Antonio
CALEGARI: La
resurrezione di Lazzaro 
Roberta Giua soprano - Cristo Luca Dordolo tenor - Tommaso Rosita
Frisani soprano - Maddalene Manuela Custer contralto - Marta
Salvo Vitale bass - Lazzaro Athestis Chorus Francesco Moi organ Academia
de li Musici Filippo Maria Bressan premiere recording Recorded in:
Duomo di Monselice 27-30 June 2000
CHANDOS CHAN 0673 [PGW]
This premiere recording of The Raising of Lazarus (1779) was an exhilarating surprise and one is swept along by the committed engagement of all concerned. There is a remarkably comprehensive CD-ROM included, which makes this an unmissable recommendation.
Paul
CARR (b.
1961) Crowded Streets Concerto
for Clarinet and Small Orchestra (1997) Occasional Postcards for wind
quintet and strings (1993) Concerto for Two saxophones and orchestra (1994)
Girl on a Beach under a Sunshade (1994) Collage - concerto in
one movement (1998) Nocturne on an American Hymn Tune (for Cy) (1998)
Clarinet: Nicholas Carpenter - Concerto; Andrew Sutton - Postcards :
Sussex SO/ Mark Andrew-James Rec St Bartholomew's Church, Brighton, 5-6 Sept
1998 CLAUDIO CC4833-2 [69.54]
[RB]
Easier listening. Far from facile. Clarinet Concerto and Postcards stand out in this company. Do not miss this disc if you favour a dreamy and lightly jazzy British ambience.
Frédéric
CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Four
Ballades (in G minor; F major; A flat major and F minor) Grande Polonaise
précédée d'un Andante spianato Polonaise-fantaisie,
Op. 61 Fantaisie-impromptu, Op. 66 
Freddy Kempf (piano) Recorded at Nybrokajen 11 (the former Academy of Music)
Stockholm, July 2000
BIS CD-1160 [61:28] [GB]
Freddy Kempf playing Chopin - or is it Chopin according to Kempf?
Claude
DEBUSSY
(1862-1918) Piano
Works Children's Corner Suite, Images (I and
II), Berçeuse héroïque, Mazurka, La plus que lente,
Elégie, The Little Negro, Page d'album, Morceau de Concours, Hommage
à Haydn, D'un cahir d'ésquisses
Martino Tirimo (piano) Recorded at Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London,
January 1991. REGIS RRC 1063
[76:32] [IL]
Readings of often limpid beauty and delicacy, Tirimo has remarkable affinity for these impressionistic pieces.
James
DILLON
(b 1950) Parjanya-vata (1981) Dreamwork
(1996) String Quartet no 2 (1992) Vernal Showers (1992)
Arditti String Quartet/ Nieuw Ensemble cond. Ed Spanjaard. rec 1993/94 at
BBC MV Studio 1 & in Nijmegen 1994
MONTAIGNE/ AUVIDIS/NAÏVE MO 782046 [66 mins] [PGW}
A valuable collection of music by the Scottish-born composer James Dillon (b. 1950) at his most accessible - there is always plenty to engage the untutored ear, and beauty too if you are not repelled by prevailing dissonance, extended string techniques and extreme unrepentant modernism.
Antonin
DVORÁK (1841-1904)
Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op.88 Symphony No. 9 in E Minor,
Op. 95 ("From the New World")
Budapest Festival Orchestra conducted by Iván Fischer
Recorded in The Italian Institute, Budapest 29 February - 3 March, 2000
PHILIPS 464 640-2 [78.00] [JQ]
Fischer and his colleagues enter a very competitive field and offer extremely fine versions of both symphonies which must now be counted among the best available.
Antonin
DVORAK
Symphony No.9 in E Minor "From The New World"
Leos JANACEK Sinfonietta
Vienna Symphony
Orchestra/Jascha Horenstein (Recorded in 1952 and 1955)
VOX LEGENDS VOX 7805 [72.36] [TD]
Enjoy a fresh, engaging and intelligent performance of the Dvorak in acceptable mono sound. Prepare to be puzzled and perplexed and by a very pedestrian Janacek.
Arthur
FOOTE (1853-1937)
Chamber Music Vol. 3 Piano Trio No. 1 on C Minor, Op.
5 (1882/4) Piano Trio No. 2 in B flat Major, Op 65 (1907/8) Melody for violin
and piano, Op. 44 (1899) Ballade for violin and piano, Op. 69 (1910)
The Arden Trio - T. Schmidt (piano), S. Ornstein (violin), C. Ruede (cello)
Rec. Carriage House, Stamford, Connecticut, USA, 1999
MARCO POLO 8.225117 [66.01] [RW]
The Arden Trio are excellent musicians, who perform with technical brilliance, using dynamics to good effect so that every nuance is extracted from Foote's music.
GILBERT
AND SULLIVAN ON NAXOS
The
Mikado
Mikado - Darrell Fancourt; Nanki-Poo - Leonard Osborn; Ko-Ko - Martyn Green;
Pooh-Bah - Richard Watson; Pish-Tush - Alan Styler; Yum-Yum - Margaret Mitchell;
Pitti-Sing - Joan Gillingham; Peep-Bo - Joyce Wright; Katisha - Ella Halman
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, New Promenade Orchestra c. Isadore Godfrey recorded
Decca, London 1950 NAXOS 8.110176-77
(2-CD, 82:43) [CW]
This Naxos version is not competitive; although doubtless its sales will put the competition in the shade.
H.M.S. Pinafore
Sir Joseph Porter - Martyn Green; Captain Corcoran - Leslie Rands; Ralph Rackstraw
- Leonard Osborn; Dick Deadeye - Darrell Fancourt; Bill Bobstay - Richard
Walker; Bob Beckett - Radley Flynn; Josephine - Muriel Harding; Hebe - Joan
Gillingham; Little Buttercup - Ella Halman D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, New
Promenade Orchestra c. Isadore Godfrey recorded Decca, Kingsway Hall London
1948 NAXOS 8.110175 (67:53)
[CW]
With "Pinafore" memory's rosy glow is not misplaced; an old friend is back to stay!
Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865-1936)
Five Novelettes, Op. 15. String Quartet No. 5 in D minor, Op. 70.
St Petersburg String Quartet (Alla Aranovskaya, Ilya Teplyakov, violins; Aleksei
Koptev,viola; Leonid Shukaev, cello). [DDD] Recorded in the First Congregational
Church, Los Angeles on June 12th-15th, 2000.
DELOS DE3262 [58'25] [CC]
The Fifth Quartet in D minor is one of Glazunov's masterpieces of chamber music. Inspiration is high throughout. The St Petersburg's performance is full of the enthusiasm of youth: they seem almost evangelical in their support of this piece. This is a winning coupling and the performances are always engaging.
Nicolas
Racot DE GRANVAL
(1676-1753) Serious and Comic Cantatas
Beatrice Mayo-Felip (sop)*Jean-Yves Ravoux (haut-contre)**Paul-Alexandre Dubois
(bass)*** Ensemble Almasis, directed by Iakovos Pappas Recorded in March 2000
ARION ARN 68548
[56.01] [JQ]
A release of very limited, specialist appeal only, I fear.
Jesús
GURIDI (1888-1961)
Amaya - Lyric drama in 3 acts and an epilogue
(1920) based on the novel Amaya by Navarro Miloslada libretto by Fr
José de Arrúe Soloists
Bilbao Choral Society/Gorka Sierra Bilbao SO/Theo Alcántara rec Teatro
Arriaga, Bilbao, 17-20 June 1998 DDD
MARCO POLO 8.225084-85 [136.44: CD1 78.06; CD2 58.38] [RB]
Puccini or Korngold fans should not delay neither should anyone partial to grand romantic opera with an exotic twist.
Harmonious
Families - Volume 3 Danish Compositions by Fathers
and Sons Asger Hamerik (1843-1923)
Jødisk Trilogi (Jewish Trilogy) Op.19 (1868) Concert Romance
for 'Cello & Orchestra Op.27 (1878) Ebbe
Hamerik (1898-1951) Cantus firmus V - Sinfonia Breve (1949)
Concerto molto breve for oboe & orchestra (1950)
The Danish Philharmonic Orchestra, South Jutland Henrik Steensgaard -cello
Jørgen Frederiksen - oboe Moshe Atzmon- conductor Recorded Musikhuset,
Sønderborg, August 1998
DANACORD DACOCD 526 [63.18] [JF]
Another stunning CD from Danacord in their Father/Son series. So much great music by two relatively unknown composers. Some of this music is truly great. Ebbe's 5th Symphony is a masterpiece. What more can I say!
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809)
The piano sonatas
Walter Obertz, piano Recorded in Dresden 1975-76. Digital transfer (2001)
from Deutsche Shallplatten LPs (1978).
EDEL CLASSICS 0002182 CCC 9-CD set - playing times: [**] CD1: Sonatas
1-8 [68.00]; CD2: Sonatas 9-14 and 18-19 [77.16]; CD3: Sonatas
20-24 [66.20]; CD4: Sonatas 25-30 [67.41]; CD5, Sonatas 31-35
[67.15]; CD6: Sonatas 36-40 [60.03]; CD7: Sonatas 41-45 and
G1 [67.19]; CD8 Sonatas 46-49 and. Hob. XVII, D1 [69.08]; CD9: Sonatas
50-52 [55.08] [RBr]
I listened to all nine discs - over nine hours of music - in two sittings with undiminished pleasure and anticipation. Edel must be congratulated
Franz
Josef HAYDN (1732
- 1809): Stabat Mater, Hob XXbis
Jeni Bern (sop) Jeanette Ager (mezzo) Andrew Carwood (ten); Giles Underwood
(bass) David Goode (org) Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford London Musici
Conducted by Stephen Darlington Recorded in April 2001 in Christ Church Cathedral,
Oxford GRIFFIN GCCD4029 [60.22]
[JQ]
Darlington's tempi are natural and fluent and he ensures the performance is full of light and shade.
Leopold
HOFFMAN
(1738-1793) Flute concertos, Vol.2:Concerto
in D major, Badley D3; Concerto in G major, Badley G3; Concerto in D major,
Badley D4; Concerto in E minor, Badley e1.
Kazumori Seo (flute), Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia/Béla Drahos.Recorded
in 1999 at Phoenix Studio, Budapest.
NAXOS 8.554748 [70.48] [RBr]
Seo's fluent, expressive playing and discreet vibrato is admirably suited to these sunny works. A well merited restoration to the flute's concerto repertoire
Tobias
HUME (1569
? - 1645) A Souldiers Resolution The First Part of Ayres,
The second part Loves farewell
Captaine Humes Pavin Miriam Morris, bass viol Christopher Field, countertenor
* Rec: 1999 ?. MOVE RECORDS
MD3232 [61.58]
This recording is certainly a fine one, and one that anyone who has discovered Hume's music must absolutely listen to.
Paul
HINDEMITH
(1895 -1963) Ludus
Tonalis
Nella Maiss, piano Lisbon, Radiodifusào Portuguesa Studio A, February
6th 1958 STRAUSS
SP4286 [48.51] [GP-J]
As there would seem to be only one other recording at present available, this is an important and valuable issue, despite its shortcomings.
Leopold
KOZELUCH (1747-1818)
Symphonies Symphony
in C *, Symphony in A 'à la française', Symphony in D *, Symphony
in Bb 'L'irresoluto' * Concerto
Köln Recorded 2000 * première recording
TELDEC 8573 - 85495 - 2 [74'. 46"] [CF]
Quality works which stand on their own, possessed of a clearly enough defined identity to distinguish them from his self-evidently greater contemporaries.
Yehoshua LAKNER (born
1924) Drei
kleine Klavierstücke (1947) Fünf Geburtstage (1965)
Fermaten (1977) Cornerstones (1946) Alef Beth Gimmel (1991/2) Kreise und Signale
(1985)² Tomas Bächli,
piano; Petra Ronner, piano² Recorded: DRS Studio 1, Zürich, October and
November 2000 GUILD MUSIC
GMCD 7214 [67:32] [HC]
Tomas Bächli has a close connection with Lakner's music and is fully in tune with the composer's style and vision.
Eduard
LALO (1823-1892)
Cello Concerto in D Minor; Cello Sonata; Chants russes
Maria Kliegel (cello), Bernd Glemser (piano) Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia/Michael
Halász. Recorded at Phoenix Studio, Budapest, (Concerto) and Tonstudio
Terje van Geest, Sandhausen, Germany, (1998).
NAXOS 8.554469 [59.31] [RB]
Foggy recorded sound, brash orchestral playing and wayward interpretation. Not recommended
Rued
LANGGAARD
(1893-1952) Symphony No. 6 'Det Himmelrivende', Symphony
No. 7 (1926 version) Symphony No. 8 'Minder ved Amelienborg'
Lars Pedersen (tenor) (Symphony No. 8) Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and
Chorus Thomas Dausgaard (conductor) Rec 18 & 21-22 August 1998 (No. 6),
7-10 April 2000 (No. 7), 21-23 June & 15 August 2000 (No. 8), Danish Radio
House DA CAPO 8.224180
[56.58] [TB]
Langgaard was not a revolutionary. He is the true heir of the romantics, for example Wagner and Strauss.
Leonardo
LEO (1694-1744)
Miserere mei Deus, Judica me Deus, Eripe me, Domine,
Hoc corpus, quod pro vobis tradetur, Praebe Virgo*, Reminiscere miserationum
tuarum, Tribulationis cordis mei, Intellege clamorem meum, Kyrie (from Mass
in C), Christus factus est pro nobis, Heu nos miseros
Domenico ZIPOLI (1688-1728) Verse (1) and Canzona in G minor,
All'offertorio, Verse (1) and Canzona in E minor
The Choir of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge/Geoffrey Webber, with Timothy
Uglow and Gavin Roberts (organ) and *Angharad Gruffydd Jones (soprano) Recorded
in the Chapels of Emmanuel College and Queens' College, Cambridge, 13 and
17-19/4/2000 ASV GAUDEAMUS CD
GAU 226 [74.07] [CH]
Admirers of Italian music of this period will be glad to have this finely recorded disc of performances which are excellent given their point of view. I'm not sure how recommendable it is to those listeners who lack the back-up knowledge to judge it.
Lowell
LIEBERMANN
(b 1961) Symphony No 2, Op. 67 (1999) World Premiere
Recording* [37.19] Concerto for Flute & Orchestra, Op. 39 (1992)
** [23.29] ** Eugenia Zukerman
(flute) Dallas Symphony Orchestra and *Chorus Conducted by Andrew Litton Recorded
'live' in the Eugene McDermott Concert Hall of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony
Center, Dallas * 10-13 February, 2000 and ** 25 & 26 June, 1999
DELOS DE 3256 [60.48] [JQ]
Congratulations to Delos on a most interesting release. It would be interesting to hear his First Symphony (1982), Violin Concerto and Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini. Let us hope that Delos may soon bring these works to a wider public.
Lowell LIEBERMANN
(b.1961) Piano Concerto No. 1 Op. 12 Piano Concerto
No. 2 Op. 36 Six pieces from 'Album for the young'
Stephen Hough (Piano) BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Lowell Liebermann Recorded:
Caird Hall, Dundee, January 1997
HYPERION CDA66966 (56.21) [GH]
These works display phenomenal skill, technique, confidence and, I use the word not lightly, genius, in the 2nd concerto at least.
Adolf
Fredrik Lindblad (1801-1878)
Symphony No.2 in D major (1855)
Gävleborg Symphony Orchestra Conductor: - Mats Liljefors
Per August Ölander (1824-1886) Symphony in Eb major
(1868?) Väterås Symphony
Orchestra Conductor:- Harry Damgaard Lindblad recorded 12th -14th
January 1996 Ölander recorded 8th October 1977
Sterling CDS-1005-2 [66.06] [JF]
These two symphonies are fine examples of music that has languished for many years. No groundbreaking, heaven storming works here - just good tunes, fine orchestration and well-crafted music. In fact the Ölander work could be subtitled Haydn's 108th Symphony! This is a part of a notable recording project by Sterling CDs
Fernando
LOPES-GRACA (1906
– 1994) Viola
Concertino (1962) Piano Concertino (1954) Divertimento (1957)
Ana Bela Chaves (viola); Helena
Sả e Costa (piano); Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra; Janos Sandor Recorded
: Hungaroton Studios, Budapest, March 1981
STRAUSS SP 4129 [50:20] [HC]
The present Portuguese soloists give assured, committed performances and get a hearty support from their Hungarian colleagues. These Hungarian recordings made in 1981 still sound remarkably well.
Fernando
LOPES-GRACA (1906 – 1994)
Requiem palas Vitimas do Fascismo em Portugal (1979)
Magda Kalmar (soprano);
Tamara Takács (mezzo-soprano); Attila Fulöp (tenor); Istvan Gáti
(baritone); Kolos Kováts (bass); Hungarian State Opera Chorus; Budapest
Philharmonic Orchestra; András Kórodi
Recorded : Hungaroton Studios, November 1983
STRAUSS 870010/PS
[47:10]
Soloists, chorus and orchestra obviously threw their heart into this powerful, deeply moving masterpiece; and it is to be hoped that this disc will give this marvellous piece another chance.
[Part 1 New] [Part
2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part
5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc]
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