Adolphe
ADAM (1803-1856)
Le
postillon de Longjumeau (1836) 
Robert Swensen (tenor) – Chapelou, postilion, later Saint-Phar, an opera-singer;
Pamela Coburn (soprano) – Madeleine, Proprietress of an inn, his wife,
later Mme. De Latour; Peter Lika (bass) – Bijou, a wheelwright, later
Alcindor, a member of the chorus; Florian Prey (baritone) – Marquis
von Corcy, theatre manager; Jürgen Linn (bass) – Bourdon, A member of
the chorus Stuttgarter Choristen Rundfunkorchester des
SWF Kaiserslautern/Klaus Arp Recorded live at the Festhalle,
Bad Urach, Germany on 1st October 1992
CAPRICCIO 51180 [47:22 + 49:23][GF]
While
not wanting to serve it as a three-course meal very often, I’m sure
parts of it will occasionally be a nice snack. ... see Full
Review
John
ADAMS (b.
1947) I
was looking at the ceiling and then I saw
the sky - Song Play in Two Acts (1995)
June Jordan (libretto) (1936-2002) Martina
Mühlpointner (Consuelo) Kimako Xavier
Trotman (Dewain) Markus Alexander Neisser
(Rick) Jeannette Friedrich (Leila) Darius
de Haas (David) Lilith Gardell (Tiffany) Jonas
Holst (Mike)
Young Opera Company Freiburg The Band of Holst-Sinfonietta/Klaus
Simon Rec. 28th January to 1st
February 2004, Tonstudio Oase, Freiburg, and
21st April 2004, Tonstudio R, Vienna,
Austria.
NAXOS 8.669003-04 [50:09 + 55:50] [DC]
Bless
Naxos. Something of a sleeper on the ‘Opera’
shelves, ready to leap out and give you a
fright when you get home. Try before you buy!
... see Full
Review
Charles-Valentin
ALKAN
(1813-1888) Organ Works:
Volume 1 Benedictus
Op. 54 (1859) [8:53] Douze Études pour
les pieds seulement (Nos. 1-6) (1869) [18:09]
Onze Grandes Préludes et une Transcription
du Messie de Handel Op.66 (1867) [49:51]
Kevin Bowyer (organ) rec. Blackburn Cathedral,
May 2005. DDD
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0030 [76:20] [PCW]
Works
of stature and originality ... a strong recommendation
... see Full
Review
Thomas
ARNE (1710-1778)
Six
Favourite Concertos (published 1793): 1. Harpsichord Concerto
in C [13:28], 2. Organ Concerto in G [11:36], 3. Piano Concerto in A
[16:40], 4. Organ Concerto in B flat [11:26], 5. Harpsichord Concerto
in G minor [12:04], 6. Piano Concerto in B flat [11:43]
The Parley of Instruments Baroque Orchestra/Paul Nicholson (keyboard/director)
rec. 26-28 June 1991, All Hallows, Gospel Oak, London
HELIOS CDH55251 [77:41] [CH]
Some
very attractive music beautifully presented.
... see Full
Review
Georges
AURIC (1899-1963)
Phèdre
- ballet (1950) [41:19] Le Peintre
et son modèle (1949) [13:18]
Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg/Arturo
Tamayo
rec. Feb 2005, Conservatoire, Luxembourg.
DDD
TIMPANI 1C1090 [54:37] [RB]
Lovely
music bound to please those already enthralled
by Markevitch, Stravinsky and Bliss. ... see
Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The French Suites for
Solo Keyboard No. 1 in D minor, BWV 812; Suite No. 2 in C minor,
BWV 813; Suite No. 3 in B minor, BWV 814; Suite No. 4 in E flat major,
BWV 815; Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV 816; Suite No. 6 in E major, BWV
817
Bob van Asperen (harpsichord) Recorded German National Museum, Nuremberg,
Germany, August 2003 Hybrid SACD playable on SACD players and standard
CD players
AEOLUS AE-10084 
[78:20][DS]
I
strongly recommend that Bach keyboard music
enthusiasts acquire the recording. ... see
Full
Review
Mily
BALAKIREV
(1837-1910) CD1
[64:44] Symphony No. 1 in C major (1866-1898) [41:46] Overture
to King Lear (1857) [10:39] In Bohemia Symphonic Poem
(1867) [12:02] CD2 [69:20] Symphony No. 2 (1907-1908) [34:58]
Piano Concerto in F sharp minor, Op. 1* (1855) [13:14] Tamara -
Symphonic Poem (1867) [20:46]
Howard Shelley (piano)* BBC Philharmonic/Vassily Sinaisky Rec.
Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester, 28-29 August 1997 (CD1);
7-8 April 1998 (CD2). DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 241-29 [64:44 + 69:20] [RB]
Irresistible
if you like these couplings for the two
symphonies and want very good modern recording
technology. ... see Full
Review
Gerald
BARRY
(b.1952) In
The Asylum (2000) [11’26] James CLARKE
(b.1957) Piano Trio (2001) [7’02] Etude for solo piano
(1996) [1’26] Independence: Part1 for solo cello (1998) [6’08]
Island- for solo piano (1999) [9’59] Isolation- for solo violin
(1997) [8’49] Michael FINNISSY (b.1946)
In Stiller Nacht [8’47] Necessary and More Detailed Thinking
[1’42] Independence Quadrilles [7’03]
Trio Fibonacci: André Ristic (piano), Julie-Anne Derome (violin),
Gabriel Prynn (cello) rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, 15-17 September 2004.
DDD NMC D107 [63’46]
[TH]
Interesting
items, a few of which will require more effort
than others ... if you’re up for a dose of
challenging chamber music, this could be for
you. ... see Full
Review
Gerald
BARRY
(b.1952) The Intelligence Park (1981-90)
Opera in three acts, libretto by Vincent Deane
Robert Paradies – Richard Jackson (bass-bar) D’Esperaudieu – Paul Harrhy
(tenor) Sir Joshua Cramer – Stephen Richardson (bass) Jerusha Cramer
– Angela Tunstall (soprano) Serafino – Nicholas Clapton (counter-tenor)
Faranesi – Buddug Verona (contralto) Almeida Ensemble/Robert Houlihan
Recorded live at the Almeida Theatre, London for BBC Radio 3 in July
1991 NMC D122
[45’08 + 60’47][TH]
Barry
isn’t an easy proposition and this determinedly modernist opera is
quite long and complex. ... see Full
Review
Bela
BARTÓK (1881-1945)
Duke
Bluebeard’s Castle (1911)
Bluebeard – John Tomlinson (bass-baritone) Judith – Jeanne
Michelle Charbonnet (soprano) Prologue – Matyas Sarkozi BBC Symphony
Orchestra/Jukka-Pekka Saraste Recorded Live at the BBC Proms,
Royal Albert Hall, 7 September 2004
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61953-2 [60.08][RH]
A
fine record of a brilliant occasion... treasure it either as a memento
of a particular Prom or as a record of a fine performance by Tomlinson.
... see Full Review
Marion
BAUER
(1882-1955) A
Lament on an African Theme op. 20a (1927) (orch. Martin Bernstein, c.1935)
[5.21] Concertino for Oboe, Clarinet and Strings Op.32b (1939-43) [9:28]
Trio Sonata No.1, for flute, cello and Piano Op.40 (1944) [8:11] Symphonic
Suite for Strings Op.33 (1940) [11:16] Duo for Oboe and Clarinet Op.25
(1932) [8:30] American Youth Concerto Op.36 (1943) [15:59]
Diana Ambache (piano), Gabrielle Lester (violin), Ruth Ehrlich (violin),
Jonathan Barritt (viola), Judith Herbert (cello), Jonathan Snowden (flute),
Jeremy Polmear (oboe), Eli Eban (clarinet), Ambache Chamber Orchestra
and Ensemble rec. St. Silas Church, Kentish Town, London 21st-22nd
October 2004 DDD NAXOS
8.559253 [58:45] [MM]
Not
a strong individual voice but the impression
of a strong and determined character does
come across ... a CD well worth investigating.
It has grown on me ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto No. 5, ‘Emperor’ in E flat
major, Op. 73 (1810) [37:19] Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano Concerto
No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 (1909) [37:19]
Vladimir Horowitz, piano RCA Victor Symphony
Orchestra/Fritz Reiner Rec. 26 April 1952
(Beethoven); 8, 10 April 1951 (Rachmaninov),
Carnegie Hall, New York City, USA
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110787 [74:49] [JW]
Comparisons
between decades are invariably instructive
with Horowitz ... you should get to know these
performances; it will cost me more to get
to and from work tomorrow than to buy this
disc. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770 – 1827) Piano
Trio No. 5 in D major, Op. 70, No. 1 ‘Ghost
Trio’ [27:48]; Piano Trio No. 6 in E flat
major, Op. 70, No. 2 [30:06]; Variations in
E flat major, Op. 44 [13:49]
Xyrion Trio (Nina Tichman, piano; Ida
Bieler, violin; Maria Kliegel, cello) rec.
Clara Wieck Auditorium, Sandhausen, Germany,
20-22 October, 2004
NAXOS 8.557723 [71:43] [GF]
Buy
it and enjoy! ... see Full
Review
Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano
Sonata No. 23 in f minor, Op. 57 (Appassionata)
[21:37] Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op.53
(Waldstein) [22:11] Piano Sonata No.
17 in d minor, Op. 31, No. 2, (Der Sturm)
[18:49]
Fazil Say, piano Recorded in June 2005 in
Studio Tibor Varga, Sion, Switzerland.
NAÏVE V5016 [62:37] [KS]
Exciting
playing, accurate and expressive and worth
more than a casual listen. I hope that in
the future Mr. Say might keep the vocal obbligati
out of the picture. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Rondo
in G, Op.51/2 [9.40]; Nos. 4 and 10 of Eleven
Bagatelles, Op. 119 [40.26]. Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Sonata
No. 20 in A, D959 [2.15]
Bernard Roberts (piano) rec. "live",
Whiteley Hall, Chetham’s School of Music,
Long Millgate, Manchester, 24 Aug 2005, Celebrity
Recital, 5th Chetham’s International
Summer School and Festival for Pianists by
kind permission of the Director of Music.
DUNELM RECORDS DRD0246 [52:40] [PS][IM]
This
CD makes me wish I had been there for what
was clearly a memorable occasion.[PS]
A valuable CD of Mr. Roberts’ great artistry
in "live" performance. Well recommended.[IM]
... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Thirty-Three
Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli op.120
[53:39], 6 Bagatelles op. 126 [19:56], Rondo
a capriccio in G op.129 – "Rage over
a lost penny" [04:54]
Artur Schnabel (piano) Recorded 30th
October and 2nd November 1937 (op.120),
13th January 1937 (opp.126 &129)
in EMI Abbey Road Studio no.3 CD transfers
by Mark Obert-Thorn
NAXOS 8.110765 [78:29] [CH]
Schnabel’s
"Diabelli" set interpretative and
intellectual standards which are a daunting
challenge to all that followed. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
String
quartet in E flat major, Op. 127 (1825) [33:43] String quartet in a
minor, Op. 132 (1825) [41:16]
Hagen Quartet (Lukas Hagen and Rainer Schmidt, violins; Veronika Hagen,
viola and Clemens Hagen, cello) Recorded in the Schloss Mondsee in November
2003 and in Wiesloch, Palatin, Minnesängersall in March 2004.
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 5705 [75:07] [KS]
A
highly commendable release ... beautifully
paced, flawlessly executed. ... see Full
Review
Larry BELL
(b.
1952) Reminiscences
and Reflections Op.46 (1993/8)
Jonathan Bass (piano) rec. Mechanics Hall,
Worcester, MA, USA, June 2002 and June 2003
NORTH/SOUTH RECORDINGS N/S R 1032 [58:47]
[HC]
A
very attractive and nicely contrasted set
of miniatures, all superbly crafted and cast
in a colourful, accessible idiom. ... see
Full Review
Victor BENDIX
(1851-1926)
Symphony
No. 1 in C major ‘Mountain Climbing’
Op. 16 (1882) [33:42] Symphony No. 2 in D
major ‘Sounds of Summer from South
Russia’ Op. 20 (1888) [31:58] Symphony
No. 3 in A minor (1895) Op. 25 [33:16] Symphony
No. 4 in D minor (1906) Op. 30 [34:31]
Omsk Philharmonic Orchestra/Evgeni Shestakov
rec. Concert Hall, Omsk 1995 (1-3); July-Aug
1999 (4). DDD
DANACORD DACOCD 436-437 [66.37 +
66.04] [JF]
Bendix
wrote some extremely beautiful and moving
music ... see Full
Review
Luciano BERIO
(1925-2003)
Sinfonia
(1968) [58’32"] Ekphrasis
(1990) [18’23"]
London Voices/Terry Edwards, Göteborgs
Symfoniker/Peter Eötvös rec. Gothenburg
Konserthuset, April 2004. DDD
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 477 5380 [77'12"]
[AO]
A
creative collaboration between Eötvös
and Terry Edwards, providing new insights
to Berio’s complexly condensed masterpiece
... see Full Review
Arthur
BLISS (1891-1975)
Mêlée
Fantasque (1921) [12.00] Checkmate
- complete ballet (1937) [53.03]
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones
rec. 1-9 August 2004, Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow.
DDD
NAXOS 8.557641 [65.03] [RW]
A
very rewarding release and sure to give much
pleasure ... one of only two recordings of
the full ballet ... see Full
Review
Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805)
Cello Sonatas: in C major, G. 74 [13:59]; in G major, G. 5 [13:00];
in C minor* [13:14] Giacomo FACCO (1676-1753)
Balletto No. 3 in C major for two cellos* (c. 1723) [07:26] Domenico
PORRETTI (d. 1783) Cello Sonata in D major* [19: 04] Pablo
VIDAL (d. 1808) Andante Gracioso* [05:18] Arpegio
Armonico: Josep Bassal (cello); Wolfgang Lehner (cello); Première
recordings* rec. L’Auditorium, Gerona, Spain, 29-30 December 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557795 [72:02]
[MC]
A
fine release of rare and interesting repertoire
that will appeal to lovers of the cello ...
see Full
Review
Alexander BORODIN
(1833-1887)
Overture
Prince Igor (1887) [11:00] Polovtsian
Dances (1887) [14:08] Polovtsian March
(1887) [5:19] In The Steppes Of Central
Asia (1880) [7:18] Symphony No. 2 in B
Minor (1876) [27:16]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Ole Schmidt rec.
CTS London, 1996. DDD First issued on Tring
International TRP104
REGIS RRC 1215 [65:16] [RB]
First
recommendation for a single disc anthology
mixing Borodin 2 and other works ... see Full
Review
Rutland
BOUGHTON (1878-1960)
Songs
for mezzo and piano: Four Songs Op.24
(1907); Five Celtic Love Songs (1910);
Songs of Womanhood Op.33 (1911); Three
Songs Op.39 (1914); Symbol Songs
(1920); Sweet Ass (1928).
Louise Mott (mezzo); Alexander Taylor
(piano) rec. Music Hall, Guildhall School
of Music and Drama, London, 24 April, 1 May
2005. World premiere recordings
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS431CD [70:33]
[RB]
All
credit to the BMS for yet again casting light on a neglected corner
of the repertoire and for doing this professionally and with attention
to scholarly detail. ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Symphony no 1 in C minor op.68 [46:59]
Rhapsodie op.53 for contralto, male-voice
chorus and orchestra [14:42]*
Lucia Valentini-Terrani (contralto)* Orchestra
Sinfonica di Torino della RAI, Orchestra Sinfonica
di Milano della RAI*/Peter Maag Recorded live
in Turin, 9th April 1976 and Milan, 27th April
1979*
ARTS ARCHIVES 43058-2 [60:35] [CH]
Maag’s
big crime was that he was a romantic interpreter
in a world that didn’t want romantic interpretations.
... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90 (1883) [39.57]
Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 (1885) [39.09]
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras
rec. 6-11 (Symphony No. 3) and 27-30 (Symphony
No. 4) January 1997, Usher Hall, Edinburgh.
DDD
TELARC CD-80465 [79.06][TB]
This
interesting Brahms cycle brought to an imposing conclusion - allowance
being made for a lack of weight in the string tone ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Symphony
No. 2 in D major, Op. 73 (1877) [42.50] Variations on the St Antony
Chorale, Op. 56a (1873) [17.13]
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Charles Mackerras rec. 6-11 (Symphony) and
27-30 (Variations) January 1997, Usher Hall, Edinburgh
TELARC CD-80464 [60.03] [TB]
Not
a dull moment and much distinguished playing.
The richness of the bass, as at the opening,
is a plus-point, but the violin sound lacks
bloom. ... see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Piano
Quintet in F minor Op.34 (1864) [38.32]
Quintetto Chigiano Recorded 1952
PRISTINE AUDIO PACM010 MP3 download [38.32] [JW]
Decca vintage 1952 sound has great clarity and textual cleanliness.
I like the restorative work considerably more than Pristine Audio’s
other restorations. Good to welcome a forgotten ensemble back to the
catalogue. ... see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) String
Sextet No.1 in B flat Op.18 (1860) [31.02]
Pro Arte Quartet with Alfred Hobday (second viola) and Anthony Pini
(second cello) Recorded 1935
PRISTINE AUDIO PACM009 [31.02][JW]
Many
will welcome the fine work in removing the extraneous shellac crackle
but to my ears Biddulph more accurately reflects the sonority of the
performers. ... see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Trio
for Clarinet, Piano and Cello in A minor Op.114 (1891) [25:57] Sonata
for Clarinet and Piano in F minor Op.120 No.1 (1894) [22:51] Sonata
for Clarinet and Piano in E flat Op.120 No.2 (1894) [21:34]
Karl-Heinz Steffens (clarinet), Michal Friedlander (piano), Ludwig
Quandt (cello) Rec. Kammermusiksaal der Berliner Philharmonie, Berlin
in January 2004 (Trio); Angelika-Kauffmann-Saal, Schwarzenburg in August
2002 (Sonatas) DDD TUDOR
7115 [70:42] [PCW]
Recommendable
although not the last word on these great
works … see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) 25
Variations and Fugue on a theme by Handel
(1861) [24:45] Intermezzo in b-flat minor,
Op. 117, No. 2 (1892) [5:09] Rhapsody in g
minor, Op. 79, No. 2 (1879) [5:40] Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano
Trio in B-flat, Op. 97 (Archduke) (1810) [37:O8]
Solomon, piano Henry Holst, violin Anthony
Pini, cello Recording Dates: Brahms Variations,
1942, Originally issued as HMV 2EA 9881-9886
– C 3301-3303; Intermezzo, 1944 HMV 2EA 10197-
C3406; Brahms Rhapsody, 1944, HMV 2EA 10198
– C3406; Beethoven, 1943 HMV 2EA 10028-10039
– C 3362-3366.
THE PIANO LIBRARY PL-313 [73:15] [KS]
Very
nice to have these fine performances readily and relatively inexpensively
available again. Good listening for collectors and the curious passerby
alike. ... see Full Review
Max
BRUCH
(1838-1920) Eight
Pieces Op.83 (1910) [36.10] Vincent D’INDY
(1851-1931) Trio for clarinet, cello and piano Op.29 (1888) [35.53]
Amici Ensemble
Recorded at Humbercrest United Church, Toronto, May 2003 and February
2004 NAXOS 8.557347
[72.03][JW]
Whilst
the d’Indy remains the principal reason for consideration the Bruch
receives a pleasing, quite relaxed reading. ... see Full
Review
Dietrich
BUXTEHUDE (1637-1707) Sacred
Cantatas, Volume 2 Das neugebor’ne Kindelein, BuxWV 13 [6:45] Quemadmodum desiderat
cervus, BuxWV 92 [7:44] Nichts soll uns scheiden
von der Liebe Gottes, BuxWV 77 [10:22] Dixit Dominus Domino
meo, BuxWV 17 [10:03] An filius non est Dei, BuxWV 6 [12:09] Lobe den Herrn, meine
Seele, BuxWV 71 [9:21] Jesu, komm, mein Trost
und Lachen, BuxWV 58 [9:02] Herr, nun läßt du deinen
Diener, BuxWV 37 [6:40] Jesu, dulcis memoria, BuxWV 57 [7:20]
Emma Kirkby, soprano Michael Chance, counter-tenor Charles Daniels,
tenor Peter Harvey, bass The Purcell Quartet (Catherine Mackintosh,
violin; Catherine Weiss, violin; Richard Boothby, violone/viola da gamba)
Robert Woolley, organ; Clare Salaman, violin/viola; Rachel Byrt, viola;
Jane Rogers, viola; Reiko Ichise, viola da gamba; William Hunt, violone
rec. St. Jude on the Hill, Hampstead, London, 8-10 September 2004.
CHANDOS CHAN 0723 [79:29][JR]
A
homogeneous bunch of works: listening to the disc in one sitting borders
on monotony but for a collector this disc should not go unpurchased.
... see Full Review
Consort Songs - Music by William
Byrd and His Contemporaries anon When
Daphne from fair Phoebus did fly* [02:47] John
DOWLAND (1563-1626), arr William WIGTHORPE
(c1560-after 1610) Sorrow come (Dowland's sorrow, set by
Mr. William Wigthorpe)* [03:46] John WARD (c1571-c1638)
Fantasia a 4 [03:43] William BYRD (c1539-1623)
O that we woeful wretches* [04:40] Sermone Blando [02:20] Ye sacred
muses (An elegy upon the death of Thomas Tallis)* [04:42] Miserere [01:30]
Out of the orient crystal skies* [03:21] Christe Redemptor [02:45] O
Lord how vain* [08:48] Christe qui Lux [02:50] Richard
NICHOLSON (1570-1639) Joan quoth John* [03:49] William
BYRD Fantasia a 4 [02:19] anon Farewell
the Bliss* [03:25] William BYRD In
Nomine a 4 Alfonso FERRABOSCO I (1578-1628)
Hear me, O God (A Himn to God the Father ..., sett as 'Four notes
Pavan' by Mr Alfonso Ferrabosco II)* [08:33] Orlando
GIBBONS (1583-1625) In Nomine a 4 [02:47] John
BENNETT (c1570-1615) Venus' birds* [01:49]
Jill Feldman, soprano (*) Concerto delle Viole: Roberto Gini, Kees Boeke,
Marco Angilella, viola da gamba; Sabina Colonna Preti, violone Recorded
in September 2003 at the Pieve SS. Tiburtio e Susanna, Badia Agnano,
Arezzo, Italy DDD OLIVE
MUSIC OM 004 [66:49] [JV]
An
interesting and captivating programme with
consort music and consort songs, well performed
and recorded ... see Full
Review
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