Kaija SAARIAHO
(b. 1952) Petals (1988)a [10:43] Oi
Kuu (1990)b [6:23] Spins and Spells (1997) [5:42] Mirrors
(1997)c [3:12] Sept Papillons (2000) [11:09] Près (1992)d
[19:02] 
Alexis Descharmes
(cello); Jérémie Fèvre (flute)c; Nicolas Baldeyrou (bass
clarinet)b; David Poissonnier (electronics)ad
rec. Espace de projection, IRCAM, Paris, September 2004
AEON AECD 0637 [56:11] [HC]
Magnificent
playing of unusually fine music in a superb recording. A most welcome
addition to Saariaho’s discography. Not to be missed. ... see Full
Review
Alessandro
SCARLATTI (1660-1725)
Inferno – Cantate drammatiche Già
lusingato appieno, cantata for soprano,
two violins and bc [13:32] Serenata 'Notte
ch'in carro d'ombre', cantata for soprano,
two violins and bc (HanS 480) [18:21] Il
Nerone (Io son Neron, l'imperator del mondo),
cantata for soprano and bc (HanS 343) [08:54]
L'Orfeo (Dell'oscura magion dell'arsa Dite),
cantata for soprano, two violins and bc (HanS
173) [23:52]
Elisabeth Scholl (soprano) Modo Antiquo/Federico
Maria Sardelli rec. November 2004, Villa Berg,
Stuttgart, Germany. DDD
CPO 777 141-2 [65:02] [JV]
Four
very dramatic cantatas in splendid performances, based on sound musicological
research – strongly recommended ... see Full
Review
Franz
Peter SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Six Moments musicaux, D780a (1823-1828) [20:06]
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Waldszenen, Op. 82a (1849-1849) [21:21] Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Sonata No. 21 in C, Op. 53 Waldsteinb (1803-1804)
[21:31] Wilhelm
Backhaus (piano) rec. aOctober 1955 and blive,
Salzburg, 29 August 1954. ADD mono
ARCHIPEL RECORDS ARPCD 0342 [65:58][CC]
A
superb programme, therefore. Transfers are acceptable but bear in mind
the high level. ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Winterreise
D911 Thomas
Oliemans (baritone); Bert van den Brink (piano) rec. Doopsgezinde Kerk,
Deventer, April 2006
FINELINE CLASSICAL FL72409 [74:44] [AOz]
More
a recording for those interested in up-and-coming
performers than in a major interpretation
… it’s good for what it is ... see
Full Review
Robert
SCHUMANN
(1810–1856) Dichterliebe,
op. 48 (1840) Fünf Lieder nach
Heinrich Heine,Liederkreis,
Op. 24 (1840)
Roman Trekel (baritone), Oliver Pohl (piano)
rec. Andreaskirche, Berlin Wannsee, 21–25
November 2005
OEHMS CLASSICS 0C 571 [65:19] [GF]
Trekel’s
Schumann belongs among the finest. Someone
buying this music for the first time could
do much worse than starting here … richly
rewarding ... see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810–1856)
Myrten
Op. 25 (1840) Widmung (Rückert)
[2:18]; Freisinn (Goethe) [1:08]; Der
Nussbaum (Mosen) [3:25]; Jemand
(Burns) [1:25]; Lieder aus dem Schenkenbuch
im Divan: I (Goethe) [0:34]; Lieder
aus dem Schenkenbuch im Divan: II (Goethe)
[0:51]; Die Lotusblume (Heine) [1:41];
Talismane (Goethe) [1:45]; Lied
der Suleika (Willemer/Goethe) [2:42];
Die Hochländer-Witwe(Burns) [1:15];
Zwei Lieder der Braut: I (Rückert)
[2:12]; Zwei Lieder der Braut: II (Rückert)
[1:10]; Hochländers Abschied
(Burns) [1:29]; Hochländerisches Wiegenlied
(Burns) [2:52]; Aus den hebräischen
Gesängen (Byron) [4:47]; Rätsel
(Fanshawe/Byron) [1:34]; Zwei Venetianische
Lieder: I (Moore) [1:54]; Zwei Venetianische
Lieder: II (Moore) [1:03]; Hauptmanns
Weib (Burns) [0:56]; Weit, weit
(Burns) [2:46]; Was will die einsame Träne?
(Heine) [1:59]; Niemand (Burns)
[0:52]; Im Westen (Burns) [1:02]; Du
bist wie eine Blume (Heine) [1:30]; Aus
den östlichen Rosen (Rückert)
[1:33]; Zum Schluss (Rückert)
[1:42]
Sophie Koch (mezzo), Nelson Goerner (piano)
rec. Église de l’Annonciation, Paris,
22–24 September 2004. DDD
CASCAVELLE VEL 3085 [47:22] [GF]
A
strong feel of deep understanding and communication
… it can only be regretted that we were not
given more Schumann songs – the playing time
is parsimonious." ... see Full
Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810–1856)
(arr. Jacques
LAROCQUE)
Piano Quintet op. 44
[28.48] Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809–1847), arr. Hendrik
SCHNOKE A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
op. 61 [36.43]
Alliage Quartett (Daniel Gauthier – soprano
saxophone, Lutz Koppetsch – alto saxophone,
Koryun Asatryan – tenor saxophone, Sebastian
Pottmeier – baritone saxophone) Jang-Eun Bae
(piano) rec. 16-18 December 2005, Furstliched
Reitbahn Bad Arolsen.
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG
903 1396-6 [65.44] [RH]
Ultimately
the Schumann transcription failed to convince.
Interested in transcription as a modern art
or fascinated by the saxophone, then this
is the disc for you. ... see Full
Review
Cyril
SCOTT
(1879-1970) Complete Piano Sonatas and Other Works
for Piano Piano
Sonata No.1 Op.66 (1909) [22:14] Piano Sonata No.2 (1935) [14:33] Piano
Sonata No.3 (1956) [17:15] Sphinx Op.63 (1908) [4:27] Rainbow Trout
(1916) [3:53] Rondeau de Concert (1918) [5:30] Ballad (1920) [6:52]
Victorian Waltz (1963) [3:34]
Michael Schäfer (piano) Rec. in Studio 1, Bavarian Radio, April
2003 GENUIN GEN 85049
[78.19] [JW]
For
those who side with the idea of Scott as a
one-man Cubist vortex then Schäfer is
a suitably driven guide ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
String
Quartets 1-15 complete
Rasumowsky Quartet (Dora Bratchkova (1st
violin); Ewgenia Grandjean (2nd
violin); Gerhards Müller (viola); Alina
Kudelevic (cello)) rec. June-December 2005,
Musikstudio 1 des Saarländischen Rundfunks,
Saarbrücken
OEHMS CLASSICS OC 562 [5CDs: 77:47 + 78:30
+ 76:01 + 76:25 + 61:23] [DC]
This
will sit happily alongside your favourite
set, providing some fascinating alternative
views on music you might have though to be
set in stone. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Film
Music: Volume 3 Hamlet – suite (1964) [28:47] The
Unforgettable Year 1919 (1951) [7:29] Five Days
and Five Nights – suite (1960) [35:29] The Young Guard – suite
(1947-8) [10:05] Martin
Roscoe (piano) BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Vassily Sinaisky
rec. Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester, 1, 12 October
2004 CHANDOS
CHAN10361 [79:47] [IL]
Dynamic
performances of mostly politically forceful, but sometimes romantic
film music. ... see Full
Review
Jean SIBELIUS
(1865-1957) A
Film in Two Parts: The Early Years [52:31];
Maturity and Silence [50:34]
Elisabeth Söderström (soprano);
Boris Belkin (violin)
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Vladimir
Ashkenazy rec. 1984 Cameraman: David Findlay,
Editor: Peter Heelas, Writer and Director:
Christopher Nupen. NTSC; All regions Includes
bonus film Allegro molto The Christopher
Nupen Films
ALLEGRO
FILMS 05CN [103:05] [IL]
The
pains and triumphs of the progress of a creative
genius … so many that stick in the memory
... see Full
Review
Toru
TAKEMITSU (1930-1996)
Green
(1967) [6:53]; Arc - part 1 (1963-1966/76) [15:17]; Arc
- part 2 (1963-66/76) [13:33]
Rolf Hind (piano) London Sinfonietta/ Oliver Knussen rec. live, Royal
Festival Hall, London, 28 October 1998.
LONDON SINFONIETTA SIN CD3-2006 [33:28] [AOz]
A
worthy tribute to Takemitsu and his relationship
with the London Sinfonietta ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Toru TAKEMITSU (1930-1996) Spirit
Garden (1994) [14:42] Solitude Sonore (1958) [6:32]
Film Scores: Jose Torres (1959): Music of Training
and Rest [5:12]; Black Rain (1989): Funeral Music [5:17]; Face
of Another: Waltz [2:26] Dreamtime (1981) [14:35] A
Flock Descends into the Pentagonal Garden (1977) [13:52] Bournemouth
Symphony Orchestra/Marin Alsop rec. January 2005, Concert Hall,
Lighthouse, Poole, England NAXOS
8.557760 [62:37] [KM]
An
excellent introduction to this little-known composer, and at a
bargain price ... see Full Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH John
TAVERNER (c. 1490-1545) Kyrie
(Le Roy) [6:37] Western Wind Mass [25:08]
William CORNYSH (d. 1523) Woefully Arrayed [7:22]
ANONYMOUS (c. 1510) Ah, My Dear Son [5:43]
SHERYNGHAM (c. 1500) Ah, gentle Jesu [6:02]
John BROWNE (fl. c. 1480-1505) Jesu, mercy [9:21]
Christopher TYE (c. 1505-1573) In Pace
Ars Nova Copenhagen/Paul Hillier rec. 19-24 July 2004, St. Paul’s Church,
Copenhagen.
DA CAPO 8.226050 [65:32][KS]
Flawless
singing from every point of view. ... see Full
Review
John
TAVERNER (c.1490-1545) Kyrie Leroy [6.37]; Western Wind Mass [25.13] William
CORNYSH Jnr (d.1523) Woefully arrayed [7.22]
SHERYNGHAM (c.1500) Ah, gentle Jesu [6.02]
John BROWNE (fl.1480-1505) Jesu, mercy Christopher
TYE (c.1505-1573) In pace [5.14] Anon (c.1510) Ah, my dear son [5.43] Ars Nova Copenhagen/Paul
Hillier rec. St.Paul’s Church, Copenhagen, 19-24 July 2004. DDD
DA CAPO 8.226050 [65.32][GH]
Paul
Hillier takes this fine young Danish choir through their paces in this
glorious flowering of late Tudor polyphony. ... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Great Composers (BBC TV Series) Excerpts from: Romeo and
Juliet, Eugene Onegin, Queen of Spades, Swan Lake, Symphonies
2, 4, 5 & 6, Piano Concerto No. 1, Violin Concerto, The Seasons
Narrated by: Kenneth Branagh,
Performed by: Evgeny Kissin (piano); Maxim Vengerov (violin); Natalia
Makarova (prima ballerina); St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra/Yuri
Termirkanov, Contributors include: David Brown; Evgeny Kissin; Maxim
Vengerov; Natalia Makerova; Yuri Temirkanov; Graham Vick; Valery Gergiev.
BBC broadcast in January 1998
WARNER MUSIC/NVC ARTS/BBC 50-51011-5451-2
[58:00] [IL]
An
excellent documentary and a splendid introduction to the life and
music of a grossly underrated genius. ... see Full
Review
Michael
TIPPETT (1905-1998)
The
Midsummer Marriage (1955)Joan Carlyle (soprano) Jenifer; Elizabeth
Harwood (soprano) Bella; Elizabeth Bainbridge (mezzo) She-Ancient; Helen
Watts (contralto) Sosostris; Alberto Remedios (tenor) Mark; Stuart Burrows
(tenor) Jack; Raimund Herincx (baritone) King Fisher; Stafford Dean
(bass) He-Ancient; David Whelan (baritone) Half-Tipsy Man; Andrew Daniels
(tenor) Dancing Man Chorus
and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Colin Davis. From
Philips 6703027 No rec. info. ADD
LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD2217 [76:07 + 77:27] [DC]
Once
I’d started I was hooked and played the whole
thing through, relishing every moment ...
see Full
Review
Will TODD (b. 1970)
Mass in Blue (jazz mass) Op.28 (2003) [37:19] (1. Kyrie
[6.39]; 2. Gloria [3.50]; 3. Credo [8.32]; 4. Sanctus [5.10]; 5. Benedictus
[4.16]; 6. Agnus Dei [8.52]) 7. Christus est stella [3.42] 8. The Christ-Child
[3.53] 9. Ave verum corpus [3.33] 10. None other Lamb [2.12] 11. The
Rose [4.42] 12. Lead me Lord (soprano solo: Fiona McWilliams) [3.14]
13. Lighting the way [3.10] 14. Every stone shall cry [2.27]
Vasari Singers/Jeremy Backhouse rec. 2006. DDD
SIGNUM SIGCD083 [64.19][RB]
Get
this if you appreciate well-turned accessible choral music ... sustained
creative delight. ... see Full Review
Johann Baptist VANHAL
(1739-1813) Concerto
for Bassoon and Orchestra in C [16:05] Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra
in C [15:50] Concerto for Oboe and Strings in F Major [12:21] Concerto
for 2 Bassoons and Orchestra in F Major [22:52]
Luc Loubry (bassoon) Francois Baptiste (bassoon) Michel Lethiec (clarinet)
Piet Van Bockstal (oboe) The Prussian Chamber Orchestra/Hans
Rotman rec. No details of dates or venue provided.
TALENT RECORDS DOM 2910 75 [67:38][MC]
This
superbly performed and recorded Classic Talent release should suit those
looking for something different from a rarely heard composer who was
a contemporary of Haydn and Mozart. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813-1901) Rigoletto
(1851) Duke of Mantua: Aquiles Machado (tenor); Rigoletto: Leo Nucci
(baritone); Gilda: Inva Mula (soprano); Sparafucile: Mario Luperi (bass);
Maddalena: Sarah M’punga (soprano); Giovanna: Milena Josipovich (mezzo);
Count of Monterone: Giuseppe Riva (bass); Marullo: Andrea Piccinni (baritone);
Borsa: Giovanni Floris (tenor); Count of Ceprano: Angelo Nardinocchi
(baritone); Countess of Ceprano: Alessandra Canettieri (soprano); Court
Usher: Tino Nava (bass); Page: Loredana Bigi (mezzo)
Orchestra, Chorus and Corps de Ballet of Arena di Verona/Marcello Viotti
Directed for the Stage by Charles Roubaud; Choreography by Alphonse
Poulin; Art Direction by Bernard Arnould; Lighting Design by Fabrice
Kebour; Costume Design by Katia Duflot Directed for TV and Video by
Pierre Cavasilas and Rosina Stefanini rec. Arena di Verona, 21 July
2001. Sound Format DD 5.1, DTS 5.1, LPCM Stereo; Picture Format 16:9;
Region Code 0; Disc Format DVD 9 
TDK
DV-OPRIGM [134:00] [GPu]
A
production which struggles with the demands
of the arena in Verona, and which doesn’t
readily translate to the ‘small’ screen, but
which is worth getting to know, especially
for Leo Nucci’s Rigoletto... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813-1901) Rigoletto
- melodramma in three acts (1851)
Duke of Mantua, Franco Bonisolli (ten); Rigoletto,
his jester, Rolando Panerai (bar); Gilda,
Rigoletto’s daughter, Margherita Rinaldi (sop);
Sparafucile, a villain available for hire
as an assassin, Bengt Rundgren (bass); Maddalena,
his sister, Viorica Cortez (mezzo); Giovanna,
Gilda’s Duenna, Ilona Papenthin (mezzo); Count
Monterone, Antonin Svorc (bass); Marullo,
a courtier, Horst Lunow (bar); Matteo Borsa,
a courtier, Henno Gardhuhn (ten); Count Ceprano,
Peter Olesch (bar); Contess Ceprano, Maria
Corelli (sop)
Chorus and orchestra of the StaatsoperDresden/Francesco
Molinari-Pradelli rec. studio, 1977
ARTS MUSIC ARTS ARCHIVES 43073-2 [62.21
+ 54.27] [RF]
Whatever
the virtues of the other principals, any performance
of Rigoletto depends on the name part. In
this recording Rolando Panerai is a mixed
blessing. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813-1901)
Rigoletto, Melodramma in three acts (1851)
Duke of Mantua, Marcelo Álvarez (ten); Rigoletto, his jester, Carlos
Álvarez (bar); Gilda, Rigoletto’s daughter, Inva Mula (sop); Sparafucile,
a villain available for hire as an assassin, Julian Konstantinaov (bass);
Maddalena, his sister, Nino Surguladze (mezzo); Giovanna, Gilda’s Duenna,
Merce Obiol (mezzo); Count Monterone, Stanislav Shevts (bass); Marullo,
a courtier, Joan Martin-Roya (bar); Matteo Borsa, a courtier, John Plazaola
(ten); Count Ceprano, Davis Rubiera (bar); Contess Ceprano, Sandra Galiano
(sop) Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona/Jesus
Lopez-Cobos Directed by Graham Vick. Set and Costume Design by Paul
Brown, TV and Video Director, Pietro d’Agostino rec. live, Gran Teatre
del Liceu, Barcelona, December 2004 Sound format, DD 5.1. DTS 5.1. LPCM
stereo. Picture format 16:9 Introductory essay in English, German and
French Subtitles in Italian (original language), English, German, French,
Spanish TDK
DVWW-OPRIGL [131:00]
[RJF]
There
are visual incongruities yet despite some reservations the staging
works. Overall though my preference on DVD lies with David McVicar’s
2002 Covent Garden production ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) La Traviata
- Opera in three acts (1853)
Violetta Valery, Anna Moffo (sop); Flora, Anna Reynolds (mezzo); Annina,
Liliana Poli (sop); Alfredo Germont, Richard Tucker (tenor); Giorgio
Germont, Robert Merrill (bar); Gastone, Piero de Palma (ten); Doctor
Grenvil, Franco Ventriglia (bass); Baron Douphol, Franco Calabrese (bar);
Marquis d’Obigny, Vito Susca (bass) Giuseppe, Adelio Zogonara (ten)
Rome Opera Orchestra and Chorus/Fernando Previtali rec. Rome Opera House,
Italy. 16-25 June 1960 Libretto with English available on specified
website. SACD/CD and Super Audio Surround Sound format.
RCA RED SEAL LIVING STEREO SERIES 82876 82623 2
[64.04 + 48.46][RJF]
The
playback quality of this performance outstrips the singing by some measure.
... see Full Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813–1901) Don Carlo (1884)
Boris Christoff
(bass) – Filippo II, King of Spain; Mario Filippeschi (tenor) – Don
Carlo, Infante of Spain; Tito Gobbi (baritone) – Rodrigo, Marquis of
Posa; Giulio Neri (bass) – The Grand Inquisitor; Plinio Clabassi (bass)
– A Monk; Antonietta Stella (soprano) – Elisabetta di Valois; Elena
Nicolai (mezzo) – Princess Eboli; Loretta Di Lelio (mezzo) – Tebaldo,
page to Elisabetta; Paolo Caroli (tenor) – Count of Lerma / A Royal
Herald; Orietta Moscucci (soprano) – A Voice from Heaven; Chorus and
Orchestra, Opera House, Rome/Gabriele Santini rec. Rome, October 1954
Bonus Tracks – Great Voices Sing Verdi Don Carlo: Io l’ho
perduta! … Qual pallor! [10:06] Jussi Björling (tenor), Robert Merrill
(baritone), Emil Markow (bass), Chorus and the RCA Victor Orchestra/Renato
Cellini rec. 1950 I vespri Siciliani: O tu, Palermo [3:50]
Boris Christoff (bass), Philharmonia Orchestra/Wilhelm Schüchter rec.
1952 Ernani: Che mai veggio! … Infelice … L’offeso onor, signori [6:30]
Boris Christoff (bass), Philharmonia Orchestra/Anatole Fistoulari rec.
1951 La forza del destino: Urna fatale [3:28]
Tito Gobbi (baritone), Philharmonia Orchestra/James Robertson rec. 1950
Un ballo in maschera: Alzati … Eri tu [6:57] Tito Gobbi (baritone),
Philharmonia Orchestra/Warwick Braithwaite rec. 1952 Otello: Vanne …
Credo in un Dio crudel [4:15]; Era la notte [2:45] Tito Gobbi (baritone),
Philharmonia Orchestra/James Robertson rec. 1950
REGIS RRC 3011 [3 CDs: 60:19 + 67:52 + 75:09][GF]
At
Regis’ price this set should be in every respectable opera collection!
... see Full Review
Giovanni
Battista VIOTTI (1755-1824)
Six Quatuors Concertants, Op. 3 (c. 1820): No. 1 in A major [13:07];
No. 2 in C major [14:31]; No. 3 in F major [09:48]; No. 4 in B flat
major [10:24]; No. 5 in E flat major [14:64]; No. 6 in E major [14:07]
L'Arte del Suono: (Lola
Bobesco (violin); Jean-Michel Defalque (violin); Dominique Huybrechts
(viola); Sylvie Mariage (cello)) rec. dates not provided and location
of venue unclear. DDD
TALENT DOM 2910 46 [76:31] [MC]
Those
who enjoy the chamber works of Haydn, Mozart and Cherubini may
wish to explore these fascinating and rewarding string quartets
... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Concerti per violino vol. 1
Concerto in D Grosso Mogul (RV 208)
[15:07] Concerto in g minor (RV 332) [09:43]
Concerto in D L'Inquietudine (RV 234)
[06:22] Concerto in c minor Il Sospetto
(RV 199) [09:08] Concerto in B flat La
Caccia (RV 362) [07:40] Concerto in E
Il Riposo (RV 270) [07:31]
Enrico Onofri (violin) Academia Montis
Regalis/Alessandro de Marchi rec. June 2005,
Oratorio di Santa Croce, Mondovi, Italy. DDD
NAÏVE OP 30417 [55:33] [JV]
This
disc is a winner in every respect - Onofri
not only gives splendid interpretations but
also explains which Vivaldi’s underlying ideas
... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Prelude and Liebestod
from Tristan und Isolde (1858) [17:13] Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Tod und Verklärung Op.
24 (1888) [25:41] Four Last Songs (1947): Fruhling [3:09];
September [4:36]; Beim Schlafengehen [4:44]; Im Abendrot
[7:41] Christine Brewer(soprano)
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra/Donald Runnicles rec. 1-2 April 2006, Woodruff
Arts Centre, Atlanta, Georgia
TELARC CD-80661 [63:29][DC]
An
irresistible ‘must-have’ for connoisseurs
of these fine works. ... see Full
Review
Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883) Der
Ring – An Organ Transcription - arr.
Hansjörg Albrecht, Hansjörg Albrecht
(organs) rec. St. Nikolai zu Kiel, April-May
2006
OEHMS
CLASSICS OC 612 Hybrid SACD [63:59]
[PCW]
If
the idea behind the disc appeals, this will
probably give pleasure … see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER
(1813-1883) Tristan
und Isolde (1865) [248:43] John Treleaven
(tenor) Christine Brewer (soprano) Peter Rose
(bass) Boaz Daniel (baritone)
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Donald Runnicles
rec. live, concert, Barbican Hall, London,
12 December 2002 (Act One), 5 and 19 February
2003 (Acts Two and Three)
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62964-2 [4 CDs: 56:45
+ 60:10 + 51:50 + 79:58] [DH]
Despite
Brewer, Pecková and Rose this new Tristan
gives way to the Goodall set. ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Tannhäuser (1845)
Tannhäuser: Richard Versalle (tenor); Elisabeth: Cheryl Studer, (soprano);
The Landgrave von Thüringen: Hans Sotin, (bass); Wolfram von Eschenbach:
Wolfgang Brendel, (baritone); Venus: Ruthild Engert-Ely, (mezzo) Bayreuth
Festival Chorus and Orchestra/Giuseppe Sinopoli Director: Wolfgang Wagner;
Director for film: Brian Large rec. Bayreuther Festspielhaus, 23-28
June 1989 DVD all regions
EUROARTS 2072008 [188:00]
[AOz]
A
historically important work, since it features Versalle and Studer
at the beginning of their careers, with an unusually erotic Eschenbach
in Brendel ... see Full
Review
Lazar WEINER
(1897-1982) The Art of Yiddish Song Yosl
Klezmer (1939) [2:13] Yidish (1946) [1:25] Ergets vayt (1936) [2:10]
Ikh hob far dir a sod (1945) [1:46] A Nign [2:53] Shtile Likht (1956)
[2:02] Got geyt mir nokh umetum (1973) [2:22] Khoyves [1:57] Got un
mentsh (1973) [1:34] Tsela-Tseldi (1922) [2:21]
Der Sholem-Zokher (1973) [4:27] Toybnshtile
[2:30] Viglid [2:49] Fun vayte
teg (1977) [1:46] Bald vet zany a regn (1965) [0:45]
A papir vil bageyn zelbstmord (1965) [1:05] Der
Yid mitn fidl (1956) [3:13] Baym bentshn likht (1974) [1:56]
A gebet [1:32] Shtile tener (1918) [2:09] A foter tsu zany zun [2:26]
Volt mayn tate raykh geven (1918) [1:44] Dos
reyd funem novi [4:38] Ovnt-Lid (1968) [2:25] Gramen geshribn
in zamd (1956) [3:18] Ikh hob dikh shoyn lang (1976) [1:28]
Viglid (1925) [2:46] Dos gold fun
dayne oygn (1922) [1:56] Di mayse mit der velt
(1930) [3:25] Ikh bin der vaynrib (1965) [1:29]
Unter dayne vayse shtern (1950) [3:13] Yidn zingen ani mamin (1973)
[3:14] Raphael
Frieder; Ida Rae Cahana; Meir Finkelstein; Elizabeth Shammash; Robert
Abelson; David Ossenfort; Harold Orbach; Re’ut Ben Ze’ev; Susan Davenny-Wyner
(singers) Yehudi Wyner (piano) Barry Snyder (piano)
rec. Lefrac Concert Hall, Colden Centre for the Arts, Flushing, New
York, 2001; Kilbourne Hall, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New
York, December 1992; Sprague Hall, Yale University CT, May 1972; Gateway
Studios, Surrey, UK, July 2000
NAXOS MILKEN ARCHIVE 8.559443 [74:14][JW]
A
pre-eminent Yiddish art composer with Impressionism
a strong element…uneven performances ... see
Full
Review
Nigel WESTLAKE
(b.1958) Piano
Trio (2003) [20:57] The Hinchinbrook Riffs
(2003) [8;06] String Quartet No.2 (2005) [23:03]
Kalabash (2004) [7:29] Piano Sonata (1997)
[15:15]
Macquarie Trio Australia Craig Ogden (guitar)
Goldner String Quartet Synergy Percussion
Michael Kieran Harvey (piano) rec. Concert
Hall, University of Newcastle, January 1999
(Piano Sonata); Newington College, January
2006 (Kalabash); Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney
Conservatorium, November 2003 (Piano Trio);
The Top Studio, Sarsden, Oxfordshire, UK,
May 2006 (The Hinchinbrook Riffs); Sir John
Clancy Auditorium, University of NSW, October
2005 (String Quartet No. 2)
TALL POPPIES TP187 [75:09] [JW]
Diverting
and exciting showcase … performers play with
uninhibited brilliance ... see Full
Review
Henryk
WIENIAWSKI (1835-1880) Polonaise brillante
in A major, Op.21 (1870) [9:11] Legend, Op.17 (1860) [7:09] Józef
WIENIAWSKI (1837-1912) Sonata in D minor, Op.24
[57:46] Patrycja
Piekutowska (violin); Edward Wolanin (piano) rec. 2005/2006, Pomeranian
Philharmonic Concert Hall, Bydgoszczy, Poland. DDD
DUX 0543 [74:08][GPu]
A
rewarding and enjoyable CD, on which the best music comes from the lesser
known of the two brothers … see Full
Review
Malcolm
WILLIAMSON (1931–2003) Symphony for
Voices (1960/2)a [16:31] Love, the Sentinel (1972)
[8:30] English Eccentrics - Choral Suite (1964) [15:16] Requiem
for a Tribe Brother (1992) [29:24]
Kathryn Cook (alto)a Joyful Company of Singers/Peter Broadbent
rec. Hall, Charterhouse, Godalming, Surrey, February 2005
NAXOS 8.557783 [69:42][HC]
A
splendid disc of splendid music superbly sung. ... see Full
Review
Gernot
WOLFGANG (b.1957) Common Ground Metamorphosis
(2001) [10:58] 1 Common Ground (2005) [12:25] 2 Jazz
& Cocktails (2003) [12:13] 3 Dual Identity (2005) [4:08]
4 Thin Air (2002, rev. 2005) [11:36] 5 Night Shift
(2005) [8:09] 6 1
Margaret Batjer (violin); Brian Dembow (viola); Stephen Erdody (cello);
Robert Edward Thies (piano); 2 Judith farmer (bassoon); Armen
Ksajikian (cello); 3 Tereza Stanislav (violin); Cécilia Tsan
(cello); Robert Edward Thies (piano); 4 Judith Farmer (bassoon);
5 Margaret Batjer (violin); Brian Dembow (viola) Stephen
Erdody (cello); 6 Delores Stevens (piano) rec. 10 November
2005, Martinsound, Alhambra, California4,5; 12-13 December,
Alfred Newman Recital Hall, University of Southern California, Los Angeles1,2,3,6
ALBANY TROY 854
[59:42][GPu]
Supposedly
‘Groove-Oriented Chamber Music’, but I’m not sure that isn’t a rather
misleading description of some well-written, subtle and varied contemporary
work for a number of instrumental combinations … see Full
Review
Xian XINGHAI
(1905-1945) Yellow River Cantata (1938)
[38:57] Nie ER National Song of the People's Republic
of China (1935) [1:03] Pierre DEGEYTER orch. A KEJIAN
The Internationale (1888) [5:47] Liu CHI My Motherland (1955) [4:59] Su TIE orch. Zhu LIANGZHEN Blood-Dyed Gallantry (1980s)
[3:40] Shanghai Philharmonic
Chorus and Orchestra/Cao Ding rec. Shanghai, China, August 1993
MARCO POLO 8.223613 [54:13][RB]
I
hope we have not heard the last of works such as these. When will be
able to welcome them back? ... see Full
Review
Return
to Front page