RECORDING OF THE MONTH - Isaac
ALBÉNIZ
(1860-1909) Henry
Clifford - opera in three acts (1893-95) 
Aquiles Machado (Henry Clifford); Alessandra Marc (Lady Clifford); Carlos
Álvarez (Sir John Saint John); Jane Henschel (Lady Saint John);
Ana Maria Martínez (Annie Saint John); Christian Immler (Colin);
Ángel Rodríguez (Messenger) - Escolanía de la Santa
Cruz del Valle de los Caídos - Madrid Symphony Chorus and Orchestra/José
de Eusebio - Rec. Madrid, 2003. DDD
DECCA 473 937-2 [2CDs: 67: 08+72:29=139:37] [LF]
Recommended
for explorers, for dipping, and for good conservatoire opera courses
looking for a vivid unfamiliar score to get their teeth into. … see
Full Review
Johann
Christian BACH (1735
- 1782) Sonata
Op 15 #5 for two keyboards in G (1778) [12.08] - Sonata Op 15 #6 for
two keyboards in C (1778) [13.33] - Sonata Op 18 #5 for two keyboards
in A (1780) [12.36] - Sonata Op 18 #6 for two keyboards in F (1780)
[11.28] Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst BACH
(1759 - 1845) Sonata for Piano four hands in C [6.01] - Duet #1
for Piano four hands in D [9.49] - Duet #2 for Piano four hands in G
[9.08] [Aglika] Genova
and [Liuben] Dimitrov piano duo - Recorded at Hans Rosbaud Studio, Baden-Baden,
Germany, 11 September 2001 - Notes in Deutsch, English and Français
CPO 999 848-2 [75.53]
[PS]
Excellent
performances of familiar pre-classical keyboard works … see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685
- 1750) Keyboard
Concerto #3, BWV 1054 (1738) [15.44] - Keyboard Concerto #5, BWV 1056
(1738) [9.17] - Keyboard Concerto #6, BWV 1057 (1738) [15.39] - Keyboard
Concerto #7, BWV 1058 (1738) [13.19]
Murray Perahia, Steinway piano #539525, and conducting the Academy of
St-Martin-in-the-Fields - David Miller, Lute continuo; Michael Cox,
Leonore Smith, flutes - Piano technician, Ulrich Gerhartz - Recorded
at Air Studios, Lindhurst Hall, London, UK, May 13 2001 2.0 stereo only
Notes in English, Deutsch, Français Photo of artist
SUPER
AUDIO CD (PLAYABLE ONLY ON SACD PLAYERS) SONY SACD SS 89690 [54.02]
[PS]
Superb,
lyrical performances of these familiar keyboard concertos in stunningly
rich and clear sound. … see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
French
Overture and French Suites French
Overture BWV 831 (?date) [31:30] - French Suites (c.1722) - No.1 in
D Minor BWV 812 [15:05] - No.2 in C Minor BWV 813 [15:18] - No.3 in
B Minor BWV 814 [16:10] - No.4 in E Flat BWV 815 [14:16] - No.5 in G
BWV 816 [17:38] - No.6 in E BWV 817 [17:07] - Prelude and Fugue in A
Minor BWV 894 [10:57] Paul
Parsons: harpsichord - Rec. North Transept, Priory Church of Our Lady
and St.Cuthbert, Worksop, England, March 2001
GUILD GMCD 7258/9 [2:18:42] [SA]
Refined
playing of these brilliant works makes this a set that will please all
lovers of the harpsichord. … see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Bach
Festival – Prades 1950 The
Brandenburg Concertos No. 1 in F major - No. 2 in F major - No. 3 in
G major - No. 4 in G major - No. 5 in D major - No. 6 in B flat minor
- Das Musikalische Opfer [The Musical Offering] - Sonata a tre voci
in C minor - Ricercare a sei voci
The Prades Festival Orchestra conducted by Pablo Casals (The Brandenburg
Concertos) Soloists - Alexander Schneider (violin), Laila Thevet and
G Coursier (horns), Marcel Tabuteau, L Storch and John Mack (oboes)
M Allard (bassoon) in No. 1 - Alexander Schneider (violin), Marcel Mule
(saxophone), John Wummer (flute), Marcel Tabuteau (oboe) and Paul Tortelier
(cello) in No. 2 - Alexander Schneider (violin), John Wummer and Bernard
Goldberg (flutes) in No. 4 - Eugene Istomin (piano), Joseph Szigeti
(violin) and John Wummer (flute) in No. 5 - Leopold Mannes (piano) (Das
Musikalische Opfer) - Alexander Schneider (violin), John Wummer (flute),
Leopold Teraspusky (cello) and Leopold Mannes (piano) (Sonata a tre
voci in C minor) - Alexander Schneider and Orrea Pernel (violins), Milton
Thomas and Karen Tuttle (violas), Leopold Teraspusky (cello) and Daniel
Saidenburg (cellos) and June Rotenburg (double-bass) - Recorded, Prades,
June 1950 PEARL GEMS
0200 [2 CDs: 137.46] [JW]
Weighty
and idiosyncratic, these Brandenburg Concertos are complexly moving
documents … see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Sonatas for solo violin No.
1 in G minor, BWV 1001 - No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003 - No. 3 in C major,
BWV 1005 James Greening-Valenzuela
(violin) - Recorded December 2002 at Holdcraft Studios, Pleasant Hill,
California, USA CON
BRIO CBR-231 [no timings given] [RBr]
Not
my choice for this inexhaustible music but makes for interesting comparisons
with more historically based performances. … see
Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Sounds of Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565 - 1.Toccata
[2.41] - 2. Fugue [6.14] - Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier BWV 731 [2.31]
- 4. Chorale [1.14] - Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott BWV 720 [3.20] -
Pedalexercitium in G minor BWV 598 [1.52] - Fantasia and Fugue in G
minor BWV 542 - 7. Fantasia [5.46] - 8. Fugue [5.59] - Vater unser im
Himmelreich BWV 737 [2.15] - O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig [2.29] - 11.
Chorale [1.58] - Prelude, Trio and Fugue in C major BWV 545 and 529
- 12. Prelude [1.47] - 13. Trio [5.23] - 14. Fugue [3.38] - Pastorella
in F major BWV 590 (Tamburini Organ) - 15. Pastorella [2.27] - 16. Allemanda
[2.20] - 17. Aria [2.39] - 18. Giga [3.12] - Von Himmel hoch da komm
ich her BWV 738 (Tambourini Organ) [1.16] - Herzlich tut mich verlangen
BWV 727 [2.21] - Fantasia in G major (Pièce d’orgue) BWV 572
- 21. Très vitement [1.40] - 22. Gravement [5.41] - 23. Lentement
[1.45] Terence Charlston
(Organ) - Organs by: K. Tickell and Co, Northampton, 1994 and G. Tamburini,
Crema, 1978 - Recorded in Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, England
on 16-17September 2002
LAMMAS RECORDS LAMM 150D [70.37] [CAnt]
This
CD is of highly demonstrative quality. You need to buy it now … … see
Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685
- 1750) Brandenburg
Concerto #3, BWV 1048 (1721) [12.27] - Brandenburg Concerto #5, BWV
1050 (1721) [21.53] - Suite #3 in D, BWV 1068 (1727?): #2, Air ("on
the G String") [5.33]
Nicolae Licaret, harpsichord - Soloists from the "George Enescu"
Philharmonic Orchestra - Christian Mandeal, conductor - Recorded at
the Atheneum, Bucharest, Romania, 31 August 2001. Four audio tracks:
MLP 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 "Audience" Mix; DTS "Stage"
Mix, PCM Stereo - Technical notes in English. No photos or comments
on the music or performers - www.aixrecords.com - Mark Waldrep, producer,
recording and mastering engineer, and artistic direction - playable
on DVD players and DVD Audio players. Not playable on CD players
AIX IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT DVD AUDIO/VIDEO 1338 AX [39.53] [PS]
An
overwhelming experience to a Bach lover. If you don’t have a DVD or
DVD-Audio player go out and buy one just to hear this disk … see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Cantatas for Alto -
Cantata 35, Geist und Seele wird verwirret, BWV 35 - Cantata
82, Ich habe genug, BWV 82 - Cantata 53, Schlage doch, gewunschte
Stunde, BWV 53 (spurious)
René Jacobs, alto - Ensemble 415/Chiara Banchini - Rec: September
1987, Saint-Martin-du Méjan, Arles, France
HARMONIA MUNDI HMA 1951273 [59.03] [KM]
A
disappointing recording, but a curiosity … see Full
Review
Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Cantata
No. 65, Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV 65 Cantata No. 81,
Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen, BWV 81 Cantata No. 83,
Erfreute Zeit im neuen Bunde, BWV 83 Cantata No. 190, Singet
dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190
Robin Blaze, counter-tenor James Gilchrist, tenor Peter Kooij, bass
Bach Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki Rec: February 2002, Kobe Shino Women’s
University, Japan Cantatas vol. 21
BIS CD-1311 [69.32] [KM]
Yet
again, a fine recording of Bach cantatas from Maasaki Suzuki … see Full
Review
Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685 - 1750) and
Anton WEBERN (1883 - 1945) BACH/WEBERN
Ricercar WEBERN:
Streichquartett (1905), version for chamber orchestra BACH:
Cantata No. 4 "Christ lag in Todesbanden" BWV 4 WEBERN:
Fünf Sätze op. 5, version for string orchestra BACH/WEBERN:
Ricercar
The Hilliard Ensemble Münchener Kammerorchester/Christoph Poppen
Rec: January 2001, Himmelfahrtskirche Sendling, Munich
ECM NEW SERIES 1774 [69.06] [KM]
A
curious disc, featuring a unique performance of a Bach cantata in one-voice-per-part
… see Full Review
Ernst
BACON
(1898-1990) Violin
Sonata (1983) [24’50]. David DIAMOND (b.
1915) Chaconne for Violin and Piano (1948) [15’49]
James Greening-Valenzuela (violin); John Walker (piano)
CON BRIO RECORDINGS CBR234 [39’49] [CC]
Works
in an immediately approachable idiom … most appealing. Despite short
playing time a fascinating disc, especially for the Diamond. … see Full
Review
Arnold BAX
(1883-1953) Overture,
Elegy and Rondo (1927) [23.44] - Sinfonietta (1932) [22.00]
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra/Barry
Wordsworth - rec. Concert Hall, Slovak Philharmonic, Bratislava, 8-12
June 1987 NAXOS 8.555109
[45.44] [RB]
Not
the place to start your Bax exploration but two peripheral quasi-symphonic
works crackingly performed and audaciously recorded. ... see Full
Review
Amy
BEACH (1867-1944)
Piano
Concerto in C-sharp minor, Op. 45 (1898-99) [36:40] - Symphony in E
minor, Op. 32 "Gaelic" (1894-96) [42:19]
Alan Feinberg, piano - Nashville Symphony Orchestra - Kenneth Schermerhorn
- Recorded at Andrew Jackson Hall of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center,
13-15 April, 2002. DDD
NAXOS 8.559139 [79:02] [KS]
Recommended
only for the deserved attention of the repertoire. … see Full
Review
Ludwig
Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano
Trio No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 1/1 - Piano Trio No. 2 in G major, Op.
1/2 - Piano Trio No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 11 Gassenhauertrio
Trio Fontenay - Recorded at Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany, March 1991
(Op.1 /1), December 1991 (Op.1 /2) and June 1992 (Op.11) DDD
WARNER CLASSICS APEX 2564 60364 2 [73:35] [MC]
Well
played performances but cannot compete with the Beaux Arts who impart
far more depth and insight. … see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770
- 1827) Symphony
No. 4 in B Flat Major, Op. 60 (1806) - Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op.
67 (1812) Berlin Philharmonic
Orchestra/Claudio Abbado - Directed by Bob Cole - recorded in February
2001 live at Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Rome DVD
TDK10 5117-9 DV BPAB 47 [107 mins] [JP]
A
wonderful rapport with his orchestra, clearly thoroughly enjoying himself,
edge of the seat playing and complete commitment … see
Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven Explored, Vol.1 (1770-1827)
Sonata
in G major Op.96 [26.58] - Rondo in G major WoO 41 [5.12] - 12 Variations
in F major Se vuol ballare (Mozart) WoO 40 [11.18] - Erherzog
Rudolph: Variations in F major (1810)on a Minuetto (Prince Ferdinand]
(18.54) Peter Sheppard
Skaerved (violin); Aaron Shorr (piano) - Recorded in St. John’s Smith
Square, London, October 2000 and February 2001
METIER MSV CD2003 [62.22] [RBr]
A
highly desirable addition to any Beethoven archive. … see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphony
No.3 Eroica in E flat, Op.55 (1803) [46’55]. Recorded 1954 -
Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op.67 (1807) [31’15] Recorded 1955 - Symphony
No.6 Pastoral in F, Op.68 (1808) [40’46] Recorded 1961 - Symphony
No.7 in A, Op.92 (1812) [42’34] Recorded 1959
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner
RCA RED SEAL ARTISTES ET REPERTOIRES 74321 88681-2 [2CDs:
78.10+83.10] [JPo]
In
Eroica Reiner is in his element; full of power, hard driven very exciting
, but not so hard as to be unacceptable. Seventh: the other big success
of these performances. … see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphony
No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 (1808) [37’11];Symphony No. 6 in F, Op. 68,
Pastoral (1808) [39’48].
Staatskapelle Dresden/Herbert Blomstedt Rec. Lukaskirche, Dresden,
1977. ADD BRILLIANT
CLASSICS - CLASSIC COLLECTION 99868 [78’49] [CC]
Definitely
not recommended. … see Full Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
Symphonies:
1 in C, op. 21, 2 in D, op. 36, 3 in E flat, op. 55 – "Eroica",
4 in B flat, op. 60, 5 in c, op. 67, 6 in F, op. 68 – "Pastoral",
7 in A, op. 92, 8 in F, op. 93, 9 in d, op. 125 – "Choral"*
*Charlotte Margiono (soprano),
Birgit Remmert (contralto), Rudolf Schasching (tenor), Robert Holl (bass),
Arnold Schoenberg Choir Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Recorded live, June 29th 1990 (4, 5), July 1st 1990 (8, 6), July 3rd
1990 (1, 3), July 5th (2, 7), June 21 1991 (9) in the Stefaniensaal,
Graz TELDEC CLASSICS
0927 49768-2 [5 CDs: 74:52, 71:18, 70:31, 74:43, 66:44] [CH]
Not
a cycle I can recommend in its entirety. No. 5 is very fine and the
Pastoral is sublime. … see Full
Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Music for Cello and Piano, Volume 2 Variations
(12) in F on "Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen" from
Mozart’s opera Die Zauberflöte, Op.66 (1796) Sonata in E
flat major for cello and piano, Op.64 (Arrangement of String Trio, Op.3)
Sonata No.3 in A major for cello and piano, Op.69 (1807-08)
Maria Kliegel, cello Nina Tichman, piano Recorded Clara Wieck Auditorium,
December 2001 NAXOS
8.555786 [77:09] [DS]
Once
Kliegel and Tichman have fully traversed the music for cello and piano,
their recordings will likely be among the best on record. … see Full
Review
Vincenzo
BELLINI
(1801 – 1835) I
Puritani - Melodramma serio in three parts
Elvira Valton…Stefania Bonfadelli (soprano) Lord Arturo Talbo…Stefano
Secco (tenor) Sir Riccardo Forth…Vladimir Chernov (baritone) Sir Giorgio…Michele
Pertusi (bass) Enrichetta di Francia…Annamaria Popescu (mezzo-soprano)
Lord Gualtiero Valton…Angelo Nardinocchi (bass) Sir Bruno Roberton…Mario
Bolognesi (tenor) Coro del Teatro Massimo Bellini di Catania / Tiziana
Carlini Orchestra del Teatro Massimo Bellini di Catania/Kuhn Recorded
at Catania, 17/22/26/28 April 2001 DDD
ARTE NOVA CLASSICS 74321 87081 2 [3CDs 61.31+66.15+38.23] [RMK]
A
disappointing recording which does not merit inclusion in your collection.
… see Full Review
Jirí Antonín BENDA (1722
- 1795) Harpsichord
Sonatas Tamara
Franzová, 2 manual harpsichord by Sheer & Vogel after Stehlin
1760 Notes in English, German, French, and Czech. Photos of the composer,
artist, and harpsichord. Recorded at Domovina Studio, Prague, Czech
Republic, 16 April 1999
SUPRAPHON SU 3745-2 131 [73.16] [PS]
Ingratiating
keyboard music from the very interesting Pre-Classical period, very
sympathetically played … see Full Review
Neils
Viggo BENTZON (1919-2000)
Chôro
Daniensis * Op. 548 (1990) [7.31] - September Moods 1-6 (1997)
[15.34] - Six Variations over an Original Theme Op. 17 (1942)
[9.03] - Pyramid * Op. 572 (1993) [5.19] - Cabaret Voltaire
- Three Dadaistic Studies for tenor and guitar * Op. 551 (1990)
[5.43] - Mosaïque Musicale Op. 54 (1950) [11.57] - Violin
Sonata No. 1 Op. 4 (1939) [6.09] - Tsetse Fly * Op. 604 (1995)
[5..45] Niels Viggo Bentzon
(piano) - Jan Lund (tenor) - Ricardo Odriozola (violin) - Ensemble Nord
(works written for them indicated *) :Karen Skriver (fl) - Peter Lindegaard
(cl) - Otto Aandersson (vc) - Curt Kollavik-Jensen (guitar) - Torsten
Folke Pedersen (perc) - Sven Birch (pf) - Ricardo Odrizola (vn) - Jan
Lund (ten) - composer (piano) - rec 1997 DDD
KONTRAPUNKT 32265 [66.46] [RB]
Quirky,
piercing, regretful (deliciously so at 8.23) and capricious. ... see
Full Review
Neils
Viggo BENTZON (1919-2000)
Piano
Works: Partita Op. 38 (1945) [20.50]; Sonata No. 7 Op. 121 (1959) [13.51];
Woodcuts Op. 65 (1951) [17.48]; Hoffmann Sonata Op. 248 (1969) [17.14]
Per Salo (piano)
rec. Feb 1992. DDD KONTRAPUNKT
32111 [70.07] [RB]
Bentzon
- one of the giants of the twentieth century piano repertoire brilliantly
represented by Per Salo ... see Full
Review
Lennox BERKELEY (1903-1989)A
Centenary Tribute
Sonatina for Piano Duet, Op. 39 (1954) [8’03]. Diversions, Op.
63 (1964) [17’54]. Sextet, Op. 47 (1955) [16’42]. Oboe Quartet, Op.
70)1967) [14’38]. Palm Court Waltz, Op. 81 No. 2 [3’17].
The Nash Ensemble (Gareth Hulse, oboe; Michael Collins, clarinet;
Brian Wightman, bassoon; John Pigneguy, horn; Marcia Crayford, Ruth
Crouch, violins; Roger Chase, viola; Christopher van Kampen, cello;
Ian Brown, piano) with Kathryn Stott (piano)Rec. June 13th-14th,
1983, location unspecified. AAD
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55135 [61’47] [CC]
This
is a disc that will yield many pleasures. … see Full
Review
Leonard BERNSTEIN
(1918-1990) West
Side Story ( 1957) Lyrics (Stephen Sondheim); Story (Arthur Laurents)
Barbara Bonney (Maria) Michael Ball (Tony) La Verne Williams (Anita)
Christopher Howard (Riff) Mary Carewe (Rosalia) Jenny O’Grady (Francisca)
Lee Gibson (Consuela) Derek Chessor (Action) Lindsay Benson (Diesel)
James Graeme (A-Rab) Andrew Busher (Baby John) Michael Pearn (Bernardo)
Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth Recorded at Angel Studios, London, Jan 1993,
DDD WARNER CLASSICS
2564 60423-2 [71:48] [MC]
Thoroughly
committed and enjoyable performances from all concerned in Bernstein’s
masterwork. … see Full Review
Heinrich BIBER (1644-1704)
Sonatas for Strings from "Sonatae tam Aris quam Aulis servientes"
(1676) "Die Pauernkirchfahrt" ("the peasants’ church
procession") Sonata
V a sei in E Minor [5:41] - Sonata IX a cinque in B-flat [5:44] - Sonata
a sei in B-flat "Die Pauernkirchfahrt" [6:27] - Anonymous
keyboard partite in D Minor (from the Göttweig manuscript) [11:04]
- Sonata XI a cinque in A [4:08] - Sonata VIII a cinque in G [6:27]
- Anonymous keyboard partite in G (from the Göttweig manuscript)
[8:51] - Sonata VI a cinque in F [4:56] - Sonata III a sei in G Minor
[5:54] - Sonata II a sei in D [4:21]
Ingrid Matthews, David Greenberg, violins - Stephen Cresswell, violin
and viola - Mary Manning, Kim Zabelle, violas - Margriet Tindemans,
viola da gamba - John Schneiderman, archlute and baroque guitar - Byron
Schenkman, harpsichord - Seattle Baroque /Ingrid Matthews (Music Director)
- Byron Schenkman (Artistic Director) - Recorded 26-28 March 2001 at
Benaroya Hall, Seattle, USA. DDD
CENTAUR CRC 2615 [64:55] [PB]
Some
of Biber’s finest ensemble music, engagingly played and warmly recommended
… see Full Review
Hildegard Von BINGEN
(1098
- 1179) ‘Songs of Ecstacy’ CD 1: ‘’Voice of the blood’ O
nubor sanguinis [02:01] - Favus distillans [08:29] - Laus trinitati
[01:36] - In matutinis laudibus [09:53] - O ecclesia [07:56] - Instrumental
piece [06:33] - O aeterne deus [02:12] - O dulcissime amator [06:46]
- Rex noster promptus est [06:25] - O cruor sanguinis [01:35] - Cum
vox sanguinis [06:31] - Instrumental piece [02:59] - O virgo ecclesia
(instrumental) [07:48] - Nunc gaudeant materna [02:26] - O orchis ecclesia
[03:36] - CD 2: ‘O Jerusalem’ O Jerusalem [10:26] - Qui felix
pueritia – magnifica [05:27] - O felix apparitio [02:43] - O beatissime
ruperte [02:23] - Instrumental piece [05:46] - O tu illustrata [07:46]
- Cum erubuerint [02:49] - O frondens virga – gloria patri; Ave generosa
[05:55] - O quam preciosa [07:05] - O ignee spiritus [06:49] -Instrumental
piece [05:41] - O quam magnum miraculum est [04:44]
Sequentia, Ensemble for medieval music: (Vox feminae) Barbara Thornton
(dir), Gundula Anders, Pamela Dellal, Elizabeth Glen, Heather Knutson,
Nancy Mayer, Lucia Pahn, Consuelo Sañudo, Carol Schlaikjer, Janet
Youngdahl - (Sons of Thunder) Benjamin Bagby (dir), Stephen Grant, Peter
Halpern, Eric Mentzel, Peter Schmitz, Bernhard Schneider - (Instrumental
ensemble) Elizabeth Gaver (medieval fiddles), Benjamin Bagby (medieval
harp, portative organ, organistrum), Joachim Kühn (organistrum,
symphonia), Na'ama Lion (medieval flute), Barbara Thornton, positive
organ recorded in October and November 1994 (CD 1) - October 1995 at
St Panthaleon in Cologne (CD 2)
RCA RED SEAL 47321 886 892 [2CDs: 76:55 + 67:30] [JvV]
Some
of the best recordings of works by Hildegard of Bingen are reissued
here in a budget series: if you don’t have them already, don’t miss
them! … see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Georges BIZET
(1838-1875) Chants
du Rhin Nocturne (médit) Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, Op.11
(piano and string quintet version) * Grande Valse Brillante in E flat
major, Op.18 Mazurka in A flat major, Op.17, no.3 Mazurka in A minor,
Op.17, no.4 Mazurka in C major, Op.24, no.2 Fantaisie in F minor, Op.49
Nocturne in D flat major, Op.27, no.2 Scherzo No.2 in B minor, Op.31
Prélude No.17 in A flat major, Op.28 Prélude No.22 in
G minor, Op.28 Ballade No.3 in E flat major, Op.47 Nocturne in B major,
Op.62, no.1 Étude in C minor, Op.10, no.12 Prélude No.7
in A major, Op.28 Jean-Marc
Luisada, piano Benjamin Berlioz, double-bass * Talich Quartet * recording
dates and locations not specified Artistes + Répertoires series
BMG FRANCE/RCA 74321
886782 [2CDs: 144:32] [DS]
Highly
individualized performances … essential … intimacy, exploration, improvisation
and articulation … one of the great Chopin recordings … see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Mewton-Wood plays
Twentieth Century Piano Concertos
Arthur BLISS (1891-1975) Piano
Concerto (1938-39) [37.36] Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
Concerto for piano and wind instruments (1924) [20.06] Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Concerto for piano, trumpet and
strings Op. 35 (1933) [21.08]
Noel Mewton-Wood (piano) Harry Sevenstern (trumpet) (Shostakovich) Utrecht
Symphony Orchestra (Bliss); Residentie Orchestra, The Hague (Stravinsky);
Concert Hall Symphony Orchestra Walter Goehr (conductor) rec. 1952 (Bliss,
Stravinsky); 1953 (Shostakovich). mono. ADD Transferred by Bryan Crimp
from LPs drawn from the collection of Robert Milnes Financial assistance
from the Bliss Trust Originally issued as Concert Hall LPs: CHS1167
(Bliss); CHS1160 (Stravinsky); CHSH4 (Shostakovich)
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY HISTORIC BMS101CDH [79.00] [JQ]
I
strongly recommend this disc and hope that through it many more people
will get an opportunity to sample the phenomenon that was Noel Mewton-Wood.
… see Full Review
Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Piano
Concerto No.1 in D minor, Op.15 (1854-58) Four Ballades, Op.10
(1854) Rudolf
Buchbinder (piano) Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Recorded live in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, October 1999 (Concerto)
and Teldec Studio, Berlin, March 2000 (Ballades)
WARNER APEX 2564 60371 2 [75’30] [TH]
Rest
assured you will get musicianship of a thrilling order. … see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Fest-
und Gedenksprüche, Op. 109 [10’06]. Motetten, Op. 110 [9’39].Anton
BRUCKNER (1833-1896)Locus iste [3’02]. Os justi [4’40]. Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Ave Maria in B [5’29]. Ave verum corpus
[4’17]. Salve Regina [4’54]. In Nativitate Domini ad Matutinam (arr.
Huber) [12’12].Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Deutsche Messe, D872 [21’42].
South German Radio Choir, Stuttgart/Rupert Huber
HAENSSLER MASTERPIECE COLLECTION CD94.004 [76’01] [CC]
This
is a peaceful and beautiful hour and a quarter’s listening … see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS (1833
- 1897) Sonata
for cello and piano in E, Op 38 (1865) [23.15] Sonata for violin and
piano in D, Op 78 (1890s) [28.57] (arr. Markson/Osorio) Sonata for cello
and piano in F, Op 100 (1886) [27.16]
Richard Markson, cello; Jorge Federico Osorio, piano Notes in English.
Recorded at St Paul’s Boys’ School, London, UK, May 2001
REGIS RRC 1098 [79.32] [PSh]
As
good a performance and recording of this magnificent music as you’ll
ever hear. If you have them all, you need this one, too. If you don’t
have any, you can’t do any better … see Full
Review
Johann Evangelist BRANDL (1760-1837)
Quintets
Vol. 2 Quintet in F major Op.13 (63) for violin, viola, bassoon, cello
and piano (1798) [21:03] - Quintet in c major Op.61 for violin, viola,
bassoon, cello and piano (1800) [25:27] - Quintet in F major Op.62 for
violin, viola, bassoon, cello and piano (circa. 1800) [21:55]
Calamus Ensemble: Rainer Schottstadt (bassoon) - Sigrid Althoff (piano)
- Torsten Janicke (violin) - Mile Kosi (viola) - Joachim Griesheimer
(cello) - Recorded at Furstliche Reitbahn Bad Arolsen, Germany, 28-30
October 2002 - DDD
MUSIK DABRINGHAUS
UND GRIMM MDG-603-1175-2 [68:53]
[MC]
Melodic,
appealing and rewarding Classical piano quintets … predominantly
Haydn influenced; with a hint of Mozart. … see Full
Review
Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Albert Herring (1947)
Albert Herring - Christopher Gillett (ten) - Lady Billows - Josephine
Barstow (sop) - Florence Pike - Felicity Palmer (mezzo-sop) - Superintendent
Budd - Robert Lloyd (bar) - Vicar, Mr Gedge - Peter Savidge (bar) -
Sid - Gerald Finley (bar) - Nancy - Ann Taylor (mezzo-sop) - Mrs Herring
- Della Jones (mezzo-sop) - Miss Wordsworth - Susan Gritton (sop) -
Mayor, Mr Upfold - Stuart Kale (ten) - Northern Sinfonia /Steuart Bedford
- Recorded Newcastle upon Tyne, 1996
NAXOS 8.660107-08 [2CDs: 64:10 + 77:09] [JF]
A
great work, well presented and finely recorded. A must for all Britten
opera enthusiasts. … see Full
Review
Britten, Voice and Piano Lectures
on the Vocal Music of Benjamin Britten by Graham
Johnson, senior professor of accompaniment, GSAMD Guildhall School
of Music and Drama Research Studies 2
ISBN 0-7546-3872-3 Paperback with 2CDs 254pp plus 15pp index; ix pp
foreword Co-published by The Guildhall School of Music & Drama and
Ashgate Publishing Limited. [RB]
Does
Graham Johnson ever sleep, I wonder? An invaluable further addition
to the Britten library. ... see Full Review
Leo
BROUWER (1939-)
Guitar music Volume 3 Sonata
(1990) (15.32) Latin American Pieces (3) (11.44) Hika (7.24) Suite #2
(6.14) An Idea ‘Passacaglia for Eli’ (2.52) Paisaje Cubano con campañas
(6.25) Rito de los Orishas (15.56) Un dia de Noviembre (4.27)
Graham Anthony Devine (guitar) Notes in English, Deutsch, and Français.
Recorded St. John Chrysostom Church, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, 24
June 2000 Volume 1:Naxos 8.553630. Volume 2: Naxos 8.554553
NAXOS 8.554195 [70.34] [AD]
A
fine disc with masterly playing … see Full Review
Anton BRUCKNER
(1824 - 1896): Masses Mass No.1 in D minor Isabelle
Müller-Kant (soprano) Eibe Möhlmann (mezzo-soprano) Daniel
Sans (tenor) Christof Fischesses (bass) Chamber Choir of Europe Württemburgische
Philharmonic Reutlingen/Nicol Matt Recorded 20-25 January 2003, Württemberg,
Germany Te Deum, Psalm 150, Mass No. 2 in E minor Pamela Coburn
(soprano) Ingeborg Danz (alto) Christian Elsner (tenor) Franz-Josef
Selig (bass) Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart Bach Collegium Stuttgart/Helmuth
Rilling Recorded 7th-9th September 1996, Beethovensaal,
Stuttgart Mass No. 3 in F minor Verena Schweizer (soprano) Elisabeth
Glauser (alto) Uwe Heilmann (tenor) Matthias Goerne (baritone/bass)
Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart
Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart/Helmuth Rilling Recorded December
1992, Süddeutscher Rundfunk, Stuttgart.
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92002 [3CDs: 50.38, 76.44, 62.03] [RH]
A
useful compendium of Bruckner’s mature masses and the Te Deum, but the
performances don’t quite get the best out of these lovely works … see
Full Review
Busoni recalled. The 1941 New York
commemorative concert Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Idomeneo
Overture arranged by Ferruccio Busoni in 1918 Ferruccio
BUSONI (1866-1924) Indian Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra
(1915) Sarabande and Cortège Op 51 (1918-19) Violin Concerto
in D Op 35a (1896-97) Josef Szigeti recalls Busoni (from a talk given
at Harvard University in 1965)
Egon Petri (piano) Josef Szigeti (violin) Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra
of New York/Dimitri Mitropoulos Recorded live at Carnegie Hall, New
York 28 December 1941
MUSIC AND ARTS CD 1052 [72.49] [JW]
It
has a historical frisson, manages to transcend mere associative allegiances
and I found it exceptionally persuasive listening. … 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]
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