NEW & RECENT ARTICLES
[New] Another Dozen Obscure
Favorites by Andrew Hartman
Short Reviews & Second Thoughts:
Autumn 2019/1 by Brian Wilson, Dan Morgan, Johan van Veen & Simon
Thompson
Listening Studio Report
by John Quinn
Piano Trio Discography - Sergei
Rachmaninov
Anthony Hedges - An obituary by
Kenneth Shenton
Jessye Norman - a short
appreciation by Ralph Moore
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Thursday October 31st
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3 - Bergen PO/Edward Gardner rec. 2018
CHANDOS CHSA5236 SACD
[81:25] [IL]
Glowing sound and nicely phrased, nuanced readings.
Gerald FINZI (1901-1956)
Short choral works - Alexander Hamilton (organ), Asher Oliver (organ), Trinity College Choir Cambridge/Stephen Layton rec. 2017-2018
HYPERION CDA68222
[74:16] [SB]
A superb collection of Finzi’s shorter choral works.
Josef LABOR (1842-1924)
Piano Quintet, Piano Quartet - Nina Karmon (violin), Pauline Sachse (viola), Justus Grimm (cello), Niek de Groot (double bass), Oliver Triendl (piano) rec. 2018
CAPRICCIO C5390
[67:11] [RB]
Delicacy and grand momentum.
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Don Giovanni - Carlos Alvarez (baritone), Arena di Verona Orchestra/Stefano
Montanari rec. 2015
C MAJOR Blu-ray 751904
[187 mins] [MP]
A very engaging production but Mozart’s exquisite musical textures are buried by the vast spaces of the Arena.
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Liederkreis, Kernerlieder -
Matthias Goerne (baritone)
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano) rec. 2018 HARMONIA MUNDI HMM902353 [53:29]
[ST] This has to be one of my discs of the year.
Mieczysław WEINBERG (1919-1996) Chamber Symphonies Nos
1 & 3 -
East-West CO/Rotislav Krimer rec. 2018 NAXOS 8.574063 [58.16]
[MW] Very welcome for both the intrinsic quality of the music and outstanding performances.
Cantate Domino
Works by Bach, Mozart, Telemann, Buxtehude & Handel -
Ens BachWerkVokal/Gordon Safari rec. 2018 MDG 902 2138-6 SACD [65:40]
[JV] A fine debut for BachWerkVokal, with the added bonus of some first recordings.
Johanna Martzy (violin)
Swiss Radio Broadcast Recordings
rec. 1947-69 MELOCLASSIC MC2035 [60:56] [JW] Martzy is inevitably a draw for fiddle appreciators.
Pietro Scarpini (piano)
Discovered Tapes: From Baroque to Contemporary rec. 1950-1967
RHINE CLASSICS RH-010
[12 CDs: 14 hours] [SG]
This sterling achievement resuscitates the memory of a long-forgotten artist.
Styrian Harpsichord Concertos Michael Hell (harpsichord)
Neue Hofkapelle Graz/Lucia Froihofer, Michael Hell rec. 2018 CPO 555 269-2 [78:30]
[PRB] Another valuable contribution to the catalogue, both erudite and really entertaining.
Wednesday October 30th
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Goldberg Variations,
Suite No. 1 - Arundo Qt rec.
2018 SUPRAPHON SU4261-2 [55:31]
[ST] Arrangements for wind quartet that work very well.
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonatas Nos 21, 25, 31
& 32 -
Conrad Hansen (piano) rec. 1952-1963 MELOCLASSIC MC1047 [71:21]
[SG]
Beethoven playing of the highest order.
Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869)
Fantaisie sur la Tempête de Shakespeare,
Symphonie fantastique -
Toronto Mendelssohn Ch & SO/Sir Andrew Davis
rec. 2018 CHANDOS CHSA5239 SACD [70:08]
[WH]
A standard work and an interesting coupling in splendid performances.
Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Piano Concertos - Hans Richter-Haaser, Nikita
Magaloff (piano) rec. 1951/1961 SWR CLASSIC SWR19076CD [68:46]
[JW]
One for piano collectors and possibly also for Rosbaud’s many adherents.
Manuel de FALLA (1876-1946)
El sombrero de tres picos, El Amor Brujo
- Carmen Romeu (mezzo) Mahler CO/Pablo Heras-Casado
rec. 2019 HARMONIA MUNDI HMM902271 [62:27]
[RWe]
Among the best versions of this coupling.
Gabriel PROKOFIEV (b. 1975)
Saxophone Concerto; Bass Drum Concerto -
Branford Marsalis (saxophone),
Joby Burgess (bass drum),
Ural PO/Alexey Bogograd rec. 2018 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD584 [54:29]
[RHa] Two fascinating, unconventional confections from another Prokofiev.
Sir Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924)
Fairy Day; Overture in the Style of a Tragedy; A Song of Agincourt; Verdun; A
Welcome March -
Kerry Stamp (soprano),
Codetta,
Ulster O/Howard Shelley rec. 2018 HYPERION CDA68283 [65:32]
[EJW]
A truly splendid CD - every piece is well worth an extended listen.
Glauco VELÁSQUEZ (1884-1914) Violin Sonatas No. 1
& 2 Leopoldo MIGUEZ (1850-1902) Violin Sonata -
Emmanuele Baldini (violin),
Karin Fernandes (piano) rec. 2014 NAXOS 8.574118 [71:27] [RB]
Well worth hearing, especially the Velasquez.
The Leipzig Circle Vol. 1 Works by Fanny & Felix
Mendelssohn and Clara & Robert Schumann - London Bridge Trio
rec. 2018 SOMM RECORDINGS SOMMCD0199 [72:17] [CRa] An original and very interesting programme – shame about the sound.
Ten Great Violinists of the Twentieth Century BIDDULPH LAB 8101 [10 CDs: 748:44] [RMas] An affordable introduction to the great violinists of the 20th century.
Tuesday October 29th
Georg Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Cantatas, Arias
- Robert Tear (tenor);
Helen Watts (contralto)
English Chamber O/Raymond Leppard Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/Neville Marriner rec. 1961/1969 ELOQUENCE 482 4753 [65:57]
[JW] A very welcome restoration.
Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809) Cello Concertos Nos 1 &
2 -
Raphaël Pidoux (cello) Jeune O l’Abbaye aux Dames de Saintes rec. 2018 NOMADMUSIC NMM064 [47:07]
[DJB] A memento for those involved, but not a serious contender in a crowded
field.
Pierre JALBERT (b. 1967)
& Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Violin Concertos Arvo PÄRT (b. 1935)
Fratres Pēteris VASKS (b. 1946)
Lonely Angel
-
Margaret Batjer (violin) Los Angeles CO/Jeffrey Kahane rec. 2018 BIS BIS-2309 SACD [63:41]
[RHa] A rather oddly-matched collection, but the new Jalbert concerto is certainly worth hearing.
Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Alexander Nevsky; Lieutenant Kijé Suite
- Utah Symphony/Thierry Fischer
rec. 2016 REFERENCE RECORDINGS FRESH! FR-735 SACD [60:06] [JQ] Excellent performances presented in terrific sound.
Jean-Philippe RAMEAU (1683-1764) Les Indes Galantes
- Sandrine Piau (soprano), Les Arts Florissants/William Christie rec. 1991 HARMONIA MUNDI HAX8901367.69 [3 CDs: 195:07] [ST] This recording remains as valuable as ever.
Julius RÖNTGEN (1855-1932)
Piano Music Vol. 4 - Mark Anderson (piano) rec. 2018 NIMBUS NI5975 [57:38] [JWe] Rare and interesting repertoire.
Timothy SALTER (b. 1942) Piano Quintet,
Elegy,
Clarinet Quintet -
Muse Piano Quintet, Usk Ensemble rec. 2012/15 USK ARCHIVE 1235CD [48:17] [RB] Deeply committed playing of music that oscillates, flickers and shimmers.
Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757)
52 Sonatas - Lucas Debargue (piano)
rec. 2018 SONY CLASSICAL 19075944462 [4 CDs: 235:06]
[RMas] An intriguing new set of Scarlatti sonatas.
Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Ein Heldenleben Edward GREGSON (b. 1945)
Tuba Concerto -
Venezuelan PO/Edgar Meinhardt rec. 1986 CLAUDIO ARCHIVE CA5255-2 [68:02]
[RMay]
Unremarkable and unnecessary Strauss – but Gregson’s accessible concerto may be of interest for its rarity value.
Rarities of Piano Music at Schloss vor Husum 2018 DANACORD DACOCD839 [79:45]
[RCh] A disc jam-packed with piano discoveries and joyous music-making.
Monday October
28th
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-79) Violin Sonatas
Clara SCHUMANN (1819-1896)
Andante molto - Alina Ibragimova (violin) Cédric Tiberghien (piano) rec.
2018 HYPERION CDA68200 [71:06] [RMas]
Modern, streamlined and elegant Brahms.
Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Piano works -
Philippe Entremont (piano)
rec. 1955/59 IDIS 6739 [67:47] [RC] Mainly of interest to Entremont fans.
Friedrich GERNSHEIM (1839-1916) Piano Quintets Nos
1 & 2 -
Edouard Oganessian (piano)
Art Vio String Qt rec. 2009 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0099 [65:00]
[PRB] A quite superb disc.
Richard RIJNVOS (b. 1954)
Riflessi - Ives Ensemble rec. 2019
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6383
[74:10] [RHa]
A splendid disc which will hopefully trigger more interest in this maverick Dutch master outside of his homeland.
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano works -
Carlo Grante (piano) rec. 2013 MUSIC & ARTS CD-1292 [71:53]
[JWe] Much to enjoy here.
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Serenade to Music, Five Variants of 'Dives and Lazarus', The Lark Ascending, Fantasia on 'Greensleeves', English Folk Song Suite - James Ehnes (violin), Royal Liverpool P. O. / Andrew Manze rec. 2017/2019
ONYX 4212
[69:23] [ST]
An ideal one-stop-shop for Vaughan William’s most popular orchestral music.
British Tone Poems Vol. 2 BBC Philharmonic/Rumon
Gamba rec. 2019 CHANDOS CHAN10981 [70:16] [JQ]
This excellent collection of British tone poems is a worthy successor to Vol. 1 in the series.
Christ lag in Todes Banden Bachplus/Bart Naessens
rec. 2018 EVIL PENGUIN CLASSICS EPRC0031 [65.19]
[GH] Altogether pleasing performances.
Le clavecin mythologique Anne Marie Dragosits (harpsichord) rec. 2016
L'ENCELADE ECL1801
[73:35] [JV]
Mostly rather well-known pieces, approached from an original angle and performed on a magnificent historical instrument.
David Oistrakh (violin)
Early
Recordings Works by Bach, Beethoven & Saint-Saëns - Moscow State Philharmony SO/ Lev Steinberg rec. 1938
AQUARIUS AQVR385-2
[68:29] [JW]
Strictly for Oistrakh completists.
Other reviews
Orchestra
by Avalon Nuovo & David Doran publ. 2019
FLYING EYE BOOKS
[MMB]
A splendid Christmas present for a young music fan.
Friday October 25th
Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Mazurki -
Vladimir Feltsman (piano)
rec. 2018 NIMBUS NI6386 [78:20 + 70:40] [MG] Consistently fine performances.
John McLEOD (b. 1934)
Piano Music -
Murray McLachlan, Rose McLachlan (piano)
rec. 2017 MÉTIER MSV77207 [78:46 + 81:01] [PRB] An outstanding set.
Wynton MARSALIS (b. 1961)
Violin Concerto, Fiddle Dance Suite -
Nicola Benedetti (violin)
Philadelphia O/Cristian Măcelaru rec. 2017/19 DECCA 485 0013 [67:03]
[RHa] Two meaty pieces that will move both heart and feet.
Humphrey PROCTER-GREGG
(1895-1980) Violin Sonatas Nos 1, 2
& 4 -
Andrew Long (violin)
Ian Buckle (piano) rec. 2018 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0539 [78:35]
[JW] Encapsulates a profound belief in the primacy of melodic beauty.
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Symphony No. 7 - Bavarian RSO/Mariss Jansons
rec. 2016 BR KLASSIK 900184 [73:11] [MC] Up there with the finest accounts I know.
Elles Works by
Clara Schumann, Boulanger, Hensel, Clarke, Fuchs
& Pidgorna -
Marina Thibeault (viola)
Marie-Ève Scarfone (piano) rec. 2018 ATMA CLASSIQUE ACD22772 [68.09]
[CRa] Half a dozen works – lesser-known because they’re by women – beautifully performed and recorded.
William Murdoch (piano)
Complete Columbia Solo Electrical Recordings rec. 1925-31
APR 6029 [76:09 + 77:37] [SG]
Aural documents of significant historical importance.
Václav Neumann (conductor) Early Recordings
- Czech PO, Prague SO, Film SO,
Brno PO rec. 1953-68 SUPRAPHON SU4133-2 [6 CDs: 463:10]
[SV] A mixed bag – possibly a case for selective downloading.
