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Hoffnung Music
Festivals 1956,58,61
£15
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This is a must
for all Hoffnung enthusiasts.
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Hoffnung - A
Last Encore
On 2 CDs lasting
1 hour 45min, this contains all the recordings
of Hoffnung preserved in the BBC archives.
They include the famous and hilariously
funny Bricklayer story. £14
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An ALL-ARNOLD
Study Day and Concert
at the Royal Festival Hall 24-9-04
View Leaflet
NEW
and RECENT ARTICLES
JEFFREY
LEWIS
A brief introduction by
Dr David C F Wright
ERIC
GRAEBNER A brief introduction
by Dr David C F Wright
Interview
with Ashley Wass by Colin Clarke
THE
MUSIC OF ALGERNON ASHTON
(1859-1937) By Rutland Boughton
JASCHA
HORENSTEIN (1898-1973) A
CD DISCOGRAPHY by Donald Clarke
MusicWeb
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Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685
– 1750) Suite
No. 4 in D Major BWV 1069, (1725) Suite No.
1 in C Major BWV 1066, (1725) Suite No. 3
in D Major BWV 1068, (1725) Suite No. 2 in
B Minor BWV 1067, (1725)
Christopher Krueger (flute) in BWV1067 Boston
Baroque/Martin Pearlman (using period instruments)
recorded in Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts,
24-26 Sept 2003 DDD
TELARC CD-80619 [73’32"]
[SV]
We
can usually count on Pearlman for intelligent,
dynamic "period" performances but this set
is oddly variable. ... see Full
Review
Arnold
BAX (1883-1953)
Symphonic
Variations for piano and orchestra (1913-14)
[46.03]
Joyce Hatto (piano) Guildford Philharmonic
Orchestra/Vernon Handley rec. 1965, Guildford
CONCERT ARTIST CACD-9021-2 [46.03]
[WH]
Hatto
is the better guide by far through these red-blooded
pages and this Concert Artist recording is
highly recommended. ... see Full
Revie
Arnold BAX (1883-1953)
Piano Music Vol.1 Piano Sonata No.1
Piano Sonata No.2; Dream in Exile; Burlesque;
Nereid; In a Vodka Shop
Ashley Wass(piano)
NAXOS CD 8.557439 [74:27] [GP]
I
was most impressed by this first instalment
in Ashley Wass’s cycle of Bax’s complete piano
works and look forward to the remaining volumes
with keen anticipation. ... see Full
Review
Amy BEACH (1867-1944)
Songs:
The Rainy Day (1880), Ariette op.1/4 (1886),
When far from her op.2/2 (1889), Empress of
Night op.2/3 (1891), Le Secret op.14/2 (1891),
Ecstasy op.19/2 (1892), Within thy Heart op.29/1
(1895), Sleep, Little Darling op.29/3 (1894),
Nacht op.35/1 (1895), Forgotten op.41/3 (1894),
Dearie op.43/1 (1899), Far Awa’ op.43/4 (1899),
The Year’s at the Spring op.44/1 (1900), Ah,
Love, but a day! op.44/2 (1900), I send my
heart up to thee! op.44/3 (1900), Come, ah
Come op.48/1 (1902), Canzonetta op.48/4 (1902),
Ich sagte nicht op.51/1 (1903), Wir drei op.51/2
(1903), Juni op.51/3 (1903), Je demande à
l’oiseau op.51/4 (1903), Go not too Far op.56/2
(1904), Shena Van op.56/4 (1904), Baby op.69/1
(1908), Hush, Baby Dear op.69/2 (1908), A
Prelude op.71/1 (1910), O Sweet Content op.71/2
(1910), Ein altes Gebet op.72/1 (1914), Der
Totenkranz op.73/2 (1914), The Candy Lion
op.75/1 (1914), A Thanksgiving Fable op.75/2
(1914), In the Twilight op.85 (1921), The
Host op.117/2 (1925), May Flowers op.137 (1932),
I sought the Lord op.142 (1937), Though I
take the wings of morning op.152 (1941)
Katherine Kelton (mezzo-soprano), Catherine
Bringerud (piano) Recorded 11th-12th June
1999 at The Lodge in Indianapolis, Indiana,
USA
NAXOS 8.559191 [77:39] [CH]
For
the revelation of some fine repertoire, warmly
sung, the disc is strongly recommended. ...
see Full Review
Ernest BLOCH
(1880-1959) String Quartets
1-4 CD 1 String
Quartets No. 1 (1916) [58:23] String Quartet
No. 3 (movements I-III) (1952) [15:30] CD
2 String Quartet No. 3 (movement IV) (1952)
[8:17] String Quartets 2 (1945) [34:21] and
4 (1953) [29:40]
Griller String Quartet (Sidney Griller
(violin 1); Jack O’Brien (violin 2); Philip
Burton (viola); Colin Hampton (cello)). Rec.
Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London, 28-30
June; 2, 5-6, 9, 19-20 July 1954 1: Decca
LXT 5071; 2: Decca LXT 5072; 3 and 4: Decca
LXT 5073; ADD MONO
DECCA 475 607-1 5 DC2 [74:12 + 72:49]
[RB]
Gutsy
performances and recordings. Music of opulent
complexity ranging from impressionist-romantic
to the spare and mesmerisingly tense. Works
of the eminence of the Bartók, Foulds,
Ravel and Debussy. ... see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897)
Symphonies:
1 in C minor op.68; 2 in D op.73; 3 in F op.90;
4 in E minor op.98 Academic Festival Overture
op.80; Tragic Overture op.81; Variations on
a Theme of Haydn op.56a Piano Concertos(1):
1 in D minor op.15; 2 in B flat op.83 Violin
Concerto in D op.77(2) Gerhard Oppitz (1),
Kyoko Takezawa (2)
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/Sir
Colin Davis First pub. 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993,
1998, no other information given
BMG CLASSICS/RCA RED SEAL 82876 60388 2 [5
CDs: 71:22 + 75:10 + 66:08 + 75:22 + 68:38]
[CH]
An
extremely fine and consistent cycle of the
symphonies but the concertos do not add as
much as they might. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Claude
DEBUSSY (1862
- 1918) Abbado in Lucerne: 2003 Suite
from Le Martyr de Saint Sebastien (1911)
La Mer - three symphonic sketches (1905)Rachel
Harnisch and Eteri Gvazava (sopranos) and
the Schweizer Kammerchor
Lucerne Festival Orchestra/Claudio Abbado.
recorded live in the Concert Hall of the Culture
and Convention Centre, Lucerne, 14th
August 2003. Video directed by Michael Beyer
and produced by Paul Smaczny. With documentary
on the history of the Lucerne Festival and
its orchestra.
EUROARTS DVD 2053469  [119.00]
[JPh]
An
absolutely stunning performance of La Mer
... tingles with excitement from start to
finish ... conjures up the fury of the sea
like no other performance ... see Full
Review
Dennis EBERHARD
(b. 1943) Shadow
of the Swan: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra
Prometheus Wept (August 6, August 9, 1945)
for Solo Bass and String Orchestra Halida
Dinova (piano) Piotr Migunov (bass)
St. Petersburg Cappella Symphony Orchestra/Alexander
Tchernoushenko Recorded at the St. Petersburg
Recording Studio, St. Petersburg, 25–27 Nov
2002 DDD
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559176 [56:07]
[CT]
A
Piano Concerto on a major scale that collapses
under the weight of its own eclecticism. ...
see Full Review
George GERSHWIN
(1898-1937)
Rhapsody
in Blue (1924) Michael Tilson Thomas (piano/conductor)
New World Symphony Orchestra An American
in Paris (1928) Concerto in F for piano
and orchestra (1925)
Garrick Ohlsson (piano) New World Symphony/Michael
Tilson Thomas Recorded 26-7 January 1997 (Rhapsody),
Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Fort
Lauderdale, Florida; 30 June 1998 (An American
in Paris and Concerto), Davies Symphony Hall,
San Francisco
BMG-RCA RED SEAL 82876 60862 2 [69.18]
[TB]
MTT
is a major Gershwin talent whose performances
of Gershwin have been an important force on
the international musical scene for some time.
A valuable addition. ... see Full
Review
 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Poul ROVSING
OLSEN (1922-1982)
Belisa – An Opera in Four Scenes Text
by Federico Garcia Lorca - Sung in Danish.Belisa:
Eir Inderhaug (sop) Don Perlimplin: Sten Byriel
(bass) Marcolfa: Marianne Rørholm (mezzo)
The Mother: Anne Margrethe Dahl (sop) Household
Spirit 1: Lise-Lotte Nielsen (sop) Household
Spirit 2: Elisabeth Halling (sop)
Vocal Group Ars Nova, Odense Symphony
Orchestra / Tamás Vetö Bo Lundbye
Jaeger, electronics.DDD. Recorded at Odense
Concert Hall May 1st -3rd,
May 6th -7th and June
10th and in the Danish Radio Concert
Hall on October 29th 2002. Recorded
in cooperation with the Danish Broadcasting
Corporation.
DACAPO 8.226013 [72:00] [BK]
Anyone
interested in unusual opera or Scandinavian
music should rush out to buy this disc. It’s
a Disc of the Month for me ... see Full
Review
Sir Charles Villiers
STANFORD (1852-1924)
Magnificat
op.164, Postlude in G minor op.101/2, For
lo! I raise up op.145, Prelude in F op.101/1,
O for a closer walk with God op.113a/6, Ye
choirs of new Jerusalem op.123 Sir
Charles Hubert Hastings PARRY (1848-1918)
Songs of Farewell
Choir of Christ’s College, Cambridge/David
Rowland, with Simon Jacobs (organ) Recorded
12th-14th March 2004,
Queen’s College Chapel, Cambridge
REGENT REGCD204 [67:29] [CH]
The
Stanford pieces come off well but the Parry
does not compare with Christopher Robinson’s
Hyperion recording. ... see Full
Review
William WALTON
(1902-1983) The
Wise Virgins – complete ballet (1940)
after J.S. BACH
(1685-1750) arranged by Philip
LANE (b.1950) Constant
LAMBERT (1905-1951) Horoscope
– complete ballet (1938)
BBC Concert Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth Recorded
Watford Coliseum, March 2003
ASV CD DCA 1168 [64.00]
Composed
within two years of each other this brace
of British ballet scores make good programming
... and a warm attractive recording. ... see
Full Review
BRUEGEL: Music of
his time
NAXOS ART AND MUSIC 8.558147 [76’15"]
[JPo]
I
derived a great deal of pleasure from this
disc. It may possibly be better to buy the
individual CDs, but for anyone wanting to
explore this period of great change in musical
form this cross-section gives a good insight.
... see Full Review
Red Earth Colin
BRIGHT (b.1949) Red
Earth (1985) Peggy
GLANVILLE-HICKS (1912-1990) Concertino
da camera (1948) Neil
CURRIE (b.1955) Ortigas Avenue
(1986) David LUMSDAINE
(b.1931) Bagatelles (1985) Ross
EDWARDS (b.1943) Shadow D-Zone(1977)
Vincent PLUSH
(b.1950) On Shooting Stars (1981)
Tall Poppies Ensemble Geoffrey Collins (flute/piccolo)
Cathy McCorkill (clarinet) John Harding (violin)
Esther van Stralen (viola) David Pereira (cello)
Daryl Pratt (percussion) Roger Brooke (bassoon)
Ian Munro (piano) David Stanhope (conductor)
Recorded in Studio 200 ABC Sydney, July 1998
TALL POPPIES TP133 [67.46] [JW]
Political,
geographical, playful, light-footed, this
disc covers a lot of ground. ... see Full
Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904) 100th
Anniversary Edition – The Concertos, Serenades,
Slavonic Dances and Requiem Mass CD1
Cello Concerto in B minor, op.104 B191
(1896) [38:52] Mstislav Rostropovich (cello),
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Seiji Ozawa
Recorded at Symphony Hall, Boston, USA, December
1985 Violin Concerto in B minor, op.53,
B.108 (1883) [33:16] Maxim Vengerov (violin),
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Kurt Masur
Recorded at Avery Fisher Hall, New York, January
1997 CD2 Piano Concerto in G minor op.33
B63 (1878) [39:24] Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano),
Royal Concertgebouw orchestra/Nicholas Harnoncourt
Live recording, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, October
2001 Romance in F minor for violin
and orchestra, op.11 B39 (1879) [11:35] Thomas
Zehetmair (violin), Philharmonia Orchestra/Eliahu
Inbal Recorded Snape Maltings Concert Hall,
Aldeburgh, Suffolk, UK, December 1989 Silent
Woods for cello and orchestra, op.68
no.5 B182 [6:03] Arto Noras (cello), Kuopio
Symphony Orchestra/Markus Lehtinen Recorded
at Kuopio Music Centre, Kuopio, Finland, April
2003 Slavonic Rhapsody in D, op.45
no.1 B86 (1878) [12:57] Czech Philharmonic
Orchestra/Vaclav Neumann Recorded Prague 1972
CD3 Serenade for Strings in E, op.22
B52 (1875) [29:27] Serenade in D minor
for 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons,
double bassoon, 3 horns, cello and double
bass op.44 B77 (1878) [25:00] The Saint Paul
Chamber Orchestra/Hugh Wolff Recorded at Ordway
Music Centre, St. Paul, Minnesota, September
1990 Arias from ‘Rusalka’, op.114,
B203 (1901): Měsíĉku na nebi hlubokém
(Act 1) – Song to the Moon [6:20];
Necitelná vodni moci (Act 3 Scene 1)
[6:32] Eva Urbanová (soprano), Prague
Symphony Orchestra/Ondrej Lenárd Recorded
?? CD4 Slavonic Dances, op.46
B83 (1878) [36:59] Slavonic Dances,
op.72 B147 (1886) [36:15] Chamber Orchestra
of Europe/Nikolaus Harnoncourt Recorded at
Stefaniesaal, Graz, June 2000 (op.72) and
June 2001 (op.46) CD5 Requiem Mass,
op.89 B165 (1891) Part 1 [52:57] CD6 Requiem
Mass Part 2 [46:14] Teresa Zylis-Gara
(soprano), Stefania Toczyska (mezzo-soprano),
Peter Dvorský (tenor), Leonard Mróz
(bass), Chœur de Radio France, Nouvel Orchestre
Philharmonique de Radio France/Armin Jordan
Recorded at Studio 103, Radio France, January
1981
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61528-2 [6CDs: 72:34
+ 70:14 + 68:14 + 73:25 + 52:57 + 46:14] [GPJ]
A
pity to end on a negative note; but I have
to say that I couldn’t recommend this set
as a purchase – there are too many items that
are mediocre or worse. Only the Violin Concerto
and the Slavonic Dances (and perhaps the two
serenades) are worthy to rank with the best
versions that are available. ... see
Full Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791)
Symphony
No. 25 in G minor, K183 (1773) Symphony No.
29 in A major, K201 (1774) Symphony No. 33
in B flat major, K319
Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra/Ton Koopman Rec
November 1988 (No. 25), August 1987 (Nos.
29; 33), Waalse Kerk, Amsterdam
WARNER APEX 2564 61430 2 [74.56] [TB]
Perfect
artistic sense. All very nicely played and
very tastefully shaped, but not everything
comes off as well as it might. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Le nozze
di Figaro Italo
Tajo (bar) Figaro; Alda Noni (soprano) Susanna;
Sesto Bruscantini - Count Almaviva; Gabriella
Gatti (soprano) Countess; Jolanda Gardina
- Cherubino; Mitì Truccato Pace - Marcellina;
Fernando Corena - Bartolo; Angelo Mercuriali
- Don Basilio; Manfredi Ponz de Leon - Don
Curzio; Graziella Sciutti - Barbarina; Cristiano
Dalamangas - Antonio
Chorus and Orchestra of RAI, Rome/Fernando
Previtali. Notes and text included. Rec. Rome,
1951.
WARNER FONIT 5050467-1046-2-4 [72'25 +
75'43] [CC]
A
mixed reception then, but a recommendation
nonetheless. The spirit of Mozart shines through
as does Previtali’s love of the score. Fans
of Corena, Tajo, Bruscantini and Sciutti will
want it anyway ... see Full
Review
The Famous Oistrakh
Trio Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Trio
No. 2 in E flat major D929 Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Trio in G minor
Op.8
David Oistrakh (violin) Sviatoslav Knushevitzky
(cello) Lev Oborin (piano) No recording details
PREISER RECORDS 90597 [68.28] [JW]
Admirers
of Oistrakh and the now undersung greatness
of his chamber colleagues, will welcome the
return of these performances. ... see Full
Review
Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Il
barbiere di Siviglia – Highlights Overture,
Ecco ridente in cielo, Largo al factotum,
Se il mio nome saper voi bramate, All’idea
di quel metallo, Una voce poco fa, La calunnia
è un venticello, Dunque io son, A un
dottor della mia sorte, Contro un cor, Quando
mi sei vicina, Il vecchiotto cerca moglie,
Temporale, Ah, qual colpo inaspettato! Cessa
di più resister, Di si felice innesto
Håkan Hagegård (Figaro), Jennifer
Larmore (Rosina), Raúl Giménez
(Almaviva), Samuel Ramey (Basilio), Alessandro
Corbelli (Bartolo), Barbara Frittoli (Berta)
Lausanne Chamber Orchestra/Jesús López-Cobos
Recorded August 1992, Salle del Castillo,
Vevey, Switzerland
WARNER CLASSICS APEX 2564 61502-2 [75:38]
[CH]
More
for fans of Larmore (who is magnificent) than
for those wanting a selection from this ever-popular
opera. ... see Full
Review
Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Il
Signor Bruschino (Comic Opera in One Act)
(1813) Alessandro Codeluppi (Florville), Maurizio
Leoni (Gaudenzio), Elena Rossi (Sofia), Dario
Giorgelè (Signor Bruschino), Antonio
Marani (Filiberto), Clara Giangaspero (Marianna),
Massimiliano Barbolini (Bruschino figlio),
Vito Martino (Commissario)
I Virtuosi Italiani/Claudio Desideri
Recorded 4th May 2002 at the Auditorium Pandurera,
Cento (Ferrara).
NAXOS 8.660128 [79:43] [CH]
Sparkling
Rossini, sparkling conducting, but the singing
is not so good. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Deutsche Schubert-Lied-Edition 17 - Austrian
Contemporaries Vol. 2 Der
Unglückliche D.713, Widerspruch D.865,
Glaube, Hoffnung und Liebe D.955, Frohsinn
D.520, Die abgeblühte Linde D.514, Der
Flug der Zeit D.515, Das Heimweh D.851, Die
Allmacht D.852, Labetrank der Liebe D.302,
An die Geliebte, D.303, Vergebliche Liebe
D.177, Die Sterne D.716, Die erste Liebe D.182,
Lob des Tokayers D.248, Der Zufriedene D.320,
Der Sänger am Felsen D.482, Lied D.483,
Skolie D.306, Die Befreier Europas in Paris
D.104, Abschied D.829, Die Fröhlichkeit
D.262
Detlef Roth (baritone), Ulrich Eisenlohr
(piano) Recorded in Radiostudio 1, Zurich,
24th-28th May 2003
NAXOS 8.557172 [65:00] [CH]
Some
rare Schubert in very fine performances. ...
see Full Review
Thomas TALLIS
(1505-1585)
The Tallis Scholars - Celebrating The 500th
Anniversary CD1:
Spem in Alium (40-part motet); Sancte Deus;
Salvator Mundi, salva nos, 1 and 2; Gaude
Gloriosa; Miserere nostri; Loquenbantur varis
linguis; If ye love me; Hear the voice and
prayer; A new commandment; O Lord, give thy
holy spirit; Purge me, O Lord; Verily I say
unto you; Remember not, O Lord; Tunes from
Archbishop Parker’s Psalter; O Lord, in thee
is all my trust; Christ rising again; Blessed
are those that be undefiled. CD2: Lamentations
of Jeremiah I and II; Absterge Domine; O sacrum
convivium; In manus tuas; Salve intemerata;
Magnificat for 4 voices; Ave, dei patris filia
Tallis Scholars/Peter Phillips Recorded:
CD1: Merton College Chapel, Oxford; CD2: the
church of St. Peter and St.Paul Salle Norfolk.
1980s
GIMELL CDGIM 203 [79.36 + 79.38]
[GH]
A
late 1980s time-warp, of Oxford colleges,
dark winter concerts, hard seats and glorious
music resounding in the lofty clerestory.
Exciting and stimulating. These timely re-issues.
... see Full Review
Zara Alexandrovna
DOLUKHANOVA (mezzo)
- born 1918 Lieder,
Songs, Arias and Duets Sung in Russian,
French, German, English, Latin, Spanish and
Aramaic Recorded 1948-1954. No recording venues
given but mainly derived from radio broadcasts.
Various orchestral and piano accompanists.
GUILD HISTORICAL THE RUSSIAN LEGACY SERIES
GHCD 2281-84 [4CDs: 73.22 + 76.14 +
77.10 + 73.34] [RJF]
Despite
some idiosyncrasies of style in the Mozart
and the predominance of the Russian language
this diverse collection should appeal to all
lovers of singing. ... see Full
Review
Heaven to Earth
Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981)
Agnus Dei [8’26"] Maurice
DURUFLÉ (1902-1986) from
Requiem; Requiem æternam [3’23"];
Kyrie [4’08"] Charles
IVES (1874-1954) Psalm 90 [11’10"]
Leonard BERNSTEIN
(1918-1990) from Chichester Psalms;
Psalm 23* [5’34"] Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Credo [3’34"];
Pater noster [1’45"] Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) from
Five Mystical Songs**: Love bade me
welcome [5’37"]; The Call [2’05"]
Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901) from Quattro pezzi sacri:
Ave Maria [5’49"] Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Friede auf
Erden [10’11"] *François Suhr
(treble) **Charles Robert Stephens (baritone)
The Westminster Choir/Joseph Flummerfelt Nancianne
Parella (organ) Recorded at Princeton University
Chapel, Princeton, New Jersey in June 2002,
June 2003 and February 2004 DSD Hybrid Multichannel
SACD 
AVIE 0046 [62’07"] [JQ]
This
is a fine choral CD which will give much pleasure
if the eclectic but thoughtful programme appeals.
Recommended ... see Full
Review
BOOK
REVIEWS
 UNEASY
LISTENING - A caricature guide to 20th
century composers
by John Minnion 109pp
Paperback ISBN 0-9544499 1 6 [RB]
This
is wonderfully well done as a book of illustrations.
It tells us something of the psychology of
the composer in each case and does so wittily
and not without taking a few dangerous corners.
... see Full
Review
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
Frederic
CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Ballade
in G minor, Op. 23 Ballade in F major, Op.
38 Ballade in A flat major, Op. 47 Ballade
in F minor, Op. 52 Fantaisie in F minor, Op.
49 Barcarolle in F sharp minor, Op. 60 Polonaise-Fantaisie
in A flat major, Op. 61
Burkard Schliessmann, piano Recorded Friedrich-Ebert-Halle,
Hamburg, April 2002 Hybrid SACD playable on
SACD players and standard CD players
BAYER
RECORDS BR 100 348 CD [70:54] [DS]
An
essential acquisition for piano enthusiasts
... challenges our perceptions of the great
classical piano works and gives us illuminating
performances of exceptional pianism ... see
Full Review
Frédéric
CHOPIN
(1810 - 1849) Twelve
Études, Op. 10 (1833) Twelve
Études, Op. 25
Murray Perahia, piano Piano Technicians:
Andrew Granger, Jake Jackson. Recorded in
2.0 DSD stereo 4 July 2001 Lyndhurst Hall,
Air Studios, London, UK. SACD
2.0 stereo Playable only on SACD players Also
available on regular CD, Sony MK 61885
SONY
SS 61885 [55.54] [PSh]
Revelatory
performances of some of the very greatest
of keyboard music ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Claude
DEBUSSY (1862
- 1918) Abbado in Lucerne: 2003 Suite
from Le Martyr de Saint Sebastien (1911)
La Mer - three symphonic sketches (1905)Rachel
Harnisch and Eteri Gvazava (sopranos) and
the Schweizer Kammerchor
Lucerne Festival Orchestra/Claudio Abbado.
recorded live in the Concert Hall of the Culture
and Convention Centre, Lucerne, 14th
August 2003. Video directed by Michael Beyer
and produced by Paul Smaczny. With documentary
on the history of the Lucerne Festival and
its orchestra.
EUROARTS DVD 2053469 [119.00]
[JPh]
An
absolutely stunning performance of La Mer
... tingles with excitement from start to
finish ... conjures up the fury of the sea
like no other performance ... see Full
Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Rusalka
- a lyric fairy-tale in three acts
Op.114 (1900) Libretto by Jaroslav Kvapil
- (sung in Czech) Prince - Peter Dvorsky (tenor)
Foreign Princess - Eva Randova (mezzo soprano)
Rusalka - Gabriele Benackova-Cap (soprano)
Water Goblin - Evgeny Nesterenko (bass) Witch
- Eva Randova (mezzo soprano) Hunter - Alexander
Maly (tenor) First Naiad - Noriko Sasaki (soprano)
Second Naiad - Gabriele Sima (soprano) Third
Naiad - Margareta Hintermeier (mezzo soprano)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera/Vaclav
Neumann A live performance from the Vienna
State Opera recorded by Austrian Radio on
10 April 1987
ORFEO C638 0421 [64.32 + 75.21] [CF]
One
cannot get away from the fact that it is a
glorious experience to re-live such a memorable
evening as that of 10 April 1987. ... see
Full Review
Klaus
HUBER (b.
1924) Tenebrae
(1966/7) Kammerkonzert Intarsi (1994)a
Protuberanzen (1985/6) James Joyce Chamber
Music (1966/7)b Michael Wendeberg
(piano)a; Giovanna Reitano (harp)b;
Miklós Nagy (horn)b;
Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg/Arturo
Tamayo Recorded: Conservatoire, Luxembourg,
January and July 2003
TIMPANI 1C1075 [61:45] [HC]
Superb
recorded sound, and another splendid release
from Timpani. Recommended. My recording of
the month ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Quintet
in E flat major for Piano and Winds, K. 452
(1784) Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Quintet in
E flat major for Piano and Winds, Op. 16 (1796)
Ralf Gothoni, piano Wind Quintet of the
Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra:
(Anna Dina Schick, flute; Max Artved, oboe;
Soren Elbo, clarinet; Henning Due Hansen,
horn; Jens Tofte-Hansen, bassoon) Recorded
December 2001
CLASSICO CLASSCD 453 [48:43] [DS]
Youthful
exuberance and gruff demeanour ... one of
the best recordings ... will be in the running
for one of my MusicWeb Discs of the Year 2004....
see Full
Review
Poul
ROVSING OLSEN (1922-1982)
Belisa – An Opera in Four Scenes Text
by Federico Garcia Lorca - Sung in Danish.Belisa:
Eir Inderhaug (sop) Don Perlimplin: Sten Byriel
(bass) Marcolfa: Marianne Rørholm (mezzo)
The Mother: Anne Margrethe Dahl (sop) Household
Spirit 1: Lise-Lotte Nielsen (sop) Household
Spirit 2: Elisabeth Halling (sop)
Vocal Group Ars Nova, Odense Symphony
Orchestra / Tamás Vetö Bo Lundbye
Jaeger, electronics.DDD. Recorded at Odense
Concert Hall May 1st -3rd,
May 6th -7th and June
10th and in the Danish Radio Concert
Hall on October 29th 2002. Recorded
in cooperation with the Danish Broadcasting
Corporation.
DACAPO 8.226013 [72:00] [BK]
Anyone
interested in unusual opera or Scandinavian
music should rush out to buy this disc. It’s
a Disc of the Month for me … ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Winterreise D911 Gute
Nacht, Die Wetterfahne, Gefror'ne
Tränen, Erstarrung, Der
Lindenbaum, Wasserflut, Auf
dem Flusse, Rückblick,
Irrlicht, Rast, Frühlingstraum,
Einsamkeit, Die Post, Der greise
Kopf, Die Krähe, Letzte
Hoffnung, Im Dorfe, Der stürmische
Morgen, Tauschung, Der Wegwiser,
Mut, Die Nebensonnen, Der Leiermann.
Ian Bostridge, (tenor) Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)
recorded Potton Hall, Suffolk, May 2004. DDD
EMI CLASSICS 5 57790 2 [70:47] [AO]
Deeply
thought through and absorbed with creative
imagination ... faithful to the music's form
and structure ... highlights the emotional
and psychological aspects with unusual insight.
A performance Bostridge and Andsnes can be
proud of ... enhances our understanding of
this amazing cycle ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906 - 1975) Symphony
#5 in d, Op 47 (1937) [47.57] Symphony #9
in Eb, Op 70 (1945) [25.44]
Kirov Orchestra/Valery Gergiev Rec. Martti
Talvela Hall, Helsinki, Finland, 30 June 2002
(5); Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg, Russia,
18 May 2002 (9) Note in English, Français,
Deutsch. Photo of the composer and of the
conductor. CD tracks in 5.1 AC-3 sound. Super
Audio tracks in 2.0 stereo and 5.1 surround.
Hybrid Super-Audio CD SACD playable on cd
players.
PHILIPS
470 651-2 [73.53] [PSh]
A
supremely great performance and recording
of an often performed work. Alone worth the
price of an SACD player ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Kondrashin conducts the Fifteen
Symphonies No.
1 in F minor (1925) No. 2 in B, To October
(1927) No. 3 in E flat, The First of May
(1929) No. 4 in C minor (1935) No. 5 in D
minor (1937) No. 6 in B minor (1939) No. 7
in C, Leningrad (1941) No. 8 in C minor
(1943) No. 9 in E flat (1945) No. 10 in E
minor (1953) No. 11 in G minor, The Year
1905 (1957) No. 12 in D minor The Year
1917 (1961) No. 13 in B flat minor, Babi
Yar (1962) No. 14 (1969) No. 15 in A (1971)
Artur Eisen, bass (13); Evgenia Tselovalnik
(sop) (14); Evgeny Nesterenko, (bass) (14)
Choirs of the Russian Republic/Alexander Yourlov
(2, 3, 13)
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra/Kirill
Kondrashin Rec. Moscow 19 July 1972 (1); 29
Nov 1972 (2); 12 Nov 1972 (3); 1962 (4); 27
Mar 1968 (5); 15 Sept 1967 (6); 7 Mar 1975
(7); 4 Nov 1967 (8); 20 Mar 1965 (9); 24 Sept
1973 (10); 9 July 1973 (11); 13 Dec 1972 (12);
23 Aug 1974 (13); 24 Nov 1974 (14); 27 May
1975 (15). ADD
AULOS CLASSICS AMC2 - 043 - 1-10 [10CDs:
68:59 + 65:28 + 68:16 + 60:02 + 75:34 + 71:10
+ 56:36 + 64:46 + 53:54 + 54:06] [RB]
Kondrashin
and Aulos set the gold standard. Exemplary
recordings presented in raging colours and
with a compulsive tragic power. .... see Full
Review
HISTORICAL
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony
No. 6 in b minor, Op. 74 [43:45] Serenade
for Strings in C major, Op. 48 [26:25]
Concertgebouw Orchestra/Willem Mengelberg
Rec. 22 April 1941, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
(Op. 74); 7 November 1938 (Op. 48) AAD Remastered
by Mark Obert-Thorn
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110885 [70:10] [KS]
Amongst
the absolute must-haves for anyone who loves
romantic music ... see Full
Review
Jacqueline DU PRE (1945-1987)
- In
Portrait (DVD) The Christopher Nupen Films
Including full performances of: Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Cello Concerto
in E minor op.85 Jacqueline du Pré,
cello New Philharmonia Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim
Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Piano Trio no.5 in D, op.70
no.1 (The Ghost)
Daniel Barenboim, piano, Pinchas Zukerman,
violin, Jacqueline du Pré, ‘cello Produced
in this format 2004 DVD Producer, Ferenc van
Damme DVD Executive Producers, Hans Petri,
Christopher Nupen Allegro Films – The Christopher
Nupen Films
BBC
OPUS ARTE OA CN0902 D [2:35 approx] [JQ]
This
is a priceless document, as well as deeply
satisfying viewing ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Waltzes opp.18, 34, 42, 64, 69, 70, posth.
in E minor, Impromptus opp. 29, 36, 51, 66
Arthur Rubinstein (piano) Dates and locations
not given
BMG CLASSICS RCA RED SEAL 82876 59422 2 [70:22]
[CH]
Seventy
minutes of some of the greatest pianism committed
to disc – don’t miss it. ... see Full
Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
100th Anniversary Edition: Chamber
Music
CD1 (60.01) Piano Trio in B flat major, Opus
21 (1875) Piano Trio in G minor, Opus 26 (1876)
CD2 (71.48) Piano Trio in F minor, Opus 65
(1883) Piano Trio in E minor, Opus 90 ‘Dumky’
(1891) Trio Fontenay Rec Nov 1987 (Opus
65); Sept 1988 (Opus 21), Sept 1990 (Opus
26, Opus 90), Teldec Studio Berlin CD3
(68.47) String Quartet in F major, Opus 96
‘American’ (1893) String Quintet in E flat
major, Opus 97 (1893) Cypresses Keller
Quartet (Opus 96, 97), with Anna Deeva (viola)
(Opus 97) New Helsinki Quartet (Cypresses)
Rec Jan 1994 (Opus 96), June 1994 (Opus 97),
Salle de Musique de la Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland;
Aug 1996 (Cypresses), Sigyn Hall, Turku, Finland
D4 (64.36) String Quartet in D minor, Opus
34 (1877) String Quartet in E flat major,
Opus 51 (1879) American String Quartet
Rec Oct 1985, American Academy and Institute
of Arts and Letter CD5 (72.13) String Sextet
in A major, Opus 48 (1878) String Quartet
in G major, Opus 106 (1895) Boston Symphony
Chamber Players (Opus 48) Alban Berg Quartet
(Opus 106) Rec July 1983 (Opus 48), Trinity
Parish Church, Lenox, Massachusetts; Sept
1975 (Opus 106), Casino Zögernitz, Vienna
CD6 (72.27) Piano Quintet in A major, Opus
81 (1887) Piano Quartet in E flat major, Opus
87 (1889)
András Schiff (piano) Panocha String
Quartet Rec Sept 1997, Teldec Studio, Berlin
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 64527-2 [6CDs, as
above] [TB]
Excellent
collection of chamber music by this Czech
master. ... see Full
Review
Philippe GAUBERT
(1879-1941)
Complete
works for flute, Volume 2 Sonata for flute
and piano (1917) [15:32] Second Sonata (1924)
[15:27] Third Sonata (1934) [12:39] Sonatine
Quasi Fantasia (1937) [11:59]
Fenwick Smith (flute), Sally Pinkas (piano)
Recorded in the Sonic Temple, Roslindale,
Massachusetts, Feb. 16th 2001 (Sonata),
Sept. 30th 2002 (Third Sonata),
and Jan.25th 2003 (Second Sonata
and Sonatine)
NAXOS 8.557306 [55:38] [GPJ]
Fenwick
Smith is a very distinguished performer ...
his tone is very beautiful, his technique
unobtrusively flawless. The way he shapes
phrases is a joy and a lesson in itself. ...
see Full Review
Thomas MORLEY (1557/8-1602)
Ayres and Madrigals: Arise, awake [2:18];
Besides a fountain [2:04]; No, no, no, no,
Nigella [3:00]; Singing alone [2:51]; With
my love [2:10]; Mistress mine [2:33]; Stay
heart, run not so fast [2:39]; Fire and lightening
[1:10]; Phillis, I fain would die now [4:21];
Hard by a crystal fountain [3:37]; In every
place [2:23]; O gried, ev’n on the bud [1:55];
Absence, hear thou my protestation [6:07];
Deep lamenting [3:21]; Sleep, slumb’ring eyes
[6:05]; Hark, Alleluia [2:06]
Emma Kirkby, Poppy Holden, Jacqueline Fox,
Evelyn Tubb, sopranos Cathy Cass, Mary Nichols,
altos Joseph Cornwell, Andrew King, Philip
Salmon, tenors John Milne, Francis Steele,
Richard Wistreich, basses The Consort of Musicke,
Anthony Rooley, lute and director Recorded
in St. Barnabas’ Church, London, June 1982
DDD
DECCA 476 1971 [49:19] [KS]
Color,
grace, wonderful sensitivity to poetry. Rhythmic
precision and clarity above reproach. Such
refreshing music .. a gift indeed for these
performances to be again available. ... see
Full Review
Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835
– 1921) Symphony
No. 3 in C minor Op. 78, (1886) Louis
COUPERIN (1626 – 1661) Chaconne
in G Minor transcribed by Joseph
BONNET Marcel
DUPRÉ (1886 – 1970) Carillon
Op. 27, No. 4. Eugène
GIGOUT (1844 – 1925) Scherzo. César
FRANCK (1822 – 1890) Piece Heroique.
Charles Marie
WIDOR (1844 – 1937) Toccata
Symphony No. 5. Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685
– 1750 Sinfonia from Cantata No. 29. Louis
VIERNE (1870 – 1937) Finale from
Symphony No. 1, Op.14. Marcel
DUPRÉ (1886 – 1970) Musette.
Jacques-Nicolas
LEMMENS (1823 – 1881) Fanfare.
Michael Murray (organ) Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene
Ormandy. recorded at St. Francis de Sales
Church, Philadelphia on February 6th
1980 (Saint-Saëns) and at Symphony Hall,
Boston on September 27th, 1981.
DDD
TELARC CD-80634 [75’51"] [JPh]
This
disc is superb and I have enjoyed listening
to it again and again ... strongly recommended.
...
see Full
Revie
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Deutsche Schubert-Lied-Edition 17 - Austrian
Contemporaries Vol. 2 Der
Unglückliche D.713, Widerspruch D.865,
Glaube, Hoffnung und Liebe D.955, Frohsinn
D.520, Die abgeblühte Linde D.514, Der
Flug der Zeit D.515, Das Heimweh D.851, Die
Allmacht D.852, Labetrank der Liebe D.302,
An die Geliebte, D.303, Vergebliche Liebe
D.177, Die Sterne D.716, Die erste Liebe D.182,
Lob des Tokayers D.248, Der Zufriedene D.320,
Der Sänger am Felsen D.482, Lied D.483,
Skolie D.306, Die Befreier Europas in Paris
D.104, Abschied D.829, Die Fröhlichkeit
D.262
Detlef Roth (baritone), Ulrich Eisenlohr
(piano) Recorded in Radiostudio 1, Zurich,
24th-28th May 2003
NAXOS 8.557172 [65:00] [CH]
Some
rare Schubert in very fine performances. ...
see Full Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828)
Life and Works
Written and narrated by Jeremy Siepmann recorded
Oxfordshire, no date DDD
NAXOS 8.558135-38 [63'33" + 67'58" + 73'33"
+ 65'53" = 270’] [AO]
It’s
a book that talks, sings, plays music and
runs like a website. ... 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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