|
Search the entire MusicWeb site Any review; Any Article |
Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Sinfonia No.4 in D - Sinfonia No.10 in G - Sinfonia No.12 in G Giovanni Battista PERGOLESI (1710-1736) Concerto in B flat Francesco BARBELLA (1692-1732) Concerto in C Francesco DURANTE (1684-1755) Concerto ‘La Pazzia’ in A - Concerto in B flat Leonardo LEO (1694-1744) Concerto in D minor (L60) L’Arte Dell’Arco/Federico Guglielmo (violin) - Rec. Oratorio di San Nicole, Vicenza, Italy, 28-30 January, 2000 DDD GAUDEAMUS CD GAU 330 [73:27] [MC]
This disc of Domenico Scarlatti Sinfonie and Concerti that isn’t, was not my most pleasurable listening experience. … see Full Review BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony no.13 op.113 Babi Yar (1963) - Symphony no.14 op.135 (1970) Mvts. 1-6 (CD1) Mvts. 7-11 (CD2) - Symphony no.15 op.141 (1973) Anatoly Kotscherga (bass) National Male Voice Choir of Estonia in Symphony no.13 - Ljuba Kazarnovskaya (soprano) and Sergei Leiferkus in Symphony no. 14 - Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi - Recorded at Gothenburg Konserthuset, September 1988 (No.15), May 1992 (No.14), November 1995 (No.13) DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 474 469-2 [73:40+80:17] [GPJ]
Not comfortable listening but some of the greatest written in the 20th century … see Full Review Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano
Sonatas Piano Sonata in B flat major D 960 [43’52"] - Piano Sonata
in B major D 575 [22’33"} - Lebensstürme for piano duet* [11’38"]
Klára Würtz
(piano) - *with Pieter van Winkel (piano) - Recorded 11 May &
28/29 November 2000 - Piano Sonata in A major D 959 [44’44"] - Piano
Sonata in E minor D 566 [25’52"] - Frank van de Laar (piano)
- Recorded 17/18 October 2000 - Piano Sonata in C minor D 958 [31’00"]
- Six Moments Musicaux D 780 [28’17"] - Folke Nauta (piano)
- Recorded 20 March, 20 June 2000 - Piano Sonata in D major D 850 "Gasteiner"
[41’52"] - Piano Sonata in C major D 840 "Relique" [23’37"]
- Piano Sonata in A flat major D 557 [14’19"] - Frank van de Laar
(piano) - Recorded 13/14 November 2000 - Piano Sonata in A minor D 784
[23’42"] - Piano Sonata in G major D 894 [39’43"] - David
Kuyken (piano) - Recorded 7/8 December 2000 - Piano Sonata in A minor
D 537 [23’42"] - Piano Sonata in A major D 664 [23’47"] - Drei
Klavierstücke (Impromptus) D 946* [29’48"] - Klára
Würtz (piano) - *Pieter van Winkel (piano) - Recorded
10/11 May, 13 December 2000 - Piano Sonata in A minor D 845 [38’09"]
- Piano Sonata in E major D 459 [27’59"] - Bart van Oort (fortepiano)
- Recorded 30 November, 1 December 2000 - iano Sonata in F sharp minor
D570/571 (finished by Alwin Bär) [17’16"] - Piano Sonata in
C major D 613 (finished by Alwin Bär) [16’23"] - Piano Sonata
in F minor D 625 (finished by Alwin Bär) [19’35"] - Sonata Movement
in C sharp minor D 655 (finished by Alwin Bär) [4’26"] - Ungarische
Melodie D 817 [4’18"] - Zwei Scherzi D 593 [9’35"] - Alwin
Bär (piano) - Recorded 11/12 April 2000 - Piano Sonata in E major
D 157 [15’00"] - Piano Sonata in C major D 279 [22’17"] - Piano
Sonata in E flat major D 568 [23’19"] - Fantasie in C minor D 2e
[7’15"] - Allegretto in C minor D 915 [4’19} - Scherzo in B flat
major D 593 [4’34"] - Tamara Rumiantsev (piano) - Recorded
18/19 December 2000 - Impromptus Op. 90 Nos. 1 – 4 [27’20"] - Impromptus
Op. 142, Nos. 1- 4 [39’04"] - Martijn van den Hoek (piano)
- Recorded 24/25 June 2000 - Fantasie in C major D 760 "Wanderer
Fantasie" [21’32"] - Deutsche Tänze Op. 9 Nos. 2, 3, 5
& 6 [1’48"] - Deutsche Tänze Op. 18 Nos. 1 & 4 [1’57"]
- 12 Wiener Deutsche Tänze D 128 [12’11"] - Wiener Deutsche
Tänze D 643 & 722 [1’37"] - 2 Deutsche Tänze D 769
[2’02"] - 16 Deutsche Tänze D 783 [10’39"] - Deutsche Tänze
D 820 [6’06"] - Deutsche Tänze D 970 [3’45"] - 3 Deutsche
Tänze D 971 [2’16] - 3 Deutsche Tänze D 972 [2’00"] - 3
Deutsche Tänze D 973 [3’03"] - 2 Deutsche Tänze D 974 [1’16"]
- Deutsche Tänze D 975 [0’53"] - Martijn van den Hoek (piano)
- Recorded 24/25 June 2000; all recordings made in Remonstrantse Gemeente
Deventer BRILLIANT CLASSICS
99798 [11 CDs 78’08"+70’42"+61’01"+79’54"+62’15"+77’19"+66’10"+71’36"+76’51"+66’24"
This box represents an outstanding bargain and can be recommended with confidence. … see Full Review
Siegmund Freiherr VON SECKENDORFF (1744-1785) ‘Lieder’ Wend’, o wende diesen Blick [02:15] - Es war ein Bu(h)le frech genug [03:39] - Hans an Veit [02:20] - Gretchen an Veit [03:20] - Liebes-Treue [02:11] - Das Thal der Liebe [02:44] - Alise [01:47] - An die Liebe [01:41] - An Laura, früh [00:58] - An Laura, abends [[01:34] - Nacht-Ständchen [02:00] - Antwort im Traume [02:02] - Wilhelms Geist [03:53] - Liebeserscheinung [01:53] - O weh, o weh, hinab in’s Thal [01:35] - Darthulas Grabes-Gesang [04:46] - Trost der Sehnsucht, an Fatimme [02:49] - Das Veilchen – Romanze [03:34] - Der Fischer [02:44] - Proserpina (I) [02:27] - Proserpina (II) [01:04] - Füllest wieder ‘s liebe Thal (An den Mond) [02:41] - Der König von Thule [03:48] Jan Kobow, tenor - Ludger Rémy, fortepiano [Johann David Schiedermayer, Erlangen 1790] - Recorded in June 2001 at the Karthäuserkirche of the Germanisches - Nationalmuseum, Munich DDD CPO 999 817-2 [57:51] [JVV]
Songs by an unknown, amateur composer of the 18th century, giving an insight into the world of the German aristocracy in the time of the Enlightenment. … see Full Review Nikos SKALKOTTAS (1904-1949) Concerto for two Violins with two pianos (1944-5) - Works for Wind Instruments and Piano (1939-1943) - Quartets 1 and 2 for Oboe, Trumpet, Bassoon and piano - Concertino for Oboe and piano - Concertino for trumpet and Piano - Sonata Concertante for Bassoon and Piano Eiichi Chijiiwas and Ina Zymbalist, Violins; Alexei Ogrintchouk, oboe; Eric Aubier, trumpet; Marc Trenel, Bassoon; Nikolaos Samaltanos and Christophe Sirodeau, Pianos - Recorded at the Church of Evangelique Saint-Michel, Paris February-May 2002 BIS CD 1244 [79.26] [GH]
A unique experience - a little hairshirt at times but like retsina there is nothing else quite as memorable or addictive ... see Full Review Johann STRAUSS II (1825-99) Die Fledermaus (1874) Mireille Delunsch sop (Rosalinde) - Malin Hartelius sop (Adele) - Christoph Homberger ten (Eisenstein) - Jerry Hadley ten (Alfred) - Olaf Bär bar (Doctor Falke) - David Moss sngr (Prince Orlofsky) - Dale Duesing bar (Frank) - Franz Supper ten (Doctor Blind) - Daniela Mühlbauer sop (Ida) - Elisabeth Trissenaar spkr (Frosch) - Arnold Schoenberg Chorus - Mozarteum Orchestra, Salzburg/Marc Minkowski - Stage director: Hans Neuenfels - Video director: Don Kent - Sound PCM Stereo/Dolby 5.1, Format 16:9 - Recorded at the Salzburg Festival in 2001 DVD ARTHAUS MUSIK 100 340 [170 minutes] [AB]
Not a performance but a travesty; best avoided. … see Full Review
Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
The
Rite of Spring (1913)
An Introduction, written and narrated by Jeremy Siepmann - BRT Philharmonic
Orchestra, Brussels/Alexander Rahbari - Recorded 2003(?), Air Edel Studios,
London NAXOS 8.558085-86
[2:34:52] [GPJ] Arthur SULLIVAN (1842-1900) Yeoman of the Guard, 1888 (complete, without dialogue) - The Gondoliers, 1889 ( ditto) - Ruddigore, 1887 (highlights) Martin Green, Leonard Osborn, Darryl Fancourt, Richard Watson, Muriel Harding, Ella Halman, Ann Drummond-Grant - The D’Oyly Carte Opera Company/Isidore Godfrey - Mono, AAD Recorded 1950. REGIS RRC 3003 [3CDs: 76.04+77.11+74.56] [AB]
Good presentation of 1950 vintage D’Oyly Carte, well sung and conducted. … see Full Review Arthur SULLIVAN (1842-1900) Iolanthe, comic opera (1882) Libretto by William S. Gilbert (1836-1911] - Martyn Green, Lord Chancellor (bar); Ann Drummond-Grant, Iolanthe (mezzo) - Margaret Mitchell, Phyllis (sop); Ella Halman, Fairy Queen (cont); Alan Styler, Strephon (bar); Leonard Osborn, Tolloller (tenor); Fisher Morgan, Mountararat (bass) - D'Oyly Carte chorus and orchestra/Isidore Godfrey - Pineapple Poll arr. Charles Mackerras (1951) - Sadler's Wells Orchestra/Mackerras - Rec. 1951, Sadler’s Wells NAXOS 8.110231-32 [58.36+73.07] [RW]
Under Isidore Godfrey’s direction we are given a lively reading and more sensitivity than is sometimes found in the Sargent EMI recordings … see Full Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH - Peter
Ilych TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Piano
Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23 (1875) Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Piano Concerto No. 4 in C minor,
Op. 44 (1875) Joyce Hatto,
piano - National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by René
Köhler - Recorded at the Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge, United
Kingdom, March 1997 - (Tchaikovsky) and January 1999 (Saint-Saëns)
CONCERT ARTIST CACD9086-2
[61.47] [WH]
Piotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Concert Fantasia in G major for Piano and Orchestra, Op.56 (1884) - Quasi rondo. Andante mosso - Contrasts - Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor, Op.16 (1912-13, rev. 1924) - Andantino - Scherzo. Vivace - Intermezzo. Allegro moderato - Finale. Allegro tempestoso Igor Ardašev, piano - Prague Symphony Orchestra/Leoš Svárovský - Recorded in Smetana Hall, Municipal House, Prague, April 1998 SUPRAPHON 3757-2 [60:58] [DS]
Consider this fine disc for your library … see Full Review
Peter Ilych TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23 (1875) Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Piano Concerto No. 4 in C minor, Op. 44 (1875) Joyce Hatto, piano - National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by René Köhler - Recorded at the Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge, United Kingdom, March 1997 - (Tchaikovsky) and January 1999 (Saint-Saëns) CONCERT ARTIST CACD9086-2 [61.47] [WH] But Joyce Hatto’s tumultuous reading should be in every collection. … see Full Review Edward THOMAS (b.1924) Desire Under the Elms - An American Folk Opera in Three Acts based on a Play by Eugene O'Neill (1970-74) [125.50] Libretto: Joe Masteroff Eben - Jerry Hadley Cabot - James Morris Abbie - Victoria Livengood Simeon - Mel Ulrich Peter - Jeffrey Lentz Sheriff - Darth Meadows London Symphony Orchestra/George Manahan rec. Abbey Road Studios, London, July 2000, KAS Music and Sound, New York, Sept 2000, Jan-June 2002 DDD NAXOS AMERICAN OPERA CLASSICS 8.669001-02 [125.50] [RB] Human foibles, tragedy and sin reflected unflinchingly in this knowingly pastoral-verismo score. Not a naive bone in its body. ... see Full Review Dimitri TIOMKIN (1894-1979) Red River - film score (1948) Score restoration by John Morgan - Moscow Symphony Orchestra & Choir/William Stromberg - Recorded at Mosfilm Studio, Moscow, Russia in Feb-March, 2002 MARCO POLO 8.225217 [64:10] [SA] Marco Polo have done a wonderful service in ensuring that such a brilliant score has been fully restored and recorded … see Full Review Thomas TOMKINS (1572-1656) ‘Above the starrs – Verse anthems and Consort music’ O Lord, let me knowe myne end [07:03] - Fantasia a 6 (VdGS No. 2*) [03:28] - Pavan a 6 [03:24] - Galliard a 6 [01:33] - Fantasia a 3 (VdGS No. 14) [02:26] - In Nomine a 3 (VdGS No. 2) [02:10] - Ut re mi fa sol la a 4 [06:41] - Sing unto god [06:10] - Pavan a 4 [03:14] - Alman a 4 [01:21] - Above the starrs my saviour dwells [03:56] - Fantasia a 3 (VdGS No. 10) [02:37] - Pavan a 5 (VdGS No. 6) [04:43] - Woe is me (from: Songs, 1622) [03:12] - In Nomine a 3 (VdGS No. 1) [02:28] - Fantasia a 6 (VdGS No. 3) [02:50] - Thou art my king [04:13] - Fantasia a 3 (VdGS No. 3) [02:04] - Fantasia a 6 (VdGS No. 1) [03:32] - Rejoice, rejoice and singe [05:52] (*VdGS = Thematic Index of Music for Viols, compiled by Gordon Dodd) - Emma Kirkby (soprano), Catherine King (contralto), Charles Daniels (tenor), Donald Greig (baritone), Richard Wistreich, Jonathan Arnold (bass) - Fretwork: Richard Boothby, Richard Campbell, Wendy Gillespie, Julia Hodgson, William Hunt, Susanna Pell, viols - Recorded in June 2002 in St Bartholomew’s Church, Orford, Suffolk, England DDD HARMONIA MUNDI HMU 907320 [73:31] [JVV]
Consort music and verse anthems by Thomas Tomkins – splendid music, excellent performance ... see Full Review Eduard TUBIN (1905-82) Symphony no. 3 in D minor (1940-42); Symphony no. 8 (1966) Swedish Radio SO/Neeme Järvi Rec. Stockholm, 1980s DDD BIS-CD-342 [62' 46"] [DW] This Third Symphony is a cracker. I immediately recommend you buy this disc. … see Full Review
Louis VARNEY (1844-1908)
Les
Mousquetaires au Couvent (The Musketeers in the Convent) (1880)
Operetta (complete, with abridged dialogue in French)
Colette Riedinger (sop) Simone; Pierre Blanc (ten) Gontran; Gabriel Bacquier
(bar) - Brissac; Louis Musy (bar) Bridaine; Mireille Lacoste (sop) Louise
- Robert Benedetti, conductor - Rec. Universal (Decca) Studios, Antony,
France 1957 - mono (2CDs for the price of one)
DISCOVERY/ACCORD OPERETTE SERIES 465 874-2 [101.08] [RW]
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Giuseppe VERDI Inessa GALANTE(1813-1901) (soprano) - Arias from Verdi’s late operas - Un ballo in Maschera, ‘Ma dall’ arido stelo divulsa’. ‘Morro, ma prima in grazia’ - La forza del destino, ‘La Vergine degli angeli’. ‘Pace, pace mio Dio’ - Aida, ‘Ritorna vincitor’. ‘O patria mia’ - Don Carlo, ‘Tu che le vanitá’ - Otello, ‘Piangea cantando’.. ‘Salce, salce’ (Willow Song) ‘Ave Maria’ - Falstaff, ‘Sul fil d’un soffio etesio’ - Requiem, ‘Libera me’ Choir of the Stockholm School Riga - Latvian National Symphony Orchestra/Terje Mikkelsen - Recorded in January 2003 at Riga Recording Studio Latvia CAMPION RRCD 1349 [72.52min] [RJF] If my copy were an LP it would be worn out by now. Meanwhile I will sit and dream of a recording of Galante as Lady Macbeth. … See Full Review Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Chôros Numbers 1-7 (1920-1929) Introduction to the Chôros for guitar and orchestra (1929) [12.44] Chôros No. 1 for guitar (1920) [5.04] Chôros No. 2 for flute and clarinet (1924) [2.43] Chôros No. 3 - Pica-Pau for male chorus and wind instruments (clarinet, three horns bassoon, saxophone, trombone) (1925) [3.37] Chôros No. 4 for three horns and trombone (1926) [5.20] Chôros No. 5 - Alma Brasileira for piano (1925) [5.51] Chôros No. 6 for orchestra (1926) [24.27] Chôros No. 7 - Settimino for eight part chamber ensemble (violin, cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, tam-tam) (1920) [9.33] Carlos Oramas (guitar) Johanne-Valérie Gélinas (flute) Radovan Cavallin (clarinet) Sergio Alonso (piano) Coro de Filarmónica de Gran Canaria/Luis García Santana Orquesta de Filarmónica de Gran Canaria/Adrian Leaper rec. 2-8 Sept 2000, 19-20 June 2001, Sala Gabriel Rodó, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. DDD ASV CD DCA 1150 [70.18] [RB] A prize-winning disc to be heard on many a veranda high above the sea ... or close your eyes and conjure your own veranda ... see Full Review Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Juditha triumphans (1716) Gloria Banditelli (mezzo soprano) – Juditha - Mária Zádori (soprano) – Abra - Judit Németh (mezzo soprano) – Holofernes - Annette Markert (mezzo soprano) – Vagaus - Katalin Gémes (mezzo soprano) – Ozias - Savaria Vocal Ensemble and Capella Savaria - Nicholas McGegan - Recorded 1990 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99961 [2 CDs 125.44] [JW]
Indulging too pleasurably at the expense of internal dramatic tension … see Full Review Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Pellegrina’s Delight: Sonatas and chamber music for oboe Sonata
in C minor for oboe and basso continuo (harpsichord and cello) RV 53 (c.
1716-17) - Sonata in C major for violin, oboe, obbligato organ and bassoon
RV 779 (c. 1708) - Sonata in G minor for oboe and basso continuo (harpsichord
and bassoon) RV 28 Trio sonata in E minor Op. 1 No. 2, for oboe, violin
and basso continuo (harpsichord and cello) RV 67 (c. 1705) - This a release to savour and the leading candidate for both my baroque and chamber record of the year. … see Full Review Richard WAGNER (1813 – 1883) Lohengrin, Act 3, Scenes 1 and 2 Lohengrin – John Horton Murray (Tenor) - Elsa – Margaret Jane Wray (Soprano) - Siegfried, Act 1, Scene 3 - Siegfried – John Horton Murray (Tenor) - Mime – Adam Klein (Tenor) - Bolshoi Opera Chorus - Russian State Symphony Orchestra/John McGlinn - Recorded in Studio No.5, Moscow Film Studios, 28th May – 1st June 2001 NAXOS 8.555788 [59.17] [RH]
A show case for the dramatic tenor, John Horton Murray, marred by a slightly unimaginative programme. … see Full Review Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) The Ring Cycle Siegfried Orchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera, New York/Artur Bodanzky Recorded live on 30 January 1937 NAXOS 8.110211/13 [3 CDs: 203.47] Das Rheingold Orchestra and Vocal Ensemble of the Metropolitan Opera, New York/Artur Bodanzky Recorded live on 3 April 1937 NAXOS 8.110047/48 [2 CDs: 141.03] Die Walküre Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra/ Eric Leinsdorf Recorded live on 6 December 1941 NAXOS 8.110058/60 [3 CDs: 175.38] Götterdämmerung Orchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera, New York/Artur Bodanzky Recorded 11 January 1936 NAXOS 8.110228/30 [3 CDs: 221.50] NAXOS 8.501106 [11CDs] [JW] The gains are lasting … this stands as eloquent tribute to a golden age of vocalism and musicianship. … see Full Review Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Piano Sonatas: No. 2 in A flat, J199/Op. 39 (1816) [34’45]; No. 3 in D minor - J206/Op. 49 (1816) [27’47]. Aufforderung zum Tanze (Invitation to the Dance) in D flat, J260/Op. 65 (1819) [10’12] Mariaclara Monetti von Slawik (piano) - Rec. Tonstudio van Geest, Sandhausen, in February 2002. DDD ARTE NOVA CLASSICS 74321 95157-2 [73’05] [CC]
Worth the minimal outlay for the meat of the disc, then, for the two Sonatas. … see Full Review Dag WIRÉN (1905-1986) Sinfonietta Op. 7 (1933-34) [18.12] Cello Concerto Op. 10 (1936) [16.43] - Romantic Suite from The Merchant of Venice Op. 22 (1943) [11.20] - Symphony No. 3 Op. 20 (1943-44) [25.37] Mats Lidström (cello) - Sami Sinfonietta/Stefan Solyom - rec. Studio 2, Radiohuset, 19-23 Feb 2001 DDD - Musica Sveciae Modern Classics No. 16 PHONO SUECIA PSCD 716 [71.53] [RB]
A handsome compendium of Wirén rarities with its most instantly accessible strengths in the brilliant Sinfonietta and the poetic Romantic Suite ... see Full Review
ZANDONAI Opera
Giuletta e Romeo - Soloists,
Chorus of Communal Theatre of Bologna, Sanremo Symphony Orchestra Orchestra/Loris
Gavarini - Mono recording 1961 - Opera Conchita (excerpts) - Soloists,
Chorus and orchestra as before - Mono recording 1961 - CETRA OPERA
COLLECTION
WARNER FONIT 5050466-2963-2-0 [2CDs] [DW]
Alexander von ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942) String Quartet No. 2 Op. 15 (1913-14) [39.30] - String Quartet No. 3 Op. 19 (1924) [24.05] Kocian Quartet (Pavel Hoüla, Miloš Černý (violin); Zbyněk Padourek (viola); Václav Bernášek (cello)) - rec. Domovina Studio, Prague, 1 Sept 1995 (3); 18-19 Jan 2003 (2) DDD PRAGA DIGITALS PRD 250 193 [63.48] [RB]
Imaginative, expressionistic, expansive and succinct - two Viennese quartets from either side of the Great War ... see Full Review Alexander ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942) Lyric Symphony Op. 18 (1921) [43.40] Cymbeline - Incidental Music (1913-15) [26.30] Turid Karlsen (sop) Jaroslav Březina (ten) Franz Grundheber (bar) Members of Bremen Shakespeare Company (Cymbeline) Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Antony Beaumont rec. Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague, 14-19 May 2002. DDD CHANDOS CHAN 10069 [70.23] [RB] The first recording of Beaumont’s urtext version of the Symphonie and the premiere of the complete version of the Cymbeline music. ... see Full Review Error processing SSI file
|