ALPHABETICAL LISTING

Joseph McManners - In Dreams  Joseph McManners (boy soprano), Jo Appleby (soprano), Mairead Carlin (soprano) Metro Singers, London Oratory School Schola BBC Concert Orchestra/David Charles Abell (in Portman), rec. Rudolfinum, Prague. DDD SONY/BMG 82876726092 [45:56] [WK]

One hopes that Joseph McManners will go on to bigger things in the musical world. Until then I heartily recommend the The Little Prince - a wonderful experience. ... see Full Review

Hommage à Marcelle Meyer Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Sonata L433 Kk446 [3.44]; Sonata L401 Kk72 [2.06]; Sonata L23 Kk380  [2.58]; Sonata L449 Kk27 [6.54] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Sonata No.8 K310 [12.50]; Adagio K340 [5.56]; Sonata No.3 K281 [13.45]; Fantasie K396 [7.32]; Sonata No.12 K332 [13.04] Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major Op.73 Emperor (1809) [35.51] * Emmanuel CHABRIER (1841-1894) Pieces pittoresques: No.1 Paysage [4.58]; No.9 Menuet pompeux [5.38] Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Pour les tierces (Etudes Book I No.2) [3.49] Goffredo PETRASSI (1904-2003) Toccata (1933) [6.38] Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Two Novelletes [3.11] Alfredo CASELLA (1883-1947) Ricercare sul nome Bach Op.51 No.1 [3.11]; Ricercare sul nome Bach Op.51 No.2 [1.45] Marcelle Meyer (piano) Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Volkmar Andreae * rec. live 1950-56 TAHRA 579-580 [69.21 + 65.40][JW]

Uneven in part this is still a most valuable contribution to the record of Meyer's musicianship. ... see Full Review

North Star Huw WATKINS (b.1976) Three Orations (2003) [12:05] Diana BURRELL (b.1948) North Star (2002) [7:06] James MACMILLAN (b.1959) Wedding Introit (1983)  [3:00]* White Note Paraphrase (1994) [2:10]* Gaudeamus in Loci Pace (1998)[6:07]* Rhian SAMUEL (b.1944) Threnody with Fanfares (1999) [7:26] Ruth BYRCHMORE (b.1966) Into the Silent Land (1996) [13:43]* John HAWKINS (b.1949) Sortie [4:44] Robin HOLLOWAY (1943) Canzona and Toccata (2003) [15:01] Deborah Callard (trumpet), William Whitehead (organ) Tracks marked* are pieces for solo organ rec. Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Berkshire, no date given. Recording published 2006. DEUX-ELLES DXL 1097 [71:00][GPu]

A rewarding and stimulating collection of contemporary British music for trumpet and organ ... see Full Review

Nukonserter Csaba DEÁK (b. 1932) Concerto for flute and strings (2005) [25:26]; Johan HAMMERTH (b. 1953) Strings and largo (2002) [10:59]; Ingvar KARKOFF (b. 1958) Concerto for flute and strings (1989) [16:27]; Johan HAMMERTH Violin Concerto No. 2 - Chamber Concerto (1994) [18:03] Martin LARSON (b. 1967) Lucifer, probleme die Lügerin (2003) [4:48] Kinga Práda (flute and piccolo) (Deák, Karkoff, Larson), Nils-Erik Sparf (violin) (Hammerth Chamber Concerto), Flute Choir from Musikskolan Lilla Akademien/Stellan Sagvik (Larson), Stockholm String Ensemble/Sven Åberg rec. 11-12 November 2005, Studio 2 (Deák, Karkoff); 18-19 February 2006, Studio 3 (Hammerth: Strings and Largo; Larson), Swedish Radio, Stockholm. live recording 24 September 2001 (Hammerth Chamber Concerto), Nybrokajen 11, Stockholm NOSAG CD 123 [75:43][GF]

Recordings of high quality. New concertos and stylistically very different. A clear recommendation for anyone interested in Concertos Now ... see Full Review

Das Partiturbuch Ensemble Echo du Danube/Christian Zincke rec. Studios of Hessischer Rundfunk, Frankfurt, November 2002 NAXOS 8.557679 [62.28][JW]

Played with flair, imagination and no little virtuosity

Julian Rachlin - Chamber Music CD1 Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) arr Dmitri TZIGANOV Ten Preludes from 24 Preludes for Piano, Op.34 (1933) [15:17] Ludwig VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Sonata No.7 in C Minor, Op.30 No.2 (1803) [26:00] CD2 Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Viola Sonata, Op.147 (1975) [40:47] Julian Rachlin (violin, viola), Itmar Golan (piano) rec. Teldex Studio Berlin, 25-28 November 2004. DDD WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61949-2 [41:17 + 40:47] [TP]

Buy this disc, play it through and shake your head in sorrow that Warner Classics will never record its like again. ... see Full Review

Douglas Reed (organ) In Memoriam William Albright Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Praeludium in C Major BWV 566a [11'18] Jean-Adam GUILAIN (?) Suite du Second Ton [12'29] Johann Gottfried WALTHER (1684-1748) Meinem Jesum laß ich nicht [10'17] Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) From op. 122 chorale preludes [8'29]: Herzlich tut mich verlangen; Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen; Herzlich tut mich erfreuen César FRANCK (1822-1890) Priére op. 20 [13'18] William ALBRIGHT (1944-1998) 1732: In Memoriam Johannes Albrecht (1984) [18'21] Douglas Reed (organ) Robert Nicholls (narrator) rec. First Presbyterian Church, Evansville, Indiana, USA, 21-23 August 1997. DDD MULBERRY ST RECORDINGS [74'25][CB]

Despite Reed's slightly safe playing, this is warmly recommended for the superb organ, and the curiosity which is the Albright. ... see Full Review

Arnold Rosé – First Violin of Vienna Pablo de SARASATE (1844-1908) Zigeunerweisen Op.20 (1878) [4.03] Spanish Dance – Danzas españolas No.8 in C Op.26 No.2 (1882) [3.24] Pietro NARDINI (1722-1793) Violin Sonata No.7 in B flat - Larghetto [3.09] Violin Sonata No.7 in B flat - Rondo [2.55] Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano Concerto Op.11 (1830) – Romanza [3.14] Nocturne Op.9 No.2 arranged Wilhelmj (1830-31) [3.07] Johan SVENDSEN (1840-1911)Romance in G Op.26 (1886) [3.11] David POPPER (1843-1913) Nocturne Op.22 arranged Arnold Rosé [3.48] Heinrich ERNST (1814-1865) Fantasia brillante on themes from Rossini's Otello Op.11 (1839) [3.48] Luigi CHERUBINI (1760-1842) String Quartet No.1 – Scherzo [3.21] Luigi BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Minuetto arranged for quartet [3.28] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)Sonata in G BWV1001 – Adagio [3.49] Orchestral Suite No.3 BWV1068 – Air [4.35] Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Quartet Op.130 – Alla danza tadesca [3.23] String Quartet Op.18 No.4 – Allegro [4.22] Romance in F Op.50 (1798) [2.49] Ruins of Athens – Overture [4.22]+ Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) String Quartet K465 – Minuetto [3.59] Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Violin Concerto in E Op.64 (1844) – Andante [3.36] Karl GOLDMARK (1830-1915) Violin Concerto in A op.28 (1877) – Allegro moderato [4.00] Achille SIMONETTI Madrigal [2.39] Henryk WIENIAWSKI (1835-1880) Polonaise brillante No.1 in D Op.64 (1853) [2.51] Arnold Rosé (violin) Unidentified pianists Rosé String Quartet Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Arnold Rosé + rec. 1909-36 ARBITER 148 [78.02] [JW]

Another important release, enshrining a fine selection of discs some deriving from the Rosé family's own archive. A cornerstone collection for those interested in the violin on disc in the early twentieth century. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Russian Romantic Songs   Kaia Urb (soprano); Heiki Mätlik (guitar) rec. 7-9 Oct 2001, Estonian Radio, Tallinn. HARMONIA MUNDI HMU 907 386 [51:02] [ZT]

I challenge anybody to produce a finer example than that provided on the review disc. It would not surprise me to see this disc win awards for excellence.

Salon Orchestra Favourites IV   Annette Postel (vocals) Salonorchester Schwanen/Georg Huber rec. Clara-Wieck-Auditorium, Sandhausen, April 2005 NAXOS 8.557768 [65.43][JW]

Your enthusiasm for this disc will depend on a liking for a certain amount of recreated kitsch. ... see Full Review

Andrés Segovia: The 1946 New York and the 1949 London Recordings Johann Sebastian BACH (1685–1750) Prelude in C minor, BWV 999; Cello Suite No. 3, BWV 1009: Courante; Lute Suite No. 2, BWV 996: Sarabande; Bouree; Cello Suite No. 6, BWV 1012: Gavotte; Fugue in G minor, BWV 1000; Partita No. 4 for Solo Violin, BWV 1004: Chaconne in D minor; Lute Suite No. 4 in E Major, BWV 1006a: Gavotte Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887–1959) Etude No. 8 in C sharp minor & No. 1 in E minor; Federico Moreno TORROBA (1891–1982) Suite Castellana: No. 2 Arada; No. 1 Fandanguillo; Joaquin TURINA (1882–1949) Fandanguillo; Mario CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO (1895–1968) Tarantella in A minor Op. 87a; Manuel Maria PONCE (1886–1948) Sonata Meridional: Campo (Allegretto); Copia (Andante); Fiesta (Allegro con brio); Mario CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO Guitar Concerto No. 1 in D major Op. 99 [18:59]: Allegro giusto; Andantino alla romanza; Ritmico e cavalleresco Andrés Segovia (guitar) New London Orchestra/Alec Sherman (Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Guitar Concerto) rec. December 1946, New York (Bach); June – July 1949, London NAXOS 8.111088 [76:47][GF]

Segovia at the height of his powers during this period. A worthy addition to any respectable collection of guitar music ... see Full Review

Sounds Awesome Alan RIDOUT (1934-1996) Reredos (1956) [4:42]; Paean (1963) [1:58]; Prelude on :St Thomas Honour We: (1988) [2:43]; Epithalamium (1967) [2:20]; The Seven Last Words (1965) (i) Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do [2:03]; ii) Woman, behold thy son ... Behold thy mother [3:45]; iii) My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [2:01]; iv) Verily I say unto thee: Today shalt thou be with me in paradise [4:24]; v) I thirst [2:23]; vi) It is finished [4:14]; vii) Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit [4:47]) Humphrey CLUCAS (b. 1941) Psalm Prelude (2004) [2:32]; Symphony for organ (2004) (i) Allegro [10:44]; ii) Scherzo [4:26]; iii) Variations [7:46]) Peter WISHART (1921-1984) Pastorale and Fughetta (1961); Pastorale [2:44]; Fughetta [1:55] Humphrey SEARLE (1915-1982) Cyprus Dances (1981) [4:41] Robert Crowley (organ) rec. Canterbury Cathedral, 26-27 October 2004. DDD LAMMAS LAMM 183D [70:17][CB]

Recommended for fans of this repertoire. ... see Full Review

Spectrum 4: 66 Miniatures for solo piano Julian GRANT ...diamonds of a most praised water... Alexandre LUNSQUI ...tornando-se... Victoria BORISOVA-OLLAS A Midnight Bell Gerald BARRY Agnes von Hohenstaufen Timothy SALTER Ancient Footprints Jesus TORRES Aurora Simon BAINBRIDGE Bells Sohrab UDUMAN Berceuse PerMagnus LINDBORG Bugo Resonances Colin MATTHEWS Cascade Michael Zev GORDON Crystal Clear Erkki-Sven TUUR Dreamy Moment Roger REDGATE ecart Eric MOE Echo's Brief Lament Philip CASHIAN Edward Martin BUTLER Evening Bells Eleanor ALBERGA For Whom? Ananda SUKARLAN Gentle Darkness Ramon LAZKANO Gentle Sway Snorri Sigfus BIRGISSON Helios Daniel GIORGETTI Icicles Michael BLAKE ikos'tina Hilda PAREDES Las Estrellas Alun HODDINOTT Leapfrog Diana BURRELL Libra (Constellation No 4) Detlev GLANERT Lied im Meer Mindaugas URBAITIS Longing for Time's Faraway, Vanishing Things Joao Pedro OLIVEIRA Looking into the Mirror Howard SKEMPTON Lull Pavel NOVAK Marian Flowers Beat FURRER Melodie - fallend Stephen MONTAGUE Midnight Moon Adeline WONG Mind the Gap David SAWER Moebius Karen TANAKA Northern Lights Faidros KAVALLARIS Nostalgia Philip CASHIAN Orbit Joyce Bee Tuan KOH Piano Peals Graham FITKIN Piano Piece Surprisingly Early 03 Joseph VELLA Playing 6, 5, 4, 3, 2... Raymond YIU podskok Laurence CRANE Postlude David GORTON Prelude after d'Anglebert Peteris PLAKIDIS Quiet Walk in the Forest Param VIR Ratri Janet DAVEY Recollection Andrew TOOVEY Red Bird Alejandro GUARELLO S n d Tazul Izan TAJUDDIN Sebuah Pantum Gabriel JACKSON September Chorale Yi CHEN Singing in the Mountain Peter MAXWELL DAVIES Snow Cloud, over Lochan John WHITE Sonata 140 Jeremy Dale ROBERTS Stone - Standing Stone Alejandro VINAO Stumbling Star Poul RUDERS Swinging Bells Lyell CRESSWELL The Leith at Stockbridge Aulis SALLINEN The Sigh of Barabbas Giorgos KOUMENDAKIS The Silk Road John MCLEOD The Temple by the Sea Elena LANGER Utrecht Chimes Barry CONYNGHAM Veils 1 "...veils of the morning..." Rodney SHARMAN Voyageur Roderik de MAN Wajang Giles SWAYNE Whistling Tune Siaw Kin LEE Xi Yue (Teasing the Moon) Thalia Myers (piano) rec. 2005, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh, Suffolk USK 1227CDD [50:45 + 48:15] [DC]

An exhibition very much worth the entry price, and well worth exploring at length. ... see Full Review

L'art de Teresa Stich-Randall CD 1 George Friedrich HANDEL (1685-1759) Ode for Saint Cecilia (1739) [48.24] ^a Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cantata ‘Jauchzet Gott in allen landen' (1731) [21.02] ^b ; Laudamus te [4.36] ^c and Domine Deus [6.14] ^cd from Mass in B minor, BWV 232 CD 2 Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Exultate Jubilate KV 165 (1773) [17.10] ^e ; Laudamus te from Mass in C minor, KV 427 [4.10] ^e ; Messe solennelle de coronne, KV 317 (1779) [27.58] ^e ; Vesperae solennelles du Confessore, KV 339 (1780) [26.30] ^ef CD 3 George Friedrich HANDEL (1685-1759) Cantata ‘In Praise of Harmony' (1708-9) [13.52] ^eFranz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Salve Regina, D676 [12.22] ^eWolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) 7 lieder [23.15] ^g Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) 9 lieder [28.40] ^g CD 4 Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cantata ‘Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis', BWV 21 (1714) [5.24] ^h Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Fantasia for piano, chorus and orchestra, op.80 [18.08] ⁱ Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Per pieta from Così fan tutte KV 588 [7.54] ^j Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Ah fors'e lui, sempre libera from La Traviata [8.13] ^k Gustave CHARPENTIER (1860-1956) Depuis le jour où je me suis donnée from Louise [4.54] ^k Giaccomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Vissi d'arte from Tosca [3.33] ^k Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Es gibt ein Reich from Ariadne auf Naxos [5.21]; Vier Letzte Lieder [23.11] ^l Teresa Stich-Randall (soprano) All recordings stereo except where indicated. AAD. ACCORD 476 8633 [4 CDs: 81.23 + 75.48 + 77.29 + 76.40] [ED]

There might be a few quibbles over what is or is not included here, but it's the quality of Stich-Randall's singing that really matters and that is beyond reproach. ... see Full Review

Leopold Stokowski Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Swan Lake excerpts [57:00] Johan STRAUß II (1825-1899) An der schönen blauen Donau [6:49]; Geschichten aus dem Wiener Wald [7:16] Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Turkish March from Die Ruinen von Athen [2:06] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) (arr. Stokowski) Rondo alla turca from piano sonata K331 [2:47] NBC Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski rec. NBC 20-21 Oct, 10-11 Nov 1954, 13 Jan, 10 Feb 1955 (Tchaikovsky); 13 Jan 1955 (Donau); 9 Feb 1955 (Strauss, Beethoven, Mozart). ADD mono CALA CACD 0543 [75:49] [JW]

Plenty of entertainment and incident here and the usual ration of Stokowski idiosyncrasy. ... see Full Review

CD Premieres: Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra see review for details Philadelphia Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski rec. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Camden, New Jersey, USA, 1926-37 Notes in English, photos of conductor, matrix numbers. MUSIC AND ARTS PRODUCTIONS OF AMERICA CD1173 [58.42 + 75.54 + 73.27 + 74.52] [PSH]

Essential for Stokowski fans, for the rest of us, maybe not. ... see Full Review

Hao Jiang Tian: Operatic Arias Giuseppe VERDI (1813–1901) Nabucco: Tu sul labbro dei veggenti; Les vêpres siciliennes: Et toi, Palerme; Jérusalem: Grâce mon Dieu!; Macbeth: ome dal ciel precipita; Simon Boccanegra: Il lacerato spirito; Don Carlo: Ella giammai m'amò Pyotr Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840–1893) Eugene Onegin: Lyubvi vse vozrasty pokorny (Gremin's aria) Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792–1868) Il barbiere di Siviglia: La calunnia Vincenzo BELLINI (1801–1835) La Sonnambula: Vi ravviso, o luoghi ameni Charles GOUNOD (1818–1835) Faust: Vous qui faites l'endormie (Sérénade) Jules MASSENET (1842–1912) Le Cid: Il a fait noblement ce que l'honneur conseille Amilcare PONCHIELLI (1834–1886) La Gioconda: Ombre di mia prosapia Hao Jiang Tian (bass) Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/Alexander Rahbari rec. Concert Hall, Slovak Radio, Bratislava, 28 June-2 July 2004. DDD NAXOS 8.557442 [59:37] [RJF]

A singer and collection well worth hearing. ... see Full Review

Rediscovered Master - Madeleine de Valmalète Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Fantasia in D minor, K.397* [4.57] Sonata in D, K. 576 * [14.01] Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Le Tombeau de Couperin [19.57] Jeux d'eau [4.53] ALABIEFF L' Alouette arranged Franz LISZT (1811-1886) [3.40] Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Gopak [1.23] Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) March (Love of Three Oranges) [1.28] Sergei RACHMANINOV (1874-1944) Barcarolle, op. 10/3 [4.08] Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Hungarian Rhapsody no. 11 [5.17] Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Feux d' artifice (Preludes Bk. II) [3.36] Manuel de FALLA (1876-1946) Ritual Fire Dance [3.06] Gabriel FAURE (1845-1924) Nocturne in E flat, op. 36* [6.14] Impromptu in F minor, op. 31* [3.25] Madeleine de Valmalète (piano) recorded 1928-1992; *previously unpublished ARBITER 144 [77.01] [JW]

An unjustly overlooked musician and rare recordings … altogether a distinguished release. ... see Full Review

Gillian Weir on Stage Gillian Weir (organ) rec. Royal Festival Hall, London, 3-4 June 2005. DDD PRIORY PRCD 866 [79:58][CB]

The sheer brilliance of Gillian Weir, above all, makes this an essential purchase.

Women at the Piano An anthology of Historic Performances Volume 1 (1926-1952) NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111120 [77.28] [JW]

A glimpse at some under-sung performances – mixed in with the leavening of internationally accepted great players – diverting listening. ... see Full Review

The Ziegfeld Follies Ziegfeld Follies of 1927  ASV LIVING ERA CDAJA 5619 [76:18] [RW]

Living Era have brought together a whole library of lost songs and music of the early 20^th Century ... see Full Review

BOOK REVIEW

The Virtuoso Conductors: The Central European Tradition from Wagner to Karajan Raymond Holden Yale University Press, 2005 IBSN: 0-300-09326-8 [GD]

Too restricted, too selective, too standardised to meet the complex, critical themes and questions the subject demands. ... 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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