PART 7
Misc. M-Z

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]

 

The Medici Harpsichord Book Luigi ROSSI (1597-1653) Passacaille [02:15] Giovanni DE MACQUE (c1545-1614) Gagliarda I [00:57] Gagliarda II [00:59] Ricercare del 6. tono con tre fughe e suoi riversi [03:15] Francesco LAMBARDI (1587-1642) Toccata [02:14] Ferdinando DE' MEDICI (1673-1713) Preludio cantabile con ligature [01:33] Passagagli pastorali [03:24] Aria alla francese [01:15] Aria alla francese [01:44] Preludio di botte, acciachature, e ligature [02:34] Aria alla francese [01:35] Tochata [01:33] Aria alla francese [02:05] Preludio [00:34] Aria alla francese [01:30] Tochata [00:49] Passagagli [03:43] Alemanda [03:44] Preludio cantabile con ligature [01:09] Aria alla francese [01:54] Giovanni Battista MARTINI (1706-1784) Sonata III [13:58] Manuel Blasco DE NEBRA (1750-1784) Pastorela IV [11:37] Antonio SOLER Ramos (1729-1783) Fandango [11:13] Aapo Häkkinen (harpsichord) rec. (C) 2005, St Martin's Church, East Woodhay, Berkshire, UK. DDD DEUX-ELLES DXL 1083 [75:40] [JV]

A splendid production in every respect: choice of music, interpretation, recording and programme notes ... see Full Review

Lauritz Melchior – American Recordings 1946–1947 Eugen HILDACH (1849–1924) 1. Der Lenz [2:34] Vincent YOUMANS (1898–1946) 2. Without a song [3:00] Henry E. GEEHL (1881–1961) 3. For you alone [2:33] Franz LEHÁR (1870–1948) Das Land des Lächelns: 4. Dein ist mein ganzes Herz [3:14] F. ANDERSEN (?) 5. I det frie (Danish Children’s Song) [2:48] Georges BIZET (1838–1875) 6. Agnus Dei [3:08] Cole PORTER (1891–1964) 7. Easy to love [3:02] Franz GRUBER (1787–1863) 8. Stille Nacht (Silent Night) [3:14] Adolphe ADAM (1803–1856) 9. Cantique de Noël [3:22] Ethelbert NEVIN (1862–1901) 10. The Rosary [2:54] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685–1750) / Charles GOUNOD (1818–1893) 11. Ave Maria [2:52] Richard HEUBERGER (1850–1914) Der Opernball: 12. Im chambre séparée (The kiss in your eyes) [2:33] Fritz ROTTER (1900–1984) 13. Spring came back to Vienna [2:48] Johann STRAUSS II (1825–1899) 14. Kaiserwalzer [2:37] Ernesto De CURTIS (1875–1937) 15. Torna a Surriento [3:00] Jerome KERN (1885–1945) 16. The song is you [2:53] Igor STRAVINSKY (1882–1971) (arr. Klenner) 17. Summer moon [3:04] Ruggiero LEONCAVALLO (1858–1919) 18. Mattinata [3:00] Franz SCHUBERT (1797–1828) 19. Was ist Sylvia? [2:32] Reginald De KOVEN (1859–1920) Robin Hood: 20. O promise me [2:29] Carrie JACOBS-BOND (? - ?) 21. I love you truly [2:37] trad. (arr. Kramer) 22. All mein Gedanken (Minnelied) [3:11] Giacomo PUCCINI (1858–1924) Tosca: 23. Recondita armonia [2:55] 24. E lucevan le stelle [3:06] Ruggiero LEONCAVALLO Pagliacci: 25. Vesti la giubba [3:40] 26. No, Pagliaccio non son! [2:42] trad. 27. Helan går [Swedish drinking song] [2:43] Lauritz Melchior (tenor) MGM Studio Orchestra/Georgie Stoll (1-21, 27); Giacomo Spadoni (23-26), Georgie Stoll (piano), Lou Raderman (violin), Albert Sendry (organ)(22); with chorus (5-7, 27) rec. 12 October 1946 (1-3), 31 December 1946 (4-7), 16 June 1947 (8-11), 23 June 1947 (12-14), 16 December 1947 (15-18), 18 December 1947 (19-22), 26 December 1947 (23-27). ADD NAXOS 8.111239 [78:36][GF]

Swings and roundabouts but it is interesting to have this greatest of Wagnerians in off-beat repertoire … his involvement and enthusiasm are never in question. ... see Full Review

More sweet to hear – Organs and Voices in Tudor England Times and seasons: pre-Reformation organ music Avery BURNETT (fl1527-1541) Te Deum laudamus [10:09] anon A solis ortus cardine [07:54] John REDFORD (d1547) Lucem tuam – Nunc dimittis – Lucem tuam [06:16] Thomas PRESTON (fl1543-1559) Felix namque es, sacra virgo Maria [05:18] In chamber and schoolroom: organ music in secular contexts anon The trowmpettus [01:01] Richard EDWARDS (1525-1566) Where grypinge griefes [00:53] John SHEPPARD (c1515-1559) Vaine, all our lyfe we spend in vaine [02:05] anon Vaine, all our lyfe we spend in vaine, intabulation [02:18] Thomas TALLIS (c1505-1585) Fond youth is a bubble/Purge me, O Lord [01:52] John BLITHEMAN (c1525-1591) Gloria tibi Trinitas I [02:29] John REDFORD O quam glorifica (single verset) [01:46] Thomas TALLIS Veni redemptor gentium [03:39] John BLITHEMAN Gloria tibi Trinitas II [01:54] The Temple purg'd: sounds of Elizabethan Protestantism anon 81 psalme (Be light and glad) [02:23] Thomas CAUSTUN (c1520-1569) / John FARMER (c1570-c1601) Psalmus: O Lord turn not away (harm. William Parsons, fl1545-1563) [05:44] William BYRD (1543-1623) Ut re mi fa sol la* [04:25] Teach me, O Lord** [03:36] Second Service: Magnificat** [04:01] Thomas MORLEY (1557/58-1602) Out of the deep** [03:52] Nicholas CARLETON (c1573-1630) A verse for two to play on one virginall or organs* [04:21] Magnus Williamson, Geoffrey Webber*, Francesca Massey** (organ) The Choir of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge/Geoffrey Webber rec. June 2005, Chapel of St John's College, Cambridge, UK OXRECS OXCD-101 [76:45][JV]

The first disc of 'The Early English Organ Project' which focuses on the organ music in England in the 16th century - strongly recommended because of its historical importance and the high quality of the music, performed on reconstructions of two 16th century organs ... see Full Review

Musique and Sweet Poetrie: Jewels from Europe around 1600 Robert JOHNSON (c.1583-1633) Almain [1:18] Full fathom five thy father lies [1:49] Thomas MORLEY (1577-1603?) Thirsis and Milla [3:02] Come sorrow, come [7:03] Gregory HUWET (c.1550-c.1616) Fantasia [4:19] John DOWLAND (1563-1626) Shall I sue, shall I seek for grace? [2:46] Go crystal tears [3:01] Giovanni KAPSBERGER (1580-1651) Toccata [3:09] Georg SCHIMMELPFENNIG (1582-1637) Dolce tempo passato [5:02] Heinrich SCHÜTZ (1585-1672) Eile mich, Gott, zu erretten [3:04] Michelangelo GALILEI (1557-1631) Toccata [1:46] Corrente [1:19] Volta [1:19] Sigismondo d’INDIA (c.1582-c.1629) Quella vermiglia rosa [2:04] A l’onde del mio pianto [3:20] Robert BALLARD (c.1575-1650) Entrée de luth [2:05] Pierre GUÉDRON (c.1570-1619) Cessez, mortels, de soupirer [7:49] Jean-Baptiste BOËSSET (1614-1685) Que Philis a l’esprit léger [1:37] Etienne MOULINIÉ (c.1600-after 1669) Paisible et ténébreuse nuit [2:52] Robert BALLARD (c.1575-1650) Branles de village [3:09] Wojciech (Albertus) DŁUGORAJ (1557-after 1619) Fantasia [1:57] John DOWLAND (1563-1626) Shall I strive with words to move? [3:02] John DANYEL (1564-c.1626) He whose desires are still abroad [2:21] Dost thou withdraw thy grace? [1:33] Why canst thou not, as others do? [1:40] Robert JOHNSON (c.1583-1633) Pavan [5:13] Emma Kirkby (soprano), Jakob Lindberg (lute: c.1590, Sixtus Rauwolf) rec. November 2005, Länna Church, Sweden BIS-SACD 1505 [79:32][GPu]

A richly enjoyable collection of lute songs and solos from Renaissance Europe, mixing familiar and unfamiliar and played by two modern masters of these forms … see Full Review

The National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain 2006 - Five Winning Performances Hector BERLIOZ (arr. Wright) Les Francs Juges [12:07] Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal Band)/Allan Withington Gustav HOLST (arr. Parkes) Ballet from The Perfect Fool [10:50] Kibworth Band/John Berryman Alan FERNIE Gothic Dances [12:13] St Dennis Band/Brian Minear Gordon LANGFORD Sinfonietta for Brass Band [10:04] Long Eaton Silver Band/Sharon Stansfield Philip SPARKE Valerius Variations [9:07] Dodworth Colliery M.W. Band/Eliot Darwin rec. Harrogate International Centre, 2006 except Les Francs Juges, recorded Royal Albert Hall, London, October 2006 DOYEN MASTER SERIES DOY CD219 [54:43][CT]

A showcase of all five winning performances from the British National Brass Band Championships of 2006 … see Full Review

Nederlands Dans Theater in Jiři Kylián’s Sinfonietta, Symphony in D, and Stamping Ground Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) * Symphony No. 101 in D (first 3 movements) Symphony No. 73 in D (4^th movement) Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1928) ** Sinfonietta Carlos CHAVEZ (1897-1966) § Toccata for Percussion Instruments * Nederlands Ballet Orchestra/David Porcelijn ** Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ančerl § Makoto Aruga and Percussion Ensemble rec. 1983 (*), 1980 (**), 1984 (§) Venues not given ARTHAUS MUSIK 100-444 [135:00][DB]

A wide-ranging representation of Kylian’s work, including insightful interviews. … see Full Review

Elly Ney (piano) Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonata in E flat major, Op. 7 (1796-7) [30:51] Piano Sonata in C minor Op. 13, “Grande Sonate Pathétique” (1798-99) [21:19] Piano Sonata in A flat major, Op. 26 (1800-01) [23:02] Piano Sonata in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 Sonata quasi una Fantasia, “Moonlight”: (1801) [18:02] Piano Sonata in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2 “The Tempest” (1801-02) [24:29] Piano Sonata in E flat major, Op. 31 No. 3 (1801-02) [23:44] Piano Sonata in C major, Op. 53 “Waldstein” (1803-04) [25:43] Piano Sonata in F minor, Op. 57, “Appassionata” (1804-05) [25:43] Piano Sonata in B flat major, Op. 106. “Für das Hammerklavier” – Adagio  (1817-18) [18:13] Piano Sonata in E major, Op. 109 (1820) [17:02] Piano Sonata in A flat major, Op. 110 (1821) [21:58] Piano Sonata in C minor, Op. 111 (1821-22) [29:58] Piano Sonata in C minor, Op. 111 (1821-22) [29:16] Andante favori WoO 57 in F  (1804) [7:52] Albumblatt fir Elise WoO 59 A minor (1810) [2:56] Six Variations for piano on Nel cor piu non mi sento (1795) [4:50] Variations in F major Op.34 (1802) [13:49] Thirt Two Variations in C minor WoO 80 (1806) [12:08] Rondo a capriccio in G major Op.129 Rage over a Lost Penny (1823) [5:41] Six Ecossaise (1823) [2:37] Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor Op.37 (1800) [40:43] Piano Concerto No.4 in G major Op.58 (1805-06) [35:47] Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major Op.73 Emperor (1808-09) [41:18] Elly Ney reads the Heiligenstadter Testament [12:08] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Rondo in A minor K511 (1787) [8:47] Piano Sonata No.10 in C major K330 (1778) [21:49] Piano Sonata No.11 in A major K331 (1778) [24:27] Agnus Dei [0:24] Andantino [0:50] Wilhelm Friedemann BACH (1710-1784) Kein Halmlein wachst auf Erden [0:51] Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Fifteen German Dances [9:05] Wanderer Fantasy in C major D760 (1822) [22:44] Impromptu in G flat (1827) [7:50] Impromptu in A flat [8:37] Impromptu in F minor [6:01] Moment musical in A flat [5:21] Moment musical in F minor [1:52] Moment musical in C sharp minor [4:47] Schlafe holder, susser Knabe [0:53] Fruhlingsglaube [1;55] Weisst du wieviel Sternlein stehen [0:41] Gold’ne Abendsonne [0:37] Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphonic Etudes Op,13 (1834) [27:07] Symphonic Etudes – Appendix (posthumous) [14:25] Wiegnlied [1;14] Kind erwacht [0.24] Traumerei [2:04] Schlummerlied from Op.68 [5:02] Novellete Op.21 No.1 in F major [5;40] Warum? - Fantasiestuck Op.12 No.3 [3:09] Christoph Willibald von GLUCK (1714-1787) Gavotte [3:43] Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Prelude in C [1:00] Well Tempered Clavier BWV 870 – No.1 in C major [2:49] Well Tempered Clavier BWV 870 – Fugue in C major [2:40] Prelude No.21 in B flat major BWV 890 [1:30] Cantata  No.22 Ertodt’ uns durch dein’ Gute [2:06] Spoken introductions by Eleonore von Hoogstraten [0:30 + 0:30] Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Sonata No.1 in C major Op.1 – Andante and Scherzo  [6:10 + 2:05] Piano Sonata No.3 in F minor Op.5 [39:01] Romance in F major Op.185 No.5 [3:54] Intermezzo in E flat minor Op.118 No.6 [5:38] Intermezzo in E flat major Op.117 No.1 [4:53] Rhapsody in E falt major Op.119 No.4 [5:18] Chorale Prelude Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen Op.122 No.6 [1:24] Brief Commentaries by Elly Ney [0:13 + 0:12] Sandmannchen [1:45] Guten Abend, gute Nacht [1:59] Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Songs without Words Funeral March Op.62 No.3 [3:23] Andante con moto Op.19 No.1 [4:42] Allegro vivace Op.102 No.5 [1;15] Spring Song Op.62 No.6 [3:18] Spinning Song Op.67 No.4 [2:04] Andante sostenuto [1:47] Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) Fantasie in F minor Op.49 (1840-41) [12;10] Ballade in A flat Op.47 (1840-41) [7:21] Nocturne in C minor [6:20] Nocturne in G major [6:34] Nocturne in F sharp major [3;34] Reading from Rainer Maria Rilke – Das Karrussell – Jardin du Luxembourg spoken by Eleonore von Hoogstraten [1:55] Reading from Rainer Maria Rilke – Spanische Tanzerin spoken by Eleonore von Hoogstraten [1:15] Elly Ney (piano) Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra/Willem van Hoogstraten rec. 1960-68;  Readings by Eleonore von Hoogstraten recorded 2003 COLOSSEUM CLASSICS COL 9025-12.2 [12 CDs: 72:47 + 45:10 + 76:49 + 64:30 + 75:32 + 66:38 + 68:34 + 76:48 + 69:42 + 64:32 + 69:31 + 77:03][JW]

Ney’s complete late recordings. She retained her luminous tone to the last. A sense of deliberation and precision that will fall on the ear either as prodigious depth or else as stolid aridity. ... see Full Review

Old Vienna Leopold GODOWSKY (1870-1938) Old Vienna [Alt Wien] (1916) transcribed by Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987) [2:38] Waltz Poem No.2 (1916) [4:47] Leo WEINER (1885-1960) Lakodalmas Op.21b (1936) [4:33] Moritz MOSZKOWSKI (1854-1925) Spanish Dances Op.12 transcribed by Philipp Scharwenka (1847-1917): No.1 [2:01] No.2 [4:04] No.3 [2:49] Hugo WOLF (1860-1913) Mörike-lieder; Verborgenheit (Seclusion) (1888) transcribed by Konstantin Mostras (1886-1965) [2:25] Arcangelo CORELLI (1653-1713) Sonata in G minor Op.5 No.5 (published 1700) [11:18] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Serenade No.7 in D Haffner – Rondo (1776) transcribed by Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) [7:59] Niccolo PAGANINI (1782-1828) Caprices (1801-07) Op.1 No.20 transcribed by Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) [3:17] Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Marche caractéristique No.1 D. 968b transcribed by Konstantin Mostras (1886-1965) [5:29] Nicolai MEDTNER (1879-1951) Violin Sonata No.1 in B minor Op.21 (1910) [19:21] Cyril SCOTT (1879-1970) Cherry Ripe [4:04] Inna Kogan (violin) Tobias Bigger (piano) rec. Festeberg Church, Frankfurt-am-Main, April 2005 EMEC E071 [76:18] [JW]

A mixed recital with a rather strange look. A seventeenth century sonata balanced by a romantic masterpiece plus a motley selection of dances and song transcriptions ... see Full Review

Opera Highlights - Volume 1 Antonio VIVALDI (1678–1741) Orlando furioso 1. Sorge l’irato nembo [9:47] Marilyn Horne (mezzo) San Francisco Opera Orchestra/Randall Behr rec. San Francisco Opera Gioachino ROSSINI (1792–1868) La Cenerentola 2. Nacqui all’affanno [9:43] Dame Ann Murray (mezzo) Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Riccardo Chailly rec. Salzburg Festival Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797–1848) Lucia di Lammermoor 3. The Mad Scene [9:32] Dame Joan Sutherland (soprano) Australian Opera Orchestra/Richard Bonynge rec. Australian Opera L’Elisir d’amore 4. Quanto è bella, quanto è cara 5. Una furtiva lagrima [9:45] Roberto Alagna (ten) 6. Prendi, prendi, per me sei libero [9:24] Angela Gheorghiu (soprano) Orchestra of the Opéra National de Lyon/Evelino Pidò rec. Opéra National de Lyon Vincenzo BELLINI (1801–1835) Norma 7. Casta Diva [9:51] Giuseppe VERDI (1813–1901) Il trovatore 8. D’amor sull’ali rosee [9:05] Dame Joan Sutherland (soprano) orchestra of the Australian Opera/Richard Bonynge rec. Australian Opera  La forza del destino 9. Son giunta! Grazie, o Dio! [9:39] Galina Gorchakova (soprano) 10. Morir! Tremenda cosa! … Urna fatale del mio destino [9:45] Nikolai Putilin (baritone) 11. La vita è inferno all’infelice [9:57] Gegam Grigorian (tenor) Orchestra and Chorus of Kirov Opera/Valery Gergiev rec. Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg Amilcare PONCHIELLI (1834–1886) La Gioconda 12. Suicidio! [9:45] Eva Marton (soprano) Vienna State Opera Orchestra/Adam Fischer rec. Vienna State Opera Sound format: PCM Stereo; Picture format: 16:9; 4:3 ARTHAUS MUSIC 102 047 [107:00][GF]

Nice to have these excerpts with favourite singers when not in the mood for a full opera. ... see Full Review

The Rosslyn Motet and Songs of the Chartres Labyrinth Thomas MITCHELL (b. 1932) and Stuart MITCHELL (realisation) The Rosslyn Motet: 1 .The Apprentice Pillar [2.39]; The Journeyman’s Pillar [1.40]; The Master Mason’s Pillar [3.30]; Finale [3.29] Thomas MITCHELL (b. 1932) arr. Stuart MITCHELL Songs of the Chartres Labyrinth: To Equity [5.30]; The Demeter [5.23]; To Dionysius [6.02]; To Persephone [5.19] Members of Tallis Chamber Choir; Edinburgh Renaissance Band (Motet) Tallis Chamber Choir; The Chartres Singers, instrumentalists/Philip Gault (Chartres Songs) rec. Rosslyn Chapel, 20 June 2006 (Motet); Morningside Parish Church, Edinburgh. 24 August 2006 (Songs) THE DIVINE ART DIVERSIONS DDV24122 [33:36] [GH]

All in all I cannot recommend you spend time on this fudge. There is however a proviso. You may think, as with the ‘Da Vinci Code’ that 95% of it is rubbish. In which case it is the remaining 5% that should worry you. ... see Full Review

Sequenza Luciano BERIO (1925–2003) Sequenza VIII (1976) [13 :04] Edith CANAT DE CHIZY (b.1950) Irisations (1999) [7:49] Claude BALLIF (1924–2004) Solfeggietto No.3 (1963) [5:18] Iannis XENAKIS (1922–2001) Mikka ‘S’ (1976) [3:39] Daniel TOSI (b. 1953) Flammes synthétiques (1999) [6:13] Joan GUINJOAN (b. 1931) Tensio (1981) [8:23] Pierre BOULEZ (b. 1925) Anthèmes (1991) [8:28] Diego Tosi (violin) rec. Perpignan, 2004; Paris, September 2002 (Edith Canat de Chizy, originally released on Aeon AECD 0210) SOLSTICE SOCD 225 [52:54][HC]

Fiendishly difficult, although technical complexity is never present for its own sake, but with a view to some poetic vision. Tosi’s playing is simply stunning ... see Full Review

Siesta Astor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Histoire du Tango: Bordel 1900 [4:08], Café 1930 [7:09], Night-club 1960 [6:22], Concert d’aujourd ‘hui [3:20] Joan Albert AMARGOS (b.1950) Tango Català [4:22] Mario CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO (1895-1968) Sonatina Op. 205: Allegretto grazioso [4:04], Andantino grazioso e malinconico [4:23], Scherzo-Rondo, Allegretto con spirito [4:47] Maurice RAVEL (1890-1937) Pièce en forme de Habanera [2:42] Jacques IBERT (1890-1962) Entr’acte [3:02] Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Modinha [1:51]; Distribução de Flores [3:21]; Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5: Cantilena [4:47] Michala Petri (recorder); Lars Hannibal (guitar) rec. 25-26 January, 4 May 2006, Torpen Kapel, Humlebaek, Denmark. DACAPO 8.226900 [54:22] [ZT]

Outstanding musicianship, great duo playing, and a most enjoyable programme. … see Full Review

Sones y Danzones Luis GIANNEO (1897-1968) Dos Danzas Argentinas: Güeya [4:49] Baqilecito [4:49] Leo BROUWER (b.1939) Sones y Danzones (1992) Danzón [6:05] Son de “La Niña Bonita” [7:57] Contradanza sonera [7:58] Isaac ALBÉNIZ (1860-1909) arr. Karl RISSLAND Tango, Op. 165, no.2 [2:56] Luis GIANNEO (1897-1968) Segundo Trio [25:07] Enrique Fernández ARBÓS (1863-1939) Habanera (From Tres piezas españolas, Op.1) (c.1886) [8:08] Astor PIAZZOLA (1921-1991) Oblivion (Milonga) [3:38] La Muerte del Ángel [3:37] Trío Arbós: Juan Carlos Garvayo (piano), Miguel Borrego (violin), José Miguel Gómez (cello) rec. May 2003, Auditorium of the Conservatorio de Getafe, Madrid ENSAYO ENY-CD-9821 [75:04] [GPu]

A delightful programme of dance-inspired chamber music from Spain and Latin America, beautifully played … see Full Review

Songs of the Heart Gunnar de FRUMERIE (1908-1987) Hjärtats sångar, Op 27 (“Songs of the Heart”, 1942) [11:32] Ture RANGSTRÕM (1884-1947) Melodi (1917) [1:40]; Paradisets timma (“The Hour of Paradise”, 1924) [2:21]; Pan (1924) [2:29]; Vingar I natten (“Wings of the Night”, 1917) [1:16]; Bön till natten (“Supplication to Night”, 1924) [2:38] Adolf WIKLUND (1879-1950) En solvisa (“A Sun Song”) [1:39]; Som mandelblom… (“Like Almond Flower…”), Op 12 No 3 [2:59]; Serenad, Op 11 No 2 [1:49]; Silkessko over gylden læst (“Silken Shoe on a Golden Tree”) [3:13] Hugo ALFVÉN (1872-1960) Saa tag mit hjerte (“So take my heart”, 1946) [2:50]; I stilla timmar (“In quiet hours”, 1940) [3:04]; Skogen sover, Op 28 No 6 (“The forest is asleep”, 1908) [3:01] Wilhelm PETERSON-BERGER (1867-1942) Fyra Visor i Svensk Folkton, Op 5 (1892) [7:25] (När jag för mig själv i mörka skogen går [1:51]; Ditt namn jag hade skrivit [1:08]; Som stjärnorna på himmelen [3:13]; Bland skogens höga furustammar [1:13]) Emil SJÖGREN (1853-1918) 6 Lieder auf Wolffs Tannhäuser, Op 12 (1884) (Du schaust mich an mit stummen Fragen [3:46]; Jahrlang möcht'ich so dich halten [2:17]; Wie soll ich´s bergen, wie soll ich's tragen [2:56]; Hab´ein Röslein Dir gebrochen [1:19]; Vor meinem Auge wird es klar  [2:28]; Ich möchte schweben über Thal und Hügel [2:20]) Leif Aruhn-Solén (tenor); Viktor Åslund (piano) rec. A-Studio, SAMI, Stockholm, October 2005. DDD STERLING CDA1653-2 [67:16] [GR]

Aruhn-Solén proves a highly sympathetic interpreter. Åslund provides sensitive accompaniments and the recorded sound is exemplary. ... see Full Review

Spirit of Scotland Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) The Hebrides op.26 (1832) [10:16] Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Waverley op.2 (1827) [10:21] Rob Roy (1831) [13:03] Malcolm ARNOLD (1921-2006) Tam O’Shanter op.51 [07:53] Four Scottish Dances op.59 [08:31]* Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Macbeth: Ballet Music (1865) [10:10] Hamish MaCUNN (1868-1916) Land of the Mountain and Flood (1887) [09:56] Scottish National Orchestra/Sir Alexander Gibson, Philharmonia Orchestra*/Bryden Thomson* rec. 29-30 June 1981, Henry Wood Hall (SNO Centre), Glasgow, 7-8 February 1990*, St. Jude’s Church, Central Square, London* CHANDOS CHAN10412X [71:15] [CH]

A highly attractive and colourful sequence, excellently performed. ... see Full Review

The Swan – classic works for cello and orchestra Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Après un rêve (arr. Chris Hazell) [3:42] Sicilienne (arr. Chris Hazell) [3:37] Alexander GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Chant du ménestrel Op. 71 [4:52] Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Vocalise (arr. Chris Hazell) [7:31] Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Adagio con variazioni [13:16] Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Le Cygne* (arr. Chris Hazell) [3:18] Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Nocturne† [5:16] Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Klid [7:00] Yun Joon KIM (b. 1916) Korean Elegy (arr. Roxanna Panufnik) [4:26] Max BRUCH (1838-1920) Ave Maria [9:50] Han-Na Chang (cello) *Aline Brewer (harp) † Daniel Pailthorpe (flute) Philharmonia Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin rec. 2000, Abbey Road Studios, London EMI CLASSICS 5570522 [62:52] [DM]

Two cheers for a perfectly likeable but oddly unsatisfying disc. ... see Full Review

Gerhard Taschner Max BRUCH (1838-1920) Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor Op.26 (1868) [22:24] Wolfgang FORTNER (1907-1987) Concerto for violin and large chamber orchestra  (1947) [21:04] Hans PFITZNER (1869-1949) Violin Concerto in B minor Op.34 (1923) [31:35] Gerhard Taschner (violin) South German Radio Orchestra, Stuttgart/Hans Müller-Kray, rec. September 1954 (Bruch) RIAS Symphony Orchestra/Rudolf Kempe, rec. April 1955 (Pfitzner) Südwestfunk Orchestra, Baden-Baden/Hans Rosbaud, rec. September 1950 (Fortner) MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 6421443-2 [75:14] [JW]

When the playing is so fine we can luxuriate in Rosbaud-conducted Fortner and Kempe-directed Pfitzner. ... see Full Review

Through Gold and Silver Clouds Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Serenade for Strings (1892) [13:27] Elegy (1909) [4:57] Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring (1911) [7:06] Summer Night on the River (1912) [6:17] Gustav HOLST (1874-1934) St Paul’s Suite (1913) [12:08] Peter WARLOCK (1894-1930) Capriol Suite (1926) [10:23] ARWEL HUGHES (1909-1988) Fantasia in A minor (1936) [11:20] Camerata Wales/Owain Arwel Hughes rec. (Elgar, Hughes, Warlock) December 2005, Parish Church of St Jude-on-the-Hill, London NW11; (Delius, Holst) April 2006, The Warehouse, London SE1 BIS CD-1589 [67:33] [IL]

The Arwel Hughes composition is interesting but look elsewhere for the rest. ... see Full Review

Arturo Toscanini – In Memoriam Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony No.8 in F major Op.93 (1814) [23:49] Richard WAGNER (1813-83) Tannhäuser – Overture and Bacchanale (1845) [24:27] Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) La forza del destino – overture (1862) [7:22] Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Manfred Op 115 – overture (1852) [11:57] Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Guillaume Tell – passo a sei [5:41] Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Symphony No. 9 Op. 95 From the New World (1893) [36:14] NBC Symphony Orchestra/Arturo Toscanini rec. New York, 8 November 1952 (Beethoven, Wagner, Verdi) and 31 January 1953 (Schumann, Rossini, Dvořák) TAHRA TAH624-25 [56:17 + 54:36] [JW]

Two major symphonic statements and plenty of ancillary orchestral material – enough to tempt the Toscanini collector who may not have them. ... see Full Review

Julia Varady: Song of Passion [56.26] A film by Bruno Monsaingeon Julia Varady in recital [28.45] Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Wesendonck Lieder (1857) * Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Kaby znala ia * Bonus rehearsal [8.35] Franz Peter SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Der Tod und das Mädchen, D531 ** Julia Varady (soprano) *Viktoria Postnikova (piano) ** Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (piano) Film and recital recorded in Paris, 1998; rehearsal filmed in Berlin, 1998. DVD Region 0. EMI CLASSICS DVB 3884589 [93.49][ED]

Varady was an artist who never received the recognition she truly deserved. This should help rectify that, and then leave you wanting to hunt out her recordings. ... see Full Review

World Philharmonic Orchestra - Paris 2006 Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Bolero (1928) [15:28] Georges BIZET (1838-1875) Carmen Suite No.1 – excerpts (1875) [8:13] Carmen Suite No.2 – excerpts (1875) [6:30] Paul DUKAS (1865-1935) L'Apprenti sorcier (1897) [10:40] Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Marche au supplice from Symphonie fantastique Op.14 (1830) [4:58] World Philharmonic Orchestra/Yutaka Sado. rec. live, 20 June 2006, Cour d'Honneur du Palais des Invalides, Paris, France. DDD NAÏVE V5067 [45:49] [TP]

Let's not waste time here. This disc is completely and utterly redundant. All of the works collected on this ungenerous CD are bettered elsewhere by just about everyone. ... see Full Review

 

BOOK REVIEWS

BAX - A Composer and his Times by Lewis Foreman 25 b/w illustrations 616 pages [CSS]

Antal Dorati and the joy of making music by Richard Chlupaty A centenary tribute to one of the most celebrated conductors of the 20th C. His life and work, centered on a concert register accompanied by reviews, comments, and a series of short appraisals of his own compositions. 445pp ISBN-10: 0955246903 ISBN-13: 978-0955246906 THE ANTAL DORATI CENTENARY SOCIETY [Tony Flynn]

Handsomely done but unlikely to be of interest to anyone other than Dorati fanatics ... see Full Review

Antonio Pappano, Con Passione by Lucrèce Maeckelbergh Pub. Uitgeverij Snoeck, 2006. 224pp. Hardback. Includes a cover mounted CD of Pappano in performance.ISBN: 90-5349-527-4 (English edition) £29.90 [ED]

A solid introduction to a conductor who ultimately engages and sustains one’s interest by the strength of his personality. ... see Full Review

Rosslyn Chapel and Music of the Cubes by Thomas J Mitchell. Published by Diversions Books 2006. 108pp. Softback [GH]

All in all I cannot recommend you spend time on this fudge. There is however a proviso. You may think, as with the ‘Da Vinci Code’ that 95% of it is rubbish. In which case it is the remaining 5% that should worry you. ... see Full Review

 

 

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Detailed listing (last five days)]
[Part 1 New]   [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L][Part 7 Misc M-Z]
[Recommended recordings]