> Summary of New Classical CD Reviews - September 2002 part 1- (last two days): MusicWeb: Len Mullenger
  
[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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for September 2002

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Gerard Hoffnung Bricklayer speech
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STOP PRESS: The Gerard Hoffnung Oxford Union (Bricklayer) speech is at last available on CD $22
"Standing among savage scenery, the hotel offers stupendous revelations.
There is a French widow in every bedroom, affording delightful prospects."


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 The Hoffnung little books
The Maestro, Symphony Orchestra, Music Festival,Companion to Music, Musical Chairs, Acoustics

Get SIX for the price of FIVE
£7.69 each or 6 books £36 .79 incl P&P

Recording of the Hoffnung Music Festivals: CDs
The Hoffnung Music Festival Concert 1956,The Hoffnung Interplanetary Music Festival 1958,The Hoffnung Astronautical Music Festival 1961

A Last Encore Now on CD
BBC recordings of Speech Day, Oxford Union, December 1958 "Life begins at 38" with the famous Bricklayer story and the hotelier offering French widows in every bedroom.

RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) English Suite No. 2 in A minor, BWV807 Partita No. 1 in B flat, BWV825 Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV826 English Suite No. 3 in G minor, BWV808 Anne-Marie McDermott (piano) Recorded 26-29 April 1999, St George's, Brandon Hill, Bristol GMN C0112 [63.26] [TB]

One of the best discs of Bach's keyboard music. Confirms the quality of the music, and there can be no higher praise. … see Full Review

George ENESCU (1881-1955) String Octet, Op.7 (1900) - Piano Quintet, Op. 29 (1940] Kremerata Baltica with Andrius Zlabys (piano) - Gidon Kremer - Recorded at the Angelica-Kauffman Saal, Schwarzenberg, Austria, June 2000 (Octet), and at the Probesaal der Philharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Ludwigshafen, Germany, November 2001 (Quintet) NONESUCH 7559-79682-2 [73.11] [TH]

Unerring precision, fervour and big-boned yet sensitive … see Full Review

EDWARD GREGSON Concerto for Orchestra ALUN HODDINOTT Concerto for Orchestra JOHN McCABE Concerto for Orchestra  RLPO/Douglas Bostock Rec 2001, Liverpool  CLASSICO CLASSCD 384 [78’08"] [PC]

I will be returning to this exceptional disc again and again. … see Full Revie

Ignaz PLEYEL (1757-1831); Symphony opus 3, number one in D (B. 126) ; Symphonie Concertante number 2 in F for piano and violin (B. 115) ; Sixth Symphonie Periodique in F (B. 140) ;   Jakub Dzialak, violin ; Riccardo Bovino, piano ; Zurich Chamber Orchestra/Howard Griffiths ; Recorded in the Kirche Neumünster, Zurich, July 27-30, 2000. DDD ;  CPO 9997592 [55:09] [KB]

A winner through and through … see Full Review

Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Les Animaux Modèles (1941) - Sinfonietta (1948) Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg/Jonathan Darlington - Recorded Luxembourg Conservatoire, 15th – 19th September 1997 TIMPANI 1C1041 [70:42] [GPJ]

lovingly shaped, sharply characterised, tight yet flexible. The Luxembourg Philharmonic play superbly … see Full Review

STOCKHOLM CHAMBER BRASS NOW - Anders HILLBORG (b.1954) Brass Quintet (1998) - Eino TAMBERG (b.1930) Music for Five op.86 (1992) - Per MÅRTENSSON (b.1967) I-Ching Variations (1998-9) for brass quintet and live electronics - Poul RUDERS (b.1949) Break Dance (1984) for piano and brass quintet - Luciano BERIO (b.1925) Call (1985) - Joakim AGNAS (b.1969) Tango (1996) - Yong-Won SUNG (b.1977) Pandragon (2000) - Fredrik HÖGBERG (b.1972) Melancholy Tango (2000) for five brass players and their voices Stockholm Chamber Brass, Per Mårtensson, electronics, Frederik Ullén, piano - Recorded January 2001 at Danderyd Grammar School, Sweden BIS-CD-1213 [62:53] [GPJ]

These extremely difficult modern works made to sound effortless, directing attention to their quality and expressiveness rather than their uncompromising modernity. … see Full Review

 

 


BARGAIN OF THE MONTH

 

Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) Enter Spring (1924) [18.11] - Summer (1912) [9.37] - Christmas Dance - Sir Roger de Coverley (1918) [4.17] - Cello Sonata (1940) [23.13] - Go Not Happy Day [1.37] - rec ADD/DDD DECCA The British Music Collection 470 189-2 [57.11] [RB]

The more romantic impressionist Bridge in a satisfying though rather short-timed collection. ... see Full Review

Edward ELGAR (1865-1934) Symphony No. 1 (1908) [48.43] - Symphony No. 2 (1911) [51.35] - Introduction and Allegro (1905) [14.16] - Serenade (1892) [12.04] LPO/Solti (symphonies); English Chamber Orchestra/Britten (Intro & Allegro); Academy of St Martin in the Fields/Neville Marriner (Serenade) - rec 1968 (Serenade), 1969 (Intro), 1972 (1), 1975 (2), Kingsway Hall, Maltings Snape (Intro) ADD DECCA The British Music Collection 473 082-2 [2CDs: 127.15] [RB]

An alchemist in this music. An exhilarating experience. First choice for the Second Symphony ... see Full Review

Benjamin FRANKEL (1906-1973) Symphony No. 1 (1958) [25.33] - Symphony No. 2 (1962) [35.36] - Symphony No. 3 (1964) [17.24] - Symphony No. 4 (1966) [25.02] - Symphony No. 5 (1967) [18.03] - Symphony No. 6 (1969) [28.21] - Symphony No. 7 (1970) [28.03] - Symphony No. 8 (1971) [24.14] - Overture: May Day (1948) [9.26] - Mephistopheles Serenade and Dance (1952) [6.09] - Overture to a Ceremony (1971) - A Shakespeare Overture (1956) - The composer introducing his symphonies 2 and 3 Queensland SO/Werner Andreas Albert - rec ABC Studio 420, Ferry Road, Brisbane, Australia, May 1993, Apr 1994, Oct 1994, Sept 1995, April 1999 CPO 999 661-2 [4CDs: 53.24+59.18+60.03+70.27=243.12] [HC]

Frankel’s symphonies have now - at long last - been given their due. Recommended without reservation. ... see Full Review

Roy HARRIS (1898-1979); Symphony No. 7 (1952, revised 1955); Symphony No. 9 (1962);   Epilogue to Profiles in Courage - JFK (1964); National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine/Theodore Kuchar. Recorded in the Grand Concert Studio, National Radio Company of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine, 19th - 27th June 1999.   NAXOS 8.559050 [57.49] [RB]

The sunrise, the rolling horizons, vigour and muscular glory. Don't miss this wonderful disc ... see Full Review

Gustav HOLST (1874-1934) Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda (1908-12) [12.16] Savitri - A chamber opera in one act (1908) [30.43] Seven Partsongs [20.05] The Evening-Watch (1924) [4.26] A Fugal Concerto (1922) [7.26] St Paul's Suite (1912-13) [12.33] The Perfect Fool - ballet music (1923) [10.43] Egdon Heath (1928) [12.49] The Hymn of Jesus (1920) [21.46] A Moorside Suite (1928) [14.26] Rec 1961-1994 ADD DDD DECCA The British Music Collection 470 191-2 [149.30] [RB]

Quite simply the best and most economical introduction to the extra-Planetary Holst ... see Full Review

Julius KATCHEN, piano - Volume 1: Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concerto No 1 - Piano Concerto No 2 - Rondo in B Flat Major - Piano Concerto No 3 - Piano Concerto No 5 - LSO - Piero Gamba DECCA 460 822-2 [2 CDs 149’59] - Volume 2: Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concerto No 5 - Choral Fantasia - Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto No 13 K415 - Piano Concerto No 20 K466 - Piano Concerto No 25 K503 - Piano Sonata in A Major K331 - LSO conducted by Piero Gamba (Beethoven) - New Symphony Orchestra of London conducted by Peter Maag (K415) - Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra conducted by Karl Munchinger (K466, K503) DECCA 460 825-2 [2 CDs 152’54] - Volume 3: Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto No 1 - Piano Concerto No 2 - Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Concerto - Fantasie in C Major - LSO conducted by Pierre Monteux (Brahms No 1) - LSO conducted by Janos Ferencsik (Brahms No 2) - Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Istvan Kertesz (Schumann) DECCA 460 828-2 [2 CDs 157’24] - Volume 4: Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Piano Concerto No 1 - Piano Concerto No 2 - Mephisto waltz - Funerailles - Hungarian Rhapsody No 12 - Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Piano Concerto - Modest MUSSOURGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures at an Exhibition - Mily BALAKIREV (1837-1910) Islamey - LPO conducted by Ataulfo Argenta (Liszt Concertos) - Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Istvan Kertesz (Grieg) DECCA 460 831-2 [2 CDs 134’41] - Volume 5: Pyotr I TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concerto No 1 - Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano Concerto No 3 - Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Hungarian Fantasie - Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano Concerto No 2 - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini - Erno DOHNANYI (1877-1960) Variations on a Nursery Theme - LSO conducted by Piero Gamba (Tchaikovsky, Liszt) - LSO conducted by Istvan Kertesz (Prokofiev) - LSO conducted by Georg Solti (Rachmaninov No 2) - LPO conducted by Adrian Boult (Rachmaninov Rhapsody and Dohnányi) DECCA 460 834-2 [2 CDs 152’22] - Volume 6: George GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Piano Concerto in F - Rhapsody in Blue - Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Piano Concerto for the Left Hand - Piano Concerto in G - Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra - Bela BARTÓK (1881-1945) Piano Concerto No 3 - Mantovani and his Orchestra (Piano Concerto in F) - LSO conducted by Istvan Kertesz (Ravel, Rhapsody in Blue, Bartok) - LSO conducted by Benjamin Britten (Britten) DECCA 460 837-2 [2 CDs135’10] - Volume 7: Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonata Op 111 - Piano Sonata op 57 Appassionata - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli Op 120 - Six Bagatelles Op 126 - Polonaise Op 89 - Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Sonata in C Major K545 - Piano Sonata in B Flat Major K333/315c DECCA 466 714-2 [2 CDs 142’39] - Volume 8: Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Fantasie in C Major Fantasie - Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Carnaval - Toccata in C - Arabeske - Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Clair de lune - Manuel de FALLA (1876-1946) Ritual Fire Dance - Frederic CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano Sonata No 2 Op 35 - Piano Sonata No 3 Op 58 - Fantasie-Polonaise Op 66 - Polonaise Op 53 - Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Rondo Capriccioso - On Wings of Song Arr Liszt - J S BACH (1685-1750) Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring Arr Hess DECCA 466 717-2 [2 CDs 145’34] [JW] - All recordings Volumes 1-8 made between 1955-69

Pianism and musicality such as Katchen’s come but rarely and should be embraced when they do. A set of major importance. … see Full Review

Ernest John MOERAN (1894-1950) Symphony in G minor (1937) [44.30] Sinfonietta (1940) [23.03] Bournemouth SO/David Lloyd-Jones rec: 4-5 June 2001, Wessex Hall, Poole Arts Centre, Poole, Dorset, DDD NAXOS 8.555837 [67.33] [RB]

I came to this disc with exalted expectations which have been met. A superb bargain. ... see Full Review

The Art of Anne Sofie von Otter - Georges BIZET (1838-1875) Carmen-Habanera, L’amour est un oiseau rebelled - Carmen-Gypsy Song, Les tringles des sisters tintaient - Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Le Nozze di Figaro-Non so più - Le Nozze di Figaro-Voi che sapete - Don Giovanni-Batti, batti o bel Masetto - Cosi fan tutte-Smanie implacabili - Cosi fan tutte-Soave sia il vento - La Clemenza di Tito-Parto, ma tu ben mio - Mass in C Minor-Laudamus te - George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Ariodante-Dopo notte, atra e funeste - Hercules-Begone, my fears, fly, hence away - Hercules-Cease, ruler of the day, to rise - Il pianto di Maria –Se d’un Dio fui fatta Madre - Messiah – O thou that Tellest - J S BACH (1685-1750) Mass in B Minor – Qui sedes ad dextram Patris - St Matthew Passion – Buss und Reu - Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Oh Solitude - Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Elijah – Oh rest in the Lord - Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Ave Maria - An Silvia - Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Rheinlegendchen - Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen – Ging heut’ morgen über Feld - Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Lullaby - Jacques OFFENBACH (1819-1880) Les Contes d’Hoffmann-Barcarolle-belle Nuit - Les Contes d’Hoffmann-Une poupée aux yeux - Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) La Damnation de Faust-Le Roi de Thule - La Damnation de Faust-D’amour l’ardente flamme - Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Frauenliebe und Leben-Du Ring an meinem Finger - Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Haugtussa-Ved Gjaetle-Bekken - Giacomo MEYERBEER (1791-1864) Mina - Cécile CHAMINADE (1857-1944) L’Anneau d’argent - Je Voudrais… - Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957) Mariettas Lied - Come away, Death - Percy GRAINGER (1882-1961) The Sprig of Thyme - Gunnar HAHN (b 1908) Visa från Lappland - Kurt WEILL (1900-1950) One life to live - Benny ANDERSSON (b 1946) and Björn ULVAEUS (b 1945) Like an Angel passing through my room - Elvis COSTELLO (b 1954) For the stars - Franz Xavier GRUBER (1787-1863) Stille Nacht - Mel TORME and Robert WELLS The Christmas Song Anne Sophie von Otter, soprano with various accompaniments DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 472 474-2 [2 CDs 75’45 and 76’58] [JW]

A well chosen selection and a solid decade’s worth of distinction, exploration and achievement. … see Full Review

Michael PRAETORIUS (1571-1621) Seven Dances from Terpsichore (1612) - Anthony HOLBORNE (1547-1603) Dances from ‘Short Airs Both Grave and Light’ (1599)- Christoph DEMANTIUS (1567-1643) German and Polish Dances (1601)- Thoinot ARBEAU Dances from Orchesographie (1589) Praetorius Consort directed by Christopher Ball - No other recording details given REGIS RRC 1076 [77.09] [GH]

Highly recommended, with lively and colourful performances especially as it is at bargain price. … see Full Review

William WALTON (1902-1983) Cello Concerto * [24’03"] - The Twelve** [12’13"] - Coronation Te Deum*** [10’25"] - Variations on a Theme by Hindemith**** [23’04"] - Façade: excerpts from Suites 1 & 2***** [8’41"] - *Pierre Fournier (cello); Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - ** Ann Dowdall (sop); Shirley Minty (contralto); Robert Tear (ten); Michael Wakeham (bar); London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra - ***London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra - ****Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - *****BBC Symphony Orchestra Conducted by William Walton - Recordings: *Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 23 August 1959; ** and ***Westminster Abbey, London, 2 January 1966; ****Royal Festival Hall, London, 8 March 1963; *****Royal Albert Hall, London, 20 August 1968 BBC Legends BBCL 4098-2 [79’05"][JQ]

An invaluable disc ... just the sort of issue that make the BBC Legends series so important … see Full Review


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