M. de SAINTE
COLOMBE (fl.
latter 17th Century) Pièces
pour viole de gambe Prelude
[1:35] Les Couplets [9:44] Le Retrouvé
[7:07] Le Conférence [11:57] Le Changé
[9:19] Tombeau Les Regrets [8:51] Le Raporté
[4:50] Le Majestueux [4:32] Le Précipite
[2:50] La Varié[3:10] L’Infidelle [5:41]
Hille Perl, viola da gamba Le Santana,
viola da gamba Andrew Lawence-King, harps
Lorenz Duftschmidt, lutes Recorded 23-26 March
1996, St. Andrew’s Church, Toddington [DDD]
DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 74321 935562 [68:38]
[KS]
A
nice evening’s listen all in all and a chance
for some aural peace and tranquility for a
change ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Camille
SAINT-SAËNS
(1835-1921) Sonata
for violin and piano No. 1, in D minor, op.
75 (1885) Sonata for violin and piano No.
2, in E flat major, op. 102 (1896) Berceuse,
op. 38, for violin and piano (1871) Elegie,
op. 160, for violin and piano (1920) Elegie,
op. 143, for violin and piano (1915) Romance,
op. 37, for violin and piano (1871) String
Quartet No. 1 in E minor, op. 112 (1899) String
Quartet No. 2 in G major, op. 153 (1919)
Quatuor Viotti
Olivier Charlier (violin) Jean Hubeau (piano)
Recorded in Studio 103, Radio-France, December
1984 (string quartets) and Studio 107, Radio-France,
August 1987 (violin and piano works).
WARNER CLASSICS APEX 2564 61426-2 [65:20
+ 54:34] [MC]
Simply
wonderful chamber works superbly performed.
This disc would have been strongly recommended
at full-price. An indispensable release. ...
see Full Review
Robert
SAXTON (b. 1953)
CD1 Music
to Celebrate the Resurrection ++ (1988); I
will awake the Dawn (1986) Violin Concerto
+ (1990); In the Beginning ++ (1987)
Tasmin Little (violin) BBC Symphony Orchestra/Matthias
Bamert + English Chamber Orchestra/Steuart
Bedford ++ BBC Singers/John Poole CD2
Caritas - a chamber opera in two acts (1991)
Members of Opera North Children from Allerton
Grange Middle School, Leeds, English Northern
Philharmonic/Diego Masson Recorded live at
the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival,
November 1991.
NMC ANCORA D102 [72.08 +
78.14] [GH]
Saxton:
direct and natural, powerful and passionate,
when he has a strong and spiritual aim ...
performances faultless. ... I cannot imagine
how things might be improved. ... see Full
Review
Domenico
SCARLATTI (1685-1757)Sonata
K 126 in C minor; Sonata K 450 in G minor;
Sonata K 108 in G minor; Sonata K 384 in C
major; Sonata K 406 in C major; Sonata K 69
in F minor; Sonata K 518 in F major; Sonata
K 519 in F minor; Sonata K 434 in F major;
Sonata K 278 in D major; Sonata K 402 in E
minor; Sonata K 403 in E major; Sonata K 202
in E major
Christian Zacharias (piano)Rec. 10/11 June
2002, Fürstliche Reitbahn Bad Arolsen.
DDD [RNB]
SACD
Hybrid MDG 940 1162-6 [61'51] [RNB]
Rewarding
performances of deeply-felt music ... see
Full
Review
Francesco
SCARLATTI (1666-?1741)
Dixit Dominus :Dixit
Dominus [2.56], Donec ponam inimicos tuos
[2.19], Virgam virtutis tuae [1.07], Tecum
principium [3.14], Juravit Dominus [.232],
Dominus a dextris tuis [1.22], De torrente
in via bibet [2.04], Gloria Patri [4.27]Messa:
Kyrie [5.09], Gloria [4.12], Gratias agimus
tibi [3.35], Domine Deus, Rex Coelestis [2.24],
Domine Fili unigenite [3.32], Domine Deus,
Agnus Dei [2.49], Qui tollis peccata Mundi
(I) {2.33], Qui tollis peccata Mundi (II)
[4.00], Quoniam tu solus sanctus [1.4], Cum
Sancto Spiritu [3.09]Miserere: Miserere
mei [3.06], Amplius lava me [3.06], Ecce enim
[1.23], Asperges me hyssopo [1.55], Cor mundum
[1.23], Ne proicias me [1.25], Docebo iniquos
vias tuas [3.08], Sacrificium Deo [2.33],
Benigne fac Domine [1.06], Tunc acceptabis
[2.08], Gloria Patri [3.05] Armonico Consort,
Concerto Gallese, The English Cornett and
Sackbut Ensemble, Christopher Monks (director),
Emma Kirkby (soprano) Recorded in Douai Abbey,
Berkshire, October 2003 DDD DEUX-ELLES
DXL 1096 [73.44] [EM]
At
his worst, Scarlatti is definitely not worth
going out of your way for, but at his best
he reaches the heights of Vivaldi, Handel
or most elevated Bach. A revelation of a disc!
... see Full
Review
Johann
Christian Friedrich SCHNEIDER (1786-1853)
Symphony
No. 17 in c minor [23:42] Felix
MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY (1809-1847) Concerto
for violin and strings in d minor* [21:30]
Symphony No. 1 in c, op. 11 [32:30]
Hiro Kurosaki, violin (*)
Cappella Coloniensis/Sigiswald Kuijken Recorded
in November 2003 at the Paterskirche in Kempen,
Germany DDD
CPO 999 932-2 [77:53] [JV]
An
interesting recording of a symphony by a forgotten
composer of the early 19th century, and two
of Mendelssohn’s less frequently performed
orchestral works … see Full
Review
Phillip SCHROEDER
(b. 1956) Turning to
the Center An
Offering (1999-2000) From Pudd'nhead Wilson's
Calendar (2000) Turning to the Center (2001)
Robert Best, baritone and percussion Tamara
Raatz, clarinet and bass clarinet Phillip
Schroeder, piano and synthesiser Rec. Harwood
Recital Hall, Russell Fine Arts Center, Henderson
State University, Arkansas, July 16th
- 20th 2001.
CAPSTONE RECORDS CPS-8699 [50.55]
Songs of My Affinities Eight Songs
on Poems by Ogden Nash (1996) Spirits of the
Dead (1999) Songs of My Affinities (1998)
The Infinite in Repose (2002)
Robert Best, baritone Steven Becraft, clarinet
Stephen Feldman, cello Rick Dimond, percussion
Jeri-Mae G. Astolfi, piano Phillip Schroeder,
synthesiser Rec. Harwood Recital Hall, Russell
Fine Arts Center, Henderson State University,
Arkansas, May 22nd - 24th
and 26th - 29th 2003.
CAPSTONE RECORDS CPS-8726 [51.31]
Schroeder's
vocal works show here that they can live with
the best of current/recent American song.
Personal utterances with true integrity -
excellent! ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797
- 1828) Piano Works for Four Hands
Variations in Bb, D.968A (D.603) (1818) [10.30] Rondo in A, D.951
(1828) [12.27] Allegro ma non troppo in a, "levensstürme",
D.947 (1828) [16.41] Divertissement über französische in b
Motive: Andantino Varié, D.823/II [9.03] Fantasie in f, D.940
(1828) [19.15] Rico Gulda, Christopher Hinterhuber (piano)
Recorded at Alte Reitschule at Grafenegg Castle, Austria, 31 May 2002
Notes in English, Deutsche, Français.
NAXOS 8.555930 [67.56] [PSh]
Very
fine performances of these cornerstones of
the repertoire … see
Full Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
4
Impromptus D.899, 4 Impromptus D.935
Peter Katin (Clementi square piano of
1832) Recorded 18-19, 21-22 December 1993
at Peter Katin’s studio
DIVERSIONS (DIVINE ART) 24112 [64:21]
[CH]
The
B flat Impromptu gets a very beautiful performance, but elsewhere there
is a lack of poetry. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)String
Quartet No. 13 in A minor ‘Rosamunde’, Op. 29/1, D804 (1824)
[33:52]String Quartet No. 14 in D minor ‘Death and the Maiden’
D810 (1826) [39:16] Tokyo
String QuartetRecorded 30 June - 2 July 1987, RCA Studio A, New York
City, USA (D804); 19-22, Sept 1989, Richardson Hall, Princeton University,
New Jersey, USA (D810) DDD
BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 60871
2 [73:15] [MC]
Not
my first choice yet offers a fine coupling
that will not disappoint. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)String
Quartet No. 13 in A minor ‘Rosamunde’, Op. 29/1, D804 (1824)
[33:52]String Quartet No. 14 in D minor ‘Death and the Maiden’
D810 (1826) [39:16] Tokyo
String QuartetRecorded 30 June - 2 July 1987, RCA Studio A, New York
City, USA (D804); 19-22, Sept 1989, Richardson Hall, Princeton University,
New Jersey, USA (D810) DDD
BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 60871
2 [73:15] [MC]
Not
my first choice yet offers a fine coupling
that will not disappoint. ... see Full
Review
Franz Peter SCHUBERT
(1779-1828)
Austrian Contemporaries Vol. 2 Die
Unglückliche, D713 (1817?; publ.
1821) [6’08]. Widerspruch, D865 (1826?;
publ 1828) [2’14]. Glaube, Hoffnung und
Liebe, D955 (1828) [4’46]. Frohsinn,
D520 (1817) [2’17]. Die abgeblühte
Linde, D514 (1817?; publ. 1821) [3’37].
Der Flug der Zeit, D515 (1817?; publ.
1821) [1’31]. Das Heimweh, D851 (publ.
1827) [6’48]. Die Allmacht, D852 (1825)
[5’12]. Labetrank der Liebe, D302 (1815)
[2’41]. An die Geliebte, D303 (1815)
[1’47]. Vergebliche Liebe, D177 (1815)
[2’03]. Die Sterne, D176 (1815) [3’00].
Die erste Liebe, D177 (1815) [2’47].
Lob des Tokayers, D248 (1815) [2’48].
Der Zufriedene, D320 (1815) [2’07].
Der Sänger am Felsen, D482 (1816)
[3’00]. Skolie, D306 (1815) [1’04].
Die Befreier Europas in Paris, D104
(1814) [4’01]. Abschied (melodram),
D829 (1826) [2’18]. Die Fröhlichkeit,
D262 (1815) [1’45].
Detlef Roth (baritone); Ulrich Eisenlohr (piano).
Texts and translations included. Rec. Radiostudio1,
Zurich, on May 24th-28th,
2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.557172 [65’00] [CC]
This
disc is a voyage of discovery, a treasure-trove
fully worthy of investigation. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Life and Works
Written
and narrated by Jeremy Siepmann with Tom George
as Schubert Die Schöne Mullerin [61.47]
Peter Schreier, tenor; Walter Olbertz, piano
Rec: 2004.
NAXOS 8.558135-38 [approx. 271:00] [KM]
A
fine way to learn more about Schubert - well
written, well read, and interesting: ... see
Full Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
The Four Symphonies Symphony
No. 1 Spring (1841) [30.31] Symphony
No. 2 (1846) [36.22] Symphony No. 3 Rhenish
(1850) [32.14] Symphony No. 4 (1841 rev.
1851) [25.17] Manfred Overture [11:07]
Cleveland Orchestra/Georg Szell rec. 21,
24-25 Oct 1958, 12 Mar 1960, 21 Jan 1959,
Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio. ADD
SONY CLASSICAL 516027 2 [66.54+68.53]
[RB]
The
Szell-Schumann is the sort of discovery that
you will want to share with others. I think
you might be very pleasurably surprised. ...
see Full Review
Alexander
SCRIABIN (1872-1915)
Solo Piano Music Etude,
Op. 2/1 Twelve Etudes, Op. 8 (1894) Twenty-Four
Preludes, Op. 11 (1888-1896) Two Poems, Op.
32 (1903)
Elena Kuschnerova, piano Recorded Hans-Rosbaud-Studio
of SWR Baden-Baden, January/February 1999
ARS MUSICI AM 1259-2 [69:38] [DS]
I
can certainly recommend any disc so captivating
and gorgeous as the Kuschnerova ... see Full
Review
Harold Shapero
(b.1920) Serenade
in D for String Quintet (1945) [35.18] String
Quartet (1941) [20.56] String Trio (1937)
[11.01]
Lydian String Quartet, (with Edwin Barker,
double bass in the Quintet) Recorded at Slosberg
Auditorium Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts.
Serenade 13th June 2003;
Quartet 12th November 2001;
Trio 30th May 2002.
NEW WORLD RECORDS 80569-2 [67.15] [JF]
Shapero’s
key chamber works ... deserve to be listened
to. A great neo-classicist to rival Poulenc
and even Stravinsky himself. ... see Full
Review
Vissarion
SHEBALIN (1902-1963)
The Nine String Quartets Volume
1 String Quartet No. 1 in A minor Op.
2 (1924) [21:46] String Quartet No. 2 in B
flat major Op. 19 (1935) [30:09] String Quartet
No. 3 in E minor Op. 28 (1939) [27:14]
Volume 2 String Quartet No. 4 in G
minor Op. 29 (1940) [31:20] String Quartet
No. 5 in F minor Slavonic Op. 33 (1942)
[26:03] String Quartet No. 9 in B minor Op.
58 (1963) [20:13] Volume 3 String Quartet
No. 6 in B minor Op. 34 (1943) [25:08] String
Quartet No. 7 in A flat major Op. 41 (1948)
[18:23] String Quartet No. 8 in C major Op.
53 (23:08) [1960]
Krasni Quartet (Anton Shelepov (violin); Alexandra
Zubova (violin); Boris Vainer (viola); Aleksei
Shestiperov (cello)) first recordings rec.
St Petersburg Recording Studio, St Petersburg,
March 1999 - June 2000. DDD
OLYMPIA OCD 663 - volume 1 [79:11] OLYMPIA
OCD 664 - volume 2 [77:45] OLYMPIA
OCD 665 - volume 3 [67:46] [RB]
Shebalin’s
traditional idiom, once settled on, satisfied
him in full. Music that is pointed, poignant
and movingly elegiac ... see Full
Review
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906 - 1975) Ballet
Suites Nos. 1 (1950) [12.45]; 2 (1951) [19.53];
3 (1952) [15.18]; 4 (1953) [12.12] (all arr.
Lev Atovmyan)
Dmitri Yablonsky, cello solo; Oleg Tokathev,
trumpet solo Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitri
Yablonsky Recorded in KULTURA Studio 5, Moscow,
Russia, 1 June 2003 Notes in English and Deutsch.
Detailed track list.
NAXOS 8.557208 [60.07] [PSh]
Fine
new recording in audiophile sound of a familiar
classical standard ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906
– 1975) Sonata
for Violin and Piano Op.134 (1968) 24 Preludes
Op.34 (1932/3) 24 Preludes Op.34 (arr. Tzyganov
and Sergeyenya-Bezverkhny) Sonata for Viola
and Piano Op.147 (1974)
Mikhail Bezverkhny (violin, viola); Timur
Sergeyenya (piano) Recorded: St. Catherine
Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg, November
2003
DE RODE POMP RP/GMA 041 [78:28 + 75.10]
[HC]
A
most welcome release: two major late works
and the fine Op. 34 set ... performances generally
very fine ... fans of Shostakovich should
investigate this generously filled disc. ...
see Full
Review
Jan SIBELIUS
(1865-1957)
Violin
Concerto in D minor op.47 (1905), Serenade
in G minor op.69b (1913) Christian
SINDING (1856-1941) Violin Concerto
no.1 in A op.45 (1898), Romance in D op.100
(1910)
Henning Kraggerud (violin) Bournemouth
Symphony Orchestra/Bjarte Engeset Recorded
24-26 June 2003 at Lighthouse, Centre for
the Arts, Dorset.
NAXOS 8.557266 [71:08] [CH]
A
version of the Sibelius concerto that is worth
discovering; the Sinding is less memorable
but contains much generously romantic writing.
... see Full
Review
HISTORICAL
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Symphony
No. 2 in D major Op. 43 (1902) [39:35] Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Symphony
No. 8 in G major Op. 88 (1898) [36:15]
BBC Symphony Orchestra (Sibelius) Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra (Dvořák) Sir Thomas
Beecham Rec. Royal Festival Hall, London,
8 Dec 1954 (Sibelius); 25 Oct 1959 (Dvořák).ADD
MONO 20 Bit remastering from the original
BBC tapes
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4154-2 [77.09] [RB]
Live
versions of Sibelius 2 and Dvořák 8:
sensational, thrilling, incandescent. No Sibelius
collection is complete without this extraordinary
disc ... see Full
Review
Jean SIBELIUS
(1865-1957)
Snöfrid
Op. 29 (1900) [14:15] Overture in A
minor JS144 (1902) [9:13] Coronation
Cantata JS104 (1896) [18:37] Rakastava
Op. 14 (1891-1912) [12:18] Oma Maa
Op. 92 (1918) [13:26] Andante Festivo JS34b
(1922, 1938) [5:10] Stina Ekblad (narrator)
(Snöfrid) Jubilate Choir (Snöfrid;
Coronation; Oma) Jaakko Kuusisto
(violin); Ilkka Pälli (cello) (Rakastava)
Lahti Symphony Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä
Rec. April 2001; Jan 2002; May 2002; Jan 2003;
Sibelius Hall, Lahti, Finland. DDD
BIS BIS-CD-1265 [74:48] [RB]
Sibelians
will have to have this collection for the
Overture and the Cantata .... everything here
is extremely well done ... vibrant music-making
... see Full
Review
Jan
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Piano Music Volume 5 6
Bagatelles op.97; 8 Petits Morceaux op.99;
5 Morceaux Romantiques op.101; 5 Characteristic
Impressions op.103; 5 Esquisses op.114
Håvard Gimse (piano) Recorded 25th-26th
April 2001 at St. Martin’s Church, East Woodhay,
Hampshire, UK
NAXOS 8.555853 [59:11] [CH]
Fluent
and agreeable romantic piano music, but Sibelius’s
voice is not in it. Gimse’s performances suggest
a real love of his task. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Robert
SIMPSON (1921
– 1997) Symphony
No.11 (1990) Variations on a theme by Nielsen
(1983)
City of London Sinfonia/Matthew Taylor Recorded:
St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead, London, December
2003
HYPERION CDA 67500 [54:55] [HC]
This
release, appropriately dedicated to the late
Ted Perry, is up to Hyperion’s best. Performances
and production are simply magnificent, so
that this splendid disc is warmly and unreservedly
recommended. ... see Full
Review
Louis
(Ludwig) SPOHR (1784-1859)
Concertante
No. 1 in A major, for two violins and orchestra,
op.48 (1808) Grande Polonaise, for
violin and orchestra, op 40* (1815) Concertante
No. 2 in B minor, for two violins and orchestra,
op.88 (1833) Potpourri on Irish Songs for
violin and orchestra, op59* (1820)
Ulf Hoelscher* (violin) Gunhild Hoelscher
(violin) Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin/Christian
Frohlich Recorded at Jesus-Christus Kirche,
Berlin-Dahlem, April 17-20, 2001, DDD
CPO 999 798-2 [72:29] [MC]
A
refreshing alternative to the usual repertoire.
Well performed and recorded! ... see Full
Review
Max
STEINER (1888-1971)
The
Adventures of Mark Twain (1942 film
score) Score restoration by John Morgan
Moscow Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/William
Stromberg recorded at Mosfilm Studio, Moscow,
February 2003
NAXOS 8.557470 [70:49] [IL]
A
first-class performance of one of Steiner’s
outstanding, heart-warming Americana, Oscar-nominated
scores. ... see Full
Review
Johann
STRAUSS I (1804-1849)
Edition,
Volume 4: Waltzes, Polkas, Galops Melodies
from the Opera, La Muette de Portici,
(Auber), Op. 32 (1829) Charming Polka,
0p. 31 (1827) Vive la Danse! (Waltz),
Op. 47 (1831) Fortuna Galop, Op. 69 (1834)
Cheerful too at a serious Time (Waltz),
Op. 48 (1831) Original Parade march (Vienna
Bürger-March Nr. 1) (1832) Life
a Dance or Dance a Life! (Waltz),
Op. 49 (1831) Caprice Polka 0p. 6 (1827) Cotillons
nach beliebten Melodies from the Opera, La
Straniera (Bellini), Op. 50 Venetianer-Galopp,
Op. 74 Hof-Ball-Tänzer (Waltz),
Op. 51 Galopp Nr. 1 (La muette de Portici,
Auber) Bajaderen-Walzer, Op. 53 Galopp
Nr. 2 (La muette de Portici, Auber)
Slovak Sinfonietta of Zilina/Ernst Märzendorfer
Rec. Zilina, 1999. DDD
Marco Polo 8.225254 [66:36] [RW]
Bright
performances with engaging warmth in a near-ideal
ambience ... see Full
Review
Oskar
STRAUS
(1870 - 1954) Die
Perlen der Cleopatra, operetta in
3 acts (1923) [76.06] Libretto by Julius Brammer
and Alfred Grünwald. [sung in German]
Morenike Fadayomi, soprano Cleopatra
Michael Zabanoff, tenor Prinz Beladonis
Axel Mendrok, tenor Victorian Sylvius
Volker Vogel, baritone Pampylos Gundula
Peyerl, soprano Charmian Robert Meyer,
Marcus Antonius
Franz Lehár-Orkester, Chor des Lehár
Festivals Bad Ischl/Herbert Mogg Notes in
Deutsch, English, and Français. Photos
of the artists. No text. Recorded in PCM at
Festpielsaal, Bad Ischl, Germany, August 28,
2003 SACD tracks, 2.0 stereo and 5.0 surround.
CD tracks, 2.0 stereo. Hybrid
SACD, playable on CD players
CPO 777 022-2 [37.20 + 38.46] [PSh]
A
time traveller’s visit to "roaring twenties"
Berlin. If you like raunchy German cabaret
humour, this is for you. ... see Full
Review
Richard
STRAUSS (1865-1949)
Der Rosenkavalier Elizabeth
Whitehouse (soprano) Marschallin; Idliko Komlosi
- Octavian; Desirée Rancatore - Sophie;
Daniel Lewis Williams - Baron Ochs; David
Pittman-Jennings - Faninal; Pietro Ballo (tenor)
Singer;
Massimo Theatre Orchestra/John Neschling.
Rec. Massimo Theatre.
BRILLIANT
CLASSICS - THE OPERA SERIES 92271 [210’00]
[CC]
If
I’d have gone to the opera house for the evening,
I would consider this an overall success and
not felt short-changed. At home, it is slightly
different ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
Fireworks - Fantasy for Orchestra (1909)
[3:57] The Firebird - complete ballet
(1910) [41:12] Tango (1940 rev 1953)
[3:31] Scherzo à la russe (1944)
[3:50] The Song of the Nightingale -
symphonic poem (1917) [21:56]
London Symphony Orchestra/Antal Dorati Rec.
Watford Town Hall 7 June 1959 (Firebird);
22, 24 June 1964 (Nightingale); 27
June 1964 (Fireworks; Scherzo);
7 July 1964 (Tango). ADD
SACD reviewed in CD mode
MERCURY
LIVING PRESENCE 470 643-2 [76:47] [RB]
One
of the greatest recordings. If you have any
affection for the Russian tradition or for
unbridled voluptuous orchestral extravagance
sensationally recorded then this must be on
your shopping list. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Igor
STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971) Perséphone
Paul DUKAS
(1865-1935) Overture Polyeucte
Paul Groves (tenor); Nicole Tibbels (speaker)
Cantate Youth Choir; Trinity Boys’ Choir
BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Sir Andrew
Davis (Stravinsky) and Jan Pascal Tortelier
(Dukas) Recorded in the Royal Albert Hall
(live) August 10th 2003
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61548-2 [73:34] [GH]
Beautiful
choral writing like nothing I have ever heard
in Stravinsky. Its melodic charm seems set
in another world, which indeed it is as Persephone
lies asleep beside the banks of the Lethe.
... see Full
Review
Lepo SUMERA
(1950-2000) To Reach
Yesterday Scenario
for flute, bass clarinet and piano (1995)
Two Pieces from the Year 1981 for piano
The Silent Odalisque for flute solo
(1997) To Reach Yesterday for cello
and piano (1993) Two Sonnets of Shakespeare
for voice and piano (1999) Stars for
voice and piano (2000)
Pille Lill (soprano); Marje Lohuaru (piano)
The Reval Ensemble Recorded February – June
2002. Chamber Hall of the Estonian Academy
of Music. DDD
MEGADISC MDC 7814 [53:24] [CT]
An
intriguing collection of chamber music by
one of the most influential recent figures
in Estonian music. ... see Full
Review
Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) CD1
Capriccio Italien, op.45 [14:20] Symphony
no.4 in F minor [40:11] Polonaise from
Eugene Onegin [4:19] CD2 Symphony no.6
in B minor, op.74, Pathétique
[43:21] Romeo and Juliet (Overture-Fantasia)
[17:45] ANGELOK CD 9920/21 Russian
Federal Orchestra/Vakhtang Jordania Recorded
at the Radio Palace Hall, Moscow, Russia,
July 2000 (Symphony no.6, Romeo and Juliet
and Capriccio Italien), and May
2000 (Symphony no.4 and Polonaise)
ANGELOK CD 9920/21 [59:09 + 61:08] [GPJ]
Suffers
from the sort of wilful driving that leaves
the poor orchestral players struggling in
the conductor’s wake ... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony
No 6 in B minor, Op. 74, "Pathétique"
[43’45"] Serenade for Strings in C major,
Op. 48* [26’25"]
Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam/Willem
Mengelberg Rec. Concertgebouw, Amsterdam,
22 April 1941; *7 November 1938 ADD
NAXOS 8.110885 [70’10"] [JQ]
Serenade
for Strings: the sweetness of the upper strings
... wonderfully pliant and responsive playing
... I wish I could be as enthusiastic about
the symphony ... see Full
Review
Pyotr Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Cantatas for soloists, choir and orchestra
Moscow
(1882) [25.57] N. Derbina; A Polyakov
Choir and Large Symphony Orchestra of Moscow
Radio/Gennady Cherkasov Festival Cantata
- In memory of Peter the Great's 200th anniversary
(1871) [31:53] Lev Kuznetsov; Large
Choir of Moscow Radio/Kavdiy Ptitsa; Moscow
Radio 1982. Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra/V.
Kozhukhar, live 1982. Nature and Love
for two sopranos, alto, choir and
piano (1870) [8.40]
R Glushkova; T Alexandrova, L Simonova,
Women's Group of the State Radio Choir/L Yermakova,
T Kravchenko (piano) rec. Moscow: live Studio
5, State Radio House, Moscow, 1988; Festival:
1982-1988, ADD/DDD
REGIS RRC 1182 [65.25] [RB]
Rarities
for the Tchaikosky-curious. Rewarding writing
and rapturous in the case of Nature and Love
... see Full
Review
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
(1840 - 1893) Symphony
No. 4 in f, Op 36 (1878) [43.36]
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra/Sergiu Comissiona
Recorded 1981 at National Presbyterian Church,
Washington, DC, USA. [ADD? or DADD?] Notes
in English: track list, technical and musical
credits. On screen extras: Technical documentary
[6.15] speaker adjust utility [1.00] DVD-Audio
2.0 and 5.1 sound, AC-3 Dolby 2.0 and 5.1
surround sound. Originally released on the
Vanguard label. DVD-Audio
plays on all DVD players SILVERLINE
288229-9 [50.50] [PSh]
A
fine performance of this war-horse in fine
surround sound ... see Full
Review
Geirr
TVEITT
(1908-1981) Concerto
No. 1 for Piano and Orchestra, Op 5 (1931)
[21.49] Concerto No. 4 for Piano and Orchestra,
Op 130 "Northern Lights" (1949-81)
[30.04] The Turtle for mezzo-soprano
and orchestra (1965) [28.59]
Håkon Austbø (4) Steinway
D piano; Sveinung Bjelland (1) (piano) Ingebjørg
Kosmo, mezzo-soprano Stavanger Symphony Orchestra/Ole
Kristian Ruud Recorded at the Concert Hall,
Stavanger, Norway, June 2001 - June 2003.
Steinway D piano; piano technician, Jan Inge
Almås. Notes in English, Norsk, Deutsch,
and Français. Photos of artists. Lyric
text printed in original English only, no
translations included.
BIS CD-1397 [81.18] [PSh]
A
newly discovered major Norwegian composer
who will not remain unknown for long ... see
Full Review
Pēteris
VASKS
(b. 1946)
Violin Concerto Tālā geisma
(1996/7) Musica dolorosa (1983)
Viatore (2001)
Swedish Chamber Orchestra; Katarina
Andreasson, violin
and leader
Recorded: Örebro
Concert Hall, January 2003
BIS
CD-1150 [59:18]
[HC]
All
three pieces superbly played ... well up to
BIS’s best standards.
... see Full
Review
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
CD1
Overture: The Poisoned Kiss [6:45]
Two Hymn-tune Preludes [7:53] (Eventide
4:50; Dominus Regit me 3:00] The Running
Set [4:41] Flos campi [20:57] Suite
for viola and orchestra: (Group 1 : Prelude;
Carol; Christmas Dance; Group 2: Ballad; Moto
perpetuo; Group 3: Musette; Polka mélancolique;
Galop} [25:33] Sea Songs 3:51 Frederick
Riddle, viola; Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir;
Bournemouth Sinfonietta/Norman Del Mar; George
Hurst CD2 Overture: The Wasps 10:13
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley
Three Songs from The House of Life
orchestrated. Maurice Johnstone: (Love-sight
4:12; Silent Noon 4:03; Heart's Haven 4:17)
Stephen Varcoe, baritone City of London Sinfonia/Richard
Hickox Six Studies in English Folksong
[8:36] Janet Hilton, clarinet/Keith Swallow,
piano Romance [6:40] Tommy Reilly,
harmonica; Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Chamber Ensemble/Sir Neville Marriner Linden
Lea [2:19] (arr. A. Somervell) Huddersfield
Choral Society/Brian Kay Fantasia on Greensleeves
[4:12] (arr. R. Greaves) BBC Philharmonic/Vernon
Handley Serenade to Music [10:39] London
Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley Rec.
Christchurch Priory, Dorset, 1 January 1975
(Overture: The Poisoned Kiss; Hymn-tune Preludes,
The Running Set; Sea Songs); April 1977 (Flos
Campi; Suite for viola); St John's Smith Square,
London, 1 June 1976 (Romance); St George the
Martyr, London, 31 May - 1 June 1992 (Six
Studies); All Saints' Church, Tooting, London,
November 1983 (Overture: The Wasps and Serenade
to Music); New Broadcasting House, Manchester,
20-21 February 1995 (Fantasia on Greensleeves)
and 11 November 1995 (Linden Lea); St Jude
on the Hill, Hampstead, London 13-14 March
1989 (House of Life Songs)
CHANDOS CHAN2419 [69:41 + 55:43] [RB]
A
resplendent if rather idiosyncratic collection
with plenty of surprises and not a few discoveries.
... see Full Review
Ralph VAUGHAN
WILLIAMS
(1872 - 1958) Sinfonia
Antartica (1950)
Deborah Wai Kopohe (soprano) New Zealand
Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/James Judd.
DVD includes a visual tribute to the continent
of Antartica. This includes historical footage
of past explorer’s exploits on the continent,
the wildlife of Antartica and a programme
of artists’ and poets’ impressions of the
continent, captured in exemplary pictures
and words, plus a travel guide. recorded in
1994, 1998 and 1999
PANGAEA ENTERTAINMENT PDVD
5401 DVD [150:00]. [JPh]
A
very entertaining release which is well worth
viewing and returning to, as I have done.
... see Full Review
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958) Symphony
No. 9 in E minor (1958) [38:58] Alan
HOVHANESS (1911-2000) Symphony
No. 2 Mysterious Mountain (1955) [18:49]
Wallingford RIEGGER
(1885-1961) New Dance Op. 18b (1942) [5:55]
Paul CRESTON (1906-1985)
Toccata Op. 68 (1957) [12:34]
Leopold Stokowski and his Symphony Orchestra
rec. live, Carnegie Hall, 25 Sept 1958. ADD
CALA CACD0539 [73:17] [RB]
Live
performances brimming with ardent power and
fantasy ... see Full
Review
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958) The Film Music
of Ralph Vaughan Williams Volume 2 49th
Parallel (1940) (Suite edited by Stephen
Hogger) The Dim Little Island (1949)
(Partially reconstructed by Stephen Hogger)
The England of Elizabeth (1955) (Suite
edited by Stephen Hogger)
Emily Gray (soprano);Martin Hindmarsh
(tenor) Chetham’s Chamber Choir BBC Philharmonic
Orchestra/Rumon Gamba Recorded Studio 7, New
Broadcasting House, Manchester, 30 September
- 1 October 2003. DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10244 [70:47] [CT]
An
important second instalment in Chandos’s series
of Vaughan Williams film music. It is entirely
deserving that his richly rewarding work in
this medium is committed to disc ... see Full
Review
Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959)
Piano
Music, Volume 4: Bachianas Brasilieras
No. 4 (1930-41) [19’43]; Poema singelo
(1938-42) [6’05]; Carnaval des Criançasa
(1920) [15’24]; Prencette et Piá
(1928) [15’32]; A Fiandiera (1921)
[2’52]; Simples Coletânea (1917-19)
[6’02]; Valsa romântica (1907)
[3’44].
Sonua Rubinsky, aTatjana Rankovich
(pianos). Rec. Grace Church on the Hill, Toronto,
Canada, on October 17th-20th,
2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.555717 [69’53] [CC]
Sonia
Rubinsky is a player of much talent and great
sensitivity. Her affinity with the music of
her native Brazil is clear. ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Siegfried:
Extended extracts
Lauritz Melchior, Heinrich Tessmer,
Albert Reiss (tenors); Nora Grubn, Florence
Easton (sopranos); Maria Olszewska (contralto);
Eduard Habich (baritone); Friedrich Schorr,
Rudolf Bockelmann (bass-baritone); London
Symphony Orchestra/Robert Heger, Albert Coates,
Vienna State Opera Orchestra/Karl Alwin; Orchestra
of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Robert
Heger Performance background and plot synopsis
included.rec 1929-1932
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110091/92 [151’30:
79’04 + 72’26]. [RH]
An
illuminating glimpse into the performance
styles of pre-war Wagner, a must for all lovers
of Wagner’s music. ... see Full
Review
Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883)
Tristan
und Isolde (1865) - Act 2, scenes 1 and 2
(with concert ending of 1862) [52’00]. Götterdämmerung
(1876) Act 3, Scene 3 [20’44].
Margaret Jane Wray (soprano, Isolde and
Brünnhilde); Nancy Maultsby (mezzo, Brangäne);
John Horton (tenor, Tristan) Russian State
Symphony Orchestra/John McGlinn. Rec. Studio
No. 5, Moscow Film Studios, on May 23rd-30th,
2001. DDD
NAXOS 8.555789 [76’39] [CC]
Worth
it for the concert ending but as a Wagner
experience leaves much to be desired. Comparison
with the Great and Good of Wagner interpretation
is not called for here. ... see Full
Review
William WALTON
(1902-1983) Coronation
Te Deum (1937) [10:33] Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Sea Pictures
(1900) [22:37] Arnold
BAX (1883-1953) November Woods
(1917) [19:44] Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Young Person's
Guide to the Orchestra (1945) [16:48]
Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo) Choristers of
Winchester Cathedral/Andrew Lumsden Winchester
College Quiristers/Christopher Tolley BBC Singer,
BBC Symphony Chorus/Stephen Jackson BBC SO/Andrew
Davis rec. Live Proms, Royal Albert Hall,
30 July 2003 in the presence of HRH Queen
Elizabeth II and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
BBC
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61550-2 [69:42]
[RB]
Imaginative
and largely unhackneyed anthology ... as well
as a memento of a memorable concert.... see
Full Review
Sir William WALTON
(1902-1983) The
Wise Virgins: Sleepers Wake [2.37], The
Saviour is born today [4.21], What God hath
done, is rightly done [3.12], Lord, hear my
longing [2.00], See what His love can do [2.52],
Ah! How Ephemeral [2.02], Sheep may safely
graze [6.09], What God hath done is rightly
done [1.30], Praise be to God [1.40] Constant
LAMBERT (1895-1951) Horoscope:
Palindromic Prelude [2.44], Dance for the
followers of Leo [4.44], Saraband for the
followers of Virgo [5.30], Man’s variation
[0.58], Woman’s Variation [2.58], Bacchanale
[4.44], Valse for the Gemini [4.08], Pas de
deux [4.18], Invocation to the Moon and finale
[7.20]
BBC Concert Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth Recorded
at Watford Coliseum, 18th and 19th
March 2003 DDD
ASV CD DCA 1168 [64.00] [EM]
Despite the appalling
Wise Virgins, I would recommend this CD just
for the radiant and irrepressible Horoscope
... see Full
Review
Mieczyslaw WEINBERG
(VAINBERG) (1919-1996)
Symphony
No. 4 Op. 61 (1957 rev. 1961) [30.12] Rhapsody
on Moldavian Themes Op. 47 No. 1 (1949)
[11:55] Sinfonietta No. 2 Op. 74 (1960)
[17.32]
National Polish Radio Symphony Orchesra, Katowice/Gabriel
Chmura rec. Grzegorz Fitelberg Concert Hall,
Katowice, Poland, 4 June 2003 (Moldavian);
23-27 Feb 2004. DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10237 [59.56] [RB]
A
classic entry with a greater emphasis on populism,
poignancy and nostalgia than in volume 1.
... 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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