Camille
SAINT-SAËNS
(1835-1921)
Symphony No 3 in C, Op 78, “Organ”
(1886) [34.46] Michael Murray, Cavaillé-Coll
organ Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy
Recorded at St. Francis de Sales Church, Philadelphia,
PA, USA, February 6, 1980 Louis
COUPERIN (1626-1661) Chaconne
in G [2.40] Marcel
DUPRÉ (1886-1971) Carillon,
Op 27 No 4 (1931) [5.42] Musette, Op 51 (1951)
[2.17] Eugène
GIGOUT (1844-1925) Scherzo
[4.16] César
FRANCK (1822-1890) Pièce
Héroïque, M.37 (1878) [8.41] Charles-Marie
WIDOR (1844-1937) Organ Symphony
No 5, Op 42/1: Toccata (1880) [5.42] Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Cantata BWV 29: Sinfonia (1931) [3.47] transcribed
by Marcel Dupré Louis
VIERNE (1870-1937) Organ Symphony
No 1 in D, Op 14: Finale (1898) [5.38] Jacques-Nicolas
LEMMENS (1823-1881) Fanfare
(1862) [1.49] 
Michael Murray, Aeolian-Skinner organ by G.
Donald Harrison. Recorded at Symphony Hall,
Boston, MA, USA, September 27, 1981 Notes
in English. Previously released as CD-80051
and CD-80104. SACD stereo 2.0
TELARC 
SACD 60634 [75.51] [PSh]
Of
a great but neglected work of music, an exceptionally
brilliant recording. You may prefer it to
all others ... see
Full
Review
Heinrich SCHEIDEMANN
(c1595-1663)
Magnificat
IV Toni: Primus Versus
[1'51], Secundus Versus [3'45], Tertius Versus
[3'46], Quartus Versus [1'49] Angelus
ad pastores ait (after Lassus) [6'15]
Kyrie domincale: Primus
versus [0'58], Secundus versus [1'43], Tertius
versus [1'11] Fuga in D minor
[1'40] Confitemini Domino primo (after
Lassus): Prima pars [5'12], Seconda
pars [5'36] Preambulum in G major
[6'33] Vater Unser in Himmelreich II
[7'44] Omnia quae fecisti (after Lassus)
[8'52] Magnificat VIII toni (second
version) [10'35]
Julia Brown, organ Rec. Central Lutheran Church,
Eugene, Oregon, USA, 18-19 March 2002.
DDD
NAXOS 8.557054 [68'42] [CB]
Given
the Naxos price policy there is no excuse
not to collect these Scheidemann recordings,
wonderful music, in this instance compellingly
played. ... see Full
Review
Johann Heinrich SCHMELZER
(1623 - 1680) Sonata
Natalitia à 3 Cori [2.56] Sacro Profanus
Concentus Musicus (1662): Sonata I à
8 [3.54]; Sonata II à 8, due cori [5.16];
onata IV à 6 [4.23] Sonata a 4 ‘La
Crolietta’ [6.20] Sonata à 3 [4.37]
Sonata à 5 [7.00] Sonata à 3
[5.46] Sonata à 3 Violini [7.06] Concentus
Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt Recorded
before 1970 (at the Casino Zögernitz,
1969?). ADD Notes (1 page) English, Français,
Deutsch.
previously released 1970 as Teldec LC 04281
WARNER APEX 2564 60366-2 [48.14] Johann
Josef FUX (1660 - 1741) Concentus
musico-instrumentalis (1701): Serenada à
8 Rondeau à 7 [4.17] Sonata à
Quattro
Concentus Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Recorded at the Casino Zögernitz, 1969
ADD Notes (1 page) in English, Français,
and Deutsch.
previously released 1970 on Teldec.
WARNER APEX 2564 60449-2 [48.12] [PSh]
If
you like the Respighi "Ancient Airs and
Dances" Suites and want more, these disks
are what you’re looking for ... see Full
Review
Franz Peter
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
CD1
String Quintet in C major, for two violins,
viola and two cellos, Op. 163, D.956 (1828)
CD2 String Quartet No. 14 in D minor ‘Death
and the Maiden’ D.810 (1824) String Quartet
No. 12 in C minor, D.703 ‘Quartettsatz’ (1820)
CD3 String Quartet No. 13 in A minor ‘Rosamunde’,
Op.29/1, D.804 (1824) String Quartet No. 8
in B flat, D.112 (1814) CD4 String Quartet
No. 15 in G major, Op.161, D.887 (1826)
The Lindsays: Peter Cropper (violin);
Ronald Birks (violin); Robin Ireland (viola)
all tracks bar CD1; Roger Bigley (viola) on
CD1 only; Bernard Gregor-Smith (cello); Douglas
Cummings (cello) on CD1 only Recorded: CDs
1-3 Castleton Parish Church, Sheffield, 12-15
December 1988; CD4 Bishopsgate Hall, London
SANCTUARY CLASSICS RESONANCE RSB 403 [4
CDs: 57:45 + 53:24 + 75:20 + 49:24; 3:46:00].
[MC]
This
set is a wonderful and highly appropriate
testament to the art of the Lindsays. ...
see Full Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810
– 1856): Kreisleriana,
op 16; Humoreske, op 20.
Sérgio Gallo (piano) Recorded at the
Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara,
California in May, 2003.
EROICA JDT3187 [55:48] [GF]
All
in all, while not quite reaching the summit
in Kreisleriana, Sérgio Gallo shows
a good understanding of Schumann’s idiom and
the Humoreske I will certainly return to.
... see Full
Review
Joseph SCHWANTNER
(b.1943) Sparrows
(1980) [16:31] Soaring * (1987)
[1:38] Distant Runes and Incantations (1987)
[14:54] Two Poems of Aguedo Pizarro (1980)
[11:43] Music of Amber (1981) [20:16]
Britta Stallmeister (soprano), Florian Hölscher
(piano) Holst-Sinfonietta/Klaus Simon (Director
and piano) * denotes world première
recording Recorded at the Theodor-Egel-Saal
and Mozartsaal, Freiburg, Germany, from 9-11
May, 21 July 2003
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559206 [65:02]
[GPJ]
Attractive,
finely crafted music, not difficult to listen
to ... excellent performances ... recording
outstandingly good capturing to perfection
Schwantner’s distinctive sound-world ... see
Full Review
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) The Great String
Quartets String
Quartet in A minor D804 Rosamunde String Quartet
in D minor D810 Death and the Maiden String
Quartet in G minor D887
Quartettsatz in C minor D703 Brandis Quartet
Recorded 1995
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92288 [78.35 + 52.45]
[JW]
A
good recommendation for those wanting a dignified,
not cold, but relatively cool set ... see
Full
Review
Erwin
SCHULHOFF (1894-1942)
Symphony
No. 2 (1932) [19:03] Symphony No. 5 A Romain Rolland (1938-39)
[34:54] Suite for chamber orchestra (1921) [17:51]
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/James Conlon rec. Herkulesaal, Residenz,
Munich, 2-5 Dec 2003. DDD
CAPRICCIO 67 080 [72:46] [RB]
Overview:
plenty of variety; one symphony of violence
another of collaged classical influence. An
entertaining suite to top things off. ...
see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Dichterliebe
op.48 [30 :07], 7 Lieder op.90 [18 :13],
Die Löwenbraut op.31/1 [08:15], Die arme
Peter op.53/3, Belsatzar op.57 [04:28]
Christian Gerhaher (baritone), Gerold Huber
(piano) Recorded June 15th-16th,
July 26th-27th 2004
at the Bavaria Musik Studios, Munich, Germany
BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 58995 2 [65:48]
[CH]
A
version of "Dichterliebe" to set
alongside the classic ones. ... see Full
Review
Alexander
SCRIABIN (1872-1915)
Symphony
No. 1 (1901) Ludmilla Legostayeva (mezzo soprano)
Anatoly Orfenov (tenor) Choir and Symphony
Orchestra of the All Union Radio, recorded
1948 Symphony No. 2 (1902) Symphony Orchestra
of the All Union Radio, recorded 1950 Symphony
No. 3 Divine Poem (1905) Symphony Orchestra
of the All Union Radio, recorded 1946 Piano
Concerto (1897) Heinrich Neuhaus (piano) Symphony
Orchestra of the All Union Radio, recorded
1946 Poem of Ecstasy (1908) Sergei
Popov (trumpet) Symphony Orchestra of the
All Union Radio, recorded 1952 Prometheus
- Poem of Fire (1910)
Alexander Goldenweiser (piano) Symphony
Orchestra of the All Union Radio, recorded
1947 Nikolai Golovanov Recorded – dates as
above
ARCHIPEL ARPCD 0266-3 [3 CDs 73.08 + 69.42
+ 68.22] [JW]
The
merit of these Golovanov performances is huge
reward. ... see Full
Review
Peter SCULTHORPE
(b.
1929) Earth
Cry (1974) [13:55] * Memento Mori
(1993) [14:29] Piano Concerto (1983) [21:26]
# From Oceania (1970; 2003) [5:32]
Kakadu (1988) [15:44]
William Barton (didjeridu)* Tamara Anna Cisłowska
(piano)# New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/James
Judd rec. Wellington Town Hall, 10-12 Sept
2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.557382 [71:06] [RB]
A
superb and breathtakingly inexpensive disc.
Miraculously good value at every level. ...
see Full
Review
Giovanni SGAMBATI (1841-1914)
The Complete Piano Works played by Pietro
Spada in four volumes see
review for details Volume 1 ARTS RED LINE
47587-2 [78´45] Volume 2 ARTS RED LINE
47588-2 [79´20] Volume 3 ARTS RED LINE
47589-2 [67´45] Volume 4
Pietro Spada (piano) Rec. Rome, Italy, July
1998. DDD
ARTS RED LINE 47590-2 [65´25] [RB]
Sheds
pleasing light on a neglected corner ... will
be sure to ingratiate if you lap up Brahms,
Grieg and Schumann. Sgambati had a fine mind
and his music is often superbly structured
for clarity and romantic sensibility. ...
see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Harold
Shapero
(b.1920) Nine-Minute
Overture (1940) [9:15] Symphony for
Classical Orchestra (1947) [44:04]
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra/André
Previn Recorded, in performance, at the Dorothy
Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center in Los
Angeles between 22nd April – 1st
May 1988
NEW WORLD RECORDS NW 373-2 [53.19] [JF]
This
is a wonderful Symphony. It deserves to have
a permanent place in the canon of American
music. Well done New World Records! ... see
Full Review
Music for Piano
Harold
Shapero
(1920 - ) Sonata No.1 (1944) [8:03] Sonata
No.2 (1944) [9:11] Sonata No.3 (1944) [12:20]
Irving Fine
(1914 -1962) Music for Piano (1947)
[14:04] Carl Ruggles
(1876-1971) Four Chants for Piano (1935-1954)
[10:05] Gian Carlo
Menotti (1911- ) Ricercare and
Toccata on a theme from ‘The Old Maid and
the Thief’ (c.1939) [7:09] Michael Boriskin,
piano Recorded 10th -12th
July 1991 at the American Academy and Institute
of Arts and Letters Auditorium, New York.
NEW WORLD RECORDS 80402-2 [60:50] [JF]
An
exploration into the byways of American pianism.
Six works that exhibit technical competence
with enjoyability. Neo-classicism at its best!
... see Full Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906 - 1975) Hamlet,
music for the stage, Op 32 (1931) [48.12]
King Lear, Op 58A (1941) [24.58]
Louise Winter, mezzo-soprano David Wilson-Johnson,
baritone; City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Mark
Elder Recorded in Symphony Hall, Birmingham,
England, 15 June 1994. Notes in English, including
English versions of the Russian songs.
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD052 [73.03] [PSh]
Some
interesting and entirely new Shostakovich,
beautifully recorded. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906 - 1975) Ballet
Suites (edited by Lev Atovmyan): No.1 (1950);
No.2 (1951); No.3 (1952); No.4 (1953)
Dmitri Yablonsky (cello) Oleg Tokathev (trumpet)
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitri Yablonsky
Recorded in KULTURA Studio 5, Moscow, 1 June
2003
NAXOS 8.557208 [60.07] [JW]
Whether
in waltz or gallop Shostakovich proves consistently
full of verve and these performances, warmly
recorded, are splendid ones. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
24
Preludes, Op. 34 (1932-33) [33:52] Aphorisms,
Op. 13 (1927) [13:39] Piano Sonata No. 1,
Op. 12 (1926) [14:57] Three Fantastic Dances,
Op. 5 (1922) [4:06]
Konstantin Scherbakov, piano
Recorded at Potton Hall, Suffolk on 12-13
February, 2001. DDD
NAXOS 8.555781 [66:34] [KS]
A
fine alternative to the run-of-the-mill piano
disc, and a worthy addition to any record
shelf. Highly recommended. ... see Full
Review
The Leonard Bernstein Collectors Edition:
Sibelius
- Elgar - Britten CD
1 Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39 [41:18]
Wiener Philharmoniker/Leonard Bernstein Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934)Variations
on an Original Theme, Op. 36 Enigma
[37:53] BBC Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein
CD 2 Jean SIBELIUS
(1865-1957) Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 43
[51:30] Wiener Philharmoniker/Leonard Bernstein
Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)Four
Sea Interludes from "Peter Grimes",
Op. 33a [18:11] Boston Symphony Orchestra/Leonard
Bernstein CD 3 Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)Symphony No.
5 in E flat, Op. 82 [35:34] Symphony No. 7
in C, Op. 105 [24:54] Wiener Philharmoniker/Leonard
Bernstein Rec. Live: Watford Town Hall, Apr
1982 (Elgar); Vienna, Musikverein, Grosser
Saal, Oct 1986 (2); Oct 1988 (7); Feb 1990
(1); Vienna, Konzerthaus, Grosser Saal, Sept
1987 (5); Lenox, Tanglewood Music Center,
Boston, Aug 1990 (Britten). DDD The Leonard
Bernstein Collectors Edition
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 474 936-2 [3 CDs:
79:06 + 69:38 + 60:45] [RB]
Provocatively
expansive readings which reject routine. In
some cases the mix is just too much but others
affirm what an extraordinary musician Bernstein
was ... see Full
Review
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Piano Music: Volume 5
Six Bagatelles Op.97 Eight
Petits Morceaux
Op.99 Five
Morceaux Romantiques
Op.101 Five Characteristic Impressions Op.103
Five
Esquisses Op.114
Håvard Gimse (piano) Recorded 25th-26th April 2001 at St. Martin’s Church, East Woodhay, Hampshire.
NAXOS
8.555853 [59:11]
[JW]
Obviously
this is one for the Compleat
Sibelian. ... see
Full Review
John
Philip SOUSA (1854-1932)
Marches
Eastman Wind Ensemble Rec 2 May 1960; 5 May 1961, Eastman Theatre,
Rochester, New York
MERCURY LIVING PRESENCE 475 6182 [73.14] [TB]
An
ideal introduction to Sousa’s colourful and
exciting art ... see Full
Review
Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852
- 1924) Requiem,
for SATB soloists, chorus and orchestra op.
63 (1896) The Veiled Prophet of Khorassan
- excerpts (1879)* Peter Kerr (tenor)
Virginia Kerr (soprano)* Nigel Leeson-Williams
(bass) Frances Lucey (soprano) Colette McGahon
(mezzo-soprano)
RTE Philharmonic Choir/Mark Duley RTE National
Symphony Orchestra of Ireland/Adrian Leaper
(Requiem)/Colman Pearce (Khorassan)
Recorded at the National Concert Hall, Dublin,
Ireland, Feb, Sept 1994. DDD NAXOS
8.555201-02 [59:34 + 44:55] [MC]
The
Requiem is strongly recommended ... a revelation
for many ... superbly presented ... see Full
Review
Johann STRAUSS
(1825-1899) Die Fledermäus
Studio Recording Eisenstein
– Matthias Klink Rosalinde – Michela Sburlati
Frank – Raphael Sigling Prince Orlofsky –
Marisa Altmann-Althausen Alfred – Francesco
Maracci Dr. Falke – Andrea Martin Dr. Blind
- Peter Sonn Adele – Natalie Karl Ida – Beate
Gabriel Frosch – [part omitted] Live Recording
Eisenstein – Michael Kupfer Rosalinde
– Michela Sburlati Frank – Raphael Sigling
Prince Orlofsky – Marisa Altmann-Althausen
[Couplet No.7, CD 3 Track 16, special Guest
Nadja Michael] Alfred – Francesco Maracci
Dr. Falke – Andrea Martin Dr. Blind – Arturo
Cauli Adele – Paola Antonucci Ida – Beate
Gabriel Frosch – Gerhard Lippert Recorded,
both versions, Tiroler Festpiele, Erl, July
2002
ARTE NOVA 74321 98339 2 [4 CDs: 50.57
+ 44.30 + 71.55 + 68.07] [JW]
A
souvenir of the accomplishments of orchestra,
choir, soloists and conductor in the Tirol
Festspiele. ... see Full
Review
Richard STRAUSS
(1864-1949)
Also
sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30a
(1896) [31’53] Ein Heldenleben, Op.
40b (1898) [43’39].
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner (bJohn
Weicher, violin). Rec. Orchestra Hall, Chicago
on March a6th and b8th,
1954. ADD
RCA RED SEAL LIVING STEREO SACD 82876 61389
2 [75’40] [CC]
More
classic interpretations. Strauss could almost
have designed his scores as sonic spectaculars,
and the bright light of RCA’s recordings helps
paint these works in almost psychedelic fashion.
... see Full
Review
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Ariadne
auf Naxos (1912) Hildegard Hillebrecht
(soprano) Primadonna, Ariadne; Jess Thomas
(tenor) Tenor, Bacchus; Erik Fey (speaker)
Major-domo; Paul Schöffler (bass-baritone)
Music Teacher; Sena Jurinac (mezzo) Composer;
Kurt Equiluz (bass) Officer; Jon van Kesteren
(tenor) Dancing Master; Walter Raninger (tenor)
Peruckenmacher; Herbert Lackner (bass) Footman;
Reri Grist (soprano ) Zerbinetta; Gerd Feldhoff
(baritone) Harlekin; David Thaw (tenor) Scaramuccio;
Georg Stern (bass) Truffaldino; Gerhard Unger
(tenor) Brighella; Lotte Schädle (soprano)
Naiad; Claudia Hellmann (mezzo) Dryad; Lisa
Otto (soprano) Echo Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Karl
Böhm. Rec. live at the Kleines Festspielhaus,
Salzburg, on August 21st, 1965.
ADD
TDK
FESTSPIELDOKUMENTE DV-CLOPAAN [130’00]
[CC]
How
privileged we are to be able to enjoy the
fruits of 1960s Salzburg! .. Highly recommended.
One of the best DVDs I have seen. ... see
Full Review
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Violin Concerto
in D (1931) [20'32
]
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
Violin Concerto
No. 2 in G minor (1935) [25:34
]
Itzhak Perlman (violin)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim
Rec. live, Orchestra
Hall, Chicago, May 1993 (Prokofiev); Sept
1994 (Stravinsky)
WARNER ELATUS 2564 61572-2 [46'20] [PSe]
Not
a front-runner, but worth considering if you’re
new to the music or hankering after different
angles. However, the sheer sound of Perlman’s
playing is a pleasure in itself. ... see
Full
Review
Henrik
STRINDBERG
(b.1954) Within
Trees Utvald/Chosen (1998) Annika Skoglund
(soprano)/The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra/B
Tommy Andersson Two Pianos (1992) Mats
Widlund and Ann-Sofi Klingberg (piano) Hopp/Hope
– Hope I-IV Concerto for Alto Saxophone
and Orchestra (1997) Jörgen Petterson
(alto saxophone)/The Norrköping Symphony
Orchestra/Lü Jia Cheap Thrills (1993/94)
Sonanza/Jan Risberg I träd/Within
Trees I and II (1986-88/89)
The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Friedrich
Goldmann Recorded Berwald Hall 1999 (Utvald),
Radiohuset, Stockholm 2000 (2 Pianos), Louis
De Geer Hall, 2001 (Hope), Radiohuset, Stockholm,
2002 (Cheap Thrills), Berwald Hall, 1989 (I
träd)
PHONO SUECIA PSCD 124 [66.20] [JW]
I
admire Strindberg’s single-mindedness but
I can’t understand his music and the more
I heard the less I understood. ... see Full
Review
Arthur
SULLIVAN (1842-1900)
The
Contrabandista, 2 act Comic Opera
(1869) Words by Frances Burnand The
Foresters, Incidental music (1892)
Words by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Claire Rutter (sop), Frances McCafferty
(mezzo), Ashley Catling (ten), Donald Maxwell
(bar), Richard Suart (bar), Geoffrey Moses
(bass) London Chorus, New London Orchestra/Ronald
Corp Rec. Henry Wood Hall, Borough, London,
January 2004. DDD
HYPERION CDA 67486 [76:16] [RW]
Première
professional recordings of two little known
works. Sensitive music-making with generally
good singing ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
von SUPPÉ (1819
- 1895) Overtures: The
Beautiful Galatea (1865) [6'22] Pique
Dame (1864) [7'28] Light Cavalry
(1866) [6'26] Poet and Peasant
(1854) [9'24] Morning, Noon
and Night in Vienna (date uncertain)
[7'32] Boccaccio (1879) [6'48]
Daniel-François
AUBER (1782 - 1871) Overtures: The
Bronze Horse (1835) [6'49] Fra
Diavolo (1830) [7'31] Masaniello (1828)
[7'24]
Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Paul Paray Rec.
Cass Technical High School, Detroit, 29 November
1959 (Suppé), Old Orchestra Hall, Detroit,
4 April 1959 (Auber) SACD reviewed as CD
MERCURY
LIVING PRESENCE 470 638-2 [65'44] [PSe]
Eminently
enjoyable overtures, joyous performances utterly
without peer. Stunning! ... see Full
Review
Thomas
TALLIS (c.1505-1585)
The Complete Works - Volume 8 Lamentations
of Jeremiah I [7'48"] Lamentations of Jeremiah II [12'20"] Wipe away
my sins [5'17"]; (from Absterge Domine) Forgive me, Lord, my sin [5'39"]
(from Absterge Domine) Blessed are those that be undefiled [4'16"] Arise,
O Lord, and hear [2'23"] (from Salvator Mundi I) With all our hearts
[2'29"] (from Salvator Mundi I) I call and cry to thee [3'05"] (from
an untitled instrumental Fantasia) O sacred and holy banquet
[3'06"] (from an untitled instrumental Fantasia) When Jesus went
into Simon the Pharisee's house [2'26"] (From Salvator mundi II) Blessed
be thy name [2'21"] (from Mihi autem nimis) O Praise the Lord II [2'33"]
(from O salutaris hostis) Sing and glorify heaven's high majesty [9'36"]
(from Spem in alium) Chapelle
du Roi/Alistair Dixon
Recorded at All Hallows' Church, Gospel Oak, 24-27 September 2002 DDD
SIGNUM SIGCD036 [63'22"]
[JPo]
The
high standard of the previous volumes is more
than maintained. ... see Full
Review
Thomas Tallis
(c.1505 -1585) Tallis: Complete
Works - Volume 9 - Instrumental Music and
Songs In
Nomine I (consort) [2:03] In Nomine
II (consort) [3.32] A Solfing Song
(consort) [2:10] Salvator Mundi (consort)
[1:58] Fantasia (consort) [4:20] Felix
Namque II (lute) [12:10] Felix Namque
I (virginal) [10:46] When shall my
sorrowful sighing slack (harpsichord)
[1:40] Like as the doleful dove (harpsichord)
[1:40] O ye tender babes (virginals)
[1:32] Purge me, O Lord (harpsichord)
[1:26] Per haec nos (virginals) [1:48]
A Point (virginals) [0:37] Lesson:
two partes in one (harpsichord) [5:24]
Remember not, O Lord God (harpsichord)
[3:19] Per haec nos (organ) [1:19]
A Point (organ) [0:38] Lesson: two
partes in one (organ) [5:24] Tu nimirum
(countertenor, lute) [2:00] When shall
my sorrowful sighing slack (countertenor,
lute) [4:35] Like as the doleful dove
(countertenor, lute) [1:40] O ye tender
babes (countertenor lute) [1:36] Ye
sacred muses (countertenor, consort) [3:26]
A tribute to Tallis by William
Byrd Litany (choir) [14:29]
–Disc 2 Verset I (organ) [0:54] – Disc
2 Verset II (organ) [0:44] – Disc 2
Felix namque I (organ) [10:33] – Disc
2 (Dating has not been accurately established
for works by Thomas Tallis)
Charivari Agréable,consort: Lynda
Sayce, lute; Laurence Cummings, virginals
and harpsichord; Andrew Benson Wilson, organ;
Stephen Taylor, counter-tenor; Chapelle du
Roi, choir. Recording dates: Tracks 1-6 and
19-23:13th -15thMay
2004 (St. Andrew's Church, Toddington); Tracks
7-15: 2nd August 2004 (Fenton House,
Hampstead); Tracks 16-18: 23rd-24th
May 1999 (Knole House); Recording Dates for
Disc 2 not given.
SIGNUM SIGCD042 [2 CDs: 102:00] [JF]
Completes
an exciting, splendidly produced and essential
study of one of Britain’s greatest composers.
The variety of this sacred and secular music
never lacks interest. ... see Full
Review
John TAVENER
(b.1944) - A Portrait
CD1
In Alium – Section A (1968) Eileen
Hulse, soprano Ulster Orchestra/Takuo Yuasa
To a Child Dancing in the Wind (1983)
- ovement 1: He wishes for the Cloths of
Heaven Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano, Auréole
(Laura Gilbert, flute, Mary Hammann, viola,
Stacey Shames, harp) The Lamb (1982);
The Tyger (1987) Choir of St. John’s
College Cambridge/Christopher Robinson Ikon
of Light (1984): Movement 1: FOS 1,
DOXA Movement 2: Piu Intensita The Sixteen,
Members of the Duke Quartet,/Harry Christophers
Mandelion for organ (1981) (extract)
Kevin Bowyer, organ Chant for guitar
(extract) (1984) Jonathan Richards (guitar)
Ikon of St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne extract)
Durham Cathedral Choir, Ian Shaw, organ/James
Lancelot The Protecting Veil (1989),
Section 1 Maria Kliegel, cello, Ulster Orchestra/Takuo
Yuasa Mary of Egypt (1991) – Act III:
Bless Duet Patricia Rozario, Mary;
Stephen Varcoe, Zossima; Aldeburgh Festival
Ensemble/Lionel Friend Akhmatova Songs
for soprano and string quartet (1992)
(two extracts)
Patricia Rozario, soprano, The Vanbrugh Quartet
Diódia for string quartet (1997)
(extracts) The Vanbrugh Quartet Song for
Athene (1993) Choir of St. John’s College,
Cambridge/Christopher Robinson CD2 Zodiacs
for piano (1997) Thalia Myers, piano Prayer
of the Heart (1999) Björk, voice,
Brodsky Quartet Ikon of Eros (2000):
Movement 2: Eρωη (Eros)
John Fleezanis, violin, Minnesota Orchestra
and Minnesota Chorale/Paul Goodwin Mother
and Child (2002) (extract) Tenebrae/Nigel
Short John Tavener Reflects………A Recorded Interview
NAXOS 8.558152-53 [79:31+75:55] [JW]
This
biographical essay with supporting aural evidence
will doubtless prove of some worth to initiates
and indeed detractors alike. ... see Full
Review
Peter Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840
– 1893) Symphony
No. 1 in G Minor Winter Daydreams (1866)
The Snow Maiden – Suite (1873) Romeo
and Juliet (1880)
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi.
Recorded in Gothenburg Concert Hall, Sweden
17th – 18th June 2002
(Symphony) 5th – 6th
December 2002 (The Snow Maiden) and 22nd
August 2003 (Romeo and Juliet). DDD
BIS-SACD-1398 [77.10] [JPh]
Well-filled
and played compendium of Tchaikovsky’s orchestral
repertoire. More please! ... see Full
Review
Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony
No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, ‘Pathétique’ (1893).
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Pierre Monteux. Rec. Symphony Hall, Boston,
26 January 1955. ADD
RCA RED SEAL LIVING STEREO SACD 82876 61397 2 [44’14] [CC]
This
is a ‘Pathétique’ finale to sit with
the greatest. The recording is of huge dynamic
range, as it needs to be with this of all
pieces. ... see Full
Review
Piotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Piano
Concerto no.1 in B flat minor, op.23* Sergey
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano Concerto
no.3 in C major, op.26* Toccata, op.11
Mily BALAKIREV (1837-1910)
Islamey – Oriental Fantasy
Joyce Hatto (piano) National Philharmonic-Symphony
Orchestra/René Köhler Recorded
in the Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge,
March 3rd 1997 (Prokofiev), March
5th 1997 (Tchaikovsky, Toccata),
March 16th 1999 (Balakirev)
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD9195-2
[67.31] [JW]
These
are perceptive and thought-provoking performances.
They avoid all hints of routine and casual
run-through parochialism. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Piotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Piano
Concerto No. 1 [34.42] Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873–1943) Piano Concerto
No. 2 [34.08] Van
Cliburn (piano)
RCA Symphony Orchestra/Kirill Kondrashin (Tchaikovsky)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner (Rachmaninov)
Rec. 30 May 1958, Carnegie Hall, New York
City (Tchaikovsky); Rec. 31 March, 2 April
1962 Orchestra Hall, Chicago (Rachmaninov).
ADD RCA
BMG LIVING STEREO SACD 82876613922 [60.02]
[AR]
A
must-have CD for any lover of Russian music
and legendary piano playing. Buy it! ... see
Full Review
Pyotr Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Violin
Concerto in D major op. 35 [34:55] Erich
Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957) Violin
Concerto in D major op. 35 [23:43]
Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin) Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra/André Previn (Tchaikovsky)
London Symphony Orchestra/André Previn
(Korngold) rec. Vienna Musikverein, Sept 2003,
live (Tchaikovsky); London, Abbey Rd, Oct
2003 (Korngold) SACD reviewed in CD format
only
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 474 8742 [58:50]
[RB]
Extremely
fine, emotionally visceral playing - a very
strong contender superbly recorded ... certainly
among the very best ever ... see Full
Review
Piotr Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Russian
Ballet Suites for Piano, Music from The Sleeping
Beauty (arranged Mikhail
PLETNEV (b.1957)) Concert Suite
from The Nutcracker (arranged Mikhail
PLETNEV (b.1957)) Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Three Movements
from Petrushka (1921): Russian Dance;
Petrushka’s Room; The Shrovetide
Fair
Alexei Volodin (piano) Recorded in the Eugene
Goossens Hall, ABC, October 2002
ABC CLASSICS 476 160-1 [64.44] [JW]
The
tonal and expressive virtues of this highly
talented St Petersburg-born pianist. ... see
Full Review
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) String
Quartet No.1 in D major Op.11 String Quartet
No.2 in F major Op.22 String Quartet No.3
in E flat minor Op.30 Souvenir de Florence
in D minor Op.70
The Borodin Quartet: Mikhail Kopelman and
Andrei Abramen (violins), Dimitri Shebalin
(viola), Valentin Berlinsky (cello) with Genrikh
Talalyan (viola) and Mstislav Rostropovich
(cello) in Op.70 Recorded 1965 (Souvenir)
and 1979
AULOS MUSIC AMC2 024 [67.03 + 71.45] [JW]
A
perfect balance between the dictates of stringent
architectural concerns and emotive generosity
... warm and subtle recording ... see
Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ralph VAUGHAN
WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Symphony
no. 4 in F minor (1934) Norfolk Rhapsody No.
1 (1906) Flos Campi (1925)
Paul Silverthorne, viola Bournemouth Symphony
Orchestra and Chorus/Paul Daniel. Recorded
March 2003 in The Concert Hall, Lighthouse,
Poole, UK.
NAXOS 8.557276 [62.34] [WH]
A
profoundly moving Flos campi and a very fine
Fourth Symphony. I can’t recommend this disc
too highly.... see Full
Review
Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901) Falstaff
- opera in three acts (1893) Libretto by Arrigo
Boito Sir John Falstaff…José Van Dam
Ford…William Stone Alice Ford…Barbara Madra
Mistress Quickly…Livia Budai Mistress Page…Benedetta
Pecchioli Fenton…Laurence Dale Nannetta…Elzbieta
Szmytka Bardolph…Franco Careccia Pistol…Mario
Luperi Doctor Caius…Ugo Benelli
Chorus and Orchestra, Théâtre
Royal de la Monnaie de Bruxelles/Sylvain Cambreling
Recorded at the Théâtre de l’Archevèche
Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, 1987 Produced
by Lluis Pasqual WARNER
DVD 5050467-4469-2-2 [130 mins] [IL]
An
enjoyable experience with some very fine singing
from an enthusiastic ensemble cast. ... see
Full Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
La
Traviata - Melodrama in three acts.
Text by Francesco Maria Piave First Performed:
6 March 1858, Teatro La Fenice, Venice Violetta
Valery, Mirella Freni (sop); Alfredo Germont,
Franco Bonisolli (ten); Giorgio Germont, Sesto
Bruscantini (bar); Flora Bervoix, Hania Kovicz
(mezzo); Annina, Gudrum Schäfer (sop);
Gastone, Peter Bindszus (ten); Barone Douphol,
Rudolf Jedlicka (bar); Marchese d'Obigny,
Heinz Reeh (bass); Doctor Grenvil, Han-Joachim
Lukat (bass)
Chorus of the Staatsoper Berlin Orchestra
of the Staatskapelle Berlin/Lamberto Gardelli
Studio recording 1973, Berlin
ARTS MUSIC - ARTS ARCHIVES 43031-2. [57.02
+ 63.39] [RJF]
Stands
comparison with the best. At its modest price
fans need not hesitate. Nor should others.
Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.
... see Full
Review
Tomás
Luis DE VICTORIA (1548-1611)
Et Iesum - Motets, Antiphons and Mass parts
Et
Iesum [01:57] Duo Seraphim clamabant* [03:27]
O Decus Apostolicum [02:53] Missa Quam pulchri
sunt: Domine (vihuela solo) [01:14] Senex
puerum portabat [03:00] Magi viderunt stallam
[03:17] Domine, non sum dignus [03:20] Domine,
non sum dignus (vihuela solo) [04:25] O magnum
mysterium [03:11] Missa O magnum mysterium:
Sanctus* [01:55] Benedictus* [01:51] Agnus
Dei* [01:34] Ne timeas, Maria [03:38] Missa
Gaudeamus: Pleni sunt (lute solo) [01:29]
Iste Sanctus [02:09] Estote fortes in bello*
[02:32] Alma redemptoris mater [05:55] Missa
Gaudeamus: Domine Deus (vihuela solo) [01:17]
O quam gloriosum [04:09] Doctor bonus, amicus
Dei [03:13] Missa Quam pulchri sunt: Crucifixus
(vihuela solo) [02:33] Pueri Hebraeorum [02:37]
Salve Regina [04:11]
Carlos Mena, alto; Francisco Rubio Gallego,
cornet (*); Juan Carlos Rivera, lute, vihuela
Recorded in October 2003 at Iglesia Parroquial
Sant Corneli of Collbató, Barcelona,
Spain DDD
HARMONIA MUNDI HMI 987042 [66:00] [JV]
A
fine recording which sheds light on a wide-spread
practice in the renaissance which hasn't been
given much attention to ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Vespers of Sorrow Stabat
Mater, RV621 Sonata al Santo Sepolcro, RV130
Nisi Dominus, RV608 Magnificat, RV611 Salve
Regina (Plainchant)
La Tempesta/Jakub Burzynski (counter-tenor)
Rec.: 11, 14 Jan 2004, Evangelical Reformed
Church, Warsaw, Poland. DDD
BIS BIS-CD-1426 [54:35] [MC]
A
superb release, not to be missed! This will
be my Record of the Year! ... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678
– 1741) Dixit
Dominus, RV 595; Nulla in mundo pax
sincera, RV 630;
Jubilate, o amoeni chori, RV
639; Gloria, RV 588
Jane Archibald (soprano) Michele de Boer (soprano)
Anita Krause (mezzo-soprano) Peter Mahon (counter-tenor)
Nils Brown (tenor) Giles Tomkins (bass) Aradia
Ensemble and Chorus/Kevin Mallon Rec. Grace
Church on the Hill, Toronto, Canada, 15-20
September 2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.557445 [68.18] [RH]
An
enterprising start to a new complete series
of Vivaldi’s sacred music; a lively programme
based round the lesser known version of the
Gloria ... see Full
Review
Kurt WEILL
(1900-1950) Royal
Palace. Opera in one Act Op.17 (1925-26)
Dejanira – Janice Watson (soprano) The Husband
– Stephen Richardson (bass-baritone) Yesterday’s
lover – Ashley Holland (baritone) Yesterday’s
Admirer – Richard Coxon (tenor) The Young
Fisherman – Timothy Robinson (tenor) The Old
Fisherman – Jeremy White (bass) Solo Soprano
– Camilla Tilling (soprano) BBC Singers (women’s
voices) Der Neue Orpheus. Cantata
for Soprano, Violin and Orchestra Op.16 (1925)
Kathryn Harries (soprano) Michael Davies (violin)
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Andrew Davis Recorded
live at the Barbican, London, January 2000
CAPRICCIO 60 106 [54.19] [JW]
The
topical opera genre - musical and popular
currents that fed the syntax of the opera
with such informality; car horns, saxophones,
demotic language. use of foxtrot and jazz
elements ... see Full
Review
Silvius Leopold WEISS
(1687-1750)
Lute Concerti: Concerto
a 5 in C (SC 90) [09:46] Concerto in d minor
(SC 58) [15:16] Concerto for lute and flute
in F (SC 9) [11:36] Concerto grosso in B flat
(SC 57) [11:07] Concerto in F (SC 53) [14:29]
Concerto for lute and flute in B flat (SC
6) [12:16]
Richard Stone, lute; Gwyn Roberts, transverse
flute Tempesta di Mare (on period instruments)/Richard
Stone and Gwyn Roberts Recorded in June 2002
at the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena de'
Pazzi, Philadelphia, USA DDD
CHANDOS CHAN0707 [76:12] [JV]
An
attempt to reconstruct compositions for lute
and instrumental ensemble - highly speculative
and musically not always satisfying ... see
Full Review
Peter
von WINTER
(1754-1825) Concerto
for Clarinet and Orchestra, in Eb (1793) [22:30]*
Trois Sinfonies à grand orchestre:
No 3 in B (1780) [18:47] * Aria "Torni al
tuo sen la calma" for Soprano, Clarinet Obbligato
and Strings (1788) [8:40] * Trois Sinfonies
à grand orchestre: No 2 in F (1780)
[14:34] * Dieter Klöcker, clarinet; Isolde
Siebert, soprano
Southwest German Chamber Orchestra, Pforzheim/Johannes
Moesus Recorded at Karlsruhe, SWR-Studio,
Sendesaal, 4-5, 9-10 April 2002 Premiere Recordings*
ORFEO C 192 041 A [64:58] [GS]
A
whirlwind of eclectic Italianate dynamics ...
a leading exponent of the Mannheim school.
Enthusiastically recommended. ... see Full
Review
ZHOU Long (b.
1953) Shi
Jing Cantata (1990)a Pipa Ballad
(1991) Konghou Fantasia (1995)a
A Poetess’s Lament (1989/2000) Green Song
(1984, arranged 1991) Li Sao Cantata (1988)b
Lan Rao (soprano); Music From China; Members
of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestraa;
Deutsche Kammerphilharmonieb; Geoffrey
Simona, Muhai Tangb
Recorded: Avatar Studios, New York, December
2001 (Shi Jing Cantata, Pipa Ballad, Konghou
Fantasia, A Poetess’s Lament); Media Recording
Studio, Frankfurt, August 1999 (Green Song)
and NPS Radio, Amsterdam, June 1994 (Li
Sao Cantata)
CALA THE EDGE CACD 77009 [57:59] [HC]
A
composer I have come to consider one of the
most endearing personalities of his generation.
These often beautiful pieces are well served
by excellent and committed readings, and a
very fine recording. ... see Full
Review
Bernard ZWEERS (1854-1924)
Concert Overture Saskia (1906)
[7:32] Symphony No. 2 in E flat major (1882-1883)
[32:05] Suite for the incidental music for
Vodel's Gijsbrecht van Aemstel (1892)
[17:48]
Radio Filharmonisch Orkest Holland/Lukas Vis
(suite); Jean Fournet (overture) Netherlands
Radio Symphony Orchestra/Antoni Wit (symphony)
rec. AVRO Klassiek 12 May 1973 AAD (overture);
NPS Radio, 19-21 June 2001 DDD (symphony);
VPRO Radio, 11 Sept 1980, AAD (1748).
DDD
STERLING CDS-1061-2 [57.26] [GR]
Music
that is well-crafted, ably scored and much
more than a local curiosity. ... 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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