Leroy
ANDERSON (1908-1975)
Orchestral Favourites Serenata,
The Syncopated Clock, The Penny Whistle Song, The Typewriter, Sarabande,
Trumpeter’s Lullaby, Fiddle Faddle, Forgotten Dreams,Blue Tango, Jazz
Legato, Jazz Pizzicato, The Phantom Regiment, Bugler’s Holiday, The
Waltzing Cat, March of the Two left Feet, Promenade, Plink, Plank, Plunk!
The Girl in Satin , Sandpaper Ballet, Belle of the Ball, Sleigh Ride
Richard Hayman and
his Orchestra Recorded February – June, 1989
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559125 [61.28] [JQ]
The
whole programme is performed with gusto and polish by Richard Hayman
and his eponymous players. This is a refreshing disc which will be self-recommending
to fans of light music … see Full Review
Malcolm
ARNOLD (b.1921)
English
Dances sets 1 and 2 (1950, 1951) Serenade for small orchestra (1950)
Sinfonietta No 1 (1954) Sinfonietta No 2 (1958) Sinfonietta No 3 (1964)
Four Cornish Dances (1968)
Bournemouth SO/Charles Groves (English Dances); Bournemouth Sinfonietta
(Serenade; Sinf 3); Philharmonia/Neville Dilkes (Sinfs 1/2); City of
Birmingham SO/composer 12/13 July 1976 Guildhall, Southampton (English
Dances); 10-11 April, 1 July 1979 (Serenade; Sinf 3); 8, 11 Aug 1977,
Studio 1, Abbey Rd, London (Sinf 1/2); 13-14 June 1972 De Montfort Hall,
Leicester (Cornish) ADD
EMI CLASSICS CDZ 5 74780 2 [76.16] [RB]
A
fruity and generous-souled Arnold collection in decent 1970s vintage
sound. The Sinfoniettas add stiffening to the otherwise lyrical mix.
see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH C.
P. E. BACH
(1714 - 1788) Keyboard Sonatas E minor, W65,5/H13; B flat, W65, 20/H51;
E minor, W62,12/H66; B flar, W65,44/H211; C, W65,47/H248; G, W65,48/H280.
Carole Cerasi (harpsichord/fortepiano).
Recorded at Forde Abbey, February 16th-18th, 2001.
METRONOME METCD1032 [67.27] [CC]
It
is a tribute to Cerasis artistry and understanding of C. P. E. Bach's
idiosyncratic idiom that this recital grips the listeners attention
from the very first note and refuses to let go. see
Full Review
JOHANN
SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750)
Cello Suites [63.12] No. 1 in G major BWV 1007 No. 2 in G major
BWV 1008 No. 3 in G major BWV 1009
John Friesen, cello
Rec: September, October 1996, Mushroom Studios, Vancouver, Canada.
SONO RECORDS SONO10562 [63.12] [KM]
Sadly
little to be said for this disc. Listeners would be better of with Bylsma
or Wispelwey. ...see
Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Cello Suites
Susan Sheppard, cello Rec: February, October, December 1998, Claydon
House, Buckinghamshire, England.
METRONOME MET 1034/35 [132.40] [KM]
Susan
Sheppard plays some of these movements with rare vitality and energy.
If all of them were as good as the best this set would be one of the
finest recordings available. As it is these discs give an idea of what
might have been. … see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Harpsichord Works
Partita No.1, BWV825,6 Small Preludes from Johann Peter Kellner’s Collection,
Fuga a Tre from Clavier Büchlein für W.F. Bach, 3 Minuets
from Clavier Büchlein für W.F. Bach, 6 Preludes from Clavier
Büchlein für W.F. Bach, French Suite No.5, Italian Concero
BWV971 Richard Egarr,
harpsichord
Rec: September 1995, Church of Maria Minor, Utrecht.
EMI CDZ 569700 2 [77.37] [KM]
Egarr
is very convincing and his style seems perfectly in tune with the music
… see Full Review
J.S.
BACH (1685-1750)
Goldberg
Variations BWV 988
Markus Becker (piano) Recorded October 2000
CPO 999 831-2 [78'04"] [PQ]
In
sum, your admiration may be quickly won: affection is likely to be more
stubborn in showing itself. … see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
The Six Partitas
Christopher Czaja Sager, piano Rec: July 1993, Doopsgezinde Kerk, Amsterdam.
HAENSSLER CD 94.014
[136.09]
Midprice [KM]
The
main problem with this set is that Sager takes a very uneven approach
to the partitas. While each individual work is coherent, there is no
overall vision. … see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
Christmas Oratorio [198 min.]
Claron McFadden, soprano Bernarda Fink, alto Christoph Genz, tenor Dietrich
Henschel, bass Monteverdi Choir English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot
Gardiner Rec: 23 & 27 December, 1999, Herderkirche, Weimar, Germany.
TDK DVD-BACHHO [198 min.] [KM]
Gardiner
is one of the finest interpreters of Bach’s vocal music, and this DVD
shows this very well. … see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Mass in B Minor BWV 232
Ruth Holton, soprano Matthias Rexroth, alto Christoph Genz, tenor Klaus
Mertens, baritone Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Georg Christopu Biller,
Thomaskantor, Thomanerchor Leipzig Rec: 28 July 2000, Thomaskirche,
Leipzig, Germany. TDK
DV-BAMBM [114.00]
[KM]
All
things considered, this is not an excellent recording. Since the choir
has such a central place in this work, a weak choir, as is the case
here, leaves the listener wanting more, much more. … see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
St. John Passion
Marcel Beekman, Tenor (Evangelist) Robert Muuse, Baritone (Christ) Marjon
Strijk, Soprano Bas Ramselaar, Bass Syste Buwalda, Alto Martinus Leusink,
Tenor Holland Boys Choir, Netherlands Bach Collegium, Pieter Jan Leusink
conductor Recorded January 2001, Grote Kerk Elburg
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99795 [105.47] [KM]
Given
its budget price a worthy purchase but those seeking strong and moving
choral parts will be disappointed…see Full review
J.
S. BACH St
Matthew Passion BWV 244 Irmgard
Seefried (soprano) Kathleen Ferrier (contralto) Walther Ludwig - Evangelist
(tenor) Otto Edelmann (bass) Paul Schöffler - Jesus Erich Kaufmann
- Peter Hardal Pröglhöf - Judas Otto Wiener - Pilate Walter
Berry - Pontifex Anny Felbermayer - Pilate’s wife Gisela Rathauscher
- First maid Rosl Sterba - Second maid Magdalena Stowasser - First witness
Friedrich Uhl - Second witness Alois Forer/Anton Heiler - organ Vienna
Choral Society (Wiener Singverein) Vienna Symphony Orchestra Herbert
von Karajan (conductor) Recorded live: Vienna 9 June 1950 URANIA
URN 22.185 3CDs [207’56"] [CF]
The
zenith of this performance is Ferrier’s ‘Erbarme dich’. Bach surely
had Kathleen Ferrier in mind 200 years earlier when he wrote this miracle
work. … see Full Review
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Cantatas Volume 1 BWV1-64
Sopranos - Arleen Augér, Nancy Burns, Inga Nielsen, Maria
Friesenhausen, Helen Donath, Ingeborg Reichelt, Edith Weins, Ulrike
Sonntag, Barbara Rondelli, Constanza Cuccaro, Nancy Amini Altos
- Julia Hamari, Helen Watts, Verena Gohl, Gabriele Schreckenbach, Hildegard
Laurich, Else Paaske, Carolyn Watkinson, Martha Kessler, Gabriele Schnaut,
Margit Neubauer, Marga Hoeffgen, Ann Murray, Karen Hagerman, Elisabeth
Graf, Mechthild Georg Tenors - Aldo Baldin, Adalbert Kraus, Theo
Altmeyer, Kurt Equiluz, Peter Schreier, Lutz-Michael Harder, Douglas
Robinson, Frieder Lang Basses - Philippe Huttenlocher, Walter
Heldwein, Siegmund Nimsgern, Hanns-Friedrich Kunz, Wolfgang Schöne,
Niklaus Tüller, John Bröcheler, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau,
Norman Anderson;Gächinger Kantorei, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Figuralchor
der Gedächtniskirche Stuttgart, Helmut Rilling Rec: 1968-1985 (dates
for the complete set).
HAENSSLER 92.561 [approx 20 hours][KM]
While
there are some low points - which is to be expected from any such enterprise
- the high points are such that this is one of the essential sets of
Bach’s vocal works. … see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
Cantatas vol. 16 Cantata No.194, "Höschesterwünschtes
Feudenfest", BWV 194 Cantata No.119, "Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn",
BWV 119 Yukari Nonoshita,
soprano (BWV 194) Yoshie Hida, soprano (BWV 119) Kirsten Sollek-Avella,
alto (BWV 119) Makoto Sakurada, tenor Jochen Jupfer, baritone (BWV 194)
Peter Kooij, bass Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki Rec: September
2000, Kobe Shoin Women’s University, Japan.
BIS CD-1111 [67.35] [KM]
The
two cantatas on this disc are among the best in Bach’s oeuvre, and they
here receive recordings to match. … see Full Review
J
S BACH
(1685-1750) Violin Concerto in D Minor – reconstruction
by K Linder-Dewan from Harpsichord Concerto BWV 1052, Brandenburg Concerto
No 2 Jan Dismas ZELENKA (1679-1745)
Sinfonia in A minor Kerstin
Linder-Dewan, violin Fiori Musicali Penelope Rapson, director Recorded
Stationers’ Hall, London 1997
METRONOME MET CD 1019 [54.10] [JW]
A
disc of some pleasures assuredly worth investigating for the reconstruction
and the enviably assured trumpeting of David Staff. … see
Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Organ Works Jean-Charles
Ablitzer, organ: Christoph Treutmann, Goslar-Grauhof, Lower Saxony.
Rec: June 1996, Sankt Georg Abbey Church.
HARMONIC RECORDS H/CD 9557 [61.56] [KM]
This
is a very satisfying recording of some of Bach’s finest works - the
Schübler chorals represent perhaps the apex of this form … see
Full Review
BACH's
SONS C.P.E.
BACH: Berliner Symphonien Kammerorchester C.P.E. Bach, Hartmut
Maenchen C.P.E. BACH: Cello Concertos
Balasz Mate, cello; Concerto Armonico C.P.E.
BACH: Flute Concertos Machiko Takahashi, flute; Concertgebouw
Chamber Orchestra JOHANN CHRISTIAN BACH:
Symphonies Concerto Armonico JOHANN CHRISTIAN
BACH: Sinfonia Concertante London Festival Orchestra, Ross
Pople WILHELM FRIEDEMANN BACH: Orchestral
works Kammerorchester C.P.E. Bach, Hartmut Haenchen JOHANN
CHRISTOPH FRIEDRICH BACH: Symphonies Neues Bachisches Collegium
Musicum, Glaetzner Neues
Bachisches ollegium Musicum, Burkhard Glaetzner Recording: Leipzig 1992
BRILLIANT CLASSICS
99785 7CDs [approx. 7 hours 15 min.] [KM]
The
main interest in purchasing this bargain set is to discover the sons
of the great Bach and hear how their father’s music influenced them.
CPE Bach was indeed an excellent composer, and his music is very interesting.
… see Full Review
Samuel BARBER (1910-1981)
Violin
Concerto, Op. 14 (1941) Souvenirs – Ballet Suite, Op. 28, (1952)
Serenade for Strings, Op. 1 (1928) Music for a Scene from Shelley,
Op. 7 (1935). James Buswell
(violin), Royal Scottish National Orchestra – Marin Alsop recorded 27/1/01
(Violin Concerto), 11-12/5/00 (Souvenirs), 3-4/5/00 (remainder) in the
Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow. DDD
NAXOS 8.559044 [64.20] [RB]
A
strong and inexpensive introduction to Barber with the voluptuous Souvenirs
making it indispensable to Barber enthusiasts. … see
Full Review
Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981)
Overture
to The School for Scandal (1931) [8.05] The Janssen Symphony
of Los Angeles/Werner Janssen rec. 11 March 1942, Hollywood Adagio
for Strings (from String Quartet Op. 11) (1932) [7.07] NBCSO/Toscanini
rec. 19 March 1942, Carnegie Hall, New York Capricorn Concerto
(1944) [14.08] Julius Baker (flute), Harry Freistadt (trumpet),
Mitchell Miller (oboe), Saidenberg Little Symphony/Daniel Saidenberg
rec. 1946, New York Dover Beach (1931) [7.45] Samuel Barber
(baritone)/Curtis String Quartet rec. 13 May 1935, Church Studio No.
2, Camden, New Jersey Essay No. 1 (1938) [7.21] Philharmonic
Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy rec. 20 Oct 1940, Philadelphia Academy of Music
Cello Sonata (1932) [16.58] Raya Garbousova (cello)/Erich Itor
Kahn (piano) rec. 1947, New York Symphony No. 1 (in one movement)
(1936) [17.36] Philharmonic SO of New York/Bruno Walter rec. 23 Jan
1945, Carnegie Hall, New York
PEARL GEM 0049 [79.37] [RB]
Pearl
have in this disc and in GEM 0151 cornered the market in Barber archive
material. A compelling historical survey in honest and unpretentious
sound in performances lacking nothing in their power to move. ... see
Full Review
Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981)
Knoxville
- Summer of 1915 (1947) Eleanor Steber (sop)/Dumbarton Oaks Orchestra/William
Strickland rec 1950 mono Dover Beach (1931) Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
(bar)/Juilliard Quartet rec 1967 Hermit Songs (1953) Leontyne
Price (sop)/composer (piano) rec 1954 mono Andromache's Farewell
(1962) Martina Arroyo (sop)/NYPO/Thomas Schippers rec 1963 AAD
SONY Classical MPK 46727 [51.22] [RB]
A
disc made memorable by Arroyo and Steber and by Price's faithful clarity
and grip on the intimacy of her songs. … see Full
Review
Béla
BARTÓK
(1881-1945) Concerto for Orchestra Sz116 Witold
LUTOSLAWSKI (1913-1994) Concerto for Orchestra Royal
Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Andrew Davis
Recorded at Stockholm Concert Hall, Sweden, February and March 1996
DDD APEX 0927 40619 2 [66:27] [CT]
A
useful, super-budget coupling of two twentieth century classics that
are fascinating to listen to side by side. Ultimately however the competition
is just too strong for the Royal Stockholm’s performances. … see
Full Review
Bela BARTOK (1881
- 1945)
Concerto for Orchestra Sz116 (1943) The Miraculous Mandarin (complete
ballet) Sz 73 (1924) *
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra with Laurenscantorij Chor * - conducted
by Riccardo Chailly recorded in Grotezaal Concertgebouw, Amsterdam,
22nd 23rd May 1995. DDD
DECCA 458 841-2 [70.54] [JP]
Orchestral
virtuosity at the service of music, and a conductor who understands
cross rhythms leave us with a superb modern version of these works
see Full Review
Arnold BAX (1883-1953)
Symphony
No. 4 (1931) [39.28] Nympholept (1915) [16.02] Overture to
a Picaresque Comedy (1930) [9.09]
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones - rec 24-25 Aug
2000, Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, Scotland
NAXOS 8.555343 [64.38]
[RB]
An
expansive approach to the Symphony and ideal interpretations of the
overture and Nympholept. … see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Arnold
BAX
(1883-1953) String
Quartet No. 1 (1918) String Quartet No. 2 (1925)
Maggini Quartet rec 19-21 Dec 1999, Potton Hall, Suffolk
NAXOS 8.555282 [54.00] [RB]
You
must hear this! One of 2001's top ten classical discs. Roll on the Naxos/Maggini
Third Quartet - a work of symphonic impact and scale. ...see Full
Review
David
BEDFORD (1937 -) "My
Mother, My Sister and I" - Cantata for 3 Sopranos and Tape (1999)
Lyrics
by Allison Powell Evelyn
Tubb, Jacqueline Barron, Mary Wiegold Synthesizer programming by the
Composer Voiceprint
Group: Classicprint CPVP003CD [26'41] [PS]
Marred
by exorbitant cost, in relation to the running time and the use of a
synthesiser instead of proper instrument, David Bedford and Alison Powell’s
cantata, an account of the breakdown of the Pankhurst "Unity",
is a richly rewarding piece of musical drama sung with consummate conviction
by three superb sopranos. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Concerto
in C major for piano, violin, cello and orchestra, Op 56 (1808) [37.23]
Claudio Arrau (piano),
Henryk Szeryng (violin), János Starker (cello) & New Philharmonia
Orchestra, cond. Eliahu Inbal - ADD: recorded 1971 - Fantasy in C minor
for piano, chorus and orchestra, Op 80 (1808) [20.45] Alfred Brendel
(piano), London Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir, cond. Bernard Haitink
- ADD: recorded 1977
PHILIPS ELOQUENCE
464 368-2 [58.08] [PJL]
A
good opportunity to hear two fascinating and rewarding pieces which
can only deepen our understanding of this always-complex and innovatory
composer … see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770
- 1839) Missa Solemnis in D major Op. 123 (1823) Luba
Orgonasova, (sop), Anna Larsson (alt), Rainer Trost (ten), Franz-Joseph
Selig (bass) with the Schweizer Kammerchor and the Zurich
Tonhalle Orchestra – David Zinman.
recorded 7 - 10 May, 2001 in Tonhalle, Zürich, Switzerland. DDD
ARTE NOVA 87074-2 [65.57]
[JP]
There
is absolutely no reason for you to put off buying this disc, even if
you have another version in your collection – it will give you another
view of Beethoven’s colossal work. … see Full
Review
Ludwig
Van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Symphony
no. 3 in Eb, op.55, "Eroica" - Symphony no. 4 in Bb, op.60
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Abbado
- Recorded Berlin Philharmonie, Grosser Saal, Dec. 1999 (no.4), March
2000 (no.3) DG 471 488
[79:29] [GPJ]
Splendid
- very strong coupling; though some may find Abbado’s Eroica light-weight,
I do not, and would bracket it with Kleiber’s great VPO recording. …
see Full Review
Ludwig
Van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Symphony
No.3 in E flat major "Eroica"
Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester/Günther Herbig Rec 1982, Christuskirche,
Berlin BERLIN
CLASSICS 00 9462 BC [49.39] [TD]
A
rich, vibrant performance by a neglected craftsman. Happy birthday,
Günther Herbig ...see Full Review
Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphony No 5 Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) A Midsummer Night’s Dream op 61; Scherzo and Nocturne Paul
DUKAS (1865-1935) The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York Arturo Toscanini Recorded
1926-31 NAXOS HISTORICAL
8.110844 [66.44] [JW]
The
fifth and final volume in their complete Toscanini/New York Philharmonic
Symphony brings us the 1931 Beethoven fifth. … see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphonies
no.7 in A major op.92 Symphony no.8 in F major op.93
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Claudio Abbado (conductor) Recorded in
the Philharmonie, Berlin, December 1999 (no.7) and March 2000 (no.8)
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON
471 490-2 [63’22"] [PQ]
Apparently
‘the flourishing tradition of period performance’ is one of the influences
on Abbado’s ‘approach to this new Beethoven cycle’. … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano
Sonatas: No. 8 in C minor, op. 13 – "Pathétique", no.
14 in C sharp minor, op, 27/2 – "Moonlight", no. 23 in F minor,
op. 57 – "Appassionata", no. 26 in E flat, op. 81a – "Les
Adieux" Arthur Rubinstein
(pianoforte) Recorded 1962 (opp. 13, 27/2, 81a), 1963 (op. 57), location
not given BMG RCA RED
SEAL 74321 68006 2 [75.34] [CH]
Beethoven
speaks to all men in many ways, and there will be times when Rubinstein’s
very human way will bring the music closer to you than any other. …
see Full Review
Richard Rodney BENNETT (born
1936) Piano
Concerto (1968)a Concerto for Stan Getz (1990)b
Waltz from Murder on the Orient Express (1974)c Four
Weddings and a Funeral (1994)d Dream Sequence (1992)e
Stephen Kovacevich (piano)a;
John Harle (saxophone)b; BBC Symphony Orchestraab;
Alexander Gibsona; Barry Wordsworthb; Hollywood
Bowl Orchestracd; John Maucericd; Julian Lloyd
Webber (cello)e; Richard Rodney Bennett (piano)e
Recorded: Wembley Town Hall, January 1971a; BBC Hippodrome,
Golders Green, London, March 1993b; Sony Studios, Culver
City, USA, January 1993c; Hollywood, August 1995d
and Henry Wood Hall, London, October 1993e
DECCA 470 371-2 [59:42] [HC]
Good
to have Kovacevich’s reading of the Piano Concerto back in the
catalogue; a good introduction to or a timely reminder of Bennett’s
varied but never indifferent music. A pity that this CD does not include
either Spells, Aubade, Calendar or Commedia IV …
see Full Review
Alban BERG
(1885-1935) WOZZECK Opera in Three
Acts Op.7 Cast Wozzeck ~ Carl Johan Falkman - Marie ~ Katarina
Dalayman - Captain ~ Ulrik Qvale - Doctor ~ Sten Wahlund - Drum Major
~ Lennart Stregard - Andres ~ Klas Hedlund - Margret ~ Marianne Eklof-
Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera, Stockholm
Leif Segerstam (conductor) - Recorded live at Kungliga Teatern, Stockholm,
February 2000 NAXOS
8.660076-77 [2 discs: 37:22; 58:41; super-budget] [TH]
Repeated
listening has strengthened my admiration for this performance, and I
think it is fair to conclude that this set is worth purchasing regardless
of your current favourite. ...See Full
Review
Leonard
Bernstein conducts West Side Story
Kiri Te Kanawa, José Carreras, Tatiana Troyanos, Kurt Ollmann
pick-up orchestra Leonard Bernstein PCM Stereo 4:3 - full-frame conventional
TV ratio * region 0 *
DG DVD 073 017-9 [89
minutes] [GD]
This
1984 recording was the first to present the score complete. The DVD
presents the programme exactly as shown on television. … see Full
Review
Henry BISHOP (1786-1855)
Lo
Hear the gentle lark, Welcome to this place, Should he upbraid, Who
is Sylvia?,That time of year, When that I was a little tiny boy, Come
live with me and be my love, Hark, hark each Spartan hound, Oh! Never
say that I was false of heart, Who is Sylvia (2), Sing Willow, It was
a lover and his lass, Under the greenwood tree
Take oh! Take those lips away, Flower of this purple dye, Now the hungry
lions roar, Orpheus with his lute, Come, thou monarch of the vine, Spirits
advance - Jeanette Ager, Joseph Cornwell, Simon Davies. Rachel Elliott,
Julia Gooding, Simon Grant, Susan Gritton, Helen Groves, Andrew King,
Joanne Lunn, Andrew Murgatroyd, William Purefoy, Christopher Robson,
Mark Tucker, Roderick Williams
Musicians of the Globe/Philip Pickett - Recorded All Saints, Tooting,
London September 1996
DECCA 470 381-2 [67.09] [JW]
Bishop’s
lyrical impulse – nicely orchestrated, harmonically alive, suitably
lively. This disc will give you a lot of pleasure. … see
Full Review
Arthur
BLISS
(1891-1975) String
Quartet No. 1 (1941) String Quartet No. 2 (1950)
Fanny Mendelssohn Quartet rec 23-24 July 1995, 4-5 Feb 1996, Bauer Studio,
Ludwigsburg DDD - Dolby Surround - 20-bit technology
TROUBADISC TRO-CD 01412 [57.48] [RB]
The
First Quartet goes with a great sense of yearning passion and a swing
while the hushed breathlessness of the sostenuto of the Second is remarkable.
Hyperion's Delmé tend to take things more slowly. Terse and sensitive
playing. ... see Full Review.
ERNEST BLOCH
(1880-1959)Hiver-Printemps (1905)
Poèmes d'Automne (1906) In the Night
(1922) Deux Psaumes (1912-14) Psaume 22 (1913-14)
Mireille Delunsch (sop)
Brigitte Balleys (mezzo) Vincent Le Texier (bar) Orchestre Philharmonique
du Luxembourg/David Shallon rec Luxembourg, July and September 1999
TIMPANI 1C1052 [63.43]
[RB]
The
present disc is of substantial value as it makes easily accessible a
collection of early Bloch works....see Full Review
Luigi BOCCHERINI
(1743-1805) String Quartets, Op 32 Nos 3-6
Quartetto Borciani: Fulvio Luciani (violin), Elena Ponzoni (violin),
Roberto Tarenzi (viola) & Claudia Ravetto (cello) DDD: recorded
11-13 July 2000 in the Baroque Hall of the S.M.C. Studio, Ivrea, Italy
NAXOS 8.555043 [78.58]
[PL]
With
exemplary sound quality and all of 79 minutes of music, there is much
to enjoy here: and all for a fiver! … see
Full Review
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Violin Sonatas - Sonata No 1 in G major, Op 78 (1878) [28.19]
- Sonata No 2 in A major, Op 100 (1886) [21.14] - Sonata No 3 in D minor,
Op 108 (1888) [22.18]
Ilya Kaler (violin) & Alexander Peskanov (piano) - recorded 27-29
December 2000 in the Toronto Centre for the Arts, Toronto DDD
NAXOS 8.554828 [71.50] [PJL]
With
recording as clean and as natural as any, this is an outstanding release.
I give you my word that, if you put this disc on your shopping list,
disappointment is unthinkable! … see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS Academic
Festival Overture, Op.* [11.08] Symphony No 1 in C minor, Op. 68 (3rd
Movement only)** [4.27] Symphony No 3 in F major, Op. 90*** [35.13]
Tragic Overture, Op. 81**** [14.36]
Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, conducted by Willem Mengelberg
Recorded in the Concertgebouw *30 May, 1930; ** 31 May, 1930; *** 10
May, 1931; **** 17 April, 1942
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110164 [65.24] [JQ]
This
is a fascinating and highly stimulating CD. How fortunate we are that
sixty years or more after these recordings were made they are once again
widely available in fine transfers (and at such a ridiculously cheap
price) … see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Lieder
Theo Adam (bass-baritone) Rudolf Dunckel (piano) Rec 1974 reissued 2002.
BERLIN CLASSICS 0094582BC
[53.32] [ME]
A
worthy introduction to one of the greatest bass voices of our time,
with some very fine singing … see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1837-98)
Ein
deutsches Requiem op.45 (1865-8)
Barbara Bonney (soprano), Bryn Terfel (baritone) Eric Ericson Chamber
Choir, Swedish Radio Choir Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Claudio Abbado
(conductor) Recorded at the Musikverein, Vienna, 3 April 1997
TDK
DVD TH 05020767 [80'] [PQ]
Even
without watching the smile on Abbado's face you can tell he loves this
work from the way every phrase is caressed and given its own weight.
… see Full Review
THE ALFRED BRENDEL COLLECTION - Volume
1: Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano
Concerto no. 9 in E flat, K. 271, Piano Concerto no. 14 in E flat, K.
449
with I Solisti di Zagreb/Antonio Janigro - Recorded Vienna 1966 -
Volume 2: MOZART Sonata in A minor, K. 310, Fantasy in C
minor, K. 396, Rondo in A minor, K. 511, Variations in D on a Minuet
by Duport, K. 573. Recorded Vienna 1968 - Volume
3: Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Sonata in C minor, D. 958,
Sonata in C, D. 840, Deutschestänze, D. 783 - Recorded Vienna 1968
- Volume 4: Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Phantasie
in C, op. 17, Symphonic Studies, op. 13 - Recorded Vienna 1966 -
Volume 5: Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) - Polonaise
in A flat, op. 53, Polonaise in C minor, op. 40/2, Polonaise in F sharp
minor, op. 44, Polonaise-Fantaisie in A flat, op. 61, Andante spianato
et Grande Polonaise brillante in E flat, op. 22 - Recorded Vienna 1968
- Volume 6: Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Hungarian
Rhapsodies: 2, 3, 8, 13, 15, 17, Csárdás obstiné
- Recorded Vienna 1968
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99351 [6 CDs, 55’43", 51’03", 59’46",
57’49", 50’14". 45’32"] [CH]
The
importance of these recordings cannot be overstated, for they give us
a portrait of Brendel at the first peak of his career. ... see Full
review
Max
BRUCH (1865-1920)
Swedish
Dances Op.63, Serenade for String Orchestra op. Posth. Schön Ellen
Op.24 Claudia Braun (soprano) - Thomas Laske (baritone) - Kantorei
Barmen-Gemarke - Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: George Hanson - Recorded at Wuppertal, Germany, July 2001
MDG 335 1096-2 [50’
24"] [CF]
Hanson’s
tempi are sometimes too fast, other times too slow, but his orchestra
sounds fine, especially the woodwinds. Hanson does not sentimentalise
the rich melodies but paces and phrases with care yet without losing
forward drive … see Full Review
Anton BRUCKNER
(1824-1896) Symphony
No. 8 - Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Tristan
und Isolde: Prelude to Act 1 - Wesendonck Lieder - Janet Baker (mezzo
soprano) - BBC Symphony Orchestra
Sir Reginald Goodall - Rec 3 September 1969, Royal Albert Hall, London
(Bruckner), 3 November 1971, Royal Festival Hall (Wagner)
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4086-2 [2CDs: 62.13, 63.12] [TB]
Goodall's
monumental approach has great benefit, and the conclusion is very powerful
indeed, and worthy of Bruckner's great achievement. … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
Symphony
no 8 in C Minor (Original version, ed. Haas)
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Günter Wand Recorded
live in the Philharmonie, Berlin, 19-22 January 2001
BMG RCA Red Seal 74321 82866-2 [87’07"] [JQ]
This
is a towering achievement and I think it is likely to be one of the
most significant orchestral releases of 2002 … see Full
Review
Norbert BURGMÜLLER
(1810-1836) Symphony
No. 1 in c minor Op. 2 (1833) [33.00] Hugo
STAEHLE (1826-1848) Symphony No. 1 in c minor (1844) [44.30]
Orchester des Staatstheater
Kassel/Marc Piollet - rec 29 Aug - 1 Sept 2001, Opernhaus Kassel, Germany
- World premiere recordings
STERLING CDS-1046-2 [74.25] [RB]
Well
worth your attention if you want to try extend your interest in Schumann
(Burgmüller) or Mendelssohn (Staehle). ... see Full
Review.
Geoffrey
BURGON (b.
1941) Requiem Jennifer Smith (soprano),
Ann Murray (mezzo-soprano), Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) London Symphony
Chorus, Wooburn Singers, City of London Sinfonia/ Richard Hickox (Recorded
London 1981) Nunc Dimittis
Thomas Hopkinson (treble), John Wallace (trumpet) Choir of King’s College
Cambridge/ Stephen Cleobury (Recorded Cambridge 1996)
DECCA (The British Music Collection) 470 380 2 [54:03] [JL]
A
welcome addition to Decca's British Music Collection, coupling a fine,
dramatic rendering of Geoffrey Burgon's substantial Requiem with one
of his most popular pieces, the short Nunc Dimittis written for TV.
… see Full Review
FERRUCCIO BUSONI
(1866-1924)
Brautwahl Suite (1913) 33.06 Geharnischte Suite
(1895-1903) 28.14
Orchestre Philharmonique de Timisoara/Jean-Francois Antoniolirec Timisoara,
September 1998 TIMPANI
1C1054 [64.16] [RB]
An
easily recommendable disc and one that bids fair to remind us of a little
considered corner of the musical treasury. ...see Full
Review
[Part 1 New] [Part
2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part
5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc]
Revolving
notes from clipart.com