ALPHABETICAL LISTING

John CAGE (1912 – 1992) One⁷ (1990) [30:00] One⁸ (1991) [43:30] rec. no information, published 2001 OGREOGRESS [73:35] The disc did not bear a catalogue number [HC]

Non-developmental music such as this is likely to appeal and to repel depending on one’s frame of mind. ... see Full Review

Régis CAMPO (b. 1968) Piano Concerto (1998/9)^a [28:02] Music to Hear (1999)^b [13:02] Pop-Art (2001/2)^c [10:36] Jay Gottlieb (piano)^a; Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Pascal Rophé^a; Musicatreize, Roland Haraybèdian^b; Ensemble des Lauréats du Conservatoire, Kanako Abe^c rec. (live) Salle Olivier Messiaen, Maison de Radio France, October 2000 (Piano Concerto) and February 2001 (Music to Hear); and Salle Cortot, Paris, October 2003 (Pop-Art) AEON AECD 0529 [51:40] [HC]

Formal and instrumental mastery ... refreshingly unpretentious straightforwardness ... music likely to surprise in one way or another. ... see Full Review

Ernest CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Le Chanson perpétuelle, op.37 (1898) [07:41] (1), Pièce pour violoncelle et piano, op.39 (1897) [07:54] (2), Deux mélodies, op.36 (1898) [06:23] (3), Concert pour piano, violon et quatuor à cordes, op.21 (1891) [41:36] (4) Bernarda Fink (mezzo-soprano) (1, 3), Ensemble Ader: Alice Ader (piano) (1-4), Christophe Poiget, Marie Charvet, Christophe Ladrette (violins) (1, 4 – one of these doesn’t play in 1, but we are not told which), Pascal Robault (viola) (1, 4), Isabelle Veyrier (cello (1, 2, 4) Recorded at the Conservatoire d’Aulnay-sous-Bois in October 1898 ACCORD 476 742 7 [79:06] [CH]

An important disc for those exploring the riches of French music. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Selection of Études with transcriptions by Leopold GODOWSKY (1870-1938) Op.10 No.1 in C major – Godowsky transcription ‘Diatonisch’ [4’14] Op.10 No.2 in A minor – Godowsky’s second transcription ‘Ignis Fatuus’ [3’22] Op.10 No.4 in C sharp minor – Godowsky transcription for left hand [4’37] Op.10 No.5 in G sharp major – Godowsky transcriptions in C major ‘Study on White Keys’ and in A minor ‘Tarantella’ [5’40] Op.10 No.6 in E flat minor – Godowsky transcription for left hand [7’23] Op.10 No.12 in C minor – Godowsky transcription for left hand in C sharp minor [5’36] Op.25 No.1 in A flat major – Godowsky’s second transcription [5’16] Op.25 No.5 in E minor – Godowsky’s second transcription in C sharp minor ‘Mazurka’ [6’35] Godowsky transcription of Op.10 No.5 and Op.25 No.9 combined in G flat major ‘Badinage’ [1’34] Godowsky transcription of Op.10 No.11 and Op.25 No.3 combined in F major [2’46] Godowsky: Alt-Wien (Triakontameron, No.11) [2’00] Godowsky transcription of Waltz Op.64 No.1 in D flat major ‘Minute’ [3’19] Boris Berezovsky (piano) Recorded live at the Maltings, Snape, Suffolk, 19-20 April 2005 WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62258-2 [54’32] [TH]

Starts with brief, polite applause and finishes with rapturous cheering, something I would have been actively joining in. Disc of the Month? It just has to be! ... see Full Review

Fryderik CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano concerto No. 1 in e-minor, op. 11 (1830) (chamber version) [41:26] (Allegro maestoso - Romance (Larghetto) – Rondo (Vivace)) Piano concerto No. 2 in f-minor, op. 21(1829) (chamber version) [32:42] (Maestoso – Larghetto – Allegro vivace) Janina Fialkowska (piano) Chamber Players of Canada: J.Crow (violin), Manuela Milani (violin), Guylaine Lemaire (viola), Julian Armour (cello) and Murielle Bruneau (double-bass) Recorded Ontario, Aug 2004 ATMA ACD2 2291 [74:08] [JL]

These chamber versions follow Shiraga’s world premiere recording of the same works, but the disc has difficulty in competing ... ... see Full Review

Arcangelo CORELLI (1653-1713) Concerti Grossi Op.6 Daniel Guilet and Edwin Bachmann (solo violins) and Frank Miller (solo cello) Corelli Tri-Centenary String Orchestra/Dean Eckertsen Recorded 1953 on Vox PRISTINE AUDIO PASC020 [63.52 + 53.11] [JW]

Eckertsen’s pioneering work - these two CDs will give them cause to admire the production and the daring comprehensiveness of his ambition. ... see Full Review

François COUPERIN (1668-1733) Messe à l’usage ordinaire de paroisses, pour les fêtes solenelles (1690) [52:06] Messe propre pour les couvents des Réligieux, et Réligieuses (1690) [41:58] Jean-Baptiste Robin (Cliquot organ of Poitiers Cathedral) rec. Poitiers, August 2004, DDD NAXOS 8.557741-42 [52:06 + 41:58] [IB]

Marvellous colours ... capturing the spirit of the dance ...the felicities are many. ... see Full Review

Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) CD1 La Mer (1904) [24.26] Trois Nocturnes (1900) [22.32] Prélude à l’Après-Midi d’un Faune (1894) [10.29] Marche écossaise (1891) [6.23] Berceuse héroïque (1914) [4.47] Musiques pour le Roi Lear (1904) [4.58] CD2
Jeux - poème dansé (1912) [18.15] Images (1905) [32.23] Printemps (1882) [16.00] (orch Henri BÜSSER) CD3 Children’s Corner (1908) [18.18] (orch André CAPLET) Petite Suite (1888) [13.33] (orch Henri BÜSSER) Danse sacrée et danse profane (1903) [9.15]
La Boîte à joujoux (1913) [31.40] (orch André CAPLET) CD4 Fantaisie pour piano et orchestra (1890) [23.53] (ed. André JOUVE) La plus que lente (1910) [6.00] Première Rapsodie pour orchestre avec clarinette principale (1903) [8.11] Rapsodie pour orchestre et saxophone solo (1905) [10.02] Khamma - légende dansée (1912) [20.24] (orch. Charles KOECHLIN) Danse: Tarantelle styrienne (1905) [5.44] (orch. Maurice RAVEL) Marie-Claire Jamet (harp) (Danse Sacrée et Danse Profane) Guy Dangain (clarinet) Jean-Marie Loneix (saxophone) Alain Marion (flute) (Faune) Michel Sedrez, Fabienne Boury (piano duet) (Printemps) Jules Goetgheluck (oboe) (Children’s Corner) John Leach (cimbalom) (La plus)
Fabienne Boury (piano) (Khamma) Choeurs de l’ORTF Orchestre National de l’ORTF/Jean Martinon (Debussy) rec. Salle Wagram, Paris, 1973-74. ADD licensed from EMI Classics
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92765 [4 CDs: 74.15 + 70.07 + 72.54 + 74.54] [RB]

Martinon makes a very strong showing. The set makes a gift that will cast its smiling spell for years to come. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Préludes, première livre (1910) [37:57], deuxième livre (1913) [38:26] Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded 4^th January and 16^th March 2001 at the Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge (UK) CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9130-2 [75:08] [CH]

Sunlit and poetic playing. ... see Full Review

Ernö DOHNÁNYI (1877-1960) Konzertstücke in D major Op.12 (1903-04) [24.11] George ENESCU (1881-1955) Symphonie concertante in B flat minor Op.8 (1901) [22.22] Eugen D’ALBERT (1864-1932) Cello Concerto in C major Op.20 (1899) [21.55] Alban Gerhardt (cello) BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Carlos Kalmar Recorded in Caird Hall, Dundee, December 2004 HYPERION CDA 67544 [68.52] [JW]

The performances are highly committed and sound extremely well prepared. ... see Full Review

Erno DOHNANYI (1877 - 1960) Variations on a Nursery Theme, Op. 25 (1914) [24’26"] (1) Franz LISZT (1811 - 1886) Totentanz (1865) [16’49"] (2) Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873 - 1943) Variations on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 (1934) [23’09"] (3) Witold LUTOSLAWSKI (1913 - 1994) Paganini Variations for Piano and Orchestra (1978) [8’40"] (3) Andras Schiff (piano) Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Sir Georg Solti recorded in Orchestra Hall, Chicago in October 1985 (1). Peter Katin (piano) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Jean Martinon recorded in Kingsway Hall, London, February 1954 (2) Peter Jablonski (piano) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Vladimir Ashkenazy recorded in Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London in October 1981 (Rachmaninov) and EMI Studios, Abbey Road, May 1991 (Lutoslawski) (3) ADD/DDD DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 7671 [73.18] [JPh]

This is an enterprising compilation disc collecting four quite different works for piano and orchestra with death as the unifying topic. ... see Full Review

John DUNSTABLE (c.1390-1453) Motets and Mass movements: Quam pulcra es [2.38];  Kyrie [6.14]; Gloria a 4 [6.35]; Credo a 4 [8.42]; Gloria [7.48] and Credo [5.59]; Jesu Christi Fili Dei; Sanctus [4.28]; Credo [6.00] and Sanctus [6.13]; Da gaudiorum premia; Agnus dei [5.33]; Veni Sancte Spiritus-Veni Creator [6.56]; Gloria in canon [3.01] (edited by Margaret Bent) Tonus Peregrinus/Antony Pitts Recorded at Chancelade Abbey, Dordogne, France, January 2004  NAXOS 8.557341 [70.08][GH]

The chosen pieces are fascinating and the performances well worth hearing even if they do not quite square with the Dunstable we have until now been led to believe we knew. ... see Full Review

Paul DUKAS (1865-1935) Sonata for Piano in E flat minor (1901) [44:06] Prélude élégiaque (on the name of Haydn) (1909) [4:31] Variations, Interlude and Finale on a theme of Rameau (1903) [18:34] La plainte, au loin, du Faune (from the Tombeau de Claude Debussy) (1921) [4:26] Tor Espen Aspaas, piano Recorded 29-31 October 2201 and 12-14 September 2003 in the Sofienberg kirke, Oslo. SIMAX PSC1177 [72:11][KS]

Do I gush? Perhaps, but long-time readers will also know that I am not afraid to call it when it’s bad. Buy this disc. You will thank me, I promise. ... see Full Review

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) CD1 Symphony No. 5 in F major Op. 76 (1875) [37:51] Othello Overture Op. 93 (1891) [13:47] Scherzo Capriccioso Op. 66 (1883) [12:46] CD2 Symphony No. 7 in D minor Op. 70 (1885) [36:43] Symphony No. 8 in G major Op. 88 (1889) [36:42] CD3 Symphony No. 9 in E minor Op. 76 (1893) [37:51] Bedrich SMETANA (1824-1884) Vltava from Ma Vlast (1874) [12:04] Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra/Mariss Jansons rec. Konserthuset, Oslo, Norway, 1988-1992. DDD first released on EMI Classics: CDC7 49995-2; CDC7 54663-2; CDC7 49860-2 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92779 [3 CDs: 64:24 + 73:46 + 52:42] [RB]

If the coupling appeals this box will serve the listener well and deliver a Dvorak that is not merely affable but also lyrically urgent. ... see Full Review

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Cello Concerto in B minor Op.104 (1895) [37.21] Symphony No.9 in E minor Op.95 (1893) [42.11]* Antonio Janigro (cello) Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra [Berlin State Opera Orchestra*]/Erich Kleiber Recorded 1954 (Symphony) and 1955 (Concerto) ARCHIPEL ARPCD 0329 [79.38] [JW]

Sample the slow movement of the New World if you can, though. Hear a magician at work. ... see Full Review

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1844-1904) Complete Piano Trios: Trio No. 1 in B flat major, Op.21 [B51] (1875-77) [33.45] Trio No. 2 for piano, violin and cello, in G minor Op.26 [B.56] (1876) [30.26] Trio No. 3 in F minor Op. 96 [B130] (1882) [41.35]Trio No. 4 for piano, violin and cello in E minor Op.90 ‘Dumky’ [B.166] (1883) [31.56] Macquarie Trio Australia
rec. Eugene Goossens Hall, ABC Ultimo Centre, October 2003 and February 2004 ABC CLASSICS 476 7176 [64.15 + 73.44] [JW]

Reserved, attractive enough but rather missing Bohemian vivacity ... see Full Review

Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Cello Concerto in E minor op.85 [29:52] (1), Sea Pictures op.37 [23:53] (2), The Kingdom op.51: Prelude [09:57] Li-Wei (cello) (1), Elizabeth Campbell (mezzo-soprano) (2) Adelaide Symphony Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite Recorded 26^th-29^th November at the Adelaide Town Hall, Australia ABC CLASSICS 476 7966 [63:42][CH]

An irrelevant disc ... see Full Review

Maurice EMMANUEL (1862-1938) Les six Sonatines: No. 1 Bourguignonne (1893) [7:29]; No. 2 Pastorale (1897) [8:32]; No. 3 (1920) [8:27]; No. 4 sur les modes hindous (1920) [9:29]; No. 5 alla francese (1925) [10:19]; No. 6 (1925) [7:11] Sonate en trio for clarinet, flute and piano (1907) [11:36] Marie-Catherine Girod (piano) Alain Marion (flute) Richard Vieille (clarinet) rec. Paris, Sept 1986. AAD Collection Musiques Françaises ACCORD 476 165 8 [63:48] [RB]

Anyone interested in the freshness and profusion of the French music from the period 1890-1930 should track down this disc - the more so at its attractive mid-range price. ... see Full Review

Rolf ENSTRÖM (b. 1951) Immeasurable Traces Rama, for mixed choir and electronic sounds (1998) [14:34] Kairos (1999) [16:42] Kronos, for five voices and electronic sounds (2000) [12:33] Saxplock, for bass saxophone and tape (2001) [6:00] Ebb, for alto saxophone and tape (2002) [3:46] Tide, for soprano saxophone and tape (2002) [2:22] Observatoriemusik/Music for an Observatory (2003) [16:18] Stockholm Motet Choir/Olof Boman The Purifive (Kronos) Jörgen Pettersson (saxophones) Rec. Studio 2, Radiohuset 7 October 2003 (1, 4-6), The Engelbrekt Church Stockholm, 26 May 2004 (3). PHONO SUECIA PSSACD 153 [72:57] [DC]

I’ve enjoyed this CD immensely even if parts do sound as if the artists are wrestling with their instruments inside a big electronic bag full of nasty noise-monsters ... see Full Review

Heinrich FINCK (1444/5-1527) Missa Domenicalis [28:08] Hymnus: Veni redemptor dominum [6:10] Introitus: Rorate cæli [4:15] Tractus: Audi filia [3:39] Communio: Ecce virgo [1:48] Natalis Dominica cantica: Deo dicamus regi potenti [2:16] Lieder: Von hin scheid ich [4:34]; Auf gut Gelück [2:40]; O schönes Weib [2:48]; Habs je getan [2:52]; Mein herzigs G [3:18]; Ach herzigs Herz [2:32] Stimmwerk: Franz Vitzthum (counter-tenor), Klaus Wenk (tenor), Gerhard Hölzle (tenor), Marcus Schmidl (bass) No recording date or location provided. DDD CAVALLI CCD 325 [65:06] [GPu]

Music not previously recorded, well performed and deserving investigation ... see Full Review

Mauro GIULIANI (1781-1829) Ariette-Lieder-Musiche da Camera Sei ariette. Poesia di Metastasio Op.95 col accompagnamento di Chitarra. 1.-6. [16.19] Qual mesto gemito per flauto e chitarra 7. [6.34] Cavatine variée <Di tanti palpiti> Op. 79 (Tancred/Rossini) avec accompagnement de Guitarre et Piano-Forte 8 [6.56] Three pieces- Op. 74 pour flûte et guitarre 9-11. [6.40] Tre cavatine Op 39 con l’accompagnamento di Piano-Forte e Chitarra. [7.34] ondeau Op. 68 pour Piano-Forte et Guitarre 15. [4.42] Sechs Lieder Op.89 mit Guitarre Begleitung 16-21. [19.18] Divertimento per Flauto e Chitarra in Sol Maggiore. 22. [2.27] Marie Louise au berceau de son fils Op. 27 Romance pour Soprano et Guitarre 23. [5.04] Meister-Consort: Rosa-Maria Meister,Sopran; Enrico Casularo,Flöte; Jorge Fresno,Gitarre; Pierre Sublet, Hammerflügel. Rec. 1989, Pere Casulleras, Waldenburg/ BL JECKLIN-DISCO JD 624-2 [75.58] [ZT]

Those who invest in this unique and rather beautiful recording will not be disappointed. ... see Full Review

Philip GLASS (b. 1937) Orion (2004) Eleftheria Arvanitaki (vocalist) Mark Atkins (didgeridoo) Ashley Macisaac (violin) Wu Man (pipa) Gaurav Mazumdar (sitar) Ravi Shankar (composition for sitar) Foday Musa Suso (kora) UAKTI (multi-instrumentalists) Philip Glass Ensemble/Michael Riesman Rec. June 2004, Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Athens. ORANGE MOUNTAIN MUSIC OMM0021 2CDs [90:39][DC]

The aromas and flavours of both Glass and his brilliant friends are tantalisingly present, but the overall result is a rather mushy and indigestible ... see Full Review

Alexander GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) The Seasons – ballet Op.67 (1900) [33.57] Symphony Orchestra/Alexander Glazunov recorded London, 1929 Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Romeo and Juliet Suite No.2 Op.64 (1936) [31.16] Moscow State Philharmonic Orchestra/Sergei Prokofiev recorded Moscow, 1943 DUTTON CDBP 9754 [65.18] [JW]

Both performances should be in the collections of admirers. ... see Full Review

Louis Moreau GOTTSCHALK (1829-1869) Piano Music: Volume 8 Home, Sweet Home (Bishop) RO117 (1862) Op 51 [6'48] Chant de guerre RO48 (1859) Op 78 [5'06] Pensive - polka-redowa RO196 (1864) Op 68 [4'16] Le chant du martyr - grand caprice religieux RO49 (1859) [7'41] Ses yeux - polka de concert RO235 (1872) Op 66, arr. Napoleão [6'19] Pastorella e Cavalliere RO190 (1859) Op 32 [7'42] Radieuse - grande valse de concert RO218 (Op 72), arr. Maylath [5'37] Dernier amour - étude de concert RO73 (1868) Op 63 [6'41] Variations de concert sur l’hymne portugais RO290 (1869) Op 91, arr. Napoleão [11'42] La mélancolie - étude caractéristique d’après F Godefroid RO167 (1848) [5'23] Jérusalem - grande fantaisie triomphale (Verdi) RO126 (1851)Op 13 [9'57] Philip Martin (piano) Recorded December 2004 HYPERION CDA67536 [78:08] [JL]

An essential buy for Gottschalk fans. A slight fall off in the quality of pieces by this vol. 8 but much to delight - superbly played ... see Full Review

Johann Gottlieb GRAUN (1702-1771) Sinfonia Grosso in D [10:07] Concerto for violin, strings and bc in d minor* [17:07] Concerto for violin, strings and bc in A** [18:35] Concerto for viola da gamba, strings and bc in A [22:47] Ilja Karol (*), Daniel Sepec (**), violin; Vittorio Ghielmi, viola da gamba Wiener Akademie (on period instruments)/Martin Haselböck Recorded in November 2002 at the Hofburgkapelle in Vienna, Austria. DDD CPO 999 887-2 [68:38][JV]

Concertos with virtuosic solo parts for the violin and the viola da gamba in outstanding performances - not to be missed ... see Full Review

Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) String Quartet in G minor Op.27 (1877-78) [35.54] David Monrad JOHANSEN (1888-1974) String Quartet Op.35 (1969) [18.58] Julius RÖNTGEN (1855-1932) Quartettino in A minor (1922) [9.27] Matangi Quartet Recorded at the Lutherske Kerk, Goulda, the Netherlands CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72137 [64.21] [JW]

With decent sound these novelties certainly make their mark. ... see Full Review

George Frederic HANDEL (1685-1759) The Triumph of Time and Truth, oratorio in 2 parts (HWV 71) Gillian Fisher (Beauty), Emma Kirkby (Deceit), soprano; Charles Brett (Counsel, or Truth), alto; Ian Partridge (Pleasure), tenor; Stephen Varcoe (Time), baritone The London Handel Choir and Orchestra/Denys Darlow Recorded October-November 1982. DDD HYPERION DYAD CDD22050 [59:36 + 63:53] [JV]

The reissue of this recording of the oratorio is most welcome for its artistic merits and not only because it is the sole available recording ... see Full Review

Georg Frideric HANDEL (1685 – 1739) Tu fedel?. tu costante? HWV 171 (1707) [15.56] Mi palpita il cor HWV 132a (1711) [10.53] Alpestre monte HWV 81 (1707) [10.12] Tra le fiamme HWV 170 (1708) [17.00] Emma Kirkby (soprano) The Academy of Ancient Music/Christopher Hogwood Recorded December 1984, St. Barnabas, North Finchley, London DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 7468 [54.36] [RH]

A delightful selection; a record which I will play again and again. ... see Full Review

 

Howard HANSON (1896-1981) Fanfare for the Signal Corps (1943) [1:08] Merry Mount Suite (1933) [15:00] Bold Island Suite (1961) [23:51] Symphony No. 2 Romantic (1930) [25:56] Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/Erich Kunzel rec. Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, 8 Sept 2004. DDD TELARC CD-80649 [66:12][IL]

A Hanson ‘Romantic’ in excellent sound not as satisfying as Gerhardt and an unusual Bold Island Suite definitely worth exploring ... see Full Review

Franz Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Cello Concertos - Sinfonia concertante Concerto for cello and orchestra in C (H VIIb,1) [23:07] Concerto for cello and orchestra in D (H VIIb,2) [22:36] Sinfonia concertante for violin, cello, oboe, bassoon and orchestra in B flat (H I,105) [20:16] Ryo Terakado, violin; Hidemi Suzuki, cello; Patrick Beaugiraud, oboe; Marc Vallon, bassoon La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken Recorded February 1998 at the Doopsgezinde Kerk in Haarlem, The Netherlands. DDD DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 74321 935482 [66:02] [JV]

The fine performance of the Sinfonia concertante can't make up for the uninspired and flat interpretations of the cello concertos ... see Full Review

Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphony No.83 in G minor Hob.I:83 The Hen (1785) [21.25] Symphony No.88 in G major Hob.I:88 Letter V (1787) [23.12] Symphony No.96 in D major Hob.I:96 The Miracle (1791) [20.08] Hallé Orchestra/John Barbirolli
Recorded 1949-1952 DUTTON CDBP 9750 [65.21] [JW]

Warm hearted and generous performances ... see Full Review

Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) String Quartets The Haydn Quartet Society Volume 1 Quartet in C major Op.20 No.2 [16.58] Quartet in C major Op.33 No.3 [16.09] Quartet in G major Op.77 No.1 [22.03] The Pro Arte Quartet Recorded 1930s PRISTINE AUDIO PACM008
The Haydn Quartet Society Volume 2 Quartet in D major Op.33 No.6 [12.45] Quartet in G major Op.54 No.1 [16.19] Quartet in C major Op.54 No.2 [17.22] Quartet in G minor Op.74 No.3 The Rider [16.29] The Pro Arte Quartet Recorded 1930s PRISTINE AUDIO PACM011 mp3 download [JW]

Many will prefer the ridding of shellac crackle and accept the resultant noise suppression. My own inclination is far removed from this kind of work but there is room in this field for all sorts of transfer priorities. ... see Full Review

Franz Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Divertimentos (String Trios) - Volume 3 No. 14 in D. Major, Hob. V:15 [10:45] No. 15 in C Major, Hob. V: 16 [15:57] No. 16 in E-flat major, Hob. V: 18 [14:25] No. 17 in B. Flat Major, Hob. V: 18 [14:12] No. 18 in E Major, Hob. V: 19 [14:50] Wiener Philharmonia Trio (Piter Wächter (violin), Tomáš Vinklát (violin), Tamáš Varga (cello)) rec.: Studio Baumgarten, Vienna, 20-21 February 2003. CAMERATA CM-28043 [72:26] [GPu]

Beautiful and gracious music, in excellent performances … see Full Review

Franz Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) The Wanderer Hob.XXVI a:32 [4:10] She Never Told Her Love Hob.XXVI a:34 [3:32] The Spirit’s Song Hob.XXVI a:41 [5:27] O Tuneful Voice Hob.XXVI a:42 [4:25] Piano Sonata in C Major Hob.XVI 50 [14:42] Arianna a Naxos Hob. XXVI b:2 [19:18] Andante con Variazione HobXVII 6 [16:07] Elizabeth Speiser (soprano) John Buttrick (piano) Recorded: 1987 JECKLIN DISCO JD 621-2 [68:22] [GPu]

An interesting programme, well performed…but not the best available…see Full Review

Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Kammermusik No. 2, Op. 36, No.1 (1924) [19:38] Concert Music for Viola and Large Chamber Orchestra Op. 48 (1930) [21:03] Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1945) [27:31] Lee Luvisi (piano) Ralph Hillyer (viola) Louisville Orchestra/Jorge Mester (conductor Kammermusik, Concert Music); Lawrence Leighton Smith (conductor Concerto) Rec. June 6^th 1968 (Kammermusik), May 7^th 1969 (Concert Music), November 7^th 1987 (Concerto), Macauley Theatre, Louisville, Kentucky. FIRST EDITION FECD-0022 [68:12] [DC]

A useful compilation worth seeking out. All very well played, with an unmannered lightness of touch which brings out genuinely expressive moments, and even some humour ... see Full Review

Franz Anton HOFFMEISTER (1754-1812) Notturnos (Quintets): Quintet in B No.1 [15.47] Quintet No.2 [14.15] Quintet in E flat No.4 [14.31] Quintet in F No.5 [14.26] Quintet in C No.6 [14.28] Simon Fuchs (oboe), Primož Novšak (violin), Michel Rouilly (viola 1), Katja Fuchs (viola 2), Jakob Hefti (horn), Manfred Sax (bassoon) Recorded in the Blumenstein Church. Bern, June 2003 TUDOR SACD 7124 [73.32] [JW]

Effortlessly genial, attractively played, warmly recorded ... exceptionally undemanding listening – as was surely the intention. ... see Full Review

Franz Anton HOFFMEISTER (1754-1812) Viola Concerto in D major [20.48] Carl STAMITZ (1745-1801) Viola Concerto No.1 in D major [21.13] Carl Friedrich ZELTER (1758-1832) Viola Concerto in E flat major [19.56] Hariolf Schlichtig (viola and director) Munich Chamber Orchestra Recorded in the studios of Bavarian Radio, Munich, 2000-2001 TUDOR 7087 [61.58] [JW]

The accent in this disc is on warmth – tonal and timbral – and you will derive a lot of pleasure from it. ... see Full Review

Johann Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837) Grande Serenade No. 2 - a potpourri for piano, violin, guitar, clarinet and bassoon in C major, Op. 66 (1814-15) [19:33] Potpourri, for Piano and Guitar in G major, Op. 53 (1810-11) [11:00] Grande Serenade No. 1 - a potpourri for piano, violin, guitar, clarinet and bassoon in G major, Op. 63 (1814-15) [19:00] Consortium Classicum: Dieter Klöcker, clarinet; Helman Jung, bassoon; Andreas Krecher, violin; Sonja Prunnbauer, guitar; Thomas Duis, piano rec. Furstliche Reitbahn, Bad Arolsen, Germany, 2-4 November 2004. DDD MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 301 1344-2 [50:01] [MC]

A superbly played disc of music in a lighter vein provides a refreshing change. ... see Full Review

Marie JAËLL (1846-1925) 5 Lieder (1880) [14:48] Sonate pour violoncello et piano (1881, rev. 1886) [36:15] 4 Mélodies tireés des “Orientales” de Victor Hugo (1893) [15:33] 4 Mélodies [7:58] Lara Erbès (piano) Lisa Erbès (cello) Catherine Dubosc (soprano) Rec. L’Espace Belle Epoque de Breintenbach (Haut-Rhin) in April 2005 SOLSTICE SOCD 227 [75:53][PCW]

As a composer, Jaëll seems to have been at least the equal of Chaminade and more recordings of her music would be very welcome. ... see Full Review

Aaron Jay KERNIS(b. 1960 ) Symphony No. 2 (1991) [25:51] Musica Celestis for string orchestra (1991) [12:27] Invisible Mosaic III (1988) [16:46] City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Hugh Wolff rec. Symphony Hall, Birmingham, UK, 14-15 May 1995. DDD licensed from Decca - first released in 1997 as Argo 448 900-2ZH PHOENIX PHCD160 [55:04] [RB]

A fine collection . In fact the place to start your Kernis collection. ... see Full Review

Constant LAMBERT (1905-1951) Romeo and Juliet (1924-25) [29.51] Elegiac Blues (1927 orchestrated 1928) [2.54] Piano Concerto (1924) [17.01] The Bird Actors – Overture (1925 revised 1927) [3.18] Prize Fight – Ballet in One Act (1924 revised 1927) [9.12] Jonathan Plowright (piano) English Northern Philharmonia/David Lloyd-Jones Recorded Clothworkers’ Hall, University of Leeds, 19-20 December 2004 HYPERION CDA 67545 [62.52] [JW]

Up to Hyperion’s generous standard ... performances spot-on. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Nicholas-Jacques LEMMENS (1823-1881) Grand Fantasia in E minor (The Storm) [12:34] Sigismond Ritter von NEUKOMM (1778-1858) Grand Dramatic Fantasia [13:31] Louis-James-Alfred LÉFEBURE-WÉLY (1817-1869) Scène Pastorale [11:11] Henry HUDSON (1854-1912) Storm Fantasia (Life and death at St. Bernard’s Hospice) (1913) [11:51] Samuel Gatty SELLARS (1887-?) An Ocean Tempest (1924) [8:39] Franz LISZT 1811-1886 St Francis of Paola walks upon the waters (arr. REGER) (1901) [10:48] David CLEGG (1867-1923) A Church Service interrupted by a thunderstorm [11:19] Kevin Bowyer (organ) rec. Blackburn Cathedral, 26-27 October 2004. DDD REGENT RECORDS REGCD217 [79.58] [JWe]

Kevin Bowyer’s ‘The Storm’ is one of the great organ recordings of all time ... see Full Review

Matthew LOCKE (c.1621–1677) Anthems, motets and ceremonial music Choir of New College, Oxford The Parley of Instruments/Peter Holman Edward Higginbottom rec. Rosslyn Hill Chapel, London, May 1989. DDD HYPERION HELIOS CDH55250 [66:59] [IB]

Much to enjoy on this fine reissue with some breathtaking and intensely moving music ... 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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