January 2004

Around the World in 80 minutes

Young
Around the World in 80 days

Unfortunately I have not found a current recording of this piece in the catalogue. There used to be a recording of the film soundtrack but nowadays this is deleted. Enjoy listening to it tonight!

Berlioz
Roman Carnival

Sir Colin Davis has a fine reputation for the works of Berlioz and his RCA recording 09026 68790 picks up a Penguin rosette.

Rodrigo
Palillos y panderetas

This has appeared on a recent Naxos release in that company's Spanish Classics series 8555962, the Flower of the Blue Lily. Other recordings in this series, by composers other than Rodrigo, are worth investigating.

Mascagni
Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana

With the complete opera available on a single CD bursting with tunes, the obvious choice is to go for the whole work. RCA's mid price re-issue, with Levine conducting a cast with Scotto and Domingo in excellent form, can be heartily recommended on 74321 395002. Next month sees a release from Naxos in their Opera Explained series and Cavalleria Rusticana is the featured work 8558080.

Mozart
Overture Marriage of Figaro

My own preference for this is the 1955 Glyndebourne recording conducted by Gui. This is the complete opera apart from a minor excision now available on EMI's Double Forte label CZS5738452 or on Classics For Pleasure CDCFP4724 - a Penguin rosette winner.

Beethoven
Romance in F

Both the Beethoven Romances can be found on Naxos 8550149 coupled with the Violin Concerto.

Dvorak Symphony No 8
Fourth Movement

At mid price I would suggest Rafael Kubelik on DG's Originals series. With superb playing from the Berlin Philharmonic, this CD couples Symphonies 8 & 9 on 447 4122.

Sibelius
Finlandia

A Naxos CD which includes this is Finnish Orchestral Favourites on 855 5773 also including music by Kuula, Jarnefelt, Klami, Madetoja and Rautavaara. On a Double Decca CD Ashkenazy couples this work with En Saga, Luonnotar, Tapiola and the Karelia Suite on 4525762. Also worth a listen is ODE 9132 which includes the music Sibelius wrote for the Press Celebrations, the final part of which is an amended form of Finlandia.

Glinka
Kamarinskaya

Russian Festival, a Naxos CD provides this work with two Glinka overtures (Life for the Tsar and Ruslan). Other works on the CD include the overture to Prince Igor, the Russian Sailors' Dance and the Flight of the Bumble Bee.

Elgar
Enigma Variations - Nimrod

The Bournemouth SO on Naxos 8553564 under George Hurst couples the Enigma Variations with the Coronation March and In the South, although there is also a newer release on CDHLL 7501 on the Halle's own label which also features Cockaigne and the Serenade for Strings as well as the original finale to the Enigma Variations, all conducted by Glorious Mark. This year sees the 90th Anniversary of Elgar himself conducting the Halle in Enigma.

Ó Súilleabháin:
Hup!

Sadly, although the premiere of this work was recorded by a radio station, no commercial recording exists at present, but there has been a release at full price of a collection of works by this composer on CDVE955 on the Virgin Venture label.

Ginastera
Malambo

This can be found on a Naxos CD of Latin American Classics on 8550838, although many of the composers represented on it may not be household names in this part of the world.

Copland
Rodeo: Hoe Down

Gunzenhauser's account on Naxos 8550282 has much to commend it, not least its budget price. It stands as a glittering gateway into the American Classics series on Naxos.
Additional Notes
In between these notes being sent in and the concert, some last minute changes were announced. As a result some works were performed without any recommendations.


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