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Classical Editor: Rob Barnett Music Webmaster Len Mullenger: Len@musicweb-international.com
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PART 3 |
[Part 1 New]
[Part 2 A-B] [Part
3 C-L] [Part 4 M-R] [Part 5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc] |
Eve de CASTRO ROBINSON Other Echoes, Triple Clarinet Concerto, Pendulums of Blue, Noah's Ark
Auckland Philharmonia/Nicolas Braithwaite (Echoes); John Hopkins (Concerto) NZSO/Matthias Bamert (Pendulums); Ensemble Philharmonia/John Elmsly (Noah's Ark)
Castro Robinson is no neo-romantic, that is for sure - well recorded and enterprising stuff.
CASTRO ROBINSON Chamber Music Tumbling Strains, Tingling Strings, Commemoration, Split the Lark, A Chaos of Delight I, A Chaos of Delight II, a pink-lit phase, small blue
This is tough but substantial music; as out of step with neo-romantic trends. The composer must be delighted with these performances which are hoarse with conviction.
CHOPIN (1810-49) Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11. Nocturnes - No. 4 in F, Op. 15 No. 1; No. 5 in F sharp, Op. 15 No. 2; Two Nocturnes, Op. 27. Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23. Polonaise No. 6 in A flat, Op. 53.
Pollini's marriage of youthful impetuosity, technical perfection and an understanding of Chopin's world well beyond his then-youthful years mean that this is a very special experience indeed.
CHOPIN 2 Polonaises, op.26, 2 Polonaises, op.40, Polonaise in f sharp, op.44, Polonaise in A flat, op.53, Polonaise-Fantaisie in A flat, op.61, Andante spianato & Grand Polonaise, op.22.
The F sharp minor Polonaise receives a staggeringly great performance, its epic scale encompassing fervent patriotic aspirations, desperate initiatives and aching nostalgia.
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Complete (19) Nocturnes and Scherzi
Self-recommending
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Four Ballades: Four Scherzi: Tarantelle in A flat, opus 43
These beautifully remastered recordings from some forty years ago still rank as a major event in the evolution of the recorded music catalogue.
Giovanni CROCE (1557-1609) Carnevale Veneziano: Mascarate piacevoli et ridicolose per il carnevale, Triaca Musicale
A very entertaining comic album performed with great verve and wit - heartily recommended
DEBUSSY Douze Etudes Books 1 & 2
These studies should have a place in any collection of piano music or of Debussy and Uchida is a splendid guide through their intricacies.
DEBUSSY Claude String Quartet in G minor Maurice RAVEL String Quartet in F Igor STRAVINSKY 3 Pieces for String Quartet · Concertino · Double Canon
Alban Berg Quartett
Performed by non-French players, the sheer quality of the playing and recording ensures classic status.
DEBUSSY Claude (1862-1918), Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) String Quartets
The Quartetto Italiano, bring to these works a subtlety and idiomatic quality which is seductive and unfailingly stylish. I enjoyed the freshness and energy of the New Zealand Quartet. They are a group well worth listening to.
DELIUS: Brigg Fair, Dance Rhapsody no. 2, On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring, Summer Night on the River, A Song before Sunrise, Intermezzo: Fennimore and Gerda, Irmelin Prelude, Sleighride, Summer Evening, Florida Suite: Dance,
Hearing this disc makes it seem all the stranger that much of this music is so seldom performed today
DELIUS (1862- 1934) Orchestral works Vol.2 The Walk to the Paradise Garden* Sea Drift+ Intermezzo from Fennimore and Gerda + In a Summer Garden + Over the Hills and Far Away +
All, in their way, wonderful performances transferred lovingly. Occasional glitches owing to surface imperfections in the original 78s. The magic and authority of Beecham's readings
DOPPER (1870-1939) Symphony No.2, Päân I, Päân II
For those wishing to explore the byways of European music
Antonín DVORAK (1841-1904) Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, 'From the New World'. Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Overture, Leonore No. 3, Op. 72a. Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) The Love for Three Oranges - Symphonic Suite, Op. 33bis.
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Rudolf Kempe. Recorded in the Royal Albert Hall, London on August 27th and 29th, 1975. [ADD].
This disc acts as a fitting memorial as well as a pointer to what might have been.
DVORÁK (1841-1904) Biblical Songs (1894) & Preludes & Fugues for Organ (c1857)
Juraj FILAS (1955) Fresko for organ in one movement (1991) Juraj BENEŠ (1940) 'O Virtu mia' - Aria concertante per basso ed organo (Dante-Purgatoria)Sensitive songs from Dvorak & good virile organ music from the Czech Republic.
DVORÁK (1841-1904) String Quintet in A minor, Op 1 (30.04) String Quintet in E major Op 97 (35.00)
Superbly idiomatic readings, in Op 1 as good as any.
ELGAR POWICK ASYLUM MUSIC
All in all a fascinating disc for the Elgarian marking the one day a week he spent at the asylum during the period 1879-1884; otherwise of limited attraction.
ENGLUND (1916-1999) Symphony No. 4 Nostalgic (1976) [25.18] Symphony No. 5 Fennica (1977) [18.45] The Great Wall of China (1949) [20.08]
Englund is very much under Russian and specifically DSCH thrall. Sound quality: startlingly immediate. Ondine's eminent reputation continues securely with this disc.
DE FALLA (1876-1946) Songs and Piano Music
A fascinating insight into the lesser known works of this great Spanish composer. More than just folk songs from Spain, this is de Falla at his creative best capturing the essence of his beloved country. The later works are quite a revelation.
FAURÉ (1845-1924) Requiem
This nicely presented disc offers a thoughtfully planned Fauré programme.
Gerald FINZI (1901-1956) In Years Defaced (six songs for voice and orchestra) Prelude for string orchestra, Romance for string orchestra, Violin Concerto
A very fine disc though short on playing time. Finzi lovers may find the Violin Concerto's outer movements something of a neo-classical jolt out of the accustomed track.
FRANCK Symphony in D minor , Symphonic Variations , Les Eolides
BBC Philharmonic conducted by Yan Pascal TortelierFrom the opening mysterious tone colours to the bold finale, the symphony gleams lustrously as pivotal work in late 19th century French music.....it is doubtful the composer could be in safer hands than those of Yan Pascal Tortelier and the BBC Philharmonic.
HAYDN Symphony no 27 in G major, Symphony no 28 in A major, Symphony no 31 in D major (Hornsignal)
At Naxos prices a disc is worth buying just for the Hornsignal symphony here delivered with utmost panache. Sound clear spacious. A terrific disc!
HOLST Savitri VAUGHAN WILLIAMS The Lark Ascending BRITTEN Sinfonietta
Manhattan Chamber Sinfonia/Glen Barton CorteseRewards in all this repertoire and the Savitri bids fair to be the best currently available. Pity about the 53 minutes total playing time.
LAKELAND PICTURES: Piano Music of HOWELLS and ARMSTRONG GIBBS Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983) Gadabout (1928); Slow Dance (1928); Cobbler's Hornpipe (1928); There was a most beautiful lady (1928); Triumph Tune (1934); Sarum Sketches (1917); Rhapsody (1919); Jackanapes (1919) ARMSTRONG GIBBS (1889-1960) In the High Alps - suite (1925); Lakeland Pictures - eight preludes (1940)
Cuckston characterises the music with care and is recorded in an enclosed and warm acoustic. The music on this disc offers some real surprises; particularly in the case of the Gibbs' pieces.
HUMMEL Piano Concerto in F Op. posth ; Theme and Variations in F Op 97; Piano Concerto in A S4/W24.
For my taste Hummel's music needs more elegance and refinement. These performances are too strong and persuasive for its style. I wish I could be more positive.
Charles IVES Universe Symphony (1911-51) * Orchestral Set No. 2, The Unanswered Question
A fine piece of work by all concerned and a tribute to Centaur's judgement that these events are in their catalogue
Michael KAMEN The New Moon in the Old Moon's Arms also featuring Mr Holland's Opus - An American Symphony
This album contains two concert works by the film composer Michael Kamen. The New Moon in the Old Moon's Arms - Symphonic Poem is referred to in the accompanying notes by the composer as a symphony, while there is no doubt that Mr Holland's Opus - An American Symphony is indeed a symphony.
László LAJTHA (1892-1963) Symphony No. 8 (1959) [38.29] Symphony No. 9 (1961) [26.17]
The Eighth is extremely colourful and astoundingly well recorded.....The three movement Ninth continues the dark pilgrimage with tragedy weighing down its wings intensified by sardonic humour.
LANGGAARD (1893-1952) Messis - Organ drama in three evenings (1932-37) In Tenebras Exteriores (1947)
This disc reveals a rich seam for organists prepared to think outside the Bach, Howells, Vierne, Widor 'box'.
LANGGAARD (1893-1952) Antichrist - Church opera in six scenes (1923-30) Soloists
Antikrist - yet another surprising, sublime and challenging work by Danish composer Rued Langgaard.
LILBURN (b. 1915) Festival Overture , A Song of Islands , Suite for Orchestra, A Birthday Offering, Drysdale Overture (1937) 9.37
A nice Lilburn sampler well worth picking up if you encounter it in a CD shop. It is, though, shorter in playing time than the very similarly programmed Kiwi Pacific disc. The first choice if you must have only one Lilburn must be either the Continuum or the Kiwi Pacific CD of all three symphonies.
LILBURN (1915-) Aotearoa Overture, Allegro for Strings, Concert Overture in D, Introduction and Allegro for Strings, Four Canzonas, Diversions for Strings, Festival Overture
A very fine disc with music by a freshly inspired lyrico-dramatic talent whose music deserves to travel.
LILBURN (1915-) Drysdale Overture, A Song of Islands, Suite for Orchestra, A Birthday Offering, Prodigal Country
While the strongest Lilburn is to be found in the three symphonies and the piano music this is a meritorious collection for the Lilburn listener who wonders what lies in the further recesses. By no means a barrel-scraping exercise and much pleasure is to be had by those in sympathy with the works of Sibelius and RVW.
[Part 1 New]
[Part 2 A-B] [Part
3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part
5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc]
Classical Editor: Rob Barnett, Reviewers: Rob Barnett, Ian Lace, Len Mullenger, and: Richard Adams, Colin Anderson, Arthur Baker, Grace Barber, Terry Barfoot, Peter Bates, Marc Bridle, Arthur Butterworth, Colin Clarke, Paul Conway, Gary Dalkin, Andy Daly, Tony Duggan, Harry Downey, Christopher Fifield, Lewis Foreman, Simon Foster, Christopher Howell, Simon Jenner, Stephen Lloyd, John Phillips, Ailís Ní Ríain, Humphrey Smith, Philip Scowcroft, Colin Scott-Sutherland, Andrew Seivewright, Christopher Thomas, Richard Whitehouse, Peter Grahame Woolf, David Wright. A complete list of contributors can be seen here
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