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Hoffnung Music
Festivals 1956,58,61
$33.75
£19 World
$37£21 post free
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. $22
£14 post
free world-wide Purchase
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An ALL-ARNOLD
Study Day and Concert
at the Royal Festival Hall 24-9-04
NEW
and RECENT ARTICLES
JASCHA
HORENSTEIN (1898-1973) A
CD DISCOGRAPHY by Donald Clarke
CARLOS
KLEIBER
(1930-2004)
View from the Audience
Knight
Foundation Administers Tough
Love to American Symphony Orchestras to Encourage
Building of New Audiences
Frank
T. Manheim
"Has
the time come to set Mozart aside and let a
new generation discover him?" Hans-Theo
Wohlfahrt on Glyndebourne's new Magic Flute.
View from the Audience
WHAT
IS CLASSICAL MUSIC?
WHO LISTENS TO IT? Vignettes from the American
scene Frank T. Manheim
PERCY
YOUNG - 1912-2004
Obituary by Philip Scowcroft
Georges
Charles GOUNOD
(1818-1893) Faust
- an opera in five acts - Faust on record;
a look back and into the future
HISTORY
OF MUSIC Part 2 Music of the Renaissance
and Reformation Periods Dr David C F Wright
Ever
wondered if record companies take any notice
of technical criticisms of their production
standards? Read
on ...
Are
you able to help? Shostakovich's works were
premiered and recorded in Estonia by the conductor
Roman Matsov. This was to ensure availability
of Shostakovich's works for posterity should
they be be supressed in the Soviet Union. This
priceless collection, in the hands of the son,
Mark Matsov, is now endangered. Read more from
the Australian 'The
Age'
MusicWeb
recommended recordings 2004
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Special Offers
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685 -1750) Goldberg
Variations, BWV 988 (1741) [70.55]
 András
Schiff, piano Recorded Live at Stadtcasino,
Basel, Switzerland, 30 October 2001. Notes
in English and Français. Photo of the
performer and musical examples.
ECM NEW SERIES 1825 [70.55] [PSh]
Yet
another essential recording of the Goldberg
Variations, maybe good enough to topple Glenn
Gould from his pedestal ... see Full
Review
Havergal BRIAN
(1876 - 1972)Symphony No.
1 The Gothic (1919-27)
Eva Jenisová (sop.), Dagmar Pecková
(alto), Vladimír Dolezal (ten.), Peter
Mikuláš (bass)
Slovak Opera Chorus, Slovak Philharmonic Choir,
Slovak Folk Ensemble Chorus, Lúcnica
Chorus, Bratislava City Choir, Bratislava
Children’s Choir, Youth Echo Choir, Pavol
Procházka (Chorus Master) Slovak Radio
Symphony Orchestra,
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra/Ondrej Lenárd
Rec. Concert Hall of Czechoslovak Radio, Bratislava,
29-31 March and 16-22 October 1989.Reissue
- first released on Marco Polo 8.223280/1
NAXOS 8.557418/9 [59'11 + 54'56 = 114'07]
[PSe]
The
only First, in spite of the ‘Titan’. An excellent
recording of a fervent performance, which
is just as well, because it’s the only one.
... see Full Review
Anton BRUCKNER
(1824-1896)
Piano Works:- Sonata
Movement in G minor (1862) Stille Betrachtung
an einem Herbstabend (1863) Steiermärker
(c.1850) Lancier-Quadrille (c.1850)
Klavierstücke in E flat major (c.1856)
Fantasie in G major (1868) Erinnerung
(1868) Adagio from Symphony No.
7, arr. Cyrill Hynais (c. 1895)
Fumiko Shiraga (piano) Rec 18-20 July
2001, Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Hamburg
BIS-CD-1297 [64.50] [TB]
Hardly
central to the repertory but offers fascinating
insights into the lesser known byways and
the artistic development of this remarkable
composer ... see Full
Review
MOZART
IN TURKEY (Die
Entführung aus dem Serail) Belmonte
(Tenor) Paul Groves Konstanze
(Soprano) Yelda Kodalli Blonde
(Soprano) Désirée
Rancatore Pedrillo (Tenor) Lynton Atkinson
Osmin (Bass) Peter Rose Pasha Selim
(Speaker) Oliver Tobias
Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Choir/Sir Charles
Mackerras Opera directed and filmed by Elijah
Moshinsky Film produced and directed by Mick
Csáky The opera highlights can be played
as a special feature, lasting 64 minutes.
 DVD
Opus Arte OA0891D [88'04"] [JPo]
As
a production this disc gives a very reasonable
synopsis of the whole; it would be nice to
think that a DVD of the whole opera was in
preparation. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791)
Concertos
for Wind: Clarinet Concerto in A, K622
(1791) [29’19). Sinfonia concertante in E
flat, K297b (1778) [30’05]. Oboe Concerto
in C, K314/285d (1778) [20’11]. Bassoon Concerto
in B flat, K191/186e (1774) [18’00]. Horn
Concerto No. 4 in E flat, K495 (1787) [14’57].
Anthony Pike (clarinet); John Anderson
(oboe); Richard Berry (K495), John Thurgood
(K297b) (horns); Julie Price (bassoon); English
Chamber Orchestra/Ralf Gothóni. Rec.
Gateway Studios, Kingston upon Thames in February
2002 (K622), St Paul’s Church, London, N1
in May 2000.
AVIE AV0035 [59’39 + 53’27] TWO
for the price of ONE post-free
Retailing
at budget price, this is well worth snapping
up. Authenticists might not agree with everything,
but surely even they would get sucked in to
the spirit of it all. ... see
Full Review
Pyotr Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893):
Symphony
No. 6 in B minor (Pathétique),
Op. 74 (1893) [43’12"] Francesca da
Rimini, Fantasy for Orchestra, Op. 32
(1876)* [24’48"]
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
Rec. Gothenburg Concert Hall on 23 & 24
Jan 2004 and *1 Sept 2003 
BIS – SACD – 1348 [69’02"] [JQ]
In
a fiercely competitive field I fear I can’t
give this a strong endorsement. ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Siegfried
[abridged]: Act 1 - Scene 1: Preludea;
Zwangvolle Plage!b; Hioho! Hioho!
Hau’ ein! Hau’ ein!c; Als zullendes
Kind zog ich dich aufc; Soll ich
der Kunde glaubenc; Scene 2: Heil
dir, weiser Schmiedd; Dein Haupt
pfänd ichd; Scene 3e:
Fühltest du nie im finstren Wald; Nothung!
Nothung! Neidliches Schwert; Hoho! Hoho! Hahei!
… Schmiede, mein Hammer. Act 2 - Scene 1f:
In Wald und Nacht; Deine Hand helitest du
vom Hort?; Scene 2: Dass der mein Vater nicht
istg; Du holdes Vöglein!g;
Haha! Da hätte mein Liedh;
Scene 3: Wohin schleichst du eilig und schlauh;
Da lieg’ auch du, dunkler Wurm!i;
Hei! Siegfried erschlug nun den schlimmen
Zwergi. Act 3 – Scene 1j:
Prelude; Wache, Wala; Stark ruft das Lied;
Dir Unweisen ruf ich ins Ohr; Scene 2k:
Kenntest du mich, kühner Spross; Zich
hin!; Scene 3: Selige Öde auf sonniger
Höh’!l; Das ist kein Mann!l;
Heil dir Sonne!m; O Siegfried!
Siegfried!n; Ewig was ichn;
Dich lieb ichn; Ob jetzt ich dein?n.
ceghiklnLauritz Melchior, bcdhHeinrich
Tessmer, eAlbert Reiss (tenors);
iNora Grubn, mnFlorence
Easton (sopranos); jMaria Olszewska
(contralto); fhEduard Habich (baritone);
dfFriedrich Schorr, kRudolf
Bockelmann (bass-baritone); a-i, k,lLondon
Symphony Orchestra/a-d, fhlRobert
Heger, egikAlbert Coates, jVienna
State Opera Orchestra/Karl Alwin; mnOrchestra
of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Robert
Heger
Performance background and plot synopsis included.
From HMV a-dDB1713 and 1578/81,
eD 1690/1, fDB1582,
gD1692, hiD1693, jDB1533/4,
kDB1694, lD1836/7; Rec.
a-d,fLondon, a-dMay,
fMay 21st, 1931, lMay
12th, 1930, mnMay 29th,
1932, egQueen’s Hall, London on
May 16th-g17th,
1929, iMay 17th and
ik22nd, 1929, hMay
21st, 1931, jVienna
in 1929.
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110091/92 [151’30:
79’04 + 72’26]. [CC]
Products
such as this are increasingly valuable. The
‘Golden Age’ of singing should be remembered.
If you have ever shied away from Siegfried’s
magnificent edifice, now would be a good time
to investigate ... see Full
Review
Mirijam Contzen
Johann Sebastian BACH
(16.85-1750) Partita
No. 3 in E Major BWV 1006: Preludio [3.22],
Loure [3.46], Gavotte en Rondeau
[2.53], Menuet 1 – Menuet II – Menuet I
[3.57], Bourée [1.23]. Gigue
[1.46] Tibor VARGA
(1921-2003)
Le Serpent [6.41] Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Sonata
for solo violin Sz 117: Tempo die Ciaccona
[9.14], Fuga [4.07], Melodia [6.36],
Presto [5] Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Élegie
[5.26] Eugène
YSAŸE (1858-1931) Sonate Op.
27 No. 4: Allemande. Lento maestoso
[6.16], Sarabande. Quasi lento [3.30],
Finale. Presto ma non troppo [3.05]
Mirijam
Contzen (violin) Recorded Reitstadel Neumarkt,
12-14 January 2004
BMG ARTE NOVA CLASSICS 82876 57741
2 [67.53] [EM]
Not
a disc I would personally recommend, but of
its kind (publicity-machine compilation disc),
it is probably one of the better. ... see
Full Review
Erik
CHISHOLM (1904-1965)
Straloch
Suite (1933) [15:59] Scottish Airs
for Children (1940s) [27:54] Sonata in
A An Riobain Dearg (abridged version,
2004) (1939)
Murray McLachlan, piano Rec. Whiteley Hall,
Chethams School, Manchester, 5-7 April 2004.
DDD
DUNELM RECORDS DRD0222/LC-12952 [77:24]
[DHJ]
The
Sonata - a major example of 20th century piano
writing ... the effect is almost overwhelming.
Self recommending ... see Full
Review
Claude DEBUSSY
(1862–1918)
Mélodies
de Jeunesse: Apparition, Romance,
Les paillons, Calmes sans le demi-jour,
Regret.Ariettes Oubliées: C’est
le extase, Il pleure dans mon coeur,
L’ombre des arbres, Paysages belges:
chevaux de bois, Aquarelles - Green,
Aquarelles - SpleenProses lyriques:
De rêve, De grève,
De fleurs, De soir.Trois poèmes
de Mallarmé: Soupir,
Placet futile, Éventail
Sandrine Piau (soprano), Jos van Immerseel
(piano) rec. Liège, July 2002. DDD
NAÏVE V4932 [57’25"] [AO]
Piau's
careful phrasing and deft articulation of
the musical line throw the structure of the
songs into focus, allowing us to appreciate
their beauty in pure form ... see Full
Review
Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848)L’elisir
d’amore (excerpts) Adina – Mariella
Devia (soprano) Nemorino – Roberto Alagna
(tenor) Belcore – Pietro Sapgnoli (bartone)
Dulcamara - Bruno Pratico (bass-baritone)
Giannetta - Francesca Provvisionato (mezzo-soprano)
Tallis Chamber Choir English Chamber Orchestra/Marcello
Viotti Rec. All Saints Church, Petersham,
1992
WARNER APEX 2564 61496-2 [71.44] [RH]
An
ideal introduction to this delightful opera
... buy it anyway to hear what the young Alagna
could do ... see Full
Review
Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953)
Piano
Concerto No. 1 in D flat major, op. 10 [15:27]
Nikolai Lugansky, piano Royal Scottish National
Orchestra/Alexander Lazarev Symphony No.
5 in B flat major, op. 100 [43:31]
National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain/Yan
Pascal Tortelier Rec. live Royal Albert Hall,
London, 8 Sept 2003 (No. 1); 9 Aug 2003 (No.
5) DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61551-2 [59:08] [KS]
A
document of what must have been a very impressive
live concert ... not certain that they live
up to an international standard. A hedged
recommendation ... see Full
Review
AUDIOPHILE
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Peter
Ilyich Tchaikovsky
(1840 - 1893) Swan
Lake Ballet Op 20 (1875/7) [104.46]
Utah Symphony Orchestra/Maurice Abravanel
Recording location and date not given [1967?]
On disk extras: photos and documents of artists;
memorial tribute speech by Ardean Watts [16.00];
"remembering the Utah Symphony Orchestra
3.00];" Composer biography; Technical
documentary [6.00]; Speaker set-up utility.
DVD-Audio 2.0 and 5.1. DVD 2.0 and 5.1 AC-3.
ADD Playable on all
DVD players
SILVERLINE CLASSICS DVD-AUDIO
288235-9 [104.46 + 25.00] [PSh]
The
greatest Tchaikovsky, brilliantly performed,
a pinnacle of recorded surround sound ...
see Full
Review
Richard WAGNER
(1860-1911)
Der fliegende Holländer Hildegard
Behrens - Senta Matti Salminen - Daland Franz
Grundheber - The Dutchman Riamo Sirkiä
- Erik Anita Välkki - Mary Jorma Silvastri
- Steersman Ilkka Bäckmann - Director
Savonlinna Opera Festival Orchestra and
Chorus/Leif Segerstam Savonlinna Opera Festival
1989 DVD-9 Region: 2,3,4.5.6
NVC ARTS/YLEISRADIO-TV1. WARNER MUSIC VISION
9031-71486-2RM [139.00"] [AO]
The
simplicity of this film reflects the Savonlinna
ethos. It is unpretentious, almost to the
point of seeming superficially casual. Musically
and artistically, however, the standards are
very high indeed. ... see
Full Review
The Best of
British Vol. 1 Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Flourish
for Wind Band Percy
GRAINGER (1882-1961) Lincolnshire
Posy Alun HODDINOTT
(b.1929) Welsh Airs and Dances
Gustav HOLST
(1874-1934) (arr. John Boyd) Japanese
Suite Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) (arr. M. Retford)
Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4 Pomp
and Circumstance March No. 1 Percy
GRAINGER (1882-1961) (edited by R.
Mark Rogers) The Gum Suckers’ March
Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra/Douglas Bostock
Recorded at Sun Azalea, Suitama, October 21
and 22, 2003 DDD
KOSEI PUBLISHING COMPANY KOCD-8011 [57:46]
[CT]
Fine
playing from the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra
in the first of a series of discs celebrating
British music. ... see Full
Review
Seiji Ozawa Hall
10th Anniversary Celebration
Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
String Quartet No. 12 in E-flat, Opus 127
(1st movement) Juilliard String Quartet July
1, 2001 Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Sonata in D
minor, Opus 108 (2nd movement) Yo-Yo Ma, cello;
Emanuel Ax, piano July 19, 2001 Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) String
Quartet No. 2, Opus 17 (2nd movement) Emerson
String Quartet July 25, 1995 Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Berceuse
in D-flat, Opus 57 Dubravka Tomsic, piano
July 16, 2003 Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) La Danse
de Puck Richard Goode, piano August 1,
2002 György
LIGETI (1923-) Fém Pierre-Laurent
Aimard, piano July 20, 2003 Toru
TAKEMITSU (1930-1996) Shuteiga
("In an Autumn Garden"): Enbai
("Melisma") Reigakusha July 23,
1996 Augusta Read
THOMAS (1964-) Two movements from
Spirit Musings Fellows of the Tanglewood
Music Center July 18, 2003 Johannes
BRAHMS "Unbewegte laue Luft,"
Opus 7, No.8 Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, mezzo-soprano;
Peter Serkin, piano July 10, 2003 Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) "Irrlicht"
from Winterreise, D. 911 Matthias Goerne,
baritone; Eric Schneider, piano July 10, 2002
Hugo WOLF
(1860-1903) "Kennst du das Land"
Mitsuko Shirai, mezzo-soprano; Harmut Höll,
piano July 18, 1996 Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Leporello’s
Catalogue Aria from Don Giovanni Thomas
Quasthoff, bass-baritone; Freiburg Baroque
Orchestra August 11, 1999 Idris
LEWIS "Bugail Aberdyfi"
("Shepard of Aberdovey") Byrn Terfel,
bass-baritone; Malcolm Martineau, piano August
11, 1998 TRAD. (arr.
James Erb and Donald Bartholomew) "Shenandoah"
Chanticleer August 5, 1999 Astor
PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) (arr. José
Bragato) Escualo
KREMERata Baltica/Gidon Kremer, artistic director
and violin soloist August 5, 1998
BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - NO NUMBER [75:57]
[C Andres]
A
collection of first-rate souvenirs that is
ultimately less than the sum of its parts
... see Full Review
BOOK
REVIEWS
ALMA
ROSÉ: VIENNA TO AUSCHWITZ by
Richard Newman with Karen Kirtley 
Amadeus Press ISBN 1-57467-051-4 [CF]
Her
native Vienna has marked her life with a street
named after her but this book is a more fitting
testimonial. ... see
Full Review
The
Amadeus: Forty
years in pictures and words
What
an apt title for this splendid publication
... see Full Review
There was a
Time…Ralph Vaughan Williams - A pictorial
journey from the collection of Ursula Vaughan
Williams Edited
by: Stephen Connock, Ursula Vaughan Williams
and Robin Wells Albion Music Ltd (a division
of the RVW Society) hardback; 152 pages ISBN
0-9528706-4-9 £25
A
valuable addition ... but disappoints somewhat
considering that it is published by the Ralph
Vaughan Williams Society ... see
Full Review
 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
Alan BUSH (1900-1995)
Symphony
No. 1 in C Op. 21 (1940) [32:54] Symphony
No. 2 Op. 33 Nottingham (1949) [35:20]
Royal Northern College of Music Orchestra/Douglas
Bostock rec. 7-8 Feb 2004, RNCM, Manchester,
DDD
CLASSICO CLASSCD 484 [71:28] [RB]
Music
of a distinctive mastery with a peculiarly
British rigour and a constrained emotionalism.
... see Full Review
Paul
Le FLEM (1881-1984)
Piano
Quintet (1905) [36:40] Violin Sonata (1905)
[28:57]
Philippe Koch (violin) Alain Jacquon (piano)
Quatuor Louvigny rec. Villa Louvigny, Luxembourg,
Nov 2003-Jan 2004. DDD
TIMPANI 1C1077 [65:37] [RB]
The
surging romance of this music will attract
anyone open to the youthful melodic rush of
Howells, Ravel, Bax and Ropartz. Outstanding.
Glorious. ... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Des
Knaben Wunderhorn
Thomas Hampson, baritone, Wolfram Reiger,
piano Rodney Greenberg, director Théâtre
Musical de Paris, Châtelet, 25 October
2002 DVD-9 Region: All RM ASSOCIATE/THÉÂTRE
MUSICAL DE PARIS – CHÂTELET/MEZZO "Voices
of Our Time" TDK
DVD DVVTTHEUR [91.00"] [AO]
"Song
is a metaphor for the giving of the soul",
says Hampson, and the Wunderhorn poems helped
Mahler express ideas dear to him. Altogether,
an unmissable, enriching experience. ... see
Full Review
Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953)
Sonata
No. 2 for violin and piano in D, Op. 94a [24:10]
Eugène YSAŸE
(1858-1931) Sonata No. 3 in d minor
"Ballade" for unaccompanied violin,
Op. 27, no. 3 [6:59] Ernest
CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Poème,
op. 25 [14:41] Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Sonata
for violin and piano no. 1 in d minor, op.
75 [23:51]
Jack Liebeck, violin Katya Apekisheva, piano
Rec. Wathen Hall, St. Paul’s School, England,
25 May, 2 July 2003. DDD
QUARTZ QTZ 2002 [70:00] [KS]
Brilliant
performances. Recommended without a moment’s
hesitation. ... see Full
Review
Ferdinand
RIES (1784
– 1837) Symphony
No. 7 in A minor Op. 181 (1835) Symphony
No. 8 in E Flat, Wo0 30 (1822)
Zurich Chamber Orchestra/Howard Griffiths.
Rec. 2-7 May 2002, Neumunsterkirche, Zurich,
Switzerland. DDD
CPO 999 904-2 [67.16] [JPh]
I
recommend this disc without reservation, and
look forward to hearing the others in this
superbly played, conducted and recorded series.
... see Full Review
Camille
Saint-Saëns
(1835 - 1921) Symphony
#3 in c, Op 78 "Organ Symphony"
(1886) [35.57] Frederick Minger, organ Baltimore
Symphony Orchestra/Sergiu Comissiona Recorded
National Presbyterian Church, Washington,
D.C., USA, 1980. Cesar
FRanck (1822 - 1890) Symphony in
d, M.48 (1888) [38.58]
Houston Symphony Orchestra/Sergiu Comissiona
Recorded Jesse Jones Hall, Houston, TX, USA,
April 1982. Notes in English, track-list and
artists and technicians roster. On screen
extras: Speaker set-up utility, background
documentary, composer bios. DVD Audio 2.0
and 5.1. DVD 2.0 and 5.1 AC-3 Dolby Digital
Surround DVD-Audio
playable on all DVD players
SILVERLINE CLASSICS 288231-9 [74.55] [PSh]
Brilliantly
performances of difficult and spectacular
orchestral music, gorgeous recorded sound
... see Full
Review
Peter
Ilyich Tchaikovsky
(1840 - 1893) Romeo
and Juliet, Overture-Fantasia in b (1870)
[28.38] Concerto for Piano & Orchestra
#1 in bb, Op 23 (1875) [34.07]
John Ogdon, piano Symphony #5 in e, Op
64 (1888) [45.24] London Symphony Orchestra/Pierre
Monteux Recorded live at the Grosser Konzerthaussall,
Vienna, Austria, 31 May 1963 Notes in English:
track list, artist and technical credits.
On disk extras: composer biography, technical
documentary ADD DVD-Audio
playable on all DVD players.
SILVERLINE
CLASSICS 288 228-9 [108.09] [PSh]
One
of the finest Tchaikovsky disks ever produced,
sound and performance, equally a must-have
for seasoned collectors as well as those just
starting out ... see Full
Review
Songs
after Poems by Theodor Storm: Hermann
REUTTER (1900-1985)Fünf Lieder
nach Texten von Storm, Die Stadt, Hyazinthen
Verirrt, O bleibe treu den Toten, Wohl fühle
ich, wie das Leben rinnt Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)Über die
Heide hallet mein Schritt, Heinrich
van EYKEN (1861-1908) Nun geht
der Mond durch Wolkennacht Felix
MOTTL (1856-1911) Schließe
mir die Augen beide Gustav
JENNER (1865-1920) Noch einmal
Paul CARRIÈRE
(1887-1929) Schließe mir die Augen
beide Alban BERG
(1885-1935) Die Nachtigall Gustav
STOLZ (1873-1957) Als ich dich
kaum geseh’n Hans
von BLOME (1834-1921) Die Nelken
Gustav EGGERS
(1835-1861) So dunkel die Straßen
Richard TRUNK
(1879-1968) Die Stadt Othmar
SCHOECK (1886-1957) April Alban
BERG (1885-1935) Schließe
mir die Augen beide Richard
MANDL (1859-1918) Gode Nacht Max
REGER (1873-1916) Nelken Franz
SCHREKER (1878-1934) Wohl fühl
ich, wie das Leben rinnt Joseph
MARX (1882-1964) Schließe
mir die Augen beide Gustav
JENNER (1865-1920) Die Nachtigall
Hans HERMANN
(1870-1931) Nelken Hans
Christian DÉTLEFSEN (* 1951)
Fünf Gedichte von Theodor Storm ,
Meeresstrand, Die Stadt, Ein grünes Blatt,
Schließe mir die Augen beide, Zur Nacht
Ulf Bästlein (baritone), Charles Spencer
(piano) Recorded Bad Arolsen, August 21-24,
2003. DDD
MUSIK DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 603 1234-2
[66'33] [AO]
A
wonderful landmark recording that demonstrates
how poetry is translated into song ... see
Full Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
Béla BARTÓK
(1881—1945)
Yehudi
Menuhin, violin and viola CD1 Violin Concerto
No. 1, BB 48a (1907—8) Viola Concerto, BB
128(1945) (ed. Tibor Serly) New Philharmonia
Orchestra/Antal Dorati Rhapsody No. 1 for
violin and orchestra. BB 94b (1928—9) Rhapsody
No. 2 for violin and orchestra, BB 96b (1928,
rev. 1935) BBC Symphony Orchestra/Pierre Boulez
CD2 Violin Concerto No.2, BE 117 (1937—8)
New Philharmonia Orchestra/Antal Dorati Six
movements from 44 Duos for two violins, BB
104 (1931): Sorrow; New Year’s Greeting; Harvest
Song; Bagpipes; Scherzo; Arabian Song
Yehudi Menuhin and Nell Gotkovsky, violins
Sonata for solo violin, BR 124 (1944) Recorded:
1965 (Violin Concertos), 1966 (Viola Concerto),Kingsway
Hall, London;1965 (Duos), 1968 (Rhapsodies),
1974, 1975 (Sonata), Abbey Road Studios, London
EMI CLASSICS 7243 585487 2 [67:28 + 72:46]
[JL]
A
bargain double-disc package that brings together
one of the twentieth century’s greatest composers
with one of its leading performing artists
in renderings of unmatched authority. ...
see Full Review
Frank
BRIDGE (1879-1941)
Enter Spring (Rhapsody) (1927) [19:20]
Summer (Tone Poem) (1914) [9:40] Two
Poems for orchestra (1915) [10:56] The
Sea - Suite (1911) [21:39]
New Zealand SO/James Judd rec. Michael Fowler
Centre, Wellington, NZ, 11-15 Nov 2002. DDD
NAXOS 8.557167 [62:17] [RB]
A
good inexpensive introduction to Frank Bridge
- a by no means parochial composer. The music
is unsettling and startlingly original in
the case of Enter Spring. ... see Full
Review
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-76)
Peter
Grimes, Op.33 (1945) Glenn Winslade
– Peter Grimes Janice Watson – Ellen Orford
Anthony Michaels-Moore – Captain Balstrode
Jill Grove – Auntie Catherine Wyn-Rogers –
Mrs Sedley Nathan Gunn – Ned Keene
London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Sir Colin
Davis Recorded live at the Barbican 10-12
January 2004. budget price, www.lso.co.uk
LSO LIVE LSO0054 [55’06 + 48’32 + 39’05]
[MB]
Quite
easily the best-played Grimes on disc ...
see Full Review
David
DIAMOND (b.1915)
Psalm
(1936) [8:39] Kaddish (1987) [10:44]
Symphony No. 3 (1945) [31:08]
Janos Starker (cello) Seattle Symphony Orchestra/Gerard
Schwarz. Rec. 11-12 Sept 1990; 6 Jan 1991,
Seattle Center Opera House. DDD Originally
issued on Delos DE3103 American Classics series
NAXOS 8.559155 [59:19] [RB]
A
disc not to be missed if you are at all sympathetic
to the tonal-melodic strain in twentieth century
music. Music written from the heart to the
heart ... see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
La
Cenerentola - opera buffa in two acts
Angiolina (Cenerentola), Jennifer Larmore
(mezzo); Don Ramiro, Raúl Giménez
(ten); Dandini, Gino Quilico (bar); Don Magnifico,
Alessandro Corbelli (buffa-bass); Alidoro,
Alastair Miles (bass)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden, London/Carlo Rizzi Recorded
in Abbey Road Studios, London, in February
1994
WARNER APEX 2564 61503-2 [74.48]
[RJF]
This
generously timed and tracked selection of
highlights from an exhilarating performance
is thoroughly recommended. If it tempts you
to purchase the full recording you will enjoy
that too. ... see Full
Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810
– 1856) Symphony
No. 1 in B Flat major The Spring, Op.
38 (1831) Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61
(1848) Symphony No. 3 in E Flat The Rhenish
Op.97 (1850) Symphony No. 4 in D Minor,
Op.120 (1851)
Tonhalle Orchestra, Zurich/David Zinman Recorded
13 – 16 October 2003 in the Tonhalle, Zurich.
ARTE NOVA 82876 57743-2 [65.39 + 57.38]
[JPh]
If
you see Schumann as a radical, a bit of a
firebrand pushing back the barriers of symphonic
thought, then Zinman is definitely for you.
Would compete with alternative sets at any
price ... see Full
Review
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958)
The Nine Symphonies A
Sea Symphony* (1909) [65’43"] Symphony
No. 2 "A London Symphony"
(1914) [46’20"] A Pastoral Symphony
(Symphony No. 3) ** (1921) [38’03"]
Symphony No. 4 in F Minor (1935) [33’58"]
Symphony No 5 in D (1943) [41’53"] Symphony
No. 6 in E Minor (1947) [34’25"] Sinfonia
Antartica (Symphony No. 7) *** (1952)
[44’01"] Symphony No. 8 in D Minor (1955)
[28’34"] Symphony No. 9 in E Minor (1958)
[38’39"] Concerto Accademico for
Violin and Orchestra in D Minor**** (1925)
[15’59"] The Wasps: Overture (1909)
[8’59"] Three Portraits from "The
England of Elizabeth" (Suite adapted
by Muir Matheson) (1955) [17’26"] Concerto
for Bass Tuba and Orchestra in F Minor *****
(1954) [12’19"] * Heather Harper (soprano);
John Shirley-Quirk (baritone); London Symphony
Chorus ** Heather Harper (soprano); William
Bennett (flute); Roger Lord (oboe); Anthony
Camden (cor anglais); Gervase de Peyer (clarinet);
Anthony Halstead (horn); Osian Ellis (harp);
John Georgiadis (violin); lexander Taylor
(viola); Douglas Cummings (cello) *** Heather
Harper (soprano); The Ambrosian Singers; Sir
Ralph Richardson (speaker) **** James Oliver
Buswell IV (violin)
***** John Fletcher (bass tuba)
London Symphony Orchestra/André
Previn Recording dates and venues not given.
Recording dates from other sources: Sea,
1970; London 1972, Concerto Accademico,
1969; Wasps, 1972; Pastoral,
1972; 4, 1969; 5, 1972; Three Portraits,
1968; Concerto for Tuba, 1972; 6, 1968; 9,
1971; Antartica, 1967; 8, 1968. London.
ADD
Previously issued as RCA Gold Seal GD90500/01/03/06/08/10.
Originally issued on LP 1968-1972.
BMG-RCA RED SEAL 82876-55708-2 [6 CDs:
65’43" + 71’18" + 72’13" +
72’16" + 73’09" + 73’ 02"]
[JQ]
Wonderful,
life-enhancing music. I enjoyed this set enormously
from start to finish ... one of Previn’s finest
achievements in the recording studio. Recommended
with great enthusiasm. ... see Full
Review
English
Choral Music Sir
Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924):
Magnificat
in G, op. 81* [4’13"] Nunc Dimittis in
G, Op. 81 [4’18"] Justorum Animae from
Three Latin Motets [3’24"] Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934): Ave verum
corpus, Op. 2, No 1 [2’39"] Give unto
the Lord (Psalm XXIX), Op. 74 [7’50"]
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958): The Call* [2’05"] Herbert
HOWELLS (1892-1983): Magnificat,
St. Paul’s [6’33"] Nunc Dimittis, St.
Paul’s [4’59"] Paean for organ ** [6’03"]
Take him, earth, for cherishing [7’44"]
Peter HURFORD
(b. 1930): Litany to the Holy Spirit*
[2’56"] Gerald
FINZI (1901-1956): Welcome Sweet
and Sacred Feast, Op. 27, No. 3 [7’31"]
Edmund RUBBRA
(1901-1986): Tenebrae Motets – Third Nocturne,
Op. 72: I Eram quasi agnus innocens [2’50"];
II Una hora non potuistis [2’02"]; III
Seniores populi [2’22"] Magnificat in
A flat [4’18"] Gerald
FINZI: God is gone up, Op. 27,
No. 2 [4’24"] Sir
William WALTON (1902-1983): Set
me as a seal upon thine heart [3’34"]
Soloists: Oliver Lepage-Dean (treble) and
Edward Lyon (tenor) Coronation Te Deum (arr.
Simon Preston & Mark Blatchly) [9’50"]
Gloria from Missa Brevis [3’24"]
Soloists: Oliver Lepage-Dean (treble) and
Geoffrey Silver (tenor) Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976): A Hymn to
the Virgin [3’06"] Soloists: William
Goldring (treble); Christopher de la Hoyde
(alto); Simon Wall (tenor); Reuben Thomas
(bass) Jubilate Deo [2’38"] Hymn to St.
Cecilia, Op. 27 [10’20"] Soloists: Benedict
Giles, Ben Harrison (trebles); Richard Moore
(alto); Jonathan Bungard (tenor); Reuben Thomas
(bass) Lennox BERKELEY
(1903-1989): The Lord is my Shepherd,
Op.91, No. 1 [4’21"] Soloist: Benjamin
Durrant (treble) Crux Fidelis, Op. 43, No.
2 [6’53"] Soloist: Alan Clayton (tenor)
Look up, Sweet Babe, Op. 43, No.2 [4’34"]
Soloist: James Geidt (treble) Kenneth
LEIGHTON (1929-1988): Magnificat
and Nunc Dimittis, Collegium Magdalenae
Oxoniese {8’16"] An Easter Sequence
– Sortie [4’11"] Soloist: Crispian Steele-Perkins
(trumpet) Sir John
TAVENER (b. 1944) The Lamb [3’47"]
The Lord’s Prayer [3’30"] Song for Athene
[5’43"]
*Oliver Lepage-Dean (treble) **Iain Farrington
(organ) The Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge/Christopher
Robinson Recorded in the chapel of St. John’s
College, Cambridge on: 13 - 16 March, 1999
(Howells); 13 - 15 July, 1999 (Britten); 24
– 26 March, 2000 (Rubbra); 11 – 13 July, 2000
(Tavener); 17 – 19 March, 2001 (Finzi); 10
– 12 July, 2001 (Walton); 9 – 11 July, 2002
(Leighton); 12-13 July, 2002 (Stanford); 20
– 22 March, 2003 (Berkeley); 8 – 10 July,
2003 (Elgar); * February 2002. DDD
NAXOS 8.557557-58 [2 CDs: 149’51"]
[JQ]
I
recommend this excellent and enjoyable collection
with great enthusiasm. ... 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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