RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Camille
Saint-Saëns
(1835 - 1921) Symphony
#3 in c, Op 78 "Organ Symphony"
(1886) [35.57] Frederick Minger, organ Baltimore
Symphony Orchestra/Sergiu Comissiona Recorded
National Presbyterian Church, Washington,
D.C., USA, 1980. Cesar
FRanck (1822 - 1890) Symphony in
d, M.48 (1888) [38.58]
Houston Symphony Orchestra/Sergiu Comissiona
Recorded Jesse Jones Hall, Houston, TX, USA,
April 1982. Notes in English, track-list and
artists and technicians roster. On screen
extras: Speaker set-up utility, background
documentary, composer bios. DVD Audio 2.0
and 5.1. DVD 2.0 and 5.1 AC-3 Dolby Digital
Surround DVD-Audio
playable on all DVD players
SILVERLINE CLASSICS 288231-9 [74.55] [PSh]
Brilliantly
performances of difficult and spectacular
orchestral music, gorgeous recorded sound
... see Full
Review
Ahmed
Adnan SAYGUN
(1907-1991) Symphonies
No. 3 Op. 39 (1961); No. 5 Op. 70 (1984)
Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz/Ari Rasilainen
Recorded at the Ludwigshafen Philharmonie,
November 2002
CPO 999 968-2 [62.30] [GH]
Symphonic
music sometimes dark and passionate and often
dazzling with orchestral brilliance and virtuosity
which can easily hold its own with the works
of Western masters ... see Full
Review
Othmar
SCHOECK
(1886-1957) Concerto
quasi una fantasia for violin and orchestra
in B flat major Op.21 (1911/12) * Concerto
for horn and orchestra Op.65 (1951)
Stefi Geyer (violin) Tonhalle Orchester/Volkmar
Andreae, recorded February 1947 * Dennis Brain
(horn) Collegium Musicum Zürich/Paul
Sacher, live recording 4 May 1956
JECKLIN EDITION JD 715-2 [49.29] [JW]
A
great deal of highly persuasive lyricism,
and sensitive cantilena ... the rarity value
of Dennis Brain in the Horn Concerto can’t
be over-estimated. ... see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Symphony
No 9 in C major D944 The Great (1828)
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Günter
Wand Rec. live, no other recording information.
DDD
BMG RCA CLASSICS 82876 59425 2 [52:40]
[PCW]
To
my surprise, Wand’s Schubert does not smile
a lot … not the greatest of memorials to this
conductor ... see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828)
Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D759 "Unfinished"
[26.47] Symphony No. 9 in C Major, D944, "The
Great" [48.22]
Spoken introduction by Georg Tintner
[4.30] Symphony Nova Scotia/Georg Tintner
Rec. live 12 December 1990 (8); 10 February
1988 (9) DDD Tintner Memorial Edition Vol.
2
NAXOS 8.557234 [79’ 41"] [EM]
At
bargain price ... one does not have to make
any apologies or excuses in making this a
top recommendation. ... see
Full Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Robert
SCHUMANN (1810
– 1856) Symphony
No. 1 in B Flat major The Spring, Op.
38 (1831) Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61
(1848) Symphony No. 3 in E Flat The Rhenish
Op.97 (1850) Symphony No. 4 in D Minor,
Op.120 (1851)
Tonhalle Orchestra, Zurich/David Zinman Recorded
13 – 16 October 2003 in the Tonhalle, Zurich.
ARTE NOVA 82876 57743-2 [65.39 + 57.38]
[JPh]
If
you see Schumann as a radical, a bit of a
firebrand pushing back the barriers of symphonic
thought, then Zinman is definitely for you.
Would compete with alternative sets at any
price ... see Full
Review
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Concertos Cello
Concerto in A minor Op. 129 (1850) [21:58]
Violin Concerto in D minor (1853) [33:47]
Konzertstuck for four horns and orchestra
in F major Op. 86 (1849) [17:53] Piano Concerto
in A minor Op. 54 (1841 rev. 1845) [30:46]
Fantasie for violin and orchestra in
C major Op. 131 (1853) [13:34] Introduction
and Allegro Appassionato in G major for
piano and orchestra Op. 92 (1849) [16:08]
Introduction and Allegro in D minor
for piano and orchestra Op. 134 (1853) [12:59]
Julius Berger (cello); Hansheinz Schneeberger
(violin) (concerto); Francis Orval, François
Tommasini, Robert Desprez, Robert Janssens
(horns); Klára Würtz (piano) (Concerto);
Ruggiero Ricci (violin) (Fantasie);
Peter Frankl (Introduction and Allegros)
Südwestfälische Philharmonie/Florian
Merz (violin and cello concertos); Orchestra
of Radio Luxembourg/Pierre Cao (Op. 86); Nordwestdeutsche
Philharmonie/Arie van Beek (concerto); Gewandhausorchester
Leipzig/Kurt Masur (Op. 131); Bamberger Symphoniker/Janos
Fürst (Opp. 92; 134) rec. 1970s ADD;
1994 DDD (Op. 129 and D minor concerto)
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92277 [73:54 +
73:27] [RB]
These
two discs are packed tight with music. The
collection has the attraction of completeness
even if there are a few rough edges ... see
Full Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856) Piano
Concerto in A minor Op.54 Kinderszenen Op.15
Papillon Op.2 Toccata in C major Op.7 Arabesque
in C major Op.18
Yves Nat (piano) Lamoureux Orchestra/Eugene
Bigot Recorded Paris, March 1933 (Concerto)
and September 1954 (remainder)
ARCHIPEL ARPCD 0215 [66.33] [JW]
Why
do some people like Yves Nat’s Schumann? Some
of the answers are here, if you choose to
seek them out. ... see
Full Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856)
The Complete Piano Works, Vol. 11 Novelletten,
Op. 21 (1838) "Geister Variations"
on a Theme in E flat (1854)
Franz Vorraber, piano Recorded Kloster Kreuzburg,
Germany, July 2002
THOROFON CTH 2523 [70:41] [DS]
Vorraber
has much to impart to Schumann enthusiasts
with his distinctive interpretations ... see
Full Review
Robert
SCHUMANN The
Songs of Robert Schumann - Volume 3:
Loreley
Op. 53 no. 2 Jasminenstrauch Op. 27 no 4 Sag'
an, o Lieber Vogel mein Op. 27 no. 4 Die Kartenlegerin
Op. 31 no 2 Blondels Lied Op. 53 no. 1 Frauenliebe
und Leben, song cycle Op. 42 Geisternahe Op77
no. 3 Die Soldatenbraut Op. 64 no 1 Schneeglocken
Op. 96 no.4 Stiller Vorwulf Op. 77 no. 4 Gesungen
Op. 96 no 4 Himmel und Erde Op. 96 no.5 Sieben
Lieder von Elisabeth Kulman Op. 104 plus the
spoken Nachschrift Gedichteder Konigin Maria
Stuart Op. 135
Juliane Banse with Graham Johnson Rec.
1999 DDD
HYPERION CDJ 33103 [73 56] [DCFW]
Banse
brings to these exquisite songs a pathos that
is unbearably beautiful. CD of the month?
No. CD of the year? No. CD of the decade?
That's more like it! ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906
– 1975) Chamber
Symphony No. 1, Op. 110a (arr. From String
Quartet No. 8 by Rudolf
BARSHAI) 1960. Chamber Symphony
No. 2, Op. 73 (arr. From String Quartet No.
3 by Vladimir MILMAN)
1946. Rodian SHCHEDRIN
(b. 1932) Music for the city
of Cöthen (1822) Karl
Amadeus HARTMANN (1905 - 1963) Concerto
funèbre for Violin and String Orchestra
(1939) Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882 - 1971) Concerto for Strings
(1946) Alfred SCHNITTKE
(b. 1934) Suite in the Old Style
(transcription by V.
SPIVAKOV and M.
MILMAN). 1972 Arvo
PÄRT (b. 1935) Collage on
the Theme of B-A-C-H (1964) Cantus in Memory
of Benjamin Britten (1976) Edison
DENISOV (1929 - 1996) Variations
on a Canon of Haydn
Virtuosi of Moscow/Vladimir Spivakov.
Recorded 1988 - 1993. DDD
RCA RED SEAL ARTISTES REPERTOIRE 82876 502682
[76.01 + 75.36]. [JPh]
Can
be purchased safely, secure in the knowledge
that much enjoyment may be had from its contents.
... see Full Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906
- 1975) Hamlet
– complete film score (1964), Op. 116
/ 116a
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitry
Yablonsky.Rec. Studio 5, Moscow State Broadcasting
and Recording House, February 2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.557446 [62’28"][JPh]
This
is music of the composer’s maturity and, make
no mistake about it, is generally superb.
... see Full Review
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Complete Songs Five
Christmas Song Songs, Op. 1; Arioso, Op. 3;
Seven Songs of Runeberg, Op. 13; Seven Songs,
Op. 17; Two Songs, Op. 35; Six Songs, Op.
36. Five Songs, Op. 37. Five Songs, Op. 38.
Six Songs, Op. 50. Eight Songs of Josephson,
Op. 57. Eight Songs, Op. 61. Six Songs: No.
3, The Kiss, Op. 72; No. 4, The echo nymph,
Op. 72; No. 5, Der Wanderer und der Bach,
Op. 72; No. 6, A hundred ways, Op. 72. Six
Songs, Op. 86. Six Songs, Op. 88. Six songs
of Runeberg, Op. 90. Serenade (1888). Segelfahrt
(1899). Row, row duck (1899). Hymn to Thaïs
(1900). Erloschen (1906). Narciss (c. 1918).
Small girls (1920). King Christian II — Serenade,
Op. 27. Pelléas et Mélisande
(Les trois soeurs aveugles), Op. 46. Twelfth
Night: Come away, Death; When that I was.
Tom Krause (bar)/Irwin Gage (piano) Elisabeth
Söderström (sop)/Vladimir Ashkenazy
(piano) Carlos Bonell (guitar) rec. Kingsway
Hall, London Dec 1978-Nov 1981 ADD
DECCA 476 1725 [4CDs: 57:04+ 55:33 + 69:53
+ 58:59] [RB]
This
was always a noble recording enterprise both
in conception and execution. Its fame has
not dimmed. ... see Full
Review
Sigismond STOJOWSKI
(1870-1946)
piano
works
Jonathan Plowright (piano) rec. Henry Wood
Hall, London, 20-22 oct 2003. DDD
HYPERION CDA67437 [77.42] [RB]
This
is by no means salon piano-stool stuff. Stojowski's
currency was counted out in talent-matched
ambition as well as commercial pragmatism
... see Full Review
Barbara STROZZI
(1619-1664)
Cantates L’Astratto
(Voglio sì, vò cantar) (from
op. 8) [09:08] Non pavento io di te (from
op. 6) [04:08] Lamento: Appresso a i molli
argenti (from op. 7) [11:04] Lamento: Su’l
Rodano severo (from op. 3) [12:05] Luci belle
(from op. 8) [05:47] Moralità amorosa
[03:45]
Judith Nelson, soprano; Christophe Coin, cello;
John Hutchinson, triple harp; William Christie,
harpsichord Recorded in December 1982 at the
Château de Sauvan, Mane, France ADD
HARMONIA MUNDI HMX 290114 [46:01] [JV]
A
most welcome reissue of one of the first recordings
of cantatas by Barbara Strozzi ... see
Full Review
Karol
SZYMANOWSKI
(1882-1937) King
Roger - opera in three acts Op. 46
(1918-24) Libretto: Jaroslaw Iwaskiewicz,
composer Roger II, King of Sicily - Wojtek
Drabowicz (bar) Roxana - Olga Pasiecznik (sop)
Edrisi, Arab Sage - Krzystof Szmyt (ten) Shepherd
- Piotr Beczala (ten) Archbishop - Romuald
Tesarowicz (bass) Deaconess - Stefania Toczyska
(mezzo)
All Polacca Youth Choir/Sabina Wlodarska Chorus
and Orchestra of Polish National Opera/Jacek
Kaspszyk rec. Teatr Wielki - Opera Narodowa,
Warszawa, 27-29 Jan 2003. DDD
CD ACCORD ACD 131-2 [79.11] [TB]
This
new recording is an important document and
sets a benchmark standard. ... see Full
Review
Arthur
SULLIVAN (1842
- 1900), W.S.
GILBERT (1836-1913) The Yeomen
of the Guard: Overture [4.55], Act I [46.34],
Act II [32.23]Orchestral excerpts from operettas
[20.06]
Martyn Green (Jack Point), Darrel Fancourt
(Sergeant Meryll), Leonard Osborn (Colonel
Fairfax), Richard Watson (Wilfred Shadbolt),
Muriel Harding (Elsie Maynard), Ann Drummond-Grant
(Phoebe Meryll), Ella Halman (Dame Carruthers),
Donald Harris (Sir Richard Cholmondeley),
Neville Griffiths (Leonard Meryll, First Yeoman),
Geoffrey Sanders (Second Yeoman), Deidree
Thurlow (Kate) D’Oyly Carte Opera Company,
New Promenade Orchestra/Isidore Godfrey Recorded
18th July 1950, London ADD
NAXOS GREAT OPERETTA RECORDINGS 8.110293-94
[2CDs: 1:43:58] [EM][PG]
An
authentic recording from the glorious days
of D’Oyly Carte ... see Full
Review [EM]
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Peter
Ilyich Tchaikovsky
(1840 - 1893) Romeo
and Juliet, Overture-Fantasia in b (1870)
[28.38] Concerto for Piano & Orchestra
#1 in bb, Op 23 (1875) [34.07]
John Ogdon, piano Symphony #5 in e, Op
64 (1888) [45.24] London Symphony Orchestra/Pierre
Monteux Recorded live at the Grosser Konzerthaussall,
Vienna, Austria, 31 May 1963 Notes in English:
track list, artist and technical credits.
On disk extras: composer biography, technical
documentary ADD DVD-Audio
playable on all DVD players.
SILVERLINE
CLASSICS 288 228-9 [108.09] [PSh]
One
of the finest Tchaikovsky disks ever produced,
sound and performance, equally a must-have
for seasoned collectors as well as those just
starting out ... see Full
Review
AUDIOPHILE
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Peter
Ilyich Tchaikovsky
(1840 - 1893) Swan
Lake Ballet Op 20 (1875/7) [104.46]
Utah Symphony Orchestra/Maurice Abravanel
Recording location and date not given [1967?]
On disk extras: photos and documents of artists;
memorial tribute speech by Ardean Watts [16.00];
"remembering the Utah Symphony Orchestra
3.00];" Composer biography; Technical
documentary [6.00]; Speaker set-up utility.
DVD-Audio 2.0 and 5.1. DVD 2.0 and 5.1 AC-3.
ADD Playable on all
DVD players
SILVERLINE CLASSICS DVD-AUDIO
288235-9 [104.46 + 25.00] [PSh]
The
greatest Tchaikovsky, brilliantly performed,
a pinnacle of recorded surround sound ...
see Full
Review
Pyotr Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893):
Symphony
No. 6 in B minor (Pathétique),
Op. 74 (1893) [43’12"] Francesca da
Rimini, Fantasy for Orchestra, Op. 32
(1876)* [24’48"]
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
Rec. Gothenburg Concert Hall on 23 & 24
Jan 2004 and *1 Sept 2003
BIS – SACD – 1348 [69’02"] [JQ]
In
a fiercely competitive field I fear I can’t
give this a strong endorsement. ... see Full
Review
Boris TISHCHENKO
(b.
1939) Symphony
No. 7, Op. 119 (1994).
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitri Yablonsky.
Live rec. Grand Hall, Moscow Conservatory
on February 26th, 2002. DDD
NAXOS 8.557013 [52’42] [CC]
This
is a live performance of an important piece
… Jazz overtones appear from time to time
… It is not every day in my reviewing work
that I hear a piece that I immediately want
to hear again, but this is one. ... see Full
Review
Henri TOMASI
(1901-1971) Ballade
for saxophone and orchestra (1938) [15.31]
Frank MARTIN (1890-1974)
Ballade for saxophone and orchestra
(1938) [14.45] Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) orch. A
HOEREE Habanera for saxophone
and chamber Orchestra [3.04] Astor
PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) adapted Theodore
KERKEZOS Tango Suite for
saxophone and orchestra (Preludio;
Fuga; Misterio; Fuga;
Oblivión; Adios Nonino;
Libertango) [22.00] Dimitris
DRAGATAKIS (1914-2001) Ballade
for saxophone and strings () [2.56] Pedro
ITTURALDE (b.1929) orch. Javier
ITTURALDE Czárdás
for saxophone and orchestra [7.35]
Theodore Kerkezos (saxophone) London PO/Roberto
Minczuk rec. London 8-9 Nov 2003
NAXOS 8.557454 [66.13] [RB]
Tomasi's
mercurial mastery to the songful Dragatakis
to the exuberant Czardas to the sober Martin
to the tango world of Piazzolla. Very attractive
... see Full Review
Veljo TORMIS
(b.1930) Vision
of Estonia II:- The Ballad of Mary's
Land (1969) [5:13] Reflections with
Hando Runnel (1981) [5:41] Days of
Outlawry (1971) [6:03] God Protect
Us from War (1984) [5:50] Journey of
the War Messenger (1984) [5:33] Let
the Sun Shine! (1984) [1:50] Voices
from Tammsaare's Herdboy Days (1977) [9:41]
Forget-Me-Not (1993) [4:25] Men's
Songs I and II (1964, 1965) [10:38 + 12:31]
Estonian National Male Choir/Ants Soots rec.
Estonia Concert Hall, 16-19 May, 23 Oct 2002.
DDD
ALBA NCD 20 [67:48] [RB]
Attains
the highest standards. Sibilants, consonantal
gutturals and accentuated vowels are shaped
with precision, coordination and a relish
for meaning.... see Full
Review
Kalervo
TUUKKANEN
(1909-1979) The
Loggers (Tukkijoella) Overture
Op. 1 (1934 rev. 1956) [5:58] Serenata
Giocosa Op. 4 (1944) [25:21] Evening
Song Op. 9 No. 3 (1944) [4:32] Midsummer
Dance Op. 9 No. 4 (1944) [2:53] Little
Suite for strings to the play Pilvi
(Cloud) (1940 rev. 1960) [8:14] Romantic
Moments for strings (1941 rev. 1960) [10:06]
Tempus Festum (1950) [6:19]
Joensuu City Orchestra/Hannu Koivula
rec. Carelia Hall, Joensuu, 20-25 March 2003.
DDD
ALBA ABCD 189 [64.04] [RB]
Meat
and drink to anyone wanting some gently impressionistic,
romantic, Scandinavian music. Recommended
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958)
The Nine Symphonies A
Sea Symphony* (1909) [65’43"] Symphony
No. 2 "A London Symphony"
(1914) [46’20"] A Pastoral Symphony
(Symphony No. 3) ** (1921) [38’03"]
Symphony No. 4 in F Minor (1935) [33’58"]
Symphony No 5 in D (1943) [41’53"] Symphony
No. 6 in E Minor (1947) [34’25"] Sinfonia
Antartica (Symphony No. 7) *** (1952)
[44’01"] Symphony No. 8 in D Minor (1955)
[28’34"] Symphony No. 9 in E Minor (1958)
[38’39"] Concerto Accademico for
Violin and Orchestra in D Minor**** (1925)
[15’59"] The Wasps: Overture (1909)
[8’59"] Three Portraits from "The
England of Elizabeth" (Suite adapted
by Muir Matheson) (1955) [17’26"] Concerto
for Bass Tuba and Orchestra in F Minor *****
(1954) [12’19"] * Heather Harper (soprano);
John Shirley-Quirk (baritone); London Symphony
Chorus ** Heather Harper (soprano); William
Bennett (flute); Roger Lord (oboe); Anthony
Camden (cor anglais); Gervase de Peyer (clarinet);
Anthony Halstead (horn); Osian Ellis (harp);
John Georgiadis (violin); lexander Taylor
(viola); Douglas Cummings (cello) *** Heather
Harper (soprano); The Ambrosian Singers; Sir
Ralph Richardson (speaker) **** James Oliver
Buswell IV (violin)
***** John Fletcher (bass tuba)
London Symphony Orchestra/André
Previn Recording dates and venues not given.
Recording dates from other sources: Sea,
1970; London 1972, Concerto Accademico,
1969; Wasps, 1972; Pastoral,
1972; 4, 1969; 5, 1972; Three Portraits,
1968; Concerto for Tuba, 1972; 6, 1968; 9,
1971; Antartica, 1967; 8, 1968. London.
ADD
Previously issued as RCA Gold Seal GD90500/01/03/06/08/10.
Originally issued on LP 1968-1972.
BMG-RCA RED SEAL 82876-55708-2 [6 CDs:
65’43" + 71’18" + 72’13" +
72’16" + 73’09" + 73’ 02"]
[JQ]
Wonderful,
life-enhancing music. I enjoyed this set enormously
from start to finish ... one of Previn’s finest
achievements in the recording studio. Recommended
with great enthusiasm. ... see Full
Review
Ralph Vaughan
Williams
(1872 - 1958) Symphony
#6 in e (1947) [37.43] Recorded University
of Utah Music Hall, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
1966 Five Variants on ‘Dives and Lazarus’
(1939) [12.39] Recorded in Salt Lake City,
UT, USA, 1967 Dona Nobis Pacem (1936)
[34.39] Blanche Christiansen, soprano; William
Metcalf; baritone; University of Utah Choir
Recorded in the Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake
City, UT, USA, 1966 Flos Campi Suite
for Viola, Small Orchestra & Wordless
Choir (1925) [19.03] Sally Peck Lentz, viola;
University of Utah Chamber Choir Recorded
in Salt Lake City, UT, USA, 1967 Utah Symphony
Orchestra/Maurice Abravanel Notes in English,
full engineering credits and track list. ADD
On disk extras: Composer biography, photos
and documents of artists, memorial tribute
speech by Ardean Watts; "remembering
the Utah Symphony Orchestra;" Technical
documentary; Speaker set-up utility. DVD-Audio
playable on DVD players.
SILVERLINE
CLASSICS 288239-9 [104.00] [PSh]
Generally
excellent performances of exceptional music,
disappointing sound quality ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901)
Un
ballo in Maschera. opera in three
acts - Highlights Riccardo, Richard Leech
(ten); Amelia, Michele Cridèr (sop);
Renato, Vladimir Chernov (bar); Ulrica, Elena
Zaremba (mez); Oscar, Maria Bayo (sop); Silvano,
Roberto Scaltriti (bar); Samuel, Peter Rose
(bass); Tom, Gwynne Howell (bass)
Orchestra and Chorus of Welsh National Opera/Carlo
Rizzi Recorded in the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea,
Wales in February 1995
WARNER APEX 2564 61504-2 [76.02] [RJF]
As
an introduction to Ballo this generous tracked
76 minutes might be adequate. ... see
Full Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
La
Traviata (1853)
Licia Albanese (soprano) Violetta Valéry;
Jan Peerce (tenor) Alfredo Germont; Robert
Merrill (baritone) Germont; Maxine Stellman
(mezzo) Flora Bervoix; Johanne Morland (soprano)
Annina; John Garris (baritone) Gastone; George
Cehanovsky (baritone) Duopol; Paul Dennis
(bass) Marquis d’Obigny; Arthur Newman (bass)
Doctor Grenvil; chorus; NBC Symphony Orchestra/Arturo
Toscanini. Broadcast performance from New
York City in November 1946. AAD
MUSIC AND ARTS CD4271 [163’52]
Toscanini’s
Traviata retains its fascination, and its
power. ... see Full
Review
Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741)
Pellegrina’s Delight – Sonatas and Chamber
Music for Oboe Sonata
for oboe and bc in c minor (RV 53) [12:03]
Sonata for oboe, organ, violin, chalumeau
[bassoon] and bc in C (RV 779) [14:16] Sonata
for violin [oboe] and bc in g minor (RV 28)
[11:54] Sonata for 2 violins [oboe, violin]
and bc in e minor, op. 1, 2 (RV 67) [07:29]
Concerto for transverse flute [oboe], violin,
bassoon and bc in g minor (RV 106) [10:05]
Sonata for violin [oboe] and bc in B flat
(RV 34) [07:27] Sonata for oboe, violin, bassoon
and bc in C (RV 801) [11:54]
Gail Hennessy (oboe), Rodolfo Richter
(violin), Sally Holman (bassoon), Katherine
Sharman (cello), Peter McCarthy (violone),
Nicholas Parle (harpsichord, organ) Rec. Nov
2002, St Andrew’s Church, Toddington, Gloucestershire,
UK. DDD
SIGNUM RECORDS SIGCD037 [75:13] [JV]
An
enjoyable recording which contains a piece
which was only recently recognized as an authentic
work of Vivaldi ... see Full
Review
Antonio VIVALDI
(1678
- 1741) Juditha Triumphans
Judith – Gloria Banditelli (mezzo-soprano)
Abra – Maria Zadori (soprano) Holofernes -
Judit Nemeth (mezzo-soprano) Vagans – Annette
Markert (mezzo-soprano) Ozias – Katalin Gemes
(mezzo-soprano) Savaria Vocal Ensemble Capella
Savaria/Nicholas McGegan Recorded 1990, licensed
from Hungaroton
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99961 [61.00 + 64.44]
[RH]
A
welcome reissue of McGegan’s 1991 recording
which is a fine place to start exploring this
lovely work. ... see Full
Review
Richard WAGNER
(1860-1911)
Der fliegende Holländer Hildegard
Behrens - Senta Matti Salminen - Daland Franz
Grundheber - The Dutchman Riamo Sirkiä
- Erik Anita Välkki - Mary Jorma Silvastri
- Steersman Ilkka Bäckmann - Director
Savonlinna Opera Festival Orchestra and
Chorus/Leif Segerstam Savonlinna Opera Festival
1989 DVD-9 Region: 2,3,4.5.6
NVC ARTS/YLEISRADIO-TV1. WARNER MUSIC VISION
9031-71486-2RM [139.00"] [AO]
The
simplicity of this film reflects the Savonlinna
ethos. It is unpretentious, almost to the
point of seeming superficially casual. Musically
and artistically, however, the standards are
very high indeed. ... see
Full Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Siegfried
[abridged]: Act 1 - Scene 1: Preludea;
Zwangvolle Plage!b; Hioho! Hioho!
Hau’ ein! Hau’ ein!c; Als zullendes
Kind zog ich dich aufc; Soll ich
der Kunde glaubenc; Scene 2: Heil
dir, weiser Schmiedd; Dein Haupt
pfänd ichd; Scene 3e:
Fühltest du nie im finstren Wald; Nothung!
Nothung! Neidliches Schwert; Hoho! Hoho! Hahei!
… Schmiede, mein Hammer. Act 2 - Scene 1f:
In Wald und Nacht; Deine Hand helitest du
vom Hort?; Scene 2: Dass der mein Vater nicht
istg; Du holdes Vöglein!g;
Haha! Da hätte mein Liedh;
Scene 3: Wohin schleichst du eilig und schlauh;
Da lieg’ auch du, dunkler Wurm!i;
Hei! Siegfried erschlug nun den schlimmen
Zwergi. Act 3 – Scene 1j:
Prelude; Wache, Wala; Stark ruft das Lied;
Dir Unweisen ruf ich ins Ohr; Scene 2k:
Kenntest du mich, kühner Spross; Zich
hin!; Scene 3: Selige Öde auf sonniger
Höh’!l; Das ist kein Mann!l;
Heil dir Sonne!m; O Siegfried!
Siegfried!n; Ewig was ichn;
Dich lieb ichn; Ob jetzt ich dein?n.
ceghiklnLauritz Melchior, bcdhHeinrich
Tessmer, eAlbert Reiss (tenors);
iNora Grubn, mnFlorence
Easton (sopranos); jMaria Olszewska
(contralto); fhEduard Habich (baritone);
dfFriedrich Schorr, kRudolf
Bockelmann (bass-baritone); a-i, k,lLondon
Symphony Orchestra/a-d, fhlRobert
Heger, egikAlbert Coates, jVienna
State Opera Orchestra/Karl Alwin; mnOrchestra
of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Robert
Heger
Performance background and plot synopsis included.
From HMV a-dDB1713 and 1578/81,
eD 1690/1, fDB1582,
gD1692, hiD1693, jDB1533/4,
kDB1694, lD1836/7; Rec.
a-d,fLondon, a-dMay,
fMay 21st, 1931, lMay
12th, 1930, mnMay 29th,
1932, egQueen’s Hall, London on
May 16th-g17th,
1929, iMay 17th and
ik22nd, 1929, hMay
21st, 1931, jVienna
in 1929.
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110091/92 [151’30:
79’04 + 72’26]. [CC]
Products
such as this are increasingly valuable. The
‘Golden Age’ of singing should be remembered.
If you have ever shied away from Siegfried’s
magnificent edifice, now would be a good time
to investigate ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813
-1883) Der Ring des Nibelungen: Götterdämmerung
Siegfried:
Albert Bonnema Gunther: Hernan Iturraide Alberich:
Franz-Joseph Kappelmann Hagen: Roland Brecht
Brünnhilde: Luana DeVol Waltraute: Tichina
Vaughn 1st Norn: Janet Collins
2nd Norn: Lani Poulson 3rd
Norn: Sue Patchell Woglinde: Helga-Rós
Indridadóttir Wellgunde: Sarah Castle
Floshilde: Janet Collins Staatsorchester
Stuttgart/Lothar Zagrosek Stage Direction:
Peter Konwitschny Stage and Costume Designer:
Bert Neumann Dramaturgy: Julianne Votteler
TV and Video Direction: Hans Hulscher, Producer:
Dieter Schickling Recorded live at the Staatsoper
Stuttgart, 3rd October 2002 and
12th January 2003
EUROARTS TDK 10 5209 9 DV-OPRDNG [2DVDs:
267 minutes] [BK]
TH
commented that the Chereau Ring would be his
choice over the performances that he reviewed,
at least until the Kupfer/Barenboim Bayreuth
production is released on DVD. I concur completely
… see Full
Review
Graham WATERHOUSE
(b.
1962) Praeludium
Op.32 (1992)a Three Pieces for
Solo Cello Op.28 (1996)b Contraventings
Op.46a (1998)c Le Charmeur de Serpents
Op.39 (1997)d Scherzino Op.24/2
(1994)e Bow ‘n blow (1996)f
Vezza (1995)g Gestural Variations
Op.43a (1997, rev. 1998)h Toccatina
Precipitando Op.24bis (1985, rev. 1998)i
Markus Schön (clarinet)cfhi;
Agnès Marc (recorders)d;
Graham Waterhouse (cello)bfghi;
Michael Wendeberg (piano)aehi Recorded:
Erholungshaus der Bayer AG, Leverkusen, July
2000 and February 2001
CYBELE 660.601 [70:31] [HC]
Superbly
played throughout ... serves Waterhouse’s
well written and attractive music well. ...
see Full Review
Margaret WEGENER
(b.1920) A Sympathy
with Sounds - Choral Music by Margaret
Wegener
Chudleigh's Company/Patrick Larley Alan Horsey
(organ) rec. Christ Church Oswestry, 28 Feb
2004. DDD
TAPE THAT 4054A23A 05302 11 [69:17] [RB]
A
welcome successor to the CD of her songs.
Wegener's music sits with distinction under
the benevolent shade of that of Finzi, Howells,
and Warlock ... see Full
Review
Jacques WILDBERGER
(b.
1922) Tempus
cadendi, tempus sperandi (1998/9)a
Commiato (1997)b An die Hoffnung
(1978/9)c
Sylvia Nopper (soprano)c; Georg
Martin Bode (narrator)c; SWR-Vokalensemble
Stuttgarta; Amati Quartettb;
Sinfonieorchester Baselac; Heinz
Holligerac Recorded: Schweizer
Radio DRS2, Stadtcasino Basel, May 2002 (Tempus
cadendi) and April 2003 (An die Hoffnung);
and Studio Zürich, September 2002 (Commiato)
MGB CTS-M77 [54:58] [HC]
Wildberger’s
music may not yield all its secrets easily,
but it vastly repays repeated hearings, especially
when served by well prepared and committed
readings ... see Full
Review
Takashi YOSHIMATSU
(b.
1953) The
Age of Birds Op.25 (1986) Cello Concerto
Centaurus Unit * Op.91 (2003) Chikap
Op.14a (1981, rev. 2003)
* Peter Dixon (cello) BBC Philharmonic/Sachio
Fujioka Rec. Studio 7, New Broadcasting House,
Manchester, November 2003. DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10202 [65:27] [PCW]
Music
straddling East and West which is beautifully
played and full of interest ... highly 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]