NEW & RECENT ARTICLES

[New] Alan Bunting - An Obituary by Tony Clayden

National Discographies Update by Mike Herman

Frank Bridge's Allegro moderato by John France

In memoriam - Stan Metzger (Editor & Webmaster Seen & Heard International)

Download News 2016/5 by Brian Wilson

Peter Racine Fricker's Wind Quintet - A Forgotten Delight by John France

MWI Recommends: The symphonies of Alan Hovhaness.

NOTICES

[New] Ealing SO concert, May 14 - see here for details

Can you help with information about Elsie April - see here for details

Concert featuring chamber music by Parry - see here for details

The English Music Festival celebrates its 10th year in 2016 - see here for details

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Publishing schedule
Monday: Other reviews (nostalgia, books, other music); Wednesday: MWI Recommends; Friday: Articles.
Live performance reviews posted daily at Seen and Heard
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LATEST REVIEWS

Thursday April 28th

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Mass in B minor - Concerto Copenhagen/Lars Ulrik Mortensen rec. 2013 CPO 777 851-2 [50:51 + 52:44] [JQ] An excellent recording that is well worth your attention.

Émile GOUÉ (1904-1946) Symphony 2, Ballade on a poem by Emily Brontë - Paris RSO/Tony Aubin, Quatuor Vocal & Quatuor Krettly/Louis de Froment rec. 1949/58 AZUR CLASSICAL AZC135 [45:23] [RB] Intriguing. For those who would like to delve below the surface of French mid-twentieth century music.

Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983) Collegium Regale - Ch of Trinity College, Cambridge/Stephen Layton; Eleanor Kornas, Owain Park (organ) rec. 2014 HYPERION CDA68105 [61:14] [JF] Commanding and poignant performances of these subtle and moving works.

Édouard LALO (1823-1892) Concertante Works - Liège Royal Philharmonic/Jean-Jacques Kantorow rec. 2015 ALPHA 233 [3 CDs: 188:36] [SSi] Excellent performances. An ideal way of reappraising this somewhat forgotten composer's music.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Gran Partita Franz Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Notturno No. 8 - Royal Academy of Music Soloists Ens/Trevor Pinnock rec. 2015 LINN RECORDS CKD516 SACD [60:31] [DHu] Charming, confident and entertaining - not enough cut-through to make a top Mozart choice, but rare and interesting Haydn.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Devotional songs and anthems - La Rêveuse rec. 2014 MIRARE MIR283 [70:03] [JV] A most fascinating and highly impressive disc which sheds light on a less familiar part of Purcell's oeuvre.

Joseph-Guy ROPARTZ (1864-1955) Complete Sonatas Vol. 2 - Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabédian (violin) Henri Demarquette (cello) François Kerdoncuff (piano) rec. 2015 TIMPANI 1C1235 [72:37] [SG] Priceless.

Udo ZIMMERMANN (b.1943) Weiße Rose - Grazyna Szklarecka (soprano) Frank Schiller (tenor) Musica Viva Ens Dresden/Udo Zimmermann rec. 1988 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95125 [68:37] [JW] A visceral experience, as it should be.

Neujahrskonzert 2016 Vienna Philharmonic/Mariss Jansons rec. 2016 SONY CLASSICS 88875 174772 [62.27 + 50.13] [MC] Utmost care and attention lavished on these uplifting and popular works.

Serenissima Music from Renaissance Europe - Rose Consort of Viols rec. 2013 DELPHIAN DCD34149 [71.24] [EML] Enjoyable music-making.

Wednesday April 27th

Mason BATES (b. 1977) The B Sides, Liquid Interface, Alternative Energy - San Francisco SO/Michael Tilson Thomas rec. 2014 SFS MEDIA SFS0065 [71.14] [MW] Committed performances of interesting music in excellent sound. You will not be bored.

Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony 7 Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Das Liebesmahl der Apostel - Staatskapelle Dresden/Christian Thielemann rec. 2012/13 PROFIL PH15013 [69.58 + 29.47] [MC] Memorable … devotees should not hesitate over this most impressive release.

Francesco CILEA (1866 – 1950) L’Arlesiana - Annunziata Vestri (mezzo) Dmitry Golovnin (tenor) O Filarmonica Marchigiana/Francesco Cilluffo rec. 2013 DYNAMIC CDS7688/1-2 [62:20 + 37:58] [GF] Those with an interest in verismo byways have a fine opportunity here to expand their collections.

Henri DUPARC (1848-1933) Complete Songs - Andrea Mastroni (bass) Mattia Ometto (piano) rec. 2015 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95299 [62:33] [GF] A slightly unorthodox interpretation, vital, thought-provoking, and less perfumed than many others.

George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Imeneo - Magnus Staveland (tenor) Ann Hallenberg (mezzo) Europa Galante/Fabio Biondi rec. 2015 GLOSSA GCD923405 [44.31 + 70:20] [CRo] Graceful, bristling with Vivaldian vigour and frequently characterised by an Italianate sensibility.

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Manfred - Münster SO & Ch/Fabrizio Ventura rec. 2015 ARS PRODUKTION ARS38192 SACD [65.32] [IL] A very worthy production that should be welcomed warmly by every Schumann enthusiast.

Daniel STEIBELT (1765-1823) Piano Concertos 3, 5 & 7 - Ulster O/Howard Shelley (piano) rec. 2014 HYPERION CDA68104 [79:58] [JF] Pieces which are a sheer pleasure to listen to without having to worry about their heaven-storming importance!

Leo WEINER (1885-1960) Ballad, Csongor and Tünde - Máté Szűcs (viola) Jubilate Girls Ch, Budapest SO MÁV/Valéria Cśanyi rec. 2015 NAXOS 8.573491 [66:12] [NB] Delightful music convincingly performed.

Beecham - The ABC Blue Network Concerts Blue Network SO/Thomas Beecham rec. 1945 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC461 [54:43] [JW] I rather liked this 55-minutes’ worth of Beecham on-the-wing.

Plaisir sacré Motets - Delia Agúndez, Magdelena Padilla (soprano), Jesús María García Aréjula (baritone)
La Bellemont rec. 2012 ITINERANT RECORDS IE001 [50:24] [JV] A compelling disc whose only minus is its short playing time - I would have liked to hear more from these performers.

Tuesday April 26th

Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Complete music for Cello Solo & Cello & Piano - Alexander Ivashkin (cello) Andrew Zolinsky (piano) rec. 2012 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94729 [30.22 + 75.53] [EML] A good set overall, nicely produced but a slight shame about the venues.

George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Agrippina - Ulrike Schneider (mezzo) João Fernandes (bass) Festspiel O Göttingen/Laurence Cummings rec. 2015 ACCENT ACC26404 [3 CDs: 216:45] [ST] Refreshing humanity and the arias fizz with energy throughout.

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) L’Heure espagnole, Don Quichotte à Dulcinée - Luca Lombardo (tenor) Isabelle Druet (mezzo) O Ntl de Lyon/Leonard Slatkin rec. 2013 NAXOS 8.660337 [55:42] [LW] This leaves a mixed impression in Slatkin’s continuing Ravel series.

Marga RICHTER (b.1926) Songs - William George (tenor) Andrea Lodge (piano) rec. 2013 REDSHIFT TK435 [63.16] [PCG] Marga Richter is a very good song composer indeed.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Aida - Marco Spotti (bass) Ekaterina Semenchuk (mezzo) Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) O e Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale Santa Cecilia/Antonio Pappano rec. February 2015 WARNER CLASSICS 2564 610663 [3 CDs: 145:36] [MC] An Aida to live with and to treasure.

Leonardo VINCI (c.1696-1730) Catone in Utica - Juan Sancho (tenor) Franco Fagioli (counter-tenor) Il Pomo d’Oro/Riccardo Minasi rec. 2014 DECCA 478 8194 [3 CDs: 234:02] [JW] Breathes triumphant life into Vinci’s already theatrically convincing opera.

Divine Noise Works by Rameau, Le Roux & Couperin - Guillermo Brachetta, Menno van Delft (harpsichord) rec. 2014 RESONUS RES10145 [74:26] [JV] The dramatic character of Platée has been kept alive thanks of Brachetta's arrangement and the way it is played.

Dresdner Fagottkonzerte aus Schranck II Works by Graun, Reichenauer,Telemann & Horneck - Erik Reike (bassoon) Harald Heim, Klaus Gayer (horns) Dresdner Kapellsolisten/Helmut Branny rec. 2015 ARS PRODUKTION ARS38198 SACD [59:58] [WKL] Stylish playing ... a wonderful addition to the catalogue.

Fiançailles pour rire Mélodies Françaises - Natalie Dessay (soprano) Philippe Cassard (piano) Laurent Naouri (baritone) Quatuor Ebène rec. 2014 ERATO 2564 611440 [62:13] [GF] Lovers of French mélodies should place their order at once.

Young Spirit of Serenades Works by Bruch, Kilar, Mozart & Tchaikovsky - Deutsche Streicherphilharmonie/Wolfgang Hentrich rec. 2014/15 GENUIN GEN16414 [70.54] [MW] Fine, youthful performances.

Monday April 25th

Carl Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788) Johann Gottlieb GRAUN (1703-1771) & Ludwig Christian HESSE (1716-1772) Trios and Sonatas - Lucile Boulanger (viola da gamba) Arnaud de Pasquale, Laurent Stewart (fortepiano) rec. 2014 ALPHA 202 [71:46] [JV] Another outstanding recording by these artists.

Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) Viola sonata, There is a willow grows aslant a brook Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Lachrymae, Elegy - Martin Outram (viola) Julian Rolton (piano) rec. 2012 NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6253 [67:29] [EML] On the whole an enjoyable disc.

Brahms: Recaptured by Pupils and Colleagues rec. 1889-1959 ARBITER 163 [79:33 + 77:05] [JW] Requires tolerance but rewards perseverance.

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Violin Concerto, Romance Josef SUK (1874-1935) Fantasy - Christian Tetzlaff (violin) Helsinki PO/John Storgårds rec. 2015 ONDINE ODE1279-5 SACD  [66:32] [NH] Music-making of a very high order indeed.

Christoph Willibald GLUCK (1714–1787) Orfeo ed Euridice - Franco Faglioli (counter-tenor) Malin Hartelius, Emmanuelle de Negri (sopranos) Accentus, Insula O/Laurence Equilbey rec. 2015 ARCHIV PRODUKTION 479 5315 [3 CDs: 151:58] [GF] Beauty of singing and playing. It holds its own against keen competition.

Sergey TANEYEV (1856-1915) String Quartets Vol. 4 - Carpe Diem Qt rec. 2013/14 NAXOS 8.573470 [65:42] [GF] Readers with an interest in romantic chamber music should definitely give this a try.

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Brilliant Classics Edition - L’Arte dell’Arco/Federico Guglielmo BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94840 [66 CDs] [BW] An even better bargain than the earlier 40-CD set: a few duds but the general quality ranges from first-rate to decent.

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg - Ferdinand Frantz, Kurt Böhme, Heinrich Pflanzl, Tiana Lemnitz - Ch & O Staatsoper Dresden /Rudolf Kempe rec. 1951 PROFIL PH13006 [4 CDs: 261:05] [MC] A Meistersinger to treasure.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Viri Galilaei Favourite Anthems from Merton - Ch of Merton College, Oxford/Benjamin Nicholas, Peter Phillips rec. 2015 DELPHIAN DCD34174 [75:36] [JQ] A very fine disc indeed, confirming that Merton College is home to one of the very best British collegiate choirs.

Friday April 22nd

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cello Suites Vols 1 & 2 - Joachim Eijlander (cello) rec. 2014/15 NAVIS CLASSICS NC15003/7 [65:10 & 75:40] [SG] Powerful, probing readings of spontaneity and freshness.

Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Symphonie fantastique - Boston SO/Seiji Ozawa rec. 1973 PENTATONE PTC5186211 SACD [47:14] [RWe] Ozawa’s is a fine mainstream version, still viable in this new surround-sound edition.

Francesco CAVALLI (1602-1676) Vespero delle Domeniche - Coro Claudio Monteverdi, Gruppo Strumentale La Pifarescha/Bruno Gini rec. 2014 DYNAMIC CDS7714 [69:11] [JV] Those who are interested in Cavalli's sacred music will enjoy this disc.

Gerald FINZI (1901-1956) Chamber Music - Cologne Chamber Soloists rec. 2015 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM 90318946 SACD [74.51] [EML] On the whole, an exceptionally good disc with outstanding playing.

Darius MILHAUD (1892-1974) Suite française, West Point Suite Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963)Symphony Florent SCHMITT (1870-1958) Dionysiaques - Musique des Equipages de la Flotte de Toulon/Jean Maillotrec. 1954-56 FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR1136 [57:08] [JW] An enjoyable restoration.

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) & Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Piano Concertos - Stephen Hough (piano) City of Birmingham SO/Andris Nelsons rec. 2014/15 HYPERION CDA68099 [73:10] [JQ] Two fine concerto performances.

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Fat Knight, Henry V Overture, Serenade to Music - Royal Scottish Ntl O/Martin Yates rec. 2015 DUTTON EPOCH CDLX7328 SACD [74:01] [JQ] A must for Vaughan Williams devotees.

500 Years of Organ Music BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95310 [50 CDs: ca 55 hrs] [SSi] Thankfully more plusses than minuses. A must for any organ aficionado.

American Romantics Gowanus Arts Ens/Reuben Blundell rec. 2014 NEW FOCUS RECORDINGS FCR166 [55:48] [RB] Its lilac, sepia and aquarelle sentimentality is well worth your trouble and time.

Silent Moods Marko Ylönen (cello) Ostrobothnian CO/Juha Kangas rec. 2014 ALBA ABCD380 SACD [72:09] [DJB] An intelligent, interesting and beautifully performed selection of string music.