Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony
No 1 in D major* [52’10"] Charles
IVES (1874-1954) Central Park in
the Dark [10’43"]; The Unanswered Question
[5’18"] 
SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg/Michael
Gielen Recorded *11-13 June 2002 in the Konzerthaus,
Freiburg; 3 February 1995 in the Hans Rosbaud-Studio,
Baden-Baden DDD
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.097 [68’26"]
[JQ]
Mahler
1: no real bite to the performance and I was
completely unmoved at the end. Much better
in the Ives pieces ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No. 2 Resurrection Eteri Gvazava, soprano,
Anna Larsson, contralto Orfeón Donostiarra
Lucerne Festival Orchestra/Claudio Abbado
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
La mer
Lucerne Festival Orchestra/Claudio Abbado
Recorded live at the Lucerne Festival, Summer
2003
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 477 5082 [45’01
+ 60’29] [MB]
‘One
is battered to the ground and then raised
on angels’ wings to the highest heights.’
Performances that are second to none ... one
of the most remarkable discs of either work
... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860–1911)
Symphony
No. 5 in C sharp minor Giacomo
MANZONI (b.1932) Dedica
Orchestra Sinfonica dell’Emilia-Romagna
"Arturo Toscanini"/Günter Neuhold
Recorded live at Teatro Regio, Parma, 1986
WARNER FONIT 5050467-1204-2-6 [69:39 +
21:26] [CM]
Whatever
the reason for the pairing of these two composers,
I’m afraid Mahler is still the winner. ...
see Full Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Bohuslav
MARTINŮ
(1890-1959) String
Quartet No. 3 (1929) String Quartet No. 4
(1937) String Quartet No. 5 (1938)
Emperor String Quartet Recorded at Holy Trinity
Church, Wentworth, Yorkshire, August 2002
BIS CD 1389 [61.10] [JW]
Powerful
and eloquent performances ... an opportunity
to explore the Emperor’s abrasively vertical
response ... see Full
Review
Colin
MATTHEWS (b.
1946) Sonata
No.5 Landscapes (1977/81)a
Cello Concerto No.1 (1983/4)b
Hidden Variables (1989/1992)c
Memorial (1993)c Quatrain
(1989)c Machines and
Dreams (1991)c
Alexander Baillie (cello)a;
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestraa;
London Sinfoniettab;
London Symphony Orchestrac; John Careweab,
Michael Tilson Thomasc
Recorded: Sender Freies Berlin, Grosser Sendesaal,
October 1984 (Sonata
No.5); Watford Town Hall, August 1985
(Cello
Concerto No.1); Studio 1, Abbey Road Studios,
London, July 1995 (Hidden Variables,
Memorial, Quatrain) and (live) Barbican
Centre, London, January 1991 (Machines and Dreams)
NMC ANCORA D 101 [58:11 + 50:27]
These beautiful works
are all well served by first class readings
and excellent recording. You will not be disappointed.
... see Full
Review [HC]
Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Piano
Sonata in E Op.6 (1826) Piano Sonata in G
minor Op.105 (1821) Piano Sonata in B flat
Op.106 (1827) Rondo capriccioso in E Op.14
(1824)
Frederic Chiu (piano) Rec. Salle Adyar, Paris
in April 1993 DDD
HARMONIA MUNDI HCX 3957117 [66:33] [PCW]
Frederic
Chiu’s playing is interesting and sensitive
… the most obvious choice for a single disc
of Mendelssohn’s sonatas … see Full
Review
John
METCALFE Scorching
Bay (2004): Bend in the road; 8; 7
days later; First major upset of the tournament;
Scorching Bay; Fabrine; Curve of the sand;
Rocket; Cuba Street; Scooter; I don’t remember
you wearing a watch; Music for trains Includes
bonus CD: The Inner Line (2002)
John
Metcalfe - violin, viola, guitar and piano
Sophie Harris - cello Richard Pryce – double
bass Ralph Salmins - drums Recorded England
2004
SANCTUARY CLASSICS, BLACK BOX BBM1082/1 [60:43]
[JL]
The
second album of John Metcalfe’s "genre-defying"
music comes with the first, The Inner Line,
as a bonus, making for a bargain package.
... see Full
Review
Ernest John
MOERAN (1894
– 1950) Symphony
in G minor (1937) Overture for a Masque (1943/4)
Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra (1942/3)
Margaret Fingerhut (piano)
Ulster Orchestra/Vernon Handley Recorded:
Ulster Hall, Belfast, September 1987 (Symphony,
Overture) and March 1988 (Rhapsody)
CHANDOS CLASSICS CHAN X10169 [74:03] [HC]
Vernon
Handley conducts vital and committed performances
of these works, and his sympathy for the music
is refreshingly convincing. ... see Full
Review
Ernest John MOERAN
(1894-1950) Violin
Sonata in E minor (1923) [19:36] Lonely
Waters; Whythorne's Shadow (1931)
[7:01; 6:34] Symphony in G minor (1937) [45:46]
Geraldine O'Grady (violin); Charles Lynch
(piano)
English Sinfonia/Neville Dilkes rec. Aisling
Studios, Dublin, 16-17 Dec 1974 (sonata);
No. 1 Studio Abbey Road, London, 2 June 1971
(Two Pieces); 12-13 Mar 1973 (Symphony). ADD
EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 85154 2 8 [79:21]
[RB]
Sensationally
enjoyable version of the Symphony with an
interesting sonata and two pieces reflecting
the Moeran duality ... see Full
Review
Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567
- 1643)Madrigals Madrigali Erotici e Spirituali
Track
details below Consort
of Musicke BRILLIANT CLASSICS
99710 [6CDs: 61.09 + 51.23 + 65.22 + 70.19 + 52.52 + 64.44] [RH]
Not
ideal performances, but a fascinating introduction
to these works through a varied mix in some
interesting and vivid performances. ... see
Full Review
Claudio MONTEVERDI
(1567-1643)
Vespro della Beata Vergine, 1610
Magnificat a 6 [23’23] Magnificat a 7 [24’12]
Ensemble Vocal et Instrumental de Lausanne/Michel
Corboz Rec. Notre Dame de Valentin, Lausanne,
13-15 April 1966 ADD
WARNER APEX 2564 61429-2 [66'16'' + 67'15'']
[CB]
Apex’s
concept is good, but to meet a really mainstream
audience today a forty year recording of this
work is simply too old. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART
(1756-1791) Piano
Concerto no.24 in C minor, K491 1. Allegro
[13:56] (cadenza: Daniel Barenboim); 2.
Larghetto [8:06]; 3. Allegretto
[9:31] Piano Concerto no.25 in C major,
K503 1. Allegro maestoso [14:29] (cadenza:
Daniel Barenboim); 2. Andante [7:38];
3. Allegretto [8:42]
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim
(piano and conductor) Recorded in the Siemensvilla,
Berlin, February 1988
WARNER ELATUS 2564 61358-2 [63:00] [GPJ]
The
sublime, unsurpassed beauty comes across in
generous quantities in this fine issue – undoubtedly
a bargain not to be missed. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756 - 1791)
Così fan tutte, ossia la scuola
degli amanti (1790) Text by L. Da Ponte.
Fiordiligi - Helena Doese Dorabella - Sylvia
Lindenstrand Despina - Daniele Perriers Guglielmo
- [Sir] Thomas Allen Ferrando - Anson Austin
Don Alfonso - Franz Petri Glyndebourne Chorus
London
Philharmonic Orchestra/John Pritchard Recorded
at the Glyndebourne Festival 1975 Sung in
Italian. Subtitles in Deutsch, Français,
English, Castellano. Menu languages: Italiano,
Deutsch, Français, English, Castellano.
Notes in English, Français, Deutsch.
DVD-9 NTSC 4:3 format Region 0 “all
regions” PCM Stereo 2.0 sound.
[PSh]
ARTHAUS
MUSIK 101 081 [158.00]
An
attractively staged and generally well sung
but not spectacular Cosí
... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Così
Fan Tutte (highlights) Charlotte Margiono – Fiordiligi Delores
Zeigler – Dorabella Gilles Cachemaille – Guglielmo Deon van der Walt
– Ferrando Thomas Hampson – Don Alfonso Anna Steiger – Despina
Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Nikolaus
Harnoncourt rec Jan 1991, Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
WARNER APEX 2564 61498-2
[73.58] [PW]
Such
a fine performance would be easily recommendable
at any time, and becomes even more so at budget
price. As it stands, being only a selection,
it is hard to recommend this to anybody with
a serious interest in Mozart opera. ... see
Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756
- 1791) Franz
Josef HAYDN (1732 - 1809) Sacred
Arias
Annick Massis (soprano) Choeurs et Orchestra
Colonne/Daniel Inbal Recorded Live 21 Oct
2003
CASCAVELLE VEL 3073 [76:06] [RH]
A
rather safe programme of Mozart and Haydn
in disappointing performances by French soprano
Annick Massis ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Requiem
in D minor (completed Süssmayr),
K626* [47’59"] Ave verum Corpus,
K618 [4’19"] Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Insanae et
vanae curae [8’00"]
*Carys Lane (soprano); Frances Bourne
(alto); Paul Badley (tenor); Matthew Brook
(bass) Tenebrae Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Nigel
Short Recorded in St. John’s, Smith Square,
London, 3 April 2003
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 60191-2 [60’18"]
[JQ]
Mozart
Requiem: a dramatic and challenging performance
to which I shall certainly return. ... see
Full Review
Fabian
MÜLLER (b.1964)
String Quartet (2000) String Trio (1996)
String Quintet Rhapsody (1990/2000)
Duo for violin and cello
Petersen Quartet Tomasz Tomaszewski (violin)
Pi-Chin Chien (cello) Andreas Wylezol (double
bass) Recorded at the Siemens Villa, Berlin,
October and November 2003
CAPRICCIO 67 106 [55.34] [JW]
My
first meeting with Müller and I hope
it won’t be my last ... writes with freedom
and imagination and whose chamber music is
animated, warm and intriguing ... see
Full Review
Modest MUSSORGSKY
(1839-81)
Boris
Godunov (1868-74, rev. orch. Rimsky-Korsakov)
[177’55].
Boris Christoff (bass) Boris Godunov/Pimen/Varlaam;
Eugenia Zareska (mezzo) Marina, Feodor; Kim
Borg (bass) Rangoni, Shchelkalov; Andrzej
Bielecki (tenor) Shuisky, Missail, Krushchov;
Lydia Romanova (mezzo) Nurse, Hostess; Ludmila
Lebedeva (soprano) Xenia; Nicolai Gedda (tenor)
Grigory; Raymond Bonte (bass) Lavitsky; Russian
Chorus of Paris; French National Radio Orchestra/Issay
Dobrowen. Rec. Théâtre des Champs-Elysées,
Paris, on July 17th-21st,
1952. First issued on HMV ALP1044-47. APPENDIX:
PROLOGUE - Scene 2, People’s Chorus [4’27];
Entry of Borisa [4’08]. Act 2b
- Boris’ Monologue [5’09]; Clock Scene [4’02];
Act 4 - Boris’ Farewell and Prayerc
[4’25]; Funeral Bell and Death of Borisa
[4’20]. Fyodor Chaliapin (bass); achorus
and orchestra/Eugene Goossens; bLondon
Symphony Orchestra/Max Steinmann. From abpreviously
unpublished, cHMV DB934, rec. aQueen’s
Small Hall, London on May 26th,
1926, bJune 6th, 1931,
cMay 21st, 1926.
Mono ADD Notes and synopsis included.
NAXOS GREAT OPERA RECORDINGS 8.110242-44
[204’26: 64’35 + 68’12 + 71’39]. [CC]
A
massively impressive release, and one that
once more places us in debt to Naxos. ...
see Full Review
Carl NIELSEN
(1865-1931)
The Six Symphonies and Choral works conducted
by Blomstedt and Wöldike
Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931)
Symphonies 1-4 Andante Lamentoso -
At the bier of a young artist
Kirsten Schulz (sop); Peter Rasmussen
(ten) ‡ Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Herbert
Blomstedt rec. Danish Radio Concert Hall,
Copenhagen, Sept 1973 - Feb 1975 stereo ADD
recorded in cooperation with Danmarks Radio
EMI CLASSICS DOUBLE FFORTE 7243 2 74188
2 [77.34+75.15]
Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931)
Symphonies 5 and 6 and choral works Hymnus
Amoris FS12
Søvnen (Sleep) FS18 Wind
Quintet in A FS43
Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Herbert Blomstedt
(5, 6) Bodil Gøbel (sop); Tonny Landy
(ten); Bent Norup (bar); Mogens Schmidt Johansen
(bass); Hans Christian Andersen (bass); Copenhagen
Boys' Choir (Hymnus) Danish Radio Chorus
(Søvnen) Danish Radio Symphony
Orchestra/Mogens Wöldike Melos Ensemble
rec. Danish Radio Concert Hall, Copenhagen,
Nov 1973 - Oct 1976 (symphonies and choral);
Dec 1976, Studio 1, Abbey Road, Dec 1967 (quintet)
stereo ADD recorded in cooperation with Danmarks
Radio (except Quintet)
EMI CLASSICS DOUBLE FFORTE 7243 5 74299
2 [71.24 + 65.15] [RB]
Splendid
readings and Blomstedt's lively imagination
and attention to mood and instrumental detail
make these recordings endlessly rewarding.
They sound better than ever ... see
Full Review
Carl
NIELSEN
(1865-1931) The Six Symphonies
CD1 421 524-2 Symphony
No. 4 The Inextinguishable (1916) [36.13]
Symphony No. 5 (1922) [35.34]¦ CD2 425
607-2 Symphony No. 1 (1892) [32.57] Symphony
No. 6 Sinfonia Semplice (1925) [33.58]
CD3 430 280-2 Symphony No. 2 The
Four Temperaments (1902) [32.21] Symphony
No. 3 Sinfonia Espansiva (1911) [35.26]
San Francisco SO/Herbert Blomstedt Nancy
Wait Kromm (sop); Kevin McMillan (bar) (3)
rec. Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco,
Sept 1988 (1); Sept 1989 (2); Dec 1989 (3);
Nov 1987 (4); Nov 1987 (5); Sept 1988 (6)
DECCA 443 117-2 [71.47 + 66.55 + 67.47]
[RB]
A superior
choice among the crowded field of Nielsen
symphony contenders - polished playing and
plenty of character although the paramount
performances are of 4 and 5 ... see Full
Review
Luigi NONO (1924-1990)
Io,
Frammento da Prometeo for three sopranos,
small chorus, bass flute, contrabass clarinet
and live electronics (1981) Das Atmende
Klarsein for small chorus, bass flute,
live electronics and tape (1980-83)
Katia Plaschka, high soprano; Petra Hoffmann,
soprano, Monika Blair-Ivenz, soprano; Roberto
Fabbriciani, bass flute; Ciro Scarponi, contrabass
clarinet Soloistenchor Freiburg Electronic
realization and sound direction by Michael
Acker and Reinhold Braig Conducted by André
Richard
COL LEGNO WWE 2 SACD 20600 [72.33 + 38.34]
[GH]
Unique
and ground-breaking compositions which are
worth trying to come to terms with. ... see
Full Review
Carl
ORFF (1895
- 1982) Carmina
Burana (1937) Kathleen Battle (soprano);
Frank Lopardo (tenor); Thomas Allen (bass)
Shin-Yu Kai Chorus and Knabenchor des Staats-und
Domchores Berlin Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Seiji
Ozawa. Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN (1770 - 1827) Symphony No
9 in D Minor Op. 125 "The Choral"
(1824)
Anne Schwanewilms (soprano); Barbara Dever
(alto); Paul Groves (tenor); Franz Hawlata
(bass) Tokyo Opera Singers Saito Kinen Orchestra/Seiji
Ozawa. Rec. live, Philharmonie Berlin,
1990 (Orff); Saito Kinen Festival, 2001.
PHILIPS
DVD 074 3060 [62:00 (Orff) + 72:00 (Beethoven)]
[JPh]
I
can wholeheartedly recommend this issue with
one or two slight reservations.... see Full
Review
Giovanni
PAISIELLO (1741-1816)
Sinfonia
d’Opera: Allegro vivace [4:59] Piano Concerto
No. 2 in F [19:04] Overture in D from the
opera Proserpine [5:51] Piano Concerto
No. 4 in g minor [24:41]
Francesco Nicolosi, piano Collegium Philarmonicum
Chamber Orchestra/Gennaro Cappabianca Rec.
Court of the Royal Palace Theatre, Caserta,
Italy, 25-28 February 2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.557031 [54:35] [KS]
Charming
and elegant works ... an adventuresome selection
of repertoire. ... see Full
Review
Arvo PÄRT
(b. 1935) Berliner
Messe for choir and string orchestra (revised
V/1992) Cantate Domino Canticum Novum (Psalm
95) (1977 revised 1996) De Profundis (1980)
Summa (1977) The Beatitudes (1990
revised 1991) Magnificat (1989)
Jurgen Petrenko (organ) Elora Festival Singers
and Orchestra/Noel Edison Recorded at Grace
Church on the Hill, Toronto, May 2003 
NAXOS
6.110052 5.1 SURROUND SOUND SACD/CD
HYBRID [52.12] [JW]
These
highly accomplished performers are clearly
well versed in the idiom and catch the essential
Pärt with imagination and technical security.
... see Full
Review
Walter PISTON Symphony
No. 6 [23:57] Ernest
BLOCH Schelomo (1916)
[21:58] Igor STRAVINSKY
Jeu de Cartes [21:57]
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch
rec. transferred from RCA Victor LPs, 1956
(Piston); 1957 (Bloch); 1960 (Stravinsky)
HAYDN HOUSE CD SDA 2001-270 [68:32]
[RB]
Extremely
high quality work ... astonishingly good ...
see Full Review
Serge PROKOFIEV
(1891
- 1953) Zdravitsa
(Hail to Stalin) - Original version
of the Cantata for chorus and orchestra, Op.
85 (1939)* [12:51] Autumnal, Symphonic
sketch Op. 8 (1910; 1914; 1934) [7:43] Hamlet
- Incidental music for the play by W.
Shakespeare, Op. 77 (The Ghost of Hamlet's
Father. Andante lugubre; Claudius's March.
Moderato con brio; Fanfares Pantomime. Allegro
moderato; Ophelia's first song. Andante; Ophelia's
second song. Andante; Ophelia's third song.
Andante; Ophelia's fourth song. Andante espressivo;
The Gravedigger's song. Sostenuto; Fortinbras's
Final March. Andante maestoso) (1938) [21:50]
Tatiana Sharova soprano Andrei Baturkin baritone
Flourish, Mighty Land - Original version
of the Cantata for the thirtieth anniversary
of the October Revolution, Op. 114 (1947)*
Egyptian Nights - Symphonic Suite ,
Op. 61 (1938) (Night in Egypt. Adagio; Caesar,
the Sphinx and Cleopatra. Andantino; The Alarm.
Allegro inquieto; Dances. Allegretto; Anthony.
Andante mosso; The Fall of Cleopatra. Lento
doloroso; Roma militaris. Andante maestoso)
[22:06]
Russian State Symphonic Orchestra and Capella/Valeri
Polyansky Rec. Grand Hall of the Conservatory,
Moscow, Russia, August 2002
CHANDOS CHAN 10056 [73.18] Serge
PROKOFIEV (1891 - 1953) On the
Dnieper, Op. 51 (A ballet in two scenes:
Introduction. Andante dolce (quasi andantino);
Scene 1: The Meeting. Allegro amabile; Mime
Scene. Moderato (quasi allegretto); Pas de
Deux. Andante mosso; Man's Variation and Finale.
Allegro vivace e ben marcato; Scene 2: The
Betrothal. Andante; Fiancé's Dance.
Allegro risoluto; Fiancée's Dance.
Andante con eleganza; Young Men's Dance. Andantino;
The Fight. Allegro precipitato; Mime Scene.
Moderato; Epilogue. Andante amoroso) (1931)
(40.37) Songs of Our Days - Suite,
Op. 76 (March; Over the Bridge. Cavalry song;
Goodbye!; Golden Ukraine. Folksong; Brother
for Brother; Girls; A Twenty-year old; Lullaby;
October Flame) (1937) (25.45)
Victoria Smolnikova, mezzo-soprano; Igor Tarasov,
baritone Russian State Symphonic Orchestra
and Capella/Valeri Polyansky Rec. Grand Hall
of the Conservatory, Moscow, Russia, August
2002
CHANDOS CHAN 10044 [66.32] [RB]
Two
fascinating Prokofiev discs with the accent
on extolling the glories of the Soviet regime
... see Full
Review
Sergei
Prokofiev
(1891 - 1953) Peter
and the Wolf, (1935) [24.00] William Henry
Pratt ("Boris Karloff"), narrator
Lieutenant Kije: Suite, Op (1933) [15.39]
Vienna State Opera Orchestra/Mario Rossi Recorded
Vienna Austria, May 1957. Karloff’s voice
recorded in New York in 1958. On screen extras:
technical documentary, composer biography,
speaker set-up utility. Notes in English:
technical staff, track list. ADD Stereo 2.0
and 5.1 surround for both DVD-Audio players
and DVD video players. DVD-Audio
playable on all DVD players.
SILVERLINE 288230-9 [39.39] [PSh]
A
fine recording in excellent sound of a children’s
classic and a satirical standard ... see Full
Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
Romeo
and Juliet - Scenes from the Ballet (Suite
arr. Michael Tilson Thomas)
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tilson
Thomas No recording information
BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 59424 [78'10] [RNB]
Even
if you already have a version of this twentieth
century masterpiece, the performance and sonics
of this version are wholly recommendable.
Shakespeare as well as Prokofiev is done full
justice here. ... see Full
Review
Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858-1924)
La
Fanciulla del West (1910) - opera
in three acts Libretto C. Civinini and C.
Zangarini, after the play The Girl of the
Golden West by David Belasco Minnie, Mara
Zampieri (sop); Jock Rance, Juan Pons (bar);
Dick Johnson (Ramerrez), Placido Domingo (ten);
Nick, Sergio Bertocchi (ten); Ashby, Luigi
Roni (bass); Billy Jackrabbit, Aldo Bramante
(bass); Wowkle, Nella Verri (mezzo-sop); Jake
Wallace, Marco Chingari (bar); Jose Castro,
Claudio Giombi (bass).
Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro al!a Scala/Lorin
Maazel Stage Director, Jonathan Miller; Set
Design, Stefanos Lazaridis; Recorded Milan,
1991
OPUS
ARTE LS3004 D [144:00] [JL]
DVD
launch of an admired 1991 production with
Domingo at his best. Jonathan Miller’s direction
ensures visual impact. ... see Full
Review
Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858-1924)
Turandot Gina
Cigna, Turandot Francesco Merli, Il Principe
ignoto (Calàf) Magda Olivero, Liù
Luciano Neroni, Timur Orchestra Sinfonica
e Coro dell’ EIAR di Tonno/Franco GhioneRecorded
in Mono at Teatro Nuovo, Torino, on 4-15 September,
1938 Giuseppe VERDI
Aida
"Fu la sorte dell’ armi a’ tuoi funesta"
[8:56] Amilcare PONCHIELLI
La
Gioconda: "E anathema… L’amo come il
fulgor" [3:39] Gustave
CHARPENTIER Louise:
"De quell di" [4:25] Franco
ALFANO Risurrezione:
"Giunge il teno… Dio pietoso"
[4:11] Jules MASSENET
Manon:
"Ebben! Addio, o nostro picciol desco"
[3:44] César-August
FRANCK La
Procession [4:21] Alexander
GRETCHANINOV Step’ju
idu ja Unyloju, Op. 5, n. 1 [3:20] Gerussi
CARDUCCI Pantiesmo [2:58]
WARNER FONIT 5050467-1223-2-1 [78:52
+ 73:46] [PG]
For
anyone interested in the work itself or in
the historical preservation and rediscovery
of the truly great performers and performances
of the past should enjoy this ... see
Full Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Symphonic
Dances (1940) [35:04] Prince Rostislav
(1891) [17:15] Capriccio on Russian
Themes (1894) [17:06]
USSR SO/Evgeny Svetlanov rec. live, Grand
Hall, Moscow Conservatoire, 3 Feb 1986 (Symphonic
Dances; 1973 (Rostislav, Capriccio).
ADD
REGIS RRC 1178 [69:34] [RB]
The
vengeful genie has been let out of the bottle
- exhilarating but over the top. ... see
Full Review
Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943)
Piano
Concerto No. 2 in C minor Op. 18 (1900) [30:51]
Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Op. 30 (1909)
[37:45] Prelude in E flat major Op. 23 No.
6 [2:49] Prelude in C sharp minor Op. 3 No.
2 [3:50]
Byron Janis (piano) London SO/Antal Dorati
(3); Minneapolis SO/Antal Dorati (2) rec.
Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, 17-18 Apr
1960 (2, Preludes); Watford Town Hall 16-17
June 1961 (3) ADD originally issued on Mercury
LPs: SR90260 (2); SR90283 (3) SACD reviewed
in CD mode
MERCURY LIVING PRESENCE
470 639-2 [75:18] [RB]
Bejewelled
detail extracted from these forty plus year
old tapes - Janis impresses still ... see
Full Review
Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873–1943)
Piano
Sonata No. 1 opus 28 in D minor Piano Sonata
No. 2 opus 36 in B flat minor
Lydia Jardon, piano Recorded at Theatre de
Poissy, 2004
AR RÉ-SÉ 2002 - 4 [50:01]
[CM]
As
with all Rachmaninov, to hear these two Sonatas
properly one must sit back and fasten one’s
seatbelt for a cruise through a sea of emotions
– Rachmaninov’s, Jardon’s and your own. ...
see Full
Review
Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943)
Sonata
for Cello and Piano in G minor (1901) Dimitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Sonata
for Cello and Piano in D minor (1934) Alfred
SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) Suite
in the Old Style (1972)
Leonid Gorokhov (cello); Nikolai Demidenko
(piano) Rec. The Music Room, Champs Hill,
Pulborough, Sussex, England, 23-24 Feb 2004
ASV GOLD GLD 4006 [78:17] [IL]
Poised,
polished, poetic and passionate performances
of beautiful, accessible Russian chamber works.
Warmly recommended. ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) TRANSCRIPTIONS
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)/RACHMANINOV
Suite from Partita in E for Violin (Preludio
[3’23]; Gavotte [2’51]; Gigue [1’39]). Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)/RACHMANINOV
Wohin? Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Lilacs,
Op. 23 No. 5 [2’44] Variations on a theme
of Corelli, Op. 42 [18’53] Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)/RACHMANINOV
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Scherzo [4’20]
Fritz KREISLER
(1875-1962)/RACHMANINOV
Liebesleid [4’05] Liebesfreud [6’52] Georges
BIZET (1838-1875)/RACHMANINOV
L’Arlésienne – Minuet [3’08] Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)/RACHMANINOV
Lullaby, Op. 16 No. 1 [4’18] Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)/RACHMANINOV
The Tale of Tsar Saltan – Flight of the
Bumble Bee [1’08] Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Hungarian Rhapsody
No. 2 (with cadenza by RACHMANINOV)
[11’48]
Olga Kern (piano) Rec. Skywalker Sound,
Marin County, CA, USA, 30 Aug - 2 Sept 2003.
DDD
HARMONIA MUNDI FRANCE HMU907336 [72’37]
[CC]
Certainly
worth hearing for the Corelli Variations.
... see Full
Review
Maurice RAVEL
(1875-1937) Sonata
for Violin and Cello (1920/22) Felix
TREIBER (b.1960) Six Intermezzi
(2002) Zoltán
KODÁLY (1882-1967) Duo for
Violin and Cello Op.7 (1914) Diana Drechsler
(violin) Thomas Gieron (cello)
Recorded in Badischen Staatstheater, Karlsruhe,
May 2003
ANTES EDITION BM CD 31.9190 [64.14] [JW]
Drechsler
and Gieron ... a sympathetic pairing, both
clearly attuned to each other’s playing and
phrasing. ... see Full
Review
The
Famous Oistrakh Trio Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Trio
A minor (1914) Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Trio in
D minor Op.9 Élégiaque
(1893)
David Oistrakh (violin) Sviatoslav Knushevitzky
(cello) Lev Oborin (piano) No recording details
PREISER RECORDS 90596 [72.19] [JW]
I
can warmly recommend the Oistrakh Trio discs;
they’ve been away too long and their warmth
and palpable expression will always appeal
to their many admirers. ... see Full
Review
Steve REICH
(b. 1936) Three
Tales (1998-2002): Hindenburg;
Bikini; Dolly
Synergy Vocals Steve Reich Ensemble/Bradley
Lubman Plus Bonus DVD
NONESUCH 7559-79835-2 [59.37] [NH]
In
Dolly, in particular, this CD gives us at best, an ambivalent and, probably,
a coruscating artistic response to the "limits of science". Listen,
learn and worry? ... see Full Review
Johann
Friedrich REICHARDT (1752 - 1814)
Erwin
und Elmire, Singspiel in two acts
Simone Kermes (Elmire),
Johanna Stojkovic (Rosa), soprano; Jörg Dürmüller (Erwin), tenor; Michael
Kupfer (Valerio), baritoneCappella Coloniensis/Andreas Spering Rec.
Aug-Sept 1999 at the Funkhaus Wallraffplatz in Cologne, Germany DDD
CPO 999 860-2 [44:36 + 37:23]
[JVV]
Another
rarity from CPO: a Singspiel on a text by Goethe, composed by Reichardt
– it is the music which attracts the attention in this excellent performance
… see Full Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Ottorini RESPIGHI
(1879-1936)
Feste Romane; Fontane di Romana; Pini di Roma
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia/Daniele Gatti Recorded
14-16 October 1996 at Auditorio Via della Concilliazione, Rome
RCA RED SEAL 82876 60869 2 [65:54] [GPJ]
This
is going to take some beating – as to Gatti,
sensational, yes, but that’s meant as a compliment!
... see Full
Review
Knudåge RIISAGER
(1897-1974) Piano
Works: Sonata Op. 22 (1931) [14:38]; Deux
Morceaux (1933) [2:51]; Four Pieces
from Slaraffenland Op. 33 (1936-40)
[7:32]; Sonatine (1950) [7:15]; Waltz
from ballet Tolv med posten Op.
37 (1939) [2:07]; Fire Børneklaverstykker
(1964) [3:22]; Quatre Épigrammes
(1922) [8:16]; En Glad Trompet og andre
Klaverstykker (1933-35) [6:07]
Christina Bjørkøe (piano) rec.
Carl Nielsen Academy of Music, 13 Dec 2003,
31 Jan, 27 Mar 2004. DDD
DACAPO 8.226004 [52:47] [RB]
French-accents
are strong ... will appeal to anyone with
a liking for Poulenc and Ravel. Quite a discovery.
... see Full Review
Knudåge
RIISAGER (1897-1974)
Piano
Music Sonata,
Opus 22 (1931) [14.38] Deux Morceaux (1933)
4 Pieces from Schlaraffenland, Opus 33 (1940)
Sonatine (1950) Waltz from the ballet Tolv
med posten, Opus 37 (1939) Fire Børneklaverstykker
(1964) Quarte Épigrammes (1921) En
glad trompet (1935)
Christina Bjørkøe (piano) Rec.
13 December 2003, 31 January, 27 March 2004,
Carl Nielsen Academy of Music, Copenhagen
DA CAPO 8.226004 [52.47]
[TB]
Motor
rhythms, complex counterpoint and biting harmony
... see Full
Revie
Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
(1844-1908) Capriccio
Espagnol Op. 34 (1887) [15:14] Le Coq
d'Or suite (1908) [25:27] Russian Easter
Festival Overture Op. 36 (1887) [15:09]
Alexander BORODIN
(1833-1887) Polovtsian Dances (1887)
[11:16] London Symphony Orchestra Chorus
London Symphony Orchestra/Antal Dorati
rec. Walthamstow Town Hall, 4 July 1956 (Dances);
5 July 1956 (Coq); 9 June 1959 (Capriccio,
Overture). ADD
SACD reviewed in CD mode Originally issued
on LPs SR90122; SR90265
MERCURY
LIVING PRESENCE 475 6194 [67:06] [RB]
Vintage
Mercury sound from this Russian spectacular
collection ... see Full
Review
The Famous Oistrakh Trio Nikolai
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Trio
C major (1897 completed Maximilian Steinberg
1939) Bedřich
SMETANA Trio in G minor Op.15
David Oistrakh (violin) Sviatoslav Knushevitzky
(cello) Lev Oborin (piano) No recording details
PREISER RECORDS 90595 [66.44] [JW]
Nobility
and depth ... a real drama of the soul ...
exciting, touching, grand, affecting and rapt.
... see Full Review
Nikolai
Andreyevich RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
(1844 - 1908) The
Tsar’s Bride, opera in 4 acts (1898)
[142.31] Text: Rimsky-Korsakov and I. F. Tyumenev,
after L. A. Mey. Marfa - Natalya
Spiller Grigory Gryaznoy - Pyotr
Mevdvev Lyubasha - Maria Maksakova
Vasily Sobakin - Maxim Mikhailov Chorus
and Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theater, Moscow/Lev
Steinberg Recorded Moscow, Russia, 1943 ADD
Notes in Cyrillic Russian and English. Synopsis,
no libretto. Photos of star singers, set.
GREAT HALL MVI CD 053-054 [75.33 + 66.58]
[PSh]
A
must-have set for connoisseurs of Russian
opera, but most of us might prefer a modern
recording first to get to know this magnificent
score. ... see Full
Review
Joaquín
RODRIGO (1901-1999)
Concierto
de Aranjuez (1939) [20:41] (A) Concierto
Andaluz for four guitars and orchestra
(1967) [24:58] (CCPA) Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concerto for
four guitars and orchestra (transc. Op. 3
No. 10 four violins and orchestra, Estro
Armonico) [9.23] (CCPA) Concerto for guitar
and orchestra (transc. concerto in C for mandolin
and orchestra) [9.48] (Celedonio) Concerto
for two guitars and orchestra (transc. concerto
in G for two mandolins and orchestra, Estro
Armonico) [10.51] (P/Celin)
Celedonio Romero, Celin Romero, Pepe Romero,
Angel Romero (guitars) San Antonio Symphony
Orchestra/Victor Alessandro Rec. Municipal
Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas, USA, Nov 1967.
ADD SACD reviewed in CD mode
MERCURY LIVING PRESENCE 475 6184 [76:47]
[RB]
Joyous
music-making in the case of the Rodrigo items
matched with three emotionally cool Vivaldi
concertos. ... see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI
(1792 - 1868) Il
Barbieri di Siviglia plus L’Italiana
in Algeri DVD double
ARTHAUS
MUSIK 100 932[157.00] [PSh]
A
beautifully sung, staged, and recorded Barber—the
best I know ... 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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