Camille SAINT-SAËNS
(1835-1921) Samson
et Dalila opera in three acts (1877)
Plus: César Vezzani, (ten) and Marie
Duchêne (mezzo) in Act 2 scene 3 and
César Vezzani in the ‘Mill Scene’ Samson,
René Maison (ten); Dalila, Gertrud
Wettergren (mezzo); High Priest, Ezio Pinza
(bass); Abimelech, John Gurney (ten); Old
Hebrew, Emmanuel List (bass) 
Orchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan
Opera, New York/Maurice Abravanel Rec. from
Live Broadcast, December 26th 1936.
Vezzani and Duchêne scenes recorded
around 1930
GUILD HISTORICAL IMMORTAL PERFORMANCES SERIES
GHCD 2273-2274 [76.05 + 78.48] [RJF]
The
performance on these discs features the conducting
of Maurice Abravanel making his Met debut
at the age of 33, then the youngest conductor
in the company’s history ... see Full
Review
Antonio SALIERI
(1750-1825) La
passione di nostro Signore Gesu Cristo – Azione
sacra per Soli, Coro ed Orchestra (1776)
Maddalena – Melba Ramos (soprano) Giovanni
– Franziska Gottwald (contralto) Pietro –
Florian Mock (tenor) Giuseppe d’Arimatea –
Hanno Müller-Brachmann (bass)
Chorus Musicus Köln Das Neue Orchester/Christoph
Spering Recorded DeutschlandRadio, Funkhaus,
Cologne, July 2003
CAPRICCIO 60 100 [2 CDs: 47.29 + 43.06]
[JW]
A
mark of the young Salieri’s already impressive
command ... this performance, whilst hardly
flawless, is committed and lucidly performed.
... see Full
Review
Emil
von SAUER
(1862-1942) Piano
Concerto No.2 in C minor (publ. 1901) Cinq
Morceaux de difficulté moyenne (1909)
Marche in G major, Petite Etude in E flat
major, Valse lente, Berceuse, Humoresque Petite
Scène de Ballet in D major (1908) Menuet
(Vieux style) in B flat major (1904) Polka
de Concert in A major (1895) Galop de Concert
(Etude-Galop) in A flat major (1899)
Oleg Marshev (piano) Aarhus Symphony
Orchestra/James Loughran Recorded Frichsparken,
Aarhus and Symfonien, Aalborg, September 2002
DANACORD DACOCD 596 [66.35] [JW]
Music
played with outstanding sympathy and delicate
colouration – not to mention command of the
idiom bringing out all the orchestral piquancies
and romantic swellings with unselfconscious
finesse. ... see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828)
Octet
for Winds and Strings D. 803 [65:36] Trio
for Violin, Viola and Cello D. 471 [12:23]
Chamber Players of Canada: Julian Armour,
cello; Murielle Bruneau, double bass; Jonathan
Crow, violin; Andrew Dawes, violin; Guylaine
Lemaire, viola; Christopher Millard, bassoon;
James Sommerville, horn; Kimball Sykes, clarinet.
Recorded at St. Patrick’s Church, Fallowfield,
Ontario, June 14-15, 2002 DDD
CBC RECORDS MVCD 1159 [77:59] [KS]
Except
for the occasional balance issue in the recording,
this is a winner on all counts. Highly recommended.
... see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828)String
Quartet No. 13 in A minor D804 Rosamunde
(1824) String Quartet No. 14 in D minor D810
Death and the Maiden (1824) String
Quartet No. 15 in G major D887 (1826) String
Quintet in C major D956* (1828)
Hungarian Quartet * with László
Varga (2nd cello) Rec. Schola Cantorum,
Paris 1958 (D804, D810); Salle Wagram, Paris
1968 (D887); 1970 (D956) ADD
EMI Gemini CLASSICS 585 526 2 [78:47 +
77:58] [PCW]
A
recommendable bargain price set for newcomers
to Schubert’s chamber music ... see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828)
Piano
Sonata D960 in B flat Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)/Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Song transcriptions:
Ständchen, S560 No.7 (after Schwanengesang,
D597); Das Wandern, S565 No.1 (after Die schöne
Müllerin, D795); Wohin?, S.565 No.5 (after
Die schöne Müllerin, D795); Aufenthalt,
S560 No.3 (after Schwanengesang, D597) Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Mephisto Waltz
No.1, S514)
Evgeny Kissin (piano) rec. 10 & 11
June 2003, SWR-Studio, Freiburg, Germany.
DDD
BMG-RCA RED SEAL 82876 58462 2 [72’ 21"]
[RNB]
buy
this CD for masterly readings of the Liszt
works and you have the bonus of two delicious
sonata movements. ... I’d go for that! ...
see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz
Peter SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Deutsche Schubert-Lied Edition 15 - Schubert’s
Friends, Vol.2 see
review for titles
Brigitte Geller (mezzo) Ulrich Eisenlohr
(piano) Recorded at Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg,
10-13 December 2002
NAXOS 8.557171 [70:10] [SA]
A
truly enjoyable disc. ... see Full
Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856)
Symphonic
Studies, Op. 13 (1852 version with Etudes
from 1837 version, also including 1873 Appendix)
[28’09]. Fantasie in C, Op. 17 (1836)
[31’13]. Bunte Blätter, Op. 99
(1836-49) - Albumblätter I-V [8’23].
Arabeske in C, Op. 18 (1839) [6’36]
Mikhail Pletnev (piano) Rec. Teldec Studio,
Berlin, Germany, in August, 2003. DDD
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 474 813-2 [76’31]
[CC]
For
Pletnev fans only, I fear. Fans of Schumann
may like to give this disc a wide berth. ...
see Full Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856)
Kreisleriana,
Op. 16 (1838) * Fantasy in C major, Op. 17
(1836-38)
Evgeny Kissin, piano Recorded Südwestfunk
Landesstudio, Freiburg, Germany, August 1995,
August 1997 *
BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 59412 [67:21] [DS]
Displays
superb pianism and often captures the full
beauty of the music. He falls from the heights
when portraying contrasting emotions ... see
Full Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-56)
The Complete Secular Choral Works, a cappella
see
review for details
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92148 [4CDs: 52:22
+ 61:36 + 56:52 + 61:36] [MC]
Charming
a cappella choral works sensitively performed
and recorded with numerous precious gems to
be unearthed. A most appealing set! Highly
recommended! ... see Full
Review
Heinrich
SCHÜTZ
(1585-1672)
Musicalisches Exequien (German
Requiem), SWV 279-281 Die sieben Worte Jesu
Christi am Kreuz (The Seven Words of Jesus
Christ on the Cross), SWV 478 Die mit Tranen
saen (They that sow in tears), SWV 378 So
fahr ich hin zu Jesu Christ (So onward I go
to Jesus Christ), SWV 379
Veronika Wihter (soprano) Bettian Pahn (soprano)
Henning Voss (counter-tenor) Jan Kobow (tenor)
Henning Kaiser (tenor) Ralf Grobe (bass) Ulrich
Maier (bass) Beate Rollecke (organ) Die Himlische
Cantorey Alsfelder Vokalensemble Bremen Barockorchester
I Febiarmonici/Wolfgang Helbich (conductor).
Recorded at the St. Petri Dom, Bremen from
10-12 October, 2001. DDD
NAXOS 8.555705 [52:51 [MC]
An
exceptional recording of the highest possible
quality. Schütz is a major figure and
his music offers major rewards. Wonderful!
... see Full Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906
- 1975) Symphony
No.4 in C Minor, Op. 43 (1936)
London Shostakovich Orchestra/Christopher
Cox recorded in St. Cyprian’s Church, London
on 8 November 2003 (including applause) DDD
DUNELM RECORDS DRD02126B [63’39] [JPh]
So,
to sum up, I cannot give this disc a recommendation
unless you want it as a memento of the concert
in London on 8th November 2003.
In that case go ahead but be aware of the
shortcomings ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Violin
Concerto No. 1, Op. 99 (1947-48 revised 1955)
Symphony No. 6, Op. 54 (1939)
Elmar Oliveira (violin) Seattle Symphony/Gerard
Schwarz Recorded at Benaroya Hall, Seattle,
WA, 2003
ARTEK AR 0017-2 [69.06] [JW]
This
brace of recordings achieves a degree of emotive
consonance without ever really getting to
the heart of the matter ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Piano
Trios - No. 1, Op. 8 (1923) [12’24]; No. 2
in E minor, Op. 67 (1944) [28’41]. Aaron
COPLAND (1900-1990) Trio ‘Vitebsk’
(1929) [13’16].
Trio Wanderer (Vincent Coq, piano; Jean-Marc
Philips-Varjabédian, violin; Raphaël
Pidoux, cello). Rec IRCAM, Paris, in May 2003.
DDD
HARMONIA MUNDI FRANCE HMC901825 [54’49]
[CC]
Worth
hearing, then, especially as the disc works
so well as a programme. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906
- 1975) Hamlet
- complete music for the 1964 film,
Op. 116/116a
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitri
Yablonsky Rec. Studio 5, Russian State TV
& Radio Company KULTURA, Moscow, 6-14
February 2003
NAXOS 8.557446 [62'28] [PSe]
Another
cracker from Naxos: that very rare bird indeed
- an original film score that can not only
stand on its own, but grip its audience from
start to finish. ... see Full
Review
Siena
Lute Book Francesco
da PARIGI Fantasia [3.32]
ANON Fantasia
[3.34] Francesco da MILANO
Fantasia [4.02] Francesco
da MILANO Ricercar
[1.07] ANON (Francesco
da MILANO?) Fantasia [3.03] Francesco
da MILANO Recercata
[1.12] ANON Fantasia [3.27]
ANON Passemezo
del Giorgio [2.27] Francesco da MILANO
Ricercata [1.53] Fabrizio
DENTICE Fantasia
[5.37] Perino FIORENTINO
Fantasia [3.04] Fabrizio
DENTICE Fantasia
[2.48] ANON Spagna
detta Lamire. Quarto Modo [1.30] ANON
Spagna detta Lamire. Secondo Modo[1.20]
Giulio Segni da MODENA Ricercar
ottavo [2.06] Clement JANEQUIN / ANON
Orsus Orsus [5.35] Francesco da
MILANO Ricerchare[2.11]
Pierre SANDRIN / ANON La
Volunte [3.26] Thomas CRECQUILLON / ANON
Pour ung plaisir [3.25] ANON
Fantasia [1.47] Giulio
SEVERINO Fantasia
[3.36] Francesco da MILANO
Fantasia [2.09] ANON
Balletto [1.38] ANON
Gagliarda [2.21] ANON
Gagliarda [1.59] Fabrizio
DENTICE Fantasia
[2.55] 
Jacob
Heringman (lute); Lynda Sayce (lute) Recorded in the Church of St. Michael
and all Angels, Great Tew, Oxfordshire on 19-20th September
2003. DDD.
AVIE AV0036 [72.06][EM]
One for lute music devotees, one feels, though,
rather than for a wider audience. ... see Full
Review
Christian
SINDING (1856-1941)
Symphony no.3 in F major op.121 (1919),
Symphony no.4 – Rhapsody for Orchestra “Vinter og Vår”
(1936) NDR Radiophilharmonie/David
Porcelijn Recorded December 2001, November 2002 in the Grosser Sendesaal
of the NDR CPO
999 596-2 [76:36] [CH]
Sinding’s
final two symphonies much a much better impression
than his first two. If you like the music
of Pfitzner and Reger you should enjoy this
disc. ... see Full
Review
Nikos
SKALKOTTAS
(1904-1949) Concerto
No. 3 for Piano and Ten Wind Instruments (1939)
[65’50] The Gnomes (1939) [14’13]
Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) Caput Ensemble/Nikos
Christodoulou Recorded at Salurinn, Iceland,
6 Nov. 2002 (Concerto) and Reykjavik
City Theatre, Iceland, 12 Nov. 2002 (Gnomes)
BIS CD 1364 [80’53] [TH]
Well
crafted music and worth getting to know ...
see Full Review
Roger SMALLEY
(b.
1943) Chamber
Music: Chopin Variations for piano;
Piano Trio; Poles Apart for ensemble;
Trio for clarinet, violin and cello; Crepuscule
for piano quartet; CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Mazurka in C# minor;
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Intermezzo in E minor Op. 116 no.
5
Douglas Finch (piano) Continuum Ensemble/Philip
Headlam Recorded at the Church of St. Jude
on the Hill, Hampstead, London, July 2003
NMC D083 [78.12] [GH]
This
is strong and characterful music. It demands
your attention but is not overbearing or ugly.
... see Full
Review
Louis (Ludwig)
SPOHR (1784-1859)
Chamber Music CD
1 Quintet, in C minor, for piano, flute, clarinet,
horn and bassoon, Op. 52 (1820) Sextet, in
C major, for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos,
Op. 140 (1848) CD 2 Septet, for flute, clarinet,
horn, bassoon, violin, cello and piano, Op.
147 (1854) Quintet, for 2 violins, viola,
cello and piano, Op. 130 (1845)
Ensemble Villa Musica Recorded: March
13-15, 1992 (CD 1); November 1993 (CD 2) at
Furstliche Reitbahn Arolsen. DDD
MDG GOLD 304 1263-2 [57:32 + 66:35] [MC]
Superbly
performed and recorded this is a release worthy
of inclusion in any serious collection. ...
see Full Review
Charles Villiers
STANFORD
(1852-1924) Cello
Sonata No.1 in A major Op.9 (1877) Cello Sonata
No.2 in D minor Op.39 (1889) Ballata Op.160
No.1 (1918) performing edition by Christopher
Howell
Alison Moncrieff Kelly (cello) Christopher
Howell (piano) No Recording details [2003?]
MERIDIAN RECORDS CDE 84482 [70.05] [JW]
The
performances are fine evincing total identification.
a boon to admirers – an increasing number
it’s good to observe – of Stanford. ... see
Full Review
William
STERNDALE BENNETT (1816-1875)
Piano
Concertos (ed. David Byers): No. 1 in D minor,
Op. 1 (1832) [24’12]; No. 3 in C minor, Op.
9 (1834) [27’15]. Caprice in E, Op. 22 (1838)
[13’23]
Malcolm Binns (piano) London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite. No rec. info.
DDD
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD204 [65’48]
[CC]
This
release contains much to delight the senses.
Binns’ other WSB disc forms the necessary
complement to this release – they should be
ideally enjoyed together. ... see Full
Review
Gottfried
Heinrich STŐLZEL (1690-1749)
Cantatas for Pentecost, 1737 Werdet
voll Geistes [9:53] Siehe da, eine Hütte
Gottes [9:21] Wollte Gott, daß alle
das Volk weissagete [8:14] Daran ist erschienen
die Liebe Gottes gegen uns [12:53] So denn
ihr, die ihre arg seid [10:17] Lehre mich
tun nach deinem Wohlgefallen [9:30] Cantata
for Quasimodogeniti Sunday, 1732 Er heißet
Friedefürst [6:47]
Dorothee Mields, soprano Martin Wőlfel,
alto Jan Kobow, tenor Christian Immler, bass
Telemanisches Collegium Michaelstein/Rudger
Rémy Rec. Evangelical Church of St.
Bonifatius, June 23-26, 2002 DDD
CPO 999 876-2 [68:11] [JV]
There
is no note of music on this disc that is not
pure pleasure ... see
Full Review
Johann
STRAUSS I (1804-1849)
Edition – Volume 4
Schwarz'sche Ball-Tänze im Saal zum Sperl: Cotillons nach beliebten
Motiven aus der Oper: Die Stumme von Portici (Auber), Op. 32 (09:17),
Charmant-Polka, (01:57), Vive la danse! Walzer, Op. 47 (05:40), Fortuna-Galopp,
Op. 69 (02:07), Heiter auch in ernster Zeit, Walzer, Op. 48 (05:30),
Original Parademarsch: Wiener Bürger Marsch No. 1 (02:02), Das
Leben ein Tanz oder Der Tanz ein Leben! Walzer, Op. 49 (07:02), Launen-Polka
(02:50), Cotillons nach beliebten Motiven aus der Oper Die Unbekannte
(La Straniera) (Bellini), Op. 50 (08:17), Venetianer-Galopp, Op. 74
(01:59), Hof-Ball-Tänzer, Walzer, Op. 51 (05:42), Galopp No. 1
aus Die Stumme von Portici (01:21), Bajaderen-Walzer, Op. 53 (08:38),
Galopp No. 2 aus Die Stumme von Portici (01:15)
Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina/Ernst Märzendorfer
MARCO POLO 8.225254 [66:36][CH]
Another
success for the veteran Märzendorfer
– authentic performances in the truest
sense. .. see Full
Review
Richard STRAUSS
(1864 - 1949) Vier
Letzte Lieder (1949) [24.03] Befreit, Op 39,
#4 (1898) [5.56] Muttertändel, Op 43,
#2 (1899) [2.06] Wiegenlied, Op 41, #1 (1899)
[4.42] Waldseligkeit, Op 49, #1 (1901) [3.28]
Cäcilie, Op 27, #2 (1894) [2.29] Renée
Fleming, soprano Der Rosenkavalier, Op 59;
Suite (1911) [25.21]
Houston Symphony Orchestra/Christoph Eschenbach
No information on recording location or date.
[1996] Notes in English, Deutsch, and Français.
Texts and translations. BMG
RCA RED SEAL CLASSICS 82876 59408 2 [68.55]
[PSh]
A
great Rosenkavalier Suite and very fine, but
maybe not the best, 4 Last Songs ... see Full
Review
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Salome
(1905) [99’01] Eva Marton (soprano)
Salome; Heinz Zednik (tenor) Herodes; Brigitte
Fassbaender (mezzo) Herodias; Bernd Weikl
(baritone) Jokanaan; Keith Lewis (tenor) Narraboth,
second Nazarene; Gabriele Schreckenbach (mezzo)
A Page of Herodias; James O’Neal (tenor),
Peter Maus (tenor), Karl Markus (tenor), Donald
George (tenor), Reinhard Beyer (bass) Five
Jews; Victor von Hameln (bass) Nazarene, second
soldier; Julian Robbins (bass) first soldier,
Reinhold Beyer (bass) Cappadocian;
Berliner Philharmoniker/Zubin Mehta.
Rec. Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin-Dahlem,
on November 3rd-8th
and 12th, 1990.
SONY CLASSICAL SM2K90450 [53’21 + 45’40]
[CC]
The
BPO is a tremendous vehicle to have at one’s
disposal. A pity Mehta is unable to capitalise
fully on his good fortune … a work of the
stature and significance of Salome surely
deserves better. ... see Full
Review
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) L’histoire
du soldat (1918) Renard (1915-22)
Gérard Carrat (Narrator), François Berthet (Soldier),
François Simon (Devil) Nicolas Chumachenco (violin) Eric Tappy,
Pierre-André Blazer (tenors), Philippe Hutenlocher (baritone),
Jules Bastin (bass), Siegfried Schmidt (cimbalom) Ensemble Instrumental/Charles
Dutoit Rec. Salle des Fêtes de Rennens, Lausanne, Switzerland,
1970 (L’histoire); Koeniz, Switzerland, 1972 (Renard) ADD
WARNER APEX 2564 61367-2 [73’25] [TH]
Good
analogue recordings ... instruments emerge with excellent clarity. This
new super budget release is well worth considering ... see Full
Review
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
CD1 The Firebird
(1910) Scherzo à la russe, version for jazz band
(1944) Four Studies (1952 version) Scherzo à la
russe, orchestral version (1943-44) CD2 Petrushka
(1911) Symphony in Three Movements (1942-45)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle Rec: Arts Centre,
University of Warwick, England, Dec 1986, Dec 1897. DDD
EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 7243 5 85538 2 6
[65:11 + 56:44] [MC]
Rattle’s
performances with the CBSO are appealing and
finely executed with enthusiasm and precision.
... see Full
Review
Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971) The
Rite of Spring (1913) The Firebird – Suite
(1919)* Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Scythian Suite Op.20 (1914-15)*
London Symphony Orchestra New York Philharmonic
Orchestra* Leonard Bernstein Recorded London,
1972 (The Rite of Spring), New York 1957 (The
Firebird) and 1964 (Scythian Suite)
SONY CLASSICAL 516240 2 [76.15] [JW]
Plenty
here to excite, alarm and intoxicate ... see
Full Review
Leopold
STOKOWSKI
The
New York Philharmonic Recordings
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Symphony No. 6 in e minor [29:16] (First recording, originally issued
on Columbia Masterworks LP ML 4214) Pyotr
Ilych TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture [19:07] (Originally issued on Columbia
Masterworks LP ML 4071)Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Symphony No. 35 in D Major ‘Haffner’ [15:17] Thomas
Jefferson SCOTT (1912-1961)
From the Sacred Harp [6:48] (With introductory remarks by the composer)
[:55] Jaromir WEINBERGER
(1896-1967)
Polka and Fugue from Schwanda the Bagpiper [7:30] Recording dates: 21
February 1949 (RVW);. 28 November 1949 (PIT); Recorded in Columbia Records’
30th Street Studios, New York 20 November 1949 (WAM); 30 February 1949
(TJS) originally issued on V-Disc 896; 16 January 1949 (JW). Live recordings
from Carnegie Hall, New York. DDD
CALA CACD0537 [78:58] [KS]
A
valuable disc, and for Stokowski fans in particular
it is a vivid portrait of a uniquely talented
artist in his prime. Recommended. ... see
Full Review
Karol SZYMANOWSKI
(1882-1937)
Songs
of a Fairytale Princess Op. 31 (1915 orch.
1934) [9:51] Love Songs of Hafiz Op.
26 (1914) [22:54] ongs of the Infatuated
Muezzin Op. 42 (1918 orch. 1934) [12:55]
Three Songs to Poems by Jan Kasprowicz
Op. 5 (1902, orch Grzegorz Fitelberg,
1930s) [18:30]
Izabella Klosínska (sop) Krystyna Rorbach
(sop) Barbara Zagórzanka (sop) Krystyna
Szostek-Radkowa (sop) Polish National Opera
Orchestra/Robert Satanowski rec. Oct 1986,
Polskie Nagrania studio, Warsaw.
VMS MUSICAL TREASURES 133 [64.28]
[RB]
Go
for the VMS. ... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23 Felicja Blumental - piano
Orchestra of the Vienna Musikgesellschaft/ Michael Gielen Recorded Vienna
1957 Anton ARENSKY (1861-1906)
Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 2 Felicja Blumental - piano Brno Philharmonic
Orchestra/Jiri Waldhans Recorded Milan 1968 BRANA RECORDS BR0013
[58:06] [JL]
Another
disc from Brana Records celebrating the art
of Felicja Blumental. The performance of the
Arensky is enjoyable in its own right but
the poorly recorded Tchaikovsky comes more
as an item of historical interest. ... see
Full Review
Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony
No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, ‘Pathétique’
(1893) [48’39]. Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)Tristan und
Isolde (1865) - Prelude, Act I [11’23];
Verklärung [7’04].
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Wilhelm
Furtwängler From HMV DB4609-14 (Tchaikovsky)
and DB3419/20 (Wagner). Rec. in Berlin on
October-November (Tchaikovsky) and February
11th (Wagner), 1938. ADD
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110865 [67’05] [KS]
This
is a, if not the,
must-have performance of this music, and at
a bargain price, no collection is complete
without it. ... see Full
Review
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767)
Complete violin concertos, Vol.
1. Violin Concerto in C major TWV 51:C2 [10:15] Violin Concerto
in G major TWV 51:G8 [6:36] Violin Concerto in E minor TWV 51:e3 [7:06]
Violin Concerto in D major TWV 51:D9 [9:34] Violin Concerto in E major
TWV 51:E2 [11:28] Violin Concerto in F major TWV 51:F2 [8:55] Violin
Concerto in D major TWV 51:D10 [5:15]
Elizabeth Wallfisch, violin and conductor L’Orfeo Barockorchester
Rec. 11-13 September 2002, Sendesaal des SWR-studios, Karlsruhe, Germany.
DDD CPO 999 900-2
[59:21]
This
is a disc that should appeal to almost anyone
who enjoys fine music making ... Recommended
without a moment’s hesitation. ... see
Full Review
Georg Philipp
Telemann (1681-1767)
Concertos
and Chamber Music Vol. 2 Concerto in D
minor for 2 violins, viola and basso continuo,
TWV 43:D2 Concerto in F major for recorder,
bassoon, 2 violins and basso continuo, TWV
52:F1 Sonata in F minor for 2 violins, 2 violas
and basso continuo, TWV 44:32 Sonata in D
major for cello and basso continuo, TWV 41:D6
Overture in B minor for solo violin, 2 violins,
viola and basso continuo, TWV 55:H4
Ensemble Musica Alta Ripa Danya Segal, recorder;
Michael McCraw, bassoon; Anne Röhrig,
violin; Ursula Bundies, violin; Cosima Taubert,
violin and viola; Christoph Heidemann, viola;
Klaus Bundies, viola; Juris Teichmanis, cello;
Jacques van der Meer, double-bass; Ulrich
Wedemeier, theorbo and baroque guitar; Bernward
Lohr, harpsichord. Rec. Oranienburg Schloss,
Nordkirchen, March 2 and October 23-24, 2003.
DDD
MUSIK DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM GOLD MDG 309 1250-2
[62:44] [MC]
Telemann’s
strength and depth in these chamber compositions
is never in doubt ... consistently fine playing
... see Full
Review
Ernst TOCH (1887-1964)
Symphonies:
No. 1, Op. 72 (1950) [39’52]; No. 4, Op. 80
(1957) [26’45].
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra/Alun Francis
(reciter). Rec. Jesus-Christus-Kirche Berlin
on April 8th-11th, 2002
and July 2nd-4th, 2001.
DDD
CPO 999 774-2 [66’38] [CC]
To
explore the music of Ernst Toch is to be borne
away by the spirit of discovery .. Recommended
with all possible enthusiasm. Superb. ...
see Full Review
(Nils)
Geirr TVEITT (1908-1981)
Concerto No. 1 for Hardanger Fiddle
and Orchestra, Op. 163 (1955) (Allegretto, 10.15 +Andante, 9.45 +Allegro
moderato, 9.11) [29.19] Concerto No. 2 for Hardanger Fiddle and Orchestra,
Op. 252, “Three Fjords” (1965) (Hardangerfjord: Tempo tranquillo
e deciso, 4.31 + Sognefjord: Mesto maestoso – Danza determinata
e lenta – Tempo I, 4.42 + Nordfjord: Giocoso, 9.21.] [18.42] Nykken,
symphonic painting for orchestra, Op. 187 (1956) [15.57]
Arve Moen Bergset, Hardanger fiddle Stavanger Symphony Orchestra/Ole
Kristian Ruud Rec. Sept 1999 (concertos), June 2000 (Nykken), Stavanger
Concert Hall, Norway
BIS CD 1207 [65.18] [LN]
Captures
as nothing else can the excitement of Norway’s landscape, with
its tension between sea and land ... see Full
Review
Viktor ULLMANN
(1898-1944) The
Emperor of Atlantis (Der Kaiser
von Atlantis) Op.49 (1943) Libretto by
Peter Klein. English Translation by Aaron
Kramer Kaiser Overall – Joseph Neal (baritone)
Der Lautsprecher (Loudspeaker) – Stuart Duke
(bass) Ein Soldat (A Soldier) – Roger Grow
(tenor) Harlekin (Harlequin) – Steven Goldstein
(tenor)Ein Mädchen (A Girl) – Ann Fitch
(soprano) Der Tod (Death) – Robert Osborne
(bass) Der Trommler (The Drummer) – Sandra
Sliker (mezzo soprano)
Members of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra/Robert
DeCormier Recorded at Ira Allen Chapel, University
of Vermont, Burlington, January 1996
ARABESQUE Z6681 [51.53] [JW]
Though
you must have the Zagrosek recording, this
Arabesque disc would be an apt and moving
ancillary purchase. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901)
Nabucco
(1842)
Renato Bruson (baritone) Nabucco; Carlo Colombara
(bass) Zaccharia; Maurizio Frusoni (tenor)
Ismaele; Monica Bacelli (soprano); Lauren
Flanigan (soprano) Abigaille Chorus and Orchestra
of Teatro Di San Carlo/Paolo Carignani. Rec.
live at Teatro Di San Carlo, Naples, on May
9th, 1997.
BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 92270 [131’00] [CC]
Renato
Bruson .. makes this DVD worthwhile in itself.
... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Bassoon
Concertos - Volume 1: Concertos in: C major
RV 476; F major RV487; C major RV 471; A minor
RV 498; C minor RV480; B flat major RV 503;
G major RV 493
Tamas Benkocs (bassoon) Nicolaus Esterhazy
Sinfonia/Bela Drahos Recorded at the Phoenix
Studios, Budapest March 2002
NAXOS 8.555937 [61.32] [GH]
Benkocs
whose virtuosity, lyrical tone and dexterity
of finger-work is utterly superb lifts the
music and the recording out of the ordinary
into something approaching the sublime. ...
see Full Review
Antonio VIVALDI
(1678 - 1741) arr. Federico
GUGLIELMO (b.1968) Le
Quattro Stagioni, RVv 269, 315, 293, 297.
Hypothetical "Dresden version,"
with wind parts, in the style of Pisendel.
[38.38] Giovanni
Antonio GUIDO (c1660 - >1728) Scherzi
Armonici sopra le Quattro Stagioni dell’Anno
(>1733) [17.32]
Federico Guglielmo, solo and leader; L’Arte
dell’Arco Recorded Chiesa di S. Maria, Marostica,
Italy, 20 September 2001 Notes in Deutsch,
English, Français. Photo of artist,
painting of Guido Hybrid SACD Playable on
CD players and SACD players
CPO
777 037-2 [56.10] [PSh]
Less
radical revisions, actually two, of the Four
Seasons than some — interesting, fundamentally
musical, but is it Vivaldi? Does it matter?
... see Full
Review
Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741)
Mandolin Concertos Concerto
for 2 mandolins, strings and bc in G* (RV
532) [12:21] Concerto for mandolin, strings
and bc in C (RV 425) [08:27] Concerto for
2 transverse flutes, 2 chalumeaus, 2 violins
‘in tromba marina’, 2 mandolins, 2 theorbos,
cello, strings and bc in C* (RV 558) [11:47]
Concerto for mandolin, strings and bc in D
(RV 93) [10:37]
Ugo Orlandini, Dorina Frati (*), mandolin
I Solisti Veneti/Claudio Scimone
Recorded in 1984. DDD
WARNER APEX 2564 61264 2 [43:13]
[JV]
Vivaldi’s
mandolin concertos as they were played in
the 1960s and 1970s ... see Full
Review
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958) Symphony
No. 5 (1943) Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis (1910)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/André Previn Rec 6-7 July 1988,
Walthamstow Town Hall, London. DDD
TELARC CD-80158 [56.30] [TB]
Previn’s
deep understanding of this glorious and visionary
score. ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)Overtures:
Rienzi, King Enzio, Das
Liebesverbot (Forbidden love), The
Fairies, Christoph Columbus, Faust
Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra/Alexander
Rahbari (conductor) Recorded at the Teatro
Cervantes, Malaga, Spain, 2nd to
4th April 2002 DDD
NAXOS 8.557055 [59’ 06"] [EM]
For
Wagner devotees the disc is a must! ... see
Full Review
Richard WAGNER (1813-1883)
Tristan
und Isolde (1865) Thomas Moser (tenor)
Tristan; Deborah Voigt (soprano) Isolde; Petra
Lang (mezzo) Brangäne; Robert Holl (bass)
King Mark; Peter Weber (baritone) Kurwenal;
Markus Nieminen (baritone) Melot; Michael
Roider (tenor) Shepherd; In-Sung Sim (baritone)
Steersman; John Dickie (tenor) Young Sailor
Chorus and Orchestra of the Vienna State
Opera/Christian Thielemann. Live rec. from
the Vienna State Opera, May 2003. DDD
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 474 974-2 [3CDs 235’03:
80’03 + 79’48 + 75’12] [CC]
Not
a performance to usurp any of the classic
accounts of this endlessly fascinating work,
but one that will certainly provide food for
thought. ... see
Full Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Tristan und
Isolde (1865)
Lauritz Melchior (tenor) Tristan; Kirsten Flagstad (soprano) Isolde;
Kerstin Thorborg (contralto) Brangaene; Julius Huehn (baritone) Kurwenal;
Alexander Kipnis (bass); George Cehanovsky (baritone) Melot; Anthony
Marlowe (tenor) Sailor’s Voice; Doublas Beattie (baritone) Steersman;
Karl Laufkoetter (tenor) Shepherd; Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan
Opera House, New York/Erich Leinsdorf. Includes synopsis and broadcast
introduction, plus Intermission Programme. Rec. Metropolitan Opera House,
New York, March 25th, 1940, except for a February 8th, 1941 insertion.
ADD GUILD IMMORTAL
PERFORMANCES GHCD2266/68 [217’23: 79’13 + 71’38
+ 66’32] [CC]
There
is little doubt that this set demands to be heard, and the Kipnis insertion
seems to be a real success. Alas Leinsdorf’s performance begs
so many questions that it could never approach a library recommendation.
... see Full Review
William
WALTON (1902-1983)
Belshazzar's Feast (1931) [34.13] Crown
Imperial (1937) [6.45] Orb and Sceptre (1953) [7.20]
Christopher Purves (bar) Simon Lindley (organ) Huddersfield Choral Society;
Leeds Philharmonic Chorus; Laudibus English Northern Philharmonia/Paul
Daniel rec. Town Hall, Leeds, 30 June - 1 July 2001, 7 July, 25 Oct
1996. NAXOS 8.555869
[48.17]
So
this is a very good disc but issues of recorded
balance prevent me from giving it the outright
recommendation I’d hoped ... see Full
Review
Egon WELLESZ
(1885-1974)
The
Dawn of Spring - tone poem for large orchestra
Op. 12 (1912) [8.15] Life, dream and death
- two songs for contralto and orchestra
Op. 55 (1937) [8.15] Song of the World
- for soprano and orchestra Op. 54 (1938)
[3.03] Sonnets from the Portuguese -
for soprano and string orchestra Op. 52 (1935?)
[21.04] Ode to Music - for contralto
and chamber orchestra Op. 92 (1965) [4.46]
Vision - for soprano and orchestra
Op. 52 (1966) [9.11] Symphonic Epilogue
- for large orchestra Op. 108 (1969) [12.36]
Regina Klepper (sop) Sophie Koch (mezzo) Deutsches
Symphonie-Orchester Berlin/Roger Epple rec.
Berlin-Dahlem, Jesus-Christus-Kirche, 18-21
Nov 2002. DDD
CAPRICCIO 67 077 [69.12] [RB]
An
indispensable complement to the emerging Wellesz
symphony series on CPO - the composer driving
song through the 12 tone landscape ... see
Full Review
Johann Paul von WESTHOFF
(1656-1705) Complete
Suites for Solo Violin:- Suite
in A major (1683) Six Suites for Solo violin
(1696): No. 1 in A minor; No. 2 in A major;
No. 3 in B flat major; No. 4 in C major; No.
5 in D minor; No. 6 in D major
Kolja Lessing (violin) Rec. Hans Rosbaud
Studio, Baden-Baden Südwestrundfunk,
November 2002
CAPRICCIO 67 083 [55.55] [JW]
Full
of great delicacy and clarity ... vibrant
and vocalised ... these far too little known
works ... see Full
Review
John
R WILLIAMSON
(b.1929) Twelve More Housman
Songs The
ploughman, Keeping sheep by moonlight , The
recruit , White in the moon the long road
lies , Soldier from the wars returning, When
first my way to fair I took, Is my team ploughing?
When I watch the living meet, Young is the
blood that yonder, In valleys green and still,
Look not in my eyes, for fear,The carpenter’s
son
Nigel Shaw (baritone) John R Williamson (piano)
No recording details
DUNELM RECORDS DRD0218 [38.50] [JW]
Here
is a composer who has inhabited these poems
with personal and lasting illumination. ...
see Full Review
Peter
de WINTER (1754
– 1825) Maometto
Maometto – Sebastian Na (tenor) Zopiro – Antonio
de Gobbi (bass) Omar – Luca Salsi (baritone)
Fanor – Cesare Ruta (tenor) Seide – Gloria
Montanari (mezzo-soprano) Palmira – Maria
Luigia Borsi (soprano)
Czech Philharmonic Choir, Brno Czech Chamber
Soloists, Brno/Gabriele Bellini Recorded 13th
and 18th July 2002 in Kurhaus Bad
Wildbad, Germany
MARCO POLO 8.225279-80 [72.26 + 64.32]
[RH]
A
fine, if flawed performance of a fascinating
opera from the byways of German/Italian operatic
history. ... see Full
Review
Hugo WOLF
(1860-1903) Manuel Venegas and Orchesterlieder
Goethe
Lieder - Mörike Lieder - Spanisches
Liederbuch, 'Spanish Songbook' - In dem Schatten
meiner Locken (trans Heyse) – from Der
Corregidor Mitsuko Shirai (mezzo-soprano)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra/David Shallon
Spanisches Liederbuch, 'Spanish Songbook'
- In dem Schatten meiner Locken (trans Heyse)
– from Der Corregidor Mitsuko Shirai
(mezzo-soprano) * Josef Protschka (tenor)
Hartmut Höll (piano) Manuel Venegas
Manuel Venegas - Josef Protschka (tenor)
Don Trinidad - Cornelius Hauptmann (bass),
Josef Protschka Vitriolo - Christoph Späth
(tenor) Carlos - Oliver Widmer (baritone)
Morisco – Kor-Jan Dusseljee (tenor) Soledad
Arregui - Mitsuko Shirai (mezzo-soprano)
Württemberg Chamber Choir, Stuttgart/Dieter
Kurz (chorus master) Hartmut Höll (piano)
Recorded in Berlin, Stuttgart and Heidelberg,
1989-90
CAPRICCIO 69 091/92 [2 CDs: 52.20 + 57.50]
[JW]
Idiomatic
and resourceful, this set is very welcome
and strongly commended. ... 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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