Jehan
ALAIN (1911-1940)
Dances of Life and Death Trois
Danses [23'34] Aria [8'07] Deux Danses à Agni
Yavishta [4'41] Variations sur l‘hymne ‘Lucis
Creator' [4'46] Litanies [4'34] Le jardin
suspendu [6'17] Maurice
DURUFLÉ (1902-1986) Duruflé transcribed
Whitehead Danse lente [8'50] Prélude et
Fugue sur le nom d'Alain [12'25] 
William Whitehead, organ Rec: Saint Etienne
Cathedral, Auxerre, July 7-9, 2003
CHANDOS CHAN 10315 [73'17][GMS]
Whitehead
plays with clarity and authority. Registrations
are well chosen and he achieves a good mélange
of colours. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sir
Malcolm ARNOLD (b.
1921) A
Grand, Grand Festival Overture, Op. 57* (1956)
[7'59] Peterloo, Overture for Orchestra, Op.
97 (1967) [10'08"] The Smoke, Overture
for Orchestra, Op. 21 (1948) [7'57"]
Tam o'Shanter, Overture after the Poem of
Robert Burns, Op. 51 (1955) [8'17"] A
Flourish for Orchestra, Op. 112 (1973) [3'25"]
The Fair Field, Op. 110 (1972) [7'17"]
A Sussex Overture, Op. 31 (1951) [9'18"]
Anniversary Overture for orchestra, Op. 99
(1968) [4'19"] Robert Kett Overture,
Op. 141** (1990) [7'52"] Beckus the Dandipratt,
Comedy Overture for Full Orchestra, Op. 5
(1943) [7'57"]
*Kathy Jones (principal vacuum cleaner);
Helena Miles (sub principal vacuum cleaner);
Chris Hoyle (section vacuum cleaner); Fiona
Macintosh (principal floor polisher) BBC Philharmonic
Orchestra/Rumon Gamba Recorded in Studio 7,
New Broadcasting House, Manchester, 20-22
January 2004. DDD** First recording
CHANDOS CHAN 10293 [75'43"] [JQ]
Hugely
entertaining music conducted with incisiveness
and flair. A pretty unmissable disc. I urgently
recommend it. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) The Well-Tempered
Clavier Books 1 and 2 Preludes and Fugues
BWV 846-869 1-12
played by Andrei Gavrilov 13-24
played by Joanna McGregor Preludes and
Fugues BWV 870-886 1-12
played by Nikolai Demidenko 13-24
played by Angela Hewitt Recorded at the New
Art Gallery, Walsall, (Gavrilov), at the Palau
Güell, Barcelona, (McGregor), at the
Palazzo Labia, Venice (Demidenko) and the
Wartburg, Eisenach (Hewitt) all in February
2000 Directed for TV by Karen Whiteside (Book
1) and Peter Mumford (Book 2) 
EUROARTS
2050309 [2 DVDs: 121:00 + 139:00] [TH]
An
idea simple but quite brilliant and the results
are as engaging as any I've come across. ...
see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra
BWV1043 (1717-23) [15.39]
Carl Flesch (violin)/Orchestra/Walter Goehr
Violin Concerto in D minor
(restored Reitz from Clavier Concerto in D
minor BWV1052) [23.06]
New Friends of Music Orchestra/Fritz Stiedry
Largo from Clavier
Concerto in F minor Arioso
BWV 1056 [3.41]
Orchestra/Walter Goehr Violin Concerto
in G minor (restored G Schreck from
Clavier Concerto in F minor BWV1056 edited
Szigeti) [11.48]
Columbia Symphony Orchestra/George Szell Giuseppe
TARTINI (1692-1770) Violin Concerto
in D minor (edited Pente, arranged
Szigeti) [13.04] Orchestra/Walter Goehr
Joseph Szigeti (violin) with accompaniments
as above Recorded 1937, 1940 (Bach D minor)
and 1954 (Bach G minor)
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110979 [67.19]
[JW]
Approach
with care ... ... see
Full Review
J.S.
BACH (1685-1750)
Cello Suites (complete)
Maria Kliegel (cello) Recorded at the Phoenix
Studio, Budapest, Hungary, May 2003. DDD Producer:
Ibolya Toth, Engineer: János Bohus,
Editor: Mária Falvay
NAXOS 8.557280-81 [71.56 + 76.56] [GT]
Her
own clear view on Bach ... resilient and authoritative
in portraying these as individual masterworks
each possessing its own unique sound world.
... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Mass
in B Minor Sunhae Im; Ann Hallenberg;
Marianne Kielland; Markus Schäfer; Hanno
Müller-Brachmann Dresden Chamber Choir
Cologne Chamber Choir Orchestra/Helmut
Müller-Brühl Recorded by Deutschlandfunk,
Sendesaal Köln, Nov. 2003
NAXOS
6.110102-03 [53:34 + 54:46] [ZT]
As
a stand-alone recording this new interpretation
possesses a number of laudable and highly
enjoyable attributes ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) St.
John Passion, BWV 245 [124'43"]
Friedericke Sailer (soprano); Marga Höffgen
(alto); Helmut Krebs (tenor/Evangelist); Franz
Kelch (bass/Jesus); Hermann Werdermann (bass/Petrus,
Pilatus) Recorded: Ilsfeld, Germany, October
1960 Motet: Singet dem Herrn ein neues
Lied, BWV 225 [14'38"] Motet:
Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf,
BWV 226 [8'38"] Motet: Lobet
den Herrn, alle Heiden, BWV 230 [7'34"]
Recorded: Schwaigern, Germany, 1968 St.
Matthew Passion, BWV 244 [193'27"]
Agnes Giebel (soprano); Renate Günther
(alto); Helmut Krebs (tenor/Evangelist); Franz
Kelch (bass/Jesus); Hermann Werdermann (bass)
Recorded: Protestant Church, Weinsberg, Germany,
October 1958 Herz und Mund und Tat und
Leben, BWV 147 [36'00"] Ingeborg
Reichelt (soprano); Margarethe Bence (alto);
Helmut Krebs (tenor); Franz Kelch (bass) Recorded:
Protestant Church, Weinsberg, Germany, March
1957 Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
[164'19"] Agnes Giebel (soprano);
Claudia Hellmann (alto); Helmut Krebs (tenor);
Barry McDaniel (bass) Recorded: Ilsfeld, Germany,
June 1963 Motet: Fürchte dich nicht,
ich bin bei dir, BWV 228 [10'57"]
Motet: Komm, Jesu, komm, BWV 229
[9'37"] Recorded: Schwaigern, Germany,
1968 Motet: O Jesu Christ, mein's Lebens
Licht, BWV 118 [4'37"] Recorded:
Schwaigern, July, 1966 Mass in B
minor, BWV 232 [127'55"] Ingeborg
Reichelt (soprano I); Elisabeth Fellner (soprano
II); Renate Günther (alto); Helmut Krebs
(tenor); Franz Kelch (bass) Recorded: Protestant
Church, Weinsberg, Germany, January 1958 Motet:
Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227 [23'32"]
Recorded: Schwaigern, Germany, 1968 Heinrich
Schütz Choir, Heilbronn Boys' Choir of
the Robert-Mayer-Schule, Heilbronn (BWV 244)
Pforzheim Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn Instrumental
Ensemble (BWV 227, 228 & 229) Südwestfunk
Orchestra, Baden-Baden (BWV 147) Conducted
by Fritz Werner
WARNER ERATO 2564 61403-2 [10 CDs: 78'26"
+ 77'07" + 76'27" + 75'37"
+ 77'23" + 58'02" + 53'38"
+ 76'00" + 78' 07" + 73'20"
Total 724'07"] [JQ]
I
have enjoyed these recordings enormously and
recommend them with great enthusiasm, especially
at such an advantageous price. ... see Full
Review
Bela
BARTÓK (1881-1945)
The Miraculous Mandarin, (Complete
score) Pantomime in one Act, Sz73, Op.19 (1918-19,
orchestrated. 1923, rev. 1924, 1926-31) Dance
Suite, for orchestra Sz77 (1923) Hungarian
Pictures, (a.k.a. Hungarian Sketches)
for orchestra, Sz97 (1931) Orchestral arrangements
of five piano works: Nos. 5 and 10 of Ten
Easy Pieces, No. 2 of Four Dirges,
No. 2 of Three Burlesques, and No.
40 of For Children, Book 1.
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Marin
Alsop rec. The Concert Hall, Lighthouse, Poole,
Dorset, UK, 19-20 July 2004. DDD
NAXOS SACD 6.110088
[61:21][MC]
Naxos
should be concerned that Alsop's Brahms recording
and this Bartok release will likely feature
on lists of CDs to avoid, rather than as recommendations.
... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano
Concertos – No. 5 in E flat, Op. 73, ‘Emperor'
(1809) [43'29]; No. 2 in B flat, Op. 19 (1798)
[31'14].
Arthur Rubinstein (piano) London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim. Rec. Kingsway
Hall, London on March 10th-11th
and April 9th-11th,
1975. ADD
RCA RED SEAL CLASSIC LIBRARY 82876 65838-2
[74'45][CC]
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Violin Sonata No.9 in A major Op.47 Kreutzer
(1803) [31.01] Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin
Sonata No.3 in D minor Op.108 (1886-88) [19.40]
César
FRANCK (1822-1890)Violin Sonata
in A major (1886) [25.08]
Jascha Heifetz (violin) with Benno Moiseiwitsch
(piano) – Beethoven, recorded 1951 William
Kapell (piano) – Brahms, recorded 1950
Artur Rubinstein (piano) – Franck, recorded
1937
NAXOS 8.110990 [75.49]
[JW]
No
Heifetz admirer should be without this ...
see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
Piano
Concerto No. 2 Op.19 (1793 revised 1794-95)
[31.14] Piano Concerto No. 5 Op.73 Emperor (1809)
[43.29]
Arthur Rubinstein (piano) London
Philharmonic Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim Recorded
Kingsway Hall, London,
March and April 1975
BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 65838 2 [74.45][JW]
The
piano grandiloquently foregrounded though Rubinstein's
playing is eloquent and poetic ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano
Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 [34’02"]
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat, Op. 73 "Emperor"*
[37’35"]
Benno Moiseiwitsch (piano) Philharmonia Orchestra/Sir
Malcolm Sargent; *London Philharmonic Orchestra/George
Szell Recorded in No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road,
London, 20 December 1950; *Kingsway Hall,
London, 21 October 1938 ADD
Great Pianists: Moiseiwitsch, Vol. 8 NAXOS
HISTORIC 8.110776 [71’37"] [JQ]
This
is a valuable addition to the Naxos Moiseiwitsch
series and it’s well worth hearing. ... see
Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano
Sonatas: No. 4 in E flat major op.7 [28:47],
No. 29 in B flat major op.106 – "Hammerklavier"
[39:45]
Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded 2nd
August 1995, 4th January 1998,
Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge
CONCERT ARTIST7FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 8009-2
[68:29] [CH]
A
"Hammerklavier" you can trust. ...
see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano
Sonatas: No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, 'Pathétique'
(1798/99) [21'31]; No. 14 in C sharp minor,
Op. 24 No. 2, 'Moonlight' (1801) [15'41];
No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata'
(1806) [24'47].
Freddy Kempf (piano) Rec. Nybrokajen 11, Stockholm,
Sweden in August 2004. DDD
BIS
SACD-1460 [62'53] [CC]
Beautiful
production values (including interesting notes
by Jean-Pascal Vachon) so not make up for
deficiencies in the actual substance of the
disc. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano
Sonatas: No.27 in E minor op.90 [12:24], no.28
in A major op.101 [19:17], no.29 in B flat
major op.106 - "Hammerklavier" [40:48]
Artur Schnabel (piano) Recorded in EMI Abbey
Road Studio no.3, London, 21st
January and 3rd February 1932 (op.90),
24th April 1934 (op.101), 3rd
and 4th November 1935 (op.106)
Transfer engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn
NAXOS 8.110762 [72:49] [CH]
The
supreme performance of op. 90, together with
the insightful slow movements elsewhere, makes
purchase infinitely worthwhile. ... see Full
Review
Larry BELL (b.
1952) The
Book of Moonlight Op.31 (1987/8)a
[22:32] In Memory of Roger Sessions Op.29
(1986/7) [9:21] Four Pieces in Familiar Style
Op.41 (1995) [8:21] Just As I Am Op.62 (2002)a
[11:51] Late Night Thoughts Op.35 (1991)b
[16:11] Sleep Song Op.18 (1984)a
[2:40]
Ayano Ninomiya (violin); Steve McConnell (narrator)b;
Larry Bell (piano)ab Recorded:
New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, June
2002 (The Book of Moonlight, In Memory
of Roger Sessions, Four Pieces, Sleep Song)
and June 2003 (Just As I Am, Late Night
Thoughts)
NORTH/SOUTH RECORDINGS N/S R 1033 [70:40]
[HC]
Larry
Bell’s music is superbly crafted, always well
written for the instruments, straightforward
and utterly communicative. ... see Full
Review
Vincenzo
BELLINI (1801
- 1835) Norma
(1831) [161.12] (1) Norma - Maria
Callas (soprano) (1) Pollione - Mario Filippeschi
(tenor) (1) Adalgisa – Ebe Stignani (mezzo-soprano)
(1) Oroveso – Nicola Rossi-Lemeni (bass) (1)
Flavio – Paolo Caroli (tenor) (1) Clotilde
– Rina Cavallari (soprano) (1) Chorus and
Orchestra of La Scala/Tullio Serafin (1) Norma
(excerpts) [39.10] (Ite sul colle,
o Druidi (2); Meco all'altar di Vener (3);
Casta Diva (4); Sgombra e la sacra selva (5);
Mira, o Norma (6); Ah! Del Tebro a giogo indegno
(7); Non volerli vittime (8)) Oroveso – Ezio
Pinza (bass) (2, 7) Oroveso – Tancredi Pasero
(bass) (8) Pollione – Francesco Merli (tenor)
(3) Pollione – Giovanni Breviario (tenor)
(8) Norma – Rosa Ponselle (soprano) (4, 6)
Norma – Gina Cigna (soprano) (8) Adalgisa
– Minghini-Cattaneo (mezzo-soprano) (5) Adalgisa
– Marion Telva (contralto) (6)
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus/
Giulio Setti (conductor) (2, 4, 6, 7) Orchestra
of La Scala/ Carlo Sabajno (5) E.I.A.R Orchestra
and Chorus/ Vittorio Gui (8) Recorded 23rd
April – 3rd May 1954, Cinema Metropol,
Milan (1); 3rd December 1927 (2);
1936 (3); 30th January 1929, 31st
December 1928 (4); 31st October
1929 (5); 30th January 1929 (6);
8th April 1929 (7); Teatro Nuovo,
Turin, 25th August – 7th
September 1837
NAXOS 8.110325-27 [3 CDs: 62.34 + 62.06
+ 73.42] [RH]
A
fascinating release though not the ultimate
Callas ‘Norma', A revealing supplement to
Callas's other recordings. ... see Full
Review
Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Les
francs-juge Overture (1836) [12.26] Waverley
Overture Op.1 (1828) [10.24] Le roi Lear Overture
Op.4 (1831) [15.57] Le carnaval romain Overture
Op.9 (1844) [9.29] Béatrice et Bénédict Overture
(1862) [8.06] Le corsaire Overture Op. 21
(1844) [8.44] Benvenuto Cellini Overture Op.23
(1838) [10.07]
Dresden Staatskapelle Orchestra/Colin Davis
Recorded Lukaskirche, Dresden, January 1997
RCA RED SEAL 82876
658392 [75.15][JW]
The
warmth of the bronzed strings ... these powerfully
understanding performances. ... see Full
Review
Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869)
Symphonie fantastique (1843) [47:07] Paul
DUKAS (1865-1935) The Sorcerer's
Apprentice (1897) [10:24] Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Night on
Bald Mountain (1889) [11:40]
Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy No recording
dates/venues listed
SONY LEGACY SBK 89833 [70:51][CTi]
This
would be the perfect choice for an introduction
to three orchestral masterworks ... see Full
Review
Georges
BIZET
(1838 - 1875) Carmen
(1875) - complete opera sung in German
Carmen (mezzo-sop) - Georgine von Milinković;
Micaëla (sop) - Elisabeth Grümmer;
Don José (tenor) - Rudolf Schock;
Escamillo (baritone) - James
Pease
Choir and Symphony Orchestra of the Bavarian
Radio, Munich/Eugen Jochum Recorded Munich,
October 1954
RELIEF CR 1908 [67:53 + 71:17] [JL]
Get
used to the German and you can enjoy a beautifully
sung, electrifying account of Carmen from
half a century ago. First time on CD. ...
see Full
Review
Georges
BIZET (1838-1875)
Music
for the Theatre, Volume 1 L'Arlésienne
incidental music (original version) (1872)
[25.18] Richard STRAUSS
(1864-1949) Le bourgeois gentilhomme,
Op. 60 (1917) [33.56]
Basel Chamber Orchestra/Christopher Hogwood
rec. KKL (Culture and Convention Centre, Lucerne),
Switzerland, March 2004
BMG ARTE NOVA 82876 61103 2 [59.14][SFV]
A
fetching job with the Strauss but the Bizet
selections leave a lightweight overall impression
... see Full
Review
Carey
BLYTON (1932-2002)
The Choral Music: The Christ Church
Carol (1978); God’s Gifts Op 71a; A Lullaby
Op 24a; A Litany Op. 24b; Polyphonic A-mens
Op. 43; The Christmas Spirit Op. 55a; War
Song of the Saracens Op. 106; Three Food Songs
Op. 35; Three Insect Songs Op. 40; Three Bird
Song Op. 38; What then is Love? - version
for unaccompanied chorus Op 26a; The Mistletoe
Bough with piano woodwork Op. 61; A Woman’s
World Op. 46; In Lighter Mood Op. 63c; Ladies
Only Op. 58; The Silly Flea - version for
male voices Op. 33b; A Nursery Song Suite
Op 92.
Canzonetta/Jennifer Partridge (piano and
director) Recorded at The Maltings, Snape.
November 2001.
UPBEAT URCD 190 [63.51] [GH]
This
music, simply delightful as it is, could well
change your life! ... see Full
Review
Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Cello
Concertos Vol. 3 Cello Concerto No. 9
in Bb, G.482 Cello Concerto No. 10 in D, G.483
Cello Concerto No. 11 in C, G.573 Cello Concerto
No. 12 in Eb, G.deest
Raphael
Wallfisch, cello [cadenzas by Wallfisch] Northern
Chamber Orchestra/Nicholas Ward Recorded in
St. Thomas’ Church, Stockport, UK, 29
May 2004 Notes in English and Deutsch
NAXOS
8.557589 [71.54][PSh]
Unfamiliar
great music every music lover will enjoy,
and likely want more ... see Full
Review
Hakon
BØRRESEN (1876
– 1954) Den kongelige Gæst
(The Royal Guest)
- Comedy to music in one act (1919) Stig Fogh
Andersen (tenor) – Arnold Høyer;
Tina Kiberg (soprano)
– Emmy, his wife;
Guido Paevatalu
(baritone) – the guest; Edith Guillaume (mezzo-soprano)
– Ane, the Høyers'
maid; Lise-Lotte Nielsen (soprano) – the servant
girl;
Odense
Symphony Orchestra/Tamás Vetö Recorded
Odense Concert Hall, 10–13, 16–17 June 2003.
DDD
DACAPO 8.226020 [79:20][GF]
The
singing could at times have been more
easy on the ear, but anyone who wants
to go on an excursion along some lesser known
operatic paths can still safely choose this
one. ... see Full
Review
Rutland
BOUGHTON (1878-1960)
String Quartet in F major 'From the
Welsh Hills' (1923) (Landscape from
the valleys [7'13]; Landscape from the hilltops
[7'45]; Satire (Conversation) [3'13]; Song
of the Hills [9'11]) Oboe Quartet
No 1 (1932) (Allegro vivace [4'55];
Allegro giocoso [1'40]; Andante con variazione
[8'10]) String Quartet in A major
'On Greek Folk Songs' (1923) (Apollonian
[7'48]; Dionysian [4'13]; Threnody [7'27];
Aphrodisian [7'40]) Three Songs without
Words for oboe quartet (c.1937) (Whence!
Andante delicato [2'25]; Faery Flout Allegro
giocoso [1'47]; Barcarolle Andante languido
[4'43])
Sarah Francis (oboe) The Rasumovsky Quartet
(Frances Mason (violin) (oboe quartet); Marilyn
Taylor (violin); Christopher Wellington (viola);
Joy Hall (cello)) Recorded on 29-31 October
1996
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55174
[79.06] [JW]
There’s
no faulting the skill and sensitivity of the
players. Always attentive to nuance and colour.
... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833
- 1897) Violin
Concerto in D Op. 77 (1878) [40.26] Hungarian
Dances Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17,
18, 19, 20, 21. (1869: 1–10; 1881:11–21) [31.37].
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Joseph Swensen
(violin) rec. Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 7-9 July
2003. DDD. SACD
LINN
RECORDS CKD 224 [72’16"] [JPh]
With
releases like this the industry is doing favours
neither to themselves nor to us. ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833 - 1897) Piano
Concerto #1 in d, Op 15 (1859) [46.20] Artur
Rubinstein, piano Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz
Reiner Recorded in Orchestra Hall, Chicago,
Illinois, USA, 17 April 1954 Recorded in 2.0
stereo. Remastered in the DSD system by Soundmirror,
Inc. Notes in English. Technical notes in
Deutsch and Français. ADD Hybrid
SACD Playable on all cd players
RCA
BMG 82876 66378-2 [46:20] [PSh]
A
stupendous recording of a fine performance
in the rounded, romantic tradition, but I
recommend Fleisher and Szell for more fire
and drama. ... see Full
Review
Pierre
de BRÉVILLE
(1861-1949) Violin
Sonata No 1 in C sharp minor (1918-19) [37'36]
(Mouvement modéré [12'04]; Gai,
mais pas trop vite [5'17]; Lamento: extrêmement
lent [10'00]; Modérément animé
et martial [10'00]) Joseph
CANTELOUBE (1879-1957) Suite: Dans
la montagne (1904-5, revised 1906) [32'29]
(En plein vent [8'17]; Le soir [7'51]; Jour
de fête [6'54]; Dans le bois au printemps
[9'09])
Philippe Graffin (violin) Pascal Devoyon
(piano) Recorded on 19–21 November 2003
HYPERION CDA67427 [70.16] [JW]
Throughout
the two musicians play with great felicity
though again I must register reservation about
Graffin's queasy bowing and on/off vibrato
... see Full
Review
Frank BRIDGE
(1879-1941)
String
Quartet No. 2 in G minor (1915) [23.54] String
Quartet No. 4 (1937) [23.24] Phantasy Piano
Quartet (1910) [12.14]
Martin Roscoe (piano), Maggini String Quartet
Rec 11-12 June 2003, Potton Hall, Suffolk
NAXOS 8.557283 [59.33] [TB]
An
appealing programme ideally complementing
the Maggini/Naxos CD of quartets 1 and 3 ...
see Full
Review
Benjamin
BRITTEN
(1913-1976)
Folksong Arrangements CD 1
Volume 1: British Isles:
The Salley Gardens [2:36]; Little
Sir William [3:01]; The Bonny Earl
o' Moray [2:36]; O can ye sew cushions?
[2:20]; The trees they grow so high
[3:35]; The Ash Grove [2:35]; Oliver
Cromwell [0:45] Tom Bowling
and other song arrangements: Greensleeves
[1:56]; I wonder as I wander
[3:59]; The Crocodile [4:45] Volume
3: British Isles: The Plough
Boy [1:57]; There's none to soothe
[1:37]; Sweet Polly Oliver [2:15];
The Miller of Dee [1:56]; The
foggy, foggy dew [2:34]; O Waly,
Waly [4:03]; Come you not from Newcastle
[1:10] Tom Bowling and other
song arrangements: Pray Goody
[0:47] Volume 5 British Isles:
The Brisk Young Widow [2:07]; Sally
in our Alley [4:09]; The Lincolnshire
Poacher [2:09]; Early one morning
[3:18]; Ca' the yowes [3:39] Tom
Bowling and other song arrangements:
The Holly and the Ivy [2:25]; Soldier,
won't you marry me? [1:41]; The Deaf
Woman's Courtship [1:19] CD 2
Volume 4: Moore's Irish Melodies:
Avenging and bright [1:34]; Sail
on, sail on [2:26]; How sweet the
answer [1:57]; The Minstrel Boy
[2:23]; At the mid hour of night
[2:46]; Rich and rare [3:06]; Dear
Harp of My Country [2:26]; Oft in
the stilly night [2:47]; The last
rose of summer [3:45]; O the sight
entrancing [2:09] Volume 2 France:
La Noel passé [3:51]; Voici
le Printemps [1:46]; Fileuse
[1:51]; Le roi s'en va-t'en chasse
[2:19]; La belle est au jardin d'amour
[3:12]; Il est quelqu'un sur terre
[4:56]; Eho! Eho! [1:56]; Quand
j'étais chez mon père [2:00]
Volume 6 England: I will
give my love an apple [1:16]; Sailor-boy
[1:54]; Master Kilby [1:59];
The Soldier and the Sailor [2:39];
Bonny at Morn [2:31]; The Shooting
of his Dear [2:54] Tom Bowling
and other song arrangements: German
Folk Song: The Stream in the Valley [2:32]
Unpublished folk song setting
[3.35]
Felicity Lott (soprano); Philip Langridge
(tenor); Graham Johnson (piano); Carlos Bonell
(guitar); Christopher Van Kampen (cello) Recorded
at St Giles Cripplegate Church, London, March
1995 (disc 1, tracks 1-8 and 10-24, disc 2
tracks 1-24), at St. Paul’s Church,
Knightsbridge, London in June 1995 (disc 1
track 9) and at Henry Wood Hall, London in
March 1995 (disc 1 tracks 25 and 26 and disc
2 tracks 25 and 26) DDD
NAXOS 8.557220-21 [65.34 + 67.03]
[EM]
Lott
sings beautifully, and Langridge invests the
songs with real character and, always persuasive
and effective, is often tremendously moving.
... see Full
Review
Benjamin
BRITTEN
(1913-1973) Overture
to the Choral Operetta: Paul Bunyan
arr. Colin Matthews, 1977 (1939-42) [05:07]
Piano Concerto, op.13 (including both original
and revised third movement) (1938)
[42:55] Johnson over Jordan - suite
from the incidental music (1939) [15:39]
Joanna Macgregor (piano) English Chamber Orchestra/Steuart
Bedford (Piano Concerto; Johnson over Jordan
Suite) London Symphony Orchestra/Steuart
Bedford (Paul Bunyan) rec. Johnson
over Jordan, Abbey Road Studios,
London, UK, June/July 1990; Concerto; Paul
Bunyan, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh,
Suffolk, UK, October 1989. DDD
NAXOS 8.557197 [63:43][MC]
An
admirable release, excellently performed,
that will certainly enhance Britten's already
substantial presence in the catalogue. ...
see Full
Review
Benjamin
BRITTEN Missa Brevis in D:
Kyrie [1:50]; Gloria [3:01];
Sanctus [1:30]; Benedictus [2:00];
Agnus Dei [2:41] Nadia
BOULANGER Lux aeterna [2:29] Felix
MENDELSSOHN If with all your hearts [3:08]
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS The Call [2:23] David
J. EVANS arr. Malcolm ARCHER Be still, for the presence of the Lord
[3:23] Malcolm
ARCHER Brightest and Best [2:58]; Lead
kindly light [4:02];
When I survey the wondrous
cross [2:59] John
IRELAND Ex ore innocentium [3:43] Damian
LUMDY arr. Malcolm ARCHER Song for a young prophet [3:34]
Philip
MOORE We give
thee thanks, O Lord [2:21] Gabriel
FAURÉ Pie Jesu [3:33]
Stanley
VANN I call
on thee [3:28] Mary
PLUMSTEAD A grateful heart [2:04] Noel
RAWSTHORNE I will lift up mine eyes [3:04]
Leonard
BLAKE And now another day is gone [1:39]
George
DYSON Nunc Dimittis in D [2:42]
David Bednall (Organ), Ned Berry, Daniel Macklin,
Harry New, Kieran White (soloists) The Boy
Choristers of Wells Cathedral/Malcolm Archer
rec. Ampleforth Abbey, Wells Cathedral, 2
April, 28 May 2004. DDD
LAMMAS RECORDS LAMM 171D [58.40][EM]
Some
exceptional ensemble singing here, combining
good clarity and precision. The organ accompaniment
is sympathetic throughout. Recommended to
anyone who appreciates church music or is
a fan of treble voices. ... see Full
Review
Dave
BRUBECK (b.
1920) Songs:
All My Love – Strange Meadowlark –
The Things You Never Remember – So Lonely
– Don't Forget Me – There'll Be No Tomorrow;
The Time of Our Madness; Tao; Final Curve/Search;
Dream Dust/Hold Fast To Dreams; Hold Fast
To Dreams; The Dream Keeper; Day After Day;
Once When I Was Very Young
John De Haan (tenor), Jane Giering-De
Haan (soprano) (Hold Fast To Dreams; The Dream
Keeper), Dave Brubeck (piano) (tracks 1; 7),
Cliff Jackson (piano) (tracks 9; 14) rec.
Gusman Concert Hall, University of Miami,
Frost School of Music, 9-11 Jan 2004.
NAXOS 8.559220 [61:02] [GF]
A
disc that can be whole-heartedly recommended.
Some of the finest songs I have heard for
a long time. And you do get used to the singing,
too! ... see
Full Review
Aaron
COPLAND
(1900-90) Chamber Music
CD1
[60:26] Movement for String Quartet (1923)
[5:51] Prelude for Piano Trio (1924) [4:39]
Two Pieces for Violin and Piano (1926) [10:10]
Vocalise for Flute and Piano (1928) [4:54]
Two Pieces for String Quartet (1923 and 1928)
[8:29] Vitebsk for Piano Trio (1928) [11:56]
Sextet for String Quartet, Clarinet and Piano
(1933, revised 1937) [14:27] CD2 [62:38] Sonata
for Violin and Piano (1943) [19:13] Quartet
for Piano and Strings (1950) 21:10] Duo for
Flute and Piano (1967-71) [8:45] Two Threnodies
for Flute and String Trio (1971) [7:40]
Music from Copland House (Derek Bermel,
clarinet; Michael Boriskin, piano; Paul Lustig
Dunkel, flute; Nicholas Kitchen, violin; Wilhelmina
Smith, cello) with the Borromeo String Quartet
(Nicholas Kitchen and Will Fedkenheuer, violins;
Mai Motobuchi, viola; Yeesun Kim, cello),
Jennifer Frautschi (Sextet) and Curtis Mocomber
(Prelude), violins; Hsin-Yun Huang (Quartet
and Threnodies) and Cynthia Phelps (Sextet),
violas Recording details: Sextet (December
4, 2000, Performing Arts Center, State University
of New York at Purchase, NY); Piano Quartet
(April 26, 2001, Town Hall, New York, NY);
Two Pieces for String Quartet and Movement
(May 8, 2001, Performing Arts Center, State
University of New York at Purchase, NY); Sonata
and Two Pieces for Violin and Piano (July
3, 2001, Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory
of Music, Boston, MA); Duo, Vocalise, Vitebsk
and Threnodies (December 14, 2001, American
Academy of Arts and Letters, New York, NY);
and Prelude (March 25, 2003, American Academy
of Arts and Letters, New York, NY)
ARABESQUE Z6794-2 [60:26 + 62:38] [PJL]
Complete
technical mastery and the most sympathetic
understanding of the composer's expressive
objectives. A most enjoyable and instructive
experience. Lovers of Copland should not hesitate
... see
Full Review
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