Paul McCARTNEY (b.1942)
A
Leaf Frederic RZEWSKI
(b.1938) Short Fantasy on "Give
Peace a Chance" Paul
McCARTNEY (b.1942), John
LENNON (1940-1980),
arr. Ichizo OKASHIRO
Hey Jude Paul
McCARTNEY (b.1942), John
LENNON (1940-1980),
arr. Toru TAKEMITSU
(1930-1996) Golden Slumbers Paul
McCARTNEY (b.1942), John
LENNON (1940-1980),
arr. Barbara
MONK-FELDMAN (b.1953) Michelle
Paul McCARTNEY (b.1942),
John LENNON (1940-1980),
arr. Ichizo OKASHIRO
Yesterday Ryuichi
SAKAMOTO (1952-) Aki 2.2 Michel
BLOCK (1938-2003) "billet
doux" 
Chitose Okashiro (piano) Recorded at
the American Academy of Arts and Letters,
NYC, April 12th-13th
2003.
CHÂTEAU C10002 [52.00] [RH]
A
display of fine pianism linked to modern transcriptions
of Beatles songs. … see
Full Review
Musica
Riservata Jia
GUOPING (b.1963) Schweben über
grenzenlosern Feld (2002) Hans
Ulrich LEHMAN (b. 1937) Minuties
(1998) Rudolf
KELTERBORN (b.1931) Invention
(1998) Alfred
ZIMMERLIN (b.1955) Anderer Ort
(1998) Nadir
VASSENA (b. 1970) Formulae
(1997) Lukas LANGLOTZ
(b. 1971) Facetten (1997)
Urban MÄDDER
(b. 1955) En suite (1997) Peter
WETTSTEIN (b. 1939) Sieben Miniaturen
(1974) Wang PENG
(b. 1976) Yàna (2001) Heinrich
Keller (flute) Brigitta Steinbrecher (harpsichord/piano)
rec. 1975-2003, Radiostudio Zürich.
MGB MUSIKSZENE SCHWEIZ MGB CTS-M 85 [77.18]
[RB]
One
for modernist flute enthusiasts. Superbly
played, recorded and annotated. … see Full
Review
Norwegian
Classical Favourites Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Peer
Gynt Suite Op. 46 Morning mood In the Hall
of the Mountain King Norwegian Dance No. 2
Op. 35 Two Elegiac Melodies Op. 34; No. 2
Last spring Christian
SINDING (1856-1941) Six Pieces
for Piano Op. 32; Rustle of Spring Agathe
BACKER-GRØNDAHL (1847-1907)
Fantasy pieces Op. 45; Summer Song Johan
SVENDSEN (1840-1911) The Wedding
at Dovre, Norwegian Artist’s Carnival Op.
14 Festive Polonaise Op. 12 Johannes
HAMSSEN (1874–1967) Valdres-Marsch
Johan HALVORSEN
(1864-1935) Entry of the Boyars Ole
OLSEN (1850-1927) Funeral March
Op. 41 Rikard NORDRAAK
(1842-1866) Maria Stuart (arr. Halvorsen)
Purpose, Valse Caprice Sigurd
ISLANDSMOEN (1881-1964) Forest
Clearing Op. 15 Arne
EGGEN (1881-1955) Liti Kersti Suite,
Bjørgulv the Fiddler
Iceland Symphony Orchestra/Bjarte Engeset
Recorded in the Concert Hall of the ISO, Reykjavik,
June 2002
NAXOS 8.557017 [68.04] [JW]
Idiomatically
played … with real charm. … see
Full Review
Ritmata
Edino KRIEGER (b.1928)
Ritmata
(1974) Toru TAKEMITSU
(1930 – 1996) All in Twilight (1987) Armand
COECK (b.1941) Constellations (1986)
Nuccio D’ANGELO
(b.1955) Due canzoni lidie (1984) Leo
BROUWER (b.1939) Paisaje cubana
con campanas (1986) Tristan
MURAIL (b.1947) Tellur (1977)
Hughes Kolp (guitar) Recorded: Eglise
Notre Dame du Sacré-Coeur, Bois-des-Nauwes,
Belgium, no date
GHA 126.049 [57:51] [HC]
So,
in short, guitar buffs or not, I urge you
to look out for this magnificent release.
… see Full Review
Gabrielle Ritter-Ciampi
(1886-1974) Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848) La
Fille du Régiment – Salut à
la France Giacomo
MEYERBEER (1791-1864) Les Huguenots
– Nobles Seigneurs, Salut, Air de la Reine-
O beau pays Le Pardon de Ploermel – Valse
Ombre légère Ambroise
THOMAS (1811-1896) Mignon Air de
Philine – Je suis Titania la blonde Hamlet
– A toi, cruel Hamlet – Pâle et blonde
Charles GOUNOD
(1818-1893) Faust – Ah! Je ris Roméo
et Juliette – Je veux vivre dans ce rêve
Daniel AUBER
(1782-1871) Manon Lescaut – L’eclat de
rire Leo DELIBES
(1836-1891) Lakmé – Ou va la jeune
hindoue Jules MASSENET
(1842-1912) Manon – Suis-je gentile ainsi?
Jacques OFFENBACH
(1819-1880) Les Contes d’Hoffmann – Les
oiseaux dans la chamille RODE
Variations Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Le Barbier
de Seville – Rien ne peut changer Victor
MASSÉ (1822-1884) Le Carnaval
de Venise – Theme et Variations MASSART
Les Dragons de Villars – Espoir
charmant Gustave
CHARPENTIER (1860-1956)
Louise – Depuis le jour Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) La Bohème
– D’un pas léger Madame Butterfly –
Un bel di vedremo
Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
(1844-1908) Le Coq d’Or - Hymne au soleil
Albert ROUSSEL
(1869-1937) Jazz dans la nuit
Gabrielle Ritter-Ciampi (soprano) Various
unidentified accompanists Recorded 1923-29
MALIBRAN MR 548 [79.13] [JW]
A
stylish light French soprano: poised and sustained
she excelled in showpiece arias with her coquettish
trills and accurate intervals often a pleasure
to hear. … see Full
Review
Artur RUBINSTEIN
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827):
Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major, Op. 73
"Emperor"* [37’50] Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897): hapsody in
G minor, Op. 79 No. 2 [6’29"]; Intermezzo
in B flat minor, Op. 117 No. 2 [4’31"];
Capriccio in B minor, Op. 76 No. 2 [3’33"]
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828): Impromptu in G flat minor,
D899, No 3 [5’27"]; Impromptu in A flat
major, D899, No 4 [6’32"] Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849): Nocturne in
F sharp major, Op. 15 No. 2 [3’50"];
Étude in C sharp minor, Op. 10 No.
4 [2’01"]; Polonaise in A flat major,
Op. 53 [6’58"]
Artur Rubinstein (piano) *Philharmonia
Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy Recorded
in BBC Studios, Maida Vale, London, 29 November
1958 and *Royal Festival Hall, London, 14
June 1963 ADD
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4130-2 [78’16"]
[JQ]
Shows
clearly why Rubinstein was held in such high
regard … give us a glimpse of the "Rubinstein
magic" … see Full
Review
Salon Orchestral Favourites
III Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Humoresque
Edward ELGAR
(1857-1934) Chanson de Matin, Chanson
de Nuit, Salut d'Amour Julius
FUCÍK (1872-1916) Florentine
march (1907) Benjamin
GODARD (1849-1895) Berceuse
Richard HEUBERGER
(1850-1914) The Opera Ball: Intermezzo
Emmerich KÁLMÁN
(1882-1953) Die Csárdásfürstin:
selection (1925) Karel
KOMZÁK (1850-1905) Storm
galop Fritz KREISLER
(1875-1962) Liebesleid, Liebesfreud
Jules MASSENET
(1842-1912) Thais - Meditation (1894)
Johann STRAUSS
(1827-1870) The Dragon Fly: Polka Mazurka
Oscar STRAUS
(1870-1954) A Waltz Dream: Leise, ganz
leise Franz von
SUPPÉ (1819-1895) Devil's
march
Schwanen Salon Orchestra/Georg Huber Rec.
Clara-Wieck Auditorium, Sandhausen, Germany,
Nov 2002
NAXOS 8.557048 [63.45] [RW]
Dreamy
and melancholy … enticing and leisurely drifting
… engaging charm. … see
Full Review
Schweizer Oktett
Heimwärts
[Swiss
Folk Music]Walser / Evviva I Soci,Walser /
Das Leben ein Traum, Walser / Mazurka aus
dem Jura, Walser / Wehntalerpolka, Lohmann
/ Dreimäderlhaus am Obetor, Walser /
Zum Carneval, Walser / Em Antonio sine, Walser
/ Limmat-Walzer, Burkard / Gallus-und-Evna-Walzer,
Alder / Innerhoder Walzer, Alder / Nicht ganz
allein, Walser / Alewander, Alder / Der Winzel
kommt, Walser / Plaffeier Chilbimusig, Walser
/ Föif gage Drüü, Janett /
Bibere-Walzer,
Recorded at Evang. Kirche, Reutlingen-Gönningen
on 4-6 March, 2002 DDD
MGB CD 6187 [54:08] [PG]
An
album showcasing the very highest quality
of Swiss folk music, there is little that
could be said other than it has indeed hit
its mark. Delightful … see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
LEOPOLD
STOKOWSKI - Decca Recordings 1965-1972
DECCA ORIGINAL MASTERS
LIMITED EDITION 475 145-2 [5CDs:
78.14+69.48+75.33+65.13+80.38] [RB]
A
landmark set in a limited edition. Sybaritic
opulence at its zenith with an OTT recording
system to match. Gorgeous? ... I should say!
... see Full
Review
Ferruccio Tagliavini
(tenor) Famous Cetra Recordings 1939-54
Cetra
recordings made between 1939-54
WARNER FONIT 5050466-3295-2-3 [3 CDs 69.37
+ 60.54 + 66.02] [JW]
The
honeyed expressive tenor records well and
collectors will find much to confirm their
admiration in this set. … see
Full Review
Temple of Chastity
- CODEX LAS HUELGAS
- Music from 13th Century
Spain
Virgenes egregie; Salve sancta parens; Surrexit
de tumulo; Rosa das Rosas; Castitatis thalamum;
Benedicamus benigno voto; Catolicorum concio;
Alpha bovi et leoni; Veni, redemptor gencium;
Audi Pontus, audi tellus followed by improvisation;
Salve regina glorie; Gaude, virgo plena Deo;
Vella e mininna; Confessorum agonia; Ex illustri
nata prosapia; Parit preter morem; Castrum
pudicie/Virgo viget melius; Como poden per
sas culpas; O Maria, virgo regia/Organica
cantica; Maria, virgo virginum
Mille Fleurs Recorded at the church St.
Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, September
2002. DDD
SIGNUM CD 043 [59.38] [GH]
I
have played this disc a great deal. Not without
anomalies but there are many delightful things
here. … see Full Review
The Thistle and the Rose
–
Music from the Carver Choirbook ANON:
Missa Deus Creator Ominum for four
voices; Mass for three voices; Magnificat
for four voices
Capella Nova/Alan Tavener Rec. St. Mary’s
Parish Church, Haddington, East Lothian, 7-9
Jan; 3 Apr 2003 GAUDEAMUS CD GAU 342 [65.13]
[RH]
A
welcome exploration, by Capella Nova, of some
of the less well known works in the Carver
Choir book, given in attractive performances.
… see Full Review
Arturo
TOSCANINI: All-American Concerts
Charles
Martin LOEFFLER (1861-1912): ‘Memories
of my childhood’ (Life in a Russian Village)
[13’06") Paul
CRESTON (1906-1985): Choric Dance
No. 2, Op. 17 [4’45"] Morton
GOULD (1913-1996): A Lincoln Legend
[16’18"] George
GERSHWIN (1898-1937): Rhapsody
in Blue* [16’05"] *Earl Wild (piano);
Benny Goodman (clarinet) NBC Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Arturo Toscanini Recorded in
Studio 8H, Radio City, New York on 1 November
1942 AAD Francesco
MIGNONE (1897-1986): Festa das
igrejas [20’54"] George
GERSHWIN Piano Concerto in F**
[30’41"] ** Oscar Levant (piano)
NBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Arturo
Toscanini Recorded in Studio 8H, Radio City,
New York on 2 April 1944 AAD
GUILD HISTORICAL GHCD 2256/7 [53’27"+53’47"]
[JQ]
An
issue which all those interested in twentieth
century Americana should try to hear and which
will be self-recommending to acolytes of Toscanini.
… see Full
Review
TUBA CARNIVAL
Øystein Baadsvik Tuba
Carnival Øystein
BAADSVIK (b. 1966) Fnugg (2002)
[3:24] Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741) L’Inverno (Winter)
from The Four Seasons [8:28] Edvard
Hagerup GRIEG (1843-1907) Anitra’s
Dance (1874-1875) [3:27] Arild
PLAU (b. 1920) Concerto for Tuba
and Strings (1990) [17:54] Edvard
Hagerup GRIEG (1843-1907), arr. Øystein
BAADSVIK (b. 1966) Norwegian Dance
No. 1 [4:51] Traditional
arr. Staffan LUNDEN-WELDEN
(b. 1964) Kesh Jig [3:35] Thomas
STEVENS (b. 1938) Variations in
Olden Style (d’après Bach) (1989) [5:16]
Jean-Baptiste ARBAN
(1825-1889), arr. Anna
BAADSVICK Carnival of Venice [7:41]
Vittorio MONTI (1868-1922),
arr. Øystein
BAADSVIK (b. 1966) Csárdás
[4:25]
Musica Vitae (leader: Dorota Siuda)/Bjorn
Sagstad Recorded at Furuby Church, Sweden
on 9-14 June, 2002 DDD
BIS-CD-1285 [61:19] [PG]
A
good album, and a very pleasant surprise,
worthy of any collection. … see Full
Review
Ingolf Turban (violin)
Joseph ACHRON
(1886-1943) À
capriccio Suite Bizarre (Cycle des Rhythmes)
Op. 41 Two Pastels Op. 44 Pensée de
L Auer Niccolo PAGANINI
(1782-1840) arr. Achron Caprices Nos.
9, 13-21, 24 (arr. by Achron 1919-23)
Ingolf Turban (violin) Jascha Nemtsov
(piano) Recorded Bayerischer Rundfunk, April
and June 2003
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 98.438 [62.59]
[JW}
Both
musicians are clearly enthusiastic and authoritative
exponents of these Achron pieces. … see Full
Review
Georgi VINOGRADOV
(tenor) sings Arias, Duets and Songs
GUILD - THE RUSSIAN LEGACY SERIES - GMCD
2250-53 [4CDs:77.08+74.11+64.18+73.33]
A
comprehensive survey of recordings by the
possessor of a stunningly voice - essential
listening for anyone interested in voices.
… see Full Review
Earl Wild at 88 -
Recital Alessandro
MARCELLO (1684-1750) Oboe
Concerto in D minor - Adagio arr Wild Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano
Sonata in F major K332 Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) 32 Variations
in C minor WoO80 Mily
BALAKIREV (1837-1910) Piano Sonata
No. 1 in B minor Op. 5 (1905) Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Four Impromptus
No. 1 in A flat major Op. 29 No. 2 in F sharp
major Op. 36 No. 3 in G flat major Op. 51
Fantasie-Impromptu in C sharp minor Op. 66
Earl WILD (b.
1915) Jarabe Tapatio Mexican Hat Dance
arr. Wild
Earl Wild (piano) Recorded in the Holy
Trinity Lutheran Church, Buffalo, New York
May 2003
IVORY CLASSICS 73005 [78.14] [JW]
The
indestructible Earl Wild demonstrates once
again why he is held in such admiration …
an admirable and generous recital. … see Full
Review
Arias de zarzuela
barroca José
Melchor de Nebra BLASCO (1702-1768)
Para
obsequy a la deydad, nunca es culto la crueldad,
y Iphigenia en Tracia (1747) Overture,
Llegar ninguno intente, Suspéndete
tirano, Pieded, Señor, Amor aumenta
el valor (1728) Triste carcel oscura,
Ay! Amor! Clelia mia, Adiós, prenda
de mi amor, Más fácil sera al
viento Vincente Martín
y SOLER (1754-1806) La madrileña
o el tutor burlado (1778) Overture, Inocentita
y niña Antonio
Rodriguez de HITA (1724-1787) La
Briseida (1768) Amor, solo tu encanto Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Clementina
(1786) Overture, Almas que amor ujetó
María Bayo (soprano) Les Talens
Lyriques Christophe Rousset Recorded May 2003
in the Lycée Fénelon Sainte-Marie
NAÏVE E 8885 [70.18] [JW]
Above
all, there are some rewarding discoveries
to be made amongst the Zarzuela stars of the
baroque. … see
Full Review
BOOK REVIEWS
Myer
Fredman The
Drama of Opera. Exotic and Irrational Entertainment
2003
Sussex Academic Press ISBN 1-903900-50-6 146
pages £15.95 [RH]
A
useful little book introducing the bewildering
world of opera and full of good sense. … 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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