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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]

  November 2004


DAILY CD REVIEWS



Hoffnung Music Festivals 1956,58,61
£17 Post-free world-wide
This is a must for all Hoffnung enthusiasts.
Purchase here    see review

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 post free world-wide Purchase



Tony Palmer: Toward the Unknown Region: Malcolm Arnold a Story of Survival
You can buy this DVD from MusicWeb £12.99 post-free
This DVD will play world-wide
Review [CT] Review [RB]

CD-ROMMUSICWEB ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF POPULAR MUSIC
now available on CD-ROM £10
(£11 outside the UK)
Over 4000 entries The Perfect Christmas Present

 



NEW and RECENT ARTICLES

JOHN BULLER - Obituary - Martin Anderson

HISTORY OF MUSIC 3. Approaching the Baroque era

HISTORY OF MUSIC 4. Early American Music (1620-1800)

HISTORY OF MUSIC AMERICAN MUSIC OF THE NINETEEN CENTURY Dr David C F Wright

ALGERNON ASHTON - THE CASE FOR REVIVAL by Harold Truscott

BRUCKNER’S EIGHTH SYMPHONY Personal reflections on a favourite work and some key recordings by Patrick C Waller

REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION - a matter of black and white?- by Arthur Butterworth

GERARD FRANCIS COBB (1838-1904) by David Mackie and Worklist

20th Century pioneer composer Charles Ives
:
Audiences and critics’ opinions over time.

STOP PRESS
Does anyone have copies of Armstrong Gibbs' works on 78 records - particularly a recording of the String Quartet in A by the Griller Quartet? They are wanted for transcription to CD. Kindly contact Angela Aries if you can help. angela.aries@btinternet.com




MusicWeb recommended recordings 2004
Special offers
MUSICWEB SPECIAL 2for1 offer.The acclaimed recordings of Joyce Hatto playing Brahms 1st and 2nd Piano Concertos. Two CDs for £12.99 post free saving £12.99 Worldwide. MUSICWEB SPECIAL OFFER BEETHOVEN Symphonies 1-9, Egmont, Leonora 3 overtures.The Warsaw Philharmonic -
Kazimierz Kord - 5CD boxed set ONLY £20 postage paid. A saving of £25
ACD 131-2 K. Szymanowski - Król Roger Special, Edition £21
ACD 133-2 K. Penderecki - Ubu Rex Special Edition £25
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphonies – No. 2 in D, Op. 36a (1802) [33’01]; No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67b (1808) [35’02] Manchester Camerata/Douglas Boyd. AVIE AV0040 ONLY £4.99 postage included
ERIK CHISHOLM Piano Music Murray McLachlan Piano. Olympia OCD 639 £10 P&P free See review to purchase.  


HOFFNUNG CHRISTMAS OFFERS
Christmas reductions on Hoffnung's Little Books

Single books: UK Price £8.90 £6.00 + 80p p&p World Wide Price £8.90 £6 + £2 p&p
6 Music books for the price of 5: UK price £42 £30 + £2.50 p&p World Wide price £42 £30 + £7.00 p&p

 

New from ArcoDiva
Mozart Flute and Harp Sonatas 1-6 Robert Stallman, Katerina Englichova UP 0074-2 £9 post free
Dvorak, Suk, Martinu
Piano Trios Czech Trio UP 0072-2 £9 post free
JANACEK
Complete Piano Music Jan Jirasky UP 0071-2 (2CDs) £15 post free
BRITTEN
Ceremony of Carols arr Harrison
also 13 Old European Christmas Carols Boni Pueri Czech Boys Choir Musica Bohemica Praha Jacub Martinec UP 0070-2 (CD) £9 post free RECORDING OF THE MONTH

New from CD Accord
ACD 129-2 Stankiewicz: Chopin SongBook Recommended by Rob Cowan on Radio 3 and selling well 2cds £12 post free
ACD 128-2 Mendelssohn, Shostakovich Piano Trios £9 post free

Premiere performance of a work inspired by and dedicated to Arnold Bax: "September Morn" by Arthur
Butterworth, MBE.

Great Hall of Exeter University at 7:30pm on Weds 1st December. Also on the programme are the Beethoven Violin Concerto and Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique.

Tickets are £7/£5, concessions £2 less, and should be available on the door: or by ringing Dave Richards 07711 718293

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LATEST CD REVIEWS (last two days)

Recordings of the Month Bargains of the Month

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Milken Archive of American Jewish Music

 

BOOK REVIEWS

THE CAMBRIDGE COMPANION TO BRUCKNER John Williamson (editor) £47.50 hardback £17.99 paperback 303pp Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0 521 80404 3 hardback. 0 521 00878 6 [TB]

A fine addition to the Bruckner bibliography but decidedly not a book for the beginner, not for the uninitiated. ... see Full Review

The Cambridge Companion to the Lied edited by James Parsons 2004 333 pp. Cambridge University Press [AO]

Disappointing that, despite excellent inner chapters, the book does not, ultimately, live up to its premise. ... see Full Review

The Penguin Companion to Classical Music By Paul Griffiths Hardcover 896 pages Penguin Books Ltd 153 x 234mm ISBN: 0141009241 £30.00 - £21.00 (incl post and packing) on Amazon.co.uk [RB]

Penguin continue to push out the boundaries of their reference library and have done so successfully and with distinct character in Paul Griffiths’ book. ... see Full Review

The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs and DVDs: Yearbook 2004/5 - Best Buys in Classical Music by Ivan March, Edward Greenfield, Robert Layton Assistant Editor: Paul Czajkowski paperback 153 x 234mm 768 pages ISBN 0140515232 Penguin [RB]

Set against its many rewards the flaws, although not to be forgotten, should not blind us to a valuable contribution to the music-lover’s shelves. ... see Full Review

 



RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gustaf BENGTSSON (1886-1965) Violin Concerto in B minor (1941) * Cello Concerto in A minor (1932) † * Tobias Ringborg (violin) † Mats Rondin (cello) Malmö Opera Orchestra/Mats Rondin*; Tobias Ringborg † Recorded at the Palladium, Malmö, June 2004 STERLING CDS-1063-2 (59:42) [IL]

Why have these lovely melodic concertos been so ignored? Every soloist should be considering them. I urge you to hear them. ... see Full Review

DVD OF THE MONTH Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Les Troyens (1856-60) Grand Opera in five acts, libretto by the composer after Virgil’s Aeneid Dido (mezzo) – Susan Graham Cassandra (soprano) – Anna Catarina Antonacci Anna (contralto) – Renata Pokupic Aeneas (tenor) – Gregory Kunde Choroebus (baritone) – Ludovic Tézier Pantheus (bass) – Nicolas Testé Iopas (tenor) – Mark Padmore Ascanius (mezzo) – Stephanie d’Oustrac Helenus (tenor) – Topi Lehtipuu Chorus of the Théâtre du Châtelet /Monteverdi Choir Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique/John Eliot Gardiner Stage Director – Yannis Kokkos TV Director – Peter Maniura Recorded live at the Théâtre Musical de Paris, Châtelet, October 2003 BBC OPUS ARTE OA0900D [3 discs, running time approx. 5 hrs 12 minutes] [TH]

Hard to imagine this being bettered. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
A Ceremony of Carols, op.28 arr. For SATB and Harp by Julius Harrison [21:50] (1942 arr. 1955): Procession [1:37]; Wolcum Yole [1:25]; There is no Rose [2:19]; That yönge Child [1:43]; Balulalow [1:15]; As Dew in Aprille [0:58]; This Little babe [1:23]; Interlude [3:45]; In Freezing Winter [3:22]; Spring Carol [1:01]; Deo Gracias [1:06]; Recession [1:36] Arr. Jaroslav KRČEK (b.1939) Old European Christmas Carols: Adeste Fideles [3:21]; Dormi, dormi bel Bambin [1:55]; Ding, Dong! Merrily on High [1:47]; Es ist Ein Ros’ entsprungen [2:39]; Vstįvajte, pastieri [1:54]; Lulajźe Jezuniu [3:23]; Los animals ante el nacimento [2:01]; ˇe˛ulka z lesa vylitla [1:42]; Deck the Halls [1:12]; Les anges dans nos campagnes [2:06]; Byla cesta, byla uŝlapanį [3:34]; A vent-i-cinc de desembre (Fum, fum, fum) [2:06]; Stille Nacht [2:43] Hana Müllerová-Jouzová (harp), Miroslav Kejmar (flugelhorn) Boni Pueri Czech Boys Choir Musica Bohemica Praha/Jakub Martinec Recorded 27-29 August 2004, Domovina Studio, Prague. DDD ARCODIVA UP 0070-2 231 [54:08] [GPJ]

Buy this and give it to your Best Friend – you’ll be rewarded with eternal gratitude. ... see Full Review

 

DISCOVERY OF THE MONTH Ruggero LEONCAVALLO (1858-1919) Pagliacci - Opera in Two Acts. Plus appendix, Florence Quartararo Memorial Canio, Ramon Vinay (ten); Nedda, Florence Quartararo (sop); Tonio, Leonard Warren (bar); Silvio, Hugh Thompson (bar); Beppe, Lesley Chabay (ten) Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera New York/Giuseppe Antonicelli Live broadcast performance. 28 February 1948 Appendix of Florence Quartararo in excerpts recorded 1945-1950 George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Atlanta, Care Selve Umberto GIORDANO (1867-1948) Andrea Chenier, La mamma morta Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Il Trovatore, Tacea la notte placida Otello, Act 1 duet (abridged) with Joseph Laderout (ten) Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Tosca, Perche chiuso with Ramon Vinay Tosca, ‘Vissi d’arte’ Landon RONALD (1873-1938) Cycle of Life, Love I have won you Georges BIZET (1838-1870) Carmen, Parle-moi de ma mère. With Ramon Vinay Pietro MASCAGNI (1863-1945) Cavalleria rusticana, Voi la sapete Madama Butterfly, Un bel di vedremo Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Le nozze di Figaro, Dove sono Don Giovanni, Taci inguisto core. With Ezio Pinza (bass), Salvatore Baccaloni (bass) Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Thais, Mirror Song Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828). Ave Maria GUILD HISTORICAL IMMORTAL PERFORMANCES SERIES GHCD 2291-92 [72.08 + 79.10] [RJF]

Quartararo - a voice to set alongside the giants of the 20th century. I suggest lovers of fine singing go out and buy while stocks last. Once the word gets out copies will surely fly off the shelves. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Joseph MARX (1882-1964) Orchestral Works: Volume 2 – Orchestral Songs Songs for High Voice , Songs for Middle Voice, Verklärtes Jahr Angela Maria Blasi – soprano Stella Doufexis – mezzo Bochum Symphony Orchestra/Steven Sloane Rec. Maximilianpark, Hamm, Germany, September 2003. DDD ASV-SANCTUARY CD DCA1164 [56.35] [RB]

Intrepid as ever ASV bear away the laurels for this audacious and highly accomplished first recording of Marx's songs with orchestra ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Dichterliebe op.48 [30 :07], 7 Lieder op.90 [18 :13], Die Löwenbraut op.31/1 [08:15], Die arme Peter op.53/3, Belsatzar op.57 [04:28] Christian Gerhaher (baritone), Gerold Huber (piano) Recorded June 15th-16th, July 26th-27th 2004 at the Bavaria Musik Studios, Munich, Germany BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 58995 2 [65:48] [CH]

A version of "Dichterliebe" to set alongside the classic ones. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Harold Shapero (b.1920) Nine-Minute Overture (1940) [9:15] Symphony for Classical Orchestra (1947) [44:04] Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra/André Previn Recorded, in performance, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center in Los Angeles between 22nd April – 1st May 1988 NEW WORLD RECORDS NW 373-2 [53.19] [JF]

This is a wonderful Symphony. It deserves to have a permanent place in the canon of American music. Well done New World Records! ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Franz von SUPPÉ (1819 - 1895) Overtures: The Beautiful Galatea (1865) [6'22] Pique Dame (1864) [7'28] Light Cavalry (1866) [6'26] Poet and Peasant (1854) [9'24] Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna (date uncertain) [7'32] Boccaccio (1879) [6'48] Daniel-François AUBER (1782 - 1871) Overtures: The Bronze Horse (1835) [6'49] Fra Diavolo (1830) [7'31] Masaniello (1828) [7'24] Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Paul Paray Rec. Cass Technical High School, Detroit, 29 November 1959 (Suppé), Old Orchestra Hall, Detroit, 4 April 1959 (Auber) SACD reviewed as CD MERCURY LIVING PRESENCE 470 638-2 [65'44] [PSe]

Eminently enjoyable overtures, joyous performances utterly without peer. Stunning! ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Vespers of Sorrow Stabat Mater, RV621 Sonata al Santo Sepolcro, RV130 Nisi Dominus, RV608 Magnificat, RV611 Salve Regina (Plainchant) La Tempesta/Jakub Burzynski (counter-tenor) Rec.: 11, 14 Jan 2004, Evangelical Reformed Church, Warsaw, Poland. DDD BIS BIS-CD-1426 [54:35] [MC]

A superb release, not to be missed! This will be my Record of the Year! ... see Full Review

 

 



BARGAIN OF THE MONTH

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cantatas Volume 1 Friedericke Sailer, Maria Friesenhausen, Agnes Giebel, Emiko Iiyama, Ingeborg Reichelt, Edith Selig, Hedy Graf (sopranos) Claudia Hellmann, Emmy Lisken, Barbara Scherler, Hertha Töpper, Marga Höffgen (altos) Helmut Krebs, Georg Jelden, Theo Altmeyer, Friedrich Melzer, Kurt Huber (tenors) Erich Wenk, Jakob Stämpfli, Barry McDaniel, Franz Kelch, Bruce Abel (basses) Heinrich Schütz Choir, Heilbronn Pforzheim Chamber Orchestra *Württemberg Chamber Orchestra, Heilbronn Conducted by Fritz Werner WARNER ERATO 2564 61401-2 [10 CDs: 70’43" + 77’10" + 77’39" + 75’38" + 75’36" + 68’05" + 74’38" + 78’24" + 70’34" + 77’09". Total: 741’36"] [JQ]

I am thrilled that Warner Classics have made these recordings available again and at a bargain price. I would advise anyone who takes Bach’s vocal music seriously to snap them up while they are still around... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) Tempro la cetra (1619) [9:08] Il ballo delle ingrate (1608) [34:10] Tirsi e Clori (1615) [9.20] Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda (1624) [22:59] John Potter, tenor; Barbara Borden, soprano; Päivi Järviö, mezzo soprano; Harry van der Kamp bass; Suzie le Blanc, soprano; Dougnal Nasrawi, tenor; Cesare Righetti, baritone. Tragicomedia/Stephen Stubbs Rec. Kleiner Sendesaal, Sender Freieis, Berlin, 21-23 September 1992 WARNER APEX 2564 61781-2 [78:01] [JF]

Essential listening for all Monteverdi enthusiasts. Here are the some of the composer’s superb essays in opera from the ‘lost years’. A must-have for all opera lovers. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Piotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concerto No. 1 [34.42] Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873–1943) Piano Concerto No. 2 [34.08] Van Cliburn (piano)
RCA Symphony Orchestra/Kirill Kondrashin (Tchaikovsky) Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner (Rachmaninov) Rec. 30 May 1958, Carnegie Hall, New York City (Tchaikovsky); Rec. 31 March, 2 April 1962 Orchestra Hall, Chicago (Rachmaninov). ADD RCA BMG LIVING STEREO SACD 82876613922 [60.02] [AR]

A must-have CD for any lover of Russian music and legendary piano playing. Buy it! ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH The Leonard Bernstein Collectors Edition: The Americans Barber - Bloch - Copland - Foss - Gershwin - Harris - Ives - Rorem - Schuman - Del Tredici CD 1 George GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Arr. F.GROFÉ Rhapsody in Blue [17:07] Leonard Bernstein (piano) Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein Three Preludes for Piano Solo [04:22] Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) Adagio for Strings, Op.11 Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein [10:02] Ernest BLOCH (1880-1959) Schelomo [24:34] Mischa Maisky (cello) Israel Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein CD 2 Aaron COPLAND (1900-1990) Symphony No. 3 Quiet City for Cor Anglais, Trumpet and Strings [10:35] New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein, Philip Smith (trumpet), Thomas Stacy (cor anglais) Appalachian Spring - (Ballet for Martha) [26:34] Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein CD 3 Aaron COPLAND (1900-1990) El salón Mexico [12:00] Concerto For Clarinet: New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein, Stanley Drucker (clarinet) Music For The Theatre (1925) Connotations For Orchestra (1961-62): [20:29] New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein CD 4 Roy HARRIS (1898-1979) ymphony No. 3 in one movement [18:27] William Howard SCHUMAN (1910-1992) ymphony No. 3; American Festival Overture [09:23] CD 5 Charles IVES (1874-1954) Symphony No. 2 The Gong on the Hook and Ladder or Firemen's Parade on Main Street [02:16] Tone Roads No. 1 [03:16] Largo cantabile "Hymn" [03:43] Hallowe'en [01:56] Central Park in the Dark [07:11] The Unanswered Question [06:07] CD6 David Del TREDICI (b.1937) Tattoo [18:05] Ned ROREM (b. 1923) Violin Concerto [23:32] Lukas FOSS (b.1923) The Song of Songs - Biblical Cantata for voice and orchestra [28:29] Gidon Kremer (violin) New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein (American Festival Overture) Sheri Greenawald (sop) (Foss) Israel Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein (Foss) Rec. live 1982-1989 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 474 940-2 [56:30 + 80:56 + 74:06 + 60:42 + 67:34 + 70:14] [RB]

Essential listening for Bernstein adherents and for anyone who has already fallen for the American Adventure. Bernstein’s adroit no-holds-barred approach establishes new friends for old favourites and fresh discoveries. Performances vivid and often brimming with unbridled life. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Leontyne PRICE Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Aidaa (1871) – Ritorna vincitor! [6’55]; Qui Radamès verrà [1’32]; O patria mia [5’14]. Il trovatore (1853) – Che più t’arrestib? [2’28]; Tacea la notteb [4’31]; Di tale amor che dirsib [1’25]; Timor di me? … D’amor sull’ali rosee [5’19]c. Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Madama Butterflyd (1904) – Un bel dì vedremo; Tu? Tu? piccolo Iddio! (Morte di Butterfly) [2’50]. La rondine (1917) – Chi il bel sogno di Dorettae [2’48]. Tosca (1900) – Vissi d’artee [3’15]. Turandotf (1926) – Signore, ascolta! [2’33]; Tu che di gel sei cinta [2’34]. Leontyne Price, bLaura Londi (sopranos) Rome Opera Orchestra/adefOliviero de Fabritiis, bcArturo Basile. Rec. June a27th, d29th, ef28th, f29th, 1960, bcJuly 15th & 22nd, 1959. ADD RCA RED SEAL LIVING STEREO SACD 82876 61395 2 [46’18] [GF]

I do not expect to hear a better recital this side New Year’s Eve, probably not afterwards either. ... see Full Review

 

 

 

Book Review

 

THE CAMBRIDGE COMPANION TO BRUCKNER John Williamson (editor) £47.50 hardback £17.99 paperback 303pp Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0 521 80404 3 hardback. 0 521 00878 6 [TB]

A fine addition to the Bruckner bibliography but decidedly not a book for the beginner, not for the uninitiated. ... 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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