Tomoko
Mukaiyama plays Women Composers Adriana
HOLSZKY (b. 1953) Horfenster fur Franz Liszt (1986-87) [14.28]
Vanessa LANN (b. 1968) Inner Piece
(1994) [7.43] Galina USTVOLSKAYA (b.
1919) Piano Sonata VI (1988) [7.30] Sofia
GUBAIDULINA (b. 1931) Piano Sonata (1965) [19.42] Meredith
MONK (b. 1943) Double Fiesta (1988) [6.05] 
Tomoko Mukaiyama (piano) Recorded at Studio Hilversum, August 1994
BVHAAST CD 9406 [55.59][JW]
Mildly
confrontational. A recital that proves, on and off, tough going. ...
see Full Review
La Musica:
16th and 17th Century Music and A Surprise
Francesca Caccini
(1587-c.1640) Che desia di saper’ * [1:54] Sigismondo
d’INDIA (1580-c.1629) Lŕ tra’il sangue č le morti * [1:50]
Alessandro PICCININI (1566-c.1638)
Toccata XI * [2:34] Corrente XI * [2:01]Francesca
CAMPANA (d.1665) Pargoletta, vezzosetta * [2:44] Settimia
CACCINI (1591-c.1638) Giŕ sperai, non spero hor’ piů * [1:54]
Francesca Caccini (1587-c.1640) La pastorella mia tra
i fiori * [3:28] Fabritio CAROSO
(c.1531-c.1605) Forza d’amore * [1:53] ANONYMOUS
Trista sort’ č la mia sorte * [2:52] Giovanni
Girolamo KAPSPERGER (c.1580-1651) Figlio dormi * [4:19] Barbara
STROZZI (1619-1677) Tradimento! * [2:39] Che si puň fare?
* [11:33] ANONYMOUS
La Folia * [6:05] Barbara
STROZZI (1619-1677) Non pavento io non di te * [4:12] Julie
KABAT (b.1947) Five Poems by H.D. ** [13:11] Invocation in
Centrifugal Form *** [9:55]
Carol Plantamura (soprano); Jürgen Hübscher (lute; archlute; Spanish
baroque guitar); Beverly Lauridsen (viola da gamba); ** Julie Kabat
(spoken voice; glass harmonium; saw); Ben Hudson (violin); *** Julie
Kabat (voice; glass harmonium) rec. * 1984, Congregation Emanu-El, Westchester,
Westchester County, New York, ADD; **/*** 1983, St. Michael’s Episcopal
Parish House, New York City, DDD.
LEONARDA LE 350 [73:01] [GPu]
A
well-chosen programme of seventeenth century songs and lute music,
performed, with understanding and panache - plus a genuine surprise
... see Full Review
Native
American Stories in Classical Flute Music James
DEMARS (b. 1952) Colors Fall for Flute and Alto Saxophone
(1998) [4:40] Katherine HOOVER (b. 1937) Winter Spirits for Flute (1997) [4:51]; Canyon
Echoes for Flute and Guitar (1991) [18:16]; Kokopeli for Solo Flute (1990) [4:32] John
THOW (b. 1949) Hopi Flute Prelude (1995) [0:41]; To
Invoke the Clouds for Solo Flute (1995) [7:02]; To Invoke the
Clouds for Two Flutes (1995) [6:54]; Breath of the Sun for Three
Flutes and Alto Flute (1993) [8:45] Victor
FROST (b. 1952) Nocturne; Bird of Prey from American
Suite for Flute and Piano, Op. 76, nos 1-2 (1988) [3:59] Laurel
Zucker (flute) Jeremiah Bills (flute), Christina Yu (flute),
Christmas Gainsbrugh (flute) Charlene Romano (alto flute) Dr.
Jack Foote (saxophone) Richard Savino (guitar) Marc Shapiro (piano)
rec. First Unitarian Church, Berkeley, CA, USA, 1998. DDD CANTILENA
RECORDS 66017-2 [59:44] [PG]
Ms.
Zucker is an exquisite performer with wonderful technique. There are
few virtuoso flautists with a more adventurous spirit ... see Full
Review
Libor
Novacek (piano)
Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1938)
Sonata 1.X.1905 ‘A Scene from the Street’ (1905) [13.40] Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Preludes Book II (six pieces from) (1910-1912)
[22.23] Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937)
Le Tombeau de Couperin (1917) [28.25] Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Three Czech Dances (1926) [09.29]
Libor Novacek, piano
rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, 15-17 October 2005. DDD
LANDOR RECORDS LAN274 [74.09][MC]
The
assured playing from Libor Novacek makes riveting listening. I look
forward to hearing more recitals from him. ... see Full
Review
The
Oboe: 1903-1953 Georges
BIZET (1838-1875) Carmen, Petite Mignon
[2.10] Caesar
Addimando (rec.1908) Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Guillaume Tell [3.02 + 3.05] Georges Gillet (rec. c1905)
'Giorgio' (rec. 1906) HUGUENIN La
nuit de Noël [2.12] Housset (rec.1903) GUILHAUD
First Concertino and Farandole Joseph Fonteyn (rec.c1910)
Xavier LEROUX Une Soirée prčs
du lac [2.54 + 4.30 + 3.07] Louis Gaudard (rec. c1910) Louis Mercier
(rec. c1910) Paul-Gustave Brun (rec. c1926) Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Romance no. 1 (1911) [2.58] Arthur
Foreman (rec. c1911) Charles COLIN Concertino
in D, Andante and Polonaise Georges Longy (rec.c.1914) Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Oboe Quartet K370 [12.44] Léon
Goossens (rec. 1926) With members of the Spencer Dyke Quartet Johann
Christian BACH (1735-1782) Sinfonia in Bb [4.09 + 4.18 +
6.14} Georges Blanchard (rec. 1927) with Concertgebouw Orchestra/Willem
Mengelberg Bruno Labate (rec.1929) with Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra
of New York/ Willem Mengelberg Anon oboist (rec.1950) Berlin State Opera
Orchestra/Gmeindl Erik SATIE (1866-1925)
Gymnopédie 1 [4.21] Fernand Gillet (rec. 1930) Carl
NIELSEN (1865-1931) Romance and Humoresque [5.57]
Svend Christian Felumb (rec.1937) with Christian Christiansen (piano)
Darius MILHAUD (1892-1974) Suite
d'aprčs Corrette (1938) [4.31] Myrtile Morel (rec. 1938) with Trio
d’anches de Paris and Fernand Oubradous (bassoon) and Pierre Lefčbvre
(clarinet) MIHALOVICI Sonatine
Op. 13 pour hautbois et piano (1939) [14.30] Louis Bleuzet (rec.
c 1937-9) Georg Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Sonata in F Op.1 [7.12] Louis Gromer (rec. c1940) Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Oboe solo – segment [1.16]
Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908)
Scheherazade – segment [1.49] Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1898) Violin Concerto – second movement, oboe
solo, segment [2.49] Henri de Busscher (rec. 1940s) Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1898) Violin Concerto – second movement, oboe
solo, segment Fritz Flemming (rec. 1927) [2.11] with Fritz Kreisler
(violin)/Berlin State Opera Orchestra/Leo Blech Léon Goossens (rec.1936)
[2.19] with Fritz Kreisler (violin)/LPO/John Barbirolli Marcel Tabuteau
(rec. 1945) [2.35] with Josef Szigeti (violin)/Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene
Ormandy Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Variations on “La ci darem” Lois Wann, Ferdinand Prior and Engelbert
Brenner (rec. 1939) [9.54] Sidney Sutcliffe, Roger Lord and Natalie
James (rec.1951) [9.47] Hans Kamesch, Manfred Kautsky and Hans Hadamowsky
(rec.1953) [10.28] Two CDs for the price of one
OBOE CLASSICS CC2012 [70.55 + 69.09][JW]
A
full half-century of the oboe on record. A most accomplished undertaking,
compiled with care and expertise, and a bedrock disc for those taken
by the oboe. ... see Full Review
Orfeo
Fantasia John
DOWLAND (1563-1626)/arr
anon Pavana
lachrymae, arr for keyboard [02:22] Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) L'Orfeo: Ritornello from the Prologue
[01:13] Rosa del ciel, aria of Orfeo (act I)* [02:08] Tobias
HUME (c1565-1645) My hope is revived [02:07] My joys are
coming [01:05] Pierre GUÉDRON (c1575-c1620)
Quel espoir de guarir, air de cour* [06:44] anon
La Rosignol [03:06] Giulio CACCINI
(c1550-1618) Odi, Euterpe, il dolce canto, aria* [01:47]
Claudio MONTEVERDI L'Orfeo: Vi ricorda,
o boschi ombrosi, aria of Orfeo (act II)* [02:23] Giovanni
PICCHI (?-c1630) Toccata (Fitzwilliam Virginal Book) [02:43]
Sigismondo D'INDIA (c1580-1629) Lamento
d'Orfeo (Que vegg'io ohimè)* [06:44] John
DOWLAND/arr anon Pavana lachrymae, arr. for two lutes [02:22]
John DOWLAND Lasso vita mia, air*
[03:28] Tobias HUME Cease leaden
slumber, air* [04:49] Claudio MONTEVERDI L'Orfeo:
Ritornello from the Prologue [01:11] Questi i campi di Tracia, Lamento
of Orfeo (act V)* [08:42] John DOWLAND Flow
my tears, air* [04:46] 
Charles Daniels, tenor (*) Montréal Baroque (Margaret Little
(treble viol, bass viol), Susie Napper (bass viol), Nigel North (lirone,
lute), Sylvain Bergeron (lute), Olivier Fortin (harpsichord, organ),
Skip Sempé (harpsichord)/Susie Napper rec. June 2004, Église
de la Nativité, La Prairie, Québec, Canada. DDD
ATMA SACD2 2337 [62:14] [JV]
This
disc impressively demonstrates the power of
music in the expression of human emotions
which is strongly connected to the mythological
singer Orpheus ... see Full
Review
Points
North:
Piano Duets William
Walton (1902-1983)
Portsmouth Point: an Overture (1925/27)
[5:59]; Siesta (1926/1928)[4:45] Duets
for Children (1942) [10:36] Alan
Rawsthorne (1905-1971)
The Creel: Suite (1940) [3:14]
Thomas Pitfield
(1903-1999)
Minors: Suite (c.1965) [6:57]
Leonard Isaacs
(1909-1997)
Two Piano Duets based on Folk Tunes
(1959) [3:55] Percy
Young (1912-2003)
Five Folk Song Duets (1938) [5:10]
Roy Heaton Smith
(b.
1929) Sonatina (1990) [9:14] Norman
Cocker (1889-1953)
Eight Duets (1913-15) [13:56]
Keith Swallow and John Wilson (pianos)
rec. Peel Hall, University of Salford, 30-31
August 2004. DDD
CAMPION CAMEO 2036 [63:56][JF]
Swallow
and Wilson clearly enjoying themselves, playing
each piece ‘to the hilt’ and without any sense
of condescension. Music from that far-off
country beyond Watford Gap ... see Full
Review
Přítomnost
VI -
Contemporary Czech Music
Jiří
BERKOVEC (b.1922) Sonatina No.
1 in One Movement for String Orchestra (1956)
[8:42] Ilja HURNÍK
(b.1922) Variations on a Theme of Pergolesi
for Piano Four Hands (1983) [15:21] Luboš
SLUKA (b.1928) Sonata for Violoncello
and Piano (1956) [18:11] Jan
F. FISCHER (1921-2006) Aria
for Two Harps (1974) [2:46] Oldřich
F. KORTE (b.1926) Philosophical
Dialogues for Violin and Piano (1961-75)
[15:35] Štěpán
LUCKÝ (b.1919) Ottetto per archi
(1970) [12:04] Jiří
BERKOVEC (b.1922) Cottage and
a Green (1960) [2:54]
Moravian Philharmonic Ostrava/Jiří Kares,
Ilja Hurník (piano), Jana Hurník (piano),
Jan Polášek (cello), Aleš Bílek (piano), Jana
Boušková (harp), Kateřina Englichová
(harp), Shizuka Ishikawa (violin), Oldřich
F. Korte (piano), Prague Chamber Orchestra/Milos
Konvalinka, Prague Radio Orchestra/Josef Hrncir,
Vlasta Burian (tenor) No recording dates or
locations given. Recordings from composers’
archives
ARCO DIVA UP 0087-2 131 [73:17] [RB]
An
unhackneyed collection of Czech pieces - tonal
and dissonant - dating from the 1950s to 1970s.
... see Full
Review
Rapsodi
- Albanian Piano Music:
Volume II Çesk
ZADEJA (1927-1997) Tokkata
(Toccata) [3:31] Theme and Variations
in E minor [5:21] Feim
IBRAHIMI (1935-1997) Vals (Waltz)
[1:21] Valle për piano (Dance
for piano) [2:53] Tonin
HARAPI (1928-1992) Sonatina
(Allegro non troppo [5:53]; II.
Andante [4:08]; III. Rondo:
Allegro con brio [3:28]) Këngë
mbrëmje (Evening Song) [4:33]
Temë me variacione (Theme and
Variations) [9:14] Aleksander
KOMNINO Këngë polifonike
(Polyphonic Song) [2:12] Këngë
(Song) [1:08] Tish
DAIJA (1926-2004) Vals (Waltz)
[1:28] Jani PAPADHIMITRI
(b. 1948) Baresha e Vogël (The
Little Shepherdess) [2:21] Alberto
PAPARISTO (b. 1925) Scherzo
[3:22]; Val (Dance) [1:09]
Kozma LARA
(b. 1931) Ballade No. 2 [5:28]
Sonatë për piano nr. 2 (Sonata
No. 2 for piano) [9:25] Ramadan
SOKOLI (b. 1920) Rapsodi
Shqiptare nr. 2 (Albanian
Rhapsody No. 2) [3:52] Simon
GJONI (1926-1991) Prelud
në mi minor (Prelude in E minor)
[2:26] Tokata (Toccata) [1:37]
Kirsten Johnson (piano) rec. St George's
Bristol, 14, 17 January 2005 DDD
GUILD GMCD 7300 [74:58] [RB]
Folksy-romantic
Albanian piano music from the 1960s scintillatingly
revived ... see
Full Review
Highlights
from The Royal Opera
Jacques OFFENBACH
(1819 – 1880) Les Contes d’Hoffmann: Olympia’s
Aria: Barcarolle Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858 – 1924) La Bohčme: Quando m’en vo’
Richard STRAUSS (1864 –
1949) Der Rosenkavalier: Hab’ mir’s gelobt Giuseppe
VERDI (1813 – 1901) Don Carlo: Dio che nell’alma
infondere amor volesti; Ella giammai m’amň! Giuseppe
VERDI Falstaff: Bocca baciata non perde ventura;
Alfin t’ho colto Giacomo
PUCCINI Manon Lescaut: Ah, non vi avvicinate;
Gelo di morte! see
review for details of performers etc
WARNER 50-51011-2324-2-8 
[61:00] [GF]
An
hour of entertaining morsels. I am sure it will be liked by opera
lovers but I still think the complete sets are better propositions.
... see Full Review
The
Golden Age of Light Music - The 1950s Volume
3: Say It With Music
Irving BERLIN (1888-1989) Say
It With Music Harold ARLEN (1905-1986) That
Old Black Magic Mario NASCIMBENE (1913-2002) Song
of the Barefoot Contessa (My Gypsy Heart) Edward
WHITE (1910-1994) White Wedding Leroy
ANDERSON (1908-1975) Sandpaper Ballet (Leroy
Anderson) Georges AURIC (1899-1983) Sur
Le Pavé (Pavements of Paris) Richard
ADDINSELL (1904-1977) Out Of The Clouds – theme
arr. Laurie Johnson) Richard ROGERS and Lorenz
HART Manhattan PHIIPPE-GERARD (real
name Philippe BLOCH) (b.1924) Without
My Lover Eddie HAYWOOD (1915-19989) Rainfall Roger
ROGER (1911-1995) The Toy Shop Window Frank
PERKINS (b.1908) Barbara D
ARENDO (real name Arend HONHOFF)
(b.1918) Eleanora Len
STEVENS (d.1989) Easy Street (Len Stevens) Philip
GREEN (1910-1982) Wagon Trail (featured
in the film Golden Ivory)VERCOLIER Starlight
Lullaby Arthur SCHWARTZ (1900-1984) If
There is Someone Lovelier Than You arr. Robert Farnon Benjamin
FRANKEL (1906-1973) A Kid For Two Farthings -
theme arr. Wally Stott Frederic
CURZON (1899-1973) Savoir Faire George
MELACHRINO (1909-1965) Waltz - In Water Colours Arden
E CLAR Port of Spain Oscar
STRAUS (1870-1954) Waltz Dream (Ein
Walzertraum) Robert FARNON (1917-2005) En
Route Francis MEILLEAR (real
name Frank CORDELL) (1918-1980) Big
Ben Waltz Peter DENNIS (real
name Dennis BERRY) Holiday
In Hollywood Jerome KERN, P
G WODEHOUSE, Guy BOLTON Till The Clouds Roll
By arr. Gordon Jenkins Joyce
COCHRANE Prelude to Peace Recorded 1952-55 GUILD
LIGHT MUSIC GLCD 5119 [77.14] [JW]
A
selection of material spanning a mere four years. A look at the bandleaders
will alert one to the superior nature of the playing.... see Full
Review
Scandinavian
Romantic Piano Music Vol. 2 Edvard GRIEG
(1843-1907) From
Holberg’s Time (Suite in Olden Style), Op. 40 (1884) [20.41]
Louis GLASS (1864-1936) Fantasia
in G major, Op. 35 (1904) [16.39] Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Kyllikki (Three Lyric Pieces),
Op. 41 (1904) [11.52] Wilhelm STENHAMMAR
(1871-1927) Sonata in G minor (1890) [23.20]
Alexander Vaulin (piano) rec. Bach-Recording, Copenhagen, Denmark,
6, 17, 22 April 2004. DDD
CLASSICO CLASSCD 493 [73.04][MC]
Vaulin
gives an enjoyable recital of a fine selection of Romantic Scandinavian
piano music. ... see Full
Review
Tito
Schipa (tenor) Schipa Edition Volume 2 Giuseppe
VERDI (1813–1901) E il sol dell’anima (Rigoletto)
(1,3) Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797–1848)
Verranno a te (Lucia di Lammermoor)
(1, 3); Tornami a dir che m’ami (Don Pasquale)
(1, 3) Richard BARTHELEMY Pesca
d’amore (3) Tito SCHIPA (1888–1965)
Ave Maria (3) Vincenzo
DE CRESCENZO (1875–1964) Ce steve ‘na vota (3) CAMPERO
Madrigal Espańol (3) Giuseppe
VERDI (1813–1901) La donne e mobile (Rigoletto)
(3) Manuel DE FALLA (1876–1946)
Jota (Siete canciones populares espańolas)
(3) Eduardo DE CAPUA (1864–1917)
O Sole Mio (3) Franz LISZT (1811–1886)
arr. Tito SCHIPA Liebestraum
(3) Tito SCHIPA (1888–1965)
A Cuba (3) Traditional
La farfalleta (4, 3) Anonymous
La girometta (4, 3) Arturo
BUZZI-PECCIA (1854–1953) La nina querida; Mal
d’amore (3) Friedrich von FLOTOW (1812
- 1883) M’appari (Martha) (3) Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797–1848) Una furtiva lagrima (L’elisir
d’amore) (3) Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858–1924) Sono andati?; Oh! Dio, Mimi!
(La Bohčme) (2, 3) Jules MASSENET
(1842–1912) Pourquoi me reveiller? (Werther)
(3) Leo DELIBES (1797–1848)
Fantasie au divins mensonges (Lakmé) (3)
Tito Schipa (tenor) Amelita
Galli-Curci (soprano) (1) Lucrezia Bori (soprano) (2) Victor Orchestra/Rosario
Bourdon (3) Jose Echaniz (piano) (4) rec. September 1924 – November
1925 NAXOS 8.110333
[72.14][RH]
Anyone
interested in hearing Schipa in his prime should invest in the disc
... see Full Review
Spark
– The
New Zealand Trio John PSATHAS (b.1966)
Island Songs (1995) [12.50] Victoria
KELLY (b.1973) Sono (2000) [12.43] Michael
NORRIS (b.1973) dirty pixels (2004) [11.57] Maria
GRENFELL (b.1969) A Feather of Blue (2000) [9.57] Penelope
AXTENS (b.1974) For Violin, Violoncello and Piano (1999)
[9.50] Gareth FARR (b.1968) Ahi
(1998) [16.31] The
New Zealand Trio rec. Music Theatre, University of Auckland, September
2004 MORRISON MUSIC
TRUST MMT 2066 [71.88][JW]
Morrison
Music Trust is doing good work in its promotion of recent New Zealand
music. Here we have six works by six composers written for piano trio.
... see Full Review
Spring: A Collection of Seasonal
Classics Antonio VIVALDI
Spring from The Four Seasons, Op.8 Robert
SCHUMANN Spring's Awakening 1st movement from Symphony
No. 1 in B flat, Op.38 (1841) Frederick
DELIUS On Hearing The First Cuckoo In Spring from
Two Pieces For Small Orchestra Frank
BRIDGE Spring Song (1912) (transcribed for viola and
piano by Veronica Leigh Jacobs)
Benjamin BRITTEN Spring Carol,
from A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28 (1942) Christopher
GUNNING Spring Morning from Yorkshire Glory
Edvard GRIEG Last Spring from
Two Elegiac Melodies, Op.34 No.2 (1881); To Spring from
Lyric Pieces, Book 3, Op.43 No.6 (1886) Eric
COATES Springtime Suite (1937) (Fresh Morning;
Noonday Song; Dance in the Twilight) Igor
STRAVINSKY Spring Rounds from The Rite Of Spring
- ballet (1913) Aaron COPLAND Buckaroo
Spring from Rodeo - ballet (1942)
Moscow Virtuosi/ Vladimir Spivakov (violin); Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra/Marek Janowski, Vernon Handley; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Alan
Barlow; Louise Williams (viola); David Owen Norris (piano); Edward Harris,
Andrew Olleson (trebles), Frances Kelly (harp); London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Vernon Handley, Raphael Wallisch (cello); BBC Concert Orchestra/John
Wilson; National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain/Simon Rattle; Bournemouth
Symphony Orchestra/John Farrer. rec. 1977-2001. ADD. DDD
RESONANCE CD RSN 3068 [69:12] [JuW]
You
would be better advised to obtain a full length disc devoted to
any one of these items than to purchase this compilation. Should
you wish a thematic compilation there remain better choices. ...
see Full Review
Leopold
Stokowski Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Swan
Lake excerpts [57:00] Johan STRAUß II An
der schönen blauen Donau [6:49]; Geschichten aus dem Wiener
Wald [7:16] Ludwig Van
BEETHOVEN Turkish March from Die Ruinen
von Athen [2:06] Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (arr. Stokowski) Rondo alla turca from
piano sonata K331 [2:47] NBC
Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski rec. NBC 20-21 Oct, 10-11
Nov 1954, 13 Jan, 10 Feb 1955 (Tchaikovsky); 13 Jan
1955 (Donau); 9 Feb 1955 (Strauss, Beethoven, Mozart). ADD mono CALA
CACD 0543 [75:49] [RB]
Not
quite a star offering - fantasy and rigour
jostle shoulders. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Leopold
Stokovsky: The Great Philadelphia
Wagner Recordings Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Rienzi
(1842): Overture [11.03] (rec. November
1926 and January 1927)
Lohengrin (1848): Prelude to
Act I [8.13] (rec. October 1927); Prelude
to Act III [3.15] (rec. March 1940) Tannhäuser
(1845): Prelude and Venusberg Music
[22.51] (rec. December 1937); Prelude
to Act III (arr Stokowski) [10.21] (rec. January
1936) Parsifal (1879), Prelude
to Act I [14.45] (rec. November 1936); Good
Friday Spell [11.55] (rec. November 1936);
Symphonic Synthesis (arr. Stokowski)
[14.07] (rec. April 1934) Tristan und
Isolde (1859), Symphonic Synthesis
(arr. Stokowski) [35.36] (rec. March 1932)
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
(1867), Prelude to Act I [9.18] (rec.
January 1936); Prelude to Act III [6.43] (rec.
March 1932)
Philadelphia Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski
Track list, including recording dates, no
notes. Photo of conductor. rec. mono ADD.
Re-mastered at 96kHz24Bit "using state
of the art restoration techniques".
ANDROMEDA ANDRCD 5030 [70.30 +
77.31] [PSh]
Ancient
recordings miraculously restored, full range,
clear, sweet sounding, and completely listenable.
An absolute must for any lover of Wagner,
Stokowski, and recording science. ... see
Full Review
Strings
in the Earth and Air Ernest
John MOERAN (1894-1950) Six Folksongs
from Norfolk (1923):
(Down by the Riverside [2:29]; The Bold ‘Richard’ [2:37];
Lonely Waters [2:34]; The Pressgang [2:06]; The Shooting
of his Dear [3:11]; The Oxford Sporting Blade [1:26])Seven
Poems of James Joyce (1929): (Strings in the Earth and Air
[1:56]; The Merry Green Wood [1:19]; Bright Cap [0:54];
The Pleasant Valley [1:11]; Donnycarney [1:29]; Rain
has Fallen [1:26]; Now, O Now, in this Brown Land [3:52])
Peter WARLOCK (1894-1930) Candlelight: a Cycle of Nursery
Jingles (1923) words mainly from ‘Nurse Lovechild’s Legacy’
(1916): (How many miles to Babylon? [0:37]; I won’t be my
father’s Jack [0:37]; Robin and Richard [0:42]; O my Kitten
[1:03]; Little Tommy Tucker [1:03]; There was an old man
[0:36]; I had a little pony [0:29]; Little Jack Jingle
[0:37]; There was a man of Thessaly [0:47]; Suky, you shall
be my wife [1:12]; There was an old woman [0.44]; Arthur
O’ Bower [0:44]) Three Songs (1916-1917): (Along
the Stream words by Li Po translated by L Cranmer-Byng [3:10];
Take, O Take those Lips Away words by William Shakespeare [2:14];
Heracleitus words by Callimachus translated by William Cory [3:40])
A Setting of Bruce Blunt – The Fox (1930) [3:19] Geoffrey
STERN (1935-2005)
Three Wordsworth Songs (1953): To the Cuckoo [3:22];
She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways [2:21]; To an Infant
[2:20] Four Songs of James Joyce (2001-5): Lean out
of your window [1:48]; Strings in the Earth and Air [2:52];
Now, O Now in this Brown Land [4:08]; Gentle Lady [2:52]
A Setting of Henry Treece – Legend (1960) [1:21]
Paul Martyn-West (tenor) Nigel Foster (piano) rec. Rosslyn Hill Unitarian
Chapel, Hampstead Heath, London, 24-26 Oct 2005. DDD
DUNELM RECORDS DRD0249 [68:37][JF]
A
really interesting CD. An essential addition to the library of anyone
who loves the ‘English School of Lieder.’ ... see Full
Review
Symphonic
Organ Music from Brussels and Paris César
FRANCK (1822-1890)
Pičce Héroďque (from Trois Pieces) (1878) [08:40] Paul
GILSON (1865-1942) Prélude sur un vieux
lied flamand [07:35] Raymond MOULAERT (1875-1962)
Lazarus (Trois Počmes Bibliques) (1916) [10:30] Joseph
JONGEN (1873-1953) Le Bon Chîval (1918)
[04:16) Valéry AUBERTIN (b. 1970) Vincent van Gogh (Livre
ouvert) (1991)[08:09] Louis VIERNE (1870-1937) Symphony No. 4 (1914)
[34:52] Els Biesemans (organ)
rec. organ, Saint Dominic’s International Priory Church, Brussels, 29-30
Sept 2005 ETCETERA KTC
1299 [75:02][JF]
This
is the kind of CD I like. Perfectly balanced. Three unknown works
from the Brussels organ school plus two well known works and to add
a bit of spice a ‘new’ work by a 36 year old French composer ... see
Full Review
Taurangi
Ross HARRIS (b.1945)
Ka wawara te hau …(2004) [10.47] John ELMSLY
(b.1952) Dialogue 1 (1988) [11.07] Three Doubles (1995) [7.20] Michael
NORRIS (b.1973) BADB (2005) [6.44] John
RITCHIE (b.1921) The Snow Goose (1999) [5.05] Sweet and Sour
(1984) [4.11] Gillian WHITEHEAD (b.1941)
Taurangi (2000) [13.14] Christopher BLAKE
(b.1949) Little Dancings (1991) [19.11] Maria
GRENFELL (b.1969) Four Pooh Stories (1992) [10.09] Anthony
RITCHIE (b1960) Tui (2005) [4.05] Dorothy
BUCHANAN (b.1945) Flute Song for the Birds (1990) [7.05]
Philip BROWNLEE (b.1971) Harakeke
(1999) [8.16] Chris Cree BROWN (b.1953)
The Watertable (2002) [8.31] Paul BOOTH
(b.1967) Lament (1997) [3.37] Douglas
MEWS Snr (1918-1993) Tango Fantastique (1985) [3.11]
Bridget Douglas (flute) Rachel Thomson (piano) rec. Ilott Theatre, Wellington
Town Hall, November-December 2004
MORRISON MUSIC TRUST MMT 2063-64 [66.11 + 56.29] [JW]
More
enlightening patronage here from Morrison Music Trust promoting
contemporary New Zealand works for flute and piano. ... see Full
Review
To
be Sung on the Water:
Music for Solo Violin
Giuseppe TARTINI (1692-1770) Sonata
IX in A major [12.21]; Sonata II in D minor [9.09]; Sonata
XIII in B minor [9.29] Donald CROCKETT
(b. 1951) To be sung on water (1988) [11.30]* Mickey Finn,
for solo violin (1996) [9.58]
Michelle Makarski (violin), Ronald Copes (viola)* rec. Radio Studio
DRS, Zurich, March 2004. DDD
ECM NEW SERIES 476310-2 [52.47] [GH]
I
felt at times dreamily suspended in mid-air, floating above the
sound, as Makarski touches the strings, often with such delicacy
that we seem to be listening through a gauze. ... see Full
Review
Hao
Jiang Tian: Operatic Arias Giuseppe
VERDI (1813–1901)
Nabucco: Tu sul labbro dei veggenti; Les vępres siciliennes:
Et toi, Palerme; Jérusalem: Grâce mon Dieu!; Macbeth:
ome dal ciel precipita; Simon Boccanegra: Il lacerato spirito;
Don Carlo: Ella giammai m’amň; Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840–1893) Eugene Onegin:
Lyubvi vse vozrasty pokorny (Gremin’s aria); Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792–1868) Il barbiere di
Siviglia: La calunnia; Vincenzo BELLINI
(1801–1835) La Sonnambula: Vi ravviso, o luoghi ameni;
Charles GOUNOD (1818–1835) Faust:
Vous qui faites l’endormie (Sérénade); Jules
MASSENET (1842–1912) Le Cid: Il a fait noblement
ce que l’honneur conseille; Amilcare PONCHIELLI (1834–1886) La Gioconda:
Ombre di mia prosapia
Hao Jiang Tian (bass) Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/Alexander Rahbari
rec. Concert Hall, Slovak Radio, Bratislava, 29 June-2 July 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557442 [59:37][GF]
If
you want standard bass arias, spiced with rarities, all honestly sung
by an experienced international artist on a super-budget disc, look
no further. ... see Full Review
Twentieth-Century
Masters –
Volume 1 Francis POULENC (1899-1963)
Salve
Regina (1941) [5:00] Quatre petites prières de Saint François
d’Assise (1949) [7:29] Exultate Deo (1941) [2:58] Quatre
motets pour le temps de Noël (1951-2) [11:32] Messe en sol
majeur (1937) [17:17] Litanies à la Vierge noire*
(1936) [8:09] Olivier MESSIAEN
(1908-1992)
O sacrum convivium (1937)** [4:46] Pierre
VILLETTE (1926-1998) Attende Domine, Op. 45 (1983)
[5:37] Panis Angelicus, Op. 80 (1995) [3:42] Hymne à
la Vierge, Op. 24 (1954) [4:01] Choir of New College Oxford/ Edward
Higginbottom *Nicholas Wearne (organ); **David Newsholme (organ) rec.
21-25 August 2005, L’Abbaye de Saint Michel-en-Thiérache, France.
DDD AVIE AV 2084 [70:30]
[JQ]
An
excellent and most enjoyable recital ... deeply
sympathetic ... see Full
Review
Verbotene
Lieder
Wilhelm GROSZ (1894-1939)
Lieder an die Geliebte Op.18 [7.40] Kinderlieder nach Texten von Christian
Morgenstern Op.13 (1922) [10.18] Viktor
ULLMANN (1898-1944) Sechs Lieder nach Gedlichten von Albert
Steffen Op.17 (1937) [12.07] Hölderlin-Lieder für eine Singstimme und
Klavier [8.15] Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD
(1897-1957) Drei Lieder für Gesang und Klavier Op.22 (1928-29) [7.55]
Aus dem Liederzyklus Unvergänglichkeit - Deine edlen Op.27 [2.11] Kurt
WEILL (1900-1950) Drei Songs nach Texten von Bertolt Brecht
Der Matrosen-Song [6.44] Die Seeräuber-Jenny [Die Dreigroschenoper -
The Threepenny Opera] [4.14] Der Bilbao-Song [8.45]
Christiane Oelze (soprano) Eric Schneider (piano) rec. April 2005, Stolberger
Strasse, Cologne CAPRICCIO
SACD 71 062 
[69.11]
[JW]
Songs
by Grosz, Ullmann, Korngold and Weill unveiled - a laudable enterprise
but ultimately less revealing than a previous Capriccio collection
... see Full Review
Vienna Johann
STRAUSS junior (1825-1899) Morning Papers,
Op. 279 (1864) [08.10]; Emperor Waltz, Op. 437 (1888) [07.42]; By the
Beautiful Blue Danube, Op. 314 (1867) [08.12]Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Invitation to the Dance, Op.
65 (1819) [08.57] Josef STRAUSS (1827-1870)
Village Swallows, Op. 164 (1864) [07.36] Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Waltzes from Der Rosenkavalier (1910)
arr. Fritz Reiner [08.41] Johann
STRAUSS Junior (1825-1899) Vienna Blood, Op. 354 (1873) [08.56];
Roses from the South, Op. 388 (from The Queen's Lace Handkerchief) (1880)
[08.41]; Treasure Waltz, Op. 418 (from The Gypsy Baron) (1885) [08.07];
Thunder and Lightning, Op. 324 (1868) [02.57]
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner rec. Orchestra Hall, Chicago,
USA, 15-16 April 1957; 25-26 April 1960. ADD
BMG-RCA RED SEAL LIVING STEREO SACD 82876716152
[78.03][MC]
Reiner
is able effortlessly to adapt to the contrasting moods and fast-changing
tempos... He delivers real excitement ... see Full
Review
Tomáš
Víšek (piano) Srdce
na Vysočině Bohuslav MARTINŮ
(1890-1959) Opening of the Wells (1955) [19.31] * Adagio (1957)
[2.49] Vitěslav NOVÁK (1870-1949)
Máj (Intermezzo I) (1888) [11.43] Václav
KAPRÁL (1889-1947) Nokturno (Concert Etude) [8.19] Jaroslav
KŘIČKA (1882-1969) Veselé kousky (Joyful Pieces)
Op.13 [12.18] Vítěslava KAPRÁLOVÁ
(1915-1940) Groteskní passacgalia (Grotesque Passacaglia) [2.24]
Otakar ŠÍN (1881-1943) Amoroso
(Intimní nálady) Op.5/4 [7.20] Jaroslav JEŽEK
(1906-1942) Když jsem kytici vázala (When I Bound the Bunch of Flowers)
[2.56] Tomáš Víšek (piano)
Petr Matuszek (baritone)/Nadia Zakhourová (speaker)/Klára Kartáková
(soprano), Markéta Dvořáková (mezzo), Jan Valta Jr and Eva Nováková
(violins), Milan Líkař (viola)/Girls Students Choir of Teplice
Conservatory/Jan Valta (conductor) – in the Opening of the Wells * rec.
June-July 2001, Concert Hall of Teplice Conservatory, Czech Republic
TOMÁS VÍŠEK TV 0002-2254
[67.30][JW]
Those
seeking out the byways of the Czech pianistic muse will appreciate this
release and there are some intriguing paths to be followed here ...
see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH
War’s Embers.
A legacy of songs by composers who perished
or suffered in World War I Gerald
FINZI (1901-1956) Only a man harrowing
clods SV [4:08]; Ivor
GURNEY (1890-1937) The twa corbies
MG [4:52]; Black Stitchel MG [2:21]; Blaweary
MG [1:30]; The fiddler of Dooney MG [1:57];
Goodnight to the meadow MG [1:21]; The ship
MG [2:26]; The boat is chafing MG [1:19];
Cathleen ni Houlihan MG [2:54]; Edward, Edward
MG [6:01]; The night of Trafalgar MG [2:18];
Thou didst delight my eyes MG [3:23]; To violets
MG [1:05]; Last hours MG [4:52]; Ernest
FARRAR (1885-1918) The wanderer's
song SV [2:56]; Silent noon SV [3:51]; The
roadside fire SV [1:57]; Brittany SV [1:47];
Come you, Mary SV [0:58]; Who would shepherd
pipes SV [1:45]; W
Denis BROWNE (1888-1915) Arabia
MH [5:24]; Diaphenia MH [2:05]; Epitaph on
Salathiel Pavy MH [4:41]; To Gratiana dancing
and singing MH [4:17]; Frederick
KELLY (1881-1916) Shall I compare
thee? SV [3:27]; George
BUTTERWORTH (1885-1916) Requiescat
SV.
Michael George (bass) MG; Martyn Hill (tenor)
MH; Stephen Varcoe (baritone) SV Clifford
Benson (piano) rec. 21-23 April 1987. Location
unspecified. AAD A full track listing is given
at the end of this review Recording sponsored
by The Finzi Trust
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55237 [JQ]
This
is a self-recommending issue to all lovers
of the treasury that is the English song repertory.
... see Full
Review
BOOK REVIEWS
William Alwyn:
The Art of Film Music by
Ian Johnson Published by Boydell Press (London
2005) 357 pp, ISBN 184383 1597
Songs
of Gaelic Scotland by Anne Lorne Gillies
Birlinn Ltd ISBN10 : 84158 018 X ISBN13
: 978 1 84158 018 Ł30 [CSS]
A
hefty volume, substantially and beautifully
bound, from which Gael and non-Gael alike
will derive lasting pleasure. ... see Full
Review
Changing
Tunes:
The Use Of Pre-Existing
Music In Film Phil
Powrie and Robynn Stilwell, editors Ashgate
Publisthing, Gower House, Croft Road, Aldershot,
Hants GU11 3HR 205 Pages ISBM-10:0 7546 5137
1
The
book only gives up its treasures slowly. Much
careful reading and consideration will be
needed on the part of the reader. ... 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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