The
McCormack Edition Vol. 9 - Victor Talking Machine Company
Recordings (1920-1923) 
John McCormack (tenor)
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110385 [77:26] [RM]
Gems
sung by a voice which for sheer quality can only be spoken of in the
same breath as Schipa, Vinogradov and Wunderlich.
O
Magnum Mysterium Masses by Dufay, Ockeghem, Desprez, Gombert,
Finck, Brumel & Isaac
Schola Cantorum Sttutgart/Clytus Gottwald rec. 1971-88
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94367 [4 CDs: 283:02] [CR]
An
enjoyable and valuable introduction to the choral repertoire of this
era.
Maurice
Maréchal & André Lévy (cello)
Cécile Ousset (piano) André Collard (piano) rec. 1958/59
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR633 [67:21] [JW]
Two
examples of the French school of cello playing captured toward the end
of the musicians’ careers.
Morgen
Songs by Strauss, Schubert, Lidholm, de Frumerie, Karkoff
& Nystroem
Elin Skorup (soprano) Fabienne Romer (piano) rec. 2011
DAPHNE 1044 [64:43] [GF]
Indisputable
technical accomplishment coupled with brilliance and power.
Musical
Humors and Lamentations Works by Holborne, Hume, Dowland
& Purcell
L'Art du Bois rec. 2009
ET'CETERA KTC 1418 [59:32] [JV]
The
playing of L'Art du Bois is great, but some of the arrangements
don't really work.
A
Musical Journey: Czech Republic - Castles and towns in Bohemia and
Moravia Music by Mozart
Miloš Števove (horn) Capella Istropolitana/Jozef Kopelman rec. 1988
NAXOS
2.110542
[53:22] [RMay]
The
music’s the main focus with film clips offering pleasant visual diversion
along the way.
A
Musical Journey: Tuscany, Umbria & Rome
NAXOS 2.110276
[57.26] [RJF]
In
an area rich in historical and archaeological interest, too many of
the visual images are tedious and lacking in relevance. They could be
anywhere.
A Musical
Journey - France
- A Musical Tour of the South of France Music by Debussy,
Satie and Ravel
NAXOS DVD
2.110545 [57.24] [RJF]
Better
than some in this series, but the photography still misses as much of
the area as it captures.
A
Musical Journey: A Musical Tour of Siena, Pisa and Nervi
NAXOS
2.110275
[57:00] [RJF]
The
usual mixed outcome of this series with some interesting pictures alongside
opportunities missed.
New
Year's Concert - 2012
Vienna Boys' Choir/Vienna PO/Mariss Jansons rec. 2012
SONY CLASSICAL 88691913772 [47:36 + 57:25] [MC]
Really
satisfying sound quality adds to the enjoyment of these stirring and
winning performances.
Nightbreak
Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Vallée
d’Obermann; Les Cloches de Genčve; Les jeux d’eau ŕ la Villa d’Este
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Intermezzo;
Ballade Philip GLASS (b.1937)
Dracula
Bruce Levingston (piano) rec. 2005/9
DORIAN SONO LUMINUS DSL-92144 [63:38] [BR]
A
sleepy recital of night-music really comes to life for Rihm and Glass.
The
organ of Joachim Wagner in Siedlce
Wolfgang Zerer (organ) rec. 2011
DUX 0828 [63:58] [JV]
An
exciting document of a major discovery in the field of organology.
The
Historic Organs of Malta and Gozo
Michal Novenko (organ) rec. 2011
PRIORY PRCD1067 [76:53] [JF]
I
enjoyed every note in this new Priory release. Fascinating.
Luciano
Pavarotti A
film by Esther Schapira
EUROARTS 2058918
[96:00] [ST]
Nothing
here that would make me want to see this again.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Los
Pajaros Perdidos - The South-American Project
Raquel Andueza, Lucilla Galeazzi (soprano) Philippe Jaroussky (counter-tenor)
Luciana Mancini (mezzo) Vincenzo Capezzuto (alto) L’Arpeggiata/Christina
Pluhar (harp) rec. 2011
VIRGIN CLASSICS 6785162 or 0709502 [75:23] [BW]
Sheer
musical enjoyment.
Petits-Fours:
Favourite
Encores
Brodsky
Qt rec. 2011
CHANDOS CHAN10708 [66:04] [JW]
Warm
and sympathetic … finely played … not always wholly convincing
arrangements.
Hermann
Prey (baritone) Great
Singers Live
rec. 1966-92
BR KLASSIK 900307 [64:46] [MC]
This
is a disc that I will often return to.
Queen
Elizabeth II - Diamond Jubilee
- Royal Music from Westminster Abbey 
Westminster Abbey Choir, London Brass, English Chamber Orchestra/Martin
Neary Martin Baker, Iain Simcock (organ) rec. 1993-4, 1997-8.
GRIFFIN GCCD 4077 [77:10] [JWh]
A
fine commemorative collection in spectacular sound.
Relic
French lute music by Dufaut, Gallot, Mercure & Pinel
Anders Ericson (lute) rec. 2009
DAPHNE RECORDS 1042 [53:34] [BR]
An
unusual lute recital makes for a rewarding listen.
Romances
Françaises – French Songs Works by Naderman, Boieldieu
& Gail. Sylvie Nicephor (soprano) Etsuko Shoji (harp) CALLIOPE
CAL1101 [57:48] [WH]
An
interesting collection of French classical romances, useful for anyone
exploring this particular repertoire.
Romantic
Rarities Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Theme and Variations
from String Sextet op.18 Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Sonata
in F minor (compl Ratz & Holtham) Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Rondo ŕ la Mazur Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Davidsbündlertänze
Ian Holtham (piano) rec. 2009 TALL POPPIES TP219 [67:40] [CH]
If
Holtham comes your way with a similar programme I should think you’d
be glad to buy this souvenir of it.
Hans
Schmidt-Isserstedt – The Capitol Recordings Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809)
Symphony No.94 Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Symphony No.5 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto No.3 Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Symphony No.2 Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Rosamunde extracts Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Orchestral scenes
Ventislaw Yankov (piano) NWDR Symphony Orchestra/Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt
rec. 1955
TAHRA TAH 694-696 [3 CDs: 75:42 + 77:26 + 71:05] [JW]
Tahra’s
commitment to Schmidt-Isserstedt’s legacy is admirable.
Hans
Schmidt-Isserstedt –
The Telefunken Recordings Joseph
HAYDN Symphony
No.92 Antonin DVORÁK Symphony
No.9 Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No.6 Franz LISZT
Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
The Flight of the Bumble Bee Franz
SCHUBERT Symphony No.9
NWDR Symphony Orchestra/Sydney Symphony Orchestra/Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt
rec. 1953; 1954 , 1959
TAHRA TAH698-700 [3 CDs: 66:12 + 54:10 + 51:28]
[JW]
Excellent playing, astutely paced, considered and intelligent.
The
Scottish Viola –
A Tribute to Watson Forbes
Martin Outram (viola) Julian Rolton (piano) rec. 2011,
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6180 [68:13] [JWh]
A fine viola and piano duo captured in natural sound.
Seraph
James
MACMILLAN (b.1959) Seraph Toru
TAKEMITSU (1930-1996) Paths Alexander
ARUTIUNIAN (1920-2012) Trumpet Concerto Bernd
Alois ZIMMERMANN (1918-1970) Trumpet Concerto
Alison Balsom (trumpet) BBC Scottish SO/Lawrence Renes, Scottish Ens
rec. 2011
EMI CLASSICS 6785902 [56:04] [Byz]
Who
could fail to be impressed?
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH A
Song of Farewell Music of Mourning and Consolation
The
Gabrieli Consort/Paul McCreesh rec. 2009
SIGNUM RECORDS SIGCD281 [75:56] [NB]
A
disc of the year without doubt.
Song
Recital Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Reynaldo
HAHN (1874-1947)
Matthew Polenzani (tenor), Julius Drake (piano) rec. live, Wigmore Hall,
London, 1 May 2010. DDD CD booklet notes and artist biographies in English
only, sung texts included in the original German, Italian and Venetian
with English translations
WIGMORE HALL LIVE WHLIVE 0048 [76.09] [MMB]
Work
of remarkable quality and undoubtedly one of the foremost song recitals
that I have ever heard.
Sounds
from Within ...
Frank
MARTIN (1890-1974) Ballade for flute and
piano [7:23] Simon HOLT (b.1958)
Maiastra for solo flute* [10:24] Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Suite Paysanne Hongroise
for flute and piano (arrangements of Chants populaires tristes,
for flute and piano, by Paul Arma) [13:13] Wissam
BOUSTANY (b.1960) Improvisation I for solo
flute [7:42] Bohuslav MARTINU
(1890-1959)
Sonata No.1 for flute and piano [19:07]
Wissam Boustany (flute); Stefan Warzycki (piano) rec. 1990, * premičre
recording
NIMBUS NI 6166 [58:13]
A
great disc in every way
Sprezzatura
Paul
CHIHARA (b.1938) Viola Sonata Paul
SISKIND Etwas für Bratsche Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-76) Lachrymae Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Viola Sonata
Shelly Tramposh (viola) Cullan Bryant (piano) rec. 2010
RAVELLO RECORDS RR7818 [60:40] [JW]
Useful
for the two works new to disc.
Josef
Suk – Early Recordings rec. 1956-67
SUPRAPHON SU 4075-2 [6 CDs: 76:38 + 73:37 + 77:41 + 72:04 + 68:48
+ 60:27] [JW]
An
excellently engineered, intelligently programmed. A fitting salute to
the great violinist.
Tears
of Joy English lute songs and secular music
Zefiro Torna rec. 2011
ETCETERA KTC 4038 [54:48 + bonus CD] [JW]
As Bones never quite said to Kirk: ‘English lute songs, Jim, but not
as we know them’.
Terzetti
Trios for flute, viola and harp by Bax, Debussy, Ravel, Mathias
& Dubois
The Debussy Ens rec. 2010
DIVINE ART DDA25099 [63:20] [JF]
A
great CD with a wide-ranging selection.
The
Thurston Connection:
English Music for Clarinet and Piano Arnold
BAX (1883-1953) Roger FISKE
(1910-1987) Iain HAMILTON
(1922-2000) Hugh WOOD (b.1932)
Richard Rodney BENNETT (b. 1936)
Nicholas
Cox (clarinet) Ian Buckle (piano) rec.2011
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS440CD [68:40] [JW]
Cox’s
tone is variegated and warmly communicative, and his articulation is
excellent throughout a well balanced selection.
Toscanini
Lucerne Concerts Works by Beethoven, Wagner, Strauss & Smetana
La Scala SO rec. 1946/49
IMMORTAL PERFORMANCES IPCD 1015-2 [75:40 + 77:31] [RMay]
Though
extremely sonically compromised this will probably be an obligatory
purchase for Toscanini followers.
Transcriptions
for two pianos
GrauSchumacher Piano Duo rec. 2008
NEOS 20903 [65:54] [MC]
Clearly
articulated, rich in striking dynamic contrast, flowing and full of
character.
Huberte
Vecray (soprano) - Airs d’opéra
rec. 1950-58
MUSIQUE EN WALLONIE MEW1160 [78:36] [JW]
A
very decent soprano that circumstances conspired to still when in her
prime.
Emanuel
Vardi (viola) - In memoriam 1915-2011 Odeon
PARTOS (1907-1977) Yizkor Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Trauermusik Michael
COLGRASS (b. 1932) Variations for four drums and viola
Tibor SERLY (1901-1978)
Concerto for violin and wind orchestra with percussion William
WALTON (1902-1983) Viola Concerto
Emanuel Vardi (viola & violin) MGM String Orch/Izler Solomon, Michael
Colgrass (percussion) Vienna SO/Tibor Serly American Broadcasting SO/Joseph
Stopka, rec. 1943-1976
CEMBAL D’AMOUR CD 159 [75:02] [JW]
You
will be impressed.
Il
vero Orfeo - Sonatas for viola da gamba by and inspired
by Arcangelo Corelli
Friederike Heumann (viola da gamba) Patrick Sepec (cello) Eduardo Egüez
(theorbo) Dirk Börner (harpsichord) rec. 2010
ACCENT ACC 24233 [58:29] [JV]
Wonderful
performances of some of Corelli's sonatas in viola da gamba arrangements.
Verses
and Voluntaries
William Whitehead (organ) rec. 2010
REGENT REGCD366 [68:25] [JV]
An
exemplary production.
Bruno
Walter: Polydor Acoustics Vol.2 Overtures
by Beethoven, Cherubini, Schumann, Berlioz, Wagner & Mendelssohn
Berlin State Opera O rec. 1923-25
PRISTINE CLASSICAL PASC322 [61:34] [CH]
Completists’
interest will be strengthened by the fact that, of all the pieces here,
the conductor made later studio recordings of only the Beethoven.
Edition
Günter Wand: Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
rec. 1988-95
PROFIL EDITION PH10046 [8 CDs: 585:43] [MC]
Wand
fans and others will want to snap up this beautifully recorded set.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Günter Wand - The Munich
Phil Recordings Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphonies
4, 5, 6, 8 & 9 Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Symphonies 8 & 9 Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Symphony 1 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Symphony 1
Munich PO/Günter Wand rec. 1993-2001
PROFIL EDITION PH06013 [8 CDs: 512:43] [MC]
Indispensable
gems in performances that lovers of Austro-German Romantic repertoire
will certainly relish.
OTHER
REVIEWS
W.
H. Auden reads W. H. Auden Recorded
in 1960
FORUM FRC6145 [78:12] [JW]
I
am certain that fresh generations will appreciate the contents of this
generously priced disc.
Herman
FINCK (1872 - 1939) Finck Album
Kelli Uustani; Pirjo Levandi (sopranos); Mart Sander (baritone) Bel
Etage Theatre Orchestra/Mart Sander rec. 2007, MusicWorks Studio, Tallinn,
Estonia. DDD No texts
DIVINE ART DIVERSIONS DDV 62402 [67.54] [JW]
Easygoing
Finck deserves to stand alongside the better known Monckton.
The
Golden Age of the Light Music - Stereo
into the Sixties GUILD LIGHT MUSIC GLCD5192 [73:20]
[JF]
Nothing
more to say about this fantastic CD – except to Guild - ‘Just keep them
on coming!’
Hello
Dolly! –
The Original Broadway Cast Recording Music and Lyrics by Jerry
HERMAN starring Carol Channing as Dolly Levi and David Burns
(as Horace Vandergelder) with Eileen Brennan, Sondra Lee and Charles
Nelson Reilly rec. 1964
SONY MASTERWORKS BROADWAY 88697499212 [42:44] [IL]
A
very successful refurbishment. A real tonic, I defy you to refrain from
tapping your feet. Three cheers for Dolly!
Richard
RODGERS (1902-1972)
and Oscar HAMMERSTEIN (1895-1960)
South Pacific -
Original Broadway Cast recording featuring Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza
rec. 1949
SONY MASTERWORKS BROADWAY 88697 499192 [c.65:00?] [IL]
Scintillating.
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