James MACMILLAN (born 1959) - Fourteen Little Pictures (1997)^c - Angel (1993)^b - Lumen Christi (1997)^b - Cello Sonata No.1 (1999)^a - A Cecilian Variation for JFK (1991)^b - Kiss on Wood (1993)^a Raphael Wallfisch (cello)^a; John York (piano)^ab; Members of The Nash Ensemble (Ian Brown, piano; Marianne Thorsen, violin; Paul Watkins, cello)^c - Recorded: Angel Studio 1, London (Fourteen Little Pictures); Gateway Studio, Kingston School of Music (Angel, Lumen Christi, Cecilian Variation) and Champs Hill, Pulborough (Cello Sonata, Kiss on Wood), no dates. BLACK BOX BBM 1008 [63:03] [HC]

A comprehensive survey of the chamber music, superbly played … see Full Review

Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Field Mass for male chorus, with baritone solo and orchestra (1939) [24.57] Double Concerto for Two String Orchestras, Piano and Timpani (1938) [21.40] Frescoes of Piero della Francesca (1955) [17.37] Václav Zítek (bar) (Mass) Czech Philharmonic Chorus/Lubomír Mátl (Mass) Czech PO/Charles Mackerras (Mass) Josef Růžička (piano) (Concerto) Jan Bouše (timp) (Concerto) Prague Radio SO/Charles Mackerras (Concerto, Frescoes) rec Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague, 20-21 Jan 1984 (Field Mass); 15-16 Feb 1982 (Frescoes, Concerto) DDD SUPRAPHON SU 3276-2 931 [64.31] [RB]

A more impressively recorded, imagined and executed introduction to Martinů would be difficult conceive. ... see Full Review

Johann Simon MAYR (1763 - 1845) La Passione, oratorio for solo, choir and orchestra (1794) - Stabat Mater in C Minor for four voices and orchestra - Maria Jette (Soprano) - Claudia Schneider (Contralto) - Hartmut Schröder (Tenor) - Robert Merwald (Bass) - Vokalensemble Ingolstadt - Georgisches Kammerorchester Ingolstadt Franz Hauk, director and harpsichord - Recorded at Asam Kirche "Maria de Victoria" Ingolstadt on 7, 9, 10 April 2001 GUILD GMCD 7251/52 [72.15+67.03] [RH]

A fine introduction to the attractive sacred music of this lesser known composer … See Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Madrigali amorosi (from the late madrigal books c.1614-19) Sestina, Lagrime d’Amante al Sepolcro dell’Amante; Ninfa che scalza il piede; O come sei gentile; Lamento della Ninfa; Tu dormi; S’el vostro cor, Madonna; Ohime dove il mio ben; Alle danze; Ohime il bel viso; Zefiro torna; Non e il gentil core; Qui rise Tirsi; O mio bene; Soave libertate. Cantus Cölln Gerald Hambitzer (harpsichord) Konrad Junghänel (lute and director) Recorded in the Sendesaal des Deutschlandfunk, Köln, 21-24 September 1992 DDD DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 05472 77855 2 [67’08] [TH]

I can’t think of any better disc at budget price with which to get to know these marvellous works … see Full Review

Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1641) L’Orfeo: Favola in Musica (1607) - Furio Zanasi (tenor), Orfeo - Sara Mingardo (mezzo-soprano), Messaggiera - Arianna Savall (soprano), Euridice - Cécile van de Sant (soprano), Speranza - Antonio Abete (bass), Caronte - Adriana Fernández (soprano), Proserpina - Daniele Carnovich (baritone), Plutone - Fulvio Bettini (tenor), Apollo - Montserrat Figueras (soprano), La musica - Mercedez Hernández (soprano), Ninfa - Marília Vargas (tenor), Eco - Gerd Turc, Francesc Garrigosa, Carlos Mena, Iván Garcia, Pastores - Le Concert de Nations, La Cappella Reial de Catalunya Jordi Savall conductor - Recorded in Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, 2002 - Stage Director, Gilbert Deflo Video direction by Brian Large - Bonus Material: Opera Synopsis, Commentary by Gilbert Deflo, Cast Gallery - Sung in Italian with subtitles in English, German, French, and Spanish - PAL 16:9 enhanced DTS 5.1 surround sound and 2.0 stereo BBC - OPUS ARTE OA 0842D [140.00] [PS]

An excellent live production of the world’s first opera with two superb singer/actors in the key roles … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756 - 1791) Concerto for Piano no 8 in C major, K 246 (1776) - Concerto for Piano no 6 in B flat major, K 238 (1776) - Concerto for Piano no 9 in E flat major, K 271 (1777) Gerritt Zitterbart (piano) - Schlierbacher Chamber Orchestra/Thomas Fey - Recorded Germany, June 2000 HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 98.378 [73:57] [JL]

Clean, no nonsense recordings of three earlyish Mozart concertos which strangely match an orchestra playing in ‘period’ style with a modern grand piano. … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756 – 1791) - Ascanio in Alba K111 (1771) Festa teatrale in two acts. Libretto by Abbate Giuseppe Parini - Ascanio - Maaike Beekman (Mezzo-Soprano); Venere - Claudia Patacca (Soprano); Silvia - Nicola Wemyss (Soprano); Aceste - Tom Allen (Tenor); Fauno - Claron McFadden (Soprano); Vocaal Ensemble Coqu - Music ad Rhenum - Jed Wentz (Conductor) - Recorded May 2002, Maria Minor, Utrecht - Zaide K. 344 / 336b (1779) Deutsches Singspiel in zwei Aufzügen - Zaide - Sandrine Piau (Soprano); Gomatz - Max Ciolek (Tenor); Allazim - Klaus Mertens (Bass Baritone) ;Sultan Soliman - Paul Agnew (Tenor); Osmin - Klaus Mertens (Bass Baritone); Narrator - Gregor Frenkel Frank - Dutch Radio Kamerorkest Ton Koopman (Conductor) - Recorded: 25 February 2002, Muziekcentrum Vredenburg Utrecht, The Netherlands BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99734/1-5 [5 CDs: 50.32, 51.04, 52.39, 40.11, 50.13] [RH]

An interesting pairing of lesser know Mozart. Though the performances are imperfect, at super-budget price it is well worth investigating … See Full Review

Modest Petrovich MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures at an Exhibition, orch RAVEL (1874, orch 1922) A Night on the Bare Mountain, orch RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1867, orch 1880) Nicolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Capriccio Espagnol (1887) Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY Capriccio Italien (1880) Czech PO/Karel Ančerl rec Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague, 3 June 1968 (Pictures); 4 June 1968 (Mountain); 1 Dec 1964 (Espagnol); 14-15 Jan 1965 (Italien) AAD SUPRAPHON 11 1943-2 011 [72.05] [RB]

Russian warhorses from the Czech Phil and Ančerl during their heyday. Not a first choice in audio terms but anything but bland. ... see Full Review

Nicolo PAGANINI (1782-1840) Concerto in D major Op. 6 (? 1817)
Variations on The Carnival of Venice Op. 10 (1829) - Caprices Op. 1 (1801-07): Nos. 9, 13, 15, 17, 21, 20, 24 arr. Zino Francescatti or Mario Pilati - I Palpiti Op. 13 Zino Francescatti (violin) - Artur Balsam (piano) - Recorded live at The Library of Congress, 1954 BRIDGE 9125 [67.38] [JW]

There isn’t a huge amount of live Francescatti around; you can never have too much of a good thing. … see Full Review

GIOVANNI BATTISTA PERGOLESI (1710-1736) Marian Vespers - CD 1: Deus,In Adjutorium (Introit) - Gloria Patri - Sicut Erat In Principio - Alleluia - Dixit Dominus (1. Psalm) - Virgam Virtutis - Dominare - Tecum Principium - Juravit Dominus - Dominus A Dextris - Gloria Patri - Sicut Erat In Principio - Sonata for Violin and Basso Continuo - Largo - Allegro - Confitebor (2. Psalm) - Confessio - Fidelia Omnia - Redemptionem Misit - Sanctum Et Terribile - Gloria Patri - Sicut Erat In Principio - Sonata for Violin and Basso Continuo - Largo - Spirituoso - Laudate Pueri (3. Psalm) - A Solis Ortu - Excelsus Super Omnes - Quis Sicut Dominus - Suscitans A Terra - Gloria Patri - Sicut Erat In Principio - CD 2: Lucis Creator Optime (Hymn) - Sonata for Cello and Basso Continuo - Comodo - Allegro - Magnificat Anima Mea (Magnificat) - Quia Fecit Mihi Magna - Suscepit Israel - Gloria Patri - Sonata for Cello and Basso Continuo - Adagio - Presto - Salve Regina (Marian Antiphon) - Ad Te Clamamus - Ad Te Suspiramus - Eia Ergo - Et Jesum Benedictum - O Clemens - Ora Pro Nobis (Collect) - Amen - Sonata for Organ - Sophie Daneman, Noemi Kiss, Julie Cooper, Rebecca Ryan, William Purefoy, Richard Wyn Roberts, Benjamin Hullett, Matthew Beale, Simon Birchell, Robert McDonald - The Choir of New College, Oxford The Academy of Ancient Music, Edward Higginbottom - Rec: July 2002, St. Jude’s Church, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London ERATO 0927-46684-2 [117.43] [KM]

This odd “compilation” of bits and pieces by Pergolesi is graced with excellent soloists and musicians, but suffers from a lack of coherence. ...See Full Review

Hans PFITZNER (1869-1949) Piano Trios: F, Op. 8 (1896) [44'19]; B flat (1886) [21'01] Robert Schumann Trio (Kees Hülsmann, violin; Marien von Staalen, cello; Josef De Beenhouwer, piano). Rec. in SWR Studio 5 on November 4th, 1998 (Op. 8); Kleiner Sendesaal, WDR, on November 22nd, 1999 (Trio in B flat). [DDD] CPO 999 736-2 [65'23] [CC]

It is difficult to imagine anyone with a penchant for late-Romantic music being disappointed by this release. Well worth exploring. … see Full Review

Pierre Danican PHILIDOR (1681-1731) 3 Trios pour Hyacinthe Rigaud [55.21] Trio no. 2 in E minor Essay sur la Vie et les ouvrages de Monseur Rigaud par Hycanthe Collin de Vermont Trio no. 1 in G (major and minor) Extrait des mémoires de Louis de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon Trio no. 5 in D minor Les Barricades mystérieuses/Stéphan Perreau Rec: November 2001 PIERRE VERANY PV700036 [55.21] [KM]

Does little more than entertain. … see Full Review

Giovanni Benedetto PLATTI (1697-1763) Sonatas for Clavicembalo [1730-40] Sonata no. 8 in C Minor * Sonata no. 7 in F Major * Sonata no. 1 in D Minor ** Sonata no. 3 in F Major ** Sonata no. 4 in G Minor ** Sonata no. 9 in G Major * Sonata no. 10 in A Minor * Elaine Funaro, fortepiano * and harpsichord ** Rec: October 1997, Mankato, Minnesota, January 1998, Durham, North Carolina. WILDBOAR WLBR 9901 [77.20] [KM]

A little-known composer interpreted with gusto and verve. … see Full Review

HENRY PURCELL (1659-1695) Dioclesian Suite [1690] - GEORG FRIEDRICH HANDEL (1685 - 1759) Concerto grosso op. 6 no. 6 [1739] - Il duello amoroso [1708] - Henry Purcell: Orchestral suite from “Dioclesian” - With songs for soprano, countertenor and B.c. - 1. Overture - 2.  a) Dance - b) Song “If music be the food” - 3.  a) Dance of Bacchanals - b) Trumpet tune - 4.  a) Prelude - b) Song “Oh how happy” - c) Hornpipe - 5. Dance of the Furies - 6. First music - 7. Duet “Lost is my quiet” - 8.  a) Prelude - b) Song “Let the soldiers rejoice” - c) Act tune - 9. Chaconne - 10. a) Second Music - b) Paspe - c) Chair dance - Georg Friedrich Handel: Concerto grosso op. 6 No. 6 G Minor - 11. Largo e affettuoso - 12. A tempo giusto - 13. Musette - Larghetto - 14. Allegro - 15. Allegro - Georg Friedrich Handel: “Il duello amoroso”, HWV 82 - 16. Sonata: Allegro Menuetto - 17. Recitativo (Daliso) - 18. Aria (Daliso) - 19. Recitativo (Amarilli) - 20. Aria (Amarilli) - 21. Recitativo (Daliso / Amarilli) - 22. Aria (Amarilli) - 23. Recitativo (Daliso) - 24. Aria (Daliso) - 25. Recitativo (Amarilli / Daliso) - 26. Aria a 2 con Ritornello (Amarilli / Daliso) - Nancy Argenta, soprano - Michael Chance, countertenor Freiburger Barockorchester, Gottfried vor der Goltz - Rec. January 1993, Maria Minor, Utrecht, Netherlands.  DHM 05472 77858 2 [68.48] [KM]

A disc that could have been better. An interesting selection of fine music by Purcell and Handel is marred by less-than-perfect singers… See Full Review

Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Music for Queen Mary - Come ye Sons of Art: Ode for the birthday of Queen Mary (1694) - Music for the funeral of Queen Mary (1695) - Felicity Lott (soprano) - Charles Brett, John Williams (counter-tenor) - Thomas Allen (bass) Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra, Equale Brass Ensemble / Sir John Elliot Gardiner - Recorded in February 1976 at Rosslyn Hill Chapel, London, England DDD APEX 0927 48693 2 [44:59] [PB]

One of the crowning glories of John Elliot Gardiner’s early music recordings, re-released at super budget price…see Full Review

Joachim RAFF (1822-1882) Fantasie-Sonata in D minor Op. 168 (1872) [17.07] Trois morceaux Op. 2 (1877) [12.42] Grand Sonata in E flat minor Op. 14 2^nd version (1880) [31.39] Valentina Seferinova (piano rec July 2002, Winterbrook Studios, London CAHOOTS CAH 001 [61.50] [CF]

Never a dull moment, one hopes that Valentina Seferinova and other pianists will delve further into this composer’s music if this sample is anything to go by....see Full Review

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Daphnis and Chloe, suite II, (1913) 16:56 La Valse (1920) 12:21 Georges BIZET (1838-1875) Symphony in C (1855) 32:54 SWR Radio Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgart Georges Prêtre, conductor Live Recordings: October 1997(Daphnis); December 1995 (Valse); June 1991 (Symphony) Liederhalle, Stuttgart. A production of SWR. DDD HÄNSSLER CLASSIC, CD 90.013 [61:11] [KS]

Not the end-all performance, but recommended nonetheless. … see Full Review

Max REGER (1873-1916) Violin Sonatas Sonata for Violin and Piano in C major Op. 72 (1903) ¹ Sonata for Violin and Piano in C minor Op. 139 (1915) ² Renate Eggebrecht, violin Wolfram Lorenzen, piano¹ Siegfried Mauser, piano² Recorded in Bauer Studios, Ludwigsburg, 24^th-27^th November 1996.. TROUBADISC TRO-CD 01413 [69.14] [NH]

A splendid disc of chamber music by a composer whose works need to be allowed to speak for themselves … see Full Review

Esias REUSNER (the younger) (1636-1679) Suites (6) for the Lute (1667) - Suite in d (15.18) - Suite in c (8.07) - Suite in D (15.41) - Suite in g (9.12) - Suite in c (13.34) - Suite in e (10.31) - Konrad Junghänel playing a 1984 copy by Nico van derWaals of an 11 course Baroque lute by Johann Christian Hoffmann. Booklet in English, French, and German - Recorded May 30 1991, Temple St. Marcel, Paris DHM [Deutsche Harmonia Mundi] 05472 77850 2  [73.36]  [PS]

A must for lute fans, of great interest to students of pre-Bach music, and of general interest… see Full Review

Hilding ROSENBERG (1892-1985) Dance Suite from Orpheus in Town (1938) [14.10] Symphony No. 3 (1939 rev 1952) [34.44] Concerto No. 3 Louisville (1954 rev 1968) [24.23] Royal Stockholm PO/Sir Andrew Davis rec. Stockholm Concert Hall, Sweden, 7-8 Dec 1998 (symphony); 12-13 Feb 1999 (Orpheus, Louisville). DDD FINLANDIA 3984 29719 2 [73.52] [RB]

A worthwhile collection made compelling by the Symphony - A composer whose music should appeal to those who like Copland, Hindemith and Piston.... see Full Review

Jakub Jan RYBA (1765-1815) Czech Christmas Mass - Hej, mistre, My lovely Nightingale * Jaroslava Vymazalova, soprano Marie Mrazova, contralto Benno Blachut, tenor Zdenek Kroupa, bass Helena Tattermuschova, soprano * Jaroslav Josifko, flute * Milan Slechta, organ Jaroslav Vodrazka, organ * Czech Philharmonic Chorus Prague Symphony Orchestra/Vaclav Smetacek Recorded 1965 SUPRAPHON SU36582 [42’59] Superbudget [JW]

An intimate and affirmatory forty-three minutes and splendidly performed. … see Full Review

 

[Detailed listing (last two days)]
[Part 1 New]  [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L]  [Part 7 Misc M-Z]
Revolving notes from clipart.com

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