Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony
No. 9 (1909/10) [72:09] 
Tchaikovsky
Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio/Vladimir Fedosseyev rec.
live, Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, 5-7 December 2002 RELIEF
CR991072 [72:09] [SV]
I
can't recommend this as a first Ninth; it strays too far from the
score. Still, it's well worth hearing - and it's persuasive on
its own terms. ... see Full Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Complete
Piano Music 2 Puppets Book III H92 (1914)
[9:35] Puppets Book II H116 (1918) [12:58] Puppets Book
I H137 (1924) [11:09]Film en miniature H148
(1925) [13:21]Spring in the Garden H125 (1920)
[7:12]Butterflies and Birds of Paradise H127 (1920)
[15:36]The Fifth Day of the Fifth Moon H318 (1948)
[2:57]Les bouquinistes du Quai Malaquais H319 (1948)
[1:31] Giorgio
Koukl (piano)
rec. RSI Lugano, October 2005 NAXOS
8.557918 [74:19]
[JW]
Excellently
performed, recorded and well annotated – athletic, brisk and fully
up to all technical challenges. ... see Full
Review
Pietro MASCAGNI (1863–1945)
Cavalleria rusticana (1890)
Paoletta Marrocu (soprano) – Santuzza; Andrea Bocelli (tenor) – Turiddu;
Elena Belfiore (contralto) – Lucia; Stefano Antonucci (baritone) – Alfio;
Enkelejda Shkosa (mezzo) – Lola; Salvatrice Rafisardo (soprano) – Una
donna Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro Massimo Bellini di Catania/Steven
Mercurio rec. Teatro Massimo Bellini, Catania, 24 June–4 July 2002.
DDD DECCA 475 7853
[77:55] [GF]
A
pleasure to hear a fine baritone and a great dramatic soprano.
For their contributions I will certainly return to this set. ...
see Full Review
Johann
MATTHESON
(1681-1764) Suite
No.1 in D minor (1714) [1638] Suite No.12 in F minor (extracts) (1714)
[8:00] Suite No.11 (sarabande) in C major (1714) [2:22] Suite No. 5
(Air and Doubles) in C minor (1714) [6:12] Suite No. 4 in G minor (extracts)
(1714) [13:15] Suite No. 6 in E flat minor (1714) [12:27] Suite No.
9 in G minor (1714) [15:05]
Cristiano Holtz (harpsichord) rec. January 2006, Oud-Katholieke Kerk,
Delft RAMÉE
RAM 0605 [74:35] [GPu]
A
pleasant CD, sampling the music of a remarkable
man of many talents … see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Symphony No.
4 in A major, Italian (1833) [27:52] Symphony No. 5 in D major,
Reformation (1832) [26:19]
La Chambre Philharmonique/Emmanuel Krivine rec. Opera Bastille salle
Liebermann, Paris, July 2006. DDD NAÏVE
V 5069 [54:13][MG]
If
you want this coupling on period instruments, this Krivine CD is the
one to go for. … see Full Review
Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992)
Complete Works for Piano, Vol. 3 Visions
de l'Amen (1943) [43:47] Quatre Études de rythme (1949-50)
[17:00] Cantéyodjayâ (1949) [12:17]
Paul Kim (piano) Matthew Kim (piano 2, Visions de l’Amen) rec.
August 2002 (Visions de l’Amen), Fallon Studios, Armonk, New
York; September 2002, Patrych Sound Studios, New York City
CENTAUR CRC 2668 [73:06] [DC]
Paul
Kim’s complete set goes from strength to strength,
and this disc is about as strong as they come.
... see Full
Review
Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992)
Complete Works for Piano, Vol. 4 Préludes
(1928-29) [41:46] Les offrandes oubliées
(1930) [10:16] Fantasie burlesque (1934) [7:08]
Pièce pour le tombeau de Paul Dukas
(1935) [3:44] Rondeau (1943) [2:38] Prélude
pour piano (1964) [2:49]
Paul Kim (piano) rec. January 2004, Patrych
Sound Studios, New York City
CENTAUR CRC 2727 [68:45] [DC]
Paul
Kim’s Messiaen is something quite special,
and deserve as wide an audience as anything
available today. ... see Full
Review
Olivier
MESSIAEN
(1908-1992)
Vingt regards sur l’enfant Jésus (1944) CD1
Regard du Père [08:09] Regard de l'étoile [03:10] L'échange
[03:25] Regard de la Vierge [05:21] Regard du Fils sur
le Fils [08:15] Par lui tout a été fait [10:50] Regard
de la Croix [04:21] Regard des hauteurs [02:23] Regard
du temps [02:45] Regard de l'Esprit de joie [08:50] CD2
Première communion de la Vierge [07:38] La parole toute - puissante
[02:32] Noël [04:22] Regard des Anges [05:09] Le baiser
de l'enfant Jésus [14:07] Regard des prophètes des bergers et
des mages [03:10] Regard du silence [05:36] Regard de
l'onction terrible [07:04] Je dors, mais mon coeur veille
[11:01] Regard de l'Eglise d'amour [14:35]
Håkon Austbø (pianoforte) rec. 11-18 August, 1993, St. Martin’s Church,
East Woodhay, England. DDD
NAXOS 
8.550829-30
[57:29 + 75:14] [MS]
A
sensitive and highly expressive performance with measured and studied
performances of one of Messiaen’s most epic piano works. ... see Full
Review
Ernest
John MOERAN (1894-1950)
Sinfonietta
(1944) [23:16] Symphony in G minor
(1934-7) [44:24] Overture for a Masque
(1944) [10:36]
London Philharmonic Orchestra (Sinfonietta
and Overture for a Masque); New Philharmonia
Orchestra (Symphony in G minor)/Sir
Adrian Boult rec. no place of recording is
mentioned; Originally recorded 1968, 1975,
1970. 2007. ADD
LYRITA SRCD.247 [78:55] [PC]
Boult
shows us how this music can be performed and
in places he does get it absolutely right.
... see Full
Review
Stanisław MONIUSZKO (1819-1872)
Halka (1857)
Tatiana Borodina (soprano) - Halka; Oleh Lykhach (tenor) - Jontek; Aleksandra
Buczek (soprano) - Zofia; Mariusz Godlewski (baritone) - Janusz; Radosław
Zukowski (bass) - Stolnik Chorus and Orchestra of the Wrocław Opera/Ewa
Michnik rec. Wrocław Opera, 8 September 2005. DDD Dolby Digital
2.5/5.0. 4:3 PAL. DVD9+1
DUX 9538 
[136:00] [CC]
Superb
and revelatory. Obscure opera rarely get a chance to shine as this
one has. Perfect to see this opera at the Coliseum one day ...
see Full Review
Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Il Ritorno
d’Ulisse in Patria (1640) [148.00] text by Giacomo Badoaro (arr.
Raymond Leppard)
Ulisse - Benjamin Luxon (bar) Penelope - Janet Baker (mezzo) Minerva
- Anne Howells (mezzo) Nettuno - Robert Lloyd (bass) Giove - Brian Burrows
(tenor) Ericlea - Virginia Popova (mezzo) Telemaco - Ian Caley (tenor)
L’humana Fragilta - Annabel Hunt (alto) Glyndebourne Chorus London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Raymond Leppard Stage Direction: Sir Peter Hall; Design: John
Bury rec. Glyndebourne Festival Opera, 1973. Video Direction: David
Heather Notes in English, Français, and Deutsch. Menu Subtitles in Italiano,
Deutsch, Français, English, Castellano. NTSC 4:3. DVD 9. Region 0. 48kHz
16 bit PCM Stereo 2.0 channel sound.
ARTHAUS MUSIK/EURO ARTS 101 101
[148.00][PSh]
If
you love opera, if you love Monteverdi, if you love Janet Baker and
good singing, you must own this DVD. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto no.22 in E flat
K482 [34:46]* Piano Concerto no.27 in B flat K595 [32:11]* Adagio and
Fugue in C minor K546 [08:48]
Sviatoslav Richter (piano)* English Chamber Orchestra/Benjamin Britten
rec. live, 13 June 1967, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh Festival) (K482,
K546), 16 June 1965, Blythburgh Church, Aldeburgh Festival (K595)
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4206-2 [76:04][CH]
K595
is a performance by which to remember Richter as a wonderful Mozartian,
but there are problems ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
CD 1 Violin Concerto No. 1 in B flat major, K207 (c.1773)
[19:37] Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, K211 (1775) [17:56] Violin
Concerto No. 3 in G major, K216 Strassburg (1775) [21:45] CD
2 Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K218 (1775) [21:18] Violin
Concerto No. 5 in A major, K219 Turkish (1775) [26:02] Violin
Concerto in D major, K271a (c.1775-77) [25:52]
Thomas Zehetmair (violin)/Philharmonia Orchestra rec. August 1990 (Concertos
2, 3, 5); August 1991 (Concertos 1, 4, K271a) at Snape Maltings Concert
Hall, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, England. DDD
WARNER CLASSICS APEX 2564 64329-2 [59:52 + 73:44] [MC]
Thomas
Zehetmair and the Philharmonia demonstrate an impressive affinity for
these Mozart Violin Concertos but the competition in the catalogues
is extremely fierce. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Sinfonia
concertante in E flat major for Violin and Viola, K364 (1779) [31:58]
Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K218 (1775) [24:15] Violin Concerto
No. 2 in D major, K211 (1775) [21:55]
UBS Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra/Maxim Vengerov (violin) Lawrence
Power (viola) (K364) rec. 9-11 February 2006, Henry Wood Hall, London,
England (K211); 16-18 August 2006, Salle Métropole, Lausanne, Switzerland
(K218, K364). DDD EMI
CLASSICS 378374-2 [78:52][MC]
Dazzling
virtuosity put carefully aside by the thoughtful Vengerov who is heard
here at his most mellow and beguiling in these rather understated Mozart
performances. ... see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
March,
K. 189 [3:21] Serenade in D (Andretter) K. 185 [35:15] Rondo in C, K.
373 [5:42] Adagio in E, K 261 [7:30] Rondo Concertante in B-flat, K.
269 [6:51] Divertimento in E-flat, K. 113 [10:08]
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Alexander Janiczek (conductor; violin) rec.
Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh, 6-8 June 2006.
LINN CKD 287 (SACD)
[69:30] [KS]
Clear
sound, fine balance, elegant music making.
A splendid party disc. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) and Sigismund
NEUKOMM (1778-1858) Requiem
(1791) [51:09] (Requiem aeternam [6:26]; Dies irae [1:53];
Tuba mirum [1:09]; Liber scriptus [0:44]; Quid sum
miser [1:14]; Rex tremendae [1:46]; Recordare [2:52];
Ingemisco tamquam [2:33]; Confutatis [2:25]; Lacrymosa
[2:29]; Domine Jesu [6:34]; Sanctus [5:53]; Agnus Dei
[3:11]; Lux aeterna [4:36]; Libera me [8:13])
Hjordis Thebault (soprano), Gemma Coma-Alabert (mezzo), Simon Edwards
(tenor), Alain Buet (bass-baritone) Kantorie Saarlouis La Grande Ecurie
et La Chambre du Roy/Jean-Claude Malgoire rec. 13 November 2005, Saint
Barthelémy de Sarrebourg Church, Moselle
TELERAMA K617180 [51:09] [EM]
Remarkable
… to hear an added Libera Me is fascinating,
and the performance itself is thrilling. The
power easily makes up for lack of refinement
and smoothness ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Requiem
in D minor, K626 (1791).
Iwona Hossa (soprano); Urszula Kryger (alto); Adam Zdunikowski (tenor);
Romuald Tesarowicz (bass) Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra/
Tadeusz Wojciechowski. rec. Łódz Cathedral, 2 April 2006. Dolby
Digital 5.1. 16:9 PAL DUX
9555
[103‘00][CC]
Oh, for subtitles! As it is, this full-service option only really carries
meaning for Poles or Polish speakers. A bit of a waste, really. ...
see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Concertos
for Horn and Orchestra: No. 1 in D, K386b (1791?) [8:13]; No.
2 in E flat, K417 (1783) [17:19]; No. 3 in E flat, K447 (1784-87)
[15:17]; No. 4 in E flat, K495 (1786) [15:47] Franz
Josef HAYDN (1732-1709) Concerto for Trumpet and
Orchestra in E flat, Hob.VIIe:1 [13:03] Claire
Briggs (horn); Ian Balmain (trumpet) Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra/Stephen Kovacevich. rec. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool,
11-12 January 1991. DDD CLASSICS
FOR PLEASURE 3822272 [67:51]
[CC]
There
are so many fine and established recordings that any new one or
reissue needs something exceptional to recommend it. A disc that
brings more than its fair share of disappointments. ... see Full
Review
Tristan MURAIL
(b. 1947) Winter Fragments (2000)a
[14:06] Unanswered Questions (1995)b [4:27] Ethers (1978)c [18:21]
Feuilles à travers les cloches (1998)d [6:06] Le
Lac (2001)e [23:06]
Erin Lesser (flute)bcd Argento Chamber Ensembleacde/Michel
Galante rec. Istanbul, November 2003 (Winter Fragments, Ethers,
Feuilles à travers les cloches); New York, October 2004 (Unanswered
Questions, Le Lac)
AEON AECD 0746 [66:06][HC]
Murail’s
is a distinctive voice in French contemporary music, and this magnificent
release is to my mind the best introduction possible to his highly personal
sound world ... see Full Review
Conlon
NANCARROW
(1912-1997) Player
Piano 3: Conlon Nancarrow Vol. 2 Studies 13-32 rec. 19-24 June 2005,
Immanuelskirche Wuppertal. DDD
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM 645 1403-2 [68:10] [DC]
This
new series from MDG is/will be very much the one to have. ... see Full
Review
Luigi
NONO (1924-1990) Fragmente – Stille,
An Diotoma (1980) [38:08] LaSalle
Quartet: Walter Levin (violin); Henry Meyer (violin); Peter
Kamnitzer (viola (alto); Lee Fiser (cello). DDD DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON 415
513-1 [38:08] [MS]
Highly
personal music full of almost imperceptible meaning played and
produced impeccably by the work’s dedicatees … see Full
Review
Johannes
OCKEGHEM (c.1410-1497)
The Ockeghem Collection
Salve Regina (Edited John Milsom) [8:48] Missa Mi-Mi [30:18]
Alma redemptoris Mater [5:16] Missa
Prolationum [32:38] Missa De plus en plus [34:19]
Credo “de village” [7:08] Gaude Maria
(attributed) [10:03] Missa Fors seulement [8:12]
Fors seulement (chanson) [8:12] Requiem [29:57]
Intemerata Dei mater [6:53] Ave Maria
[2:45] Missa "Ecce Ancilla Domini" [36:51]
Missa Cuiusvis toni [27:34] Celeste beneficium
(attributed) [9:24] Missa Quinti toni [27:03] S'elle m'amera / Petite
camusette [3:50] Intemerata Dei mater [5:53] Missa "L'homme armé" [25:48] "Missa sine nomine (a3)"
[24:34] Missa "Au travail suis" [18:54] Missa "Sine Nomine
a5" [7:03] The
Clerks' Group/Edward Wickham rec. St Andrew’s Church, West Wratting,
1994-99 GAUDEAMUS
CD GAU 550 [5 CDs: 76:57 + 75:57 + 76:33 + 73:57 + 76:27][JW]
The
reappearance of ASV’s groundbreaking Ockeghem
series not only confirms the profound excellence
of the undertaking but also subtly adjusts
one’s perspective of the composer. ... see
Full Review
Johannes
OCKEGHEM (c. 1420-1497) Alma Redemptoris
Mater [5.14] S'elle M’amera/Petite Camusette [3.49] Ma
Maistresse [6.27] Fors Seulement [8.09] Offertorium (from
Requiem) [8.17] Kyrie (from Missa 'Caput')
[3.09] Gloria (from Missa 'Prolationum') [7.09]
Credo (from Missa 'L'homme Armé') [6.39] Sanctus
(from Missa 'Mi-Mi') [3.38] Benedictus (from
Missa 'Mi-Mi') [2.34] Agnus Dei (from Missa
'De plus en plus') [5.37] Intemerata Dei Mater [5.53]
The Clerks Group/Edward
Wickham rec. St Andrew’s Church, West Wratting, 11-12 April 1994 (1,
9, 10), 22-24 February 1999 (2, 3, 12), 5-6 May 1996 (4, 5), 6-7 November
1997 (6), 24-25 February 1995 (7), 1, 23 February 1999 (8), 30-31 October
1995 (11) GAUDEAMUS
CD GAM 357 [66.41][EM]
Performed
with conviction, confidence and a wonderful sense of radiance ... see
Full Review
Jacques
OFFENBACH (1819–1880)
Les contes d’Hoffmann (1881)
Acquiles Machado (tenor) – Hoffmann; Konstantin Gorny (bass-baritone)
– Lindorf, Coppélius, Dr. Miracle, Dapertutto; Katherine Goeldner (mezzo)
– Nicklausse, The Muse; María Bayo (soprano) – Antonia; Valentina Kutzarova
(soprano) – Giulietta; Milagros Poblador (soprano) – Olympia; Christopher
Fel (bass) – Luther, Crespel; Christian Jean (tenor) – Spalanzani; Itxaro
Mentxaka (mezzo) – Antonia’s mother; José Ruiz (tenor) – Andrés, Cochenille,
Franz, Pitichinaccio; Marco Moncloa (bass) – Hermann, Schlemil; Manuel
De Diego (baritone) – Nathanaël; Itziar Fernández De Unda (actor) –
Stella; David Aguayo Marqués – Bass voice; Chorus of Ópera de Bilbao
Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa/Alain Guingal Stage director: Giancarlo Del
Monaco; Set and Costume Design: Michael Scott; Lighting designer: Wolfgang
von Zoubek; TV director: Angel Luis Ramírez rec. live, Palacio Euskalduna
de Bilbao, 12, 15 May 2006 Audio formats: LPCM Stereo; DTS Surround
Sound Extra features: Interviews with Maria Bayo, Aquiles Machado and
Juan Carlos Matellanes (President of ABAO)
OPUS ARTE OA0968D [2
DVDs: 185:00] [GF]
The
sets are not the most inspiring and the shaping of the title role
is a serious misconception but there is some splendid singing and
acting here ... see Full
Review
Giovanni
PAISIELLO (1740–1816)
La
serva padrona (1781) Cinzia Forte
(mezzo) – Serpina; Antonio Abete (bass) –
Uberto
La Cetra/Attilio Cremonese rec. live, 5-6
May 2006, Théâtre de Poissy
ZIG-ZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT 070102 [60:24]
[GF]
Played
with a fire and pizzazz that is breath-taking
and even though this "straight-to-the-point" approach may
rob the music of some subtlety, I find that an easy loss to take, considering
the vibrant vitality of the performance ...
see Full
Review
Arvo
PÄRT (b. 1935) Summa (1977)
[4.56] John TAVENER (b. 1944)
The Lamb (1982) [3.14] Arvo PÄRT (b.
1935) The Beatitudes (1990, rev. 1991) [6.59] John
TAVENER (b. 1944) Funeral Ikos (1981) [7.43] Alan
RIDOUT (1934-1996) Litany (1985) [13.49] John
TAVENER (b. 1944) Two Hymns to the Mother of God (1985):
(A Hymn to the Mother of God [2.21]; Hymn for the Dormition
of the Mother of God [3.31]) Arvo PÄRT
(b. 1935) Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991):
(O Weisheit [1.22]; O Adonai [1.47]; O SproB aus Isais
Wurzel [0.51]; O Schliissel Davids [1.49]; O Morgenstern
[1.53];
O Konig aller Volker [1.50]; O Immanuel [3.10]) John
TAVENER (b. 1944) Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Collegium
Regale) (1986) (Magnificat [7.20]; Nunc dimittis [2.30])
Henryk GORECKI (b.1933) Totus
tuus Op.60 (1987) [8.59]
Vasari Singers/Jeremy Backhouse John Keys (organ) Andrew Angus (bass)
rec. Church of St Giles, Cripplegate, London, 3-5 February 1995 DDD
CLASSICS FOR
PLEASURE 0946 3 75935 2 3 [74.09][EM]
Not, perhaps, quite as radiant as they could be, but well, if not spectacularly,
sung. An excellent introduction to this kind of music. ... see Full
Review
Harry
PARTCH (1901-1974) The Harry Partch Collection – Volume 2
The Wayward (1943-1972)
I U.S. Highball – A Musical Account
of a Transcontinental Hobo Trip (1943, rev. 1955) [25:20] II
San Francisco--A Setting of the Cries of Two Newsboys on a Foggy Night
in the Twenties (1943, rev. 1955) [2:28] III
The Letter – A Depression Message from a Hobo Friend (1943,
rev. 1972) [2:48] IV Barstow
- Eight Hitchhiker Inscriptions from a Highway Railing at Barstow, California
(1941, rev. 1968) [9:57] And
on the Seventh Day Petals Fell in Petaluma
(1963-64, rev. 1966) [35:50]
Gate 5 Ensemble/Jack McKenzie [Highball] Harry Partch; Danlee Mitchell;
Elizabeth Gentry [San Francisco]
Harry Partch; David Dunn; Dennis Dunn; Randy Hoffman (with interludes
dubbed from the 1950 recording by Harry Partch, Donald Pippin, Ben and
Betty Johnston) [Letter] The Harry Partch Ensemble (Ron Caruso, Randy Hoffman,
Gary Irvine, Alan Silverstein, Francis Thumm)/Danlee Mitchell (music
director) [Barstow] Gate 5 Ensemble/Harry
Partch (director) [Petals] rec. 1958, Evanston, Illinois [Highball,
San Francisco];
1964, Petaluma, California [Petals]; 1972, Encinitas and San Diego,
California [Letter]; 1982, Mills College, Oakland,
California [Barstow] Previously issued on Composers’
Recordings Inc. CRI CD 752
NEW WORLD RECORDS 80622-2 [76:23][PSe]
You
want something to stir your viscera, make your belly laugh, move you
to tears, and intrigue your intellect? Partch provides it all in here.
... see Full Review
Ernst
PEPPING
(1901-1981) Symphony No. 2 in F minor [37:53]
Heinz SCHUBERT (1908-1945)
Hymisches Konzert for soloists, organ and orchestra [37:41]*
Erna Berger (soprano) *
Walter Ludwig (tenor) * Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler
rec. live 30 October 1943 (Pepping); 6 December 1942 (Schubert)
MELODIYA MELCD 1001101 [75:37] [JW]
Rare
examples of Furtwängler’s promotion of contemporary German music.
... see Full Review
Vincent
PERSICHETTI (1915-1987) Serenade
No.5 for Orchestra Op.43 (1950) [10:44] Symphony for Strings (Symphony
No.5) Op.61 (1953) [18:08] Symphony No.8 (1967) [28:50] *
Louisville Orchestra/Robert Whitney Louisville
Orchestra/Jorge Mester * rec. 1954 (No.5);
1960 (Serenade); 1970 (No.8), Louisville,
Kentucky
FIRST EDITION FECD 0034 [57:42][JW]
Standards
remain admirably high in this welcome series ... see Full
Review
Laurent
PETITGIRARD (b.1950) Les Douze
Gardiens du Temple (2004) [26.29] (1) Poème (2002) [12.03]
(1) Euphonia (1989) [28.31] (2)
Orchestre National Bordeau Aquitaine/Laurent Petigirard (1) Ljublana
Radio Symphony Orchestra/Laurent Petigirard (2) rec. Salle Franklin,
Bordeaux, 7-9 September 2005 (1); live, Ljubljana 29 May 1992 (2)
NAXOS 8.570138 [67.03][RH]
Lush
music, attractively orchestrated and evoking the sound-worlds of Honegger
or Koechlin ... see Full Review
Wenzel
PICHL (1741-1805) Sinfonia
in C major, ‘Calliope’, Zakin 11 (c. 1768-1769) [14:26] Sinfonia
in B flat major, ‘Melpomene’, Zakin 14 (c. 1768-1769) [19:08] Sinfonia
in E major, ‘Clio’, Zakin 8 (c. 1768-1769) [17:53] Sinfonia in
D major, ‘Diana’, Zakin 16 (c. 1768-1769) [21:35]
Toronto Chamber Orchestra/Kevin Mallon rec. St Anne’s Church, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada, 2-5 January 2005. DDD
NAXOS 8.557761
[73:02][TP]
This
well filled and attractively priced disc can
be warmly recommended to anyone looking to
explore the Classical era beyond Haydn and
Mozart. ... see Full
Review
Michael
PRAETORIUS
(c.1571-1621)
Dances from Terpsichore (1612) [48:38]: Passameze/Gaillarde
[3:36] La Bouree [1:56] Bransle De La Torche [1:58] Bransles
Simples/Bransles Gays/Bransles Doubles [4:27] Bransles
De Villages [4:02] Philou [2:58] Ballet Des Sorciers/Ballet
Des Princesses/Ballet/Ballet De Princesses [3:19]
Ballet/Ballet Des Baccanales/Ballet Des Matelotz/Ballet
Des Coqs [3:17] Bransle De La Torche [1:20] Pavane De
Spaigne/Spagnoletta [5:46] Passameze Pour Les Cornetz
[1:47] Courante M.M. Wustrow/Courante/Courrant De Bataglia
[5:20] La Sarabande [1:42] Volte Du Tambour/Voltes
[5:01] Voltes [3:51]
New London Consort/Philip Pickett rec. March, 1985, Henry Wood Hall,
London. DDD L’OISEAU-LYRE
414 6332 [48:38]
[MS]
A
hardy and handy selection from the unpretentious dance suite by
Praetorius played with panache and care by experts central to this
aspect of the ‘early music revival’ ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) String Quartet
No. 1 in B minor, Op. 50 [22:49] String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Op.
92 [21:15] Overture on Hebrew Themes, Op. 34 [8:33] Quintet in G minor,
Op. 39 for oboe, clarinet, violin, viola and double bass. [17:57]
Russian String Quartet (Tatiana Berkul (violin); Maria Suchkova (violin);
Elena Ozol (viola); Ludmila Krushkova (cello)); Igor Fedorov (clarinet);
Mikhail Khoklov (piano); Dmitri Kotenok (oboe); Oleg Tantsov (clarinet);
Yuri Goloubev (double bass) rec. May-July 1996, Russian Broadcast and
Recording Department Studio I, Moscow.
ARTE NOVA 74321 654272 [72:21][KS]
You
really should have it, and I am not sharing mine! ... see Full
Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Betrothal in a Monastery
- lyric comedy in four acts (1940) [157.00] (Text by the composer and
M. Mendelson after Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Duenna 1775)
Anna Netrebko (sop) - Louisa,
daughter of Don Jerome Larissa Diadkova (mezzo) - The Duenna to Don
Jerome Nikolai Gassiev (ten) - Don Jerome, father of Louisa and Ferdinand
Aleksander Gergalov (bar) - Don Ferdinand, son of Don Jerome Marianna
Tarassova (mezzo) - Clara, sequestered daugher of a wealthy family Yevgeny
Akimov (ten) - Don Antonio, a poor musician Sergei Aleksashkin (bass)
- Isaac Mendoza, rich fish merchant Yuri Shkliar (bass) - Don Carlos,
impoverished nobleman, friend of Mendoza Kirov Orchestra, Opera Chorus
and Ballet/Valery Gergiev Stage Director - Vladislav Pazi Video Director
- Aarno Cronvall rec. live, 1998, Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg,
Russia. Menu Screens and Notes in English. Subtitles in English, French,
German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese. DVD 9, 16 x 9 anamorphic, NTSC region
0 (all regions). dts 5.0 surround, LPCM 2.0 sound. Co-produced by Decca,
Euro-Arts, NHK PHILIPS
0743076 [157.00] [PSh]
Netrebko
at her lovely best, a completely delightful opera evening — good music,
a good comic play, excellently acted and sung, very well recorded, lavishly
staged. ... see Full Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Trio élégiaque
No. 1 in G minor (1892) [12:39] Trio élégiaque No. 2 in D minor, Op.
9 (1893, rev. 1907) [44:44]
Valeri Grohovski (piano); Eduard Wulfson (violin); Dmitry Yablonsky
(cello) rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, 6-7 September 2005. DDD
NAXOS 8.557423 [57:23][TP]
This
disc is full of beautiful music, beautifully played and recorded. If
you do not know these pieces, here is your introduction. ... see Full
Review
Jean-Philippe
RAMEAU (1683-1764)
Anacréon (1757) [41:24]
Thiery Félix (baritone) (Anacréon); Véronique Gens (soprano) (la Prètresse
de Bacchus); Annick Massis (soprano) (l’Amour); Rodrigo del Pozo (counter-tenor)
(Agathocle) Le Berger fidèle (1728) [15:07] Véronique
Gens (soprano) Chœur des Musiciens du Louvre
Les Musiciens du Louvre/Marc Minkowski rec. Cité de la Musique, France.
DDD ARCHIV
449 211-2 [56:31] [MS]
Simple,
gentle, sensitive playing of out of the way Rameau that ought to
remind you why you like Rameau so much. … see Full
Review
Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937)
Daphnis et Chloé,
complete ballet in three scenes (1909-12)
[59:16]
Bordeaux Opera Chorus Orchestre National Bordeaux
Aquitaine/Laurent Petitgirard rec. 3-5 January
2006, Franklin Hall, Bordeaux, France. DDD
NAXOS 8.570075 [59:16] [MC]
This
superb Naxos release will sit comfortably on the shelf alongside my
treasured versions from Monteux on Decca and Munch on RCA ... see Full
Review
Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Daphnis et Chloé,
complete ballet in three scenes (1909-12) [59:16]
Bordeaux Opera Chorus Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine/Laurent
Petitgirard rec. 3, 5 January 2006, Franklin Hall, Bordeaux, France.
DDD NAXOS 8.570075 [59:16][GH]
Petitgirard
is no Monteux but he brings a composer’s ear to this ballet conveying
a symphonic flow which captivates from start to finish ... see Full
Review
Maurice
RAVEL
(1875-1937) Boléro
(1927) [15.39] Lamoureux Concerts Orchestra/Maurice Ravel Chansons
Madécasses (3) (1926) [11.40] Madeleine Grey (soprano) Maurice
Ravel (piano), and conducting an uncredited ensemble. rec. Paris, 1932
(Boléro); 1928 (sic) (Chansons) Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Romeo and Juliet Suite No. 2,
Op 64a (1937) [31.04] Moscow
Philharmonic Orchestra/Sergei Prokofiev rec. Moscow 1938, Myezhdunarodnaya
Kniga No notes, no song texts, no track list or timings. ADD
PHILIPS 420 778-2 [58.23] [PSh]
For
collectors, historians, and students, valuable
historical musical documents in easy to listen
to form; for all of us, authoritative and
as good a set of Chansons Madécasses
as we’re likely to hear. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Shéhérazade
[14:57] Cinq Mélodies populaires grècques (nos. 2-4 orch. Manuel
Rosenthal) [6:58] Deux Mélodies hébraïques [6:14] Quatre Chants
populaires* [10:38] Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Trois Chansons de Bilitis* [9:16]
Fêtes galantes (Premier receuil)* [7:17]
Noël des enfants qui n’ont plus de maisons* [2:46]
Récit et Air de Lia: L’année en vain chasse l’année (L’Enfant prodigue)
[4:51] Henri DUPARC (1848-1933) L’Invitation
au voyage [4:08] Phidylé [5:20] Victoria
de los Angeles (soprano) Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire/Georges
Prêtre/*Gonzalo Soriano (piano) rec. 20-21 February 1962, Salle Wagram, Paris;
*19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26 January
1966, EMI Studios, Barcelona. ADD. Stereo EMI
CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 3458212 [72:27] [JQ]
This
is a wonderful disc, featuring one of the most cherishable singers
of the post-war era. ... 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]
