Arnold
SCHOENBERG
(1874-1951)
Serenade Op. 24 (1923) [33:13]* Variations for Orchestra, Op. 31 (1928)**
Bach Orchestrations: Fuga (St Anne) [5:55]; Schmiicke dich, O liebe
Seele [5:33]; Komm, Gott Schopfer, heiliger Geist [2:24]** 
Stephen Varcoe (bass); Twentieth Century Classics Ensemble (Charles
Neidich (clarinet), Alan R. Kay (bass clarinet), Peter Press (mandolin),
David Starobin (guitar), Rolf Schulte (violin), Toby Appel (viola),
Fred Sherry (cello))/Robert Craft *; Philharmonia Orchestra/Robert Craft
** rec. 10 January 1994, Master Sound Astoria Studios, New York (Serenade);
July, October 1998, Abbey Road Studio One, London. DDD
NAXOS 8.557522 [67:54] [EM]
A
disc I can certainly recommend to any lovers of Schoenberg! ...
see Full Review
Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Verklärte
Nacht, Op.4 (1899; for string orchestra 1943)
[31:19]¹ Pelleas und Melisande, Op.5 (1902-03) [41:56]² Chamber
Symphony Op.1 (1906) [21:48]³ Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Quartet No.1 in G minor Op.25
(1861) orch Arnold SCHOENBERG (orch 1937) [42:41]º
English Chamber Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim¹ New Philharmonia Orchestra/John
Barbirolli² Birmingham Contemporary Music Group/Simon Rattle³ City of
Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Simon Rattleº rec. Studio No.1 Abbey Road,
London 1967 (Verklärte Nacht); Kingsway Hall, London, 1967 (Pelleas
und Melisande); Symphony Hall, Birmingham 1993 (Chamber Symphony)
and The Maltings Snape, 1984 (Brahms-Schoenberg)
EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 3 71492 2 [73:22 + 64:36][JW]
Rattle:
the most impressive constituent part. Barbirolli: hot-blooded but occasionally
fallible. Barenboim can easily be supplanted by other performances.
As such it’s not at all bad but in truth rather a mixed bag ... see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) String Quartet No.14 in D Minor
D810 “Death and the Maiden” (1824) [35:58] String Quartet No.13
in A Minor D804 “Rosamunde” (1824) [33:09]
Takács Quartet rec. St. George’s, Brandon Hill, Bristol, 22-25 May 2006.
DDD
HYPERION CDA67585 [69:09][TP]
It just doesn’t get any better than this. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano
Trio No. 1 in B flat D.898 (1827) [40:29] Piano Trio No. 2
in E flat D.929 (1827) [42:26] Notturno in E flat D.897
(1827) [10:14] Sonatensatz D.28 (1812) [7:39] Grand
Duo in A major D.574 (1817) [22:37] Jean-
Philippe Collard (piano); Augustin Dumay (violin); Frédéric
Lodéon (cello) rec. Salle Adyar, Paris, Jan, May 1986; Salle
Wagram, Paris, Jan.1982 EMI
CLASSICS GEMINI 365295 2 [58:35 + 65:13] [TH]
Readers
will not be too disappointed … Collard in particular on sparkling
form ... see Full Review
Ervín
SCHULHOFF (1894-1942) Funf Pittoresken
(1919) [12:07] Partita fur Klavier (1922) [19:12] Cinq etudes de Jazz (1926) [13:21] Hot Music – Zehn Synkopierte Etuden (1928)
[12:11] Suite dansante en jazz pour piano (1931) [17:12]
Tomáš Víšek (piano) rec. Domovina Studios, Prague, 1993
SUPRAPHON 11 1870-1 131 [74:35][JW]
Víšek
in Schulhoff - digital clarity and precision;
every note is superbly placed and detonated
and coloured. ... see Full
Review
William
SCHUMAN (1910-1992) Symphony
No. 3 (1941) [27:28] Symphony No. 5 Symphony for Strings (1943)
[17:54] Judith (1949) [22:22] Seattle
Symphony Orchestra/Gerard Schwarz rec. S. Mark Taper Foundation
Auditorium, Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA, Sept. 2005 (3); Seattle
Center Opera House, Jan. 1991 (5); Jan. 1992 (Judith). DDD. NAXOS
8.559317 [67:44] [RB]
Wonderfully
intense and luminous playing from the Seattle Orchestra. These
are fine readings and the disc is made by the first modern recording
of the Third Symphony in quite some time. ... see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Symphony
No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120a (1841,
rev. 1851) [rehearsal 51:17; performance
29:48]. Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1797-1827) Symphony
No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67b (1808)
[rehearsal 20:15; performance 27:33]. aVienna
Symphony Orchestra, bBerlin Philharmonic
Orchestra/Herbert von Karajan. rec. aVienna,
November 1965; bBerlin, January
1966. Director: Henre-Georges Clouzot. NTSC
4:3 PCM Stereo; Region 0 DVD also includes
interview with Karajan and filmed masterclass
on the opening of the second movement of
the Beethoven 
EUROARTS
2072118 [120:00] [CC]
This
is a real eye-opener. To eavesdrop on Karajan
at work reveals a true master musician ...
a significant release. ... see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Lieder see
review for details Peter
Schreier (tenor), Norman Shetler (piano) rec. 1972-1973,
Studio Lukaskirche, Dresden. ADD BERLIN
CLASSICS 0184062BC [4 CDs: 69:23 + 64:57 + 60:43 + 60:22]
[CH]
The
performances are just about perfect. Alas, the documentation
seriously compromises the enterprise. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony
No. 8 in C minor op. 65 (1943) [61:51] Leningrad
Philharmonic Orchestra/Evgeni Mravinsky rec. live, Leningrad,
27 or 28 March 1982. stereo. DDD previously released on Philips
Legendary Classics 422 4422 REGIS
RRC 1250 [61:51]
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony No. 8 in C minor op. 65 (1943)
[65:36] London Symphony Orchestra/Evgeny
Svetlanov rec. 30 October 1979, Royal Festival Hall, London. ADD BBC LEGENDS BBCL
4189-2 [65:36] [RB]
Mravinsky
1982 - natural concert perspective, authenticity
and a sense of
occasion. Svetlanov: vivid sound and gripping
interpretation ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975)
The
Golden Age - complete ballet Op.22
(1930)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/José
Serebrier rec. Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow,
23-26 May 2006. DDD
NAXOS 8.570217-18 [76:41 + 67:01] [PCW]
Shostakovich
at his most inimitable … Bargain of the
century … see Full
review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dimitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Lady
Macbeth of Mtsensk (1934) Katerina
Ismailova: Eva-Maria Westbroek (soprano)
Sergey: Christopher Ventris (tenor) Boris
Ismailov/Old convict: Vladimir Vaneev (baritone)
Zivoniy Ismailov: Ludovit Ludha (tenor)
Priest/Guard: Alexander Vassiliev, (baritone)
Chief of Police: Nikita Storojev (baritone)
De Nederlandse Opera Chorus
Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam/Mariss Jansons
Martin Kusèj (director) rec. Amsterdam,
25-28 June 2006. DVD all regions; NTSC
OPUS
ARTE OA 0965 D [236:00] [AOz]
This
is wonderful … so well performed on all
counts that it makes an outstanding choice.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jean SIBELIUS
(1865-1957) Kullervo op. 7 (1892) [71:47] Charlotte Hellekant
(mezzo) Nathan
Gunn (baritone) Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Men's Chorus/Robert
Spano rec. 27-28 May 2006, Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta,
Georgia. DDD TELARC
CD-80665 [71:47][RB]
Few
have conveyed so well as Spano the arching tragedy of this work and
the male chorus are magnificently idiomatic ... see Full
Review
Carl
STAMITZ (1745-1801) Orchestral Quartets
Orchestral Quartet in F Op.14 No.4 [20:58] Concertante Quartet
in B flat Op.14 No.5 [15:00] Concertante Quartet in G Op.14 No.2 [12:56]
Orchestral Quartet in C Op.14 No.1 [18:00]
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Chamber Orchestra/Donald Armstrong
rec. Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wellington, New Zealand, 3-6 August 2004.
DDD NAXOS 8.557671
[66:55][PCW]
Ronald
STEVENSON (b. 1928) Piano Concerto
No.1 Faust Triptych () [29:51] Piano Concerto No.2 The Continents
() [35:05] Murray
McLachlan (piano) Chetham's Symphony Orchestra/Julian Clayton rec.
Studio 7, BBC Manchester, 19-20 February 1993. DDD
REGIS – FORUM FRC 9109 [65:06][RB]
These
are stirring yet totally unbombastic concertos with a serious jaw-set
and with grandeur in their grasp. ... see Full
Review
Ronald
STEVENSON (b. 1928) Rhapsody:
Lyric music of Ronald Stevenson Three Lyric Pieces
(1947–50) (Vox Stellarum (1947) [5:01]; Chorale
Prelude for Jean Sibelius (1948) [6:01]; Andante sereno (1950) [5:31])
Three Nativity Pieces (1949): (Gold: Children’s March
[3:56]; Frankincense: Arabesque [6:30]; Myrrh: Elegiac Carol [4:34])
Symphonic Elegy for Liszt (1986) [14:15] A Carlyle
Suite (1995) (Aubade (Morning Song) [2:01];
Souvenir de Salon: Jane Welsh Carlyle listens to Chopin [6:42]; Variations
– Study in historical styles on a theme by Frederick the Great Theme
(8 bars) & I. In Baroque style [0:46]; II. In Rococo
style [0:47]; III. In Romantic style [0:43]; IV. In
Impressionist style [1:17]; V. Expressionist style [2:07];
VI. Sketch for a new classicality [1:36]; Scherzino – Schottische
: Jeannie’s Wit [1:17]; Serenade (Evening Song) [1:58])
Scottish Folk Music Settings for Piano (c.1959-65)
(2. Waly, waly [2:55]; 3. A rosebud by my Early
Walk [2:18]; 8. The Hielan Widow’s Lament [2:12]; 9. Hard
is my fate [2:56]; 10. Ne’erday Sang [2:56])
Sheena Nicoll (piano) rec. The Whiteley Hall,
Chethams School of Music, Manchester, 19-20 April 2006
DUNELM RECORDS DRD0268 [78:18][RB]
This
is music that predominantly wheels in a kaleidoscope of constant slow
motion amid velvet-buffered gentle dissonances. ... see Full
Review
Thomas
STOLTZER (1485-1526) Psalm Motets
Super salutem et omnem pulchritudinem [07:39] O admirabile
commercium [03:22] Erzürne dich nicht (Psalm 37) [21:15]
In Domino confido (Psalm 11) [05:12] Herr, wie lang willst
du mein so gar vergessen (Psalm 13) [05:44] Benedicam Domino
in omni tempore (Psalm 34) [12:26] Magnificat 6. toni [09:04]
Requiem aeternam [05:37]
Josquin Capella (Miriam Andersén, René Kartodirdjo (soprano), Andreas
Hirtreiter, David Munderloh, Paul Kirby (tenor), Guido Heidloff (baritone),
Willem Ceuleers, Joel Frederiksen (bass))/Meinolf Brüser rec. September
2005, Steinfeld Monastery, Germany. DDD
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 605 1394-2 [71:08][JV]
A
fine recording which sheds light on a composer who for historical
and musical reasons hasn't been given the attention he deserves...
see Full Review
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Elektra -
music drama in one act (1908) Gerda
Lammers (soprano) - Elektra, Hedwig Müller-Bütow (soprano)
- Chrysothemis, Georgine von Milinkovic (mezzo) - Klytämnestra,
Edgar Evans (tenor) - Aegisthus, Otakar Kraus (baritone)
- Orestes, David Kelly - Der Pfleger des Orest, Phyllis
Simons - Die Vertraute, Leah Roberts - Die Schleppträgerin,
Dermot Troy - Ein junger Diener, Charles Morris - Ein alter
Diener, June Grant - Die Aufseherin, Lauris Elms; Noreen
Berry; Josephine Veasey; Marie Collier; Jeannette Sinclair
- fünf Mägde, The Covent Garden Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Rudolf
Kempe rec. live, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London,
29 May 1958 Includes bonus track: Lord Harewood in conversation
with Roger Beardsley ROYAL
OPERA HOUSE RECORDS ROHS004 [54.21 + 61.46] [DH]
Lammers
gives natural and intelligent shape to both the words and the
drama and with Kempe unearths the detail and sweep of this score
... see Full Review
Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971)
Three Russian Sacred Choruses (1926-34) [4:45] Mass (1944-48)
[17:09] Cantata (1951-52)* [23:46] Babel (1944) [4:57]
Symphony of Psalms (1930, rev.1948) [22:25]
The Gregg Smith Singers (Choruses, Mass, Cantata) Simon Joly
Chorale (Symphony) Mary Ann Hart (soprano), Thomas Bogdon (tenor)*
Orchestra of St. Lukes (Mass) Philharmonia Orchestra (Symphony)
Robert Craft (conductor) rec. SUNY, Purchase, NY, 1992 (Choruses),
1995 (Mass, Cantata), 27 March 2002 (Babel) and 5-6
January 2001, Abbey Road Studio No.1, London (Symphony)
NAXOS 8.557504 [73:03] [DC]
To
shun this series would seem to defy all reason. ... see Full
Review
Barbara
STROZZI (1619-1677) Serenata,
con violini, Op. 8 (1664) [1:48] Lagrime mie, Op. 7 (1659)
[8:39] Finche tu spiri, Op. 7 (1659) [10:17] Bel desio che
mi tormenti, Op. 6 (1657) [6:18] Il Lamento: Sul Rodano severo,
Op. 2 (1651) [12:19] Costume de grandi: Godere e lasciare,
Op.2 (1651) [4:29] L’Eraclito Amoroso: Udite Udite amanti,
Op. 2 (1651) [6:32] Mentite (instrumental version), Op. 6
(1657) [4:19] Apresso ai molli argenti, Op. 7 (1659) [11:56] Biagio
MARINI (c.1597-1665) Sonata per due violoni,
Op. 22 (1655) [4:35] Sinfonia sesto tuono, Op. 22 (1655)
[2:04] Ensemble
Poïésis: Christiana Presutti (voice); Martin Bauer (viola
da gamba); Angélique Mauillon (harp); Hager Spaeter-Hanana
(cello), Odile Edouard, Benjamin Chénier (violins); Marion
Fourquier (harp, director) rec. 4-6 May, 2006, Auditorium
Ansermet, Radio Suisse Romande, Geneva. DDD ÆON
AECD 0643 [71:16] [GPu]
A
well-recorded, soundly performed programme of the fascinating
music of a remarkable figure … see Full
Review
Karol
SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Pieśni
księżniczki z baśni Op. 31 - Songs of a Fairy-Tale
Princess for voice and orchestra (1915 orch. 1934) [9:50] (1.
Samotny księżyc/The Lonely Moon; 2. Słowik/The
Nightingale; 3. Taniec/Dance) Harnasie Ballet-pantomime
in two tableaux for tenor, chorus and orchestra Op. 55 (1923-31) [33:49]
(Obraz I: Na hali: Tableau I: In the mountain pasture:
4. No. 1 Redyk/Driving the sheep; 5. No. 2 Scena mimiczna
(zaloty)/Mimed Scene (Courtship); 6. No. 3 Marsz zbójnicki/The
Tatra Robbers’ March; 7. No. 4 Scena mimiczna (Harnaś i
Dziewczyna)/Mimed Scene (The Harnaś and the girl); 8. No.
5 Taniec zbójnicki. Finał/The Tatra Robbers’ Dance. Finale; Obraz II: W karczmie: Tableau II: In the inn: 9. No. 6a
Wesele/The Wedding; 10. No. 6b Cepiny/Entry of the bride;
11. No. 6c Pieśń siuhajów/Drinking Song; 12. No. 7
Taniec góralski/The Tatra Highlanders’ Dance; 13. No. 8 Napad
harnasiów. Taniec/Raid of the Harnasie. Dance; 14. No. 9
Epilog/Epilogue) Pieśni miłosne Hafiza Op.
26 Love Songs of Hafiz for high voice and orchestra (1914)
[21:31](15. Życzenia/Desires; 16. Zakochany wiatr/The
infatuated East Wind; 17. Taniec/Dance; 18. Serca mego perły/Pearls
of my soul; 19. Wieczna młodość/Eternal Youth;
20. Głos twój/Your Voice; 21. Pieśń pijacka/Drinking
Song; 22. Grób Hafiza/Hafiz’ Grave)
Iwona Sobotka (Princess); Katarina Karnéus (Hafiz); Timothy
Robinson (Harnasie) City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus City
of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle rec. 23–25 October
2002 (Harnasie, Hafiz tracks 15-18), 30 June 2004 (Hafiz
tracks 19-22), 20 March 2006 (Fairytale Princess), Symphony Hall,
Birmingham. DDD EMI
CLASSICS 0946 3 64435 2 2 [65:13][AOz]
Rattle’s
feel for Szymanowski is so personal and so individual that whatever
he has to express in the music is worth listening to. ... see Full
Review
Sergei Ivanovich TANEYEV
(1856-1915) Part songs (12)
on Poems by Jakov Polonsky, Op. 27 (1910) [53.41]
Voronezh Chamber Choir/Oleg Shepel Riben Sevostyanov (choirmaster) (assisted
in Nos. 11 and 12 by the Choir of the Voronezh Institute of the Arts)
rec. November 1992, Voronezh, Russia.
ETCETERA KTC 1158 [53.41] [PSh]
This
magnificent choral work, long revered in Russia, is now ours to
hear and enjoy. ... see Full Review
Aleksander TANSMAN (1897-1986)
Variations
on a theme of Frescobaldi (1937) [14:27] Symphony No. 4 (1939)
[27:22] Four Polish Dances (1931) [11:07] Que la Sauveur des
Paines vienne Maintenant (1939) [5:00]
Symphony Orchestra of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic/Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski
rec. November-December 2005, Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Concert
Hall, Bialystok, Poland
DUX DUX-0542 [58:01] [DB]
Uncommon
repertoire excellently recorded and performed. … see Full
Review
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony No.2 in C Minor Op.17 Little Russian (1872) [34:35]
Serenade for Strings in C Major Op.48 (1880) [33:02]
USSR State Symphony Orchestra/Evgeni Svetlanov Rec. 1967-1970, USSR,
ADD REGIS RRC 1266 [67:37]
[RB]
Gutsy
performances and recordings and what a luxury item the USSR SSO
was. A prime disc especially at bargain price.... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony
No. 1 in G minor, Winter Daydreams, Op. 13 [44:25] Symphony No.
2 in C minor, Little Russian, Op. 17 [32:18] Symphony No. 3 in
D, Polish, Op. 29 [47:52] Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 [44:33]
Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 [47:35] Symphony No. 6 in B minor,
Pathétique, Op. 74 [46:18] Francesca da Rimini, Op. 32
[24:36] Marche slave, Op. 31 [22:49] 1812, Op. 49 [15:29]
Romeo and Juliet - fantasy overture [19:21] Hamlet op.
67 [19:06] New York
Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein rec. Philharmonic Hall, NY,
20 Oct 1970 (1); 24 Oct 1967 (2); 10 Feb 1970 (3); 31 Oct 1960 (Francesca);
21 Jan 1963 (Marche); 2 Oct 1962 (1812); 19 Oct 1970 (Hamlet); Manhattan
Center, NY, 28 Apr 1975 (4); 16 May 1960 (5); 11 Feb 1964 (6); Saint-George
Hotel of Brooklyn, 13 Jan 1957 (Romeo and Juliet). ADD
SONY CLASSICS COLUMBIA LEGENDS SERIES SM5K 87987 [6 CDs: 67.29 +
60.40 + 59.59 + 65.08 + 64.47 + 69.53][RB]
A
reminder of the unstable chemistry of Bernstein
and Tchaikovsky. A match made in heaven? Not
quite. ... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Romeo
and Juliet, fantasy overture for large orchestra (1869,
rev. 1870 and 1880) [19:54] Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op.
13, Winter Daydreams (1866, rev. 1874) [41:01] Prague
Symphony Orchestra/Václav Smetáček (conductor) rec. Dvořák
Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague, 29 April 1963 (overture), 22-24 June
1961 (symphony). ADD SUPRAPHON
SU 3895-2 [61:07] [ED]
A
rewarding and recommendable disc: the symphony in particular is
given its due in a highly involving reading. ... see Full
Review
Johann
Baptist VAŇHAL (1739-1813) Violin
Concerto in G major (Weinmann IIb:G3) (by 1772) [27:26] Violin
Concerto in G major (Weinmann IIb:G1) (by 1770) [20:31] Violin
Concerto in B flat major (Weinmann IIb:Bb1) (by 1775) [22:36] Takako
Nishizaki (violin) Cologne Chamber Orchestra/Helmut Müller-Brühl
rec. 12-15 May, 2005 Deutschlandfunk, Sendesaal DLR, Cologne,
Germany. DDD NAXOS
8.557815 [67:38] [MC]
I
can’t imagine Vaňhal being anything other than overjoyed by
the superb playing of Takako Nishizaki on this captivating and
invigorating Naxos release. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813-1901) Falstaff
- opera in three acts (1893) Falstaff - Tito
Gobbi (bar); Alice Ford - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
(sop); Ford - Rolando Panerai (bar); Meg Page
- Nan Merriman (mezzo); Mistress Quickly -
Fedora Barbieri (cont); Nannetta - Anna Moffo
(sop); Fenton - Luigi Alva (ten); Pistol -
Nicola Zaccaria (bass); Bardolph - Renato
Ercolani (ten); Dr. Caius - Tomaso Spataro
(ten)
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/Herbert
von Karajan rec. June 1956, Kingsway Hall,
London. ADD
EMI CLASSICS 0946 3 77349 2 6 [55.02 +
64.36] [RF]
This
excellent recording and performance of Verdi’s
final operatic masterpiece should be part
of every collection. At bargain price it is
a stocking-filler without equal for any opera-lover
who doesn’t already own it. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Il
Trovatore - opera in four acts (1853) Manrico
- Giuseppe Di Stefano (ten); Leonora - Maria Callas (sop);
Di Luna - Rolando Panerai (bar); Azucena - Fedora Barbieri
(mezzo); Ferrando - Nicola Zaccaria (bass); Ines - Luisa
Villa (sop); Ruiz - Renato Ercolani (ten) Chorus and Orchestra
of
Teatro alla Scala, Milan/Herbert von Karajan rec. August
1956, Teatro alla Scala, Milan. ADD EMI
CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS
OF THE CENTURY 7243 5628982 [67.45 + 61.33] [RJF]
Despite
some vocal limitations this recording is worth hearing for the
conducting alone, especially at its lowest price. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813-1901)
Luisa Miller - tragic melodrama in three acts (1849)
Count Walter, local landowner
- Bonaldo Giaiotti (bass); Rodolfo, Count Walter’s son - Placido Domingo
(ten); Frederica, Duchess of Ostheim and Walter’s niece - Jean Kraft
(mezzo); Wurm, Count Walter’s steward - James Morris (bass); Miller,
a retired soldier - Sherrill Milnes (bar); Luisa, Miller’s daughter
- Renata Scotto (sop) Metropolitan Opera Chorus
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra/James Levine. Production by Nathaniel
Merrill. Set designs by Attilio Colonnello. Costume design by Charles
Caine Video director: Kirk Browning; Audio Producer: John F. Pfeiffer
rec. live, Metropolitan Opera, New York, 20 January 1979 Plus Bonus
artists discussion Picture format: NTSC/Colour/4:3 Sound formats:
PCM Stereo. DTS 5.1. DOLBY digital 5.1 Menu language: English. Subtitles
in Italian (original language), English, German, French, Spanish and
Chinese. DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON 073 4027
[148:00 + 12:00] [RJF]
The
interpretation of the eponymous heroine by Renata Scotto, together
with the strong singing of Domingo and Milnes, make this DVD recording
of Luisa Miller a worthwhile purchase. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813-1901)
Rigoletto - melodrama in three acts (1851)
Duke of Mantua - Plácido Domingo (ten); Rigoletto, his jester - Cornell
MacNeil (bar); Gilda, Rigoletto’s daughter - Ileana Cotrubas (sop);
Sparafucile, a villain available or hire as an assassin - Justino
Diaz (bass); Maddalena, his sister - Isola Jones (mezzo); Giovanna,
Gilda’s Duenna - Ariel Bybee (mezzo); Count Monterone - John Cheek
(bar); Marullo, a courtier - Robert Goodloe (bar); Matteo Borsa, a
courtier - James Atherton (ten); Count Ceprano - Philip Booth (bar);
Countess Ceprano - Loretta Di Franco (sop) Orchestra and Chorus of
the Metropolitan Opera, New York/James Levine. Production by John
Dexter. Set and Costume Design by Tanya Moiseiwitsch . Television
Director: Kirk Browning Audio Producer: John Pfeiffer rec. live, Metropolitan
Opera, New York, 7 November 1977 Bonus interviews and survey of Rigoletto
at The Met Picture format: NTSC/Colour/4:3 Sound formats: PCM Stereo.
DTS 5.1. DOLBY digital 5.1 Menu language: English. Subtitles in Italian
(original language), English, German, French, Spanish and Chinese.
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON
0730939GH [132:00]
[RJF]
A
typical Met production with realistic sets and costumes. An ideal
counterweight to contemporary producer concepts. There are few
singers about nowadays who can do justice to Verdi like the leading
trio here. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Aida - opera
in four acts (1871) Il
Re, King of Egypt - Carlo Striuli (bass); Amneris, his daughter
- Dolora Zajick (mezzo); Radames, captain of the guards -
Kristan Jöhannasson (ten); Amonasro, King of Ethiopia - Juan
Pons (bass-bar); Aida, his daughter - Maria Chiara (sop);
Ramfis, High priest - Nicola Ghiuselev (bass); Chorus and
Orchestra dell'Arena di Verona/Nello Santi rec. live, Arena
di Verona, 1992. Stage director: Gianfranco De Bosio; Set
Design: Rinaldo Olivieti after Ettore
Fagiouli’s design for the 1913 Verona premiere. Costume Design, as at the 1913
Verona premiere: Auguste Marriete TV and Video Director: Gianni Casalino Sound
format, DD 5.1. DTS 5.1. LPCM stereo. Picture format 4:3 Introductory essay in
English, German and French Subtitles in Italian (original language), English,
German, French, Italian and
Spanish TDK DVWW-OPAIDV [146:00]
[RJF]
Whilst
the sets and costumes are resplendent they are poor compensation
for poor singing and harsh acoustics. ... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678–1741) Sonata ‘Graz’
(No. 3) for violin and continuo in D, RV 11 [12:28] Cantata Tremori
al braccio, RV 799 [13:28] Sonata for violin, cello and continuo
in D, RV 83 [8:57] Cantata Elvira, Anima mea, RV 654 [10:58]
Sonata ‘Graz’ (No. 2) for violin and continuo in B minor, RV
37 [12:05] Cantata Lungi dal vago volto, RV 680 [16:41]
Mhairi Lawson (soprano) La Serenissima/Adrian Chandler rec. St. Andrews
Church, Toddington, 27-29 March 2006
LINN RECORDS CKD281 
[76.11][RH]
An
appealing selection of rarely performed Vivaldi works, given in lively
and vivid performances that bring out the works’ appeal. ... see Full
Review
Ron
WASSERMAN (b. 1961) Trilaterus
Tango Sonata for violin
and piano (2004-5) [14.36] Ghaleb and the
Donkey for solo piano (2004) [4.41] Trilaterus
for violin, piano and double bass (2006) [19.09] Sonata
for double-bass and piano (2003) [28.10]
Kurt Nikkanen (violin) Maria Asteriadou (piano)
Ron Wasserman (double-bass) rec.
12-13 April, 12 June 2006, Westchester County, New York. DDD
RED BANDANNA RECORDS IA-003 [67.44][GH]
Interesting
works for and including the double-bass by a contemporary American
composer who embraces a wide variety of styles. ... see Full
Review
Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Trio for
flute, cello, and piano J.259 (1819) [24:09] Sonata No. 1 in F for
flute and piano (1810) [8:52] Sonata No. 3 in D for flute and piano
(1810) [4:48] Sonata No. 4 in E flat for flute and piano (1810) [5:47]
Sonata No. 6 in C for flute and piano (1810) [8:45]
Stephen Preston (flute) Jennifer Ward Clarke (cello) Richard Burnett
(piano) rec. December 1984, Finchcocks, Goudhurst, Kent
AMON RA CD-SAR 21 [52:21][DB]
Greatly
enjoyable performances. … see Full
Review
Judith
WEIR (b.
1959) On buying a horse (1991)
[2.26]; Ox Mountain was covered by Trees (1999) [5.15]; Songs
from the Exotic (1987) [13:14]; Scotch Minstrelsy (1980)
[13:25]; The Voice of Desire (2003) [11:38]; A Spanish
Liederbooklet (1988) [8:50]; King Harald’s Saga (1979)
[13:45]; Ständchen (1997) [3:15] Susan
Bickley (mezzo); Andrew Kennedy (tenor); Ailish Tynan (soprano);
Ian Burnside (piano) rec. London, November 2005, January, June
2006. SIGNUM
CLASSICS SIGCD087 [68:06]
[AOz]
One
day this music might be re-interpreted with less elegant and
more gutsy voices but until then this will be the one to listen
to. Weir is far too significant a composer not to listen to,
in any form. ... see Full Review
Peter
WISHART (1921–1984) Opheis
Kai Klimakes Op.35 (1959) [31:42] Partita in F sharp Op.10
(1950) [9:18] Sonata for Piano Duet Op.5 (1949)a [9:56] Constant
LAMBERT (1905–1951) Suite in three movements (1925)
[13:13] Prize Fight (1924)a [8:32] Mark
Tanner (piano); Allan Schiller (piano)a rec. St
George’s, Brandon Hill, Bristol, May 2006 PRIORY
PRCD881 [73:49]
[HC]
This
magnificent release is a fitting tribute to Wishart, who would
have been 85 this year and it sheds new light on the music of
Constant Lambert. ... see Full
Review
Return
to Front page 
ALPHABETICAL