RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

Sir Arthur BLISS (1891-1975) Piano Quartet (1915) [15:38] Sonata for Viola and Piano (1933) [24:25] Oboe Quintet (1927) [22:03] Maggini Quartet: Lawrence Jackson and David Angel, violin; Martin Outram, viola; Michael Kaznowski, cello. Peter Donohoe, piano. (Quartet) Julian Rolton, piano. (Sonata) Nicholas Daniel, oboe. Recorded at Potton Hall, Suffolk, England 18-20 December 2001 DDD NAXOS 8.555931 [62:07] [KS]

Bliss is a composer who strikes the perfect balance between sheer aural pleasure and intellectual challenge … see Full Review

Hanns EISLER (1898-1962) String Quartet (1937) Anton WEBERN (1883-1945) Five Pieces for String Quartet Op.5 (1909) Alexander von ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942) String Quartet No.2 Op.15 (1915) Quatuor Johannes: Frederic Angleraux (violin); Jerome Meunier (violin); Nicholas Mouret (viola); Jean-Sebastien Barbet (cello) - No recording information provided in English. DDD MECENAT MUSICAL 222472 [65:30] [MC]

The Webern and Zemlinsky scores are indispensable in any chamber music collection and these performances are out of the top-drawer. … see Full Review

Francisco GUERRERO (1951 – 1997) Complete Orchestral Works Coma Berenices (1996) Ariadna (1984) Sáhara (1991) Oleada (1993) Antar Atman (1980) Orquesta Sínfonica de Galicia/José Ramón Encinar Recorded: Auditorio, Teatro Rosalia de Castro, La Coruña, April and September 1999 and March 2000 COL LEGNO WWE 1CD20044 [54:53] [HC]

Complex, demanding, often gripping, powerfully expressive and ultimately rewarding … see Full Review

Matthew LOCKE (c.1622-1677) Complete Keyboard Works William GREGORY (1651-1687) Almain, Corant and Saraband from Suite in D minor (Melothesia 1673). Terence Charlston (harpsichord, virginals and organ) Recorded at St.Martin’s Church, East Woodhay, September 2001 and Trinity Collage Chapel, Cambridge, December 2001. DDD DEUX-ELLES DXL 1047 [MC]

Performances could hardly be bettered; this release is one to be treasured. … see Full Review

Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879-1936) La Boutique Fantasque (ballet to music of Rossini) P120 (1919) - La pentola magica P129 (1920) - Prelude and Fugue in D major, P158 (1901) BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Gianandrea Noseda - Rec. Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester, 2^nd, 5^th and 6^th October 2002 DDD CHANDOS CHAN-10081 [79’35"] [JP]

I can thoroughly recommend this superb example of technical and musical skill and wonderful performances by the BBC Phil and their new chief conductor. More please!!! … see Full Review

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphony No. 6 (1923) [27.01] Symphony No. 7 (1924) [21.19] Tapiola (1926) [15.42] City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sakari Oramo rec. Birmingham Symphony Hall, 6-8 Jan 2003 WARNER ERATO 0927 49144 2 [64.22] [RB]

If you like your Sibelius served ablaze rather than cool then Oramo is certainly the man for you. I loved this. I think you will too. Magnificent ... see Full Review

Prague String Quartets Luboš FIŠER (1935-1999) String Quartet (1986) Sylvie BODOROVÁ (b 1954) Shofarot-String Quartet No 4 (2000) Otmar MÁCHA (b 1922) String Quartet No 2 (1987) Zdeněk LUKÁŠ (b 1928) String Quartet No 4 Op 213 (1987) - Jupiter Quartet Recorded Domovina Studios, Prague, June and July 2001 ARCO DIVA UP 0044-2 131 [63.40] [JW]

A very strong recommendation. Likeable, winning and effective works receiving committed advocacy … see Full Review

 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH

Leonard BERNSTEIN (1917-1990) On the Waterfront – Symphonic Suite from the Film,Chichester Psalms, On the Town – Three Dance Episodes Thomas Kelly, treble Elizabeth Franklin-Kitchen, soprano Victoria Nayler, alto Jeremy Budd, tenor, Paul Charrier, bass Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Marin Alsop Recorded at Lighthouse, Poole Centre for the Arts, UK on April 14^th-15^th 2003 NAXOS 8.559177 [48:36] [GPJ]

Naxos have produced another winner here; wonderful playing and singing, and a recording which is crystal clear and atmospheric … see Full Review

Mikhail GLINKA (1804-1857) Ruslan and Lyudmila: Overture and Chernamor’s March (1842)* Overture: A Life for the Tsar (1836) Waltz-Fantasia (1856) Spanish Overtures Nos. 1 and 2 (1845) Incidental Music: Prince Kholmsky (1841) Polka in B flat major (1840) (orchestrated Balakirev) USSR Symphony Orchestra/Yevgeni Svetlanov *Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra/Yevgeni Svetlanov Rec 1963 (Ruslan and Lyudmila), 1967 (Waltz, Overtures), 1977 (A Life for the Tsar), 1984 (Prince Kholmsky, Polka) REGIS RRC 1142 [75.55] [TB]

Colourful musicmaking … all Svetlanov’s performances have an authentic feel … see Full Review

George Frederick MCKAY (1899-1970) Caricature Dance Suite (1924) * From My Tahoe Window - Summer Moods and Patterns (1965) * Americanistic Etude, Op. 27 (1924)* An April Suite, Op. 3 (1924) * Dance Suite No. 2 (1938) * Dancing in a Dream (1945) * ² Excerpts from Five Songs for Soprano (1964) * ¹ Every Flower That Ever Grew (1969) * ¹ Suite for Viola and Piano (1948) ³ º William Bolcom, piano * Joan Morris, mezzo-soprano ¹ Logan Skelton, piano ² Sanford Margolis, piano ³ Mahoko Eguchi, viola º Recorded at The Brookwood Studio, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 1999-February 2001. NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559143 [64.00] [NH]

Another Naxos American Classics gem - understated but beautiful folk-and jazz-inflected 20^th century music … see Full Review

 

Hallé: English Rhapsody George BUTTERWORTH* (1885-1916) A Shropshire Lad: Rhapsody for Orchestra (1911) - Two English Idylls (1910-1911) - The Banks of Green Willow (1914) - Frederick DELIUS * (1862-1934) Irmelin: Prelude (1931) - The Walk to the Paradise Garden (1907) - Brigg Fair: An English Rhapsody (1907) Percy GRAINGER † (1882-1961) Brigg Fair (1906) - Trad. Brigg Fair (1908) James Gilchrist, tenor, Joseph Taylor, singer Hallé Choir - Hallé Orchestra/Mark Elder - Recorded 11-12^th October 2002, BBC Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester, UK (*), 17^th October 2002, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester (†) PASSIONATE HALLE CD HLL 7503 [62:47] [GPJ]

A thoughtfully compiled programme, finely recorded, and containing really impressive

Alfred SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) Cello Concerto No.1 (1985-86) - ‘Sounding Letters’ for solo cello (1988) - Four Hymns for cello and instrumental ensemble (1974-77) Torlief Thedéen (cello) - Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra/Leif Segerstam - Recorded at the Danish Radio Concert Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2-3 Nov. 1989 - (concerto) and Danderyd Grammar School, Sweden, 15-16 Sept, 1990 (rest) BIS CD 300507 [70’35] [TH]

This is another clear recommendation for this repertoire and anyone fancying any of the music need not hesitate. … see Full Review

MusicWeb is planning its first recording of previously unrecorded orchestral pieces by Arthur Butterworth. If you would wish to part-sponsor that recording please contact len@musicweb-international.com

Did you know you could help sponsor a new recording for as little as £10 - a symphony for £25? such as this one  now reviewed here: GRAHAM WHETTAM  Sinfonia Intrepida   BBCSO/Sir Charles Mackerras.   Redcliffe Recordings RR016 (44' 11'') [PC] Read on

  Special offers on LudwigvanWeb
click here, select Special Offers then All Offers

 

---

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]

MusicWeb is now part of the ClassicAll network. Our partner site within the ClassicAll network is www.ludwigvanWeb.com You will now be able to hear extract from reviews of any of our partner labels which you can identify from the special samplebutton.

Whilst MusicWeb and much of LudwigvanWeb will remain free, the ClassicAll network will also offer you a great-value subscription service. You will be offered a package of a dozen CDs a year plus downloading facilities at a special rate for MusicWeb visitors. The offer will become available through the portal site and combines the best features of a high quality classical music magazine and all the convenience of your local record shop with the many real advantages of the Internet.

Through this service MusicWeb will no longer have to bombard you with advertisements as we did all last year but it does depend upon our subscription package being attractive enough that visitors will actually desire to take out a subscription. Once the details of the package become available please e-mail any comments and I will pass them on to those at ClassicAll.

Len Mullenger

We are grateful to clipart.com for some of the special graphics used on these pages

Return to Front page