After
Reading Shakespeare
Ned ROREM (b.
1923) After Reading Shakespeare Paul
MORAVEC (b. 1957) Mark Twain Sez Lewis
SPRATLAN (b. 1940) Shadow 
Matt Haimovitz (cello) rec. 2007
OXINGALE RECORDS OX2012 [BBr]
Played
brilliantly with total conviction but a difficult and not entirely
rewarding experience ... see Full
Review
American
Music of the XXth Century Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981) Adagio for
Strings Aaron
COPLAND (1900-1990) Fanfare for the Common Man,
Appalachian Spring Leonard
BERNSTEIN (1918-1990) Candide overture, Symphonic
Dances from West Side Story Tobias
PICKER (b.1954) Old and lost rivers VIRGIN
CLASSICS 391339 2 [JW]
Typos,
misattributions, too short gaps between tracks,
sub-par performances (in part), quixotic-to-bizarre
running order, recycled product ... see Full
Review
Victoria de los
Angeles Spanish
Songs
NIMBUS PRIMA VOCE NI 7947
[79:22]
Lovely!
... see Full
Review
Apparition
-recital
William SHAKESPEARE
(1539/40-1623)
Henry PURCELL (1659-1695)
George CRUMB (1929-
)
*Sebastian Carewe (speaker), Christine Schafer
(soprano), Eric Schneider (piano) rec.2004.
ONYX 4021 [70:32] [MG]
Strikingly
original and innovative, a stimulating mix,
but not everything works. … see Full
Review
Armida
Annette
Dasch (soprano); Bayerische Kammerphilharmonie/David Syrus rec. 2007
SONY CLASSICAL 88697
10059 2 [58:22][BW]
Arias
sung by the enchantress Armida from the works of four 18th-century
composers convincingly done ... see Full
Review
Barbirolli:
New York Philharmonic - Live Recordings 1937-1943
Albert Spalding (violin),
Gaspar Cassadó (cello) New York Phil/Sir John Barbirolli
GUILD GHCD2330/31 [JQ]
Anyone
with an ear for fine playing or conducting will find that here
the pluses far outweigh the minuses ... see Full
Review
José Carreras - Belle Epoque
Ernesto TAGLIAFERRI (1888–1957)
Piscatore e Pusilleco Erik
SATIE (1866–1925) Je te veux Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858–1924) E l’uccellino; Terra
e mare Alexander von ZEMLINSKY
(1871–1942) Il segreto delle stelle
Franz SCHREKER (1876–1934) Nel giardin’ sotto il tiglio
Francesco Paolo TOSTI (1846–1916)
O dolce meraviglia; Penso … Carlos
GARDEL (1890–1935) Lejana tierra mia Enric
MORERA (1865–1942) Ai marguerida Edward
ELGAR (1857–1934) In the dawn Maurice
RAVEL (1875–1937) Chanson de la mariée Ruggiero
LEONCAVALLO (1857–1919) Sérénade Napolitaine Luigi
DENZA (1846–1922) Torna
José Carreras (tenor) rec. 2007
SONY 82876885232 [35:25][GF]
Only
for die-hard Carreras freaks and those who must have everything by Carreras
... see Full Review
Colors Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Carnaval; Fantasie in C Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Funérailles; Mephisto Waltz No. 1
Daniel Pollack (piano) rec. 2006
RUBEDO CANIS MUSICA RCM 12007 [78:25][CH]
Not
for me … ... see Full Review
Franco
Corelli, Renata Tebaldi, Live
in Tokyo – 1973 DENZA Occhi di fata BELLINI Soave
sogno GLUCK Paride ed Elena O del mio dolce ardour VERDI Rigoletto La donna è mobile MASSENET Manon
Je ne suis que faiblesse VERDI Otello
Gia nella notte densa MASSENET Le Cid Ah! tout est bien fini … O souverain, ô juge, ô père PUCCINI Madama Butterfly Un
bel di vedremo GRIEG I love thee
MONTEVERDI Arianna Lasciatemi morire ROSSINI La regatta veneziana VERDI In solitaria stanza PUCCINI La Bohème O soave
fanciulla DE CURTIS Tu, ca’ nun chiagne! TOSTI L’ultima canzone DONIZETTI Me
voglio fa’ na casa CARDILLO Core
‘ngrato PUCCINI Gianni Schicchi
O mio babbino caro
Renata Tebaldi (soprano); Franco Corelli (tenor); Tokyo Philharmonic
Orchestra/Tadishi Mori rec. 1973
DYNAMIC 33542 
[89:00][GF]
A
must for Tebaldi admirers. Visual
aspects prevent a more general recommendation ... see Full
Review
Piano Archives: Alfred
Cortot and Vlado Perlemuter
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto 1 (Cortot) Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Piano Trio (Perlemuter) Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Saint François d'Assise (Perlemuter)
rec. 1939-54 TAHRA TAH610
[JW]
An
excellent disc, vividly done, well programmed and discographically
important ... see Full Review
Danish
Serenades and Romances
Mathias Hedegaard
(tenor), Ditte Højgaard Andersen (soprano) Royal Naval Choir Copenhagen;
Danish Radio Sinfonietta/Adam Fischer rec. 2006
DA CAPO 8.226012 [CR]
A
delightful recording of beautiful Danish repertoire
… see Full
Review
English
Piano Sonatas CD
1 [74:26] Arnold
BAX (1883-1953) Piano Sonata No.
1, Piano Sonata No. 2 John
IRELAND (1879-1962) Piano Sonata
CD 2 Frank BRIDGE
(1879-1941) Piano Sonata Arnold
BAX (1883-1953) Piano Sonata No.
3 in G minor, Piano Sonata No. 4
Malcolm Binns (piano) rec. 16, 30 May, 13
June, 18 July 2007,Menuhin Hall, Yehudi Menuhin
School. DDD notes in English only
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS434-435CD
[72:32 + 74:26] [CSS]
An
authoritative reading of these major works
… a superfluity of good things here ... see
Full
Review
The
Russian Piano Tradition: Emil
Gilels
Includes
Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Sonatas Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Toccata Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Hungarian Rhapsodies 6 & 9 Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonata 3 Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano Sonata 2
rec. 1935-55 APR 5663
[JW]
Youthful
fire and growing wisdom mark out this exciting selection ... see Full
Review
Eminence
Includes
Alexander ARUTJUNJAN (b. 1920) Trumpet
Concerto James CURNOW Concertpiece
for Cornet Torstein AAGAARD-NILSEN
(b. 1964) Concerto for Cornet and Brass Band William
HIMES Jubilance
Richard Marshall (cornet; trumpet; Flugel horn) Black Dyke Band/Dr Nicholas
Childs rec. 2007 DOYEN
SOLO SERIES DOYCD230 [TP]
A
very impressive and enjoyable album, balancing the flash and dazzle
of Marshall's virtuosity with moments of tenderness ... see Full
Review
Walter
Gieseking Includes Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano
Concerto 4 Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano
Concerto Cologne
RSO/Joseph Keilberth (Beethoven), Günter Wand (Schumann) rec.
1948-53 MEDICI
MM017-2 [JW]
Something
of a dynamo in these sparkling and successful outings ... see Full
Review
Tito
Gobbi operas arias, rec.
1942-53.
NIMBUS PRIMA VOCE NI 7946 [76:10]
An
obligatory purchase for anyone seriously interested in great singing.
... see Full Review
Nirse
González (guitar) Antonio
JOSÉ (1902-1936) Sonata Manuel
PONCE (1882-1948) Thème varié et finale Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Sonata No.2 Joaquin
CLERCH (b.1965) En Volos; Estudio de acordes; Estudio de
ligados Francesco TÁRRAGA (1852-1909)
Adelita; Mazurca en Sol
Nirse González (guitar) rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.570446 [61:22][JW]
Finely
played throughout ... see Full Review
Gregorian Chant
for Pentecost
Abbey of Saint Joseph de Clairval, Flavigny
TRADITIONS MONASTIQUES CD493 [57.05][RH]
Chant
as sung in a real Benedictine community ... see Full
Review
The
Heart of the Ballet Adolphe
ADAM (1803-1856)
Extracts from "Giselle" (1841) – Variation of Giselle, Mad
Scene, Memory of the Love Scene, Depair of Löys, Finale to Act
1 [4:16]; Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826)
Invitation to the Dance (orch. Berlioz) [9:10]; Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Extracts from "Les Sylphides"
(orch Leroy Anderson and Peter Bodge) – Prelude in A Op 26/7, Valse
in G flat Op 70/1, Mazurka in C Op 67/3 [5:00]; Grand Valse Brillante
in E flat Op 18/1 [4:42]; Léo DELIBES
(1836-1891) Extracts from "Sylvia" (1876) – Valse
lente, Pizzicato [3:53]; Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Extracts from "Swan Lake" (1877) –
Dance of the Swan Queen [4:58]; Dance of the Little Swans [4:57]; "The
Nutcracker" Suite (1892) [22:30]; Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Prélude à l’après-midi
d’un faune (1892-4) [10:19]; Hector BERLIOZ
(1803-1869) Ballet des Sylphes from "La Damnation de
Faust" (1854-6) [2:54]
Leopold Stokowski and his Symphony Orchestra
rec. Manhattan Center, New York, 1949-1950
CALA CACD0547 [72:44] [JS]
You
are certainly unlikely to find it dull ...
see Full
Review
Barbara Hendricks Music
by Duke ELLINGTON (1899–1974)
and George GERSHWIN (1898–1937)
Barbara Hendricks
(soprano); Monty Alexander Trio rec. 1994-2000
EMI CLASSICS 5046802 [76:05 + 72:48][GF]
This
offers many listening pleasures if you accept Barbara Hendricks’ somewhat
monochrome tone ... see Full
Review
Heu, fortuna - Musique au temps de Philippe IV le bel (1268-1314)
La Rota rec.
2007 ATMA
ACD22561[71.36][GH]
No
disc of secular medieval music has afforded me as much pleasure as this
for some considerable time. ... see Full Review
Hidden
Tango Stephen GOSS
(b.1964) From Honey to Ashes Astor
PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Histoire du Tango Jerry
OWEN (b.1944) Hidden Tango Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Aria from Bachianas Brasileiras No.5
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1916) Syrinx
Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Morceau
de Concours Erik SATIE (1866-1925)
Trois Gnosiennes; Trois Gymnopédies
Jennifer Stinton (flute); Richard Hand (guitar) rec. 2007
CADENZA CACD0907 [64:05][DC]
A
bit of a mixed bag, but beautifully played.
... see Full
Review
The
Russian Piano Tradition: Konstantin
Igumnov Includes Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Seasons Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Kreisleriana Op.16 Konstantin
Igumnov rec. 1935-47 APR
5662 [JW]
Rare
and valuable examples of a master pianist’s small legacy ... see Full
Review
Maria von Ilosvay
(1913-1987) Arias rec.
1952-55
PREISER 89670 [77:27]
A
most worthwhile and valuable slant on Ilosvay
... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jonas
Kaufmann - Romantic Arias
Jonas Kaufmann (tenor); Prague Philharmonic Orchestra/Marco Armiliato
rec. 2007 DECCA 4759966
[65:09][GF]
Judging
from this debut recital Kaufmann is well equipped to be among the world’s
lead tenors – and he will stay there. ... see Full
Review
Lotte
Lehmann - Lieder Recordings - Vol. 6
Lotte Lehmann (soprano)
rec. 1947-9 NAXOS HISTORICAL
8.111097 [78:25][GF]
The
final volume in a series that constitutes one of the most important
collections of Lieder recordings ever issued ... see Full
Review
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
– Brazil Jorge
BEN (b. 1942) Mas Que Nada Baden
POWELL (1937-2000) Samba Novo Antonio
Carlos JOBIM (1927-94) / Vinicius DE
MORAES (1913-80) O Morro não tem vez Jobim
Medley Modinha; A Felicidade; Stone Flower Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) A Lenda do Caboclo Clarice
ASSAD (b. 1978) Bluezilian Marco
PEREIRA (b. 1950) Sambadalú Matthew
DUNNE (b. 1959) Cafezinho Hermeto
PASCOAL (b. 1936) De Sábado pra Dominguinhos Raimundo
PENAFORTE (b. 1961) Prelúdio; Gangorra Paulo
BELLINATI (b. 1950) Carlo's Dance; A Furiosa
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet rec. 2007
TELARC CD80686 [54:39][DM]
Don’t
be put off by what looks like an anodyne collection – this really is
music making of a high order. ... see Full
Review
Engel Lund’s Book
of Folk Songs
See end of review for full contents and performers
[88:45]
Lieder Theatre London/Norbert Meyn recording
date and place not stated texts and singing
translations included
NIMBUS RECORDS NI 5813/14 [45:52+42:53]
[JS]
A
perfect present at any time of year. ... see
Full Review
Lyrita
Classics Michael
BALFE (1808-1870) The Bohemian
Girl: Galop (1843) [1:26] Philharmonia
Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Variations
on an Original Theme ‘Enigma’ Op. 36:
X. Dorabella (1899) [2:41] Pomp
and Circumstance March No. 5 in C Op.
39 (1930) [5:41] New Philharmonia Orchestra/Andrew
Davis Frederick DELIUS
(1862-1934) A Village Romeo and Juliet:
The Walk to the Paradise Garden (1905)
[10:49] London Philharmonic Orchestra/Myer
Fredman Percy GRAINGER
(1882-1961) Shepherd’s Hey; The
Immovable Do (1908-13; 1933-42) [2:11;
5:04] London Philharmonic Orchestra/Nicholas
Braithwaite Sir
Hamilton HARTY
(1879-1941) An Irish Symphony:
The Fair-Day (1904) [3:01] New Philharmonia
Orchestra/Vernon Handley Peter
WARLOCK (1894-1930) Capriol,
Suite for full orchestra (1926-28) [9:47]
London Symphony Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite
Lord BERNERS (1883-1950) The
Triumph of Neptune: Hornpipe (1926)
[1:50] London Philharmonic Orchestra/Nicholas
Braithwaite Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934) St. Paul’s
Suite for strings Op. 29 No. 2 (1913)
[13:28] English Chamber Orchestra/Imogen Holst
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958) Fantasia on a theme
by Thomas Tallis (1910) [16:08] rec.1968-78
LYRITA SRCD336 [72.15] [JF]
A
fine introduction to Musical Britain ... see
Full
Review
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