NEW & RECENT ARTICLES
[New] National discography update: German
& Austrian symphonies by Mike Herman
[New] David
Jennings' Piano Sonata by John France
[New] Blu-ray
Audio from Naxos and Euroarts by Brian Wilson
Forgotten
artists: Otto Ackermann by Christopher Howell
David
Dubery: Observations - a new recording by John France
Download
News 2014/5 by Albert Lam & Brian Wilson
Music
for Holy Week and Easter From Outhere and other independent labels
by Brian Wilson
Decoding
John Cage by Frank Manheim
MWI
Recommends - None this week.
NOTICES
A free
online collection of articles & recordings of the Polish composers,
Górecki, Lutosławski & Penderecki - see here
for more details
A new book about Constant Lambert will shortly be published
by Boydell & Brewer - see here
for details
English Music Festival, May 23-26 - see here
for details.
Ronald Corp's cantata, And all the trumpets
sounded, available for performances - see here
for details
Hoffnung
postcards are back on sale
In order to persuade more of you to make a
donation to MusicWeb International we are giving away CDs - click the
Donate button top right for more details.
Publishing schedule
Monday: Other reviews (nostalgia, books, other music), Wednesday: MWI
Recommends, Friday: Articles.
Live performance reviews posted daily at Seen
and Heard
Jazz
reviews posted weekly
Shopping on-line? Help us by doing it
through the MusicWeb
sales page.
LATEST REVIEWS
Friday April 25th
Charles-Valentin
ALKAN (1813-1888) Concerto for solo piano - Vincenzo Maltempo
(piano) rec. 2013 PIANO CLASSICS PCL0061 [69:18] [JW] A
formidable disc, excellently recorded and splendidly interpreted.
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) The Turn of The Screw Andrew Kennedy,
Sally Matthews, Michael Clayton-Jolly, Lucy Hall, LSO/Richard Farnes
rec. 2013 LSO LIVE LSO0749 [53:59 + 56:33] [ST] A
welcome set but does not take precedence over the finest.
Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) The Dream of Gerontius; Symphony
1 - Collegium Vocale Ghent, Royal Flemish Philharmonic/Edo de Waart
rec. 2013 PENTATONE CLASSICS PTC 5186472 SACD [71:11 + 71:12]
[JQ] Worthwhile Elgar performances from Belgium,
though a disastrous side-break in Gerontius is a major drawback.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Franz
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Piano Trios Volume 3 - Kungsbacka Piano
Trio rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.572063 [73:43] [LJ] Intuitive
and insightful performances complemented by a fresh and balanced recording.
Bravo!
Bernardo
PASQUINI (1637 - 1710) Sonatas for two organs - Luca Scandali
(organ) Hadrien Jourdan (organ/harpsichord) rec. 2012 BRILLIANT CLASSICS
94347 [72:10] [JV] More than 70 minutes
of pure joy - don't miss it.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Sonata D960; Wandererfantasie
- Barry Douglas (piano) rec. 2013 CHANDOS CHAN 10807 [69:15]
[DC] Not quite top of the pile, but still
very good.
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Miriways Markus Volpert,
Ulrike Hofbaur, Julie Martin du Theil, L'Orfeo Barockorchester/Michi
Gaigg rec. 2012 CPO 777 752-2 [73:38 + 73:03] [DC] Highly
attractive High Baroque.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Don Carlo Josi Van Dam, Roberto Alagna,
Thomas Hampson, Karita Mattila, Waltraud Meier, Orchestre de Paris/Antonio
Pappano rec. 1996 WARNER CLASSICS Blu-ray 2564 634780 [211:00]
[RF] The overall darkness of this production
is compensated for by the presence of some Francophone singers, particularly
Alagna.
Grigory
Sokolov (piano) Works by Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Saint-Saens,
Schumann & Tchaikovsky - rec. 1966-88 MELODIYA MELCD1002078
[4 CDs: 251:17] [SG] Connoisseurs of consummate
pianism will want this set from a pianist who has achieved cult status.
1930s
Violin Concertos Volume 1 Works by Barber, Berg, Britten, Hartmann
& Stravinsky - Gil Shaham (violin) rec. 2008-13 CANARY CLASSICS
CC12 [70:59 + 54:23] [NB] For those who
collect Shaham's recordings there is much to admire here.
Thursday April 24th
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto 2 - Edward Kilenyi (piano)
SO RIAS Berlin/Jonel Perlea rec. 1955 FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR 936
[45:09] [SG] This Brahms recording fleshes
out the meagre recorded CD legacy of an almost forgotten pianist.
Ernesto
CAVALLINI (1807-1874) Capriccios, Duos - Nicola Bulfone
(clarinet) Marco Giani (clarinet) rec. 2005/12 NAXOS 8.573133-34
[78:19 + 77:08] [LJ] Daring, outgoing and
always utterly attentive to the character of this elegant bel canto
music.
Frederick
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano Concertos 1 & 2 - Ingrid Fliter
(piano) Scottish CO/Jun Märkl rec. 2013 LINN CKD 455
SACD [73.21] [PCG] Excellent
performances in modern sound.
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Estampes, Images Books I & II, Études
- Craig Sheppard (piano) rec. 2013 ROMÉO RECORDS 7299/7300
[42:19 + 49:16] [JW] Captivating, musically
honest and interpretatively elevated performances, ones that Debussians
will want to hear.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Années de pèlerinage (complete)
- Sinae Lee (piano) rec. 2012 NIMBUS NI6202 [3 CDs:
160:43] [JWh] A truly phenomenal recording.
Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Sorochyntsi Fair, Night
on the Bare Mountain Alexander BORODIN Polovtsian
Dances - Latko Koroshetz, Bogdana Stritar, Slovenian Ntl Opera
Ch & O/Samo Hubad rec. 1955 PRISTINE AUDIO PACO053
[60:46 + 54:14] Sorochinsti Fair - Hermann Kuklin, Svetlana
Zalizniak, Ch & O Ekaterinburg State Academic Opera and sBallet
Theatre of Russia/Evgeny Brazhnik. rec. 1996 BRILLIANT CLASSICS
94865 [73:19 + 27:34] [DCh] Reasonable
alternatives for anyone not too fussed about understanding what they
are listening to.
Osmo
Tapio RÄIHÄLÄ (b. 1964) Peat, Smoke and Seaweed Storm
- Jukka Harhu (french horn) Matilda Kärkkäinen (piano) Finnish Radio
SO/Sakari Oramo, Dima Slobodeniouk rec. 2005/12 ALBA ABCD 367
SACD [65:10] [DC] Substantial and
well worth exploring.
Heinrich
SCHÜTZ (1585-1672) Psalms of David - Dorothee
Mields (soprano) Dresden Chamber Ch & Baroque O/Hans-Christoph Rademann
rec. 2012 CARUS SACD 83.255 [65:48 + 75:35] [JW] The
work’s sonic amplitude and grandeur convincingly put across.
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681 - 1767) Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst
Vols 1 & 5 - Bergen Barokk rec. September 2005/08 TOCCATA
CLASSICS TOCC0037/0102 [66:54 & 59:41] [JV] I
am very happy with these discs which shed light on the many qualities
of this compelling collection of cantatas.
Strike
the Viol - Philippe Pierlot, Rainer Zipperling (viola
da gamba) Giovanna Pessi (harp) rec. 2009 FLORA 1409
[67:14] [JV] You won't hear such excellent
viol playing that often.
Wednesday April 23rd
Kalevi
AHO (b. 1949) Works for and with organ - Jan Lehtola (organ)
Petri Komulainen (horn) Jussi Vuorinen (trombone) Kaija Saarikettu (violin)
Anna-Kaisa Pippuri (oboe) rec. 2010/13 BIS BIS-SACD-1966
[62:08] [DM] Small but beautifully turned; Song
of the Earth is a real find.
Harrison
BIRTWISTLE (b. 1934) The Ring Dance of the Nazarene, 3
Latin Motets, On the Sheer Threshold of the Night, The Moth Requiem
- Roderick Williams (baritone) BBC Singers, Nash Ens/Nicholas Kok rec.
2012/13 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD368 [73:54] A
giant musical presence in superb performances [DC] An unmissable collection
by one the UK's most important and accomplished composers played with
great style and efficacy [MS].
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony 9 - London SO/Bernard Haitink.
rec. 2013 LSO LIVE LSO0746 [67:10] [JQ] A
gripping and magisterial Bruckner Ninth.
Christoph
Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787)
Iphigenia in Aulis - Camilla Nylund (soprano) Michelle Breedt
(mezzo) Christian Elsner (tenor) Ch Musicus Köln/Das Neue O/Christoph
Spering rec. 2013 OEHMS CLASSICS OC 953 [42:43 + 71:35]
[RMo] There is room for Wagner’s take
on Iphigenia especially when it is in a performance as good as this.
Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Peer Gynt, Suites 1
& 2, Aus Holbergs Zeit Lars-Erik LARSSON (1908-1986)
Pastoral-Suite - Württemberg PO/Ola Rudner rec.
2013 ANTES EDITION BM 319288 [69:51] [LJ] Punchy
vitality meets the contemplative.
Aram
KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) The Battle of Stalingrad Reinhold
GLIÈRE (1875-1956) Solemn Overture - Royal Norwegian Air Force
Band/Leif Arne Pedersen rec. 2012 LAWO CLASSICS LWC1045
[54:46] [NB] Ultimately a disc for those interested
in the genre rather than the music performed.
Andrzej
PANUFNIK (1914-1991) Symphonic Works Vol. 7 - Michael von
Schönermark (bassoon) Sarah van der Kemp (mezzo) Konzerthaus O Berlin, Polish
Radio SO/Łukasz Borowicz rec. 2009/10 CPO 777 686-2
[67:13] [MC] One of the finest and most enduringly
fascinating composers active in the late-twentieth century.
Autograph
Alexandre Tharaud (piano) rec. 2013 WARNER ERATO 9341372
[69:21] [JW] Too wilful and inclined to point-making;
rhythms often sound unnatural; harmonies promoted to the detriment of
the shape of phrases.
Catch
Me If You Can John WILLIAMS (b.1932) Escapades
Michael KAMEN (1948-2003) Saxophone concerto
Mark KNOPFLER (b. 1949) Local Hero - Amy Dickson
(alto saxophone) Melbourne SO/Benjamin Northey rec. 2012 SONY
CLASSICAL 88843 027202 [SA] This music
shows just how brilliantly the saxophone can shine in the right setting.
Clara
Haskil et Dinu Lipatti Works by Bach, Scarlatti, Beethoven,
Debussy & Bartók - Südwestfunks SO/Paul Sacher rec. 1948/53 TAHRA
TAH747 SACD [78:55] [SG] A
historical document and example of some extraordinary and exemplary
pianism, by two fellow Romanians.
Tuesday April 22nd
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Vincenzo
BELLINI (1801-1835) La Sonnambula - Ana
Durlovski (soprano) Luciano Botelho (tenor) Enzo Capuano (bass) Staatsopern
Stuttgart Ch & O/Gabriele Ferro rec. 2013 EUROARTS 2059338
DVD [156:00] [JS] Demonstrates that
what can appear to be a star vehicle responds even more to being taken
seriously as music and as drama.
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Violin Concerto Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin Concerto - Johanna Martzy (violin)
RSO Stuttgart des SWR/Hans Müller-Kray, Günter Wand rec. 1959-1964 HÄNSSLER
CLASSIC CD 94.226 [65:55] [SG] For
lovers of the art of Johanna Martzy, of which I am one, this is a valuable
and desirable release.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphonies 38-40 (arr. Hummel)
- Uwe Grodd (flute) Friedemann Eichhorn (violin) Martin Rummel (cello)
Roland Krüger (piano) rec. 2010 NAXOS 8.572841 [75:29]
[LJ] These Hummel’s arrangements render
a certain intimacy to the Mozart symphonies.
Nicolo
PAGANINI (1782-1840) Violin concertos 1 & 2 - Kristóf
Baráti (violin) NDR Radiophil Hannover/Eiji Oue rec. 2008 BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 94803 [65:40] [RMay] Accomplished
and very enjoyable majoring on beauty and even delicacy … an artistically
integrated approach.
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano Concertos 1-5 - Jean-Efflam
Bavouzet (piano) BBC PO/Gianandrea Noseda rec. 2012/13 CHANDOS
CHAN 10802(2) [74:45 + 46:52] [MC] An
indispensable set for Prokofiev admirers and all enthusiasts of 20th
century music.
Johannes
VERHULST (1816-1891) String Quartets - Utrecht String Qt
rec. 2013 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 603 1840-2
[58:22] [JW] Verhulst’s quartets are
more than mere appendices to romantic chamber music.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Götterdämmerung - Irene Theorin
(soprano) Lance Ryan (tenor) Mikhail Petrenko (bass) Gerd Grochowski
(baritone) O & Ch Teatro La Scala/Daniel Barenboim rec. 2013 ARTHAUS
MUSIK Blu-ray 108093 [292.00] [PCG]
Of the modern productions of the Ring this is one of the best.
Claudio
Abbado at the Lucerne Festival Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony
7 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony 2 Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Siegfried Idyll - Vienna PO/Ch
O of Europe/Claudio Abbado rec. 1978/88 AUDITE 95.627
[77:44] [JQ] A highly desirable archive issue,
documenting some of Claudio Abbado’s work at the Lucerne Festival.
Douce
France – Mélodies et Chansons - Anne Sofie von
Otter (mezzo) rec. 2013 NAIVE V5343 [50:55 + 54:56]
[ST] Von Otter's voice is supremely well suited
to this sort of repertoire.
Paroles
de violoncelle- Works for cello by Ibert, Jolivet,
Dutilleux, Chaillou, Sauget & Honegger - Christophe Pantillon (cello)
rec. 2013 GRAMOLA 99007 [69:49] [JW] A
most worthy ambassador, revealing expert stylistic awareness and no
little finesse.
Monday April 21st
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) String Quartets Vol. 6 - Leipziger Streichquartett
rec. 2013 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 307 1812-2
[64:55] [AL] Performances that are polished
and enjoyable but still leave me wanting more.
Johann
Martin Friedrich NISLE (1780-1873) Octet; Septet; Quintet -
Consortium Classicum rec. 2009 CPO 777 266-2 [68:50] [PB] Most
enjoyable. CPO are to be congratulated for giving music-lovers a fresh
name to pursue.
Joseph-Guy
ROPARTZ (1864-1955) Complete Sonatas Vol. 1 - Nicolas Dautricourt
(violin) Juliette Hurel (flute) Raphaël Pidoux (cello) François Kerdoncuff
(piano) rec. 2012/2013 TIMPANI 1C1214 [70:13] [SG] Three
sonatas from a composer who deserves better recognition. Well worth
exploring.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Winterreise - Jonas Kaufmann (tenor)
Helmut Deutsch (piano) rec. 2013 SONY CLASSICAL 88883 795652
[70:16] [JQ] One of the most acclaimed of
today’s voices in Winterreise.
Pyotr
Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Tempest; Piano
Concerto 1 - Joyce Yang (piano) Odense SO/Alexander Lazarev rec. 2011/2013
BRIDGE 9410 [58:10] [RMo] Fine live
performances from a supposedly provincial source.
Sir
William WALTON (1902-1983) Symphony 1; Violin Concerto - Tasmin
Little (violin) BBC SO/Edward Gardner rec. 2013/2014 CHANDOS SACD
CHSA5136 [76:30] [BW] Performances that
vie with the very best in both works.
The
American Album Antonín DVORÁK (1841-1904) String
Quartet 12 Charles Tomlinson GRIFFES (1884-1920) Two
Sketches Based on Indian Themes Kevin PUTS (1972-)
Lento assai Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) String
Quartet - Cypress String Qt rec. 2011/12 AVIE AV2304 [64:33]
[SFV] Appealing and makes this a good programme
for "listening through".
Amore
e morte dell'amore - Duets by Monteverdi, Marcello, Lotti,
Scarlatti, Durante and Handel - Roberta Invernizzi (soprano) Sonia Prina
(contralto) Ensemble Claudiana/Luca Pianca rec. 2012 NAÏVE OP30549
[68:29] [JV] Fine music, great singing.
Adolf
Busch The Berlin Recordings 1921-29 GUILD HISTORICAL GHCD
2406-07 [56:16 + 65:53] [JW] An important
acquisition for the violin-fancier, commended for its comprehensiveness
and its generosity.
Medieval
Chant / Tallis Lamentations - Tenebrae Consort/Nigel Short rec.
2013 BENE ARTE SIGCD901 [65.23] [GH] Beautiful
and captivating music, superbly sung - uplifting at any time of the
year.
ArkivMusic has more than 10,000 titles in its