Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Piano Concerto
No 2 - Piano Concerto No 4 - Cello Concerto No 1 - Introduction and
Rondo Capriccioso * - Philippe Entremont, piano - Leonard Rose, cello
- Pinchas Zukerman, violin * 
Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy
London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Mackerras * - Recorded
1961 (Piano Concerto No 4) 1964 (Piano Concerto No 2) 1967 (Cello Concerto)
1969 (Introduction and Rondo)
SONY SBK48276 [75’05]
[JW]
An
occasionally uneven but still attractive disc. … see Full
Review
Joly Braga SANTOS
(1924-1988) Symphonic
Variations on a popular song from the Alentejo (1951) [14.48] Symphony
No. 4 (1951) [53.05]
National SO of Ireland/Álvaro Cassuto rec RTE Concert Hall, Dublin,
28 June 2001 DDD MARCO POLO
8.225233 [67.53] [RB]
Braga
Santos - a nationalistic impressionist with Iberian exoticism tempered
with the crash of the Atlantic combers and oceanic blue, green and aquamarine.
A top recommendation. ... see Full Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Quartet
No 10 in E Flat D87 - Quartet No 14 D810 Death and the Maiden
Calvet Quartet - Recorded
1937 TELDEC TELEFUNKEN
LEGACY 0927 42661 2 [62’37] [JW]
Intimacy,
drama and sheer beauty of sound … see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1796-1828)
Piano Sonatas, Volume 2 No.
3 in E major, D459 No. 4 in A minor, D537 No. 8 in F sharp major, D
571-604-570 No. 16 in C major, D845 No. 17 in D major, D 850 No. 18
in G major, D894 Paul Badura-Skoda
(fortepiano) Recorded January 1993, Baumgartner Casino, Vienna; December
1993 Nos. 3 & 18), Institut Français, Vienna
ARCANA A409 [3CDs: 57.27, 60.06, 62.35] [TB]
Opinions
will be divided over whether the limited timbres of the fortepiano can
achieve the miracles of expressiveness and fluid lines that Schubert
created. … see Full Review
You can sample, download
or purchase this disc
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856) Piano Sonata No. 1 in F sharp minor, Opus 11
Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Opus14
Bernd Glemser (piano) Recorded 22-24 March 1997, Radio Concert Hall,
Lugano, Switzerland
NAXOS 8.554275 [65.09] [TB]
An excellent Schumann disc, a real tour-de-force … see Full
Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856)
Liederkreis,
Op.39 (1840) [28’15"]
Frauenliebe und leben, Op.42 (1840) [25’51"] Tragödie
I, II & III (1841-47) [6’21"] (from Romanzen und Balladen
IV, Op.64) 4 Duette, Op.78 (1849) (No.1: Tanzlied;
No.4: Wiegenlied) [5’53"] Spanische Liederspiel,
Op.74/4: In der Nacht (1849) [7’09"]
Nuccia Focile (Soprano) Lucio Gallo (Baritone) Erik Battaglia (Piano)
rec 2000 DDD WARNER
FONIT 0927 43312-2 [75’10"] [JPo]
Unremarkable
- really sums up this disc … see Full
Review
Cyril
SCOTT (1879-1970)
Moods
& Impressions - Six Pieces (1903) - Two Pierrot Pieces Op 35
(1904) - Sea-Marge – meditation (1914) - Impressions from the Jungle
Book (1912) - Rainbow Trout (1916) - Butterfly Waltz (1915) - A Little
Russian Suite (1916) - First Bagatelle (1919) - Moods (1922) - Inclination
a la Danse (1922) - Valse Sentimentale (1929)
Christopher Howell, piano - Recorded Regson Studios, Milan 15th
and 16th July 1993
TREMULA TREM 104-2 [65’16] [JW]
As
a survey of Scott’s compositional directions in the first third of the
twentieth century this disc carries with it sensitivity and conviction.
… see Full Review
Joaquim
SERRA (1907 – 1957) Puigsoliu (1957,
orch. Brotons) - Rural Impressions (1927) - Variations for Orchestra
and Piano (1931)a - Romántica Two Symphonic Sketches
Emili Brugalla (piano)a;
El Vallès Symphony Orchestra; Salvador Brotons - Recorded: Auditorio
del Centro Cultural de Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, September
2000 NAXOS 8.555871
[57:31] [HC]
Shades
of Respighi and de Falla … some welcome unpretentious freshness of its
own - one of its most endearing qualities … remarkable orchestral flair.
… see Full Review
Jean SIBELIUS
(1865-1957) The Seven Symphonies and a selection
of the tone poems -
DISC 1 [40.03] Symphony No. 1 (rec Jan 1976) [39.31] - DISC 2 [73.14]
Symphony No. 2 (rec Sept 1974) [45.34] Symphony No. 3 (rec Nov 1970)
[27.27] - DISC 3 [69.02] Symphony No. 4 (rec May 1977) [36.14] Symphony
No. 5 (rec Dec 1971) [32.38] - DISC 4 [53.24] Symphony No. 6 (rec Jan/Feb
1974) [29.35] Symphony No. 7 (rec Jan/Feb 1974) [23.49] - DISC 5 Finlandia
(rec Dec 1971) [8.16] Valse Triste [5.32] Night Ride and Sunrise (rec
May/June 1977) [16.08] The Swan of Tuonela [9.02] * En Saga (rec Nov
1970) [19.54] Berlin SO/Kurt
Sanderling
*Berlin Radio SO/Paavo Berglund (rec 1983) - All Sanderling recordings
made in the Christuskirche, Berlin recorded 1970-77 - ADD stereo recordings
digitally remastered.
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 6328
[5CDs: 40.03+73.14+69.02+53.24+59.02] [NH]
An
extremely good value introduction to one of the greatest symphonists
ever….see Full Review
Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924)
Piano
Quartet no. 1 in F, op. 15 (1879)* - Piano Trio no. 1 in E flat, op.
35 - Pirasti Trio, with Philip Dukes* - Recorded St. Silas’ Church,
Kentish Town, London, 28th-30th July 1998
ASV CD DCA 1056 [58’33"] - Charles
Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Piano Trio no. 2 in g, op.
73 (1899) - HOLST Gustav (1874-1934)
Short Pianoforte Trio in E (1894) - BAX
Sir Arnold (1883-1952) Piano Trio in B flat (1946) - Recorded
Conway Hall, London, 3rd-5th August 1994
ASV CD DCA 925 [71’42"][CH]
The
Stanford Piano Quartet is a real find, but there is much else to enjoy.
The performances are admirable and committed. … see Full
Review
Richard
STOKER
(1938-) Vocal Music: Solos, Duos, Folk
Song Arrangements, Realisations. CD1: Songs of Love and Loss Op.19
(1952-1957) - Two Arias from Johnson Preserv'd Op.30 (1966/67)
- Canticle 2 Make me a Willow Cabin Op.44 (1972/73) - Aspects
of Flight Op.48 (1974) - CD2: Two Vocal Duos: Requiescat Op.20
and Glory of the Dove Op.41 (1969/1976) - Folk song Arrangements
Op. 39b (1968-1988) - Two Realisations Op.78/79 (??) (Op78
Lullaby, Byrd; Op79 When
I am laid in earth, Purcell)
- Margaret Feaviour, soprano; Jacqueline Fox, mezzo soprano; Richard
Stoker, piano - Recorded at Elite CD Studios, Bromley, Kent c2000
ASC Classical Series CS CD17 [CD1: 49.25; CD2: 36.04] [JF]
An interesting
CD that explores a number of facets of this composer's work. The folk
songs are sublime and the Aspects of Flight deserve to be in the repertoire
of all vocalists. Well worth exploring if you can get hold of a copy....
See Full Review
Richard
STOKER
(1938-)
Vocal music and Piano Duos - Four Shakespeare Songs Op.69 (1988),
Quatre Morceaux à Quatre Mains Op.77 (1988), Music
that brings sweet sleep Op.25 (1968), Diversions on a Theme of
Lennox Berkeley Op.46 (1975), Four Yeats Songs Op.64 (1968),
Duologue Op.47 (1975), Kristallnacht Monody Op.76 (1998),
Portrait of a Town Op.52 (1976), Aspects I in III Op.39 (1970),
Jacqueline Fox, mezzo-soprano; Margaret Feaviour, Soprano
Harvey and Helen Davies - The Davies Piano Duo; and the composer, piano.
Recorded at the Highgate Recording Studios London circa 1998
ASC CLASSICAL SERIES ASC CS CD10 [66.00] [JF]
Well
worth a listen. This is interesting and varied stuff. A composer who
can handle a variety of styles and produce a satisfying synthesis that
is his own voice. … see Full
Review
Toru TAKEMITSU
(1930 - 1996) Complete
Works For solo Piano - For Away (1973)[6.43] Litany – in Memory
of Michael Vyner (1950/1989)[10.09] Piano Pieces for Children (1979)[2.46]
Undisturbed Rest (1952/1959)[7.27] Rain Tree Sketch (1982)[4.22] Les
yeux clos II (1989)[7.48] Piano Distance (1961)[4.24] Romance for Piano
(1948/1949)[4.42] Rain Tree Sketch II (1992)[3.57] Les yeux clos I (1979)[6.53]
Paul Crossley - A Vision of Takemitsu (1999)[7.17]
Paul Crossley, piano - Rec St John’s, Smith Square, London, 10-12 September
1999 GMN.COM GMNC0114
[66.28] [AT]
Cool,
calm, extremely beautiful but not a reputation that will last. … see
Full Review
John
TAVENER (b. 1944) - Choral Ikons, As
one who has slept, A Hymn to the Mother of God, Song for Athene, A parting
gift for Tam Farrow, Annunciation, Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis, The Lamb,
The Tyger, The Hymn of the Unwaning Light, The Lord’s Prayer - Plus
extra features: Manifestations of God – John Tavener on his
choral music - The parents of Athene talk about the inspiration behind
Song for Athene - The Ikon chooses you – Robert J. Roozemond
on spiritual and artistic origins of ikons - The Choir/James Whitbourn
- Filmed at TV Support Studios, Hilversum, The Netherlands, 2000?
BBC Opus Arte OA 0854 D [100.00] [CT]
A
collection of Tavener’s shorter, mostly well known choral works, given
excellent performances enhanced by some stunning visuals and commentary
from the composer. … see Full Review
Pytor Il’lyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony
Number 4 in F minor, opus 36 (1877). Romeo and Juliet Fantasy
Overture (1880 version)
Colorado Symphony Orchestra/Marin Alsop - Recorded September 11, 2000
(Romeo and Juliet), and September 8-10 live in concert (Symphony). [DDD]
NAXOS 8.555714 [63:56]
[KS]
Definitely
deserves to be heard. … see Full Review
Michael TIPPETT (1905-1998)
Symphony No. 1 (1945) [36.24] - Symphony No. 2 (1957) [33.29] -
Symphony No. 3 (1972) [54.59] - Suite in D for the Birthday of Prince
Charles (1948) [14.45] - Heather Harper (3)
London SO/Colin Davis
Chicago SO/Georg Solti (suite) - rec Brent Town Hall, Wembley, Dec 1975,
(1); Oct 1973 (3); Kingsway Hall, Mar 1967 (2); Medinah Temple, Chicago,
May 1981 DDD, (suite) ADD
DECCA The British Music Collection 473 092-2 [2CDs: 140.16] [RB]
Valuable
for restoring the first recordings of these busy but not always emotionally
yielding symphonies. ... see Full Review
Antonín TUČAPSKÝ (b.1928)
Violin
Concerto (1993) [27.03] Viola Concerto (1996) [29.16]
Víteszlav Kuzník (violin) Pavel Peřina (viola) Janacek
PO/Petr Vronský (violin concerto) Prague SO/Elli Jaffe (viola
concerto) rec Smetana Hall, Prague, 28 March 1999 (violin); 28 Jan 2000
live - possibly the premiere (viola). DDD
SOMM RECORDING SOMMCD 221 [56.34] [RB]
This
is a covetable CD - the sort of disc which makes reviewing 'peripheral'
repertoire a joy. With its nostalgia and surreal fantasy I shall be
returning to these concertos again. see Full
Review
Mark-Anthony
TURNAGE (b. 1960) Some Days
(1989) [1 Come Away, my love (Joseph Kariuki); 2 Lonely (Bloke Modisane);
3 Tango; 4 Some Days (James Baldwin); 5 Blues – Now I am Absolutely
Alone, Forever] Your Rockaby (1994) Night Dances (1981)
Dispelling the Fears (1994-95) Blood on the Floor (1994-95):
[1 Blood on the Floor; 2 Junior Addict; 3 Shout; 4 Sweet and Decay;
5 Needles; 6 Elegy for Andy; 7 Cut Up; 8 Crackdown; 9 Dispelling the
Fears) Cynthia Clarey
(mezzo) Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Bernard Haitink (Some Days)
Martin Robertson (Saxophone) BBC Symphony Orchestra/Andrew Davis (Your
Rockaby) Gareth Hulse (oboe/cor anglais), Helen Tunstall (harp),
John Constable (celesta), John Wallace (trumpet) London Sinfonietta/Oliver
Knussen (Night Dances) Håkan Hardenberger and John Wallace
(trumpets) Philharmonia Orchestra/Daniel Harding (Dispelling the
Fears) Ensemble Modern/Peter Rundel: John Scofield (guitar), Peter
Erskine (drum kit), Martin Robertson (saxophone and bass clarinet),
William Forman and Bruce Knockles (solo trumpets) (Blood on the Floor)
Recorded London 1995 (Your Rockaby) London 1996
(Night Dances, Dispelling the Fears) "live"
at Queen Elizabeth Hall London, Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Philharmonie,
Köln, 1996 (Blood on the Floor) Chicago 1997 (Some Days)
DDD DECCA - THE
BRITISH MUSIC COLLECTION 468 814-2 [2CDs: 70:33+68:37] [CT]
One of the most individual voices in British contemporary music.
The performances are first class and in the case of Blood on the
Floor definitive. … see Full Review
Erkki-Sven TÜÜR
(born 1956) Symphony No. 3 Cello Concerto Lighthouse,
for string orchestra David
Geringas (cello) Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna/Dennis Russell Davies
Recorded July-August 1998, ORF Studio, Vienna ECM
New Series ECM 1673 [63.33] [TB]
An
excellent introduction … constant organic growth, … growth of sound
from silence tellingly used … see Full Review
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
Il
Trovatore (1853) Manrico, Roberto Alagna, (ten). Leonora, Angela
Gheorghiu, (sop). Di Luna, Thomas Hampson, (bar). Azucena, Larissa Diadkova,
(m sop). Ferrando, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, (bass). Ines, Federica Proietti,
(sop). Ruiz, Enrico Facini, (ten) London Voices 
London Symphony Orchestra/Antonio Pappano - Recorded, No 1 Studio Abbey
Road, London, August-Sept 2001 - Full Price
EMI CDS 5 57360 2 [2CDs: 132.17] [RJF]
Were
it not for my reservations about one contribution, this issue would
be vying to be tops in a highly competitive league. … see Full
Review
Matthijs VERMEULEN
(1888-1967) Symphony No. 2 Prélude
á la nouvelle journée (1919-20) [26.22] Symphony No.
6 Les Minutes heureuses (1956-58) [25.46] Symphony No.
7 Dithyramb pour les temps á venir (1963-65) [17.05] Residentie
Orchestra, The Hague/Gennady Rozhdestvensky rec Dr Anton Philiszaal,
The Hague, Nederlands, 22-26 Nov 1999 CHANDOS CHAN
9735 [69.34] [RB]
Energy, desperation, joy in torrents and cascades from a rebel
eccentric symphonist. A voice in the wilderness. ... see Full
Review
Henry VIEUXTEMPS
(1820-1881) Sonata in B Flat Op 36 Elegie for Viola
and Piano Op 30 Capriccio for Viola Solo Op post No 9 La Nuit – by Felicien
David, arr Vieuxtemps
Sonata Op post No 14 – unfinished
Roberto Diaz, viola Robert Koenig, piano Recorded Toronto Centre for
the Arts February 2001
NAXOS 8.555262 [64’00] [JW]
Lyricism, passion, quixotic and rhythmically energised … see Full
Review
Antonio
Vivaldi (1678-1741); ; Complete Flute Concerti (Opus
10, Nr. 1 in F, Nr. 2 in G, Nr. 3 in D, Nr. 4 in G, Nr. 5 in F, Nr.
6 in G. Concerto in D P.295, Concerto in a minor P. 80, Concerto in
D, P.203, Concerto in G P. 140, Concerto in c minor P. 440, Concerto
in G P.118, Concerto in C for two flutes P. 76, Concerto for flute and
two violins in a minor, P. 77, Concerto in G P 141, Concerto in f minor
P 139, Concerto in e minor P. 142, Concerto for piccolo in C P. 79,
Concerto for Piccolo in C P. 78) ;
Jean-Pierre Rampal, flute ; I Solisti Veniti ; Claudio Scimone, conductor
; Sony Essential Classics, SB2K89981 ; Two
Discs, [75’02] and [74’42], ADD ; Original recordings made in 1966-67.
[KS]
Sparkling and fresh ... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) -
Il
Giustino RV 717 [136.13] - Libretto after Count Nicolò
Beregan; Anastasio - Marina Comparato; Arianna - Dominique Labelle;
Giustino - Francesca Provvisionato; Leocasta - Geraldine McGreevy; Vitaliano
- Leonardo De Lisi; Amanzio - Laura Cherici
Il Complesso Barocco/Alan Curtis - Rec: October 2001 (live and in sessions),
Grote Zaal, Concert-en - congressgebou de Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands
VIRGIN VERITAS 5455182
[2CDs: 136.13][KM]
Delightful
recording. The musicians are smooth and excellent, the singers top-notch,
and the music over two hours of pleasure … see Full
Review
Richard WAGNER (1813-1883)
Die
Meistersinger con Nürnberg – Prelude to Act I; Götterdämmerung
– Siegfried’s Funeral Music, Act III; Tristan und Isolde – Prelude to
Act I; Der Fliegende Holländer – Overture; Tannhäuser – Overture
(Dresden version); Lohengrin – Prelude to Act III; Siegfried Idyll
Berlin State Opera Orchestra/Karl Muck - Recorded 1927-29
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110858 [75’43] [JW]
Orchestral
sonorities most impressive, ensemble discipline high, contemporary performance
practices such as mass portamenti notably absent, strings clean-limbed.
Tempi well chosen … see Full Review
Sir
Thomas Beecham conducts Wagner - Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Der fliegende Holländer – overture;
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Introduction
to Act III, Dance of the Apprentices, Entry of the Masters - Parsifal
– Good Friday Music, Gotterdämmerung: Siegfried’s
Rhine Journey,
Funeral
Music - Lohengrin – Prelude to Act I - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Thomas Beecham - Recorded
1951-54 SONY CLASSICAL
SMK89889 [60’34] [JW]
Admirable
qualities of rhythm, melodic contour, elegant phrasing and passionate
generosity and no mannerisms whatsoever … see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883); ; Die Walküre ;
Duccio del Monte (baritone) (Wotan) ; Andrew Brunsdon (tenor) (Siegmund)
; Gertrud Offenthal (soprano) (Sieglinde) ; Thomas Hay (bass) (Hunding)
; Elena Comotti (soprano) (Brünnhilde) ; Julia Oesch (soprano)
(Fricka) ; Maria Gessler, Monike Waeckerle, Barbara Kandler, Susanne
Geb, ; Anahita Ahsef, Maria Toledo, Heidi Jütten (Valkyries) ;
Orchester der Tiroler Festspiele/Gustav Kuhn ; Rec 14, 18, 21 July 2001,
Tiroler Festspiele, Erl, Austria ;
ARTE NOVA 74321 90068 2 [3CDs: 76.51+68.38+64.48] [TB]
A creditable release well worth hearing, but it is worth spending
a little more, for the sake of performance and for accessing a libretto.
… see Full Review
William WALTON
(1902-1983) Belshazzar’s
Feast [36’26"] - Symphony No 1 in B flat minor* [41’17"]
- Donald McIntyre (baritone) - BBC Chorus - BBC Choral Society - Christ
Church Harmonic Choir - BBC Symphony Orchestra - *Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra Conducted by
Sir William Walton - Recordings: Royal Festival Hall, London, 22 September
1965; *Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 23 August 1959
BBC Legends BBCL 4097-2 [77’43"] [JQ]
A
valuable document though the performances are not flawless … see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH 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
WILLIAM
WALTON William
Walton conducts:- Belshazzar’s Feast -
Donald McIntyre, BBC Chorus, BBC Choral Society, Christ Church Harmonic
Choir, BBC Symphony Orchestra. Royal Festival Hall 22 September 1965
- Symphony No 1 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Edinburgh
Festival 23 August 1959
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4097-2 [77:43] - WILLIAM
WALTON - William Walton conducts:- Cello Concerto Pierre
Fournier, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Edinburgh Festival 23 August
1959 - The Twelve (first performance of
orchestral version) - Coronation Te Deum Ann Dowdall,
Shirley Minty, Robert Tear, Michael Wakeham, London Philharmonic Choir
and Orchestra. Westminster Abbey 2 January 1966. Variations on
a theme by Hindemith (first performance) - Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra. Royal Festival Hall 8 March 1963 - Façade
extracts: Tango-pasodoble, Popular Song, Old Sir Faulk, Tarantella-Sevillana
- BBC Symphony Orchestra. RAH Prom 20 August 1968
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4098-2 [79:05] [SL]
These
are quite simply CDs that should not be missed. … see Full Review
William
WALTON (1902-1983) Walton conducts Walton
in premiere recordings - Viola Concerto (1929) [22.52] -
Belshazzar's Feast (1933) [33.40] - Façade
- Suite No. 1: Polka; Valse; Swiss Yodelling Song; Tango-Pasodoble;
Tarantella, Sevillana (1926) [10.17] - Façade - Suite No.
2: Fanfare; Scotch Rhapsody; Country Dance; Noche Espagnole;
Popular Song; Old Sir Faulk (1936) [10.16] - LPO (Façade)
Frederick Riddle/LSO (Concerto)
Dennis Noble (bar)/Huddersfield Choral Society/Liverpool PO/Herbert
Bardgett cond. William Walton - rec: 5 Mar 1936; 25 Oct 1938 (Façade);
6 Dec 1937 (Concerto); 3, 10 Jan 1943 rec under auspices of British
Council. Mono ADD PEARL
GEM 0171 [76.15] [RB]
Will
please time-travelling enthusiasts of these Walton works … see Full
Review
RALPH
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS A
London Symphony Symphony No. 8 in D minor
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra Vernon Handley Rec1993 DDD
Classics for Pleasure 7243 5 75309 2 7
Impressive
sense of structure … scrupulous observance of dynamic markings,
magical … affecting and supremely eloquent...see Full
Review
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Flos
Campi (1925) [24.14] Oboe Concerto (1944) [17.41] Symphony No. 5
(1943) [39.17] Christopher
Balmer, viola
Jonathan Small, oboe, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir (chorus master
Ian Tracey)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley Rec. Philharmonic
Hall, Liverpool, September 1986 and 30 November/1st December
1990 EMI CLASSICS FOR
PLEASURE 72435753112 [79.22] [AT]
The
symphony contains some of the most beautiful music ever written by an
Englishman, and the orchestra plays it splendidly. … see Full
Review
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) ‘A
Lark And A Cuckoo’ VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
The Lark Ascending (solo violin, David Nolan) The
Wasps – Aristophanic Suite (1. Overture; 2. Entr’acte; 3. March
Past of the Kitchen Utensils; 4. Entr’acte; 5. Ballet and Final Tableau)
Prelude and Fugue in c minor (organ, David Bell) DELIUS
Intermezzo from Fennimore and Gerda, On Hearing
the First Cuckoo in Spring, Sleigh Ride, Irmelin Prelude, La Calinda
London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Vernon Handley Recorded in St.Augustine’s, Kilburn June 1985
and February 1978, and Henry Wood Hall, Southwark October 1977
EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 72435 75316 2 7 [77:27] [GPJ]
Handley
is always worth hearing in this repertoire. … see Full
Review
Richard WAGNER (1813-1883)
- Die
Meistersinger von Nurnberg - Vorspiel Act 1 - Vorspiel Act 3 - Dance
of the Apprentices - Entry of the Masters - Götterdammerung
- Siegfried’s Rhine Journey - Funeral March - Brunnhilde’s Immolation
Scene - Rienzi - Overture - Berit Lindholm, soprano - London
Symphony Orchestra and Chorus - New Philharmonia Orchestra
Leopold Stokowski - Recorded Fairfield Hall, Croydon September 1967
(Meistersinger), Royal Festival Hall June 1967 (Götterdammerung),
Royal Festival Hall June 1968 (Rienzi)
BBCL 4088-2 [73’25] [JW]
A
disc that furnishes more compelling evidence of Stokowski’s orchestral
greatness. … see Full Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Parsifal
Act II complete Lauritz
Melchior – Parsifal Kirsten Flagstad – Kundry Arnold Gabor - Klingsor
Vocal Ensemble and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera New York Erich
Leinsdorf With Finale to Act III, a composite performance with Lauritz
Melchior and Herbert Janssen from ?1948, splicing Nur eine Waffe
taugh from commercially issued Victor disc (Victor1938)
GUILD GHCD 2201 [76’21] [JW]
A
unique recorded event in sound better than it has ever received. … see
Full Review
William
WALLACE (1812-1865)
Celtic Fantasies
Rosemary Tuck, piano Recorded Large Room, City Hall, Wexford October
2001 CALA-UNITED CACD
88042 [78’32] [JW]
One
of Waterford’s most quixotic, far travelled, and talented sons has come
home at last. … see Full Review
Richard WILSON (born
1941) Æthelred
the Unready: An Opera in Seven Scenes (1992/4, with revisions in
2001) Robert Osborne (Æthelred); Elizabeth Weigle (Emma, his wife);
Drew Minter (Clio); Andrew Childs (William of Malmesbury); Jonathan
Goodman (Publicist); Curtis Streetman (Hypnotist); Thea Tullman (Clio’s
Assistant); Allen Blustine (clarinet); Rolf Schulte (violin); Dorothy
Lawson (cello); Blanca Uribe (piano); Paul Hotstetter, Matthew Gold
(percussion); Richard Wilson
(conductor) Recorded: (live) Merkin Hall, NYC, May 2001
ALBANY TROY 512 [75:12] [HC]
Appropriately
light-hearted and lively throughout, deftly and lightly scored … see
Full Review
Ermanno
WOLF-FERRARI (1876
– 1948) Il segreto di Susanna - Intermezzo in one act., Il
Conte Gil…Giuseppe Valdengo (tenor), La Contessa Susanna…Elena Rizzieri
(soprano), Sante, domestico…mime, Recorded Turin: 10 November 1954 -
Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1848) La
Favorita: Sinfonia, Recorded: Turin 23 November 1955 - Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Rigoletto: Preludio, Recorded: Turin 22-24 February
1954, Un Ballo In Maschera: Preludio, Recorded: Turin
16 November 1954 - Aida: Preludio, Recorded: Turin 18
December 1956 - Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Madame Butterfly:Coro a bocca chiusa, Coro Cetra-
M. del coro: Giulio Mogliotti, Recorded Turin 26 July 1954, Remastered
2002 Orchestra Sinfonica
di Torino della RAI /Angelo Questa - ADD
WARNER FONIT 0927 43616 – 2 [58.11] [RM]
Silly
story: good orchestration: some delightful singing. A rarely performed
work presented well without being outstanding. … see Full
Review
Stefan
WOLPE (1902
– 1972) -
Sonata No.1 "Stehende Musik" (1925) - Adagio (1920)
- Tango (1927) - The Good Spirit of a Right Cause (1942) - Encouragements
for Piano (1943/7) - Waltz for Merle (1952) - Zemach Suite (1939)
David Holzman (piano) - Recorded: Sonic Temple, Roslindale, Mass., October
2000, November 2000 and July 2001
BRIDGE 9116 [64:30] [HC]
Calls
for considerable strength and much conviction. Holzman has both and
his committed readings clearly the result of a painstaking and thorough
immersion in Wolpe’s intricate music. … see Full
Review
Udo ZIMMERMANN (born
1943) Scenes
from Der Schuhu und die fliegende Prinzessin (The Schuhu and
the Flying Princess) (1976)
Helga Termer (soprano), Prinzessin; Jürgen Freier (baritone), Schuhu;
Rundfunk-Sinfonie Orchester Leipzig; Peter Gülke Recorded: Bethanienkirche,
Leipzig, 1978 NOVA
Rediscovered BERLIN CLASSICS 0013012 BC [44:11] [HC]
A
dedicated rendering of this all-embracing, colourful score … 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]
Revolving
notes from clipart.com
Return
to Front page