Angel Eyes:
Ladies Only Café Strings
Erik
FRANCK arr KALLIN
Noveltyflicken, (The novelty girl) Errol
GARNER/KALLIN
Misty Olrog
arr. OHLSON
Filosofisk Dixieland (Philosophic Dixieland)
Seymour SIMONS
arr. MARKS
All of me Hogey
CARMICHAEL arr.KALLIN
Stardust, Neal
HEFTI arr. KALLIN
Splanky, Jimmy
MCHUGH I’m
in the mood for love Ulf
OLROG arr. OHLSON
Rattjakt fur tva (Rat chase for two) Matt
DENNIS arr. KALLIN
Angel Eyes Lasse
SAHLQUIST arr.
KALLIN Geaspeagen
(Goose-boy) Jerry
HERMAN arr. KALLIN
Hello Dolly Jules
CATY Con
Amore Erik
FRANK arr.KALLIN
Novelty Accordion, Bert
CARSTEN Zigenarens
serenade (Gypsy Serenade), Morgan
LEWIS trans KALLIN
How high the moon Jerry
HERMAN Revydags
( Cabaret time) Alvar
KRAFT trans.
by KALLIN Botvid/Lite
grand fran ovan Botvid (A little bit from
above), Barry
MANILOW arr.
KALLIN Copacabana,
Ladies Only Café Strings Recorded
at Orebro Konserthus in June 2001. DDD
NAXOS 8.557177 [63.14] [GH]
Charming
‘olde-worlde’ flavour ... individual and juicy.
... see Full Review
ASCENSION
James MACMILLAN (b.1959)
Tremunt videntes angeli Kenneth
LEIGHTON (1929 - 1988) Preces and
Responses (1964) Percy
Carter BUCK(1871 - 1947) Eternal
Monarch, King Most high Plainchant
Psalm XLVII Plainchant
Psalm CVII Richard
ALLAIN (b.1965) Magnificat from
the Exon service Richard
ALLAIN (b.1965) Nunc Dimittis from
the Exon service Patrick
GOWERS (b.1936) Viri Galilaei Robert
WILLIAMS (1782 - 1818) Hail the
Day that Sees him Rise Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908 - 1992) L’Ascenscion
(a)
Choir of St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral,
Edinburgh Susan Hamilton (soprano) Revd Philip
Blackledge (cantor) Simon Nieminski (organ)
Matthew Owens (solo organ) (a) Matthew Owens
(director) Recorded February and June 2003,
St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
DELPHIAN RECORDS DCD 34017 [76.27] [RH]
A
tremendous recital which showcases both
the talents of St. Mary’s Cathedral choir
and a range of fine contemporary Scottish
composers. … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Puccini Passion
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Le
Villi ‘Se come voi piccini.’ Edgar
‘Adio mia dolce’ Manon Lescaut
‘Il quelle trine morbide’; ‘Sola, perduta,
abbandonata’ La Boheme ‘Si,
mi chiamano Mimi’. ‘Quando me’n vo’. ‘Donde
lieta usci’ Tosca ‘Vissi d’arte’
Madama Butterfly ‘Un bel di
vedremo’. ‘Che tua madre dovrà’. ‘Con
onor muore’ La Rondine ‘Chi
il bel sogno di Doretta’. ‘Ore dolci e divine’
Suor Angelica ‘Senza Mamma’
Gianni Schicchi ‘O mio babbino
caro’ Turandot ‘Signore, ascolta’.
‘Tu che di gel sei cinta’ E l’uccellino
Sole e amore Cheryl Barker (soprano)
Orchestra Victoria/Richard Bonynge Rec. South
Melbourne Town Hall, Australia
MELBA MR-301085 [63:34] [RJF]
A
highly skilled and committed singer who gives
her all ... a very individual vibrant lyric
soprano conveying much emotion ...as satisfying
a disc of this demanding repertoire as I have
heard in a long time. ... see Full
Review
Basso:
Great Arias for the Bass Voice and to
be Experienced as a Protagonist See
review for details
CANTOLOPERA 95036 [72.37] CD2
CANTOLOPERA 95045 [63.30] [RF]
Serious
users of these discs, which are in no way
‘jokey karaoke’, should have no difficulty
in using them both for listening to the performances
of professional singers and as protagonist.
… see Full Review
Jussi
BJÖRLING (tenor)
1911-1960 - Opera Arias and Duets 1936-1944
- Collection, vol. 3 Jussi
Björling (tenor) with Hjördis Schymberg
(soprano) Studio Orchestra /Nils Grevillius,
conductor Stefan Lindstrom, Restoration Engineer
NAXOS 8.110754 [65.34] [JW]
As
before in this series the copies used are
in unsullied condition. They allow unimpeded
admiration for this tenor titan and his continuing
sway on one’s heart. … see
Full Review
Cancion De Cuna:
Guitar Music from Cuba - Marco Tamayo
Edward
SIMON (b. 1969) El manicero (The
Peanut Seller) [4:33] Nico
ROJAS (b. 1921) Gunyun – El maestro
[2:10]; En
el abra del Yumuri (In Yumuri Bay) [4:52];
Francito y Alfronsito [2:38];
Lilliam [4:21];
Guajira a mi madre (Guajira for
my mother) [4:10] Carlos
FARINAS (1934-2002) Preludio [3:41]
Aldo RODRIGUEZ (b.
1955) Cancion [3:03]; Danza [1:52] Harold
GRAMATGES (b. 1918) Suite breve
[8:01] Leo BROUWER
(b. 1939) Cancion de cuna (Berceuse)
[4:04]; Zapateo [2:19];
Ojos brujos (Bewitching eyes) [2:41]
Carlos FARINAS (b.
1918) Cancion triste (Sad song) [2:55]
Hector ANGULO (b.
1932) Cantos Yoruba de Cuba [13:58]
Marco Tamayo (guitar)Rec. St. John Chrysostom
Church, New Market, Ontario, Canada, 17-20
December 2002 DDD
NAXOS 8.555887[65:31] [PG]
One
of the most enjoyable ways to explore the
musical traditions of Cuba that this reviewer
has come across. … see Full
Review
Cantate Domino:
Music for Three Evensongs
The Chapel Choir of University College, Durham
directed by Christopher Totney David Jackson
(organ) Recorded in Durham Castle (University
College) 19-21 June 2003
LAMMAS RECORDS LAMM 162D [68’55"]
[JQ]
This
CD enters an extremely full and competitive
market and, particularly as it is a full priced
release, it can only be given a qualified
welcome. ... see Full
Review
Mercedes Capsir (1895-1969)
Vincenzo BELLINI
(1801-1835) I
Puritani – Qui la voce Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Lucia di
Lammermoor – Regnava nel silenzio Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Rigoletto – Caro
nome La traviata – Ah! Fors’ è lui
with Lionello Cecil La traviata – Pura
siccome un angelo with Carlo Galeffi Giacomo
MEYERBEER (1791-1864) Dinorah –
Ombra leggiera Clement
Philibert Leo DELIBES (1836-1891) Lakmé
– Dov’ è l’indiana bruna? Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
La bohème – Si, mi chiamano Mimi Umberto
GIORDANO (1867-1948) Il re – Colombello
sposarti Il re – La bella mugnaina Julius
BENEDICT (1804-1855) Il carnevale
di Venezia Emilio
ARRIETA (1823-1894) Ah! Rayo de
luz encantadora Mercedes Capsir (soprano)
Professori d’Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala/Lorenzo
Molajoli except for the Arrieta; Gran Orquesta
Sinfonica bajo/Daniel Montorio Recorded 1928-33
PREISER 89157 [76.14] [JW]
A
well engineered and generous survey of Capsir’s
incendiary technical flourishes and an apt
introduction to a singer I can never quite
work out if I like or not. … see Full
Review
Carl Flesch-Akademie
- 6. Lions-Preisträgerkonzert Max
BRUCH (1838-1920) Kol
Nidrei op. 47 for cello and orchestra
Antonín DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904) Rondo in G minor op.
94 for cello and orchestra Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Concerto
for violin and orchestra in D major op.35
Yoriko Muto (violin) Ulrike Hofmann (cello)
Baden-Badener Philharmonie/Werner Stiefel
Recording made at a live concert given on
the 01.11.2003 at Weinbrennersaal des Baden-Badener
Kurhauses, Germany. Information in booklet
in German only
BELLA MUSICA BM 31.2392 [54.12] [MC]
I
really enjoyed Japanese born Yoriko Muto’s
enthusiastic and persuasive performance of
the Tchaikovsky. ... see Full
Review
Pablo Casals
(1876-1973) Encores and Transcriptions 2 Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Musette
[Gavotte from the English Suite No. 6] BWV
811 arr. Pollain; Komm süsser Tod from
Schemelli Gesangbuch arr. Siloti; Sonata No.
2 in A minor for unaccompanied violin BWV
1003 – Andante arr. Siloti; Air from Orchestral
Suite No 3 in D major BWV 1068 arr. Siloti
Giovanni SGAMBATI
(1841-1914) Serenata napoletana Op. 24
No. 2 arr. Bouman David
POPPER (1843-1913) Mazurka Op.
11 No. 3 Enrique
GRANADOS (1867-1916) Spanish Dance
No. 5 arr. Casals Giuseppe
TARTINI (1692-1770) Cello Concerto
in D major – Grave ed espressivo Gaspar
CASSADÓ Requiebros Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concerto Grosso
in D minor Op. 3 No. 11 from L’Estro Armonico
– Largo arr. Stutschewsky Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Sonata No.
6 in A major for Cello and keyboard – Adagio
and Allegro Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Song without
Words No. 49 in D major Op. 109 Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Songs my
mother taught me [Gypsy Songs Op. 55 No. 4]
arr. Grünfeld Nicolai
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Flight
of the bumblebee [Tsar Saltan] Giuseppe
VALENTINI (1680-1740) Gavotte from
Violin Sonata No. 10 in E major arr. Piatti
LASERNA Tonadilla
arr. Cassadó Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Minuet from Sonatina
for Violin and Viola in C major arr. Piatti
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856) Träumerei [from Kinderszenen
Op. 15] Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Minuet No
2 in G major [6 Minuets WoO 10 or Violin]
Coriolan Overture Op. 62 +
Pablo Casals (cello) with variously Nicolai
Mednikoff (piano) Blas Net (piano) Otto Schulhoff
(piano) London Symphony Orchestra/Pablo Casals
(conductor) + Recorded 1927-30
NAXOS 8.110976 [74.47] [JW]
Collectors
need not hesitate. … see
Full Review
Centre International de Percussion Franco
DONATONI (1927
– 2000) Mari
II for two marimbas (1992) Lou
PELOSI (b.1947) Ten Inventions
for two percussionists (1989) Marc-Andre
RAPPAS (b.1958) Stances for
two percussionists and violin (1993, rev.
2000) Jean-Claude
SCHLAEPFER (b.1961) Instances
II – seven pieces for marimba (1994) Fritz
HAUSER (b.1953) Zytraffer for
percussion (1992) De-qing
WEN (b.1953) Kung Fu for
percussion solo (1998) Franco
DONATONI (1927 – 2000) Madrigali
for four children’s choirs and
four percussionists (1991)
A re-issue of a 1994 disc from Stradivarius
CT STR 33437 sponsored by RSR-Espace 2, recorded
from 1995 – 2000. DDD
MUSIQUES SUISSE MGB CTS-M81 [72.31] [JPh]
Seventy-odd
minutes of percussion gets a little wearing
... but there is sufficient variety across
these fairly short pieces to hold the attention
... see Full Review
Tracey Chadwell’s Song
Book Elizabeth
MACONCHY (1907 – 1994) Sun,
Moon and Stars (1978) Three Songs (1985) Nicola
LE FANU (b. 1947) I am Bread (1987)
A Penny for a Song (1981) Gillian
WHITEHEAD (b. 1941) Awa Herea (1993)
Lyell CRESSWELL
(b. 1944) Words for Music (1989) David
LUMSDAINE (b. 1931) A Norfolk Songbook
(1992)a Douglas
LILBURN (1915 – 2001) Three Songs
David FARQUHAR
(b. 1928) Six Songs of Women (1957) John
JOUBERT (b. 1927) The Turning Wheel
Op.95 (1979) Richard
Rodney BENNETT (b. 1936) A Garland
for Marjory Fleming (1969)
Tracey Chadwell (soprano); John Turner (recorders)a;
Pamela Lidiard (piano) Recorded: BBC, 1989
(Joubert, Bennett), 1990 (Maconchy, Le Fanu)
and 1995 (Whitehead, Cresswell, Lumsdaine,
Lilburn, Farquhar) 
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS CD 420/421 CD
[67:38 + 72:54] [HC]
Tracey
Chadwell’s warmly lyrical tone well suits
this impressive survey of contemporary British
songs with many sizeable cycles by distinguished
composers. … see Full
Review
Classic Open Air:
Gelbard Quartet spielt Schubert und Brahms
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Violin
Sonatina No. 2 in A minor Op. 137 No. 2 D385
Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor
Op. 108 Piano Quartet No. 3 in C minor Op.
60
Elena Kuschnerova (piano) Lev Gelbard (violin)
Gelbard Quartet (Lev Gelbard (violin), Mikhail
Mouler (viola) Sergei Rossokha (cello) and
Elena Kuschnerova (piano) Recorded live in
the Martin Luther Church zu Peine, 31st
August 1996
CR 961101 [73.38] [JW]
The
Piano Quartet gets a strong and often pensive
performance and expands to fill the space
quite satisfactorily. ... see Full
Review
The Classical
Clarinet Francis
POULENC (1899-1963) Sonata
for Clarinet and Piano Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Première
rapsodie for Clarinet and Piano Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Sonata
in E flat major Op 167 for Clarinet and Piano
Henri BÜSSER
(1872-1973) Pastorale Op 46 Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Three pieces
for clarinet solo Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Sonatine
for Clarinet and Piano Malcolm
ARNOLD (b. 1921) Sonatine for Clarinet
and Piano Carl Maria
von WEBER (1786-1826) Grand Duo
Concertante Op 48 Harald
GENZMER (b. 1909) Sonatine for
Clarinet and Piano Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Fantasiestücke
Op 73 for clarinet and piano Alban
BERG (1885-1935) Vier Stücke
Op 5 Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Sonata in E flat major for
clarinet and piano
Henk de Graaf (clarinet) Daniel Wayenberg
(piano) Recorded Reformed Church Soest, June
and November 2001
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92219 [2 CDs: 67.11
+ 73.00] [JW]
A
somewhat quirky selection … inexpensive and
neatly packaged it also enjoys convincing
playing. … see Full
Review
Edmond Clément
(tenor) Recital
-see review for details
With Frank La Forge (piano) and other
unidentified accompanists Recorded 1911-26
MALIBRAN MR 563 [2 CDs 69.59 + 73.40]
[JW]
Clément
was an uncommonly fine voice that reveals
many beauties and subtleties characteristic
of that now extinct breed, the French lyric
tenor. ... see Full
Review
Clifford
Curzon. Decca Recordings 1949-1964
Volume
1 Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano
Concerto No. 5 in E flat major Op. 73 Emperor
London Philharmonic Orchestra/George Szell,
recorded 1949 Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor London
Philharmonic Orchestra/George Szell, recorded
1950 Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Four Impromptus D935 Recorded
1952 Sonata in D major D850 Recorded 1964
César FRANCK
(1822-1890) Variations Symphoniques London
Philharmonic Orchestra/Adrian Boult, recorded
1958 Henry LITOLFF
(1818-1891) Scherzo (From Concerto Symphonique
No. 4) Op. 102 London Philharmonic Orchestra/Adrian
Boult, recorded 1958 Manuel
de FALLA (1876-1946) Nights in
the Gardens of Spain New Symphony Orchestra/Enrique
Jorda, recorded 1951 Alan
RAWSTHORNE (1905-1971) Piano Concerto
No. 2 London Symphony Orchestra/Malcolm Sargent,
recorded 1951 Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano
Concerto No. 23 in A major K488 Piano Concerto
No. 27 in B flat major K595 Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra/George Szell, recorded December
1964
Clifford Curzon (piano) with accompaniments
as above Recorded 1949-1964
DECCA 473 116-2 [4 CDs: 71.24 + 69.46
+ 75.29 + 58.01] [JW]
As
I said times have seldom been better for admirers
of this artist and this volume establishes
itself, at a stroke, as a bedrock recommendation.
... see Full Review
Clifford Curzon
- Decca Recordings:
1941-1972. Volume 2 Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Four
Impromptus D899 Recorded London, 1941 Piano
Sonata in B flat major D960 Recorded at the
Maltings, Snape, 1970 Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano
Concerto No.23 in A major K488 Piano Concerto
No.24 in C minor K491 London Symphony Orchestra/Josef
Krips, recorded London, 1953 Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto
No.1 in D minor Op.15 Concertgebouw Orchestra/Eduard
van Beinum, recorded Amsterdam, 1953 Piano
Sonata No.3 in F minor Op.5 Intermezzos in
E flat major Op.117 No.1 and C major Op.119
No.3 Recorded Vienna, 1962 Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Piano Concerto
in A minor Op.16 London Symphony Orchestra/Anatole
Fistoulari, recorded London, 1951 Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Piano Quintet
in A major Op.81 Vienna Philharmonic Quartet,
recorded in Vienna, 1962 César
FRANCK (1822-1890) Piano Quintet
in F minor Vienna Philharmonic Quartet, recorded
in Vienna, 1960
Clifford Curzon (piano) with accompaniments
as above
DECCA ORIGINAL MASTERS LIMITED EDITION 475
084-2 [4 CDs: 79.50 + 78.10 + 76.53 +
69.25] [JW]
Once
again this set earns the strongest possible
recommendation. Is it too much to hope for
a third volume? ... see Full
Review
Estonian Composers
- Estonian Contemporary Classics Vol. 1 Ester
MÅGI (b.1922) Vesper for
strings (1990) [5.21] Raimo
KANGRO (1949-2001) Display IX
(1997) [10.50] Lepo
SUMERA (1950-2000) Shakespeare
Sonnets: 8 and 90 (1996) [16.17] Eino
TAMBERG (b.1930) [10.52] Desiderium
Concordiae (1997) [11.12] Toivo
TULEV (b.1958) String Quartet
No. 1 (1991) [11.12] Rene
EESPERE (b.1953) Glorificatio
(1990) [5.41] Veljo
TORMIS (b.1930) Suite from the
film score Kevade (1969) [10.18]
Tallinn Quartet (Tulev) Pirjo Levandi
(sop); Mikk Mikiver (speaker); Estonian Boys
Choir/Paul Mågi (Sumera) Kaia Urb (sop),
Academic Male Choir of Tallinn Technical University
(Eespere) Strings of Estonian National Symphony
Orchestra/Aivo Välja (Mågi) Estonian
National Symphony Orchestra/Paul Mågi
(Tormis; Sumera) Estonian National Symphony
Orchestra/Arvo Volmer (Eespere) NYYD Ensemble/Olari
Elts (Kangro; Tamberg) Rec. 1994-2001
EESTI RADIO ERCD 031 [71.26] [RB]
A
varied collection in which, even in the extremes
of the Tulev, the orientation towards song
is a common and smiling thread. ... see Full
Review
A Night of
Encores
SUMMER
CONCERT from the Berlin WaldbühneStanislaw
MONIUSZKO (1819 - 1872) Mazurka
from Halka (1858) Henri
WIENIAWSKI (1835 – 1880) Polonaise,
Op. 4 (1853) * Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840 – 1893) Melodie,
Op. 42, No. 3 (1878) Valse Scherzo,
Op. 34 (1877) * Ruperto
Chapi y LORENTE (1851 – 1909) Overture
from La Revoltosa Lyun
Joon KIM (b.1916) Elegy Hans
Christian LUMBYE (1810 – 1874) Champagne
Galop (1845) Yuso
TOYAMA (1931) Dance of the Celestials
from "Yugen" Jean
SIBELIUS (1865 – 1957) Valse
triste from Kuolema (1904) Edward
ELGAR (1857 – 1934) Wild Bears
from The Wand of Youth Suite No. 2,
Op. 1b (1908) Richard
WAGNER (1813 – 1883) Prelude to
Act III from Lohengrin (1850) Fritz
KREISLER (1875 – 1962) Tambourin
chinois * Carlos
GARDEL (1887 – 1935)
arr. John WILLIAMS (b.1932) Por
una cabeza – from the film music from "Scent
of a Woman) * Niccolo
PAGANINI (1782 – 1840) Il carnevale
di Venezia Op. 10. * Il carnevale di
Venezia Op. 10. Encore * Carl
Michael ZIEHRER (1848 – 1922) Wiener
burger, Op. 419 Pietro
MASCAGNI (1863 – 1945) Intermezzo
from "Cavalleria Rusticana"
(1880) Antonín DVOŘÁK
(1841 – 1904) Slavonic Dance in
C major, Op.72, No. 7 Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840 – 1893) Pas
de deux from "The Nutcracker"
Georges BIZET (1838
– 1875) Farandole from L’Arlésienne
Jules MASSENET (1842
– 1912) Aragonaise and Navarraise
from Le Cid Paul
LINCKE (1866 – 1946) Berliner
Luft (1902)*
Vadim Repin – violin Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Mariss
Jansons. recorded in the Waldbuhne, Berlin,
23rd June, 2002. Video directed
by Bob Coles. 
TDK DVD - WBNOE [116 minutes] [JPh]
If
the repertoire attracts, then go out and buy
this disc. I guarantee you will enjoy it,
and with such good sound and production, it
is a winner. ... see Full
Review
From Equinox To Solstice
Anders
NILSSON (b.1954) Concerto
grosso (1995) Ketil
HVOSLEF (b.1939) Concerto for Saxophone
Quartet and Orchestra (1996) Jouni
KAIPAINEN (b.1956) Vernal Concerto
From Equinox to Solstice Op.53 (1996)
Raschèr Saxophone Quartet Swedish Chamber
Orchestra/Petter Sundkvist Recorded: Örebro
Concert Hall, Sweden, September 2000
BIS CD-1203 [76:38] [HC]
Will
repay repeated hearings … works that undoubtedly
deserve to be better known … see Full
Review
EXPLORATIONS
British Twentieth/Twenty-First Century Music
for one and two pianos Anthony
HEDGES (b.1931) Three
Explorations, op.145 (2002) Sonata, op.53
(1974) Five Aphorisms, op.113 (1990) Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934), arr. Vally
LASKER (1885-1978) Japanese Suite,
op.33 (1915) Kenneth
LEIGHTON (1929-1988) Prelude, Hymn
and Toccata, op.96 Ronald
STEVENSON (b.1928) Two Chinese
Folk-Songs (1966)
Anthony Goldstone and Caroline Clemmow (pianists)
Rec. St. John the Baptist Church, Alkborough,
North Lincolnshire, 22nd-24th July 2003
THE DIVINE ART 25024 [76.51] [GS]
If
you haven’t already guessed it, I was bowled
over by this disc and urge you to have a similar
experience by buying it. ... see
Full Review
Four Austrian Sopranos
of the Past
Berta Kiurina (1882-1933) Luise Helletsgruber
(1901-1967) Maria Reining (1903-1991) Hilde
Konetzni (1905-1980) Unidentified accompaniments
Recorded 1927-44
PREISER 89973 [77.42] [JW]
With
unproblematic transfers this quartet of eminent
Viennese sopranos can be genuinely welcomed.
It demonstrates their great strengths and
the overlaps and reflections that stalked
the Vienna Opera for well over half a century.
... see Full Review
Lucien Fugère
(baritone)(1848-1935)
Lucien Fugère (baritone) With unnamed
orchestras and pianists
MALIBRAN MR 556 [75.49] [JW]
Fugère
was one of the most stylish and notable of
all French baritones. ... see Full
Review
Wilhelm
Furtwängler, Conductor - Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Coriolan
Overture Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Symphony No. 8 in B
minor, ‘Unfinished’ Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Oberon
Overture Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Three Hungarian
Dances Johann STRAUSS
II (1825-1899) Pizzicato Polka
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Leonora Overture No.3
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Wilhelm
Furtwängler Recorded 1944, 1948, 1949,
1950 Produced by Gianni Salioni
ERMITAGE 12054-2 [66:48] [MC]
Unquestionably
a poorly presented release. However a worthwhile
document of one of the world’s greatest conductors.
... see Full
Review
Il Giardino Corrupto:
Italian influence in German and Austrian Chamber
Music 1650-85 Johann
Caspar KERLL (1627-1693) Sonata
à 3 in g minor [07:58] Sonata à
2 in F [06:19] Johann
Heinrich SCHMELZER (c1620-1680) Sonata
XI in d minor [05:35] Matthias
WECKMANN (c1619-1674) Sonata à
3 in G [03:06] Johann
ROSENMÜLLER (c1619-1684) Sonata
II in e minor [09:05] Antonio
BERTALI (1605-1669) Sonata à
3 in a minor [03:20] Johann
Erasmus KINDERMANN (1616-1655) Sonata
‘Giardino Corrupto’ [04:00] Georg
MUFFAT (1653-1704) Sonata in D
[12:02] anon (17th
c.) Toccata for keyboard Johann
Caspar KERLL Sarabant for keyboard
Johann Heinrich SCHMELZER
Sonata ‘Lanterly’ à 3
La Luna: Ingrid Matthews, Scott Metcalfe,
violin; Emily Walhout, viola da gamba; Byron
Schenkman, harpsichord, organ Rec. September
1999 at a private residence in the state of
Washington, USA, DDD
WILDBOAR WLBR 9903 [65:42] [JV]
An
interesting programme of German music written
under the influence of the expressive style
of the Italians – definitely one of the best
interpretations available ... see Full
Review
George GROSSMITH
(1847-1912)
The Grossmith Legacy
Leon Berger (bar), Selwyn Tillett (piano)
Rec. St Mary's Rectory, Beddington, Surrey
1995-6 THE
DIVINE ART DIVERSIONS 24109 [74.12]
[RF]
A
very worthwhile addition to the recorded stock
of Victorian songs and ballads - a genre whose
qualities are slowly being re-discovered.
... see Full Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
Arthur
Grumiaux - Historic
Philips Recordings 1953-1962 Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Violin
Concerto No. 1 in B flat major K207 Violin
Concerto No. 2 in D major K211 Arthur Grumiaux
(violin) Vienna Symphony Orchestra/Bernhard
Paumgartner, recorded 1954-55 Violin Concerto
No. 3 in G major K216 Violin Concerto No.
4 in D major K218 Arthur Grumiaux (violin)
Vienna Symphony Orchestra/Rudolf Moralt, recorded
1953 Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major K219
Violin Concerto in D major K271i Arthur Grumiaux
(violin) Vienna Symphony Orchestra/Bernhard
Paumgartner, recorded 1954 Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Violin Sonata
in G minor Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Violin Sonata
in G major, Pièce en forme de Habanera
arr. Catherine Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845-1924) Violin
Sonata No. 1 in A major Op. 13, Les Berceaux
Op.23 No. 1 Pablo
de SARASATE (1844-1908) Zigeunerweisen
Op. 20 Joseph-Hector
FIOCCO (1703-1741) Allegro from
Pièces de Clavecin Op. 1 arr. H. Bent
and N. O’Neill Enrique
GRANADOS (1867-1916) Andaluza (Danzas
Españolas Op. 37 No. 5) arr. Kreisler
Isaac ALBÉNIZ
(1860-1909) Tango Op. 165 No.2 arr. Kreisler
Arthur Grumiaux (violin) István Hajdu
(piano) Recorded 1962 Edouard
LALO (1823-1892) Symphonie Espagnole
in D minor Op. 21 Ernest
CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Poème
Op.25 Maurice RAVEL
(1875-1937) Tzigane Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Introduction
et Rondo Capriccioso Op.28 Havanaise Op.38
Arthur Grumiaux (violin)/Orchestre des Concerts
Lamoureux/Jean Fournet, recorded 1954 and
1956 Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Violin Concerto in E minor
Op.64 Arthur Grumiaux (violin) Vienna Symphony
Orchestra/Rudolf Moralt, recorded 1954 Niccolò
PAGANINI (1782-1840) Violin Concerto
No.4 in D minor
Arthur Grumiaux (violin)/Orchestre des Concerts
Lamoureux/Franco Gallini, recorded 1954 I
Palpiti Op.13 arr. Kreisler Le Streghe Op.8
arr. Kreisler
Arthur Grumiaux (violin) Riccardo Castagnone
(piano) Recorded 1958
PHILIPS ORIGINAL MASTERS LIMITED EDITION
473 104-2 [5 CDs 64.09 + 70.19 + 76.48
+ 71.04 + 76.20] [JW]
I
have little but praise for this elegantly
designed and life-enhancing collection. A
boon to Grumiaux’s admirers opening up compelling
perspectives on his subtle but flexible music
making. … see Full
Review
Reynaldo Hahn - Mélodies
et airs d’opéra
Reynaldo Hahn (tenor and piano, self accompanying)
With Arthur Endrèze (accompanied by
Hahn), Ninon Vallin and Guy Ferrant Henri
Merckel and Georges Bouillon (violins) and
M. Frecheville (cello) Recorded 1909-37
MALIBRAN MR 565 [2 CDs 66.38 + 70.50]
[JW]
Hahn
was not a professional singer ... the latest
in Malibran’s increasingly useful catalogue
of discs devoted to French vocalism. ... see
Full Review
Trio con Forza – Hot3
Anders HULTQVIST
(b. 1955) Rain
and After/Composition No. 6 (2002) Kay
HOLMQUIST (b. 1960) Crepuscular
Radiation for Flute, Viola and 10-stringed
Guitar (2002-03) Rolf
MARTINSSON (b. 1956) Tics (1997)
André CHINI
(b. 1945) Eté3 (1998) Arne
MELLNÄS (1933-2002) Like Raindrops,
Pearls on Velvet (1997) Christer
LINDWALL (b. 1950) Wire (1995)
Fredrik ÖSTERLING
(b. 1966) Nine – The Esoteric Charm of
Austerity (2000) Kent
OLOFSSON (b. 1962) Parceas Cordes
for alto flute, alto guitar, viola and electronics
(2001-02)
HOT3 (Torbjörn Helander (viola)
Stefan Östersjö (guitar) and Terje
Thiwång (flutes)) Recorded in Malmö
and Stockholm in 2002-03 except the Lindwall,
recorded in 1999
PHONO SUECIA PSCD 148 [78.16] [JW]
In
the end most of the challenges here proved
fruitful and at least two of these works are
strongly persuasive … see Full
Review
Frank Huang Violin recital:
Violin Fantasies Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Fantasy
for Violin and Piano in C major, D. 934,
Op. 159 (1827) Heinrich
Wilhelm ERNST (1814-1865) Fantaisie
brillante sur l'opéra 'Otello' de Rossini,
Op. 11 (c.1839) Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951)
Phantasy for Violin with Piano Accompaniment,
Op. 47 (1949) Franz
WAXMAN (1906-1967) Carmen Fantasy
(1947), based on themes from Bizet’s Opera:
Carmen
Frank Huang (violin) Dina Vainstein (piano)
Rec. Country Day School, Performing Art Centre,
King City, Ontario, Canada 17-19 July 2002.
DDD
NAXOS Laureate Series: 8.557121 [57:18]
[MC]
A
fine recital from a talented young soloist
that will provide pleasure but will undoubtedly
appeal more to the specialist collector of
the violin repertoire. ... see Full
Review
Decoding Skin:
A Piano Recital by Philip Howard Paul
WHITTY (b.1970) De-coding Skin
(1995); Max WILSON
(b.1973) Zeitlin (1998); Iannis
XENAKIS (1922-2001) Evryali
(1973); Paul
NEWLAND (b.1966) … Butterfly
Dreaming … (2000); Michael
FINNISSY (b.1946) Eadward Muybridge
– Edvard Munch (1997); Morton
FELDMAN (1926-1971) Palais de
Mari (1986)
Philip Howard (piano) Recorded at Phayd-X-Studios
London in 2002
THE DIVINE ART 25021 [69.09] [GH]
Seamlessly
evolving counterpoint … sudden bursts of wild
activity. Howard is totally assured in this
challenging music and has an innate ability
to discover and use piano colour. … see Full
Review
Isola Romántica
Carl CZERNY
(1791-1857) Grande
Serenade Concertante for Clarinet, Horn, Cello
and Piano Op.126 Gustav
JENNER
(1865-1920) Trio in E flat for Clarinet,
Horn and Piano Frederic
DUVERNOY (1765-1838) Sonata No.
1 for Horn and Cello Sonata No. 2 for Horn
and Cello
Ensemble Isola – Radovan Cavallin (clarinet)
Jose Zarzo (horn) Carlos Rivero (cello) and
Juan Francisco Parra (piano) Recorded at Sala
Gabriel Rodó (Gran Canaria Philharmonic
Orchestra Rehearsal Room). No date.
CRYSTAL RECORDS CD772 [73.20] [JW]
If
the programme appeals, and it’s certainly
eclectic, then the performances by Ensemble
Isola are attractive and spirited ... see
Full Review
The Kelvingrove
Organ Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Sinfonia
to Cantata 29 ‘Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken
dir’, (‘Unto Thee, O God, do we give thanks’).
Transcribed by Marcel Dupré (1886-1971)
[4.50]Felix MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY
(1809-1847) Overture to Oratorio:
St Paul, Op. 36 Transcribed by W. T.
Best (1826-1897) [8.12]George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Overture to Oratorio: Messiah Transcribed
by W. T. Best [4.13]Engelbert
HUMPERDINCK (1854-1921)
Prelude to Opera: Hänsel and Gretel
Transcribed by Edwin H. Lemare (1865-1934)
[9.36] Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791) Overture
to Opera: Die Zauberflöte (The Magic
Flute) Transcribed by W. T. Best [8.13]
Carl Maria von WEBER
(1786-1826) Overture to Opera:
Der Freischütz (The Freeshooter)
Transcribed by A. L. Peace (1844-1912) [11.16]
Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) ‘1812’ Overture,
Op. 49 Transcribed by Edwin Evans (1844-1923)
[17.57] Georges BIZET
(1838-1875) Suite from Opera:
Carmen Transcribed by Edwin H. Lemare
[11.16]
Timothy Byram-Wigfield (Organ) Recorded 8-11
November 2001, on the Lewis organ at the Kelvingrove
Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow.
DELPHIAN RECORDS LIMITED DCD 34004 [75:38]
[MC]
An
enterprising release from Delphian, magnificently
performed and recorded. A thoroughly recommendable
addition to the organ canon. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Nancy
Ambrose King plays Oboe Concertos
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791) Oboe Concerto
in C K314 (1777) [20.49] Eugene
GOOSSENS (1893-1962) Oboe Concerto
in One Movement (1927) [11.52] Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Concerto
for Oboe and Strings in A minor (1944) [18.32]
Bohuslav MARTINŮ
(1890-1959) Concerto for Oboe and
Small Orchestra (1955) [17.18]
Nancy Ambrose King (oboe) Janacek Philharmonic
Orchestra/Jeremy Swerling rec. Vitkovice Dum
Kulture, Ostrava, Czech Republic, 5-7 Sept
2000, 7 Jan 2002. DDD
CALA CACD1035 [68.66] [RB]
This
is the only collection of these works. For
those having a taste for oboe and orchestra
the choice is clear. All concerned can take
a well-deserved bow for this one. Classic
stuff. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Evgeny
Kissin in Concert Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Piano
Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor Op. 23 St.
Petersburg Academic Symphony Orchestra/Valery
Gergiev Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Concerto for Piano,
Trumpet and Orchestra in C minor Op. 35 Bernard
Soustrot, trumpet; St. Petersburg Chamber
Orchestra/Vladimir Spivakov Recorded 30 March
1987 (Tchaikovsky) 26 December 1988 (Shostakovich)
Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor Op. 11
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor Op. 21 Moscow
Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitri Kitaenko [Recorded
?27 March 1984] Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Waldesrauschen
La Leggierezza Liebestraum No. 3 in A flat
major Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 in C sharp
minor Etude d’exécution transcendante
No. 10 in F minor "Appassionata"
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Études symphoniques Op. 13 Abegg
Variations Op. 1 Widmung (Transcription Franz
Liszt) Recorded 23 May 1983 and 26 February
1989 Fryderyk CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Waltz No. 14 in E minor
Op. Posth. Mazurka in F minor Op. 63 No. 2
Mazurka in D flat major Op. 30 No. 3 Mazurka
in B flat minor Op. 24 No. 4 Mazurka in F
minor Op. 68 No. 4 Mazurka in C sharp minor
Op. 50 No. 3 Fantasie in F minor Op. 49 Piano
Sonata No. 3 in B minor Op. 58 Recorded 23
May 1984 and 26 February 1989
Evgeny Kissin (piano)
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92118 [4 CDs 56.28+63.05+65.45+56.21]
[RH]
A
testament to some remarkable pianism, live
recordings made of Kissin in his teens, including
the stupendous Chopin piano concertos recorded
when he was 12. ... see Full
Review
Latin American Guitar
Music Astor
PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) La
muerte del angel - Tango (arr. R. Cobo) Primavera
portena (arr. R. Cobo) Dilermando
REIS (1916-1977) Se ela preguntar
- waltz (Paschoito) Horacio
SALGAN (b. 1916) Don Agustin Bardi
(arr. Morel) Angel
VILLODO (1861-1919) El chocio (arr.
Cobo) Máximo
Diego PUJOL (b.1957) Stella australis
Elegia por la muerte de un tanguero Jorge
MOREL (b.1931) Little Rhapsody
Danza in E minor Abel
CARLEVARO (1952-2001) Milonga oriental
Leo BROUWER (b.1939)
Un dia de Noviembre Marco
PEREIRA (b.1956) Marta
Ricardo Cobo (guitar) Rec. St. John Chrysostom
Church, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, 3-7 April,
2003
NAXOS 8.557329 [60:29] [MC]
An
infectious freshness, a depth of emotional
involvement and an empathic understanding
of the composer’s intention behind the notes.
... see Full Review
Zarah Leander (1907-1981).
Die ersten Jahre Ralph
BENATZKY (1884-1957) Gebundene
Hände, Eine Frau von heut’,Ich hab’ eine
tiefe Sehnsucht in mir,Yes, Sir! Ich steh’
im Regen,Kinostar, die Sehnsucht tausender
Mädchen Franz
LEHÁR (1870-1948) Entréelied
aus Die lustige Witwe, Viljalied aus Die lustige
Witwe Dénes
von BUDAY Ich hab’ vielleicht noch
nie geliebt! Peter
FENYES Merci, mon ami, Sag’ mir
nicht Adieu, Sag nur Auf Wiederseh’n, Cherie…Du
bist heut’ so anders! Lothar
BRÜHNE Der Wind hat mir ein
Lied erzählt, Du kannst es nicht wissen
Theo MACKEBEN Eine
Frau wird erst schön durch die Liebe,
Drei Sterne sah ich scheinen
Zara Leander (soprano) Orchestras directed
by Anton Paulik, Jules Sylvain and Eugen Wolff
Ufa Film Orchestra/Lothar Brühne Recorded
1931-38
PREISER 90027 [48.37] [JW]
Zarah
Leander - Diva of the Third Reich … truly
a voice that summons up a decade. … see Full
Review
Göta
Ljungberg (1893-1955)
Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901) La
Forza del Destino – Madre, pietosa Vergine
* La Forza del Destino – Pace, pace mio Dio
* Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883) Tristan und Isolde – Die Wunde?
Wo? + Tristan und Isolde – Mild und leise
# Die Walküre – Rette mich, Kühne
+ With Frieda Leider (soprano) and Friedrich
Schorr (bass) Parsifal – Ich sah das Kind
Parsifal – Seit Ewigkeiten harre ich deiner
+ Richard STRAUSS
(1864-1949) Salome – Ah! Du wollst mich
nicht deinen Mund ^ Piero
MASCAGNI ( Cavalleria rusticana
– Als euer Sohn einst fortzog ^ Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Tosca – Nur
der Schönheit weiht ich mein Leben <
Tosca – Nur deinetwegen wollt’ ich noch micht
sterben < With Joseph Schmidt (tenor) Tosca
– Ora stammi a sentir With Browning Mummery
(tenor) // Madame Butterfly – Eines Tages
she’n wir Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) – Charles
François GOUNOD (1818-1893)
Ave Maria Cesar
FRANCK (1822-1890) Panis Angelicus
Ralph BENATZKY
(1884-1957) Die drei Musketiere – Du schmeichelst
in mein Herz dich ein > With Herbert Janssen
TURK/AHLERT Die
drei Musketiere – Mütterlein, bleib immer
bei mir >
Göta Ljungberg (Soprano) With Orchestras
conducted by Manlio Di Veroli * and Lawrence
Collingwood # LSO conducted by Albert Coates
+ The Berlin State Opera Orchestra conducted
by Leo Blech ^ and by Clemens Schmalstich
< The Orchester des Grossen Schauspielhauses,
Berlin conducted by Ernst Hauke > Orchestra
conducted by Eugene Goossens // Recorded 1924-29
PREISER 89548 [77.06] [JW]
Preiser’s
selection is sourced from good quality originals
and I recommend it to those yet to be acquainted
with this impressive musician. … see Full
Review
The London Trumpet
Sound - Volume 2 SANDOVAL
arr. Tony RICKARD
Mambo
Caliente CARILLO
arr. Richard PAYNE
Dos Gardenias WHITFIELD/STRONG
arr. Roger HARVEY
I Heard It Through The Grapevine John
WILLIAMS arr. Paul
SARCICH Superman CARRELL/CLAYTON
arr. Daryl RUNSWICK
Amazing Grace Leoš
JANÁČEK Fanfare from
Sinfonietta ARBAN
arr. Paul SARCICH
The Carnival of Venice G
F HANDEL arr. Simon
WRIGHT Music for the Royal Fireworks
(Ouverture, La Réjouissance, Menuet)
Aaron COPLAND
arr. Tony RICKARD
Hoedown from Rodeo The London
Trumpet Sound/Geoffrey Simon Recorded at BBC
Maida Vale Studios, London, 22nd-23rd
August 2001 and at St. Jude-on-the Hill, London,
24th-25th August 2001
CALA CACD 0114 [44:38] [GPJ]
If
you are trumpeter, this CD is downright compulsory
– beg, borrow or buy it, and that’s an order!
For all other music-lovers, you really should
do so too, because it’s simply a huge treat.
… 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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