BARGAIN OF THE MONTH -
Gustav MAHLER (1860
– 1911) Symphony
No. 1 in D Titan (1898) [54.39] - Symphony No. 2 in C Minor Resurrection
(1896) [33.54+51.05] - Symphony No. 3 in D Minor (1906) [32.31+65.32]
- Symphony No. 4 in G (1910) [56.35] - Symphony No. 5 in C# Minor (1902)
[72.22] - Symphony No. 6 in A Minor (1904) [39.10+44.36] - Symphony
No. 7 in E Minor (1906) [77.39] - Symphony No. 8 in D Symphony of
a Thousand (1906) [77.55] - Symphony No. 9 in D (1909) [44.48+36.11]
- Symphony No. 10 in F# Minor (Adagio) (1910) [22.56] - Symphony No.
10 in F# Minor completed by Deryck Cooke (1976) [70.49] - Das Lied von
der Erde (1909) [61.20]
Helen Donath (soprano) Doris Soffel (alto), Chorus of NDR Hamburg and
the Dale Warland Singers, (No. 2) - Doris Soffel (alto) Limburger Domsingknaben
and Women’s Chorus of the Frankfurter Kantorei, (No. 3) - Helen Donath
(No. 4) - Faye Robinson, Teresa Cahill, Hildegarde Heichele (sopranos),
Livia Budai, Jane Henschel (alto), Kenneth Riegel, Herman Prey, Harald
Stamm (bass), with the Choir of Bavarian Radio, NDR Choir, WDR Choir,
RIAS Kammerchor Berlin, Limburger Domsingknaben and Children’s Chorus
of Hess Radio, plus Fritz Walter-Lindqvist, (organ) (No. 8) - Jaard
van Ness (alto), Peter Schreier (tenor), Das Lied von der Erde. Frankfurt
Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Eliahu Inbal Recorded
as follows, all at Alte Oper Frankfurt: No. 1 – 28th February
– 1st March 1985, No.2 28th –29th March
1985, No.3 18th – 19th March 1985, No.4 – 10th
- 11th April 1985 No.5 – 23rd – 25th
January 1986, No.6 – 24th – 26th April 1986, No.
7 – 14th – 17th May 1986 No.8 – 14th
18th October 1986 No.9 – 24th – 27th
September 1986 No.10 (Cooke) 15th – 17th January
1992, Das Lied 24th – 25th March 1988. DDD
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92005 [15CDs: 54.39+33.54+51.05+32.31+65.32+56.35
+72.22+39.10+44.36+77.39+77.55+44.48+36.11+22.56+70.49+61.20] [JP]
A
highly recommendable issue for impecunious Mahler fans. … see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860 - 1911) Symphony
No. 1 in D (piano transcription by Chitose Okashiro) Langsam. Schleppend.
Wie ein Naturlaut [14'38"] Kräftig bewegt [07'39"] Feierlich
und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen [12'06"] Stürmisch bewegt
[21'12"] Chitose
Okashiro (piano) Rec. Mechanics Hall, Worcester MA, 22-23 January 2002
DDD CHÂTEAU C10001
[55'39] [PSer]
Astonishingly
audacious! Okashiro’s carefully considered arrangement and formidable
musicianship rip open and compel re-appraisal of this all-too-familiar
masterpiece. … see Full Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No.10 (1910-11) Orchestrated
and completed by Clinton A. Carpenter Dallas Symphony Orchestra/Andrew
Litton Recorded in McDermott Hall, Dallas, 3-6 June 2001
DELOS DE 3295 [78.45] [TD]
If
you must have this curio in your collection then this is clearly the
recording for you as it is the only recording available. I hope it stays
that way. … see Full Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959)
Cello Concerto No. 1 (1930, 1939, 1955) [27.32] Cello Concerto No. 2
(1944-45) [36.27] Angelica
May (cello) Czech PO/Václav Neumann rec Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum,
2-3 Nov 1981, DDD
SUPRAPHON SU 3543-2 031 [64.12]
May
and Neumann tear into both concertos with a vivid and unshakably confident
will that brooks no blandness. ... see Full
Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ
(1890-1959)
Cello Concerto No. 1 (1930, 1939, 1955) [27.44] Cello Concerto No. 2
(1945) [36.36] Concertino for cello, wind instruments and percussion
(1924) [13.35] Michaela
Fukačová (cello) Odense SO/Peter Csaba rec. May 1996
KONTRAPUNKT 32256 [78.17]
Obstinately
natural balances, poetically introspective interpretations by Fukacova,
good background notes, generous playing time. ... see Full
Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959)
Cello Concerto No. 1 (1930, 1939, 1955) [26.01] Cello Concerto No. 2
(1945) [35.58] Concertino for cello, wind instruments and percussion
(1924) [13.52] Raphael
Wallfisch (cello) Czech PO/Jiří Bĕlohlávek rec. Spanish Hall,
Prague Castle, 24-28 June 1991, DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 9015 [76.05]
The
Chandos disc is first choice for the Martinu Cello Concertos. ... see
Full Review
Bohuslav
MARTINU (1890-1959)
The Three Cello Sonatas -
Cello Sonata No. 1 (1939) [18.29] - Cello Sonata No. 2 (1941) [21.58]
- Cello Sonata No. 3 (1952) [20.33]
Jirí Hanousek (cello) - Paul Kaspar (piano) - rec. 26 Oct, 4-5 Nov 1992,
Meistersingerhalle, Nürnberg. DDD - co-production with Bavarian
Radio CENTAUR CRC 2207
[60.57] [RB]
Jazzily
syncopated ... yet finds time for the plangent singing lyricism that
is such a Martinu trademark ... see Full
Review
Bohuslav
MARTINU
(1890-1959) Concertino
for Piano Trio and String Orchestra (1933) [19.48] - Piano Trio No.
1 Cinq Pièces Brèves (1930) [13.00] - Piano Trio
No. 2 (1950) [15.16] - Duo No. 2 for violin and cello (1958) [8.52]
Trio Tulsa (Derry Deane,
violin; Diane Bucchianeri, cello; Anna Norberg, piano) - Czech National
SO/Paul Freeman - rec. 20 Mar 1997, Prague Domovina (Concertino), 14-15
Dec 1997, LSU Recital Hall, School of Music, Louisiana State University,
Baton Rouge. USA. DDD
CENTAUR CRC 2415 [57.29] [RB]
While
the Cinq Pièces are rather dry the other works reap rich rewards
- Trio No. 2 and the Duo are outstanding ... see Full
Review
Bohuslav MARTINU (1890-1959)
String Quartets Volume 3 Quartet No. 4 (1937); Quartet No. 5 (1938)
Quartet No. 7 (1947).
Martinů Quartet Recorded in the Martinek Studios, Prague, November/
December 1995 NAXOS
8.553784 [71.09]
Czech
dances never seem to be far away … rollicking and suspense laden … see
Full Review
Bohuslav
MARTINU (1890-1959) The Violin Sonatas Violin Sonata No. 1 (1930) [17.07] - Violin Sonata No. 2 (1932) [15.43]
- Violin Sonata No. 3 (1944) [26.40] - Sonata for Two Violins and Piano
(1933) [12.58] Fredell
Lack (violin) -
Timothy Hester (piano) - Leon Spierer (violin II) - rec. 18-20 Aug 1993,
Dudley Recital Hall, University of Houston School of Music, USA. DDD
CENTAUR CRC 2276 [69.27]
[RB]
Parisian Martinů immersed in desiccation,
then finding his Czech self afresh … finally in full flood in the Third
Sonata ... bright with the conviction of all the artists involved. ...
see Full Review
Pietro MASCAGNI (1863-1945)
Cavalleria
Rusticana - Melodrama in one act. Santuzza, Lina Bruna Rasa
(soprano). Turridu, Antonio Melandri (tenor). Alfio, Afro Poli (Baritone).
Lola, Maria Meloni (soprano). Mamma Lucia, Rina Gallo-Toscani (m. soprano).
Chorus and Orchestra
of the Opera d’Olanda Dutch Royal Theatre, The Hague, Holland. Conducted
by the composer, Pietro Mascagni. Recorded live 7th November
1938 GUILD HISTORICAL
GHCD 2241 [78.36] [RF]
A
vibrant, well sung, dynamic performance but there are downsides … see
Full Review
Olivier MESSIAEN
(1908-1992) Éclairs
sur l’Au-delà (Illumination of the beyond) (1987-91)
SWR Symphony Orchestra Baden Baden and Freiburg/Sylvain Cambreling
Recorded in the Konzerthaus, Freiburg 25.02 & 19.09 2002
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.063 [76’29] [TH]
Unless
you want two recordings of this wonderful work (not as daft as it sounds)
Chung will ultimately offer more rewards … see Full
Review
Arthur MEULEMANS (1884
– 1966) Kermisfantasie
(1930) - Twee Movimenti (1927) - Twee Idyllen (1927)
- Overture to Adriaen Brouwer (1935) - Concerto voor hobo
en orkest (1942) - Rhapsodie (1932) - Twee Dansen
(1911/3, orch. 1930)
Ludmilla Peterková (clarinet) - Jindřich Pazdera
(violin) - Pier van Bockstal (oboe) - Hradec
Králové Philharmonic Orchestra/Herman Engels - Recorded:
Concert Hall, Philharmony Hradec Králové, August 2002
PHAEDRA 923031
[57:53] [HC]
Well-crafted
and superbly scored works in which Meulemans’ orchestral flair and mastery
are clearly displayed. … see Full Review
Nikolai MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950)
Symphony
No. 24 (1943) [35.08] - Symphony No. 25 (1947) [30.58]
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky - Rec. 18, 22-23 Oct
2000, Radio House, Moscow, DDD
NAXOS 8.555376 [66.07] [RB]
Two
symphonies wondrously well recorded and beautifully performed ... not
a difficult decision at this price ... see Full
Review
Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Vespro della beata vergine (1610) Ann Monoyios, Marinella
Pennicchi, Michael Chance, Mark Tucker, Nigel Robson, Sandro Naglia,
Bryn Terfel, Alastair Miles, His Majesties Sagbutts and Cornetts The Monteverdi Choir, The London Oratory
Junior Choir,The English Baroque Soloists/John Eliot Gardiner Rec: 1989,
the Basilica di San Marco, Venezia. Sound format: PCM stereo - DTS 5.1,
Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitle languages: GB, D, F, SP, CH Picture format:
4:3 Picture standard: NTSC Region code: 0 ARCHIV 073 035-9 [110 min.] [KM]
A fine performance and excellent
recording of one of the masterpieces of the Italian baroque … see Full Review
Xavier
MONTSALVATGE
(1912 - 2002) Complete works for Piano Tres
Divertimentos (1940): Con decisión (2.46); Muy dulce (2.05);
Vivo (2.10) Marta Zabaleta, piano Divagación (1950)(3.22)
Carlota Garriga, piano Quatre Diàlegs: Siciliana (1998)
(3.48) Raimon Garriga, piano; Impromptu (1998) (2.26); Milonga
(1998) (2.26); Ritmos (1942) (4.24) Dagmar Muñiz, piano
Sketch (1966) (2.46) Dagmar Muñiz, piano Shubertiada (1993)
(2.29) Pastoral D'áutome (1.55) Carlota Garriga, piano
El Arca De Noé (1990): La oveja (1.07); El gallo (0.33); El elefante
(1.22); La pulga (0.35); El gato (1.10); El canguro (0.47); El vals
(1.02) Alfredo Armero, piano Sonatina Para Yvette (1962): Vivo
e espiritoso (3.26); Moderato molto (3.36); Allegretto (2.12) Berceuse
a la memoria de Òscar Esplà (1987) (4.36) Elegia A Ravel
(1945) (2.00) Mac McClure, piano Tres Piezas Para La Mano Izquierda:
Sí a Mompou (1983) (3.25) Katia Mitchell, piano Una pagina
para Rubinstein (1987) (4.18) EmiliBrugalla, piano Alborada En
Aurinx (1999) (6.34) Improviso Epilogal (1.48) Alegoria A Turina (1982)
(3.46) Raimon Garriga, piano Program notes in Catalá,
Castellano, English
COLUMNA MUSICA 1CM0036 [79.53] [PS]
As
if Debussy had lived ten years longer and moved to Vienna to study with
Berg … see Full Review
Ignaz MOSCHELES
(1794-1870) Piano
Concerto No. 1 (1818) [22.18] Piano Concerto No. 6 Fantastique
(1834) [16.59] Piano Concerto No. 7 Pathétique (1835)
[22.17] Howard Shelley
(piano) Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra rec. ABC Odeon, Hobart, Tasmania,
30 Aug-2 Sept 1999 DDD Romantic Piano Concerto vol. 32
HYPERION CDA67385 [61.49] [RB]
Vintage
romantic concertos ... freshly performed and directed ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Arias and Orchestral Music
Teddy Tahu Rhodes, bass-baritone Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra/Ola
Rudner Recorded Federation Concert Hall, Hobart, Tasmania, June, October
2002 ABC CLASSICS
472826 [66:57] [DS]
An
eminently pleasant voice, but characterisation …. … see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Oratorios La Betulia Liberata Azione sacra in due
parte, KV 118 Ozia
- Ernesto Palacio (tenor) - Giuditta - Gloria Banditelli (mezzo-soprano)
- Amital - Lynda Russell (soprano) - Achior - Petteri Salomaa (baritone)
- Cabri - Caterina Trogu Röhrich - Carmi - Sabina Macculi - Coro
del Centro di Musica Antica di Padova - Orchestra da Camera di Padova
e del Veneto/Peter Maag - Recording 15-21 June 1991, Palazzo Giusi,
Padova (Licensed from Denon) Die Schuldigkeit des Erstens Gebots
Erster teil eines geistlischen Singspiels, KV 35 Weltgeist -
Arleen Augér (soprano) - Gerechtigkeit- Krisztina Laki (soprano)
- Barmherzigkeit - Sylvia Geszty (soprano) - Christgeist - Werner Hollweg
(tenor) - Christ - Claes H. Ahnsjö (tenor) - Berliner Domkapelle/Roland
Bader - Recording 1980, Licensed from Koch International Die Freimaurermusiken
(Freemasons Music) - Cantata "Laut verkünde unsre Freude",
for 2 tenors, bass, men's chorus and orchestra KV 623 "Zerfliest
heut' geliebte Brüder", for tenor, men's chorus and organ KV
483 "Lobesgesang auf die feierlich Johannisloge", for tenor,
men's chorus and piano KV 148 "Ihr unsre neuen Leiter" for
tenor, men's chorus and organ, KV 468 Cantata "Die Maurerfreude"
for tenor, men's chorus and orchestra, KV 471 Mauerische Treuermusic
KV477 Cantata "Die ihr des unermesslichen Weltalls Schöpfer
ehrt" for tenor and piano, KV 619 Cantata "Dir, Seel des Weltalls,
O Sonne" for 2 tenors, bass, men's chorus and orchestra KV 429 Christoph
Prégardien (tenor) - Helmut Wildhaber (tenor) - Gottfried Hornik
(bass) - Peter Schneyder (bass) - Chorus Viennensis - Wiener Akademie/Martin
Haselböck - Recording 1991, Bratislava Grabmusik, Cantata
for Soprano, bass, choir, organ and orchestra, KV42 (a) Davidde Penitente,
Cantata for 2 sopranos, tenor, choir and orchestra KV 469 (b) Edith
Wiens (soprano) (a) - Thomas Hampson (baritone) (a) - Gertraud Landwehr-Herrmann
(soprano) (b) - Susanne Johns (soprano) (b) - Hermann Fischer (tenor)
(b) - Concentus Vocalis (a) - Wiener Akademie (a)
Choir and Orchestra Collegium Musicum of the University of Tübingen
(b) Martin Haselböck (conductor) (a) - Wilfried Fischer (conductor)
(b) - Recorded 1990, Bratislava (a) - Licensed from Bayer Records (b)
BRILLIANT CLASSICS
99944 [6CDs 76.33, 69.15, 44.55, 45.41, 61.25, 69.35] [RH]
Lesser
known works by Mozart in creditable performances, an ideal starting
point for those wishing to explore this neglected repertoire … see
Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano
Concerto No.20 in D minor, KV.466 (1785) Piano Concerto No.22 in E flat
major, KV.482 (1785) Fantasy in D minor, KV.397 (1782)
Michel Dalberto, Steinway Piano D274 Ensemble Orchestral de Paris/John
Nelson Recorded at Maison de l’Orchestre National d’lle de France, Alfortville,
August/September 2000
RCA BMG 74321844792 [69:00] [DS]
Although
fine performances, the readings are not superior to most of the alternative
recordings made in recent years. … see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Die
Entfuhrung aus dem Serail, singspiel in three acts, K.384 (1782)
- Konstanze (soprano) – Eva Mei ; Belmonte (tenor) – Rainer
Trost ; Osmin (bass) – Kurt Rydl ; Blonde (soprano) –
Patrizia Ciofi ; Pedrillo (tenor) – Mehrzad Montazeri ; Pasha
Selim (speaker) – Markus John
Orchestra and Chorus of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino/Zubin Mehta -
Recorded at the Teatro della Pergola, Florence, May 2002 - Directed
for the stage by Eike Gramms - Directed for television by George Blume
TDK Rai Trade DV-OPEADS
007905 [136 minutes] [TH]
An
eminently sensible way to get the opera, given such first-rate singing
and playing. Recommended. … see
Full Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto no. 22 in E flat, K.482, Piano Concerto no. 24 in c,
K.491 Fou Ts’ong
(piano/conductor)/Sinfonia Varsovia Recorded in the Warsaw Concert Hall
of the Fryderyk Chopin Conservatory of Music, date not given MERIDIAN CDE 84486 [64’ 46"] [CH]
This performance will be prized
by those who value Mozart for the combination of resigned sadness and
Olympian calm that lie beneath his rococo surface. … see Full
Review
Thea MUSGRAVE (born
1928) Memento
Vitae (1969/70)a Helios (1994)b Night
Music (1969)c The Seasons (1988)d
Nicholas Daniel (oboe)b; Scottish Chamber Orchestrabcd;
BBC Symphony Orchestraa; Nicholas Kraemerbcd,
Jac van Steena
Recorded: Studio 1, BBC Maida Vale, London, May 1998 (Memento
Vitae) and City Hall, Glasgow, May 1998 (Helios, The Seasons,
Night Music) NMC
ANCORA D 074 [79:34] [HC]
Gripping
and colourful … utmost sincerity and honesty, and deep inner turmoil.
… see Full Review
Carl NIELSEN
(1865-1931) Symphony
No.5, Op.50 (1922) Flute Concerto (1926) Entrance March (Aladdin
Incidental Music) (1919)
Andrew Nicholson, flute Hallé Orchestra/Mark Elder Recorded
in Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 27th - 28th May
and 17th October 2002.
Hallé CD HLL 7502 [60.08] [NH]
Brilliant
performances of brilliant music, in other words a great buy! … see Full
Review
Jacques
OFFENBACH
(1819-80) A Concert of Music by Offenbach
-
La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein (a) Ah, Que j'aime
les militaires; Dites-lui; Chanson militaire - Souvenirs D’Aix-les-Bains
- Fantasio: Ballade à la lune (a);
Duo fantasio (ab) - Le carnaval des revues (g) Symphonie
de l'avenir - Madame l'archiduc (adefgh) Sextuor de l'Alphabet.
Les Contes d'Hoffmann (ac) Entr’acte et Barcarole.
La belle Hélène Choeur des prêtresses
d’Adonis (i); Amours divins! (a) - Barbe-Bleue Y'a des
bergères dans le village (a). Ouverture à Grand
Orchestre Lischen et Fritzchen (ag) - Je suis alsacienne/Je
suis alsacien. La vie parisienne (adfg) Nous entrons dans
cette demeure. La fille du tambour-major (a) Que m'importe
un titre eclatant. La Périchole (a) Ah! quel diner
je viens de faire. Orphée aux Infers Galop infernal
(all) - (a) Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo) - (b) Magali Leger, (c) Stéphanie
d'Oustrac (sopranos); (d) Gilles Ragon, (e) Jean-Christophe Keck, (f)
Jean-Christophe Henry (tenors); (g) Laurent Naouri (baritone);(h) Christophe
Grapperon (bass); (i) Choeur des Musiciens du Louvre
Les Musiciens du Louvre/Marc Minkowski - Recorded: live performance,
Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, Dec 2001 - Producer:
Arend Prohmann - Ratio=4:3; LPCM Stereo/Dolby 5.1/DTS 5.1
DVD TDK DV-OPJOF [87minutes] [AB]
Good
singing in a live Offenbach concert. Several rarities. An irresistible
live theatre experience. … see Full
Review
Jacques OFFENBACH (1819-1880)
La Belle Hélène: André Dran (Paris),
Roger Giraud (Menelaus), Jacques Linoslas (Agamemnon), Lucien Mans (Valchas),
Jean Mollien (Achilles), Loly Valdarini (Orestes), Armand Duval (Ajax
1), Jean Hoffman (Ajax 2), Janine Linda [Linda Felder?] (Hélène),
Janine Weishardt (Bacchis), Jacqueline Vitry (Leona), Anette Martineau
(Parthonis), Paris Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra/René Leibowitz
- Recorded in 1952 - Emmanuel CHABRIER (1841-1894)
L’Etoile: Highlights: Fanély
Revoil (Lazuli), Lucie Thelin (Princess Laoula), René Bonneval
(Tapioca), Jeanne Mattio (Aloès), René Hérent (Ouf
1), André Balbon (Sirocco), Alban Derroja (Hérisson),
Paris Opéra Comique Chorus and Orchestra/Roger Désormière
- Recorded in 1941
REGIS RRC2062 [2 CDs 74:14, 59:14] [CH]
Not
for nothing has this set of La Belle Hélène been counted
among the five all-time great recordings of French opera. … see Full
Review
Jacques
OFFENBACH (1819
- 1880) Les
Contes d'Hoffmann (1881) Hoffmann - Nicolai Gedda (tenor) Olympia
- Gianna d'Angelo (soprano) Giulietta - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano)
Antonia - Victoria de Los Angeles (soprano)
Choeurs René Duclos Orchestre de la Société
des Concerts du Conservatoire/André Cluytens Recorded 1-5, 9-11,
21-23 September, 22 October, 22 December 1964, 19 February 1965 Salle
Wagram, Paris; 26, 27 May 1965, Barcelona
EMI CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 7243 5 67979 2 5 [2CDs:
76.29+75.47] [RH]
Never
really adds up, too often less than the sum of its parts. Individual
moments are fine, but does not warrant inclusion in the great voices
of the century. … see Full Review
Arvo PÄRT (b.
1935) Passio
(Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christi secundum Joannem) (1982) -
Robert McDonald, bass (Jesus) - Mark Anderson, tenor (Pilate)
Tonus Peregrinus/Anthony
Pitts - Recorded 15-18, 28 May 2001 at the Abbey Church of St. Peter
and St. Paul - Dorchester-on-Thames, UK. DDD
NAXOS 8.555860 [61:50] [KS]
Spotless
intonation, and a clear sense of the rhythmic ebb and flow, world class
… see Full Review
Paul
PATTERSON
(b. 1947) Hell’s Angels (1998) Mass of the Sea (1983)
Helen
Meyerhoff (soprano) Striking Sounds The Goldberg Quartet Crouch End
Festival Chorus/David Temple Ann Mackay (soprano) Christopher Keyte
(bass) Brighton Festival Chorus
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Geoffrey Simon Hell’s Angels recorded
in All Saints Church, East Finchley, London, November 2001 Mass of the
Sea recorded in All Saints church, Mitcham, December, 1986
DEUX–ELLES DXL 1050 [76:00] [CT]
Two
entertaining large-scale choral works by an accomplished British composer.
… see Full Review
Mogens
PEDERSØN (1585-1623) Madrigali a cinque voci, Libro primo
(1608):
Ecco la primavera - Se nel partir - Morirò, cor mio -
T’amo
mia vita - O che soave baccio - Son vivo e non son vivo - Care
lagrime
mie - Se del mio lagrimare - Come esser può - S’io rido et
scherzo
- Nell’ apparir dell’ amorosa Aurora - Tutti presero all’ hora -
Tra
queste Verdi fronde - Amor, per tua mercè - Donna. Mentr
I’vi
miro - Non voglio più sevire - Dimmi, caro ben mio - Io non
credea
gia mai -
Lascia, semplice, Lascia - Madonn’, Amor ed io - Et ella all’hor
spiegò
Musica Ficta/Bo
Holten
- Recorded Torpen Kapel, Humlebæk, November 2001 and
February
2002 DACAPO
8.224219
[57.42] [JW]
Holten
directs his excellent forces - seven singers - with fluidity and
acumen.
This is a most enjoyable dic all round....see Full
Review
Manuel PONCE
(1882 - 1948) Concerto
for Violin and Orchestra (1943) -
Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897 - 1957)
- Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major Op. 35 (1937-39)
Miranda Cuckson (violin)
- Czech National Symphony Orchestra/Paul Freeman - Recorded at ICN Polyart,
Prague, October 9 and 10, December 1 and 2, 1999 CENTAUR CRC 2513 [57. 52] [JW] [RB]
An attractive if, again, unusual
coupling of two mid-century works that embody entirely differing musical
aesthetics to make their points [JW]see
Full Review
Two American concertos one with a foot in Old Europe. Ponce a superb
alternative to Szeryng on ASV and the Korngold bright new wine [RB]…see
full review
Lucien
POSMAN (b.1952)
The
Book of Los (2000)a - Ten Songs of Experience (1996) - To
the Evening Star (2000) - To Morning (2000)
Els Crommen (soprano)a; Goeyvaerts Consort; Marc Legros (flute)a;
Bart Meynckens (piano)a: Marc Michael De Smet - Recorded:
Chapel of Bijloke Abbey, Gent, April 2002
CYPRÈS CYP 4616 [57:55] [HC]
Music
of great beauty and lyrical appeal … much to relish in this beautifully
simple but superbly crafted music … see Full Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) The
Tale of the Stone Flower Op. 118 (1948-53) A ballet in four acts
and nine scenes to a scenario by Mira Mendelson and Leonid Lavrovsky
from the book The Malachite Box by Pavel Bazhov
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Gianandrea Noseda rec. 21-22, 24, 28
Jan 2003, New Broadcasting House, Manchester. DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10058(2) [72.39+75.40] [RB]
Chandos,
the BBCPO and Noseda give the fillip of intensity that this music deserves
and make many moments rise up as classic Prokofiev. ... see Full
Review
Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924)
La Bohème -
Renata Tebaldi (Mimì), Giacinto Prandelli (Rodolfo), Hilde Gueden
(Musetta), Giovanni Inghilleri (Marcello), Fernando Corena (Schaunard),
Raphaël Arie (Colline), Piero de Palma (Parpignol), Melchiorre
Luise (Benoit/Alcindoro), Ildebrando Santafé (Sergeant), Coro
e Orchestra dell’Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Roma/Alberto Erede - Recorded
July 1951 in the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Rome - First
issued as Decca LXT 2622-3 - Also highlights (Che gelida manina,
Sì, mi chiamano Mimi*, O soave fanciulla, Quando m’en vo, Donde
lieta uscì*, Dunque è proprio finita? In un coupè?
... O Mimì, tu più non torni, Sono andati?) with the
following performers:
Licia Albanese (Mimì), Giuseppe di Stefano (Rodolfo), Patrice
Munsel (Musetta), Leonard Warren (Marcello), George Cehanovsky (Schaunard),
Nicola Moscona (Colline), RCA Victor Orchestra/Renato Cellini, Victor
Trucco* - Recorded 31.3.1949, 21.12.1950, 23-24.3.1951 in the Manhattan
Center, New York City - First issued as RCA Victor LM-1709 - CD transfers
by Mark Obert-Thorn
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110252-53 [2 CDs: 76:22, 66:46] [CH]
Tebaldi’s
1959 Bohème is well-known, but this 1951 version has a lot going
for it too. … see Full Review
Opera
Double Pack DVD -
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) La Bohème (1896)
- Mimi (sop) – Mirella Freni; Rodolfo (tenor) – Luciano
Pavarotti; Musetta (sop) – Sandra Pacetti; Marcello (bar)
– Gino Quilico; Colline (bass) – Nicolai Ghiaurov; Schaunard
(bar) – Stephen Dickson; Benoit (bass) – Italo Tajo; Alcindoro
(bass) – Italo Tajo Chorus
and Orchestra of San Francisco Opera/Tiziano Severini - Recorded San
Francisco Opera House, 1988
ARTHAUS DVD 1000 056 [116 minutes]
- Madama
Butterfly (1904) Cio-Cio San (sop) – Yasuko Hayashi;
Suzuki (mezzo) – Hak-Nam Kim; Pinkerton (tenor) – Peter
Dvorsky; Sharpless (bar) – Giorgio Zancanaro; Kate Pinkerton
(mezzo) – Anna Caterina; Goro (tenor) – Ernesto Gavazzi
Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan/Lorin Maazel - Recorded La Scala,
Milan. 1986 ARTHAUS
DVD 1000 110 [144 minutes] [TH]
This
double pack is hard to beat for value, and the lack of extras has to
be set against its cheap price ...see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Turandot.
Opera in 3 acts as completed by Franco Alfano. Princess Turandot, Giovanna
Cassolla (sop). Prince Calaf, Lando Bartolini (ten). Liu, Masako Deguci
(sop). Timur, Felipe Bou (bass). Emperor Altoum, Francisco Heredia (ten).
Ping, Armando Ariostino (bar). Pong, Vincenç Esteve (ten). Pang,
Javier Más (ten).
Choral Society of Bilbao Escalonia Santa Maria de la Victoria Malaga
Philharmonic Orchestra/ Alexander Rahbari. Recorded 26th
– 27th October 2001 in the Teatro Municipal de Crvantes,
Madrid, Spain. Bargain Price
NAXOS 8.660089-90 [2CDs: 52.14 +53.34 min] [RF]
On
record the gold standard is set by Decca’s 1972 Kingsway Hall recording
with Sutherland and Pavarotti supported by Caballé, no less,
as Liu and Ghiaurov as Timur. Other recordings that have followed, including
this one, have been less successful ... see
Full Review
Jan RÄÄTS (b.1932)
Symphony
No. 8 Op. 74 (1989) [20.36] - Béla BARTÓK
(1881-1945) Concerto for Orchestra (1943) [40.54]
Magdeburgisches Philharmonie/Christian Ehwald - rec. live 21-22 March
2002, Großen Haus des Theaters der Landeshauptstadt. DDD
ANTES EDITION BM-CD 31.9183 [61.35] [RB]
Rääts
as provocative as ever but never loses contact with the wider audience.
... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Joachim RAFF (1822-1882)
Works
for Violin and Piano, Volume 1. First Grand Sonata, Op. 73 (1853/4)
[27’53]. Duo, Op. 59 (1848, rev. 1852) [14’04]. Two Fantasy Pieces,
Op. 58 (1850, 1852) [18’08: 8’48 + 9’16]. Duo on Motifs from Wagner’s
Tannhäuser, Op. 63 No. 2 (1853) [11’31].
Ingolf Turban (violin); Jascha Nemtsov (piano)Rec. Chamber Music
Studio of South West German Radio, Stuttgart, on June 20th,
21st and 23rd, 2000. DDD
CPO 999 767-2 [71’53] [CC]
Wholeheartedly
recommended. This disc is a box of life-affirming delights waiting to
be opened. … see Full Review
Jean-Philippe RAMEAU
(1683 - 1764) Zoroastre
(1749) Zoroastre - Mark Padmore (haute-contre) Abramane - Nathan Berg
(basse) Amelite - Gaelle Mechaly (dessus) Erinice - Anna Maria Panzarella
(dessus) Zopire - Matthieu Lecroart (basse) Narbanor - Francois Bazola
(basse) Oromases - Eric Martin Bonnet (basse) Cephie - Stephanie Revidat
(dessus) La Vengeance - Matthieu Lecroart (basse) Ariman - Eric Martin
Bonnet (basse)
Les Arts Florissants/William Christie (director) Recorded 28 August
- 10 September 2002, Theatre de Poissy, Poissy
ERATO 0927 43182-2 [3CDs: 68.08+55.51+38.35] [RH]
Rameau's
opera returns to the catalogue in an outstanding performance from Les
Arts Florissants. … see Full Review
Alan RAWSTHORNE
(1905-1971) Piano
Concerto No.1 (1939, rev.1942) - Piano Concerto No.2 (1951) - Improvisations
on a theme of Constant Lambert (1960)
Peter Donohoe (piano) - Ulster Orchestra/Takuo Yuasa - Recorded in Usher
Hall, Belfast, 20-24 November 2001. DDD
NAXOS 8.555959 [56’19] [TH]
Readily
accessible, with fairly short movements that have plenty of life and
colour. … Donohoe revels in the textures … see Full
Review
Emil Von REZNICEK
(1860-1945) Ritter
Blaubart - A Fairy-Tale Opera in Three Acts (1915-1917) - Ritter
Blaubart - David Pittman-Jennings (baritone); Count Niklaus - Arutjun
Kotchinian (bass); Werner, his son - Robert Wörle (tenor); Judith,
his daughter - Celina Lindsley (soprano); Agnes, his daughter - Andion
Fernandez (soprano); Josua, Blaubart’s blind servant - Victor Sawaley
(tenor); The Pastor - Carsten Sabrowski (bass); Hinz, a grave robber
- Johannes Schmidt (bass); Ratte, a grave robber - Peter Maus (tenor)
Berlin Radio Symphony
Orchestra/Michail Jurowski - Rec. Grosser Sendesaal, Berlin, Germany,
4, 5, 12-16 March 2002
CPO 999 899-2 [2CDs: 132.39] [CF]
Melodramatic
though this all is, the musical result is impressive, and the performance
here under Michail Jurowski utterly convincing. … see Full
Review
Ned ROREM (born 1923) End of Summer (1985) - Book of Hours (1975) -
Bright Music (1987) The
Fibonacci Sequence - Recorded: Potton Hall, Suffolk, October 2001
NAXOS 8.559128 [59:59] [HC]
Music to take you by surprise, delight
or irritate … the players enjoy the music and respond with zestful,
committed readings of these sometimes enigmatic works. … see
Full Review
Arnold
ROSNER (1945-) Sextet
for Strings Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland Op. 47 (1970 rev. 1997)
[24.53] - Besos sin cuento (Kisses without number)
Op. 86 (1980s?) [20.03] - Trombone Sonata Op. 106 (1996) [17.08]
Sestetto Agosto (Sextet);
Pinotage (Besos); Gregory Erickson (trombone); Angelina Tallaj (piano)
(Sonata) - rec. Northminster Presbyterian Church, Evanston, Illinois,
15-16 Aug 1999 (sextet), 12 June 2000 (Besos); Patrych Sound Studios,
Bronx, NY, 1 Dec 2000 (sonata) DDD
ALBANY TROY553 [63.19] [RB]
Heartfelt
and soulful music that puts the agreeable superficialities that pass
for popular profundity into perspective. It is long past time that this
music was discovered ... see Full Review
Francis
ROUTH (b.1927)
Piano Music Bretagne
- Scenes for Piano IV Op.68 (1998)a Angels of Albion – Scenes
for Piano III Op.64 (1995)a Elegy (1986)b Celebration
Op.45 (1984)b
Lora Dimitrova (piano)a; Jeffrey Jacob (piano)b Recorded:
Moor Park, Ludlow, May 1999 (Bretagne); The Downs School, Colwall,
November 2000 (Angels of Albion) and BBC Maida Vale Studio 2,
London, May 1986 (Elegy, Celebration)
REDCLIFFE RECORDINGS RR 018 [61:10] [HC]
Carefully
prepared, immaculate, committed readings pay a well-deserved tribute
to a most distinguished composer whose music is regrettably too rarely
heard. … see Full Review
Edmund RUBBRA
(1901-1986)
The Sacred Muse Magnificat
and Nunc Dimittis in A flat, Op. 65* (1948) [7’23"] - Tenebrae
First Nocturn Op. 72 (1951): ‘In monte Oliveti’ [2’21"] - ‘Tristis
est anima mea’ [3’12"] - ; ‘Ecce vidimus eum’ [4’14"] -
Tenebrae Second Nocturn Op. 72 (1961): ‘Amicus meus’ [2’42"] -
‘Judas mercator pessimus’ [2’22"] - ‘Unus ex discipulis’ [2’31"]
- Tenebrae Third Nocturn Op. 72 (1961): ‘Eram quasi agnus innocens’
[3’22"] - ‘Una hora non potuistis’ [2’18"] - ‘Seniores populi’
[2’58"] - Salutation Op. 82 [3’23"] - Missa in Honorem Sancti
Dominici Op. 66 (1948) [16’17"] - Festival Gloria Op. 94 (1957)
[5’27"] *James E.
Jordan Jr. (organ) - Gloria Dei Cantores/Elizabeth C. Patterson - Recorded
in the Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
GLORIA DEI CANTORES GDCD 024 [58’28"] [JQ]
Do
hear this fine disc… Gloria Dei Cantores’ finest achievement to date.
Enterprise in their choice of repertoire and their expertise in execution.
… see Full Review
Poul RUDERS (b.1949)
-
Violin Concerto No.1 (1981)a - Etude and Ricercare (1994)b
- The Bells (1993)c
The Christmas Gospel (1994)d - Rolf Schulte (violin)a;
David Starobin (guitar)b; Lucy Shelton (soprano)c;
Riverside Symphonya; Speculum Musicaec; Malmö
Symphony Orchestrad; George Rothmana, David Starobinc,
Ola Rudnerd - Recorded: SUNY Purchase, Theatre C, November
1994 (Violin Concerto No.1); MasterSound Astoria, June 1995 (Etude
and Ricercare); American Academy of Arts and Letters, April 1994
(The Bells) and Malmö, October 1994 (The Christmas Gospel)
BRIDGE BCD 9057 [61:46]
[HC]
A
composer in full command of his aims and means, no longer afraid to
give his lyrical nature full rein. … see Full
Review
Poul RUDERS (b.1949)
-
Paganini Variations (1999/2000)a - The City in the Sea (1990)b
- Anima (1993)c
Mette Ejsing (contralto)b; Michaela Fukacova (cello)c;
David Starobin (guitar)a; Odense Symphony Orchestra; Jan
Wagner - Recorded: Carl Nielsen Hall, Odense Koncerthus, Odense, May
2002 BRIDGE 9122
[57:37] [HC]
A
convinced lyricist. … a composer who enjoys writing for large forces
and who relishes the many expressive possibilities of present-day orchestra.
… 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]