Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Danse
macabre op.40 (1874) (1) [06:43] The
Carnival of the Animals (1886) (2) [23:11] Allegro appassionato
op.43 (1875) (3) [03:49] Symphony no.3 in C minor op.78 (1886) (4)
[34:12] Samson et Dalila (1877): Bacchanale (5) [06:44]
John Ogdon, Brenda
Lucas (pianos) (2), Paul Tortelier (cello) (3), Christopher Robinson
(organ) (4), City of Birmingham Orchestra (1-4), Paris Opéra Orchestra
(5)/Louis Frémaux (1-4), Georges Prêtre (5) rec. No dates or locations
but pub. 1963 (Bacchanale), 1971 (Carnival), 1973 (Symphony), 1974 (Danse),
1975 (Allegro) CLASSICS
FOR PLEASURE 0946 3 82233 2 0 [75:17][CH]
Amiable
performances that don’t really match the greatest.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Aulis SALLINEN (b.
1935) Introduction and Tango Overture Op.74b
(1997)a [10:14] Chamber Music III Op.58 (1986)b [20:06] Elegy
for Sebastian Knight Op.10 (1964)b [4:25] Chamber
Music IV Op.79 (2000)a [16:57] Chamber Music
V Op.80 (2000)c [20:57] Arto
Noras (cello) (III & Elegy); Mika Väyrynen (accordion) (V)
Virtuosi di Kuhmo/Ralf Gothóni (piano - Tango & IV) rec.
Järvenpää Hall, February 2005 CPO
777 147-2 [73:08] [HC]
Superb
and generously filled fifth instalment in CPO’s Sallinen Edition
goes from strength to strength. Sheds interesting light on an important,
but sometimes overlooked facet of Sallinen’s output. ... see Full
Review
Marc SATTERWHITE
(b.
1954) Epitafio
(2001) [9:43] Witnesses of Time (Four
Studies on photographs by Flor Garduño)
(2003) [19:47] Memento Mori I: Red Carnations
in White Lace Curtains (1993-95) [10:34]
Concertino a Tre (1995) [19:58]
Paige Morgan (English horn) Conrad Alexander
(Percussion) The Core Ensemble (Andrew Mark
(cello); Hugh Hinton (piano); Michael Parola
(percussion)); Kathy Karr (flute); Matthew
Karr (bassoon); Joanna Goldstein (piano) rec.
1996-2004, various locations.
CENTAUR CRC 2816 [60:17] [KS]
Uninspired,
episodic and meandering. This is an example
of the negative side of American academia.
... see Full
Review
Alessandro
SCARLATTI (1660-1725)
Cinque Profeti, 1705 [59:52] Arcangelo
CORELLI (1653-1713) Sonata a
Quattro in G Minor (Wo02) [5:51]
Barbara Schlick (soprano); Heike Hallaschka
(soprano); Kai Wessel (alto); Christoph Prégardien
(tenor); Michael Schopper (bass) La Stagione/Michael
Schneider. DDD
DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 
05472-77291-2 [65:43][MS]
An
interesting and charming Christmas cantata
well performed and with many touching musical
moments ... see Full
Review
Domenico
SCARLATTI (1685-1757)
The
Complete Sonatas, Volume III - (Venice VI
– VIII, 1753-1754)
Richard Lester (harpsichord and organ) rec.
Spring, 2003, Wisteria Lodge, Cirencester,
Gloucestershire, England. DDD
NIMBUS RECORDS NI 1727 [6 CDs: 72:51 +
53:52 + 59:18 + 60:53 + 61:05 + 53:30] [MS]
Spectacular
repertoire spectacularly well played. A landmark
series of the complete keyboard works from
‘the most original keyboard composer’ of the
first half of the eighteenth century... see
Full Review
Johann
Heinrich SCHMELZER (c.1620-1680) Sonata
a 8 per chiesa e camera [3:33] Sonata X (from Duodena
selectarum sonatarum) [4:50] Ciaccona a 3 chori [5:12] Sonata
con tribus violinis [6:36] Sonata ad tabulam a 4 [4:54] Lamento
sopra la morte Ferdinadii III [5:41] Sonata a 5 per camera al
giorno delle correggie [6:00] Sonata III from Sonatae
unarum fidium [6:39] Sonata a 5 [7:13] Balletti francesi
for the opera by Cesti, Antonio, Nettunno e Flora festeggianti
[5:46] Sonata con ariae a 9 zu der Kayserlichen Serenade [5:51]
Tafelmusik/Jeanne
Lamon DDD
SONY
SK 53963 [62:54][MS]
The
excellent Tafelmusik at their best in inspiring, varied and open-hearted
music from the under-rated Schmelzer. Well worth a look. … see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Complete String
Quartets - Vol. 7 Movement in C minor for String Quartet, Quartettsatz,
D.103 (1814) [8:11] String Quartet No. 5 in B flat major, D.68 (1813)
[16:22] String Trio in B flat major for Violin, Viola and Cello, D.471
(1816) [7:59] Five Minuets with Six Trios for String Quartet, D.89 (1813)
[14:08] (No. 1 in C major [3:38]; No. 2 in F major [0:57]; No. 3 in
D minor [4:53]; No. 4 in G major [0:54]; No. 5 in C major [3:51] Overture
in C minor for String Quintet, D.8 (1811) edited Hess [9:07]
Kodály Quartet: (Attila Falvay (violin); Erika Tóth (violin) (all works
except D.471); János Fejérvári (viola); György Éder (cello); Gyözö Máthé
(2nd viola on D.8)) rec. 18-22 July 2005, Phoenix Studio, Budapest,
Hungary. DDD NAXOS 8.557126
[55:48][MC]
Admirable
performances. The cool and reasonably clear sound. Not by any stretch
of the imagination indispensable but interesting and rewarding ... see
Full Review
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Fantasie in C Major, D. 934 [22:58] Sonata in A Major, D. 574 [21:25]
Rondo Brilliant in b minor [13:11]
Isabelle Faust (violin) Alexander Melnikov (piano) rec. September 2004,
Teldex Studio, Berlin
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC 901870 [57:47] [KS]
Performances
that are taut, sincere and never self-indulgent. Splendidly tuneful
music performed with exquisite good taste ... see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810–1856)
Spanisches Liederspiele op.74 (excerpts) [6.50] Drei Gedichte
op. 29 [8.19] Fünf Lieder op. 55 [14.58] Vier doppelchörige
Gesänge op. 141 [16.56] Vier Gesänge op. 59 [14.12] Bei
Schenkun eines Flugels [2.25] Beim Abschied zu singen, op.
84 [4.16] Konrad Elser
(piano) Orpheus Vokalensemble/Gary Graden rec. Biblothekssall Ochesenhausen
and Bibliothekssal Bad Schuessnried 21-24 May 2006
CARUS 83.173 [68.47] [RH]
A
highly attractive introduction to Schumann’s choral music, including
a fine performance of one of Schumann’s greatest choral pieces.
... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Robert SCHUMANN (1810–1856) Lieder
Edition 3 Liederalbum für die Jugend, Op.
79 (1849) [49:15]:
No. 1. Der Abendstern [2:18]; No. 2. Schmetterling [0:51]; No.
3. Frühlingsbotschaft [0:57]; No. 4. Frühlingsgruss [1:45]; No.
5. Vom Schlaraffenland [1:52]; No. 6. Sonntag [1:50]; No. 7. Zigeunerliedchen
I [0:58]; No. 8. Zigeunerliedchen II [1:35]; No. 9. Des Knaben
Berglied [1:58]; No. 10. Mailied [1:07]; No. 11. Käuzlein [2:13];
No. 12. Hinaus ins Freie! [1:18]; No. 13. Der Sandmann [2:08];
No. 14. Marienwürmchen [1:35]; No. 15. Die Waise [2:10]; No. 16. Das
Glück [0:52]; No. 17. Weihnachtlied [1:48]; No. 18. Die wandelnde
Glocke [2:04]; No. 19. Frühlingslied [2:45]; No. 20. Frühlings
Ankunft [1:33]; No. 21. Die Schwalben [1:06]; No. 22. Kinderwacht [1:14];
No. 23. Des Sennen Abschied [2:04]; No. 24. Er ist’s [1:20]; No.
25. Spinnelied [1:47]; No. 26. Des Buben Schützenlied [1:00]; No.
27. Schneeglöckchen [1:25]; No. 28. Lied Lynceus des Türmers [2:07];
No. 29. Mignon [3:34]; Lieder und Gesänge I, Op.
27 (1849)[8:49]:; No. 1. Sag an, o lieber Vogel mein [1:40]; No. 2. Dem
rotten Röslein, gleich mein Lieb [1:16]; No. 3. Was soll ich sagen? [2:53];
No. 4. Jasminenstrauch [0:48]; No. 5. Nur ein lächelnder Blick [2:13] Sibylla
Rubens (soprano) (2, 4, 10-11, 13-16, 19, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29); Stefanie Iranyi
(mezzo) (10, 16, 19, 21, 25); Thomas E Bauer (baritone) (1, 3, 5-9, 12, 17-18,
20, 22-23, 25-26, 28, 30-34); Uta Hielscher (piano) rec. 26 – 28 January 2006,
Bayerische Rundfunk Studio 1, Munich, Germany NAXOS
8.557076 [58:04] [GF]
A
wholly delightful recital with Thomas E Bauer rapidly advancing
to the peak of the Lieder Singer’s Helicon and Sibylla Rubens following
suit ... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) CD1 1.
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 (1846) [33:30] 2. Cello Concerto
in A minor, Op. 129 (1850) [25:29]
3. Konzertstück in F major for Four Horns and Orchestra, Op. 86 (1849) [18:49] CD2 4.
Introduction and Allegro appassionato, Op. 92 (1849) [16:39] 5. Concert Allegro
with Introduction in D minor, Op. 134 (1853) [15:26] 6. Violin Concerto in D
minor (1853) [27:37]
7. Overture, Scherzo and Finale, Op. 52 (1841) [15:24] Ingrid
Haebler (piano), Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Eliahu Inbal (1); Lynn Harrell
(cello), The Cleveland Orchestra/Neville Marriner (2); Dale Clevenger, Richard
Oldberg, Thomas Howell, Norman Schweikert (horns), Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Daniel
Barenboim (3); Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano/conductor), London Symphony Orchestra
(4); Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano), London Symphony Orchestra/Uri Segal (5); Joshua
Bell (violin), The Cleveland Orchestra/Christoph von Dohnányi (6); Wiener Philharmoniker/Sir
Georg Solti (7). rec. Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,
June 1972 (1); Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, November 1981 (2); Orchestra
Hall, Chicago, USA, March 1977 (3); Kingsway Hall, London, UK, May 1976 (4);
Kingsway Hall, London, UK, June 1977 (5); Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, USA,
October 1994 (6); Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria, September 1969 (7). ADD (1,3,4,5,7)
DDD (2,6) DECCA ELOQUENCE 442
8410 [78:05 + 75:25] [TP]
A
far-sighted release satisfying beginner and seasoned collector
alike. At Eloquence price, this is an unmissable bargain. … see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Dichterliebe
op.48 [28:09] Liederkreis op.24 [19:33] Liederkreis op.39 [25:02]
12 Gedichte von Justinus Kerner op.35 [32:43] 12 Gedichte aus
Rückerts Liebesfrühling op.37: 1. Der Himmel hat eine Träne
geweint [02:04], 5. Ich hab’ in mich gesogen [01:51],
9. Rose,
Meer und Sonne [04:35]
4 Gesänge op.142: 4. Mein Wagen rollet langsam [03:56] Der arme Peter
op.53/3 [04:48]
Tragödie op.64/3: I, II [03:42]
4 Gesänge op.142: 2. Lehn deine Wang’ [00:48]
Myrthen op.25: 24. Du bist wie eine Blume [01:54], 21. Was will die
einsame Träne [02:27], 7. Die Lotusblume [01:50], 1. Widmung [01:55],
2. Freisinn [01:20], 17. Venetianisches Lied I [01:44], 18. Venetianisches
Lied II [01:11], 3. Der Nussbaum [03:09], 5. Aus dem Schenkenbuch
im Divan I [00:39], 6. Aus dem Schenkenbuch im Divan II [00:53], 25. Aus
den östlichen Rosen [01:49], 26. Zum Schluss [01:59] Wolfgang
Holzmair (baritone), Imogen Cooper (piano) rec. June 1994 (opp.24, 25/21, 25/24,
25/27 (no such song exists, probably they mean no.7), 48, 53/3, 64/1, 142/2,
142/4), October 1999 (op.39), Haydnsaal, Schloss
Esterházy, Eisenstadt, Austria; December 1998 (opp.25/2, 25/3, 25/5, 25/6, 25/17,
25/18, 25/25, 25/26), 35, 37, Jugendstiltheater, Vienna PHILIPS
ELOQUENCE 476 9974 [72:52 + 75:34] [CH]
The
passionate, pleading, adoring voice of Schumann is not present
to my ears. ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Film
Music CD 1 Hamlet op. 116a (1964) [38:07] The
Gadfly op. 97a
(1955) [41:22] CD 2-3 New Babylon op. 18 (1929) [84:37] Five
Days op. 111a (1961) [29:57] CD 4 King Lear op.
58a
(1940) [25:57] King Lear op. 137 (1970) [27:33] CD 5 Zoya op.
64a
(1944) [30:27] The Fall of Berlin op. 82a (1950) [30:48] CD 6 Golden
Mountains op. 30a (1931) [24:26] Maxim - film trilogy op. 50a (1931,
1935, 1961) [30:16] CD 7 Alone (Odna) op. 26 (1930-31)
[74:29] Rundfunk-Sinfonieorkester
Berlin/Leonid
Grin (Hamlet, Gadfly); James Judd (New Babylon; Five
Days); Michail Jurowski (Alone, Maxim, Golden Mountains, Zoya, Fall
of Berlin, King Lear)
RIAS Kammerchor Berlin (Zoya, Berlin, Maxim, Alone);
Jelena Zaremba (mezzo) (King Lear, Alone); Wladimir Kazatchouk
(tenor) (Alone); Stanislaw Suleimanow (bass) (King Lear); Svetlana
Katchur (Maxim's Youth); rec. Berlin Jesus-Christus-Kirche (CDs1-3,
5, 7), Berlin Deutschland Radio Saal 1 (CD6), Berlin Funkhaus (CD4). 29 November-2
December 1988 CD1, 10;12 October 1988, 7-8 February 1989, 22-23 January 1990
(CD2-3); 10-13 December 1990 (CD4); 4-6 March 1991 (CD5); 28-29 April 1994, 13-14
June 1994 (CD6); 19-22 Sept 1995
(CD7) CAPRICCIO 49533 [7
CDs: 79:27 + 65:27 + 48:59 + 53:56 + 61:46 + 56:18 + 74:29] [RB]
A
grab-bag of nuggets and bran, dross and gold, alchemy and quotidian.
... see Full Review
Dmitry
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906–1975)
Complete Symphonies - Vol. 6 Symphony No. 2 To October
Op. 14 (1927) [18:55] Symphony No. 12 The Year 1917 Op. 112 (1961)
[40:32] National Ukrainian
Choir “Dumka” (Symphony No. 2) Beethoven Orchester Bonn/Roman Kofman
rec. 16-17 September 2004 (Symphony No. 2); 15-18 May 2006 (Symphony
No. 12) MUSIKPRODUKTION
DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 937 1206-6 
[59:40] [GF]
I
don’t think it is necessary to own these two symphonies – I have
no wish to have everything that Mozart or Beethoven wrote either – but
those who feel differently could do much worse than starting here.
... see Full Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Piano
Sonata No. 2 in B minor, Op. 61 (1943) [24:08] Three Pieces
(1919-20) [2:51] A Child’s Exercise Book, Op. 69 (1944-45)
[6:41] Murzilka (undated, c. 1944-52?) [0:49] Five Preludes
(1919-21) [6:39] The Limpid Stream – Ballet, Op. 39
(1934-35) [15:51] Konstantin
Scherbakov (piano) rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, 27-28 November
2005. DDD NAXOS
8.570092 [57:00]
[TP]
Recommended
to fans of Shostakovich and lovers of light piano fare. ... see Full
Review
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865 – 1957) Songs, Volume
1 Illalle (To Evening),
Op. 17, No. 6 [1:37] Våren flyktar hastigt (Spring is flying), Op. 13, No. 4 [1:37] Den
första kyssen (The First Kiss), Op. 37, No.
1 [1:54] Svarta rosor (Black Roses), Op. 36, No. 1 [2:03]
Flickan kom ifrån sin älsklings möte (The Tryst), Op. 37, No. 5 [2:50] Säv, säv, susa (Reed,
reed, rustle), Op. 36, No. 4 [2:33] Var det en dröm?
(Was it a Dream?), Op. 37, No. 4 [1:57] Demanten på marssnön
(The Diamond on the March Snow), Op. 36, No. 6 [2:45] Lastu lainehilla
(Driftwood), Op. 17, No. 7 [1:33] Souda, souda, sinisorsa (Row,
row, duck), JS 180 [1:45] Kaiutar (The Echo Nymph), Op. 72, No.
4 [3:13] Segelfahrt (Sailing), JS 166 [1:51] Im Feld ein
Mädchen
singt (In the Field a Maid Sings), Op. 50, No. 3 [3:03] Sehnsucht
(Longing), Op. 50, No. 2 [1:51] Die stille Stadt (The Silent
City), Op. 50, No. 5 [2:45] Serenadi
(Serenade), JS 167 [3:02] En visa
(A Song), JS 71 [1:41] Den första kyssen
(The First Kiss), JS 57* [2:10] Orgier (Orgies), JS 143*
[2:21] Säv, säv, susa (Reed, reed, rustle), JS 42* [2:08] Soluppgång
(Sunrise), JS 87* [2:31] Vänskapens blomma (The Flower
of Friendship), JS 215* [2:44] Six Songs, Op. 88: No.
1: Sinivuokko (Blåsippan: The Anemone) [0:52] No. 2: Kaksi
ruusua (De bägge rosorna: The Two Roses) [1:19] No. 3: Valkovuokko
(Vitsippan: The Wood Anemone) [1:19] No. 4: Vuokko (Sippan: The
Primrose) [1:03] No. 5: Villiruusu (Törnet: The Thorn) [2:17]
No. 6: Kukkasen (Blommans öde: The Flower’s Destiny) [1:33] Narsissi (Narciss:
Narcissus), JS 140 [2:17] Hymn to Thaïs, the Unforgettable
[2:03] * World Première Recording Hannu
Jurmu (tenor); Jouni Somero (piano); rec. Sellosali, Espoo, Finland,
28–30 July, 1, 13-14 August 2005. DDD
NAXOS 8.570019 [62:28][GF]
This
is a recital with ups and downs and unfortunately
the ups are in the minority. We do however
get five songs that have never been recorded
before. ... see Full
Review
Richard
STRAUSS
(1864-1949) Four
Last Songs (1949) (Frühling [5:10];
September [4:16]; Beim Schlafengehen [2:41];
Im Abendrot [7:39]) Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Tristan
und Isolde (1865): Prelude [10:49];
Mild und leise wie er lächelt (Liebestod
– Act III) [6:33] Götterdämmerung
(1876): Siegfried’s Rhine Journey
(Prologue) [11:00]; Starke Scheite schichtet
mir dort ... (Act III) [17:55]
Kirsten Flagstad (sop) Philharmonia Orchestra/Wilhelm
Furtwängler rec. live, Royal Albert Hall,
London, 22 May 1950. ADD
TESTAMENT SBT1410 [66:53] [DH]
The
pit feeling in my stomach after this CD finished
told me I'd heard something very special indeed.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Don
Juan (1888-9) [15:44]
Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks (1894-5) [14:42]
Salome’s Dance (1903-05) [8:21]
Festive Prelude (1913) [12:39] Hans PFITZNER (1869-1949) Symphony
for Large Orchestra in C major, Three Movements in One, Op. 46 (1940)
[15:31] Hanns Ander-Donath, (organ)
Staatskapelle Dresden/Karl Böhm (Pfitzner, Don Juan, Till Eulenspiegel, Salome);
Kurt Striegler (Festive Prelude) rec. Semperoper, Dresden, January 1941 (Pfitzner);
January 1939 (Don); January 1941 (Till); January 1939 (Salome); Dresden Frauenkirche,
May 1944 (Prelude). PROFIL
PH07010 [67:22] [KS]
A
glorious reflection of a bygone era, a time
in which art and beauty held much more value
than they do today. ... see Full
Review
Richard
STRAUSS
(1864-1949) Die
Frau ohne Schatten (The
Woman without a Shadow) - opera in 3 acts
(1919)
Der Kaiser (The Emperor) - Peter Seiffert
(tenor); Die Kaiserin (The Empress) - Luana
DeVol (soprano); Die Amme (The Nurse) - Marjana
Lipovšek (mezzo); Der Geisterbote (The Spirit
Messenger) - Jan-Hendrik Rootering (baritone);
Barak, der Färber (Barak the dyer) -
Alan Titus (baritone); Sein Weib (his wife)
- Janis Martin (soprano); Die Stimme des Falken
(The Falcon’s voice) - Caroline Maria Petrig
(soprano); Die Erscheinung eines Jünglings
(The Apparition of a Young Man) - Herbert
Lippert (tenor) Bavarian State Opera Chorus
and Orchestra/ Wolfgang Sawallisch Directed
for the stage by Ennosuke Ichikawa Technical
realization by Takashi Kanai rec. Aichi Prefectural
Art Theatre, Nagoya, Japan, 8, 11 November
1992.
TDK
DVWW-OPFROS [2 DVDS: 183:00] [TH]
Does
full justice to an exceptional and challenging
masterpiece ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Don
Juan, Op. 20 (1888) [16:09] Till Eulenspiegels lustige
Streiche (1894) [14:43] Der Rosenkavalier - Waltzes arr.
Kempe (1911) [17:46] Metamorphosen (1945) [24:14] Staatskapelle
Dresden/Rudolf Kempe. rec. Lukaskirche, Dresden, 13-24 June 1970
(Don, Till), 27-29 June (Waltzes),
1-5 January (Metam.) 1973 EMI
CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 3458262 [74:11] [CC]
Most
Strauss lovers will already have these performances. They have
been reissued countless times. Lucky the person who encounter them
the first time on this disc, though ... see Full
Review
Barbara
STROZZI
(1619-c.1664) La Virtuosissima
cantatrice Merci
di voi [5.30]; Noiosa Iontananza: Dimmi
dove sei [3.37]; La tre Gratia a venere
[3.03]; Gl’occhi superbi [3.47]; Amor dormoglione
[2.16]; Begli occhi [4.36]; Anuma
del moi core [4.43]; Sete pur fastidioso
[3.19]; I baci [2.38]; Sino alla
morte [14.14]; Mordeva un bianco lino
[3.32]; Godere e tacere [3.4]; Canto
di bella bocca [5.49]; Liberta: Non
ci Iusinghi piu [3.24]
Musica Secreta (Deborah Roberts (soprano);
Suzie le Blanc (soprano); Mary Nichols (alto);
Kasia Elsner (theorbo); John Toll (harpsichord)
rec. Forde Abbey, Dorset, November 1992. DDD
AMON RA CD SAR 61 [64.10] [GH]
All
in all a fascinating release of music that
is well worth studying and taking seriously.
... see Full
Review
Emil
TABAKOV (b. 1947) Concerto
for Two Flutes and Orchestra* (2000) [27:08] Concerto for
Piano and Orchestra**
(2003) [34:23] Patrick
Gallois and Philippe Bernold (flutes)* Jean-Philippe Collard (piano)**
Bilkent Symphony Orchestra/Emil Tabakov rec. 28 May-2 June 2005 Bilkent
Concert Hall, Turkey NAXOS
8.570073 [61:31] [DB]
Certainly
worth hearing, especially for the Two Flutes
concerto … see Full
Review
Sergei TANEYEV (1856-1915)
Piano Music Piano
Concerto in E flat major (unfinished) (1876)
[33:28] Prelude in F major [3:15]; Lullaby
in B flat major [3:25]; Theme and Variations
[10:17]; Allegro in E flat major [7:45]; Andantino
semplice in B minor [5:06]; Repose (Elegy)
in E major [3:04]; March in D minor [2:03];
Four Improvisations: ((i) Moderato [1:15]
(ii) Allegretto [0:46] (iii) Allegro scherzando
[0:43]; (iv) Largo [1:15]); The Composer's
Birthday for narrator and piano - four hands
[2:00]; The Composer's Birthday for piano
- four hands [1:53]
Joseph Banowetz (piano) Russian Philharmonic
of Moscow/Thomas Sanderling Vladimir Ashkenazy
(narrator) Adam Wodnicki (piano) rec. Moscow,
2006
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0042 [77:13]
[RB]
A
concerto both grand and florid coupled with
attractive music for solo piano – excellence
all-round. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe TARTINI (1692-1770) Concertos
for Violin and Orchestra, Vol. 1 Concerto for Violin in E
major, D47 [17:05] Concerto for Violin in F major, D69 [17:49]
Concerto for Violin in A major, D101 [19:13] Concerto for Violin
in D major, D34 [16:28] Paulik
László (violin) Orfeo Orchestra/György Vashegyi rec. 13-16 February
2001, Hungaroton Studio, Budapest, Hungary. DDD HUNGAROTON
CLASSIC HCD32045 [70:58]
Concertos for Violin
and Orchestra, Vol. 2 Concerto for Violin in C major, D7
[16:35] Concerto for Violin in D major, D20 [19:49] Concerto
for Violin in A major, D90 [19:35] Concerto for Violin in D major,
D17 [17:56] Paulik
László (violin) Orfeo Orchestra/György Vashegyi rec. 9-10, 12-13
April 2003, Hungaroton Studio, Budapest, Hungary. DDD HUNGAROTON
CLASSIC HCD32234 [74:23] [MC]
Great
cause for celebration with these two volumes of Tartini violin
concertos taking a treasured place in my collection … László is
one of Hungary’s best kept secrets and he deserves to be heard
by a wider audience. ... see Full
Review
Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Symphony No. 5 in e, Op. 64 (1888)
[43.35]Capriccio Italien, Op. 45 (1880) [13.09]
Concertgebouw Orchestra/Paul Van Kempen rec. Concertgebouw, Amsterdam,
the Netherlands, December 1951 Track list/timings, no notes. Monophonic
recording processed with the NoNoise system. ADD. CDR
PHILIPS LEGENDARY CLASSICS
420 858-2 [56:44] [PSh]
The
very best Capriccio Italien you’ll ever hear,
a serviceable Fifth Symphony in excellent
mono sound. ... see Full
Review
Piotr Ilych TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Manfred, Symphony in Four Scenes after Byron’s Dramatic Poem,
Op. 58 (1885) [59:02] London
Philharmonic Orchestra/Vladimir Jurowski rec. live, Royal Festival Hall,
London, 8 December 2004
LPO LIVE LPO0009 [50:02] [KS]
If
this is the kind of music making we are going
to get from this label, then long may it live.
... see Full
Review
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767)
Komm, Geist des Herren
- Late Cantatas
Komm, Geist des Herren,
cantata for Pentecost (TWV 1,999) [24:52]
Kaum wag ich es,
cantata for the 19th Sunday after Trinity
(TWV 1,992) [11:59] Er
kam, lobsinget ihm,
cantata for Ascension Day (TWV 1,462) [15:49]
Dorothee Mields (soprano), Elisabeth Graf
(contralto), Knut Schoch (tenor), Ekkehard
Abele (bass) Kammerchor
Michaelstein Telemannisches
Collegium Michaelstein/Ludger Rémy
rec. August, September 2004,
Kirche St Bonifatius, Ditfurt, Germany. DDD
CPO 777 064-2 [52:55][JV]
Fine
interpretations of three sacred works which
show Telemann was as inventive and creative
in his seventies as ever ... see Full
Review
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767)
Der Tod Jesu, oratorio (TWV 5,6)
Greetje Anthoni (soprano); Yves Saelens (tenor);
Stefan Geyer (bass) Vocal Ensemble Ex Tempore
Baroque Orchestra Le Mercure Galant/Florian
Heyerick rec. June 1995, Studio Steurbout,
Ghent, Belgium
ETCETERA KTC1289 [69:46] [JV]
A
very interesting and musically satisfying
example of Passion music from the Enlightenment
- the performance has all the requisite qualities
to convince the listener of the virtues of
this music ... see Full
Review
Sir
Michael TIPPETT (1905–1998)
Choral Images Dance, Clarion Air (1952) [4.36]
Plebs Angelica (1943) [3.11] The Weeping Babe (1944) [5.06]
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (1961) [6.59] Unto the Hills
(1958) [3.46] Four Songs of the British Isles (1956) [13.29]
Over the Sea to Sky (1956) [4.04] The Source (1942) [2.14]
The Windhover (1942) [3.00] Lullaby (1959) [4.20]
Five Negro Spirituals (from A Child of Our Time) (1939-1941)
[12.11] Iain Farrington
(organ) The BBC Singers/Stephen Cleobury rec. 21, 24, 25 January 2005,
Temple Church, London
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD092 [63.00] [RH]
The
BBC Singers go far beyond mere technical competency,
creating a series of varied but dazzlingly
vibrant performances. If you love good choral
music, then buy it. ... see Full
Review
Johann Baptist
VAŇHAL
(1739-1813) Flute
Quartet in B flat major Op.7 No.2 (Weinmann
Vb:Bb1) (c.1771) [19:18] Flute Quartets in
G major Op.7 No.3 (Weinmann Vb: G1) (c.1771)
[21:45] Flute Quartets in C major Op.7 No.6
(Weinmann Vb: C1) (c.1771) [20:02]
Uwe Grodd (flute) Janaki String Trio rec.
Grace Church-on-the-Hill, Toronto, June 2006
NAXOS 8.570234 [61:04] [JW]
Attractive
works and performances. Playing of deft sensitivity,
full of proportion, equilibrium, expressive
contouring and lyrical affection. ... see
Full Review
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
Aida - opera in four acts (1871) Il Re, King of Egypt
- Nicola Zaccaria (bass); Amneris, his daughter - Fedora Barbieri (mezzo);
Radames, Egyptian captain of the guard - Richard Tucker (ten); Amonasro,
King of Ethiopia - Tito Gobbi (bar); Aida, his daughter - Maria Callas
(sop); Ramfis, High Priest - Giuseppe Modesti (bass); Chorus and Orchestra
of Teatro alla Scala, Milan/Tullio Serafin rec. August 1955, Teatro
alla Scala, Milan Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn
NAXOS HISTORICAL GREAT OPERA RECORDINGS 8.111240-1 [67.49+78.18]
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Aida
- opera in four acts (1871) Il Re, King of Egypt - Nicola Zaccaria
(bass); Amneris, his daughter - Fedora Barbieri (mezzo); Radames, Egyptian
captain of the guard - Richard Tucker (ten); Amonasro, King of Ethiopia
- Tito Gobbi (bar); Aida, his daughter - Maria Callas (sop); Ramfis,
High Priest - Giuseppe Modesti (bass); Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro
alla Scala, Milan/Tullio Serafin rec. August 1955, Teatro alla Scala,
Milan REGIS LEGENDARY
PERFORMANCES RRC 2074 [66.47+77.13][RJF]
Although
Callas is not in best voice, the dramatic
interactions between her Aida and Gobbi’s
Amonasro in Act 3 make for exciting opera
of a standard not often caught on record.
... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Otello - tragic opera in four
acts (1887)
Otello, a Moor, commander in chief of the
Venetian fleet - José Cura (ten); Desdemona,
his wife - Krassimara Stoyanova (sop); Iago,
an ensign - Lado Ataneli (bar); Emelia, Iago's
wife - Ketevan Kemoklidze (mezzo); Cassio,
a captain under Otello - Vittorio Grigolo
(ten); Roderigo, a Venetian gentleman - Vincenz
Esteve Madrid (ten); Lodovico, Venetian ambassador
- Giorgio Giuseppini (bass) Chorus and Orchestra
of the Gran Teatro del Liceu/Antonio Rós-Marba
rec. live, Gran Teatro del Liceu 21, 24 February
2006. Stage
Director - Willy Decker Set and costume design
- John Macfarlane Television Director - Angel
Luis Ramirez Picture format: 16/9 Anamorphic
Sound formats: LPCM Stereo. DTS surround Subtitles
in English, German, French, Spanish, Catalan,
Italian
OPUS ARTE DVD Video OA 0963 D
[2 DVDs: 151:00][RJF]
José
Cura should be the Otello of this generation.
If he is to realise his full potential in
this most demanding of Italian tenor roles
he will need a more realistic set and better
direction than he gets here. ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901) La Traviata -
opera in three acts (1853)
Violetta Valery - Joan Sutherland (sop); Flora - Miti Truccato Pace
(mezzo); Annina - Dora Carral (sop); Alfredo Germont - Carlo Bergonzi
(tenor); Giorgio Germont - Robert Merrill (bar); Gastone - Piero de
Palma (ten); Doctor Grenvil - Giovanni Foiani (bass); Baron Douphol
- Paolo Pedani (bar); Marquis d’Obigny - Silvio Maionica (bass); Giuseppe
– Angelo Mercuriali (ten) Orchestra and Chorus of the Maggio Musicale
Fiorentino/John Pritchard rec. Teatro della Pergola, Florence, November
1962. ADD DECCA CLASSIC
OPERA 475 7922 [61.06 +71.17] [RJF]
Sutherland’s
first Violetta has the stylish Bergonzi as Alfredo with Merrill
a sure-toned and vocally secure Germont pére singing mellifluously.
... see Full Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813–1901) Il trovatore (1853) Ettore Bastianini
(baritone) – Il Conte di Luna; Antonietta Stella (soprano) – Leonora;
Fiorenza Cossotto (mezzo-soprano) – Azucena; Carlo Bergonzi (tenor)
– Manrico; Ivo Vinco (bass) – Ferrando; Armanda Bonato (mezzo-soprano)
– Inez; Franco Ricciardi (tenor) – Ruiz; Giuseppe Morresi (bass) – An
old gypsy; Angelo Mercuriali (tenor) – A messenger Chorus and
Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala/Tullio Serafin rec. Teatro alla Scala,
February 1962 DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON 00289 477 5662 [66:05 + 59:55][GF]
Maybe
not the most thrilling but the musically most satisfactory recording
of this opera. ... see Full Review
Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Symphony
No. 2 Ascenção (1917) [51:08] New
York Skyline Melody (1939) [2:51]
Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR/Carl St.
Clair rec. Stadthalle Sindelfingen, 16-19 February
1998; 17-18 April 2000.
CPO 999785-2 [54:08] [KS]
Colorful,
engaging music performed to perfection with excellent production values
to boot. A fine release, worthy of any collection. ... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concerto for
Strings in A Major RV 159 [5:17]
Simon Standage (violin); Micaela Comberti (violin); Jap ter Linden (violincello)
The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock Concerto for Violin in E Major
RV 271 [9:19] Simon Standage (violin) The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock
Concerto for Bassoon in E Minor RV 484 [11:45] Milan Turković (bassoon)
The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock Concerto for Flute in
G Major RV 436 [8:53] Lisa Beznosiuk (flute) The English Concert/Trevor
Pinnock Concerto for Viola d’amore and Lute in D Minor RV 540
[11:19] Roy Goodman (viola d’amore); Nigel North (lute) The English
Concert/Trevor Pinnock Concerto for Oboe and Bassoon in G Major RV
545 [10:14] David Reichenberg (oboe); Milan Turković (bassoon)
The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock DDD
ARCHIV
419 615-2 [56:57][MS]
A
persuasive programme with excellent soloists, though some uneven overall
interpretations ... see Full Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concerto for
bassoon, strings and continuo in F RV 485 [9:48] Concerto for
bassoon, strings and continuo in B Flat RV 503 [9:17] Concerto for bassoon,
strings and continuo in E Flat RV 483 [7:13] Concerto for bassoon,
strings and continuo in A Minor RV 497 [9:12] Concerto for bassoon,
strings and continuo in C RV 473 [11:25] Concerto for bassoon,
strings and continuo in F RV 492 [8:09]
Klaus Thunemann (bassoon) I
Musici rec. July 1985, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. DDD PHILIPS
416 355-2 [55:04][MS]
Carefully
selected Baroque instrumental repertoire played almost to perfection by
experts. … see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concerto no. 1 in
F Major ‘La tempesta di mare’ RV 433 [6:53] Concerto no. 2 in G
Minor ‘La notte’ RV 439 [8:49] Concerto no. 3 in D Major ‘Il
gardellino’ RV 428 [10:01] Concerto no. 4 in G Major RV 435 [6:55]
Concerto no. 5 in F Major RV 434 [9:23] Concerto no. 6 in G Major RV 437
[8:06] Lisa Beznosiuk
(transverse flute) The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock DDD
ARCHIV
423 702-2 [50:07][MS]
Gentle,
expressive and subtle Baroque instrumental music played to perfection
by forces at the zenith of their powers. see Full
Review
Richard WAGNER (1813–1883)
Siegfried
(1876) Gary Rideout (tenor) – Siegfried; Richard Greager (tenor) – Mime;
John Bröchler (bass) – Wanderer; John Wegner (bass-baritone) –
Alberich; David Hibbard (bass) – Fafner; Liane Keegan (contralto) –
Erda; Lisa Gasteen (soprano) – Brünnhilde; Shu-Cheen Yu (soprano)
– Woodbird Adelaide Symphony
Orchestra/Asher Fisch rec. Adelaide Festival Theatre, 16 November–12
December 2004 MELBA
MR 301095-98 (SACD) [4 CDs: 79:47 + 73:40 +50:24 + 33:10] [GF]
With
much inspired playing and singing and superb
SACD sound this is a set that can be warmly
recommended. Those who have already acquired
the first two instalments need not hesitate.
... see Full
Review
Richard WAGNER (1813–1883) Siegfried (1876) Jon
Fredric West (tenor) – Siegfried; Heinz Görig (tenor) – Mime; Wolfgang
Schöne (bass) – The Wanderer; Björn Waag (bass) – Alberich; Attila Jun
(bass) – Fafner; Gabriela Herrera (soprano) – Forest Bird; Helene Ranada
(contralto) – Erda; Lisa Gasteen (soprano) – Brünnhilde Staatsorchester
Stuttgart/Lothar Zagrosek rec. live, Staatstheater Stuttgart, Germany,
1 October 2002, 5 January 2003. DDD
NAXOS 8.660175-78 [4 CDs: 54:17 + 50:50 + 72:17 + 62:58][DH]
A
more-than-competent recording of an extraordinary opera ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Beecham, Flagstad and Wagner; The Beecham Collection
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) The Flying Dutchman Overture (1843)
[9:57] Lohengrin; Prelude to Act I (1848) [9:24] ¹ Wesendonck-Lieder
(1857-58) [20:01] ² Tristan und Isolde; Prelude (1859) [9:11] Tristan
und Isolde; Liebestod (1859) [7:28] ² Kirsten Flagstad – Talk on “Singing
Wagner” [10:43] ² Kirsten
Flagstad (soprano) ² RPO/Thomas Beecham BBC Symphony Orchestra/Thomas
Beecham ¹ rec. live, Royal Festival Hall, November 1954 (Flying Dutchman);
live, Royal Festival Hall, November 1953 (Lohengrin): Studio 1 Maida
Vale, London, December 1952 (Wesendonck-Lieder and Tristan); BBC radio,
1949 (Flagstad talk). ADD
SOMM-BEECHAM 20 [67:33][JW]
Offers
the highest of rewards ... see Full
Review
Silvius
Leopold WEISS (1687-1750) Lute Sonatas -
Volume 8 Sonata No.36 in D minor [24:01] Sonata No.19 in F major
(1719) [23:03] Sonata No.34 in D minor [16:07]
Robert Barto (lute) rec. Green Room, Offord Hall, Aurora, Ontario, October
2005 NAXOS 8.570109
[63:19][JW]
Barto
is impressive. Doesn’t quite reach the heights of volume seven but adherents
will waste no opportunity to acquaint themselves with this latest success.
... see Full Review
Charles
WUORINEN
(b. 1938)
Cyclops 2000 (2000) [23:29]* A Reliquary for Igor Stravinsky
(1974-5) [17:12] London
Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen rec. 16 May 2001, Queen Elizabeth Hall, South
Bank Centre, London*; October 1994, Henry Wood Hall, London. DDD
LONDON SINFONIETTA SINFCD4-2006 [40:41] [GPu]
Outstanding
performances of two very interesting works
by a major contemporary composer, especially
valuable at a time when too little of Wuorinen’s
work is easily available … see Full
Review
Gregorio
ZANON
(b. 1980) Romanèche Rhapsody for Solo
Cello and String Quintet (2006) [14:09] String Quartet No.2 Légende
à Quatre (2005) [10:55] Concerto Grosso for String Quintet and Piano
(2003) [22:45] String Quartet No.1 (2001 revised 2006) [22:53]
Terpsycordes Quartet; Mark Drobinsky (piano); Jocelyne Rudasigwa (double-bass);
Xavier Dami (piano) rec. La Chaix-de-Fonds, Salle de Musique, May 2006.
CLAVES 50-2606 [70:57]
[JW]
Music
that is strong on vitality and expressive
warmth – no chill winds here. ... 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]
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