Bohuslav
MARTINŮ
(1890-1959)
Songs: Deux Chansons (1932) [7.19];
Trois Mélodies* (1930) [0.53];
Vocalise-Étude* (1930) [1.10];
Two Ballads to Folk Texts* (1932) [6.31];
Four Songs to Folk Texts (1940) [5.39];
Polka from Spalicek, for piano
(1932) [2.13]; New Anthology (1942)
[10.56]; Waltz from Spalicek,
for piano (1932) [6.05]; Three Christmas
Songs* (1929) [2.46]; Four Nursery
Rhymes* (undated) [1.17]; Love Carol
(1937) [0,53]; A Wish for a Mother*
(undated) [1.16]; Songs from the Miracle
of Our Lady (1934) [6.42] 
Olga Cerná (mezzo) Jitka Cechová
(piano) * world premiere recordings rec. 11-12,
15-16 February 2003, Studio Minor, Trhovy
Stépánov, Czech Republic
NAXOS 8.557494 [53.40] [TB]
Too
much of a good thing if played through at
a single setting but these songs are delightful;
so too the performances, which are fresh and
beautifully paced. ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Violin
Concerto in D minor (1822) [23.28] (1) Violin
Concerto in E minor (1844) [27.15] (2) Max
BRUCH (1838–1920)
Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor (1867) [22.47]
(3)
Yehudi Menuhin (violin) RCA Victor String
Orchestra/Yehudi Menuhin (1) Berlin Philharmonic
Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler (2) Boston
Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch (3) rec.
6th February 1952, New York (1);
25th, 26th May 1952,
Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin (2); 19th
January 1951, Symphony Hall, Boston (3)
NAXOS 8.110991 [73.31] [RH]
Silvery
tones and elegance ... see Full
Review
Yehudi
Menuhin plays Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
and Encores Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Violin
Concerto in E minor Op.64 [24.27] Symphony
Orchestra of Hollywood/Antal Doráti
Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Hungarian Dances WoO1 No.5
in G minor arranged Joachim [2.12] Adolf Baller
(piano) Hungarian Dances WoO1 No.4 in F sharp
minor arranged Joachim [3.52] Antal Doráti
(piano) Pablo de
SARASATE (1844-1908) Spanish Dances
Op.21 No.1 Malagueña [4.41] No.2 Habanera
[3.38] Antonio BAZZINI
(1818-1897) Calabrese – Waltz in E minor
op.34 [3.44] Adolf Baller (piano)
Yehudi Menuhin (violin) with accompaniments
as above Recorded at the Charlie Chaplin Studios,
Hollywood, 1947 Picture Format NTSC 4; 3 Sound
Format PCM Stereo Languages GB D F Region
Code 0 Disc Format DVD9 Running Time 44min
(performance) plus 36min (A violinist in Hollywood)
plus 11 min (On the Encores) Directed by Paul
Gordon 
EUROARTS
DVD 2054618 [91:00] [JW]
This
exceeded my expectations and I enjoyed it
greatly. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Piano
Trios: No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49 (1839)
[26'51]; No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66 (1845) [26'54].
The Florestan Trio (Anthony Marwood, violin;
Richard Lester, cello; Susan Tomes, piano).
Rec. Henry Wood Hall, London, 16-18 December
2003. DDD
HYPERION CDA67485 [53'45] [CC]
This
is a disc to treasure. The reputation of the
Florestan Trio is already high – and here
comes firm confirmation of the ensemble's
stature. ... see
Full Review
Saverio
MERCADANTE (1795-1870)
La
Vestale – opera in three acts (1840)
[97:09] Emilia: Dorianna Milazzo (soprano)
Decio: Dante Alcala (tenor) Giunia: Agata
Bienkowska (mezzo) Publio: Davide Damiani
(baritone) La Gran Vestale: Danna Glaser (soprano)
Metello Pio: Andrea Patucelli (bass-baritone)
Licinio Murena: Ladislav Elgr (tenor) Lucio
Silano: Mattia Denti (bass)
Wexford Festival Opera Chorus/Lubomir
Matl Cracow Philharmonic Orchestra/Paolo Arrivabeni
rec. live, Theatre Royal, Wexford, Ireland,
23, 26, 29 October 2004. DDD
MARCO POLO 8.225310-11 [38:23 + 58:42]
[IB]
If
you enjoy Italian opera of this period and
are curious to hear an example of the man
once unfairly dismissed as "Verdi’s foot-stool"
you could do no better than start here. ...
see Full
Review
Darius
MILHAUD (1892-1974)
Ouverture
Méditerranéenne, for orchestra Op. 330 (1953) [6:38] Kentuckiana
- Divertissement on Twenty Kentucky Airs (1948) [6:52] Cortège
funèbre (1939) [14:00] * Quatre chansons de Ronsard (1941)
[9:43] * Symphony No. 6 (1955) [29:18] *
Paula Seibel (soprano) Louisville Orchestra/Robert Whitney, Jorge Mester
* Recorded 1953, 1954, 1968 and 1974, Louisville, Kentucky
FIRST EDITION FECD-0031 [66:33][JW]
First
Edition has done auspiciously here in returning these pioneering and
still impressive accounts to the catalogue ... see Full
Review
Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643)
The Sacred Music: Vol. 4 Laetatus
sum I [6:37] Salve Regina [4:20]
Domine, ne in furore tuo [2:45] Salve
Regina I [8:39] Dixit Dominus II [5:26]
Sanctorum meritis II [3:20] Adoramus
te, Christe [4:35] Beatus vir [8:19]
Exulta, filia Sion [5:07] Magnificat
II [9:26] Salve, o Regina, o Mater
[5:00] Laudate Dominum omnes gentes
III [4:27] Carolyn Sampson (sop); Rebecca
Outram (sop); Cecilia Osmond (sop); Daniel
Auchincloss (high tenor); Rogers Covey-Crump
(high tenor); Charles Daniels (tenor); James
Gilchrist (tenor); Peter Harvey (bass); Robert
Evans (bass)
Choir of the King’s Consort The King’s
Consort/Robert King rec. St Jude-on the-Hill,
Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, 12-18 Feb
2004. DDD
HYPERION CDA67519 [69:24] [EM]
Textural
clarity and beautifully poised interweaving
voice lines. The musicians respond to each
other with a confidence that is a joy to hear.
... see Full
Review
Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643)
Madrigals Book 4:- II
Quarto Libro de’ Madrigali, 1603 Ah, dolente
partita [4:01] Cor mio, mentre vi miro
[2:32] Sfogava con le stelle [4:30]
Volgea l’anima mia soavente [4:16]
Anima mia, perdona [3:26] Che se
tu se’il cor mio [4:05] Luci serene
e chiare [3:59] La piaga c’ho nel core
[2:56] Voi pur da me partite, anima
dura [4:49] A un giro sol de’belli
occhi lucenti [2:46] Ohime, se tanto
amate [3:42] Io mi son giovinetta [2:34]
Quell’angellin che canta [2:30] Non
piu Guerra, pietate [3:30] Si, ch’io
vorrei morire [4:02] Anima dolorosa
[3:54] Anima del cor mio [3:10]
Longed a te, cor mio [3:36] Piagn’e
sospira [5:21]
Delitiae Musicae/Marco Longhini rec. Chiesa
di San Pietro, Vincoli, Azzago, Verona, Italy,
28 July - 2 August 2002. DDD
NAXOS 8.555310 [73:46] [EM]
Beautiful
ensemble singing where individual voices rise
and fall into unison like swelling waves.
... see Full
Review
Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643)
Orfeo
Orfeo: John Mark Ainsley Euridice: Juanita
Lascarro La Messagiera: Brigitte Balleys Apollo:
Russell Smyth La Musica: David Cordier La
Speranza: Michael Chance Caronte: Mario Luperi
Proserpina: Bernarda Fink Plutone: Dean Robinson
Pastores: Jean-Paul Fouchecourt; Russell Smyth;
Douglas Nasrawi; Dean Robinson Ninfa: Suzie
Le Blanc Spiriti: Jean-Paul Fouchecourt; Russell
Smyth; Douglas Nasrawi Tragicomedia and
Concerto Palatino/Stephen Stubbs Stage
Director: Pierre Audi Recorded live at the
Het Muziektheater Amsterdam in July 1997
DVD OPUS ARTE OA
0928 D
[2 DVDs: 140:00][GH]
Frankly,
if you want a DVD of Orfeo, this should be
your first option. ... see Full
Review
Franz
Xavier MOZART (1791
- 1844) Sechs
Lieder (1809?) [9’38"] Romanze:
In der Vater Hallen ruhte Op.12 (1808)
[8’14"] Acht Deutsche Lieder (1810)
[12’48"] Standchen (1820?) [2’18"]
An Emma Op. 24 (1820) [3’30"]
Sechs Lieder Op.21 (1820) [12’52"]
Drei Deutsche Lieder Op.27 (1820) [9’59"]
Erinnerung (1829) [1’56"]
Barbara Bonney (soprano) Malcolm Martineau
(piano) rec. Henry Wood Hall, London 1–5 March
2005. DDD
DECCA 475 6936 [61’43"] [JPh]
Not
an ugly moment to be heard on this superb
disc. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791)
Violin concerto No. 3 in G major, KV 216 (1775)
[25.17]; Rondo Nr. 2 in C major, K. 373 (1781)
[5.42] Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Rondo in A major, D 438 (1816)
[13.44] Michael HAYDN
(1737-1806) Violin concerto in B flat
major, Perger 53 (1760) [21.47] 
Baiba Skride (violin) Kammerorchester
C.P.E.Bach/Hartmut Haenchen Recorded at Studio
10, DeutschlandRadio Berlin, June 24-27 2004.
SACD. DDD.
SONY CLASSICAL SK92939 [66.55] [ED]
Looks
as if we might have a serious artist on our
hands. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Piano
concerto no. 6 in B flat major, K.238 [20.03] Piano concerto no. 15
in B flat major, K.450 [24.55] Piano concerto no. 27 in B flat major,
K.595 [31.35]
Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano and director)
Recorded live at the Stefaniensaal, Graz, on 5-6 July 2005. DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62259-2 [76.48][ED]
Intelligent
performances well given and are sure to offer
pleasure. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano
Concertos, Volume 2: No. 9 in E flat, K271, 'Jeunehomme' (1777) [31'55];
No. 11 in F, K413/387a (1782/3) [21'17]
Lausanne Chamber Orchestra/Christian Zacharias (piano). Rec. Métropole,
Lausanne, 18-20 June 2004 (K271); 8-9 Jan 2003 (K413/387a). DDD
DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM
GOLD MDG340 1298-2 [53'12] [CC]
A
mixed reception, then. If you want a No. 11–
as a piece it is pure gold - Zacharias supplies
plenty of delights. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
250th Anniversary Edition: Chamber
Works see
review for details WARNER CLASSICS 2564
62335-2 [17:47:54; 16 CDs] [CF]
We
need no anniversary excuses to hear Mozart,
for no ear ever tires of this genius. ...
see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791): Fantasia
in C minor, K.396 (1781/2) [8.04] Fantasia
in D minor, K.397 (1781/2) [6.12] Fantasia
in C minor, K.475 (1785) [13.36] Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828): Fantasia
in C minor, D.993 (1813) [7.26] "Wanderer"
Fantasy in C major, D.760 (1822) [22.08]
Daniel Blanch (piano) Recorded at the Fundación
Juan March, Madrid, June 2004. DDD.
ARS HARMONICA AH140 [57.26] [ED]
For
anyone wanting a recording of the Wanderer
Fantasy great experiences are to be found
elsewhere and Blanch’s valiant efforts are
no challenge to them. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756
– 1791) Die
Entführung aus dem Serail (1782)
Deon van der Walt (tenor) – Belmonte; Kurt
Moll (bass) – Osmin; Lars Magnusson (tenor)
– Pedrillo); Oliver Tobias (speaking part)
– Pasha Selim; Inga Nielsen (soprano) – Konstanze;
Lillian Watson (soprano) – Blonde; Kathleen
Wilder, Karen Shelby, David Young, Donaldson
Bell – Four solo voices
Royal Opera Chorus Orchestra of the Royal
Opera House Covent Garden/Georg Solti Directed
by Elijah Moshinsky; Scenery: Sidney Nolan
and Timothy O’Brien; Costumes: Timothy O’Brien;
Stage Lighting: Robert Bryan; Directed for
video by Humphrey Burton Filmed live at the
Royal Opera House Covent Garden in 1988.
WARNER
NVC ARTS 0630-18773-2 [approx. 142:00]
[GF]
Fine
singing, good acting, charming sets ... presided
over by a Solti less hectic than he has sometimes
been. Good playing and technical quality ...
Buy and enjoy! ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756
– 1791) Le
nozze di Figaro (1786) Lucio Gallo
(bass-baritone) – Il Conte di Almaviva; Eteri
Gvazava (soprano) – La Contessa di Almaviva;
Patrizia Ciofi (soprano) – Susanna; Giorgio
Surian (bass) – Figaro; Marina Comparato (mezzo)
– Cherubino; Giovanna Donadini (contralto)
– Marcellina; Eduardo Chama (bass) – Bartolo;
Sergio Bertocchi (tenor) – Basilio; Eleonora
Contucci (soprano) – Barbarina; Gianluca Ricci
(bass) – Antonio; Carlo Bosi (tenor) – Don
Curzio; Gabriella Cecchi and Laura Lensi –
Two peasant girls
Coro e Orchestra del Maggio Musicale
Fiorentino/Zubin Mehta Directed for Stage
by Jonathan Miller Set Design: Peter J. Davison;
Costume Design: Sue Blane; Choreography: Susanna
Quaranta; Lighting Design: Jvan Morandi; Director
of the Stage Production: Massimo Teoldi; Directed
for TV and Video by Maria Paola Longobardo
Recorded live at the Teatro Communale, Florence,
2, 15 and 18 October 2003
TDK
DVWW-OPNDFF [2 DVDs: 181:00] [GF]
Well-paced
with singing on a high level, an enchanting
Cherubino and a lively Susanna ... a stylish
performance with period costumes and sets
... see Full
Review
Michael
NYMAN
(b. 1944) Man
and Boy: Dada (2004) An
opera in two acts with libretto by Michael
Hastings Kurt Schwitters: John Graham-Hall
(tenor); Michael: William Sheldon (boy soprano);
Mother + old woman, bus conductress, museum
guard, BBC interviewer: Vivian Tierney
Michael Nyman Band/Paul McGrath Recorded Abbey
Road Studios, London, Oct-Nov 2004
MN RECORDS MNRCD 101/2 [42:25 + 62:21]
[JL]
A
subtle and touching work superbly performed.
A great collaboration between composer and
librettist. ... see Full
Review
Jacques
OFFENBACH (1819-1880)
Coscoletto ou Le Lazzarone (1865) Mojca Erdman (soprano)
... Coscoletto; Yoo-Chang Nah (bass) ... Frangipani; Mechtild Georg
(alto) ... Mariana; Thomas Dewald (tenor) ... Polycarp; Anke Hoffmann
(soprano) ... Delfina; Henner Lewyhe (tenor) ... Arsenico; Angele Durand
(speaker) ... Narrator
Collegium Cantandi Bonn WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln/Helmuth
Froschauer Recorded in Funkhaus Am Wallrafplatz, Köln, May and
June, 2001. DDD CAPRICCIO
60 121 [50:48 + 30:41] [GPu]
An
enjoyable performance of a minor work, probably
of enduring interest only to those with a
special interest in Offenbach ... see Full
Review
Montague
PHILLIPS
(1885-1969) Charles
II Overture Op. 60 (1936) [9:20] Hillside Melody Op. 40 (1925?
revised 1946) [6:24] Hampton Court Op. 76 (1954) [6:56] Phantasy
for violin and orchestra Op. 16 (1912 revised 1947) [11:46] Festival
Overture (In Praise of My Country) Op. 71 (1944) [9:32] In
Old Verona: A Serenade for Strings (1950) [4:44] In May
Time Op. 38 (1923/4) [13:12] Empire March Op. 68 (1942) [5:08]
Matthew Trusler
(violin) BBC Concert Orchestra/Gavin Sutherland rec. Colosseum Town
Hall, Watford, 3-5 August 2005. world premiere recordings except Op.
76 Montague Phillips Orchestral Music - Volume 2
DUTTON CDLX 7158 [67:39] [JF]
A
little bit of warm inspiration from the days
when outside the freezing fog was curling
round the corner of the gasometer. ... see
Full Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI
(1858-1924) Manon
Lescaut - Opera in four acts Manon
Lescaut ... Maria Guleghina; Il Cavaliere
Renato Des Grieux ... José Cura; Lescaut
... Lucio Gallo; Geronte di Ravoir ... Luigi
Roni ; Edmondo ... Marco Berti; The Innkeeper
... Grazio Mori; The Dancing Master ... Mario
Bolognesi
Choir and Orchestra of Teatro alla Scala/Riccardo
Muti Directed by Liliana Cavani Recorded live
at La Scala, Milan 11 June 1998
TDK
DVD VIDEO DVWW-OPMLES [134:00] [IL]
Guleghina
shines as an alluring, street-wise Manon.
She is strongly partnered by an ardent José
Cura ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Maurice RAVEL
(1875-1937) String
Quartet (1904) [27:13] Germaine TAILLEFERRE
(1892-1983) String Quartet (1917-1919) [9:34] Darius
MILHAUD (1892-1974) String Quartet No. 4 (1918) [13:30]
Leipzig String Quartet: Andreas Seidel, violin; Tilman Büning, violin;
Ivo Bauer, viola; Matthias Moosdorf, cello. rec. Paul-Gerhardt-Kirche,
8-10 February 2005. DDD
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 3071359-2 [50:42][JF]
I
would heartily recommend this disc to all
listeners: a good programme with excellent
performances. ... see Full
Review
Max REGER
(1873-1916)
Organ
Works: Volume 6: Chorale Fantasia on
'Alle Menschen müssen sterben', Op.
52 No. 1 (1900) [17'13]; Six Trios,
Op. 47 (1900) [17'43]; Introduction, Variations
and Fugue in F sharp minor on an Original
Theme, Op. 73 (1903) [37'13]
Martin Welzel (organ) rec. Klais organ, Trier
Cathedral, Germany, 8-9 July 2003. DDD
NAXOS ORGAN ENCYCLOPEDIA 8.557338 [72'10]
[CC]
This
Naxos Reger series is to be applauded and
supported. I welcomed Volume 5 back in June
this year; I welcome this volume just as much
– if anything, even more. ... see Full
Review
George
ROCHBERG (1918-2005)
Symphony No. 2 (1955-56) [31:28] Imago Mundi (Image of
the World) for large orchestra (1973) [24:06]
Saarbrücken Radio-Symphony Orchestra/Christopher Lyndon-Gee rec. Großes
Sendesaal, Funkhaus Halberg, Saarbrücken, Germany, 19-20 Dec 2000 (Symphony);
30 Jan 2001 (Imago). DDD
NAXOS 8.559182 [55.34][MC]
Hard
romanticism ... see Full
Review
Philip
ROSSETER (1567-1623)
When
Laura Smiles: Lute solos and songs from
Elizabethan England: Sweet come again
[3.41]; And would you see my Mistress’ face
[2.38]; Fantasia [6.8]; No grave for woe
[3.16]; Reprove not Love [2.56]; What then
is love but mourning [2.14]; Pavin [6.48];
Third Galliard of the Countess of Sussex
[1.44]; Galliard [2.08]; Though far from
joy [2.21]; When Laura Smiles [3.01] Kind
in Unkindness [4.27] prelude [1.27]; Pavin
by Rosseter [6.47[; Galliard by Rosseter
[2.38]; Almayne [2.00]; If she forsakes
me [1.59]; Shall I come if I swim [2.13];
Whether men do laugh or weep [1.44]; What
hearts content [2.24]
James Gilchrist (tenor) Matthew Wadsworth
(lute) Recorded May and July 2005 at St.Martin’s,
East Woodhay. Newbury.
AVIE AV 2074 [62.48] [GH]
Pleasurable,
urbane, civilized, beautifully presented
and recorded. ... see Full
Review
Salomone
ROSSI (1570-c1630)
Primo Libro di Madrigali a 4 voci; Arie
a voce sola dal I Libro dei Madrigali a
5 voci
Ut Musica Poësis Ensemble: Santina
Tomasello, soprano; Costanza Redini, contralto;
Paolo Fanciulacci, tenor; Marcello Vargetto,
bass; Gian Luca Lastraioli, lute; Stefano
Bozolo, harpsichord; with Lucia Focardi,
soprano; Lucia Sciannimanico, contralto;
Valerio Vieri, tenor; Romano Martinuzzi,
bass; Francesca Chiocci, viola da gamba;
Dir: Stefano Bozolo rec. November 1999,
the Oratorio di S. Niccolò del Ceppo,
Florence, Italy DDD
TACTUS TC 571803 [46:00] [JV]
Rossi
was a Jewish composer who mostly worked
for the Mantuan court. His madrigals are
fairly conservative in style, but well worth
listening to in these fine performances
... see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Moïse
et Pharaon - Grand opera in four acts (1827) Libretto by Luigi
Balocchi and Joseph-Etienne de Jouy, based on Andre Leone Tottola’s
libretto for Mosé in Egitto. First performed at the Paris Opéra,
26 March 1827 Moïse, Hebrew lawgiver, Ildar Abdrazakov (bass);
Pharaon, King of Egypt, Erwin Schrott (bass); Aménophis, Pharaoh’s
son, Giuseppe Filianoti (ten); Éliézer, Moïse’s
brother, Tomislav Muzek (ten); Osiride, High Priest of Isis, Giorgio
Giuseppini (bass); Sinaïde, Pharaoh’s wife, Sonia Ganassi (mez);
Marie, Moses’ sister, Nino Surguladze (sop); Anaï, Marie’s daughter,
Barbara Frittoli (sop)
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla
Scala, Milan/Riccardo Muti Recorded live
at the Teatro Arcimboldo, Milan, 21 December
2003 Sound format, DD 5.1. DTS 5.1. LPCM
stereo. Picture format 16:9 Introductory
essay in English, German and French Subtitles
in Italian (original language), English,
German, French and Spanish TDK
DVD VIDEO DVWW-OPMEP [2 DVDs: 181min]
[RF]
A
vivid and well-sung performance of a work
that deserves greater circulation. It is
a very welcome and highly recommended issue.
... see Full
Review
Edmund
RUBBRA (1901-1986)
Improvisation
for violin and orchestra op. 89 (1956) [12:25] Improvisations
on Virginal Pieces by Giles Farnaby op. 50 (Farnaby's Conceit;
His Dreame; His Humour; Loth to Depart; Tell
me, Daphne) (1939) [13:11]
Violin Concerto op. 103 (1960) [30:19]
Krysia Osostowicz (violin) Ulster Orchestra/Takuo Yuasa rec. 25-26 May
2004, Ulster Hall, Belfast. DDD
NAXOS 8.557591 [57:04] [GH]
A
very welcome release both for its couplings
and its performances. Let us hope that more
will come and that the day when Rubbra’s music
is firmly in the repertoire is not too far
away. ... see Full
Review
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