NEW & RECENT ARTICLES
[New] Outhere New Releases -
a survey by Brian Wilson
Download News 2015/4 by
Brian Wilson and David Barker
A to Z of the Piano Trio Repertoire by David Barker:
"B" Composers Part 2
Pianist Martin Jones in Conversation with Robert Beattie
National Discographies:
Central European & Balkan Concertos S-Z
by Mike Herman
MWI Recommends
- Borodin string quartet 2 & Puccini Madame Butterfly.
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Monday: Other reviews (nostalgia, books, other music); Wednesday: MWI
Recommends; Friday: Articles.
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LATEST REVIEWS
Thursday April 30th
Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750) Motets - Capella Cracoviensis/Fabio Bonizzoni
rec. 2014 ALPHA 199 [66:26] [DC] Love me… please...?
Woldemar BARGIEL (1828-1897)
Symphony, Overture to a tragedy,
Prometheus &
Medea overtures -
Omsk PO/Dmitry Vasilyev
rec. 2014
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0277 [76:02] [DJB]
Very much a case of “spot the influence” but certainly enjoyable.
Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Nocturnes - Earl Wild (piano)
rec. 1996 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94930 [59:02 + 46:28]
[JW] Poetry, imagination, and digital control reflecting Wild’s
openness to Romanticism in twentieth-century interpretation.
Ēriks EŠENVALDS (b. 1977)
Northern Lights and other choral works -
Trinity Brass
Sally Pryce (harp)
Trinity College Ch Cambridge/Stephen Layton
rec. 2013/14
HYPERION CDA68083 [67:48] [BW]
Imaginative choral music, superbly sung.
Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992) La Nativité du Seigneur -
Tom Winpenny (organ) rec. 2014 NAXOS 8.573332 [61:09]
[RWe] Not a market leader, but sufficiently accomplished to take its
place among other versions with something to say about this great cycle.
Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Symphony 5, Scythian Suite - Bergen PO/Andrew
Litton rec. 2014 BIS BIS-2124 SACD [67:00] [DM] A terrific
pairing, well played and recorded; here’s to the next instalment.
Jean-Philippe RAMEAU (1683-1764)
Premier Livre, Nouvelles Suites,
Pičces de Clavecin -
Marcelle Charbonnier (harpsichord)
rec. 1953
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR1059 [79:55] [SG]
Rameau’s harpsichord works, beautifully realized.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Vier Letzte Lieder, Eine
Alpensinfonie Wolfgang RIHM (b. 1952)
Ernster Gesang - Anja Harteros (soprano) Staastkapelle Dresden/Christian
Thielemann rec. 2014 C MAJOR Blu-ray 726504 [103:00]
[ST] Two brilliant performances. Buy with confidence.
Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
The Firebird,
The Rite of Spring -
Minneapolis Symphony/Antal Doráti
rec. 1952/3
DORÁTI EDITION ADE024 [51:07] [JQ]
Antal Doráti’s first recordings of two great Stravinsky scores in good transfers.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Dumka
Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)
Pictures at an Exhibition
Mily BALAKIREV (1837-1910)
Islamey
Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
The Firebird dances -
Kotaro Fukuma (piano)
rec. 2014
EDITIONS HORTUS 115 [68:07] [BR]
This talented pianist keeps improving with each new disc.
Wednesday April 29th
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Orchestral
Suites - Academy of Ancient Music/Richard Egarr
(harpsichord) rec. 2013 AAM RECORDS
AAM003 [47:33 + 46:16] La Petite Bande/Sigiswald
Kuijken (violin) rec. 2012 ACCENT ACC24279
[79:17] [MG] Two excellent
accounts with four distinct differences.
Alfred
BRUNEAU (1857-1934) Requiem Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Pelléas et
Mélisande, Symphonie - SO & Ch La Monnaie, De Munt/Ludovic
Morlot rec. 2012/13 CYPRES CYP7615
[63.39] [MC] I enjoyed
every note and heartily commend this release
to lovers of French and sacred music.
Johann
David HEINICHEN (1683 - 1729)
Unpublished Dresden
Sonatas - Sans Souci Baroque Ens
rec. 2013 STRADIVARIUS STR15001
[60:08] [JV] The Ensemble
Sans Souci delivers zestful performances, which
sometimes lack in differentiation and subtlety.
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Octet,
Hebrides overture - Duo Lontano (piano duet) rec. 2014 GENUIN
GEN15359 [52:00] [PRB] Hard
to see any place for this CD in the average
collection.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano
Concertos 15 & 16, Rondo - Ronald Brautigam
(fortepiano) Die Kölner Akademie/Michael Alexander
Willens rec. 2013 BIS SACD BIS-2064
[53:43] [DBi] Another
triumph for Brautigam and Willens in their Mozart
concerto series. Essential.
Alexander
SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Vers La Flamme - Vladimir Ashkenazy
(piano) rec. 2014 DECCA CLASSICS 4788155
[78:46] [SG] A fitting
tribute to celebrate the centenary of Scriabin’s
death.
Louis
SPOHR (1784-1859) Duo Concertants,
Grand Duo Concertant, Duets - Francesco Parrino
(violin) Michele Fedrigotti (piano) rec. 2012
STRADIVARIUS STR33933 [60:50
+ 64:22] [JW] Affectionate
and pleasing.
Coronation
Music for Charles II Oltremontano,
Psallentes/Wim Becu rec. 2014 ACCENT
ACC24300 [66:36] [JV]
Fine playing and singing but the selection
of music is not always plausible.
My
Dusty Gramophone Dunja Lavrova
(violin) Konstantin Lapshin (piano) rec. 2014
SOLO MUSICA SM216 [64:22] [JW]
A fine calling card for this young violinist.
Laudario
di Cortona No. 91 Paraliturgical
vocal music from the Middle Ages - Armoniosoincanto, Franco
Radicchia/Anonima Frottolisti rec. 2013/14 BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 94872 [4 CDs: 289:40] [BW] Ethereal
performances which show that music intended
for devotion in the Middle Ages can still be
attractive.
Tuesday April 28th
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Cantatas 33, 103 & 146 - Il Gardellino/Marcel Ponseele rec.
2013 PASSACAILLE 987 [70:59]
[JV] A very fine disc
with generally outstanding performances of three
of Bach's most expressive cantatas.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Die schöne
Magelone - Paul Armin Edelmann (baritone)
Julia Stemberger (recitation) Charles Spencer
(piano) rec. 2011 CAPRICCIO C5225
[3 CDs: 154:49] [RWe] A
new and competitive Die schöne Magelone.
Ferruccio
BUSONI (1866-1924)
Busoni The Visionary Vols 1-3
- Jeni Slotchiver (piano)
rec. 1994-2012 CENTAUR CRC2438/2681/3396
[72:52 & 69:29 & 68:50] [SSi]
A valuable survey of this often neglected music.
Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963) 3 Pieces, Variations, Sonata for
Solo Cello, Cello Sonata - Sébastien Hurtaud
(cello) Pamela Hurtado (piano) rec. 2013 NAXOS
8.573172 [61:28] [DD] A real surprise.
Excellent recital
of little known music that deserves much greater
recognition. Enjoy.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Piano
Sonatas - Marc-André Hamelin (piano) rec.
2013 HYPERION CDA68029 [74:52 + 79:29]
[GM] Up there with
the best and very good value, too.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Preludes
Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
Visions Fugitives Kurt
WEILL (1900-1950) 7 Pieces from The
Threepenny
Opera - Benjamin Schmid (violin) Lisa
Smirnova (piano) rec. 2013 ONDINE ODE1253-2
[54:23] [JW] It’s
something of a niche release but worth exploring
if you’re a questing fiddle-lover.
Alexander Brailowsky
(piano) Rarities
on CD NYC 1940-1955
- RCA Victor SO/Jean-Paul Morel
rec. 1940-1955 FONDAZIONE STAUFFER 007 [77:36 + 78:47] [SG] I
don’t know if this is the beginning of
a projected series but I have my fingers crossed.
Etude
Works by Chin, Kapustin, Lyapunov &
Szymanowski - Clare Hammond (piano) rec. 2013 BIS
BIS-2004 SACD [67:22] [DC] Superb,
unusual programme.
Revolution
Flute Concertos by Devienne,
Gianella, Gluck & Pleyel - Emmanuel Pahud
(flute) Basel CO/Giovanni Antonini rec.
2014 WARNER CLASSICS 2564 627678
[73.10] [MC] High on
joie de vivre, charm and natural poetic insight.
O
Sacrum Convivium! Sacred Choral Works
by Langlais, Poulenc & Vierne - Ch St John’s College,
Cambridge/Andrew Nethsingha rec. 2014 CHANDOS
CHAN10842 [64:25] [JQ] High-quality
French sacred music in very accomplished and
satisfying performances.
Monday April 20th
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Works for cello and piano - Matt
Haimovitz (cello) Christopher O'Riley (fortepiano) rec.
2014 PENTATONE 5186475 SACD [71:58 + 68:02] [DBi]
A
fresh and enlightening reading of Beethoven's works for this combination.
Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Diversions
Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957)
Concerto for piano left-hand -
Nicolas Stavy (piano)
Lille Ntl O/Paul Polivnick
rec. 2014
HORTUS 710 [57:07] [NB]
Highly impressive performances of under-appreciated music.
Jean FRANÇAIX (1912-1997)
Symphonie d’Archets,
Ode sur ‘La Naissance de Vénus’ de Botticelli,
Die Kamelien -
Sir Georg Solti CO/Kerry Stratton
rec. 2011
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0162 [52.06] [MC]
Highly committed and warmly expansive.
Douglas LILBURN (1915-2001)
Complete Electro-Acoustic Works
ATOLL ACD404 [3 CDs: 214:44; DVD: 54.48] [DC]
Essential Lilburn.
Marin MARAIS
(1656-1728) Suites for Oboe - Christopher Palameta (oboe) Eric
Tinkerhess (viola da gamba) Romain Falik (theorbo, guitar) Lisa Goode
Crawford (harpsichord) rec. 2014 AUDAX RECORDS ADX13702
[58:38] [JV] Fine performances which give the impression that the music
was specifically written for the oboe.
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Le sacre du printemps
(original and final versions) - Tonhalle O Zürich/David
Zinman rec. 2013 RCA 88843 095462 [35:08 +
69:58] [LW] Mandatory Le Sacre as a document is let down by the performances.
Father and
Son Christoph & Julian
Prégardien (tenors) Michael Gees (piano) rec. 2014 CHALLENGE
CLASSICS CC72645 SACD [74:06] [RWe] Splendid ... characterised
with just the right sense of domestic entertainment rather than high
art requiring the highest artistic skill to bring off.
Message to the Future
John Williams (guitar) Richard Harvey (recorders, ocarina, mandolin, clarinet, percussion etc)
rec. 2005
ALTUS ALU0008 DVD [71:28] [BW]
A varied and entertaining programme expertly performed.
Mirage Carolyn Mills
(harp) ATOLL ACD602 [54:10] [JW]
A charmingly well-balanced and thoughtful disc.
Orpheus Choreography by Dominique Hervieu and José Montalvo rec. 2010 ARTHAUS MUSIK Blu-ray
108124 [78:00] [RMay]
A visceral effect of sheer energy
and theatricality.
Other reviews
Master Singers: Advice from the Stage
by Lucy Mauro and Donald George publ. 2014/15 Oxford University Press USA
[MMB]
A glimpse into the world of some of today’s greatest operatic stars.
Friday April 24th
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Goldberg Variations (arr. Sitkovetsky) -
Britten Sinfonia/Thomas Gould rec. 2015
HARMONIA MUNDI HMU807633 SACD [72:53] [DC]
Life-enhancingly good.
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin Sonata 3 Cesar FRANCK (1822-1890) Violin Sonata -
Patrycja Piekutowska (violin); Anna Miernik (piano) rec. 2014
DUX 1128 [45:39] [GA]
Short playing time and over-managed interpretations.
Adolf JENSEN (1837-1879)
Orchestral Works -
Philharmonie Baden-Baden/Pavel Baleff rec. 2014
GENUIN CLASSICS GEN15347 [66:17] [NB]
Worthy but minor.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johannes OCKEGHEM (c.1410/25-1497) Missa L'homme armé -
Ensemble Nusmido rec. 2014
RONDEAU ROP6106 [69:19] [SG]
Technically accomplished and inspired readings that would grace any vocal collection.
Johann PACHELBEL (1653 - 1706) Festal Sacred Music
- Johann Rosenmüller Ens/Arno Paduch rec. 2002
CHRISTOPHORUS CHR77385 [67:56] [JV]
A most enjoyable production, with compelling music and performances.
David POPPER (1843-1913) Cello Concertos 1-3 -
Wen-Sinn Yang (cello) WDR Radio Studio Orchestra of Cologne/Niklas Willén rec. 2011
CPO 777 821-2 [60:47] [JW]
Unusual fare in excellent performances.
Sir Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Piano Trio 2, Piano Quartet 1 -
Gould Piano Trio; David Adams (viola) rec. 2014
NAXOS 8.573388 [61.23] [MC]
Outstanding playing - consistently engaging, always intelligent and constantly assured.
Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) The Rite of Spring Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) La Valse George GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Three Piano Preludes, Rhapsody in Blue
Eric Ferrand N'Kaoua (piano) rec. 2013
GRAND PIANO GP696 [65:17] [NB]
As an appendix to the more familiar orchestral versions this is a wholly enjoyable and well-performed anthology.
William WALTON (1902-1983)
Improvisations, Cello Concerto Symphony 2 -
Paul Watkins (cello) BBC SO/Edward Gardner rec. rec. 2013/14
CHANDOS SACD CHSA5153 [69:53] [JQ]
Another splendid Walton collection from Edward Gardner in superb Chandos sound.
Sounds of Spain and the Americas Sebastian See-Schierenberg (violin) Ramon Ruiz (guitar) Sophia Lisovskaya (piano) rec. 2003/14
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD405 [51:31] [JW]
A sense of real communicative spirit at work here.
