Classical Editor: Rob Barnett
 

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Classical Editor: Rob Barnett,  Reviewers: Rob Barnett, Ian Lace, Len Mullenger, and:  Richard Adams, Colin Anderson, Terry Barfoot,  Marc Bridle, Arthur Butterworth, Colin Clarke, Paul Conway, Gary Dalkin, Andy Daly, Tony Duggan, Harry Downey,  Gerald Fenech,  Lewis Foreman, David Frieze, Malcolm Galloway,  Ian Marchant, John Phillips, Ailís Ní Ríain, Humphrey Smith, Philip Scowcroft, Colin Scott Sutherland, Andrew Seivewright, Richard Whitehouse, Reg Williamson, Peter Grahame Woolf, David Wright. A complete list of contributors can be seen here


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Reviews for
SEPTEMBER 2000


COMPETITION: WIN a CD


see compilation of ATHENE reviews here

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GUEST REVIEW FROM INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW

ENGLUND Cello Concertoa. Symphony No. 6, 'Aphorisms'b. aJan-Erik Gustafsson (cello); Tampere Philharmonic bChoir and Orchestra/Eri Klas. Recorded with support from the Performing Music Promotion Centre (ESEK). Producer Seppo Siirala. Engineer Enno Mäemets. Date September 1999. Ondine ODE951-2 (full price, 56 minutes) [Martin Anderson]

Guest review from International Record Review


RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

GRANVILLE BANTOCK 1868-1948 Rare historic recordings commercial and off-air all mono rec 1923-1948 Shulamite's Monologue from The Song of Songs, Glory of the Sun, Macbeth Overture ,
Circus Life Overture, Four Chinese Landscapes, Polka - Russian Scenes,  King Solomon: Processional, Choral Hymn, Announcement of King Solomon broadcast , Songs of Egypt: Invocation to the Nile; Lament of Isis, Pilgrim's Progress: Pilgrim Now Hath Found His Lord; In praise of Famous Men , King's Monologue (Act III Song of Songs)  Bantock talking about Sibelius DUTTON CDLX 7043 [76.53] [SL] [VB] [CA] [RB] [GD] [GF]

Most exciting. This a disc of discs.

Sir Arthur BLISS (1891-1975) Piano Concerto, T58. Trevor Barnard (piano); Philharmonia Orchestra/Sir Malcolm Sargent. The Divine Art 2-4106 [ADD stereo] [37'56] [CC]

An addition to the catalogue. This piece, I'm sure, will come as something of a discovery for many people. Despite the low playing time, this CD comes wholeheartedly recommended.

DVORÁK (1841-1904) Symphonies - No. 1 in C minor, B9, 'The Bells of Zlonice'; No. 2 in B flat, B12; No. 3 in E flat, B34 London Symphony Orchestra/István Kertész. Double Decca 466 739-2 [ADD] [144'38] [CC]

This set is not merely recommended. It is indispensable

Jonathan HARVEY (b. 1939) Madonna of Winter and Spring. Percussion Concerto. Song Offerings. Peter Pommel (percussion); Penelope Walmsley-Clark (soprano); Netherlands Radio Philharmonic  Orchestra/Peter Eötvös (Madonna, Percussion Conc); London Sinfonietta/George Benjamin (Song Offerings).
Nimbus NI5649 [DDD] [77'41] [CC]

A thrilling, involving disc that should be in the CD collection of anyone interested in British music of today.

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809 - 1847) Symphony No 3 in A Minor. Op 56 "Scottish" [38.12] Midsummer Night's Dream, Overture Op 21 and Incidental Music. Op 61* [39.45] Jennifer Vyvyan (sop)*, Marion Lowe (sop)* Female Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden* London Symphony Orchestra  Peter Maag Recorded April 1960 (Symphony); Feb 1957 Kingsway Hall, London. ADD DECCA Legends 466 990-2 [79.25]

This record is something special and should be snapped up before it goes into the black hole where CDs seem to disappear to so quickly these days. Surely a strong candidate for a Record of the Month.

CZECH PHILHARMONIC HORNS Andrew Downes Sonata for eight horns. Beethoven Egmont Overture arranged for eight horns and tuba by Alan Civil Christer Danielson Concertante Suite for tuba and four horns Jindrich Feld Cassation for four horns Czech Philharmonic Horns.  Classicprint CPVP12CD [DW]

The sweetness of some of the horn playing is simply exquisite. The performance is unequalled. All who have heard this recording has praised it highly and rightly so....This is a must. It deserves to be a great success!


BARGAIN OF THE MONTH

DVORÁK (1841-1904) Symphonies - No. 1 in C minor, B9, 'The Bells of Zlonice'; No. 2 in B flat, B12; No. 3 in E flat, B34 London Symphony Orchestra/István Kertész. Double Decca 466 739-2 [ADD] [144'38] [CC]

This set is not merely recommended. It is indispensable

STRAUSS Choral Works Feierlicher Einzug; Wanderers Sturmlied Op 14; Festliches Präludium Op 61; Olympic Hymn; Taillefer Op 52 Elisabeth-Maria Wachutka (sop); Gerhard Siegel (ten); Hans-Peter Scheidegger (bar); Münchner MotettenChor; Münchner Symphoniker/ Hayko Siemens ARTE NOVA Classics 74321 72107 2 [57.25][LF]

This is the third recording of Taillefer, Richard Strauss's most unlikely vocal work, an enormous setting for soloists, chorus and orchestra, dating from 1903, telling the story of the Battle of Hastings and the heroic deeds of William the Conqueror's minstrel Taillefer. Owing to its overblown forces and a battle scene that out-Heldenlebens Ein Heldenleben, critical reception has not been as positive as I feel it deserves.


ALPHABETICAL LISTING

Hugh AITKEN Aspen Concerto*, Rameau Remembered**, In Praise of Ockeghem Elmar Oliveira (violin)*, Scott Goff (flute)**/Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz ARTEK AR-0004-2  [57'55"] [DW]

I'm delighted to have heard this selection of Aitken's music - it's likeable, well crafted and asks to be heard again. Perhaps Artek will now record Aitken's First Violin Concerto and his new Symphony.

BACH BRANDENBURG CONCERTOS No 3 & 5 BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY No 3, 'EROICA' Wiener Philharmoniker, Wilhelm Furtwängler EMI Classics Festspieldokumente CMS5 67422 2 (2 discs, 44'15 & 52'07), Mid Price  (Recorded Live 31 August 1950) [MB]

The Beethoven performance is, I think, essential listening - and not just for Furtwängler devotees. The Bach will either compel you or repulse you ; there really is no middle ground with these performances. In summary, a quite remarkable pair of discs.

BACH  Organ Works volume 6. Prelude and Fugue in C BWV 545, chorale Preludes BWV 720, 721,727, 741. Fantasia BWV 735, Prelude and Fugue in D BWV 532,Partita BWV 768, Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 543.
Gerhard Weinberger at the Christoph Treutmann Organ at Grauhof Monastery. CPO 999 700 -2 (DDD) (77.26) [DW]

This is another splendid recording from Weinberger on a superb and faultless instrument and the recording engineers have greatly contributed to volume six of the organ works of Bach.

GRANVILLE BANTOCK 1868-1948 Rare historic recordings commercial and off-air all mono rec 1923-1948 Shulamite's Monologue from The Song of Songs, Glory of the Sun, Macbeth Overture ,
Circus Life Overture, Four Chinese Landscapes, Polka - Russian Scenes,  King Solomon: Processional, Choral Hymn, Announcement of King Solomon broadcast , Songs of Egypt: Invocation to the Nile; Lament of Isis, Pilgrim's Progress: Pilgrim Now Hath Found His Lord; In praise of Famous Men , King's Monologue (Act III Song of Songs)  Bantock talking about Sibelius DUTTON CDLX 7043 [76.53] [SL] [VB] [CA] [RB] [GD] [GF]

Most exciting. This a disc of discs.

BEETHOVEN (1770 - 1827) The Sonatas for cello and piano. Horn Sonata in F Major. Op 17* [12.10] Lynn Harrell (cello), Barry Tuckwell (horn)*,Vladimir Ashkenazt (piano)
Recorded St. Barnabas Church, London Sept 1984 (Cello Sonatas), Kingsway Hall, London. December 1974 (Horn Sonata)DDD / ADD* DOUBLE DECCA 466 733-2 [125.23]

A superb example of Beethoven duets that are worth serious consideration. Highly recommended.

BEETHOVEN (1770 - 1827) The Sonatas for Piano and Violin Wilhelm Kempff (piano) Wolfgang Schneiderhan (violin)Recorded Konzerthaus, Mozartsaal, Vienna. Sept 1952 ADD MONO Recordings DGG Originals 463 605-2  3CD [235.30] [HD]

Intimate Beethoven played by two top musicians of the nineteen-fifties. If you don't have to have all the latest, high powered recordings this could be for you.

BERIO  Sequenzas I - XIII & IXb Luisa Castelllani (soprano) Gabrielle Cassone (trumpet) Eliot Fisk (guitar) Teodoro Anzellotti (accordion) and members of Ensemble Intercontemporain. DG 457 038-2 [53.22+47'44+56'46] [PW]

Recorded in 1994-97 and released in 1998, this complete collection of Luciano Berio's famous works for solo instruments has won universal accolades, fully deserved.

BERLIOZ  Romeo et Juliette  LSO & Chorus/Sir Colin Davis with soloists   LSO 0003 CD [99.11] (Live recording of performance at Barbican Centre, 11 January 00) [PW].

An LSO Live recording sounding better on disc than from the reviewer's position in the hall

Sir Arthur BLISS (1891-1975) Piano Concerto, T58. Trevor Barnard (piano); Philharmonia Orchestra/Sir Malcolm Sargent. The Divine Art 2-4106 [ADD stereo] [37'56] [CC]

An addition to the catalogue. This piece, I'm sure, will come as something of a discovery for many people. Despite the low playing time, this CD comes wholeheartedly recommended.

Ernest BLOCH Schelomo (1915-16) Israel Symphony (1912-16)    Zara Nelsova (cello) Utah SO/Maurice Abravanel   VANGUARD CLASSICS SVC 111HD [48.52] [RB]

Schelomo receives its mead of barbarous splendour at the hands of Nelsova and Abravanel. ... (Israel symphony) but there is no mistaking the concise excitement and generalised splendour (almost Mahlerian) of the Allegro agitato. The Symphony is not otherwise available.

BRAHMS (1833-1897) 21 Hungarian Dances (arr. Joachim). Yuval Waldman (violin); Eugenie Russo (piano). Campion RRCD1347 [DDD] [58'48] [CC]

...It should really be a joy to listen to ...Waldman and Russo in equal measure ensure that this is not the case....this a disc to be avoided at all costs

BRAHMS (1833-97) Clarinet Sonatas - F minor, Op. 120 No. 1; E flat, Op. 120 No. 2. Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1960) Clarinet Sonata (1939). Colin Bradbury (clarinet); Bernard Roberts (piano). The Divine Art 2-5014 [DDD] [55'48] [CC]

This is inspired programme planning. The emotional world of the Hindemith is not a million miles away from that of the Brahms, but its spiky harmonic vocabulary remains far enough away to carry sufficient contrast to the Romantic weight of the two heftier Sonatas.

BRUCKNER Symphony No.8 in C minor (1890 version/Haas) Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra/Rudolf Kempe SOMM (Celeste Series) SOMMCD 016-2 (2 CDs)[82'02"][CA]

This is one of those performances where nothing spectacular happens, no real revelations are heard, and yet one is gripped by the sheer rightness of it all. In many ways this is great conducting, Kempe displaying wise and economical leadership.

BUSONI Busoni the Visionary Red Indian Diary (Book One): Seven Elegies: Chaconne Jeni Slotchiver - Piano Centaur CRC2438 [CS-S]

This disc augurs well for future interpretations of this by no means easy music.

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Any opinions expressed in reviews or articles on this site are those of the author and  do not necessarily represent the views of the site owner, Len Mullenger or the Editors.  Reviewers and authors retain copyright in their work unless it has been paid for or commissioned by the site owner.

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