BOOK
REVIEWS
BAX
- A Composer and his Times by
Lewis Foreman 25 b/w illustrations
616 pagesSize: 23 x 15 cm 10 digit ISBN: 184383209713
digit ISBN: 9781843832096 Binding: Hardback
Boydell Press Price: 55.00 USD / 29.95 GBP
A
whopping great book and the definitive voice
on Bax and his music for £30. A solidly and
extensively detailed book. It will for most
practical purposes be all you will ever need
on Bax. ... see Full
Review
Alan
Bush - A Source Book by Stewart
R. Craggs, Ashgate
Publishing Publication Date: 02/2007 Number
of Pages: 186 pages Binding: Hardback Book
Size: 234 x 156 mm British Library Reference:
016.7'8'092 Library of Congress Reference:
2006006944 ISBN-13 978-0-7546-0894-3 Price:
$99.95/£55.00 Contents listed at end of review
[RB]
Stewart
Craggs is the doyen of such productions and
the result here is admirably informative and
supportive of the deservedly growing interest
in Alan Bush’s music. ... see
Full Review
LIONEL TERTIS -
The First Great Virtuoso
of the Viola by John White First
published: 2006 40 b/w illustrations 424 pages
Size: 23 x 15 cm Binding: Hardback ISBN-10:
184383278X ISBN-13: 9781843832782 The Boydell
Press Price: 47.95 USD / 25.00 GBP [RB]
A
well structured, sturdy and fascinating account
of a life - a crusade for the viola. ... see
Full Review
Classic fm
The Friendly Guide to Music By
Darren Henley Book accompanied by a CD of
20 classical music excerpts Hodder Arnold
224 pages paperback ISBN 978-0-340-94019-8
£9:99; $19:60 Amazon [IL]
A
friendly introduction to classical music –
buy it for a favourite young person.... see
Full Review
Meet
the Instruments of the Orchestra! by Genevieve
Helsby with Evelyn Glennie 176
pp large format hardback ISBN: 978-1-84379-112-6
Naxos Books [RB]
A
reliable and inspired as well as critically
engaging introduction to the world of orchestral
instruments. Triumphant. ... see
Full Review
LATEST
CD REVIEWS
Friday
March 30th
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Concerto
C-Dur BWV 594 [18:28] Concerto a-Moll BWV 593 [12:58] Concerto
G-Dur BWV 592 [7:44] Concerto C-Dur BWV 595 [10:28] Concerto
d-Moll BWV 596 [10:42] Concerto F-Dur nach Italiaenischem Gusto
BWV 971 [13:56] 
Christoph
Bossert (organ) rec. Evangelische Stadtkirche, Bad Wimpfen,
Germany. No date given. DDD ORGANUM
CLASSICS OGM251129 [75:00] [CB]
There
are interesting elements here, but this is too eccentric to make
it really recommendable. ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Ein
Deutsches Requiem (1868) [60.03] Geistliches Lied (1856)
[4.36] Clare
Seaton (soprano) Colin Campbell (baritone) The Vasari Singers/Jeremy
Backhouse, Jeremy Filsell and Roderick Chadwick (piano duet).
rec. St. Jude’s Church, Hampstead, London, U.K., 24-26 October
2003. DDD GUILD
GMCD7302 [64.39] [WH]
One
no longer wants or expects a marmoreal German Requiem, but this
one is positively brisk in places. …the reading of the beautiful
Geistliches Lied is much more pleasing. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Twenty-Four
Préludesa (1836-38) [34:21]; Prélude in C sharp minor,
Op. 45b (1841) [4:07]; Berceuse in D flat, Op. 57b (1843/4)
[4:08]; Impromptusc (1837-42) – No. 1 in A flat, Op.
29 [3:45]; No. 2 in F sharp minor, Op. 36 [4:27]; No. 3 in G
flat, Op. 51 [4:52]; Fantaisie-Impromptu in C sharp minor, Op.
66c (1835) [4:34]; Barcarolle in F sharp, Op. 60c (1846)
[7:52] Alfred
Cortot (piano) rec. No. 3 Studio, Abbey Road, London, a 5
July, 20 June 1933; b 4 November 1949; c5
July 1933. ADD EMI
CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 3615412 [68:45]
[CC]
These
are, indeed, classic recordings ... the remastering has (re)produced
a sound of great clarity and yet depth. Cortot's playing is what
this disc is about and while one listens he almost always convinces
one that his is the true way. Superb. ... see Full
Review
Giovanni
Battista FERRANDINI (1710–1791) Cantate
per Passione Liebste Mutter voll der Schmerzen [8.25]
Concerto in F minor [8.56] O spettacolo pur troppo funesto [25.06]
Quartet in G major [10.23] Ecco quel tronco [20.05] Elisabeth
Scholl (soprano) Echo du Danube rec. 14-18 November 2005, Deutschlandfunk
Sendsaal, Cologne, Germany ACCENT
ACC24181 [73.38] [RH]
Music
which is gracefully poised and attractively melodic. This attractive
programme provides a good way to get to know his music. ... see Full
Review
Karl
Amadeus HARTMANN (1905-1963) Sinfonia
tragica (1940-43) [23:35] Concerto for Viola and Piano
accompanied by wind instruments and percussion (1954-56) [27:12] Tatjana
Masurenko (viola) Frank-Immo Zichner (piano) Berlin Radio Symphony
Orchestra/Marek Janowski rec. Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin,
November 2002 CAPRICCIO
71112 
[50:51]
[JW]
A
powerful presence … this uniquely valuable coupling is a must ...
see Full Review
Gottfried
August HOMILIUS (1714-1785) Ein
Lammlein geht und tragt die Schuld – Passion Cantata
HoWV.I.2 (published 1775) Monika
Mauch (soprano) Bogna Bartosz (mezzo) Markus Brutscher (tenor)
Hans Christoph Begemann (bass) Basler Madrigalisten Neue Düsseldorfer
Hofmusik/Friz Naf rec. Reformerte Kirche Arlesheim, March 2006 CARUS
83.262 [59:30
+ 34:17] [JW]
The
writing is simple, direct and unaffected. Though the quality of
the music is such that it makes its appearance highly desirable.
... see Full Review
Ottorino
RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Christus – Biblical
Cantata (1898-99) Carlo
Gaifa (tenor) – St. Matthew Roland Hermann (baritone) – Christ Gastone
Sarti (bass) – Judas Coro della Radiotelevisione
della Svizzera Italiana Orchestra della
Svizzera Italiana/Marco Balderi rec. live, Auditorium
RTSI, June 1991. ADD LA
BOTTEGA DISCANTICA BDI125 [66:34] [JW]
Respighi
clearly wanted to flex some compositional sinew. ... see Full
Review
John
Philip SOUSA (1854-1932) Music
for Wind Band Vol. 6 Easter Monday on the White House
Lawn (From Tales of a Traveller) ed. R. Mark Rogers
(1928) [2:20] The Golden Star (1919) [4:40] The Dauntless
Battalion (1922) [2:51] Sextet from The Bride Elect (Arr.
Herbert L. Clarke) (1897) [2:17] The Federal March (1910)
[2:33] Three Quotations (Suite for Band) ed. R. Mark
Rogers (1895) [13:27] Liberty Bell (Arr. Brion/Schissel)
(1893) [3:45] The Gridiron Club (1926) [3:21] La
Reine de la Mer (1886) [7:10] The Chariot Race (1890)
[5:31] The Gladiator (1886) [2:53] New Mexico March (1928)
[3:06] The Picador March (1889) [3:02] Royal
Artillery Band/Keith Brion rec. Woolwich Town Hall, 15-16 January
2002. DDD NAXOS
8.559132 [56:56] [PCW]
Beautifully
clean and slightly understated playing … see Full
Review
Sessions
- Joel Hastings Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Oriental Sketch (1917)
[1:55] Lilacs (1914 piano transcription of song Op.
21/5) [2:28] Lullaby (Transcription of Tchaikovsky's
song ‘Lullaby’) [4:03] Étude-Tableau No. 1 in C minor,
Op.39 No.1 (1916) [3:25] Prelude No. 12 in G-sharp minor,
Op.32 No.12 (1910) [2:49] Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Ten Pieces for Piano,
Op.12 (1906-1913) March [1:39]; Gavotte [2:21]; Rigaudon [1:23]; Mazurka [1:24]; Capriccio [2:54]; Legend [2:49]; Prelude [2:11]; Allemande [2:37]; Scherzo
Humoristique [2:08]; Scherzo [2:48] Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-47) Variations Sérieuses
in D minor, Op.54 (1841) [11:22] Alexander
SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Sonata No.9, Op.68 ‘Black
Mass’ (1912-13) [8:52] Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Totentanz (arr. Liszt 1860-65)
[15:10] Joel
Hastings (piano) rec. 22-23 May 2001, St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church, Flint, Michigan, USA. DDD PRESTANT
CLASSICS PR1016 [72:43]
Liszt Transcending - Joel Hastings Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Transcriptions, Paraphrases and Arrangements Concert
Paraphrase of Rigoletto by Verdi (arr. Liszt 1859) [7:11] Widmung by
Schumann (arr. Liszt 1848) [3:34] Das Wandern by Schubert (arr. Liszt
1846) [2:05] Der Müller und der Bach by Schubert (arr. Liszt 1846) [5:14] Auf
Flügeln des Gesanges by Mendelssohn (arr. Liszt 1840) [3:28] Reminiscences
of Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti (arr. Liszt 1835-36) [6:07] Isolde's
Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde by Wagner (arr. Liszt 1867) [7:27] Die
Forelle by Schubert (arr. Liszt 1846) [3:31] Ständchen by Schubert
(arr. Liszt 1838-39) [5:34] Erlkönig by Schubert (arr. Liszt 1838) [4:39] Sarabande and
Chaconne from Almira, Concert Arrangement by Handel (arr. Liszt
1879) [13:56] Melodie from Orfeo ed Euridice (Gluck) (transcribed
by Giovanni Sgambati) [3:57] Joel
Hastings (piano) rec. live, 19 August 2005, First Baptist Church of Ann Arbor,
Michigan, USA. DDD PRESTANT
CLASSICS PR1019 [66:53] [MC]
This
is high calibre playing from Joel Hastings a pianist who is worthy
of considerable attention. These two releases deserve a place
in any collection of instrumental music. ... see Full
Review
Messa
per Rossini Antonio
BUZZOLLA (1815-1871) Requiem
and Kyrie Antonio BAZZINI (1818-1897) Dies Irae Carlo
PEDROTTI (1817-1893) Tuba Mirum Antonio
CAGNONI (1828-1896) Quid sum miser Federico
RICCI (1809-1877) Recordare Jesu Pie Alessandro
NINI (1805-1877) Ingemisco Raimondo
BOUCHERON (1800-1876) Confutatis maledictis Carlo
COCCIA (1782-1873) Lacrimosa and Amen Gaetano
GASPARI (1808-1881) Offertorio Pietro
PLATANIA (1828-1907) Sanctus Lauro
ROSSI (1812-1885) Agnus Dei Teodulo
MABELLINI (1817-1897) Lux aeterna Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Libera me Gabriel
Beňačkova (soprano); Florence Quivar (mezzo); James
Wagner (tenor); Alexandru Agache (baritone), Aage Haugland
(bass) Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart; The Prague Philharmonia
Choir Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra/Helmuth Rilling rec.
1989 (?), Evangelische Stadtkirche, Ellwangen, Württemberg ‘In
Search of the Messa per Rossini’: Documentary directed by Gabrielle
Faust WARNER
MUSIC VISION 50-51011 7396-2-0 
[120:32]
[GPu]
For
a specialist audience no doubt, but for those with an interest
in the church music of the nineteenth century or the larger history
of Italian music this is a fascinating and rewarding issue … see Full
Review
Thursday
March 29th
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Charles-Henri Valentin
ALKAN (1813-1888) Douze Études
dans les Tons Mineurs Op. 39 Comme le vent (Like the
wind) (A minor) [5:30] En Rythme Molossique (In Molossian
Rhythm) (D Minor) [8:44] Scherzo Diabolico (G minor) [4:30] Allegro
(C minor) [10:37]
Marche Funèbre (F minor) [6:53] Menuet (B-flat minor) [5:41] Finale (E-flat minor)
[4:44] Allegro Assai (G-sharp minor) [30:48] Adagio (C-sharp minor) [11:51] Allegro
alla Barbaresca (F-sharp minor) [11:03]
Ouverture (B minor) [15:49] Le Festin d’Esope (Aesop’s Banquet) (E minor)
[9:50] Stephanie McCallum (piano)
rec. 28 July 2004 (4-7); 11 February 2005 (1-3); 6 October 2005 (8-10); 12 December
2005 (11); 6 December 1999 (12), Eugene Goossens Hall of the Australian Broadcasting
Corporation’s Ultimo Centre, Sydney. DDD ABC
CLASSICS 4765335 [46:44 + 79:31] [WK]
A
superlative set of the complete Op. 39 études-unsurpassed pianism
and enthusiasm ... see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano
Concerto No. 1 in C, Op. 15 (1797/8) [32:47] Piano Concerto
No. 3 in C minor (1803) [34:51] Mikhail
Pletnev (piano) Russian National Orchestra/Christian Gansch
rec. Live, Beethovenhalle, Bonn, 2 September 2006. DDD DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON 477 6415 [67:52] [CC]
Pletnev
is nothing if not unpredictable. Ultimately, these are thought-provoking
performances but not revelatory ones. ... see Full
Review
Frederic
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Etudes,
Op. 25, Nos. 1-12 (1832-36) [31:43] Trois Nouvelles Etudes
(1839) [6:03] Deux Posthumous Nocturnes [5:51] Tomoko
Hagiwara (piano) rec. Stillwater Sound Recording Studio, San
Francisco, California, no dates given. STILLWATER
SOUND SWS011 [43:46] [KS]
Adequate
at best, lame program notes and less than stellar sound make this
recording less than desirable. ... see Full
Review
Adolphus
HAILSTORK (b. 1941) Symphony
No. 3: (i) Vivace [12:00] (ii) Moderato [12:04]; (iii) Scherzo
[4:45] (iv) Finale: Moderato [11:55] Symphony No. 2 (1999):
(i) Allegro [8:00]; (ii) Grave [10:59]; Allegro con brio [4:43];
(iv) Adagio – Allegro [13:05] Grand
Rapids Symphony/David Lockington rec. De Vos performance Hall,
Michigan, 5 November 2002 (No. 2); 23 November
2003 (No. 3). DDD NAXOS
AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559295 [77:32] [PCW]
Works
that push back no boundaries but support the notion that the symphony
may yet be alive and well … see Full
Review
Gottfried
August HOMILIUS (1714-1785) St
John Passion HoWV.I.4 (c1770-1780) Jana
Reiner (soprano) – Magdalene (arias) Katja Fischer (soprano) – Magdalene
Fritz Vitzthum (counter-tenor) - Diener Jan Kobow (tenor) – Evangelist
Tobias Berndt (bass) – Jesus Clemens Heidrich (bass) – Pilate
Kruzianer Stephan Keucher (tenor) – Knecht Kruzianer Christian
Lutz (tenor) - Peter Dresdener Kreuzchor Dresden Baroque Orchestra/Roderich
Kreile rec. Lukaskirche, Dresden, March 2006 CARUS
83.261 [52:21 + 66:49] [JW]
Searching,
sympathetic and successful … amazing to think that these works
have never been recorded before. ... see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Symphonic
Poems, Vol. 4 No. 9: Hungaria, S103,
(1848-54) [21:52] No. 8: Héroïde funèbre (Heldenklage),
S102 (1848-50, rev.1854) [23:19] No. 2: Le Triomphe funèbre
du Tasse, S112, No.3 (1866) [13:05] New
Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Michael Halász rec. 30 May-1 June
2005, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington, New Zealand. DDD NAXOS
8.557847 [58:16] [MC]
Everyone
in sterling form. This series has gone from strength to strength. ...
see Full Review
Peter
MAXWELL DAVIES (b.
1934) Naxos Quartets String
Quartet No. 5, Lighthouses of Orkney and Shetland (2004)
[20:32]; String Quartet No. 6 (2004/5) [35:07] Maggini
Quartet (Laurence Jackson, David Angel (violins); Martin Outram
(viola);
Michal Kaznowski (cello)). rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, 26-28
May 2005. DDD NAXOS
8.557398 [55:39] [WH]
Readers
hesitant about "contemporary" music and ready for a challenge
are warmly encouraged to try this disc. ... see Full
Review
Ettore
Causa – Romantic Transcriptions for Viola
and Piano Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Valse sentimentale,
Op. 51 No. 6 (arr. Alan Arnold) [1:46] Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Scherzo, Op. Posth. [5:01] Enrique
GRANADOS (1867-1916) Spanish Dance No. 2 (Orientale)
(arr. Milton Katims) [2:34] Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Etude, Op. 25 No. 7 (arr. Alexander
Glazunov / Ettore Causa) [4:30] Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Allegro appassionato, Op.
43 (arr. Ettore Causa) [3:32] Alexander
SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Prélude, Op. 9 No. 1 (arr. Wadim
Borisovsky) [2:00] Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Dance of the Knights (arr. Wadim
Borisovsky) [5:25] Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Romance (arr. Milton Katims) [2:04] Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Daisies, Op. 38 No. 3 (arr.
Jascha Heifetz / Ettore Causa) [2:23] Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Lerchengesang, Op. 70 No. 2 (arr.
Ettore Causa) [2:32] Hungarian Dance No. 1 (arr. Watson Forbes)
[2:56] Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Abendlied,
Op. 85 No. 12 (arr. Ettore Causa) [2:28] Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Chanson triste, Op.
40 No. 2 (arr. Johann Palaschko) [2:43] Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845-1924) Les Berceaux, Op. 23 No. 1 (arr.
Ettore Causa) [2:46] Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Hungarian Dance No. 3 (arr. Watson
Forbes) [2:18] Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) Etude,
Op. 10 No. 6 (arr. Alexander Glazunov / Ettore Causa) [3:22] Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Song Without Words, Op. 109
(arr. Milton Katims) [3:57] Eugéne
YSAŸE (1858-1931) Rêve d'enfant, Op. 14 (arr. Ettore
Causa) [3:53] Ettore
Causa (viola) Ulrich Stærk (piano) rec. Mantius Hall, Copenhagen,
January 2005 CLAVES
50-2609 [57:23] [JW]
An
enjoyable calling card for a tonally highly accomplished musician.
... see Full Review
David
Helfgott: A Musical Journey Part
I – A documentary Edited and presented by Melvyn Bragg Part
II – In Concert 1997, Nottingham, UK Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Andante and Rondo Capriccioso Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Un sospiro; Hungarian
Rhapsody No. 6 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano
Sonata No. 23 'Appassionata' Nikolai
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) The Flight of
the Bumblebee David
Helfott (piano) Picture format NTSC 4:3; Region codes 2,3,4,5;
Linear PCM Stereo; Subtitles : English, Deutsch, Español, Français,
Italiano WARNER
MUSIC VISION 3984 20512-2 [94:00]
[PCW]
A
well-balanced documentary – worth seeing if you are at all interested
in what happens when potential genius and mental illness collide … see Full
Review
Scenes
from Jewish Operas -
Volume 2 David
SCHIFF (b. 1945) Gimpel the Fool (1979) (excerpts):
1. Scene 10: Lullaby [3:59] 2. Scene 11: Pantomime [1:39] 3.
Scene 11a: Bread Song [3:24] 4. Scene 11b: Night Music [2:41]
5. Scene 11c: Gimpel and the Goat [2:17] 6. Scene 11d: Elka’s “Gvald” [1:32]
7. Scene 11e: The Divorce [3:09] 8. Scene 11f: Gimpel’s Second
Monologue [1:24] Gary
Moss (baritone) – Gimpel; Megan Besley (soprano) – Elka; Alissa
Mercurio (soprano) – Goat; Michael Gallant (tenor) – Apprentice;
Nicholas Phan (tenor) – Rabbi; Theodore Bikel (speaker) – Badkhn
University of Michigan Opera Orchestra and Chorus/Kenneth Kiesler Elie
SIEGMEISTER (1909–1991) Lady of the Lake (1985)
(excerpts): 9. Scene 5 [9:15] 10. Interlude [1:25] 11. Scene
6 [2:18] 12. Scene 7 [4:38] Carol Meyer (soprano) – Isabella;
Robert McPherson (tenor) – Blumberg; Marcus DeLoach (baritone) – Ernesto
Seattle Symphony/Gerard SchwarzHugo
WEISGALL (1912–1997) Esther (1993)
(excerpts): 13. Act I, Scene 8 (excerpt) [3:45] 14. Act III,
Scene 2 [3:54] 15. Act III, Scene 10 [7:28] Juliana Gondek
(soprano) – Esther; Ted Christopher (baritone) – Xerxes Seattle
Symphony/Gerald Schwarz rec. Hill Auditorium, University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, January 2001 (Schiff); Batsyr University
Chapel, Seattle, May 2000 (Siegmeister); Benaroya Hall, Seattle,
May 1999 (Weisgall). DDD NAXOS
8.559450 [53:22] [GF]
A
goldmine for everyone interested in Jewish music, and opera enthusiasts
who want to widen their knowledge should give this disc a try ...
see Full Review
Wednesday March
28th
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Edgar
BAINTON (1880-1956) Symphony
No. 3 in C minor (1956) [42:09] Rutland
BOUGHTON (1878-1960) Symphony
No. 1 Oliver Cromwell (1905) [36:58]
Roderick Williams (bar)
(Boughton) BBC Concert
Orchestra/Vernon Handley rec. Colosseum, Town
Hall, Watford. 12-13 July 2006. DDD DUTTON CDLX
7185 [79:26] [RB]
Resplendently
carried off. Bainton 3: treasurable, impressionistic,
phantasmal and refulgently orchestrated …
a work of ineffable beauty and wild insight.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Clarinet
Quintet in B minor, op. 115 (1891) [34:39]
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791) Clarinet Quintet
movement in B flat major, K516 (c.1791) [8:26]
Alexander GLAZUNOV
(1865-1936) Reverie Orientale,
op. 14, no. 2 (1886) [6:54] Wiliiam
SWEENEY (b. 1950) An Og-Mhadainn
(1979) [11:45]
Lesley Schatzberger (clarinets) Fitzwilliam
String Quartet rec. National Centre for Early
Music, York, 15-16, 19-20 May 2005. DDD
LINN
RECORDS CKD 278 [62:28] [MG]
This
is a challenging disc for all the right reasons.
Not always comfortable listening but rewarding.
And a great range of perspectives. … see Full
Review
Max
BRUCH
(1838-1920) Violin
Concerto No. 1 in G minor Op. 26 (1868) [23.33]
Edouard LALO
(1823-1892) Symphonie espagnole
Op. 21 (1873) [33.09]
Isaac Stern (violin) Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene
Ormandy rec. Town Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
13 February 1967 (Lalo); 22 February 1966
(Bruch). ADD
SONY CLASSICS 88697 00817 2 [57.02] [GH]
Unlike
some others in Sony’s so called ‘Great Performances’ series this
is truly what it is cracked up to be. This is a version you could
safely
give to your mother-in-law. ... see Full
Review
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
Symphony
No. 4 in E flat Romantic (1878-80)
[63:59] Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra rec.
Munich, 29 October 1951 Symphony No. 5 in
B flat major (1876) [68:34] Berlin Philharmonic
Orchestra rec. Berlin, 25-28 October 1942
Symphony No. 6 in A major (1879-81) minus
the first movement [36:11] Berlin Philharmonic
Orchestra rec. Berlin, 13-16 November 1943
Symphony No. 7 in E major (1881-84) [63:52]
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra rec. Rome, 1
May 1951 Symphony No. 8 in C minor (1884-87,
rev. 1889-90) [77:08] Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra rec. Vienna, 17 October 1944 Symphony
No 9 in D minor, (1891-1896) [59:00] Berlin
Philharmonic Orchestra rec. Berlin 7 October
1944 Claude DEBUSSY
(1862-1918) Nocturnes (1899): Nuages
[7:30]; Fêtes [7:01] Berlin Philharmonic
Orchestra rec. Rome, 1 May 1951 Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Tannhäuser;
Overture (1845) [13:34] Orquesta Sinfonica
Venezuela rec. Caracas, 21 March 1954 Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Rosamunde; Ballet Music No.2 [5:43]; Entr’acte
No.3 (1820) [6:46] Teatro Colón Orchestra
rec. Buenos Aires, 5 May 1950
Wilhelm Furtwängler
ANDROMEDA ANDRCD 9008 [6 CDs: 63:59 +
68:34 + 76:49 + 63:52 + 77:08 + 59:00] [JW]
Andromeda
is not known for effecting any significant
changes to source material. The advantages
of this set, are twofold - price and drawing
together disparate material into one box.
... see Full
Review
Eric COATES (1886-1957)
Suite:
The Three Men (1935) [23:19] Concert
Valse: Dancing Nights (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 SRCD213 [76.19] [JW]
More
Lyrita Coates, rarer Coates, and better-played
Coates. ... see Full
Review
Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992)
Complete Works for Piano, Vol. 1
Paul Kim (piano) rec. January 2001, Patrych
Sound Studios, New York City CENTAUR CRC
2567/2568/2569 [64:00 + 78:37 + 64:37]
[DC]
This
avian collection is very much a safe recommendation,
and in many cases will top the competition.
... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano
Concerto no.20 in D minor K.466 [31:23] *
Piano Concerto no.25 in C major K.503 [31:53]**
Dino Ciani (piano) Orchestra Sinfonica di
Torino della RAI/Piero Bellugi*, Orchestra
"Alessandro Scarlatti" di Napoli
della RAI/Sir John Barbirolli** rec. 28 January
1972, Turin*, 25 January 1968, Naples**
ARTS ARCHIVES 43082-2 [64:29] [CH]
Piano
buffs wishing to hear a pianist who might
perhaps have played a leading role in our
musical lives will be glad to hear his collaboration
with Barbirolli. ... see Full
Review
Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840–1893)
1812
Overture Op. 49 (1880) [16:59] Romeo
and Juliet – Fantasy Overture after Shakespeare
[20:48] Jean SIBELIUS
(1865-1957)
Pohjola’s Daughter – Symphonic Fantasy,
Op.49 (1906) [14:59] Valse triste (from
Kuolema, Op.44) [5:52] Karelia
Suite, Op. 11 [15:35]
Tanglewood Festival Chorus (1812) Boston
Symphony Orchestra/Colin Davis rec. Symphony
Hall, Boston, March 1980 (1812; Valse
triste), April 1979 (Romeo and Juliet;
Pohjola’s Daughter; Karelia Suite).
ADD
PENTATONE
CLASSICS PTC5186 164 SACD Hybrid [74:34]
[JPh]
So,
if you must have this combination of items
this is a reasonable issue but bear in mind
that there is competition ... see Full
Review
Johann
Jakob WALTHER
(1650-1717) Hortulus Chelicus
Mainz, 1688 Suite
No. 9 in C minor [10.43]; Sonata No. 8 in
E major [7.59]; Aria No. 14 in G minor [6.48];
Suite No. 6 in B minor; [14.27] Suite No.
20 in E minor [10.05]; Serenata No. 28 in
D major [13.06]; Passagagli No. 7 in D minor
[9.39]
Maya Amrein (cello); Shizuko Noiri (theorbo);
Andrea Marchiol (clavecin; organ) Les Plaisirs
du Parnasse/David Plantier (violin, director)
rec. 14-18 November 2005, Salle du Volkshaus,
Basle. Switzerland. DDD
ZIGZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT 060902 [73.31]
[GH]
Fine
and highly civilized music and we are fortunate
indeed that it has been so wonderfully researched
and executed. ... see Full
Review
Giacinto Prandelli
II - Old Italian Airs
Alessandro SCARLATTI
(1660-1725) Su,
venite a consiglio [3:33] Antonio
LOTTI (1667-1740) Pur dicesti [5:18]
Francesco DURANTE
(1684-1755) Vergin, tutto amor [2:17]
Giovanni Battista
BASSANI (c.1657-1716) Ah se tu
dormi ancora [2:18] Antonio
CALDARA (1671-1736) Sebben, crudele
[3:23] Marco Antonio
CESTI (1620-1669) Intorno all’idol
mio [3:04] Giuseppe
GIORDANI (1751-1798) Caro mio ben
[2:52] Alessandro
SCARLATTI (1660-1725) Sento nel
core [4:03] Christoph
Willibald von GLUCK (1714-1787) O
del mio dolce ardour [4:11] Francesco
GASPARINI (1661-1727) Lasciar d’amarti
[2:41] Giovanni LEGRENZI
(1626-1690) Che fiero costume [2:45] Giovanni
Battista PERGOLESI (1710-1736) Tre
giorni son che Nina [2:52] Gian
Giacomo CARISSIMI (c.1604-1674) Vittoria,
mio core! [2:21] Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Scenes from
Lucia di Lammermoor (1835) Egli s’avanza…Sulla
tomba [12:52] T’allontana, sciagurato [5:01]
Tombe deglia avi miei [16:41]
Giacinto Prandelli (tenor) Dick Marzollo (piano)
Renata Ferrari Ongaro – Lucia Tosca Da Lio
– Alisa
Philip Marco – Enrico Norman Scott – Raimondo
Luigi Pontiggia – Arturo Chorus and Orchestra
of the Teatro La Fenice/Jonel Perlea rec.
Italian Arias - 1953 for Vox; Donizetti -
1956 for Remington
PREISER 89680 [77:21] [JW]
Prandelli
is hugely characterful … of warmth and romance,
of gallantry, there is a profusion. ... see Full Review
Tuesday
March 27th
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Piano Music - Volume
2 The Little Negro (1909) [01:25] Children’s Corner (1908) [17:45]
La boîte à joujoux (1913) [33:56] Epigraphes antiques (1914) [17:18]
François-Joël Thiollier
(piano) rec. 13-15 March 1995, Temple Saint Marcel, Paris. DDD
NAXOS 8.553291 [71:43][CH]
Two
rare Debussy works not always included in cycles of the solo piano music,
and a captivatingly improvisational Children’s Corner. ... see Full
Review
Patrick
HADLEY
(1899-1973) The
Trees So High – Symphonic Ballad in A minor (1931) [34:07] Gerald
FINZI (1901-1956) Intimations of Immortality. Ode
for tenor, chorus and orchestra (1950) [43:12]
Thomas Allen (baritone)/Guildford Philharmonic Choir/Philharmonia Orchestra/Vernon
Handley (Hadley) Ian Partridge (tenor)/Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra
and Choir/Vernon Handley (Finzi) rec. 1979 (Hadley) and 1975 (Finzi)
LYRITA SRCD.238
[77:19][JW]
Don’t
waste a second worrying about duplication – what’s ten pounds against
eternity? ... see Full Review
George Frideric
HANDEL (1685-1759) Tobit, (Oratorio in Three Parts
(1764?) compiled by John Christopher Smith, 1712-1795) [2:36:22]
Maya Boog (soprano ‘Anna’) Linda Perillo (soprano ‘Sarah’) Barbara Hannigan (soprano ‘Azarias’/’Raphael’) Alison Browner (mezzo ‘Tobias’) Knut Schoch (tenor ‘Tobit’) Stephan MacLeod (bass ‘Raguel’)
Junge Kantorei Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra/Joachim
Carlos Martini rec. 3 June, 2001, Kloster
Eberbach, Rheingau,
Germany. DDD
NAXOS 8.570113-14 [76:22 + 80:00][MS]
An
oddity, not to say rarity, assembled from words sourced by Thomas Morell
and music mostly by Handel … makes surprisingly good listening ... see
Full Review
André
JOLIVET (1905-1974) Chant de Linos
for flute, violin, viola, cello and harp (1944) [5:50] Sonate
for flute and piano* (1958) [15:58] Cinq incantations for
flute solo (1936) [16:55] Suite en Concert for flute and percussion
(1965) [15:59] Cabrioles for flute and piano* (1953) [1:10]
Eline van Esch (flute) and Ensemble Gerard Bouwhuis (piano)* rec. Frits
Philips Concert Hall, Eindhoven, September 2005
ETCETERA KTC1322 [62:38][DC]
Eline
van Esch is an excellent soloist and advocate for Jolivet’s music ...
see Full Review
Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Hungarian Rhapsodies Nos.1-14
Hungarian Rhapsody No.1 in E major [10:22] Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 in C sharp [7:05] Hungarian Rhapsody No.3 in B flat minor [4:03] Hungarian Rhapsody No.4 in E flat minor [4:20] Hungarian Rhapsody No.5 in E minor Héroïde-élegiaque
[4:21] Hungarian Rhapsody
No.6 in D flat [5:51] Hungarian Rhapsody No.7 in D minor [4:33] Hungarian Rhapsody No.8 in F sharp minor Capriccio
[5:06] Hungarian Rhapsody No.9 in E flat major Carnaval
de Pesth [9:22] Hungarian
Rhapsody No.10 in E major Preludio [4:46] Hungarian Rhapsody No.11 in A minor [4:44] Hungarian Rhapsody No.12 in C sharp minor [7:55] Hungarian Rhapsody No.13 in A minor [7:22] Hungarian Rhapsody No.14 in F minor [7:01] Marche de Rákóczy in A minor [2:47] Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C sharp [7:49] Hungarian Rhapsody No.14 in F minor [8:33] Concerto Pathétique in E minor for two pianos,
four hands [8:33] +
Mark Hambourg (piano) Michal Hambourg (piano) + rec.
London 1926-34
APR 7040 [66:13 + 58:11][JW]
Not
an infallible finger technician but a bravura sense of projection and
drama compensate as do the rippling delicacies, Olympian rubato and
cimbalom effects ... see Full Review
Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Complete Works for
Piano, Vol. 2 Vingts Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus (1944) [123:08]
Paul Kim (piano)
rec. January 2002, Patrych Sound Studios, New York City
CENTAUR CRC 2627/2628 [53:19 + 69:49][DC]
I
still can’t imagine Messiaen would have wanted more ... see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Papillons Op.2
(1830) [14:48] Davidsbündlertänze Op.6 (1837) [34:06] Thema mit Variationen
WoO24 (Geister-Variationen) (1854) [12:30] Album für die Jugend Op.68
(1848) [74:21] Cédric
Pescia (piano) rec. La Chaix-de-Fonds, Salle de Musique, Switzerland
(Opp.2, 6); Lausanne, Chateau Fallot (WoO24; Op.68)
CLAVES 50-2603-04 [61:28 + 74:21][JW]
Warm
and attractive readings. ... see Full
Review
Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
CD 1 Petrouchka
(original 1911 version) [36:24] Feu
d’artifice op.4 (1909) [3:51] Le
Sacre du Printemps (revised 1947 version) [35:09] CD 2 L’Oiseau
de feu (1910) [35:09] Scherzo fantastique
op.3 (1908) [13:06]
Philharmonia Orchestra/Eliahu Inbal rec. Abbey Road Studios, London,
August 1989 (Firebird, Scherzo); The Maltings, Snape, November 1989
(Le Sacre) WARNER
CLASSICS APEX 2564 64377-2 [75:40 + 65:52][DC]
A
one-size-fits-all entry into the world of Stravinsky’s three great early
ballets ... see Full Review
Mon
coeur charmé - The
song book of Sophie Erdmuthe von Nassau-Saarbrücken [Shepherd's
Idyll] Viens aurore, je t'implore [01:01] Depuis que je sais
[02:57] Que ne suis-je fougère 01:47] Je n'entends plus dessous
l'ormeau [02:35] Depuis que j'ai vu Nanette [01:53] Mes
chers troupeaux [01:54] Tircis je n'ose [02:23] Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Sonata for treble viol and
bc in G (TWV 41,G6) [10:38] [The Happiness of Love] J'aime
une jeune brunette [02:05] Engagés
par le tendre amour 01:45] N'oubliez
pas votre houlette [00:51] Que je vous aime [01:26] Sois
tous mes dieux [02:11] Quel embarras hélas, que faire? [01:33]
[Jealousy] De mon berger volage
j'entends le flageolet [02:17] Un
jour sur la fougère [01:12] L'amant le plus tendre [02:00]
Dedans mon petit réduit [01:19] Lisette croyant
se venger [00:55] Je
soupire, nuit et jour [02:10] Mon
coeur charmé de sa chaîne [02:42] Thomas
MARC (18th C.) Suitte de Pièce de Dessus de Viole (1724)
[11:52] [Humorous Songs] Déjà dans la plaine [01:57] 'L'heureux
maladroit', Pierrot dit à Madeleine [01:30] 'Les douces blessures',
L'Amour caché dans un buisson [01:23] Robin a une vache [00:43]
Tour à tour Licas et Lisette [01:10] Un jour Maman me dit
tout bas [01:33] Guillot dit à Guillemette [01:26] Ingrid
Schmithüsen (soprano), Markus Schäfer (tenor), Simone Eckert
(treble viol), Ulrich Wedemeier (guitar) rec. October 2003, Erbach
Castle, Odenwald, Germany. DDD
CHRISTOPHORUS CHR77265 [69:10][JV]
Songs
from a songbook of a German aristocratic lady of the 18th century …
performed well but a little short on substance ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Leopold Stokowski
Otto KLEMPERER (1885-1973) Merry
Waltz from the opera Das Ziel (1915) [3:02] Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas
Tallis (1910) [17:02] Maurice RAVEL
(1875-1937) Rapsodie espagnole (1908) [16:02] Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony No.4 in E minor Op.98 (1885)
[37:36] Ottokar NOVÁČEK (1866-1900)
Perpetuum mobile Op.5 No.4 transcribed Leopold Stokowski (1940)
[3:55] ¹ New Philharmonia
Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski London Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski
¹ rec. Royal Albert Hall, 14 May 1974; 21 September 1974 (Nováček)
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4205-2
[78:24][JW]
This
Brahms Fourth - the most exciting, galvanizing and convincing of all
Stokowski’s efforts. ... see Full
Review
Monday March 26th
Isaac
ALBENIZ (1860-1909) Iberia
Evocación [5:15] El Puerto [3:30] El Corpus Christi en Sevilla [7:11]
Rondeña [6:30] Almeria [8:01] Triana [5:38] El Albaicin [5:30] El Polo
[5:55] Lavapiés [6:12] Màlaga [5:01] Jérez [9:33] Eritaña [5:16]
Eduard Syomin, piano rec. 1980-1985. Venue information not included
MELODIYA MEL CD 10 00996
[74:25][DB]
A
historic performance marred by two-dimensional recording aesthetic.
… see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Hugo ALFVÉN (1872-1960) Symphony No. 5 in A minor,
Op. 54 (19432-1958) [53:58] Andante religioso from Revelation Cantata, Op. 31 (1913) [3:49]*
Norrköping Symphony Orchestra/Niklas Willén rec. De Geer Hall, Norrköping,
Sweden, 15-17 June 2004; 23-27 May, 2005*. DDD
NAXOS 8.557612 [57:47][TP]
Lovers
of the romantic symphony should invest in this disc without delay.
Whatever the faults of this music, its freshness, flashes of original
genius and the stunning playing offer more than ample compensation.
... see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Quartet
in B flat major, Op. 18, No.6 ‘Lobkowitz’ (1798-1800) [24:38]
String Quartet in E flat major, Op. 127 (1822, 1824-25) [37:46]
Henschel Quartet rec. December 6-9, 2004, Studio 2, Bayerischer Rundfunk,
German Republic DDD
ARTE NOVA CLASSICS 82876 63996 2 [62:55][DRD]
This
is a good disc and in isolation very enjoyable and stimulating but the
harsh fact remains that at the moment I prefer the Lindsays and the
Hagens ... see Full Review
Fryderyk CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor
(1830) [32:32] Moriz
Rosenthal (piano) Berlin State Opera Orchestra/Frieder Weissmann, recorded
1930-31 Piano Concerto No.2 in F minor Op.21 (1829) [27:24] Josef
Hofmann (piano) New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra/John Barbirolli,
recorded live March 1936
ALTARA ARCHIVE ALT 1014 [59:56][JW]
The
pairing of Hofmann and Rosenthal makes sense. Two indisputably great
pianists and two great performances. ... see Full
Review
Rebecca
CLARKE (1886-1979) Viola Sonata (1919)
[27:01] Passacaglia (on an old English tune) (1941) [5:17] Lullaby
(1909)
[4:37] Lullaby on an Ancient Irish Tune (1913) [2:36] Morpheus (1918)
[7:18] Chinese Puzzle (1921) [1:28] I’ll bid my heart be still (c.1944)
[3:32] Untitled Piece for viola and piano (c.1918) [5:21] Dumka (c.1941)
[10:13] * Prelude, Allegro and Pastorale (1941) [13:26] +
Philip Dukes (viola) Sophia Rahman (piano) except the Prelude, Allegro
and Pastorale Daniel Hope (violin) * Robert Plane (clarinet) + rec.
Concert Hall of Wells Cathedral School, Somerset, June 2004
NAXOS 8.557934 [78:54][JW]
An
attractive Clarke disc, very well played and recorded and at Naxos’s
tempting price range. ... see Full Review
Alfred
HOLLINS (1865-1942) Organ Works Concert
Overture in C major (1889) [8.33] Benediction Nuptiale (1898)
[5:38] A Trumpet Minuet (1929) [5:01] Allegretto grazioso
(1906) [4:31] Concert Overture in C minor (1899) [7:48] Evening
Rest (1917) [7:28] Concert Overture in F minor (1922) [8:52]
Andante in D (1895) [9:50] A Song of Sunshine (1913) [4:49] Maytime
Gavotte (1927) [3:54] Theme with Variations and Fugue (1911)
[13:13] Timothy
Byram-Wigfield (organ) rec. 22-23 February 2006, Caird Hall, Dundee.
DDD DELPHIAN DCD34044
[79:40][JF]
The
touchstone for all enthusiasts of Alfred Hollins music. Excellent value
for money with fine playing, great repertoire and the fantastic sound
... see Full Review
Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) arr.
RAVEL Pictures at an Exhibition [30:53]* Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) La valse (1920) [12:13]* Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) The Firebird (1909-10): Suite [20:10]**
Orchestra
Sinfonica di Milano della RAI*, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della
RAI**/André Cluytens rec. live, 3 February 1962*, Milan, 30 April
1962, Turin** ARTS
ARCHIVES 43055-2 [60:03][CH]
One
novelty to the Cluytens discography and some highly communicative, if
not always immaculate, music-making. ... see Full
Review
Giovanni
Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (c.1525-1594)
Third Book of Lamentations: In Coena Domini (Maundy Thursday)
[26:49]; In Parasceve (Good Friday) [24:41]; Sabbato Sancto
(Holy Saturday) [27:17]
Choir of Westminster Cathedral/Martin Baker rec. 10-12, 14 July 2006,
Westminster Cathedral, London. DDD
HYPERION CDA 67610 [79:16][MS]
Sorrowful
music with its emotions integral to the notes, not imposed by overt
effect, well performed by an English choir aware of European traditions
... see Full Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) The
Golden Age - complete ballet Op.22 (1930)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/José Serebrier rec. Henry Wood Hall,
Glasgow, 23-26 May 2006. DDD
NAXOS 8.570217-18 [76:41 + 67:01][SH]
This
Naxos double has no faults whatever. ... see Full
Review
The
Harp of Luduvico Alonso
MUDARRA (c.1510-1580) Fantasia que contrahaze
la harpa en la maniera de Luduvico [02:29]
Divisions on Spagnoletta (improvisation) [02:47] Luis
MILÁN (c.1500-c.1561) Fantasia de consonancias y redoubles
[02:40] Divisions on the Spanish Pavan (improvisation) [02:25]
Improvisations after Diego ORTIZ (c1510-c1570) Fantasia [03:00]
Divisions on Paradetas [04:12] Tutte le vecchie [01:58]
Giovanni DE MACQUE (c.1548/50-1614) Prime Stravaganze
[02:25] Gagliarda I [00:56] Toccata a modo di trompetas
[03:46] Orazio MICHI dall'arpa (1594/95-1641) Si
duro tronco [03:11] I diletti di mundo
[01:58] Quel signor [01:06] Girolamo
FRESCOBALDI (1583-1643) Toccata X [05:20] Aria detta la Frescobalda
[05:21] Toccata V [05:39] Aria detta Ballata
[08:49] Ciacona [01:29] Toccata IX [05:35] Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1643)
Vespro della Beata Vergine: Nigra sum [03:40]
Andrew Lawrence-King (arpa doblada, arpa doppia) Recorded February 1991
in St Andrew's Church, Toddington, Gloucestershire, UK DDD
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55264 [70:06][JV]
A
ground-breaking recording of early repertoire on historical harps by
one of the world's leading interpreters … and at budget price - don't
miss it! ... see Full Review
Two
new complete
books on-line
Maggie
Cotton,
former percussionist with the City of Birmingham
Symphony Orchestra for 40 years, give the
inside picture of what it is like working
in an International Symphony Orchestra 
Arkivmusic
has over 2000 ArkivCDs which are digital remakes of out-of-print CDs
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