NEW & RECENT ARTICLES
[New] Bartók's Duke Bluebeard: A partial
survey of the discography by Ralph Moore
[New] Second Thoughts and Short Reviews:
Summer 2018 Pt 1 by Brian Wilson and Dan Morgan
[New]
Piano Trio Discography: "L" Composers
by David Barker
Verdi's Don Carlo: A partial
survey of the discography by Ralph Moore
Stanfordian Thoughts: 2.
Chamber Music with Strings by Christopher Howell
The Verdi Requiem - Part
II: A Partial Survey of the Mono Discography by Ralph Moore
Bax and the Veil of Enchantment
by Ian Lace
Johann David Heinichen: Hidden
Genius of the Baroque by Andrew Hartman
Classical Music on
Stamps This week: Composers on Italian stamps Part 4
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Friday June 29th
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Homage Cantatas
-
Katja Stuber (soprano) Franz Vitzthum (alto) Daniel Johannsen (tenor)
Deutsche Hofmusik/Alexander Grychtolik rec. 2016 DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 88985410522 [52:49]
[JV] This is a disc no Bach lover should miss.
Heinrich
BIBER (1644-1704) The Mystery
Sonatas, Passacaglia - Christina Day Martinson
(violin) Boston Baroque
rec. 2017 LINN CKD501 [72:41
+ 47:40] [RHa] Fine performances of Biber’s
instrumental magnum opus, but lacking something
for this listener.
Henryk GÓRECKI (1933-2010)
String Quartet No.3 - Dafô String Qt
rec. 2016 DUX 1302
[48:35]
[BW]
A fine recording of an important late-twentieth-century work but short
value.
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Messiah
- Le Concert
Spirituel Ch & O/Hervé Niquet rec. 2016
ALPHA 362 [46:29 + 68:49] [MG]
Niquet’s Messiah is a chameleon: sometimes
beguilingly smooth, sometimes vividly raucous.
Jaroslav KRČEK (b. 1939)
Instrumental Music -
Musica Bohemica Prague/Jaroslav Krček,
Slovak CO/Bohdan Warchal rec. 1986-2017 ARCO DIVA UP0201-2131 [55:00]
[JW] A fine retrospective and a salutary reminder of Krček’s warmth and human
sympathies in his music-making.
Rolf MARTINSSON (b. 1956)
Presentiment -
Lisa Larsson (soprano)
Royal Stockholm PO/Andrew Manze, Sakari Oramo rec. 2015/17 BIS BIS-2133 SACD [73:17]
[DC] A real treat.
Pietro
MASCAGNI (1863–1945)
Cavalleria rusticana Ruggero LEONCAVALLO
(1857–1919) Pagliacci
- José Carreras (tenor) Montserrat Caballé,
Renata Scotto (soprano) Ambrosian Opera Ch, Philharmonia O/Riccardo
Muti rec. 1979 WARNER CLASSICS 7636502
[74:09 + 75:53] [RMo] Carreras in peak form.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) La
forza del destino – Alastair
Miles (bass) Nina Stemme (soprano) Ch &
O Wiener Staatsoper/Zubin Mehta rec. 2008 C
MAJOR Blu-Ray 751104 [161 mins] [MC]
This is a creative and very dramatic version
of this problematic opera.
Passion & Polyphony
Works by Martin & MacMillan -
Sonoro/Neil Ferris rec. 2017 RESONUS CLASSICS RES10208 [66:31]
[JQ] Sonoro’s debut release is a fine achievement.
Prague
Symphony Orchestra Works by Dvořák,
Kabeláč, Prokofiev, Ravel, Strauss & Walton -
Peter Katin (piano) Zdeněk Košler, Václav
Smetáček (conductors)
rec. 1967/68 ORCHESTRAL CONCERT CDs CD2/2008
& CD10/2010 [71.12 & 63.19] [DBi] Two CDs of parts of three
exciting Prague Symphony Orchestra concerts
recorded in the late 1960s.
Thursday June 28th
John ADAMS (b. 1947)
Absolute Jest, Naive and Sentimental Music - Sean Shibe (steel-string guitar),
Doric String Qt, Royal Scottish Ntl O/Peter Oundjian rec. 2017
CHANDOS SACD CHSA5199
[71:25] [LW]
A worthy addition to the growing John Adams discography.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Pavel CHESNOKOV
(1877-1944) Teach Me Thy Statutes - PaTRAM Institute
Male Ch/Vladimir Gorbik rec. 2017 REFERENCE RECORDINGS FR-727
SACD [67:14] [JQ] This disc is a stunner.
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809)
Masses rec. 1992-2008
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC HC15017
[4 CDs: 304:33] [SSi]
Musically this set is a bargain, with all the performances being at least good, but be prepared for no notes or texts.
Jaroslav KRČEK (b. 1939)
Vocal Music - Czech Girls's Ch Jitro, Gentlemen Singers, Iuventus pedagogica,
Musica Bohemica Prague/Jaroslav Krček,
Slovak CO/Bohdan Warchal rec. 1986-2017
ARCO DIVA UP0202-2131
[59:00] [JW]
Affords great pleasure and warm-hearted, communicative music-making.
Igor RAYKHELSON (b. 1961) Piano
& Chamber Music Vol. 1 -
Ekaterina Astashova (violin) Alexander Kniazev (cello) Konstantin Lifschitz (piano)
Borodin Qt -
rec. 2011/17 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0315 [78:18] [SG] Neoclassicism, late-Romanticism, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Rachmaninov and jazz all coalesce in these attractive and colourful scores.
Edmund RUBBRA (1901-1986)
The Sacred Muse -
James E. Jordan Jr. (organ)
Gloria Dei Cantores/Elizabeth C. Patterson PARACLETE RECORDS GDCD130 [58:28]
[WK] The choir has an enviable clarity to their singing, a truly reverential sense, and great beauty of sound.
Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Piano Trios Nos
1 & 2, La Muse et le Počte - Gould Piano Trio
rec. 2016 CHAMPS HILL RECORDS CHRCD140 [79.51] [DBi] A CD worth anyone's money.
Dmitri TYMOCZKO (b. 1969)
Rube Goldberg Variations - Flexible Music, Atlantic Brass Qnt,
Amernet String Qt, Matthew Bengtson, John Blacklow (piano) rec. 2017
BRIDGE 9492
[51:15] [DC]
A whole barrow-load of new-music seedlings on offer to anyone with a fertile imagination.
American Symphonies Works by Albert, Jones
& Piston - London SO/Lance Friedel rec. 2017 BIS BIS-2118 SACD
[78:08]
[DM] A terrific trio, the LSO let off the leash at last; huzzahs all round!
20th Century Polish String Quartets
Works by Bacewicz, Panufnik & Szymanowski -
Diverso String Qt
rec. 2017 RECART 0024 [47.59] [GH] Rather short measure, though the programme is well-balanced and pleasing, and the performances are good.
Wednesday June 27th
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Violin Sonatas No. 5 & 6 - Nap de Klijn (violin),
Alice Heksch (piano) rec. 1954 FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR1447 [48:27] [SG]
Delightful performances by a duo that will not be on the radar of many.
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Missa Solemnis -
Bach Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki rec. 2017 BIS BIS-2321 SACD [74:07]
[JQ]
A considerable performance of Beethoven’s mighty Mass.
Anton BRUCKNER (1824–1896)
Symphony No.3 - Munich PO/Valery Gergiev rec. 2017 MÜNCHNER PHILHARMONIKER MPHL0009
[55:28]
[BW]
Not my first choice, even
among recordings of the final 1889 version, but well worth
considering.
Gerhard
FROMMEL (1906-1984) Symphony No.1,
Symphonic Prelude - Jena PO/Jürgen Bruns rec.
2017 CAPRICCIO C5338
[57:21] [NB] Others may find more to enjoy
than I.
Joachim MENDELSON (1892-1943)
Symphony No. 2, Quintet, Violin sonata, Chamber Symphony -
Polish RSO/Jürgen Bruns, Tatiana Blome (piano), Ulrike Petersen (violin)
rec. 2010/11 EDA 040 [67:16] [SFV] I rather enjoyed this; you might, too.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano
Sonata No. 21, Impromptus - Marc-André
Hamelin (piano) rec. 2017 HYPERION CDA68213
[81.51] [RBe] An exceptional recording,
which deserves a place in the pantheon of great
Schubert recordings.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Piano Trio No. 2 Lera AUERBACH (b. 1973) Piano Trios 1 & 2 -
Delta Piano Trio rec. 2017 ODRADEK ODRCD350 [63:30] [RHa]
The recording career of a brilliant Dutch trio starts here.
Alexandre
TANSMAN (1897-1986) Le Train de
nuit, Sonate, Fantaisie, La Grande Ville - Duo
d’Accord rec. 2017 SWR MUSIC
SWR19053CD [55:00] [DC] Tremendous
fun and searing, elusive expressiveness in one
superb programme.
XXIV Fantasie per il flauto
Tabea Debus (recorder) rec. 2017 TYXART TXA18105 [79:51] [JW] Never less than fluent and engaging.
Slava!
Works by Stravinsky, Bartok, Kodaly,
Bardos, Penderecki & Lukaszewski - Maîtrise
de Toulouse/Mark Opstad, Jeremiah Stephenson
(organ) rec. 2017 REGENT REGCD513
[69:53] [WH] A children’s choir to
rival the finest in a splendid programme.
Tuesday June 26th
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) & Zoltan
KODÁLY (1882-1967) Concertos
for Orchestra - Berlin RSO/Jakub
Hrůša rec. 2017 PENTATONE
PTC5186626 SACD [55.30] [DBi]
Two fine works, extremely well performed
and recorded.
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphonies 1-9
- NDR SO/Günter Wand rec. 1982-1988 RCA RED SEAL 19075818872 [5 CDs: 356:35] [DC] A superb cycle – certainly in the top tier for all-round reliably high quality.
Georg
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Arminio - Max Emanuel Cencic, Gaia Petrone,
Armonia Atenea/George Petrou rec. 2017 C
MAJOR 744504 Blu-ray [168 mins] [RWe]
It is hard to imagine that a better-filmed
Arminio production than this one will come along
any time soon.
Michel-Richard de LALANDE (1657-1726)
Grands Motets for the Sun King - Ensemble Aedes/Mathieu Romano; Le Poème Harmonique/Vincent Dumestre rec. 2017 ALPHA 968 [74:32] [MS] An enticing and thoughtful set of performances of music which ought to push this under-appreciated composer out of the shadows.
Thea
MUSGRAVE (b. 1928) Mary, Queen
of Scots - Ashley Putnam (soprano) Jake
Gardner (baritone) Virginia Opera O & Ch/Peter
Mark rec. 1979 LYRITA SRCD2369
[53:28 + 79:11] [JF] A lyrical, approachable
and satisfying performance.
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Adventlied; Ballade vom Pagen und der Königstochter, Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Cantata - Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Estonian Phil Chamber Ch, Helsinki Baroque O/Aapo Häkkinen rec. 2017 ONDINE ODE1312-2 [70:56] [SSi] An excellent disc of rare Schumann, with wonderful performances by all those involved.
Leone SINIGAGLIA (1868-1944) Violin Concerto,
Romanza and Humoresque -
Laura Marzadori (violin),
Fernado Caida Greco (cello) O Città di Ferrara/Marco Zuccarini rec. 2013 TACTUS TC861901 [55:06] [JW]
The performances are polished and careful, but lacking a little
adrenalin and passion.
Piotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-93)
String Quartet No. 2 Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-56) String Quartet
No. 1 - Manfred Qt rec. 2016
PARATY 117152 [65:45] [PBW]
I was very impressed by these fine players
and shall look out for their future recordings.
John WILLIAMS (b. 1932) John Williams at the Movies - Christopher Martin (trumpet); Dallas Winds/Jerry Junkin
rec. 2016 REFERENCE RECORDINGS FR-142 SACD
[75:43]
[DM] Quietly sensational; a must for movie fans and audiophiles alike.
Russian Piano Concertos rec. 1964-2016 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95520 [15 CDs: 945:21] [SG] A fascinating survey. I’ve made many new discoveries along the way.
Monday June 25th
Vyacheslav ARTYOMOV (b. 1940)
The Way to Olympus, Gurian Hymn, Preludes to Sonnets, Concert of the
13 - USSR State Academic SO/Gennady Rozhdestvensky rec. 1977-1990
DIVINE ART 25171
[70:36] [JF]
An interesting musical exploration that is both compelling and satisfying.
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Mass in B Minor
- Katherine Watson (soprano)
Tim Mead (counter-tenor)
Reinoud Van Mechelen (tenor)
André Morsch (bass)
Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
rec. 2016 HARMONIA MUNDI HAF8905293.94 [52:16 + 52:47] [DHu]
Not the first version I would reach for.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH George Frederic HANDEL (1685-1759)
Acis and Galatea - Lucy Crowe (soprano),
Allan Clayton (tenor),
Early Opera Company/Christian Curnyn rec. 2017
CHANDOS CHACONNE CHSA0404 SACD
[37:38 + 49:10] [DBi]
A magnificent performance and recording of one of Handel's most delightful creations.
Carlo Ambrogio LONATI (c.1645-c.1712) Sonate da chiesa
I-VI -
Ars Antiqua Austria rec. 2017 PAN CLASSICS PC10387 [57:27] [DC] Admirable Baroque chamber music.
George PERLE (1915-2009)
Orchestral Music (1965-1987) - Jay Campbell (cello),
Seattle Symphony, Ludovic Morlot rec. 2016-2017
BRIDGE 9499
[69:47] [MS]
An appealing collection of varied instrumental works.
Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Symphony No. 3 Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)
Khovanshchina Prelude - Stuttgart RSO/Kurt Sanderling
rec. 1995 SWR CLASSIC SWR19050CD [49:21]
[JQ] Despite the short playing time these Sanderling performances are welcome additions to the catalogue.
Jean-Philippe RAMEAU (1683-1764) Complete Solo Keyboard Works
-
Steven Devine (harpsichord) rec. 2013-17 RESONUS RES10214 [3 CDs: 219:39]
[SSi] Steven Divine’s playing may be at a slower tempo than most, but this serves to accentuate the differing aspects of Rameau’s wonderfully colourful music.
Henri VIEUXTEMPS (1820-1881)
Viola sonatas - Christian Euler (viola),
Paul Rivinius (piano) rec. 2017
MDG SACD 903 2063-6
[66:11] [RHa]
Fine performances and truthful recordings of undemanding, at times rather undistinguished viola and piano repertoire.
The House of the Mind
Ch Queen’s College Oxford/Owen Reese rec. 2017
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD491
[66:01] [GH]
A very enjoyable and well planned collection of British sacred music.
Parts To Play Moonkyung Lee (violin)
Martha Locker (piano) rec. 2017 NAVONA NV6165 [54:53] [JW]
An enjoyable recital of largely contemporary music of great approachability and character.