Peter MACHAJDÍK
(b.1961) Flowing
into the Unknown Kirin for two
pianos (2003) [9:05] Deserted Tracks for
cello and piano (2002) [8:14] Solstice
for cello and harp (2000) [8:26] Flowing
Into the Unknown for oboe, violin and
piano (2002) [13:42] Obscured Temptations
for piano (2003) [7:16] Lullaby
for piano (1999) [2:32] 
Mayuko Kida, Daniel Garel (piano) (Kirin)
Kristina Lesičká (cello), Mayuko Kida
(piano) (Deserted Tracks) Josef Lupták
(cello), Adriana Antalová (harp) Dominik
Melichárek (oboe), Zuzana Uškovicová
(violin), Mayuko Kida (piano) (Flowing)
Daniel Garel (piano) (Obscured) Josef
Lupták (cello) (Lullaby) rec.
Slovak Radio, Bratislava. DDD
EDITION HUDBA N81 0003 2 131 [50:47]
[RB]
Machajdík
whose music is tonal, more spare and lyrical
than minimalist and inflected with the flavour
of folk music ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony No. 6 in A minor
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra/Yoel Levi recorded
in Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta,
Georgia, 26-27 June 1997
TELARC CD-80444 [78'07"] [PL]
I
can’t tell you how impressed I am with Levi’s
conducting. One of the most striking achievements
is the extent to which Mahler’s every marking
is loyally enacted. ... see
Full Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony
No. 9 in D minor (1909) [89:49]
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Riccardo Chailly
Rec: Grote Zaal, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam,
14-18 June 2004. DSD 
DECCA 475 6191 DSA2 [2 SACDs: 30:29 +
59:20] [JQ]
Mahler’s
Ninth has been lucky on record. Here is another
distinguished addition to the discography
of that symphony ... see Full
Review
Frank MARTIN
(1890-1974)
Cello Concerto (1965-66) [24’10"] The
Four Elements (1963-64) [18’46"]
Jean Decroos (cello)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Bernard Haitink
Rec. live: Radio Hilversum, 9 December 1970
(Concerto) and December 1965 (Elements)
ADD
DORON MUSIC DRC 3044 [43’26"] [BH]
Taped
from live performances ... totally winning
recordings. Both pieces rare on disc - a bit
of a surprise given their high quality. ...
see Full Review
Bohuslav MARTINŮ
(1890-1959)
Symphony
No. 5 H310 (1946) [30:24] Symphony No. 6 Fantaisies
Symphoniques H343 (1951-53) [27:11] Memorial
to Lidice H296 (1943) [8:38]
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ančerl
rec. Rudolfinum Studio, Prague, 21-23 Mar
1955 (5); 23-24 Feb 1956 (6); 20 Mar 1957
(Lidice). AAD mono Karel Ančerl
Gold Edition Vol. 34
SUPRAPHON SU 3694-2 001 [66:31] [RB]
Mono
although good sound. Indispensable to any
serious Martinů scion. For the open-minded
there are many worse places to start your
Martinů odyssey. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
MARTUCCI
(1856-1909) Sonata
for Cello and Piano op. 52 (1880) Due Romanze
op. 72 (1890)Tre Pezzi op. 69 (1888) Ottorino
RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Adagio con
variazioni * (transcribed cello and piano
1921)
Arturo Bonucci (cello) Antonio Bacchelli (piano)
Pietro Spada (piano) * Recorded in Rome, December
1991 (Respighi) and October 1988 (Martucci)
ARTS 47137-2 [77.21] [JW]
A
well considered pairing. The works are of
a commensurately higher level than the rather
salon-inspired examples to be heard in the
sister volume. ... see
Full Review
Giuseppe
MARTUCCI
(1856-1909) Sonata
for Violin and Piano Op.22 (1874) Tre Pezzi
Op.67 for Violin and Piano Op.67 (1886)
Melodia for Violin and Piano (1890)
Ottorino RESPIGHI
(1879-1936) Cinque Pezzi for Violin
and Piano * Sei Pezzi for Violin and
Piano (1901) *
Rodolfo Bonucci (violin)#Antonio Bacchelli
(piano) Pietro Spada (piano) * Recorded in
Rome, December 1991 (Respighi) and October
1988 (Martucci)
ARTS 47138-2 [76.04] [JW]
Some
fairly lightweight things here played with
commitment and just the right kind of discretion.
An enjoyable, relaxing recital. ... see Full
Review
Joseph MARX
(1882-1964) Alt-Wiener
Serenaden (1941-42) Partita in Modo
Antico (1937-38 arranged 1945) Sinfonia
in Modo Classico (1940-41 arranged 1944)
Bochum Symphony Orchestra/Steven Sloane Recorded
in Stadhalle, Wuppertal, April 2003
ASV CD DCA 1158 [76.45] [JW]
If
you know Marx only as the impressionistic-romantic
you will be shocked, to say the least, by
these works. ... see Full
Review
Sir Peter MAXWELL
DAVIES
(b. 1934) Lullaby
for Lucy (1981) [5:24] BBC Singers/Simon
Joly Rec. St. Giles Church, London, March
1995 Strathclyde Concerto No. 9
for Six Woodwind Instruments (1994) [25:42]
David Nicholson (piccolo), Elizabeth Dooner
(alto flute), Maurice Checker (cor anglais),
Josef Pacewicz (E flat clarinet), Ruth Ellis
(bass clarinet), Alison Green (contrabassoon)
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/composer Rec. City
Hall, Glasgow, November 1996 Symphony No.
8 Antarctic [40:34] Bremen Philharmonic
Orchestra/composer Rec. Konserthaus Die Glocke,
Bremen, September 2003 MaxOpus Custom Compilation
[71:50]
Sir Peter MAXWELL
DAVIES (b. 1934) Maxwell’s
Reel, with Northern Lights (1998)
[10:48] Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/composer
Rec. St. Augustine’s Church, Kilburn, May
1998 Strathclyde Concerto No. 3
for Horn, Trumpet and Orchestra (1989)
[31:27] Adagio [8:31] - Allegro moderato [6:37]
- Cadenza [2:30] - Andante [8:37] - Allegro
[5:09] Robert Cook (horn), Peter Franks (trumpet)
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/composer Rec. Usher
Hall, Edinburgh, July 1991 Trumpet Concerto
(1988) [30:18] Adagio - Allegro [13:40];
Adagio molto [9:53]; Presto [6:43] John Wallace
(trumpet) Scottish National Orchestra/composer
Rec. City Hall, Glasgow, April 1990 MaxOpus
Custom Compilation [72:44] [PCW]
These
two discs are full of variety and contain
some of the most interesting contemporary
music around … see Full
Review
Philip Dyson celebrates
the Centenary of Billy Mayerl Billy
MAYERL (1902-1959) Sweet
William, Jazzaristrix, Song of the Fir Tree,
Marigold, Ace of Spades, Bats in the Belfry,
Shallow Waters, Mignonette, Jazz Master, Autumn
Crocus, Ace of Hearts George
GERSHWIN (1898-1937) I’ll build
a Stairway to Paradise/Do It Again, Fascinating
Rhythm, Oh! Lady Be Good, I Got Rhythm, Rhapsody
in Blue (arranged solo piano) Zez
CONFREY (1895-1971) Kitten on the
Keys, Morton GOULD
(1913-1996) Boogie Woogie Etude, Jerome
KERN (1885-1945) Smoke Gets In
Your Eyes arranged MAYERL,
Percy FRENCH (1854-1920) Phil the
Fluter’s Ball arranged MAYERL,
Felix ARNDT (1889-1918) Nola
Philip Dyson (piano) Recorded live in concert
at the Purcell Room, South Bank Centre, London,
9th November 2002
MARIGOLD 010 [54.53 + 43.09] [JW]
This
was obviously a fun evening at the Purcell
Room ... who knows this repertoire with as
much sustained affection as Phillip Dyson.
... see Full Review
Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-47)
Piano
Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49 (1839) Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH ( 1906-75) Piano Trio
No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67 (1944)
Kaja Danczowska (violin) Dorota Imielowska
(cello) Mariola Cieniawa (piano) Recorded
in the Concert Hall, ‘Florianka’, Cracow,
Poland, June 1999.
CD ACCORD ACD 128-2 [57:38] [MC]
These
finely shaped and blended performances with
a high quality of tone are well worth hearing.
... see Full
Review
Saverio
MERCADANTE
(1795-1870) Flute
Concerto in E minor, Op. 57 (1819) [21.26]
Flute Concerto in E Major (1813) [18.38] Flute
Concerto in D Major (18??) [16.50]
Marzio Conti (flute) Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese/Vittorio
Antonellini rec. Teatro San Filippo, Pescara,
October 1999
ARTS 47584-2 [56.54] [SV]
So
why should you hear this record? Well, the
music is beautiful, which is probably the
best reason. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643)
Il Terzo Libro de’ Madrigali (1592) La
giovinetta pianta [03:13] O come è
gran martire [03:49] Sovra tenere erbette
e bianchi fiori [03:39] O dolce anima mia,
dunque è pur vero [03:31] Stracciami
pur il core [03:12] O rossignuol chín
queste verdi fronde [04:38] Se per estremo
ardore [03:27] Vattene pur crudel [02:09]
Là tra'l sangue [03:21] Poi ch'ella
in sé tornò [03:36] O primavera
gioventù de l'anno [03:33] Perfidissimo
volto [03:31] Ch'io non t'ami, vor mio? [05:11]
Occhi, un tempo mia vita [03:10] Vivrò
fra i miei tormenti [01:49] Ma dove, oh lasso
me! [03:09] Io pur verrò là
dove sète [02:40] Lumi, miei cari lumi
[02:50] Rimanti in pace [04:01] Ond'ei, di
morte [04:36]
Delitiae Musicae: Alessandro Carmignani, Fabian
Schofrin, Gianluigi Ghiringhelli (alto), Fabio
Fùrnari, Paolo Fanciulacci (tenor),
Marco Scavazza (baritone), Walter Testolin
(bass), Maurizio Piantelli (theorbo), Carmen
Leoni (harpsichord) Dir: Marco Longhini Rec.
May 2002, Chiesa di San Pietro, Vincoli, Azzago,
Italy. DDD
NAXOS 8.555309 [69:06] [JV]
Another
enthralling recording of Monteverdi madrigals
by Delitiae Musicae ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-91) The Complete Piano Concertos CD1
[73'37"] Piano Concerto No. 1 in F major, K37 (1764)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, K39 (1764) Piano
Concerto No. 5 in D major, K175 (1773) Piano Concerto No.
8 in C major, K246 (1776) CD2 [75'44"] Piano
Concerto No. 7 in F major for three pianos, K242 (1776) Rondo
in A major, K386 (1782) Piano Concerto No. 9 in E flat major,
K271 (1777) Rondo in D major, K382 (1782)
CD3 [70'19"] Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, K41
(1764) Piano Concerto No. 6 in B flat major, K238 (1776)
Piano Concerto No. 3 in D major, K40 (1764) Piano Concerto
No. 10 in E flat major for two pianos, K365 (1779) CD4 [74'10"] Piano Concerto No. 11 in
F major, K413 (1782) Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, K414
(1782) Piano Concerto No. 13 in C major, K415 (1782)
CD5 [75'41"] Piano Concerto No. 14 in E flat major,
K449 (1784) Piano Concerto No. 15 in B flat major, K450 (1784)
Piano Concerto No. 19 in F major, K459 (1784)
CD6 [63'09"] Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major, K453
(1784) Piano Concerto No. 22 in E flat major, K482 (1785)
CD7 [70'02"] Piano Concerto No. 16 in D major, K451
(1784) Piano Concerto No. 18 in B flat major, K456 (1784)
Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major, K503 (1st movement) (1786) CD8 [75'26"] Piano Concerto No. 25 in
C major, K503 (2nd and 3rd movements) (1786) Piano Concerto
No. 21 in C major, K467 (1785) Piano Concerto No. 24 in C
minor, K491 (1786)
CD9 [63'25"] Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K466
(1785) Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major, K595 (1791) CD10 [57'33"] Piano Concerto No. 23 in
A major, K488 (1786) Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major, K537
‘Coronation’ (1788)
Karl Engel (piano) Till Engel (Piano - K242 and K365 only)
and Leopold Hager (Piano - K242 only) Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra/Leopold
Hager Recorded in Großer Saal
des Mozarteums, Salzburg, 28-30 November 1974 (K453 and K488),
1-2 May 1975 (K595), 8-9 March 1975 (K449 and K503), 9-12 June 1975
(K175), 11 June 1975 (K595), 5 November 1975 (K37, K39 and K537), 19
May 1976 (K238, K414, K466 and K482), 31 May 1976 (K450), 2 June 1976
(K415), 1-2 December 1976 (K413 and K451), 12-18 June 1976 (K382, K386
and K467), 29 September 1977 (K242), 30 September 1977 (K365), 28 November
1977 (K246 and K459), 16 February 1978 (K40 and K41) and 18 February
1978 (K271) WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61398-2 [10 CDs: 73'37" + 75'44"
+ 70'19" + 74'10" + 75'41" + 63'09" + 70'02"
+ 75'26" + 63'25" + 57'33"][PJL]
Five
out of ten - no more! ... see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-91) The Piano Concertos, Vol. 6 Piano
Concerto No 13 in C major, K415 Piano Concerto No 26 in D major, K537
‘Coronation’ Matthias
Kirschnereit (piano) Bamberg Symphony Orchestra/Frank Beermann recorded
at the Sinfonie an der Regnitz, Bamberg, 10-12 March 2004
ARTE NOVA 74321 98494-2 [59'06"] [PL]
These
are worthy and serviceable second-division
performances which, good though they are,
just miss the boat. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART
(1756 - 1791) Piano
Concerto in D, #26, K.537, "Coronation"
(1788) [31.29] Piano Concerto in Bb
#27, K 595, (1791) [31.33]
Daniel Barenboim, pianist and conductor Berlin
Philharmonic Orchestra Rec January 1989 (26);
February 1988 (27), Siemensvilla, Berlin,
Germany. Notes in English and Deutsch
WARNER CLASSICS ELATUS 2564 60679-2 [63.02]
[PSh]
Excellent,
many will say perfect, performances of these
two masterpieces ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791)
Oboe Concerto in C, K314(285d) [18:17] Bassoon
Concerto in Bb, K191 (186c) [16:15] Flute
and Harp Concerto in C, K299 (297c) [26:12]
Marcel Ponseele (oboe), Marc Vallon (bassoon),
Wilbert Hazelzet (flute), Saskia Kwast (harp),
The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra/Ton Koopman
Recorded in the Doopsgezinde Kerk, Haarlem,
May 1993
WARNER ELATUS 2564 61569-2 [61:19] [GPJ]
Competition
is very strong in the area of Mozart concertos,
but this disc is, given its price, thoroughly
recommendable for the Flute and Harp Concerto
alone. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791)
Six
Quartets Dedicated to Haydn: No. 14 in
G, K387 (1782) [29’57]; No. 15 in D minor,
K421 (1783) [28’44]; No. 16 in E flat, K428
(1783) [23’17]; No. 17 in B flat, K458, ‘Hunt’
(1784) [21’28]; No. 18 in A, K464 (1785) [29’09];
No. 19 in C, K465, ‘Dissonance’ (1785)
[25’29].
Guarneri String Quartet (Arnold Steinhardt,
John Dalley, violins; Michael Tree, viola;
David Soyer, cello). No rec. info given.
RCA RED SEAL COMPLETE COLLECTIONS 82876 60390-2
[3 CDs: 58’58 + 45’30 + 55’29] [CC]
Reliable
versions of Mozart’s magnificent six Haydn
Quartets. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756 - 1791) Sonata
for Flute or Violin and Harpsichord in BbA,
K.10 (1764) [9.40] Sonata for Flute or Violin
and Harpsichord in G, K.11 (1764) [8.14] Sonata
for Flute or Violin and Harpsichord in A,
K.12 (1764) [8.45] Sonata for Flute or Violin
and Harpsichord in F, K.13 (1764) [11.55]
Sonata for Flute or Violin and Harpsichord
in C, K.14 (1764) [8.55] Sonata for Flute
or Violin and Harpsichord in Bb, K.15
(1764) [8.10] Piano Variations in D on a Menuet
by M. Duport, K.573 (1789) [14.47]
Robert Stallman, flute; Kateřina
Englichová, harp Recorded in Church of the
Good Shepherd, New York City, NY, USA, April
1998. Recorded in 2.0 stereo at 20 Bit resolution.
Notes in English and Czech. Photos of artists
and composer.
ARCO DIVA UP 0074-2 131 [71.22] [PSh]
A
sonically beautiful presentation of rare Mozart
sonatas ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-91)
Don
Giovanni (1787) Paolo Silveri (baritone)
Don Giovanni; Salvatore Baccaloni (bass) Leporello;
Regina Resnik (mezzo) Donna Elvira; Ljuba
Welitsch (soprano) Donna Anna; Eugene Conley
(tenor) Don Ottavio; Nadine Conner (soprano)
Zerlina; Lorenzo Alvary (bass) Masetto; Nicola
Moscona (bass) Commendatore
Chorus and Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera
House, New York/Fritz Reiner Rec. New York,
6 January 1951 mono ADD
WALHALL ETERNITY SERIES WLCD0005 [70’29
+ 73’21] [CC]
Definitely
not a version with which to get acquainted
with Mozart’s masterpiece. Interesting for
a couple of the singers, though, in particular
Regina Resnik. ... see
Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756 – 1791) Idomeneo
- opera in three acts KV366 Idomeneo
... Richard Lewis (tenor) Idamante ... Leo
Goeke (tenor) Ilia ... Bozena Betley (soprano)
Electra ... Josephine Barstow (soprano) Arbace
... Alexander Oliver (tenor) The High Priest
of Neptune ... John Fryatt (tenor) The Voice
of Neptune ... Dennis Wicks (bass)
The Glyndebourne Chorus
The London Philharmonic Orchestra/John Pritchard
Recorded at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera,
1974
DVD
ARTHAUS MUSIK 101 079 [125:00]
Save
for Dame Josephine’s performance this is not
the most exciting DVD. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) The Great
Composers Series DVD
[52’00] String Quartet in D minor, K.421
Movement I [8’20] Movement II [7’36] Movement
III [3’52] Movement IV [9’48] CD1 [74’39]
1. Le Nozze Di Figaro: Overture [4’28]
2. Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major K467 "Elvira
Madigan": Andante [6’26] 3.
Piano Sonata in A major K331: Rondo alla
Turca [3’24] 4. Clarinet Concerto in A
major K622 "Out of Africa":
Adagio [6’24] 5. Jupiter Symphony
in C major K551: Allegro vivace [11’51]
6. Requiem in D minor K 626: Requiem aeternam
[4’46] 7. Ave Verum Corpus [3’37]
8. Clarinet Quintet in A major K581: Allegro
[9’04] Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Serenade
in G major K525: 9. Allegro [5’16]
10. Romanze, andante [4’36]
11. Menuetto [1’41] 12. Rondo,
allegro [3’56] 13. Flute Concerto No.
1 in G major K313: Allegro [9’48] La
Petite Bande, Sigiswald Kuijken (1) Derek
Han, piano. Philharmonia Orchestra/Paul Freeman
(2) Klára Würtz, piano (3) Harmen
de Boer, clarinet; Amsterdam Sinfonietta/Lev
Markiz (4) Mozart Akademie Amsterdam, Jaap
ter Linden (5) Chamber Choir of Europe, Kammerorchester
Pforzheim/Nicol Matt (6) The Choir of St.
John’s College Cambridge/Christopher Robinson
(7) Karl Leister, clarinet; Brandis Quartet
(8) Kammerorchester Mannheim/Florian Heyerick
(9-12) Peter-Lukas Graf, flute; English Chamber
Orchestra/Raymond Leppard (13) CD2 [63’47]
1. Cosi Fan Tutte: Overture [4’50]
2. Flute and Harp Concerto in C major K299:
Andantino [8'06] 3. Piano Concerto
in F major K459: Allegro assai [7’47]
4. Gran Partita in B flat major K361:
Adagio [5’15] 5. Symphony in C major
K425 Linzer: Andante [9’23]
6. Serenata Notturna in D major K239:
Marcia [4’42] 7. Posthorn Serenade
in D major K320: Concertante (andante
grazioso) [8’00] 8. Violin Concerto No.
5 in A major K219: Allegro aperto [9’28]
9. Piano Sonata in C major K545: Allegro
[3’16] 10. Le Nozze di Figaro: Voi
che sapete [2’46]
La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken (1) Marc
Grauwels, flute; Giselle Herbert , harp; Les
Violons du Roy/Bernard Labadie (2) Derek Han,
piano; Philharmonia Orchestra/Paul Freeman
(3) European Chamber Orchestra Wind Ensemble/Alexander
Schneider (4) Mozart Akademie Amsterdam/Jaap
ter Linden (5) Gil Sharon, violin; Amati Chamber
Orchestra (6) Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen
Rundfunks/Sir Colin Davis (7) Emmy Verhey,
violin; Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra/Eduardo
Marturet (8) Klára Würtz, piano
(9) Monica Groop, soprano; La Petite Bande/Sigiswald
Kuijken (10)
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92410 [DVD:
52.00; 2CDs: 74.39 + 63.47] [RMk]
Interesting
in parts, possibly for the wrong reasons,
but no more. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839
– 1881) Pictures
at an Exhibition orch. Maurice
Ravel (1922) Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840 – 1893) March
miniature, (from Suite No. 1 in D minor)
(1879) Modest MUSSORGSKY
(1839 – 1881) A Night on the
Bald Mountain (orch. Rimsky-Korsakov)
(1886) Alexander
BORODIN (1833 – 1887) Prince
Igor: Polovtsian March (1890) Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840 – 1893) Marche
slave (1876) Dmitri
KABALEVSKY (1904 – 1987) Colas
Breugnon Overture, Op. 24 (1938) Mikhail
GLINKA (1804 – 1857) Ruslan
and Ludmilla Overture (1842)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner. Recorded
7 Dec 1957, 14 March 1959, Symphony Hall,
Chicago, U.S.A. SACD (ADD).
BMG-RCA LIVING STEREO 82876 61394-2 [70’57"]
[JPh]
Like
many of Reiner’s recordings the performances
have never been surpassed ... see Full
Review
Modest MUSSORGSKY
(1839-81) Night
on Bald Mountain, arranged and orchestrated
by Nicolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
(1844-1908) Pictures at an Exhibition,
orchestrated by Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Introduction
to Khovanshchina (‘Dawn on the Moscow River’)
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra/Yoel Levi recorded
in Woodruff Memorial Arts Center, Atlanta,
Georgia, 11-12 January 1991
TELARC CD-80296 [49'51"] PL]
I
enjoyed it: and you’re unlikely to be disappointed.
... see Full
Review
Carl NIELSEN
(1865-1931)
The Complete Symphonies (1892-1925) Symphony
No. 1 (1892) [34:34] Symphony No. 2 Four
Temperaments (1902) [31:55] Symphony No.
3 Sinfonia Espansiva (1911) [36:26]
Symphony No. 4 Inextinguishable (1916)
[34:02] Symphony No. 5 (1921) [35:43] Symphony
No. 6 Sinfonia Semplice (1925) [35:02]
London Symphony Orchestra/Ole Schmidt
In Symphony No. 3 only: Brian Rayner Cook
(bar); Jill Gomez (sop) Originally recorded
by Unicorn in 1973, St Giles, London, ADD
REGIS RRC 3002 [70.51+73.28+69.45]
[IL]
Even
if you already have a Nielsen symphonies cycle
I do urge you to invest in this beautifully
refurbished set – the first stereo version
recorded. It is a classic and at Regis’s bargain
price a very real bargain. ... see Full
Review
Wilhelm
PETERSON-BERGER (1867
– 1942) The
Complete Piano Music - Volume 2: Six Piano
Tunes (1897): When the rowan blooms – Gångtrall
– In the western mountains – Fiddler – Chorus
mysticus – Nachspiel; Invention à 2
voci (1897); Gliding skies (1897); The star-boys
(1897); Norrland rhapsody (1900); Four Dance
Poems (1900): To the foredancers – Summer
dreams – Morning breeze – Serenade; Last Summer
(1903): The mountain – The lake – The moor
– A squirrel and a stock dove – The spruce
forest – The mountain stream.
Olof Höjer (piano) Recorded at the
Svaneholm Castle, Skåne, Sweden, March
2001. Instrument: Hornung & Möller,
Copenhagen 1903 – 1904.
SWEDISH SOCIETY DISCOFIL SCD 1087 [71:52]
[GF]
This
disc has given me a lot of pleasure and I
recommend it whole-heartedly to anyone wishing
to broaden his/her pianistic horizon. ...
see Full
Review
Laurent PETITGIRARD
(b.
1950) Joseph Merrick,
the Elephant Man Joseph
Merrick – Nathalie Stutzmann (contralto) Doctor
Treves – Nicolas Rivenq (baritone) Tom Norman
– Robert Bréault (tenor) Mary – Marie
Devellereau (soprano) Eve Lukes – Sophie Koch
(mezzo) Carr Gomm – Nicolas Courjal (bass)
The Coloratura – Celena Nelson-Shafer (soprano)
Jimmy – Damien Grelier (treble) First Boy
– Christophe Crapez (tenor) Second Boy – Francis
Dudziak (baritone) A young girl – Lilian Faraon
(soprano) Father – Yves Blanchard (baritone)
Mother – Françoise Faidherbe (mezzo)
First Lady –Agnes Poly (soprano) Second Lady
– Mari Laurila (mezzo)
French Opera Chorus Monte Carlo Philharmonic
Orchestra/Laurent Petitgirard Rec. Opera Garnier
de Monte-Carlo, 18-22 May 1999
NAXOS 8.557608-9 [73.54 + 75.25] [RH]
First
recording for Petitgirard’s lyrical and rather
retro sounding opera; highly effective if
not quite as challenging as it could be. ...
see Full Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Romeo
and Juliet Op.64 (1936) - highlights
June Whitfield (narrator) National Symphony
Orchestra of Ukraine/Andrew Mogrelia Recorded
(?1995 with narration in ?2004)
NAXOS 8.557675 [79.26] [JW]
Whether
you will be attracted to a performance with
narration is not a question I can answer though
it may warm some children’s hearts at Christmas
... see Full
Review
Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891 - 1953) The
Stone Flower, Ballet in four acts
and nine scenes, Op 118 (1953) [148.19] Scenario
by Mira Mendelson [Prokofieva] and Leonid
Lavrovsky from "The Malachite Box"
by Pavel Bazhov.
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Gianandrea Noseda
Recorded at the New Broadcasting House, Manchester,
UK, 28 January 2003 Notes in English, Deutsch,
and Français.
CHANDOS CHAN 10058(2) [72.39 +
75.40] [PSh]
If
you think Mahler as well as Prokofiev should
have written one more symphony, this disk
set is for you ... ... see Full
Review
Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858-1924)
Gianni
Schicchi (1918). Giuseppe Taddei (baritone)
Gianni Schicchi; Grete Rapisardi (soprano)
Lauretta; Agnese Dubbini (mezzo) Zita; Giuseppe
Savio (tenor) Rinuccio; Gino Del Signore (tenor)
Gherardo; Renza Ferrari (soprano) Nella; Pier
Luigi Latinucci (bass) Betto di Signa; Fernando
Corena (bass) Simone; Alberto Albertini (baritone)
Marco; Liana Avogadro (mezzo) La Ciesca; Franco
Calabrese (bass) Maestro Spinelloccio, Ser
Amantio di Nicolao;
Orchestra Lirica di Torino della Radiotelevisione
Italiana/Alfredo Simonetto. Rec. Turin, Italy,
in 1949. ADD mono
WARNER FONIT 5050467-1048-2-2 [53’22]
[CC]
This
Gianni Schicchi is a joy and should be savoured
as an illustration not only of Puccini’s lighter
side but also for true italianate excellence
of execution. ... see Full
Review
Great Puccini Love Scenes and other opera
favourites Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858-1924) Madama Butterfly
(Vogliatemi bene’) Raina Kabaivanska
as Butterfly and Nazzareno Antinori as Pinkerton
conducted by Maurizio Arena recorded at the
Arena di Verona in July 1983 La fanciulla
del west ‘Non potrò mai capire’;
‘Ch’ella mi creda’ Placido Domingo as Dick
Johnson and Carol Neblett as Minni conducted
by Nello Santi recorded at the Royal Opera
House, Covent Garden in November 1982 Manon
Lescaut (‘Vedete? Io son fidele’;
In quelle trine morbide’; ‘Tu non m’ami dunque
il tuo…vieni ! Colle tue braccia stringi’;
‘Ah Manon mi tradisce il tuo folle pensier’;
‘Ansier eternal, crudel’ Placido Domingo as
Des Grieux and Kiri Te Kanawa as Manon Lescaut
conducted by Giuseppe Sinopoli recorded at
the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in May
1983 Il Tabarro (‘O Luigi! Luigi!)
Sylvia Sass as Giorgetta; Nicola Martinucci
as Luigi; and Piero Cappuccilli as Michele
conducted by Gianandrea Gavazzeni recorded
at La Scala, Milan in February 1983 Tosca
- Amaro sol per te m’era il morire Eva Marton
as Tosca and Giacomo Aragall as Cavaradossi
conducted by Daniel Oren
recorded at the Arena di Verona in August
1984 La Bohème Donde
lieta usci; Sono andati
Neil Shicoff as Rodolfo; Ileana Cotrubas as
Mimi; Thomas Allen as Marcello; Marilyn Zascau
as Musetta conducted by Lamberto Gardelli
recorded at the Royal Opera House, Covent
Garden in February 1982 Johann
STRAUSS II (1825-1899) Die
Fledermaus - O Gott, wie rührt
mich dies; The Czardas Kiri Te Kanawa as Rosalinde;
Hildegard Heichele as Adèle and Hermann
Prey as Eisenstein conducted by Pacido Domingo
recorded at the Royal Opera House, Covent
Garden in December 1983 Jacques
OFFENBACH (1819-1880) Les
Contes d’Hoffmann - ‘Il était
une fois à la cour d’Eisenach’; ‘Amis,
l’amour tendre et rêveur, erreur!’;
‘O Dieu, de quelle ivresse’ Placido Domingo
as Hoffmann conducted by Georges Prêtre
recorded at the Royal Opera House, Covent
Garden in January 1981 Giuseppe
VERDI ( 1813-1901)
Otello - ‘A terra, si, nel livido
fango’; ‘Piangea cantando…Ave Maria’ Kiri
Te Kanawa as Desdemona conducted by Zoltan
Pesko recorded at the Arena di Verona in July
1982 Ernani - ‘Come rugiada
al cespite’; ‘Ah, morir potessi adesso’ Placido
Domingo as Ernani and Mirella Freni as Elvira
conducted by Riccardo Muti recorded at La
Scala, Milan in December 1982
WARNER/NVC ARTS DVD Video 0630-18771-2
[111:00 approx] [IL]
A
popular compilation of 1980s opera productions
with enough less familiar selections to interest
the cognoscenti. The Covent Garden sets are
lavish. An ideal Christmas present. ... see
Full
Review
Henry PURCELL
(1659-1695) The
Fairy Queen. Semi-Opera in Five Acts
(1692)
Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Andrew Carwood (tenor)
Michael Bundy (bass) Gillian Keith (soprano
1) Rebecca Outram (soprano 2) William Towers
(counter-tenor) Robert Murray (tenor) New
English Voices Accademia Bizantina/Ottavio
Dantone Recorded at Teatro Rossini, Lugo di
Romagna, Ravenna, July 2001
ARTS 47679-2 [65.19 + 67.07] [JW]
This
entrant has strong and lasting virtues of
its own and is recommended on merit. ... see
Full Review
Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873
– 1943) Sonata
in G minor for Cello and Piano Op.19 (1900)
Dmitry SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906 – 1975) Sonata in D minor for Cello
and Piano Op.40 (1934)
Gwyneth George (cello); Alberto Portugheis
(piano) Recorded: Christ Church, Chelsea,
October 1970 (Rachmaninov) and February 1971
(Shostakovich)
GUILD GMCD 7219 [54:56] [HC]
The
present versions, recorded as far back as
1970 and 1971, are very fine and quite satisfying,
though the recorded sound may at times show
its age. ... see Full
Review
Jean-Phillippe RAMEAU
(1683 - 1764) Keyboard Works Volume 2. Nouvelles
suites de pièces de clavecin (1728) Suite in A [29.30] Suite
in G [28.42] Cinq pièces pour clavecin seul, extraites de ‘Pièces
de clavecin en concert’ (1741) La Livri [2.40] L’Agaçante [2.48]
La timide 1ere rondeau [2.31] La timide 2me rondeau
[2.10] L’Indiscrète rondeau [1.27] La Dauphine (1747) [3.01]
Sophie Yates, harpsichord
by A. Garlick after Goujon 1747, tuned A=415Hz. in Valotti [unequal]
temperament by A. G. Recorded at 96/24 Forde Abbey, Somerset, UK, 18
June 2003. Notes in English, Deutsch, Français. Picture of composer
and photo of artist.
CHANDOS CHACONNE CHAN 0708 [73.05] [PSh]
From
this Volume 2 I predict that this is the best
available Rameau set in terms of both performance
and sound. ... see Full
Review
Max REGER
(1873-1916) Es
sungen drei Engel Sieben
geistliche Volkslieder [19:38] Drei
Choralbearbeitung für Weinnachten, Neujahr,
Epiphanias, Op. 79g [6:46]
Zwölf deutsche geistliche Gesänge
[40:41]
NDR Chor Hamburg/Hans-Christoph Rademann Recorded
in NDR Rolf-Liebermann-Studio, Hamburg, June
2003. DDD
CARUS 83.155 [67:08] [JQ]
A
charming and delightful collection, expertly
performed. The Christmas season is a particularly
appropriate time to recommend this disc ...
see Full Review
Max REGER
(1875-1916) Variations
and Fugue on a Theme of J.S. Bach Op. 81 (1904)
Variations and Fugue on a Theme of G.P. Telemann
Op. 134 (1914)
Mark Latimer (piano) Recorded at All Saints’
Church, Petersham, April 1994
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61718-2 [70.39]
Sound
is good and cover art arresting. The music
and performances, unfortunately, less so.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Carl
REINTHALER (1822–1896)
Jephta und seine Tochter Jephta
– Richard Salter (bass) Mirjam – Sabine Riggerbusch
(soprano) A Maiden - Waltraud Hoffmann-Mucher
(alto) Ephraim – Jurgen Sacher (tenor) A Maiden
– Konstanze Maxsein (soprano) Prophet – Oliver
Zwarg (bass)
Bremer Domchor Kammer Sinfonie Bremen/Wolfgang
Helbich Recorded St. Petri Dom Bremen, 25-28
March 1997
CPO 999 938-2 [60.47 + 63.35] [RH]
A
fascinating oratorio written just after Mendelssohn’s
death and owing something to Elijah but displaying
a fine command of the genre. I enjoyed this
immensely.... see Full
Review
Joseph
Gabriel RHEINBERGER
(1839-1901) Six
Pieces for Violin and Organ Op.150 Suite for Violin and Organ Op.166
Line Most (violin) Marie Ziener (organ) Recorded
in David’s Church, Copenhagen, June 2000
NAXOS 8.557383 [59.55] [JW]
Undemanding
and attractive, recorded sympathetically.
Played with finesse and elegance – and not too much sauce ... see Full
Review
Ned
ROREM (b.
1923) Six
Songs for High Voice [15’ 38"] Last Poems of Wallace Stevens
(1972)* [26’42"] Ariel (1971)** [16’33"] Jack
l’éventreur (1953) [5’34"] Ode (1953) [1’42"]
Alleluia (1946) [2’46"]
Laura Aikin (soprano); *Gerhard Zank (cello); ** Nicola Jürgensen
(clarinet); Donald Sulzen (piano) Rec. Bayerischer Rundfunk, Studio
2, 7-11 February, 2003 DDD
ORFEO C 620 041 A [66’19"] [JQ]
This
fine CD of Rorem’s songs - which probably
represent the peak of his achievement - is
a most welcome addition and is strongly recommended.
... see Full Review
Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868)
L’Italiana
in A!geri, Comic opera in two acts.
First performance, 22nd May 1813 at Teatro
San Benedetto, Venice Isabella, Lucia Valentini-Terrani
(mezzo); Lindoro, Ugo Benelli (ten); Mustafa,
Sesto Bruscantini (bass-bar); Taddeo, Enzo
Dara (bar); Elvira, Norma Palacios-Rossi (sop),
Zulma, Gigliola Caputi (mezzo); Haly, Alfredo
Mariotti (bass)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Staatsoper Dresden/Gary
Bertini
Recorded February 1978. Dresden, Germany
ARTS MUSIC - ARTS ARCHIVES - 43048-2 [69.37
+ 70.34] [RJF]
If
you don’t know L’Italiana in A!geri then I
urge you to go and buy this now and remedy
that deficiency. ... see Full
Review
Gioachino ROSSINI
(1792-1868)
La
pietra del paragone - Melodrama
giocoso in Two Acts La Marchessa Clarice -
Agata Bienkowska (mezzo); Il Conte Asdrubale
- Raffaele Costantini (bass); Baronessa Aspasia
- Anna Rita Gemmabella (mezzo); Donna Fulvia
- Anke Hermann (sop); Il Cavalier Giocondo
(friend of the Count, a poet) - Alessandro
Codeluppi (ten); Macrobio (a journalist) -
Dariusz Machej (bass); Pacuvio (a poet) -
Gioacchino Zarrelli (bar); Fabrizio, (confidante
of the Count) - Teru Yoshihara (bar)
Czech Chamber Chorus
Czech Chamber Soloists, Brno/Alessandro de
Marchi Rec. live 21, 24, 27 July 2001, Kurhaus
Bad Wildbad, Germany, ‘Rossini In Wildbad
Festival’
NAXOS OPERA CLASSICS 8.660093-95
[3 CDs: 68.28+21.07+71.46] [RF]
This
performance does not convert me to the view
held by some that ‘La pietra del paragone’
is the first full flowering of Rossini’s genius.
‘Tancredi’ and ‘L’Italiana in Algeri’ are
true works of genius. ... see Full
Review
Gioachino ROSSINI
(1792-1868)
The five One Act Farse composed for the Teatro
San Moise, Venice. 1810-1813 La
Cambiale di Matrimonio (The Bill
of Marriage);L’Inganno Felice (The
Happy Stratagem);La Scala di Seta
(The Silken Ladder); L’occasione
fa il Ladro (Opportunity Makes
the Thief); Il Signor Bruschino
or Il Figlio per azzardo;
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92399 [8CDs] [RJF]
Go
out and buy whilst the opportunity is there
... 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]
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