NEW & RECENT ARTICLES
Strauss' Salome - a survey by Ralph Moore
Stanfordian Thoughts 9: His
most played work by CHristopher Howell
Second Thoughts & Short Reviews Winter
2018/19-1 by Brian Wilson & Dan Morgan
John Joubert - an obituary by
John Quinn
Wagner's Parsifal - a survey by Ralph Moore
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Live performance reviews posted daily at
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Wednesday January 23rd
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Stolen Moments -
Rikke Sandberg (piano) rec. 2018 DANACORD DACOCD835 [70:48] [JF] Some superb playing here.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony
No.3 - Musikkollegium Winterthur/Thomas
Zehetmair rec. 2018 MDG SACD 901 2090-6
[50.56] [DBi] A worthwhile demonstration
of small scale Bruckner but dispatched too quickly
by the conductor.
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Prélude à l’après-midi
d’un faune, Jeux, Nocturnes - Coro &
O ciudad Granada/Héctor Eliel Márquez, Les Siècles/François-Xavier
Roth rec. 2018 HARMONIA MUNDI HMM905291
[51:06] [JQ] An attractive Debussy package.
Eugene GOOSSENS (1893-1962)
The Apocalypse - Sydney
Philharmonia Ch & SO/Myer Fredman
rec. 1982 LYRITA SRCD371 [78:29] [JW] Your only viable chance to hear this tension-filled work.
Christoph GRAUPNER (1683-1760)
Das Leiden Jesu - Passion Cantatas II - Solistenensemble Ex Tempore; Mannheimer Hofkapelle/Florian Heyerick
rec. 2017 CPO 555 170-2 [79:19] [JV] A further step in the process of discovering Graupner's sacred music.
Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934) The
Planets George BUTTERWORTH (1885-1916)
A Shropshire Lad Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958) Fantasia
on Christmas Carols - NBC SO/Leopold
Stokowski rec. 1943-44 PRISTINE AUDIO
PASC546 [71:28] [JW] Pristine’s
Stokowski series keeps up the good work with
this well-programmed trio of recordings.
Henry PURCELL (1659-1695)
King Arthur - Sophie Junker (soprano), Zsuzsi Tóth (soprano), Caroline
Weynants (soprano),
Vox Luminis/Lionel Meunier
rec. 2018 ALPHA CLASSICS 430 [57:41 + 40:18]
[DC]
Perhaps a little buttoned-up, but if you can’t bear theatrical mucking about this could be the version for you.
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Humoreske; Davidsbündlertänze; Geister-Variationen -
Gabriele Carcano (piano) rec. 2018 RUBICON CLASSICS RCD1022 [77:44]
[SSi] Lacklustre.
Pyotr TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Les Saisons Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures
at an Exhibition - Barry Douglas (piano)
rec. 2018 CHANDOS CHAN10991
[75:46] [RBe] This performance is worthy
of standing alongside that of Richter’s.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Macbeth
- Roberto Frontali (baritone) Anna Pirozzi (soprano)
Ch & O Teatro Massimo/Gabriele
Ferro rec. 2017 NAXOS Blu-Ray
NBD0077V [156] [RJF] A few
idiosyncrasies of staging apart, this is as
vibrantly sung and performed a Macbeth
as one is likely to see these days.
Tuesday January 22nd
Alban
BERG (1885-1935) Wozzeck
– Matthias Goerne, Asmik Grigorian,
Vienna PO/Vladimir Jurowski
rec. 2017 HARMONIA MUNDI HMD9809053.54
DVD/Blu-ray [101 mins] [SSi] An
excellent production that is marked by a starring
performance by Matthias Goerne in the title
role of Wozzeck.
Walter BRAUNFELS
(1882-1954) String Quintet,
Sinfonia Concertante
- Munich RO/Ulf Schirmer rec. 2007/09 CPO 777 579-2 [70:16]
[JW]
The performances are good but neither work gifts its subtle secrets easily.
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Études Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Gaspard de la Nuit
- Joseph Moog (piano) rec. 2017 ONYX
4204 [64.54] [RBe] First-rate Etudes,
but Gaspard is less successful.
Witold
LUTOSŁAWSKI (1913-1994) &
Henri DUTILLEUX (1916-2013)
Cello Concertos - Johannes Moser (cello) Rundfunk-SO
Berlin/Thomas Søndergård rec. 2017/18 PENTATONE
PTC5186689 SACD [53:52] [DC] Well
worth having.
Gustav MAHLER Symphony No. 6
- Berlin PO/Sir Simon Rattle rec. 2018 BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER BPHR180231
CD/Blu-ray [161.46] [JQ] The Berliner Philharmoniker here marks the end of the Rattle era in some style.
Sir Hubert PARRY
(1848-1918) The Wanderer - Rupert Marshall-Luck (violin),
Duncan Honeybourne (piano) rec. 2016 EM RECORDS EMRCD050-52 [3 CDs: 165:19] [CSe] A fine and worthy collection, even if the works do not startle with their innovation or variety.
Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883) Der Ring des Nibelungen - Hong Kong PO/Jaap van Zweden rec. 2015-18 NAXOS 8.501403 [14 CDs: 893 mins] [ST] It’s a budget price Ring but not a budget performance.
Haydn WOOD
(1882-1959) Orchestral Suites
- BBC Concert O/Gavin Sutherland rec. 2017 DUTTON SACD CDLX7357 [77:02] [JW] Wood’s suites are brought to life with care, affection and a real sense of colour and charm.
Violin
Concertos from Darmstadt Works
by Telemann, Kress, Fasch & Endler - Darmstädtler
Barocksolisten/Johannes Pramsohler (violin)
rec. 2017 AUDAX RECORDS ADX13716
[68:07] [DJB] Very much worth considering
for the four premiere works.
Worcester
Spectacular! Christopher Allsop
(organ) rec. 2018 PRIORY RECORDS PRCD1214
[75:40] [JF] All organ buffs will be keen
to add this superb CD to their collection.
Monday January 21st
Ida
Henriette d'FONSECA (1806-1858) Complete
Works - Helene Hvass Hansen (soprano) Cathrine Penderup (piano)
Kammerkoret Musica rec. 2018 DANACORD DACOCD777 [65:10]
[MBu] Utterly charming.
Wim HENDERICKX (b. 1962)
Nostalgia -
Boho Strings/David Ramael rec. 2018 ANTARCTICA RECORDS AR011 [58:02]
[DC] Enjoyable and deeply intriguing.
Carlo MARTELLI (b.1935)
Sredni Vashtar, The Curse of Christopher Columbus,
Serenade for Strings -
Simon Callow (narrator)
Lesley-Jane Rogers,
Olivia Robinson (soprano) Royal Ballet Sinfonia/Ronald Corp rec. 2018 CARMA RECORDS CARMA001 [58:00]
[JF] A fascinating CD, handsomely produced and finely performed.
Kaija SAARIAHO (b.1952)
Tocar, Cloud Trio, Light and Matter, Aure,
Graal théâtre -
Jennifer Koh (violin)
Curtis 20/21 Ens/Connor Gray Covington rec. 2016/17 CEDILLE RECORDS CDR90000183 [68.06]
[GH] Worth exploring and represents the composer fairly for anyone new to her.
Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Complete Preludes
-
Dmitri Alexeev (piano) rec. 2017 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95651 [56:51 + 63:43]
[MC] More than a match for celebrated accounts.
Wilhelm STENHAMMAR (1871-1927)
Symphony No. 2, Serenade - Gothenburg SO/Herbert Blomstedt rec. 2013/14
BIS BIS-2424 SACD
[83:21] [JQ]
An outstanding disc containing performances of distinction.
Andrew WRIGHT (b. 1967)
Piano Impressions - Andrew Wright (piano) rec. 2014-18
Private recording
[68:08] [JW]
An eclectic and enjoyable admixture of influences.
Alfredo Campoli (violin)
Violin sonatas by Beethoven, Brahms & Mozart - Peter Katin (piano) rec. 1963/73
ORCHESTRAL CONCERT CDs CD3/2009
[69:27] [PSe]
These captivating live performances by a winning combination of two supreme artists may well topple your favourites off their perches.
Giulio Cesare - A Baroque Hero
Raffaele Pe (countertenor), La Lira di Orfeo rec. 2017
GLOSSA GCD923516
[70:47] [JW]
Too many problems to make this worth considering.
Forgotten Russians
Vladimir Feltsman (piano) rec. 2018
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6377
[74:19] [RWe]
Anyone curious about those paths not taken in Soviet music should hear this disc.
Other reviews
The Mid-Twentieth-Century Concert Pianist - An English Experience by Julian Hellaby
publ. 2019 ROUTLEDGE [MMB] Very informative and well-written.
Friday January 18th
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Quartets Vols
4-6 - Elias Quartet rec. 2014-15
WIGMORE HALL LIVE WHLL0089/92/93 [6 CDs: 324:32] [BW]
There’s no ‘best buy’ for these quartets, but the Elias Quartet are up
there with a select handful of recordings.
Ján
Levoslav BELLA (1843–1936)
Complete
Piano Works - Peter Pažický, Martin Chudada
(piano) rec. 2013 PAVLÍK RECORDS PA0114-2-131
[62:13] [SG] Peter Pažický's impressive
technical arsenal does full justice to these
captivating and compelling scores.
Diogenio BIGAGLIA (1676-1745)
Miserere, Missa Antonio LOTTI (1667-1740)
Credo - Knabenchor Hannover, la festa musicale/Jörg Breiding rec. 2018 RONDEAU ROP7023 [81:02]
[JV] This disc puts an unjustly neglected composer on the map.
Ernst KRENEK (1900-1991) Chamber Music
& Songs Vol. 1 -
Laura Aikin (soprano)
Bernarda Fink (mezzo)
Florian Boesch (baritone) Ernst Krenek Ens rec. 2014-16 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0295 [75:15]
[JW] A thoroughly persuasive and well-rounded disc.
Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 6
-
MusicAeterna/Teodor Currentzis rec. 2016 SONY CLASSICAL 19075822952 [84:20]
[JQ] A provocative but compelling reading of Mahler’s Sixth.
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Overtures
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Rosamunde -
Vienna PO/Carl Schuricht, Pierre Monteux rec.
1954/1957 ELOQUENCE 482 4955
[69:41] [JW] Warmth and refinement in the
Schubert, well-balanced and thoughtful Mendelssohn.
Adam
POUNDS (b. 1954) Symphony, The
Martyrdom of Latimer, London Cantata - Matt
Wilkinson (baritone) Stapleford Ch Society,
Academy Great St Mary’s, O/Adam Pounds
rec. 1985-2018 CAMBRIDGE RECORDINGS
CAMRECS006 [58:55] [JF] One can
overlook the variable nature of the performances
for the pleasures in the music.
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Violin Sonatas,
5 Melodies - Levon Ambartsumian (violin) Anatoly
Sheludyakov, Alexander Ardakov (piano) PHOENIX
USA PHCD184 [61:51] [CSe] Russian
masterworks delivered by a master from the Russian
tradition.
Italian
Masterworks Works by Boito, Mascagni, Puccini & Verdi -
Riccardo Zanellato (bass); Chicago SO & Ch/Riccardo Muti rec.
2017 CSO RESOUND CSOR9011801
[68:37] [DM]
A peach of a programme, with playing, singing and sonics to match;
quite possibly my first Recording of the Year for 2019.
Tea for Two Clémentine Decouture (soprano)
Philippe Brocard (baritone)
Chloé Ducray (harp) Frivol’Ens rec. 2017/18 NAXOS 8.573973 [57:32]
[MBu] Enjoyable and refreshing.
Thursday January 17th
Francesco GEMINIANI (1687-1762)
Concerti Grossi Op.7 - Café Zimmermann rec. 2017 ALPHA ALPHA396
[64:05] [BW]
If you think that baroque music is sedate, these committed performances
of adventurous concertos should disabuse you.
Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963)
Viola Sonata, Trauermusik Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Viola Sonata, Rhapsody-Concerto - Kristina Fialová (viola),
Martin Levický (piano),
Czech Ntl SO/Tomáš Brauner rec. 2017/18
SOUND TRUST OUT095
[63:07] [JW]
The performances are admirably direct though not invariably expressively satisfying.
Karl KLINGLER (1879-1971)
Violin Concerto, Viola Sonata - Ulf Hoelscher (violin), Karl Klingler (viola),
Michael Raucheisen (piano), Bavarian RSO/Volker Schmidt-Gertenbach rec. 1979
MDG 642 2103-2
[82:31] [JW]
Neither work is a repertoire piece but both shed light on a significant string player.
Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957)
Das Lied der Liebe - Lilli Wünscher (soprano) Adam Sanchez (tenor)
O der Musikalischen Komöde Leipzig/Stefan Klingele
rec. 2018 RONDEAU PRODUCTIONS ROP6167 [81:35]
[NB] One for the completists only.
Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony No. 2 - Anja Harteros (soprano),
Bernarda Fink (mezzo-soprano),
Bavarian RSO & Ch/Mariss Jansons rec. 2011
BR KLASSIK 900167
[80:56] [RC]
This new version by Jansons will greatly please most listeners.
Pyotr TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Piano Trio Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Trio Élégiaque No. 1 - Klára Würtz (piano), Dmitri Makhtin (violin), Alexander Kniazev (cello)
rec. 2017
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95632
[57:31] [RWe]
This partnership on Brilliant offers superb musicianship for a modest price.
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
A Sea Symphony, The Lark Ascending -
James Ehnes (violin)
Sarah Fox (soprano) Mark Stone (baritone) Royal Liverpool PO & Ch/Andrew Manze
rec. 2017 ONYX 4185 [77:32] [JQ] A good Sea Symphony but it doesn’t challenge the best in the catalogue.
Juliusz WERTHEIM (1880-1928)
Preludes, Variations, Impromptus, Drei Weisen im polnischen Volkston - Elżbieta Tyszecka (piano)
rec. 2018
ACTE PRÉALABLE AP0428
[80:32] [SSi]
Yet another neglected Polish composer unearthed by Acte Préalable.
Le Cor Mélodique
Works by Gounod, Meifred & Gallay -
Anneke Scott (horn)
Stephen Devine (piano) rec. 2018 RESONUS RES10228 [75:57]
[MBu]
A worthy celebration of Gounod’s 200th birthday.
The French Piano School
Works by Debussy, Fauré & Ravel - Marius-François Gaillard, Carmen
Guilbert (piano)
rec. 1928-38 APR 6025 [73:10 + 76:23] [SG] A stimulating release, in impressive transfers.
