NEW
& RECENT ARTICLES
[New] Interview with composer Rodion Shchedrin by Michael Cookson
[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
MWI
Recommends - Elgar The dream of Gerontius & Liszt piano sonata.
NOTICES
Hans Gal - BBC Radio 3 Composer of the Week - May 5-9
A free online collection of articles &
recordings of the Polish composers, Górecki, Lutosławski
& Penderecki - see here
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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
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LATEST REVIEWS
Wednesday April 23rd
Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Symphonie fantastique Edgard
VARÈSE (1883-1965) Ionisation - Bavarian RSO/Mariss Jansons rec. 2010/13 BR KLASSIK
900121 [58:44] [MC] New life breathed into the Berlioz and
the Ionisation test is passed with flying colours.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) String Quintets 1 & 2 - Takács
Qt, Lawrence Power (viola) rec. 2013 HYPERION CDA67900 [56:58] [SG] Performances which set the standard high. Hyperion have
come up with another winner. A notable release.
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Violin Concerto,
Cello Concerto - Alfredo Campoli (violin) Pablo
Casals (cello) London PO/BBC SO/Sir Adrian Boult
rec. 1945/1954 HERITAGE HTGCD245 [73:12] [JWh] Two classic
recordings reinstated by Heritage.
Heino
ELLER (1887-1970) Complete
Piano Music Vol. 2 - Sten Lassmann
(piano) rec. 2009 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC
0132 [71:38] [JW] A
faultless guide, relishing Eller’s opportunities
for crispness and geniality.
Simeon
ten HOLT (1923-2012) Canto Ostinato XL - Jeroen van Veen, Sandra van Veen (piano and
keyboard) Irene Russo, Fred Oldenburg (piano)
Bergwerf (organ) Esther Doornink, Peter Elbertse
(marimba) rec. 1999-2012 BRILLIANT CLASSICS
9453 [12 CDs: 843:16] [DC] Canto
Ostinato augetur et ultra quam credi.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphonies
3-5 - Swedish CO/Thomas Dausgaard rec. 2009-2011 BIS BIS-SACD-1786 [80:57] [BR] This is early Schubert
that really packs a punch.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wilhelm
STENHAMMAR (1871-1927) Excelsior!, Mellanspel ur Sången, Serenade - Royal Flemish Philharmonic/Christian Lindberg
rec. 2013 BIS BIS-SACD-2058 [58:19] [DM] At last, Stenhammar
gets the fine performances he deserves; first-rate sound, too.
Bolero Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Pavane, Le Tombeau
de Couperin, Bolero Gabriel PIERNÉ
(1863-1937) Introduction and Variations
on a Popular Theme Thierry ESCAICH (b.1965) Le Bal, Tango Virtuoso Jean FRANÇAIX
(1912-1997) Petit Quartet - Ellipsos
Saxophone Qt rec. 2013 GENUIN GEN14543 [75:57] [BR] This
disc is pure pleasure, from Ravel’s Tombeau
to new dance works, and, yes, even Bolero.
Ebony and
Ivory Andrew Simon
(clarinet) Warren Lee (piano) rec. 2012 NAXOS 8.573022 [69:35] [LJ] Great skill and impressionable character.
Charles
Munch: Boston Rarities Vol. 1 rec.
1950/51 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 403 [72:07] [RMo] Will
remind Munch’s admirers of his special ability to inspire an orchestra
to play with joy and abandon.
Tuesday April 29th
George
ANTHEIL (1900-1959) A Jazz Symphony,
Ballet pour instruments mécaniques et
percussion - Boston Modern O Project/Gil Rose
rec. 2007-2009 BMOP/SOUND 1033 [39:53] [DC] Plenty
of wallop.
Carl
Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788) Württemberg Sonata 6, Variations on Folies d'Espagne Johann
Gottfried MÜTHEL (1728-1788) Arioso
and 12 variations - Preethi de Silva (harpsichord,
fortepiano) rec. 1983-2010 FIRST HAND
REMASTERS FHR28 [54:43] [JV] This
disc gives a good impression of what was typical
of the keyboard repertoire in the time between
the baroque era and the classical period.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) The
Symphonies and Orchestral Works - Leipzig
Gewandhaus O/Riccardo Chailly rec. 2012-2013 DECCA 478 5344 [3 CDs: 234:04] [ST] Chailly
has brought Leipzig’s Brahms tradition
right into the 21st Century. Buy
with confidence.
Elliott
CARTER (1908-2012) String Quartets
1-5 - Juilliard String Qt rec. 1990-2013 SONY
CLASSICAL 88843 033832 [65:29 + 72:02]
[DC] Jump into the
intellectual fire.
Nikolai
KORNDORF (1947-2001) Complete Music for
Cello - Alexander Ivashkin (cello) Russian
PO Moscow/Konstantin Krimets Anya Alexeyev (piano)
rec. 2001-2006 TOCCATA TOCC0128 [76:24]
[JV] Highly individual
and often solemnly beautiful music in performances
that are hugely committed and sensitively shaped.
Carl
ORFF (1895-1982) Carmina
Burana - Sarah Tynan (soprano)
Andrew Kennedy (tenor) Rodion Pogossov (baritone)
Trinity Boys Ch, London Phil Ch & O/Hans
Graf rec. 2013 LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
LPO0076 [60:09] [GPJ] A
superb recording of a live concert that makes
you fervently wish you’d been there.
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Complete
Overtures Vol. 4 - Prague SO/Christian Benda rec. 2011/12 NAXOS
8.572735 [55:31] Alert
and spontaneous sounding … recorded in
a very suitable acoustic [JS] An
excellent fourth volume in the Naxos Rossini
series [JWh].
Marcel Ciampi
(piano) Works by Chopin, Liszt, Grieg,
Debussy & Franck - Capet Qt, Yvonne Astruc
(violin) rec. 1928-31 FORGOTTEN RECORDS
FR797-98 [61:31 + 61:38] [JW] No
one who cares about French pianism can afford
to do without Ciampi’s small but glorious
recorded legacy.
A
German Soul Devotional Music from
17th Century Hamburg: Works by Buxtehude,
Tunder, Rosenmuller & Bach - Laia Frigolé
(soprano) Juan de la Rubia (organ) Ensemble
Méridien rec. 2012 BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 94717 [64:06] [JV] I
have mostly enjoyed these performances but the
interpreters should have been more critical
in their choice of repertoire.
Oblivion Paul SCHOENFIELD (b.1974) Café
Music Astor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Die
vier Jahreszeiten in Buenos Aires, Oblivion Joaquin TURINA (1882-1949) Circulo - Gelius Trio
rec. 2013 THOROFON CTH2610 [63:40] [LJ] More ballroom
than tango.
Monday April 28th
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770 - 1827) Sonatas for Violin and Piano Vol. 1 -
Elizabeth Wallfisch (violin); David Breitman (fortepiano)
rec. 2012 NIMBUS NI6245 [57:31 + 47:06] [MS] Idiomatic and uninhibited performances on period instruments.
York BOWEN (1884-1961)
Clarinet Sonata,
Piano Trios,
Phantasy Quintet -
Robert Plane (clarinets) David Adams (viola) Gould Piano Trio
rec. 2013 CHANDOS CHAN10805 [78:29] [JQ] Fine and attractive chamber works by York Bowen in excellent performances.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH George
GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Porgy and Bess - Eric Owens (baritone) Laquita Mitchell (soprano) San Francisco Opera O & Ch/John DeMain
rec. 2009 EUROARTS DVD 2059638 [158:00 + 29:00 bonus] [RF] If you think opera started and finished with a clutch of great
Italian, French, Russian and German composers then try this and think
again; it is a revelation.
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791) Requiem - Joanne Lunn (soprano) Rowan
Hellier (alto) Thomas Hobbs (tenor) Matthew Brook (bass) Dunedin Consort/John
Butt rec. 2013 LINN RECORDS CKD449 SACD [61:00] [JS] An essential addition to any collection of Mozart’s choral music.
Reinhard OPPEL (1878-1941) Piano Music Vol. 1 - Heejung Kang (piano)
rec. 2006 TOCCATA TOCC0003 [61:29] [JW] Warm, technically adroit and deftly pointed music-making.
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Violin Sonatas - Stephan Schardt (violin) Elisabeth Wand (cello) Sonja Kemnitzer
(harpsichord) rec. 2013 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM
90318356 SACD [70:32] [JV] A nice disc which fills a
gap in the Telemann discography.
Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Excerpts from Parsifal, Das Rheingold, Die Walküre & Siegfried -
Karl Muck, Siegfried Wagner rec. 1927-8 PRISTINE AUDIO PACO 103 [77:23 + 74:20] [PCG] A distinguished collection of historical Wagner recordings.
Awakening 21st Century Slovenian Flute Music
- Nicole Molumby (flute) Andrea Ridilla (oboe) Blaž Pucihar (piano)
Leslie Moreau (clarinet) Janis McKay (bassoon) Jošt Drašler
(string bass) rec. 2013 MSR CLASSICS MS1448 [43:44]
[SA] Wonderful music but very short playing time.
British Composers Premiere Collection Vol. 2 Works by Blower, Gaze Cooper, Kelly & Milford
José Garcia Gutiérrez (horn); John McDonough (oboe)
Malta PO/Michael Laus
rec. 2011 CAMEO CLASSICS CC9032CD [68.14] [JS] For anyone interested in musical byways this disc is a real treasure … a valuable introduction to some unfortunately neglected composers.
OrquesTango - Binelli-Ferman Duo, Montevideo Philharmonic/Federico Garcia Vigil 4TAY CD-4039 [59:06] [JW] Combines romance and yearning,
dance and melancholy. The soloists are terrific players.
Other reviews
Light Music While You Work Vol. 5 rec. 1943-46 GUILD LIGHT MUSIC GLCD5211 [79:18] [JW] Light, often bright, frequently breezy and leavened by a swathe of light classical offerings.
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.
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