Elizabeth
MACONCHY
(1907-1994) Overture,
Proud Thames (1952) [5:58] * Symphony for Double String Orchestra
(1953) [21:50] ** Serenata Concertante for Violin and Orchestra
(1962) [21:37] ** Music for Strings (1983) [18:21] *** 
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley * Manoug Parikian** (violin)
London Symphony Orchestra/Vernon Handley London Philharmonic Orchestra/Barry
Wordsworth*** rec. 1970, 1979, 1977. ADD; DDD***
LYRITA SRCD.288 [67.50] [JF]
Here
is a small, but as they say, ‘perfectly proportioned’
corpus of Maconchy’s music now available to
the listener. ... see Full
Review
Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony No. 2 in C minor ‘Resurrection’ (1894)
Karina Gauvin (soprano); Yvonne Naef (contralto) WDR Sinfonieorchester,
NDR Chor, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln/Semyon Bychkov Johannes Deutsch, Ars
Electronica Linz (visual realisation) rec. Kölner Philharmonie, Cologne,
Germany, 1 January 2006. DVD: Region 0; NTSC; 16:9; PCM stereo; DD 5.1.
Subtitles: German, English, French, Spanish, Italian
ARTHAUS MUSIK 101 421 CD [44:11 + 36:10]; 
[87:00 + 48:00 bonus][DM]
A
bold and interesting package that could well appeal to some music-lovers,
but if it’s the symphony you’re after there are many more satisfying versions
... see Full Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No. 5 in C sharp minor (1901-2) Symphony No.10 in F sharp minor (1910)
Reconstruction and instrumentation after Mahler’s sketches by Rudolf
Barshai Junge Deutsche
Philharmonie/Rudolf Barshai Recorded in 1999 in the Philharmonie, Berlin
(5) and September 12th 2001 in the Konzerthaus, Berlin (10)
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92205 [2CDs: 143.39] [TD]
We can now offer these recordings for sale
from £7.07 including postage
Louis MARCHAND
(1669-1732) Livre de
pièces de clavecin, 1754 [Livre
de Suittes pour le clavecin, 1754] RENARD
Prélude par Renard
[02:37] Louis MARCHAND
(?) Allemande fait pour Mme
Deville [04:22] anon
Autre allemande Les Regards
[04:53] Louis MARCHAND
Courante La Florentine [01:44]
Sarabande Les Soupirs [03:52] anon
Menuet L'indifférente
[01:39] Louis MARCHAND
(?) Gigue d'orgue La Saint-Honoré
[01:55] Louis MARCHAND
Autre courante Les Contretemps
[01:13] anon Loure
en sicilienne L'angéline [03:05]
anon (MARCHAND?)
Badinage en rondeau La Marinelle
[01:15] Louis MARCHAND
Gavotte en rondeau L'Agarbelle
[01:29] anon (RENARD?)
Musette en rondeau [02:03] Louis
MARCHAND Chaconne L'inconnue
[04:10] Air tendre Les Regrets [02:43]
[Recueil des airs pour le clavecin composés
par plusieurs auteurs - extracts] anon
Tombeau pour Monsieur de la
Forestière par M. [04:09] Louis-Claude
DAQUIN (1694-1772) La Louisette
[03:13] anon Les
Sirènes [02:20] La Ferrand par
Guys. [01:42] Louis
MARCHAND La Venitienne [01:58]
Jean-Baptiste FORQUERAY
(1699-1782) Allemande in e minor
[04:23]
Mario Martinoli (harpsichord) rec. November
2005, Pieve di San Pietro a Presciano, Arezzo,
Italy. DDD
OLIVE MUSIC OM 008 [54:57] [JV]
Hitherto
unknown pieces from an 18th-century French
manuscript – because of repertoire and performance
it is highly recommendable to any lover of
the harpsichord … see Full
Review
Roger
MARSH
(b. 1949) Albert Giraud’s Pierrot Lunaire
– vocal settings of all fifty of the Rondels Bergamasques (2002-2006)
[100.47] Linda Hirst (mezzo);
Joe Marsh (narrator) Hilliard Ensemble; Red Byrd; Juice Trio; Ebor Singers/Paul
Gameson rec. University of York, 2002, 2005, 2006. DDD
NMC D127 [50.00 + 50.47] [SH]
A
sheer feast with dreams left over. Marsh shows
the greatness of Giraud’s haunting images.
... see Full
Review
Jules MASSENET
(1842-1912) His Life and Music
Vocal excerpts (sung by Illing unless otherwise stated): Eve: O nuit
Sapho: Solitude, demain je partirai La Grand Tante: Je vais
bientôt quitter Marie Magdeleine: O mes soeurs La Vierge:
Rêve infini Hérodiade: Il est doux, il est bon Sapho: Ah,
vous avez parlé Sapho: Ce que j’appelle beau Valse très lente
(Noël Lee, piano) Song, Sainte Thérèse Prie Ariane: Avec
tes compagnes guerrières Sapho: Vais-je rester ici? Grisélidis:
Loÿs! Loÿs! Ariane: Je comprends un héros! Un roi La Vierge:
O mon fils Le Cid: Plus de tourments Le Roi de Lahore:
O Timour! Tu me croi (Sutherland) Esclarmonde: Esprits de l’air!
(Sutherland) With opera performances from – Manon (Gruberova/Ariaza)
[ORF 1983] Cendrillon: Von Stade/Wallis [Radio Canada]
Rosamund Illing (soprano) Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra/Richard
Bonynge Documentary containing interviews with Richard Bonynge and Dame
Joan Sutherland, Thomas Hampson, John Cox, Andrew Porter, Rodney Milnes,
Mme Anne Bessand-Massenet, James Harding. Graham Johnson, Annegret Fauser,
Noël Lee (piano). Narrated by Richard Bonynge, with background of Massenet’s
music sung by Rosamund Illing Directed by Scott Murray Produced by Maria
Vandamme rec. Italy, Australia, France, Belgium and Britain, 1999 16:9
Widescreen format; PAL; All regions
MELBA MR2000 [75:00]
[RJW]
Excellent
in every respect and compiled with no expense spared. Opera buffs
can watch with pleasure ... see Full
Review
Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
A Midsummer Night's Dream:
Overture, Op. 21 (1826) [12.00] Lobgesang, Symphony-Cantata, Op. 52 (original version, 1840) [57:25]*
*Anne Schwanewilms, Petra-Maria Schnitzer (sopranos) *Peter
Seiffert (tenor) *Gewandhaus Chorus *Leipzig
Opera Chorus Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Riccardo
Chailly rec. Gewandhaus, Leipzig, September
2005
DECCA 475 6939 [69:25][SV]
The recorded sound has all the depth and burnished
blend of past Gewandhaus recordings, adding a modicum of the color and
definition one as one expects from Decca - most attractive. ... see
Full Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Symphony No.
3 in A minor Op.56 Scottish [44:16] Symphony No. 4 in A Op.90
Italian [29:13] Symphony No. 5 in D Op.107 Reformation [32:06]
New Philharmonia
Orchestra/Riccardo Muti Overtures: The Hebrides Op.26 [9:32];
Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage Op.27 [11:27]; Athalie
Op.74 [9:20]; Die Heimkehr aus der Fremde Op.89 [7:48]; Ruy
Blas Op.95 [7:28] New Philharmonia Orchestra/Moshe Atzmon rec. Kingsway
Hall, London 1-2 October 1975 (No 3), 18-19 January 1979 (No 5); No
1 Studio, Abbey Road, London 23 July, 9-10 September 1976 (No 4); 9-11
August 1974 (Overtures)
EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 3 81788 2 [76:27 + 74:52][PCW]
Muti
is an enthusiastic guide to the symphonies but, perversely, his Italian
symphony is the weakest link … see Full
Review
Claudio
MERULO (1533-1604) Complete Organ
Works - Volume 1 CD 1 Toccata
I (1598) [05:23] Ricercar del 2. tuono
[08:28] La Gratiosa [04:11] Petit Jacquet [04:54] La Leonora [03:04] Toccata III (1598) [04:56] Toccata III (1604) [04:50] Ricercar dell'ottavo tuono
[06:53] La Cortese [04:03] Toccata V (1598) [03:33] La Seula [04:45] La Pazza [02:50] Toccata I (1604) [05:50] CD 2 Toccata
IV (1604) [06:26] La Radivila [04:14] Ricercar del 3. tuono
[08:47] L'Arconadia [02:53] La Palma [02:33] La Scarampa [03:26] Toccata VII (1604) [07:41] Toccata IX (1598) [05:46] Content [06:07] Languissans [08:03] Ricercar del 7. tuono
[07:59] La Pargoletta [03:18] Toccata VIII (1598) [06:31]
Stefano Molardi (organ, Vincenzo Colombi, 1533) rec. September
2003, Duomo di Valvasone, Pordenone, Italy DDD
DIVOX CDX-70309/10-6 
[63:47 + 73:41][JV]
A
wonderful production in every respect: music, instrument, interpreter,
recording technique and presentation … see Full
Review
Wilhelm
MIDDELSCHULTE (1863-1943) Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Goldberg Variations arranged
for Organ (1926) Jurgen
Sonnentheil (organ) rec. 18-21 September 2005, Gerald Woehl Organ, St.
Petrus Canisius, Freidrichshafen, Germany
CPO 777 215-2 [50:51 + 50:17][GPu]
A
genuinely interesting arrangement for organ, sensitive, sophisticated
and inventive. Well worth a listen … see Full
Review
Ernest
John MOERAN (1894-1950) Rhapsody No.2
(1924 rev. 1941) [13:19] Violin Concerto (1941) [34:54] Rhapsody No.3
in F sharp for piano and orchestra (1943) [19:14]
John Georgiadis (violin) John McCabe (piano) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir
Adrian Boult (Rhapsody 2) London Symphony Orchestra/Vernon Handley (Violin
Concerto) New Philharmonia/Nicholas Braithwaite (Rhapsody 3) rec. 1970,
1979, 1977. ADD LYRITA
SRCD 248 [67:21] [JW]
Clever
programming ensures this is a very viable
contender. ... see Full
Review
Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Vespro della Beata
Vergine (Vespers) (1610) Psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116 and
Salve Regina from Selva morale e spirituale (1641)
Taverner Consort (Tessa Bonner; Emma Kirkby; Evelyn Tubb; Emily van
Evera (sopranos); Margaret Philpot (mezzo); Rogers Covey-Crump; Joseph
Cornwell; Charles Daniels; Andrew King; Nigel Rogers; John Dudley; Peter
Long (tenors); Stephen Charlesworth (baritone); Richard Savage; David
Thomas; Richard Wistreich; Simon Grant (basses))/Canto Gregoriano/Taverner
Choir and Players/Andrew Parrott rec. All Saints, Tooting, London, August
1983 and March 1984 (Vespers); Temple Church, London, December 1982
(Psalms). DDD. Booklet with brief notes in English, French and German
but no texts. VIRGIN
VERITAS 5 61662 6 [2 CDs 74:53+72:57][BW]
Still
very competitive with more recent versions; those who prefer a slightly
smaller-scale version in a liturgical context may well prefer it to
the opposition – and it comes at an attractive price … see Full
Review
Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Madrigals
Book Six and Miscellaneous Madrigals Lamento d’Arianna [18:56]
Zefiro torna [4:19] Una donna fra l’altre [4:03] A
dio, florida bella [5:30] Lagrime d’amante al sepolcro dell’amata
[21:43] Ohimè il bel viso [5:59] Qui rise, o Tirsi [8:19]
Misero Alceo [6:58] Batto, qui pianse Ergasto [4:59] Presso
un fiume tranquillo [7:07] Io ardo sì [4:03] Occhi miei
[4:36] Quante son stelle [1:54] Se non mi date [2:11]
Prima vedrò ch’in questi prati [2:56] O come vaghi [3:44]
Taci Armellin [3:42] La mia turca [3:16] Ohimè ch’io
cado [4:34] Si dolce è’l tormento [5:28] Perché se m’odiavi
[3:18] Più lieto il guardo [5:51] Lamento d’Arianna (1623)
[11:53] Delitiæ
Musicæ/Marco Longhini rec. Chiesa di San Pietro in Vincoli, Azzago,
Verona, 21-25 July 2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.555312-3 [68:48+57:28][BW]
Good,
scholarly performances, clearly recorded, but no match for the competition
… see Full Review
Beata
MOON (b.1969) Piano Works: Piano Sonata
(2006) [17:10]; Submerged (1999) [3:12]; In Transit (1999) [7:02]; Guernica
(2003) [3:26]; Inter-Mez-Zo (2006) [8:47]; Toccata (2000) [2:20]; Ode
(1998) [3:34]; Piano Fantasy (1998) [4:53]; Nursery (1996) [2:04]; The
Secret (2005) [3:13]; Prelude (1996) [4:06]
Beata Moon (piano) rec. February 2007, American Academy of Arts and
Letters, New York. DDD
NAXOS 8.570347 [60:21][CR]
A
whole disc of this music was too much. A little more variety was needed
to maintain my interest. ... see Full
Review
Emanuel
MOÓR (1863-1931) Cello
Sonata in G major Op.55 (1901) [23:51] Cello Sonata in C minor
Op.22 (1889) [23:02]
Suite for four cellos Op.95 (c.1909) [20:50] Gregor
Horsch (cello) Carole Presland (piano) Cellokwartet Amsterdam (Gregor Horsch;
Judith Jamin; Pascale Went; Sebastiaan van Eck) rec. Bachzaal, Amsterdam, January
2007; June 2003 (Quartet) CELLO
CLASSICS CC1018 [67:32]
[JW]
With
performances this ardent we can wallow in the moment and relish
the intensity of the music making ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Sinfonia
Concertante in E flat Major for Violin, Viola and Orchestra, KV 364 (1779) [30:08]
Concertone in
C Major for Two Violins and Orchestra, KV 180 (1774) [29:09]
Alan Loveday (violin), Stephen Shingles (viola), Academy of St Martin
in the Fields/Sir Neville Marriner (Sinfonia Concertante) Emanuel Hurwitz
and Eli Goren (violins), English Chamber Orchestra/Sir Colin Davis (Concertone).
rec. St. John's, Smith Square, London, UK, October 1970 (Sinfonia Concertante);
London, UK, 1960 (Concertone). ADD
DECCA ELOQUENCE 442 8239 [59:27][TP]
Another
lovely release from Australian Eloquence, but there are sonic reservations.
... see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto
No. 15 in B flat major, K450 (1784) [24:30] Piano Concerto No. 26 in
D major, K 537, Coronation (1788) [31:31] Piano Concerto No.
15 in B flat major, K450 (1784): Andante (first version) [5:32]
Robert Levin (fortepiano) The Academy of Ancient Music/Christopher Hogwood
rec. Grosser Saal, Mozarteum, Salzburg 3–5 February 1997. DDD.
L’OISEAU-LYRE 455 814-2
[62:07][MG]
The
novel use of Mozart’s instrument is vindicated by a fresh and creative
approach to the interpretations … see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto
No.20, K466 in D minor (1785) [36:15] Piano Concerto No.22, K482 in
E flat major (1785) [31:44]
Prague Chamber Orchestra/Martino Tirimo (piano) rec. Athens (exact venue
not stated), 2004. DDD
REGIS RRC1273 [68:15][BW]
Good direct performances, recommended for
this coupling but there are better alternatives … see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Sonata in F major K. 533/494
[23:48] Sonata in E flat major K. 282 [13:44] Sonata in D major K. 284
[27:44] Zeynep Ucbasaran
(piano) rec. 24-25 October 2006, Abravanel Hall, Music Academy of the
West, Santa Barbara, California
EROICA JDT 3311 [65:16][CH]
Three of Mozart’s rarer sonatas played with
real conviction. ... see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Le nozze di Figaro
K492 (1786)
Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (bass) – Figaro; Anna Netrebko (soprano) – Susanna;
Bo Skovhus (baritone) – Il Conte di Almaviva; Dorothea Röschmann (soprano)
– La Contessa di Almaviva; Christine Schäfer (soprano) – Cherubino;
Marie McLaughlin (soprano) – Marcellina; Franz-Josef Selig (bass) –
Bartolo; Patrick Henckens (tenor) – Basilio; Oliver Ringelhahn (tenor)
– Don Curzio; Florian Boesch (bass) – Antonio; Eva Liebau (soprano)
– Barbarina; Uli Kirsch (mime) – Cherub; Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor
Wiener Philharmoniker/Nicolaus Harnoncourt Stage Director: Claus
Guth; Stage and Costume Design: Christian Schmidt; Choreography: Ramses
Sigl; Video Director: Brian Large Picture format: NTSC Colour 16:9;
Sound formats: PCM Stereo, DRS 5.1 rec. live, 2006 Salzburg Festival,
Haus für Mozart, Salzburg, 17 July–6 August 2006
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 073 4245
[2 DVDs: 202:00] DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 6558 [3 CDs: 50:22 +
64:26 + 75:08] DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON Highlights 477 6544
[78:18][GF]
As always with Harnoncourt there are some idiosyncratic
touches but the general impression is that this set belongs in the top-tier
of Figaro recordings. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791) Cosi
fan Tutte - Dramma giocosa in two acts, libretto by Lorenzo
da Ponte (1789) Fiordiligi
(soprano) – Miah Persson; Dorabella (mezzo) – Anke Vondung; Ferrando
(tenor) – Topi Lehtipuu; Guglielmo (baritone) – Luca Pisaroni;
Despina (soprano) – Ainhoa
Garmendia; Don Alfonso (bass-baritone) – Nicolas Riveno Glyndebourne Chorus Orchestra
of the Age of Enlightenment/Ivan Fischer Directed for the stage by Nicholas Hytner
Directed for TV by Francesca Kemp rec. Glyndebourne Festival Theatre, 19 May
2006 OPUS ARTE OA0970D [2
DVDs:
210:00] [TH]
If
you’re in the market for stimulating theatre that will survive
trends and fads, this has to be on your shortlist ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphonies
vol. 5 (1772) Symphony No. 15 in G major, K124 [14:15]
Symphony No. 16 in C major, K128 [11:56] Symphony No. 17 in
G major, K129 [14:27]
Symphony No. 18 in F major, K130 [17:59] Danish
Radio Sinfonietta/Adam Fischer rec. Danish Radio Concert Hall, Copenhagen, 2006.
DDD DACAPO 6.220540 [58:45]
[MG]
Excellent
performances, full of character and intelligent variation of tone
and dynamic, but not available in surround sound … see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Violin Sonata in C major
KV 296 [13:03] Violin Sonata in B flat major KV 378 [17:43] Violin Sonata
in B flat major KV 454 [20:27] Duo in B flat major for violin and viola
K424 [17:09] ¹ Jascha Heifetz
(violin) William Primrose (viola) ¹ Emanuel Bay (piano) rec.1936-47
IDIS 6521 [68:26]
[JW]
Ornately
over-perfumed … dangerously indulged … a lack of discrimination
between the demands of external and internal projection … Heifetz’s
masculinity admits of little light and shade ... see Full
Review
Svend
NIELSEN (b. 1937) Sommerfugledalen,
Et Requiem - (Butterfly Valley, a Requiem) for 12 solo
singers (1998/2004) [58:25] Inger Christensen (b. 1935) reads Sommerfugledalen
(1991) [14:10] Ars
Nova Copenhagen/Tamás Vetö rec. Mariendal Kirke, June 2006
DACAPO 8.224706 [62:35][DC]
This
is a genuinely fine work of art. ... see Full
Review
Charles
Hubert Hastings PARRY (1848-1918)
Songs
of farewell (1916-1918): (My soul there is
a country [3:50]; I know my soul hath power
[2:31]; Never weather-beaten sail [3:18];
There is an old belief [4:13]; At the round
earth’s imagined corners [7:08]; Lord, let
me know mine end [9:41]) Charles
Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Three
motets, Op. 38 (1905): (Justorum animae [3:48];
Coelos ascendit [1:54]; Beati quorum via [3:50])
Eternal Father, Op. 135, No. 2 (1913) [6:28]
Magnificat in B flat, Op. 164 (1918) [11:34]
Choir of Trinity College Cambridge/Richard
Marlow. rec. Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge.
DDD
CONIFER
ARKIV CD 75605-51155-2 [59:32] [MG]
The
sensibility of Marlow’s emotive performances
catches well the sensitivity of the composers’
settings … see Full
Review
Giovanni Benedetto PLATTI (1692/97-1763)
Six Flute Sonatas, Op. 3 Sonata No. 1 in D [12:32] Sonata No.
2 in G [13:41] Sonata No. 3 in e minor [14:26] Sonata No. 4 in A* [12:12]
Sonata No. 5 in C [09:08] Sonata No. 6 in G [16:05]
Paul Wåhlberg (transverse flute); Knut Erik Sundquist (double-bass);
Hans Knut Sveen (clavichord*, harpsichord) rec. 30 May, 1 June 2005,
Hastad Kulturhaus, Norway. DDD
NAXOS 8.570282 [78:43][JV]
Highly
original sonatas which contain elements of the developing classical style.
They are performed with flair and imagination ... see Full
Review
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) King Arthur
Suite (1691) [13:26] Dido and Aeneas Suite (1689) [9:03] Dioclesian:
Dance of the Furies (1690) [4:52] The Fairy Queen Suite (1692)
[7:26] Abdelazar Suite (1695) [5:34] Thomas
ARNE (1710-1778) Organ Concerto No. 2 in G major [13:09]*
John STANLEY (1713-1786) Organ
Concerto No. 4 in C minor, Op. 10 [10:39]* Thomas
CHILCOT (c. 1709-1766) Harpsichord Concerto No. 3, Op. 2
[12:20] #
The City of London Chamber Orchestra/Thomas McIntosh (*organ
conductor, #harpsichord conductor) rec. 1980. DDD
VOX ALLEGRETTO
ACD 8165 [77:22][MG]
Unusual
and interesting but the performances fall into the ‘variable, sometimes
good’ category and sometimes rather oddball too. … see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Sonata in D minor
op.28 (1907) [36:47] Nikolaj
MEDTNER (1880-1951) Sonata Reminiscenza in A minor op.38/1 (1918-1920) [13:07]
Tomás Kramreiter (piano) rec. Autumn 1987, Co-Production with Radio
DRS, Studio Zürich; The Rachmaninov Sonata was issued in 2005 as the
work of Joyce Hatto on Concert Artist/Fidelio CACD 9129-2
EX LIBRIS CD 6074 [50:38] [CH]
After
Nojima, Kramreiter is maybe the most interesting pianistic find among
the “Hatto” pianists I’ve investigated. ... see Full
Review
Ruth
Slenczynska – Tribute to Rachmaninoff Sergei
RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943) Preludes [27:00]
Prelude in C major Op.32 No.1 Prelude in D minor Op.23 No.3 Prelude
in G sharp minor Op.32 No.12 Prelude in G minor Op.23 No.5 Prelude in
E flat major Op.23 No.6 Prelude in E flat minor Op.23 No.9 Prelude in
B flat major Op.23 No.2 rec. broadcast, 1963 Bonus: An
Interview with Ruth Slenczynska; “Remembering Josef Hofmann”, recorded
in 2002 [29:00]
Ruth Slenczynska (piano) Audio; Mono, Video; 4; 3, Black and
White, Region Code 0 (all regions), Subtitles; none
VAI DVD 4412
[56:00][JW]
This
is a rather fascinating DVD though its audience will be confined to
confirmed pianophiles and admirers of the remarkable Ruth Slenczynska.
... see Full Review
Carl
Heinrich REINECKE (1824-1910) Symphony
no.1 in A major op.79 (1856-63) [25:45] Violin Concerto in G minor op.141
(1876) [34:03]* Romance in A minor for violin and orchestra op.155 (1879)
[9:48]* Romance in E minor for violin and orchestra op.93 (Prelude to
Act IV of König Manfred) (mid-1860s) [3:39]*
Ingolf Turban (violin)* Berne Symphony Orchestra/Johannes Moesus rec.
12 October 2004 and 23-24 September 2004*, Grosser Saal, Kultur-Casino
Bern, Switzerland. The violin works are live recordings.
CPO 777 105-2 [73:18][CH]
Provided
you don’t expect a goldmine, investigation of Reinecke’s vast output
is to be welcomed. ... see Full
Review
Ferdinand
RIES (1784-1838) Piano Sonatas Op.
1: No. 1 in C (1806) [29:18]; No. 2 in A minor (1803/04) [23:14]
Susan Kagan (piano) rec. Concertgebouw De Doelen, Rotterdam, 1 July
2005. DDD RAPTUS 305.05.03
[52:32][CC]
The
low running time is balanced out by the rarity of the material and the
excellence of both the playing and the recording. ... see Full
Review
Nikolai
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844–1908) Works for
Orchestra Overture to ‘The Maid of Pskov’ (1868) [6:52];
Legend (Conte féerique), Op. 29 (1879-80) [16:44]; Neapolitan
Song, Op. 63 (1880) [3:21]; Overture to ‘The Tsar’s Bride’
(1899) [6:17]; Sinfonietta on Russian Themes, Op. 31 (1880 –
84) [24:31]; Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34 (1887) [16:00]
BBC Philharmonic/Vassily Sinaisky rec. Studio 7, New Broadcasting House,
Manchester, 16 December 2005 (Capriccio, Sinfonietta); 18 October 2006
(other works) CHANDOS
CHAN 10424 [74:32][GF]
Not
everything is quite top-drawer music but it is always interesting and
fascinating to investigate lesser known works and the playing is uniformly
good. ... see Full Review
George
ROCHBERG (b. 1918) Violin Concerto (1974,
rev. 2001 by Christopher Lyndon-Gee in collaboration with composer)
[51.44] Peter Sheppard
Skærved (violin) Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra/Christopher Lyndon-Gee
rec. Halberg Broadcasting House, Saarlandischer Rundfunk, Saarbrücken,
Germany, 16-18 Apr 2002. DDD
NAXOS 8.559129 [51.44][RB]
A
powerful work ... music of grit and emotionally fluent power sustained
across five meaty movements. ... see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) L’italiana
in Algeri - opera giocosa in two acts (1813)
Mustafa, Bey of Algiers - Marco Vinco (bass); Elvira, Mustafa’s wife
- Barbara Bargnesi (soprano); Haly, captain of the Algerian pirates
- Alex Esposito (bass); Lindoro, a young Italian and Mustafa’s favourite
slave - Maxim Miranov (tenor); Isabella, an Italian lady - Marianna
Pizzaloto (mezzo); Taddeo, Isabella’s companion - Bruno De Simone (buffa
baritone) Prague Chamber Choir Orchestra of the Teatro Communale, Bologna/Donato
Renzetti rec. live, BPA Palais, Pesaro, August 2006, Rossini Opera Festival
Performed in the Critical Edition by Azio Corghi for the Rossini Foundation
in collaboration with Casa Ricordi Director, set and costumes designer:
Dario Fo 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, and French
DYNAMIC 33526
[2 DVDs: 150:00][RJF]
It
might be more pantomime than opera, but Dario Fo’s inventive production
is full of visual spectacle and action even if it sometimes inhibits the
singing of some of the cast. Enjoyable nonetheless. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gioachino ROSSINI
(1792-1868) La donna del lago - opera in two acts
(1819) Giacomo, James V,
King of Scotland, under the name of Uberto - Kenneth Tarver (ten); Elena
- Carmen Giannattasio (sop); Douglas d'Angus, Elena’s father - Robert
Gleadow (bass); Rodrigo di Dhu, rebel leader - Gregory Kunde (ten);
Malcolm Groeme - Patricia Bardon (mezzo); Serano, Douglas’s retainer
- Mark Wilde (ten) Albina, Elena’s confident -Francesca Sassu (mez)
Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Edinburgh Festival Chorus/Maurizio Benini
rec. live, Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 18 August 2006, Edinburgh International
Festival OPERA
RARA ORC 34 [3CDs: 39.31 + 56.40 + 63.30][RJF]
Sets
the gold standard for recorded performances of Rossini’s opera seria
composed for Naples. This cast on DVD, in the Pesaro production, would
be manna from heaven in the dreams of Rossini enthusiasts ... see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Le Comte Ory
- opera in two acts (1825)
Count Ory, a young and licentious nobleman - Huw Rhys-Evans (tenor);
Countess Adele - Linda Gerrard (soprano); Isolier, page to Count Ory
and in love with the Countess Adele - Luisa Islam-Ali-Zade (mezzo);
Raimbaud, friend to Count Ory - Luca Salsi (bass-baritone); Governor,
tutor to Count Ory - Wojtek Gierlach (bass); Ragonde, companion to Countess
Adele - Gloria Montanari (mezzo); Alice, a young peasant - Sofia Soloviy
(soprano) Czech Phiharmonic Choir; Czech Chamber Soloists/Brad Cohen
rec. live, 12, 16, 19 July 2002, Kursaal, Bad Wildbad, Germany, Rossini
In Wildbad Festival
NAXOS OPERA CLASSICS 8.660207-08 [66.37 + 60.58][RJF]
Composed
for the Paris Opéra in 1828 shortly before he gave up writing for the
stage, this performance does full justice to Rossini’s only comic opera
in the French style and language. ... see Full
Review
Christopher
ROUSE (b.1949) Trombone Concerto
(1992) [29:48] Gorgon (1984) [16:43] Iscariot (1989) [14:18]
Joseph Alessi (trombone)
Colorado Symphony Orchestra/Marin Alsop rec.1997 (no other details)
originally released on RCA Red Seal
PHOENIX PHCD 167 [60:34][TH]
This
represents the ideal introduction to Rouse’s music and its return to
the catalogue is very welcome ... see Full
Review
Albert
ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Padmâvatî op. 18 –
opera in two acts (1913-1918)
Marilyn Horne – Padmâvatî Nicolai Gedda – Ratan-Sen José
van Dam – Alaouddin Jane Berbié – Nakamti
Charles Burles – Brahmin Marc Vento
– Gora Laurence Dale – Badal Thierry Dran
– Watchman Jean-Jacques Cubaynes – Priest Martine Mahé, Elena Perez
– Palace attendants Henri Amiel – Warrior Hugues Brambilla – Merchant
Gérard Blatt – Craftsman Isabel Alvarez, Marian Etxeberria, Hermina
Laborde – Women Orfeón Donostiarra/Antxón Ayestarán Orchestre du Capitole
de Toulouse/Michel Plasson rec. 17-19 November 1982, 1-3 July 1983;
Halle aux Grains, Toulouse, France
EMI CLASSICS 3 81867 2 [53:15 + 49:58][DM]
A
rather disappointing experience, this. ... see Full
Review
Miklós
RÓZSA
(1907-1995) The
Private Life of Sherlock Holmes - complete film score (1970)
Lucie Svehlová (violin)
City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra/Nic Raine rec. Barrandov Studios,
Prague, January 2007 premiere recording - based on Rózsa’s Violin
Concerto op. 24 (1956)
TADLOW MUSIC TADLOW004 [77:50] [IL]
The
present disc offers a winning performance
of a colourful, exciting and atmospheric score.
It is one of Rózsa’s best, drawing
on music from his own beautiful Violin Concerto.
... see Full
Review
Detailed
listing (last
five 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]
[Recommended
recordings]
