Camille
SAINT-SAENS (1835-1921)
Prelude
and Fugue in E flat major op. 99, No. 3 [8'25] Three Rhapsodies
on Breton Melodies [8'42] Seven Improvisations
op. 150 (i) Molto Lento [10'59]; ii) Feria Pentecostes [4'52]; iii)
Poco Adagio [6'24]; iv) Allegretto [3'03]; v) Pro Martyribus
[5'14]; vi) Pro Defunctis [6'58]; vii) Allegro giocoso [4'29]) Adagio
from the 3rd Symphony transc. Emile Bernard [10'47] Fantaisie
in E flat major [6'44] 
Robert Delcamp, organ Rec: Saint-Martin, Dudelange, Luxembourg, June
3rd and 4th, 2003 DDD
NAXOS 8.557285 [76'37][CB]
Given
the price, this is very recommendable, especially if you don't have
a recording of the literature. ... see Full
Review
Giovanni
Battista SAMMARTINI (c.1700/01
– 1775) Il
pianto degli Angeli della pace, J-C 119 (1751) [44:51] Symphony
in E flat major, J-C 26 [9:48]
Silvia Mapelli (soprano) Ainhoa Soraluze (mezzo) Giorgio Tiboni
(tenor) Capriccio Italiano Ensemble/Daniele Ferrari Recorded Monza,
Milan, 26th March 2002
NAXOS 8.557432 [54.09] [RH]
A
rather disappointing foray into the lesser known reaches of Sammartini’s
catalogue. ... see Full Review
Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757)
Complete Keyboard Sonatas, Vol. 7 Sonata in F major, K.483 Sonata
in F major, K.542 Sonata in B flat major, K.360 Sonata in C minor, K.40
Sonata in C major, K.422 Sonata in F minor, K.238 Sonata in F major,
K.17 Sonata in A major, K.500 Sonata in A major, K.114 Sonata in E minor,
K.291 Sonata in G major, K.328 Sonata in A major, K.320 Sonata in G
major, K.283 Sonata in C major, K.464 Sonata in D major, K.313 Sonata
in D major, K.479
Konstantin Scherbakov, piano Recorded Potton Hall, Suffolk, UK, January
2000
NAXOS 8.554842 [64:03][DS]
If
'Serious Scarlatti' is for you, Scherbakov
is the perfect guide. Otherwise, I recommend
previous volumes in the series as well as
the splendid Virgin set by Pletnev.... see
Full
Review
Alfred
SCHNITTKE
(1934-1998) Symphonic
Prelude (1993) [17:25] Symphony
no.8 (1994) [35:42] (I. Moderato [8:35];
II. Allegro moderato [4:19]; III. Lento [15:59];
IV. Allegro moderato [5:07]; V. Lento [1:42])
For Liverpool (1994) [12:32]
Norrköping Symphony Orchestra/Lü
Jia Recorded in May 2001 (Symphonic Prelude),
May 2002 (Symphony no.8), and September 2000
(For Liverpool) at the Louis de Geer
Concert Hall, Norrköping, Sweden
BIS-CD-1217 [66:34] [GPJ]
The
Norrköping players make a superb job
of playing all this terrifyingly original
and disturbing music ... see Full
Review
Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951)
Gurre-Lieder
(chamber music arrangement by Hopffgarten
and Kroger)
Martin van Hopffgarten (cello and piano) Clemens
Kroger (piano) Michael Ransburg (speaker)
Rec. Hamburg, September 2003 and March 2004,
DDD
BELLA MUSICA ANTES EDITION BM-CD 14.9006
[63:39 + 52:52] [ED]
If
it's another distinct take on a great work
you are after then this is self-recommending.
For most this will probably be at best a curiosity,
seldom, if ever revisited. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Die
schöne Müllerin D.795 (1823)
(Im Winter zu lessen, a cycle of poems
by Wilhelm Müller, 1794-1827)1. Das
Wandern; 2. Wohin?; 3. Halt!;
4. Danksagung an den Bach; 5. Am
Feierabend; 6. Der Neugierige;
7. Ungeduld; 8. Morgengruβ;
9. Des Müllers Blumen; 10.
Tränenregen; 11. Mein!;
12. Pause; 13. Mit dem grünen
Lautenbande; 14. Der Jäger;
15. Eifersucht und Stolz; 16. Die
liebe Farbe; 17. Die böse Farbe;
18. Trockne Blumen; 19. Der Müller
und der Bach; 20. Des Baches Wiegenlied.
Ian Bostridge (tenor); Mitsuko Uchida (piano).
Recorded December 2003, Lyndhurst Hall, London.
DDD
EMI CLASSICS 5 57827 2 [63:48] [PCW]
If
you have it already, there is no reason to
jettison Bostridge’s earlier recording; nevertheless,
there is still every reason to add this newcomer
to the shelves … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Clara
SCHUMANN (1819-1896)
Piano
Concerto in A minor, Op. 7a (1835)
[23’30]. Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 17b
(1846) [30’24].
Francesco Nicolosi (piano); bRodolfo
Bonucci (violin); bAndrea Noferini
(cello); aAlma Mahler Sinfonietta/Stefania
Rinaldi. Rec. aSt Marcellino Church,
Naples, Italy on May 25th-26th,
2004, bStudio 52, Naples Italy,
on September 24th, 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557552 [53’54] [CC]
This
is a superb, important disc that I for one
hope will introduce new listeners to this
important composer. ... see Full
Review
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Quintet in E Major for piano and strings Op.44 (1842) [30.51] Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Quintet No.2 in A major for piano and
strings Op.26 (1862) [46.12]
Clifford Curzon (piano) Budapest String Quartet rec. Coolidge Auditorium
of the Library of Congress, Washington DC, 1951-52
NAXOS 8.110306 [77.03] [JW]
Curzon
is lyrical, full of power ... this recording
has been absent from the catalogues for too
long.... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Symphony
No. 4 in C minor, Op.43a (1935-6) Composer’s arrangement for Two Pianos
Rustem Hayroudinoff,
Colin Stone (pianos) Rec. Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, May 2004. DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10296 [59:00] [PCW]
This
will be compulsory and compulsive listening
for admirers of DSCH … see
Full Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Symphony
No. 8 in C minor, Op. 65 (1943)
WDR Symphony Orchestra of Cologne/Semyon Bychkov
Recorded Kölner Philharmonia, Cologne,
Germany, March 2001
AVIE AV 0043 [62:02] [DS]
A
rich vein of exceptional performances renders
this Bychkov superfluous unless your primary
interest is merely excellent sonics. ... see
Full Review
Jean
SIBELIUS
(1865 - 1957) Violin
Concerto in d, Op. 47 (1905) [26.43] Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891 - 1053) Violin
Concerto in g, Op. 63 (1935) [23.12] Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865 - 1936) Violin Concerto
in a, Op. 82 (1905) [18.56] Jascha
Heifetz, violin Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Walter
Hendl (Sibelius); Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles
Munch (Prokofiev); RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra/Walter
Hendl (Glazunov) rec. Orchestra Hall, Chicago,
Illinois, USA, 12 January 1959 (Sibelius);
Symphony Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,
24 February 1959 (Prokofiev); Civic Auditorium,
Santa Monica, California, USA, 4 June 1963
(Glazunov) ADD Digitised in 3.0 stereo utilising
the DSD system by Soundmirror, Inc. Notes
in English. Technical notes in Deutsch and
Français. Hybrid SACD, playable on
all CD players. 
BMG
RCA 82876 66372-2 [68.55] [PSh]
The
pinnacle of Prokofiev and Sibelius playing and a very fine Glazunov
presented in the pinnacle of recorded sound. ... see Full
Review
Nikos SKALKOTTAS (1904-1949) Thirty-Six Greek
Dances (1931-36, rev. 1948-49): Series
I (1933-35) [21:34]; II (1936-49) [39:15]; III (1936-49) [30:00]
(full listing at end of review)
Urals State Philharmonic Orchestra (Sverdlovsk)/Byron Fidetzis
Rec. Sverdlovsk TV Studio 500, 23-27 July, 1-2 Oct 1990. DDD
LYRA
SKL36
[41:37 + 50:34] [RB]
Ultimately
not recommendable in the face the Bis set
... vigorous and gaudily painted dances in
unpolished but certainly spontaneous-feeling
performances ... see Full
Review
William Grant
Still
(1895-1978) In
Memoriam (1943) [7:22] Africa (Symphonic
Poem) (1930) [27:51] Symphony No. 1 Afro-American
(1930) [24:57]
Fort Smith Orchestra/John Jeter rec. Arkansas
Best Corporation Performing Arts Center, Fort
Smith, Arkansas, 28-29 Feb 2004
NAXOS 8.559174 [60:09] [JF]
William
Grant Still’s Afro-American Symphony is one
of the finest cross-over pieces of music ever
written. I rate it above An American in Paris
and the legendary Rhapsody in Blue. ... see
Full Review
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Enoch
Arden - A melodrama Words: Alfred
Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)
Peter Hewitt: piano Nicholas Garrett: speaker
Recorded in Keynes Hall, King’s College, Cambridge
on 24 March 1996
LITMUS 101-2 [74.48] [CF]
A
curiosity worth revival, especially with these
two performers ... idiomatic pianism matched
by a rich voice ... see Full
Review
Richard
Strauss (1864-1949): Four Last Songs Gustav
Mahler (1860-1911): Das Knaben Wunderhorn
Shirley Bassey, Soprano, BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Owain
Arwel Hughes BBC Wales, Cardiff: October 27th 1955
Shirley Bassey Society: SB CD 277 043 Full Price Limited Edition:
£16.99 [AR]
One
wonders why Miss Bassey never returned to
the classical repertoire; she would have made
a great Isolde or Sieglinde or an Elektra.
Her svelte, seductive figure would also have
made her a memorable Salome... see Full
Review
Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971) Petrushka
(arr. Gyula Rácz) Johannes
BRAHMS Liebeslieder – Waltzes Op.
52 Hans - Peter and Volker Stenzyl (piano
duo) Gyula Rácz and Uwe Arlt (percussion)
(Petrushka) Neuer Kammerchor/Kunibert Scffer
(Liebeslieder)
ARTHAUS 100715 [60:00] [AB]
A
mixture of sound and pictures, rather cerebral
in Petrushka in a version for two pianos and
percussion - an unalloyed pleasure in the
case of Liebeslieder. ... see Full
Review
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
Oedipus
Rexa (1927) [52'21]; Les
Nocesb (1923) [24'10]
Edward Fox (speaker). aAlison
Wells (soprano); aJennifer
Lane, bSusan Bickley
(mezzos); Martyn Hill, Joseph Corenwella (tenors);
David Wilson-Johnsona (bass-baritone);
aAndrew Greenan (bass);
Alan Ewingb (basso
profundo); Simon Joly Chorus a;
Simon Joly Choraleb; International
Piano Quartet b; Tristan
Fry Percussion Ensemble b; Philharmonia
Orchestra a/Robert
Craft. Rec. Studio One, Abbey Road, London
in aJune and on bJanuary
8th-9th, 2001. DDD
NAXOS 8.557499 [76'31] [CC]
The
performances themselves are more than adequate,
less than inspired. Very mixed reactions to
this disc. ... see Full
Review
Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971)
Monumentum
pro Gesualdo di Venosa ad CD annum (1960)
[6’48] Danses concertantes (1942) [19’26]
Concerto in D (1946) [12’38] Apollon Musagète
(1927) [29’00].
Stuttgarter Kammerorchester/Dennis Russell
Davies.
Rec. Liederhalle, Stuttgart in October 2002.
DDD
ECM NEW SERIES 472 1862 [68’35] [CC]
A
very useful disc of neo-classicist works mostly
tied to the world of dance … Much to enjoy
here, but the recording is problematic. ...
see Full
Review
Josef
SUK (1874-1935) Piano
Quartet in A minor Op. 1 (1892) [22'36] (Allegro appassionato [7'21]; Adagio [7'57]; Allegro
con fuoco [7'12]) Four pieces for violin
and piano Op. 17 (1900) [16'36] (Quasi Ballata: Andante sostenuto [5'11]; Appassionato:
Vivace [4'06]; Un poco triste: Andante espressivo [3'53]; Burlesca:
Allegro vivace [3'20]) Piano Quintet in G
minor Op. 8 (1893) [33'42] (Allegro energico [8'17]; Adagio: Religioso [9'54];
Scherzo: Presto [5'55]; Allegro fuoco [9'32])
The Nash Ensemble: Marianne Thorsen (violin); Benjamin Nabarro (violin);
Lawrence Power (viola); Paul Watkins (cello); Ian Brown (piano) Recorded
in Henry Wood Hall, London, on 30 November and 1–2 December 2003
HYPERION CDA67448 [73.01][JW]
I
know where my tempestuous money goes but the
Nash offers a warm and attractive alternative.
... see Full
Review
Sir
Arthur SULLIVAN
(1842 – 1900) book
by Sir W.S. GILBERT
(1836 – 1911) Patience or Bunthorne’s Bride
Reginald Bunthorne - Martyn Green
Patience - Margaret Mitchell Archibald Grosvenor
- Alan Styler Major Murgatroyd - Peter Pratt
Colonel Calverly - Darrell Fancourt Lt. Duke
of Dunstable - Leonard Osborn (track 12) Lt.
Duke of Dunstable - Neville Griffiths (tracks
18, 19,22) Lady Angela - Yvonne Dean Lady
Saphir - Ann Drummond-Grant Lady Ella - Muriel
Harding Lady Jane - Ella Halman
The D’Oyly Carte Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Isidore
Godfrey Based upon Decca LK4047/8 - recorded
1951, London. ADD
NAXOS 8.110233 [70.38] [AB]
Probably
the overall best Patience available but if
you like full dialogue the better-recorded
Decca version has strong merits ... see Full
Review
William Schwenk GILBERT
(1836-1911)
and Arthur SULLIVAN (1842-1900)
The
Sorcerer (1877):
Overture [5:34]; Act I [41:57]; Act II, part 1 [14:11]; Act II, part 2 [20:42] Fisher Morgan
– Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre
Neville Griffiths – Alexis Jeffrey Skitch
– Dr. Daly Donald Adams – Notary Peter Pratt – John Wellington Wells
Ann Drummond-Grant – Lady Sangazure Muriel
Harding – Aline Beryl Dixon - Mrs. Partlett Yvonne Dean – Constance
D’Oyly Carte Opera Company Chorus New Symphony Orchestra/Isidore
Godfrey Recorded 8th, 10th, 16th, 21st,
23rd, 24th, 29th and 30th
July, 1953, London, UK ADD Highlights
from The Sorcerer –
1933 Recording [37:33]
Daniel Fancourte – Sir Marmaduke
Pointdextre Derek Oldham – Alexis Leslie Rands
– Dr. Daly Stuart Robertson – Notary George Baker – John Wellington
Wells Dorothy Gill – Lady Sangazure Muriel
Dickson – Aline Anna Bethell
- Mrs. Partlett Alice Moxon – Constance
D’Oyly Carte Opera Company Chorus and Orchestra/Isidore
Godfrey Recorded 12th-13th September 1933, London, UK. ADD NAXOS
8.110785-86 [61:42 +58:15][PG]
Nearly
two complete recordings of The Sorcerer ... both are among the best
of their era. ... One would be hard pressed to find a better rendition.
... see Full
Review
Jan
Pieterszoon SWEELINCK (1562-1621)
Toccata T 14 [2'11]; Fantasia Chromatica [7'19]; Toccata
T 16 [2'32]; Puer Nobis nascitur [2'29]; Paduana Lachrimae
collorirt [5'44]; Mein junges Leben hat ein Endt
[5'12]; Toccata T 11 [3'27]; Die flichtig Nimphae
[1'49]; Unter der linden grune
[4'14]; Malle Sijmen [1'19]; Balleth del granduca
[3'35]; Pavan Philippi [8'49]; Toccata T 13 [3'35]; Echo [4'55]; Psalm 36 [8'24]; Phantasia a 4 [12'23]
Siegbert Rampe, organs, clavichords, harpsichord, virginal Rec: St
Andreaskirche, Soest-Ostonnen, April 5-6 2004, Germanisches Nationalmuseum,
Nürnberg, April 28-29, 2004, St Stephanskirche, Tangermünde, August
31, 2004 DDD DABRINGHAUS
UND GRIMM MDG 341 1256-2 [79'01][CB]
The
playing isn't my favourite then, but the instruments
ensure that this is worth hearing ... see
Full
Review
Francisco TARREGA
(1852-1909)
Guitar
Pieces: 1 Pavana [1:44]; 2 Maria [1:30];
3 Capricho árabe [5:37]; 4 Adelita
[1:43]; 5 Lágrima [1:48]; 6 Pepita
[1:54];7 Vals [2:09]; 8 Receurdos de la Alhambra
[5:48]; 9 Alborada [2:09]; 10 El columpio
[2:56]; 11 Tango [3:47]; 12 Endecha [0:59];
13 Sueño [2:18]; 14 Gran Jota [9:43];15
Estudio en mi menor [1:24]; 16 Estudio en
re mayor [0:34];17 Estudio de Campanelas [
0:44]; 18 Estudio en re mayor [0:38]; 19 Estudio
en re mayor [0:28]; 20 Estudio en la menor
[0:34]; 21 Estudio en mi mayor [0:49]; 22
Fantasia sobre motivos de "La Traviata´[7:01];
23 Marieta [2:25]; 24 Rosita [1:54]; 25 Danza
Mora [2:09]; 26 Mazurka en sol [2:22]; 27
Preludio en mi mayor [1:41]; 28 Grand Vals
[2:49]; 29 Oremus [0:53]
Fernando Espi (guitar) Recorded Auditorio
de Altea la Vella, May 2002. DDD
VERSO VRS 2007 [72:32] [ZT]
Espi
is a fine guitarist and gives a good account
of himself both technically and musically.
Slavish adherence to "period" style
may be at the expense virtuosic display. ...
see Full Review
Art
TATUM (1909-1956)
Improvisations:- Tea for Two, St. Louis Blues, Tiger
Rag, Aunt Hagar’s Blues, Humoresque, Sweet Lorraine, Get Happy,
The Jitterbug Waltz, Tatum Pole Boogie, Cherokee, Lover Come Back To
Me, Elegie, Hallelujah, Willow Weep For Me, Emaline, Yesterdays, I Know
That You Know
Steven Mayer (piano) Recorded at the Performance Arts Centre, the Country
Day School, King City, Ontario, July 2003
NAXOS 8.559130 [62.00] [JW]
Mayer
is a fine musician who has immersed himself in the Tatum style. It’s
just that here it doesn’t, in the end, have much point. ... see
Full Review
John TAVENER
(b.1944) Svyati
(1994) [13.40] Eternal memory (1991)
[10.30] Akhmatova Songs (1995) [15.15]
The Hidden treasure (1995) [25.25]
Chant for solo cello (1995) [4.09]
Steven Isserlis (cello) Kiev Chamber Choir,
Mykola Gobdych (Svyati), Moscow Virtuosi,
Vladimir Spivakov (Eternal Memory), Patricia
Rozario, soprano (Akhmatova Songs), Daniel
Phillips, Krista Bennion Feeney, violins,
Todd Phillips, viola (The Hidden Treasure)
Recorded at St. John’s, Smith Square, London
on 9th October 1995 (Svyati), Blackheath
Concert Halls, London on 3rd May
1993 (Eternal Memory), All Saints Church,
East Finchley, London on 20th September
1996 (Akhmatova Songs and Chant for solo cello)
and at the American Academy of Arts and letters,
NYC on 28th and 29th
October 1996 (The Hidden treasure) DDD
BMG CLASSICS RED SEAL 8287664278 2 [68.59]
[EM]
Undoubtedly
beguiling, moving and stirring, if often astringent and unyielding,
and the performances are all masterly. ... see Full
Review
Boris
TCHAIKOVSKY (1925–1996) Sebastopol
Symphony (1980) [34:44] Music for Orchestra (1987) [21:36] The Wind
of Siberia (1984) [16:33]
Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra/Vladimir Fedoseyev Recorded: no information
available CHANDOS
CHAN 10299H [73:12][HC]
Well
worth exploring. Sheds interesting light on
Tchaikovsky whose personal, well-crafted and
never indifferent music has been widely overlooked.
... see Full
Review
Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840
- 1893) Symphony
No. 4 in F Minor Op. 36 (1877) [42.21]
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Valeri GergievRecorded
Live, Grosse Salle Musikverein, Vienna, 17–21
October 2002. DDD
PHILIPS SACD 475 6196 [42’21] [JPh]
How
lucky we are to have such performances captured
on the wing and released in such a handy format,
although in this case value for money is poor.
... see Full
Review
Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony
No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 (1888).
Wiener Philharmoniker/Valery Gergiev Live
recording (ORF), Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg,
Austria, July 1998. DDD
PHILIPS 475 6718 [46'04] [CC]
A
magnificent disc. Gergiev is not always like
this, but when he is there are few today that
can touch him. ... see
Full Review
Peter Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony
No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 (1888) [44.50] 1812 Overture,
Op. 49 (1880) [14.53]
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim rec. Orchestra
Hall, Chicago, October 1995 WARNER
ELATUS 2564-61777-2 [59.43] [SFV]
One
is tempted to recommend this disc, simply
because it's so much better than most of Barenboim's
output, and for its brilliant, bassy sonics.
But it wouldn't be quite fair. ... see Full
Review
Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840
- 1893) Symphony
No. 5 in E Minor Op. 64 (1888) [46.58] The
Voyevoda – Symphonic Ballade, Op. 78 (1891)
[13.00] Capriccio italien, Op. 45 (1880)
[15.28]
Gothenberg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi.rec.
Gothenberg Concert Hall, Sweden, 16-17 Aug
2004 (Op.64), 18 June 2002 (Op.45); 5 Dec
2002 (Op.78). DDD
BIS-SACD-1408 [76’48"] [JPh]
BIS
are to be congratulated on this issue, combining
as it does popular and not so well known pieces,
excellently played and stunningly recorded.
Very highly recommended ... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Tchaikovsky,
Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op.74 "Pathétique"
(1893)
Wiener Philharmoniker/Valery Gergiev Live
recording, 2–4 September 2004. DDD
PHILIPS SACD 475 6197 [43’59"] [MB]
A
one-off event … too interpretatively individual
to be a recommendation ... see Full
Review
Sir Michael TIPPETT (1905-1998)
Concerto for Double String Orchestra (1938-39) [24:43] Fantasia Concertante
on a theme of Corelli (1953) [18:39] Songs for Dov (1970) [27:01]
John Tunnell
and Rosemary Ellison (violins), Kevin McCrae (‘cello), Nigel Robson
(tenor), Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Sir Michael Tippett Recorded in
City Hall, Glasgow, 31st July and 1st August 1987
EMI
CLASSICS 7243 5 86588 2 8 [70:53][GPJ]
The
problematic Dov Songs alongside the lovely Concerto for Double String
Orchestra and a work which has claims to be his finest masterpiece,
the Corelli Fantasia ... see Full
Review
Michael
TIPPETT (1905-1998) A Child of Our Time
(Oratorio in Three Parts) (f.p. 1944)
Faye Robinson
(soprano), Sarah Walker (mezzo), Jon Garrison (tenor), John Cheek (bass)
City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus/Simon Halsey City of Birmingham Symphony
Orchestra/Michael Tippett Recorded in Symphony Hall, Birmingham UK;
11-13 Oct 1991.
NAXOS
8.557570 [69:19][GPJ]
Burning
commitment and emotional energy ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
TORELLI (1658-1709) Trumpet Concertos (complete)
Concerto Estienne Roger; Sonata G.1; Sinfonia G.2; Sinfonia G.3;
Sinfonia G.4; Sonata G.5; Sonata G.6; Sonata G.7; Sinfonia G.8; Sinfonia
in D G.9; Sinfonia in D G.10; Sinfonia con Trombe G.11; Sonata in D
G.13; Sinfonia avanti l’Opera G.14; Sonata a cinque G.15; Sinfonia con
Trombe é Violini G16; Concerto con Trombe G.18; Sinfonia con Trombe
G.20; Sinfonia con due Trombe G21; Sinfonia con due Trombe é Instrumenti
G22; Sinfonia in D G.23; Concerto in D for two trumpets and bass continuo
G.24; Thomas Hammes (trumpet);
Peter Leiner (trumpet 2) European Chamber Soloists/Nicol Matt Rec. Sendesaal
Villa Berg des Südwestrundfunks, Stuttgart in June and July 2004 DDD
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92401
[48:21 + 50:57][PCW]
This
set is excellent value ... a highly recommendable way of exploring
some worthwhile late 17th century music ... see Full
Review
Mieczyslaw
VAINBERG
(Moisey Samuilovich VAINBERG) (1919-1996)
Chamber Symphony No 1 Op.145 (1986) [22.18] Chamber Symphony No.3
Op.151 [27.55] Chamber Symphony No.4 Op.153 + (1992) [28.44]
Eugeny Petrov (clarinet) + Chamber Orchestra Kremlin/Misha Rachlevsky
Recorded at Mosfilm Studios, Moscow, November 1997
CLAVES CD 50-9811 [79.08][JW]
Rachlevsky:
a worthy ambassador for these works, whose idiosyncrasy of utterance
and depth of feeling are worth getting to know. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813-1901) Verdi
Favorites Aida: Gloria all’Egitto, Celeste Aida, Numi
Pietà, Ma tu Re (1871) Nicola Martinucci (Tenor), Radames Maria
Chiara (Soprano), Aida Fiorenza Cossotto (Mezzo-Soprano), Amneris Giuseppe
Scandola (Baritone), Amonasro Giancarlo Sbragia, Director Anton Guadagno,
Conductor Recorded at the Arena di Verona, July 1981 Ernani:
Ernani involami (1844) Mirella Freni (Soprano), Elvira Luca Ronconi,
Director Riccardo Muti, Conductor Recorded at La Scala, Milan, December
1982 Nabucco: Prode guerrier!, Va pensiero (1842)
Ghena Dimitrova (Soprano), Abigaille Ottavio Garaventa (Tenor), Ismaele
Bruna Baglioni (Mezzo-Soprano), Fenena Renzo Giacchieri, Director Maurizio
Arena, Conductor Recorded at the Arena di Verona, August 1981 I
Lombardi: La mia letizia infondere, Risorgimento (1843)
Jose Carreras (Tenor), Oronte Gabriele Lavia, Director Gianandrea Gavazzeni,
Conductor Recorded at La Scala, Milan, April 1984 Otello:
Credo in un Dio crudel, Si pel ciel, Ave Maria (1887) Piero Cappuccilli
(Baritone), Iago Vladimir Atlantov (Tenor), Otello Kiri te Kanawa (Soprano),
Desdemona Gianfranco de Bosio, Director Zoltan Pesko, Conductor Recorded
at Arena di Verona, July 1982 Falstaff: Udrai quanta
egli sfoggia, Tutto nel mondo (1893)
John Dobson (Tenor), Dr. Caius William Wildermann (Tenor), Pistol Francis
Egerton (Bass), Bardolph Dalmacio Gonzales (Tenor), Fenton Brenda Boozer
(Mezzo-Soprano), Meg Page Barbara Hendricks (Soprano), Nannetta Lucia
Valentini-Terrani (Mezzo-Soprano), Mistress Quickly Leo Nucci (Baritone),
Ford Renato Bruson (Baritone), Falstaff Ronald Eyre, Director Carlo
Maria Giulini, Conductor Recorded at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden,
July 1982 NVC ARTS
WARNER MUSIC VISION DVD 50467 4773-2
[57:43][JWi]
The
performances range from pretty good to quite good which is a pleasant
surprise since compilation discs of this kind are often frustratingly
uneven ... see Full Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Macbeth
– opera in four acts after Shakespeare Libretto by Francesco Maria
Piave Macbeth
– Kostas Paskalis (bar) Lady Macbeth – Josephine Barstow (sop) Banquo
– James Morris (bass-bar) Macduff – Keith Erwen (ten) Malcolm – Ian
Cales The Glyndebourne Ballet London Philharmonic Orchestra/Glyndebourne
Chorus/John Pritchard Rec. live Glyndebourne, 1972 Region 0
ARTHAUS MUSIK DVD 101 095
[126’00”][ED]
Altogether
an impressive evening at the opera that does bear revisiting; with
a production that grows on you over time ... see Full
Review
Tomás
Luis de VICTORIA
(1548-1611)
Second Vespers of the Feast of the
Annunciation (ed. Jon Dixon)
Exon Singers/Matthew Owens rec. 3-4 January 2004, Chapel of Giggleswick
School, North Yorkshire, UK DDD
DELPHIAN DCD34025 [68’46”][JQ]
A
distinguished release and a most enjoyable one to which I’m very happy
to give an unreserved welcome. ... see Full
Review
Henri
VIEUXTEMPS
(1820-1881)
Six
Salon Pieces (Six Morceaux),
op. 22 (1847) Morceau brilliant de salon [5:22]; Air
varié [8:44];
Rêverie[6:45]; Souvenirs du Bosphor
[8:16]; Tarantelle [4:53]; L’Orage [5:46] Voices
of the Heart (Voix de Coeur), op. 53 (1880) Tendresse [5:46]; Décision [31:19]; Mélancolie [4:34];
Barcarolle [3:28];
Rêve
[5:51];
Interrogation [2:49];
Souvenir [4:26]; Pourquoi? [4:52];
Théme et variations
[4:25]
Philippe Koch (violin); Luc Devos (piano)
Recorded Luxembourg, 1999. DDD
MUSIQUE EN WALLONIE MEW 0317 [79:16]
Two
sets of delightful violin pieces that are a good cut above most nineteenth
century salon trivia. Played with conviction.
... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI
(1678-1741) The
Four Seasons (1720) Concerto No.1 La primavera (Spring)
RV 269 [9:35] Concerto No.2 L'estate (Summer) RV 315 [10:08]
Concerto No.3 L'autunno (Autumn) RV 293 [10:56] Concerto No.4
L'inverno (Winter) RV 297 [7:41]
Janine Jansen {solo violin} Candida Thompson (violin 1), Henk Rubingh
(violin 2), Julian Rachlin (viola), Maarten Jansen (cello), Stacey
Watton (double bass), Elizabeth Kenny (theorbo); Jan Jansen (organ/harsichord)
Recorded Yakult Zaal, Beurs Van Berlage Concert and Congerszalen,
Amsterdam, May 2004 SACD Surround, SACD Stereo, CD Audio 
DECCA
475 6188 [36.06] [JL]
A
36 minute disc containing an eccentric, surround-sound-boosted performance
presumably aiming for hit status in the pop classic market. Brilliantly
executed. ... see Full Review
Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Complete Bassoon Concertos - Volume 2 Concerto in F major, RV486
[8:00] Concerto in C major, RV475 [9:36] Concerto in Bb major, ‘La
Notte’, RV 501 [8:33] Concerto in F major, RV 488 [7:58] Concerto
in Bb major, RV 504 [10:58] Concerto in C major, RV 467 [10:06]
Tamás
Benkócs (bassoon), Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia/Béla
Drahos Recorded at the Phoenix Studio, Budapest, Hungary, 25-28 February
2003
NAXOS
8.555938 [55:11][GPJ]
This
could change your entire perception of one of the most beautiful, but
also one of the most misunderstood, of musical instruments. ... see
Full Review
Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883)
Lohengrin (1850).
René Maison (tenor) Lohengrin; Kirsten
Flagstad (soprano) Elsa; Karin Branzell (contralto)
Ortrud; Julius Huehn (baritone) Telramund;
Ludwig Hofmann (bass) King Heinrich; Arnold
Gabor (tenor) Herrufer
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan
Opera House, New York/Maurice de Abravanel.
Includes broadcast commentaries on each act.
Rec. Metropolitan Opera House, New York on
March 27th, 1937. ADD
WALHALL ETERNITY SERIES WLCD0011 [3 CDs:
61:28 + 70:33 + 55:52] [CC]
Despite
my caveats, this remains a valuable Wagner
sound document. ... see
Full Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)Parsifal
Bühnenfestspiel in Drei Akten
Parsifal: Hans-Peter Ringmann (tenor)Kundry:
Grazia Plena (sop) Gurnemanz: Max Brute (bass)
Amfortas: Alain Seraillier (bar) Klingsor:
Ron Palermo (c-tenor) Titurel: Artur Pnimm
(bass) Chorus and Orchestra of Universal Opera,
Conductor: Mikko Hiirenloukku Recorded live
at Glastonbury, 25th March 2005. 
UNIVERSAL
OPERA DVD UNO 2503 [277' 45"] [BK]
The
first thing to say about it (after the BBC's
fiasco with Die Walküre on Monday)
is that it is very pleasant indeed to find
a government funded organisation getting something
right for once, because the entire recording
is technically marvellous....
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Parsifal Parsifal:
Christopher Ventris, Kundry: Waltraud Meier,
Gurnemanz: Matti Salminen, Amfortas: Thomas
Hampson, Klingsor: Tom Fox, Tinturel: Bjarni
Thor Kristinsson,
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchestra Berlin, Festspielchor,
Baden-Baden/Kent Nagano Nikolaus Lenhoff,
Stage Director
recorded live, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden,
4th, 6th and 8th
August 2004. DVD: all regions
including film "Parsifal's Progress"
317 minutes. OPUS
ARTE OA 0915D [3 DVDs: 317:00] [AO]
Hard
to beat this production for performance –
all singers are specialists in their prime.
It is as a total work, with a radical understanding
of Wagner’s deepest philosophical ideas, that
this production will become "immortal".
My recommended pick of the year ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Richard WAGNER (1813-83)
Tannhäuser (1845) Wolfgang
Windgassen (tenor) Tannhäuser; Gré
Brouwenstijn (soprano) Elisabeth; Josef Greindl
(bass) Hermann; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)
Wolfram von Eschenbach; Josef Traxel (tenor)
Walther von der Vogelweide; Toni Blankenheim
(bass) Biterolf; Gerhard Stolze (tenor) Heinrich
der Schreiber; Herta Wilfert (mezzo) Venus;
Volker Horn (treble) Young Shepherd;
Chorus and Orchestra of the Bayreuth Festival/André
Cluytens. Rec. by Bavarian Radio at the Festspielhaus,
Bayreuth on August 9th, 1955. AAD
ORFEO BAYREUTHER FESTSPIELE LIVE C643043D
[197’49: 68’05 + 70’22 + 59’28] [CC]
This
is now the best currently available Tannhäuser
by a considerable margin ... see Full
Review
HISTORICAL
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Tristan
und Isolde (Act I) Arturo Toscanini at Bayreuth (Vol. 1):
Tristan und Isolde, Act I Lauritz Melchior (Tristan) Nanny
Larsén-Todsen (Isolde) Anny Helm (Brangäne) Rudolf Bockelmann
(Kurwenal) Bayreuth
Festival Chorus and Orchestra/Arturo Toscanini Recorded live at Bayreuth,
1930 ART Historical
Performances (001.1930), 2 CDs, Full Price, 91 minutes running time.
[MB]
...
this is not just an exceptional find, but
one of paramount historical interest ... a
record of a unique musical occasion… this
could just be the finest Tristan of the Twentieth
Century ... see Full
Review
Bruno WALTER
(1876-1962)
Tragödie
I-II-III op. 12/4-6 [06:31]; Des Kindes schlaf
[02:12], Die Lerche [03:35], Elfe [01:46];
Waltraut’s Lied I op.11/3 [01:43], Waltraut’s
Lied II op.11/4, Liebeslust op.11/6 [03:14]
Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Freundliche Vision op.48/1 [02:45], Das
Rosenband op.36/1 [03:37], Nachtgang op.29/3
[02:44], Muttertändelei op.43/2 [02:08];
Mädchenblumen, 4 Lieder op.22 [09:40],
Hat gesagt , bleibt’s nicht dabei op.36/3
[02:04], Du meines Herzens Krönelein
op.21/2 [02:01], Traum durch die Dämmerung
op.29/1 [02:54], Schlechtes Wetter op69/5
[02:17] Joseph MARX
(1882-1964)
Hat dich die Liebe berührt [02:53], Ein
Drängen ist in meinem Herzen [01:14],
Traumgekrönt [02:05], Und gestern hat
er mir Rosen gebracht [01:44]
Emma Bell (soprano), Andrew West (piano)
Recorded 5th-7th April
2004 at Potton Hall SA-CD heard on CD equipment
LINN
CKD 238 [58:33] [CH]
The
curiosity of hearing Bruno Walter as a composer
hardly compensates for Strauss performances
which cannot compare with the best. ... see
Full Review
Anton WEBERN
(1883-1945) The
Music of Anton Webern: Volume 1 Symphony
Op. 21 (1928) [10:03]; Five Canons for soprano
and two clarinets Op. 16 (1924) [3:41]; Three
Traditional Rhymes Op. 17 (1924) [2:33]; Three
Songs Op. 18 (1925) [3:59]; Trio Op. 20 (1927)
[9:49]; Quartet Op. 22 (1930) [5:28]; Variations
for Piano Op. 27 (1936) [6:00]; Six Pieces
for Large Orchestra Op. 6 [Revised Version]
(1910) [13:08]; Four Pieces for violin and
piano Op. 7 (1910) [5:42]; Three Pieces for
cello and piano Op. 11 (1910) [2:27]; Concerto
for Nine Instruments Op. 24 (1934) [6:52];
Schubert orch. Webern: German Dances [9:29]
Jennifer Welch-Babidge (soprano), Twentieth
Century Classics Ensemble (Op. 21),
Philharmonia Orchestra (Op. 6 and German Dances),
Robert Craft (conductor). Recorded July 2002
at The Coliseum, Watford, England (Op.
21, Op. 6 and German Dances), and
2003-2004 at the American Academy of Arts
and Letters, New York. DDD
NAXOS 8.557530 [79:12] [BH]
An
extremely generous program of some of Webern’s
most inspired output, in outstanding performances.
... see Full
Review
Silvius Leopold
WEISS (1686-1750)
Lute Sonatas, Volume 6 Sonata
No. 45 in A major [33:56] (1 Introduzzione
[5:38]; 2 Courante [7:43]; 3 Bourrée
[4:21]; 4 Sarabande [6:28]; 5 Minuet [3:43];
6 Presto [6:04]) Sonata No. 7 in C minor
[17:51] (7 Allemande [5:14]; 8 Courante
[2:13]; 9 Gavotta [1:22]; 10 Sarabande [3:35];
11 Minuet [3:14]; 12 Gigue [2:14]) Sonata
No. 23 in B flat major [22:53] (13 Prelude
et Entrée [3:33]; 14 Bourrées
I et II [4:35]; 15 Gavottes I et II [4:20];
16 Sarabande [3:35]; 17 Minuets I et II [3:41];
18 Saltarella [3:09])
Robert Barto (baroque lute) Rec. Green Room,
Offord Hall, Aurora, Ontario, Canada, 4-7
October 2002. DDD
NAXOS 8.555722 [74:40] [ZT]
Those
who have enjoyed the first five volumes will
find this irresistible. For those who may
not have yet sampled the delights of Weiss,
this disc is the perfect introduction ...
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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