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RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ramón
CARNICER (1789 - 1855) Elena
e Costantino (1821)
Ruth Rosique (soprano) - Elena/ Riccardo; Robert McPherson (tenor)
- Costantino; Saimir Pirgu (tenor) - Edmondo; Eduardo Santamaría
(tenor) - Il governatore di Arlés; Lorenzo Regazzo (bass) -
Carlo; Mariola Cantarero (soprano) - Anna; David Menédez (baritone)
- Urbino Coro y orquesta titular del Teatro Real/Jesús López
Cobos rec. live, 2005, Libretto and English translation enclosed
DYNAMIC CDS 619/1-2 [75:46 + 75:14]
A
more or less sensational treasure trove of an opera ... see Full
Review
Teresa
CARREÑO
(1853-1917)
Piano Music
Clara Rodriguez (piano) rec. Complejo Teresa Carreño, Sala José
Félix Ribas, Caracas. 2002
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6103 [65:13]
[GPu]
An
engaging sampling of characterful music by one of the leading pianists
of her day … see Full Review
Elliott
CARTER (b.
1908) Piano
Sonata,
Two Thoughts About the Piano & other piano works Ursula
Oppens (piano)
rec. 2008 CEDILLE
CDR90000
108 [70:53] [CR]
Expressive
music, composed in modernist language and an excellent recording …
see Full Review
Mario
CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO (1895-1968) Music
for Two Guitars - Vol. 2 The Well Tempered Guitars Brasil
Guitar
Duo
rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570779 [54:16] [AS]
Thoroughly
enjoyable ... see Full Review
Arnold
COOKE
(1906 - 2005) Sonata
No.2 for Violin and Piano (1951) [22:24] Sonata for Viola and Piano
(1937) [21:20] Sonata No.2 for Cello and Piano (1980) [23:58]
Susanne Stanzeleit (violin); Morgan Goff (viola); Raphael Wallfisch
(cello); Raphael Terroni (piano) rec. 2005
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS 432CD [67:45]
[NB]
Another
excellent disc from the British Music Society ... see Full
Review
Aaron
COPLAND (1900 - 1990) Clarinet
Concerto William Thomas McKINLEY (b.
1938) Clarinet Duet Book II, Concerto for Two Clarinets Kim
Ellis, Richard Stoltzman (clarinets) Slovak Ntl SO/Kirk Trevor
rec.2007/8 NAVONA
RECORDS
NV5812 [50:32] [NB]
Imaginative
programming but needs more convincing advocacy ... see Full
Review
Aaron COPLAND (1900-1990)
Dance Panels (1959) [29:06] Eight Poems of Emily Dickinson
(1950) [21:39] Short Symphony (1933) [16 :00]
Helene Schneiderman (mezzo) Orchestra of St. Luke’s/Dennis Russell
Davies
NIMBUS NI 2545 [66:47]
[WH]
Three
representative Copland works in excellent performances … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) En
blanc et noir, Jeux, Lindaraja Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Rapsodie espagnole, La
Valse Vladimir
and Vovka Ashkenazy (pianos)
rec. 2008 DECCA
478
1090 [66:01] [BBr]
This
is outstanding…see Full
Review
Frank
DENYER (b.1943) On,
on - it must be so, Quite White, Wheat, Unnamed Yoshikazu
Iwamoto (shakuhachi); Paul Hiley and Frank Denyer (percussion)
rec. 1981-99 ANOTHERTIMBRE
AT03 [71:43] [DC]
A
great deal to offer to collectors of contemporary music, as well
as fans of ‘world’ music... see Full
Review
Peter
DICKINSON (b. 1934) Complete
Solo Organ Works Jennifer
Bate (organ)
rec. 1982-2007 NAXOS
8.572169 [77:42] [JF]
A
remarkable musical document ... see Full
Review
Stephen DODGSON
(b. 1926) Dialogues
- The Music of Stephen Dodgson, Vol. 2 Dialogues, for guitar and
harpsichord (1976) [11:44] The Troubled Midnight, for guitar (1990)
[4:18] Suite No. 1, for clavichord (1967, rev. 2006) [15:53] Suite No.
2, for clavichord (1969, rev. 2006) [12:42] Sketchbook, for two lutes
(1983) [14:48]
Roberto Morón Pérez (guitar); Julian Perkins (harpsichord);
Pawel Siwczak (clavichord); Elizabeth Kenny (lute); Jacob Heringman
(lute) rec. Turner Sims Concert Hall, University of Southampton, U.K.,
11-13 August 2008
CAMPION CAMEO 2088 [59:25]
[WH]
Music
of the utmost integrity - very individual very beautiful ... see Full
Review
Stephen
DODGSON (b. 1924) Watersmeet, London
Lyrics, Partita No. 4, Duo, Personent Hodie Jonathan
Leathwood (solo guitar) Neil Jenkins (tenor); Rohan de Saram
(cello); Tetra & Aquarelle Guitar Qts; Appassionata Guitar
Trio; Carl Herring (guitar) rec.
2005 CADENZA
MUSIC
CACD0603 [76.07] [GH]
An
interesting disc, with a fine array of performers … worth
exploring … see Full
Review
Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845-1924) Piano
Quintets 1 & 2 Fine
Arts Qt, Cristina Ortiz (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570938 [63:24] [OL]
Another
fine disc from Naxos ... see Full
Review
David
GARNER (b.1954) Phenomenon Spoon
River Songs, Viñetas Flamencas, Fireflies
and Willows, Phenomenal Woman Susanne
Mentzer (mezzo), Francisco Araiza (tenor); William Stone (baritone),
Stephanie Friede, Lisa Delan (sopranos) Kristin Pankonin (piano)
rec. 2006 PENTATONE
CLASSICS PTC5186 301 [80:01] [DC]
Stylish
romanticism … see Full Review
Florian
Leopold GASSMANN (1729-1774) Opera
Overtures Eclipse
CO/Sylvia Alimena
rec. 2006/7 NAXOS
8.570421 [64.10] [MM-B]
A
feel-good CD that will put a smile on one’s face ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Edward
GERMAN (1862-1936) Tom Jones
National Festival Ch & O/David Russell Hulme rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.660270-71 [75:49 + 34:20] [RJW] [IL]
A
fresh and spirited reading … see Full
Review
Philip
GLASS
(b. 1937) Portrait:-
La Belle et al Bête overture, The Hours suite, Mishima,
The Secret Agent, Echorus, Company, Closing
La Pietà/Angèle
Dubeau (violin, director); Louise-Andrée Baril (piano) rec. Studio
MMR, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; 27-29 November 2007.
ANALEKTA AN2 8727 [65:21]
[DJB]
An
excellent sampler of the accessible Glass … see Full
Review
Christoph
Willibald von GLUCK (1714-1787) Iphigénie
en Tauride Monteverdi
Ch, l’Opéra de Lyon O/John Eliot Gardiner rec. 1985 DECCA
ORIGINALS 4781705 [59:31 + 42:45] [ST]
Fully
in touch with Gluck’s keen sense of drama ... see Full
Review
Ernest
GOLD (b.1921) Piano Concerto see
Review
Francisco
GUERRERO (1528-1599) Missa
de la Batalla escoutez, Pange lingua gloriosi, In
exitu Israel, Magnificat octavi toni Westminster
Cathedral Ch, Her Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts/James O’Donnell
rec. 1998 HYPERION
HELIOS
CDH55340 [72.16] [RH]
Performances
which are of a very high calibre and extremely seductive ... see Full
Review
Asger HAMERIK
(1843-1923) The
Symphonies 1-7, Requiem for orchestra, choir and contralto
Randi
Stene (mezzo) Danish National Symphony Chorus/Saul Zaks Helsingborg
& Danish National Symphony Orchestras/Thomas Dausgaard. rec. 1997-2005,
Helsingborg & Copenhagen
DACAPO 6.200002 [4 CDs: 72:04 + 72:54 + 68:14 + 78:48]
[RB]
Romantic
era symphonies - exemplary in every way and rewarding to the attentive
listener... see Full Review
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685
– 1759) Giulio Cesare in Egitto (1724)
Angelo Manzotti (sopranist) – Giulio Cesare; Alexandra Zabala (soprano)
– Cleopatra; Paola Pittaluga (contralto) – Cornelia; Patrizia Bozzo
(soprano) – Sesto; Angelo Galeano (counter- tenor) – Tolomeo; Riccardo
Ristori (bass) – Achilla; Angelo Bonazzoli (counter-tenor) – Nireno;
Guido Ripoli (baritone) – Curio
Il Concento Ecclesiastico Vocal Ensemble and Orchestra/Luca Franco Ferrari
rec. live, 30 July 2006, Savona Italian libretto enclosed
CONCERTO CD 2042-3 [3 CDs: 70:08 + 74:14 + 65:55]
[GF]
Worth
hearing for a thrilling Cesare and a partly ravishing Cleopatra ...
see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) The
Complete Masses and Stabat Mater Trinity
Ch, Rebel Baroque O/J Owen Burdick, Jane Glover
rec. 2001-8 NAXOS
8.508009 [8
CDs: 489:21] [JS]
The
highlight of my anniversary year listening ... see Full
Review
Vagn
HOLMBOE (1909-1996) Works
for violin and piano Includes Violin sonatas 1-3 Johannes
Søe
Hansen (violin);
Christina Bjørkøe (piano)
rec. 2008 DACAPO
8.226063 [56:47] [RB]
Balkans
and Transylvania folk marinade ... see Full
Review
Ignaz
HOLZBAUER (1711-1783) Flute
concertos Karl
Kaiser (flute); La Stagione Frankfurt
rec. 2008 CPO
777 358-2 [61:45] [CR]
Elegant
and charming works … see Full
Review
Klaus
HUBER (b. 1924) Erniedrigt
- Geknechtet - Verlassen - Verachtet ... Schola
Cantorum Stuttgart, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, SWR SO Baden-Baden
und Freiburg/Matthias Bamert, Kenneth Jean, Burkhard Rempe, Arturo
Tamayo
rec. 1983 NEOS
10809 [67:58] [GD]
A
serial and electro-acoustic Communist aesthetic ... see Full
Review
John
IRELAND (1879-1962) Piano Concerto; Legend see BAX
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1928) Das
Schlaue Füchslein (The Cunning Little Vixen) Irmgard
Arnold, Manfred Hopp, Ch & O Komische Oper Berlin/Václav
Neumann
rec. 1965 ARTHAUS
MUSIK
101297 [121:00
] [DC]
Rather
special ... see Full Review
Johann
Gottlieb JANITSCH (1708-1763) Sonate
de camera - Vol. 1 Notturna
rec. 2008 ATMA
ACD2
2593 [67:55] [GPu]
Sophisticated
chamber music full of unusual textures … see Full
Review
Karl
JENKINS
(b.1944) Stella
Natalis, Joy to the World
Kate Royal (soprano); Alice Halstead (chorister); Alison Balsom (trumpet);
Jody K Jenkins and Zands (percussion); Tenebrae; Adiemus Singers; Marylebone
Camerata/Karl Jenkins rec. Angel Recording Studios, London, 3-4, 19
July 2009. DDD. Texts included.
EMI CLASSICS 50999 6886482 [79:33]
Guaranteed
enjoyment for fans of Karl Jenkins ... see Full
Review
Klaus
Ib JØRGENSEN (b.1967) Moon-Pain,
Goblin Dance, Lisbon Revisited Iris
Oja (mezzo) Remix, KlettWood/Paul Hillier rec. 2008 DACAPO
8.226505 [72:33] [DC]
Uncommon
and rarefied realms. ... see Full
Review
John
JOUBERT
(b.
1927) Temps Perdu - Variations for String
Orchestra Op.99 (1984) [19:18] Sinfonietta (1962) [17:26] The
Instant Moment Op.110 (1987)1 [25:54]
Henry Herford (baritone)1; English String Orchestra/William
Boughton rec. no details given but other sources indicate Adrian Boult
Hall, Birmingham, 21 March 1987
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS 419CDH [63:04]
[NB]
An
absolute winner ... see Full Review
Brooke
JOYCE Waves of Stone Brooke
Joyce (percussion; melodica; toy
piano) Carol Hester (flute; piccolo) Stephanie Zelnick (clarinet)
Jubal Fulks (violin) Eric Kutz (cello) Miko Kominami (piano)
Michael Geary (percussion) Andrew D Whitfield (baritone) Spencer
Martin (viola) Unison Piano Duo rec. 2008/9 INNOVA
753 [76:05] [CR]
A
sense of character and imagination … see Full
Review
Robert
KAJANUS (1856-1933) Finnish
Rhapsody, Kullervo's Funeral March, Sinfonietta, Aino Helsinki
University Ch, Lahti SO/Osmo Vänskä rec. 2001 BIS
BIS-CD-1223 [65:21] [RB]
Wagnerian
late romanticism with the subtlest Sibelian flavour - all extremely
well done ... see Full Review
Kent
KENNAN (1913-2003) Chamber music see
Review
Uuno
KLAMI (1900-1961) Kymi, Violin
Concerto,
Suite for String Orchestra, Sérénades joyeuses, Scenes
from a Puppet Show Pekka
Kauppinen (violin) Kymi Sinfonietta/Dmitri Slobodeniouk rec. 2005 ALBA
ABCD235 [54:49]
Uuno
KLAMI (1900-1961) Rhapsodie, The Prodigal Son, Symphonie
enfantine Eero KESTI (b. 1959) Fantasia
for Orchestra "Spring" Toivo KUULA (1883-1918) South
Ostrobothnian Folk Songs II Jorma
Hynninen (baritone); Timo Karjalainen (cor anglais) Kymi Sinfonietta/Juha Nikkola
rec. 2001/2 ALBA
ABCD171 [61:06]
Valoa Robert
KAJANUS (1856-1933) Suite for Strings Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Mourning
Music Ilkka KUUSISTO (b. 1933) Divertimento Pasi
PIISPANEN (b. 1966) The Broken Vase, The Forest Grave, Dog
of the Night, Light Uuno KLAMI (1900-1961) Suite
for String Orchestra Ulla
Soinne (viola); Reijo Mustakallio (baritone) Tapiola Youth Strings/Heikki Pekkarinen
rec. 2005 ALBA
ABCD242 [60:04] [RB]
Do
not neglect these indispensable Alba discs ... see Full
Review
Joseph
Martin KRAUS (1756-1792) Symphonies Concerto
Köln/Werner Ehrhardt rec. 1991/2 PHOENIX
EDITION PE 424 [70:37 + 72:09] [RJW]
Energetic
and bright ... see Full Review
Franz
LACHNER (1803 - 1890) Flute Concerto see German
Flute Concertos
Jean-Marie
LECLAIR (1697-1764) Violin
Sonatas Book 1 Adrian
Butterfield (baroque violin) Alison McGillivray (viola da gamba)
Laurence Cummings (harpsichord)
rec. 2008 NAXOS
8.570888/9 [64:15
+ 55.14] [BW]
Two
hours of absolute delight ... see Full
Review
Benjamin
LEES (b.1924) Piano Concerto No. 1 see
Review
Franz
LEHÁR (1870-1948) Friederike Kristiane
Kaiser, Sylvia Schwartz, Bayerischen RCh, Münchner RSO/Ulf
Schirmer rec. live, 2008 CPO
777 330-2 [47:04 + 59:10] [IL]
Another
Lehár hit from CPO … see Full
Review
Nikolai
LOPATNIKOFF (1903-1976) Concerto for Violin, see
Review
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