Mayuzumi’s
most accessible pieces, none of them earth-shaking
masterpieces; all very enjoyable. Excellent
performances and very fine recording ...
see Full
Review
Henryk MELCER
(1869-1928) Violin
Sonata in G major (1907) [28.44] Dumka for
violin and piano (1909) [3.06] Piano Trio
in G minor Op.2 (1892-94) [41.46] 
The Warsaw Trio (Andrzej Gębski
(violin), Jarosław Domżał
(cello), Joanna Ławrynowicz (piano))
rec. Warsaw, June and September 2004
ACTE PRÉALABLE AP0111 [74.12][JW]
If
you’re keen to find how far Grieg’s influence
spread into continental Europe try the Melcer
sonata ... see Full
Review
Fanny
MENDELSSOHN (1805-1847)
Piano Works
see review for details
Elżbieta Sternlicht, piano rec. Ballhaus
Naunynstrasse, Berlin, 24-27 June 2005.
DDD
ACTE PRÉALABLE APO 0130 [63:15]
[DB]
At
her lightest, Fanny Mendelssohn’s works
recall her brother’s lighter moments in
his own piano pieces. Occasionally she achieves
something great ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Symphony
No.4 in A op.90 Italian [26:25]; Symphony No.5 in D op.107
Reformation [27:10]; Octet in E flat op.20: Scherzo: Allegro
leggierissimo [04:09]
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch rec. Symphony Hall, Boston,
18 February 1958 (Symphony 4), 28 October 1957 (Symphony 5), 7 March
1960 (Octet Scherzo) (heard as a normal CD)
BMG-RCA RED SEAL SACD 82876716162 
[57:59][CH]
Highly
recommended, especially to those not convinced that Mendelssohn was
a BIG composer. ... see Full
Review
Darius
MILHAUD
(1892-1974) Orchestral and Chamber
Music Trio for violin, clarinet and piano op. 157b (1936) [11:33]
Symphonic Suite no. 2 Protée op. 57 (1919) [24:16] Little
Chamber Symphony no. 3 op. 71 (1921) [3:10] Serenade for
Orchestra op. 62 (1920-21) [13:59] Cinq Etudes for piano and
orchestra op. 63 (1920) [9:57] Suite from Maximilien op. 110b
(1932, rev. 1950) [14:38] Trois Rag Caprices op. 78 (1922)
[6:56] Jacques Parrenin
(violin), Ulysse Delecluse (clarinet), Annette Haas-Hamburger (piano)
(Trio) San Francisco Symphony Orchestra/ Pierre Monteux (Protée)
Jean Pougnet (violin), Anthony Pini (cello), Reginald Kell (clarinet),
Paul Draper (bassoon), George Eskdale (trumpet)/Walter Goehr (Chamber
Symphony) Paul Badura-Skoda (piano) (Five Studies) Vienna
Symphony Orchestra/Henry Swoboda (Studies, Caprices,
Maximilien, Serenade) rec. 1936-1953. Mono ADD. Transcribed
from various 78 rpm and LP discs: Felsted RL89006/Period SPL563 (Trio);
Columbia DB1788 (Chamber Sym); RCA Victor 11-8977-79 (Protée);
Westminster WL5051
DIVINE ART 27807 [79:30] [RB]
A
language shot through with Latin-American carnival, peppery dissonance,
jazzy insouciance, nervy neo-classicism, pastoral repose and
souped up, whooping, if strangely cold, exuberance. ... see Full
Review
Paul
MORAVEC
(b.1957) The
Time Gallery (2000) [42:15] Protean
Fantasy (1993) [9:33] Ariel Fantasy
(2002) [4:17] eighth blackbird (The
Time Gallery)
Peter Sheppard – Skærved (violin)
Aaron Shorr (piano). rec. Studio 4, Chicago
Recording Company, Chicago, Illinois, 23-24
November 2002 (The Time Gallery),
and Potton Hall, Suffolk, 2-3 December 2004.
DDD
NAXOS 8.559267 [56:06] [DC]
Inspirational
new music. I suggest you head for the nearest
classical CD outlet. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Eine
kleine Nachtmusik, Serenade in G major, K 525 (1787) [18:18];
Serenata notturna, K 239 (1776) [13:04]; Divertimento in F
major, K 247, Lodron Night Music No. 1 (1776) [36:21]
Swedish Chamber Orchestra/Petter Sundkvist rec. Örebro Concert Hall,
Sweden, 4-7 June 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557023 [67:43][GF]
Superbly
played, tempos discriminatingly chosen and with phrasing so full of
life and that all-important ebb and flow ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756 - 1791) Piano
Trio in C, K.548 (1788) [19’ 50”] Piano Trio in E, K.542 (1788)
[18’ 37”] Piano Trio in B Flat, K.502 (1786) [22’38”] Anne-Sophie
Mutter (violin), Daniel Müller-Schott (cello), André Previn
(piano) rec. Baden Baden Festpielhaus, May 2005 Producers: Reinhild
Schmidt, Ulrich Vetter
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 477 5796 [61’20”] [DRD]
Mozart’s
underrated piano trios in very fine recordings ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Music for mandolin and guitar: Eine
kleine Nachtmusik, K 525, 1st Movement, Allegro; Laudate
dominum from Vesperae solennes de Confessore K 339; Sonata A major
K 331; Ave verum corpus, K 618; Sonata C major K 545; Voi, che sapete,
Cherubino’s canzona from Le nozze di Figaro, K 492; Der Hölle Rache,
The Queen of the Night’s aria from Die Zauberflöte, K 620; Adagio
in C major for glass harmonica, K 356; March in D major, K 408; Variations
on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman”, K 265; Laudate dominum from Vesperae
solennes de Confessore K 339 (Version for mandolin orchestra)
Detlef Tewes (mandolin), Boris Björn Bagger (guitar) rec. September
– October 2005, Karlsruhe, Germany All arrangements by Detlef Tewes
and Boris Björn Bagger
ANTES BM-CD 31.9217 [72:27][GF]
Bold
and delicious arrangements in this charming
and distinctive Mozart homage ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Piano
Quartet No.1 in G minor, K.478 (1785) [24:54] Piano Quartet No.2
in E flat K. 493 (1785) [27:36]
Fauré Piano Quartet: (Erika Geldsetzer (violin); Sascha Frombling
(viola); Konstantin Heidrich (cello); Dirk Mommertz (piano)) rec.
Teldec Studio, June/July 2005
DECCA 477 588-5 [52:30][DRD]
Poor
value and stiff competition prevents this new entry being a top
recommendation despite fine performances ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
CD 1 Divertimento in B flat major K254 (1776) [21:11]
Piano Trio in G Major K496 (1786) [26:20] Piano Trio in B Flat major
K502 (1786) [23:50] CD 2 Piano Trio in E Major K542 (1788) [19:39] Piano
Trio in C Major K548 (1788) [20:57] Piano Trio in G Major K564 (1788) [25:05]
Gryphon Trio (Jamie
Parker (piano); Annalee Patipatanakoon (violin); Roman Borys (cello))
rec. 17-22 July 2005, Humbercrest United Church, Montreal, Canada.
ANALEKTA AN 2 9827-8 [70:21 + 65:41][DRD]
A
very good performance of somewhat neglected Mozart works-near
the top if not quite. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano Sonata No.11 in A, K331 Alla Turca
(1781-3) [22:55] Fantasia in D minor, K397 (1787) [5:40] Fantasia
in C minor, K475 (1785) [13:01] Piano Sonata No.8 in A minor, K310
(1778) [15:52] Wilhelm
Kempff (piano) rec. UFA-Studio Berlin, January 1962. ADD
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 590 7 [57:51][DRD]
One
for Kempff lovers only - a great pianist playing great music; sadly
not the right music for Kempff ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Le
Nozze Di Figaro - Opera buffa in Four Acts. K 492 (Highlights)
Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte after Beaumarchais
Figaro, Alastair Miles (bass); Susanna, Nuccia Focile (sop); Count
Almaviva, Alessandro Corbelli (bar); Countess Almaviva, Carol Vaness
(sop); Cherubino, Susanne Mentzer (mezzo); Marcellina, Suzanne Murphy
(sop); Basilio, Ryland Davies (ten); Dr. Bartolo/Antonio, Alfonso
Antoniozzi (bass); Barbarina, Rebecca Evans (sop) Scottish Chamber
Orchestra and Chorus/Sir Charles Mackerras rec. Usher Hall, Edinburgh,
Scotland, 31 July-12 August 1995. DDD
TELARC CD-80449 [77:20][RJF]
Experience
Mackerras’s fleet and consummate Mozart conducting ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791)
Così fan tutte (1790) - Highlights Ouvertura; Act
I: La mia Dorabella capace non è; Ah, guarda, sorella; Vorrei
dir; Sento, oddio, che questo piede; Bella vita militar!; Di scrivermi
ogni giorno; Soave sia il vento; Smanie implacabili; In uomini, in
soldati; Come scoglio immoto resta; Non siate ritrosi; E voi ridete;
Un’aura amorosa; Act II: Una donna a quindici anni; Il core
vi dono, bell’idolo mio; Ah, lo veggio, quell’anima bella; Per pieta,
ben mio, perdona; Donne mie, la fate a tanti; Tradito, schernito;
È amore un ladroncello; Fra gli amplessi; Tutti accusan le donne
Felicity Lott (soprano) – Fiordiligi; Marie McLaughlin (soprano) –
Dorabella; Nuccia Focile (soprano) – Despina; Jerry Hadley (tenor)
– Ferrando; Alessandro Corbelli (baritone) – Guilelmo; Gilles Cachemaille
(baritone) – Don Alfonso Edinburgh Festival Chorus; Scottish Chamber
Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras rec. Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland,
2–13 August 1993. DDD
TELARC CD-80399 [76:12][GF]
Anyone
wanting a stylish disc of Cosí highlights? Here it is! ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Così fan
tutte [159:06] Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Fiordiligi, soprano),
Nan Merriman (Dorabella, mezzo), Lisa Otto (Despina, soprano),
Léopold
Simoneau (Ferrando, tenor), Rolando Panerai (Guglielmo, baritone),
Sesto Bruscantini (Don Alfonso, bass-baritone) Philharmonia Chorus
and Orchestra/ Herbert von Karajan rec. 1954 Don Giovanni:
Vedrai carino [03:33], Crudele? … Non mi dir [07:23],
Batti, batti, o bel Masetto [03:31], Le nozze di Figaro: Porgi
amor [04:14], Voi che sapete [02:56], Dove sono [04:54],
Idomeneo: Zeffiretti lusibghieri [05:54] Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
(soprano), Philharmonia Orchestra/John Pritchard rec. 1953 Die
Zauberflöte: Ach, ich fühls [04:17] Don
Giovanni: In quali eccessi … Mi tradì quell’alma
ingrata [05:50] Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) Orchestra Sinfonica
di Torino della RAI/Mario Rossi rec. 1952, live
REGIS RRC 3010 [3 CDs: 62:56 + 63:06 + 75:50] [CH]
A
classic set ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Don
Giovanni (1787) Highlights Overture; Act I: Introduzione: Notte e giorno
faticar; Fuggi, crudele, fuggi; Ah, chi mi dice mai; Madamina, il
catalogo è questo; La ci darem la mano; Or sai chi l’onore; Dalla
sua pace; Finch’han dal vino; Batti, batti, o bel Masetto; Finale
I: Da bravi, via, ballate … Ecco il birbo che t’ha offesa … Trema,
trema, o scerllerato! Act II: Ah! Taci, ingiusto core; Deh,
vieni alla finestra; Vedrai, carino; Il mio tesoro intanto; Mi tradi
quell’alma ingrata; O statua gentilissima; Crudele! Ah no,
mio bene! … Non mi dir, bell’idol mio; Finale II: Don giovanni, a
cenar teco … Da qual tremore insolito
Bo Skovhus (baritone) – Don Giovanni; Alessandro Corbelli (baritone)
– Leporello; Christine Brewer (soprano) – Donna Anna; Jerry Hadley
(tenor) – Don Ottavio; Felicity Lott (soprano) – Donna Elvira; Nuccia
Focile (soprano) – Zerlina; Umberto Chiummo (bass) – Il Commendatore/Masetto
Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus/Sir Charles Mackerras
rec. Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland, 31 July–11 August 1995
TELARC CD-80442 [77:23][GF]
The
only weakness is that it leaves you wanting the complete recording.
... see Full Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Operatic Arias: Don Giovanni, K 527: Il mio tesoro; Dalla sua pace; Die Entführung,
K 384: Hier soll ich dich denn sehen; Wenn der Freude; Konstanze!
Konstanze; Dich wiederzusehe; Ich baue ganz auf deine
Stärke; Die Zauberflöte, K 620: Dies Bildnis; Wie stark
ist nicht dein Zauberton; Cosi fan tutte, K 588: Un
aura amorosa; Ah lo veggio, quell’anima bella; In quell fiero
contrasto ... Tradito, schemito dal perfida cor; Idomeneo,
K 366: Fuor del mar ho un mar in seno
Stuart Burrows (tenor) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir
John Pritchard, London Symphony Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard rec.
1975. No venue given. ADD
DECCA CLASSIC RECITALS 475 7168 DM [52:10] [RJF]
Despite
the meagre fare, Burrows’ really lovely and well-characterised
singing makes this is a must-purchase for his fans, those of
the composer and lovers of good singing. ... see Full
Review
Alla
PAVLOVA
(b.1952) Monolog
for violin and string orchestra 2002) [6.12] Old New York Nostalgia
- suite (1998, rev. 2002) [22.11] Sulamith - ballet suite
(2003-2004) [45:34]
Yaroslav Kranikov (violin) (Monolog) Leonid Makarevich (piano);
Andrey Chernishov (percussion); Aleksey Volkov, Michail Poroshin (saxophone);
Georgy Pleskatch (trumpet) (Old New York Nostalgia) Artiom
Grinko (trumpet) (Sulamith) Russian Philharmonia Orchestra/Rossen
Milanov rec. Studio 5, Russian State TV and Radio Company, KULTURA,
Moscow, 28 June-3 July 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557674 [73:57][RB]
Pavlova’s
hallmark caressingly tender writing registers with due emotional weight.
... see Full Review
Coleridge-Taylor
PERKINSON
(1932-2004) Sinfonietta
No.1 for strings (1954-55) [15.17] Grass: Poem for piano, strings
and percussion (1956) [16.08] Quartet No.1 based on “Calvary” (Negro
Spiritual) (1956) [17.04] Blue/s Forms for solo violin (1972) [7.26]
Lamentations; Black/Folk Song Suite for solo cello 91973) [15.38]
Louisiana Blues Strut (A Cakewalk) (2001) [2.49] Movement for String
Trio (2004) [3.56]
Chicago Sinfonietta/Paul Freeman (Sinfonietta) Joseph Joubert (piano)/
Chicago Sinfonietta/Paul Freeman (Grass) New Black Repertory Ensemble
Quartet (Quartet) Sanford Allen (violin) (Blue/s Forms for solo violin)
Tahirah Whittington (cello) (Lamentations) Ashley Horne (violin) (Louisiana
Blues Strut) Sanford Allen (violin), Jesse Levine (viola) and Carter
Brey (cello) (Movement for String Trio) rec. Lund Auditorium, Dominican
University, River Forest, Illinois, May 2005 (Sinfonietta), WFMT Chicago,
May 2005 Quartet, Louisiana Blues Strut and Academy of Arts and Letters,
New York, remainder
CEDILLE CDR 90000 087 [79.01][JW]
Perkinson’s
voice was a valuable one and we could do with more of his music on
disc. ... see Full
Review
Hans
PFITZNER
(1869-1949) Das
Christelflein – Spieloper in two acts (1901-1906 revised
1917) Marlis
Petersen (soprano) – Christelflein Martina Rüping (soprano) – Christkindchen
Kevin Connors (tenor) – Frieder Gumpach Christian Bauer (tenor)
– Jochen Michael Volle (bass) – Knecht Ruprecht Andreas Hörl (baritone)
– Herr von Gumpach Friedemann Röhlig (bass) – Tannengreis Richard
Salter (bass) – Franz Andrea Sokol – Erzählerin (narrator) Munch
Radio Symphony Orchestra/Claus Peter Flor rec. live, Philharmonie
am Gasteig, Munich, December 2004
CPO 777 155-2 [50.00 + 46.20][JW]
Piquant
and enticing and an affectionate simplicity. ... see Full
Review
Astor
PIAZZOLLA (1921
– 1992) Buenos
Aires – mi amor - Tango Nuevo: Michelangelo ’70; Tangata –
Silfo y Ondina: Fugata; Soledad; Final; Milonga del ángel;
Estaciones Porteñas: Primavera Porteña; Verano Porteño;
Otoño Porteño; Invierno Porteño; Libertango
Operassion: Fabian Dobler (piano), Antje Steen (bandoneon), Susanne
Hofmann (violin), Maya Valcheva (double bass), Rares Popsa (guitar)
rec. Saal der Bayerischen Musikakademie, Marktoberdorf, 9–12 August
2005. DDD ANTES BM-CD
31.9208 [57:35] [GF]
As
good a place as any for the not-yet-converted
to start delving ... see Full
Review
Ignaz
PLEYEL
(1757-1831)
String Quartet in E flat Op.2 No.4 (1784) [18:42] String Quartet in
B flat Op.2 No.5 (1784) [18:06] String Quartet in D Op.2 No.6 (1784)
[19:51] Ensō Quartet
rec. Holy Martyrs Church, Bradford, Ontario, January, February 2004.
DDD NAXOS 8.557497
[56:38] [PCW]
Music
with much grace and charm which plumbs no emotional depths ... see
Full Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Manon Lescaut - opera in four acts (1893) Libretto:
Marco Praga, Domenico Oliva, Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa based
on a novel by Abbé Prévost. First performed at the Teatro Regio Turin,
1 February 1893 Manon
Lescaut, Licia Albanese (sop); Lescaut, Manon’s brother and Sergeant
in the Kings Guard, Robert Merrill (bar); Cavalier des Grieux, a student,
Jussi Björling (ten); Geronte, wealthy Treasurer-General, Franco Calabrese
(bass) Orchestra and Chorus of the Rome Opera /Jonel Perlea rec, Rome
Opera House, July 1954. mono Appendix: A recital by Licia Albanese
Gustave CHARPENTIER (1860-1956)
Louise, Depuis la jour. rec. 1950 Alfredo
CATALANI (1854-1893) La Wally, Ebben? ne andró
lontana. rec. 1950 Francesco CILEA
(1866-1950) Adriana Lecouvreur, Poveri fiori. rec. 1950
Arrigo BOITO (1842-1918) Mefistofele,
L’altra notte in fondo al mare. rec. 1947 Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Bachianas Brasileiras No 5, Aria (Cantilena). rec. New York. February 1951 Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn
NAXOS HISTORICAL GREAT OPERA RECORDINGS SERIES 8.111030-31
[75.54 + 69.57][RJF]
Björling,
a prince among tenors ... commended as an excellent addition to the
ranks of recordings of the composer’s first real success. ... see
Full Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Madama Butterfly
- opera in two acts (1904) Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and
Luigi Illica based on Belasco’s dramatisation of a story by John Luther
King. First performed at La Scala, Milan, 17 February 1904
Madama Butterfly, Maria Callas (sop); Pinkerton, Nicolai Gedda (ten);
Suzuki, Lucia Danieli (mezzo); Sharpless, Mario Borriello (bar); Goro,
Renato Ercolani (ten); Il Bonze, Plinio Clabassi (bass); Kate Pinkerton,
Luisa Villa (mezzo) Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro alla Scala Milan/Herbert
von Karajan rec. La Scala, Milan. August 1955. MONO Restoration Engineer:
Mark Obert-Thorn. From English Columbia label LPs
NAXOS HISTORICAL GREAT OPERA RECORDINGS 8.111026-27 [2 CDs: 76.32
+ 62.54][RJF]
There
are those who will forgive Callas’s every vocal infelicity for the
small change of the added insights associated with her interpretation.
On this occasion I would keep my money in my pocket. ... see Full
Review
Ferdinand
RIES
(1784-1838) Clarinet Trio, Op.28 (1810) [23:53]
Clarinet Sonata, Op.29 (1809) [24:59] Clarinet Sonata, Op.169 (1814)
[20:23] Dieter Klöcker
(clarinet); Thomas Duis (piano); Armin Fromm (cello) rec. 17-21
November 2003, 10-11 May 2004, Tonstudio Teije van Geest, Heidelberg/Sandhausen.
CPO 777 0362 [69:18][GPu]
All
three of these pieces deserve wider circulation than they have yet
had. All three are persuasively performed on this CD, which is recommended
unreservedly. ... see Full
Review
John
Donald ROBB
(1892-1989) Symphony
No.1 (c.1946) [30.47] Viola Concerto Op.24 (1953) [21.08]
Dariusz Korcz (viola) National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra/David
Oberg No recording details
OPUS ONE 183 [51.50][JW]
Robb
cleaves attractively to traditional models
... see Full
Review
John
Donald ROBB
(1892-1989) Piano
Concerto (1950) [27:14] Hayg
BOYADJIAN (b.1938) Symphony No.2 [23.11]
Tatiana Vetrinskaya (piano) National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra/David
Oberg No recording details [but Symphony recorded January 2000]
OPUS ONE 187 [50.25] [JW]
A
good, open-hearted and un-academic piano concerto and a tough,
sinewy and deliberately uningratiating symphony ... see Full
Review
Joseph GUY
ROPARTZ (1864-1955)
Messe
de Sainte-Anne: (Entrée
-Pièce d'Orgue [1'01]; Kyrie
[3'24]; Gloria [4'01]; Offertoire - Invocation
a César Franck [4'4]; Sanctus, Benedictus
[3'16]; Elévation - Pièce
d'orgue [2'50]; Sortie - Pièce d'Orgue
[2'01]) Salut au Saint-Sacrement pour
la fête de Saint-Louis de Gonzague:
(Hic vir despiciens mundum, 2 voix égales
[1'39]; Prelude - Pièce d'orgue [0'50];
Ave verum, soprano solo [2'34]; Coelesti
convivio 2 voix égales [2'22]; Memorare,
soprano solo [3'30]; Méditation -
Pièce d'orgue [1'22]; Tantum ergo,
chant grégorien [1'32]; Prière
de saint Ignace 3 voix égales [2'52];
Sortie-Pièce d'orgue [2'05]) Prière
en mi majeur, orgue [4'35] Symbole
des Apotres, extraite de Trois
Prières pour chant et orgue,
mezzo solo [2'52] Prière pour
les Trespasses, orgue [8'11] Tantum
ergo - chante par les pelerins de
Saint-Anne-d'Auray, dimanche 7 aout 2005
[1'36]
Marina Venant, soprano, Caroline Gesret,
mezzo Choeur Britten/Nicole Corti Vincent
Genvrin, orgue de choeur (all accompaniment),
Jean Bizot, grand orgue rec. St-Anne-d'Auray,
France, August, September 2005. DDD
HORTUS 042 [60'44] [CB]
A
profoundly beautiful production, featuring
an all-but forgotten musical figure ...
see Full
Review
Ned
ROREM (b.1923)
Works for Choir and Organ Arise
Shine (1977) [3:40] Impromptu (1990) [1:52] Three Hymn Anthems (1955)
[5:24] Why and Because (1997) [3:59] The Seventieth Psalm (1943) [3:43]
Seven Motets for the Church’s Year (1986) [14:46] The Flight into
Egypt (1997) [3:26] Come, Pure Hearts (1974) [3:01] Mercy and the
Truth are Met (1947) [3:39] Entreat me not (1997) [1:32] A Sermon
on Miracles (1947) [6:23] Three Motets on poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins
(1973) [8:58] The Harvard
University Choir Murray Forbes Somerville (director) Carson Cooman
(organ) Appleton Wind Ensemble (Seventieth Psalm) Brattle Street
Chamber Players (A Sermon) rec. Methuen Memorial Hall, Harvard
USA, 4th – 6th May 2003.
BLACK BOX BBM1102 [60:31][DC]
Very
pleasant listening. With a little more quality in the performances
and recording this is the kind of CD which could have done for Black
Box what Hildegard von Bingen did for Hyperion. ... see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI
(1792-1868) La
Scala Di Seta (The Silken Ladder) - farsa giocosa in
one act (1812) Libretto by Giuseppe Foppa. First performed at the
Teatro San Moise, Venice, 9 May 1812
Germano, a servant, Alessandro Corbelli (bass); Giulia, Luciana Serra
(sop); Dorvil, Giulia’s husband, David Kuebler (ten); Blansac, Alberto
Rinaldi (bass-bar); Lucilla, Giulia’s cousin, Jane Bunnell (sop);
Dormont, Giulia’s father, David Griffith (ten) Radio Symphony Orchestra
of Stuttgart, Germany/Gianluigi Gelmetti Stage production of the Oper
der Stadt Köln and Opera de Montpellier from the Schwetzingen Festival
rec. live, Rokotheater Schwetzingen, 6-8 May 1990 Stage production
and design by Michael Hempe. Costumes by Chiara Donato Directed for
TV by Claus Villar Picture format NTSC 4:3. Colour. Sound Formats:
PCM stereo; DD 5.1; DTS 5.1. Subtitles in English, German, Spanish,
Italian and French EURO
ARTS DVD 20549078 
[100:00][RJF]
Playing
of the highest order. Corbelli is outstanding as Germano and Ringholz
is up to the heroine’s task with agility and warm tone. Their duet
is Rossini coloratura singing of the highest order ... see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Maometto
II - melodramma eroico in two acts (1822, Venice version).
Libretto by Cesare della Valle revised for Venice by Gaetano Rossi.
First performed at the Teatro La Fenice, Venice, 26 December 1822
Maometto, Lorenzo Regazza (bass); Calbo, a Venetian general, Anna-Rita
Gemmabella (con); Anna Erisso, daughter of the Governor, Carmen Giannattasio
(sop); Paolo Erisso, Governor of Negroponte, Maxim Miranov (ten);
Condulmiero, another Venetian general, Nicola Marchesini (male falsetist);
Selimo, Maometto's confidant, Federico Lepre (ten);
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro La Fenice, Venice/Claudio Scimone
performed in the Critical Edition prepared by Claudio Scimone. rec.
live, February 2005 Artistic director, Sergio Segalini. Sets and costumes
by Pier Luigi Pizzi. Lighting, Sergio Rossi Video Director Tiziano
Mancini Recorded in High Definition. Presented in dts digital surround
sound, Dolby, PCM 2.0. Vision 16:9 Colour. NTSC Menu language English.
Subtitles in Italian (original language), English, German, French,
Spanish and Chinese. Notes and synopsis in Italian, English, German,
Italian and French DYNAMIC
DVD 33492 [2 DVDs:174:00] [RF]
This
recording is a welcome and valuable addition
to the rapidly expanding repertoire of Rossini
operas on DVD. I recommend it in the strongest
terms. I hope La Fenice continues to perform
such repertoire and that Dynamic will be
there to record it. ... see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI
(1792-1868) La Cenerentola
(1816-1817) Clorinda:
Raquela Sheeran (soprano) Tisbe: Lucia Cirillo (soprano) Angelina
(Cenerentola): Ruxandra Donose (mezzo) Don Magnifico: Luciano di Pasquale
(baritone) Alidoro: Nathan Berg (baritone) Don Ramiro: Maxim Mironov
(tenor) Dandini: Simone Alberghini (baritone) The Glyndebourne Chorus
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Vladimir Jurowski Stage Director: Sir
Peter Hall; Extras include an illustrated synopsis, cast gallery and
insights feature with Sir Peter Hall and Vladimir Jurowski Filmed
in June 2005 and recorded in stereo and multi-track 5.1 surround sound.
DVD Region 0. Subtitles: EN/FR/DE/ES/IT
OPUS ARTE OA 0944 D
[2 DVDs: 187:00] [ED]
Rossini
needs fizz, and this is champagne left uncorked for a touch too long
before pouring. ... see Full
Review
Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Il barbiere di Siviglia - comic opera in two acts (1816)
Libretto by Cesare Sterbini based on Beaumarchais’s play. First performed
at the Teatro Argentina, Rome, 20 February 1816
Count Almaviva, Roberto Saccà (ten); Figaro, a barber, Dalibor Jenis
(bar); Bartolo, a doctor and ward of Rosina, Carlos Chausson (buffa
bar); Rosina, Bartolo’s ward, Joyce DiDonato (mezzo); Basilio, a singing
teacher, Kristinn Sigmundsson (bass); Berta, Dr. Bartolo’s housekeeper,
Jeanette Fischer (mezzo); Fiorello, servant of Count Almaviva, Nicholas
Garrett (bass) Orchestra and Chorus of l’Opéra National de Paris/Bruno
Campanella rec. live, Opéra National de Paris, April 2002. Stage direction
by Coline Serreau. Set Design by Jean-Marc Stehlé and Antoine Fontaine.
Costumes by Elsa Pavanel co-production with French television Directed
for TV and Video by Ariane Adriani Sound format, DD 5.1. Dolby Digital.
DTS Suround Sound. LPCM stereo. Picture format, 16:9 anamorphic NTSC.
Introductory notes in English, German and French Subtitles in Italian
(original language), English, German, French, Spanish and Italian
TDK DVD VIDEO
DVWW-OPBARB [152:00]
[RJF]
DiDonato's
singing has brilliance, richness of tone, a wide variety of colour
allied to vocal flexibility. Her trill is a delight whilst her
legato cannot be bettered. She is the ideal Rossini diva. ...
see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH 
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