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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 1 in D (1888, rev. 1893. 1896-98) [50’24]. Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28 (1894-95) [14’46]. Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ančerl. Rec. Dvořák Hall of Rudolfinum, Prague, December 1964 (Mahler) and August 1962 (R. Strauss). ADD SUPRAPHON KAREL ANČERL GOLD EDITION SU3666-2 [67’05] [CC]

Memorable Mahler. Also, Ančerl gives his Till all the confident swagger of an inebriated Cockney … see Full Review


Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony No. 2 ‘Resurrection’ (1894) Latonia Moore (soprano), Nadja Michael (mezzo soprano) Vienna Singverein Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Gilbert Kaplan Recorded November and December 2002, Musikverein, Vienna DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 474 380-2 [2CDs: 85.48] [TB]

All praise to Gilbert Kaplan for his boldness and for sharing his obsession with this great and visionary symphony. … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 3 in D minor (1895-6) Marjorie Thomas (Contralto) Tolzer Knabenchor Symphonie-Orchester und Frauenchor des Bayerischen Rundfunks/Rafael Kubelik Recorded "live" in Herkules-Saal in der Residenz, Munich, 20 April 1967 AUDITE 23.403 [2 CDs: 94.36] [TD]

This is a firm recommendation for Mahler’s Third and another gem in Audite’s Kubelik releases. … see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor (1901-02) Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio/Vladimir Fedoseyev Recorded live at the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Aug 30, Sept 2/3 2000 RELIEF CR 991070 [71.12] [JW]

Marked by a certain degree of briskness. … the rise and crest of the greatest performances are somewhat missing here. … see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 6 in A minor (1903-05) Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks/Rafael Kubelik Recorded "live" in Herkules-Saal in der Residenz, Munich, 6 December 1968 AUDITE 95.480 [72.43] [TD]

Kubelik’s Mahler Sixth is a very vivid, though very partial, view of the work. … see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 6 in A minor (1904). Berliner Philharmoniker/Sir John Barbirolli Rec. live at the Philharmonie, Berlin, on January 13th, 1966. mono ADD TESTAMENT SBT1342 [74’51] [CC]

A remarkable document. Not the cathartic experience Bernstein would memorably portray with the VPO in DG 427 697-2; rather, it is an essential complement to that and as such should be on every Mahlerian’s shelf. … see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860 – 1911) Kindertotenlieder (1905) Adagio from Symphony No. 10 in F sharp major (1911) Anton WEBERN (1883 – 1945) Passacaglia for orchestra, Op. 1. (1908) Im Sommerwind (1904) Cornelia Kallisch (mezzo soprano) SWR Symphony Orchestra, Baden-Baden and Freiberg/Michael Gielen.recorded in the Hans Rosbaud-Studio Baden-Baden (Mahler and Passacaglia) on 25-26/6/98 Kindertotenlieder; 16-17/11/89 Symphony No 10; 12-14/11/92 (Passacaglia); 3/9/98 Konzerthaus Freiberg, Im Sommerwind. DDD HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.062 [71’30"] [JPh]

For most of us Gielen’s reputation rests primarily on his disc-based repertoire. That reputation is secure. I was very impressed by this disc … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Cendrillon (1896) Frederica von Stade (mezzo) Cendrillon; Nicolai Gedda (tenor) Prince Charmant; Jane Berbié (soprano) Madame de la Haltière; Jules Bastin (bass) Pandolfe; Ruth Welting (soprano) La Fée; Teresa Cahill (soprano) Noémie; Elizabeth Bainbridge (mezzo) Dorothée; Claude Méloni (tenor) Le Roi, La Voix du Héraut; Paul Crook (tenor) Le Doyen de la Faculté; Christian du Plessis (baritone) Le Surintendant des Plaisirs; John Noble (baritone) Le Premier Ministre Ambrosian Opera Chorus; Philharmonia Orchestra ADD /Julius Rudel Rec All Saints Church, London, in 1978. SONY CLASSICAL SM2K91178 [two discs: 136’33: 71’18 + 65’15] [CC]

This set positively sparkles with joy … this is a Recording of the Month if ever there was one. … see Full Review

Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Manon (1882-84) Manon Lescaut – Fanny Heldy (soprano) Le Comte Des Grieux – Pierre Dupré (bass-baritone) Le Chevalier Des Grieux - Jean Marny (tenor) Lescaut – Léon Ponzio (baritone) Poussette – Marthe Coiffier (soprano) Javotte – Madeleine Sibille (soprano) Rosette – Luciene Estève (soprano) Guillot – Louis Mesmaeker (tenor) De Brétigny – Maurice Sauvegeot (baritone) L’Hôtelier – Louis Morturier La Servente – Marguerite Julliot Orchestra and Chorus of the Opéra-Comique/Henri Büsser Recorded 1923
MALIBRAN MR 558 [2 CDs 155.38] [JW]

An impressive achievement, this first Manon … in Heldy we find an exquisite adornment strongly second by Marny’s patrician elegance. … see Full Review

Igor MARKEVITCH (1912-1983) Complete Orchestral Music Vol. 7 Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The Musical Offering (Potsdam and Leipzig 1747) realized 1949-50 for three orchestral groups and solo quartet by Igor Markevitch Rémy Baudet (violin), Hans van Loenen (wooden transverse flute), Jeroen Reuling (cello), Dirk Luijmes (harpsichord) Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra/Christopher Lyndon-Gee Recorded Musis Sacrum, Arnhem, April 1997 MARCO POLO 8.225120 [51.57] [JW]

Architectural logic and cohesion fused with aural clarity. … see Full Review

Frank MARTIN (1890-1974) Huit Préludes pour le piano (1948) Guitare – Quatre pièces brèves pour piano (1933) Fantasie sur des rhythms flamenco (1973) Arthur HONEGGER (1892-1955) Prélude, Ariosi et Fughette sur le nom de Bach (1932) Le Cahier romand (1921-23) Sept pièces brèves (1919-20) Klaus Sticken (piano) Recorded Radio Bremen Sendesaal and Bayerischer Rundfunk 2001-03 THOROFON CTH 2478 [65.11] [JW]

Only a small, relatively insignificant component of Martin and Honegger’s work but valuable to know. … see Full Review

Victor MASSÉ (1822-1884) Les Noces de Jeannette (1853) La mule de Pedro
Galathée (1852) Paul et Virginie La Reine Topaze (1856) Extracts from the operas with Ninon Vallin, Léon Ponzio, André Balbon, and Lemichel du Roy. Jeanne Manceau, Gabriel Soulacroix, Jeanne Gerville-Réache, Albert Vaguet and Lise Landouzy. Les Noces de Jeannette conducted by Laurent Halet and recorded in 1922 (Overture from a 1948 radio broadcast with an orchestra conducted by Jules Gressier) - other selections undated MALIBRAN MR 559 [78.27] [JW]

Massé’s Rossini-influenced brio – touched I think with an admixture of his contemporary Offenbach sung by stellar French voices. … see Full Review

Olivier MESSIAEN (1908 - 1992) L’Ascension (1934) [23.35] Livre d’Orgue (1951) [44.31] Dame Gillian Weir, organ of the Århus Cathedral, Denmark Notes (27 pages) in English including full organ specifications. Originally recorded for Collins Classics in association with BBC Radio, 25 Feb 1994. Organ Works Volume 4 PRIORY PRCD 924 [69.31] [PSh]

A must for Messiaen completists, and organ music collectors. For the rest of us Stokowski may be a better choice ... see Full Review

Wilhelm MIDDELSCHULTE (1863-1943) Passacaglia [12:28] Intermezzo I [5:34] Fantasia contrappuntistica [41:37] Gebet – Prayer [5:06] Jürgen Sonnentheil, organ Recorded at St. Michaelis Church, Hildesheim, October 2002 Organ Works, Volume 2 CPO 999962-2 [64:48] [DS]

Middelschulte’s severe style and contrapuntal leanings are highly rewarding. … see Full Review

Damijan MOČNIK (b. 1967) Verbum supernum prodiens (1997)a Prošnja (1998)b Benedictus Dominus (2000)c Magnificat (1998)d Christus est natus (1999)e Blagri (1998)f Evhe (1997)g Regina caeli (2000)h Acclamatio (1995)i Ecce sacerdos magnus (2000)j Missa in organi benedictione (1999)k Doxologia (1999)l Kralj (1996)m Marta Močnik (soprano)d; Marcos Fink (bass baritone)c; Dalibor Miklavčič (organ); Tone Potočnik (organ);World Youth Choir ’99 (Gary Graden, director)ae; Andrej Vavken Women’s Church Choir (Damijan Močnik, director)bfim; De Profundis Chamber Choir (Branca Potočnik Krajnik, director)gh; Ave Chamber Choir (Andraž Hauptman, director)j; Chorus N’omen (Tomaž Faganel, director)k Recorded : Different venues in Ljubljana, 1999-2000 CARUS 83.159 [68:29] [HC]

Simple and homophonic, contrapuntal and fiercely energetic, moving along with conviction and passion. All performances are superbly committed and technically assured. … see Full Review

Karel Ančerl Gold Edition 18 Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major K216 (1775) Bassoon Concerto in B flat major K191 (1774) Jan Václav Hugo VOŘÍŠEK (1791-1825) Symphony in D major Op. 24 (1820-21) David Oistrakh (violin) Karel Bidlo (bassoon) Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ančerl Recorded Prague, 1950-54 SUPRAPHON SU 3678-2 001 [71.27] [JW]

Splendidly virile … sweepingly triumphant … penetrating insight. Sound quality excellently enhanced, adding to the desirability of the disc. … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756 - 1791) Clarinet Concerto in A, K622 (1791) [27.38] Clarinet Quintet in A, K581 (1789) [36.00] Martin Fröst, basset clarinet and clarinet Amsterdam Sinfonietta/Peter Oundjian, conductor Vertavo String Quartet: Öyvor Volle, Berit Cardas, vv; Henninge Ladnaas, vla; Björg Værnes, vc. Recorded at the Muziekcentrum Vredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands, April 2002. Notes in English, Deutsch, and Français. Photos of soloist and quartet. CD tracks, stereo 2.0. DSD SACD tracks, stereo 2.0 and surround 5.0. Hybrid SACD playable on SACD players and cd players BIS SACD 1263 [64.18] [PSh]

A superb, even stunning, performance and recording of some of the greatest of Mozart’s music … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756 – 1791) Piano Concerto No. 9 in E flat major, K271 (1777) Piano Concerto No. 19 in F major, K459 (1784) Clara Haskil (piano) Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra/Carl Schuricht.Rec. Stuttgart-Degenloch on 23/5/52 (No. 9) and Schloss Ludwigsburg on 4/7/56 (No. 19). DDD HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.079 [57’44"] [JPh]

Fails to compete successfully … Performances are superb though … anyone wanting this combination can purchase safely, sure that they will hear excellent accounts of both works. … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) The composer’s own chamber versions for piano and strings Piano Concerto no. 11 in F major K413 [21.37] Piano Concerto no. 12 in A major K414 [23.44] Piano Concerto no. 13 in C major K415 [25.01] Susan Tomes (piano) The Gaudier Ensemble: Marieke Blankestijn, Lesley Hatfield –violins; Iris Juda – viola; Christoph Marks – cello; Steve Williams – double bass rec Henry Wood Hall, London, 15-17 April 2003 HYPERION CDA67358 [70.39] [PW]

An absolute joy. Hyperion at its best; beautifully recorded and presented. … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-91)/ arr. Johann Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837) Piano Concertos: No. 20 in D minor, K466 (1785) [31’48]; No. 25 in C, K503 (1786) [33’09]. Fumiko Shiraga (piano); Henrik Wiese (flute); Peter Clemente (violin); Tibor Bényi (cello). Rec. Bavaria Studios, Munich, Germany, on June 7th and 9th, 2003. DDD BIS CD1147 [65’27] [CC]

There is much joy to be gleaned from this product. What with Shiraga and Ogawa, BIS are sitting on a veritable pianistic goldmine … … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) String Quartets Nos. 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 CD1 String Quartet No.14 in G major, K.387 ‘Spring’ String Quartet No.17 in B flat major, K.458 ‘Hunt’ CD2 String Quartet No.15 in D minor, K.421 String Quartet No.16 in E flat major, K.428 String Quartet No.20 in D major, K.499 ’Hoffmeister’ Alban Berg Quartet No recording details provided. ADD WARNER CLASSICS ELATUS 2564 60678-2 [Total timing 131:55] [MC]

Not my first choice but few listeners will be disappointed. The playing and interpretations are very fine together with decent sound quality. Will provide much satisfaction and should be considered for any collection. … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Divertimenti for Wind Instruments CD1 Gran Partita K361 CD2 Serenade no.11, K375b Serenade no.12, K,388 Divertimento Kanh.226 CD3 Divertimento K213 Divertimento K240 Divertimento K252 Divertimento K253 Divertimento K270 CD4 Serenade no.11, K375a Divertimento K166 Divertimento K186 Adagio K410 Adagio K411 Divertimento K439b No1 CD5 Divertimento K439b No2 Divertimento K439b No3 Divertimento K439b No4 Divertimento K439b No5 Chamber Orchestra of Europe Wind Soloists Recorded in various locations between December 1989 and September 1990 TELDEC 2564 60866-2 [5CDs: 49:21+70:28+57:00+68:37+69:12] Superbudget [GPJ]

An issue that all serious wind players, as well as lovers of Mozart, will want. Gasping and chuckle with pleasure at the sheer ingenuity and charm of this significant but too easily overlooked music … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756 - 1791) Cosi Fan Tutte, or The School for Lovers (1790) [154.21] Fiordiligi Ina Souez Dorabella Luise Helletsgruber Ferrando Heddle Nash Guglielmo Willi Domgraf-Fassbänder Don Alfonso John Brownlee Despina Irene Eisinger Chorus and Orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival/Fritz Busch Recorded 6 June 1934, 28 June 1935 at Glyndebourne Theatre, Sussex, UK. ADD Newly restored from original 78rpm sources by Ward Marston. Notes in English including complete track listing and synopsis. No libretto. NAXOS 8.110280-81 [2 CDs: 154.21] [PSh]

A superb presentation of an important historical recording. An absolute must and for those who may know this recording from earlier issues; trust me, you’ve never heard it before … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Don Giovanni (1787) Ezio Pinza (bass-baritone) Don Giovanni; Salvatore Baccaloni (bass) Leporello; James Melton (tenor) Don Ottavio; Mack Harrell (baritone) Masetto; Zinka Milanov (soprano) Donna Anna; Jarmila Novotna (soprano) Donna Elvira; Bidú Sayão (soprano) Zerlina; Norman Cordon (bass-baritone) Commendatore; Orchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera, New York/Paul Breisach Broadcast performance of April 3rd, 1943. GUILD HISTORICAL IMMORTAL PERFORMANCES GHCD2236/7 [2CDs: 156’45: 77’04 + 79’41] [CC]

There is no way this could ever be recommended as a library version, interesting though the light it sheds on various singers’ careers may be … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Opera Explained – An Introduction to MOZART’S Don Giovanni Thomson Smillie (writer); David Timson (narrator) Don Giovanni, Bo Skovhus (bar); The Commendatore, Janusz Monarcha (bass); Donna Anna, Adrianne Pieczonka (sop); Don Ottavio, Torsten Kerl (tenor); Donna Elvira, Regina Schörg (sop); Leporello, Renato Girolami (bass); Masetto, Boaz Daniel (bass); Zerlina, Ildikó Raimondi (sop) Hungarian Radio Chorus and Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia/Michael Halász (music from NAXOS 8.660080-82) Rec. Motivation Sound Studios, London, 2003. DDD NAXOS 8.558115 [78:59] [AN]

It is not a crime to be introduced to the opera through the "Opera Explained" series, but if you choose this route, do so in the full awareness that you are only scraping the surface. … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756 - 1791) Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) K620 (1791) - Singspiel in 2 Acts; Libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder Tamino (tenor) Will Hartmann Pamina (soprano) Dorothea Röschmann Queen of the Night (soprano) Diane Damrau Sarastro (bass) Franz-Josef Selig Papageno (baritone) Simon Keenlyside Papagena (soprano) Ailish Tynan Monostatos (tenor) Adrian Thompson First Lady (soprano) Gillian Webster Second Lady (mezzo-soprano) Christine Rice Third Lady (mezzo-soprano) Yvonne Howard Speaker of the Temple (baritone) Thomas Allen First Priest (tenor) Matthew Beale Second Priest (bass) Richard Van Allan First Man in Armour (baritone) Alan Oke Second Man in Armour (bass) Graeme Broadbent First Boy Zico Shaker Second Boy Tom Chapman Third Boy John Holland-Avery The Royal Opera Chorus/Terry Edwards The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Sir Colin Davis Filmed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 27th January 2003 OPUS ARTE OA 0885 D [Act I: 69:30 + Act II: 94:08 - approx 185:00] [JPo]

Veritably three hours of pure delight and joy … see Full Review


BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Nicolay MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950)
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor, Op. 44 (1938) [38:06] Mieczyław VAINBERG (1919-1996) Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in G minor, Op. 67 (1961) [28:43] Ilya Grubert, violin Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, Dmitry Yablonsky, conductor Recorded in Studio 5 of the Moscow State Broadcasting and Recording House from 27 February to 5 March 2003. DDD NAXOS 8.557194 [66:49] [KS]

Bold, lyrical, rhythmic, charming, dramatic and thought-provoking … some unusual yet highly accessible delights. Go buy and enjoy. … see Full Review

Johann Gottlieb NAUMANN (1741-1801) Zeit und Ewigkeit, cantata for soloists, choir and orchestra [57:48] Heilig ist Gott der Herr for 2 choirs and orchestra [03:07] Psalm 149 (Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied) for soloists, choir and orchestra [06:08] Simone Kermes, soprano; Britta Schwarz, contralto; Marcus Ullmann, tenor; Gotthold Schwarz, bass Körnerscher Sing-Verein Dresden; Dresdner Instrumental-Concert/Peter Kopp Recorded in October 2001 in the Lukaskirche, Dresden, Germany DDD CPO 999 955-2 [67:15] [JV]

Unknown sacred music by one of Germany’s most important composers of the classical period – recommended ... see Full Review

Daniel OTT (b. 1960) Klangkörperklang (2000) Ensemble directed by composer rec. 16-20 Apr 2002, Schweizer Radio DRS2, Zürich. DDD MGB MUSIKSZENE SCHWEIZ MGB CD 6190 [73.55] [RB]

Another superbly documented and executed volume of Swiss modernism ... see Full Review


Fredrick PACIUS (1809-1891)
Die Loreley - Opera in two acts Libretto: Emanuel Geibel Soile Isokoski, soprano (Lenore) Raimo Sirkiä, tenor (Otto) Cornelius Hauptmann, bass (Hubert) Riikka Rantanen, mezzo-soprano (Bertha) Topi Lehtipuu, tenor (Reinald) Arttu Kataja, bass (Leopold) Dominante Choir/Seppo Murto Lahti Symphony Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä Recorded Lahti, Finland, May 2003 BIS BIS-CD-1393/1394 [2CDs: 70.47 + 55.23] [JL]

The first recording of an opera premiered in 1887. Congratulations are due to all those involved in rescuing from oblivion a work that never deserved such a fate. … see Full Review

Flor PEETERS (1903 – 1986) Concerto for Organ and Orchestra Op.52 (1944)a Missa Festiva Op.62 (1946/7)b Peter Pieters (organ)ab; Flemish Radio Orchestraa, Flemish Radio Choirb; Yoel Levia, Vic Neesb Recorded: Sint-Rombouts Cathedral, Mechelen, Belgium, April 2003 (Organ Concerto) and Norbertijnenabdij, Tongerlo, Belgium, May 2003 (Missa Festiva) KLARA MMP 041 [69:57] [HC]

A most desirable release paying – at long last – a deserved tribute to a most distinguished composer whose beautifully crafted music definitely deserves wider exposure. … see Full Review

Piazzolla Passage Astor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Fuga y misterio, Jeanne y Paul , Guardia Nueva, Decarisimo, Bandoneon, Balada para un loco. Dando, Oblivion, S.V.P./Avaruustango (section composed by Johanna Juhola) Johanna JUHOLA (b. 1978) Milonga Sylvia, Irti tangosta Tobias MORGENSTERN (b. 1960) Pechvogel Milla Viljamaa (accordion) Johanna Juhola (piano) All tracks arranged by Juhola and Viljamaa. Rec. Sibelius Academy R-house, Chamber Music Hall, Helsinki, 1-9 Feb 2003. DDD FINLANDIA RECORDS 2564-60268-2 [60:35] [MC]

Guaranteed to delight lovers of the tango … see Full Review

Amilcare PONCHIELLI (1834-1886) La Gioconda (1876) Maria Callas (La Gioconda), Fedora Barbieri (Laura), Maria Amadini (La Cieca), Gianni Poggi (Enzo Grimaldi), Paolo Silveri (Barnaba), Giulio Neri (Alvise), CETRA Chorus, Turin Radio Symphony Orchestra/Antonino Votto Recorded 6th-10th September 1952 in the RAI Auditorium, Turin Vincenzo BELLINI (1801-1835) Norma: Casta Diva ... Ah! Bello a me ritorno, I Puritani: O rendetemi la speme ... Qui la voce sua soave ... Vien, diletto, e in ciel la luna Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Tristan und Isolde: Isolde’s Liebestod (sung in Italian) Maria Callas (soprano), Turin Radio Symphony Orchestra/Arturo Basile Recorded 8th (Wagner), 9th (Norma) and 10th (Puritani) November 1949 ADD NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110302-04 [3 CDs 54:04, 76:46, 59:17] [CH]

The sound is only moderate but the presence of Callas and a generally effective performance all round are strong points in favour of the present set. … see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Gianni Schicchi - opera in one act (1918) Gianni Schicci, Alberto Rinaldi (bar); Lauretta, Tatiana Lisnic (sop); Rinuccio, Stafano Secco (ten); Zita, Mabel Perelstein (alto); Simone, Felipe Bou (bass); Gherado, Gerardo Lopez (ten); Nella, Sara Galli, (sop); Betto di Signa, José Quijada (bass); Marco, Celestino Varela (bar); La Ciesca, Claudia Marchi (mezzo); A doctor, Carlos Ruiz (bass); A notary, Javier Zorilla (bar); Pinellino and Guccio, Antonio Torres (bass) Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra/Alexander Rahbari Recorded at the Sala Carranque, Malaga, 5, 8 April 2002 Bargain Price NAXOS 8.660111 [48.20] [RF]

Lively ensemble interplay … fine modern sound … a very appealing disc. … see Full Review


BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Tosca (1900) Maria Callas (Tosca), Giuseppe Di Stefano (Cavaradossi), Tito Gobbi (Scarpia), Franco Calabrese (Angelotti), Angelo Mercuriali (Spoletta), Melchiorre Luise (Sacristan), Dario Caselli (Sciarrone/Gaoler), Alvaro Cordova (Shepherd), Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro alla Scala, Milan/Victor De Sabata Recorded 10th-14th, 16th and 18th-21st August 1953 in the Teatro alla Scala, Milan NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110256-57 [2 CDs: 42:35, 65:56] [CH]

This mythical set lives up to its reputation and sounds fine in this transfer. … see Full Review

Alan RAWSTHORNE (1905-1971) Prison Cycle (1939) (with Alan BUSH); Tzu-Yeh (1928-29); Precursors; Three French Nursery Songs for soprano and piano
Scena Rustica for soprano and harp Two Songs (1940); Carol (1948); Two Fish; for tenor and piano Valse; Ballade in G sharp minor for piano John McCABE (b.1939) Three Folk Songs for soprano, clarinet and piano Alison Wells (sop) Martyn Hill (ten) Keith Swallow (piano) Judith Buckle (sop) Lucy Wakeford (harp) Martin Hindmarsh (ten) Nicholas Turner (clarinet) Alan Cuckston (piano) rec. St Thomas Church, Stockport, 27-28 Sept 1999. DDD British Composer Series CAMPION CAMEO 2021 [51.26] [JW]

Rawsthorne: lighter, more lyric, more obviously affectionate. An aspect worth getting to know. … see Full Review

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Tzigane for violin and orchestra (1924) Edouard LALO (1823-1892) Symphonie espagnole for violin and orchestra (1873) Karl Amadeus HARTMANN (1905-1963) Concerto funèbre for violin and orchestra (1939) Ida Haendel (violin; Ravel and Lalo) André Gertler (violin; Hartmann) Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ančerl Recorded 1964, Rudolfinum, Prague (Ravel, Lalo); 1968 Domovina Studio, Prague (Hartmann) SUPRAPHON SU 3677-2 011 (65.51) [TB]

The playing has real style and panache and the disc will give much satisfaction. Ančerl was a skilful orchestral accompanist … see Full Review

Ferdinand Ries (1784 - 1837) Symphony in a No. 7 Op 181 (1835) [33.59] Symphony in Eb No. 8, WoO 30 (1822) [32.56] Zürchner Kammerorchester/Howard Griffiths Recorded in Neumünsterkirche, Zürich, Switzerland, 7 May 2002 SACD Tracks in 5.1 surround sound and 2.0 stereo. CD tracks in 2.0 stereo Notes in Deutsch, English, Français. Photo of composer and artists. CPO 999 904-2 [67.16] [PSh]

You would believe me if I told you these were newly discovered Beethoven and Mendelssohn symphonies, recorded in beautiful classical orchestra sound … see Full Review

Ferdinand RIES (1784-1838) Piano Quartet No. 1, Op 13 in f (c.1819?) [23.38] Piano Quartet No. 2, Op 17 in Eb (c.1819?) [28.10] Mendelssohn Trio Berlin: Stephen Picard, violin; Ramon Jaffé, ’cello; Andreas Frölich, Steinway D piano; Daniel Raiskin, viola Recorded Immanuelkirche, Köln-Rondorf, Germany, 14 March 2002 Notes in Deutsch, English, Français. Performers’ photos and biographies. CPO 999 885-2 [51.51] [PSh]

Comparable to Mozart and Beethoven in both style and quality, and beautifully performed… see Full Review

Ferdinand RIES (1784-1838) Piano Quintet in B minor Op. 74 (publ. 1817) Franz LAMMER (1808-1857) Piano Quintet in D minor Op. 13 Nepomuk Fortepiano Quintet Recorded Maria Minor, Utrecht, May 2003 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92200 [67.24] [JW]

Disarmingly charming and forceful. … deserves a serious hearing – especially in these committed performances. … see Full Review

Nicolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844 - 1908) Scheherazade, Symphonic Suite, Op 35 (1888) [45.53] Stokowski in Rehearsal [21.38] Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840 - 1893) Marche Slave in Bb, Op 31 (1876) [11.07] Erich Gruenberg, violin solo in the Rimsky-Korsakov. London Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski Recorded Kingsway Hall, ondon, UK, 22 September 1964 (Scheherazade) and Royal Albert Hall, London, UK, 15 June 1972, (Tchaikovsky) Notes in English. Photos of the artists. Produced in association with the Leopold Stokowski Society. AAD CALA CACD 0536 [78.40] [PSh][RB]

The greatest recording of Scheherazade ever, and this remastering is a clearly significant improvement in sound. No matter how many recordings of it you already have, you must have this one … see Full Review [PSh]

Stokowski's Sheherazade is pure magic ... a warhorse reinvented for jaded ears ... see Full Review [RB]

Alessandro ROLLA (1757-1841) Three Duos for Violin and Violoncello Duo in B flat major Bl. 244 (1821) [20:55] Duo in C major Bl. 242 (1821) [19:24] Duo in A major Bl.243 (1821) [23:09] Dora Bratchkova (violin); Alina Kudelevič (cello) Rec. Saarbrücken, SR, Musikstudio 1, December 2001. DDD CPO 999 964-2 [63:41] [AN]

Some problems with the performances but Rolla manages somehow to create an incredibly rich soundscape that is even orchestral at times without ever sacrificing the surface abundance of frills and virtuosity.... see Full Review

Sigmund ROMBERG (1887-1951) Romberg conducts Romberg - Volume 2 My Maryland (1927) Your Land and My Land, Silver Moon, Mother, Boys in Grey, The New Moon (1928) Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise, Lover, Come Back To Me, Stout-hearted men, Wanting You, One Kiss. Viennese Nights (1930) I Bring A Love Song, You Will Remember Vienna, Viennese Nights Waltzes, May Wine (1938) Dance, My Darlings, Just Once More, Around The Clock, Something New Is In My Heart, Sunny River (1941) Lordy Up In Central Park (1945) Close As Pages In A Book, April Snow, The Big Back Yard Jean Carlton, Shirlee Emmons, Lois Hunt, Genevieve Rowe (sopranos) Jo Cameron, Lillian Cornell (mezzo-sopranos) Eric Mattson, Richard Wright (tenors) Larry Douglas, Lawrence Brooks, William Diehl, Warren Galjour (baritones) RCA Victor Chorus The Robert Shaw Chorale/Robert Shaw (chorus master) Sigmund Romberg and His Orchestra Recorded 1945-50 NAXOS 8.110886 [77.26] [JW]

It’s good that this important figure’s recordings have been so authoritatively presented in this winning disc. … see Full Review

Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Il Barbiere di Siviglia (‘The Barber of Seville’) - comic opera in two acts Count Almaviva…Richard Croft Doctor Bartolo…Renato Capecchi Rosina…Jennifer Larmore Figaro…David Malis Basilio…Simone Alaimo Berta…Leonie Schoon Fiorello/Officer…Roger Smeets Chorus of the Netherlands Opera Bauke Van Der Meer (piano); Rolf Hock (guitar) Netherlands Chamber Orchestra/Alberto Zedda First produced in 1987. This Dario Fo staging is a 1992 co-production by NOS/RM ARTS/DNO ARTHAUS MUSIK 100 412 [154 mins] [IL][GL]

An energetic, nay frenetic production full of fun and colour with some outstanding singing - unhesitatingly recommended. … 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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