NEW and RECENT ARTICLES

The GREAT NEWS this Summer was that the Lyrita label was to be reborn. Now another great event: Explore records, a small British outfit, have their first release list drawn from the Decca back catalogue around the 1980s none of which have previously made it to CD. Order now here

 

Malcolm Arnold - an Obituary by Rob Barnett
[DVD - Toward the Unknown Region Malcolm ARNOLD – A Story of Survival - A Film by Tony PALMER]

A Beginners’ Guide to the Galaxy of Singers from the Past By Göran Forsling and Jonathan Woolf

The BBC Proms 2006 by Chris Cope

Fallen by the Wayside? - Neglected Instruments by Arthur Butterworth

 

BOOK REVIEWS

Andrew ASHBEE The Harmonious Musick of John Jenkins: Volume 1, The Fantasias for Viols 359 pages First Published 1992 Toccata Press ISBN 0-907-689-34-5 [RH]

Clearly and lucid but not a light book. Fascinating biographical chapters. If you have any interest in viol consorts then this is profoundly illuminating. ... see Full Review

Summer With Bax: A fresh take on reality. By Dilys Gater with Paul Gater. 2006 139pp Anecdotes Publishing ISBN 1-898690-09-9 [CC]

Fascinating, indeed addictive, reading. ... see Full Review

---

MUSICWEB SHOP
2005 August September  October November December
2006 January   March April May June July September October

MusicWeb can now offer you the following catalogues:

[Acte Préalable £ 13.50 post-free World-wide] {soon} [Arcodiva £10.50 post-free World-wide] [Ashgate Music Books] [Avie from £6.25 post-free World-wide] [British Music Society CDs post free World-wide] [CDACCORD from £10.50 post-free World-wide] [Concert Artist £12.50 post-free World-wide] [Gasparo from £10 Post-free World-wide]

[[Hortus£14.99 post-free World-wide] [Hyperion £13.99 & £6.99 post-free World-wide] [Leonarda £13.99 post-free World-wide] [Lyrita from £12.85 post-free World-wide] [MSR recordings £10 post-free world-wide] [REDCLIFFE £11 post-free World-wide] [Tactus £11.50 post-free World-wide] [Talent from £12.00 post-free World-wide] [Toccata Classics £12.50 post freeWorld-wide]

 

CD WALLETS Get rid of those bulky plastic cases and store CDs and booklets in thin plastic wallets. "orange-peel" translucent 70 micron PVC, 70 mm x 70mm with tuck-in flap £5 £3 per 100 wallets plus P&P New improved non-slippery wallets

MusicWeb International is now selling the Lyrita catalogue - Single CDs £13.50 Doubles £24 post-free. Click here for the catalogue and links to Musicweb reviews.

CONCERT ARTIST
JOYCE HATTO plays
MESSIAEN Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus
A 2CD set £25 postage paid world wide.

Review

New from Avie
MOZART Symphony No. 40 K550 Symphony No. 41 JUPITER K551 Manchester Camerata Douglas Boyd £6.25 post-free World wide August BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Review

Maria PICCININI - flute Andreas HAEFLIGER - piano PROKOFIEV flute sonata in D major, Op.94 DEBUSSY Syrinx WAGNER (Trans. Liszt)Isolde's Liebestod FRANCKViolin Sonata in A major AV 0045
A Noble Entertainment Music from Queen Anne's LondonThe Parnassian EnsembleAV2094

New from The British Music Society: Brian Blyth Daubney: October Roses BMS 433CD £13.49 post-free world-wide

Anthony Collins Sibelius Cycle - see review

TESTIMONY - The Story of Shostakovich Directed by Tony Palmer. Region 0 PAL only
£17.99 post-free within UK, £19.50 post-free outside the UK
  Shostakovich Centenary:Arts release the complete symphony cycle on 10 hybrid SACDs conducted by Oleg Caetani. MusicWeb price £70 UK £76.50 World post free Purchase

---

RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH & BARGAINS OF THE MONTH now on separate page

LATEST CD REVIEWS (last five days)

Offering over 20,000 CD reviews but there is more to MusicWeb than just CD reviews - see site map

ENGLISH MUSIC FESTIVAL October 20th -24th

LLOYD WEBBER AND BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA TO OPEN ENGLISH MUSIC FESTIVAL

Julian Lloyd Webber and the BBC Concert Orchestra will open the first annual English Music Festival in October with performances of works by Holst, Vaughan Williams, Sullivan and Bridge. Conducted by David Lloyd Jones, the concert at Dorchester Abbey, Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, on Friday October 20, will be broadcast on Radio 3. It is the first of 18 events over five days, celebrating five centuries of English music, with a particular focus on the early twentieth century. The Festival will also include an exciting new commission - Prayerbook.

Festival director (and regular musicweb contributor) Em Marshall said that the Festival will give audiences “a rare opportunity to experience some of the most beautiful and evocative music ever written - works of beauty, power and inspiration, which are all too often overlooked.” Artists range from the Dufay Collective to Endymion and Tonus Peregrinus, with soloists including countertenor Michael Chance, Paul Silverthorne, James Gilchrist, Peter Savidge and David Owen Norris. The Festival programme includes the complete Britten Canticles, Finzi’s Intimations of Immortality, Bridge’s Oration, Lambert’s Piano Concerto, Sullivan’s Irish Symphony, Holst’s First Choral Symphony and Vaughan Williams’s Oxford Elegy and Flos Campi. Other composers featured include Elgar, Delius, Dowland, Purcell, Campion, York Bowen, Moeran, Armstrong Gibbs, Orr, Bax, Dunhill, Ireland and Bliss. For details, log onto www.englishmusicfestival.org.uk, call 0207 834 5743, or email em.marshall@btinternet.com

Friday 29th September

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphonies 2 & 6 London Symphony Orchestra/Bernard Haitink rec. 2005 LSO LIVE LSO 0582 [76:02] [JQ]

A self-recommending issue that make me impatient to hear the rest of the cycle ... see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony No 7, Triple Concerto for piano, violin and cello Gordan Nikolitch (violin); Tim Hugh (cello); Lars Vogt (piano) London Symphony Orchestra/Bernard Haitink rec. 2005 LSO LIVE LSO0078 [74:36] [JQ]

Haitink’s Beethoven cycle is shaping up to be a considerable addition to the catalogue and the Seventh is a worthy part of the set.  ... see Full Review

Marc BLITZSTEIN (1905-1964) The Marc Blitzstein Centennial Concert rec. 1938, 2004/5 ORIGINAL CAST RECORDS OC 6127 [66:46] [GPu]

Somewhat patchy as regards both performance and recording quality, but invaluable as a conspectus of Blitzstein’s very individual music … see Full Review

Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Gloriana, op.53 (1953): Phyllida Lloyd’s adaptation for film [100:43] Josephine Barstow, Tom Randle, Chorus of Opera North, English Northern Philharmonia/Paul Daniel OPUS ARTE OA 0955 D [138:00] [MG]

A blend of the controversial, the regrettable and the magnificent … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ronald CORP (b. 1951) Forever Child and other choral music Voces Cantabiles/Ronald Corp rec. 2005 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

Giovanni GABRIELI (c1554/7-1612) Music for multiple choirs, brass and organ 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. 1967 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

George Frideric HANDEL (1685–1759) Solomon [1748] Ewa Wolak, Elisabeth Scholl, Nicola Wemyss, Knut Schoch, Junge Kantorei, Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra/Joachim Carlos Martini rec. 2004 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

Autumn: A Collection of Seasonal Classics rec. 1987-1999 RESONANCE CD RSN 3074 [76:16] [JuW]

This disc has a noticeably better thematic progression than its companions in the series, from the golden glow of early autumn, through harvest festival to Halloween and the short wet days of November ... see Full Review

Adolf Busch plays Bach and Beethoven Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Violin Concerto in A minor Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Concerto, Romances 1 & 2 Adolf Busch, Busch Chamber Players, New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra rec. 1942/3 MUSIC & ARTS CD 1183 [61:03] - Historical - [JW]

Accustomed fluidity of expression and lyricism … one hears musical bedrock, the real thing. Rapt, celestial, relaxed and beautiful – I defy you to resist him ... see Full Review

Taize Community Christe Lux Mundi rec. 2006 ATELIERS ET PRESSES DE TAIZE T568 [56:32] [JuW]

The Taize style is musically simple, relying on repetitive character to create a meditative and contemplative approach to prayer and devotion. ... see Full Review

 

Thursday 28th September

Luigi BOCCHERINI (1743–1805) Quartet in G minor Op. 24, no.6 (G194) (1777) Stabat Mater (G194) (1781) Les Folies Françoises rec. 2005 RICERCAR RIC244 [59:03] [RH]

If the performances don’t completely plumb the depths of the works, they display a fine musicality and balance, which can’t be bad. ... see Full Review

William BOLCOM (b. 1938) Violin Concerto in D (1983) Fantasia Concertante for viola, violoncello and orchestra (1985) Symphony No. 5 (1989) Sergiu Luca (violin) Janet Lyman Hill (viola) Eugene Moye (cello) American Composers Orchestra/Dennis Russell Davies rec. 1990 PHOENIX PHCD164 [55:04] [RB]

If you’ve caught the Bolcom bug do confirm the addiction with this nicely varied collection and let’s thank Phoenix for rescuing yet another Argo deletion. ... see Full Review

Maurice DURUFLÉ (1902–1986) Requiem, Op. 9 (1947) Suite pour Orgue, Op. 5 (1930) Choir of St. Ignatius Loyola/Kent Trittle (cond./organ) rec. 1994/6 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

Aaron Jay KERNIS (b. 1960) Symphony No. 1 Symphony in Waves (1989) String Quartet No.1 (Musica Celestis) (1990) New York Chamber Symphony/Gerard Schwarz, The Lark Quartet rec. 1990s 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 Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concertos 21 & 25 Stephen Kovacevich (piano) London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Colin Davis rec. 1972 PHILIPS ROSETTE COLLECTION 4765316 [60:04] [DRD]

There have been many superlatives in this review but they’re all deserved. Enough - I’m going to listen to the music again! ... see Full Review

Pyotr TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Queen of Spades (La Dama di Picche, 1890: sung in Italian) Sena Jurinac, Ettore Bastianini, Chorus and Orchestra of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino/Arthur Rodzinsky rec. 1952 ANDROMEDA ANDRCD 5058 [65:15 + 63:09] - Historical - [CC]

If you are only just getting to know Queen of Spades, this is not the place to start! ... see Full Review

Václav TOMÁŠEK (1774-1850) Piano Concertos 1 & 2 Jan Simon (piano) Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra/Vladimír Válek rec. 2005/6 SUPRAPHON SU 3819-2 [53:33] [CC]

A classy issue, and a very valuable one in repertoire terms at that. We need to hear more Tomášek. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Juan Diego Flórez: Sentimiento latino Juan Diego Flórez (tenor), Daniel Binelli (bandoneon) Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra/Miguel Harth-Bedoya rec. 2004 DECCA 475 7576 [55:08] [GF]

Sensible, sensitive, intelligent, technically impeccable, extremely beautiful –not a trace of bad behaviour. Singing of this calibre can refine even the slightest of material – and this is not all that slight. ... see Full Review

Michalis Kontaxakis - Guitar Recital Works by Ponce, Clerch, Martin, Krenek, Tarrgea and Khachaturian Michalis Kontaxakis (guitar) rec. 2006 NAXOS  8.570191 [58:01] [ZT]

The programme is interesting and refreshing, however the very capable playing is overall too sedate. ... see Full Review

Alexander Tselyakov plays Variations on the Theme of Paganini by Carrabré, Rachmaninov, Lutoslawski and Rosenblatt Alexander Tselyakov (Piano) Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra/David Lockington rec. 2005 GOLOMB GLDC 5701-7 [52:19] [DB]

An enjoyable disc, recommended for the new treatments of this familiar theme. ... see Full Review

 

Wednesday 27th September

Juan Bautista José CABANILLES (1644-1712) Tientos y Passacalles Jan Willem Jansen (organ) Los Musicos de Su Alteza/Luis Antonio González rec. 1998, 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

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.1978.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

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; rec.2004; 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

Wilhelm PETERSON-BERGER (1867-1942) The Complete Symphonies and Orchestral Works: Suite I Somras for orchestra (1903), Romance for violin and orchestra (1915) Orientalisk Dans (1890) Prelude Sveagaldrar (1897) ,Earina suite for orchestra (1917) Chorale and Fugue from Domedagsprofeterna (The Doomsday Prophets) (1912-17) Törnrossagan, Orchestral Suite (The Story of the Sleeping Beauty) (1903; 1934) Frösöblomster, Suite No. 1 (The Flowers of Frösö) (1896; 1934) Violin Concerto in F sharp minor (1928) [34:12] Ulf Wallin (violin) Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrücken/Michail Jurowski (CD 1) Norrköping Symphony Orchestra/Michail Jurowski (CDs 2-5) rec. 1997-2003 CPO 777 160-2 [5 CDs: 69:44 + 69:43 + 70:55 + 65:55 + 62:48] [RB]

CPO's resoundingly successful complete Peterson-Berger project ... see Full Review

The Welte-Mignon Mystery -Volume 5 Max REGER (1873-1916) Variations and Fugue on a theme by Telemann Op.134 (1914) [22:38] ¹ Silhouettes No.2 [3:01] No.3 [3:19] Aus meinem Tagebuch Op.72 (1912) Book 1 No.3 [4:15] No.5 [3:59] No.6 [3:35] No.10 [3:14] No.11 [4:40] Five Humoresques Op.20 (1898) No.5 [2:30] Six Intermezzi Op.45 (1900) No.3 [3:36] No.5 [3:21] Max Reger (piano) Frieda Kwast-Hodapp (piano) ¹ Piano rolls recorded 1905 (Reger) and 1920 (Frieda Kwast-Hodapp) TACET 152 [59:21] [JW]

The reproduction and the excellent piano are welcome aspects of a series that has done its utmost to present these rolls in their best musical light. ... see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Violin Concerto No 1 in A minor Op 77 (Op 99) (1947-48) [40:22] Sonata for Violin & Piano Op 134 (1968) [31:30] Ruth Palmer (Violin) Philharmonia Orchestra Benjamin Wallfisch (Conductor) Alexei Grynyuk (piano) Rec. 2006, DVD A People's Music [30:48] A film by Tim Meara QUARTZ QTZ2045 [71:52] CD+DVD [DC]

Very fine, recording and performances both stunning.

Toru TAKEMITSU (1930-1996) Corona (London version) (1962) [22.34]; Far Away (1973) [7.15]; Piano Distance (1961) [4.31]; Undisturbed Rest (1952) [6.53] Roger Woodward (piano) rec. London, 4 May 1973. ADD EXPLORE EXP 0016 [41:26] [AOz]

This is beautiful, atmospheric music, expertly played, that will reward you if you’re prepared to "enter the garden" of its sound-world. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Alexander ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942) Lyrische Symphonie Op. 18 (1922) Matthias Goerne (baritone); Christine Schäfer (soprano) Orchestre National de Paris/Christoph Eschenbach rec. Paris, June 2005. SACD CAPRICCIO 71 081 [51:47] [AO]

The performances and insights are so profound that this recording will stand the test of time. It will be the touchstone for decades to come, like a "lamp held on high, in order to light (our) way" as the text suggests. ... see Full Review

Monty Python’s SPAMALOT Book and Lyrics: Eric Idle Music: John Du Prez and Eric Idle Orchestra conducted by TODD ELLISON Directed by MIKE NICHOLS Rec.2005, DECCA BROADWAY 9880253 [52:14] [DC]

If you love high-kicking up-beat Broadway Musical with added humour then this could be your disc of the year. ... see Full Review

SILVESTRI conducts: Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Cockaigne overture (In London Town), op.40 [15.27] *; Symphony No.1 in A flat major, op.55 [54.53] ** Malcolm ARNOLD (1921-2006) Beckus The Dandipratt – comedy overture, op.5 [7.51] *** Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893): Symphony No.2 in C minor, op.17 [32.40] **** Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Jeux – Poème Dansé [17.11] † Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Four Sea Interludes, op.33a [17.13] †† George ENESCU (1881-1955) Romanian Rhapsody in A major, Op.11, No.1 [11.15] ‡ Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Constantin Silvestri rec. 1965-68. All recordings except the Arnold overture are in mono sound. BBC LEGENDS BBCL 41822 [78.36 + 78.59] [ED]

Silvestri’s reputation as a serious and colourful maestro is well served by these vividly characterised performances: this 2 CD set is most enthusiastically recommended. ... see Full Review

 

Tuesday 26th September

Arnold BAX (1883-1953) Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano in B flat (1946) [20:59] Clarinet Sonata in D (1934) [13:44] Folk-Tale for Cello and Piano (1918) [8:00] Clarinet Sonata in E (1901) [9:00] Romance for Clarinet and Piano (1901) [7:48] Trio in One Movement for Piano, Violin and Clarinet (1906) [17:12] Robert Plane (clarinet) The Gould Trio – Lucy Gould (violin), Alice Neary (cello) Benjamin Frith (piano) rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, 21-23 December 2004 NAXOS 8.557698 [76:51][TH]

All in all, a Bax chamber recital to cherish ... 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

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

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Concerto for oboe and orchestra in C, K314 (1777) [19:27] Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Concerto for oboe and orchestra in D, AV144 (1945, rev.1948) [24:26] Douglas Boyd (oboe) Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Paavo Berglund rec. Henry Wood Hall, London, November 1986 COE RECORDS CDCOE 808 [44:13][GPJ]

44 minutes may seem stingy, but this disc is packed with wonderful music-making, and, for my money, that’s ample compensation! ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Three Serenades CD 1 Serenade No. 10 for 13 instruments in B flat major, K361 'Gran Partita' (1781-84) [51:52] Concert Rondo for French horn and orchestra in E flat, K371 (1781) [04:44] CD 2 Serenade No. 11 for winds in E flat major, K375 (1781) [23:20] Serenade No. 12 for winds in C minor, K388 (c. 1782/83) [23:71] Sinfonia Concertante in E flat for oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon and orchestra, K297b (1778)* [28:24] Douglas Boyd (oboe)* Richard Hosford (clarinet)* Robin O’Neill (bassoon)* Jonathan Williams (French horn)* Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Alexander Schneider rec. no details provided. COE RECORDS CD COS 242 [56:50 + 75:29][MC]

Unless one requires exactly the same programme as provided here by the COE the excellence of the strongest rival versions makes this set difficult to recommend. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Zaide, KV 336b/344 (1779-80) Diana Damrau (soprano) – Zaide; Michael Schade (tenor) – Gomatz; Rudolf Schasching (tenor) – Soliman; Florian Boesch (baritone) – Allazim; Anton Scharinger (bass) – Osmin; Tobias Moretti (narrator) Concentus Musicus Wien/Nicolaus Harnoncourt rec. live 9–13 March 2006, Grosser Saal Musikverein, Vienna, Austria DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 82876 84996 2 [55:07 + 51:56][GF]

Splendid playing on period instruments, lively, un-eccentric readings and five highly accomplished singers. The music itself is certainly worth a place on anyone’s shelves. ... see Full Review

Joseph-Guy ROPARTZ (1864-1955) String Quartet No. 3 (1925) [27:03] String Quartet No. 2 (1911-12) [31:14] Quatuor Stanislas rec. Opera House, Nancy, 6-9 July 2004. TIMPANI 1C1099 [58:17][JW]

Songful lyricism, ethereal … and genuinely mysterious … with an insouciant Monsieur Hulot swing of the rhythm ... see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony No 8 in C minor, op. 65 (1943) [58:46] Festive Overture, op. 96 (1954) [5:56] Russian Festival Orchestra/Vakhtang Jordania rec. January 2003, Bolshoi Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Moscow, Russia (Sym. 8).  September 1999, Radio Palace Hall, Moscow, Russia (Festive Overture). ANGELOK1 CD-9932 [64:02][BB]

If this is to be the beginning of a cycle, it’s not off to a very promising start.  We need better interpretations of this music for the twenty-first century. ... see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Violin Concerto No.1 in A Minor, op.99 (1948) [37:03] Violin Sonata, op.134 (1969) [30:19] Leila Josefowicz (violin) City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sakari Oramo John Novacek (piano) rec. 11, 13 January 2006, Symphony Hall, Birmingham (Concerto); 25-26 March 2006, The American Academy of Arts and Letters (Sonata) WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62997-2 [67:22][SA]

This is a fine coupling and no-one should hesitate in buying it. If both concertos are required then, for me at least, Daniel Hope’s disc is the obvious choice. ... see Full Review

Dolci miei sospiri - Arie antiche Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Dolci miei sospiri (1607) [03:31] Damigella tutta bella (1607) [01:44] Girolamo FRESCOBALDI (1583-1643) Entro nave dorata (1630) [02:36] O mio cor (1630) [07:04] Claudio MONTEVERDI Quando l'alba in oriente (1607) [03:24] Confitebor tibi Domine (1640/41) [06:26] John DOWLAND (1563-1626) In darkness let me dwell (1610) [04:21] Come again, sweet love (1597) [02:39] If my complaints (1597) [03:25] Go crystal tears (1597) [04:06] Sigismondo D'INDIA (1582?-1629?) Apertamente dice la gente (1609) [01:38] Piangono al pianger mio (1609) [04:17] Donna l' vorrei dir molto (1609) [01:41] Giulio CACCINI (1545?-1618) Dite o del foco mio (1614) [02:56] Amarilli mia bella (1602) [03:05] Robert JONES (1597-1615) Ite caldi sospiri (1609) [02:42] George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Mi palpita il cor, cantata (HWV 132) [09:00] Giacomo CARISSIMI (1605-1674) Apritevi inferni, cantata [07:46] William Matteuzzi (tenor); Hubert Hoffmann (archlute) Münchner Barocksolisten (on period instruments)/Hans Ludwig Hirsch rec. October 1991, Alte Evangelische Kirche, Diessen am Ammersee, Germany. DDD ARTS 47711-2 [72:29] [JV]

When this programme was recorded, it was already out of step with the interpretation of early music at the time… see Full Review

 

Monday 25th September

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Symphonic Poems: Zlatý kolovrat (The Golden Spinning Wheel) (1896), Op. 109/B197^a; Polednice (The Noon Witch) (1896), Op. 108/B196^b; Vodník (The Water Goblin) (1896), Op. 107/B195^c. Holoubek (The Wild Dove) (1896), Op. 110/B198^d. 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

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

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Sinfonia Concertante for winds in E flat, K.297b [28:21] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Concerto for violin, oboe and strings in C minor, after BWV 1060 [15:45] Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concerto in C ‘San Lorenzo’ [12:14] Douglas Boyd (oboe); Richard Hosford (clarinet); Robine O’Neill (bassoon); Jonathan Williams (horn) (Mozart); Marieke Blankestijn (violin); Douglas Boyd (oboe) (Bach); Marieke Blankestijn, Iris Juda (violins); William Conway (cello) (Vivaldi) Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Alexander Schneider rec. no date or venue information given CD COE 803 [56:56][GPJ]

On balance, the many virtues of this CD overwhelm its niggling imperfections.  Some would say the disc was worth having for the Adagio of the Sinfonia Concertante alone – and I’m inclined to concur. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Serenades: No. 11 in E flat, K375 (1781) [22:23]; No. 12 in C minor, K388/K384a (1782/3) [23:10] Wind Soloists of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Alexander Schneider. rec. no date or location given DDD COE RECORDS CD COE 802 [46:51][CC]

This is a budget/mid-price release but even so I would have expected more playing time than only just over ¾-of-an-hour. If the finale of K375 leaves a half-smile on the face, it is not really enough to justify the outlay. ... see Full Review

Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor Op.18 (1901) [34:18] Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Op. 43 (1935) [24:09] Elena Caldine (piano) Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/ Dmitry Yablonsky rec. Moscow Radio Studio 5, January 2006. DDD BEL AIR BAM2040 [58:19][OEW]

A sometimes illuminating coupling that is unfortunately lacking in temperament and rock-solid technical command. ... see Full Review

Dmitry SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Quintet for Piano and Strings in G minor, Op. 57 (1940) [31:14] Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Quintet for Piano and Strings in D minor, Op. 89 (1906) [30:41] James Dick (piano) Eusia Quartet: Kazuhiro Takagi and Janne Tateno (violins); Yukiko Ogura (viola); Adrien Zitoun (cello) rec. 11-12 March 2005 (Shostakovich); 6-7 April 2006 (Fauré); Festival Concert Hall, Festival Hill, Round Top, Texas. ROUND TOP RTR 013 [61:55][KS]

A recording worthy of pride of place in any collection ... see Full Review

The Berlin Philharmonic Story A Film by Günther Attein Produced by Paul Smaczny and Masaki Tazaki Picture Format NTSC; 16:9 anamorphic; Sound Formats PCM Stereo; Languages English and German; Region Code 0 (worldwide); Disc Format DVD5 EUROARTS DVD 2051808 [60:00][JW]

A building site of a documentary…a kind of crypto-political Travelogue with a bit of music chucked in ... see Full Review

Paralpin - Röseligarte Patricia DRAEGER Aufzug [4:04] Nimbus [5:48] Trad. Arr. DRAEGER Ich habe meis Müetli fast alles verloren [6:14] * Härz mis Härz Du bruchsch nid z’truure [7:27] Gueti Nacht mis Liebeli [5:49] * De Haslibacher [6:03] * Ich gieng emale bei der Nacht [6:41] * Mis Lieb isch gar wilt inne [4:48] * Patricia DRAEGER Joliduli [5:36] Trad. Arr. DRAEGER Schönster Abestärn [6:24] * K. SIMBIREV Egosuissemousse  [4:17] * from Der Röseligarten, edited Otto von Greyerz (1850) Paralpin: Patricia Draeger (accordion, flute, vocal); Sergej Simbirev (accordeon, schweizerörgeli, vocal); Daniel Häusler (clarinet, bass-clarinet, vocal); Marc Draeger (vibraphone, marimbaphone, percussion, vocal); Christoph Mächler (double bass, electric bass, jew’s harp, vocal); Marc Halbheer (percussion, vocal) rec. Altdorf, Switzerland, 17 August 2003 MUSIQUES SUISSES MGB CD 6225 [63:13][GPu]

Distinctive music, based on folk traditions but finding room for much else in a heady mixture that makes for delightful listening … see Full Review

Romantic Russia Mikhail GLINKA (1804-1857) Ruslan and Ludmilla - Overture (1842) [4:58] Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) arr. orch. Nicolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Khovanschina - Prelude (1872) [4:59] Night on the Bare Mountain (1866) [11:08] Alexander BORODIN (1833-1887) arr. orch. Nicolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908); and Alexander GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) (overture) Prince Igor - Overture (1875) [10:46] Prince Igor - Polovtsian Dances (1875) [13:42] London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Georg Solti rec. Kingsway Hall, January, February 1966. ADD DECCA 476 5310 [46:02][TP]

Legendary performances ... but seek out their Decca Legends incarnation if you can. ... see Full Review

Lionel Tertis – The Complete Vocalion Recordings (1919-1924) Alfredo D’AMBROSIO (1897-1983) Petit Suite No. 2 [2:27] Aubade Rêverie – Morceaux Op.17  [3.24] William WOLSTENHOLME (1865-1931) The Answer [3:25]; Allegretto [3:05]; The Question [3:33] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Air on G String – Suite No.3 in D BWV 1068 [3:21]  Fritz KREISLER (1875-1962) La Chasse in the style of Cartier [1:52]; La précieuse in the style of Couperin [3:09]; Tambourin chinois [3:24]; Chanson Louis XIII and Pavane in the style of Couperin [3:09]; Praeludium and Allegro in the style of Pugnani [3:51]; Rondino on a theme by Beethoven [2:58] John MCEWEN (1868-1948) Breath o’ June [3.57] Benjamin DALE (1885-1943) Suite in D Op.2 – Romance (1906) [4:34]  TRADITIONAL Londonderry Air arranged Lionel Tertis [2:50]; Molly on the Shore arranged Percy Grainger [3:11] Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Après un rêve  - Chansons Op.7 (1878) [2:51]  Anton RUBINSTEIN (1829-1884) Melody in F – Melodies Op.3 (1852) [3.16]  Benjamin GODARD (1849-1895) Berceuse de Jocelyn (1888) [4:35]; Duettini Op. 18/1 “Souvenir de Champagne” [2:55]; Duettini Op. 18/5 “Minuit” [2:16] Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Abendlied [2:53]  Thomas DUNHILL (1877-1946) Phantasy Trio (1912) [5:51]  Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Trio in E-flat, K. 498 (1786) [12:34]; Trio in E, K. 542 (1788) [11:36]; Trio in G K564 (1788) [12:09]  Tod BOYD (d.1946) Samoan Lullaby [2.34] Marin MARAIS (1656-1728) Le basque – Livre IV for viola da gamba and continuo (1717) [1:04] Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Berceuse [3:00] Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Chanson triste – Morceaux Op.40 No.2 (1878) [2:42]; Romance sans paroles [2:38]; None But the Lonely Heart – Songs Op.6 (1869) [2:30] Francis THOMÉ (1850-1909) Sous la feuillée Op.29 [2:45] Georg Frideric HANDEL (1686-1759) Passacaglia from Keyboard Suite No 7 arranged by Johann Halvorsen [3:45]; Sonata No.8 – Sonatas Op.1 No.8 (c.1731) [7:04]  Robert FUCHS (1847-1927) Duet for Violin and Viola Op.60 (1898) [3:59] Benjamin LEROUX Le Nil [3:44] Henri DUPARC (1848-1933) Extase [2:46] Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Trio in B flat D898 (1828) [15:51] Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Spring Song - Songs without Words Op.62 No.6 (1842) [2:36] REBIKOV Les rêves Op.7 (1878) [2:56] Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Élégie Op.24 [4:08] Pyotr Ilych TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Barcarolle – The Seasons Op.37a (1875-76) [3:37] KALNINS Élégie [3:34] Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Ave Maria – Seven Songs No.6 D839 [3:44] Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) I Love Thee [3.04] Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) On Wings of Song – Songs Op.34 No.2 (1834) [3:05] Antonin DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Bagatelles Op.47 (1880): 1 Allegretto scherzando [3:57]; 2:  Tempo di minuetto [3:39]; 3:  Allegretto scherzando [3:36]; 5:  Poco Allegro [3:59] Lionel TERTIS (1876-1975) Rêverie [4:03]; Sunset [2:50] Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Liebestraum No.3 in A flat [3:58] Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Slumber Song [3.26] Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Sweet Remembrance - Songs without Words No.19 No.1 [2:08]; The Fleecy Cloud Songs without Words No.20 The Fleecy Cloud (1838) [2:52] Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Sonata in C minor Op.45 [22:17] Georges BIZET (1838-1875) Adagietto –L’Arlésienne Suite No.1 [3:16] John IRELAND (1879-1962) The Holy Boy [3:29] Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Viola Sonata No.1 in F Op.120 (1894) [20:11] Lionel Tertis (viola) Albert Sammons (violin); Ethel Hobday (piano); Frank St. Leger (piano); F.B.Kiddle (piano); Zoia Rosovsky (soprano) rec. London, 1919-24 BIDDULPH 80219-2 [4 CDs: 74:00 + 72:27 + 63:53 + 71:16][JW]

A cornerstone collection of Tertis’s entire acoustic recordings…the transfers lack ambience and timbral variety but the performances are heroic and pioneering ... see Full Review

 

Click for MUSICWEB RECORDINGS OF THE YEAR

---

RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

BARGAINS OF THE MONTH

These are now on a separate page

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]