Ana Maria Martinez:
Soprano songs and arias Leo
DELIBES (1836-1891) Les filles
de Cadix [3:19] Charles
GOUNOD (1818-1893) Romeo et Juliette,
Act I: Je veux vivre [3:36] Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Gianni Schicchi:
O mio babbino caro [2:39] Franz
LEHÁR (1870-1948) Die lustige
Witwe, Act II: Vilja-Lied [6:24] Pablo
LUNA (1879-1942) El nino judio:
De Espana vengo [6:02] Francis
LOPEZ (1916-1995) Violettes imperiales
[3:06] Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858-1924) La rondine, Act I: Chi il
bel sogno di Doretta [3:34] Joseph
CANTELOUBE (1879-1937) Chants d'Auvergne,
Series I: II. Baïlero [7:14] Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Madama Butterfly,
Act II: Un bel di vedremo [5:24] Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Bachianas
brasileiras No. 5 for Soprano and 8 cellos:
Aria (Cantilena) [7:27]; Danca (Martelo) [4:43] 
Ana Maria Martinez (soprano) Prague Philharmonia/Steven
Mercurio (conductor) rec. Dvořák Hall,
Rudolfinum, Prague, August 2000. DDD
NAXOS 8.557827 [53:26] [ED]
Every
diva dreams of leaving her audience wanting more. After this disc I
certainly do, and Naxos should provide it with some urgency. ... see
Full Review
Marcelle
Meyer (piano) Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Barcarolle Op.60 [7.34] Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Images Book I [4.45 + 6.26 + 3.06] Images
Book II [4.00 + 5.37 + 3.34] Manuel de FALLA
(1876-1946) Nights in the Gardens of Spain [22.32]
Marcelle Meyer (piano) Orchestra of RAI, Rome/Mario Rossi Recorded 1957-58
TAHRA 564 [57.53][JW]
Meyer
was one of the most fascinating of French pianists, a school of pianism
hardly lacking in charisma or talent. Treasurable ... see Full
Review
Music
for Brass and Percussion: 1 Aaron
COPLAND (1900-1990) Fanfare for the Common
Man (1942)
[3:16] Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Russian Funeral (1936) [6:39] Philip
GLASS (b. 1937) Brass Sextet (1962/1964)
[app. 8:00] Edmund RUBBRA (1901-1986) Canzona for St. Cecilia’s
Day op. 158 [2:07] Giralomo
FRESCOBALDI (1583-1643) Canzona from Fiori Musicali (1635) [1:48]
Robert SIMPSON (1921-1997) Canzone for Brass (1958)
[5:08] Giovanni GABRIELI (c. 1557-1612) Canzon XXVIII (1608) [1:24] Arthur
BLISS (1891-1975) Fanfare for a Coming of
Age (1973) [1:36] Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Funeral March for Richard Nordraak (1866;
arr. brass 1878) [6:28] Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981) Mutations from Bach
(1967) [5:12] Felicien-Cesar
DAVID (1810-1876) Nonetto in C minor (1839) [app. 20:00]
Kensington Symphonic Brass/Russell Keable Recorded 6 May 1994; re-mastered
28 December 2005. DDD
DUNELM RECORDS DRD0253 [60:23]WK]
This
disc offers several unusual pieces as well as standards, but the overall
performance level is uneven. It is worth buying if you want the Rubbra
or the David … see Full Review
Musica
Veglia in Engiadina
(Samedan-ms,
1563) Recedrar salamonis [01:12] Swartz
knab [01:08] Stil wasser sind gern tieff -
Proportz sequitur [01:41] Dun vin cela
[02:27] Bentzinouwer dantz [01:05]
Languir aliter [01:18] Chorea meitlin
khom mit mir uber ryn [01:12] Uss diefer noth
[01:46] Appenzeller tantz, ich staigg uff einem
fygen baum [00:51] Salterello: de mogio chireenzian
[01:13] Preambulum exquisitissimum [03:11]
Der bättler tantz [01:20] Kochelsper
tantz [00:54] Die schlacht von Pavey [03:17]
(Wiezel-ms, 1616) Intrada [01:33] Ballet
[01:23] La Robinette [01:36]
Venus hat mir gar fest gebildet - Nachtantz [01:03]
Junkfrauw wolt ihr nicht mit mir ein tänzlin thun - Nachtantz
[02:02] Las chioschas schrdämadas - Dunna
Wiolanta - Ich hab mein sähl Gott heim gestellt [01:40]
(Salis-ms, 1681) Ach Schäzlein [00:54]
[without title] [01:34] Menuet [00:57]
Chancon [00:55] Hans Spihlman [01:05]
Bergamasco [00:55] [without title] [01:07]
Gavotte [00:32] Last unss unsser tag geniessen
[01:34] (Planta-ms, 1804) Minuè [02:20]
Contraddanza [00:54] Minuè
[01:43] [without title] [00:55]
Contraddanza [01:57]
Maja Hünninger-Peter, recorder, transverse flute; Robert Grossmann,
lute, theorbo, guitar rec. January 1988, Radio Studio Zurich, Switzerland
ADD
MIGROS-GENOSSENSCHAFTS-BUND MGB CD 6220 [50:03] [JVV]
I
feel that this music is more of a curiosity than something which deserves
to be recorded and listened to over and over again..…
see Full Review
Neujahrskonzert
2006 CD
1: Part I Johann STRAUSS II (1825-1899)
Auf's Korn! Bundesschützenmarsch op. 478 [2.33] *; Frühlingsstimmen
Walzer op. 410 [6.24]; Diplomaten Polka française op. 448 [4.11] Josef
STRAUSS (1827-1870) Eingesendet Polka schnell op. 240 [1.59]
Johann STRAUSS II Lob der Frauen
Polka mazurka op. 315 [4.24]; Künstler-Leben Walzer op. 316 [8.43] Josef
STRAUSS Ohne Sorgen! Polka schnell op. 271 [1.54] Part
II Johann STRAUSS II Der Zigeunerbaron,
Einzugsmarsch [3.10] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Die Hochzeit des Figaro, Overture [4.26] * Joseph
LANNER (1801-1843) Die Mozartisten Walzer op. 196 [9.38]
* CD 2: Johann STRAUSS II Liebesbotschaft
Galopp o. op. [2.43] *; Neue Pizzicato-Polka op. 449 [3.41]; Künstler-Quadrille
op. 201 [5.26] *; Spanischer Marsch op. 433 [5.05]; Du und Du Walzer
(after themes from Die Fledermaus) op. 367 [7.22]; Im Krapfenwald'l
Polka française op. 336 [4.13]; Furioso-Polka Polka quasi Galopp op.
260 [2.23] Eduard STRAUSS (1835-1916)
/ Arr.: Michael ROT Telephon Polka
française op. 165 [3.48] * Johann STRAUSS
II Lagunen-Walzer op. 411 [8.15]; Éljen á Magyar! Polka schnell
op. 332 [2.43] Encores: Johann STRAUSS II
Banditen-Galopp op. 378 [2.33] Mariss Jansons' New Year's
Address [1.30] Johann STRAUSS II An
der schönen blauen Donau, Walzer op. 314 [9.25] Johann
STRAUSS I (1804-1849) Radetzky-Marsch op. 228 [3.49]
Wiener Philharmoniker/Mariss Jansons * = first performance in a New
Year concert rec. live, Musikverein, Grosser Saal, Wien. 1 January 2006.
DDD. DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON
00289 477 5566 [47.24 + 62.59][ED]
An
uplifting tonic on cold winter nights ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Birgit Nilsson
- Swedish Radio Concerts Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858 – 1924) Tosca: Vissi d’arte; Turandot:
In questa reggia; Carl Maria von WEBER (1786 – 1826) Oberon:
Ozean, du Ungeheuer; Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770 – 1827) Fidelio: Abscheulicher, wo eilst du
hin; Giuseppe VERDI (1813 – 1901) Aida: O patria
mia; La forza del destino: Pace, pace, mio Dio; Richard
WAGNER (1813 – 1883) Tannhäuser: Dich, teure Halle,
grüss’ ich wieder; Rolf LIEBERMANN
(1910 – 1999) Penelope: Penelope’s aria; Franz
BERWALD (1796 – 1868) Estrella de Soria: Estrella’s
aria Birgit Nilsson (soprano),
Swedish Radio Orchestra/Nils Grevillius (1, 4, 6), Stockholm Philharmonic
Orchestra/Nils Grevillius (2, 3, 5, 7), Royal Orchestra, Stockholm/Sixten
Ehrling (8), Stockholm Radio Orchestra/Sten Frykberg (9) rec. Circus,
Stockholm, January 15, 1961 (1, 4, 6), Concert Hall, Stockholm, August
18-19, 1961 (2, 3, 5), March 5, 1959 (7), Royal Academy of Music, Stockholm,
April 18, 1955 (8), April 13, 1947 (9)
BLUEBELL ABCD 055 [65:28][GF]
There
are not many discs around with soprano singing that challenges this
and none that surpasses it! ... see Full
Review
Great
Cellists: Piatigorsky Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Cello
Concerto in A minor, op.129 [24:37] (1) 18 May 1934, EMI Abbey Road
Studio no.1, London Anton RUBINSTEIN (1829-1892)
arr. Popper Melody in F [2:51] (2)
Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908)
Song of India (from Sadko) [03:11] (2) César
CUI (1835-1918) Orientale, op.50/9 [02:32] (2) Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Chanson Triste op.40/2 [02:58]
(2), None but the lonely heart op.6/6 [02:23] (2) 24 October 1945, New
York City Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Vocalise op.34/14 [03:17] (2) 18 October 1946, New York City Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Moment Musical in f op.94/3 [01:48]
(2) TCHAIKOVSKY Valse sentimentale
op.51/6 [02:14] (2) RUBINSTEIN Romance
in E flat op.44/1 [03:07] (2) Enrique GRANADOS
(1867-1916) Intermezzo (from Goyescas) [04:51] (2)
18 September 1950, Hollywood Camille SAINT-SAËNS
(1835-1921) The Swan (from Carnival of the Animals)
[02:35] (2) Carl Maria WEBER (1786-1926)
Rondo (from Sonata no.3 for piano and violin) [02:25] (2) 19 September
1950, Hollywood SAINT-SAËNS Cello
Concerto no.1 in A minor op.33 [19:10] (3) 7 December 1950, Manhattan
Center, New York City
Gregor Piatigorsky (cello), London Philharmonic Orchestra/John Barbirolli
(1), Ralph Berkowitz (piano) (2), RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra/Fritz
Reiner (3) Dates and locations as above Restoration for CD by Mark Obert-Thorn
NAXOS 8.111069 [77:58]
[CH]
The
impression is of an admirable cellist who fails to engage ... see Full
Review
Piano
Left Hand Recital Chaconne from the Partita
No.2 for solo violin arranged in 1877 by Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) [15.08]
Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Six Studies Op.135 (1912) [19.27] Dinu
LIPATTI (1917-1950) Sonatina (1941) [9.12]
Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915)
Prelude in C sharp minor Op.9 No.1 (1894-95) [2.33]
Nocturne in D flat major Op.9 No.2 (1894-95) [5.36]
Erwin SCHULHOFF (1894-1942)
Suite No.3 (1926) [14.55] Johann
STRAUSS II (1825-1899)/Leopold GODOWSKY (1870-1938)
Symphonic Metamorphoses of the Schatz-Waltzer Themes from The Gypsy
Baron (1885) arranged by Godowsky in (? 1928)[11.23]
Antoine
Rebstein (piano, left hand) rec. La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Salle
de Musique, May 2005. DDD
CLAVES 50-2502 [79.09] [JW]
This
is, dare one say it, a courageous disc from a talented musician and
the repertoire will be little known to mostt...…
see Full
Review
Prima Missa
in Commemoratione Omnium Fidelium Defunctorum
(Requiem
Mass) [38.30]
The Monks’ Choir of the Benedictine Abbey
of St. Martin, Beuron/Dr. Maurus Pfaff, O.S.B.Recorded
Beuron Abbey, 1 April 1954. ADD
PRISTINE AUDIO PACO006 [38.30] [RH]
I
can highly recommend this atmospheric disc and Pristine Audio’s distinctive
delivery mechanism means that it comes at a highly affordable price
... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Mstislav
Rostropovich Edition Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Symphony-Concerto for Cello and Orchestra
in E minor Op. 125: Andante [10:00]; Allegro giusto [16:16]; Andante
con moto [9:50] Nicolai MIASKOVSKY
(1882-1950) Cello Concerto in C minor Op. 66: Lento ma non troppo
[10:02]; Allegro vivace [17:13] Mstislav Rostropovich, cello; Moscow
Philharmonic Orchestra, Kyrill Kondrashin; Recording: 27-12-1972 Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Cello Concerto in B minor Op. 104:
Allegro [14:48]; Adagio ma non troppo [11:45]; Allegro moderato [12:39]
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Cello
Concerto in A minor Op. 129: Nicht zu schnell [10:43]; Langsam [3:33];
Sehr lebhaft [8:27] Mstislav Rostropovich, cello; USSR State Radio and
Television Symphony Orchestra, Boris Khaikin (Dvořák); USSR State
Symphony Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky (Schumann); Recording: 23-6-1957
(Dvorak); 30-11-1960 (Schumann) Camille SAINT-SAËNS
(1835-1921) Cello Concerto in A minor Op. 33: Allegro non troppo
[6:00]; Allegretto con moto [3:50]; Molto allegro [7:59] Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major: Moderato
[7:10]; Adagio [7:09]; Allegro molto [6:12] Cello Concerto No. 2 in
D major: Allegro moderato [13:32]; Adagio [4:40]; Allegro [4:25] Mstislav
Rostropovich, cello; USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Victor Dubrovsky
(Saint-Saens); Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Rudolf Barshai (Haydn); Recording:
14-2-1964 (Saint-Saens), 15-9-1963 (Haydn) Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Variations on a Rococo Theme
Op. 33 [17:36]; Pezzo Capriccioso in B minor Op. 62 [6:56] Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Minstrel Song for Cello and Orchestra
Op. 71 [4:31]; Melody [7:38] Aram KHACHATURIAN
(1903-1978) Concerto Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra – cello and
piano reduction [22:03] Mstislav Rostropovich, cello; Unnamed pianist;
USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky (Tchaikovsky);
National Symphony Orchestra of the USSR, Nianonov (Glazunov); [Moscow
Philharmonic Orchestra, Yevgeny Svetlanov (Khatchaturian) – claimed
in documentation but actually a cello and piano reduction with unnamed
pianist]; Recording: 30-11-1960 (1), 13-5-1964 (2), 22-9-1949 (3,4),
17-10-1965 (5) Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Cello Concerto No. 1 Op. 107: Allegretto [5:55]; Moderato
[10:20]; Cadenza [4:57]; Allegro con moto [4:29] Boris
TISHCHENKO (b.1939) Concerto for cello and 17 wind instruments
and percussion [22:49] Victor VLASOV Cello
Concerto: Movement 1 [11:00]; Movement 2 [3:05]; Movement 3 [9:46] Mstislav
Rostropovich, cello; USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky
(Shostakovich); Symphony Orchestra, Yevgeny Svetlanov (Tishchenko);
USSR State Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky
(Vlasov); Recording: 10-2-1961 (Shostakovich), 28-11-1968 (Tishchenko),
13-5-1964 (Vlasov) Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Cello Sonata in C major Op. 119: Andante grave [10:08];
Moderato [4:06]; Allegro ma non troppo [7:02] Aram
KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Cello Sonata: Movement 1 [7:28];
Movement 2 [10:24] Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971) Russian Song [4:04] Eduard
MIRZOYAN Cello Sonata [17:54] Mstislav
ROSTROPOVICH Humoresque Op. 5 [2:08] Mstislav Rostropovich,
cello; Alexander Dedukhin, piano (1-3, 6-8); Aram Khatchaturian, piano
(4-5); Recording: 10-1-1967 (1-3,4); 11-11-1968 (6-8) Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Concertino for Cello and Orchestra
in G minor Op. 132: Andante mosso [7:28]; Andante [5:43]; Allegretto
[4:10] Mieczslaw VAINBERG (1919-1996)
Cello Concerto in D minor Op. 43; Movement 1 [12:45]; Movement 2
[16:54] Lev KNIPPER (1898-1974) Concerto-Monologue
[15:56] Mstislav Rostropovich, cello; USSR State Radio and Television
Symphony Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky (Prokofiev); USSR State Symphony
Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky (Vainberg, Knipper); Recording: 13-5-1964
(Prokofiev), 25-2-1964 (Vainberg, Knipper) Edouard
LALO (1823-1892) Cello Concerto in D minor: Prélude (Lento-allegro
maestoso) [12:27]; Intermezzo [5:40]; Andante-allegro Vivace [6:25]
Arthur HONEGGER (1892-1955) Cello
Concerto: Andante-allegro [3:37]; Lento [6:31]; Allegro marcato [5:17]
Henri SAUGUET (1901-1989) Melodie
Concertante [Cello Concerto in D major] [22:15] Mstislav Rostropovich,
cello; USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Victor Dubrovsky; Recording: 14-2-1964
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Cello
Sonata in C major Op. 102 No. 1: Andante-allegro Vivace [7:41]; Adagio-allegro
vivace (track 2 and 3) [6:56] Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Cello Sonata No 1 in E minor Op.38: Allegro non troppo
[11:44]; Allegretto quasi minuetto [5:27]; Allegro [5:24] Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Fünf Stücke im Volkston Op. 102: Mit
Humor [3:07]; Langsam [3:07]; Nicht schnell, mit viel Ton zu spielen
[1:10]; Nicht zu rasch [3:44]; Stark und markiert [2:19] Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845-1924) Apres un rêve [3:18] Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Two Movements from The Firebird [3:09]
Manuel de FALLA (1876-1946) Ritual
Fire Dance [3:04] D. MELE Brazilian
Dance – Tijuka [2:35] Mstislav Rostropovich, cello; Alexander Dedukhin,
piano; Recording: 7-11-1961 (1-3), 11-12-1960 (4-6), 15-12-1960 (7-15)
Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Suite
for cello solo No. 2 Op. 80: Declamatio (largo) [3:26]; Fuga (andante)
[3:57]; Scherzo (allegro molto) [1:42]; Andante lento [4:37]; Ciaconna
[6:07] Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) Cello
Sonata H 125: Allegro ben moderato [8:59]; Adagio ma non troppo [4:52];
Molto allegro agitato [7:22] George Frideric
HANDEL (1685-1759) Aria [3:44] Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Suite for Cello solo No. 5 in
C minor BWV 1011: Prelude [6:59]; Allemande [3:11]; Courante [1:32];
Sarabande [3:55]; Gavotte, attacca: Gigue [4:58]
Mstislav Rostropovich, cello; Alexander Dedukhin, piano; Recording:
11-11-1968 (1-9), 15-12-1960 (10-14) under exclusive licence from Gostelradiofund,
Russian Federation BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 92771 [10 CDs: 63.41 + 62.14 + 61.06 + 58.59 + 72.41 +
63.28 + 63.15 + 62.23 + 63.24 + 66.00][JW]
Concerns
over provenance swept away by the riches to be found in these ten excellently
filled discs ... see Full Review
[ROUT]
ONE Paul NEWLAND Standing
Jump (2002) [11:17] Paul WHITTY Love
(1999-2000 rev. 2001) [8:08] Sam HAYDEN Anthem
(2002) [6:34] David
Arrowsmith (electric guitar), Linda Hirst (voice), Philip Howard (harmonium),
Catherine Laws (harpsichord), Richard Pryce (double-bass), Stacie Robinson
(vocal samples on ‘Love’), Emma Welton (violin, electric violin), Paul
Whitty (piano, samples), James Woodrow (bass guitar).
DIVINE ART 29001 [25:59] [CT]
Never
quite ‘takes off’ in the way that their provocative
group name would seem to promise ... see Full
Review
Elisabeth
Schumann - Early Recordings 1915–1923 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770–1827)
Fidelio: O, wär ich schon mit dir vereint; Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786–1826) Der Freischütz: Trübe Augen,
Liebchen; Kommt ein schlanker Bursch gegangen; Ambroise THOMAS (1811–1896) Connais-tu le pays?;
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Le nozze di Figaro:
Non so più; Voi che sapete; Don Giovanni: Vedrai, carino; Albert LORTZING (1801–1851) Der Wildschütz: Auf des
Lebens raschen Wogen; Charles GOUNOD
(1818–1893) Faust: Air des bijoux; Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART Die Entführung aus dem Serail: Durch Zärtlichkeit
und Schmeicheln; Welche Wonne, welche Lust; Don Giovanni: Batti, batti,
o bel Masetto; François AUBER (1782–1871)
Fra Diavolo: Quel bonheur; Engelbert
HUMPERDINCK (1854–1921) Hänsel und Gretel: Wo bin ich? Wach
ich? Ist es ein Traum?; Richard STRAUSS (1864–1949) Die heiligen drei Könige aus Morgenland;
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART Exultate,
Jubilate: Allegro; Andante; Alleluia; Le nozze di Figaro: Deh vieni,
non tardar; Die Zauberflöte: Ach, ich fühl’s, es ist verschwunden;
Elisabeth Schumann (soprano) with orchestra rec. 1915 (tracks 1-4),
1920 (tracks 5-14), 1922 (tracks 15-18) and 1923 (tracks 19 & 20)
Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Ward Marston
NAXOS 8.111098 [77:10][GF]
Fresh
as dew, the tones like a valuable string of pearls effortlessly streaming
... and I have come to love her portamento as well! ... see Full
Review
Songs
of the Soul (Texts
by St. John of the Cross (fl. 1577) unless otherwise noted) Carlos
SURINACH (1915-1997) Canciones del Alma (1964):
Noche oscura del alma [4.48]; Llama de amor viva [4.57] soloists: Nathan
Ruggles; Mark Poe; Susan Greene; Delirio del alma [6.11]; Gozo a la
fé [7.21] Tomás Luis de VICTORIA
(c.1548-1611) (Texts from the Bible) Iste Sanctus [1.54]; Senex
Puerum Portabat [2.50]; O Quam Gloriosum [2.32]; Beati Immaculati [2.14]
Alan RIDOUT (1934-1996) O Flame
of Love So Living [2.08] (English translation by Roy Campbell) Sasha
Johnson MANNING (b. 1963) Romança VI-(SSAATTBB) [4.47]
Clare MACLEAN (b. 1958) Aunque es
de Noche (SSSAATTBB) [6.31] Geoffrey BURGON
(b. 1941) But Have Been Found Again (SSAATTBB) (1983) [5.52]
(English translation by Roy Campbell) Soloists: Amanda Meinen;
Elise Ibendahl; Kathleen Mead.Carl RÜTTI
(b. 1949) An den Geist (SSAATTBB) [5.02] (Text by Rilke)
Saint Louis Chamber Chorus/Philip Barnes rec. St. Margaret of Scotland
Church, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, 25 May 2004. Notes in English and
Deutsch. Texts and English translations. Photo of artists.
GUILD GMCD 7272 [58.09] [PSh]
One
of the finest choral recordings I’ve ever
heard — brilliant singing effectively programmed
and nicely recorded. ... see Full
Review
Sounds
Awesome Alan
RIDOUT (1934-1996) Reredos (c.1956) [4:42]
Paean (1963) [1:58] Prelude on St Thomas Honour We (1988) [2:43]
Epithalamium (1967) [2:20] The Seven Last Words (1965) [25:37] Humphrey
CLUCAS (b. 1941) Psalm Prelude (2004) [2:32] Symphony for
Organ (2004) [22:56] Peter WISHART (1921-1984)
Pastorale and Fughetta Op.38 (1960) [4:49] Humphrey
SEARLE (1915-1982) Cyprus Dances Op.76 (1981) [4:41]
Robert Crowley (organ) rec. Canterbury Cathedral, October 2004
LAMMAS LAMM 183D [70:17][HC]
A
very fine release that should appeal to all those who enjoy the organ
music of Leighton, Mathias and Messiaen. ... see Full
Review
Leopold
Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra - CD Premieres Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Concerto Grosso in D Minor from Op. 3 No.11 [12.43] Giovanni
Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (1525/6-1594) Adoramus te
[3.12] Girolamo FRESCOBALDI (1583
–1643) Gagliarda [3.25] Jean-Baptiste LULLY
(1632-1687) Le Triomphe de l‚Amour: Nocturne; Alceste: Prelude;
Thesee: March [7.13] William BYRD
(1543-1623) Pavane and Gigue [4.40] Georg
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Overture in D Minor [Chandos
Anthem No.2] [6.25] Messiah - Pastoral Symphony [4.17] Water Music Suite
[16.36] Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Toccata and Fugue in D Minor BWV 565 [9.28] Ich ruf‚zu
dir, Herr Jesus Christ Chorale Prelude BWV 639 [4.17] Es ist Vollbracht
– from St John Passion BWV 245 [8.01] Ein feste Burg from Cantata No.80
BWV 80 [1.47] Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor BWV 582 [14.19] Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Minuet from String Quartet
in E major Op.13 No.5 [2.37] Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809) Andante cantabile from String Quartet in E major Op.3
No. 4 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 [31.47] Cesar
FRANCK (1822-1890) Symphony in D Minor [39.41] (with
Outline of Themes spoken by Stokowski, played by Artur Rodzinski (piano))
[2.56] Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Nocturnes – Nuages [9.06] and Fetes [5.54] Clair de Lune [5.14]
Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun [10.30] Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Invitation to the Dance
– orchestrated Berlioz/Stokowski [8.01] Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1898) Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op.
98 [38.42] Hungarian Dance No. 1 [3.25] Johann.
STRAUSS II
(1825-1899) On the Beautiful, Blue Danube (abridged) – Waltz Op.314
[4.28] Tales from the Vienna Woods (abridged) – Waltz Op.325 Richard.
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Dance of the Seven Veils from
Salome [9.41] John Philip SOUSA
(1854-1932) El Capitan March [2.16] The Stars and Stripes Forever
[3.22] Philadelphia
Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski all except Beethoven, Franck, Debussy Nocturnes,
prelude, Brahms Symphony, Strauss and Sousa are in orchestrations/arrangements
by Stokowski Recorded 1927-39
MUSIC & ARTS CD-1173 [4 CDs: 58.42 + 75.54 + 73.27 + 74.52]
[JW]
Good
for Stokowskians but as for the non-partisan
listener it’s a bit of a glass half-empty,
glass half-full sort of set. ... see Full
Review
Summer
was in August - British Composer Series
- British Flute Music Malcolm
Arnold (b.1924) Sonatina Op.19
(1948) [7:56] Gordon
Jacob (1895-1984) On a Summer
Evening for flute and piano (1972) [2:15]
and The Pied Piper for solo flute (1958)
[5:11] Hamilton Harty
(1879-1941) In Ireland, Fantasy for
flute and harp (1918) [7:20] Paul
Lewis (b. 1943) Norfolk Idyll
for flute and harp (1972) [7:00] Pavane
for flute, cello and piano (1971) [3:47]
Three Flute Diversions for solo flute
(2003) [6:18] Pan thoughtful for solo
flute (1980) [2:49] Pan Playful for
solo flute (1980) [1:06] Paul
Carr (b. 1961) Three Pieces
Blue for flute and piano (2001) [5:48]
‘Summer was in August’ for flute and
piano (2002, revd 2005) [11:45] Paul
Gregory (b. 1956) Sonatina ‘Blue’
for flute and guitar (1995) [12:29]
Rachel Smith, flute Rachel Fryer, piano;
Paul Gregory, guitar; Jenny Broome, harp and
Esther Ward-Caddle, cello. rec. St. Peter’s
Church, Bexhill Old Town, Sussex.
CAMPION CAMEO 2030 [74:32] [JF]
A
very good CD. Useful to introduce works by
a newer generation of composers alongside
those of more established masters. ... see
Full
Review
Wladyslaw
Szpilman – Legendary Recordings Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Polonaise-Fantasie
Op.61 [11.38] Ballade in F minor Op.52 [10.30]
Nocturne in C minor Op. posth. (KK Iva No.16)
[3.37] Alfred GRUNFELD
(1852-1924) Soirée de Vienne. Concert
paraphrase on Johann Strauss’ Fledermaus Waltz
Op.56 [5.53] Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) La fille aux
cheveux de lin (Prelude No.8) [2.06] Grazyna
BACEWICZ (1909-1969) Sonata No.2
14.12] Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Sonata No.7 in B flat major
Op.83 [17.29] Peter and the Wolf [3.30] Ignaz
FRIEDMAN (1882-1948) Wiener Tanze
nach Edyard Gartner No.1 [3.21] Wladyslaw
SZPILMAN (1911-2000) Toccatina
(The Life of the Machines, Suite for Piano,
Movement III) [1.40] Mazurka [2.08] Jazz
Melody [6.19] George
GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Summertime
Wladyslaw SZPILMAN
(1911-2000) Fall in Love Again Richard
ROGERS (1902-1979) Blue Moon Friedrich
HOLLANDER (1896-1976) Falling in
Love Again Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin
Sonata No.5 in F major Op.24 Spring [22.18]
Edvard GRIEG
(1843-1907) Sonata in C minor Op.45 [23.42]
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Rondo (based on Sonata Op.53)
[5.30] Antonín DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904) Slavonic Dance Op.46
No.2 [3.15] Henryk
WIENIAWSKI (1835-1880) Obertas
[1.59] Ernest BLOCH
(1880-1959) Nigun No.2 [5.58] Karol
RATHAUS (1895-1954) Pastorale and
Dance fro violin and piano Op.39 [12.42] Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Quintet
in E flat major Op.44 [29.05] Juliusz
ZAREBSKI (1854-1885) Piano Quintet
in G minor Op.34
Wladyslaw Szpilman (piano) Bronislaw Gimpel
(violin) The Warsaw Piano Quintet Recorded
live in Warsaw and Stockholm 1946-1965
SONY 82876728552 [3 CDs: 79.31 + 79.18
+ 66.02] [JW]
A
worthy memorial to Szpilman ... see Full
Review
Wladyslaw
Szpilman: Legendary Recordings Frederic
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Polonaise-Fantaisie Op. 61 [11:38] Ballade
in F minor Op. 52 10:30] Nocturne cis Moll Op. Posth. [3:37] Alfred
GRÜNFELD (1852-1924) Soirée de Vienne. Konzertparaphrase
über Johann Strauß’sche Walzermotive nach Fledermaus u.a. Op. 56 [5:53]
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) La
fille aux cheveux de lin (Prelude No. 8) [2:06] Grazyna
BACEWICZ (1909-1969) Sonata No. 2 [14:07] Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Sonata No. 7 in B-flat major Op 83
[17:29] Peter and the Wolf paraphrase [3:30] Ignaz
FRIEDMAN (1882-1948) Wiener Tänze nach Eduard Gärtner, No.
1 [3:21] Wladyslaw SZPILMAN (1911-2000)
Mazurka [2:08] Ludvig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 “Spring” [22:18] Edvard
GRIEG (1943-1907) Violin Sonata in C minor Op. 45 [23:42]
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Rondo
(based on Sonata Op. 53) [5:30] Antonin DVOŘAK
(1841-1904) Slavonic Dance Op. 46/2 [3:15] Henryk
WIENIAWSKI (1835-1880) Obertas [1:59] Ernest
BLOCH (1880-1959) Nigun No. 2 [5:58] Karol
RATHAUS (1895-1954) Pastorale and Dance for violin and piano
Op. 39 [12:42] Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Quintet in E-flat major Op. 44 [29:05] Juliusz
ZAREBSKI (1854-1885) Quintet in G minor [36:41]
Wladyslaw Szpilman (Piano) Bronislaw Gimpel (violin) Tadeusz Wronski
(violin) Srefan Kamasa (viola) Aleksander Ciechanski (cello) Recordings
from Polish Radio Broadcasts, 1946-1965
SONY CLASSICAL 82876728552 [3 CDs: 79:31 + 79:18 + 66:02][DB]
A
varying but overall highly valuable survey of the pianist of The Pianist.
... see Full Review
The Tend’rest Breast: Settings
of women’s poetry. Roger
QUILTER (1877-1953) June; A song at parting; Wild cherry.
Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) Thy hand
in mine; Where she lies asleep; Love went a-riding. Ivor
GURNEY (1890-1937) Seven Sappho songs. Lennox
BERKELEY (1903-1989) Epitaph of Timas (Three Greek songs);
John IRELAND (1879-1962) The advent
& Hymn for a child (Two songs sacred and profane) and Love and friendship;
Alastair KING (dates not known) Nocturne;
The moment; Spell to bring lost creatures home. Madeleine
DRING (1923-1977) Don’t play your sonata tonight, Mr. Humphries.
Montague PHILLIPS (1885-1969) When
April laughs; Hush’d is my lute; Sing, joyous bird.
Georgina Colwell (soprano), Nigel Foster (piano)
DUNELM RECORDS DRD0237 [58:48] [MM]
Essential
listening for all devotees of women's literature
of English song and indeed, for a broad variety
of listeners ... see
Full Review
Virtuoso
Cello Encores
Gaspar CASSADÓ
(1897 – 1966) Dance of the Green
Devil [4:04] David
POPPER (1843 – 1913) Fantasy on
Little Russian Songs [11:38] Serenade, Op.
54, No. 2 [3:58] Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685 – 1750) Air
from Suite No. 3 in D, BWV 1068 (trans. Leonard
Rose) [5:28] Franz
SCHUBERT (1797 – 1828) Ständchen
(Serenade) (trans. Henri Marteau) [4;07] Franz
SCHUBERT (1808 – 1878) Die Biene
(The Bee) (trans. Werner Thomas-Mifune) [1:17]
Enrique GRANADOS
(1867 – 1916) Intermezzo from Goyescas
(trans. Gaspar Cassadó) [4:57] Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906 – 1975) Tarantella
from The Gadfly, Op. 97 (trans. Jusas
Tschelkauskas) [3:04] Maurice
RAVEL (1875 – 1937) Habanera (trans.
Paul Bazelaire) [2:58] Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) The Girl with
the Flaxen Hair (trans. L.-R. Feuillard) [2:24]
Jean Baptiste SENAILLÉ
(1687 – 1730) Allegro spiritoso
(trans. J. Salmon) [2:29] Henri
VIEUXTEMPS (1820 – 1881) Cantilena,
Op. 49, No. 24 (trans. Jénö Hubay)
[6:36] Siegfried
BARCHET (1918 – 1982) Boulevard
de Garavan [1:37] Jacques
OFFENBACH (1819 – 1880) Danse bohémienne,
Op. 28 [10:19] Sergey
RACHMANINOV (1873 – 1943) Vocalise,
Op. 34, No. 14 (trans. Leonard Rose) [6:53]
George GERSHWIN (1898
– 1937) Short Story (trans. Samuel Dushkin)
[2:59]
Maria Kliegel (cello), Raimund Havenith
(piano) rec. Tonstudio van Geest, Heidelberg,
5-7 November 1990. DDD
NAXOS 8.557943 [75:14] [GPu]
Virtuosity
and taste in a programme that mixes familiar
and unfamiliar … see Full
Review
The Art of Gillian
Weir - five Decca Eloquence CDs (only
available separately)(Recorded between 1974
and 1980. Organs of St Laurens, Rotterdam;
Clare College Cambridge; Royal Festival Hall,
London; Hexham Abbey; St Leonhardskirche,
Basel; St Maximin Thionville. ADD) [CB]
I
would recommend especially Volume 2 for the
Clérambault, 3 for the Roberday, and
5 for the Camilleri and the deliciously played
French miniatures from Hexham. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH The
Ramallah Concert - West
Eastern Divan Orchestra - Daniel Barenboim
DVD
1: Knowledge is the beginning -
a film produced and directed by Paul Smaczny
[94:00] DVD 2: The Ramallah Concert
- West-Eastern Divan Orchestra/Daniel
Barenboim [112:00] Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Sinfonia
Concertante in E flat major for Oboe, Clarinet,
Bassoon and Horn, KAnh.9 (297b) Mohamed Saleh
(oboe); Kinan Azmeh (clarinet); Mor Biron
(bassoon); Sharon Polyak (horn) Speeches by
Nabeel Hath and Mustafa Barghouti. Ludwig
Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony
No. 5 in C minor Op. 67 Speeches by Miriam
Said and Daniel Barenboim. Encore
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Nimrod
from Enigma Variations Op. 36
West Eastern Divan Orchestra - Daniel Barenboim
Recorded "live" at the Cultural
Palace, Ramallah, 21 August 2005 and includes
an 18 minute documentary directed by Ayellet
Hallerr. Concert produced by Paul Smaczny
Concert Director: Michael Beyer Documentary
Director: Ayellet Heller Principal Photography:
Nyika Jansco Picture format: NTSC/Colour/16.9
Sound formats: PCM Stereo. DTS 5.1 surround.
DOLBY digital 5.1 Region 2-5 encoding. PAL
Menu language English, German, French, Spanish
and Arabic (for Knowledge Is The Beginning)
WARNER
VISION DVD VIDEO 2564 62792-2 [94:00 +
112:00] [DD]
Quite
simply the best music DVD I’ve ever seen;
it’s so much more than just music. ... see
Full Review
Water Settings - Australian
music for percussion duo Daryl
PRATT Modern
Dance (2002) [5.43] Michael
SMETANIN Finger Funk (2004)
[8.06] Andrew FORD
The Crantock Gulls (2003)
[7.07] Daryl PRATT
A Room in the House (2004)
[9.22]; Water
Settings (2005) [20.09]; Tangos Nuevos
II (2002) [5.00] Peter
SCULTHORPE arr. Daryl PRATT Djilile
(1989) [6.12]
Match percussion duo (Darryl Pratt, Alison
Eddington) rec. April-May 2005, Recital Room
East, Sydney Conservatorium. DDD
TALL POPPIES TP183 [62.40] [RH]
A
percussion duo to watch. They display admirable
virtuosity. The selected works say much of
their musicianship ... they do not try to
dazzle us just for virtuosity’s sake. ...
see Full Review
Laurel
Zucker: Song of the Wind Johannes
DONJON (1839-1912) Elegie
for solo flute [3:04] Song of the Wind for solo flute [2:03]
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Prelude
(from the Cello Suite No. 1) [2:52] Sarabande (from the Cello
Suite No. 1) [3:40] Courante (from the Cello Suite No. 3) [2:44]
Gigue (from the Cello Suite No. 4) [1:49] Katherine
HOOVER (b. 1937) Kokopeli [4:34] Carl
Philipp Emmanuel BACH (1714-1788) Sonata for solo flute in
A minor [12:00] Georg Philipp TELEMANN
(1681-1767) Fantasia No. 1 [3:50] Fantasia No. 4 [4:39] Fantasia
No. 8 [4:26] Fantasia No. 5 [4:53] Fantasia No. 2 [5:01] Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Partita in A minor for solo flute
[13:53] Laurel ZUCKER (b. 1955) Pandora’s
Box [1:51]
Laurel Zucker (flute) rec. no date given. Cunningham Chapel, Belmont,
California, USA. DDD
CANTILENA RECORDS 66042 [71:28] [ABi]
A
recommended introduction to the music-making
of this fine player. ... see Full
Review
BOOK
REVIEWS
Arthur Sullivan
and the Royal Society of Musicians by
David Mackie
Published by the Royal Society of Musicians
of Great Britain 2006 ISBN 0-9509481-3-6 available
direct from the RSMGB, 10 Stratford Place,
London W1C 1BA £9.95 + £1.35 (UK) £3.50 (overseas)
[RW]
David
Mackie has been delving amongst the darkly
held archives of the Royal Society of Musicians
for over five years and in this book comes
up with some interesting findings. ... see
Full Review
Detailed listing (last two 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]
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