PART 3
C-L

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[Part 1 New]   [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
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[Part 6 Misc A-L][Part 7 Misc M-Z]
[Recommended recordings]

 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Muzio CLEMENTI (1752-1832) Early Piano Sonatas: Vol. 2 Sonata in E flat major, Op. 11 (1784) [14:10] Sonata in B flat major, Op.1, No.2 (c.1781) [10:05] Sonata in G minor, Op.7, No.3 (1782) [16:59] Sonata in E flat major, Op.9, No.3 (1783) [16:34] Sonata in A major, Op.10, No.1 (1783) [13:49] Susan Alexander-Max (fortepiano) rec. 20-22 September 2004, St. Paul’s, Southgate, London NAXOS 8.557695 [71:49][GPu]

Thoroughly engaging performances, on a fine instrument, of some of Clementi’s excellent sonatas, as musically rewarding as they are historically important … see Full Review

Eric COATES (1886-1957) Suite: The Three Men (The Man from the Country; The Man-about-Town; The Man from the Sea) (1935) [23:19] Concert Valse: Dancing Night (1932) [8:12] Two Symphonic Rhapsodies: I Pitch my Lonely Caravan; Birdsongs at Eventide/I Heard You Singing (1933) [5:06; 5:19] Idyll: Summer Afternoon (1924) [3:53] Ballet: The Enchanted Garden (1946) [21:11] Concert Valse: Footlights (1939) [5:50] Suite: Four Centuries - IV Rhythm (20th Century) (1942) [6:57] March: London Bridge (1934) [4:31] London Philharmonic Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth rec. 1990s? DDD LYRITA SRCD.213 [76.19] [EM]

Highly enjoyable, expertly played and interpreted. For those who enjoy their music superbly crafted and played ... see Full Review

Antoine DARD (1715-1784) Sonata, for bassoon and continuo, No.1 in C major (1759) [8:54] Sonata, for bassoon and continuo, No.2 in G major (1759) [9:28] La Coquette (1765) [1:24] Sonata, for bassoon and continuo, No.3 in C minor (1759) [8:40] Cher Tircis (1767) [2:29] Sonata, for bassoon and continuo, No.4, in F major (1759) [8:06] Sonata, for bassoon and continuo, No.5, in D minor (1759) [10:07] La Coquette (1767) [1:51] Sonata, for bassoon and continuo, No.6, in A minor (1759) [10:02] Rends-moi ton cœur [2:07] Ricardo Rapoport (bassoon); Pascal Dubreuil (harpsichord); Karine Sérafin (soprano); François Nicolet (transverse flute) rec. August 2006, Chapel of the Conservatoire National de Région, Rennes, France RAMÉE RAM 0702 [62:15] [GPu]

Lovers of the bassoon will surely want to hear these little-known sonatas, especially in performances as well judged and loving as these … see Full Review

Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797–1848) Parisina (1833) Montserrat Caballé (soprano) – Parisina; Jerome Pruett (tenor) – Ugo; Louis Quilico (baritone) – Azzo; James Morris (bass) – Ernesto; Eleanor Bergquist (soprano) – Imelda; Opera Orchestra of New York/Eve Queler rec. live, Carnegie Hall, New York, 6 March 1974 MYTO 2 MDCD 0002 [65:49 + 72:13][GF]

An issue that can only be recommended to die-hard Caballé aficionados ... see Full Review

Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Adelia - opera seria in three acts (1841) Adelia, a young girl - Michela Sburlati (soprano); Arnoldo, her father and a commoner – Andrea Silvestrelli (bass); Count Oliviero, a nobleman in love with Adelia – Davis Sotgiu (tenor); Duke Carlo, the local ruler – Giulio Mastrototaro (baritone) Haydn Choir; Haydn Orchestra von Bozen und Trient/Gustav Kuhn rec. 11-16 December 2006, Auditorium, Bozen Sung in Italian. Libretto and translation as PDF BMG-RCA RED SEAL 86697 10813 2 [54.25 + 67.03] [RJF]

Whilst not a singing cast of the highest international standard this is particularly welcome for the opportunity to hear a rarely performed late period Donizetti opera. Full of the kind of melodic invention that could flow from his pen even when not fully inspired by the libretto ... see Full Review

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) String Quintet in G major, Op. 77, B.49 (1875, rev. 1888) [32:42] Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major, Op. 81, B.155 (1877) [38:30] Škampa Quartet: (Pavel Fischer (violin); Jana Lukášová (violin); Radim Sedmidubský (viola); Lukáš Polák (cello)); Laurène Durantel (double-bass) (Op. 77); Kathryn Stott (piano) (Op. 81) rec. 6, 8 January (Op.77); 18-19, 21 March 2007 (Op.81), Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague, Czech Republic. DDD SUPRAPHON SU 3909-2 [71:26] [MC]

This excellent recording makes a confident choice. ... see Full Review

Manuel de Falla (1876-1946) Piano Music - Volume 2 Canción (Song) (1900) [2:16] Cortejo de los gnomos (Cortege of Gnomes) (1901)[2:18] Vals-capricho (1900) [3:11] Canción de los remeros del Volga (Song of the Volga Boatmen) (1922) [3:39] Mazurca (1899) [5:23] Fantasía bética (1919) [13:17] Los Danzas de La vida breve, (arr. piano) Danse primera [3:36]; Danse segunda [4:26]; Suite de El sombrero de tres picos (The Three-cornered Hat) (excerpts) (arr. piano): Danza de la molinera (Dance of the Miller's Wife) [4:19]; Danza de los vecinos (Dance of the Neighbours) [3:35]; Danza del molinero (Dance of the Miller) [2:29]; Danza del corregidor (Dance of the Corregidor) [2:00]; Danza final (jota) Final Dance (Jota) [5:17] Daniel Ligorio (piano) rec. Estudios Moraleda, Barcelona, February-March 2005. DDD NAXOS 8.555066 [55:47] [JF]

Listen, stop the player, sip a glass of Rioja and move on to the next number! ... see Full Review

Gerald FINZI (1901-1956) Music for 'Love's Labour's Lost' for string orchestra (1946, 1952) [28:33]** Let us Garlands bring - Five Shakespeare Songs for Baritone and String Orchestra (Come away death; Who is Sylvia?; Fear no more the heat o' the sun; O mistress mine; It was a lover and his lass) Op. 18 (1942) [14:58]† Two Sonnets by John Milton for Tenor and small Orchestra (When I consider; How soon hath time) (1928) [8:32]* Farewell to Arms for Tenor and small Orchestra (1940, 1926-28) [9:00]* In terra pax (Christmas Scene) for Soprano, Baritone, Chorus and Orchestra (1954-56) [16:21] Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley ** John Carol Case (baritone)†, Ian Partridge (tenor)* Jane Manning (soprano), John Noble (baritone), John Alldis Choir New Philharmonia Orchestra/Vernon Handley rec. 1970s? London. ADD LYRITA SRCD.237 [77.38] [JQ]

This is an excellent disc overall. It’s both essential listening and self-recommending for all Finzi lovers. ... see Full Review

Friedrich von FLOTOW (1812-1883) Martha - opera in four Acts (1847) [1:45:27] Lady Harriet (Martha) – Victoria de los Angeles (soprano); Nancy (Julia) – Rosalind Elias (mezzo); Lionel – Richard Tucker (tenor); Plunket – Giorgio Tozzi (bass); Lord Tristram – Lorenzo Alvary (bass); Sheriff – Gerhard Pechner (bass) Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Nino Verchi rec. live Metropolitan Opera House, New York, 21 February 1961 COLUMNA MUSICA 1CMO160 [45:57 + 59:30][JS]

Overall this does no sort of justice to the opera and the result is only partially redeemed by the singing of Victoria de los Angeles ... see Full Review

Richard FRANCK (1858-1938) Piano Quartet in A Op.33 (1901) [33.02] Piano Quartet in E (in one movement) Op.41 (1905) [8.48] Three Fantasies for piano Op.28 (1896) [23.36] Christoph Schickedanz (violin); Marius Nichiteanu (viola); Mathias Beyer-Karlshoj (cello); Bernhard Fograscher (piano) rec. SWR Studios, Karlsruhe, Germany, 12-14 December 2005 AUDITE 92.522 [65.29] [CF]

A must for those who want to explore the musical byways of the 19^th and early 20^th centuries ... see Full Review

Alberto GINASTERA (1916–1983) Danzas argentinas Op.2 (1937) [8:11] Tres piezas Op.6 (1939/40) [12:01] Malambo Op.7 (1940) [2:45] 12 Preludios americanos Op.12 (1944) [14:02] Suite de danzas criollas Op.15 (1946) [8:50] Rondo sobre temas infantiles argentinos Op.19 (1947) [3:12] Danzas argentinas para los niños (unfinished) [2:28] Piezas infantiles I (1934) [4:25] Piezas infantiles II (1942) [4:58] Milonga Op.3 No.1 (1938) [2:35] Pequeña danza (1955) [1:45] ZIPOLI, arr. GINASTERA: Toccata (1970) [7:23] Piano Sonata No.1 Op.22 (1952) [15:02] Piano Sonata No.2 Op.53 (1981) [12:53] Piano Sonata No.3 Op.55 (1982) [4:51] Toccata, Villancico y Fuga Op.18 (1947)^a [14:23] Variazioni e Toccata sopra “Aurora lucis rutilat” Op.52 (1980)^a [21:16] Fernando Viani (piano and organ^a) rec. Schloss Gottesaue, Karlsruhe, Germany, March 2006 (piano works) and Auferstehungskirche, Offenburg, Germany, June 2006 (organ works) NAXOS 8.557911-12 [72:35 + 68:25][HC]

This generously filled set is a splendid achievement by both Naxos and Viani. ... see Full Review

Reinhold GLIÈRE (1875-1956) Symphony No.3 Op.42 ‘Il’ya Murometz’ (1909-11) [72:20] London Symphony Orchestra/Leon Botstein rec. Watford Town Hall, January 2002 TELARC CD-80609 [72:20] [TH]

If you fancy a wallow in the glorious Indian summer of late Romanticism, you can treat yourself with confidence ... see Full Review

Enrique GRANADOS (1867-1916) Piano Music: Volume 9 – Scarlatti Piano Transcriptions Piano Sonata No. 1 in G (arr. of Kk520) [5:22] Piano Sonata No. 2 in G (arr. of Kk521) [3:35] Piano Sonata No. 3 in G (arr. of Kk522) [4:33] Piano Sonata No. 4 in F (arr. of Kk518) [3:24] Piano Sonata No. 5 in F (arr. of Kk541) [6:50] Piano Sonata No. 6 in F (arr. of Kk540) [5:02] Piano Sonata No. 7 in G minor (arr. of Kk102) [4:37] Piano Sonata No. 8 in G minor (arr. of Kk546) [5:22] Piano Sonata No. 9 in B flat (arr. of Kk190) [3:07] Piano Sonata No. 10 in A (arr. of keyboard sonata by Francisco Courcelle 1702-1778) [4:18] Piano Sonata No. 11 in A minor (arr. of Kk110) [4:09] Piano Sonata No. 12 in D (arr. of Kk534) [6:18] Piano Sonata No. 13 in E (arr. of keyboard sonata by unknown composer) [2:46] Piano Sonata No. 14 in D (arr. of Kk535) [3:56] Piano Sonata No. 15 in D minor (arr. of Kk553) [5:27] Piano Sonata No. 16 in F minor (arr. of Kk555) [2:48] Piano Sonata No. 17 in F (arr. of Kk554) [4:37] Piano Sonata No. 18 in G (arr. of Kk547) [3:46] Piano Sonata No. 19 in A minor (arr. of Kk109) [6:48] Piano Sonata No. 20 in A (arr. of Kk211) [4:51] Piano Sonata No. 21 in D minor (arr. of Kk552) [3:46] Piano Sonata No. 22 in A (arr. of Kk537) [5:15] Piano Sonata No. 23 in B flat (arr. of Kk528) [3:48] Piano Sonata No. 24 in C minor (arr. of Kk139) [7:37] Piano Sonata No. 25 in C minor (arr. of Kk48) [5:29] Piano Sonata No. 26 in A (arr. of Kk536) [5:01] Douglas Riva (piano) rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, 2-5 August 2005 and 4 October 2006. DDD NAXOS 8.557939-40 [59:22 + 63:08] [PCW]

Of considerable interest but these discs are not more pleasurable to listen to than those made by various pianists who have tackled Scarlatti’s works and made their own interpretive decisions … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Alexander Tikhonovich GRECHANINOV (1864-1956) Passion Week, Op. 58 (1911-12) Caroline Markham (mezzo), Paul Davidson (tenor), Bryan Taylor (baritone) Phoenix Bach Choir, Kansas City Chorale/Charles Bruffy rec. Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Kansas City, Kansas, USA; 26-27 March 2004 CHANDOS CHSA 5044 [74:00][DM]

A recording of spectacular range and refinement and singing of the highest calibre. A winner ... see Full Review

Arthur de GREEF (1862-1940) Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor (1896 rev 1932) [15:37] Violin Sonata No. 2 in C minor (1933) [22:15] Sonata in C minor for two pianos (1928) [22:30] Nico Baltussen (violin), Catherine Mertens, Luc Devos (piano) rec. 1998? TALENT DOM2910 24 [57:52] [RB]

Truly the past was in De Greef’s case a different country. He held true to his star and these works are cause for gratitude that he did ... see Full Review

Edvard GRIEG (1843–1907) Lyrical Travels Det var en gang (Once Upon a Time) Op. 71 No. 1 [4:25] Gangar, Op. 54 No. 2 [3:38] Sommerfugl (Butterfly), Op. 43 No. 1 [1:48] Notturno, Op. 54 No. 4 [4:00] Folkevise (Folk Song) Op. 38 No. 2 [1:34] Halöling, Op. 38 No. 4 [1:40] Gjaetergut (Shepherd Boy) Op. 54 No. 1 [3:56] Arietta, Op. 12 No. 1 [1:17] Gade, Op. 57 No. 2 [3:27] Fra ungdomsdagene (From Early Years) Op. 65 No. 1 [5:20] Bryllupsdag på Troldhaugen (Wedding Day at Troldhaugen) Op. 65 No. 6 [6:01] Ensom vandrer (Lonely Wanderer) Op. 43 No. 2 [1:53] Aften i høyfjellet (Evening in the Mountains) Op. 68 No. 4 [3:06] Bådnlåt (At the Cradle) Op. 68 No. 5 [2:48] Småtroll (Puck) Op. 71 No. 3 [1:54] Takk (Gratitude) Op. 62 No. 2 [3:53] Hjemad (Homeward) Op. 62 No. 6 [2:54] Klokkeklang (Bell Ringing) Op. 54 No. 6 [3:35] Liv Glaser (Érard grand piano/London 1853) rec. 27-29 November 2006, Jar Church, Norway SIMAX PSC1291 [57:30] [GF]

A fresh and thought-provoking approach to these well-known but often castigated pieces ... see Full Review

Edvard GRIEG (1843–1907) Orchestrated Piano Pieces Slåtter – Suite for Orchestra, Op. 72 (1903) (orch.Øistein Sommerfeldt) [9:09]* Norwegian Dances, Op. 35 (1881) (orch. Hans Sitt) [17:34] Funeral March in Memory of Rikard Nordraak, EG107 (1866) (orch. Johan Halvorsen) [7:48] The Bridal Procession Passes By from Pictures from Folk Life, Op. 19, No. 2 (1871) (orch: Johan Halvorsen) [3:38]Ballade, Op. 24 (1876) (orch. Geirr Tveitt) [19:35]* Ringing Bells from Lyric Pieces, Op. 54, No. 6 (1891) (orch. Grieg/Anton Seidl) [4:27] Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Bjarte Engeset rec. Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, 2-3 May 2005 * denotes world première recording NAXOS 8.557854 [62:11] [GF]

Piano works by Grieg in orchestral garb by some important colleagues superbly played … and there are two world première recordings! ... see Full Review

Andreas HALLÉN (1846–1925) Romanze for violin and orchestra, Op. 16* [10:15] Gustaf Wasas Saga (1897): Das Morgenroth [6:08];Die Vision [6:32]; Aufruhr zur Wehr [6:03]; Der Einzug [3:46]; Per Aspera ad astra [8:03] Sphärenklänge (1895) [10:19] Im Herbst: two lyrical pieces, Op. 38: Elfentanz in Mondeszauber [6:59]; Traumbilder in Dämmerungsschein [7:50] Dämmerungsschein, Op. 40, No. 2 [6:49] Peter Olofsson (violin)* Gävle Symphony Orchestra/Christopher Fifield rec. Gävle Concert Hall, May-June 2006 STERLING CDS 1070-2 [72:48] [GF]

Off the beaten track this may be, but anyone who for some reason has left the main road on some occasion will know that there are very often landscapes of enormous beauty to investigate. This is such a landscape! ... see Full Review

George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Messiah - oratorio in three parts (1751 version) (HWV 56) Henry Jenkinson; Otta Jones; Robert Brooks (treble); Iestyn Davies (alto); Toby Spence (tenor); Eamonn Dougan (bass) Choir of New College Oxford The Academy of Ancient Music/Edward Higginbottom rec. January 2006, St John's, Smith Square, London, UK. DDD NAXOS 8.570131-32 [69:14 + 73:05] [JV]

A rare recording of Messiah where all soprano parts are sung by trebles - the choruses are the best part, but the interpretation as a whole isn't very satisfying ... see Full Review

George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Water Music (1717): Suite in F major [22:46]; Suite in D major [18:01] Music for the Royal Fireworks (1749) [27:45] London Classical Players/Roger Norrington rec. Lyndhurst Hall, Air Studios, London, 9-12 January 1996. DDD VIRGIN CLASSICS 391334 2 [68:45] [MG]

Clarity of texture is here combined with freshness of projection and immediacy of recording … see Full Review

Stephen HARTKE (b. 1952) The Greater Good or The Passion of Boule de Suif [142.31] M. Carre-Lamadon – Christopher Burchett (baritone) Count Breville – Andrew Wentzel (bass-baritone) M. Loiseau – John David De Haan (tenor) Mme. Carre-Lamadon – Christine Abraham (mezzo) Countess Breville – Elaine Alvarez (soprano) Cornudet – Seth Keeton (bass baritone) Mme. Loiseau – Jill Gardner (soprano) Coachman – Matthew Worth (baritone) The Old Nun – Jeanine Thames (soprano) The Young Nun – Katherine Calcamuggio (mezzo) Boule de Suif (Elizabeth Rousset) – Caroline Worra (soprano) Prussian Officer – Christian Reinert (tenor) Mme. Follenvie – Dorothy Byrne (mezzo) M. Follenvie – Liam Moran (bass) Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra/Stewart Robinson rec. Alice Busch Opera Theater, Cooperstown, New York, USA, 30 July, 3, 12, 15 August 2006. NAXOS 8.669014-15 [74.05 + 68.26] [RH]

This is one of those sets which I would have liked to have liked more. ... see Full Review

Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) CD1Missa in tempore belli, Hob.XXII:9 (1796) ‘Paukenmesse’ (Kettledrum Mass) [40:01] Salve Regina, Hob.XXIIIb:2 (1771) [17:44] Dorothea Röschmann (soprano) Elisabeth von Magnus (mezzo) Herbert Lippert (tenor) Oliver Widmer (bass-baritone) CD2 Missa in angustiis (Mass in Straitened Times), Hob.XXII:11 (1798) ‘Nelsonmesse’ (Nelson Mass) [41:44] Te Deum, Hob.XXIIIc:2 (1800) [9:35] Luba Orgonasova (soprano) Elisabeth von Magnus (mezzo) Doen van der Walt (tenor) Alastair Miles (bass-baritone) CD3 Missa, Hob.XXII:14 (1802) ‘Harmoniemesse’ (Wind-band Mass) [43:16] Cantata ‘Qual dubbio ormai’, Hob.XXIVa:4 (1764) [15:06] Te Deum, Hob.XXIIIc:1 (c. 1763) [7:33] Eva Mei (soprano) Elisabeth von Magnus (mezzo) Herbert Lippert (tenor) Oliver Widmer (bass-baritone) CD4 Stabat Mater, oratorio, Hob.XXbis (1767) [58:37] Barbara Bonney (soprano) Elisabeth von Magnus (mezzo) Herbert Lippert (tenor) Alastair Miles (bass-baritone) CD5 Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze, (The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross) oratorio, Hob.XX:2 (1796) [62:41] Inga Nielsen (soprano) Margareta Hintermeier (mezzo) Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) Robert Holl (bass-baritone) CD6* Missa, Hob.XXII:13 ‘Schöpfungsmesse’ (Creation Mass) (1801) [42:07] Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Magnificat, D.486 (1815) [9:09] Christiane Oelze (soprano) Elisabeth von Magnus (mezzo) Herbert Lippert (tenor) Gerald Finley (bass-baritone) Intende voci, D.963 (1828) [11:58] Herbert Lippert (tenor) *Live recording Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt rec. July 1996, Pfarrkirche Stainz (CD1); June 1996, Casino Zögernitz, Vienna (CD2); July 1998, Pfarrkirche Stainz (CD3); July 1994, Pfarrkirche Stainz (CD4); October 1990, Casino Zögernitz, Vienna (CD5); July 1999, Pfarrkirche Stainz (CD6) DDD Full texts provided with English translations. WARNER CLASSICS 2564 69939-8 [6 CDs: 57:44 + 51:19 + 65:55 + 58:37 + 62:41 + 63:14] [MC]

Throughout this six disc set, one remains impressed by Harnoncourt’s tightly controlled direction of his magnificent forces ... see Full Review

Ferdinand Hérold (1791-1833) arr. John Lanchbery (1923-2003) La Fille mal gardée (1828, arr. 1960) [94:44] Charles LECOCQ (1852-1958) arr. Gordon JACOB (1995-1984) Mam’zelle Angot (1872, arr.1947) [39:27] Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/John Lanchbery (Hérold) National Philharmonic Orchestra/Richard Bonynge (Lecocq) rec. Kingsway Hall, London, March 1983 (La Fille), December 1983 (Mam’zelle Angot). DDD DECCA ELOQUENCE 442 9048 [58:40 + 75:47][BW]

Attractive light music, but the complete version of La Fille mal gardée may outstay its welcome for some, who would be better served by one of the highlights versions … see Full Review

Simeon ten HOLT (b. 1923) Canto Ostinato (1976-79) [163:14] Gerard Bouwhuis, Gene Cart, Arielle Vernède, Crees van Zeeland (pianos) rec. January, 1988, Vredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands. DDD ETCETERA KTC1317 [3 CDs: 56.00 + 54.16 + 52.58] [KM]

A beautiful, long minimalist piano work ... see Full Review

Joaquim HOMS (1906–2003) Orchestral Music Volume 2 Simfonia breu (1972)^a [12:15] Invenció (1964)^b [9:58] Derivacions (1990)^c [9:40] Díptic (1973)^d [19:03] Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya; Eiji Oue^a, Antoni Ros Marbà^b, Franz-Paul Decker^c, Sian Edwards^d rec. (live) L’Auditori, Barcelona, February 2004 (Simfonia breu), January 2005 (Invenciò), February 2002 (Derivacions) and January 2006 (Díptic) COLUMNA MUSICA 1CM0168 [52:33] [HC]

At the risk of repeating myself I say again that Homs’ music is definitely too good to be ignored. ... see Full Review

Joseph HOROVITZ (b. 1926) Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra (1948, rev. 1956)† Concerto for Euphonium and Chamber Orchestra (1972, rev. 1976) Concerto for Violin and String Orchestra (1949-50)† Jazz Concerto for Piano, Strings and Percussion (1965) Jeremy Brown (bass); Matt Skelton (percussion); Fiona Cross (clarinet); Steven Mead (euphonium); Andrew Haveron (violin); David Owen Norris (piano) Royal Ballet Sinfonia/Joseph Horovitz rec. Cadogan Hall, London, 13-14 September 2006, Angel Studios, London, 14 November 2006 † premiere recordings DUTTON EPOCH CDLX7188 [74:41] [RB]

Discover Horovitz the craftsman whose touching cantilena is as accomplished as his jazzy lightness of being. Let’s now hear the other concertos, please ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983) Sir Patrick Spens, Op. 23 (1917)* [19:49] Hymnus Paradisi (1938/1949) # [45:01] Claire Rutter (soprano)#; Katy Butler (soprano)#; James Gilchrist (tenor)*#; Roderick Williams (baritone)# The Bach Choir Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/David Hill rec. The Concert Hall, Lighthouse, Poole, Dorset, UK, 16-17 September 2006. DDD NAXOS 8.570352 [65:12] [JQ]

Dedicated and eloquent … a distinguished release and an undoubted feather in the Naxos cap ... see Full Review

Johann Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837) Sappho von Mitilene, ballet suite, Op. 68 (1812) [46:48] Das Zauberschloss, ballet suite [19:13] Twelve Waltzes and Coda (1817) [9:38] London Mozart Players/Howard Shelley rec. St. Silas the Martyr Church, Kentish Town, July 2006 CHANDOS CHAN 10415 [75:39][SV]

Chandos’s "big" recorded sound reinforces the impression of these as robust, Romantic scores. ... see Full Review

John IRELAND (1879-1962) CD 1 Phantasie Trio (1906) [13:14] Trio No.2 (1917) [15:11] Trio No.3 (1938) [28:35] Yfrah Neaman (violin); Julian Lloyd Webber (cello); Eric Parkin (piano) CD 2 Sextet for Clarinet, Horn and String Quartet (1898) [28:11]Sonata for Cello and Piano (1923) [20:19] Fantasy Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (1943) [14:00] Melos Ensemble: Emanuel Hurwitz, Ivor MacMahon (violins); Cecil Aronowitz (viola); Terence Weil (cello); André Navarra (cello) (Sonata); Neill Sanders (horn); Gervase de Peyer (clarinet) (Sonata, Sextet) CD 3 Violin Sonata No. 1 (1908-1909 rev.1917) [30:44] Violin Sonata No. 2 (1915-1917) [28:54] Yfrah Neaman (violin); Eric Parkin (piano) rec. Trios, St John’s Smith Square, London, July 1976; Cello Sonata, Fantasy Sonata, Sextet, May-October 1971; Violin Sonatas, St. John’s Smith Square, London, June 1972 LYRITA SRCD.2271 [3 CDs: 57:23 + 62:34 + 59:41] [JF]

The playing is fantastic and always committed and vitally, the depth and feeling of Ireland’s music is communicated to the listener through every note ... see Full Review

John IRELAND (1879-1962) The Songs CD 1 Songs of a Wayfarer; When Lights go rolling round the sky; Hope the Hornblower; Sea Fever; Marigold; Five Poems by Thomas Hardy; Three Songs; We’ll to the Woods no more CD 2 Two Songs; Songs Sacred & Profane; Five XVIth Century Songs; Blow out you Bugles; If there were Dreams to sell; I have twelve Oxen; Spring Sorrow; The Bells of San Marie; The Journey; The merry month of May; Vagabond; When I am dead my dearest; Santa Chiara; Great Things; If we must part; Tutto e sciolto CD 3 Songs for Tenor: The Heart’s desire; The sacred flame; Remember; Hawthorne Time; The East Riding; Love is a sickness full of woes; The Land of Lost Content; Two Songs Songs for Contralto: The three Ravens; Bed in Summer; Mother & Child; Earth’s Call; Three Arthur Symons Songs; What art thou thinking of?; Three Thomas Hardy Songs Benjamin Luxon (baritone) (CD1; CD2); John Mitchinson (tenor) (CD3); Alfreda Hodgson (contralto) (CD3); Alan Rowlands (piano) rec. Smith Square, London August 1972, July 1973, November 1973 (CD1; CD2); August 1978 (CD3). ADD Full song texts in English only LYRITA SRCD.2261 [3 CDs: 61:26 + 58:08 + 64:10] [RB]

Ireland's artistry as a songwriter has never been presented with such mastery ... see Full Review

Niels Peter JENSEN (1802-1846) Duos for two Flutes Duo in E minor, Op. 11, No. 2 [16:53] Duo in D Major, Op. 4, No. 1 [18:45] Duo in F Major, Op. 4, No. 3 [17:02] Duo in D minor, Op. 11, No. 3 [20:59] Rune Most (flute); Marcelo Barboza (flute) rec. 4-5 June, 2-3 October 2005, Johannes Larson Museet, Keterminde, Denmark DA CAPO 8.226029 [73:55][KS]

A nice little discovery of some neglected yet very worthwhile music. ... see Full Review

John JOUBERT (b. 1927) Symphony No. 1 op. 20 (1955) [31:17] London Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley rec. 1990s, DDD (CD single issued for composer's 80th birthday) LYRITA SRCD.322 [31:17] [RB]

This CD single deserves to do very well and all credit to Lyrita for issuing this impressively serious work in splendid concentrated isolation ... see Full Review

Sigfrid KARG-ELERT (1877-1933) Piano Works Vol. 4 Exotische Rhapsodie Op. 118 (1917) [14:01] Zwielicht-Impressionen (1913) [4:33] Heidebilder Op. 127 (1917) [17:00] Zwei Klavierstücke (1902) [8:03] Nächtlicher Regen [2:53] Mosaik Op. 146 [27:27] Ernst Breidenbach (piano) rec. Lazarus-Kirche, Nieder-Ramstadt, 9-12 January 2004 DDD CPO 999773-2 [74:00] [PCW]

A typically interesting CPO offering … see Full Review

Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Spartacus (highlights) (1950-1968) [32:13] Gayaneh (highlights) (1942) [22:20] Alexander GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Autumn from The Seasons Op.67 (1900) [12:32]* London Symphony Orchestra/Aram Khachaturian, Philharmonia Orchestra/Yevgeny Svetlanov* rec. No.1 Studio, Abbey Road, London, 2-4 February and *3, 7 October 1977 EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 0946 3 93229 2 3 [67:33][TP/RB]

TP: Well worth the modest asking price; RB: A memento of some vital recording sessions ... see Full Review

Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Piano Concerto in D flat major (1936) [33:52] Symphony No. 3 in C (Symphony-Poem) major for full symphonic orchestra, organ and fifteen trumpets (1947) [24:05] Yakov Flier (pno) Moscow Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra Kirill Kondrashin rec. Moscow, 1963 (concerto); 1969 (symphony). ADD MELODIYA MEL CD 10 01006 [58:12] [RB]

Authentic and gripping accounts of two of Khachaturian’s second rank works. ... see Full Review

Paul von KLENAU (1883-1946) Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Kornetts Christoph Rilke (1919) Bo Skovhus (baritone) Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno Odense Symphony Orchestra/Paul Mann rec. Carl Nielsen Hall, Odense, 28-31 August, 1-2, 4-6 September 2006 recorded in cooperation with the Danish Broadcasting Corporation DACAPO 6.220532 [71:21] [RB]

If you like the lapidary continental romanticism of the 1910s with a dash of early Schoenberg and Delius then this is most certainly for you. Quite a discovery ... see Full Review

Johann Philipp KRIEGER (1649-1725) XII Sonata à due Violini (1688) Sonata 1, in D minor (5:52) Sonata 2, in E minor [5:33] Sonata 3, in F major [5:59] Sonata 4, in G major [6:10] Sonata 5, in A minor [5:37] Sonata 6, in B flat major [4:27] Sonata 7, in B minor [6:11] Sonata 8, in C major [5:30] Sonata 9, in G minor [5:19] Sonata 10, in D major [5:19] Sonata 11, in A major [5:17] Sonata 12, in C minor [6:19] Parnassi musici: Margaret MacDuffie (violin); Matthias Fischer (violin); Matthias Müller (viola d gamba); Hubert Hoffmann (archlute); Helene Lerch (organ, harpsichord) rec. 2-5 May, 2002, Schüttbau, Rügheim CPO 777 294-2 [67:27] [GPu]

Inviting performances of subtle and interesting music by a relatively little known figure of the early German baroque ... see Full Review

Franz KROMMER (1759-1831) Concerto for two clarinets in E flat Op.91^a,b (1815) Louis SPOHR (1784-1859) Clarinet Concerto No. 4 in E minor WoO 20^a (1829) (ed. Gerhard Ewald Rischka) Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E flat Op.57^b (1810) Sabine Meyer (clarinet)^a; Julian Bliss (clarinet)^b Academy of St Martin in the Fields/Kenneth Sillito. rec. No.1 Studio, Abbey Road, London, September 2006. DDD EMI CLASSICS 3797862 [72:40] [BW]

None of these concertos comes close to matching Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, but this is a well-filled disc of attractive music, very well performed and recorded … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Constant LAMBERT (1905-1951) Romeo and Juliet - A Ballet in two Tableaux (1924-25) [30:00] Pomona - A Ballet in one Act (1926) [20:36] Music for Orchestra * (1927) [13:19] King Pest: Rondo Burlesca ** (1935) [9:14] English Chamber Orchestra/Norman Del Mar London Philharmonic Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth * Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Simon Joly ** rec. DDD*; July 1977, Kingsway Hall, London, ADD LYRITA SRCD.215 [73:14] [RB]

A magnificent Lambert collection … required listening ... see Full Review

John LANCHBERY (1923-2003) Tales of Beatrix Potter  (music from the Royal Ballet film) (1971) Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/John Lanchbery rec. No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London, 1970 CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 393 2302 [52.34] [JS][RB]

I can recommend it only with a strong caveat, and suggest the DVD as being possibly a better alternative [JS] ... Essentially a highly accomplished charming pastiche [RB] ... see Full Review

Stefano LANDI (1587-1639) La Morte D’Orfeo (1619) [132:27] Francesco USPER (end, sixteenth century-1641) Sonata a 8 [4:09] Dario CASTELLO (c.1590-c.1630) Sonata decima a 3 [5:26] Giovanni GABRIELI (c.1554-1612) Canzon VIII a 8 [5:23] Biagio MARINI (1594-1663) Canzon nona a doi Chori [3:25] Akadêmia: Aurore Bucher (soprano); Bertrand Dazin (counter-tenor); Guillemette Laurens (mezzo); Dominique Visse (alto); Cyril Auvity (tenor); Jan van Elsacker (tenor); Vincent Lesage (tenor); Geoffroy Buffière (bass); Emmanuel Vistorky (bass)/Françoise Lasserre rec. 3-11 January, 2006, l’église Notre-Dame du Liban, Paris, France. DDD ZIG ZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT070402 [74:06 + 76:50] [MS]

Gorgeous, gentle and gratifying music from a contemporary of Monteverdi. Best listened to as an innovative gem, carefully conceived, realised and expertly performed ... see Full Review

Simon Le DUC (1742-1777) Complete Symphonic Works Symphony (No.2) in D major (pub.1777) [13:03] Orchestral Trio op.2,2 in G minor (1767) [12:50] Symphony (No.3) in E flat major (pub. 1777) [14:34] Orchestral Trio op.2,3 in B flat major (1767) [9:07] Orchestral Trio op.2,1 in D major (pub.1776) [12:09] Symphony (No.1) in D major (1767) [11:16] La Stagione Frankfurt/Michael Schneider rec. Immanuelskirche, Wuppertal, 3-5 December 2005 CPO 777 219-2 [73:29][DC]

The subtly inflected playing of La Stagione Frankfurt ably reveals the inventive qualities of Simon Le Duc’s works ... see Full Review

Walter LEIGH (1905-1942) Agincourt Overture* (1937) [11:46] Concertino for Harpsichord and String Orchestra (1934) [9:33] Music for String Orchestra (1931-2) [6:29] A Midsummer Night's Dream Suite for small orchestra (1936): Overture, Entry of the Mechanicals, Introduction to Act II, Intermezzo, Introduction to Act III, Wedding March, Bergomask, Fairies' Dance, Finale [14:26] The Frogs (1936) [5:35] Jolly Roger Overture* (1933) [3:38] Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite, New Philharmonia Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite rec. Kingsway Hall, London, March 1980; *Walthamstow Town Hall, August 1975. ADD LYRITA SRCD.289 [51:33]  [RW]

The composer, Walter Leigh, is little known today yet was undoubtedly one of England’s gifted and versatile composers ... see Full Review

Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Complete Piano Music - Volume 25 Verdi Concert Paraphrases and Transcriptions Rigoletto: Paraphrase de concert S434/R267 (1858) [7:38] Aida: Danza sacra e duetto final S436/R269 (1879) [11:38] Miserere du Trovatore S433/R266 (1859) [8:39] Salve Maria de “Jérusalem” (I Lombardi) S431/R264 (1848) [6:48] Don Carlos: Coro di festa e Marcia funebre S435/R268 (1867) [7:07] Réminiscences de Boccanegra S438/R271 (1882) [11:17] Ernani: Paraphrase de concert S432/R265 (1849) [8:49] Alexandre Dossin (piano) rec. The Country Day School, King City, Ontario, 9-12 August 2005. DDD NAXOS 8.557904 [61:56][PCW]

The Naxos Liszt piano series continues to prove valuable … see Full Review

George LLOYD (1913-1998) CD 1 Symphony No. 4 in B (1945-6) [60:02] CD 2 Symphony No. 5 in B flat (1947-8) [57:34] CD 3 Symphony No. 8 (1961 orch. 1965) [45:28] Philharmonia Orchestra/Edward Downes rec. 1982-84, London? ADD 3 CDs for the price of 2 LYRITA SRCD.2258 [3 CDs: 60:02 + 57:34 + 45:28] [RB]

Three late romantic symphonies by a romantic master. The merits are accentuated by the excellent notes, the glories of analogue engineering, by Downes’ grip on the Fourth Symphony and by the thoughtfully attractive price ... see Full Review

 

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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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