François-Bernard
MÂCHE (b. 1935) L’Estuaire du temps (1993)a
[27:16] Braises (1995)b [20:07] Andromède (1979)c
[30:50] 
Elisabeth Chojnacka
(harpsichord)b; Michaël Levinas (sampler)a; Jean-François
Heisser, Jean Koerner, Gérard Frémy (pianos)c; Orchestre
Philharmonique de Radio Franceab; Maîtrise de Radio France,
Choeur de Radio France, Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio Francec;
Elgar Howartha, Pascal Rophéb, Gilbert Amyc
rec. (live) Radio France, Palais des Congrès, Strasbourg, September
1993 (L’Estuaire du temps); Salle Olivier Messiaen, Paris,
April 1999 (Braises) and Grand Auditorium, Paris, June 1980 (Andromède)
DENSITE 21 DE002
[78:26][HC]
A
generous release offers a fine survey of Mâche’s
acoustic music. These excellent performances
are really very convincing, and well recorded.
Strong stuff, for sure, but well worth investigating.
... see Full
Review
Stuart
MACRAE (b.
1976) Violin Concerto (2001)a [26:16]
Two Scenes from the Death of Count Ugolino (2004)b [16:14]
Motus (2003)c [17:52] Stirling Choruses (1999)d [8:00] Loré Lixenberg
(mezzo)b; Christian Tetzlaff (violin)a BBC
Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Ilan Volkovad Birmingham
Contemporary Music Group, Susanna Mälkkibc rec.
CBSO Centre, Birmingham, April 2005 (Two Scenes, Motus); City
Halls, Glasgow, January 2006 (Violin Concerto); February 2006
(Stirling Choruses) NMC
D115 [68:22] [HC]
For
all its formal and technical complexity, McRae’s music retains
a remarkable expressive strength that never fails to communicate
directly ... see Full Review
Gustav
MAHLER
(1869-1911)
Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor (1901-2) [73:05]
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra/Michael
Tilson Thomas rec. live, Davies Symphony Hall,
San Francisco, 18 September –2 October 2005.
DDD SACD
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY 821936-0012-2 [73:05]
[TD]
For
the collectors of the Tilson Thomas cycle,
a fine Fifth. For everyone else, look elsewhere.
... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No.
8 in E flat Symphony of a Thousand (1906-10) [80:51]
Barbara Kubiak (soprano) Magna Peccatrix; Izabela Klosinska (soprano)
Una Poenitentiam; Marta Boberska (soprano) Mater Gloriosa;
Jadwiga Rappé (mezzo-soprano) Mulier Samaritana; Ewa Marciniec
(mezzo) Maria Aegyptiaca; Timothy Bentch (tenor) Doctor Marianus;
Wojtek Drabowicz (baritone) Pater Ecstaticus; Piotr Nowacki (bass)
Pater Profundis Polish Radio Choir (Kraków); Warsaw Boys’ Choir;
Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University Choir; Warsaw National Philharmonic
Choir and Orchestra/Antoni Wit rec. Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall,
1-6 June, 2005 NAXOS
8.550533-34 [23:56 + 56:55][TH]
Exceptional
value … serious Mahlerians really should hear
it ... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
no. 9 (1909, f.p.1912) (1. Andante comodo
[29:29]; 2. Im tempo eines gemächliches
Ländlers. Etwas täppisch und sehr
derb [14:18]; 3. Rondo-Burleske. Allegro assai.
Sehr trotzig [13:11]; 4. Adagio. Sehr langsam
und noch zurückhaltend [21:28])
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Bruno Maderna Recorded
Royal Festival Hall, London, 31 March 1971
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4179-2 [79:16] [GPJ]
An
extraordinary document, and a must for anyone
who is an abject admirer of this great masterpiece
and of the remarkable musician conducting
it ... see Full
Review
Benedetto MARCELLO
(1686-1739) Six
Cello Sonatas: No. 1 in F major [8:07];
No.2 in E minor [6:46]; No.3 in A minor [6:04];
No.4 in G minor [6:53]; No.5 in C major [6:49];
No.6 in G major [6:03]
Anthony Pleeth (cello) Christopher Hogwood
(harpsichord); Richard Webb (cello continuo)
rec. March 1978, Rosslyn Hill Unitarian chapel,
London. ADD.
EXPLORE EXP0012 [43:11] [GPu]
A
valuable reissue of pleasing performances of excellent sonatas by a
still unduly neglected Venetian master … see Full
Review
Benedict
MASON (b. 1955) felt/ebb/thus/brink/here/array/telling
(2001) Ensemble Modern/Franck
Ollu rec. live, Donaueschinger Musiktage, October 2004
COL LEGNO WWE 1SACD 20604
[71:44][HC]
A
thought-provoking release … quite unlike anything
else one may be used to. Ultimately a fascinating
sonic experience … but be prepared for something
quite unusual. ... see Full
Review
Paul
McCARTNEY (b.
1942) Ecce
Cor Meum (Behold my heart) (1998-2006)
[56.53]
Kate Royal (soprano), Colm Carey (organ),
Mark Law (Piccolo trumpet), David Theodore
(oboe) Boys of Magdalen College Choir, Oxford;
Boys of King's College Choir, Cambridge; London
Voices, Director: Terry Edwards, Chorus Master:
Ben Parry Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/Gavin
Greenaway rec. Abbey Road Studios, 13-17 March
2006; organ recorded at the Tower of London.
EMI CLASSICS 0946 3 70424 2 7 [56.53]
[DD]
I
recommend this to all with open ears and minds
and hope to hear this work at the College
I walked past for seven years on my way to
school! ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY (1809-1847)
Sonate
in f op. 65 No. 1 [16:17] Praludium in c minor (1841) [2:58] Praludium
und Fuge C minor op. 37 No. 1 [8:21] Canzonetta g minor op. 12 arr.
Heinrich Walther [5:21] Sinfonie Nr
5 in d minor Reformation op. 107 arr. Heinrich
Walther [31:54]
Heinrich Walther (organ) rec. St Marien, Barth, Germany, August
2004. DDD ORGANUM OGM
250061 [65:18] [CB]
Engrossing
recording ... successful transcription ...
superb playing ... wonderful organ ... see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992)
Vingts
Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus (1944)
[124:27]
Joyce Hatto (piano) rec. Concert Artists Studios,
Cambridge. Regards 1-10, 8 September
2004; 5 January 2006, Regards 11-20,
10 September 2004; 6 January 2006.
CONCERT ARTIST CACD 20032 [55:14 + 68:59]
[DC]
I
can’t imagine Messiaen himself would have
wanted more. ... see Full
Review
Olivier
MESSIAEN
(1908-1992) Visions
de l’Amen (1943): (Amen de la Création
[6:10]; Amen des étoiles, de la planète
à l’anneau [6:09]; Amen de l’Agonie
de Jésus [7:43]; Amen du Désir
[12:15]; Amen des Anges, des Saints, du chant
des oiseaux [7:43]; Amen du Jugement [2:37];
Amen de la Consommation [7:33])
John Ogdon and Brenda Lucas (pianos) rec.
Decca Studio No.3, West Hampstead, London,
29-31 December 1970
EXPLORE EXP 0013 [50:44] [DC]
Where
it counts most Ogdon and Lucas are right up
there, transporting us to regions beyond.
... see Full
Review
Claudio MONTEVERDI
(1567–1643)
Fifth
Book of Madrigals (1605) [78:34]
Delitiae Musicae/Marco Longhini rec. 5–10
April 2003, Chiesa di San Pietro in Vincoli,
Azzago, Verona. DDD
NAXOS 8.555311 [78:34] [RH]
Lacks
dramatic impetus … disappointing. ... see
Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Violin
Concerto No.1 in B flat major, KV 207 [20:02]
Rondo for Violin and Orchestra in B flat major,
KV 211 [6:30] Violin Concerto No.2 in D major,
KV 211 [19:23] Violin Concerto No.3 in G major,
KV 216 [22:29] Violin Concerto No.4 in D major,
KV 218 [21:41] Violin Concerto No.5 in A major,
KV 219 [28:28] Adagio for Violin and Orchestra
in E major, KV 261 [6:43] Rondo for Violin
and Orchestra in C major, KV 373 [5:39]
Giuliano Carmignola (violin) Il Quartettone/Carlo
de Martini rec. 1997, Palazzo Pignano, Pieve
di San Martino, Italy. DDD
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92884 [68:38 + 62:47]
[GPu]
Perhaps
I expected too much from Carmignola; these
are no more than efficient, but slightly routine,
readings … see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756
– 1791) Die
Entführung aus dem Serail (1782)
Emmerich Schäffer (speaking part) – Bassa
Selim; Aga Winska (soprano) – Constanze; Elisabeth
Hellström (soprano) – Blonde; Richard
Croft (tenor) – Belmonte; Bengt-Ola Morgny
(tenor) – Pedrillo; Tamás Szüle
(bass) – Osmin
Chorus and Orchestra of the Drottningholm
Court Theatre/Arnold Östman Stage Direction
by Harald Clemen; Designer: Carl-Friedrich
Oberle, Costume Production: Börje Edh;
Directed for TV and Video by Thomas Olofsson
rec. at the Drottningholm Court Theatre, Sweden,
in 1990. Sound Format: PCM STEREO; Picture
Format 4:3 
ARTHAUS 102 015 [133:00] [GF]
Crisp,
swift playing on period instruments and excellent
singing and acting in an authentic setting,
make this a highly recommendable issue. ...
see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756
– 1791) The Mozart Album see
review for details
Anna Netrebko (soprano)٭, Bryn Terfel
(bass-baritone)¹, Elīna Garanča
(mezzo)ŗ, Thomas Quasthoff (bass-baritone)²,
René Pape (bass)³, Christoph Strehl
(tenor)^, Erika Miklósa (soprano)ª,
Miah Persson (soprano)˚, Christine Rice
(mezzo)י; rec 2005-6
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 477 6297 [59:30]
[GF]
A
collection of golden eggs worth anyone’s money!
Here are indeed some of finest voices now
before the public. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Mozart In Munich
Piano Sonatas: No. 1 in C, K279/K189d (1775) [18:16]; No. 2 in F,
K280/K189e (1775) [18:38]; No. 4 in E flat, K282/K189g (1775) [16:15];
No. 6 in D, K284/K205b, Dürnitz (1775) [28:27]
Martino Tirimo (piano) rec. Mendelssohnsaal, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Germany,
July 2005. DDD REGIS
RRC 1253 [79:45][CC]
Ultimately,
whatever Tirimo’s many strengths, this is
rather unengaging Mozart ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart – The Original
Piano Roll Recordings Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Rondo
alla turca – from Sonata K331 (1781-83) [3:33]
Fantasia in D minor K397 (1782) [4:47] Piano
Sonata in D K576 [13:59] Serenade from Don
Giovanni [2:28] Fantasy on themes from the
Marriage of Figaro - arranged Franz
LISZT and Ferrucio
BUSONI [14:28]
Vladimir de Pachmann (piano), recorded in
1906 Alexander Raab (piano), recorded in 1919
Wanda Landowska (piano), recorded in 1924
Wilhelm Backhaus (piano), recorded in 1923
Vladimir Horowitz (piano), recorded in 1925
DAL SEGNO DSPRCD 029 [39:15][JW]
Too
many things are wrong with this disc ... see
Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Requiem K626 (completed Süssmayr)
(1791) [59.27] Concerto for two pianos K242 [23:18] Concerto for two
pianos K365 [24:38] Magda Laszlo (soprano); Hilde Rossl-Majdan (mezzo):
Petre Munteanu (tenor); Richard Standen (bass) Vienna Academy Choir
and Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera/Hermann Scherchen Paul Badura-Skoda
and Reine Gianoli (pianos) Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera/Hermann
Scherchen rec. Vienna 1953 (Requiem), Vienna 1951 (Concertos) TAHRA
WEST 3005-06 [59:27 + 48:26][JW]
Steadiness,
sonority and spiritual intensity bordering
on the operatic mark …seldom has the Requiem
been accorded such a sense of controlled feeling.
... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Violin
Sonatas Vol. 6 Six Variations in G minor on the French
Song, ‘Au bord d'une fontaine’ (‘Hélas, j'ai perdu
mon amant’), K360 (1781) [11:15] Violin Sonata No. 29 in
A major, K402 (completed by M. Stadler) (1782) [12:02] Violin
Sonata No. 30 in C major, K403 (completed by M. Stadler) (1782)
[18:15] Sonata for Piano No. 17 in B flat major, K570 (arranged
for violin and piano) (1789) [21:46] Takako
Nishizaki (violin) Benjamin Loeb (piano) rec. 1-5 August 2004,
Performing Arts Center, The Country Day School, King City,
Ontario, Canada. DDD NAXOS
8.557665 [63:18] [MC]
Excellent
performances packed with quality music of extraordinary interest.
... see Full Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
The Violin Sonatas CD 1 Sonata
for Piano and Violin in F, K.376 [16:38] Sonata
for Piano and Violin in E flat, K.302 [12:05] Sonata
for Piano and Violin in G, K.379 [15:52] Sonata
for Piano and Violin in B flat, K.454 [15:30] CD
2 Sonata for Piano and Violin in A, K.305 [16:44]
Sonate für Violine und Klavier Nr. 26 B-dur KV 378
[19:30] Sonate für Violine und Klavier Nr. 18
G-dur KV 301 [13:19] Sonata for Piano and Violin
in E flat, K.481 [23:27] CD 3 Sonata
for Piano and Violin in C, K.296 [15:39] Sonata
for Piano and Violin in E flat, K.380 [20:07] Sonata
for Piano and Violin in F, "für Anfänger", K.547 [16:34]
Sonata for Piano and Violin in D, K.306 [19:20]
CD 4 Sonata for Piano and Violin
in C, K.303 [9:44] Sonata for Piano and Violin
in F, K.377 [18:50] Sonate für Violine und Klavier
Nr. 21 e-moll KV 304 [14:21] Sonate für Violine
und Klavier A-dur KV 526 [20:52]
Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin) Lambert Orkis (piano)
rec. Philharmonie im Gasteig, Munich, February
2006.
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 002894775801 [4 CDs: 68:19 + 70:12 + 72:56 + 64:04][DC]
A
more consistently wonderful set than this new recording you won’t find
for money or love. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Sonatas:
No. 1 in C major, K 279 (1775) [18:31]; No. 2 in F major, K 280 (1775)
[18:37]; No. 3 in B flat major, K 281 (1775) [17:29]
Robert Levin (fortepiano) rec. Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts,
25-27 November 2005. DDD
DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 82876 842372 [54:56][MG]
Sometimes
provocative, always stimulating, this CD is a new listening experience
in Mozart piano sonatas. … see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano Sonatas: No. 5 in G, K283/K189h (1775) [17:08]; No. 7
in C, K309/K284b (1777) [18:56]; No. 9 in D, K311/K300i (1778) [18:30];
No. 8 in A minor, K310/K300d (1778) [6:15]. Rondo in D, K485 (1786)
[6:22] Martino Tirimo (piano)
rec. Mendelssson Saal, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Germany in July and August
2005. DDD REGIS
RRC 1252 [77:45] [CC]
Volume
2 of Tirimo’s Mozart piano sonata cycle is significantly more enjoyable
than the first. The increased meat has clearly inspired the pianist
to finer things. ... see Full
Review
Tutto Mozart! – Bryn
Terfel Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756–1791) Le nozze di Figaro: No. 10
Non più andrai, farfallone amoroso [3:44]; Io ti lascio, o
cara, addio K. Anh. 245 (621a) [4:26]; Così fan tutte: No. 10 Soave
sia il vento [2:51]¹²; Männer suchen stets zu naschen K 433
(416c) [2:14]; Così dunque tradisci … Aspri rimorsi atroci K
432 (421a) [4:01]; Così fan tutte: No. 23 V’adoro … Il core vi dono
[4:47]²; Un bacio di mano K 541 [2:07]; Don Giovanni: No. 7 Quel
casinetto è mio … Là ci darem la mano [3:16]¹; Die Zauberflöte:
No. 20 Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen wünscht Papageno sich [4:07];
Le nozze di Figaro: No. 18 Hai già vinta la causa! … Vedrò, mentr’io
sospiro [4:53]; Nun, liebes Weibchen, ziehst mit mir K 625
(592a) [2:32]¹; Die Zauberflöte: No. 2 Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja
[2:44]; Le nozze di Figaro: No. 17 Crudel! perché finora farmi
languir così? [2:48]¹; Don Giovanni: No. 16 Deh! Vieni alla finestra,
o mio tesoro! [2:02]; Bastien und Bastienne: No. 10 Diggi, daggi,
schurry, murry [1:28]; Die Zauberflöte: Nr 21 (exc) Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Papagena!
[2:28]¹; Don Giovanni: No. 4 Guardate! Questo non piccol libro
… Madamina, il catalogo è questo [5:48]; Die Zauberflöte: No. 7
Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen [3:04]¹; Le nozze di Figaro:
No. 27 Tutto è disposto … Aprite un po [4:16]
Bryn Terfel (bass-baritone) Miah Persson (soprano)¹, Christine Rice
(mezzo)² Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras rec. Grand
Hall, The City Halls, Glasgow, April 2006
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4775886 [63:36] [GF]
With
its mix of standard fare and rarities, all executed at the highest
possible level, this is as good a Mozart recital as any and all
lovers of singing should hasten to get it. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) La finta
giardiniera – Dramma giocoso in tre atti, K.196 (1775) Rudolf
Schasching (tenor) – Don Anchise, Mayor of Lagonero, in love
with Sandrina; Eva Mei (soprano) – Countess Violante Onesti,
in love with Count Belfiore and believed dead, now in disguise
as Sandrina, a gardener; Christoph Strehl (tenor) – Count Belfiore,
formerly in love with Violante and now with Arminda; Isabel
Rey (soprano) – Arminda, A lady of Milan, formerly in love
with Cavaliere Ramiro and now betrothed to Count Belfiore;
Liliana Nikiteanu (mezzo-soprano) – Cavaliere Ramiro, in love
with Arminda but deserted by her; Julia Kleiter (soprano) – Serpetta,
Maid to the Mayor and in love with him; Gabriel Bermudez (baritone) – Roberto,
Servant to Violante, pretending to be her cousin, by the name
of Nardo, disguised as a gardener and unrequitedly in love
with Serpetta; Statistenverein am Opernhaus Zürich Orchestra “La
Scintilla” der Oper Zürich/Nikolaus Harnoncourt Directed for
Stage by Tobias Moretti; Set Design: Rolf Glittenberg; Costume
Design: Renate Martin, Andreas Donhauser; Lighting Design:
Jürgen Hoffmann; Directed for TV and Video by Felix Breisach
rec. live, Opernhaus, Zürich, 23, 25 February 2006. Sound Formats:
DD 5.1; DTS 5.1; LPCM Stereo; Picture Format 16:9 TDK
DVWW-OPFINT [2
DVDs: 187:00] [GF]
Not
one of Mozart’s most important scores and the plot is silly. The
main reason for acquiring this set is the hilarious comedy – the
first act especially – and the excellent singing and acting. ...
see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Le
nozze di Figaro – Opera buffa in four acts, K492 (1786) Peter
Mattei (baritone) – Il conte di Almaviva; Christiane Oelze
(soprano) – La contessa di Almaviva; Heidi Grant Murphy (soprano) – Susanna;
Lorenzo Regazzo (bass) – Figaro; Christine Schäfer (soprano) – Cherubino;
Helene Schneiderman (mezzo) – Marcellina; Roland Bracht (bass) – Bartolo;
Burkhard Ulrich (tenor) – Don Basilio; Eberhard Francesco Lorenz
(tenor) – Don Curzio; Cassandre Berthon (soprano) – Barbarina;
Frédéric Caton (bass) – Antonio; Elisa Cenni (soprano) – Donna
I; Marie-Adeline Henri (soprano) – Donna II Marie; Jürg Kienberger
(“recitativist”); Orchestra and Chorus of the Opéra National
de Paris/Sylvain Cambreling Stage director: Christoph Marthaler;
Co-stage director: Corinna von Rad; Set and Costume design:
Anna Viebrock; Lighting designer: Olaf Winter; Choreography:
Thomas Stache; Dramaturge: Stefanie Carp; TV director: Thomas
Grimm rec. live, Palais Garnier, Paris, 2006 Audio formats:
LPCM Stereo; 16:9 anamorphic OPUS
ARTE OA0960D [2
DVDs: 260:00] [GF]
On
musical grounds there is no cause for complaints. The production as
such is also fresh and entertaining but probably not to all tastes.
... see Full Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492: Giunse
alfin il momento … Deh vieni, non tardar, o gioia bella (Susanna)[4:17];
Voi che sapete (Cherubino)(with embellishments by Domenico Corri)[3:06];
Ch’io mi scordi di te? … Non temer, amato bene K. 505 (Idamante)(from
a revision of the opera Idomeneo)[10:36]; Così
fan tutte, K. 588: In uomini, in soldati (Despina)[2:55]; Ei parte …
Senti! …Ah, no! … Per pietà, ben mio, perdona
(Fiordiligi)[9:33]; È amore un ladroncello (Dorabella)[3:13];
La clemenza di Tito, K. 621: Non più di fiori vaghe
catene (Vitellia)[7:06]; Idomeneo, K. 366: Quando avran fine
omai … Padre, germani, addio! (Ilia)[8:01]; Vado, ma dove? o
Dei! K. 583 (Madama Lucilla) (insertion in the opera Il burbero
di buon core by Martin y Soler)[4:29]; Le nozze di Figaro:
Non so più cosa son, cosa faccio (Cherubino) [2:46]; Alma
grande, e nobil core! K. 578 (Madama)(insertion in the opera I
due baroni di Rocca Azzurra by Domenico Cimarosa [4:28]; Le
nozze di Figaro: Giunse alfin il momento … Al desio di chi
t’adora, K. 577 (Susanna)(replacing Deh vieni non tardar at
the revival in Vienna, 29 August 1789)[7:29];
Magdalena Kožená (mezzo) Jos van Immerseel (fortepiano) Orchestra
of the Age of Enlightenment/Sir Simon Rattle rec. AIR Studios, Lyndhurst
Hall, London, December 2005
ARCHIV PRODUKTION 00289 477 5799 [67:56][GF]
Being a Mozart enthusiast in the operatic field
this year involves deep incisions in the bank account. This disc with
Kožená also belongs in the not-to-be-missed category. ... see Full
Review
Jacques
OFFENBACH
(1819-1880) Piano Works,
Vol. 2 Abendblätter
[7:07] Schüler-Polka [2:35] Les boules
de neige [4:50] Le Fleuve d’or [7:12] Le Postillon
[3:47] Jacqueline [4:12] Polka du mendiant
[3:24] Les Contes de la Reine de Navarre [8:17]
Souvenirs de Londres [2:37] Herminien-Walzer
[4:10] Madeleine [3:47] The Celebrated Pola
Dance [1:58] Les Belles Américaines
[6:37] Burlesque Polka [1:12] Valse composée
au château du Val le 9 août 1845
[3:36] Galop infernal [2:39] Marco
Sollini (piano: Steinway & sons
mod. D) rec. 29-30 March, 2005, Teatro Sperimentale,
Ancona, Italy. DDD
CPO 777 161-2 [68:50] [GPu]
An
entertaining programme of salon dances for
the piano … see Full
Review
Niccolò PAGANINI (1782-1840) Quartet
No. 1 in A minor for violin, viola, cello and guitar, Op. 4, No.
1 (c. 1813-15) [21:32] Trio in D major for guitar, violin and cello
(1833) [23:48] Quartet No. 15 in A minor for viola, violin, cello
and guitar (c. 1838) [20:42] Offenburger
String Trio: (Frank Schilli (violin); Rolf Schilli (viola); Martin
Merker (cello)); Siegbert Remberger (guitar) rec. 2001, Rügheim,
Germany. DDD AMBITUS
AMB 96 899 [66:21] [MC]
These
rarely encountered scores by Paganini on this well presented Ambitus
release are certainly worthy of attention. ... see Full
Review
Andrzej
PANUFNIK (1914-1991) Sinfonia Mistica
(1977) [20:59] Sinfonia di Sfere (1975) [32:03]
London Symphony Orchestra/David Atherton rec. Kingsway Hall, London,
12-13 August 1978 first released on LP as Decca Headline HEAD 22, 1980
world premiere recordings
EXPLORE EXP 0014 [53:02][RB]
A
most valuable addition to the CD catalogue
... exemplary analogue recordings ...two
symphonies articulate through both spiritual
concentration and extreme violence ... see
Full
Review
Roumi
PETROVA (b.
1970) Passacaglia
on a traditional Bulgarian melody for violoncello and piano
(2004) [12:02] Sonata 1 for cello and piano (2003) [21:02]
Sonata 2 in G minor for cello and piano (2005) [19:41] Five
Ancient Bulgarian Portraits for solo cello (1996) [12:02] Kalin
Ivanov (cello) Elena Antimova (piano) rec. October
2005, February 2006, Sam Levinson Recital Hall, Brooklyn
College, New York. DDD MSR
CLASSICS MS1156 [64.50] [ED]
This
well played music is momentarily diverting. ... see Full
Review
Peter
PHILIPS (1560/1-1628) Fantasia
in F major [7:31]Amarilli, mia bella (after Giulio Caccini)
[4:03] Chi farà fed’al cielo (II) (after Alessandro STRIGGIO) [6:35] Pavan in G major [3:27]
Deggio dunque partire (after Luca MARENZIO) [3:54] Io partirò (after Luca MARENZIO) [3:07] Ma voi, caro ben mio (after Luca MARENZIO) [3:28] Paget Pavan and Galliard in
C minor [9:57] Bonjour mon cœur (after Orlando
de LASSUS) [4:39] Le Rossignuol (after Orlando de LASSUS) [5:10] Margot, labourez
les vignes (after Orlando
de LASSUS) [2:47] Fantasia in D minor [3:47] Fece
da voi partita [3:47] Passamezzo Pavan and galliard in G
minor [15:30] Elizabeth
Farr (harpsichord) rec. 12-13 August 2005, Ploger Hall, Manchester,
Michigan, USA. DDD NAXOS
8.557864 [78:04] [GPu]
This
music should be far better known than it is and the case for
it is very well made here, in terms of player and instrument
alike … see Full Review
Amilcare
PONCHIELLI (1834–1886) La
Gioconda (1876) Deborah Voigt (soprano) – La Gioconda, singer; Elisabetta Fiorillo
(mezzo) – Laura Adorno, a Genoese lady,
Alvise’s wife; Carlo Colombara (bass) –
Alvise Badoero, one of the heads of the
State Inquisition; Ewa Podles (contralto)
– La Cieca, Gioconda’s blind mother; Richard
Margison (tenor) – Enzo Grimaldo, Genoese
prince; Carlo Guelfi (baritone) – Barnaba,
street singer; Josep Miguel Ribot (bass)
– Zuàne, boatman in the regatta;
Jon Plazaola (tenor) – Isèpo, public
scrivener; Pavel Kudinov (bass) – Barnabotto,
a pilot / a singer Principal dancers: Àngel
Corella, Letizia Giuliani Cor Vivaldi –
IPSI – Petits Cantors de Catalunya Orquestra
Simfònica I Cor Gran Teatre
del Liceu/Daniele Callegari Directed for
stage by Pier Luigi Pizzi, Sets and Costume
Design: Pier Luigi Pizzi, Lighting: Sergio
Rossi, Directed for TV and Video by Pietro
d’Agostino
rec. live, Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona,
2005 Sound Formats: DD 5.1, DTS 5.1, LPCM
Stereo; Picture Format: 16:9 TDK
DVWW-OPGIOC [2 DVDs: 174:00] [GF]
Beautiful
and evocative sets, direction and the acting under-nourished, sound
full and atmospheric but voices too often unfavourably balanced and
the singing is variable. The Dance of the Hours is a must-see... see
Full Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Turandot,
opera in three acts (1924) (text by Adami and Simoni after Gozzi)
(completed Alfano) [115.01]
Princess Turandot - Birgit Nilsson, (soprano)Prince Calaf - Jussi
Bjoerling, (tenor) Liu - Renata Tebaldi, (soprano)Timur - Giorgio
Tozzi, (bass) Ping - Mario Sereni, (baritone) Pang - Piero de Palma,
(tenor) Pong - Tommaso Frascati, (bass) Rome Opera Orchestra and Chorus/Erich
Leinsdorf Recorded 11 July 1959 in Rome Opera House, Rome, Italy.
Remastered to DSD by Soundmirror, Inc. Notes in English, photos of
cast during recording. Hybrid SACD: stereo 2.0; SACD 2.0; SACD 3.0.
ADD RCA SONY-BMG
LIVING STEREO 82876-82624-2
[54.06 + 60.55][PSh]
In
a musical form so complicated as opera the idea that one recording
could stand out as the absolute best all around is all but impossible,
but here we have the impossible, or as close to it as we’ll ever
see. ... see Full Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) BBC TV Series:
Great Composers: Excerpts from: Messa di Gloria
(1880): ‘Gloria’ Preludio sinfonico (1876) Le
Villi (1883): Act II, ‘O sommo iddio’ Manon Lescaut
(1890-2) : Act II, ‘Tu, tu amore? Tu!’ and Act III,
Prelude. La Bohème (1894-5)– Act IV ‘Ah! Mimi!, mia bella Mimi.’ Tosca (1898-9)– Act III ‘Vissi
d’arte’ and Act III ‘E lucevan stelle’. Madama Butterfly
(1901-4) – Act III Prelude; Act I ‘Viene la sera’ and Act II ‘Scuoti
quella fronda di ciliegio’ La Fanciulla del West (1908-10)
– Act III – ‘Ch’ella mi creda’ Il Tabarro (1913-18)-
Opening Turandot (1920-26) – Act I ‘Principessa, principessa’
Act III ‘Nessun dorma’ Narrated by Kenneth Branagh
Music Performed by: Jose Cura (tenor); Julia Migenes (soprano) BBC
Philharmonic Orchestra/Richard Buckley Contributors include: Julia
Migenes; Jose Cura; Julian Budden; William Ashbrook; Raymond Gubby;
Jonathan Miller; Simon Callow; Richard Buckley; Sir Charles Mackerras
BBC broadcast, 1997
WARNER MUSIC/NVC ARTS 50-51011-5452-2-1
[59:00][IL]
Despite
a few reservations this is an excellent introduction to the life and
work of opera’s most popular composer. ... see Full
Review
Robin
de RAAF (b. 1968) Unisono (2002/4)a [18:41]
Piano Concerto (2001/2)b [19:49] Concerto for Orchestra
(1999/2002)c [18:17]
Ralph van Raat (piano)b; Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Ed
Spanjaarda, George Benjaminc; Radio Chamber
Orchestra/Peter Eötvösb rec. live AVRO, Concertgebouw,
Amsterdam, December 2004 (Unisono) and February 2003 (Concerto
for Orchestra); and NPS, Muziekcentrum Vredenburg, Utrecht, December
2004 (Piano Concerto)
ETCETERA KTC 1309 [57:09][HC]
I
had never heard De Raaf’s music before receiving this disc, but I
now look forward to hearing more of it soon. A fine introduction to
this still young composer’s sound-world. ... see Full
Review
Sergey
RACHMANINOV (1873–1943) Opera
Highlights Aleko, excerpts (1892)
[39:51] Mariana
Zvetkova (soprano) – Zemfira; Andreana Nikolova (mezzo) – Old
Woman; Boiko Zvetanov (tenor) – Young Gypsy; Alexander Tekeliev
(bass-baritone) – Aleko; Peter Naydenov (bass) – Old Gypsy The
Miserly Knight, Op. 24, excerpts (1905) [13:51] Boiko
Zvetanov (tenor) – Albert; Niko Isakov (baritone) – Duke;
Plamen Beykov (bass) – Baron Francesca da Rimini,
Op. 25, excerpts (1905) [22:14] Mariana Zvetkova (soprano) – Francesca;
Boiko Zvetanov (tenor) – Paolo; Peter Naydenov (bass) – Lanceotto
Sofia National Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Nayden Todorov
rec. National Palace of Culture, Sofia, Bulgaria, 16-27 May
2005 NAXOS
8.557817 [75:56] [GF]
Excellent
choral and orchestral contributions, conducted
with flair, redeem some less than top-drawer
singing, though delivered with conviction
and involvement. ... see Full
Review
Orchestrations
by Ravel Emmanuel
CHABRIER (1841-1894)
Menuet
Pompeux (1881) [7:01] Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Danse
(1890) [5:28] Sarabande (1894) [5:15]
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856) Carnaval –
excerpts (1834) [9:32] Modest
Petrovich MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)
Pictures at an Exhibition (1874)
[32:48]
Royal Flemish Philharmonic/Daniele Callegari
rec. no information given. TALENT
DOM 292995 SACD [60:50] [TP]
This
is a delightful disc and a worthy addition
to the Ravel discography. ... see Full
Review
Alan
RAWSTHORNE
(1905-1971) Symphony
No. 1 (1950) [22:56]; Symphony No. 2 (A
Pastoral Symphony) (1959) [19:47]; Symphony
No.3 (1964) [32:03]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir John
Pritchard (No.1); Tracey Chadwell (soprano),
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite
(No.2); BBC Symphony Orchestra/Norman Del
Mar (No.3) rec. Kingsway Hall 25 March 1975
(No. 1) ADD; Watford Town Hall, 25-26 August
1993 (No. 2) DDD; Kingsway Hall, April 1967
(No. 3) ADD Originally released in this
form in 1995, Re-released 2006
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD291 [74:47]
[WK]
A
historically significant recording of all
three of Alan Rawsthorne’s symphonies ...
see Full
Review
Steve
REICH (b.
1936)
Different Trains (1988) [26:38], Piano Phase* (1967)
[19:17] Marc MELLITS (b. 1966)
String Quartet No. 2 (2004) [14:38]
Andrew Russo; Marc Melitts* (pianos) The Duke Quartet rec. London,
January 2006, *New York, May 2005
BLACK BOX BBM1097 [61:53] [AOz]
Reich’s
long term admirers will probably already have other versions
of Different Trains, but this is coupled with a work by Marc
Mellits ... see Full Review
Carl
REINECKE (1824-1910) Harp
Concerto in E minor, Op. 182 (1884) [24:09] Flute Concerto
in D major, Op. 283 (1908) [21:19] Ballade for flute
and orchestra, Op. 288 (c.1908) [9:58] Fabrice
Pierre (harp) Patrick Gallois (flute) Swedish Chamber Orchestra/Fabrice
Pierre; Patrick Gallois (Harp Concerto) rec. 25-28 October
2004, Örebro Concert Hall, Sweden. DDD NAXOS
8.557404 [55:27]
[MC]
Rewarding
if little known late-Romantic music … well
worth exploring. The Harp Concerto is a
major work … a gem waiting to be unearthed.
... see Full
Review
Nikolai
ROSLAVETS (1880-1944) Violin Sonata
No.1 (1913) [16:16] Violin Sonata No.4 [15:33] Violin Sonata No.6
(published 1996) [28:43] Three Dances (1923) [9:04]
Solomia Soroka (violin) Arthur Greene (piano) rec. Sauder Concert
Hall, Goshen College, Indiana, December 2005
NAXOS 8.557903 [69:37][JW]
Two
musicians inside the terse, coagulant bloodstream of Roslavets’s
imagination, drawing out some portamenti and colouristic devices
to point up his febrile romanticism ... see Full
Review
Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Album de Château:
Complete Works for Piano, Vol.7 Prélude Prétentieux [4:39] Spécimen
de Mon Temps [10:56] Valse Anti-Dansante [7:17] Prélude Semipastorale
[12:24] Tarantelle pur Sang (avec Traversée de la Procession) [9:14]
Un Rêve [8:40] Prélude soi-disant Dramatique [10:39] Spécimen de l’Avenir
[10:17] Paolo
Giacometti (piano) rec. October 2005, Doopsgezinde Kerk, Deventer,
Netherlands CHANNEL
CLASSICS CCS SA 24106
[75:07][GPu]
An
enjoyable selection from Rossini’s Péchés de Vieillesse, on a contemporary
piano and played with insight and obvious affection … see Full
Review
Edmund
RUBBRA (1901-1986)
Symphony
No. 6, Op. 80 (1953-54) [32:40] Symphony No. 8, Op. 132, Hommage
à Teilhard de Chardin (1966-68) [24:55] Soliloquy for
cello and orchestra, Op. 57 (1943-44) [15:02]
Rohan de Saram (cello) Philharmonia Orchestra/Norman Del Mar (6; 8)
London Symphony Orchestra/Vernon Handley No recording details given.
ADD LYRITA SRCD.234
[72:38] [MC]
For
those who are not familiar with the orchestral
works of Rubbra this Lyrita reissue would
make an excellent place to start. ... see
Full Review
Jakub Jan RYBA
(1765-1815) Flute
Quartet in C [15:35] String Quartet in A
minor [7:00] Flute Quartet in F [18:00]
String Quartet in D minor [9:56]
Jan Ostrý (flute) M. Nostitz
Quartet rec. Studio Arco Diva, Domovině,
Prague, November 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557729 [50:54] [PCW]
Fans
of Mozart’s flute quartets should certainly
give this a spin … see
Full Review
Detailed listing (last five 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]
[Recommended
recordings]
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