RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Antonio
SACCHINI (1730–1786) Œdipe à Colone
(1787) – An Opera in Three Acts based on the second of the three Theban
plays of Sophocles 
François
Loup (baritone) – Œdipe; Nathalie Paulin (soprano) – Antigone; Robert
Getchell (tenor) – Polynice; Tony Boutté (tenor) – Thésée; Kirsten Blaise
(soprano) – Eriphile; Kara Morgan (soprano) – Une Athénienne; Jonathan
Kimple (bass) – Grand Prêtre; Jason Kaminski (bass) – Un Hérault; Philip
Cave (tenor) – Un Coryphée; Opera Lafayette Orchestra and Chorus/Ryan
Brown rec. Vlarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland,
USA, 13-15 May 2005
NAXOS 8.660196-97 [67:54 + 44:53][GF]
Played
with vitality and with singing full of character this is one of the
more thrilling finds within the operatic genre for quite some time.
... see Full Review
Erkki
SALMENHAARA (1941-2002) Suomi-Finland
(1966) [20:29] La fille en Mini-jupe (1967) [17:47] Adagietto for Orchestra (1981) [6:35] Le Bateau Ivre (1965/66) [24:18]
Tampere Philarmonic Orchestra/Eri Klas rec.
Tampere Hall, January 2003. DDD
ONDINE ODE 1031-2 [69:40][WK]
A
triumphant recording of music that deserves to be better known. ...
see Full Review
Domenico
SCARLATTI
(1685-1775) Sonata in F major: K531 [3:48]
Sonata in F sharp major: K318 [5:33] Sonata in A major: K333
[2:38] Sonata in B minor: K87 [7:39] Sonata in E major: K380 [5:39]
Sonata in G major: K427 [2:23] Sonata in G minor: 476 [3:30] Sonata
in F major: K44 [5:47] Sonata in F minor: K481 [7:40] Sonata in C major:
K49 [5:25] Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Sonata in E major: Op. 6 (1826) [23:14]
Sveinung Bjelland (piano) rec. 14-27 May 2005, Teldec Studio, Berlin
SIMAX CLASSICS PSC 1294 [74:02] [TB]
There
are some delightfully pointed details of phrasing
to be found in these performances. ... see
Full
Review
Samuel SCHEIDT (1587-1654)
Ludi Musici I - IV Intrada
(Pars I) [03:16] VII Paduana,
Imitatio Paduan Dowlandi (Pars II) [05:13]
Paduana Imitatio Dowlandi (Pars IV)
[02:54] Galiard (Pars IV) [01:35] Courant
Imitatio Cour. Franc (Pars IV) [01:12]
Canzon à 5 'Imitatio Cantilenae
Belgicae' (Pars II) [03:44] Canzon
à 4 (Pars IV) [03:37] Galliard
Battaglia (Pars I) [03:42] Paduan Dolorosa
à 4 [02:12] XII Paduan Dolorosa
à 4 (Pars II) [03:57] Canzon
à 3 (Pars IV) [03:16] Echo
(Pars III) [05:10] I Paduan à 4
(Pars II) [04:30] XIII Galliard à
4 (Pars II) [01:45] Canzon super Alemande
S.S. à 3 (Pars IV) [02:52] Canzon
super Intradam Aethiopicam (Pars I) [04:34]
III Paduan à 4 (Pars II) [03:34]
Paduana Dolorosa à 4 (Pars I)
[04:56] Gagliarda (Pars I) [01:14]
Corrente à 5 (Pars I) [01:25]
Allemande à 4 (Pars I) [00:44]
Canzon à 4 Violins oder Cornetten
(Pars IV) [03:17] Paduana à 4 Violen
(Pars III?) [03:04] Canzon 'an Wasserflüssen
Babylon' à 7 (Pars III?) [05:11]
Musica Fiata/Roland Wilson rec. September
2003, Studio of WDR (Klaus-von-Bismarck-Saal),
Cologne, Germany DDD
CPO 777013-2 [76:56] [JV]
Wonderfully
energetic and inspired performances of some
of the best instrumental music written in
Germany in the first half of the 17th century
... see Full
Review
Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951)
Moses und Aaron – opera in two acts (1928) [110:06]
Moses: Wolfgang Schone (bass) Aron: Chris Merritt (tenor) Young Girl:
Irena Bespalovaite (soprano) Young Man: Bernhard Schneider (baritone)
Priest: Karl-Freidrich Durr (bass) First Elder: Ulrich Frisch (baritone)
Second Elder: Sasa Vrabac (tenor) Third Elder: Stephan Storck (baritone)
Invalid Woman: Emma Curtis (mezzo) A Naked Youth: Alois Redel (tenor)
Polish Radio Choir, Krakow/Marek Kluza Stuttgart State Opera Children’s
Chorus/Stuttgart State Opera Chorus/Michael Alber) Stuttgart State Orchestra/Roland
Kluttig rec. Stattsoper Stuttgart, Germany, live, 8, 10, 13, 20 December
2003 NAXOS 8.660158-59
[52:02 + 60:47] [IB]
A
very decent introduction to a great work for
the impecunious buyer; for the more specialist
collector, an interesting and worthwhile second
version. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) String
Trio in B flat major D471 (1816) [8:04] Piano Quintet in A major Trout
D667 (1820) [40:07] String Trio in B flat major D581 (1817) [20:37]
Paul Lewis (piano);
Graham Mitchell (double bass) Leopold String Trio (Marianne Thorsen
(violin); Lawrence Power (viola); Kate Gould (cello)) rec. Potton Hall,
Suffolk, 6-7 June 2005
HYPERION CDA 67527 [69:03][DRD]
Not
quite a Trout of the top class ... see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797–1828) Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat
major, D. 929, Op. 100 (1827) [51:41] Sonatensatz in B flat major, D.
28 (1812) [9:49] Kungsbacka Piano
Trio rec. St George’s Church, Brandon Hill, Bristol, 3-4 June 2003.
DDD NAXOS
8.555700 [61:29][TP]
A delight from first note to last.
… see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828)
Music for Piano Duet Vol. I
CD 1 Six Grandes Marches and Trios, D.819 (1824) [55:43] Three
Marches militaires, D.733 (1826) [13:57] Deutsche Tänze mit 2 Trios,
D.618 (1826) [5:20] Two Ländler, D.618 [2:06] CD 2
Grande marche funèbre, D.859 (1825) [10:46] Grande marche héroïque,
D.885 (1825) [17:19] Marsch (Kindermarsch), D.928 (1827) [3:17] Deux
Marches caractéristiques, D.886 (ca1826) [14:39] Trois Marches héroïques,
D.602 (ca.1818) [18:39] Grand Rondeau, D.951 (1828) [12:59]
Christoph Eschenbach and Justus Frantz (piano) rec. Studio I, Abbey
Road, London, October 1979, January 1979 (D618), January, February 1978
(D951) EMI CLASSICS
GEMINI 36532127 [79:24 + 78:26]
Music for Piano Duet Vol. II CD 1
Vier Ländler, D.814 (1824) [3:50] Fantasie, D.940 (1828) [18:34] Allegro
‘Lebensstürme’, D.947 (1828) [17:09] Divertissement à la Française,
D.823 (pub.1826) [43:11] CD 2 Divertissement à la Hongroise,
D.818 (pub.1826) [32:12] Grand Duo, D.812 (1824) [47:21]
Christoph Eschenbach, Justus Frantz (piano) rec. Studio I, Abbey Road,
London, January, February 1978, January 1979 (D812)
EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 36532622 [74:15 + 79:28] [DC]
Christoph
Eschenbach and Justus Frantz give no quarter
in terms of performance or recorded sound
– still highly recommended. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
CD
1 Overture to Schiller’s Die Braut von
Messina (Bride of Messina), Op.
100 (1850-51) [7:36] Symphony No. 1 in B flat
major, Op. 38, ‘Spring’ (1841) [33:40]
Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 62 (1845-46)
[36:41] CD 2 Overture to Goethe’s Hermann
und Dorothea, Op. 136 (1851) [9:06] Symphony
No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 97, ‘Rhenish’
(1850) [35:56] Philharmonia Orchestra/Riccardo
Muti Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 (1841,
revised 1851) [31:43]
New Philharmonia Orchestra/Riccardo Muti rec.
Kingsway Hall, London, July 1978 (overtures);
September, October 1978 (Sym. 1); October
1977 (Sym. 2); October 1977 (Sym. 3) and Abbey
Road, London, September 1976 (Sym. 4). ADD
EMI
CLASSICS GEMINI 0946 3 71497 2 0 [78:14
+ 77:04] [MC]
If
I could have only one set of the Schumann
symphonies in my collection it would delight
me to have these London performances from
Riccardo Muti on EMI Classics. ... see Full
Review
Vincent SCOTTO
(1876-1952) Opérettes Marseillaises (excerpts
- dialogue in French): Au Pays du Soleil (1932); Trois de
la Marine (1933); Arènes Joyeuses (1934); Un de la Canebière
(1935) Janine Ervil (soprano),
Pierre Denain (tenor), Decca Orchestra and Choir/André Grassi rec. Decca/Universal
Studios, Antony, France, 1962. ADD
ACCORD OPERETTE 476 2107 [56:48 + 56:34] [RW]
The
least satisfying of Accord’s Opérette series: four operettas excerpted;
precious little music and too much linking dialogue. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dimitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) The
Golden Age (Zolotoy vek) Op. 22 (1928) (complete)
Royal Scottish National
Orchestra/José Serebrier rec. Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, 23-26
May 2006.
NAXOS 8.570217-18 [76:41 + 67:01][AOz]
This
is a breathtaking recording in many ways. It’s also complete and uncut
and the notes are good. Don’t hesitate – this is one that needs to be
listened to, even in this crowded year of Shostakovich revelations.
... see Full Review
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1976)
Violin
Sonata Op.134 (1968) (arr. violin, percussion and string orchestra by
Michail Zinman and Andrei Pushkarev (2005)) [32:31] Viola Sonata
Op.147 (1975) (arr. viola and string orchestra by Vladimir Mendelssohn
(1991-92)) [35:46]
Gidon Kremer (violin); Yuri Bashmet (viola); Andrei Pushkarev (percussion);
Kremerata Baltica/Gidon Kremer rec. live, Great Hall of the Conservatory,
Moscow (Violin Sonata); Grand Hall of the Philharmonia, St. Petersburg
(Viola Sonata), October 2005
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 6196 [68:17] [DC]
This
recording casts a fascinating new chiaroscuro
on some of Shostakovich’s most personal statements.
... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Symphony
No. 1 in F minor, Op. 10** (1923-25) [29:43] Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphony in D major, Hob.1: No. 104 London
(1795) [29:09] Benjamin BRITTEN
(1913-1976) Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes,
Op. 33a * (1945) [11:14]
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Rudolf Kempe rec. Royal Festival Hall, London,
8 October 1975; *Fairfield Hall, Croydon, 12 October 1975; **BBC Studios,
London, 29 May 1965. ADD
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4188-2 [75:20] [JQ]
This
CD contains three very good performances and
collectors who share my enthusiasm for the
work of this very fine, musical conductor
will snap it up gratefully. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906–1975)
Symphony
No. 13 in B flat minor Op. 113 Babi Yar
(1952)
Gidon Saks (bass) Men’s voices of the
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Orchestra/Gerard Schwarz rec.
Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, England, 17,
20, 22 March 2003
AVIE AV2096 [62:53] [GF]
A
splendid version of this touching work, especially
memorable through Gidon Saks’ emotionally
charged singing. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Violin
Concerto No.1 in A Minor op. 99 (1948) [34:43]
Violin Concerto No.2 in C Sharp minor op.
129 (1967) [35:40]
Sergey Khachatryan (violin) Orchestre National
de France/Kurt Masur rec. Paris, 2005.
NAÏVE V5025 [70:23] [SA]
Khachatryan
plays wonderfully well but hasn’t yet managed
to entirely plumb the depths of these works
and to get to grips with the emotional messages
... see Full
Review
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Seriously
Sibelius In Memoriam, funeral march for large orchestra,
Op. 59, First version (1909) [10:25]* Two pieces for
violin (cello) and orchestra, Op. 77, No. 1, Laetare anima
mea. Cantique; No. 2, Devotion (Ab imo
pectore) [5:09; 3:23] Presto for strings (1894)
[6:45] Lemminkäinen, four legends for orchestra, Op.
22, No. 3, Lemminkäinen in Tuonela (1896) (based on
performing edition by Colin Davis, 2004) [22:07]* Humoresques 1-6
for violin and orchestra, in D minor, Op. 87, No. 1, Humoresque no.
1 First version (1917) [3:07]* Three pieces for orchestra,
Op. 96, No. 1, Valse lyrique (1919 orch. 1920) [4:06];
No. 2, Autrefois, scène pastorale. two sopranos (or
clarinets) and orchestra (1919 rev. 1920) [5:40]; No. 3, Valse
chevaleresque (1921-22) [4:00] In Memoriam, funeral
march for large orchestra, Op. 59 revised version (1910) [11:21] Marko
Ylönen (cello); Jaakko Kuusisto (violin); Kristiina Mäkëla
(soprano); Matleena Vakkilainen (alto) Lahti Symphony Orchestra/Osmo
Vänskä World premiere recordings * rec. Sibelius Hall, Lahti,
August 2004; January 2004; January 2005; August 2000.
DDD BIS-CD-1485 [77:54]
[RB]
Delights
for Sibelians and by no means all serious. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Violin
Concerto in D minor Op. 47 (1903-5) Serenades Op.69: No.
1 in D
major; No. 2 in G minor (1912-13) Six Humoresques Opp. 87,
89 (1917) Suite in D minor Op. 117 (1929) Miriam
Fried (violin) (Op. 47) Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra/Okko Kamu (Op. 47) Jaakko
Kuusisto (violin) (Op. 69) Kuopio Symphony Orchestra/Atso Almila (Op. 69) Leonidas
Kavakos (violin) (Opp. 87, 89)
Tapiola Sinfonietta/Juhani Lamminmäki (Opp. 87, 89) Jari Valo (violin) (Op. 117)
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra/Juha Kangas (Op. 117) rec. Olari Church, Finland,
Nov 1996, May 1997. DDD WARNER APEX
0927 40606-2 [79:17]
[RB]
One
of the Apex jewels. Even seasoned Sibelians
will want this one … generously timed and
spirited coverage. All for super-budget price.
... see Full
Review
Nikos SKALKOTTAS
(1904-1949) Ballet Music
for Piano The
Land and the Sea of Greece (1948) [21.18]
Island Images (1943) [13.09] The
Maiden and Death (1938) [19.21] Procession
to Achelon (1948?) [4.09] Echo (1942-42)
[3.04]
Lorenda Ramou (piano) rec. October 2005, Vasteras
Concert Hall, Sweden. DDD
BIS CD 1564 [62.58] [GH]
The
Bis Skalkottas cycle continues with ballet
music; a superbly played disc of unusual piano
music later to be used in his colourful orchestral
scores. ... see Full
Review
Richard
STRAUSS
(1864-1949) Ariadne
auf Naxos (1911-16) Elisabeth Schwarzkopf,
Rita Streich, Irmgard Seefried, Rudolf Schock,
Alfred Neugebauer, Karl Dönch, Gerhard
Unger, Hughes Cuénod, Erich Strauss,
Otakar Kraus, Lisa Otto, Grace Hoffman, Anny
Felbermayer, Hermann Prey, Gerhard Unger,
Fritz Ollendorf, Helmut Krebs
Philharmonia Orchestra/Herbert von Karajan
rec. at Kingsway Hall, London, July 1954
Capriccio Op. 85 (1942) - Closing
Scene Elisabeth Schwarzkopf , Philharmonia
Orchestra/Otto Ackermann rec. Watford Town
Hall, September 1953
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111033-34 [78:11 +
68:06] [JW]
Almost
everything that should have gone right during
the sessions did so. ... see
Full Review
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) The Firebird
(arr. Moore) (1910) [11:46] Petrushka (1911) [16:01] The
Rite of Spring (1913) [35:00]
Philip Moore and Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano duet) rec. St. George’s,
Bristol, June 2002 DEUX-ELLES
DXL 1081 [62:51][DC]
I
am seriously impressed by this duo, and this
new recording mixes it well with other established
names in this repertoire. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Karol
SZYMANOWSKI
(1882–1937) The
Complete Solo Piano Music
Sinae Lee (piano) rec. Royal Scottish
Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow, Sept
2002 - Feb 2005. Full track details at end
of review
THE DIVINE ART 21400 [4 CDs: 71:46 + 65:25
+ 67:12 + 69:13] [RC]
Listeners
responsive to late-Romantic music who buy
this superb set will share my enthusiasm for
it. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Stabat Mater Op.53* (1926) [23:21] Litany to the Virgin
Mary Op.59** (1933) [8:01]
Symphony No.3 Op.27 Song of the Night*** (1916) [24:42] Elzbieta
Szmytka (soprano)*
Florence Quivar (mezzo)**
Jon Garrison (tenor)*** John Connell (bass)* City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus,
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle rec. City Hall Birmingham,
3-4 April 1993, Stabat Mater, Litany; 1-2 October
1993 Symphony EMI CLASSICS
3 61592 2 [56:04] [DC]
I
dare you hear this recording of Szymanowski’s
Stabat Mater - now at mid price - and leave
the shop without it. ... see Full
Review
Toru TAKEMITSU
(1930-1996) Green
(1967) [6:53] Arc - part 1 (1963-1966/76)
[15:17] Arc - part 2 (1963-66/76) [13:33]
Rolf Hind (piano) London Sinfonietta/Oliver
Knussen rec. live, Royal Festival Hall, London,
28 October 1998.
LONDON SINFONIETTA SIN CD3-2006 [33:28]
[RMc]
An
interesting though brief disc containing a
major work by Takemitsu which is not otherwise
available ... see Full
Review
Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Variations on a Rococo Theme, for cello and orchestra, Op.
33 (1876) [18:26] Andante cantabile in D minor
(second movement of String Quartet No.1, Op. 11, from 1871) arranged
by Tchaikovsky for cello and string orchestra, Op. Posth. (1888) [6:28]
Pezzo Capriccioso for cello and orchestra, Op.
62 (1887) [7:01] Nocturne (from fourth of the six
pieces for solo piano, Op. 19 from 1873) arranged by Tchaikovsky for
cello and orchestra (1888) [4:16] Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor,
Op. 33 (1872) [19:59] Alberto GINASTERA (1916-1983)
Pampeana No. 2, Rhapsody (for cello and piano, Op. 21 from 1950)
arranged by Ginastera for cello and string orchestra (c.1950) [7:54]
Sol Gabetta (cello) Münchner
Rundfunkorchester/Ari Rasilainen rec. 13-17 September 2005, Bayerischer
Rundfunk, Germany. DDD
BMG-RCA RED SEAL 82876759512 [64:42] [MC]
Thoroughly
enjoyable performances. I hope this will be the first of many successful
recordings of a wide range of repertoire from this exciting young
cellist. ... see Full
Review
Romuald
TWARDOWSKI (b.
1930) Works for
String Orchestra Little Symphony for piano,
strings and percussion (1959) [18:09] Triptych of the Virgin
Mary (1973) [9:59] Concerto Breve (1998) [9:08] Old Polish
Concerto - Staropolski (1988) [10:14] Serenade (2003) [10:40]
Oberek (1955) [2:27] Edward
Wolanin (piano) Zenon Brzewski Warsaw String Orchestra/Andrzej
Gebski (violin) rec. ZPSM Concert Hall No. 1, 30 March 2003
(Concerto Breve; Staropolski), 28 March 2004 (Triptych), 21
November (Serenade; Oberek), 16 January 2004 (Little Symphony).
DDD ACTE
PRÉALABLE AP0120 [61:15] [DB]
Acte
Préalable does well in this release in providing
a cross-section of Twardowski’s works, from
the reminiscent to the more challenging. ...
see Full Review
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Vaughan Williams’ Christmas Music Fantasia
on Christmas Carols (1912) [12:19] On
Christmas Night - A Masque adapted from
Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1925-26)
[28:08] The First Nowell - A Nativity
Play (1958) [29:09]
Sarah Fox (soprano; mezzo) Roderick Williams
(baritone) Joyful Company of Singers City
of London Sinfonia/Richard Hickox rec. St
Jude on the Hill, Hampstead, London, 5, 15
December 2005. DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10385 [69:36] [RB]
Beautifully
sensitive performances atmospherically recorded
… irresistible … There’s even a sprig of holly
on the CD!... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Don
Carlo – an opera in five acts - sung
in Italian (1867) Philip, King of Spain, Boris
Christoff (bass); Don Carlo, Infante of Spain,
Jon Vickers (ten); Rodrigo, Marquis of Posa,
Tito Gobbi (bar); The Grand Inquisitor, Michael
Langdon (bass); Elisabeth de Valois, Philip's
Queen, Gré Browenstein (sop); Princess
Eboli, Elisabeth's lady-in-waiting, Fedora
Barbieri (mezzo); Tebaldo, Elisabeth's page,
Jeannette Sinclair (sop); The Count of Lerma,
A Royal Herald, Edgar Evans (ten); An Old
Monk, Joseph Rouleau (bass); A Voice from
Heaven, Ava June (sop) Appendix: Interview
with Lord Harwood [CD 3.tr.9. 23.27]
Covent Garden Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Carlo
Maria Giulini rec. live, Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden, London, 12 May 1958
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE HERITAGE SERIES ROHS003
[3 CDs: 73.11 + 70.20 + 58.17] [RF]
This
recording from legendary performances that
changed forever perspectives and appreciation
of this Verdi masterpiece is not to be missed.
... see Full
Review
Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901) Un ballo in Maschera
Volta la terrea fronte, Signori: oggi d'Ulrica, Ve'
se di notte, Saper vorreste Don Carlos Que
de fleurs et que d'étoiles Rigoletto Questa o quella,
La donna è mobile La Traviata Libiamo
ne' lieti calici, Sempre libera Falstaff Alice…Meg…Nannetta,
Quand'ero paggio, Alto là! … Chi va là? Johann
STRAUSS (1825-1899) Maskenfest-Quadrille
Andrea Rost (sop); Alan Titus (baritone); Ramón Vargas (ten); Larissa
Diadkova (mezzo); Stella Doufexis (mezzo); Enrico Facini (ten); Elizabeth
Futral (sop); Lucio Gallo (bar); Massimo Giordano (ten); Anatoly Kocherga
(bass); Anthony Mee (ten); Carmela Remigio (sop) Prague Radio Choir.
Berliner Philharmoniker/Claudio Abbado rec. live, Philharmonie, Berlin,
31 December 2000 Picture format: 16/9 Anamorphic. Sound formats: LPCM
Stereo. DTS 5.1 Sung in Italian with subtitles in English, German, French,
Italian and Spanish
EUROARTS 2050858 
[94:00]
[RJF]
The
quality of Abbado’s conducting of Verdi in
this concert indicates how much more he has
to offer in this repertoire than we have so
far been privileged to hear from him ... see
Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Complete
Cello Sonatas Sonata No.3 in A minor, RV 43 [14:37]
Sonata No.5 in E minor, RV 40 [11:33] Sonata No.9 in G minor,
RV 42 [15:17] Sonata No.2 in F major, RV 41 [11:33] Sonata
No.7 in A minor, RV 44 [10:36] Sonata No.6 in B flat major,
RV 46 [10:03] Sonata No.4 in B flat major, RV 45 [15:28] Sonata
No.1 in B flat major, RV 47 [12:03 Sonata No.8 in E flat major,
RV 39 [11:19] Documentary DVD:
Thème Antonio Vivaldi [11:00]
Ophélie Gaillard variations [28:00] Ophélie
Gaillard (cello); Pulcinella: Maude Gratton (harpsichord, organ); Thomas C. Boysen
(theorbo, guitar); Giovanna Pessi (harp); Thor-Harald Johnsen (guitar, guitar
battente); David Sinclair (violone, double bass); Emmanuel Jacques (cello) rec.
November, 2005, IRCAM Paris. AMBROISIE
AMB9992 [65:05
+ 49:26; DVD 39:00] [GPu]
Very
well-recorded, this is an admirable set of Vivaldi’s surviving
cello sonatas, colourful and expressive as well as coherent and
intelligent … see Full Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813–1883)
Götterdämmerung
(1876) Siegfried Jerusalem (tenor) – Siegfried;
Bodo Brinkmann (baritone) – Gunther; Philip
Kang (bass) – Hagen; Günter von Kannen
(bass) – Alberich; Anne Evans (soprano) –
Brünnhilde; Eva-Maria Bundschuh (soprano)
– Gutrune; Waltraud Meier (mezzo) – Waltraute;
Birgitta Svendén (mezzo) – 1. Norn;
Linda Finnie (contralto) – 2. Norn; Uta Priew
(mezzo) – 3. Norn; Hilde Leidland (soprano)
– Woglinde; Annette Küttenbaum (mezzo)
– Wellgunde; Jane Turner (contralto) – Flosshilde;
Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele/Daniel
Barenboim filmed at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus
in June and July 1991 Staged and directed
by Harry Kupfer;
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62321-2 [270:00 +
13:00] [GF]
This
Barenboim set has always been among the top
contenders on CD and with the added impact
of the visual elements it becomes even more
attractive. ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Lohengrin (1851)
Lohengrin – Peter Hofmann (tenor) König Heinrich - Siegfried Vogel (bass)
Elsa – Karan Armstrong (soprano) Ortrud – Elizabeth Connell (soprano)
Telramund – Leif Roar (baritone) Heerrufer – Bernd Weikl (baritone)
Bayreuth Festival Orchestra and Chorus/Woldemar Nelsson rec. Festspielhaus,
Bayreuth, 25-30 June 1982. DVD Region 0
EUROARTS 2072028 [2 DVDs:
200.00]
All
in all, a memento of its era rather than a first choice recommendation,
despite some fine performances and interesting production. ...
see Full Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Lohengrin
(1850)
Elsa: Solveig Kringelborn (soprano); Ortrud: Waltraud Meier (mezzo);
Lohengrin: Klaus Florian Vogt (tenor); Heinrich der Vogler: Hans-Peter
König (baritone); Telramund: Tom Fox (baritone); Herald: Roman Trekel
(baritone) EuropaChorAkademie Mainz Chorus
of the National Opera of Lyon Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester
Berlin/Kent Nagano Nikolaus Lehnhoff (director)
Stephan Braunfels (set design) rec.
Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, June 2006 DVD all regions Bonus feature:
Never Shalt Thou Ask of Me: A documentary film
by Reiner E. Moritz, including interviews with Nikolaus Lehnhoff, Stephan
Braunfels, Bettina Walter, Kent Nagano and leading members of the cast
[68:01] OPUS ARTE OA
0964 D
[4 DVDs: 62:89 + 79:45 + 63:49 + 68:01][AOz]
Nagano’s
sensitivity to the inherent psychological drama makes for very tight
shifts of tempo and colour. The orchestra sounds like a powerful beast
ready to pounce and watching Nagano conduct is part of the thrill. ...
see Full Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Die Walküre
(1870) Robert Gambill (tenor)
– Siegmund; Attila Jun (bass) – Hunding; Jan-Hendrik Rootering (bass)
– Wotan; Angela Denoke (soprano) – Sieglinde; Renate Behle (soprano)
– Brünnhilde; Tichina Vaughn (mezzo) – Fricka; Eva-Maria Westbroek (soprano)
– Gerhilde; Wiebke Göetjes (soprano) – Ortlinde; Stella Kleindienst
(mezzo) – Waltraute; Helene Ranada (contralto) – Schwertleite; Magdalena
Schäfer (soprano) – Helmwige; Nidia Palacios (mezzo) – Siegrune; Maria
Theresa Ullrich (contralto) – Grimgerde; Margit Diefenthal (contralto)
– Rossweise; Staatsoper Stuttgard Staatsorchester Stuttgart/Lothar
Zagrosek rec. live, Staatstheater Stuttgart, Germany, 29 September 2002,
2 January 2003. DDD NAXOS
8.660172-74 [3 CDs: 67:37 + 79:04 + 77:20][GF]
While
neither challenging the established recommendations among Walküre recordings
nor the recent excellent Melba recording, this version can still give
pleasure and it retails at budget price. ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Tristan und Isolde
(1865) – highlights Act One: Prelude [10:36]; Herrn Tristan bringe meinen
Gruss [6:21]; Act Two: O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe [6:23]; Einsam
wachend in der Nacht [4:47]; Unsre Liebe? Tristans Liebe?
[4:46]; So starben wir, um ungetrennt [9:26]; Der öde Tag zum Letztenmal!
… Das sollst du, Herr, mir sagen … Mir dies? Dies, Tristan, mir?
[13:09]; Act Three: Kurwenal! Hör! Ein zweites Schiff [8:38]; Mild und
leise (Liebestod) Bonus tracks: Sir Georg Solti rehearses Tristan und
Isolde, narrated by John Culshaw.
Birgit Nilsson (soprano) – Isolde; Fritz Uhl (tenor) – Tristan; Regina
Resnik (mezzo-soprano) – Brangäne; Tom Krause (baritone) – Kurwenal;
Arnold van Mill (bass) – King Marke); Ernst Kozub (tenor) – Melot; Peter
Klein (tenor) – A Shepherd; Theodor Kirschbichler (bass) – A Steersman
Singvereinder Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, Wiener Philharmoniker/Sir
Georg Solti rec. Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria, September 1960. ADD
DECCA ELOQUENCE 442 8288 [78:03][GF]
Quirky
recording balance but some outstanding singing, first and foremost from
Birgit Nilsson. ... see Full Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) So
viel der helden - Wagnerian tenors in the era of Kaiser
Wilhelm II (1871-1918) Otto
Briesemeister,
Oskar Bolz, Alfred Goltz, Heinrich Knote, Fritz Trostorff,
Otto Lähnemann, Franz Xaver Battisti,
Adolf Gröbke,
Hans Tänzler, Carl Baum, Benno Haberl, Jacques Decker, Peter Unkel,
Karl Jörn, Hermann Jadlowker, Johannes Sembach, Karl Erb, Adolf Lussmann, Josef
Mann, Petur Jonsson, Otto Wolf,
Adolf Löltgen. See review for performance details PREISER
89940 [75:49] [JW]
This
is a handsome collection of Wagnerian tenors recorded between 1907
and 1932. ... see Full Review
Ron
WASSERMAN (b.1961) Tango
Sonata for violin and piano (2004-05) [15:38] Ghaleb and the
Donkey (2004) [4:41] Trilaterus for violin, piano and double
bass (2006) [19:09]
Sonata for double bass and piano (2003) [28:13] Kurt
Nikkanen (violin) Maria Asteriadou (piano) Ron Wasserman (double bass) rec. Westchester
County, New York, April and June 2006 INTERNET
ARTS
IA003 [67:42] [JW]
Wasserman’s
music spells dance, eclecticism and enjoyment. ... see Full
Review
Franz
WAXMAN (1906-1967)
Joshua - oratorio (1960)
Maximilian Schell, Rod Gilfry, Patrick Poole, Prague Philharmonia/James
Sedares rec. 2004 DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON 477 5724 [76:25] [RB]
This
is a soberly impressive piece performed with warm ardour by all
concerned but don’t expect overtly spectacular writing – no not
even when the walls of Jericho are laid low. ... see Full
Review
Romanus WEICHLEIN (1650–1706)
Missa Sanctissimae Trinitatis (1702) [41.08] Missa
Gloriosae Virginis in Ceolo (1702)
[33.21] St. Florianer
Sängerknaben Kepler Konsort Ars Antiqua Austria/Gunar Letzbor rec. November
2004, St. Florian, Austria.
SYMPHONIA SY 04213 [74.31][RH]
Attractive,
vibrant performances, recorded live with considerable immediacy ...
see Full Review
Silvius
Leopold WEISS (1687-1750) Lute Sonatas:
Volume 7 Lute Sonata No. 48 in F-sharp minor [24:45] Lute Sonata
No. 15 in F-sharp minor [35:20]
Robert Barto (lute) rec. 1-4 February 2005, Green Room, Offord Hall,
Aurora, Ontario, Canada
NAXOS 8.557806 [60:05][DB]
Beautifully-performed
pieces in what is proving to be a highly-esteemed series. ... see Full
Review
Nigel
WESTLAKE (b.
1958) Piano Trio (2003)a [20:57] The
Hinchinbrook Riffs (2003)b [8:06] String Quartet No.2 (2005)c
[23:03] Kalabash (2004)d [7:29] Piano Sonata (1997)e
[15:15] Macquarie Trio
Australiaa; Craig Ogden (guitar)b; Goldner String
Quartetc; Synergy Percussiond; Michael Kieran
Harvey (piano)e rec. Concert Hall, University of Newcastle,
January 1999 (Piano Sonata); Newington College, January 2006 (Kalabash);
Verbruggen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium, November 2003 (Piano Trio);
The Top Studio, Sarsden, Oxfordshire, UK, May 2006 (The Hinchinbrook
Riffs) and Sir John Clancy Auditorium, University of NSW, October
2005 (String Quartet No.2)
TALL POPPIES TP 187 [75:09] [HC]
A
lovely disc that I thoroughly enjoyed from first to last. ... see Full
Review
Henryk
WIENIAWSKI (1835-1880) Polonaise in D major: Op. 4 (1852)
[5:07] Obertass Mazurka: Op. 19 No. 1 (1860) [2:18]
Scherzo Tarantelle: Op. 16 (1855) [4:38] Capriccio Valse: Op. 7 (1854) [4:39] Légende: Op. 17 (1864) [6:35] Polonaise in A major: Op. 21 (1870) [8:47] Souvenir de Moscow: Op. 6 (1853) [6:55] Variations on an Original Theme: Op. 15 (1854) [10.32] Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Violin Concerto in A minor: Op.
82 (1904) [19:02] Ruggiero
Ricci (violin) Joanna Gruenberg (piano) (Wieniawski) Philharmonia Hungarica/Reinhard
Peters (Glazunov) rec. 14 June 2000 (Wieniawski), Rosslyn Hill Unitarian
Chapel, Hampstead, London (Wieniawski), licensed from Vox (Glazunov)
REGIS RRC 1249 [72:09][TB]
When
this Wieniawski recording was made Ricci was at the top of his form,
brilliance and sensitivity combined with the aid of a fabulous technique.
... see Full Review
Charles
WUORINEN (b. 1938) String Sextet
(1989) [19:08] Second String Quartet (1979) [20:17] Divertimento (1982)
[11:35] Piano Quintet (1994) [24:45]
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (Sextet), TASHI (Divertimento),
The Group for Contemporary Music (Quartet, Quintet) rec. American
Academy of Arts and Letters, New York, 2 October 1991 (Sextet),
17-18 June 1996 (Quintet), and Recital Hall, State University
of New York, 22 April 1991 (Quartet), 19 November 2000 (Divertimento).
DDD NAXOS 8.559288 [75:45][DC]
If
you are up for a challenge then you will certainly find plenty to
spar with on this disc. ... see Full
Review
Judith Lang ZAIMONT
(b. 1945) Sacred Service for the Sabbath
Evening (1976) [29.29] (1) A Woman of Value (1977)
[6.39] (2) Parable: A Tale of Abram and Isaac (1986) [16.35]
(3) Meditations at the Time of the New Year (1997)
[13.5] (4) James Maddalena
(baritone); Ernst Senff Choir; Rundfunk-Sinfronieorchester Berlin/ Gerard
Schwarz (1) Margaret Kohler (soprano); Everest String Quartet/Samuel
Adler (2) Frances Lacey (soprano); John Aler (tenor); Randall Scarlata
(baritone); Rabbi Rodney Mariner (speaker); Laudibus Choir; Harold Lester
(harpsichord); The Ruskin Ensemble/Michael Brewer (3) Martha Cowan (soprano);
Kimball Wheeler (mezzo); Theresa Diamond (glockenspiel); Timm Boatman
(tubular bells); Choral Society of Southern California/Nick Strimple
(4) rec. (1) Jesus Christus Kirche, Berlin, April 2000; (2) Eastman
School of Music, Rochester, NY, August 1992; (3) The Warehouse, London,
July 2000; (4)Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, Beverly Hills, CA,
May 1999 NAXOS 8.559444
[66.12][RH]
ALPHABETICAL
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