RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH Adolphe
ADAM (1803-1856)
La
Filleule des fées - ballet (1849) 
Queensland Symphony Orchestra/Andrew Mogrelia Rec. ABC Studios, Brisbane,
Queensland, Australia, February 1996
MARCO POLO 8.223734-35 [CD1: 67.52; CD2: 58.41] [RW]
Uplifting
and quite delightful, containing charming melodies with much bright
orchestral colour. Adam is not short of melodic ideas and these melt
like chocolate into a choreographic flow which makes most enjoyable
listening. … see Full Review
Thomas
Augustine ARNE
Eight Overtures, Harpsichord Concerto No 5, Organ Concertos Nos 4-6
and other selections
DECCA - BRITISH MUSIC COLLECTION 470 372-2 [CD1 72’08"+CD2
76’03"] Budget price [PW]
The
eight overtures played with lightness and grace and excitement. A set
enjoyable to listen to. … see Full Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
Malcolm
ARNOLD (b.
1921) The Nine Symphonies (1949-1986) 10
minute conversation between Malcolm Arnold and Andrew Penny
National SO of Ireland/Andrew Penny rec April 1995-Feb 2000, National
Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland (in presence of composer)
NAXOS 8.505178[5.05.00] Superbudget [RB]
Penny
and the Irish orchestra in lucid and imaginative performances charting
the brilliance and the darkness of Arnold's dark pilgrimage. This set
is well worth its modest cost. … see Full
Review
Charles AVISON (1709-1770)
Concerti
from Opus 9 (Nos. 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, & 9)
The Georgian Concert, leader Simon Jones Recorded York, 2001
THE DIVINE ART RECORD COMPANY 2-4108 (46:29) [AB]
Melodic
and interesting tinged with melancholy. Played with style, using period
instrumentation and recorded in a sympathetic acoustic … see
Full Review
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
St
Matthew Passion - Eric Greene, tenor, Evangelist - Gordon Clinton,
bass baritone, Jesus - Pauline Brockless, soprano - Nancy Evans, mezzo-soprano
- Wilfred Brown, tenor - John Carol Case, bass-baritone - Eric Gritton,
piano continuo - William Cole, organ continuo - Leith Hill Musical Festival
Chorus and Orchestra - David Martin and Vera Kantrovitch, leaders
Ralph Vaughan Williams, conductor - Recorded Dorking Halls 5 March 1958
PEARL GEMS 0079
[2 CDs 151’14] [JW]
A
remarkable document and I strongly urge you to hear it. … see Full
Review
Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)/Ferrucio
BUSONI (1866-1924) Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in
C, BWV564. Mikhail GLINKA
(1804-57)
The Lark (arr. Balakirev).
Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-81)
Pictures at an Exhibition.
Evgeny Kissin (piano). Recorded at SWR-Studio, Freiburg, Germany on
August 5th-6th, 2001.
RCA Red Seal 09026-63884-2 [57’25] [CC]
If
it is Pictures you are after, save a few pennies and go to the incomparably
greater Sviatoslav Richter on mid-price Philips...see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Clavier
Übung III Lutheran Mass for Organ Kei Koïto, organ Chorales
sung by: Agnès Mellon,
Andreas Scholl, Gerd Türk and Ulrich Messthaler Direction: Dominique
Velland Rec: May 1994, St. Nicholas of Bovenker, Kampen, Netherlands.
HARMONIC H/CD 9352-53
[113.17] [KM]
A
very satisfying recording of this work, and indeed one of the best available.
Kei Koïto is a brilliant performer who knows how to let the music
take center stage, rather than the organ, and the addition of the sung
chorales is an added plus. … see Full Review
J S BACH Partita
no. 3 in F, BWV1006 Partita no. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004. Sonata
no. 3 in C BWV 1005.
Hilary Hahn (violin)
SONY CLASSICS SK62793 [78.44] [DW]
For
lovers of Bach and violin playing this is an unqualified must. It is
really special. … see Full Review
Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) The Concerto Album Concerto
No. 1 in A minor, BWV 1041 Concerto No. 2 in E major, BWV
1042 Double Concerto in D minor, BWV 1043 (with Scott St. John)
Sonata No. 1 in G minor for Violin Solo, BWV 1001
Lara St. John, violin
New York Bach Ensemble Rec: September 2000, New York Academy of Arts
and Letters; February 2001 Skywalker Sound Scoring Stage, Marin County,
California. ANCALGON
AR 131 [58.47] [KM]
Lara
St. John - an excellent violinist; there is no doubt about it. She plays
these majestic pieces effortlessly. … see Full
Review
J S BACH (1685-1750)
Favourite Piano Transcriptions Transcriptions by Wilhelm Kempff
Christoph
Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787) Ballet music from Orfeo ed
Euridice Georg Friedrich HANDEL (1685-1759)
Minuet in G minor HWV 434 No 1 J S BACH
(1685-1750) English Suite No 3 BWV 808 French Suite No 5
BWV 816 Wilhelm Kempff,
piano Recorded 1976
ELOQUENCE DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 457 624-2 [79.20] [JW]
Filled
to the brim, this Kempff CD gives many indications why he has valuably
cogent things to say about Bach, transcriptions or otherwise. … see
Full Review
Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) The
Art of Fugue BWV 1080 Disc 1 Rehearsal Introduction Contrapunctus 1-9
Disc 2 Contrapunctus 10-18 Closing announcement
CBC Toronto Chamber Orchestra Hermann Scherchen Rec: December 1965,
CBC Studios, Toronto.
TAHRA 2.108-2.109 [2 CDs 122.26] [KM]
Scherchen
offers a window onto another equally valid approach and a very moving
recording…see Full Review
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Mass in B Minor BWV 232
Barbara Bonney Angelika Kirchschlager John Mark Ainsley Alastair Miles
Tokyo Opera Singers Saito Kinen Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa Rec: August -
September 2000, Naganoken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan, Japan.
PHILIPS 468 363-2 [2CD 102.32] [KM]
For
those who don’t like historically informed performances of Bach’s great
vocal works, this is a commanding choice. … see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) St. John Passion John Mark Ainsley, Evangelist
Stephen Richardson, Christus Catherine Bott, soprano Michael Chance,
alto Paul Agnew, tenor Stephen Varcoe, Bass/Pilatus
King’s College Choir, Cambridge Brandenburg Consort, Roy Goodman Direction:
Stephen Cleobury Recorded: King's College Chapel Cambridge
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99780 [115
min.] [KM]
A
very good recording, perhaps lacking profound emotion, it won’t disappoint.
More care though should have been taken over balance…see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) St Matthew Passion King's
College Choir Jesus College Choir Rogers Covey-Crump, tenor (evangelist)
Michael George, bass (Jesus) Emma Kirkby, soprano Michael Chance, alto
Martyn Hill, tenor David Thomas, bass
Brandenburg Consort, Roy Goodman Direction: Stephen Cleobury Rec: 1994,
King's College Chapel.
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99781
[161.02] [KM]
Sound
problems make this unacceptable. The unbalanced sound of orchestra and
choir is far too distracting for this to be enjoyable…see Full
Review
Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) St. John Passion BWV 245 Ingrid
Schmithusen, soprano Yoshikazu Mera, counter-tenor Gerd Türk, tenor
(Evangelist) Chiyuki Urano, bass (Jesus) Peter Kooij, bass (Petrus,
Pilatus) St. Matthew Passion BWV 244
Nancy Argenta, soprano Robin Blaze, countertenor Gerd Türk, tenor
(Evangelist) Makoto Sakurada, tenor Peter Kooij, bass (Jesus) Chiyuki
Urano, bass Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki Rec: April 1998 (St.
John), March 1999 (St. Matthew), Kobe Shoin Women’s University, Japan
BIS CD-1342/1344 [274.11] [KM]
This
five-for-three re-release will delight anyone who has not yet picked
up these two magnificent passion recordings. The St. John is arguable
the best recording available, and the St. Matthew is pretty close. …
see Full Review
ITALIAN
BACH IN VIENNA Il
Giardino Armonico plays Bach in Vienna Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Concerto for two keyboards in
C major, BWV 1061 * Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
(1714-1788) Symphony in G major, Wq 182-1 Antonio
VIVALDI (1675-1741) Violin Concerto in D minor "per
Pisendel", RV 242 *** Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750) Concerto for three keyboards in D minor,
BWV 1063 *, ** Katia
and Maria Labeque, fortepianos * Ottavio Dantone, harpsichord ** Enrico
Onofri, violin *** Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini Recorded
Musikverein, Vienna, 24 April 2000.
TDK DV-BACON
[73 min.] [KM]
In
spite of its drawbacks an enjoyable programme and a fine evening of
music…see Full Review
American Music For Strings Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981) Serenade for String Orchestra,
op.1 Irving FINE (1914-1962)
Serious Song – A Lament for String Orchestra Elliott
CARTER (b.1908) Elegy David
DIAMOND (b.1915) Rounds for String Orchestra
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra/Paul Shure Recorded 1980 – venue not given
WARNER APEX 7559 79670-2
[36:58] [GPJ]
Playing
with great assurance, excellent tone and ensemble. Recording isn’t particularly
kind, sounding a little boxy and very ‘studio’. The slower pieces are
not helped by this. … see Full Review
Belá BARTÓK (1881
- 1945) Sonata
for Solo Violin Zoltán KODÁLY
(1882 - 1967) Duo Op. 7
Gerard Poulet (violin); Christoph Henkel (cello) Recorded at Chateau
de Ripaille, Thonon des Bains, Haute-Savoie, France on May 14th-17th,
1987 HARMONIC RECORDS
HCD8717 [47’13] [CC]
To
reiterate: do not be put off by the low playing time: there are rich
rewards here. … see Full Review
Sir
Arnold BAX (1883-1953)
Symphony
No. 4 Overture to a Picaresque Comedy, Nympholept
Royal Scottish National Orchestra Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones Rec 25-25
August 2000, Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow
NAXOS 8.555343 [64.38] [TB]
This
new issue must be taken very seriously. The experience of listening
justifies all this enthusiasm. A symphony 'leaner and fitter' than Thomson's.
… see Full Review
David BEDFORD
(b. 1937)
Star Clusters, Nebulae and Places in Devon (1971) * [24.57] The
Song of the White Horse (1978) ** [23.55] * Chorus and Brass of
London Philharmonic Orchestra/John Alldis ** Mike Ratledge and composer
(keyboards), Diana Coulson (solo voice), Nash Ensemble, Queen's College
Choir/Steuart Bedford rec dates and locations - no information given
CLASSICPRINT CPVP011CD [48.52] [RB]
Bedford's
1970s avant-garde take on the English landscape ... see
Full Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto No 1 in C major, Op 15 (1795) [33.13]
Piano Concerto No 4 in G major, Op 58 (1808) [33.47]
Radu Lupu (piano) & Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Zubin Mehta
DDD: recorded 1980 (No 1)ADD: recorded 1978 (No 4)
ELOQUENCE DECCA 466 707-2 [67.00] [PL]
You’ll
find wider-ranging performances in the catalogue. These are performances
one can live with – warts and all. … see Full Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto No 2 in B flat major, Op 19 (1792)
[27.35] The Creatures of Prometheus: Ballet Music, Op 43 (1801)
[47.24] Radu Lupu (piano:
Concerto only) Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Zubin Mehta ADD:
recorded 1979 (Concerto) & 1969 (Prometheus)
DECCA ELOQUENCE 466 681-2 [74.59] [PL]
What
makes this issue especially attractive for me its substantial selection
of items from the Prometheus ballet, which is consistently appealing.
Lupu plays with subtlety and delicacy. … see Full
Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto No 3 in C minor, Op 37 (1803) [36.07]32
Variations on an Original Theme, WoO 80 (1806) [11.13]
Radu Lupu (piano) and (Concerto only) London Symphony Orchestra, cond.
Lawrence Foster ADD: recorded 1971
ELOQUENCE DECCA 466 690-2 [47.20] [PL]
Lupu
plays with fire and colour Short playing time. Slightly anonymous orchestral
contribution limits the effectiveness of these performances. … see Full
Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano
Concerto No 5 in E flat major, Op 19 (1792) [38.32] Rondo in C major,
Op 51 No 1 (1795?) [5.42]Rondo in G major, Op 51 No 1 (1795?) [9.17]
Sonata No 19 in G minor, Op 49 No 1 (1795?) [7.54]Sonata No 20 in G
major, Op 49 No 2 (1795?) [8.36]
Radu Lupu (piano) & (Concerto only) Israel Philharmonic Orchestra,
cond. Zubin Mehta ADD: recorded 1977
ELOQUENCE DECCA 466 689-2 [70.01] [PL]
Undoubtedly
an ‘Emperor’ to be reckoned with. Lupu’s on good form, and Mehta contributes
a stylish accompaniment. So – a good buy? Not really! … see Full
Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Violin
Concerto in D, op. 61 (1), Romance no. 1 in G, op. 40, Romance no. 2
in F, op. 50 (2) Yehudi
Menuhin (violin), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Constantin Silvestri
(1), Philharmonia Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard (2) Recorded November
1960, Musikvereinsaal, Vienna (1), November and December 1961, No. 1
Studio, Abbey Road, London (2)
EMI CLASSICS CDE 5 74973 2 [61’11"] [CH]
Undoubtedly
the work of a great violinist, but not quite a great performance. …
see Full Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano
Trio in B flat major Op.97 ‘Archduke’
Variations on an original theme Op.44 ‘Kakadu’ Variations Op.121a Franz
SCHUBERT 1797-1828)Piano Trio in E flat major Op.100 Sonatensatz
in B flat major 
The Castle Trio:-
Lambert Orkis fortepiano Marilyn McDonald violin Kenneth
Slowik cello Recorded July 1989, UK (Beethoven Op. 44); July
1990 UK (Beethoven Trio & Op.121a); March 1991, USA (Schubert Trio
& Sonatensatz)
VIRGIN VERITAS 7243 5 62007 2 2 [CD1 74:13; CD2 57:56] Midprice
[JL]
Fine
period performances of Schubert/Beethoven masterpieces and some lesser
known works. Worth hearing for the sound of Lambert Orkis’s playing
of the fortepiano alone. Superbly recorded. … see Full
Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1828)
Piano Trios, Volume 2. Piano Trio in
C minor, Op. 1 No. 3, 14 Variations in E flat, Op. 44, Variations in
G, Op. 121a, ‘Kakadu’.
Trio Parnassus (Wolfgang Schröder, violin; Michael Gross, cello;
Chia Chou, piano). Recorded at Fürstliche Reitbahn Bad Arolsen
on January 15th-16th, 2001.
Dabringhaus und Grimm MDG303 1052-2 [DDD] [60’03] [CC]
The
Trio Parnassus’ cycle of Beethoven Piano Trios on Dabringhaus und Grimm
is turning into something very special indeed; a disc that will bring
much pleasure…see Full Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
Piano Trio in D major Op 70 "Ghost" Piano Trio in B flat major
Op 97 "Archduke"
Wilhelm Kempff, piano Henryk Szeryng, violin Pierre Fournier, cello
Recorded 1970 Deutsche
Grammophon Eloquence 463 238-2 [71.04] [JW]
A
bright and bustling Ghost Trio coupled with a mannered and ponderous
Archduke…see Full Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
Violin Sonata No 2 in A major Op 2 No 2 Violin
Sonata No 5 in F major Op 24 "Spring" Violin Sonata No 9 in
A major Op 47 "Kreutzer"
Henryk Szeryng, violin Ingrid Haebler, piano Recorded 1980
PHILIPS ELOQUENCE 469 152-2 [75’47]
Enjoyable
performances, with good rapport, an elite violinist in some of his latter-day
recordings…see Full Review
MusikTriennale
Köln 2000 BERG:
Lulu Suite (excerpts) DEBUSSY: Le
jet d’eau; Trois ballades de François Villon STRAVINSKY:
The Firebird (complete) Christine Schafer (soprano) Chicago Symphony
Orchestra conducted by Pierre Boulez Filmed in April 2000, Philharmonie,
Köln Producer: Volker Dieckmann Director: Janos Darvas TDK DV-MTKBO
[101
minutes] [CA]
Oddball
documentation but a marvellous account of The Firebird - a Boulez favourite.
… see Full Review
Hector BERLIOZ (1803
- 1869) Symphonie
Fantastique Op. 14 (1830)Franz Joseph HAYDN
(1732 - 1809) Symphony No. 94, Hob.1: The Surprise (1791)
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756 - 1791)
Flute Concerto No.2, K314 (1778)
Emmanuel Pahud (flute), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted
by Mariss Jansons.recorded in the St. Irene Church, Istanbul, 1st May
2001. EURO ARTS TDK10
5122 9 DV-EUC01 DVD [104 minutes (main programme) + 30 minutes extra
items] [JP]
The
visual impact of the whole production is to a very high standard, as
is the sound quality. All congratulations to Euro Arts. … see Full
Review
Ernest
BLOCH
(1880-1959) Hiver-Printemps
(1904-5) [14.29] Poèmes D’Automne (1906) [22.23] In
the Night (1922) [5.17] 2 Psaumes (1912-14) [12.59] Psaume
22 (1913-14) [7.54]
Mireille Delunsch (soprano) Brigitte Balleys (mezzo-soprano) Vincent
Le Texier (baritone) Orchestre Philharmonique de Luxembourg/David Shallon
Recorded at Luxembourg Conservatoire, September, 1999 DDD
TIMPANI 1C1052 [63.43] [TH]
An
excellent disc, then, which not only fleshes out our knowledge of music
at the turn of the century, but widens our appreciation of a gifted
composer. … see Full Review
William BOYCE (1711-79)
Ode
For St Cecilia’s Day
Soloists, New College Oxford Choir; Hanover Band, cond. Graham Lea-Cox
ASV GAUDEAMUS CD GAU
200 [58.00?] [PS]
A
highly recommendable release … an agreeable marriage of musicianship
and scholarship. Even today Boyce’s achievements are generally too little
known … see Full Review
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Serenades
Opp 11 and 16 London Symphony
Orchestra/Istvan Kertesz
ELOQUENCE DECCA 466 672-2 [76.18] [JW]
There
aren’t that many unambiguously recommendable versions of the Serenades;
thirty years on still an essential purchase. … see Full
Review
- BRUCKNER:
Symphony No.3 in D minor - STRAVINSKY:
Symphony in three movements - Filmed in 1993, Philharmonie am Gasteig,
Munich
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Georg Solti -
Director: Hugo Käch
ARTHAUS MUSIK 100 320 [89 minutes] [CA]
Solti
smiling at players when things go well … and those eyes, the eyes of
someone who knew what he wanted and was determined to get it. … see
Full Review
[Part 1 New] [Part
2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part
5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc]
Revolving
notes from clipart.com
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