 Arkivmusic
has over 4000 ArkivCDs which are digital remakes of out-of-print
CDs available nowhere else. New issues now contain full booklet
notes link |
LATEST
CD & DVD REVIEWS
Price
symbols (these ranges apply to CDs,
and are approximately doubled for DVDs)
Superbudget £5.99 or less 
Budget £6-7.99 
Medium £8-10.99 
Full price £11+
Download
WEDNESDAY
September 30th
Georges
BIZET (1838-1875)
L'Arlésienne:
Suite No. 1 (1872) [16:53] L'Arlésienne: Suite No. 2 (arr.
Guiraud) - Menuet (1872) [4:40] L'Arlésienne: Suite
No. 2 (arr. Guiraud) - Farandole (1872) [3:16] Symphony in C
major (1855) [29:07] 
Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra/Alain Lombard rec. Strasbourg, 1974-5
WARNER APEX 2564-62082-2
[54:36] 
Even
at budget price, you can do better ... see Full
Review
Howard Blake
- a survey of his music on CD [RB]
An
urgently communicative and accessible creative voice ... see Full
Review
Antonio
CALDARA
(1670-1736) Sonate
a Violoncello solo col basso
L’aura soave: Marco Frezzato (cello); Francesco Saverio Pedrini
(organ); Leonardo Morini (harpsichord); Diego Cantalupi (theorbo) rec.
21-24 January 2000, Sala del Podestà, Soresina, Cremona. DDD
TACTUS TC 670302
[68:36] 
[GPu]
A
chance to enjoy some of Caldara’s rare instrumental music …
see Full Review
Devoted
to Debussy Claude
DEBUSSY (1862 - 1918) Piano Music
Roberta Rust (piano) rec. July 2006, Wertheim Performing Arts Center,
Florida International University, Miami, Florida, DDD
CENTAUR CRC 2867 [71:18] [BBr]
The
programme is attractive … see Full
Review
Camille SAINT-SAËNS
(1835-1921)
Symphony no.3 in C minor, op.78 (Organ Symphony) (1886) [37:17]
Le Rouet d’Omphale, op.31 (1869) [8:50] Danse macabre
op.40 (1874) [7:20] Emmanuel CHABRIER
(1841-1894) España - rhapsody for orchestra (1883)
[6:48] Joyeuse Marche 1888) [3:59]
Pierre Segon (organ) L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Ernest Ansermet
rec. Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland; October 1952 (Saint-Saëns
opp. 31, 40; Chabrier); May 1962 (Saint-Saëns op.78). ADD
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 0082 [64:43]
[RMay]
A
perfectly worthwhile and enjoyable release ... see Full
Review
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) on the ALBION
label - A triumphant contribution 
[RB]
Invaluable to the legion of RVW enthusiasts
- do not miss Folksongs of the Four Seasons ... see Full
Review
Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741) Juditha Triumphans,
RV644 (Oratorio) (1716)
Sally-Anne Russell (mezzo) - Juditha; Sara Macliver (soprano) - Abra;
Fiona Campbell (mezzo) - Vagaus; David Walker (counter-tenor) - Holofernes;
Renée Martin (mezzo) - Ozias; Cantillation;
Pinchgut Opera; Orchestra of the Antipodes/Attilio Cremonesi rec. live,
City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney, Australia, 5, 8-10 December
2007. DDD. Texts and translations included.
ABC CLASSICS 476 6957 [59:51 + 58:02] 
[BW]
Despite
fierce competition, this has a great deal going for it. ... see Full
Review
Shura Cherkassky Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Andante and Rondo
Capriccioso Op.14 (1824) [6:17] Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Piano Sonata in A major D959 (1828) [35:21] Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Carnaval (1834) [25:10] Der Kontrabandiste
arr. Carl Tausig [2:12] Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Cradle Song in A flat minor Op.16 No.1
arr Sergei RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943)
[4:13] Shura Cherkassky
(piano) rec. November 1970, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4254-2 [76:50]
[JW]
The
old conjuror in gorgeous form ... see Full
Review
Pearl
Fishers Duet - World-Famous Operatic
Duets by
BELLINI; BIZET; DONIZETTI; PUCCINI; VERDI
Various singers and orchestras Full listing at end of review rec. 1955-1992. ADD/DDD; Booklet English; sung texts not enclosed
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 2614 [79.48]
[MMB]
This
compilation delighted me ... see Full
Review
Sacred Hearts, Secret Music ANONYMOUS
Cantabant sancti canticum novum [1:31] Giovanni
Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (1525-1594) Surge illuminare Ierusalem
(Motettorum liber tertius, 1575) [2:33] ANONYMOUS Beata
Agnes in medio flammarum [1:27] Amo Christum, in cuius thalamum
introivi [3:09] Agnes, beatæ Virginis [2:48] PALESTRINA
Missa Veni Sponsa Christi (Missarum liber nonus, 1599)
[21:58] ANONYMOUS Sequenza in onore Sant’Agnese
[1:29] Cipriano da RORE (1515-1565)
Magnificat sexti toni (1554) [8:21] ANONYMOUS Stans
beata Agnes in medio flammarum [1:03] PALESTRINAAlma
redemptoris mater [4:55] Lamentations for Holy Saturday (Book 3,
Lectiones I-III) (1560s?) [26:02] da RORE
Regina cæli lætare (1551) [3:46]
Musica Secreta; Celestial Sirens/Deborah Roberts and Laurie Stras rec.
St Mary de Haura, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, UK, 27-29 April 2009.
DDD. Texts and translations included.
DIVINE ART DDA25077 [79:31]
Very good but with reservations about the lack
of male voices ... see Full Review
TUESDAY
September 29th
John
Luther ADAMS (b. 1953) the
place we began
COLD BLUE CB0032 [38:19][CC]
As
hypnotic as it is different ... see Full
Review
Max BRUCH (1838-1920)
Violin Concertos Nos. 2 & 3
Maxim Fedotov (violin); Russian Philharmonic
Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky rec. 2005
NAXOS
8.557793 [60:24][SV]
Quite
a good way to get to know these scores ... see Full
Review
Steven R. GERBER (b.1948)
Diverse Chamber Works
Various artists rec. 2002
NAXOS 8.559618 [64:39][NB]
Diverse
modern chamber works splendidly performed ... see Full
Review
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Lo speziale
Liszt Ferenc
Chamber Orchestra, Budapest/György Lehel rec. 1978
HUNGAROTON HCD11926 [72:03][GF]
A worthy representation of
early Haydn ...
see Full Review
Dominique PHINOT
(c.1510-1561) Missa Si bona suscepimus
etc. Claudin de SERMISY (1490-1562)
Si bona suscepimus
Brabant Ensemble/Stephen Rice rec. 2008
HYPERION CDA67696 [74.13][GH]
Another
significant musical discovery by a leading choral group ... see Full
Review
Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Piano Trio Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Trio No. 2
Icicle Creek Piano Trio rec. 2008
CON BRIO RECORDINGS CBR28453 [68:13][JW]
A
less high calorific approach ...
congenial performances ... see Full
Review
Johan Helmich ROMAN
(1694-1758) Twelve
Flute Sonatas
Verena Fischer (transverse flute); Klaus-Dieter Brandt (cello); Léon
Berben (harpsichord) rec. 2007-8
NAXOS 8.570492-93 [75:11 + 70:42][JV]
These
first-rate sonatas by Roman with close to ideal interpreters ... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) The Four
Seasons
John Corigliano (violin); Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York/Guido
Cantelli rec. 1955
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC176 [44:26][JW]
For
admirers of Vivaldian string saturation, Cantelli style ... see Full
Review
Amour
Fou Music by Peter
LUDWIG
Tango a Trois rec. 2008
FARAO F100208 [53:59][CR]
Enjoyment
and real flair ... see Full Review
Medíterranea
- Music by Guiraut RIQUIER,
Ghirardello da FIRENZE,
ANONYMOUS
and
Beatriz de DIA
Alla Francesca En Trio rec. 2007
ZIG-ZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT090402 [63:14][GPu]
Full
of beautiful things beautifully performed ...
see Full Review
MONDAY
September 28th
Pierre
BARTHOLOMÉE (b. 1937) Requiem
Laudantes Consort; Ensemble Musiques Nouvelles/Guy Janssens rec.
2007 CYPRES CYP1655
[59:01][HC]
A
splendid performance and recording of a thought-provoking Requiem …
see Full Review
Vagn HOLMBOE
(1909-1996) The Key Masterpieces
Danish National Symphony Orchestra/Michael Schønwandt rec. Denmark,
1992-2004 DACAPO PERSPECTIVES
8.226101-02 [72:06 + 76:25][RB] 
Ambitious
and wonderfully engaging ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Concertos
for Two and Three Pianos etc.
Derek Han, Wu Han, Peter Asimov (pianos); Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Massimo
Quarta rec. 2008 RPO
SP018 [64:24][ST]
Will
satisfy anyone who wants to get to know these marvellous works ... see
Full Review
Thea
MUSGRAVE (b. 1928) Turbulent
Landscapes etc.
Various artists rec. 1998-2007
NMC D153 [69.01][GH]
Superb
music wonderfully performed and recorded ... see Full
Review
Carl
NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphonies
Nos. 4 & 5 Danish
National Symphony Orchestra/Michael Schønwandt rec.
1999
NAXOS 8.570739 [75:03][LW]
An
especially fine Fourth … see Full Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano Concertos
Nos. 2 & 3
Yevgeny Kissin (piano); Philharmonia Orchestra/Vladimir Ashkenazy rec.
2008 EMI CLASSICS
2645362 [61:48][DM]
Below
par recording, uninspired playing ... see Full
Review
Paul
WHITTY (b. 1970) Thirty–nine
pages
Darragh Morgan (violin); Mary Dullea (piano) rec.
2007
METIER RECORDS MSV28509 [62:04][BBr]
Give
the music time to get inside you … see Full
Review
Alpenglühen … und
doch alles andere als still Music by
Wolfram SCHURIG (b.1967), Wolfgang
SUPPAN (b. 1966), Karlheinz ESSL (b.1960), Christof
DIENZ (b.1968) and Bernhard
GANDER (b.1969)
Ensemble Intégrales rec. 2007
COL LEGNO WWE1CD20280 [63:11][CR]
Constantly
impressive and technically assured ... see Full
Review
A Celebration of the Spanish Guitar:
Music by Joaquin RODRIGO
(1901-1999), Georges BIZET (1838-1875),
Salvador BACARISSE (1898-1963),
Federico Moreno TORROBA (1891-1982)
and Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Rolando Saad (guitar);
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Fuat Mansurov rec. 2007
RPO SP015 [74:19][ST]
A
disappointment ... see Full Review
Cziffra
in Tokyo Music by Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1856) and Franz
LISZT (1811-1886)
Georges Cziffra (piano) rec. 1964
MEDICI MASTERS MM033-2 [79:51][CC]
Jaw-dropping
technical prowess ... see Full Review
FRIDAY
September 25th
George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Arias, Recitatives and Overtures
Sandrine Piau (soprano) Sara Mingardo (contralto) Concerto Italiano/Rinaldo
Alessandrini rec. 2008
NAÏVE OP 30483 [72:28]
[J-PJ]
Very
enjoyable and desirable ... see Full
Review
Steve
LAW
(b. 1973)
Piano Music - Volume 1 Piano Sonata, Preludes, Waltz for Laura,
Theme for an American Movie
Steve Law (piano)
STEVE LAW SL01 [77:21]
[RB]
Melody,
subtle shifting impressionism and a bluesy syncopated sway ...
see Full Review
Krzysztof PENDERECKI
(b.1933)
Music for Chamber Orchestra
Sinfonia Varsovia O/Krzysztof Penderecki rec. 2008
DUX 0678 [62:54]
[DC]
Penderecki’s “best
of the most gorgeous bits from ...” ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Nino ROTA (1911-1979) Symphonies
1 & 2 Filarmonica ’900
del Teatro Regio di Torino/Marzio Conti rec. 2005/6 CHANDOS
CHAN10546 [61:57] [DJB]
The
best non-mainstream works I have heard in a long while ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) The
Nose Vladislav
Sulimsky (baritone) Alexei Tanovitski (bass) Tatiana Kravtsova
(soprano) Mariinsky Theatre Ch & O/Valery Gergiev
rec. 2008 MARIINSKY
MAR0501 [50:41 + 50:56] 
[DM]
Gergiev
sets new standards for this work ... see Full
Review
Karlheinz
STOCKHAUSEN
(1928-2007)
Zyklus, Spiral I & II, Pole, Japan, Wach, Tierkreis, In Freundschaft
Harald Bojé, Peter
Eötvös, Christoph Caskel, Markus Stockhausen, Margareta Hurholz
rec. 1971-92 EMI CLASSICS
6955982 [66:30 + 75:08]
There
is always hope! ... see Full
Review
László
WEINER (1916-1944) Chamber
Music With Viola Duo, Sonata, String Trio, Concerto for Piano,
Flute, Viola
Dirk Hegemann (viola) Stuttgart & Saarbrücken RSO/Julian Kuerti
rec. 2007
HUNGAROTON HCD32607 [68:28]
[NB]
Well
performed and recorded music by composer still finding his own
musical path ... see Full Review
David Martinez (guitar)
Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Sonatas
Giulio REGONDI (1822-1872) Introduction
et Caprice J. S. BACH (1685-1750)
Prelude, Fugue and Allegro Dionisio AGUADO
(1784-1849) Andante and Rondo 3 Regino
SAINZ de la MAZA Danzas Cervantinas Paco
de LUCIA (b. 1947)
Tarantas Francisco TARREGA (1852-1909)
Recuerdos de la Alhambra & Lagrima
rec. 2005
NAXOS 8.557808 [68:19]
[ZT]
A
relatively unrecognized and undiscovered treasure ... see Full
Review
Remembrance Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Kol
Nidre Leonard BERNSTEIN (1918-1990)
Halil Ernest BLOCH (1880-1959)
Baal Shem Eric ZEISL (1905-1959)
Requiem Ebraico
Stephen Bronk (speaker); Sharon Bezaly (flute); Vadim Gluzman (violin);
Gabriella Pace (soprano); Luisa Francesconi (mezzo); Rodrigo Esteves
(baritone) São Paulo SO & Ch/John Neschling rec. 2007
BIS BISCD1650 [63:04]
[NB]
Demonstration
quality … superb performances of rare but valuable repertoire
... see Full Review
The
Russian Double Bass Works
by Rubinstein, Rachmaninov, Koussevitsky, Glière, Glinka &
Shostakovich Leon Bosch
(double-bass) Sung-Suk Kang (piano) rec. 2009
MERIDIAN CDE84564 [64:18]
[JW]
Bosch
is in the grand line of bass virtuosi ... see Full
Review
THURSDAY
September 24th
Mario
CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO (1895-1968) Complete
Music for Two Guitars - Volume 2 The Well-Tempered
Guitars Brasil
Guitar Duo rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570779 [54:16] [NB]
Refinement
and beauty … technical sophistication and musical taste.
... see Full Review
Erich
Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897 -
1957) Violin
Concerto, Overture to a Drama, Much Ado About Nothing Philippe
Quint (violin) Mineria SO/Carlos Miguel Prieto rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570791 [53:40] [GF]
Quint’s
thin tone is at odds with the romantic warmth of the music … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann KRIEGER (1651-1735) Geistliche
Arien und weltliche Lieder aus Neue musicalische Ergätzlichkeit Philipp
Friedrich BUCHNER (1614 - 1669) Sonaten Jan
Kobow (tenor), Julia von Landsberg (soprano) United Continuo Ensemble
rec. 2006 CPO
777 433-2 [71:01] [GF]
My
baroque discovery of the year… see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Paulus Susan
Gritton (soprano); Jean Rigby (mezzo); Barry Banks (tenor);
Peter Coleman-Wright (bass); BBC National Ch & O Wales/Richard
Hickox rec. 2000 CHANDOS
CHAN 10516(2)X [64:23 + 50:50] [JS]
Solid
if somewhat uncharismatic ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) The
Mozart Wind Collection Clarinet Concerto, Horn Concerto
4, Divertimento, Flute Concerto 1, Oboe Concerto, Bassoon Michael
Whight (clarinet); Martin Owen (horn); Andrew Nicholson (flute);
John Anderson (oboe); Daniel Jemison (bassoon) Royal PO/Nicholas
Cleobury rec. 2005 ROYAL
PHILHARMONIC RPO SP 005 [61.59 + 60.02] 
[SP]
Generally
good ... see Full Review
John
MUSTO (b. 1954) Songs Amy
Burton (soprano); Patrick Mason (baritone); John Musto, Michael
Barrett (piano) rec. 2007 BRIDGE
9286 [58:29] [WH]
A
fascinating synthesis of American music and poetry, beautifully
performed … see Full Review
Piet
SWERTS (b.
1960) Heilige
Seelenlust Ann
De Renais (soprano); Jan Caals (tenor) Lemmens Institute Ch & O/Edmond
Saveniers rec. live, 2008 PHAEDRA
92059 [72:39] [HC]
A
most welcome addition to Piet Swerts’ discography … see Full
Review
Joaquín
TURINA (1882-1949) Violin
sonatas 1 & 2, Variaciones clásicas, Euterpe, El
poema de una sanluqueña Eva
León (violin); Jordi Masó (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570402 [61:55] [JW]
Panache
and passion - you won’t be disappointed ... see Full
Review
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Mystical
Songs - Choral Music of Vaughan Williams Trinity
College Ch, Melbourne U/Michael Leighton Jones rec. 2007 ABC
CLASSICS ABC 476 6906 [77:14] [JQ]
I’m
sorry that I can’t give a warmer welcome to this disc ...
see Full Review
Mortuus
est Philippus Rex: Music for
the life and death of the Spanish King Westminster
Cathedral Ch/James O’Donnell rec. 1998 HYPERION
HELIOS CDH55248 [65:54] [BW]
A
relaxing and spiritual experience ... see Full
Review
EXPLORE
MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL 
