Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony
No. 1 in D (1888, rev. 1893. 1896-98) [50’24].
Richard STRAUSS
(1864-1949) Till Eulenspiegels lustige
Streiche, Op. 28 (1894-95) [14’46]. 
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ančerl.
Rec. Dvořák Hall of Rudolfinum, Prague,
December 1964 (Mahler) and August 1962 (R.
Strauss). ADD
SUPRAPHON KAREL ANČERL GOLD EDITION SU3666-2
[67’05] [CC]
Memorable
Mahler. Also, Ančerl gives his Till
all the confident swagger of an inebriated
Cockney … see Full
Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony
No. 2 ‘Resurrection’ (1894)
Latonia Moore (soprano), Nadja Michael
(mezzo soprano) Vienna Singverein Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra/Gilbert Kaplan Recorded November
and December 2002, Musikverein, Vienna
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 474 380-2 [2CDs: 85.48]
[TB]
All
praise to Gilbert Kaplan for his boldness
and for sharing his obsession with this great
and visionary symphony. … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No. 3 in D minor (1895-6)
Marjorie Thomas (Contralto) Tolzer Knabenchor
Symphonie-Orchester und Frauenchor des Bayerischen
Rundfunks/Rafael Kubelik Recorded "live"
in Herkules-Saal in der Residenz, Munich,
20 April 1967
AUDITE 23.403 [2 CDs: 94.36] [TD]
This
is a firm recommendation for Mahler’s Third
and another gem in Audite’s Kubelik releases.
… see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No. 5 in C sharp minor (1901-02)
Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow
Radio/Vladimir Fedoseyev Recorded live at
the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory,
Aug 30, Sept 2/3 2000
RELIEF CR 991070 [71.12] [JW]
Marked
by a certain degree of briskness. … the rise
and crest of the greatest performances are
somewhat missing here. … see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No. 6 in A minor (1903-05)
Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks/Rafael
Kubelik Recorded "live" in Herkules-Saal
in der Residenz, Munich, 6 December 1968
AUDITE 95.480 [72.43] [TD]
Kubelik’s
Mahler Sixth is a very vivid, though very
partial, view of the work. … see Full
Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony No. 6 in A minor (1904).
Berliner Philharmoniker/Sir John Barbirolli
Rec. live at the Philharmonie, Berlin, on
January 13th, 1966. mono
ADD
TESTAMENT SBT1342 [74’51] [CC]
A
remarkable document. Not the cathartic experience
Bernstein would memorably portray with the
VPO in DG 427 697-2; rather, it is an essential
complement to that and as such should be on
every Mahlerian’s shelf. … see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860
– 1911) Kindertotenlieder
(1905) Adagio from Symphony No. 10 in F sharp
major (1911) Anton
WEBERN (1883 – 1945) Passacaglia
for orchestra, Op. 1. (1908) Im
Sommerwind (1904)
Cornelia Kallisch (mezzo soprano) SWR Symphony
Orchestra, Baden-Baden and Freiberg/Michael
Gielen.recorded in the Hans Rosbaud-Studio
Baden-Baden (Mahler and Passacaglia) on 25-26/6/98
Kindertotenlieder; 16-17/11/89 Symphony No
10; 12-14/11/92 (Passacaglia); 3/9/98 Konzerthaus
Freiberg, Im Sommerwind. DDD
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.062 [71’30"]
[JPh]
For
most of us Gielen’s reputation rests primarily
on his disc-based repertoire. That reputation
is secure. I was very impressed by this disc
… see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Jules MASSENET (1842-1912)
Cendrillon (1896)
Frederica von Stade (mezzo) Cendrillon; Nicolai
Gedda (tenor) Prince Charmant; Jane Berbié
(soprano) Madame de la Haltière; Jules
Bastin (bass) Pandolfe; Ruth Welting (soprano)
La Fée; Teresa Cahill (soprano) Noémie;
Elizabeth Bainbridge (mezzo) Dorothée;
Claude Méloni (tenor) Le Roi, La Voix
du Héraut; Paul Crook (tenor) Le Doyen
de la Faculté; Christian du Plessis
(baritone) Le Surintendant des Plaisirs; John
Noble (baritone) Le Premier Ministre
Ambrosian Opera Chorus; Philharmonia Orchestra
ADD /Julius Rudel Rec All Saints Church, London,
in 1978.
SONY CLASSICAL SM2K91178 [two
discs: 136’33: 71’18 + 65’15] [CC]
This
set positively sparkles with joy … this is
a Recording of the Month if ever there was
one. … see Full
Review
Jules MASSENET
(1842-1912) Manon
(1882-84) Manon Lescaut – Fanny Heldy (soprano)
Le Comte Des Grieux – Pierre Dupré
(bass-baritone) Le Chevalier Des Grieux -
Jean Marny (tenor) Lescaut – Léon Ponzio
(baritone) Poussette – Marthe Coiffier (soprano)
Javotte – Madeleine Sibille (soprano) Rosette
– Luciene Estève (soprano) Guillot
– Louis Mesmaeker (tenor) De Brétigny
– Maurice Sauvegeot (baritone) L’Hôtelier
– Louis Morturier La Servente – Marguerite
Julliot
Orchestra and Chorus of the Opéra-Comique/Henri
Büsser Recorded 1923
MALIBRAN MR 558 [2 CDs 155.38] [JW]
An
impressive achievement, this first Manon …
in Heldy we find an exquisite adornment strongly
second by Marny’s patrician elegance. … see
Full Review
Igor MARKEVITCH
(1912-1983) Complete
Orchestral Music Vol. 7 Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The
Musical Offering (Potsdam and Leipzig
1747) realized 1949-50 for three orchestral
groups and solo quartet by Igor Markevitch
Rémy Baudet (violin), Hans van
Loenen (wooden transverse flute), Jeroen Reuling
(cello), Dirk Luijmes (harpsichord) Arnhem
Philharmonic Orchestra/Christopher Lyndon-Gee
Recorded Musis Sacrum, Arnhem, April 1997
MARCO POLO 8.225120 [51.57] [JW]
Architectural
logic and cohesion fused with aural clarity.
… see Full Review
Frank MARTIN
(1890-1974) Huit
Préludes pour le piano (1948) Guitare
– Quatre pièces brèves pour
piano (1933) Fantasie sur des rhythms flamenco
(1973) Arthur HONEGGER
(1892-1955) Prélude, Ariosi et
Fughette sur le nom de Bach (1932) Le Cahier
romand (1921-23) Sept pièces brèves
(1919-20)
Klaus Sticken (piano) Recorded Radio Bremen
Sendesaal and Bayerischer Rundfunk 2001-03
THOROFON CTH 2478 [65.11] [JW]
Only
a small, relatively insignificant component
of Martin and Honegger’s work but valuable
to know. … see Full
Review
Victor MASSÉ
(1822-1884) Les
Noces de Jeannette (1853) La mule de
Pedro
Galathée (1852) Paul et Virginie
La Reine Topaze (1856)
Extracts from the operas with Ninon Vallin,
Léon Ponzio, André Balbon, and
Lemichel du Roy. Jeanne Manceau, Gabriel Soulacroix,
Jeanne Gerville-Réache, Albert Vaguet
and Lise Landouzy. Les Noces de Jeannette
conducted by Laurent Halet and recorded in
1922 (Overture from a 1948 radio broadcast
with an orchestra conducted by Jules Gressier)
- other selections undated
MALIBRAN MR 559 [78.27] [JW]
Massé’s
Rossini-influenced brio – touched I think
with an admixture of his contemporary Offenbach
sung by stellar French voices. … see
Full Review
Olivier MESSIAEN
(1908 - 1992) L’Ascension
(1934) [23.35] Livre d’Orgue (1951) [44.31]
Dame Gillian Weir, organ of the Århus
Cathedral, Denmark Notes (27 pages) in English
including full organ specifications. Originally
recorded for Collins Classics in association
with BBC Radio, 25 Feb 1994. Organ Works Volume
4
PRIORY PRCD 924 [69.31] [PSh]
A
must for Messiaen completists, and organ music
collectors. For the rest of us Stokowski may
be a better choice ... see
Full Review
Wilhelm
MIDDELSCHULTE (1863-1943)
Passacaglia
[12:28] Intermezzo I [5:34] Fantasia contrappuntistica
[41:37] Gebet – Prayer [5:06]
Jürgen Sonnentheil, organ Recorded
at St. Michaelis Church, Hildesheim, October
2002 Organ Works, Volume 2
CPO 999962-2 [64:48] [DS]
Middelschulte’s
severe style and contrapuntal leanings are
highly rewarding. … see Full
Review
Damijan MOČNIK
(b.
1967) Verbum
supernum prodiens (1997)a Prošnja
(1998)b Benedictus Dominus (2000)c
Magnificat (1998)d Christus est
natus (1999)e Blagri (1998)f
Evhe (1997)g Regina caeli (2000)h
Acclamatio (1995)i Ecce sacerdos
magnus (2000)j Missa in organi
benedictione (1999)k Doxologia
(1999)l Kralj (1996)m
Marta Močnik (soprano)d;
Marcos Fink (bass baritone)c; Dalibor
Miklavčič (organ); Tone Potočnik
(organ);World Youth Choir ’99 (Gary Graden,
director)ae; Andrej Vavken Women’s
Church Choir (Damijan Močnik, director)bfim;
De Profundis Chamber Choir (Branca Potočnik
Krajnik, director)gh; Ave Chamber
Choir (Andraž Hauptman, director)j;
Chorus N’omen (Tomaž Faganel, director)k
Recorded : Different venues in Ljubljana,
1999-2000
CARUS 83.159 [68:29] [HC]
Simple
and homophonic, contrapuntal and fiercely
energetic, moving along with conviction and
passion. All performances are superbly committed
and technically assured. … see
Full Review
Karel Ančerl Gold Edition 18 Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791)
Violin
Concerto No. 3 in G major K216 (1775) Bassoon
Concerto in B flat major K191 (1774) Jan
Václav Hugo VOŘÍŠEK (1791-1825)
Symphony in D major Op. 24 (1820-21)
David Oistrakh (violin) Karel Bidlo (bassoon)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ančerl
Recorded Prague, 1950-54
SUPRAPHON SU 3678-2 001 [71.27] [JW]
Splendidly
virile … sweepingly triumphant … penetrating
insight. Sound quality excellently enhanced,
adding to the desirability of the disc. …
see Full Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART
(1756 - 1791) Clarinet
Concerto in A, K622 (1791) [27.38] Clarinet
Quintet in A, K581 (1789) [36.00]
Martin Fröst, basset clarinet and clarinet
Amsterdam Sinfonietta/Peter Oundjian, conductor
Vertavo String Quartet: Öyvor Volle,
Berit Cardas, vv; Henninge Ladnaas, vla; Björg
Værnes, vc. Recorded at the Muziekcentrum
Vredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands, April 2002.
Notes in English, Deutsch, and Français.
Photos of soloist and quartet. CD tracks,
stereo 2.0. DSD SACD tracks, stereo 2.0 and
surround 5.0. Hybrid
SACD playable on SACD players and cd
players
BIS SACD 1263 [64.18] [PSh]
A
superb, even stunning, performance and recording
of some of the greatest of Mozart’s music
… see Full Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756
– 1791) Piano
Concerto No. 9 in E flat major, K271 (1777)
Piano Concerto No. 19 in F major, K459 (1784)
Clara Haskil (piano) Stuttgart Radio Symphony
Orchestra/Carl Schuricht.Rec. Stuttgart-Degenloch
on 23/5/52 (No. 9) and Schloss Ludwigsburg
on 4/7/56 (No. 19). DDD
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.079 [57’44"]
[JPh]
Fails
to compete successfully … Performances are
superb though … anyone wanting this combination
can purchase safely, sure that they will hear
excellent accounts of both works. … see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791)
The
composer’s own chamber versions for piano
and strings Piano Concerto no. 11 in F major
K413 [21.37] Piano Concerto no. 12 in A major
K414 [23.44] Piano Concerto no. 13 in C major
K415 [25.01]
Susan Tomes (piano) The Gaudier Ensemble:
Marieke Blankestijn, Lesley Hatfield –violins;
Iris Juda – viola; Christoph Marks – cello;
Steve Williams – double bass rec Henry Wood
Hall, London, 15-17 April 2003
HYPERION CDA67358 [70.39] [PW]
An
absolute joy. Hyperion at its best; beautifully
recorded and presented. … see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-91)/
arr. Johann Nepomuk
HUMMEL (1778-1837) Piano
Concertos: No. 20 in D minor, K466 (1785)
[31’48]; No. 25 in C, K503 (1786) [33’09].
Fumiko Shiraga (piano); Henrik Wiese (flute);
Peter Clemente (violin); Tibor Bényi
(cello). Rec. Bavaria Studios, Munich, Germany,
on June 7th and 9th,
2003. DDD
BIS CD1147 [65’27] [CC]
There
is much joy to be gleaned from this product.
What with Shiraga and Ogawa, BIS are sitting
on a veritable pianistic goldmine … … see
Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
String Quartets Nos. 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 CD1
String Quartet No.14 in G major, K.387 ‘Spring’
String Quartet No.17 in B flat major, K.458
‘Hunt’ CD2 String Quartet No.15 in D minor,
K.421 String Quartet No.16 in E flat major,
K.428 String Quartet No.20 in D major, K.499
’Hoffmeister’
Alban Berg Quartet No recording details
provided. ADD
WARNER CLASSICS ELATUS 2564 60678-2 [Total
timing 131:55] [MC]
Not
my first choice but few listeners will be
disappointed. The playing and interpretations
are very fine together with decent sound quality.
Will provide much satisfaction and should
be considered for any collection. … see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791)
Divertimenti for Wind Instruments CD1
Gran Partita K361 CD2 Serenade no.11, K375b
Serenade no.12, K,388 Divertimento Kanh.226
CD3 Divertimento K213 Divertimento K240 Divertimento
K252 Divertimento K253 Divertimento K270 CD4
Serenade no.11, K375a Divertimento K166 Divertimento
K186 Adagio K410 Adagio K411 Divertimento
K439b No1 CD5 Divertimento K439b No2 Divertimento
K439b No3 Divertimento K439b No4 Divertimento
K439b No5
Chamber Orchestra of Europe Wind Soloists
Recorded in various locations between December
1989 and September 1990
TELDEC 2564 60866-2 [5CDs: 49:21+70:28+57:00+68:37+69:12]
Superbudget [GPJ]
An
issue that all serious wind players, as well
as lovers of Mozart, will want. Gasping and
chuckle with pleasure at the sheer ingenuity
and charm of this significant but too easily
overlooked music … see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART
(1756 - 1791) Cosi
Fan Tutte, or The School for Lovers
(1790) [154.21] Fiordiligi Ina
Souez Dorabella Luise Helletsgruber
Ferrando Heddle Nash Guglielmo
Willi Domgraf-Fassbänder Don Alfonso
John Brownlee Despina Irene
Eisinger
Chorus and Orchestra of the Glyndebourne
Festival/Fritz Busch Recorded 6 June 1934,
28 June 1935 at Glyndebourne Theatre, Sussex,
UK. ADD Newly restored from original 78rpm
sources by Ward Marston. Notes in English
including complete track listing and synopsis.
No libretto.
NAXOS 8.110280-81 [2 CDs: 154.21] [PSh]
A
superb presentation of an important historical
recording. An absolute must and for those
who may know this recording from earlier issues;
trust me, you’ve never heard it before … see
Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Don Giovanni (1787)
Ezio Pinza (bass-baritone) Don Giovanni; Salvatore
Baccaloni (bass) Leporello; James Melton (tenor)
Don Ottavio; Mack Harrell (baritone) Masetto;
Zinka Milanov (soprano) Donna Anna; Jarmila
Novotna (soprano) Donna Elvira; Bidú
Sayão (soprano) Zerlina; Norman Cordon
(bass-baritone) Commendatore; Orchestra and
Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera, New York/Paul
Breisach Broadcast performance of April 3rd,
1943.
GUILD HISTORICAL IMMORTAL PERFORMANCES GHCD2236/7
[2CDs: 156’45: 77’04 + 79’41] [CC]
There
is no way this could ever be recommended as
a library version, interesting though the
light it sheds on various singers’ careers
may be … see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Opera Explained – An Introduction to MOZART’S
Don Giovanni
Thomson Smillie (writer); David Timson (narrator)
Don Giovanni, Bo Skovhus (bar); The Commendatore,
Janusz Monarcha (bass); Donna Anna, Adrianne
Pieczonka (sop); Don Ottavio, Torsten Kerl
(tenor); Donna Elvira, Regina Schörg
(sop); Leporello, Renato Girolami (bass);
Masetto, Boaz Daniel (bass); Zerlina, Ildikó
Raimondi (sop) Hungarian Radio Chorus and
Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia/Michael
Halász (music from NAXOS 8.660080-82)
Rec. Motivation Sound Studios, London, 2003.
DDD
NAXOS 8.558115 [78:59] [AN]
It
is not a crime to be introduced to the opera
through the "Opera Explained" series,
but if you choose this route, do so in the
full awareness that you are only scraping
the surface. … see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756
- 1791) Die
Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)
K620 (1791) - Singspiel in 2 Acts; Libretto
by Emanuel Schikaneder Tamino (tenor) Will
Hartmann Pamina (soprano) Dorothea Röschmann
Queen of the Night (soprano) Diane Damrau
Sarastro (bass) Franz-Josef Selig Papageno
(baritone) Simon Keenlyside Papagena (soprano)
Ailish Tynan Monostatos (tenor) Adrian Thompson
First Lady (soprano) Gillian Webster Second
Lady (mezzo-soprano) Christine Rice Third
Lady (mezzo-soprano) Yvonne Howard Speaker
of the Temple (baritone) Thomas Allen First
Priest (tenor) Matthew Beale Second Priest
(bass) Richard Van Allan First Man in Armour
(baritone) Alan Oke Second Man in Armour (bass)
Graeme Broadbent First Boy Zico Shaker Second
Boy Tom Chapman Third Boy John Holland-Avery
The Royal Opera Chorus/Terry Edwards The Orchestra
of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Sir
Colin Davis Filmed at the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden, London on 27th January 2003
OPUS ARTE OA 0885 D [Act I: 69:30 + Act
II: 94:08 - approx 185:00] [JPo]
Veritably
three hours of pure delight and joy … see
Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Nicolay
MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950)
Concerto
for Violin and Orchestra in D minor, Op. 44
(1938) [38:06] Mieczyław
VAINBERG (1919-1996) Concerto for
Violin and Orchestra in G minor, Op. 67 (1961)
[28:43]
Ilya Grubert, violin Russian Philharmonic
Orchestra, Dmitry Yablonsky, conductor Recorded
in Studio 5 of the Moscow State Broadcasting
and Recording House from 27 February to 5
March 2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.557194 [66:49] [KS]
Bold,
lyrical, rhythmic, charming, dramatic and
thought-provoking … some unusual yet highly
accessible delights. Go buy and enjoy. … see
Full Review
Johann Gottlieb NAUMANN
(1741-1801)
Zeit
und Ewigkeit, cantata for soloists, choir
and orchestra [57:48] Heilig ist Gott der
Herr for 2 choirs and orchestra [03:07] Psalm
149 (Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied) for
soloists, choir and orchestra [06:08] Simone
Kermes, soprano; Britta Schwarz, contralto;
Marcus Ullmann, tenor; Gotthold Schwarz, bass
Körnerscher Sing-Verein Dresden;
Dresdner Instrumental-Concert/Peter Kopp Recorded
in October 2001 in the Lukaskirche, Dresden,
Germany DDD
CPO 999 955-2 [67:15] [JV]
Unknown
sacred music by one of Germany’s most important
composers of the classical period – recommended
... see Full Review
Daniel OTT (b.
1960) Klangkörperklang
(2000)
Ensemble directed by composer rec. 16-20
Apr 2002, Schweizer Radio DRS2, Zürich.
DDD
MGB MUSIKSZENE SCHWEIZ MGB CD 6190 [73.55]
[RB]
Another
superbly documented and executed volume of
Swiss modernism ... see Full
Review
Fredrick PACIUS
(1809-1891) Die
Loreley - Opera in two acts Libretto:
Emanuel Geibel Soile Isokoski, soprano (Lenore)
Raimo Sirkiä, tenor (Otto) Cornelius
Hauptmann, bass (Hubert) Riikka Rantanen,
mezzo-soprano (Bertha) Topi Lehtipuu, tenor
(Reinald) Arttu Kataja, bass (Leopold)
Dominante Choir/Seppo Murto Lahti Symphony
Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä Recorded Lahti,
Finland, May 2003
BIS BIS-CD-1393/1394 [2CDs: 70.47 + 55.23]
[JL]
The
first recording of an opera premiered in 1887.
Congratulations are due to all those involved
in rescuing from oblivion a work that never
deserved such a fate. … see Full
Review
Flor PEETERS
(1903
– 1986) Concerto
for Organ and Orchestra Op.52 (1944)a
Missa Festiva Op.62 (1946/7)b
Peter Pieters (organ)ab; Flemish
Radio Orchestraa, Flemish Radio
Choirb; Yoel Levia,
Vic Neesb Recorded: Sint-Rombouts
Cathedral, Mechelen, Belgium, April 2003 (Organ
Concerto) and Norbertijnenabdij, Tongerlo,
Belgium, May 2003 (Missa Festiva)
KLARA MMP 041 [69:57] [HC]
A
most desirable release paying – at long last
– a deserved tribute to a most distinguished
composer whose beautifully crafted music definitely
deserves wider exposure. … see Full
Review
Piazzolla
Passage
Astor PIAZZOLLA
(1921-1992)
Fuga y misterio, Jeanne y Paul , Guardia Nueva,
Decarisimo, Bandoneon, Balada para un loco.
Dando, Oblivion, S.V.P./Avaruustango (section
composed by Johanna Juhola) Johanna
JUHOLA (b. 1978) Milonga Sylvia,
Irti tangosta Tobias
MORGENSTERN (b. 1960) Pechvogel
Milla Viljamaa (accordion) Johanna Juhola
(piano) All tracks arranged by Juhola and
Viljamaa. Rec. Sibelius Academy R-house, Chamber
Music Hall, Helsinki, 1-9 Feb 2003. DDD
FINLANDIA RECORDS 2564-60268-2 [60:35]
[MC]
Guaranteed
to delight lovers of the tango … see Full
Review
Amilcare
PONCHIELLI
(1834-1886) La
Gioconda (1876) Maria Callas (La Gioconda),
Fedora Barbieri (Laura), Maria Amadini (La
Cieca), Gianni Poggi (Enzo Grimaldi), Paolo
Silveri (Barnaba), Giulio Neri (Alvise), CETRA
Chorus, Turin Radio Symphony Orchestra/Antonino
Votto Recorded 6th-10th September 1952 in
the RAI Auditorium, Turin Vincenzo
BELLINI (1801-1835) Norma: Casta
Diva ... Ah! Bello a me ritorno, I Puritani:
O rendetemi la speme ... Qui la voce sua
soave ... Vien, diletto, e in ciel la luna
Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883) Tristan und Isolde: Isolde’s
Liebestod (sung in Italian) Maria
Callas (soprano), Turin Radio Symphony Orchestra/Arturo
Basile Recorded 8th (Wagner), 9th (Norma)
and 10th (Puritani) November 1949 ADD
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110302-04 [3 CDs 54:04,
76:46, 59:17] [CH]
The
sound is only moderate but the presence of
Callas and a generally effective performance
all round are strong points in favour of the
present set. … see Full
Review
Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858-1924)
Gianni
Schicchi - opera in one act (1918)
Gianni Schicci, Alberto Rinaldi (bar); Lauretta,
Tatiana Lisnic (sop); Rinuccio, Stafano Secco
(ten); Zita, Mabel Perelstein (alto); Simone,
Felipe Bou (bass); Gherado, Gerardo Lopez
(ten); Nella, Sara Galli, (sop); Betto di
Signa, José Quijada (bass); Marco,
Celestino Varela (bar); La Ciesca, Claudia
Marchi (mezzo); A doctor, Carlos Ruiz (bass);
A notary, Javier Zorilla (bar); Pinellino
and Guccio, Antonio Torres (bass)
Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra/Alexander Rahbari
Recorded at the Sala Carranque, Malaga, 5,
8 April 2002 Bargain Price
NAXOS 8.660111 [48.20] [RF]
Lively
ensemble interplay … fine modern sound … a
very appealing disc. … see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Giacomo
PUCCINI
(1858-1924) Tosca
(1900) Maria Callas (Tosca), Giuseppe
Di Stefano (Cavaradossi), Tito Gobbi (Scarpia),
Franco Calabrese (Angelotti), Angelo Mercuriali
(Spoletta), Melchiorre Luise (Sacristan),
Dario Caselli (Sciarrone/Gaoler), Alvaro Cordova
(Shepherd),
Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro alla Scala,
Milan/Victor De Sabata Recorded 10th-14th,
16th and 18th-21st August 1953 in the Teatro
alla Scala, Milan
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110256-57 [2 CDs: 42:35,
65:56] [CH]
This
mythical set lives up to its reputation and
sounds fine in this transfer. … see Full
Review
Alan RAWSTHORNE
(1905-1971)
Prison
Cycle (1939) (with Alan
BUSH); Tzu-Yeh (1928-29);
Precursors; Three French Nursery
Songs for soprano and piano
Scena Rustica for soprano and harp
Two Songs (1940); Carol (1948);
Two Fish; for tenor and piano Valse;
Ballade in G sharp minor for piano
John McCABE
(b.1939) Three Folk Songs for soprano,
clarinet and piano
Alison Wells (sop) Martyn Hill (ten)
Keith Swallow (piano) Judith Buckle (sop)
Lucy Wakeford (harp) Martin Hindmarsh (ten)
Nicholas Turner (clarinet) Alan Cuckston (piano)
rec. St Thomas Church, Stockport, 27-28 Sept
1999. DDD British Composer Series
CAMPION CAMEO 2021 [51.26] [JW]
Rawsthorne:
lighter, more lyric, more obviously affectionate.
An aspect worth getting to know. … see Full
Review
Maurice RAVEL
(1875-1937) Tzigane
for violin and orchestra (1924) Edouard
LALO (1823-1892) Symphonie espagnole
for violin and orchestra (1873) Karl
Amadeus HARTMANN (1905-1963) Concerto
funèbre for violin and orchestra
(1939)
Ida Haendel (violin; Ravel and Lalo)
André Gertler (violin; Hartmann) Czech
Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ančerl Recorded
1964, Rudolfinum, Prague (Ravel, Lalo); 1968
Domovina Studio, Prague (Hartmann)
SUPRAPHON SU 3677-2 011 (65.51) [TB]
The
playing has real style and panache and the
disc will give much satisfaction. Ančerl
was a skilful orchestral accompanist … see
Full Review
Ferdinand
Ries (1784
- 1837) Symphony
in a No. 7 Op 181 (1835) [33.59] Symphony
in Eb No. 8, WoO 30 (1822) [32.56]
Zürchner Kammerorchester/Howard Griffiths
Recorded in Neumünsterkirche, Zürich,
Switzerland, 7 May 2002 SACD Tracks in 5.1
surround sound and 2.0 stereo. CD tracks in
2.0 stereo Notes in Deutsch, English, Français.
Photo of composer and artists.
CPO 999 904-2 [67.16]
[PSh]
You
would believe me if I told you these were
newly discovered Beethoven and Mendelssohn
symphonies, recorded in beautiful classical
orchestra sound … see Full
Review
Ferdinand RIES
(1784-1838)
Piano
Quartet No. 1, Op 13 in f (c.1819?) [23.38]
Piano Quartet No. 2, Op 17 in Eb (c.1819?)
[28.10]
Mendelssohn Trio Berlin: Stephen
Picard, violin; Ramon Jaffé, ’cello;
Andreas Frölich, Steinway D piano; Daniel
Raiskin, viola Recorded Immanuelkirche, Köln-Rondorf,
Germany, 14 March 2002 Notes in Deutsch, English,
Français. Performers’ photos and biographies.
CPO 999 885-2 [51.51] [PSh]
Comparable
to Mozart and Beethoven in both style and
quality, and beautifully performed… see Full
Review
Ferdinand RIES
(1784-1838) Piano
Quintet in B minor Op. 74 (publ. 1817) Franz
LAMMER (1808-1857) Piano Quintet
in D minor Op. 13
Nepomuk Fortepiano Quintet Recorded Maria
Minor, Utrecht, May 2003
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92200 [67.24] [JW]
Disarmingly
charming and forceful. … deserves a serious
hearing – especially in these committed performances.
… see Full Review
Nicolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
(1844 - 1908) Scheherazade,
Symphonic Suite, Op 35 (1888) [45.53] Stokowski
in Rehearsal [21.38] Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840 - 1893) Marche
Slave in Bb, Op 31 (1876) [11.07]
Erich Gruenberg, violin solo in the Rimsky-Korsakov.
London Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski
Recorded Kingsway Hall, ondon, UK, 22 September
1964 (Scheherazade) and Royal Albert Hall,
London, UK, 15 June 1972, (Tchaikovsky) Notes
in English. Photos of the artists. Produced
in association with the Leopold Stokowski
Society. AAD
CALA CACD 0536 [78.40] [PSh][RB]
The
greatest recording of Scheherazade ever, and
this remastering is a clearly significant
improvement in sound. No matter how many recordings
of it you already have, you must have this
one … see Full
Review [PSh]
Stokowski's
Sheherazade is pure magic ... a warhorse reinvented
for jaded ears ... see Full
Review [RB]
Alessandro ROLLA
(1757-1841)
Three
Duos for Violin and Violoncello Duo in B flat
major Bl. 244 (1821) [20:55] Duo in C major
Bl. 242 (1821) [19:24] Duo in A major Bl.243
(1821) [23:09]
Dora Bratchkova (violin); Alina Kudelevič
(cello) Rec. Saarbrücken, SR, Musikstudio
1, December 2001. DDD
CPO 999 964-2 [63:41] [AN]
Some
problems with the performances but Rolla manages
somehow to create an incredibly rich soundscape
that is even orchestral at times without ever
sacrificing the surface abundance of frills
and virtuosity.... see Full
Review
Sigmund ROMBERG
(1887-1951) Romberg
conducts Romberg - Volume 2 My Maryland
(1927) Your Land and My Land, Silver Moon,
Mother, Boys in Grey, The New Moon
(1928) Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise, Lover,
Come Back To Me, Stout-hearted men, Wanting
You, One Kiss. Viennese Nights (1930)
I Bring A Love Song, You Will Remember Vienna,
Viennese Nights Waltzes, May Wine (1938)
Dance, My Darlings, Just Once More, Around
The Clock, Something New Is In My Heart, Sunny
River (1941) Lordy Up In Central Park
(1945) Close As Pages In A Book, April Snow,
The Big Back Yard
Jean Carlton, Shirlee Emmons, Lois Hunt,
Genevieve Rowe (sopranos) Jo Cameron, Lillian
Cornell (mezzo-sopranos) Eric Mattson, Richard
Wright (tenors) Larry Douglas, Lawrence Brooks,
William Diehl, Warren Galjour (baritones)
RCA Victor Chorus The Robert Shaw Chorale/Robert
Shaw (chorus master) Sigmund Romberg and His
Orchestra Recorded 1945-50
NAXOS 8.110886 [77.26] [JW]
It’s
good that this important figure’s recordings
have been so authoritatively presented in
this winning disc. … see Full
Review
Gioacchino
ROSSINI
(1792-1868) Il
Barbiere di Siviglia (‘The Barber
of Seville’) - comic opera in two acts Count
Almaviva…Richard Croft Doctor Bartolo…Renato
Capecchi Rosina…Jennifer Larmore Figaro…David
Malis Basilio…Simone Alaimo Berta…Leonie Schoon
Fiorello/Officer…Roger Smeets
Chorus of the Netherlands Opera Bauke Van
Der Meer (piano); Rolf Hock (guitar) Netherlands
Chamber Orchestra/Alberto Zedda First produced
in 1987. This Dario Fo staging is a 1992 co-production
by NOS/RM ARTS/DNO
ARTHAUS
MUSIK 100 412 [154 mins] [IL][GL]
An
energetic, nay frenetic production full of
fun and colour with some outstanding singing
- unhesitatingly recommended. … 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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