Stellan
SAGVIK
(b.1952) Landskap 
Filarmonica de Cluj; Stockholms
Stråkensemble/Stellan Sagvik rec. 1997,
Cluj and 2006, Stockholm
NOSAG CD 2028 [70:55 + 67:09] [GPu]
Quirky
and engaging, with a series of excellent short
concertos for soloists and strings ... see
Full
Review
Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951)
Gurrelieder
(1900-1913) Tove - Elizabeth Connell
(soprano) Waldtaube - Jard van Nes (mezzo)
Waldemar - Paul Frey (tenor) Klaus-Narr -
Volker Vogel (tenor) Bauer - Walton Gronroos
(bass) Sprecher - Hanz Franzen (bass-baritone)
Chor des NDR Hamburg Chor des Bayerischen
Rundfunks Opernchor der Stadtischen Buhnen
Frankfurt
Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt/Eliahu
Inbal rec. May 1990, Alte Oper Frankfurt,
Germany. DDD
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 8156 [62:58 + 42:97]
[DH]
Kubelik
and Sinopoli remain my favourites, but for
engineering and conducting Inbal's Gurrelieder
is an important supplement. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828)
Symphony No. 8 in B minor Unfinished D759
(1822) (abridged)
New Queen's Hall Orchestra/Sir Henry Wood
rec. 13 February 1923
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 041 [12:43] [MG]
Even
though a précis of an interpretation,
this makes for an extraordinary experience.
… see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Quintet in C major D956 (1828) [46.19]
Isaac Stern and Alexander Schneider (violins),
Milton Katims (viola), Pablo Casals, Paul
Tortelier (cellos) Symphony No.5 in B flat
major D485 (1816) [29.10] Prades Festival
Orchestra/Pablo Casals rec. Prades, 1952 (Quintet)
and 1953 (Symphony)
SONY CLASSICAL 82876 787592 [76.00][JW]
Quintet:
intense expressive commitment by these five
stellar musicians. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Trio
in B flat major, Op. 99, D.898 (1826) (Allegro
moderato [11:11]; Andante un poco mosso [9:10];
Allegro [6:09]; Allegro vivace [8:48])
Jean Fournier (violin) Antonio Janigro
(cello) Paul Badura-Skoda (piano) Released
in 1953 as Westminster LP 51-88 Transfer and
digital remastering by Pristine Audio, April
2006
PRISTINE AUDIO PACM027 [35:18] [DC]
Sounds
like a live performance. Play to the end and
tell me you couldn't imagine it being followed
by rapturous applause ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Arpeggione
Sonata, D821 (1824)
[26.23] Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Adagio
and Allegro, Op. 70 (1849) [10.09] Five
Pieces in Folk Style, Op. 102 (1849) [16.33] Antonin
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Rondo,
Op.94 (1885) [6.48]
Silent Woods,
Op. 68/5 (1884) [4.50] Humoresque,
Op. 101 No.7 (1892-5)
[3.20]
André Navarra (cello), Anne d'Arco, Erika Kicher (piano)
rec. 1978-1980 ADD
CALLIOPE CAL 3614
[68:43][DRD]
Anyone
interested in fine playing of yesteryear shouldn't
hesitate ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Winterreise D.911 (1827)
Christine Schäfer (soprano) Eric Schneider
(piano) rec. Teldex Studio, Berlin, November
2003
ONYX 4010 [68:32] [PCW]
A
Winterreise for all seasons … see Full
Review
An
Appreciation of the Hyperion Complete Schubert
Song Edition By
John Quinn and Patrick Waller
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Poets
of Sensibility Vol. 4: Zufreidenheit;
Das Lied vom Reifen; An die Natur;
Morgenlied; Blumenlied; Pflicht
und Liebe; Erntelied; Zufriedenheit;
Mailied; Die Mainacht; Am ersten
Maimorgen; An die nachtigall;
Daphne am Bach; Frühlingslied;
Phidile; Die Knabenzeit; An
den Mond; An die nachtigall;
Klage um Ali Bey; Abendlied;
Winterlied; An Grabe Anselmos;
Die Laube; Wiegenlied.
Wolfgang Holzmair (baritone), Birgid Steinberger
(soprano), Ulrich Eisenlohr (fortepiano) rec.
Munich, 30 November-5 December 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557569 [62:27] [AOz]
Another
good disc following on from the previous volume
3 in the series, Naxos 8.557568
... see Full Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano Sonatas - Complete Recording
Disc 1 [74:09] Sonata in A flat major,
D.557 (1817) Sonata in E minor, D.566 (1817)
Sonata in B major, D.575 (1817) Sonata in
A major, D.664 (1819) Disc 2 [72:49]
Sonata in A minor, D.845 (1825) Sonata in
D major, D.850 (1825) Disc 3 [78:29]
Sonata in A minor, D.537 (1817) Sonata in
E flat major, D.568 (1817) Sonata In C major
D.840 ‘Reliquie' (1828) Disc 4 [74:22]
Sonata in F minor, D.625 (1818) Sonata
in A minor, D.784 (1823) Sonata in C minor,
D.958 (1828) Disc 5 [76:56] Sonata
in E major, D.157 (1815) Sonata in C major,
D.279 (1815) Sonata in G major, D.894 (1826)
Disc 6 [78:06] Sonata in A major, D.959
(1828) Sonata in B flat major, D.960 (1828)
Michael Endres (piano) rec. WDR Funkhaus,
Saal 2. Köln. December 1993-January 1995
CAPRICCIO 49 456 [74:09 + 72:49 + 78:29
+ 74:22 + 76:56 + 78:06] [DC]
Top
drawer Schubert. Get a copy while you can.
Performances that eschew artificiality, histrionics,
eccentricity or misplaced reverence. ... see
Full Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony
No.5 in B flat D485 (1816) [27.56]* Symphony No.8 in B minor
D759 Unfinished (1822) [24.50] Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Overture to Leonore No.3
Op.72a (1806) [13.39] Columbia
Symphony Orchestra*/Bruno Walter, New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Bruno
Walter rec. Columbia Studios, NYC, 1954 (Leonore), American
Legion Hall, Hollywood, California 1960 (No.5), St George Hotel,
Brooklyn, NYC (No.8) 1958 SONY
CLASSICAL 82876 787412 [66.53] [JW]
I
wouldn't want to argue too far how great this brace of Schubert
symphony performances actually is but I'm more than happy to welcome
them in this revivified format. ... see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN
(1810-1856)
The Art of Sofronitsky Arabesque Op.18
[6.20] Carnaval Op.9 [25.05] Des Abends Op.12
No.1 [3.20] Kreisleriana Op.16 [31.27]
Vladimir Sofronitsky (piano) rec. 1952 (Arabesque,
Kreisleriana) and 1959 (Des Abends, Carnaval)
CLASSICAL RECORDS 004 [66.14] [JW]
Sofronitsky remains
one of the troubling giants of post-War pianism
... see Full
Review
Alexander
SCRIABIN
(1872-1915) Feuillet
d'album Op.45/1 [1.09] Poeme - Vers la flame
Op.72 [4.17] Preludes Op.11 Nos. 2,
4, 5, 8-12 [12.41] Preludes Op.13 [6.21]
Two pieces for the left hand Op.9 [7.17] Fantasie
in B minor Op.28 [8.40] Two Poems Op.31 [4.13]
Two Morceaux Op.57 [2.24] Two Poems Op.63
[2.25] Sonata No.9 Op.68 [6.45] Sonata No.10
Op.70 [9.56]
Heinrich Neuhaus (piano) No recording
details
CLASSICAL RECORDS CR 060 [66.34] [JW]
Admirers
will not hesitate; generalists will reflect
on the sound quality. ... see Full
Review
Roger
SESSIONS (1896-1985)
Chamber Music for Strings Quintet for
two violins, two violas and cello (1958) [20.16]*
Canons (to the memory of Igor Stravinsky)
for string quartet (1971) [02.04]* Six Pieces
for Solo Cello (1966) [12.52] String Quartet
No. 1 in E minor (1938) [30.51]
The Group for Contemporary Music (Benjamin
Hudson, violin; Carol Zeavin, violin; Lois
Martin, viola; Joshua Gordon, cello; Jenny
Douglass, viola (Quintet)) rec. Recital Hall,
Music Division, State University New York,
Purchase, New York, USA, 15-16 April 1992
(Quintet, Canons, String Quartet No. 1); The
American Academy and Institute of Art and
Letters, New York City, USA, 11 September
1991 (Six Pieces). * World première recording.
DDD
NAXOS 8.559261 [66.04][MC]
The
chamber music of Roger Sessions is well served
by this splendid Naxos release. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) String
Quartets: No. 3 in F, Op. 73 (1946) [32'32];
No. 7 in F sharp, Op. 108 (1960) [13'19].
Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) String Quartet No. 2 in F,
Op. 92 (1941) [22'24].
The Kopelman Quartet rec. Wyastone, Monmouth, UK,
24-27 July 2005. DDD
NIMBUS RECORDS NI 5762 [68'15] [CC]
How
wonderful to see Nimbus demonstrating all
its strengths in this superb issue … A tremendous
success. More, please. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Luonnotar and Orchestral Songs
Soile Isokoski (soprano) Helsinki Philharmonic
Orchestra/Leif Segerstam rec. Finlandia Hall,
Helsinki, October 2005. DDD 
ONDINE
ODE 1080-5 SACD [61:37] [AOz][RB]
An
essential recording - the finest performances
of Sibelius's vocal work, demonstrating how
important song was in the composer's development
[AOz]
This is a glorious disc that will delight
lovers of Scandinavian song as well as Sibelians
everywhere. ... see Full
Review [RB]
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Complete Piano Music: Vol. 3 Menuetto
in B flat major (preliminary version of Op.27
No.2) (1891-92) [2.42] Waltz in D flat major
(1891-93) [2.12] Six Impromptus, Op.5 (1893)
[18.22] Two pieces from Karelia Suite, Op.11
(1893, arr.1897): I) Intermezzo [3.06];
II) Ballade [6.40] Sonata in F major,
Op.12 (1893) [16.57] from The Wood-Nymph (Skogsrået),
Op.15 (1894-95, arr. 1895) [3.18] Allegretto
in F major, JS 23 (1895-96) [2.40] Caprizzio
in B flat minor (1895) [2.10] Lento in E major,
JS 119 (1896-97) [3.22] Allegretto in G minor,
JS 225 (1897) [1.10] Caprice, Op. 24/3 (first
version 1898) [1.59] Andantino in F major,
Op. 24/7 (first version 1899) [3.34] Menuetto
in B flat major (1898-1900) [1.47] March Triste,
JS 124 (1899) [5.31] Allegro in G minor (1899-1903)
[1.26] The Cavalier (Kavaljeren), JS 109 (1900)
[1.29]
Folke Gräsbeck (piano) rec. June 2003, Nybrokajen
11 (the former Academy of Music), Stockholm,
Sweden. DDD
BIS BIS-CD-1272 [79.58] [MC]
Sibelius
lovers will surely relish this lovingly performed
release. ... see Full
Review
Bedřich
SMETANA
(1824-1884) String
Quartet No 1 in E minor From My Life
(1876) [29:19] String Quartet No 2 in D minor
(1883) [19:19]
Wihan Quartet
rec. Domovina Studio, Prague, October-November
2005.January, February 2006. DDD
ARCO DIVA UP 0086-2 131 [48:33] [DD]
A
superb rendition of a classic quartet ...
see Full
Review
Fernando SOR
(1778-1839)
Minuets Op. 2: No.
1, G major [0.53]; No. 4, C major [1:14] Op.
3: G major [1:29] Op. 5: No.
1, G major [0:53]; No. 3, C major [1:07] Op.
8: G major [1:02] Op. 11: No.
1, G major [1:39]; No. 2, G minor [1:36];
No. 3 G major [2:37]; No. 4, D major [2:34];
No. 5, D major [1:50]; No. 6, A major [2:11];
No. 7, A minor [1:45]; No. 8, A major [2:22]
No. 9, E minor [1:49]; No. 10, E major [2:36];
No. 11, F major [2:11]; No. 12, B Flat major
[2:18] Op. 13: No. 1, A major [1:05];
No. 3, C major [2:01] Op. 15: E minor
[1:26] Op. 22: C major [2:41] Op.
23: G major [1:38] Op. 24: No.
1, C minor [2:39]; No. 2 F major [1:21]; No.
3 F major [1:17]; No. 4 F major [2:16]; No.
5, F major [1:57]; No. 6, F major [1:15];
No. 7, F major [1:31]; No. 8, B flat major
[1:37] Op. 25: C major [2:36] Op.
32: E major [1:25] Op. 36: No.
1, A minor [2:53]; No. 2, G major [3:12]
AgustÃÂÂn Maruri (guitar) rec. 20-22 Sept. 2005,
Santa Eufemia de Cozollos, Olmos de Ojeda,
Palencia, (Spain)
EMEC E-069 [65:00] [ZT]
In
summary, if you are a fan of Sor and want
to hear all his minuets well played on an
original 1840 René Lacote guitar, this recording
is for you. … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine
Symphony)
Staatskapelle Weimar/Antoni Wit rec. Weimarhalle,
Weimar, Germany, 4-6 July 2005
NAXOS 8.557811 [54:14] [GPJ]
A
major contender, then, and you can cram the
one hundred and forty or so players that this
work requires into your hi-fi for just £4.99
- a miracle! ... see Full
Review
John
TAVENER (b. 1945)
Lament for Jerusalem (2002)
[54.35]
Angharad Gruffydd Jones (soprano) Peter Crawford
(counter-tenor) Choir of London and Orchestra/Jeremy
Summerly rec. 30-31 March 2005, All Hallows
Church, Gospel Oak, London
NAXOS 8.557826 [54.35][RH]
While
I did not quite believe the extravagant claims
made for the piece in the CD booklet, I enjoyed
this performance immensely. If you are interested
in Tavener's music and like fine singing,
then buy this disc. ... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893)
Manfred Symphony * (1885) [51:06]
Alexander BORODIN
(1869-1876)
Symphony No. 2 in B minor # (1869-76)
[26:22]
Philharmonia Orchestra/Paul Kletzki rec. Kingsway
Hall, London, * 29 Jan, 2 Feb 1954; # 3, 12
Feb 1954, Mono. ADD
TESTAMENT SBT 1048 [77:39]
Pyotr Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893)
‘Manfred' Symphony in Four Scenes
after Byron's Dramatic Poem* (1885) [59:02]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Vladimir
Jurowski * rec. live at Royal Festival Hall,
London, 8 December 2004
LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA LPO-0009
[59:02] [IL]
Recorded
in 1954, Kletzki's reading, delivered in white
heat, still remains supreme, easily eclipsing
the new Jurowski/LPO recording despite excellent
sound engineering. ... see Full
Review
Piotr
Ilyich Tchaikovsky
(1840-1893) Dances and Overtures
The
Queen of Spades (Overture) (1890) [3:58]
Fatum - Symphonic Poem, Op. 77 (1866)
[15:58] The Voyevoda (Overture) (1867-68)
[9:21] The Maid of Orleans: Entracte
between Acts I and II (1879-81) [3:22]; Danse
des Bohémiens (Act II) [3:44]; Danse
des Polichinelles et des Histrions (Act II)
[4:21] Cherevichki (The Little Slippers):
Danse Russe (Act III); [3:52]; Danse
des Cosaques (Act III) [3:26] The Enchantress:
Introduction (1885-87) [5:31]; Danse des Histrions
(Act I) [3:56] Mazeppa: Gopak (Act
1) [4:21] The Oprichnik: Danses (Act
IV) (1870-72) [5:47]
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine/Theodore
Kuchar rec. Grand Concert Studio of the National
Radio Company of Ukraine, Kiev, 18-20 December
2000. DDD
NAXOS 8.554845 [67:36] [WK]
Contains
some wonderful music in performances from
lackluster to totally committed. At bargain
price presents some of the best of the composer's
lesser-known operatic music. ... see Full
Review
Piotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893)
Complete Music for String Quartet Volume
1: Five Early Pieces (1863-4) [8:42] String
Quartet in D-major, Op. 11 (1871) [30:14]
String Quartet in F-major, Op. 22 (1874) [36:25]
Volume 2: Adagio molto for Strings
and Harp (1863-4) [5:39] String Quartet No.
3 in E-flat minor, Op. 30 (1876) [35:57] String
Quartet Movement in B-flat major (1865) [13:27]
Adagio Cantabile from Souvenir de
Florence Op. 70 (1890) [10:58]
The Shostakovich Quartet (Andrei Sishlov,
violin I; Sergei Pischugin, violin II; Alexander
Golkovsky, viola; Alexander Korchagin, cello) rec.
State Radio-TV at Moscow Central Recording
Studios, 1973-1978. ADD
REGIS RECORDS RRC 2071 [75:21 + 66:01]
[WK]
One
must choose between the more serene Borodin
performances and the slightly rougher, but
heartfelt Shostakovich ones.... see Full
Review
Craig
URQUHART
(b. 1953) Secret and
Divine Sign
Michael Slattery (tenor)*; Craig Urquhart
(piano) rec. Klavierhaus, New York, 21-22
September 2005
AVIE AV2088 [52:47] [GP]
Well-judged
settings, beautifully sung, though Urquhart's
musical language makes for a certain uniformity
of effect ... see Full
Review
Moishei
VAINBERG
(Mieczyslaw
WEINBERG) (1919-1996)
Symphony No.4 in A minor Op.61 (1957 revised
1961) [28.05] Symphony No.6 in A minor Op.79
(1962-63) [41.55]+
Boys Chorus of the Moscow Choral College+
Moscow Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra/Kyrill
Kondrashin rec. Moscow, 1962 (Symphony 4),
1965 (Symphony 6)
MELODIYA MEL CD 10 00986 [70.20] [JW]
Weinberg
in contrasting moods; neo-baroque and with
powerful structural awareness and melancholic
drama. Exemplary passion and incision. ...
see Full
Review
The
Film Music of Ralph Vaughan Williams: Volume
3 Ralph VAUGHAN
WILLIAMS (1872-1958) The
Story of a Flemish Farm (Suite from the
film The Flemish Farm) (1942) [25:08]
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(Edited Stephen HOGGER)
The Loves of Joanna Godden (1946)
[15:13] Ralph VAUGHAN
WILLIAMS and Ernest
IRVING (1878-1953) (Edited HOGGER)
Bitter Springs (1950) [25:57]
Ladies of Manchester Chamber Choir/Darius
Battiwalla BBC Philharmonic Orchesta/Rumon
Gamba rec. Studio 7, New Broadcasting House,
Manchester, 22-23 June 2005. DDD
CHANDOS CHAN10368 [66:37] [CT]
The
concluding instalment of Chandos's fine series
of discs celebrating the film music of Vaughan
Williams. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901)
Aida
(1871) Norma Fantini (soprano) - Aida;
Marco Berti (tenor) - Radames; Ildoko Komlosi
(mezzo-soprano) - Amneris; Mark Doss (baritone)
- Amonasro; Orlin Anastassov (bass) - Ramfis;
Guido Jentjens (bass) - Il Re; Michela Remor
(soprano) - Una sacerdotessa; André
Grégoire (tenor) - Un messaggero
Symphony Orchestra and Choir of La Monnaie-De
Munt/Kazushi Ono Stage Director, Set and Lighting
Designer: Robert Wilson rec. live, Theatre
Royal de La Monnaie, 15 October 2004 
OPUS
ARTE OA 0954 D [2 DVDs: 159:00] [GF]
Looking
for a traditional Aida? Look elsewhere. If
you are into Zen and prepared for an evening
with no eye-contact between the characters,
then this is your version. And the beauty
of the sets is really ravishing! ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Aida
- opera in four acts (1871) Il Re,
King of Egypt - Guido Jentjens (bass); Amneris,
his daughter - Ildiko Komlosi (mezzo); Radames,
captain of the guards - Marco Berti (ten);
Amonasro, King of Ethiopia - Mark Doss (bass-bar);
Aida, his daughter - Norma Fantini (sop);
Ramfis, High priest - Orlin Anastassov (bass)
Chorus and Orchestra of the La Monnaie-De
Mont/Kazushi Ono rec. live, Théâtre
Royal de la Monnaie-De Mont, Brussels, 15
October 2004 Stage director, Set and Lighting
Designer: Robert Wilson Television Director:
Benoît Vlietinck Picture format: 16/9
Anamorphic. Recorded in High Definition Sound
formats: LPCM Stereo. DTS 5.1 Sung in Italian
with subtitles in English, German, French,
Italian, Spanish and Dutch
OPUS ARTE DVD VIDEO OA 0954 D [2
DVDs: 159:00] [RF]
If
the Tate Modern Gallery in London, where unmade
beds and dissected animals count as art, are
your cup of tea then this Robert Wilson approach
may appeal. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI
(1797-1848) Arias
Luisa Miller, Oh! Fede negar
potessi … Quando le sere al placido [5.43]
I Lombardi, La mia letizia infondere
[2.18] Aida, Se quell guerrier
io fossi! … Celeste Aida [4.21] Ernarni,
Merce, diletti amici … Come rugiada al cespite
… Deli'esillio nel dolor..O tu l'alma adore
[6.40] Un ballo in Maschera,
Forse la soglia … Ma se m'é [5.28] Otello,
Dio, mio potevi scagliar tutti I mali … Ma,
o pianto, o duol! [4.57] Otello,
Niun mi tema [6.06] La forza
del destino, Orchestral introduction.
La vita e inferno … O tu che in seno agli angeli [10.42]
Macbeth, O
figli … Perfidi! .. Pieta, rispetto,
amore [4.01] Jérusalem,
Lémir aupres
de lui m'appelle … Je veux encore entendre
[6.12] Il Trovatore, Ah si, ben mio [3.19]. Di quella pira
[3.26]
Roberto Alagna (tenor) London Voices. Berlin
Philharmoniker/Claudio Abbado rec. Philharmonie,
Berlin. February, August 1997
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 477 6279 GH
[64.08] [RJF]
Far too often here Alagna fails to bring
out the innate qualities of Verdi's vocal
writing. I cannot derive much pleasure from
his uneven, often forced, vocal emission.
... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
The very best of Verdi La
forza del destino: Overture,
Pace, pace, mio dio, Solenne
in quest'ora Nabucco:
Va, pensiero Ernani:
Surte e la notte … Ernani, involami
Macbeth: Patria oppressa!
Luisa Miller: Quando
le sere al placido Rigoletto:
Questa o quella;La donna e mobile;
Pari siamo!; Cortigiani, vil
razza dannata; Gualtier Malde … Caro nome
Il trovatore: Vedi,
le fosche notturne; Il balen; Ah!
Si, ben mio; Di quella pira; D'amor
sull'ali rosee vane; Un ballo in
maschera: Di tu se fedele
Messa da Requiem: Dies
irae; Tuba mirum; Ingemisco La traviata:
Libiamo, ne'lieti calici; Sempre libera;
Lunge da lei per me; Di Provenza il mar Don
Carlo: E lui! Desso l'Infante!
… Dio, che nell'alma infondere Aida:
Se quell guerrier io fossi! … Celeste
Aida; Ritorna vincitor … I sacri nomi di padre;
Gloria all'Egitto; Grand March; Ballet
Music Otello: Fuoco
di gioia, Mia madre aveva una povera ancella
… Piangea cantando … Ave Maria Falstaff:
Ehi paggio! … L'onore! Ladri see
review for performance details
NAXOS 8.552121-22 [77:44 + 76:40] [GF]
Not
everything is on an exalted level but there
are enough good things to make this a suitable
starting point for recent converts, which
I think is the category of listener this series
is aimed at. The price is right. ... see Full
Review
Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Guia
Prático I Acordei de Madrugada (I Woke up Very Early) [1:30]
A Maré Encheu (The Tide Flowed) [1:34] A Roseira (The Rosebush)
[1:00] Manquinha (The Little Limping Girl) [2:12] Na Corda
da Viola (On the String of the Guitar) [1:52] Guia Prático
II Brinquedo (Play) [1:05] Machadinha (Little Axe) [1:15]
Espanha (Spain) [0:53]
Samba-Lêlê (Samba-Lêlê) [1:34]
Senhora Dona Viuva (Mrs. Widow) [1:53] Guia Prático III O Pastorzinho
(The Little Shepherd) [1:03]
João Cambuête (João Cambuête) [1:20] A Freira (The Nun) [0:59]
Garibaldi Foi àMissa (Garibaldi went to Mass) [1:26] Ó Pião (Oh Whirligig) [1:10] Guia
Prático IV O Pobre e o Rico (The Pauper and the Rich) [0:44] Rosa Amarela
(Yellow Rose) [2:19] Olha o Passarinho, Domine! (Look at the Little Bird, Domine!)
[0:40]
O Gato (The Cat) [2:21] Ó sim! (Oh Yes!) [0:53] Guia Prático V Os Pombinhos
(The Little Doves) [0:39]
Você Diz que Sabe Tudo (You Say You Know Everything) [2:21]
Có, Có, Có! (Có, Có, Có!) [1:26]
O Bastão ou Mia Gato (‘The Stick' or ‘Cat Miaow') [1:44] A Condessa (The Countess)
[2:46] Guia Prático VI Sonho de uma Creança (A Child's Dream) [1:35]
O Corcunda (The Hunchback) [0:56] Caranguejo (Crab) [1:27] A Pombinha Voou (The
Little Dove Flew Away) [1:40]
Vamos Atraz da Serra, Oh! Calunga! (Let's Go Behind the Mountain, Oh! Calunga)
[1:18] Guia Prático VII No Fundo do Meu Quintal (In My Backyard) [1:09]
Vai Abóbora! (Some Pumpkin!) [0:55]
Vamos, Maruca (Let's Go, Maruca) [1:41] Os Pombinhos (The Little Doves) [0:55]
Anda á Roda (Round the Circle) [1:53] Guia Prático VIII Ó Limão (Oh Lemon)
[0:49] Carambola (Carambola) [0:29]
Pobre Céga (Poor Blind One) [1:08] Pai Francisco (Father Francisco) [1:06]
Xô! Passarinho (Shoo! Little Bird) [1:07]
Sinh'Aninha (Miss Aninha) [0:37]
Vestidinho branco (Little White Dress) [1:01] Guia Prático IX Laranjeira
Pequenina (Small Orange Tree) [0:59]
Pombinha, rolinha - brinquedo de roda (Little Dove, Little Pigeon - round song)
[1:40] Ó Ciranda, Ó cirandinha (O Ciranda, O Cirandinha - round song) [0:45]
A Velha que Tinha Nove Filhas (The Old Woman Who Had Nine Daughters) [1:06] Constante
(Faithful) [0:57]
O Castelo (The Castle) [1:22] Sonia
Rubinsky (piano) rec. Performing Arts Center, The Country Day School, King City,
Ontario, Canada,
2-5 January 2006. DDD NAXOS
8.570008 [63:17]
[GPu]
There
are many minor delights here in a colourful collection of piano
miniatures, a well-played addition to an attractive series … see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Concertos
for Violin, Strings and Continuo: in G
minor, RV 331 (c. 1730-1735) [12.57]; in C
major, RV 190 (1735) [14.03]; in G minor,
RV 325 (1725) [07.32]; in D major, RV 217
(c. 1727) [12.29]; in G major, RV 303 (1724)
[12.20]
Giuliano Carmignola (baroque violin) Venice
Baroque Orchestra/Andrea Marcon rec. Gustav
Mahler Hall, Kulturzentrum Grand Hotel, Toblach/Dobbiaco,
Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy, Feb 2006. DDD
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON ARCHIV PRODUKTION 00289
477 6005 [58.18] [MC]
Carmignola
clearly loves this music and plays with a
controlled power and expression expertly blended
with a certain panache. Vivaldi lovers will
not want to be without this beautifully performed
and recorded release. ... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI
(1678-1741) Cello
Concerto in G minor, RV416 (c. 1708-1711)
[11.45] Cello Concerto in A minor, RV420 (c.
1708-1711) [10.45] Concerto for two cellos
in G minor, RV531 [11.02] Cello Concerto in
C minor, RV401 (1723-29) [10.24] Cello Concerto
in G minor, RV417 (1723-29) [8.58] Cello Concerto
in A minor, RV418A (1723-29)
[10.49] Cello Concerto in G major, RV415A
(attributed to Vivaldi) [9.55] Jonathan Cohen
(cello and a five-string ‘piccolo' celloA)
Sarah McMahon (cello) (RV531) The King's Consort/Robert
King (director; harpsichord) rec. Cadogan
Hall, London, 15-17 April 2005. DDD
HYPERION CDA67553 [73.40] [MC]
Cohen
is highly impressive and his skilfully controlled
playing displays a real stamp of authority,
avoiding any flashiness or superficiality.
... see Full
Review
Ignatz
WAGHALTER
(1881-1949)
String Quartet in D major, Op.3 (1901) [28:43]*
Notturno for Violoncello and Piano, Op.4 (1902)
[4:53]** Sonata in F minor for Violin and
Piano, Op.5 (1902) [25:32]*** Two Pieces for
Violin with Piano Accompaniment, Op.14 (1908):
Idyll [4:12]*** Geständnis [3:13]***
Detroit-Windsor Chamber Ensemble: *Lillian
Scheirich (violin), Velda Kelly (violin),
James Greer (viola), Nadine Deleury (cello);
** Nadine Deleury (cello), Mary Siciliano
(piano); ***Lilian Scheirich (violin), Mary
Siciliano (piano) rec. Solid Sound, Ann Arbor,
Michigan, no date given
DWG MUSIC 101 [66:38] [GPu]
Rare,
youthful works by a largely forgotten figure
whose career was effectively destroyed by
the rise of the Nazis. Attractive chamber
music in a late romantic idiom ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
(1868) Paul
Schoeffler (bass-baritone) - Hans Sachs, cobbler;
Otto Edelmann (bass) - Veit Pogner, goldsmith;
Hugo Meyer-Welfing (tenor) - Kunz Vogelgesang,
furrier; Wilhelm Felden (bass) - Konrad Nachtigall,
tinsmith; Karl Dönch (baritone) - Sixtus
Beckmesser, town clerk; Alfred Poell (baritone)
- Fritz Kothner, baker; Erich Majkut (tenor)
- Balthasar Zorn, pewterer; William Wergnick
(tenor) - Ulrich Eisslinger, grocer; Hermann
Gallos (tenor) - Augustin Moser, tailor; Harald
Pröglhof (bass) - Hermann Ortel, soapmaker
& A Night Watchman; Franz Bierback (bass)
- Hans Schwarz, stocking-weaver; Ljubomir
Pantscheff (bass) - Hans Folz, coppersmith;
Gunther Treptow (tenor) - Walther von Stolzing,
a young Franconian knight; Anton Dermota (tenor)
- David, Sachs' apprentice; Hilde Gueden (soprano) - Eva, Pogner's daughter; Else Schürhoff
(soprano) - Magdalena, her nurse
Vienna State Opera Chorus Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra/Hans Knappertsbusch rec. 2-9 September
1950 (Act 2), 11-22 September 1951 (Acts 1
and 3) in the Musikvereinsaal, Vienna
NAXOS 8.111128-31 [4 CDs: 71:34 + 73:28
+ 68:27 + 52:02] [GF]
This
old Knappertsbusch may be the most authentic
for both conducting and singing - as long
as you can accept the ageing sound. A wonderful
tribute to the art of Paul Schoeffler and
his deeply moving human portrayal of Hans
Sachs. A desert-island-set. ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Die Walkure (1870) first day of
the stage festival play "The Ring of
the Nibelung" Act I
Claire Watson (soprano) - Sieglinde
Fritz Uhl (tenor) - Siegmund Josef Greindl (bass) - Hunding Wiener Philharmoniker/Hans Knappertsbusch
rec. live, Theater an der Wien, Vienna, 21
May 1963 Executive Producer: Wilfried Scheib Production Assistant: Franz Eugen Dostal
Asssistant Director: Peter Maar Technical Director: Heinrich Eigner Lighting Design: Arthur Zelnicek Sound Recording: Josef Dworschak Editing:
Walter Hauk
TDK DVWW-CLHK63M
[72:00][DH]
I
love the way Knappertsbusch buoys and floats
phrases. Captures the radiance of passion
but the ardent, chemical-rush slips through
his fingers. ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Siegfried (1876)
Siegfried: Heinz Kruse Mime: Graham Clark
Der Wanderer: John Bröcheler Alberich: Henk
Smit Fafner: Carsten Stabell. Erda: Anne Gjevang
Brünnhilde: Jeannine Altmeyer Waldvogel: Stefan
Pangratz Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra,
Der Nederlandse Opera/Hartmut Haenchen : Stage
Director: Pierre Audi rec. live, Het Muziektheater,
Amsterdam, 1999 DVD - all regions
OPUS ARTE OA 0948D
[3 DVDs: 273:00][GF]
This Siegfried definitely
had me hooked from beginning to end. ... see
Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Götterdämmerung
(1869-74)
Heinz Kruse (tenor) Siegfried; Jeannine Altmeyer
(soprano) Brünnhilde; Wolfgang Schöne (baritone)
Gunther; Henk Smit (bass) Alberich; Kurt Rydl
(bass) Hagen; Annr Gjeving (mezzo) Waltraute;
Eva-Maria Bundschuh (soprano) Gutrune; Hebe
Dijkstra (mezzo) First Norn; Irmgard Vilsmaier
(mezzo) Second Norn; Kirsi Tiihonen (soprano)
Third Norn; Gabriele Fontana (soprano) Woglinde;
Hanna Schaer (soprano) Welgunde; Catherine
Keen (mezzo) Flosshilde; Netherlands Philharmonic
Orchestra/Hartmut Haenchen. rec. live at Het
Muziektheater, Amsterdam, 1999 Stage Direction:
Pierre Audi LPCM Stereo.
16:9 anamorphic. All
Regions
OPUS ARTE OA 0949
D
[3 DVDs: 269:00][CC]
It
has to be said there is much to enjoy here,
sonically and vocally, despite my misgivings.
Perhaps we are getting spoiled by all this
DVD Wagner? ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Der Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Hans Sachs - Bernd Weikl, Viet Pogner - Manfred
Schenk, Sixtus Beckmesser - Hermann Prey,
David - Graham Clark, Walther von Stolzing
- Siegfried Jerusalem, Eva - Mari Anne Häggander,
Magdalene - Marga Schmil, Bayreuther Festspiele/Horst
Stein; Director - Wolfgang Wagner. Recorded
18-29th June, 1984, Bayreuther
Festspielhaus. DVD-all regions (2 DVD set)
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 0734160
[267:00] [AOz]
Not
as good all round as the Frühbeck de Burgos/Berlin
production - but Prey's Beckmesser and Weikl's
Sachs are unmissable, exceptional interpretations
... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Scenes
from The Ring of the Niebelung Ben Heppner
(tenor) Burkhard Ulrich (baritone) Staatskappelle Dresden/Peter
Schneider
rec. Lucaskirche, Dresden, September, October 2005 DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON 4776003 [71:02]
[KS]
This
is a coup for Mr. Heppner, a disc deserving of any number of
awards. I cannot speak highly enough of this superb accomplishment
... see Full Review
Kurt WEILL
(1900-1950) The
Seven Deadly Sins* (1933) Lotte Lenya
(Anna I and Anna II) The Family: Julius Katona,
Fritz Göllnitz (tenors), Ernst Poettgen
(baritone), Sigmund Roth (bass) Orchestra/Wilhelm
Brückner-Rüggeberg Happy End
(1929)
Lotte Lenya (singer) Orchestra/Wilhelm Brückner-Rüggeberg
Texts by Bertolt Brecht rec. Friedrich Ebert
Halle, Hamburg, September 1956*; July 1960;
remastered using DSD
SONY CLASSICAL 82876 78754-2 [73:47] [PCW]
An
authenticity that makes you tingle ... see
Full Review
Charles-Marie
WIDOR (1844-1937)
Symphonies 1-6 & 9
Marie-Claire Alain (organ) rec. 1970/77
WARNER APEX 2564 62297-2 [76:06 + 70:17][CB]
Not
the best of Alain. I long for a more monumental
instrument, and a more supple and lyrical
approach. An interesting glimpse into the
performance practice of a generation ago,
no more than that. ... see Full
Review
Haydn
WOOD (1882-1959)
Horse Guards - Whitehall (from
London Landmarks Suite)
Orchestre Raymonde/Robert Preston [3:11]
Joyousness - Concert Waltz (from
Moods Suite) Light Symphony Orchestra/Haydn
Wood [4:18] Laughing Cavalier (Haydn
Wood) New Concert Orchestra/Jack Leon [3:01]
Longing London Palladium Orchestra/Richard
Crean [3:02] Roses of Picardy Peter
Yorke and his Concert Orchestra featuring
Freddy Gardner, saxophone [2:33] Seville
(from Cities of Romance Suite)
BBC Variety Orchestra/Charles Shadwell featuring
Reginald Foort, organ [2:35] The Seafarer
- A Nautical Rhapsody (Haydn Wood) Intro:
Hulla Balloo Balay, Rio Grande,
Leave Her Johnnie Leave Her, Drunken
Sailor, Shenandoah, When Johnnie
Comes Down To Hilo, Roving Charles
Williams and his Concert Orchestra [7:38]
Montmartre (from Paris Suite)
Debroy Somers Band [2:47] Nelson's Column
- Overture (from London Landmarks
Suite) Queen's Hall Light Orchestra/Charles
Williams [3:05] Soliloquy Queen's
Hall Light Orchestra/Robert Farnon [3:11]
Homage March Light Symphony Orchestra/Haydn
Wood [4:13] Bird of Love Divine London
Palladium Orchestra/Richard Crean [3:37]
Vienna (from Frescoes Suite)
New Concert Orchestra/Serge Krish [4:07]
Mannin Veen (Dear Isle
Of Man) Light Symphony Orchestra/Haydn
Wood [8:55] Caprice (from Moods
Suite) Queen's Hall Light Orchestra/Charles
Williams [2:18] Tower Hill (from
London Landmarks Suite) Queen's Hall
Light Orchestra/Charles Williams [3:15]
I Hear You Calling Me (Charles Marshall
arr. Haydn Wood) London Palladium Orchestra/Richard
Crean [4:15] Torch of Freedom - Grand
March New Concert Orchestra/Jack Leon [2:34]
Stanford Rhapsody (founded on Sir
Charles Villiers Stanford's Songs of
the Sea) (Haydn Wood) Intro:
Drake's Drum, Homeward Bound,
Devon O Devon In Wind And Rain, The
Old Superb Debroy Somers Band [8:19]
Recorded 1933-52. ADD
GUILD LIGHT MUSIC GLCD 5121 [77.57][RW]
Wood's
recipe for cheerful and bright, easily accessible
music is provided in many different and
original forms. ... see Full
Review
Mark
ZUCKERMAN (b.1948) Because Because
[4:45] Laughing Song [2:16] Grow Old Along With Me [3:09]
Ani L'Dodi V'Alay T'shukato [1:27] Proverbs for Four at Fifty:
Oz V'Hadar L'Vushah [2:02] L'Khah Nirveh Dodim [3:01] D'rakheyha
Darkhey Noam [2:06] Reyshit Khakhmah [2:03] Kol Dodi [6:53] Doyres
fun der tsukunft [2:06] Shtiler, shtiler
[4:03] Gebet [2:32] Grant Us
Peace [3:10] The
Goldene Keyt Singers: Mary Ellen Callahan (soprano), Hsi-Ling
Chang (mezzo), Michael Steinberger (tenor), Thomas Meglioranza
(baritone) rec. Baby Monster Studios, New York City, 24-25
April 1999; TMF Studios, New York City, 2-3 October 1999 MSR
CLASSICS MS 1146 [39:32] [GPu]
Choral
settings which are often beautiful in their fusion of traditional
Jewish idioms and a distinctively modern compositional sophistication … see Full
Review
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