Lucifer
Nicholas SACKMAN
(b.
1950) Meld (1998) [16:18]
Diana BURRELL
(b. 1948) Gold (2001) [12:31] Geoffrey
POOLE (b. 1949) Lucifer (2000/1)
[27:22] 
Philip Mead (piano); RNCM Brass Ensemble;
James Gourlay Recorded: Concert Hall of the
RNCM, Manchester, November 2003
NMC D 099 [56:36] [HC]
Excellent
recording and production, up to NMC’s best
standards. Well worth trying ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Philip
SAINTON (1891-1967)
The
Island - Symphonic Poem for Full Orchestra
[16:58] (Dedicated to my very good friend,
Ernest Hall) Patrick
HADLEY (1899-1973) The Trees
so High* - Symphonic Ballad for large
orchestra with baritone solo and chorus [34:33]
Philip SAINTON
(1891-1967) Nadir - Symphonic
Elegy for Orchestra [13:40] The Dream
of the Marionette (The Sadness of
the Marionette; The Sleep of the Marionette;
The Dream of the Marionette; March; Epilogue
Patrick HADLEY
(1899-1973) La Belle Dame sans merci†
[10:00] One Morning in Spring -
Sketch for Orchestra [4:15] Lenten Meditations‡
18:57
Leslie Pearson organ Neill Archer tenor†‡
David Wilson-Johnson baritone* Stephen Richardson
bass‡ Philharmonia Chorus *†‡ Philharmonia
Orchestra/Matthias Bamert rec. All Saints'
Church, Tooting, London; 3-4 August 1992 (The
Island, The Trees So High) and
18-19 March 1996 (Nadir, La Belle
Dame sans merci, One Morning in Spring,
Lenten editations); Blackheath Halls,
London, 20 September 1996 (The Dream of
the Marionette) DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 241-22 [51:43 + 65:49] [RB]
Do
not miss this. Recording of the Month. ...
see Full
Review
Giovanni
Battista SAMMARTINI (1700/01-1775)
Sacred
Cantatas Maria Addolorata, cantata sacra
Il pianto di San Pietro, cantata sacra Silvia
Mapelli, soprano; Sonia Prina, contralto;
Mirki Guadagnini, tenor
Capriccio Italiano Ensemble/Daniele Ferrari
Recorded live 31 March 1999 in the Santa Maria
Hoè Parish Church, Milan, Italy. DDD
NAXOS 8.557431 [78:04] [JV]
Dramatic
oratorios by the 'father of the symphony'
in rather mediocre and old-fashioned performances
... see Full
Review
Harold
SCHIFFMAN (b. 1928) Alma (2002)a
[32:20] Prelude and Variations (1970)b [13:06] Chamber Concerto
No.2 (2000)c [17:28]
Mįria Horvįth (mezzo-soprano)a; Jane Perry-Camp (piano)c;
Budafok Chamber Choira; Györ Philharmonic Orchestraa;
Hungarian Philharmonicb; Accord Wind Quintetc;
Akadémia String Quartetc; Mįtyįs Antal Recorded: Jįnos Richter
Hall, Györ, Hungary, October 2002 (Alma) and June 2003 (Chamber
Concerto No.2); and MATAV Music House, Budapest, June 1999 (Prelude
and Variations) NORTH/SOUTH
RECORDINGS R 1035 [63:02][HC]
Pays
deserved tribute to a most distinguished
composer whose well-crafted and communicative
music repays repeated hearings ... see Full
Review
Othmar
SCHOECK (1886-1957) Cello
Concerto Op.61 (1947) [33.29] Suite in A flat major Op.59 (1945) [27.20]
Julius Berger (cello)
South West German Chamber Orchestra, Pforzheim/Vladislav Czarnecki
Recorded Johanneshaus Niefern-Öschelbronn, Festaal, June 2001 (Suite)
and February 2002 (Cello Concerto)
EBS 6145 [61.50][JW]
The
Cello Concerto is compelling – it has something about it that just
won’t let go. ... see Full Review
Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951)
Pelleas
und Melisande, Op. 5a (1903) [43’20] Piano Concerto,
Op. 42b (1942) [20’21].
Amalie Malling (piano) Scottish National Orchestra/Matthias Bamert;
Danish National Symphony Orchestra/Michael Schønwandt. Rec.
Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, on aJuly 31st-August
2nd, 1987 and bDanish Radio Concert Hall, Copenhagen,
on May 31st, June 1st & 6th,
1994. DDD CHANDOS
CLASSICS CHAN10285X [63’45] [CC]
A
thought-provoking coupling. Neither performance
can be listed as a first choice, but the
interest of this disc should not be under-played.
... see
Full Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1791-1828)
Die Schöne Müllerin
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone) András Schmidt (piano) recorded
live, Feldkirch, 20 June 1991 bonus: interview recorded 1985 DVD-all
regions 
TDK DV-CODSM [83:00] [AO]
Enjoy
this, not as great singing, but as a souvenir
of a great career ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797 – 1828) Schiller-Lieder,
Vols. 3 and 4 (Deutsche Schubert-Lied-Edition
18)
Maya Boog (soprano)(CD 2), Lothar Odinius
(tenor)(CD 1), Ulrich Eisenlohr (piano) Recorded
at DRS, Zürich, Switzerland from November
10th to 13th, 2004 (CD
1), and from December 2nd to 4th,
2003 (CD 2)
NAXOS 8.557369-70 [51:15 + 47:15] [GF]
Most
of the songs may be unknown. Despite some
reservations concerning Moog much is good,
the songs are worth hearing and I commend
Lothar Odinius. He is a find! ... see Full
Review
Franz
Peter SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Fantasy
in C, D760, 'Wanderer' (1822) [20'48].
Franz LISZT
(1811-1886)Années de pèlerinage:
Deuxième année, Italie (1839-49)
– Sonetto 123 del Petrarca; Après
une lecture de Dante [17'02]; Supplement:
Venezia e Napoli (1840, rev. 1859)
[19'09]. Années de pèlerinage:
Troisième année (1869-79)
– Les jeux d'eau à la Villa d'Este
[9'01].
Luiza Borac (piano) Rec. at the Stadttheater,
Lindau (Bodensee), Germany on August 2nd-6th,
2004.
AVIE SACD AV2061 [66:04] [CC]
An
interesting disc ... Borac is a player of
much imagination and integrity. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Mass
in A Flat major, D677 "Missa Solemnis"
[50’05"] Mass in E Flat major, D950 "Missa
Solemnis"* [52’31"]
Luba Organosova (soprano); Birgit Remmert
(contralto); Deon van der Walt (tenor); *Wolfgang
Holzmair (baritone); Anton Scharinger (bass)
Arnold Schoenberg Chor; Chamber Orchestra
of Europe/Nikolaus Harnoncourt Recorded live
in the Stefaniensaal, Graz *24 June 1995 and
25 June 1995
WARNER CLASSICS ELATUS 2564 61390-2 [50’05"
+ 52’31"] [JQ]
Very
well executed, highly musical and considered
performances, which will give much pleasure.
A stimulating set that makes an attractive
bargain. ... see Full
Review
Erwin
SCHULHOFF
(1894-1942) Music for String Quartet String
Quartet No.1 (1924) [14.34] Divertimento for String Quartet (1914) [13.30]
Five Pieces for String Quartet (1923) [13.30]
Schulhoff Quartet rec. Domovina Studios, Prague in October/November
2003 and November 2004
VMS 138 [51.07] [JW]
This
VMS has an all-quartet repertoire; all Schulhoff
admirers will want to acquaint themselves
with it. ... see Full
Review
William SCHUMAN
(1910
- 1992) Symphony No.
4 (1941) [24’50"] Symphony No. 9 Le
fosse ardeatine (1969) [27’43"] Orchestra
Song (1963) [2’59"] Circus Overture
(1944) [7’53"]
Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz recorded
in September 2003 and January 2004 (Symphony
No. 4), March 2004 (Song and Overture) and
February 2004 (Symphony No. 9) in S. Mark
Taper Foundation Auditorium, Benaroya Hall,
Seattle. DDD
NAXOS 8.559254 [63.25] [JPh]
Recommended
with all possible enthusiasm – thank you Naxos!
... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906 - 1975) Symphony
No. 7, Op. 60 Leningrad (1943) [74.05]
Beethoven Orchestra, Bonn/Roman Kofman Recorded
2004 Notes in English, Français, and
Deutsch. Hybrid SACD
also playable on CD players high resolution
stereo 2.0, and the 2+2+2 surround sound system;
compatible 5.1
MDG
937 1203-6 [74.05] [PSh]
A
fine, but not legendary, Leningrad in good
surround sound. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Piano
Trio No. 1 Op.8 (1923) [12,41] Piano Trio
No. 2 Op.67 (1944) [26.46] Seven Songs
(Alexander Blok) Op.127 (1967) [23.34]
Artemiss Piano Trio Al˛běta Polįčkovį
(soprano) rec. Lichtenstein Palace (Martinů
Hall), Prague, September-November 2004
ARCO DIVA UP 0069-2131 [63.17] [JW]
I
hope this sort of coupling will become more
popular and that a disc such as this will
stay long in the catalogue. Performances here
are rather reserved and analytical but the
recorded sound is attractive ... see Full
Review
Heinrich
SCHULZ-BEUTHEN (1838
- 1915) Piano Music Drei
Clavierstücke im ernsten Style op.
16 (1873) (Moderato [3:54]; Poco andante [2:09];Allegretto
moderato [2:41]) Stimmungsbilder in freier
Walzerform op. 17 (1873) (Poco moderato
[2:20]; Grazioso [2:16]; Scherzando, poco
animato [1:25]; Tranquillo [3:16]; Risoluto
[3:05]) Fünf Clavierstücke in
Suitenform op. 19 (1874) (Allegretto [1:40];
Allegro giocoso [1:50]; Andante lugubre [1:45];
Allegretto, poco appassionato [1:49]; Allegro
fantastico [3:47]) Vier Clavierstücke
im heroischen Style op. 22 (1874) (Allegro
non troppo, cantabile [5:53]; Allegro giocoso
e frescamente [6:05]; Poco moderato, tranquillo
[4:44]; Allegro eroico [4:31]; Drei Clavierstücke
Cyklus in Sonatenform op. 23 (1874) (Allegro
ma non troppo generoso [4:28]; Allegretto
moderato, con sentimento, molto dolce [3:54];
Allegretto, leggiero e grazioso [2:03]; Abschieds
- Klänge Gedenk-Blätter op.
28 (1880) (Allegretto un poco moderato [2:03];
Poco moderato [3:20]; Allegretto moderato
[1:42]; Andantino con espressione [2:34];
Kirsten Johnson (piano) Recorded: St George's
Bristol, 6-7 August 2003. DDD
GUILD GMCD 7277 [75:04]
Piano Music of Hermann
GOETZ and Heinrich
SCHULZ-BEUTHEN: Hermann GOETZ (1840
- 1876) Lose Blätter op. 7 (1864-1869,
Winterthur) (Durch Feld und Buchenhallen [1:41];
Frisch in die Welt hinaus [2:53]; Einsamkeit
[2:53]; Liebesscherze [1:51]; Bei dir! [2:53];
Ihr flüchtigen Winde, wohin, wohin? [2:27];
Heimatklang [5:09];
Frühlingsgruß [1:35]; Auf Wiedersehn
[1:55]) Genrebilder op. 13 - 6 Klavierstücke
(1870-1876, Zurich) (Andantino espressivo
[1:41]; Allegro Scherzando [2:02]; Larghetto
[2:20]; Presto [1:24]; Allegro Impetuoso [1:50];
Larghetto [2:28]) Heinrich
SCHULZ-BEUTHEN (1838 - 1915) Alhambra
Sonata op. 34 (1878-1882) (Auf dem Wege
zur Alhambra [5:54]; Bei der Marienkirche
[5:27]; Eintritt in der Alhambra [4:43]; Die
Abenceragen [6:19]; Im Garten Xeneralife [9:48];
Nachklänge [7:16]
Kirsten Johnson (piano) Recorded: St George's
Bristol, 13-14 August 2003. DDD
GUILD GMCD 7282 [76:01] [RB]
For
admirers of romantic era piano music especially
those partial to Schumann and floral romance.
If you like one of these two CDs you will
want the other as well. ... see Full
Review
Clara
SCHUMANN (1819-1896)
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 7 (1834)
[23:36] Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 17 (1846)
[30:24]
Francesco Nicolosi (piano) Alma Mahler Sinfonietta/Stefania
Rinaldi Rodolfo Bonucci (violin); Andrea Noferini
(cello) Rec. Naples, May, September 2004.
DDD
NAXOS 8.557552 [54:00][ED]
Works
of quality, ably performed with feeling and atmosphere. Definitely worth
immediate investigation. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Humoreske
Op. 20 (1838) [28:39] Toccata Op. 7 (1829-32) [7:22] Gesänge der Frühe
Op. 133 (1853) [11:59] Kinderszenen Op. 15 (1838) [19:44] Album für
die Jugend Op. 68 (1848) [74:35] Kreisleriana Op. 16 - Eight Fantasies
for Pianoforte (1838) [34:19] Theme with Variations in E flat major
WoO 24 ('Geistervariationen') (1854) [9:44] Faschingsschwank aus Wien
Op. 26 (1839-40) [21:35]
Michael Endres (piano) Recorded Cologne, 2000/2001
OEHMS CLASSICS OC366
[3 CDs: 68:07 + 74:35 + 65:54][JL]
This
superbly played triple disc set represents
a considerable body of Schumann’s piano composition
and is a major recording achievement. ...
see Full
Review
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
String Quartets: 1885-1889 Molto moderato
– Scherzo, JS134 (1885) [4:15] Scherzo
in B minor (1885) completed by Kalevi
AHO [0:43] String Quartet in
E flat major, JS184 (1885) [17:41] Four
Themes (1887) [1:52] Three Pieces (1888)
[3:23] Allegretto in D major, JS20
(1888) [2:12] Andantino in C major,
JS39 (1888) [3:06] Theme and Variations
in C sharp minor, JS195 (1888) completed
by Kalevi Aho [6:20] 33 Small Pieces (1888-89)
[18:08] Allegro in G minor (1888-89)
[0:32] Andante – Allegro molto in D major,
JS32 (1888-89) [6:17] Andante molto sostenuto
in B minor, JS37 (1888-89) [7:40]
Tempera Quartet Recorded on 16-20 February
2004 at Lanna Church, Sweden. DDD
BIS-CD-1376 [74:28] [MC]
Fascinating
early works from Sibelius that will appeal
mainly to specialist collectors. ... see Full
Review
Louis
SPOHR (1784-1859)
String
Quartets, Volume 10: No. 24 in G, Op. 82 No. 2 (1828/9) [31’07]; No.
25 in A minor, Op. 82 No. 3 (1829) [28’07].
Moscow Philharmonic Concertino String Quartet (Yaroslav Kresnikov, Sofiya
Krasnikova, violins; Pavel Zhdanov, viola; Victor Kozodov, cello). Rec.
Studio 1 of the Russian State TV & Radio Company Kultura, Moscow,
on December 16th-30th, 2003. DDD
MARCO POLO 8.225306 [59’14] [CC]
Do
investigate. The Moscow Philharmonic Concertino
String Quartet clearly believe heart and soul
in Spohr’s music. After hearing this, maybe
you will too. ... see Full
Review
Johann
STRAUSS I (1804-1849)
Complete Edition: Volume 6 Fra
Diavolo-Cotillons op.41 [11:48], Wiener Bürgermarsch
Nr. 2: Marsch nach Motiven der Opera Zampa
[02:13], Alexandra-Walzer op.56 [08:50], Polka
in E flat [02:03], Zampa-Walzer op.57 [10:57],
Jäger-Polka [02:18], Mein schönster
Tag in Baden, Walzer op.58 [07:44], Quadrille
nach Motiven aus der Oper Anna Bolena [05:20],
Die vier Temperamente, Walzer op.59 [10:14],
Reise-Galopp op.85 [02:08], Karnevals-Spende,
Walzer op.60 [06:03]
Slovak Sinfonietta ˇilina/Christian Pollack
Recorded 2nd-4th February
2004, Fatra Concert Hall, ˇilina, Slovakia
MARCO POLO 8.225282 [69:56] [CH]
Like
a good wine, Pollack and his players seem to be getting better as time
goes on, making this much more than an issue for specialists. ... see
Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS
(1864-1949)
Don Juan, op 20 (1888) [18’27”] Die Heiligen drei Königen,
op 56, no.6 [6’10”] Waldseligkeit, op 49, no 1 [3’06”] Wiegenlied,
op 41, no 1 [4’46”] Morgen!, op 27, no 4 [4’03”] Das Rosenband,
op 36, no 1 [3’07”] Meinem Kinde, op 37, no 3 [2’40”] Befreit,
op 39, no 4 [5’20”] Macbeth, op 23 (1887) [19’48”]
Anne Schwanewilms (soprano) (Lieder) Hallé/Mark Elder Rec. BBC Studio
7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester: 12-13 July 2004 (Macbeth), 22-23
September 2004 (Don Juan and lieder). Texts and translations included.
DDD. HALLE CD HLL
7508 [67’31”][ED]
This
issue covers all in glory and leaves the sense
of discovering something new, even in well
known works. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949)
The Complete Songs, Volume 1 Zueignung,
Op. 10 No. 1 Die Georgine, Op. 10 No.
4 Breit’ über mein Haupt, Op.
19 No. 2 Wie sollten vir geheim sie halten,
Op. 19 No. 4 Glückes genug, Op.
37 No. 1 Ich liebe dich, Op. 37 No.
2 Hochzeitlich Lied, Op.37 No. 6 Leises
Lied, Op. 39 No. 1 Befreit, Op.
39 No. 4 Wiegenlied, Op. 41 No. 1 In
der Campagna, Op. 41 No. 2 Frühlingsfeier,
Op. 56 No. 5 Die heiligen drei Könige,
Op. 56 No. 6 Gesänge des Orients,
Op. 77 Allerseelen, Op. 10 No. 8
Christine Brewer (soprano) Roger Vignoles
(piano) Rec 22-24 March 2004, All Saints Church,
East Finchley, London
HYPERION CDA67488 [61.12] [TB]
This
is a major release by major artists, and it
is a worthy opening to a major series of recordings.
... see Full
Review
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882
- 1971) The Firebird
(1910) first recording of 1910 original version
[44’52"] Petrouchka (1947) 1911, revised
1947 version [34’01"]
Philharmonia Orchestra/Robert Craft. recorded
27th & 29th November
1996 (The Firebird) and 31st January
& 1st February 1997, (Petrouchka),
at Abbey Road Studios, London. DDD
Naxos 8.557500 [78.53] [JPh]
This
is a first class issue, quite undeserving
of the Bull….!!, and very highly recommended.
... see Full
Review
Igor
STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971) Apollo
(1928) [23’18] Agon (1957) [20’56]*
Orpheus (1947) [28’31]
London Symphony Orchestra/Robert Craft
Orchestra of St. Luke’s*/Robert Craft Recorded
at Abbey Road Studio One, London, 1-4 July
1995 and at SUNY, Purchase, New York, July
1992 (Agon)
NAXOS 8.557502 [77’45] [TH]
Craft’s
refusal to linger pays dividends, sheer power
allied to up-front sound ... see Full
Review
Gottfried Heinrich
STÖLZEL (1690
- 1749) Cantatas for Pentecost 1737 Werdet
voll Geistes [09:53] Siehe da, eine Hütte
Gottes [09:21] Wollte Gott, dass alle das
Volk weissagete [08:14] Daran ist erschienen
die Liebe Gottes gegen uns [12:53] So denn
ihr, die ihr arg seid [10:17] Lehre mich tun
nach deinem Wohlgefallen [09:50] Er heisset
Friedefürst, cantata for Sunday Quasimodogeniti
1732 [06:46]
Dorothee Mields, soprano; Martin Wölfel,
alto; Jan Kobow, tenor; Christian Immler,
bass Telemannisches Collegium Michaelstein/Ludger
Rémy Recorded in June 2002 at the Evangelische
Kirche St Bonifatius, Ditfurth, Germany. DDD
CPO 999 876-2 [68:11] [JV]
This
recording brings cantatas by Bach's contemporary
Stölzel, which turn out to be of superior
quality ... 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]
Darrell Fancourt
– 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][EM]
The
more modern 1966 recording would be my recommended
version. ... see Full
Review
Karol
SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937)
Violin
Concerto No. 1, Op. 35 (1915-16) [26'59].
Camille SAINT-SAËNS
(1835-1921) Havanaise in E, Op.
83 (1887) [10'18]. Ernest
CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Poème,
Op. 25 (1897) [16'47]. Jules
MASSENET (1842-1912) Thaïs
(1894) - Méditation [5'37].
Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897)
Lieder, Op. 105 (publ. 1889) – No.
1, Wie Melodien zieht es mir (arr.
Heifetz as 'Contemplation'; orch. Reynolds)
[3'20]. John TAVENER
(b. 1944) Fragment for the Virgin (2004)
[4'30].
Nicola Benedetti (violin) London Symphony
Orchestra/Daniel Harding. Rec. Walthamstow
Town Hall (no date given). DDD Includes 'performance
track' of the Massenet and details of available
Official Nicola Benedetti Truetones and Ringtones.
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 987 057-7 [73'08]
[CC]
Quite
a debut. A truly excellent Szymanowski, then
have a cuppa and come back to enjoy the rest
of the disc for what it is – an easy-on-the-ear
set of well-crafted delights. ... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Ilych TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23 (1875)
[30:22] Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op 83 (1881)
[39:24] Artur Rubinstein,
piano London Symphony Orchestra/Sir John Barbirolli (Tchaikovsky); Sir
Albert Coates (Brahms) Recorded 9-10 June 1932 in the Small Hall of
the Queen’s Hall, London (Tchaikovsky); 22-23 October 1929, Queen’s
Hall, London (Brahms)
LIVING ERA AJC 8550 [70:14][KS]
Strongly
recommended, especially for historical buffs
... see Full
Review
Pyotr Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Piano
Works Volume 2 Twelve Morceaux Op.40 (1878)
[46.58]
Mikhail Pletnev (piano) Recorded in Moscow,
1986
AULOS MUSIC AMC2-030 [46.58]
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Piano Works Volume 3 Six
pieces Op.19 (1873) [29.15] Two Pieces Op.10
(1871) [6.50] Romance Op.5 (1868) [6.22] Valse-Scherzo
Op.7 (1870) [4.24]
Mikhail Pletnev (piano) Recorded in Moscow,
1988
AULOS MUSIC AMC2-031 [52.37] [JW]
Given
the occasional nature of the morceaux this
is hardly a pressing purchase but for Pletnev
admirers it’s pretty much self-recommending.
... see Full
Review
Georg
Philip TELEMANN (1681-1767)
Complete
Sonatas and Sonatinas for Recorder and bass continuo TWV 41 Sonatas
in C-[C3 [; in C minor [c2]; Sonatina d minor [d4]; Sonata in F minor
[f1]; Sonatina in A minor [a4]; Sonata [Duetto B3]; Sonata in F major
[F2]; Sonata in F minor [f2]
Michael Schneider – recorder; Annette Schneider - violoncello; Christian
Beuse - bassoon; Yasunori Imamura - lute; Sabine Bauer - keyboard Recorded
at Deutschland Radio. Berlin October 2003
CAPRICCIO 67 070 [71.51] [GH]
A
gently civilizing and life-enhancing pleasure. I would strongly advise
you to search out this disc ... see Full
Review
Johann
Baptist VAŇHAL (1739-1813)
Symphony in D major, Bryan D2 (c. 1765) [13:34] Symphony in C minor,
Bryan c2 (c. 1770) [16:24] Symphony in A flat major, Bryan Ab1 (c. 1773)
[17:53] Symphony in G major, Bryan G6 (c. 1773) [21:28]
Toronto Camerata/Kevin Mallon Recorded Grace Church on-the-Hill, Toronto,
Canada, January 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557483 [69:19][DS]
Strongly
recommended for all those with a warm spot
for the Classical era. Music that is immediately
appealing ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Aida
(1871) - (sung in German). Annelies
Kupper (soprano) Aida; Max Lorenz (tenor)
Radames; Margarete Klose (contralto) Amneris;
Rudolf Gonszar (baritone) Amonasro; Otto von
Rohr (bass) Ramfis; Christa Ludwig (mezzo)
Priestess;
Chorus and Orchestra of Hessian Radio/Kurt
Schröder. Rec. Frankfurt, Germany on
November 11th, 1952. ADD mono
WALHALL WLCD0051 [144’18: 75’00 +69’18]
[CC]
Like
so many Walhalls: worth hearing. Much to enjoy
and the recording is perfectly acceptable
if nothing distinguished. Regular readers
will know the score when it comes to documentation
... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER
(1813 – 1883): Lohengrin (1850) Wolfgang
Windgassen (tenor) – Lohengrin Eleanor Steber (soprano) – Elsa von Brabant
Hermann Uhde (baritone) – Friedrich von Telramund Astrid Varnay (soprano)
– Ortrud Josef Greindl (bass) – Heinrich der Vogler Hans Braun (baritone)
– Herald Gerhard Stolze (tenor) – Noble 1 Josef Janko (tenor) – Noble
2 Alfons Herwig (baritone) – Noble 3 Theo Adam (bass) – Noble 4
Bayreuth Festival Chorus/Wilhelm Pitz Bayreuth Festival Orchestra/Joseph
Keilberth Recorded in July – August 1953 in the Festspielhaus, Bayreuth.
First issued as Decca LXT 2880-2884. Reissue Producer and Restoration
Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn
NAXOS 8.110308-10 [78:14 + 71:49 + 69:30] [GF]
Can’t
be recommended as the only version but get
it as a complement for the best Uhde and Varnay,
and for a marvellous third act by Windgassen.
At the price everyone can afford it. ... 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. 16:9 Anamorphic. Stereo. All regions
Subtitles in English, French, German, Spanish,
Italian. Includes the film, 'Parsifal's Progress'
by Rainer E. Moritz [75'18]. DDD
OPUS
ARTE OA0915D [3 DVDs: 317'00] [CC]
Well
worth watching and listening. This is an interesting
take on one of the greatest dramas ever written.
... see Full
Review
Franz WERTHMÜLLER
(1769-1841) Sonate A-Dur/A
major op.17
Fernando SOR
(1778-1839) Twelve Studies Heinrich
MARSCHNER (1795-1861) Six Bagatellen
from opus 4 Fernando
SOR Nine Menuets, Variations on
Nel cor piú non mi sento op.16
[9:13], Variations on a theme by Mozart op.9
[7:29]
Tilman Hoppstock (guitar) Recorded May 1985
[31], Autumn1995-Spring 1996 [1-30], Sept
2001 [32].
CHRISTOPHORUS CHE 0118-2 [72:57]
[ZT]
Special
appeal to students of the guitar who wish
to listen to excellent renditions of selected
studies and minuets by Sor ... see Full
Review
Nigel
WESTLAKE (b.
1958) Antarctica
(1991) David Pereira
(cello); Louise Johnson (harp); Timothy Kain (guitar); Philippe Marc
Anquetil (boy soprano); Christine Douglas (soprano); Geoffrey Collinson
(horns); Paul Goodchild (trumpets); Orchestra; Carl Vine Recorded: Rhinoceros
Studio, Sydney, no date, published 1992
TALL POPPIES TP 012 [37:03] [HC]
Westlake’s
well-crafted, slightly eclectic but effective
music ... see Full
Review
Dag
WIRÉN
(1905-1986) String Quartets: 2 (1935) [19:05];
3 (1941-45) [19:10]; 4 (1952-53) [18:29]; 5 (1970) [13:28]
Lysell Quartet rec. Oct 2003, Sept 2004, Feb 2005, Berwaldhallen, Stockholm.
DDD DAPHNE 1021 [71:44][RB]
Fascinating
works: 2 and 3 winningly energetic, embracing joy while 4 and 5 powerfully
reflect 20th century angst. ... 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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