Giacomo
CARISSIMI (1605-1674)
Dialogo del Gigante Golia - Oratorios
Regina
Hester [25:28] Dialogo del Gigante Golia [13:19]
De Tempore Interfecto Sisare [13:25] Diluvium
Universale - Dialogo del Noe [25:55] 
Musica Fiata: Monika Mauch, Constanze
Backes, Gela Birckenstaedt, Rannveig Sif Sigurdardottir
(soprano), Alessandro Carmignani (alto/tenor),
Wilfried Jochens (tenor), Harry van der Kamp
(bass) Musica Fiata: Annette Sichelschmidt,
Christine Moran (violin), Roland Wilson, Arno
Paduch (cornet), Detlef Reimers, Cas Gevers,
Peter Sommer (sackbut), Hartwig Groth (violone,
lirone), Lee Santana (chitarrone), Christoph
Anselm Noll (harpsichord, organ, regale) Dir:
Roland Wilson rec. March 2003, Studio of Deutschlandfunk,
Cologne, Germany. DDD
CPO 999 983-2 [78:10] [JV]
Four
oratorios by Carissimi which have never been
recorded before - excellent music in splendid
performances … see Full
Review
Giacomo
CARISSIMI (1605-1674)
Lamento
della Maria Stuarda [12.06]; In un
mar di pensieri [9.15]; Amor mio, che
cos’e questa [3.00]; Deh, memoria [7.01];
Suonera l’ultima tromba [13.25]
Elisabeth Speiser (soprano) Hans Ludwig Hirsch
(harpsichord/organ) rec. 1979, Villa Emo,
Fanzolo, Veneto, Italy
JECKLIN JD711-2 [45.08][RH]
Much
to admire ... wonderfully vivid. If you can live with Speiser’s vibrato
then I can recommend the disc. ... see Full
Review
Fryderyk
CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Twenty-Four
Preludes Op.28 [33.47] Prelude in C sharp minor Op.45 [4.12] Prelude
in D flat major Op.28 No.15 [4.44] Berceuse in D flat major Op.57 [4.09]
Impromptus:- No 1 in A flat major Op.29 [3.47] No.2 in F sharp majorOp.36
[5.01] No.3 in G flat major Op.51 [4.32] Fantasie-Impromptu in C sharp
minor Op.66 [4.39] Tarantelle in A flat major Op.43 [3.11]
Alfred Cortot (piano) Recorded in London 1926 (Preludes), 1931 (Tarantelle),
1933 (Impromptus) and 1949-50 (Preludes and Berceuse)
NAXOS 8.111023 [68.03] [JW]
A
cannily chosen selection; with the rare 1926
Preludes and the Tarantelle there to whet
many an appetite ... and rightly so ... see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frédéric CHOPIN
(1810-1849)
Sonata
in B flat minor op.35 [26:39]; Ballade in G minor op.23 [09:23]; Andante
spianato et Grande polonaise brillante op.22 [13:34]; Fantasia op.49
[13:29]; Waltz in A flat op.69/1 [04:34]; Waltz in A flat op.34/1 [05:53];
Waltz in E flat op. posth [03:11]; Scherzo no.2 in B flat minor op.31
[10:55]; Mazurka in A minor op.68/2 [03:22]; Mazurka in B minor op.33/4
[06:25]; Mazurka in D flat op.30/3 [03:36]; Berceuse in D flat op.57
[04:34] Arturo Benedetti
Michelangeli (piano) rec. Turin, 1962, RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana
OPUS ARTE OA 0940
D 
[106:00][CH]
A
quite extraordinary experience, something
timeless ... see Full
Review
Frederic
CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Alfred Cortot - Vol. 2: Waltzes No.
1 in E-flat Op. 18 (1831) [4:39] No. 2 in
A-flat Op. 34 No. 1 (1835) [4:49] No. 3 in
a minor Op. 34 No. 2 (1831) [4:21] No. 4 in
F Op. 34 No. 3 (1838) [2:17] No. 5 in A-flat
Op. 42 (1840) [3:46] No. 6 in D-flat Op. 64
No. 1 (1847) [1:42] [1:39] No. 7 in c-sharp
minor Op. 64 No. 2 (1847) [3:08] [3:09] No.
8 in A-flat Op. 64 No. 3 (1847) [2:59] No.
9 in A-flat Op. 69 No. 1 (1835) [3:10] [3:11]
[3:03] No. 10 in b minor Op. 69 No. 2 (1829)
[2:56] No. 11 in G-flat Op. 70 No. 1 (1835)
[2:03] [2:31] No. 12 in f-minor Op. 70 No.
2 (1841) [2:29] No. 13 in D-flat Op. 70 No.
3 (1829) [2:48] No. 14 in e-minor (posth.)
(1830) [2:21] Fantasie in f-minor Op. 49 (1841)
[11:35]
Alfred Cortot (piano) rec. 19-20 June
1934, EMI Abbey Road Studio, London; 13 March
1929, 13 May 1931; Small Hall, Queen’s Hall,
London; 4 July 1933, 4 Nov 1949, Abbey Road
Studio, London
NAXOS 8.111035 [68:38] [DB]
A
landmark re-release of Cortot’s flawed but
fantastic Chopin waltzes. ... see Full
Review
Anthony
COLLINS (1893-1963)
Film and Other Music Festival
Royal Overture (1956) [4:30] Vanity Fair (1952) [3:42] The
Song of Erin (Lamentation) [5:05] Victoria the Great
(1937) [13:12] The Saga of Odette - Valse Lente (1950)
[2:18] The Lady With a Lamp - Prelude and valse variations
(1951) [4:53] Eire (1938) [11:04] Santa Cecilia (1959)
[4:14] Louis XV Silhouettes (1939) [11:45] Symphony for Strings
(No. 1) (1940) [12:12]
BBC Concert Orchestra/John Wilson rec. The Colosseum, Town Hall,
Watford, England, 28-30 September 2005. DDD world premiere recordings
except Vanity Fair, Odette, Lamp, Eire
DUTTON CDLX 7162 [73:52] [IL]
Charming
light music by a quite-forgotten composer-conductor.
... see Full
Review
Christopher
COTTON Requiem
(1990 rev. 2004); ’twas
a Star-lit Night; Ding Dong Merrily on High
STAVELAND arr.
Richard Powell Tir n’a Oir; TRAD
arr. Richard
Powell Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel
TRAD arr.
Christopher COTTON Dashing Away
TRAD arr.
Eric Gregory David of the White
Rock; Londonderry Air Philip
UNDERWOOD Norfolk Folksong Suite
(2002) Mark J ALMOND
Prelude Richard POWELL
To Us in Bethlem City Philip Underwood (organ)
Papovian Ensemble/Christopher Cotton Sotto
Voce/Christopher Cotton rec. no date given
but 2004?, Church of St John the Divine, Brooklands,
Sale; William Hulme’s Grammar School, Manchester
GRANDEUR GDUR 0501-2 [58:22] [RB]
There’s
no shortage of choral CDs but this one has
attractive and unusual repertoire to commend
it and good performances. ... see Full
Review
François COUPERIN (1668-1733)
La Sultanne La Sultanne, Sonate en quatuor in d minor [09:24]
Première Suite for viola da gamba and bc in e minor [23:40] 15e Ordre
in a minor: Le Dodo où l'amour au berceau [05:20] Deuxième Suite for
viola da gamba and bc in A [14:52] La Superbe, Sonate en trio in A [07:28]
Capriccio Stravagante:
Manfredo Kraemer, Katharina Wolff (violin), Jay Bernfeld (viola da gamba
- solo), Carol Lewis (viola da gamba), Michel Murgier (basse de violon),
Mike Fentross (theorbo), Skip Sempé (harpsichord) rec. July-August 1993,
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA. DDD
DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 74321 935452 [61:44] [JV]
An
outstanding recording of some of Couperin's finest compositions -
strongly recommended ... see Full Review
RECORD
OF THE MONTH Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
The Complete Piano Works Vol. 2 12 Études
[46:57], La Plus que lente [4:47], 2 Arabesques
[6:38], Hommage à Haydn [2:05], D’un
Cahier d’esquisses [4:23]
Joyce Hatto (piano) rec. Concert Artist
Studios, Cambridge, 28 December 2001 (Études),
4 April 2002 (Arabesques), 10 July 2002 (Hommage
and Cahier), no date given for "La Plus
que lente".
CONCERT ARTIST CACD 9131-2 [65:22] [CH]
This
looks like becoming a classic version. Indispensable, and especially
recommended to those who have so far not warmed to the "Études".
... see Full Review
Antonin
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Violin Concerto
in A minor, Op. 53 (1879) [33:39]
Edith Peinemann (violin) Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Peter Maag Serenade
for Strings in E major, Op. 22 (1875) [27:09] English Chamber Orchestra/Rafael
Kubelik rec. July 1965, Rudolfinum, Prague (Concerto); May 1969, Brent
Town Hall, Wembley, London (Serenade). ADD
ELOQUENCE DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 476 7405 [60:48][RB]
Two
healthy revivals from a neglected corner of the DG archive. They will
be greeted by friends old and new. ... see Full
Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904) Rusalka
- Lyrical Fairytale in Three Acts op. 114 (1901) Libretto
by Jaroslav Kvapil
Rusalka, Eilene Hannan (sop) The Prince, John Treleaven (ten) The Foreign
Princess, Phyllis Cannan (sop) The Water Spirit, Rodney Macann (bass)
Jezibaba, Ann Howard (mezzo) The Forester, Edward Byles (bar) The Kitchen
Boy, Fiona Kimm (sop) Chorus and Orchestra of the English National Opera
/ Mark Elder Stage Director, David Pountney Recorded London 1986 Sung
in English ARTHAUS MUSIK
102019 DVD
[159:00][JL]
Twenty
years on years on but as fresh as ever: this
is a very welcome DVD release of one of English
National Opera’s finer achievements ... see
Full Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Saint
Ludmila - oratorio for soli, chorus
and orchestra, Op. 71 (1886) [113:53] libretto
by Jaroslav VrchlickýEva Urbanová
- Ludmila (soprano) Bernarda Fink - Svatava
(mezzo) Stanislav Matis - Bořivoj (tenor)
Aleš Briscein - Grolník (ten) Peter
Mikuláš - Svatý Ivan (bass)
Prague Philharmonic Choir/Jaroslav Brych
Bambini di Praga/Bohumil Kulínský
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Jiří
Bĕlohlávek rec. live, Prague Spring
concert, 15-16 May 2004, Smetana Hall, Prague.
Hybrid SACDs. DSD
ARCO
DIVA UP 0078-2 232 [50:45 + 63.08] [TB]
This
music deserves a wide currency, and on an
international scale. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH George
ENESCU (1881–1955)
Piano Music, Vol. 2
CD1: Prelude and Fugue in C major (1903) [15:10];
Nocturne in D flat major (1907) [20:27]; Scherzo
(1896) [5:58]; Pièce sur le nom de
Fauré (1922) [3:05] CD2: Piano Sonata
No. 1 in F sharp minor Op. 24/1 (1924) [25:08];
Piano Sonata No. 3 in D major Op. 24/3 (1934)
[23:30]
Luiza Borac (piano) rec. 4-5, 7 July 2005,
St. Dunstan’s Church, Mayfield, England
AVIE
AV2081 (SACD) [44:50 + 48:53] [GF]
One
must wonder why this music isn’t heard more
often,. Two discs abounding in ravishing pianism
... hard to imagine this music better played.
... see Full Review
Giles
FARNABY
(1562-1640) Complete
Fantasias for Harpsichord Fantasia (6/320) [3:36] Fantasia
(8/323) [7:28] Fantasia (5/82) [5:20] Unidentified part-song, arranged
by Farnaby (7/333) [3:55] Fantasia (4/489) [4:30] Fantasia (12/343)
[4:31] Canzonet: ‘Construe my meaning’, arranged by Glen Wilson [3:30]
Fantasia (13/347) [3:12] Unidentified part-song, arranged by Farnaby
(3/340) [4:14] Fantasia (10/313) [4:08] Canzonet: ‘Ay me, poor heart’,
arranged by Farnaby [2:39] Canzonet: ‘Witness, ye heavens’, arranged
by Glen Wilson [2:43] Fantasia (9/270) [4:02] ‘Loth to depart’ [4:41]
Glen Wilson (harspichord)
Recorded October, 2005 at “Schüttbau”, Hofheim-Rügheim, Unterfranken,
Germany. NAXOS 8.570025
[58:30][GPu]
A
specialised programme which takes Farnaby
seriously and which deserves to find plenty
of listeners … see Full
Review
David FARQUHAR
(b.
1928) The Three Symphonies
Symphony
No.1 (1959) [21:30] (Moderato [8:25];
Presto [6:06]; Lento [7:00]) Symphony No.2
(1982) [28:28] Symphony No.3 ...remembered
songs... (2002) [19:04] (Moderato energico
[8:37]; Leggiero [2:50]; Alla marcia lento
[3:29]; Andante tranquillo [4:08])
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Kenneth
Young rec. Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington,
New Zealand, 28-30 January 2004 Massey University
Trust Records Series
MORRISON MUSIC TRUST MMT2060 [69:11] [RB]
Three
atmospheric symphonies to set alongside those
by Lilburn. Striking, moving and instantly
commanding .... personal and distinctive ...
see Full Review
Christopher FOX
(b.
1955) Straight Lines In
Broken Times Straight
lines in broken times2 (1992)
[12'44]; Etwas lebhaft (1983) [14'37];
Themes and Variations (1992-6) [38'46];
Reeling (1983) [5'19].
The Ives Ensemble. rec. Theater Romein,
Leeuwarden, 29 June-1 July 2002. DDD
METIER MSV CD92081 [71'46] [CC]
A
mixed reaction, then – but Themes and Variations
is definitely worth a go. ... see Full
Review
Christoph
Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787)
Alceste
(1776) - Overturea [8'28]. Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Serenade
No. 10 in B flat, K361/K370ab (1781-84) [49'18]. Serenade
No. 13 in G, K525, Eine kleine Nachtmusikc (1787)
[14'23].
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler rec. a28
October 1942, b11, 26 November, 3 December 1947, c1
April 1949. ADD
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110994 [72'08][CC]
An
important release, well engineered, on the strength of K361 ... The
other two items of interest to investigators of performance practice
in various eras of old (Alceste) and to completists (K525). ... see
Full Review
Christoph
Willibald GLUCK (1714–1787)
Don Juan - ballet in four acts (1761) George
Frideric HANDEL (1685–1759) Ariodante: Ouverture; Sinfonia
pastorale; Ballo; Il Pastor Fido: Ouverture; March, Air pour les chasseurs
I, II Simon Preston (Gluck),
Colin Tilney (Handel) (harpsichord continuo) Academy of St. Martin in
the Fields/Neville Marriner rec. Decca Studios No. 3, West Hampstead,
London, May 1967 (Gluck), 1971 (Handel).
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 2440 [69:17] [GF]
I
am not sure I will return to this music very often, but when I do
I will know that I won’t be let down by the performances.
... see Full Review
Nicholas
GOMBERT (c. 1495-1560) Tulerunt
Dominum meum [5.44]; Magnificat I [11.38]; Credo [13.21]; Super
flumina Babylonis [7.15]; Media vita [7.11]; Salve
Regina [9.34]; Epitaphium [7.36] The
Oxford Camerata/ Jeremy Summerly rec.
17-18 March 2004, Chapel of Hertford
College. NAXOS
8.557732 [62.19] [RH]
A
fine programme, beautifully performed and
I hope that it enables us to hear much more
of the music of this underrated composer....
see Full
Review
Enrique
GRANADOS (1867-1916)
Complete Piano Works
Thomas Rajna, piano Recorded 1976. ADD Full
track-listing at end of review
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92283 [6 CDs: 66.35
+ 55.37 + 60.06 + 75.32 + 74.27 + 54.04] [WH]
A
most rewarding collection, and, at the Brilliant
price, the kind of astonishing bargain collectors
are dangerously likely to want to take for
granted. ... see Full
Review
(Johann)
Christoph GRAUPNER
(1683-1760) Partitas
for harpsichord, Vol. 5 Partita in A minor
(GWV 150) (c.1720) [12:56] Partita VI in E
major (GWV 106 and 119) (1718 and 1722) [18:01]
Partita in C major (GWV 109 and 126) (c.1720
and 1722) [23:48]
Geneviève Soly (harpsichord) rec. 21-23
September 2005, Église Saint-Augustin
de Mirabel, Quebec.
ANALEKTA AN 2 9118 [55:04] [GPu]
Gorgeous
music, excellently played and recorded, which will surely give great
pleasure to all who love the harpsichord music of this era. ... see
Full Review
Alexandre GUILMANT
(1837-1911) Grand
Chorus in G minor, Op. 84 (1893) [6:51] Pièces dans différents
styles, Book VI: Caprice in B flat major, Op. 20, No. 3 (1862) [3:36]
Pièces dans différents styles, Book V: Allegretto in B minor,
Op. 19, No. 1 (?) [5:52] Lamentation in D minor Op. 45 No.1 (1875)
[11:19] Offertoire sur O filii pour la fête de Pâques, Op. 49,
No. 2 (1876) [6:45] Organ Sonata No. 7 in F major, Op. 89: IV.
Reve: Lento assai (1902) [4:29] March on a Theme by Handel,
Op. 15, No. 2 (1881) [6:50] L’organiste pratique, Book IX: Scherzo
Symphonique in C major, Op 55, No. 2 (1878) [7:36] Christmas
Carols, Book I: Noel languedocien, Communion No. 2 in F minor, Op.
60 (1884) [5:11] Organ Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 42: III:
Finale: Allegro assai (1874) [08:56]
Robert Delcamp (organ) rec. Casavant Organ of All Saints’ Chapel, University
of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, USA, 10, 13 October 2004.
NAXOS 8.557614 [70:24][JF]
A
great addition to the ever-increasing library of organ music available
at reasonable price and excellent quality on Naxos ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH George
Frederick HANDEL (1685-1759)
Water Music (c.1715-17 rev 1736) Water Music:
Suite No. 1 in F major, HWV 348 [29’24"]
(I. Overture. II. Adagio e staccato 05:07;
III. Allegro. IV. Andante 06:53; V. Allegro 03:42;
VI. Air 02:29; VII. Minuet 02:11;
VIII. Bourree 02:11; IX. Hornpipe 02:41;
X. Allegro 04:09) Water Music: Suite
No. 2 in D major, HWV 349 (1717) (I. Allegro 02:07;
II. Alla Hornpipe 02:59; III. Minuet 01:52;
IV. Lentement 02:05; V. Bourree 01:25
Water Music: Suite No. 3 in G major,
HWV 350 (1717) (I. Sarabande 02:59; II.
Rigaudon I and II 02:38; III. Minuet
I and II 03:34; IV. Bourree I and II 01:41)
Music for the Royal Fireworks (1749) HWV
351 [20:06] (I. Overture 07:17; II. Bourree 03:05;
III. La paix 03:23; IV. La rejouissance 03:05;
V. Minuet I - Minuet II 03:17)
Aradia Ensemble/Kevin
Mallon rec. St Anne’s Church, Toronto,
Canada, 5-8 Jan 2005. DDD
NAXOS 8.557764 [71:00] [DDD]
A
winner from start to finish - Handel’s music
is given a splendid rendition! ... see Full
Review
Roy
HARRIS
(1898-1979) Kentucky Spring (1949)
[11:12] Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1949) [27:49] (Section
One [8:43]; Section Two [10:00]; Section Three [5:14]; Section Four
[3:52]) Symphony No. 5 (1942] [23:25] (1st Movement [4:36]; 2nd
Movement [10:31]; 3rd Movement [8:20])
Gregory Fulkerson (violin) Louisville Orchestra/Robert S. Whitney; Lawrence
Leighton Smith (concerto)
rec. 1960, 1965, 1985, Louisville, Kentucky. ADD
world premiere recordings (Concerto; Kentucky)
Funding from Aaron Copland Fund for Music and National Endowment for the Arts. FIRST
EDITION FECD-0005 [62:49] [JQ]
A
very valuable and enjoyable release and I’m extremely glad that these pioneering recordings are once
again available. I enjoyed this disc and I commend it warmly … see
Full Review
Hamilton HARTY (1879-1941)
A Comedy Overture (1906) [13:08] Fantasy Scenes (from
an Eastern Romance) (1919) [11:56] Piano Concerto in B minor (1922)
[30:05] Peter Donohoe (piano)
Ulster Orchestra/Takuo Yuasa rec. 21-22 February 2005, Ulster Hall,
Belfast. DDD NAXOS 8.557731
[55:09] [JWo]
An inevitably self-recommending disc ... see Full Review
Franz
Josef HAYDN (1732-1809)
Symphony
No. 1 in D major [13:46] Symphony No. 2 in
C major [9:35] Symphony No. 3 in G major [16:43]
Symphony No. 4 in D major [13:46] Symphony
No. 5 in A major [17:47]
Sinfonia Finlandia/Patrick Gallois Irina Zahharenkova,
harpsichord continuo rec. 26-28 May 2004,
Suolahti Hall, Finland
NAXOS 8.557571 [71:38] [KS]
A
refreshing look at a great composer in his
youth .... a recording sure to please. ...
see Full
Review
Franz
Josef HAYDN (1732-1809)
Concerto
for cello and orchestra in D major. [25:54]
Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Concerto for violin
and orchestra in e minor, Op. 64. [29:06]
Mirjam Tschopp, violin Solène Kermarrec,
cello Baden-Baden Philharmonic/Werner Stiefel
rec. November 2005, Weinbrennersaal Baden-Baden.
BELLA MUSICA MB 31.2397 [55:00] [KS]
Fine
music-making abounds ... every reason to give
these two young artists a chance to be heard.
... see Full
Review
Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809)
Piano Variations Twenty Variations in
G Major, Hob.XVII:2, (1765) [17’00"]
Theme and Variations in C Major, Hob.XVII:5;
(1790) [6’31"] Capriccio in G Major;
Hob. XVII:1 (1765 ) [7’10"] Arietta con
12 variazoni, Hob. XVII:3 (1768-70) [16’04"]
Variations on Gott erhalte (after Hob:77)
(c.1797) [8’02"] Divertimento: Il
Maestro e lo Scolare, Hob.XVIIa:1 (for
piano four hands) (1766-1768) [11’26"]
Jano Jando (piano) Zsuzsa Kollar (piano)
rec. April 1996, Unitarian Church, Budapest,
Hungary. DDD
NAXOS 8.553972 [66’11"] [DD]
Good
playing of little known music which deserves
greater recognition. ... see Full
Review
Max HELFMAN
(1901-1963) Di
Naye Hagode (The New Haggada) (A Choral
Tone Poem of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising) (1948)
[42:17] Theodore Bikel (narrator) Choral Society
of Southern California Los Angeles Zimriyah
Chorale Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra/Nick
Strimple Hag Habikkurim (Festival
of First Fruits - A Pageant for Shavuot) (1947)
[17:30] Coro Hebraeico/Neil Levin The
Holy Ark (Torah Service), excerpts
(1950) [12:16]
Cantor Raphael Frieder Slovak Chamber
Choir Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/Samuel
Adler rec. Royce Hall, UCLA, Los Angeles,
June 2000; St Paul’s School, Hammersmith,
London, July 2001; Slovak Radio Hall, Bratislava,
Slovak Republic, June 1998. DDD
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS MILKEN ARCHIVE 8.559440[72:12]
[RB]
No
great subtlety but a sincere embrace of colourful
melodic music ... well worth hearing ... vivid
and instantly captivating. ... see Full
Review
Arthur
HONEGGER
(1892-1955)
Prelude pour Aglavaine et Selysette (1917) [7.46]+ Suite archaique (1951)
[14.45]* Jacques IBERT
(1890-1962) La Ballade de la Geole de Reading (1921) [25.23]+ Bacchanale
(1958) [8.10]+ Louisville Concerto (1953) [11.23]*
The Louisville Orchestra/Robert Whitney* Jorge Mester+ rec. 1954 Louisville
Concerto), 1961 (Suite archaique), 1969 (Préude pour Aglavaine et Selysette),
1970 (Bacchanale), 1973 (La Ballade de la Géole de Reading). ADD
FIRST EDITION FECD 1906 [67.19] [JWo]
Anyone
remotely curious about Honegger and Ibert
will want to get acquainted with this disc.
... see Full
Review
Michael
HORVIT (b.
1932) The
Mystic Flame - A Choral Symphony (2000)
Twyla Whittaker (sop) Katherine Ciesinski
(mezzo) Joseph Evans (ten) Richard Paul Fink
(bass-bar)
Moores School Symphony Orchestra and Festival
Chorus/Franz Anton Krager rec. 3-5 March 2001,
Moores Opera House, University of Houston,
USA. DDD
ALBANY TROY533 [67:44] [RB]
Not
essential listening but will be appreciated
by those who already love their choral Hanson,
Thompson, RVW and Tippett. ... see Full
Review
Johann
Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837)
Piano Trios Volume 1: Piano Trio No. 2 (3) in F Major, Op. 22 (1799)
[13.05] Piano Trio No. 5 (6) in E Major, Op. 83 (1819) [27.36] Piano
Trio No. 6 (7) in E-flat major, Op. 93 (c. 1822) [20.11]
Voces Intimae: Riccardo Cecchetti, fortepiano; Luigi de Filippi, violin;
Sandro Meo, cello rec. 23-27 March 2004, Teldex Studio, Berlin, Germany. DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62595-2 [60.63] Johann
Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837) Piano Trios Volume 2: Piano Trio
No. 1 (2) in E-flat major, Op. 12 (c. 1803)[20.01] Piano Trio No. 3
(4) in G Major, Op. 35 (c. 1811) [15.13] Piano Trio No. 4 (5) in G Major,
Op. 65 (c. 1814-15) [15.56] Piano Trio No. 7 (8) in E-flat major, Op.
96 (c. 1822) [18.36]
Voces Intimae: Riccardo Cecchetti, fortepiano; Luigi de Filippi, violin;
Sandro Meo, cello rec. 21-24 September 2004,at Teldex Studio, Berlin, Germany. DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62596-2 [69.46][MC]
There
is much to savour in these affectionate and thoughtfully characterised
readings from Voces Intimae. ... see Full
Review
Johann
Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837)
Fantasies – G minor, Op. 123 (1834) [12:16]; E flat, Op.
18 (1805) [23:24]; 'Recollections of Paganini' (1832) [9:48].
Rondo quasi una Fantasia, in E, Op. 19 (1806) [8:24]. Bagatelles,
Op. 107 (publ. 1826) – No. 11 in A flat, 'La contemplazione'
[9:01] Madoka Inui (piano)
rec. Studio 3, ORF Funkhaus, Vienna, 26-28 July 2005. DDD
NAXOS 8.557836 [68'38] [CC]
A
mixed reception, then. Madoka Inui is a pianist
who promises much, and her career will certainly
be worth tracking. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Engelbert
HUMPERDINCK
(1854-1921) Hänsel
und Gretel - A fairy opera in three
acts (1890-93) libretto by Adelheide Wette
Hänsel: Frederica von Stade (mezzo) Gretel:
Ileana Cotrubaş (soprano) Mother: Christa
Ludwig (mezzo) Father: Siegmund Nimsgern (baritone)
The Sandman: Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano) The
Dew Fairy: Ruth Welting (soprano) The Witch:
Elisabeth Söderström (soprano)
Children’s chorus of the Cologne Opera Gürzenich
Orchestra/John Pritchard rec. 1978, Erholungshaus,
Leverkusen, Germany. ADD. CD 2 contains a
PDF file with the libretto in German, English,
French and Italian.
SONY CLASSICAL S2K 96455 [61.22 + 46.20]
[ED]
When
it comes to the music however, this is a set
without a weak link and it provides continual
pleasure. ... see Full
Review
Charles
IVES (1874-1954) Works
for Piano, Volume 1. Piano Sonata No. 2, 'Concord, Mass.' (1910-1915) [44'45]; Three-Page
Sonata (1905) [7'11]; Waltz-Rondo (1911) [5'31]; Varied Air and Variations
(1923?) [5'51].
Ciro Longobardi (piano) rec. Milan, March 2004. DDD
LIMEN MUSICA CONTEMPORANEA CDE06-C007 [63'47][CC]
I
hope to hear more from Ciro Longobardi ...
Good to know this is 'Volume 1'. ... see Full
Review
Kay JOHANNSEN
Improvisations
on Advent and Christmas Hymns Macht
hoch die Tur [2'04] Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
[1'57] Ihr lieben Christen, freut euch nun
[1'15] O Heiland, reiss die Himmel auf [1'40]
Es kommt ein Schiff, geladen [2'06] O komm,
o komm, du Morgenstern [1'33] Wie soll ich
dich empfangen [3'17] Die Nacht ist vorgedrungen
[2'22] Tochter Zion, freue dich [1'36] Vom
Himmel hoch, da komm ich her [2'25] Es ist
ein Ros entsprungen [2'41] Kommt und lasst
uns Christus ehren [1'27] Brich an, du schones
Morgenlicht [1'28] Lobt Gott, ihr Christen
alle gleich [1'17] Gelobet seist du, Jesu
Christ [2'32] Nun singet und seid froh [1'15]
Zu Bethlehem geboren [2'31] Kommet, ihr Hirten
[1'31] Herbei, o ihr Glaub'gen [1'18] Ihr
Kinderlein, kommet [1'17] Ich steh an deiner
Krippen hier [2'56] Frohlich soll mein Herze
springen [1'57] Hort, der Engel helle Lieder
[2'12] Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht [4'55]
O du frohliche [1'58]
Kay Johannsen (organ) rec. Stiftskirche,
Stuttgart, 9, 10, 12, 15 October 2005 DDD
CARUS 83.179 [51'30] [JW]
The
organ leaves me stone-cold but this would
make a great soundtrack to next Christmas!
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Joseph
JONGEN
(1873
– 1953) Piano Music: Volume 2 CD
1 Toccata Op.91 (1929) [4:05] Sarabande
triste Op.58 (1918) [5:45] Sérénade Op.19
(1901) [5:27] Deux études de concert Op.65
(1920) [13:01] Mazurka Op.126bis (1943) [5:16]
Mazurka et Napolitania Op.76 (1924) [12:32]
Première Ballade Op.105 (1936) [9:00] Deuxième
Ballade Op.119 (1941) [11:58] CD 2 Bourrée
dans le style ancien Op.123 (1942) [8:00]
Sarabande dans le style ancien (1902) [2:57]
Troisème étude Op.84 (1924) [3:18] Trois pièces
Op.102 (1936) [7:57] Jeux de Nymphes Op.91
No.2 (1927) [3:27] En forme de valse Op.43
(1913) [5:42] Treize Préludes Op.69 (1923)
[38:45] CD 3 Dix Pièces Op.96 (1932)
[30:34] Fantasie sur deux Noëls populaires
wallons Op.24 (1902)a [15:07] Pages
intimes Op.55 (1917)a [8:16] Jeux
d’enfants Op.120 (1941)a [9:19]
Trois pièces Op.129 (1950)a [10:25]
Intermezzo-piccolo Op.136bis (1950)a
[2:48]
Diane Andersen (piano); Diane Andersen, André
De Groote (piano duet)a rec. Recital
Studio, Tihange, Belgium, no date, published
2005
PAVANE ADW 7477-9 [70:59 + 70:59 + 77:15]
[HC]
Pure
joy from first to last, and a must for all
the admirers of Jongen’s music. All who respond
to Debussy’s, Ravel’s or Ireland’s piano music
will find plenty to enjoy here. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
KABALEVSKY
(1904-1987) Piano
Concerto No. 1, Op. 9 (1928) [31:35] Piano
Concerto No. 2, Op. 23 (1935 rev. 1973) [24:26]
In-Ju Bang (piano) Russian Philharmonic
Orchestra/Dmitri Yablonsky rec. 24-28 Dec
2004, Studio 5 Russian State TV and Radio
Company KULTURA, Moscow. DDD
NAXOS 8.557683 [56:01] [RB]
An
excellent showing .. the rhythmic trickiness is negotiated with delicate
skill and pleasing precision. ... see Full
Review
Gershon
KINGSLEY (b.1922) Voices from
the Shadow (Poetry of the Holocaust) [37:02] Jazz Psalms
[12:25] Shabbat for Today (excerpts) [12:33] Shiru Ladonai
(excerpts) [15:25]
Amy Goldstein, Mary Catherine George, Lisa Vroman (soprano) Mathew Walley
(tenor) Larry Picard (baritone) Howard M. Stahl (cantor) Kingsley Singers
and Ensemble/Gershon Kingsley (conductor and synthesizers) rec. May
1992, New York (Jazz Psalms, Shabbat for Today and Shiru
Ladonai); March 2001, American Academy of Arts and Letters, New
York City. DDD NAXOS
8.559435 [77:35] [ABi]
Some
of the music presented isn’t all that appealing
but the disc cannot be written off – Voices from the Shadow is
definitely worth having. ... see Full Review
Erich
Wolfgang KORNGOLD
(1897-1957) Violin
Concerto in D major Op.35 (1937-39) [25.38] Heliane’s Song ‘Ich ging
zu ihm’ from Das Wunder der Heliane – (1923 arranged for violin and
piano 1927) [3.53] Much Ado About Nothing – Suite (1918 arranged for
violin and piano 1920) [8.55] Suite Op.23 for two violins, cello, and
piano left-hand (1930) [34.00]
Benjamin Schmid (violin) Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Seiji Ozawa -
Concerto David Frühwirth (violin) and Henri Sigfridsson (piano) – Heliane,
Much Ado Benjamin Schmid and Hanna Weinmeister (violins), Quirine Viersen
(cello) Silke Avenhaus (piano) – Suite rec. Salzburg Festival, July
- August 2004 OEHMS
CLASSICS OC 537 [79.22][JW]
Korngold
addicts can take a punt, but knowing that these are live documents and
they will need ancillary performances ... see Full
Review
Friedrich
KUHLAU (1786-1832)
The
Complete Flute Duos and Divertissements Opp. 10, 102, 68: Duo
1 Op. 10 [17:41]; Duo 2 Op. 10 [13:05]; Duo 3 Op. 10 [8:38]; Divertissement
1 Op. 68 [8:08]; Divertissement 2 Op. 68 [6:33]; Divertissement 3 Op.
68 [6:27]; Divertissement 4 Op. 68 [6:51]; Divertissement 5 Op. 68 [8:37];
Divertissement 6 Op. 68 [8:31]; Duet 1 Op. 102 [14:45]; Duet 2 Op. 102
[13:45]; Duet 3 Op. 102 [13:53]
Laurel Zucker (flute 1) Renée Siebert (flute 2) rec. Concordia
College, New York. No dates given.
CANTILENA 66018-2 [60:10 + 56:41] [DB]
Rarely
heard works given a solid, balanced performance.
... see Full Review
Orlandus
LASSUS
(1532 -1594) Penitential
Psalms - complete CD 1 [71.49]
Henry’s Eight rec. St. Jude on the Hill,
Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, 27-31 August
1997
HYPERION DYAD CDD 22056 [71.49 + 70.40]
[GH]
Henry’s
Eight will not disappoint you. ... see Full
Review
Franz
LEHÁR (1870-1948)
Highlights
(in French) Le Tsarévitch (Der Zarewitsch) (1927) [8:34]
Introduction; Chanson de la Volga; Un beau rêve; Giuditta
(1934) [13:39] Oh, signora, oh signora; Sur mes lèvres; Oh, ma belle
étoile; Frédérique (Friederike) (1928) [10:20] Overture;
Chantez, oiseaux; Quatuor des étudiants; Duo de la belle Alsacienne;
Ah, pourquoi m’as-tu pris mon coeur?; Le Comte de Luxembourg (Der
Graf von Luxemburg) (1909) [25:12] Entrée du comte; Entrée de Suzanne;
Duo Suzanne – Fernand; Suzanne; Duo Basil – Juliette; Duo Suzanne –
Fernand; Romance de Suzanne et Brissard; Duo Suzanne – Fernand; Finale;
La danse de libellules (Libellentanz) (1922) [12:26]
Lina Dachary, Anita Ammersfeld (sopranos), Remi Corazza, Alain Vanzo,
Henri Legay (tenors), Aimé Doniat, André Dran (baritones) Chorus and
Orchestre Lyrique of the ORTF/Adolphe Sibert rec. studios, ORTF, Radio
France, Paris, 1966 (La danse des libellules), 1970 and 1980 (Giuditta)
and 1971 NAXOS 8.111010
[70:11][IL]
A
glorious disc of excerpts. Vanzo is intensely and sincerely expressive.
With singing like this, there must have been so many misty eyes. ...
see Full Review
Paul Lewis
(b.1943) Serenade and Dance:
The Romantic Harmonica Music of Paul Lewis
The Secret World of Polly Flint (1987)
[4:15] Woof! Fantasy [4:38] Two
Miniatures: Loves [2:09]; Lark
[1.03] (1970s) Impromptu for Harmonica
and Harp [5:03] Spring Suite: Jaunt
[3:10]; Romance [2.36]; Jig
[2:40]. Tea for Three [2:15] Pavane
(c1971) [4:35] Seal Morning (1985)
[3:08] Serenata [11.2] A Somerset
Garland [12:08]: Bridgwater Shanty
[2:27]; Martock Jig [2:35]; Muchelney
Ham Lament [2:35]; Huish Episcopi Sarabande
[2:48]; Langport March [2:33].
Norfolk Rhapsody (1972) [8:43] Serenade
and Dance (1997) [3:30] The Benny Hill
Waltz [2:16]
James Hughes, harmonica; Elizabeth Jane
Baldry, harp; Dana Preece, piano; Delamere
String Quartet (James Davis and Arnold Goodger,
violins; Nicola Akeroyd, viola; Sylvia Knussen,
cello); Paul Lewis, wind chimes and "musical
director" rec. Old Bakehouse, Honiton, Devon,
and St. Andrews Church, Charmouth, Dorset,
30 June, 1 July and
24 July 1997. DDD British Composer Series
CAMPION CAMEO 2024 [74:28] [JF]
It
is not often a composer writes such effective
and evocative music. ... see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886)
Tu es Petrus. Andante maestoso aus dem
Oratorium Christus [6'24] Ave Maria von Arcadelt
[4'32] Ave verum (Mozart)“ [2'57] Evocation
a la chapelle sixtine [20'39] Fantasie und
Fuge uber den Choral 'Ad nos, ad salutarem
undam' [36'32]
Michael Schönheit (organ) rec. Merseburg Dom,
27-28 October 2004. DDD
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG
906 1352-6
[71'42][CB]
Astonishing
music on an astonishing instrument. Buy this,
to appreciate one of the pillars of 19th century
organ development ... see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886)
Operatic Paraphrases and Transcriptions, Volume
1 VERDI Salve
Maria de Jérusalem (I Lombardi)
Ernani – Paraphrase de Concert Don Carlos
– Coro di festa e marcia funebre Aida – Danza
sacra e duetto finale Rigoletto – Paraphrase
de Concert Il Trovatore – Miserere Simon Boccanegra
– Réminiscences GOUNOD
Faust – Waltz
Joyce Hatto (piano) rec. Concert Artist Studios,
Cambridge, UK, April 1989, December 2003,
February 2004
CONCERT ARTIST CACD 91332 [71.21]
[WH]
The
disc is well recorded and presented. If the
programme appeals it is not to be missed.
... see Full
Review
Pietro
Antonio LOCATELLI
(1695-1764) Ten Sonatas, Op. 8 (1744)
The Locatelli Trio: Elizabeth Wallfisch (violin), Richard Tunnicliffe
(cello), Paul Nicholson (harpsichord); *with Rachel Isserlis (violin)
rec. 20-30 November, 1, 6-7 December 1994 . No location given
HYPERION DYAD CDD22057 [57:23 + 48:12] [GPu]
A
useful – and enjoyable - reissue of a distinguished
version of Locatelli’s final collection of
sonatas ... see Full
Review
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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