Miłosz MAGIN
(1929-1999) Concerto
No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra (1964) [21:39]
Concerto for Cello, String orchestra and Timpani
(1977) [28:46]
Justine Verdier (piano) Jaroslaw Domżal
(cello) Orchestra of the Chopin Academy of
Music in Warsaw, Bialystok Branch/Jan Milosz
Zarzycki rec. Filharmonia Bialostocka, May
2003, February 2004
ACTE PRÉALABLE APO 113 [50:25]
[JW]
Concertos
avowedly reflective of Prokofiev yet retaining
independence of spirit and form. Fine, warm-hearted
and generous performances all round ... see
Full Review
Miłosz
MAGIN (1929-1999)
Piano Works Volume 1 Triptyque
polonaise (1967) [7.37] Trois Pièces
Caractéristiques (1948) [5.29]
Sonata No.2 (1981) [22.08] Miniatures
Polonaises (1982) [5.35] Images d’Enfants
(1952) [9.25] Cinq Préludes
(1963) [9.15]
Magdalena Adamek (piano) rec. Polish Radio
Studio S2 Warsaw, April 2000.
ACTE PRÉALABLE AP0052 [59.46] [JW]
Magin’s
was an attractive voice, traditional, advancing
not a step beyond Prokofiev, but full of good
cheer, and warmth. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Bohuslav MARTINŮ
(1890-1959)
Tri České tance (Three Czech Dances) (1926) [8:39]
Borová (Seven Czech Dances) (1929-30) [12:24] Quatre
Mouvements (1929) [7:19] Skici (Esquisses) (1931)
[11:39] Hry (Esquisses) (1931) [11:22] Ritornely
(Les Ritournelles) (1933) [11:35] Okna do zahrady (Fenętre
sur le jardin) (1938) [8:19]
Radoslav Kvapil (piano) rec. Studio Domovina, Prague, May 1991. DDD
originally issued on Unicorn-Kanchana, 1991.
REGIS RRC 1222 [73:12][RB]
Great
value. Martinů of the vivacious Parisian years presented in a warm,
sunny light. Performances honed to subtlety and satisfaction by one
of the great statesmen of the Czech piano school. ... see Full
Review
Peter
MAXWELL DAVIES (b.
1934) Naxos
Quartet No.5 (2004) [20:32] Naxos Quartet No.6 (2004/5) [35:07]
Maggini Quartet rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, England, May 2005
NAXOS 8.557398 [55:39][HC]
The
Maggini play wonderfully. I do not doubt that
this impressive cycle will be one of their
greatest achievements. ... see Full
Review
Benoît
MERNIER (b.
1964) An
die Nacht (2002)a [19:14] Piano
Trio (2003)b [14:00] Blake Songs
(1992/4)c [25:00]
Laure Delcampe (soprano)a; Carmen
Fuggiss (soprano)c; Trio Fibonaccib;
Orchestre Philharmonique de Liègea;
Ensemble Modernc; Patrick Davina,
Peter Rundelc rec. Salle Philharmonique
de Liège, March 2004 (An die Nacht);
Academiezaal, Sint-Truiden, December 2004
(Piano Trio) and RTBF, Flagey Studio 4, Brussels,
March 1994 (Blake Songs)
CYPRÈS CYP 4624 [57:51] [HC]
A
promising young composer ... breadth of vision
and the ability to realise it with imagination
and with strongly expressive music. ... see
Full Review
Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567–1643)
L’Orfeo (1609)
Orfeo – Mark Tucker (tenor) L Musica, Messaggiera, Proserpina – Sara
Macliver (soprano) Caronte, Plutone – Damian Whiteley (bass) Apollo
– Paul McMahon (tenor) Eco - Brett Wymark (tenor) Euridice – Penelope
Mills (soprano) Ninfa – Josie Ryan (soprano) Speranza – Anna Fraser
(soprano) Pinchgut Opera; Cantillation Orchestra of the Antipodes/Anthony
Walker rec. live 1, 3, 5, 6 December 2004, City Recital Hall, Angel
Place, Sydney ABC CLASSICS
476 8030 [49.27 + 62.36] [RH]
A
strong, involving production which stands up well to other performances
even if it is not first choice for the library. ... 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 (percussion) Peter Sheppard-Skaerverd
(violin) Aaron Shorr (piano) rec. Studio 4,
Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, Illinois,
23-24 Nov 2002
NAXOS 8.559267 [56:06] [DB]
Intricate
percussion music with chamber ensemble. Well-recorded,
well-performed ... an interesting and engaging
program... see Full
Review
Ignaz
MOSCHELES
(1794-1870) Cello
Sonata in E major Op 121 (1850-51) [33.17]
Melodisch-contrapunktische Studien Op 137
Nos 4, 8 and 9 (published 1864) [No.7 in E
flat Book II, No.6 in D minor Book II, No.4
in C sharp minor Book I] [8.10]Johann
Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837) Cello
Sonata in A major Op 104 (1824) [23.11]
Jiří Bárta (cello) Hamish Milne (piano)
rec. Wathen Hall, St Pauls School, Barnes,
London, February 2005
HYPERION CDA 67521 [64.55] [JW]
Performances
that are warm, affectionate and intimate ...
see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano Concerto
No. 7 in F for Two Pianos K 242* [1776, arr.
1780] (25:11) Piano Concerto No. 23 in A,
K 488 [1786] (27:46)
Mira Yevtich, (Piano) Ksenia Bashmet, (Piano)*
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky
rec. May 2005, Moscow Radio Studio, Russia
BEL AIR MUSIC BAM 2037 [53:16] [DB]
Charming
performances and excellent production. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Concerto
for Two Pianos in E flat major, KV 365 * (?1779) [23:41] Concerto for
Three Pianos in F major, KV 242 ** (1776) [22:04] Piano Concerto in
D minor, KV 466 *** (1785) [32:31]
Daniel Barenboim, George Solti (pianos), English Chamber Orchestra;
** András Schiff, Daniel Barenboim, Sir Georg Solti (pianos), English
Chamber Orchestra; *** Sir Georg Solti (piano), English Chamber Orchestra
rec. Walthamstow Town Hall, London, June 1989
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 2451 [78:16][GPu]
Enjoyable,
assured music-making which is eminently listenable ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
The Six ‘Haydn’ Quartets CD 1 String
Quartet in G major, K387 ‘Spring’ (1782)
[30.37] String Quartet in D minor, K421 (1783)
[31.32] CD 2 String Quartet in E flat major,
K428 (1783) [26.34] String Quartet in B flat
major, K458 ‘The Hunt’ (1784) [26.13]
CD 3 String Quartet in A major, K464 ‘Drum’
(1785) [33.11] String Quartet in C major,
K465 ‘Dissonance’ (1785) [21.19]
Esterházy Quartet: (Jaap Schröder, violin
I; Alda Stuurop, violin II; Linda Ashworth,
viola; Wouter Möller, cello) rec. September/
October 1979, January/February 1980. No details
of the recording venue are provided. ADD
DECCA 475 7108 [3 CDs: 62.28 + 53.05
+ 64.47] [MC]
A
fine Decca reissue from the Esterházy Quartet
... closely recorded and with well balanced
sound ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Werke fűr 2 Pianisten: Vol. 1 Sonate
B-Dur K.358 (1774) [14:38] Andante and Variations
in G major K.501 (1786) [8:00] Sonata in F
major K.497 (1786) [25:00] Fugue in G minor
K.401 (1772/73) [4:40] Orgelstűck
fűr eine Uhr in F minor K.608 (1791)
[9:16]
Yara Tal and Andreas Groethuysen (piano) rec.
28-31 August 2004, Konzerthaus Karlsruhe
SONY SK93868 [62:06] [DC]
My
respect for this duo’s playing grows each
time I hear them and this CD deserves its
place in the top rank of recordings in this
repertoire ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Idomeneo
(1781) Aldo Certocci (tenor) Idomeneo;
Georg Jelden (tenor) Idamante; Agnes Giebel
(soprano) Ilia; Irmgard Stadler (soprano)
Elettra; Cesare Ponde de Leon (baritone) Arbace;
David Ward (bass) High Priest of Neptune;
Ottokar Shofer (bass) The Voice;
Chorus and Orchestra of RAI Rome/Peter
Maag. rec. live, Auditorium Foro Italico,
Rome, 8 October 1965. ADD
ARTS ARCHIVES 43063-2 [78:34 + 46:46]
[CC]
Although
it is always nice to see another Idomeneo
hit the shelves, this one is a very mixed
bag ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) The
Complete Solo Piano Music see review for full details Ronald
Brautigam (fortepiano) rec. Länna Church, Sweden, August 1996
(Sonatas), August 1997 (Variations) BIS
CD-1633/36 [57:48 + 60:32 + 58:30 + 70:40 + 59:42 + 73:42
+ 60:37 + 63:07 + 61:37 + 61:21] [DC]
A
superb box – 10 CDs for the price of 4 means you will be buying
the Variations, and getting the Sonatas thrown in for free: and
that in Mozart year, yippee! ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Early Symphonies - Vol. 2 Sinfonia in D, K97/73m (1770) [9:36]
Sinfonia in D, [K111 and K120/111a] (1771) [6:34] Sinfonia in G, K124
(1772) [14:02] Sinfonia in D, K141a (1772) [7:11] Sinfonia in C, K162
(1773) [8:40] Sinfonia in E-flat, K184/166a (1773) [8:16] Sinfonia in
F, K199/162a (1773) [22:20] Sinfonia in g, K183 (1773) [27:25] Sinfonia
in D, [K 196 and K127/207a] (1775) [7:14] Menuetto and Trio in C, K409/383f
(1782) [7:09] Concentus
Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt rec. Dec 1999 and Dec 2000 Kasino
Zögernitz, Vienna DEUTSCHE
HARMONIA MUNDI 82876 75736 2 [54:16 + 64:10] [DB]
Immediately
arresting and driving performances of early Mozart. ... see Full
Review
Mozart
and Grieg for piano
four hands Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) piano II part arr. Edvard Grieg CD
1 Sonata in C major, KV 545 ‘Sonata facile’ (1788) [13.15]
Sonata in G major, KV 283 (1775) [21.59] Sonata in F major, KV
533 (1788) [19.47] CD 2 Fantasia in C minor, KV 475 (1785)
[14.56] Sonata in C minor, KV 457 (1784) [25.28] Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 Op. 46 (c.
1888) (arranged for piano four hands) [15.37] Peer Gynt Suite
No. 2 Op. 55 (c. 1891) (arranged for piano four hands) [17.02] Evelinde
Trenkner; Sontraud Speidel (piano duo) rec. 13-15 February, 2
June 2005, Furstliche Reitbahn, Bad Arolsen, Germany. DDD MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS
UND GRIMM SACD MDG 330 1382-2 [62.50 + 73.09] [MC]
The
supreme talents of Trenkner and Speidel. A winning combination from
MDG. ... see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Unknown Arias for Soprano and Concertante Instrument Cor
Sincerum [6:57]; Jesu, amor meus [5:56]; Mens sancta Deo [4:56]; Mens
sancta Deo [5:41]; Jesu dulcis memoria [6:37]; Offertorium ”Salve Regina”
[11:26]; Domine Deus salutis meae [3:30]; Plasmator Deus [5:55]; Die
Hoffnung dient zum Stabe [9:30]
Helen Donath (soprano), Dieter Klöcker (clarinet) (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7,
9), Josef Suk (violin) (tracks 2, 6), Karl-Otto Hartmann (bassoon) (tracks
4, 8) Suk Chamber Orchestra/Klaus Donath rec. Prague, 3–10 June 1987
ARTS ARCHIVES 43012-2
[62:24][GF]
Donath’s
singing is full-blooded! ... 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. 4-7 June 2004, Concert
Hall, Örebro, Sweden.
NAXOS 8.557023 [67:43] [GPu]
Decent
performances of lovely music, but lacking real grace ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Don
Giovanni (highlights) - Dramma giocoso in two acts. K527
(1787) Don Giovanni,
Bo Skovhus (bar); Leporello, Renata Girolami (bass); Don Ottavio, Torsten
Kerl (ten); Masetto, Boaz Daniel (bar); Donna Anna, Adrianne Pieczonka
(sop); Donna Elvira, Regina Schörg (sop); Zerlina, Ildiko Raimondi (sop);
Commendatore, Janusz Monarcha, (bass) Hungarian Radio Chorus Nicolaus
Esterházy Sinfonia/Michael Halász rec. Phoenix Studio, Budapest, 20–30
Nov 2000 Libretto: Lorenzo Da Ponte First performed at the Nostic Theatre,
Prague, 29 October 1787
NAXOS OPERA CLASSICS 8.557893 [75.28][RJF]
This
selection of highlights from Don Giovanni is felicitous and generous
and can be thoroughly recommended. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Salzburg: A Musical Tour of the
City of Mozart Overture
to Cosě fan tutte K 588 Adagio, from Flute
Quartet in D major K 258 German Dance, K 605, No.3
Romanza, from Piano Concerto No.21 in C major, K 467
Gigue in G major for Organ, K 574 Allegro
con brio, from Symphony No.25 in G minor, K 183 Rondo-Tempo
di menuetto, from Bassoon concerto, K 191 Maestoso
from March in D major, K 429 Allegro, from Serenade
in D major, K 185 Lacrimosa dies illa, from the
Requiem, K 626 Allegro, from Divertimento in F
major, K 138
No details of performers or recording details are given. DDD.
DTS Surround Sound 5.1. No region coding.
NAXOS DVD 2.110517
[55:40][GPu]
A
pleasant enough experience. But so much more could be done with this
idea. ... see Full Review
Nikolai
MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950)
Symphony
No. 6 in E flat minor, Op.23 (1921-1923) [57:12]
State Academic Russian Choir Academic Symphony Orchestra of Moscow State
Philharmonic/Kirill Kondrashin Rec. live, concert, Great Hall, Moscow
Conservatoire, 5 December 1978
MELODIYA MEL CD 10 00841 [57:12] [JD]
Kondrashin’s
Melodiya performance of the Sixth Symphony
is fully worthy of it and should be in any
self-respecting Myaskovsky collection. ...
see Full
Review
Carl NIELSEN
(1865-1931) Symphonic
Rhapsody (1888) [9:15] An Evening on
Giske (1889) [6:45] Helios Overture
(1903) [12:50] Aladdin Suite (1918-19)
[25:56] Rhapsody Overture – An Imaginary
Journey to the Faeroe Islands (1927) [10:35]
Amor and the Poet – Overture (1930)
[5:20]
New York Scandia Symphony/Dorrit Matson rec.
Trinity Church, New York City, 19 February
2004, 17 February 2005. DDD
CENTAUR CRC 2780 [70:47] [IL]
Matson
is an exciting and colourful Nielsen conductor and the dedicated New
York Scandia players respond splendidly to her inspired direction. Aladdin
is magnificent. ... see Full Review
Joaquin
NIN-CULMELL (1908-2004)
Cello Concerto, after P. Anselm Viola [21.17] Suite for solo
cello Joaquin NIN (1879-1949)
Suite Espagnole (1930) [8.48] Chants d’Espagne (1927)
[8.41] Cuatro Comentarios (1930) [10.44]
Svetlana Tovstukha (cello) Kazan Philharmonic Orchestra/Melani Mestre
(piano and conductor) rec. Philharmonic Hall, Kazan, March 2001 (Concerto),
Studio Albert Moraleda, June 2001 (remainder)
COLUMNA MUSICA 1CM0092 [49.28][JW]
Promising
on paper this programme is, to be blunt, somewhat disappointing. Rather
a hit and miss affair all round. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Per NŘRGĹRD (b.
1932) Gennem
torne (2003) [20:30] Consolazione: Flos ut rosa (2002) [3:59]
Sonora (1981) [9:39] Lille dans (1982) [2:21] Swan
Descending (1989) [3:12] Hedda Gabler (1993) [17:45] Mens
toner daler. Vĺrsol med fregner (2004) [2:08] King, Queen and
Ace (1989) [19:32]
Tine Rehling (harp); Esbjerg Ensemble/Kaisa Roose rec. Esbjerg Performing
Arts Centre and West Jutland Music Academy, January-May 2004
DACAPO 8.226039 [79:06][HC]
A
magnificent release superbly played. Nřrgĺrd’s
admirers will need no further recommendation
... many others will find much to relish ...
see Full
Review
Feliks NOWOWIEJSKI
(1877-1946) Piano Works:
volume 1 Gavot
[3.30] Fairy-tale [2.31] The Polish Dance
no. 1 (c.1930s) [4.43] The Polish Dance no.
2 (c.1930s) [3.27] The Polish Dance no. 3
- Alla Polacca (c.1930s) [3.52] March: Under
the Banner of the Peace (c.1891) [3.26]
Prelude no. 1 - original version, original
version (1915) [2.05] Prelude no. 1 - second
version [2.21] Prelude no. 2 (1937) [2.11]
Ballade no. 1 op. 20 in C sharp minor [7.12]
Ballade no. 3 op. 20 in A flat major [5.20]
Ballade no. 4 op. 20 in C sharp minor [5.45]
Mazurka no. 1 in F sharp minor [3.58] Mazurka
no. 2 in A minor [4.05] General Dowbór-Musnicki
Military March [3.27]
Magdalena Adamek (piano) rec. Warsaw,
January, May 2002
ACTE PRÉALABLE AP085 [58.24]
Feliks NOWOWIEJSKI
(1877-1946) Piano Works volume 2 Easy
classical and contemporary dances for children
[13.07] Album leaf [3.42] Kashubian dance:
Borowiak [4.03] Ballade no. 2 in A
major op. 20 no. 2 [7.21] Slavonic picture
(Obrazek slowianski) [6.02] Mazurka no. 3
in D minor [3.52] Mazurka no. 4 in A minor
[3.18] Mazurka no. 5 in E minor [3.59] Threnody
(Tren) Op. 20 no. 3 [7.02] Gontyna
in Arkona [7.51] Poezja starego Krakowa
[3.14] Praetorian's March from
Quo vadis (1907) [5.07]
Magdalena Adamek (piano) rec. Warsaw,
January, May 2002
ACTE PREALABLE AP086 [69.30] [JW]
The
best lies in the later works and those Mazurkas
in particular. There may be a great deal of
generic ephemera to wade through but it’s
well crafted of its kind and the greater rewards
are certainly there. ... see Full
Review
Karl
von ORDONEZ (1734-1786) Symphonies Sinfonia
in A major (Brown A4) [9:42] Sinfonia in G minor (Brown Gm7)
[10:05] Sinfonia in C major (Brown C2) [13:12] Sinfonia in
B minor (Brown Bm1) [13:33] Sinfonia in G minor (Brown Gm8)
[15:22] Toronto
Camerata/Kevin Mallon rec. 9-11 January 2004, Grace Church-on-the-Hill,
Toronto.
DDD NAXOS 8.557482 [61:53]
[DB]
Enjoyable
and elegant music from an Austrian unknown
... see Full
Review
Lorenzo
PALOMO (b.
1938) Nocturnos de Andalucia: Brindis
a la noche (A Toast to the Night); Sonrisa truncada de una
estrella (Shattered Smile of a Statr); Danza de Marialuna (Dance
of Marialuna); Ráfaga (Gust of Wind); Nocturno de Córdoba (Nocturne
of Córdoba); El tablao (The Flamenco Stage); [40:53] Canciones
espańolas (Spanish Songs): Una primavera
andaluza (An Andalusian Spring); Tientos; Plenilunio (Full
Mopon); Del atardecer al alba o Recuerdos de juventud (Memories
of Youth) [33:48] Maria
Bayo (soprano)(Canciones espańolas), Pepe Romero (guitar)
(Nocturnos de Andalucía) Seville Royal Symphony Orchestra/Rafael
Frühbeck de Burgos rec. Sala Apolo, Seville, Spain, 29 August-2
September 2000 NAXOS
8.557135 [74:19]
[GF]
I
liked some of the songs very much and will certainly play them
again. I didn’t take to the Nocturnos as I had hoped. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Paul
PARAY
(1886-1979) Affairs of the Heart -
The complete Mélodies of Paul Paray
CD 1 Mélodies with orchestra Le
papillon (1911) [3:06]; Trois Mélodies
sur des poésies de Théophile
Gautier (1912) (Infidelité
[2:20]; La dernière feuille [1:54];
Serment [1:18]); Quatre Poèmes
de Jean Lahor (1921) (Après
l'orage [1:15]; Adieux [2:25];
Après le bal [1:47]; Désir
de mort [2:16]); Villanelle (1920s?)
[1:51]; La promesse (1910) [2:31];
Le chevrier (1913) [2:31]; La plainte
(1911) [3:41]; Il est d'étranges
soirs (1913) [4:12]; Nocturne pour
violon et orchestre (1910) [3:27]; Trois
Poèmes pour choeur et orchestre
(1910-11): (Soleils de Septembre [5:12];
L'aurore vermeille [4:07]; Nuit
tombante [3:45]) CD 2 Mélodies
with piano; sacred songs with organ Emprise
(1905 or 1908) [2:36]; Nuit d'Italie
(1908?) [2:16]; Chanson violette [4:04];
Sépulture (1908) [3:15]; Champs
de bataille (1912) [5:03]; En pays
de Cocagne (1908?) [5:56]; Chanson
napolitaine (1907) [3:43]; Embarquement
pour l'idéal (1911) [2:57]; Viole
(1913) [2:54]; Mortes les fleurs (1907)
[3:51]; Paroles à la lune (1902)
[4:06]; Dans les bois (1904) [3:13];
Le Poète et la Muse (1908) [3:37];
Vocalise-Étude (1924) [4:00];
Chaque chose a sa petit place [2:16];
In manus tuas (1914) [3:42]; Panis
Angelicus (1904) [4:25];
Ruth Lapeyre (soprano) Adam Stepniewski
(violin) (Nocturne) Nadine Deleury
(cello) Eric Everett (baritone) (Chaque
chose; In manus) The Assumption
Grotto Orchestra and Choir, Detroit, Michigan/Fr.
Eduard Perrone Fr. Eduard Perrone (piano;
organ) rec. 2002, Detroit world premiere recordings
GROTTO PRODUCTIONS GP-0004[48:39 + 63:02]
[RB]
Taste
and accomplishment ... a pearl of the lyric
repertoire ... demands your attention if you
have any feeling for the settings of Duparc,
Canteloube and Chausson ... see Full
Review
Paul PARAY
(1886-1979) The chamber
music Violin
Sonata (1908) [23:42] Cello Sonata (1921)
[24:11] String Quartet (1915-19) [29:13]
Marion Tanau (violin) (sonata) Nadine Deleury
(cello) (sonata) Eduard Perrone (piano) (sonatas)
Varty Manouelian (violin 1); Marion Tanau
(violin 2); James Van Valkenburg (viola);
Nadine Deleury (cello) (quartet) rec. Detroit,
26 Jan 2004. DDD world premiere recordings
GROTTO PRODUCTIONS GP-0007 [77:06] [RB]
Wonderfully
life-enhancing chamber works by Paray revived
by the dedication and inspiration of Fr Perrone
and his sympathetically inclined partners.
... see Full
Review
Alla
PAVLOVA (b. 1952) Symphony
No. 2 For the New Millennium (1998 rev 2002) [37:34] Symphony
No. 4 (2002) [19:59] *
*Yaroslav Krasnikiov (violin); Georgy Khachikyan (organ) Tchaikovsky
Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio/Vladimir Fedoseyev rec. Studio 5,
Russian State TV and Radio Company KULTURA, Moscow, 17-20 September
2003. DDD NAXOS
8.557566 [57:33]
Enjoyable
and can be recommended to lovers of the neo-romantic.
... see Full
Review
Ernst PEPPING
(1901-1981) CD1
Symphony No. 1 (1939) [32:07] Symphony No.
2 (1942) [41:10] CD2 Symphony No. 3 Tageszeiten
(1944) [38:15] Piano Concerto (1950) [22:02]
Volker Banfield (piano) Nordwestdeutsche
Philharmonie/Werner Andreas Albert rec. Westdeutscher
Rundfunk, Herford, Schützenhofsaal, 27-30
Jan 1992, 24-27 Jan 1994; 22-25 Nov 1993;
3-7 April 1995. DDD
CPO 777 041-2 [73:17 + 60:17] [RB]
If
you have a taste for discursive German symphonies
of the 1940s then do give this set a hearing.
The Concerto is an outright success ... see
Full Review
Gabriel
PIERNÉ
(1863-1937) Impressions
de Music Hall (c.1925) [18:08] Fantaisie Basque for violin
and orchestra (1927) [12:08] Izé˙l (1894) [9:54] Divertissements
sur un thčme pastoral (1931) [12:10]
Philippe Koch (violin) Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg/Bramwell
Tovey rec. Luxembourg Philharmonie, September 2005
TIMPANI IC1096 [52:39][JF]
A
good but not essential CD. Enjoyable with much that is attractive, interesting
and even impressive. ... see Full
Review
Walter
PISTON (1894-1976) Serenata
(1957) [11:31] *+ Symphony No.5 (1956) [21:34]
*$ Symphony No.7 (1960) [20:44] #% Symphony No. 8 (1965) [23:32] #^
The Louisville Orchestra/Robert
Whitney */Jorge Mester # Rec. in: Columbia Auditorium, Louisville, Kentucky,
16 December 1956 (mono) +; Macauley Theater, Louisville, Kentucky, 24
February 1965; Alumni Chapel, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary,
Louisville, Kentucky, 12 November 1974; Macauley Theater, Louisville,
Kentucky, 15 May 1975. ADD
FIRST EDITION FECD-0010 [77:28][TP]
Essential
listening for Piston fans. For those not
in the know, this music - with the exception
of the Serenata - is probably not an ideal
introduction ... see Full
Review
Humphrey
PROCTER-GREGG
(1895-1980) Violin
Sonata no.3 in F (1947) [20:28] Clarinet
Sonata (c. 1943) [19:21] Horn Sonata in
A (1975) [22:36] Westmoreland Sketches
for piano (1968): [14:02] (Shower
in Spring (no.23); Summer Dreams
(no.24); Autumn Reflections (no.25);
Winter Elegy (no.26))
Nicholas Cox (clarinet); Robert Ashworth
(horn); Richard Howarth (violin); Ian Buckle
(piano) rec. The King’s School, Macclesfield,
31 March, 1-2 April 2005
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7165 [76:49] [RB]
Two
irresistibly lyrical sonatas from the 1940s
coupled with other works of a slightly chilly
but still singing demeanour from the 1960s
and 1970s ... see Full
Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
Symphony-Concerto
for cello and orchestra in E minor, Op.
125 (1951) [38.02] Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Cello
Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 126 (1966)
[34.20]
Lynn Harrell (cello) Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Orchestra/Gerard Schwarz rec.
25-26 May 2005 (Prokofiev), 27-28 May 2005
(Shostakovich), Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
AVIE AV2090 [72.22][TB]
A
generous coupling of two masterworks, both of which are delivered
in performances of distinction and personality. ... see Full
Review
Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953)
Alexander Nevsky, Op.78 (1938) [38:35] Lieutenant Kijé
Suite, Op.60 (1933) [19:45]
Ewa Podles (mezzo-soprano) Latvian State Choir Orchestre National
de Lille/Jean-Claude Casadesus rec. live, Auditorium du Nouveau Sičcle,
Lille, France, 1 June 1994. DDD previously released on Harmonia Mundi
NAXOS 8.557725 [58:20][EB]
An
excellent Alexander Nevsky coupled with a very good Lieutenant Kijé
make this disc one to find and enjoy ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Manon Lescaut - opera in four acts (1893)
Manon Lescaut, Renata Scotto (sop); Lescaut, Manon’s brother and Sergeant
in the King’s Guard, Pablo Elvira (bar); Chevalier des Grieux, a student,
Placido Domingo (ten); Geronte, wealthy Treasurer-General, Renato
Capecchi (bass); Edmondo, a student, Richard Creech (ten) Metropolitan
Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra/James Levine. rec. live,
Metropolitan Opera, New York, 29 March 1980 Production by Gian-Carlo
Menotti. Set and costumes design by Gil Weschler. Video director,
Kirk Browning. Audio Producer, John F. Pfeiffer Picture format: NTSC/Colour/4:3
Sound formats: PCM Stereo. DTS 5.1. DOLBY digital 5.1 Menu language:
English. Subtitles: Italian (original language), English, German,
French, Spanish and Chinese. 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 1983
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON DVD VIDEO 000440 073 4241 GH
[2 DVDs: 180:00][RJF]
Forget
the minor technical limitations of this early video transcript and
glory in Puccini’s music and the committed acting and singing of the
main protagonists. ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
The Isle of the Dead, Op. 29 (1909) [22:30] Symphonic Dances,
Op 45 (1940) [36:45]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/ Vladimir Jurowski rec. live, Royal
Festival Hall, London, 8 December 2004 (Op. 29); 29 October 2003 (Op.
45) LPO 0004 [60:17]
[KS]
Sheer
power and virtuosity with melodies so gorgeous
that they almost belong in a movie love
scene ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano
Sonata No.1 in D minor Op.28 (1907) [39.27] Morceaux de Salon
Op.10 (1893-94) [33.41] Martin
Cousin (piano)
rec. The Banff Centre, October 2004 SOMM
CD048 [73.16] [JW]
Executed
with considerable control and command of the idiom this is a
more than useful debut disc ... see Full
Review
Celebrating Sacred Rhythms
Ariel
RAMIREZ (b.1921)
Navidad Nuestra (1964) [18.58] Folk
Drama of the Nativity, based on the Rhythms
and Traditions of Hispanic America. Misa
Criolla (arr.
Jesus Gabriel Segade) (1964)
[22.15] Folk Mass based on the Rhythms and
Traditions of Hispanic America TRADITIONAL
Missa Luba (arr.
Father Guido Haazen) (1958) [15.58]
Mass in Congolese Style for Mixed Chorus
with Soloists and Percussion (based on an
improvisation by the Congolese chorus Les
Troubadours du Roi Baudouin
Manuel Melendez (tenor) (Navidad;
Criolla) José Sacin (tenor) Navidad;
Criolla) Pablo Talamante (tenor)
(Navidad; Criolla) Christal
Rheams (alto) (Luba) The Choral Arts
Society of Washington Instrumental and Percussion
Ensembles/Joseph Holt rec. St. Luke’s Catholic
Church, McLean, Virginia, USA, July 2004.
NAXOS 8.557542 [56.47] [MC]
I
just loved these performances of Misa Criolla
and the Navidad Nuestra. A fascinating release
that provided an abundance of pleasure.
... see Full
Review
Behzad
RANJBARAN (b.
1955) The Persian Trilogy
(1991-2000) 1. Seven Passages
(2000) [13:39] 2. Seemorgh (1991)
[22:07] (The Mountain; The Moonlight; The
Sunrise) 3. The Blood of Seyavash
(1994) [42:28] (The Young Prince
and Heir; Seduction by Betrayal; Trial by
Fire; Tormented Loyalties; Seeds of Envy;
Idyllic Love; Prophecy Fulfilled)
London Symphony Orchestra/JoAnn Falletta
rec. St Luke’s Church, London, Sept 2003.
DDD
DELOS DE 3336 [78:21][RB]
Vibrant
exotic oriental writing ... echoes of Szymanowski
and Shostakovich ... gaudy suggestion ...
mysterious illusion and all in sensational
sound ... see Full
Review
Iiro
RANTALA (b.
1970) Concerto for Piano
and Orchestra in G sharp major and A flat
(2002) [38:15] Astorale for Piano Solo [7:59]
Tangonator for Violin and Piano [5:01] Final
Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra [5:25]
Iiro Rantala (piano) Tapiola Sinfonietta/Jaakko
Kuusisto rec. Tapiola Hall, Espoo, May 2005.
DDD
ONDINE ODE 1071-2 [57:00][RB]
If
you go for fanciful, even dissolute adventures
in the shadow-land between jazz, popular
and classical you will find this irresistible
.... and fun. ... see Full
Review
Max
REGER (1873-1916) Works
for Orchestra CD1 [63:59] Eine Ballettsuite op.
130 (1913) [17:56] Konzert im alten Stil op. 123 (1912)
[23:16] Beethoven-Variationen op. 86 (1904, 1915)
[22:29] Karl
Suske (violin) Heinz Schunk (violin) (op. 123) Staatskapelle
Berlin/Otmar Suitner rec. 1973, Original CD release 01.08.2002
as 0032242BC CD2 [44:33] Hiller-Variationen op.
100 (1907) [44:33] Gewandhausorchester Leipzig/Franz Konwitschny
rec. 1963, Original CD release 15.03.2002 as 0032152BC CD3 [61:31] Mozart-Variationen op.
132 (1914) [32:23] Vier Tondichtungen nach A. Böcklin op.
128 (1913) [28:57] Walter Hartwich (violin) (Böcklin) Staatskapelle
Dresden/Heinz Bongartz (Böcklin) Dresdner Philharmonie/Heinz
Bongartz rec. 1970, 1965, Original CD release 18.06.1994
as 0021772BC CD4 [74:14] Sinfonietta op. 9
(1905) [50:10] An die Hoffnung op. 124 (1912) [11:54] Hymnus
der Liebe op. 136 (1914) [11:57] Annelies Burmeister
(alto) (opp. 124, 136) Günter Siering (violin) (op. 9) Dresdner
Philharmonie/Heinz Bongartz (Sinfonietta) Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester
Leipzig/ Heinz Bongartz rec. 1973, 1969, Original CD release
01.08.2002 as 0032232BC CD5 [57:40] Violinkonzert
A-Dur op. 101 (1908) [57:40] Manfred Scherzer (violin)
Staatskapelle Dresden/Herbert Blomstedt rec. 1984, Original
CD release 12.03.1996 as 0091242BC CD6 [52:31] Konzert
für Klavier und Orchester f-Moll (1910) [52:31] Amadeus
Webersinke (piano) Dresdner Philharmonie/Günther Herbig rec.
1973, Original CD release 15.04.2002 as 0002532CCC CD7 [41:45] Symphonischer
Prolog zu einer Tragödie op. 108 (1908) [26:02] Eine
romantische Suite op. 125 (1912) [26:19] Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester
Berlin/Heinz Rögner rec. 1974, Original CD release 12.10.1995
as 0031192BC Rec. 1963-1984. DDR. ADD BERLIN
CLASSICS - EDEL 0183992BC [7 CDs: 63:59 + 44:33 + 61:31
+ 74:14 + 57:40 + 41:45 + 52:31] [JW]
Palpable
dedication. Not everything at the top of the pile but the alternative
is to scrabble around for individual discs. A definite case of value
for money. ... see Full Review
Ferdinand
RIES (1784-1838)
Piano
Sonatas Grande Sonate in D Op.9 No. 1 [29:45] Grande Sonate Fantaisie
L’Infortune in F# minor Op.26 [23:56] Andantino from
Sonatina Op.5 No.1 [2:07] Andantino from Sonatina Op.5 No.2
[4:03] Alexandra
Oehler (piano) rec. SWR Stuttgart, March 2004. DDD
CPO 777 136-2 [60:23][PCW]
Felicitations
to CPO and Ms. Oehler. More please ... see Full
Review
Joseph-Guy
ROPARTZ (1864-1955)
Symphony No. 2 (1900) [37:09] Symphony
No. 5 (1944) [29:25]
Orchestra Symphonique et Lyrique de Nancy/Sebastian Lang-Lessing rec.
Salle Poirel, Nancy, France, Dec 2005 (2); Sept 2005 (5). DDD World
premiere recordings
TIMPANI 1C1097 [71:03] [RB]
Sturdy
symphonies rescued from neglect ... living
viable works demonstrating Ropartz’s musical
command and tenacious mastery ... see Full
Review
Joseph-Guy
ROPARTZ
(1864-1955) Pêcheur
d'Islande - incidental music - suite
(1891) [22.33] Rhapsodie for cello
and orchestra (1928) [11.38] Oedipe à
Colonne - incidental music - suite (1914)
[24.16]
Henri Demarquette (cello) Orchestre de Bretagne/Kirill
Karabits rec. Rennes, June 2005. DDD
TIMPANI 1C1095 [56.29] [RB]
Ropartz
here showcased as writer of music of character
both dreamy and decisive. ... see Full
Review
Joseph-Guy
ROPARTZ (1864-1955)
String Quartet
No. 3 (1925) [27:03] String Quartet No.
2 (1911-12) [31:14]
Quatuor Stanislas (Laurent Causse, violin
I; Bertrand Menut, violin II; Paul Fenton,
viola; Jean de Spengler, cello) rec. Nancy
Opéra, France, 6-9 July 2004. DDD
World premiere recordings
TIMPANI 1C1099 [58:17] [RB]
Easily
recommendable ... a formidably desirable
pioneering project. Music ably and sympathetically
performed, should satisfy and whet the appetite
of any admirer of 20th century melodic chamber
music.... see Full
Review
Ned
ROREM (b.
1923) Pilgrims
(1958) [7:14] * Flute Concerto (2002) [31:21]
* Violin Concerto (1985) [24:07] Philippe
Quint (violin) Jeffrey Khaner (flute)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/José
Serebrier rec. 16-17 June 2005, Philharmonic
Hall, Liverpool, UK. DDD * world premiere
recording
NAXOS 8.559278 [62:42] [RB]
A
classic album. Satisfying and beautiful
music that has about it a rippling current
of vitality. ... see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Il barbiere di Siviglia -
comic opera in two acts (1816) Libretto
by Cesare Sterbini based on the Beaumarchais
play Premiere: Teatro Argentina, Rome, 20
Feb 1816 as Almaviva, ossia L’inutile
precauzione (the useless precaution)
Count Almaviva, Luigi Alva (ten); Figaro,
a barber, Tito Gobbi (bar); Bartolo, a doctor
and ward of Rosina, Melchiore Luise (buffa-bar);
Rosina, Maria Callas (sop); Basilio, a singing
teacher, Nicola Rossi Lemeni (bass); Berta,
Dr. Bartolo’s housekeeper, Anna Maria Canali
(mezzo); Fiorello, servant of Count Almaviva,
Pierluigi Latinucci (bass) Orchestra and
Chorus of Tetro alla Scala, Milan/Carlo
Maria Giulini rec. live, 16 February 1956.
mono
DYNAMIC - INSTITUTO DISCOGRAFICO ITALIANO
IDIS 6479/80 [71.17 + 64.11] [RJF]
On
the basis of this recording I will certainly
be on the lookout for any other gems from
the archive of the Instituto Discografico
Italiano. ... see Full
Review
Anton
RUBINSTEIN
(1829-1894) Cello
Sonata No.1 in D major Op.18 (1852) [27.38]
Alexander TCHEREPNIN
(1899-1977) Cello Sonata No.3 in F sharp
minor Op.30 No.2 (1928) [10.11] Alexander
GRECHANINOV (1864-1956) Cello
Sonata in E minor Op.113 (1927) [19.02]
Yuri Semenov (cello) Ksenia Stegman (piano)
rec. 1997
MELODIYA MEL CD 10 00970 [58.37] [JW]
Recorded
in 1997 this is a good coupling, very decently
played and recorded and especially valuable
for the Grechaninov. ... see Full
Review
Walter
RUMMEL (1887-1953)
The Complete Bach Transcriptions
Jonathan Plowright (piano) rec. Potton Hall,
Suffolk, 7-10 July 2005
HYPERION CDA67481/2 [64:31 + 69:11]
[DB]
Virtuosic,
sensitive adaptations of Bach in defined
and powerful performances. ... see Full
Review
John
RUTTER (b. 1945)
Mass of the
Children (2002) [35:43] Shadows (1979)
[25:06] Wedding Canticle (2004) [5:55]
Angharad Gruffydd-Jones (soprano) Jeremy
Huw Williams (baritone) Stewart French (guitar)
Daniel Pailthorpe (flute) James McVinnie
(organ) Farnham Youth Choir Clare Chamber
Ensemble The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge/Timothy
Brown rec. Chapel of Tonbridge School, Kent,
19 July 2005.
NAXOS 8.557922 [66:45] [KS]
I
had my hopes up that we might have another
original work from Rutter. Alas, no. ...
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]