Nicolai Malko – the Danish Connection. Recordings with the Danish State Broadcasting Orchestra 1947-50 - Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Egmont –overture Op. 84 (1810) - Antonin DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Symphony No. 9 in E minor Op. 95 B178 (1893) - Piotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Capriccio Italien Op. 45 (1880) - Serenade in C Op. 48 – Waltz (1880) - The Sleeping Beauty, ballet – Variation VI – Lilac Fairy (1890) - Mazeppa, opera – Gopak (1884) - The Nutcracker, ballet Op. 71 – Waltz of the Flowers (1892) - Johan SVENDSEN (1840-1911) Festival polonaise Op. 12 (1873) - Carnival in Paris Op. 9 (1872) - Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Maskarade – Overture FS39 (1906) - Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Suite II (1921) - Nicolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Capriccio espagnol Op. 34 (1887) - The Tale of Tsar Salta, opera – Flight of the Bumble Bee (1900) - Aram KHACHATURIAN (1905-1978) Gayaneh, ballet – Sabre Dance, Dance of the Rose Maidens, Ballet (1942/57) - Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)
The Fair at Sorochintsyï, opera – Gopak (1913) - Anatole LIADOV (1855-1914) Baba-Yaga Op. 56 (1891-1904) - Alexander GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Raymonda, ballet – Grande Valse Op. 57 (1896-97) The Danish State Broadcasting Orchestra all items except Philharmonia Orchestra (Khachaturian, Mussorsgky, Liadov, Glazunov, Flight of the Bumble Bee, Mazeppa and the Nutcracker) - Nicolai Malko - Recorded 1947-50 DANACORD DACOCD 549-550 [2 CDs: 147. 09] [JW]

A fine collection of Malko’s late forties, early fifties self. … see Full Review

From Another American – KEVIN MAYNOR, Bass - Arr. J.W.WORK (1872-1925) Go tell it on the mountain - This little light of mine - Trad. AFRICAN/ANGOLAN Kum ba yah - Samuel A.WARD (1847-1903) America the beautiful - Traditional Let us break bread together - Arr. PAUL ABELS - We shall overcome - Irving BERLIN (1888-1989) God bless America - Arr.E.Edwin YOUNG Amen! - William STEFFE Battle hymn of the Republic - George.W.WARREN (1828-1902) God of our fathers - Vincent YOUMANS (1898-1946) Without a song - James Weldon JOHNSON (1871-1938) Lift every voice and sing - Irving GORDON Unforgettable - Trad. He’s got the whole world - Duke ELLINGTON (1899-1974) Come Sunday - Charles CHAPLIN (1889-1977) Smile - Manning SHERWIN (1940-2000) A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square - George GERSHWIN (1899-1937) Love is here to stay - Richard RODGERS (1902-1979) Where or when - Kurt WEILL (1900-1950) September Song - Lowell MASON (1792-1872) The Lord’s Prayer Kevin Maynor, bass - Eric Olsen, piano - Recording date/venue not given GUILD GMCD 7247 [56:44] [GPJ]

Sung in a uniformly strait-laced, insensitive way, with about as much flexibility of phrasing as an iron girder. … see Full Review

Nellie Melba. The Paris and London recordings 1908-1913 - Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) La Bohème – On m’appelle Mimi; Tosca – Vissi d’arte; Henry BURLEIGH (1866-1949) Jean; Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Don César de Bazan – Sevillana; Le Cid – pleurez mes yeux; Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Lohengrin – Elsa’s Dream; Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893) Faust – Final trio; Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Rigoletto – Quartet; Henry Rowley BISHOP (1786-1855) Bid me discourse; Landon RONALD (1873-1938) Sounds of earth; Ambroise THOMAS (1811-1896) Hamlet – recording tests; excerpts from the Mad Scene; Georges-Adolphe HÜE (1858-1948) Soir païen; Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) O for the wings of a dove; George HENSCHEL (1850-1934) Spring; Antonio LOTTI (1667-1740) Pur dicesti; Henri DUPARC (1848-1933) Chanson triste; Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Il re pastore; L’Amerò, sarò costante; Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) – Charles GOUNOD Ave Maria; Ernest CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Poème de l’amour est de la mer; Le temps des Lilas Nellie Melba (soprano) with the New Symphony Orchestra conducted by Landon Ronald and pinao accompaniments by Landon Ronald, Gabriel Lapierre; organ accompaniment by Stanley Roper, violin by Jan Kubelik. Recorded 1908-13 NAXOS 8.110743 [76.16] [JW]

The transfers are extremely fine – even the Mozart has been rendered listenable – and at this price a recommendation seems almost superfluous. … see Full Review

Willem Mengelberg Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Tannhäuser Overture (Dresden version) (1845) Lohengrin – Prelude to Act I (1850) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg – Prelude to Act I (1868) Siegfried – Forest Murmurs (Act III) (1876) Engelbert HUMPERDINCK (1854-1921) Hänsel and Gretel Overture (1893) Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Don Juan Op. 20 (1888) Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Adagietto from Symphony No 5. in C sharp minor (1901-02) Concertgebouw Orchestra (all except Forest Murmurs and Humperdinck) Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York Willem Mengelberg Recorded 1926-40 NAXOS 8.110855 [69.27] [JW]

This makes for a lucid and lastingly valuable selection for the library shelves. … see Full Review

FEATURE Nina Milkina (1919- ) by Craig Sheppard Chopin 24 Preludes, Opus 28
(recorded at Bishopsgate in 1977) Chopin The Complete Mazurkas (recorded at the Wigmore Hall in 1970) Nina Milkina at the Wigmore Hall Piano Works by Bach, Scarlatti, Haydn, Mozart, Chopin, Scriabin, Rachmaninov and Prokofiev (recordings from the 1970s) UNTERSCHRIFT CLASSICS (originally released on LPs by Pye Records)

 

NINA MILKINA AT THE WIGMORE HALL - CD 1: Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) French Overture in b - Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Sonatas: E KK.20, b KK.27, B KK.262, G KK.125, E flat KK.507, B flat KK.190, F KK.17, f KK.481, F KK.107, g KK.141, D KK.430, G KK.427 - CD 2: Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Sonata in e Hob.XVI/34 - Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Minuet in D K.355, Sonata in D K.576 - Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) 3 Ecossaises op. 72, Nocturne in c sharp op. Posth - Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Etudes op. 8: 10 in D flat, 11 in b flat, 12 in d sharp - Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Prelude in G op. 32/5 - Sergei PROKOFIEF (1891-1953) Suggestion diabolique op. 4/4 Nina Milkina (piano) - Recorded June 1972 at the Wigmore Hall UNTERSCHRIFT CLASSICS (no number) [2 CDs: 77:49+75:25] [CH]

A wonderful tribute to an artist whose name should not have fallen into semi-oblivion. … see Full Review

Lydia Mordkovitch plays Violin Sonatas - Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Sonata No.1 in G major, Op. 78 (1880); Sonata No.2 in A major, Op. 100 (1886); Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 (1888) - Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Sonata No.1 in F minor, Op. 80 (1946); Sonata No.2 in D major, Op. 94a (1944) - Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Sonata in A major, Op. post. 162 (D574) (1817); Fantasie in C major, Op. post. 159 (D934) (1827) - Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Sonata in E flat major, Op. 18 - Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Sonata No.1 in A minor, Op. 105 (1851); Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 121 (1851) - Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Sonata No.1 in A major, Op. 13 (1876) Lydia Mordkovitch, violin - Gerhard Oppitz, piano - Recorded at St. Luke's Church, Chelsea, London, October 1984 (Schumann, Strauss, Prokofiev, Fauré) and All Saints' Church, Tooting, London, June 1986 (Brahms and Schubert) CHANDOS COLLECT 6659(4) [71.44+53.34+79.41+77.49] [NH]

Good performances, mixed repertoire … worth buying if you like the programme … see Full Review

Erica Morini in Concert - Piotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Violin Concerto in D major Op. 35 (1878) - Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin Concerto in D major Op. 77 (1878) Erica Morini (violin) with National Radio Orchestra/Jascha Horenstein, Paris, December 1957 (Tchaikovsky) Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York/George Szell, Carnegie Hall, December 1952 (Brahms) MUSIC AND ARTS CD116 [67.58] [JW]

An immaculate stylist rewarding listeners with her own brand of chaste romanticism … see Full Review

Edith Oldrup – lyrical soprano of the Danish Royal Opera: 1934-1949 - Christoph WEYSE (1774-1842) Hyrden græsser sine Faar - Dybt Skoven bruser - Der er en Ø I Livet - De klare Bølger rulled - En Elskoverklæring Eduard DU PUY (1770-1822) Jeg er endnu I Livets Vaar - Peter HEISE (1830-1879) Det var sig Humleranken - Jeg kinder af Navn kun Guldet - Igennem Bøgeskoven - Sol deroppe - Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Sænk kun dit Hoved - Æblesblomsten - Askel AGERBY (1889-1942) Havren - Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Jeg elsker dig - Solveig’s Song - Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) La ci darem la mano (Don Giovanni) - Susanna’s Aria (Marriage of Figaro) - Duet – Susanna and the Count (Marriage of Figaro) - Georges BIZET (1836-1895) Michaëla’s prayer (Carmen) - Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Si, mi chiamano Mimi (La Bohème) - Un bel dì vedremo (Madama Butterfly) - Johann Peter Emilius HARTMANN (1805-1900) Game of Tavlebord - Duet from Little Kirsten - Hans Christian LUMBYE (1810-1874) Britta Polka from The Champagne Gallop Edith Oldrup (soprano) with Askel Schiøtz and Marius Jacobsen (tenors), Einar Nørby and Poul Wiedemann (baritones), Elof Nielsen, Folmer Jensen and Richard Østerfelt (pianos) - Royal Danish Orchestra, Tivoli Symphony Orchestra conducted by Egisto Tango, Johan Hye-Knudsen and Svend Christian Felumb - From Danish HMV and Tono recordings made between 1937 and 1953 DANACORD 504 [73.52] [JW]

A fine and timely salute to a notable adornment of Danish musical life. … see Full Review

‘Per Monsieur Pisendel (Antonio Vivaldi, Tomaso Albinoni, Johann Georg Pisendel)’ Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Sonata à Solo facto per Monsieur Pisendel Del Vivaldi in c minor (RV 6) [14:19] Tomaso ALBINONI (1671-1751) Sonata à Violino Solo di me Tomaso Albinoni Composta per il Signor Pisendel in B flat (So 32) [11:12] Johann Georg PISENDEL (1687-1755) Sonata for violin and basso continuo in D [12:18] Tomaso ALBINONI Sonata for violin and basso continuo in g minor (So 33) [11:39] Johann Georg PISENDEL Sonata for violin and basso continuo in e minor [12:16] Antonio VIVALDI
Sonata à Solo facto per Monsieur Pisendel Del Vivaldi in C (RV 2) [14:09] Antonio VIVALDI or Johann Georg PISENDEL Saraband for violin and basso continuo in C Il Serenissimo: Adrian Chandler (violin), Gareth Deats (cello), Robert Howarth (harpsichord) Recorded in September 2002 at The Church of St Thomas à Becket, Brightling, East Sussex, England and in November 2002 at Crichton Parish Church, Crichton, Midlothian, Scotland (Pisendel, Sonata in D) DDD AVIE – AV0018 [79:09] [JV]

A very interesting programme of virtuoso violin sonatas, but the performance is disappointing … see Full Review

Preludes and Choruses from Zarzuelas: Ruperto CHAPI (1851-1909) El tambor de granaderos [05:26] El rey que rabio - No.16 Coro de doctores [03:08] - Francisco Asenjo BARBIERI (1823-1894) El barberillo de Lavapies No.11 [06:17] - Geronimo GIMÉNEZ (1854-1923) El baile de Luis Alonso - Intermedio [03:34] La boda de Luis Alonso - Intermedio [05:47] - Federico CHUECA (1846-1908) Agua, azucarillos y aguardiente - Prelude [02:38] - El chaleco blanco - No.5 Seguidillas [02:13] El bateo - Prelude [03:17] - Amadeo VIVES (1871-1932) Bohemios - Intermedio [05:22] - Manuel Fernandez CABALLERO (1835-1906) El duo de la africana - No.3 [03:14] Pablo LUNA (1880-1942) El nino judio - Prelude [04:33] - Reveriano SOUTULLO (1880-1933)/ Juan VERT Soutullo La leyenda del beso - Intermedio [05:30] La del soto del parral - Ronda de enamorados [04:31] - Jesus GURIDI (1886-1961) El caserio - Preludio del II acto [06:16] - Pablo SOROZÁBAL (1897-1988) Don Manolito - Ensalada madrilena [03:21] Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra and Chorus/Miguel Rosa - Recorded in the Auditorio de Las Rosas, Madrid May 1999 NAXOS SPANISH CLASSICS 8.555957 [64.34] [RB]

A fun disc, maybe, … hard to imagine anybody returning to this sequence of home-grown preludes and intermezzi with keen anticipation. … see Full Review

RENAISSANCE MASTERPIECES CD 1: TALLIS, GIBBONS, TOMKINS, TAVERNER and BYRD: Thomas TALLIS (c1505 - 1585): Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (5vv) [13’32] Recorded 1985. From CRD3429 Orlando GIBBONS (1583 - 1625) Te Deum (5vv) from the Second Service (1641) [10’39]. Edited Higginbottom. Released 1988. From CRD3451 Thomas TOMKINS (1572 - 1656): Te Deum (4/8vv) from the Great Service (1668) [11’28] Recorded 1990. From CRD3467 John TAVERNER (c.1490 - 1545): Western Wynde Mass (4vv) [22’43]. Released 1989. From CRD3473 William BYRD (1543 - 1623) Motet: Laudibus in sanctis (5vv) [5’47] Motet: Miserere mei, Deus (5vv) [3’43] (Both published 1691 in Cantiones sacrae) Released 1987, From CRD3439 Recorded in New College Chapel, Oxford CD 2: Orlando DE LASSUS (1532 - 1594) Motet (10vv): Aurora lucis rutilat [4’16] (pub.1604) Motet (5vv): Tristis est anima mea [4’25] (pub.1565) Missa (6vv) "Tous les regretz" [26’07] (1577) Motet (6vv) Timor et tremor [5’54] (pub.1564) Motet (6vv) Ave verum corpus [3’45] (pub.1582) Motet (5vv) Surgens Jesus [3’22] (pub.1562) Motet (4vv) Domine convertere [3.18] (pub.1585) Motet (6vv) Salve Regina [4’47] (pub.1582) Hymn (6vv) Veni creator [8’18] (1568) All from Collins 1494-2 Recorded in New College Chapel, Oxford, 8-10 July 1996 CD 3: Eustache DU CAURROY (1549 - 1609) Veni sanctus spiritus (4vv) [6’35] Missa pro defunctis (5vv) [27’11] (pub.1636) Benedicamus Domino (4vv) [2’36] Ave Maria (4vv) [2’46] Ave Virgo gloriosa (5vv) [5’48] Salve Regina (4/5vv) [4’41] Christe qui lux es (3/6vv) [12’34] Motet: Victimae Paschali (3/8vv) [4’31] (pub.1609) All from Collins 1497-2
Recorded at Abbaye de Valloires, Departement de Somme, France, 18-20 September 1996 CD 4: Giovanni Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (1525 - 1594) Sequence: Victimae Paschali a 8 [4’02] Magnificat a 8 [5’29] Nunc dimittis a 8 [3’54] Motet: Dum complerentur a 6 [6’02] Motet: Ad Dominum cum tribular a 4 [5’01] (From Motets Book 2, pub 1581) Motet: Stabat mater a 8 [9’19] Motet: Alma redemptoris a 4 [2’44] Recordare a 3- a 8 [9’19] (Lamentations for Holy Saturday) Motet: Ad te levavi oculos meos a 4 [6’31] (from Motets Book 2, pub.1831) Veni sancte spiritus a 8 [3’41] All from Collins 1509-2 Recorded in New College Chapel, Oxford, 21-23 July 1997 Disc 5: Philippus DE MONTE (1521 - 1603) Miserere mei a 5 [3’57] Peccavi super numerum a 6 [6’50] Missa Si ambulavero a 6 [22’56] Super flumina Babylonis a 8 [5’57] Domine, quid multiplicati sunt [5’50] Spes humani generis a 6 [3’26] Domine Jesu Christe a 6 [4’17] Angelus Domini descendit de caelo a 6 [5’33] Hodie, dilectissimi, omnium sanctorum a 8 [6’07] The Choir of New College, Oxford/Edward Higginbottom All from Collins 1527-2 Recorded at Abbaye de Valloires, Departement de Somme, France, April 1998 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99937 [5CDs: 65’10+73’52+64’57+56’25+66’47] [JPo]

Worth acquiring at twice the asking price, and if the content is to your liking, I urge you not to hesitate … even for du Caurroy alone! … see Full Review

David Russell Plays Bach - Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Prelude, Fugue and Allegro, BWV 998: 1. Prelude; 2. Fugue; 3. Allegro; 4. Chorale Prelude, "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" - Partita No. 2, BWV 1004: 5. Allemande; 6. Courante; 7. Sarabande; 8. Gigue; 9. Chaconne - Suite No. 4 for Lute, BWV 1006a: 10. Preludio; 11. Loure; 12. Gavotte en Rondeau; 13. Menuets I and II; 14. Bourrée; 15. Gigue - Chorale Prelude, "Jesu bleibet meine Freude" ("Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring") David Russell (guitar) - Rec 2002 presum. DDD TELARC CD-80584 [68:18] [AD]

If I were limited to only one disc of Bach played on the guitar this would be a very strong contender. … see Full Review

Sacred Songs of Russia - Alexander KASTALSKY (1856-1926) Christ is risen - Radiant Light - Pavel CHESNOKOV (1877-1944) Bless the Lord, O my soul - Praise the name of the Lord - Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Rejoice, O virgin - The Mother of God, ever vigilant in prayer - Georgy SVIRIDOV (1915-1998) - Three choruses from Tsar Feodor Ionnovich - Znamenny Chant Lord, I call/The King of Heaven - Vassily TITOV (c1650-c1710) O Virgin unwedded - Dmitri BORTNIANSKY (1751-1825) Glory to God in the Highest - Mikhail GLINKA (1804-1857) Cherubic Hymn - Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) A Mercy of Peace - The Angel cried - Hymn in Honour of SS Cyril and Methodius - Stepan SMOLENSKY (1848-1909) All of Creation rejoices - Alexander ARKHANGELSKY (1846-1924) Litany of Supplication - Nikolai KEDROV (1871-1940) Our Father Andre Papkov (bass) - Gloriæ Dei Cantores/Elizabeth C Patterson - Recorded 1990 GLORIÆ DEI CANTORES GDCD 100 [70.55] [JW]

The Choir has done themselves and their source material proud. … see Full Review

Sacred Vocal Music from 18^th Century Switzerland. Franciscus Josef Leonti MAYER (1720-1789), Hymno Ambrosiano: Te Deum laudamus (1763). Johann(es) SCHMIDLIN (1722-1772). Gloria in excelsis Deo (1758), Magnificat anima mea Dominum (1758). Johann Jacob WALDER (1750-1817)/Johann Heinrich EGLI (1742-1810), Drittes Morgen-Lied. Solo: Auf meines Gottes treu Johann Casper BACHOFEN (1693-1755), Trio: Christi Todes, des Todes Tod, Wo ist Jesus meine Liebe? Arie à due: Schafelin wo bleibst du doch? Sonata and second, unnamed, Arie à due all undated. The Choir of Gonville and Caius College Cambridge/Director Geoffrey Webber The Cambridge Baroque Camerata/Director, Jonathan Hellyer Jones. Recorded in the Chapel of Queens College Cambridge, 10^th-12^th December 2001 GUILD GMCD 7248 [60.20] [RF]

Particularly enjoyable. Pure tone and legato line including delightful sotto voce singing … vocal and musical delight! … see Full Review

Roustem Saitkoulov (piano) Piano Études - Anton ARENSKY (1861-1906) Four Études Op.41 (1896) [7.06] - Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Twelve Études Op.25 (1832-26) [31.46] - Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Eight Études Op.42 (1903) [16.09] - Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Four Études Op.2 (1909) [9.33] - Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Four Études Op.7 (1908) [8.22] Roustem Saitkoulov (piano) - Recorded 1999 at St.Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings, DDD EMI CLASSICS Debut Series 5 74018 2 [72.55] [RB]

An excellent addition to a worthwhile project … see Full Review

International Salon Music Festival - Interlaken 1994 P.MARQUINA Spanischer Zigeunertanz LEHÁR Mariska J.RIXNER Blauer Himmel L. GANNE Extase G. WINKLER Neapolitanisches Ständchen A. SCHULENBURG Majarska G. BOULANGER Avant de mourir G. BOULANGER Tango Torero Primo Carezza G. BOULANGER Avant de mourir R. STRAUSS Waltz from Rosenkavalier GLAZUNOV La Glace, la Gèle et la Neige from The Seasons W. KOLLO Alle Englein lachen Salonorchester Colln E. NAZARETH Fon-Fon’ BERNSTEIN America A. BENJAMIN Jamaican Rumba A. JOBIM Desafinado SONDHEIM Send in the Clowns I Salonisti Recorded at the Interlaken Casino, September, 1994, DDD CLAVES CD 50-9514 [66.02] [GH]

Will undoubtedly afford considerable pleasure to any listener who is not too prudish … see Full Review

THE COMPLETE AKSEL SCHIØTZ RECORDINGS: 1933-1946 Vol. I: Oratorio and Mozart Arias - 1940-1945 George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Messiah: Comfort ye, Every valley Orchestra of Det Unge Tonekunstnerselskab/Mogens Wöldike, 26.03.1940 Dietrich BUXTEHUDE (c.1637-1707) Was mich auf dieser Welt betrübt Else Marie Braun, Julius Koppel (violins), Alberto Medici (cello), Mogens Wöldike (harpsichord), 20.03.1940 Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Christmas Oratorio: Frohe Hirten, eilt, ach eilet Johan Bentzon (flute), Alberto Medici (cello), Mogens Wöldike (harpsichord), 20.03.1940 St. Matthew Passion: O Schmerz - Ich will bei meinem Jesu wachen Mogens Steen Adreassen (oboe), Orchestra and Chorus/Mogens Wöldike, 22.04.1942 John DOWLAND (1563-1626) Shall I sue, Now cease, my wand’ring eyes, Flow, my tears Jytte Gorki Schmidt (guitar), 17.10.1941 Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Die Zauberflöte: Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön, Così fan tutte: Un’aura amorosa (25.02.1942), Don Giovanni: Dalla sua pace, Il mio tesoro intanto (27.02.1942), Die Entführung aus dem Serail: Hier soll ich dich denn sehen, Konstanze, Imm Mohrenland gefangen war (31.08.1943) Royal Orchestra, Copenhagen/Egisto Tango Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) The Creation: Mit Würd’ und Hoheit angetan Orchestra/Mogens Wöldike, no date Piotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Eugene Onegin: Lenski’s aria (in Danish) Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893) Faust: Salut demeure (in Danish) Royal Orchestra, Copenhagen/Johan Hye-Knudsen, 25.10.1944 HANDEL Acis and Galatea: Love sounds the alarm, Solomon: Sacred raptures cheer my breast Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Stockholm/Mogens Wöldike, from a rehearsal at the Musikaliska Akademien, Stockholm, 25.09.1945, previously unpublished Aksel Schiøtz (tenor), orchestras etc. as shown Dates as shown, the only location named is that of the rehearsal extract DANACORD DACOCD 451 [75:18] [JW]

One of the very greatest singers of his time … see Full Review

Great Pianists: Artur SCHNABEL - Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) - Piano Sonatas: Volume 4 - Sonata in B flat Op.22, in A flat, Op 26, in E flat Op 27 no.1 - Recorded between 1932-34 at Abbey Road Studios London ADD NAXOS 8.110756 [61.41]

There is no doubt that Schnabel was a truly great pianist on a par with Horowitz but with a different style and repertoire and vastly better, for example, than Richter who could be very wayward and self indulgent. … see Full Review

Artur Schnabel plays Beethoven, Brahms and Schumann Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827): 1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15 (1798) *** [37’56"] 2. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19 (1795) ** [28’10"] 3. Bagatelle in A minor, "Für Elise" [3’03] 4. Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor Op. 37 (1801) ** [33’49"] 5. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 (1806) ** [31’33"] 6. Rondo in C major, Op. 51, No. 1 [4’42"] 7. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 "Emperor" (1809) *** [36’35"] 8. Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 5, No. 2 * [23’33"] Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897): 9. Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15 (1859) **** [47’22"] 10. Intermezzo in E flat major, Op. 117, No. 1 [4’53"] 11. Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 116, No. 2 [3’18"] 12. Rhapsody in G minor, Op. 79, No. 2 [6’01"] 13. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83 (1881) ***** [45’16"] Robert SCHUMANN (1810-56) 14. Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (1838) Artur Schnabel (piano) NAXOS 8.505189 [69’08" + 70’04" + 60’07" + 61’34" + 62’16"] [JQ]

An abundance of pianistic wisdom. Transfers by Mark Obert-Thorn - well up to his usual high standards. … see Full Review

The Segovia Collection - Disc 1. Joaquin RODRIGO (1901-1999) Fantasia para un Gentilhombre, for guitar and orchestra - Manuel PONCE (1882-1948) Concierto del Sur, for guitar and orchestra - Luigi BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Cello Concerto No. 6 in D major, G 479 (transcribed for guitar) - Symphony of the Air/Enrique Jordá - Disc 2. Federico MORENO TORROBA (1891-1982) Castles of Spain - Piezas Características - Federico MOMPOU (1893-1987) Suite Compostelana for guitar - Mario CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO (1895-1968) Sonata for guitar, Op. 77 "Omaggio a Boccherini" - Manuel PONCE (1882-1948) Mexicana, from Sonata No.1 for guitar - Oscar ESPLÁ (1886-1976) Antaño, from Impresiones Musicales - Joaquin RODRIGO (1901-1999) Fandango, from Tres Piezas Españolas - Disc 3. Santiago de MURCIA Prelude and Allegro - Ludovico RONCALLI Passacaglia - Gigue - Gavotte - Luys de MILAN Pavans Nos. 1-6 - Gaspar SANZ Galliarda y Villiano - Espanoletas - Dionysio AGUADO Eight Lessons for guitar - Fernando SOR (1778-1839) Minuet in C minor - Minuet in C major - Etudes Nos.1, 2, 6, 10, 11, 15, 17, 19, 20* - *Refers to Segovia’s numberings - Isaac ALBÉNIZ (1860-1909) Granada, from Suite Española - Enrique GRANADOS (1867-1918) Spanish Dance No. 5, from 12 Spanish Dances - Spanish Dance No. 10, from 12 Spanish Dances - La Maja de Goya, from Tonadillas al Estilo Antiguo - Disc 4. Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Allemande, from BWV 996 - Sarabande, from BWV 997 - Gigue, from BWV 997 - Sarabande, from BWV 1002 - Bourrée, from BWV 1002 - Double, from BWV1002 - Suite for Cello BWV 1009, (complete) - Prelude, from BWV 1007 - Gavottes 1 and 2, from BWV 1012 - Chaconne, from BWV 1004 - Prelude BWV 999 - Gavotte en Rondeau, from BWV 1006 - Fugue BWV 1000 - Siciliano, from BWV 1001 - Bourrée, from BWV 996 Andrés Segovia (guitar) - Boxed Set - Original Recordings Remastered DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 471 430-2 [4CDs: 69:02+73:17+75:06+77:25] [AD]

Familiar material for many of Segovia’s devotees … however the re-mastering gives a more faithful vista into his art and this, together with the choice of works, makes this set highly recommended. … see Full Review

Blanche Selva (1884-1942) (Piano) - Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) - Violin Sonata No. 3 in E – BWV 1016 – Adagio ma non troppo - Partita No. 1 in B flat BWV 825 - Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Op. 24 Spring - César FRANCK (1822-1890) Prélude, choral et fugue - Déodat de SÉVERAC (1872-1921) Baigneuses au soleil - Cerdaña – No. 4 Les muletiers devant le Christ de Llivia - En Languedoc – No. 1 Vers le mas en fête Blanche Selva (piano) with Joan Massia (violin) in Bach’s Violin Sonata and the Spring Sonata - Recorded 1928 and 1930 MALIBRAN CDRG 177 [78.14] [JW]

To those whose prerequisites in French pianism of the 1920s are Cortot, Cortot and more Cortot I recommend this without reservation. … see Full Review

Daniil SHAFRAN (1923-1997) - Russian Soul - Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Sinfonia Concertante for cello and orchestra Op. 125 (1952) [35.15] - Dmitri KABALEVSKY (1904-1987) Cello Concerto No. 2 (1964) [27.55] - Sulkhan TSINTSADZE (1925-1992) Five Pieces on Folk Themes for cello and piano (1952) [14.27] Daniil Shafran (cello) - rec. 1961, USSR State SO/Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, live, Great Hall, Moscow Conservatory (Prokofiev); 1967, Leningrad PO/composer (Kabalevsky); 1957, Nina Musinyan (piano) CELLO CLASSICS CC1008 [77.55] [RB]

Shafran's urgency, desperation, fantasy and emotional range - never mind his extraordinary technical accomplishments. ... see Full Review

Sing Noel with Gloriæ Dei Cantores - arr Ralph HUNTER Sing Noel +, Gerald NEAR My Dancing Day –, Dale JERGENSON A Flight of Angels –*, William BILLINGS The Shepherd’s Carol –, Alfred BURT The Star Carol –, arr James CRISSMAN Carol of the Friendly Beasts, arr David WILLCOCKS Away in a Manger, arr Karen Lucy BUCKWALTER In the Bleak Midwinter *, arr Bruce SAYLOR Cantique de Noël ^, arr David WILLCOCKS Sussex Carol, arr Bruce SAYLOR O Little Town of Bethlehem, Alfred BURT Caroling, Caroling –, arr John RUTTER Ding Dong! Merrily on High #, arr David WILLCOCKS Masters in this Hall, arr Arthur WARRELL A Merry Christmas, arr Bruce SAYLOR A Christmas Garland, Gloriæ Dei Cantores - With Gloriæ Dei Ringers * and Gloriæ Dei Brass Ensemble #, Jay Humeston (cello) +, Carol Mastrodomenico ^ Conducted by Elizabeth C Patterson - Recorded Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA, USA 1992, 1995 and 1999 GLORIÆ DEI CANTORES GDCD 105 [70.21] [JW]

Plenty of Ding, not a little Dong and a commendable amount of merrily on high. … see Full Review

Ruth Slenczynska: The Legacy of a Genius Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Italian Concerto BWV 971, Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D minor BWV 903, Toccata in C minor BWV 911, Sonata in D major BWV 963 Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) transcr. Franz LISZT (1811-1886) 6 Chants Polonais Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Consolation no. 1 in E, Hungarian Rhapsody no. 15 in a – "Rakóczy March" Ruth Slenczynska (piano) Recorded in San Fransisco, originally released between 1951 and 1952 on the Music Library label IVORY CLASSICS 64405-70802 [68:39] [CH]

Perhaps not a genius, but piano-fanciers will wish to catch up on a fascinating figure. … see Full Review

Soul and Landscape: Scandinavian songs by Rangström, Stenhammar, Sjögren and Nystroem - Ture RANGSTRÖM (1884-1947) Melodi (Melody) (Bo Bergman) [1'26] Sommarnatten (Summer Night) (Johan Runeberg) [2'14] Den enda stunden (The Last Hour) (Johan Runeberg) [2'03] Vinden och trädet (The Wind and the Tree) (Bo Bergman) [1'44] Flickan under nymånen (The girl beneath the new moon) (Bo Bergman) [2'26] Pan (Bo Bergman) (No. 3 of 'Fem ballader') [2'33] - Wilhelm STENHAMMAR (1871-1927) Adagio Op. 20 No. 5 (Bo Bergman) (1903) [2'46] Melodi (Melody) (Bo Bergman) 1917, op posth [1'57] I skogen (In the Forest) (Albert Gellerstedt) 1885 [2'11] Månsken (Moonlight) (Bo Bergman) Op. 20 No. 4 (1904) [1'56] Flickan knyter i Johannenatten (Midsummer Eve) (Johan Runeberg) Op. 4 No. 2 (1893) [1'52] Dottern sade till sin gamla moder (The daughter asked) Op. 8 No. 2 (Johan Runeberg) (1895) [1'16] Flickan kom ifrån sin älsklings möte (The girl comes from meeting her lover) (Johan Runeberg) (1893) Op. 4 No. 1 [4'58] - Emil SJÖGREN (1853-1918) Sechs Lieder Aus Julius Wolff's Tannhäuser, Op 12: Du schaust mich an mit stummen Fragen [4'10] Jahrlang möcht' ich so Dich halten [2'19] Wie soll ich's bergen, wie soll ich's tragen [3'21] Hab' ein Röslein Dir gebrochen [1'10] Von meinem Auge wird es klar [3'09] Ich möchte schweben über Tal und Hügel [2'47] - Gösta NYSTROEM (1890-1966) Själ Och Landskap (Soul and Landscape) (Ebba Lindqvist) (1950): Vitt land (White Land) [3'13] Önskan (The Wish) [2'13] Bara hos den vars oro (Only with you) [2'26] - På Reveln (On the Reef) (1949): På reveln (On the Reef) (Anders Österling) [2'34] Otrolig dag (Special Day) (Einar Malm) [1'16] Havet sjunger (Singing of the Sea) (Ebba Lindqvist) [2'21] - Det enda (That is all there is) (Ebba Lindqvist) from 'Sinfonia del mare' (1948) [3'51] Miah Persson (soprano) - Roger Vignoles (piano) - Rec. 29-31 October 2001 DDD HYPERION CDA67329 [66.31] [RB]

Unfeigned pleasure. A grandly un-hackneyed recital of Scandinavian songs with highlights amongst the Nystroem and Sjögren. ... see Full Review

Janos Starker (cello) - The Road to Cello Playing - Traditional Etudes and modern Concert Pieces - Sebastian LEE (1805-1887) Etudes Op. 70 Nos. 4 in G, 11 in G, 20 in G, 24 in G minor - Karl SCHRÖDER (1848-1935) Etude in G Op. 31 No. 12 - Friedrich DOTZAUER (1783-1860) Etudes Op. 120 Nos. 2 in A minor and 8 in G - 113 Exercises for Cello; No. 32 in D minor - Jean Louis DUPORT (1749-1818) Etude No 7. in G minor, No. 8 in D - Alfredo PIATTI (1822-1901) Etudes Op. 25 No. 7 in C, No. 8 in A minor, No. 11 in G, No. 9 in D - David POPPER (1846-1913) Etudes Op. 73 Nos. 2 in G, 6 in F, 7 in A, 13 in E flat, 15 in G, 22 in G, 28 in A, 34 in F, 36 in C, 40 in D - Friedrich GRÜTZMACHER (1832-1903) Etude in D, Op. 38 No. 21 - Niccolo PAGANINI (1782-1840) Caprice in B flat Op. 1 No. 13 - Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Sonata for Solo Cello Op. 25 No. 3 - Bernhard HELDEN (b 1910) Variations on "Liliburlero" - Gaspar CASSADO (1897-1966) Suite for Solo Cello Janos Starker (cello) - Recorded 1967 except Hindemith, Heiden and Cassado, which are undated, and come from Starker’s own collection PARNASSUS PACD 97-008 [76.03] [JW]

Starker’s nobility is astonishing and his aerated drive jaw-dropping. … see Full Review

Maurice Steger - Recorder Music Compilation A Jacobean Masque (Four pieces from the collection of Sir Nicolas le Strange c.1624); John HILTON (1599-1673) Fantasie in G minor Henry PURCELL (1659-95) A New Ground; Robert CARR (d.1686) An Italian Ground; Anon Divisions on a Ground Marco UCCELLINI (1603-1680) Aria Sopra "La Bergamasca"; Francesco MANCINI (1672-1737) Sonata IV in A minor; Giovanni MEALLI (fl.c.1660) Sonata 1 "La Bernabera"; Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concerto in F major RV 434 and Concerto in A minor RV 108; G.P. TELEMANN (1681-1767) Sonatina in C minor; Fantasia in A major for solo recorder. Variously taken from CD 50-9407; CD 50-9614; CD 50-2112; CD 50-9809 Maurice Steger Naoki Kitaya harpsichord/organ/Virginal
The Musicians of I Barocchisti Rec. various CLAVES CD 50-2208 [74.29] [GH]

A very enjoyable disc … contrasted style and instrumentation … always something to cater for several different tastes. … see Full Review

Leopold STOKOWSKI: The Classic 1947-1949 Columbia Recordings, Volume 1 - Richard WAGNER (1813-1883): The Flying Dutchman Overture (1841) [9’38"] Recorded 21 February 1949 - Mikhail IPPOLITOV-IVANOV (1859-1935): ‘In the Village’ from Caucasian Sketches (1895) [4’37"] Recorded 3 November 1947 - Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992): L’Ascension – Four Symphonic Meditations (1933) [16’57"] Recorded 21 February & 21 March 1949 - Charles GRIFFES (1884-1920): ‘The White Peacock’ from Roman Sketches (1918) [6’07"] Recorded 17 November 1947 - Richard WAGNER (arr. Stokowski): ‘Wotan’s Farewell’ and ‘Magic Fire Music’ from Die Walküre ( 1856) [15’53"] - Recorded 17 November 1947 - Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958): Fantasia on "Greensleeves" (1934) [4’15"] Recorded 21 February 1949 - Peter Ilych TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893): ‘Francesca da Rimini’, Op.32 (1876) [18’56"] Recorded 3 November 1947 New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski - All 1947 recordings made in Carnegie Hall, New York. All 1949 recordings made in Columbia’s 30^th Street Studios, New York CALA CACD0534 [76’47"] [JQ]

Intensity and emotional contact … an unusual legato quality … see Full Review

Leopold STOKOWSKI: The Classic 1947-1949 Columbia Recordings, Volume 2 Richard WAGNER (1813-1883): ‘Rienzi’ Overture (1840) [11’02"] Recorded 4 April 1949 Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957): ‘Maiden with the Roses’ from Swanwhite (1908) [3’13"] Recorded 17 November 1947 Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978): Masquerade Suite [17’15"] Recorded 3 & 17 November 1947 Peter Ilych TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893): Waltz from Serenade for Strings (1880) [3’47"] Recorded 28 November 1949 Richard WAGNER: ‘Siegfried’s Rhine Journey’ [10’55"]; ‘Siegfried’s Funeral Music’ [12’01"] from Die Götterdämmerung (1874) Recorded 4 April 1949 Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951)(arr. Erwin Stein): ‘Song of the Wood Dove’ from Gurrelieder (1911/1922) *[12’28"] Recorded 28 November 1949 Aaron COPLAND (1900-1990): ‘Prairie Night’ [3’39"]; ‘Celebration Dance’ [2’00"] from Billy the Kid (1938) Recorded 3 November 1947 * Martha Lipton (mezzo-soprano) New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski 1947 recordings made in Carnegie Hall, New York 1949 recordings made in Columbia’s 30^th Street Studios, New York CALA CACD0534 [76’40"] [JQ]

Majestic and exciting … eminently recommendable … see Full Review

The Stuyvesant String Quartet Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Quartet in F minor Op. 10 (1918) Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Quartet No. 6 in E major (Quartetto Brasileiro No. 2) (1938) Quincy PORTER (1897-1966) Quartet No. 7 (1943) The Stuyvesant String Quartet Recorded 1947-50 PARNASSUS PACD 96026 [68.41] [JW]

Equal to all demands, impeccably eloquent, acutely sensitive to colour and weight and rhythm. I loved these recordings … see Full Review

Gerda and Gerhard Taschner - Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Partita No. 2 in D minor BWV 1004 – Chaconne (1720) - George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Sonata Op. 1 No. 13 - Pablo de SARASATE (1844-1908) Romanza Andaluza Op. 22/1 (1878-82) - Niccolo PAGANINI (1782-1840) Sonata No. 12 - Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto No. 20 in D K466 (1785) - Gerda Taschner talks about Gerhard Taschner [interview 1.55] - Gerd Taschner (violin) with Cor de Groot (piano) in the Handel and Gerda Taschner (piano) in Sarasate and Paganini Gerda Taschner (piano) - Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra/Hermann Abendroth - Recorded 1941-43 (Gerd Taschner’s commercial 78s) and 1955 (Mozart Piano Concerto) TAHRA 342 [73.11] [JW]

This disc catches Gerhard at the very outset of his career and one should not expect too much … see Full Review

Renata Tebaldi "Voce d’Angelo" - Giacomo PUCCINI (1858 - 1924) Si, mi chiamano Mimi (La Bohème) (a,b,e,f,i) * Donde lieta usci (La Bohème) (a,b,e,f,i) * Sono andati? (La Bohème) (a,b,e,f,i) * In quelle trine morbide (Manon Lescaut) (g,i) ** Vissi d'arte (Tosca) (g,i) ** Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! … Ancora un passo or via (Madama Butterfly) (c,f,i) * Un bel di vedremo (Madama Butterfly) (g,i) ** Con onor muore…Tu?Tu?Tu?Tu? Piccolo Iddio! (Madama Butterfly) (f,i) * Umberto GIORDANO (1867 - 1948) La Mamma morta (Andrea Chenier) (h,j) *** Charles GOUNOD (1818 - 1893) Ballad of the King of Thule .. Jewel Song (Faust) (g,i) ** Giuseppe VERDI (1813 - 1901) Ritorna Vincitor (Aida) (g,i) ** Tacea la notte placida (Il Trovatore) (g,i) ** Libera me, Domine (Requiem) (h,j) *** Renata Tebaldi (Soprano) - Hilde Gueden (Soprano) (a) Giacinto Prantelli (Tenor) (b) - Giovanni Inghilleri (Tenor) (c) - - Fernando Corena (Bass) (e) - Orchestra Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome (f) - L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (g) - Orchestra of La Scala, Milan (h) Alberto Erede (Conductor) (i) - Victor de Sabata (j) * - Recorded 1951 ** - Recorded 1949 *** - Recorded 1949 - Live REGIS RRC 1125 [73.50] [RH]

Highly recommendable … a fine mono introduction to Tebaldi's art … recordings set down whilst the artist was still in her twenties … see Full Review

Bryn Terfel: Live in Concert – Songs and Arias Leonard BERNSTEIN (1918-1990) Overture: Candide (excerpt) Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Tannhäuser: "Wie Todesahnung Dämmrung deckt die Lande; O du mein holder Abendstern" (Wolfram) (Song to the Evening Star) Die Walküre: The Ride of the Valkyries; Wotan’s Farewell Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) The Marriage of Figaro: Overture; "Non più andrai farfallone amoroso" (Figaro) The Magic Flute: "Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja" (Papageno) Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Falstaff: "Ehi! Paggio!...L’onore! Ladri! (Sir John Falstaff) Frederick LOWE (1901-1988) Camelot: "How to Handle a Woman" Richard RODGERS (1902-1979) and Oscar HAMMERSTEIN (1895-1960) State Fair: "It Might As Well Be Spring" Claude-Michel SCHÖNBERG (b.1944) Les Misérables: Stars: "There out in the Darkness" Mitch LEIGH (b.1928) Man of La Mancha: "To Dream the Impossible Dream" W.S. Gwynn WILLIAMS (1896-1978) (arr. Chris Hazell) "My Little Welsh Home" Traditional "Suo-Gân" (arr. Chris Hazell) Bryn Terfel (baritone) Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, Holland/Edo De Waart Recorded live in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, 1 June 2002 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON DVD 073 047-9 [78 mins concert + 62 mins features]

An undemanding popular concert with something for everybody - splendidly performed and brilliantly recorded. Recommended. … see Full Review

JACQUES THIBAUD (violin) - Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Violin Concerto No. 1 Op. 20 (1859) - Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso Op. 28 (1863) - Havanaise Op. 83 (1887) - Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Violin Sonata No. 26 in B flat K378 – Rondo (1779-1781) - Tomaso VITALI (1663-1745) Chaconne arr. Charlier - Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Op. 13 (1875-76) - Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Three Myths – No. 1 La Fontaine d’Aréthuse Op. 30 (1915) - Radio interview with Jacques Thibaud [5.34] - Jacques Thibaud (violin) with Sinfonie Orchestre das Hessischen Rundfunks/Alceo Galliera recorded a studio broadcast in Frankfurt, 29 April 1953 (Saint-Saëns’ Concerto and Introduction and Rondo Capriccio) - Marinus Flipse (piano) in Havanaise and the Mozart Rondo, recorded in concert at the Musikhochschüle, Frankfurt on 30 April 1953 - Tasso Janopoulo (piano) in the Vitali and Szymanowski (from commercial HMVs of 1936 and 1933 respectively) - Alfred Cortot (piano) in the Fauré Sonata (from a commercial HMV set of 1927) MALIBRAN CDRG 179 [77.31] [JW]

For all the deficiencies and limitations I wouldn’t want to be without this disc. … see Full Review

Tiegerman: the lost legend of Cairo. Radio and private recordings - Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat Op. 83 (1878-81) – First two movements only - Capriccio in B minor Op. 76 No. 2 (1878) - Intermezzo in B flat minor Op. 117 No. 2 (1892) - Romance in F Op. 118 No. 5 (1892) - Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Piano Concerto No. 5 Op. 103 Egyptian (1896) - César FRANCK (1822-1890) Variations Symphoniques (1885) - John FIELD (1782-1837) Nocturne No. 1 in E flat (1812) - Nocturne No. 13 in D minor (1834) - Frederic CHOPIN (1810-1849) Prelude in A Op. 28 No. 7 - Prelude in F sharp minor Op. 28 No. 8 - Nocturne in B Op. 9 No. 3 - Scherzo in B minor Op. 20 - Ballade in F minor Op. 52 - Barcarolle Op. 60 - Etude in A flat Op. 10 No. 10 - Etude in G sharp minor Op. 25 No. 6 - Sonata No. 3 in B flat Op. 58 - Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Nocturne in E flat Op. 36 (1884) - Ignace TIEGERMAN (1893-1968) Meditation - played by Henri Barda, a pupil of Tiegerman [recorded New York 1998] Voices of Tiegerman (undated, in Cairo) and of Theodor Leschetizky (recorded in Vienna in 1907) Ignace Tiegerman (piano) - Cairo Symphony Orchestra/Oreste Campisi (in Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2) - Cairo Symphony Orchestra/José Ferriz (in Saint-Saëns and Franck) - Radio and private recordings made c1955-65 ARBITER 116 [2 CDs 153.58] [JW]

A major figure has been finally accorded the justice that in life escaped him. … see Full Review

Jennie TOUREL (mezzo soprano) 1900-1973. A Vocal Portrait Jennie Tourel Various orchestras, conductors and piano accompanists. Recorded 1945-1952. Naxos Historical. ‘Great Singers Series’ 8.110735[74.49] [RF]

The beauty of her true mezzo voice, with its span of three octaves … characterization and her facility in English, French and Russian … see Full Review

Tsar of instruments: Organ music from Russia Alexander GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Prelude and Fugue in D major, Op. 93 (1906-7) [8.45] Reinhold GLIÈRE (1874-1956) Fugue on a Russian Christmas Song (c.1913) [2.21] Mikhail GLINKA (1804-1857) Fugue in E flat major (c.1836) [2.20] Fugue in A minor (c. 1836) [2.47] Fugue in D major (c. 1836) [2.32] Alexander GRECHANINOV (1864-1956) Three pieces, Op.159 [11.01] Sergey RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) From Trio élégiaque, Op. 9 (First edition): II Andante in F major for Harmonium (1893, rev. 1907, 1917) [2.48] Alexander GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Prelude and Fugue in D minor, Op. 98 (1914) [8.16] Sergey Ivanovich TANEYEV (1856-1915) Choral Varié (1894) [6.39] Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) From the music to the film The Gadfly, Op.97 Credo [3.55] The Cathedral Service [2.31] Alexander GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Fantasy, Op.110 (1934-5) [16.34] Iain Quinn (Organ) Organ of Winchester Cathedral, England (Willis organ 1851, reconstructed by Harrison and Harrison, 1988) Recorded at Winchester Cathedral, 7-9 January 2002 DDD CHANDOS CHAN 10043 [70.51]

This CD deserves a welcome, as it brings a not at all well-known genre of music to a wide audience. … see Full Review

Felix Weingartner conducts Beethoven - Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony No. 5 in C minor Op. 67 (1807) - Symphony No. 6 in F major Op. 68 (1808) - Eleven Viennese Dances WoO.17 - British Symphony Orchestra (No. 5) March 1932 - Orchestra of the Royal Philharmonic Society (No. 6) January 1927 - London Philharmonic Orchestra (Dances) October 1938 Felix Weingartner NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110861 [75.33] [JW]

Entry points are alive, murmuring middle voices intoxicating, pizzicatos point the rhythm delightfully, elysian charm … see Full Review

The Ysaÿe Connection - Guillaume LEKEU (1870-1894) Cello Sonata in G (1893) - César FRANCK (1822-1890) Cello Sonata in A (1886) - Eugène YSAŸE (1858-1931) Sonata for unaccompanied cello Op. 28 (1924) - Rêve d'Enfant Op. 14 (1901) Raphael Wallfisch (cello) - John York (piano) - rec. 7-9 July 2002, Champs Hill, West Sussex. DDD CELLO CLASSICS CC1009 [78.25] [RB]

Recommended to those curious about Ysaye and Lekeu as well as to cello fanciers everywhere. ... see Full Review

 

SCORES Review

SCORE REVIEW

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) The Early Chamber Music Piano Quintet in C minor for piano, violin, viola, cello and double bass (1903) [30'30] Nocturne and Scherzo for string quintet (1906) [10'18] String Quartet in C minor (1898) [25'27] Quintet in D major for clarinet, horn, violin, cello and piano (1898) [24'50] Scherzo for string quintet (1904) [5'57] FABER MUSIC

It is a feather in Faber Music’s cap that they have secured the rights to publish these scores which often in equal measure will delight as well as cast light on the early rise to maturity of a composer of international standing. ... see Full Review

 

BOOK REVIEW

The Life and Music of Sir Malcolm Arnold - The Brilliant and the Dark
by Paul R.W. Jackson 277 pages, 26 plates, 107 musical examples Published by Ashgate, ISBN 1 85928 381 0 [PS]

Authorised or not, to my mind this book now takes pride of place as the best all-round reference on Sir Malcolm Arnold.… see Full Review

ROGER QUILTER: His Life and Music by Valerie Langfield, Boydell Press, 2002: xviii, 375pp, plus CD ISBN 0-85115-871-4 £40 hardback / US$70 [CSS]

Michael TIPPETT: Music and Literature Edited by Suzanne Robinson Contributions by: Michael Tippett, Edward Venn, Sean Flanagan, Suzanne Robinson, Lewis Foreman, Suzanne Cole, Arnold Whittall, Barbara Docherty, Rowena Harrison and Meinhard Saremba 282 Pages, 17 illustrations and 32 Music examples ISBN 0-7546-0132-3 Published by Ashgate, December 2002, Hardback. £45

This collection is timely because we are reaching a point when Tippett’s music is heard less and less in programmes throughout Britain … 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-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L]  [Part 7 Misc M-Z]
Revolving notes from clipart.com

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