Adolphe
ADAM (1803-1856) Si J'étais Roi (1852)
(sung in French) 
Liliane Berton (soprano) – Nemea; André Mallabrera (tenor) – Zéphoris;
René Bianco (bass-bar) – Mossoul; Henri Medus (bass) – Kadoor; Bernard
Alvi (tenor) – Piféar Orchestra of the Conservatoire Concerts Society/Richard
Blareau rec. Decca/Universal Studios, Antony, France, 1960
ACCORD OPERETTE 476 2104 [46:04 + 47:59][RW]
Adams’s
chief aim was to provide music that was accessible to the public. In
that he succeeded triumphantly. ... see Full
Review
Hail
Bop - A Portrait of John
ADAMS Tony Palmer’s
film Picture
Format: NTSC 4:3 Regions 2, 3, 4 and 5
WARNER MUSIC VISION
50-51011-4857-2 
[98:00][CT]
Following
on from Malcolm Arnold, John Adams is the
latest subject of another masterful portrait
in film by Tony Palmer. ... see Full
Review
Isaac ALBENIZ
(1860-1909)
Asturias [6:10]; Torre Bermeja [4:18]; Enrique
GRANADOS (1867-1916)
La Maja de Goya [3:52]; Danza Española
No. 5 [4:13]; Joaquin
NIN-CULMELL (1908-2004)
Six Variations on a Theme by Milan [6:14];
Joaquin RODRIGO
(1901-1999) Zarabanda Lejana [4:29]; Manuel
de FALLA
(1876-1946) Homenaje a Debussy [2:47];
Julian ORBON
(1925-1991) Preludio y Danza [3:48]; Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805)
Quintet No. 1 in D major for Guitar and Strings
G. 488 (Allegro maestoso [6:20]; Pastorale
[6:55]; Fandango [6:56]); Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Etude No.
11 [3:21].
Jose Rey de la Torre (guitar) Stuyvesant String
Quartet (Sylvan Schulman, Bernard Robbins,
(violins); Ralph Hersh, (viola); Alan Schulman,
(cello))
rec. July 1952, Village Lutheran Church, Bronxville,
New York; Villa-Lobos, Etude No 11: 19 March
1961, Great Neck, NY; 6 Dec 1950, Village
Lutheran Church, Bronxville, NY (Boccherini)
BRIDGE 9188 [60:00] [ZT]
This
is a highly important historical recording
by one of the instrument’s greatest exponents.
... see Full
Review
Julian
ANDERSON
(b. 1967) BOOK of HOURS
Eden
(2005) [7:26], Imagin’d Corners (2001)
[10:13]; Four American Choruses (2003)
[16:12]; Symphony (2003) [18:02]; Book
of Hours* (2004) [24:11]
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, City
of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, *Birmingham
Contemporary Music Group, Conductors and recording
dates (in order) Martyn Brabbins, Cheltenham
July 2005, Sakari Oramo, Birmingham, January
2005, Simon Halsey, Lichfield, November 2005,
Sakari Oramo, Birmingham, December 2003 Oliver
Knussen, RNCM, Manchester, January 2005.
NMC NMC D121 [76:04] [AOz]
This
is a very important recording, and repays
extended listening ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann Ludwig BACH (1677-1731) Cantatas (pre-1726) Marche
dich auf, werde licht [17:55] Ja, mir hast du Arbeit genacht
[19:56] Er machete uns lebendig [12:08]
Die mit Tränen säen [17:32] Barbara
Schlick (soprano) Mary Nichols (alto) Wilfried Jochens (tenor) Stephen Varcoe
(bass) Jugendkantorei Dormagen, Die Kleine Konzert/Hermann Max rec. Neanderkirche,
Dusseldorf, 2-6 November 1981 CARUS
83.186 [67:33] [JW]
A
sure-footed conspectus of a gifted cousin’s seldom-performed cantatas.
... see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Well
Tempered Clavier, Book I (1722), Book II (1738-42) Evelyne
Crochet (piano) rec. Academy of Arts & Letters, New York
City, September 2000 MUSIC & ARTS
1180 [4 CDs: 65:45 + 67:03 + 63:49 + 62:59] [DS]
Readers
who love their Bach played legato should consider Crochet a mandatory
item for their Bach library. ... see Full
Review
Arnold
BAX (1883-1953)
Boult conducts Bax Northern
Ballad No. 1 (1927) [10:10] Mediterranean (1920-22) [3:20]
The Garden of Fand (1913-16) [16:37] Tintagel (1917-19)
[13:28] November Woods (1917) [18:36]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult. No rec. info. ADD
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD231 [62:14] [TP]
For
seasoned Baxians, Boult's November Woods is
essential and his insights in the other items
are well worth hearing. ... see Full
Review
Arnold BAX
(1883-1953) Complete
Piano Sonatas Sonata No.1 in F sharp minor (1910 revised
1917 and 1921) [17:51] Sonata No.2 (1919-20) [24:07] Sonata No.3 in
G sharp minor (1926) [26:51] Sonata No.4 (1932) [18:54] Sonata in E
flat major (1921) (First Symphony) [32:25]
Michael Endres (piano) rec. Klaus-von-Bismarck-Saal, WDR Cologne, January
and March 2005 OEHMS
CLASSICS OC 565 [69:00 + 51:26][JW]
This
set offers great, rewarding and challenging playing and you will be
stimulated by its insights ... see Full
Review
Jeremy
BECK
(b.1960) Pause and feel and hark Cello
Sonata no.3 ‘Moon’ (1997) [13:14] 1 Songs Without Words (1997)
[9:05] 2 Black Water (1994) [40:16] 3 1
Emilio Colón (cello); Heather Coltman (piano); 2
Elizabeth Sadilek (flute); Gretchen Brumwell (harp); 3 Jean
McDonald (soprano); Robin Guy (piano) rec. 1 17 May 2003,
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida; 2 17 October
1998, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa; 3 24-27
May 1999, Clapp Recital Hall, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. DDD.
INNOVA 650
[62:43] [GPu]
Two
striking works by a highly-talented American
composer, one characterised more by formal
wit, the other by emotional impact, both well
worth hearing … see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
The Five Piano Concertos Piano
Concerto No. 1 in C Op. 15 (1795) [36:58]
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat Op. 19 (1798)
[29:31] Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor Op.
37 (1800) [35:12] Piano Concerto No. 4 in
G Op. 58 (1806) [33:04] Piano Concerto No.
5 in E flat Op. 73 Emperor (1809) [38:30]
Rondo for Piano in C major Op.41 No.1 [7:00]
Rondo for Piano in G major Op.51 No.2 [8:35]
Wilhelm Kempff (piano) Berlin Philharmonic
Orchestra/Paul van Kempen rec. Jesus-Christus-Kirche,
Berlin, May 1953 and Beethovensaal, Hannover,
January 1953 (Rondos)
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON DG 476 5299 [3 CDs:
66:34 + 68:21 + 54:42] [JW]
An
outstanding mono cycle graced with glorious
pianism and a conductor who moulds the orchestral
strands with perfect judgement and awareness
... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Complete
works for Solo Piano Vol.3 Sonata
No.4 in E flat major, Op.7 (1796-7) [28:52]
Sonata No.5 in C minor, Op.10 No.1 (1795-8)
[17:10] Sonata No.6 in F major, Op.10 No.2
(1795-8) [11:37] Sonata No.7 in F major, Op.10
No.3 (1795-8) [22:35] 
Ronald Brautigam (fortepiano) rec. Österåker
Church, Sweden, August 2004. DDD
BIS-SACD-1472 [81:35] [TH]
If
you’re collecting this cycle you can continue
with confidence. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN - The Original
Piano Roll Recordings Ignace
Paderewski (piano), rec. 1927 Alfred Cortot
(piano), rec. 1927 Myra Hess (piano), rec.
1927 Josef Hofmann (piano) Eugen d’Albert
(piano) Wanda Landowska (piano) Harold Bauer
(piano)
DAL SEGNO DSPRCD 030 [54:46 + 46:41] [JW]
After
my less than enjoyable time with the Mozart
piano roll disc I feel slightly happier with
this companion volume. ... see
Full Review
Rudolf
Kempe – Unpublished Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin
Concerto in D major Op.61 (1806) [42:19] Leonore III – Overture
in C major Op.72b [14:27] Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Siegfried Idyll (1870) [19:41]* Leonid
Kogan (violin) Turin RAI Symphony Orchestra, Rome RAI Symphony
Orchestra*/ Rudolf Kempe rec. Turin, April 1956; Rome, 1955 (Wagner) ARCHIPEL
ARPCD 0349 [76:33] [JW]
Drop-outs
rather blight a fine live performance but how many Kogan Beethoven
Concerto performances do you really need? ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Sonatas: No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, Pathétique (1798) [19:39];
No. 29 in B flat, Op. 106, Hammerklavier (1817/18) [44:49]; No.
19 in G minor, Op. 49 No. 1 (1798) [8:32]
François-Frédéric Guy (piano)
rec. Dijon Auditorium, France, September 2005. DDD
NAÏVE V 5023 [73:00] [CC]
This
disc makes me ask why a company as intelligent as Naïve is so fully
behind an artist who seems to be nothing special? ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin
Concerto in D major op.61 [45:12] Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphony no. 40 in G minor K.550 [24:35] Yehudi
Menuhin (violin), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Mozart), Lucerne
Festival Orchestra (Beethoven)/Wilhelm Furtwängler rec. 28-29
August 1947, Kunsthaus, Lucerne (Beethoven) 7-8 December 1948
and 15 February 1949, Grosser Saal, Musikverein, Vienna
(Mozart), NAXOS
8.110996 [69:47] [CH]
The supreme
Beethoven Violin Concerto and a Mozart 40th as rewarding
as any in the catalogue, excellently transferred – don’t miss it.
... see Full
Review
John
BLOW (1649-1708) Anthems God
spake sometime in visions (1685) [12:20] How doth the city
sit solitary (early 1670s) [06:26] The Lord is my shepherd
(1677 or before) [10:57] God is our hope and strength (late
1670s) [03:02] I beheld, and lo! A great multitude (1677 or
before) [10:26] Turn thee unto me, O Lord (early 1670s) [05:49]
Blessed is the man that hath not walked (1680-3) [08:35] Lift
up your heads, O ye gates (?late 1670s) [04:25] O Lord, I have
sinned (1670) [06:51] O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is
gracious (c.1683) [13:40] O Lord, thou hast searched me out
and known me (mid 1670s) [05:38] Cry aloud and spare not (1682
or before) [06:47] Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle?
(c.1680) [09:26] I said in the cutting off of my days (1677)
[10:39] Winchester
Cathedral Choir/David Hill The Parley of Instruments/Peter
Holman rec. 23, 24, 26 January, 9, 10 March 1995, New Hall,
Winchester College HYPERION
DYAD CDD22055 [58:21 + 58:07] [CH]
Blow
established the “lofty” English style and his more penitential
works are also highly expressive. ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Symphony
No. 1 in C minor, op. 68 (1876) [51:04] Symphony
No. 3 in F major, op. 90 (1883) [39:10] Israel
Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernsteinrec.
live, Great Concert Hall, Jerusalem, 1-3 August
1973 Video Director: Humphrey Burton NTSC
4:3 Colour Region Code 0 (worldwide). PCM
Stereo DD 5.1 DTS 5.1 EUROARTS
2072048 D [95:38] [MG]
This
is a special experience which it’s a privilege
to be able to share … see
Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op. 83a
(1881) [47:19] Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano
Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, Pathétiqueb
(1798/99) [18:51].
Misha Dichter (piano) aLeipzig
Gewandhaus Orchestra/Kurt Masur. rec. aGewandhaus,
Leipzig, June 1977; bDoopsgezinde
Kerk, Amsterdam, May 1976. ADD
PENTATONE CLASSICS SACD PTC 5186 125 
[66:23][CC]
There
is no doubting the oomph of the recording here, particularly where the
piano is concerned, but ... musically disappointing overall. ... see
Full Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto No. 2 in B
flat, Op. 83a (1878-81) [45:31] Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1797-1827) Piano Sonata
No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111b (1822) [25:47]
John Ogdon (piano) aThe Hallé Orchestra/John Barbirolli rec.
aBBC Studios, Manchester, 16 September 1966; bBBC
Studios, London, 5 November 1963. ADD mono
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4183-2 [71:54][CC]
This
is a magical reminder of a great pianist, here caught in collaboration
with a great conductor. One
thing is sure - we are in the presence of genius when we listen to these astonishing
performances. ... see Full Review
Brahms
and Contemporaries Vol. 1 Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) String Quartet No. 1 Op. 51
No. 1 (1873) [32:15] Friedrich
GERNSHEIM (1839-1916) String Quartet No. 2 in A
minor Op. 31 (1875) [33:18]
The Mandelring Quartet: Sebastian Schmidt (violin); Nanette Schmidt
(violin) Michael Scheitzbach (viola); Bernhardt Schmidt (cello) rec.
St. Bartholomäus-Kirche, Birkweiler, April 1999. DDD
AUDITE MUSIKPRODUCTION-AUDITE 97.503 [65:31][WK]
Brahms’
first quartet and a charming work by one of his friends. ... see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Violin
Sonata No. 1 in G, Op. 78 (1879) [25:47] Violin Sonata No. 2 in A, Op.
100 (1886) [18:21] Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 (1888) [20:48]
Hungarian Dances (arranged by Joseph Joachim): No.1 in G minor [3:12];
No.2 in D minor [4:11]; No.4 in B minor [3:26]; No. 17 in F minor [3:07]
Leonid Kogan (violin) Andrei
Mytnik (piano) rec. Moscow 1955 and 1959 (Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2) London
1956 (Sonata No.2) and live 1951-55 (Dances)
ARCHIPEL ARPCD 0355 [79:38] [JW]
Playing
that is so unforced, natural sounding, with so perfect a conjunction
of tone and projection, and digitally immaculate ... see Full
Review
Frank
BRIDGE (1879-1941) Works
for String Quartet Phantasie Quartet (1905) [10:04] Novelletten
(1904) [11:00] Three Idylls
(1906) [13:41] An Irish melody: Londonderry
Air (1908) [7:41] Sir Roger de Coverley (1922) [4:30] Sally in Our Alley (1916) [4:06] Cherry Ripe
(1916) [3:29] Three Pieces
(1911) [4:20] Maggini Quartet
rec. All Saints Church, East Finchley, 16-17 December 1994
NAXOS 8.553718
[59:55][GH]
A
fine supplement to the Maggini’s Bridge cycle. The players are in complete
accord with the style and needs of the composer. ... see Full
Review
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Rescue
of Penelope (1943) [35:68] Phaedra
(1975) [14:57]
Janet Baker (sop) (Phaedra) narrator, Alison Hagley, Catherine Wyn-Rogers,
John Mark Ainsley, Lorraine Hunt, William Dazeley Hallé Orchestra/Kent
Nagano rec. BBC Studio 7, Manchester, 22-23
April, 4-5 November 1995.
WARNER ELATUS 0927490102 [51:25][SH]
A
feast of emerging genius in the expert hands of Nagano and the Hallé
in top form. ... see Full
Review
Dave
BRUBECK (b.
1920) Nocturnes
John Salmon (piano)
rec. 6, 20, 27 February, 17 April 2005, Organ Hall, School of Music,
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA
NAXOS 8.559301 [55:21] [GF]
The
music may not be of the barnstorming kind
but the whole disc is a valuable document
of one of the most versatile of American composers.
... see Full
Review
Geoffrey
BUSH (1920-1998)
A
Christmas Cantata (1947)* [28:34] Trad
Chinese arr. & words by F.
R. HADDEN Shiao Bao-Bao*** [3:27]
Trad. Basque arr.
Edgar PETTMAN The Angel Gabriel
from Heaven Came [2:57] Trad
Welsh Ar Gyfer Heddiw’r Bore [1:38]
Trad. Arr.
Leslie WOODGATE Silent Night [3:22]
Edward ARTHUR Tua
Bethlem Dref **[1:59] G.
HENDRIE As I Outrode This Enderes
Night** [1:19] Trad.
Arr. Richard
ELFYN JONES Good King Wenceslas**
[2:33]
Mair Robins (soprano)/John Macintyre (oboe)/***Michael
Bradley (countertenor)/**Michael Griffiths
(organ)/Cardiff Polyphonic Choir and*Orchestra/Richard
Elfyn Jones rec. St Augustine’s Church, Penarth,
July 1985. DDD
SAYDISC CD-SDL 352 [45:57] [JQ]
This
is the first and, so far, only recording of
Bush’s A Christmas Cantata and that makes
this CD an attractive proposition ... see
Full
Review
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