RECORDING
OF THE MONTH John
ADAMS
(b. 1947) On the
Transmigration of Souls 
Philip Smith, trumpet New York Choral
Artists (Joseph Flummerfelt, director) Brooklyn
Youth Chorus (Diane Berkun, director) New
York Philharmonic Orchestra/Lorin Maazel Recorded
at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, NYC,
19-24 Sept 2002
NONESUCH 7559 79816-2 [25.03] [NH]
Quintessential
Adams, evoking the artistically benevolent
spirits of Ives, Whitman, Sibelius and Mahler
all bound by a common devotion to humanity
and universality. An absolutely essential
disc. ... see Full
Review
Beth
ANDERSON (b. 1950)
March Swale (a)
Pennyroyal Swale (a)New Mexico Swale (b,
c, d, e, f, g)The Angel (h,
a, i, j, g)January Swale
(a)Rosemary Swale
(a)Piano Concerto
(a, i, k, f)
Jessica Marsten (soprano) (h) Rubio String
Quartet (a) Andrew Bolotowsky (flute/piccolo) (b) Dirk Van den Hauwe (violin) (c)Marc
Sonnaert (viola) (d) Ilia Laporev
(cello) (e)David Rozenblatt (percussion, marimba)
(f)Joseph Kubera (celeste,
piano) (i) Andre Tarantiles (harp) (j)Darren Campbell
(string bass) (k) Gary M. Schneider (conductor)
(g) Recorded November 20th, 21st
2003, Studio C. Mirror Image, NYC NEW WORLD RECORDS 80610-2 [66.54]
[RH]
Deceptively
simple collages of sound by a contemporary
American composer originally trained in modernist
principles. ... see Full
Review
Alexander ARUTIUNIAN
(b.
1920) Violin
Concerto Armenia 88 (1988) [23:09]
Peteris VASKS (b.
1946) Violin Concerto Distant Light
(1997) [28:41] Mikhail
BRONNER (b. 1951?) Violin Concerto
Heaven's Gates (2001) [20:16]
Levon Ambartsumian (violin) ARCO Chamber
Orchestra/Lewis Nielson rec. Hugh Hodgson
Hall, University of Georgia Performing Arts
Center, Athens, Georgia, USA. DDD
PHOENIX PHCD 153 [72:06] [RB]
A
collection that tells us, through the medium
of the violin concerto, of the differing approaches
to tonality among three contemporary composers
... see Full Review
Carl
Philipp Emanuel BACH
(1714-1788) The Solo Keyboard
Music ● 12 ; Sonatas and Petite Pièces
● 2 Sonata
in B Minor, W.62/22 (H.132) La Prinzette,
W.177/21 (H.91) L’Aly Rupalich, W.117/27
(H.95) La Gleim, W.117/19 (H.89) Sonata
in E minor, W.65/30 (H.106) La Stahl,
W.117/25 (H.94) La Bergius, W.117/20
(H.90) La Buchholz, W.117/24 (H.93)
L’Herrmann, W.117/23 (H.92)
Sonata in A minor, W.62/21 (H.131)
Miklós Spányi (clavichord)
Rec. House of the Lumijoki Youth Association,
Finland in July 2000 DDD
BIS-CD-1198 [66:00] [PCW]
Not
just for specialists, this is a worthwhile
disc in every way … see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) The
Complete Keyboard Concertos Concerto No.1
in D minor BWV 1052 Concerto No.2 in E major
BWV 1053 Concerto No.3 in D major BWV 1054
Concerto No.4 in A major BWV 1055 Concerto
No.5 in F minor BWV 1056 Concerto No.7 in
G minor BWV 1058 Concerto with two flutes
No.6 in F major BWV 1057
Francesco Tristano Schlimé (piano and
conductor) The New Bach Players Recorded live
in the Arsenal in Metz, October 8th
2002
CD ACCORD ACD 127-2 [53.18 + 47.46] [JW]
Modern
instruments but with awareness of baroque
practice and what is referred to as an infusion
of jazz spirit. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH The
Secret Bach Johann
Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Chromatic
Fantasia and Fugue (Rust version BWV 903A)
Hass [12.59] Adagio in G major BWV 968
Hass [3.48] Fugue in G minor (after BWV
1000) Hass [5.38] From the Clavier-büchlein
für Wilhelm Friedmann Bach: Allemande
in G minor BWV 836 Bodechtal [1.47] Menuet
1 BWV 841 Bodechtal [1.11] Menuet 3
BWV 843 Bodechtal [1.55] Partie diverse
sopra il Corale ‘O Gott, du frommer Gott’
BWV 767 Schmahl [14.56] Partita in
A minor after BWV 1004; arranged by
Mortensen; Hass [29.30]
Christopher Hogwood, clavichords Recorded
in Newnham College, Cambridge and Challow
Park, Berkshire in 2002
METRONOME MET CD 1056 [71.54] [JF]
A
revelation that such a diminutive keyboard
instrument as the clavichord can express such
power, emotion and expressiveness. ... see
Full Review
J. S. BACH
(1685-1750) Christmas
Organ Music Piece d’orgue BWV
572 [8’11] Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich
her BWV 700 [3’05] Vom Himmel hoch da
komm ich her BWV 738 [1’19] Vom Himmel
hoch da komm ich her BWV 701 [1’28]
Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her BWV 606 [0’50]
Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her (Canonic Variations)
BWV 769 [12’40] In dulci jubilo BWV
608 [1’23] In dulci jubilo BWV 729 [2’16]
Christum wir sollen loben schon BWV 696 [1’15]
Christum wir sollen loben schon BWV 611 [2’24]
Pastorella BWV 590 [12’25] Puer Natus
in Bethlehem BWV 603 [1’41] Vom Himmel
kam der Engel Schar BWV 607 [1’13] Wir
Christenleut BWV 710 [2’05] Wir Christenleut
BWV 612 [1’12] Gelobet Seist du, Jesu
Christ BWV 697 [0’55] Gelobet Seist
du Jesu Christ BWV 604 [1’29] Gelobet
Seist du Jesu Christ BWV 722 [1’19]
Der Tag, der ist so Freudenreich BWV 605 [1’45]
Jesu, meine Freude BWV 610 [2’25] Jesu,
meine Freude BWV 713 [4’34] Lobt Gott,
ihr Christen, allzugleich BWV 609 [0’52]
Lobt Gott, ihr Christen allzugleich BWV 739
[4’19]
John O’Donnell (organ) Rec. Robert Blackwood
Hall, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia,
30 Sept-1 Oct 2003; 28 June 1996. DDD
TALL POPPIES TP166 [73’44]
[CB]
This
CD is a well put-together collection of all
Bach’s Christmas chorale preludes ... see
Full Revie
Johann Sebastian
Bach (1685-1750)
Ton Koopman plays Bach Organ Works, Harpsichord
Pieces and Arias. (DVD) Great Organ Works
Wachet
auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 645 [3.32]
Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659
[4.29] Fugue in G minor BWV 578 [3.14]
Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, BWV
654 [7.20] Toccata in D minor, BWV
565 [2.19] Ton Koopman, organ Performed
on the greater Silbermann organ (built in
1714-18) at St. Marien Cathedral, Freiberg,
Saxony, 16 June 2000 At home with Bach
‘Dir, dir, Jehova, will ich singen,’
BWV 452 [1.26] Toccata in G major,
BWV 916 [2.30] ‘Willst du dein Herz
mir schenken,’ BWV 518 [1.17] ‘Vater
unser im Himmelreich,’ BWV 683 [1.32]
‘So oft ich meine Tobackspfeife,’ BWV 515a
[2.23] Amore traditore, BWV 203 [
12.18] ‘Wer nur ben lieben Gott lässt
walten’, BWV 691 [2.20] ‘Ich habe genug,’
BWV 82 ( extracts) [8.14] Toccata in
G major, BWV 916 [3.14] ‘Schaff’s mit
mir, Gott,’ BWV 514 [1.43] ‘Bist du
bei mir,’ BWV 508 [3.03] Minuet in
G major BWV Anh. II 116 [1.31] ‘Brunnquell
aller Güter,’ BWV 445 [ 2.01] ‘Ihr
Gestirn, ihr hohen Lüfte,’ BWV 476 [1.40]
Toccata in G major, BWV 916 [3.29]
‘Jesus, unser Trost und Leben,’ BWV 475
[1.40] Minuet in G major (attributed
to Christian Petzold) BWV ANH II 114 [1.19]
‘Ich freue mich in dir,’ BWV 465 [1.26]
‘Komm, süßer Tod,’ BWV 478 [3.29]
Klaus
Mertens, baritone and Ton Koopman, harpsichord
and organ Recorded at the Gohliser Schlösschen,
Leipzig, 6-8 January 2000
EUROARTS
2050349 DVD [80:00] [JF]
A
great introduction to some popular and some
little known works of the Master. Settings
‘in church’ and ‘at home’ provide a vivid
contrast for this fine music. ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1759)
The Art
Of Fugue
Chamber Works
by Gyorgy KURTAG Cello
Suites Nos. 1 and 5
Keller Quartet Anner Bylsma (cello)
Rec.: 2000, Mathematical Institute of the
Academy
of Science,
Budapest
(Art of Fugue); 2000, Bartholomaus-Kirche,
Dornheim (Cello Suites). Sound format:
PCM stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1 Picture
format: 4:3 Picture standard: NTSCRegion code:
0
EUROARTS 2050759 [71
min. (Art of Fugue); 44 min. (Cello Suites)]
[KM]
A
must-have DVD for the performances by Anner
Bylsma of two cello suites.
The Art of Fugue, however, is bland and uninteresting ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750)
Goldberg
Variations BWV988 [47.19]
Gustav Leonhardt - harpsichord
rec 1978, Haarlem, The Netherlands
DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 82876601462 [47.19] [JL]
Gustav
Leonhardt will always remain separate from
mere ‘other’ harpsichordists. This really
is sitting at the feet of the master. ...
see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685–1785)
Brandenburg
Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049 Brandenburg
Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050 Brandenburg
Concerto No. 6 in B flat major, BWV 1051 Orchestral
Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067
Jean-Pierre Rampal, flute Ton Koopman,
harpsichord Monica Huggett and Roy Goodman,
violins Ricardo Kanji and Reine-Marie Verhagen,
flûtes à bec Wilbert Hazelzet,
flute traversiere Jan Schlapp and Trevor Jones,
violas Christophe Coin and Sarah Cunningham,
violas da gamba Jaap Ter Linden, violoncello
The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra Rec. no details
given
WARNER APEX 2564 61364-2 [73:12] [CM]
If
you are looking for something that delves
deeper, pulls out new discoveries about composers
you thought you knew, then you might look
elsewhere. ... see
Full Review
Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750)
Complete Cantatas – Volume Six CD
1 [61.45] Die Himmel erzählen die
Ehre Gottes BWV 76 [32.55] Die Elenden sollen
essen BWV 75 [28.50] CD2 [61.23] Singet
dem Herrn ein neues Lied BWV 190 [16.18] Siehe
zu, daß deine Gottesfurcht nicht Heuchelei
sei BWV 179 [13.55] Wer mich liebet, der wird
mein Wort halten BWV 59 [10.48] Lobe den Herrn,
meine Seele BWV 69 [20.21] CD3 [72.52]
Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft BWV 50 (incomplete)
[3.24] Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht BWV
186 [29.23] Du Hirte Israel, höre BWV
104 [18.38] Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele BWV
69a [18.13] Nun ist das Heil un die Kraft
BWV 50 (incomplete) [3.16]
Ruth Ziesak – soprano; Elisabeth von Magnus
– alto; Paul Agnew – tenor; Klaus Mertens
– bass The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra
and Choir/Ton Koopman rec April and September
1997, Waalse Kerk, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
ANTOINE MARCHAND CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC 72206
[PW]
Deeply
satisfying performances of incomparable music.
... see Full
Review
Johann Sebastian
BACH
Apocryphal Cantatas II:
BWV
142 Uns ist ein Kind geboren (c.1711)
(attrib. J Kuhnau: 1660-1722 ) BWV 141
Das ist je gewisslich wahr (c.1720) (attrib.
G.P. Telemann: 1681-1767) BWV 15 Denn du
wirst meine Seele nicht in der Hoelle lassen
(c.1710) (attrib. Johann Ludwig
Bach: 1677-1741) BWV 160 Ich weiss,
dass mein Erloeser lebt (c.1700) (attrib.
G. P. Telemann: 1681-1767)
Dorothee Mields (soprano) Henning Voss (altus)
Henning Kaiser (tenor) Ralf Grobe (bass) I
Febiarmonici, Alsfelder Vokalensemble/Wolfgang
Helbich Recorded 22–25 Feb, 6–7 June 2001,
Radio Bremen Sendesaal
CPO 999 985-2 [58.48] [JF]
These
works are all so good that they could be by
the master himself! Do not miss hearing these
works out of some form of musical snobbery!
They are tremendous. ... see Full
Review
Leonardo BALADA
(b.
1933) Guernica
(1966) Homage to Sarasate (1975)
Homage to Casals (1975) Symphony No.4
Lausanne (1992) Zapata: Images
for Orchestra (1988)
Barcelona Symphony and Catalonia National
Orchestra/Salvador Mas Conde Recorded: Teatre-Auditori
Sant Cugat, Barcelona, April-May 2003
NAXOS 8.557342 [69:25] [HC]
This
is, I think, the third Balada disc that I
have reviewed so far, and it must be the most
immediately appealing of the three. ... see
Full Review
Samuel BARBER
(1910-1981)
Knoxville:
Summer of 1915, Op. 24* [16’51"]
Second Essay for Orchestra, Op. 17**
[11’12"] Third Essay for Orchestra,
Op. 47*** [14’28"] Toccata Festiva,
Op. 36**** [14’24] * Karina Gauvin (soprano)
**** Thomas Trotter (organ)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Marin
Alsop Recorded at Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow
*27 October 2002;**3 May 1999;***18 March
2001; **** at Paisley Abbey, Glasgow 11 June
2002 DDD
NAXOS 8.559134 [56’55"] [JQ]
A
worthy successor to Alsop’s previous Barber.
Very fine indeed .... Knoxville is a particularly
conspicuous success. ... see Full
Review
Arnold Bax
(1883-1953) Piano
Sonata No. 1 in F sharp minor (1910) GP127
(Rev. 1921 GP 240) [22.38] Piano Sonata No.
2 in G major (1919) GP217 (Rev 1920 GP225)
[22.57] Dream in Exile: Intermezzo
(1916) GP176 [11.50] Burlesque
(1920) GP229 [03.02] Nereid (1916)
GP177 [04.45] In a Vodka Shop (1915)
GP162 [03.59]
Ashley Wass, piano Recorded at Potton
Hall, Suffolk, England 9th -11th
October 2003.
NAXOS 8.557439 [74.27] [JF]
The
first CD of an exciting project to issue all
Bax’s piano music. Wass’s playing is up there
with Parkin, McCabe and Loveridge. Harriet
Cohen herself would be impressed! ... see
Full Review
Amy
BEACH
(1867-1944) Songs
Katherine Kelton (mezzo-soprano) Catherine
Bringerud (piano) Recorded at The Lodge in
Indianapolis, Indiana, June 1999
NAXOS 8.559191 [77.39] [JW]
Performances
are idiomatic and full of proselytising zeal.
... see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) The
Creatures of Prometheus, Op. 43: Overture
[4’43"]; Allegretto [1’40"]; Finale
[3’05"] Recorded: 1 November 1942 Coriolan
Overture, Op. 62 [7’37"] Recorded
1 June 1931* Leonore Overture No. 1.
Op. 138 [8’59"] Recorded 2 June 1931*
Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72a [13’01"]
Recorded 30 May 1930* Egmont Overture,
Op. 84 [7’59"] Recorded 2 June 1931*
Symphony No 8 in F major, Op. 93: II Allegro
scherzando [3’56"] Recorded 10 June 1927*
The Ruins of Athens, Op. 113: Turkish
March [3’06"] Recorded 1 November 1942
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Marche militaire in D major, Op.
51, No. 1 (D.733) [4’29"] Recorded 17
April, 1942 Rosamunde Overture (Die
Zauberharfe) D.644 [9’15"]
Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam/Willem
Mengelberg All recordings made in the Concertgebouw,
Amsterdam by Telefunken and * by Columbia
ADD
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110864 [68’03"]
[JQ]
Conveys
a good impression of what Mengelberg, his
orchestra and their concert hall must have
sounded like. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) String
Quartet No.14 Op.131 String Quartet No.16
Op.135
Philharmonia Quartett Berlin Recorded in the
Andreaskirche, Berlin-Wannsee, 2001
THOROFON CTH 2466 [66.18] [JW]
Some
might find the playing occasionally aloof,
battles too easily won, but their clean-limbed
approach makes for some stylish playing. ...
see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Trio
in C major Op.87 Variations on Là
ci darem la mano from Mozart’s Don Giovanni
WoO.28 Anton WRANITZKY
(1761-1820) Trio in C major
Marc Schachman (oboe - principal oboe
in the Beethoven), John Abberger (oboe - principal
oboe in the Wranitzky) and Lani Spahr (cor
anglais) Recorded at St John’s Lutheran Church,
Stamford, Connecticut, February 1999
NAXOS 8.554550 [59.20] [JW]
The
three American oboists perform with expertise
and flexibility ... see Full
Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Music for
Cello and Piano - Volume 3 Cello
Sonata No. 4 in C Op.102/1 (1815) Cello Sonata
No. 5 in D Op.102/2 (1815) Twelve Variations
on "See here the conqu’ring hero comes"
from Handel’s Judas Maccabeus WoO45
Duet in E flat for viola and cello WoO32 Duet
with two obbligato eyeglasses
Maria Kliegel (cello), Nina Tichman (Piano),
Tabea Zimmermann (viola) Rec. Clara Wieck
Auditorium, Sandhausen, Germany, February
2003; March 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.555787 [58:47] [PCW]
Maintains
the highest artistic standards … should not
be overlooked …see Full
Review
Kristian BLAK (b.
1947) Úr
Hólminum (1995)a Hogboy
(1997)b Vienne la nuit (1997)c
Shaman (2001)d
Robert Sonne (double bass)b; Palle
Schou-Nielsen (horn)c; Caputad;
Det Jyske Ensemblebc; Guđmundur
Óli Gunnarsson (conductor)ad Recorded:
Viborg Musiksal, Denmark, February-April 2004
(Hogboy, Vienne la nuit); Borgarleikhúsiđ,
Reykjavík, April 2004 (Shaman) and
Viđistađakirkja, Hafnarfjřrđur,
April 2004 (Úr Hólminum)
TUTL FKT 22 [48:52] [HC]
Blak
is one of the most versatile and gifted composers
to have made his mark outside the North Atlantic
archipelago. ... see Full
Review
Manuel BLANCAFORT
(1897-1987)
Complete
piano music Volume 2 6 Short Pieces (1918-19)
Country Games and Dances (1918-20) Intimate
Songs I (1918-20) 8 Piano Pieces (1920-21)
Miquel Villalba (piano) Rec. 4-5 January 2003,
L’Auditorium, Jafre, Spain
NAXOS 8.557333 [61.29] [JW]
Owed
much to impressionism and Ravel ... gives
the music a sense of tension though never
mocking romanticism ... see Full
Review
Alexander BLECHINGER
(b.
1956) Violin
Concerto Op. 87 (1987) Piano Concerto Op.
35 ¹ (1995)
Elisabeth Jess-Kropfitsch, violin Igo
Koch, piano¹ Philharmonie Bohuslav Martinů/Paul
Polivnick ORF-Symphonieorchester ¹/Paul Polivnick
Recorded in the Konzertsaal, Zlina, Czech
Republic January 31st and February
1st 1997, and in the ORF Grosser
Sendesaal 1987 ¹.
ANTES EDITION BM CD 31.9102 [53.09] [NH]
Effective
rhythms pulsating with life
- the sleeve-note says it all, Alex Blechinger
in a nutshell ... see Full
Review
Arrigo BOITO
(1842
- 1918) Mefistofele,
Opera in 4 acts (1868) [159.00] Text by the
composer. Samuel Ramey - Mefistofele
Gabriela Benacková - Margherita,
Elena Dennis O’Neil - Faust
Judith Christin - Marta Emily Manhart
- Pantalis Daniel Harper - Wagner
Douglas Wunsch - Nereo
Chorus and Orchestra of the San Francisco
Opera/Maurizio Arena
ARTHAUS
MUSIK 100 414 [159.00] [PSh]
A
great classic performance and recording of
this magnificent opera, one of the best shows
you’ll ever see ... see Full
Review
Claude BOLLING
(b.
1930) Suite
for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio (1973) [35:26]
Suite No. 2 for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio
(1987) [51:11]
Laurel Zucker, flute, alto flute, bass
flute Joe Gilman, piano Jeff Neighbor, bass
David Rokeach, percussion Rec. Skywalker Sound
in San Rafael, California. DDD
CANTILENA RECORDS 66025-2 [35:26 + 51:11]
[PG]
About
an hour and a half of refined West Coast jazz
excellently composed and performed ... see
Full Review
Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier
de SAINT-GEORGES
(c.1745-1799) Violin
Concertos - vol. 2 Violin Concerto in D Op.
Posth. No. 2 Violin Concerto No. 10 in G (c.
1777) Violin Concerto in D Op. 3 No. 1 (1773)
Qian Zhou (violin)
Toronto Camarata/Kevin Mallon Rec. Grace Church
on the Hill, Toronto, April 2003 DDD
NAXOS 8.557322 [65:30] [PJW]
This
music is certainly worth an airing ... it is beautifully played and
a joyful listening experience ... an irresistible bargain ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat, op.83*, Sonata No.1, op.1
Sviatoslav Richter (piano),
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Erich Leinsdorf* Recorded
October 17th 1960 in the Orchestra Hall, Chicago (Concerto), July 10th
1988, Hasselburg, Scheune (Sonata)
BMG CLASSICS/RCA RED SEAL 82876 60860 2 [78:45]
[CH]
A
legendary, visionary version of the sonata,
but don’t make this your only version of the
concerto. ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
The Complete Works for Piano Vol. 3 Sonata
no.3 in F minor op.5, Variations and Fugue
on a Theme by Handel op.24
Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded in the Concert
Artist Studios, Cambridge (UK), 2002 (op.5),
2002-3 (op.24)
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9029-2
[68:29] [CH]
A
truly inspired Handel Variations and thought-provoking
version of the Sonata. ... see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897)
The Complete Works for Piano Vol. 4 Scherzo
in E flat minor op.4, 8 Klavierstücke
op.76, Variations on a Theme of Paganini op.35,
3 Ballades op.10
Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded at the Concert
Artist Studios, Cambridge, 1994 (opp.4, 76,
10), 2002 (op.35)
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD9030-2
[72:30] [CH]
There
is a wonderful "rightness" about
Hatto’s Brahms. ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) A
German Requiem (sung in English) Herbert Janssen (baritone) Vivian
Della Chiesa (soprano)
Westminster Choir NBC Symphony Orchestra/Arturo Toscanini Recorded
24 January 1943 – with broadcast commentaries
GUILD GHCD 2290 [73.05] [JW]
Presentation
is fine; sound, a real improvement. Performance
– for me, uneven. ... see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Complete Lieder,
Volume 7 Romanzen
und Lieder, Opus 84 (1877-81) [9.48] Sechs
Lieder, Opus 85 (1877-82) [12.27] Sechs
Lieder, Opus 86 (1877-79) [18.17] Fünf
Lieder, Opus 94 (1883-84) [12.23]
Juliane Banse (soprano) Iris Vermillion
(mezzo soprano) Andreas Schmidt (baritone)
Helmut Deutsch (piano) Rec March 1996(Opus
84-85), October 1997 (Opus 86), September
1999 (Opus 94); Kleiner Sendesaal, Radio Berlin
Brandenburg
CPO 999 447-2 [53.04] [TB]
Andreas
Schmidt is a master of this repertoire, affording
due credit to a composer whose achievement
in this field is too often overlooked. ...
see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Vier ernste
Gesänge op.121 (Rec.17th July 1950), Sapphische
Ode op.94/4, Botschaft op.47/1 (both
rec.19th December 1949), Two Songs for contralto
with viola obbligato op.91 (rec. 15th
February 1949), Alto
Rhapsody op.53 (rec. 18th-19th
December 1947) Robert SCHUMANN
(1810 1856) Frauenliebe
und Leben op.42
(Recorded 12th-14th July 1950) 
Kathleen Ferrier (contralto), John Newmark
(piano – Schumann, Brahms op.121), Phyllis
Spurr (piano – other
Brahms items with piano), Max Gilbert (viola
– Brahms op.91), London Philharmonic Orchestra
and Male Choir/Clemens Krauss (Rhapsody)
Rhapsody recorded in Kingsway Hall, London,
others at the Decca Studios, Broadhurst
Gardens, London, dates as above. Transfer
engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn
NAXOS 8.111009 [71:12]
[CH]
Some great singing here and all music lovers
should have some Ferrier on their shelves.
... see
Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833
-1897) Hungarian
Dances for Piano, Books 3 and 4 (Nos. 11-21)Two
Sarabandes for Piano,
Two Gavottes for Piano, Two Gigues
for Piano, Transcription of a Gavotte
by Gluck, Study after an Impromptu
by Schubert Op.90 No.2, Theme
and Variations in D minor.
Louis
Demetrius Alvanis (piano) No recording
information. DDD MERIDIAN CDE
84435 [72'56”][RNB]
All
the music is well played and worth having
for the Hungarian Dances and the D minor Variations.
... see Full
Revie
Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) The Complete
Works for Piano Volume 5 Fantasien
Op.116 Three Intermezzi Op.117 Six Klavierstücke
Op.118 Four Klavierstücke Op.119
Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded at the Concert
Artist Studios, Cambridge, 1997, 1998 and
2004
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9031-2
[72.40] [JW]
An
impressively argued set of exceptionally taxing
repertoire ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Quatre
Chansons Françaises, op.posth.
(1928)* [12:08] Our Hunting Fathers,
op.8 (1936) [28:07] Les Illuminations,
op.18 (1939)* [22:21]
* Felicity Lott (soprano), Phyllis Bryn-Julson
(soprano) English Chamber Orchestra/Steuart
Bedford Recorded at Abbey Rd. Studios, London,
UK in June/July 1990 (Our Hunting Fathers),
and at Henry Wood Hall, London UK in July
1994 (other items)
NAXOS 8.557206 [62:38] [GPJ]
These
versions are quite fit to take their place
alongside the finest available, and all is
captured in vivid recordings of the highest
standard. It’s great to welcome them back
into the catalogue. ... see Full
Review
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Les
Illuminations, Op. 18, Simple Symphony
Op 4, Frank Bridge Variations,
Op 10.
Franziska Hirzel (soprano) Kiev Chamber Orchestra/Roman
Kofman recorded Bonn, 24-6th November,
2003 DDD
MDG 601 1275-2 [68'26"] [AO]
Skilled
ensemble players with a feel for the variety,
imagination and colour of Britten's works
for string orchestra ... see Full
Review
Benjamin BRITTEN
(1913-1976)
The
foggy, foggy dew [2.32] Sally in our alley
[4.10] Tom Bowling [4.28] A brisk young widow
[2.01] O Waly Waly [3.32] Sweet Polly Oliver
[2.28] Early one morning [2.57] The bonny
Earl o’Moray [2.29] The ash grove [2.45] Come
you not from Newcastle [1.13] Le roi s’en
va-t’en chasse [3.21] La belle est au Jardin
d’amour [2.4] The minstrel boy [1.55] How
sweet the answer [2.07] The last rose of summer
[3.54] Avenging and bright [1.26] Oft in the
stilly night [2.34] The miller of Dee [1.44]
Ca’ the yowes [3.50] The plough boy [2.05]
Peter Pears (tenor), Benjamin Britten
(piano) 1-4 recorded October, 5-21 recorded
1961, at Kingsway Hall, London
DECCA BRITISH MUSIC COLLECTION 476 1973
[67.00] [EM]
A
valuable addition to the fantastic British
Music Collection series. This comes very highly
recommended. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Dietrich
Buxtehude
(1637 -1707)
Sacred Cantatas Was
frag’ ich nach der Welt, BuxWV 104 [7.57]
Jesu, meine Freud und Lust, BuxWV 59
[6.47] Sicut Moses, BuxWV 97 [7.55]
Passacaglia, BuxWV 161 (arranged for
strings by Kevin Mallon) [6.09] Wenn ich,
Herr Jesu, habe dich, BuxWV 107 [8.31]
In te, Domine, speravi, BuxWV 53 [2.11]
Jubilate Domino, BuxWV 64 [9.06] Wie
schmeckt es so lieblich und wohl, BuxWV108
[9.55]
Matthew White, counter-tenor; Katherine
Hill, soprano; Paul Grindlay, bass Arcadia
Ensemble/Kevin Mallon Recorded at Grace Church
on the Hill, Toronto, Canada, 13-16 May 2002.
NAXOS 8.557041 [58.30] [JF]
A
real eye opener. All of these works prove
that there is much more to Buxtehude than
organ music. One of two of these cantatas
are true masterpieces and deserves recognition
as such. ... see Full
Review
Dietrich BUXTEHUDE
(c.1637-1707)
Complete Organ Works, Volume 2 Praeludium
in E Minor, BuxWV 152 Ach Herr, mich armen
Sünder, BuxWV 178 Christ unser Herr zum
Jordan kam, BuxWV Praeludium in A Minor, BuxWV
153 Mensch, wiltu leben seliglich, BuxWV 206
Von Gott will ich nicht lassen, BuxWV 221
Von Gott will ich nicht lassen, BuxWV 220
Praeludium in C Major, BuxWV 136 Wär
Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit, BuxWV 222 Wir
danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ, daß du
gen Himmel gefahren bist, BuxWV 224 Praeludium
in A Major, BuxWV 151 Nun lob, mein Seel,
den Herren, BuxWV 214 Nun lob, mein Seel,
den Herren, BuxWV 215 14. Praeludium in E
Minor, BuxWV 142
Bine Bryndorf, organ Recorded on Buxtehude
Organ at St. Mary's Church, Elsinore, Denmark,
February 2003
DACAPO 8.226008[51:04] [DS]
I
highly recommend this second volume from Bine
Bryndorf. The playing is outstanding, and
the use of the Buxtehude organ at Elsinore
adds to the authenticity. I look forward to
Volume 3 and hope that it is soon forthcoming.
... 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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