Edward
MacDOWELL
(1860-1908) Piano
Concerto No 2 Op.23 (1884-5) [25:47] Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Piano Concerto
No 1 in E flat (1848) [18:21] Piano Concerto
No 2 in A (1848) [20:44] 
André Watts (piano) Dallas Symphony
Orchestra/Andrew Litton Rec. Meyerson Symphony
Center, Dallas in July 1995
TELARC CD-80429 [65:15] [PCW]
The
playing is sympathetic and recorded sound
excellent but this does not eclipse stiff
competition in the Liszt concertos … see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No. 2 in C minor (Resurrection) (1903)
[88.02]
Isabel Bayrakdarian (soprano) Lorraine Hunt
Lieberson (mezzo) San Francisco Symphony Chorus
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tilson
Thomas rec. Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco,
June 2004
SAN
FRANCISCO SYMPHONY 821936-0006-2 [23.19
+ 54.43] [SV]
I
am not convinced that Thomas, a one-time Bernstein
protégé, has inherited his former
mentor's Mahler identification, nor are his
flashes of insightful detail enough to add
up to a consistently absorbing performance.
... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No. 2 Resurrection (1894) Allegro
maestoso [21.35], Andante moderato
[9.53], In sehr ruhig fliessender Bewegung
[10.32], "Urlicht": Sehr
feierlich, aber schlicht [5.12], Im
Tempo des Scherzos – Wild herausfahrend –
Allegro energico – Langsam – Misterioso
[34.08]
Kathleen Battle (soprano), Maureen Forrester
(contralto) Saint Louis Symphony Chorus Saint
Louis Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin,
Recorded in Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis,
10 and 12 October 1982 DDD
TELARC CD-80081-2 [42.01 + 39.19] [EM]
Slatkin’s
is a steady yet exciting performance – perhaps
not as "great" a recording as Klemperer’s
or Solti’s, but still one that I can heartily
recommend. ... see
Full Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony
No. 4 in G (1899/1900) arr. 1920, Erwin
Stein (1885-1958), reconstructed
1990, Alexander Platt.
Kate Royal (soprano). Manchester Camerata/Douglas
Boyd rec. live, Royal Northern College of
Music, Manchester, 6 Nov 2004. DDD AVIE
AV2069 [56'20] [CC]
Recommended.
The recording is superb and it is difficult
to believe this is a live performance, given
the overall excellence of instrumental response.
More than a curio, this Fourth has an appeal
and an impact all of its own. ... see Full
Review
Frank MARTIN
(1890-1974) The Complete
Piano Music Eight
Préludes (1948) [22.54] Esquisse (1965)
[3.52] Clair de lune (1952) [1.46] Etude rythmique
(1965) [2.10] Guitare (1933) [8.22] Fantasie
sur des rythmes flamenco (1973) [13.21] Ouverture
et foxtrot for two pianos (1924) [9.02] Pavane
couleur de temps for four hands (1920) [5.40]
Au clair de la lune for four hands (1955)
[2.08] Deux Pièces faciles for two
pianos (1937) [2.25] Etudes pour deux pianos
(1957) [19.10]
Julie Adam (piano) Christine Logan (piano)
– two piano and four hands rec. Eugene Goossens
Hall of ABC’s Ultimo Centre, August-November
2003
ABC CLASSICS 476 2601 [2 CDs 55.49 + 38.23]
[JW]
Adam’s
playing is fine, as is Logan’s and only the
recording may disappoint somewhat. Unusually
it’s rather clangy and diffuse. Otherwise,
a warm welcome. ... see Full
Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ
(1890-1959) Double
Concerto for Strings, Piano and Timpani (1940)
[22’39] Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra
(1931) [17’53] Tre Ricercare (1938)
[14’22]
Jean-François Heisser, Alain Planès
(pianos); Jean Camosi (timpani); Brandis Quartet
French National Orchestra/James Conlon Recorded
in Studio 104, Radio France, Paris, 30 Jan.-3
Feb. 1990
WARNER APEX 2564 62035-2 [54’37] [TH]
On
a purely artistic level these are pretty compelling
performances. ... see Full
Review
Joseph
MARX (1882-1964)
The Piano Concertos Romantisches
Klavierkonzert (Romantic Piano Concerto)
(1919-20) (I. Lebhaft (Allegro moderato) [16.53];
II. Nicht zu langsam (Andante affettuoso)
[10.16]; III. Sehr lebhaft (Allegro molto)
[13.18]) Castelli Romani for
piano and orchestra (1929-30) (I. Villa Hadriana.
Allegro (ma non tanto) [11.07]; II. Tusculum.
Andante [8.04]; III. Frascati. Presto [12.30])
David Lively (piano) Bochum Symphony Orchestra/Steven
Sloane rec. Erholungshaus der Bayer Industry
Services, Leverkusen, Germany, 13-17 Jan 2004.
DDD Complete Orchestral Music: Volume 4.
SANCTUARY-ASV CD DCA 1174 [72.46] [RB]
The
Marx revival continues with a tempestuous
second recording of the Romantic Concerto
and the world premiere of the bejewelled impressionistic
Castelli Romani. Don't miss it. ... see Full
Review
Pietro
MASCAGNI
(1863-1945) Cavalleria
Rusticana (1889) Santuzza –
Elena Obraztsova (sop) Turridu – Plácido
Domingo (bar) Lucia – Fedora Barbieri
(mezzo) Alfio – Renato Bruson (bar)
Lola – Axelle Gall (mezzo) Ruggiero
LEONCAVALLO (1857-1919) I
Pagliacci (1891-2) Canio –
Plácido Domingo (bar) Nedda
– Teresa Stratas (sop) Tonio – Juan
Pons (bar) Silvio – Alberto Rinaldi
(bar) Peppe – Florindo Andreolli (bar)
Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan/Georges
Prêtre Filmed c.1982 Directed by Franco
Zeffirelli
DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON UNITEL 00440 073 4033 [140:00]
[TH]
If
you like Zeffirelli’s ‘grand manner’, and
realism where every grimace and jealous look
is under the camera’s scrutiny, you can’t
do better. ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Violin
Concerto in D minor (1822) [23.28] RCA
Victor String Orchestra, recorded New York,
1952 Violin Concerto in E minor Op.64
(1844) [27.15] Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Wilhelm
Furtwängler, recorded Berlin 1952 Max
BRUCH (1838-1920) Violin Concerto No.1
in G minor Op.26 (1867) [22.47]
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch,
recorded Boston 1951 Yehudi Menuhin (violin)
with accompaniments as above
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110991 [73.31] [JW]
An
interesting, if difficult, disc. For Menuhin’s
admirers these retrievals are a boon. Sound
is problematic but transfers are very reasonable.
Menuhin made superior recordings of both the
E minor and the Bruch. ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
String Quartets, Vol. 3 Quartet
in D major, Op. 44 No. 1 (1838) [28.46] Quartet
in E minor, Op. 44 No. 2 (1837) [25.59] Four
Movements for string quartet, Op. 81 (1827-1847)
[20.09]
Henschel String Quartet rec. 11-14 March
2004, Studio 1, Bayerische Rundfunk
ARTE NOVA 82876 60848 2 [75.40] [TB]
The
performance is as pleasing as the Henschel
Quartet have provided elsewhere in the series,
but I am not altogether sure that the Mendelssohn
cause is best served by the issues this presentation
raises. ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Complete Works
for String Quartet String
Quartet in E flat major (1823) [25.16] String
Quartet in E flat major Op.12 (1829) [23.41]
String Quartet in F minor Op.80 (1847) [25.35]
String Quartet in A minor Op.13 [30.35] String
Quartet in D major Op.44 No.1 (1831) [28.39]
String Quartet in E minor Op.44 No.2 (1838)
[27.29] String Quartet in E flat minor Op.44
No.3 (1838) [30.14] Andante and Scherzo in
E major Op.81 Nos 1 and 2 (1847) [6.08 + 3.28]
Capriccio in E minor Op. 81 No.3 (1843) [6.15]
Fugue in E flat major Op. 81 No.4 (1827) [5.20]
Pacifica Quartet Recorded at the Chicago
Classical Recording Foundation, December 2002,
October 2003, March and June 2004
CEDILLE RECORDS CDR 90000 082 [3 CDs 74.52
+ 59.26 + 79.23] [JW]
A
suitably warm and wonderfully detailed recording
matches insight, imagination and colouristic
sensibility. Consistently singing, illuminating
and devoted interpreters. ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Complete Works for String Quartet
String Quartet in E flat major (1823) [24.04]
String Quartet in E flat major Op.12 (1829)
[22.43] String Quartet in F minor Op.80 (1847)
[23.16] String Quartet in A minor Op.13 (1827)
[27.11] String Quartet in D major Op.44 No.1
(1831) [26.22] String Quartet in E minor Op.44
No.2 (1838) [22.03] String Quartet in E flat
minor Op.44 No.3 (1838) [28.56] Andante and
Scherzo in E major Op.81 Nos 1 and 2 (1847)
[9.16] Capriccio in E minor Op. 81 No.3 (1843)
[5.47] Fugue in E flat major Op. 81 No.4 (1827)
[5.22]
Bartholdy Quartet Recorded February 1973
ARTS 47130-2 [3 CDs: 56.36 + 70.58 + 67.31]
[JW]
Pleasing
readings but the tonal quality is rather reserved
and narrow-bore ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Darius
MILHAUD (1892-1974)
CD
1 Six Little Symphonies, L'homme
et son désir, Piano Concerto
No. 2, Suite cisalpine sur des airs
populaires piemontais, CD 2 Le
boeuf sur le toit, Concerto for
percussion and small orchestra, Concerto
No. 1 for viola and orchestra, La
muse ménagère, Le
carnaval d'Aix.
Luxembourg Radio Symphony Orchestra/Darius
Milhaud , Luxembourg Radio Symphony Orchestra/Bernard
Kontarsky /Louis de Froment rec. 1967-68,
1972. ADD. stereo.
VOXBOX CDX 5109 [75:25 + 74:59] [RB]
One
of classical music’s bargains of all time
... at less than bargain price two and a half
hours of engaging music: gritty, jazzy, pastoral,
urbane, winsome and witty.... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Quintet
in E flat major, K452, for oboe, clarinet,
horn, bassoon and piano (1784) [22:48] Trio
in E flat major, for clarinet, viola and piano,
K498 'Kegelstatt' (1786) [18:53] Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Quintet
in E flat major, Op 16, for oboe, clarinet,
horn, bassoon and piano (1796) [26:37]
Consortium Classicum/Dieter Klöcker Recorded
in 1978 (Quintets) and 1981 (Trio)
CPO 777 010-2 [68:16] [PL]
Having
lived unquestioningly with the near-perfect
Perahia/ECO Sony I'd made the fatal mistake
of assuming that no one else could add to
it. But Consortium Classicum are fine musicians,
and the ADD recordings are clean and natural.
... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) String
Quartet in D K575 [25.12] String Quartet in
B flat K589 [23.47] String Quartet in F K590
[27.30]
Tokyo String Quartet Recorded at Sprague
Hall, Yale University, May and November 2004
BIDDULPH 80215-2 [76.29] [JW]
Beautiful
sounds from the Tokyo and they explore the
architecture of these big works with consistent
perception. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Piano
Sonata in A minor, K.310 (1778) [17’28]
March in C major, K.408 (1782) [2’58]
Courante in E flat major, K.399 (1782)
[2’13] Gigue in G major, K.574 (1789)
[1’32] Rondo in A minor, K.511 (1787)
[10’14] Piano Sonata in F major, K.533/494
(1788) [23’54]
Richard Goode (piano)
rec. American Academy of Arts and Letters,
New York, June 19-21 2003; March 9 2004
NONESUCH 7559-79831-2 [58’14] [TH]
If
you are a Goode fan, or just fancy wallowing
in a well programmed, superbly recorded concert
hall-style recital, you really will enjoy
this. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Operatic and Concert Arias - Margaret Price; Operatic Arias:- La
clemenza di Tito, K.621, Act I: Parto, parto Le nozze
di Figaro, K492, Act 2.Voi che sapete; Act 3 E Susanna non vien!
Dove sono; Act 4. Giunse alfin il momento. Deh vieni, non tardar Die
Entführung aus dem Serail, K.384, No. 11: Martern allerArten
Il re pastore, K.208, Act 3 L'amero, saro costante Don
Giovanni, K.527 Act 2. In quali eccessi. Mi tradi. Crudele?
Non mi dir Idomeneo, K.366. Act 2. Idol mio Concert
Arias: Bella mia fiamma; Resta, o cara, K.528; Vado, ma dove? K.583;
Vorrei spiegarvi, o Dio! K.418
Margaret
Price (sop) English Chamber Orchestra; London Philharmonic Orchestra/James
Lockhart Recorded Abbey Road Studio 1, London, February 1973 and Conway
Hall, London, March 1974. DDD
BMG-RCA
RED SEAL 82876 65841-2 [78.06][RJF]
Caught
early in the decade of her best singing this
disc is an excellent representation of Margaret
Price’s highly accomplished vocal skills in
repertoire which she loved and which was widely
loved by audiences. ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Le
Nozze di Figaro – opera in four acts
Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte after Beaumarchais
Count Almaviva – Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
(baritone) Countess – Kiri te Kanawa (soprano)
Susanna – Mirella Freni (soprano) Figaro –
Hermann Prey (baritone) Cherubino – Maria
Ewing (soprano)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Karl Böhm
Staged and directed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Rec. Sofiensaal, Vienna, Dec. 1975; filming
Shepperton Studios, London, June 1976.
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON UNITEL 00440 073 4034
[2 DVDs: 181:00] [ED]
If
you are not convinced now, the chances are
you may never be. For my part, I would not
want to be without it. It really is that simple.
... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Die
Zauberflöte: The Magic Flute,
K620 (1791) Tamino - Anthony Rolfe-Johnson
(tenor) Pamina - Dawn Upshaw (soprano) Queen
of the Night - Beverley Hoch (soprano) Sarastro
- Cornelius Hauptmann (bass) Papageno - Andreas
Schmidt (baritone) Papagena - Catherine Pierard
(soprano) Monostatus - Guy de Mey (tenor)
Speaker - Olaf Bär (bass-baritone) Three
Boys - Tessa Bonner, Evelyn Tubb and Caroline
Trevor (sopranos) Three Ladies - Nancy Argenta,
Eirian James and Catherine Denley (sopranos)
Two Armed Men - Rufus Müller (tenor)
and Richard Wistreich (bass)
Schütz Choir of London London Classical
Players/Roger Norrington Recorded in Studio
1, Abbey Road, London, December 1990
VIRGIN VERITAS 4-82073-2 [72:39 + 66:06]
[PL]
Notably
well-balanced, both as performance and recording.
You may find that its impact is lessened by
Norrington's impatience and the sheer quantity
of dialogue. In every other respect, it's
as good as any. ... see Full
Review
Pehr Henrik
NORDGREN (b.
1944) Rock
Score Op.100 (1997) [12 :04] Cello Concerto
No.1 Op.50 (1980) [23 :28] TRANSE-CHORAL
Op.67 (1985) [30 :32]
Marko Ylönen (cello) Ostrobothnian Chamber
Orchestra/Juha Kangas Recorded: Folk Arts
Centre, Kaustinen, Finland, June 2002
BIS CD-1356 [67:15] [HC]
I
doubt that these vital and committed performances
could be bettered. ... see Full
Review
Vítěslav
NOVÁK (1870-1949)
Six
Sonatinas Op. 54 (1919-20 Sch111): No. 1 in
C major Spring; No. 2 in A minor From
Children's Lives; No. 3 in F major Spring;
No. 4 in E minor Fairy-Tale; No. 5
in D minor Brigand; No. 6 in C major
Christmas; Sonata Eroica Op.
24 (1900 Sch68) Pan Op. 43 (1910 Sch96)
Bagatelles Op. 5 (1899 Sch63) My
May Op. 20 (1899 Sch61) Songs on Winter
Nights Op. 30 (1902-03 Sch77) Youth
Op. 55 selection (1920 Sch112)
František Rauch (piano) rec. Prague 1969,
1970, 1957, 1976. ADD
SUPRAPHON SU 3744-2 113 [64.41+76.23+57.21]
[JW]
Clearly
a benchmark set for collectors ... see Full
Review
DISCOVERY OF THE MONTH Gösta
Nystroem
(1890-1966) Prelude
to The Tempest (1934) [12:31] Songs
by the Sea (1942-43) [17:54] Symphony
No.3 Sinfonia del Mare (1947-48) [40:38]
Charlotte Hellekant, mezzo Women’s Choir
from the Swedish Radio Choir (Prelude) Swedish
Radio Symphony Orchestra/Evgeny Svetlanov
rec. Berwaldhallen, Stockholm, 4-5 Dec 1997
(Symphony); 10 Jan 2000 (Tempest);
13-14 Jan 2000 (Songs)
MUSICA SVECIAE PSCD 709 [71:20] [JF]
A
fantastic CD by a composer who is little known
outside Sweden. Sea music portrayed in a great
fusion of romanticism and modernism. ... see
Full
Review
Arvo PÄRT
(b.1935) Es
Sang vor Langen Jahren (1984) [6’38]
Stabat Mater (1985) [23’55] Magnificat
(1989) [6’33] Nunc Dimittis (2001)
[6’39] My Heart’s in the Highlands
(2000) [7’37] Zwei Sonatinen for piano,
Op.1 (1958/9) [12’54] Spiegel im Spiegel
(1978) [9’34]
Stephen De Pledge (piano) Stephen Wallace
(counter-tenor) Choir of St. Mary’s Cathedral,
Edinburgh Chamber Domain/Matthew Owens (conductor
and organ) Recorded at Gateway Studios, Kington,
Surrey, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh and
Champs Hill, Pulborough, all March 2002
BLACK BOX BBM1071 [73’41] [TH]
Performances
are uniformly superb and the recordings excellent
... a very appropriate birthday gift for the
composer, who turns 70 later this year. ...
see Full
Review
Arvo
PÄRT (b.
1935): A Portrait CD 1
1.
Für Alina Alexei Lubimov, piano
2. Symphony No. 1: Second movement Bamberg
SO/Neemi Järvi 3. Cantus in memoriam
Benjamin Britten Strings of Hungarian State
Opera Orchestra/Antal Eisrich 4. Passio: Passio
Domini Nostri Jesu Christi secundum Joannem
Tonus Peregrinus/Antony Pitts 5. Berliner
Messe: Kyrie Elora Festival Singers and Orchestra/Noel
Edison 6. Fratres for cello and piano Tibor
Párkányi, cello /Sándor
Falvai, piano 7. Magnificat Elora Festival
Soingerws and Orchestra/ Noel Edison 8. Summa
for strings Strings of Hungarian State Opera
orchestra/Tamás Benedek 9. Passio:
Unde es tu? Jesu autem responsum non dedit
ei Tonus Peregrinus/Antony Pitts 10. Berliner
Messe: Credo Elora Festival Singers and Orchestra/Noel
Edison 11. The Beatitudes Elora Festival Singers
and Orchestra/Jurgen Petrenko,organ/Noel Edison
12 – 18 Annum per annum for organ Kevin Bowyer,
organ CD 2 1. Fratres for strings and
percussion Antal Eisrich & Miklós
Kovács, percussion/Strings of Hungarian
State Opera Orchestra/Tamás Benedek
2 – 4. Collage über B-A-C-H Ulster Orchestra/Takuo
Yuasa 5 – 7. Pro et contra for cello and orchestra
Frans Helmerson, cello/Bamberg SO/Neemi Järvi
8. Symphony No. 3: Third movement Ulster Orchestra/Takuo
Yuasa 9. Cantate Domino canticum novum (Psalm
95)
Elora Festival singers and Orchestra/Jurgen
Petrenko, organ/Noel Edison 10. Spiegel im
Spiegel Daniel Hope, violin, Simon Mulligan,
piano 11- 13. Triodion The Choir of Lancing
College/Peter Davis, organ/Neil Cox 14. Tabula
rasa:Ludus Leslie Hatfield & Rebecca Hirsch,
violins/Ulster Orchestra/Takuo Yuasa 15. Passio:
Et ex illa hora accepit eam discipulus in
sua Tonus Peregrinus/Antony Pitts Including
78 page booklet by Nick Kimberley No recording
dates and venues given
NAXOS 8.558182-83 [78:29 + 75:59]
Arvo PÄRT
(b. 1935): Spiegel im Spiegel 1. Fratres
for violin and piano Vadim Gluzman, violin,
Angela Yoffe, piano 2. Dopo la vittoria (Piccola
cantata) 3. Bogoròditse Djévo
4. I am the True Vine Swedish Radio Choir/Tõnu
Kaljuste 5. Annum per annum Hans-Ola Ericsson,
organ 6. Spiegel im Spiegel Vadim Gluzman,
violin, Angela Yoffe, piano 7. Variationen
zur Gesundung von Arinuschka 8. Für Alina
Alexei Lubimov, piano 9 – 11. Quentettino,
Op. 13 Philharmonisches Bläserquintett
Berlin 12 – 14. Concerto piccolo über
B-A-C-H for trumpet, strings, harpsichord
and piano Håkan Hardenberger, trumpet,
Gothenburg SO/Neeme Järvi 15. Fratres
for string quartet Tallinn Quartet 16. Cantus
in memory of Benjamin Britten Bergen Philharmonic
Orchestra/Neeme Järvi Recorded 1988 –
2002 at different venues
BIS-CD-1434 [77:23] [GF]
What
counts is the music of Pärt and it is
worth delving deeply into. ... see Full
Review
Gavriil
POPOV
(1904-1972) Symphony
No.1, op.7 (1934) Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Theme and
variations, op.3 (1922)
London Symphony Orchestra/ Botstein Recorded
in Watford Town Hall, Watford, England, April
5-8, 2004. DDD
TELARC CD 80642 [65:24] [SA]
Popov:
an extremely satisfying and poignant work
and thoroughly recommended. Shostakovich:
less than typical of the composer but delightful
and hugely enjoyable ... see Full
Review
Francis
POULENC
(1899-1963) Suite
Française (after Claude Gervaise, arranged
Poulenc 1953 from the chamber suite, 1935)
[11.04] Two Song Arrangements (1943 arranged
John York, 2003) C’est ainsi que tu es
(No.2 of Métamorphoses de Louise
de Vilmorin) [1.59] C (No.1 of Deux
poèmes de Louis Aragon) [2.20]
Sérénade (No 8 of Chansons
gaillardes 1925-26 transcribed Maurice
Gendron 1950) [2.19] Sonata for Cello and
piano (1949) [22.27] Sonata for two pianos
(1952-53) [21.12]*
Raphael Wallfisch (cello) John York (piano)
York 2 Piano Duet (John and Fiona York)* Recorded
at Champs Hill, Pulborough, Sussex in June
2000 except the Sonata for two pianos, recorded
in St George’s Brandon Hill, Bristol, May
2000
ASV GOLD GLD 4014 [62.28] [JW]
A
good hour of music nostalgic, acerbic, witty
and naughty not forgetting Poulenc’s irresistible
ear for melodic beauty. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Francis
POULENC
(1899-1963) Piano
Music: Les Soirées de Nazelles
(1930-1936) [22:06] Napoli:
Suite (1922-1925) [10:45] Mélancolie
(1940) [6:09] Trois Novelettes
(1927; 1959) [7:08] 15 Improvisations
(1932-1959) [26:53]
Charles Owen (piano) Rec. Walthen Hall, St
Paul’s School, London SW13, 6-7 September
2003
SOMM CD 035 [73:24] [IL]
Delicacy
and brilliant insouciance. An album to cherish
and one that will undoubtedly figure highly
in my recital discs of 2005. ... see Full
Review
Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891
- 1953) Violin
Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19 (1917) [22’16"]
Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63 (1935)
[28’17"] Suite from – The Love for
Three Oranges Op. 33a (1924) [16’22"]
Boris Belkin (violin) Opp. 19 and 63
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Kirill Kondrashin
(Op. 19), Rudolf Barshai (Op. 63), Walter
Weller (Op. 33a). All recorded in Kingsway
Hall, London, January 1981 (Op. 19), January
1982 (Op. 63), and November 1977 (Op. 33a)
ADD/DDD
ELOQUENCE 476 2744 [67.16] [JPh]
I
have had much pleasure from this disc and
will be returning to it regularly. I highly
recommend it. ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Madama
Butterfly (1904) Mirella Freni (soprano)
Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly); Plácido Domingo
(tenor) B. F. Pinkerton; Christa Ludwig (mezzo)
Suzuki; Robert Kerns (baritone) Sharpless;
Michel Sénéchal (tenor) Goro;
Marius Rintzler (bass) The Bonze; Elke Schary
(mezzo) Kate; Giorgio Stendoro (baritone)
Prince Yamadori; Konzertvereinigung Wiener
Staatsopernchor; Vienna
Philharmonic Orchestra/Herbert von Karajan.
Rec. Sofiensaal, Vienna, in January and September
1974. DDD
Staged, Directed and Designed by Jean-Pierre
Ponselle. Filmed at Union Film, Berlin, in
November - December 1974; Picture format:
NTSC Colour 4:3. Region Code 0 (Worldwide).
Sound formats PCM Stereo; DTS 5.0. DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON DVD 073 4037 [145'00] [CC]
Ponselle's
film of Butterfly is an interesting affair,
although some may detect an over-reliance
on dream-sequence. ... see
Full Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Tosca
(1896-99) Raina Kabaivanska (soprano)
Tosca; Plácido Domingo (tenor) Mario
Cavaradossi; Sherill Milnes (baritone) Scarpia;
Giancarlo Luccardi (bass) Angelotti; Mario
Ferrara (tenor) Spoletta; Alfredo Mariotti
(bass) Sacristan; Bruno Grella (bass) Sciarrone;
Domenico Medici (bass) Jailer; Plácido
Domingo Jnr (treble) Shepherd Boy
Ambrosian Singers; New Philharmonia Orchestra/Bruno
Bartoletti. Rec. Walthamstow Hall, London
in August 1976 (sound); filmed on location
in Rome, Italy, September-October 1976. Director
Gianfranco de Bosio. Set and Costume Giancarlo
Pucci. NTSC Colour 4:3; Region Code 0 (Worldwide).
PCM Stereo/DTS 5.1. DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON DVD 073 4038 [115'00] [CC]
My
preferred Tosca DVD now, particularly for
the often glorious Domingo. ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858
– 1924) Concerto per Puccini Gianni
Schicchi: Ah, che zucconi; Firenze è come un albero fiorito La
Bohème: Che gelida manina; Si, Mi chiamano Mimi; O soave fanciulla;
In un coupe? ... Con pariglie e livree Madama Butterfly: Un bel di vedremo
Turandot: Non piangere Liù Il Tabarro: Nulla, silenzio La fanciulla
del West: Minnie, dalla mia casa Manon Lescaut: Tutta su me ti posa;
Manon, senti amor mio; Sola, perduta, abbandonata; Fra le tue braccia
Renata Tebaldi (soprano),
Giuseppe Di Stefano (tenor), Giuseppe Taddei (baritone) Orchestra Sinfonica
di Roma della Rai/Alberto Paoletti Recorded live on November 29th,
1954 at RAI Auditorium in Rome, to commemorate 30th Anniversary
of Giacomo Puccini’s death.
WARNER FONIT 5050467-7215-2-4 [60:56] [GF]
Can
be confidently recommended to anyone who wants
to hear these three great singers in their
prime. ... see
Full Review
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695)
The
Fairy Queen (1692) [143.56]
Sara Macliver; Miriam Allan; Belinda Montgomery
(sop); Sally-Anne Russell; Jenny Duck-Chong
(mezzo); Jamie Allen; Paul McMahon; Brett
Weymark (ten); Corin Bone; Simon Lobelson
(bar); Stephen Bennett (bass) Cantillation
Orchestra of the Antipodes/Antony Walker rec.
Eugene Goossens Hall, ABC Ultimo Centre, December
2003. DDD
ABC CLASSICS 476 2879 [70.50 + 73.06]
[GH]
I
love the young freshness of the voices ...
absolutely ideal ... chorus work is crisp
and the diction clean. There is much to enjoy
here. It has spirit and is alive with a true
sense of theatre. ... see Full
Review
Roger QUILTER
(1877-1953)
Complete
Folk Song arrangements, Complete Part songs
for Women's voices
Amanda Pitt (soprano); Joanne Thomas (mezzo);
Philip Langridge (tenor); David Wilson-Johnson
(baritone); David Owen Norris (piano) recorded
University of Southampton, 14-15 Feb, 31 Aug,
1 Sept 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557495 [77’53"] [AO]
A
worthy addition to British song history. Quilter
enhances traditional tunes with understated,
self effacing arrangements. ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) The
Isle of the Dead Op. 29 (1909) [22:30]
Symphonic Dances Op. 45 (1940) [36:45]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Vladimir Jurowski
rec. Royal Festival Hall, London, 8 Dec 2004
(Isle), 29 Oct 2003 (Dances). SACD. DDD
LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA LPO-0004 [60:17]
[RB]
A
very personal and expansive Isle of the Dead
and a stolid set of Symphonic Dances that
picks up momentum and temper only in the final
panel ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Piano
Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 (1900) [33:47]
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op. 40 (1925)
[26:10]
Nikolai Lugansky (piano) City of Birmingham
Symphony Orchestra/Sakari Oramo Recorded in
Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 4-6 January 2005
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61946-2 [59:59] [PL]
Lugansky's
wide-ranging performances encompass the entire
gamut of Rachmaninov's inexhaustible emotional
palette. Enthusiastically recommended. ...
see Full
Review
Maurice RAVEL
(1875 – 1937)
Shéhérazade (Trois Poèmes
de Tristan Klingsor) (1903): Asie; La Flûte
enchantée; L’Indifférent Henri
DUPARC (1848 – 1933) Les Mélodies:
L’Invitation au Voyage; Sérénade
Florentine; La Vague et la Cloche; Extase;
Phidylé; Le Manoir de Rosamunde; Lamento;
Testament; Chanson triste; Elégie;
Soupir; La Vie antérieure
Konrad Jarnot (baritone), Helmut Deutsch
(piano) rec. 20–23 December, 2003, Konzertsaal
der Musikhochschule, Munich
OEHMS CLASSICS OC 355 [61:01] [GF]
A
pleasant surprise and I urge readers to give
it a try. ... see Full
Review
Max
REGER (1873-1916)
Organ
Works Volume 5: Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 60 (1901) [23’40]. Organ
Pieces, Op. 65, Nos. 7-12 (1902) [34’33] – No. 7, Prelude in D minor
[6’25]; No. 8, Fugue in D [4’13]; No. 9, Canzona in E flat [6’31]; No.
10, Scherzo in D minor [3’13]; Toccata in E minor [4’37]; Fugue in E
[7’43]. Chorale Fantasia on ‘Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme’, Op. 52
No. 2 (1900) [19’39]
Stefan Frank (organ). Rec. on the Great Organ of Fulda Cathedral (Rieger-Sauer)
in October 2002. DDD
NAXOS ORGAN ENCYCLOPAEDIA 8.557186 [76’14][CC]
Reger’s
music is fully deserving of investigation. A reputation for dullness
and turgidity by no means represents the whole story ... see Full
Review
Josef
Gabriel RHEINBERGER
(1839-1901) Organ Music Volume 11
Sonata No. 17 op. 181 (1894) [22:08] Sonata No. 18 op. 188 (1897) [21:33]
Zwölf Trios für Orgel op. 189 (1897) [25:46] Consolation
[3:42] Rudolf
Innig (organ) Rec. Stadtkirke St. Anton, Zürich, 5-6 August 2004
MDG RECORDS MDG 317
0901-2 [73:45] [BJ]
Rudolf
Innig is a fantastic organist, and his technical
proficiency demonstrated on this CD is amazing.
... see Full
Review
Josef
RHEINBERGER (1839-1901)
Complete Organ Works, Vol 12 Sonata
No. 19 in G minor, Op. 193 (1899) [27.37]
Sonata No. 20 in F major, Op. 196 (1901) [29.43]
Canzonetta Intermezzo Praeludium Trio: Andantino
Singmesse
Rudolf Innig (organ) Rec 7-8 August 2004,
Stadtkirche St Anton, Zürich
MDG 317 0902 2 [79.24] [TB]
For
the discerning listener this disc is worth
exploring. ... see Full
Review
Afterimage
-
Slava Grigoryan plays the music of Shaun Rigney
Shaun RIGNEY (b.
1960) 1.
Girasol [8:39] 2. Garden of Forking
Paths - guitar quintet [14:27] Flinders
Quartet 3-12. Ten Coastal Sketches [13:53]
13-16. Lapis Lazuli - concerto for
guitar and orchestra [20:40] Maria Miller
(violin), Orchestra Victoria/Brian Kelly 17-19.
Sonata in E Major- homage to Rodrigo [7:46]
20. end point - duet for guitar and
oboe [3:39]
Stephen Robinson, oboe Slava Grigoryan, guitar
Recorded at the Iwaki Auditorium, ABC Melbourne,
Avalon Studios NSW.
ABC CLASSICS 476 227-1 [69:09] [ZT]
Combining
new compositions of wide appeal and excellent
guitar playing, this new release on the ABC
Classics label can be enthusiastically recommended.
... see Full
Review
Nicolai
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844
– 1908) Opera Edition: Snegurocha
(Snow Maiden) May Night,
The Golden Cockerel, Boyarinya
Vera Sheloga
CAPRICCIO 49 474 [8 CDs: 63:56 +
66:37 + 78:46 + 52:33 + 70:47 + 46:17 + 72:24
+ 49:13] [GF]
It
has been rewarding to listen through these
four operas but be warned, while there is
much here that is enchanting all is not gold
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hilding
ROSENBERG (1892
– 1985) Lycksalighetens
ö (The Isle of Bliss) (1945)
- opera in four acts. Patrik Forsman (tenor)
– Astolf; Agneta Eichenholz (soprano) – Felicia;
Lisa Gustafsson (soprano) – Zephyr; Susanna
Levonen (contralto) – Anemotis, Nyx; Peter
Kadiev (baritone) - Time; Håkan Starkenberg
(tenor) – Young Florio, East Wind, Mopsus;
Lars Martinsson (bass) – Hunter, North Wind,
Old Florio; Dietmar Keitz (bass) – Hunter,
North Wind, Priest; Anna Bergendahl Sjöberg
(mezzo-soprano) – Peribanou; Anna Axelson
(soprano) – Nightingale, Ervina; Helena Martinsson
(contralto) – Laura;
Symphony Orchestra of the Norrlands Opera,
Children’s Chorus and Chorus of the Norrlands
Opera, Chorus Master: Kjell Oscarsson/Kristjan
Järvi Recorded live at the Norrlands
Opera, Umeå, March 2nd, 8th,
9th and 12th, 2002
PHONO SUECIA PSCD 722 (1-2) [62:44 + 56:21]
[GF]
Highly
approachable music ... any lover of late-romantic
opera will feel at home. I recommend this
with the highest possible enthusiasm. ...
see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI
(1792-1868) Overtures Il
barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville,
1813) [7:04] La gazza ladra (The Thieving
Magpie) (1817) [9:16] La Cenerentola
(Cinderella, 1817) [7:23] Il Signor Bruschino
(1813) [4:34] La scala di seta (The
Silken Ladder, 1812) [6:27] Guglielmo Tell
(William Tell, 1829) [11:58]
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner
Recorded in Orchestra Hall, Chicago, 22 November
1958
BMG CLASSICS (RCA RED SEAL) 82876 65844 2
[47:02] [PL]
A
disc to make you smile, to lift your spirits.
Effervescent music and the unmatched panache
of Reiner's conducting are a winning formula!
... see Full
Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Il
barbiere di Siviglia - comic opera
in two acts Libretto by Cesare Sterbini based
on the Beaumarchais play. First performed
at the Teatro Argentina, Rome, 20 February
1816 Count Almaviva, Luigi Alva (ten); Figaro,
a barber, Hermann Prey (bar); Bartolo, a doctor
and ward of Rosina, Enzo Dara (buffa bar);
Rosina, Teresa Berganza (mezzo); Basilio,
a singing teacher, Paolo Montarasolo (bass);
Berta, Dr. Bartolo’s housekeeper, Stefania
Malagú (mezzo); Fiorello, servant of
Count Almaviva, Renato Cesari (bass)
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan/Claudio
Abbado Recorded July and August 1972. Unitel
Film based on a production at Teatro Alla
Scala, Milan Staged, directed and designed
by Jean-Pierre Ponelle Presented in PCM Stereo/5.1
DTS Surround Sound. NTSC/Colour/ 4:3 DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON DVD VIDEO 000440 073 4039 GH [140:00]
[RJF]
Curiously
wooden. ... see Full
Review
Miklós
RÓZSA
(1907-1995) Sinfonia
Concertante op. 29 (1958) [31:16] Notturno
Ungherese op. 28 (1962) [8:31] Tripartita
op. 33 (1972) [23:52]
András Agoston (violin) Lászlo
Fenjö (cello) Philharmonia Hungarica/Werner
Andreas Albert rec. Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Köln, Stadthalle Vennehof, 11-20 Oct
2000 (Op. 29); 26-30 May 2000 (opp. 28, 33).
DDD
CPO 999 839-2 [63:42] [RB]
A
refreshing collection with excellent interpretations
all round ... see Full
Review
Miklós
RÓZSA (1907-1995)
Three Choral Suites: Ben-Hur, Quo
Vadis and King of Kings: Ben-Hur
(1951) 1. Overture; 2. Star of Bethlehem/Adoration
of the Magi; 3. Rowing of the Galley Slaves;
4. Alleluia; 5. Parade of the Charioteers;
6. Miracle and Finale Quo Vadis (1959)
7. Prelude; 8. Ave Caesar March; 9. Fertility
Hymn; 10. Assyrian Dance; 11. Marcus and Lygia;
12. Miracle and Finale King of Kings
(1961) 13. Overture; 14. Roman Legions; 15.
Nativity; 16. The Feast of Passover; 17. Herod's
Feast; 18. Miracles of Christ; 19. The Lord's
Prayer; 20. Pieta; 21. Resurrection and Finale
Mormon Tabernacle Choir/Craig Jessop
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/Erich Kunzel Rec.
orchestra: Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, 15-16
May 2004; choir: Maurice Abravanel Hall, Salt
Lake City, Utah, 22 Oct 2004 DSD 2 Channel
Recording 6 Channel Recording multichannel
SACD as well as the CD recording
TELARC CD-80631 [61:54] [IL]
An
album of highlights of the three scores that
now supersedes the original soundtrack albums.
... see Full
Review
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