John
ADAMS (b.
1947) I
was looking at the ceiling and then I saw
the sky - Song Play in Two Acts (1995)
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. Freiburg 28 Jan–1 Feb 2004; Vienna,
21 April 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.669003-04 [72:13 + 43:22] [AO]
An
enjoyable rock opera by John Adams. Kimako
Xavier Trotman can bridge the gap between
street genre and art music with unusual flexibility
... see Full
Review
Carl
Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788)
The Solo Keyboard Music, 11: Sonatas from
1746-1747 Fantasia in E flat (Wq deest
/ H 348) [06:46] Sonata in B flat (Wq 65,20
/ H 51) [23:41] Sonata in C (Wq 65,16 / H
46) [22:07] Sonata in G minor (Wq 65,17 /
H 47) [16:20]
Miklós Spányi, fortepiano (Michael
Walker, Neckargemünd, 1999, after Gottfried
Silbermann, Dresden, 1749) Recorded in November
2001 at the residence of Nikolaus Freiherr
von Oldershausen, Ahlden, Germany. DDD
BIS–CD-1195 [70:04][JV]
Four
pieces which have never been recorded before
- recommended even though the dramatic character
of these works isn't fully exploited here
... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1002 [33.01]
Eugene YSAźE
(1858-1931) Sonata No. 1 in G minor,
Op. 27/1 [17.23] Bela
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Sonata
for Violin solo (1944) [27.37]
Baiba Skride (violin, "Huggins"
Stradivari, 1708) Recorded at Studio 10,
DeutschlandRadio Berlin, 3-6 May 2005. DDD.
SONY CLASSICAL SK92938 [78.03] [ED]
One
thing’s for sure ... this disc is no turkey
and hooray for that! We’ve all had enough
of those by now haven’t we? ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Works for Solo Keyboard Partita
No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826 [21:10] Partita
No. 3 in A minor, BWV 827 [18:53] Partita
No. 4 in D major, BWV 828 [37:26]
Cédric Tiberghien, piano Recorded
Teldex Studio Berlin, August 2004. DDD Released
October 2005
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC 901869 [77:40] [DS]
It
has its virtues but wrong sonics and unimpressive
Allemandes and Sarabandes make it impossible
for me to recommend this premium-priced
disc. ... see Full
Review
Johan
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Clavier Ubung III CD1
Praeludium pro Organo pleno BWV 552a [12'14] Kyrie
Gott Vater in Ewigkeit, canto fermo in soprano a 2 Clav e Pedale BWV
669 [4'25] Christe, aller Welt Trost, canto fermo in Tenore a
Clav e Pedale BWV 670 [5'43] Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist,
canto fermo in Basso, Con Organo Pleno BWV 671 [5'48] Kyrie,
Gott Vater in Ewigkeit, manualiter BWV 672 [2'25] Christe,
aller Welt Trost, manualiter BWV 673 [1'47] Kyrie, Gott
heiliger Geist, manualiter BWV 674 [2'06] Allein Gott in
der Hoh sei Ehr: Canto fermo in alto BWV 675 [4'46]
a 2 clav e Pedale BWV 676 [8'13] Fughetta manualiter
BWV 677 [2'27] Dies sind die heil gen zehn Gebot: Canto
fermo in Canone a 2 Clav e Pedale BWV 678 [5'47] Fughetta
manualiter BWV 679 [2'14] Wir glauben all an einen Gott:
In Organo Pleno BWV 680 [3'30] Fughetta manualiter
BWV 681 [1'29] CD 2 Vater unser in Himmelreich: a 2 Clav
e Pedale BWV 682 [8'35] manualiter BWV
683 [1'40] Christ unser Herr, zum Jordan kam: a 2 Clav
Et Canto fermo in Pedale BWV 684 [4'57] manualiter
BWV 685 [2'27] Aus tiefer Noth schrei ich zu dir: a 6,
In Organo Pleno con Pedale doppio, BWV 686 [7'18] manualiter
BWV 687 [8'10] Jesus Christus unser Heiland: a 2 Clav.
e Canto fermo in Pedale BWV 688 [4'35] Fuga manualiter
BWV 689 [7'50] Duetto I BWV 802 [2'22] Duetto II
BWV 803 [4'00] Duetto III BWV 804 [3'10] Duetto
IV BWV 805 [5'00] Fuga a 5 pro Organo Pleno BWV
552b [8'19] Francis
Jacob, organ rec: St Louis en L'isle, Paris, 2005. DDD
ZIG-ZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT 050901 [61’11 + 70’47] [CB]
The
magnificent new Parisian sound of Aubertin's
masterpiece make this CD so unmissable. ...
see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Organ
Chorales from the Neumeister Collection: BWV 719, 1090-1100, 714, 742,
1101-1109, 737.
Hans Helmut Tillmanns (organ) Rec. August 2005, the Weyland organ, Olpe,
and the historic Wagner organ of Brandenburg Cathedral, Germany.
DANACORD DACOCD 640 [59:34] [DC]
This
superbly recorded Bach set will however be
hard to beat once completed. Top job. ...
see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
St.
Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (excerpts)
Elly Ameling (soprano); Dame Janet Baker (alto);
Neil Jenkins (tenor); John Barrow (bass) Wandsworth
School Boy’s Choir; London Bach Society Steinitz
Bach Players/Paul Steinitz rec. The Priory
Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, West
Smithfield, London, 18 March 1972. ADD
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4168-2 [65:43] [JQ]
Self-recommending
to all admirers of Ameling and Baker ... equally
attractive to all those who simply love excellence
in the human voice. ... see Full
Review
Osvaldas
BALAKAUSKAS (b.
1937) Symphony
No. 4 (1988) [33:02] Symphony No. 5 (2001) [30:13]
Romualdas Staškus (oboe) Igor Kramarev (trumpet) Lithuanian National
Symphony Orchestra/Juozas Domarkas rec. 21-23 May 2003 (4); 7-9 Sept
2004 (5). National Philharmonic Hall, Vilnius, Lithuania. DDD co-production
with Lithuanian Music Information and Publishing Centre and financially
supported by the Ministry of Culture, Republic of Lithuania.
NAXOS 8.557605 [63:14] [RB]
Two
intriguing symphonies: one largely meditative
in the Silvestrov mould; the other jazzy,
declamatory and urgent. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Michael
BALFE (1808-1870)
The Maid of Artois - A Romantic
opera in 3 acts (1836) [148.06] Libretto by
Alfred Bunn (1798-1860) after Abbé
Prévost (1697-1763) Kay Jordan (Isoline):
soprano Stephen Anthony Brown (Jules de Montangon):
tenor Rebecca Rudge (Coralie): soprano Jonathan
Pugsley (Marquis de Chateau-Vieux): bass-baritone
John Molloy (Sans Regret): bass George Hulbert
(Synnelet): baritone Adrian Lawson (Martin):
baritone John Elliott (Centinel): tenor Geoffrey
Brocklehurst (Count Saulnier): bass Annette
Reis-Dunne (Ninka): soprano
Victorian Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Philip
Mackenzie rec. Cheadle Hulme School, Cheshire,
12-13 February 2005
CAMPION CAMEO BRITISH COMPOSER SERIES 2042/3
[78.20 + 69.46] [CF]
A
splendidly produced recording into which a
lot of hard work and a labour of love has
gone. A grand achievement, one which has awakened
us all to the huge importance of the music
of Balfe ... see Full
Review
Vytautas
BARKAUSKAS (b.
1931) Jeux
for violin and orchestra op. 117 (2003) [20:51]
Partita for violin solo Op. 12 (1967)
[5:57] Two Monologues for viola solo
Op. 71 (1983, 2004) [10:16] Duo Concertante
for violin, viola and orchestra op. 122
(2004) [28:29]
Philippe Graffin (violin) Nobuko Imai (viola)
Lithuanian National SO/Robertas Servenikas
(Jeux) Vilnius Festival Orchestra/Robertas
Servenikas (Duo) rec. National Philharmonic
Hall, Vilnius, 1 Feb 2003 (Jeux; Partita);
27 June 2004 (Duo); Netherlanders Reform Church,
Schiemonnikoog, 6 Oct 2004 (Monologues).
AVIE AV 2073 [65:43] [RB]
Brilliance
and Barkauskas - another Avie triumph ...
see Full
Review
Robert
BEASER
(b.1954) Chorale
Variations (1992) [20.25] The Seven Deadly
Sins (1984) [22.07] Concerto for Piano and
Orchestra (1990) [34.05]
Jan Opalach (bass-baritone) Pamela Mia Paul
(piano) American Composers Orchestra/Dennis
Russell Davies rec. Manhattan Center, New
York, 1992. DDD originally released on the
Argo label for Decca in 1994
PHOENIX PHCD 162 [77.10][GH]
There
is a strong market for music like this but
I have to confess to my failure with Robert
Beaser. ... see Full
Revie
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto
No. 1 in C, Op. 15 (1797) [40’38”] Piano
Concerto No. 2 in B Flat, Op. 19 (1795) [30’52”] Piano Concerto No.
3 in C minor, Op. 37 (1801) [36’48”] Piano Concerto No. 4 in G, Op.
58 (1806) [35’32”] Piano Concerto No. 5 in E Flat, Op. 73 “Emperor”,
(1809) [41’05”]
Rudolf Serkin (piano) Boston Symphony Orchestra/Seiji Ozawa. Recorded
in Symphony Hall, Boston, on October 5th (No.1), July 3rd
1984, (No.2), October 2nd and 4th (No.3), October
6th 1981 (No.4), and January 24th and 26th
1981 (No. 5). DDD
TELARC CD-80061 [3 CDs: 71.06 + 71.32 + 41.14][JPh]
These
recordings deserve to do very well. Telarc are to be thanked for making
them available once again in a superb acoustic and in first class
digital sound ...
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] [JQ]
Even
specialist Horowitz collectors will be able
to think of performances by other pianists
that are more searching and more rewarding
than these. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Sonata
in F minor, nr. 23 "Appassionata" (op. 57)
[21:37] Sonata in C major, nr. 21 "Waldstein/Aurora"
(op. 53) [22:11] Sonata in D minor, nr.17
"Tempest" (opus 31, nr.2) [18:49]
Fazil Say (piano) Rec. Studio Tibor Varga,
Sion, Switzerland, June 2005. DDD.
NAÏVE V 5016 [62:37] [ED]
This
is Beethoven with an edge from an assured
artist still in his ascendancy, and it makes
for a thrilling experience that I shall return
to often with pleasure. ... see
Full Review
Elizabeth
BELL (b.
1928) Spectra (1989)a [17:39]
Duovarios (1987)b [12:46] Songs of Here and Forever
(1970)c [20:24] Les Neiges d’Antan (1998)d
[19:58] Jennifer Rinehart,
Loretta Goldberg (pianos)b; Gayla Bauer Blaisdell (soprano)c;
Renée Jolles (violin)d; The North/South Chamber Orchestraa;
Max Lifchitz (pianocd, conductora) rec. Recital
Hall, Purchase College Conservatory of Music, Purchase, NY, January,
February and March 2000 (Spectra, Songs, Les Neiges d’Antan);
and Warner Concert Hall, Oberlin Conservatory, March 1998 (Duovarios)
NORTH/SOUTH RECORDINGS
N/S R 1029 [70:45][HC]
Superbly
crafted, imaginative, but strongly expressive music in committed and
well prepared performances. Here is a composer who obviously has personal
things to say. I look forward to hearing more of her music. ... see
Full Review
Vincenzo
BELLINI (1801
– 1835) La
Sonnambula (1831) Giacomo Prestia (bass) – Il Conte Rodolfo;
Nicoletta Curiel (mezzo) – Teresa; Eva Mei (soprano) – Amina; José
Bros (tenor) – Elvino; Gemma Bertagnolli (soprano) – Lisa; Enrico Turco
(baritone) – Alessio; Saverio Bambi (tenor) – Un notaro
Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino/Daniel Oren Recorded
live at the Teatro Comunale, Florence, 31 January 2004. Directed for
TV and Video by Paola Longobardo Directed for Stage by Federico Tiezzi;
Set Design: Pier Paolo Bisleri; Costume Design: Gabriella Pescucci;
Lighting Design: Vinicio Cheli; Lighting Engineer: Gianni Paolo Mirenda;
Director of Stage Production: Massimo Teoldi
TDK DVD
DVWWOPSON [138 mins] [GF]
For
the singing of the principals, for Oren’s loving treatment of the score
and for the fanciful production this set can be safely recommended.
In my family it will be played again pretty soon, I promise! ... see
Full Review
Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869)
Symphonie
Fantastique, Op. 14 [45:07] Hungarian March* [4:52] Trojan
March* [4:40] The Corsair, Overture** [7:51] The Roman
Carnival, Overture** [8:21]
Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Paul Paray Recorded: Cass Technical High
School, Detroit, 29 November 1959; * Old Orchestra Hall, 3 April 1959
** 24 March 1958. DSD
MERCURY LIVING PRESENCE SACD 475 6622 
[72:54][JQ]
This
is a CD that I’ve enjoyed hearing and I’m sure it will give pleasure
to others - and not just to audiophiles. ... see Full
Review
Leonard
BERNSTEIN (1918-1990)
Kaddish,
Symphony no. 3 (1963, rev. 1977) ą Chichester Psalms (1965) ˛
Willard White (speaker) ą Yvonne Kenny (soprano) ą Michael Small (treble)
˛ Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Choir, Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir, Liverpool Metropolitan
Cathedral Choir Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Gerard Schwarz
Rec. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, May 2004 (Kaddish) and May
2002 (Psalms)
NAXOS 8.559456 [55:47] [DC]
Does
not replace Bernstein’s own version in musical
intensity or dramatic fervour but it still
has much to recommend it ... a valuable addition
... see Full
Review
Leonard
BERNSTEIN (1918-1990)
Serenade
for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion
(1954) [31:18] Facsimile – Choreographic
Essay for Orchestra (1946) [18:38] Divertimento
for Orchestra (1980) [18:09]
Philip Quint (violin) Bournemouth Symphony
Orchestra/Marin Alsop rec. The Concert Hall,
Lighthouse, Poole, 12-13 January 2005
NAXOS 8.559245 [65:04] [DC]
I
defy anyone to find themselves sorry they
bought this CD – it’s what we former employees
of Farringdon Records call ‘a winner.’ ...
see Full
Review
Manuel
BLANCAFORT
(1897-1987) Complete Piano Music: Volume
3 Camins
(Roads) (1920-1923): (I. Camí del solitari [6:12]; II.
Camí de festa sense alegria [02:26]; III. Camí del darrer
encontre [03:35]; IV. Camí damunt del turo [02:35]) Cants
íntims II (Intimate Songs) (1919-1924) (I. L'Absència
[03:56]; II. Confidencia [03:08]; III. Epitafi [02:36]; IV. Epitafi
[02:57]; V. Canco vespral [04:04]) El parc d’atraccions (Fun
Fair )(1920-1924) (I. L'orgue dels cavallets [03:07]; II. El tumult
desvetlla records [04:14]; III. Abstraccions [03:44]; IV. Polca de l'equilibrista
[01:44]; V. La terrassa i la musica militar [04:37]; VI. Prop del dancing
[06:37]) Pastoral en sol (Pastoral in G) (1926) [08:39]
Miquel Villalba,
piano Recorded Spain, Jan 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557334 [64:12] [JL]
This
takes us forward into the 1920s. The music still sounds French impressionist
but is developing a personality of its own. Some lovely music nicely
played. ... see Full Review
Arthur
BLISS (1891-1975)
Męlée
Fantasque (1921) [12.00] Checkmate - complete ballet (1937)
[53.03] Royal Scottish
National Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones recorded 1-9 August 2004, Henry
Wood Hall, Glasgow. DDD
NAXOS 8.557641 [65.03][JQ]
Absolutely
splendid ... indispensable listening for all admirers of Bliss ... should
be investigated urgently by all enthusiasts for British music. ... see
Full Review
Arrigo
BOITO
(1842-1918) Mefistofele:
Opera in a prologue, four acts and an epilogue (1868)
Mefistofele: Nicola Ghiuselev (bass) Faust: Kaloudi Kaloudov (tenor)
Margherita: Stefka Evstatieva (soprano) Elena: Rumjana Bareva (soprano)
Wagner: Mincho Popov (tenor) Sofia National Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Ivan
Marinov Recording dates and location not provided. DDD.
CAPRICCIO 51 186 [65.26 + 75.55][ED]
A
poor show .... more could have been done.
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH William
BOLCOM
(b.1938) Recuerdos
(1991) [13:22] Frescoes for two
pianos, harmonium and harpsichord (1971) [28:18]
Sonata for Two Pianos in One Movement (1993)
[15:40] Interlude (1963, rev. 1965)
[4:03] The Serpent’s Kiss (Ragtime)
(1969, arr. 1994) [5:37] Through Eden’s
Gates (Cakewalk) (1969, arr. 1994) [5:13]
Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann (pianos) Rec.
Boston Recital Hall, Banff Centre for the
Arts, Banff, Alberta, Canada; 7-10 Jan 2005.
NAXOS 8.559244 [72:15] [DC]
Naxos
seems to conjure this sort of thing from their
sleeve like a magician’s never-ending handkerchief
– long may it remain so. ... see Full
Review
Rutland
BOUGHTON (1878-1960) Four
Songs Op.24 'To my friend, G Herbert Davis': (To Freedom
[1:24]; The Dead Christ [5:28]; Fly, Messenger, Fly
[1:24]; Standing Beyond Time [3:10]) Five Celtic Love
Songs ‘To Kathleen’: (Green Branches [2:02]; The
Daughter of the Sun [3:07]; Tragic Lullaby [4:22]; Shule
Agrah [2:33]; My Grief [4:34]) Songs of Womanhood
Op.33 'To the Awakening Womanhood of Britain': (Prayer
to Isis [3:24]; A Woman to her Lover [5:58]; A Song
of Giving [2:41]; A Song of Taking [2:11]; Woman's
Song of Creation [3:14]) Three Songs Op.39 'To Sarah and
Roger Clark': (The Lake of Beauty [4:53]; Child
of the Lonely Heart [3:56]; The Triumph of Civilization
[1:33]) Symbol Songs 'To Kathleen': (Mother
Mary [2:05]; Honeysuckle [2:35]; Blue in the Woods
[2:02]; Fierce Love Song [2:16]; The New Madonna [3:41])
Sweet Ass 'To Kathleen and her babies' [1:51]
Louise Mott (mezzo)
Alexander Taylor (piano) rec. Music Hall of the Guildhall School of
Music and Drama, 24 April, 1 May 2005
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS431CD [70.33] [EM]
The
BMS have excelled themselves here in a beautiful
production. The disc contains some charming
songs, well performed and brilliantly presented
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897)
Symphony no.2 in D major, op.73 (1877) [44:51]
Hungarian Dances: No. 1 in G minor (orch.
Brahms) [3:24]; No. 3 in F (orch. Brahms)
[2:46]; No. 10 in F (orch.Brahms) [1:52];
No. 17 in F# minor (orch. Dvořák) [3:37];
No. 18 in D (orch. Dvořák) [1:31]; No.
19 in B minor (orch. Dvořák) [2:38];
No. 20 in E minor (orch. Dvořák) [2:44];
No. 21 in E minor (orch. Dvořák) [1:42]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Marin Alsop
rec. Blackheath Concert Hall, London, March
2005 (Symphony); Watford Colosseum, Watford,
28 July 2005
NAXOS 8.557429 [65:06] [GPJ]
I
enjoyed this new recording enormously. Penetrated
the dark interior of one of the composer’s
most complex works ... Alsop was right in
there from beginning to end ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH 
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