Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Die
Zauberflöte, K 620 (Highlights) 
Pamina,
Barbara Hendricks (sop); Tamino, Jerry Hadley (ten); Papageno,
Thomas Allen, (bar); Sarastro, Robert Lloyd (bass); Queen
of the Night, June Anderson, (sop); Papagena, Ulrike Steinsky,
(sop); Speaker, Gottfried Hornik (bar); Monostatos, Helmut
Wildhaber (ten) Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus/Sir
Charles Mackerras rec. Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland, 13-22
July 1991 TELARC
CD-80345 [77.00] [RJF]
A
cheap and ideal opportunity to sample insights into Mackerras’s
seminal thinking as to the performing practice of Mozart’s operas
as would have been heard in the composer’s lifetime. ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Sonata
for cello and piano, Op. 19 (1901)
(arranged for viola and piano by Vadim Borisovsky) [34.51] Vocalise Op. 34/14
(1912, rev.1915)
(arranged for viola/viola and piano by Yuri Zhislin) [06.08] Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Sonata
for violin and piano in E flat major, Op. 18 (1887) [29.16] Yuri
Zhislin (violin/viola) George-Emmanuel Lazaridis (piano) rec. St. Mary’s Church,
Walthamstow, London, 28-29 January 2005. DDD SOMMCD
046 [70.37] [MC]
An
excellently performed release of highly attractive romantic chamber
works. With clear sound and balance ... deserves a warm welcome.
... see Full Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano
Sonata No. 21 in B flat major, D 960 (1828) [38:15]
Klavierstücke, D 946 (1828) [32:20] Oleg
Marshev (piano)
rec. Symfonien, Aalborg, Denmark, January 2005. DDD DANACORD
DACOCD 646 [70:09]
[GPu]
A
highly competent performance of Schubert’s great sonata – but
it falls short of the very best in an extremely competitive field.
No fanfares ... see Full
Review
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Spirit
of Nature: songs, cantatas and orchestral works Overture
in E major, JS145 (1891) [11:17] Scène de ballet,
JS163 (1891) [8:36]; Kullervon valitus from Op.7 for
bass and orchestra (1892 rev. 1957) [2:17]*; Serenade,
JS168 for baritone and orchestra (1894-5) [5:47]; I natten,
Op.38 No.3 for baritone and orchestra (1903) [3:37]*; Impromptu,
Op.19 [original* and final versions] for women’s chorus and
orchestra (1902, rev 1910) [5:27] [6:57]; Pan and Echo,
Op.53 (1906) [4:07]; Höstkvåll, Op.38 No.1 for soprano
and string orchestra (1903 arr. 1904) [4:55]*; Hertig
Magnus, Op.57 No.6 for soprano and orchestra (1909 arr.
1912) [3:35]*; Luonnotar, Op.70 for soprano and orchestra
(1913) [8:50]; Väinön virsi, Op.110 for mixed chorus
and orchestra (1926) [8:53] Jyrki
Korhonen, (bass); Tommi Hakala, (baritone); Helena Juntunen,
(soprano) Dominante Choir,
Lahti Symphony Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä rec. Jan 2004 - Aug 2005, Sibelius Hall,
Lahti, Finland. DDD * world premiere recordings Complete Sibelius Edition:
Volume 58 BIS-CD-1565 [76:36]
[RB]
This
disc anthologises the lighter yet masterly Sibelius with the
toughest and most awesome ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI (1813–1901) The
Verdi Recordings (Arturo Toscanini) La Traviata, I
Lombardi: Act III Trio, Rigoletto: Act IV, Nabucco (excerpts), Un
ballo in maschera, Luisa Miller: Overture & Act
II arias, I vespri siciliani: Overture, La forza
del destino: Overture, Aida, Imno delle nazioni, Otello, Falstaff, Te
Deum: No. 4 Quattro pezzi sacri, Messa
da Requiem see
review for performer and recording details, NBC Symphony Orchestra/
Arturo Toscanini. Recordings, when not otherwise indicated,
at NBC Studio 8-H, New York City BMG-RCA
RED SEAL 82876-67893-2 [12 CDs: 75:48 + 76:32 + 76:03 +
71:37 + 36:59 + 68:25 + 45:45 + 62:24 + 61:59 + 55:00 + 77:42
+ 77:36] [GF]
At
the ridiculously low price this box should be an obligatory buy
for every opera lover! ... see Full
Review
Kurt
WEILL (1900-1950) Die
Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera) (1928)
Excerpts Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny [Rise and Fall of the City
of Mahagonny] (1930) Alabama Song Denn wie man sich bettet Happy
End (1929) Excerpts Surabaya-Johnny Bilbao Song Der
Silbersee [The Silver Lake] (1932-33) Songs: Lost in the
Stars, Lover Man, J’attends un navire, Complainte de la Seine, Surabaya-Johnny,
Denn wie man sicht bettet, Und was bekam des Soldaten Weib?, Wie lange noch? see
review for performer & recording details) GOLDEN
STARS GSS 5410 [3 CDs: 33.52 + 23.11 + 59.23] [JW]
Much
of this, if not all of it, will be familiar from various transfers.
The main virtue of this set will be its price. ... see Full
Review
Leaving
Home: Orchestral Music of the 20th Century – After
the Wake. A
conducted tour by Sir Simon Rattle with the City of Birmingham
Symphony Orchestra.
Includes a bonus film of Stockhausen's Gruppen. PCM Stereo. 4:3. Region
Code 0. ARTHAUS
MUSIK 102 043 
[50'00]
[CC]
It
is the performance of Gruppen that makes the purchase of the
DVD worthwhile ... a refreshingly original issue. ... see Full
Review
Loving
Shepherd - Hymns sung by the Choirs and Congregation of
Blackburn Cathedral Loving
Shepherd of thy sheep; Thy hand; O God has guided; Walking
in the Garden; O God of earth and altar; Hymn for St. Cecilia;
Crown him with many crowns; Holy Spirit; ever dwelling; Eternal
Ruler; Praise to the Lord; the Almighty; Loving Father; Hark
what a sound; Servant King; Lord
for the years; Amazing grace; Steal
away; Let all the World; Ye
watchers and ye holy ones; Close
thine eyes; Peace; perfect peace; Jubilate; Collegium Regale; Make us Holy; How
shall I Sing that Majesty; God be in my head; Angel voices. Choirs
and Congregation of Blackburn Cathedral/ Richard Tanner, Greg
Morris (organ) rec. Blackburn Cathedral, 13-14 Nov 2004; 16-18
June 2005 LAMMAS
RECORDS LAMM 180D [71:23] [DRD]
An
excellent collection of hymns in well-known and more unfamiliar
settings. A winner from start to finish! ... see Full
Review
Mist
Over The Lake João
Guilherme RIPPER (b.1959) Kinderszenen
[7.52] Pierre-Max DUBOIS (1930-1995) Ballade
Medievale [4.15] Arthur
BLISS (1891-1975) Conversations [14.14] Patrick
STOYANOVICH (b.1962) Seven Short Pieces [9.31] Napoléon
COSTE (1805-1883) Three Pieces [11.46] Leone
SINIGALIA (1868-1944) Twelve Variations on a Theme
by Franz Schubert (c.1894) [8.31] Amilcare
PONCHIELLI (1834-1886) Capriccio [11.23] Jan
FREIDLIN (b.1944) Mist over the Lake (1985) [4.00] Cynthia
Koledo DeAlmeida (oboe)
Rhian Kenny (flute)
Andrés Cárdenes (violin) Paul Silver (viola) David Premo (cello) Marina diPretoro
(piano) James Feria (guitar)
No recording details CRYSTAL
RECORDS CD729 [72.09]
[JW]
One
for the questing oboe maven. ... see Full
Review
Romantic
Violin Sonatas Hakon
BØRRESEN (1876-1954) Violin
Sonata in A Minor op. 13 (1907) [22:24] Louis
GLASS (1864-1936) Violin Sonata in E flat major
op. 7 (1888) [27:53] Fini HENRIQUES (1867-1940) Mazurka for
violin and piano op. 35 (1911) [5:39] Wiegenlied (c.
1915) [2:55] Arne
Balk-Møller (violin) Christina Bjørkøe (piano) rec. Carl Nielsen
Academy of Music, Odense, 29-31 March 2000, 22-24 Sept 2004.
DDD DACAPO
8.226005 [59:08] [RB]
Three
Danish late-romantics treading the path through salon shallows
and romantic excess. Lovingly performed and recorded ... see Full
Review
Thursday
Luigi
CHERUBINI (1760
– 1842) Medea
(1797) (sung in German) Tomislav
Neralic (bass) – Creonte, Re di Corinto;
Stina-Britta Melander (soprano) – Glauce,
Figlia di Creonte; Ludwig Suthaus (tenor)
– Giasone, condottiero degli Argonauti;
Inge Borkh (soprano) – Medea, sposa di Giasone;
Sieglinde Wagner (mezzo) – Neris, ancella
di Medea; Leonore Kirschstein (soprano)
– Prima Ancella; Ursula Gust (mezzo) – Seconda
Ancella; Roland Kunz (baritone) – Un capo;
Anton Metternich (bass) – Un capo delle
guardia del Re
Orchestra and Chorus of the Berlin State
Opera/Vittorio Gui Live recording from the
State Opera, 7 October 1958 Bonus Tracks
Richard STRAUSS (1864
– 1949) Vier letzte Lieder (1849)
Inge Borkh (soprano) Orchestre Symphonique
de Vichy/Ferdinand Leitner No venue and
recording date given
PONTO PO-1010 [70:29 + 73:37] [GF]
Flawed
but interesting alternative versions ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Asger
Hamerik
(1843-1923) Choral-Symphony
No. 7 for orchestra, chorus and mezzo Op.
40 (1906) [35:14] Requiem for orchestra,
chorus and contralto Op. 34 (1886-7) [43:33]
Randi Stene (mezzo)
Danish National Choir DR/Saul Zaks Danish
National Symphony Orchestra DR/Thomas Dausgaard
rec. Danish Radio Concert Hall, 6-7 Sept
2002 (Requiem); 12-15 May 2005 (Symphony
7).
DACAPO 8.226033 [78.51] [RB]
Two
sensational choral-orchestral works. One
of those CDs where you want to play it to
friends without telling them beforehand
what they will be hearing. Reactions should
be fascinating. Deeply impressive. A resounding
and sonorous success. ... see Full
Review
Tikhon Nikolayevich
KHRENNIKOV
(b. 1913) Three Symphonies
Symphony
No. 1 in B flat minor Op. 4 (1933-35) [22:02]
Symphony No. 2 in C minor Op. 9 (1940-44)
[34:41] Symphony No. 3 in A major Op. 22
(1973) [17:27]
USSR State Symphony Orchestra/Evgeny Svetlanov
rec. 1973, 1978, Moscow. ADD
KAPELMEISTER KAP 008 [74:07] [RB]
Khrennikov's
music, drubbed in many quarters, has its
bright-eyed virtues. Some of it is sub-Shostakovich
but much of it has a noble bearing and is
impressively laid out. ... see Full
Review
Douglas
LILBURN (1915-2001)
Complete Piano Music Volumes 1 & 2
Dan Poynton (piano)
MORRISON MUSIC TRUST MMT2053 [76:51]
MMT 2054 [76:52] [RB]
Not
to be missed. Rich pickings for any of the
new breed of pianist prepared to reach for
the less obvious. They will be rewarded
and so will the listener. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Piano
Trio No 1 in B flat major, D 898 (?1827/ 1828)
[33:52] Notturno in E flat major,
D 897 (?1827/1828) [9:52]
Suk Trio rec. Prague, 1967. ADD
WARNER APEX 2564 60164-2 [43:47] [AtO]
Sublime,
Olympian chamber music. The Suk Trio’s Prague
Schubert reissued ... see Full
Review
Rudi STEPHAN
(1887-1915)
Music
for Violin and Orchestra (1911) [19:56]
Music for Orchestra in one movement
(1910) [24:30] (premiere recording) Music
for Orchestra in one movement (1911)
[18:34]
Sergey Stadler (violin) Melbourne Symphony
Orchestra/ Oleg Caetani rec. Robert Blackwood
Hall, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia,
8-11 March 2005. DDD 
CHANDOS SACD
CHSA5040 [63:10] [RB]
Opulence,
rhapsodic late-romantic impressionism. Discoveries
to be made here ... see
Full Review
Bernard ZWEERS
(1854-1924) Symphony
No. 1 in D major (1881) [26:18] Daniël
de LANGE (1841-1918) Symphony
No. 1 in C minor (1868) [30:45]
Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra/Ed
Spanjaard (Zweers); Anthony Halstead (de
Lange) rec. 4 December 1994, Vredenburg,
Utrecht (Zweers); 2 August 2001, Studio
MCO, Hilversum (de Lange). DDD Dutch Romantics
series World premiere recordings
STERLING CDS 1068 [57:11] [RB]
This
makes for a fascinating whistle-stop tour
of the classical-romantic symphonic voice
in the Netherlands. Richly enjoyable. ...
see Full Review
The
Art of Galina Barinova Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Sonata
in A minor Arpeggione D821 arranged
violin and piano [21.06] Jules
MASSENET (1842-1912) Meditation
from Thais Act II arranged Marsick
[5.10] Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Waltz in A
major Op.39 No.15 arranged David Hochstein
[2.31] Scherzo from F.A.E Sonata in C minor
[5.39] Bedřich
SMETANA (1824-1884) Duet in G
minor No.2 Ma Vlast (1878) [7.14]
J de MONTASTERIO
(1836-1903) Sierra Morena [5.00]
Frederick DELIUS
(1862-1934) Legend [7.10] Juan
MANEN (1883-1971) Turkey in
the Straw [2.03] Clarence
Cameron WHITE (1880-1960) Nobody
Knows The Trouble I Seen – Negro Spiritual
[4.22] Tor AULIN
(1866-1914) Humoresque Op.12
No.1 [3.49] Gavotte and Musette Op.15
No.4 [4.43]
Galina Barinova (violin) with Grigori Singer
(piano), Igor Katayev (piano), Alexander
Dedyukhin (piano) rec. 1940-60
MELODIYA MEL CD 10 00997 [69.51] [JW]
A
specialist acquisition but let’s hope it
heralds those big concertos ... see Full
Review
Mario
Lanza At His Best: Twelve
Neapolitan Songs, The Vagabond King selection
Mario Lanza (tenor) Chorus and Orchestra
conducted by Franco Ferrara (songs) and
Constantine Callinicos (Vagabond King) rec.
Italy, Nov-Dec 1958 (songs) and July 1959
(Vagabond King) BMG
RCA LIVING STEREO 8287671625-2 SACD
[79:15] [TH]
The
transfers are generally excellent and this
release will be welcomed by Lanza’s legion
of admirers, many of whom rate the Neapolitan
album as one of his finest achievements.
... see Full
Review
Rozezni
mne láskou… [Touch my Heart-strings]
Josef SUK (1874-1935)
Píseň lásky Op.7/1 [6.30] Idylky 1
Op.7/4 [1.57] Capriccietto Op.7/6 [1.45]
Karel BENDL
(1838-1897) Ukolébavka [3.26]
Máj [2.21] Intermezzo Op.109b [4.10]
Serenáda Op.109c [5.56] Milostná
scena Op.109a [5.19] Zdeněk
FIBICH (1850-1900) Poème
Op.41 IV/14 [1.16] Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Na starém
hradě [from Poetic Tone Pictures] Op.85/3
[4.54] Vitěslav
NOVÁK (1870-1949) Písně
zimních nocí [Songs of Winter Nights] Op.30
[18.03]
Tomáš Víšek (piano) Recorded
at the Music School in Brandys nad Labem,
Czech Republic, July 1999
TOMÁS VÍŠEK TV 0001-1154
[55.44] [JW]
A
Czech pianist really inside his repertoire
and one who promotes it with warmth and
imagination. ... see Full
Review
BOOK
REVIEWS
The
Mahler Family Letters Edited,
translated, and annotated by Stephen McClatchie Published in
hardback by OUP (New York, 2006) ISBN 0-19-514065-6
Catherine
Parsonage - The Evolution of Jazz in Britain,
1880-1935
Click
for MUSICWEB RECORDINGS
OF THE YEAR
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
ARNELL (b.
1917) Symphony
no.3 op.40 (1944-45) [62:07] The New
Age – Overture op.2 (1939) [9:38]
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Martin
Yates rec. Glasgow, 4-5 September 2005
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7161 [72:10] [RB]
The
Arnell Third Symphony: a most impressive
work of epic symphonic weight, circumstance
and moment. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH The
American Cello Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981) Cello
Concerto Op. 22 (1946) [26:54] Chen
YI (b. 1953) Cello Concerto Eleanor’s
Gift (1998/1999) [15:19] Behzad
RANJBARAN (b. 1955) Cello Concerto
(1998/2000) [29:49]
Paul Tobias (cello) Virginia Symphony
Orchestra/JoAnn Falletta rec. Chrysler Hall,
Norfolk, VA, USA, 26 Jan 2001 (Ranjbaran);
15-16 Feb 2003 (Chen Yi, Barber). DDD world
premiere recordings: Chen Yi and Behzad
Ranjbaran
ALBANY RECORDS TROY648 [72:08] [RB]
Three
American cello concertos in contrasting
styles. The Chen Yi is in a tough idiom
contrasting with the frank romanticism of
the Barber and the grace and optimistic
favour of the Ranjbaran ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) String Quartets (complete) (1798-1827)
The Borodin Quartet Volume
1: String Quartet Opp. 59 No. 1 (1806) [39.57]
and No. 3 (1806) [32.58] CHANDOS
CHAN 10178 [72.59] Volume 2: String
Quartet Op. 59 No. 2 (1806) [44.50] and
Op. 74 (1809) [33.26] CHANDOS CHAN
10191 [78.30] Volume 3: String Quartets
Op. 95 (1810) [22.18], Op. 131 (1826) [38.01]
and Op. 133 (1826) [16.52] CHANDOS
CHAN 10268 [77.24] Volume 4: String
Quartets Op. 127 (1824) [37.22], Op. 130
(1826) [42.11] CHANDOS CHAN 10292
[79.39] Volume 5: String Quartet No. 15
Op. 132 (1825) [46.13], String Quartet No.
16 Op. 135 (1826) [26.24] CHANDOS
CHAN 10304 [72.48] Volume 6: Quartets
1 - 6, Op. 18 (1798 - 1801) [31.44] No.
2 [24.01] No. 3 [26.12] No. 4 [24.41] No.
5 [32.14] No. 6 [28.03]
CHANDOS CHAN 10381(3) [55.58
+ 51.06 + 60.30]
Borodin Quartet (2005): Ruben Aharonian
(violin); Andre Abramenkov (violin); Igor
Naidin (viola); Valentin Berlinsky (cello)
rec. Small Hall, and Great Hall, Conservatory,
Moscow, Russia, 2003 - 2006. Notes in English,
Deutsch, Français. [PSh]
For
my money the best set of Beethoven quartets
ever produced. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Mauro GIULIANI
(1781-1829) Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra,
No. 1 in A major op.30 (1808) [30:18] Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra,
No. 2 in A major op. 36 (1812) [29:26]
Edoardo Catemario (guitar) Wiener Akademie/Martin Haselböck. rec.
November 2002, Hofburg Chapel, Vienna.
ARTS 47688-2 [60:02][GPu]
A
vivid recording of delightful music, played
on period instruments, ... thoroughly
charming and in its unassuming way rather
beautiful ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Asger
Hamerik
(1843-1923) Choral-Symphony
No. 7 for orchestra, chorus and mezzo
Op. 40 (1906) [35:14] Requiem for
orchestra, chorus and contralto Op. 34
(1886-7) [43:33] Randi Stene (mezzo)
Danish National Choir DR/Saul Zaks
Danish National Symphony Orchestra DR/Thomas
Dausgaard rec. Danish Radio Concert Hall,
6-7 Sept 2002 (Requiem); 12-15 May 2005
(Symphony 7).
DACAPO 8.226033 [78.51] [RB]
Two
sensational choral-orchestral works. One
of those CDs where you want to play it
to friends without telling them beforehand
what they will be hearing. Reactions should
be fascinating. Deeply impressive. A resounding
and sonorous success. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn (original
piano versions) Der Schildwache Nachtlied [6:13] Revelge* [7:08] Rheinlegendchen
[3:26] Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht? [2:10] Verlorne Müh’! [7:11]
Trost im Unglück [2:21] Lob des hohen Verstands [2:59] Des Antonius
von Padua Fischpredigt [4:14] Lied des Verfolgten im Turn [4:26] Der
Tambourg’sell [6:31] Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen [8:13] Das irdische
Leben [2:51] Das himmlische Leben* [8:25] Urlicht* [5:19] “Es sungen
drei Engel einen süssen Gesang”* [4:22]
Thomas Hampson (baritone); Geoffrey Parsons (piano) rec. Teldec Studio,
Berlin, November 1991, June 1993.DDD *World première recording
WARNER CLASSICS 9031 74726-2 [73:06][JQ]
I’ve
heard some very fine recital discs from
Thomas Hampson in the past but this is
one of the finest of all. An outstanding
achievement! ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Claudio
SANTORO
(1919-1989) Symphony
No 4 Sinfonia da Paz* (1953/4)
[25:29] Ponteio for string
orchestra (1953) [5:48] Symphony
No 9 (1982) [25:00] Frevo
(1953/1982) [2:40]
*São Paulo Symphony Choir São
Paulo Symphony Orchestra (OSESP)/John
Neschling rec. Sala São
Paulo, Brazil, February 2002. DDD
BIS CD1370 [60:12] [PCW]
A
very fine disc and a chance to discover
some music that surely should be more
widely known … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) CD1 Fantasie
for Piano Four Hands, D940 (1828) [18:45] Allegro for Piano
Four Hands, D947, “Lebensstürme” (1828) [15:17] CD2 Sonata
for Piano Four Hands, D812, “Grand Duo” (1824) [40:47] Characteristic
March No.1, D968b [6:02] Military March No.1, D733 [4:39] Evgeny
Kissin (piano) James Levine (piano) rec.
live, 1 May 2005, Carnegie Hall, New York City BMG-RCA
RED SEAL 82876 69283 2 [34:05 + 51:33] [DC]
Superb!
The energy and spirit of these live performances have that
quality of uniqueness which means they can take pride of place
alongside any studio recording one can name ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975)
Violin concerto 1 in A minor, Op.77 [39:29]
a Leoš
JANÁČEK (1854–1928) Violin
concerto, Die Wanderung einer Seele
[11:41] b
Baiba Skride (violin)a Munich
Philharmonic/Mikko Frank (conductor) b
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra/Marek
Janowski (conductor) rec. live, Philharmonie,
Munich, 16-18 April 2004 (Shostakovich),
Berlin, 25 August 2004 (Janáček).
DDD.
SONY CLASSICAL 82876731462 [52:41]
[ED]
White-hot
Shostakovich ... Skride is a serious artist.
More please, and soon! ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
The Wasps (1909)Text: Aristophanes
English
singing translation and narration: David
Pountney
Henry Goodman (narrator) Hallé
Choir/Richard Suart/James Burton
Hallé/Mark
Elder rec.
26-28 July 2005, Albert Halls, Bolton. DDD
world
premiere recording; studio recordingrecording
in association with BBC and BBC Radio 3
with support from the Vaughan Williams Estate
HALLÉ CD CD HLD7510 [44:07 +
61:30] [RB]
Some
may find this an unnerving experience but
it works superbly well provided you are
ready for the salty dialogue. It’s a small
price to pay for the fascination and delight
of hearing so much familiar and unfamiliar
Vaughan Williams.
... see Full
Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH William BOLCOM
(b. 1938) Complete
Violin Sonatas First Sonata (1956, revised version) [21:54] Second
Sonata (1978) [17:59] Third Sonata (Sonata Stramba) (1993)
[21:46] Fourth Sonata (1994) [15:13]
Solomia Soroka (violin); Arthur Greene (piano) rec. Britton Recital
Hall, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, January 2005. DDD
NAXOS 8.559150 [76:52][PCW]
An
imaginatively varied and powerful series
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Robert
SCHUMANN (1810–1856) Lieder: Fünf
frühe Lieder, op. posth. (1828): Kurzes Erwachen; Gesanges
Erwachen; An Anna I; An Anna II; Im Herbste; Zwölf gedichte
von Justinus Kerner, Op. 35 (1840): Lust der Sturmnacht;
Stirb, Lieb’ und Freud’!; Wanderlied; Erstes Grün; Sehnsucht
nach der Waldgegend; Auf das Trinkglas eines verstorbenen
Freundes; Wanderung; Stille Liebe; Frage; Stille Tränen;
Wer machte dich so krank?; Alte Laute; Fünf Lieder, Op. 40
(1840): Märzveilchen; Muttertraum; Der Soldat; Der Spielmann;
Verratene Liebe; from Fünf Lieder und Gesänge, Op. 127 (1850-1851):
Sängers Trost; From Vier Gesänge Op. 142 (1852): Trost im
Gesang Thomas
Hampson (baritone), Geoffrey Parsons (piano) rec. Siemensvilla,
Berlin, December 1989 WARNER
CLASSICS 2292 44935-2 [66:18] [GF]
Hampson
during his early bloom ... nimble, sappy, beautiful, perfectly
controlled and moving effortlessly between head-voice and chest-voice.
... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ernst
TOCH (1887-1964)
Symphony
no 1, Op. 72 (1951-1952) [39:52] Symphony
no 2, Op. 73 (1953) [32:20] Symphony no
3, Op. 75 (1955) [27:49] Symphony no 4,
Op. 80 (1957) [26:45] Symphony no 5, Op.
89 Jephtha (1963) [23:51] Symphony
no 6, Op. 93 (1963) [22:25] Symphony no
7, Op. 95 (1964) [22:18]
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra/Alun
Francis rec. Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin,
Germany (1995 - 2002) DDD
CPO 777 191-2 [3 CDs: 66:38 + 60:11
+ 68:58] [RB]
A
compact and inexpensive introduction to
the seven symphonies of the intricately
inventive Ernest Toch said by himself
to be a dachshund in the USA when he had
been a St Bernard in Germany. ... see
Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI (1813–1901) The
Verdi Recordings (Arturo Toscanini) La Traviata, I
Lombardi: Act III Trio, Rigoletto: Act IV, Nabucco (excerpts), Un
ballo in maschera, Luisa Miller: Overture & Act
II arias, I vespri siciliani: Overture, La forza
del destino: Overture, Aida, Imno delle nazioni, Otello, Falstaff, Te
Deum: No. 4 Quattro pezzi sacri, Messa
da Requiem see
review for performer and recording details, NBC Symphony
Orchestra/ Arturo Toscanini. Recordings, when not otherwise
indicated, at NBC Studio 8-H, New York City BMG-RCA
RED SEAL 82876-67893-2 [12 CDs: 75:48 + 76:32 + 76:03
+ 71:37 + 36:59 + 68:25 + 45:45 + 62:24 + 61:59 + 55:00 +
77:42 + 77:36] [GF]
At
the ridiculously low price this box should be an obligatory
buy for every opera lover! ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Isang
YUN (1917–1995)
Chamber Symphony I (1987) [26:53]
Tapis (1987) [8:23] Gong-Hu (1984)a
[25:47]
Rana Park (harp)a; Korean Chamber
Ensemble/Piotr Borkowski rec. Seoul National
University Concert Hall, Seoul, August 2005
NAXOS 8.557938 [61:03][HC]
If
you have never heard Yun’s music and are
willing to give it a try, you will not be
disappointed either by the pieces or the
fine performances heard here. ... see Full
Review
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