Camille
Saint-Saëns
(1835-1921) Organ Music
Prélude
and Fugue in Eb major Op.99, No.3 (1894)
[8:25] Three Rhapsodies on Breton Melodies
Op.7 No.3 (1866) [8:42] Seven Improvisations
Op.150 (1916) [41:59] Adagio from the
3rd Symphony (transcribed by
Emile Bernard) (1871) [10:47] Fantasie
in Eb Major (1857) [6:44] 
Robert Delcamp, Organ rec. Stahlhuth/Jann
organ, Saint-Martin, Dudelange, Luxembourg,
3-4 June 2003.
NAXOS 8.557285 [76:37] [JF]
An
excellent opportunity to move beyond the familiar.
This is a fine introduction to the organ music
of one of France’s great composers.... see
Full
Review
Domenico
SCARLATTI
(1685-1757) Andreas
Staier Edition: Sonata in D minor Kk141
[3:36]; Sonata in D Kk118 [4:34]; Sonata in
D Kk119 [5:20]; Sonata in G Kk454 [4:08];
Sonata in G Kk455 [2:40]; Sonata in E minor
Kk198 [3:29]; Sonata in E minor Kk203 [4:27];
Sonata in C Kk501 [5:11]; Sonata in C Kk502
[3:56]; Sonata in F Kk518 [3:28]; Sonata in
F minor Kk519 [2:52]; Sonata in D minor Kk516
[4:45]; Sonata in D minor Kk517 [2:31]; Sonata
in G minor Kk108 [3:30]; Sonata in D Kk490
[6:26]; Sonata in D Kk491 [4:53]; Sonata in
D Kk492 [3:36]; Sonata in C Kk420 [4:04];
Sonata in C Kk421 [3:26]; Sonata in E minor
Kk263 [4:25]; Sonata in E Kk264 [5:11]; Sonata
in C Kk132 [6:35]; Sonata in C Kk133 [3:38];
Sonata in A minor Kk175 [3:23]; Sonata in
D Kk277 [1:46]; Sonata in D Kk278 [2:11];
Sonata in D minor Kk213 [7:49]; Sonata in
D Kk214 [3:27]; Sonata in B flat Kk202 [3:31];
Sonata in D minor Kk64 [1:38]; Sonata in D
Kk96 [4:41]; Sonata in B minor Kk87 [6:05];
Sonata in C Kk460 [6:10]; Sonata in C Kk461
[2:20]
Andreas Staier (harpsichord) Rec. Lindlar,
Germany in December 1990 and February 1992.
DDD
DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 82876 67375 2
[69:40 + 71:00] [PCW]
Staier’s
technique is prodigious. The playing on these
discs grabs one’s attention and never lets
go … see Full
Review
Domenico
SCARLATTI
(1685-1757) Sonatas:
K197; K203; K215; K216; K208; K209; K213;
K548; K158; K159; K248; K249; K490; K491;
K492.
Linda Nicholson (fortepiano) rec. Köln,
Funkhaus de WDR Klaus-von-Bismark, October
2003. DDD
CAPRICCIO 67112 [72.46] [GH]
All
in all this is an incredibly rewarding release.
Definitely worth searching out. ... see Full
Review
Domenico
SCARLATTI (1685-1757)
Sonatas (complete Keyboard Sonatas, Volume
7) F major K483/L472; F major K542/L167;
B flat major K360/400; C minor K40/L357; C
major K422/L451; F minor K238/L27; F major
K17/384; A major K500/L492; A major 114/L344;
E minor K291/L61; G major K328/L527; A major
K320/L341; G major K283/L318; C major K464/L151;
D major K313/L192; D major K479/L516
Konstantin Scherbakov (piano) rec. 21-22 January
2000, Potton Hall, Suffolk
NAXOS 8.554842 [64.02][TB]
Scherbakov
has an imaginative and sensitive touch.
His playing is true to the baroque stylistic
origins of the music, while also pointing
up its emotional possibilities. ... see
Full
Review
Domenico
SCARLATTI (1685-1757)
Sonatas:
K.545, K.466, K.365, K.435, K.87, K.487, K.448, K.492, K.30, K.455,
K.20, K.429, K.426, K.427, K.197, K.27, K.24, G minor
Yevgeny Sudbin (piano) rec. Vasteras Concert Hall, Sweden, 10-12 October
2004 BIS BIS-CD-1508
[75:45] [ED]
A
pianist to watch out for, and a recording
that need not fear critical listening ...
it has much pleasure to give to anyone wishing
to discover this rich vein of keyboard writing
... see Full
Review
Max
VON SCHILLINGS (1868
- 1933) Mona
Lisa (1915) [118.42] (1) Mona
Lisa (excerpts) (1915) [8.19] (2)
Mona Lisa (excerpts) (1915)
[6.09] (3) Mona Fiordalisa – Inge Borkh
(soprano) (1) Giovanni de Salviati – Hans
Beirer (tenor) (1) Francesco del Giocondo
– Mathieu Ahlersmeyer (baritone) (1) Messer
Pietro Tumoni – Wilhelm Lang (1) Messer
Arrigo Oldofredi – Horst Wilhelm (1) Messer
Alesso Beneventi – Erich Zimmerman (1) Messer
Sandro da Luzzano – Otto Hüsch (1)
Messer Masolino Pedruzzi – Hanns Pick (1)
Mona Ginevra ad Alta Rocca – Ilse Hülper
(1) Dianora – Alice Zimmerman (1) Piccarda
– Emmi Hagemann (1) Eine Frau – Inge Borkh
(soprano) (1) Ein Laienbruder – Hans Beirer
(tenor) (1) Ein Fremder – Mathieu Ahlersmeyer
(baritone) (1) Mona Fiordalisa – Barbara
Kemp (soprano) (3) Giovanni de Salviati
– Josef Mann (tenor) (3)
Chor und Orchester der Städtischen
Oper Berlin/Robert Heger (1) Staatskapelle
Berlin/Max von Schillings (2) Max von Schillings
(conductor) (3)
WALHALL WLCD 003 [71.38 + 61.31] [RH]
This
is a powerful score and deserves the occasional
hearing. ... see Full
Review
Arnold
SCHOENBERG
(1874-1951) Concerto
for String Quartet and Orchestra in B Flat (1933) [20:36] (1 Largo-Allegro
[5:07]; 2 Largo [3:10]; 3 Allegro grazioso [6:35]; 4 Hornpipe [5:44])
Suite for Piano, Op.25 (1921-23) [13:17] (5 Präludium
[1:00]; 6 Gavotte-Musette-Gavotte [3:09]; 7 Intermezzo [3:11]; 8 Menuette,
Trio, Menuette da Capo [3:22]; 9 Gigue [2:35]) 10 Lied der Waldtraube*
(from Gurre-Lieder) (1900) [12:56] 11-25 The Book
of the Hanging Gardens, Op.15* [26:38] 26 conversation
with Arnold Schoenberg [06:31] Christopher Oldfather: piano; Jennifer
Lane: mezzo*
Fred Sherry String Quartet: (Jennifer Frautschi:
violin; Jesse Mills: violin; Richard O’Neill:
viola; Fred Sherry: cello)
Twentieth Century Classics Ensemble/Robert
Craft rec. 1-4, American Academy of Arts
and Letters, 155th Street and
Broadway, New York, October 2002; 5-9, 11-25
above venue, September 2001; 10, May 2000;
interview recorded at Arnold Schoenberg’s
home in July 1949. The interviewer was the
late Professor Halsey Stevens, U.S.C.
NAXOS 8.557520 [79:59] [SA]
A
rarely performed work in an unmatched performance,
plus three other pieces and an interview,
all for a super-budget price ... irresistible.
... see Full
Review
Franz Peter SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Piano Sonatas: C minor, D958 (1828)
[32’4]; B flat, D960 (1828) [46’27].
Elisabeth Leonskaja (piano). Rec. Teldec Studios, Berlin, in February
1997. DDD
WARNER APEX 2564 61909-2 [79’32][CC]
Leonskaja
will not lead you to the heavenly realms,
but she will lead you instead intelligently
and always sensitively through these marvellous
scores. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) String
Quintet in C major, D956* (1828) [48:27]
Quartettsatz (String Quartet No.
12) in C minor, D703 (1826) [6.24]
Guarneri Quartet, with *Leonard Rose (cello)
rec. RCA Studio A, New York City, 23 December
1970; *February, May 1975
BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 62310 2 [54:
51] [PJL]
Slightly
gritty, rather casual, and not perfectly
polished ... though you’ll not be disappointed,
unless you’ve already heard one of the many
good alternatives ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Die Schöne Müllerin (Im
Winter zu lesen: A cycle of poems by Wilhelm
Müller (1794-1827)) Das
Wandern; Wohin?; Halt!;
Danksagung an den Bach; Am Feierabend;
Der Neugierige; Ungeduld;
Morgengruβ; Des Müllers
Blumen; Tränenregen;
Mein!; Pause; Mit dem grünen
Lautenbande; Der Jäger;
Eifersucht und Stolz; Die liebe Farbe;
die böse Farbe; Trockne Blumen;
Der Müller und der Bach; Des
Baches Wiegenlied.
Ian Bostridge (tenor); Mitsuko Uchida (piano)Recorded
December 2003, Lyndhurst Hall, London. DDD
EMI CLASSICS 5 57827 2 [63'48"]
[AO]
Bostridge's
first die Schöne Müllerin created
a sensation in the song world. This new
version, even more original and distinctive,
confirms that the cycle will inextricably
be linked with his name ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Concerto
for Cello and Orchestra (adapted from the
Arpeggionne Sonata by Cassadó)
(1928) [11.27 + 3.34 + 8.10]. Rosamunde
D.797 (Overture and Excerpts) (1823):
Overture, [5.56], Entr’acte No.1 [7.15],
Ballet Music No. 1 [4.02], Entr’acte No.
2 [3.44], Entr’acte No. 3 [4.11], and Ballet
Music No. 2 [4.12].
Overture to Rosamunde (The Magic Harp)
(1820) [7.36]
Gaspar Cassadó (cello)
Hallé Orchestra/Sir Hamilton Harty
Recorded in the old Free Trade Hall, Manchester,
1st March 1929 (Concerto), 27th
April 1928 (Rosamunde Overture and excerpts),
and 30th April 1927 (Rosamunde
Overture). ADD
HALLÉ TRADITION CD HLT 8003 [60’11"]
[JPh]
I
can only give this disc a guarded welcome.
It is a pity about the recording quality
... see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Life and Works - A Narrated Biography with numerous Musical examples,
written and narrated by Jeremy Siepmann with Tom
George as Schubert; 150 Page companion booklet with detailed historical
background; Each CD includes a CD-ROM part containing the complete
spoken text and booklet material with interactive features and links
to the internet; Producer: Jeremy Siepmann; Sound editor: Michael
Taylor NAXOS 8.558135-38
[4 CDs: 4:30:57][MW]
An
issue not to be missed! ... see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810
- 1856) Piano
Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54 (1846) Introduction and Allegro Appassionato
Op. 92 (1849) Introduction and Allegro Op. 134 (1853)
Jeno Jando (piano) Budapest Symphony Orchestra/Andras Ligetti
(Op. 54 recorded in the Italian Institute, Budapest 1st
– 6th March 1988), BRT Philharmonic Orchestra/Alexander
Rahbari (Op. 92 recorded in the Concert Hall of the Belgian Radio
and Television, Brussels, 3rd & 4th June
1992) Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra/Antoni Wit (Op. 134
recorded in Katowice, Poland from 21st – 23rd
August, 1996). NAXOS
8.557547 [59’27"] [JPh]
Producers
who recommend these re-couplings really
ought to establish what the competition
is before committing a release like this
to the market ... see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN
(1810-1856) Piano
Concerto in A minor Op.54 (1841-45) [29.02]
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Piano Concerto No.3 in C
minor Op.37 (? 1800) [35.07]
Clara Haskil (piano) Orchestre de la Suisse
Romande/Ernest Ansermet rec. Victoria Hall,
October 1956 (Schumann); Montreux, August
1960 (Beethoven)
CLAVES 50-2408 [64.16] [JW]
Strong
qualities of mercurial sensitivity and chamber
intimacy ... see Full
Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856) Piano
Quintet in E flat major, Op.44 (1842) Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Quartet No.2
in A major, Op.26 (1862)
Clifford Curzon (piano) The Budapest Quartet
Recorded in the Coolidge Auditorium, Library
of Congress, Washington USA, 28-29 April
1951 (Schumann) and 27-28 April 1952 (Brahms)
ADD (mono)
NAXOS 8.110306 [77’03][TH]
A
real feeling here of spontaneity and depth
of expression ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Etudes
Symphoniques op.13 (including the 6 supplementary
variations) [33:58], Bunte Blätter
op.99 [34:51], Fantasiestücke op.12:
5. In der Nacht [04:06], 7. Traumes-Wirren
[02:38]
Sviatoslav Richter (piano) Recorded
September 1971 except op.12, recorded live
at the NHK Hall, Tokyo on 24th
February 1979.
REGIS RRC 1186 [76:35] [CH]
Grab
this! ... see Full Review
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 (1834-37, rev. 1852) [39:06] Phantasie in
C major, Op. 17 (1836-38) [33:07]
Bernd Glemser, piano Recorded Auditorio Stelio Molo, Lugano, Switzerland,
November 2002
NAXOS 8.557673 [72:13][DS]
Given
a Phantasie in C that is not up to snuff, the best I can do is give
the new Glemser disc a mild recommendation. ... see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN
(1810-1856) Aufträge;
Der Nussbaum; Das Verlassne Mägdlein;
Er Ist's; Frauenliebe und leben;
Lieder nach Dedichten von Nikolaus Lenau;
Gedichte der Königin Maria Stuart;
Zigeunerliedchen I; Zigeunerliedchen
II; Frühlingsnacht Johannnes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Trennung.
Brigitte Fassbaender (mezzo) Erik Werba
(piano) Recorded live, Salzburg Kleines
Festspielehaus, 13 August 1977.
ORFEO C 636041 B [64'37"] [AO]
Fassbaender
in the full bloom of youth, singing with
lithe vivacity, in the famous Salzburg recital
that catapulted her into well deserved fame
... see Full
Review
Dmitry
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906 – 1975) Symphony
No 7 Leningrad, Op. 60 (1941)
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky
rec. Studio No. 5, Moscow State Broadcasting
and Recording House, February 2003
NAXOS
6.110020 SACD [75:17] [GF]
Still,
on its own merits, Yablonsky’s version is
good, the sound is thrilling and it can
be safely recommended to anyone wanting
it in surround sound. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906 - 1975)
Symphony No.8, Op. 65 (1943) [64.14]Atlanta
Symphony Orchestra/Yoel Levi.Recorded
in Woodruff Performing Arts Center, Atlanta,
Georgia, 14 April 1991. DDD
TELARC CD-80291 [64’14"] [JPh]
Although
the playing of the Atlanta Orchestra is
superb, it is all a bit too comfortable
to bring out the real pathos ... see Full
Review
Jean
SIBELIUS
(1865-1957) Violin
Concerto in D minor Op.47 Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Walter Hendl, recorded
January 1959 Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor Op.63 Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles
Munch, recorded February 1959 Alexander GLAZUNOV
(1865-1936) Violin Concerto in A minor Op.82
RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra/Walter Hendl, recorded June 1963 Jascha
Heifetz (violin) with accompaniments as above
RCA RED
SEAL LIVING STEREO SUPER AUDIO CD 82876 66372 2 [68.55] [JW]
A
stellar trio of recordings then; none at the
very top, despite Heifetz’s sovereign playing,
but all of an awe-inspiring level. ... see
Full Review
Nikos
SKALKOTTAS
(1904-1949) Concerto
No. 2 for piano and orchestra (1937) [37:23]
Tema con Variazioni (1949) [11:05]
Little Suite for Strings (1942) [8:22]
Four Images (1948) [12:45]
Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) BBC Symphony
Orchestra/Nikos Christodoulou rec. 20-22 April
2004, Studio 1, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London.
DDD Reviewed using a standard CD player BIS
SACD 1484 [70:41] [RB]
Skalkottas
addicts will need no second bidding. Bis and
their artists deliver with flair and technical
reliability. ... see Full
Review
Padre Antonio
SOLER (bapt. 1729-1783) Six Organ Quintets
Quintet No. 1 [22'52] Quintet No. 2 [22'31]
Quintet No. 3 [23'27] Quintet No. 4 [26'03]
Quintet No. 5 [30'02] Quintet No. 6 [33'18]
Paul Parsons, organ The Rasumovsky String
Quartet Rec. Bothamsall Parish Church. 30
Sept -5 Oct 2003 DDD
GUILD GMCD 7280/1 [78'57 + 79'41][CB]
A
nice idea but not a wholly satisfactory result. ... see Full
Review
Charles
Villiers STANFORD (1852
- 1924) String
Quartet No. 1 in G major, Op. 44 (1891) [29:01]
String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 45 (1891)
[27:03] Fantasy for Horn Quintet in A minor
(1922) (edited Dibble) [11:47]
RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet Stephen Sterling
(French horn) Recorded in the Henry Wood Hall,
London, U.K. 22-24 September 2003. DDD
HYPERION CDA67434 [68:09]
This
is a must-obtain purchase for all serious
chamber music lovers. I look forward to more
volumes of the Stanford string quartets from
Hyperion. Highly recommended. ... see Full
Review
Johann
STRAUSS I,
father (1804-1849) Galop
of Fury, op.114 The Four Temperaments Waltz, op.59 Masked Ball Galop,
op.86 Jelacic March, op.244 Swedish Songs, Waltz, op.207 Quadrille in
Military Style, op.229 Beloved Kathinka Polka, op.210 Chinese-Galop,
op.20 Radetzky March, op.228 Salon Polka, op.161 Tanz-Signale Waltz,
op.218 Exeter Polka op.249 Fire of Youth Galop, op.90 Johann
STRAUSS II, son (1825 - 1899) Emperor Waltz, op.437
Old Vienna Strauss Ensemble/Ralph Kulling Recorded at Stuttgart Botnang
Concert Hall, 2-5 October 2003. DDD
HERA 02007 [68:15] [RW]
Music
handled with sensitivity, superbly recorded
in ideal surroundings. ... see Full
Review
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Der
Rosenkavalier (1910) A comedy for
music in three acts by Hugo von Hofmannsthal
Maria Reining (sop) ... Marschallin Sena Jurinac
(sop) ... Octavian Hilde Gueden (sop) ...
Sophie Ludwig Weber (bass) ... Baron Ochs
Anton Dermota (ten) ... Tenor Singer Walter
Berry (ten) ... Police Commissar Faninal (bar)
... Alfred Poell Peter Klein ... Valzacchi
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus/Erich
Kleiber Recorded at Musikvereinsaal, Vienna,
29 May - 28 June 1954 by Decca. Originally
issued as LXT 2954-57. ADD mono Restored by
Mark Obert-Thorn
NAXOS 8.111011-13 [3 CDs: 71:26 + 59:59
+ 65:05] [GT]
This
Naxos issue is much to be welcomed even if
my final preference lies with Böhm’s
Dresden version ... see Full
Review
Richard
STRAUSS
(1864-1949) Salome
(1905) Music
Drama in one act after Oscar Wilde’s poem
of the same name. German text by Hedwig Lachmann.
Christel Goltz (sop) ... Salome Julius Patzak
(tenor) ... Herod Hans Braun (bar) ... Jokanaan
Anton Dermota (tenor) ... Narraboth Ludwig
Weber (bass) ... First Nazarene Murray Dickie
(tenor) ... Fourth Jew Walter Berry (bass)
... Second Soldier. Margereta Kenney (mezzo)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Clemens Krauss
Recorded in the Musikvereinsaal, Vienna 15-21
March 1954 First issued as Decca LXT 2863-64
Appendix: Historical recordings by four
legendary sopranos (1907-1949) Emmy Destinn
(sop) Berlin Orchestra under Bruno Seidler-Winkler
First issued on Grammophon 43874-75 Göta
Ljungberg, Berlin State Opera Orchestra
under Leo Blech. Recorded 21 May 1929 at Berlin
Staatsoper. First issued on Electrola EJ 481
Marjorie Lawrence, Pasdeloup Orchestra
under Piero Coppola on 11/12 April 1934 in
Studio Albert, Paris. First issued on Disque-Grammophon
DB 4933-34 Dance of the Seven Veils
- Boston Symphony Orchestra under
Fritz Reiner Recorded on 22 December 1945
in Symphony Hall, Boston. First issued on
V-Disc 636 Ljuba Welitsch, Orchestra
of the Metropolitan Opera Association under
Fritz Reiner recorded on 14 March 1949. First
issued on Columbia ML-2048
Reissue Producer and Restoration Engineer:
Mark-Obert Thorn. ADD
NAXOS 8.111014-15 [67:37+75:59] [GT]
A
tight grip and determination sustains the
dramatic force of this score from the deliberate
beginning to its appalling conclusion ...
see Full
Review
Igor
STRAVINSKY
(1882 - 1971) The
Rite of Spring (complete ballet) (1913, rev. 1947) [35.22] Carl
NIELSEN (1865 - 1931) Symphony No. 5 , Op.50 (1922) [37.46]
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/Paavo
Järvi.Recorded in Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, January 25th
– 26th, and February 22nd – 23rd, 2004.
DDD TELARC CD-80615
[73’08"] [JPh]
All
the same this disc can be recommended for
the standards of playing and engineering.
... see Full
Review
Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971) Pulcinella
(1919-20) Le Chant du Rossignol (1920)
Ann Murray (mezzo-soprano), Anthony Rolfe-Johnson (tenor), Simon
Estes (bass) Ensemble Intercontemporain Patrice Fontanarosa (violin);
Patrick Gallois (flute); Bertrand Grenat (oboe); Yves Couëffe (trumpet)
Orchestre National de France/Pierre Boulez reissue – recorded in IRCAM,
Paris in December 1980
WARNER APEX 2564 62088-2 [60:51] [IL]
A
welcome reissue of polished, exciting readings
of two Stravinsky favourites ... see Full
Review
Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971) Oedipus
Rex* [52:21] Les Noces†[24:10] Edward Fox
(speaker)*, Alison Wells (soprano) †, Susan
Bickley (mezzo-soprano)†, Jennifer Lane (mezzo-soprano)*,
Martyn Hill (tenor), Joseph Cornwell (tenor)*,
David Wilson-Johnson (bass-baritone)*, Andrew
Greenan (bass)*, Alan Ewing (basso-profundo)
†, Simon Joly Male Chorus*, Simon Joly Chorale†,
International Piano Quartet†, Tristan Fry
Percussion Ensemble, Philharmonia Orchestra*/Robert
Craft
Recorded at Abbey Road Studio One, London,
England, on Jan.8th-9th
2001 (Les Noces) and June 2001 (Oedipus Rex)
NAXOS 8.557499 [76:31] [GPJ]
An
enormously enjoyable and indispensable addition
to the Stravinsky discography. ... see Full
Review
Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971)
Duo
Concertant (1932) Suite Italienne
(1933) Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750) Partita No.1
in B minor (BWV 1002) Sonata No.1 in
G minor (BWV 1001)
Leonidas Kavakos (violin) Péter
Nagy (piano) (Stravinsky) Rec. Radio Studio
DRS, Zurich, October 2002
ECM NEW SERIES ECM 1885 [75’00"] [ED]
Stravinsky
and Bach – unusual bedfellows you might think,
and particularly in that order. Well, yes
and no. ... see Full
Review
Arthur SULLIVAN (1842-1900)
and William S. GILBERT (1838-1910) The
Sorcerer (1877) - An Original Modern Comic Opera
Neville
Griffiths (ten) ... Alexis; Muriel Harding (sop) ... Aline;
Peter Pratt (bar) ... John Wellington Wells; Jeffrey Skitch (bar)
... Dr Daly; Fisher Morgan (bass) ... Sir Marmaduke; Ann Drummond-Grant
(alto) ... Lady Sangazure; Yvonne Dean (sop) ... Constance;
Beryl Dixon (mezzo) ... Mrs Partlet; Donald Adams (bass) ... Notary
D’Oyly Carte Chorus New Symphony Orchestra of London/Isidore Godfrey
Recorded at Decca Studios, London, July 1953 The Sorcerer (1877)
- An Original Modern Comic Opera (highlights)
Derek Oldham
(ten) ... Alexis; Muriel Dickson (sop) ... Aline; George Baler
(bar) ... John Wellington Wells; Leslie Rands (bar) ... Dr
Daly; Darrell Fancourt (bass) ... Sir Marmaduke; Dorothy Gill (alto)
... Lady Sangazure; Alice Moxon (sop) ... Constance; Anna
Bethell (mezzo) ... Mrs Partlet; Stuart Robertson (bass) ... Notary
D’Oyly Carte Chorus D’Oyly Carte Orchestra/Isidore Godfrey
Recorded at HMV Studios, London, 12-13 September 1933
NAXOS
8.110785-86 [61:42 + 58:15][RW]
It
is interesting here to scrutinise differences
in Godfrey’s readings of the scores separated
over twenty years. ... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) "1812"
Overture, Op. 49 (1882 ) [15:34] Capriccio
Italien, Op. 45 (1879) [15:13] Cossack Dance
from Mazeppa (1884) [4:18]George
GERSHWIN (1898 - 1937) Rhapsody
in Blue* ( 1924) [16:26] An American in Paris
(1928) [17:23] *Eugene List, piano
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/Erich Kunzel
Recorded Cincinnati, Ohio, 1978 (Tchaikovsky);
1981 (Gershwin)
TELARC
SACD-60646 [69:19] [JL]
Old,
utterly reliable recordings recycled in Super
Audio. A good mix of popular pieces. ... see
Full
Review
Peter TCHAIKOVSKY (1840
- 1893) Swan
Lake (Ballet Suite) Op. 20 (1877) Sleeping
Beauty (Ballet Suite) Op. 92 (1890)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras
rec. Watford Town Hall, 30-31 March 1987
TELARC CD-80151 [65’31"] [JPh]
Recommended,
with reservations, primarily over the playing
time, rather than the performances or recordings.
... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840
– 1893) Piano
Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op .23 Piano
Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, op. 75 Andante
and Finale, Op. 79 (orch. Sergey Taneyev)
Konstantin Scherbakov (piano) Russian Philharmonic
Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky Rec. Studio No.
5, KULTURA State TV & Radio Company, Moscow,
14-17 March 2003. SACD
NAXOS 6.110051 [69:15] [GF]
A
truly great version of this oft-played piece.
Made me listen with newly-opened ears. ...
see Full
Review
Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Piano
Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op.44 (1879-80)
Piano Concerto No. 3 in E flat, Op.posth.75
(1893)
Elisabeth Leonskaja (piano) New York Philharmonic
Orchestra/Kurt Masur Recorded ‘live’ in Avery
Fisher Hall, Nov-Dec.1992 (2) and Jan. 1996
(3)
WARNER APEX 2564 61913-2 [58’11] [TH]
My
commitment to the Zhukov is still unshakable
but if you don’t know the wonderful Second
Concerto, this Leonskaja Apex is a pretty
good starting place. ... see Full
Review
Georg Philipp
TELEMANN (1681-1767)
Six Orchestral Suites after Die Kleine
Kammermusik 1716 CD
1: Suite in E Flat Major TWV 55:Es5 Suite
in B Flat Major TWV 55:B2 Suite in G Minor
TWV 55:g3 CD 2: Suite in E Minor TWV 55:e6
Suite in G Major TWV 55:G2 Suite in C Minor
TWV 55:c3
La Stagione Frankfurt; Michael Schneider (conductor)
rec. 7-11 September 2003, Diffurt, Ev. Kirche
St. Bonifatius, Frankfurt, Germany. DDD
CPO 999 994-2 [52’38 + 48’26] [RNB]
Warm
and stylish ... enthusiastically recommended
when you feel like easing back into an armchair
of baroque easy-listening comfort! ... see
Full Review
Michael
TIPPETT
(1905-1998) Symphony
No. 2 (1957) [36:40] Symphony No. 4 (1977)
[34:41]
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tippett Recorded
at All Hallows Church, Gospel Oak, London,
10th-11th March, 1993
(Symphony No. 2) and 29th March,
1993 (Symphony No. 4) DDD
NMC ARCHIVE NMC D104 [71:21] [CT]
A
fascinating, at times hair-raising account
of Tippett’s Second and Fourth Symphonies
with the eighty-eight year old composer at
the helm ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Sir
Michael TIPPETT (1905-1998)
A
Child of Our Time (1939-41) Faye Robinson
(soprano); Sarah Walker (mezzo); Jon Garrison
(tenor); John Cheek (bass)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and
Chorus/Sir Michael Tippett Recorded in Symphony
Hall, Birmingham, 11-13 October 1991. DDD
NAXOS 8.557570 [69’19"] [JQ]
Doubly
welcome in centenary year. An indispensable
purchase for all admirers of Tippett and all
lovers of the English choral tradition. At
the Naxos price an incredible bargain. Strongly
recommended. ... see Full
Review
Joaquín
TURINA
(1882-1949) Círculo
Op.91 (1936) [10.04] Piano Trio No.1 Op.35
(1926) [21.02] Piano Trio No.2 Op.76 (1933)
[14.19] Piano Quartet in A minor Op.67 (1932)
[17.08] +
The Damocles Trio Lawrence Dutton (viola)
+ Recorded at the Recital Hall, Suny Purchase,
New York, May 2001 and October 2002
CLAVES 50-2409 [62.41] [JW]
Playing
full of tonal expressivity revealing Turina’s
liquid inspirations. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813 – 1901) Falstaff
- Commedia Lirica in Three Acts Sir
John Falstaff ... Donald Gramm (bass-baritone)
Ford ... Benjamin Luxon (baritone) Fenton
... Max-René Cosotti (tenor) Dr. Caius
... John Fryatt (tenor) Bardolfo ... Bernard
Dickerson (tenor) Pistola ... Ugo Trama (bass)
Mrs. Alice Ford ... Kay Griffel (soprano)
Nannetta ... Elizabeth Gale (soprano) Mrs.
Quickly ... Nucci Condo (mezzo-soprano) Mrs.
Meg Page ... Reni Penkova (mezzo-soprano)
Glyndebourne Chorus London Philharmonic
Orchestra/John Pritchard Recorded at the Glyndebourne
Festival Opera 1976 
DVD ARTHAUS MUSIK 101 083 [118.00] [RMK]
Strong
performances make an excellent composite whole.
... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Nabucco
- opera in four parts Originally known
as ‘Nabucadonosor’ after the play from which
Temistocle Solera derived the libretto. First
performed at La Scala, Milan on March 9th
1842 Nabucco, King of Babylon, Juan Pons (bar);
Zaccaria, High Priest of the Hebrews, Samuel
Ramey (bass); Abigaille, slave, believed to
be the eldest daughter of Nabucco, Maria Guleghina
(sop); Fenena, daughter of Nabucco, Wendy
White (sop); Ismaele, Hebrew in love with
Fenena, Gwyn Hughes Jones (ten); High Priest
of Baal, Stephen Morscheck (bass); Abdalla,
an officer in the service of Nabucco, Rafael
Suarez (ten); Anna Zaccaria’s sister, Alexandra
Deshorties (sop) Metropolitan Opera Chorus.
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra/James Levine.
Recorded 2001 Production: Elijah Moshinsky;
Set design: John Napier; Costume design: Andreane
Neofitou; Lighting design: Howard Harrison;
Video Director: Brian Large; Television lighting:
Wayne Chouinard DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON DVD VIDEO 000440 073 0779 GH [142:00]
[RJF]
Worth
the price for Guleghina’s Abigaille. A new
production in 2001 to mark the centenary of
Verdi’s death. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
La
Traviata. Opera in three acts. Libretto
by Francesca Maria Piave after Alexander Dumas’
play La dame aux camellias. First performed
at Teatro La Fenice, Venice on March 6th
1853 Violetta Valery, Maria Callas (sop);
Flora, Ede Gandolfo Marietti (mezzo); Annina,
Ines Marietti (sop); Alfredo Germont, Francesco
Albanese (tenor); Giorgio Germont, Ugo Savarese
(bar); Gastone, Mariano Caruso (ten); Doctor
Grenvil, Mario Zorgniotti (ten); Baron Douphol,
Alberto Albertini (bass); Marquis d’Obigny,
Gino Bianchi (bass) Giuseppe, Franco Rossi
(bass)
Cetra Chorus. Symphony Orchestra of Radio
Italiana, Turin/Gabriele Santini Recorded
by CETRA in September 1953 at the Auditorium
RAI, Turin and first issued on LPs Nos. LPC
1246 Reissue Producer and Restoration Engineer:
Ward Marston
NAXOS HISTORICAL GREAT OPERA RECORDINGS 8.110300-01
[67.57 + 54.20] [RJF]
Callas’s
portrayal of Violetta recorded at her vocal prime and in reasonable
sound. The only realistic choice if you wish to add her superb portrayal
to your collection ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
La
traviata (1853) sung in German Clara
Ebers (soprano) ... Violetta Valé ry;
Richard Holm (tenor) ... Alfredo Germont;
Josef Metternich (baritone) ... Georgio Germont;
Maria Madlen-Madsen (mezzo) ... Flora Bervois;
Kä the Lindloff (soprano) ... Annina;
Rudolf Kraft (tenor) ... Gastone; Georg Stern
(baritone) ... Barone Douphol; Aage Poulsen
(bass) ... Dottore Grenvil
Chor und Orchester des Hessischen Rundfunks/Francesco
Molinari-Pradelli. Rec. Frankfurt, June 11th,
1952. ADD
WALHALL ETERNITY SERIES WLCD0048 [62'30
+ 49'17] [CC]
This
is thoroughly recommendable. Never for a first
choice of course, but worthy of the small
amount of shelf-space it uses up. ... see
Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Concerto
for Bassoon in D minor, RV 481 [10.19]* Concerto
for Oboe in A minor, RV 461 [9.10]+ Concerto
for Oboe and Bassoon in G, RV 545 [11.04]*+
Concerto for Bassoon in A minor, RV 498 [11.00]*
Concerto for Oboe in C, RV 451 [10.01]+ Concerto
for Bassoon in E-flat, RV 501 "La notte"
[9.33]*
*Sergio Azzolini (bassoon) +Hans Peter
Westermann (oboe) Sonatori de la Gioiosa Marca
rec. Chiesa di S. Vigilio col. S. Martino,
Italy, 8-9 August 2003
OPUS 111 OP 30379 [59.29] [SV]
I
enjoyed this disc. It reminded me of numerous
chamber concerts I've heard by ad hoc ensembles
in Prague's beautiful Baroque churches ...
see full review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Antonio
VIVALDI
(1678-1741)
Music for the Chapel of the Pietà Concerto
for violin, strings and continuo in F, RV
292 [9:20] Laudate pueri Dominum (Psalm
112) for soprano, strings and continuo, RV600
[23:29] Concerto for violin, organ, strings
and continuo in F, RV542 [10:11] Concerto
fatto per la Solennitá della S.Lingua
di S.Antonio in Padova, 1712, for violin,
strings and continuo in D, RV212 [16:12] Salve
Regina (antiphon) for soprano, violin,
strings and continuo, RV617 [8:56] Concerto
for violin, cello, organ, strings and continuo,
RV554a [11:45]
Mhairi Lawson (soprano), Sarah McMahon
(cello solo), Robert Howarth (organ) La Serenissima/Adrian
Chandler (Director, violin) Recorded at the
Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Salehurst,
East Sussex, England, 22–24 Nov 2004
AVIE AV2063 [79:58] [GPJ]
Nothing
‘academic’ about the performance of this music.
Exuberant and often full of élan and
humour. ... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Orlando
furioso RV 728 (c. 1727) Tesori
Del Piemonte Vol. 24; Opere Teatrali
Vol. 4
Marie-Nicole Lemieux, contralto (Orlando)
Jennifer Larimore, mezzo (Alcina) Veronica
Cangemi, soprano (Angelica) Philippe Jaroussky,
contro-tenor (Ruggiero) Lorenzo Regazzo, bass
baritone (Astolfo) Ann Hallenberg, mezzo (Bradamante)
Blandine Staskiewicz, mezzo (Medoro) Choeur
Les Elements Ensemble Matheus/ Jean-Christophe
Spinosi. Recorded in June 2004 in Eglise Abbatiale
de Daoulas, Bretagne, France DDD
OPUS 111/NAÏVE OP30393 [3 CDs: 70:37
+ 66:19 + 45:38] [MC]
Unbridled
enthusiasm ... a performance highly infused
with immediacy and vitality without ever losing
that element of stylishness. ... see Full
Review
Richard WAGNER
(1813 – 1883) Tristan und Isolde Marc
Deaton (tenor) – Tristan; Susan Marie Pierson (soprano) – Isolde; Gwendolyn
Jones (mezzo) – Brangäne; David Malis (baritone) – Kurwenal; Ethan
Herschenfeld (bass) – Marke; Timothy Jon Sarris (tenor) – Seemann/Melot/Ein
Hirt; Peter Yanakov (baritone) – Ein Steuermann
Bulgarian Festival Orchestra and Chorus/Glen Cortese Recorded live
at the National Palace of Culture, Sofia, Bulgaria, February 8, 2004
TITANIC TI-261 [4
CDs: 63:09 + 59:78 + 30:17 + 72:33] [GF]
Taken
as a whole this performance has several good things to offer and I’m
glad I got the opportunity to hear it, but it can hardly compete with
some of the established recordings in the catalogue ... see Full
Review
Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Tannhäuser:
Act II - Hall aria [5.33]; Elizabeth’s Prayer [6.25] Lohengrin:
Act I - Elsa’s dream [5.43] Tristan
and Isolde: Act I - Prelude [11.11]; Act III - Finale – Isolde’s Love Death
[6.40] Götterdämmerung: Act III – Brünnhilde’s Immolation Scene [19.50]
Dame Gwyneth Jones (sop) WDR Symphony Orchestra/Roberto Paternostro
Recorded at the studios of Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Cologne, 19-24 August
1990 DDD CHANDOS
CLASSICS CHAN 10286 X [55.56][EM]
If
it’s Dame Gwyneth you’re after, go for the full opera rather than this
compilation disc. ... see Full
Review
Richard WAGNER (1813-1883)
Lohengrin (1850)
Lorenz Fehenberger (tenor) Lohengrin; Annelies Kupper (soprano) Elsa
von Brabant; Otto von Rohr (bass) König Heinrich der Vogler; Ferdinand
Franz (baritone) Friedrich von Telramund; Helena Braun (soprano) Ortrud;
Hans Braun (baritone) Herald; Franz Weiss, Karl Kreile, Heinz-Maria
Lins, Maximilian Eibl, Four Noblemen of Brabant; Margot Grebner, Isolde
Combach, Dagmar Naaff, Therese Oertel, Squires; Chorus and Symphony
Orchestra of Bavarian Radio/Eugen Jochum. Rec. Himmelfahrtskirche, Munich,
on December 15th-22nd, 1952. ADD Originally issued
on DGG 18084/88. PREISER
90603 [3 CDs: 57.38 + 69’58 + 73’22][CC]
So
it appears the perfect Lohengrin still eludes us. Nevertheless all admirers
of this opera should hear this, without a doubt. ... see Full
Review
Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883) The
Mastersingers of Nuremberg: Finale (excerpts) (Act III) (1868) [17:01];
The Flying Dutchman: Chorus of Norwegian Sailors and Girls (Act
III) (1843) [12:36]; Tannhäuser: Procession into the Hall of
Song (Act II, scene 4) (1845) [6:18]; Lohengrin: Bridal Procession
(Act II, scene 4) (1850) [6:27]; Rienzi: The Messengers of Peace
(Act II) (1842) [11:27]; Parsifal: The Journey to Montsalvat
(Act I) (1882) [23:50]
Soloists and Chorus of the Royal Swedish Opera Göran Eliasson [tenor,
David (Mastersingers) and Steersman (Dutchman)] Lars Cleveman [tenor,
Rienzi] Marianne Hellgren Staykov [soprano, Messenger of Peace (Rienzi)]
Lennart Forsén [bass, Gurnemanz (Parsifal)] John Erik Eleby [bass, Titurel
(Parsifal)] Royal Swedish Orchestra/Leif Segerstam rec. Royal Swedish
Opera, Stockholm, Sweden, 14-20 March 2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.557714 [77:49][JWi]
A
beautifully executed program that will be equally enjoyable for either
the novice or the seasoned Wagnerian. ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Das Rheingold Wotan:
Falk Struckmann; Donner: Wolfgang Rauch; Froh: Jeffrey Dowd; Loge: Graham
Clark; Alberich: Gunter von Kannen; Mime: Francisco Vas; Fasolt: Kwanchul
Youn; Fafner: Matthias Hölle; Fricka: Lioba Braun; Freia: Elisabete
Matos; Erda: Andrea Bönig; Rheinmaidens: Cristina Obregon, Ana
Ibarra, Francisca Beaumont. Symphony
Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu/Bertrand de Billy Producer: Harry
Kupfer Barcelona 2004 DVD - all regions
OPUS ARTE
OA 0910 D [2 DVDs: 159:00] [AO]
Outstanding
is Graham Clark as Loge – worth the price
of this DVD alone. A superb fusion of singing,
music and stagecraft making this the first
in what might be the definitive Ring cycle
on film ... see Full
Review
William
WALTON
(1902 - 1983) Cello
Concerto (1956) [29.19] Recorded 28 January
1957 Antonín DVOŘÁK
(1841 - 1904) Concerto in b for
Cello and Orchestra, Op. 104 (1895) [42.01]
Recorded 22 February 1960
Gregor Piatigorsky, cello Boston Symphony
Orchestra/Charles Munch Recorded in Symphony
Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, USA ADD Recorded
in 3.0 stereo and remastered in the DSD system
by Soundmirror, Inc. Notes in English
Hybrid SACD playable on all CD players RCA
BMG 82876 66375-2 [71.22] [PSh]
An
in every way beautiful, definitive recording
of the Walton Concerto. In terms of recording
quality and overall conception, one of the
finest recordings of the Dvorak ever made,
but—in terms of solo playing, a disappointment.
... see Full
Review
Anton von WEBERN (1883-1945)
The Music of Anton Webern: Volume 1 Symphony,
Op21a (1929) [10’03]; Five Canons
on Latin Texts, Op. 16b (1924)
[3’41]; Drei Volkstexte, Op. 17b
(1925) [2’33]; Three Songs, Op. 18b
(1923-25) [3’59]; String Trio, Op. 20c
(1926/7) [9’49]; Quartet, Op. 22d
(1928-30) [5’28]; Variations, Op. 27e
(1936) [6’00]; Six Pieces for Orchestra, Op.
6a (1909, rev; 1928) [13’08]; Four
Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 7f
(1910) [5’42]; Three Pieces for Cello and
Piano, Op. 11g (1914) [2’27]; Concerto
for Nine Instruments, Op. 24h (1931-34)
[6’52]; Deutsche Tänzea (Schubert,
1824, orch Webern 1932) [9’29]; bJennifer
Welch-Babidge (soprano); cAni Kavafian,
dJennifer Frautschi, fJesse
Mills, hSunghae Anna Lim (violins);
chRichard O’Neill (viola); cgFred
Sherry (cello); dDaniel Goble (tenor
saxophone); hDavid Fedele (flute);
hStephen Taylor (oboe); dMichael
Lowenstern, hCharles Neidich (clarinets);
hWilliam Purvis (horn); hJames
Pugh (trombone); dfgChristopher
Oldfather, hStephen Gosling (pianos);
abTwentieth Century Classics Ensemble,
Philharmonia Orchestra/Robert Craft. Rec.
aThe Coliseum, Watford, in July
2002, b-hAmerican Academy of Arts
and Letters, New York, in 2003/4. DDD Texts
and translations included. The Robert Craft
Collection
NAXOS 8.557530 [79’12] [CC]
The
standard of performance on this disc is very
high, the care always evident.. Do investigate.
... see Full Review
Jaromír
WEINBERGER (1896
– 1967) Švanda
dudák (Schwanda the bagpiper)
(1927) [134.07] Švanda – Matjaz Robavs (baritone)
Dorota – Tatiana Mongarrova (soprano) Babinský
– Ivan Choupenitch (tenor) The Queen – Larisa
Kostyuk (mezzo) The Magician – Alexander Teliga
(bass) The Judge – Nicholas Sharratt (tenor)
The Executioner – Pavel Kozel (bass) The Devil
– Alexander Teliga (bass) The Devil’s Servant
– Sean Ruane (tenor) Hell’s Captain – Pavel
Kozel (baritone) First Mercenary Soldier –
Vicenc Esteve (tenor)
Second Mercenary Soldier – Richard Weigold
(bass)
Wexford Festival Opera Chorus National Philharmonic
Orchestra of Belarus/Julian Reynolds rec.
Theatre Royal, Wexford, Ireland, 24, 27, 30
October 2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.660146-7[65.36 + 68.31] [RH]
This
is the first recording of the opera for some
considerable time and it is lovely to have
it in the catalogue, even with the disadvantages
of being recorded live. ... see Full
Review
Iannis XENAKIS
(1922-2001)
Works
for Orchestra, Vol. IV: Erikhthon (1974)
[17:21]*, Ata (1987) [14:39], Akrata
(1965) [10’30"], Krinoïdi
(1991) [10’08"]*.
Hiroaki Ooï (piano) Orchestre Philharmonique
du Luxembourg/Arturo Tamayo Recorded June
2004 Luxembourg Conservatoire. DDD. *Premiere
recording.
TIMPANI 1C1084 [53:08] [BH]
An
exhilarating ride ... boldly and imaginatively
scored ... a program that is definitely not
for those wanting shy or introverted music
... 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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