Juan Bautista José CABANILLES (1644-1712)
Tientos y Passacalles Tiento
7° tono por A la mi re [06:16] Passacalles
de 1° tono [04:45] Corrente Italiana
[04:04] Tiento 1° tono en tersio a
modo de Italia [03:17] Duo 'El galan
que ronda las calles' al Santisimo Sacramento
a 2 y continuo [05:14] Tiento 2° tono,
partido de dos Tiples por G sol re ut [06:50]
Tiento Lleno 5° tono por B quadrado [02:30]
Tocata de mano izquierda 5° tono [02:24]
Tiento de falças, 1° tono [03:21]
Pasacalles de 3ro tono [06:09] Tiento
Lleno de 1° tono [08:01] Gallardas
de 1° tono [06:22] Pasacalles de 4°
tono [01:58] Villancico 'Mortales que
amáis', tono al Santisimo Sacramento,
a 4 y continuo [06:28] Pasacalles de
1° tono [02:09] Tiento Lleno 2° tono
[03:59] 
Jan Willem Jansen (organ) Los Musicos de Su
Alteza/Luis Antonio González rec. June,
August 1998, San Pablo, Saragosa; Church of
Cariñena, Spain, DDD
HORTUS 013 [75:05] [JV]
An
interesting and musically impressive recording
of music by a composer who is not that well-known
... see Full
Review
Marc-Antoine
CHARPENTIER (1643-1704)
Messe à 4 chœurs et 4 orchestres, H4 [35:58]
Jacques
BOYVIN (1646-1707) Fond d’orgue-1er
Ton, 1er Livre [1:28] Fugue Grave-1er Ton,
1er Livre [1:43] Récit Tendre- 1er
Ton, 2e Livre [2:12] Prélude à deux Chœurs
[2:58] Concert de Flûtes- 3e Ton,
2e Livre [3:03] Prélude-Grand Plein Jeu,
5e Ton, 2e Livre [2:43] Récit- 5e Ton,
2e Livre [1:56] Voix Humaine- 5e Ton,
1er Livre [1:49] Dialogue- 5e Ton,
1er Livre [2:46] Grande Dialogue à quatre
chœurs- 5e Ton, 2e Livre [6:13]
Agnès Mellon; Isabelle Poulenard (sopranos);
Charles Brett; Alain Aubin (counter-tenors);
John Elwes; Michel Laplenie (tenors); Philippe
Cantor; Jean-François Gardell (baritones)
Chœur Régional Nord-Pas-de-Calais/Jean Bacquet;
Ensemble Jean Bridier; Ensemble Vocal Françoise
Ηerr; Chœur Gabrieli/Claude
Petillot; La Grande Écurie et la Chambre du
Roy/Jean-Claude Malgloire; Odile Bailleux
(organ) Organ of Abbaye de Saint-Michel en
Thiérache, Aisne, France (Boizard, 1714, restored
by T. Haerpfer, 1983) rec. Abbaye de Saint-Michel
en Thiérache, France, June 1990
WARNER APEX 2564 61745-2 [62:53] [CAnt]
Some
positive points do not redeem so many miscalculations ... see Full
Review
Luigi
CHERUBINI (1760-1842) String
Quintet in E minor (1837) [32:10] George ONSLOW (1784-1853) String Quintet op.19 in
E minor (1821) [21:59] String Quintet op.51 in G minor (1834)
[24:56] Diogenes
Quartet;
Manuel van der Nahmer (cello) rec. Katholische Kirche St Johann Baptist,
Schöngeising, 9-14 May 2004
world premiere recordings cpo
777 187-2 [79:59] [JWi]
This
is a good and worthwhile disc but perhaps one that appeals mainly
to those with specialised interests ... see Full
Review
Domenico
CIMAROSA (1749–1801) Il
matrimonio segreto (1792) Dietrich
Fischer-Dieskau (bass-baritone) – Geronimo, a wealthy merchant;
Julia Varady (soprano) – Elisetta, his daughter, promised in
marriage to the Count; Arleen Auger (soprano) – Carolina, his
younger daughter, secretly married to Paolino; Julia Hamari
(mezzo) – Geronimo’s sister, a widow; Alberto Rinaldi (baritone) – Count
Robinson; Ryland Davies (tenor) – Paolino, young clerk to Geronimo;
English Chamber Orchestra/ Daniel Barenboim rec. September
1975, George Watson Chapel, Edinburgh, August 1976, Henry Wood
Hall, London DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON 476 5303 [3 CDs: 56:45 + 59:39 + 49:40] [TB]
One
number after another fizzes with life and
musical appeal, delivered in this performance
with vocal confidence and assurance. ... see
Full
Review
Aaron COPLAND
(1900-1990)
Prairie
Journal (1937) [10:55] Rodeo (Four
Dance Episodes) (1942) [18:54] Letter
From Home (1944) [6:23] The Red Pony
- Film Music (Suite) (1948) [23:42]
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra/JoAnn Falletta
rec. Kleinhaus Music Hall, Buffalo, New York,
31 January, 1 February 2005.
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559240 [59:55]
[OW]
A
disappointing issue from Naxos. Those wanting
to add two rare Copland pieces to their collection
should consider it. For a general recommendation,
look elsewhere. ... see Full
Review
John CORIGLIANO
(b.1938)
Phantasmagoria
(1992) [22:14] To Music (1994)
[5:09] Fantasia on an Ostinato (1985)
[15:40] Three Hallucinations (1981)
[15:09]
Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra/Eri Klas rec.
Tampere Hall, Finland, November 2004
ONDINE ODE 1058-2 [58:41] [DC]
Add
two world première recordings to the
excellent playing of the Tampere Philharmonic
and a superb recording, and I have to give
this CD the full thumbs up. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ronald CORP (b.
1951) Forever
Child and Other Choral Music Forever Child (2004) [12:20]
Verbum Patri (2002) [1:53] Give to my eyes Lord* (2005) [4:01]
May the Lord bless you* (2001) [3:16] Dover Beach (2003) [12:46]
Weep you no more sad fountains* (1997) [2:24] Two part songs
(1997) [3:18] Four Elizabethan Lyrics* (1994) [9:17] Lute-Book
Lullaby (Sweet was the song) (1980) [1:30] Fear no more the heat
o’ the sun (2004)[2:57] Missa San Marco (2002) [12:01] Requiem (2004)
[1:55] Voces Cantabiles/*Alexander
Wells (piano)/Ronald Corp rec. All Hallows Church, Gospel Oak,
London, 26, 28 November 2005. DDD DUTTON
EPOCH CDLX 7171 [68:32] [JQ]
This
CD has given me enormous pleasure from start to finish and is one
of the most enjoyable discs to have come my way for a long time.
... see Full Review
Frederic COWEN
(1852-1935) Symphony
No.6 in E major The Idyllic (1897)
[35:22] Samuel COLERIDGE-TAYLOR
(1875-1912) Symphony in A minor (1896)
[36:44]
Aarhus Symphony Orchestra/Douglas Bostock
rec. Frichsparken, Aarhus, 20-23 September
2005
CLASSICO CLASSCD 684 [71:50] [JW]
Laudable
and expert, volume fifteen in the British
Symphonic Collection is a triumph of programming
and imagination ... see Full
Review
Ignacy Feliks
DOBRZYNSKI (1807-1867)
String
Quintet No. 1 in F Op. 20 (33:37) String Quintet
No. 2 in a minor Op. 40 (35:52)
Wilanow String Quartet (Tadeusz Gadzina (Violin
1); Pawel Losakiewicz (Violin 2); Ryszard
Duz (Viola); Marian Wasiolka (Cello 1)) Tomasz
Strahl (Cello 2) rec. 17-18 January, 29 February,
1 March 2000, Polish Radio Studio S2, Warsaw
ACTE PRÉALABLE APO 0048 [69:36]
[DB]
A
greatly enjoyable disc of Beethoven-esque
chamber music ... see Full
Review
Avner
DORMAN (b.
1975) Piano Works Sonata No.
1 Classical (1998) [15.28] Moments Musicaux (2003)
[9.09] Prelude No. 1 (1992) [4.29] Azerbaijani Dance (2005)
[6.12] Sonata No. 2 (2001) [12.21] Sonata No. 3 Dance Suite (2005)
[14.56] Eliran
Avni (piano) rec. Ozawa Hall, Tanglewood, Massachusetts, 6-7
September 2005 NAXOS
8.579001 [62.35] [GH]
Sonatas
and Dances evince an eclectic music by this young Israeli-American,
often virtuosic but brilliantly played and clearly recorded. ...
see Full Review
Marcel
DUPRÉ (1886-1971)
Organ Music John
Scott (organ) Organ of St. Paul’s Cathedral,
London rec. 9-11 March 1986 (CD 1), 5-6 January
1998 (CD 2)
HYPERION CDD22059 [50:25 + 70:33] [DC]
John
Scott’s understanding and deft touch in Dupré make this collection
a must-have. ... see Full Review
Maurice
DURUFLÉ (1902–1986) Requiem,
Op. 9 (1947) [39.42] (1) Suite pour Orgue, Op. 5 (1930)
[24.03] (2) Kaaren
Erickson (soprano) (1); Arthur Fiacco (cello) (1); Kent Trittle
(organ) (2) Nancianne Parrella (organ) (1) Choir of St. Ignatius
Loyola/Kent Trittle (1) rec. Church of Ignatius Loyola, New
York, 21-23 April 1994, 25 March 1996 MSR
CLASSICS MS1141 [63.45] [RH]
A
disappointing recording, far better to go for a recording of Duruflé’s
original version with orchestra and organ. ... see Full
Review
Antonín DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904) Symphonic Poems: Zlatý kolovrat (The Golden Spinning Wheel) (1896), Op. 109/B197a;
Polednice (The Noon Witch) (1896), Op. 108/B196b;
Vodník (The Water Goblin) (1896), Op. 107/B195c.
Holoubek (The Wild Dove) (1896), Op. 110/B198d.
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Nikolaus
Harnoncourt rec. Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, a24-26 October
2001 (live); bDecember 1998 (live); cOctober 1999;
dDecember 1997. DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 60221-2 [42:44 + 41:03][CC]
Now
this is a real treat. Harnoncourt brings a refreshing slant to Dvořák’s
wonderful tone-poems. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Requiem,
Op. 89 (1890) [94:59] Biblical Songs, Op. 99 – excerpts*
(1894) [19:08] Maria
Stader (soprano); Sieglinde Wagner (contralto); Ernst Haefliger
(tenor); Kim Borg (bass) Czech Chorus, Prague Czech Philharmonic
Orchestra/Karel Ančerl *Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone);
Jörg Demus (piano) rec., Rudolfinum, Prague, January, February
1959; *Studio Lankwitz, Berlin, April 1960. ADD DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON ROSETTE COLLECTION 476 5307 [72:40 + 41:34] [JQ]
This
Ančerl version of the Requiem is something rather special
and it constitutes a clear first choice ... see Full
Review
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Orchestral
Miniatures Froissart Overture (1890) [14:02] May
Song (1901) [4:04] Carissima (1913) [3:44] Romance for
Bassoon and Orchestra Op. 62 (1910) [5:18] Three Characteristic
Pieces Op. 10 (1882-4/1899): No. 1: Mazurka [3:14] Minuet Op.
21 (1897) [4:26] Three Characteristic Pieces No. 2: Serenade
Mauresque [5:30]
No. 3: Contrasts-The Gavotte [3:17] Chanson de Matin Op. 15 No.
2 (1889-90) [3:37] Chanson de Nuit Op. 15 No. 1 (1889-90) [4:26] Three
Bavarian Dances (fr. Op. 27) (1895-97) [12:15] Preman
Tilson (bassoon) New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/James Judd rec. 6-8 April 2004,
Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington, NZ NAXOS
8.557577 [64:04] [GH]
A
sturdy if somewhat lifeless rendition of some of Elgar’s smaller
orchestral works ... see Full
Review
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934)
Music for Violin and Piano Violin Sonata in E minor, Op. 82
(1918) [23:33] Romance for violin and piano, Op. 1 (1878) [4:29]
Bizarrerie, Op. 13, No. 2 (1889) [2:14] Pastourelle, Op.
4, No. 2 (1884) [2:55] La Capricieuse, Op. 17 (1891) [4:05] Virelai,
Op. 4, No. 3 (c.1890) [2:07] Mazurka Op. 10, No. 1 (from Three
Characteristic Pieces for orchestra) (1889) [2:32] Idyll,
Op. 4, No. 1 (1884) [2:51] Chanson de nuit, Op. 15, No. 1 (1897)
[3:57] Chanson de matin, Op. 15, No. 2 (1897) [2:37] Salut
d'amour, Op. 12 ‘Liebesgrüss’ (1888) [2:36] Offertoire
- Andante religioso (1893) [4:19]
Simone Lamsma (violin) Yurie Miura (piano) rec. 3-4 October 2005, Potton
Hall, Suffolk, England. DDD
NAXOS 8.557984 [58:17] [MC]
A
fine recital from two promising chamber performers; names to follow.
... see Full Review
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Violin Sonata in
E minor Op.82 (1918) [23:33] Romance Op.1 (1878) [4:29] Bizarrerie Op.13
No.2 (1889) [2:14] Pastourelle Op.4 No.2 (1884) [2:55] La Capricieuse
Op.17 (1891) [4:05] Virelai Op.4 No.3 (c.1890) [2:07] Mazurka
Op.10 No.1 [2:32] Idyll Op.4 No.1 (1884) [2:51]
Chanson de nuit Op.15 No.1 (1897) [3:57] Chanson
de matin Op.15 No.2 (1897) [2:37] Salut d’amour
Op.12 [2:36] Offertoire (1893) [4:19]
Simone Lamsma (violin) Yurie Miura (piano) rec.
at Potton Hall, Suffolk, October 2005
NAXOS 8.557984 [58:17][JW]
Strikingly
alert and forward moving the Lamsma-Miura
duo brings the sonata alive in a way bigger
figures often signally fail to achieve. ...
see Full
Review
Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
The
Dream of Gerontius, Op.38 (1900)
Philip Langridge (tenor); Catherine Wyn-Rogers
(contralto); Alastair Miles (bass) BBC Symphony
Orchestra and Chorus/Sir Andrew Davis rec.
St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, 26 November
1997 Presenter: James Naughtie. Video director:
Bob Coles NTSC 16:9. Region Code: 2,3,4,5.Dolby
Digital 2.0 Stereo
WARNER MUSIC VISION 3984-22351-2 
[110:00]
This
committed performance of Elgar’s masterpiece
is worthy of the music and of the noble building
in which it was given. ... see Full
Review
Gerald
FINZI
(1901-1956) Earth
and Air and Rain (Thomas Hardy) (Summer Schemes [2:27];
When I set out for Lyonesse [2:17]; Waiting Both [3:43];
The Phantom [3:40]; So I Have Feared [2:39]; Rollicum
Rorum [1:46]; To Lizbie Brown [4:23]; The Clock of the
Years [4:54]; In A Churchyard [4:06]; Proud Songsters
[3:06]) To A Poet (various) (To A Poet A Thousand
Years Hence [5:21]; On Parent Knees [1:15]; Intrada [1:26];
Birthnight [1:49]; June on castle Hill [2:07]; Ode
on the Rejection of St. Cecilia [5:57]) I Said To Love (Thomas
Hardy) (I Need Not Go [1:39]; At Middle Field Gate in February
[4:15]; Two Lips [0:53]; In Five Score Summers [1:47];
For Life I Had Never Cared Greatly [2:13]; I said to Love
[3:16]) Howard
Wong (baritone), Hein Boterberg (piano) rec. 21-23 January 2006, De
Rode Pomp, Ghent, Belgium
DE RODE POMP GENTS MUZIKAAL ARCHIEF Vol. 26 DDD RP/GMA 061 [64:59]
[EM]
Wong
really gets under the skin of these amazing
songs, reaching an intensity that many singers
can’t … Gripping stuff. ... see Full
Review
John
FOULDS (1880-1939)
Le
Cabaret, Op. 72a (1921) [3:31] Pasquinade
Symphoniques No. 2 Op. 98 (1935) [6:34]
April – England, Op. 48 No. 1. (1926:
orch.1932) [7:09] Hellas, A Suite of Ancient
Greece, Op. 45 (1932) [18:03] Three
Mantras, Op. 61b (1919-1930) [25:49].
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth.
No recording information given. DDD
LYRITA SRCD212 [61:07] [JF]
It
never ceases to amaze me that we have what
can only be regarded as vitally important
masterpieces hidden away for so many years.
Rush out and buy this CD ... see Full
Review
Giovanni
GABRIELI (c1554/7-1612) Intonation
for Organ on the 1st tone [0:29] Plaudite, psallite, iubilate
Deo omnis terra [3:03] Intonation for Organ on the 9th tone
[0:42] In ecclesiis [8:19] Intonation for organ on the 10th
tone [0:50] O magnum mysterium [3:53] Intonation for Organ
on the 11th tone [0:36] Hodie Christus natus est [3:01] Intonation
of the Organ on the 8th tone [0:41] Three Mass Movements; Kyrie
Eleison I (motet in 8 parts) [3:47] Christe Eleison (motet
in 8 parts) Kyrie Eleison II (motet in 12 parts) Gloria (motet
in 12 parts) [2:22] Intonation for Organ on the 7th tone [0:36]
Deus, qui beatum Marcum [2:58] Sonata in the 9th tone for 8
parts [2:22] Canzon in the 9th tone for 8 parts [3:31] Canzon
in the 7th tone for 8 parts [3:19] Ricercar for organ [2:29]
Canzon in the 9th tone for 12 parts [3:55] Canzon in the 7th
and 8th tones for 12 parts [2:49] Canzon in the 12th tone for
6 parts [2:55] Sonata for three violins and organ [3:50] Canzon
in the 12th tone for 10 parts [3:17] Canzon in the 1st tone
for 10 parts [3:04] Intonation for organ on the 2nd tone [0:29]
Angelus ad pastores ait [2:54] Intonation for organ on the
3rd and 4th tones [0:41] Regina coeli laetare [2:06] E
Power Biggs (organ) The Gregg Smith Singers The Texas Boys
Choir of Fort Worth The Edward Tarr Brass Ensemble The Gabrieli
Consort La Fenice/Vittorio Negri rec. San Marco, Venice, 15-27
September 1967. ADD SONY
CLASSICAL 82876 78762 2 [72:38] [CB]
A
fantastic example of the best of the questing spirit which characterised
the re-awakening of interest in early music in the middle of the
20th century. A fascinating sound-document. ... see Full
Review
Edvard
GRIEG
(1843-1907)
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 (1868) [29:44]*
Two Nordic Melodies, Op. 63 (1894-5)
[12:57]+ Peer Gynt, Suites Nos. 1,
2 , Opp. 46, 55 (1875) [14:44]; [16:18] Lilya
Zilberstein (piano)
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
rec. Konserthuset, Gothenburg, May 1987; +
June 1992; December 1992; * March 1993; DDD DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON ENTRÉE 477 5007 [74:11][DD]
This
looked like a good collection when I spotted
it in the sales rack a few weeks back but
it’s a mixed affair with only the "Two
Nordic Melodies" approaching top class.
I dare say it will suffice as background but
it lacks magic! ... see Full
Review
Eduard
GRIEG
(1843-1907) Violin
Sonata No. 1 in F major Op. 8 (1865) [20:27]
Violin Sonata No. 2 in G major Op. 13
(1867) [20:14] Violin Sonata No. 3
in C minor Op. 45 (1887) [23:10]
At Home: Op. 43 No. 3 [2:15];
Puck: Op. 71 No. 3 [1:45]; Lonely
Wanderer: Op. 43 No. 2 [1:49];
Scherzo-Impromptu: Op. 73 No.
2 [2:36]; Grandmother’s Minuet:
Op. 68 No. 2 [1:53]; Dance from Jölster:
Op. 17 No. 5 [1:37] (arr. Joseph Achron)
Hagai Shaham (violin), Arnon Erez (piano)
rec. 8-10 October 2004, Henry Wood Hall, London
HYPERION CDA67504 [76:20] [TB]
The
two players bring to the music a spontaneous
flow and a detailed yet carefree observation
of Grieg’s performance instructions. ... see
Full
Review
Francisco
GUERRERO (1528–1599)
Tota pulchra es Maria a 6 (1570)
[5.11] Ave Virgo sanctissima a 5 (1566)
[3.27] Regina caeli a 8 (1584) [4.08]
Surge Propera amica mea (Instrumental
version) (1555) [4.53] Missa Surge Propera
(1582) [24.45] In exitu Israel (1582)
[15.55]
Sydney Chamber Choir Orchestra of the
Renaissance/Michael Noone rec. 14-17 June
1998, St. Scholastica’s Chapel, Glebe, Sydney
ABC CLASSICS 476 9236 [59.01] [RH]
This
is a disc where the fascinating repertoire never quite lives up to its
promise. ... see Full Review
George Frideric HANDEL (1685–1759)
Rinaldo (excerpts) (1710) [72.53]
Ensemble Hypothesis: Leopoldo d’Agostino (recorder and direction); Sigurd
van Lommel (counter-tenor); Cinzia Zotti (viola da gamba); Alain Cahagne
(harpsichord and organ) rec. Charterhouse of Valbonne, 2002; College
of Roquemaure and Church of Notre Dame des Pommiers, Beaucaire, 2004
SOLSTICE SOCD 230
[72.53][RH]
Unfortunately
Ensemble Hypothesis’s lovely grasp of Handel’s music is rather lost.
... see Full Review
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685–1759) Solomon -
An Oratorio in three Parts [1748] Ewa
Wolak (mezzo) – Solomon; Elisabeth Scholl (soprano) – Pharaoh’s
Daughter, Queen/Second Woman; Nicola Wemyss (soprano) – Nicaule,
Queen of Sheba/First Woman; Knut Schoch (tenor) – Zadok/Attendant;
Matthias Vieweg (bass) – Levite; Junge Kantorei, Frankfurt
Baroque Orchestra/Joachim Carlos Martini rec. live, Kloster
Eberbach, Rheingau, Germany, 30 May 2004. DDD NAXOS
8.557574-75 [81:06 + 79:01] [GF]
A
vital performance, excellently played and sung – and the score
is presented uncut. ... see Full
Review
Franz
Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809) Symphonies - Vol. 31 Symphony
No.18 in G major [13:56] Symphony No.19 in D major [12:29] Symphony
No.20 in C major [17:41] Symphony No.21 in A major [16:53]
Toronto Chamber Orchestra/Kevin Mallon rec. Grace Church-on-the-Hill,
Toronto, 20-22 July 2004
NAXOS 8.557657 [60:59] [GPu]
A
satisfying disc of early symphonies, a reminder
of how ceaselessly inventive Haydn is, even
in his ‘lesser’ works … see Full
Review
Franz
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) String
Quartet in G major Op.33 No.5 (1781) [17:07] String Quartet
in E Flat major Op.33 No.2 (1781) [16:27] String Quartet in
B minor Op.33 No.1 (1781) [20:31] Quatuor
Terpsycordes (Girolamo Bottiglieri (violin); Raya Raytcheva
(violin); Caroline Haas (viola); François Grin (cello)) rec.
Salle de Musique, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, 20-23 November
2005 CLAVES
50-2608 [62:40] [GPu]
Very
accomplished and enjoyable period-instrument recordings, which
perhaps lack the final degree of spontaneity … see Full
Review
Franz
Josef HAYDN (1732-1809) String Quartets Op.9 String
Quartet in D minor, Op.9 No.4 [20:14] String Quartet
in C major, Op.9 No.1 [18:17] String Quartet in
G major, Op.9 No.3 [15:41] String Quartet in E
flat major, Op.9 No.2 [17:03] String Quartet in
B flat major, Op.9 No.5 [21:20] String Quartet
in A major, Op.9 No.6 [13:35]
Buchberger Quartet: Hubert Buchberger (violin); Julia Greve (violin);
Joachim Etzel (viola); Helmut Sohler (cello) rec.
26,28,29 October 2004 (nos.1 & 5); 9-10 December 2004 (nos.3 &
4); 26-28 May 2005 (nos.2 & 6) Evangelische Burgkirche Nieder-Rosbach,
Germany. DDD
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92886 [55:48 + 53:27][GPu]
Good,
assured and clear-sighted performances of Haydn’s first important
set of quartets … see Full Review
Max
HELFMAN
(1901-1963) Di Naye Hagode (1948) [42:17]
1 Hag Habikkurim (1947) [17:30] 2 The
Holy Ark, excerpts (1950) [12:16] 3
1 Theodore Bikel (narrator); Choral Society of Southern California;
Los Angeles Zimriyah Chorale; Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra/Nick
Strimple; 2 Coro Hebraeico/Neil Levin; 3 Cantor
Raphael Frieder; Slovak Chamber Choir; Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/
Samuel Adler rec. 1 Royce Hall, UCLA, Los Angeles, June 2000;
2 St. Paul’s School, Hammersmith, London, July 2001; 3
Slovak Radio Hall, Bratislava, Slovak Republic, June 1998. DDD
NAXOS 8.559440 [72:12] [GPu]
The
title-piece of this CD is somewhat disappointing,
but there is beautiful music to be heard elsewhere
on the disc … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hans
Werner HENZE (b.
1926) Voices
for two voices and instruments (1973):
Los poetas cubanos ya no sueñan; Prison
Song; Keiner oder alle; The distant drum;
42 Schulkinder; Caino; Heimkehr; Grecia 1970;
Legende von der Entstehung des Buches Taoteking
auf dem Weg des Laotse in die Emigration;
Gedanken eines Revuemädchens während
des Entkleidungsaktes; Das wirkliche Messer;
Patria; Screams (Interlude); Para aconsejar
a una dama; Roses and revolutions; Schluss;
Das Blumenfest
Sarah Walker (mezzo), Paul Sperry (tenor)
London Sinfonietta/Hans Werner Henze rec.
Rosslyn Hill Chapel, January 1978. ADD First
released on LP as Decca Headline HEAD19/20,
1980 EXPLORE
EXP 0007/8 [49.42 + 47.13] [AOz]
These
last few weeks, I’ve been blessed by a surfeit
of excellent recordings, but this one really
is special ... If all releases by Explore
are as good as this, we are in for exciting
times. ... see Full
Review
Hans
Werner HENZE (b.1926) Violin
Concerto No.1 (1946) [26:57] Violin Concerto No.3 (1997) [33:24]
Fünf Nachtstücke (1990) [9:09] Peter
Sheppard Skærved (violin) Aaron Shorr (piano - Nachtstücke)
Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra/Christopher Lyndon-Gee
rec. 16-17 September 2004 (Concerto No.1), 14-15 September
(Concerto No.3), Große Sendesaal, Saarbrücken, Germany. Fünf
Nachtstücke rec. 12 December 2004, Potton Hall, Suffolk NAXOS
8.557738 [69:30] [JW]
Unfailingly
eloquent with considerable power and command
but things seem to hang fire too often. There’s
also a distinct lack of internal dynamism
... see Full
Review
Philippe HERSANT
(b.1948) Violin
Concerto (2003) [23:27] 1 Der
Wanderer: for Chamber Orchestra and Men’s
Voices (2002) [11:45] 2 Streams:
for Piano and Orchestra (2000) [27:01] 3
1 Augustin Dumay (violin), Orchestre
National de France/Jonathan Darlington; 2
Chœur de Radio France/Michel Trenchant; Orchestre
National de France/Jonathan Darlington; 3
Alice Ader (piano), Orchestre Symphonique
de la Radio Danoise/Thomas Dausgaard rec.
131 January 2004; 26
February 2004; 330 January 2004;
recording locations not given
Densité 21 DE 001 [60:02] [GPu]
Mostly
rather melancholy, dark music from a French
composer working in a resolutely tonal idiom
with interesting results … see Full
Review
Alun
HODDINOTT (b.1929)
Symphony
No. 2, Op. 29a (1962) [26:55] Symphony No. 3, Op. 61b
(1968) [21:28] Symphony No. 5, Op. 81c (1972) [11:03]
abLondon Symphony Orchestra/aNorman Del Mar, bDavid
Atherton; cRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra/Andrew Davis rec.
aBishopsgate Institute, London 24-25 September 1967 (originally
issued on Pye Virtuoso TPLS13013); bcKingsway Hall, London,
bMarch 1972 (Decca SXL6570), cMarch 1973 (SXL6606).
ADD LYRITA RECORDED
EDITION SRCD331 [73:27] [DC]
Anyone
interested in finding out if there is life
beyond Tippett will find much to discover
and enjoy here. ... see Full
Review
Gustav HOLST
(1874-1934)
A
Fugal Overture, Op. 40 No. 1, H151 (1922)
[5:12] A Somerset Rhapsody, Op. 21
No. 2, H87 (1906-07) [9:01] Beni Mora -
Oriental Suite, Op. 29 No. 1, H 107 (1909-10)
[17:13] Hammersmith - A Prelude
and Scherzo for Orchestra, Op. 52, H178,
(1931) [13:00] Scherzo for Orchestra
(1933-34) [5:29] Japanese Suite, Op.
33 (1915) [11:04]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult
(Japanese Suite) No recordings details
provided. ADD
LYRITA SRCD222 [61:48] [MC]
Remarkable
technical prowess and refined musicianship.
... see Full
Review
Gustav
HOLST
(1874-1934) A
Winter Idyll (1897) [7.04] Cotswold
Symphony in F, Op. 8 (1900): Elegy:
In Memoriam William Morris [9.02] Indra,
Symphonic Poem, Op. 13 (1903) [12.33] A
Song of the Night for Violin and Orchestra
Op. 19 No. 1 (1905) [8.45] Sita: Interlude
from Act III, Op. 23 (1906) [5.49] Invocation
for Cello and Orchestra Op. 19 No. 2 (1911)
[9.28] The Lure, Ballet Music for Orchestra
(1921) [8.40] Dances from The Morning of
the Year Op. 45 No. 2 (1927) [13.45]
Lorraine McAslan (violin) Alexander Baillie
(cello) London Symphony Orchestra/David Atherton
London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Atherton
(Invocation) rec. 1982, 1993. ADD/DDD
LYRITA SRCD 209 [75.58]
Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934) Two Songs
without Words, Op. 22 (1908): Country
Song [4.26]; Marching Song [3.37]
Fugal Concerto for Flute, Oboe and
Strings, Op. 40 No. 2, (1923) [8.04] The
Golden Goose Ballet Music, Op. 45 No.
1 (1926; arr. I. Holst 1969) [14.51] A
Moorside Suite: Nocturne (1928;
arr. I. Holst) [6.39] Double Concerto for
Two Violins and Orchestra, Op. 49 (1929) [14.23]
Lyric Movement for Viola and Small
Orchestra (1933) [9.57] Brook Green Suite
for Strings (1933) [7.12] Capriccio
for Orchestra (1933; arr. I. Holst 1968)
[6.02]
William Bennet (flute); Peter Graeme (oboe);
Emmanuel Hurwitz, Kenneth Sillito (violins)
English Chamber Orchestra/Imogen Holst Recorded
1967 and 1970 ADD
LYRITA SRCD 223 [75.11] [PSh]
Long
unavailable music by one of our greatest composers,
must buys for anyone seriously interested
in British music or in Holst. ... see Full
Review
Herbert HOWELLS
(1892-1983)
Sounds Atmospheric Psalm
Prelude Set 1 No. 1 (1915) [5:59] Psalm Prelude
Set 1 No. 2 (1916) [5:27] Rhapsody No. 3 in
C sharp (1918) [7:34] Psalm Prelude Set 2
No. 1 (1938) [7:44] Saraband for the morning
of Easter (1940) [5:50] Master Tallis’s
Testament (1940) [6:24] Saraband In
modo elegiaco (1945) [3:58] Partita (1971)
(i) Intrata [5:16]; ii) Interlude [4:12];
iii) Scherzo and Epilogue [4:45]; iv) Sarabande
for the 12th day of any October
[4:30]; v) Finale and Retrospect [5:44])
Christopher Stokes (organ) rec. Manchester
Cathedral, 21-23 July 2005. DDD
LAMMAS LAMM 192D [67:29] [CB]
A
very recommendable taster of some of Howells’s
best organ compositions, all of which receive
excellent performances. ... see Full
Review
Daniel
JONES (1912-1993)
Symphony
No. 6a (1964) [29:14] Symphony
No. 9b (1974) [19:31] The Country
Beyond the Starsc (1958) [30:48].
cWelsh National Opera Chorus;
acRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir
Charles Groves; bBBC Welsh Symphony
Orchestra/Bryden Thomson rec. aBishopsgate
Institute, London, 15-16 January 1969 (originally
issued on Pye Virtuoso TPLS13023), bBBC
Llandaff, 10-11 February 1979 (from BBC REGL359);
cAfan Lido, Port Talbot, Glamorgan,
22-23 May 1971 (from HMV ASD2739). ADD
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD326 [79:35]
[DC]
Heroically
attempts to fill a deep, inexplicable void
in the British music catalogue. ... see Full
Review
Aaron
Jay KERNIS (b. 1960) Symphony
No. 1 Symphony in Waves (1989) [38:37] String Quartet
No.1 (Musica Celestis) (1990) [32:35] New
York Chamber Symphony/Gerard Schwarz, The Lark Quartet rec.
1990s. DDD. First issued as Argo ZRG 436 287-2 PHOENIX
PHCD165 [71:13] [RB]
Another
winner from Phoenix and Kernis. Let’s hope we soon hear more from
this composer. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz
LISZT
(1811-1886)
Complete Piano Music - Volume 23 Piano
Transcriptions of Beethoven's Symphonies 7
and 8, S464/R128: Symphony No. 7 in A major,
Op. 92 [38:46] Symphony No. 8 in F major,
Op. 93 [24:58]
Konstantin Scherbakov (piano)rec. Potton Hall,
Westleton, Suffolk, 5-7 June 2002 (No.7);
5 October 2004 (No.8). DDD
NAXOS 8.557856 [63:44] [TP]
Those
who have been collecting this series will
already be rushing into the stores to snap
this issue up. Those who are as yet unfamiliar
with Liszt’s Beethoven transcriptions should
do the same.... see Full
Review
Poul
RUDERS
(b.1949) Kafka’s
Trial Opera in one act
with a prelude (2005)
Libretto by Paul Bentley after Kafka’s novel
Kafka/Josef K. – Johnny van Hal (tenor) Miss
Bürstner/Felice Bauer – Gisela Stille
(soprano) Miss Montag/Greta Bloch – Marianne
Rørholm (alto) The Inspector/Court
Recorder – Gert Henning-Jensen (tenor) Deputy
Manager/Businessman Block – Michael Kristensen
(tenor) Interrogator/Uncle Albert – Johan
Reuter (baritone) Jailer Franz – Hans Lawaetz
(bass) Jailer William – Anders Jacobsson (bass)
Bank Manager/Lawyer Huld – Bo Anker Hansen
(baritone) Washerwoman/Hunchback – Hanne Fischer
(mezzo) Flogger/Chaplain – Ole Hedegaard (tenor)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Danish Opera/Thomas
Søndergård rec. ‘live’, Copenhagen
Opera House, 31 March, 4, 9 April 2005
DACAPO 8.226042-43 [64:21 + 60:56] [TH]
The
musical side of things leaves the strongest
impression with this opera ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Wenzel KALLIWODA
(1801-1866) Symphony
No. 5 in B minor, op. 106 (1840) [27:44] Symphony
No. 7 in G minor, WoO/01 (1841) [28:50] Overture
No. 16 in A minor, op. 238 (1863) [11:42]
Das Neue Orchester/Christoph Spering
rec. Köln, November 15-18, 2004
CPO 777 139-2 [68:29] [DJB]
This
is unquestionably my discovery of the year
and my disc of the year … see Full
Review
Joseph
Martin KRAUS
(1756-1792) String
Quartets: in G major VB2 187
Op.1 No.6 (1784) [21:07]; in C minor VB2
179 [7:42]; in E major VB2 180
[18:01]; in G minor VB2 183 Op.1
No.3 (1784) [10:22]; in B major VB2 181
Op1. No.2 (1784) [69:32]
Salagon Quartet (Christine Busch, Kathrin
Tröger (violin), Claudia Hofert (viola),
Gesine Queyras (cello)) rec. SWR Studios,
Stuttgart, 27-30 December 2005
CARUS 83.194 [69:32] [GPu]
An
interesting selection – well-performed and
recorded – of Kraus’s string quartets, a medium
in which he is not perhaps heard at his very
best … see Full
Review
Frank Ezra LEVY
(b.
1930) A
Summer Overture (1997) [8:39] Cello Concerto
No. 2 (2002) [20:12] Rondo Tarantella (2003)
[15:53] Symphony No. 3 (1977) [20:10]
Scott Ballantyne (cello) RTÉ National
Symphony Orchestra of Ireland/Takuo Yuasa
rec. 27-28 September 2004, Dublin Concert
Hall, Dublin, Ireland
NAXOS 8.559234 [64:53] [DD]
Intriguing
… I was struck by Levy’s melodic invention.
People who find modern classical music beyond
them would warm to this. Very enjoyable. More
please! ... see Full
Review
Thomas
LINLEY
(1756-1778) Music
for The Tempest (1777) [23:19] Overture to
The Duenna (1775) [5:33] In yonder grove (1773)
[12:44] Ye nymphs of Albion’s beauty-blooming
isle [12:03] Daughter of Heav’n, fair thou
art (Darthula) [17:00]
Julia Gooding (soprano) Paul Goodwin (oboe)
The Parley of Instruments Baroque Orchestra
and Choir/Peter Holman directed from the harpsichord
by Paul Nicholson rec. unspecified location,
August 1994
HELIOS CDH55256 [72:38] [JW]
Theatrically
powerful sense of anticipation, inexorable
crescendo and the sheer effect of it… performances
are attractive and committed ... see Full
Review
Carl LOEWE (1796–1869)
Passion
Oratorio (1847?) Nathalie Gaudefroy (soprano), Christianne Stojtin
(contralto), Jacky da Cunha (tenor), Henk Neven (bass), Edwin Crossley-Mercer
(bass – Peter) Ensemble
Vocal des Heures Romantiques Ensemble Instrumental des Heures Romantiques/Udo
Reinemann rec. live, 2 August, 2003, L’Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste,
Villedieu-le-Château, France, Heures Romantiques au Pays de Monhodon
2003 Festival. DDD NAXOS
8.557635-36 [59:33 + 37:04] [JW]
It
has its rough edges but preserves a performance
that reveals that Loewe’s Passion contains
a surety and sincerity that are very winning.
... see Full
Review
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