RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) Vanessa. An opera in three acts (Revised Version) Vanessa: Ellen Chickering (soprano) Erika: Andrea Matthews (soprano) The Old Baroness: Marion Dry (contralto) Anatol: Ray Bauwens (tenor) The Old Doctor: Richard Conrad (tenor) Nicholas: Philip Lima (baritone) Ukrainian National Capella "Dumka" National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine/Gil Rose Rec. Concert Studio of Ukrainian Radio, Kiev, Ukraine, 25 May – 8 June 2002 DDD NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.669140-41 [2 CDs 55’08" + 65’51"] [JQ]

Rejoice that such a significant opera has been done proud by this release. … a very fine achievement. Urgently recommended. … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841 - 1904) Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 53 (1884) Romance in F Minor Op. 11 (1877) Joseph SUK (1874 - 1935) Fantasia for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 24 (1902) Josef Suk (violin) Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ančerl Part of the Karel Ančerl Gold Edition remastered in 24 bit sound Rec. Rudolfinum Hall, Prague, August 1961. ADD SUPRAPHON SU 3668-2 [69:16] [JPh]

Drama and delicacy balanced perfectly … the wonderful acoustic of the Rudolfinum, enhances the performances, making listening an absolute joy. … see Full Review

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

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) The Symphonies CD1 Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39 (1899) Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 52 (1904–1907) Finlandia Op. 26 (1899–1900) CD2 Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43 (1901) [44.10] Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63 (1911) [35.48] CD3 Symphony No. 5 in E flat Op. 82 (1914) [31.14] Karelia Suite Op. 11 (1893) [14.55] Pohjola’s Daughter Op. 49 (1906) [11.51] The Bard Op. 64 (1913) [7.58] CD4 Symphony No. 6 (1923) [27.01] Symphony No. 7 (1924) [21.19] Tapiola (1926) [15.42] City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sakari Oramo rec. Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 7-12 Jan 2002 (CD1), 29 May - 1 June 2000 (CD2), 17-19 Apr 2001 (CD3), 6-8 Jan 2003 (CD4) WARNER ERATO 2564 60294-2 [4 CDs: 75.15+80.00+66.35+64.22] [RB] [JPh]

If you like your Sibelius served ablaze rather than cool then Oramo is the man for you. Magnificent in 2, 5, 6, 7 and Pohjola. Never less than thoughtful and often provocative ... see Full Review

LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI - Decca Recordings 1965-1972 DECCA ORIGINAL MASTERS LIMITED EDITION 475 145-2 [5CDs: 78.14+69.48+75.33+65.13+80.38] [RB]

A landmark set in a limited edition. Sybaritic opulence at its zenith with an OTT recording system to match. Gorgeous? ... I should say! ... see Full Review

 

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Iolanta (1892) - opera in eight scenes, an introduction and finale [92.24] Olga Myktenko (sop) - Iolanta Benno Schollum (bass) - King René of Provence Andrey Grigoryev (bar) - Robert Piotr Beczala (ten) - Count Vaudémont Vladimir Krassov (bar) - Ibn-Hakia Roman Muravitsky - Alméric Nikolai Didenko - Bertrand Nina Romanova - Martha Bella Kabanova - Brigitte Moscow Chamber Choir/Vladimir Minin Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio/Vladimir Fedoseyev Alla Demidova reads from Pushkin's Eugene Onegin interspersed with scenes from Tchaikovsky's opera (sung by Maria Gavrilova (sop), Irina Chistiakova (mezzo), Sergej Murzayev (bar), Albert Shagidullin (bar), Vitaly Tarashchenko (ten)). [48.00] rec. live, 13 March 2002, Grand Hall, Moscow Conservatory (Iolanta); live, 24 May 1999, Pushkin Concert, 24 May 1999, Great Hall, Moscow Conservatory (readings). RELIEF CR991074 [68.38+70.36] [RB]

Wonderful - a most accomplished and life-imbued version of Iolanta. A top recommendation ... see Full Review

 

MY LOVE Malena Ernman (mezzo-soprano) Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Una voce poco fa Georges BIZET (1838-1875) Carmen: L’amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera), Près des remparts de Séville (Seguidilla) Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Vocalise-étude en forme de Habanera Michel LEGRAND (b. 1932) The summer knows Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Le Nozze di Figaro: Non sò più cosa son, cosa faccio, Voi che sapete, Abendempfindung an Laura Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Die Sterne, D.939, Im Frühling, D.882, Heidenröslein, D.257, Litanei, D.343 Duke ELLINGTON (1899-1974) Heaven*, Come Sunday*, Almighty God, My Love Nils LINDBERG (b.1933) Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Bo NILSSON (b.1937) Vals i mejram, Röda höst, Det finns ju faktiskt telefon* Malena Ernman (mezzo-soprano), Mats Bergström (guitar), with *Magnus Lindgren clarinet/flute) and Hans Backenroth (double bass) All works arranged by Mats Bergström, the first two Bo Nilsson pieces after arrangements by Stefan Nilsson Recorded April and June 2002 at Länna Church, Sweden BIS-NL-CD-5020 [67:45] [CH]

Malena Ernman is second to none among today’s mezzos and the originality of her programme planning ensures that each disc is a special event. … see Full Review

 

CURIOSITY OF THE MONTH Hornroh Zirp Das Alphorn danasch [1:15] Kaamor [4:56] Purup [1:16] Dr’ Schlipfer [4:16] Rothko Room [3:04] Flüchting [2:06] Serpent tacere [4:39] Adieu O(h) W(eh) [2:17] Arb [7:08] Ahjä [3:18] Flugs [3:27] Choral [4:54] Zirp [4:42] Fun Facile [6:41] All compositions written and arranged by Hornroh Recorded in July 2002 at Saalbau Aarau DDD SUISA MGB CD 6195 [54:01] [PG]

If you only buy one recording of new music this year, you wouldn’t go wrong by choosing this one; I cannot recommend it highly enough. … see Full Review

 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH

 

Dave BRUBECK (b. 1920) Chromatic Fantasy Sonata [29:05] Five Pieces from ‘Two-Part Adventures’ [5:50] Tritonis [13:04] The Salmon Strikes [3:06] Rising Sun [3:44] John Salmon, PianoRecorded at the School of Music, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA on 22 September and 13-14 October, 2002 DDD NAXOS 8.559212 [54:48] [PG]

Performances of highest caliber. truly excellent. The music is a joy. The performance is exquisite. Very highly recommended. … see Full Review

Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Piano Sonata in G minor, Hob.XVI: 44 Piano Sonata in G major, Hob.XVI: 40 Piano Sonata in E minor, Hob.XVI: 34 Piano Sonata in C major, Hob.XVI: 48 Piano Sonata in C minor, Hob.XVI: 20 András Schiff (piano) Recorded in Teldec Studio, Berlin, January, 1997 DDD WARNER ELATUS 2564 60677-2 [73’45]

Even in a crowded field, this is almost self-recommending. … see Full Review

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

 

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

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

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Petrushka (1911, rev. 1947) [34’11]. Le sacre du printemps (1913, rev. 1947) [32’42]. Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ančerl. Rec. Dvořák Hall of Rudolfinum, Prague, in March 1962 (Petrushka) and March 1963 (Le sacre). ADD SUPRAPHON KAREL ANČERL GOLD EDITION SU3665-2 [67’05] [CC]

A remarkable document that should be heard without delay. … 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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