BARGAIN OF THE MONTH André
CAPLET (1878-1925) Conte fantastique
after Edgar Allan Poe's Masque of the Red Death (1919) [17:08]
Elisabeth Glab (violin), Marie-Josée Ritchot (violin), Michel Renard
(viola), Isabelle Veyrier (cello), Laurence Cabel (harp) Les
prières (1917) [9:12] Elisabeth Glab (violin), Marie-Josée Ritchot
(violin), Michel Renard (viola), Isabelle Veyrier (cello), Laurence
Cabel (harp), Sharon Coste (soprano) Divertissements (2)
for harp (1924) [9:56] Laurence Cabel (harp) Sonnets (2)
for soprano and harp (1924) [3:37] Laurence Cabel (harp), Sandrine Piau
(soprano) Septet for three female voices and string quartet
(1909) [14:24] 
Sharon Coste (Soprano), Sandrine Piau (soprano), Sylvie Deguy (mezzo),
Elisabeth Glab (violin), Marie-Josée Ritchot (violin), Michel Renard
(viola), Isabelle Veyrier (cello) Ensemble: Musique Oblique rec. February
1992, Arsenal de Metz, Salle de l'Esplanade. DDD
HARMONIA MUNDI HAR MUSIQUE D'ABORD HMA1951417 [55:18][RB]
Music
for connoisseurs and especially for those with an interest to follow
up in Debussy's circle … but do not expect a Debussy apprentice. ...
see Full Review
Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Sonata
for cello and piano in G major, Op. 65 (1846) [26.27] Polonaise
brillante for cello and piano, Op. 3 (1829-30) [09.07] Grand
Duo Concertant, for cello and piano (1832) [12.17] Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) La lugubre gondola, for
cello and piano (1882) [08.59] Die Zelle in Nonnenwerth,
for cello and piano (1880) [06.09] Romance oubliée,
for cello and piano (1880) [03.33] Elégie No. 1, for
cello and piano (1874) [05.36] Elégie No. 2, for cello
and piano (1877) [05.03] The
Fischer Duo: Norman Fischer, cello, Jeanne Kierman, piano rec.
Stude Hall, Shepherd School of Music, Rice University, Houston,
Texas, USA,
7-9 January 2002 BRIDGE RECORDS
9187 [78:13]
[MC]
A
disc well worth adding to any collection of romantic works for
cello and piano. ... see Full
Review
Douglas
COATES (1898-1974)
Violin
Concerto in D major (1934) [25:07]
E.J. MOERAN (1894-1950) Violin
Concerto (1937-41) [32:58]
Colin Sauer (violin), BBC Northern Orchestra/Sir
Charles Groves (Coates)Alfredo Campoli (violin),
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult (Moeran)rec.
live BBC broadcasts 15 March 1951 (Coates);
1954 (Moeran), mono, historical sound. ADD
THE DIVINE ART 27806 [59:46] [JQ]
One
unknown work and one largely unknown performance
of a slightly more familiar concerto. English
music enthusiasts should certainly investigate
this fascinating release. ... see Full
Review
Paul
CRESTON (1906-1985)
Janus Op. 77 (1959) [12:21] Violin
Concerto No. 2 Op. 78 (1960) [23:54] Symphony
No. 4 Op. 52 (1951) [25:57]
Gregory Fulkerson (violin) Albany Symphony
Orchestra/David Alan Miller rec. 26 Apr 2003
(sym); 15 Mar 2003 (concerto); 20 Jan 2001
(Janus). Troy Savings Bank Music Hall,
Troy, NY. DDD
ALBANY TROY737 [62:14][RB]
Satisfying
immediacy of sound ..... an attractive and well planned disc. I hope
that it is the harbinger for yet more Creston revivals. ... see Full
Review
Claude
DEBUSSY
(1862-1918)
Marche écossaise (1891, orch. 1908) [6.01] Berceuse
héroïque (1914) [4.05]
Concertgebouw Orchestra/Eduard van Beinum Danses pour
harpe et orchestre (1903-04) [9.36] Phia Berghout (harp) The Chamber
Music Society of Amsterdam/Eduard van Beinum Le martyre de Saint
Sébastien: Fragments symphoniques (1911) [21.53] London
Symphony Orchestra/Pierre Monteux Première Rapsodie (1909-11)
[8.22] Jeux (Poème Dansé) (1912) [19.00] George Pieterson
(clarinet) Concertgebouw Orchestra/ Bernard Haitink rec. Grote Zaal,
Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, June 1952 (Danses), May 1957 (Marche;
Berceuse), December 1976 (Rapsodie), May 1979 (Jeux);
Wembley Town Hall, London, May 1963 (Martyre). ADD Mono/Stereo
PHILIPS ELOQUENCE 476
8502 [69.21] [MC]
A
delightful Debussy collection, excellently performed. ... see Full
Review
Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1848)
Songs: Amore
e morte [2.28]; Ah, rammenta, o bella Irene [4.34]; Una lagrima [3.52];
La mere et l’enfant [5.14]; Amor marinaro [2.03]; È morta [5.26]; Su
l’onda tremolo [2.58]; L’amor funesto [4.56]; Giuro d’amore [2.44];
Il sospiro [3.14]; La ninna-nanna [7.34]; Le crepuscule [2.57]; La lontananza
[2.00]; L’amor mio [2.37]; La sultana [5.54]; Il pescatore [8.33]
Dennis O’Neill (tenor), Ingrid Surgenor (piano)
rec. St Silas’s Church, St Silas’s Place, London, 24-26 February 1997
in association with BBC Radio 3. Previously released on Collins Classics
NAXOS 8.557780 [67.04]
[ED]
Chippings
of the highest order from a master’s bench. Nevertheless a disc
to take a few tracks at a time unless full-throated tenors are
your thing. ... see Full
Review
Felix
DRAESEKE (1835-1913)
Quintet in A major for two violins, viola, violotta (here played cello
II) and cello Stelzner WoO 25 (1896) [28:53] Quintet in F major
for two violins, viola and two cellos op. 77 (1901) [31:01] Acantus
String Quartet - Magdeburg; Johannes Hartmann (cello II) rec. 14-16
March 2001, Hannover, Germany. DDD world premiere recordings
AK COBURG DR0004 [59:54] Homage to Stelzner Felix
DRAESEKE (1835-1913) Quintet in A major for two violins,
viola, violotta and cello Stelzner WoO 25 (1896) [26:52] Arnold
KRUG (1849-1904) Sextet in D major for strings Preissextet
op. 68 (1896) [59:05] Felix DRAESEKE/Wolfgang
MÜLLER-STEINBACH (b. 1945) Süße Melancholie from
the Ghaselenkranz for piano Fata Morgana op. 13 no. 8
(transcribed for string quintet) () [2:40] The Summit Chamber Players;
Naomi Gjevre (violin); Javier Pinell (violin); James Przygocki (viola);
James Thomson (violotta); Barbara Thiem (cello); Richard Rognstad (cellone)
rec. Edna Griffin Hall, Colorado St University, 22-23 May 2005. DDD
world premiere recordings. First recording of the Draeseke quintet with
the Stelzner instrument.
AK COBURG DR0010 [59:05][RB]
A
fascinating obiter in the history of music. DR0004 offers two largely
unknown and lyrically grateful Draesekes. DR 0010 offers the authentic
Stelzner experience. The Krug is well worth hearing in its own right.
... see Full Review
Jacob
DRUCKMAN (1928-1996) String Quartet
No. 3 (1981) [27.11] Reflections on the Nature of Water, for
solo marimba (1986) [15.17] Dark Wind for violin and cello (1994)
[05.46] String Quartet No. 2 (1996) [18.26]
The Group for Contemporary Music (Curtis Macomber, violin; Carol
Zeavin, violin; Lois Martin, viola; Fred Sherry, cello) Dan Druckman,
marimba rec. Recital Hall, Music Division, SUNY, Purchase, New York,
USA. 31 March-2 April 1996 (Quartets 2, 3, Dark Wind); 22 September
1996 (Reflections) DDD
NAXOS 8.559260 [66.40][MC]
A
fine release of rewarding music well performed
and recorded. ... see Full
Review
Paul DUKAS (1865-1935)
The Essential Paul Dukas CD1 [72:21] Fanfare pour précéder
'La Péri'* (1912) [1:55] La Péri - Poème dansé en un tableau
* (1912) [17:40] L'Apprenti sorcier - Scherzo d'après une ballade
de Goethe * (1897) [11:31] Symphony in C major† (1901) [41:00] CD2 [71:46]
Polyeucte - Overture after Corneille † (1892) [15:03] Sonate
in E minor ‡ (1901) [47:43] Prélude élégiaque‡ (1909) [4:38]
La Plainte, au loin, du faune ...‡ (1921) [4:01]
Margaret Fingerhut (piano)‡ Ulster Orchestra/Yan Pascal Tortelier* BBC
Philharmonic/Yan Pascal Tortelier† rec. St Bartholomew's Church, Orford,
Suffolk, 22-23 May 1988 (Sonate, Prélude élégiaque, La Plainte, au loin,
du faune); Ulster Hall, Belfast 23 February, 26 June and 7 August 1989
(Fanfare, La Péri, L'Apprenti sorcier); Studio 7, New Broadcasting House,
Manchester, 16-17 May 1993 (Symphony in C major, Polyeucte)
CHANDOS CHAN241-32 [72:21 + 71:46] [RB]
This
is a notably generous collection which is
handsomely what it says on the box ... see
Full
Review
Antonín DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904) Slavonic
Rhapsody, Op. 45, No.1 in D major (1878) [12.13] Slavonic
Rhapsody, Op. 45, No.2 in G minor (1878) [14.11] Slavonic
Rhapsody, Op. 45, No.3 in A flat major (1878) [12.28] Slavonic
Dance, Op. 46, No. 1 in C minor (1878) [3.44]* Slavonic
Dance, Op. 46, No. 2 in E minor (1878) [4.26]* Slavonic
Dance, Op. 46, No. 3 in D major (1878) [4.20]* Slavonic
Dance, Op. 46, No. 4 in F major (1878) [6.28]* Slavonic
Dance, Op. 46, No. 5 in A major (1878) [3.09]* Slavonic
Dance, Op. 46, No. 6 in A flat major (1878) [5.37]* Slavonic
Dance, Op. 46, No. 7 in C minor (1878) [3.21]* Slavonic
Dance, Op. 46, No. 8 in G minor (1878) [4.09]*
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Kurt Masur *Vienna
Symphony/Karel Ančerl rec. Leipzig, August
1985; *Musikverein, Vienna, February 1958
PHILIPS ELOQUENCE 476 7334 [74.11][SV]
While
none of these performances is exactly indispensable, the disc is of
both general and historical interest. ... see Full
Review
Antonín DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904) Piano
Trio in B flat major Op.21 (1875) [30.38] Vítězslav
NOVÁK (1870-1949) Trio quasi una balleta Op.27 (1901-02)
[18.09] Otmar MÁCHA (b.1922)
Capricci for piano trio (1985) [13.42]
Artemiss Piano Trio
rec. January 2001, Domovina Studio, Prague
ARCO DIVA UP 0042-1 131 [62.45] [JW]
Rather
constrained. They’re heavier and less nobly
expressive and more episodic. The Artemiss
Dvořák Trio is almost apologetic. The
Mácha’s warm and athletic but hard to recommend
... see
Full Review
Petr EBEN
(b.1929)
Organ Music, vol.5 Landscapes
of Patmos (1984) [23:27] Prelude 1 (2000)
[4:58] Gloria (Prelude 2) (2000) [2:45] Triptychon
(2000) [11:26] Campanae gloriosae (1999) [8:34]
Okna (‘Windows’) (1976) [20:13]
Halgier Schiager (organ) Eirik Raude (percussion)
Jan Frederik Christiansen (trumpet) rec. Hedvig
Eleonora Kyrkan, Stockholm, 15-17 June 2004.
DDD
HYPERION CDA67198 [71:49] [DC]
Both
the organ and the music on which it is played offer something a bit
special. Anyone who has tried and enjoyed the other issues in this series
will need little prompting to add this to their collection. ... see
Full Review
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934)
Complete Works for Wind Quintet (1878-89) CD1 [48:47] Harmony
Music No. 5 [27:32] Intermezzos [8:00] Harmony Music No.
1 [4:04] Adagio cantabile 'Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup' [3:45]
Andante con variazioni 'Evesham Andante' [5:04] CD2 [51:51] Six
Promenades [14:06] Harmony Music No. 2 [10:20] Harmony
Music No. 4 'The Farmyard' [12:02] Four Dances [11:40] Harmony
Music No. 3 [3:23]
Athena Ensemble (Richard McNicol, flute; Sebastian Bell, flute; David
Theodore, oboe; Roger Fallows, clarinet; Robert Jordan, bassoon) rec.
Church of St Augustine, Kilburn, London, 1978. ADD
CHANDOS CHAN 241-33 [48:47 + 51:51][RB]
Amiable,
cheery music for wind quintet ... see Full
Review
George ENESCU (1881-1955) Cello
Sonata in F minor, op. 26 N° 1 (1898) [40.43]
Cello Sonata in C major, op. 26 N° 2 (1935) [35.27]
Maria Aneculaesei (cello) Jan Michiels (piano)
rec. November 2004,at Studio Steurbaut, Belguim.
QUALUNQUE 5411499 09022 [76.11][ED]
Honesty
in tone, and a certain apt fragility ... see
Full
Review
Marcel FARAGO
(b.1924)
Orchestral
Works: Acousticon Op. 50 for Orchestra
(1980) [11.10]; Terpsichore Op. 54
for large orchestra (1983) [9.32]; Divertimento
Op. 18 for small orchestra (1957-8) [20.09];
Symphony, Freedom, Op. 61 for orchestra,
narrator and speaking chorus Op. 61 (1991)
[33.13]
Gershon C. Perry (narrator) BBC Singers Gyor
Philharmonic Orchestra/Gergely Kesselyák
rec. 6-11 September 1997, Evangelical Church,
Gyor, Hungary
CENTAUR CRC 2394 [74.00] [GH]
I
had been really looking forward to hearing
and reviewing this CD by a composer who seemed
to promise so much on paper but I’m afraid,
as you have gathered, I cannot recommend it.
It is unlikely that I will ever listen to
it again. ... see Full
Review
Ferenc
FARKAS (1905–2000) Serenade (1951)
[8:52] Quattro Pezzi (1966)a [9:09] Gyümölcskosár
(1980)b [17:40] Antiche danze ungheresi del 17. secolo
(1959) [10:05] Rondo capriccio (1957, rev. 1959)c
[9:00] Lavottiana (1967) [16:15]
Ulrike Schneider (mezzo-soprano)b; Dieter Lange (double bass)a;
Daniel Dodds (violin)c; Phoebius Quintet rec. Reformed Church,
Arlesheim, Switzerland, June 1999 and January 2000
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0019 [71:33][HC]
Full
marks to all concerned. A really lovely disc to be enjoyed from first
to last. ... see Full Review
Morton
FELDMAN (1926-1987)
Complete Violin/Viola and Piano
Works [Sonata] for Violin and Piano [1945]
(14:01) Piece [1950]
(1:49) Projection 4 [1951] (4:41) Extensions 1 [1951] (5:00) Vertical Thoughts 2 [1963] (4:07) The Viola in My Life 3 [1970]
(4:33) Spring of
Chosroes [1977] (13:13)[Composition]
[[1984] (10:47) For Aaron Copland [1981] (4:00) For John Cage [1982] (66:00)
Christina Fong (Violin
and Viola) Paul Hersey (Piano)
recording date and venue not given
OGREOGRESS PRODUCTIONS no number supplied [58:36 + 70:00][DB]
An important collection of early and later
works with premiere recordings.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Brian FERNEYHOUGH
(b.
1943) Shadowtime (2003-4)
Libretto by Charles Bernstein
Nicolas Hodges (piano, speaker); Mats Scheidegger (guitar) Neue Vocalsolisten
Stuttgart; Nieuw Ensemble/Jurjen Hempel rec. live, English National
Opera, London Coliseum, July 2005. DDD In conjunction with BBC Radio
3. NMC D123 [64:42
+ 62:02][AOz]
An
echo inside a shadow wrapped in cellophane says the text: an apt description
of this amazing, fascinating and complex masterpiece that repays repeated
listening. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH John FOULDS
(1880-1939)
Dynamic Triptych for piano and orchestra Op. 88 (1927-29) [25:38]
April - England (Impressions of Time and Place No. 1)
for orchestra Op. 48 No. 1 (1926 orch. 1932) [7:56] Music-Pictures
Group III op. 33 (1912) [19:06] The Song of Ram Dass (1935)
[3:13] Keltic Lament Op. 29 No. 2 (Keltic Suite) (1911)
[4:38] Peter Donohoe (piano)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sakari Oramo rec. Symphony Hall,
Birmingham, 11, 13, 15-16 Jan 2006. DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62999-2 [61:05] [JF]
This
is big music. This is unique. This is essential. Donohoe’s playing
is brilliant. What more can I say? ... see Full
Review
Benjamin FRANKEL
(1906-1973) Curse of the Werewolf (1959)
[34:22]* So Long At The Fair (1950) [6:21] The Net - Love
Theme (1953) [3:05] The Prisoner (1955) [30:35] **
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Carl Davis rec. Philharmonic
Hall, Liverpool, 26-27 July 2005. DDD * First complete recording; **
world premiere recording
NAXOS FILM MUSIC CLASSICS 8.557850 [74:40] [RB]
The
best single CD selection of Frankel’s film music - ranging from
the sensational Gothic spectacular to the cool and charming ...
see Full Review
Umberto
GIORDANO (1867-1948) Fedora – opera
in three acts (1898) [89:44] Magda
Olivero (La Principessa Fedora Romazoff – soprano); Lucia Cappellino
(La Contessa Olga Sukarev – soprano leggero); Mario Del Monaco (Il Conte
Loris Ipanoff – tenor); Tito Gobbi (De Siriex – baritone); Kiri Te Kanawa
(Dimitri – soprano); Sergio Caspari (Un piccolo Savoiardo – boy soprano);
Riccardo Cassinelli (Désiré – tenor); Piero De Palma (Il Barone Rouvel
– tenor); Peter Binder (Cirillo – baritone); Virgilio Carbonari (Boroff
– baritone); Silvio Maionica (Gretch – bass); Leonardo Monreale (Lorek
– baritone); Athos Cesarini (Sergio, Nicola); Aron Bokatti (Michele);
Pascal Rogé (Lazinski – pianist) Choeur de l’Opéra de Monte Carlo Orchestre
National de l’Opéra de Monte Carlo/Lamberto Gardelli Riccardo
ZANDONAI (1883-1944) Francesca da Rimini – opera in four acts (1914): Excerpts [41:52] Act II: E’ ancora sgombro
il campo del comune? [06:58] Act III: No, Smaragdi, no! [05:34];
Paolo, datemi pace! [07:35]; Ah la parola che i miei occhi
incontrano! [06:29] Act IV: Ora andate [07:51]; E così
vada s’è pur mio destino [07:25] Magda Olivero (Francesca – soprano);
Mario Del Monaco (Paolo il Bello – tenor); Virgilio Carbonari (Giovanni
lo Sciancato/Il torrigiano – baritone); Annamaria Gasparini (Biancofiore);
Athos Cesarini (Il balestriere); L’Orchestre National de l’Opéra de
Monte Carlo/Nicola Rescigno rec. April/May 1969 (Francesca),
May 1969 (Fedora), Salle Alcazar, Monte Carlo. ADD
DECCA 475 7622 [64:14 + 67:45][CH]
The
only official modern recording of a complete
opera by a great singing-actress, but there
are snags. ... see Full
Review
Alexander
GLAZUNOV
(1865 - 1936) The Complete
Solo Piano Music 3 Prelude
and Fugue in d, Op 62 (1899) [10.58] Prelude
and Fugue in a, Op 101, #1 (1925) [13.50]
Prelude and Fugue in c#, Op 101, #2 (1925)
[8.47] Prelude and Fugue in c, Op 101, #3
(1925) [7.21] Prelude and Fugue in C, Op 101,
#4 (1925) [7.04] Prelude and Fugue in e (1926)
[11.47]
Stephen Coombs (piano) rec. 27 October
1995 Originally released 1996 on Hyperion
CDA 66855
HYPERION HELIOS CDH 55223 [60.15] [PSh]
If
you like Rachmaninov you will probably love
these pieces, sympathetically and powerfully
performed here on these classic recordings.
... see Full
Review
Walter GOEHR
(1903-1960) Malpopita - radio
opera (1931) Libretto: M Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Seitz
Adam Schikedanz - Thorsten Hennig, Evelyne - Lilia Milek, Piet Hein
- Axel Herrig, Steuermann Richard - Klaud Wegener, Kapitän Parker -
Tobias Hagge, Jim - Daniel Steiner, Jakob - Markus Kopp, Kammerchor
'Malpopita'/ Dennis Hansel, Kammerorchester 'Malpopita'/Jin Wang live,
Komischen Oper Berlin, Berlin, Kopenhagenerstrasse, Bewag-Abspannwerk
'Humboldt', May 2004. DDD
CAPRICCIO 60 124 [76:46] [RB]
Goehr's
tangy satirical radio fable. ... see Full
Review
David
GOLIGHTLY (b.
1948) Choral Music for male voice
choir Rites of Passage: Life's Carriage [2:12];
The Bird [1:36]; The Singer [3:25]; The Flower [4:23]; Omans
[1:54]; Elegy [3:16] Frontiers [12:18] :
The Buffalo Skinners [2:11]; Chisholm Trail [1:50]; Shenandoah
[3:18]; The Streets of Laredo [2:33]; John Hardy [2:26]; Russian
Folk Music (Traditional) [36:22]: Along Piterskaya Street;
The Bell is jingling monotonously; The snowdrifts melt; Oh
you are so broad the steppe; The Song of the Volga Hardworkers;
Along the street the snow is coming; The steppe is all around;
The fog has fallen; The gnat; What's your song about you gilded
bee; The ballad of the twelve robbers; Barynia; Those evening
bells; Kalinka. Soglasie
Male Voice Choir of St Petersburg/Alexander Govorov Demitri
Tepliakov (piano) rec. May 1994, State Capella Hall, St Petersburg.
DDD MODRANA MCD002 [65:26][RB]
Glorious
Slav male voices but some distortion when under pressure from
this typically intense Russian singing.... see Full
Review
Eugene
GOOSSENS (1893-1962) The
Complete Piano Music [137:27] CD 1 Kaleidoscope,
Op. 18 (Good Morning; Promenade; The Hurdy-Gurdy Man; March
of the Wooden Soldier; The Rocking Horse; The Punch & Judy
Show; A Ghost Story; The Old Musical Box; The Clockwork Dancer;
Lament to a Departed Doll; A Merry Party; Good Night) (1917)
[15:09] Four Conceits, Op. 20 (Gargoyle; Dance Memories;
Walking Tune; Marionette Show) (1917) [6:09] Ships -
three preludes for piano, Op. 42 (The Tug, The Tramp; The Liner)
(1924) [8:20] Two Studies, Op. 38 (Folk Tune; Scherzo)
(1923) [5:42] Homage to Paderewski (1941) [2:28] Hommage à Debussy,
Op. 28 (1937) [2:39] Two Pieces, Op. 56 (Bonzo’s Dance;
Pikki ‘s Lament) (1938) [3:23] Capriccio (1960) [2:33] Concert
Study, Op. 10 (1914) [2:39] Nature Poems, Op. 25
(Awakening; Pastorale; Bacchanal) (1919) [17:22] CD
2 (Bach arr. Goossens) Andante from Brandenburg
Concerto No. 2 (1932) [4:09] Rhythmic Dance for
two pianos, Op.30 (1920) [3:44] Forlane and Toccata (1960)
[4:46] East of Suez – suite for piano, Op.33 (1922)
[25:50] L’Ecole en Crinoline – ballet, Op.29 (1921-22)
[31:20] Antony
Gray (piano) rec. CD1: 2-3 Oct 1995, 4 Sept 1996, Whitfield
St Studios, London; CD2: 3-5, 10 March 1998, Eugene Goossens
Hall, ABC Ultimo Centre, Sydney. DDD CD1 previously issued
as ABC Classics 462 015-2 ABC
CLASSICS 476 7636 [66:24 + 70:03] [JW]
The
intrepid Antony Gray plays throughout with acumen and verve,
relishing the impressionism and the folk dance equally. A first
class guide. Self-recommending for admirers of British piano
music. ... see Full Review
Alexander
GRECHANINOV (1864-1956)
String Quartets: Volume 1 String Quartet No.1 Op.2 (1894) [29.32]
String Quartet No.2 Op.70 (1913) [28.47]
Utrecht String Quartet rec. Doopsgezinde Remonstrantse Church, Deventer,
April 2002 MUSIKPRODUKTION
DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 603 1157-2 [58.36] [JW]
Deftly
crafted and very enjoyable quartets, presented with care, precision
and sometimes panache by the gifted Utrecht foursome. ... see Full
Review
Alexander
GRECHANINOV
(1864-1956)
String Quartets Vol. 2 String Quartet No. 3 in C minor Op.75
(1915) [37:06] String Quartet No. 4 in F Op.124 (1929) [31:24]
Utrecht String Quartet rec. Cath. Church, Delft, May and October 2005
DDD MUSIKPRODUKTION
DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 603 1388-2 [68:40] [PCW]
Grechaninov’s
cause is very well served here ... well worth hearing ... see Full
Review
Joan
GUINJOAN (b.
1931) Clarinet Concerto (2003) [20:14] Piano
Concerto No. 1 (1983) [26:31] Music for cello and orchestra (1975 rev.
1980) [19:46] Joan Enric
Lluna (clarinet) David Abramovitz (piano) Luis Claret (cello) Orquestra
Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya/Ernest Martinez Izquierdo
rec. Auditori de Barcelona, July 2004. DDD
HARMONIA MUNDI HMI 987056 [66:01] [RB]
Guinjoan
is now one of Catalan music's doyens. Do get this disc - it's not
an easy listen for most of the time but it is rewarding and will
appeal to anyone already wedded to the constituency of Bernstein,
Bolcom and Schuman. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Organ Concertos
Op. 4: No. 1 in G minor HWV 289 (1738) [15.27]; No. 2 in B flat
major HWV 290 (1738) [10.26]; No. 3 in G minor HWV 291 (1738) [10.01];
No. 4 in F major HWV 292 (1738) [13.48]; No. 5 in F major HWV 293 (1738)
[8.16]; No. 6 in B flat major HWV 294 (1738) [11.35] Organ Concertos
Op. 7: No. 1 in B flat major HWV 306 (1761) [17.26]; No. 2 in A
major HWV 307 (1761) [12.09]; No. 3 in B flat major HWV 308 (1761) [14.15];
No. 4 in D minor HWV 309 (1761) [16.13]; No. 5 in G minor HWV 310 (1761)
[12.37]; No. 6 in B flat major HWV 311 (1761) [7.50]
Ton Koopman (organ) Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra rec. Sint Bartholomeuskerk,
Beek-Ubbergen, Netherlands, 1984
WARNER APEX 2564 62760-2 [72.40 + 78.43][RH]
A
major milestone in the performance of Handel’s organ concertos and one
to which I have returned regularly since it was first issued. ... see
Full Review
Georg
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Der Messias (sung in English) arr. Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) (1742/1788) [126.56]
Felicity Lott (soprano) Felicity Palmer (contralto) Philip Langridge
(tenor) Robert Lloyd (bass) Huddersfield Choral Society Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras rec. 1-5 January 1988, Henry Wood Hall,
London. DDD SIGNUM CLASSICS
SIGCD074 [56.56 + 70.01][RH]
If you want a traditional Messiah with added
wind parts, you cannot go wrong with this. It has the added advantage
of having Mackerras at the helm ... a guilty pleasure for solitary listening.
... see Full Review
George
Frideric HANDEL
(1685-1759) Sosarme, Re di Media HWV30
(1732) Sosarme –
Alfred Deller (counter-tenor) Haliate – William Herbert (tenor) Erenice
– Nancy Evans (soprano) Elmira – Margaret Ritchie (soprano) Argone –
John Kentish (tenor) Melo – Helen Watts (contralto) Altomaro – Ian Wallace
(bass-baritone) St Anthony Singers The St Cecilia Orchestra/Anthony
Lewis Rec. 1954 ANDROMEDA
ANDRCD 5053 [76.06 + 70.35][JW]
Deller’s
subtle coloration, legato, colour and line shaping ... still one for
the specialist – in Deller, and in historic operatic performances generally.
... see Full Review
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Arianna in
Creta (1733) [163.54]
Arianna – Mata Katsuli (soprano) Teseo – Mary-Ellen Nesi (mezzo) Carilda
– Irini Karaianni (mezzo) Tauride – Marita Paparizou (mezzo) Alceste
– Theodora Baka (soprano) Minos – Petros Magoulas (baritone) Orchestra
of Patras/George Petrou rec. 25-30 July 2005, Achaia Clauss, Patras,
Greece. MUSIK DABRINGHAUS
UND GRIMM MDG 609 1375-2 [3 CDs: 54.25 + 67.56 + 41.33][RH]
One
of Handel’s underrated works ... never less than interesting ... a strong
performance where vivid, dramatic values are to the fore ... see Full
Review
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809)
String Quartet No. 66 in
G major, Op. 77/1 (1799) [24.29] String Quartet No. 67 in F major, Op.
77/2 (1799) [25.57] String Quartet No. 68 in D Minor, Op. 103
(1803) (incomplete) [9.55]
Takács Quartet: (Gabor Takács-Nagy (violin); Károly Schranz (violin);
Gabor Ormai (viola); András Fejér (cello)) rec. Church Studios, Crouch
End, London, England, June 1989. DDD
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 2575 [60.38][MC]
Fine
performances from the Takács
but not an urgent addition to a collection. ... see
Full Review
Franz
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Eight
Zingarese, Hob.IX:28 [8:35]
Ländler, from The Seasons [4:01] Five Contredances, Quadrille, Minuet,
Hob.IX:29 and 24 [9:08] Minuetto da Ballo 1-6, Hob.1X:4 [12:53] Notturni per
due flauti e due corni, Hob.II:D5 [6:32]
Six German dances, Hob.IX:12 [3:57] Ensemble
Bella Musica de Vienne/Michael Dittrich rec. August 1980, no recording location
given HARMONIA MUNDI MUSIQUE
D’ABORD
HMA 1951057 [45:45] [GPu]
Even
if not all of this music is Haydn’s, it is enjoyable and it does
throw light on other areas of Haydn’s work. As such it can be warmly
recommended ... see Full
Review
Heinrich
Von HERZOGENBERG (1843-1900) Theme and
variations for two pianos Op.13 (pub. 1870) [18.25] *Allotria for piano
duet Op.33 Book 1 (pub. 1882) [7.49] *Variations on a theme of Brahms
Op.23 (pub. 1876) [12.40] Waltzes for piano duet Op.53 (pub. 1887) [10.04]
Variations on the Minuet from Don Juan for piano solo Op.58 (pub.
1889) [14.02] *Capriccio for piano solo Op.107 (pub. 1900) [13.45] *(*
= first recording)
Anthony Goldstone and Caroline Clemmow (piano duo/piano duet) Anthony
Goldstone (piano solo) rec. St John the Baptist Church, Alkborough,
North Lincolnshire, February 2004
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0010 [77.24][CF]
I
can now wear my Herzogenberg T-shirt with pride rather than as an under-garment.
... see Full Review
Gottfried
August HOMILIUS (1714-1785)
Music in the Dresden Frauenkirche - Cantatas I Der Herr ist
Gott, der uns erleuchtet, cantata for Whitsunday [23:25] Selig
seid ihr, wenn ihr geschmähet werdet, cantata for Sunday Exaudi
[16:43] Heilig ist unser Gott, der Herr Gott Zebaoth, cantata
for Trinity [18:35] Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen, cantata for
Ascension Day [14:37] Vasiljka
Jezovsek (soprano); Anne Buter (alto); Hubert Nettinger (tenor); Christian
Hilz (bass) Dresdner Kreuzchor, Dresdner Barockorchester/Roderich Kreile
rec. May 2004, Lukaskirche, Dresden, Germany. DDD
CARUS 83.183 [73:23] [JV]
The
quality of Homilius's cantatas which are recorded here for the
first time makes this disc well worth exploring, although the performances
are less than ideal ... see Full Review
André JOLIVET
(1905-1974) Music for Wind Band Fanfares pour
Britannicus (1946) [12:47] Trumpet Concerto No. 2 (1954) [13:57]
Soir et Défilé (1936) [8:39] Suite Transocéane (transcription:
Désiré Dondeyne) (1955) [24:12]
Clément Saunier (trumpet) Orchestre d'Harmonie des Gardiens de la Paix
de la Préfecture de Police de Paris/Philippe Ferro rec. Oct 2004, Apr
2005. DDD MAGUELONE MAG
111.164 [60:01][RB]
Music
you are unlikely to have heard ... played with brazen brilliance and
subtle poetry. ... see Full Review
Ivan
KHANDOSHKIN (1747-1804) Violin
Sonata in G minor, Op. 3, No. 1 (published 1800-08) [19:58] Violin Sonata
in E flat major, Op. 3, No. 2 (published 1800-08) [13:10] Violin Sonata
in D major, Op. 3, No. 3 (published 1800-08) [13:09] Six Old Russian
Songs (c.1783) (No. 1. Along the bridge, this bridge [5:15] *; No.
2. Is this my fate, this fate? [3:15]; No. 3. Little dove why do you
sit so sadly? [5:11]; No. 4. What happened and why? [3:00]; No. 5. Once
I gathered golden sheaves [2:58]; No. 6. Once I was a young man [4:07])
Anastasia Khitruk
(violin) Dimitry Yakubovski (viola) * Kirill Yevtushenko, (cello) (Old
Russian Songs) rec. Melodiya Studios, Catherine’s Church, St Petersburg,
May 2005. DDD NAXOS
8.570028 [70.17][JW]
The performances are excellent. Khitruk has the measure of this demanding
music and plays it with panache. ... see Full Review
Charles KOECHLIN (1867-1950)
Chamber Music CD1 [47:54] Viola
Sonata op. 53 (1915) [25:59] Paysages et Marines for piano,
flute, clarinet, two violins, viola and cello (1915) [21:13] CD2
[59:21] L'Ancienne maison de campagne - suite for piano op. 124
(1932-33) [28:53] Quatre Nouvelles Sonatines op. 87 (1924) [3:55
+ 7:04 + 7:06 + 6:30] Danse lente op. 163 No. 2 (1937) [3:24]
CD3 [69:46] L'Album de Lilian, première et deuxième series
for piano, soprano and flute (139) and piano, flute, ondes martenot
and harpsichord (140) opp. 139, 149 (1934, 1935) [18:22 + 28:48] Vers
le soleil - seven monodies for Ondes Martenot op. 174 (1939) [12:43]
Stèle funéraire for three flutes à tour de rôle Op. 224
(1950) [7:59] Christophe
Keller (piano) Daniel Cholette (piano and harpsichord); Patrick Demenga
(cello); Alexandru Gavrilovici (violin); Urs Walker (violin); Kathrin
Graf (soprano); Kiyoshi Kasai (flute); Philippe Racine (flute); Christoph
Schiller (viola); Elmar Schmid (clarinet); Christine Simonin (ondes
martenot) rec. Zürich, Nov 1988 (CD1); Jan 1989 (CD2); March 1989 (CD3).
DDD. stereo ACCORD 465
894-2 [3CDs: 47:54 + 59:21 + 69:46] [RB]
Koechlin
gradually emerging into the sunlight … his subtle, sensitive and
masterly music can well stand the exposure. .... see Full
Review
Herman
D. KOPPEL (1908-1998) Composer and Pianist:
Volume 4 - Vocal Music Three Psalms for tenor
solo, mixed choir, boys' choir and orchestra, Op. 48 (1949)
[26.56] Peter
Lindroos, tenor, The Danish National Choir, Copenhagen Boys'
Choir, Danish National Symphony Orchestra/John Frandsen Recorded
by DR (Danish Broadcasting Corporation) 16 March 1978 Five
biblical
songs for tenor and piano, Op. 46 (1949) [13.27] Kurt Westi, tenor, Herman
D. Koppel, piano
Recorded by DR 25 February 1976 Four love songs on the Song of Songs for
soprano and piano, Op. 47 (1949) [7.28] (Dedicated to Karen and Gunnar Heerup)
Karen Heerup, soprano, Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded by Columbia DDX 27 1950 Four Old Testament songs for mezzo-soprano
and piano, Op. 49 (1949) [9.27]
(Dedicated to Jolanda Rodio) Gurli Plesner, mezzo-soprano,
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Private recording from radio broadcast 1969 Two Psalms for soprano
and piano, Op. 55 (1951) [6.08] Lone Koppel, soprano, Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded by DR 6 February 1965 Two biblical songs for soprano and
piano, Op. 59 (1955) [5,48] Lone Koppel, soprano, Herman D. Koppel, piano Recorded
by DR 6 February 1965 Psalm 42 for soprano and piano, Op. 68 (1960)
[8.23] (Dedicated to Lone Koppel) Lone Koppel, soprano, Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded by DR 17 July 1981 Three songs on Psalm 142, the Song of Songs
and Psalm 100, Op. 96 (1975-76) [9.00] (Dedicated to my beloved wife)
Lone Koppel, soprano, Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded by DR 17 July 1981 Two songs on poems by Johannes V. Jensen for
tenor and piano, Op.
51 (1950) [7.30] (Dedicated to Gerd Schiøtz) Kurt Westi, tenor, Herman D. Koppel,
piano
Recorded by DR 6 June 1977 Six songs on poems by Paul la Cour for
soprano and piano, Op. 54 (1951) [12.56] Lone Koppel, soprano, Herman D. Koppel,
piano
Private recording from radio broadcast 1963 Five songs on poems by Paul
la Cour for soprano and piano, Op. 64 (1957) [9.55] (Dedicated to Lone)
Lone Koppel, soprano, Herman D. Koppel, piano Private recording from radio broadcast
1963 Three songs on poems by Nelly
Sachs, Op. 84 (1971) [8.20] (Dedicated to Lone Koppel) Lone Koppel, soprano,
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded by DR 17 July 1981 Three songs on poems by Tom Kristensen and
Paul la Cour for soprano and piano, Op. 119 (1989) [10.28] (Dedicated
to Lone) Lone Koppel, soprano, Nikolaj Koppel,
piano Recorded by DR live 1990 Three songs on poems by Verner von
Heidenstam, Gustav Fröding and Erik
Gustaf Geijer, Op. 121 (1990) [6.04] (Dedicated to Björn)
Björn Asker, baritone, Nikolaj Koppel, piano Recorded by SR (Radio Sweden) 15
June 1991 DANACORD
DACOCD 567-68 [77.37 + 64.13] [JW]
I
was not taken with his vocal and choral music in nearly the same
way as I was with his concertos, solo piano and chamber works.
... see Full Review
Thomas
KOPPEL (1944 – 2006) Moonchild’s
Dream (1990/1)a [18:52] Nele’s Dance (1991)b [18:38]
Los Angeles Street Concerto (1999)c [13:20] Michala
Petri (recorders); Lars Hannibal (archlute)b; Copenhagen
Philharmonic Orchestraa; Kremerata Balticac;
Bo Holten (conductor)a rec. Lyngby Kulturhus, Copenhagen,
November 2005 (Moonchild’s Dream); Danish Radio Concert
Hall, November 2005 (Nele’s Dance) and Great Guild Concert
Hall, Riga, April 2004 (Los Angeles Street Concerto) DACAPO
8.226021 [50:57] [HC]
No
earthshaking masterpieces, but three attractive works that have
you whistling the tunes long afterwards. ... see Full
Review
Franz
LEHÁR (1870 – 1948) Highlights
(in French) Le Tsarévitch (Der Zarewitsch) (1927)
[8:34] Introduction; Chanson
de la Volga; Un beau rêve Giuditta (1934) [13:39] Oh, signora,
oh signora; Sur mes lèvres; Oh, ma belle étoile Frédérique (Friederike)
(1928) [10:20] Overture; Chantez, oiseaux; Quatuor des étudiants; Duo de la belle
Alsacienne; Ah, pourquoi m’as-tu pris mon coeur? Le Comte de Luxembourg (Der
Graf von Luxemburg) (1909) [25:12] Entrée du comte; Entrée de Suzanne; Duo Suzanne – Fernand;
Suzanne; Duo Basil – Juliette; Duo Suzanne – Fernand; Romance de Suzanne et Brissard;
Duo Suzanne – Fernand; Finale La danse de libellules (Libellentanz)
(1922) [12:26] Lina Dachary, Anita
Ammersfeld (sopranos), Remi Corazza, Alain Vanzo, Henri Legay (tenors), Aimé Doniat,
André Dran (baritones) Chorus and Orchestre Lyrique of the ORTF/Adolphe Sibert
rec. studios, ORTF, Radio France, Paris, 1966 (La danse des libellules), 1970
and 1980 (Giuditta) and 1971 NAXOS
8.111010 [70:11] [RH]
Style
and charm personified ... see Full
Review
Guillaume
LEKEU (1870–1894) Piano
Trio in C minor (1891) [40:47]
Arthur de GREEF (1862–1940) Piano
Trio in F minor (1935) [20:55] Narziss
und Goldmund Piano Trio
(Wietse Beels, violin; Mieke De Lauré, cello; Piet Kuijken, piano) rec. Academiezaal,
Sint Truiden, July 2005 PHAEDRA
92046 [61:43] [HC]
A
very fine release ... warmly expressive, late-romantic
music. ... see Full
Review
Franciszek LESSEL
(1780-1838)
String
Quartet No. E in B-flat, Op. 19 (1824) [26:20]
Flute Quartet in G Op. 3 (1806) [24:22]*
Winlanow String Quartet (Tadeusz Gadzina (violin
1); Pavel Losakiewicz (violin 2); Ryszard
Duz (viola); Marian Wasiolka (cello); *Elzbieta
Gajewska (flute)) rec. IDEA studio, Poland
1998
ACTE PRÉALABLE AP0006 [51:15] [DB]
An
extremely enjoyable program of works written
under the Haydn influence... 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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