RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony
No. 1 in D (1884-96) 
Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks/Rafael
Kubelik
Recorded "live" in Herkules-Saal
in der Residenz, Munich, 2nd November 1979
AUDITE 95.467 [51.33] [TD]
This
is a top recommendation. It supersedes Kubelik’s
studio recording on DG and surpasses Horenstein
and Barbirolli which must now be thought of
as alternatives to this Audite release. Simply
indispensable. … see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony No 5 in C sharp minor
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra/Markus Stenz
Rec. Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash University,
Melbourne, February 2002. DDD
ABC CLASSICS ABC 476 102-4 [71’52"]
[JQ]
Evidently
very well prepared … Stenz clearly has something
to communicate about this symphony. An excellent
souvenir of the partnership between this fine
young German conductor and his Australian
orchestra … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony
No 6 in A minor [81’07"]
St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra/Thomas
Sanderling Recorded: Big Hall of the St. Petersburg
Philharmonic, 2-4 July 1995. DDD
RS REAL SOUND RS 052-0186 [2 CDs 35’54"
+ 45’13"] [JQ]
I
should like to hear Sanderling in more Mahler
but for now this excellent recording will
do to be going on with … see
Full Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony
No. 9 in D (1909-10) Bavarian Radio Symphony
Orchestra/Rafael Kubelik
Recorded live in Bunka Kaikan Concert
Hall, Tokyo, 4 June 1975. ADD
AUDITE 95.471 [79’09"] [JQ]
Kubelik’s
is perhaps the closest to Walter’s version.
The Ninth was not intended by Mahler to be
his last symphony. He adopts a sift and flowing
tempo … see Full
Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911) Kindertotenlieder*
[24’39"] Adagio from Symphony No 10**
[22’14"] Anton
WEBERN (1883-1945) Passacaglia,
Op. 1*** [10’56"] "Im sommerwind"****
[13’14"]
*Cornelia Kallisch (mezzo-soprano) SWR
Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg/Michael
Gielen Recorded: *Hans Rosbaud-Studio, Baden-Baden,
25-26 June 1998; ** Hans Rosbaud-Studio, Baden-Baden,
16-17 November 1989; *** Hans Rosbaud-Studio,
Baden-Baden, 12-14 November 1992; ****Konzerthaus,
Freiburg, 3 September 1998 DDD
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.062 [71’30"]
[JQ]
A
fine and stimulating CD. Thoroughly prepared,
well played, thoughtfully executed. The performances
have a serious claim on the attentions of
all devotees of this endlessly fascinating
composer and the Webern performances are first
rate. … see Full
Review
You
may sample, download or purchase this disc
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959)
Piano
Concerto No. 3 H316 (1947-48) [28.21] Bouquet
of Flowers - A Cycle of Compositions to
Folk Texts for Mixed and Children's Choirs,
soli and small orchestra H260 (1937) [47.39]
Josef Palenicek (piano) Libuše Domanínská
(sop) Sona Cervena (alto) Lubomir Havlak (ten)
Ladislav Mraz (bass)
Prague Philharmonic Choir Kuhn's Children's
Choir/Jan Kuhn Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel
Ančerl rec. stereo (concerto); mono (Flowers).
Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague. ADD
Karel Ančerl Gold Edition Vol. 12
SUPRAPHON SU3672-2 901 [76.13] [RB]
A
concerto played brilliantly but overall being
rather severe. A disarming folk serenade acting
as a lode from which the style of many later
works was drawn. ... see Full
Review
John McCABE
(b. 1939) Piano
Music: Variations Op. 22 (1963); Aubade
(Study No. 4) (1970); Gaudi (Study
No. 3) (1970); Five Bagatelles
(1964); Mosaic (Study No. 6) (1980);
Haydn Variations (1983) 
John McCabe (piano) Recorded at Bishopsgate
Hall, London, March 1998. DDD
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS424CD [76:08]
[CT]
Undoubted
definitive performances of several of McCabe’s
finest works for piano…. an important recording.
… see Full Review
Erkki
MELARTIN (1875-1937)
The Six Symphonies Symphony
No. 1 in c minor, Opus 30/1 (1902) [25.50]
Symphony No. 2 (1904) [28.05] Symphony No.
3 in F major, Opus 40 (1906-07) [34.54] Symphony
No. 4, Opus 80, Summer Symphony (1912)
[41.33] Symphony No. 5, Opus 90, Sinfonia
Brevis (1916) [32.46] Symphony No. 6,
Opus 100 (1925) [35.11]
Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonid
Grin Recorded at Tampere Hall, May 1994 (Symphonies
1 and 3); November 1993 (Symphonies 2 and
4); March 1992 (Symphony No. 5); and October
1992 (Symphony No. 6). rec. 1993, 1994, 1995
and 1999 (Boxed set)
ONDINE CD ODE 931-2 [3 CDs: 60.54+ 69.48
+ 68.07] [LN]
Melartin
does what a painter does, but in sound. These
are symphonies worth looking into. … see Full
Review
Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Violin
Concerto in E minor, op. 64 Max
BRUCH (1838-1920) Violin Concerto
no. 1 in G minor, op. 26 Alban
BERG (1885-1935) Violin Concerto
Josef Suk (violin) Czech Philharmonic
Orchestra/Karel Ančerl Recorded at the
Rudolfinum, Prague, March 25-26, 1964 (Mendelssohn),
September 11-12, 1963 (Bruch), January 18-19,
1965 (Berg) Karel Ančerl Gold Edition
Volume 3
SUPRAPHON SU 3663-2 011 [79:24] [CH]
The
Mendelssohn/Bruch coupling still stands high
as a bargain recommendation; the Berg will
be your ideal if you want above all a seraphic
reading. … see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Piano
Trio in D minor Op. 49 Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano
Trio in A minor Op. 50
Czech Trio (Dana Vlachová (violin)
Miroslav Petráš (cello) Milan Langer
(piano)) Recorded in St Vavřinec Church,
Prague, July 2003
ARCO DIVA UP 0064-2 131 [76.37] [JW]
A
conventional programme with few idiosyncrasies
or annoying quirks. … see Full
Review
Olivier MESSIAEN
(1908-1992)
Historic Recordings: Visions de l'Amen
for two pianos (1943) [43.40] Quatre
Etudes de Rhythme (1951) [15.29]
Yvonne Loriod (piano) (1 Visions) Olivier
Messiaen (piano) (2 Visions and solo
in Etudes) rec. 1949 (Visions);
1951 (Etudes) ADD
FMR RECORDS FMRCD120-L0403 [59.09] [RB]
The
brittle brilliance and rude intensity of creative
discovery. ... see
Full Review
Nikolai
MIASKOVSKY
(1881-1950) Violin
Concerto in D minor Op. 44 (1938) [38.06]
Mieczyslaw VAINBERG
(1919-1996) Violin Concerto in G minor
Op. 67 (1959) [28.43]
Ilya Grubert (violin) Russian Philharmonic
Orchestra/Dmitri Yablonsky rec. Studio 5,
Moscow State Broadcasting and Recording House,
Russia, 27 Feb - 5 Mar 2003
NAXOS 8.557194 [66.49] [RB]
One
of Naxos's successes. An audacious partnership
of artists and of grand concertos from adjoining
generations ... see Full
Review
Léon
(Ludwig) MINKUS (1826-1917)
Don
Quixote - Ballet in Three Acts - original
version (1869)
Sophia National Opera Orchestra/Nayden
TodorovRec. National Palace of Culture, Sofia,
Bulgaria, 1st to 7th
April, 2002. DDD
NAXOS 8.557065-66[137:01] [PG]
The
Sofia National Opera Orchestra, along with
Nayden Todorov, has produced a gem and should
be proud. … see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART
(1756-1791) Vienna Philharmonic
1972-1981: Piano
Concertosa – No. 12 in A, K414
(1782) [25’34]; No. 14 in E flat, K449 (1784)
[22’14]; No. 20 in D minor, K466 (1785) [31’50].
Sinfonia concertante in E flat, K364/320db
(1779) [31’49]. Symphony No. 41 in C, K551,
‘Jupiter’c (1788) [32’11].
Requiem in D minor, K626d (compl.
Süssmeyer) (1791) [56’53]. bIgor
Oistrakh (violin); dLucia Popp
(soprano); dMargarita Lilowa (mezzo);
dAnton Dermota (tenor); dWalter
Berry (bass); dSingverein der Gesellschaft
der Musikfreunde in Wien; Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra/ aMaurizio Pollini (piano/director),
David Oistrakh (bviola/director;
cconductor), dJosef
Krips. Live recs. Austrian Radio (ORF) in
the aWiener Konzerthaus on November
15th, 1981, Grosser Saal, Musikverein,
Vienna, on bcMay 28th,
1972, dDecember 8th,
1973. ADD
ANDANTE 4992 [3CDs: 200’38: 79’41 + 64’04
+ 56’53] [CC]
The
first two discs contain treasures to return
to regularly. … see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Les Plus Belles Symphonies CD1
Symphony no.25 Symphony no.26 Symphony no.28
Recorded Amsterdam Concertgebouw, June 1983
(K.183), Jan./Feb. 1988 (K.184 and K.200)
CD2 Symphony no.35 in D, K.385 "Haffner"
Symphony no.36 in C, K.425, "Linz"
Recorded Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Nov. 1980
(K.385), Nov. 1984 (K.425), CD3 Symphony no.38
in D, K.504, "Prague" Symphony no.39
in Eb, K.543 Recorded Amsterdam Concertgebouw,
Sept. 1981 (K.505), June 1984 (K.543) CD4
Symphony no.40 in G minor, K.550 Symphony
no.41 in C, K.551, "Jupiter"
Recorded Amsterdam Concertgebouw, June 1983
(K.550), March 1982 (K.551) Royal Concertgebouw
Orchestra/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
TELDEC CLASSICS 5046 68288-2 [75:00+62:18+68:29+74:03]
[GPJ]
A
truly stunning set which made me listen to
these great works in a totally new way … hugely
enjoyable, too … see
Full Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART
(1756-1791) The
Late Symphonies Symphony No. 31 - 41
Orchestra of Padova and Venice/Peter Maag
Recorded at the Auditoriums Modigliani and
Pollini, Padova, 1996-97
ARTS 47650-2 [4 CDs 256.26] [JW]
Performances
by one of the undersung conductors of the
century just passed. Maag’s ear for texture
and balance pays rich and lasting rewards.
… see Full Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano Sonatas, Fantasias and Rondos CD
1 [73:09] Sonatas in G, K.283, A, K.331,
F, K.332, B flat, K.333 Rec. 9-11 December
1989 CD 2 [65:00] Sonatas in B flat,
K.281, E flat, K.282, C, K.545, D, K.284 Rec.
26-29 June 1990 CD 3 [70:39] Sonatas
in C, K.309, A minor, K.310, D, K.311, C,
K.330 Rec. 27 August 1990 (K.309), 7-9 September
1989 (K.310, K.311), 5 August 1991 (K.330)
CD 4 [73:38] Sonata in C, K.279, Fantasia
in D minor, K.397, Sonata in F, K.280, Rondo
in D, K.485, Fantasia in C minor, K.475, Sonata
in C minor, K.457 Rec. 21-24 and 27 August
1990 CD 5 [67:29] Sonatas in F, K.533,
B flat, K.570, D, K.576, Rondo in A minor,
K.511 Rec. 8-9 November 1990 (K. 533, K.570),
6-7 March 1991 (K. 576, K.511) Alicia
de Larrocha (piano) Recorded at the American
Academy Institute of Arts and Letters, New
York City (K.330), University Music School
Concert Hall, Cambridge, England (K. 310,
K.311), all others in BMG Studio A, New York
City, dates as above
BMG CLASSICS RCA RED SEAL 82876-55705-2 [5
CDs] [CH]
An
ideal buy; warmly recorded performances that
express everything that is in the music while
remaining wholly without idiosyncrasies. …
see Full Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART
(1756-1791) Das
Veilchen, K576 Die Verschweigung,
K518 Un moto di gioia, K579 An Cloé
Abendempfindung, K523 Als Luise die
Briefe, K520 An die Einsamkeit,
K391 Das Lied der Trennung, K519 Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Der blinde
Knabe, D833 Lied der Anne Lyle,
D830 An Sylvia, D891 Ellens Gesand
I, D837 Ellens Gesang II, D838
Ellens Gesang III, D839 Heiß
mich nicht redden, D877 No. 2 So lasst
mich scheinen, D877 No. 3 Nur wer die
Sehnsucht kennt, D877 No. 4 Anselm
HÜTTENBRENNER (1794-1868) Die
Seefahrt Der Hügel Lerchenlied Die Sterne
Sibylla Rubens (soprano); Irwin Gage (piano)
Recorded 22-26 July, Kammermusikstudio, SWR
Stuttgart
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.076 [71.58]
[TB]
A
recital worthy of the highest praise … the
quality of the recording too … see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART
(1756-1791)
Das
Veilchen, K576 Die Verschweigung,
K518 Un moto di gioia, K579 An Cloé
Abendempfindung, K523 Als Luise die
Briefe, K520 An die Einsamkeit,
K391 Das Lied der Trennung, K519 Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Der blinde
Knabe, D833 Lied der Anne Lyle,
D830 An Sylvia, D891 Ellens Gesand
I, D837 Ellens Gesang II, D838
Ellens Gesang III, D839 Heiß
mich nicht redden, D877 No. 2 So lasst
mich scheinen, D877 No. 3 Nur wer die
Sehnsucht kennt, D877 No. 4 Anselm
HÜTTENBRENNER (1794-1868) Die
Seefahrt Der Hügel Lerchenlied Die Sterne
Sibylla Rubens (soprano); Irwin Gage
(piano) Recorded 22-26 July, Kammermusikstudio,
SWR Stuttgart
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.076 [71.58]
[TB]
A
recital worthy of the highest praise … the
quality of the recording too … see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
An
Introduction to Don Giovanni Background
The beginning of Don Giovanni, Mozart's
genius, Other operas, Mozart and Da Ponte
- The Marriage of Figaro, Cosi fan tutte,
Don Giovanni: historical context Don Giovanni
The opening: Leporello, Donna Anna, Don
Giovanni and the Commendatore, The death of
the Commendatore, Donna Elvira and the 'Catalogue'
Aria, Masetto, Zerlina and Don Giovanni, The
murderer is identified, Don Giovanni's villa
and the 'Champagne' Aria Act I. Finale Act
II beginning. Don Giovanni, Leporello, Donna
Elvira and her maid, Tenor arias, The churchyard:
Don Giovanni, Leporello and the statue, The
final scene: supper at Don Giovanni's, Epilogue.
Musical illustrations taken from Naxos 8.660080-82
conducted by Michael Halász
Narrative written by Thomson Smillie and spoken
by David Timson Bargain Price
NAXOS EDUCATIONAL 8.558115 [78:59] [RF]
An
enjoyable journey for both newcomer and even
the seasoned enthusiast who may have seen
the work many times. Strongly recommended.
… see Full
Review
Jacques OFFENBACH
(1819
-80) Les contes d'Hoffmann
Placido
Domingo, Agnes Baltsa, Ileana Cotrubas, Luciana
Serra, Geraint Evans, Nicolai Ghiuselev
Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra/Georges
Prêtre; dir. John Schlesinger (ROH,
1981) NTSC 4:3 format; Dolby Stereo. 
WARNER
DVD 0630-19392-2 [150 mins] [AB]
A
very enjoyable performance of a fascinating
opera with marvellous singing and acting which
is let down by mediocre colour and sound recording.
… see Full
Review
Jacques OFFENBACH
(1819-1880)
Orphée aux Enfers Aristée/Pluton
– Andrée Dran (tenor) Jupiter – Bernard
Demigny (baritone) Orphée – Jean Mollien
(baritone) John Styx – Jean Hoffmann (baritone)
Mercure/Morphée – Andre Jonquères
Mars – Lucien Mans (baritone) Eurydicé
– Claudine Collart (soprano) Diane – Janine
Lindenfelder (mezzo-soprano) L’Opinion Publique
– Violette Journeaux (mezzo-soprano) Vénus
– Monique Chalot (soprano) Cupidon – Simone
Prébordes (soprano) Junon/Minerve –
Anne Marie Carpentier (mezzo-soprano) Paris
Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra/Rene Leibowitz
Recorded 1951 Au mont Ida (from
La Belle Hélène) Jussi
Björling (tenor) Nils Grevillus (conductor)
Recorded 1936 Pif, Paf, Pouf
(from La Grande Duchesse de Gérolstein)
Louis Musy (baritone) Recorded 1931 Ah!
quel diner je viens de faire (from
La Périchole) Claudia Novikova
(soprano) Recorded 1932 Je t’adore brigand
(from La Périchole) Maggie Teyte
(soprano) Recorded 1934 Charbonniers
et fariniers (from La Boungère
des Ecus) Que voulez-vous faire?
(from La Boungère des cus)
Reynaldo Hahn (vocals and piano) Recorded
1928 Dites lui qu’on l’a remarque
(from La Grande Duchesse de Gérolstein)
Yvonne Printemps (mezzo soprano) Henri Busser
(Piano) Recorded 1934 Ma mère
aux vignes m’envoyit (from Madame
Favart) Germaine Corney Recorded 1933
Ah! vivre deux! (from Les
Contes d’Hoffmann) Miguel Villabella Gustave
Cloez (conductor) Recorded 1932 Barcarolle:
Belle nuit, o nuit d’amour (from Les
Contes d’Hoffmann) Lucrezia Bori (soprano)
Lawrence Tibbet (baritone) Rosario Bourdon
(conductor) Recorded 1927 Elle a fui,
la tourterelle (from Les Contes
d’Hoffmann) Eide Norena (soprano) Pierre
Coppola (conductor) Recorded 1930 C’est
un chanson d’amour (from Les Contes
d’Hoffmann) Emma Luart (soprano) Gaston
Micheletti (tenor) Gustave Cloez (conductor)
Recorded 1928
REGIS RRC 2063 [3 CDs: 56.05+72.14+44.33]
[RH]
Essential
listening for anyone who loves this opera;
a welcome reissue on CD for this stylish historic
performance which has achieved iconic status.
… see Full
Review
Carolina OLIPHANT
(Lady
Nairne) (1766-1895)
White Rose O' June -The songs of Carolina
Oliphant (Lady Nairne) The
Auld Hoose; Chairlie is my darling;
The Land o' the Leal; The County Meeting;
White Rose o' June; The Banks o' the
Earn; Wha'll be King but Chairlie;
Caller Herrin'; The women are a' gaen
wud; The Rowan Tree; The Pleughman;
The attainted Scottish Nobles; The
Laird o' Cockpen; The Lady Grange;
Wi' a hunndred pipers an' a'; The Scottish
Regalia; Bonny Gascon Ha'; The
Fife Laird; Will ye no come back again?
Anne Lorne Gillies (vocals, keyboard)
Alistair McCulloch (violin, fiddle)
Marc Duff (recorder, cittern, bodhram) Rhona
MacKay (clarsach) Gordon Cree (keyboards)
Stuart Forbes (flute, clarinet) Lindsey McCulloch
(cello) Rick Standley (acoustic bass) Duncan
McColl (bagpipes, guitar, electric bass)
BRIGH PRODUCTIONS DUNLOP BR002 [54.26]
[CSS]
Anne's
voice is perfectly clear in the quieter moments
… raises a lump in the throat. I recommend
this disc for lifting the spirits … see Full
Review
BARGAIN DISCOVERY OF THE MONTH Julian
ORBÓN (1925
– 1991) Danzas
sinfónicas (1957) Concerto Grosso (1958)
Tres versiones sinfónicas (1954)
Asturias Symphony Orchestra/Maximiano
Valdés Recorded: Casa Municipal de
Cultura, Avilés, 1998
NAXOS 8.557368 [66 :17] [HC]
This
still underrated composer unquestionably deserves
serious consideration. Recommended. … see
Full Review
Niccolò
PAGANINI
(1782-1840) 24
Caprices Op. 1
Sonig Tchakerian (violin) Recorded Oratorio
San Bovo, Padova, December 2002
ARTS 47693-2 [79.38] [JW]
A
thoughtful and musical account … see Full
Review
Krzyzstof PENDERECKI
(b.1933) St
Luke Passion (1962-66) Izabella Kłosińka
(soprano) Adam Kruszewski (baritone) Romuald
Tesarowicz (bass) Krzyzstof Kolberger (Evangelist)
Jaroslaw Malanowicz (organ)
Warsaw Boys Choir Warsaw National Philharmonic
Choir and Orchestra/Antoni Wit Recorded Warsaw
Philharmonic Hall, August and September 2002
NAXOS 8.557149 [76.24] [JW]
Tone
clusters, vocal wails, sudden accumulation
of sonorities, unstoppable instrumental eruptions,
microtones … blazing light, nobility and fervour.
… see Full Review
Walter PISTON
(1894-1976)
Symphony
No. 2 (1943), [Moderato, 10.07 +Adagio, 10.48
+Allegro 4.27] Symphony No. 6 (1955) [Fluendo
espressivo, 6.42 +Scherzo, Leggerissimo vivace,
3.38 + Adagio sereno, 11.19 +Allegro energico,
3.51]
Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz Recorded
at Seattle Center Opera House, Seattle, Wash.,
Nov. 23, 1988 (No. 2); Dec. 6, 1989 (No. 6).
NAXOS 8.559161 [50.56] [LN]
It's
one of the good things Naxos did for Piston
- issuing at budget price a 1988 recording
of the Symphony No. 2. It is paired with No.
6 but it's No. 2 that is the star of the show.
… see Full Review
AND
Walter
PISTON
(1894-1976) Symphony
No. 2 (1943) Symphony No. 6 (1955)
Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz Recorded
Seattle Centre Opera House, Seattle, November
1988 (Symphony No. 2) and December 1989 (Symphony
No. 6)
NAXOS 8.559161 [50.56] [JW]
A
highly distinguished release back in 1990
and now over a decade later, in its new incarnation,
its merit burns just as brightly. … see Full
Review
Quincy PORTER
(1897-1966) Symphony
No. 1 (1934) [23.53] Symphony No. 2 (1962)
[26.52] Poem and Dance (1932) [9.43]
Sinfonia Varsovia/Ian Hobson rec. 3-4 Nov
2002, Witold Lutosławski Studio, Polish
Radio. DDD
ALBANY TROY 574 [60.23] [RB]
Stylishly
done and recorded with resounding impact and
transparency. Another gap in the catalogue
falls victim ... see Full
Review
John POWELL
(1882-1963) Symphony
in A major Virginia Symphony (1945
rev. 1951) [54.40] Trad
arr. Carmen DRAGON (1914-1984)
Shenandoah ([3.24]
Virginia Symphony/JoAnn Falletta rec. 7-8
Sept 2001, Chrysler Hall, Norfolk, Virginia.
DDD
ALBANY TROY589 [58.06] [RB]
Music
with a spring in its heel and a folksy character
... see Full
Review
Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Symphony
No. 1 Op. 25 Classical (1917) [12.40]
Piano Concerto No. 1 in D flat major Op. 10
(1911) [13.38] Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor
Op. 16 (1912-13) [33.38] Sviatoslav
Richter (piano) (1) Dagmar Baloghová
(piano) (2) Prague Symphony Orchestra/Karel
Ančerl (2) Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel
Ančerl (1) rec. 1956, Domovina, Prague
(Classical), 1953 (1), 1964 (2) Rudolfinum,
Prague, . ADD Karel Ančerl Gold Edition
Vol. 10
SUPRAPHON SU3670-2 011 [60.14] [RB]
Grainy
… Ančerl clearly prizes the abrasion
and the tartness of the music. No evidence
of a temptation to over-romanticise. … see
Full Review
Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858-1924) Gianni
Schicchi - opera in one act: Gianni
Schicchi, aged 50…Alberto Rinaldi (baritone)
Lauretta, his daughter, aged 21…Tatiana Lisnic
(soprano) Zita (‘La Vecchia’), cousin of Buoso
Donati, aged 60…Mabel Perelstein (contralto)
Rinuccio, Zita’s nephew, aged 24…Stefano Secco
(tenor) Gherardo, Buoso’s nephew, aged 40…Gerardo
Lopez (tenor) Nella, Gherardo’s wife, aged
34…Sara Galli (soprano) Betto di Signa, Buoso’s
brother-in-law (of uncertain age)…José
A. Garcia Quijada (bass) Simone, cousin of
Buoso, aged 70…Felipe Bou (bass) Marco, Simone’s
son, aged 45…Celestino Varela (baritone) La
Ciesca, Marco’s wife, aged 38…Claudia Marchi
(mezzo-soprano) Maestro Spinelloccio, a doctor…Carlos
Ruiz (bass) Ser Amantio di Nicolao, a notary…Javier
Zorilla (baritone) Pinellino, a cobbler…Antonio
Torres (bass) Guccio, a dyer…Antonio Torres
(bass)
Málaga Symphony Orchestra/Alexander
Rahbari Recorded at the Sala Carranque, Malaga,
5 and 8 April 2002 DDD
NAXOS 8.660111 [48.20] [RM]
Whilst
not perfect, there is much to enjoy – and
at less than £5 (or your super-budget price
equivalent) you really cannot go wrong. …
see Full Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Madama Butterfly - opera
in two acts Madama Butterfly, Renata Scotto
(sop). Pinkerton, Placido Domingo (ten). Suzuki,
Gillian Knight (mezzo). Sharpless, Ingvar
Wixell (bar). Goro, Florindo Andreolli (ten).
Il Bonze, Malcolm King (bass) Kate Pinkerton,
Ann Murray (mezzo)
Ambrosian Opera Chorus Philharmonia Orchestra/Lorin
Maazel No venue or recording dates given,
but believed recorded 1975.
SONY CLASSICAL SM2K 91135 [2CDs: 68.24+60.30]
[RF]
Maazel’s
strength ere is in drama … no lingering. It
is good to have the young Domingo in virile
voice and Scotto is even better than in the
Barbirolli version … see Full
Review
Henry PURCELL
(1659-1695) Come,
ye sons of art – Ode for the Birthday of Queen
Mary (1694), *Music for the funeral
of Queen Mary (1695), * Felicity
Lott (soprano), Charles Brett and John Williams
(counter-tenors), Thomas Allen (bass), Equale
Brass Hail! Bright Cecilia – Ode for St
Cecilia’s Day (1692), Jennifer Smith (soprano),
Ashley Stafford and Brian Gordon (counter-tenors),
Paul Elliott (tenor), Stephen Varcoe (baritone),
David Thomas (bass), The Indian Queen (1695),
Rosemary Hardy (soprano), Martyn Hill (tenor),
John Elwes (tenor), Ashley Stafford (counter-tenor),
David Thomas (bass-baritone), Stephen Varcoe
(baritone), Gillian Smith, Dinah Harris and
Jennifer Smith (sopranos), The Tempest
*
David Thomas and Roderick Earle (basses),
Carol Hall (mezzo-soprano), Rosemary Hardy
and Jennifer Smith (sopranos), Stephen Varcoe
(baritone), and John Elwes (tenor),
Monteverdi Choir Monteverdi Orchestra * English
Baroque Soloists John Eliot Gardiner Recorded
1976-82
ERATO 5046682812 [4 CDs: 217.13] [JW]
The
recordings always sounded excellent and they
do so still. Warmly impressive recordings
… fixtures on my turntable for many years.
Strongly recommended. … see Full
Review
Maurice RAVEL
(1875-1937) Orchestral Works
ANDANTE 1978 [3 CDs: 76:46; 77:24; 78:47]
[CH]
This
set induces the comforting thought that, by
and large, modern interpreters of Ravel have
got it about right. … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Maurice
Ravel (1875
- 1937) Boléro
(1928) [17.22] La Valse (1920) [12.25]
Rapsodie Espagnole (1907) [16.14] Pavane
pour une infante défunte (1905)
[6.55] Daphnis et Chloé Suite #2
(1912) [17.13] Daphnis et Chloé
Suite #2, "Chloé is accosted"
[4.33]
Minnesota Orchestra/Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Recorded in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, November
1974. All CD tracks are in 2.0 stereo, without
any mixdown of the rear channels. All SACD
tracks in discrete 4.0 Surround Sound, except
the final track which is in discrete derived
5.0 Surround Sound. Digitised and restored
by Paul Stubblebine Playable on SACD players
and on all compact disk players Hybrid
SACD
ORIGINAL MASTERS RECORDING UDSACD 4002 [73.21]
[PSh]
The
best sounding recording of this music ever
made, and, perhaps surprisingly, one of the
very best played as well. An absolute must-have
for anyone who loves Ravel, no matter how
many recordings of this music you already
have...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] [RB]
Campion
have done us proud. While I could have wished
for more music this is easily recommendable.
Rawsthorne can be severe but these pieces
show a lyrical vein ... see Full
Review
Max REGER (1873-1916)
Organ Works Vol. 4 Chorale
Fantasia on "Wie schön leucht uns
der Morgenstern", Op 40, No. 1 (1899)
[18:08] Organ Pieces, Op. 59, Nos. 7-9 (1901)
[14:02] Introduction and Passacaglia in F
minor, Op. 63 (1902) [14:16] Organ Pieces,
Op. 59, Nos. 10-12 (1901) [14:32] Chorale
Fantasia on "Halleluja! Gott zu loben
‘bleibe meine Seelenfreud’!", Op 52,
No. 3 (1900) [15:35]
Josef Still (organ)Recorded in Trier Cathedral,
Germany, on 21st and 22nd
October, 2001. DDD
NAXOS 8.555905 [76:33] [PG]
An
excellent introduction to the organ works.
Not overly-intellectual or difficult to approach
… Reger’s brilliance is beautifully showcased
… see Full Review
Joaquín
RODRIGO (1901
- 1999) Retablo
de Navidad, for soprano, bass, chorus
and orchestra (1952) 15 Himnos
de los neófitos de Qumrán,
for three sopranos, male chorus and chamber
orchestra (1965-74) 234 Música
para un códice salmantino, for
bass solo, mixed chorus and orchestra (1953)
5 Cántico de San Francisco
de Asis, for chorus and orchestra (1982)
Raquel Lojendio (Sop) 1 María
Jesús Prieto (Sop) 2 Victoria
Marchante (Sop) 3 Ada Allende (Sop)
4 David Rubiera (bar) 5
Chorus of the Comunidad de Madrid
Orchestra of the Comunidad de Madrid/José
Ramún Encinar rec. Sede de la Orquesta
y Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid, Hortaleza,
Madrid, 9-12 July 2002
NAXOS 8.557223 [71'48] [PSe]
An
admirable and surprising issue that could
well get you cheering "Viva Rodrigo!"
… see Full
Review
Joaquín RODRIGO
(1901-1999) Concierto
pastoral for flute and orchestra (1978)
Dos miniatures andaluzas for string
orchestra (1929) Adagio para instrumentos
de viento (1966) Fantasía para
un Gentilhombre (1978) arranged for flute
by James Galway
Joanna G’froerer (flute) Asturias Symphony
Orchestra/Maximiano Valdés Recorded
at the Auditorio Principe Felipe, Asturias,
June 2002 Complete Orchestral Works Volume
8
NAXOS 8.557801 [62.36] [SA]
A
delightful disc that will repay repeated listening.
… see Full Review
Sigmund ROMBERG
(1887-1951)
Romberg Conducts Romberg, vol. 2 My
Maryland: Your Land And My Land [2:58]; Silver
Moon [3:28]; Mother [3:06]; Boys In Grey [4:40]
The New Moon: Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
[3:46]; Lover, Come Back To Me [3:21]; Stout-hearted
Men [3:00]; Wanting You [3:36]; One Kiss [3:23]
Viennese Nights: I Bring A Love Song [5:01];
You Will Remember Vienna [5:00]; Viennese
Nights Waltzes [2:50] May Wine: Dance, My
Darlings [4:35]; Just Once Around The Clock
[5:07]; Something New Is In My Heart [5:18]
Sunny River: Lordy [4:23] Up In Central Park:
Close As Pages In A Book [4:40]; April Snow
[5:04]; The Big Back Yard [4:09]
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, Baritoes RCA Victor
Chorus The Robert Shaw Chorale/Robert Shaw
Sigmund Romberg Orchestra/Sigmund RombergAll
tracks recorded in New York between November
1945 and October 1950 ADD
NAXOS 8.110886 [77:26] [PG]
The
value of having Romberg conduct his own works
is what gives this recording a special place
in the collector’s prizes … see Full
Review
Gioacchino ROSSINI
(1792-1868)
Six String Sonatas CD1
Sonata No.1 in G Major [14:11] Sonata No.2
in A Major [14:53] Sonata No.3 in C Major
[12:46] Sonata No.4 in B flat Major [16:09]
CD2 Sonata No.5 in E flat Major [16:51] Sonata
No.6 in D Major [18:31] Prelude, theme and
variations for horn and piano [11:51] Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Larghetto,
theme and variations for violin and piano
[16:18]
Simone Baroncini (horn) Massimo Belli
(violin) Victoria Terekiev (piano) Haydn Philharmonia
Soloists/Ezio Rojatti Rec. Chiesa di S. Maria
della Fratta, San Daniele del Friuli, Italy,
26 Aug-2 Sept 1991. DDD licensed from Nuova
Era Records, Italy.
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92116 [57.59+63.31]
[SA]
Full
of sparkle and a feeling of life-enhancing
well-being. … see
Full Review
Gioachino ROSSINI
(1792-1868)
Tancredi,
‘Di tanti palpiti’ Semiramide,
‘Ah quell giorno’ Maometo II,
‘Non temer d’un basso affetto’ La
donna del lago, ‘Mura felici’ Il
barbiere di Siviglia, ‘Overture; ‘Una
voce poco fa’ L’Italiana in Algeri,
‘Pensa alla Patria’. ‘Cruda sorte’
Ewa Podles (contralto) Orkiestra Kamerlana/Chamber
Orchestra ‘Leopoldium’, and musicians of National
Philharmonic/Wojciech Michniewski Recorded
live on 13th September 1998 at
Polish Radio Hall in Wroclaw, Poland, during
the concert of the 33rd International
Festival ‘Wratislavia Cantans’ of Music and
Fine Arts
DUX 0124 [60.24] [RF]
Rich-toned
with the nut-brown centre intensely sonorous
and steady, the low notes of the voice being
part of her very wide range … I have spent
some happy time comparing her Tancredi, Calbo
and Malcom with the redoubtable Marilyn Horne.
Podles emerges even higher in my estimation
… see Full Review
Josep
Maria RUERA
(1900-1988) Empuries
- Four Symphonic Poems for orchestra and
coplas (1977) [40.52] Ambients for
string quartet (1929) [25.47] Meditacio
for flute and piano (1925) [4.00]
Orquestra i Cobla Ciutat de Barcelona/Antoni
Ros Marba (poems) Quartet Talia (Ambients)
Jordi Maso (piano) Claudi Arimani (flute)
rec. Barcelona, Empuries (1977) other works
1990s.
COLUMNA MUSICA 1CM01058 [72.39] [RB]
While
Ruera is on this showing no symphonist he
is a most fastidious and resourceful melodist
and orchestrator whose music will be well
appreciated in today's more accommodating
climate. ... 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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