Camille SAINT-SAËNS
(1835-1921)
Symphony
no. 3 in C minor op. 78 (rec. April 1959)
Jacques IBERT (1890-1962)
Escales (rec. October 1956) Vincent
D’INDY (1851-1931) Symphonie sur
un chant montagnard (Symphonie Cévenole),
op.25 (rec. March 1958) César
FRANCK (1822-1890) Symphony in
D minor (rec. March 1957) Albert
ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Bacchus et
Ariane – Suite no. 2 (rec. October 1952) Arthur
HONEGGER (1892-1955) Symphony no.
5 – "Di Tre Re" (rec. October 1952)
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch,
with Nicole Henriot-Schweitzer (d’Indy) and
Berj Zamkochian, organist (Saint-Saëns)
Dates as above, location not given (presumably
Boston Symphony Hall?)
BMG/RCA RED SEAL 74321 987152 [2 CDs:
75:12 + 76:05] [CH]
Thrilling
stuff! ... see Full Review
Camille SAINT-SAËNS
(1835-1921) Javotte
– Complete Ballet (1896) Parysatis: Ballet;
(Introduction and Three Scenes) (1902)
The Queensland Orchestra/Andrew Mogrelia Recorded
at the ABC Studio, Brisbane, Queensland, March
1996
MARCO POLO 8.223612 [67.42] [JW]
Diaphanous
and colourful writing ... Mendelssohnian in
its lightness and aptness. ... see Full
Review
Hermann SCHAFER
(b.1927)
Fruhe Kammermusik. Sonata
No. 2 for violin and piano (1958). Sonata
for cello and piano (1951). Piano Trio (1946).
Annette Fehrmann (violin), Ingo Zander
(cello), Oliver Triendl (piano) No venue or
recording dates given. DDD
ANTES EDITION BM CD 31.9182 [56.58] [NL]
Antes
Edition are to be congratulated for releasing
this disc of music by a little known, outside
Germany at least, composer ... see Full
Review
Xaver
SCHARWENKA (1850-1924)
Overture
(1869) [9.20] Symphony in C minor (1882) [41.21]
Andante religioso (1881) [7.36]
Gävle Symphony Orchestra/Christopher
Fifield Rec. Gävle, Sweden, 20-23 Oct
2003. DDD
STERLING CDS-1060-2 [58.22] [RB]
Scharwenka’s
Symphony: resolute in character, a slight
Russian accent and the regal/pastoral tendencies
of Dvořák 5 and 6. Recommended ... see
Full Review
Alfred SCHNITTKE
(1934-1998) Symphony No.6
(1992) [36’41] Concerto Grosso No.2 (1982)
[32’29]
Tatiana Grindenko (violin) Alexander
Ivashkin (cello) Russian State Symphony Orchestra/Valeri
Polyansky Recorded in Mosfilm Studios, Moscow,
24-26 December, 2002
CHANDOS CHAN 10180 [69’22] [TH]
A
must for Schnittke fans but the uninitiated
be warned, it’s not an easy ride. ... see
Full Review
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Goethe
Lieder 3 Wer
kauft Liebesgötter D.261, Versunken D.715,
Schäfers Klagelied, 2nd setting D.121,
Erlkönig D.328, Hoffnung (Schaff, das
Tagwerk) D.295, Auf dem See D.543, Mahomets
Gesang (fragment), 1st setting D.549, Am Flusse,
1st setting D.160, Am Flusse, 2nd setting
D.766, Johanna Sebus D.728 (fragment), An
die Entfernte D.765, Sehnsucht D.123, Geheimes
D.719, Der Goldschmiedsgesell D.560, Liebhaber
in allen Gestalten D.558, Der Musensohn D.764,
Der Sänger, 2nd setting D.149, Nachtgesang
D.119, Erster Verlust D.226, Trost in Tränen
D.120, Jägers Abendlied, 1st setting
D.215, Jägers Abendlied, 2nd setting
D.368, Tischlied D.234, Willkommen und Abschied
D.767
Johannes Kalpers (tenor), Burkhard Kehring
(piano) Rec. Südwestrundfunk, Karlsruhe,
Germany, 22nd and 23rd
October, 7th and 8th
November 2002 Deutsche Schubert-Lied Edition
16
NAXOS 8.554667 [71:45] [CH]
Some
sensitive singing but also some piercing high
notes. Serviceable if you want a mixture of
well-known and much rarer Goethe-Lieder by
Schubert. ... see
Full Review
Franz Peter SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
24 Lieder Great Recordings of the Century
Elizabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) Edwin Fischer (piano, tracks 3-14) Gerald
Moore (piano, tracks 1-2; 15-22) Geoffrey Parsons (piano, 23, 24) Recorded
at the No. 1 Abbey Road Studio, London 21/5/1948 (tracks 1 , 2), 4-7/10/1952
(tracks 3-14), 9 , 10/1/1954 (tracks 15 , 16), 11/6/1957 (track 17)
and 7/12/1962 (track 18). Recorded at the Gemeindehaus, Berlin-Zehlendorf
22-27/8/1965 (tracks 19-22) and 21-29/4/1966 (track 23 , 24) ADD
EMI CLASSICS 5 62754 2 [74:17] [MC]
Lieder
recitals just don’t get much better than this.
Truly a great recording of the century. ...
see Full
Review
Franz Peter
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Die schöne Müllerin,
song cycle (D 795)
Richard Edgar-Wilson, tenor; Joanna Leach,
square piano (Clementi, 1832) Recorded at
Whatley House, Somerset, UK, 1995 DDD
ATHENE ATH CD6 [63:55] [JV]
A
rather unsatisfying performance of one of
Schubert’s most-loved song-cycles… see Full
Review
Franz
Peter SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Overture
in F major, Op. 34, D. 675, Fantasie in F
minor, Op. 103, D. 940, German Dance with
Two Trios and Two Ländler, D. 618, Variations
on an Original Theme, Op. 82/2, D. 968a, Three
Marches Héroïques, Op. 27, D.
602 Jeno Jando (piano) Zsuzsa Kollar (piano)
Rec. Phoenix Studio, Budapest, from 1-4 April,
1998. DDD Piano Works for Four Hands, Vol.
3
NAXOS 8.554513 [59:23] [MC]
With
reasonable sound quality this is for me a
fairly average release. ... see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828)
Four
Impromptus, D899 Four Impromptus,
D935
Elisabeth Leonskaja (piano) Rec. November
1995 (D899), April 1996 (D935), Teldec Studio,
Berlin
WARNER APEX 2564 61140 2 [70.28] [TB]
Leonskaja
is an artist of the front rank and her interpretations
have their own validity and abundant strengths.
... see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1928) Piano
Sonata No 20 in A major D.959 (1828) Sonata
for Arpeggione and Piano in A minor D.821
(1824)
Wu Han (Piano) David Finckel (Cello) Rec.
American Academy of Arts and Letters, New
York, June 2003. DDD
ARTISTLED 10401-2 [66:46] [PCW]
This
is a most successful disc ... even if you
have other versions, it should not be ignored
... see Full Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797
- 1828) Piano
Sonata No. 5 in Ab, D557 (1817) [11.32]
Piano Sonata No. 7a in Db, D567 (1817)
[21.48] Piano Sonata No. 11 in C, D613/612
(1818) [15.04] Piano Sonata No. 12 in f, D625/505
(1818) [20.45]
Gottlieb Wallisch, piano Notes in English
and Deutsch. Recorded at Potton Hall, Suffolk,
UK, 5 November 2002
NAXOS 8.557189 [69.09] [PSh]
Very
fine recordings of these rarely played sonata
fragments. If you want genius, too, you have
to pay more … see Full
Review
Rudolf Serkin
(pianist) The Art of Interpretation
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano
Sonata in A major D959 Four Impromptus D935
Rudolf Serkin (piano) Recorded February 1966
(Sonata) and Guilford, Vermont, January 1979
(Impromptus)
SONY CLASSICS 5128732 [79.22] [JW]
Serkin’s
vision is remote from my experience; so much
the worse for me. My heart lies with Curzon,
and with the all too fallible, all too human,
Schnabel. ... see Full
Review
Rudolf Serkin (pianist) The Art of Interpretation
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano
Sonata No. 21 in B flat major D960 Piano Sonata
No. 15 in C major D840 Reliquie
Rudolf Serkin (piano) Recorded in September
1975 in Guilford, Vermont (D960) and in an
unspecified location in March 1955 (D840)
SONY CLASSICS 5128742 [69.22] [JW]
Despite
some rather heavily italicised phrasing, there
is something touching, in the deepest sense,
in Serkin’s reading ... see Full
Review
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Piano
Concerto No. 1 (1933) [21.52] Piano Concerto
No. 2 (1957) [17.25] Three Fantastic Dances
(1922) [3.00] Preludes and Fugues: Nos 1,
4, 5, 23, 24 (1948) [33.22]
Dmitri Shostakovich (piano) Ludovic Vaillant
(trumpet) Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion
Française/André Cluytens rec.
mono Salle Wagram (concertos), unknown (piano
solos), May, Oct 1958, ADD Great Recordings
of the Century series
EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 62646 2 [76.05]
[RB]
This
valuable and rewarding release ... like a
twin fusillade of vitriol-laced hailstones.
... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Cello
Sonata, Op. 40 (arr. viola Annette
BARTHOLDY) (1934) [28’37]. Viola
Sonata, Op. 147 (1975) [34’30].
Annette Bartholdy (viola); Julius Drake (piano).
Rec. Henry Wood Hall, London, on May 10th-12th,
2001. DDD
NAXOS 8.557231 [63’07] [CC]
This
is intensely moving music in an intensely
moving performance. Required listening. ...
see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Jean
SIBELIUS (1865
- 1957) The
Complete Symphonies:- Kullervo,
Op. 7 (1892) (3)(f)† [80.59] Symphony
No. 1, Op. 39 (1898-9) (1)(a) [39.34]
Symphony No. 2, Op. 43 (1901-2) (1)(c)
[46.38] Symphony No. 3, Op. 52 (1904-7) (2)(d)
[30.17] Symphony No. 4, Op. 63 (1911) (1)(b)
[37.18] Symphony No. 5, Op. 82 (1914-9) (2)(d)
[30.17] Symphony No. 6, Op. 104 (1923) (1)(c)
[26.05] Symphony No. 7, Op. 105 (1924) (1)(e)
[22.51] Other Orchestral Works:- En
Saga, Op.9 (1892, rev. 1901) (1)(e)
[18.48] Karelia Suite, Op.11 (1893)
(3)(h) [15.21] Rakastava,
Op. 14 (1893) (1)(e) [14.40]
Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22 (1893-5)
(4)(g) [51.47] Finlandia,
Op. 26 (1899-1900) (1)(c)
[9.00] Valse Triste, Op. 44
(1904) (1)(c) [6.04]
Pohjola’s Daughter, Op. 49 (1906) (4)(g)
[15.05] Night Ride and Sunrise,
Op. 55 (1907) (3)(h) [17.01]
The Bard, Op. 64 (1913-4) (4)(g)
[7.57] Tapiola, Op. 122 (1925-6)
(2)(d) [18.29] The
Oceanides, Op.73 (1914) (3)(h)
[10.57]
Hillevi Martinpelto (sop.)†, Karl-Magnus
Fredriksson (bar.)† London Symphony Chorus†
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Colin Davis
Rec. London: (1) Blackheath Concert Halls,
(2) Watford Town Hall, (3) Walthamstow Assembly
Hall, (4) Watford Colosseum, (a) December
1994, (b) April 1994, (c) 12-13 December 1994,
(d) 1-3 December 1992, (e) April/December
1994, (f) November 1996, (g) 17-19 January
2000, (h) 13 February 1998
BMG/RCA RED SEAL 82876-55706-2 [7 CDs:
77.38 + 72.53 + 61.07 + 73.09 + 64.41 + 75.25
+ 76.51 = 501'44] [PSe]
Sympathetic
recordings and vital performances of revelatory
interpretations, over 500 minutes of pure
bliss for any lover or learner of Sibelius.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Valentin
SILVESTROV (b.
1937)Requiem
for Larissa (1997/9)
National Choir of Ukraine "Dumka"National
Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine/Volodymyr Sirenko
Recorded: Kiev, Ukraine, 2001
ECM New Series 1778 (472 112-2) [52:32]
. [HC]
Most
beautiful and deeply felt. Poignant grief
expressed with sincerity, honesty and restraint
...A major work ... one of the finest discs
I have heard recently. ... see
Full Review
Jean
Baptiste SINGELÉE (1812-1875)
Virtuoso Saxophone Concert Pieces
Christian Peters, saxophones Yoriko Ikeya,
pianoRec. Fürstliche Reitban Bad Arolsen,
on 17-18 and 29 March, 2003 DDD
MD&G 603 1229-2 [71:05] [PG]
For
the casual lover of romantic-era music, this
is merely an oddity. ... see Full
Review
Derek
STRAHAN (b.1958)
Rose of the Bay
Lauris Elms (mezzo-soprano) David Miller (piano) Deborah de Graaff
(clarinet) Recorded 3-4 December 1987, ABC Studios, Australia
REVOLVE RDS-003 [51.51] [RH]
A
dramatic new song cycle, set in Sydney, by
the Australian composer and writer Derek Strahan,
recorded by the work’s dedicatee. ... see
Full Review
Derek STRAHAN
(b.1935)
Voodoo Fire (1995) Alan
Vivian (clarinet), Michael Askill (percussion),
Susan Powell (piano, synthesiser) Live recording
of première performance at the Canberra
School of Music, 21st April 1996
Atlantis (1991) Belinda Gough (flute,
alto flute), Josephine Allan (piano) Live
recording of première performance at
Gough’s Master Degree Recital, Joseph Post
Auditorium, Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Eric GROSS (b.1926)
Mandigar III (1995) Paul Hooper (mandolin),
Adrian Hooper, Joyce Bootsma (mandolas), Barbara
Hooper (guitar) Caroline
SZETO (b.1968) Mandolin Dance (1995)
Paul Hooper (mandolin) Dulcie
HOLLAND (b.1913) Lonely Valley (1994)
Paul and Adrian Hooper (mandolins), Joyce
Bootsma (mandola), Barbara Hooper (guitar)
Colin BRUMBRY (b.1933)
Dance of the Shepherds (1995) Paul and
Adrian Hooper (mandolins), Joyce Bootsma (mandola),
Barbara Hooper (guitar) The mandolin items
recorded by ABC Classic FM, 4th
April 1996 Robert
ALLWORTH (b.1943) Hymn to the Bleeding
Host of Santarem, Portugal (1989) Lawrence
Bartlett (organ) Recorded at Saint Michael’s,
Vaucluse, May 1989
BROAD MUSIC JAD CD 1063 [62:05] [CH}
There
are some things worth having on this disc,
but as there is such a lot of dross too, I
can only leave you to decide if it’s worth
it. ... see Full
Review
Johann STRAUSS
Senior
(1804-1849) Es
ist nur ein Wien! (Walzer), op.22, Josephstädter-Tänze,
op.23, Hietzinger Reunion (Walzer), op.24,
Frohsinn im Gebirge (Walzer), op.26, Hirten-Galoppe,
op.28, Wettrennen-Galoppe, op.29a, Wilhelm
Tell-Galoppe, op.29b, Sperls-Feswalzer, op.30,
Des Verfassers beste Laune, op.31, Einzugs-Galopp,
op.35, 3 Ungarische Galoppe oder Frischka,
op.36, Sperl-Galopp, op.42, Contredanses,
Oeuvre 44
Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina/Ernst Märzendorfer
Recorded 21-26 June 2002 at the Fatra Concert
Hall, Žilina Johann Strauss I Edition: Vol.
3
MARCO POLO 8.225253 [54:14] [MC]
I
have nothing but praise for this release and
the music of Johann Strauss Senior cannot
have been better served on disc. ... see Full
Review
Richard STRAUSS
(1864
- 1949) Der Liebe der
Danae (1943)
Jupiter – Franz Grundhever (baritone) Merkur
(Mercury) – Hans-Jürgen Schöpflin
(tenor) Pollux – Paul McNamara (tenor) Danae
– Manuela Uhl (soprano) Xanthe – Cornelia
Zach (soprano) Midas – Robert Chafin (tenor)
Nephews of Pollux – Daniele Behle (tenor),
Martin Fleitmann (tenor), Simon Pauly (baritone),
Hans Georg Ahrens (bass) Semele – Susanne
Bernhard (soprano) Europa – Cornelia Zach
(soprano) Alkmene – Gro Bente Kjellevold (mezzo-soprano)
Leda – Katharina Peetz (alto)
Kiel Opera Chorus Kiel Philharmonic Orchestra/Ulrich
Windfuhr
Recorded live Konzertsall Kieler Schloss,
2, 11 April 2003
CPO 999 967-2 [3 CDs: 44.17 + 46.22 +
73.58] [RH]
A
fine but uneven performance of Strauss’s late,
flawed work. ... see Full
Review
Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971) Fireworks,
Op. 4 (1908) Witold
LUTOSŁAWSKI (1913-1994) Concerto
for Orchestra (1954) Basel Sinfonietta/Joel
Smirnoff Werner BÄRTSCHI
(b. 1950) The Grandeur of the Alps
(1989) Thomas
KESSLER (b. 1937) Aufbruch*
(1990)
Basel Sinfonietta; * Electronic Studio of
the Basel Music School/Jürg Wyttenbach
Rec. 3 September 2000 (Bärtschi, Kessler),
3 April 2001 (Stravinsky, Lutosławski),
Stadtcasino, Basel
MUSIKSZENE SCHWEIZ MGB CTS-M66 [69.34]
[TB]
This
enterprising disc features two 20th
century classics alongside two uncompromisingly
modernist works. Everything is well played
and the recorded sound is exemplary ... see
Full Review
Piotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840
- 1893) Piano Concerto
No. 1 in Bb Op. 23 (1874) [33.18] Piano Concerto No. 3 in Eb, Op. 75
(unfinished) (1893) [16.02] Andante and Finale, Op. 79 (orchestrated
1897 Sergei TANEYEV) (1893)
[19.52]
Konstantin Scherbakov, piano Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky
Recorded State TV and Radio Studio 5, Moscow, Russia, 17 March 2003
Notes in English and Deutsch. also available: DVD-Audio 5.110051; SACD
6.110051
NAXOS 8.557257 [69.12]
[P Sh]
A very satisfactory
recording of the famous Tchaikovsky Concerto No. 1 and a disappointing
No. 3 ... see Full
Review
Veljo
TORMIS (b.
1930) Bridge
of Song (1981) Singing Aboard Ship (1983) Bride’s Farewell (1990) Kihnu
Island Wedding Songs (1959) Seventeen Estonian Wedding Songs (1993)
Three Estonian Game Songs (1995) Four Estonian Lullabies (1989)
Estonian Radio Choir/Toomas Kapten Recorded: Merchant Guild Hall,
Tallinn, Estonia, January 1994
WARNER APEX 0927-49871-2 [58:29] [HC]
Warmly
recommended as the best possible introduction
to Tormis’s folk settings. ... see Full
Review
Geirr TVEITT
(1908-1981) Piano
Concerto No.5, Op.156 (1954) Variations
on a folk song from Hardanger, for two
pianos and orchestra (1938)
Nils Mortensen, Sveinung Bjelland (pianos)
Stavanger Symphony Orchestra/Ole Kristian
Ruud Rec. Stavanger Concert Hall, Norway,
August/September 2000 (Concerto) January/February
2001 (Variations)
BIS CD 1252 [65’34] [TH]
BIS
really is very good indeed, but turning to
the Naxos revealed just as satisfying a rendition.
I marginally prefer the sharper-focused recorded
sound from Naxos. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
The Poisoned Kiss An
opera in three acts. Libretto by Evelyn Sharp
and Ralph Vaughan Williams
Soloists BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Richard
Hickox Rec. Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, 3-6 January
2003 World premiere recording
CHANDOS CHAN 10120 [2CDs: 57:56+58:03
= 115:59] [RB]
This
set now joins the strong representation of
RVW Hickox-conducted operas on Chandos and
provides undemanding delight, witty repartee,
romantic enchantment - a serenade for a summer’s
night ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Otello
- opera in four acts (plus Act III
rehearsals) Otello, Ramon Vinay (tenor); Iago,
Giuseppe Valdengo (bar); Desdemona, Herva
Nelli (sop); Emilia, Nan Merriman (mezzo);
Casio, Virginio Assandri (ten); Roderigo,
Leslie Chabay (ten); Montano, Arthur Newman
(bass); Lodovico, Nicola Moscona, (bass)
NBC Symphony Orchestra. Mixed Chorus/Arturo
Toscanini Live broadcast from Studio 8-H Radio
City, New York. With audience. Acts I and
II on 6th December 1947. Acts III
and IV on 13th December. Rehearsals
of Act III on 11th and 12th
December
GUILD HISTORICAL Toscanini Broadcast Legacy
Series GHCD 2275-77 [3CDs: 70.01+67.08+68.30]
[RJF]
Overall
there is clarity, or lack of veiling, that
many will welcome. The other added value is
to be able to hear Toscanini’s orchestral
rehearsal complete with his singing to provide
the vocal line ... see Full
Review
Heitor Villa-Lobos
(1887 - 1959) Symphony
No. 7 (1945) [36.02] Sinfonietta No. 1 (1916)
[21.19]
SWR Radio Orchestra Stuttgart/Carl St. Clair
Notes in Deutsch, English, Français.
Photo of conductor and composer. Rec. 7 September
1998, Stadthalle, Sindeflingen, Germany
CPO 999 713-2 [57.30] [PSh]
Exotic,
strange, colourful, yes, but also very satisfying
... see Full Review
Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883)
Orchestral
Music: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg:
Prelude (Act I); Tannhäuser Overture;
Lohengrin – Prelude (Act I); Prelude (Act
III); Der Fliegende Holländer – Overture;
Tristan und Isolde – Prelude and Liebestod
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Herbert
von Karajan Recorded 22nd September
- 1st October and 15th –
19th October 1974 in the Philharmonie,
Berlin
EMI CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY
7243 5 62756 2 1 [77:42] [GPJ]
Every
bar in these performances bears testament
to Karajan’s burning love for this great music.
If you ever feel the urge to buy a Wagner
‘bleeding chunks’ CD, this is undoubtedly
THE one. ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Lohengrin
- opera in three acts. (plus Melchior
arias) Lohengrin, Lauritz Melchior (ten);
Elsa, Elisabeth Rethberg (sop); Ortrud, Kerstin
Thorburg (mezzo); Friedrich von Telramund,
Julius Huehn (bar); King of Germany, Emanuel
List (bass); The King’s Herald, Leonard Warren
(bar)
Orchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera,
New York/Erich Leinsdorf Rec. From Live Broadcast
on January 27th 1940 (Lohengrin).
Broadcast Recordings 1935-1936 (Melchior)
GUILD HISTORICAL IMMORTAL PERFORMANCES
SERIES GHCD 2278-2280 [3CDs:
54.30+66.28+70.00] [RJF]
Collectors
will need to weigh the merits of Melchior
with that of other interpreters on historical
and more modern recordings and then decide
if investment in this issue will be worthwhile.
... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER
(1813-1883) Tristan
und Isolde Tristan - Lauritz Melchior (tenor)
Isolde - Kirsten Flagstad (soprano) Brangäne
- Kerstin Thorborg (contralto) Kurvenal –
Julius Huehn (bass) King Marke - Alexander
Kipnis (bass) * Melot – George Cehanovsky
(baritone) Sailor’s Voice – Anthony Marlowe
(tenor) Steersman – Douglas Beattie (bass)
Shepherd - Karl Laufkötter (tenor)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan
Opera/Erich Leinsdorf Recorded 23 March 1940,
Kipnis * dubbed in from a 1941 performance
GUILD GHCD 2266/68 [3 CDs: 79.13 + 71.38
+ 66.32 = 217.23] [JW]
The
vocal excellence of the cast survives in the
acetates with great clarity and immediacy.
The Opera House of Our Dreams ... see Full
Review
Richard WAGNER (1813
-1883) Der Ring des Nibelungen: Siegfried
Siegfried:
Jon Fredric West Mime: Heinz Göhrig Der Wanderer: Wolfgang Schöne
Alberich: Björn Waag Fafner: Attila Jun Erda: Helene Ranada Brünnhilde:
Lisa Gasteen Der Waldvogel: Gabriela Herrera
Staatsorchester Stuttgart/Lothar Zagrosek Stage Direction and Dramaturgy:
Jossi Wieler, Sergio Morabito Stage and Costume Designer: Anna Viebrock
TV and Video Direction: Hans Hulscher Recorded at the Staatsoper Stuttgart,
1st October 2002 and 5th January 2003
EUROARTS
TDK 10 5208 9 DV-OPRDNS (2 discs) [221 minutes] [BK]
…….
these discs (which are technically excellent)
can be recommended to those who are interested
in new Wagner productions for their own sakes
but would probably not please everyone…see
Full Review
William
WALTON
(1902-1983) Belshazzar's
Feast (1931) [34.13] Crown Imperial
(1937) [6.45] Orb and Sceptre (1953)
[7.20] Christopher Purves (bar) Simon Lindley
(organ)
Huddersfield Choral Society; Leeds Philharmonic
Chorus; Laudibus English Northern Philharmonia/Paul
Daniel rec. Town Hall, Leeds, 30 June - 1
July 2001, 7 July, 25 Oct 1996.
NAXOS 8.555869 [48.17] [RB]
The
Northern British choral and brass traditions
standing resplendent. ... see Full
Review
William WALTON
(1902-1983) Walton
Conducts Walton Portsmouth
Point Overturea (1924-5) [6’18].
Siestaa(1926) [5’42]. Music
for Childrena (1940) [13’18].
Suite – The Questb (1943,
arr. Tausky 1961) [13’44]. Sinfonia concertante
for Orchestra with Piano Obbligatoc
(1926-7, rev. 1943) [19’58]. Scapino,
a Comedy Overtureb (1940, rev.
1950) [8’43]. Capriccio Burlescob
(1968) [7’25].
aLondon Philharmonic Orchestra,
bcLondon Symphony Orchestra/Sir
William Walton, with cPeter Katin
(piano). No rec. info. ADD
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD224 [75’23]
[CC]
It
is highly impressive that Lyrita has managed
to present so many different sides of Walton
within the scope of a single disc. The recording
mirrors the excellence of the performances.
... see Full Review
Nigel
WESTLAKE
(b. 1958) Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia
(1984) ¹ Omphalo Centric Lecture (1984) ²
Refractions (1993) ¹ ³ Entomology (1990) ¹
4 Malachite Glass (1990) ¹ ² °
Tall Tales (1992) ¹ ² * Call of the Wild (1992)
¹ ² Our Mum was a Waterfall (1992) ¹ ª
Nigel Westlake, clarinets/saxophones ¹ Michael
Askill, percussion ² Australia Ensemble ³
Tall Poppies Ensemble 4 Synergy
Percussion ° Attaca* Greg Sheehan, drums ª
Recorded at EMI Studio 301, Sydney, Australia
(date not given, disc released 1994)
TALL POPPIES TP047 [65.10] [NH]
Yet
another top class Tall Poppies release, Westlake's
music is more immediate than Sculthorpe's
but still rewards repeated listening ... 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]