William ALWYN
(1905-1985) Symphony
No. 1 (1949) [38:29] Symphony No. 3 (1956) [30:21] 
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones rec. Philharmonic
Hall, Liverpool, 2-4 Aug 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557648 [68:50] [RB]
A
very recommendable disc even if for the First
Symphony you would ideally want the full price
Alwyn/LPO version on Lyrita. .. see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH William
ALWYN
(1905-1985) Symphony
No. 4 (1959) [32:13] Sinfonietta for Strings
(1970) [22:51]
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/David
Lloyd-Jones rec. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool,
2-4 Aug 2004, 4 Jan 2005. DDD
NAXOS 8.557649 [55:04] [RB]
Spirited
and well-recorded performances that will win
new friends for Alwyn. ... see Full
Review
William
ALWYN
(1905-1985) Film Music:
Volume 3 (arr. Philip
Lane) Suite
The Magic Box (1951) Waltz The Million
Pound Note (1953) March The Way Ahead
(1944) Suite Swiss Family Robinson
(1960) The Ride The Rocking Horse Winner
(1949) Suite Geordie (1955) Waltz The
Cure for Love (1949) Suite Penn of
Pennsylvania (1941) March The True
Glory (1944-45) Suite The Running Man
(1962)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Rumon Gamba
rec. Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester,
5-6 January 2005. DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10349 [77:49] [CT]
A
somewhat uneven third volume of Alwyn’s music
for the cinema ... beautifully played by the
BBC Philharmonic under Rumon Gamba. ... see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Malcolm
ARNOLD
(b. 1921) The
Return of Odysseus op. 119 (1976) [28:20]
Darius MILHAUD
(1892-1974) Suite Française
(1944) [15:57] Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Toward
the Unknown Region (1907) [13:17]
Anne Taylor (sop) (Arnold) The City of
Glasgow Chorus The Orchestra of Scottish Opera/Graham
Taylor rec. Scottish Opera Centre, Glasgow,
21-22 October 2005. DDD
DIVINE ART 25035 [57:54] [RB]
An
essential purchase for Arnoldists and Milhaud
fans ... see Full
Review
Juan
Crisóstomo de ARRIAGA (1806-1826)
String Quartets: No. 1 in D minor (c.1824);
No. 2 in A major (c.1824); No. 3 in E flat
major (c.1824)
Camerata Boccherini: Massimo Spadano, violin;
Mauro Rossi, violin; David Quiggle, viola;
Luigi Piovano, cello rec. 7-10 June 2003,
Santa Cruz Auditorium, Tenerife, Canary Islands,
Spain, DDD
NAXOS 8.557628 [69:05][MC/GF]
Michael
Cookson: This is a wonderfully presented, recorded and performed release
which is a must for chamber music lovers; Göran Forsling: Among the
freshest and most attractive string quartets ... hard to imagine them
better played ... see Full Review
Carl Philipp
Emanuel BACH (1741-1788)
Sonata in D. minor, Wq.51/4 (1758) [11:12] Sonata
in F sharp minor, Wq. 52/4 (1744) [11:45] Sonata in
A major, Wq. 55/4 (1765) [13:25] Rondo in D minor,
Wq. 61/4 (1787) [4:07] Sonata in C major, Wq. 65/47
(1775) [7:53] Rondo in B flat major, Wq. 58/5 (1783)
[4:52] Sonata in E major, Wq. 65/29 (1755) [7:30]
Cantabile in B minor, from Sonata, Wq. 55/3 (1779) [3:04]
Christopher
Hinterhuber (piano) rec. 27 February-1 March 2004, Phoenix Studio, Budapest.
NAXOS
8.557450 [63:46] [GPu]
If
you prefer the sound of the modern piano, and want a sampler of this
music, Hinterhuber's recording will serve your purposes well....
see Full Review
Johann
Christian BACH
(1735-1782) Symphonie Concertante in G major for
2 violins, cello and orchestra (c. 1772) Symphonie Concertante in E
flat for 2 clarinets, bassoon and orchestra (c. 1772)A Symphonie
Concertante in A major for violin, cello and orchestra (c. 1773) Symphonie
Concertante in E flat for 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 oboes, 2 horns and
cello ‘Concerto’ (c. 1772)
London Festival Orchestra/Ross Pople rec. Watford Town Hall, England,
22-23 June 1987 and 6 July 1988.A DDD
SANCTUARY RECORDS RESONANCE CD RSN 3059 [59:34][MC]
Four
works in the melodic style of the Mannheim-Paris school. First class
recordings. High quality performances of attractive works. Worth exploring.
... see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
A Bach Christmas:- Cantata:
Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV 63 [26:06] Sanctus in
D Major, BWV 238 [2:58] Magnificat in E flat major, BWV 243a
[34:36] Catherine Bott
(soprano I); Elizabeth Scholl (soprano II); Christopher Robson (counter-tenor);
Paul Agnew and Andrew King (tenors); Michael George (bass) New London
Consort/Philip Pickett rec. Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London, October
1995. DDD DECCA ELOQUENCE
476 7863 [63:40] [JQ]
Marvellous
life-enhancing music ... can be enjoyed at
any time of the year, not just at Christmas.
... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Suite
No. 1 in C Major BWV 1066 (1725) [28.55]Suite
No. 2 in B Minor BWV 1067 (1725) [28.03] Suite
No. 3 in D Major BWV 1068 (1725) [23.37] Suite
No. 4 in D Major BWV 1069 (1725) [25.11] Musical
Offering BWV1079 [49.21]
Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera/Hermann
Scherchen Recorded Vienna 1962 (Suites) and
1964 (Musical Offering)
TAHRA TAH WEST 3003-3004 [79.48 + 75.40]
[JW]
Bach
of huge deliberation, profound consideration
and extensive thought. ... see
Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Sonata
for viola da gamba in G major, BWV 1027 [13:21] Sonata for viola da
gamba in D major, BWV 1028 [13:37] Sonata for viola da gamba in G minor,
BWV 1029 [13:15] Johannes
Koch (viola da gamba) Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) rec. 1961. ADD
DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI
82876 70045 2 [40:31] [GPu]
Pioneering
recordings, which now sound a little stiff
and dogged in the light of what has followed
... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Weihnachtsoratorium
BWV 249 [135:26] Lynn Dawson (soprano);
Bernhard Landauer (alto); Charles Daniels
(tenor and Evangelist); Klaus Mertens (bass);
Coro della Radio Svizzera, Lugano I Barrocchisti/Diego
Fasolis rec. RSI Lugano, Auditrio Stello Moio
30 December 2002 – 5 January 2003. DSD
AUTHENTIC
ARTS 47714-8 [70:31 + 64:55] [JQ]
Not
my first choice for Bach’s vernally fresh
masterpiece but at its best it offers a refreshing
alternative. ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Pilgrim’s Progress. The Bach Cantata Pilgrimage:
The First Releases SOLI DEO GLORIA SDG
101, 104, 110
I
am impatient for further instalments and recommend
these initial CDs enthusiastically. ... see
Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Cantatas Volume 29: Ach Herr, mich
armen Sünder BWV135 [14:07]; Ach
Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein BWV2 [17:04];
Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid BWV3 [22:14];
Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir BWV38
[16:53]
Dorothee Mields (soprano), Pascal Bertin (counter-tenor),
Gerd Türk (tenor), Peter Kooij (bass),
Bach Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki rec. Kobe
Shoin Women’s University Chapel, 25-29 June
2004
BIS BIS-SACD-1461 [71:39] [DJB]
This
release further enhances the reputation of
the series as one of the glories of the CD
era. … see Full
Review
Johan Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750)
Concerto
d-moll nach Vivaldi BWV 596 (1713) [11:22]
Trio super "Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu
uns wend" BWV 655 [3:54] Pièce
d’orgue BWV 572 [9:03] Partie diverse sopra
il Corale "Sei gegrüßet, Jesu
gütig" BWV 768 [19:55] Maurice
DURUFLÉ (1902-1986) Suite
Op. 5 (1934) [23:24]
Samuel Kunner (organ) rec. 16-20 September
2005, Kern Organ, Frauenkirche, Dresden. DDD/SACD
CARUS 83.188 [67:05] [DC]
A
rare and special disc – an historic recording for, in, and of our times
... see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685
- 1750) The Art of Fugue,
BWV 1080 (1750) [75.42] arranged for String Quartet by Roy Harris and
Mary Norton
* Donald Francis TOVEY (1875
- 1940) Conjectural completion to the final fugue
of Bach’s
Art of Fugue (1931) [3.33]+ Roth
Quartet (1934): Feri Roth, Jeno Antal, vv; Ferenc Molnár, vla;
Janos Scholz, vc., rec. American Columbia Records, 6 December 1934 *Donald
Francis Tovey, piano, rec. London, UK, 10 May 1935. +Notes in English,
including original 78 rpm matrix numbers.Digitally remastered 2005 by
Andrew Rose of Pristine Audio. mono ADD DIVINE
ART 27804 [76.15] [PSh]
A unique historical document, lovingly and beautifully
restored. ... see Full Review
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Piano
Concerto No. 3, Sz119 (1945) [22.55];
Piano Concerto No. 1, Sz83 (1926) [24.00];
Piano Concerto No. 2, Sz95 (1930/31) [27.34] Géza
Anda (piano);
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/Ernest Bour;
rec. live, 26 April 1957, the Herkulessaal der Residenz, Munich, Germany. COL
LEGNO MUSIC PRODUCTION
WWE 20091 [74.59]
[MC]
A
wonderful recording of a historic concert, superbly performed by Géza
Anda. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
Violin Sonata No. 3 in E flat, Op. 12 No. 3a (1797/98)
[18'36] César FRANCK
(1822-1890) Violin Sonata in Ab (1886 ) [28'54].
Guillaume LEKEU (1870-0894) Violin
Sonata in Gc (1891) [32'01].
Yehudi Menuhin (violin); Hephzibah Menuhin (piano). rec. aSydney,
Australia, 1940; bParis, 6-7 January 1936; cLondon,
29 March 1938. mono ADD
NAXOS HISTORICAL GREAT VIOLINISTS 8.110989 [79'30]
[CC]
The
Lekeu makes this disc a worthwhile purchase. ...see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphonies:
No. 2 in D, Op. 36 (1801/2) [32'40]; No. 3 in E flat, Op. 55, 'Eroica'
(1803) [49'32] Saarbrücken
Radio Symphony Orchestra/Stanislaw Skrowaczewski. rec. Grosser Saal
des SR, 1-3 June 2005 (No. 2), live, Kongresshalle, Saarbrücken, 15-16
Jan 2005 (No. 3). DDD OEHMS
CLASSICS OC 522 [82'12][CC]
A
massive achievement and a reminder of Skrowaczewski's stature as a musician.
... see Full Review
Ludwig
Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) The
Youthful Beethoven Piano Concerto in E Flat,
WoO 4 (1785) [36’41”] Romance cantabile, H13 (1786) [8’27”] Musik zu einem Ritterballet, WoO 1 (1790-1) [14’51”]
Grigorios Zamparas (piano) (concerto and romance) Jana Holaskova
(flute); Zdenek Skrabal (bassoon) (Ritterballett). Bohuslav Martinů
Philharmonic Orchestra/Jon Ceander Mitchell rec. 5-7 Feb 2004, Dum Umeni,
Zim, Filarmonie Bohuslav Martinů, Czech Republic DDD
CENTAUR CRC 2725 [60’05”][DRD]
A
worthy collection of little known juvenilia; useful as a single disc.
... see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Six
Variations in F major op.34 [13:26], Six Variations in D major op.76
[05:52], Fifteen Variations and Fugue in E flat major op.35 – “Eroica”
[23:35] Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Novelletten op.21: no.2 in D [05:56], no.4
in D [03:27], no.8 in F sharp minor [11:37]
Sviatoslav Richter (piano) rec. Beethoven, July 1970, Salzburg (studio
recording for Ariola Eurodisc); Schumann, live, March 1979, Koseinenkin
Kaikan Hall, Tokyo REGIS
RRC 1230 [64:12][CH]
More
essential Richter. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Rondo
in G, Op.51 No.2 (ca1797/98) [9:40] Bagatelle,
Op.119 No.4 in A major (1820-22) [2:02] Bagatelle,
Op.119 No.10 in A major [0:13] Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Sonata No.20
in A D959 (1828) [40:26]
SCHUBERT Bernard Roberts(piano) rec. live,
24 August 2005, Whiteley Hall, Chetham’s School
of Music, Manchester.
DUNELM RECORDS DRD0246 [52:40] [DC]
This
CD is as fine a souvenir of a splendid musical
event as one could wish for ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano
Works - Volume 10: Rondo in A, WoO49a (?1783) [3'13]. Minuet in
E flat, WoO82b (before 1785) [3'44]. Bagatelles, Op.
33b (1801/02) [21'22]. Six Variations on an Original Theme
in F, Op. 34c (1802) [15'12]. Variations and Fugue
in E flat, Op. 35, Eroica Variationsd (1802) [23'35].
Fantasia in G minor, Op. 77e (1809) [9'37]. Bagatelle
in A minor, WoO60, Für Eliseb (1818)
Artur Schnabel (piano) rec. EMI Abbey Road Studio No. 3, a 14
February 1937 (HMV DB 3629), b19 November 1938 (DB 3786),
c 10 November 1938 (DB 3783-86), c 11 January
1938 (DB 3623/24), d 9 November 1938 (DB 3787),
e 14 January 1937 (DB 3625). ADD.
NAXOS HISTORICAL GREAT PIANISTS 8.110764
[79'31][CC]
It
is this sense of dedication that characterises every performance on
this disc – and what a treat to enjoy them in Mark Obert-Thorn's transfers.
… see Full Review
Hector
BERLIOZ
(1803-1869) Requiem
(Grande Messe des Morts) Op.5 (1837)
Jean Giraudeau (tenor) Choeurs de la Radiodiffusion Française
Orchestre du Théâtre National de l'Opéra de Paris/Hermann
Scherchen Recorded in the L'Église Saint-Louis des Invalides,
April 1958 TAHRA WEST
3001-3002 [44.54 + 53.52] [JW]
I
have a feeling that Scherchen’s 1958 Requiem
may have been misjudged. ... see Full
Review
Georg
BÖHM (1661-1733)
Mein Freund ist mein - Cantatas Das
Himmelreich ist gleich einem Könige [15:58]
Ach, Herr, komme hinab [14:40] Mein Freund
ist mein und ich bin sein [18:33] Wie lieblich
sind deine Wohnungen, Herr Zebaoth [12:47]
Irmela Brünger (soprano), Inga Schneider
(mezzo), Beat Duddeck (alto), Jörn Lindemann
(tenor), Markus Flaig (bass) Capella Sancti
Georgi Musica Alta Ripa/Ralf Popken rec. January
2005, St. Georgs-Kirche, Sengwarden (Lower-Saxonia),
Germany. DDD
CPO 777 143-2 [62:16] {JV]
These
four splendid cantatas by Georg Böhm
are here recorded for the first time, in first-rate
interpretations - strongly recommended ...
see Full
Review
William
BOLCOM (b.1938)
Cabaret
Songs (Complete) Translations and lyrics
by Arnold Weinstein Ancient Cabaret (2001)
[5.06] Cabaret Songs: Volume 1 (1978)
[14.07]; Volume 2 (1981-83) [9.23]; Volume
3 (1996) [9.54]; Volume 4 (1996) [9.39]
Joan Morris (mezzo) William Bolcom (piano)
rec. live, Flea Theatre, New York City, September
2003. DDD
CENTAUR CRC 2682 [52.13] [JW]
Pleasurable
and well-loved Bolcom songs but in the end this recital didn’t quite
hit the spot for me. ... see Full
Review
Pierre
BOUTEILLER (c.1655-c.1717)
De Vanitate Mundi - Messe des Morts et MotetsO
felix
et dilecte conviva* [05:38] Tantum ergo** [03:45] O
salutaris hostia** [03:46] O fidelis et dilecte commensalis**
[05:26] Consideratio de vanitate mundi* [11:00] Missa
pro defunctis for 5 voices and b.c. [25:00]
Suzie LeBlanc, soprano (*); Stéphan Van Dyck, tenor (**) Les
Voix Humaines
(Susie Napper, Margaret Little, Mélisande Corriveau, viola da
gamba); Sylvain Bergeron, theorbo; Alexander Weimann, organ rec. May
2003, Église de la Nativité, Quebec, Canada. DDD
ATMA ACD2 2259 [54:55] [JVV]
I
am glad the music of Bouteiller has been rediscovered and recorded.
Wouldn't it be a good idea to record the remaining motets by this
French master?. ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833 - 1897)
Sonata for two pianos in F Minor,
Op.34b (1863 - 1864) [39:12] Five Waltzes, Op.39 (1868)
[6:11] Hungarian Dances Nos. 5 and 17 (1868) [4:27] Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835 - 1921) Variations on a Theme
of Beethoven, Op.35 (1874) [16:32]
Güher and Süher Pekinel (pianos) rec. The Maltings, Snape,
England, May 2003. DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61959-2 [67:00] [TP]
The
ear adjusts, though, and once it does, the listening experience is most
satisfying. . ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Symphony
No. 2 in D major, op.73 (1877) [44:51] Hungarian Dances: No. 1 in G
minor (orch. Brahms) [3:24]; No. 3 in F (orch. Brahms) [2:46]; No. 10
in F (orch. Brahms) [1:52]; No. 17 in F# minor (orch. Dvořák) [3:37];
No. 18 in D (orch. Dvořák) [1:31]; No. 19 in B minor (orch. Dvořák)
[2:38]; No. 20 in E minor (orch. Dvořák) [2:44]; No. 21 in E minor
(orch. Dvořák) [1:42]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Marin Alsop rec. Blackheath Concert
Hall, London, March 2005 (Symphony); Watford Colosseum, Watford, 28
July 2005 NAXOS 8.557429
[65:06] [JQ]
In
summary, this is an invigorating and very
enjoyable reading. The LPO plays attentively
and with commitment. ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op.
83* [46.46] Piano Sonata No. 1 in C, Op. 1 [31.57]
Sviatoslav Richter (piano) *Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Erich Leinsdorf
rec. *Orchestra Hall, Chicago, October 1960; Hasselberg, Scheune, July
1988 BMG-RCA CLASSIC
LIBRARY 82876-60860-2 [78.45][SV]
This
is not Leinsdorf, impersonal and imperious but a genial, relaxed "Uncle
Erich" who enjoys making music with a responsive ensemble while
Richter allows the music to blossom expressively. ... see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Violin
Sonata No. 1 in G Op. 78 (1879) [27.27] Violin Sonata No 2 in A, Op.
100 (1886) [21.58] Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 (1888) [21.41]
Frank Almond (violin)
William Wolfram (piano) No Recording details
BOOLEAN RECORDINGS 001 [71.06]
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin
Sonata No. 1 in G Op. 78 (1879) [27.55] Violin Sonata No 2 in A, Op.
100 (1886) [19.58] Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 (1888) [21.10]
Tobias Ringborg
(violin) Anders Kilström (piano) rec. Studio Theatre of Stockholm
University College of Opera, August 2005
STERLING CDA 1651-2 [67.16] [JW]
Ringborg-Kilström
make a much better impression. ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Three
pieces – piano, Op.117 (1892) No. 1: Intermezzo in E flat [4:37]
No. 2: Intermezzo in B flat minor [4:14] No. 3: Intermezzo
in C sharp minor [6:09] Panayiotis DEMOPOULOS
(b.1977) Farewells for piano (2004) I. Summer farewell
[1:35] II. Spring farewell [2:51] III. Winter farewell
[1:07] IV. Autumn farewell [1:38] Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures at an exhibition (1874)
(Original version edited by Paul Lamm) [30:55]
Panayiotis Demopoulos (piano) rec. The Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall,
Music Dept., University of York, Heslington, York, 20-21 July 2005.
DDD DUNELM DRD0251 [53:06]
[DC]
On
balance, a CD which, if the programme appeals, should not be ignored.
... see Full Review
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824–1896)
Symphony No. 8 in C minor
NDR Sinfonieorchester/Günter Wand rec. live, Musik-und-Kongressehalle, Lübeck, 9 July
2000 DVD. DTS Stereo. LPCM Stereo
TDK DV-COWAND3 
[96:00][JPh]
Even
fans of other prominent Bruckner conductors will have plenty to learn
from this master, albeit rather frail, at work on his favourite composer.
... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Anton
BRUCKNER (1824–1896)
Symphony
No. 9 in D minor Franz
SCHUBERT (1797–1828) Symphony No.
8 in B minor Unfinished
NDR Sinfonieorchester/Günter Wand rec.
live, Musik-und-Kongressehalle, Lübeck,
8 July 2001 DVD. DTS Stereo. LPCM Stereo
TDK DV-COWAND4 [100:00] [JPh]
A
superb DVD ... a wonderful reminder of conductor’s
art and a fine performance in its own right.
... see Full
Review
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