> Classical CD Reviews March2002 part 5 S-Z: Classical MusicWeb (UK)

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PART 5
S-Y

[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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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5 Africa Fantasy - Rapsodie d'Auvergne - Wedding Cake Caprice - Angela Brownridge (piano) Hallé Orchestra/Paul Murphy - Rec 20-21 July 2000, 26 February 2001, Studio 7, BBC Manchester ASV QUICKSILVA CD QSS 262 [2CDs: 79.34 & 79.06] [TB]

The recorded sound is bright and clear, and the Hallé Orchestra and the talented pianist can be heard to splendid effect here. Full marks all round. … see Full Review

Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Violin Concertos No. 2, Spartacus Overture, La Muse et le Poète, for violin, cello and orchestra Jean-Jacques Kantorow (violin) Torleif Thedéen (cello) Tapiola Sinfonietta Tuomas Ollila, Jean-Jacques Kantorow (Spartacus Overture) Rec October 1999, April 2000 (Spartacus Overture), Tapiola Concert Hall, Finland BIS CD 1060 [54.06] [TB]

Kantorow and BIS do Saint-Saëns a real favour by exposing some splendid music which has been under-valued. … see Full Review

Leonard SALZEDO (1921-2000) String Quartet No.2 Op. 3 (1942-43, revised 1995) Sonata for Violin and Viola Op.132 String Quartet No.7 Op.76
Archæus Quartet Ann Hooley and Bridget Davey-violins Elizabeth Turnbull-viola, Martin Thomas-cello Recorded Henry Wood Hall, London, April 2001 DUTTON CDLX 7113 DDD [61:52] [CT]

On the evidence of the seventh quartet at least this is a ten-quartet cycle that must rank alongside the likes of Elizabeth Maconchy and Daniel Jones as a major achievement in the genre. Performances of great integrity by the Archæus Quartet. … see Full Review

Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) - Sonatas K125, 162, 466, 1, 322, 531, 247, 2, 193, 27, 415, 441, 476, 481, 380. Prisca Benoit (piano) - rec Studio de l'Orchestre Symphonique Francaise, Vanves, June 1994 DDD PAVANE ADW 7326 [57.16][RB]

Will warm the heart of many a listener; all except died-in-the-wool HIP folk who must have their Scarlatti on harpsichord. ... see Full Review

Giacinto SCELSI (1905 – 1988) String Quartet No.4 (1964) Elohim (1965/7) Duo for Violin and Cello (1965) Anagamin (1965) Maknongan (1976) Natura renovatur (1967) Streichquartett des Klangforum Wien; Annette Bik (violin); Andreas Lindenbaum (cello); Uli Fussenegger (double bass); Klangforum Wien; Hans Zender Recorded: Casino Zögernitz, Wien, June 1997 (String Quartet No.4, Duo); Schottenstift, Wien, November 1995 (Maknongan) and Bonn, November 1995 KAIROS 0012162KAI [58:59] [HC]

All these pieces receive dedicated, carefully prepared and convincing readings. This release provides for a fine survey of Scelsi’s highly original output. … see Full Review

THE ORGAN WORKS OF Heinrich SCHEIDEMANN
Volume 1 - Double CD
Organ Works by Heinrich SCHEIDEMANN (c1596-1663)

CD 1: -1. Praeambulum in G, 2. Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (2vss.), 3. Magnificat 6. Toni (4vss.), 4. Praeambulum in d, 5. Christ lag in Todesbanden (3vss.), 6. In dich habe ich gehoffet, Herr (setting 1), 7. Fuga in d, 8. Verbum caro factum est, 9. Praeambulum in d 10. Vater unser im Himmelreich (setting 3), 11. Es ist gewißlich an der Zeit (2 vss.) 12. Dixit Maria ad Angelum, 13. Magnificat 5.Toni (4vss.) [72:14]
CD 2:-1. Praeambulum in G, 2. Magnificat 8.Toni, 3. Wir glauben all an einem Gott (2vss.), 4. Omnia quae fecisti nobis, Domine, 5. Praeambulum in d, 6. Jesus Christus unser Heiland (setting 3;2 vss.), 7. Vater user im Himmelreich (setting 1; 3 vss.), 8. Alleluia laudem dicite Deo nostro, 9. Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore, 10. Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr, 11. Canzon in F, 12. Surrexit pastor bonus [70:12]
Cleveland Johnson and Claudia Heberlein Johnson, Organists
Organs in Tangermünde, Stade (Germany) and Wellesley (USA)
Organs by: 1. Hans Scherer the Younger, 1624, in St.Stephens, Tangermünde, Germany, 2. Huß/Schnitger, 1675, in St. Cosmas and Damian, Stade, Germany, 3. Fisk organ,1981, in Houghton Chapel, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA Recorded: 1996&1997 CALCANTE RECORDINGS CAL CD023 [142.26] [ChA]

A relatively good release of Scheidemanns organ music that would have benefited from a much more careful and detailed approach and presentation. see Full Review

THE ORGAN WORKS OF Heinrich SCHEIDEMANN (c1596-1663)
Volume 2-Double CD
CD 1
: -1. Magnificat 3.Toni (4 vss.), 2. Canzon in G, 3. Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her (4 vss.), 4. Herr Christ, der einig Gottes Sohn (setting 1; 4 vss.), 5. Magnificat 1.Toni (4 vss.), 6. Praeambulum in d, 7. De ore prudentis procedit me (vocal model: Orlando di Lasso), 8. Jesu, wollst uns weisen, 9. Lobet den Herren, denn er ist sehr freundlich (2 vss.), 10. Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore Secunda pars: In Domino laudabitur (vocal model: Orlando di Lasso) [68:37]
CD 2:-1. Praeambulum in F, 2. Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist, 3. Komm, heiliger Geist, Herre Gott, 4. O lux beata trinitas, 5. Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet, 6. Praeambulum in e, 7. A solis ortus cardine (2 vss.), 8. Fantasia in G, 9. O Gott, wir danken deiner Güt (2 vss.), 10. Praeambulum in d, 11. In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr (setting 2; 3 vss.), 12. Ego sum panis vivus (vocal model: Orlando di Lasso), 13. Jesus Christus unser Heiland (setting 2; 5 vss.), 14. Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt (2 vss.), 15. Kyrie dominicale (3 vss.) 16. Fuga, 17. Praeambulum in g [61:18]
Cleveland Johnson and Claudia Heberlein Johnson, Organists
Organs in Tangermünde, Stade (Germany) and Wellesley (USA)
Organs by: 1. Hans Scherer the Younger, 1624, in St.Stephen’s, Tangermünde, Germany, 2. Huß/Schnitger, 1675, in St.Cosmas and Damian, Stade, Germany, 3. Fisk organ, 1981, in Houghton Chapel, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA Recorded: 1996&1997 CALCANTE RECORDINGS CAL CD024 [129:55] [ChA]

A relative good release of Scheidemann’s organ music that would have benefited from a much more inspired playing. … See Full Review

Alfred SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) Piano Trio - Piano Quintet Barbican Piano Trio, with Jan Peter Schmolck (violin), James Boyd (viola) - Rec 6 August (Trio), 23 November (Quintet), St George's Brandon Hill, Bristol ASV Quicksilva CD QS 6251 [57.05] [TB]

The Piano Quintet is surely one of Schnittke's best compositions, exploratory and emotional. Excellent performances. … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony No 8 "Unfinished" Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Don Juan Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphony Concertante Op 84 J S BACH (1685-1750) Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor – Orch Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936) NBC Symphony Orchestra Arturo Toscanini conductor Recorded 14 October 1939 GUILD GHCD 2202 [79.26] [JW]

Schubert - a performance that for all its qualities remorselessly fails to cohere. The Haydn is yet more recorded evidence of Toscanini’s genuine affinity with and mastery of the medium. … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1787-1828) Konzertstück D345 Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Violin Concerto Op 64 Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Double Concerto Op 102 Oleg Kagan, violin with
Natalia Gutman, cello (Brahms) Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra conducted by Saulus Sondezkis (Schubert) 1/2/84 Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra conducted by Kurt Masur (Mendelssohn) 21/10/83 Novosibirsk Symphony Orchestra conducted by Arnold Katz (Brahms) 4/1/81 LIVE CLASSICS LCL 175 [71.45] [JW]

A mixed bag for me but a provocative one in the best sense. see Full Review

A SCHUBERT FANTASY - Piano Music by Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) The Wanderer Fantasy D760; The German Dances D783; The Grazer Fantasy (discovered 1962); Landlers D790, 734 and 366; Valses Nobles D909 Walter Hautzig, piano Recorded at the John Addison Concert Hall Fort Washington Maryland December 1996 AMERICUS AMR 19971004 [73.38] [GH]

Uncomplicated Schubert performances, well thought through and nicely executed. The recorded sound is adequate can be boomy or boxy at times. … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1727-1828) CHAMBER MUSIC
CD 1 Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat Major, D.898, Op. posth. 99
Alfred Cortot, piano · Jacques Thibaud, violin · Pablo Casals, cello Quintet for piano and strings in A Major, "Trout", D.667, Op. 114 Artur Schnabel, piano Alphonse Onnou, violin, Germain Prevost, viola, and Robert Maas, cello, of the Pro Arte Quartet · Claude Hobday, bass[65:31] CD 2 Fantaisie for violin and piano in C Major, D.934, Op. posth. 159 Adolf Busch, violin · Rudolf Serkin, piano Piano Trio No. 2 in E-flat Major, D.929, Op. 100 Adolf Busch, violin Hermann Busch, cello · Rudolf Serkin, piano CD 3 Violin Sonata "Grand Duo" in A Major, D.574, Op. posth. 162 Fritz Kreisler, violin · Serge Rachmaninoff, piano Quintet for 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos in C Major, D.956, Op. posth. 163 Pro Arte Quartet: Alphonse Onnou, violin 1, Laurent Halleux, violin 2, Germain Prevost, viola, and Marcel Maas, cello 1 · Anthony Pini, cello 2 CD 4 Sonatina No. 3 in G Minor, D.408, Op. posth. 137 No. 3 Jacques Thibaud, violin · Tasso Janopoulo, piano Sonatina No. 1 in D Major, D.384, Op. posth. 137 No. 1 Rondo (Allegro vivace only) - Jacques Thibaud, violin · Tasso Janopoulo, piano - Octet in F Major, D.803, Op. posth. 166 Léner Quartet: Jenö Léner, Joseph Smilovits, Sandor Roth, Imre Hartman · Claude Hobday, bass · Charles Draper, clarinet · E.W. Hinchcliff, bassoon · Aubrey Brain, horn London · ANDANTE no catalogue number

A beautifully packaged set of Schubert chamber music in performances from the 1920s and 30s by some great players brought to life by fine remastering. It includes the legendary performance of the B flat Trio by the Thibaud/Cortot/Casals trio. … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT Die schöne Müllerin, D. 795 Josef Baert (baritone), Roumiana Stantcheva (pianoforte) Recorded June 1993, Leuven PAVANE ADW7501 [69.45] [CH]

A word of advice to Pavane. If you must make records like this, flog them in the supermarkets and the bazaars, don’t send them to critics. … see Full Review

The Best of Peter SCULTHORPE (b.1929) - The Fifth Continent: Small Town (1963) Little Serenade (1968/1977/1983) Sun Music III (1967) Piano Concerto: Calmo (1983) Earth Cry (1988) Djilile (1977/1989) Awake Glad Heart (1988) Sonata for Strings No. 3 (1994) Child of Australia: An Australian Anthem (1988) Advance Australia Fair (1996) Port Arthur; In Memoriam (1996) - Peter Sculthorpe (speaker); Joseph Ortuso (oboe); Bruce Lamont (trumpet); Mark Skillington (trumpet); Anthony Fogg (piano); Barbara Jane Gilby (soprano). Synergy; Sydney Philharmonic Motet Choir; Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble. Australian Chamber Orchestra; Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra; Melbourne Symphony Orchestra; Sydney Symphony Orchestra; Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Conductors: David Porcelijn; Myer Fredman; David Stanhope; Richard Tognetti; Antony Walker; Stuart Challender ABC CLASSICS Eloquence 456 270-2 [69:24] [PH]

As Sculthorpe approaches his 73rd birthday, this disc is a welcome and timely reminder of the range and importance of the man who has devoted his life and music to the representation of Australia, and to the unique experience of ‘being’ Australian. … see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Cello Concertos Nos 1 and 2 Alfred SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) Dialogue for Cello and Seven Instruments
Natalia Gutman, cello USSR Radio and TV Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kyril Kondrashin (Concerto No 1) Recorded 21 June 1976 Moscow State Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Dmitri Kitajenko (Concerto No 2) Recorded 11 November 1986 Gnessin Chamber Orchestra conducted by Yuri Nikolaevsky (Schnittke) Recorded 2 January 1982 LIVE CLASSICS LCL 202 [75.04] [JW]

Gutman shares with Oleg Kagan expressivity without great opulence of sound projection, a concern for clarity of articulation and a general avoidance of any coarsening of tone, not least in fast passagework. If this is indicative of a certain reserve then it’s a highly developed and cultivated one. … see Full Review

Zygmunt STOJOWSKI (1869-1946) Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor Op. 3 (1891) [35.01] Piano Concerto No. 2 in A flat major Prologue, Scherzo and Variations Op. 32 (1908) [33.01] Jonathon Plowright (piano) BBC Scottish SO/Martyn Brabbins rec 6-7 June 2001, Caird Hall, Dundee HYPERION CDA67314 [68.12] [RB]

Hyperion present two lanky ambitious confident concertos and attain their usual resplendent standards in all departments. … see Full Review

Johann STRAUSS (1801-1849) & Son (1825-1899) Valses de Vienne Mady Mesplé, Bernard Sinclair, Christiane Stutzmann, Arta Verlen, Philippe Guadin, Jaques Loreau, Pierre Saugey.René Duclos Choirs, Orchestra of National Theatre of Opera Comique/Jean Doussard Rec. 1972, Salle Wagram, Paris, France EMI 574 103-2 [CD1 44.08 CD2 45.48] [RW]

The soloists blend nicely with the Viennese flavour and the pace set by Doussard is engaging. … see Full Review

Jean-François TAPRAY (1737? - 1819?) 6 concertos pour orgue Dominique Ferran - organ Ensemble Baroque de Nice directed by Gilbert Bezzina Recordings made in the Abbey Sainte-Croix de Bordeaux; 1 to 4 November 1997 K617 MEMOIRE MUSICALE DE LA LORRAINE K617079 [66.23] [PW]

Music of a very interesting composer, of whom we should clearly know more. Highly recommendable. … see Full Review

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concerto No. 1 [33.34] Piano Concerto No. 2 [44.01] Mikhaïl Petukhov (piano) Buenos Aires PO/Alexander Anissimov rec Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires, 3 May 1993, 13 Sept 1994 PAVANE ADW 7387 [77.40] [RB]

Not a pristine item. Give thanks for that. In the place of sterile perfection you have two unruly and viscerally exciting real performances ... see Full Review

Ernst TOCH (1887-1964) String Quartet No 9 Op 26, String Quartet No 12 Op 70, Divertimenti Op 37 Nos 1 and 2, Dedication The Mendelssohn Quartet Recorded Los Angeles 1991 LAUREL RECORD LR 850CD [69.54] [JW]

The Mendelssohn Quartet perform truly admirably and they bring to this music an integrity and a conviction that makes this disc required listening. see Full Review

Joaquín TURINA (1882-1949) Piano Trios (complete) Trio No. 1 in D major, Opus 35, Trio No. 2 in B minor, Opus 76, Circulo, Opus 91, Trio in F major Trio Arbós Rec 26-29 July, 2000, Auditorio Joaquín Rodrigo, Madrid NAXOS 8.555870 [73.17] [TB] [RBr]

Music always fluent but never short of character, committed playing and good recorded sound at the bargain Naxos price. [TB]
Naxos has rediscovered unfamiliar works by a nowadays unjustly neglected composer. All are well worth reviving in these excellent interpretations. … see Full Review [RBr]

Geirr TVEITT (1908-1981) Hundred Hardingtonar Op. 151 (A Hundred Hardanger Tunes) Suite 2 - Tunes 16- 30 (Fifteen Mountain Songs) Suite 5 - Tunes 61-75 (Troll Tunes) Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Bjarte Engeset Recorded January 2001, Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow NAXOS 8.555770 [71.31] [GH]

Between Engeset and the RSNO this music is coaxed into shape without effort or artificiality. Highly recommended. … see Full Review

Peteris VASKS ( b. 1946) Three Poems by Czeslaw Milosz* (1994) (World Premier Recording) Zemgale # (1988) (text: Mara Zalite) Mate saule (Mother Sun) * (1985) (text: Janis Peters) Madrigals # (1975) (text: Claude de Pontoux) Litene # (1993) Ballad for 12 voiced chorus to a text by Uldis Berzins Dona nobis pacem # (1996) Latvian Radio Choir - Sigvards Klava # Kaspars Putnins * Aivars Kalejs (organ) (Track 9) BIS-CD 1145 [66.11] [BK]

See Full Review

Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) - Sexteto Mistico - Two Choros bis- Quatuor - Choros No. 7 - Bachianas Brasileiras No. 9 - Lontano BBC Singers Odaline de la Martinez - Rec 1992, St Silas Church, London NW5 LONTANO LNT 102 [56.05] [TB]

This enterprising and highly appealing disc confirms Villa-Lobos as an enterprising, intriguing and entertaining composer. … see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI Concerti con molti istromenti (Concertos for many instruments) Concerto in C major RV 559, Concerto in D major RV 558 con molti istromenti, Concerto in G minor RV 577 per l’Orchestra di Dresda, Concerto in C major RV 555 con molti istromenti, Concerto in D major RV 560, Concerto Funebre in Bb major RV 579, Concerto in C major RV 556 per la Solennità di S. Lorenzo Académie Sainte-Cécile Philippe Couvert (violin & direction)Recorded at the Temple de Bon-Secours, Paris in January, 1996 K617 K617062 [67.33] [CF]

A marvellously inventive group of works played with loving care and dazzling virtuosity by all the members of this fine ensemble. … see Full Review

Gio Bonaventura VIVIANA (1638-1690) ; Symphonia Seconda ; Aria Sesta ; Aria Quinta ; Capriccio Terzo ; Toccata Prima ; Introduttione Terza ; Aria Quarta ; Sonata Seconda ; Sonata Prima, per Trombetta sola ; Symphonia Cantabile ; Capriccio Secondo ; Aria Terza ; Symphonia Prima ; Aria Seconda ; Introduttione Prima ; Toccata Seconda ; Sonata Seconda, per Trombetta sola ; Sonata Prima ; Capriccio Primo ; Baletto; Gunar Letzbor, violin ; Andreas Lackner, trumpet ; Wolfgang Zerer, harpsichord ; Roberto Sensi, viola da gamba ; Luciano Contini, archlute ; Katalin Sebella, bassoon ; Rec: August - September 1999, Assumption Church, Hallstatt, Austria. ; ARCANA A302 [79.00]

This recording by a little-known Italian composer is a real gem. The performance, the music and the recording are all impeccable, and this music gives such enjoyment that it deserves to be heard by all. … see Full Review

Anton WEBERN (1883-1945) - Orchestral Works - Passacaglia Op 1 (1908); Five Movements for Strings Op 5 (1929); Six Pieces Op 6 (1909 rev 1928) Five Pieces Op 10 (1911-13); Symphony Op 21 (1928); Variations Op 30 (1940) Ulster Orchestra/Takuo Yuasa - Recorded Ulster Hall, March 29th-30th 2000 NAXOS 8.554841 [52.27] [GH]

A fine CD with much to interest any music lover and very sensitively played. … 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]      


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