Alessandro
SCARLATTI (1660-1725)
Cantatas
Volume II Ombre tacite e sole (1716) Il
genio di Mitilde Perche tacete, regolati concenti?
(c. 1694) O pace del mio cor (first setting)
Il rosignolo (first setting) (1698) Infirmata,
vulnerata (motet) (1702) Arcadian Academy/Nicholas
McGegan 
David Daniels (counter-tenor) Recorded at
the Theatre C, State University of New York
at Purchase, 30 March, 1 & 2 April 1998.
DDD
DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 74321 935812 [73:51]
[MC]
Intense
and concentrated scores that will undoubtedly
bring much pleasure. Counter-tenor David Daniels
is a true master! ... see Full
Review
Alfred
SCHNITTKE (1934-1998)
Suite
in the Old Style (1972) arranged by Daniil
Shafran Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
( 1906-75) Sonata for cello and
piano in D minor, op.40 (1934) Sergey
RACHMANINOV ( 1873-1943) Sonata
for cello and piano in G minor, op.19 (1901)
Leonid Gorokhov (piano) Nikolai Demidenko
(cello) Recorded in The Music Room, Champs
Hill, Pulborough, Sussex, 23-24 February 2004.
DDD
ASV GOLD GLD4006 [78:17] [MC]
Obtain
this marvellous ASV Gold recording and you
will surely find yourself eagerly anticipating
the next release from Gorokhov and Demidenko.
... see Full Review
Franz SCHUBERT (1797
- 1828) Piano
Sonata No. 5 in Ab, D557 (1817) [11.32]
Piano Sonata No. 7a in Db, D567 (1817)
[21.48] Piano Sonata No. 11 in C, D613/612
(1818) [15.04] Piano Sonata No. 12 in f, D625/505
(1818) [20.45]
Gottlieb Wallisch, piano Notes in English
and Deutsch. Recorded at Potton Hall, Suffolk,
UK, 5 November 2002
NAXOS 8.557189 [69.09] [JW]
Wallisch
really does show himself to be a natural and
unaffected Schubertian. He is fortunate to
have a sympathetic acoustic but the performance
kudos rests with him alone. ... see Full
Review
Cyril SCOTT (1879-1970)
Complete Piano Music, Volume 1 – Suites and
Miniatures CD 1 Suite
… (in the Old Style), op.71/1 /1910), Deuxième
Suite, op.75 (1910), Pastoral Suite (1913),
Indian Suite (1922), Handelian Rhapsody, op.17
(1901-1909) CD 2 Valse caprice, op.74/7
(1911), Requiescat (1917), Soirée japonaise,
op.67/4 (1910), Vistas (1918), Three Old Country
Dances (1925), Two Alpine Sketches op.58/4
(1908), Three Pastorals (1919-1920), Three
Dances, op.20 (1903), A Pageant: Three Dances
(1920), Miniatures (1915), Three Little Waltzes
op.58 (1906) Dates refer to publication –
in most cases the exact composition date is
not known.
Leslie De’Ath (piano) Recorded in the Maureen
Forrester Recital Hall, Faculty of Music,
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario,
Canada on 18th January 2004 (Deuxième
Suite, Handelian Rhapsody) and 3rd-4th
January 2004 (all other pieces)
VVC CD101-2 [65:43 + 71:11] [CH]
The
"Deuxième Suite" is enough
of itself to make purchase essential – but
there is much else and some very fine performances.
... see Full Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-75)
Symphony
No. 10 in E minor, Op. 93 (1953)
London Symphony Orchestra/Mstislav Rostropovich
Recorded in the Abbey Road Studios, London,
July 1989. DDD
WARNER CLASSICS ELATUS 2564 61568-2 [56:14]
[MC]
Really
fine sound quality with concise and informative
annotation. Rostropovich is an empathic Shostakovich
interpreter. This recording will make you
sit up and listen. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-75)
Hypothetically
Murdered, Orchestral Suite, Op. 31a (1931)
(reconstructed and orch. McBurney) [39’22].
Four Romances on Poems by Pushkin,
Op. 46a (1937) (original version,
orch. compl. McBurney) [11’58]. Five Fragments,
Op. 42 (1935) [10’39]. Suite No. 1 for
Jazz Band (1924) [9’14].
aDmitri Kharitonov (bass) City
of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Mark Elder.
Rec. Symphony Hall, Birmingham, on December
16th-18th, 1992. First
issued on Cala CACD1020 DDD
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD051 [71’10]
A
well-chosen programme ,,, spans the period
1924-1937 - a time of change in personal circumstances
and developing maturity ... encompasses a
vast emotional range ... see Full
Review
Jean SIBELIUS
(1865-1957) Violin
Concerto in D minor Op.47 (1903 revised 1905)
Serenade in G minor Op.69b (1913) Christian
SINDING (1856-1941) Violin Concerto
No.1 in A major Op.45 (1898) Romance in D
major Op.100 (1910)
Henning Kraggerud (violin) Bournemouth
Symphony Orchestra/Bjarte Engeset Recorded
at the Lighthouse Centre for the Arts, Dorset,
June 2003
NAXOS 6.110056 5.0 SURROUND SOUND SACD/SD
HYBRID [71.08] [JW]
A
taut and forward-looking conception ... never
really plumbs the titanic, granitic-triumphalist
approach. ... see Full
Review
Jean SIBELIUS
(1865-1957) Symphony
No. 2 in D [41:54] Finlandia [7:43]
Cleveland Orchestra/Yoel Levi Rec. Masonic
Auditorium, Cleveland, 2 April 1984, DDD
TELARC CD-80095 [49:37] [RB]
Combines
the poles of incendiary emotion and ramrod-tight
control ... inspirational ... see
Full Review
Nikos SKALKOTTAS
(1904-1949)
Sixteen
Melodies for mezzo-soprano and piano; Fifteen
Little Variations for piano (1927); Sonatina
for piano (1927); Echo for piano (1946); Berceuse
for piano (1941)
Angelica Cathariou (mezzo-soprano) Nikolaos
Samaltanos (piano) Recorded at the church
Saint-Marcel, Paris, March/April 2004
BIS CD 1464 [59.43] [GH]
If
you are a Skalkottas fan then despite my reservations you should get
this disc as a rare example of the composer’s vocal work in first rate
performances ... see Full Review
John
Philip SOUSA (1854 – 1932) Sound Off! -
Sousa on Review Sound Off, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Sabre
and Spurs, The Picadore,Our Flirtation, The High School Cadets, The
Invincible Eagle, Bullets and Bayonets, The Liberty Bell, Riders for
the Flag, Solid Men to the Front, The Gallant Seventh, The Rifle Regiment,
The Pride of the Wolverines, Golden Jubilee, The Gridiron Club, New
Mexico, Sesqui-Centennial Exposition, The Black Horse Troop, The Kansas
Wildcats, Manhattan Beach, Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company,
The National Game, The Glory of the Yankee Navy, Eastman
Wind Ensemble/Frederick Fennell Recorded: Eastman Theatre, Rochester,
New York, 2 May 1960 (Tracks 1 – 12) 5 May 1961 (Tracks 13 –
24) SACD Stereo CD Audio MERCURY LIVING PRESENCE 475 6182 
[73:12] [BB]
So much uplifting positive
energy ... see Full Review
Rick
SOWASH
- music on four CDs
Enchantement d'Avril: Trio
No. 1 Voyage of the Spirit: (I. Moderato [4:40]; II. Lento
[ 4:52]; III. Lento, Poco Mosso, Andante [3:24]; IV. Allegro [4:42])
Trio No. 2 Enchantment of April (I. Maestoso ma tranquillo,
Allegro [7:20]; II. Lento [6:11]; III. Allegretto [6:34]) Trio No.
3 November Shadows (I. Allegro [5:13]; II. Lento [6:31];
III. Allegretto [3:36]) Trio les Gavottes; Lucien Aubert, clarinet;
François Adolf, cello; Jean Tatu, piano. Total playing time [65:05]
Sanctuary at 3.00 a.m.:
Sanctuary at 3.00 a.m. for Bb clarinet and piano [6:27]
2000
Anthony Costa, clarinet, Phil Amalong, piano Lullabye for Kara
for cello and piano [7:17] 2002 Phil Amalong, piano, Jeff Schoyen,
cello Variations on a Hiking Song for piano solo [15:52]
1992 Phil Amalong, piano Impressionist Suite No. 2 for oboe,
clarinet and bassoon ((I. Cassatt; A Lullabye [3:32]; II. Caillebotte;
Precision [4:13]; III. Sisley and Bazille: Joyful Skies, Lament for
the Fallen [5:06]) 2000 Mark Ostoich, oboe, Ron Aufmann, clarinet, Mark
Ortwein, bassoon The View from Carew - Romance for Bb
clarinet, cello and piano [10:00] 2000 Anthony Costa, clarinet, Jeff
Schoyen, cello, Phil Amalong, piano Total playing time [52:45]
Eroica: Sunny
Days for violin, clarinet and piano; 1994, rev. 1996 [17:55]
(I. Moderato [4:52]; II. Allegretto [5:12]; III. Moderato [3:45]; IV.
Vivo [4:06]) Convivial Suite for violin and cello (I.
Fugue [2:20]; II. Waltz [2:44]; III. Blues [1:16]; IV. March [2:05];
V. Adagio [1:34]; VI. Finale [2:52]) 1999 [12:51] Impressionist Suite
No. 1 for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (I.Monet: a seascape [2:01];
II. Renoir: the play of colors [2:46]; III. Manet: Spanish subjects
[7:26]) 2000 [12:13] Eroica - Piano Trio No. 5 (I. Allegro
[12:27]; II. Adagio [5:38]; III. Presto [9:49]) 2000 [27:54] Total playing
time [71:51]
A Portrait at 50: Harvest
Hymn and Harvest Dance: Homage to Willa Cather, for cello and
piano, 1980 A Little Breakfast Music for oboe, clarinet
and two violins (Orange Juice, French Toast, Eggs and Bacon, Honey on
English Muffins and A Variety of Herb Teas), 1976 The Cliffs Above
the Clear Fork, for cello and piano, 1980 Une Pavane Americaine:
Hommage á Ravel, for flute and piano, 1990 Cape
May Suite, for oboe, violin, cello and piano (Morning at Seaside,
Victorian Garden, Dinner at Louisa's, and Ghostly Waltzes at Congress
Hall), 1993 {RB]
Sowash
- music that is reflective, dreamy, carefree.
... see Full Review
Max STEINER (1888-1971)
The
Adventures of Mark Twain (1942 film score) Score restoration
by John Morgan Moscow
Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/William Stromberg recorded at Mosfilm
Studio, Moscow, February 2003
NAXOS SACD/CD HYBRID 6.110087 [70.49] [JW]
All
the vicissitudes of river life, of theatrical charm, of chase, sly wit,
affection and humour are evoked in this splendidly realised disc ...
see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS
(1864-1949)
Vier letzte Lieder* [20’44"]; Capriccio:
Closing Scene* [20’09"] Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Schéhérazade**
[15’04"] Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Le nozze
di Figaro: "Porgi, amor, qualche ristoro"
*** [3’36"]; "E Susanna non vien!
– Dove sono i bei momenti*** [6’43"]
Elisabeth Söderström (soprano)
*Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Antal Dorati
**BBC Symphony Orchestra/Pierre Boulez ***Royal
Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir John
Pritchard Recorded: *Royal Festival Hall,
London, 3 October 1976; **Royal Albert Hall,
London, 3 August 1971; *** Royal Albert Hall,
London, 20 August 1960 ADD
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4153-2 [67’46"]
[JQ]
Treasurable
... vividly recalls one of the greatest soprano
voices of the second half of the last century.
The recorded sound is very good in the Strauss
... see Full
Review
Igor
STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971) Piano
Music: Three Movements from Petrushka
(1921) [16.11]; Les Cinq Doights (1921);
Sonata (1924) [10.50); Piano Rag
Music (1919); Serenade (1925);
Three Easy Pieces, for three hands (1915);
Five Easy Pieces, for four hands (1917)
Anatoly Sheludyakov (piano) Rec 1996, Bolshoi
Hall, Moscow Conservatory
PHOENIX PHCD157 [62.05] [TB]
Sheludyakov:
secure technique ... understands the brittle
nature of Stravinsky’s musical style ... virtuosity
in these most technically demanding pieces
... performances that are secure and at times
glittering ... see Full
Review
Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971)
Suite
Italienne (1933) Duo Concertante (1932)
Divertimento (1934) Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) First
Rhapsody (1928) Second Rhapsody (1928)
Levon Ambartsumian (violin), Anatoly Sheludyakov
(piano) Rec 1995, Bolshoi Hall, Moscow Conservatory
PHOENIX PHCD 156 [73.33] [TB]
Singing
and refined phrasing intensified with warm
weight of tone ... see Full
Review
Georgy SVIRIDOV
(1915-1998)
Choral Music from the 1970s Pushkin's
Garland - Choral Concerto on verses by
Alexander Pushkin [36.38] Concerto to the
Memory of A. A. Yurlov [10.35] Three
Choral Pieces to A. K. Tolstoy's Tsar
Fyodor Ioannovich [11.10] Ikon to
words by Alexander Blok [6.58]
Moscow Chamber Choir/Vladimir Minin rec. Moscow
1989
RUSSIAN COMPACT DISC RCD 13005 [65.11]
[RB]
This
music will appeal without a shadow of doubt
to anyone who loves the Rachmaninov Vespers
... do not delay.... see Full
Review
Boris TCHAIKOVSKY (1925
– 1996) Sinfonietta
(1953) Chamber Symphony (1967) Six Etudes
(1976)a Prelude The Bells
(1996)
Ludmilla Golub (organ)a Musica
Viva Chamber Orchestra/Alexander Rudin Recorded:
Small Hall, Moscow Conservatory (Six Etudes)
and Mosfilm Ton-Studios, Moscow, October 2003,
December 2003 and January 2004
HYPERION CDA 67413 [69:49] [HC]
These
excellent, meticulously prepared readings
are warmly recorded. The production is again
up to Hyperion’s best. Recommended. ... 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 (Prokofief Concerto),
March 5th 1997 (Tchaikovsky, Toccata),
March 16th 1999 (Balakirev)
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD9195-2
[67.31] [CH]
More
evidence that Joyce Hatto is a quite extraordinary
pianist. ... see Full
Review
Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony
No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64 (1888) [46:57] Romeo
and Juliet – Fantasy Overture (1869/70)
[18:44]
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig/Kurt Masur Recorded
at the Neues Gewandhaus, Leipzig, March 1987,
March 1990. DDD
WARNER APEX 2564 61432-2 [64:41] [PG]
A
fine place to get solid renditions of this
impassioned and wonderful music. ... see Full
Review
Pyotr Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
String
Quartet No.1 in D Op.11 (1871) [28.50]String
Quartet in B flat major (1865) [13.21] String
Quartet No.2 in F Op.22 (1874) [35.29] String
Quartet No.3 in E flat minor Op.30 (1876)
[38.15] String Sextet in D minor Souvenir
de Florence Op.70 (1890) [34.25]
Borodin Quartet with Yuri Yurov (viola)
and Mihail Milman (cello) recorded in the
Teldec Studios, Berlin and Snape Maltings
Concert Hall in January 1993
WARNER CLASSICS ELATUS 2564 61774-2 [77.07
+ 74.04] [CF]
Tchaikovsky’s
output of chamber music for strings is very
well served by this double set of excellent
discs. ... see Full
Review
Georg Philipp
TELEMANN (1681-1767)
Concertos for woodwind instruments Concerto
in E minor for recorder, transverse flute,
strings and basso continuo, Concerto in C
minor, violin, oboe, strings and basso continuo,
Concerto in A minor for two recorders, strings
and basso continuo, Concerto in B minor for
transverse flute, strings and basso continuo,
Concerto in D major for two oboi d’amore,
cello, strings and basso continuo, Concerto
in B flat major, oboe, violin, two transverse
flutes, two violas and basso continuo Camerata
Köln Recorded 4-7 February 1996 Deutschland
Radio Köln DDD
DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI DHM 74321 935572
[62:29] [MC]
Telemann’s
art is well served by this welcome and pleasing reissue. ... see Full
Review
Pēteris
VASKS (b. 1946)
Violin Concerto Tālā geisma (1996/7)
Musica dolorosa (1983) Viatore (2001)
Swedish Chamber Orchestra; Katarina Andreasson,
violin and leader Recorded: Örebro
Concert Hall, January 2003
BIS CD-1150 [59:18][HC]
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958) Symphony
No. 9 in E minor (1958) [38:58] Alan HOVHANESS
(1911-2000) Symphony No. 2 Mysterious Mountain (1955) [18:49]
Wallingford RIEGGER (1885-1961) New
Dance Op. 18b (1942) [5:55] Paul CRESTON (1906-1985)
Toccata Op. 68 (1957) [12:34]
Leopold Stokowski and his Symphony Orchestra rec. live, Carnegie Hall,
25 Sept 1958. ADD CALA
CACD0539 [73:17] [JW]
Stokowski
constantly stresses lyricism ... brass nobility
is palpable. ... brings out bardic writing
with driving drama ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Aida
(1871) Hilde Zadek (soprano) Aida; Helge Rosvaenge
(tenor) Radamès; Elisabeth Höngen
(mezzo) Amneris; Josef Metternich (baritone)
Amonasro; Helmut Fehn (bass) Ramfis; Sigmund
Roth (bass) King
Chorus and Orchestra of North German Radio/Hans
Schmidt-Isserstedt. Rec. Hamburg, 1951. ADD
WALHALL ETERNITY SERIES WLCD0036 [138’01:
71’42 + 67’19]. [CC]
At
very much lower-medium price this is more than worth a spin. It provides
a fascinating window onto a world some of us missed out on. ... see
Full Review
Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959)
Piano Music, Volume 4: Bachianas Brasilieras
No. 4 (1930-41) [19’43]; Poema singelo
(1938-42) [6’05]; Carnaval des Criançasa
(1920) [15’24]; Prencette et Piá (1928) [15’32]; A Fiandiera (1921) [2’52]; Simples Coletânea (1917-19) [6’02]; Valsa romântica (1907) [3’44].
Sonia Rubinsky, aTatjana Rankovich (pianos). Rec. Grace Church
on the Hill, Toronto, Canada,
on October
17th-20th, 2003.
DDD NAXOS 8.555717 [69’53] [JW]
This
series goes from strength to strength; it has integrity of purpose and
superior playing. At Naxos’s
price that seems impossible to resist...see
Full Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Concertos for the Emperor Concerto
No. 2 in C major for violin, strings and basso continuo RV189 Concerto
No. 10 L’amoroso in E major for violin, strings and basso continuo
RV271 Concerto No. 3 in C minor for violin, strings and basso continuo
RV202 Concerto No. 7 in C major for violin, strings and basso continuo
RV183 Concerto No. 11 Il favorito in E minor for violin, strings
and basso continuo RV277 Concerto No. 4 in F major for violin, strings
and basso continuo RV286
The English Concert/Andrew Manze (violin) Recorded: February 15-17,
2004 at the Air Studios, Lyndhurst Hall, London DDD
HARMONIA MUNDI HMU907332 [78:52] [MC]
The
Harmonia Mundi sound engineers have produced
excellent sonics and the annotation is interesting
and informative. These are superlative accounts
to cherish! ... see Full
Review
Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Concertos
for celloConcerto in A minor for cello, strings and basso continuo
RV420 Concerto in E flat major for cello, strings and basso continuo
RV408 Concerto in F major for cello, strings and basso continuo RV411
Concerto in in D minor for cello, strings and basso continuo RV407 Concerto
in F major for violin, cello, strings and basso continuo ‘Il Proteo
o sia Il mondo al rovescio’, RV544 Concerto in A minor for cello, strings
and basso continuo RV421 Concerto in C major for violin, two cellos,
strings and basso continuo RV561
Ensemble Explorations/Roel Dieltiens Recorded Mars 2001. Anvers,
Chapelle Notre-Dame, t’Elenvld, Belgium
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC 901745 [70:29] [MC]
One
of my top five favourite Vivaldi recordings.
Truly outstanding! ... see Full
Review
Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741) Six
Sonatas for Violoncello and Basso Continuo:
F major (RV41); A minor (RV43); E minor (RV40);
A minor (RV 44); G minor (RV42); E flat (RV39)
Anner Bylsma (violoncello) Hidemi Suzuki (violoncello)
Jacques Ogg (cembalo/harpsichord) Rec. Channel
Classics Studio, Amsterdam c.1990. DDD
DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 74321 935612 [61:38]
[PCW]
This
selection of the sonatas represents a good
sample … the artistic merit is unquestionable
… see Full Review
Antonio
VIVALDI
(1678-1741) La
Stravaganza - 12 Concertos for violin,
strings and basso continuo, Op.4 (c. 1714)
Rachel Podger (violin) Arte Dei Suonatori
Recorded at the Church of the High Catholic
Seminary in Goscikowo-Paradyz, Poland, September
2002. DDD
CHANNEL CLASSICS CCS 19598 [54:21 + 48:38]
[MC]
A
marvellously presented release. No praise
is high enough for these performances! ...
see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Concerti per archi - Concerti per strumenti vari vol. 2 Concerto
in A major RV159 Concerto in G minor RV153 Concerto in D major RV121
Concerto in D minor ‘Madrigalesco’ RV129 Concerto in G minor RV154 Concerto
in C major RV115 Concerto in F minor RV143 Concerto in F major RV141
Concerto in C minor RV120 Concerto in G minor RV156 Concerto in A major
RV158 Concerto in D major RV123
Concerto Italiano/Rinaldo Alessandrini (Direction and harpsichord) Rec.
Sala Academica del Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra, in Rome, Italy,
Feb 2003. NAÏVE
OPUS 111 OP30377 [65.49] [MC]
The
award-winning artists marvellously demonstrate
Vivaldi’s genius for richness of orchestral
palette, musical invention and poetic energy.
Another sure-fire winner! ... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI
(1678-1741)
Rare Opera Overtures Bajazet,
Sinfonia in F major RV703 L’Olimpiade, Sinfonia in C major RV725 La
Verita’ in Cimento, Sinfonia in G major RV739 Violin Concerto in C minor
Amato Bene RV761 * Ottone in Villa, Sinfonia in C major RV729 Concerto
in F major RV571 # La Dorilla, Sinfonia in C major RV709 Farnace, Sinfonia
in C major RV711 Sinfonia in G major RV149 Concerto in D minor RV128
Il Giustino, Sinfonia in C major RV717
Federico Guillermo (violin) * Giovanni Guillermo (violin) # L’Arte Dell’Arco/Christopher
Hogwood Recorded at the Palazzo Giusti, Padova, January 1998
DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 74321 935602 [68.27] [JW]
Most
attractive and well-played ... delicacy and
vigour ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER
(1813 – 1883) Tannhäuser
– Highlights: Overture; Dich, teure Halle (Elisabeth); Freudig
begrüssen edle Halle (Chorus); Blick’ ich umher (Wolfram); Beglückt
darf nun dich, o Heimat, ich schauen (Pilgrims’ Chorus); Allmächt’ge
Jungfrau (Elisabeth’s prayer); Wie Todesahnung ... O du mein holder
Abendstern (Wolfram’s song to the evening star); Inbrunst im Herzen
(Tannhäuser’s Rome narration); Willkommen ungetreuer Mann (Finale.
Venus, Tannhäuser, Wolfram, Chorus).
Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano – Elisabeth), René Kollo (tenor – Tannhäuser),
Håkan Hagegård (baritone – Wolfram), Waltraud Meier (mezzo-soprano
– Venus); The Ambrosian Singers, Philharmonia Orchestra/Marek Janowski.
Recorded in St Augustine’s Church, London, May/June 1990
WARNER ELATUS 2564 61738-2 [60:59] [GF]
Numerous
good reasons to buy this highlights disc ...
see Full
Review
William WALTON
(1902-1983)
Symphony
No. 1 in B flat minor (1932-35) [45:08] Crown
Imperial (1937) [6:28] Orb and Sceptre
(1953) [7:09]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/André
Previn Rec. Watford Town Hall, London, 1-2
Dec 1985 (symphony); Fairfield Hall, Croydon,
16 Sept 1986 (marches)
TELARC CD-80125 [58:35] [RB]
If
you want a handsome sounding Walton 1 then
you will find plenty here to enjoy. ... see
Full Review
Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826)
Der
Freischütz (1821) Agathe - Caterina
Ligendza Max - Toni Krämer Ottakar -
Wolfgang Schöne Kuno - Fritz Linke Kaspar
- Wolfgang Probst Kilian - Helmut Holzapfel
Samiel - Wolfram Raub Annchen - Raili Viliakainen
Hermit - Roland Bracht
Chorus and Orchestra of the Würtembergische
Staatsoper, Stuttgart/Dennis Russell Davies
Achim Freyer (producer and designer) Recorded
1981, Württembergische Staatsoper (live
performance) 
NVC
ARTS 5050467-3524-2-1 [146.00] [TB]
A
well focused team of performers, and excellent
control of line and pacing. A colourful production
that fails to register highly as far as tension
is concerned ... see Full
Review
Kurt WEILL (1900-1950)
Concerto
for violin and wind orchestra Op. 12 (1925)
[26.04] Egon WELLESZ
(1885-1974) Suite for violin and chamber
orchestra Op. 38 (1924) [12:31] Rudi
STEPHAN (1887-1915) Music for violin
and orchestra Op. 4 (1913) [12:31]
Stefan Tönz (violin) Luzern Sinfonie-Orchester/Jonathan
Nott Rec. Kultur- und Kongresszentrum, Luzern,
March 1999. DDD
PAN CLASSICS 510 109 [55:47] [RB]
Three
unfashionable rarities - the Weill being the
better known (least unknown); the Wellesz
and Stephan vying with each other in obscurity.
... see Full Review
Kurt WEILL
(1900-1950):
The Eternal Road (Highlights)
Play by Franz Werfel, English translation
by Ludwig Lewisohn - Sung in English From
Act I: "The Patriarchs": Scene 6: Abraham
and Isaac; Scene 7: Jacob and the Angel; Scene
8: Jacob and Rachel; Scene 16: The death of
Jacob From Act II: "Moses": Scene 17: In Egypt/Miriam
and Moses; Scene 20: Moses receives the Commandments/Dance
around the golden calf; Scene 21: The Beam,
Moses; Scene 22: Moses addresses the people;
Scene 23: Moses gives the Commandments/The
death of Moses From Act III: "The King": Scene
24: Naomi and Ruth; Ruth and Boaz From Act
IV: "The Prophets": Scene 32: Isaiah and Jeremiah;
Scene 33: The streets of Jerusalem; Scene
34: Jeremiah; Scenes 35 and 36: Chananiah
the false prophet/the mob attacks Jeremiah;
Scene 40: Transformation/Finale Constance
Hauman, soprano Barbara Rearick, mezzo-soprano
Hanna Wollschläger, mezzo-soprano Ian
DeNolfo, tenor Karl Dent, tenor Vale Rideout,
tenor Ted Christopher, baritone James Maddalena,
baritone Rundfunk-Kinderchor Berlin/Manfred
Roost Ernst Senff Chor/Sigurd Brauns
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin/Gerard Schwarz
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559402 [73:00]
[RB]
Altogether
a fascinating experience. ... see Full
Review
SURPRISE
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Kurt WEILL
(1900-1950)
The
Seven Deadly Sins [35:19] Alabama Song [2:55] The Ballade
of Sexual Dependency/Die Ballade der Sexuellen Hörigkeit [2:37]
Bilbao Song [5:04] Pirate Jenny/Seeräuber Jenny [4:34]
Bertolt Brecht, lyrics
Marianne Faithfull, voice Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra/Dennis Russell
Davies Recorded at Konzerthaus, Vienna on 5 June, 1997 and at Großer
Sendesaal, Radiokulturhaus, Vienna on 9 February, 1998. DDD
BMG CLASSICS 82876 60872 2 [50:46] [PG]
This
album crosses boundaries and can easily be
recommended to fans of rock sensibilities,
jazz tonalities or musical theatre and operetta.
... see Full
Review
Jaromír WEINBERGER
(1896-1967)
Švanda
dudák (Schwanda the Bagpiper),
Opera in Two Acts (1927) [134:07] Matjaz Robavs
(Švanda, baritone), Tatiana Monogarova (Dorota,
soprano), Ivan Choupenitch (Babinský,
tenor), Larisa Kostyuk (the Queen, mezzo-soprano),
Alexander Meliga (the Magician, the Devil,
bass), Nicholas Sharratt (the Judge, tenor),
Pavel Kozel (the Executioner, Hell’s Captain,
baritone), Sean Ruane (the Devil’s Servant,
tenor), Vicenç Esteve (First Mercenary
Soldier, tenor), Richard Weigold (Second Mercenary
Soldier, bass)
Wexford Festival Opera Chorus National Philharmonic
Orchestra of Belarus/Julian Reynolds Recorded
24th, 27th and 30th
October 2003 at the Theatre Royal, Wexford,
Ireland.
NAXOS 8.660146-7 [65:36 + 68:31] [CH]
A
warm recommendation to an invigorating and
touching work which deserves a place in the
catalogue and maybe in the theatre too. ...
see Full Review
Zarzuela!
José Carreras / Teresa Berganza English Chamber Orchestra/Enrique
García Asensio; Antoni Ros Marbà rec. London, EMI Abbey
Road, 1975-77. Engineer: Robert Gooch. Producer: Antonio Armet
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92380 [3 CDs: 56:32 + 59:09 + 58:49 = 2hrs 55min]
[CW]
This
Brilliant box easily lives up to its name.
At the giveaway price, nobody should hesitate
for a moment. ... 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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