BOOK
REVIEWS
Bach's
St. Matthew Passion A Closer Look by
Victor Lederer; Magnum Opus series publ. 2008 Continuum [GD]
Something
here for everybody ... see Full
Review
Miecio.
Letters and postcards of Janina Roza Horszowska 1900-1904
Edited by Bice Horszowski Costa; preface by Elisabetta Fava Erga edizioni
2008 147 pp with numerous colour reproductions and CD ISBN 978 888163550
4 $30
An
evocative reflection of the last fluttering years of the Double Eagle
... see Full Review
Francisco
Tarrega (1852-1909)
- Biography by Adrián Rius Espinós I.S.B.N. 84-95026-93-7 PILES,
Editorial de Musica S.A. Archena, 33-46014 Valencia (Espana) [ZT]
Essential
reading for anyone interested in Tarrega’s life and times ... see Full
Review
The
Faber Pocket Guide to Haydn
by Richard Wigmore ISBN: 978-0-571-23412-7 Publication Year: 2009 in
paperback format Number of Pages: 388 Price: £8.99 Faber and Faber Ltd,
London, England [MMB]
A
worthy tribute in 200th anniversary year ... see Full
Review
New
from Brilliant Classics: Beethoven Fidelio, Bellini
Norma (Callas),Berlioz:
Béatrice et Bénédict Barenboim, Donizetti:
Anna Bolena (Sills),
Mozart: Così fan tutte (Soile Isokoski, Monica Groop,) Mussorgsky:
Boris Godunov (Boris Christoff),
Puccini: Tosca (Callas), Purcell:
King Arthur (Pinnock),
Rameau: Anacréon, Le Berger Fidèle, Schoenberg:
Moses und Aron,
Schubert: Die Freunde von Salamanka, Strauss,
R: Ariadne auf Naxos (Sinopoli),
Strauss, R: Der Rosenkavalier (Karajan), Verdi:
Rigoletto (Callas),
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (Furtwangler)
New
from Onyx (sale
or return) Walton: Cello concerto (Wispelwey); Bach:
Sonatas and Partitas (Victoria Mullova); Schumann:
Heine Lieder (Florian Boesch)
New
from CDAccord Witold Lutoslawski Chamber Music
LATEST
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TUESDAY March 31st
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony No.
7 George GERSHWIN (1898-1937)
An American in Paris 
Boston Symphony Orchestra & RCA Victor Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein
rec. live, Boston 1947-57
IDIS 6556 [51.04][GH] 
If
you’re a Bernstein fan you know what to do ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770–1827) Piano
Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Idil Biret (piano); Bilkent Symphony Orchestra/Antoni
Wit rec. 2008
IBA/BMP 8.571253 [67:38][BBr] 
You
won’t be disappointed with Biret’s pianism ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Quartets
Op. 18, No. 4 & Op. 59, No. 2
Artemis Quartet rec. 2008
VIRGIN 3802682 [59:43][MSJ]
Well-sprung
accounts go awry in the finales ... see Full
Review
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862–1918) Pelléas et Mélisande – Symphonie; Clair de lune;
Nocturnes; Berceuse
héroïque; Trois
Études
Orchestre National de Lyon/Jun Märkl rec. 2007-8
NAXOS
8.570993 [74:09][BBr]
Should
be heard by all lovers of this endlessly fascinating composer ... see
Full Review
Jake
HEGGIE (b. 1961) Three Decembers
Frederica
von Stade (mezzo); Instrumental Ensemble drawn from Houston Grand Opera
Orchestra/Patrick Summers rec. 2008
ALBANY TROY1073/74 [38.55 + 49.12][RH] 
Tuneful
and accessible but would have benefited from a little more grit ...
see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Jules MASSENET
(1842–1912) Manon Claude DEBUSSY
(1862-1918) La Demoiselle élue Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Les nuits d’été
Orchestra and Chorus of the Théâtre National de l’Opéra Comique/Pierre
Monteux rec. 1955
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111268-70 [3 CDs: 66.59 + 80.13 + 67.29][RMo]
At
super-bargain price, these three discs are a steal ... see Full
Review
Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Chamber Works
Matthew Schnellhorn
(piano); soloists of the Philharmonia Orchestra rec. 2008
SIGNUM SIGCD126 [66:38][CR]
Stunning
performances with wonderful sound ... see Full
Review
Jussi
Björling - The Swedish Caruso
Jussi Björling (tenor) and various solo singers, choruses and orchestras
rec. 1927-1959
EMI CLASSICS ICON 2173132 [5 CDs: 73:25 + 74:53 + 76:42 + 75:34 + 73:53][GF]
Golden
stuff, all of it! ... see Full Review
Façades
- Music by Rodney
ROGERS (b.1953), Robert MUCZYNSKI (b.1929),
Colin MACDONALD, Philip GLASS (b.1937), Christopher
PAINTER (b.1962) and Graham FITKIN (b.1963)
Lara James (saxophones); Sinfonia Viva/Nicholas Kok rec. 2006
SIGNUM SIGCD158 [51:40][CR]
An
accomplished contemporary mix ... see Full
Review
Unheard
of – again - Music by Henrik
STRINDBERG (b. 1954), Karen REHNQVIST
(b. 1957), Djuro ZIVKOVIC (b. 1975),
Victoria BORISOVA-OLLAS (b. 1969), Pär FRID (b. 1977),
Mattias LYSELL (b. 1971), Benjamin
STAERN (b. 1978)
Chamber Ensemble Sonanza/Jan Risberg rec. 2008
PHONO SUECIA PSCD180 [59:20][HC]
Well
worth more than the occasional hearing … includes some appealing works
... see Full Review
MONDAY March 30th
Seóirse
BODLEY (b. 1933) A small white
cloud drifts over Ireland; Chamber Symphony No. 1; Symphony
No. 2 RTÉ
National Symphony Orchestra/Robert Houlihan rec. 2001-3
RTÉ LYRIC FM CD121 [78:51][HC]
Far
too good to be ignored ... see Full Review
John DOWLAND
(1563-1626) In Darkness Let Me Dwell: The
Seven Shades of Melancholy
Sirius Viols rec. 2007
Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 88697225022 [66:30][BW]
Well
worth considering, but competition is strong ... see Full
Review
Piers HELLAWELL (b.
1956) Dogs and Wolves
Various artists rec. 2005-7
METRONOME METCD1076 [64:28][HC]
Splendid
… does this very distinguished composer’s music full justice ... see
Full Review
Charles
IVES (1874–1954) Songs
- Vol. 6
Various artists rec. 2005
NAXOS
8.559274 [65:48][BBr]
An
interesting collection of much less well known Ives songs ... see Full
Review
Charles
IVES (1874–1954) The
Light That is Felt: Songs of Charles Ives
Susan Narucki (soprano); Donald Berman (piano) rec.
2008
NEW WORLD RECORDS 806802 [57:02][BBr]
A
satisfying addition to any collection ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Simon Boccanegra
Rome Opera
Orchestra and Chorus/Gabriele Santini rec. 1957
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110119-20 [62:12 + 78:09]
also REGIS RRC2083 [62:12 + 78:09][ST]
A
great ensemble performance the like of which we just don’t get these
days ... see Full Review
Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826)
Overtures
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Antoni
Wit rec. 2006
NAXOS
8.570296 [76:24][LW]
I
am happy to welcome this collection ... see Full
Review
Leó
WEINER (1885-1960) Toldi
North
Hungarian Symphony Orchestra/László Kovács rec. 2008
HUNGAROTON HCD32608 [65:55][RB]
A
colourful national epic … full of romantic atmosphere ... see Full
Review
Carlo Bergonzi sings
Puccini and Verdi (with arias by Meyerbeer, Cilea and Giordano)
Carlo Bergonzi (tenor) Orchestra of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia,
Rome/Gavazzeni rec. 1951-8
REGIS RRC1305 [63.09][RMo]
This
aristocrat among tenors ... see Full
Review
Giulio
Caccini and his circle
La Nuova Musica/David Bates rec. 2007
SOMM SOMMCD083 [69:20][JV]
This
disc is bland and boring - avoid it! ... see Full
Review
FRIDAY
March 27th
Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809)
Piano Trios Vol. 1
Florestan Trio rec. 2008
HYPERION CDA67719 [64:28]
[TH]
Recorded
sound is superb … self-recommending ... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony 2 Maria Stader
(soprano); Maureen Forrester (contralto) Westminster Ch, New York P-SO/Bruno
Walter rec. 1957 MUSIC
& ARTS CD-1199 [79:47]
[JQ]
The
best way to experience Walter’s interpretation of ‘Resurrection’ ...
see Full Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) The Love for Three Oranges
Suite, Symphonies 1 & 7 Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Nutcracker
Suite Philharmonia O/Nicolai
Malko rec. 1955 CLASSICS
FOR PLEASURE 3822292 [80:29]
[SV]
Good
to have these recordings readily available, and in stereo ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Complete Overtures Vol. 1
Prague Sinfonia/Christian Benda rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.570328 [63:08]
[JS]
Sheer
delight … one engaging work follows another ... see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) String Quartets 10 & 13, Quartetsatz
Belcea Quartet rec. 2002
EMI CLASSICS ENCORE
2357382 [73:21]
I
was sold on these performances from the start … see Full
Review
Dreams
of Fancy, Tales of Loss
Ottorino Respighi
(1879-1936) Il tramonto Leos
Janáček (1854-1928)
Pohádka for cello and piano William
Bolcom (b.1938)
Dream Music No.2 John Corigliano
(b.1938) Fancy on a Bach Air for Cello Solo Franz
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Arianna a Naxos - Cantata
Ewa Podleś (contralto);
Kenneth Cooper (harpsichord); Wu Han (piano); Ani Kavafian, Erin Keefe
(violins); Paul Neubauer (viola); Julie Albers, David Finckel (cellos);
Kurt Muroki (double bass); John Ferrari, Ayano Kataoka, Tom Kolor (percussion)
rec. live, 2008 DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON Concerts 477 8149 
[64:21]
[BW]
A
worthwhile memento of a memorable concert ... see Full
Review
English Classical Violin Concertos
James BROOKS
(1760-1809) Violin Concerto 1 Thomas LINLEY Jnr (1756-1778) Violin Concerto Thomas SHAW (c.1755-l830) Violin Concerto Samuel WESLEY (1766-1837) Violin Concerto 2
Elizabeth Wallfisch (violin) The Parley of Instruments/Peter Holman
(fortepiano) rec. 1996
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55260 [64:05] 
[EM]
Hugely
attractive music – with some incredibly assured writing ... see Full
Review
Sol
Gabetta (cello)
- Cantabile
Prague
PO/Charles Olivieri-Monroe Mihaeha Ursuleasa (piano) rec. 2008
RCA RED SEAL 88697 359622 [53:24]
[MC]
Sparkling
and intelligent playing ... see Full
Review
Cynthia
Gregory & Fernando Bujones - Together
The Rehearsal; Coppélia, Act III, The Wedding;
Words on Dance rec. 1988/2002
Cynthia Gregory Fernando Bujones
VAI 4477 
[99:00]
[RMay]
For
balletomanes rather than a more general audience ... see Full
Review
20th Century Tuba Concertos
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958) Concerto for Bass Tuba Alexander
ARUTIUNIAN (b. 1920) Tuba Concerto Torbjörn
Iwan LUNDQUIST (1920-2000) Landscape John
WILLIAMS (b. 1932) Tuba Concerto
Øystein Baadsvik (tuba) Singapore SO/Anne Manson
BIS BIS-CD-1515 [58:14]
[CT]
Entertaining
and enjoyable … eminently listenable ... see Full
Review
THURSDAY
March 26th
Pietro
Gaetano BONI (c.1686-after
1741) Sonatas for Cello and basso continuo Andrea
Fossá (solo cello) Anna Fontana (harpsichord) Francisco Gato
(archlute) Andrea de Carlo (viola da gamba) Renato Criscuolo
(cello)
rec. 2006 DYNAMIC CDS584 [62.33] [GH]
Full
of attractive and often very beautiful music ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833–1897) Volkslieder (arr.
Kraler/Schett) Franui rec.
2008 COL
LEGNO WWE1CD20302 [70:41] [GF]
Something
for practically every taste ... see Full
Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Biblical
Songs, Gypsy Songs Piotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Songs Yoram
Chaiter (bass); Irena Zelikson (piano) rec. 2007 ROMEO
RECORDS 7262 [62:22] [CH]
I
can’t get up more than moderate enthusiasm for this. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845–1924) L’Horizon
Chimérique, Poême d’un jour, Mirages Francis
POULENC (1899–1963) Tel jour telle nuit, Chansons
villageoises, La Fraicheur et le Feu Thomas
Oliemans (baritone); Malcolm Martineau (piano) rec. 2008 ETCETERA
KTC1366 [62:04] [GF]
The
natural heir to Gerard Souzay ... see Full
Review
Vittorio
GIANNINI (1903-1966) Piano
Concerto, Symphony 4 Gabriela
Imreh (piano) Bournemouth SO/Daniel Spalding rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.559352 [64:34]
Vittorio GIANNINI (1903-1966) Dedication Overture, Fantasia, Praeludium
and Allegro, Symphony 3, 8 Variations and Fugue University
of Houston Wind Ensemble/Tom Bennett rec. 2004 NAXOS
8.570130 [59:43]
Vittorio GIANNINI (1903-1966) Psalm 130 John
CARBON (b. 1951) Endangered Species William
Thomas McKINLEY (b.1934) Passacaglia: Theme, Variations and Finale Richard
Fredrickson (double-bass) Slovak Radio O/Kirk Trevor MMC
RECORDINGS MMC2138 [46:55] [RB]
Major
exciting new Giannini recordings from Naxos but don’t forget the
MMC disc ... see Full Review
Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Symphony Mathis
der Maler, Symphonia Serena, Concert Music for Strings
and Brass, Der Schwanendreher, Symphonic Metamorphoses
on Themes by Carl Maria von Weber, Nobilissima Visione Berlin
PO/Herbert von Karajan, Philharmonia O/Paul Hindemith, Philadelphia
O/Eugene Ormandy, Tabea Zimmermann (viola) Bavarian RSO/David
Shallon, Philadelphia O/Wolfgang Sawallisch rec. 1956-1994 EMI
CLASSICS 2068632 [78:23 + 70:37] [SV]
In
part a good mid-price acquisition ... see Full
Review
Niccolò PAGANINI (1782-1840) Violin
concerto 1 Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Introduction
and rondo capriccioso Jules
MASSENET (1842-1912) Meditation Mariusz
Patyra (violin) Sinfonia Varsovia/Johannes Wildner rec. 2004 DUX
0654 [56:18] [RMay]
Breathtaking
virtuosity and real and intelligent musicality ... see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Music
for Flute and Piano Arpeggione Sonata, Six Schubert
Songs, Variations on Trockne Blumen Uwe
Grodd (flute); Matteo Napoli (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570754 [69:23] [CR]
The
music is allowed to sing and there is no surrender to self-indulgence
... see Full Review
Bedřich
SMETANA (1824-1884) Má Vlast Leipzig
Gewandhaus O/Václav Neumann BERLIN
CLASSICS 0014412BC [79:56] [CC]
Gloriously
rounded sound, technical excellence and Václav Neumann ... see Full
Review
Encore,
My Good Sir Lin
Jiang (horn); Benjamin Martin (piano) rec. 2007 MELBA
MR 301116 [59:35] [LW]
A
remarkable talent and a delightful disc ... see Full
Review
WEDNESDAY
March 25th
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770–1827) Fidelio
- opera in two acts (1804-5) Leonore - Gabriele Schnaut (soprano);
Florestan - Josef Protschka (tenor);Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor
Wiener Philharmoniker/Christoph
von Dohnányi rec. 1991, Konzerthaus, Vienna. DDD
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 93921 [70.20 + 47.06]
[RMk]
A
strong recording that sometimes loses focus. ... see Full
Review
Sir
Eugene Goossens
(1893-1962) Phantasy
Concerto for piano and orchestra Op. 60 (1942) [25:24] Symphony
No. 1 Op.58 (1938-1940) [39:05]
Howard Shelley (piano) Melbourne Symphony Orchestra/Richard Hickox rec.
Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. 21-24
April 2008. DDD Orchestral Works Vol. 1
CHANDOS
CHSA 5068 [64:40]
[JF][RB]
Beautiful,
occasionally humorous, often disturbing ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Carl August
NIELSEN
(1865 – 1931) The
Symphonies Janáček
Philharmonic Orchestra/Theodore Kuchar rec. 2005, Concert Hall Ostrava,
Czech Republic. DDD
BRILLIANT CLASSICS
92885 [3 CDs: 65:55 + 79:04 + 69:45]
[JL]
Nothing
less than a paradigm shift ... see Full Review
Carl NIELSEN
(1865-1931) Chamber
Music Vol. 2 Sonata No. 1 for violin and piano, Op. 9 (1895) [21:17]
Sonata No. 2 for violin and piano, Op. 35 (1912) [20:39] Prelude,
Theme and Variations for solo violin, Op. 48 (1923) [18:11] Preludio
e Presto for solo violin, Op. 52 (1928) [11:43]
Jon Gjesme (violin) (1-2); Jens Elvekjær (piano) (1-2); Tue Lautrup
(violin) rec. November 2006, March 2007, The Black Diamond, The Royal
Library, Copenhagen, Denmark
DACAPO 8.226065 [71:50]
[DM]
Music
and musicianship of great skill. Investigate at once ... see
Full Review
Henry PURCELL
(1659 – 1695) Dido
and Aeneas (1689) Kirsten Flagstad (soprano) – Dido; Elisabeth
Schwarzkopf (soprano) – Belinda; The Mermaid Singers and Orchestra/Geraint
Jones rec. 15, 27-28 March 1952, English libretto enclosed Richard
WAGNER (1813 – 1883) Götterdämmerung: Starke Scheite
(Brünnhilde’s Immolation) [19:48]
Kirsten Flagstad (soprano) Philharmonia Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler
rec. 26 March 1948
NIMBUS PRIMA VOCE NI 7956 [76:35]
[GF]
Even
die-hard purists should find a lot to admire in this historic issue
... see Full Review
Pietro
VINCI
(1515–1584) Ricercars
Antonio IL VERSO (1560–1621) Ricercars
Diego Cannizzaro (organ)
rec. 7-9 September 2008, Church of San Pantaleone, Alcara Li Fusi, Messina,
Italy. DDD TACTUS
TC 512201 [60.20]
[RH]
More
of a disc to dip into than to play in its entirety ... see Full
Review
250 Years of English Song – An
Anthology of English Song: 1530-1709
Norma Burrowes (soprano);
Wendy Eathorne (soprano); Charles Brett (counter-tenor); Neil Jenkins
(tenor); Philip Langridge (tenor); Benjamin Luxon (baritone); Robert
Lloyd (bass-baritone); Anthony Rooley (lute); Harold Lester (harpsichord);
Colin Tilney (harpsichord); Catherine Mackintosh (violin); Polly Waterfield
(violin); Ian Gammie (violin); Trevor Jones (violin); Jane Ryan (bass
viol); Adam Skeaping (viola da gamba); Medici String Quartet rec. October
– November 1976, St John’s Smith Square; St George the Martyr, Queen’s
Square; Decca Studio 4, Tollington Park, London. ADD
LYRITA SRCD.2309 [74:39 + 78:39]
[RB]
A
golden age of British singing rejecting the contrived and the precious
... see Full Review
Jacqueline Du Pré's Musical
Stories
Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Peter
and the Wolf, Op. 67 (1936)1 Leopold
MOZART (1719-1787) Cassation in G for Orchestra and Toys2
Paul DUKAS (1865-1935) L’Apprenti
Sorcier (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) (1897)3 Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Danse macabre, Op.40 (1874)4
Jacqueline du Pré (narrator)1;
Luben Yordanoff (solo violin)4 English Chamber Orchestra1,2;
Orchestre de Paris/Daniel Barenboim3,4 rec. Henry Wood Hall,
London, October, 1979 (Prokofiev, Mozart); Notre Dame du Liban, Paris,
January, 1977 (Dukas); Maison de la Mutualité, Paris, October, 1980
(Saint-Saëns). ADD.
Deutsche Grammophon Eloquence 480 0475 [68:46]
[BW]
Nothing
seriously amiss, but will it really appeal to today’s children? ...
see Full Review
Three Coins in the Fountain
music by Victor Young Original Soundtrack recording
(but without Frank Sinatra’s rendition of the song: ‘Three Coins
in the Fountain’ – Music by Jule Styne; lyrics by Sammy Cahn)
VARĖSE SARABANDE VCL 1104 1033 [49:28] [Limited Edition]
[IL]
A
lovely souvenir of a film that must be an endearing memory for so many
.. see Full Review
Witches’ Brew
Malcolm
ARNOLD (1921-2006) Tam O’Shanter Overture,
Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Gnomus
(from Pictures from an Exhibition) A Night on the Bare Mountain
(1867) (arr. Rimsky-Korsakov) Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Danse macabre, Engelbert
HUMPERDINCK (1854-1921) Witch’s Ride (from Hänsel und
Gretel) Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Mephisto Waltz No. 1 Charles GOUNOD
(1818-1893) Funeral March of a Marionette, Faust: Ballet
Music New Symphony Orchestra of London; Orchestra of the Royal Opera
House, Covent
Garden/Sir Alexander Gibson rec.1959, 1964 ADD Decca Eloquence 442
9985 [65:32]
[BW]
The
Arnold and Gounod items are worth having ... see Full
Review
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