Recommended Recordings 2005-2006
Screen Favourites
There is a 2 CD set on Philips from John Williams and the Boston Pops which can be recommended. Broadly speaking, 475 6176 is a collection of screen and stage music. It includes the following items from today’s concert:
-
Williams - Star Wars (main theme)
-
Steiner - Gone with the Wind (main theme)
-
Williams - E.T. Flying Theme
-
Williams - Star Wars, Princess Leia's Theme
-
Williams - Indiana Jones (Raider's March)
Lord of the Rings
The music from Howard Shore’s soundtrack to The Lord of the Rings can be found on the soundtrack CD from Warners 9362481102 (There will also be a special edition collection of music from the films coming out in time for Christmas priced around £50, catalogue number 9362 49454-2.)
Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries (Apocalypse Now)
- the version used in the film was the Decca recording of the complete opera Die Walküre conducted by Sir Georg Solti. This excerpt can be found on the CD The World of Wagner 4400692. For a version without the terrifying females try Klaus Tennstedt on the LPO’s own label LPO0003.
Ron Goodwin - The Trap and 633 Squadron.
The obvious choice here is to go for the recent full price Chandos CD devoted to the film music of Ron Goodwin CHAN10262. In addition to the two works played this afternoon, the CD also includes excerpts from Monte Carlo or Bust, Where Eagles Dare and Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines.
Khachaturian - Adagio from Spartacus (The Onedin Line)
The version used for the TV series was the Decca one with the composer himself conducting. This has been issued in Decca’s Legends series on 4603152 available at mid price.
Williams - Music from the Harry Potter Suite
Without knowing precisely which music from the first of the Harry Potter films is to be played, the safest option is to recommend the Original Sound track for the film, available at full price 7567930865.
Moross - Big Country
There is an imminent release at budget price on the Regis label RRC1228 advertised as 20 Film Theme Classics in a collection from the RPO conducted by Carl Davis. This collection also includes the theme from Gone with the Wind as well as music from some famous westerns and is rounded off with the conductor’s own theme for The World at War.
Goldsmith - Star Trek
There has recently been a collection of 4 CDs released to celebrate 40 years of film music by Jerry Goldsmith which serves to put him amongst the best of modern film composers. SILCD1183 is a chance to wallow in cinematic nostalgia. It includes music from several Star Trek movies as well as some TV themes (for which recognition means giving away one’s age!)
Williams - Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back
SK45947 is a collection of stirring music from volumes 4, 5 and 6 of the Star Wars sequence. All of today’s Star Wars music can be found on it, together with the Waltonesque Throne Room and Finale sequence (a personal favourite of mine).
Verdi - The Force of Destiny Overture (Jean de Florette)
Philips Eloquence have a CD of some of Verdi overtures available at budget price on 4681832 played by the Vienna Philharmonic under Sinopoli. The performances are fine, but the liner notes in this series leave much to be desired.
Northern Sinfonia
Handel - Messiah
(Mozart’s Orchestration)
It is not easy finding performances of Messiah which use Mozart’s arrangement.
There are plenty of recordings of “pure” Handel available, and I will mention some later.
So how to define a traditional Messiah? Is it going to be something like Sargent’s 1946 recording using the forces of the Liverpool Philharmonic and the Huddersfield Choral Society? This is available on a Dutton 2CD set 2CDEA5010. The orchestration is mostly that of Prout with some Mozart as well. The recording is not complete, but apart from the seven pieces cut in performance, this is a singer’s Messiah.
Sargent’s later recording on Classics For Pleasure 575 7762 is another using Mozart’s touches wherever possible. However the chorus is about a hundred strong and this may worry those used to the fashion for a smaller number of performers.
Helmuth Rilling on Hanssler 98975 with the Stuttgart Bach Collegium uses a choir about 50 strong. However there is one major drawback in that this is a performance sung in German and this may be confusing to those who only know the English.
There is one recording well worth a mention. Yes, it does use Mozart’s arrangements – for the most part, but it is sung in English as is tonight’s performance. This recording is conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras on Sanctuary CDDCS230. Sir Charles felt that Mozart’s arrangement of “The trumpet shall sound” was too drastic and kept Handel’s music. The forces are the RPO and the Huddersfield Choral Society. A CD of highlights is also available CDDCA960. However I suspect that this recording is being re-issued on the Signum label in March.
For those used to small scale performances, I would think the Naxos recording would fit the bill, using soloists from the choir; the Scholars Baroque Ensemble on 8550667-68.
My own favourite would be the DG Archiv recording with Paul McCreesh and the Gabrieli Consort & Players on 4770662.
I am sure that some would consider the sheer exuberance of Beecham’s 1959 recording as excessive, but the cymbal crash at the opening of Hallelujah! puts it in a unique class.
DVD
There is a new release on the Hanssler label of a performance (sung in German) conducted by Helmuth Rilling. One of the singers is British: Alistair Miles. At the time of writing, all I know about it is that it exists; I can’t give an opinion as to the performance. It looks as though this might be the performance mentioned above.
A couple of days after this performance a recording came in on the Arts label of a performance by I Solisti Veneti and the Ambrosian Singers. From what I've heard of the CD, this seems to be far more enjoyable than the City Hall effort.
Sheffield University Celebration Concert
Elgar - Great Is the Lord
The Naxos collection, catalogue number 8557288 of Elgar's Choral Music, with the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge, and their former director, Christopher Robinson, was well received on its appearance, picking up a Gramophone Editor's Choice award from John Steane, who declared it "among the best choral issues of recent times."
A Hyperion recording from the 1980's has been re-issued at a bargain price on CDH 55147 featuring the Worcester Cathedral Choir with Adrian Partington and Donald Hunt. This performance gets a good review in the Penguin Guide.
A more recent recording from the turn of the century comes on the Priory label PRCD750 and again has the Worcester Cathedral Choir, this time with Adrian Lucas and David Willcocks.
Walton - Belshazzar's Feast
There is a high powered performance on Naxos 8555869 from the Leeds Philharmonic Chorus and the Huddersfield Choral Society, together with the orchestra of Opera North, under the control of Paul Daniel. Writing in the Yorkshire Post David Denton described it "This is a Belshazzar that sizzles with vitality, often taken dangerously fast, the glorification of pagan rites blazing in their most dazzling orchestral colours and oozing with virtuosity,"
The highly regarded series of English Music coming from Andrew Davis includes a performance of Belshazzar's Feast which I believe was recorded at the Last Night of the 1994 Proms. The soloist is Bryn Terfel. The catalogue number is 09274 43942, and this too is available at budget price.
There is a 2 CD collection on the Classics For Pleasure label 585 9042 which couples Belshazzar with Gerontius. This is a performance from the Huddersfield Choral Society under Sir Malcolm Sargent.
Although George Nicholson’s Concerto for Orchestra has not been recorded, there was another work written to celebrate the Centenary of the University and this was recorded at its premiere. This was the String Quartet Number 1 “Fantasia on Sheffield” by Robin Ireland, performed by the Lindsays.
Manchester Camerata
Christmas Carol Concert
In keeping with the accepted tradition for this concert, I recommended a few Christmas CDs from the shelves.
It’s that time of year again and the task is to find Christmas Music. Although this may seem easy, there is a great deal out there to choose from. There is a 2 CD collection on the Decca label entitled “Simply Christmas” 475 0812. Over forty tracks which together create the traditional scene. “O Come all ye faithful” rubs shoulders with “White Christmas”; the performers are some of the best known in the Decca stable.
Searching for Christmas Carols seems to take you to the ends of the earth, and this is literally the case on “An Australian Christmas” ABC 446 9752. Most of the carols are by William G James and give a different perspective of Christmas in the Summer, when “the air was dry with Summer Heat”.
A new release this year is a collection on the Linn label entitled “Les Douze Noels” with music by Daquin. His pieces are better known as organ pieces, but were originally inspired by late mediæval verses. This collection marries the two and orchestrates them. An interesting concept and well played by the RSAMD Chamber Choir. (CKD254 – full price).
John Rutter is as much a traditional part of Christmas as the Queen’s broadcast and the Boxing Day Hunt, and there is an entertaining album from the Cambridge Singers featuring English and European Traditional Carols on CSCD512, available at mid price.
Naxos have released a collection of carols compiled by Lutoslawski on 855 5994. Don’t let the name put you off; here is a pleasant collection which won’t scare the reindeer unduly.
I was very impressed by the DG Archiv collection “The Baroque Christmas Album” (mid price 477 5762) which includes music by Bach, Charpentier, Corelli and Praetorius – the final tracks on this CD come off the Praetorius Christmas Mass 439 2502 (Paul McCreesh with the Gabrieli Consort and Players) – a CD which has to be my all time favourite Christmas album.
For those wanting something traditional, yet a bit different, a recent arrival from Germany should fit the bill nicely: unaccompanied singing from a male chorus “Die Singphoniker”; a collection of Christmas songs from Europe which incorporates the traditional with some lesser known carols. Three interludes are provided on solo harp played by Irmgard Gorzawski. CPO 777 0672.
Manchester Camerata
Mozart The last 3 Symphonies
It is possible to buy sets which include these symphonies together with some of Mozart’s other late symphonies. On a Philips Duo 2 CD set we find numbers 35, plus 38-41 played by the Staatskapelle Dresden conducted by Sir Colin Davis (4705402). A similar combination from the ASMF with Neville Marriner, also on a Philips Duo replaces the “Haffner” with number 36 the “Linz”, on 4383322.
The Naxos recording, on 8550186, of number 39 also includes Symphonies 34 & 35 in performances by Barry Wordsworth and the Capella Istropolitana. A high proportion of the CDs in this series pick up three stars in the Penguin Guide. Also at budget price is a Warner Apex recording of symphonies 39 and 40 from the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra with Ton Koopman on 8573 892392.
Moving on to Symphony No 40, in addition to the recordings mentioned above, there is the Naxos coupling of the last two symphonies on 8550299 – lauded on BBC Radio3 as a “clear first choice among the mid-price and budget versions, well worth anyone's money. "Moving up the price scale, there are two excellent recordings at mid price. There is Leonard Bernstein’s recording with the Vienna Philharmonic – “electrifying“ according to the Penguin Guide, coupled with an even finer account of the Jupiter on DG 4455482; for those wanting performances on period instruments, there is the option of choosing Trevor Pinnock with the English Consort on DG’s Archiv label 474 2292.
If you were thinking of buying Mozart’s complete symphonies, the Naxos recordings come highly recommended in a white box. 11 CDs – catalogue number 8.501107.
Future Recommendations
I’ve received a request to include recordings of future works to allow people to get to know the music better before a performance, so with this in mind I’m suggesting Mozart’s Great Mass K427 on Philips Eloquence 4681412 at budget price, because this “evolved” into Davidde Penitente and also the new 2 CD set of Rosetti Symphonies on Warner Apex 2564625512.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Mozart & R. Strauss
Mozart - Davidde Penitente
This rare work is difficult to find on CD. There would appear to have been one on Deutsche Harmonia Mundi GD 77045, but that seems to have disappeared from the catalogue. There is another one in the Brilliant Classics mammoth box set (RRP about £200!) which leaves the one in the complete Philips collection volume 11 (4648702 which is a 13 CD Set for around £75)
However, since most of this work was recycled from his Mass K427, there is the possibility of finding recordings of this. For starters, there is the Eloquence recording at budget price of the Mass on 468 1412 – although with Eloquence the liner notes are not a strong point. A better choice would be the DG 2 CD set 459 4092 which contains both this Mass and the Requiem with highly respected performers.
At mid price the Mass is found on Harmonia Mundi under Philippe Herreweghe on HMX 2961393 . This is the number for the limited edition version with a book. There is also a recording from Paul McCreesh on DG 4775744 at full price which attracted considerable praise on BBC Radio 3 recently.
Richard Strauss - Till Eulenspiegel
At the low end of the price spectrum is a CD of DG recordings by Karl Böhm with the Berlin Philharmonic on an Eloquence CD which also includes Don Juan and Zarathustra (469 6382). There is a fine performance from Herbert von Karajan on Decca Legends 466 3882, a recording which was regarded as being demonstration quality when it first appeared.
For a recording of more modern vintage, there is the Warner Elatus recording from Daniel Barenboim and the Chicago Symphony on 09274 95552 coupled with Heldenleben. Under £15 buys an excellent collection of Strauss pieces on a Double Decca 440 6182 conducted by Sir George Solti.
Richard Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier Suite.
There is a problem with orchestral excerpts from any opera; you can never be sure just what you’ll get. Take the two Naxos CDs which include Waltz Sequences 1 and 2. The first is on 8550182 with Also Sprach Zarathustra, and the second on 8550342 with Aus Italien. Antal Dorati’s own suite can be found in a box set reissue from the Mercury label. There is a full price recording of the suite in a modern recording from Christian Thielemann and the Vienna Philharmonic, coupled with the Alpine Symphony on DG 469 5192 (also available on SACD).
For many it will be desirable to have excerpts from the opera with voices. There is a CD of highlights on Eloquence 468 1182 taken from the Philips catalogue, but the definitive account of the full work has to be Karajan on EMI CMS 5676052.
For those wanting a performance sung in English, there is a CD in the Chandos Opera in English series, or there is the 1971 Glasgow performance with Dame Janet Baker on the Ponto label (in stock at the time of writing).
Rosetti Symphony in G major K1 No 22
I’ve found two recordings of this interesting diversion down the musical backstreets of Mozart’s period. There is a 2 CD set on Warner’s Apex label which offers eight symphonies played on period instruments by the Concerto Köln (2564 625 512). Two of the four symphonies played by the London Mozart Players on their Chandos CD can be found on the Apex CD. The original CDs came out at the same time; Gramophone found in favour of the LMP on CHAN 9567 which comes at full price.
Mozart Divertimento K136
There is a budget priced CD from the Warner Apex label which has the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra with Tom Koopman playing the Divertimenti K136-138 and K 251.These performers are using period instruments (catalogue number 2564 601 532). Moving up to mid price sees the three Divertimenti coupled with K239 on Harmonia Mundi’s Mozart Edition HMX2961809 in performances from the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra with Petra Müllejans.
Mozart Piano Concerto No 20 in D minor K466
The Naxos recording by Jeno Jando features both this concerto and the earlier number 13 in performances which were well regarded when they appeared back in 1990. There is also a recording by Alfred Brendel on Philips 442 2692 which offer five concertos including tonight’s pair. Some may find that the sheer energy evident in the performance on Warner Elatus 09274 67402 displayed by Martha Argerich is excessive – certainly her performance makes use of the potential of the modern grand piano rather than one that Mozart would have used.
The Penguin Guide sings the praises of the Chandos recording CHAN8992 which features tonight’s performers in this concerto, however it was out of stock last week when I checked. The new recording from the Polish pianist Piotr Anderszewski (pianist and director) is picking up some fine recommendations (3446962).
Mozart Piano Concerto no 21 in C major
The Naxos recording of this work comes with concertos 12 and 14 in performances by Jeno Jando on 8550202; the quality of these recordings shines through. Both the Naxos recording and that on Warner Apex 09274 99842 played by Helen Huang use the cadenzas by Robert Casadesus; this latter on an effervescent coupling with the Mendelssohn First Concerto.
Howard Shelley’s account on Regis RRC1067 at bargain price with the City of London Sinfonia is well regarded – this is coupled with Concerto number 24.
At full price the Virgin Classics recording (VC5455042) with Piotr Anderszewski has the same coupling and was well reviewed “a recording of exceptional distinction.” (BBC Music Magazine).
One for the future:
Warner Apex 09274 34232 has music played by the Helsinki Strings which includes Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht as well as the Andante Festivo by Sibelius (given as an encore by the Vienna Tonkunstler last season) plus Puccini’s I Crisantemi and Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony op110a.
Vladimir Ashkenazy
English Chamber Orchestra
I don't normally put in comments regarding the concert, however after one customer said that he preferred Ashkenazy when he was sitting down, I feel that a few comments of mine must be added.
No doubt the sparse audience was due in part to the Schoenberg on the programme. Others might have been put off by the prospect of Ashkenazy conducting (had there been a piano on stage, he might have treated us to something off his new 2 CD set out the following week..). There may even have been some put off by the small orchestra. All I will say is:
Those who missed it missed one of the highlights of the season.
Schoenberg - Verklarte Nacht
There is an excellent choice in the budget price range on the Warner Apex label; this collection of works from the Helsinki strings includes the Andante Festivo by Sibelius, Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony op 110a and Puccini’s I Crisantemi (09274 34232)
At mid price the DG Originals recording of an all Schoenberg programme offers tonight’s work with the Symphonic Poem Pelleas and Melisande played by the Berlin Philharmonic under Karajan.
Vaughan-Williams - Oboe Concerto
There is a 2CD set from EMI, catalogue number CMS 5665432, which has Sir John Barbirolli and the Halle in fine form in music by Vaughan Williams and Elgar. The concerto is played by Evelyn Rothwell; maybe I should point out that this is a mono recording, but the set as a whole is worth consideration. Another 2 CD set, this time on the Double Decca label, has more modern recordings and the concerto is played by celia Nicklin on 4603572 – a fine collection of best loved music by Vaughan Williams.
Tchaikovsky - Serenade for Strings
There are a couple of performances on Naxos at budget price. One, from Philippe Entremont on 8550404, is coupled with the Souvenir de Florence; the other from the Capella Istropolitana (8554048) is to be found with Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings.
There is a 2 CD set on Virgin Classics which includes string works from a variety of composers; this is on VBD 5617632.
As well as the CDs mentioned above, don’t forget the splendid box set of the symphonies and other works which is available for under £20 with excellent performances from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under Andrew Litton. More pleasure that an Easter egg!
Encore
A movement from Dvorak's Serenade for Strings brought this concert to a close.
European Union Chamber Orchestra
Haydn - Symphony No 26
The Naxos recording of this work on 8550721, together with symphonies 35 and 49 received favourable reviews on both sides of the Atlantic when it appeared. The performers were the Northern Chamber Orchestra under Nicholas Ward. Moving up to the £20 mark brings in Kuijken and La Petite Bande on a black box set from Virgin Classics which includes Symphonies Nos. 26, 52-53 & 82-92.
Mozart - Piano Concerto No 12 K414
The Naxos recording of this work comes with Concertos 21 and 14 in performances by Jeno Jando on 8550202. The orchestra is the Concentus Hungaricus, conducted by Andras Ligeti.
Mitsuko Uchida’s recording of early concertos can be found on a Philips Duo 473 8892.
There is a new recording by Alfred Brendel of this concerto, together with number 17 on a recording with Sir Charles Mackerras at full price on Philips 4756930.
As part of their contribution to the Mozart Anniversary celebrations, Warner Classics have released a set of the complete piano concertos on 2564 623322 in which Daniel Barenboim plays this concerto - it’s priced at around £50. (2564-62332-2)
Bartok - Rumanian Dances
A Double Decca, number 470 5162, of Bartok’s Orchestral Masterpieces conducted by Sir Georg Solti includes this work, as does a recent full price release from Sakari Oramo on Warner Classics of the Concerto for Orchestra (2564 619472). On his “East meets West” CD, also from Warners (2564 613292), Daniel Hope included this in its violin and piano/lutheal incarnation.
Barber - Adagio for strings
Naxos include this work on a couple of their Adagio CDs; Famous Adagios is the title of 8550994 which is mostly baroque music, Adagio Chillout (8556783) uses some more modern music with some interesting choices. There is always the CD on Naxos of the Cello Concerto and Medea conducted by Marin Alsop on 8559088 which is well worth considering.
Grieg - Holberg Suite
There is a well filled CD from Naxos which includes the two Peer Gynt Suites, Holberg as well as three pieces from Sigurd Jorsafar and Wedding Day at Troldhaugen all on 8554050. There is a Philips Duo which offers the two Peer Gynt suites and the piano concerto among other works on 438 3802.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Rimsky-Korsakov - Russian Easter Festival Overture
If you feel that a work like this needs a Russian orchestra to pull it off on CD, then the budget priced Regis CD (RRC1145) is for you. The liner notes are ambiguous regarding the orchestra; but the conductor is Yevgeny Svetlanov. In the mid price range there is a vivid recording on Philips as filler to the performance of Scheherazade from the Concertgebouw on 4426432. There is also a collection over 2 CDs from Philips which has this work as well as Capriccio Espagnol and the Golden Cockerel Suite among others (442 6052) in performances from the Rotterdam Philharmonic under David Zinman..
Prokofiev - Violin Concerto No 2
Looking on the shelves for performances of this work turns up a budget priced recording on Regis played by Ruggiero Ricci on RRC1017. There is an excellent choice in the mid price range; Maxim Vengerov, no less in performances of both violin concertos and the Glazunov concerto as well (09274 65372). The Penguin Guide describes the playing and orchestral backing as being “quite ravishing”.
Shostakovich - Symphony No 8
The Naxos recording on 8.550628 was well received when it appeared. There is also a performance on LSO Live LSO0060 with Mstislav Rostropovich conducting the LSO There is a 1960 recording on BBC Legends with the Leningrad Philharmonic performing on tour in London (Shostakovich himself was in the audience – this was the UK premiere). This is on a 2CD set which includes the first half of the concert (where Mozart’s Symphony No 33 was played); the catalogue number is BBCL 40022. This is the conductor at his peak. The climax is cataclysmic.
If the RLPO can get rid of Gerard Schwarz on this showing, they are indeed fortunate to have such an abundance of talent. Absolutely first class playing.
It was probably just as well that this was played by an English orchestra. Had it been a foreign one, we might have had an encore which would have destroyed the mood at the end. Certainly it is rare that a piece ends and the audience allows the impact to sink in; normally some loudmouth bellows out his approval. We had none of that.
Budapest Symphony Orchestra
Liszt - Les Preludes
Once in a while a recording comes from Naxos which picks up the “key recording “ designation in the Penguin Guide. The Naxos recording of four symphonic poems by Liszt, including Les Preludes, on 855 0487 is one such recording. The other works are Mazeppa, Prometheus and Tasso. Excellent playing from the Polish NRSO under Michael Halasz. In a similar price range is the EMI Encore CD 575 6232 with a slightly different programme under Kurt Masur.
Dvorak - Cello Concerto
There is a performance of this work on Regis RRC1150 which has Paul Tortelier as the soloist with the RPO conducted by Sir Charles Groves. Among the couplings is Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations. These two works can also be found on DG’s 1969 recording with Mstislav Rostropvich and the Berlin Philharmonic under Karajan; this is one of the jewels in DG’s crown. The new recording from Nina Kotova with the Philharmonia Orchestra on Sony 82876821182 , at full price looks to be a winner according to the initial information coming through.
Grieg - Peer Gynt Suite No 1
There is a Regis CD RRC1218 which , as well as the two Suites, also has the Piano Concerto and seven of the Lyric Pieces (for solo piano) – an excellent choice at budget price. There is a Philips Duo 2 CD set which includes the suites and the concerto, along with the Holberg Suite and the Symphonic Dances from a range of performers 4383802.
One of the problems with the suites is that they are for orchestra alone and the work was written to include voices. For those unfamiliar with the vocal elements, it can be quite scary to hear the bloodcurdling shrieks in “In the Hall of the Mountain King” – try the EMI Encore CD 5866272 for s selection from the whole work.
Stravinsky - Firebird Suite 1919
There is a well respected super budget recording of Firebird with Petrouchka on Dutton CDBP9700. This recording dates from the early post war years and features Ansermet at the helm of the LPO. There is a Naxos recording on 8550263 which offers Petrouchka as well as two suites. Claudio Abbado has recorded it with the LSO and this account is a “stunning performance” according to the Penguin Guide; it can be found on a DG double 453 0852 where one of the couplings is the Rite of Spring (next season!).
It would be nice to think that we get an encore tonight of something found on the CD Dances from Hungary (Warner 5050466-9351-2-0) music including Kodaly, Erkel and Bartok among others conducted by Domonkos Heja..
The Halle Orchestra
Mahler Symphony No 3
Naxos have built up a Mahler cycle under Antoni Wit and the Polish NRSO; their recording of the 3rd is coupled with the Adagio from the 10th Symphony. This would be a good choice for those on a tight budget, but I feel there are better alternatives.
Back in 1967 Rafael Kubelik recorded the work for DG, prior to recording this, the work was tried out live and this live performance is available on Audite 23.403; this recording has been enthusiastically received by international critics, picking up 10 out of 10 in Répertoire in France and a Critics’ Award in Germany.
For many years, one of the yardsticks for this work was the recording from 1961 by Leonard Bernstein with the New York Philharmonic. This one is still available at mid price on SM2K61831. I seem to recall a review which said that in the last movement “Lennie Rules”.
Another recording which I remember on LP was from Klaus Tennstedt on EMI, recorded after a well regarded performance. The CD has solved the problem of the first movement in its LP incarnation; now there is no need to turn over in mid movement. The work is now coupled with the 4th Symphony on CZS5742962
Of the modern recordings I was impressed by the Royal Concertgebouw recording with Riccardo Chailly which appeared on Decca SACD a couple of years back 4706522.
Further listening.
Check out the Channel Classics recording (CCSSA 23005) by the Amsterdam Sinfonietta of Beethoven’s String quartet opus 135 (especially the 3rd movement) and the similarity between the Beethoven and this work by Mahler is striking.
You may also want to explore a budget release on Arte Nova 82876 577482 by Hans Rott of his Symphony. Rott was a contemporary of Mahler and there are several passages where you would swear he had pinched bits of Mahler… and then you check the dates and realise how he influenced Mahler.
You will have seen in the brochure that the Hallé’s next visit will bring the Second Symphony by Brahms. If you would like to know this work better, I strongly recommend the New Queen’s Hall Orchestra recording on Organic Classics GLM/NQ101
“Turgid?
No!
Tingle Factor?
In abundance!”
Summer Opera Gala
Wagner - Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin and Bridal Chorus
Most recordings with both these works will be the full opera, However, there is a CD of Wagner chunks which includes this from the complete opera by Sir Georg Solti and the VPO (440 0692). It also includes the Meistersinger prelude.
Bizet - Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetée (Don Jose)
Rolando Villazon includes this on his new album from Virgin Classics VC5455602.
Catalani - La Wally: Ebben …ne andro lontana (Wally)
There is a Regis CD which has Maria Callas performing this RRC1233.
Verdi - Prelude to Act III of La Traviata
The Decca Eloquence CD of highlights on 4674122 includes this prelude, along with other moments from the opera including the Brindisi. A more modern performance of the complete opera comes from DG; the 2005 Salzburg recording starring Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon 477 5933.
Puccini - La boheme: O soave fanciulla (Rudolfo & Mimi)
Probably the definitive recording of the complete opera is the 1956 EMI one with Jussi Bjorling and Victoria de los Angeles conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham. (CMS5677502). A more recent recording features Angela Gheorghiu with Roberto Alagna on Decca 4660702 with the conductor Riccardo Chailly.
Wagner - Overture to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
See note above.
Verdi - Il Trovatore: Anvil Chorus
Verdi - Nabucco: Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves
Both these choruses can be sound on a collection from Regis performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus on RRC1137 at budget price.
Puccini - Tosca: Recondita armonia (Cavaradossi)
This can be found on the album from Ricardo Villazon mentioned above.
Puccini - Tosca: E lucevan le stelle (Caravadossi)
There’s a performance of this piece on a collection of Italian opera arias from Rolando Villazon on the Virgin Classics label VC 545 6262.
Dvorak: Rusalka: Song to the Moon
There is a recent release of highlights from the opera on Supraphon with Gabriela Benackova singing the title role (SU3717-2).
Mozart - Overture to Le Nozze di Figaro
Strange as it seems, one of the best performances of this that I've found comes from a 2005 live performance given by the New Queen's Hall Orchestra on their recent release of the Second Symphony by Brahms GLMNQ101 at mid price
Puccini - Madama Butterfly: Humming Chorus
Most collections of Puccini highlights offer this; there is a well filled two CD set from Decca 4445552 which includes this along with other highlights.
Verdi - La Traviata: Brindisi (Violetta / Alfredo)
See previous note.
One rousing chorus (though not from an opera) sung on CD by the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus can be found on the collection of Shostakovich film music on Chandos CHAN10023; maybe they were static when it was recorded, but it sounds like they were marching!
Anyone who attended the concert will notice that a couple of items were performed which are not included here. These would have been added to the programme without my knowledge.
Return to index