ALPHABETICAL LISTING

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Macmillan and his British Contemporaries: Twentieth Century Masters Volume 2 Julian ANDERSON (b.1967) O Sing Unto The Lord (1999)[6:59] James MACMILLAN (b.1959) Christus Vincit (1994) [6:33] Jonathan DOVE (b.1959) Ecce Beatam Lucem (1997) [5:58] Ryan WIGGLESWORTH (b.1979) Libera Nos (2003)[3:42] James MACMILLAN: On The Annunciation of The Blessed Virgin (1997) [6:49] Jonathan DOVE: Into Thy Hands (1996) [[5:31] Judith WEIR (b.1954) Love Bade Me Welcome (1994) [4:31] Robin HOLLOWAY (b.1943) Since I Believe [4:39] Francis GRIER (b.1955) A Prayer of St. Augustine [4:08] Tarik O'REGAN (b.1978) Surrexit Christus (2002) [2:54] Peter WISHART (1921-1984) Jesu, Dulcis Memoria (1968) [5:19] John JOUBERT (b.1927) Whitsun Carol, Op.115b (1987) [2:29] Gabriel JACKSON (b.1962) Salve Regina (2000) [4:51] The Choir of New College Oxford/Edward Higginbottom Robert Patterson; Nicholas Wearne (organ) rec. Douai Abbey, Berkshire, England 13-15 July 2004. DDD AVIE AV 2085 [64:08] [JQ]

This is one of the finest choral discs to have come my way for some time. I rejoice to find clear evidence that so much high quality music is being written for liturgical use by composers of today. ... see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No 10 (original performing version by Deryck Cooke) Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy rec. Town Hall, Philadelphia, November 1965; remastered using DSD SONY CLASSICAL 82876 78742-2 [70:15] [PCW]

Not the last word on Mahler 10 but the first; it can now be heard in vivid sound ... see Full Review

Tigran MANSURIAN (b. 1939) Ars Poetica (1996-2000) - Concerto for mixed choir a cappella (Poems by Yeghishe Charents): Part I: Three Night Songs; Part II: Three Portraits of Women; Part III: Three Autumn Songs; Part IV: And Silence Descends Armenian Chamber Choir/Robert Mlkeyan rec. live, 6 June 2003, Saghmosavank Monastery, Armenia ECM 1895 [46:45] [DC]

Lovers of beautifully composed choral music should treat themselves to this recording, and those seeking to discover a new name will not be disappointed. ... see Full Review

Marin MARAIS (1656-1728) Suite in D major (Troisième Livre de pièces de viole, 1711) [20:19] Suite in A minor (Cinquième Livre de pièces de viole, 1725) [15:32] Suite “Le Labyrinthe” (Quatrième Livre de pièces à une et trois violes, 1717) [10:14] Suite in E minor (Deuxième Livre de pièces de viole, 1701) [19:26] Juan Manuel Quintana (viola da gamba), Dolores Costoyas (theorbo), Attilio Cremonesi (harpsichord) rec. Château du Touvet, Isère, November 1997. DDD HARMONIA MUNDI MUSIQUE D'ABORD HMA 1955248 [65:45] [GPu]

Not perhaps the most ‘poetic' reading of Marais, but this is a thoroughly enjoyable sampler of one of the great composers for the viola da gamba ... see Full Review

Giuseppe MARTUCCI (1856-1909) Sonata in G minor, Op.22 (1874) [16:03]
Melodia (1890) [2:56] Three Pieces for violin and piano, Op.67 (1886) [15:05] Giovanni SGAMBATI (1841-1914) Two pieces for violin and piano, Op.24 [9:21] Gondoliera, Op.29 [5:31] Luca Braga (violin), Lucia Pittau (piano) rec. Sala Rodi, Cremona, Italy, 28-29 June, 2 July 2004. DDD TACTUS TC 851301 [48:56] [GPu]

A pleasant account of some minor pieces by two of the most interesting (non-operatic) Italian composers of their era … see Full Review

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Sechs Spruche Op. 79 (1843-46) [9:44] Hear my Prayer (1844) [10:38] Beati Mortui Op. 115, No. 1 (1833) [2:54]Die deutsche Liturgie (1846) [6:26] Ave Maria Op. 23, No. 2 (1830) [6:40] 100^th Psalm (1842) [4:02] Laudate Pueri Op. 39, No. 2 (1830) [5:37]Magnificat Op. 69, No. 3 (1847) [8.37] Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge/Richard Marlow rec. 14-17 January 2000, Chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge CHANDOS CHAN 10363 [74:03] [RH]

This highly recommendable disc brings his sacred music to the fore in fine, flexible performances from Richard Marlow and choir. ... see full review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphony No. 40 in G minor K550 (1788) [24.35] Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Concerto in D major Op.61 (1806) [45.12]+ Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Yehudi Menuhin (violin)/Lucerne Festival Orchestra+ Wilhelm Furtwängler rec. Kunsthaus, Lucerne, 1947 (Beethoven); Musikverein, Vienna, 1949 (Mozart) NAXOS 8.110996 [69.47] [JW]

Furtwängler's commercial legacy wasn't huge so collectors will welcome this latest instalment with alacrity. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Operatic Overtures: Die Zauberflöte (1791) K620 [8:09] * Le Nozze di Figaro (1786) K492 [4:11] * Idomeneo, Rè di Creta (1781) K366 [4:46] * Don Giovanni (1787) K527 [6:31] * La Clemenza di Tito (1791) K621 [4:48] * Die Entführung aus dem Serail (1782) K384 [5:42] * Der Schauspieldirektor (1786) K486 [3:55] * Così fan tutte (1790) K588 [4:39] * Three German Dances (1791) K605 [6:09] ** Leopold MOZART (1719-1787) Cassation in G, ‘Toy Symphony' [10:29] ** Orchestra of St. John's/John Lubbock rec. Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London, published 1982 *; St. John's Smith Square, London, published 1979 ** ADD SANCTUARY CLASSICS CD RSN 3072 [60:09][GPu]

Sympathetic and well-judged modern instrument performances that, while offering nothing revelatory, will give pleasure to most listeners… see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major K467 (1784) [29.07] Concerto for Three Pianos in F major K242 (1776) [22.32] Concerto for Two Pianos in E flat major K365 (1779) [24.46] Jon Kimura Parker (piano) (performs his own cadenzas) James Parker (piano) (K242 and K365) Ian Parker (piano) (K242) CBC Radio Orchestra/Mario Bernardi rec. live, Chan Centre Vancouver, 8 January 2006. DDD CBC SMCD 5240 [76.26] [DD]

The Mozart Anniversary year will bring many reissues and new releases but this will surely be regarded as a highlight. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Trio in B flat major, K502 (1786) [21.44] Piano Trio in E major, K542 (1788) [18.41] Piano Trio in G major, K564 (1788) [18.18] The Florestan Trio (Anthony Marwood, violin; Richard Lester, cello; Susan Tomes, piano) rec. 15-17 May 2005, Henry Wood Hall, London, England DDD HYPERION CDA67556 [59:01] [MC]

These superb performances can live with the very best. Highly recommended. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Così fan tutte (1790) Margaret Marshall (soprano) Fiordiligi; Ann Murray (mezzo) Dorabella; James Morris (bass) Guglielmo; Francisco Araiza (tenor) Ferrando; Kathleen Battle (soprano) Despina; Sesto Bruscantini (bass) Don Alfonso; Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Riccardo Muti rec. live, Kleines Festspielhaus, Salzburg, August, 1983. 4:3. NTSC. LPCM Stereo. Region Code 0 TDK DVWW-OPCFTSF [two DVDs: 188'00] [CC]

If you want Muti, go for this Muti in Salzburg if you can afford the extra as opposed to his Scala performance. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Die Zauberflöte K 620 - Opera in two acts (1791) Pamina, Dorothea Röschmann (sop); Tamino, Christoph Strehl (ten); Papageno, Hanno Müller- Brachmann (bar); Sarastro, René Pape (bass); Queen of the night, Erika Miklósa (sop); Papagena, Julia Kleiter (sop); Speaker, Georg Zeppenfeld (bar); Monostatos, Kurt Azesberger (ten) Arnold Schoenberg Choir Mahler Chamber Orchestra/Claudio Abbado rec. live, Teatro Communale, Modena, Italy, September 2005 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 477 5789 GH2 [77.25 + 71.25] [RF]

Good to hear Abbado back conducting opera but not enough for me to rank this performance at the top of a very competitive list. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Arie e Duetti   Isabel Bayrakdarian (soprano), Michael Schade (tenor), Russell Braun (baritone), Canadian Opera Company Orchestra/Richard Bradshaw rec. George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts, Toronto, Canada, 8-9 June 2005 CBC SMCD 5239 [67:21]

Three leading Canadian opera singers in a disc of favourite Mozart arias and duets, The opportunity to hear this sensational new soprano and two very good male colleagues ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART  (1756-1791) Serenata Notturna, K239 (1776)  [15.00] Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K525 (1787)  [19.45] Notturno in D major, K286 (1777) [17.12] Ein Musikalischer Spaß, K522 (1787) [20.39] Le Concert des Nations/Jordi Savall rec. 5-8 September 2005, Château de Cardona ALIA VOX AVSA 9846 SACD [72.28] [TB]

Savall's performance stands up well ... expertly phrased balancing and a real freshness in what can too easily seem hackneyed music. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K 491 (1786) [28:34] Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K 466 (1785) [28:04] Martin Stadtfeld (piano) NDR Sinfonieorchester/Bruno Weil rec. Rolf Liebermann Studio NDR Hamburg, 28-30 June 2005. DDD SONY CLASSICAL 82876 737142 [58:58] [MG]

This is scrubbed up Mozart, very clean, crisp and admirably fluent, but the effect can at times be over dispassionate in its objectivity … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Requiem K626 (completed Süssmayr) (1791) [53.08] Angela Maria Blasi (soprano) Marjana Lipovšek (mezzo) Uwe Heilmann (tenor) Jan-Hendrik Rootering (bass) Symphony Orchestra and Choir of Bavarian Radio/Colin Davis Te Deum Laudamus K141 [6.53] Venite populi K260 [4.56] Regina coeli K276 (1779) [6.25] Ave verum corpus K618 (1790) [3.08] Tölzer Knabechor European Baroque Soloists/Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden rec. Herkulessaal der Residenz, Munich, March 1991 (Requiem); Stadtpfarrkirche, Bad Tölz, July 1990 (remainder) RCA RED SEAL CLASSIC LIBRARY 82876 762362 [75.12] [JW]

A broadly traditional Requiem, with speeds that are never marmoreal, a performance that is dramatic without exaggeration … a pleasure to hear. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) A Mozart Celebration from Stephansdom - A Celebration of the Wiener Sangerknaben (Vienna Boys' Choir) Church Sonata in C major, K.278, Mass in C minor, K.427: Credo. Et incarnatus est Graduale "Sancta Maria, mater Dei", K.273 Vesperae solennes de Confessore, K.339: Laudate Dominum Coronation Mass  in C major, K.317: Kyrie. Gloria. Credo.Sanctus. Benedictus. Agnus Dei Ave verum corpus, K.618; Litaniae Lauretanae, K.195: Agnus Dei Church Sonata in C major, K.329 Sandrine Piau (sop); Dietmar Kerschbaum (ten); Wolfgang Bankl (bass) Unnamed soprano and alto soloists from the Wiener Sangerknaben (Vienna Boys' Choir) Chorus Viennensis and Wiener Sangerknaben, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra/Bertrand de Billy. rec. live, Domkirche St. Stephen, Vienna, 27 January 2006 Picture Format 16:9. Sound; PCM Stereo. DD 5.1. DTS 5.1. Subtitles in Latin, English, German and French Bonus: Mozart in Vienna. A film by Marieke Schroeder with the participation of Daniel Barenboim, Angelika Kirchlanger, Thomas Quasthoff, Peter Sellars and others EUROARTS DVD 2055168 [68:00 + 59:00 bonus] [RJF]

The concert component of this DVD would have been a lot better with a quality soprano and better rehearsal for the choir. However, musically it does present a diverse range of Mozart's religious music and can be recommended as such. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Rare Choral Works CD 1 Veni Sancte Spiritus, K. 47 (1768) [3.44] Two excerpts from the Oratorio: La Betulia liberata (The Liberation of Bethulia), K. 118 (1771): Del pari infeconda [6.36]; Terribile 'aspetto [4.05] Offertory in D minor, Misericordias Domini, K. 222 (1775) [5.22] Church Sonata in C major No. 14 ‘pro festis pallii' for orchestra and organ, K. 278 (1777) [3.45] Litaniae de venerabili altaris sacramento in E flat, K. 243 (1776) [31.50] Offertory in D, Venite populi, K. 260 (1776) [4.26] CD 2 Regina coeli in C major, K. 108 (1771) [13.32] Litaniae Lauretanae BVM in B flat, K. 109 (1771) [10.37] Church Sonata No. 16 in C major for orchestra and organ, K. 329 (c. 1779) [4.16] Oratorio: Davide penitente, K. 469 (1785) [42.36] Gloriae Dei Cantores/Elizabeth C. Patterson; Vox Caeli Sinfonia/ Richard K. Pugsley; David Chalmers (organ) rec. November 2005, Church of the Transfiguration, nr. Cape Cod Bay, Orleans, Massachusetts, USA. DDD GLORIAE DEI CANTORES GDCD 039 [59.08 + 71.01] [MC]

It is good to hear some of Mozart's lesser performed sacred choral works in this his anniversary year. ... see Full Review

George ONSLOW (1784-1853) String Quintets Vol. 3 Quintet for two violins, viola, cello and double bass in C minor, Op. 38 ‘The Bullet' (1829) [28.57] Quintet for two violins, viola, cello and double bass in C minor, Op. 67 (1843) [33.17] Quintett Momento Musicale: (Dorothée Stromberg, violin; Andreas Tränkner, violin; Michael Clauß, viola; Hans-Jörg Pohl, cello; Steffen Slowik, double-bass) rec. 12-15 July 2005, Rathaussaal, Markkleberg, Germany. DDD MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 603 1390-2 [62.29] [MC]

Onslow's music is well worth exploring and in performances such as these will provide considerable rewards. ... see Full Review

Jan Ignacy PADEREWSKI (1860-1941) Piano Music: Mélodie Op. 8 no. 3 (1882) [3.00]; Chant d'Amour Op. 19 no. 2 (1884) [3.03]; Menuet Op. 14 No. 1; [4.04] Cracovienne fantastique Op. 14 no. 6 (1885) [3.19]; Legend Op. 16 no. 1 [5.28]; Mélodie Op. 16 no. 2; [5.31] Thème Varié Op. 16 no. 3 [8.28]; Nocturne Op. 16 no. 4 [4.22] (1886-1891] Sang Mi Chung (piano) rec. Town Hall, New York City, 29 September, 10 October 2004. DDD CENTAUR CRC 2758 [68.10] [GH]

I hope that this disc attracts attention. This is mostly unpretentious music but it has considerable charm. In the Sonata we have quite a powerful work which would be well worth the effort of any performer looking for an unusual challenge. ... see Full Review

Vincent PERSICHETTI (1915-1987) Music for Wind Band Divertimento op. 42 (1950) [11:22] Psalm op. 53 (1952) [8:48] O God Unseen - Chorale Prelude op. 160 (1984) [9:04] Pageant op. 59 (1953) [7:42] Masquerade op. 102 (1965) [13:14] O Cool is the Valley op. 118 (1971) [6:08] Parable - Poem op. 121 (1972) [18:13] Winds of the London Symphony Orchestra/David Amos rec. Abbey Road Studio 1, London, 13-14 April 1993 Originally released on Harmonia Mundi in 1994 Naxos Wind Band Classics edition 2006 NAXOS WIND BAND CLASSICS 8.570123 [74:31][WK]

For an all-round anthology of Persichetti band works, this re-release by Naxos is to be preferred. ... see Full Review

Astor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Estaciones Porteñas (1965-70) [24:28]
Tango Ballet (1956) [10:58] Histoire Du Tango (1986) [21:00] Four for Tango (1987) [6:38] Ma'alot Quintet: Stephanie Winker (flute), Christian Wetzel (oboe), Uif-Guido Schäfer (clarinet), Volker Grewel (horn), Volker Tessmann (bassoon) rec. 17-19 May 2006, Paul Gerhard Kirche, Leipzig MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 345 1392-2 [63:35] [DC]

Just a tad more daring in the arrangements and I'd be dancing to this down many a supermarket aisle. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Francis POTT (b. 1957) Meditations and Remembrances The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin/Judy Martin, Tristan Russcher (organ) rec. Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, 21-23 October 2005. DDD SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD080 [70:52] [JQ]

I hope this recording will win a still wider audience for Francis Pott. This is likely to be one of my Recordings of 2006 and I recommend it with the greatest possible enthusiasm. ... see Full Review

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Alexander Nevsky Op. 78 (1938) [38:35] Lieutenant Kije Suite, Op. 60 (1933-4) [19:45] Eva Podleś (mezzo) Latvian State Choir Orchestre National de Lille-Région Nord/Pas-de-Calais/Jean-Claude Casadesus rec. live, Auditorium du Nouveau Siècle, Lille, France, 1 June 1994. DDD NAXOS 8.557725 [58:20] [DB]

These are fine performances. For the price the disc is worth purchasing for the wonderful six-and-a-half minutes of Podleś's performance of “The Field of Death". ... see Full Review

Sergei PROKOVIEV (1891-1953) The Stone Flower, ballet in three acts, Op. 119 (1953) [120.00] Danila - Nikolai Dorokhov Katerina - Lyudmilla Semenyaka Mistress of the Copper Mountain - Nina Semizorova Sereyan - Yuri Vetrov The Bolshoi Ballet The Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra/Aleksandr Kopilov Scenario: Mira Mendelson-Prokofieva and Leonid Lavrovsky, after The Malachite Box by Pavel Bazhov. Revised scenario and Choreography: Yuri Grigorovich Scenery and Costumes: Simon Virsaladze; Video Direction: Motoko Sakaguchi rec. 1990, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, Russia. DVD 9, NTSC 4:3, 2.0 Stereo 48 KHz 16Bit PCM, dts 5.1, Dolby surround 5.1. Region 0: Worldwide Menu languages: Deutsch, Français, English, Castellano Notes in English, Français, Deutsch. ARTHAUS MUSIC EUROARTS 101 121 [120.00] [PSh]

Prokofiev's last great ballet work available to us at last in a brilliantly staged dance performance. ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Edgar - dramma lirico in three acts (1889) Edgar, Placido Domingo (ten); Fidelia, Adriana Damato (sop); Tigrana, Marianne Cornetti (mezzo); Frank, Juan Pons (bar); Gualtiero, Rafael Siwek (bass) Chorus and Orchestra of Academia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia/Alberto Veronesi rec. Auditorium della Musica, Sala Santa Cecilia, 22 June 2005 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 477 6102 GH2 [45.41 + 37.47] [RF]

Puccini completists and Domingo fans need not hesitate. ... see Full Review

Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Dido and Aeneas - opera in three acts (1689) Dido: Lynne Dawson (soprano) Belinda: Rosemary Joshua (soprano) Aeneas: Gerald Finley (baritone) Second Woman: Maria Cristina Kiehr (soprano) Sorceress: Susan Bickley (soprano) First Witch: Dominique Visse (counter-tenor) Second Witch: Stephen Wallace (counter-tenor) Spirit: Robin Blaze (counter-tenor) First Sailor: John Bowen (tenor) Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment/René Jacobs rec. Henry Wood Hall, London, October 1998. DDD HARMONIA MUNDI HMX 2991683 [59:33] [MG]

Overall Jacobs' performance offers the finest value today in state-of-the-art singing and playing, but there is one even more outstanding Dido.  … see Full Review

Jean-Philippe RAMEAU (1683-1764) A Basket of Wild Strawberries - A Selection of Keyboard Jewels From Premier Livre (1706) Prélude [4:15] Allemande [4:33] Sarabandes I and II [5:14] Gavotte [2:12] From Pièces de clavecin (1724), Suite in E Gigue en rondeau I [2:28] Gigue en rondeau II [1:54] Le Rappel des Oiseaux [1:23] Rigadouns I and II and Double du II [1:15] Musette en rondeau [3:21] Tambourin [1:30] br> La Villageoise [3:29] From Pièces de clavecin (1724), Suite in D Les Tendres Plaintes [4:07] Les Nais de Sologne and Deux Doubles [4:48] Les Soupirs [7:15] La Joyeuse [0:59] From Nouvelles Suites (1728), Suite in A Allemande [8:13] Les Trois Mains [2:57] Sarabande [2:48] Fanfarinette [2:57] La Triomphante [1:36] Gavotte and Six Doubles [8:29] Tzimon Barto (piano) rec. Järvenpää Hall, Finland, February 2005 ONDINE ODE 1067-2 [75:57] [DC]

Early music buffs will probably run miles to avoid such a disc, but as a fan of quality music in all its wondrous variety I must say that such Calvinists will be missing a treat. ... see Full Review

Iiro RANTALA (b. 1970) Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in G sharp major and A flat (2002) [38:15] Astorale for Piano Solo [7:59] Tangonator for Violin and Piano [5:01] Final Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra [5:25] Iiro Rantala (piano) Tapiola Sinfonietta/Jaakko Kuusisto rec. Tapiola Hall, Espoo, May 2005. DDD ONDINE ODE 1071-2 [57:00] [DC]

If you are unpacking your Donaueschinger Musiktage courtesy rider bag you will probably need cheering up more than somewhat. This CD may well be just the ticket. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Gaspard de la nuit [22:36] Pavane pour une infante défunte [6:03] Valses nobles et sentimentales [14:23] Jeux d'eau [5:19] Miroirs [28:45] Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) (Gaspard de la nuit, Pavane pour une infante défunte; Valses nobles et sentimentales) Nadia Cole (piano) (Jeux d'eau, Miroirs) rec. Kingsway Hall, London, April 1982 (Gaspard), June 1983 (Pavane, Valses), Ford Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, Canada, July 1999 (Jeux d'eau), Toronto Centre for the Arts Recital Hall, Toronto, Canada, May 2002 (Miroirs) DECCA ELOQUENCE 4768499 [76:33] [GPJ]

Nearly 77 minutes of stunning piano playing; this is a disc to treasure, no two ways about it. ... see Full Review

Paul READE (1943-1997) Hobson's Choice - ballet (1989) Henry Hobson - Desmond Kelly; Maggie Hobson - Karen Donovan; Vickey Hobson - Sandra Madgwick; Alice Hobson - Chenca Williams; Mrs Hepworth - Anita Landa; Will Mossop - Michael O'Hare; The Suitors - Joseph Cipolla, Stephen Wicks Birmingham Royal Ballet and Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth David Bintley (choreographer) Rec. 1992 (Studio recording) Sound: PCM Stereo; Picture: 4:3; Region: 2,5; DVD9/PAL ARTHAUS-MUSIC 100 442 [101:00] [DC]

Guaranteed to bring cheer to any rainy afternoon - only one of many reasons for having this DVD in your home. ... see Full Review

Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Violin Sonata in D minor, P15 (1897) [19.58] Six pieces for violin and piano, P31 (1905) [24.44] Violin Sonata in B minor, P110 (1917) [27.44] Ingolf Turban (violin); Katia Nemirovitch-Dantchenko (piano) rec. Stuttgart Germany, May-September 2001 CLAVES CD 50-2109 [70.34][PSh]

Premier recordings of two violin works by Respighi coupled with the great sonata in b all exquisitely played. ... see Full Review

Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Overture: The Tsar's Bride (1898) [6.32] Suite: Pan Voyevode (1904) [23.11] Suite: Christmas Eve (1895) [27.11] Overture on Russian Themes (1866; rev. 1880) [11.53] Suite: The Snow Maiden (1881) [13.08] Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra/Kees Bakels rec. November 2004, Dewan Philharmonik Petronas Hall, Kuala Lumpur BIS-CD-1577 [82.27] [TB]

An appealing and highly recommendable issue. ... see Full Review

Ned ROREM (b. 1923) The Auden Songs (1989)  The Santa Fe Songs (1979-80)  Christopher Lemmings (tenor); Sara Fulgoni (soprano); Chamber Domaine rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, January, April 2005. DDD world première recordings BLACK BOX BBM1104 [63:17] [AOz]

The only reason for getting this is to have the Auden and Santa Fe cycles as a whole ... see Full Review

Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Péchés de Vieillesse, Volume 6: Italian Reminiscences (1857-1868)   Stefan Irmer (piano [Steinway D, 1901, nr. 100398]) rec. 22-23 October 2005, Fürstliche Reitbahn, Bad Arolsen. DDD MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 618 1386-2 [78:33] [JO]

All in all, this recording is bound to give the listener sustained enjoyment and the opportunity to get a better-rounded picture of Rossini and his music. ... see Full Review

Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) La Cenerentola - Opera Buffa in Two Acts (1817) Angiolina (La Cenerentola), Bianca Maria Casoni (mezzo); Don Ramiro, Prince of Salerno, Ugo Benelli (ten); Dandini, Ramiro's valet, Sesto Bruscantini (bar); Don Magnifico, Baron, Alfredo Mariotti (buffa-bass); Alidoro, tutor to Ramiro, Federico Davia (bass bar); Clorinda, Giovanna Di Rocco (sop); Tisbe, Teresa Rocchino (sop) Chorus of the Berlin State Opera, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra/Pierro Bellugi rec. 1975 ARTS MUSIC ARTS ARCHIVES 43053-2 [56.11 + 60.11][RJF]

On the podium Bellugi conducts briskly but without conveying much sense of fun. The same can be said of the singing ... see Full Review

Edmund RUBBRA (1901-1986) Improvisation for violin and orchestra op. 89 (1956) [12:25] Improvisations on Virginal Pieces by Giles Farnaby op. 50 (Farnaby's Conceit; His Dreame; His Humour; Loth to Depart; Tell me, Daphne) (1939) [13:11] Violin Concerto op. 103 (1960) [30:19] Krysia Osostowicz (violin) Ulster Orchestra/Takuo Yuasa rec. 25-26 May 2004, Ulster Hall, Belfast. DDD NAXOS 8.557591 [57:04][DDa]

Rubbra's music isn't like anyone else's and influences aren't at all obvious. This is a new, rare and highly individual voice. I urge you to listen to it as soon as you are able ... see Full Review

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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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