Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Lieder
und Gesänge aus der Jungendzeit*[17’08”] Erinnerung [2’29”] Scheiden
und Meiden [2’18”] Nicht wiedersehn! [3’29”] Ich ging mit Lust durch
einen grünen Wald [3’13”] Ablösung im Sommer [1’18”] Hans und Grete
[1’45”] Frühlingsmorgen [1’32”] Starke Einbildungskraft [1’03] Symphony
No 5 in C sharp minor [60’51] 
*Desi Halban (soprano); Bruno Walter (piano) Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra
of New York/Bruno Walter Recorded: 10 Feb 1947, Carnegie Hall, New York;
*16 Dec 1947, Los Angeles ADD
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110896 [77’59”][JQ]
Naxos
deserve our thanks for making this vivid performance
available at a bargain price. ... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony
No. 3 (1896) [99.23] Marjana Lipovsek (alto)
Vienna Boys Choir, Women’s Voices of the Vienna
Singverein
Bavarian State Orchestra/Zubin Mehta Rec 16
Sept 2004, Vienna Musikverein
FARAO CLASSICS B 108 046 [61.48 + 37.35]
[TB]
Mehta
is an experienced Mahlerian and knows how
to handle large forces. He is less successful
in conveying the music’s symphonic direction
and flow. ... see Full
Review
Gustav
Mahler (1860-1911) Symphony
No.8, "Symphony of a Thousand"
Orchestra, Soloists and Choruses of Manchester United Supporter’s Club,
Simon Rattle (conductor) Recorded at Old Trafford, Manchester, April
1st 1980
MUSC 001, 1 disc, super-budget price, 68 minutes [MB]
...the
gut-wrenching theatricality of his Old Trafford performance is a plausible
alternative to the epic dimensions of the Birmingham recording ... see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ivo
MALEC (b. 1925) Sonoris causa (1997) [15:55]Ottava alta (1995)a
[22:43]Exempla (1994) [33:34]
Raphaël Oleg (violin)aOrchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg/Arturo
TamayoRecorded: Conservatoire,
Luxembourg, September 2004 TIMPANI 1C1086 [72:31] [HC]
Malec - a composer of unequalled aural imagination.
The present performances are simply stunning
and exemplary ... see Full
Review
Loïc
MALLIÉ (b.
1947) Jeux
- Improvisations on themes of Debussy, Autour
de Debussy [16'50] Prelude,
Fugue et final [4'53], [4'36], [4'35]
Anthologie, la Grotte, Contraste [5'33]
[4'22] Clins d'Oeil [1'44],
[2'55], [3'26], [5'13] Jeux [6'25]
Final [6'27]
Loïc Maille, organ Rec. Saint Vaast
de Bailleul, September 2003. DDD
EDITIONS HORTUS 032 [71'50] [CB]
I'm left with mixed
feelings overall ... see Full
Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959)
Vánoce (1926) [6'56]; Trois
esquisses (1926) [6'13]; Quatre mouvements
(1929) [7'58]; Avec un doigta
(1930) [0'34]; To Božánek and
Soničkaa (1932) [2'38];
Lístek do památniku (1935/6)
[1'11]; Dumka No. 1 (1936) [2'38];
Dumka No. 2 (1936) [2'25]; Julietta
(Act 2, Scene 3) (1938) [3'16]; Fenêtre
sur le jardin (1938) [8'18]; Mazurka
(1941) [2'16]; Dumka No. 3 (1941)
[2'07]; Merry Christmas 1941 to Hope Castagnola
(1941) [4'02]; The Fifth Day of the
Fifth Moon (1948) [3'02]; Les bouquinistes
du quai Malaquais (1948) [1'26]; Barcarolle
(1949) [1'40]; Improvisation (1951)
[0'51]; Piano Sonata (1954) [18'38]; Adagio
(1957) [3'01]
Erik Entwistle (piano) with aWilliam
Freedberg (piano). Rec The Sonic Temple, Roslindale,
Mass., USA, March 15th, April 30th
and May 21st, 2003. DDD
SUMMIT RECORDS DCD407 [79'25][CC]
There
is a huge amount to discover here, and I do encourage you to seek out
this delightful disc ... see Full
Review
Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Werther
(1892)
Andrea Bocelli (tenor) – Werther; Natale de Carolis (baritone)
– Albert; Giorgio Giuseppini (baritone) – The Bailiff; Julia Gertseva
(mezzo-soprano) – Charlotte; Magali Léger (soprano) – Sophie; Pierre
Lefebvre (tenor) – Schmidt); Armando Ariostini (bass) – Johann; Diana
Bertini (soprano) – Kätchen; Vittorio Prato (tenor) – Bruhlmann; Coro
di voci bianche del Teatro Communale di Bologna, Orchestra del Teatro
Comunale di Bologna/Yves Abel Recorded in the Teatro Manzoni, Bologna,
30 January – 5 February 2004, following live performances at the Teatro
Comunale DECCA
475 6557 [73:06 + 56:33][GF]
Bocelli
fans should not hesitate of course, but others
should give it a chance too. ... see Full
Review
Peter
MAXWELL DAVIES (b.
1934) Naxos
Quartets: No. 3 (2003) [31’04]; No. 4, ‘Children’s
Games (2004) [25’05]
Maggini Quartet (Laurence Jackson, David Angel,
violins; Martin Outram, viola; Michal Kaznowski,
cello). Rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, on September
28th-30th, 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557397 [56’10] [CC]
Virtuoso
compositions given virtuoso performances in
excellent sound. Maxwell Davies’ imagination
is simply remarkable … An important release.
... see Full
Review
George
Frederick McKAY (1899-1970)
Concerto
for Violin and orchestra (1940) 26.01] Suite on Sixteenth Century Hymn
Tunes (1962) [20.32] Sinfonietta No. 4 (1942) [17.46] Song Over Great
Plains (1953) [13.59]
Brian Reagin (violin) National Radio Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine/John
McLaughlin Williams. rec. 15–20 June, 29-31 October 2003, Large Concert
Studio of the National Radio Company of Ukraine, Kiev. DDD
NAXOS 8.559225 [78.18] [JPh]
Beautifully
crafted, and well orchestrated works ... performances
that are totally idiomatic. Excellent. I do
urge you to try this disc ... see Full
Review
Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) The Complete
String Quartets String
Quartet No.1 in E flat major, Op.12 (1827)
[23’32] String Quartet No.2 in A minor, Op.13
(1829) [29’40] String Quartet No.3 in D major,
Op.Op.44 No.1 (1837) [30’47] String Quartet
No.4 in E minor, Op.44 No.2 (1837) [27’01]
String Quartet No.5 in E flat major, Op.44
No.3 (1838) [33’08] String Quartet No.6 in
F minor, Op.80 (1847) [23’39] Quartet in E
flat major (1823, pub.1879) [23’51] Octet
for Strings in E flat major, Op.20 (1825)
[30’20] Fugue Op.81 No.4 (1827) [4’51] Capriccio
Op.81 No.3 (1843) [5’45] Theme and Variations
Op.81 No.1 [5’30] Scherzo Op.81 No.2 [3’26]
The Emerson Quartet CD ROM Video Documentary
‘Recording the Octet’ included on fourth disc
Recorded in the Academy of Arts and Letters,
New York, Oct.2003 and April 2004
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 477 5370 [4
CDs: 57’47 + 60’17 + 69’46 + 54’18] [TH]
A
neat and economical way to get superb modern
performances of this life-enhancing music.
... see Full
Review
Darius MILHAUD
(1892-1974)
A Cappella Choral Works 1)
Cantique du Rhône (Canticle of the
Rhône), op. 155 (1936) 2) Les
Deux cites (The two cities), op. 170 (1937)
3) Devant sa main nue (Before her naked
hand), op. 187, for women’s choir (1933)
4) Naissance de Vénus (The birth
of Venus), op. 292 (1949) 5) Trois
psaumes de David (Three psalms of David),
op. 155 (1954) 6) Promesse de Dieu (God’s
promise), op. 438 (1972)
Netherlands Chamber Choir/Stephen Layton
rec. Augustinuskerk, Amsterdam, May, 2001
(1, 2, 5, 6); April, 2002 (3, 4). DDD
GLOBE RECORDS GLO 5206 [59:25] [MC]
Good
performances but I was rather jaded and overloaded
by the conclusion of the release and found
the music tedious and largely forgettable.
... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756 - 1791) Symphony
No. 39 in E flat, K.543 (1788) [25.23] Symphony
No. 40 in G min, K.550 (1788) [25.21] Symphony
No. 41 in C flat, K.551 Jupiter (1788)
[28.56]
NDR Symphony Orchestra/Günter Wand.rec.
Musikhalle, Hamburg, Germany, 6-8 May 1990,
(KK543; 551); March 1994 (K550). DDD
BMG-RCA RED SEAL 82876 65842-2 [72’16"]
[JPh]
Very
highly recommended for performances, recording
and price ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-91) Concerto for Flute
in D major, K314 (1777) [18:50] Concerto for Flute in G major, K313
(1777) [22:43] Symphony No 41 in C major, K551 ‘Jupiter’ (1788)
[35:34]
Jacques
Zoon (flute) Boston Baroque/Martin Pearlman recorded in Mechanics Hall,
Worcester, Massachusetts, 7-8 March 2004
TELARC
CD-80624 [77:07][PJL]
Vibrant
music-making by real musicians - not ‘performing intellectuals’
... see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Piano
Concerto No. 21 K467 (1785) [27.34]
Géza Anda (piano) Toronto Symphony Orchestra/Karel Ančerl Recorded
live, 4th March 1970 Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto No.1 in D minor
Op.15 (1854-58) [47.48] Géza Anda (piano) Concertgebouw Orchestra/Eugen
Jochum Recorded live, 1st March 1967
TAHRA 536 [75.26][JW]
Especially
treasurable is his lyricism and sense of
animation – no question of a wallow here.
... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) arr. Johann
Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837) Concerto
No. 10 for two pianos in E-flat, KV 365
(1779/1836?) [26.01] Piano Concerto No.
24 in C minor, KV 491 (1786/1836?) [31.14]
Fumiko Shiraga (piano); Henrik Wiese
(flute); Peter Clemente (violin); Tibor
Bényi (cello) rec. Bavarian Music
Studios, Munich, June 2004. DDD
BIS CD-1237 [58.06] [SV]
Does
the music survive chamber transcription?
Based on this evidence, the answer is a
Scottish verdict: "not proven". ... see
Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) The String
Quartets Volume 1 String
Quartet in B flat K458 The Hunt (1784)
[31.39] String Quartet in C K465 Dissonance
(1785) [38.33] Adagio and Fugue
in C minor K546 (1788) [7.17]
Coull Quartet rec. St Paul’s Church,
Birmingham, September 2003 and July 2004 (K546)
SOMM CD 040 [77.44] [JW]
These
are fine performances and worthy of your attention.
... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Don
Giovanni, K 527 (1787) Prague, Czech Republic
Cesare Siepi (bass) ... Don Giovanni; Otto Edelmann (bass) ... Leporello;
Raffaele Arié (bass) ... Commendatore; Walter Berry (bass) ... Masetto;
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) ... Donna Elvira; Elisabeth Grümmer
(soprano) ... Donna Anna; Erna Berger (soprano) ... Zerlina; Anton Dermota
(tenor) ... Ottavio Vienna State Opera Chorus Vienna Philharmonic/Wilhelm
Furtwängler Recorded in Italian at the Salzburg Festival, 27 July 1953.
mono
ORFEO D’OR C 624 043 D [64.00 + 76.21 + 39.22][AR]
A
collector’s item specifically for opera-buffs
and Furtwängler fanatics and fills a gap in
his recording legacy. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Don
Giovanni - Dramma Giocosa in Two Acts
K 527, libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte Don
Giovanni (bass-baritone) – Bryn Terfel
Commendatore (bass) – Sergei Koptchak
Donna Anna (soprano) – Renée
Fleming Don Ottavio (tenor) – Paul
Groves Donna Elvira (soprano) – Solveig
Kringelborn Leporello (bass) – Ferruccio
Furlanetto Masetto (bass) – John Relyea
Zerlina (soprano) – Hei-Kyung Hong
Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra/James
Levine Directed for the stage by Franco Zeffirelli
Directed for video by Gary Halvorson Recorded
at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York,
October 2000
DG 073 4010 [2 DVDs – 1 hr. 32 + 1 hr.
27min.] [TH]
It’s
hard not to give this Don a warm welcome.
For those irritated by modern psychological
stagings, this set could well provide the
perfect answer. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Le
nozze di Figaro – Comic opera in four
acts K.492 [165:04] Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
(Count Almaviva), Elisabeth Grümmer (Countess
Almaviva), Erika Köth (Susanna), Walter
Berry (Figaro), Edith Mathis (Cherubino),
Patricia Johnson (Marcellina), Julius Katona
(Basilio), Martin Vantin (Don Curzio), Peter
Lagger (Bartolo), Walter Dicks (Antonio),
Barbara Vogel (Barabarina), Chorus and Orchestra
of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin/Karl Böhm.
Recorded live in Tokyo, October 23rd
1963. Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Stabat
Mater [54:08]
Elisabeth Grümmer (soprano), Maria von
Ilosvay (contralto), Walther Ludwig (tenor),
Helmuth Fehn (bass), Cologne Radio Chorus
and Symphony Orchestra/Ferenc Fricsay Recorded
live in Cologne, 1953
PONTO PO-1025 [3 CDs: 65:05 + 75:08 +
78:59] [CH]
This
issue will be of particular interest to admirers of Elisabeth Grümmer.
... see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791)
The
Magic Flute - Singspiel in two acts
Tamino, a Javanese Prince ... Barry Banks (ten) Queen of the Night ...
Elizabeth Vidal (sop) Pamina, her daughter ... Rebecca Evans (sop) Three
Ladies, attendants to the Queen: First Lady ... Majella Cullagh (sop);
Second Lady ... Sarah Fox (sop); Third Lady ... Diana Montague (mezzo)
Papageno, a bird catcher ... Simon Keenlyside (bar) Papagena ... Lesley
Garrett (sop) Sarastro, Priest of the Sun ... John Tomlinson (bass)
Monostatos, a Moor, overseer at the temple ... John Graham-Hall (tenor)
Speaker, an elderly priest ... Christopher Purves (bass) With Peter
Bronder, Debbie Tyfield, Nazan Fikret and Victoria Jones Geoffrey Mitchell
Choir London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras Recorded at
Blackheath Halls, London; 4-10 November 2004
CHANDOS CHAN 3121(2) [62.23 + 73.24][RM]
Another
fine production from Chandos: Opera in English. ... see Full
Review
Modest MUSSORGSKY
(1839-1881)
Pictures
at an Exhibition (1874) Pyotr
Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Music
from the Sleeping Beauty (1888-89), arranged
M. Pletnev Six Piano Pieces, Op. 21
(1873) The Seasons, Op. 37b (1876)
Mikhail Pletnev (piano) Recorded at St.
Martin’s Church, East Woodhay, Berkshire (UK),
November 1989 (CD 1) and No.1 Studio, Abbey
road, London, (UK), January 1994 (CD 2). DDD
VIRGIN CLASSICS 4 82055 2 [63:53 + 65:54]
[MC]
Quite
astonishing piano playing by the great Mikhail Pletnev. Well recorded
with a natural and pleasing sound. This set should be in any serious
collection of piano music. ... see Full
Review
Maurice OHANA
(1913
– 1992)
String Quartet No.1 (1963) [16:27] String
Quartet No.2 (1980) [21:53] String Quartet No.3 (1989) [24:03]
Quatuor Psophos (Ayako Tanaka,
Bleuenn Le Maître, violins; Cécile Grassi, viola; Ingrid Schoenlaub,
cello) Recorded: Auditorium, Conservatoire Georges Bizet, Paris, July
2004
AR RÉ-SÉ AR 2004-7 [62:53][HC]
Demanding,
but ultimately rewarding pieces superlatively played. An important release.
Strong stuff, but well worth the effort. ... see Full
Review
Hisato OHZAWA (1907-1953)
Piano Concerto No. 3, ‘Kamikaze’a (1938) [26’19]. Symphony
No. 3, ‘Symphony of the Founding of Japan’ (1937) [37’51].
aEkaterina Saranceva (piano) Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky.
Rec. Studio No. 5, ‘KULTURA’ Russian State TV & Radio
Company, Moscow, 7-11 Oct 2003. DDD
NAXOS JAPANESE CLASSICS 8.557416 [64’10][CC]
One
of Naxos’s strengths is that it enables the music-lover to explore
new terrain (that would almost certainly never feature in the concert
hall) for minimum outlay. This disc exemplifies this philosophy perfectly.
... see Full Review
Nicolò
PAGANINI (1782-1840)
24 Caprices, Op 1 (1817?)
Massimo Quarta (violin) recorded in Studio A, Auditorium Parco della
Musica, Rome, 9-12 November 2002
CHANDOS CHAN 10276 [79:28] [PJL]
Undeniably
extraordinary music, and extraordinary violin-playing
... see Full
Review
Fantasising
- Chamber Music from Wales Ian
PARROTT Fantasising on a Welsh
Tune for recorder, oboe, bassoon and piano
Peter CROSSLEY-HOLLAND
Andante for bassoon and piano Alun
HODDINOTT Lizard Variations
op. 166/2 for solo recorder Ian
PARROTT Rondo Giocoso for
bassoon and piano William
MATHIAS Concertino op. 65
for recorder, oboe, bassoon and harpsichord
Ian PARROTT
Autumn Landscape for oboe and piano
Ian PARROTT
Devil’s Bridge Jaunt for bassoon
and piano Jeffrey
LEWIS Risoluto
for recorder, oboe, bassoon and piano Ian
PARROTT Portraits for recorder
and piano
John Turner (recorder) Richard Simpson (oboe)
Graham Salvage (bassoon) Janet Simpson (piano
and harpsichord) Recorded April 2004 in Whiteley
Hall, Chethams, Manchester.
CAMEO 2038 [64.50] [CSS]
This
is altogether a most companionable record.
... see Full
Review
Harry
PARTCH
(1901-1974) Delusion of the Fury: A Ritual
of Dream and Delusion (1966)
Ensemble of Unique Instruments/Danlee Mitchell; supervised by the composer.
Rec. UCLA Playhouse, Macgowan Hall, Univ. of California, Los Angeles,
January 1969 Recording originally issued on Columbia Masterworks LP
INNOVA
406 [72'08][PS]
The
only sound recording of a truly gob-smacking work, rescued from oblivion
and beautifully remastered. Impressive engineering ... vivid, electrifying
performance ... a musical world every bit as involving as any of Mahler’s
... see Full Review
Krzysztof PENDERECKI
(b. 1933) A
Polish Requiem (1980/4)
Izabella Klosínska (soprano); Jadwiga Rappé (alto); Ryszard Minkiewicz
(tenor); Piotr Nowacki (bass) Warsaw National Philharmonic Choir/Henryk
Wojnarowski Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra/Antoni Wit Recorded:
Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, 27–30 May, 1-3 June 2003
NAXOS 8.557386-87 [53:43 + 45:45][JPh]
Performed
with fervour. This disc is now the top recommendation ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Opera
Explained Series. An Introduction to Turandot. Opera in
3 acts as completed by Franco Alfano Written by Thomson Smillie and
narrated by David Timson
NAXOS EDUCATIONAL - OPERA EXPLAINED SERIES 8.558157 [79.06]
[RJF]
Recommended
to opera lovers of all ages and types. ... see Full
Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
The Complete Piano Sonatas:
Three Volumes
Joyce Hatto (piano)
Volume 1 Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 1 (1907-09) [7.45]
Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 14 (1912) [18.08] Sonata No. 3 in A minor,
Op. 28 "From Old Notebooks" (1917) [7.49] Sonata No. 4 in
C minor, Op. 29 (1917) [16.41]
Sonata No. 5 in C major, Op. 38 (1923) [14.57]
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9121-2 [65.38]
Volume 2 Sonata No. 6 in A major, Op. 82 (1939-40) [26.50]
Sonata No. 7 in B flat major, Op. 83 (1939-42) [19.34] Sonata No. 8
in B flat major, Op. 84 (1939-44) [31.46]
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9122-2 [78.35]
Volume 3 Sonata No. 9 in C major, Op. 103 (1947) [25.23] Piano
Sonatina Op.54 No.1 [10.10] Piano Sonatina Op.54 No.2 [9.47] Ten Pieces
Op.12 (1906-1913) [23.43]
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9123-2 [69.31]
[JW]
Comprehensively
successful and accomplished. Eschews false heroics and glamour to get
nearer to the heart of these sinewy and difficult sonatas. Rewarding
listening. ... see Full Review
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695)
Dido and
Aeneas (1689)
[55:29] Nicola Wemyss
(Dido); Matthew Baker (Aeneas); Francine van der Heijden (Belinda);
Penni Clarke (Second Woman); Helen Rasker (Sorceress); Maaike Poorthuis
(First Enchantress); Yong-Hee Kim (Second Enchantress); Rowena Simpson
(Spirit); Richard Zook (Sailor) The
Masque of Cupid and Bacchus (from “Timon of Athens”) Pauline
Graham (First Nymph); Nicola Wemyss (Second Nymph); René Steur (Follower
of Cupid); Penni Clarke (Cupid); Marc Pantus (Bacchus); Mitchell Sandler
(Follower of Bacchus); Hugo Naessens (2nd Follower of Bacchus);
Richard Zook (3rd Follower of Bacchus); Joost van der Linden
(4th Follower of Bacchus) John
Ernest GALLIARD (1687-1749)
Pan and Syrinx
(1726
version) Johannette Zomer (Syrinx); Marc Pantus (Pan); Nicola Wemyss
(Diana); Mitchell Sandler (Sylvan); Richard Zook (Nymph) Musica ad Rhenum/Jed
Wentz Dido and Aeneas recorded 13th-14th September
2004, Church of Maria Minor, Utrecht, The Netherlands, other items recorded
25th-27th August 2004, Muziekzentrum Vredenburg,
Utrecht, The Netherlands
BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 92464 [55:29
+ 77:08][CH]
This
fresh and attractive “Dido” may not be the
greatest ever, but I recommend most strongly
the overall package; the wonderful Purcell
Masque is worth the asking price ten times
over. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Roger
QUILTER
(1877-1953) Complete Folk-Song
Arrangements and Complete Part-Songs for Women’s
Voices
Amanda Pitt (soprano); Joanne Thomas (mezzo);
Philip Langridge (tenor); David Wilson-Johnson
(baritone) and David Owen Norris (piano) *
Première recordings rec. Turner Sims
Concert Hall, University of Southampton. 14
and 15 February and 31 August and 1 September
2004
NAXOS 8.557495 [77:53]
A
memorable collection, sympathetically performed.
With over half the songs premiere recordings,
this is an album that all Quilter enthusiasts
simply must have. ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano Concerto No.
2 in C minor, Op. 18 (1901) [36’24]. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,
Op. 43 (1934) [24’02].
Lang Lang (piano) Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre/Valery Gergiev.
rec. live Concert and Congress Hall Mikaeli, Martti Talvela Hall, Mikkeli,
Finland, July 2004. DDD
DG SACD 00289 477 5499 
[60’32][CC]
I
keep on hoping with Lang Lang that his early
promise will be realised. It is a shame that
hopes are, once more, dashed. ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Piano
Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 (1909) The
Isle of the Dead, Symphonic Poem, Op.
29 (1908)
Andreas Jetter (piano) Philarmonia Moldova/Dietrich
Scholler-Manno Recorded at the Concert Hall
of Lasi State Philharmonic, Romania, live
recordings Sept 1997; Feb 1999 DDD
BELLA MUSICA ANTES EDITION BM-CD 31.9203 [65:26]
[MC]
Live
recordings of a very fine Isle of the Dead
and a commanding and authoritative Third Piano
Concerto ... see Full
Review
Sergey
RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) Moments
musicaux Op.16 [30:59] Morceaux de
fantasie Op.3 [19:41] Fragments
(1917) [1:42] Prelude op. posth (1917) [2:07]
Zdes’ khorosho Op.21 No 7 (transcr.
Anon) [1:52] Vocalise Op.34 No 14 (transcr.
Koscis) [5:58]
Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Rec. Potton
Hall, Suffolk in November 2002, March and
August 2004 A 48 kHz/24 bit multi-channel
PCM recording Super Audio CD playable on all
CD players
DECCA
475 619-8 [62:45] [PCW]
Together
again: Rachmaninov, Ashkenazy and Decca –
unmissable ... see Full
Review
Sergey
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Variations
on a Theme of Corelli (1931) [20:05] Dimitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Twenty-Four
Preludes Op.34(1932-33) [34:06]
Banu Sözüar (piano) rec. 19-20 April
2004, Herrenhaus Borstel, Germany
ARCO DIVA UP 0075-2 131 [54:12] [IL]
A
characterful reading of the Shostakovich Preludes
and a lightly shaded interpretation of the
Rachmaninov Variations make up a pleasant
CD and an unusual coupling for the adventurous.
... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Song
Transcriptions by Earl Wild O Cease thy
singing Op.4 No.4 (1893) [4.54] To the Children Op.26 No.7 (1907)[4.33]
Do Not Grieve Op.14 No.8 (1894-96) [3.21] On the Death of a Linnet Op.21
No.8 (1900-02) [4.31] The Muse Op.34 No.1 (1912) [4.39] Vocalise Op.34
No.14 1991 recording (1912) [6.29] Vocalise Op.34 No.14 1982 recording
(1912) [7.25] In the Silent Night Op 4 No.3 (1893) [4.50] Floods of
Spring Op.14 No.11 1991 recording (1894-96) [3.47] Floods of Spring
Op.14 No.11 1983 recording (1894-96) [3.40] Dreams Op.38 No.5 (1916)
[3.30] Sorrow in Springtime Op.21 No.12 (1900-02) [4.01] The Little
Island Op.14 No.2 (1894-96) [2.05] Midsummer Nights Op.14 No.5 (1894-96) [3.33]
In The Silent Night Op.4 No.3 1991 recording (1893) [4.29] In The Silent
Night Op.4 No.3 1983 recording (1893) [4.06] Where Beauty Dwells Op.21
No.7 1982 recording (1900-02) [3.30] Where Beauty Dwells Op.21 No.7
1983 recording (1900-02) [3.34]
Earl Wild (piano) Recorded in New York City, July 1982, Fernleaf Abbey,
Columbus Ohio, 1991 and in Montreal in concert in November 1983
IVORY CLASSICS 74001 [77.55][JW]
I
suppose it’s possible to imagine transcriptions of Rachmaninov songs
being done better than by Earl Wild but - well, no, on reflection,
I don’t think it is. ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Vespers
(All Night Vigil), Op. 37 (1915) [57’16"]
Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op.
31(1910): ‘Tebe Poyem’ [3’02"]
Frances Jellard (alto); Paul Badley (tenor)
Tenebrae/Nigel Short Recorded live as part
of the North Wales International Music Festival
at St. Asaph Cathedral, 24 September 2004
DDD
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD054 [60’18"]
[JQ]
I
warmly recommend this new recording and am
glad to have it as well as that by Matthew
Best in my own collection. ... see Full
Review
Joachim
RAFF
(1822-1882) String
Quartet No. 6 in C minor, ‘Suite in older form’ Op.192/a (1874) [31:20]
String Quartet No. 7 in D major, ‘Die schöne Müllerin’ (‘The
beautiful maid of the mill’) Op.192/b (1874) [32:20]
Mannheim String Quartet Recorded at the Hans Rosbaud-studio, Baden
Baden, SWR, March 18-20, 2003 DDD String Quartets Vol. 1
CPO 777 003-2 [63:54] [MC]
Really
fine playing and performances with commendable
spirit, without ever pushing too hard. A welcome
addition to any serious chamber music collection.
... see Full Review
Väinö
RAITIO
(1891 – 1945)
Queen of the Flowers: Works for Small
Orchestra Waltz (1939) [3:59] Humoresque
(1934) [2:44] Idyll (1938) [4:27] Tango (1931)
[2:48] Scherzo (1935) [4:14] Danse grotesque
(1932) [1:42] Valse mignonne (1941) [2:56]
Maidens on the headlands (1935) [7:24] Summer
Pictures from Häme (1935) [15:55] Forest
Idylls (1935) [12:56]
Tapiola Sinfonietta/Tuomas Ollila Recorded:
Tapiola Hall, Espoo, April 2001
ONDINE ODE 975-2 [59:40][HC]
Raitio
represented by superbly crafted miniatures
of great charm rather than profundity. A far
cry from his earlier, more searching works
such as Moonlight on Jupiter
or The Swans. ... see Full
Revie
Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Bolero
* (1928) [13:49] La Valse # (1919-20) [11:21] Rapsodie espagnole
◙ (1907) [14:54] Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Images for Orchestra (1905-12) [32:42] Boston
Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch rec. Symphony Hall, Boston: * January
23, 1956; # December 5, 1955; ◙ January 23, 1956; Symphony Hall,
Boston, December 16, 1957 (Images)
BMG RCA RED SEAL SACD 82876 66374 2 [73:37][IL]
Virtuosity
and imaginative playing encourage the most
extravagant flights of imagination. ... see
Full
Review
Maurice RAVEL
(1875
- 1937) Rapsodie
espagnole (1907) [14’58"] Ma mère
l’oye (1910) [15’06"] Claude
DEBUSSY (1862 - 1918) Six Epigraphes
antiques (1914) [14’44"] En blanc
et noire (1915) [15’31"]
Duo Villarceaux: Alexandra Sostmann, Judith
Mosch (pianos).rec. Sendesaal des Funkhauses,
Koln. No recording dates supplied, disc issued:
2005. DDD
THOROFON DEUTSCHLANDFUNK CTH 2499 [60’47"]
{JPh]
This
is a superb disc in every way, and should
not be missed. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Alan
RAWSTHORNE
(1905-1971) Symphony
no.1 (1950) [24:40] Symphony no.2 (1959) ‘A
Pastoral Symphony’ [19:47] Symphony no.3 (1964)
[30:43]
Charlotte Ellett (soprano) Bournemouth
Symphony Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones Recorded
in the Concert Hall, Lighthouse, Poole, Dorset
UK, January 6th-8th,
2004
NAXOS 8.557480 [75:10] [GPJ]
Meticulously
prepared performances ... I urge lovers of
English music to hurry out and get this CD
.... it makes fascinating listening ... see
Full
Review
Max REGER (1873-1916)
Acht
geistliche Gesänge, Op.138 (1914) [17’58"]
Drei Motetten, Op. 110 (1909-1912): No 1 Mein
Odem ist schwach [15’06"]; No. 2 Ach
Herr, strafe mich nicht! [15’06"]; No.
3 O Tod, wie bitter bist du [9’30"]
NDR Chor, Hamburg/Hans-Christoph Rademann
Recorded in NDR Rolf-Liebermann-Studio, Hamburg,
February 2003 DDD
CARUS 83.154 [57’42"] [JQ]
Splendid
works, well worth getting to know, and Reger
could not wish for better advocacy ... a marvellous
disc ... see Full
Review
Ottorino RESPIGHI
(1879-1936) Ballet Suite: Belkis, Queen of Sheba
(1888) Il sogno
di Salomone [08:11]; Danza guerresca [10:55]; La Danza di Belkis all’aurora
[07:05]; Danza orgiastica [05:10] Nikolai RIMSKI-KORSAKOV (1844-1908)
Symphonic Suite: Scheherazade op. 35 (1932)
Largo e Maestoso
[10:00]; Andantino [12:11]; Andantino quasi allegretto [10:23];
Allegro molto [12:36)
Kazuhiro Takagi, violin (Rimsky) Frank Bossert, tenor (Respighi) Württemberg
Philharmonic Orchestra, Reutlingen/Norichika Limori Recorded Reutlingen,
Germany, 2004 GENUIN
GEN 04047 [68:37][JL]
Efficient
performances that are unlikely to transport you to the exotic, sensuous,
fairy-tale world of the mysterious Orient. ... see Full
Review
Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Scheherazade Op.35 (1888) [44.23] Russian
Easter Festival Overture Op.36 (1888) [14.17]+
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski Chicago
Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski +
Recorded EMI Studios, London,
February-March 1975 (Scheherazade)
and Medinah Temple,
Chicago, February 1968 (Overture)
BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 65843 2 [58.40] [JW]
I’m
going to repeat myself; you can never have too many Stokowski-Scheherazades
... see Full Review
Joaquin RODRIGO (1901-1999) Piano
Music – Vol. 1 A l’ombre de Torre Bermeja
[5:03] Four Piano Pieces [12:16] Pastoral [2:04] Preludio de anoranza
[3:30] Deux Berceuses [4:47] Bagatela [1:52] Four Andalusian Pictures
[14:19] Sonada de Adios [3:57] Serenata espagnola [5:06] Ballet theme
on a young girl’s name [3:08] Zarabanda lejana [2:54] Five Pieces of
the Sixteenth Century [9:00] Fantasia in the style of Ludovico’s Harp
[1:30] Artur Pizarro (piano)
Recorded at Potton Hall, Suffolk, UK 3-5 February, 2003
NAXOS SPANISH CLASSICS 8.557272 [69:27][SA]
Pizarro
can be emphatic and dynamic and can also play so gently that the notes
seem like the merest brushing of lips against skin. ... see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Ricciardo
e Zoraide - Dramma in two acts by
Francesco Berio di Salsa. First performed
at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples on 3rd
December 1818 Agorante, King of Nubia unrequited
lover of Zoraide, Bruce Ford (ten); Zomira,
wife of Agorante and jealous of her husbands
infatuation with Zoraide, Della Jones (mez);
Ircano, the powerful ruler of a region of
Nubia, Alastair Miles (bass); Zoraide, daughter
of Ircano, in love with Ricciardo, Nelly Miricioiu
(sop) Ricciardo, a Christian paladin who in
turn loves Zoraide, William Matteuzzi (ten);
Ernesto, an envoy of the Christian camp and
Ricciardo's friend, Paul Nillon (ten); Fatima
a confidante of Zoraide, Carol Smith; Elmira,
Zomira's confidante, Alice Coote (mez); Zamorre,
Agorante's confidant, Toby Spence (ten) George
Mitchell Choir
Academy of St Martin in the Fields/ David
Parry, Recorded at Henry Wood Hall, London.
June 1995
OPERA RARA ORC 14 [3CDs: 69.36 + 68.40
+ 45.00] [RJF]
This
can stand alongside the various other recordings
of Rossini's Naples period. I cannot envisage
another recording of the work and even if
one did materialise it would be hard pressed
to better the performance and recording standard
found here ... see Full
Review
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