Harald SAEVERUD
(1897
– 1992) Symphony
No. 5 Quasi una fantasia Op.16 (1941)
[24:32] Oboe Concerto Op. 15 (1939)a
[17:37] Entrata regale Op. 41 (1960)
[5:30]
Sonata Giubilata Op. 47 (1969) [9:59]
Gordon Hunt (oboe)a Stavanger
Symphony Orchestra/Ole Kristian Ruud rec.
Stavanger Concert Hall, July 2000 (Symphony
5, Oboe Concerto); Aug 2000 (Entrata regale,
Sonata Giubilata)
BIS CD-1162 [59:11] [HC]
Music
often understated avoiding grandiloquence.
Speaks directly in a concise, "straight-to-the-point"
manner ... one of its most endearing qualities.
... see Full
Review
Antonio
SALIERI (1750-1825)
Tarare, Opera in Five acts (1787)
[184.00] French text by Beaumarchais
Tarare
... Howard Crook (tenor) Atar ... Jean-Philippe
Lafont (baritone) Spinette ... Anna Caleb
(soprano) Calpigi ... Eberhard Lorenz (tenor)
Altamort ... Hannu Niemelä (bass) Artenée
... Nicolas Rivenq (tenor) Urson ... Jean
Francois Gardeil (baritone) Astasie ... Zehava
Gal (soprano) Le Génie du Feu ... Klaus
Kirchner (baritone) Le Génie de La
Réproduction, des Êtres, où
La Nature ... Gabriele Rossmanith Michel
Laplenie, Chorus Master; Deutsche Händel
Solisten/Jean-Claude Malgoire Heinz Balthes,
Stage design; Daniel Ogier, Costumes; Jürgen
Zoch, lighting. Recorded at the Festspiele,
Schwetzingen, Germany, 1988. [month and day
not given] Directed for video by Claus Viller.
Notes in English, Français, Deutsch.
Synopsis, no printed texts or translations.
NTSC 4:3 DVD-9 Region 0 [All regions] PCM
2.0 stereo sound, 48kHz 16Bit. Sung in French.
Menu languages: Deutsch, Français,
English, Castellano. Subtitle languages: Deutsch,
Français, English, Castellano, Italiano,
Japanese. No PAL version available.
EUROARTS-ARTHAUS
MUSIK 100 557 
[184.00][PSh]
A
riot of fun, a terrific show, the fount from which Italiana, Nozze di
Figaro, Zauberflöte, and Mikado all sprang. ... see Full
Review
Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Complete Works for
Violin and Piano Phantasy
for Violin with Piano Accompaniment (1949) [9'03]. Piece for Violin
and Piano (1893/4) [1'23]. Sonata after the Wind Quintet, Op. 26 (1923/4,
arr. Felix Greissle, 1926) [48'42]. Fragment for Violin and Piano (1927)
[4'23]. Ulf Wallin
(violin); Roland Pöntinen (piano). rec. Bybrokajen 11 (former Academy
of Music), Stockholm, Sweden in March 2001 (Phatasy) and August/November
2003 (other works). DDD
BIS CD-1407 [64'26] [CC]
An
outstanding disc in every way. A compulsory
purchase for all students of this important
composer ... a valuable and involving musical
experience that far outreaches the purely
musicological. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797–1828)
Complete String Quartets Vol. 6 String
Quartet No. 15 in G major, D. 887, Op. 161 (1826) [45:10] Five Deutsche
Tänze (German Dances) with Coda and Seven Trios for
String Quartet, D. 90 (1813) [14:26]
Kodály Quartet rec. Phoenix Studio, Budapest, Hungary, 16 April,
17-19 June 2002. DDD
NAXOS 8.557125 [59:34] [MC]
Not
my first choice but well performed and recorded
and worth collecting. A worthy conclusion
to this successful Naxos series. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Schiller-Lieder, Vols. 3 and 4 CD
1 (1) Der Jüngling am Bache – 1st setting D30 [03:36],
2nd setting D192 [03:00], 3rd setting, first version
D638 [04:50], Das Geheimnis – 1st setting D250 [03:03], 2nd
setting D793 [05:32], Leichenfantasie D7 [18:52], Der Graf von Habsburg
D990 [01:54], Die Erwartung D159 [10:28]
CD 2 (2) An den Frühling – 1st
setting D283 [01:35], 2nd setting,
second version D587 [02:27], Die Götter
Griechenlands D677 [04:25], Des Mädchens
Klage – 1st setting D6 [03:26],
2nd setting, first version D191
[03:26], 3rd setting D389 [03:39],
Klage der Ceres D323 [16:36], Thekla – 1st
setting D73 [03:21], 2nd setting,
first version D595 [01:42], 2nd
setting, second version D595 [04:59]
Maya Boog (soprano) (2), Lothar Odinius (tenor)
(1), Ulrich Eisenlohr (piano) Recorded at
DRS, Zurich, Switzerland, 10th-13th
November 2004 (1), 2nd-4th
December 2003 (2)
NAXOS 8.557369-70 [51:15 + 47:15] [CH]
More
a volume for those collecting the whole series
than a must for all Lieder-collectors. ...
see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Concerto in A
minor, Op. 54 (1845) [30.21] Jenö Jandó (piano) Budapest
Symphony Orchestra/András Ligeti Introduction and Allegro
appassionato, Op. 92 (1849) [14.21] Jenö Jandó (piano)
BRT Philharmonic Orchestra/Alexander Rahbari Introduction and
Allegro, Op. 134 (1853) [14.45]
Jenö Jandó (piano) Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra/Antoni
Wit rec. Italian Institute, Budapest, 1-6 March 1988 (Concerto); Concert
Hall of the Belgian Radio and Television, Brussels, 3-4 June 1992 (Op.
92); Katowice, Poland, 21-23 August 1996 (Op. 134)
NAXOS 8.557547 [59.27][SV]
At
Naxos prices, worth considering for the ostensible ‘fillers’. ... see
Full Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810
– 1856) Frauenliebe und Leben, Op. 42 [22:12];
Tragödie, Op. 64 No. 3 [4:50]; Liederkreis, Op. 24 [21:24]; 3 Heine-Lieder:
Abends am Strand, Op. 45 No. 3 [3:22]; Lehn deine Wang’ an meine Wang’,
Op. 142 No. 2 [0:47]; Mein Wagen rollet langsam, Op. 142 No. 4 3:51]
Brigitte Fassbaender
(mezzo) Irwin Gage (piano) Recorded at Studio Lankwitz, Berlin, October
1984 ELOQUENCE 476 2386
[56:50] [GF]
No
lover of great Lieder-singing can afford to
be without this disc. ... see Full
Review
Peter
SCULTHORPE
(b.1929) Earth
Cry [11.06] Mangrove [15.05] Songs
of Sea and Sky [16.04] Kakadu [16.14]
From Ubirr [12.10]
William Barton (didgeridoo)
Queensland Orchestra/Michael Christie rec.
18-20 September in Studio 420, Australian
Broadcasting Corporation, Brisbane
ABC CLASSICS 476 192-1 [71.21] [EM]
This
is desperately emotional and deeply moving
music - music that cries aloud to one’s soul
- and one of the most revelatory and frankly
astonishing CDs I’ve encountered. ... see
Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony
No. 8 in C minor, Op. 65 (1943)
Beethoven Orchester Bonn/Roman Kofman Rec.
Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche, Bad Godesberg, 26-28
Oct 2004. DDD
DABRINGHAUS UND
GRIMM GOLD MDG337 1204-2 [70'59][CC]
A
mixed account here, that starts promisingly
and then fails to live up to that promise.
... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Concerto
for Cello and Orchestra No.2 in G major,
Op.126 (1966) Symphony No.12 in D minor,
Op.112 (1960-61) The Year 1917 (in
Memory of Lenin)
Jonathan Ayling (cello) London Shostakovich
Orchestra/Christopher Cox. Recorded "live"
in St. Cyprian’s Church, Glentworth Street,
London, NW1 on November 13th,
2004
DUNELM RECORDS DRD0234 [78:14] [PS]
A
"live" performance with all the
problems that raises but these considerations
are more than compensated for by the sense
of occasion conveyed by this very recommendable
release. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Concerto
for Cello and Orchestra No.1 in E flat,
Op.107 (1959) [28:46]*; Concerto for Cello
and Orchestra No.2 in G major, Op.126 (1966)
[35:50]**
Jonathan Ayling (cello) London Shostakovich
Orchestra/Christopher Cox. * Recorded "live"
in St. Cyprian’s Church, Glentworth Street,
London, NW1 on May 15th, 2004
** Recorded "live" in St. Cyprian’s
Church, Glentworth Street, London, NW1 on
November 13th, 2004.
DUNELM RECORDS DRD0233 [64:46] [IM]
A
most moving and memorable CD. Highly recommended.
... see Full
Review
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1958)
Pohjola’s
Daughter, Op. 49 (1906) [15.02] Valse
triste, Op. 44 (1903) [5.54] Karelia
Suite, Op. 11 (1893) [15.24] En Saga,
Op. 9 (1892) [17.49] Tapiola, Op.
112 (1925) [18.04]
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Sir Colin Davis
Rec December 1976 (Tapiola); April
1979 (Pohjola’s Daughter, Karelia
Suite); March 1980 (Valse Triste,
En Saga), Symphony Hall, Boston.
ADD
PHILIPS ELOQUENCE 476 2817 2 [72.54]
[TB]
This
attractive Philips reissue ... music beautifully
played by one of the world’s finest orchestras
conducted by an important Sibelian ... see
Full Review
Louis
SPOHR
(1784-1859) String Quartets: Vol. 10 String
Quartet No. 24 in G Op.82 No.2 (1828) [31:07] (i) Allegro [8:54]
(ii) Adagio [7:03] (iii) Alla Polacca: Moderato [6:53] (iv) Finale:
Allegro [8:17] String Quartet No. 25 in A minor Op.82 No.3 (1829)
[28:07] (i) Allegro [8:48] (ii) Andante [5:05] (iii) Scherzo: Vivace
[5:20] (iv) Finale: Andante - Allegro [8:53]
Moscow Philharmonic Concertino String Quartet Rec. Studio 1, Russian
State TV and Radio Company Kultura, Moscow in December 2003. DDD
MARCO POLO 8.225306 [59:14] [PCW]
A
fine disc in a series that looks to be worth
investigating ... see Full
Review
Louis
SPOHR (1784-1859)
String
Quartets (Complete), Volume 11: No. 32 in C, Op. 141 (1849) [34’31];
No. 34 in E flat, Op. 152 (1855) [31’35].
Moscow Philharmonic ‘Concertino’ String Quartet (Yaroslav Krasnikov,
Sofiya Krasnikova, violins; Pavel Zhdanov, viola; Victor Kozodov, cello).
rec. Studio 1, Russian State TV and Radio Co Kultura, Moscow, 16-30
Dec 2003. DDD MARCO
POLO 8.225307 [66’06] [CC]
Another
triumph for Marco Polo. An explorer of a record
label it certainly is, and long may it continue
in this vein. ... see Full
Review
Sir
John STAINER (1840-1901)
The Crucifixion - A Meditation on the Sacred Passion
of the Holy Redeemer (1887)
James Gilchrist (tenor); Simon Bailey (bass); Stephen Farr (organ).
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge/Timothy Brown Recorded in Guildford
Cathedral, Surrey, UK, 21-22 June 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557624 [66:47] [JQ]
Naxos
has done English choral music proud in the
last few years and this is another fine release,
which I’m very happy to recommend. ... see
Full
Review
Johann STRAUSS
II
(1825-1899) La
Chauve-souris (The Bat)
- arr. Douglas Gamley
Ballet in 2 acts after "Die Fledermaus"
Choreography: Roland Petit Bella – Alessandra
Ferri Johann – Massimo Murru Ulrich – Luigi
Bonino
Corpo di Ballo del Teatro alla Scala Orchestra
del Teatro alla Scala/Kevin Rhodes Recorded
live at the Teatro degli Arcimboldi, Milan,
December 2003 Sound DD5.1, DTS 5.1, LPCM Stereo.
TDK
DVD DV-B LCHS [93:00] [AB]
Parisian
esprit, Viennese charm, Milanese elegance
- just irresistible. ... see Full
Review
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
Petrushka
(Revised 1947 version) [36’00"] Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) The Miraculous
Mandarin* [31’50"] *Chor der Wiener Staatsoper
Wiener Philharmoniker/Christoph von Dohnányi
Recorded in the Sofiensaal, Vienna, December
1977 ADD
DECCA AUSTRALIAN ELOQUENCE 476 2686 [67’50"]
[JQ]
A
splendid re-issue ... the disc can be recommended
confidently. ... see Full
Review
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882
- 1971) Apollo ballet (1928) [25’12"] Agon ballet
(1957) [20’56"] Orpheus ballet (1963) [28’31"]
London Symphony
Orchestra/Robert Craft (Apollo and Orpheus) Orchestra
of St. Luke’s/Robert Craft (Agon) rec. 1–4 July 1995 (Apollo);
3–5, 8 Jan 1995 (Orpheus), Abbey Road Studios; SUNY, Purchase,
New York, 1992 (Agon). DDD
NAXOS 8.557502 [77.45] [JPh]
Performances
and recording quality are first rate ... recommended
very highly. ... see Full
Review
Hommage
á Igor Stravinsky Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Fanfare
for a New Theatre (1964) [0’48] Three
Pieces for String Quartet (1914) [6’24]
Three Easy Pieces for Piano Duet (1914/15)
[4’01] Five Easy Pieces for Piano Duet
(1919/17) [6’22] Epitaphium (1959)
[1’40] Double Canon in memoriam Raoul Dufy
(1959) [1’27] Valse pour les enfants
(1917) [0’50] Les cinq doigts (1921)
[8’18] Souvenir d’une marche boche
(1915) [1’44] Pour Pablo Picasso (1917)
[0’20] Three Pieces for Clarinet solo
(1919) [4’42] Valse des fleurs (1914)
[0’42] Three Pieces for String Quartet
arr. for piano duet by the composer (1914)
[7’19] Luciano BERIO
(1925-2003) Autre fois (berceuse canonique
pour Igor Stravinsky) (1971) [0’51] Edison
DENISOV (1929-1996) Canon en
Mémoire d’Igor Stravinsky (1971)
[3’09] Pierre BOULEZ
(b.1925) Originel-transitoire VII
(1971) [5’34] Alfred
SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) Canon
for two Violins, Viola and Cello in memoriam
Igor Stravinsky (1971) [5’33] Elliott
CARTER (b.1908) Canon for Three
- in memoriam Igor Stravinsky (1971) [1’14]
Ensemble Avantgarde rec. Rathaussaal Markkleeberg,
Fürstliche Reitbahn Bad Arolsen, July
5-6 2004
MDG 613 1333-2 [62’09] [TH]
Such
a good idea I’m surprised no-one has thought
of it before. It’s typical of companies such
as MDG to give attention to intelligent programming
like this ... see Full
Review
Georges TACONET
(1889-1962) Fourteen
Songs Violin Sonata in D minor (1927)
Dominique Méa (sop); Carlos Cebro
(piano) Fanny Clamagirand (violin); Virginie
Martineau (piano) rec. Centre François-Mitterand,
Saralbe (Moselle), 15-17 July 2002 (songs);
Salle Adyar, Paris 8-9 Feb 2003.
MARCO POLO 8.225300 [65:14] [RB]
I
was pleased to make Taconet's acquaintance
- another of the neglecteds of France ...
subtly fragranced songs and a sonata emotionally
anchored by its substantial andante ... see
Full Review
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840
- 1893) Piano Concerto
No. 1 in B Flat Minor, Op. 23 (1889) [33’27"]
Camille SAINT-SAËNS
(1835 - 1921) Piano Concerto No.
2 in G Minor, Op. 22 (1868) [23’55"]
Andre Watts (piano) Atlanta Symphony Orchestra/Yoel
Levi. rec. Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Centre,
Atlanta, Georgia, 1 Aug, 21 Nov 1994. DDD
TELARC CD-80386 [57.50] [JPh]
Recommended
highly. Fans of Telarc will not be in the
least disappointed with the playing and/or
sound of this disc. ... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840
– 1893) Suite
No. 3 in G major, Op. 55 (1883) [41’11"]
Suite No. 4 in G major, Op. 61, Mozartiana
(1887) [26’14"]
Ruggiero Ricci (violin) Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra/Lorin Maazel (Op.55). Suisse Romande
Orchestra/Ernest Ansermet (Op. 61). Rec. Sofiensaal,
Vienna, June 1977; Victoria Hall, Geneva,
December 1966. ADD
ELOQUENCE 476 2723 [67.37] [JPh]
It’s
a bargain of a lifetime. There is no need
to delay, only extreme enjoyment awaits you.
... see Full
Review
Georg Philipp
TELEMANN (1681
- 1767) Ein Feste Burg
– Vocal and Instrumental Music
Ruth Ziesak (soprano) Sonja Erwied (soprano)
Arnon Zlotnik (alto) Jan Kobow (tenor) Michael
Berner (tenor) Konstantin Wolff (bass) Reinhold
Friedrich (trumpet) Vocalensemble Rastatt
Les Favourites/Holger Speck rec. 5-10 October
2004, Altkatholische Auferstehungskirche,
Karlsruhe
CARUS 83.166 [74.32] [RH]
An
attractive disc, a varied programme played
in fine style by performers who convey real
enjoyment. An admirable introduction to Telemann’s
art. ... see Full
Review
Jean-Balthasar
TRICKLIR (1750-1813)
Cello
Concertos: no.3 in C [17:28], no.4 in D [17:31],
no.5 in A [17:13], no.6 in G [20:13] Alexander
Rudin (cello), Musica Viva Chamber Orchestra
Recorded at the Mosfilm Tonstudious in September-October
2003
CELLO CLASSICS CC1015 [72:33] [CH]
Tricklir
sounds to have been a merry old soul. Definitely
worth exploring. ... see Full
Review
Giovanni
VALENTINI (1681-1753)
Concerti grossi e a quattro violini, Op. 7 Concerto
grosso in A minor, No. 11 (1710) [19:12] Concerto grosso in G major,
No. 7 (1710) [7:43] Concerto grosso in D minor, No. 2 (1710) [11:32]
Concerto grosso in D minor, No. 3 (1710) [9:50] Concerto grosso in A
major, No. 1 (1710) [15:55] Concerto grosso in A minor, No. 10 (1710)
[10:06] Chiara Banchini,
violin (No. 7) Stéphanie Pfister, violin (No. 2) David Plantier,
violin (No. 3) Odile Edouard, violin (No. 1) Olivia Centurioni, violin
(No. 10) Ensemble 415/Chiara Banchini Recorded at Frasnes-le-Château,
20 Oct-4 Nov 2001 ZIG-ZAG
TERRITORIES 020801 [74:18] [JR]
This
recording is highly recommended. May it mark
the end of 250 years of unjust neglect! ...
see Full
Review
Edgard VARÈSE
(1883-1965) Amérique
(1921) [23’16] Offrandes (1921) [7’31]
Hyperprism (1923) [3’54] Octandre
(1924) [5’21] Arcana (1925-27) [18’27]
Densité 21.5 (1936) [3’37] Ionisation
(1929-31) [6’18] Ecuatorial (1934)
[10’58] Nocturnal (1961) [11’12] Intégrales
(1925) [10’37] Déserts (1954)
[25’36]
Phyllis Bryn-Julson (soprano) Philippe
Pierlot (flute) Nicholas Isherwood (bass-baritone)
Men’s chorus of Radio France French National
Orchestra/Kent Nagano Recorded at Radio France,
Paris, Nov. 1991, March 1992 and Jan. 1996
(Ecuatorial)
WARNER APEX 2564 62087-2 [63’14 + 68’23]
[TH]
The
Chailly Decca set comprises two exceptionally
well-filled discs ... there really is no contest.
... see Full
Review
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958) Te
Deum in G [7:12] Mass in G minor [23:10] O vos omnes [5:51] Valiant-for-Truth
[5:57] A vision of aeroplanes [10:06] Judith
BINGHAM (b. 1952) Mass [26:50]
The Choir of Westminster Cathedral/Martin Baker (Master of Music) Robert
Quinney (organ) rec. Westminster Cathedral, 5-8 July 2004 DDD
HYPERION CDA67503 [79:45] [CT]
Strongly
committed accounts of both familiar and less
familiar Vaughan Williams coupled with an
impressive CD premiere of Judith Bingham’s
striking Mass. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813–1901) Aida (1871)
Antonio Massaria (bass) – Il Re; Giulietta
Simionato (mezzo) – Amneris; Caterina Mancini
(soprano) – Aïda; Mario Filippeschi (tenor)
– Radamès; Giulio Neri (bass) – Ramphis; Rolando
Panerai (baritone) – Amonasro; Salvatore Di
Tommaso (tenor) – Un messaggero. Orchestra
Sinfonica e Coro di Roma della RAI/Vittorio
Gui Recorded in Rome 12 June 1951
WARNER FONIT 50467 7918-2 [77:21 + 61:09][GF]
An
inexpensive complement to Karajan, Solti,
Muti and Abbado ... many opera lovers will
find a lot to relish in this Cetra recording
... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813 – 1901)
Rigoletto (highlights) Prelude;
Act I: Della mia bella; Questa o quella; Gran
nuova!; Ch’io gli parli; Pari siamo!; Figlia!;
Mio Padre!; Giovanna, ho dei rimorsi; Gualtier
Maldè; Caro nome; Zitti, zitti Act
II: Ella mi fu rapita!; Parmi veder le lagrime;
Possente amor; Povero Rigoletto; Cortigiani,
vil razza; Tutte le feste al tempio; Schiudete;
ire al carcere; Sì, vendetta Act III:
La donna è mobile; Un di, se ben rammentomi;
Bella figlia dell’amore; V’ho ingannato Richard
Leech (tenor) ... Il Duca di Mantova; Alexandru
Agache (baritone) ... Rigoletto; Leontina
Vaduva (soprano) ... Gilda; Jennifer Larmore
(mezzo-soprano) ... Maddalena; Patricia Bardon
(mezzo-soprano) ... Giovanna; Alastair Miles
(bass) ... Il Conte di Monterone; Peter Sidhom
(baritone) ... Marullo; Barry Banks (tenor)
... Borsa; Geoffrey Moses (bass) ... Il Conte
di Ceprano; Fabrizio Visentin (tenor) ...
Usciere; Paula Bradbury (mezzo-soprano) ...
Paggio.
Chorus and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera/Carlo
Rizzi Recorded in Brangwyn Hall, Swansea,
in February 1993
WARNER APEX 2564 61522-2 [75:53] [GF]
Something
of a mixed bag, but there are many good things
here and Agache’s impersonation of the hunchbacked
jester is something more than that. ... see
Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813
– 1901) Simon Boccanegra Paolo
Silveri (baritone) – Simon Boccanegra; Antonietta Stella (soprano) –
Maria/Amelia; Mario Petri (bass) – Jacopo Fiesco; Carlo Bergonzi (tenor)
– Gabriele Adorno; Walter Monachesi (baritone) – Paolo Albiani; Giorgio
Giorgetti (bass) – Pietro; Walter Collo (tenor) – Captain of the Cross-bowmen;
Bianca Furlai (soprano) – Amelia’s Maid-servant
Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of RAI, Rome/Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Recorded in Rome, 21 November 1951
WARNER FONIT 5050467-7906-2-9 [72:12 + 50:47] [GF]
Hi-fi
buffs need not bother to buy this issue, but
readers interested in some of these singers,
or good singing in general, should give it
a chance. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
I
Vespri Siciliani - Grand opera in
five acts (1855) Libretto by Scribe and Duveyrier
Italian translation of the original French
version performed at the Academic Imperiale
de Musique, Paris, (The Opéra) on 13
June 1855 Guido di Montforte, Governor of
Sicily - Leo Nucci (bar); Duchess Elèna,
sister of Duke Frederic of Austria - Susan
Dunn (sop); Arrigo, a young Sicilian - Veriano
Luchetti (ten); Giovanni da Procida, a Sicilian
doctor - Bonaldo Giaiotti (bass); Bethune,
a French officer - Gianfranco Casarini (bass);
Vaudemont, A French officer - Sergio Fontana
(bass-bar); Ninetta, Elèna’s maid -
Anna Caterina Antonacci (mezzo)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Communale
di Bologna/Riccardo Chailly Recorded 1986.
Produced by Radio Italiana in association
with NVC ARTS Producer and video director:
Luca Ronconi; Designer, Pasquale Grossi Picture
format: NTSC 4:3. Dolby Digital Sound 2.0
stereo WARNER
MUSIC VISION DVD VIDEO 504678029-2 [171:00]
[RJF]
All
in all the La Scala production on Opus Arte
is far superior to this Bologna offering.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883)
Der fliegende Holländer Daland:
Matti Salminen, Senta: Lisbeth Balslev, Erik: Robert Schunk, Mary: Amy
Schlemm, Der Steuermann Dalands: Graham Clark, Der Holländer: Simon
Estes Chor der Bayreuther Festspiele/Robert Balatsch,
Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele/Woldemar Nelsson, recorded Bayreuth
1985 director: Harry Kupfer DVD-all regions; 5.1 DTS surround sound.
UNITEL
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00440 073 4041 [135:00]. [AO]
Exceptionally
good performances by Estes and Salminen, this
unusual, challenging interpretation will appeal
to those who appreciate Wagner's mental and
musical processes ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Parsifal
(1882)
Christopher Ventris (tenor) - Parsifal; Waltraud Meier (soprano) - Kundry;
Matti Salminen (bass) - Gurnemanz; Thomas Hampson (baritone) - Amfortas;
Tom Fox (bass) - Klingsor; Bjarni Thor Kristinsson (bass) - Titurel
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin/Kent Nagano Recorded live at the
Festpielhaus Baden-Baden, 4, 6, 8 August 2004. Includes film, Parsifal's
Progress [75'18] Stereo and surround sound
OPUS ARTE OA0915D
[3 DVDs: 96:07 + 66:43 + 143:43][JL]
There
are some controversial aspects to this production
but if you come to terms with them you could
be watching one of the finest all-round operatic
performances you will ever see. ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Die
Walküre (1870) Brünnhilde
... Deborah Polaski (soprano) Sieglinde ...
Linda Watson (soprano) Wotan ... Falk Struckmann
(bass) Siegmund ... Richard Berkeley-Steele
(tenor) Hunding ... Eric Halfvarsen (bass)
Fricka ... Lioba Braun (soprano) Valkyries:-
Gerhilde ... Sabine Braum Ortlinde ... Annegeer
Stumphius Waltraute ... Marisa Altmann-Althausen
Schwertleite ... Andrea Bönig Helmwige
... Heike Gierhardt Siegrune ... Mireia Pintó
Rossweise ... Francisca Beaumont
Gran Teatre del Liceu Symphony Orchestra/Bertrand
de Billy Directed by Harry Kupfer Recorded
18, 27 June 2003, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona
OPUS ARTE OA 0911 D [3 DVDs: 250.00] [TB]
De
Billy is a fine Wagner conductor, and his
performance whips up plenty of fire, if occasionally
the tension is allowed to sag. ... a professional
performance that has its compelling aspects.
... see Full
Review
Sir
William WALTON
(1902 - 1983) Christopher
Columbus - A Musical Journey (1942)
[58.44] (concert version arr. 2002 Carl Davis
and Patrick Garland) Hamlet and Ophelia
(1947) [12.27] (Suite arr. 1967 Muir Matheson
from the Hamlet film score.) Julian
Glover, speaker ... Christopher Columbus
Jamie Glover, speaker ... ironic spirit
/ herald Caroline Carragher, soprano ...
Isabella Jean Rigby, Mezzo-soprano
... Beatriz / woman Philip Lloyd Holtam,
speaker ... Sailor / voice Craig Ogden,
guitar; Tom Randle, tenor solo; Roderick
Williams, baritone solo
BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales/Richard
Hickox Nick Whiting, leader; Adrian Partington,
chorus master Recorded in Brangwyn Hall, Swansea,
UK, 17 May 2004. Remastered to DSD. Notes
and complete text in English, Deutsch, Français.
Photos of composer and artists. Hybrid SACD
CHANDOS CHSA 5034 [71.15]
A
gem of a suite from one of Walton’s finest
film scores, and a stirring BBC pageant brilliantly
performed and recorded. ... see Full
Review
Carl Maria
von WEBER (1786-1826)
Oberon
or The Elf King’s Oath - Romantic
Opera in three acts (1826) Hillevi Martinpelto
... Reiza (soprano) Steve Davislim ... Oberon
(tenor) Jonas Kaufmann ... Sir Huon of Bordeaux,
Duke of Guienne (tenor) Marina Comparato ...
Fatima (mezzo) William Dazeley ... Sherasmin
(baritone) Frances Bourne ... Puck (mezzo-soprano)
Katherine Fuge ... first Mermaid (soprano)
Charlotte Mobbs ... second Mermaid (soprano)
Roger Allam (narrator)
Monteverdi Choir Orchestre Révolutionnaire
et Romantique/Sir John Eliot Gardiner Recorded
at the Colosseum, Watford, England, 15-19
March 2002. DDD
PHILIPS 475 6563 5 [60:57 + 61:47] [MC]
The
playing and singing is beautifully tailored
to the score ... an endless kaleidoscope of
subtle colours ... a delightful experience
... see Full
Review
Egon
WELLESZ
(1885-1974) Symphony
No. 3 Op. 68 (1949-51) [34.12] Symphony No. 5 Op. 75 (1955-56) [28.57]
Radio Symphonieorchester
Wien/Gottfried Rabl rec. Grosser Sendesaal, Funkhaus ORF, 2004. DDD
CPO 999 999-2 [63.22]
[RB]
Two
deeply serious Germanic symphonies touched to varying degrees by the
influence of Schoenberg. ... see Full
Review
Percy WHITLOCK (1903-1946)
Organ
Sonata in C minor [44'37] Five
Short Pieces [14'24] Fantasie
Choral No 1 in D flat major [12'24]
John Scott, organ Rec: St Paul's Cathedral, London, 6-8 January 2004.
DDD HYPERION
CDA67470 [71'50][CB]
Scott's
performance is rather no-nonsense, typical of his artistry in general.
His playing is marvellous. ... see Full
Review
Eugène
YSAŸE (1858-1931) Six Sonatas for
Solo Violin, Op 27 (1924) No.1 in G "To Joseph Szigeti"
[14.59] No. 2 in A "To Jacques Thibaud" [12.39] No.3 in D
"To Georges Enesco" [6.45] No.4 in E "To Fritz Kreisler"
[11.23] No.5 in G "To Mathieu Crickboom" [9.14] No. 6 in E
"To Manuel Quiroga" [6.48]
Benjamin Schmid (violin) Recorded in June and September 1988, unspecified
location OEHMS CLASSICS
OC 236 [63.44][JW]
Schmid
brings youth, enterprise and occasional idiosyncrasy to these sonatas
... 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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