RECORDING
OF THE MONTH James
MACMILLAN (b.
1959) Seven
Last Words from the Cross (1993)* [46:24]
On the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin
(1997)** [6:41] Te Deum (2001)**
[15:02] 
Polyphony; ** James Vivian (organ) *Britten
Sinfonia/Stephen Layton Recorded* 1-2 April
2004 in St. Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead Garden
Suburb; ** The Temple Church, London. DDD
HYPERION CDA67460 [68:35] [JQ]
Seven
Last Words makes a profound impression; a
masterpiece. I recommend this CD not just
enthusiastically but urgently. ... see Full
Review
Joseph
MARX (1882-1964)
Romantisches Klavierkonzert (The
Romantic Piano Concerto) (1919-20) [40.25]
Castelli Romani for piano and orchestra
(1929-30) [31.41]
David Lively (piano) Bochum Symphony Orchestra/Steven
Sloane Recorded at Erholunshaus der Bayer
Industry Services, Lerverkusen, January 2004
ASV CD DCA 1174 [72.46] [JW]
A
wild-card entry for lovers of rich brew and
ebullient musical cross-pollination ... see
Full
Review
Johann
Simon MAYR (1763
– 1845) Sisara
(1793) [93.36] Sisara – Vanessa Barkowski
(mezzo-soprano) Jahel – Talia Or (soprano)
Debbora, Thamar – Stefanie Braun (soprano)
Barac, Elcana – Petra van der Mieden (soprano)
Abra, Dina – Claudia Schneider (soprano)
Simon Mayr Choir Accademia I Filarmonici di
Verona/Franz Hauk Recorded Asam Kirche Maria
de Victoria Ingolstadt, 9-12 September 2004
GUILD GMCD7288/89 [48.44 + 44.52] [RH]
It
is enterprising of Guild to offer us another
of Mayr’s early oratorios and this creditable
recording helps us get a more balanced view
of Mayr as a composer. ... see
Full Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Violin
Concerto in D minor (1822) [23:28] (1), Violin
Concerto in E minor op.64 (1844) [27:15] (2)
Max BRUCH (1838-1920)
Violin Concerto no.1 in G minor op.26 (1867)
[22:47] (3)
Yehudi Menuhin (violin), RCA Victor String
Orchestra (1), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Wilhelm
Furtwängler (2), Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles
Munch (3) Recorded 6th February
1952 in New York (1), 25th-26th
May 1952 in the Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin
(2), 19th January 1951 in the Symphony
Hall, Boston (3) CD transfers by Mark Obert-Thorn
NAXOS 8.110991 [73:31] [CH]
For
Menuhin aficionados these long-unavailable
recordings of the Mendelssohn D minor and
the Bruch will be self-recommending. ... see
Full
Review
see also:
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-47)
Violin concerto in D minor (1822):
(Allegro Molto [8.52]; Andante no
troppo [8.31]; Allegro [6.06])
Violin concerto in E minor, Op. 64
(1844): (Allegro molto [12.35]; Andante
[7.57]; Allegro non troppo [6.43];
Allegro molto vivace Max
BRUCH (1838-1920)Violin concerto No.
1 in G minor, Op. 26 (1867): Allegro
moderato [7.57]; Adagio [7.45];
Allegro energico [7.06]
Yehudi Menuhin (violin) RCA Victor String
Orchestra (Mendelssohn Concerto in D minor),
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Wilhelm Furtwängler
(Mendelssohn Concerto in E minor), Boston
Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch (Bruch)
Recorded 6th February, 1952 in
New York (Mendelssohn Concerto in D minor),
25th and 26th May, 1952
in Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin (Mendelssohn
Concerto in E minor) and 19th January,
1951 in Symphony Hall, Boston (Bruch) ADD
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110991 [73’ 31"]
[EM]
Cannot
compete with modern verions but gives an insight
into the early recordings of possibly the
greatest violinist of the mid-20th century.
A must-have for Menuhin enthusiasts! ... see
Full Review
MENDELSSOHN
The Complete Quartets - a comparative review by Michael Cookson: Pacifica
Quartet, Emerson Quartet, Henschel Quartet, Talich Quartet, Aurora
String Quartet, Bartholdy Quartet
This
magnificent set of the complete Mendelssohn
String Quartets would have been my first choice
selection even at full price... but
you will have to read the review to see who
is being referred to
... see
Full Review
Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
The Complete String Quartets and Octet for
Strings CD
1 String Quartet (No. 2) in A minor, Op.13
(1827) [29’40] Fuga in E flat major, Op.81/4
(1827) [04’51] String Quartet (No. 1) in E
flat major, Op.12 (1829) [23’32] CD 2 String
Quartet (No. 4) in E minor, Op.44 No.2 (1837)
[27’01] String Quartet (No. 5) in E flat major,
Op.44 No.3 (1838) [33’08]CD 3 String Quartet
(No. 3) in D major, Op.44 No.1 (1838) [30’47]
Capriccio in E minor, Op.81/3 (1843) [05’45]
String Quartet (No. 6) in F minor, Op. posth.
80 (1847) [23’49] Andante (Tema con Variazioni)
in E major, Op.81/1 (1847) [05’38]Scherzo
in A minor, Op.81/2 (1847) [03’26] CD 4 Octet
for strings in E flat major, Op.20 (1825)
[30’20] String Quartet in E flat major (1823)
[23’51] CD 4 is also a CD-ROM featuring a
video documentary: ‘Recording the Octet’
Emerson Quartet: (Eugene Drucker (alternating
as 1st and 2nd violin); Philip Setzer (alternating
as 1st and 2nd violin); Lawrence Dutton (viola);
David Finckel (cello)) rec. American Academy
of Arts and Letters , New York, USA, Oct 2003;
Apr 2004 DDD
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4775370 [4 CDs: 57:47
+ 60:17 + 69:46 + 54:18] [MC]
This
is a highly desirable set and includes a really
special account of the Octet ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Elijah – Oratorio Op.70
(1846)
Isobel Baillie (soprano) Harold Williams
(baritone) Clara Serena (contralto) Parry
Jones (tenor) Tom Purvis (tenor) Berkeley
Mason (organ) The Wireless Singers BBC National
Chorus
Orchestra/Stanford Robinson Recorded at Central
Hall, Westminster, London, 1930
THE DIVINE ART 27802 [54.40 + 37.58] [JW]
And
above all else, above even Baillie, you’ll
have a double dose of Williams, a magnificent
colossus of an Elijah. ... see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Die
erste Walpurgisnacht (The First Walpurgis
Night) op.60* [35:35], Meeresstille und glückliche
Fahrt (Calm Sea and Propserous Voyage) op.27
[13:06], Ruy Blas op.95 [07:38], Die schöne
Melusine (The Fair Melusine) op.32 [11:33],
Die Hebriden (The Hebrides) op.26 [10:08]
Juan Oncina (tenor)*, Giovanna Fioroni (mezzo-soprano)*,
Robert Amis El Hage (bass)*, Coro* e Orchestra
Sinfonica di Torino della RAI/Peter Maag Recorded
live on 4th February 1972*, 19th
October 1979 in the Auditorium della RAI di
Torino, Italy
ARTS ARCHIVES 43042-2 [78:21][CH]
Performances
notable for their whole-hearted involvement; Mendelssohn in Maag’s
hands is a fully romantic composer who sings and exalts. ... see Full
Review
Gian
Carlo MENOTTI (b.1911) Concerto for
Violin and Orchestra in A minor (1952) [29.51]* Cantilena e Scherzo
for harp and string quartet (1977) [10.16]** Five Songs (1983) [14.30]+
Canti della Lontananza (1961) [14.05]
Ittai Shapira (violin) Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Thomas Sanderling*
Vanbrugh Quartet with Gillian Tingay** Christine Brewer (soprano) and
Roger Vignoles (piano)+ Recorded Studio 5, DSS, Moscow, July 2001 (Concerto),
Champs Hill, Pulborough, Sussex, March and November 2003 (remainder)
ASV CD DCA 1156
[71.29] [JW]
An
attractive bet for admirers of the Concerto
... see Full
Review
Darius
MILHAUD (1892-1974) La Création
du monde, Op.81a (1923) [16’49] Le Boeuf sur le toit, Op.58 (1919) [16’31] Suite provençale, Op.152d (1936) [15’14]
L’Homme et son désir, Op.48 (1921) [20’06]
Tomoko Makuuchi (soprano), Jian Zhao (mezzo) Mathias Vidal (tenor),
Bernard Deletré (bass) Orchestre National de Lille/Jean-Claude Casadesus
Recorded at the Auditorium du Nouveau Siècle, Lille, France,
15-18 July, 2003 NAXOS
8.557287 [68’40][TH]
The
recording is a touch close, but has plenty of warmth and detail. The
whole disc can be warmly welcomed. ... see Full
Review
Richard
MILLS (b. 1949) Aeolian Caprices Queensland Symphony
Orchestra/Richard Mills; Soundscapes for percussion and orchestra;
Seaside Dances; *Fantastic Pantomimes Queensland Symphony
orchestra/Geoffrey Spiller *Gerhard
Mallon, flute; Anthony Camden, oboe; Paul Dean, horn; Geoffrey Spiller,
trumpet Recording dates 1983; 1988; 1990. nothing else specified
ABC CLASSICS ELOQUENCE 476 7595 [70.50] [GH]
I
recommend this disc in ABC’s budget Eloquence
series. It is very generously filled and I
hope we can soon hear more of Richard Mills.
If you are inquisitive, ‘go for it’. ... see
Full Review
Richard MILLS
(b.
1949) Snugglepot
and Cuddlepie (1988)
Queensland Symphony Orchestra/Richard Mills
Recorded: no information
ABC Eloquence CLASSICS 422 933-2 [40:03]
[HC]
A
lovely ballet score that should appeal to
anyone responding, say, to Prokofiev’s ballet
scores. ... see Full
Review
Johann
Melchior MOLTER (1696-1765)
Overture
in c minor (MWV III/9) [12:58] Sonata for transverse flute and bc in
g minor (MWV XI/13) [14:13] Concerto for oboe, strings and bc in E flat
(MWV VI/21) [09:01] Sonata for violin and bc in f minor, op. 1,6 (MWV
XI/6) [13:52] Overture in F (MWV III/13) [15:05]
Nova Stravaganza/Siegbert Rampe Recorded in January 2004 at the Fürstliche
Reitbahn in Bad Arolsen, Germany DDD
MDG 341 1279-2 [65:51] [JV]
Molter
is generally considered a 'minor master',
but that doesn't do him justice, as this very
fine disc amply demonstrates ... see Full
Review
Ignaz Moscheles
(1794-1870) Piano
Concerto No. 4 in E major Op.64 (1823) [25:53]
Piano Concerto No. 5 in C major Op.87 (1826/32)
[30:26] Recollections of Ireland Op.69
(1826) [15:23]
Howard Shelley, piano and conductor Tasmanian
Symphony Orchestra Recorded in the Federation
Concert Hall, Hobart, Tasmania on 23rd
-25th September 2002 (Concertos) and 6th
September 2004 (Recollections) The Romantic
Piano Concerto: Volume 36
HYPERION CDA67430 [72:04] [JF]
Volume
Three of the Moscheles Piano Concertos is
essential listening for all those who wish
to understand what was composed between the
Emperor and Schumann’s A minor. A terrific
investment. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Flute
Concerto in D major, K. 314 (1778) [18.50]* Flute Concerto in G major,
K. 313 (1778) [22.43]* Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 "Jupiter"
(1788) [35.34] Jacques
Zoon, flute* Boston Baroque/Martin Pearlman rec. Mechanics Hall, Worcester,
Massachusetts, 7-8 March 2004
TELARC CD-80624 [77.07] [SV]
Boston
Baroque recovers its poise, re-establishing
itself as one of the most consistently satisfying
"period" orchestras. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
The Prussian Quartets String Quartet (No.
21) in D major, K.575 (1789) [25:04] String
Quartet (No. 22) in B flat major, K.589 (1790)
[23:47] String Quartet (No. 23) in F major,
K.590 (1790) [27:30]
Tokyo String Quartet: (Martin Beaver (violin
I); Kikuei Ikeda (violin II); Kazuhide Isomura
(viola); Clive Greensmith (cello)) rec. Sprague
Hall, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut,
USA, 28-29 May, 6-8 Nov 2004. DDD
BIDDULPH RECORDINGS 80215-2 [76:45][MC]
Surely
the Vienna of Mozart’s day was more exciting
and characterful than these interpretations
would lead us to believe. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Sonatas for Piano and Violin Sonata
in F major, K. 377 [19:39] Sonata in C major,
K. 303 [9:50] Sonata in E minor, K. 304
[15:50] Sonata in A major, K. 526 [24:40]
Mitsuko Uchida, piano Mark Steinberg, violin
Recorded Snape Maltings Concert Hall, June-July
2004
PHILIPS 4756200 [69:59] [DS]
One
of the most rewarding and enjoyable Mozart
discs in recent years. Uchida and Steinberg
go to the head of the class. ... see
Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Mass
in C minor The Great for solo voices,
chorus and orchestra, KV 427 (1783) 1. Kyrie
[7’00] 2. Gloria [2’19] 3. Laudamus te [4’59]
4. Gratias [1’25] 5. Domine [3’02] 6. Qui
tollis [6’06] 7. Quoniam [4’03] 8. Jesu
Christe [4’56] 9. Credo in unem Deum [3’28]
10. Et incarnatus est [8’37] 11. Sanctus
[3’42] 12. Osanna [2’01] 13. Benedictus
[3’56] Helen Donath (soprano) 14. Ave
verum Corpus, motet for chorus, strings
and organ (1791), KV 618 [3’56] Heather
Harper (soprano) Ryland Davies (tenor) Stafford
Dean (bass) John Constable (organ)
London Symphony Chorus/Arthur Oldham London
Symphony Orchestra/Sir Colin Davis Recorded
at Westminster Cathedral, London, England,
Feb. 1971 (Great Mass) and London,
England, April 1971 (Ave verum Corpus)
ADD
PHILIPS ELOQUENCE 470 132-2 [59:39][MC]
This
reissue is not my first choice in the ‘Great’
Mass in C minor but a performance from the
early 1970s that is worthy of consideration.
... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Mass
in C major Coronation,
K317 (1779) [26.02]
Ileana Cotrubas (soprano), Helen Watts
(alto), Robert Tear tenor), John Shirley-Quirk
(bass) Schola Cantorum of Oxford Academy
of St Martin in the Fields/Sir Neville Marriner
Vesperae solennes de confessore,
K339 (1779) [28.08] Felicity Palmer (soprano),
Margaret Cable (alto), Philip Langridge
(tenor), Stephen Roberts (bass)
Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge Wren
Orchestra/George Guest Exultate, jubilate,
K165 (1773) [15.15] Erna Spoorenberg (soprano)
Academy of St Martin in the Fields/Sir Neville
Marriner Rec. 1966 (K165), 1971 (K317),
1979 (K339)
DECCA ELOQUENCE 470 166 2 [65.44] [TB]
A
most pleasing compilation for the discerning
collector ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Requiem
in D minor K626 completed by Franz
Xaver Süssmayr [50:07] Franz
Xaver SÜSSMAYR (1766-1803) Requiem
[17:55]
Maria Jette (sop); Jennifer Larmore
(mezzo); James Taylor (tenor); Eric Owens
(bass); St Olaf Choir/Anton Armstrong; St
Paul Chamber Orchestra/Andreas Delfs rec.
live Ordway Hall, St Paul, Minnesota, 7-8
Nov 2003 DDD (Mozart Requiem) St Olaf Choir
and Orchestra/Anton Armstrong rec. St Andrews
Church, Mahtomedi. Minnesota, 26-27 May
2004. DDD (Süssmayr Requiem)
AVIE
AV 0047 [68:11] [ZT]
Despite
its virtues this disc probably will not
supplant favoured versions of the Mozart
but temptation to hear the Süssmayr
is one to which many will succumb. ... see
Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756 – 1791) A
Mozart Opera Festival
Le nozze di Figaro, KV 492:
1. Cosa sento! tosto andate (act I) – 2.
Non più andrai (act I) – 3. Voi che
sapete (act II) – 4. Crudel! perchè
finora farmi languir così? (act III)
– 5. Giunse alfin il momento ... Deh vieni,
non tardar (act IV) Die Entführung
aus dem Serail, KV 384: 6. Konstanze,
dich wiederzusehen ... O wie ängstlich,
o wie feurig (act I) – 7. Vivat Bacchus!
Bacchus lebe! (act II) – 8. In Mohrenland
gefangen war (act III) – 9. O, wie will
ich triumphieren (act III) Die Zauberflöte,
KV 620: 10. Der Vogelfänger bin ich
ja (act I) – 11. Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd
schön (act I) – 12. Bei Männern,
welche Liebe fühlen Zaide,
KV 344: 13. Ruhe, sanft, mein holdes Leben
(act I) Così fan tutte,
KV 588: 14. Soave sia il vento (act I) –
15. Un’aura amorosa (act I) – 16. Il cor
vi dono (act II) Il re pastore,
KV 208: 17. L’amerò, sarò
costante (act II) Don Giovanni,
KV 527: 18. Là ci darem la mano (act
I) – 19. Finch’han dal vino (act I)
Lucia Popp (soprano) (1, 4, 12, 13, 14,
17, 18), Brigitte Fassbaender (mezzo-soprano)
(3, 14, 16), Werner Krenn (tenor) (1, 6,
7, 8, 11, 15), Tom Krause (baritone) (1,
2, 4, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19), Manfred Jungwirth
(bass) (7, 9), Wiener Haydn-Orchester/István
Kertész Recorded in the Sofiensaal,
Vienna, October 1971
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 7437 [71:25] [GF]
As
a varied program, well recorded and with
five of the best Mozart singers of their
generation this reissue can be confidently
recommended. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
… che cosa è amor ... Soprano Arias Le
Nozze di Figaro Non so più cosa
son, cosa faccio (Cherubino);
Porgi amor (La Contessa);
Voi che sapete (Cherubino); Venite,
inginocchiatevi (Susanna); E Susanna
non vien! ... Dove sono (La Contessa);
L’ho perduta ... me meschina (Barbarina);
Il capro e la capretta (Marcellina);
Giunse alfin il momento ... Deh, vieni,
non tardar (Susanna) Don
Giovanni Ah fuggi il traditor (Donna
Elvira); Or sai chi l’onore (Donna
Anna); Batti, batti, o bel Masetto (Zerlina);
Vedrai, carino (Zerlina); In quali
eccessi, o Numi … Mi tradi
quell’alma ingrata (Donna Elvira);
Crudele? ... Non mi dir, bell’idol mio (Donna
Anna)
Andrea Rost (soprano) Franz Liszt Chamber
Orchestra/Tamás Pál Recorded in Phoenix
Studio, Hungary, November and December 2003
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62030-2 [52:13][GF]
I
have derived a lot of pleasure from this disc and am sure that many
other opera lovers will like it too ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Mitridate, re di Ponto (1770) [152.00] text by Cigna-Santi
after Racine/Parini.
Rockwell
Blake ... Mitridate, King of Pontus Yvonne Kenny ... Aspasia, betrothed
to Mitridate, beloved of Sifare, desired by Farnace Ashley Putnam ...
Sifare, son of Mitridate, beloved of Aspasia Brenda Boozer ... Farnace,
son of Mitridate, betrothed to Ismene Patricia Rozario ... Ismene, daughter
of the king of Parthia, betrothed to Farnace Christian Papis ... Marzio,
Roman Tribune Catherine Dubosc ... Arbate, governor of Nymphæa
Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon/Theodore Guschlbauer Recorded
live Lyon, France, 1986. Staged (1983) by Jean-Claude Fall, designed
by Gérard Didier. Video direction by Bernard Maigrot. PAL 4:3
letterbox. Sound 2.0 stereo, 5.1 Dolby Digital, 5.1 dts surround.
Subtitles Italiano, English, Deutsch, Français. Notes in English,
Deutsch, Français. DVD 9 Region 0 [all regions]
EUROARTS
2053609 
[152.00][PSh]
A
very good but not the greatest Mitridate, a very great Mozart opera.
... see Full Review
Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)
Songs and Dances of Death (1877) (1962 orchestration by Dmitri
Shostakovich) (I. Lullaby; II. Serenade; III. Trepak; IV.
The Field Marshal) Sergey RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Symphonic Dances (1941)
Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone) (Mussorgsky) St Petersburg Philharmonic
Orchestra/Yuri Temirkanov Recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall, 24
August 2004 WARNER CLASSICS
2564 62050-2 [53:55][GF]
We
have here two excellent performances, and anyone who wants this particular
coupling need not hesitate. ... see Full
Review
Josef
MYSLIVEČEK
(1737-1781) La Passione di nostro Signore Gesu
Christo Sophie
Karthäuser (Maddalena), Jörg Waschinski (Pietro), soprano; Yvonne Berg
(Giovanni), contralto; Andreas Karasiak (Giuseppe d'Arimatea), tenor
Chorus Musicus Köln Das Neue Orchester (on period instruments)/Christoph
Spering Recorded April 2004 at the Studio of DeutschlandRadio, Cologne,
Germany. DDD CAPRICCIO
71 025/26 [59:08 + 43:14][JV]
An
oratorio by a celebrated opera composer on a libretto by Metastasio
- an interesting example of the treatment of religious subjects in the
second half of the 18th century ... see Full
Review
Eduard
NÁPRAVNIK
(1839-1916) Concerto
Symphonique in A minor Op. 27 (1877) [31:15] Fantasie russe in
B minor Op. 39 (1881) [12:19] Felix BLUMENFELD (1863-1931) Allegro de concert in
A major Op. 7 (1889) [13:54]
Evgeny Soifertis (piano) BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Alexander Titov
Recorded at the Caird Hall, Dundee, 15-16 Sept 2004. DDD The Romantic
Piano Concerto series: Vol. 37
HYPERION CDA67511 [57:44][JF]
Another
three interesting discoveries on the Romantic
Piano Concerto series. All lovers of the genre
must but this and support the project! ...
see Full
Review
Nicolò
PAGANINI
(1782-1840).
I palpiti - Introduction and Variations on
" Di tanti Palpiti" MS 77 Op. 13
(1819) [11.42] Le Streghe, MS 19 Op. 8 (1813)
[10.21] Cantabile, MS109 Op. 17 [4.09] Six
Sonatas, MS 27 Op. 3 - No. 6 in E minor [4.06]
The Caprices, MS 25 Op. 1 (1801-07):
No. 1 in E [1.53]; No. 2 in B minor [4.17];
No. 5 in A minor [2.54]; No. 9 in E [2.43];
No. 13 in B flat [2.42]; No. 14 in E flat
[2.01]; Moto perpetuo, MS 72 Op. 11 [4.21]
David N. BAKER
(b.1931) Ethnic Variations on a Theme
of Paganini (1982) [11.07] Pavel
Sporcl (violin) Petr Jiríkovský
(piano) Recorded at the Dvořák Hall of
the Rudolfinum, Prague, June and July 2004
Includes a video for Windows PCs (Real Player),
directed by Juraj Herz
SUPRAPHON SU 3772-2 [63.01] [JW]
There’s
some really committed playing here, along
with some more fallible moments ... see Full
Review
Astor PIAZZOLLA
(1921-1992) Libertango
[3:38]; Decarissimo [3:48]; Preludio
[7:36]; Bragatissimo [4:48]; Buenos
Aires Hora Cero [4:49]; Lunfardo [4:54];
Adios Nonino [10:11]; Oblivion
(arr by José Bragato); Four Seasons:
Primavera Porteña [4:41]; Verano
Porteño [4:11]; Otono Porteño
[5:15]; Invierno Porteño [5:42]
El Ultimo Tango: Nicolas Bricht (flute);
Mark O’Brien (saxophones); Eduardo Vassallo
(cello); Fred Lezama Thomas (piano) and Mark
Goodchild (double bass) Rec. 21-22 January
2003, CBSO Centre, Birmingham
SOMM CD 033 [65:44] [IL]
El
Ultimo Tango presents Piazzolla sans bandoneon
but with added colour. Tango music played
with fervour and sensitivity. ... see Full
Review
Antony PITTS
(b.
1969) Adoro
te (1999) [3’55"] The Lord’s Prayer
(1997) [3’58"] The First and Last
(1988) [2’16"] Seven Letters (1998)
[24’10"] O Love (1999) [3’46"]
O Wisdom of God. Antiphon for Advent
(1991) [9’36"] O Holy of Holies.
Antiphon for Advent (1995) [4’16"] Amen
(2000) [8’24"]
Tonus Peregrinus/Antony Pitts rec. Church
of St. Peter and St. Paul, Wadhurst, East
Sussex, 18-19 Sept 2000 DDD
HYPERION CDA67507 [61’25"] [JQ]
If,
like me, you love to hear a small, expert
choir performing with taste, skill and subtlety
then you will not be disappointed by this
disc. ... see
Full Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI
(1858-1924) Gianni
Schicchi - Opera in one act (1917/18)
Gianni Schicchi…Alessandro Corbelli Zita, Buosco’s cousin…Felicity Palmer
La Ciesca, Marco’s wife…Marie McLaughlin Rinuccio, Zita’s nephew…Massimo
Giordano Lauretta, Schicchi’s daughter…Sally Matthews London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Vladimir Jurowski rec. live at Glyndebourne Opera House, 11
July 2004 Directed by Annabel Arden DVD includes extras: cast gallery,
illustrated synopsis and interviews
OPUS ARTE OA 0918 D
[74:00][IL]
A
delightful humorous and warm production
of the final part of Puccini’s Il trittico.
Pity we could not have had Il tabarro and
the sublime Suor Angelica as well. ... see
Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV
(1873 - 1943) The
Miserly Knight, opera in 3 scenes
(1904) [65.40] Text: Rachmaninov, after
A. Pushkin. Albert ... Richard Berkeley-Steele,
tenor Servant ... Maxim Mikhailov, tenor
Moneylender ... Viacheslav Voynarovskiy,
tenor The Duke ... Albert Schagidullin,
bass The Baron ... Sergei Leiferkus, baritone
Greed ... Matilda Leyser [non-singing pantomime
role] London Philharmonic Orchestra/Vladimir
Jurowski Recorded in high definition video
by the BBC at Glyndebourne Opera House,
Lewes, East Sussex, UK, 11 July 2004. DVD
9 NTSC 16:9 anamorphic. Region 0 "all
regions" LPCM 48/16 2.0 stereo. dts
5.0 surround. DVD Extras: Cast Gallery (still
panels), Illustrated Synopsis [2.35], Interviews
[22.20]. Preview of Gianni Schicchi DVD
[4.54]
Sung in Russian. Subtitles in English, French,
Deutsch, Castellano, Italiano. www.opusarte.com
OPUS
ARTE DVD OA 0919 D [95.00] [PSh]
A
fine Rachmaninov vocal tone poem, or a morbid
verismo opera, whichever you choose. Great
performance by Leiferkus in an innovative
staging ... see Full
Review
Maurice
RAVEL
(1875-1937) Bolero
(1928) [14’28] Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Sarabande (orch. Ravel) (1922) [5’12] Danse (orch. Ravel) (1922)
[5’11] Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)
Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel) (1922) [33’03]
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Riccardo Chailly Recorded at the Concertgebouw,
Amsterdam, August 1986
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 2452 [58’18][TH]
If
you happen across this Eloquence re-issue
and take a chance, you won’t be disappointed.
... see Full
Review
Maurice
RAVEL
(1875-1937) Gaspard
de la Nuit (1908) [23’10] Elliott
CARTER (b.1908] Night Fantasies
(1978-80) [22’13] Two Diversions
(1999) [7’37]
90+ (1994) [5’29]
Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano) Recorded
in the Grosser Saal, Konzerthaus, Vienna,
7-11 Feb 2005 Includes bonus disc with illustrated
talk on the music by Aimard
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62160-2 [58’21
+ 26’45] [TH]
Aimard
is one of the modern breed of ‘super-virtuosos’
... positively revels in complexities, eating
up fistfuls of notes and spitting them out
with ease. ... see Full
Review
Giulio REGONDI (1822-1872) 1
Premier Air Varié, Op.2 [10:24] 2 Rêverie, Op. 19 [9:28] 3 Étude No.4(b) [3:08] 4 Deuxième Air Varié,
Op.22 [10:58] Johann Kasper MERTZ (1806-1856)
From Bardenklänge (Bardic Sounds, Op.13) 5 Polonaise No 1
[2:23]
6 Polonaise No.2 [5:48]
7 Polonaise No.3 [4:09]
8 Polonaise No.4 [4:32]
9 Polonaise No.5 [5:21]
10 Polonaise No.6 [4:41]
11 Polonaise No.7 [3:56]
12 Rondino [7:02]
Ricardo
Gallén, guitar rec. Green Room, Offord Hall, Aurora, Canada 12-16
September 2002. DDD NAXOS
8.555285 [71.50][ZT]
An
important recording for those with a knowledge of guitar music of the period. Less relevant to those with a casual interest in the modern classical
guitar. ... see Full
Review
Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Il barbiere di Siviglia - Comic opera in two acts. Libretto
by Cesare Sterbini based on Beaumarchais’s play. First performed
at the Teatro Argentina, Rome 20 February 1816 as Almaviva, ossia
L’inutile precauzione (the useless precaution)
Count
Almaviva, Ramon Vargas (ten); Figaro, a barber, Roberto Serville (bar);
Bartolo, a doctor and ward of Rosina, Angelo Romero (buffa bar); Rosina,
Sonia Ganassi (mezzo); Basilio, a singing teacher, Franco Grandis
(bass); Berta, Dr. Bartolo’s housekeeper, Ingrid Kertesi (mezzo);
Fiorello, servant of Count Almaviva, Kázmér Sarkáney
(bass) Hungarian Radio Chorus Failoni Chamber Orchestra, Budapest/Will
Humburg Recorded by Alpha-Line Studio, Italian Institute, Budapest,
16-28 November 1992
NAXOS
OPERA CLASSICS 8.660027-29 [3 CDs: 43.03 + 51.26 + 63.13][RJF]
A
perfect complement to other less complete,
but starrier cast recorded performances
and worthy of a place in any opera lover’s
collection. ... see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Otello,
Dramma in three acts.
Libretto by the Marchese Berio di Salsa,
loosely based on Shakespeare’s play.
First performed at the Teatro del Fondo,
Naples, 4 December 1816 Plus:
Appendices including the ‘lieto fine’
(Happy Ending) of Act 3 first performed
at the Teatro Argentina, Rome, during the
1819-20 carnival season. Also an entrance
aria for Desdemona and an example of music
for a female travesti Otello Otello, an
African in the service of Venice, Bruce
Ford (ten); Desdemona, the lover and secret
wife of' Otello, Elizabeth Futral (sop);
Elmiro, the father of Desdemona, Ildebrando
d'Arcangelo, (bass); Rodrigo, Desdemona's
unsuccessful suitor, William Matteuzzi (ten);
Iago, the secret enemy of Otello, Juan José
Lopera (ten); Emilia, Desdemona's confidante,
Enkelejda Shkosa (mezzo); The Doge, Ryland
Davies (ten); Lucio, Otello's confidant.
Dominic Natoli (ten); A Gondolier Barry
Banks (ten)
The Geoffrey Mitchell Choir Philharmonia
Orchestra/ David Parry Recorded at Henry
Wood Hall, London, September and October
1999 using the critical edition by Michael
Collins for the Rossini Foundation.
OPERA RARA ORC 18 [3 CDs: 71:58 + 77:51
+ 77.34] [RJF]
Well
conducted and recorded, Opera Rara’s more
natural aural ambience tells in its favour
as does the liveliness and vibrancy of the
chorus. ... see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
L'equivoco
stravagante (A Bizarre Deception)
- Dramma giocoso in Two Acts. Libretto by
Gaetano Gasbarri Edition of the Deutsche
Rossini Gesellschaft revised by Marco Beghelli
and Stefano Piana. Prepared for the Rossini
in Widbad Festival. First performed at the
Teatro del Corso, Bologna on 26th
October 1811 Ernestina, Gamberotto's literature-loving
daughter ... Petia Petrova (mezzo); Gamberotto,
a newly rich farmer ... Marco Di Felice
(bass-bar); Buralicchio, rich, young and
stupid, betrothed to Ernestina ... Marco
Vinco (bass); Ermanno, a poor young man,
in love with Ernestina ... Dario Schmunck
(lyric ten); Rosalia, a servant of Ernestina,
Monica Minarelli (mez); Frontino, Gamberotto's
servant and Ermanno's confidant ... Eduardo
Santamaria (ten)
Czech Chamber Chorus
Czech Chamber Soloists/Alberto Zedda Recorded
live July 14th and 16th 2001
in the Kursaal, Bad Wildbad, Germany, during
the Rossini in Wildbad Festival World Premiere
Recording
NAXOS OPERA CLASSICS. 8.660087-88 [75.20
+ 72.07] [RF]
Gives
more indications of the riches that were
in store from Rossini’s pen as he went on
to become the universally recognised father
of bel canto. Highly recommended. ... see
Full
Review
Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Tancredi,
Opera in Two Acts. Libretto by Gaetano
Rossi after Voltaire tragedy of 1760 but
with a happy ending first performed at the
Teatro La Fenice, Venice, 6 February 1813
Tancredi, a Knight and son of the deposed
king of Syracuse, Ewa Podles (mezzo); Argirio,
ruler of Syracuse and father of Amenaide,
Stanford Olsen (ten); Orbazzano, leader
of a powerful family faction in Syracuse,
Pietro Spagnoli (bass-bar); Amenaide, daughter
of Argirio in love with Tancredi, Sumi Jo
(coloratura soprano); Roggiero, Tancredi’s
friend, Lucretia Lendi (mezzo); Isaura,
Anna Maria di Micco (mezzo)
Chorus Capella Brugensis Collegium Instrumentale
Brugense/Alberto Zedda Recorded at the Poissy
Theatre and the Musical Centre Lyrique-Phonographique,
Ile de France, 26-31 January 1994
NAXOS OPERA CLASSICS 8.660037-38 [75.20
+ 72.07] [RJF]
All
lovers of bel canto and the evolution of
romantic opera should have this set on their
shelves. ... see Full
Review
Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Guglielmo
Tell (1829). Giorgio Zancanaro (baritone)
Tell; Chris Merritt (tenor) Arnoldo; Giorgio
Surjan (baritone) Gualtiero; Franco De Grandis
(bass) Melchtal; Amelia Felle (soprano)
Jemmy; Ludicana D'Intino (mezzo) Edwige;
Vittorio Terranova (tenor) Ruodi; Alberto
Noli (bass) Letuoldo; Luigi Roni (bass)
Gessler; Cheryl Studer (soprano) Matilde;
Ernesto Gavazzi (tenor) Rodolfo
Corps de Ballet, Chorus and Orchestra
of Teatro alla Scala, Milan/Riccardo Muti.
rec. Teatro alla Scala, Milan in 1988. 4:3
OPUS ARTE OALS3002D [2 DVDs: 240'00].
[CC]
In
many ways this is a magnificent achievement
... This is a superb DVD. Tell is one of
Rossini's masterpieces. Do try to experience
this treat. ... see Full
Review
Miklós
RÓZSA (1907-1995)
Three Choral Suites: Ben-Hur, Quo Vadis and King of
Kings: Ben-Hur
(1951) 1. Overture; 2. Star of Bethlehem/Adoration of the Magi;
3. Rowing of the Galley Slaves; 4. Alleluia; 5. Parade of the Charioteers;
6. Miracle and Finale [21:24] Quo Vadis (1959) 7. Prelude;
8. Ave Caesar March; 9. Fertility Hymn; 10. Assyrian Dance; 11. Marcus
and Lygia; 12. Miracle and Finale [18:01] King of Kings
(1961) 13. Overture; 14. Roman Legions; 15. Nativity; 16. The Feast
of Passover; 17. Herod's Feast; 18. Miracles of Christ; 19. The Lord's
Prayer; 20. Pieta; 21. Resurrection and Finale [22:29]
Mormon Tabernacle Choir/Craig Jessop Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/Erich
Kunzel Rec. orchestra: Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, 15-16 May 2004;
choir: Maurice Abravanel Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah, 22 Oct 2004 DSD
2 Channel Recording 6 Channel Recording multichannel SACD as well as
the CD recording TELARC
CD-80631 [61:54] [RB]
The
music has never sounded as princely. ... see
Full Review
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