
France, 1993 (Castillon; Saint-Saëns);
Théâtre de Poissy, France, 18-20
Aug 1992 (Chausson; Lekeu). DDD
VIRGIN CLASSICS 7243 4 82061 2 1 [57:51
+ 51:43] [RB]
A
sultry recording of surgingly romantic music
given the hot-blooded approach ... if you
want four nineteenth century French piano
quartets you need look no further. ... see
Full
Review
Ernest
CHAUSSON (1855-1899)
Poème
de l’amour et de la mer, Op. 19 (1882) [25’26"]
Paul DUKAS (1865-1935)
La péri (poème pour orchestra)
(1912) [19’09"] Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Les nuits d’été,
Op. 7 (1834) [28’35"]
Elsa Maurus (mezzo-soprano) Orchestre National
de Lille-Région Nord/Pas de Calais/Jean-Claude
Casadesus Rec. Auditorium du Nouveau Siècle,
Lille, France, 26-28 February 2003 DDD
NAXOS 8.557274 [73’21"] [JQ]
Attractive
and well done and presented in good sound.
Will give much pleasure and represents excellent
value. ... see Full
Review
Frédéric
CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Reminiscences
Grande
Valse Brillante in E flat major, Op.18, Grande
Valse Brillante in A flat major, Op.34 No.1,
Valse in A flat major, Op.69 No.1, Valse in
E flat major, Op.Posth., Fantasie-Impromptu
in C sharp minor, Op.66, Nocturne in B major,
Op.62 No.1, Nocturne in C sharp minor, Op.Posth.,
Nocturne in D flat major, Op.27 No.2, Nocturne
in E flat major, Op.9 No.2, Polonaise in A
flat major, Op.53 ‘Heroic’ , Mazurka in A
flat major, Op.24 No.3, Mazurka in F major,
Op.68 No.3, Mazurka in B flat minor, Op.24
No.4, Mazurka in B flat major, Op.17 No.1,
Scherzo No.2 in B flat minor, Op.31
Artur Pizarro (piano) Recorded at Potton Hall,
Suffolk, 17-24 June, 2004
LINN
CKD 248 [79’02] [TH]
It
depends on whether you’re a fan of Pizarro,
or his personal selection, but if you are
you will be treated to a gorgeous piano sound
... see Full
Review
Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-49)
Préludes,
Op. 28a (1836-38) [45'31]; Etudesb - Op. 10 (1829-32)
[31'59]; Op. 25 (1832-36) [33'23]; Piano Sonata No; 2 in B flat minor,
Op. 35c (1839) [27'04];
aAlfredo Perl, bFreddy Kempf, cAngela Hewitt
(pianos). Rec. aHopetoun House, Edinburgh on April 1st-4th,
2003, bChâ teau de Neuville, Gambais on February 19th-22nd,
2003, cWimbledon Theatre, London, on September 1st-4th, 2003.
BBC/OPUS ARTE OA0893D [135'00] [CC]
Although
I may have certain reservations, there is
little doubt that this is, in sheer production
terms, the best classical DVD I have seen
so far. Much here to enjoy. ... see Full
Review
Samuel
COLERIDGE-TAYLOR (1875–1912)
Violin
Concerto in G minor Op. 80 (1912) [31'55]
(1 Allegro maestoso — Vivace — Allegro molto
[11'39] 2 Andante semplice — Andantino [8'28]
3 Allegro molto — Moderato [11'41]) Arthur
SOMERVELL (1863–1937) Violin Concerto
in G minor (1930) [32'59] (First
Recording) (1 Allegro moderato e con grazia
[18'21] 2 Adagio [6'44] 3 Allegro giocoso
[7'47])
Anthony Marwood (violin) BBC Scottish
Symphony Orchestra/Martyn Brabbins rec. 24-25
Feb 2004, Greyfriars Church, Edinburgh. DDD
The Romantic Violin Concerto – 5
HYPERION CDA67420 [65:03] [JQ]
Anyone
opting for an all-English programme is unlikely
to be disappointed with this Hyperion CD,
which I’m happy to recommend warmly. ... see
Full
Review
Aaron
COPLAND
(1900 - 1990) Fanfare
for the Common Man (1944) [3.18] Rodeo:
Concert Suite (1942) [18.16] Appalachian
Spring: (Suite) (1945) [22.19] Atlanta
Symphony Orchestra/Louis Lane Recorded at
50kHz 2.0 stereo in Powell Symphony Hall,
St. Louis, Missouri, 28 March 1981. Paul
HINDEMITH (1895 - 1963) Symphonic
Metamorphosis on Themes by Carl Maria Weber
(1943) [20.13]
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra/Robert Shaw Recorded
at 50kHz 2.0 stereo in Woodruff Symphony Hall,
Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 18 November 1980. CD
tracks resampled to 44.1kHz 2.0 stereo utilising
the DSD system. Notes in English. Hybrid
SACD playable on all cd players.
TELARC SACD 60648 [64.38] [PSh]
Brilliantly
recorded virtuoso performances of colourful orchestral works. To my
taste one of the very finest recordings, performance and sound, ever
released by Telarc. ... see
Full Review
François
COUPERIN (1668–1733) Magnificat
(before 1702) [11.43] Leçons de Ténèbres
(1713-1717) [46.49] Theatre
of Early Music: Robin Blaze (counter-tenor); Daniel Taylor (counter-tenor);
Jonathan Manson (viola da gamba); Laurence Cummings (organ) Recorded
November 2003, St. Silas Church, London
BIS CD-1346 [59.20][RH]
Music-making
of a high order ... see Full
Review
Henry COWELL
(1897-1965) Instrumental,
Chamber and Vocal Music - Vol. 1 Piano
Pieces [15:07] : Deep Colour; The
Fairy Answer; Fabric; Tiger
Joel Sachs (piano) Quartet for flute, oboe,
cello and harpsichord [10:51] Three Anti-Modernist
Songs [6:55] Ellen Lang (mezzo soprano)
Suite for violin and piano [11:03] Polyphonica,
for small orchestra (1930) [3:48] Irish
Suite, for string piano and small orchestra
(1925) [16:39]
Continuum/Cheryl Seltzer; Joel Sachs Rec.
American Academy and Institute of Arts and
Letters, New York in April 1990 DDD
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559192 [65:46]
Henry COWELL
(1897-1965) Instrumental, Chamber and Vocal
Music - Vol. 2
Homage to Iran (1957) [14:50]Mark Steinberg
(Violin), Joel Sachs (Persian Drum), Cheryl
Seltzer (piano) Piece for piano with
strings (1924) [3:34] ; Vestiges [6:55]
; Euphoria (1929) [0:59] What's
This (1915) [0:35] Elegie (1941)
[5:16] The Banshee (1925) [2:05] Cheryl
Seltzer (piano)Two Songs - Poems of Catherine
Riegger [4:23] Raymond Murcell (baritone),
Cheryl Seltzer (piano) Six Casual Developments
(1933) [7:43] David Krakauer (clarinet),
Cheryl Seltzer (piano)Set of Five (1952)
[16:32]
Marilyn Dubow (Violin), Gordon Gottlieb
(Percussion), Joel Sachs (Piano)Rec. Cooper
Union, New York in 1984 and American Academy
and Institute of Arts and Letters, New York
in 1992 DDD
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559193 [59:44]
[PCW]
Excellent
presentation and recorded sound, a varied and worthwhile programme at
bargain price, need I say more? … see Full
Review
Marc-André
DALBAVIE (b. 1961) Color
(2001) [21:28] Violin Concerto (1996) [24:05] Ciaccona
(2002) [19’28] Eiichi
Chijiiwa (violin) Orchestre de Paris/Christoph Eschenbach Rec. live
Théâtre du Chatelet, Paris, March 2001 (Color), Théâtre Mogador,
Paris, Jan.2004 (Ciaccona) and Cité de la musique, Paris, Nov.
2003 (Concerto)
NAÏVE MO 782162 [64’21][TH]
These
works really need the concert hall for full effect even though the performances
and recording appear to be first rate. Interesting rather than earth-shatteringly
original. ... see Full Review
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Préludes,
Book I [41:15], Préludes, Book II [40:18]
Duncan Gifford (piano) Recorded 5th
and 6th September 1994 at the Eugene
Goossens Hall of the Australian Broadcasting
Corporation’s Ultimo Centre, Sydney
ABC CLASSICS 476 290-0 [41:15 + 40:18]
[CH]
Some
sensitive playing but not the whole story.
... see Full
Review
Karl
Ditters von DITTERSDORF (1739-1799)
String
quartet No. 1 in D major [14:08] String quartet No. 3 in G major [18:29]
String quartet No. 4 in C major [15:52] String quartet No. 5 in E flat
[15:57] Sharon Quartet
Recorded in February 1995 in Maastricht, Belgium
VMS/ZAPPEL MUSIC VMS 156 [61:21] [MC]
The
VMS label are to be congratulated for providing
this fascinating release of four of Vienna-born
Karl Dittersdorf’s string quartets.... see
Full Review
Ernő
DOHNÁNYI
(1877-1960) Serenade
in C major for String Trio, Op.10 (1902) Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) String Trio,
Op.45 (1946) Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959) String
Trio No.2 (1934)
The Leopold String Trio Recorded at Henry
Wood Hall, London, December 2003
HYPERION CDA67429 [55’49] [TH]
The
ingenuity displayed by the composers is stimulating
to experience, and they really could not have
better advocates. ... see Full
Review
Gaetano
DONIZETTI
(1797-1848) Elvida.
Melodramma in one act. Libretto by
Giovanni Schmidt. First performed at the Teatro
San Carlo, Naples, July 26th 1826
Amur, head of a tribe of Moors, Pietro Spagnoli
(bass); Zeidar, his son, Jennifer Larmore
(mezzo); Elvida, a noble Castilian maiden,
Annick Massis (sop); Alfonso, a Castilian
prince, Bruce Ford (ten); Zulma, Amur's slave,
Anne-Marie Gibbons (mezzo); Ramiro, an officer
of Alfonso, Ashley Catling (ten) Geoffrey
Mitchell Choir
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Antonello Allemandi
Recorded at Henry Wood Hall, London, March
2004
OPERA RARA OR29 [65.47] [RJF]
I
strongly recommend all lovers of the composer’s
music and the bel canto genre to add it to
their collections... see Full
Review
Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848)
Francesca di Foix Melodramma
giocoso in one act. Libretto by Domenico Gilardoni.
First performed at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples
on 30 May 1831 Il Re, The King, in the flower
of' his life, Pietro Spagnoli (bass-bar);
Il Conte, The Count, Alfonso Antoniozzi (bass);
La Contessa, The Countess, Francesca di Foix,
Annick Massis (sop); Il Duca, The Duke, Bruce
Ford (ten); Il Paggio, Edmondo the page, Jennifer
Larmore (mezzo) Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Antonello
Allemandi Recorded at Henry Wood Hall, London,
March 2004
OPERA RARA ORC28 [76.42] [RJF]
All
lovers of Donizetti’s operas, and of the bel
canto genre, will want to add this well packaged
and presented performance to their collection.
... see Full
Review
Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848)
Lucia
di Lammermoor - opera seria in three
acts Libretto by Salvatore Cammerano based
on the novel ‘The Bride of Lammermoor’ by
Sir Walter Scott. First produced at the Teatro
San Carlo, Naples on 26th September
1835. Lucia, Maria Callas (sop); Edgardo,
Giuseppe Di Stefano (ten); Enrico, Tito Gobbi
(bar); Raimondo, Raffaele Arie (bass); Arturo,
Valiano Natali (ten); Alisa, Anna Maria Canali
(mez); Normanno, Gino Sam (ten)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale
Fiorentino/Tullio Serafin Recorded 29th and
30th January and 1st, 3rd, 4th and 6th February
1953 in the Teatro Comunale, Florence plus
Appendices. Reissue Producer and Restoration
Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn
NAXOS HISTORICAL - GREAT OPERA RECORDINGS
8.11031-32 [69.01 + 78.28] .[RH]
Don’t
hesitate: £10 invested in this set is money
wisely invested in one of the major documents
of singing in the 20th century.
... see
Full Review
Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848)
Rosmonda
D'lnghilterra - Opera seria in two acts. Libretto by Felice
Romani. First performed at the Teatro della Pergola, Florence, on February
27th 1834 Enrico II, King of England, Bruce Ford (ten); Leonora
di Guienna wife of Enrico II, Nelly Miricioiu (sop); Rosmonda, Enrico's
mistress and daughter of Clifford, Renée Fleming (sop); Gualtiero
Clifford, former tutor of the king, Alastair Miles (bass); Arturo, Enrico’s
page, Diana Montague (mezzo)
Geoffrey Mitchell Choir London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry
Recorded at Henry Wood Hall, London. July 1994
OPERA RARA ORC13 [77.55 + 72.39] [RJF]
Illuminates
in a manner too rarely achieved. To have this
performance on record is a privilege with
the guarantee of rich enjoyment. ... see Full
Review
Henri
DUTILLEUX (b.
1916) Sur
le mê me accorda (2002)
[8'59]; Bela BARTÓK
(1881-1945) Violin Concerto No. 2, Sz112b
(1937/8) [38'24]; Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Violin Concero
in Dc (1931) [21'11]
Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin); aOrchestre
National de France/Kurt Masur; bBoston
Symphony Orchestra/Seiji Ozawa; aPhilharmonia
Orchestra/Paul Sacher. rec. aLive,
Thé â
tre des Champs Elysé es, Paris, Nov 2003,
Symphony Hall, bBoston, Feb 1991,
cWalthamstow Assembly Hall, London,
Feb 1988. DDD
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 5376 [68'46] [CC]
Do
hear the Dutilleux ... there really is no
excuse not to buy this magnificent testament
of a major violinist's dedication to the music
of our time. ... see Full
Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Symphony
No.9 From the New World Op.95 (1893) [39.17] Carnival Overture Op.92
(1891) [8.53] Bedřich SMETANA (1824-1884)
The Bartered Bride – Overture (1866) [6.32]
Jaromír WEINBERGER
(1896-1967) Schwanda the Bagpiper – Polka
and Fugue (1927) [9.18]
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner Recorded
at Orchestra Hall, 1955-57
RCA RED SEAL LIVING STEREO SUPER AUDIO CD
82876 66376 2 [64.09] [JW]
Ebullient
and powerful and the finale sweeping but not overdone - and with tremendous
inner rhythm. ... see Full Review
Antonin
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Concerto for Violoncello in B minor, Op. 104 (1894-5) [42.41] Jacqueline
du Pré ('cello) Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Charles
Groves rec. Royal Albert Hall, 25 July 1969 Jacques
IBERT (1890-1962) Concerto for Violoncello and Wind Instruments
(1925) [12.12] Jacqueline du Pré
('cello) Michael Krein Orchestra/Michael Krein rec. BBC Studios, London,
12 February 1962 BBC LEGENDS BBCL
4156-2 [54.53][SFV]
This
issue, at long last, supplies an acceptable performance of the Dvořák
concerto to du Pré's commercial discography ... see Full
Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Biblical
Songs Op.99 (1894) [24.21] In Folk Tone Op.73 (1886) [10.32] Gypsy Songs
Op.55 (1880) [24.20] Bedřich
SMETANA (1824-1884) Five Evening Songs (1879)
[7.53] Jaro Lásky [Privní písnĕ, No.1] (1846) [2.02]
Barbara Ulricca Theler (soprano) Bruno Canio (piano) Recorded in the
Tonstudio van Geest in Sandhausen, Heidelberg, March 2004
CLAVES 50-2411 [58.56][JW]
The
Swiss soprano is really too fresh and open
air for some of these songs ... see Full
Review
Ludovico
EINAUDI Eden
Roc: I Giorni: Le
Onde: Stanze:
Ludovico Einaudi, piano (Eden Roc, I Giorni,
Le Onde), Cecilia Chailly, harp (Stanze),
Djivan Gasparian, duduk (Eden Roc), Quartetto
David – Mauro Loguericio, Gabriele Baffero,
Antonello Leofreddi, Marco Decimo (Eden Roc),
Ricky Maja, guitar (Eden Roc), Franco Feruglio,
double bass (Eden Roc) Rec. Piccolo Teatre
Studio, Milan 1999 (Eden Roc); Villa Giulini,
Briosco, October 2001 (I Giorni); Villa Giulini,
Briosco in June 1996 (Le Onde); Studi Mondial
Sound, Milan, Iltaly in March 1990 (Stanze)
BMG RECORDS 82876660722[64.38, 60.24,
58.53, 55.47] [EM]
Extremely
simple, unpretentious and unaffected, this
is very easy listening that requires no intellect
or sense of musical appreciation. ... see
Full Review
Gabriel FAURÉ
(1845-1924) The Complete
Songs – Volume 1 Les
Matelots; Seule!; Chanson du
pêcheur; Barcarolle; Tarantelle;
Au bord de l’eau Les berceaux;
Au cimetière; Larmes;
Cinq melodies "de venise";
Pleurs d’or; Accompagnement;
La fleur qui va sur l’eau; Mirages;
C’est la paix; L’horizon chimérique.
Felicity Lott (soprano); Jennifer Smith
(soprano); Geraldine McGreevy (soprano); Stella
Doufexis (soprano); John Mark Ainsley (tenor);
Christopher Maltman (baritone); Stephen Varcoe
(baritone); Graham Johnson (piano)
Recorded 2002-2004
HYPERION CDA67333 [68:47] [KS]
No
lover of song should be without this one.
Highly recommended. ... see Full
Review
George
GERSHWIN
(1898 - 1937) Rhapsody
in Blue (1924) [16.17] Pasquale Cardilo,
clarinet Recorded 13 May 1959 Piano
Concerto in F (1925) [28.53] Earl
Wild, piano Recorded 17 May 1961 An
American in Paris (1928) [16.37] Recorded
14 May 1959 Variations on I Got Rhythm
(1933) [7.59] Cuban Overture
(1932) [9.20]
Recorded 18 May 1961 Boston "Pops"
Orchestra/Arthur Fiedler Recorded in 3.0 Stereo.
Remastered in the DSD System by Soundmirror,
Inc. Notes in English. Technical notes in
Deutsch and Français. ADD Hybrid
SACD playable on all CD players BMG-RCA
828766 1393-2 [79.22] [PSh]
Exciting,
authentic, virtuoso performances ... It is
probably not possible for this to sound any
better. No matter what other recordings of
this music you have in your collection, you
must have this one, too. ... see Full
Review
Philip GLASS
(b.
1937) Symphony
No. 2 (1994) [43:14] Symphony No. 3 (1995)
[23:54]
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Marin Alsop
Recorded: The Concert Hall, Lighthouse, Poole,
Dorset, July 2003
NAXOS 8.559202 [67:07] [HC]
Now,
we know what a minimalist symphony can be. ... see Full
Review
Aleksandr GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Raymonda
- Ballet in three acts (1897) Libretto by Lydia Pashkova and Marius Petipa
Revised choreography by Yuri Grigorovich based on the choreography by
Marius Petipa and Aleksandr Gorsky
Raymonda ... Natalya Bessmertnova Jean de Brienne ...Yuri Vasyuchenko
Abderakhman ... Gedminas Taranda Countess Sybille ... Elena Bobrova
Clemence ... Maria Bilova Henriette ... Olga Suvorova The Bolshoi Ballet
The Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra/Algis Zhuraitis Recorded at the Bolshoi
Theatre, Moscow in 1989
ARTHAUS MUSIK DVD VIDEO 100719 [125:00][I&GL]
A
not altogether impressive Bolshoi production but it certainly has its
moments but then there is that glorious Glazunov music. ... see Full
Review
Christoph
Willibald GLUCK (1714
- 1787) Iphigénie
en Aulide (highlights) (1774) [74.16]
Agamemnon – Jose van Dam (baritone) Clytemnestra
– Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano) Iphigénie
– Lynne Dawson (soprano) Achille – John Aler
(tenor) Patrocle – Bernard Deletre (bass)
Calchas – Gilles Cachemaille (bass) Une Femme
grècque – Ann Monoyios Une Femme grècque
– Isabelle Echenbrenner Une esclave – Ann
Monoyios
Monteverdi Choir Lyon Opera Orchestra/John
Eliot Gardiner
WARNER APEX 2564 61507-2 [74.16] [RH]
This
remains the main contender for recommendation
for this opera. ... see Full
Review
Handel’s Messias i Storkyrkan George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1739)
Messiah (1741) [116.13] Christina
Högman (soprano) Kristin Hammarström
(alto) Lynton Atkinson (tenor) Stefan Dahlberg
(tenor) Karl-Magnus Fredriksson (bass) Petteri
Salomaa (bass) Storkyrkans kör (Storkyrkan
Choir)
Orchestra from Swedish Radio Symphonics/Gustav
Sjökvist Recorded at Live concerts in
Storkyrkan, Stockholm 3-14 December 1997
NOSAG CD 2027 [51.45 + 64.28] [RH]
An
entirely creditable performance ... with such
a strong choral contribution and a fine, modern
instrumental accompaniment ... see Full
Review
Franz
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809)
Keyboard
Concertos – D, Hob.XVIII/11 (1770) [16’22];
F, Hob.XVIII/3 (1771) [19’06]; D, Hob. XVIII/2
(1755?) [21’10]; G, Hob.XVIII/4 (c1770?) [18’06].
Ronald Brautigam (fortepiano) Concerto Copenhagen/Lars
Ulrik Mortensen (continuo). Rec. Garnisonskirken,
Copenhagen, Denmark in October 2003. DDD
BIS CD-1318 [75’54] [CC]
Seventy-six
minutes of pure delight. Recommended. ...
see Full
Review
Franz
Joseph HAYDN (1732
- 1809) Symphony
No. 92 in G The Oxford Hob: I:92 (1789)
[23.50] Symphony No. 94 in G The Surprise
Hob. I:94 (1791) [22.17] La fedelta premiata
Hob. XXVIII:10 (1780) [4.44]
Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra/Adam
Fischer. Rec. live in the Stefaniensaal, Graz,
September 21st and 22nd, 2004.
DDD
MDG 901 1325-6 [51’12"] [JPh]
As
you may probably be aware from this review,
this disc has given me immense enjoyment.
I cannot recommend it highly enough. ... see
Full
Review
Steve
HEITZEG (b.
1959) Voice
of the Everglades (2000) A Tribute
to Marjory Stoneman Douglas Words from The
Everglades: River of Glass and Voice
of the River by Marjory
Stoneman Douglas Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra/Joel
Eric Suben Clyde Butcher, narrator Recorded
Olomouc, 2002
STONE CIRCLE MUSIC SCM03 [17:00]
[JL]
This
short, musically accessible work for orchestra, recorded nature sounds
and narrator is dedicated to the cause of preserving Florida’s Everglades.
... see Full Review
Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934)
The Planets, Op. 32 (1916) [50’57]; A Somerset Rhapsody
Op. 21 (1906) [10’35] Colin MATTHEWS
(b. 1946) Pluto, the Renewer (1999-2000) [5’52].
The Cambridge
Singers; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Owain Arwel Hughes. Rec. Watford
Coliseum on April 26th-27th, 2004. DDD
WARNER APEX 2564 61991-2 [68’54][CC]
Despite
some nicer moments it is difficult to recommend this Planets unless
it is this particular pairing you are searching for. ... see Full
Review
Arthur
HONEGGER (1892
- 1955) Les
Miserables (complete film score) (1934)
[59:00]
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/Adriano Recorded
Concert Hall, Slovak Radio, Bratislava, 2-5
July 1989
NAXOS 8.557486 [59.00] [RH]
Koechlin:
‘one of the best film scores hitherto created’.
We can now explore in detail one of Honegger’s
major scores in the film genre. ... see Full
Review
Engelbert HUMPERDINCK (1854-1921)
Hänsel
und Gretela (1890-93) Elisabeth Grümmer
(mezzo) Hansel; Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) Gretel; Else Schürhoff
(mezzo) The Witch; Maria von Ilosvay (mezzo) Mother; Josef Metternich
(baritone) Father; Anny Felbermayer (soprano) Sandman, Dew Fairy; Loughton
High School for Girls Choir; Bancroft School Choir
Philharmonia Orchestra/Herbert von Karajan. Hänsel und Gretel
extracts: Suse, liebe Suse, was raschelt im Strohb;
Brüderchen, komm tanz’ mit mirb (sung in Italian); Ral
la la … heissa Mutter, ich bin da! (Besenbinderlied)c; Ein
Männlein steht im Walded; Der kleine Sandmann bin ichd;
Abends, will ich schlafen gehnd; Hurr hopp hopp hoppe;
Juchhei! Nun ist die Hexe tot (Witch Waltz)f. bConchita
Supervía (mezzo); bInes Maria Ferraris, dElisabeth
Schumann, fMeta Seinemeyer (sopranos); fHelen
Jung (mezzo); cGerhard Hüsch (baritone); borchestra/A.
Albergoni; cefBerlin State Opera Orchestra/cHanns
Udo Müller, efFrieder Weissmann; dErnest
Lush (piano) Synopsis included. From aColumbia 33CX1096/97,
Fonotipia b120166, cHMV EH1024, dDA1439,
efOdeon O-7796. . Rec. aKingsway Hall, London,
on June 27th, 29th-30th and July 1st-2nd,
1953, bMilan in 1928, Berlin in cJanuary 1937,
efFebruary 15th, 1929, dAbbey Road
Studio No. 3, London, on August 28th, 1935. ADD
NAXOS GREAT OPERA RECORDINGS 8.110897/8 [127’21: 62’45 + 64’36]
[JW]
A
classic 1953 recording augmented by some pre-War
jewels; if I slightly prefer EMI’s recording
quality I wouldn’t happily forego the pleasure
of those fill-ups ... see Full
Review
John
IRELAND
(1879-1962) Violin
Sonata No. 1 in D minor (1908/9) [27'58] Berceuse
(1902) [3'20] Cavatina (1904) [2'18] Violin
Sonata No. 2 in A minor (1915-1917) [25'19]
Bagatelle (1911) [2'32] The Holy Boy (1913,
arranged 1919) [3'15]
Paul Barritt (violin) Catherine Edwards (piano)
Recorded on 14–16 December 1995, location
unspecified
HELIOS CDH55164 [65.04] [JW]
Not
a first recommendation ... see Full
Review
Charles
IVES
(1874-1954) Violin
Sonatas Nos. 1-4 (1902-1916): First
Sonata for Violin and Piano [22:44], Second
Sonata for Violin and Piano [14:15], Third
Sonata for Violin and Piano [30:06], Fourth
Sonata for Violin and Piano, "Children’s
Day at the Camp Meeting" [9:42].
Curt Thompson (violin), Rodney Waters (piano).
Recorded 8-10 January 1998 (First and
Fourth Sonatas), 26-27 May (Second
Sonata), 16-18 December (Third Sonata)
at Duncan Recital Hall, Shepherd School of
Music, Rice University, Houston, Texas. DDD
NAXOS 8.559119 [76:47] [BH]
Not
music that rewards timid performers. Both
artists hurl themselves into Ives’ compelling
sound-world ... Terrific work ... Highly,
highly recommended. ... see
Full Review
Pierre
JALBERT
(b.1967) Chamber Music Trio
for violin, cello and piano (1998) [15'37]
Kenneth Goldsmith (violin) Norman Fischer
(cello) Jeanne Kierman (piano) Toccata
for piano solo (2001) [5'07] Pierre Jalbert
(piano) Transcendental Windows for
12 players and conductor. (2000) [12'43] Kenneth
Goldsmith and Yen-Ping Lai (violins); James
Dunham (viola); Norman Fischer (cello); Paul
Ellison (double bass); Leone Buyse (flute);
Kathleen Young (oboe); Michael Webster (clarinet);
William Ver Meulen (horn); Jeffrey Robinson
(bassoon); Paula Page (harp); Richard Brown
(percussion); Larry Rachleff (conductor)
String Quartet (1995) [23'16] Maia
Quartet Visual Abstract for 6 players
and conductor (2002) [10'23]
Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble No recording
details
GASPARO GSCD 361 [67.48] [JW]
You can purchase
this recording from MusicWeb for £10
post-free World-wide
Delightful
and evocative ... see Full
Review
Emmerich KÁLMÁN
(1882-1953)
Die
Csárdásfürstin
(1915) [85.19] Sylva Varesco ... Yvonne Kenny
(soprano) Edwin Ronald ... Michael Roider
(tenor) Countess Stasi ... Mojca Erdmann (soprano)
Count Boni ... Marco Kathol (tenor) Feri von
Kerekes ... Karl-Michael Ebner (tenor) General
Rohnsdorff ... Hellmuth Klumpp (speaker) The
Prince ... Heinz Holecek (baritone) The Princess
... Yvonne Kálmán (speaker)
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic
Chorus/Richard Bonynge Recorded 9-17 December
2002, Slovak Radio Concert Hall, Bratislava
Orchestral selections: Dorfkinder;
Vive le Roi (Der Zigeunerprimds) Hollaho (Die
Fascingsfee) Lockend soll ertönen Dir
((Das Höllandweibchen) Grand Palotás
de la eine (Der Teufels reiter)
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/Richard Bonynge
Recorded 22-23 September 2003, Slovak Radio
Concert Hall, Bratislava SACD/CD hybrid format
NAXOS 6.110075-6 [56.20 + 57.17] [TB]
A
succession of appealing and vivacious numbers,
though there is room for sentimentality too.
... see Full Review
Giya KANCHELI
(b.1935) In L’istesso tempo
Time…and
again, for violin and piano (1996) [25’33]
V & V, for violin, taped voice
and strings (1994) [12’35] Piano Quartet
in l’istesso tempo (1997) [26’05] Gidon
Kremer (violin) Oleg Maisenberg (piano) The
Bridge Ensemble
Kremerata Baltica/Gidon Kremer Recorded at
Festeburgkirche, Frankfurt, Dec.2000 (Time…and
again) and June 1999 (Piano Quartet),
Pfarrkirche St.Nikolaus, Lockenhaus, July
2003 (V&V)
ECM NEW MUSIC 4618182 [64’40] [TH]
Performances
absolutely dedicated to the cause; recording
wonderfully warm and atmospheric .... sounds
emerging from absolute silence. ... see Full
Review
Stale
KLEIBERG
(b. 1958) Requiem
for the victims of Nazi persecution (2004)
(1. Requiem aeternam [6:20]; 2. Dies irae
[6:37]; 3. The Yellow Triangle: Jews [6:24];
4. Kyrie [3:29]; 5. The Brown Triangle: Gypsies
[4:18]; 6. Agnus Dei [3:27]; 7. The Pink Triangle:
Homosexuals [5:56]; 8. Psalm 13 [7:14]; 9.
Libera Me [3:23]; 10. In paradisum [2:40])
Catherine King (mezzo); Jason Ayoub (horn)
(3); Noemi Kiss (sop) (5); Christian Hilz
(bar) (7) The Choirs of Washington National
Cathedral Washington National Cathedral Chamber
Orchestra/Michael McCarthy Rec. Washington
Cathedral, 2004
SIMAX CLASSICS PSC 1257 [49:28] [SA]
Extremely
effective in putting over the horror and poignancy
of the events ... well played and sung ...
A work that deserves to be heard ... see Full
Review
Giorgio KOUKL
(b.1953) Chamber Music Musica
per pianoforte e quartetto d'archi [12'19"]
Klaidi Sahatci and Hans Liviabella (violins);
Ivan Vukcevic (viola); Taisuke Yamashita (cello);
Giorgio Koukl (piano) Piccola rapsodia
per flauto e arpa [10'20"] Bruno Grossi
(flute); Anna Loro (harp) Il messaggero
per pianoforte [8'02"] Giorgio Koukl (piano)
Contest trio per violino, violoncello e
pianoforte [8'54"] Klaidi Sahatci (violin);
Taisuke Yamashita (cello); Giorgio Koukl (piano)
Liturgia di San Giovanni Chrisostomo [19'44"]
John Duxbury (tenor) James Loomis (bass)
Chorus of Swiss Radio/Giorgio Koukl No recording
details; via Swiss Radio recordings
GASPARO GSCD 362 [59.36] [JW]
A
versatile, warm composer with strong affiliations
with the clarity and precision of the French
schools and the more rugged piety of the Eastern
Church. ... see Full
Review
You may purchase this disc through MusicWeb
for £10 postage paid world-wide
Rued LANGGAARD
(1893-1952) Gitanjali-Hymner
(Efter Tagore) (BVN 149; 1918) * 1. Din Musiks
Glands (The light of thy music) [02:41]
2. Himlen sukker (The sky groans) [02:52]
3. Den fjerne Sang (The far-away song)
[02:48] 4. Sejlfærd (Sailing)
[02:01] 5. Sommerhvisken (Summer whisper)
[03:32] 6. Himmel-Ensomhed (Sky Solitude)
[04:03] 7. Den hvileløse Vind (The
restless wind) [02:23] 8. Tavshedens Hav
(The sea of silence) [04:38] 9. Regnfulde
Blade (Rainy leaves) [02:03] 10. Gyldne
Strømme (Golden streams) [03:06]
Fantasi-Sonate (BVN 121; 1916) * 11.
Molto agitato e con passione [19:59] Nat
paa Sundet (Night on the Sound)
(BVN 21; 1907) * 12. Tranquillo [01:15] Hél-Sfærernes
Musik (The Music of the Hél-Spheres)(BVN
371; 1948) * 13. Efterhaanden vanvittigt Tempo
[01:37] Vanvidsfantasi (Insanity
Fantasy) (BVN 327; 1947/1949) [13:47 ]
14. Vanvidsefteraarsnat (Insane autumn
night) [03:10] 15. Efteraarsengel (Autumn
angel) [05:40] 16. Vanvidsgang (Running
mad) [04:57 * world premiere recording
Berit Johansen Tange (piano) Instrument:
Steinway & Sons model D-274, nr. 566545
Recorded at Mantziusgården, Birkerød
on January 12-14 and 26-27 2004 With financial
support from Langgaard-Fonden, Dansk Musikerforbund
HIO Invest and Juhl-Sørensen
DACAPO 8.226025 [66:53] [RB]
Commandingly
authoritative playing - Langgaard the tortured
soul delighting in melody and romantic era
grandeur ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Morten
LAURIDSEN
(b. 1943) Lux
Aeterna (1997) [26.33] Madrigali: Six
Fire Songs on Italian Renaissance Poems (1987)
[19.36] Ave Maria (1997) [6’38] Ubi
caritas et amor (1999) [6.57]O Magnum
Mysterium (1994) [6.40]
Polyphony; Britten Sinfonia/Stephen LaytonRecorded
the Temple Church, London on 31st
July and 1st August 2003. DDD
HYPERION CDA67449 [66.45] [JPh]
This
Hyperion release is superb and the disc is
a must. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
... see Full
Review
Elodie
LAUTEN (b.
1951) Waking
in New York: Portrait of Allen Ginsberg
(ca. 1996)
Mark Duer, baritone; Meredith Borden, soprano;
Tyler Azelton, soprano; Sherrita Duran, soprano;
Grigory Kalinovsky, violin; Jaram Kim, violin;
Tania Askins, viola; Andrei Tchekmazov, cello;
Rafael Agudelo, contrabass; Ulla Suokko, flute;
Bill Ruyle, drums; Mustafa Ahmed, percussion;
Elodie Lauten, synthesizer. No recording dates
or locations are given.
4TAY CD 4023 [66:32] [KS]
This
piece does not work at any level that I can
find. Try as I may to be generous and find
the good in most pieces, I just do not find
much here. Better luck next time. ... see
Full
Review
Louis
James Alfred LEFÉBURE-WÉLY
(1817-1869) Pour
une Procession de la Fête-Dieu:
Antienne Adore et procidamus [1'59] Marche
en mi majeur [8'07] Adoro te (alterne) [6'34]
Motet Tantum ergo [3'06] Hymne Sacris colemniis
(alternée) [6'31] Elevation en la mineur
[2'37] Marche en ut majeur [5'29] Pour
une Messe du jour de Noel: Noel varié,
offertoire pour le jour de Noel [7'12] Sanctus
[1'22] Motet O Salutaris [4'28] Pastorale
en sol majeur [1'37] Agnus Dei [1'47] Communion
en fa majeur [4'55] Domine salvum [1'32] Sortie
Missum Redemptorum [2'46] Sortie en sib majeur
et Cloches [7'32]
Vincent Genvrin, organ, La Lyre Séraphique,
Ensemble Vocal L'Accent Grave/Xavier Bisaro,
Ensemble Vocal Intermezzo/Claire Marchand,
Sylvie de May, soprano, Catherine Ravenne,
alto Rec: St Sulpice, Paris, 1995 DDD
EDITIONS HORTUS 005 [67'37] [CB]
Care
and insight ... hugely enjoyable. A must-have.
... see Full
Review
Nicholas
LENS (b.
1957) Accacha Cronica (The Accacha Chronicles)
Music
drama in three acts CD 1: Part 1: Flamma Flamma (The Fire Requiem) (1994)
CD 2: Part 2: Terra Terra (The Aquarius Era) CD 3: Part 3: Amor Aeternus
(Hymns of Love) Claron McFadden (Luna-Serena) Derek Lee Ragin, Gary
Boyce (Ismail) LeVerne Williams, Claron Mc Fadden, Derek Lee Ragin (Maramnan)
Jean-Paul Fauchecourt, Zeger Vandersteene, Ian Honeyman (Stoyce) Henk
Lauwers (Cypher) Marcello Rosca, Paul Gerimon (Flammarius/Aquarius)
Nadka Karadjova, Antassia Kostova, Kera Damianova, Elka Simeonova, Galya
Haralambieva, Nadia Vladimir (The Dragonflies: Lecka and Pecka)
Clara-Lane Lens (The Whisper Kid) Xuewen Gao
(Er-Hu) Makiko Goto (Koto) Nicholas Lens (Speaker)
Gondwana Chamber Orchestra, Flemish Radio
Choir, Le mystère des Voix Bulgares,
Angelite, Bulgarian Voices Rec. various locations:
Belgium, Bulgaria, South Africa, Morocco DDD
BMG CLASSICS 82876 66239 2 [3 CDs: 75:24
+ 71:18 + 75:44] [MC]
Extremely
lyrical music ... the eclectic range of sounds
and influences. Robust integrity and innate
fascination with human emotions and with life
and death. ... see Full
Review
Walter
LEIGH (1905
– 1942) Romancea
[3:27] Reverie (1922)b [5:10] Music
for String Orchestra (1931) [6:06] Sonatina
for Viola and Pianoc (1931) [11:02]
Trio (1935)d [9:08] Aire
[1:12] Three Movements for String Quartet
(1930) [4:41] Sonatina for Recorder and Pianof
(1939) [7:49] Student String Quartet (1929)
[10:58]
Locrian Ensemble (Rita Manning, violinb;
Patrick Kiernan, violin; Philip Dukes, violac;
Justin Pearson, cello; Stacey Wotton, double
bass; Anna Noakes, fluted; John
Anderson, oboed; Martin Feinstein,
recorderef; Sophia Rahman, pianoabcdef)
Recorded: Henry Wood Hall, London, January
2004
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7143 [61:10] [HC]
The
loveliest disc that I have heard recently
... see Full
Review
Ann-Kay LIN
(also
known as Ho Wai-On)
Music is Happiness Sakura
Variations (1974 revised 2000) Neil Heyde
(cello) and Helena Brown (piano) Four Love
Songs in Chinese (1974 revised 2000) Nancy
Yuen (soprano) and Philip Edwards (clarinet)
Permutation (1996) Joseph Sanders (oboe),
Philip Edwards (clarinet), Roger Montgomery
(horn), Vivian Choi (piano) directed by Roger
Montgomery Tai Chi (1977) Lucy Cartledge
(flute) and Nicholas Hooper (guitar) To
You (1977 revised 2000) Nancy Yuen (soprano)
and Vivian Choi (piano) Farewell, My Beloved
(1982) Philip Edwards (clarinet) and Jane
Webster (narrator) Bulldozers, Old House
and Old Banyan (1990 revised 1999) Rowland
Sutherland (flute), Joseph Sanders (oboe),
Philip Edwards (clarinet), Roger Montgomery
(horn), Glyn Williams (bassoon), Vivian Choi
(piano) directed by Roger Montgomery Let’s
Sing "Magic Banyan Tree" (2002)
Nancy Yuen (soprano), Rowland Sutherland (flute,
piccolo, alto flute), Glyn Williams (bassoon),
Nathaniel Bartlett (marimba), Teddy Bergstrom
(xylophone, vibraphone) Alex Brangwyn (timpani,
percussion) and Child Singers/Chorus from
Redbridge and Walthamstow directed by Ann-Kay
Lin Recorded at Gateway Studio, Kingston and
the Royal Academy of Music, 2001
INTERARTES RRCD 1077 [76.14] [JW]
A
welcome voice with strong sensibility – melancholic,
but only in part but also full of pleasurable
generosity and élan. ... see Full
Review
Nils LINDBERG
(b. 1933) Arrangements
of Swedish Folk Tunes from Dalecarlia: Kom
min vän (Come my friend) (choir); O Gud,
som allt med vishet styr (O God who wisely
governs all) (choir); O Gud, som allt med
vishet styr (O God who wisely governs all)
(organ); Så går en dag än
från vår tid (So a day passes
from us) (choir); Så går en dag
än från vår tid (So a day
passes from us) (organ); Befall i Herrens
händer (Commit to the hands of the Lord)
(choir); Befall i Herrens händer (Commit
to the hands of the Lord) (organ); Den signade
dag (Oh blessed day) (choir); Den signade
dag (Oh blessed day) (organ); Har du din lampa
redo (Keep your lamp in readiness) (choir);
Har du din lampa redo (Keep your lamp in readiness)
(organ); I himmelen, i himmelen (In heaven,
in heaven) (organ); I himmelen, i himmelen
(In heaven, in heaven) (choir); Mitt farväl
jag blandar med kärlekens gråt
(My farewell I mix with tears of love) (organ);
Jag står på bruderätten min
(I maintain my bridal right) (organ); Den
signade dag (Oh blessed day) (organ)
Uppsala Cathedral Choir/Milke Falck; Andrew
Canning (organ) Recorded on March 20th
– 23rd 2004 in Järna Kyrka,
Dala Järna, Dalecarlia, Sweden
PROPRIUS
PRSACD 2032 [47:44] [GF]
The
choir in a "traditional" national
romantic idiom and the organ in a bold "modernistic"
style ... refreshing ... I do urge you to
try this disc ... see
Full Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886)
The Complete Works Inspired by Bach: The Transcriptions
Fantasia
and Fugue in G minor (BWV 542) S.463 [11.06],
Six Preludes and Fugues for Pedal Organ, S.462
[54:16]
Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded 8th
November 2004, 5th January 2005
at the Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge.
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9100-2
[65:50] [CH]
Liszt’s
transcriptions are romantically rich and satisfying
... Joyce Hatto has found exactly the right
style for the music she is playing. ... see
Full
Review
Andrew
LLOYD WEBBER (b.
1948) The
Phantom of the Opera (1986) arr. Crafton Beck 1 The Phantom
of the Opera 2 The Music of the Night
3 Think of Me 4 Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
5 All I Ask of You 6 Angel of Music
Sunset Boulevard (1993) arr. Steven Reineke
7 As If We Never Said Goodbye 8 The Greatest Star of
All 9 With One Look Cats (1981) arr.
Tommy Newsom 10 Memory
Jesus Christ Superstar (1971) arr .Crafton Beck
11 I Don't Know How to Love Him 12 Gethsemane ( I Only
Want to Say) 13 King Herod's Song Evita (1976)
arr. Steven Reineke 14 Don't Cry For Me, Argentina
Starlight Express (1984) arr. Steven Reineke
15 Starlight Express Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
(1968) arr. Steven Reineke 16 Any
Dream Will Do Cincinnati
Pops Orchestra/Erich Kunzel Recorded Cincinnati, June 1995
TELARC CD- 80405 [68:46][JL]
This
disc is for those who enjoy sentimental orchestral
slush and have no qualms about the destruction
of the character of Lloyd Webber’s original
hits. ... 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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