NEW & RECENT ARTICLES
[New] Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea
- A survey by Ralph Moore
[New] The Cello Concerto
- A
New Timeline: 1941-1960 by Patrick C Waller
Rossini’s Guillaume Tell
- A survey by Ralph Moore
Piano
Trio Discography: End of Year Update by David Barker
The Cello Concerto
- A
New Timeline: 1901-1940 by Patrick C Waller
NOTICES
Jussi Björling Museum appeal - see
here for details
NEW from
Acte Prealable
AP0480 Żeleński -
Roguski - Recently Discovered Works
AP0481 René de Boisdeffre - Songs 1
AP0488-89 Carl Maria von Weber - Complete Piano Sonatas
AP0490 Swan
Hennessy - Viola and Piano Works
Jazz & Nostalgia Reviews
Sweet Mary Cat ~
Alex Moxon ~
Chet Baker ~
John Lee Hooker ~
Chris Barber ~
Whispering Jack Smith
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NEW from
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AP0463 Ignacy
Krzyzanowski - Piano Works 2
AP0476 Raul Koczalski - Chamber Works 2
AP0478 René de Boisdeffre - Works for Violin, Cello and Piano
AP0484-85 Fernand de la Tombelle - Organ Works 1
AP0487 Henryk
Pachulski - Piano Works (and Chamber) 3
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Friday January 29th
Eugene d’ALBERT (1864-1932)
Tiefland -
Heinz Hoppe (tenor) Hanne-Lore Kuhse (soprano)
Chor der Staatsoper Dresden & Staatskapelle Dresden/Paul Schmitz rec. 1963 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95114 [2 CDs: 133:17]
[RWe]
An excellent vintage recording of d’Albert’s best-known opera.
George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Royal Handel - Eva Zaïcik (mezzo); Le Consort
rec. 2020 ALPHA 662
[64:59]
[BW] This recording joins a select list of solo Handel recitals.
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART [1756-1791]
Vesperae solennes de confessore, Requiem - Ch Bayerischen Rundfunks,
Akademie Alte Musik Berlin/Howard Arman rec.
2020 BR KLASSIK 900926 [80:38 + 73:03]
[MC]
Interesting live performances on one disc accompany a German-only documentary on the other disc.
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Sonata No. 1,
Fantasy -
Maurizio Pollini (piano) rec. 1973 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 423 134-2 [63:05]
[SB] Classic performances available again.
Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Ein Heldenleben, Metamorphosen -
San Francisco Symphony/Herbert Blomstedt rec. 1992 DECCA 436 596-2 [73:18]
[MB] Good but not among the towering greats.
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Songs of Travel, Job –
Neal Davies (bass-baritone),
Hallé/Sir Mark Elder
rec. 2019 HALLÉ CDHLL7556 [70:16] [JQ]
This recording of Job is a singular achievement and a pinnacle in Elder’s Vaughan Williams cycle.
Matthias WECKMANN (c. 1616-1674]
Complete Organ Works - Léon Berben (organ)
rec. 2019-2020 AEOLUS AE-11261 SACD [72:27 + 78:29]
[SG]
For those who want a complete Weckmann organ works, this new release should do the trick.
Delicate Delights
Best Loved Classical Mandolin & Lute Music NAXOS 8.578183 [78:47]
[BMC]
An interesting selection of the sweet and intoxicating sounds of the mandolin and the lute.
Thursday January 28th
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
The Last Piano Pieces -
Victor Rosenbaum (piano)
rec. 2017/18 BRIDGE 9545 [65:17] [GPu]
Profound readings from a mature pianist whose maturity of mind and heart is evident throughout.
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphonies
Nos 29 & 41, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto
Klemperer rec. 1954-62 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC608 [72.33]
[DD] Testimony to Klemperer’s genius and showing that he had a special gift for Mozart.
Steve REICH (b. 1936)
Eight Lines, City Life & other works - Holst-Sinfonietta/Klaus Simon (piano) rec. 2006-10
NAXOS 8.559682 [73:24] [MR]
An interesting Reich retrospective to mark the composer’s 85th birthday.
Earl WILD (1915-2010)
The Complete Transcriptions Vol. 2: Rachmaninoff Songs - Giovanni Doria Miglietta (piano) rec. 2015
PIANO CLASSICS PCL0102 [60:31] [RWe]
A worthy tribute to two great pianists.
British Music for Strings I
Works by Elgar, Jacob & Parry - Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim/Douglas Bostock rec. 2020
CPO 555 382-2 [71:05] [NB]
To be welcomed for its innovative and very well played programme.
Neujahrskonzert 2021
Wiener Philharmoniker/Riccardo Muti
rec. 2021 SONY 19439840162
[2 CDs 104:38]
[BW] This concert nearly didn’t happen; I’m very glad that it did.
The Sweetest Songs Music
from the Baldwin Partbooks III -
Contrapunctus/Owen Rees rec. 2016 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD633 [67:23]
[ST] Like balm for the soul.
Visions of Childhood
April Fredrick (soprano), English Symphony Orchestra/Kenneth Woods rec. 2020
NIMBUS NI6408 [79:30] [JQ]
Rewarding and thought-provoking.
Wednesday January
27th
Alberto GINASTERA (1916-1983), Leonard BERNSTEIN (1918-1990)
and Samy MOUSSA (b.1984) Violin Concertos
- Andrew Wan (violin) SO Montréal/Kent Nagano rec. 2019
ANALEKTA AN28920 [77:12] [NB]
A must for Ginastera collectors.
Gustav HOLST (1872-1934)
Alpha et Omega – Christmas Music
- Godwine Choir/Alex Davan Wetton, Edward Hughes;
John Wright, Richard Brasier, Tom Bell, Douglas Tang (organ)
Charlotte Evans (oboe) Alison Moncrieff-Kelly (cello) rec. 2019 EM RECORDS EMRCD062 [82:42]
[PCG] Despite the eccentric programming,
this is a most welcome release for all
Holstians.
JOSQUIN Desprez (c.1450-1521)
Le Septiesme Livre de Chansons (1545)
- Ensemble Clément Janequin/Dominique Visse
rec. 2020 RICERCAR RIC423 [61.14]
[GH] Perhaps not my favourite Josquin disc, but I shall turn to it quite often.
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Schubertiade - Julian Prégardien (tenor, recitation)
Marc Hantaï (transverse flute)
Philippe Pierlot (baryton)
Xavier Diaz-Latorre (guitar) rec. 2015 MYRIOS MYR018 SACD [74:51]
[RWe]
Evocative arrangements of some celebrated lieder, beautifully sung.
Jascha Horenstein (conductor)
Horenstein in
Gothenburg Vol. 1
- Works by Mozart, Saint-Saëns & Schubert
- Philippe Entremont (piano) Gothenburg SO rec. 1969 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC610 [79:24]
[JQ]
This disc has whetted my appetite to hear more of Jascha Horenstein’s work in Gothenburg.
Josef Lhévinne (piano)
The Complete Josef Lhévinne rec. 1920-1942
MARSTON 53023-2 [3 CDs: 213:43]
[SG]
Stylish playing, phenomenal technique, unassailable musicality and passionate commitment – it’s all here.
Pan + Apoll
Water Music for
Flute & Harp - Alja Velkaverh (flute)
Antonia Schreiber (harp) rec. 2020 HÄNSSLER HC20041 [75:23]
[GPu]
If the combination of instruments appeals to you, and you like to discover unfamiliar music, this will please you.
Franz Schreker’s Masterclasses
in Vienna & Berlin - Vol 4 Hugo HERRMANN (1896-1967)
Violin Sonata, Seraphic Music Felix PETYREK (1892-1951)
6 Greek Rhapsodies -
Kolja Lessing (violin, piano) Andreas Kersten (piano) rec. 2017-19 EDA 046 [69:06]
[JW] Lessing proves an invaluable and infallible guide.
Tuesday
January 26th
Max BRUCH (1838-1920) Violin Concerto No.1;
Scottish Fantasia - Kyung-Wha Chung (violin) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Rudolf Kempe rec. 1972 DECCA 4485972 [52:30]
[DD] Mainly for lovers of Miss Chung’s playing – the concerto is not a success.
Richard FLURY (1896-1967) Piano Quintet;
String Quartet;
Lieder - Rosmarie Hofmann (soprano); Margaret Singer (piano); Ulrich Lehmann (violin);
Urs Joseph Flury (violin);
Erich Meyer (viola);
Stefan Thut (cello) rec. 1996 GALLO CD-866 [78.25]
[SG] Music lyrically appealing and shot through with lush romanticism.
Johann Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837)
Piano Trios Vol. 2 - Gould Piano Trio
rec. 2013 NAXOS 8.573261 [61:30]
[RWe]
Hard to imagine better performances of these ingratiating works.
Jonathan LESHNOFF (b 1973) Piano Concerto;
Symphony No. 3
- Joyce Yang (piano);
Stephen Powell (baritone)
Kansas City Symphony/Michael Stern rec. 2016-2019 REFERENCE RECORDINGS FR-739 SACD [60:21]
[JQ] A significant release which has increased my admiration for the music of Jonathan Leshnoff.
Luigi NONO (1924-1990) La lontananza nostalgica utopica futura
- Marco Fusi (violin), Pierluigi Billone (sound direction) rec. 2020 KAIROS 0015086KAI [61:12] [RHa] A tough account of a tough work.
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Winterreise
-
Benjamin Hewat-Craw (baritone)
Yuhao Guo (piano) rec. 2020 ARS PRODUKTION ARS38573 [71:26]
[MZ] A bold effort gives mixed results, with some moments of very great beauty but too little emotion overall to be very satisfying.
Alexandre Dumas et la Musique Karine Deshayes (mezzo) Kaëlig Boché (tenor) Marie-Laure Garnier (soprano)
Alphonse Cemin (piano) Raphaël Jouan (cello) rec. 2020 ALPHA 657 [67:25]
[MP]
A pleasing recital of very charming and stylish music that is a welcome addition to the catalogue.
Sergio Fiorentino (piano)
Live in Germany 1993 APR 6034 [63:17 + 72:59]
[JW] It’s very good to have these splendid recordings back in the catalogue.
Monday
January 25th
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
The Complete
Cello Suites - Rohan de Saram (cello) rec. 2009-2016
CLAUDIO CR5995-2 [3 CDs: 151:17] [MS]
A welcome addition - full of depth and colour.
Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1975)
Choral Music - various performers rec. 1961-1978
ALTO ALC1433 [73:44] [GPJ]
A very mixed bag, with some of the older tracks showing their age rather badly.
Francois COUPERIN (1688-1733) Leçons
de Ténèbres Carlo GESUALDO (1566-1613) Tenebrae
Responsories - Tenebrae/Nigel Short rec. 2019 SIGNUM
CLASSICS SIGCD622 [77:09] [JV] I rate this recording among
the better in the catalogue.
Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907)
Songs for Soprano with Orchestra - Carole Farley (soprano), London Philharmonic O., Philharmonia O./José Serebrier rec. 1997-1998
SOMM ARIADNE 5001 [63:54] [JQ]
Excellent performances of Grieg's songs in skilful and idiomatic orchestrations.
Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Works for Two Pianos
- Piano Duo Genova & Dimitrov rec. 2013 CPO 7778962 [72:30]
[RWe]
A rare and valuable excursion into Liszt’s two piano music, superbly played and recorded.
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Die schöne Müllerin -
Ian Bostridge (tenor)
Saskia Giorgini (piano) rec. 2019 PENTATONE PTC5186775 [61:30]
[ST] Worthy to set alongside Bostridge’s earlier performance with Uchida.
Sir Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924)
Love's White Flame,
Songs Vol. 1 -
Elisabetta Paglia (mezzo)
Christopher Howell (piano)
rec. 2018 DA VINCI CLASSICS C00304 [65:50] [JF]
A remarkable disc.
Jaromír WEINBERGER (1896-1967)
Frühlingsstürme (operetta) - Dancers and Orchestra of the Komische Oper Berlin/Jordan De Souza rec. 2020
NAXOS NBD0122V Blu-ray [154 mins] [DBi]
An unusual operetta brilliantly sung, danced and staged, with a top-class recording.
Legendary Violinists in Live Concert Performances
-
Guila Bustabo (violin), Michèle Auclair (violin), Lola Bobesco (violin) rec. 1960-1966
MELOCLASSIC MC2047 [68:35] [SG]
Three female violinists, each a renowned performer, who for some reason have migrated off the radar.
Isaac Stern (violin)
Live Vol. 3 -
Paul Tortelier (cello), Arthur Rubinstein (piano)
rec. 1949-67 DOREMI DHR8131-2 [75:26 + 79:45] [JW] A valuable ancillary purchase for the Stern aficionado.
