Jules
MASSENET (1842–1912) Le Roi de
Lahore 
Orchestra e Coro del Teatro La Fenice di Venezia/Marcello
Viotti rec. 2004
DYNAMIC 33487 
[2 DVDs: 160:00][GF]
A
good buy: evocative sets, good singing and partly gorgeous late 19th
century romantic music ... see Full
Review
Jules
MASSENET (1842-1912) Thaïs Eva
Mei, Michele Pertusi, Teatro La Fenice di Venezia Ch & O/Marcello
Viotti
rec. 2002 DYNAMIC 33427 [IL]
A
colourful, dramatic and satisfying production ... see Full
Review
Mela
MEIERHANS (b. 1961) Differance I;
Tunnel II; Prelude and echo; Narziss und Echo; Essays
I-V Basel Sinfonietta/Jürg
Wyttenbach rec. 2000-3
MUSIQUES-SUISSES MGB CTS-M 100 [66:22][DB]
For
fans of so-called “difficult” music. Riveting and compelling performances
… see Full Review
Henryk MELCER (1869-1928)
Piano Concertos Nos.1 & 2
Jonathan Plowright (piano); BBC Scottish SO/Christoph König rec.
2007 HYPERION CDA67630
[66:41][RB]
Two
lively concertos with their roots in the late-Romantic
tradition ... see Full
Review
Olivier
MESSIAEN
(1908-1992) La Liturgie
de Cristal 
A film by Olivier Mille (director) filmed
2001 with extra footage 2007.Picture Format:
4:3
Sound Format: Dolby Digital Stereo Languages:
French, English and German DVD: NTSC
IDEAL AUDIENCE DVD9DS44 [67:00] [AOz]
This
film comes at an opportune time ... see Full
Review
John METCALF
(b. 1946) Paradise Haunts, Three Mobiles, In
Time of Daffodils
BBC Ntl O Wales/Grant Llewellyn rec. 2006
SIGNUM SIGCD103 [HC]
These
performances will not easily be bettered. A real pleasure from
first to last ... see Full
Review
Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Vespro
della Beata Virgine Rodolfus
Choir, English Cornet and Sackbut Ensemble; Southern Sinfonia/Ralph
Allwood rec. 2007 SIGNUM
CLASSICS SIGCD109 [JS]
Takes
a special place due to its freshness and consistency of approach
... see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphonies
28, 33, 35 & 38, Divertimentos
English CO/Colin Davis rec. 1960/2
ELOQUENCE 442 8149 [MG]
Spirited
performances which engage your attention,
but the recordings lack finesse … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Concertos for two and three pianos
Alexei Lubimov, Ronald Brautigam, Manfred
Huss (fortepianos) Haydn Sinfonietta Wien/Manfred
Huss rec. 2006
BIS SACD1618 
[MM-B]
A
delight from begin to end ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano
Concertos Nos. 14 & 21; March in D major; Six German dances
Rudolf Serkin (piano);
English Chamber Orchestra/Alexander Schneider rec. 1964-6
BBC LEGENDS BBCL42272 [67:51][CH]
A
K.467 full of disciplined energy is the good news here. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano
Concertos Nos. 14, 20 & 25
Rudolf Buchbinder (piano/conductor); Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra rec.
2006 EUROARTS 2055908
[85:00][PBW]
Some
may welcome this athletic approach and freedom from pomposity, but more
is lost than gained ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano
Concertos No. 22-24
Rudolf Buchbinder (piano); Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Rudolf Buchbinder
rec. 2006 EUROARTS 2055898
[91:00][PBW]
Disappointment
... see Full Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Violin Concerto 3, Sinfonia concertante
Dominika Falger (violin) Johannes Flieder (viola) Wratislavia CO/Christian
Schulz rec. 2006 DUX
0454 [DC]
Beautiful
tone from Dominika Falger – very fresh sounding Mozart indeed ... see
Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Serenade
in C minor K388 (c.1720) [22:42] Leoš JANÁČEK
(1854-1928) Mládí (1924) [18:14] Werner
PIRCHNER (1940-2001) Streichquartett für Bläserquintett
PWV 15 (1974) [11:54] QuintettWien;
Reinhold Brunner (bass clarinet) (Mládí) rec. 29
May–1 June 2006, Wiener Konzerthaus
NIMBUS NI 5812 [52:53] [DC]
Demonstration
quality stuff. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756–1791)
Don Giovanni
William Shimell, Samuel Ramey, Cheryl Studer, Vienna PO/Riccardo Muti
rec. 1990 EMI CLASSICS
5008502 [GF]
Worth
considering for an excellent cast and for a distinct though erratic
reading that belongs to a period much later than Mozart ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Don Giovanni
RIAS Kammerchor, Freiburger Barockorchester/René
Jacobs rec. 2006
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC 901964-66 [3 CDs: 60:39 + 52:31 + 57:36][GF]
Wholly
engrossing - this eternal masterpiece with swathes of cobweb blown away
... see Full Review
Luigi
NONO (1924-1990)
No hay caminos, hay que caminar, “Hay que caminar” sognando, Caminantes…
Ayacucho Irvine Arditti
(violin), Roberto Fabbriciani (flute), Graeme Jennings (violin), Susanne
Otto (mezzo-soprano) Solistenchor Freiburg WDR SO & Ch Köln/Emilio
Pomárico rec. 2004 KAIROS
0012512KAI [DC]
Not
an easy ride, but if you are willing to take up the reins then
the rewards can be greater than the challenge ... see Full
Review
Per NØRGARD (b.
1932)
Unendlicher Empfang, Remembering, Achilles and the Tortoise,
Violin Sonata Rolf HIND (b.
1964) Das Unenthüllte
Rold Hind, Nicolas Hodges (pianos) David Alberman (violin) rec. 2006
DACAPO 8.226037
[DC]
A
stimulating and passionately performed release
... see Full
Review
Jacques
OFFENBACH Orphée
aux Enfers, Belle Hélène,
Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein Highlights
Soloists, Choeur des Musiciens du Louvre-Grenoble;
Les Musiciens du Louvre-Grenoble/Marc Minkowski
no rec. dates and venues given; published
1998–2005
VIRGIN CLASSICS 0946 391344 2 7 [76:59]
[JW]
If
you want a handy highlights disc this one
is infallible fun ... see Full
Review
Georges
ONSLOW (1784-1853) Piano
Trios - Volume 1 Trio
Cascades rec. 2006? CPO
777230-2 [BBr]
Fine
performances with a good feel for the music - a breath of fresh
air ... see Full Review
Ignacy Jan PADEREWSKI (1860–1941)
Complete Songs
Anna Radziejewska (mezzo) Mariusz Rutkowski (piano) rec. 2007
DUX 0585 [GF]
All
in all a pleasant surprise and made me want to hear more of Paderewski’s
output ... see Full Review
Krzysztof
PENDERECKI (b.1933) Capriccio for
Violin and Orchestra; De Natura Sonoris No.2; Piano Concerto ‘Resurrection’
Patrycja Piekkutowska
(violin); Beata Bilińska (piano); The National Polish Radio Symphony
Orchestra Katowice/Krzysztof Penderecki rec. 2005-6
DUX 0582 [53:18][DC]
Strangely
compelling ... see Full Review
Krzysztof
PENDERECKI (b.
1933) Capriccio, De Natura Sonoris 2,
Piano Concerto Patrycja
Piekutowska (violin), Beata Bilinska (piano) National Polish
RSO Katowice/Krzysztof Penderecki rec. 2005/6 DUX
0582 [53:18] [CR]
Playing
of a consistently high standard and the music is thoroughly engaging
... see Full Review
Krzysztof PENDERECKI
(b. 1933) Te Deum; Hymne an den heiligen Daniel;
Polymorphia; Chaconne Warsaw
National Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra/Antoni Wit rec. 2005 NAXOS 8.557980 [67.06][RH]
In
many ways an admirable disc … If Penderecki’s challenging music appeals
then do try this disc. ... see Full
Review
Krzystof
PENDERECKI (b.
1933) The
Devils of Loudon Tatiana
Troyanos, Andrzej Hiolski, Hamburg State Opera Ch, Hamburg
Phil. State O/Marek Janowski
rec. 1969. ARTHAUS MUSIC 101279 [KS]
Stark
and bleak. Dark and surprisingly beautiful in its overt portrayal
of intrigue, religious zeal and man’s cruelty to his fellow man
... see Full Review
Éric
PÉNICAUD (b.
1952) Chamber
music with guitar Renaud
Duret, Sylvain Cinquini, Éric Pénicaud (guitars)
Valérie Pélissier (viola) rec. 2006 QUANTUM
QM7036 [GPu]
The
eclectic music of a guitarist-composer, a series of generally engaging
pieces which make their points succinctly … see Full
Review
Giovani
Battista PERGOLESI
(1710-1736)
Salve Reginas Domenico GALLO
(1730-1768?) Sonatas Leonardo
LEO (1694-1744) Salve Regina
Barbara Schlick (soprano) Europa Galante/Fabio Biondi rec. 1993
NAÏVE OP30444 [GPu]
A
desirable reissue, Neapolitan church music played and sung with all
the colour and vivacity it deserves … see Full
Review
Gabriel
PIERNÉ (1863–1937) L’An Mil; Les
Cathédrales (Prelude); Paysages Franciscains
Choeur Nicolas de Grigny; Orchestre National de Lorraine/Jacques Mercier
rec. 2006 TIMPANI 1C
1117 [61.02][RH]
Lacks
the spark of genius but this should not stop us enjoying this fascinating
disc ... see Full Review
Francis
POTT (b.1957) The Cloud of Unknowing
Vasari Singers/Jeremy
Backhouse rec. 2007
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD105 [45:28 + 43:18][CR]
Intoxicating
and dramatic ... see Full Review
Francis
POULENC (1899-1963) Concerto for
organ see RESPIGHI
Michael
PRAETORIUS
(1571-1621) Puer
Natus in Bethlehem - Advent and Christmas
Music
Bremer Barock Consort/Manfred Cordes rec.2007
CPO 777 327-2 [67:33] [ST]
All
in all a great place to begin an exploration
of Praetorius’ music ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858–1924) Tosca Francesca
Patané, José Cura, Teatro Petruzzelli Ch, Bari Province O/Pier
Giorgio Morandi
rec. live 2001 (?) VL KLASSIK
VLEA096 [GF]
Not
a consummate performance but Tosca and Scarpia save the day … deeply
felt acting ... see Full Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858–1924) Madama Butterfly
- highlights Rome
Opera House Chorus and Orchestra/Sir John Barbirolli rec. 1966
CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 3933702 [54:27][GF]
Already
well stocked with Butterflies? An excellent buy if you want samples
of two of the finest Italian singers of 40 years ago ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858–1924) Turandot
- highlights
Strasbourg Cathedral Boys’ Choir; Rhine Opera Chorus; Strasbourg Philharmonic
Orchestra/Alain Lombard rec. 1977
CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 3933712 [52:54][GF]
Singing
that is more lyrical-than-usual but uninspired conducting ... see Full
Review
Henry
PURCELL (1659–1695) O Solitude;
If music be the food of love; The fatal hour comes on apace; What a
sad
fate is mine; While Thirsis; Air Instrumental (“The Indian Queen”);
Air Lent (“Distressed Innocence”); I attempt from Love’s sickness; Ask
me to love no more; Sappho’s Complaint; If pray’rs and tears; Incassum
Lesbia; In Cloris all soft charms agree; A thousand several ways I tried
to hide; Intermede Instrumental; Bacchus is a pow’r divine; Intermede
instrumental; Song Tune; An Elegy upon the death of Mr Thomas Farmer;
An evening Hymn; Gerard
Lesne (counter-tenor); Il seminario musicale rec. 2002 NAÏVE
E8915 [59.09][RH]
In many ways, Gerard Lesne has the perfect voice for Purcell … up to
a point ... see Full Review
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) Dido and
Aeneas European
Voices/Simon Halsey; Le Concert d’Astrée/Emmanuelle Haïm (harpsichord)
rec. 2003 VIRGIN CLASSICS
5034222 [52.34][KM]
A
resounding version of one of Purcell’s finest works … see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Symphonies
No. 1-3, The Rock, Isle of the Dead, Symphonic Dances, Six Choruses
for female voices and piano, Spring – cantata for baritone, chorus and
orchestra, Aleko – opera excerpts – Introduction; Women’s Dance; Intermezzo;
Men’s Dance, The Bells, Vocalise, Prince Rostislav, Capriccio on Russian
Themes, Scherzo for Orchestra edited P Lamm, Moments Musicaux Op.16
No.3, No.5, Vocalise Op.34 No.14 transcription by Evgeny Svetlanov,
Prelude in D major Op.23 No.4, Elegie Op.3 No.1
Solists, USSR Symphony Orchestra/Evgeny Svetlanov rec. undated performances
[1954-89] SVET 04981-6
[6 CDs: 62:27 + 74:23 + 72:55 + 52:40 + 50:13 + 73:58]
Stirring,
magnificent performances … a heroic slice
of Svetlanov’s way with the composer. ...
see Full
Review
Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873
-1943) Complete Symphonies and Other Works:
Caprice
Bohémien, op.12, Mélodie
in E, op.3/3, Polichinelle, op.3/4
National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland/Alexander
Anissimov rec. 1996/7 DDD re-packaging of
Naxos 8.550806, 8.554230, 8.550808
NAXOS 8.503191 [3 CDs: 69:14 + 58:06 +
51:38] [BBr]
The
finale of the Second is butchered however
do have the separate disks of 1 and 3 in your
collection. You will not be disappointed.
... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOFF
(1873-1943) Piano Trio
1 Anton
ARENSKY (1861-1906) Piano Trio
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Piano
Trio 2
Trio Nota Bene rec. 2006
CLAVES 50-2720 [JW]
Sane,
straight-down-the middle, tonally congruous,
clean-cut performances ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano
Concertos 1-4, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Preludes,
Opp.23 & 32 Agustin
Anievas, New PO/Moshe Atzmon, Aldo Ceccato, Rafael Frühbeck de
Burgos rec. 1967-73 EMI
CLASSICS 5008712 [MC]
The
splendid playing of Agustin Anievas admirably serves the music
of Rachmaninov ... see Full Review
Jean-Philippe
RAMEAU
(1683-1764) The Complete
Keyboard Music, Volume 1 Suite
No. 1 in A minor (1706) [19:13] Suite No.
2 in E minor and major (1724) [18:43] Pièces
de clavecin en concerts (1741) Concert
No. 1 in C minor* [9:19] Pièces
de clavecin en concerts: Concert No. 2
in G major* [17:32] Pièces de clavecin
en concerts: Concert No. 3 in A major*
[12:24] Les Paladins: Air des paladins
(1760)** [2:01] * transcribed by Stephen
Gutman ** transcribed by Claude-Bénigne
BALBASTRE (1727-99)
Stephen Gutman (piano) rec. Hurstwood Farm
Studios, Kent, England, 5th.-6th.
June and 22nd. September, 2006.
DDD. Booklet with notes in English, French
and German. TOCCATA
CLASSICS TOCC 0050 [77:19] [BW]
Very
fine performances which went a long way to
dispel my general dislike of the piano in
this repertoire ... see Full
Review
Jean
Philippe RAMEAU (1683-1764) Operatic
Arias – The Artistry of Jélyotte - from Platée,
La Guirlande de Fleurs, Castor et Pollux, Naïs,Les Festes de
l’Hymen et de l’Amour, Dardanus, Zoroastre & Zaïs Jean-Paul
Fouchécourt (haute-contre/tenor) Opera Lafayette O/Ryan Brown
rec. 2006 NAXOS
8.557993 [MM-B]
A
wonderful, well conceived collection … a welcome revival of Rameau’s
dramatic music ... see Full Review
Gardner READ (1913-2005)
Toccata Giocosa; Night Flight; Symphony #4; Los
Dioses Aztecas
Louisville Orchestra/Robert Whitney; The Cleveland Orchestra/Lorin Maazel
rec. 1980 CRI 742
[66:57][OP]
A
creative artist clearly worthy of the utmost respect and deserving to
be more generously represented in the catalogue. ... see Full
Review
Ottorino
RESPIGHI (1875-1936) Suite in G major
Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Concerto
for organ Joseph Gabriel RHEINBERGER
(1839-1901) Concerto No. 1 for organ
Peter King (organ); BBC National Orchestra of Wales/François-Xavier
Roth rec. 2007 REGENT
RECORDS REGCD257 [69:32] [MC]
For
those looking for something different these organ concertos make a fitting
choice ... see Full Review
Ottorino RESPIGHI
(1879-1936) Vetrate di chiesa; Impressioni
brasiliane; Rossiniana
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra/JoAnn Falletta rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.557711 [65:02][DM]
A
worthy addition to the Naxos Respighi project but also an impressive
and entertaining disc ... see Full Review
Joseph
Gabriel RHEINBERGER (1839-1901) Concerto No. 1 for organ
see RESPIGHI
Ferdinand RIES (1784-1838)
Flute Quartets, Op. 145
John Herrick Littlefield (flute); Aaron Boyd (violin); Ah Ling Neu (viola);
Yari Bond (cello) rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.570330 [56:33][CR]
An
interesting addition to the concert repertoire ... see Full
Review
Nikolai
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Piano Concerto in C sharp
minor see TCHAIKOVSKY
George
ROCHBERG (1918-2005)
Symphony No. 1 (1948-49, rev. 1977, 2002-03) [64:15]
Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra/Christopher Lyndon-Gee rec.
Grosses Sendesaal, Funkhaus Halberg, Saarbrücken, Germany, 6-9
January 2004. DDD Booklet notes in English World Première Recording
NAXOS 8.559214 [64:15]
[DW]
Wonderful
control over orchestral colours and textures
and always… a cohesive musical argument. ...
see Full Review
Joaquín
RODRIGO
(1901-1999)
Works for small orchestra
Includes Zarabanda lejana, Fantasía para
un gentilhombre, Soleriana, Tres viejos aires
de danza
Juana Guillem (flute), Augustín León Ara (violin)
Joaquín Rodrigo CO/Augustín León Ara rec.
2000
EMI CLASSICS 57116 
[GPu]
Not
all the pieces here are particularly substantial,
but these idiomatically convincing readings
make the experience thoroughly enjoyable …
see Full Review
Cyril ROOTHAM
(1875-1938)
The
Stolen Child, Miniature Suite, City
in the West, The Psalm of Adonis, For the
Fallen
Alan Fearon, piano (Miniature Suite)
cond Richard Hickox rec. 2-4 1986
DDD
EMI CLASSICS BRITISH COMPOSERS 5059232
[56:01] [MC]
Notable
for a moving choral setting of Binyon’s For
the Fallen; a work that preceded ... see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792–1868) Maometto
Secondo Lorenzo
Regazzo, Maxim Mironov, Carmen Giannattasio, Teatro La Fenice
di Venezia Ch & O/Claudio Scimone rec. 2005 DYNAMIC
33492 [RM]
Some
seriously good singing of a rarely produced version of this opera
... see Full Review
Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Torvaldo e Dorliska
Darina Takova, Francesco Meli, Haydn O di Bolzano Trento/Victor Pablo
Perez rec. live 2006
DYNAMIC 33528
[NdV]
One
of Rossini's neglected works performed in a distinguished production
... see Full Review
Jean-Jacques
ROUSSEAU (1712-1778) Le
Devin du Village
Cantus Firmus Chamber Choir and Consort/Andreas Reize rec.
2006
CPO 7772602 [76:58][JS]
A
very good chance to hear a work more written about than played ... see
Full Review
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