ALPHABETICAL LISTING

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH 19^th Century Guitar Favourites Fernando SOR (1778-1839) 1. Minuet, Op.11. No.6 [2:19] Eight Studies: 2 Op.35, No 22 in B Minor [2:52]; 3 Op.31, No.19in A Major [1:36]; 4 Op.35, No.17 in D Major 1:21]; 5 Op. 6, No.9 in D Major [2:59]; 6 Op.6, No.6 in A Major [2:38]; 7 Op. 6, No.11 in E Minor [3:24]; 8 Op.35, No 13 in C Major [0:42; 9 Op 6, No. 12 in A major [4:58]; 10 Minuetto, Op. 22 [3:16] Dionisio AGUADO (1784-1849) 11 Minuett [2:27] 12 Andante [3:46]Six Etudes: 13 Leccion 15 [1:21]; 14 Leccion 29 [1:25]; 15 Leccion 19 [0:37]; 16 Leccion 26 [1:39]; 17 Estudio 17 [1:15]; 18 Leccion 24 [1:07] Francisco TÁRREGA (1852-1909) 19 Rosita-polka [1:30]; 20 Marita- mazurka [2:18]; 21 Sueno-mazurka [2:02]; 22 Adelita-mazurka [1:19]; 23 Mazurka en sol [2:44]; 24 Estudio brillante [2:01]; 25 Gran Vals [3:14]; 26 Endecha [1:21]; 27 Lágrima [2:03]; 28 Aborada-capriccio [2:22]; 29 Recuerdos de la Alhambra [4:18]; 30 Maria-gavota [1:34]; 31 Preludio No I [1:34]; 32 Preludio No. II [1:04] Norbert Kraft (Guitar) rec. St. John Chrysostom Church, Newmarket, Canada, August 1993. DDD NAXOS 8.553007 [69:06] [ZT]

In decades to come this will remain a testament to superb guitar playing, refined interpretations and good taste. Definitely my desert island "allowed one only" choice ... see Full Review

Claudio ABBADO Hearing the Silence – a film by Paul Smaczny. PCM Stereo. 16:9 anamorphic. PAL. Format: DVD 5 Region Code 0 (Worldwide). TDK DVD DV-DOCABB 1053279 [67'00][CC]

A model of its kind. It exudes style and panache – not to mention sensitivity ... I cannot bring myself to refer to Abbado as a 'great' conductor, but he is clearly an important one and one that, perhaps, sits on the fringes of greatness. ... see Full Review

A Hanseatic Festival - German Renaissance Music Samuel SCHEIDT (1587-1654) Canzon super O Nachbar Roland [05:58] Heinrich ALBERT (1604-1651) Bekehrung zum Herren Christo* [04:58] Melchior SCHILDT (1592-1667) Paduana Lachrymae [06:12] Samuel SCHEIDT/arr Keith McGowan Nun komm der Heiden Heiland* [04:30] Georg Leopold FUHRMANN (fl c1600) Entrata [02:41] Galliarda 15 [01:29] Samuel SCHEIDT Paduan [02:42] Elias MERTELIUS (c1561-1626) Cancio Germanica [02:42] Samuel SCHEIDT Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein [04:28] Johann SCHOP (1590?-1667) Das alt ist abgegangen* [03:43] Thomas SIMPSON (1582-1630) Pasameza [04:02] Ricercar super Bonny Sweet Robin [03:33] Michael PRAETORIUS (1571-1621)/Samuel SCHEIDT/Keith McGOWAN In dulci jubilo [02:39] Samuel SCHEIDT Vom Himmel hoch* [05:09] Michael ALTENBURG (1584-1640)/Michael PRAETORIUS/Keith McGOWAN Ein wunderschönes Kinderlein* [05:08] Mark Chambers, alto (*) The English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble: Fiona Russell, Adrian Woodward, cornett; Abigail Newman, alto & tenor sackbut; Tom Lees, tenor sackbut; Adrian France, tenor & bass sackbut; Keith McGowan, recorder, alto, bass & quint-bass dulcian; William Lyons, recorder, bombard, bass dulcian; Matthew Wadsworth, theorbo, lute; James Johnstone, harpsichord, organ Recorded 2004 at All Saints's Church, East Finchley, London & St Mary's Church, South Creoke, UK DDD DEUX ELLES DXL 1088 [60:00][JV]

This disc presents repertoire which was played by the German Stadtpfeifer in the early 17th century - the performance is disappointing, though ... see Full Review

Music for Bassoon and String Quartet Gordon JACOB (1895-1984) Suite for Bassoon and String Quartet (1969) Prelude [3:01] Caprice [1:26] Elegy {3:16] Rondo [2:30] Franz DANZI (1763-1826) Bassoon Quartet in B flat Op.40 No.3 (c.1814) Allegro moderato [8:32] Larghetto non troppo [4:24] Minuetto [3:07] Allegretto [3:39] Anton REICHA (1770-1836) Grand Quintet for Bassoon and String Quartet (1826) Allegro moderato [11:02] Lento arioso [8:31] Menuet [3:46] Presto [10:27] Daniel Smith (bassoon); Coull Quartet Rec. St. Peter’s Church, Morden, Surrey, 1988 DDD FORUM FRC 9107 [63:59] [PCW]

Affordable buried treasure … see Full Review

Jussi Björling Collection Volume 5 Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Morgen Op.27 No.4 [3.17] Morgen Op.27 No.4 [3.41] – second recording Cäcilie Op.27 No.2 [1.56] Ständchen Op.17 No.2 [2.18] Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Adelaide [6.46] Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) An Sylvia D891 [4.22] Schwanengesang D957; Ständchen [4.09] Schwanengesang D957; Ständchen [4.29] – second recording Die schöne Müllerin D795 – Die böse Farbe [2.23] An die Leier D737 [4.07] Die Allmacht D852 [5.41] Wandrers Nachtlied D768 [2.44] Die Forelle D550 [1.51] Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Svarta rosor Op.36 No.1 [2.09] Svarta rosor Op.36 No.1 [2.15] – second recording Säv, säv, susa Op.36 No.4 [2.15] Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) En svane Op.25 No.2 [2.33] En drøm Op 48 No.6 [2.02] Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Die Mainacht Op.43 No.2 [4.13] Carl SJÖBERG (1861-1900) Tonerna (1892) [3.17] Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Es muss ein Wunderbares sein S314 [2.28] Hugo WOLF (1860-1903) Verborgenheit (1888) [3.24] Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Lilacs Op.21 No.5 [1.59] Paolo TOSTI (1848-1916) Ideale (1882) [3.16] Jussi Björling (tenor) Harry Ebert (piano) Frederick Schauwecker (piano) Recorded 1939-52 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110789 [77.37][JW]

Whilst acknowledging that Björling’s earlier self remains non-pareil what may have been slightly lost with age in terms of beauty of sound was compensated for in a deepening of emotive response. ... see Full Review

Pablo Casals – Encores and Transcriptions 4. The Complete Acoustic Recordings 2 Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Minuet in C major [3.48] Cello Concerto No.2 in D major Op.101 [4.43] Enrique GRANADOS (1867-1916) Spanish Dance arranged Casals [2.28] George GOLTERMANN Concerto in A minor – Cantilena [2.56] Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Spring Song [2.15] Luigi BOCCHERINI (1743-1895)
Sonata in A major – Allegro [4.10] Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Abendstern Tannhäuser O Star Of Eve [4.28] Abendstern Tannhäuser O Star Of Eve [4.00] Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Abendlied [3.13] Abendlied [3.44] Kinderszenen -Träumerei Op.15 [3.23] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Clarinet Quintet in A major K581 – Larghetto [4.19] Clarinet Quintet in A major K581 – Larghetto [4.29] – 2^nd take Fritz KREISLER (1875-1962) Chanson Louis XIII and Pavane [4.13] Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Allegro appassionato [3.10] The Swan [2.47] George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Xerxes – Largo [4.07] Anton RUBINSTEIN (1829-1894) Melody in F major Op.3 arranged Popper Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Liebesträume No.3 in A flat LASSEN
Thine Eyes So Blue [2.35] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Suite No.3 in D major – Air [3.42] Pablo Casals (cello) with orchestral accompaniment and with Charles Albert Baker (piano) and Walter Golde (piano) Recorded in New York in 1916 and 1920 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110986 [77.13] [JW]

At Naxos price one needn’t spend too much time agonising. ... see Full Review

Boris Christoff - Lugano Recital 1976 and interview Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Boris Godunov - Death of Boris Hopak (song) Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Die Entführung aus dem Serail - Wer ein Liebchen Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Il barbiere di Siviglia - La callunia Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Don Carlo - Ella giammai m’amò Boris Christoff (bass) (b. Plovdiv, Bulgaria 1914, d. Rome, 1993) Orchestra della Svizzeria Italiana/Bruno Amaducci Recorded live at the Palazzo dei Congressi, Lugano, Switzerland. 1976 Interview with Boris Christoff conducted by Giorgio Gualeriza DYNAMIC DVD VIDEO 33476 [69:00] [RJF]

For me Christoff’s singing, particularly his rendering of the Boris death and Philip’s soliloquy justify the issue and purchase of this DVD ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Boris Christoff: The Great Russian Bass Roles. Alexander BORODIN (1833-1887)Prince Igor^a (1887, orch. Rimsky-Korsakov) – I hate a dreary life (Galitsky’s Aria) [3’49]; How are you Prince (Kontchak’s Aria) [7’27]. Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Sadko (1898) – Song of the Viking Guest^a [3’42]. Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Eugene Onegin (1879) – Prince Gremin’s Aria^b (‘Everyone knows love on earth’) [4’54]. Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Boris Godunov (1874, arr. Rimsky-Korsakov) – Varlaam’s Song^c (‘In the town of Kazan’); Boris’s Monologue^c (‘I have attained the highest power’) [5’51]; Farewell and Death of Boris^d [11’51]. Songs and Dances of Death (1875-7) – Field-Marshal Death^e [4’56]. Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Ernani (1844) – Che mai veggio! … Infelice … Infin che un brando vindice^f [6’52]. Don Carlo (1867) – Ella giammai m’amo^g [10’28]. Arrigo BOITO (1842-1918) Mefistofele (1868) – Ave Signor!^h [3’55]; Son lo spirito che negaⁱ [3’50]. Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893) Faust (1859) – Sérénade: Vous qui faites l’endormie^j [2’50]. TRADITIONALSong of the Volga Boatmen^a [4’20]. Boris Christoff (bass); ^eGerald Moore (piano); ^dChorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; ^abdfhiPhilharmonia Orchestra/^adhIssay Dobrowen, ^bWilhelm Schüchter, ^fAnatole Fistoulari, ⁱNicolai Malko; ^cFrench National Radio Orchestra/ Issay Dobrowen; ^gRome Opera Orchestra/Gabriele Santini; ^jChorus & Orchestra of the Théâtre National de l’Opéra/André Cluytens. Rec. ^a1950, ^bcdj1952, ^ef1951, ^g1954, ^hi1949. ADD REGIS RRC1196 [78’35] [CC]

Magnificent. If anyone needs an introduction to the great Boris Christoff, this should be it. ... see Full Review

Zeitgenössische Gitarrenmusik (Contemporary Guitar Music) Daniel WEISSBERG (1954) 1 Schwebende Trübung (1997) [5.38] Yori-Aki MATSUDAIRA (1931) 2 Grating (1998) [10.37] Harri SUILAMO (1954) 3 Eidola-weiland Gitarrespieler (1999) [7.52] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Suite BWV 995 4 Prelude [6.29] 5 Allemande [6.24] 6 Courante [2.32] 7 Sarabande [3.08] 8 Gavotte1/Gavotte en Rondeau/Gavotte1 [5.02] 9 Gigue [2.32] Fumie SHIKICHI (1964) 10 Acht Poems 1-2-2-4-5-6a/6b-7-8 (2001) [5.17] Christoph NEIDHÖFER (1967) 11 Nach Innen (1997) [7.24]
Christoph Jaggin (Guitar) MUSIKSZENE SCHWEIZ DDD MGB CD 6191 [63.35] [ZT]

This new release by Christopher Jaggin offers new, hitherto unrecorded material. and sonically is of a high standard. ... see Full Review

Discover the music of the Baroque Era 135pp. book included NAXOS 8.558160-61 [78:28 + 79:34] [2:38:02] [RH]

Though purists may not enjoy all the performances there is something here for everyone. Highly recommended for someone who enjoys the odd bit of Handel or Bach and would like to know more. ... see Full Review

A Touch of Class - four hands on one piano Philip LANE (b.1950) Badinages I Mouvement perpetuel; Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Norwegian Dance, Op.35, No.2; Peer Gynt Suite No.1, Op.46 III Anitra’s dance; Adolf JENSEN (1837-1879) Wedding music, Op.45 Wedding procession; Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Six morceaux, Op.11 No.3 Theme Russe; No.4 Valse; Alfredo CASELLA (1883-1947) Pupazzetti 5 Pezzi facili I Marcetta; II Berceuse; III Serenata; IV Notturnino; V Polca; Georges BIZET (1838-1875) Jeux d’enfants, Op.22 No.12 Le Bal; Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1829) Marche militaire, Op.51, No.1; Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Dolly, Op.56 6. Le pas Espagnole; Charles CAMILLERI (b.1931) Paganiana Variations for piano four-hands; Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Le Carnaval des Animaux XIII Le Cygne; XIV Final; Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Legends, Op.59 No.6; Leroy ANDERSON (1908-1975) Fiddle Faddle; Paolo di BIASE (b.1942) Duo tango Rachel and Vanessa Fuidge (four hands on one piano) rec. Whiteley Hall, Chetham's School of Music, Long Millgate, Manchester, 5 April 2005 DUNELM RECORDS DRD0241 [58:30][PS][IM]

I have the greatest pleasure in recommending this disc as an introduction to the wide range, both familiar and less familiar, of the piano duet repertoire (Philip Scowcroft).

Throughout, Rachel and Vanessa bring out the clarity of the many varied textures really well. An outstanding CD, full of joy! Very highly recommended (Ian Milnes). ... see Full Reviews

Fonotipia – A Centenary Celebration 1904-2004 Leo DELIBES (1836-1891) Lakmé – Dov´é l’indiana bruna? [3.42] Maria Barrientos Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) La Forza del Destino – E l’amante [3.10] Giannina Russ and Oreste Luppi Rigoletto – Ah! Deh non parlare al misero [1.54] Riccardo Stracciari Un Ballo in Maschera – Che v’agita cosi? [4.24] Eugenia Burzio, Elisa Petri and Giovanni Zenatello I Lombardi – Or tu m’ascotta [6.37] Fernanda Chiesa (soprano) Carlo Albani (tenor) Luigi Manfrini (bass) Paul VIDAL Printemps nouveau [2.27] Amélie Talexis Giacomo MEYERBEER (1791-1864) L’Africaine – Averla tanto amata [2.41] Ramón Blanchart Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Lohengrin – Di, non t’incantan [2.53] Giuseppe Borgatti Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg – Nel verno al pie del focolar [2.34] Giuseppe Borgatti MUGNONE La Vita Brettone – Vivea nel tempo antico [2.44] Adamo Didur
Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Lucrezia Borgia – Come è bello, quale incanto [3.39] Maria De Macchi Poliuto – Di quai soave lagrime [3.01] Maria De Macchi Frederic D’ERLANGER Tess – Stanotte ho fatto un sogno [5.10] Alessandro Bonci Amilcare PONCHIELLI (1834-1896) La Gioconda - Cielo e mar! [4.00] Giovanni Zanatello La Gioconda - Cielo e mar! [4.09] Giuseppe Anselmi La Gioconda – Intermezzo Act III (Prelude to Act IV) [3.22] Orchestra of La Scala Milan/R Bracale Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) La Bohème – Che gelida manina [4.19] Giuseppe Anselmi Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Partita No.3 in E BWV 1006 – Gavotte and Rondeau [2.05] Jacques Thibaud (violin) SARDOU Partrie – Dolorès et le Duc [4.06] Victorien Sardou Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Rondo Capriccioso Op.14 in E major [3.37] Marie Roger-Miclos (piano) Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Schwanengesang No.5 – Aufenthalt D957 [3.06] Emmy Destinn
Ruggiero LEONCAVALLO (1858-1919) I Pagliacci –Prologue [3.09] Theodor Bertram
Recorded 1904-1913 SYMPOSIUM 1261 [77.12] [JW]

Symposium who have contributed a great deal to the discographic history of Fonotipia and while this is a specialist issue there are some epoch making performances and artists here ... see Full Review

The Golden Age of Light Music - Reflections of Tranquillity Matty MALNECK (1904-1981) Robert MAXWELL (b.1921) Shangri-La (1954) [2:58] Monty Kelly and his orchestra Joyce COCHRANE Starry Night (1954) [3:15] Danish State Radio Orchestra/Robert Farnon David ROSE (1910-1990) Deserted City (1952) [3:13] David Rose and his orchestra Cecil MILNER Primrose Dell (1949) [3:00] Harmonic Orchestra/Hans May Cyril SCOTT (1879-1970) Lotus Land (1954) [4:28] Camarata Robert FARNON (b.1917) In a Calm (1950) [2:17] Robert Farnon and his orchestra Walter COLLINS Linden Grove (1948) [3:10] London Promenade Orchestra/Walter Collins Kenneth ESSEX Starlight rendezvous (1952) [2:57] Louis Voss and his orchestra Bob HAYMES (b.1922) Beyond the next hill (1954) [4:47] La Brilliante (1954) [4:13] Acquaviva and his orchestra Donald THORNE (1901-1967) Rippling Waters – arranged Busby (1949) [3:21] Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra/Robert Farnon Richard RODGERS (1902-1979) Bali H’ai (1954) [2:59] Monty Kelly and his orchestra Eric COATES (1886-1957) Under the Stars (1946) [3:09] Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra/Charles Williams Peter DENNIS Packet Boat (1954) [3:07] Dolf van der Linden and his orchestra Archibald JOYCE (1873-1963) Dreaming arranged Sidney Torch (1950) [3:34] Sidney Torch and his orchestra Charles WILLIAMS (1893-1978) Lizard Point (1954) [3:03] Danish State Radio Orchestra/Robert Farnon Angela MORLEY (b.1924) Adrift in a Dream (1954) [3:07] Danish State Radio Orchestra/Robert Farnon Reginald KING (1904-1991) Autumn Sunshine (1946) [2:51] London Promenade Orchestra/Walter Collins Trevor DUNCAN (b.1924) Moon Magic (1954) [4:03] New Concert Orchestra/ Dolf van der Linden Al HOFFMAN (1902-1960) A Night of Stars (1954) [2:11] Richard Hayman and his orchestra Hans MAY (d.1959) Rippling down the mountain (1949) [3:03] Harmonic Orchestra/Hans May Burton LANE (1912-1997) How are things in Glocca Morra (1954) [2:56] Monty Kelly and his orchestra Robert FARNON (b.1917) Mid Ocean (1954) [2:49] Danish State Radio Orchestra/Robert Farnon Belle FENSTOCK (b.1914) Safari (1953) [2:46] David Carroll and his orchestra [Recordings re-mastered from a variety of recorded sources and the dates given are the original record release date, not the date of composition] GUILD GLCD 5112 [77:29][JF]

This lovely new release from Guild is allows us to discover a forgotten country where everything seemed simpler and the summers were always warm and the skies blue. ... see Full Review

Maria Galvany (1878-1949) Recital - see review for details Maria Galvany (soprano) Unidentified orchestras and accompanists. Recorded 1906-08. Mono ADD PREISER 89578 [75’10] [CC]

First and foremost, this is a disc for sampling. ... see Full Review

The Golden Age of Light Music - The 1950s - Volume 2 Midnight Matinee Len STEVENS Midnight Matinee: Danish State Radio Orchestra conducted by Robert Farnon (1954) [2:45] Leslie Julian JONES Postman’s Knock: Wally Stott and his Orchestra (1954) [1:54] Bernie WAYNE The Magic Touch: Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra (1954) [2:39] Cyril ORNADEL Moonlight Fiesta: Winifred Atwell, piano with Cyril Orandel and his Orchestra (1954) [2:56] Belle FENSTOCK, Irving CAESAR Simonetta: Richard Hayman and his Orchestra (1953) [2:17] Theo MACKEBEN Tales of Munich: Hamburg Radio Orchestra conducted by Harry Hermann (1953) [3:19] Jack BEAVER Holiday Funfair: Dolf Van der Linden and his Orchestra (1954) [3:17] Paul DUBOIS Shadow Waltz: Nelson Riddle & his Orchestra (1954) [2:51] Bernie WAYNE Veradero: Geoff Love and his Orchestra (1953) [2:58] Ronnie PLEYDELL On Fifth Avenue: Ronnie Pleydell and his Concert Orchestra (1954) [3:07] HILLIER, HILLIER & NEWMAN Boulevard Waltz: Reg Tilsley and his Orchestra (1954) [2:32] Laurie JOHNSON Frenchman’s Creek: Laurie Johnson and his Orchestra (1954) [3:04] Jose BELMONTE Ecstasy: Edmundo Ross & his Orchestra (1952) [2:52] STEGGARDA Bahama Buggy Ride: Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra (1954) [2:55] Robert FARNON Poodle Parade: Danish State Radio Orchestra conducted by Robert Farnon. (1954) [3:23] Ray MARTIN Ballet of the Bells: Johnny Douglas and his Orchestra (1954) [2:15] David GREER A Girl called Linda: Jeff Morley and his Orchestra (1953) [2:39] Philip GREEN Park Plaza: Philip Green and the Cameo Players (1954) [2:04] Charles STROUSE Ditto: Michael Fredericks and his Orchestra. (1954) [2:31] Philip GREEN Follow Me Around: Dolf Van der Linden and his Orchestra (1954) [3:12] Trevor DUNCAN Panoramic Splendour: New Concert Orchestra conducted by R. de Porten (1954) [3:29] Charles E HENDERSON & Edward HEYMAN Carefree: Axel Stordahl and his Orchestra (1954) [2:45] George SIRAVO Palsy Walsy: George Siravo and his Orchestra (1954) [2:33] Eric SPEAR Midnight Blue: Ron Goodwin and his Concert Orchestra (1954) [3:01] Anthony COLLINS With Emma to Town: London Promenade Orchestra conducted by Anthony Collins (1954) [3:15] Charles CHAPLIN Limelight: Wally Stott and his orchestra. (1953) [5:41][Recordings re-mastered from a variety of recorded sources] GUILD GLCD 5111 [76:29][JF]

Another excellent CD in the Guild Light Music series. Full of evocations of an age that was simpler if not necessarily so affluent. A pleasure indeed! ... see Full Review

Susan Graham - Poèmes de L’Amour Ernest CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Poème de l'amour et de la mer (I La Fleur des eaux; Interlude; II La Mort de 1'amour) Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Shéhérazade (I Asie; II La Flûte enchantée; III L'Indifférent) Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918), orchestrated by John Adams (b. 1947) Le Livre de Baudelaire (I-IV from Debussy's Cinq Poemes de Charles Baudelaire) (I Le Balcon; II Harmonie du soir; III Le jet d'eau; IV Recueillement) Susan Graham (soprano) BBC Symphony Orchestra/Yan Pascal Tortelier Recorded at Studio 1, Maida Vale Studios, London, December 2004 WARNER 2564 61938-2 [62.38] [RJF]

Lovers of fine singing in this repertoire need not wait for whatever imprimatur may come, but can purchase without hesitation now and enjoy an outstanding recording and performance. ... see Full Review

Jascha Heifetz – Hora Staccato and other favourites Grigoras DINICU (1889-1949) Hora Staccato (1906) arranged Heifetz [2.03] Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor Op.28 (1863) [8.42] Havanaise in E Op.83 (1887) [9.05] Moritz MOSZKOWSKI (1854-1925) Guitarre – arranged Sarasate Op.45 No.2 [2.59] Manuel de FALLA (1876-1946) Spanish Dance No,1 – La Vida Breve – arranged Kreisler (1913) [3.14] Jota – Seven Popular Spanish Songs OP.4 arranged Kochanski (1915) [2.46] Pablo de SARASATE (1844-1908) Zigeunerweisen Op.20 No.1 (1878) [8.33] Antonio BAZZINI (1818-1897) La Ronde des Lutins Op.25 (1852) [4.20] Henryk WIENIAWSKI (1835-1880) Polonaise Brillante No.1 in D Op.4 (1853 [4.39] Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957) Much Ado About Nothing – incidental music (1920); Garden Scene and Holzapfel und Schlehwein [4.06 and 2.10] Joseph ACHRON (1886-1943) Hebrew Melody Op.33 (1911) [5.04] Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Gavotta – Four Pieces Op.32 No.3 (1918) arranged Heifetz [1.03] March in F minor – Ten Pieces Op.12 No.1 (1906) arranged Heifetz [1.28] Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Daisies – Six Songs Op.38 No.3 (1916) arranged Heifetz [1.54] Oriental Sketch in B flat (1917) arranged Heifetz [1.29] William KROLL (1901-1980) Banjo and Fiddle [2.33] Georges BIZET (1838-1875) – Franz WAXMAN (1906-1967) Carmen Fantasia (1946) on themes from Bizet’s Carmen (1875) [9.13] Jascha Heifetz (violin) Emanuel Bay (piano) except Arpad Sandor (piano – Moszkowski and Korngold Holzapfel und Schlehwein) LPO/John Barbirolli (Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso) LSO/John Barbirolli (Zigeunerweisen, Havanaise) RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra/Donald Voorhees (Carmen Fantasia) Recorded 1934-1947 LIVING ERA CLASSICS AJC 8553 [77.16][JW]

Plenty to delight and amaze the curious listener. ... see Full Review

Barbara Hendricks sings Nordic Songs: Nielsen, Grieg, Rangström, Sibelius Barbara Hendricks (soprano) Roland Pöntinen, piano rec. Studio Tibor Varga, Sion, Switzerland, 23-27 Oct 1998, 10-12 Jan 2002. DDD EMI CLASSICS 7243 5568842 2 [69:05] [RB]

Fresh and fiery advocacy for Scandinavian songs - famous and not so famous - from an idiomatic ambassador. I hope there will be more.... see Full Review

The Stephen Hough Piano Collection Frederick CHOPIN (1810-1849) Ballade No.3 in Ab major Op.47 (1841) [7:00] Federico MOMPOU (1893-1987) La fuente y la campana Paisajes No.1 (1942) [3:22] Ben Weber (1916-1979) Fantasia (Variations) (1946) [8:30] Deng Yu-Hsien (1906-1944) arr. Stephen Hough (b.1961) Pining for the Spring Breeze [2:38] Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Piano Sonata No.3 in F minor Op. 5 Scherzo (1853) [4:31] York Bowen (1884-1961) Berceuse Op.83 (c.1943) [3:39] Franz Schubert (1797-1837) Piano Sonata in C major, Finale D613 (1818) [4:48] Johann Hummel (1778-1837) Piano Sonata in F# minor Op.81, vivace (1819) [7:40] Peter Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) arr. Earl Wild (b. 1915) Pas de Quatre [1:33] Stephen Reynolds (b.1947) Chanson d’automne (c.1980) [2:06] Franz Liszt (1811-1886) Polonaise No.2 in E major (1851) [8:51] Stephen Hough (b.1961) Suite Osmanthus [12:41] César Franck (1822-1890) transcribed by Stephen Hough (b.1961) Troisième Choral M40 (1880) [11:25] Stephen Hough, piano [Various recording dates from previous albums not quoted in this release. Composition dates not given on this recording. I have provided them where known.] HYPERION HOUGH1 [79:35] [JF]

A fine introduction to the playing of one of the great pianistic talents of the age. ... see Full Review

Leila Josefowicz Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Theme and Variations (1932) [10’20]. Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Violin Sonata in G (1927) [18’32]. Mark GREY (b. 1967) San Andreas Suite (?) [11’51]. Esa-Pekka SALONEN (b. 1958) Lachen Verlernt (2002) [10’40]. Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96 (1812) [29’16]. Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Scherzo in C minor (1853) [5’19]. Leila Josefowicz (violin); John Novacek (piano). Rec. American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York. 22-25 Jan 2005. DDD WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61948-2 [85’47: 40’37 +  45’10][CC]

Very mixed. Parts of this recital may well bring enjoyment, and it is good to see Josefowicz  working in the music of living composers. She should just be more careful who those composers are, that’s all. ... see Full Review

Laurent Korcia - Songes Nicolas BACRI (b.1961) Une Prière Op.52 [22.32] * Ernest BLOCH (1880-1959) Nigun – Baal Shem (1923) [6.10] + Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1928) Violin Sonata – Ballade (1914 rev 1921) [5.09] + Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945) Danses roumaines (1915) – Pe Loc and Buciumenes transcribed Zoltan Szekely [2.41] + Eugène YSAŸE (1858-1931) Rêve d’enfant, Op. 14 (c. 1902) [5.19]Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Sonata for violin and piano No.1 in A major, Op.13 (1875-76) – Andante [7.28]Ernst CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Nos souvenirs – Quatre Melodies Op.8 (1885-87) [3.05]Cécile CHAMINADE (1857-1944) Sérénade espagnole arranged Fritz Kreisler [2.07] Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Beau soir (c.1880) arranged Jascha Heifetz [2.16] Laurent Korcia (violin) Jean-Marc Luisada (piano) Georges Pludermacher (piano) + WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne/Semyon Bychkov *Recorded in Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Aldeburgh, 19-23 April, 2001, except Théâtre Impérial de Compiègne, June 1999 (items with Georges Pludermacher) and West German Radio, Cologne, January 2002 (Bacri) BMG-RCA RED SEAL 82876 663272 [55.05] [JW]

The Bacri is obviously a powerful work and one both tonal and broodingly lyric. The rest is more for Korcia’s admirers ... see Full Review

La Casa del Diavolo Christoph Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787) Dance of the Spectres and the Furies, Allegro non troppo (1761) [4:07] Carl Philip Emanuel BACH (1714-1788) Sinfonia Wq. 182/5 in B minor for strings and continuo [10:36] Pietro Antonio LOCATELLI (1695-1764) Concerto Grosso Op. 7/6 in E flat major Il pianto d'Arianna for violin, strings and continuo (1741) [17:35] Wilhelm Friedemann BACH (1710-1784) Concerto in F minor for harpsichord, strings and continuo [17:48] Luigi BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Sinfonia Op. 10/4 in D minor La casa del diavolo for two oboes, two horns, strings and continuo (1771) [19:18] Il Giardino Armonico/Giovanni Antonini Enrico Onofri (violin) Ottavio Dantone (harpsichord) rec. March, August, October 2004, Pieve di Palazzo, Pignano, Cremona, Italy. DDD NAÏVE OP 30399 [69:23][MC]

For their fiercely propulsive and compellingly vital performances Il Giardino Armonico has few equals. ... see Full Review

Erich Leinsdorf in Rehearsal Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Parsifal: Preludes and Interludes [41:49] Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphony no.4 in D minor, op.120 (first version, 1841) [26:02] With rehearsal sequences of both works [21:38 and 23:50] in German, with subtitles available in English, French and Spanish Recorded in the Brahmssaal, Karlsruhe in 1989 but copyright 1984 DVD Video ARTHAUS MUSIK 101 153 [118:00][CH]

An engrossing video which helps clarify a figure who, for me at least, has always been rather enigmatic. ... see Full Review

Daniel Lippel (guitar): Resonance Mario DAVIDOVSKY (b. 1934): Synchronisms #10 for guitar and electronic sounds (1992) Nils VIGELAND (b. 1950): La Folia Variants (1996): Cadenza – Sonata – Dances Elliott CARTER (b. 1908): Shard (1997) Soonjung SUH (b. 1971): Garak (2003) Judah E ADASHI (b. 1975): Meditation: Three Episodes from William Styron’s Darkness Visible (2000): Requiem: For Fallen Artists – Paris: Wanderjahr Revisited – The Stranger: Cosmic Loneliness Peter GILBERT (b. 1975): Ricochet for guitar and electronics (2002) Daniel Lippel (guitar) rec. HUSEAC studios, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, January 2 – 5, 2004 and July 19, 2004 FOCUS RECORDINGS FCR101[56:16] [GF]

Not for those who refuse to listen to music by composers other than those who have been dead for at least 100 years. Everybody else should definitely find this thought-provoking and stimulating. ... 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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