American
Piano Classics Leroy
ANDERSON (1908-1975) Piano
Concerto in C† (1953) George
GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Second Rhapsody
for Piano and Orchestra† (original version,
1931) Louis Moreau
GOTTSCHALK (1829-1869) Grand Tarantelle*
- Arr. Hershey Kay Euday
BOWMAN (1887-1949) 12th
Street Rag* (1914) Scott
JOPLIN (1868-1917) The Entertainer*
(1902); Solace§ (1909); Maple Leaf Rag* (1899)
(all arr. Erich Kunzel) Morton
GOULD (1913-1996) Interplay (American
Concertette for Piano and Orchestra)* (1943)
Stewart Goodyear† (piano) William Tritt *(piano)
Keith Lockhart§ (piano) Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/Erich
Kunzel Rec. Music Hall, Cincinnati, 1985-1992.
DDD
TELARC CD-80112 [68:13] [PCW]
If
you don’t seem to have enough music at the
classical/jazz interface, then this disc should
be high on your wish list ... see Full
Review
Arcadian
Murmurs Claude
DEBUSSY (1862 – 1918) Syrinx
(1913) Cyril SCOTT
(1879 – 1970) The Ecstatic Shepherd (1922)
Ary van LEEUWEN
(1875 – 1953) Pan’s Lament (1935) Francis
POULENC (1899 – 1963) Le joueur
de flûte berce les ruines (1942) Charles
DELANEY (born 1925) Hymn of Pan
(1949) Roger BOURDIN
(1923 – 1976) Chanson de Pan (1968) Pan
blessé (1970) Benjamin
BOONE (born 1963) The Wood Nymph
of Nonacris (1989) Mark
HIJLEH (born 1963) Syrinx, Too
(2002) Binnette LIPPER
(born 1939) Flute Flight (2003) Margarita
ZELENAIA (born 1954) Pan’s Pastoral
for a Shepherd (2003) Gene
PRITSKER (born 1971) Pan(ic) (2003)
David GOLIGHTLY (born
1948) Three Pan Love Songs (2003) Pierre
THILLOY (born 1970) Le Rêve
de Pan (2003)
Nina Assimakopoulos (flute) Recorded:
EMA Studios, Recital Hall, Houghton College,
Houghton NY, July 2003
EUTERPE RECORDINGS 202 [45:10] [HC]
Assimakopoulos
plays beautifully throughout and her superb
readings are beautifully recorded. ... see
Full Review
Irina Arkhipova
and [Russian] State Chamber Choir Alexander
Andreyevich ARKHANGELSKY (1846 - 1924)
Praise
the name of the Lord [5.23] Dmitri
Stepanovich BORTNYANSKY (1751 - 1825)
Lord, let me know my end [10.55]
Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873 - 1943) Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom,
Op.31: Ektene of Supplication [3.09];
Blessed the Lord, O my soul [9.20]
Peter TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840 - 1893) Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom,
Op.41: Our Father [1.23]; Praise
the Lord from the Heavens [3.28] Pavel
Grigorievich CHESNOKOV (1877 - 1944)
The eternal [3.02]; Unfailing
intercessor of Christians [4.00]; Let
my prayer be set forth in thy sight as incense
[6.24] Georgy IZVEKOV
(18?? - 1930) Appease my ills [4.10]
G. DAVIDOVSKY
(late 18th century) Now let thy servant
depart in peace [1.51
Irina Arkhipova, mezzo-soprano Russian State
Chamber Choir/Valery Polyansky Recorded in
Moscow, Russia, in 1990 Notes in Russian and
English. Photos of the artists.
TALENTS OF RUSSIA [Talanti Rossiy] RCD
13001 [52.55] [PSh]
An
excellent sampler of the best of Russian church
music from many centuries ... see
Full Review
Claudio Arrau
in Concert 3 Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano
Sonata No. 30 in E major Op.109 Piano Sonata
No. 31 in A flat major Op.110 Piano Sonata
No. 32 in C minor Op.111
Claudio Arrau (piano) Recorded at the Theresa
L Kaufman Concert Hall, 92nd Street
YM-YWHA, New York, 20th December
1975
APR 5633 [69.55] [JW]
An
adjunct to Arrau’s commercial discography,
this Christmas recital reveals once again
Arrau’s intense spiritual identification with
late Beethoven ... see Full
Review
Leo
Borchard (1899-1945) Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The
Nutcracker – Extracts (1892) Romeo and Juliet
– Fantasy Overture (1880) Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Oberon
– Overture (1826) Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Stenka Razin
– Poème Op.13 (1886)
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Leo Borchard
Recorded 1934-35 (Nutcracker – commercial
Telefunken) and radio broadcasts (remainder)
dating from 1945
TAHRA TAH520 [73.34] [JW]
But
for a cruel end, Borchard would have taken
a prestigious place in the regeneration of
post-War Germany. Tahra show us what we have
lost. ... see Full
Review
British Light
Classics Sir
Malcolm ARNOLD (b. 1921) English
Dance, Op. 33 No. 1 (1951) Eric
COATES (1886-1957) Calling all
Workers (1940) By the Sleepy Lagoon
(1930); Dam Buster’s March (1955)
Arthur WOOD
(1875-1953) Barwick Green (1925)
Vivian ELLIS (1903-1996)
Coronation Scot (1948) Haydn
WOOD (1882-1959) The Bandstand
(1936) Hubert
BATH (1883-1945) Cornish Rhapsody
(1945) Robert
FARNON (b .1917) Portrait of
a Flirt (1949) Westminster Waltz (1956)
Trevor DUNCAN
(b.1924) March, from Little
Suite (1960) Charles
WILLIAMS (1893-1978) Rhythm
on Rails (1956) Heart O’ London (1953)
The Devil’s Galop (1944) Arthur
BENJAMIN (1893-1960) Jamaican
Rumba (1938) Edward
WHITE (1910-1994) Puffing Billy
(1954) Anthony
COLLINS (1893-1963) Vanity Fair
(1952) Sir Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Chanson de
Nuit (1897)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth
Recorded 4-5 April 2003, Henry Wood Hall,
London
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61438-2 [59.35] [TB]
Not
a first choice but there are some appealing
features and anyone buying this disc is unlikely
to be disappointed. ... see Full
Review
Heidi
Brunner (Soprano) Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Scene
with Rondo (for soprano and orchestra with
piano) K505 (1786) Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Wesendonck Lieder (with piano accompaniment)
(1858) Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809) Cantata Arianna á
Naxos (for soprano and piano) Hob.XXVIb/2
(1789) Ottorino RESPIGHI
(1879-1936) Il Tramonto (lyric
poem for voice and string orchestra) (1914)
Heidi Brunner (soprano) Kristin Okerlund (piano)
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra/Bertrand de
Billy Rec. 2002-3, ORF Sendesaal. DDD
OEHMS OC 325 [64:26] [PCW]
A
delightful disc … Heidi Brunner is clearly
an artist to watch … see Full
Review
Maria Callas
Vincenzo
BELLINI (1801 - 1835) Qui la voce from
I puritani (1); Casta Diva from
Norma (1) Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1798 - 1848) Ardon gl’incensi
(Mad Scene) from Lucia di Lammermoor
(2) Giuseppe
VERDI (1813 - 1901) Anch’io dischuiso
from Nabucco (3); Vini! t’afretta!
from Macbeth (3); E strano..Ah,
fors’e lui..Sempre libera from La Traviata
(4); Addio
del passato from La Traviata (4);
Parigi, o cara from La Traviata
(4) Amilcare
PONCHIELLI (1834 - 1886) Suicidio!
from La Gioconda (5) Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858 - 1924) Vissi d’arte
from Tosca (6)
REGIS RRC 1165 [76.13] [RH]
An
interesting selection of Callas’s early recordings
... see Full
Review
The
British Cello Phenomenon CD1
Douglas
Cameron/National Symphony Orchestra ROSSINI
William Tell Overture (Part I) [3'22"]
John Barbirolli/Ethel Bartlett BACH
Gamba Sonata BWV1027 Adagio [4'20"]
W.H. Squire/Hamilton Harty Benjamin
GODARD
Berceuse de Jocelyn [3'32"] Beatrice
Harrison/Orchestra/Eric Fenby DELIUS
Elegy [3'19"] Cedric Sharpe/Cecil
Dixon POPPER
Polonaise de Concert Op. 14 [3'43"]
Felix Salmond GRIEG
To Spring [2'59"] Lauri Kennedy/Dorothy
Kennedy POPPER
Hungarian Fantasy [4'29"] Anthony
Pini/Orchestra SAINT-SAËNS
Softly Wakes My Heart from Samson
and Dalila Op. 47 [2'54"] Raymond
Clark/Orchestra of the ROH, Covent Garden/Constant
Lambert TCHAIKOVSKY
Sleeping Beauty Op 66/ Vision Scene
(Act II) [4'33"] Reg Kilbey/Jack
Byfield MASSENET
Elégie [3'59"] Denis
Vigay/Academy of St Martins/Neville Marriner
SUPPÉ
Overture 'Morning, Noon and Night'
(Part) [3'20"] Alan Dalziel/John Constable
FAURÉ
Elégie [6'29"] Thomas Igloi/Clifford
Benson FAURÉ
Sonata No. 2 Op. 117: Andante [6'08"]
Keith Harvey/Lynn Hendry DEBUSSY
arr. HARVEY
Prélude à l'après-midi
d'un faune [8'30"] Jacqueline
du Pré/Christopher Finzi/Newbury
String Players RUBBRA
Soliloquy [16'24"] [CD2] Norman
Jones/Philharmonia/Gardelli VERDI
Overture to 'I Masnadieri' (part) [4'24"]
Derek Simpson/Ernest Lush SCHUBERT
Arpeggione Sonata: III Allegretto [9'53"]
Douglas Cummings BACH
Suite in d BWV 1008 Allemande [4'10"];
Courante [2'36"] Moray Welsh DUTILLEUX
Strophe No. 3 [2’41"] Chris
van Kampen/Ian Brown JANÁČEK
Pohadka III [3'46"]
Raphael Wallfisch/Lynn Hendry CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO
Figaro [5'31"] Colin Carr KODALY
Solo Sonata Op. 8 Allegro molto vivace
[11'39"] Alexander Baillie/Dominic
Harlan GLIÈRE
Albumblätter: No.5 [2'31"];
No.12 [2'13"] Robert Cohen/Bournemouth
Symphony Orchestra/Andrew Litton WALTON
Concerto: II Allegro appassionato [6'24"]
Steven Isserlis/Stephen Hough FAURÉ
Après un Rêve [3'25"]
Tim Hugh HANDEL/HALVORSEN
Theme and Variations [5'36"] Clive
Greensmith/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Carl
Davis WOOD
‘Tom Bowling' from Fantasia on British
Sea Songs [2'03"] Paul Watkins/BBC
Symphony Orchestra HOLST
Invocation [9'53"] Rec 1930s-1990s;
mono/stereo
CELLO CLASSICS CC1010 [77.45+79.23]
Let’s
be happy we have what we have here. No need
to be D Flat about this one. ... see Full
Review
Enrico CARUSO,
tenor (1873-1921): The Complete Recordings.
Volume 12 (1919-1920)
se review for details
Recorded in Camden, New Jersey, in September
1919, January, and September 1920. Accompanied
by the ‘Victor Orchestra’/Josef Pasternack
except tr.18 played by the ‘Victor military
band’
NAXOS HISTORICAL ‘GREAT SINGERS SERIES’ 8.110753
[68.50]
An
interesting issue, then, if not one I shall
reach for every day ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Van Cliburn:
Concert Pianist Disc
1 (DVD Video): Documentary,
Van Cliburn – Concert Pianist [58’17]. Disc
2 (CD Audio Disc): Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856)/Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Widmung,
S566 (1848) [4’04]. Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Etude in E,
Op. 10 No. 3 (1829-32) [4’47]. Scherzo No.
3 in C sharp minor, Op. 39 (1839) [7’15].
Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) Étude-Tableau in
E flat minor, Op. 39 No. 5 (1916/17) [5’17].
Prélude in C sharp minor, Op. 3 No.
2 [4’51]. Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) L’Isle joyeuse
(1904) [6’42]. Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Intermezzo in
A, Op. 118 No. 2 (1892) [6’12]. Waltz in A
flat, Op. 39 No. 15 (1865) [2’00]. Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Mephisto Waltz
No. 1, S514 (1859-60) [10’49].
Van Cliburn (piano). DVD + CD; DVD: English
Narration; French and German subtitles available.
Dolby Digital 2.0. Picture Format 4:3. DVD
5 PAL.
RCA LEGENDARY VISIONS 82876 58241-9 [58’17
+ 52’02] [CC]
A
fascinating, riveting documentary complemented
perfectly by a CD of the most magical piano
playing. ... see Full
Review
Classical Cello
Concertos Carl Philipp
Emanuel BACH (1714-1788)
Luigi BOCCHERINI
(1743-1805)
Luigi BOCCHERINI
(1743-1805) Leonardo
LEO (1694-1744)
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809)
see review for details
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92198 [7 CDs: 68:57
+ 63:26 + 72:37 + 74:42 + 37:21 + 44:03 +
50:38] [JW]
Temptingly
cheap ... poses no problematic questions.
These are all very recommendable performances
... see Full
Review
Come, Holy
Spirit:
Music for Ascension, Pentecost
and Trinity Gerald FINZI
(1901-1956) God
is gone up (1951) Thomás
Luis de VICTORIA (1548-1611) Ascendens
Christus William
BYRD (c. 1539-1623) Alleluia. Ascendit
Deus Durate LOBO
(c. 1565-1646) Regina caeli laetare
J.S. BACH (1685-1750)
Fantasia super Komm, Heiliger Geist, BWV
651, for organ Komm, Gott, Schopfer,
Heiliger Geist, BWV 667, for organ Kyrie,
Gott Heiliger Geist, BWV 671, for organ Giovanni
Perluigi de PALESTRINA (c.1525-1594)
Veni sancte spiritus Spiritus sanctus
Thomas TALLIS (c.
1505-1585) If
ye love me O Lord, give thy Holy Spirit Loquebantur
varlis linguis Jonathan
HARVEY (b. 1939) Come, Holy Ghost
(1984) Orlando de
LASSUS (c. 1531-1594) Tibi laus,
tibi gloria Sir John
TAVENER (b. 1944) Prayer to the
Holy Trinity (1995) Francisco
GUERRERO (1528-1599) Duo seraphim
Kenneth LEIGHTON
(1929-1988) Let all the world in
every corner sing (1965)
The Choir of the Queen’s College, Oxford/Owen
Rees (director) George Parsons (organ) Recorded:
Queen’s College, Oxford, England, 1-3 July
2003
GUILD GMCD 7276 [58:07] [MC]
No
one investing in this well presented Guild
release is likely to be disappointed. ...
see Full Review
Cori Spezzati: Venetian
polychoral music of the
16th Century Giovanni
GABRIELI 'Ahi senza te'; Dolce
leggiadre e belle; Alma corte se bella; Kyrie
Eleison; Fuggi pur se sai; Amor dove mi quidi;
Omnes gentes plaudite. Andrea
GABRIELI 'In nobil sanque'; Alla
battaglia; Ale quancie de rose; Gloria; Alessandro
Striggio 'Ninfe leggiadre s bella'; Adrian
WILLAERT 'O bene mio ' Johann
GRABBE 'Cor mio'; Hans
NIELSEN 'Deh dolce anima'; Claudio
MERULO Sanctus; Benedicamus Domine;
Hodie Christus natus est; Agnus dei
Chamber Choir of Europe/Nicol Matt No recording
details supplied 
BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 92209 [61.21]
Freshness
of tone and the blossom of youth ... strong
factors which I find quite captivating. ...
see Full Review
Duetto: Great Opera Duets
and to be Experienced as a Protagonist Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) La
Traviata, ‘Parigi, o cara’. (lyric
tenor and coloratura or flexible lyric soprano);
‘Libiamo ne’ lieti calici’ Il Trovatore,
‘Ai nostri monti’. (spinto tenor and dramatic
mezzo) Don Carlo, ‘Dio che nell’alma
infondere’. (lyric tenor and true baritone)
Aida, ‘O terra addio’. (Spinto
tenor and lyrico spinto soprano) Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Don
Giovanni, ‘La ci darem la mano’. (light
soprano and either a baritone or bass with
a good top) Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1868) Don
Pasquale, ‘Tornami a dir che m’ami’.
(light lyric tenor and light flexible soprano)
Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858-1924) La Boheme, ‘O
soave fanciulla’. (lyric tenor and lyric soprano)
Orchestra and Chorus ‘Compagnia D’Opera Italiana’/Antonella
Gotto Sung by Linda Campanella, (sop); Antonia
Cifrone, (sop); Marcella Polidori, (sop);
Sarah M’Punga, (mezzo) Silvano Santagata,
(ten); Stefano Secco, (ten); Albetro Gazale,
(baritone); Matteo Peirone, (basso brillante)
Recorded June-November 1997. No venue indicated
CANTOLOPERA 95044 and 95054 [55.05 + 56.03]
These
discs can be recommended to any singer wishing
to extend their repertoire, practising as
much as they like before the more difficult
task of realising the music with a live partner.
... see Full Review
Estonian
Composers (II) Helena
TULVE (b. 1972) Tracesa
Mirjam TALLY
(b. 1976) Swinburneb Tōnu
KŌRVITS (b. 1969) Streamc
Timo STEINER
(b. 1976) Descendants of Caind
Tōnis KAUMANN
(b. 1971) Long Playe Märt-Matis
LILL (b. 1975) Le Rite de Passage
(1999)f Mart
SIIMER (b. 1967) Water of Lifeg
Ardo-Ran Varres (narrator)b;
Iris Oja (soprano)b; Alar Pintsaar
(baritone)b; Vambola Krigul (percussion)b;
Külli Möls (accordion)b;
Robert Jürjendal (electric guitar)b;
Virgo Veldi (saxophone)c; Madis
Metsamart (percussion)c; The Bowed
Piano Ensembled; Teet Järvi
(cello)g; Monika Mattiesen (flute)g;
NYYD Ensemble, Olari Elts (conductor)aef
Recorded: Estonian Radio, 1998 (Siimer), 1999
(Lill), 2000 (Kōrvits) and 2001
EESTI RAADIO ERCD 32 [77:57] [HC]
A
very useful and enjoyable cross-section of
recent works by Estonians of the younger generations
... partly answers the question "Well,
Pärt, Sumera, Rääts, Tüür,
what next?" ... see Full
Review
French Organ MusicJean
LANGLAIS (1907-1991) Suite Brève
(1947) Incantation pour un jour Saint
(1949) Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Offrande
au Saint Sacrement Gaston
LITAIZE (1909-1991) Scherzo
(1932) Lied (1934) Epiphanie Guy
ROPARTZ (1864-1955) Prélude
funèbre (1896) Louis
VIERNE (1870-1937) Three Improvisations
Marcel DUPRE
(1886-1971) Evocation (1941)
Colin Walsh (organ of Lincoln Cathedral)
Recorded at Lincoln Cathedral 1 - 4 September
2003. DDD
GUILD GMCD 7278 [77.22][MC]
The
recording of the organ of Lincoln Cathedral
is of the highest quality and Guild are to
be congratulated on a release that is hard
to fault ... see Full
Review
French Saxophone:
Twentieth Century Music for Saxophone and
Orchestra Henri
TOMASI (1901-1971) Saxophone Concerto
(1949) [19.33] André
CAPLET (1878-1925) Légende
for saxophone and orchestra (1903) [15.06]
Jean ABSIL
(1893-1974) Fantaisie-Caprice for
saxophone and string orchestra (1971) [6.26]
Marius CONSTANT
(b.1925) Musique de Concert for
saxophone and twelve instruments (1954) [10.18]
Claude DEBUSSY
(1862-1918) Rapsodie for orchestra
and saxophone (1911) [11.49]
Dominique Tassot (saxophone) Münchner
Rundfunkorchester/Manfred Neuman Rec. 27-29,
31 May, June 2002, Studio 1, Bayerischer Rundfunk,
München. DDD
AUDITE 97.500 [63.19] [RB]
I
really liked this collection. It is well played
in every department. The selection reflects
an audacity and valour rare in today’s industry.
… see Full
Review
Wilhelm Furtwängler-Vienna
Philharmonic Orchestra Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony
No.8 (RRG 17.X.1944) Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) The Hebrides
(HMV 14.II.1949) Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Eine
Kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade No. 13 in
G) K525 (HMV 1.IV.1949) Johann
STRAUSS (1825-1899) Kaiserwalzer,
Opus 437 (HMV 24.I.1950) Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony
No.4 (HMV 25/30.I.1950) Symphony No 7 (HMV
18/19.I.1950) Leonore III (Live 22.VIII.1950)
Coriolan Overture (Live 1951) Bedřich
SMETANA (1824-1884) Ma Vlast –
Vltava (HMV 24.I.1951) Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphony No.88
(Live 22.10.1951) Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphony No.1
(Live 29.X.1951)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Wilhelm
Furtwängler Recorded 1944-51, exact dates
as above
TAHRA FURT 1084-1087 [4 CDs 77.01 + 70.38
+ 69.02 + 63.34] [JW]
As
a conspectus it achieves its objectives with
conspicuous success. ... see Full
Review
Alban Gerhardt
(cello)
Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Suite
No. 5 in C minor for solo cello, BWV 1011
(c1720) Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Suite No. 1
for solo cello, Op. 72 (1964) Zoltán
KODÁLY (1882-1967) Sonata
for solo cello, Op. 8 (1931)
Alban Gerhardt (cello) Recorded May-June 2003,
Tonstudio van Geest, Sandhausen
OEHMS CLASSICS OC 332 [76.54] [TB]
Gerhardt’s
technical command is impressive ... he proves
a sensitive and compelling advocate ... see
Full Review
Beniamino
GIGLI (tenor) (1890-1957)
The
Gigli Edition, Volume 4: Camden and New York
Recordings, 1926-27 See review for details
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110265 [67.15]
Gigli’s
honeyed voice well caught and very little
extraneous noise. Enthusiasts need not hesitate.
... see Full Review
Beniamino GIGLI
(tenor)
1890-1957
A
Life In Words And Music - written and narrated
by Graeme Kay - includes 40 original
recordings (1918-1952) Various orchestras and conductors.
Recorded 1918-1952 Bargain Price NAXOS 8.558148-51
[4CDs: 78.26+75.27+79.33+79.06] [RJF]
Strongly
recommended to all those interested in singers
as well as to lovers of this rather rotund
little man who possessed the most beautiful
and honeyed 'mezza voce' the tenor business
has ever heard. ... see Full
Review
THE GOLDEN
AGE OF LIGHT MUSIC - An Introduction.
see
review for content details Recorded 1933-1953
GUILD GLCD 5101 [78.23] [JW]
A
warm welcome then to the vitality and melodic
warmth of these generous performances. ...
see Full Review
THE
GOLDEN AGE OF LIGHT MUSIC-The 1940s see
review for content details
Recorded c.1943-49
GUILD GLCD 5102 [76.41] [JW]
As
these performances show the range of Light
Music was considerable and its practitioners
and executants of the highest calibre. ...
see Full Review
THE
GOLDEN AGE OF LIGHT MUSIC - The 1950s see
review for content details Recorded Recorded
c.1950-53
GUILD GLCD 5103 [77.52] [JW]
There
was a place for such music then and there
is still now – any more, Guild? ... see Full
Review
Heartache – An
Anthology of English Viola Music Eric
COATES (1886-1957) First
Meeting Alec ROWLEY
(1892-1958) Reverie, Aubade, Farandole
Alfred MOFFAT
(1866-1950) Longing Thomas
DUNHILL (1877-1946) In Courtly
Company, Alla Sarabanda Adam
CARSE (1878-1958) Heartache,Calm
Reflection, Breezy Story Frank
BRIDGE (1879-1941) Allegro appassionato,
Pensiero Rebecca
CLARKE (1886-1979) Morpheus I’ll
bid my heart be still Lionel
TERTIS (1876-1975) Sunset Benjamin
DALE (1885-1943) Romance Adam
CARSE (1878-1958) Gently Swaying
Norman FULTON
(1909-1980) Introduction, air and reel
Edward ELGAR
(1857-1934) Canto Popolare from Alassio
(In The South)
Dame Avril Piston (viola) Shamonia Harpa
(piano) Recorded Potton Hall, Suffolk, November
2002
GUILD 7275 [73.30] [JW]
Courtly
elegance, wistfulness ... an alluring sway
and glint ... see Full
Review
Frank
Huang Violin Fantasies Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Fantasy for
Violin and Piano in C major, D. 934, Op. 159
Heinrich Wilhelm
ERNST (1814 - 1865) Fantaisie brillante
sur l'opéra 'Otello' de Rossini, Op.
11 Arnold SCHOENBERG
(1874-1951) Phantasy for Violin with Piano
Accompaniment op. 47 (1949) Franz
WAXMAN (1906-1967) Carmen Fantasy
Frank Huang (violin) Dina Vainstein (piano)
rec. 17-19 July 2002, Country Day School Performing
Arts Centre, King City, Ontario, Canada. DDD
NAXOS 8.557121 [57'18] [RNB]
Fine
examples of the multi-faceted fantasy genre,
excellently played. ... see
Full Review
Jigs, Airs and Reels
Franz REIZENSTEIN (1911
– 1968) Partita
Op.13 (1939, arr. 1953) John
JEFFREYS (b. 1927) Prelude and
Jig for John Turner (2000, rev. 2001) Malcolm
ARNOLD (b. 1921) Fantasy Op.140
(1991) William Lewarne
HARRIS (b. 1929) Quintet (2002)
Robin WALKER
(b. 1953) Dances from The Bells of
Blue Island (2001, rev. 2003) Edward
GREGSON (b. 1945) Romance (1964,
rev. 2003) Philip
COWLIN (b. 1920) Concertino (2003)
Ernest TOMLINSON
(b. 1924) Chadkirk Idyll (2002, rev. 2003)
John VEALE
(b. 1922) Triptych (2003)
John Turner (recorder); Camerata Ensemble
Recorded: Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Manchester
University, September 2003
CAMPION CAMEO 2034 [76:59] [HC]
This
hugely entertaining release is yet another
feather in John’s cap, and I urge you to get
it. You will surely enjoy it as much as I
did. ... see Full Review
The Art of
Julius Katchen Volume 1
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15 (1797)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op.
19 (1795) Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor,
Op. 37 (1800) Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat
major ‘Emperor’, Op. 73 (1809)
Rondo in B flat major for piano and orchestra
(1794)
Julius Katchen (piano) London Symphony Orchestra/Piero
Gamba Recorded January 1965 (No. 1), June
1963 (No. 2), December 1963 (No. 5) Walthamstow
Assembly Hall, September 1958 (No. 3; Rondo)
Kingsway Hall, London
DECCA 460 822-2 [2CDs: 75.21 + 74.38]
[TB]
Katchen
- an apt memorial tribute. ... good sound,
clear textures, a pleasing balance ... see
Full Review
The Art of Julius
Katchen Volume 2Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano
Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 (1806) *
Choral Fantasia, Op. 80 (1807) Julius
Katchen (piano) London Symphony Chorus*; London
Symphony Orchestra/Piero Gamba Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano
Concerto No. 13 in C major, K415 (1782)Julius
Katchen (piano) London Symphony Orchestra/Peter
Maag Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K466
(1785) Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major, K503
(1786) Piano Sonata in A major, K331
Julius Katchen (piano) Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra/Karl
Munchinger Recorded October 1954 (Mozart K331);
August 1955 (Mozart K415), Decca Studio West
Hampstead; June 1963 (Beethoven Opus 58),
January 1965 (Beethoven Op. 80), Walthamstow
Assembly Hall London); September 1966 (Mozart
K466; K503), Schloss Ludwigsburg, Stuttgart
DECCA 460 825-2 [2CDs: 74.10 + 77.32]
[TB]
An
interesting collection ... the sound is truthful
and accurate, while background noise at a
minimum. Crisp articulation and poised shaping
of rhythm ... the hallmarks of this great
pianist’s playing. ... see Full
Review
The Art of Julius Katchen
(1926 - 1969), Volume 4
Franz LISZT
(1811 - 1886) Piano
Concerto #1 in Eb, S.124 (1849) [18.49]
Piano Concerto #2 in A, S.125 (1839) [19.48]
Mephisto Waltz #1 S.599 (1861) [9.44] Harmonies
Poétiques et Réligieuses, #7:
Funérailles S.13 (1834) [11.16] Hungarian
Rhapsody #12, S.244 (1885) [8.49] London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Ataúlfo Argenta Edvard
Grieg (1843 - 1907) Piano Concerto
in a, Op 16 (1868) [27.50] Israel Philharmonic
Orchestra/István Kertész Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839 - 1881) Pictures
at an Exhibition (1874) [29.57] Mily
Balakirev (1837 - 1910) Islamey
(1869) [7.56]
Julius Katchen, piano Various recordings
locations and dates ADD Notes in English,
Français, and Deutsch. Photo of the
artist.
DOUBLE DECCA 460 831-2 [2CDs: 134.41]
[PSh]
Exceptional
concerto recordings by a great virtuoso, a
fine Pictures, and some awful solos ... see
Full Review
Paul van Kempen Volume
2 Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809)
Symphony No. 104 Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphony No.5
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Symphony No.9
Concertgebouw Orchestra/Paul van Kempen Recorded
1943
TAHRA TAH 514-515 [2 CDs 55.49 + 52.16]
[JW]
Very
successful transfers ... wartime recordings
of real value. Schubert: the best of him –
never a negligible conductor ... almost everything
he recorded was of some value. ... see Full
Review
From The Golden
Treasury Of Latvian Organ Music
Alfrēds KALŅINŠ
(1879 – 1951) Fantasy
in G minor (1902) Pastoral in B major (1913)
Jōzeps MEDIŅŠ
(1877 – 1947) Prelude No.1 (1939) Pēteris
BARISONS (1904 – 1947) The Prayer
(1938) Tālivaldis
KENINŠ (b. 1919) Introduction,
pastoral and Toccata (1983) Pēteris
VASKS (b. 1946) Te Deum (1991)
Aivars KALĒJS
(b. 1951) Per aspera ad astra (1989) Rihards
DUBRA (b. 1964) The Longing for
Eternal Hills (1995)
Vita Kalnciema, at the organ of Riga Cathedral
Recorded: no info available, published 2003
MANSCD LCLA 026 [74:59] [HC]
Reviewing
discs may often yield unexpectedly delightful
surprises. This is the case with this magnificent
release that I cannot but strongly recommend.
... see Full Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Dimitri
Illarionov (guitar) Mauro
GIULIANI (1781-1829)
Grande Ouverture; Alexandre
TANSMAN (1897-1986) Cavatina; Roland
DYENS (b.1955) Valse en skai; Igor
REKHIN (b.1941) from 24 Preludes
and Fugues: No. 6 in D minor, No. 21 and Bb
major and No. 3 in Db major; Nikita
KOSHKIN (1956) Marionette; Mario
CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO (1895-1968);
Francisco TARREGA
(1852-1909) Variations on Carnival
of Venice
Dimitri Illarionov (guitar) Recorded at St.
John Chrysostom Church, Newmarket, Ontario,
Canada, January 2003 Naxos Laureate Series
NAXOS LAUREATE 8.557293 [58.11] [GH]
Illarionov
is as fine a guitarist as I have ever heard.
He is aided and abetted by this beautifully
chosen recital which one can listen to from
start to finish. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
London Pride
– A Celebration of London
in Song Lionel
MONCKTON Chalk
Farm to Camberwell Green [3'07] Madeleine
DRING (John Betjeman) Business
Girls [2'12] Sandy
WILSON A Room in Bloomsbury
[3'03] George
GERSHWIN (Ira Gershwin) A foggy
day in London town [4'12] William
WALTON (Anon) Rhyme [2'00]
David Owen NORRIS
Big Ben Blues [3'42] Ewan
MACCOLL Sweet Thames, flow softly
[3'18] BOYCE/arr.
FRANKLIN (Lockman) The Pleasures
of Spring Gardens, Vauxhall [3'38] Jonathan
DOVE Five Am’rous Sighs
[8'04] (Mary Montagu) Between your sheets
you soundly sleep [2'50]; (Mary Montagu)
Finish! Finish, these Languors make me
sick [1'02]; (Matthew Prior) My heart
still hovering round about you [1'20];
(Mary Montagu) All these dismal looks and
fretting [1'41]; (Matthew Prior) Venus,
take my votive glass [1'21]) Kit
and the Widow Wimbledon
Idyll [4'25] Harold
FRASER-SIMSON (A.A. Milne) They’re
changing guard at Buckingham Palace [2'17]
Michael CARR/Billy
MAYERL (Jimmy Kennedy) Mayfair
merry-go-round [3'01] Harry
DACRE While
London’s fast asleep [4'56] Richard
Rodney BENNETT Let’s
go and live in the country [2'30] Manning
SHERWIN (Eric Maschwitz) A nightingale
sang in Berkeley Square [5'50] Bennett
SCOTT (A.J. Mills) Take me in
a Taxi, Joe [3'43] Donald
SWANN (Joyce Grenfell) Joyful
Noise [6'07] Noel
COWARD London Pride [5'31]
Catherine Bott (soprano) David Owen Norris
(piano) Recorded live at the Savage Club,
London, 23rd and 26th
May 2003. DDD
HYPERION CDA67457 [71.58] [EM]
I
cannot recommend this disc highly enough.
It positively radiates intelligence and wit
in performances of consummate musicianship.
A truly delightful gallimaufry! ... see
Full Review
Love From A Stranger
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913 – 1976) Love
from a Stranger (1937, ed. Colin Matthews)
Roberto GERHARD
(1896 – 1970) This Sporting Life (1963,
ed. David Matthews) Elisabeth
LUTYENS (1906 – 1983) The Skull
(1965, ed. Bayan Northcott) Richard
Rodney BENNETT (b. 1936) The Return
of the Soldier (1982)
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Jac van Steen Recorded:
Studio 1, BBC, Maida Vale, London, March 1999
(Britten) and October 2002 (last track of
Bennett, recorded November 2003, conductor
Martyn Brabbins)
NMC D 073 [63:22] [HC]
This
is a most desirable release, not only for
film buffs, but also for those who want to
explore some byways of British contemporary
music represented here by Gerhard and Lutyens.
... 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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