Luigi
CHERUBINI (1760-1842)
Requiem in C Minor (1816); Introit
and Kyrie [7:26]; Graduale [1:12]; Sequence:
Dies Irae [7:49]; Offertory: Domine
Jesu Christe [5:54]; Offertory: Hostias
[6:43]; Sanctus and Benedictus [1:13];
Pie Jesu [3:20]; Agnus Dei [5:22]
March Funèbre (1820) [5:14] Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Elegiac
Song Op 118 [5:40] 
Boston Baroque/Martin Pearlman rec. Mechanics
Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, 7-8 May
2006. DDD
TELARC CD-80658 [47:38][JWi]
Telarc are to be
congratulated for reviving this historically
and musically important requiem, as well as
for their very good recording. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frédéric CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Piano Sonata
No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35 (1839) [25:46]; Scherzos: No. 1 in B flat
minor, Op. 20 (1831-32) [10:54]; No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 31 (1837)
[9:47]; No. 3 in C sharp minor, Op. 39 (1839) [7:14]; No. 4 in E, Op.
54 (1842) [11:08] Simon
Trpčeski (piano). rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, 26-29 July 2006. DDD
EMI
CLASSICS 3 75586 2 [65:00][CC]
This
stunning disc runs high on my list of Discs of the Year .. This is a
must-hear experience. ... see Full
Review
Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Douze
Etudes Op. 10 (1835)
1. No. 1 in C major, allegro [1:55]
2. No. 2 in A minor, allegro
[1:22] 3. No. 3 in E major,
lento ma non troppo [4:31] 4. No.
4 in C sharp minor, presto [2:16] 5. No.
5 in G flat major, vivace [1:41] 6. No.
6 in E flat minor, andante con molto espressione [2:53] 7. No. 7 in C major,
vivace [1:37]
8. No. 8 in F major, allegro [2:23] 9. No.
9 in F minor, allegro molto agitato [2:09] 10. No.
10 in A flat major, vivace assai [2:14]
11. No. 11 in E flat major, allegretto [3:00] 12. No.
12 in C minor, allegro con fuoco [2:27] 12 Etudes Op.
25 (A Madame la Comtesse d'Agoult) (1832-36) 13.
No. 1 in A flat major, allegro sostenuto [2:25]
14. No. 2 in F minor, presto [1:43]
15. No. 3 in F major, allegro [2:04] 16. No.
4 in A minor, agitato [2:18] 17. No. 5 in E minor,
vivace [3:24]
18. No. 6 in G sharp minor, allegro
[2:06] 19. No.
7 in C sharp minor, lento [5:18] 20. No.
8 in D flat major, vivace assai [1:09] 21. No.
9 in G flat major, allegro assai [1:04] 22. No.
10 in B minor, allegro con fuoco [4:29] 23. No.
11 in A minor, allegro con brio [3:36] 24. No. 12 in C minor, allegro molto
con fuoco [2:29] Trois Nouvelles Études
composées pour la Méthode de
Moscheles et Fétis (1839) 25. No. 1 in F minor,
andantino [2:05] 26. No. 2 in D flat major, allegretto
[2:24] 27. No.
3 in A flat major, allegretto [2:04]
Allegro de concert in A major
Op.46 [12:22]
Claudio Arrau (piano) rec. No. 3 Studio, Abbey
Road, London, June and
September 1956 EMI CLASSICS
GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 3 79988 2 [79:45][JW]
Arrau’s
Chopin is powerfully personalised ... in its partial abjuring of overt
delicacy and lyricism it promotes clarity instead. ... see
Full Review
Aaron
COPLAND
(1900-1990) Fanfare
for the Common Man (1942) [3:18] Rodeo (1942) [18:16]
Appalachian Spring (Suite) (1945) [22:19] Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes
by Carl Maria von Weber (1940-43) [20:13]*
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra/Louis Lane, *Robert Shaw rec. Symphony Hall,
Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta, March 1981 and *November 1980
TELARC
SACD-60648 [64:38] [SV]
Choice
and sequence of works is pleasing and mostly
well recorded, but this isn't really a top
choice for any of these works ... see
Full Review
Arcangelo
CORELLI (1653-1713)
Violin Sonatas, Op. 5, Nos. 7-12 (1700)
Sonata No. 7 in D minor [9:08] Sonata No.
8 in E minor [11:12] Sonata No. 9 in A major
[11:41] Sonata No. 10 in F major [10:18] Sonata
No. 11 in E major [8:39] Sonata No. 12: Follia
[11:55]
François Fernandez (baroque violin, Guarneri,
1690); Glen Wilson (harpsichord, Henk van
Schevikhoven after a 1628 Ruckers) rec. Kloster
Bronnbach, Wertheim, Germany, 20-22 March
2006, DDD
NAXOS 8.557799 [62:53][BW]
Lively performances
of attractive baroque sonatas, brightly recorded
… see Full Review
John
CORIGLIANO (b.1938) Snapshot: Circa
1909 (2003) [5:22] A Black November Turkey (1972/2003) [2:55]
String Quartet (1995) [32:22] Jefferson FRIEDMAN
(b.1974) String Quartet No.2 (1998) [21:39]
Corigliano Quartet (Michael Jinsoo Lim, Lina Bahn (violins); Melia Watras
(viola); Jeffrey Zeigler (cello)) rec. 26-27 October 2004, American
Academy of Arts and Letters, New York. DDD
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559180 [62:18][DW]
In
so many ways this CD of first-class string quartets by American composers,
teacher and pupil yields many rewards. I urge lovers of the medium to
be brave and sample this wonderful disc … see Full
Review
William CROFT
(1678-1727) William Croft at St Paul's
Service in D: Te Deum [46:22] Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous
[14:13] The Burial Service [15:38] Service in D: Jubilate
[12:04]
The Choir of St Paul's Cathedral The Parley of Instruments/John Scott
rec. February, May 1992, St Paul's Cathedral, London, UK. DDD
HYPERION
HELIOS CDH55252 [71:33][JV]
Most
welcome as very little of Croft's music is available on disc. His music
is definitely worth listening to. And the Burial Service alone is enough
to make this disc recommendable. ... see Full
Review
George
CRUMB
(b. 1929) The
River of Life (2003) [43:02] Unto the Hills (2002) [40:20]
Ann Bridge (soprano) Orchestra
2001/James Freeman; rec. Lang Concert Hall, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore,
Pennsylvania; 26-27 June 2003, 25-27 November 2003.
BRIDGE 9218 A/B [43:02 + 40:20] [JWi]
The
series is interesting in that it shows the
prolific production and diversity of this
composer who, far from being a one hit wonder,
writes extensively and for a wide range of
instruments and voices. ... see Full
Review
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Etudes
(1915) [47:24] Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Etude
"Les cloches de Las Palmas" op.111/4
[04:21] Etude "En forme de valse"
op.52/6 [07:11]
Margit Rahkonen (piano) rec. 1993, Järvenpää
Hall, Finland
FINLANDIA 4509-95581-1 [59:14] [CH]
I
chose the "Etudes" as one of my
2006 "Records of the Year" and I
see no reason to alter my opinion. ... see
Full
Review
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Complete Works for Piano, Volume 1 Préludes,
Book 1 (1910) [38:57] Préludes, Book 2 (1913)
[38:36] Les soirs illuminés
par l’ardeur du charbon (1917) [02:11]
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano) rec. 6-8 November
2006, Potton Hall, Dunwich, Suffolk, UK
CHANDOS CHAN 10421 [79:44][CH]
A
very high recommendation for Book 2, some doubts about Book 1. ... see
Full Review
Maurice DuruflÉ (1902-1986)
Complete Organ Music Fugue sur le
thème du Carillon des heures de la Cathédrale de Soissons Op. 12 (1962) [3:30] Prélude, Adagio et Choral
varié sur le thème du 'Veni Creator' Op. 4
(1930) [20:09] Prélude sur l'Introït de l'Epiphanie Op. 13 (1961) [2:15] Scherzo
Op. 2 (1924) [6:01] Prélude et Fugue sur le
nom d'Alain Op. 7 (1942) [12:35] (Prélude [6:38]; Fugue [5:57]) Méditation
Op. posth. (1964) [3:43] Hommage
à Jean Gallon (1953) [1:54] Suite Op.
5 (1933): Prélude, Sicilienne, Toccata [23:14]
Henry
Fairs (organ) rec. Church of Notre Dame d’Auteuil,
Paris, 5-6 June 2006. DDD
NAXOS 8.557924 [73:21][MK]
Duruflé’s
organ works are fiendishly difficult. Henry
Fairs has taken on the challenge and succeeded
superbly ... see Full
Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Symphony No. 9 From the New World (1893) [43:20] Vítěslav
NOVÁK (1870-1949) Slovak Suite Op.32 (1903) [29:25]
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Zdeněk Mácal rec. Rudolfinum, Prague,
October 2003 (Slovak Suite) and January 2004 (Symphony)
EXTON OVCL 00250 [72:51] [JW]
Sympathetic
and affectionate ... see
Full Review
Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
Disc 1 Symphony
No. 1 in A flat Op.55 (1908) [48:37] (I: Andante. Nobilmente e semplice
– Allegro; II: Allegro molto; III: Adagio; IV: Lento – Allegro) Disc
2 Symphony No. 2 in E flat Op. 63 (1911) [51:16] (I: Allegro vivace
e nobilmente; II: Larghetto; III: Rondo (Presto); IV: Moderato e maestoso)
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir
Adrian Boult rec. 1970, 1979, 1977. ADD 2 CDs for the price of 1
LYRITA SRCD.221 [48:37 + 51:16] [SH]
Rarely,
rarely comes an opportunity like this.
... see Full
Review
Edward
ELGAR
(1857-1934) Complete
Symphonies Symphony
No. 1 (1908) [49.29] Imperial March
(1896) [4.20]
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/George Hurst rec.
Concert Hall, New Broadcasting House, Manchester,
April 1992. DDD[53.49] Symphony No. 2 (1911)
[56.03]
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Edward Downes rec.
Concert Hall, New Broadcasting House, Manchester,
16-17 March 1993. DDD [56.03] Symphony No.
3 in C minor (1932-1934) (Sketches elaborated
by Anthony PAYNE
(b. 1936) (1997)) [54:59]
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Paul Daniel
rec. The Guildhall, Southampton, 24-25 May
1999. DDD [54:59] All discs also available
separately
NAXOS 8.503187 [53:49 + 56:03 + 54:59]
[TP]
An
attractive package indeed. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
Symphony No.1, Op.55 (1908) [51:57] Sonata for Organ, Op.26 (transcr.
for orchestra by Gordon Jacob (1895-1984)) (1895) [26:05]
BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Richard Hickox rec. Brangwyn Hall, Swansea,
22-23 May 2006 CHANDOS
CHSA 5049
[78:12][DC]
A
wonderful thing to have on your shelf or in your pocket. ... see Full
Review
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Works for Organ:
Sonata in G (1895) (26:40) Organ Sonata No. 2 (1933)
(13:45) Vesper Voluntaries (1889) (19:00) Cantique (1879 for
winds trans. Elgar 1912) (3:47) Chanson
de Matin (1897) (trans. Brewer) (3:13)
Nimrod (Enigma Variations) (1898) (trans. W.H. Harris)
(3:23) Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4 in G (1907)
(trans. G.R. Sinclair) (5:14)
Thomas Trotter (organ) rec. Salisbury Cathedral, 23-25 November
2006 REGENT REGCD256
[75:28][IL]
An
exemplary organ recital, excellently recorded in stylish, colourful, committed
performances taking full advantage of all the splendours of the great
Father Willis Organ at Salisbury Cathedral. ... see Full
Review
Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Chantant* (c.1872)
[5:14] Pastourelle* (1881) [2:19] Rosemary
(1882) [3:47] Griffinesque* (1884) [0:24] Sonatina* (1889) [3:30] Presto*
(1889) [2:03] Minuet, Op.21 (1897) [4:33] May Song (1901) [3:47] Dream
Children, Op.43 (1902) [6:07] Skizze* (1903) [1:15] In Smyrna (1905)
[4:56] Concert Allegro* (1901-1906) [10:03] Carissima (1913) [4:52]
Sonatina* (1931) [4:02] Serenade* (1932) [3:07] Adieu* (1932) [2:53]
* Original piano music
Peter Pettinger (piano) rec. St Silas Church, Belsize Park, London,
June 1985 CHANDOS CHAN
10429X [64:40][DC]
We
can be grateful that so many rarely heard pieces are once again available
to fans of Elgar. ... see Full Review
Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
The
Dream of Gerontius Op. 38 (1900) [86:31] Variations on an original
theme (Enigma) Op. 36 (1899) [29:16] The Holly and the
Ivy (arrangement) (1897) [4:58]
Jane Irwin (mezzo – Angel); Justin Lavender (tenor – Gerontius/Soul);
Peter Rose (bass – Priest and Angel of the Agony) City of Birmingham
Symphony Chorus City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sakari Oramo rec.
August, September 2006, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CBSO CD003 [67:49 + 52:56]
[JS]
Fresh
and imaginative performances - a set well
worth having ... see Full
Review
The Spirit of England
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) The Spirit
of England, cantata for soprano, tenor,
chorus and orchestra with organ, Op.80 (1916-17)
[27:17] Frederick
Septimus KELLY (1881-1916) Elegy
for Strings ‘In Memoriam Rupert Brooke’,
tone poem for harp and strings (1915) [8:16]
Ivor GURNEY (1890-1937)
War Elegy (1920) [11:06] Charles
Hubert Hastings PARRY (1848-1918) The
Chivalry of the Sea, naval ode for five
part chorus and orchestra (1916) [13:59] Lilian
ELKINGTON (1901-69) Out of the Mist,
tone poem (1921) [7:50]
Susan Gritton (soprano) Andrew Kennedy (tenor)
Ian Farrington (organ) BBC Symphony Orchestra
and Chorus/David Lloyd-Jones rec. 25–27 February
2006, The Colosseum, Town Hall, Watford. DDD
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7172 [69:00][MC]
This disc of Great
War inspired scores makes a worthy addition
to the catalogue and contains some superb
music. ... see Full
Review
Gerald
FINZI
(1901-1956) Clarinet
Concerto Op. 31 (1949) [29:19] Cello Concerto
Op.40 (1956) [41:06]
John Denman (clarinet) Yo-Yo Ma (cello) New
Philharmonia Orchestra/Vernon Handley (clarinet
concerto) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon
Handley (cello concerto) rec. 1977, 1979.
location(s) not given. ADD
LYRITA SRCD.236 [70:28] [DC]
These
recordings should be part of the beating heart
of any collection seeking to contain the best
of British music. ... see Full
Review
César
FRANCK (1822-1890) Symphonie
en Ré mineur [41:00] Psyché – Poème Symphonique – extracts: Sommeil
de Psyché. Lento [8:10]; Psyché et Eros. Allegretto
modéré [8:13] Heinrich
Walther (organ) rec. Wallfahrtsbasilika Vierzehnheiligen, Franken,
Germany, December 2005. DDD ORGANUM
CLASSICS OGM 261098 [57:35] [CB]
Walther
plays with a fabulous feeling for the music’s genre, and a telling
stylistic awareness ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hans
GÁL
(1890-1987) The Complete
String Quartets String Quartets, Vol.
1 Quartet
No.1 in F minor, Op. 16 (1916) [27:29] Quartet
No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 99 (1970) [28:12] Improvisation,
Variations and Finale on a theme by Mozart,
Op. 60b (1934) [15:58] The Edinburgh Quartet:
(Charles Mutter (violin); Philip Burrin (violin);
Michael Beeston (viola); Mark Bailey (cello))
rec. 24-26 November 2003, Broughton St Mary's
Parish Church, Edinburgh, Scotland. DDD MERIDIAN
CDE 84530 [71:39] Hans
GÁL (1890-1987) The Complete
String Quartets String Quartets, Vol.
2 Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 35 (1929)
[26:26] Quartet No. 3 in B minor, Op. 95 (1969)
[28:34] 5 Intermezzi, Op. 10 (1914) [17:05]
The Edinburgh Quartet: (Charles Mutter (violin);
Philip Burrin (violin); Michael Beeston (viola);
Mark Bailey (cello)) rec. 1-4 September, 2004,
Broughton St Mary's Parish Church, Edinburgh,
Scotland. DDD MERIDIAN CDE 84531 [72:11]
2CD set in slipcase: MERIDIAN CDE84557
[MC]
These
are satisfying and accessible string quartets
from Hans Gál that always have something
to say. Lovers of rare chamber music will
be in their element with this splendid set.
... see Full
Review
Francesco
GEMINIANI (1687-1762) Trio Sonata No
3 in F major, after Sonata Op 1 No 9 [8:48] Concerto Grosso, ‘La
Folia’, after Corelli’s violin sonata in D Minor Op 5 No 12 [10:48]
* Sonata in E Minor, Op 1 No 3 (revised) [5:48] Trio Sonata No 5 in
A Minor, after sonata Op 1 No 11 [6:07] Trio Sonata No 6 in D Minor,
after sonata Op 1 No 12 [6:12] Sonata in A major, Op 4 No 12 [4:46]
Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op 7 No 2 [8:45] *
The Purcell Quartet: Catherine Mackintosh (violin); Elizabeth Wallfisch
(violin); Richard Boothby (cello); Robert Woolley (harpsichord) The
Purcell Band: Pavlo Beznosiuk (violin); Catherine Weiss (violin); Henrietta
Wayne (violin); Francis Turner (violin); Alan George (concertino); Risa
Browder (ripieno); Barry Guy (violone); Lucy Carolan (organ)* rec. 4,
5, 12 June 1987, DDD
HYPERION HELIOS CDH 55234 [51:48][MS]
A
clearly-presented selection of chamber music that reaches out and touches
us perhaps more forcefully than it did its intimate audiences when first
performed, nearly three hundred years ago ... 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, Second version, Op.15 (1946) [8:50] Rondó sobre
temas infantiles
argentinos, Op.19 (1947 [3:12]
Danzas argentinas
par los niños [2:28] Piezas infantiles
I (1934)[4:25]
Piezas infantiles
II (1942) [4:58] Milonga (1948?) [2:35] Pequeña
danza (1955) [1:45]
Domenico Zippoli (1688-1726)
Organ Toccata, arr. For piano
by GINASTERA (1970) [7:23]
Alberto GINASTERA
(1916-1983) Piano
Sonata No.1, Op.22 (1952) [15:02] Piano
Sonata No.2, Op.53 (1981) [12:53] Piano
Sonata No.3, Op.54 (1982) [4:51] Toccata,
Villancico y Fuga, Op.18 (1947) [14:23]* Variazioni
e Toccata sopra ‘Auroris lucis rutilat’, Op.52 (1980) [21:16]*
Fernando Viani (piano, *organ) rec.
6-8 March, 2006, Schloss Gottesaue, Karlsruhe; * 8 June 2006, Auferstehungskirche,
Offenburg
NAXOS 8.557911-12 [72:35 + 68:25][GPu]
A valuable recording of Ginastera’s
fascinating music for keyboard, persuasively performed in good sound
… see Full Review
Philip
GLASS (b.
1937) Music
with Changing Parts (Part 1) [30:18] Music with Changing
Parts (Part 2) [19:44] Icebreaker
rec. Dartington College of Arts, Devon,
South
West England, 28 February 2006. DDD
ORANGE MOUNTAIN MUSIC 0035 [50:02] [PG]
Music
with Changing Parts is as close as Glass ever
came to modern jazz and this performance is
really quite profound. ... see Full
Review
Alexander
GLAZUNOV
(1865-1936) Raymonda
– ballet in three acts Op.57 (1897)
Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra/Evgeni Svetlanov rec. Moscow 1961
MELODIYA MEL CD 10 00708 [67:02 + 69:14] [JW]
Armed
with his usual charismatic and biting vibrancy
Svetlanov accords the score the full complement
of fantasy, refinement, and vigour. ... see
Full
Review
Berthold
GOLDSCHMIDT (1903-1996) Passacaglia
Op.4 (1925) [6:46] Comedy of Errors – Overture (1925) [5:30] * Ciaccona sinfonica
(1936) [12:40] Chronica
(1932-1985) [21:41] # Les Petits Adieux (1994) [8:48] ^ Rondeau
(1995) [10:48] %
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Simon Rattle City
of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Berthold Goldschmidt * Sinfonieorchester
Komische Oper Berlin/Yakov Kreizberg # François
Le Roux (baritone), Orchestre symphonique de Montréal/Charles Dutoit
^ Chantal Juillet (violin), Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester
Berlin/Berthold Goldschmidt % rec. 1996.
DECCA
LONDON 452 599-2 
[66:29][TP]
If
you care about the music of the last century and missed this disc when
first released, you should order it from Arkiv without delay. ... see
Full Review
Osvaldo
GOLIJOV (b.1960) Oceana 'Oceana'
(1996, rev. 2004) – (Call, First Wave 'Ocenana nupcial, cadera de
las islas', Second Wave 'Quiero oir lo invisible', Second
Call, Third Wave 'Oceana reclina tu noche en el castillo', Aria
'tengo hombre de no ser sino piedra marina', Chorale of the Reef
'Oceana, dame las conchas del arrecife') for voice, small boys'
choir, double chorus and orchestra (1996 rev. 2004) [26:13] Tenebrae
for string quartet (2002 rev. 2003) [12:56] Three Songs for
soprano and orchestra (1. 'Night of the Flying Horses'; 2. 'Lua
Descolarada'; 3. 'How Slow the Wind') (2001/2) [21:33]
Luciana Souza (vocals); Elizabeth Remy Johnson (harp); Scott Tennant,
John Dearman (guitars); Jamie Haddad (percussion); Jay Anderson (bass)
(Oceana). Gwinnett Young Singers Kronos Quartet (David Harrington
(violin); John Shereba (violin); Hank Dutt (viola); Jeffrey Zeigler
(cello)) (Tenebrae) Dawn Upshaw (soprano) (Three Songs)
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Robert Spano rec. November 2004
(Oceana), November 2005 (Songs), Symphony Hall, Atlanta,
and November 2006, Worcester, Mass., St. Joseph Memorial Chapel, College
of the Holy Cross (Tenebrae)
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 6426 [60:58][DC/JWi]
DC:
No problem ... JWi: Music that is distinctive, eclectic and exciting;
at once both profound and accessible. A good showcase for Golijov's
talent; also thoroughly enjoyable. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Edvard GRIEG
(1843-1907) Olav Trygvason, opera fragment,
Op. 50 (Text: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson) [34:10] 1. Scene 1 [7:46]; 2. Scene
2 [14:59]; 3. Scene 3 [11:22] 4. Foran Sydens Kloster (At the
Cloister Gate) Op. 20 (Text: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson) [10:15] Six Songs
with Orchestra [29:03] 5. I. Solveigs Sang (Solveig’s Song),
Op. 23 No. 19 (Henrik Ibsen) [5:27] 6. II. Solveigs Vuggevise
(Solveig’s Cradle Song), Op. 23 No. 26 (Henrik Ibsen) [4:00] 7. III.
Fra Monte Pincio (From Monte Pincio), Op. 39 No. 1 (Bjørnstjerne
Bjørnson) [4:58] 8. IV. En Svane (A Swan), Op. 25 No. 2 (Henrik
Ibsen) [2:21] 9. V. Våren (The Last Spring), Op. 33 No. 2 (A.
O. Vinje) [8:17] 10. VI. Henrik Wergeland Op. 58 No. 3 (John Paulsen)
[3:30] 11. Ved Rondane (In the Hills), Op. 33 No. 9 (A. O. Vinje)
(arr. Johan Halvorsen) [3:03]
Solveig Kringelborn (soprano) (1, 4), Ingebjørg Kosmo (mezzo) (2, 4),
Trond Halstein Moe (baritone) (1, 2), Marita Solberg (soprano) (5–11)
Bergen Philharmonic Choir (1–3), Kor Vest (Bergen Vocal Ensemble) (1–3),
Voci Nobili (4); Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra/Ole Kristian Ruud rec.
Grieg Hall, Bergen, Norway, November 2005 (1–4), June 2004 (5–11)
BIS SACD-1531
[77:38][AOz]
An excellent recording which gives a lot of
insight into Grieg’s music ... see Full
Review
George
Frideric HANDEL
(1685-1729) Concerti
Grossi Op.3 HWV312-7 Concerto No.1
in B flat HWV312 [8:55] Concerto No.2 in B
flat HWV313 [12:08] Concerto No.3 in G HWV314
[8:03] Concerto No.4 in F HWV315 [13:33] Concerto
No.‘4b’ in F [12:20] Concerto No.5 in D minor
HWV316 [9:59] Concerto No.6 in D HWV317/337
[7:09] Organ Concerto Movement in D minor,
HWV317/ii [3:29]
The Brandenburg Consort/Roy Goodman rec. 15-17
June 1992. location unspecified. DDD.
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55075 [76:37] [BW]
Lively
performances, well recorded … see Full
Review
George Frederic HANDEL
(1685-1759) Solomon: The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (1749) [2:53]* Trio
Sonata in G minor, HWV 393: Largo (1720) [3:01] Concerto
for oboe d'amore and strings (Verdi prati) [12:53] Rinaldo: Lascia ch'io pianga (1711) [4:04] Concerto
for flute, English horn, and strings (Amabile beltà) [14:30]+
Water Music Suite No. 3:
Country Dance (1715) [1:49] Concerto
for oboe and strings (Voli per l'aria) [15:52] Serse: Ombra mai fu (1738) [2:39] Concerto for
oboe, bassoon, harpsichord and continuo (Piagge serene) [14:14]^
Variations for oboe, bassoon and harpsichord, HWV 430
(Harmonious Blacksmith) [4:25]
Albrecht Mayer (oboe, oboe d'amore, English horn)
Arkadiusz Krupa (oboe)* Matthieu
Gauci-Ancelin (flute)+ Guillhaume Santana (bassoon)^
Sinfonia Varsovia recording dates
and venue not listed
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON G 00289 476 5681 [70:18][SV]
The
beautiful playing is a pleasure and the recorded sound beguiles the
ear ... see Full Review
George
Frideric HANDEL
(1685-1759) Italian Cantatas Tu
fedel? Tu constante? HWV171 [15:56] Mi palpita il cor HWV132b
[10:53] Alpestre monte HWV81 [10:12] Tra le fiamme HWV170
[17:00] Emma Kirkby (soprano)
The Academy of Ancient Music/Christopher Hogwood rec. St Barnabas, North
Finchley, London, December 1984. DDD.
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 746-8 [54:36] [BW]
Not
‘great’ Handel but very attractive, especially
when so well performed and recorded … see
Full Revie
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685–1759) Agrippina
(1710) [217.43]
Agrippina – Della Jones (mezzo) Claudio –Alastair Miles (bass)
Nerone – Derek Lee Ragin (counter-tenor) Poppea – Donna Brown (soprano)
Ottone – Michael Chance (counter-tenor) Pallante – George Mosley (baritone)
Narciso – Jonathan Peter Kenny (counter-tenor) Lesbo – Julian Clarkson
(baritone) Giunone – Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo) English Baroque Soloists/John
Eliot Gardiner rec. St. Giles Cripplegate, London, November 1991
PHILIPS 475 8285 [3 CDs: 74.52 + 73.43 + 69.08][RH]
Superbly
sung and performed … highly enjoyable although I would have liked a
little more smile in the music. ... see Full
Review
Georg
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Radamisto (1720)
Janet Baker (mezzo) – Radamisto Malcolm King (bass)
– Farasmane Della Jones (mezzo) – Zenobia
Martyn Hill (tenor) – Tiridate Eiddwen Harrhy (soprano)
– Polissena Lynda Russell (soprano) – Tigrane
Patrizia Kwella (soprano) – Fraarte English Chamber
Orchestra/Roger Norrington, studio broadcast 1984 Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Songs
Freihold Op.3 No.6 (1899-1903) [2:05] Erwartung Op.2 No.1
(1899) [3:53] Waldsonne Op.2 No.4 (1899) [3:00]
Traumleben Op.6 No.1 (1903-05) [2:34] Am Wegrand
Op.6 No.6 (1903-05) [2:23] Der Wanderer Op.6 No.8 (1903-05)
[4:34] Ich darf nicht dankend Op.14 No.1 (1907-08) [2:09] In
diesen Wintertagen Op.14 No.2 (1907-08) [4:12] Janet Baker
(mezzo soprano) Paul Hamburger (piano), undated Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Sea Pictures Op.37 (1900)
[22:37] Janet Baker (mezzo) Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Georg
Solti, live recording May 1984
PONTO PO 1054 [3 CDs: 75:24 + 79:03 + 79:44][JW]
Despite
the doubts over provenance, dating and uneven sound quality this will
be an enticing prospect for Baker admirers. ... see Full
Review
Howard
HANSON (1896-1981)
Merry Mount - opera in three acts and six scenes op. 31
(1933) [124:02] Lady Marigold
Sandys - Lauren Flanigan (soprano) Sir Gower Lackland - Walter MacNeil
(tenor) Wrestling Bradford - Richard Zeller (baritone) Praise-God Tewke
- Charles Robert Austin (bass) Christopher Bristol, (tenor); Gene Buchholz,
(bass); Fred K. Dent, (baritone); Byron Ellis, (bass-baritone); Rosy
Freudenstein, (alto); Paul Gudas, (tenor); Diana Huber, (soprano); Daniel
Jessup, (bass); Barry Johnson, (baritone); Gino Luchetti, (tenor); Louise
Marley, (mezzo); Joachim Schneider, (baritone); Nan Beth Walton, (alto)
Seattle Symphony Chorale; Northwest Boychoir/Joseph Crnko; Seattle Girls'
Choir/Dr Jerome Wright, Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz rec. live, Seattle
Center Opera House, Washington, 28-29 October 1996. DDD
NAXOS AMERICAN OPERA CLASSICS 8.669012-13 [45:13 + 78:49] [WK]
From
the viewpoint of both completeness and sound quality there is no
competition to this recording, not even considering quality of
performance ... see Full Review
Howard
HANSON (1896-1981) Concerto for Organ,
Harp and Strings (1926) [16:09] Nymphs and Satyr Ballet Suite
(1979) [12:51] Fantasy Variations on a Theme of Youth for Piano
and Strings (1951) [11:00] Serenade for Flute, Harp, and Strings (1945)
[8:28] Summer Seascape No. 2 (1965) [8:28] Pastorale for
Oboe, Harp and Strings (1948-49) [7:29]
Joseph Jackson (organ); Doris Hall-Galati (clarinet); Holly Blake (bassoon);
Gabriela Imreh, (piano); Andrew Bolotowsky (flute); Adriana Linares
(viola); Jonathan Blumenfeld (oboe); Jacqueline Pollauf (harp) Philadelphia
Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra/Daniel Spalding rec. March 2005, First Presbyterian
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA DDD
NAXOS 8.559251 [61:28][JQ]
This attractive disc fills some useful gaps
in the Hanson discography ... see Full
Review
William
Henry HARRIS (1883-1973) Choral
Music O Hearken Thou (1937) [2:32] Strengthen ye the weak
hands (1949) [7:47] Faire is the heav’n (1925) [5:47] Love
of love (1935) [5:23] King of Glory (1925) [5:24] Praise
the Lord (1938) [10:30] The night is come (1961) [10:23]
The shepherd-men (1933) [2:50] O joyful night (1939) [4:45]
From a heart made whole (1936) [3:23] I said to the man
(1969) [2:20] Bring us, O Lord God (1955) [4:24]
The Choir of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle/Timothy Byram-Wigfield
Roger Judd (organ) rec. St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, 23-25 January
2006 NAXOS 8.570148
[65:45][JQ]
This
is a first rate production which all devotees of Anglican church music
will surely savour. ... see Full Review
Stephen
HARTKE (b. 1952) The Greater
Good or The Passion of Boule de Suif (2006) [2:22:31]
Christopher Burchett (baritone) – M. Carré-Lamadon Andrew Wentzel (bass-baritone)
– Count Bréville John David De Haan (tenor) – M. Loiseau Christine Abraham
(mezzo) – Mme. Carré-Lamadon Elaine Alvarez (soprano) – Countess Bréville
Seth Keeton (bass-baritone) – Cornudet Jill Gardner (soprano) – Mme
Loiseau Matthew Worth (baritone) – Coachman Janine Thames (soprano)
– The Old Nun Katherine Calcamuggio (mezzo) - The Young Nun Caroline
Worra (soprano) – Elisabeth Rousset, also known as Boule de Suif
Christian Reinert (tenor) – A Prussian Officer Dorothy Byrne (mezzo)
– Mme. Follenvie Liam Moran (bass) – M. Follenvie Glimmerglass Opera
Orchestra/Stewart Robertson rec. Cooperstown, New York July/August 2006
NAXOS AMERICAN OPERA
CLASSICS 8.669014-15 [74:05 + 68:26][CR]
A
charming work which deserves to be heard.
... see Full
Review
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809)
Overture:
L’isola disabitata (1779) [7:15]
Sinfonia Concertante in B flat
major (1792) [20:19] Symphony
No. 100 in G major, ‘Military’ (1794)
[24:04] Gordan Nicolic (violin);
Herre-Jan Stegenga (cello); Toon Durville
(oboe); Margreet Bongers (bassoon) Netherlands
Chamber Orchestra/Gordan Nicolic rec. September
2006, Vakult Hall, AmsterdamPENTATONE
CLASSICS SACD PTC 5186 300 [51:08] [TB]
Nicolic
directs strong and vital performances, aided
by recorded sound that allows the music’s
dynamic range to make a powerful impact. ...
see Full
Review
Joseph
HAYDN (1732–1809) Piano sonatas (1760-1780):
Nr. 37 in D, Hob.XVI [10.22]; Nr. 43 in A flat-major, Hob.XVI [15.52];
Nr. 35 in C, Hob.XVI [11.37]; Nr. 31 in E, Hob.XVI [9.47]; Nr. 10 in
C, Hob.XVI [9.01]
Fazil Say (piano) rec. Théâtre des Quatre Saisons, Gradignan, France,
July 2006. DDD.
NAÏVE V5070 [58.34][ED]
For
all its points of contention this recording is hard to ignore and is
certainly a Haydn recital like you’ve never heard before. ... see Full
Review
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Die Schöpfung, HobXXI/2 (1796-8) Arleen
Auger (soprano) - Gabriel; Peter Schreier (tenor) - Uriel; Walter Berry
(bass) - Raphael; Gabriela Sima (soprano) - Eva; Roland Hermann (baritone)
- Adam Arnold Schoenberg Choir; Collegium Aureum/Gustav Kühn rec. live,
Great Hall, Alte Universität, Vienna, 31 March 1982 LPCM
Stereo. 4:3 NTSC DVD Also includes a documentary, Joseph Haydn and
The Creation by Franz Kabelka [17:53].
TDK DVWW-COCREA 
[114:00][CC]
This
is one of the finest Creations I have heard.
... see Full
Review
Gustav
HOLST
(1874–1934) Greeting
(1904) [5.42] Dances and Folk Song Settings from Pan’s Anniversary
(1905) [11.09] Incidental Music for The Pageant of St. Martin
in the Fields (1921) [7.43] HOLST/Henry
PURCELL (1659–1695) Suite No. 1 from The Gordian Knot
Untied [9.09] Suite No. 2 from The Gordian Knot Untied [6.10]
Suite from The Virtuous Wife [13.17] Suite from The Married
Beau [17.24] Philharmonia
Bulgarica/Jon Ceander Mitchell rec. 15 January 2006, OKI Nadeshda Auditorium,
Sofia, Bulgaria CENTAUR
CRC 2857 [72.02] [RH]
Lively
and attractive performances, but the pieces
themselves are of limited interested. For
Holst completists only. ... see Full
Review
Johann
Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837) Piano Quintets:
D minor (1816) [39:39]; E flat minor, Op. 87 (1802) [23:29] Vienna Piano
Quintet (Yoko Fog Urata (piano);
Peter Wächter (violin); Helmut Weiss (viola); Jörgen Fog (cello); Manfred
Hecking (double-bass)) rec. Studio Baumgarten, Vienna, 25-27 May 2004.
DDD CAMERATA
CM-28055 [63:21][CC]
A
most appealing release. ... see Full
Review
Engelbert
HUMPERDINCK (1854–1921) Hansel and Gretel
(1893) (Sung in English)
Jennifer Larmore (mezzo) – Hansel; Rebecca Evans (soprano) – Gretel,
his sister; Rosalind Plowright (mezzo) – Gertrude, their Mother; Robert
Hayward (baritone) – Peter, their Father; Jane Henschel (mezzo) – The
Witch; Sarah Tynan (soprano) – The Dew Fairy; Diana Montague (mezzo)
– The Sandman; Sarah Coppen – The Cuckoo; New London Children’s Choir,
Philharmonia Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras rec. Blackheath Halls,
London, 22–27 November 2006
CHANDOS CHAN 3143 [58:49 + 42:19][GF]
Doesn’t
necessarily outclass the competition but worthy to stand beside established
favourites … Mackerras steers a middle course … an attractive alternative
for those who think Pritchard too lax and Solti too pompous. ... see
Full Review
Leoš
JANÁČEK
(1854-1928) Jenůfa
(1903) Viorica Cortez: Stalenka; Jorma Silvastri: Laca; Pår Lindskog:
Števa; Eva Marton: Kostelnička; Nina Stemme: Jenůfa;
Rolf Haunstein: Stárek; Christiane Boesiger: Karolka. Cor del
Gran Teatre del Liceu
Orquestra Sinfònica/Peter Schneider Olivier Tambosi (director)
rec. live, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, 27 May, 2 June
2005 TDK
DVWW-OPJENU [127:00] [AOz]
I’m
glad I listened to this even if it’s not quite
as distinguished as it might have been. It’s
a case study that tells us something about
how scores are brought into performance, and
how music gets turned into drama. ... see
Full
Review
John JOUBERT
(b. 1927) Song-cycles and
chamber music The
Hour Hand for soprano and recorder op.
101 (1982) [6:24] Shropshire Hills for
high voice and piano op. 155 (2003) [10:28]
Improvisation for recorder and piano
op. 120 (1988) [6:07] Kontakion for
cello and piano op. 69 (1971) [13:23] The
Rose is Shaken in the Wind for soprano
and recorder op. 137 (2001) [6:07] Six
Poems by Emily Brontë for soprano
and piano op. 63 (1965?) [21:23] Lesley-Jane
Rogers (soprano); John Turner (recorder);
Richard Tunnicliffe (cello); John McCabe (piano)
rec. Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Manchester
University, 18-19 December 2006. DDD first
recordings made in presence of composer TOCCATA CLASSICS
TOCC 0045 [76:26] [RC] 
Sound
Sample available from the review
Each
poem is enhanced as is a jewel by a fine setting,
which of course is ultimately what the art
song is all about. ... see Full
Review
Daniel
JONES
(1912-1993) Symphony
No. 4 (1954) [31:35]* Symphony No. 7 (1972) [21:54]* Symphony No. 8
(1972) [24:32]** Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Charles Groves* BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra/Bryden
Thomson** rec. 18-19 April 1972, Studio No. 1 Abbey Road, London (4,
7) originally released on EMI ASD 2855; 10-11 February 1979, BBC Llandaff
originally released on BBC Regium REGL 359 (8). ADD The original recordings
with support from the Welsh Arts Council. CD transfer and re-mastering
supported by the Arts Council of Wales.
LYRITA SRCD.329 [78.05] [SH]
Sound
Sample Excerpt Symphony
4(iii) Sound samples are removed after
two months
Anyone,
especially young people wanting to understand
what an orchestra can do really should hear
Jones. ... see Full
Review
Francisco JUNCA
(1742-1833) Mass
in A major (1777) Olivia Biarnés (soprano);
Montserrat Pi (alto); Jordi Casanovas (tenor);
Rafael Muntaner (bass) Coral de Cambra Dyapson/Teodor
Roura
Orquestra de Cambra Catalana/Joan Pàmies
rec. La Capella de L’esperanca de Barcelona
AI, March 2000. DDD
COLUMNA MUSICA 1CM0068 [49:50] [GH]
A
wholly admirable venture and I would like
to recognize those who have put it all together.
Many will enjoy the strongly characterful
music and earnest performance. Unfortunately
for me I am not one of them. ... see Full
Review
Hans KRÁSA
(1899-1944) Brundibar (1943) * [31:24] (Act One
[18:06]; Serenade [1:10]; Act Two [12:08]) Overture for Small Orchestra
(1943-1944) [5:29]** Lori LAITMAN (b.1955)
I Never Saw Another Butterfly (1995-96) [16:46] ***; The Butterfly
[5:17]; Yes, That’s the Way Things Were [1:52]; Birdsong [3:22]; The
Garden [2:26]; Man Proposes, God Disposes [0:46]; 23. The Old House
[3:03] Music of Remembrance/Gerard
Schwarz */**, Northwest Boychoir/Josef Crnko *, Craig Sheppard (piano)
**, Maureen McKay (soprano); Laura DeLuca (clarinet) *** rec. Illsley
Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, Benaroya Hall, Seattle, USA, 15 May 2006
(Brundibar); St. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, Benaroya Hall, Seattle,
USA, 8 May 2006 (overture); Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya
Hall, Seattle, USA, 7 May 2006 (Laitman) Recording made possible by
the generous support of the Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences.
NAXOS 8.570119 [53:39][SA]
Anyone
who wishes to explore Krása’s legacy or to interest their children in
music and teach them a valuable lesson at the same time can do no better
than start here ... see Full Review
Ernst
KRENEK
(1900-1991) Alpbach
Quintett Op. 180 (1962) [22.10] Symphonische Musik fur neun Soloinstrumente
Op. 11 (1922) [24.43] Peterson
Quartet; Wieland Welzel (percussion) Rosetti Blaserquintett; Andreas
Wylezol (double-bass) rec. Studio 10, Berlin Radio, 21 May 2003 (Quintett);
4-5 May 2003 (Symphonische Musik)
CAPRICCIO 67 176 [46.55] [GH]
Rarely
heard and recorded Krenek - obviously a must,
but for the inquisitive outsider start your
‘Krenek experience’ with the symphonies on
CPO. ... see Full
Review
Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Fantasia
on Hungarian Folk Themes for Piano and Orchestra (Hungarian Fantasia)
S.123, (c. 1852) [15:16] Concerto in the Hungarian Style,*
S.714 (c.1885) orchestrated by Tchaikovsky in 1892 (frequently attributed
to Sophie Menter as the Ungarische Zigeunerweisen) [15:15] Wanderer
Fantasia for Piano and Orchestra, S.366 (1851) adapted from Schubert's
Wanderer Fantasia (Wandererfantasie) for solo piano in
C major, D. 760 (1822) [20:15]
Cyprien Katsaris (piano) Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy rec.
12-13 October 1981, Old Met, Philadelphia, USA. DDD World première
recording* PIANO 21
P21 022-A [50:46] [MC]
This
well performed and recorded disc from Cyprien
Katsaris will mainly appeal to Liszt specialists
and the adventurous collector. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Complete
Piano Music, Vol. 25 Verdi Concert Paraphrases
and Transcriptions Rigoletto: Paraphrase de concert,
S434 (1859) [7:38] Aida: Danza sacra e duetto final, S436 (1871-79)
[11:38] Il Trovatore: Miserere, S433 (1859) [8:39] I Lombardi: Salve Maria de Jerusalem, S431 (1848) [6:48] Don Carlos:
Coro di festa e marcia funebre, S435 (1867-68) [7:07] Reminiscences
de Boccanegra, S438 (1882) [11:17] Ernani: Paraphrase de
concert, S432 (1849) [8:49]
Alexandre Dossin (piano) rec. 9-12 August 2005, Performing Arts Centre,
Country Day School, King City, Ontario, Canada. DDD
NAXOS 8.557904 [61:56][MC]
Naxos
enter the winner’s enclosure yet again with this assured recital of
highly attractive repertoire. Eminently enjoyable ... 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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