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Hoffnung Music
Festivals 1956,58,61
2CDs:£17
postage included World-Wide [mono/stereo]
This is a must for
all Hoffnung enthusiasts.
Purchase
here
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review
|
Hoffnung - A Last
Encore
On 2 CDs lasting
1 hour 45min, this contains all the recordings
of Hoffnung preserved in the BBC archives.
They include the famous and hilariously
funny Bricklayer story. [mono]
£14
postage included world-wide Purchase
|
See
a new Hoffnung
Cartoon every day
Available
for the FIRST TIME
-
a DVD of 7 animated Hoffnung cartoons as shown
on the BBC in the 1960s in FULL COLOUR plus
animated Gilbert and Sullivan Ruddigore. £14.99
Details
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RECENT ARTICLES
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NYMAN
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The Universal Composer by
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Eminent Lives] Harper Collins
Publishers, New York. 2005. 5-1/2" x
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of musical terms. No index. 1 B&W illustration.
US$21.95.ISBN 13978-0-06-075974-2 and ISBN
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Michael
Balfe (1808-1870) The Maid of
Artois A light romantic opera in 3 Acts,
with ballet based on a Manon Lescaut plot
Victorian
Opera Northwest conducted by Philip Mackenzie
CAMEO 2042/3 2CD set with libretto and essays
£26 post free
This opera was premièred in London
as the second of Balfes early English
opera successes.
With melodious music and reconstructed score,
this is only the second Balfe opera to appear
in the CD catalogue.
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Domenico
SCARLATTI
(1685-1757) The Complete
Keyboard Sonatas (Kk Nos 1-555)
Scott Ross (harpsichord) Recorded at various
locations in France, 1984-1985 DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62092-2 [34 CDs -
approx. 34 hours, 36 minutes] [PCW] Review
updated 18 December 2005
This
set is a pinnacle in the history of recorded
music … see Ongoing
Review
Click
for MUSICWEB RECORDINGS
OF THE YEAR
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1002 [33.01]
Eugene YSAŸE
(1858-1931) Sonata No. 1 in G minor,
Op. 27/1 [17.23] Bela
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Sonata
for Violin solo (1944) [27.37]
Baiba Skride (violin, "Huggins"
Stradivari, 1708) Recorded at Studio 10,
DeutschlandRadio Berlin, 3-6 May 2005. DDD.
SONY CLASSICAL SK92938 [78.03] [ED]
One
thing’s for sure ... this disc is no turkey
and hooray for that! We’ve all had enough
of those by now haven’t we? ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Michael
BALFE (1808-1870)
The Maid of Artois - A Romantic
opera in 3 acts (1836) [148.06] Libretto
by Alfred Bunn (1798-1860) after Abbé
Prévost (1697-1763) Kay Jordan (Isoline):
soprano Stephen Anthony Brown (Jules de
Montangon): tenor Rebecca Rudge (Coralie):
soprano Jonathan Pugsley (Marquis de Chateau-Vieux):
bass-baritone John Molloy (Sans Regret):
bass George Hulbert (Synnelet): baritone
Adrian Lawson (Martin): baritone John Elliott
(Centinel): tenor Geoffrey Brocklehurst
(Count Saulnier): bass Annette Reis-Dunne
(Ninka): soprano
Victorian Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Philip
Mackenzie rec. Cheadle Hulme School, Cheshire,
12-13 February 2005
CAMPION CAMEO BRITISH COMPOSER SERIES 2042/3
[78.20 + 69.46] [CF]
A
splendidly produced recording into which
a lot of hard work and a labour of love
has gone. A grand achievement, one which
has awakened us all to the huge importance
of the music of Balfe ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897)
Symphony no.2 in D major, op.73 (1877) [44:51]
Hungarian Dances: No. 1 in G minor (orch.
Brahms) [3:24]; No. 3 in F (orch. Brahms)
[2:46]; No. 10 in F (orch.Brahms) [1:52];
No. 17 in F# minor (orch. Dvořák) [3:37];
No. 18 in D (orch. Dvořák) [1:31];
No. 19 in B minor (orch. Dvořák) [2:38];
No. 20 in E minor (orch. Dvořák) [2:44];
No. 21 in E minor (orch. Dvořák) [1:42]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Marin Alsop
rec. Blackheath Concert Hall, London, March
2005 (Symphony); Watford Colosseum, Watford,
28 July 2005
NAXOS 8.557429 [65:06] [GPJ]
I
enjoyed this new recording enormously. Penetrated
the dark interior of one of the composer’s
most complex works ... Alsop was right in
there from beginning to end ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791)
Violin concerto No. 3 in G major, KV 216
(1775) [25.17]; Rondo Nr. 2 in C major,
K. 373 (1781) [5.42] Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Rondo in
A major, D 438 (1816) [13.44] Michael
HAYDN (1737-1806) Violin concerto
in B flat major, Perger 53 (1760) [21.47]
Baiba Skride (violin) Kammerorchester
C.P.E.Bach/Hartmut Haenchen Recorded at
Studio 10, DeutschlandRadio Berlin, June
24-27 2004. SACD. DDD.
SONY CLASSICAL SK92939 [66.55] [ED]
Looks
as if we might have a serious artist on
our hands. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756
– 1791) Le
nozze di Figaro (1786) Lucio Gallo
(bass-baritone) – Il Conte di Almaviva;
Eteri Gvazava (soprano) – La Contessa di
Almaviva; Patrizia Ciofi (soprano) – Susanna;
Giorgio Surian (bass) – Figaro; Marina Comparato
(mezzo) – Cherubino; Giovanna Donadini (contralto)
– Marcellina; Eduardo Chama (bass) – Bartolo;
Sergio Bertocchi (tenor) – Basilio; Eleonora
Contucci (soprano) – Barbarina; Gianluca
Ricci (bass) – Antonio; Carlo Bosi (tenor)
– Don Curzio; Gabriella Cecchi and Laura
Lensi – Two peasant girls
Coro e Orchestra del Maggio Musicale
Fiorentino/Zubin Mehta Directed for Stage
by Jonathan Miller Set Design: Peter J.
Davison; Costume Design: Sue Blane; Choreography:
Susanna Quaranta; Lighting Design: Jvan
Morandi; Director of the Stage Production:
Massimo Teoldi; Directed for TV and Video
by Maria Paola Longobardo
Recorded live at the Teatro Communale, Florence,
2, 15 and 18 October 2003
TDK
DVWW-OPNDFF [2 DVDs: 181:00] [GF]
Well-paced
with singing on a high level, an enchanting
Cherubino and a lively Susanna ... a stylish
performance with period costumes and sets
... see Full
Review
Candlelight
Carols -
Christmas with Allmänna Sången
Gunnar
WENNERBERG (1817 – 1901) Gören
portarna höga (Gates, raise your arches);
Ivar WIDÉEN
(1871 – 1951) Gläns över
sjö och strand (Shine over lake and
shore); Hugo ALFVÉN
(1872 – 1960) Julsång (Christmas
Song); Jean SIBELIUS
(1865 – 1957) Julvisa ("Giv mig
ej glans …") (Christmas Song "Give me no
splendour, gold or pomp"); Jan
Pieterszoon SWEELINCK 1562 – 1621)
Hodie Christus natus est (Today Christ
is born); Michael
PRAETORIUS (c. 1571 – 1621)/Jan
SANDSTRÖM (b. 1954) Det
är en ros utsprungen (Behold a rose
is springing); Benny
ANDERSSON (b. 1947) Innan gryningen
(Before Dawn); Trad/Otto
OLSSON (1879 – 1964) Gammal julvisa
(Old Christmas Song); Adolphe
ADAM (1803 – 1856) O, Helga natt
(O, Holy Night); Franz
GRUBER (1787 – 1863) Stilla natt
(Silent Night); Niels
W. GADE (1817 – 1890) Barnens
Julafton (The Children’s Christmas Eve);
John RUTTER (b.
1945) Shepherd’s Pipe Carol; Candlelight
Carol; Herbert
HOWELLS (1892 – 1983) A Spotless
Rose; Felix MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY
(1809 – 1847) Hark! The Herald
Angels sing
Karl-Magnus Fredriksson (baritone) Allmänna
Sången Uppsala Chamber Soloists/Cecilia
Rydinger Alin Recorded in October 2004 at
the University Hall, Uppsala, Sweden
BIS-NL-CD-5028 [62:05] [GF]
There
are riches galore on this disc. It can be
confidently recommended to lovers of Yuletide
music or of good choral singing or of good
baritone singing ... or just lovers of good
music well performed. ... see Full
Review
The Light
of the World:
Choral music George
Frederick HANDEL Eternal
source of light [3.40] Walter
ALCOCK Sanctus [2.25]
Geoffrey BURGON
Nunc
Dimittis [3.09] John
DANKWORTH The Light of the
World [2.35] Felix
MENDELSSOHN I waited for the
Lord [4.39] George
Frederick HANDEL How beautiful
are the feet [2.16] Samuel
Sebastian WESLEY Blessed be
the God and Father [7.44] Franz
SCHUBERT Ave Maria [5.45]
Robert SCHUMANN
The Angels' Goodnight [1.29]
C. Hubert H. PARRY
Long since in Egypt's plenteous land
[4.15] TRAD.,
arr. Malcolm ARCHER
Brother James' Air [3.15] Benjamin
BRITTEN Balulalow (A
Ceremony of Carols) [1.24] enjamin
BRITTEN This little babe (A
Ceremony of Carols) [1.38] John
RUTTER The Lord bless you
and keep you [2.56] Gabriel
FAURÉ Pie Jesu
[3.22] Colin MAWBY
Ave verum corpus [4.10] TRAD
I would be true (Londonderry
Air). [1.26] Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART Ave
verum corpus [3.24] Morten
LAURISDEN Ubi caritas
et amor [8.57] John
RUTTER A Gaelic Blessing
[2.18] Amazing Grace (American
folk-hymn melody) [3.18]
Tewkesbury Abbey School Choir/Benjamin
Nicholas Carleton Etherington (organ)
Stephen Taylor (singing teacher) Recorded
at Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucestershire, England,
October 2005
SIGNUM SIGCD068 [74:08] [RW]
An
enjoyable diversion during this festive
season ... see Full
Review
New
French Song
- new settings of French words by British
composers (2003-2004) Tarik
O'REGAN (b. 1972) Sainte (Mallarmè)
[3.39] Sadie HARRISON
(b. 1965) ..issu stellaire..
(Mallarmé) [6.12] Will
TODD (b. 1970) Le Pont Mirabeau
(Apollinaire) [5.09] Edwared
COWIE (b. 1943) Les Hiboux
(Baudelaire) [4.12] Bob
CHILCOTT (b. 1955) L'enfant
dort (Hugo) [1.42] John
CASKEN (b. 1949) Colloque
Sentimental (Verlaine) [6.12] Laurence
CRANE (b. 1961) Tour de France
Statistics 1903 – 2003 (Crane) [4.47]
Adam GORB
(b. 1958) La Cloche Fêlée
(Baudelaire) [6.27] Gabriel
JACKSON (b. 1962) A la Mémoire
de Claude Debussy (Cocteau) [3.24] Michael
FINNISSY (b. 1946) Salomé
(Laforgue) [3.09] Andrew
KEELING (b. 1955) Artémis
(de Nerval) [4.31] Hugh
WOOD (b. 1932) Alicante
(Prévert) [1.47] Diana
BURRELL (b. 1948) Longtemps
ce fut l'été (Bonnefoy)
[2.15] Helen ROE
(b. 1955) Pourquoi? (Verlaine)
[5.48] Nicola LEFANU
(b. 1947) Billet à Whistler
(Mallarmè) [6.38] Edward
MCGUIRE (b. 1948) Rêves
de la Bonne Heure (McGuire) [4.52] Judith
BINGHAM (b. 1952) La Jeune
Morte (Heredia) [2.31] Roger
REDGATE (b. 1958) Mirlitonnades
(Beckett) [1.57] Howard
SKEMPTON (b. 1947) Le Pont
Mirabeau (Apollinaire) [1.34] Graham
FITKIN (b. 1963) Les Aliments
Blancs (Satie) [1.44]
Alison Smart (soprano) Katharine Durran
(piano) Recorded at the Turner Sims Concert
Hall, 1-3 April 2005. DDD.
MSV CD 92100 [79.36] [ED]
Artistically
enterprising and uncompromising, with excellent
production values too, this Metier release
is well worth exploring. ... see Full
Review
Thursday
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Works for Solo Keyboard Partita
No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826 [21:10] Partita
No. 3 in A minor, BWV 827 [18:53] Partita
No. 4 in D major, BWV 828 [37:26]
Cédric Tiberghien, piano Recorded
Teldex Studio Berlin, August 2004. DDD Released
October 2005
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC 901869 [77:40] [DS]
It
has its virtues but wrong sonics and unimpressive
Allemandes and Sarabandes make it impossible
for me to recommend this premium-priced
disc. ... see Full
Review
Leonard
BERNSTEIN (1918-1990)
Serenade
for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion
(1954) [31:18] Facsimile – Choreographic
Essay for Orchestra (1946) [18:38] Divertimento
for Orchestra (1980) [18:09]
Philip Quint (violin) Bournemouth Symphony
Orchestra/Marin Alsop rec. The Concert Hall,
Lighthouse, Poole, 12-13 January 2005
NAXOS 8.559245 [65:04] [DC]
I
defy anyone to find themselves sorry they
bought this CD – it’s what we former employees
of Farringdon Records call ‘a winner.’ ...
see Full
Review
Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643)
Madrigals Book 4:- II
Quarto Libro de’ Madrigali, 1603 Ah,
dolente partita [4:01] Cor mio, mentre
vi miro [2:32] Sfogava con le stelle
[4:30] Volgea l’anima mia soavente
[4:16] Anima mia, perdona [3:26]
Che se tu se’il cor mio [4:05] Luci
serene e chiare [3:59] La piaga c’ho
nel core [2:56] Voi pur da me partite,
anima dura [4:49] A un giro sol de’belli
occhi lucenti [2:46] Ohime, se tanto
amate [3:42] Io mi son giovinetta
[2:34] Quell’angellin che canta [2:30]
Non piu Guerra, pietate [3:30] Si,
ch’io vorrei morire [4:02] Anima
dolorosa [3:54] Anima del cor mio
[3:10] Longed a te, cor mio [3:36]
Piagn’e sospira [5:21]
Delitiae Musicae/Marco Longhini rec. Chiesa
di San Pietro, Vincoli, Azzago, Verona,
Italy, 28 July - 2 August 2002. DDD
NAXOS 8.555310 [73:46] [EM]
Beautiful
ensemble singing where individual voices
rise and fall into unison like swelling
waves. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756
– 1791) Die
Entführung aus dem Serail (1782)
Deon van der Walt (tenor) – Belmonte; Kurt
Moll (bass) – Osmin; Lars Magnusson (tenor)
– Pedrillo); Oliver Tobias (speaking part)
– Pasha Selim; Inga Nielsen (soprano) –
Konstanze; Lillian Watson (soprano) – Blonde;
Kathleen Wilder, Karen Shelby, David Young,
Donaldson Bell – Four solo voices
Royal Opera Chorus Orchestra of the Royal
Opera House Covent Garden/Georg Solti Directed
by Elijah Moshinsky; Scenery: Sidney Nolan
and Timothy O’Brien; Costumes: Timothy O’Brien;
Stage Lighting: Robert Bryan; Directed for
video by Humphrey Burton Filmed live at
the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in 1988.
WARNER
NVC ARTS 0630-18773-2 [approx. 142:00]
[GF]
Fine
singing, good acting, charming sets ...
presided over by a Solti less hectic than
he has sometimes been. Good playing and
technical quality ... Buy and enjoy! ...
see Full
Review
Michael
NYMAN
(b. 1944) Man
and Boy: Dada (2004) An
opera in two acts with libretto by Michael
Hastings Kurt Schwitters: John Graham-Hall
(tenor); Michael: William Sheldon (boy soprano);
Mother + old woman, bus conductress, museum
guard, BBC interviewer: Vivian Tierney
Michael Nyman Band/Paul McGrath Recorded
Abbey Road Studios, London, Oct-Nov 2004
MN RECORDS MNRCD 101/2 [42:25 + 62:21]
[JL]
A
subtle and touching work superbly performed.
A great collaboration between composer and
librettist. ... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Symphony
No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 (1877) [42:36]
Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 (1888)
[46:04] Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74
‘Pathétique’ (1893) [44:00]
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Valery
Gergiev Recorded: Grosser Saal, Musikverein,
Vienna, Austria, 17-21 October 2002 (Sym.
4), 2-4 September 2004 (Sym. 6); Grosses
Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Austria, July 1998
(Sym. 5) DDD
PHILIPS 475 6315 0 PX3 [3 CDs: 42:36
+ 46:04 + 44:00] [MC]
Opulent,
dramatic and powerful performances. This
well recorded Philips set would be a welcome
addition to any collection. ... see Full
Review
Henryk
WIENIAWSKI
(1835-1880) Violin
Concerto in D minor Op.22 (1870) [22.42]
Grażyna BACEWICZ
(1909-1969) Concerto for String Orchestra
(1948) [14.16] Krzysztof
PENDERECKI (b.1933) Agnus Dei
(1980-84) arranged for string orchestra
by Boris Pergamenschikow (1994) [6.36]
Wojciech Pławner (violin) Beethoven
Academy Orchestra/Paweł Przytocki Recorded
in the Concert Hall of the Silesian Philharmonic
in Katowice, May 2005
DUX 0524 [43.36] [JW]
Very
much to be sampled before purchase, as this
is more a souvenir of an event than a cohesively
designed sequence in its own right ... see
Full
Review
19th
Century Organ and Choral Music Theophil
FORCHHAMMER (1847-1923) Sonate
Nr.2 in e-Moll, op.15 ‘Zur Todtenfeier’
(pub. 1886) [25:04] Aus Acht Choralbearbeitungen,
op.11 (pub. 1887) Es ist gewisslich an
der Zeit [2:00] Jesus meine Zuversicht
[2:33] Theodor
KIRCHNER (1823-1903) Aus Orgelkompositionen,
op.89 (pub. 1890) [14:33] Benedict
JUCKER (1811-1876) Aus Neun Coral-Vorspiele,
op.7 (1867) Mein Jesu den die Seraphinen
[2:43] O’ wie so gar sanftmüthig
[2:03] Ach bleib mit deiner Gnade
[2:22] Josef
Gabriel RHEINBERGER (1839-1901) Messe
in f-Moll, op.159 für Chor und Orgel
(1889) [22:04]
Ursna Caflisch (organ) Cantus Firmus/Clau
Scherrer Rec. Katholische Pfarrkirche Ilanz,
27-31 October 2004
GUILD GMCD 7290 [74:36] [DC]
Greatly
of interest to those seeking the less well-trodden
byways of romantic organ repertoire ...
this recording deserves a firm recommendation.
... see Full
Review
An
Elizabethan Songbook Richard
EDWARDS Where
grypinge griefs [4:05] Thomas
CAMPION Come
let us sound [3:02] John
DOWLAND In
this trembling shadow [8:05] John
DANYEL Like us the lute delights
[3:39] John
DOWLAND I
saw my Ladye weepe [5:35] Francis
PILKINGTON Rest
sweet Nimphs [3:45] Thomas
CAMPION When
to her Lute [1:41] Francis
PILKINGTON Musick
deare sollace [5:05] Thomas
MORLEY I
saw my Ladye weeping [3:40] Robert
JONES If
in this flesh [4:07] Francis
PILKINGTON Come
all ye [4:06] John
BARTLETT Sweete
birdes deprive us never [6:09]
Emma Kirby, soprano Anthony Rooley,
lute rec. Decca Studios, West Hampstead,
London, June 1978. ADD
DECCA ELOQUENCE 476 7466 [53.19] [EM]
This
a wonderful disc. Delightful songs. Kirkby’s
clear, pure voice complemented by Rooley’s
sympathetic lute accompaniment. ... see
Full
Review
BOOK
REVIEW
Beethoven:
The Universal Composer by
Edmund Morris. [In the
series Eminent Lives] Harper
Collins Publishers, New York. 2005. 5-1/2"
x 7-3/8." 243 pages, including glossary
of musical terms. No index. 1 B&W illustration.
US$21.95.ISBN 13978-0-06-075974-2 and ISBN
10 0-06-07594-7.
The
Cambridge Companion to Grand Opera
David Charlton (editor)
Published
2003 Cambridge University Press, 496 pages
ISBN 0-521064683-9
The
Cambridge Companion to the Concerto,
edited by Simon P. Keefe
Pub:
Cambridge University Press, 2005 (1st
ed.) 309 pp. Paperback: ISBN 052154257X
£17.99 Hardback: ISBN 052183483X £45.00
[ED]
Has
the potential to be informative in the right
hands ... serves as the springboard for
further reading on this absorbing musical
genre. ... see Full
Review
Recordings
of the Month Bargains
of the Month
Specialist
Music Books for sale- expensive but
I have made them as cheap as I can and offer
free postage
BOOK REVIEWS
Eric
Charles Blake
Wars, Dictators and the Gramophone 1898-1945
pp320;
illustrated; laminated cover.published by
Sessions of York, Huntingdon Rd, York YO31
9HS, England Buy
from MusicWeb £10 plus postage
- immediate delivery review
Christopher
Fifield - Ibbs and Tillett: The Rise and
Fall of a Musical Empire. Just published
by Ashgate. 692 pages, 78 b/w illustrations.
Hardback for only £29.95 post-free in
the UK [review
Rob Barnett] [review
Jon Woolf]
LONDON
– a Musical Gazetteer By
Lewis and Susan Foreman Yale University
Press, New Haven and London, 2005 ISBN 0-300-10402-2
(chalk.paper) 384 pp 107 b/w illus large format
paperback ISBN 0 300 10402 2 £15:99.
.....must
find itself a place on music-lovers’ shelves
beside the British Music Yearbook and is excellent
value for the quite modest price. see Full
Review
CD
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Special Offers
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Michael
BALFE (1808-1870)
The Maid of Artois - A Romantic
opera in 3 acts (1836) [148.06] Libretto by
Alfred Bunn (1798-1860) after Abbé
Prévost (1697-1763) Kay Jordan (Isoline):
soprano Stephen Anthony Brown (Jules de Montangon):
tenor Rebecca Rudge (Coralie): soprano Jonathan
Pugsley (Marquis de Chateau-Vieux): bass-baritone
John Molloy (Sans Regret): bass George Hulbert
(Synnelet): baritone Adrian Lawson (Martin):
baritone John Elliott (Centinel): tenor Geoffrey
Brocklehurst (Count Saulnier): bass Annette
Reis-Dunne (Ninka): soprano
Victorian Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Philip
Mackenzie rec. Cheadle Hulme School, Cheshire,
12-13 February 2005
CAMPION CAMEO BRITISH COMPOSER SERIES 2042/3
[78.20 + 69.46] [CF]
A
splendidly produced recording into which a
lot of hard work and a labour of love has
gone. A grand achievement, one which has awakened
us all to the huge importance of the music
of Balfe ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Alfonso
FERRABOSCO (1543-1588)
Psalm 103, Motets & Chansons
Dolci ire (madrigal a 5) [6:55] Auprès
de vous (chanson a 5) [2:49] In Nomine I [2:38]
Pecantem me quotidie (motet a 5) [3:32] Psalmus
CIII [32:32] Bruna sei tu, ma bella (madrigal
a 5) [2:45] Domine, non secundum peccata nostra
(motet a 6) [4:35] Quel sempre acerbo (madrigal
a 6) [4:14]
The Huelgas Ensemble/Paul Van Nevel Recorded
September 2004 at the Chapel of the Franciscans,
Lille
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC 901874 [60:40] [KS]
No
lover of vocal polyphony will want to be without
this lovely recording. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Elena
KATS-CHERNIN (b.
1957) Wild
Swans Concert Suite (2003) [36’47]
1.Green Leaf [2:39]; 2. Eliza Aria [3:17];
3. Brothers [1:50]; 4. Wicked Witch [1’51];
5. Magic Spell Tango [3:42]; 6. Good Fairy
[3:16]; 7. Knitting Nettles [3:17]; 8. Darkness
in the Forest [3:43]; 9. Eliza and the Prince
[3:55]; 10. Glow Worms [1:28]; 11. Mute Princess
[3:50]; 12. Transformation [3:59] Piano
Concerto No. 2 (2001) [18:23] 13. I [5:34];
14. II [4:08]; 15. III [2:47]; 16. IV [5:54]
Mythic (2004) [11:28]
Jane Sheldon, soprano (1-12); Ian Munro,
piano (12-16) Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra/Ola
Rudner rec. 16-19 August 2004, Federation
Concert Hall, Hobart, Tasmania. DDD
ABC CLASSICS 476 7639 [66:41] [ZT]
Future
listeners will wonder how music of this interest
and quality could possibly have escaped their
attention. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Piano
Trios: No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49 (1839)
[26'51]; No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66 (1845) [26'54].
The Florestan Trio (Anthony Marwood, violin;
Richard Lester, cello; Susan Tomes, piano).
Rec. Henry Wood Hall, London, 16-18 December
2003. DDD
HYPERION CDA67485 [53'45] [CC]
This
is a disc to treasure. The reputation of the
Florestan Trio is already high – and here
comes firm confirmation of the ensemble's
stature. ... see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Maurice
RAVEL
(1875-1937) String
Quartet (1904) [27:13] Germaine
TAILLEFERRE (1892-1983) String
Quartet (1917-1919) [9:34] Darius
MILHAUD (1892-1974) String Quartet
No. 4 (1918) [13:30]
Leipzig String Quartet: Andreas Seidel, violin;
Tilman Büning, violin; Ivo Bauer, viola; Matthias
Moosdorf, cello. rec. Paul-Gerhardt-Kirche,
8-10 February 2005. DDD
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG
3071359-2 [50:42][JF]
I
would heartily recommend this disc to all
listeners: a good programme with excellent
performances. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Robert
SCHUMANN (1810–1856)
Liederkreis Op. 24 (1840) [18:35]; Liederkreis
Op. 39 (1840) [22:45]; Dichterliebe Op. 48
(1840) [25:55]
Peter Schreier (tenor), András Schiff (piano)
rec. Lukaskirche, Dresden, 9-10 July 2002
ORFEO C 658 051 B [67:33][GF]
A
disc that no lover of German lieder should
miss. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
STRAUSS
(II) (1825-1899) Valses,
Polkas, Ouvertures:
Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, RV 214 (1858)
[2.48] Ouvertüre, Die Fledermaus,
RV 503-1 (1874) [8.28] Csardas, Die Fledermaus,
RV 503-2 (1873) [4.42] Nordseebilder,
Walzer, RV 390 (1879) [9.25] Im Sturmschritt,
Polka schnell, RV 348 (1871) [2.17] Neue
Pizzikato Polka, RV 449 (1892) [2.56]
Perpetuum mobile, RV 257-2 (1881) [2.51]
Frühlingsstimmen, Walzer, RV 410
(1883) [6.42] Ouvertüre zu Der Zigeunerbaron,
RV 511-1 (1885) [8.07] An der schönen
blauen Donau, Walzer, RV 314 (1867) [10.53]
Egyptischer Marsch, RV 335 (1869) [5.11]
Éljen a Magyar, Polka, RV 332
(1869) [2.52] Furioso Polka, quasi
Galopp, RV 260 (1861) [2.34]
Orchestra Anima Eterna/Jos van Immerseel Recorded
in La Grande Salle de L’Arsenal à Metz,
April 2000
ZIG-ZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT 020601 [70:32]
[AB]
An
altogether remarkable CD which presents a
view of the music of Strauss that most would
find revelatory. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS
(1864-1949) Elektra,
Tragedy in one act (1906) Gwyneth Jones (soprano)
- Elektra Leonie Rysanek (soprano) - Clytemnestra
Anne Evans (soprano) - Chrysothemis Ronald
Hamilton (tenor) - Aegisth Wolfgang Schöne
(baritone) - Orest Michael Pavlu (bass) -
Orest’s tutor Janeen Franz (mezzo) - the confidante
Antoinette Faes (soprano) - the train-bearer
Chœur du Grand Théâtre de Genève/Jean
Laforge Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Jeffrey
Tate rec. live, Grand Théâtre,
Geneva, 10 March 1990. ADD.
CLAVES CD 50-2514/15 [53’51 + 47’57] [ED]
This
will be the Elektra that I will return to
most often ... to celebrate remarkable music-making
of a work that maintains as firm a grip as
ever. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Piet
SWERTS (b.
1960) Clarinet
Quintet (2001)a [32:30] String
Quartet No.2 (1998)b [30:06]
Roeland Hendrikx (clarinet)a; Tempera
String Quarteta; Spiegel String
Quartetb
rec. Casino, Beringen, February 2003 (Clarinet
Quintet) and Academiezaal, Sint Truiden, May
2005 (String Quartet No.2)
PHAEDRA 92045 [62:36] [HC]
Polished
and dedicated performances. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Un
ballo in maschera (1859) Gustavo III
... Placido Domingo (tenor) Anckarström
... Leo Nucci (baritone) Amelia ... Josephine
Barstow (soprano) Ulrica ... Florence Quivar
(mezzo) Oscar ... Sumi Jo (soprano) Cristiano
... Jean-Luc Chaignaud (bass) Horn ... ...
Kurt Rydl (bass) Ribbing ... Goran Simic (bass)
A Judge ... Wolfganag Witte (tenor) Amelia’s
servant ... ... Adolf Tomaschek (tenor)
Vienna State Opera Chorus Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra/Sir Georg Solti Directed by John
Schlesinger Recorded 28 July 1990, Großes
Festpielhaus, Salzburg.  TDK
DVD-CLOPUBIM [137.54] [TB]
A
traditional Salzburg production ... The three
leading roles, sung brilliantly by Placido
Domingo, Josephine Barstow and Leo Nucci,
are not only fine vocally, but wholly convincing
dramatically too ... see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Five
Violin Concertos: Concerto in D major
for violin, strings and basso continuo Il
Grosso Mogul, RV208 [13:01] Concerto in
B minor for four violins and cello, RV580a
[08:55]Concerto in C major for violin, strings
and basso continuo, RV187 [11:45] Concerto
in D major for violin, strings and basso continuo,
L'Inquietudine, RV234 [06:18] Concert
in E minor for violin, strings and basso continuo,
Il Favorito, RV277 [12:58]
Viktoria Mullova (violin) Il Giardino
Armonico/Giovanni Antonini Stefano Barneschi
(violin)a Marco Bianchi (violin)a
Riccardo Masahide Minasi (violin)a
Marco Testori (cello)a rec. Pieve
di Palazzo Pignano, Cremona, Italy, 6-9 June
2004. DDD
ONYX 4001 [53:06] [MC]
Vivaldi,
Mullova and Onyx are a winning combination.
... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Messe
Noire Igor STRAVINSKY
(1881-1971) Serenade
in A (1925) [11'43]. Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Piano
Sonata No. 2 in B minor, Op. 61 (1942) [25'57].
Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Piano Sonata No. 7 in B flat,
Op. 83 (1939-42) [19'27]. Alexander
SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Piano Sonata
No. 9 in F, Op. 68, 'Messe noire' (1912/13)
[8'45].
Alexei Lubimov (piano). Rec. Radio Studio
DRS, Zurich in May 1998 and December 2000
(Prokofiev).
ECM NEW SERIES 1679 (465 1372) [65:52]
[CC]
This
is an absolutely tremendous disc, from all
angles. This will be one of my Records of
the Year, of that I am sure. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Zoltán
Székely and the Hungarian String Quartet
Historical recordings and previously unissued
public performances, 1937-1968. Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Quartet
K 456 ("Dissonant") Quartet in D minor K 421Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Quartet No.
14 in D minor ("Death and the Maiden") Quartet
No. 15 in G Major, Op. 161 Josef
HAYDN (1732-1809) Quartet in C
major Op 74 No 1 Quartet in D Major Op 64
No. 5 Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Quartet in
C, Op. 59 No. 3 Quartet in C# minor, Op. 131
Quartet in F Op. 59 No. 1 Zoltan
KODÁLY (1882-1967) String
Quartet No. 2, Op. 10 Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Fifth
String Quartet Sixth String Quartet Third
String Quartet Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Quartet in A
minor Op. 51 No. 2 Nicola
Antonio PORPORA (1686-1768) Sonata
II in G (from Sonate XII di Violino e Basso
(osia di Cimbalo e violoncello)) Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Quartet
in D Major, Op. 11
Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Quartet
in F Major, Op. 96 ("American")Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Violin Concerto
in A Minor, Op. 82 Edouard
LALO (1823-1892) Guitarre Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Quartet in
A minor, Op. 41 No. 1
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Quartet
in G minor, Op. 10
Hungarian String Quartet Technical reconstruction
(2004) by Maggi Payne. Issued with the kind
cooperation of Prof. Gabriel Magyar and the
Székely Estate.
MUSIC & ARTS CD1161[8 CDs:
78.41 + 75.27 + 77.47 + 73.46 + 77.39 + 68.27
+ 78.52 + 74.30] [JW]
That’s
it. One of my Records of the Year wrapped
up this side of Christmas. I know quartet
records don’t sell well - but this one deserves
to. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH William
BOLCOM
(b.1938) Recuerdos
(1991) [13:22] Frescoes for two
pianos, harmonium and harpsichord (1971) [28:18]
Sonata for Two Pianos in One Movement (1993)
[15:40] Interlude (1963, rev. 1965)
[4:03] The Serpent’s Kiss (Ragtime)
(1969, arr. 1994) [5:37] Through Eden’s
Gates (Cakewalk) (1969, arr. 1994) [5:13]
Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann (pianos) Rec.
Boston Recital Hall, Banff Centre for the
Arts, Banff, Alberta, Canada; 7-10 Jan 2005.
NAXOS 8.559244 [72:15] [DC]
Naxos
seems to conjure this sort of thing from their
sleeve like a magician’s never-ending handkerchief
– long may it remain so. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897)
Symphony no.2 in D major, op.73 (1877) [44:51]
Hungarian Dances: No. 1 in G minor (orch.
Brahms) [3:24]; No. 3 in F (orch. Brahms)
[2:46]; No. 10 in F (orch.Brahms) [1:52];
No. 17 in F# minor (orch. Dvořák) [3:37];
No. 18 in D (orch. Dvořák) [1:31]; No.
19 in B minor (orch. Dvořák) [2:38];
No. 20 in E minor (orch. Dvořák) [2:44];
No. 21 in E minor (orch. Dvořák) [1:42]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Marin Alsop
rec. Blackheath Concert Hall, London, March
2005 (Symphony); Watford Colosseum, Watford,
28 July 2005
NAXOS 8.557429 [65:06] [GPJ]
I
enjoyed this new recording enormously. Penetrated
the dark interior of one of the composer’s
most complex works ... Alsop was right in
there from beginning to end ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Canadian Carnival Op.19 (1939)
[13:09] Violin Concerto Op.15 (1939)a
[33:09] BRITTEN-BERKELEY
Mont Juic Op.12/Op.9 (1937)
[12:03]
Lorraine McAslan (violin)a; English
Chamber Orchestra/Steuart Bedford rec. The
Maltings, Snape, October 1990
NAXOS 8.557198 [58:19][HC]
Good
to have these fine readings available again.
Well worth having for MacAslan’s superbly
poised, committed and convincing reading
of the Concerto ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Nicholas
GOMBERT
(c.1495-c.1560) Credo
for 8 voices [12:35]; Haec dies quam fecit
Dominus [4:50]; Qui colis Ausonium [7:08];
Salve Regina [Diversi diversa orant] [5:58];
O beata Maria [7:43]; Vae, vae Babylon [11:27];
Media vita in morte sumus [5:59]; Lugebat
David Absalon [8:22]
Henry’s Eight/Jonathan Brown rec. Ante-Chapel
of Trinity College, Cambridge, 1-3 April 1996.
DDD
HYPERION HELIOS CDH 55247 [69.54] [GH]
This
is a very fine disc and now at budget price
it is even more of an attractive proposition.
Buy it. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Witold
LUTOSŁAWSKI (1913-1994)
Twenty
Polish Christmas Carols [40.05] Lacrimosa
(1937) [3:37] Five Songs (1957)
[10:39]
Olga Pasichnyk (soprano) ¹ Polish Radio
Chorus, Kraców ¹ ² Jadwiga Rappé
³ Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
(Katowice)/Antoni Wit Rec. Grzegorz Fitelberg
Concert Hall, Katowice, 3-5 December 2001
(Carols, Lacrimosa), and 15
January 1997 (Songs).
NAXOS 8.555994 [54:22] [DC]
Makes
one glad to be alive during the sparkling
darkness of midwinter. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958) Songs
of Travel (1904) [24:09] The House
of Life (1903) [30:29] Linden Lea (1908)
[2:44] Four poems by Fredegond Shove (1924)
[14:03]
Roderick Williams (baritone) Ian Burnside
(piano) rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk 27-29 August
2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557643 [67:07] [AO]
Perhaps
the finest recording of Vaughan Williams'
early songs – superlative performances of
songs like Silent Noon and The New Ghost.
Get this! ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Ernani
(1844)
[129.11] Ernani – Luciano Pavarotti
(tenor) Elvira – Joan Sutherland (soprano)
Carlo – Leo Nucci (baritone) Silva – Paata
Burchuladze (bass) Giovanna – Linda McLeod
(soprano) Riccardo – Richard Morton – (tenor)
Jago – Alastair Miles – (bass)
Orchestra and Chorus of Welsh National Opera/Richard
Bonynge. Recorded in Walthamstow Town Hall,
London, May 1987. DDD
DECCA 475 7008 [64.34 + 64.37][JPh]
I
would rate this performance above all of its
rivals and supplied now at mid-price, with
complete libretto it is unbeatable in the
marketplace. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959)
Bachianas
Brasileiras - complete CD1 [73:10]:
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1 for
an orchestra of cellos (1930) [19:50] Bachianas
Brasileiras No. 2 for chamber orchestra
(1930) [22:16] Bachianas Brasileiras No.
3 for piano and orchestra (1938) [31:04]
CD2 [40:42]: Bachianas Brasileiras No.
4 for orchestra (1930, 1941) [20:27]
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 for
voice and eight cellos (1938/1945) [10:59]
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 6 for
flute and bassoon (1938) [9:07] CD3 [62:22]:
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 7 for
orchestra (1942) [27:26] Bachianas Brasileiras
No. 8 for orchestra (1944) [24:48] Bachianas
Brasileiras No. 9 for string orchestra
(1944) [10:08]
Rosana Lamosa (sop); Jose Feghali (piano);
Anthony La Marchina (cello); Eric Gratton
(flute); Cynthia Estill (bassoon) Nashville
Symphony Orchestra/Kenneth Schermerhorn; Andrew
Mogrelia rec. 14 May 2005, 7, 21, 23 Mar 2004.
Ingram Hall, Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. DDD
NAXOS 8.557460-62 [3 CDs: 73:10 + 40:42
+ 62:22][PCW]
The
market was just crying out for this release
... highly recommended, a considerable bargain
and a fine memorial to Kenneth Schermerhorn
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Richard
WAGNER (1813
– 1883)
Tristan und Isolde (1857–59)
Peter Hofmann (tenor) – Tristan; Hans Sotin
(bass) – König Marke; Hildegard Behrens
(soprano) – Isolde; Bernd Weikl (baritone)
– Kurwenal; Heribert Steinbach (tenor) – Melot;
Yvonne Minton (mezzo) – Brangäne; Heinz
Zednik (tenor) – En Hirt; Raimund Grumbach
(baritone) – Ein Steuermann; Thomas Moser
(tenor) – Ein junger Seemann
Chor und Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen
Rundfunks/Leonard Bernstein No recording dates
and venue given.
PHILIPS 475 7020 [4 CDs: 62:23 + 66:05
+ 73:50 + 64:06] [GF]
Bernstein
wrings every drop of emotion from the music
... an unforgettable experience ... see Full
Review
Detailed listing (last two days)]
[Part 1 New] [Part
2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]
[Part 5 S-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L]
[Part 7 Misc M-Z]
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