Yo-Yo
Ma - 30 Years Outside the Box
SONY
CLASSICS 88697 523072 [90cds + Book] [KM]
Ma
is an excellent cellist and never boring.
The
Medinah Sessions
Chicago Pro Musica rec. 1983/88
REFERENCE RECORDINGS RR-2102 [68:15 + 69:16] [JQ]
Some
very clever music in sparkling performances from Chicago.
Mezzo
Moon
Pia
Heise (mezzo) Roger Vignoles (piano) rec. 2011
DANACORD DACOCD 720 [56:43] [GF]
A
wholly delightful programme - to be enjoyed at any time of the day.
Miloš
Latino
Astor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992)
Jorge MOREL (b. 1931) Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Roland
DYENS (b. 1955) Carlos GARDEL
(1890-1935) Jorge CARDOSO
(b. 1949) Agustín BARRIOS MANGORÉ
(1885-1944] Leo BROUWER (b.
1939) Osvaldo FARRÉS (1903-1985)
Isaías SÁVIO (1900-1977)
Manuel PONCE (1882-1948)
Gerardo MATOS RODRÍGUEZ (1897-1948)
Miloš
Karadaglic (guitar) Studioorchester der Europäischen; FilmPhilharmonie/Christoph
Israel rec. 2011/2012;
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 479 0514 [61:00] [LW]
No
guitar aficionado should miss this CD.
From
Moment to Moment Works by Scarlatti, Tierson, Joplin &
de Lhoyer
Duo Transatlantique rec. 2009
PRIVATE ISSUE [57:41] [Byz]
Radiates
an enjoyable listener-pleasing authority.
Most
Grand to Die
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Songs of Travel and songs by Butterworth & Gurney
James Rutherford (baritone); Eugene Asti (piano) rec. 2008
BIS-SACD-1610
[70:07] [JQ]
Make
room on your shelves for James Rutherford’s stylish and idiomatic
performances.
Music
for the Feast of San Rocco Music by Gabrieli & Barbarino
Melodi
Cantores; La Pifarescha/Elena Sartori (organ) rec. 2012
ARTS 47762-8
[72.11] [GH]
Ah,
well, just enjoy.
A
Musical Journey: Russia and Ukraine
NAXOS 2.110290
[56:52] [SA]
A
catalogue of missed opportunities.
A
Musical Journey:
Venice
NAXOS
2.110306
[57:00] [JWh]
A
rare flop from Naxos.
Nao
de China
- Music of the Spanish trade route to the Far East
La Folia (Pedro Bonet, Belen Gonzales Castano (recorders))
COLUMNA MUSICA 1CM0260 [52:27] [EM-L]
I
regret that this was not a disc I could listen to all the way through,
for these reasons - rather, I returned to read the fascinating notes
again instead!
Neomonology
Works by Bayolo, Smooke & Hersch
Jeffrey
Weisner (double bass) rec. 2011
INNOVA 833 [45:36] [DC]
Musically
rewarding - and not just a virtuoso showcase.
New
Year’s Concert 2006 from the Teatro La Fenice, Venice
Fiorenze
Cedolins (soprano) Joseph Calleja (tenor) Roberto Scandiuzzi (bass)
O & Ch of the Gran Teatro La Fenice/Kurt Masur rec. 2006
ARTHAUS MUSIK
107283 [55.00] [DMcC]
A
disappointing release.
O
Gladsome Light Virpi
LEPPÄNEN
(b. 1943) Miko SIDOROFF (b.
1985) Pappismunkki PAAVAL
(1914-1988) Ville MATVEJEFF (b.
1986) Johann von GARDNER (1898-1984)
Krysostomos
Chamber Choir/Mikko Sidoroff rec. 2011,
ALBA NCD44 [52:53] [CF]
An
unusual collection of Finnish Orthodox music, with fine singing from
a young choir.
Murray
Perahia -
The First 40 Years 67
CDs of his Sony Classical discography - original jacket facsimiles 5
DVD-set; DVDs packed separately 3 performances for the first time on
DVD 2 BBC TV-programs previously unreleased Three "first time on
CD" releases analogue and early digital recordings re-mastered
180-page book with new liner notes, rare hotographs and complete discography
very limited edition
SONY CLASSICS 88691912562 [67cds + 5 DVDs: 55:27:00][KM]
Rich
with discoveries … rarely a dull disc.
James
Rhodes (piano) Live in Brighton
rec. 2011
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD308 [37:27 + 47:30] [BR]
James
Rhodes is a gifted ambassador for the music he loves, and this is a
fantastic live album that showcases his great playing and his even better
commentary.
Royal
Rhymes and Rounds
King’s Singers rec. 2011
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD307 [65.50] [EM-L]
A
well-programmed and presented disc, just rather let down by the performances.
Russian
Piano Encores Music by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff & Shostakovich
Vladimir
Ashkenazy (piano) rec. 1963-2004
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 3607 [78:09] [IL]
Supreme
artistry, breath-taking brilliance and poetry. An exceptional talent.
Russian
String Quartets by Afanasiev, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninov &
Borodin
Leipziger Streichquartett rec. 2011
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 307 1758-2 [76:56] [NB]
Should
find favour with lovers of both Russian 19th century music
and chamber music in general.
The
Grand Organ of Salisbury Cathedral
David Halls (organ) rec. 2011
PRIORY PRDVD8
[117:00] [DM]
A
strangely muted affair; strictly for souvenir hunters.
Salve
Regina Del Signor Monteverde Newly discovered pieces by
Monteverdi and Frescobaldi
Il Pegaso/Maurizio Croci rec. 2012
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94286 [54:37] [JV]
An
interesting disc because of the little-known music.
Heinrich
Schlusnus
in Opera and Lieder rec.
1919 – 1925, Berlin. ADD
NIMBUS PRIMA VOCE NI7907 [76:17] [RMo]
An
extraordinarily smooth and flexible voice, with a seamless legato and
easy top notes.
Mordecai
Shehori (piano) The Celebrated New York Concerts Vol. 6
rec. 1983-2003
CEMBAL D’AMOUR CD 166 [66:05] [JW]
Roll
on volume seven.
Songs
Now -
British Songs of the 21st Century David
POWER (b.1962) Eight Evening Songs (2004-2007) Tom
ARMSTRONG Opened Spaces (2007)
David LANCASTER
Memory of Place (2010) Richard WHALLEY
Six Songs of Old Japanese Wisdom (2007) Peter
REYNOLDS (b.1958) Adieu to all Alluring Toys (2011)
Steve CROWTHER
Songs for Don (2007) William Rhys MEEK
(b.1963) Winter is a Slow Death Waiting (2010) Michael
PARKIN Three Songs (2001-2009)
Paul
Carey Jones (baritone) Ian Ryan (piano) rec. 2011? Full track details
at end of review
MERIDIAN CDE 84614 [67:50] [RB]
Augurs
well for the diversity of British song production and for the quality
of its exponents.
The
Trio Sonata in 18th century France Works
by Couperin, Dollé, Leclair, Boismortier & Guignon
London Baroque rec. 2010
BIS BIS-CD-1855 [71:05] [HPR]
Superb
playing, full of human emotion.
Une
Douceur violente Lute works by de Gallot, Gallot &
Mouton
Anthony Bailes (lute) rec. 2010
RAMÉE RAM 1104 [68:05] [JV]
A
compelling programme.
Uniko
Kronos
Qt, Kimmo Pohjonen (accordion, voice) Samuli Kosminen (string &
accordion samples, programming) rec. 2007
ONDINE ODE 1185-2 [51.49] [EM-L]
Perfectly
pleasant but not particularly innovative, gripping, inspirational, beautiful
or startling.
Venice
by Night Carlo
Francesco POLLAROLO (c.1653-1723) Tomaso
ALBINONI (1671-1751) Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Francesco
Maria VERACINI (1690-1768) Antonio
LOTTI (c1667-1740) Giovanni
PORTA (c.1677-1755)
Mhairi Lawson (soprano); Simon Munday (trumpet); Peter Whelan (bassoon)
La Serenissima/Adrian Chandler (violin and director) rec. 2012
AVIE AV2257 [79:47] [JW]
This
imaginatively programmed disc takes us on an engaging nocturnal Venetian
visit.
A
Year at Truro
Truro Cathedral Ch/Christopher Gray Luke Bond (organ) rec. 2011
REGENT REGCD377 [77:44] [JQ]
Another
good instalment in what is becoming a valuable series.
OTHER REVIEWS
(published 2nd Monday of each month)
Strings
Afire —
The Golden Age of Light Music rec.1951-61
GUILD GLCD 5191 [70:14] [JW]
Something
of a fiddle fancier’s delight
The
Art of the Arranger Vol. 2 - The Golden Age of Light
Music
rec. 1953-61
GUILD LIGHT MUSIC GLCD 5193 [78:57] [JW]
Plenty
of variety once again, therefore, in Guild’s latest. Meat, vegetables
and a light garnish all round.
In
London Town
The Philharmonic Concert O/Iain Sutherland
SOMM SOMMCD0117 [70:45] [IL]
Sparkling
performances of some of the cream of light music.
My
Melodious Memories
by Herman Finck, 1937 Noverre Press reprint 2012 ISBN 978-1-906830-52-6
304pp £15 [RW]
A
very enjoyable read.
The
Sound of Leather
Phil
Humphries (serpent) Dave Townsend (concertina)
SERPENT PRESS SER011 [53:40] [EM-L]
Impossible
to listen without a smile creeping over one’s face.
Click
for alphabetical listings by composer:
[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]
[last 5 days] [Recommended
recordings]