Henri COLLET (1885-1951)
Volume 1 Cantos
de España: Cinco Canciones Populares Castellanas
op.
69 (1923); Siete Canciones Populares de Burgos Op. 80;
Cantos
de Castilla Op. 42 sets I and II; Poema de un Día
Op.
48; La Pena; Los Amantes de Galicia (1942) 
Rachel Yakar (sop) Claude Lavoix (piano) Volume 2
Concerto
Flamenco for violin and orchestra (1946) [23.22] Symphonie
de
l'Alhambra for orchestra (1947) [18.29] Concerto Flamenco
for
piano and orchestra (1946) [24.21]
Régis Pasquier (violin) Ricardo Requejo (piano) Real
Orquesta
Sinfónica de Sevilla/Gary Brain rec. Sala Apolo, Seville,
7-11
July 1997 (orchestral); Théâtre de Poissy, Paris, 30
Nov-2
Dec 1994 (songs). DDD also available separately as Claves CD
50-9506
and CD 50-9801
CLAVES
CD2100/2 [56.33+66.48] [RB]
Easy on the ear, not grippingly
memorable … romantic and unassuming … pleasing lighter music.... see
Full Review
Frederick Shepherd CONVERSE
(1871-1940) The
Mystic Trumpeter (1904) Flivver Ten Million (1927) Endymion’s
Narrative (1901)
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra/JoAnn Falletta Recorded Kleinhans Music
Hall, Buffalo, New York, February 2001
NAXOS 8.559116 [53.13] [JW]
Those
not seeking unmistakable greatness might find Converse’s canvass sympathetic
enough for company. … see Full Review
GEORGE
COPELAND (piano) – The private
recordings
1957-63
Jean-Phillipe RAMEAU (1683-1764)
Les
grands seigneurs - Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART
(1756-1791) Fantasy in C minor K475 (1785) - Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Faschingsswank aus Wien Op. 26
(1839-40)
- Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Suite
Bergamasque (1905) Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut
[Images
Book II] (1908) The Little Shepherd [Children’s Corner] (1906-08)
Danse
de Puck [Preludes Book I] (1910) Hommage à Rameau [Images
Book
I] (1905) Feuilles mortes [Preludes Book II] (1913)Prelude in A
minor
[Pour le piano] (1910) - Erik
SATIE
(1866-1925) Gymnopédie No. 3 (1888)- Isaac
ALBÉNIZ (1860-1909) Seguidillas [from Cantos de
España]
(pub 1896) George
Copeland
(piano) Recorded privately 1957-63
PEARL GEM 0121 [75.12] [JW]
Offering
a glimpse into the otherwise little explored hinterland of late
Copeland
… see Full
Review
Ernst von DOHNÁNYI
(1877-1960) Serenade in C, Op. 10 (1902) [20’53] - Sextet in C, Op. 37 (1935) [29’20].
Spectrum Concerts Berlin. Rec. Teldec Studio, Berlin, on 21st June 2002
(Op. 10); 30th December 2001 (Op. 37) DDD NAXOS 8.557153 [50’12] [CC]
These
are highly musical performances … Well worth delving into. … see
Full
Review
Hugues
DUFOURT
(born 1943) Cycle "Les Hivers"
Le
Déluge (2001) Le Philosophe (1992) Les Chasseurs dans la
neige
(2001) La Gondole sur la lagune (2001)
Ensemble Modern/Dominique My Recorded: (live) Halles de
Schaerbeek
Brussels, March 2002
AEON AECD 0209 [42.00 + 39.35 + 34.18] [HC]
Labyrinthine ritual, subtle
dynamic
shadings, refined harmony and telling instrumental groupings …
gripping
and calmly communicative … see Full Review
Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Seven
Zigeunermelodien Op. 55 (1880) [13.24] Eight
Liebeslieder
Op. 83 (1888) [14.58] Ten Biblische Lieder Op. 99 (1894)
[24.49]
Peter Schreier
(tenor), Marián Lapšanský (piano) Recorded 1985 by
VEB
Deutsche Schallplatten, reissue 2003
BERLIN CLASSICS - ETERNA COLLECTION 0032492BC [53.28] [RDB]
Anyone
who could not find interest and pleasure in this welcome reissue
would
indeed be hard to please. … see Full
Review
Edward
ELGAR
(1857-1934) -
Enigma Variations Op.36 (1899) [31.19] - Serenade for Strings
Op.20
(1892) [12.47] - Cockaigne Op.40 (1901) [14.45] - Chanson de matin
Op.15
No.2 (1899) [3.26] - Original finale to Enigma Variations (1899)
[4.06]
Hallé
Orchestra/Mark
Elder rec Bridgewater Hall/BBC Studio 7, Manchester in
July/October
2002 HALLÉ
CD HLL 7501 [67.16] [CF]
A
radiant account of Enigma … see Full
Review
Edward
ELGAR
(1857-1934)
Symphony No.1 Op.55 (1908) [52. 07] In the South Op.50 (1904)
[20.54]
In Moonlight (Canto popolare) (1904) [2.59]
Hallé Orchestra/Mark Elder (conductor/piano) Timothy Pooley
(viola)
Christine Rice (mezzo soprano) rec Bridgewater Hall/BBC Studio 7,
Manchester
in July 2002/September 2001/October 2002
HALLÉ CD HLL 7500 [76’27"] [CF]
An
interpretation of the Symphony that emphatically underscores the
mutual
admiration between Elgar and Strauss … see Full
Review
George ENESCU
(1881 – 1955)
Piano Quintet Op.29 (1940) Piano Quartet No.2 Op.30 (1943)
The Solomon Ensemble (Anne Solomon, Andrew Roberts, violins; Ralf
Ehlers, viola; Rebecca Gilliver, cello; Dominic Saunders, piano) Recorded:
Potton Hall, Suffolk, September 2001
NAXOS 8.557159 [62:58] [HC]
Committed
and convincing readings of works that do not yield all their secrets
in a single hearing. … see Full Review
George ENESCU (1881-1955) Violin Sonata No. 2 (1899)
[22.35] Violin Sonata No. 3 (1926) [26.50] Rumanian Rhapsody No. 1 (1911)
[13.10] Susanne Stanzeleit (violin) Julian Jacobson (piano) rec. no details
given. DDD MERIDIAN CDE
84469 [62.35] [RB]
Stanzeleit and Jacobson revel
in
the spontaneity of the gipsy scores. ... see Full
Review
Manuel de Falla
(1876-1946) Piezas
Espanolas: Aragonesa, Cubana, Montanesa
and
Andaluza Xavier Montsalvatge
(1912-2002)
Sonatine pour Ivette Enrique
Granados
(1867-1916) Valses Poeticos Eduardo
OcÓn (1833-1901) Rapsodie Andalouse
Ana Benavides, piano Recording date not given
ANACRUSIS PRODUCTIONS AC 014 [51.51] [JF]
This
is a fine CD of beautifully played Spanish piano music. It would
serve
as a great introduction to the genre. A perfectly balanced
programme.
… see Full Review
Songs By Finzi And His Friends
Gerald
FINZI (1900-1956) To a Poet, Op. 13a *; Oh fair to see,
Op.
13b **. Robin MILFORD
(1903-1959)
If it's ever spring again; The colours; So sweet love seemed **
Ernest
FARRAR (1885-1918) O mistress mine! * Ivor
GURNEY (1890-1937) Sleep. Down by the salley gardens.
Hawk
and Buckle. * Harry GILL
(1897-1987)
In Memoriam *
Ian Partridge (ten) * Stephen Roberts (bar) ** Clifford Benson
(piano)
Rec. 8-9 Feb 1981 ADD From Hyperion LP A66015 issued September
1981
From Hyperion CD CDA66015 issued Sept 1991 Recorded in association
with
the Finzi Trust.
HYPERION
CDH55084 [50.57] [RB]
If
you do not already have this and you are a proponent of British
song
then lose no time in snapping it up. ... see Full
Review
Joseph-Hector FIOCCO (1703-1741)
Missa
Solemnis in D (ed. Patrick Peire) [46:53] Ave Maria
(Motet)
[3:48] * Homo Quidam (Motet) [9:49]*
Greta De Reyghere, Soprano * Hilde Coppé, Soprano Jean
Nirouët,
Alto Jan Van Elsacker, Tenor Jan Van der Crabben, Bass Werner Van
Mechelen,
Bass Dirk Snellings, Bass Capella Brugensis Collegium
Instrumentale
Brugense/Patrick Peire Recorded Sound Recording Centre Steurbaut,
Gent,
Belgium, January 2001/March 2002
NAXOS 8.557120 [60:30] [DS]
If
you have a warm spot for Handel, you need to make room for Fiocco.
...see
Full Review
Graham FITKIN
(b.
1963) Log
(1990/1) - Line (1990/1) Loud (1990/1) - Hook (1991/2) - Mesh
(1991/2)
- Stub (1991/2) - Cud (1987/8) - Aract (1990) - Fervent (1992/4) -
Piano
Piece 91 - Piano Piece very early 92 - Piano Piece early 92 - Hard
Fairy
(1994) - Blue (1993) - Piano Piece mid 92 - Piano Piece late 92 -
Piano
piece very late 92 - Piano Piece 93 - Fract (1989) - Piano Circus
-
Ensemble Bash - Icebreaker - Delta Saxophone Quartet - John Harle
Band
Graham Fitkin,
piano
- conductor - Recorded at Church Studios, Crouch End, London,
September
2001 , CTS Studios, Wembley, July 1992 and October 1992 (Cud),
Walthamstow
Assembly Hall, London, February 1994 and May 1994 (Hard Fairy) -
British
Music Collection
DECCA
473 434-2 [71.38+78.18] [NH]
An
interesting and generous overview of Graham Fitkin's early career
landmarks
… see Full Review
Wilhelm
FURTWÄNGLER
(1886-1954) Symphonic-Concerto for piano and orchestra (1936-37) - Erik
Then-Bergh
(piano) Bavarian Radio SO/Rafael Kubelik -
Rec.
27 June 1963, Bavarian Radio, AAD
TAHRA TAH 197 [63.19] [RB]
A
very fine account of a noble and tempestuous work. ... see Full
Review
Four American
Sonata for French Horn
Crawford
GATES
(b.1921) Horn Sonata Op. 48 [25.01] - Halsey
STEVENS (1908-1989) Horn Sonata [13.39] - Alec WILDER (1907-1980) Horn Sonata No. 3
[13.52]
- Thomas BEVERSDORF (b.1924)
Horn
Sonata [11.51] Laurence Lowe (french horn) - James
Margetts (piano) - rec. de Jong concert hall, Brigham Young
University.
DDD TANTARA RECORDS TCD 0799LL4 [64.14] [RB]
A predominantly lyrical set of four
American
horn sonatas performed with characterful defiance, wit and
fantasy.
... see Full Review
Leopold
GODOWSKY
(1870-1938) Piano Sonata in E minor (1906-10)
Adam Aleksander
(piano)
rec. 26-27 July 2001, SUNY Purchase Studio C. PROPIANO PR224534 [47.00] [RB]
Subtle,
noble, tender ... nostalgic and touchingly romantic. You are never
in
any doubt that Aleksander believes in this music. ... see Full
Review
Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893) Faust (1856-9): Lyric
drama in five acts, libretto by Barbier and Carré after Goethe
Faust – Nicolai Gedda (tenor) Marguerite – Victoria de
los Angeles (soprano) Mephistopheles – Boris Christoff (bass)
Valentin – Ernest Blanc (baritone) Marthe – Rita Gorr
(soprano) Chorus
and Orchestra of the Théàtre National de l’Opéra/André
Cluytens Recorded at the Salle de la Mutualité, Paris, Sept.
and Oct. 1958 ADD Great Recordings of the Century series EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 67967 2 [3CDs:
50’51+48’39+72’54] [TH]
This is the one to have [TH]
A notable re-issue, and vocally as good as you can get.[JP] see Full
Review
Alexander Tikhonovich
GRECHANINOV
(1864-1956)
- String Quartet No. 1 in G major Op.2 (1894) [29:32] - String
Quartet
No. 2 in D minor Op.70 (1913) [28:47]
Utrecht String Quartet - Recorded at the Doopsgezinde
Remonstrantse
Kirk, Deventer, Netherlands April 2-4, 2002
MUSIK DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 603 1157-2 [58:36] [MC]
Sterling
performances combined with a most appealing recorded sound quality
make
this is an outstanding issue and the disc serves Grechaninov
extremely
well. Required listening for all lovers of late-romantic music!
...
see Full
Review
Edvard
GRIEG
(1843-1907) Cello
Concerto (1883) - (orchestrated from Cello Sonata, Op. 36, by
Joseph
Horovitz and Benjamin Wallfisch) Last Spring, Opus 34 No. 1(1887)
The
Wounded Heart, Opus 34 No. 2 Solveig's Song, Opus 55 No. 4
(1875/1886)
- Ingrid's Lament, Opus 55 No. 1 The First Meeting, Opus 53 No. 1
(1891)
- Norwegian, Opus 53 No. 2 (all arranged Benjamin Wallfisch) - Ich
liebe
dich, Opus 5 No. 3 (1865) - To Spring, Opus 43 No. 6 (1886) -
(arranged
Michael Freyhan)
Raphael
Wallfisch (cello) - London Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley
Rec
3-5 May 2001, All Saints, Tooting, London
BLACK BOX BBM 1070 [61.56] [TB]
Subtly crafted music lends
itself
well to new identities, and while not great music all of it is
charming
and entertaining … see Full Review
Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907)
Piano
Concerto in a op. 16* Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856)
Piano Concerto in a op. 54*, Papillons op. 2
Sviatoslav Richter (piano) *Monte Carlo National Opera
Orchestra/Lovro
von Matačić Recorded 25th-30th November 1974, Palais
Garnier,
Monte Carlo (studio recording)*, 21st October 1962, Florence (live
recording:
Papillons)
GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY EMI CLASSICS 5 67982 2 [73:49]
[CH]
This
Grieg/Schumann has been underestimated in the past, and you get a
legendary
performance of "Papillons" as well. … see Full
Review
Sofia
GUBAIDULINA
(b. 1931) Quintet
for Piano, Two Violins, Viola and Violoncello (1957)
Introitus,
Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra (1978) Dancer on a
Tightrope
(Der Seiltänzer) (1993) 
Rieko Aizawa (piano) Kai Vogler and Mira Wang (violins) Ulrich
Eichenauer
(viola) Peter Bruns (cello) (Quintet) Béatrice Rauchs
(piano)
Kyiv Chamber Players – Vladimir Kozhukhar (Introitus) Gidon Kremer
(violin)
Vadim Sakharov (piano) (Dancer on a Tightrope) Recorded August
1997,
Schloβ Moritzburg, Germany (Quintet) April 1995, Radio Kyiv,
Ukraine
(Introitus) July 1995, Burg Lockenhaus, Austria (Dancer)
DDD
BIS BIS-CD-898 [68:43] [CT]
Three
contrasting works spanning five decades in Gubaidulina’s career,
including
a notable early rarity. … see Full
Review
Georg Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
-
Six concerti for organ and orchestra, opus 4. - Number one in g
minor
[19:24] - Number two inB-flat [9:45] - Number three in g minor
[10:19]
- Number four in F [14:07] - Number five in F [8:18] Number six in
B-flat
[12:31] Ulrik
Spang-Hanssen,
organ - Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra - Douglas Bostock,
conductor
- Recorded in September, 2002 in the church of St. Wenceslas,
Landskroun,
East Bohemia
CLASSICO
Classcd451 DDD [73:25] [KS]
Without
fail, every lover of elegant and vibrant music making should
own
this disc. This is a world-class production worthy of the widest
audience
possible. Tutti bravi!...see Full
Review
George
Frideric HANDEL
(1685 – 1759) Water
Music (1717) - Suite No. 1 (Suite in F major, HWV 348) - Suite No.
2
(Suite in G major, HWV 350) - Trumpet Suite No. 3 (Suite in D
major,
HWV 349) Consort of
London/Robert
Haydon Clark - Recorded 1989 (Originally issued on Collins
Classics)
CLASSIC COLLECTION
99921
[62.58] [RH]
A welcome reissue of the old Collins
Classics recording, an interesting addition to the modern instrument
performances … see Full Review
Georg Friedrich HANDEL
(1685-1759) Susanna
HWV 66 [157.48]
Elisabeth von Magnus, mezzo soprano Sytse Buwalda, alto Ruth Holton,
soprano John Elwes, tenor Tom Sol, bass Kölner Kammerchor Collegium
Cartusianum/Peter Neumann Rec: Live recording, February 9, 1999, Stadthalle,
Wuppertal, Germany.
MDG 332 0945-2 [2CDs: 157.48] [KM]
All
the vitality of a live performance … a must-have recording for fans
of Handel's vocal music; a necessary discovery for others. … see Full
Review
Franz
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809)
Complete Piano Sonatas
- 10 CDs set Bart van
Oort,
fortepiano - Ursula Dütschler, fortepiano - Stanley Hoogland,
fortepiano
- Yoshiko Kojima, fortepiano - Riko Fukuda, fortepiano - Recorded:
Maria
Minor, Utrecht, September/October 2000
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99817 [647:13] [DS]
I
urge all those who love Haydn or the fortepiano to add it to their
music
library. … see Full
Review
Joseph
HAYDN
(1732-1815) Cassation
in E flat major arranged for String Quartet as Op.2 No.3 Cassation
in
D major arranged for String Quartet as Op.2 No.5 String Quartet in
E
major, Op.3 No.1 (attributed to Hoffstetter) String Quartet in C
major,
Op.3 No.2 (attributed to Hoffstetter)
Kodaly Quartet Recorded Phoenix Studio, Budapest, Hungary,
June
2000 NAXOS
8.555703
[71:47) [DS]
Never
mind who wrote it this is a delightful and invigorating diversion
from
the rigors of life … see Full
Review
Joseph
HAYDN (1732
- 1809) Fortepiano Trio No.
14
in A flat major, Hob XV:14 - Fortepiano Trio No. 12 in E minor,
Hob
XV:12 - Fortepiano Trio No. 18 in A major, Hob. XV:18 - Symphony
No.
92 in G major, Hob. I:92 'Oxford' (adapted for fortepiano
and
violin by - Jan Ladislav Dussek) - Symphony No. 96 in D Major,
Hob.
I:96 'Miracle' (adapted for fortepiano trio by Johann Peter
Salomon)
- Symphony No. 94 in G major, Hob. I:94 'Surprise' (adapted
for
fortepiano trio by Johann Peter Salomon) - Ensemble of the Classic
Era:
Paul Wright (violin), Susan Blake (violoncello), Geoffrey
Lancaster
(fortepiano) Recorded
31 October - 4 November 1995, 21-25 September 1998, Iwaki
Auditorium,
Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Melbourne ABC CLASSICS 472 561-2
[63.57+61.11][RH]
An
interesting disc … mixes real piano trios with contemporary
arrangements
of Haydn symphonies all given in slightly disappointing
performances
… see Full
Review
Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809)
Concerto
for piano and orchestra in F major Hob.XVIII:3 (c.1765) - Concerto
for
piano and orchestra in G major Hob.XVIII:4 (c. 1770-82) - Concerto
for
piano and orchestra in D major Hob.XVIII:11 (1784) - Michele
Boegner
(piano) English
Chamber
Orchestra/Jose-Luis Garcia - No recording dates or details of
venues
given DDD WARNER
APEX
0927-49810-2 [67:51] [MC]
Winning
performances but over-bright sound quality prevents a
recommendation
with absolute confidence. … see Full
Review
Franz Josef HAYDN
(1732 - 1809) - Symphonies, Vol.26 - Symphony No.41 in C (c.1770)
[16’57]
- Symphony No.58 in F (c.1775) [18’18] - Symphony No.59 in A
"Fire"
(c.1769) [21’50] -
Cologne
Chamber Orchestra/Helmut Müller-Brühl - Recorded by
Deutschland
Radio in the Sendesaal DLR, Köln on June 24th, 2002 (Symphony
No.41)
and from April 8-9th 2002 (Symphonies Nos. 58 and 59) -
NAXOS 8.557092
[57’05"]
[JPo]
Lightness and openness … very quick
outer movements, not so slow inner movements … most refreshing and enlightening
… see Full Review
Wilfred HEATON (1918-2000)
The Heaton Collection: Music For Brass Band CD1 ‘Le Tricot Rouge’;
Contest Music (1973); The Children’s Friend (1938); Victory
For Me; Passing by; Partita (1986) CD2 ‘The Golden
Pen’; Just as I am (1947); Wonderful Words; My
Treasure; ‘Glory, Glory’ (1988); Celestial Prospect;
Martyn; Praise; My Master’s Will (1948); Mercy’s
Light (1983); Toccata, Oh Blessed Lord (c.1940)
CD1: Black Dyke Mills Band/Nicholas J.Childs; CD2: International Staff
Band/Stephen CobbRec. CD1: Morley Town Hall, Leeds, May/June 2002; CD2:
Henry Wood Hall, London, March 2002
SP&S: CD-SPS158 [2CDs: 61.06+63.34] [GH]
I
cannot speak too highly of the entire project. I believe too that more
is to come, as an increasing amount of Heaton’s work is still turning
up. … see Full Review
Alan
HOVHANESS (1911-2000)
The
Holy City Op. 218 (1965) Celestial Fantasy Op. 44 (1935
orch.
1944) Psalm and Fugue Op. 40a (1941) Alleluia and Fugue
Op.
40b (1941) Processional and Fugue Op. 76 No. 5 (1975) In
Memory
of an Artist Op. 163 (1958) Armenian Rhapsody No. 2 Op.
51
(1944) Armenian Rhapsody No. 3 Op. 189 (1944)
Ladislav Strešnák (trumpet) Adriana Antalová
(harp)
Slovak Radio SO (Bratislava) /Kerry Stratton Rec. Concert Hall,
Slovak
Radio, Bratislava, Oct 1997
DORIAN DOR-93166 [62.19] [RB]
A
welcoming collection, extremely well recorded and likely to win
over
new friends to the Hovhaness cause. … see Full
Review
Ryoji IKEDA Op.
1 (prototype) for String Trio - Op. 1 for 9 String Nonet - Op. 2
for
String Quartet - Op. 2 for String Quartet - Wibert Aerts, violin -
Dominica
Eyckmans, viola - Jean-Paul Zanutel, cello - Musiques Nouvelles
Ensemble
- Natsu Takehara, Yoko Kawakubo, violins - Rei Shimada, viola -
Nagako
Kato, cello
Recorded
at Art Zoyd Studio, Maubeuge, 19th-21st
March
2001 , new National Theatre, Tokyo,
14th-17th
May 2002 , RTB Belgian Radio and TV Studios, Mons, 13th
December
2001 TOUCH TO:
60
[51.47] [NH]
Another
disc of distinction from Touch, the third-stream of contemporary
Japanese
composition? … see Full Review
Charles IVES
(1874-1954)
Holidays Symphony: Washington’s Birthday; Decoration Day;
The
Fourth of July; Thanksgiving and Forefather’s Day (1913)
Central
Park In The Dark (1907)
Rundfunk-Sinfonie Orchestra and Rundfunkchor of Leipzig/Wolf
Dieter
Hauschild Recorded in 1980 (no other details given) BERLIN CLASSICS ETERNA COLLECTION 0032462BC
[50.25]
[GH]
Beautifully
and sensitively played with excellent engineering. … see Full
Review
Jóhann JÓHANNSSON
Englabörn
Odi
et Amo, Englabörn, Jói & Karen, Þetta gerist
á
bestu bæjum, Sálfræðingur, "Ég
sleppi
þér aldrei", Sálfræðingur deyr,
Bað,
"Ég heyrði allt án þess aðhlusta",
Karen
býr til engil , Englabörn - tilbrigði, "Ég
átti
Gráa æsku", Krókódíll, "Ef
ég
hefði aldrei..." ...eing og venjulegt fólk, Odi et Amo
-
bis
Jóhann
Jóhannsson, piano, glockenspiel, harmonium, organ &
electronics.
Eþos String Quartet Mathías M.D. Hemstock, percussion
Recorded
at Fríkirkjan and NT&V, August 2001. Originally written
for
the stage play by Hávar Sigurjónsson. (released
2002)
TOUCH TO:52
[48.05]
[NH]
Brilliant
and accessible contemporary music from Iceland from the
superlative
Touch label … see Full Review
John JOHNSON (c.1550-1594)
Lute Music The
Delight Pavan; Galliard to the Delight Pavan - Carman’s
whistle
- Short Almaine - Dump - Rogero - Pava - Piece without title
(Galliard)
- Omnio Galliard - Almaine - Johnson’s Jewel - Quadro Pavan -
Galliard
- Chi Pausa - La Vechia Pavan - Galliard to La Vechia Pavan - The
Marigold
Pavan - Galliard - A Ground - The Flat Pavan - Galliard to the
Flat
Pavan - Dump - Passing measures Pavan - Walsingham - Goodnight
Christopher Wilson; Shirley Rumsey (lutes) Recorded June 1995 in
St
Andrew’s Church, Toddington, Gloucestershire
NAXOS 8.550776 [59.24] [RB]
Nicely
played representative selection. The six-course lute has a
comparatively
restricted compass and the resonant church acoustic makes for
neither
clarity nor excitement. … see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Joseph
JONGEN (1873-1953) Impressions d'Ardennes (1913)
[14.53]
Cello Concerto (1900) [34.59] Fantaisie sur deux noëls
populaires
wallons (1902) [15.17] Marie Hallynck (cello) Orchestre
National
de Belgique/Roman Kofman rec. 9-13 July 2002, Palais des
Beaux-Arts,
Brussels. DDD CYPRÈS CYP1634 [65.14]
A strong
entry from Cyprès. The Impressions and the Concerto are
particularly
attractive ... see Full Review
Francesc JUNCÀ (1742
- 1833) Missa en La Major (Mass in A Major)
Olivia Biarnés (Soprano) Montserrat Pi (Contralto) Jordi
Casanovas
(Tenor) Rafael Muntaner (Bass) Cor de Cambra Dyapason Orquestra de
Cambra
Catalana Joan Pàmies (Conductor) Recorded March 2000, La
Capella
de L'Esperança, Barcelona. DDD
COLUMNA MUSICA 1CM0068 [49.48] [RH]
Filling
an interesting gap in the catalogue, a mass by a Catalan
contemporary
of Haydn and Mozart, enterprisingly recorded by Catalan forces …
see
Full Review
Dmitri KABALEVSKY (1904-1987)
-
Colas Breugnon Overture (1938) [4.40]- Piano Concerto No. 2
(1936,
rev, 1973) [23.49] - Piano Concerto No. 3 (1953) [18.07] - The
Comedians
- Suite (1939) [14.59]
Kathryn Stott (piano) - BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Vassily
Sinaisky
- Rec. 21, 24-25 June 2002, BBC Studio 7, Manchester. DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10052 [61.45] [RB]
A
fun disc - not too profound - for those prepared to loosen their
strait-lacing.
… see Full
Review
Mauricio
KAGEL
(born 1931) Rrrrrrr...
(1980/1)a
Ludwig van (1969)b Der Eid des Hippokrates
(1984)a
Unguis incarnatus est (1972)c MM 51 (1976)
Alexandre Tharaud (piano); Philippe Bernold (flute)b;
Hervé
Joulain (horn)b; François Le Roux
(baritone)b;
Eric Le Sage (piano)a; Marc Marder (double
bass)c;
Jean-Guihen Queyras (cello)b; Ronald van Spaendonck
(clarinet)b;
Choeur Rémusatb Recorded: Ircam – Centre Georges
Pompidou,
Paris, December 2002
AEON AECD 0311 [55:35] [HC]
Decidedly
idiosyncratic … may amuse or irritate, it may fascinate or be
frankly
boring; but it will never leave you indifferent. … see Full
Review
Charles
KOECHLIN
(1867-1950) La
Course de printemps - poème symphonique Op. 95
(1925-27)
[33.40] Le buisson ardent poème symphonique after an
episode
from 'Jean-Christophe' by Romain Rolland Op. 201 (Part I); Op. 171
(Part
II) (1945, 1938) [12.44; 25.54]
Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR/Heinz Holliger
Christine
Simonin (ondes martenot) rec. Live concert recordings.
Liederhalle,
Stuttgart, Beethovensaal 23-25 Feb 2000 (Printemps);
Stadthalle
Sindelfingen, Konzertsaal (Buisson), 19-23 Feb 2001. DDD
Faszinationmusik
series
HÄNSSLER
CLASSIC CD 93.045 [72.30] [RB]
A
satisfying coupling in its own right but Segerstam is in even
stronger
form in Le Buisson Ardent ... see Full
Review
Herman D. KOPPEL
(1908-1998) Sextet
for Piano and Wind Quintet Op.36 (1942) - Niels
Viggo BENTZON (1919-2000) Wind Quintet No.5 Op.116
(1958)
- Sextet for Piano and Wind Quintet Op.278 (1971)
Nikolaj Bentzon (piano) - Wind Quintet of the Danish National
Radio
Symphony Orchestra - Recorded at the Danish Radio Concert Hall
Copenhagen
20-24 November 2000 DDD
DA CAPO 8.224208 [52:42] [DB]
Koppel’s Sextet … pleasure and a real
discovery. With Bentzon everything is craftsmanlike but lacks inspiration.
Well performed and recorded … see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Nina KOTOVA
(1969 - ) Concerto
for Cello and Orchestra (2000) [29.28] Ernest
BLOCH (1880 -1959) Schelomo, Hebraic Rhapsody for
Cello and Orchestra (1933) [20.22] Jewish Life: #1, Prayer (1924)
[4.05] Max BRUCH (1838 - 1920) Kol
Nidrei, Op 47 (1881) [9.46]
Nina Kotova, cello The Philharmonia of Russia/Constantine Orbelian
Recorded in the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Moscow, Russia, December 9,
2001 Notes in English
DELOS DE 3305 [63.43] [PS] 
Magnificent
performances, especially of Schelomo, by a new star in the musical heavens.
And an intriguing new concerto … see Full Review
You can sample, download or purchase
this disc
Ignaz
LACHNER (1807-1895) Piano Trio in D minor Op. 89 - Piano
Trio
in B flat major Op. 37 -Piano Trio in E flat major Op. 102 - Piano
Trio
in D major Op. 56 - Piano Trio in C major Op. 103 - Piano Trio in
G
major Op. 45 Stefan Muhmenthaler (violin) - Anna
Barbara
Dütschler (viola) - Marc Pantillon (piano) - Rec: Tonstudio
van
Geest, Sandhausen/Heidelberg, 24-28 May 1997, 17-20 Mar 1998
CLAVES CD 50-9802/3 [65.33+78.20] [RB]
Six
unknown piano trios: charmers every one. Lovingly played ... see
Full
Review
Ian
LAWSON
(b. 1955) Celtic
Fanfares 1-4 (1988-2000) [31.28] Ghost Train (1992)
[11.06]
Ben HENEGHAN (b.1957) House
at
the North Pole [10.59] Walking the Wild Rhondda [13.39]
Heneghan & Lawson Virtual Orchestra rec. Hollyfield
Studio,
Jan-Dec 2001, Oct 2002; DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10051 [67.55] [RB]
Once
you have surmounted any prejudices against synthesised orchestral
sounds
you will instantly relate to Lawson’s rhythmic and melodic power
and
Heneghan’s way with atmospheric sound-painting ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
LISZT (1811-1886)
Etudes
d’exécution transcendante (Third version 1852)
Christopher Taylor, Hamburg Steinway D piano (Reid Schaefer,
technician)
- Notes in English. Recorded at Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. September
2002
LISZT DIGITAL
LD005
[74.42] [PS]
An astonishingly brilliant
reading
of this most difficult music. Destined to become a classic. A
must-have
for every Lisztian and piano student. … see Full
Review
Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Christus,
oratorium nach lateinischen Texten aus der heiligen Schrift und
der
katholischen Liturgie, für Soli, Chor, und Orchester, S.3
(1873)
[161.51] Henriette
Bonde-Hansen,
soprano; Iris Vermillion, mezzo soprano/alto;
Michael Schade, tenor; Andreas Schmidt, bass Gächinger
Kantorei,
Stuttgart; Krakauer Kammerchor Radio-Sinfonieochester
Stuttgart/Helmuth
Rilling Recorded Beethovensaal Liederhalle, Stuttgart, Germany,
February
1997 Notes in English. Latin text and parallel German translation.
Also
available: Hänssler Classics 98121 full price; MHS 535984X,
North
America
BRILLIANT CLASSICS
99951 [3CDs: 161.51] [PS]
An
excellent version of a curiously neglected classic. … see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886)
Works
for Organ (Vol.2) Fantasy and Fugue on J.S.Bach’s Chorale Ad
nos
ad salutarem. S259/R380 [29.57] Trauerode (Les morts:
Oraison),
S268/2/R390/2 (1860) [9.40] Symphonic Poem Orpheus
(transcribed
Schaab-Gottschalg). S98/R415 (1860) [11.43] Concert piece in A for
organ
in free style (transcribed Gottschalg). [4.22] Weinen, Klagen,
Sorgen.
Zagen. Organ prelude after J.S.Bach’s Cantata (1859)
S179/R23
(transcribed Winterberger) [7.30]
Andreas Rothkopf (organ). Rec: June 2000, Sauer organ,
Evangelische
Stadtkirche, Bad Homburg, Germany
NAXOS 8.555079 [63.12] [RDB]
Andreas
Rothkopf has a deep and mature sympathy with this music, and a
musicianly
approach to its elusive qualities: an altogether delightful disc.
…
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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