NEW & RECENT ARTICLES
[New] Puccini’s La fanciulla
del West
- a survey by Ralph Moore
Mussorgsky's
Boris Godunov
- a survey by Ralph Moore
Second Thoughts & Short Reviews Winter
2019-2 by Brian Wilson & Dan Morgan
Martin Dalby - an obituary by Kenneth
Shenton
Berlioz's Les Troyens
- a survey by Ralph Moore
Wagner's Ring cycle - a survey by Ralph Moore
NOTICES
New Jazz Reviews
Kenny Werner ~
Darrell Katz ~
Tommaso Starace ~
Tenament Jazz Band ~
Dan Costa
[New] From
Acte Préalable: Zygmunt Noskowski - Complete Songs Vols 1-3;
Otton Mieczyslaw Zukowski - Opera Omnia Secularia vols 1-2; Romuald
Twardowski - In the Night's Stillness
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Thursday February 28th
René de BOISDEFFRE (1838-1906) Cello Sonata
& other works - Luca Fiorentini (cello), Jakub Tchorzewski (piano) rec. 2018
ACTE PRÉALABLE AP0418
[75:55] [JW]
Another milestone in the exploration of this warm-hearted composer’s representation on disc.
Havergal BRIAN (1876-1972) The Vision
of Cleopatra, Two Choral Pieces, Fantastic Variations, For
Valour - Ch & O English Ntl Opera/Martyn Brabbins rec. 2017
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX7348 SACD [73:37] [JQ] This will be a self-recommending issue for admirers of Havergal Brian’s music.
Heinrich von HERZOGENBERG (1843-1900)
Columbus -
Andrè Schuen, Markus Butter (baritone)
Michael Schade (tenor) Graz Opera Ch & PO/Dirk Kaftan rec. 2017 CPO 555 178-2 [44:33 + 43:58]
[RHa] Nicely sung, but dull, sub-Wagnerian fare.
Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Piano Concertos -
Ronald Brautigam (fortepiano)
Die Kölner Akademie/Michael Alexander Willens rec. 2016/17 BIS SACD BIS2264 [74.08]
[DBi] Mendelssohn keyboard concerti performed to perfection with a recording to match.
Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992)
Livre d’orgue; Verset pour la Fête de la Dédicace - Tom Winpenny (organ)
rec. 2017 NAXOS 8.573845
[56:57] [DM] Thorough and thoughtful, but rarely challenges the best
in the catalogue.
Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Puccini in Love - Aleksandra Kurzak (soprano), Roberto Alagna (tenor), Sinfonia Varsovia, Riccardo Frizza
rec. 2018
SONY 19075859832
[64:51] [GF]
The dramatic temperature is throughout near boiling point.
Eugen SUCHOŇ (1908-1993)
Complete Works for Violin & Piano - Milan Paľa (violin),
Ladislav Fanzowitz (piano) rec. 2008
PAVLÍK RECORDS PA0062-2 CD/DVD-A
[106:10] [SG]
Convincing and virile performances of rare repertoire.
Bernstein at 100 The Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood - Boston SO rec. 2018
C MAJOR DVD 747608
[141 min.] [LW]
An indispensable tribute to Leonard Bernstein.
New Jewish Music Vol. 1
Works by Current, Marhulets & Foss -
Czech Ntl SO & Ch/Steven Mercurio
rec. 2017 ANALEKTA AN29261 [72:22] [SSi] A very interesting disc with three very different takes on the tradition of Jewish music.
Secret Fires of Love Studio Rhetorica/Robert Toft
rec. 2015/16
TALBOT PRODUCTIONS TP1701
[65:11] [JV]
A highly important and interesting release.
Wednesday February 27th
Oskar
Gottlieb BLARR (b. 1934) Jesus-Passion -
Singakademie Wiesbaden, Bach
O Wiesbaden/Jörg Endebrock rec. 2018 CYBELE
RECORDS 3SACDKiG010 [3 SACDs:
247:43] [SG] A touching and deeply rewarding
score.
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) String
Quartets Vol. 10 - Leipziger Streichquartett
rec. 2018 MDG 307 2093-2 [67:06]
[SSi] This is an excellent and long-awaited
continuation of the Leipziger Streichquartett’s
Haydn series.
Gian Carlo MENOTTI (1911-2007)
The Medium, The Telephone - Julija Samsonova-Khayet, O Filarmonica Italiana/Flavio Emilio Scogna
rec. 2018 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95361 [2 CDs: 90:11] [MR] Menotti’s two contrasting short operas are presented here by some outstanding young singers and a highly sympathetic conductor.
Cipriano de RORE (1515/1516-1565)
Vieni, Dolce, Imeneo - La Campagnia del Madrigale rec. 2017/18 GLOSSA GCD922808 [69.27]
[GH]
One of the Italian masters of the madrigal, in outstanding, expressive performances.
Johann SEBASTIANI (1622 - 1683)
St Matthew Passion - Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Ens/Paul O'Dette, Stephen Stubbs
rec. 2017 CPO 555 204-2 [65:38] [JV]
Sebastiani's Passion is a fine and intriguing work which deserves to be
much better known.
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony No.6,
Sinfonietta -
Estonian Festival O/Paavo Järvi rec. 2016/17 ALPHA 389 [56:28]
[SB] A satisfactory Sixth with an unusual version of the eighth quartet as coupling.
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony No. 4 Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures at an Exhibition -
London SO/Gianandrea Noseda
rec. 2017/18 LSO SACD LSO0810 [74:18] [RC] A very good Tchaikovsky Fourth and an outstanding Pictures.
Ade,
Kamarad Trio Artus, Chernichka
Tatiana (piano) rec. 2018 ACTE PRÉALABLE
AP0437 [52:52] [JW] Performances
of refinement and sensitivity.
French
Cello Concertos by Saint-Saens,
Lalo, Milhaud, Offenbach & Massenet - Hee-Young
Lim (cello) London SO/Scott Yoo rec. 2018 SONY
CLASSICAL 80358118425 [75.40] [MC]
A captivating programme and outstanding playing.
A
Year at Exeter Ch Exeter
Cathedral/Timothy Noon Timothy Parsons (organ)
rec. 2018 REGENT REGCD524
[68:32] [JF] An outstanding choice of music
for the Church Year - the singing is always
disciplined, lucid and inspiring.
Tuesday February 26th
Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony No. 9
- Bavarian RSO/Mariss Jansons rec. 2014 BR KLASSIK 900173 [57.10]
[MC] Admirable but doesn’t displace my first-choice recordings.
Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) The Hills of Dreamland
- Kathryn Rudge (mezzo-soprano),
Henk Neven (baritone),
Nathalie de Montmollin (soprano),
Barry Collett (piano) BBC CO/Barry Wordsworth rec. 2016/17 SOMM RECORDINGS SOMMCD271-2 [53:30 + 37:00] [JQ] A valuable selection of Elgar’s orchestral songs.
George
ENESCU (1881-1955) Suite No. 1,
Symphony No. 1 - Bucharest PO/Georges Enescu,
George Enescu PO/George Georgescu rec. 1942-1943
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR1510 [60:27]
[JW] Invigorating historic documents.
Franz
LACHNER (1803-1890) Symphony No.
3, Festival Overture - Evergreen SO/Gernot Schmalfuss
rec. 2016 CPO 555 081-2 [60:14]
[RC] A little-known voice from the Romantic
period who produced at least one very compelling
symphony.
Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony No. 3 - Sara Mingardo (contralto); Gürzenich O Köln/François-Xavier Roth
rec. 2018 HARMONIA MUNDI HMM905314.15
[2 CDs: 93:23] [DM] A game-changing Mahler 3 from Roth and his German band; outstanding
sonics, too.
Jean-Jacques
ROUSSEAU (1712-1778)
Le Devin du Village
- Les Nouveaux Caractères/Sébastien
d’Hérin rec. 2017 CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES
CVS004 [CD: 67:59 & DVD: 71:13]
[MBu] Rousseau was not without some genuine
musical talent and being able to explore
his music and see the piece performed on a baroque
stage is marvellous.
Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Swan Lake & The Nutcracker - London SO, Paris onservatoire O/Anatole Fistoulari rec. 1951/52 ELOQUENCE 482 5225 [75:34 + 62:13] [RMay] A delightful and important release for both ballet enthusiasts and admirers of fine musicianship.
Mieczysław
WEINBERG (1919-1996) Chamber Symphonies
Nos 1 & 3, Flute Concerto
- Łukasz Długosz (flute) Amadeus CO Polish Radio/Anna Duczmal-Mróz rec. 2014/17
DUX 1525 [79:00] [SG] For
first-timers embarking on the Weinberg journey,
I could think of no better place to start.
Latino
ladino/Exaltation
Yaniv d’Or (countertenor) Barrocade/Amit
Tiefenbrunn, Ens NAYA rec. 2015-18
NAXOS 8.573566 [67:09] 8.573980
[70:22] [GPu] Two fine albums which entertain
while affirming virtues such as tolerance and
‘conviviencia’.
The Scene of the Crime Håkan Hardenberger (trumpet),
Colin Currie (percussion) rec. 2018 COLIN CURRIE RECORDS CCR0002 [68:07] [RHa] Trumpet and percussion albums may not be top of many listeners’ wish lists, but the Currie/Hardenberger partnership demands to be heard.
Monday February
25th
Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Harold en Italie,
Les Nuits d’été -
Tabea Zimmermann (viola)
Stéphane Degout (baritone) Les Siècles/François-Xavier Roth rec. 2018 HARMONIA MUNDI HMM902634 [70:23]
[JQ]
Other Berlioz recordings this year will have to be pretty special to surpass the achievement of this terrific disc.
Eric COATES (1886-1957) Songs
-
Kathryn Rudge (mezzo)
Christopher Glynn (piano) rec. 2018 SOMM RECORDINGS SOMMCD0192 [66.05]
[IL] The presence of a female voice in this repertoire is most welcome.
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791)
Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Overtures - Walther Ludwig (tenor) Wilma Lipp (soprano)
Vienna State Opera Ch & PO, London SO/Josef Krips rec. 1950/52 ELOQUENCE 480 7191 [71:31 + 71:16]
[GF] I derived a lot of pleasure from this vivid performance but it falls short of the best available.
Leo SOWERBY (1895-1968)
American Master of Sacred Song - Gloriae Dei Brass Ens, Gloriae Dei Cantores/Elizabeth C. Patterson
GLORIAE DEI CANTORES GDCD016
[73:08+76:08] [WK]
Though the recording quality inevitably leaves something to be desired, this set can safely be recommended to all lovers of American music.
Franz von SUPPÉ
(1819-1895) Overtures - Münchner Rundfunk O/Ivan Repušić rec.
2018 BR KLASSIK 900326 [59:29] [MC] A worthwhile addition to a light classics collection.
Breaking the Silence
Works by Schulhoff, Ullmann, Korngold & Zehavi -
Clarion Qt rec. 2018 KLANGLOGO KL1415 [56:00] [SA]
The playing is commensurate with the quartet’s lofty and noble aims.
Cello Concertos
rec. 1990s-2016
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95782
[15 CDs: 955 mins] [SSi]
A fine introduction to the art form that is the cello concerto.
Marius-François Gaillard (piano)
Complete Debussy Recordings - Carmen Guilbert (piano) rec. 1928-38
APR 6025
[73:10 + 76:23] [JW]
A promising start to an important new series.
Mantra
Espen Aalberg (gamelan), Trondheim Sinfonietta/Kai Grinde Myrann
rec. 2017
BIS BIS-2340 SACD
[54:59] [RHa]
Seemingly disparate works, all enjoyable, but Lindquist’s gamelan concerto is a revelation.
Aleksandr Nisse (organ)
The Ascension rec. 2018
SELBY ABBEY ORGAN MASTERS SAOM004
[75:18] [JF]
Great music is played with exceptional skill on a wonderfully restored
instrument.
Other reviews
A Musical Wanderer - The Later Years of Granville Bantock
by Cuillin Bantock publ. 2018 EM Publishing [JW] An intriguing look at a compressed period of a composer’s life.
Friday February 22nd
Leonard
BERNSTEIN (1918-1990)
Wonderful Town
- Rafaëlle Cohen, Jasmine Roy,
Bob Baker, Ch & O L’Opéra Toulon/Larry
Blank rec. 2018 BELAIR CLASSIQUES
BAC158 DVD [122:00] [JQ] A
classic case of the production getting in the
way of an otherwise enjoyable performance.
Nicolas CHÉDEVILLE (1705-1782)
Les Saisons Amusantes -
Ens Danguy/Tobie Miller rec. 2018 RICERCAR RIC398 [51:45]
[JV] The perfect disc to cheer you up on a dull day.
Domenico CIMAROSA (1749-1801)
L’impresario in angustie - Carlo Torriani (bass) Camilla Antonini (mezzo)
O Bruno Maderna di Forlì/Aldo Savagno rec. 2017 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95746 [77:06]
[MMB] Collectors of opera of this period will find this a good addition to their collection.
Gavin GREENAWAY (b.1964)
Woven -
Gavin Greenaway (piano & synths)
rec. 2018 TENUTO TNRCD2 [43.21] [IL]
A truly delightful solo outing from a composer best known for his film work.
Alexander
MOYZES (1906-1984) Symphonies Nos 7 & 8 -
Slovak RSO/Ladislav Slovák rec. 1990/94 NAXOS 8.573653
[70:35] [GH]
Two symphonies by a composer at the peak of his powers, though let down
somewhat by the sound.
Jacques
OFFENBACH (1819-1880)
Offenbach Colorature
- Jodie Devos (soprano) Adèle Charvet (mezzo)
Münchner Rundfunk O/Laurent Campellone rec.
2018 ALPHA CLASSICS 437 [60.57]
[MC] A must for lovers of French Romantic
operetta and opera repertoire.
Sir Arthur SULLIVAN (1842-1900)
The Light of the World - Natalya Romaniw (soprano) Ben McAteer
(baritone)
BBC Symphony Ch & Concert O/John Andrews rec. 2017 DUTTON EPOCH 2CDLX7356 SACD [2 discs: 146.19]
[MW] A ground-breaking and special performance of superb music.
Jacqueline
Eymar (piano) César FRANCK (1822-1890)
Piano Quintet, Prélude, Choral et Fugue - Quatuor
Loewenguth rec. 1953/55 FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR115 [54:34] Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924)
Nocturnes, Impromptus, Cello Sonata
No. 2 - André Navarra (cello) Annie d'Arco
(piano) rec. 1949/57 FORGOTTEN RECORDS
FR771
[52:04] Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Variations & Fugue on a Theme by Handel
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Preludes
rec. 1957 FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR254 [59:05] [SG]
A pianist worth getting to know.
Frank
Merrick (piano)
A Recorded Legacy
rec. 1961-1970s NIMBUS NI8820-25
[6 CDs: 419:02] [JW] A splendid and devoted
undertaking.
Spring
will come Choral rarities
from the Grand Duchy of Finland - Helsinki Chamber
Ch/Nils Schweckendiek rec. 2017 BIS
BIS-2442 [53:11] [GF] Marvellous
performances of an interesting survey of Finnish
choral music.
