Leevi
MADETOJA
(1887-1947) Okon
Fuoko - a ballet pantomime op. 58
(1927) [76:51] 
Helena Juntunen, soprano/Tuomas Katajala,
tenor/Oulun Kamarikuoro/Oulun kaupunginorkesteri/Arvo
Volmer rec. Madetoja Hall, Oulu Music Centre,
26-29 Aug 2002, 31 Jan 2003. DDD
ALBA ABCD 184 [76:51] [RB]
An
extremely attractive and imaginative dance
score which will hold wide appeal. The impressionistic-nationalist
writing is captivating ... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No.4 in G (1892-1900) [53.39]
Lisa Della Casa (soprano) Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner Recorded
in 1958 RCA RED SEAL
82876 67901 2 SACD [53.39] [JW]
For
an example of penetrating Mahler conducting
you could do an awful lot better ... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony
No. 5 in C sharp minor (1902) [68:10]
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sakari Oramo rec. live, Symphony
Hall, Birmingham, 26, 28 October 2004. DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62055-2 [68:10] [JQ]
A
very enjoyable recording but it does not disturb existing recommendations
as a library choice. ... see Full
Review
Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony
No. 5 in C sharp minor (1902) [78:10]
Orchestre National de France/Bernard Haitink rec. concert, Radio France,
Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris, 30 June, 1 July 2004. DDD
NAÏVE V5026 [78:10][KS]
Recommended
as a comparison recording to such giants as
Haitink with Amsterdam,
Bernstein and Walter ... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
and Luciano BERIO (1925-2003)
Two films: Voyage to Cythera; Attrazione d'Amore
Films by Frank Scheffer featuring Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Riccardo
Chailly, Luciano Berio, Louis Andriessen and many others. Recorded 1999
and 2000. DVD - all regions
ALLEGRI
FILMS BV DVD 9DS11 [110:00] [AO]
The
Berio section is an inspired piece of film-making.
More than just a documentary, it engages with
the music, text, performance and Berio’s ideas.
Very thought-provoking ... see Full
Review
Frank
MARTIN (1890-1974)
Violin
Concerto (1950-51) [31:06] Piano Concerto
No. 2 (1966-67) [22:04] Wolfgang Schneiderhan
(violin) Paul Badura-Skoda (piano)
Orchestra Symphonique de la Radio Luxembourg/Frank
Martin rec. 1971, Luxembourg, ADD
originally issued on LP Candide CE 31055,
New York
JECKLIN DISCO JD 632-2 [53:37] [RB]
Fascinating
and authoritative ...you do not know these
concertos thoroughly until you have heard
this disc. ... see Full
Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959)
The Six Symphonies CD1
Symphony No. 1 (1942) [34:41] Symphony No.
5 (1946) [29:23] CD2 Symphony No. 2 (1943)
[23:28] Symphony No. 6 (Fantaisies symphoniques)
(1953) [27:52] CD3 Symphony No. 3 (1944) [26:53]
Symphony No. 4 (1945) [32:55] Royal
Scottish National Orchestra/Bryden Thomson
rec. Caird Hall, Dundee 17, 19 April 1990
(Symphonies Nos. 1, 5); SNO Centre, Glasgow
20-21 August 1990 (Nos. 2, 6) and 6-7 September
1989 (Nos. 3, 4) Originally separately issued
as Chandos CHAN 8917 (3 4); CHAN 8916 (2 6);
CHAN 8915 (1 5);
CHANDOS CLASSICS CHAN 10316X [3 CDs: 64:11
+ 51:30 + 60:00] [RB]
Thomson
seems broader ... a conductor who has an eye
to the longer term with the advantage of Chandos's
glamorous and virile sound-picture.... see
Full
Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ
(1890-1959) Memorial
to Lidice (Památník Lidicim)
(1943) [8:20] Concertino for Piano Trio and
Orchestra (1933) [18:54] Rhapsody-Concerto
for Viola and Orchestra (1952) [19:23] Concerto
for Piano Trio and Orchestra (1933) [24:10]
Tabea Zimmerman (viola) Wanderer Trio (Vincent
Coq (piano); Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabedian
(violin); Raphaël Pidoux (cello))
Gürzenich Orchestra/James Conlon rec.
Studio Stolberger Straße, Köln,
23-26 Apr 2003; 6-7 Sept 2004 (Rhapsody).
DDD. Hybrid SACD Reviewed using conventional
CD player 
CAPRICCIO CC 71 053 [70:27] [RB]
Rare
and not so rare Martinů, extremely well
played and recorded. The Lidice is given a
reading of searing intensity and the Trio
Concerto is striking ... 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. 15 March, 30 Apr, 21 May 2003. DDD *
CD premiere
SUMMIT RECORDS DCD407 [79:25] [RB]
This
is a lovely disc which would pair delightfully
with Naxos’s recent CD of the Martinů
songs. ... see
Full Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959)
Songs Deux
Chansons (1932) [7:19] Trois Mélodies
(1930) [0:53]* Vocalise-Etude (1930)
[1:10] Dvĕ Balady (Two Ballads
to Folk Texts) (1932) [6:31]* Čtyři
písně (Fours songs to folk texts)
(1940) [5:39] Polka for piano - from
the ballet Špalíček (1932) [2:13]
Nový Špalíček (1942)
[10:56] Waltz for piano - from the
ballet Špalíček (1932) [6:05]
Three Christmas Songs (1929) [2:46]*
Four Children's Songs and Nursery Rhymes
[1:17]* Koleda Milostná (Love
carol on a folk text) (1937) [0:53] Přání
mamince (A wish for a Mother) [7:19]*
Songs from the Hry o Marii (The
Miracles of Mary) (1934) [6:42]
Olga Černá (mezzo) Jitka Čechová
(piano) rec. 11-12, 15-16 Jan 2003, Studio
Minor, Trhový Štĕpánov,
Czech Republic. DDD sponsored by the Bohuslav Martinů
Foundation and supported by the International
Bohuslav Martinů Society * world premiere
recordings
NAXOS 8.557494 [53:40] [RB]
Should
find a ready market with admirers of French
song and with those who take a special interest
in the imprint of folk influences. ... see
Full Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959)
Piano Music Etudes
and Polkas - Books 1-3 (1945) [29.23] Butterflies and Birds of
Paradise () [15:21] Seven Czech Dances () [12:14]
Paul Kaspar (piano) rec. Bayerischen Rundfunk München, Studio
2, 14 Mar, 7 Apr, 22 Sept, 16 Dec 2003. DDD
TUDOR 7125 [57:13]
Bohuslav MARTINŮ
(1890-1959) Piano Music Fantaisie
et Toccata (1940) [16.26] Three Czech
Dances (1926) [8:15] Dumka (1941)
[2:03] Piano Sonata No. 1 (1954) [19.05]
Fenêtre sur le Jardin (1938)
[7:24] Trois Esquisses (1927) [4:58]
Paul Kaspar (piano) rec. Bayerischen Rundfunk
München, Studio 2, July 1998, May, Sept
1999, Apr 2000. DDD
TUDOR 7054 [60:25] [RB]
Some
of the best recorded and performed Martinů. ... primus inter pares
with Leichner and Maly. ... see Full
Review
Jules
MASSENET (1842-1912) An
Introduction to… MASSENET Werther Background [17:23] Introduction
to Werther [62:01]
Written by Thomson Smillie Narrated by
David Timson Music from Werther – Naxos 8.660072-73 Marcus
Haddock – tenor (Werther) Beatrice Uria – mezzo (Charlotte, Werther’s
Daughter) Rene Massis – baritone (Albert)Jael Azzaretti – soprano (Sophie,
Charlotte’s Sister) Jean-Philippie Marliere – baritone (Le Bailli) Jean-Sebastien
Bou – baritone (Johann, friend of Le Bailli) Jean Delescluse – tenor
(Schmidt, friend of Le Bailli) Mathilde Jacob – soprano (Kathchen, a
young girl) David Roubaud – tenor (Bruhlmann, a young man) The Maitrise
Boreale – Les Envants Bernard Dewagtere, chorus master Orchestre National
de Lille-Region Nord/Pas-de-Calais/Jean-Claude Casadesus Pierre-Michael
Durand, assistant to Jean-Claude Casadesus Recording
information not disclosed DDD
NAXOS 8.558173 [79:24][PG]
Preparing
to see the opera or want to understand the
work then this is an excellent place to go
... see Full
Review
Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643)
L’Orfeo
(highlights) – opera in five acts.
(1607) Libretto by Alessandro Striggio Orfeo
– Lajos Kozma La Musica, Euridice – Rotraud
Hansmann Messaggiera, Speranza – Cathy Berberian
Caronte – Nikolaus Simkowsky Ninfa, Proserpina
– Eiko Katonosaka Plutone – Jacques Villisech
Apollo, Pastore IV, Spirito III – Max von
Egmond Spirito I, Pastore II – Nigel Rogers
Spirito II, Pastore III – Kurt Equiluz Pastore
I – Günther Theuring
Capella Antiqua München/Konrad Ruhland
Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Recorded in the Casino Zögernitz, Vienna,
1968.
WARNER APEX 2564 61516-2 [75:38] [JR]
A
mixed bag. Great orchestral playing. However,
collectors interested in a recording notable
for its solo singing may be better off looking
elsewhere. ... see Full
Review
Claudio
MONTEVERDI
(1567-1643) Il
ritorno d’Ulisse in patria - Dramma
in musica L’Humana
fragilità ... Brian Asawa (counter-tenor) Tempo ... Jaco Huijpen (bass)
Fortuna ... Monica Bacelli (soprano) Amore ... Machteld Baumans (soprano)
Ulisse ... Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) Penelope ... Graciela Araya
(mezzo) Telemaco ... Toby Spence (tenor) Antinoo ... Jaco Huijpen (bass)
Pisandro ... Christopher Gillett (tenor) Anfinomo ... Brian Asawa (counter-tenor)
Eurimaco ... Mark Tucker (tenor) Iro ... Alexander Oliver (tenor) Melanto
... Monica Bacelli (soprano) Eumete ... Adrian Thompson (tenor) Minerva
... Diana Montague (soprano) Baroque Ensemble/Glen Wilson Recorded at
Het Muziektheater Amsterdam, October 1998
DVD OPUS ARTE OA0926D
(PAL format) or OA 0927D (NTSC format) [2 DVDs: 178 minutes][RM]
A
Reader's Digest Ulysses with some excellent
singing. ... see Full
Review
Saburo MOROI (1903
– 1977) Sinfonietta
in B flat For Children Op.24 (1943) [15:46] Two Symphonic Movements
Op.22 (1942) [19:09] Symphony No. 3 Op.25 (1944) [33:20]
National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland/Takuo Yuasa Recorded: National
Concert Hall, Dublin, September 2002
NAXOS 8.557162 [68:15] [HC]
Traditional
... solid, warmly post-romantic and lushly
scored music played with admirable commitment
and conviction. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) The Complete
Piano Concertos - 250th Anniversary Edition
see
review for details
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62332 [76:11 + 66:44
+ 70:06 + 74:25 + 76:34 + 66:53 + 68:21 +
71:06 + 62:33 + 64:32] [GPJ]
The
general standard is high, and there are enough
really outstanding performances to make this
a very desirable collection. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Serenade
for Orchestra in D Major, K 250 "Haffner" (1776) [56:49] Bella
mia fiamma, addio-Resta, o cara (1787) [9:24] Ernö Sebestyen, violin
Edith Wiens, soprano
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/Günter Wand Recorded May
21, 1982 (Serenade) and May 23, 1982 (aria) at the Nürnberg Mozart
Festival by Bavarian Radio.
PROFIL PH 04053 [66:18] [KS]
Wand’s
devotion plays itself out in these elegant
performances. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Sonatas
for Piano and Violin: in F major, KV 376 (374d) (1781) [17:36];
in G major, KV 301 (293a) (1778) [14:17]; in E minor, KV 304 (300c)
(1778) [12:41]; in A major, KV 526 (1787) [25:08]
Hilary Hahn, violin; Natalie Zhu, piano Recorded at the Richard
B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, Bard College, Annadale-on-Hudson,
New York, USA, February, November, 2004. DDD
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON DG 00289 477 5572 [69:50] [MC]
No
galloping rhythms, no sparkle or joy ... tiresome
and drab ... I shall not be returning to this
disc. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791)
Flute
Concertos: No. 1 in G major, K.313 [23:38], No. 2 in D major, K.314
[19:09], Andante in C major, K.315 [06:26], Rondo in D major, K.184
Anh [05:45] Cadenzas by Kalevi Aho
Sharon Bezaly (flute), Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra/Juha Kangas Recorded
11th-15th April 2005 in Kaustinen Church, Finland
BIS-SACD 1539
[56:04][CH]
Almost
worth it for Aho’s cadenzas ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Complete Clavier Works - Vol. 1 Fantasia
in Cminor (K475)** [12:17] Sonata in Cminor (K457)** [20:59] Thema (con
5 variazioni) in F (K54/457a,3)* [06:03] (Menuetto) in F (K2)* [01:03]
(Clavierstück) in B flat (K15ii)* [02:13] (Clavierstück) in
B flat (KAnh109b,9)* [00:52] (Menuetto) in A flat (KAnh109b,8)* [00:39]
8 Menuets (K315a/315g)* [12:28] Sonata in G (K283/189h) [17:11]
Siegbert Rampe, harpsichord (Nikolaus Dam, after Gottfried Silbermann,
1749), clavichord (*) (Dietrich Hein, after Christian Ernst Friederici,
1765), fortepiano (**) (Nikolaus Damm, after Johann Andreas Stein, 1755)
Recorded in August 2004 at the Paul-Gerhardt-Haus, Cologne, Germany
MDG 341 1301-2 [74:46][JV]
The
first volume of what promises to be a very interesting series of recordings
- unfortunately the artist is let down by poor recording technique ...
see Full Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Die
Entführung aus dem Serail (1782)
Ryland Davies (tenor) Belmonte; Valerie Masterson
(soprano) Constanze; Lilian Watson (soprano)
Blonde; Willard White (bass) Osmin; Pedrillo
(tenor) James Hoback; Joachim Nissmeier (speaker)
Passa Selim
The Glyndebourne Chorus London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Gustav Kuhn Rec. Glyndebourne Festival
Opera in 1980. Producer Peter Wood. PCM Stereo.
Format 4:3. Region: 0 (Worldwide). DVD9. NTSC.
ARTHAUS 101 091 [140'00] [CC]
What
a magnificent opera Die Entführung is!
And to have it in this superbly sung and well-conducted
version is a real delight. ... see Full
Review
Carl
NIELSEN
(1865-1931) Violin
Concerto (1912) [34:33] Clarinet Concerto
(1928) [25:36] Flute Concerto (1926) [17:42]
Saeka Matsuyama (violin); John McCaw (clarinet);
Jennifer Stinton (flute) Odense Symphony Orchestra/Jan
Wagner (violin); New Philharmonia Orchestra/Raymond
Leppard (clarinet); Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Steuart
Bedford (flute) rec. live 1999, Nielsen International
Competition New York, licensed Bridge Records
(violin); early 1970s, London, Unicorn-Kanchana
(clarinet); 1991, Queen's Hall, Edinburgh,
licensed Collins Classics.
REGIS RRC 1208 [78:03] [RB]
If
your prime interest the Violin Concerto then
don’t hesitate, get this outstanding version
and enjoy two other good but not prime versions
of the other concertos. ... see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jacques OFFENBACH
(1819-1880) Die Rheinnixens or
Les Fées du Rhin (The Fairies of the Rhine)
- A romantic opera in four acts, sung in German (1860-62)
Regina
Schörg (sop) - Armgard; Nora Gubisch (mezzo) - Hedwig; Piotr Beczala
(ten) - Franz; Dalibor Jenis (bar) - Conrad; Peter Klaveness (bass-bar)
- Gottfried; Uwe Pepper (ten) - Peasant; Gaëlle Le Roi (sop) -
Fairy Lithuanian Radio Choir Orchestre National de Montpellier/Friedemann
Layer rec. live, Radio France/Montpellier Festival, France, 30 July
2002. DDD
UNIVERSAL
ACCORD 472 920-2 [3 CDs: 74:57 + 67:50 + 65:55][RW]
This
is a find worthy of inclusion in the wider European repertoire ... even
if Tales of Hoffmann has to be discarded to make way for it. The work
is a treat. ... see Full Review
Paul
PARAY (1886-1979)
Artémis
Troublée - a ballet in five movements (1922) [34:53]
Symphonie d'Archets (Symphony for Strings) (1944) [29:14]
Hart Hollman (viola)
The Assumption Grotto Orchestra/Eduard Perrone rec. Assumption Grotto
Church, Detroit, 16 Feb 2003 (ballet); 2 Mar 2003 (symphony) DDD world
premiere recordings
GROTTO PRODUCTIONS GP-0006 [74:30] [RB]
Not
to be missed by those who appreciate both
a cooler classical approach as well as the
sultry climes of the Ballets Russes. ... see
Full Review
Alla PAVLOVA
(b.1952)
feature
Alla PAVLOVA
(b.1952) Symphony
No. 2 For the New Millenium (1999)
[43.44] Music from The Old New York Nostalgia
suite for string orchestra, percussion,
alto and tenor saxophone and trumpet (1994-95)
[15.52] Elegy for Piano and String
Orchestra (1998) [4.07]
Yaroslav Krasnikov (violin) Victor Goltiapin
(alto saxophone) Leonid Tushev (tenor saxophone)
Ilia Feropontov (trumpet) Peter Izotov (piano)
International Symphony Orchestra 'Globalis'/Konstantin
D. Krimets rec. Moscow Film Concert Inc. Studio
1. 1999
ALBANY TROY397 [63.44]
Alla PAVLOVA
(b.1952) Symphony No. 1 Farewell Russia
(1994) [25.52] Symphony No. 3 (2000) [40.53]
Olga Vedernikova (violin) Leonid Lebedev (flute)
Nikolay Lotakov (piccolo) Mikhail Shestakhov
(violin) Valery Brill (cello) Mikhail Adamovich
(piano) Russian Philharmonia Orchestra/Konstantin
D Krimets (1); Alexander Vedernikov (3) rec.
Russian Broadasting Studios, Moscow, 1 June
1995 (1): 10-14 Dec 2001 (3). DDD
NAXOS 8.557157 [66.46]
Alla PAVLOVA
(b.1952) Six Piano Impressions after
Fairy Tales by H.C. Andersen (1990) [9.22]
Prelude (1994) [6.10] Summer Pictures
(1994) [4.36] Lullaby for Irene (1972)
[2.21] Winter Morning (1993) [3.13]
The Eyes, Begging for Mercy [1.50]
The Dream (1979) [2.18] We are the
Love (1974) [4.45] Symphony No. 1 Farewell
Russia (1994) [26.02]
soloists of Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Konstantin
Krimets rec. 1994-5, New York and Moscow.
ALLA PAVLOVA 122095 [69.17]
Alla PAVLOVA
(b. 1952) Symphony No. 2 For the New
Millennium (rev. 2002) [37:34] Symphony
No. 4 (2002) [19:59] Yaroslav
Krasnikov (violin) Georgy Khachikyan (organ)
Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio/Vladimir
Fedoseyev rec. 17-20 Sept 2003, Studio 5,
Russian State TV and Radio Company, KULTURA,
Moscow. DDD NAXOS
8.557566 [57:33] [RB]
Pavlova
- serenity woven with sadness unflinchingly
done, without concessions to short attention
spans and all within the tradition of nostalgia
amplified by distance and time ... see Full
Review
Astor
PIAZZOLLA
(1921-1992) Tangos arr.
José
BRAGATO Oblivion
[6:06] Esqualo [3:32] Adios Nonino
[10:01] Libertango [3:36] Mumuki
[9:23] Milonga en Re [5:02] The
Angel Suite [23:47] Ave Maria [6:01]
José BRAGATO
(b.1915) Graciela y Buenos Aires
[8:40]
Eduardo Vassallo (cello) Cristina Filoso (piano)
Rec. CBSO Centre, Birmingham, UK in January
2004. DDD
SOMM CÉLESTE SERIES SOMMCD045 [76:21]
[PCW]
This
music has atmosphere, passion and resonances
from around the world and across the ages.
Essential listening. ... see Full
Review
Thomas PITFIELD
(1903-1999) Piano
Concerto No. 1 in E major (1947) [23:28] Piano
Concerto No. 2 (1960) [11:32] Studies on
an English Dance-Tune (1961) [4:35] Arietta
and Finale (1932) [4:51] Toccata
(1953) [3:54] Xylophone Sonata (1987) [6:22]
Anthony Goldstone (piano)
Peter Donohoe (piano; xylophone) Royal Northern
College of Music Orchestra/Andrew Penny rec.
Brown Shipley Concert Hall, Royal Northern
College of Music, Manchester, 6-8 Dec 2003.
DDD
NAXOS 8.557291 [54:41] [RB]
Petrushka-bright
and Ravel-pristine ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Serge
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
Eugene
Onegin - incidental music (1936) [76:16]
Pique Dame - film music (1936, 2000)
[33:56]
Chulpan Chamatova (speaker); Jakob Küf
(speaker)
Boris Statsenko (bar) Soloists from RIAS Kammerchors
RIAS Kammerchor/Jörn-Hinnerk Andresen
Kevin McCutcheon (harpsichord and piano) Berlin
Radio Symphony Orchestra/Michail Jurowski
rec. Berlin-Dahlem, Jesus-Christus-Kirche
March, Sept 2003, Jan, Feb 2004. DDD
CAPRICCIO 67 149 [76:16 + 33:56] [RB]
Treasure
- at last a Russian language Onegin on CD
- one of the composer's finest and most poetic
scores - do not miss it ... see Full
Review
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695)
King
Arthur or The British Worthy - a semi-opera in five acts
to a libretto by John Dryden (1691)
Isabel Rey, soprano; Barbara Bonney, soprano; Birgit Remmert, alto;
Michael Schade, tenor; Oliver Widmer, baritone. Konzertvereinigung Wiener
Staatsopernchor/Rupert Huber Concentus Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
rec. live, Salzburg Festival, July 2004. DDD
EUROARTS
DVD 2054509 [74:00 + 95:00] [EM]
Removes
all traces of the opera’s original context
and while the large choral pieces are performed
extremely well, often with great energy this
is a DVD that I will probably not be watching
again. ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1875-1945)
Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 13 (1897) [46:25]
The Rock - Fantasia, Op. 7 (1893)
[16:01]
L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Walter
Weller (Symphony) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Walter
Weller (The Rock). rec. Victoria Hall, Geneva,
Switzerland, August 1972. ADD (Symphony);
Kingsway Hall, London, October 1974. ADD (The
Rock)
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 7724 [62:45] [JPh]
Eloquence
can be immensely proud of their Rachmaninov
Symphony cycle – I will be returning to it
often. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Sergei
RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) Symphony
No. 2 in E minor (1906-7) [66.13]
London Symphony Orchestra/Gennadi Rozhdestvensky
rec. 10-11 March 1988, All Saints Church,
Tooting, London. DDD
REGIS RRC 1210 [66.13] [RB]
Will
rekindle that first fresh shimmer of discovery,
that tremor of the heart, that spine-tingling
indicator that tells you what it was to live
the creation and recreation of this music.
... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1875
- 1945) Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Op.
27 (1908) [53:12] The Isle of the Dead,
Op. 90 (1909) [20:52]
L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Paul
Kletzki (Symphony) Concertgebouw Orchestra,
Amsterdam/Vladimir Ashkenazy (Isle of the
Dead). rec. Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland,
August 1967; Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, January
1983. ADD/DDD
DECCA ELOQUENCE 470 6752 [74:10] [JPh]
Wonderfully
ardent performances ... superb sound quality
... see Full
Review
Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1875
- 1945) Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op.
44 (1936) [40:35] Youth Symphony in
D Minor (1891) [10:50] Piano Concerto
No. 4 in G Minor, Op. 40 (1926, rev. 1927
and 1941) [25:59]
L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Paul Kletzki
(Symphony); Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam/Vladimir
Ashkenazy (Youth Symphony); Vladimir Ashkenazy
(piano), London Symphony Orchestra/André
Previn (Piano Concerto No. 4) Rec. Victoria
Hall, Geneva, Switzerland, August 1968. Concertgebouw,
Amsterdam, January 1981; Kingsway Hall, London,
November 1971. ADD / DDD.
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 7692 [77:42] [JPh]
A
superb recording in an excellent acoustic
and with the absolute top-flight of orchestral
conductors. Buy it and enjoy – you won’t regret
it .... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1875
- 1945) Symphonic
Dances, Op. 45 (1940) [33:41] Piano Concerto
No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18 (1901) [35:58]
Philadelphia Orchestra/Charles Dutoit (Op.
45)
Alicia de Larrocha (piano) Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra/Charles Dutoit (Op. 18) rec. Memorial
Hall, Philadelphia, USA, Nov 1990 (Op. 45);
Kingsway Hall, London, Sept 1980 (Op. 18).
DDD / ADD.
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 7701 [69:56] [JPh]
A
very acceptable slow and delicious Second
Piano Concerto and a more than acceptable
Symphonic Dances ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) Piano
Concerto No.3 in D minor Op.30 (1909) [43.07]* Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano Concerto No.3 in C Op.26 (1921)
[29.54] Van Cliburn
(piano) Symphony of the Air/Kyrill Kondrashin, recorded live at Carnegie
Hall, May 1958* Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Walter Hendl, recorded Orchestra
Hall, Chicago, October 1960
RCA RED SEAL LIVING STEREO SACD 82876 67894 2
[73.15][JW]
Famed
though they are these recordings don’t seem
to me to support the Van Cliburn Legend. ...
see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1875
- 1945) The Bells, Op. 35 (1912) [35:15]
Spring, Op. 20 (1902) [15:57] Three Russian Songs,
Op.41 [12:04] Alexandrina
Pendachanska Op.35, (soprano) Kaludi Kaludov Op.35, (tenor) Sergei Leiferkus
Opp. 35, 20 (tenor) Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia Philadelphia
Orchestra/Charles Dutoit. rec. Memorial Hall, Philadelphia, USA, January
1992. DDD DECCA ELOQUENCE
476 7702 [63:55]. [JPh]
All
of Rachmaninov’s works for choir and orchestra.
A nice idea and the performances are more
than satisfactory and allow us to enjoy these
works at super budget price. ... see
Full Review
Joseph Joachim RAFF (1822-1882) Four Overtures
to Shakespeare’s plays (1879): The Tempest [13:51]; Othello
[8:12]; Macbeth [11:30]; Romeo and Juliet [8:34] Elegie
for Orchestra Op.48 (1879) [7:34] Fest-Ouverture Op.117 (1864)
[15:21]
Bamberger
Symphoniker/Hans Stadlmair rec. Sinfonie an der Regnitz, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal,
Bamberg, Germany, September 2001, April, December 2002, June 2003. DDD
TUDOR
7128 [65:46][RW]
Interesting
harmonic undercurrents but melodic inspiration
is lean. Gentle romanticism ... a wonderfully
memorable Fest-Ouverture:
stirring and with sparkling energy ... see
Full
Review
Joachim
RAFF
(1822-1882) String
Quartet No.1 in D minor, Op.77 (1855) [38:17]
String Quartet No.7 in D major, ‘Die
schöne Müllerin’ (‘The
beautiful maid of the mill’) p.192/b
(1874) [30:35]
Quartetto di Milano rec. Telos Studios,
Mechernich-Floisdorf, Germany, 6-7 Nov 1998
(Op. 77), 13-14 Feb 1999 (Op. 192/b) DDD
TUDOR 7079 [68:56] [MC]
This
splendid recording will delight enthusiasts
of chamber music and will undoubtedly win
Raff many new friends ... see Full
Review
Joseph
Joachim RAFF (1822-1882)
Sonata
for violin and piano in E minor No.1 Op.73 (1853/4) [30.41] Chromatic
Sonata for violin and piano in G minor No.4 Op.129 (1866) [14.53] Sonata
for violin and piano in D major No.3 Op.128 (1865) [25.45]
Ariadne Daskalakis (violin) Roglit Ishay (piano) rec. Studio 2,
Bavarian Radio, Munich, Germany, 27-28, 30 January 2003. DDD
TUDOR 7122 [71.37] [CF]
Raff’s
music has been accused on occasion of succumbing
to either triviality or vulgarity, at times
even both. No sign of any such failings on
this enjoyable disc, which impresses to the
last chord. ... see Full
Review
Sunleif RASMUSSEN (b.
1961) Symphony
No. 1 Oceanic Days (1995-1997) [41.25]
Saxophone Concerto Dem Lich entgegen (2001)
[20.32] (1) Jeanette Balland (saxophone) (1)
Danish National Symphony Orchestra DR/Hannu
Linto rec. 5-8 May 2003, Danish Radio Concert
Hall
DA CAPO 6.220506 [61.57] [RH]
A
sumptuous aural experience. ... definitely a disc to explore ... see
Full Review
Karol RATHAUS (1895-1954)
Symphony No. 2 Op. 7 (1923) [33:59] Symphony No. 3 Op. 50 (1942-43)
[42:56]
Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt/Israel Yinon rec. Carl Philipp
Emanuel Bach-Konzerthalle, Frankfurt (Oder), 24-27 June, 8-9 July 2002.
DDD
CPO 777 031-2 [77:28][RB]
Moderately
attractive music in a tough idiom requiring some persistence. ... see
Full Review
Sergio
RENDINE
(b. 1954) Passio
et Resurrectio (2000) [58:11] Sung in Italian and Latin Nando
Citarella (voice in Orologio della Passione) Damiana Pinti (mezzo soprano)
Emanuela Loffredo and Elio Tacconelli (folk voices) Lucilla Galeazzi
(soprano) Pierpaolo Pecoriello (saxophone) Gabriele Di Iorio (flute)
Maurizio Trippitelli (percussion)
Chorus and orchestra of the Marrucino Theatre, Chieti/Marzio Conti
Rec. Cathedral of San Giustino, Chieti, Italy, April 2003, DDD
NAXOS 21st CENTURY CLASSICS 8.557733 [58:11] [TP]
Certainly
infectious and sounds like it is fun to perform
though it is debatable that it deserves to
be called a "21st Century
Classic". ... see Full
Review
Ottorino
RESPIGHI
(1879-1936) Variazioni
sinfoniche (1900) [12:20]* Preludio,
corale e fuga (1901) [17:44] Burlesca
(1906) [7:23] Ouverture carnevalesca
(1913) [8:41] Suite in E major (1903)
[32:52]
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/Adriano
Ferdinand Klinda (organ) * rec. Concert Hall,
Slovak Radio, Bratislava. 31 Jan - 7 Feb 1991.
DDD originally released as Marco Polo 8.223348
NAXOS 8.557820 [79:00] [RB]
A
stimulating confection for the Respighian
rather than for the generalist. ... see Full
Review
Knudåge
RIISAGER (1897
– 1974) Qarrtsiluni
Op.36 (1938) [8:27] Månerenen Op.57 (1956) [47:21]
Aarhus Symphony Orchestra;
Bo Holten Recorded: Frichsparken, Aarhus, March 2004
DACAPO 8.226022 [55:49] [HC]
A
pure joy from first to last ... see Full
Review
Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
(1844-1908) Sadko - opera-bylina in seven
tableaux (1898)
Sadko - Georgy Nelepp (ten) Volkhova - Elisabeta Shumskaya (sop) Lyubava
- Valentina Davidova (mezzo) Nezhata - E Antonova (alto) The Sea King
- S Krasovsky (bass) Duda - S Koltypin (bass) Sopel - A Peregudov (ten)
First City Elder - T Chernyakov (ten) Second City Elder - S Nikolau
(bass) Viking Merchant - Mark Reizen (bass) Venetian Merchant - Ivan
Kozlovsky (ten) Apparition - Pavel Lisitsian Minstrels, Jesters, Soothsayers,
Wandering Pilgrims Bolshoi Theatre Chorus and Orchestra/Nikolai Golovanov
rec. 1950, USSR, from Melodiya D-01480-87. AAD. mono
PREISER 90655 [52:17 + 54:36 + 59:51][RB]
Music-making
of real allure ... a fine example in historic sound of one of Rimsky's
supernatural operas ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gioachino
ROSSINI
(1792 – 1868) La
Cenerentola (1817) Joyce DiDonato
(mezzo) – Angelina, known as Cenerentola;
José Manuel Zapata (tenor) – Don Ramiro;
Paolo Bordogna (baritone) – Dandini; Bruno
Praticò (bass-baritone) – Don Magnifico;
Patrizia Cigna (soprano) – Clorinda; Martina
Borst (mezzo) – Tisbe; Luca Pisaroni (bass-baritone)
– Alidoro
Prague Chamber Choir SWR Radio Orchestra
Kaiserslauten/Alberto Zedda rec. live, 13
Nov 2004, co-production: Rossini in Wildbad
Festival/SWR Rundfunkorchester Kaiserslauten
NAXOS 8.660191-92 [79:53 + 74:50] [GF]
Rossini
himself, somewhere up there in his gourmet
heaven, salutes this recording with a glass
of spumante. ... 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] [RB]
A
logical, fine and inexpensive Rubbra coupling
that will strongly reward the serious listener.
... see Full
Review
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