Great Composers - MAHLER
Chapter 1: Early Life: Piano Quartet (Jupiter Quartet);
Das klagende Lied Chapter 2: Early Symphonies: Symphony
No.1 - 1st and 3rd movements; Des Knaben Wunderhorn - Wer hat dies
Liedlein erdacht?; Symphony No.2; Symphony No.3 - 1st movement Chapter
3: Vienna: Symphony No.1 – Finale; Symphony No.4 - 1st movement;
Symphony No.5 - 2nd movement, Finale, Adagietto Chapter 4: Haunted
by Death: Symphony No.5 - 1st movement; Symphony No.6 - Opening
and Finale; Symphony No.7 - 2nd movement; Kindertotenlieder No.5;
Symphony No.6 – Finale Chapter 5: Das Lied von der Erde:
Das Lied von der Erde - Last movement; Symphony No.9 - 4th movement
Chapter 6: Tenth Symphony: Symphony No.8 - 1st movement; Symphony
No.10 - 1st and 5th movements; Symphony No.9 - 4th movement Chapter
7: Credits Kenneth
Branagh (narrator) BBC Symphony Orchestra/Sir Georg Solti
WARNER MUSIC VISION 50-51011-5453-2-0
[58:00][EM]
An
interesting and well-presented documentary, extremely informative without
ever seeming dry and the ending was fairly moving. ... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor (1901-1902) [73:21] (Trauermarsch [12:35];
Stürmisch bewegt, mit größter Vehemenz [15:04]; Scherzo [19:12]; Adagietto,
sehr langsam [10:49]; Rondo-Finale, allegro [15:25])
San Francisco Symphony/Michael Tilson Thomas rec. Davies Symphony Hall,
San Francisco, 28 September-2 October 2005. DDD
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY 821936-0012-2
[73:21] [DC]
A
truly excellent performance, and a stunning recording, but … ... see
Full Review
John
MAHON (c.1748-1834) Concerto
No.2 in F major [18:22] Duet No.4 in B flat major [17:33] Duet
No.1 in F major [7:15] J.C. BACH (1735-1782) Concerted Symphony in E flat major [16:14] James
HOOK (1746-1827) Clarinet Concerto in E flat major (unpublished)
[19:55]
Colin Lawson (clarinet; basset-horn) Michael Harris (clarinet; basset-horn)
(Tracks 4 and 9) The Parley of Instruments/Peter Holman rec. St. Jude-on-the-Hill,
Hampstead Garden Suburb, 16-18 May 1996. DDD
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55261 [70:06][SH]
This
Helios disc is recommended without reservation, not least because it
throws up so many questions and answers a few as well. ... see Full
Review
Benedetto
MARCELLO (1687-1762) Sonate per
Flauto e Basso, Op. 2 CD 1 Sonata
in d minor, op. 2,8 [12:18] Sonata in G, op. 2,6 (orig. in C) [08:47] Sonata in d minor, op. 2,4 (orig. in
e minor) [11:26] Sonata
in e minor, op. 2,2 (orig. in d minor) [07:59]
Sonata in D, op. 2,1 (orig. in F) [07:42] Sonata in a, op. 2,10 [09:28] CD
2 Sonata in g minor, op. 2,3 [08:05] Sonata in F, op. 2,12 [10:08] Sonata in C, op. 2,9 (orig. in F) [08:08] Sonata in B flat, op. 2,7 [09:01] Sonata in e minor, op. 2,11 (orig. in
d minor) [09:00] Sonata in G, op. 2,5 [07:36]
Accademia Claudio Monteverdi Venezia (Susanne Schaffert, Gianni Lazzari,
recorder, transverse flute; Luigi Rivighi, violin; Claudio Ronco, cello;
Luciano Contini, chitarrone; Emanuela Marcante, harpsichord, organ;
Hans-Ludwig Hirsch, harpsichord)/Hans-Ludwig Hirsch rec. November
1985, Aria Studio, Appiano, Bolzano, Italy. DDD
ARTS 47790-2 [57:57 + 52:13][JV]
Technical
shortcomings and a unsatisfying performance
make it impossible to recommend this set ...
see Full
Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ
(1890-1959) Rhapsody-Concerto
for viola and orchestra H337 (1952) [21:10]
Zdeňek LUKÁŠ
(b. 1928) Viola Concerto [25:56] Carl
STAMITZ (1745-1801) Viola
Concerto in D major op. 1 [22:09]
Jitka Hosprová (viola) Prague Chamber
Orchestra rec. Domovina Studio, Prague, 1-3
Aug 2005. DDD
ARCO DIVA UP 0073-2 131 [69:33]
[RB]
Huskily
attractive caramel tone from Hosprová
… a mix that adds to the Martinů the
Mozaertean Stamitz and the accessibly modern
Lukáš ... see Full
Review
Bohuslav MARTINŮ
(1890-1959)
Complete Piano Music 1 Huit préludes H.181 [17:37] Fenêtre
sur le jardin H.270 [8:03] Fables H.138 [7:12] Trois esquisses
H.160 [5:42] Le Noël H.167 [5:30] Esquisses de Danses
H.220 [10:26] Foxtrot H.126 [2:40]
Giorgio Koukl (piano) rec. RSI Lugano, Switzerland, 19 April, 15 August
2004. DDD NAXOS 8.557914
[57:10] [PCW]
Another
worthy projected series is up-and-running from Naxos – they should
certainly be giving this one high priority. … see Full
Review
Wenzeslaus
MATIEGKA
(1773-1830)
Notturno, op.21 in G major [32:24] Serenade, op.26 in C major [28:44]
Karl Kaiser (flute); Petra
Müllejans (viola); Sonja Prunnbauer (guitar) rec. Nachtmusik, Konzert
im Kloster, Wallfahrtskirche Mariae Krönung, Oberried, 25 September,
2005. DDD cpo 777 190-2
[61:16] [GPu]
A
delightful and unexpected sidelight on the musical life of Vienna
at the beginning of the nineteenth century … see Full
Review
Nikolai MEDTNER
(1880-1951) Forgotten Melodies I Op.38 [39:26]
(No.1 Sonata-Reminiscenza - Allegretto tranquillo [16:04];
No.2 Danza graziosa - Con moto leggiero [2:57];
No.3 Danza festiva - Presto [4:47]; No.4 Canzona
fluviala - Allegretto con moto [2:40]; No.5 Danza
rustica - Allegro commodo [2:01]; No.6 Canzona
serenata - Moderato [4:17]; No.7 Danza silvestra [3:40];
No.8 Alla Reminiscenza - Quasi coda [2:53]) Forgotten
Melodies II Op.39 [26:20] (No.1 Meditazione Introduzione,
quasi Cadenza — Meno mosso — Meditamente [4:44]; No.2 Romanza -
Meditamente [4:19]; No.3 Primavera - Vivace [3:31];
No.4 Canzona matinata - Allegretto cantando, ma sempre
con moto [4:34]; No.5 Sonata tragica - Allegro
risoluto [9:00]) Zwei Märchen Op.8 [9:09]
(Andantino [3:09]; Allegro [5:52])
Marc-André Hamelin (piano) rec. St George’s, Brandon Hill, Bristol,
various dates, 1996, 1997, 1998.
HYPERION CDA67578 [74:57] [SA]
Playing
that is exemplary in its brilliance and control …. the perfect performer
to reveal the depths of this wonderfully reflective and evocative music.
... see Full Review
Giacomo
MEYERBEER (1791-1864) Dinorah (1859)
Luciana Serra (soprano)
- Dinorah; Angelo Romero (baritone) - Hoël; Max Rene Cosotti (baritone)
- Corentin; Francesco D’Artegna (bass) - Huntsman; Giuseppe Botta (singer)
- Un Reaper; Rosanna Didone (mezzo) - Goatherd; Gloria Scalchi (singer)
– Goatherd Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro Verdi di Trieste/Baldo Podic.
rec. Live, Teatro Verdi, Trieste, 8 February 1983. ADD
LIVING STAGE LS 1127 [79:10 + 79:38][CC]
Worth hearing if you are curious as to what goes on in ‘the rest’ of
this opera outside the Shadow Song ... see Full
Review
Wilhelm
MIDDELSCHULTE (1863-1943) Kanonische Fantasie
über BACH und Fuge über vier Themen von Bach [25:30] Konzert über ein
Thema von Bach [31:12] J.S. BACH (1685-1750)
Toccata and Fuge in d minor (mit Klavierpart von Middelschulte)
[8:37] Jurgen Sonnentheil
(organ) Philip Mayers (piano) rec. St Petrikirche, Cuxhaven, November
2003. DDD CPO 7771442
[65:19][GB]
Difficult to be enthusiastic about …. many ideas …. fragmentary structure
... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Darius MILHAUD (1892-1974) La
création du monde - ballet, Op. 81 (1923) [16:47] Saudades
do Brasil, Op. 67: no 7, Corcovado; no 9, Sumaré;
no 8, Tijuca; no 11, Larenjeiras (1920-1921) [7:25] Le
boeuf sur le toit - ballet, Op. 58 (1919) [19:35] Saudades
do Brasil, Op. 67 (1920-1921) [19:35] (complete: Overture; no.
1,– Sorocabo; ; no. 2, Botafogo; no. 3, Leme;
no. 4, Copacabana; no. 5, Ipanema; no. 6, Gavea;
no. 7, Corcovado; no. 8, Tijuca; no. 9, Sumaré;
no. 10, Paineras; no. 11, Larenjeiras; no. 12 Paysandu) ORTF
National Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein Concert Arts Orchestra/composer
(Saudades complete) rec. 12-13 November 1976, Salle Wagram, Paris
(Bernstein); 10-12 Sept 1956, Studio A, Capitol Tower, Hollywood.
ADD EMI CLASSICS
GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 3458082 [67:01] [MC]
This
release is sheer delight from start to finish and I cannot help
thinking that it would make the perfect introduction to Milhaud’s
music. ... see Full Review
Léon
(Ludwig) MINKUS (1826-1917) La Bayadère
- ballet in three acts (1877)
Altynai Asylmuratoya - Nikiya, The Bayadère; Irek Mukhamedov
– Solor, Bravest warrior in the land; Darcey Bussell – Gamzatti, Daughter
of the Rajah; Tetsuya Kumakawa – The Bronze Idol; Anthony Dowell – The
High Brahmin; David Drew – Dugmanta, Rajah of Golkonda Artists of the
Royal Ballet Royal Opera House Orchestra/John Lanchbery Directed for
Stage by Natalia Makarova Set Design: Pier Luigi Samaritani Lighting
Design: John B. Read Costume Design: Yolanda Sonnabend rec. live, Royal
Opera House, Covent Garden, London, March 1991 Directed for TV by Derek
Bailey Picture ratio 4:3, Sound DD5.1, DTS5.1, LPCM Stereo, Region 0
TDK DVD DVBLLBM
[123:00][RJW]
This
prestigious realisation of a classical ballet with sumptuous settings
and attractive costumes puts many a modern production to shame. ...
see Full Review
Nikolai MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950)
Serenade for Chamber Orchestra in E Flat Op.32 No.1 (1927-31) [15:18]
Sinfonietta for String Orchestra In B Minor Op.32 No.2 (1927-31) [24:47]
Lyric Concertino for flute, clarinet, horn, bassoon, harp and string
orchestra Op.32 No.3 (1927-31) [18:42] Salutatory Overture in
C Major Op.48 (1939) [9:26]
Marina Stepanova (flute); Boris Sokol (clarinet); Kirill Arsenov (horn);
Alexander Kozhevnikov (bassoon); Liudmila Yanchishina (harp) (Op. 32
No. 3) Moscow New Opera Orchestra/Yevgeny Samoilov rec. July 1993, Studio
5, Moscow Radio. DDD originally issued as Olympia OCD528
REGIS RRC1244 [68:58] [RB]
Myaskovsky
is a soulfully entertaining and wildly inventive creator of music
and here is the evidence ... see Full
Review
Dimitri
NICOLAU (b.
1946) Dances and Melodies op.
125 [26:35] Zwei Goethe-Lieder op. 138 [10:44] Three
Dances op. 190 [10:34] Summer Dance [3:47] In
Memoriam à Siegfried Behrend op. 102 [8:13] Gertraud
Erhard (sop) Armin Korn, Christian Wernicke, Andreas Schumacher
(guitars) Das Badische Zupforchester/Arnold Sesterheim rec.
SW Studio, Karlsruhe. DDD ANTES
EDITION BM 31.9209 [61:22]
[RB]
To
Western ears this music will seem abstruse and exotic. It is recommended
for just these reasons. ... see Full
Review
Niccolò PAGANINI (1782-1840)
Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op.6 (c. 1817-1818) [37:56] Louis
SPOHR (1784–1859) Violin Concerto No. 8 in A minor, Op.47
‘In Form einer Gesangsszene’ (‘In the form of a vocal scena’)
(1816) [19:52] Hilary
Hahn (violin) Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Eiji Oue rec. October
2005 (Paganini), February 2006 (Spohr), Berwaldhallen, Stockholm, Sweden.
DDD DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON
477 6232 [57:48][MC]
These
fine performances from Hahn are not my first choices in these two fascinating
concertos. However, the release is rewarding and makes an attractive
proposition for any lover of Romantic violin concertos. ... see Full
Review
Giovanni
Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (1523–1594) Missa
Tu es Petrus [24.06] Tu
es Petrus [5.53] Ave Maria [3.13] Quam pulchri
sunt [3.48] Tölzer
Knabenchor/Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden rec. 1974, Pfarrkirche Lenggries
(Germany) DEUTSCHE
HARMONIA MUNDI 82876 69994 2 [36.54] [RH]
Unusual
though the repertoire is the disc is not one that I will be returning
to. ... see Full
Review
Harry
PARTCH (1901-1974) Enclosure 7
Film: The Dreamer that Remains: A Portrait of Harry Partch
(1972, rev. 2005) [28:08]
Stephen Pouliot (director); Betty Freeman (producer); John Monsour,
William Crain (cameramen); Danlee Mitchell (musical director); Mark
Hoffman (sound recordist); James Aitkenhead (assistant to Partch); Jack
Logan (conductor); Harry Partch, Mark Hoffman, Danlee Mitchell, Katherine
Bjornson, Alexis Glatly, Michael Crosier, Ron Caruso, David Dunn, Dennis
Dunn, Jonathan Glasier, Jean-Charles Francois, Randy Hoffman, Emil Richards,
Jon Szanto, Duane Thomas, Francis Thumm (musicians). Edited for Innova
by Philip Blackburn and Chris Campbell. Film: Delusion of the Fury:
A Ritual of Dream and Delusion (1969) [72:07] Bill Symons jr., Gary
Coleman, Linda Schell, Emil Richards, Todd Miller, Ruth Ritchie, Frank
Berberich, Mark Stevens, Michael Aaron, Robert Rose, Lynn Tausig, Dean
Drummond, Stephen Tosh, Robert McCormick, Carol Brown, Nathan Widato,
Joe Roccisano, Robert Randles, Latif Allen, John McAllister, John Grayson,
John Stannard (performers); John Stannard (tenor voice); Victoria Bond
(soprano); Paul Bergen (bass); John Blount (Pilgrim/The Slayer, Deaf
Hobo); Susan Marshall (Son of the Slain, Old Woman with Lamb); Glendon
Hornbrook (Ghost/The Slain, Deaf and Near-sighted Justice); Danlee Mitchell
(musical director); John Crawford (director); Virginia Storie Crawford
(choreographer); Madeline Tourtelot (film producer and director); Jack
Robinette, John Morrill, Jack Lord, Madeline Tourtelot (cameramen);
Madeline Tourtelot, Les Blank (editors); Ted Tourtelot (stills photographer);
Takashi Yamada, Harry Partch, Linda Schell (assistants); Cecil Charles
Spiller (sound recording). Digital transfer from 16 mm. Film courtesy
of Danlee Mitchell and Jon Szanto. Soundtrack remastered in 5.1 surround
sound by Preston Wright, re-synched by Chris Campbell. Extras: Bonus
Album Slideshow: The Instruments of Harry Partch (1969) [43:57]
Harry Partch (voice); Danlee Mitchell, Linda Schell (musicians). Recorded
1969 by Danlee Mitchell; digital transfer by Jon Szanto. Slideshow by
Philip Blackburn. “Dreamer” – Director Stephen Pouliot’s commentary (2006)
[18:02 – 28:08 (see text)] “Dreamer” out-take – Making Rose
Petal Jam (1972) [2:00] Harry Partch (“chef”) Chris Campbell (video
restoration) Film: Revelation in the Courthouse Park – excerpts
(1960) [6:51] John Garvey (conductor); Barnard Hewitt (producer); George
Talbot (designer and technical supervisor); Jeffrey Foote (Sonny, Pentheus);
Freda Pierce (Mom, Agave);John Bert (Dion, Dionysius), Joel Klein (Herdsman);
Coryl Crandall (Cadmus); Elizabeth Hiller (Korypheus) Filmed by Madeline
Tourtelot, 9 April 1961, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Video
transfer courtesy of Harry Partch Estate Archive. DVD (5:4 aspect ratio)
NTSC, all regions INNOVA
407
[171:05][PSe]
The
final instalment of Innova’s “Enclosures” series is a beautifully-produced
DVD and a splendid introduction to Harry Partch, the “Maverick di
tutti Mavericks”, and his extraordinary music. Not for the faint-hearted!
... see Full Review
Ildebrando
PIZZETTI (1880–1968) La
Pisanella – Suite (1913) [14:01] Concerto de l’estate (1928)
[28:56] Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879–1936) Trittico
Botticelliano (1927) [19:20] Nino
ROTA (1911–1979) Concerto per archi (1965)
[15:24] Orchestre
de la Suisse Romande/Lamberto Gardelli (Pizzetti) Argo Chamber
Orchestra/Laszlo Heltay (Respighi) I Musici (Rota) rec. Victoria
Hall, Geneva, May 1966 (Pizzetti); Kingsway Hall, London, April
1978 (Respighi); Switzerland, July 1985 (Rota) DECCA
ELOQUENCE 476 9766 [77:58] [HC]
These
readings deserved to be re-issued … well worth having especially
for the Respighi and the Rota. ... see Full
Review
Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major,
Op. 19 (1916-1917) [20:43] Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63
(1935) [27:34] Violin Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 94 bis (arr. David
Oistrakh) [23:26] David
Oistrakh (violin) London Symphony Orchestra/Lovro von Matacic London
Philharmonic Orchestra/Alceo Galliera (2) Vladimir Yampolsky (piano)
Rec. London, England, November 1954, mono (1); 14-19 May 1958, stereo
(2); Colonaille Hall, Brussels, Belgium 22-25 May 1955. ADD
EMI CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 5628882 [72:53]
[RB]
Fine
revivals from the EMI stable. Precisely etched and joyously breathtaking.
A pleasure to welcome them back. ... see Full
Review
Valentin
RATHGEBER (1682-1750)
Augsburgisches Tafel-Confect Concerto for 2 trumpets,
2 violins and bc in D [05:06] Rätzel [03:02] Quodlibeticum:
Fratres exultate [04:47] Quodlibeticum: Der herrische Riepel
[04:48] Quodlibeticum: Von einem Politico [02:50] Quodlibeticum:
Die Bettelzech [07:48] Concerto for 2 trumpets, 2 violins and
bc in C [04:49] Quodlibeticum: Vom Rauch- und Schnupf-Taback
[06:56] Von allerhand Nasen [03:30] Quodlibeticum: Reim
dich oder ich friß dich [02:20] Von Erschaffung Adam und Eva
[09:09] Von der edlen Music [02:45] Johann
Caspar SEYFERT (1697-1767) Die Beschwerlichkeiten des
Ehestandes [03:20] Quodlibeticum: Summirum Summarum [02:49]
Amor vincit omnia [02:53] Quodlibeticum: Der Liebhaber des
Gelds, des Weins, des Frauenzimmer [07:58] Die gute und böse
Ehe [02:40] Canto Tanto
(Monika Frimmer, soprano; Christa Bonhoff, contralto; Dantes Diwiak,
tenor; Peter Kooy, bass) Das Neu-Eröffnete Orchestre/Jürgen Sonnentheil
rec. May 2003, St. Jacobus-Kirche, Weissenstadt, Germany. DDD
cpo 999 995-2 [77:42] [JV]
These
songs and dialogues by Rathgeber are a pleasure to listen to … their
humour is eloquently communicated … see Full
Review
Alan
RAWSTHORNE (1905-1971) Theme
and Variations for Two Violins (1937) [15:29] String Quartet
No. 1 (1939) [10:01] String Quartet No. 2 (1954) [17:37] String
Quartet No. 3 (1965) [17:02] Maggini
Quartet (Laurence Jackson (violin I); David Angel (violin II);
Martin Outram (viola); Michal Kznawski (cello)) rec. Potton
Hall, Suffolk, 13-15 December 2005. DDD NAXOS
8.570136 [60:09]
[PC]
Rawsthorne
fans will definitely want this disc and those
of you interested in 20th century
modernism in music might want to try this
as well ... see Full
Review
Ottorino
RESPIGHI
(1879-1936) Violin
Sonata P110 (1917) [26:18] Leoš
JANÁČEK (1854-1928) Violin
Sonata (1921) [18:04] Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Violin Sonata
Op.18 (1888) [26:39]
Frank Almond (violin) William Wolfram (piano)
rec. Milwaukee Arts Centre, WI, July 2005.
AVIE AV 2113 [71:33] [JW]
A
rather airless and clinical acoustic. The
ear gets progressively more tired. ... see
Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Luigi ROSSI (1607-1653) Le
Canterine Romane - Roman cantatas for two and three sopranos: Disperate
speranze à 3 [05:04] Piango, prego e sospiro a 3 [04:44] Infelice
pensier à 2 [11:13] Passacaille del seigneur Luigi [02:43] Corrente [01:05] Occhi
belli à 2 [02:54] Sarabanda [01:09] Balletto [00:42] Noi
siam tre donzellette semplicette à 3 [28:48] Ai sospiri,
al dolore à 2 [03:13] Arie di passacaglia [03:31] Speranza
al tuo pallore à 2 [03:20] Poi che mancò la speranza [05:42] Fan
battaglia à 3 [02:56] Tragicomedia
(Barbara Borden, Suzie LeBlanc, Emily Van Evera (soprano); Päivi
Järviö, (mezzo); Eric Headley (viola da gamba, lirone); Stephen
Stubbs (chitarrone, guitar); Andrew Lawrence-King (arpa doppia,
harpsichord, organ))/Stephen Stubbs rec. September 1992, Sender
Freies Berlin, Germany. DDD WARNER
APEX 2564 61782-2 [77:40] [JV]
One
of the best recordings of Italian 17th-century music ever made
- both music and performance are brilliant ... 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]