RECORDING OF THE MONTH Mischa Maisky and Martha Argerich in concert Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Pulcinella (1920) – Suite italienne (arr. Stravinsky/Piatigorsky, 1932) [17’36]. Serge PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 119 (1949) [23’28]. The Stone Flower (1948) – Waltz (arr. Piatigorsky/Knushevitsky) [2’16]. Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 40 (1934) [25’40]. Mischa Maisky (cello); Martha Argerich (piano). Rec. Live rec. from Flagey Hall, Brussels, in April 2003. DDD DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 5323 [72’22] [CC]

My disc of the month ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cantatas Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen BWV 56 [18’08"] Der Friede sei mit dir BWV 158 [10’18"] Ich habe genug BWV 82 [21’21"] Thomas Quasthoff (bass-baritone) Albrecht Mayer (oboe) Members of the RIAS-Kammerchor Berliner Barock Solisten/Rainer Küssmaul (violin) rec. Berlin-Dahlem, Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Jan 2004. DSD. SACD DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 474 5052 GSA [50’05"] [JQ]

Every collector of Bach cantata recordings needs to have this disc in his or her collection. I recommend it with the greatest possible enthusiasm. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony No 1 in C minor Op.68 (1876) [47:40] ((i) Un poco sostenuto – Allegro [16:15]; (ii) Andante sostenuto [9:19]; (iii) Un poco allegretto e grazioso [4:48]; (iv) Adagio – Allegro non troppo ma con brio [17:18]) Tragic Overture Op.81 (1880) [14:01] Academic Festival Overture Op. 80 (1880) [10:38] London Philharmonic Orchestra/Marin Alsop Recorded Watford Colosseum in January 2004 DDD NAXOS 8.557428 [72:42] [PCW]

Alsop’s approach to this work is lyrical and passionate ... a substantial success ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Aaron COPLAND (1900 - 1990) Chamber Music of Aaron Copland Movement for String Quartet (1923) [5.52] Prelude for Piano Trio (1924) [4.39] Pieces (2) for Violin and Piano (1926) [10.09] Vocalise for Flute and Piano (1928) [4.53] Pieces (2) for String Quartet (1928) [8.29] Vitebsk for Piano Trio (1928) [11.55] Sextet for String Quartet, Clarinet and Piano (1937 rev.) [14.25] Sonata for Violin and Piano (1943) [19.14] Quartet for Piano and Strings (1950) [21.08] Duo for Flute and Piano (1971) [14.34] Threnodies (2) for Flute and String Trio (1971) [7.39] Derek Bermel, clarinet; Michael Boriskin, piano; Paul Lustig Dunkel, flute; Nicholas Kitchen, violin; Wilhelmina Smith, cello. Borromeo String Quartet: Nicolas Kitchen, Wil Fedkenheuer, vv; Mai Motobuchi, vla; Yeesun Kim, vc., assisted by Jennifer Frautchi, Curtis Macomber, vv; Hsin-Yun Huang, Cynthia Phelps, vla. Rec. Dec 2000 - Mar 2003, various locations in New York and Boston, USA. Notes in English. Photo of composer and artists. No timings.* ARABESQUE Z6794-2 [60.18 + 62.33] [PSh]

Surprising, ingenious, and beautiful music from a composer you thought you knew. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
Piano Concerto (sketches, drafts and recordings of his Piano Concerto realised for performance by Robert Walker) [36:40] (I. (Andante piacevole) – Nobilmente e semplice [18:15]; II. Poco Andante con rubato [6:23]; III. (Solenne quasi recitativo) – Allegro ma non troppo – Vivace [12:02]) Suite of Four Edward Elgar Songs (transcribed for orchestra by Haydn Wood) [10:37] I. Rondel [1:28]; II. Queen Mary’s Song [3:00]; III. The Shepherd’s Song [2:48]; IV. Like to the Damask Rose [3:21] Adieu (orch: Henry Geehl) [2:38] So Many True Princesses (orch: Anthony Payne) ‡ [6:13] Spanish Serenade, op. 23 ‡ [4:22] The Immortal Legions (from ‘Pageant of Empire’) ‡ [4:00] Anthony COLLINS (1893-1963) Elegy in Memory of Edward Elgar [10:00] David Owen Norris (piano) † BBC Singers ‡ BBC Concert Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones world premiere recordings (except Suite of Four Songs, premiere stereo recordings; Collins). In association with BBC Radio 3, BBC Concert Orchestra, Elgar Society Recorded: Studio 1, Abbey Road, London, 18 and 19 October 2004. DDD DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7148 [74:40] [RB]

Concerto: majestic, extremely impressive ... captured with craggy mastery. Enthusiastically recommended to Elgarians everywhere. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) The Complete Songs – Volume 1 Les Matelots; Seule!; Chanson du pêcheur; Barcarolle; Tarantelle; Au bord de l’eau Les berceaux; Au cimetière; Larmes; Cinq melodies "de venise"; Pleurs d’or; Accompagnement; La fleur qui va sur l’eau; Mirages; C’est la paix; L’horizon chimérique. Felicity Lott (soprano); Jennifer Smith (soprano); Geraldine McGreevy (soprano); Stella Doufexis (soprano); John Mark Ainsley (tenor); Christopher Maltman (baritone); Stephen Varcoe (baritone); Graham Johnson (piano) Recorded 2002-2004 HYPERION CDA67333 [68:47] [IL]

An excellent beginning to what promises to be another memorable Hyperion French Song collection. 26 Fauré songs to enchant the ear. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Complete Sonatas for Keyboard and Violin, volume 1 Sonata in G major KV 379 (1781) Sonata in C major KV 6 (1764) Sonata in F major KV 547 (1788) Sonata in B flat major KV 378 (1779) Gary Cooper (fortepiano) Rachel Podger (violin) rec. Our Lady St Mary, South Creake, Norfolk, UK. June 2004. DDD; SACD CHANNEL CLASSICS CCS SA 21804 [77:05] [MC]

The astoundingly mature playing ... full of character in near flawless performances of works that are packed with high quality and extraordinary interest. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) String Quartet no.1 in G op.44 (1891) [29:01] String Quartet no.2 in A minor op.45 (1891) [27:03] Fantasy for Horn and String Quartet* (1922) [11:47] RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet, with Stephen Stirling (horn)* Recorded 22^nd-24^th September 2003 in the Henry Wood Hall, London HYPERION CDA67434 [68:09] [CH]

Urgently recommended, and not only to lovers of British music. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sir John TAVENER (b.1944)
The Veil of the Temple (2002) [148’17"] Patricia Rosario (soprano); Simon Wall, Nathan Vale (tenors); Thomas Guthrie, Andrew Rupp (baritones); Adrian Peacock, Jeremy Birchall (basses) The Choir of the Temple Church, London; The Holst Singers Instrumental Ensemble; Members of English Chamber Orchestra/Stephen Layton Abridged concert version recorded live at the première performances of the complete score in the Temple Church, London on 27-28 June (overnight), 1 July and 4-5 July (overnight) 2003. DSD SACD HYBRID BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876661542 [76’25" + 71’52"] [JQ]

This release is a major event. I cannot recommend it too highly. ... see Full Review

Prometheus: Musical Variations on a Myth A film by Christopher Swann. Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus (1801) - Introduction, ‘La Tempesta’ [1’55]; No. 1, Poco Adagio - Allegro con brio [2’59]; No. 9, Adagio - Allegro molto [3’41]; No. 10, Pastorale: Allegro [2’56]. Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Prometheus, S99 (1850, rev. 1855) [13’42]. Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Prometheus. ‘Le poème de feu’, Op. 60^a (1908-10) [19’26]. Luigi NONO (1924-1990) Prometeo, Suite (1992) - Isola seconda, ‘Hölderlin’^b [9’42]. ^aMartha Argerich (piano); ^aBerliner Singakademie; ^bSolistenchor Freiburg (Ingrid Ade-Jesemann, Monika Bair-Ivenz, Ulrike Krumbiegel, Matthias Schadock) Berliner Philharmoniker/Claudio Abbado. PCM Stereo. 4:3. Region Code: 0 Worldwide. No rec. info. ARTHAUS 101717 [57’00] [CC]

Argerich might be the initial pulling power of this DVD, but as viewing goes on it becomes clear that as a package this DVD is fascinating ... something really special. One of the best DVD films I have seen so far and one I will return to often. ... see Full Review

Leopold Stokowski Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony No. 5 in D minor (1937) [40:51] Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Symphony No. 8 in D minor (1953-5) [30:15] London Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski Rec. live, Royal Albert Hall, London, 15 (8) 17 (4) September 1964. BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4165-2 [71:40] [IL]

A blisteringly powerful Shostakovich 5 and a zestful RVW 8 make this a compelling CD that will appeal to all Stokowski fans and admirers of both composers. ... see Full Review

 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH

 

 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 1 BWV 846-869 [122:26] Sviatoslav Richter (piano) Recorded July 21^st-31^st 1970 at the Schloss Klesheim, Salzburg, Austria BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 62315 2 [67:51 + 54:35] [CH]

I am quite sure that Richter’s overall achievement will stand as a classic. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Joseph CANTELOUBE (1879-1957)
Chants d'Auvergne: La pastoura als camps; Bailero; Trois Bourrees; Pastourelle; L'Antoueno; Deux Bourrees; La delaissado; Passo pel prat; Lou boussu; Brezairola; Malurous qu'o uno fenno; Jou l'pount d'o Mirabel; Oi ayai; Lou coucut; Quand z'eyro petitoune; La-haut sur le rocher; Uno jionto postouro; Lo diziou be Véronique Gens (sop) Orchestre Nationale de Lille/Jean-Claude Casadesus Rec July 2004, Lille, France NAXOS 8.557491 [62:13] [RB]

A very good economical version of the Auvergne songs intelligently sung and acted and the orchestral role is given the attention its attractions clamantly demand. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Scherzo No.1 in B minor, Op.20 Scherzo No.2 in B flat minor, Op.31 Scherzo No.3 in C sharp minor, Op.39 Scherzo No.4 in E major, Op.54 Introduction and Variations in E major, B14 Variations in B flat major on Mozart’s ‘là ci darem la mano’ from Don Giovanni, Op.2 Nikolai Demidenko (piano) Recorded 5 -6 December 1989 and 29-30 May 1990 at Snape Maltings, Suffolk DDD HYPERION HELIOS CDH55181 [62’55] [TH]

There is a very good case for getting Demidenko’s intelligently played account ... a real snip at the Helios budget price. ... see Full Review

 

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