Sir
Malcolm ARNOLD
(born 1921) The Collection A
Grand, Grand Overture, Opus 57 Carnival of Animals, Opus 72 Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley Concerto for 2 Pianos (3 Hands),
Opus 104 Serenade, Opus 26 Larch Trees, Opus 3 David Nettle &
Richard Markham (pianos) London Musici/Mark Stephenson English Dances,
Opus 27 (arr for brass band) English Dances, Opus 33 (arr for brass
band) Scottish Dances, Opus 59 (arr for brass band) Little Suite No.
1 for Brass Band, Opus 80 Cornish Dances, Opus 91 (arr for brass band)
Little Suite No. 2 for Brass Band, Opus 93 The Padstow Lifeboat, Opus
94 Fantasy for Brass Band, Opus 114 Grimethorpe Colliery UK Coal
Band/Elgar Howarth Overture, Beckus the Dandipratt, Opus 5 Anniversary
Overture, Opus 99 BBC Concert Orchestra/Vernon Handley Guitar
Concerto, Opus 67 Julian Bream (guitar)/Melos Ensemble/Malcolm Arnold
Rec RCA 1959 (Guitar Concerto), RCA & Conifer 1992-97 (remainder)
RCA-BMG 74321 88392-2
[2CDs: 75.36; 76.04] [JQ]
A
hugely enjoyable anniversary tribute to a composer who has given enormous
pleasure to performers and audiences for over 60 years. All the performances
are fully worthy of the occasion, the sound is first class throughout.
see Full Review
Kurt ATTERBERG
(1887-1974) Piano
Concerto - Rhapsody - Ballade and Passacaglia - Löve Derwinger
(piano) - Radio-Philharmonie Hannover des NDR
Conducted by Ari Rasilainen - Rec. 29 Feb - 3 March 2000, Grosser Sendesaal
Hannover CPO 999 732-2
[54:53] [IL]
A
feast for unashamed romantics. Grand Romantic, heart-on-sleeve stuff,
over the top music, delivered in bravura performances see Full
Review
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Complete Cantatas, Volume 12 -
Cantata BWV8: Liebster Gott, wann werd ich sterben' - Cantata BWV78:
'Jesu der du meine Seele' - Cantata BWV91, 'Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ'
- Cantata BWV99, 'Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan' - Cantata BWV107,
'Was willst du dich betrben' - Cantata BWV111, 'Was mein Gott will,
das g'scheh allzeit' - Cantata BWV114, 'Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost'
- Cantata BWV116, 'Du Friedefrst, Herr Jesus Christ' - Cantata BWV121,
'Christum wir sollen loben schon' - Cantata BWV124, 'Meniem Jesum lass
ich nicht' - Cantata BWV135, 'Ach Herr, mich armen Snder' - Lisa Larsson,
Sibylla Rubens (sopranos), Annette Markert (contralto), Christoph Prgardien
(tenor), Klaus Mertens (bass) - Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir
Ton Koopman - Rec March
2000, Waalse Kerk, Amsterdam
ERATO 8573 85842-2 [3CDs: 65.51, 62.12, 73.10] [TB]
Koopman's
performances are eminently sane and beautifully judged. see Full
Review
Carl
Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788)
- The Solo Keyboard Music - Volume 7 [78.34] Sonata in G major,
W65/22 (H.56) - Sonata in A minor, W65/25 (H.61) - Sonata in F major,
W62/8 (H.55) - Sonata in D minor, W65/23 (H.57) - Sonata in C major,
W62/10 (H.59) Miklós
Spányi, clavichord - Rec: July 1999, House of the Lukijoki Youth
Association, Finland.
BIS CD-1086 [78.34] [KM]
Yet
another excellent volume of solo keyboard works adds to this monumental
series by Miklós Spányi. see
Full Review
Carl
Philipp Emauel BACH (1714
1788) Sonata
in G minor Wq 65/17 Rondo in A major Wq 58/1 - Sonata in C minor Wq
65/31 - Sonata in D major Wq 61/2 - Sonata in F sharp minor Wq 52/4
- Rondo in D minor Wq 61/4 - Sonata in G major Wq 62/19 - Rondo in C
minor Wq 59/4 - Sonata in E minor Wq 59/1 - Andante con tenerezza
Mikhail Pletnev piano - recorded 10/98 in Teldec-Studio, Berlin DDD
DG 459 614-2 [78.27]
[JP]
I
suspect that this will be one of my discs of the year unless Pletnev
does the same thing again. This disc should give any sympathetic listener
great pleasure and satisfaction. see Full
Review
Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Orgel-Büchlein
Norbert Petry (organ)
(harpsichord) - Rec May 1990, St Martin de Sarralbe, Moselle
SOLVAY K617 K617004 [74.10] [TB]
Petry
is an accomplished player, and if occasionally one wonders whether more
flamboyance might be possible, his readings maintain a true integrity
of style and manner. see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Toccata
and Fugue in D minor, BWV565 Prelude and Fugue in E flat major, BWV552
Prelude and Fugue in G minor, BWV542 Passacaglia in C minor, BWV582
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major, BWV564
Herbert Tazechi Rec Teldec May 1984, organ of the Court Church, Dresden
APEX 09274 13732
[63.55] [TB]
At
bargain price this CD makes an interesting option, since it contains
some wonderful music particularly well performed. see Full
Review
Granville
BANTOCK
(1868-1946) King Lear Overture, Kubla
Khan, Prometheus Unbound Symphonic Prelude, The Land-Of-The-Ever-Young,
The Frogs (Of Aristophanes) Overture, Orion Dramatic Overture,
Festival March
University of Salford Brass Band-Dr. Roy Newsome Recorded Maxwell Hall,
University of Salford
DOYEN DOYCD 109 DDD [66:40] [CT]
Roy
Newsome and the University of Salford Brass Band acquit themselves well
in repertoire that will be essential listening for any Bantock enthusiasts.
see Full Review
George
BARATI
(1913-1966) -
Symphony No. 1 Alpine (1963) [24.56] - Chant of Light (1994-95)
[19.49] - Chant of Darkness (1993) [16.54]
Budapest SO/Lászlo Kováks (symphony) - Czech Radio SO/Vladimir
Válek - rec 20-23 Apr 1998, Budapest (Sym); 29 Sept 1995 Prague
(Chants) NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS
8.559063 [61.57] [RB]
Barati
the unrepentant, even proud, exponent of modernism. Chant of Darkness
the most gripping work in this company lit by a tragic compulsion.
see Full Review
Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981)
Symphony
No. 2 (1944) [26.38] Cello Concerto (1946) [27.08] Medea - Suite (1947)
[23.54] Zara Nelsova (cello)
New SO/composer rec 1950, Decca, London, mono
PEARL GEM 0151 [77.47] [RB]
The
later hyper-romantic Barber of the 1940s in recordings dating from only
a few years after the works were written see Full
Review.
BELA
BARTÓK
(1881-1945) PIANO MUSIC VOL. 2 Dance
Suite, Sz.77 Slovakian Dance, Improvisations,Op. 20,Sz.74 Petite Suite,
Sz.105 Romanian Folk Dances, Sz.56 Sonatina, Sz.55 Romanian Christmas
Carols,Sz.57 Jenö
Jandó (piano) Recorded Phoenix Studio, Prague October 1999
NAXOS 8.554718 [56.03]
[TH]
One
can safely listen to these Jandó performances. Jandó on
home territory here. A series to watch with interest, regardless of
the famously tempting Naxos price. see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano
Trios; Violin Sonata; Cello Sonatas Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)Piano Trio
Pinchas Zukerman (violin), Jacqueline Du Pré (cello), Daniel
Barenboim (piano) Rec December 1969, January 1970 (Piano Trios), Abbey
Road Studios, London August 1970 (cello and piano), Usher Hall, Edinburgh
December 1971, August 1972, June, July 1973 (violin and piano), Zehlendorf,
Berlin and Abbey Road Studios, London July 1972 (Tchaikovsky), Mann
Auditorium, Tel Aviv
EMI CLASSICS 5 74447 2 [9 CDs] [TB]
Virtuoso
rhythmic attack. Du Pré's Cello Sonatas rich-toned and full of
commitment. Recordings warm and ambient. The performances tend to play
the music for all it is worth. The Tchaikovsky is the jewel in the crown
see Full Review
JUSSI BJÖRLING: PEARL FISHERS
DUET/FAVOURITE ARIAS, DUETS 1.
Bizet Au fond du temple saint from Les Pecheurs des Perles with
Robert Merrill (baritone) (1951), 2 Bizet Flower Song from Carmen
(1938), 3. Massenet Je suis seul from Manon (1945), 4. Ah! lève-toi
soleil from Roméo et Juliette(1946), 5. Meyerbeer Mi batte
il cor from LAfricana (1937), 6. Verdi Celeste Aida from Aida(1951),
7. Verdi Solenne in questora from La Forza del Destino (1951),
8. Verdi Qual pallor from Don Carlos(1951), 9. Verdi Si, pel ciel
from Otello(1951) 10. Ponchielli Cielo e mar from La Gioconda
(1951), 11. Puccini Dionna non vidi mai from Manon Lescaut (1948),
12. Puccini - Che gelida la manina from La Bohème (1936), 13.
Puccini O Mimi, tu piu non torni from La Bohème(1951), 14.
Mascagni O Lola bianca from Cavalleria Rusticana(1948), 15. Mamma,
quel vino e generoso from Cavalleria Rusticana (1944), 16. Leoncavallo
Vesti la giubba from I Pagliacci (1944), 17. Leoncavallo Mattinata
(1944), 18. Tosti Ideale (1937), 19. Alfvén Skogen sover,
with Harry Ebert (piano) (1938)
Jussi Bjørling (tenor) with Orchestra cond. Grevillius (2,5,12,15,16,17),
Orchestra of the Royal Opera Stockholm/Grevillius (3,4,11,14,18), RCA
Victor Orchestra/Cellini (1,6,7,8,9,10,13)
REGIS RRC 1080 [74:58] [GPJ]
Jussi
Bjørling may not be the greatest singer of the last century,
but he undoubtedly had one of the most supremely beautiful voices.
see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833
1897) Cello
Sonata 1 in E minor, Op. 38, (1862 1865) Cello Sonata 2 in F, Op. 99,
(1886) Cello Sonata arr from Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Op. 78 (1878-79)
* Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873
1943) Cello Sonata in G minor, Op 19, (1901) ** Robert
SCHUMANN (1810
1856) Adagio and Allegro in A flat, Op. 70, (1849) * 3 Fantasiestuke
for cello and piano Op. 70 (1849) **
Yo Yo Ma cello with Emanuel Ax piano Janos Starker cello with Rudolph
Buchbinder piano * Janos Starker cello with Shigeo Neriki piano ** recorded
1985, 1991 and 1994 DDD
RCA Red Seal 74321 845982 2 CDs [136.26] (budget priced)
[JP]
Anyone
purchasing this French RCA double disc is in for a very rewarding two
and a quarter hours listening see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) -
Trio for violin, horn and piano, Opus 40
György LIGETI (b. 1923) - Trio
for violin, horn and piano (1982)
Danish Horn Trio Rec October 1998 (Brahms), May 1999 (Ligeti), Vestkirken,
Ballerup, Denmark CHANDOS
CHAN 9964 [55.02] [TB]
A
most distinguished issue, and all praise to Chandos for sanctioning
this imaginative combination of composers. see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Clarinet
Sonatas: No. 1 in F minor, op. 120/1, No. 2 in E flat, op. 120/2 Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) 3 Phantasiestücke, op. 73
Harold Wright (clarinet), Peter Serkin (pianoforte) Recorded 25-29 August
1992, South Mountain Concert Hall, Pittsfield MA
BOSTON RECORDS BR 1005 CD [53.40]
A
disc which should preserve the name of Harold Wright for ever more.
It achieves a sublime simplicity that is to be wondered at. see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
String
Sextets: No. 1 in B flat, op. 18, no. 2 in G, op. 36
Yehudi Menuhin, Robert Masters (violin), Cecil Aronowitz, Ernst Wallfisch
(viola), Maurice Gendron, Derek Simpson (violoncellos) Recorded Sep.
1963, Dec. 1964, No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London
EMI CLASSICS CDE 5 74957 2 [75.02] [CH]
The
quite wonderful playing of no. 1, in particular, makes this an essential
disc. see Full Review
Benjamin
BRITTEN
(1913 - 1976) Temporal Variations,
for oboe and piano (1936); Six Metamorphoses after Ovid, for solo oboe
(op. 49, 1951); (1) Phantasy Quartet, for oboe and string
trio (op. 2, 1933); Two Insect Pieces, for oboe and piano (1935); Suite
No. 1, for violoncello (op. 72, 1964)
Contrastes (Eric Speller - oboe, Ophelie Gaillard - violoncello, Olivier
Peyrebrune - piano), (1) with Agathe Blondel (violin) and
Stephanie-Marie Degand (viola)
recorded at Studio Varga, Sion, March 2001
AMBROISIE AMB 9909 [77'07] [PS]
If
youre familiar only with "big band" Britten, this programme
will be a revelation. If you already know and love the spartan upholstery
of "bare-boned" Britten, this programme will be a disappointment.
Beautifully packaged and presented, with full if somewhat florid documentation,
and poised performances that are too nice to deliver the devastation
demanded by the music. see Full Review
Martin BUTLER (born
1960) Tin-Pan
Ballet (1986) Bluegrass Variations (1987)1 Jazz Machines
(1990) On the Rocks (1992)2 Going with the Grain (1991)3
Ruth Crouch (violin)1;
Martin Butler (piano)2; Richard Benjafield (marimba)3;
Lontano; Odaline de la Martinez
Recorded : St Silas Church, London
LORELT LNT 104 [67:08] [HC]
No
towering masterpieces here, but entertaining, expertly written works
to be enjoyed to the full. see Full Review
Dietrich BUXTEHUDE (1637-1707)
Vocal Music, Volume 2 Das
neugeborne Kindelein, Der Herr ist mit mir, Fürwahr, er trug unsere
Krankheit, Alles, was ihr tut, Magnificat anima mea
Johann Reuter (bass) Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir Dufay Collective
Ebbe Monk (conductor) Rec 12-14 June 2000, Vejle Kirke, Ishíj,
Denark DACAPO 8.224160
[50.59] [TB]
The
performances sound well with singing accurate and intonation and ensemble
entirely reliable. Buxtehude's style is both direct and sophisticated.
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]
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