Bruno
MADERNA (1920-1973)
Concerto
for Oboe and Chamber Ensemble No.1 (1962)
[19:27] Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra No.2
(1967) [19:33] Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra
No.3 (1973) [16:53] 
Fabian Menzel (oboe) Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester
Saarbrücken/Michel Stern rec. Funkhaus
auf dem Halberg, Saarbrücken - Großer
Sendesaal, live; 20 September 1996 (Concerto
No.1), 24 September 1996 (Concerto No.2),
Live; 15 May 1994 (Concerto No.3)
COL LEGNO WWE 20037 [55:54] [DC]
Col
Legno are to be applauded for bringing these
radio recordings to a greater public, with
a set of concertos very much representative
of one of the grand masters of the last century.
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
The Symphonies CD1 Symphony No. 1 (1884-96) [54:32]*
Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection" (1888-94): I [21:35] CD2 Symphony
No. 2 "Resurrection" (1888-94): II-V [60:57] + CD3 Symphony No.
3 (1895-6): I-IV [65:22] CD4 Symphony No.
3 (1895-6): V-VI [30:04] ^ Symphony No. 4
(1899-1901): I-III [48:43] CD5 Symphony No.
4 (1899-1901): IV [9:09] # Symphony No. 5
(1901-2) [67:49] CD6 Symphony No. 7 (1908)
[78:48] CD7 Symphony No. 6 (1903-05): I-III
[53:53] CD8 Symphony No. 6 (1903-05): IV [29:22]
Symphony No. 9 (1909) I-II [44:12]* CD9 Symphony
No. 9 (1909) III-IV [42:28]* Symphony No.10:
Adagio (1910) [26:04] CD10 Symphony No.8 (1909)
[78:50]* $ CD 11 Das Lied von der Erde
(1909) [61:55]*
Kristina Laki (soprano)+, Lucia Popp (soprano)#,
Julia Varady (soprano)$, Marianne Haggander
(soprano)$, Maria Venuti (soprano)$, Florence
Quivar (mezzo)+$, Ann Howells (mezzo-soprano)$,
Maria Lipovšek (mezzo-soprano)%, Gwendolyn
Killebrew (contralto)^, Paul Frey (tenor)$,
Ben Heppner (tenor)%, Alan Titus (baritone)$,
Siegfried Vogel (bass)$; Kölner Rundfunkchor
+$, Südfunk-Chor Stuttgart +$, Knabenchor
des Collegium Josephinium, Bonn ^, Frauenchor
des Bayerischen Rundfunks und des Westdeutschen
Rundfunks ^, The Little Singers of Tokyo $,
Prager Philharmonischer Chor $; Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester/Gary
Bertini rec. 21, 23 November 1991, Suntory
Hall Tokyo (Symphony No.1); 29 April - 4 May
1991, Philharmonie, Köln (Symphony No.2);
25-27 March 1985, Studio Stollberger-Strasse,
Köln (Symphony No.3); 30 November and 4 December
1987, Philharmonie, Köln (Symphony No.4);
29 January - 3 February 1990, Philharmonie,
Köln (Symphony No.5); 21 September 1984, WDR
Studios, Köln (Symphony No.6); 9-15 February
1990, Philharmonie, Köln (Symphony No.7);
12-14 November 1991, Suntory Hall Tokyo (Symphony
No.8); 20 February 1991, Suntory Hall Tokyo
(Symphony No.9); 1-3 July 1991, Philharmonie,
Köln (Symphony No.10: Adagio); 16-17 November
1991, Suntory Hall Tokyo (Das Lied von
der Erde); Live recordings *. DDD
EMI CLASSICS 0946 3 40238 2 5 [11 CDs:
76:07 + 60:57 + 65:22 + 78:47 + 77:32 + 78:48
+ 53:53 + 73:34 + 68:32 + 78:50 + 61:55][TP]
This cycle is an
essential purchase for all Mahlerians and
the best possible set for beginners ... see
Full
Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No. 2 in C minor Resurrection (1888-94)
[82:18]
Lisa Milne (soprano) Birgit Remmert (mezzo)
The Hungarian Radio Choir Budapest Festival
Orchestra/Ivan Fischer rec. Palace of Arts,
Budapest, September 2005. DDD 
CHANNEL
CLASSICS CCS SA 23506 [31:50 + 50:28]
[MG]
Fischer
ponders over the detail, keenly appreciative.
Finely crafted and superbly recorded, this
yields some wonderful results ... see Full
Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1869-1911)
Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor (1901)
London Symphony Orchestra/James DePreist rec.
Abbey Road Studios, London, 29-30 April 2005.
DDD.
NAXOS 8.557990 [72:43] [TD]
In
a fiercely competitive list, this very ordinary
performance is completely ruled out of consideration
by a plodding Scherzo that just bores ...
see Full Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony No. 6 in A minor (1904) [84:11] - Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Ein Heldenleben (1899) [50:34]
London Symphony Orchestra,
New Philharmonia Orchestra/John Barbirolli rec. Studio No. 1, Abbey
Road 1969 (Strauss); Kingsway Hall, London 1967 (Mahler)
EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 3652852 [72:04 + 62:49] [TP]
Compulsory
for Mahlerians, though they may not love it, and essential for
Barbirolli fans, who undoubtedly will. ... see Full
Review
Pietro
MASCAGNI (1863-1945) Messa
di Gloria
(1888) [55:34]
Stefano Secco (tenor) Cosimo Diano (baritone) Tölzer Knabenchor St. Petersburg Chamber Choir St.
Petersburg "Optina Pustyn" Choir I Solisti Veneti/Claudio Scimone rec. Chiesa di San Francesco, Schio, May 2003
WARNER FONIT 5050467-1202-2-8 [55:34][SV]
I
can imagine this being improved upon, but don't hold your breath. Recommended
for now, anyway. ... see Full
Review
Simon MAYR
(1763-1845) L'Armonia - dramatic
cantata for soloists, chorus and orchestra (1825) [44:06]; Cantata
sopra la morte di Beethoven per soli, coro ed orchestra (Cantata
for the Death of Beethoven for soloists, chorus and orchestra) (1827)
[15:24] Talia Or (soprano);
Altin Piriù (tenor); Nikolay Borchev (bass); Simon Mayr Choir Ingolstadt
Georgian Chamber Orchestra/Franz Hauk rec. Asamkirche Maria de Victoria,
Ingolstadt, 15-18 September 2005
NAXOS 8.557958 [59:30][GF]
Entertaining
and attractive music by a forgotten master,
well performed and with three excellent young
singers showing their ability ... see Full
Review
Eddie MCGUIRE
(b.
1948) Music
for flute, Guitar and Piano Harbour of Harmonies (2000) [8:08] Fountain of Tears
(1992) [6:06] Prelude 13 (1994) [5:21] Dark Cloud (1991) [12:40]
Caprice (1999) [2:16] Celtic Knotwork (1990) [4:36] Resistance
Movement (2006) [5:30] Amazonia (1987)
[10:19] Dancing Memories (2001) [5:30] Twelve
White-Note Pieces (1971) [12:54]
Nancy Ruffer (flute, piccolo) Abigail James
(guitar) Dominic Saunders (piano) rec. 19-20
June 2005, Reid Concert Hall, University of
Edinburgh
DELPHIAN DCD34029 [73:22] [DC]
This
recording should bring Eddie McGuire's work
to a wider public - this is surely what it
deserves. ... see Full
Review
Gian
Carlo MENOTTI (b. 1911) Missa - O
Pulchritudo for soli, chorus and orchestra (1979) [43:22]
Louis VIERNE (1870-1937) Messe
Solenelle op. 16 (1899) [29:12]
Joan Gibbons (sop); Deborah Fair (mezzo); John Vorrasi (tenor); Thomas
Sillitti (bass); William Ferris Chorale; Composer Festival Orchestra/William
Ferris (Menotti) Thomas Weisflog (grand organ) Dexter Bailey (choir
organ) William Ferris Chorale/William Ferris (Vierne) rec. in concert,
12 December 1982, St James Cathedral, Chicago in composer's presence
(Menotti); 20 May 1988, Mount Carmel Church, Chicago (Vierne). ADD/DDD
CEDILLE CDR 7001
[72:47][RB]
Two
masses - modern, operatic-dramatic but backward looking; the other
subdued, fervent but dignified. ... see Full
Review
Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Il Combattimento
di Tancredi e Clorinda (1638) [17:53] Interrotte speranze, eterna
fede (7th Book of Madrigals) (1619) [2.41] Ecco di
dolci raggi il raggi il sol armato (Scherzi Musicali) (1632) [2.15]
Si dolce e'l tormento (Quarto scherzo delle ariose vaghezze)
(1624) [7.33] Ohime ch'io cado, ohime (Quarto scherzo delle ariose
vaghezze) (1624) [4.23] Et e pur dunque vero (Scherzi Musicali)
(1632) [6.08] Quel sguardo sdegnosetto (Scherzi Musicali) (1632)
[2.44] Maledetto sia l'aspetto (Scherzi Musicali) (1632) [1.21]
Piu lieto il guardo (Arie de diversi) (1634) [5.06] Tempro
la cetra (7th Book of Madrigals) (1619) [7.21] Tornate,
o cari baci (7th Book of Madrigals) (1619) [2.42] Eri
gia tutta mia (Scherzi Musicali) (1632) [2.54]
Rolando Villazon (tenor) Topi Lehtipuu (tenor) Patrizia Ciofi (soprano)
Le Concert d'Astrée/Emanuelle Haim (organ, harpsichord; direction) rec.
Paris, Eglise Notre Dame du Liban, 18, 29-23 November 2005; Chapelle
Notre Dame de Bon Secours, 19 May 2006
VIRGIN CLASSICS 0946 3 63350 2 5 [67.28][RH]
You get to hear how one of the 21st
century's loveliest voices sounds in this music, providing you can get
beyond the vexed issue of performance style. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
The Piano Sonatas
Joyce Hatto (piano) rec. Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge,
1995 - 2005 CONCERT
ARTISTS IPO01052 [re-edited and re-mastered] (5CDs packaged together
in slim-line case with a booklet - German booklet available on request.
5 discs for the price of 3) [CH]
A
cycle consistently illuminated by an inner
spirituality. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
The Piano Sonatas, Rondo in D K.485 Fantasia in C minor K.475
Lili Kraus (piano) rec. 1967-1968, location not given
SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT 82876-88808 LC 06868 [4 CDs] [CH]
An
uneven set, magnificent at its best but to
be approached with caution. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Le nozze di Figaro, comic
opera in four acts K.492 (1786) [165:20]
Heinz Blankenburg (baritone) - Figaro; Rita Streich (soprano) - Susanna;
Bianca Maria Casoni (mezzo) - Cherubino; Renata Cesari (basso) - Conte;
Marcella Pobbe (soprano) - Contessa; Fernanda Cadoni (mezzo) -
Marcellina; Vito Susca (basso) - Bartolo; Nicola Monti (tenor) - Don
Basilio; Elvina Ramella (soprano) - Barbarina; Amilcare Blaffard (tenor)
- Don Curzio; Leonardo Monreale (tenor) - Antonio; Nelly Pucci, Vera Presti - two
contadine; Coro del Teatro San Carlo di Napoli Orchestra
Alessandro Scarlatti di Napoli della RAI/Peter Maag rec. live,
22 September 1959, Teatrino di Corte del San Carlo di Napoli, Naples,
Italy ARTS ARCHIVES
43070-2 [3 CDs: 43:15 + 46:08 + 76:57][CH]
No
other recording known to me brings to life the characters and events
in the Count's household as this one does. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Masonic
Funeral Music (Maurerische Trauermusik) in C minor
for orchestra, K. 477 (K. 479a) (1785) [5:26]
New Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer rec. 14 November 1964, No.
1 Studio, Abbey Road, London, England. ADD Requiem in
D minor for soloists, chorus and orchestra, K. 626 (1791) [54:17] Edith
Mathis (soprano); Grace Bumbry (contralto); George Shirley (tenor);
Marius Rintzler (bass) New Philharmonia Chorus/Wilhelm Pitz
New Philharmonia Orchestra/Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos rec.
3-4 February and 17, 19-20 May 1967, Kingsway Hall, London, England.
ADD
EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 3759342 [59:48][MC]
These
excellent performances are a match for any rivals in the catalogue.
One feels swept along on a spiritual journey. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano Concerto No. 9 in E flat, K271 ('Jeunehomme') (1777) [33:10];
Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K491 (1786) [30:57]
Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie/Mikhail Plentev (piano) No rec. dates given.
DDD VIRGIN CLASSICS
VIRGO 3654672 [64:19] [CC]
Disappointing
on every single level. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Le
nozze di Figaro (1786)
Tom Krause (baritone) - Count Almaviva; Arlene Saunders (soprano) - The
Countess; Heinz Blankenburg (baritone) - Figaro; Edith Mathis (soprano)
- Susanna; Elisabeth Steiner (mezzo) - Cherubino; Maria von Ilosvay
(mezzo) - Marcellina; Kurt Marschner (tenor) - Basilio; Jürgen
Förster (tenor) - Don Curzio; Noël Mangin (bass) - Bartolo; Karl
Otto (bass) - Antonio; Natalie Usselmann (soprano) - Barbarina;
Members of Hamburg State Opera Ballet Chorus of the Hamburg
State Opera Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra/Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt
Historical studio production from the Hamburg State Opera,
1967 Choreography: Gustav Blank; Set Design: Ita Maximowna;
Production director: Gyula Trebitsch; Directed for TV by Joachim
Hess
Sound format: Mono; Picture format: 4:3 Colour ARTHAUS
101263 
[170:00]
[GF]
Technically
dated and sung in German, but with a cast that sing and act this
eternal master-piece to the manner born. Mozart conducting of the
highest order. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Die Zauberflöte (1791)
Hans Sotin (bass) - Sarastro; Nicolai Gedda (tenor) - Tamino; Dietrich
Fischer-Dieskau (baritone) - Speaker; Kurt Marschner (tenor) - First
Priest; Herbert Flirther (baritone) - Second Priest; Cristina Deutekom
(soprano) - Queen of the Night; Edith Mathis (soprano) - Pamina; Leonore
Kirschstein (soprano) - First Lady; Paula Page (mezzo) - Sedond Lady;
Cvetka Ahlin (contralto) - Third Lady; William Workman (baritone) -
Papageno; Carol Malone (soprano) - Papagena; Franz Grundheber (baritone)
- Monostatos; Kurt Moll (bass) and Helmut Melchert (tenor) - Two Men in
Armour; Chorus of the Hamburg State Opera Hamburg
Philharmonic State Orchestra/Horst Stein; Direction: Peter
Ustinov; Directed for TV by
Joachim Hess; Produced by Polyphon Film- und Fernsehgesellschaft
for NDR, 1971; Sound Format: Mono; Picture Format: 4:3, Colour ARTHAUS
101265 [156:00]
[GF]
You
may need some indulgence as far as the technical side is concerned
but this is made up for by the singing. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Horn Concerto No.1 in D, K. 412
(1791?) [8:53] Horn Concerto No.2 in E-flat, K. 417 (1783) [13:04] Horn
Concerto No.3 in E-flat, K. 447 (1784-7) [14:37] Horn Concerto No.4
in E-flat, K. 495 (1786) [15:39] Concert Rondo in E-flat, K. 371
(1781?; completed by Fritz Beyer) [6:07]
Xiao-Ming Han (horn) English Chamber Orchestra/Jia Lu rec. Rosslyn Hill
Chapel, London, January 1996
RESONANCE CDRSN3071 [58:20] [SV]
For
an off-the-rack impulse purchase the newcomer could do worse than
this. Veteran collectors interested in Han can decide whether the
Fourth Concerto and Rondo make this worth the low price. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano Concerto No. 17 in G, K453 (1784) [28:57] Piano Concerto No. 21
in C, K467 (1785) [28:18]
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Maurizio Pollini (piano). rec. live, Grosser
Saal, Musikverein, Vienna, May 2005. DDD
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 5795 [57:15] [CC]
A
wonderful disc in many ways. This is tremendous, life-affirming
Mozart playing, marking Pollini's welcome return to this territory.
... see Full Review
Nikolai
MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950)
Symphony no. 6 in E flat minor, Op. 23 Revolutionary (1922-1923)
[61:38] Symphony no. 10 in F minor, Op. 30 (1927) [16:40]
Domestik Choir of Ekaterinburg Ural State Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitry
Liss rec. 25-28 February 2006, Philharmonia Great Hall, Ekaterinburg.
DDD WARNER CLASSICS
63431-2 [78:18] [RB]
A
gripping and urgent Myaskovsky 6. A reading of elemental spontaneity
coupled with the darkly fascinating Tenth ... see Full
Review
Arne
NORDHEIM (b.1931) Draumkvedet (The
Dream Ballad) (1994) Olav Åsteson
- Njål Sparbo, (bass-baritone) Kvinna/Urkvinna - Unni Løvlid,
(vocal) St Peter, Priest, St Jakob - Carl Høgset, (counter-tenor)
Engel - Rasmus Høgset, (counter-tenor) Guds Heilage Moder Torunn
-Ølstrem Ossum, (mezzo) Grutte Grøskjegg, Sante Sølemikkjel
Engel - Frank Havrøy, (baritone) Jesus, Lucifer - Sigve Bøe,
(tenor) Ein gut - Benjamin Isaksen, (boy soprano) Jesus - Sigmund
Sæverud (spoken) Grutte Grøskjegg, Sante Sølemikkjel, Engel
- Paul Ottar Haga (spoken) Åshild Breie Nyhus (Hardanger fiddle)
Mats Claesson. Electroacoustic material (NoTam) Grex Vocalis
Norwegian Radio Orchestra/Ingar Bergby rec. NRK Store Studio,
Oslo, 21 February 2002-2 March 2002. DDD SIMAX
PSC1169 [40:00 + 41:00] [LK]
Well
worth hearing, and has an unusual richness and depth. ... see Full
Review
Jacques
OFFENBACH (1819-1880) Romantique
Orphée aux enfers (Orpheus in the Underworld)
- Overture (1874) [8:47] Concerto militaire - grand
concerto for violoncello and orchestra (Allegro maestoso;
Andante; Allegretto. cadenza: Jérôme Pernoo) (1847)
[43:10] Les Fées du Rhin (The Rhine Nixies)
(Overture; Ballet; Grande Valse) (1864) [14:51] Ballet des Flocons
de neige (Ballet of the Snowflakes) from Le
Voyage dans la Lune (The Voyage to the Moon) (Introduction,
Moderato - Vivo; The Blue Swallows, Scherzando; The Snowman,
Allegro moderato; Animated Snowflakes, Andante; Polka,
Allegro; Mazurka, Allegro non troppo; Variations, Maestoso;
Galop final, Allegro vivo) (1875) [11:01]
Jérôme Pernoo (cello) Les Musiciens du Louvre, Grenoble/Marc Minkowski
rec. La Maison de la Culture, Grenoble, France, January 2006
ARCHIV 00289 477 6403 [78:24][RW]
This
delightful collection of Offenbach works is interesting because it includes
some lesser-known material ... see Full
Review
Niccolò PAGANINI (1782-1840)
Chamber Works With Guitar Vol. 1 Trio
Concertante in D major for viola, guitar and cello (1833) [24:39]
Cantabile for violin and guitar (1822-24) [3:57] Quartet No.
7 in E major for violin, viola, cello and guitar (c.1818-20) [24:55]
Siegbert Remberger, guitar
Offenburger String Trio: (Frank Schilli, violin; Rolf Schilli, viola;
Martin Merker, cello) rec. 1998, Bayerische Musikakademie in Hammelburg,
Schweinfurt, Germany. DDD
AMBITUS AMB97977 [53:45] [MC]
There
are hidden gems to be unearthed in these Paganini chamber scores
on Ambitus. This is a recording to cherish. ... see Full
Review
Polish
Fantasy
Ignacy Jan PADEREWSKI
(1860-1941) Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 17a
(1888) [33:34] Fantaise Polonaise, Op. 19b (1893)
[22:37] Krzysztof PENDERECKI (b.
1933)
Partitac (1971) [19:17]
Felicja Blumental (abpiano/ charpsichord); aVienna
Symphony Orchestra/Helmut Froschauer; bInnsbruck Symphony
Orchestra/Robert Wagner; cPolish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Krzysztof
Penderecki. rec. cPolish Radio Studio, Katowice, Poland,
1972. ADD
BRANA RECORDS BR0028 [75:31] [CC]
An
interesting coupling, this. The value of this disc lies primarily
in the Penderecki - the work is dedicated to Blumenthal. ...
see Full Review
Ferdinando
PAER (1771-1839) Sofonisba
- dramma serio per musica in two acts (1805) - Highlights
Sofonisba, daughter of the Carthaginian general Asdrubale, wife of
Siface and formerly betrothed to Massinissa, a bitter enemy of Romani
- Jennifer Larmore (mezzo); Siface, Sofonisba's husband - Paul Nillon
(ten); Massinissa, Sofonisba's earlier lover - Rebecca Evans (sop);
Scipione, the Roman consul in Africa - Mirco Palazzi (bass); Lilio,
Scipione's lieutenant - Colin Lee (ten); Osmida, Sofonisba's confidante
- Lucy Crowe (sop) Geoffrey Mitchell Choir Philharmonia Orchestra/Marco
Guidarini rec. Henry Wood Hall, London. July 2005. DDD
OPERA RARA ORR237 [73.10][RJF]
This
wholly admirable performance and recording is a very worthwhile addition
to the catalogue and enables us to hear the music of a significant opera
composer who was active in Europe in the period immediately before Rossini.
... see Full Review
Giovanni
Battista PERGOLESI (1710-1736) Stabat
Mater (1736) [33.18] Salve Regina in F minor (1736) [13.04]
(1) Salve Regina in A minor (1736) [10.22] (2)
Dorothea Röschman (soprano) (2) David Daniels (counter-tenor) (1) Europa
Galante/Fabio Biondi (violin and direction) rec. 6-9, 11-14 August 2005,
Studio Flagey, Brussels
VIRGIN CLASSICS 0946 3 63340 2 8 [57.13][RH]
A
fine new version, perhaps mainly for David
Daniels lovers, but if you don't have a recording
then consider this one. ... see Full
Review
George PERLE
(b. 1915) A Retrospective
CD
1 Nine Bagatelles (1999) [7:51]* Horacio
Gutiérrez (piano) Three Inventions
for Solo Bassoon (1962) [5:14] Steven
Dibner (bassoon) Adagietto con affetto
from Chansons Cachées (1997)
[1:58] Shirley Perle (piano) Two French
Christmas Carols (arr. 1958) [4:27] The
New York Virtuoso Singers/Harold Rosenbaum
Triptych for Solo Violin and Piano (2002)
[9:28] Curtis Macomber (violin); Christopher
Oldfather (piano) Brief Encounters (String
Quartet No. 9) (1998) [27:14] DePaul String
Quartet Concerto No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra
(1992) [19:27] Michael Boriskin (piano) Utah
Symphony/Joseph Silverstein CD 2 Serenade
No. 3 for Piano and Chamber Orchestra (1983)
[19:49] Richard Goode (piano) Music Today
Ensemble/Gerard Schwarz Solo Partita for Violin
and Viola (1965) [12:53] Curtis Macomber (violin
and viola) Six Celebratory Inventions (1981-95)
[8:40] Molly Morkoski (piano) Bassoonmusic
(2004) [5:47] Steven Dibner (bassoon) Quintet
for Strings (1957-58) [28:55] Chicago String
Quartet; Baird Dodge (viola) rec. 2005, American
Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters;
Piano Concerto No. 2: 7 February 1993, Maurice
Abravanel Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah; Serenade
No. 3, 15 November 1983, Rutgers Church, NYC.
USA. DDD
BRIDGE 9214A/B [76:58 + 76:45][RB]
Accessible
and communicative dissonant music. A generous
conspectus of Perle's work ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Peter and the Wolf
Op. 67 (1936)
Philharmonia Orchestra/Mark Stephenson Suzie Templeton (director) Special
features: The Musical Themes; The Story - Picture Gallery; The Making
of Peter & The Wolf; A Day on the Film Set; Director's Commentary
Language versions: English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch,
Italian (Bonus Material) Subtitle Languages GB for the Bonus Material
Sound format: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS
5.1 Region Code: 2.5 Breakthru Films 2006
ARTHAUS-MUSIK 101 804-GB [movie:
35:00; bonus: 75:00][DC]
A
wonderful production, richly deserving of any and all awards which must
surely come its way. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) La
Bohème (1896) Rodolfo,
Aquiles Machado (ten); Mimi, Inva Mula (sop); Marcello, Fabio
Maria Capitanucci (bar); Musetta, Laura Giordano (sop); Schaunard,
David Menendez (bar); Colline, Felipe Bou (bass); Alcindoro,
Alfredo Mariotti (ten); Benoit, Juan Tomás Martinez (bass); Parpignol,
Gonzalo Fernández de Terán Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro
Real, Madrid (Madrid Symphony Orchestra and Chorus)/Jesus Lopez-Cobos
rec. live, Teatro Real, Madrid, March 2006 Stage director, Giancarlo
del Monaco. Set and Costume Designer, Michael Scott Television
Director, Robin Lough Plus bonus of interviews and cast gallery
Picture format: 16/9 Anamorphic. Recorded in High Definition
Sound formats: LPCM Stereo. DTS 5.1 Sung in Italian with subtitles
in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish OPUS
ARTE OA0961D [2
DVDs: 149:00] [RJF]
The
realistic sets provide an ideal framework for Inva Mula's detailed
and poignant portrayal of Mimi's brief life and also for the realisation
of the director's cinematographic aspirations for the work. ...
see Full Review
Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
CD1 Symphony No. 1 in D minor op. 13 (1896) [50:01]Caprice
Bohémien op. 12 (1894) [18:09]Scherzo in D minor [5:02]
CD2 Symphony No. 2 in E minor op. 27 (1907) [64:11]The
Rock op. 7 (1893) [14:03] CD3 Symphony No. 3 in
A minor op. 44 (1936) [44:17]The Isle of the Dead op. 29 (1907)
[22:53] State Symphony
Orchestra of the Russian Federation/Evgeny Svetlanov rec. Grand Radio
Hall, Moscow, 2-7 October 1995. DDD Evgeny Svetlanov Official Edition.
No. 1 (volumes 8-10) WARNER MUSIC FRANCE
5101 12238-2 [3 CDs: 73:31 + 78:30
+ 67:27] [RB]
There's
no escaping it; who would want to - Svetlanov is an exciting conductor
and you either love his Stokowskian glare and sumptuous textures or
you will regard it is as vulgar. I love it! ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Symphonic
Dances, Op. 45 (1940) [31:59] Suite No. 2, Op. 17 (1900) [22:43] Suite No.
1, Op. 5, Fantaisie-tableaux (1893) [22:58]
Peter Donohoe and Martin Roscoe (pianos) rec. Henry Wood Hall, London,
24-25 September 2004; Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, 5
April 2002 (Suite No. 1). DDD
NAXOS 8.557062 [77:40][TP]
More
delicate and finely nuanced readings of these pieces are very hard to
find. ... see Full Review
Jean-Philippe
RAMEAU (1683-1764) Keyboard Suites Suite
in E minor (Pièces de Clavecin, 1724, rev. 1731) [21:35] Suite
in G Minor (Nouvelles suites Pièces de Clavecin c. 1729-30)
[28:26] Suite in A minor (Nouvelles suites Pièces de Clavecin,
c. 1729-30) [28:17]
Angela Hewitt (piano) rec. Das Kulturzentrum Grand Hotel, Dobbacio,
Italy, 1-4 June 2006. DDD
HYPERION CDA67597 [78:18][PCW]
A qualified welcome - if Rameau on the piano appeals there are no
serious reservations ... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) The
Complete Piano Works Volume 1 Jeux d'eau (1901) [5:46] Sonatine (1905)
[11:04] Miroirs (1905) [27:46] Gaspard de la nuit (1908)
[22:23] Volume 2 Sérénade grotesque (1893) [3:27] Menuet
antique [5:44] Pavane pour une infante défunte (1899)
[6:02] Menuet sur le nom de Haydn (1909) [1:42] A la
manière de Borodine (1913) [1:31] A la manière de Chabrier (1913)
[1:41] Prélude (1913) [1:25] Valses nobles et sentimentales (1911)
[14:13] Le Tombeau de Couperin (1917) [35:36] La Valse (1920)
[11:30] Joyce
Hatto (piano) rec. 17-18 May 2005, Concert Artist Studios CONCERT
ARTIST CACD20042 (9138/9139) [67:09 + 71:35] [DC]
With
a lifetime of living with these works, Joyce Hatto records them
with the advantage of knowing their every wrinkle and secret like
few others. ... see Full Review
Max
REGER (1873-1916) Variations and
Fugue on an Original Theme in F sharp minor, Op. 73 (1903) [43:54]. Willem
TANKE (b. 1959) Zwei Wind-Fantasien (2002) [28:21] Willem
Tanke (organ) rec. Adema Organ, St Bavo-Kathedrale, Haarlem, 7 June 2003
(Reger), Marcussen Organ, Grote of Sint Laurenskerk, Rotterdam, 21 February
2003 (Tanke). DDD CYBELE
RECORDS SACD 060.302 [72:15][CC]
This is a beautifully recorded organ disc; if
it is a tester for your hi-fi you are after,
look no further. ... see Full
Review
Ottorino
RESPIGHI
(1879-1936) Complete Songs
for Voice and Piano, Vol. 3 Quattro
Liriche su parole di poeti armeni P132 (1921)
[11:25] a Due Liriche P123 (1919)
[6:41] a Cinque Liriche P108 (1917)
[18:39] a Quattro Liriche dal Poema
Paradisiaco di Gabriele d'Annunzio P125
(1920) [15:46] c La donna del sarcofago
P121 (1919) [2:56] c La statua
P122 (1919) [3:43] c Quattro arie
scozzesi P143 (1924) [13:29] b
a Elisabetta Scano (soprano); b
Andrea Catzel (soprano); c Leonardo
de Lisi (tenor); a-c Reinild Mees
(piano) rec. August 2003, Philips Muziekcentrum
Eindhoven
CHANNEL CLASSICS CCS 14998 [74:48] [GPu]
A
rewarding, if not always perfect, programme
of interesting songs, which reaches a splendid
climax in Respighi's version of four traditional
Scottish Airs ... see Full
Review
Julius RÖNTGEN (1855-1932) Symphony
No. 3 in C minor (1910) [32:46] Suite Aus Jotunheim (1892
orch. 1893) [25:10]
Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz/David Porcelijn rec. Ludwigshafen,
Philharmonie, 6-9 September 2005. DDD
CPO 777 119-2 [58:02][RB]
CPO
will be recording all the symphonies by Röntgen on ten CDs. This pathfinder
does not disappoint; quite the contrary. ... see Full
Review
Gioachino ROSSINI
(1792-1868)
Tancredi - opera in two acts (1813)
Tancredi, a Knight and son of the deposed king of Syracuse - Daniela
Barcellona (mezzo); Argirio, ruler of Syracuse and father of Amenaide
- Raul Giménez (ten); Orbazzano, leader of a powerful family faction
in Syracuse - Marco Spotti (bass); Amenaide, daughter of Argirio in
love with Tancredi - Darina Takova (coloratura soprano); Roggiero, Tancredi's
friend - Nicola Marchesini (male falsettist); Isaura - Barbara Di Castri
(mezzo) Orchestra and Chorus of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino/Riccardo
Frizza rec. live, Teatro Communale, Florence, 21 October 2005 Stage
Director and Set and Costume design by Pier Luigi Pizzi Sets and Costumes
made by the Rossini Opera festival in Pesaro in collaboration with the
Teatro Communale, Florence Sound format, DD 5.1. DTS 5.1. LPCM stereo.
Picture format 16:9 anamorphic Introductory essay in English, German
and French Subtitles in Italian (original language), English, German,
French and Spanish TDK
DVWW-OPTANC [155:00]
[RJF]
This
finely sung, acted and staged performance is a welcome addition
to the burgeoning number of quality Rossini opera performances
available on DVD. ... see Full
Review
Albert
ROUSSEL
(1868-1937)
Symphonies 2-4, Le Festin de L'Araignée, Sinfonietta for string
orchestra, Bacchus et Ariane Suites 1 & 2 George
Prêtre, Pierre Dervaux, André Cluytens rec. 1963-81
EMI CLASSICS 3 71487 2 [77:07 + 73:49] [JW]
More
than a Roussel starter pack. The Cluytens-Prêtre
team is formidable and allied to the lesser
known but still ardent Dervaux you have as
incisive a trio of conductors as you could
wish at this price range. ... 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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