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Classical Editor: Rob Barnett Founder Len Mullenger: Len@musicweb-international.com
PART 6 |
[Part 1 New]
[Part 2 A-B] [Part
3 C-L] [Part 4 M-R] [Part 5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc] |
Search the entire MusicWeb site Any review; Any Article |
"A LITTLE OF WHAT YOU FANCY"
The Golden Age of the British Music Hall: Recordings from 1901-1931Marie Lloyd, Harry Lauder, George Robey, Charles Coborn, Harry Champion, George Formby Snr., Billy Williams, Vesta Victoria, Florrie Forde, Billy Merson.Will Fyffe, Dan Leno, Little Tich, Albert Whelan, Gus Elen, Norah Blaney, Lily Morris, Vesta Tilley, Albert Chevalier, Billy Williams.
This is an indispensable record for those who love the world of the old Music Hall.
CLASSICS IN AMERICA George GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue (1), An American in Paris (2) Leonard BERNSTEIN Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story" (3) John Philip SOUSA The Stars and Stripes Forever (4) Charles IVES Central Park in the Dark, The Unanswered Question (5) Samuel BARBER Adagio for Strings (6) Aaron COPLAND Appalachian Spring (7) William RUSSO The Pieces for Blues Band and Symphony Orchestra, op.50 (8) Scott JOPLIN The Entertainer, Sugar Cane Rag, Maple Leaf Rag (9), Treemonisha: We're goin' around, Aunt Dinah has blowed the horn (10)
The Bernstein performances are worth anybody's money, so buy it for those and forget the rest.
Elisabeth Batiashvili : Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Partita No. 1 in B minor, BWV1002 Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin Sonata No. 1 in G, Opus 78 Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Rondo in B minor, D895
Elisabeth Batiashvili is a major talent with a huge future, as those who heard last year's Proms performance of the Beethoven Violin Concerto may remember.
LA BELLA NINFA European Madrigals of around 1600
A valuable recording for the variety of works included. Unfortunately, it is somewhat marred by a group of singers that is slightly too large.
Music from the novels of LOUIS DE BERNIÈRES
If you've enjoyed the novels then this compilation will be a heightened pleasure; if not, just sit back and enjoy being soothed.
BIZARRE OR BAROCK 1 Willard Palmer - (born 1917) Ragtime (1977) 2 Willard Palmer - Blues for harpsichord (1917) 3 Traditional - Scarborough Fair (arranged Donald Angle, 1995) 4 Isaac Albeniz (1850 - 1909) - Leyenda: Asturias (arranged Anderson 1995) 5 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) - Small Prelude in C minor (BWV 999) 6 Jean Francois Dandrieu (1684 - 1740) The Lyre of Orpheus 7 Louis Claude Daquin (1694 - 1772) The Cuckoo 8 Mary Mageau (born 1934) Winter's Shadow (Brisbane, 1984) 9 Lawrence Whiffin (born 1930) Cycles 1 (Melbourne, 1978) 10 Donald Angle (born 1943) Chocolate Bunnies (1995) 11 György Ligeti (born 1923) Hungarian Rock (1978) 12 Henry Purcell (1659-95) A New Ground (1689) 13 Georg Frideric Handel (1685 1757) The Harmonious Blacksmith (1720) 14 John Lennon (1940 80) / Paul McCartney (born 1942) Eleanor Rigby (arranged Donald Angle, 1995) 15 William Albright (born 1944) Fancy No IV - Danza Ostinata (1979) 16 Diego da Conceição (16?? 17??) Batalha (1695) 17 Earle Brown (born 1926) Nine Rarebits (1965) 18 Domenico Scarlatti (1685 1759) Sonata in d minor Prestissimo K517 19 Domenico Scarlatti Sonata in a minor Allegro K175 . 20 George Gershwin (1898-1937) 1 got Rhythm (arranged Angle 1995)
An exploration of harpsichord music of four centuries. An interesting and unusual collection.
Enrico CARUSO - The Complete Recordings, Vol. 6 Recorded 1911-12 ADD
A superb introduction to this monumental artist.
CASTA DIVA :
Not a total success, then, but at least some performances will join my favourites of that particular aria, and note that the not-so-well-known prayer from "L'assedio di Corinto" is an exceptionally beautiful piece.
CELLO CLASSICS Romance. Encores for Cello and Harp. BACH/GOUNOD Ave Maria; RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Chanson Indoue from Sadko; GABRIEL-MARIE La Cinquantaine; MASSENET Elégie; DVORÁK Humoresque; MASSENET Méditation from Thaïs; CHOPIN Waltz in a minor Op 34 No. 2; SCHUBERT Ave Maria; LEONCAVALLO Serenade; FAURÉ Aprés un Rêve; SAINT-SAËNS The Swan; CHOPIN Mazurka Op. 67 No. 3; BACH Arioso; SCHUBERT Ständchen (Serenade); LADOUX Impression Op.28; FAURÉ Romance in A Op. 69; TEDESCHI Elegia Op.22;
Buy this for your favourites, and to prove to music snobs that they are worth listening to. Sing along if you dare!
Classics Explained - A new NAXOS series
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto No. 2
Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Suite: Mother Goose, Boléro
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Aida
Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) The Four Seasons.This Verdi CD is a mixed success, then, but the two introducing Brahms and Ravel are recommended with enthusiasm. Naxos aims to introduce "serious" music to a wider audience. However, this admirable objective runs into difficulties in the Four Seasons, and after a lengthy "structural overview" it is hard not to feel that it's all rather like dismembering a butterfly in order to find out what makes it pretty.
COLOURS OF THE ORCHESTRA
A nicely unusual and generous collection of orchestral extracts. Good for undemanding listening.
DARKNESS AND LIGHT - vol. 3 Robert STERN (b.1934) Hazkarah (1998) [10.52] Tom MYRON (b.1959) Käthe Kollwitz (1998) [29.12] Lukas FOSS (b.1922) Anne Frank - a tone poem about her life and death (1998) [8.17] Karl WEIGL (1881-1949) Piano Trio (1939) [22.16]
A daringly planned well recorded disc showing that the world of insightful and adventurous composers, artists and record producers has vigour yet.
Early Romantic Piano Concerti Clementi: Concerto in C Major (1796) Field: Concerto No.2 in A-flat Major, H31 (c. 1807) Hummel: Concertino in G Major, Op. 73 (c. 1815) CD2: Cramer: Piano Concerto No.5, Op. 48 Czerny: Divertissement de Concert, Op. 204 Ries: Concerto in C-sharp Minor, Op. 55 (c. 1824)
This VoxBox set contains great rarities and has been cleverly formulated to provide continuity to the listener in giving an opportunity to study changing styles between teacher and taught.
FAVOURITE HYMNS FOR ALL SEASONS
The Choir projects a tremendously vital and generous sound.
EMANUEL FEUERMANN - Rare Recordings 1936 to 1942 CHOPIN Introduction and Polonaise Brillante; DVORAK Concerto Op. 104: Slow Mvt.; HANDEL Adagio and Allegro; VALENTINI Gavotta and Allegro; WEBER Andantino;CHOPIN Nocturne in Eb Op.9 No.2, MENDELSSOHN Spring Song Op. 62 No.6;SGAMBATI Serenata Napoletana; RUBINSTEIN Melody in F ; SCHUMANN Zigeunerleben Op. 29 No 3; Victor HERBERT Concerto Slow Mvt.; BLOCH Prayer from Jewish Life; DAVIDOFF At the Fountain; TCHAIKOVSKY Valse Sentimentale Op. 51 No. 6; SARASATE Zapateado; ALBENIZ Tango; POPPER Spinning Song;
CELLO CLASSICS CC1003 [72.42] [RBr]
There remains much to admire, such as Feuermann's clarity of phrasing and unsentimental approach to what, in his days, were prime examples of the standard cello repertoire.
FRENCH PIANO CONCERTOS François-Adrien BOIELDIEU (1775-1834) Piano Concerto in F Major, Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Piano Concerto (1903), Gabriel PIERNÉ (1863-1937) Piano Concerto in C Minor, Op.12 (1887) CD2:- Edouard LALO (1823-1892) Piano Concerto in F-minor , Cécile CHAMINADE (1857-1944) Concertstück for Piano & Orchestra (1908), Albert ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Piano Concerto, Op.36 (1927), Jean FRANÇAIX (1912- ) Piano Concerto (1936)
The various soloists are a delight to listen to, and handle both powerful and sensitive passages with considerable skill. The analogue recordings of the 70s are clear with no background noise and pleasantly balanced for piano.
Nicolai GEDDA - recital
All in all, this is not one of Orfeo's more essential issues. It will certainly be desired by the wider collector who will readily accept the less successful tracks alongside those which add to our knowledge of a much appreciated singer.
BENIAMINO GIGLI: THE COMPLETE HMV RECORDINGS (1936-38)
This is a disc which will be self-recommending to all admirers of Gigli and which will delight lovers of great singing.
VIRTUOSO CELLO TRANSCRIPTIONS.
Leonid Gorokhov - Virtuoso Cello Transcriptions
The great Russian school of cellists, of which Gorokhov is a worthy representative, shares a distinctive approach to the instrument based on a full-blooded romanticism and immense technical brilliance.
GREAT IRISH TENORS sung with orchestra (11 songs) or piano (5 songs): John McCormack, Robert White, Dennis Day, Frank Patterson
Not a bad place to start if you have a very sweet Celtic tooth and a tolerance for vibrato though the portions are on the thin side.
AMERICAN ANTHEM: from ragtime to art song
The programme is an appealing one. If you don't know much about the American art song then start here.
INVOCATIONS: CONTEMPORARY VIOLA WORKS Richard Rodney BENNETT After Ariadne Thea MUSGRAVE In the Still of the Night Elisabeth LUTYENS Echo of the Wind Robert SAXTON Invocation Dance and Meditation John HAWKINS Urizen Anthony PAYNE Amid the Winds of Evening Colin MATTHEWS Oscuro John WOOLRICH Three Pieces for Viola;Soave sia il, Tranquillo al mare, O sia tranquillo Stuart MACRAE The City inside Arthur KAMPELA Bridges Jukka TIENSSU Oddjob
From extreme technical demands to lyric simplicity Silverthorne and John Constable emerge as worthy ambassadors of the contemporary literature in a disc of which Black Box should take great pride
Katarina Karnéus sings Strauss, Mahler, Marx
Katarina Karnéus has a very interesting voice, but here I feel there is still work to be done. What we hear is the sort of creamy, golden-toned "soprano" voice which we usually associate with Strauss.
THE LIBERTY TRAIL. Excerpts from NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS SERIES
An untaxing wide-ranging collection of miniatures and excerpts carefully chosen for seductive appeal, and all excellently performed with recording quality to match.
MATCH MUSIC for percussion and electronics played by Thomas Sandberg: Obstacles by Kenneth KNUDSON, March by Wayne SIEGEL, Loggin' by Thomas SANDBERG, Encarsia by Jens HORSVING, Bangs, sounds & silence by FUZZY (Jens Wilhelm Pederson), Riot by Jens HORSVING
Log out by Thomas SANDBERG Recorded in various studios between June 2000 and February 2001If you are interested in solo percussion and/or computer generated music then this CD will add greatly to your knowledge and education. However one looks at it, it may well be the music of the future.
THE TRIUMPHS OF MAXIMILIAN Songs and instrumental music associated with the German court of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian the first. [60.09]
This recording features some beautiful instrumental work, but suffers from a voice that, for this listener, is just not attractive. Perhaps others may appreciate it, but, caveat emptor. This is a disc to listen to before buying.
PASSION FOR PIANO
Despite the perplexing programme a good deal of fine playing is to be heard here. [CH]
A PILL TO CURE MELANCHOLY Music for Two Lyra Viols
A fine performance of some excellent 17th century viol music. For those who appreciate this unique instrument, this is an excellent recording.
FRITZ REINER: THE DIRECTOR Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Overture: La Gazza Ladra Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphony no. 88 in G major Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony no. 7 in A major Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826), orchestrated Hector Berlioz Aufforderung zum Tanz Johann STRAUSS II (1825-1899) Emperor Waltz Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Mephisto Waltz No. 1 Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Die Meistersinger von Nürnburg: Suite Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Don Juan Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Rapsodie Espagnole Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945) Hungarian Sketches
This set is particularly to be welcomed. The quality of the digital remastering is exceptional, and has breathed new life into everything on the programme.
THE ESSENTIAL PAUL ROBESON
Paul Robeson was something of an icon, the black singer par excellence, an artist who earned the respect of lovers of serious music and light music alike.
DAVID RUSSELL PLAYS BAROQUE GUITAR MUSIC Jean Baptiste LOEILLET (1608-1730)
Suite No. 1 in G minor Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741)Sonata in B flat Major, R.46 George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Sonata in A minor, Op.1, No.4 (HWV 362) Dominico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) SonatasThis disc radiates quality and I would go as far as to say that this is the finest guitar recordings of baroque music ever.
RUSSIAN ROMANCE Russian songs arranged for violin and orchestra by PETER BREINER
Highly enjoyable arrangements for violin and orchestra of some familiar Russian favourites.
SCOTTISH STRING QUARTETS Earl of Kelly.,A.C. Mackenzie, Thomas Wilson, J.B. McEwen
The Edinburgh Quartet rec 2000
This CD is well worth having - the glorious Peploe oil of Barra on the sleeve is a bonus!
SONGS FOR A YEAR AND A DAY
Songs by Erik CHISHOLM, Victor HELY-HUTCHINSON and Thomas RAJNA
Victor HELY-HUTCHINSONI recommend this CD to anyone wishing to explore less familiar songs in English or Scots. The performances are good
THE WORLD OF STOKOWSKI
DECCA 467 828-2 [64.01] [JP]
This disc is a memento of one of the most charismatic of Western conductors. Under Stokowski, an audience was assured of an exciting time.
Becky TAYLOR A Dream Come True
This album, which Becky Taylor readily admits was A Dream Come True for her, deserves to become something of a classic. I expect we will be hearing a great deal more from this talented young lady as she develops through her teen-age years.
Happy Thirteenth, Becky!
TROUBADORE Troubadour songs of Aude and Roussillon
Definitely worth having especially for the almost mystical singing of Friederike Schulz. Today's listeners will find a new-age feeling in many of these works - a slow, meditative type of music: relaxing and poignant.
TRUMPET CONCERTOS HAYDN Concerto in E flat TORELLI Concerto in D M. HAYDN Concerto in C TELEMANN Concerto in D NERUDA Concerto in E flat J. HUMPHRIES Concerto in D
Listen to those high trumpet notes and just admire. That's all you can do! What secure intonation! What vibrancy!
TWO UPON A GROUND Virtuosic duets and divisions (variations) for two viols. Christopher SIMPSON: Division in A [5:41] Christopher SIMPSON: Division in F [5:10] Thomas TOMKINS: Voluntary [1:34] Christopher SIMPSON: Division in F [2:20] Godfrey FINGER: Division in C [3:45] John JENKINS: Division in C [4:44] Ennemond GAULTIER: La pompe funèbre [4:58] Matthew LOCKE: Fantazia [1:42] Matthew LOCKE: Courant [1:25] Christopher SIMPSON: Division in G [5:46] Godfrey FINGER: Sonata solo in G [7:02] Tobias HUME: Loves farewell [4:12] William LAWES: Suite in g - Pavan [6:36] William LAWES: - Ayre 1 [1:28] William LAWES: - Ayre 2 [2:27] Thomas TOMKINS: Prelude [0:50] Thomas TOMKINS: What if a Day [1:22] Thomas TOMKINS: Worster brawls [2:16] Tobias HUME: Pavan [5:49] Henry PURCELL: Two in one upon a Ground [3:43] John JENKINS: Division in A [4:59]
This is a beautiful program, showing a wide variety of works from this period, featuring viol music, but also with a few "extra" pieces to allow each musician to express themselves alone. Musically satisfying, performed excellently and recorded perfectly.
VENGEROV & VIRTUOSI RACHMANINOV: Vocalise PONCE: Estrellita BRAHMS: Hungarian Dances Nos. 7,1,5 NOVÁCEK: Perpetuum Mobile DVORÁK: Humoreske No. 7 TCHAIKOVSKY: Souvenir d'un lieu cher SCHUBERT: Ave Maria BAZZINI: La Ronde des Lutins KHACHATURIAN: Sabre Dance MASSENET: Méditation MONTI: Csárdás
The purists may scorn but this is a nice diverting hour of easy listening, an unashamedly popular concert performed with plenty of bravado and sensitivity by virtuoso players [IL&GB].
There is no question that Maxim Vengerov is one of the great violinists, worthy of the legacy of Oistrakh, Heifetz and Kreisler. This programme captures him at the peak of his form.[TB]WISPELWEY: Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Cello Concerto no. 1 in a minor op.33 (1873) Pyotr Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Andante Cantabile Variations on a Rococo Theme op.33 (1876) Max BRUCH (1838-1920) Kol Nidrei op.47 (1881)
These are fresh, lithe and lean studio performances of old favourites, given by a fine Dutch cellist with an alert, conductor-less Bremen chamber orchestra - a CD which will give lasting pleasure.
BOOK REVIEWS
COMPANION TO MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE MUSIC Edited by Tess Knighton and David Fallows Oxford University Press, 1997 428 pages 0-19-816540-4 [KM]
This excellent collection of articles is something that lovers of early music will find themselves returning to often.
PAUL CRESTON - A Bio-Bibliography compiled by Monica J Slomski Published by Greenwood Publishing Group No.55 in the Bio-Bibliographies series [RB]
This is an extremely attractive volume and is THE companion for anyone setting out on the exciting pilgrimage through Creston's works.
ALMA ROSÉ: VIENNA TO AUSCHWITZ By Richard Newman with Karen Kirtley Amadeus Press. 400 pages. ISBN 1-57467-051-4 [TD]
A true story brilliantly told where music comes to mean the difference between life and death and where life is stranger and crueler than fiction could ever be.
Score Reading - A Key to the Music Experience
This is a very interesting and useful book - one that this reviewer will be continually dipping into.
[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, Frank Cadenhead, Colin Clarke, Paul Conway, Jim Cooke, Gary Dalkin, Andy Daly, Tony Duggan, Harry Downey, Christopher Fifield, Lewis Foreman, Simon Foster, John France, Julian Hellaby, Christopher Howell, Simon Jenner, Stephen Lloyd, Kirk McElhearn, Gwyn Parry-Jones, John Phillips, John Quinn, Ailís Ní Ríain, Humphrey Smith, Philip Scowcroft, Adrian Smith, Colin Scott-Sutherland, Andrew Seivewright, Paul Serotsky, Christopher Thomas, Richard Walker, Richard Whitehouse, Jonathan Woolf, Peter Grahame Woolf, David Wright. A complete list of contributors can be seen here
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