Marc
Antoine CHARPENTIER (1643
– 1704) Salve
Regina à trois choeurs H24; Beatus vir H221; Le Reniement de
Saint Pierre H424; Stabat Mater H15; Te Deum H147; Transfige dulcissime
Jesu H251
Harmony of Voices, Sweden (Svenska Vokalharmonin) Kristina Lindgård
(basse de violon) Sven Åberg (theorbo) Peter Lönnerberg (organ)
Johan Lindström (organ) Fredrik Malmberg (harpsichord, conductor)
Recorded 29 Sept 2003, 2 Oct 2003, 24 Oct 2003 in Hölö kyrka
and Oscarskyrkan Stockholm
PROPRIUS PRCD 2301 [57.08] [RH]
This
is an attractive programme of Charpentier’s
smaller scale works performed with stunning
clarity by a talented new Swedish ensemble.
... see Full
Review
Fryderyk CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Nocturne
in C sharp minor (1830) – transcribed Gregor
Piatigorsky Etude Op.10 No.6 (1830)
– arranged by Alexander
Glazunov Introduction and Polonaise
Brillante Op.3 (1829-30) – arranged by Leonard
Rose/Emanuel Feuermann
Etude Op.25 No.7 (1832-34) – arranged by Alexander
Glazunov Grand Duo Concertant in
E major on Themes from Meyerbeer’s Robert
le Diable (1832) – with Auguste
Franchomme Nocturne Op.9 No.2 in
E flat major (1830-31) – arranged David
Popper/Emanuel Feuermann Sonata
for Cello and Piano in G minor Op.65 (1845-46)
Steven Honigberg (cello) Carol Honigberg (piano)
Recorded at Bennett Gordon Hall, Ravinia,
IL, 2001-03
ALBANY TROY 659 [72.08] [JF]
Good,
alertly played and sensitively argued ...
the duo prove themselves clear-eared chamber
partners. ... see Full
Review
John
CORIGLIANO (b.
1938) Symphony No. 2
for string orchestra (2000) [44’58]. The Mannheim Rocket (2001)
[10’51].
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra/John Storgårds. Rec. Finlandia
Hall, Finland, in November 2003. DDD
ONDINE ODE1039-2 [56’02] [CC]
Corigliano
fans will not hesitate, I’m sure. For the rest of us, there is
more than a sniff of the insubstantial about it all. ... see Full
Review
Peter CORNELIUS (1824-1874)
Seele, vergiss sie nicht Requiem
‘Seele, vergiss sie nicht’ (Coro SSATB) Liebe. (op. 18/1-3) ‘Liebe,
dir ergeb ich mich’ (Coro SSAA/TTBB) ‘Ich will dich lieben, meine Krone’
(Coro SSATBB) ‘Thron der Liebe, Stern der Güte’ (Coro SSAA/TTBB)
Trauerchöre. (op. 9/1-3) ‘Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig’
(Coro TTBBB) ‘Nicht die Träne kann es sagen’ (Coro TTBB) ‘Mitten
wir im Leben sind’ (Coro TTBB) Drei Chorgesänge (op. 11/1-3)
‘Der Tod, clas ist die kühle Nacht’ (Solo Tenor; Coro SATB/SATB)
‘An den Sturmwind’ (Coro SATB/SATB) ‘Die drei Frühlingstage’ (Coro
SSATTB) ‘Absolve Domine’ (Coro TTBB) Drei Psalmlieder nach Klaviersätzen.
(Three Psalm Songs after Johann Sebastian Bachs op. 13/1-3) ‘M Bußlied’
(Coro SATB) ‘An Babels Wasserflüssen’ (Coro SATB) ‘Jerusalem’ (Coro
SATB) ‘So weich und warm’. (Coro SATB) ‘Die Könige’.
(aus Weihnachtslieder op. 8. Solo Tenor; Coro SATB)
Hans Jörg Mammel, (ten) KammerChor Saarbrücken/Georg
Grün No recording information given
CARUS 83.163 [68.10] [RJF]
The
disc should appeal to all lovers of the German choral genre and is strongly
recommended. ... see Full Review
George
CRUMB (b. 1929)
The Complete
Piano Music: Makrokosmos 1a (1972-3) [38’19].
Makrokosmos 2 b (1973) [34’40]. Five Pieces for Piano
c (1962) [11’51]. Gnomic Variationsc (1981) [23’35].
Processional c (1983) [11’27]. A Little Suite for Christmas
A. D. 1979 c (1980) [14’26].
Philip Mead (piano) Rec. Old Concert Hall of Manchester University on
a August 27th, b January 12th, 2002, c June 17th-18th,
2003 METIER MSV
CD92067 [135’30: 73’29 + 62’01]. [CC]
This
is a remarkable achievement. All credit to
Metier for daring to issue material that is
no easy ride, and to Philip Mead for his unflagging
advocacy of Crumb. ... see Full Review. Another
triumph for Metier. ... see Full
Review
Luigi
DALLAPICCOLA
(1904-1975)
Sonata Canonica
in Eb major on 'Capricci' by Niccolò
Paganini (1943) [10.41] Quaderno Musicale
di Annalibera (1952) [15.08] Tre episodi dal
balletto 'Marsia.' (1942/43) [12.34] Musica
per tre pianoforte (1935) [12.36] Goffredo
PETRASSI (1904 - 2003) Invenzioni
(1944) [19.51] Oh, les beaux jours! (1976)
[8.14] Toccata (1933) [7.07] Siciliana (?)
[1.49] Marcia (?) [1.20]
Lya De Barberiis, piano. Rec. Rome, November
1976 (Sonata and Quaderno) and Genoa, January
1977 (Tre episodi and Musica); Rome, 28th
April 1977 (Petrassi)
WARNER FONIT 5050 467 1203 [58:59
+ 39:30] [JF]
An
interesting collection of little known piano music by two of Italy's
most prominent 20th Century composers. Well worth exploring. Not typical
dry-as-dust serial music. ... see Full
Review
Ernö
DOHNÁNYI
(1877-1960)
American Rhapsody
Op.47 (1953 [14.39] Harp concertino Op.45
(1952) [15.24] Romanza (from Serenade in C
Op.10 arr. Sitkovetski) (1902) [4.32] Violin
Concerto No. 2 Op. 43 (1949-50) [29.40]Wedding
Waltz Op.18 No.4 from The Veil of Pierrette
(1908-09) [6.36]
Janice Graham (violin) Lucy Wakeford (harp)
English Sinfonia/John Farrer Recorded in the
Watford Colosseum on 3-5 October 2000
ASV SANCTUARY CD DCA 1107 [71.23]
[CF]
This was a great
pleasure from start to finish. ... see Full
Review
Gaetano DONIZETTI
(1797-1868) Roberto
Devereux, Lyric tragedy in three acts
Elisabetta, (Queen of England) Nelly Miricioiu
(sop); Roberto Devereux, (Earl of Essex) José
Bros (ten); Sara, (Duchess of Nottingham)
Sonia Ganassi (mezzo); Duke of Nottingham,
Roberto Frontali (bar); Lord Cecil, Robin
Leggate, (ten); Raleigh, Graeme Broadbent
(bass)
Chorus and Orchestra of The Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden, London/Maurizio Benini Recorded
at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.
July 2002 Full Price
OPERA RARA ORC24 [2CDs: 60.03+65.28] [RJF]
Given
its ready availability and particularly Nelly
Miricioiu’s dramatic interpretation, this
is the version to go for despite the drawback
of the interruptions of applause. ... see
Full Review
Jonathan DOVE
(b.1959)
Flight Refugee
– Christopher Robson (counter-tenor) Controller
– Claron McFadden (soprano) Bill – Richard
Coxon (tenor) Tina – Mary Plazas (soprano)
Older Woman – Nuala Willis (mezzo-soprano)
Stewardess – Ann Taylor (mezzo-soprano) Steward
– Gary Magee (baritone) Minskman – Steven
Page (bass-baritone) Minskwoman – Anne Mason
(mezzo-soprano) Immigration Officer – Richard
Van Allan (bass-baritone)
Glyndebourne Festival Opera London Philharmonic
Orchestra/David Parry Recorded Glyndebourne
September 1999
CHANDOS CHAN10197(2) [64.55 + 64.17] [RH]
This
is a lovely performance of a fine, attractive
contemporary opera: for once, a contemporary
composer created something contemporary without
being embarrassed by the past. ... see Full
Review
John DOWNEY Disclamations:
Discourse for oboe, harpsichord and
string orchestra; Jingalodeon; Concerto
for double bass and orchestra.
Han de Vries (oboe) John Downey (harpsichord)
Gary Karr ( double bass) London Symphony Orchestra/Geoffrey
Simon DDD
CALA CACD 1003 [76 14] [DCFW]
Like
having beef stew with strawberries and cream
incorporated in it. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Antonín
DVORÁK (1841-1904) Piano Quintet for two
violins, viola and cello, op. 81 A major (1887) [40:16] String Quintet
for two violins, two violas and cello, op. 97 E flat-major (1893) [32:46]
Christian Zacharias (piano)
op.81 Hartmut Rohde (viola) op. 97 Leipzig String Quartet Recording:
April 23-24, 2003 at Markkleeberg; July 8-9, 2003 at Furstliche Reitbahn,
Bad Arolsen. DDD
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG GOLD 307 1249-2 [73:14]
[MC]
Deserves
the highest praise ... see
Full Review
Francesco GEMINIANI
(1687-1762) Dir
Zauberwald - orchestral concerto (1754)
Concerto Grosso Op.7 Nos. 4 in D minor and
6 in B flat major (1748)
La Stagione Frankfurt/Michael Schneider Recorded
Funkhaus, Sendesaal, Cologne, July 2003
CAPRICCIO 67 081 [58.10] [JW]
These
concerti grossi are ripely imaginative and
warm textured works that repay close listening
... warmly recommended ... see Full
Review
George GERSHWIN
(1898-1937) Rhapsody
in Blue (1923) [13:43] An American
in Paris (1928) [18:32] Broadway Overtures:
Oh Kay! [7:06]; Funny Face
[550]; Girl Crazy [5:41]; Strike
Up The Band (1927) [7:07]; Of
Thee I Sing [4:36]; Let 'Em Eat
Cake [8:19] Promenade: Walking
the Dog [2:54] Fascinating Rhythm
[3:36] George Gershwin (1925 piano roll) Columbia
Jazz Band (Rhapsody); New York Philharmonic
Orchestra (Paris); Buffalo Philharmonic
Orchestra (overtures); Los Angeles Philharmonic
Orchestra (Promenade; Fascinating
Rhythm); Sarah Vaughan (vocals), George
Gaffney (piano), Andy Simpkins (bass); Harold
Jones (drums) (Fascinating Rhythm)
Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas rec.
CBS 30th Street Studio, NYC, 23 June
1976 (Rhapsody); Philharmonic Hall (now Avery
Fisher), NYC, 11 Feb 1974 (Paris);
Kleinhaus Hall, Buffalo, NY, 12 May 1976 (overtures);
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, 21
Oct 1983 (Promenade); 1-2 Feb 1982
(Fascinating)
SONY CLASSICAL MASTERWORK EXPANDED EDITION
516241 2 [77.25] [RB]
A classic
meriting an outright recommendation. ... see
Full Review
Orlando GIBBONS
(1583-1625)
With A Merrie Noyse: Church Music This
is the record of John; Almighty and everlasting
God; A Voluntary; The Second Service - Morning
and Evening; Hymns and Songs for the church:
Nos. 1 and 9; A Fancy for Double Organ; O
clap your hands together; Great King of Kings;
See, see the word is incarnate
The Choir of Magdalene College, Oxford/Bill
Ives Jonathan Hardy (organ) Rogers Covey-Crump,
Steven Harrold, Peter Harvey, Stephen Connolly
Robin Bhattacharya, William Roome, Michael
Hickman, William Harpin (trebles) Recorded
in Magdalen Chapel, July 2003
HARMONIA MUNDI 907337 [59.40] [GH]
An
'in your face' sound ... very exciting. ...
an unusual sound suitable for the private
chapel ... immediate and arresting. ... see
Full Review
Mikhail GLINKA (1804-1857)
Ruslan
and Lyudmila (1842) Ruslan - Taras Shtonda (bass) Lyudmila -
Ekaterina Morozova (soprano) Svetosar - Vadim Lynkovsky (bass) Ratmir
- Alexandra Dursenova (contralto) Finn - Vitaly Panfilov (tenor) Gorislava
- Maria Gavrilova (soprano) Farlaf - Valery Gilmanov (bass) Bayan -
Maxim Paster (tenor) Naina - Irina Dolzhenko (mezzo soprano)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow/Alexander Vedernikov
Recorded 23-17 April 2003, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow 
PENTATONE PTC 5186 034 [3CDs: 64.54 + 64.42 + 73.56] [TB]
At
least a match for Simonov and Gergiev, and
in many respects better. Performances as idiomatic
and committed as the Bolshoi pedigree would
lead us to expect. ... see Full
Review
Christoph
Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787)
Opera
Explained Series. An Introduction to Orfeo
ed Euridice
Musical illustrations taken from Naxos 8.660044:
Orfeo, Ann-Christine Biel, cont; Euridice,
Maya Boog, sop; Amor, Kerstin Averno, sop;
Drottningholm Theatre Chorus and Orchestra/Arnold
Ostman. Narrative written by Thomson Smillie
and spoken by David Timson
NAXOS EDUCATIONAL Opera Explained
Series 8.558122 [66.17] [RJF]
Beginner
or an experienced opera buff this disc will
greatly enhance your listening pleasure. ...
see Full Review
Christoph Willibald
GLUCK (1714
– 1787) – Iphigénie en Tauride Iphigénie
– Régine Crespin (soprano) Oreste –
Robert Massard (baritone) Pylade – Guy Chauvet
(tenor) Thoas – Victor de Narke (bass) Diane
– Marta Benegas (mezzo-soprano) Un Scythe
– Guy Gavardo Orchestra and Chorus of the
Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires/Georges Sebastian
Recorded May 29th 1964, Teatro
Colon, Buenos Aires Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756 – 1791) – Di scriverni
ogni giorno; Soave sia Il vento (Cosí
fan Tutte) Fiordiligi – Régine
Crespin (soprano) Dorablla – Jacqueline Delusseux
(mezzo-soprano) Guglielmo – Pierre Germain
(tenor) Ferrando – Michel Hamel (baritone)
Don Alfonso – Jean Cussac (bass) Desire-Emile
Inghelbrecht (conductor) Giuseppe
VERDI (1813 – 1901) – Gia nella notte
densa (Otello) Desdemona – Régine
Crespin (soprano) Otello – Jose Luccioni (tenor)
Georges Sebastian (conductor) Henri
TOMASI (1901 – 1971) – Sampiero Corso
(excerpts) Régine Crespin (soprano)
Henri Tomasi (conductor)
GALA GL 100.595 [69.58 + 68.37] [RH]
A
valuable record of Régine Crespin in
a French language opera by Gluck, even if
the recorded sound is rather limited. ...
see Full Review
Ferde GROFE
(1892-1972) Mississippi
Suite (1926) [13’38"] Grand
Canyon Suite (1931) [31’57"] Niagara
Falls Suite (1961) [22’06"]
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/William T.
Stromberg Recorded 1999 Wessex Hall, Poole
Arts Centre, Poole, Dorset, UK
NAXOS SACD/CD 6.110002 [67.46] [JW]
The
performances are splendid as well and cap
a salutary salute to Grofé. ... see
Full Review
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Handel Arias sung by Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Theodora: "Ah! Whither should we fly ... As with rosy
steps the morn" [9:08]; "O bright example of all goodness ... Bane of
virtue, nurse of passions" [6:42]; "The clouds begin to veil the hemisphere
... Defend her Heav'n" [6:26]; "Lord, to Thee each night and day" [6:06];
"She's gone, disdaining liberty and life ... New scenes of joy" [6:24].
La Lucrezia - Cantata* [20:51]. Serse: "Se
bramate d'amar, chi vi sdegna" [6:39]; "Frondi tenere e belle ... Ombra
mai fù" [3:54]
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson - mezzo-soprano Stephen Stubbs - Lute and
Baroque Guitar* Phoebe Carrai - Cello* Margriet Tindemans - Viola da
Gamba* Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment/Harry Bicket - conductor
(also harpsichord and chamber organ*) Recorded 24, 26 August 2003, Blackheath
Concert Halls, London (Theodora and Serse); 18-21 March 2004, Concert
Hall of King Center, Denver, Colorado (La Lucrezia)
AVIE AV0030 [67:00][CW]
An
impeccably recorded and presented disc; but
one which shows off the singer's vocal consistency
better than her powers of characterisation.
... see Full
Review
George Frideric
HANDEL
(1685-1759) Gideon
– Oratorio in Three Parts compiled
by John Christopher
SMITH (1712-1795) Angel/Israelite
– Barbara Hannigan (soprano) Oreb/messenger/Israelite
– Linda Perillo (soprano) Eliakim/Israelite
– Nicola Wemyss (soprano) Israelite – David
Cordier (counter tenor) Gideon – Knut Schoch
(tenor) Prophet/Joash/Priest of Baal – Stephan
MacLeod (bass) Junge Kantorei
Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra/Joachim Carlos
Martini Recorded live at Kloster Eberbach,
Rheingau on 8th June 2003
NAXOS 8.557312-13 [2 CDs: 76.27 + 76.26]
[JW]
I’m
not sure what audience there will be for yet
another of these pasticcio oratorios but at
this price there aren’t many serious reservations
to be made about the spirit of the interpretation
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809)
London Symphonies, Volume 1 Symphonies
No. 93 -98Rec. 1957-8, Salle Wagram Paris;
No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London
EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 5 85770 2
London Symphonies, Volume 2 Symphonies
No. 99 -104 Rec. 1957-8, Salle Wagram, Paris;
No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas
Beecham
EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 5 85513 2 [77.08 +
78.23] [TB]
Beecham
remains what he has been for nearly fifty
years: a special case. ... see
Full Review
Franz
Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809)The
London Trios Trio for keyboard, flute
and cello in D (H XV,16) [16:38] Trio for
two flutes and cello in C ‘London Trio
1’* (H IV,1) [12:00] Trio for keyboard,
flute and cello in G (H XV,15) [17:24] Trio
for two flutes and cello in G ‘London
Trio 3’* (H IV,3) [09:43] Trio for keyboard,
flute and cello in F (H XV,17) [10:37] Trio
movement for two flutes and cello in G ‘London
Trio 4’* (H IV,4) [03:07] Andante con
variazioni for two flutes and cello in G ‘London
Trio 2’* (H IV,2) [05:15]
Camerata Köln (on period instruments):
Sabine Bauer, fortepiano; Karl Kaiser, Michael
Schneider (*), transverse flute; Julianne
Borsodi, Rainer Zipperling (*), cello Recorded
in June 2002 at the Studio of Deutschlandfunk,
Cologne. DDD
CPO 999 920-2 [70:49]
[JvV]
A
fine recording of some very entertaining and
at times compelling music which demonstrate
Haydn’s inexhaustible musical fantasies
... see Full Review
Johann Michael
HAYDN (1737-1806)
Missa
pro defuncto Archiepiscopo Sigismundo MH 154
[34:25] .Sinfonia MH 334 P 16 [15:17] Sinfonia
MH 82/184 P 9 [12:43] Johannette Zomer, soprano
Helena Rasker, alto Markus Schäfer, tenor
Klaus Mertens, bass
Choeur de Chambre Suisse, Fritz Naef directing
Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne/Christian
ZachariasRecorded at Salle Métropole
Lausanne on 6-8 October, 2003 DDD
MDG 340 1245-2 [62:45] [PG]
One
can hope that Michael Haydn will here be rediscovered
by the modern listener. You will find the
exploration rewarding. ... see Full
Review
Heifetz-Piatigorsky
Concerts - The Art of Jascha Heifetz: Volume
19 César
FRANCK (1822 - 1890) Piano Quintet in f (1879) [30.45]
with Leonard Pennario, piano; Israel Baker, violin; William Primrose,
viola. Recorded 22 August 1961 ADD Antonín
DVORÁK (1841-1904) Piano Quintet in A (1873)
[28.49] with Jacob Lateiner, piano; Israel Baker, violin; Joseph de
Pasquale, viola. Recorded 10 November 1964 ADD Jean
FRANÇAIX (1912 - 1997) String Trio in C (1933)
[10.32] with Joseph de Pasquale, viola. Recorded 11 November 1964 ADD
all with Jascha Heifetz,
violin, and Gregor Piatigorsky, cello. Recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood,
California, USA Notes in Japanese only. Also available in a US issue,
74321-90965-2 BMG
RCA BVCC 37125 (Japan) [70.12] [P Sh]
Good,
in places great, performances of lesser known
chamber masterpieces, well recorded. But try
to find a copy with English program notes
... see Full
Review
Gustav HOLST
(1874-1934) Savitri
- A chamber Opera
in one Act [25.19] Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) The
Lark Ascending [14.55] Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Sinfonietta:
Poco Presto [3.33]; Variations [5.14];
Tarantella [4.25]
Jessica Miller (soprano), Kyu Won Han
(Bass), Simon O’Neill (tenor) Manhattan School
of Music Opera Theater Manhattan Chamber Sinfonia/Glen
Barton Cortese Recorded in the USA 2000. DDD
PHOENIX PHCD 145 [53.26] [EM]
A
dry-eyed Savitri and fairly accomplished and
gratifying performances of The Lark Ascending
and the Sinfonietta ... see Full
Review
Alan
HOVHANESS
(1911-2000) Cello
Concerto Op. 17 (1936) [31.13] (Andante - Maestoso [15:56]; Allegro
[03:27]; Andante [11:40]) Symphony No. 22 City of Light Op. 236 (1971)
[29.43] (Allegro moderato [10:00]; Angel of Light (Largo); Allegretto
grazioso [02:42]; Finale: Largo maestoso [13:06])
Janos Starker (cello) Seattle SO/Dennis Russell Davies (concerto); composer
(symphony) rec. 19 Mar 1999, Benaroya Hall, Seattle (concerto); 19 May
1992, Seattle Center Opera House. DDD
NAXOS 8.559158 [60.49] [JF]
A
fascinating CD. I cannot quite bottom out Hovhaness’s style, but
there is a sense of expanse about this music that absolutely demands
further exploration. A good introduction – I think! ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Requiem
Æternam Herbert
HOWELLS (1892-1983) Requiem (1935) [20’31”];
Motet: Take him, earth, for cherishing (1964) [9’05”] Frank
MARTIN (1890-1974) Mass (1922/6) [26’00“]
Sally Barber (sop); Julia
Field (alto); Mark Johnstone (tenor); Andrew Angus (bar) Vasari Singers/Jeremy
Backhouse Recording: All Hallows, Gospel Oak 18-20 February 1994 DDD
SIGNUM TWO SIGCD
503 [56’30”] [JQ]
A
most attractive proposition that I recommend
with the highest possible enthusiasm. ...
see Full Review
Hans HUBER Piano
Concerto no. 1 in C minor, Op. 36 (1878) Piano
Concerto no. 3 in D, Op. 113 (1899)
Dan Franklin Smith (piano) Stuttgart Philharmonic
Orchestra/Michail Jurowski World premiere
recordings (DDD)
STERLING CDS-1056-2 [62. 31] [DCFW]
The
orchestra seem on good form and I think many
people will enjoy these concertos. It seems
that I have been too damning but then there
is a wealth of better music that is not recorded.
... see Full Review
Charles
IVES (1874-1954)
Songs: The Things Our Fathers Loved; The Housatonic at Stockbridge;
From the Swimmers; Memories (A – Very Pleasant, B –Rather
Sad); Ann Street; Serenity; 1,2,3; Songs my mother taught me; The Circus
Band; The Cage; The Indians; Like A Sick Eagle; “A sound of a
distant horn”; September; Soliloquy (or a Study in 7ths and Other
Things); A Farewell to Land; Thoreau Piano Sonata No.2
Concord, Mass, 1840-60 *
Susan Graham (mezzo-soprano) Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano) Tabea Zimmermann
(viola) * Emmanuel Pahud (flute) * Rec. Grosser Saal, Vienna, November
2003 (Songs) and January 2004 (Sonata)
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 60297-2 [79.18] [JW]
An
outright recommendation ... see Full
Review
Charles IVES
(1874-1954)
Sonata
No.2 for Piano, ‘Concord, Mass.: 1840-60’
(1904-15) Varied Air and Variations The
Celestial Railroad Four Transcriptions from
‘Emerson’, No.1
Steven Mayer (piano) Recorded at the Toronto
Centre for the Arts, Toronto, Canada, 30-31
January 2002
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559127 [72’35]
[TH]
A
very successful disc overall. ... see
Full Review
Vítěslava
KAPRÁLOVÁ
(1915-1940) Songs
Dana Burešová (sop) Timothy Cheek (piano) Magda Časlavová
(flute) Petr Zdvihal (violin) Jan Valta (violin) David Havelík
(cello) rec. 13-20 July 2003, Domovina Studio, Prague. DDD
SUPRAPHON SU3752-2 231 [70.13] [CC]
Some
of the most purely beautiful music I have heard in a long while. ...
music well worth investigating ... exudes professionalism and dedication.
... see Full Review
KLEZMER –
Première Recordings TRADITIONAL
Vi bist du gevezn far prohibition* 3:19; Kolomeke* 2:36; Moldavian Hora*
4:30; Zol zayn gelebt† 3:11; Ma Yofus/Odessa Bulgar† 7:04
(Guest appearance by David Sela); Firen di Mehutonim Aheym† 4:20;
Freylekh Yidelakh* 3:26; Di Zilberne Khasene† 4:05; Dem Trisker
rebbins chosid* 4:38; Dem rebin's Nigun, Oy Tate† 3:37; Violin
Doina‡ 6:39; Fun Tashlikh* 6:42; Tears of Israel* 5:37 H.
OPPENHEIM/A. LEGAULT Going Home† 3:58 H.
OPPENHEIM Omer Tantz† 4:22 Dedicated to/À Omer Sami
Çosar Kleztory: Airat
Ichmourato(clarinet); Alain Legault (guitar); Elvira Misbakhova (violin);
Mark Peetsma (double bass); Henri Oppenheim (accordion) I Musici de
Montréal/Yuli Turovskyrec. 18-19 Sept 2003, L’Église
de la Nativité de la Sainte Vierge, La Prairie, Quebec. DSD CHANDOS
CHAN 10181 [69'24] [R Bl]
I
can make a clear recommendation for this CD
but I urge listeners to try Klezmer in its
other forms as well ... see Full
Review
Herman D KOPPEL
(1908-1998) Symphony
no 3. Op 39 Symphony no 4, Op 42.
Aalborg Symphony Orchestra/Moshe Atzmon.
DDD
DA CAPO MARCO POLO 8.226016 [62 46] [DCFW]
If
you understand the man, you will understand
his music. His life, and his private life,
is often the key to an understanding and appreciation
of his music. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Erich
Wolfgang KORNGOLD
(1897-1957) Works and transcriptions
of his own works for violin and piano: Much
Ado About Nothing Suite for Violin and
Piano (1918 arr 1920) Sonata for Violin
and Piano (1912) ‘Ich ging zu ihm’ from Das
Wunder der Heliane (1923-27) Serenade
from Der Schneemann (1910) ‘Tanzlied
des Pierrot’ and ‘Marietta’s Lied’ from Die
tote Stadt (1916-20) Caprice Fantastique
(1932)
Joseph Lin (violin) and Benjamin Loeb
(piano) Rec. Performing Arts Centre, County
Day School, King City, Ontario, Canada, 26-29
August, 2002
NAXOS 8.557067 [72:06] [IL]
Excellent
virtuosic and expressive performances of some
of Korngold’s most enchanting music. ... see
Full Review
Erich Wolfgang
KORNGOLD
(1897-1957) Movements
from: Suite for two violins, cello and
piano (left hand); Piano Quintet in E major
Songs to words by William Shakespeare: Mond,
so gehest du wieder auf; Liebesbriefchen;
Was Du mir bist; In meine innige
Nacht; Sommer; ‘Marietta’s Lied’
from Die Tote Stadt Anne
Sofie von Otter (mezzo); Bengt Forsberg (piano)
Ulf Forsberg (violin); Nils-Erik Sparf (violin);
Tobias Ringborg (viola); Mats Lidström
(cello) recorded at the Théâtre
Musical de Paris, Châtelet, 2000 
TDK
Voices of our time DVD VIDEO DV-VTASO-EUR
[91 mins] [IL]
A
delightful concert of mainly lesser-known
songs and chamber works by Korngold. Anne
Sofie von Otter, clearly empathising with
these lovely bitter-sweet songs, shines. ...
see Full Review
Latvian
Music Series - Volume One Romualds
JERMAKS (b. 1931) Five Latvian Folk Songs (for one piano/four
hands) [11.15] Talivaldis KENNIS (b. 1919)
Sonata for Two Pianos [18.06]Imants MEZARAUPS
(b. 1958) Deux Postludes après Chopin (for one
piano/four hands) [3.53]Selga MENCE (b.
1953) Songs for Two Pianos (2000?) [17.53] Imants
ZEMZARIS (b. 1951) Three Sisters Fantasy for Two Pianos
(1975) [9.23] Dace APERANS (b.
1953) Haiku for Two Pianos [7.40]Andris
VECUMNIEKS (b. 1964) Quasi Campanella (paraphrase of
an etude by N. Paganini – F. Liszt) [5.33] Paraphrase after J.P.
Rameau’s Two Hens (for one piano/four hands) [6.11]
Antra and Normunds Viksne (piano duo) No details of recording venue
or dates ANGELOK
1 (2003) CD 7701 [79.59] [NL]
If
your tastes run to include the occasionally
‘barking’ then go for this CD.
Everything is brilliantly played ... see Full
Review
Franz LEHÁR
(1870
-1948) Die lustige
Witwe Baron
Mirko Zeta – Anton Niessner (bass) Valencienne
– Emmy Loose (soprano) Count Danilo Danilowitsch
– Erich Kunz (baritone) Hanna Glawari – Elisabeth
Schwarzkopf (soprano) Cammile de Rosillon
– Nicolai Gedda (tenor) Vicomte Cascada –
Otakar Kraus (bass) Raoul de Saint-Brioche
– Josef Schmidinger
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/Otto Ackermann
Recorded 1953
REGIS RRC 1163 [79.11] [RH]
A
valuable insight into the way German operetta
was performed before the internationalisation
and homogenisation of performing styles. ...
very welcome that Regis have issued it on
a single CD .... superb performances ... see
Full Review
Ruggiero
LEONCAVALLO
(1857-1919) An
Introduction to ... Pagliacci (1892)
written by Thomson Smillie narrated by David
Timson Musical examples taken from I Pagliacci
— Naxos 8.660021 Canio, Nicola Martinucci,
tenor Nedda, Miriam Gauci, soprano Tonio, Eduard
Tumagian, baritone Beppe, Miroslav Dvorsky,
tenor Silvio, Boje Skovhus, baritone
Slovak Philharmonic Choir Czecho-Slovak
Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava)/Alexander
Rahbari produced 2004 Opera Explained series
NAXOS 8.558143 [61:34] [JL]
Another
well produced disc in the Naxos opera explained
series. This one contains some interesting
material on the commedia dell’ arte tradition
that many opera lovers may find useful. ...
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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