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LATEST CD REVIEWS (last two days)

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RECORD OF THE YEAR Arnold BAX (1883-1953) The Seven Symphonies (1921-1939) Interview with Vernon Handley by Andrew McGregor BBC Philharmonic/Vernon Handley Recorded in: Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester, 4 January 2002 (Third Symphony), 5 January 2002 (Tintagel), 19 December 2002 (Fourth Symphony), 14 January 2003 (Second Symphony), 6-8 August 2003 (Fifth and Seventh Symphonies, Rogue's Comedy Overture), 5 September 2003 (First Symphony) CHANDOS CHAN 10122 [5CDs: 74:03+77:24+73:41+69:37+60:43] [IL]

This set fully deserves the MusicWeb’s ‘Recording of the Year’ appellation, it is without doubt, my overall recording of 2003. This is the Bax symphonies cycle to which I shall turn again and again. ... see Full Review

Pierre BOULEZ (b.1925) Piano Sonata No.1 (1946) Le Marteau sans Maître (1953-55) Marc Ponthus (piano) Linda Hirst (mezzo) Lontano/Odaline de la Martinez Recorded at St. Silas Church, London (sonata), and Rosslyn Hill Chapel, London (no dates given, c.1995) DDD LORELT LNT108 [46’55] [TH]

As good an account of this groundbreaking work as you are likely to encounter, even from the great man himself. … see Full Review

The Beethoven Mysteries Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Concerto in D major, Opus 61 (transcribed for piano and orchestra by the composer) (1806) Rondo in B flat major for piano and orchestra, WoO6 (1790?) Felicja Blumental (piano) Brno Philharmonic Orchestra/Jiri Waldhans Allegro in D major for piano and orchestra (1788?) Felicja Blumental (piano) Prague Symphony Orchestra/Alberto Zedda Rec. 1967, Brno (Violin Concerto), Milan (Rondo), Prague (Allegro) BRANA BR 0004 [68.34]

It makes for interesting listening, though anyone hoping to find an embryonic Emperor Concerto is likely to be disappointed. … see Full Review

Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797 – 1848) Don Pasquale - dramma buffo in three acts Norina…Eva Mei (soprano) Don Pasquale…Alessandro Corbelli (bass) Ernesto…Antonino Siragusa (tenor) Dottor Malatesta…Roberto de Candia (baritone) Un Notaro…Giorgio Gatti (bass) Chorus of the Teatro Lirico–Cagliari/Paolo Vero Orchestra of the Teatro Lirico–Cagliari/Gérard Korsten Recorded at the Teatro Lirico, Cagliari, February 2002. TDK CDM-OPDP [75.43+42.12] [RM]

A good recording. The DVD format may well overcome the weaker points of this CD version. … see Full Review

Alexander GOEHR (b.1934) Orchestral Works CD 1 [41.18] Metamorphosis/Dance; Romanza for cello and orchestra Moray Welsh (cello) Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/David Atherton Rec. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, June 1981 CD2 [72.13] … a musical offering ( J.S.B.1985); ‘Behold the Sun’ Op. 44a (1981) for coloratura soprano and orchestra; Lyric Pieces Op. 35 (1974); Sinfonia Op. 42 (1980) Jeanine Thomas (soprano) London Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen Rec. All Saints Church, Petersham, February/March 1990 NMC D095[2CDs: 41.18+72.13] [GH]

If you have an inquiring mind and a willingness to open it out to an underrated composer of our times then you should look out for this set. … see Full Review

George Frideric HANDEL (1685 - 1759) Messiah: Oratorio for soloists, chorus and orchestra HWV 56 Susan Roberts, soprano Liliana Bizineche-Eisinger, mezzo-soprano Algirdas Janutas, tenor Benno Schollum, bass-baritone Sigitas Petrulis, trumpet Kaunas State Choir Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra/Yehudi Menuhin Recorded live at Kloster Eberbach in 1996 by courtesy of the Rheingau Music Festival on the occasion of the 80^th birthday of Lord Menuhin WARNER APEX 2564 60819-2 [2CDs 70.33 + 61.29] [BK]

It is worth having for the orchestral playing, for the singing by the choir and women soloists, and for the splendid playing by trumpeter Sigitas Petrulis … see Full Review

Antonio LOTTI (1667 - 1740) Mass in g minor ‘Missa Sapientiae’ [29:31] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685 - 1750) Magnificat in E flat (BWV 243a) [32:06] Balthasar-Neuman-Chor Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble/Thomas Hengelbrock Recorded in November 2000 (Bach) and October 2002 (Lotti) in the Evangelische Kirche, Gönningen, Germany DDD DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 05472 77534 2 [61:40] [JV]

Very expressive performances of two masterpieces ... see Full Review

Astor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Giora Feidman plays Piazzolla: Moderato Tangabile [3:45]; Chant et Fugue [7:08]; Preparense [5:05]; Tristango [8:15]; Lo Que Vendra [4:01]; Milonga del Angel [5:45]; Fracanapa [3:58]; Hommage [6:43]; Marron y Azul [4:39]; Kicho [6:30]; Tanti anni prima [5:51] Giora Feidman: clarinet and bass clarinet (Track 10) Raul Jaurena: bandoneon (soloist on Tracks 3,7,9) South West German Chamber Orchestra of Pforzheim/Vladislav Czarnecki WARNER CLASSICS 0927-19505-2 [61:44] [SA]

A perfect example of all the influences Piazzolla brought to bear on tango; every track is a delight … verve and commitment … see Full Review

Wladimir VOGEL (1896 – 1984) Vier Etüden für Orchester (1930/2) Tripartita (1934) Preludio – Interludio lirico – Postludio (1954) Sinfonieorchester Basel/Israel Yinon Recorded: Casino Basel Musiksaal, October 2001 REALSOUND RS 051-0037 [79:52] [HC]

Committed playing, hard-to-resist conviction, excellent recording … musically satisfying … see Full Review

Enrico CARUSO (tenor) (1873-1921) The Complete Recordings Volume 10 (1916-1917) Gabriel FAURÉ (1875-1947) ‘Sancta Maria’ CARUSO ‘Tiempo antico’ Folk Song, ‘Santa Lucia’ Piotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Eugene Onegin, ‘Pour moi ce jour est tout mystère’ (Lensky’s Aria). ‘Pourquoi’Umberto GIORDANO (1867-1948) Andrea Chenier, ‘ Come un bel di maggio’Camille SAINT-SAENS (1835-1921)Samson et Dalila, ‘Vois ma misère , hélas' Georges BIZET (1838-1870) Les Pecheurs de perles, ‘Je crois entendre encore’ Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)Rigoletto, ‘Bella figlia del’amore’ (quartet) Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1868) Lucia di Lamermoor, ‘Chi mi frena in tal momento’ (sextet) Friedrich von FLOTOW (1812-1883) Martha, ‘M’appari’ GASTALDON ‘Musica probita’ DE CRESCENZO ‘Uocchie celeste’ Francesco Poalo TOSTI (1846-1916)‘L’alba separa dalla luce l’ombra’ Anton RUBINSTEIN (1830-1894) Néron, ‘Ah! Lumiére du jour’ Caruso accompanied by the ‘Victor Orchestra’. cond. Walter B Rogers and Josef Pasternack Recorded in New York and Camden, New Jersey, in March 1916, January 1917 and April 1917. Bargain Price Great Singers Series NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110751 [76.59]

Eminently listenable … the sound is most impressive. … further enhances Ward Marston’s reputation for fine restorations. Highly recommended. … see Full Review

Susan Graham at Carnegie Hall Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Zigeunerlieder, op. 103 Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Proses lyriques Alban BERG (1885-1935) Siebe frühe Lieder Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Quatre poèmes de Guillaume Apollinaire André MESSAGER (1853-1929) Les p’tites Michu: Vois-tu, je m’en veux, L’amour masqué: J’ai deux amants Moïses SIMONS (1888-1945) Toi c’est moi: C’est ça la vie, c’est ça l’amour Encores: Reynaldo HAHN (1874-1947) A Chloris DEBUSSY Fantoches Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Liebst du um Schönheit Ben MOORE (b.1960) Sexy Lady Susan Graham (mezzo-soprano), Malcolm Martineau (piano) Recorded live at the Carnegie Hall, 14th April 2003 ERATO 2564 60293-2 [74:50] [CH]

Although we are assured that the song recital is in its death agonies, Susan Graham seems to pack the hall without much difficulty and here she is before a cheering Carnegie Hall audience to prove it. … see Full Review

Gudny Gudmundsdottir (violin) Polarinn JONSSON (1900 - 1974) Prelude and Double fugue on the Name B-A-C-H (1927) Johann Sebastian BACH (1685 - 1750) Sonata No. 1 in G Minor BWV 1001 for solo violin (1720) Hallgrimur HELGASON (1914 - 1994) Sonata for solo violin (1972) Haflioi HALGRIMSSON (b.1941) Offerto – In memory of Karl Kvaran (1991) Gudny Gudmundsdottir (violin)recorded in Seltjarnarneskirkja, Iceland, 20 – 24 September 1999. DDD POLARFONIA CLASSICS PFCD 02.04.007 [67’22"] [JP]

This has been an extremely interesting disc to review, and I recommend it heartily. … see Full Review

O Magnum Mysterium. Music for Christmas Samuel SCHEIDT: Cazon super intradam aechiopicam Hieronymus PRAETORIUS: Magnificat Samuel SCHEIDT: In Dulci jubilo Giovanni GABRIELI: Angelus ad Pastores; O Magnum Mysterium; Salvator Noster Biagio MARINI: Canzon Otta à 6 Angus Davidson (counter-tenor) His Majesty’s Sagbutts & Cornetts Corydon Singers/Matthew Best Filmed in Stationer’s Hall, London Francis POULENC: Quatre Petites Prières de St. François d’Assise; Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noël; Litanies à La Vierge Noire*; Salve Regina; Exultate Deo Simon Over (organ)* Corydon Singers/Matthew Best Filmed at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, 1996? PAL DVD 16:9. All formats BRILLIANT CLASSICS 6468 [72’15"] [JQ]

A strong DVD from the Corydons and Matthew Best … see Full Review

FRIDAY

Jesús ARÁMBARRI (1902-60) Preludio Gabon-zar sorgiñak (Witches on New Year's Eve) Cuatro impromptus para orquestra (Four impromptus…) Ocho canciones vascas para soprano y orquestra (Eight Basque songs…) * In Memoriam - Elegía para orquestra Offrenda Viento Sur (Intermedio) Fantasía española para orquestra (Spanish fantasy) Itxaro Mentxaka, soprano * Bilbao Symphony Orchestra/Juan José Mena Recorded at the Euskalduna Concert Hall, Bilbao, 17^th-21^st October 2000. NAXOS 8.557275 [57.40] [NH]

Another winner from the Naxos Spanish Classics series. The Basque classical sound at its best! … see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 Gwendolyn Toth, Lautenwerk Recorded at St. James Chapel, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City, June 2000 Lautenwerk by Willard Martin, 1988 ZEFIRO RECORDINGS 103 [2CDs: 83:06] [DS]

Sheer enjoyment … not in the ‘must have’ category, but not very far behind. … see Full Review

Johann Sesbastian BACH (1685 - 1750) Moon Water - Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan Suites for ’cello (1720) (excerpts): #1, Sarabande; #2, Sarabande; #3, Sarabande; #4, Prelude; #5, Prelude, Sarabande, Allemande; #6 Allemande. [65.00] Mischa Maisky, ’cello, [from Deutsche Grammophon DG 445373-2] Choreography by Lin Hwai-Min. Setting by Austin Wang. RM Associates/LGM/BR/DRS/ MEZZO, La Chaîne Musique, Opéra, Danse/ORF/YLE co-production. Behind the scenes documentary [20.00] in English. German, French, Spanish subtitles. Menu languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese. PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.0, DTS 5.0. PAL 16:9 DVD 5 Region 1-5, 7-8 RM Associates ARTHAUS/Musik 100 374 DVD [85.00] [PSh]

Graceful bodies moving swaying and dipping to beautiful music played very slowly. Only for a few moments do things heat up … see Full Review

 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Georg Frideric HANDEL (1685 -1759) Handel Oxford Water Music Oxford Water Music Suite in F, (HWV 348, arr. T. Theo) (1719) [7.11] Oxford Water Music Suite in g, (HWV 350, arr. T. Theo) (1719) [3.58] Oxford Water Music Suite in D, (HWV 349, arr. T. Theo) (1719) [3.22] Trio Sonata Op. 5, #4 in G, HWV 399 (1739) [13.16] Trio Sonata Op. 2, #3 in Bb, HWV 388 (1730) [10.48] Jean-Marie LECLAIRE "L’Aîné" (1697 - 1764) Première Recréation de Musique Op. 6 in D (1737) [23.46] Arcangelo CORELLI (1653 - 1713) Trio Sonata Op. 2 #12, Ciaconna (1685) [3.36] Trio Sonata Op. 1 #7 in C (1681) [4.50] Francesco Xaviero GEMINIANI (1687 - 1762) Sonata V in a (1714) [6.15] The Brook Street Band: [Pitch: a’ = 415 Hz ] Marianna Szücs, Katalin Kertész, vv; Hanna McLaughlin, oboe, recorder; Tatty Theo, vc; Carolyn Gibley, harpsichord and chamber organ. Recorded at the church in Raveningham, Norfolk, England, 4 April 2002, and at St. Mary-at-Hill, London, England, 24 November 2002
Notes in English, Français, and Deutsch. Photo of the artists. www.Avierecords.com AVIE AV0028 [77.39] [PSh]

One of the finest baroque concert disks in decades. No matter how many recordings of this music you may already have, if you buy one Baroque music disk this year, let it be this one ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH W.A. MOZART - Les Plus Belles Symphonies: Symphony No.25 in G minor K183. Symphony No.26 in Eb major K184. Symphony No.28 in C major K200.Symphony No.35 in D major K385 'Haffner'. Symphony No.36 in C major K425 'Linz'.Symphony No.38 in D major K504 'Prague'. Symphony No.39 in Eb major K543. Symphony No.40 in G minor K550.Symphony No.41 in C major K551 'Jupiter'. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Nikolaus Harnoncourt WARNER CLASSICS 4CDs 5046682882 Superbudget price [CMT]

Intelligence, wit and enormous character which serves the music ever so well. Invigorating, refreshing, but thought-provoking, too - enriching on many levels. … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Concertos for clarinet, oboe and bassoon 1) Clarinet Concerto in A major K.622 Jacques Lancelot (clarinet) Orchestre de chambre Jean-Francois Paillard/Jean-Francois Paillard 2) Oboe Concerto in C major K.314 Pierre Pierlot (oboe) English Chamber Orchestra/Jean-Pierre Rampal 3) Bassoon Concerto in B flat major K.191 Paul Hongne (bassoon) Orchestre Symphonique de Bamberg/Theodor Guschlbauer No information on the recording venues or dates provided. ADD WARNER CLASSICS APEX 2564 60820-2 [67:06] [MC]

Although not my first choices in these works I cannot imagine any listener being disappointed. Fine performances and agreeable sound quality. Well worth the modest investment. … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1792 - 1828) Goethe Lieder, Vol 2. Ruth Ziesak (soprano) Christian Elsner (tenor) Ulrich Eisenlohr (piano) Recorded at Radiosudio, Zurich, 15^th, 16^th July 2002, 31^st October, 1^st November 2002 Deutsche Schubert-Lied-Edition 13 - Goethe Lieder, Vol 2. NAXOS 8.554666 [69.16] [RH]

An attractively programmed recital, but Ruth Ziesak is perhaps a little disappointing … see Full Review

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (1910)* Norfolk Rhapsody no.1 (1906)** The Lark Ascending (1914)† In the Fen Country (1909, rev.1935)†† On Wenlock Edge (1909, orch. version f.p. 1924)‡ Sarah Chang (violin), Ian Bostridge (tenor) London Philharmonic/Bernard Haitink Recorded in No.1 Studio, Abbey Rd., London, *8-9^th October 1986, **†17-18^th December 1994, and ††‡The Colosseum, Watford, 13-14 December 1997. EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 85151 2 1 [77:10] [GPJ]

Fine though much of the rest of the disc is, On Wenlock Edge, delivered by one of the world’s finest lyric tenors, are undoubtedly worth the price all on their own. … see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Aida (1871). Renata Tebaldi (soprano) Aida; Mario del Monaco (tenor) Radamès; Ebe Stignani (mezzo) Amneris; Aldo Protti (baritone) Amonasro; Fernando Corena (bass) King; Dario Caselli (bass) Ramfis; Piero de Palma (tenor) Messenger; Chorus and Orchestra of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome/Alberto Erede. Rec. Rome in August 1952. ADD NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110129/30 [144’33: 67’52 + 76’41] [CC]

An important reissue. Now that it has been made available at super-budget price, there really is no excuse for not buying it. … see Full Review

Golden Slumbers: Folk and Traditional Melodies from the British Isles Fiddler Man; The Girl I left behind; O waly, waly; The British Grenadiers; Golden Slumbers; Dashing away with the Smoothing Iron; It was a lover and his lass composed or arranged by John RUTTER (b.1944); Charm me asleep by Henry LESLIE (1822-1896); Waters of Elle by Robert Lucas de PEARSALL (1795-1856); Sweet Nightingale arranged by Goff RICHARDS; The Oak and the Ash arranged by Gordon LANGFORD; Loch Lomond arranged by David OVERTON; Londonderry Air arranged by Peter Knight; Migildi Magildi arranged by Grayston IVES; Irish Lullaby arranged by Keith ABBS Hannover Harmonists THOROFON CTH 2485 [38.38] [GH]

The choir excel in pronunciation, tuning, speed, articulation, ensemble and timbre but have not discovered the real earthy nature of English folk music … see Full Review

 

BOOK REVIEWS

Bartok's Mikrokosmos - genesis, pedagogy and style by Benjamin Suchoff The Scarecrow Press, 2002 185pp ISBN: 0810844273

Will understandably be snapped up by musicians and those many for whom Bartok is one of the most original and sophisticatedly beguiling voices in the 'last century. ... see Full Review

Arnold BAX A Catalogue of the Works of Sir Arnold Bax by Graham Parlett hardback £70 ISBN 0-19-816586-2 Clarendon Press, Oxford 1999 [RB]

A book in which the author’s affection for Bax’s music is balanced with academic rigour - a guiding hand; an authoritative friend. ... see Full Review

Information Sources in Music editor: Lewis Foreman ISBN 3-598-24441-X hardback publ K.G. Saur Verlag GmbH, München 444pp. €110.00

A most valuable book of help both to researcher, bibliographer and librarians active in the field of classical music and its sources. ... see Full Review

A Fiddler’s Tale: How Hollywood and Vivaldi Discovered Me. Louis Kaufman (1905 - 1994) Louis Kaufman with Annette Kaufman Foreword by Jim Svejda 384 pages; includes music CD of recordings from 1942-52.

Probably most music lovers, on encountering the name Louis Kaufman, will respond "Who?" Ironically, while probably many people have never head of him, they have all heard him. … see Full Review

Mozart's Piano Concertos by John Irving Ashgate Press, 2003 296pp 12 music exx 4pp index 18p bibliography 07546 0707 0 Hardback £45.00 MusicWeb offer £45.00 reduced to £42.50 post free in the UK

Recommended for academics, and as a handbook for practising musicians. Others with a more general interest in the concertos may find this too tehnically detailed though I daresay they will learn much from it. ... see Full Review

THE PENGUIN GUIDE TO COMPACT DISCS & DVDs 2003/4 Edition: The Key Classical recordings on CD, DVD & SACD 2004 Edition Edited by Ivan March
Reviews by: Ivan March; Edward Greenfield; Robert Layton Assistant Editor: Paul Czajkowski Paperback 1566 pp. ISBN 0141013842 £24.99 [RB]

The most wide-ranging and satisfying classical review print source on the market. ... see Full Review

Szymanowski, Eroticism and the Voices of Mythology by Stephen Downes
RMA Monographs No. 11 publ. Royal Musical Association and Ashgate, 2003 109pp. Hardback ISBN 0 947854 10 X www.ashgate.com £35.00 reduced to £32.50 post free in the UK

An agreeably detailed study suitable for Szymanowski specialists and those fascinated by the margins and overlaps between music, literature and psychology. ... see Full Review

UNEASY LISTENING - A caricature guide to 20th century composers
by John Minnion 109pp Paperback ISBN 0-9544499 1 6 [RB]

This is wonderfully well done as a book of illustrations. It tells us something of the psychology of the composer in each case and does so wittily and not without taking a few dangerous corners. ... see Full Review

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