NEW & RECENT ARTICLES
[New]
Piano Trio Discography:
Robert Schumann
Short Reviews & Second Thoughts: Spring 2020/1 -
Part A ~
Part B by Brian Wilson & Johan van Veen
Beethoven 250, Philharmonia 75
and Decca 90: some recent Beulah reissues by Brian Wilson
Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi - A survey by Ralph Moore
Listening Studio Report by John Quinn
Completions
and Reconstructions of Musical Works by Stephen Barber (full
document)
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AP0468/9
Jozef Wieniawski - Complete Chamber Works Vols 1&2 AP0472
Colours of the Harpsichord AP0443
Zukowski Secular works 3
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Publishing schedule
Monday: Other reviews (nostalgia, books, jazz, other music); Friday: Articles
Live performance reviews posted daily at
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Tuesday March
31st
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Sonatas &
Partitas
- Tomás Cotik (violin) rec. 2019 CENTAUR CRC3755/6 [57:43 + 60:50]
[RMas] Lithe and efficient Bach.
Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945) Violin Concerto No. 2,
Rhapsodies Nos 1 & 2 -
Baiba Skride (violin) WDR SO Köln/Eivind Aadland rec. 2017 ORFEO C950191 [57:45]
[SSi] Even if this is not my first choice, it is a welcome and enjoyable performance which I will be revisiting.
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Quartets
- Juilliard String Quartet rec. 1964-1970 SONY CLASSICS 19075992332 [9 CDs: 505:33]
[RMo]
Much to offer.
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto No. 1, Ballades
- Royal Northern Sinfonia/Lars Vogt (piano) rec. 2018 ONDINE ODE1330-2 [72:14]
[MG] A triumphant vindication of Vogt’s courage in taking on the role of piano-conductor.
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Piano Concertos
Vol. 5 -Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)
Manchester Camerata/Gábor Takács-Nagy rec. 2019 CHANDOS CHAN20137(2) [60.49 + 64.22]
[CRa] These are discs to treasure, and play often.
Josef SUK (1874-1935) Symphony No. 2 Asrael
- Bavarian RSO/Jakub Hrůša
rec. 2018 BR KLASSIK 900188 [62:43] [MC] A first-rate recording.
Concertos From 19th Century Denmark
Works by Barth, Gade & Kuhlau - Lisa Maria Cooper, Flemming Aksnes (French horn)
Oliver Nordahl (oboe)
Ian van Rensburg (violin)
Aarhus SO/Jean Thorel
rec. 2018
DACAPO SACD 6.220664 [53:56] [DJB] Elegant and tuneful music, the non-concerto Overture being the pick.
The Early Horn Ursula Paludan Monberg (horn)
Arcangelo/Jonathan Cohen rec. 2018 HYPERION CDA68289 [78:32]
[MR] Early examples of the horn in a concertante role, expertly delivered by a leading exponent of the natural horn.
Ignaz Friedman (piano)
Complete Recordings 1923-1941
DANACORD DACOCD861-864 [6 CDs: 336 mins]
[JW] All pianophiles must know they need Friedman’s discs.
Monday March 30th
Nadia BOULANGER (1887-1979)
& Lili BOULANGER (1893-1918) Clairičres
-
Nicholas Phan (tenor)
Myra Huang (piano) rec. 2019 AVIE AV2414 [53:17] [NB] The music is important but the style of singing suggests a try-before-you-buy approach.
Alma DEUTSCHER (b. 2005)
From My Book of Melodies -
Alma Deutscher (piano) rec. 2019 SONY CLASSICAL 19075990192 [50:36]
[MBu] Confirms her undoubtedly rightful footing in the serious, contemporary classical music world.
Samuil FEINBERG (1890-1962)
Piano Sonatas No. 1-6 - Marc-André Hamelin (piano) rec. 2018
HYPERION CDA68233 [74:33] [JW]
Hamelin powerfully resolves all the technical complications and dramatic conflicts embedded in these intense works.
Poul RUDERS
(b. 1949) Piano Concerto No. 3, Cembal d’amore,
Kafkapriccio - Anne-Marie McDermott (piano) Odense SO/Benjamin
Shwartz, Andreas Delfs rec. 2016/18 BRIDGE 9531 [59:34]
[RHa] Credit to Bridge for annotating Ruders’ every move.
Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Symphony No. 3
Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Organ Concerto -
Iveta Apkalna (organ) Bavarian RSO/Mariss Jansons
rec. 2019 BR KLASSIK 900178 [60.47] [MC]
Iveta Apkalna performs with sparkle and resolve.
Eric WHITACRE (b. 1970)
Marimba Quartets -
Joby Burgess, Sam Wilson (marimba & vibraphone), Calum Huggan, Rob Farrer (marimba)
rec. 2019
SIGNUM RECORDS SIGCD625 [21:29] [SA]
If you are a marimba fan you will love this sumptuous sounding disc.
Alexander ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942)
Der Traumgörge - Pamela Coburn, Janis Martin (soprano), Josef
Protschka (tenor), Hartmut Welker (baritone), Frankfurt RSO/Gerd Albrecht rec. 1987
CAPRICCIO C5395 [48:19 + 62:39] [PCG]
A reissue of a well performed Zemlinsky rarity but with woefully lacking documentation.
Escales Sinfonia of London/John Wilson rec. 2019
CHANDOS CHSA5252 SACD [79:05] [SB]
A delightful collection and a real winner.
Royal Brass Music Maurice André & Jean Pirot (trumpets), Thurston Dart (director), Robert Veyron-Lacroix (harpsichord continuo),
Ensemble Orchestral de L’Oiseau Lyrique/Pierre Colombo
rec. 1956/58
ELOQUENCE 482 8527 [73:29] [RMas]
A pleasant listening experience.
Other reviews
Jón Leifs and the Musical Invention of Iceland by Árni Heimir Ingólfsson
publ. 2019 Indiana University Press [DBi] Of importance because there is so little else published on Leifs.
Friday March 27th
Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Choral works - Westminster Cathedral Ch, London
SO & Ch/George Malcolm,
Purcell Singers/Benjamin Britten
rec. 1957-61 ELOQUENCE 484 0658 [71.19] [PCG] Historically important recordings.
Aaron COPLAND (1900-1990)
Symphony No. 3 - San Francisco Symphony rec. 2018 SFS MEDIA SFS0078
[42:33]
[DM] A deceptively easeful yet quietly commanding performance that goes right to
the heart of this great symphony; exemplary sound, too.
Tőnu KŐRVITS (b. 1969)
Hymns to the Nordic Lights -
Estonian Ntl SO/Risto Joost rec. 2015-19 ONDINE ODE1349-2 [57:42]
[DC]
Substantial and satisfying: sharpen your senses and dive in.
Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano Sonatas Nos 6-8
-
Steven Osborne (piano) rec. 2019 HYPERION CDA68298 [74:28]
[TB]
Magnificently assured yet highly sensitive performances of this uncompromising music.
Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951)
& Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin Concertos -
Jack Liebeck (violin)
BBC SO/Andrew Gourlay rec. 2019 ORCHID CLASSICS ORC100129 [77:15]
[RWe]
The Brahms could burn brighter at times, but the Schoenberg has a fine new champion on disc.
Nikos SKALKOTTAS (1904-1949)
World Premiere Recordings rec. 1949-2019 MELISM MLSCD025 [78:58]
[JW] This discriminating label has done its subject proud with this release.
Hugo WOLF (1860-1903) The Complete Songs Vol.
10 -
Louise Alder, Fflur Wyn (soprano)
Rowan Hellier, Katarina Karnéus (mezzo)
Adrian Thompson (tenor)
Roderick Williams (baritone)
Neal Davies (bass)
Sholto Kynoch (piano) rec. 2013 STONE RECORDS 5060192780918 [65:26]
[RMas] I look forward to the final installment.
Reginald Goodall (conductor) Works by
Dukas, Messiaen & Schumann - Royal Opera House
O
rec. 1961 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC581 [75:43] [JQ]
Reginald Goodall giving good accounts of music that one would not normally expect to hear from him.
Thursday March 26th
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Organ works - Ashley Grote (organ) SELBY ABBEY ORGAN MASTERS SAOM006 [73:44]
[MR] Grand, often monumental performances of five of Bach’s most majestic organ works, all captured in fine recorded sound.
Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
Symphony No. 6 - London SO/Jascha Horenstein rec. 1961
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC574 [56:29] [JQ]
A very good performance of Bruckner’s Sixth and a valuable addition to the Horenstein discography.
Hans Werner HENZE (1926-2012) San Biagio 9 Agosto ore 12.07, Concerto, Serenade, Trauer-Ode - Daniele Roccato (double bass), Ludus Gravis, Abruzzese
SO/Tonino Battista rec. 2015-2019
WERGO WER73912 [52:11] [DC]
Top-notch recording and performances of rarely heard Henze.
Adam PORĘBSKI (b. 1990)
First Command –
Adam Porębski (electronics)
Hashtag Ens/Lilianna Krych rec. 2019 DUX 1059 [55:13] [RHa]
Porębski’s music is carefully designed, hypnotically repetitive, and neatly shared between the eight instruments and the composer’s atmospheric washes of electronica.
Vissarion SHEBALIN (1902-1963)
Orchestral Works Vol. 2 - Siberian SO/Dmitry Vasiliev rec. 2012/2018
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0164 [70:30] [JW]
Colourful music given ardent performances.
The Contrast: English Poetry in Song Carolyn Sampson (soprano)
Joseph Middleton (piano) rec. 2018 BIS BIS2413 SACD [81:06]
[PCG]
Huw Watkins’s Larkin settings are the main reason to invest in this recital.
Italian Guitar Concertos
Works by Vivaldi, Giuliani, Sollima & Boccadoro -
Emanuele Segre (guitar)
I Pomeriggi Musicali O/Carlo Boccadoro
rec. 2018 DELOS DE3546 [67:58] [ZT]
A rather disjointed programme which does not work particularly well.
Praga Rosa Bohemiae Cappella Mariana/Vojtěch Semerád rec. 2018
SUPRAPHON SU4273-2 [62:56] [JV]
A perfect combination of an interesting programme and superb singing.
Wednesday March 25th
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concertos Nos 2 & 5 -
Kristian Bezuidenhout (fortepiano)
Freiburger Barock O/Pablo Heras-Casado rec. 2017 HARMONIA MUNDI HMM902411 [60:03]
[ST] If you like the sound of a fortepiano, this may appeal greatly to you.
Dieterich BUXTEHUDE
(1637-1707) Complete Organ Works
- Harald Vogel (organ)
rec. 1986-1993 MDG 314 2148-2 [7 CDs: 484:44 & DVD]
[SG]
An inviting makeover to an outstanding cycle.
Franz LISZT
(1811-1886) Between Heaven &
Hell -
Joseph Moog (piano) rec. 2018 ONYX 4195 [63:44] [JWe] I’ve run out of superlatives for this disc.
Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony No. 8
- Westminster Symphonic Ch, Philadelphia
O/Yannick Nézet-Séguin rec. 2016 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4837871 [82:54]
[JQ]
Other recordings come much closer to realising Mahler’s audacious vision.
Marin MARAIS (1656-1728) &
Antoine FORQUERAY (1672-1745) Chamber
works - Anton Birula (theorbo)
Julia Karpeta,
Krzysztof Karpeta (viola da gamba)
Maurycy Raczyński, Marta Niedźwiecka (harpsichord) rec. 2018 CD ACCORD ACD259 [53:32]
[JW] An engaging and enjoyable reflection on the French gamba tradition.
Ronald STEVENSON
(1928-2015) Piano Music Vol. 4
- Christopher Guild (piano)
rec. 2017/19 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0555 [75:17]
[JF] Thoroughly enjoyable.
Mieczyslaw WEINBERG (1919-1996)
Cello Concerto,
Fantasy,
Concertino -
Raphael Wallfisch (cello)
Kristiansand SO/Lukasz Borowicz rec. 2018 CPO 555 234-2 [67:02]
[DC]
A fine programme and a Cello Concerto that everyone should hear.
The King’s Singers
Finding Harmony rec. 2019
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD607 [67:31]
[MR] A must-have for all their fans.