LARRY
ADLER The
Genius of Larry Adler Genevieve, Dinicu Hora
Staccato, Massenet's Méditation from Thaïs, Debussy's
Clair de Lune, Adagio from Rodrigo's Concierto
de Aranjuez, Dvorak's New World Symphony, Khachaturian's
Sabre Dance, de Falla's Ritual Fire Dance,
Alfvén's Swedish Rhapsody, Adler's Screw's
Blues, Scott Joplin's The Entertainer, Gershwin Rhapsody
in Blue; Summertime from Porgy and Bess,
Recorded 1999 
DECCA 466
133-2 [55.29] [CF]
It was not my intention to write this review as a tribute to Larry Adler, but his death last month at the age of 87 has sadly turned this into an obituary as well.
ANIMAL
HEAVEN
Edward HARPER
(b.1941):
Lights Out (1993) Lyell CRESSWELL (b.1944):
Prayer to appease the Spirit of the Land Kenneth
LEIGHTON (1929 - 1988): Animal Heaven Op.83 (1980) Sally
BEAMISH (b.1956): Four Findrinny Songs (1998) Roger
WILLIAMS (b.1943): Oh! Mr Lear! (1998) David
JOHNSON (b.1942): God, Man and the Animals (1988)
Alison Wells (soprano); John Turner (recorder); Keith Elcombe (harpsichord);
Jonathan Price (cello) Recorded: Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh, September 1999
METIER MSV CD 92036 [61:32]
[HC]
All the performers sing and play with obvious enjoyment in the lighter pieces and with commitment in the more serious items (Harper's and Leighton's).
THE
ART OF THE BAROQUE TRUMPET, Vol. 5
Vivaldi,
Concerto in C major, RV537 for two trumpets and strings Vivaldi,
Combatta un gentil cor from Tito Manilo for soprano, trumpet
and strings Corelli,
Sonata D Major for trumpet and two violins Ziani,
Trombe d;Ausonia from La Flora for trumpet and soprano
Torelli, Concerto
in D major and strings Albinoni,
Vien con nuova
orribil guerra from La Statira for two trumpets, two oboes and
strings Torelli,
Sonata in D major for trumpet and strings Galuppi,
Alla tromba della Fama for soprano trumpet and strings Stradella,
Sinfonia avanti il Barcheggio for trumpet and two violins Vivaldi,
Agitata da
due venti from Griselda for soprano and strings Franceschini,
Sonata in D major for two trumpets and strings
Niklas Eklund (baroque trumpet), Jeffrey Segal (trumpet), Maria Keohane (soprano),
Wasa Baroque Ensemble. Recorded at the Church of Jonsered, Sweden (1998).
NAXOS 8.555099 [61.10]
[RB]
Trumpet aficionados will need no encouragement to buy this disc; all lovers of the high noon of the baroque would do well not to miss it.
A
HYMN FOR THE WORLD
Cecilia Bartoli, mezzo-soprano Andrea Bocelli, tenor
Coro e Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia/Myung-Whun Chung
Chorus Master: Norbert Balatsch Rec. Roma, Auditorio diVia Della Conciliazione,
5/1997 (2),(6), (13)&6/1997 (DDD)
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 457 355-2 [58.45] [RM]
A disc for living and giving
MUSIC
OF THE BEATLES Erich
Kunzel/Cincinatti Pops Orchestra/king'singers Recorded
2000 TELARC DSD CD-80540
[55.45] [CF]
Some good moments, but subtlety is scarce and it all goes to show how uniquely irreplaceable the original Fab Four were.
DVD
REVIEW BERLINER LUFT
A Gala Concert from the Staatsoper Unter Der Linden, Berlin
ARTHAUS MUSIK 100 094, PAL regions 2 & 5, 55 mins, Full Price [MB]
Go to the Staatsoper Unter Linden and you risk being reviewed next year (although not by me). In summary: utter rubbish, I'm afraid.
VISIBLE
BASS LINE A MAN, A WOMAN AND A DOUBLE BASS Carmen
- the opera - Georges Bizet Busy Line - Murray
Semos / Frank Stanton Puttin' On The Ritz - Irving
Berlin Stop To Think! - Tango Song - Geoff Lindsey
/ Julian Jacobson Sonata in F - Jean Barrière
Hymn II - Alfred
Schnittke Angelus - Diana Burrell Theme
and Variations - Ignace Joseph Pleyel My Baby
Just Cares For Me - Donaldson / Kahn
These Boots Are Made For Walking - Lee Hazlewood Orpheus
In The Underworld, and other operas - Jacques Offenbach
Lowri Blake, cello and
voice Peter Buckoke, double bass Rec: East Woodhay Church Hants Dec 2000
LOWRI RECORDS LOWRI 2004 [67.59] [PGW]
Classics and favourite jazzy songs are purposely juxtaposed to strike sparks off each other. Offenbach and Bizet are both subjected to irreverent compression in Orpheus and Carmen. A welcome addition to Lowri Blake's enterprising own-label discography.
ENRICO
CARUSO THE
COMPLETE RECORDINGS VOL 4 
Recordings made in Camden, New Jersey by the Victor Talking Machine Co. between
16 March 1908 and 12 January 1910 Accompanied by The Victor Orchestra New
Restorations by Ward Marston
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110719 [68’29"] [PW]
Given that these recordings are now nearly a century old, dating from well before the advent electric recording and microphones, the transfer to CD is very impressive.
European
Choral Music Nuits - Weiß wie Lilien Toshio
HOSOKAWA Ave Maria for mixed choir a cappella Giacinto
SCELSI Tre canti sacri per 8 voci miste; TKRDG for 6 male
voices, 3 percussionists and electrically amplified guitar. Arnold
SCHÖNBERG De profundis (Psalm 130), Op.50b, for mixed
choir a cappella. René LEIBOWITZ
Two Settings, Op.71, for mixed chorus a cappella Anton
WEBERN Drei Lieder, Op.18, for voice, clarinet and guitar;
Zwei Lieder, Op.19, for mixed chorus, celesta, guitar, violin, clarinet and
bass clarinet. Cornelius SCHWEHR
deutsche tänze for 5 female voices. Iannis
XENAKIS Nuits. Musique pour 12 voix mixtes. György
LIGETI Lux œterna for mixed choir a cappellae. 
Schola Heidelberg; ensemble aisthesis directed by Walter Nußbaum
Recorded SWR Karlsruhe, 2000
BIS-CD-1090 [69.55] [PGW]
If you have not yet explored advanced European choral music, this CD is as good a starting point as any I have encountered recently. The crack Heidelberg choir is equal to all the demands of composers living and long dead - the earliest items by Webern sounding as 'modern' as any of the others.
CHLOË
Paganini
- La Campanella Bloch
- Nigun Gade - Capriccio Williams
- Theme from Schindler's List Mussorgsky
- Gopak Bruch - Adagio appassionato Glazunov
- Meditation Tchaikovsky - Valse-scherzo
Shostakovich - Romance Sarasate
- Romanza Andaluza Waxman- Carmen Fantasy
Chloe Hanslip (violin) London
Symphony Orchestra/Paul Mann Recorded 2001
WARNER CLASSICS 8573 88655 - 2 [71.09] [CF]
A fearless player, agility and fluid technique in both left hand and right arm are impressive. The warmth of her sound and the sustained line she achieves are admirable.
CHORALIS
SEPTENTRIONALIS: EARLY SCANDINAVIAN HYMS &
MOTETS
Retrover directed by Markus Tapio Recorded at St.Lawrence Church, Lohja (Finland)
January 2000 OPUS 111 OPS
30-257 [68.46] [GH]
An interesting CD with some good singing and appropriate and charming instrumental participation. It is well put together and the repertoire is rare and beautiful.The performances are carefully thought out and beautifully executed. The whole concept behind this unique project is clearly stated.
Christ
Rising. Music for Holy Week and Easter. Choir
of The Queen's College, Oxford conducted by Owen Rees and Edward Whiting,
Edward Whiting and George Parsons (organ)
GUILD GMCD 7222 [61.37] [JQ]
If this repertoire is to your taste, as it is to mine, you will find this recital a very satisfying experience. Warmly recommended.
FRENCH
PIANO DUETS Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune Georges
BIZET (1838-1875) Jeux d'enfants Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Ma Mère l'Oye La valse
Philip Moore & Simon Crawford-Phillips Rec 26-27 February 2001, St George's
Brandon Hill, Bristol
DEUX-ELLES DXL 10405 [60.00] [TB]
The piano duet of Philip Moore and Simon Crawford-Phillips is an eminently talented combination, working effectively together in the service of the music they perform.
FROM
A TO Z - VOL. 1 Kalevi
AHO (b
1949): Solo III (1990-91) [13.08] Carl Philipp Emanuel
BACH (1714-1788): Sonata in A minor for Solo Flute, W.132 [ 15.03]
Malcolm ARNOLD (b1921): Fantasy for Flute,
Op.89 (1966) [4.30] Jurriaan ANDRIESSEN (b1925):
Pastorale d'été [3.07] Eugene BOZZA
(1905 - 1991): Image pour flute seul, Op.38 (1940) [5.13] Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750): Partita in A Minor for Solo Flute,
BWV 1013 [17.40] Luciano BERIO (b1925):
Sequenza I per flauto solo (1958) [7.23]
Sharon Bezaly (flute) Recorded October, 2000 at Furuby Church, Sweden
BIS CD-1159 [67.45] [JQ]
Performances of the highest possible order given recorded sound to match.
Great
Pianists: Moiseiwitsch Vol 1
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Kinderszenen, op. 15 (rec. 14.4.1930) Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel,
op. 24 (rec. 4.3.1930), Intermezzo in C, op. 119/3 (rec. 25.3.1927),
Rhapsody in E flat (rec. 2.3.1928) Modest MUSSORGSKY
(1839-1881) Pictures at an Exhibition (rec. 21.8.1945)
Benno Moiseiwitsch (pianoforte) Recorded in the Queen's Small Hall (Schumann,
Brahms), Abbey Road Studio 3 (Mussorgsky)
NAXOS Historical 8.110668 [77.11] [CH]
Wonderful to have all this available, and so cheaply. The three major works are essential listening for all who care about piano music.
Great
Pianists:, Moiseiwitsch Volume 2
Johann Nepomuk HUMMEL
(1778-1837)
Rondo in E flat, op. 11 (Rondo favori) (rec. 3.2.1930) Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Andante in F, WoO 57 (Andante favori) (rec. 3.2 and 14.4.1930) Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826)-Carl TAUSIG (1841-1871) Rondo Brillant
in D flat (Invitation to the Dance) (rec. 27.9 and 11. 12.1939) Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Grillen, op. 12/4 (rec. 25.5.1927),
Romance in F sharp, op. 28/2 (rec. 12.10.1941), Vogel als Prophet,
op. 82/7 (rec. 13.5.1941) Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Scherzo in E minor, op. 16/2 (rec. 13.5.1941), Songs
without Words, in F, op. 53/4 and in A, op. 19/3 (rec. 25.5.1927) Adolph
HENSELT (1814-1889) Etude charactéristique, op. 2/6 (Si
oiseau j'etais) (rec. 10.12.1925) Franz LISZT
(1811-1886) Etude de Concert no. 2 (La leggierezza) (rec. 31.3.1941),
Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2 (rec. 9.10.1940), Liebesträume no.
3 (31.10.1940) Richard WAGNER (1813-1883)-LISZT
Isoldes Liebestod (fragment) (rec. 2.3.1928), Tannhäuser
Overture (rec. 28.1, 17.2, 24.3.1938)
Benno Moiseiwitsch (pianoforte) Recording venue not indicated
NAXOS Historical 8.110669 [78.09] [CH]
Excellent transfers of variable originals and another indispensable disc in Naxos's Historical series.
OLGA
GURYAKOVA SINGS RUSSIAN AIRS AND ROMANCES
Olga Guryakova (soprano) * With Andrei Baturkin (baritone)
Moscow Chamber Orchestra conducted by Constantine Orbelian Recorded in the
Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, August 30 - September 5, 2000
DELOS DE 3273 [65.26] [JQ]
This is one of the most exciting new voices I have heard in a long time. A most enjoyable disc, winningly performed. Recommended unreservedly.
Georg Friedrich HANDEL (1685-1759)
Operatic Arias Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750) Sacred Arias
Stephanie Blythe mezzo-soprano Ensemble Orchestral de Paris/John Nelson Rec:
December 2000, Eglise Notre Dame du Liban, Paris, France.
VIRGIN VERITAS 7243 545475 2 2 [71.45] [KM]
A recording of baroque music for people who are not really fans of baroque music.
Michael
RAPHAEL Jazz
Hymns: What a friend we have in Jesus, Hold to God's
unchanging hand, Sweet by and by, Lift Him up, Jesus paid it all, Nearer my
God to thee, No, not one, It is well with my soul, I surrender all, Jesus
loves the little children, The solid rock, Glory to His name, Blessed Assurance,
We are climbing Jacob's ladder, Calvary, Sweet hour of prayer, Old time religion.
Kevin Maynor (bass), Brandt Fredriksen (pianoforte), Eric Olsen (pianoforte).Recorded
in New York and Washington, 2000 and 2001
GUILD GMCD 7224 [52.43] [CH]
This shows another side of American song and one which could appeal widely.
¡A
LA XÁCARA! The
Jungle Book of the Baroque
Ensemble Villancico, Peter Pontvik
Rec: January 2000, Petrus Church, Stockholm, Sweden.
CAPRICE CAP 21658 [55.48] [KM]
This is a very interesting recording, presenting some little-known music from forgotten or unknown composers. The overall tone is festive and energetic.
CELEBRATION William MATHIAS (1934 - 1992) : Clarinet Sonatina Op.3 (1956, rev. 1976) Alun HODDINOTT (b. 1929) : Clarinet Sonata No.2 (1997) Mervyn BURTCH (b. 1929) : Prelude, Arioso and Dance (1991) Christopher PAINTER (b. 1962) : Clarinet Sonata (1999) John METCALF (b. 1946) : Airstream (1997) Peryn Clement-Evans (clarinet) ; Harvey Davies (piano) Recorded : St Mary's Church, Cilcain, North Wales, June 1999 CYFOS CYFC01 CD [56:19] [HC]
It seems that this highly commendable release is the first of a series of recordings of Welsh chamber music. I, for one, hope that this generous project will be fully carried out and I certainly look forward to hearing the forthcoming releases. Recommended.
PASTORALE
SOUNDS
Music for flute choir
Massachusetts
High School Flute choir/Danielle Alyssa Boudrot rec Massachusets 2000no cat
number supplied 2 CDs. [DW]
The flute is a very sensual human instrument. It can convey a wide range of emotion and colour and, my goodness, how well these young players excel themselves!
PIANO
MINIATURES
Martino Tirimo
REGIS RRC1059[DDD] [73.42] [CC]
Do try to hear this disc: it is full of delights.
THE
QUEENES COMMAND (1685-1750)
Masterpieces
of Elizabethan Keyboard Music Orlando
GIBBONS (1583-1625) John BULL
(C.1562-1628) William TISDALE
(Late 16th Cent.)
Giles FARNABY (C. 1563-1640) John
DOWLAND (1563-1626) William BYRD
(1543-1623) Joseph
Payne, harpsichord Rec: May and August 1991, Forde Estate, Boston.
BIS-CD 539 [74.25] [KM]
An excellent selection and performance of some of the finest English keyboard music of the Elizabethan period. A must-have disc for anyone who wants to discover the infinite variety of music from this time.
SCENES
FROM CHILDHOOD Claude DEBUSSY
Children's
Corner Robert Alexander SCHUMANN Scenes
from Childhood (Kinderszenen), Op.15 Georges BIZET
Children's Games (Suite from Jeux d'enfants), Op.22 Maurice
RAVEL Mother Goose
The Pro Arte Guitar Trio
ASV CD WHL2129 [61:55] [AD]
This is charming disc of attractive music which doesn't ask anything of the listener other than to enjoy it.
SONORITIES
Japanese Accordion Music. Toshio
HOSOKAWA (born
1955) Melodia II. Melodia. Hikaru
HAYASHI
(born 1931) A Bee Crosses Over the Strait. Maki
ISHII
(born 1936) Lost Sounds II, Op. 33b. Tango-Prism, Op. 73. Yuji
TAKAHASHI
(born 1938) Like a Water-Buffalo. Meiro
SUGAWARA
(1897-1988) Capriccio Pastorale. Ruscello.
AYUO(born
1960) Eurasian Tango - No. 1; No. 2; No. 5. 
Mie Miki (accordion). Recorded at Länna Church, Sweden in May 2000.
BIS CD-1144 [DDD] [79.03] [CC]
Mie Miki's belief in this repertoire shines through her playing. Little of this music is of ground-breaking originality, but this disc does represent a journey into relatively uncharted waters.
Swedish
Overtures (Ouverturer Å Kongl. Theatern) Jacopo
Foroni
(1825-1858) Overture No.3 in A major (c.1850) [Rec. August 1995 Franz
Berwald (1796-1868) ‘The Dressmaker’ (1845) [Rec. August
1995] & ‘I enter a Monastery’ (1842) [Rec. November 1985] Ludwig
Norman (1831-1885) Festive Overture (1882) [[Rec. June 1985]
Andreas Randel (1806-1864) ‘The People
from Vårmland.’ (1846) [Rec. June 1985] August
SÖderman (1832-1876) ‘The Devil’s First Tentative Efforts.’
(1856) [Rec. November 1985] Joseph Martin Kraus
(1756-1792) ‘Proserpine’ (1780) [Rec. November 1985]
St Petersburg Hermitage Orchestra Conductor: - Mats Liljefors [Berwald’s Dressmaker
and Foroni] Kungl, Hovkapellet Conductor: - Stig Westerburg
STERLING CDS-1009-2 [61.10] [JF]
A fine example of music lost for well over a century being rediscovered. No masterpieces here, but a CD full of wit, charm, melody and well-written music. A good interesting disc for all those who like a fine tune. Part of a noble recording enterprise by Sterling CDs.
Maggie
TEYTE French Songs & Arias
Maggie Teyte Recorded 1940-1947 ADD
NAXOS HISTORICAL - GREAT SINGERS 8.110147 [66:31] [FC]
As a critic, I am unsatisfied listening to this voice, but as a music lover, I find wonderful treasures of the French repertory here. This disc has the effect of enticing the listener to want to explore this territory further.
THE
TIME OF THE TROUBADOURS
12th,
13th and 14th Century Songs from Spain and
Portugal by Alfonso
el Sabio (1221-1284) Dom Dinis de Portugal
(1261-1324) Martin
Soarez Andre Dias de Lisboa Martin Codax and others. Vozes Alfonsinas directed
by Pedro Ferreira Recorded in St.George's Church, Lisbon, October 1999
PORTUSOM STRAUSS SP 4287 [69.24] [GH]
A beautifully put together and conceived release, which I would heartily recommend to any lover of early music.
VOICES
1900/2000: A Choral Journey Through The Twentieth
Century 
San Francisco Symphony Chorus Vance George, Director *Marc Shapiro (piano)
DELOS DE 3270 [62.26]
[JQ]
Most of this collection is very enjoyable and it shows off the choir to good effect. The standard of performance is consistently high and the recording quality is very good.
BOOK REVIEWS
AUGUST
JAEGER: PORTRAIT OF NIMROD A
life in letters and other writings by Kevin Allen
Ashgate Press 352pp 29 illus. Published Sept 2000 £55
ISBN 1 85928 366 7
Kevin Allen's book is commendably detailed and well written. It fills another gap in that wonderfully rich period in English music from 1870 to 1910 and makes a highly fascinating read.
COMPANION TO BAROQUE MUSIC Edited by Julie Anne Sadie 549 pages Oxford University Press, 1998 ISBN 0-19-816704-0 [KM]
The main interest of this book is its dictionary of composers; it probably contains more than any other book, bar Grove. For this alone, in spite of its confusing structure, it is a valuable book for curious lovers of baroque music. It is a fine tool to help better understand the lives of the many baroque composers, and the relationships among them.
TUNES OF GLORY : THE LIFE OF MALCOLM SARGENT
Richard
Aldous Hutchinson, London 302pp xviii 38 illus.
Published 2001 £18.99 ISBN 0 09 180131 1 [CF]
Richard Aldous has now produced a biography which uses the sources denied to Reid, such as family archives and papers retained by his former secretary Sylvia Darley. Aldous is an historian with a love of music, his portrayal of social conditions vividly detailed, but he is no expert musician though he clearly loves music.
THE SCHUBERT SONG COMPANION John
Reed 510 pages Mandolin, 1997 ISBN 1-901341-0013 [KM]
This huge book is a must for all serious lovers of Schubert's lieder. Its presentation of virtually every Schubert song provides a tremendous amount of material for those who wish to learn more about this monument of music.
[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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