Classical Editor: Rob Barnett             Founder Len Mullenger: Len@musicweb-international.com

ALPHABETICAL LISTING

John Alden CARPENTER (1876-1951) Adventures in a Perambulator (1914) [26.51] Symphony No. 1 (1940) [19.27] Symphony No. 2 (1942, rev 1947) [19.08] National SO of the Ukraine/John McLaughlin Williams rec 10-16 Dec 1999, Kiev, Ukraine NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559065 [65.24] [RB]

A disc well worth adding to your collection - not as a gap filler, which it certainly is, but as an example of one of the most polished and imaginative talents at work in 1940s America.

JOÃO DE SOUSA CARVALHO (1745 - 1798) OVERTURES/HARPSICHORD SONATAS * Ferenc Liszt Chamber Orchestra/János Rolla ** János Sebestyén/harpsichord rec: May - June 1984 (overtures); July 1984 (harpsichord). STRAUSS CD SP 4161 [47.06] [KM]

Late baroque orchestral and harpsichord music. The harpsichord works are very satisfying.

The Mystery of Chopin - The Strange Case of Delphina Potocka
A Tony Palmer film starring Paul Rhys as Chopin, Penelope Wilton as Paulina Czernicka and Valentina Igoshina, Penelope Wilton and Elizabeth McGorian as Countess Delphina Potocka. Plus recital of works by Chopin played by Valentina Igoshina. Directed by Tony Palmer ARTHAUS MUSIK DVD 100 176. Produced by Flashpoint UK Ltd in 1999. [167 min] (film: 109 mins; recital: 58 mins).

An interesting story but I am not convinced that it has added anything significant to our appreciation of Chopin. Although not entirely a pointless exercise, I feel that this is not one of Tony Palmer's most successful ventures.

MANUEL RODRIGUES COELHO (1555 - 1635?) FLORES DE MÚSICA I Tento do 8o tom * [4.49] Hino "Ave Maris Stella" */*** [18.30] Versos de Magnificat */**/*** [8.50] Tento do 4o tom * [7.37] Versos de Kirios * [8.45] * Rui Paiva/organ ** Mário Marques/countertenor *** Schola Cantorum Lusitana rec: December 1987. STRAUSS CD SP 4183 [47.40] [KM]

Coelho's music is an interesting combination of "classical" pre-baroque organ music with some surprising harmonies and dissonances. The five works on this disc are rich and varied organ works.

Ernest CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Symphony in B flat Op.20 (1890) Jacques IBERT (1890-1962) Escales (1922) Divertissement (1930) Dallas Symphony Orchestra/Eduardo Mata Recorded Dallas, January 1993 DORIAN DOR-90181 [61:50] [HC]

Anyway if this coupling appeals to you, you need not worry for each piece is given a highly idiomatic reading and a warm recorded sound.

George CRUMB (b. 1929). Complete Crumb Edition, Volume 4 Susan Grace, Alice Rybak, (Pianos) John Kinzie, David Colson (Percussion) rec Colorado College, Aug 2000, BRIDGE 9105 [64.40] [PGW]

Crumb's music here is always easily accessible and often relatively simple - even perhaps simplistic in essence - its main constituent colouration from a wide sound palette of exotic instruments.

Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) Sir Thomas Beecham conducts Delius: A Mass of Life (Eine Messe des Lebens) Rosina Raisbeck (sop) Monica Sinclair (con) Charles Craig (ten) Bruce Boyce (bar) London Philharmonic Choir/Frederick Jackson Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham Recorded November 8^th & 11^th, December 8^th, 10^th, 12^th & 13^th 1952, January 1^st & 20^th, April 10^th and May 14^th 1953, EMI Studio 1, Abbey Road, London. Introductory talk by Sir Thomas Beecham on Delius and A Mass of Life. SONY CLASSICAL SM2KK89432 [2CDs 41.18; 69.12]

Make no mistake: this is one of the greatest performances on record. No-one should hesitate to snap it up and at the same time urge SONY to dust down and release other Beecham treasures in their keeping.

Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) Sir Thomas Beecham conducts Delius Over the Hills and Far Away, Sea Drift, Paris - Song of a Great City Bruce Boyce (bar) BBC Chorus/Leslie Woodgate Royal Philharmonic Orchestra /Sir Thomas Beecham rec 7 Feb 1950 (Over the Hills); Aug 1955 (Paris); 23 April, 2-3 Dec 1954 (Sea Drift). SONY CLASSICAL SMK89430 [61.03]

These performances have tremendous panache and breadth.

Edward ELGAR  String Quartet Op. 83 Piano Quintet Op.84 Ian Brown {piano) Sorrel Quartet rec 2000 CHANDOS CHAN 9894 [64.37] [CF]

This is exciting playing of the highest order, always touchingly involved and, above all, deeply committed. I thoroughly recommended the disc.

ELGAR (1857-1934) Re-discovered works for Violin, Vol. 2 Marat Bisengaliev (violin) and Benjamin Frith (piano) rec 17/18 October 2000 at Potton Hall, Suffolk BLACK BOX BBM1047 [68:33] [IL]

Bisengaliev, unobtrusively and sensitively accompanied by Benjamin Frith gives warm, relaxed readings of these charming miniatures. Their cleanly articulated reading of the Sonata contrasts vigour with gentle Autumnal reflection, spiced, in the central Romance, with some engaging wry wit.

FAURÉ Requiem (a), Pelléas et Mélisande (b), Une chatelaine en sa tour (c), Pavane (d), Dolly (e), 3 Mélodies (f), L'Horizon chimérique (f) Après un rêve (g), Elégie (g), Nocturne No. 4 (h), Barcarolle No. 2 (h), Masques et bergamasques (i), Cantique de Jean Racine (j), (a) Kathleen Battle, Andreas Schmidt - Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra - Carlo Maria Giulini (b) Lorraine Hunt, Boston Symphony Orchestra - Seiji Ozawa (c) Nicanor Zabaleta (d) Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa (e) Alphonse and Aloys Kontarsky (f) Gérard Souzay, Dalton Baldwin (g) Jules Eskin - Boston Symphony Orchestra - Seiji Ozawa (h) Pascal Rogé (i) Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (j) Kings College Choir, Stephen Cleobury recorded 1964 (c), 1983 (e), 1986 (a), 1987 (b, d, g), 1990 (h) 1996 (i), 1998 (j). DG 469 268-2 [148.50] (Panorama series) 2 CDs [JP]

This set gives a very good thumbnail sketch of the output of Fauré and should be enjoyed by many who buy it.

Benjamin FRANKEL (1906-1973) Symphony No. 7 (1970) Symphony No. 8 (1971) Overture to a Ceremony (1971) A Shakespeare Overture (1956) Queensland SO/Werner Andreas Albert rec ABC Studio 420, Australia, April 1999 CPO 999 243-2 [70.27] [RB]

Together with the CPO disc containing number 4 this is the CD with which to start your Frankel symphony collection.

GINASTERA (1916-1983) Chamber music volume 5 Cantos del Tucuman for voice, harp, flute, and caja grande (1938) Danza Del Rigo (from Estancia) arranged for violin and guitar by Zarate andTriste Pampeano for solo guitar (from Estancia) transcribed by by Salomon de Font (1943); Guitar Sonata Op. 47 (1976); Punena No 2 for solo cello Op45 (1976) Duo for flute and oboe Op 13 (1945); Danza Criolla (for solo guitar Op15no1 (arr.Barbosa-Lima) Milonga (arr.Mercado) for solo Guitar; Impresiones De La Puna for flute and string quartet. Olivia Blackburn (soprano) Anna Noakes (flute) David Emanuel (violin) Gillian Tingay-(harp) Gary Kettel (percussion) John Anderson (oboe) Christopher Van Kampen (Cello) Maria Isaebel Siewers (guitar) Rafael Gintoli (Violin) Lyric String Quartet Recorded St.Silas Church Kilburn May 1995 and February 2000 DDD
ASV DCA 1103 [59.07] [GH]

No purchaser of this disc will be disappointed. This is fine and very enjoyable music, excellently performed with character and passion.

GINASTERA (1916-1983) COMPLETE PIANO WORKS Tichiko Tsuda (Piano) Recorded February 2000 Studio de la Foundation Tibor Varga, Switzerland CYPRÈS CYP 1625 [80.27] [GH]

Michiko Tsuda plays superbly and has a comprehensive grasp of Ginastera's language: consistently serious and mostly challenging both harmonically and formally

Louis GLASS (1864-1936) Symphony No. 2 (1899) [48.05] Fantasia for piano and orchestra (1913) [22.46] Romeo Smilkov (piano) Philippopolis Choir/Radostina Borissova Plovdiv PO/Nayden Todorov rec Plovdiv, Aug and May 2000 DANACORD DACOCD543 [60.02] [RB] [JF]

It is fascinating to meet this Symphony at long last. The Fantasy is an elusive and enigmatic piece. Orchestra and conductor on good form. [RB]
An interesting addition to the literature of late romanticism. Often-eclectic works that have many passages of exceptional beauty, even if there is often a lack of stylistic unity. Danacord are to be applauded for publishing the collected orchestral works of this little known composer [JF].

GLUCK Two Operas on DVD
Alceste Alceste: Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-sop Monteverdi Choir
English Baroque Soloists Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner Stage Director: Robert Wilson Choreographer: Giuseppe Frigeni   Arthaus Musik DVD 100 160 [135 min]. [FC]
Orphée et eurydice Orphée: Magdalena Kozena, mezzo-sop Monteverdi Choir Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner Stage Director: Robert Wilson Choreographer: Giuseppe Frigeni Arthaus Musik DVD 100 062 [100 min] [FC]

Combined with Robert Wilson's provocative and moving stage pictures, these two operas are an important addition to the expanding repertory of Baroque operas on video. This Gluck diptych it is an impressive artistic triumph for both Gardiner and Wilson.

Morton GOULD (1913-1996) American Ballads (1976) Foster Gallery (1939) American Salute (1947) National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine/Theodore Kuchar Rec. Grand Hall of the National Radio Company of Ukraine 2-14 June 1999 NAXOS American Classics 8.559005 DDD [73:48]

The recording is vivid with an impressive dynamic range and in performances such as these this disc has to be considered a first rate bargain.

Hermann GOETZ (1840-1876) Symphony in F Major, Op.9 (1991) Overture to the Taming of the Shrew, Spring Overture, Overture to Francesca Monte-Carlo Opera Orchestra/Edouard Van Remoortel Rec: France, 1972/91 GENESIS GCD105 [60.43] [RW]

The CD contains much to attract those of us interested in the historical development of romantic music. Goetz was a gifted composer worthy of much wider recognition.

Louis Moreau GOTTSCHALK (1829-1869) A Night in the Tropics   Hot Springs Music Festival Orchestra/Richard Rosenberg Recorded at the First Christian Church, Hot Springs National Park, and Horner Hall, Hot Springs Civic and Convention Centre, 7-12 June 1999 NAXOS 8.559036 [60:23] [AAS]

This music has clearly been prepared and recorded with great care and affection, and is well performed. It offers a fascinating glimpse into a tiny cranny of musical history and is certainly worth a £5.00 investment.

Charles Tomlinson GRIFFES (1884 - 1920) COMPLETE PIANO MUSIC VOLUME 2 The Pleasure Dome of Kubla-Khan (1915) Three Preludes (1919) Piece in E major (1916) Dance in A minor (1916) Three Fantasy Pieces (1912-15): Barcarolle - Notturno - Scherzo Piece in D minor (1915) Piece in B flat major (c.1915) Humperdinck's Hansel & Gretel Overture transcribed for two pianos (1910 or before)* Symphonische Fantasie for two pianos (1910 or before)* Michael Lewin (* with Janice Weber) Recorded at the Living Arts Centre, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, 24-25 July 1999 MARCO POLO 8.225163 [62:22] [AAS]

Performance and recording standards of the highest. Griffes is a little-known composer who, certainly merits revival

Henry Kimball HADLEY (1871-1937) The Ocean - tone poem (1921) [14.26] The Culprit Fay (rhapsody) (1909) [15.53] Symphony No. 4 (North, East, South, West) (1911) [38.20] National SO of Ukraine/John McLaughlin Williams rec Kiev, 1-7 Dec 1999  NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559064 [68.39] [RB]

To all intents and purposes totally unknown music presented by champions who care for the music - enough to make it gleam and burn afresh. Commended to those who love their Glazunov, Tchaikovsky and Brahms.

Andreas Hallén (1846-1925) Ett Juloratorium - A Christmas Oratorio (1904) Lena Hoel, soprano; Mathias Zachariassen, tenor Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra & Swedish Radio Choir B.Tommy Andersson, conductor. Rec live 19 December 1996, Berwald Hall, Stockholm STERLING CDS-1028-2 [Swedish Romantics] [58.20] [JF]

This is excellent choral music. Influenced, but not overwhelmed by the Wagnerian musical ethic, this piece deserves to be discovered. If it had been written by Richard Wagner and not by Andreas Hallén it would have a secure place in the musical canon.

HÄNDEL Dixit Dominus Anne Sofie von Otter, alto; Hillevi Martinpelto, soprano; Stockholm Bach Choir; Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble conducted by Anders Öhrwall.  Gloria (first recording; 05-03-2001)    Emma Kirkby, soprano; Royal Academy of Music Baroque Orchestra/Laurence Cummings  BIS CD 1235 [49 mins] [KM] [PGW]

Emma Kirkby is in fine form and revels in the virtuosic demands of the youthful Gloria, the recent authentication of which caused a media furore.
The world premiere recording of a recently "discovered" work by Händel. Moving, excellently performed by Emma Kirkby, this is definitely a disc worth having.

HAENDEL (1685 - 1759) Dettinger Te Deum [40.10] Günther Leib, baritone Soloists of the Great Choir of the Berliner Rundfunks Berliner Rundfunk Symphony Orchestra, Helmut Koch, conductor. Rec: 1969 BERLIN CLASSICS 0093772BC [40.10] [KM]

An attractive choral work by Haendel. Not up to par with his great oratorios, but worth a listen. Short measure.

HAENDEL (1685 - 1759) Friedensode - Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne * [24.25] Utrechter Te Deum ** [21.59] *Inge Uibel, soprano  **Inge Uibel, soprano Kammerorchester Berlin, Dietrich Knothe, conductor Rec: 1976 BERLIN CLASSICS 0031882BC [46.24] [KM]

Two extremely fine works by Haendel. Strong examples of his early work, they both contain beautiful vocal passages and excellent choral movements.

HAYDN Symphonies Nos 26, 35, 38, 39, 41-52, 58, 59 and 65.  "Sturm and Drang" Symphonies. The English Concert directed by Trevor Pinnock Recordings, Henry Wood Hall, London 1988-9 (Reissue) DG ARCHIVE COLLECTORS EDITION 463 731-2 [6CDs: Disc 1 [71.09] Disc 2 [50.30] Disc 3 [58.26] Disc 4 [62.22] Disc 5 [62.31] Disc 6 [62.25]] [AB]

An exceptionally well played and recorded of some of Haydn's most interesting symphonies at super bargain price, the set should be in every collection.

Gottfried August HOMILIUS (1714-1785) St. Matthew Passion Ann Monoyios (soprano) Ulla Groenewold (contralto) Gerd Tark (Tenor) Klaus Mertens (Bass) Hans-Georg Wimmer (Bass) Christoph Prégardien (Tenor) Cappella vocale Leverkusen/Christoph Schoener Akadamie für Alte Musik Berlin/Bernhard Forck rec: January 1992. BERLIN CLASSICS BC 1046-2 [131.04] [KM]

A must-have recording for any lover of Bach's music or other 18th century German vocal works.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE MUSIC OF ALAN HOVHANESS ON CD by Eric Kunze

Alan HOVHANESS (1911-2000) 80th Birthday Celebration - 1991 Piano Music:- Suite (1968) Pastorale No. 1 (1952) Two Ghazals (1967) Hymn to a Celestial Musician (1952) Achtamar (1948) Child in the Garden (1961) Twelve Armenian Folk Songs (?) Visionary Landscapes (1965) Sahan Arzruni (piano)
ADD rec July 1986, SUNY, Purchase, NY HEARTS OF SPACE HS1024-2 [47.13] [RB]

Parsimony in playing time made all the more regrettable by high artistic values throughout. Niggardly approach to banding.

Alan HOVHANESS (1911-2000) Fred the Cat Piano Music Marvin Rosen (piano) DDD rec 20 June 1992, Forge Recording Studio, Phoenixville, PA, USA KOCH International Classics 3-7195-2H1 [71.21] [RB]

If you must have one CD of Hovhaness's piano music this is it. Rosen's authoritative interpretations are a delight in a world of melodic abnegation.

Alan HOVHANESS (1911-2000) Vision of a Starry Night Piano Music Marvin Rosen (piano) DDD rec 6 Apr 1994, Mastersound Astoria Studios, Astoria, New York KOCH International Classics 3-7288-2H1 [68.15] [RB]

A good partner to the Fred the Cat CD. Rosen seems a definitive interpreter.

CHARLES KOECHLIN (1867-1950) - Des voix vers la sérénité A Cappella Works Choeurs réligieux a cappella: Kyrie; Agnus Dei; Alleluia (1935) Motets de style archaïque (1949) - fifteen motets Ensemble Vocal Francais/Gilbert Martin-Bouyer Amélie Berson (flute); Nicolas Carpentier (oboe); Christophe Bonifacino (clarinet); Alexandre Salles (bassoon). rec Chapelle de l'Hôpital d'Ivry, Val de Marne, France, 1997,  DDD SKARBO SK 2972 [60.31] [RB]

For those who love choral singing. Koechlin's imagination was still overwhelmingly stocked even into his very last year. A lovely disc. I urge you to track it down.

Rued LANGGAARD (1893-1952) Symphony No. 6 Det Himmelrivende (1920 rev 1930) Symphony No. 7 (1926 version) Symphony No. 8 Minder ved Amalienborg (1928 rev 1934) Danish National RSO/Thomas Dausgaard rec Aug 1998-Aug 2000, Danish Radio House. DDD DACAPO 8.224180 [56.58] [RB]

This collection satisfies for an extremely fine version of the Sixth Symphony - the best so far. Langgaard specialists must have this for the premiere recording of the original version of the Seventh Symphony.

BOLET Rediscovered LISZT Recital
Franz LISZT (1811-86) Liebestraum, S541 No. 1. Trois Etudes de concert, S145. Harmonies poétiques et réligeuses - No. 7, Funérailles. Grands Etudes de Paganini, S140 - No. 3, La campanella. Grand Galop chromatique, S219. Rhapsodie espagnole, S254. WAGNER/LISZT Tannhaüser Overture. Jorge Bolet (piano).Recorded in RCA Studio A, New York on August 22^nd-24^th, 1972 and July 16^th, 1973 (Tannhaüser Overture). RCA Red Seal 09026 63748-2 [ADD] [52'23] [CC]

A gem of a release, recommendable not only to pianophiles, but to all lovers of the Romantic period. This is a wonderful disc.

[Part 1 New]  [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc] 

Classical Editor: Rob Barnett,  Reviewers: Rob Barnett, Ian Lace, Len Mullenger, and:  Richard Adams, Colin Anderson, Arthur Baker, Grace Barber, Terry Barfoot,  Peter Bates, Marc Bridle, Arthur Butterworth, Frank Cadenhead, Colin Clarke, Paul Conway, Jim Cooke, Gary Dalkin, Andy Daly, Tony Duggan, Harry Downey,  Christopher Fifield, Lewis Foreman, Simon Foster, John France, Julian Hellaby, Christopher Howell, Simon Jenner, Stephen Lloyd,   Kirk McElhearn, Gwyn Parry-Jones, John Phillips, John Quinn, Ailís Ní Ríain, Humphrey Smith, Philip Scowcroft, Adrian Smith, Colin Scott-Sutherland, Andrew Seivewright, Paul Serotsky, Christopher Thomas, Richard Walker, Richard Whitehouse, Jonathan Woolf, Peter Grahame Woolf, David Wright. A complete list of contributors can be seen here

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