Giacomo
CARISSIMI (1605-1674)
Oratorios Oratorio della SS Vergine [25:57]
Historia Ionae [28:37] 
Complesso Pro Musica Firenze/Gabriele Micheli
rec. July 2003, Chiesa di Lamole Greve, Chianti,
Florence, Italy. DDD
TACTUS TC 602802 [54:34] [JV]
Another
contribution to the growing discography of
Carissimi's oeuvre, but it can't be recommended
for artistic and technical reasons … see Full
Review
Frédéric
CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Twenty-Four
Preludes Op.28 [33.47] 1 Prelude in C sharp minor Op.45 [4.12]
2 Prelude in D flat major Op.28 No.15 [4.44] 3
Berceuse in D flat major Op.57 [4.09] 2 Impromptus: No 1
in A flat major Op.29 [3.47]; No.2 in F sharp majorOp.36 [5.01]; No.3
in G flat major Op.51 [4.32] 4 Fantasie-Impromptu in C sharp
minor Op.66 [4.39] 4 Tarantelle in A flat major Op.43 [3.11]
5 Alfred
Cortot (piano) rec. 1 HMV Studio A, Hayes, London, 22-23
March 1926; 2 EMI Abbey Road Studio No.3, London, 4 November
1949; 3 EMI Abbey Road Studio No.3, London, 30 October 1950;
4 EMI Abbey Road Studio No.3, London, 5 July 1933; 5
Studio C, Queen’s Small Hall, London, 13 May 1931
NAXOS 8.111023 [68:03] [GPu]
A
splendid collection of performances by one
of the great Chopin interpreters of the last
century ... see Full
Review
Thomas
CRECQUILLON
(c.1505-1557) Mort m’a privé Oeil
esgaré [2:43] Missa Mort m’a
privé [32:53] Mort m’a privé
a 5 [2:11] Caesaris auspiciis [4:36]
Mort m’a privé a 4 [2:36] Cur
Fernande pater [5:08] Le monde est
tel [1:58] Praemia pro validis
[7:37] Congratulamini mihi [6:18]
The Brabant Ensemble/Stephen Rice rec. Chapel,
Merton College, Oxford, 3-5 September 2004.
DDD
HYPERION CDA 67596 [66:11] [GPu]
A
fascinating disc both historically and aesthetically;
well planned and well performed, it makes
an enticing introduction to Crecquillon’s
work … see Full
Review
George
CRUMB (b.1929)
Songs, Drones, and Refrains of Death
(1962-68)* [29:04] Quest (1994)
[25:41]
Nicholas Isherwood (baritone)* Ensemble New
Art/Fuat Kent rec. Radiostudio
Zurich, 12-15 June 2004
NAXOS 8.559290 [54:45][DC]
You
certainly won’t feel you’ve ‘got it’ on a
single hearing, but repeated visits will reward
the listener with a huge spectrum of subtlety.
... see Full
Review
Charles DAVIDSON
(b.1929) A
Singing of Angels (1967) [26:30] 1
... And David Danced Before the Lord
(1966) [37:54] 2 Baroque Suite
(excerpts) (1974) [8:55] 3
1 Finchley Children’s Music Group /
Nicholas Wilks; 2 Amy Goldstein
(soprano); Douglas Webster (baritone); Ramon
Ricker (tenor saxophone, flute); Chris Vatalaro
(vibraphone); Hubert "Tex" Arnold
(piano); Jeff Campbell (bass); Rich Thompson
(drums); The Buffalo Vocal Ensemble/Brad Lubman;
3 Finchley Children’s Music Group
Chamber Choir; Jewish Heritage Youth Orchestra/Nicholas
Wilks rec. 1, 2 The Warehouse,
London, November 1999; 3 Hale Auditorium,
Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, New York,
January 2001. DDD
NAXOS 8.559436 [73:29] [GPu]
Music
of real intelligence, charm and high competence
which draws creatively on several different
idioms ... see Full
Review
Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797–1848) Linda di Chamounix
(1842) Edita Gruberova
(soprano) – Linda; Deon van der Walt (tenor) – Carlo, Visconte di Sirval;
Jacob Will (bass) – Il Marchese di Boisfleury; László Polgár (bass)
– Il Prefetto; Armando Ariostini (baritone) – Antonio, padre di Linda;
Nadine Asher (mezzo-soprano) – Maddalena, madre di Linda; Cornelia Kallisch
(mezzo-soprano) – Pierotto; Miroslav Christoff (baritone) – L’Intendente
del feudo Chorus and Orchestra from the Zürich Opera/Adam Fischer
rec. live, Opernhaus Zürich, September 1996 Directed for stage by Daniel
Schmid, Set Design: Erich Wonder; Costume Design: Florence von Gerkan,
Lighting: Jakob Schlossstein, Jürgen Hoffman Directed for DVD by Alf
Bernhard-Leonardi TDK
DV-OPLDCM 
[2 DVDs: 164:00][GF]
With
good singing and in some cases inspired acting this DVD-only version
of Linda can be safely recommended. ... see Full
Review
Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Lucia
Di Lammermoor - An opera in three acts to a libretto
by Salvatore Cammerano based on the novel The Bride of Lammermoor by
Sir Walter Scott Lucia
- Maria Callas (soprano) Edgardo - Giuseppe
Di Stefano (tenor) Enrico - Tito Gobbi (baritone) Raimondo
- Raffaele Arié (bass) Arturo - Valiano Natali
(tenor) Alisa - Anna Maria Canali (mezzo) Normanno
- Gino Sam (tenor) Chorus and Orchestra of the Maggio
Musicale Fiorentino/Tullio Serafin rec. 29-30 January, 1, 3-4,
6 February 1953, Teatro Comunale, Florence. ADD First issued
as Columbia 33CX 1131 and 1132 Appendix (on CD 2):
Highlights from Lucia di Lammermoor performed by legendary
singers (1910-1952) Cruda, funesta smania…; II tuo dubbio è omai
certezza; La pietade in suo favore Robert Merrill, (baritone);
Ezio Pinza, (bass); Luigi Vellucci, (tenor) RCA Victor Orchestra
and Chorus/Renato Cellini. rec. 1952 Ah, talor del tuo pensiero;
Verranno a to sull' aure Amelita Galli-Curci, (soprano);
Tito Schipa, (tenor) rec. 1928, Camden, New Jersey Chi
mi frena in tal momento Maria Barrientos, (soprano);
Charles Hackett, (tenor); Riccardo Stracciari, (baritone);
Jose Mardones, (bass); George Meader, (tenor); Emma Noe, (soprano)
rec. 1920 Dalle stanze ove Lucia Ezio Pinza, (bass)
rec. 1923, [Ardon gli incensi;] splendon le sacre faci*; Spargi
d' amaro pianto Toti Dal Monte, (soprano) rec. 1926 Tombe
degli avi miei…; Fra poco a me ricovero Beniamino
Gigli, (tenor) O rec. 1925 Tu the a Dio spiegasti
l’ali John McCormack, (tenor) rec. 1910 Reissue Producer
and Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn NAXOS
8.110131-32 [69:01 + 76:30] [AB]
A
well-engineered set of a famous historic set that made Maria
Callas famous. Strong singing by the entire cast, well conducted
and well presented ... see Full
Review
John
DOWLAND
(1563-1626)
Lute Music Volume 1 Lord
Strange's March, P. 65 [1.40] Mrs. White's Thing, P. 50 [2.14] Mrs.
White's Nothing, P. 56 [1.19] Fancy (Fantasia) in G major, P. 73, "Tremolo" [3.27] Mrs. Nichols' Almain, P. 52 [1.34] Fantasies:
No. 1. A Fantasie, P. 1 [4.27] Prelude, P. 98 [1.06] Fantasies: No.
5. A Fancy, P. 5 [2.37] A Dream, P. 75 [5.05] Fantasies: No. 7. A Fancy,
P. 7 [5.02] Mrs. Winter's Jump, P. 55 [1.40] Lady Clifton's Spirit,
P. 45 [1.48] Mrs. Vaux's Galliard, P. 32 [2.27] Mrs. Vaux's Jig, P.
57 [1.16] Tarleton's Resurrection, P. 59 [2.55] Fantasies: No. 6. A
Fancy, P. 6 [3.00] Fantasies: No. 2. Forlorn Hope Fancy, P. 2 [3.52]
The Shoemaker's Wife, A Toy, P. 58 [1.14] Lady Hunsdon's Puffe, P. 54
[1.50] Orlando Sleepeth, P. 61 [2.55] Mr Dowland’s Midnight P.99 [1.56]
Fantasies: No.4. Farewell “In Nomine” P.4 [4.34] Farewell; Fantasie
No.3 P.3 [6.41] Nigel North
(lute) ec. St John Chrysostom Church, Newmarket, Ontario, July 2004
NAXOS 8.557586 [64.39]
[JW]
It’s
very pleasurable listening. An auspicious start. ... see Full
Review
Antonin
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Serenade
for Strings in E, op.22 (1875) [30:22]
Serenade for wind instruments, cello and double bass in D minor, op.44 (1878)
[23:41] Chamber Orchestra
of Europe/Alexander Schneider;
Douglas Boyd, Mark Pledger (oboes); Richard Hosford, Nicholas Rodwell (clarinets);
Robin O’Neill, Christopher Gunia (bassoons); David Nissen (contrabassoon); Jonathan
Williams, Stephen Stirling, Kevin Abbott (horns); Christopher Marks (cello);
Enno Senft (double-bass)
rec. 1984
COE RECORDS CDCOE 801 [54:54]
[GPJ]
Without
sacrificing any of their charm, Schneider’s finely paced performances
gives these works a little more weight and substance than they sometimes
receive. ... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Symphony
No. 9 From the New World (1893) [42.48]* The Water Goblin (1896) [21:08] Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Nikolaus
Harnoncourt
rec. Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, October 1999, (* live recording). DDD WARNER
CLASSICS 3984 25254-2 [64:13] [TP]
Harnoncourt has something to tell even the most seasoned collector
about this music, and in a warhorse like this, that is no mean feat!
... see Full Review
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1943) Falstaff: Symphonic
Study, Op. 68 (1913)* [34:11] Introduction and Allegro for string
quartet and string orchestra, Op. 47 (1904-5) ^ [13:37] Serenade
in E Minor, Op. 20 (1892)^ [11:05] Pomp
and Circumstance March No. 1 in D, Op. 39, No. 1 (1901) # [7:12]
Imperial March, Op. 32 (1897) # [4:30] Pomp and Circumstance
March No.4 in G, Op. 39, No. 4 (1907) # [5:24]
*London Symphony Orchestra/Anthony Collins; ^Strings of the New Symphony
Orchestra/Anthony Collins; # London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Malcolm Sargent
rec. Kingsway Hall, London *12-15 February 1954; ^31 March, 1 April
1952; # 2 March 1953. ADD
BEULAH 4PD12 [76:05][JQ]
This
is a valuable CD, which reminds us of Anthony Collins’ significant credentials
as an Elgar conductor and its restoration to general circulation is
to be welcomed ... see Full Review
Gerald
FINZI (1901-1956) Earth and Air and
Rain, op. 15, By Footpath and Stile* op. 2, To a Poet.
Op. 13a. Roderick
Williams (baritone); Iain Burnside (piano); Sacconi Quartet * world
premiere recording rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, August 2005, January 2006.
DDD NAXOS 8.557963 [71:54][AOz]
For
Finzi’s admirers, this will be an important addition, but it’s ideal,
too, for those completely new to the genre, because Williams is so direct
and natural. ... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Gerald FINZI
(1901-1956) Intimations of Immortality
op. 29 (1949-50) [38:58] For Saint Cecilia op. 30 (1947) [16:37]
James Gilchrist (tenor)
Bournemouth Symphony Chorus/Greg Beardsell Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/David
Hill rec. The Concert Hall, The Lighthouse, Poole, 4-5 June 2005. DDD
NAXOS 8.557863
[55:35][AOz]
Easily
the best recording by any standard – I hope
Naxos realize what a treasure this is ...
see Full
Review
Nicolas
FLAGELLO (1928-1994) Piano
concerto No.1 (1950) [28.48] Dante’s Farewell (orch.
Anthony Sbordini) (1962) [13.43] Concerto sinfonico for saxophone
quartet and orchestra (1985) [22.53] Tatjana
Rankovich (piano); Susan Gonzalez (soprano) National Radio
Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine/John McLaughlin Williams, New
Hudson Saxophone Quartet, Rutgers Symphony Orchestra/Kynan
Johns rec. Large Concert Studio, National Radio of Ukraine,
Kiev 22-26 June 2005 and Mason Gross Performing Arts Center,
Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA, 6 November
2004 NAXOS 8.559296 [65.28]
[CF]
Powerful
music, not much to cheer the soul, but deeply expressive and given
committed performances. ... see Full
Review
Mateo
FLECHA (1481-1553)
Ensalada 'La Justa' [15:41] Antonio de CABEZÓN (1510-1566) Diferencias sobre
el Canto del Caballero [02:44] Diferencias sobre la Pavana italiana
[04:56] Diferencias sobre la Gallarda milanesa [03:03] Mateo FLECHA Ensalada 'El Jubilate' [08:59]
Antonio De CABEZÓN Tiento del primer Tono [08:05]
Diferencias sobre 'Guardame las vacas' [04:39] Mateo FLECHA Ensalada 'El Fuego' [12:45]
La Stagione Armonica, Concerto di Viole/Sergio Balestracci rec. September
2003, Palazzo Giusti, Padova, Italy. DDD
cpo 777070-2 [61:16] [JV]
A
very fine recording of three ensaladas, which are typical of the
Spanish culture of the 16th century ... see Full
Review
César
FRANCK (1822-1890) String Quartet
in D major, (1889-90) [46:44] Ernest
CHAUSSON (1855-1899) String Quartet in A major,
Op. 35 (1898-99) completed by Vincent d'Indy [30:15] Spiegel
String Quartet (Elisa Kawaguti (violin); Stefan Willems (violin);
Leo De Neve (viola); Jan Sciffer (cello)) rec. 5-7 July 2005,
Fürstliche Reitbahn, Bad Arolsen, Germany. DDD MUSIKPRODUKTION
DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM 644 1391-2 [77:09] [MC]
I
cannot imagine too many people being disappointed with these splendid
interpretations of the Franck and the Chausson string quartets
by the Spiegel String Quartet. ... see Full
Review
Francesco Saverio GEMINIANI
(1687-1762) Sonata in D, op.
4,1 [11:04] Sonata in C minor, op. 4,9 [13:22] Sonata in D minor, op.
4,8 [11:44] Sonata in A, op. 4,10 [08:22] Francesco
Maria VERACINI (1690-1768) Sonata in A, op. 1,7 [10:51] Sonata
in B flat, op. 1,8 [12:52] Lyriarte:
Rüdiger Lotter (violin); Olga Watts (harpsichord) rec. April
2004, Studio 2 of Bavarian Radio, Munich, Germany. DDD
OEHMS OC 356 [68:54][JV]
Violin
sonatas by two strongly different personalities, played brilliantly
by Rüdiger Lotter and Olga Watts ... see Full
Review
Umberto
GIORDANO (1867–1948)
Andrea Chenier (1896)
José Cura (tenor) – Andrea Chenier; Maria Guleghina (soprano) – Maddalena
di Coigny; Carlo Guelfi (baritone) – Carlo Gérard; Giacinta Nicotra
(mezzo) – La mulatta Bersi; Cinzia De Mola (mezzo) – La Contessa di
Coigny; Annie Vaville (mezzo) – Madelon; Carlo Cigni (baritone) – Roucher;
Armando Ariostini (baritone) – Il romanziero; Giuseppe Guidi (bass)
– Fouquier-Tinville; Mario Bellanova (baritone) – Il sanculotto Mathieu;
Pierre Lefèbvre (tenor) – Un Incredibile; Stefano Pisani (tenor) – L’Abate;
Atfeh Ziyan (bass) – Schmidt; Mauro Marchetto (bass) – Il Maestro di
casa; Michele Castagnaro (bass) – Dumas. Orchestra e Coro del Teatro
Comunale di Bologna/Carlo Rizzi Directed for Stage by Giancarlo Del
Monaco; Set and Costume Design Giancarlo Del Monaco; Choreography Astrid
Ascarelli; Lighting Design Wolfgang von Zoubek; Directed for TV and
Video by Paola Longobardo rec. live, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, January
2006 Sound Formats DD 5.1 DTS 5.1 LPCM stereo; Picture Format 16:9;
Region Code 0
TDK DVWW-OPACH
[123:00] [GF]
Impassioned
singing and acting in period settings and costumes makes this a convincing
and attractive proposition. ... see Full
Review
Philip
GLASS (b.1937) Symphony No.8 (2005)
[38:56] Bruckner
Orchester Linz/ Dennis Russell Davies rec. Mechanics’ Hall, Worcester,
MA, USA (no date) ORANGE
MOUNTAIN MUSIC OMM 0028 [38:56][TH]
Glass
fans will need no persuading but the rest should try before you buy
... see Full Review
Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907)
Music
for String Orchestra Holberg Suite, Op.40 (1884, orch. 1886)
[18:35] Last Spring from the Two Elegiac Melodies, Op.34/1
(1880) [4:21] Two Melodies, Op.53: No.1 ‘Norwegian’ [3.42];
No.2 ‘The First Meeting’ (1870) [3:43] ‘At the Cradle’ from
the Two Lyric Pieces, Op.68/2 [3.07] ‘The Wounded Heart’ from
the Two Elegiac Melodies, Op.34/2 (1880) [3.18] Two Nordic
Melodies, Op.63 (1895): No.1 ‘In Folk Style’ [6:51]; No.2a
‘Cow Call’ [1.56]; No.2b ‘Peasant Dance’ [2.04] ‘The Death
of Åse’ from the Peer Gynt Suite No.1, Op.46/1b (1875)
[4:20] Oslo Camerata/Stephan
Barratt-Due rec. 25-28 August 2005, Lommerdalen Church, Oslo, Norway.
DDD NAXOS 8.557890 [51:58]
[MC]
Superbly
performed string scores by the Oslo Camerata.
A Naxos release that could have proved even
more desirable if the playing time had been
more generous. ... see Full
Review
Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Piano
Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 (1868) [29:44]* Two Nordic Melodies,
Op. 63 (1894-5) [12:57]+ Peer Gynt, Suites Nos. 1, 2 , Opp.
46, 55 (1875) [14:44]; [16:18] Lilya
Zilberstein (piano) Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi rec.
Konserhuset, Gothenburg, May 1987, + June 1992, December 1992, and
* March
1993 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON ENTRÉE
477 5007 [74:11] [SV]
Järvi's
unfussy naturalness is an asset, though he can be prone to over-emphasis
... see Full Review
George
Frederic HANDEL (1685-1759) Solomon
(1748) Ewa Wolak
(mezzo) – Solomon; Elizabeth Scholl (soprano) – Pharoah’s Daughter,
Queen/Second Woman; Nicola Wemyss (soprano) – Nicaule, Queen of Sheba/First
Woman; Knut Schoch (tenor) – Zadok/Attendant; Matthias Vieweg (bass)
– Levite Junge Kantorei Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra/Joachim Carlos Martini
rec. live, Kloster Eberbach, Rheingau, Germany, 30 May 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557574-5 [81:06 + 79:01][GPu]
One
of Handel’s greatest oratorios, but in a performance which falls short
of the very high standards set by some other recordings ... see Full
Review
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685–1759) Rinaldo (1711)
Goffredo – Marion Newman (contralto) Almirena – Laura Whalen
(soprano) Rinaldo – Kimberly Barber (mezzo) Eustazio – Jennifer
Enns Modolo (mezzo) Argante – Sean Watson (bass) Armida – Barbara
Hannigan (soprano) Mago – Giles Tomkins, Donna – Nicole Bower,
Due Sirene – Catherine Affleck, Melinda Delorme, Un araldo – Lenard
Whiting, Opera in Concert, The Aradia Ensemble/Kevin Mallon
rec. Grace Church on the Hill, Toronto, Canada, 19-22 June,
25 August–2 September 2004 NAXOS
8.660165-67 [3 CDs: 78.47 + 52.15 + 48.44] [RH]
A
performance that fails to live up to its promise; enthusiasts might
want to have it, for completeness but if you are unfamiliar with
Handel’s opera seria, save up and get a better recording ... see Full
Review
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809)
Symphonies - Vol. 30 Symphony no.14 in A (c.1761-3) [15:58]
Symphony no.15 in D (c.1760) [19:12] Symphony no.16 in B flat (c.1760-1763)
[14:36] Symphony no.17 in F (c.1760-1762) [18:56]
Toronto Camerata/Kevin Mallon rec. 18-20 July 2004, Grace Church on
the Hill, Toronto, Canada
NAXOS 8.557656 [68:42] [CH]
Excellent
performances in the modern period-aware mould ... see Full
Review
Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809) Arias
and Cantatas Scena
di Berenice Hob.XXIVa;10 [12:20] Cantata
composra per la Signora Banti in Antigono
di Pietro Metastasio - Son pietosa, son bonina
Hob.XXXIIb;1 [4:30] Aria per La Circe,
ossia L’isola incantata di Pasquale Anfossi
e Gottlieb Naumann - Arianna a Naxos Hob
XXVIb; 2 (orchestral version) [17:59] Cantata:
Solo e pensoso Hob.XXIVb: 20 [7:17]
Aria da Il Canzoniere di Francesco Petrarca
(Sonetto XXVIII) Miseri noi,
misera patria! Hob.XXIVa: 7 [10:41]
Arleen Augér (soprano) Handel and Haydn
Society/Christopher Hogwood rec. Methuen Memorial
Hall, Massachusetts, October 1988. DDD
AVIE AV 2066 [53.02] [JQ]
In
the notes reference is made to Miss Augér’s
"ravishing angelic voice." Hearing
this exquisite recital, who would disagree?
... see Full
Review
HERVÉ (Florimond
RONGER) (1825-1892)
Mam’zelle
Nitouche (1883) Fernandel (baritone)
– Célestin/Floridor; Elaine Thibault
(soprano) – Denise; Aimé Doniat (tenor)
– Champlâteaux; Line May (soprano) –
Corinne
Decca Studio Orchestra/André Grassi
rec. Decca Studios, Antony, France, 1968.
ADD
ACCORD OPÉRETTE 476 9999 [66:19
+ 40:24] [RW]
Fresh
and appealing ... see Full
Review
Ivan
KHANDOSHKIN (1747-1804) Violin
Sonata in G minor, Op. 3, No. 1 (c1800) [19:58] Violin Sonata
in E flat major, Op. 3, No. 2 (c1800) [13:10] Violin Sonata
in D major, Op. 3, No. 3 (c1800) [13:09] Six Old Russian Songs
(c.1783): No. 1. Along the bridge, this bridge [5:15]
*; No. 2. Is this my fate, this fate? [3:15]; No. 3. Little
dove why do you sit so sadly? [5:11]; No. 4. What happened
and why? [3:00]; No. 5. Once I gathered golden sheaves [2:58];
No. 6. Once I was a young man [4:07]) Anastasia
Khitruk (violin) Dimitry Yakubovski (viola)* Kirill Yevtushenko,
(cello) (Old Russian Songs) rec. St Petersburg, May 2005. DDD NAXOS
8.570028 [70.17]
[JL]
Mostly
an uncompromising diet of forgotten unaccompanied violin music
that now deservedly sees the light of day in the form of suitably
virtuoso performances. ... see Full
Review
Joseph
Martin KRAUS (1756-1792) Complete German Songs An das
Klavier (To the Clavier), VB 94 [02:17] Die Henne (The Hen), VB 77 [2.19]
Schweizer Rundgesang (Swiss Round - Song), VB 72 [02:02] Anselmuccio,
VB 86 [01:08] Die Mutter bei der Wiege (The Mother at the Cradle), VB
92 [01:44] Der Mann im Lehnstuhl (The Man in the Easy - Chair), VB 91
[01:44] An - als ihm die - starb (To - when he learned of the death
of), VB 74 [03:25] Das Rosenband (The Rose Garland), VB 85 [01:52] Der
Abschied (The Departure), VB 95 [07:14] Die Welt nach Rousseau (The
World According to Rousseau), VB 76 [00:58] Daphne am Bach (Daphne at
the Brook), VB 83 [03:30] An mein Madchen (To My Girl), VB 87 [01:22]
Ein Lied um Regen (A Song about Rain), VB 90 [04:01] An den Wind I (To
the Wind I), VB 79 [01:34] An den Wind II (To the Wind II), VB 80 [02:05]
Das schwarze Lieschen aus Kastilien (Black Liza from Castille), VB 88
[03:53] Der nordische Witwe (The Nordic Widower), VB 89 [03:29] Ein
Wiegenlied: Seht doch das kalte Nachtgesicht (A Cradle Song: See yet
the cold face of night), VB 93 [00:32] Ich bin vergnugt (I am content),
VB 82 [02:12] Hans und Hanne (Hans and Hanne), VB 78 [02:06] An eine
Quelle (To a Spring), VB 75 [01:41] Phidile, VB 84 [02:13] Ich bin ein
deutscher Jungling (I am a German lad), VB 81 [01:45] Ein Wiegenlied
- So schlafe nun, du Kleine (A Cradle - Song - So sleep now, little
one), VB 96 [01:45] Rheinweinlied (A Song to Rhenish Wine), VB 73 [02:39]
Gesundheit (Health), VB 97 [00:22]
Martin Hummel (baritone) Birgid Steinberger (soprano)
Glen Wilson (piano) rec. Reitstadel Neumarkt, Oberpfaltz, August 2004
NAXOS 8.557452
[62.55][JW]
This
is all rather lukewarm but that’s how I felt
about Kraus’s songs. ... see Full
Review
Franz LEHÁR
(1870-1948)
Le
Comte de Luxembourg (The Count
of Luxemburg) (extracts) (1909) Colette
Riedinger (soprano) – Suzanne Didier; Gabriel
Bacquier (baritone) – Fernand de Luxembourg;
Robert Destain (tenor) – Brissard; Annick
Baugé (soprano) – Juliette; André
Balbon (baritone) – Prince Basil; Charles
Pernès Choir Frasquita
(extracts) (1922), French adaptation (1931)
Bernard Alvi (tenor) – Armand; Kleuza de Pennafort
(mezzo) – Frasquita; Robert Destain (tenor)
– Hippolyte; Colette Muzart (soprano) – Aimée;
André Balbon (baritone) – Aristide;
Marthe Amour (soprano) – Inès; Motta
Luna (soprano) – Lola La Veuve Joyeuse
(The Merry Widow) (extracts)
(1905) Colette Riedinger (soprano) – Missia;
Marthe Amour (soprano) – Nadia; Reda
Caire (tenor) – Danilo; Bernard Alvi (tenor)
– Camille; Robert Destain (tenor) – Popoff;
Georges Courly (baritone) – Kromtsky; Decca
Studio orchestra/Richard Blareau rec. Decca,
Antony, France, 1955 (Count of Luxemburg)
and 1958 (Frasquita; Merry Widow)
ADD
ACCORD OPÉRETTE 476 9992 [69:22
+ 79:30] [RW]
Blareau's
vivacious pace releases the energetic scintillations
of this music ... see Full
Review
Daniel
LENTZ
(b. 1941) Is
it Love? [9:04] Lascaux [9:21] On the Leopard Altar [5:19] Wolf is Dead
... [10:05] Requiem [2:27]
Jessica Lowe, Paul MacKey, Susan James, Dennis Parnell (voices);
Brad Ellis, David Kuehn, Arlene Dunlap, Daniel Lentz (keyboards); Brad
Ellis, David Kuehn, Arlene Dunlap, Jessica Lowe, Susan James (wineglasses)
rec. Santa Barbara, California, February 1984
COLD BLUE MUSIC CB0022 [36:18] [GPu]
More
than just minimalism, much of this is variously
inventive and engaging music, well worth a
listen ... see Full
Review
Thomas
LINLEY, The Younger
(1756-1778) A
lyric ode on the Fairies, Aerial Beings and
Witches of Shakespeare ‘The Shakespeare Ode’
(1776): (Overture: Andante
— Allegro [5:58]; Minuetto [1:55|;
PART I: O guardian of that sacred
land [4:27]; Tis thine alone [1:00];
Come then, O Fancy, bend thy bow [2:24];
At Shakespeare's happy birth [1:20];
And now is come the fated hour [1:59];
Be Shakespeare born! [2:13]; So
spake the god [0:26]; There in old
Arden's inmost shade [3:09]; And as
before his purged eyes [0:24]; Thy
hand his youthful footsteps led [3:50];
Some drive the clam'rous owl away [1:59];
Some drive the clam'rous owl away [2:48];
PART 2: But oh! what sudden gloom
[1:42]; By the pale light of yon blue fire
[0:37]; See, through the glimmering darkness
[0:18]; What howling whirlwinds rend the
sky! [1:48]; For whom, at yonder livid
flame [1:13]; Whither ye beldames do
ye roam? [4:03]; The tempests cease
[3:14]; No more the elves, with printless
pace [0:30]; Ariel, who sees thee now?
[3:59]; No more shalt thou upon the sharp
north run [0:24]; For who can wield
like Shakespeare's skilful hand? [4:52];
Yet, Fancy, once again on Britain smile
[3:20]
Julia Gooding and Lorna Anderson (sopranos);
Richard Wistreich (bass); The Parley of Instruments
Baroque Orchestra and Choir/Peter Holman;
Paul Nicholson rec. 25-27 March 1992, St Paul’s
Church, New Southgate, London. DDD Originally
issued on Hyperion CDA66613
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55253 [60:03] [EM]
Very
enjoyable music and not in any way minor ...
see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Piano Concerto No.
1 in E flat, S124 (1849, rev. 1853, 1856) [19:06] Piano Concerto No.
2 in A, S125 (1839, numerous revs., pub. 1863) [21:48] Totentanz,
Paraphrase on the Dies Irae, S126 (1849) [15:58] Hungarian
Fantasia, S123 (1852) [15:14]
Oleg Marshev (piano) Aalborg Symphony Orchestra/Matthias Aeschbacher
rec. Aalborg, Denmark, 6-10 February 2006. DDD
DANACORD DACOCD 651 [72:06][PSe]
Although
a bit let down by the recording, Marshev’s alternative, musically more
thoughtful, view of these virtuosic war-horses is truly fascinating.
Definitely worth a listen! ... see Full
Review
Carl
LOEWE (1796–1869)
Passion
Oratorio (1847?) Nathalie Gaudefroy (soprano), Christianne Stojtin
(contralto), Jacky da Cunha (tenor), Henk Neven (bass), Edwin Crossley-Mercer
(bass – Peter) Ensemble
Vocal des Heures Romantiques Ensemble Instrumental des Heures Romantiques/Udo
Reinemann rec. live, 2 August, 2003, L’Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste,
Villedieu-le-Château, France, Heures Romantiques au Pays de Monhodon
2003 Festival. DDD NAXOS
8.557635-36 [59:33 + 37:04] [GF]
A
rarity no doubt and probably not a forgotten
master-piece, but a pleasing version of the
passion story, enthusiastically performed
by young musicians ... see Full
Review
Witold
LUTOSŁAWSKI
(1913-1994) Derwid Milczące
serce –
Silent Heart (1957) [4:58] Z lat
dziecinnych – Childhood Days (1962)
[6:03] W lunaparku – In an Amusement
Park (1958) [3:26] Jeden przystanek
dalej – One Stop Further (1961)
[5:12] Czarownica – Witch (1957)
[5:12] Nie oczekuję dziś nikogo
–
I Haven’t Been Waiting For Anyone Today
(1959) [6:48] Znajdziesz mniewszę
mnie wszędzie – You’ll Find Me Everywhere
(1964) [4:30] Cyrk jedzie – The
Circus is Coming (1957) [5:40] Po co
śpiewać piosenki –
Why Sing Songs (1960) [3:26] Miłość
i świat - Love and the World (1958)
[5:15] Warszawski dorożkarz
–
Warsaw Cab-Driver (1958) [5:41] Milczące
serce –
Silent Heart (1957) [5:30]
Mariusz Klimek (vocal); Krzysztof Herdzin
(piano, keyboards, arrangements); Marek Podkowa
(tenor saxophone); Marcin Murawsli (bass guitar);
Cezary Konrad (percussion) rec. live, Studio
PiK Bydgoszcz, 8 June 2005
ACTE PRÉALABLE APO134 [61:04] [GPu]
An
unusual album, which can be recommended to
Lutosławski completists or to broadminded
jazz enthusiasts … see Full
Review
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