Edward
MACDOWELL
(1860-1908) Piano
Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 15 (1885) Piano Concerto No. 2
in D Minor, Op. 23 (1890) Second Modern Suite, Op.14 for
solo piano (1883) Seta
Tanyel (piano) BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Martyn Brabbins recorded
14 - 15/9/00, in the Caird Hall, Dundee (concerti), and 17/12/00 in
Henry Wood Hall, London (solo) - DDD
HYPERION CDA67165 [77.10] [JP]
It
is wonderful to get such good performances recorded in very good modern
sound.
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony No.4 in G major
(1899-1900) Dame Margaret
Price (Soprano) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Jascha Horenstein (Barking
Town Hall, London, 23-24 November 1970)
CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 5 74882 2 [59.25] [TD]
This
is a leading recommendation for this symphony, now widely available
in good sound at last.
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony No. 4 in G major
Camilla Tilling (soprano) Philharmonia Orchestra/Benjamin Zander Rec
6-8 June 2000, Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London Includes 'free' CD:
Benjamin Zander discusses Mahler's 4th
TELARC CD-80555 [CDs: 58.06; 79.00] [TB]
Mahler's
Fourth is arguably his most lovable symphony, but this isn't its most
loveable recorded performance.
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony No.9 in D Major, Kindertotenlieder*
Janet Baker (Mezzo
Soprano)*, Scottish National Orchestra* London Symphony Orchestra/Jascha
Horenstein (Royal Albert Hall, London 15/9/66 and Usher Hall, Edinburgh
3/3/67*) Restoration and remastering by Jerry Bruck, Posthorn Recordings
BBC Legends BBCL 4075-2
2 CDs [113.38] [TD]
Every
Mahlerian should own this recording of the Ninth Symphony. It should
be treasured by all whose first concern is music and its performance
in front of an audience.
Frank
MARTIN (1890-1974)
Ballade for piano and orchestra
(1939) [16.53] Piano Concerto No. 1 (1933-34) [20.41] Piano
Concerto No. 2 (1968) [22.25] Danse de la Peur (1937)
[13.17] Paul
Badura-Skoda (piano) Sebastian Benda (piano) in Danse only Orchestra
della Svizzera Italiana/Christian Benda rec RSI Auditorium, Lugano,
Switzerland, 22-26 June 1999 DDD co-production with RSI Radio Svizzera
de Lingua Italiana, Rete 2. recorded to mark 25th anniversary of death
of Frank Martin
ASV CD DCA 1082 [73.59] [RB]
There
is no competition for this issue. This is the only such collection of
the complete music for piano and orchestra. Not music to make blitzkrieg
conquests but works of sincere substance and curtain-darkened brilliance.
Jules
MASSENET (1842-1912)
Amoureuse: Sacred and Profane Arias
Rosamund Illing (soprano), Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Richard
Bonynge Rec. November 1998 Eugene Goossens Hall, ABC Sydney Australia
MELBA 301080
[74.43] [RW]
Rosamund
Illing has a reputation as a fine and versatile singer and she doesn’t
disappoint in her singing of Massenet. Maybe there could be more variation
in dynamics and characterisation in some of the arias, but really the
fault lies with Massenet, not Illing.
David
MATTHEWS (born
1943) In the Dark Time Op.38
(19845) Chaconne Op.43 (1986/7)
BBC Symphony Orchestra; Jac van Steen Recorded : BBC Studio 1, Maida
Vale, London, May 1998
NMC D 067 [47:28] [HC]
Both
pieces are superb examples of Matthews' consummate craftsmanship and
deeply anchored musicianship
Johann
Simon MAYR
(1763-1845) Mass
in C Minor Wolfang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Salve Regina, Quis te comprehendat, In te Domine
speravi Marina
Ulewicz soprano Christa Mayer alto Thomas Cooley tenor Thomas Gropper
bass Vokalensemble Ingolstadt Georgian Chamber Orchestra, Ingolstadt
Franz Hauk, conductor Recorded Asam Kirche, Ingolstadt April 2001
GUILD GMCD 7231 [65.48] [JW]
The
Choir perform well and the chamber orchestra – woodwind especially –
particularly so Franz Hauk shapes the Mayr into newly minted life. Altogether
a genuinely worthwhile discovery.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756
– 1791) Le nozze di Figaro - Opera in
four acts Figaro - Erich Kunz (Baritone) Susanna -
Irmgard Seefried (Soprano) Il Conte d’Almaviva - George London
(Baritone) La Contessa d’Almaviva - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Soprano)
Cherubino - Sena Jurinac (Soprano) With Martin Rus, Elisabeth
Höngen, Erich Majkut, Rosl Schwaiger, Welhelm Felden, Anny Felbermayer
and Hilde Czeska Chor der
Wiener Staatsoper
Wiener Philharmoniker / Herbert von Karajan Recorded 17-21 June and
23-27 and 31 October 1950 Musikvereinssaal, Wein Digitally remastered
at Abbey Road Studios 1999 ADD
EMI Classics CMS 5 67068 [CD1: 62.50; CD2: 56.53]
Add
this excellent recording to another of the same work and enjoy some
superlative sounds.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Overture:
Der Schauspieldirektor; Concerto for Two Pianos in E flat major, K365
; Aria: L'amero, saro costante, K208 (Il re pastore); Concert Aria:
Ma, che vi fege, o stelle, K368; Symphony in F major, K112
Clara Haskil, Géza Anda (pianos) Erika Köth (soprano) Camerata
Academica Salzburg Bernhard Paumgartner Rec 4 August 1957, Mozarteum
Salzburg ORFEO C 572
011 B [60.57] [TB]
Some
of the finest Mozart performers of their generation but their abundant
freshness and vitality is rather undermined by the sound.
Carl
NIELSEN (1865-1931)
The Complete Symphonies (1892-1925)
London SO/Ole Schmidt In Symphony No. 3 only: Brian Rayner Cook (bar);
Jill Gomez (sop) rec 1974, St Giles, London, ADD
REGIS RRC 3002 [70.51+73.28+69.45] [Available separately: Symphonies
4 and 5 REGIS RRC 1036; Symphonies 1-3 and 6 REGIS RRC 2046]
[RB]
Regis
prove that these Unicorn-Kanchana tapes - the first integral Nielsen
cycle - have but slept. Snap up this bargain set as a matter of urgency.
Gunner
Møller PEDERSEN (b.1943)
Die Rättin - Rottesken (1997)
opera based on the novel by Günter Grass: Helle Hinz (mezzo) Ulrik
Cold (bar) Sankt Nikolai
Kirkes Kammerkor/Jan Juhler Ensemble Domino - Lolland/Peter Ettrup Larsen
rec Nakskov, March 2001
DANACORD DACOCD 591 [71.54] [RB]
Of
interest to those concerned to keep up with developments in modern opera.
I also commend it strongly to budget-strapped opera producers.
Peter
PHILIPS
(1561-1628) Eighteen Motets from Cantiones
Sacrae Quinus Vocibus of 1612
The Sarum Consort directed by Andrew Mackay Recorded at Milton Abbey
Dorset August 1999 ASV
Gaudeamus GAU 217 [69.00] [GH]
The
singing is undoubtedly first class both collectively and individually,
and the recording quality is excellent. The venue is ideal and should
be considered again.
Mario
PILATI (1903-1938)
Concerto for Orchestra (1931-2)
Three Pieces for Orchestra (1929) Suite for Strings
and Piano (1925) By the Cradle (Ninna-Nanna) (1938)
Slovak Radio SO/Adriano
Recorded at the Slovak Radio, Bratislava, May 2000 and January 2001
MARCO POLO
8.225156 [61.05]
There
is enough on this CD to show that Pilati, who was very prolific, was
a promising and very fine composer. A great one … ? Well, perhaps Marco
Polo will allow us more opportunities in the future to decide on that
one.
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1878-1953)
PROKOFIEV PLAYS PROKOFIEV Piano
Concerto No. 3, Suggestion diabolique, Op.4, No.4,
Visions fugitives, Op. 22 (extracts, nos. 9,3,17,18,11,10,16,6,5), Gavotte
(from "Classical Symphony, Op.25), Andante assai (from Sonata No,4,
Op.29), Conte de la vieille grand-mere, Op.31, No.2, Conte de la vieille
grand-mere, Op.31, No.3, Gavotte, Op.32, No.3, Etude, Op.52, Sonatine
Pastorale, Op.59, No.3
Paysage, Op.59 No.2,
Sergey Prokofiev (piano) London Symphony Orchestra/Piero Coppola Recorded
June 1932 (concerto) Recorded 1935 (other works)
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110670 [56:18] [JL]
This
is a disc of undoubted historic interest that contains performances
of distinction in their own right by one of the great composer/pianists
of the recording age. [JL]
The
Naxos disc is excellently done and at this price it is, frankly, an
irresistible bargain. [JW]
Sergei
Sergeivich PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
Songs and Romances. The Ugly Duckling,
Op. 18a. Three Songs to Words by Pushkin, Op. 73d. Ten Folk-Songs, Op.
104b. Two Duets, Op. 106ce. Green Jare. Seven Songs, Op. 79acd. Three
Songs for Children, Op. 68a. To my homelandc. Soldier's Marching Songd.
Two Poems, Op. 9d. Five Poems by A. Akhmatova, Op. 27a. Five Poems by
K. Balmont, Op. 36acd. Six Songs, Op. 66ad. Five Songs from Op. 89ace.
Five Poems, Op. 23acd. Five Songs without Words, Op. 35a. Songs of our
daysacd. aVictoria
Yevtodieva (soprano); bLyubov Sokolova (mezzo); cKonstantin Pluzhnikov
(tenor); dAndrey Slavny (baritone); eSergei Aleksashkin (bass); Yuri
Serov (piano). [DDD] Recorded in St Catherine's Lutheran Church, St
Petersburg in September-December 1995.
Delos DE3275 [three discs] [231'01]
The
present issue goes hand-in-glove with Gergiev's recordings of Prokofiev
operas (not to mention his performances) in widening our appreciation
of this astonishingly multi-faceted composer.
DVD
Review
Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Manon Lescaut
The Flemish Opera Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Silvio Varviso
A production
of De Vlaamse Opera, Cultural Ambassador of Flanders Produced by BRTN
in 1991
ARTHAUS MUSIK DVD 100 224 [124.00]
[IL]
Like
Wagner and Respighi, Puccini was very fussy about every facet of the
production of his operas. If he had seen what Flemish Opera had done
with his first major success he would probably have had a fit!
Sergei
RACHMANINOV(1873-1943)
Symphonic Dances, Op. 45: 1 non allegro, 2 andante con moto (tempo
di valse), 3 lento assai, Vocalise, Op.34, Etudes–Tableaux
(orch. Respighi from Op. 33 and 39), 5 the sea and the seagulls,
6 the fair, 7 funeral march, 8 little red riding hood and the wolf,
9 march
Minnesota
Orchestra/Eiji Oue - Recorded May/June 2001, Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis
REFERENCE
RECORDINGS RR-96 HDCD [67.06] [JL]
A
feast of orchestral colour combining a late Rachmaninov work with some
of the composer’s earlier piano pieces orchestrated by Respighi. Immaculate
playing sumptuously recorded.
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Symphony
No. 1, Cinq Etudes-tableaux (orch. Ottorino Respighi)
Russian State Orchestra/Valeri Polyansky
CHANDOS CHAN 9822 [72:00] [IL]
One
of the most thrilling, passionate and moving performances of Rachmaninov's
Symphony 1 on record. The Respighi orchestrations of the Etudes-Tableaux
make a compelling fill-up.
RACHMANINOV
Cello
Sonata Op 19 SHOSTAKOVICH
Cello
Sonata Op 40
Gwyneth George cello Alberto Portugheis piano Recorded Christ Church
Chelsea October 1970 (Rachmaninov) and February 1971 (Shostakovich)
GUILD
GMCD 7219 [54.56] [JW]
If
your preference is for intimacy, tonal reticence and chamber compatibility
then this disc has its rewards.
Ottorino
RESPIGHI (1879-1936)
'Respighi's Rome' The Fountains of Rome
(1914-16) [17.14] The Pines of Rome (1924) [22.48] Roman
Festivals (1929)* [25.45]
Oregon Symphony Orchestra conducted by James DePriest Recorded in the
Arlene Schnitzer Auditorium, Portland, Oregon January 2001 & *May
1987 DELOS DE 3287
[65.50] [JQ] [CT]
A
distinguished issue which will give much pleasure and can be recommended
confidently. [JQ] This is undoubtedly one of the finest recordings
of these works released in recent years and can be recommended without
reservation. [CT]
Ottorino
RESPIGHI (1879-1936)
Metamorphoseon
modi XII; Rossiniana; Burlesca; Passacaglia in C Minor by J.S.Bach
Wuppertal Symphony Orch/George
Hanson Recorded at Stadthalle, Wuppertal, September 2000 - DDD
MDG 335 1030-2 [76.23] [AB]
An
interesting disc which forms a good introduction to some of Respighi's
less familiar orchestral works.
Rolf
Urs RINGGER (b1935,
Zurich) Ikarus;
Ippolito Radio-Sinfonieorchester
Basel/Armin Brunner
TUDOR 7097 (Basel Volkhaus 1991/1995) [77 mins] A Moment
of Sunrise; Joy; Cuando el fuego; Addio; Dommage que...
English Chamber
Orchestra/ Tallis Chamber Choir/Jol Mathias Jenny (St Jude's, London)
TUDOR 7036
[62.00] [PGW]
A
prolific Swiss composer who celebrates the intensity of light in many
of his scores. It has been rewarding to make a wider acquaintance with
this thoughtful and articulate composer and his music.
Joaquin
RODRIGO Concierto
Madrigal; Tonadillas
Peter & Zoltan Katona (guitars)Rotterdam Chamber Orchestra/Conrad
van Alphenrecd. De Doelen Rotterdam 10/00 & Doopsgezinde Kerk Deventer
01/0 Channel Classics
CCS 16698 1 [62 mins] [PGW]
Concierto
Madrigal (1968) takes the form of 10 variation movements on Arcadelt's
'O felici occhi', and will appeal to everyone who enjoys, say, Respighi's
refurbishment of Ancient Airs & Dances.
Johann
Helmich ROMAN (1694-1758)
Twelve Suites for Harpsichord
Joseph Payne, harpsichord
Rec: January, February 1994, Forde Estate, Boston.
BIS CD-669/670 [2CDs: 138.44] [KM]
This
is the first of Payne's recordings for BIS that has disappointed me
… no matter how many times I listen to this set, it just doesn't do
anything for me.
Guy
ROPARTZ (1864-1955)
Piano Music Ouverture,
Variations et Final (1904) Musiques au Jardin (1915) Nocturne
No. 3 (1914) Françoise
Thinat (piano) Recording data not available but original ADD recording
made in 1983 and released on CD originally in 1991
ARION ARN 68184 [53.42] [GH]
If
you enjoy music which seems to be surrounded by a Celtic dream then
Ropartz may be your man. But there is more to his music. There is a
clarity of form and expression displaying an insatiable curiosity about
all styles and languages, and although this CD is only the tip of a
vast iceberg, it is certainly an iceberg worth investigating
Nino
ROTA
(1911-1979) Symphony No. 3 in C major* , Concerto
festivo (Concerto for Orchestra in F major) Le Molière
imaginaire - Ballet Suite
Norrköping Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ole Kristian Ruud* and
Hannu Koivula, Recorded Norrköping May 1998* and August 1999.
BIS CD 1070 [60:00] [IL]
Undemanding,
pleasing music from one of the masters of Italian film music played
with style and verve.
[Part 1
New] [Part 2 A-B] [Part
3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part
5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc]