Leroy ANDERSON
(1908-1975)
The Waltzing Cat The
Syncopated Clock,
The Typewriter, A Trumpeter’s Lullaby, Fiddle
Faddle, Blue Tango, The Phantom Regiment,
Bugler’s Holiday, The Waltzing Cat, Plink,
Plank, Plunk! Sleigh Ride, Horse and Buggy,
Belle of the Ball, The Irish Washerwoman,
The Last Rose of Summer, Pyramid Dance, Chicken
Reel, Concerto in C for Piano and Orchestra
* 
Simon Tedeschi (piano) * Melbourne Symphony
Orchestra/Paul Mann Recorded in February 2003,
at the Iwaki Auditorium of the Australian
Broadcasting Corporation’s Southbank Centre,
Melbourne
ABC CLASSICS 476 158-9 [69.04] [JW]
Performances
are warm and sympathetic ... Anderson the
Norman Rockwell of 1950s American music? I’ll
have to go and have a look. ... see Full
Review
Willem
Mengelberg – Bach Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Orchestral
Suite No. 2 in B minor BWV 1067 Recorded 17
April 1939 Orchestral Suite No.3 BWV 1068
– Air only Recorded April 1942 Double Violin
Concerto in D minor BWV 1043 Louis Zimmerman
and Ferdinand Helman (violins), recorded 21
December 1937 Keyboard Concerto in F minor
BWV 1056 Agi Jambor (piano), recorded 17 April
1939 Wedding Cantata; Weichet nur, betrübt
Schatten BWV 202
To van der Sluys (soprano) recorded 17
April 1939 Concertgebouw Orchestra/Willem
Mengelberg
ARCHIPEL ARPCD 0258 [73.27] [JW]
Collectors
should perhaps treat this one with a fair
degree of caution ... see Full
Review
Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750)
Cantatas and Arias Grosser
Herr and Erleucht auch meine finstre Sinnen,
from the Christmas Oratorio, Cantata
BWV82: Ich Habe Genug (1727), Cantata
BWV158: Der Friede sei mit dir (1727),
Am abend, from the St Matthew
Passion (1729), Mache dich, mein Hernxe
rein, from the St Matthew Passion,
Es ist vollbracht, from Cantata BWV159
(1729), Auf mit hellem schall, from
Cantata BWV128 (1725), Hat man nicht
mit seinen Kindern, from Cantata BWV211
(Coffee Cantata) (1735)
Ralph Kohn, baritone English Chamber
Orchestra/Ian Watson Recorded January, March
1994, St Jude’s, Hampstead, London
CAPRIOLE CAPCD 1010 [63.20] [TB]
Ralph
Kohn: confident tone and a sure awareness
of appropriate phrasing. ... see Full
Review
Johann Sebastian
BACH
(1685-1750) St
Matthew Passion (abridged) Evangelist
- Karl Erb (tenor) Jesus – Willem Ravelli
(bass) Jo Vincent (soprano) Ilona Durigo (alto)
Louis van Tulder (tenor) Herman Schey (bass)
Piet van Egmond (organ) Johannes den Hertog
(harpsichord) Louis Zimmermann (violin) G.
Blanchard (oboe d’amore) W. Peddemors (oboe
da caccia) Hubert Barwahser (flute)
Amsterdam Toonkunst Choir "Zanglust"
Boys’ Choir Concertgebouw Orchestra/Willem
Mengelberg Recorded on Psalm Sunday, 2nd
April 1939 in the Concertgebouw Suite No.2
in B minor BWV 1067 Concerto in D minor
for Two Violins BWV 1010 Louis Zimmermann
and Ferdinand Helman (violins) Air from
Suite No.3 in D major BWV 1068 (arr.
Telico) Concertgebouw Orchestra Air
from Suite No.3 in D major BWV
1068 (arr. Mahler) Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra
of New York Willem Mengelberg
Recorded 1929-38
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110880-82 [71.42 +
62.46 + 72.58] [JW]
Plenty
of vitally imaginative music-making of the
old school. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Samuel
BARBER
(1910-1981) Adagio
for strings, Op. 11* [7’45"] Symphony
No 1, Op. 9** [21’39"] Piano Concerto,
Op. 38*** [29’ 09"] Souvenirs, Op. 28
for piano four-hands **** [18’24"] Medea’s
Meditation and Dance of Vengeance, Op. 23a*
[12’07"] Concerto for Violin and Orchestra,
Op. 14***** [23’37"] Capricorn Concerto,
Op. 21 for flute, oboe, trumpet and strings******
[14’34"] Concerto for cello and Orchestra,
Op. 22******* [26’11"]
*Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch
** St. Louis Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin
***John Browning (piano); St. Louis Symphony
Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin **** John Browning
and Leonard Slatkin (piano) ***** Kyoko Takezawa
(violin); St. Louis Symphony Orchestra/Leonard
Slatkin ******Jacob Berg (flute); Peter Bowman
(oboe); Susan Slaughter (trumpet); St. Louis
Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin *******Steven
Isserlis (cello); St. Louis Symphony Orchestra/Leonard
Slatkin Recorded: * 1957. Venue not specified
** and *** at Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis
6-7 October 1990 **** at Manhattan Center,
New York City, 15 October 1990 ***** 24 April
1994; ****** 7 May 1995; ****** 2 December
1994 all at Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis
BMG ARTISTES RÉPERTOIRES 74321 987042
[2 CDs 76’59"; 76’59"] [JQ]
Lack
of documentation is a serious drawback but
not such as to deny this set the warmest possible
recommendation. ... see
Full Review
Samuel BARBER
(1910-1981)
Knoxville:
Summer of 1915, Opus 24* (1948) Second
Essay, Opus 17 (1942) Third Essay,
Opus 47 (1976) Toccata Festiva, Opus
36 (1960) ^
*Karina Gauvin, soprano ^Thomas Trotter,
organ Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Marin
Alsop Recorded 27 October 2002 (Knoxville),
3 May 1999 (Second Essay), 18 March 2001 (Third
Essay), Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, 11 June
2002, Paisley Abbey (Toccata)
NAXOS 8.559134 [56.55] [TB]
Undoubtedly
an excellent addition to an already distinguished
collection of Barber performances ... see
Full Review
Béla
BARTÓK
(1881 - 1945)
Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta,
Sz.106 (1936)(1) [33'04] Divertimento for
String Orchestra, Sz. 113 (1939)(2) [27'22]
Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Rec. Stefaniensaal, Graz, (1) 23-26 June 2001,
(2) 23-25 June 2000
RCA RED SEAL 82876 59326 2 [60'26]
[PSe]
'Authentic
performance' of Bartók? Oh yes, and
it does indeed furnish fresh insights. ...
see Full
Review
Amy BEACH
(1867-1944) Morning
Glories Quartet for Strings Op 89 (1921-29)
# Violin Sonata Op 34 (1896) * Piano Trio
Op.150 (1938) +
Diane Pascal (violin) and Joanne Polk
(piano) * Diane Pascal (violin), Astrid Schween
(cello) and Joanne Polk (piano) + The Lark
Quartet # Recorded at The Recital Hall of
the Performing Arts Centre, Purchase College,
State University of New York, June 1999
ARABESQUE Z6747 [59.54] [JW]
Part
of Arabesque’s invaluable Beach series ...
valuable and with the advantage of a fine
recording and dedicated, understanding, expert
performances. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
Symphony No. 10 and late overtures Symphony
No. 10 (1st movement) Gratulations-Menuett
WoO 3 Overture ‘The Ruins of Athens’ Op. 113
Overture ‘Nameday’ Op.115 Overture ‘King Stephen’
Op. 117 Overture ‘Fidelio’ Op. 72 Funeral
march from ‘Leonora Prohaska’ WoO 96 Overture
‘The Consecration of the House’ Op. 124
Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra/Douglas
Bostock Rec. The House of Music, Padubice,
Czech Republic, 5-6 April 2003 DDD
CLASSICO CLASSCD 472 [61:21] [MC]
Fascinating
and rewarding late orchestral works from Beethoven.
Worth exploring! ... see Full
Review
Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Violin
Concerto in D major Op.61 Cavatina from the
Quartet in B flat major Op.130 Grosse Fuge
in B flat major Op.133
Yehudi Menuhin (violin) Berlin Philharmonic
Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler Recorded
live 30 September 1947 (Concerto), live 10
February 1952 (Grosse Fuge) and in the studio
15 October 1940 (Cavatina)
ARCHIPEL ARPCD 0257 [72.27] [JW]
It’s
great news that these performances are newly
available – but interested parties should,
if at all possible, sample before they buy.
... see Full
Review
Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Piano
Concerto No. 3 in C minor Op.37 Marguerite
Long (piano) Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
[Orchestre de la Société des
Concerts du Conservatoire], recorded 1939
Triple Concerto, for Violin, Cello and Piano
Op.56
Ricardo Odnoposoff (violin) Stefan Auber
(cello) Angelica Morales (piano) Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra, recorded 1937 Felix Weingartner
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110878 [68.35] [JW]
A
warm welcome to the latest in this instructive
series from Naxos. ... see
Full Review
Artur Schnabel
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Piano
Concerto No.4 Op.58 Piano Concerto No.5 Op.
73 Emperor Piano Sonata No.30 Op.109
Piano Sonata No.32 Op.111
Artur Schnabel (piano) Chicago Symphony
Orchestra/Frederick Stock Recorded in 1942
BMG RCA RED SEAL 74321 987172 [2 CDs:
69.57 + 46.54] [JW]
An
important set – compromised by indifferent
transfers. ... see Full
Review
The
Busch String Quartet Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
String
Quartet No. 7 in F Op.59 No.1 Razumovsky
String Quartet No. 8 in E minor Op.59 No.2
Razumovsky
Busch String Quartet Recorded in New
York, 1941 and 1942
BIDDULPH 80208-2 [75.55] [JW]
Transfers
attractively done ... expands the Busch CD
discography still further and enticingly.
... see Full
Review
Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
Fidelio.
Opera in Two Acts Leonore, Kirsten
Flagstad (sop); Florestan, René Maison
(ten); Rocco, Alexander Kipnis (bass); Pizarro,
Julius Huehn (bar); Marzelline, Marita Farell,
(sop); Jaquino, Karl Laufkoetter, (ten); Don
Fernando, Herbert Janssen (bar)
Orchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan
Opera, New York/Bruno Walter Rec. from live
broadcast on February 22nd 1941
GUILD HISTORICAL IMMORTAL PERFORMANCES SERIES
GHCD 2269-2270 [72.19 + 78.20] [RJF]
For
those who take a contrary view and are drawn
to Flagstad's voice and Walter’s interpretation,
the recording here is one of the finest I
have heard from this period.... see
Full Review
Leonard BERNSTEIN
(1918
– 1990) Symphony
No.1 Jeremiah (1942)aConcerto
for Orchestra Jubilee Games (1986/9)b
Helen Medlyn (mezzo-soprano)a;
Nathan Gunn (baritone)bNew Zealand
Symphony Orchestra/James JuddRecorded: Michael
Fowler Centre, Wellington, New Zealand, August
2002
NAXOS 8.559100 [55:04] [HC]
Judd
conducts a very fine reading of Jeremiah,
and an equally fine one of the Concerto for
Orchestra ... see Full
Review
Franz BERWALD
(1796-1868)
Symphony
No. 1 Sinfonie sérieuse (Allegro
con energia [10'12]; Adagio maestoso [7'07];
Stretto [5'27]; Finale Adagio — Allegro molto
[7'43]) (1842) [30.38] Symphony No. 2 Sinfonie
capricieuse (Allegro [10'20]; Andante
[7'26]; Finale Allegro assai [9'28]) (1842)
[27.20] Symphony No. 3 Sinfonie Singulière
(Allegro fuocoso [10'18]; Adagio [9'40]; Finale
Presto [7'49]) (1845) [27.53] Symphony No.
4 Sinfonie naïve (Allegro risoluto
[8'43]; Adagio [6'14]; Scherzo Allegro molto
[5'41]; Finale Allegro vivace [6'34]) (1845)
[27.21] Symphony in A (completed Druce). (1820)
[16.34] Estrella de Soria Overture
(1862) [7:56] Queen of Golconda Overture
(1864) [7:41]
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Roy Goodman
Rec. Berwaldhallen, Stockholm May, Oct 1995.
DDD Previously issued as Hyperion CDA67081-2
2 CDs for the price of one
HYPERION DYAD CDD22043 [2CDs: 70:53 +
74:28 = 145:21] [RB]
Deeply
rewarding lyrical statements ... a recording
capturing the idiosyncratic woodwind sparkle
as well as the prominent bloom of the French
Horns. ... see Full
Review
Heinrich Ignaz
von BIBER
(1644-1704) The
Rosary Sonatas (Die Rosenkranz-Sonaten) Sonatas
1-15 and the Passacaglia With Readings by
Timothy West
Pavlo Beznosiuk (violins) David Roblou (Harpsichord,
chamber organ) Paula Chateauneuf (Theorbo,
archlute) Richard Tunnicliffe (Viola da Gamba,
Violone) Timothy West (Reader) Rec. 30 Nov
– 4 Dec 2003, St Andrew’s Church, Toddington,
Gloucestershire
AVIE AV 0038 [2 CDs: 79.47 + 77.18] [JW]
Makes
for enjoyably spiritual listening. ... see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hildegard
of BINGEN
(1098-1179) Sapphire
Night: O Frondens Virga; Karitas Habundat;
O Euchari, Columba; In Matutinis Laudibus;
Columba Aspexit. Anonymous 'O Gloriosa' Patricia
VAN NESS (b.1951) ‘The Nine orders
of the Angels' Tapestry/Laurie Monahan (soprano
and harp)
Carolann Buff, (mezzo-soprano) Recorded
at Mandelslah, May 2003. DDD
MUSIK DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM 344 1193-2
[76.43] [GH]
I
would be amazed if you did not become as besotted
with this disc as I am. ... see Full
Review
York
BOWEN
(1884-1961) Viola
Sonata in C minor (1905) Phantasy for Viola
and Piano Op 54 (1918) Arnold
BAX (1883-1953) Viola Sonata (1922)
Doris Lederer (viola) Jane Coop (piano)
Rec. LSU Recital Hall, Louisiana State University,
Baton Rouge, March 2002
CENTAUR CRC 2660 [68.22] [JW]
Let’s
hope these two musicians continue to cast
their net over under-explored areas of repertoire
with such perception. ... see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Symphony
No 2 in D Op.73 (1877) Tragic Overture Op.81
(1880)
Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra/Hans
Vonk Rec. Hilversum, MCO – Studio 1, June
2003 DDD, Super Audio CD
PENTATONE
CLASSICS PTC 5186 042 [59:02] [PCW]
Vonk’s
reading of the symphony seems a bit underpowered
and is not really distinctive … see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Piano
Trio No.1 in B flat major Op.8 Piano Trio
No.2 in C major Op.87 (1883)
Edwin Fischer (piano) Wolfgang Schneiderhan
(violin) Enrico Mainardi (cello) Recorded
live in 1951 (No.2) and 1953 (No.1)
ARCHIPEL ARPCD 0165 [62.48] [JW]
Not
sure that this reflects them at their best,
or tonally most ingratiating ... but they
should be heard. ... see
Full Review
Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897)
Choral Works Four
Songs for female chorus, two horns and harp,
op.17 (1860) Six Songs and Romances for unaccompanied
mixed chorus, op. 93a (1883-84) One of the
Five Part-Songs for unaccompanied mixed chorus,
op. 104 (1886-88) Two of the Marienlieder
for mixed unaccompanied voices, op.22 (1860)
One of the Three Motets for four and eight-part
unaccompanied double chorus, op.110 (1889)
Two Motets for mixed chorus, op.74 (no.1 from
1877; no.2 from 1863-70)
Chamber Choir of Europe/Nicol Matt Martina
Schrott (harp); Sebastian Schindler (horn);
Sebastian Schorr (horn) Recording 2003, Kloster
Bronnbach, Wertheim (Vier Gesänge),
Schlosskirche Bad Durkheim DDD. SACD Original
DSD Recording.
BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 92206 [59:18]
An
attractive selection from Brilliant Classics
of Brahms choral works. At super-budget price
this release is well worth hearing. ... see
Full Review
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Sinfonia
da Requiem Op. 20 (1940) [20.08] Peter
Grimes - Four Sea Interludes and Passacaglia
(1945) [23.50] Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934) The Perfect
Fool - ballet Op. 39 (1923) [10.51] Egdon
Heath (Homage to Thomas Hardy) Op. 47
(1927) [14.40]
London Symphony Orchestra/André Previn
Rec. Nov-Dec 1973 Kingsway Hall, London (Sinfonia);
Aug, Oct 1974, Studio 1, Abbey Road, London
(Holst; Grimes). ADD Great Recordings of the
Century
EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 62615 2 5 [69.48]
[RB]
Very
fine Britten bringing back memories from the
1970s coupled with slightly less good Holst
... see Full
Review
Benjamin BRITTEN
(1913-1976) Variations
on a Theme of Frank Bridge (1937) St.
Nicolas, Cantata Op.42 (1948)
Mark Tucker (tenor) Zürich Boys’
Choir Zürich Chamber Orchestra/Howard
Griffiths Recorded live at the Kirche Altstetten,
Zürich, 25-27 February 2003 (Variations)
and the live at the Zürich Tonhalle,
14-15 December, 2003 (St. Nicolas). DDD
CLAVES 50-2302 [74’48] [TH]
A
good Bridge Variations but the German speaking
version of the cantata limits the sales potential
to German-speaking markets ... see
Full Review
Benjamin BRITTEN
(1913-1976)
Owen Wingrave Gerald
Finley (bar) - Owen Wingrave; Peter Savidge
(bar) - Spencer Coyle; Hilton Marlton (ten)
- Lechmere; Josephine Barstow (sop) - Miss
Wingrave; Anne Dawson (sop) - Mrs.Coyle ;
Elizabeth Gale (sop) - Mrs. Julian; Charlotte
Hellekant (mezzo) - Kate; Martyn Hill (ten)
- Sir Philip Wingrave; Andrew Burden (narrator)
Deutsches
Symphony Orchestra, Berlin/Kent Nagano Also
includes 'Benjamin Britten - The Hidden Heart'
- a film directed by Teresa Griffiths Video
Director: Margaret Williams 
ARTHAUS
DVD 100372 [150 minutes]
...
although, in truth, it has not quite ranked
as one of Britten's best operas. Seeing this,
stunning DVD however, I am now entirely won
over and I feel that the work has been much
underestimated... see Full
Review
Anton BRUCKNER
(1824-1896)
Symphony
No. 5 (1876)
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim
Rec November 1991, Philharmonie, Berlin
WARNER ELATUS 2564 61173-2 [71.50] [TB]
Bruckner
would surely have been pleased with the passionate
commitment shown here ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Ferruccio
BUSONI
(1866-1924) Complete Works
for Cello and Piano Chromatic
Fantasia and Fugue in D minor, BMV 903 (transcription
from J.S. BACH)
Kleine Suite (Little Suite), Op.23
(Kind. 215)
Serenata Op.34 (Kind.196) Kultaselle:
Ten Variations on a Finnish Folk song
(Kind.237)
Valse oubliée (transcription
of Franz LISZT)
Ottorino RESPIGHI
(1879-1936) Adagio con variazioni
Duo Pepicelli: Angelo Pepicelli, piano;
Francesco Pepicelli, cello
Rec. Montevarchi, Italy, 19th -21st
January 2000
NAXOS 8.555691 [67.52] [JF]
A
great CD introducing some extremely attractive
works from two of Italy's greatest composers.
Extremely well played into the bargain ...
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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