RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Cécile
CHAMINADE
(1857-1944) Piano
Music Vol. 1: Chaconne Op.
8; Autrefois No. 4 of Pièces
humoristiques Op. 87; Callirhoë
– Air de Ballet (no opus number);
Solitude No. 2 of Poèmes
provençales Op. 127; Romance
in D major Op. 137; L’Ondine
Op. 101; Scherzo in C major
No. 1 of Études de concert Op.
35; Automne No. 2 of Études
de concert Op. 35; Thème
varié in A major Op. 89; Sérénade
in D major Op. 29; Souvenance
No. 1 of Romances sans paroles Op.
76; Élévation in E major
No. 2 of Romances sans paroles Op.
76; Étude mélodique
in G flat major Op. 118; Étude
pathétique in B minor Op. 124;
La Lisonjera (no opus number);Valse
romantique Op. 115; Pêcheurs
de nuit No. 4 of Poèmes
provençales Op. 127; Deuxième
valse Op. 77; Études
scholastique Op. 139 
Peter Jacobs (piano) rec. 24-25 June 1991.
location undisclosed. DDD
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55197 [71:20] [IL]
An
undemanding and tuneful collection that will
enchant all but the strictest classicists
and the hardest-hearted. ... see Full
Review
Ernest
CHAUSSON
(1855-1899) Symphony
Op.20 (1890) [30.55] Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Paul
Paray, recorded 1956 Poème for violin
and orchestra Op.25 (1896) [15.35] Arthur
Grumiaux (violin)/Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux/Manuel
Rosenthal, recorded 1966 Poème de l’amour
et de la mer Op.19 (1882-1893) [28.10]
Irma Kolassi (mezzo soprano)/LPO/Louis
de Froment, recorded 1955
ACCORD 476 762 5 [76.15] [JW]
Well-selected
classic discs. The focus is on restoring the
performances in a cohesive piece of programming.
Mission accomplished. ... see Full
Review
Frederic CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op 23 (1835-36) [10:09] Ballade No. 2 in F
major, Op 38 (1836-39) [8:10] Ballade No. 3 in A flat major, Op. 47
(1840-41) [8:00] Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 (1842) [11:36] Impromptu
No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 29 (1837) [4:57] Impromptu No. 2 in F sharp
major, Op. 36 (1839) [6:23] Impromptu No. 3 in G flat major, Op. 51
(1842) [5:38] Fantaisie-Impromptu in C sharp minor, Op. 66 (1834) [5:49]
Bolero, Op. 19 (1833) [8:39]
Eugene Mursky (piano) rec. SWR Kammermusik Studio, Villa Berg, 13-14
August, 17 September 2004. DDD
HÄNSSLER PH04065 [69:24][TO]
Scrupulously
detailed Ballades that too often turn cold and stiff. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Aaron
COPLAND (1900-1990) Old American Songs
(orchestral version): * First Set: 1 The Boatmen’s Dance
(Minstrel Song) [3:04]; 2 The Dodger (Campaign Song) [2:15]; 3 Long
Time Ago (Ballad) [3:04]; 4 Simple Gifts (Shaker Song) [1:36]; 5 I Bought
Me A Cat (Children’s Song) [2:10]; Second Set: 6 The
Little Horses (Lullaby) [2:49]; 7 Zion’s Walls (Revivalist Song)
[1:56]; 8 The Golden Willow Tree (Anglo-American Ballad) [3:37]; 9 At
The River (Hymn Tune) [2:52] 10 Ching-A-Ring Chaw (Minstrel Song) [1:33];
11 Down A Country Lane [2:51] Eight Poems of Emily Dickinson
**: 12 Nature, The Gentlest Mother [3:55]; 13 There Came A Wind Like
A Bugle [1:32]; 14 The World Feels Dusty [1:55]; 15 Heart, We Will Forget
Him! [2:26]; 16 Dear March, Come In! [2:04]; 17 Sleep Is Supposed To
Be [2:43]; 18 Going To Heaven! [2:50] 19 The Chariot [3:08] Billy
the Kid (selection): 20 Waltz - Molto moderato [3:51]; 21 Prairie
Night – Molto moderato [4:42]; 22 Celebration Dance – Allegro
[2:15]
Thomas Hampson (bar)* Dawn Upshaw (sop) ** Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra/Hugo
Wolff Recorded in the Ordway Music Theatre, St Paul, Minnesota, in September
1992 (Old American, Orchestral Pieces); September 1993 (Eight Poems)
WARNER APEX 2564 62089-2 [59:08][SA]
A
great disc ... see Full
Review
Matthew
CURTIS
(b.1959) Orchestral Works: Vol. 2 Ring
in the New (2004) [5:32] Romanza (1982) [6:42] Little
Dance Suite (2004?) [14:07] Irish Lullaby (2004) [3:16] Graduation
Day (2003?) [7:14] Autumn Song (1985) [7:59] Sinfonietta
(1999-2001) [27:10] Bon Voyage! (2002) [4:56]
Royal Ballet Sinfonia/Gavin Sutherland rec: 24 Feb 2004, Phoenix Sound,
Wembley; 5-6 July 2004, Whitfield Street Studios, London. DDD British
Composer series CAMPION
CAMEO 2035 [76:53] [RB]
Bright
and breezy stuff and no mistake. ... see Full
Review
Luigi DALLAPICCOLA
(1904-1975) Complete
works for violin and for piano Sonatina
canonica su capricci di Paganini (1943)
[9.44] Tre episodi dal baletto ‘Marsia’
(1949) [13.29] Quaderno musicale di
Annalibera (1951-52) [15.14] Inni –
musica per tre pianoforte (1935) [11.13]
Due studi, for violin and piano (1946-47)
[9.50] Tartiniana seconda, for violin
and piano (1956) [11.31]
Roberto Prosseda (piano) Duccio Ceccanti
(violin) Recorded at the Teatro Sperimentale,
Ancona, August 2003
NAXOS 8.557676 [71.02] [JW]
Performances
are persuasive and appreciably enjoyable.
... see Full
Review
Henri DALLIER
(1849-1934)
Piano
Trio in C minor (1898) [26:10] Louis
VIERNE (1870-1937) Cello Sonata
in B minor op. 27 (1910) [23:14] Joseph-Ermend
BONNAL (1880-1944) Violin Sonata
(1899-1907) [17:39]
Detroit Chamber Trio (Eduard Perrone (piano);
Velda Kelly (violin); Nadine Deleury (cello))
rec. Award Audio, Studio A, St Clair Shores,
MI, 21-22 Nov 2002 (Vierne); 14-15 Oct 2004
(Dallier); 23 Nov 2004 (Bonnal). DDD
AWARD AUDIO AA-05001 [67:20] [RB]
Enterprising
and rewarding works warmly recorded and performed
with arresting zeal ... see Full
Review
Alphonse
DAUDET
(1840-1897) and Georges BIZET
(1838-1875) L'Arlésienne
- drame en trois actes et cinq tableaux - adaptation de Max
de Rieux (1872) Lettres de mon moulin; Ouverture; Acte
I - En Camargue, la ferme de castelet; Acte II - L'étang
de Vacarès; Le cuisine de Castelet; Acte III: La
Magnanerie; Farandole; Acte III La chambre de Rose Mamaï
L'Arlésienne - 22 music tracks from Bizet's incidental
music Rose Mamaï - Mary Marquet La Renaude - Berthe Bovy Vivette
- Bernadette Lange Frederi - Hubert Noel Balthazar - Maurice Chambreuil
Mitifio - Robert Vitalin L'innocent - Jacques Bernard Francet Mamaï
- Pierre Larquey Patron Marc - Fernand Sardou
Chœurs et Orchestre sous la direction de Albert Wolff Orchestre des
Concerts Lamoureux/Igor Markevitch (only the Intermezzo CD2 tr.
28) rec. 1955, Paris, France, ADD. mono
ACCORD 476 764 7 [80:35 + 61:53] [RB]
A
vivid and nostalgic retrieval and, I think,
the only version of the play with Bizet's
music. ... see Full
Review
Frederick
DELIUS
(1862-1934) Orchestral
Works Brigg
Fair – An English Rhapsody (1907) [15.39]
On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring (1912)
[6.18] The Walk to The Paradise Garden (1900-01)
[8,26] A Song of Summer (1930) [8.48]
London Symphony Orchestra/Anthony Collins
Recorded 1953
PRISTINE AUDIO PASCO15 [39.11] [JW]
Collins
could do no wrong and I certainly commend
his conducting ... see Full
Review
Alfred DESENCLOS
(1912-1971)
Messe
de Requiem (1963) [30:36] Salve Regina (1958)
[3:42] O Salutaris* [3:40] Pater noster (1944)
[3:02] Nos autem (1958) [4:06] O Salutaris*
[2:09] Ave, Maria* [2:35] Sanctus* [1:28]
Agnus Dei [2:20] Les Eléments/Joël
Suhubiette. Frédéric Desenclos
(organ)
Recorded at Notre-Dame-du-Taur, Toulouse.
Dates not stated. DDD
HORTUS 009 [53:45] [JQ]
Anyone
interested in twentieth-century French choral
music should investigate this release. ...
see Full
Review
Felix
DRAESEKE (1835-1913)
Symphony
No. 1 in G major Op. 12 (1869-72) [35:32]
Symphony No. 4 in E minor/G major Symphonia
Comica WoO 38 (1912) [21:55] Gudrun
overture (1882) [11:31]
NDR Radiophilharmonie/Jörg-Peter
Weigle rec. Großer Sendesaal des Landesfunkhauses
Niedersachsen des NDR, Hannover, 19-23 Aug
2002. DDD
CPO 999 746-2 [68:58] [RB]
Two
symphonies by Draeseke: one flawed; the other
even more fascinating and well worth getting
to know. Gudrun is a fine addition to the
ranks of late-romantic operatic preludes.
... see Full
Review
Marcel DUPRÉ (1886-1971)
Le
Chemin de la Croix, op. 29* (1931) With Gregorian Chants for
Passiontide**
Friedhelm Flamme (organ)* Gregorianik-Schola** Marienmünster/Hans Hermann
Jansen Recorded: Stiftskirche, Bad Gandersheim, 2-3 January 2004. DDD
CPO 777 128-2
[75:36][JQ]
One
of the finest organ discs I’ve heard in years and even if you already
have the work in your collection I suggest you consider investing in
this issue as well. ... see Full
Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Symphony
No. 9 in E minor Op. 95 From the New World (1893) [45:13] Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Symphony No. 2 (1943) [23:01] Cincinnati
Symphony Orchestra/Paavo Järvi rec. Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio,
13-14 March 2005. DSD
TELARC CD-80616 [68:16] [RB]
A
not untroubled Dvořák 9 alongside a very
good Martinů 2. Congratulations all round
on thoughtfully provocative programming..
... see Full
Review
Edward ELGAR
(1857-1934) Violin
Sonata in E minor Op.82 (1918) [25.02] Ferrucio
BUSONI (1866-1924) Violin Sonata
in E minor Op.29 (1891) [27.53] Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1892-1953) Five Melodies
for violin and piano Op.35 bis (1925) [14.24]
Gerald Itzkoff (violin) Philip Amalong
(piano) Recorded at the Crain Residence, Cincinnati,
March 2004
TITANIC TI265 [67.38] [JW]
A
calling card that showcases some stylistic
affinities and promotes a chamber duo who
are attuned to each other’s playing ... see
Full Review
Louise
FARRENC
(1804-1875) Nonette
for Strings and Winds in E-flat Major, Op.
38 [29:10] Melodie in A-flat Major [2:20]
Variations Concertantes for Violin and Piano,
Op. 20 [9:47] From Etudes, Op. 26: No.
17 in e-flat minor [1:26]; No. 18 in d-flat
major [3:08] Trio for Clarinet, Cello and
Piano in E-flat Major, Op. 44 [28:34]
Philippe Bernold, flute; François
Leleux, oboe; Roman Guylot, clarinet; André
Cazalet, horn; Gilbert Audin, bassoon; Guillaume
Sutre, violin; Miguel da Silva, viola; François
Salque, cello; Vincent Pasquier, double-bass;
Brigitte Engerer, piano; Jean-Frédéric
Neuburger, piano Recorded in concert at the
Auditorium of the Louvre, 5 and 26 January,
2005 as a part of a cycle of concerts featuring
the music of Farrenc and Clara Schumann.
NAÏVE V 5033 [74:31] [KS]
Highly
recommendable .... entices me to seek out
more music by this fine and unjustly neglected
composer. Start here and enjoy the exploration!
... see Full
Review
Johann
Friedrich FASCH (1688-1758)
Concerti
Concerto a due cori in B Flat major (Ouverture
[6:43]; Air [2:07]; Bourree [1:34]; Minuet I/II [5:34]; Air [2:47];
Passepied I/II [3:02]) Cappella Coloniensis/Hans-Martin Linde Concerto
à 8 in D major (I Allegro [2:02]; 8. II
Largo [1:25]; III Allegro (Tempo di Menuetto) [3:05]) Reinhold Friedrich,
trumpet; Lajos Lencses, Laszlo Parkanyl, oboe; Aladar Tuske, bassoon;
Budapest Strings Concerto in G major (I
Allegro [2:57]; II Largo [2:06]; III Allegro [2:32]) Günter Höller,
transverse flute; Helmut Hucke, oboe Cappella Coloniensis/Hans-Martin
Linde Concerto in F major (I
Allegro [5:28]; II Andante [2:11]; III Allegro [4:05]) Ludwig Güttler,
Kurt Sandau, corno da caccia Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum Leipzig/Max
Pommer Concerto in D major (I
Allegro [3:42]; 17. II Andante [3:20]; 18. III Allegro [3:22])
Reinhold Friedrich, Alain De Rudder, trumpet; Zoltan Varga, Lehel Ronai,
horn; Lajos Lencses, Laszlo Parkanyi, oboe; Aladar Tüske, bassoon; Budapest
Strings rec. Westdeutschen Rundfunks, Köln. DDD
CAPRICCIO SACD 71 049 [55:52][ZT]
Capriccio’s
new release is recommended listening but is
not the best available recording of this important
and under-recorded baroque composer. ... see
Full Review
Pietro Antonio
FIOCCO (1654-1714)
Le
retour du printemps, pastorale* [46:53]
Sonata for recorder and bc in C*** [06:04]
Tutto acceso d'amore, Cantata a voce
sola** [04:32] Sonata for recorder and bc
in g minor*** [05:01] Dimmi, Amor,
aria for solo voice and bc** [01:39]
Julie Hassler (*), Raphaëlle Kennedy
(*), Françoise Masset (*/**), Caroline
Pelon (*), soprano; Jean-Michel Fumas, Gilles
Guénard, alto (*); Philippe Noncle,
haute-contre (*); Vincent Bouchot, baritone
(*); Hugo Reyne, recorder (***) La simphonie
du Marais/Hugo Reyne rec. live 20 October
1999 at the Théâtre royal de
la Monnaye, Brussels (*); 21 October 1999
at the Academiezaal in Truiden (**/***), Belgium
DDD
CYPRES CYP 3616 [64:11] [JV]
A
generally well-performed musical portrait
of Fiocco ... the music is nice to listen
to, but doesn't make a lasting impression
... see Full
Review
Graham
FITKIN (b.
1963) Flak Sciosophy (1986)a [4:29]
Untitled 11 (1987)a [6:34] There Is A Great Weight On My
Head Tonight (1986)a [8:50] Flak (1989)a [6:27]
The Cone Gatherers (1987)b [11:00] Piano Piece 90 (1990)b
[1:58] From Yellow to Yellow (1985)b [1:35] Piano Piece Early
89 (1989)b [4:09] Piano Piece Mid 89 (1989)b [2:23]
Piano Piece Late 89 (1989)b [2:40]
Eleanor Alberga, Graham Fitkin, Shelagh Sutherland, Errollyn Wallen
(pianos)a; Graham Fitkin (piano)b Recorded: Floating
Earth Wilde Theatre, Bracknell, July 1990
GFR GFCD 990901 [49:55] Graham FITKIN
(b. 1963) Ironic Bed (1998) [5:49] Bob (1996) [1:46] Ironic
(1997) [16:19] Turning (2000) [6:53] Beethoven 7 (1999) [2:29]
Graham Fitkin Group Recorded: Snakeranch Studios, London, July 2000
GFR GFCD 000703
[33:59][HC]
I
look forward to hearing more Fitkin soon, and will in the meantime return
to these discs for some fresh air. ... see Full
Review
Josef
Bohuslav FOERSTER
(1859-1951) Cello
Sonata No. 1 op. 45 (1898) [20:13] Cello Sonata No. 2 op. 130 (1926)
[16:49] Three Nocturnes op. 163 () [9:01] Melody for cello and piano
(1934) [5:28] Duo
Moravia: Jiří Hanousek (cello); Paul Kaspar (piano) Erika Sporerová
(alto) rec. 19-20 June 1996, Studio Franken, Bavarian Radio, Nürnberg.
Germany. DDD. TUDOR
CD 7071 [50:13] [RB]
Do not expect sparks
and lightning but if you have a taste for
music with a gentle romantic glow then your
goal is found. ... see Full
Review
Gottlob Frick
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Die
Entführung aus dem Serail (1782)
- Wer ein Liebchen hat gefundena
[2:25]; Solche hergelaufnen Laffena
[4:18]; O wie will ich triumphierenb
[2:24]; Le nozze di Figaro (1786) –
La vendettac [2:46]; Die
Zauberflöte (1791) - O Isis und
Osiris d[3:20]; In diesen
heil’gen Hallene [4:40] Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1828) Fidelio
(1814) - Hat man nicht auch Gold beinebenf
[2:57] Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Il barbiere
di Siviglia (1816) – La callunia è
un venticellog [4:13] Jacques
Fromental HALÉVY (1799-1862)
La Juive (1835) – Si la rigeurh
[4:08] Albert LORTZING
(1801-1851) Zar und Zimmermann (1837)
– O sancta justitiai[6:25];
Der Waffenschmied (1846) – Auch
ich war ein Jünglingj
[4:00] Otto NICOLAI
(1810-1849) Die lustigen Weiber von
Windsor (1849) – Als Büblein kleink
[4:21] Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901) Don Carlos (1867) –
Ella giammai m’amòl
[7:30] Peter Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Eugene
Onegin (1879) – Ein jeder kennt die
Lieb’ auf Erdenh [5:17] Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Lohengrin
(1850) - Gott grüß euch,
liebe Männer von Brabantm
[2:54]; Tristan und Isolde (1865) –
Tatest du’s wirklich?n[12:45]
Gottlob Frick (bass); abcdehijklBerlin
Symphony Orchestra/abcdghijklWilhelm
Schüchter, eArthur Grüber;
fVienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Wilhelm
Furtwängler; mOrchester des
Nordwestdeutschen Rundfunks, Hamburg/Wilhelm
Schüchter; nLeipzig Gewandhaus
Orchestra/Franz Konwitschny.
mALP1095, nUrania URLP202.
Rec. September ab23rd,
ijk24th, fOctober, lJune
13th, mJuly 1953, March
c3rd, d27th,
h15th, eApril
28th, 1954, nOctober
1950. All tracks sung in German. From Electrola
aEH1443, b7EG8403, cgDB11563,
deDB11567, hDB11566,
hEH1445, jkEH1444, lDB11555,
HMV fALP1130, ADD mono
PREISER 93443 [75:34] [CC]
An
intelligently-planned disc that is infinitely
rewarding and enlightening. ... see Full
Review
Kenneth
FUCHS
(b. 1956) An
American Place (2004) [18:44] Eventide - concerto for english
horn, harp, percussion and string orchestra (1980s) [21:24] Out of
the Dark, suite for chamber orchestra after Three Paintings by Helen
Frankenthaler (1980s) [15:09] Thomas Stacey (cor anglais) (Eventide)
Timothy Jones (French horn) (Out of the Dark)
London Symphony Orchestra/JoAnn Falletta rec. St Luke's, Finsbury,
London, 6-7 September 2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.559224 [55:16] [CC]
Well
worth investigating. Fuchs is a composer who
is new to me, and it has been interesting
to spend 55:16 in his presence. ... see Full
Review
Hans GÁL
(1890-1987) The Complete
Works for Solo Piano Sonata
for piano Op.28 (1927) [18.20] Suite for piano
Op.24 [14.16] Sonatina No.1 in C Op.58 (1951)
[10.26] Sonatina No.2 in A minor Op.58 (1951)
[11.48] Drei Skizzen Op.7 (1910-11) [6.18]
Three small pieces for piano Op.64 (1933)
[8.55] Three preludes for piano Op.65 (1944)
[8.38] Twenty-Four Preludes for piano Op.83
(1960) [50.02] Twenty-Four Fugues for piano
Op.108 (1980) [59.54]
Leon McCawley (piano) Recorded at Potton Hall,
Suffolk, November 2004 and March 2005
AVIE AV2064 [3 CDs: 78.47 + 50.02 + 59.54]
[JW]
Both
Gallic and cosmopolitan - a most enjoyable
and rewarding set ... see Full
Review
Carlo
GESUALDO
(1560-1613) Madrigals
for five voices - Books 1, 2 and 3
Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam/Harry van der Kamp
rec. Renswonde, Reformed Church, Nederl, Hervormde
Kerk, Dec 2001, Oct 2002. DDD
CPO 777 138-2 [71.44 + 71.09] [GH]
Harry
van der Kamp who directs and sings has done
a wonderful job with these works. Never can
they have sounded so convincing. The singers
are ideal and there are no weak links ...
see
Full Review
Louis
GLASS
(1864-1936) String
Sextet Op. 15 in G major (1892) [32:46] Piano Quintet Op. 22 in C major
(1896) [38:03] Christina
Bjørkøe (piano) Copenhagen Classic rec. Danmarks Radio,
Radio House, Concert Hall, 9-10 Oct 1999 (op. 15); 23-25 Mar 2003 (op.
22). CPO 777 062-2 [70:47]
[RB]
Neither
work touches the heights of the Fifth Symphony
but this is honest music which retains the
capacity to charm and move. ... see Full
Review
Alexander
GLAZUNOV
(1865-1936) String
Quartet No. 3 in G major op. 26 (1886) [27:45] String Quartet No. 5
in D minor op. 70 (1898) [28:45] The Fridays (Les Vendredis
or Pyatnitsy: cycle for string quartet: Prelude and Fugue
(book 1 No. 1) [10:16]; Kuranta (book 2 No. 6) [2:02]
The Shostakovich Quartet (Andrei Shishlov; Alexander Balashov; Alexander
Galkovsky; Alexander Korchagin) rec. State Radio and TV Committee of
the Moscow Central Recording Studio 1979 (3); 1975 (5); 1974. ADD
REGIS RRC 1211 [69:15]
[RB]
I
commend this inexpensive disc to explorers
of the string quartet who already know and
love their Smetana and late Dvorak chamber
music. ... see Full
Review
Reinhold
GLIÈRE (1875-1956)
Symphony
No. 3 in B minor Il’ya Muromets Op. 42 (1911) [93:02] Cello Concerto
Op. 87 (1946-47) [46:26] Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Harold Farberman
(Symphony) Sergei Sudzilovsky (cello)
Russian Cinematic Symphony Orchestra/Sergei Skripka Rec. Dec 1978, All
Saints Church, Tooting, London. DDD (symphony); Mosfilm Studio, Moscow,
July 1986 (concerto). DDD
REGIS RRC 2068 [65:27 + 74:01] [RB]
This
is a real treat for those who like to venture
around the periphery of Russian nationalist
repertoire and like a more spacious approach
to the Symphony. ... see Full
Review
Mikhail Ivanovich GLINKA (1804-1857)
Intégrale des oeuvres pour piano [34:14] 1. Separation; 2. Maidens
choir from the opera ‘Ruslan and Ludmila’; 3. Mazurka; 4. Variations
on a Russian song ‘Among the gentle valleys’; 5. Nocturne (from
V. Engelgardt’s collection); 6. Nouvelles Contredanses; 7. Barcarole;
8. Polka; 9. Mazurka; 10. Waltz; 11. A three-voice fugue; 12. Souvenir
d’une Mazurka; 13. Farewell waltz Ludmila Berlinskaya, piano Sextet
in E flat major for two violins, viola, cello, bass and piano Grand
Sextet (1832) [25:51]
Borodin String Quartet; Ludmila Berlinskaya, piano; Grigori Kovalevski,
double-bass rec. Tchaikovsky Conservatoire, Moscow, Russia, 27-30 December,
2003 DDD EUROPE ART
EA RECORDS EA 0404/1 [60:05][MC]
Charming
light salon piano solos and the more substantial sextet ... attractive
scores lovingly performed ... see Full
Review
Christoph
Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787)
Alceste
(Paris version, 1776) [138:09] Dame
Janet Baker (Alceste, mezzo), Robert Tear
(Admète, tenor), Jonathan Summers (Le
Dieu Hercule, baritone), John Shirley-Quirk
(Le Grand-Prêtre d’Apollon, Un Dieu
Infernal, baritone), Matthew Best (L’Oracle,
bass), Philip Gelling (Le Hérault,
Le Dieu Apollon, tenor), Maldwyn Davies (Evandre,
tenor), Elaine Mary Hall, Janice Hooper-Roe,
Mark Curtis, Matthew Best (Coryphées)
Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden/Sir Charles Mackerras Live relay
from Covent Garden, 12th December
1981
PONTO PO-1035 [72:43 + 65:26] [CH]
An
important event in the annals of recent British
opera history. ... see Full
Review
Christoph
Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787)
Orfeo
ed Euridice [100:43] Kerstin Thorborg
(Orfeo – mezzo); Jarmila Novotna (Euridice
– soprano); Marita Farell (Amore – soprano);
Annamary Dickey (Blessed Spirit – soprano);
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera/Erich
Leinsdorf Recorded 20 January 1940 at the
Metropolitan Opera, New York. Broadcast commentary
included. Interview with Kerstin Thorborg
[18:16] – date and interviewer unknown GLUCK
Orfeo ed Euridice: Che farò
senza Euridice (in German) [03:17] Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Das Rheingold:
Weiche, Wotan, Weiche [03:56], Die
Walküre: So ist’s denn aus [02:48],
Deiner ew’gen Gattin [02:25], Götterdämmerung:
Höre mit Sinn was ich sage! [08:20],
Tristan und Isolde: Einsam wachend [04:32],
Parsifal: Ich sah das kind (05:31]
Kerstin Thorborg (mezzo), Berlin State
Opera Orchestra/Frieder Weissman (Gluck),
RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra/Karl Riedel
(Wagner) Recorded 26 June 1933 (Gluck), 8
May 1940 (Wagner), venues not given
GUILD GHCD 2317/18 [72:26 + 79:33] [CH]
If
you don’t mind 1940 sound and want an austerely
tragic, but vital, view of this opera, this
issue is a good deal more that a collector’s
piece. ... see Full
Review
Nicolas
de GRIGNY
(1672-1703) Veni
Creator [14'19] J.S. BACH (1685-1750)
Fantasia in c BWV 562 [3'44] Nicolas
de GRIGNY Pange Lingua J.S.
BACH An Wasserflussen Babylon BWV 653 [5'11] Nicolas
de GRIGNY Verbum Supernum [8'37] J.S.
BACH Fugue in G BWV 577 [3'14] Nicolas
de GRIGNY Ave Maris Stella [9'41] J.S.
BACH Pièce d'Orgue BWV 572 [7'54] Nicolas
de GRIGNY A Solis Hortus [8'32]
Terje Winge (organ) rec. 11-14 October 2002, Al Kirke, Hallingdal, Norway
DDD SIMAX CLASSICS PSC
1242 [69'45] [CB]
A
worthwhile release allowing us to hear a genuinely
interesting piece of modern organ building
but for my money it is let down by some rather
identity-less playing. ... see Full
Review
Camargo
GUARNERI (1907-1993)
Piano
Concerto No. 1 (1931) [19:46] Piano Concerto No. 2 (1946) [22:57] Piano
Concerto No. 3 (1964) [27:06]
Max Barros (piano) Warsaw PO/Thomas Conlin rec. 20-21 Aug 2004,
24-25 June 2004, 4-5 Jan 2003, Philharmonic Hall, Warsaw. DDD
NAXOS 8.557666 [69:49] [RB]
The
adventurous will be rewarded with three piano
concertos bursting with vitality and charting
Guarneri's way with the rhythm and romance
of the big city. ... see Full
Review
Georg
Frideric HANDEL (1685
– 1739) Rodelinda
(1725) [3:22:00] Rodelinda – Anna
Caterian Antonacci (soprano) Grimoaldo – Kurt
Streit (tenor) Garibaldo – Umberto Chiummo
(baritone) Eduige – Louise Winter (mezzo)
Bertarido – Andreas Scholl (counter-tenor)
Unulfo – Artur Stefanowicz (counter-tenor)
Flavio – Tom Siese (silent role) Jean-Marie
Villegier (director) Nicolas de Lajartre and
Pascale Cazales (set designers) Patrice Cauchetier
(costume designer) Bruno Boyer (lighting designer)
Humphrey Burton (video director)
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment/William
Christie Recorded Glyndebourne 1998 
WARNER
MUSIC VISION 3984-23024-2 1DVD [202:00]
[RH]
Rodelinda
and Bertarido’s relationship set in a world
inspired by early cinema. ... see Full
Review
Georg Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Destero
dall empia dite (Amadigi) (1715) M’hai resa infelice (Deidamia) (1741)
Piagero la sorte mia (Giulio Cesare) (1724) Scherza in mar (Lotario)
(1729) Ombre piante; Se’l mio duol (Rodelinda) (1725) Tutta raccolta
ancor (Scipione) (1726) Orrida a gl’occi miei (Ariodante) (1735) Ah.
crudel (Rinaldo) (1711) Sommi dei; Barbaro, partiro (Radamisto) (1720)
Emma Bell (soprano)
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Richard Egarr Recorded 8–10 September 2004,
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
LINN CKD 252
[51.24][RH]
I
will treasure this disc as a record of a fine singer at a wonderful
peak in her career but I can’t get rid of the feeling that the engineers
could have made her sound even better. ... see Full
Review
Howard
HANSON (1896-1981)
Howard Hanson conducts Howard Hanson CD 1 Merry
Mount Suite (1933) [15:46] Mosaics (1958) [12:45] For
the First Time (1962) [20:30]** Piano Concerto Op.36 (1948) [20:14]
CD 2 The Composer Talks - Howard Hanson discusses his
music:- Introduction - the four orchestral colours [3:26] Merry Mount
Suite (1933) - How does a composer write for orchestra; Pitch spectrum
and the colours of the orchestra [30:32] Mosaics (1958) - How
the colours of music influence musical form in the composer’s mind [24:33]
For the First Time (1962) - Musical sound. Using the tonal vocabulary
of music to describe the impression [19:55] CD 3 Symphony
No. 1 in E minor Op. 21 Nordic (1923) [26:42] Symphony No. 2
Op. 30 Romantic (1930) [27:54] The Song of Democracy (1957)
[12:04] CD 4 Symphony No.3 (1943) [33:!2] Elegy
in Memory of My Friend Serge Koussevitzky, Op.44 (1956) [11:21]
The Lament for Beowulf (1925) [12:38]*
Alfred Mouledous (piano) Eastman School of Music Chorus/Dr
Herman H Genhart * Eastman-Rochester Orchestra Eastman Philharmonia**
Eastman-Rochester Symphony Orchestra/Howard Hanson rec. Eastman Theatre
Rochester, New York. 1957-1965. ADD from Mercury LPs: SR90175 (Merry
Mount); SR90267 (Mosaics); SR90357 (First Time); SR90430 (Piano Concerto);
SR90165 (Symphony 1); SR90192 (Symphony 2); SR90150 (Democracy); SR90449
(Symphony 3); SR90150 (Elegy); SR90192 (Beowulf). stereo
MERCURY LIVING PRESENCE
475 6867 4 MM4 [4 CDs: 69:10 + 78:36 + 66:39 + 62:14] [RB]
A
splendid collection for Hanson specialists
everywhere. For explorers it gives the great
works in the shape of the first two symphonies,
Beowulf and the Merry Mount Suite. ... see
Full Review
Howard HANSON
(1896-1981) Fanfare
for the Signal Corps (1943) [1:08] Merry
Mount Suite (1933) [15:00] Bold Island
Suite (1961) [23:51] Symphony No. 2 Romantic
(1930) [25:56]
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/Erich Kunzel
rec. Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, 8 Sept
2004. DDD
TELARC CD-80649 [66:12] [RB]
A
fine addition to the Hanson library ...the
Bold Island Suite is a real discovery. ...
see Full Review
Emil HARTMANN (1836-1898)
Violin Concerto in G minor op. 19 (1876) [25:15] Cello Concerto in D
minor op. 26 (1879) [18:52] Piano Concerto in F minor op. 49 (1890)
[26:02]
Christina Åstrand (violin) Stanimir Todorov (cello) Per Salo (piano)
Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra/Hannu Lintu rec. Helsingborg Konserthuset,
1-5 Sept 2003, 20-21 Aug 2004. DDD
DACAPO SACD 6.220511
[70:09][RB]
A
very agreeable disc in every way ... romantic era music that, while
not immune from convention, is entertaining and often touching. ...
see Full Review
Johann
Adolf HASSE (1699-1783)
Requiem
in E flat major [42:27] Miserere in D minor [21:36] Simona
Houda-Šaturová (soprano), Britta Schwarz (contralto), Eric Stoklossa
(tenor), Gotthold Schwarz (bass)
Dresdner Kammerchor Dresdner Barockorchester/Hans-Christoph Rademann
Recorded live 5th-6th February 2005 in the Lukaskirche,
Dresden. CARUS 83.175
[65:04] [CH]
Certainly
gives us plenty to think about. ... see Full
Review
Franz
Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809) Symphony
No. 37 in C major (1758) [13.09] Symphony No. 38 in C major (1766-8)
[14.39] Symphony No. 39 in G minor (1770?) [15.38] Symphony No. 40 in
F major (1763) [15.16]
Cologne Chamber Orchestra/Helmut Müller-Brühl rec. Sendesaal
DLR, Cologne, 24-28 May 2002
NAXOS 8.557093 [58.41] [SV]
Menuets,
stately and dignified; Andantes move along
elegantly, without straining for inappropriate
profundity. Try it, you'll like it. ... see
Full
Review
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809)
String
Quartets Op. 74 (1793): No. 1 in C major;
No. 2 in F major; No. 3 in G minor, ‘Rider’
The Lindsays: Peter Cropper, violin;
Ronald Birks, violin; Robin Ireland, viola;
Bernard Gregor-Smith, cello rec. Holy Trinity
Church, Wentworth, England, 21-23 Jan 2003.
DDD
ASV GOLD GLD4013 [79:43] [MC]
A
most satisfying sound quality together with
really fine booklet notes. The Lindsays are
heard at their best with this superb Haydn
release ... see
Full Review
Joseph
HAYDN
(1732-1808) Folksong arrangements - Volume 2 Scottish
Songs for George Thomson II - see review for details
Lorna Anderson (soprano) Jamie MacDougall (tenor) Haydn Trio Eisenstadt
rec. October 2003, May, October 2004, Haydn Hall, Esterházy Palace,
Eisenstadt BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 92542 [4 CDs: 73.14 + 72.26 + 68.04 + 67.38] [JW]
These
folksongs should be savoured like chocolate
mints, a few at a time. Any more and indigestion
is assured. ... see Full
Review
Albert
HURWIT
(b. 1931) Symphony No.
1 Remembrance (2002) [58:59]
Bulgarian National Radio SO/Michael Lankester
rec. July 2004, Bulgarian Radio Studio 1,
Sofia, Bulgaria. DDD
MSR CLASSICS MS 1134 [58:59] [RB]
This
eclectic yet patently sincere symphony. ...
see Full Review
Akira IFUKUBE
(b.
1914) Sinfonia
Tapkaara (1954 rev. 1979) [25:57] Ritmica
Ostinata for piano and orchestra (1961
rev.1972) [21:33] Symphonic Fantasia No.
1 (1983) [13:15]
Ekaterina Saranceva (piano) Russian Philharmonic
Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky rec. 3-12 May 2004,
Studio 5, Russian State TV and Radio Company
KULTURA, Moscow. DDD
NAXOS 8.557587 [60:45] [RB]
Valuable
that this has been recorded but fascinating
rather than compelling. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Leoš
JANÁČEK
(1854–1928): The
Eternal Gospel, Legend for soprano,
tenor, chorus and orchestra (1913) [18.45]
The Ballad of Blaník (1919)
[8.02] The Fiddler’s Child,
Ballad for solo violin and orchestra (1913)
[11.46] The Excursions of Mr Brouček,
Suite for orchestra (1908-17) [20.58] Gwyneth-Ann
Jeffers (soprano: Angel), Adrian Thompson
(tenor: Joachim of Fiore), Edinburgh Festival
Chorus (The Eternal Gospel) - sung
in Czech Elizabeth Layton (violin) (The
Fiddler’s Child)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Ilan
Volkov rec. 5-6 June 2004 and 7–8 January
2005, Caird Hall, Dundee. DDD.
HYPERION CDA 67517 [59.54] [ED]
All
Janáček fans should be acquiring this
without delay as should those as yet unconverted
... It’s quality all the way. ... see Full
Review
Emmerich
KÁLMÁN
(1882-1953) The
Duchess of Chicago - Operetta in two
Acts (1928) Libretto by: Julius Brammer and
Alfred Grünwald King Pankraz XXVII of
Sylvaria ... Peter Matic Sándor Boris,
Crown Prince of Sylvaria ... Mehrzad Montazeri
Miss Mary Lloyd of Chicago ... Norine Burgess
Princess Rosemarie of Morenien ... Renée
Schüttengruber James Jacques Bondy ...
Wolfgang Gratshmaier Count Bojazowitsch, Finance
Minister of Sylvaria ... Josef Luftensteiner
Marquis Perolin, Minister of State, Sylvania
... Sándor Németh Count Negresco
... Christian Drescher Tihány, Directior
of the Grill American ... Gernot Kranner Princess
Soljanka of Morenien ... Florentina Kubizek
Kupp Mihály, Gypsy Leader ... Aliosha
Biz
Choir, Orchestra and Children’s Company of
der Volksoper Wien
Bühnenorchester der Wiener Staatsoper/Michael
Tomaschek rec. Vienna Volksoper, Autumn 2004,
part of rediscovered music programme.
CAPRICCIO
DVD 93509 [145:00] [IL]
A
mixed reception, I am afraid. Moments of sparkling
vivacity interposed with much longer periods
of languor. East meeting rather uncomfortably
with the West. ... see Full
Review
Aram KHACHATURIAN
(1903-1978)
Three Ballet Suites Gayaneh
(1942) [18:25] (Sabre Dance;
Dance of the Rose Maidens; Lullaby;
Lesghinka; Ayesha's Dance; Gopak)
Spartacus (1956) [25:33] (Adagio;
Dance of the Maidens; Scene and
Dance with Crotalums; Variations
of Aegina and Bacchanalia) Masquerade
(1940-43) [13:37] (Romance;
Nocturne; Waltz)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Yuri Simonov
rec. 1990s, London. DDD
REGIS RRC 1041 [58:26] [RB]
Simonov
takes the Khachaturian dance scores to the
ball and leaves them dreamy and breathless
... see Full
Review
Aram
KHACHATURIAN
(1903-1978) Toccata
(1932) [4:44] Poem (1927) [9:22] Two
Pieces (1926) [3:33] Sonatina
(1959) [8:51] Ten Children's
Pieces (1964) [16:43] Piano Sonata
(1961, original version) [30:50] Waltz
from Maskarade [4:15]
Murray McLachlan (piano) rec. Aug 1992, All
Saints, Petersham. DDD
REGIS RRC 1184 [79:16] [RB]
McLachlan
makes a persuasive champion ... impresses
for its virtuosity and aggression and sometimes
for its humanity. Much to intrigue here. A
pleasure to welcome this back at bargain price
... see Full
Review
Erich
Wolfgang KORNGOLD
(1897-1957) The
Sea Wolf - film music (1941) [55:04]
plus trailer [4:40] The Adventures of
Robin Hood suite from film music (1938)
[16:22]
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Rumon Gamba
rec. Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester;
1, 3 Sept 2004. DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10336 [76:22] [RB]
All
credit to Chandos: a superb disc. It valuably
fills a yawning gap in the discography and
opens the door on one of the most subtle and
grown-up of film scores. ... see Full
Review
Orlando Di LASSUS
(LASSO)
(1532-1594) Penitential Psalms: Volume
II: 4th [20.07] 5th, [25.08] 6th, [7.59]
7th [14.09]; Numbers 51, 102, 130 and 143
Harry Geraerts (tenor) Rodrigo del Pozo (alto)
Tölzer Knabenchor
Musicalische Compagney Berlin/Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden
rec. Dachau, Schloss, Renaissance-Saal, June
2004. DDD
CAPRICCIO 67 130 [67.56] [GH]
Although
these are not perfect performances they are by far the best and most
arrestingly authentic I have yet heard. The more I hear them the more
I like them and, what’s more, I admire the music even more. ... see
Full Review
Paul Le FLEM (1881-1954)
Works for solo piano: Avril (1910) [5:51]; Vieux calvaire
(1910) [6:23]; Sept prières enfantines (1911) [11:47];
Par grèves (1910) [7:59]; Par landes (1907) [5:55];
Chant des Genêts (1911) [11:42] Violin Sonata (1905) [29:05]
Marie-Catherine Girod (piano) Annick Roussin (violin) rec. La Clé
d'Ut, 10-12 Nov 1992. AAD Collection Musiques Françaises
ACCORD 476 160 9 [78:42][RB]
Melancholy,
heroic, sombrely optimistic ... echoes with the sound of bells and the
beautiful magnificence of marine landscapes - in wind, rain and sunshine.
I cannot overstate the high quality of this music. ... see Full
Review
Franz
LEHÁR (1870–1948)
Das
Land des Lächelns (The Land of Smiles) (1929) Elisabeth
Schwarzkopf (soprano) – Lisa; Nicolai Gedda (tenor) – Prince Sou-Chong;
Erich Kunz (baritone) – Gustl; Emmy Loose (soprano) – Mi; Otakar Kraus
(baritone) – Tschang; Felix Kent (speaking part) – Fu-Li; André
Mattoni (speaking part) – Servant
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/Otto Ackermann Recorded in Kingsway
Hall, London, 17th, 19th – 21st April
and 28th June 1953 Reissue Producer and Audio Restoration
Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn
Appendix: Excerpts from Operettas by Lehár
Performed by Legendary Singers Reissue
Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Ward
Marston
NAXOS 8.111016-17 [74:03 + 78:21] [GF]
Still
hesitating? OK but I must go back to my listening
room and play a few tracks from this Desert-Island
set before bedtime. ... see
Full Review
Franz LEHÁR (1870-1948)
Das
Land des Lächelns (1929) Romantic operetta in two parts. Libretto
by Herzer, Lohner-Beda and Leon
Sou-Chong: René Kollo (tenor) Lisa: Birgit Pitsch-Sarata (sop) Graf
Ferdinand von Lichtenfels: Fred Liewehr (bar) Mi: Dagmar Koller (sop)
Graf Gustav von Pottenstein: Heinz Zednik (bass) Lin-Po: Herbert Prokipa
Korean Court Ballet Südfunkchor Stuttgart and Radioorchester Stuttgart/Wolfgang
Ebert Musical arrangement by Bert Grund Staged and Directed by Arthur
Maria Rabenalt rec. soundtrack August, September 1973, filmed September,
October 1973. DVD.
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON UNITEL 0040 073 4056
[100:00][ED]
A
curiosity despite Kollo’s contribution. ... see Full
Review
Albert
LORTZING (1801-1851)
Undine
- opera in four Acts (1845) Undine, Monika Krause (soprano)
Ritter Hugo, Josef Protschka (tenor) Veit, Heinz Kruse (tenor) Kühleborn,
John Janssen (baritone) Bertalda, Christiane Hampe (soprano) Hans, Andreas
Schmidt (baritone) Marthe, Ingeborg Most (contralto) Tobias, Klaus
Häger (bass) Pater Heilmann, Günter Wewel (bass) Dirk Schortemeier
(speaker) WDR Rundfunkchor
Köln/Godfried Ritter WDR Radio Orchestra, Köln/Kurt Eichhorn
rec. WDR Studios, Cologne, Germany, Nov, Dec 1989, Feb 1990. DDD
CAPRICCIO 51 195 [78:34 + 78:02] [RW]
This
Capriccio recording emerges in a positive
and energetic light with a strong cast, all
in excellent voice and with clear diction.
... 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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