Emmanuel CHABRIER
(1841-1894)
España
[6:38]; Suite Pastorale [16:00]; Fête
Polonaise and Danse Slave from
Le Roi malgré lui [7:30; 5:12];
Overture: Gwendoline [8:44]; Joyeuse
Marche [3:40]; Bourrée Fantasque
[6:15] Albert
ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Suite in F
Op. 33 [13:13] 
Detroit SO/Paul Paray rec. Ford Auditorium,
Detroit 19 Mar 1957 (Bourrée;
Suite in F); Old Orchestra Hall, Detroit 5
Apr 1959 (Joyeuse); Cass Technical
High School, Detroit and Old Orchestra Hall
18 Nov 1959 (rest) ADD Originally issued Mercury
LPs: SR90212; SR90211; SR90005; SR175100 (Suite
F) SACD reviewed in CD mode
MERCURY LIVING PRESENCE
475 6183 [67:22] [RB]
The
excellent and stylish Paray in French music
both romantic and modernistic. ... see Full
Review
Marc Antoine
CHARPENTIER (1643
- 1704) Musiques pour les
funérailles de la Reine Marie-Thérèse
In
obitum augustissimae nec no piisimae gallorum
Reginae Imentum, H 409 (1) Elevation,
H408 (2) Luctus de morte augustissimae
Mariae Theresiae reginae Galliae (3) Faith
– Bernadette Degelin (soprano) (1) Hope –
Diane Verdoodt (soprano) (1) Charity – Marina
Smolders (soprano) (1) Angel – Howard Crook
(tenor) (1) Messenger – Zeger Vandersteene
(tenor) (1) Three of the People – Ludwig van
Gijsegem (tenor), Zeger Vandersteene (tenor),
Kurt Widmer (bass) (1) One of the People –
Henk Lauwers (bass), Kurt Widmer (bass) (1)
Hunger – Bernadette Degelin (soprano) (2)
Thirst – Diane Verdoodt (soprano) (2) Christ
– Kurt Widmer (bass) (2) Howard Crook (tenor)
(3) Zeger Vandersteene (tenor) (3) Kurt Widmer
(bass) (3)
Choeur de Chambre de Namur Musica Polyphonica/Louis
Devos Recorded in the Institut Musical d’Education
Pedagogique, Namur, Belgium, April 1988
WARNER APEX 2564 61743-2 [56.43] [GH]
Attractive
performances of moving music by Charpentier
for the funeral of the wife of Louis XIV.
... see Full
Review
Carlos CHÀVEZ
(1899 - 1978) Complete
Chamber Music Volume 1 Invention
#1 for piano solo (1958) [21.52] Gayle
Blankenburg, piano Invention #2 for
string trio (1965) [12.14] Christine Frank,
violin; Jan Karlin, viola; Maggie Edmonson,
cello. Invention #3 for harp solo (1967)
[6.57] Amy Wilkins, harp Daughter of
Colchis - Suite for Double Quartet
(1943) [24.29] Dorothy Stone, flute; Stuart
Horn, oboe, Jim Foschia, clarinet; Leslie
Lasinsky, bassoon; Christine Frank, violin;
Agnes Gottschewski, violin; Jan Karlin, viola,
Maggie Edmonson, cello. Southwest Chamber
Music/Jeff von der Schmit Upingos
for Oboe (1957) [2.51] Stuart Horn, oboe
Recorded between 26 May 1999 and 15 May 2002
at Los Angeles, California, USA. Notes in
English. Pictures of the composer and a photo
from the ballet Dark Meadow.
CAMBRIA CD8850 [68.43] [PSh]
A
long needed exposure of the genius of an under-appreciated
composer. A real find, one you won’t want
to miss ... see Full
Review
Erik
CHISHOLM (1904-1965)
Straloch
Suite (1933) [15:59]Scottish Airs for
Children (1940s) [27:54]Sonata in A An
Riobain Dearg (abridged version, 2004)
(1939)
Murray McLachlan, piano Rec. Whiteley Hall,
Chethams School, Manchester, 5-7 April 2004.
DDD
DUNELM RECORDS DRD0222/LC-12952 [77:24]
[CSS]
A
repressed excitement that is infectious. To
be hoped that these exploratory excursions
into Chisholm’s substantial output will unearth
other revelations. ... see
Full Review
Fryderyk CHOPIN
(1810-1849)
Douze
Etudes Op. 10 (à son ami Franz Liszt)
12 Etudes Op. 25 (A Madame la Comtesse d'Agoult)
,Trois Nouvelles Études
Alfred Cortot (piano) Recorded Studio
No 3 Abbey Road, London, 1933-34 and 1949
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACH 7008-2
[60.12] [JW]
A
representative Chopin collection without these
sets is inconceivable ... see Full
Review
Michael
DAUGHERTY (b.
1954) Philadelphia
Stories (2001) [28’39] UFO (1999)
[35’37]
Evelyn Glennie (percussion) Colorado Symphony
Orchestra/Marin Alsop. Rec. Boettcher Concert
Hall, Denver, Colorado, USA, 14-17 Nov 2002.
DDD
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559165 [64’38]
[CC]
Great
production values, supremely dedicated performances
… of music that manifestly does not deserve
either. ... see Full
Review
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934)
The
Song of the High Hills, Irmelin Prelude,
Serenade and Intermezzo from Hassan,
A Village Romeo and Juliet: Dennis
Dowling (baritone), Frederick Sharp (baritone),
Margaret Ritchie (soprano), Dorothy Bond (soprano),
Rene Soames (tenor), Lorely Dyer, Gordon Clinton
(baritone) Recorded May, July 1948 First issued
on HMV DB 6751/62 Koanga: Final scene
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas
Beecham All works recorded at Studio 1, Abbey
Road, London ADD
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110982-83 [71’ 57"
+ 71’ 47"] [EM]
I
would strongly recommend the reader purchasing
either the Mackerras or the Meredith Davies
recordings before they too, in their turn,
are no longer available, as both the sound
quality and the interpretation are superior
to this Beecham recording. ... see Full
Review
David DIAMOND (b.1915)
Psalma
(1936) [8’39]. Kaddishb
(1987) [10’44]. Symphony No. 3a
(1945) [31’08].
bJanos Starker (cello); Seattle
Symphony Orchestra/Gerard Schwarz Rec. a11-12
Sept 1990; b6 Jan 1991, Seattle
Center Opera House From Delos DE3103
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559155 [50’33]
[CC]
Fresh,
devoted performances of music fully worthy
of continued attention would be a fair reaction
to this disc … A wonderful way to spend a
fiver. ... see Full
Review
Stephen DODGSON
(b.1924)
High Barbaree – the Music of Stephen Dodgson
High
Barbaree (1999) [6.48] Venus to the Muses
(2002) [5.36] Daphne to Apollo (1997) [6.06]
Duo Concertante (1968 [14.23] Shine and Shade
(1975) [9.05] Quatre Rondeaux de Charles d’Orléans
(1982): (i) Le Temps a laissié son
manteau [1.56]; (ii) Quant j’ai le tabourin
[1.44]; (iii) En regardant ces belles fleurs
[2.26]; (iv) Allez vous en, allez, allez [2.41]
Inventions for Harpsichord (Set 3) (1970):
Vivace Assai [2.56]; Allegramente [2.21];
Largamente e Liberamente [3.04]; Spiritoso
[3.00]Warbeck Trio (2002): Processional (the
Uneasy Crowd) [3.14]; the Early of Huntly
[1.47]; Edinburgh Revels [2.05]; Whitsand
Bay to Tyburn [4.30]
Lesley-Jane Rogers (soprano) John Turner (recorder)
Graham Salvage (bassoon)Craig Ogden (guitar)
Pamela Nash (harpsichord) Rec. 22-23 Sept
2003, Stephen Joseph Studio, Manchester University;
in the presence of the composer to celebrate
his 80th birthday. DDD.
CAMPION CAMEO 2032 [65:42] [BK]
A
fine introduction to Stephen Dodgson’s work
which can be recommended, especially to those
interested in recorders, guitar and harpsichord
... see Full
Review
Richard DRAKEFORD
(b.1936) Cello
Suite – for Rohan de Saram (1957-8)
[9:22]John R.
WILLIAMSON (b.1929) Cello Sonata
No.2 (2001) [22:46] Vagn
HOLMBOE (1909-1996) Solo Cello
Sonata (1969) [19:27]
Diane Porteous (cello) Kathryn Page (piano)
Recorded in The Whiteley Hall, Chetham’s School
of Music, Manchester 2004
DUNELM RECORDS DRD0229 [51:35] [IM]
Premiere
recordings of three cello works brilliantly
performed. ... see Full
Review
Henri DUPARC
(1848-1933)
Mélodies:
Sérénade, Chanson triste, Le
manoir de Rosemonde, L’invitation au voyage,
Phidylé, Testament, Sérénade
florentine, Soupir, La vague et la cloche,
Extase, La vie antérieure, Le galop,
Lamento, Elégie, La fuite*
Paul Groves (tenor), Roger Vignoles (piano),
with Emily Pulley (soprano)* Recorded 10th-12th
November 2003 at the Toronto Centre for the
Arts, Canada
NAXOS 8.557219 [53:56] [CH]
A
fair enough guide to most of Duparc’s songs.
... see Full
Review
Antonín DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904)
Symphony
no.7 in D minor, op.70 [39:13] Romance in
F minor for violin and orchestra, op.11 [11:40]
Carnival Overture, op.92* [9:51]
Thomas Zehetmair (violin) Philharmonia
Orchestra/Eliahu Inbal London Philharmonic
Orchestra*/James Conlon* Recorded at Brent
Town Hall, London, October 1983 (overture),
Snape Malting Concert Hall, December 1989
(Romance), St. Austin’s, London, October 1990
(symphony)
WARNER APEX 2564 61427-2 [60:47] [GPJ]
Too
many examples of musical indiscipline ...
see Full Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Complete
Piano Trios Vol. 2 Trio No. 2 for piano, violin
and cello, in G minor, op.26, B.56 Trio No.
4 for piano, violin and cello, in E minor,
op.90 ‘Dumky’ B.166
Vienna Piano Trio Recorded: December 18-20,
2003 Furstliche Reitbahn Bad Arolsen DDD
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG
GOLD 342 1262-2 [60:28] [MC]
A
fine Dvořák release which will only serve
to enhance the reputation of the excellent
Vienna
Piano Trio. ... see Full
Review
The Famous Oistrakh Trio Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Trio
in F minor Op.65 Trio in E minor Op.90 Dumky
David Oistrakh (violin) Sviatoslav Knushevitzky
(cello) Lev Oborin (piano) No recording details
PREISER RECORDS 90593 [73.08] [JW]
We
edge nearer a proper realisation of those
previously tough to find Trio recordings.
... see Full Review
Antonín DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904)
Complete Solo Piano Music Recorded
5-8 October 1999, Studio 10, DeutschlandRadio
Berlin, Germany
Stefan Veselka (piano)
Dates and locations as above
NAXOS 8.505205 [5:05:03] [CH]
Some
little-known but unfailingly attractive music,
and Veselka’s love of it shines through. ...
see Full Review
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
Falstaff,
Symphonic Study in C minor, op.68 (1913) [35:40]
Romance for Bassoon and Orchestra,
op.62 (1910) [6:18] Cello Concerto in B minor,
op.85 (1919) [28:32] Smoking Cantata (1919)
[0:51]
Heinrich Schiff, cello, Graham Salvage, bassoon,
Andrew Shore, baritone Hallé Orchestra/Mark
Elder Recorded 21st-22nd
July 2003 in the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester,
UK (Falstaff, Romance), 11th-12th
October 2003, in BBC Studio 7, New Broadcasting
House, Manchester, UK (cello concerto, Smoking
Cantata)
HALLE CD HLL 7505 [69:42] [GPJ]
A
masterly reading of a great score ... Elder
draws stunning playing from the Hallé
... see Full Review
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934)
Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61 Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) The
Lark Ascending
Hilary Hahn, violin London Symphony Orchestra/Sir
Colin Davis Recorded, Oct 2003 (Elgar) and
Dec 2003 (Vaughan Williams) Full Price
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4748732 [66’10]
[MB]
One
look at the front cover of the booklet and
the blurred images of Hahn looking more like
a diva than a violin player suggests that
musical substance is lacking. Elgar suffers
irrevocably because of that. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH John
FOULDS
(1880-1939)
Three Mantras from Avatara (1.
Of Action and Vision of Terrestrial Avataras;
2. Of Bliss and Vision of Celestial Avataras;
3. Of Will and Vision of Cosmic Avataras)
Op. 61b (1930) [26:28] Lyra Celtica -
concerto for voice and orchestra Op. 50 (1925)
[16:11] Apotheosis (Elegy) -
Music Poem No. 4 for violin and orchestra
Op. 18 (1907) [11:18] Mirage - Music
Poem No. 5 for orchestra Op. 20 (1910) [23:49]
Susan Bickley (mezzo) Daniel Hope (violin)
City of Birmingham SO/Sakari Oramo rec. Symphony
Hall, Birmingham, 26-27 Feb 2004. DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61525-2 [78:13] [RB]
Enigmatic
but not difficult, lambent, delicate, ecstatic
and non-conformist. There is light and air
in this man's music as well as lyrical release...
see Full Review
The Organ Music of
Sandra GAY Variations
on Faith Journey (2000) Meditation
and Dance on 'Weisse Flaggen' (2000) A
Host of Angels (2001) In God's Image
(2001) Partita on a Hymn Tune of Tallis
(1975) With Shouts of Loud Praise (2000)
Carson COOMAN Jesus
is the Sunlight (2001) From Past to
Future (2001) When the Morning Stars
Began to Sing (2001) With Quiet Joy
and Inner Peace (2000)
Sandra Gay and Carson Cooman, organ Rec.
Asbury First United Methodist Church, Rochester,
New York
ZIMBEL ZR101 [66'54]
[CB]
Both
player/composers revel endlessly in the colourless
celestes, though all playing on the disc is
perfectly competent. ... see
Full Review
Mikhail GLINKA
(1804-1857)
Ivan
Susanin (A Life for the Tsar) (1836)
A patriotic, heroic-tragic opera in four acts
with an epilogue Libretto by Sergei Gorodetsky
(sung in Russian) Ivan Susanin - Maxim Mikhailov
(bass) Antonida, his daughter - Natalia Spiller
(soprano) Vanya - Yelizaveta Antonova (mezzo
soprano) Bogdan Sobinin - Georgi Nelepp (tenor)
A Russian soldier - Alexander Hosson (bass)
A Polish messenger - Ivan Skobtsov (tenor)
Sigismund - Fyodor Svetlanov (bass)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre/Alexander
Melik-Pashaev/Vassily Nebolsin (Epilogue)
(conductors) Recorded in Moscow in 1947 no
libretto
GREAT HALL MVT CD 012-013 [73.37 + 79.46]
[CF]
Only
the Gubbay-like jamboree finale disappoints
in what is otherwise a largely stylish performance
... see Full Review
Enrique
GRANADOS
(1867-1916)
Goyescas (1911)
[53.01] Danzas
espańolas (selection)
(1892-1900) [25.49]
Alicia de Larrocha (piano) Rec 4-6 December 1989, 11
April 1990 (Goyescas), 25-28 March
1994 (Danzas), American Academy and Institute
of Arts and Letters, New York City
BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876
60863-2 [78.56]
[TB]
Performances
that have attained a truly legendary status
... few players can match her insights and
sensitivity. ... see Full
Review
Edvard
GRIEG
(1843-1907) Concert
Overture: In Autumn, Op. 11 [11.06]
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 [29.23]
Symphonic Dances, Op. 64 [31.17]
Håvard Gimse (piano) Royal Scottish
National Orchestra/Bjarte Engeset Recorded
at the Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, 13-15 May
2003 DDD
NAXOS 8.557279 [71.47] [EM]
This
excellent CD should be regarded as good news
for Grieg lovers everywhere ... see Full
Review
Georg
Frideric HANDEL
(1685-1759) Dixit
Dominus HWV 232 (1707) Antonio CALDARA
(c.1670-1736) Missa
dolorosa – Messa a 4 voci (1735) Crucifixus
a 16 voci
Balthasar-Neumann-Chor Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble/Thomas Hengelbrock
Recorded at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden,
March 2003
SACD DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 82976 58792 2
[63.07]
[JW]
Certainly
a must for the Caldara; if you have the Dixit
Dominus you may well pause but there
is real merit in this performance. ... see
Full
Review
Georg
Frideric HANDEL
(1685-1759) Solomon
(edited and arranged Beecham) Solomon – John
Cameron (baritone) Zadok, the High Priest
– Alexander Young (tenor) Queen, Pharaoh’s
Daughter/Peasant Girl – Elsie Morison (soprano)
Nicaule, Queen of Sheba – Lois Marshall (soprano)
Beecham Choral Society Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham Recorded London,
1955-56
SOMM-BEECHAM 17 [52.18 + 51.05] [JW]
A
heartfelt, noble and stirring achievement
and, like the Boy King’s tomb, full of wonderful
things. ... see Full
Review
George Frideric
HANDEL (1685
- 1759) The Ways of
Zion do Mourn, HWV 264
, Utrecht Te Deum, HWV 278
Soloists, Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra/John
Eliot Gardiner Concentus Musicus Wien/Nikolaus
Harnoncourt (b)
WARNER APEX 2564 61142-2 [69.00]
[RH]
A
welcome re-issue of two archive recordings
of two of Handel’s finest occasional works.
... see Full Review
Howard HANSON (1896-1981)
Symphony
No. 1 in E minor Op. 21 Nordic (1923)
[26:42] Symphony No. 2 Op. 30 Romantic
(1930) [27:54] The Song of Democracy
(1957) [12:04]
Eastman School of Music Chorus/Dr Herman H
Genhart Eastman-Rochester SO/Howard Hanson
rec. Eastman Theatre Rochester, New York,
6 May 1957 (Song); 4 May 1958 (2); 16 Dec
1958 (1). ADD SACD reviewed in CD mode
MERCURY
LIVING PRESENCE 475 6181 [66:40] [RB]
Definitive
vibrant recordings by the composer and his
orchestra ... see Full
Review
Franz Josef HAYDN
(1732-1809)
Die
Schöpfung (The Creation) (1798)
An Oratorio in three parts for Soloists, Chorus
and Orchestra
Teresa Seidl, soprano (Gabriel, Eva) Algirdas
Janutas, tenor (Uriel) Benno Schollum, bass
(Rafael, Adam) Kaunas State Choir Lithuanian
Chamber Orchestra/Yehudi Menuhin Recorded
live at the Rheingau Music Festival, 11 July
1998. [DDD]
WARNER APEX 2564 60714-2 [55:44 + 48:19]
[KS]
This
live performance is a bit of a mixed bag,
not altogether successful but by no means
unworthy. ... see
Full Review
Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809)
Die Schöpfung (1798)
Edita Gruberova, soprano - Gabriel, Eva
Josef Protschka, tenor - Uriel Robert
Holl, bass - Raphael, Adam
Arnold Schoenberg Chor Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra/Nikolaus Harnoncourt Konzerthaus,
Vienna 10/11 April 1986
WARNER APEX 2564 61593-2 [58.54 + 56.04]
[PW]
Harnoncourt
has the balance of cleanliness, style and
charm about right, as well as providing an
abundance of brilliant moments ... see Full
Review
Jennifer
HIGDON (b.
1962) Concerto
for Orchestra (2002) [34:58] City Scape (2002)
[30:52] 
Atlanta
Symphony Orchestra/Robert Spano
Rec. Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta, Georgia, 12, 14 Sept 2003.
DDD TELARC
CD-80620 [66:17] [JQ]
This is one of the most communicative and enjoyable
discs of new music to come my way in a long time. The music is accessible
and enjoyable ... see Full Review
Arthur HONEGGER
(1892 - 1955) Symphony
No. 3, "Liturgique," H.186 (1945)
[33.00] [Mouvement Symphonique No. 1], H.53,
"Pacific 231" (1923) [6.17] Mouvement
Symphonique [No. 2], H.67, "Rugby"
(1928) [7.49] Mouvement Symphonique No. 3,
H.83 (1933) [10.05] Pastorale d’été,
H.31 (1920) [7.52]
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Takuo Yuasa
Recorded at Town Hall, Wellington, New Zealand,
25 January 2002 Notes in English, Deutsch,
Français.
NAXOS 8.555974 [65.04] [PSh]
Essential
Twentieth Century classics in brilliant new
recordings ... see Full
Review
Herbert
HOWELLS
(1892-1983) King's
Herald, for full orchestra and organ from
the suite Pageantry (1934) [4:24] Paradise
Rondel (1925) [9:32] Fantasia for
cello and orchestra (1936/7) [17:23] Threnody
for cello and orchestra, orchestrated
Christopher Palmer (1935) [9:02] Pastoral
Rhapsody (1923) [12:16] Procession
(1920) [4:37]
Moray Welsh, cello London Symphony Orchestra/Richard
Hickox Rec: All Saints Church, Tooting, London,
8-9 February 1995
CHANDOS CHAN 9410 [60:15] [RB]
The
neglected Howells ... on display both in intimacy
and in public celebration. ... see Full
Review
Herbert
HOWELLS
(1892-1983) Suite:
The Bs Op.13 (Overture: Bublum; Lament:
Bartholomew; Scherzo: Blissy; 'Mazurka' alias
'Minuet': Bunny; March: Benjee) [32:22] Three
Dances for Violin and Orchestra Op. 7
[14:31] In Green Ways Op.43 (Under
the Greenwood Tree; The Goat Paths; Merry
Margaret; Wanderer's Night Song; On the Merry
First of May) [18:12]
Lydia Mordkovitch, violin Yvonne Kenny, soprano
London Symphony Orchestra/Richard Hickox Rec.
Blackheath Halls, London, 27-28 July 1996
CHANDOS CHAN 9557 [65:03] [RB]
Essential
listening for pursuers of the English pastoral
vein. ... see Full
Review
Herbert
HOWELLS
(1892-1983) Hymnus
Paradisi (Preludio; Requiem aeternam;
The Lord is my Shepherd; Sanctus: I will lift
up mine eyes; I Heard a Voice from Heaven;
Holy is the True Light) * [46:42] A Kent
Yeoman's Wooing Song† [18:21]
Joan Rodgers soprano*†; Anthony Rolfe
Johnson tenor*; Bruce Ogston baritone† BBC
Symphony Chorus BBC Symphony Orchestra/Richard
Hickox Rec: All Saints Church, Tooting, London,
2-3, 7 November 1998
CHANDOS CHAN 9744 [65:01] [RB]
Howells
represented as introvert (Hymnus) and extrovert
(Kent) ... see
Full Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Charles
IVES (1874-1954)
Piano
Sonata No. 2, "Concord, Mass., 1840-1860"
† [42.54] Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981) Piano Sonata,
Op. 26 [19.15]
Marc-André Hamelin, piano
Jamie Martin, flute † Recorded
Henry Wood Hall, London on April 5-6, 2004
HYPERION CDA67469 [62:09] [SM]
Hamelin
seems more attuned to Ives’ sound-world than
any other pianist I’ve heard ... see Full
Review
André
JOLIVET (1905-1974)
Piano
Sonata No. 1 (1945) [22:16] Piano Sonata No.
2 (1957) [19:53] Cinq Danses rituelles
(1939) [25:38]
Philip Adamson, piano Recorded Von Kuster
Hall, London, Ontario, July 2001
CENTAUR CRC 2641 [67:07] [DS]
Should
make converts of those willing to extend themselves
beyond traditional lyricism and enter the
strongly dissonant sound-world of 20th century
French music. ... see Full
Review
Scott JOPLIN
(1868-1917) Piano
Rags
Alexander Peskanov (piano) Recorded at the
Performing Arts Centre, The Country Day School,
Ontario, July 2002
NAXOS 8.559114 [65.29] [JW]
Mixed
views about Peskanov – much is warm and understanding
but some of the playing lacks a sense of vitality
and verve. ... see Full
Review
Ondrej KUKAL (b.
1964) Violin
Concerto, Op.7 Danse Symphonique for
Large Orchestra, Op.10 Clarinettino
Concerto for Clarinet and Strings, Op.11 Present
Duo for Violin & Cello String Quartet
No. 1, Op.9.
Composer (violin); South Bohemia Chamber Philharmonic/
Vladimir Valek (Violin Concerto); Prague Radio
Orchestra/composer (Danse Symphonique);
Ludmilla Peterkova, clarinet, Jakub Waldman,
doublebass, and New Vlach String Quartet (Clarinettino);
Jana Vlachova, violin, and Mikael Ericsson,
’cello (Present); New Vlach Quartet
(Quartet) rec 1997 Czech Radio studio and
Ceske Budejovice
CAMPION RRCD 1343 [68:02] [BB]
Kukal
- an expressive composer in an array of moods
... a winning facility for music that dares
to be melodic, even attractive. ... see Full
Review
Orlandus
LASSUS (c.1532
- 1594) Quam
pulchra es, Veni in hortum meum, Surge propera
amica mea, Missa surge propera, Tota pulchra
es, Osculetur me, Vulnerasti cor meum, Veni
dilecte mi, Magnificat quarti toni,
The Cardinalls Music (Carys Lane (soprano),
Rebecca Outram (soprano), David Clegg (alto),
Patrick Craig (alto), Julian Stocker (tenor),
Nathan Vale (tenor), Simon Wall (tenor), Robert
Evans (baritone), Robert MacDonald (bass),
Michael McCarthy (bass))/Andrew Carwood Recorded
15-17 April 2002, Fitzalan Chapel, Arundel
Castle.
GAUDEAMUS CD GAU 310 [63.36] [RH]
A
fine recital combining Lassus’s motets from
the Song of Songs with his parody mass based
on one of the motets. ... see Full
Review
Douglas LILBURN
(1915-2001)
Orchestral Music Festival
Overture (1940) [8.26] A Song of Islands
(1946) [16.15] Suite for Orchestra
(1955) [16.00] A Birthday Offering
(1955) [12.15] Drysdale Overture (1937)
[9.37]
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Sir William
Southgate Recording venue: 1996? Lower Hutt
Town Hall
CONTINUUM CCD 1076 [62.33] [LN]
An
artist who has pierced to the root of things
to find out something true ... grappling all
his life with the same bit of native soil.
Highly recommended. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz
LISZT (1811-1886)
A Faust Symphony:- Part
One - Faust [28:42]; Part Two - Gretchen
[21:17] Part Three - Mephistopheles
[23:29]
John Aler (tenor) Mužský Sbor Sl’ovenskej
Fil’harmonie, Bratislava Rotterdam Philharmonic
Orchestra/James Conlon Recorded in De Doelen,
Rotterdam, November 1983
WARNER APEX 2564 61 460-2 [73:43] [GPJ]
The
recording is of high quality, and the heady
Romantic drama of Liszt’s music comes across
vividly ... see Full
Review
Miguel LLOBET (1878-1938)
Guitar
Music: Scherzo Vals; Estudio Capricho
Mazurka; 13 Catalan Folksongs; Respuesta (Impromptu);
5 Preludes; Mazurka for Federico Bufaletti;
4 Folksongs; Study in E Major; Romanza; Variations
on a theme by Sor
Lorenzo Micheli (guitar) Rec. Aula Magna,
Seminario Arcivescovile, Ivrea (Turin) April,
October 2002 DDD
NAXOS 8.557351 [73:42] [PCW]
A
disc to relax with at the end of a hard day
… worth checking out ... see
Full Review
Carl LOEWE (1796-1869)
Balladen
Vol. 19 Der Feldherr op. 66, 1;
Der Weichdorn op. 75, 2; Die Einladung
op. 70, 1; Maisuna am Brunnen,
10 H. II, 1;Ali und Fatme op. 10 H.
II, 2; Serbischer Liederkreis op. 15,
1-6; Allmacht Gottes, op. 89, 3;
Mädchens Wunsch op. 89, 4; Die
Oasis op. 10 ,4; Lied eines Vögleins
op. 10 ,5; Die Sterne op. 69, 4;
Die Jungfrau und der Tod op. 9 . II, 5;
An die Muse; Graf Eberhard op. 9 H.
IV, 5; Der fünften Mai, ;St.
Johannes und das Würmlein op. 35,
1; Salvum fac regen ;Der Teufel
op, 129, 1; Ewige Liebe
Ingeborg Danz (soprano); Cord Garben (piano)
recorded Stuttgart 18-20 Sept 2002 DDD CPO
999 906-2 [66'50"] [AO]
Definitely
one of the best volumes in this series, which
shows CPO's foresight in bringing Loewe into
prominence ... see Full
Review
ZHOU LONG(b.
1953) Poems
from Tang (1995)a The Rhyme of
Taigu (2003) Da Qu (1990/1)b The
Future of Fire (2001, rev. 2003)c
Shanghai Quarteta; Jonathan Fox
(percussion)b; Philharmonic Chamber
Choirc Singapore Symphony Orchestra/Lan
Shui Recorded: Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore,
August 2003
BIS CD-1322 [69:52] [HC]
Zhou’s
is a personal, distinctive voice; and his
beautifully crafted music achieves a remarkable
synthesis of West and East with musically
rewarding results. ... vital and colourful
readings ... 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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