Guillaume de MACHAUT
(c.1300-1377)
Messe
de Notre-Dame -
Ensemble Gilles Binchois 
Dominique Vellard (director) Rec Saint-Martin Collegiate Church, Champeaux,
France, 5-9 September 1990 DDD
HARMONIC RECORDS H/CD
8931 [56.03]
[TH]
Recommended
as a viable middle-of-the-road version for the newcomer … see Full
Review
You
may sample, purchase or make HUGE savings by downloading this disc
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Leevi MADETOJA (1887-1947)
Comedy
Overture (1923) [8.31] Kullervo - Symphonic Poem (1913) [14.06]
Symphony No. 2 (1918) [42.29]
Helsinki PO/Jorma Panula (Comedy Overture) Finnish RSO/Leif Segerstam
(Kullervo) Tampere PO/Paavo Rautio (Symphony) rec 1978 (Symphony);
1985 WARNER CLASSICS
APEX 0927 43074 2 [65.20] [RB]
Still
the leading version of the Second Symphony - lovely, lissom and unemphatic.
… see Full Review
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No. 3 in D Minor (1895-6)
Anna Larsson (Contralto) London Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham
Youth Chorus Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Claudio Abbado Recorded "live"
at the Royal Festival Hall, London on 11 October 1999
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 471 502-2 [2 CDs: 97.40] [TD]
Highly
recommended as an all-round choice for Mahler’s most expansive work.
… see Full Review
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Das Lied Von Der Erde (1907-9) Richard Lewis
(Tenor), Lili Chookasian (Mezzo)
Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy (Recorded in Town Hall, Philadelphia,
February 9 1966) Five Rückert Lieder (1901-2) Frederica
Von Stade (Soprano) London
Philharmonic Orchestra/Andrew Davis - Recorded in EMI Abbey Road Studios,
London, December 8,15 & 16 1978
SONY ESSENTIAL CLASSICS SBK53518 [77.31] [TD]
Ormandy
and his great orchestra are the real stars of this fine bargain release.
… see Full Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony No.9 in D major (1909-10)
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra/Kirill Kondrashin Recorded "live"
at Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo, 16 May 1967
ALTUS ALT-018 [69.50] [TD]
Playing
that is "red in tooth and claw". Kondrashin’s grasp of structure
and balancing so impressive. An absorbing and distinctive version that
offers a challenging alternative … see Full
Review
Johann
Kaspar MERTZ -
Bardenlänge, OP.13 (Bardic Sounds)
-
Unruhe, Lied ohne Worte, Fingals Hohle, Abendlied, Etude, Romanze: Andante,
Elfenreigen, An Malvina, Capriccio, Gondoliera, Variations mignonnes,
Sehnsucht, Kindermärchen, Gebeth, Liebeslied, Scherzo, Romanze:
Moderato, An die Enfernte, Tarantelle
Adam Holzman – Guitar - Rec 2001?
NAXOS 8.554556 [62:41]
[AD]
Less
than compelling listening. … see Full Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791)
Les Noces De Figaro -
Figaro, Nicolas Cavalier, (bass). Suzanne, Anne-Sophie Schmidt, (sop).
Le Comte Almaviva, Philippe Le Chevalier, (bar). La Comtesse Almaviva,
Sophie Fournier, (sop). Chérubin, Dominique Ploteau, (tenor).
Bartholo, Christien Tréguier, (bass-bar). Chorus, 'Ensemble Mille
E Tre', Orchestra De
Chambre De L'Opéra D'État/Jerome Pillement. Recorded live:
Théâtre Impérial de Compiègne, October 1997
- Le Conseil General de I'Oise, la Ville de Compiègne.
EDITIONS TFM (without number) [3CDs: 176.55] [RJF]
Well-studied,
vocally satisfying, performances. A pleasant memento; delightful to
listen to and enjoy … see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Der
Schauspieldirektor, K. 486 (1) MOZART’S CIRCLE
(c.1791) Der wohltätige Derwisch (2) Cynthia Sieden
(soprano, 1), Sharon Baker (soprano, 1, 2), Deanne Meek (mezzo-soprano,
2), John Aler (tenor, 1, 2), Kevin Deas (baritone, 1, 2), Alan Ewing
(bass, 2), Boston Baroque/Martin
Pearlman - Recorded 4th-6th March 2001, Mechanics
Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
TELARC CD-80573 [66’ 14"] [CH]
The
Impresario is well worth knowing and the Dervish is quite interesting
enough to strengthen the claims of the present version to be the preferred
one. … see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano
Concertos: no. 9 in E flat, K. 271, no. 25 in C, K.503 - Alfred Brendel
(pianoforte) Scottish Chamber
Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras - Recorded 3rd-6th
July 2001, Usher Hall, Edinburgh
PHILIPS 470 287-2 [67’44"] [CH]
Even
if you have every other version of these two works that has ever been
made, you should get this one too. … see Full
Review
Maurice
OHANA (1914
- 1992)
Tombeau
de Claude Debussy: for
soprano, zither and chamber orchestra (1961-2) (Premiere recording)
Silenciaire: for six percussionists and strings (1969) Chiffres
de Clavecin: for harpsichord and chamber orchestra (1968) Sylvie
Sullé (soprano) Christian Ivaldi (piano) Laure Morabito (zither)
Elisabeth Chojnacka (harpsichord) Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra
conducted by Arturo Tamayo
- Recorded in Luxemburg Conservatoire 1998 DDD Stereo
TIMPANI 1C1044 [61:31]
[DB]
A
brilliantly recorded and performed CD containing music by a fascinating
composer who may well be a neglected master of the avant-garde. … see
Full Review
You
may sample, purchase or make HUGE savings by downloading this disc
Maurice
OHANA
(1914-1992) Douze Etudes d’Interpretation pour
piano Set 1(1981-2) Set 2 (1984-5)
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano) with Florent Jodelet (percussion) (tracks
11 and 12) Recorded at the Abbé Royale de Fonteyrand, October
1995 HARMONIC RECORDS
HCD 9354 [68.56] [GH]
Bavouzet
is an ideal interpreter. A recording in every way quite excellent. …
see Full Review
You
may sample, purchase or make HUGE savings by downloading this disc
Maurice
OHANA
(1914 – 1992) Cello
Concerto No.2 In Dark and Blue (1990)
T’Harân-Ngô (1974) Piano Concerto (1981)
Sonia Wieder-Atherton (cello); Jean-Claude Pennetier (piano); Orchestre
Philharmonique du Luxembourg; Arturo Tamayo Recorded: Conservatoire,
Luxembourg, Jan and May 1997
TIMPANI 1C1039 [65:20]
Tombeau de Claude Debussy (1962)a Silenciaire (1969) Chiffres
de clavecin (1968)b
Sylvie Sullé (soprano)a; Christian Ivaldi (piano)a;
Laure Morabito (zither)a; Elisabeth Chojnacka (harpsichord)b;
Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg; Arturo Tamayo Recorded: Conservatoire,
Luxembourg, May 1998
TIMPANI 1C1044 [61:31]
Livre des Prodiges (1979) Anneau du Tamarit (1976)a Synaxis
(1966)b Anssi
Karttunen (cello)a; Pascal Devoyon, Christian Ivaldi (pianos)b;
Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg; Arturo Tamayo Recorded: Conservatoire,
Luxembourg, January and February 2000
TIMPANI 1C1056 [66:10] [HC]
The
best possible introduction to Ohana’s idiosyncratic sound world … see
Full Review
You
may sample, purchase or make HUGE savings by downloading this disc
Carl ORFF
(1895-1982)
Carmina
Burana - Hei-Kyung Hong (soprano), Stanford Olsen (tenor), Earle
Patriarco (baritone), Gwinnett Young Singers, Atlanta Symphony
Chorus and Orchestra/Donald Runnicles - Recorded 4th-5th
November 2000, Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Centre, Atlanta, Georgia
TELARC CD-80575 [59’42"]
[CH]
A
performance with a definite character and one whose timeless, static
quality (in spite of much incidental vivacity) is wholly in tune with
Orff’s stated concerns. … see Full
Review
Carl
ORFF
(1895 - 1982) Carmina
Burana (1937) Lucia
Popp (soprano) John van Kesteren (tenor) Hermann Prey (baritone) Bavarian
Radio Chorus Tolz Children’s Choir Munich Radio Orchestra conducted
by Kurt Eichhorn Film Directed by Jean Pierre Ponnelle Also includes
picture documentation and an interview with the composer (audio only,
but illustrated by photographs). Regional Code 0 Picture Format 4:3
Sound formats AC3 5.1 PCM Stereo 24 bit / 96 kHz Production 1975 from
a 1973 Analogue Stereo Recording issued by RCA. Subtitles in Latin (!),
English, German, French and Italian 
BMG DVD 74321 85285 9 [playing time 1.18] [DB]
Gripping:
musical performance excellent in every respect; the film is entertaining
and the availability of subtitles allows one to grasp what exactly what
is being sung … see Full Review
Sir
Charles Hubert Hastings PARRY (1848-1918)
I was glad (orch. Gordon Jacob), Judith: Long since in Egypt’s
plenteous land, Blest pair of Sirens, Jerusalem (orch. Elgar).
Choir of Winchester Cathedral, Waynflete Singers, Bournemouth Symphony
Orchestra/David Hill Recorded in Winchester Cathedral, June 1990 Songs
of Farewell: 1. My soul, there is a country Canterbury Cathedral
Choir/Allan Wicks Recorded in Canterbury Cathedral, October 1983 English
Lyrics: Bright Star, When comes my Gwen, O mistress mine, Blow, blow,
thou winter wind, A Welsh lullaby, When lovers meet again, On a time
the amorous Silvy, When we two parted, Love is a bable, Weep you no
more, When icicles hang by the wall, Looking backward, Take, o take
those lips away, There be none of beauty’s daughters, And yet I lover
her till I die, From a city window, Thine eyes still shine for me, Marian,
No longer mourn for me, There
Robert Tear (tenor), Philip Ledger (piano) Recorded in the Church
of George the Martyr, London, February 1977
DECCA 470 378-2 [78’05"]
Tear
clarion-voiced, diction clear – at all times a musically superior musician.
… see Full Review
Francis
POULENC (1899-1963)
Sonata
for Flute and Piano Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963)
Sonata for Flute and Piano Sergey PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Sonata for Flute and Piano Op 94 Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Sonata for Flute and Piano H306
Jiri Valek, flute Josef
Hala, piano Recorded April 1978 Dvorak Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague except
Martinů, recorded January and February 1989
SUPRAPHON SU 0096-2111 [68’22] [JW]
The
rhythmically alive and exciting finale of the Martinů concludes
a disc of enormous pleasures. … see Full
Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano sonatas,
Vol. 1 - Sonata No. 8, Opus 84 - Sonata No. 9, Opus 103 - Toccata, Opus
11 Peter Dimitriew (piano)
- Recorded June 2001, Moscow State Broadcasting and Recording House
ARTE NOVA 74321 85291
2 [57.57][TB]
The
style of No. 9 is relatively reticent in comparison with the heroic,
transcendentally challenging sonatas which preceded it and the Toccata
is a rhythmic tour-de-force, a challenge of dexterity and rhythmic attack.
… see Full Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924). Tosca (highlights)
Tosca, Angela Gheorghiu, (sop).Cavaradossi, Roberto Alagna (tenor),
Scarpia, Ruggero Raimondi (baritone). Tiffin Boys Choir, Chorus and
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.
Cond. Antonio Pappano. Recorded August 2000. No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road,
London. Full Price.
EMI CLASSICS CDC 7243 557364-2 [78.29] [RJF]
As
far as highlights goes this scoops the prize by a long way for both
quality and quantity. … see Full Review
Florence
PRICE (1887-1953)
Orchestral music -
The Oak (c.1934) Mississippi River Suite (c.1934) Symphony
No.3 in C minor (1940)
The Women's Philharmonic/Apo Hsu Recorded at Skywalker Sound, Marin
County, California (no date provided)
KOCH INTERNATIONAL CLASSICS 3-7518-2 HI [69.58] [NH]
More
buried treasures of valuable Americana uncovered and demanding our full
attention.….. see Full Review
Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937)
Music for two pianos Introduction
and allegro for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet (1905)
Rapsodie espagnole (1908) Entre cloches (1897) Ma mère
l’oye (1910) Ouverture de Shéhérazade (1899)
Frontispice for poème de Vardar (1918) La Valse (1920)
Jennifer Micallef
and Glen Inanga Recorded July 2001, Potton Hall, Suffolk, UK.
SOMM NEW HORIZONS SOMMCD 025 [66.30] [WH]
A
most sensitive performance, alive to every change of mood, wistful and
touching in the opening pages, scintillating at the end. Nobody would
be disappointed by it. … see Full Review
RECORD
OF THE MONTH - Wolfgang
RIHM (b.1952) Jagden und Formen
(1995/2001)[51.02]
Ensemble Modern/Dominique My - Rec. Sendesaal des Hessischen Rundfunks,
Frankfurt, 8/2001
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 20-21 471558-2 [51.02] [AT]
An
explosively dramatic and expressive piece, and the musicians deserve
the highest praise for making it so … see Full Review
Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
La
Boutique Fantasque arr Ottorino RESPIGHI
(1879-1936) Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
Petrushka (1911)
London Symphony
Orchestra (Rossini-Respighi) Suisse Romande Orchestra (Stravinsky) Ernest
Ansermet Recorded Victoria Hall, Geneva November 1949 (Stravinsky),
Kingsway Hall July 1950 (Rossini-Respighi)
SOMM CD 027 [70’16]
A
perfect opportunity to listen to these milestones of recorded sound
and admire once more performances of intoxicating drama, wit and depth.
… see Full Review
Detailed listing (last two
days)]
[Part 1 New] [Part 2 A-B] [Part
3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part
5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc] [Part
7 Misc]
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