Salvatore
SACCO
(1572-c.1622) Missa
(1607) [26.10] Dialogus B.M.V [7.47] Litaniae Laurentanae [7.42] Gaudeamus
Omnes [2.03] Graduale (cantus planus) [3.56] Communio (cantus planus)
[1.22] Veni Sponsa Christa [3.10] Paolo QUAGLIATI
(c.1555-1628) Toccata dell’Ottavo Tuno [3.36] Canzona II [2.21]
Templum Musicae
Francesco Di Lernia (organ) Vincenzo Di Donato rec. Zocca, Modena, October
2003. CARUS 83.191
[58.05][JW]
Groundbreaking
performances ... warmly sympathetic with
the voices youthful and well blended, the
direction athletic ... see Full
Review
Harald
SÆVERUD
(1897-1992) Symphony
No. 2 op. 4 (1922, rev. 1934) [23:45] Romanza
for violin and orchestra op. 23a (1942)
[6:32]* Sumarnatt-Båtsong op.
14 no. 6 (1940) [7:41] Cinquanta Variazioni
Piccole op. 8 (1931-32) [5:52] Symphony
No. 4 op. 11 (1937) [21:33]
Katribe Buvarp (violin) * Stavanger
Symphony Orchestra/Ole Kristian Ruud rec.
25-26 June 2001, Stavanger Concert Hall,
Norway. DDD
BIS-CD-1262 [66:51] [RB]
Triumphant.
A strong mix: accessible and subtle. Should
win many new and agreeably surprised friends
for Sæverud ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Camille
SAINT-SAËNS
(1835-1921) Piano
Trio No.1 in F major Op.18 (1863) [25:30]
Piano Trio No.2 in E minor Op.92 (1891)
[34:22]
Florestan Trio (Anthony Marwood (violin),
Richard Lester (cello) Susan Tomes (piano))
rec. Henry Wood Hall, London, 21-23 December
2004
HYPERION CDA 67538 [60:03] [TH]
The
Florestan play with a warmth and homogeneity
that is hard to resist ... see Full
Review
Aulis
SALLINEN (b. 1935) Symphony No. 4 op. 49
(1979) [23:05] Symphony No. 2 Symphonic Dialogue op. 29 (1972)
[16:35] Horn Concerto Campane ed Arie op. 82 (2002) [21:23]
Mauermusik Op. 7 (1962) [9:48]
Eso Topani (horn) Martin Orraryd (percussion) Norrköping SO/Ari Rasilainen
rec. De Geer Hall, Norrkoping, 21-22 Oct 2003, 16-18 Jan 2003; 30-31
Oct 2003. DDD CPO
999 969-2 [70:54][RB]
Sallinen's
alternation of motivic cells is something of a hallmark. It is both
economic in style and engrossingly satisfying for the listener. ...
see Full Review
Vadim
SALMANOV
(1912-1978) The Four Symphonies CD1
[57:27] Symphony No. 1 in D minor (1952) (1 Largo. Allegro
[10:58]; 2 Andante non troppo [11:32]; 3 Presto [8:24) Symphony
No. 2 in G major (1959) (1 The Song of the Forest [3:36]; 2 Nature’s
Summons [8:58]; 3 At Sunset [7:19]; 4 The Forest Sings [6:36]) CD2
[59:39] Symphony No. 3 in A minor (1963) (1. Mesto. Allegro
Moderato [9:34]; 2 Andante [6:04]; Allegro vivace [4:42]; 4 Andante
non troppo [7:43) Symphony No. 4 in B minor (1972) (1 Moderato
[14:57]; 2 Marciale [6:58]; 3 Andante [9:37])
Symphony Orchestra of the Leningrad Philharmonia/Yevgeny Mravinsky
Rec. live Great Hall, Leningrad Philharmonia 20 Mar 1957 (1); 30 Sept
1960 (2); 24 May 1964 (3); 28 Jan 1977 (4); ADD
IM LAB IMLCD073/74 [57:27 + 59:39] [RB]
Salmanov
may have thumped the tub at times but his
symphonies were more often rounded with
a curve into sleep than a thundering call
to arms. ... see Full
Review
Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Six A Capella
Mixed Choruses [17:54] String Quartet No. 2, Op. 10 [29:59]
Suite in G for String Orchestra [30:01]
Jennifer Welch-Babidge (soprano) Fred Sherry String Quartet Simon Joly
Singers Twentieth Century Classics Ensemble/Robert Craft (conductor)
rec. 28 April 2005, Abbey Road Studios, London (Six A Capella Mixed
Choruses); January 2005, American Academy of Arts and Letters, New
York (String Quartet No. 2); November 2004, American Academy
of Arts and Letters, New York (Suite in G). DDD
NAXOS 8.557521 [78:18][ABi]
A
considerable contribution to the Schoenberg discography. ... see Full
Review
Ole
SCHMIDT (b.
1928) Suite for flute, string orchestra, harp and
percussion,
op. 21 (1960) (I Rondino; II Walzer; III Intermezzo; IV Marsch) Concerto
for flute and string orchestra (1985) (I Introduction; II Molto lento;
III Presto) Concerto for horn and chamber orchestra, op. 31 (1966) (I Largo; II Allegro giusto)
Concerto for tuba and orchestra, op. 42 (1975) (I; II; III Allegro)
Jens Bjørn-Larsen
(tuba) Ulla Miilmann (flute) David M.A.P. Palmqvist (horn) Danish National
Symphony Orchestra/Ole Schmidt rec. Danish Radio Concert Hall, 16-20
August 2004. DDD DACAPO
6.220515 
[68:50][RB]
Virile
recording quality ... wonderfully provocative
writing deeply harnessed to romantic models
but breathing a wholly contemporary ozone
... see Full
Review
Alfred SCHNITTKE
(1934-1998)
Concerto
Grosso No.1 for Two Violins, Harpsichord,
Prepared Piano and String Orchestra (1977)
[27.52] Concerto for Piano and Strings (1979)
[24.10]
Victor Kuleshov, (violin) Ilia Ioff, (violin)
Julia Lev (harpsichord and piano) (Concerto
Grosso) Veronica Reznikovskaya (piano) (Concerto
for Piano) St. Petersburg Mozarteum Chamber
Orchestra/Arcady Shteinlukht rec. 1995, Petersburg
Recording Studio, St. Petersburg, Russia.
DDD
MANCHESTER CLASSICAL GALLERY CDMAN 175 [52.08]
[MC]
A
starting place to discover the orchestral
music of Schnittke. Excellent performances
of fascinating but challenging scores. ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Abendbilder: Bei dir allein
[02:08], Abendbilder [05:42], Himmelsfunken
[04:21], Dass sie hier gewesen [02:45], Drang
in die Ferne [03:44], Am Fenster [03:24],
Auf der Bruck [03:30], Des Fischers Liebesglück
[05:40], Der Winterabend [07:31], Das Zügenglöcklein
[04:43], Alinde [04:15], Fischerweise [02:52],
Im Abendrot [03:47], Der Musensohn [02:10],
Du bist die Ruh [04:50], Greisengesang [05:08],
Wilkommen und Abscheid [03:31]
Christian Gerhaher (baritone), Gerold Huber
(piano) rec. 18-21 September 2005, Hochschule
für Musik und Theater, München,
Grosser Konzertsaal
BMG-RCA RED SEAL 82876 777162 [70:02]
[CH]
Lieder
singing of the highest order ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797–1828) Deutsche
Schubert-Lied-Edition 21: Poets of Sensibility, Volume
4 Zufriedenheit (2nd setting) D501 [02:32];
Das Lied vom Reifen D532* [01:57]; An die Natur D372 [02:03];
Morgenlied D266* [03:03]; Blumenlied D431 [01:42]; Pflicht
und Liebe (Fragment) D467* [02:59]; Erntelied D434 [01:47];
Zufriedenheit (1st setting) D362 [02:09]; Mailied
D503* [02:07]; Die Mainacht D194 [02:47]; Am ersten Maimorgen
D344 [02:16]; An die Nachtigall D497* [01:25]; Daphne am Bach
D411* [02:57]; Frühlingslied D398 [01:24]; Phidile D500* [04:39];
Die Knabenzeit D400 [02:10]; An den Mond D468* [02:54]; An
die Nachtigall D196* [02:10]; Klage um Ali Bey D496A [02:58];
Abendlied D276* [04:54]; Winterlied D401 [02:12]; Am Grabe
Anselmos D504* [03:28]; Die Laube D214 [02:38]; Wiegenlied
("Schlafe, süsser holder Knabe" D498* [03:16] Birgid
Steinberger (soprano)*; Wolfgang Holzmair (baritone); Ulrich
Eisenlohr (fortepiano) rec. Bayrischer Rundfunk Studio 2, Munich,
Germany, 30 November - 5 December
2004 NAXOS 8.557569 [62:27]
[CH]
Holzmair’s
singing of “Die Mainacht” is worth the price on its own, but
he sings only half the disc ... see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
The Late Schubert Piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat Major, D960 (1828)
[38:15] Drei Klavierstücke, D946 (1828) [32:20]
Oleg Marshev (piano) rec. Symfonien, Aalborg, Denmark, January 2005.
DDD DANACORD DACOCD
646 [70.09] [MC]
Marshev
breaths life into the music and is to be congratulated for conveying
the true spirit of the music. ... see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT (1797–1828)
String
Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D810 Death and the Maiden (1826) arranged
for string orchestra by Gustav MAHLER
[45.38] Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911)
Adagietto in F major for strings and harp, from Symphony No.
5 in C sharp minor (1901-03) [09.57]
Kiev Chamber Orchestra/
Roman Kofman, Ute Blaumer, harp (Adagietto) rec. Heiligkreuzkirche in
Bad Godesberg, Germany, 27-28 November 2003. DDD
MUSIKPRODUKTION
DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM SACD MDG 601 1315-2
[55.47] [MC]
Real
intensity of emotion ... a superb release and a certainty to be
one of my Records of the Year ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Artur
Schnabel – The Complete Schubert Recordings: 1932-50 Impromptus
D.899 (recorded 1950) No.1 in C minor [8.53] No.2 in E flat
[4.10] No.3 in G flat [4.54] No.4 in A flat [6.08] Impromptus,
Op. posth. D.935 (recorded 1950) No.1 in F minor [9.04] No.2
in A flat [7.14] No.3 in B flat [9.44] No.4 In F minor [6.41]
Allegretto in C minor, D.915 (recorded 1939) [4.54] March in
E, D.606 (recorded 1939) 3.21] Moments musicaux, D.780 (recorded
1937) No.1 in C [4.33] No.2 in A flat [6.24] No.3 in F minor
[1.51] No.4 in C sharp minor [3.51] No.5 in F minor [1.15]
No.6 in A flat [6.37] Piano Sonata No. 18 in D D.850 (recorded
1939) [37.41] Piano Sonata No. 21 in A D.959 (recorded 1937)
[34.52] Piano Sonata No. 22 in B flat, D.960 (recorded 1939)
[36.48]
Piano Quintet in A, Op. posth. 114, D.667 (‘Trout’) (recorded 1935) # [35.16]Lieder (recorded
1932) @
Der Doppelganger – Schwanengesang D957 [4.15]
Die Stadt – Schwanengesang D957 [3.36] Gruppe aus dem Tartarus D583 [3.34] Der
Kreuzzug D932 [4.11] An die Laute D905 [2.01] Der Musensohn D764 [2.08] Erlkonig
D328 [5.09] Marches Militaires D.733 (Recorded 1937) * No 1 in D [3.47] No.2
in G [3.39] No.3 in E flat [4.45]
Divertissement à la Hongroise in G minor D.818 (recorded 1937) [31.37] March
in G minor D.819 No. 2 (recorded 1937) [4.11] March in B minor D.819 No. 3 (recorded
1937) [7.54]
Andantino varié in B minor D.823 (recorded 1937) [7.47]
Allegro in A minor (“Lebensstürme”), Op. posth. D.947 (recorded 1937) [12.25]
Rondo in A D.951 (1937) * [10.29] Artur
Schanbel, piano, Karl Ulrich Schnabel, piano *, Pro Arte Quartet Members, Claude
Hobday, double bass #, Theresa Behr-Schnabel, contralto
@ MUSIC & ARTS CD 1175 [5
CDs: 65:10 + 62:19 + 71:42 + 71:30 + 74:29 [JW]
All
in all this is an impressive restoration of Schnabel’s Schubert
and I consider them the finest transfers of this body of work available.
... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Songs by Schubert’s
Friends and Contemporaries Carl BANCK (1809-1889)
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Ludwig
BERGER (1777-1839) Jeannette
Antonie BÜRDE (b. 1799) Moritz
von DIETRICHSTEIN (1775-1864) Maximilian
EBERWEIN (1775-1831) Stephan
FRANZ (1785-1855) Adalbert
GYROWETZ (1760-1853) Franz
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Carl
LOEWE (1796-1869) Ferdinand
HILLER (1811-1885) Johann
Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837) Anselm
HÜTTENBRENNER (1794-1868) Conradin
KREUTZER (1780-1849) Nikolaus
von KRUFFT (1779-1818) Franz
Paul LACHNER (1803-1890) Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Fanny
MENDELSSOHN (1805-1847) Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Giacomo
MEYERBEER (1791-1864) Sigismund
NEUKOMM (1778-1858) Johann
Vesque von PÜTTLINGEN (1803-1883)
Benedict RANDHARTINGER
(1802-1893) Johann
Friedrich REICHHARDT (1752-1814) Louise
REICHARDT (1779-1826) Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Antonio
SALIERI (1750-1825) Franz
SCHUBERT of Dresden (1768-1827) Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Simon
SECHTER (1788-1867) Louis
SPOHR (1784-1859) Václav
Jan Křtitel TOMAŠEK (1774-1850)
Johann Karl UNGER (1771-1836)
Karoline UNGER-SABATIER
(1803-1877) Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826)
Joseph WEIGL (1766-1846)
August Heinrich von
WEYRAUCH (1788-1865) Carl
Friedrich ZELTER (1758-1832) Johann
Rudolf ZUMSTEEG (1760-1802) A full
track listing is provided at the end of the
review
Susan Gritton (soprano); Stella Doufexis (soprano);
Ann Murray (mezzo); Mark Padmore (tenor);
Gerald Finley (baritone); Graham Johnson (piano)
rec. All Saints, East Finchley, London, August
2001, March, October 2004. DDD
HYPERION CDJ33051/3 [3 CDs: 78:25 + 77:02
+ 78:17] [JQ]
This
is an absolutely first class set. It’s most
rewarding and stimulating to listen to and
I recommend it urgently to all lovers of lieder
as a truly indispensable purchase. Bravo,
Graham Johnson! Bravo, Hyperion! ... see Full
Review
William
SCHUMAN (1910-1992) Symphony No.
7 (1960) [28:57]
Symphony No. 10 American Muse (1976) [31:51] Seattle
Symphony/Gerard Schwarz rec. S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, Benaroya Hall,
Seattle, WA. Nov 2003
(7); Sept 2004 (10). DDD NAXOS 8.559255 [60:48]
[JQ]
This
CD confirms the impression of its predecessor that William Schuman was
a major American symphonist of the twentieth century. ... see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphony
No. 3 Rhenish (1850) [33:15] Overture, Scherzo and
Finale (1841 rev. 1845) [17:45] Symphonic Studies: Adagio and Allegro
brillante (orch. Tchaikovsky)
[8:10] Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/
Dirk Joeres rec. Walthamstow Town Hall, London, December 1999 (Sym); Air Studios,
Lyndhurst
Hall, London, January 1995 (Overture, Scherzo and Finale); Watford Town
Hall, England, June 2003 (Symphonic Studies). DDD REGIS
RRC 1237 [60:00] [IL]
Fresh
invigorating readings that can hold their own with the best in
a crowded list of competitive recordings. ... see Full
Review
Jose
Antonio Carlos de SEIXAS (1704-42) Harpsichord
Sonatas, Volume 1: Sonata No.36 in E minor [8:13] Sonata
No.19 in D major [3:46] Sonata No.18 in C minor [5:30] Sonata
No.34 in E major [3:46] Sonata No.44 in F minor [3:18] Sonata
No.43 in F minor [3:47] Sonata No.24 in D minor [1:57] Sonata
No.27 in D minor [4:54] Sonata No.42 in F minor [4:02] Sonata
No.37 in E minor [3:22] Sonata No.57 in A major [9:22] Sonata
No.10 in C major [15:16]
Sonata No.50 in G minor [3:50] Débora
Halász (harpsichord) rec. Festsaal des Reitstadels, Neumarkt, Germany, 22-24
April 2003 NAXOS 8.557459 [71:02]
[GPu]
This
is a promising start to a very worthwhile project, and I look forward
to future volumes ... see Full Review
Roger
SESSIONS (1896-1985)
Concerto
for Piano and Orchestra (1955-56) [18.29] Francis
THORNE (b. 1922) Piano Concerto No.3 (1989) [25.45]
Robert Taub (piano) – Sessions Ursula Oppens (piano) – Thorne Westchester
Philharmonic/Paul Lustig Dunkel rec. Studio A, Performing Arts Centre,
Purchase College, January 1993 (Thorne), January 1994 (Sessions)
NEW WORLD RECORDS 80443-2 [44.19][JW]
Thorne’s
concerto makes a real impression in this expert
performance while the power and command of
the Sessions’ concerto have not faded. ...
see Full
Review
Testimony
- The Story of Shostakovich. Tony
Palmer’s film about Shostakovich starring
Ben Kingsley
DIGITAL
CLASSICS DVD DC 10010 [151:00] [RB]
This
sombre piece of cinema is stunningly done
with enormous integrity. ... see Full
Review
Nikos
SKALKOTTAS (1904-1949)
The
Sea - Ballet Suite (1948-49) [45:15] Four Images (1948) [13:43]
Cretan Feast (orchestration by Skalkottas
of a work by Dmitri Mitropoulos)
(1919 orch. 1923-24) [7:20] Greek Dance in C minor (1949?) [5:07]
Iceland Symphony
Orchestra/Byron Fidetzis rec. June 2003, Haskolabio, Reykjavik, Iceland.
DDD BIS-CD-1384 [72:44][RB]
This
along with the masterly Thirty-Six Greek Dances is one of the easiest
approaches to the genius of Skalkottas. ... see Full
Review
Bedřich
SMETANA (1824-1884)
Ma Vlást: 2: Vltava
Rehearsal extracts [41:20] and performance [10:37] with introduction
[02:38] by Dieter Ertel Südfunk-Sinfonieorchester/Ferenc Fricsay A SDR
Stuttgart Production, recorded 1960. DVD (b/w) Subtitles: English, French,
Spanish, Italian TDK
DV-DOCFF [c.55:00] [CH]
Tantalizingly,
this film is only half successful in its declared
aim of telling us “who Ferenc Fricsay was”.
... see Full
Review
Bedřich
SMETANA
(1824-1884)Má
Vlast, complete (1874-1879) [78:58]
Concertgebouw Orchestra/Antal Doráti
rec. Amsterdam Concertgebouw, September 1956
ADD Mono
PHILIPS ELOQUENCE ICONS AUSTRALIA 476
8717 [78:58] [AtOr]
Doráti’s
mono Má Vlast for the first time on
CD but an also-ran in any comparative survey...
see Full
Review
Kaikhosru
Shapurji SORABJI (1892-1988) One
Hundred Transcendental Studies, Nos. 1-25 (1940-44): Mouvementé [1:50];
II. Vivace e leggiero [1:09]; III. [4:17]; IV. (Scriabinesco)
[2:53]; V. Staccato e leggiero [1:24]; VI. [1:37]; VII. Leggiero
abbastanza [1:07]; VIII. [1:56]; IX. Staccato e leggiero [0:58];
X. Con brio ed impeto - Volante [3:09]; XI. (Animato
abbastanza) [1:37]; XII. Leggiero quasi saltando [1:44];
XIII. [3:31]; XIV. Tranquillamente soave [4:35]; XV. [1:40];
XVI. [2:43]; XVII. Molto accentato [1:56]; XVIII. Liscio.
Tranquillamente scorrevole [5:15]; IXX. Saltando e leggiero [2:12];
XX. Con fantasia [5:24]; XXI. Con eleganza e disinvoltura [4:37];
XXII. Leggiero volante e presto assai [1:24]; XXIII. Dolcemente
scorrevole [4:00]; XXIV. Con fantasia e grazia [5:40];
XXV. Vivace e secco [2:42] Frederick
Ullén (piano) rec. July 2003, December 2005, Nybrokajen
11, Stockholm, Sweden. DDD BIS
CD 1373 [71:11] [RB]
If
you enjoy the piano music of York Bowen, Medtner, Foulds or Nancarrow
and are prepared to go just the extra mile you should find this
disc extremely rewarding. ... see Full
Review
Richard
STRAUSS
(1864-1949) Ein
Heldenleben – Symphonic Poem Op.40 (1898) [47.24] Le Bourgeois
Gentilhomme – Suite for Orchestra Op.60 (1917) [34.23]
Guy Braunstein (violin) Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Simon Rattle rec.
Philharmonie, Berlin, October 2005. DDD
EMI CLASSICS 3 39339 2 [81.57][JW]
A
very problematic recording and a performance to match ... see Full
Review
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) String
Sextet from Capriccio (1942) [9:26] Alban
BERG (1885-1935) Piano Sonata in B minor, op.
1 (arranged for String Sextet by Heime Müller)
(1907, 2003) [12:16] Arnold
SCHÖNBERG (1874-1951) Verklärte
Nacht (1899) [28:58]
Artemis Quartet (Natalia Prischepenko, Heime Müller, violins; Volker
Jacobsen, viola, Eckart Runge, cello); Members of the Alban Berg Quartet
(Thomas Kakuska, viola; Valentin Erben, cello). rec. WDR Radio, Cologne,
December 2002.
VIRGIN 0946 335130 2 [51:02][KS]
An
extremely satisfying disc worth its price just for the Berg. Played
to perfection, I can even overlook the occasional breath snort ... see
Full Review
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
The Rake’s Progress (1951)
Trulove - Stafford Dean (bass) Anne - Cathryn Pope (soprano) Tom Rakewell
- Philip Langridge (tenor) Nick Shadow - Samuel Ramey (baritone) Mother
Goose - Astrid Varnay (mezzo) Baba the Turk - Sarah Walker (mezzo) Sellem
- John Dobson (tenor) Keeper - Matthew Best (bass) London Sinfonietta
Chorus London Sinfonietta/Riccardo Chailly rec. 1985, London
DECCA 475 7005 [68.18 + 67.01][TB]
The
sound has emerged with more clarity and depth and this has enhanced
the whole performance. The cast is well balanced and there are some
distinguished contributions from a talented array of singers ... see
Full Review
Thomas
TALLIS (1505–1585)
Sancte Deus; Suscipe quaeso Domine; Salvator mundi;
Miserere nostri; In ieunio et fletu; If ye love me;
Loquebantur variis linquis; Candidi facti sunt; O Lord,
give thy Holy Spirit; O nata lux; Videte miraculum;
Verily, verily; O salutaris hostia; O sacrum convivium;
Thou wast, O God; Jesu, Salvator saeculi; Magnificat and
Nunc Dimittis in the Dorian mode; Te lucis ante terminum
The Rodolfus Choir/Ralph Allwood rec. December 2004, Eton College Chapel
HERALD HAVPCD 305
[70.34][RH]
These
are lovely, well crafted performances ... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Francesca
da Rimini Op.32 (1876) [22.42] Serenade for Strings in C
major Op.48 (1881) [28.08]
London Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski rec. Brent Town Hall, London,
October 1974. ADD PENTATONE
CLASSICS SACD 5186 122
[51.04][JW]
One
for the Stokowski completist ... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
The Piano Sonatas Sonata
No. 1 in F minor (1863-4) [10:52] Sonata No.
2 in C-sharp minor Op. 80 (1865) [27:13] Sonata
No. 3 in G-major Op. 37 [1878] Grand Sonata
[29:27]
Leslie Howard (piano) rec. All Saints,
Petersham, 9-10 November 1993. DDD First released
as Hyperion CDA66939
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55215 [66:32] [WK]
Richter’s
power and poignancy produced extremely well-balanced
performances. Leslie Howard has a similar
approach although leaning more towards poignancy
... see
Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Pyotr Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
CD1 RRC1212 [68:50]
Symphony No: 4 (1877) [43:20] Marche Slave (1876) [9:48] 1812 Overture
(1880) [15:19]* CD2 RRC1213 [63:46]
Symphony No: 5 (1888) [47:00] Capriccio Italien (1879) [16:42] CD3
RRC1214 [60:09] Symphony No: 6 (1893) [45:40]
Overture - The Storm (1864) [14:17] London
Symphony Orchestra/Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, Yuri Ahronovitch * rec. All Saints,
Tooting, London, February 1987. DDD REGIS
RRC 3009 [3 CDs:
68:50 + 63:46 + 60:09] [RB]
Little
real competition in or out of budget price. Grippingly sensational
sound and interpretative insight. Rozhdestvenky’s Tchaikovsky -
the three last symphonies before they became routine ... see Full
Review
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Orleanskaya Dieva (Maid
of Orleans, or Joan of Arc) - opera in four acts (1879) Text
by the composer after Schiller, tr. Zukovsky
Joan of Arc - Nina Rautio, King Charles VII - Oleg Kulko, Agnes Sorel
- Maria Gavrilova, Archbishop - Gleb Nicolsky, Lionel - Vladimir Redkin,
Dunois - Mikhail Krutikov, Thibaut - Vyacheslav Pochapsky, Raymond -
Arkady Mishenkin, Bertrand - Maksim Mikhailov, Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra
and Chorus/Aleksandr Lazarev Designer, Valery Levental; Lighting, Alan
Woolford; Video Direction, Brian Large. rec. Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow,
Russia, June 1993. Subtitles in English, Deutsch, Castellano, Français,
Italiano, Portugués, Japanese. Notes in English. Track list, synopsis,
no texts or translations. NTSC 4:3. Dolby Digital 48kHz 16 bit 2.0 stereo.
Region 2,3,4,5. Region 1 edition available from Kultur video
WARNER MUSIC VISION NVC ARTS 4509-94191-2
[149.00] [PSh]
If
you love Aïda and can forgive Rigoletto, you will very much enjoy
this brilliant evening at the opera. ... see Full
Review
Alexander
Nikolayevich TCHEREPNIN (1899–1977) Piano
Concerto No. 2 op. 26 (1923) [19:15] Piano Concerto No. 4 Fantasie op.
78 (1945) [29:15] Piano Concerto No. 6 op. 99 (1965) [27:28] Murray
McLachlan (piano) Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra/Julian Clayton
rec. Studio 7, BBC Manchester, 1994-5. DDD recorded in association
with the Belaieff Foundation REGIS
FORUM FRC 9110 [76:10] [RB]
Inventive
and engaging music bridging the gap between
Stravinsky and Prokofiev presented with sharply
defined clarity by a master of the genre and
an alert and accomplished orchestra. ... see
Full
Review
Olav
Anton THOMMESSEN (b.1946)
BULL's
eye (2003) [34:17] Please Accept my
Ears for violin and piano (1981) [5:46]
Cantabile (Etyde-cadenza) for
solo violin (1995) [14:33]
Peter Herresthal (violin) Gonzalo Moreno
(piano) Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra /Rolf
Gupta rec. May 2005, Oslo Concert Hall, Norway
(BULL’s Eye), November 2005 (Please
Accept my Ears) and December 1996 at Lindemansalen,
Norges musikkhøgskole, Oslo, Norway
(Cantabile)
BIS-SACD-1512
[55:35] [DC]
Something
of a must for the new music enthusiast. ...
see Full
Review
Sir Donald Francis
TOVEY
(1865-1940) Bride
of Dionysus Prelude (1918) [5.32] (arr.Shore/Vass)
Symphony in D Op. 32 (1913, rev. 1923) [58.03]
Malmö Opera Orchestra/George Vass rec.
Swedish Radio Studio 7, Malmö, Sweden,
27 May 2005. DDD
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0033 [63.20] [PCW]
Tovey’s
cause is well served by this disc ... see
Full Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Giovanna
D’Arco, Opera in a prologue and three acts (1845) Libretto
by Temistocle Solera loosely based on Schiller’s drama Die
Jungfrau
von Orleans. First performed at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, 15 February
1845 Carlo VII. King of Spain, Vincenzo
La Scola (ten); Giacomo, a shepherd in Dom-Rémy, Renato Bruson (bar); Giovanna
D’Arco, his daughter, Susan Dunn (sop); Delil, an officer of the King, Pierre
Lefebvre (ten); Talbot, commander of the English army, Francesco Lodetti (bass)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Communale di Bologna/Riccardo Chailly rec.
live, Teatro Communale Bologna, December 1989 Produced by Radio Italiana in association
with NVC ARTS Stage producer Werner Herzog. Designer, Henning von Gierke Video
direction, Werner Herzog in association with Keith Cheetham Picture format: NTSC
4:3.Colour. Linear–PCM stereo. Subtitles in English, German, Spanish, French,
Portuguese and Japanese WARNER
MUSIC VISION DVD VIDEO 9031-71478-2 [126:00]
[RJF]
Despite
reservations as to the two principals, this well staged and conducted
performance has given me significantly greater insight into Giovanna
D’Arco as well as considerable musical enjoyment ... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678
-1741) Tito
Manlio – opera in three acts (1720)
[185:00] Tito: Nicola Ulivieri (bass-baritone)
Manlio: Karina Gauvin (soprano) Servilia:
Ann Hallenberg (mezzo) Vitellia: Marijana
Mijanovic (contralto) Lucio: Debora Beronesi
(mezzo) Decio: Barbara di Castri (mezzo) Geminio:
Mark Milhofer (tenor) Lindo: Christian Senn
(bass-baritone)
Academia Bizantina/Ottavio Dantone rec. Sala
del Refettorio di S.Vitale of the Museo Nationale
of San Vitale, 27, 30 October 2004
NAÏVE OP30413 [3 CDs: 63:16 + 60:08
+ 61:33] [IB]
The
competition will have to be exceptional to
supplant this set. This is living breathing
drama ... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Arsilda,
Regina di Ponto - opera in three acts (RV 700) Elena
Cecchi Fedi (Mirinda), Nicky Kennedy (Barzane), Alessandra
Rossi (Nicandro) (soprano); Simonetta Cavalli (Arsilda), Lucia
Sciannimanico (Lisea) (mezzo); Joseph Cornwell (Tamese) (tenor);
Sergio Foresti (Cisardo) (bass) Coro da Camera Italiano; Modo
Antiquo/Federico Maria Sardelli rec. July 2001, Chiesa del
Santissimo Crocifisso, Barga, Italy. DDD CPO
999 740-2 [68:55 + 57:07 + 40:10] [JV]
An
interesting recording of the original version of Vivaldi's third
opera - the singing and playing is generally good, but can't make
up for the lack of drama and emotion ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Das Rheingold (1869)
John Bröcheler (bass-baritone) – Wotan; Jürgen Freier (baritone) – Donner;
Albert Bonnema (tenor) – Froh; Chril Merritt (tenor) – Loge; Henk Smit
(baritone) – Alberich; Graham Clark (tenor) – Mime; Peter Mikuláš (bass)
– Fasolt; Carsten Stabell (bass) – Fafner; Reinhild Runkel (mezzo) –
Fricka; Carola Höhn (soprano) – Freia; Anne Gjevang (contralto) – Erda;
Gabriele Fontana (soprano) – Woglinde; Hanna Schaer (mezzo) – Wellgunde;
Catherine Keen (contralto) – Flosshilde Residentie Orchestra, The Hague/Hartmut
Haenchen rec. live, Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam, 1999 Stage Director:
Pierre Audi; Set Design: George Tsypin; Costume Design: Eiko Ishioka;
Light Design: Wolfgang Göbbel; Dramaturgy: Klaus Bertisch TV Director:
Misjel Vermeiren Sung in German with subtitles in English, French, German,
Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Japanese Includes “The Forging of the Ring”,
Roland Hazendonk’s documentary introduction to Wagner’s Ring
from Het Muziektheater Amsterdam, including interviews with Hartmut
Haenchen, Pierre Audi and principal members of the cast.
OPUS ARTE OA 0946 D
[2 DVDs: 68:02 + 80:45][GF]
As
a visual and theatrical experience this became rather thrilling but
for superior singing one has to look elsewhere ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Das
Rheingold (1854) Wotan
- (bass) – John Tomlinson, Donner - (baritone) – Bodo Brinkmann,
Froh - (tenor) – Kurt Schreibmayer, Loge - (tenor) – Graham
Clark, Mime - (tenor) – Helmut Pampuch, Alberich - (baritone) – Günter
von Kannen, Fasolt - (bass) – Matthias Hölle, Fafner - (bass) – Philip
Kang, Fricka - (mezzo) – Linda Finnie, Freia - (soprano) – Eva
Johansson, Erda - (mezzo) – Birgitta Svenden, Woglinde - (soprano) – Hilde
Leidland, Wellgunde - (mezzo) – Annette Küttenbaum, Flosshilde
- (mezzo) – Jane Turner, Orchestra of the Bayreuth Festpiele/Daniel
Barenboim. Directed for the stage by Harry Kupfer. Designed
by Hans Schavernoch. Directed for video by Horant H.Hohlfeld
rec. live, Bayreuth Festspielhaus, June/July 1991 WARNER
CLASSICS UNITEL 2564
62318-2 [154:00] [TH]
A
tremendously vital and imaginative post-modern
production that is wonderfully matched by
Barenboim’s conducting. ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Die
Walküre (1870) John Bröcheler (bass-baritone)
– Wotan; John Keyes (tenor) – Siegmund; Kurt Rydl (bass) – Hunding;
Nadine Secunde (soprano) – Sieglinde; Jeannine Altmeyer (soprano) –
Brünnhilde; Reinhild Runkel (mezzo) – Fricka; Kirsi Tiihonen (soprano)
– Helmwige; Annegeer Stumphius (soprano) – Ortlinde; Irmgard Vilsmaier
(soprano) – Gerhilde; Hanna Schaer (mezzo) – Waltraute; Catherine Keen
(mezzo) – Siegrune; Elzbieta Ardam (contralto) – Rossweisse; Regina
Mauel (contralto) – Grimgerde; Hebe Dijkstra (contralto) – Schwertleite
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra/Hartmut Haenchen Stage direction:
Pierre Audi; Set design: George Tsypin; Costume design: Eiko Ishioka;
Light design: Wolfgang Göbbel; Dramaturgy: Klaus Bertisch; TV Director:
Hans Hulscher rec. live, Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam, 1999
OPUS ARTE OA 0947 D
[3 DVDs: 65:22 + 92:34 + 73:14][GF]
A
quality of timelessness. The viewer is forced to focus on the interactions
and conflicts between the main characters. That is the real strength
of this performance. All in all a quality product. ... see Full
Review
William WALTON (1902-1983)
Symphony
No. 1 in b-flat minor. (1931-35) [46:01]
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Colin Davis rec. 23 September and 5 December
2005, Barbican Centre, London.
LSO LIVE LSO0076 [46:01] [KS]
Signature
Walton, jammed with the triumphant rhythms
and open harmonies that bring the listener
to a glorious mountain summit. Sheer passionate
exhilaration. ... see Full
Review
Mieczyslaw
WEINBERG
(Moisei VAINBERG) (1919-1996)
Piano
Quintet Op.18 (1944) [39.43] * Quartet No.8 in C minor Op.66 (1959)
[15.30] Borodin Quartet
Mieczyslaw Weinberg (piano) * rec. Moscow1963 (Quintet) and 1961 (Quartet)
MELODIYA MEL CD 10 00979
[55.35][JW]
Two
big, powerful and comprehensively impressive musical statements. ...
see Full Review
Judith
WEIR (b.
1954) The Consolations of Scholarship (1985)
[22:28] (1, 4) Piano Concerto (1997) [16:38] (2, 5) King Harald’s
Saga (1979) [13:28] (3) Musicians Wrestle Everywhere (1995)
[12:32] (5) Janice
Felty (soprano) (1) Xan Bjerken (piano) (2) Judith Kellock (soprano)
(3) Ensemble X/Steve Stucky (4) Ensemble X/Mark Davis Scatterday (5)
rec. 19-21 April 2002, James J. Neylan Room, Lincoln Hall, Cornell University,
Ithaca, New York. DDD
ALBANY RECORDS TROY803 [64.51][RH]
I
can wholeheartedly recommend this disc to those who would like to get
to know the music of this approachable but elusive composer. ... see
Full Review
Dan
WELCHER
(b.1948) Haleakala: How Maui Snared
the Sun (Tone Poem)* (1991) [22:32] Prairie Light: Three
Texas Watercolours of Georgia O’Keefe (1985) [14:20] Concerto for
Clarinet and Orchestra** (1989) [20:13]
*Richard Chamberlain (narrator); ** Bil Jackson (clarinet) Honolulu
Symphony Orchestra/Donald Johanos; rec. 10 January 1992, Blaisdell Concert
Hall, Honolulu, Hawaii
NAXOS 8.559287 [57:06] [GPu]
Prairie
Light, a response to the paintings of Georgia O’Keefe, is a fine
piece and the Concerto for Clarinet is thoroughly entertaining – the
only disappointment comes with the title work ... see Full
Review
Dan
WELCHER (b.
1948) Haleakala: How Maui Snared the Sun (1991)
[22.32] Prairie Light: Three Texas Watercolors of Georgia O’Keeffe
(1985) [14.20] Clarinet Concerto (1989) [20.13]
Richard Chamberlain (narrator) Bil Jackson (clarinet) Honolulu Symphony
Orchestra/Donald Johanos rec. 10 January 1992, Blaisdell Concert Hall,
Honolulu, Hawaii. DDD
NAXOS 8.559287 [57.06][RH]
A
fascinating disc but now that the disc is
on my library shelves I am honestly not sure
how often I will listen to it again. ... 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
GUILD LIGHT MUSIC GLCD 5121 [77.57] [JW]
Haydn
Wood interpreted with engaging brio ... All
is set fair for a rip-roaring programme and
so it proves. ... see Full
Review
Dag
WIRÉN
(1905-1986) Symphony No. 2 op. 14 (1939) [30’26]
Symphony No. 3 op. 20 (1944) [22’12] Concert Overture No. 1 op. 2
(1931) [7’45]
Concert Overture No. 2 op. 16 (1940) [5’11]
Norrköping Symphony Orchestra/ Thomas Dausgaard rec. De Geerhallen,
Norrköping, 3-5 February 1999
CPO 999 677-2 [65’38] [DJB]
Anyone
who enjoys the symphonies of Sibelius, and in fact, well-crafted,
melodic 20th century orchestral music in general, should
not hesitate over this disc ... see Full
Review
Eugène
YSAŸE (1858-1931)
Works for Violin and Orchestra Poème élégiaque (orch.
Jacques Ysaÿe) Op.12 [14:47] Chant
d’hiver Op. 15 in B minor (1902) [12:10] Berceuse Op. 20
in F minor [4:59] Les neiges d’antan Op.23 [9:28] Violin Concerto
[No. 8] [24.10] Divertimento Op. 24 [11.23]
Albrecht Laurent Breuninger (violin) North West German Philharmonic
Orchestra/Welisar Gentscheff rec. West German Radio, Herford, Schützenhof,
1998-99 CPO 777 051-2
[77.00][JW]
Performances
are warm and lyric though rather laid-back. An intriguing sidelight
on Ysaÿe’s more prominent and bracingly up-to-date solo sonatas. ...
see Full Review
Man-Ching
‘Donald’ YU (b.
1980) Illusions: Music of Man-Ching ‘Donald’
Yu Hell and Heaven for piano (2003) [06.18] Fantasy on ‘The Lady
of Shallot’ for piano (2003) [06.39] haos’ for piano (2002) [04.45]
Uncertainty for piano (2004) [03.45] Sonata No. 1, ‘Grand Concert Fantasy’
(2000) for piano [08.57] Five Japanese Lyrics for soprano and piano
(2001) [13.17] Sonnet No. 104 for mezzo-soprano and piano (2002) [03.02]
Illusion for oboe and piano (2003) [05.10] Dark Rhapsody for cello and
piano (2003) [04.13] Five Miniatures for Piano (2001) [04.39] Sonata
No. 2, ‘Humoresque’ for piano (2000) [07.10]
Man-Ching ‘Donald’ Yu, (piano) Kristi Foster, (soprano) Xia Heng, (mezzo)
Euridice M. Alvarez Izcoa, (oboe) Jeremy Shih, (cello) No recording
dates or venues provided
ZIMBEL RECORDS #ZR113 [67.44][MC]
Interesting
short scores ... reasonably appealing and always accessible. Some enjoyable
moments but
not enough to tempt me to return. ... see Full
Review
Judith Lang ZAIMONT
(b.1945) The Vocal-Chamber Art Greyed
Sonnets (1975) [13:13]1 Chansons Nobles et Sentimentales
(1974) [12:50]2 Songs of Innocence (1974) [1974]
[10:36]3 Two Songs for soprano and harp [1978] [10:14]4
The Magic World (1979-80) [24:59]5
1 Elena Tyminski (soprano); Judith Lang Zaimont (piano) 2
Charles Bressler (tenor); Judith Lang Zaimont (piano) 3 Elena
Tyminski (soprano); Price Brown (tenor); Patricia Spencer (flute); Barbara
Bogatin (cello); Nancy Allen (harp) 4 Berenice Bramson (soprano);
Sara Cutler (harp) 5 David Arnold (baritone); Zita Zohar
(piano); Jonathan Haas (percussion) rec. 1977-1983. ADD
LEONARDA LE 343 [72:01] [GPu]
A
consistent perceptiveness as regards the meaning
and shape of the words, without ever forfeiting
the proper liberties of the composer. If you
like modern song, this is a CD well worth
hearing. ... see Full
Review
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