Isaac ALBENIZ
(1860-1909)
Piano
Works (full track listing -see review) 
Esteban Sánchez, piano Recorded
1968-1974, Casino de l’Alianca del Poblenou,
Barcelona, Spain
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92398 [3 CDs: 73 :10
+ 71 :12 + 75 :05] [WH]
Can
be confidently recommended to anyone wanting
an extensive collection of Albéniz
piano music, especially at the price, and
the reading of Iberia is outstanding. ...
see Full Review
William
ALWYN
(1905-1985) Symphony
No. 1 (1949) [38:29] Symphony No. 3 (1956)
[30:21]
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/David
Lloyd-Jones rec. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool,
2-4 Aug 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557648 [68:50][JW]
Full
of colour and vigour and tremendous vitality.
... see Full
Review
William ALWYN
(1905-1985) Symphony
No. 4 (1959) [32:13] Sinfonietta for Strings
(1970) [22:51]
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/David
Lloyd-Jones
rec. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 2-4 Aug
2004, 4 Jan 2005. DDD
NAXOS 8.557649 [55:04] [JW]
There’s
really very little between the Naxos and the
Chandos performances ... newcomers to the
Alwyn canon can purchase with confidence.
... see Full
Review
Dominick ARGENTO
(b.1927)
Shadow and Substance Six
Elizabethan Songs (1962)* [17:11] Letters
from Composers (1968)** [25:51} To
be Sung upon the Water (1973)*** [28:53]
Howard Haskin (tenor); *David Triestram
(piano); ** Timothy Walker (guitar);*** David
Triestram (piano) and Tansie Mayer (clarinet/bass
clarinet) rec. The Wathen Hall, St. Paul’s
School, London (dates not specified). DDD
DEUX-ELLES DXL 1098 [72:00] [JQ]
Argento
admirers and anyone with an interest in contemporary
song should investigate this release. ...
see Full Review
Malcolm
ARNOLD
(b. 1921) The
Return of Odysseus op. 119 (1976) [28:20]
Darius MILHAUD
(1892-1974) Suite Française
Op. 248b (1944) [15:57] (Normandie [1:46];
Bretagne [3:42]; Île de France [2:07];
Alsace-Lorraine [5:10]; Provence [3:12]) Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Toward
the Unknown Region (1907) [13:17]
Anne Taylor (sop) (Arnold) The City of
Glasgow Chorus The Orchestra of Scottish Opera/Graham
Taylor rec. Scottish Opera Centre, Glasgow,
21-22 October 2005. DDD premiere recording
of Arnold’s The Return of Odysseus
DIVINE ART 25035 [57:54] [PSe]
It
is wonderful that Odysseus has returned –
to his proper place before the music-loving
public! ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Kurt ATTERBERG
(1887-1974) Sinfonia
per archi, Op.53 (1953 arr. 1960) [29:17] Adagio Amoroso for
violin and orchestra (1967) [8:04] Intermezzo (1921) [8:26] Prelude
and Fugue (1917 arr. 1933) [3:11] Suite No. 7 (after Shakespeare’s
Antony and Cleopatra), Op.29 (1926) [13:30]
Camerata Nordica/Ulf Wallin (violin and conductor) rec. Virserum
Kyrka, Sweden, March, Nov 2004. DDD
CPO 777 156-2 [62:38] [RB]
Utterly
unmissable. Beautiful coaxed and balanced dynamics, subtle and diaphanous
textures contrast with resinous attack ... see Full
Review
Grażyna
BACEWICZ (1909-1969) Complete Works for
String Quartet: Vol. 1 String Quartet No. 4 (1951) [20:28] Piano
Quintet No. 1 (1952) [24:06] String Quartet No. 7 (1965) [15:49]
Amar Corde String Quartet (Barbara Stuhr (Violin 1); Boguslawa Ziegelheim
(Violin 2); Beata Ploska (Viola); Agata Zając (Cello)) rec. January
1999, Filharmonia Krakowska, Poland. DDD
ACTE PRÉALABLE APO019 [61:11][DB]
Well-recorded
performance of music by an under-appreciated composer. Works of high
quality and uncompromising nature. ... see Full
Review
Grażyna
BACEWICZ (1909-1969) Complete Works for
String Quartet Vol. 2 String Quartet No. 6 (1960) [15:54] Piano
Quintet No. 3 (1947) [17:04] String Quartet No. 2 (1943) [23:45]
Amar Corde String Quartet (Barbara Stuhr (Violin 1); Boguslawa Ziegelheim
(Violin 2); Beata Ploska (Viola); Agata Zając (Cello)) rec. 2-4
July 1999, Sendzimir Ironworks concert hall, Nowa Huta, Poland
ACTE PRÉALABLE APO020 [57:28][DB]
World-class
performances of works that deserve a wider audience ... see Full
Review
Grażyna
BACEWICZ (1909-1969) Complete Works for
String Quartet Vol. 3 String Quartet No. 1 (mid-1930s) [15:21] String
Quartet No. 5 (1955) [25:58] Piano Quintet No. 2 (1965) [16:57]
Amar Corde String Quartet (Barbara Stuhr (Violin 1); Boguslawa Ziegelheim
(Violin 2); Beata Ploska (Viola); Agata Zając (Cello)) rec. September
1999, Filharmonia Krakowska, Poland
ACTE PRÉALABLE APO 0021 [58:33][DB]
It
is my hope to hear far more of the Amar Corde
quartet and also from Acte Préalable, which
continues to impress with the quality of its
releases. ... see Full
Review
Grażyna
BACEWICZ (1909-1969)
Complete Oboe Works Trio
for Oboe, Harp, and Percussion (1965) [17:53]
Sonatina for Oboe and Piano (1955) [9:07]
Sonata for Oboe and Piano (1937) [10:22] Trio
for Oboe, Violin, and Cello (1935) [9:48
Mariusz Pędzialek (oboe) Piotr Grodecki
(piano) Barbara Stuhr (violin) Agata Zając
(cello) Anna Sikorzak-Olek (harp) Jan Pilch
(percussion) rec. 3-4 June 1999, Austrian
Consulate, Cracow, Poland
ACTE PRÉALABLE APO 043 [47:59]
[DB]
The
series of Bacewicz recordings continue with
this disc of recordings for oboe. Performances
well-done. ... see Full
Review
Carl
Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788)
Sonata
in D minor, H. 128 [11:01] Sonata in F sharp minor, H. 37 [11:45] Sonata
in A major, H. 186 [13:24] Rondo in D minor, H.290 [4:07] Sonata in
C major, H. 248 [7:53] Rondo in B flat major, H. 267 [4:52] Sonata in
E major, H. 83 [7:30] Cantabile in B minor, from Sonata, H. 245 [3:04]
Christopher Hinterhuber (piano) rec. Phoenix Studio, Budapest, 27 February-1
March 2004.
NAXOS 8.557450 [63:46][KS]
I
am thrilled that this splendidly crafted and colorful music has seen
the sunlight. A definite must own for lovers of fine keyboard music.
... see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Cantatas for Alto Vergnügte
Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust, BWV 170 [20:22] Widerstehe doch der
Sünde, BWV 54 [11:23] Gott soll allein mein Herze haben,*BWV
169 [22:23] Bekennen will ich seinen Namen, BWV 200 [2:33] Schlage
doch gewünschte Stunde, BWV 53 [5:49]
Marianne Beate Kielland (alto) Cologne Bach Choir * Cologne Chamber
Orhcestra/Helmut Müller-Brühl rec. Sendesaal de Funkhauses,
Deutschlandradio, Cologne, October-November 2004.
NAXOS 8.557621 [62:30] [KS]
First
rate music-making and well deserving of your
attention. ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Cantatas for Alto Vergnügte
Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust, BWV 170 [20:22] Widerstehe doch der
Sünde, BWV 54 [11:23] Gott soll allein mein Herze haben,*BWV
169 [22:23] Bekennen will ich seinen Namen, BWV 200 [2:33] Schlage
doch gewünschte Stunde, BWV 53 [5:49]
Marianne Beate Kielland (alto) Cologne Bach Choir * Cologne Chamber
Orhcestra/Helmut Müller-Brühl rec. Sendesaal de Funkhauses,
Deutschlandradio, Cologne, October-November 2004.
NAXOS 8.557621 [62:30] [GF]
There
is more inspiring Bach to be had but generally speaking these cantatas
are in safe hands ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Pilgrim’s
Progress. The Bach Cantata Pilgrimage: A Second Report Volume
14 Cantatas for Christmas Day and the Second Day of Christmas Gelobet
seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 91 Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110 Dazu
ist erscheinen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40 Christum wir sollen loben schön,
BWV 121 Katharine
Fuge, Joanne Lunn (sopranos); William Towers, Robin Tyson (altos); James
Gilchrist (tenor); Peter Harvey (bass) The Monteverdi Choir English
Baroque Soloists/Sir John Eliot Gardiner. rec. St. Bartholomew’s, New
York, 25 December 2000
SOLI DEO GLORIA SDG 113 [71:17]
Volume
24 Cantatas for the Third Sunday after Easter (Jubilate) Weinen,
Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12 Ihr werdet weinen und heulen, BWV 103
Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal in das Reich Gottes eingehen, BWV 146
Brigitte Geller (soprano); William Towers (alto); Mark Padmore (tenor);
Julian Clarkson (bass) The Monteverdi Choir English Baroque Soloists/Sir
John Eliot Gardiner. rec. Schlosskirche, Altenburg, 14 May 2000 Cantatas
for the Fourth Sunday after Easter (Cantate) Wo gehest du
hin? BWV 166 Es ist euch gut, dass ich hingehe, BWV 108 Sei Lob und
Ehr dem höchsten Gut, BWV 117 (Occasion unspecified)
Robin Tyson (alto); James Gilchrist (tenor); Stephen Varcoe (bass) The
Monteverdi Choir English Baroque Soloists/Sir John Eliot Gardiner. rec.
St. Mary’s, Warwick, 21 May 2000
SOLI DEO GLORIA SDG 107 [76:53
+ 51:48][JQ]
Shaping
up to be a series of considerable importance and, if it can be completed,
it will have the distinction of being the first Bach cantata cycle to
be composed entirely of live performances. ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cantatas Vol.
29: Cantatas from Leipzig, 1724 Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder,
BWV 135 [14:07] Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein, BWV 2 [17:04]
Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid BWV 3 [22:14] Aus tiefer not
schrei ich zu dir, BWV 38 [16:53]
Dorothee Mields (soprano); Pascal Bertin (counter-tenor); Gerd Türk
(tenor); Peter Kooij (bass) Bach Collegium Japan; Concerto Palatino/Masaaki
Suzuki rec. 25-29 June 2004, Kobe Shoin Women’s University Chapel, Japan.
DSD BIS-SACD-1461
[71:39][JQ]
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) St.
Matthew Passion BWV 244 Nos. 1-33
Irmgard Seefried (soprano) Hilde Rössl-Majdan (contralto) Julius Patzak
(tenor) Evangelist Otto Wiener (baritone) Jesus Hans Braun (bass) Vienna
Singverein/Vienna Sängerknaben Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Wilhelm
Furtwängler rec. Vienna, April 1952 St. Matthew Passion
BWV 244 Nos 1 and 8-46 Nilda Hoffmann (soprano) Margaret Klose (contralto)
Anton Dermota (tenor) Evangelist Angelo Mattiello (baritone) Jesus Josef
Greindl (bass) Choir of the Teatro Colón Orchestra of the Teatro Colón/Wilhelm
Furtwängler rec. Buenos Aires, April and May 1950
ARCHIPEL ARPCD 0286-2 [74.33 + 77.08][JW]
The
only constituency for this will be Furtwängler
completists who require every drop of his
rare Bach. Others should invest in the 1954
performance. ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685 - 1750) Easter
Oratorio: "Kommt, eilet und laufet"
BWV 249 (1749) [41.45] Ascension Oratorio,
"Lobet Gott in Seinem Reichen"
BWV 11 (1735) [27.37] Yukari Noonoshita, (soprano);
Patrick van Goethem, (counter-tenor); Jan
Kobow, (tenor); Chiyuki Urano, (bass) Liliko
Maeda, (transverse flute); Masamitsu San’nomiya,
(oboe d’amore); Hidemi Suzuki, (cello); Naoya
Otsuka (harpsichord); Naoko Imai, (organ).
Bach Collegium Musicum Japan/Masaaki Suzuki
rec. Kobe Shoin Women’s University Chapel,
Japan, May 2004. dSd Notes in English, Deutsch,
and Français. English translations
of the German texts. CD tracks 2.0 stereo;
SACD tracks 2.0 stereo and 5.0 surround.
BIS SACD 1561 [70.28] [PSh]
Near
perfection in a Bach recording, but there
are still illustrious predecessors which should
be in your collection, too. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) CD
1 [63:59) Well-Tempered
Clavier, Book 1 BWV 846-869 (1722) 
Rec. March
1949 in RCA Studio B, New York, New York and
Feb 1951, Lakeville, Connecticut CD
2 [68:42] Well-Tempered
Clavier, Book 1 BWV 846-869 (1722) Rec.
February 1951 in Lakeville, Connecticut CD
3 [54:30] Well-Tempered
Clavier, Book 2 BWV 870-893 (1738-1742) Rec. June
1951 to March 1954, Lakeville, Connecticut CD
4 [64:08] Well-Tempered
Clavier, Book 2 BWV 870-893
(1738-1742) Rec. June
1951 to March 1954, Lakeville, Connecticut CD
5 [61:43] Well-Tempered
Clavier, Book 2 BWV 870-893 (1738-1742) Rec. June
1951 to March 1954, Lakeville, Connecticut CD
6 [64:40]Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 1(1741-1742) [48:44] Rec. New
York, 5–12 June 1945; Concerto
in D major after Vivaldi, BWV
972 (1708-1717) [8:43] Rec.
2 July 1946, Lotus Club, New York City; Fantasia
and Fugue in C minor, BWV 906 (ca.1738) [3:43] Rec.
Lakeville, Connecticut, 1957; Prelude,
Fugue and Allegro for Lute in E flat major, BWV 998 (ca.1740)
[12:40] Rec. 20
February 1946, Lotus Club, New York City CD
7 [64:35] Two-Part Inventions
BWV 772-786 (1723) 
Rec. Lakeville,
Connecticut (1954 - 1955); Fantasie in
C minor, BWV 919 (after 1712) [1:25] Rec. 2
May 1946, Lotus Club, New York City; Three-Part
Inventions, BWV 787-801 (1723) Rec.
Lakeville, Connecticut (1958 - 1959);
Capriccio in B flat major on
the Departure of his Most Beloved Brother, BWV 992
(ca.1704)
[11:12] Rec.
11-12 September 1957, Lakeville, Connecticut; Partita
for Keyboard no 2 in C minor, BWV 826 (1726-1731) [19:25] Rec.
February and March 1957, Lakeville, Connecticut Wanda
Landowska, harpsichord
ADD
RCA
RED SEAL 82876-67891-2 LC 00316 [7 CDs: 63:59
+ 68:42 + 54:30 + 64:08 + 61:43 + 64:40 + 64:35] [DC]
At
somewhere just under three pounds a disc this box comes in as something
of a bargain, so, make the most of it! ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Praeludium, Trio et Fuga in G BWV 541 and 528/3 [10'21] Praeludium
et Fuga BWV 533a [4'51] Praeludium et Fuga in g BWV 535a [5'57] Fantasia
et Fuga in c BWV 562/1 and 546/2 [11'10] Praeludium, Trio et Fuga in
C BWV 545 and 529/2 [11'31] Choralbearbeitung An Wasserfluessen Babylon
a 5 parti con 2 tastiere e pedale doppio BWV 653b [5'26] Fuga BWV 532a
[4'36] Praeludium, Trio et Fuga in B BWV 545b [11'59]
Gerhard Weinberger (organ) rec. St Petri, Wandersleben, St Lukas Muehlberg,
September 2004. DDD CPO
777 153-2 [65'59][CB]
If
this isn't quite my thing Weinberger's playing
on such beautiful and appropriate instruments
will justifiably find admirers. ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Mass
in B minor, BWV 232 [132.03]; St. Matthew
Passion BWV 244 – Have mercy, Lord,
on me a [7.38]; Cantata No.
11(Praise Our God) BWV 11 – Ah,
Tarry Yet b [8.17]
Suzanne Danco (soprano); Kathleen Ferrier
(contralto); Peter Pears (tenor); Bruce Boyce
(baritone); Norman Walker (bass); George Malcolm
(harpsichord); Charles Spinks (organ); Douglas
Moore (horn) BBC Chorus; Boyd Neel Orchestra/George
Enescu. a Kathleen Ferrier; New
Symphony Orchestra/Sir Malcolm Sargent. b
Kathleen Ferrier; The Jacques Orchestra/Dr
Reginald Jacques. rec. Concert Hall, Broadcasting
House, London, 17 July 1951; a Kingsway
Hall, London, 6 February 1946; b Kingsway
Hall, London, 1 November 1949. ADD mono
ARIADNE 5000 [68.21 + 79.38] [ED]
The
nearest to something spiritual in music. ...
This release is obviously the preferable choice
... see Full
Review
Johann Sebastian
BACH
(1685-1750) Concerto
in d after Vivaldi BWV 596; Allegro -
Grave - Fuga [5'14] Largo e spiccato [2'54]
Allegro [3'14] Trio super 'Herr Jesu Christ,
dich zu uns wend"' BWV 655 [3'54]
Pièce d'Orgue BWV 572 [9'03]
Partite diverse sopra il Corale 'Sei gegrusset,
Jesu gutig' BWV 768 [19'55] Maurice
DURUFLÉ (1902-1986) Suite op
5: Prélude [8'06]; Sicilienne [5'56];
Toccata [8'22]
Samuel Kummer (organ) Rec: Frauenkirche,
Dresden, 16-20 September 2005 DDD
CARUS 83.188 [67'05] [CB]
This
organ-story generated much negative hype,
but buy this and come to your own conclusions
about the instrument and admire the excellent
playing of Samuel Kummer! ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Sonatas and
Partitas for unaccompanied violin (ca. 1720)
Jaap Schröder (baroque violin) rec.
village church of Oltingen, Canton of Basel,
Switzerland, 1984-5
NAXOS 8.557563-64 [68:43 + 74:17] [JW]
Schröder’s
traversal sometimes gives these works a becalmed
and static introversion. ... see Full
Review
Osvaldas
BALAKAUSKAS (b.
1937) Symphony No.4 (1998) [33:02] Symphony No.5
(2001) [30:13]
Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra/Juazas Domarkas rec. National
Philharmonic Hall, Vilnius, May 2003 (Symphony No.4) and September 2004
(Symphony No.5) NAXOS
8.557605 [63:14][HC]
Ample
proof of the composer’s tireless quest for new expressive means ...
see Full Review
Béla
BARTÓK
(1881-1945)
Concerto for Orchestra, Sz.116a (1942-43, rev. 1945)
[37.40] Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, Sz.110b (1937-38)
[26.14] Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs for solo piano,
Op. 20, Sz.74c (1920) [10.50]
Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandya Robert and Gaby Casadesus,
pianosb Jean-Claude Casadesus and Jean-Paul Drouet, percussionb
Charles Rosen, pianoc rec. Town Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
USA, 13 Oct 1963 (Concerto); Paris, France, Spring 1963 (Sonata); Columbia
30th Street Studio, New York City, USA, 12-16, 18, 23 Dec
1963 (Improvisations).
SONY CLASSICAL SK 94726 [74.49] [MC]
A desirable release that
will provide much pleasure. Recommended. ... see Full Review
Marion BAUER
(1882-1955)
A
Lament on an American Theme, Op. 20a (1927)
[5:21] Concertino for Oboe, Clarinet and Strings
Op. 32b (1939-43) [9:28] Trio Sonata No. 1
for Flute, Cello and Piano, Op. 40 (1944)
[8:11] Symphonic Suite for Strings,
Op. 33 (1940) [11:16] Duo for Oboe
and Clarinet, Op. 25 (1932) [8:30] American
Youth Concerto, Op. 36 (1943) [15:59]
Ambache Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble
Diana Ambache (piano), Gabrielle Lester (violin),
Ruth Ehrlich (violin), Jonathan Barritt (viola),
Judith Herbert (cello), Jonathan Snowden (flute),
Jeremy Polmear (oboe), Eli Eban (clarinet),
Ambache Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble rec.
St. Silas Church, Kentish Town, London, 21-22
October 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.559253 [58:45] [DC]
An
interesting addition to a relatively neglected
area ... I’ve enjoyed making this little foray
into regions with which otherwise I would
probably never have bothered ... see Full
Review
Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Symphony
No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 Pastoral (1808)
[38.59] + Overtures: Fidelio, Op. 72, Act
I [6.16]*; Leonore No. 3, Op. 72b [13.07]
+; Coriolan Op. 62 [7.26] ^; The Creatures
of Prometheus, Op. 43 [4.46] #
BBC Symphony Orchestra * London Symphony
Orchestra ^ Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
+ British Symphony Orchestra # Bruno Walter
rec. 1930-1938
NAXOS 8.111032 [70.35] [JW]
These
overtures make an even greater case for Walter’s status as a powerful
and incisive Beethovenian than the Pastoral, fine though it is. Welcome
evidence of his earlier mastery ... see
Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) String
Quartets: Op.18 No.2 in G [21.36]; Op.18 No.3 in D [22.25]; Op.74 in
E flat Harp [28.33]
Budapest String Quartet Recorded 1935-38
BIDDULPH 80221-2 [73.32] Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) String Quartets: Op.59 No.2 [30.31]; Op.130 in B flat
[33.29] Budapest
String Quartet Recorded 1933-35
BIDDULPH 80222-2 [64.36][JW]
Not
unattractive but significant noise reduction presents very smooth sounding
transfers ... ones that are somewhat compromised by treble starvation.
... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Fidelio, Opera in two acts (1804-05, rev. 1814)
CD 1 Leonore Overture No. 2, Op. 72 (1805) [15.46]
Fidelio, Act 1 CD2 Fidelio, Act 2 Leonore
Overture No. 1 in C major, Op. 138 (1807) [11.27] Leonore Overture
No. 3 in C major, Op. 72 (1805-06) [15.26] Fidelio Overture,
Op. 72 (1814) [06.54] Kwangchul
Youn, bass - Don Fernando Falk Struckmann, bass-baritone - Don Pizarro
Plácido Domingo, tenor - Don Florestan Waltraud Meier, mezzo - Leonore
René Pape, bass - Rocco Soile Isokoski, soprano - Marzelline Werner
Güra, tenor - Jaquino Klaus Häger, bass - second prisoner, Chor der
Deutschen Staatsoper, Berlin Staatskapelle Berlin/Daniel Barenboim,
rec. May/June 1999, Broadcasting Hall, main radio station in former
East Germany, Berlin. DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 3984 25249-2 [77.54 + 79.56] [MC]
A
dramatic and exciting performance. One of
the finest modern Fidelios on record. ...
see Full
Review
Ludwig
Van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Fidelio,
Op. 72 (1814) (highlights)
Hungarian Radio Chorus/Kalman Strausz
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia/Michael Halasz
rec. Phoenix Studios, Budapest Hungary, 7-10,
14-18 Nov 1998 from complete recording on
Naxos 8.660070-71
NAXOS 8.557892 [71:06] [DD]
A
very good selection from a splendid performance
of a great work. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Sonata
No.24 in F sharp major, Op.78 (1809) [11’03]
33 Variations on a waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op.120 (1823) [58’37] Nikolai
Demidenko (piano) rec. St. Paul’s School, London 17-18 Feb
2005 ASV GOLD GLD 4017 [69’40]
[TH]
A
release of outstanding interest to both pianophiles and lovers of this
wild, occasionally wacky, astonishing masterpiece. ... see Full
Review
Larry
BELL (b.
1952) The Immortal Beloved Op.50 (1999)a
[16:46] Four Sacred Songs Op.20 (1984)a [14:30] Songs
of Time and Eternity Op.64 (2002)a [12:21] Songs of
Innocence and Experience Op.55 (2000)b [21:25]
D’Anna Fortunato (mezzo)a; Larry Bell (piano)a;
New England Conservatory Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and Children’s
Chorusb/Benjamin Zanderb rec. NEC’s Jordan Hall,
Boston, July 2004 (Songs) and November 2002 (Songs of Innocence
and Experience) ALBANY
TROY 741 [65:02][HC]
Generously
filled ... Bell’s music is tuneful, colourful, expressive and inventive
... see Full Review
Luciano
BERIO
(1925-2003) Sequenza
I for flute (1958) [6’28] Sequenza IV for piano (1966) [11’42]
SequenzaVIII for violin (1975-76) [12’58] Sequenza IXa
for clarinet (1980) [12’51] Sequenza XIV for cello (2002) [11’32]
Due Pezzi for violin and piano (1951) [6’31] Musica Leggera
for flute, viola, cello and basque drum [2’12] Les Mots son Alles,
recitativo (1976-78) [3’31] Lied for clarinet (1983) [3’56]
Ex Novo Ensemble (Daniele Ruggieri (flute); Davide Teodoro (clarinet
and basque drum); Carlo Lazari (violin and viola); Carlo Teodoro (cello);
Aldo Orvieto (piano)) rec. 3-4 May 2005, Chiesa di S.Maria Annunziata
(Vicenza) and Silano Zanta Studio, Campoverardo (Padova)
BLACK BOX BBM1105 [72’47] [TH]
If
you close your eyes the players are there
in the room with you, shuffling, breathing
and all. Well worth getting though be prepared
to end up wanting the rest. ... see Full
Review
Ernest BLOCH
(1880-1959)
Violin
Concerto (1930-38) [32.41] Suite No. 1 for
violin solo (1958 [9.17] Suite No. 2 for violin
solo (1958) [9.48]
Mischa Lefkowitz (violin) London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Paul Freeman rec. 1984?, All Saints
Cathedral, London, England, (concerto); 1989,
Gilbert Recording Studio, Los Angeles California,
USA (suites). ADD Violin Concerto first released
in 1985 on Laurel LP-134.
LAUREL RECORD LR-834CD [68.33] [RB]
No
holds barred playing from Lefkowitz who is
well inside the Bloch idiom ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897)
Sonata for clarinet and piano no.1 in F minor,
op.120, no.1 (1894) [24:40]; Sonata for clarinet
and piano no.2 in E-flat major, op.120, no.2
(1894) [22:10]. Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Romances for
clarinet and piano, op.94 (1849) [12:41];
Fantasy pieces for clarinet and piano, op.73
(1849) [11:12]
Todd Levy (clarinet); Elena Abend (piano)
rec. Helen Bader Concert Hall, University
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA, 22-25 May 2005.
DDD
AVIE AV2098 [70:47] [ED]
Careful
yet not over-studied phrasing ... a strong
lyrical gift ... unhurried and unforced performances.
Warmly recommended. ... see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Three
pieces – piano, Op.117 (1892)
Panayiotis DEMOPOULOS (b.1977) Farewells
for piano (2004) Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)
Pictures at an exhibition (1874) (Original version edited
by Paul Lamm) [30:55]
Panayiotis Demopoulos (piano) rec. The Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall,
Music Dept., University of York, Heslington, York, 20-21 July 2005.
DDD DUNELM DRD0251 [53:06]
[KS]
A
passionate and thinking player with tremendous promise. ... see Full
Review
Sounds
Thrilling
David BRIGGS Symphony
'Missa pro defunctis'; (Prelude [8'27]; Arioso [7'52]; Intermezzo [3'25];
Toccata [3'31]; Agite [4'22]; Adagio [4'23]; Final [7'57]) Maurice
DURUFLÉ (1902-1986) Prelude [8'42] Sicilienne [6'39] Toccata
[8'27] Stephen Farr (organ)
rec. Blackburn Cathedral, 13 April 2005. DDD
LAMMAS LAMM 189D [63'50][CB]
This
is worth buying, both for Farr's playing, and because you should judge
David Briggs's new symphony for yourself. I am sure it will find many
admirers. ... see Full Review
Margaret
BROUWER
(b.1940) Aurolucent
Circles (2002)a [27:07] Mandala (2001) [11:55]
Pulse (2003) [6:03] Remembrances (1996) [15:00] SIZZLE
(2000) [4:58] Evelyn Glennie
(percussion)a Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Gerard
Schwarz rec. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, July 2004
NAXOS 8.559250 [65:05]
Margaret BROUWER (b.1940) Lament (2002)a
[19:04] Light (2001)b [16:15] Under the
Summer Tree... (1999)c [17:57] Skyriding
(1992)d [12:32] Demeter Prelude (1997)e
[7:10] Laura Frautschi
(violin)a; Jean Kopperud (clarinet)a; Donald McGeen
(bassoon)a; Dominic Donato (percussion)a; Sandra
Simon (soprano)b; Jeannette Sorrell (harpsichord)b;
Sean Gabriel (flute)b; Amital Vardi (clarinet)b;
Gabriel Bolkosky (violin)bd; Ida Mercer (cello)bd;
Scott Christian (percussion)b; Kathryn Brown (piano)c;
Alice Kogan Weinreb (flute)d; Mitsuko Morikawa (piano)d;
Cavani String Quartete Recorded : Concordia College, Bronxville,
New York, May 2003 (Lament); Kulas Hall, Cleveland Institute
of Music, December 2001 (Light), December 1999 (Under the
Summer Tree) and January 2002 (Demeter Prelude); and
Gaertner Auditorium, Cleveland Museum of Art, June 2001 (Skyriding)
NEW WORLD 80606-2
[73:07] [HC]
Excellent
introductions to Brouwer’s personal sound-world
and music-making. You will most likely want
to hear more of it. ... see Full
Review
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony No. 1
(1866) [46:39] Prelude and Fugue* (1847) [4:33] “Perger” Prelude*
(1884) [2:05] Wiener
Akademie/Martin Haselböck; *Martin Haselböck (organ). rec. 15 May 2005,
Grosser Saal, Musikverein, Vienna; *15 June 2005, Hofburgkapelle, Vienna.
SACD disc, plays on all CD and SACD players.
CAPRICCIO 71 063
[53:19][GPu]
A
performance which may entice those whose main interests lie with Bruckner’s
classical predecessors and may refresh the ears of more seasoned Brucknerians
... see Full Review
Anton
BRUCKNER
(1824-1896) String Quintet in F major
(original 1878 version) [43.04] Franz SCHMIDT (1874-1939) Piano Quintet in G
major (1926, arr. Wührer) [33.43]
Vienna Philharmonia Quintet:
Wolfgang Poduschka, Alfred Staar, violin I, II; Josef Staar, Helmut
Weis (Bruckner only), violas; Wolfgang Herzer, cello; Eduard Mrazek,
piano (Schmidt only) rec. Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria, April 1974. ADD
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476
2455 [76.49] [MC]
Hidden gems of the late-Romantic chamber repertoire, marvellously
performed and recorded. A thoroughly enjoyable release. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH On
Photography Gavin
BRYARS (b. 1943)
And
so ended Kant’s travelling in this world (1997)
[7:50] Three poems of Cecco Angiolieri (1997)
[14:00] On Photography (1983) [13:14] Arturs
MASKATS (b. 1957) Da ispravitsja
molitva moja (1936) [12:17] Valentin
SILVESTROV (b. 1937) Diptychon
(date of composition not given) [12:17]
Janis Maleckis (piano); Gavin Bryars (harmonium);
Edgars Saksons (percussion); Monta Martinsone
(soprano); Gundars Dzilums (baritone), Ensemble
Cosmos Latvian Radio Choir/Sigvards Klava
(conductor), Kaspars Putnins (On Photography)
rec. 10-14 January 2005, St. Johns Church;
Riga Reformer’s Church, Riga Latvia.
GBR RECORDS BCGBCD07 [70:39] [DB]
Stunning
performances of new works. ... see Full
Review
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