Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5 Africa Fantasy - Rapsodie d'Auvergne -
Wedding Cake Caprice - Angela Brownridge (piano) 
Hallé Orchestra/Paul Murphy - Rec 20-21 July 2000, 26 February
2001, Studio 7, BBC Manchester
ASV QUICKSILVA CD QSS 262 [2CDs: 79.34 & 79.06] [TB]
The
recorded sound is bright and clear, and the Hallé Orchestra and
the talented pianist can be heard to splendid effect here. Full marks
all round. … see Full Review
Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Violin Concertos No. 2, Spartacus Overture, La Muse et le Poète,
for violin, cello and orchestra
Jean-Jacques Kantorow (violin) Torleif Thedéen (cello) Tapiola
Sinfonietta Tuomas Ollila, Jean-Jacques Kantorow (Spartacus Overture)
Rec October 1999, April 2000 (Spartacus Overture), Tapiola Concert Hall,
Finland BIS CD 1060
[54.06] [TB]
Kantorow
and BIS do Saint-Saëns a real favour by exposing some splendid
music which has been under-valued. … see Full
Review
Leonard
SALZEDO (1921-2000) String Quartet No.2 Op. 3
(1942-43, revised 1995) Sonata for Violin and Viola Op.132 String
Quartet No.7 Op.76
Archæus Quartet Ann
Hooley and Bridget Davey-violins Elizabeth Turnbull-viola, Martin Thomas-cello
Recorded Henry Wood Hall, London, April 2001
DUTTON CDLX 7113 DDD [61:52] [CT]
On
the evidence of the seventh quartet at least this is a ten-quartet cycle
that must rank alongside the likes of Elizabeth Maconchy and Daniel
Jones as a major achievement in the genre. Performances of great integrity
by the Archæus Quartet. … see Full Review
Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757)
- Sonatas K125, 162, 466, 1, 322, 531, 247, 2, 193, 27, 415, 441,
476, 481, 380. Prisca Benoit
(piano) - rec Studio de l'Orchestre Symphonique Francaise, Vanves, June
1994 DDD PAVANE ADW
7326 [57.16][RB]
Will
warm the heart of many a listener; all except died-in-the-wool HIP folk
who must have their Scarlatti on harpsichord. ... see Full
Review
Giacinto
SCELSI (1905 – 1988) String Quartet
No.4 (1964) Elohim (1965/7) Duo for Violin and Cello (1965) Anagamin
(1965) Maknongan (1976) Natura renovatur (1967)
Streichquartett des Klangforum Wien; Annette Bik (violin); Andreas Lindenbaum
(cello); Uli Fussenegger (double bass); Klangforum Wien; Hans Zender
Recorded: Casino Zögernitz, Wien, June 1997 (String Quartet
No.4, Duo); Schottenstift, Wien, November 1995 (Maknongan)
and Bonn, November 1995
KAIROS 0012162KAI [58:59] [HC]
All
these pieces receive dedicated, carefully prepared and convincing readings.
This release provides for a fine survey of Scelsi’s highly original
output. … see Full Review
THE
ORGAN WORKS OF Heinrich SCHEIDEMANN
Volume 1 - Double CD
Organ Works by Heinrich SCHEIDEMANN (c1596-1663)
CD 1: -1. Praeambulum in G, 2. Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir
(2vss.), 3. Magnificat 6. Toni (4vss.), 4. Praeambulum in d, 5. Christ
lag in Todesbanden (3vss.), 6. In dich habe ich gehoffet, Herr (setting
1), 7. Fuga in d, 8. Verbum caro factum est, 9. Praeambulum in d 10.
Vater unser im Himmelreich (setting 3), 11. Es ist gewißlich an der
Zeit (2 vss.) 12. Dixit Maria ad Angelum, 13. Magnificat 5.Toni (4vss.)
[72:14]
CD 2:-1. Praeambulum in G, 2. Magnificat 8.Toni, 3. Wir glauben
all an einem Gott (2vss.), 4. Omnia quae fecisti nobis, Domine, 5. Praeambulum
in d, 6. Jesus Christus unser Heiland (setting 3;2 vss.), 7. Vater user
im Himmelreich (setting 1; 3 vss.), 8. Alleluia laudem dicite Deo nostro,
9. Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore, 10. Herzlich lieb hab ich dich,
o Herr, 11. Canzon in F, 12. Surrexit pastor bonus [70:12]
Cleveland Johnson and Claudia
Heberlein Johnson, Organists
Organs in Tangermünde, Stade (Germany) and Wellesley (USA)
Organs by: 1. Hans Scherer the Younger, 1624, in St.Stephens, Tangermünde,
Germany, 2. Huß/Schnitger, 1675, in St. Cosmas and Damian, Stade, Germany,
3. Fisk organ,1981, in Houghton Chapel, Wellesley College, Wellesley,
Massachusetts, USA Recorded: 1996&1997 CALCANTE
RECORDINGS CAL CD023 [142.26] [ChA]
A
relatively good release of Scheidemanns organ music that would have
benefited from a much more careful and detailed approach and presentation.
see Full Review
THE
ORGAN WORKS OF Heinrich SCHEIDEMANN
(c1596-1663)
Volume 2-Double CD
CD 1: -1. Magnificat 3.Toni (4 vss.), 2. Canzon in G, 3. Vom Himmel
hoch da komm ich her (4 vss.), 4. Herr Christ, der einig Gottes Sohn
(setting 1; 4 vss.), 5. Magnificat 1.Toni (4 vss.), 6. Praeambulum in
d, 7. De ore prudentis procedit me (vocal model: Orlando di Lasso),
8. Jesu, wollst uns weisen, 9. Lobet den Herren, denn er ist sehr freundlich
(2 vss.), 10. Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore Secunda pars: In Domino
laudabitur (vocal model: Orlando di Lasso) [68:37]
CD 2:-1. Praeambulum in F, 2. Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist,
3. Komm, heiliger Geist, Herre Gott, 4. O lux beata trinitas, 5. Gott
sei gelobet und gebenedeiet, 6. Praeambulum in e, 7. A solis ortus cardine
(2 vss.), 8. Fantasia in G, 9. O Gott, wir danken deiner Güt (2
vss.), 10. Praeambulum in d, 11. In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr (setting
2; 3 vss.), 12. Ego sum panis vivus (vocal model: Orlando di Lasso),
13. Jesus Christus unser Heiland (setting 2; 5 vss.), 14. Durch Adams
Fall ist ganz verderbt (2 vss.), 15. Kyrie dominicale (3 vss.) 16. Fuga,
17. Praeambulum in g [61:18]
Cleveland Johnson and Claudia
Heberlein Johnson, Organists
Organs in Tangermünde, Stade (Germany) and Wellesley (USA)
Organs by: 1. Hans Scherer the Younger, 1624, in St.Stephen’s, Tangermünde,
Germany, 2. Huß/Schnitger, 1675, in St.Cosmas and Damian, Stade,
Germany, 3. Fisk organ, 1981, in Houghton Chapel, Wellesley College,
Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA Recorded: 1996&1997
CALCANTE RECORDINGS CAL CD024 [129:55] [ChA]
A
relative good release of Scheidemann’s organ music that would have benefited
from a much more inspired playing. … See Full
Review
Alfred SCHNITTKE
(1934-1998) Piano Trio - Piano Quintet
Barbican Piano Trio, with Jan Peter Schmolck (violin), James Boyd (viola)
- Rec 6 August (Trio), 23 November (Quintet), St George's Brandon Hill,
Bristol ASV Quicksilva
CD QS 6251 [57.05] [TB]
The
Piano Quintet is surely one of Schnittke's best compositions, exploratory
and emotional. Excellent performances. … see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Symphony No 8 "Unfinished" Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Don Juan Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphony Concertante Op 84 J
S BACH (1685-1750) Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor – Orch
Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)
NBC Symphony Orchestra Arturo Toscanini conductor Recorded 14 October
1939 GUILD GHCD 2202
[79.26] [JW]
Schubert
- a performance that for all its qualities remorselessly fails to cohere.
The Haydn is yet more recorded evidence of Toscanini’s genuine affinity
with and mastery of the medium. … see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1787-1828)
Konzertstück D345 Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Violin Concerto Op 64 Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Double Concerto Op 102
Oleg Kagan, violin with
Natalia Gutman, cello (Brahms) Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra conducted
by Saulus Sondezkis (Schubert) 1/2/84 Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra conducted
by Kurt Masur (Mendelssohn) 21/10/83 Novosibirsk Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Arnold Katz (Brahms) 4/1/81
LIVE CLASSICS LCL 175 [71.45] [JW]
A
mixed bag for me but a provocative one in the best sense. see Full
Review
A
SCHUBERT FANTASY - Piano
Music by Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
The Wanderer Fantasy D760; The German Dances D783; The Grazer
Fantasy (discovered 1962); Landlers D790, 734 and 366; Valses Nobles
D909 Walter Hautzig,
piano Recorded at the John Addison Concert Hall Fort Washington Maryland
December 1996 AMERICUS
AMR 19971004 [73.38] [GH]
Uncomplicated
Schubert performances, well thought through and nicely executed. The
recorded sound is adequate can be boomy or boxy at times. … see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1727-1828) CHAMBER MUSIC
CD 1 Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat Major, D.898, Op. posth. 99
Alfred Cortot, piano · Jacques Thibaud, violin · Pablo Casals, cello
Quintet for piano and strings in A Major, "Trout", D.667, Op.
114 Artur Schnabel, piano Alphonse Onnou, violin, Germain Prevost,
viola, and Robert Maas, cello, of the Pro Arte Quartet · Claude Hobday,
bass[65:31] CD 2 Fantaisie for violin and piano in C Major,
D.934, Op. posth. 159 Adolf Busch, violin · Rudolf Serkin, piano
Piano Trio No. 2 in E-flat Major, D.929, Op. 100 Adolf
Busch, violin Hermann Busch, cello · Rudolf Serkin, piano CD 3
Violin Sonata "Grand Duo" in A Major, D.574, Op. posth. 162
Fritz Kreisler, violin · Serge Rachmaninoff, piano Quintet for
2 violins, viola and 2 cellos in C Major, D.956, Op. posth. 163
Pro Arte Quartet: Alphonse Onnou, violin 1, Laurent Halleux, violin
2, Germain Prevost, viola, and Marcel Maas, cello 1 · Anthony Pini,
cello 2 CD 4 Sonatina No. 3 in G Minor, D.408, Op. posth. 137
No. 3 Jacques Thibaud, violin · Tasso Janopoulo, piano
Sonatina No. 1 in D Major, D.384, Op. posth. 137 No. 1 Rondo
(Allegro vivace only) - Jacques Thibaud, violin · Tasso Janopoulo, piano
- Octet in F Major, D.803, Op. posth. 166 Léner
Quartet: Jenö Léner, Joseph Smilovits, Sandor Roth, Imre
Hartman · Claude Hobday, bass · Charles Draper, clarinet · E.W. Hinchcliff,
bassoon · Aubrey Brain, horn London ·
ANDANTE no catalogue number
A
beautifully packaged set of Schubert chamber music in performances from
the 1920s and 30s by some great players brought to life by fine remastering.
It includes the legendary performance of the B flat Trio by the Thibaud/Cortot/Casals
trio. … see Full Review
Franz
SCHUBERT Die schöne Müllerin,
D. 795 Josef Baert
(baritone), Roumiana Stantcheva (pianoforte) Recorded June 1993, Leuven
PAVANE ADW7501 [69.45] [CH]
A
word of advice to Pavane. If you must make records like this, flog them
in the supermarkets and the bazaars, don’t send them to critics.
… see Full Review
The
Best of Peter SCULTHORPE (b.1929)
- The Fifth Continent: Small Town (1963) Little Serenade (1968/1977/1983)
Sun Music III (1967) Piano Concerto: Calmo (1983) Earth Cry (1988) Djilile
(1977/1989) Awake Glad Heart (1988) Sonata for Strings No. 3 (1994)
Child of Australia: An Australian Anthem (1988) Advance Australia Fair
(1996) Port Arthur; In Memoriam (1996) - Peter Sculthorpe (speaker);
Joseph Ortuso (oboe); Bruce Lamont (trumpet); Mark Skillington
(trumpet); Anthony Fogg (piano); Barbara Jane Gilby (soprano). Synergy;
Sydney Philharmonic Motet Choir; Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble. Australian
Chamber Orchestra; Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra; Melbourne Symphony
Orchestra; Sydney Symphony Orchestra; Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
Conductors: David Porcelijn; Myer Fredman; David Stanhope; Richard Tognetti;
Antony Walker; Stuart Challender
ABC CLASSICS Eloquence 456 270-2 [69:24] [PH]
As
Sculthorpe approaches his 73rd birthday, this disc is a welcome
and timely reminder of the range and importance of the man who has devoted
his life and music to the representation of Australia, and to the unique
experience of ‘being’ Australian. … see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Cello Concertos Nos 1 and 2 Alfred SCHNITTKE
(1934-1998) Dialogue for Cello and Seven Instruments
Natalia Gutman, cello USSR
Radio and TV Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kyril Kondrashin (Concerto
No 1) Recorded 21 June 1976 Moscow State Philharmonic Orchestra conducted
by Dmitri Kitajenko (Concerto No 2) Recorded 11 November 1986 Gnessin
Chamber Orchestra conducted by Yuri Nikolaevsky (Schnittke) Recorded
2 January 1982 LIVE
CLASSICS LCL 202 [75.04] [JW]
Gutman
shares with Oleg Kagan expressivity without great opulence of sound
projection, a concern for clarity of articulation and a general avoidance
of any coarsening of tone, not least in fast passagework. If this is
indicative of a certain reserve then it’s a highly developed and cultivated
one. … see Full Review
Zygmunt
STOJOWSKI (1869-1946) Piano
Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor Op. 3 (1891) [35.01] Piano Concerto
No. 2 in A flat major Prologue, Scherzo and Variations Op. 32 (1908)
[33.01] Jonathon Plowright
(piano) BBC Scottish SO/Martyn Brabbins rec 6-7 June 2001, Caird
Hall, Dundee HYPERION CDA67314
[68.12] [RB]
Hyperion
present two lanky ambitious confident concertos and attain their usual
resplendent standards in all departments. … see Full
Review
Johann STRAUSS (1801-1849) & Son (1825-1899)
Valses de Vienne
Mady Mesplé, Bernard Sinclair, Christiane Stutzmann, Arta Verlen,
Philippe Guadin, Jaques Loreau, Pierre Saugey.René Duclos Choirs,
Orchestra of National Theatre of Opera Comique/Jean Doussard Rec. 1972,
Salle Wagram, Paris, France
EMI 574 103-2 [CD1 44.08 CD2 45.48] [RW]
The
soloists blend nicely with the Viennese flavour and the pace set by
Doussard is engaging. … see Full Review
Jean-François
TAPRAY (1737? - 1819?) 6 concertos pour orgue
Dominique Ferran - organ Ensemble Baroque de Nice directed by Gilbert
Bezzina Recordings made in the Abbey Sainte-Croix de Bordeaux; 1 to
4 November 1997 K617
MEMOIRE MUSICALE DE LA LORRAINE K617079 [66.23] [PW]
Music
of a very interesting composer, of whom we should clearly know more.
Highly recommendable. … see Full Review
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Piano Concerto No. 1 [33.34] Piano Concerto No.
2 [44.01] Mikhaïl Petukhov
(piano) Buenos Aires PO/Alexander Anissimov rec Teatro Colón, Buenos
Aires, 3 May 1993, 13 Sept 1994
PAVANE ADW 7387 [77.40] [RB]
Not
a pristine item. Give thanks for that. In the place of sterile perfection
you have two unruly and viscerally exciting real performances
... see Full Review
Ernst
TOCH (1887-1964)
String Quartet No 9 Op 26, String Quartet No
12 Op 70, Divertimenti Op 37 Nos 1 and 2, Dedication
The Mendelssohn Quartet Recorded Los Angeles 1991 LAUREL
RECORD LR 850CD [69.54] [JW]
The
Mendelssohn Quartet perform truly admirably and they bring to this music
an integrity and a conviction that makes this disc required listening.
see Full Review
Joaquín
TURINA (1882-1949) Piano Trios
(complete) Trio No. 1 in D major, Opus 35, Trio No. 2 in B minor,
Opus 76, Circulo, Opus 91, Trio in F major
Trio Arbós Rec 26-29 July, 2000, Auditorio Joaquín Rodrigo,
Madrid NAXOS 8.555870
[73.17] [TB] [RBr]
Music
always fluent but never short of character, committed playing and good
recorded sound at the bargain Naxos price. [TB]
Naxos has rediscovered unfamiliar works by a nowadays unjustly neglected
composer. All are well worth reviving in these excellent interpretations.
… see Full Review [RBr]
Geirr
TVEITT (1908-1981)
Hundred
Hardingtonar Op. 151 (A Hundred Hardanger Tunes) Suite 2 - Tunes 16-
30 (Fifteen Mountain Songs) Suite 5 - Tunes 61-75 (Troll Tunes)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Bjarte Engeset Recorded
January 2001, Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow
NAXOS 8.555770 [71.31] [GH]
Between
Engeset and the RSNO this music is coaxed into shape without effort
or artificiality. Highly recommended. … see Full
Review
Peteris VASKS ( b.
1946) Three Poems by Czeslaw Milosz* (1994) (World Premier Recording)
Zemgale # (1988) (text: Mara Zalite) Mate saule (Mother Sun) * (1985)
(text: Janis Peters) Madrigals # (1975) (text: Claude de Pontoux) Litene
# (1993) Ballad for 12 voiced chorus to a text by Uldis Berzins Dona
nobis pacem # (1996) Latvian
Radio Choir - Sigvards Klava # Kaspars Putnins * Aivars Kalejs (organ)
(Track 9) BIS-CD 1145
[66.11] [BK]
See
Full Review
Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) - Sexteto
Mistico - Two Choros bis- Quatuor - Choros No. 7 - Bachianas Brasileiras
No. 9 - Lontano BBC Singers
Odaline de la Martinez - Rec 1992, St Silas Church, London NW5
LONTANO LNT 102 [56.05] [TB]
This
enterprising and highly appealing disc confirms Villa-Lobos as an enterprising,
intriguing and entertaining composer. … see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI Concerti con molti istromenti
(Concertos for many instruments) Concerto in C major RV 559,
Concerto in D major RV 558 con molti istromenti, Concerto in G minor
RV 577 per l’Orchestra di Dresda, Concerto in C major RV 555 con molti
istromenti, Concerto in D major RV 560, Concerto Funebre in Bb major
RV 579, Concerto in C major RV 556 per la Solennità di S. Lorenzo
Académie Sainte-Cécile
Philippe Couvert (violin & direction)Recorded at the Temple de Bon-Secours,
Paris in January, 1996
K617 K617062 [67.33] [CF]
A
marvellously inventive group of works played with loving care and dazzling
virtuosity by all the members of this fine ensemble. … see Full
Review
Gio
Bonaventura VIVIANA
(1638-1690) ;
Symphonia Seconda ; Aria Sesta ; Aria Quinta ; Capriccio Terzo ; Toccata
Prima ; Introduttione Terza ; Aria Quarta ; Sonata Seconda ; Sonata
Prima, per Trombetta sola ; Symphonia Cantabile ; Capriccio Secondo
; Aria Terza ; Symphonia Prima ; Aria Seconda ; Introduttione Prima
; Toccata Seconda ; Sonata Seconda, per Trombetta sola ; Sonata Prima
; Capriccio Primo ; Baletto;
Gunar Letzbor, violin ; Andreas Lackner, trumpet ; Wolfgang Zerer, harpsichord
; Roberto Sensi, viola da gamba ; Luciano Contini, archlute ; Katalin
Sebella, bassoon ; Rec: August - September 1999, Assumption Church,
Hallstatt, Austria. ;
ARCANA A302 [79.00]
This
recording by a little-known Italian composer is a real gem. The performance,
the music and the recording are all impeccable, and this music gives
such enjoyment that it deserves to be heard by all. … see Full
Review
Anton
WEBERN (1883-1945) - Orchestral Works
- Passacaglia Op 1 (1908); Five Movements for Strings Op 5 (1929);
Six Pieces Op 6 (1909 rev 1928) Five Pieces Op 10 (1911-13); Symphony
Op 21 (1928); Variations Op 30 (1940)
Ulster Orchestra/Takuo Yuasa - Recorded Ulster Hall, March 29th-30th
2000 NAXOS 8.554841
[52.27] [GH]
A
fine CD with much to interest any music lover and very sensitively played.
… 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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