Calow Classics
721 Abbeydale Road
Sheffield S7 2BE
Tel (0114)255 3440
contact: Andrew Calow
email:info@calowclassics.net
721 Abbeydale Road
Sheffield S7 2BE
Tel (0114)255 3440
contact: Andrew Calow
email:info@calowclassics.net
His latest CD from Deutsche Grammophon is devoted to Mozart; his own” little contribution” to the anniversary celebrations. Bryn himself admitted that Mozart really could write for the bass-baritone voice which means that he had so many roles to sing - from Papageno to Masetto to Figaro to Count to Don Giovanni to Leporello.
Continuing the theme of a CD devoted to one composer brings us to his Handel CD with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Sir Charles Mackerras. Eleven different works are represented on this CD.
There is an all Wagner CD with arias from five opera including Dutchman, Meistersinger, Parsifal, Tannhäuser and Walküre which also includes the overture to the first of these.
He has also recorded collections of songs from the musicals of (a) mostly Lerner & Loewe and (b) Rodgers and Hammerstein.
No discography of Bryn's work would be anything like complete if I omitted his "Welsh Album". Subtitled "We'll keep a welcome" it contains twenty favourite songs from Wales. Absolutely ideal for playing in the car if you're travelling to Llanberis (although I must declare an interest, since he sings "My Little Welsh Home" as if he means the mid Wales village where some of my ancestors lived). Rounded off with a stirring rendition of "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau", you can forgive the defeat at Wembley!
The other album on Sony is called “The Harpist” and features music she played on her US tour in early 2002. It includes a transcription of Smetana’s Vltava as well as a duet with Chloe Hanslip of Saint-Saens’s duet for violin and harp.
Of the two complete recordings of Porgy and Bess, the later EMI recording is a clear winner. Recorded on the back of the outstanding 1986 performances at Glyndebourne conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, it is available both on CD and on DVD (I seem to recall that Wayne Marshall appeared in it).
There is a CD which includes eleven of tonight’s numbers sung by Sir Willard; entitled “The Paul Robeson Legacy “ it is on the Linn Record Label AKD218. Few will complain about the recording quality, but some may moan about a full price CD running for under 46 minutes.
Of other recordings by Sir Willard, my own favourite is the Chandos recording of Sir Michael Tippett’s A Child of Our Time conducted by Richard Hickox on CHAN9123. Gramophone praised the quality of the recording and the result is a moving testament to Tippett’s wishes.
Tonight’s concert celebrates Paul Robeson and two CDs from Regis are worth mentioning RRC 1229 “Songs of Struggle” and RRC 1056 “Voice of the People”. Quite a good few of the items performed tonight can be found on these CDs demonstrating his wide ranging fame from the Volga to the Deep South. It goes without saying that Showboat is represented by Ol’ Man River.
Some may have noticed the occasional reference to John Rutter in books of carols and there is the mid price “John Rutter Christmas Album” on CSCD510.
Also worth mentioning is CDHLL7504 on the Hallé's own label.
I’ve noticed a couple of budget priced Medieval Carol collections; one on the new Alto label ALC1004 described as “A spicy Christmas Feast!” Sung by Pro Cantione Antiqua accompanied by the English Medieval Wind Ensemble this CD runs for over an hour.
Of course for many people the Christmas item is Handel’s Messiah and this year sees a new SACD hybrid release on the Linn label with the Dunedin Consort and Players. Using the Dublin 1742 version this 2 CD set (for the price of 1) also includes some alternate versions. It’s a very clear recording, I have no hesitation in recommending it.
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Variations on I Got Rhythm for piano and orchestra.
Girl Crazy overture
This overture can be found on the excellent collection for Virgin Classics VBD 5620562 as mentioned above. As an alternative, why not go for the complete set of songs from the show on Nonesuch 7559792502 at full price.
Of Thee I Sing overture
Gershwin Songs
There is a brand new release of music by Cyril Scott which features the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus (CHAN 10407) in the Festival Overture.
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There is a collection of favourite pieces by Ravel which includes Bolero to be found on Regis RRC1206. It also includes Pavane, La Valse, Rapsodie Espagnole & Daphnis & Chloe Suite no 2, all with the Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Skrowacewski.
It’s a pretty safe bet that tonight’s performance will be the familiar revised version, though the original version has been recorded by BIS at full price; BISCD619.
My own preference in this work is tonight’s combination of performers released on the Hallé’s own label CDHLL7507, a CD which also includes the Introduction and Allegro as well as Mark Elder reading Shelley’s poem Song
Both of Elgar’s completed symphonies can be found on a Double Decca conducted by Sir Georg Solti. This set also includes Cockaigne and In the South (443 8562).
Although the Hallé recording is fine for a recording, the performance of this symphony live in concert was something exceptional that couldn't be captured on a recording. It was a very moving occasion, with the finest Elgar conductor of the 21st Century at the helm.
Friday 6th October 2006
Hallé Vaughan-Williams Norfolk Rhapsody No1At budget price there are two recordings worth considering. Naxos have a modern recording on 8555867 from New Zealand which also has the two famous fantasias (Tallis and Greensleeves). However there is an older English recording on EMI with the New Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Sir Adrian Boult on CDM 764 0222 (with the Serenade, English Folk Song Suite and Lark Ascending). These recordings date from 1967-1971.
The latest release from the Hallé on their own mid price label is entitled “English Landscapes” and includes this work (along with Bax’s Tintagel which we enjoyed some time ago) CDHLL7512.
Sibelius Violin ConcertoA range of recordings of this work is available at budget price; Warner’s excellent Apex series has a CD 09274 06062 devoted to the composer’s works for violin and orchestra and this includes the concerto played by Miriam Fried. The rest of the CD includes two serenades, six humoresques and the suite in D major. A Naxos CD offers Henning Kraggerud’s interpretation of the concerto with one of the serenades, and the rest of the CD is given over to Sinding’s first Violin Concerto (8557266). Also in this price range we find the Classics for Pleasure recording by Tasmin Little coupling the Dvorak and the Sibelius concertos (5758062).At mid price Maxim Vengerov on Elatus, well supported by Barenboim and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is a full bodied account (coupled with a dynamic recording of the Tchaikovsky 0927 467432.)
Brahms Symphony No 2Although there are many recordings of this work available both singly and as part of a set of the four symphonies – of which the Classics for Pleasure set with the Hallé under James Loughran offers particularly fine value (5757532) as does the Warner box with Barenboim conducting the Chicago Symphony (2564 618922), a recent mid price recording to come my way would be my first choice: John Farrer and the New Queen’s Hall Orchestra on Organic Classics. “breaking the mould of expectation and delivering something utterly different” – it creates the inner balance and orchestral blending that Brahms himself would have recognised. Of Karajan’s recordings of the symphony, the one to choose is the 1947 Vienna on EMI 476 8772 – although in mono, it is his most dramatic version.
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Tuesday 31st October 2006
There is an excellent CD of Sir Willard White in concert which is available on the budget label Regis (RRC1176). This collection ranges from Mozart to Copland via Gershwin and Kern with three spirituals added for good measure. He is supported by the RLPO under Carl Davis who also provide three non vocal interludes. Three of the items in tonight’s programme appear – Ol’ Man River and Deep River. Curiously, for a singer with two complete Porgys under his belt, the Gershwin number in this collection is from one of the other characters.
An Evening with Sir Willard White
Saturday 11th November 2006
Munich Symphony Orchestra Weber Der Freischutz overtureThere are a couple of all Weber collections worthy of consideration. On EMI’s budget Encore label we find 575 6452, a collection of seven overtures played by the Philharmonia Orchestra under Sawallisch. There is a mid price collection from DG which has Karajan conducting the BPO on 4190702 which has a few differences in the playlist. If you feel that you’d like the complete opera, then the Harnoncourt recording on Teldec 4509 977582 is certainly the one to choose.
Mendelssohn Violin ConcertoThis concerto is frequently found coupled with the Bruch 1st violin concerto and with this coupling in mind, a couple of mid price choices rise to the surface, both highly regarded. Menuhin’s recording from the mid 1950s is one of EMI’s GROCs on CDM5669062. Decca’s equivalent is Kyung Wha Chung in a 1981 recording which also has Bruch’s Scottish Fantasia. At full price the recording by Victoria Mullova with the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique and John Eliot Gardiner is well worth investigation, using early instruments and showing the results of close examination of early scores – some may find the results unfamiliar but rewarding (Philips 473 8722)
Bernstein FacsimileThere is a budget recording on Naxos from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Marin Alsop. This was well received on its release last year 8559245 . Apart from this, there is a box set which includes it played by the composer but it is a 7CD collection (approximate cost £43).
Tchaikovsky Symphony No 2 Little RussianAdrian Leaper has recorded Symphonies Nos. 2 and 4 on Naxos; the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra of Katowice, play well on 8550488. Also in this price bracket is the Warner Apex recording with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by Ari Rasilainen on 0927 405972. On the excellent budget label Regis is a new release from the USSR Symphony Orchestra with Yevgeny Svetlanov RRC1266. At full price the series of recordings by Maris Jansons on Chandos are well respected (CHAN 8460 also includes the Capriccio Italien).
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Christmas Concert
Saturday 2nd December 2006
Hallé, Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus
Looking at some of the Christmas issues suggests that they fall into two broad camps. On one hand there is the traditional range of Carols often performed by Cathedral Choirs. Into this camp falls a simply titled CD from Worcester Cathedral Choir directed by Donald Hunt available on Naxos 8550589 .
A collection from closer to home comes from York Minster on Chandos CHAN 6632; two thirds of the tracks on this CD are the traditional favourites.
Also on Naxos is “The Naxos Book of Carols” 24 carols – one for each day of Advent on 8557330. These are available at budget price.
This CD shows a different side to the Hallé. It includes both traditional carols such as The First Nowell, Angels from the Realms of Glory and O Holy Night, and timeless classics such as Sleigh Ride, Jingle Bells, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and, of course, White Christmas. Carl Davis is the conductor.
There is also a Naxos CD from the Oxford Camerata directed by Jeremy Summerly on 8550751; I think there may be some duplication but not many items.
Wednesday 17th January 2007
Wayne Marshall - Gershwin EveningStrike up the Band
Rhapsody in Blue
Most performances of this work use the standard orchestral version, but the recording on Regis RRC1114 uses the Jazz Band version – Joanna MacGregor is the pianist. Also at budget price is Wayne Marshall’s account with the Aalborg Symphony on a CD which includes the piano concerto in F and the Symphonic Suite from Porgy and Bess (5634842). There is also a 2 CD set VBD 5620562 which extends this programme to include among others, the overture to Strike Up the Band. Either would be more than acceptable; the Penguin Guide waxes lyrical about this effervescent performance of the Rhapsody.
The mid price CD on Telarc CD-80166 contains this work played by William Tritt with Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. The recording also has the Rhapsody in Blue & Concerto in F major. It is claimed that the Rhapsody has some bars which were dropped by Gershwin after the first performance. There is also another mid price CD where Wayne Marshall is the soloist VM 5614782 – coupled with both Rhapsodies and the Concerto in F.
The only recording listed in the R.E.D. catalogue is the piano arrangement played by Jack Gibbons on CDWHL 2082. For this, he would have started with Gershwin’s own improvisation and re-created it note for note. There are four CDs in the series and all can be recommended.
There is a well filled CD sung by Barbara Hendricks on EMI which includes some of tonight’s works (CDC 5570492). Kiri te Kanawa has recorded three of these songs on 5851112 which is a broad selection of her repertoire. There is also a selection of cabaret songs (not just by Gershwin) sung by Sarah Walker on Meridian CDE84167.
Gershwin songs are frequently performed by jazz vocalists, but since jazz styles (and a liking for them) are deeply personal, I cannot really say if any one recording is better than any other.
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Saturday 27th January 2007
RLPO Mendelssohn Hebrides overtureMendelssohn is well represented in the Naxos catalogue and the Hebrides overture can be found on a collection with music from Midsummer Night’s Dream on 8554433. There is a well regarded collection of overtures by this composer on DG 4231042 recorded by Claudio Abbado in his time with the LSO – although his performance of the Hebrides is slower than some for this work. There is also a collection on EMI CDE5747642 which has overtures and intermezzi played by the BPO under Karajan.
Elgar Cello Concerto
Julian Lloyd-Webber’s recording is now available on a budget CD on Universal 4681812. Also in this range is Maria Kliegel’s recording on Naxos for those who remember her performance here a few years ago. This is a well filled CD of Elgar favourites 855 4409.
The EMI recording from the mid 1960s with Jacqueline Du Pré and Sir John Barbirolli has long been regarded as almost the last word in performance for this work (5628862). However their later recording, which appears on the Testament label SBT 1388 has the extra adrenalin produced by a live performance – this time in Prague with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Dvorak Symphony No 8
The LSO live performance recordings have now carved their own niche in the repertoire and it is one of their earlier recordings with Sir Colin Davis LSO0002 which fits the bill here. A conducting friend in the Midlands describes it as “just as clear as I thought it would be. Very exciting”. The Naxos release couples Symphonies 4 and 8 in performances from the Slovak Philharmonic 8550269. My own preference is tonight’s performers in the Virgin Classics box set of the complete symphonies (5618532).
There are a couple of mid price recordings worth noting: In DG’s Originals series is Rafael Kubelik conducting both the 8th and 9th Symphonies with the BPO 4474122 and more recently Harnoncourt has coupled the 8th Symphony with The Noon Witch in a live recording from 1999 (3984 244872) – this is the recording lauded in Gramophone as “A more stimulating disc it would be hard to imagine”.
If tonight’s concert has given you a desire to explore Dvorak’s works further, look out for the two Supraphon recordings of his Czech Suites conducted by Jakob Hrusa (A major on SU38822 and D major on SU38672).
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Friday 9th February 2007
Moscow State Symphony Orchestra 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. There is also an excellent choice on Regis RRC1216 which contains a variety of music mostly conducted by Ole Schmidt (although Finlandia is done by Sir Charles Mackerras). 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 embryonic form of Finlandia.
Prokofiev Piano Concerto No 3There are a couple of good choices in the budget price range; on Naxos 855 0566 we find concertos 1, 3 & 5 played by Kun Woo Paik. Anyone wanting all of Prokofiev’s piano concertos will be satisfied with the Warner release by Vladimir Krainev 2564 616942. The BBC Music Magazine described it as “an excellent budget price package”.
Moving up to mid price brings Marth Argerich into contention on DG Originals accompanied by Claudio Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic 447 4382 where the couplings include the Ravel G major concerto.
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Glazunov Concert Waltz No 1There is a recording on Naxos 8553838 which has some minor pieces by Glazunov well played by the Moscow Symphony Orchestra under Igor Golovschin At full price the Chandos recording on CHAN9658 has some fine playing from our old friend Valery Polyansky.
Mussorgsky Pictures at an ExhibitionOne CD worth looking out for on Naxos has the National Symphony Orchestra of the Ukraine under Theodore Kuchar in an all Mussorgsky programme 8555924. As well as Pictures, we get both the original St John’s Night on the Bare Mountain as well as the more familiar Night on the Bare Mountain. The whole CD is a delight from start to finish; magnificent playing, coupled with excellent sound quality. There is also the Eloquence CD 469 6262 – the Karajan recording below – with the coupling of the original piano piece played by Lazar Berman.
At mid price the 1966 recording from Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic in DG’s Originals series is both a fine recording and a great performance (447 4262). The other works on the CD are Debussy’s La Mer and Ravel’s Bolero.
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Friday 16th February 2007
Hallé Mozart Don Giovanni overtureThe overture is but one of a number of highlights on a Warner Apex CD which features a fine cast conducted by Nicolaus Harnoncourt on 2564 614992. There is also a collection of 14 Mozart overtures on Naxos 8550185 from Barry Wordsworth and the Capella Istropolitana.
Of complete recordings of the opera, that by Giulini is regarded as one of the finest EMI 567 8692 at around the £30 mark.
Mozart Symphony No 38 (Prague)The Naxos recording on 855 0119 from Barry Wordsworth and the Capella Istropolitana is well regarded at budget price. There is also the Karl Bohm / Berlin Philharmonic CD with Symphonies 36,38 and 39 on Eloquence. At mid price there is the interesting coupling from Jane Glover and the London Mozart Players of three Mozart “city” Symphonies: Paris, Linz and Prague. It will be interesting to see what acclaim is directed towards the new René Jacobs CD with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra; symphonies 38 & 41, Harmonia Mundi HMC901958 – I enjoyed it!
Mahler Symphony No 4Lynda Russell is the soloist on the Naxos recording from Antoni Wit 8550527, described as “beautifully played and recorded” (Penguin Guide). Also at budget price is the recording on EMI Encore from Klaus Tennstedt – one of EMI’s best recordings 586 6302 – with Lucia Popp the soloist.
Since this is a relatively short symphony (by Mahler’s standards) it can often be found coupled with other symphonies. Claudio Abbado’s 1978 Vienna Philharmonic recording is found with the same conductor’s Chicago SO account of the Second Symphony on DG 453 0372.
There is also a CD on BBC Legends conducted by Sir John Barbirolli with Heather Harper as the soloist. Certainly one with much to enjoy.
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Saturday 24th February 2007
European Union Chamber Orchestra Haydn Symphony No 22 (changed from original choice
This occurs on a Naxos CD 8550724 from Nicholas Ward and the Northern Chamber Orchestra coupled with symphonies 29 and 60. Symphonies 22 to 25 can be found in Helios CDH55116 played by the Hanover Band and Roy Goodman.
In the mid price bracket, Sir Simon Rattle’s 1994 account with the CBSO was well received when it came out on EMI (now available on 5629752)..
Mozart Violin Concerto No3The first 3 concertos are available on EMI Encore CDE 5747432 at budget price played by David Oistrakh. Monica Hugget has recorded all five concertos and her recording is on VBD 5615762 – a 2CD set around a tenner. Thomas Zehetmair’s account of the five concertos has just been re-released on Warner Apex 2564 643292 (2 CDs, budget price).
Tchaikovsky Elegy for StringsThere don’t seem to be many recordings of this work. I’ve found one on the ASV Sanctuary label CDDCA719 which is an all Tchaikovsky programme including the Serenade for Strings all conducted by José Serebrier. He’s also the conductor on the BIS recording with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra – a collection of orchestral pieces including the Marche Slave and 1812 (BIS CD1283 – full price).
Dvorak Serenade for StringsThere is a performance in the Naxos canon which appears in two couplings: 8550419 is coupled with Josef Suk’s Serenade; 8554048 is the more familiar Tchaikovsky coupling.
There is an interesting coupling by the Chamber Orchestra of Europe on CDCOE801 which has the Serenade for Wind Instruments, Cello and Double Bass (op44) again budget price.
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Friday March 2nd 2007
Manchester Camerata Vaughan-Williams Tallis Fantasia
There is a Warner Apex CD which includes this, along with the Lark Ascending and the 6th symphony. Performers are Sir Andrew Davis and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. A bargain at budget price! This piece was part of the programme when Leopold Stokowski gave his last UK concert in 1974; this performance has just been issued on BBC Legends BBCL42052 – it also includes Klemperer’s Merry Waltz and the 4th Symphony by Brahms.
Vaughan-Williams Towards the Unknown Region
There is a modern recording of this to be found on Naxos 8557798 from the RLPO and Chorus. It generated quite a bit of interest on its appearance, picking up a Gramophone Editor’s Choice. At full price the Hyperion collection on CDA 66655 has attracted favourable comment all over the world.
Orff Carmina Burana
There is a brand new recording from Naxos with this conducted by Marin Alsop (857 0033) which features the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Also in this price range is the Regis recording with Richard Hickox and the LSO RRC 1136. At mid price, the 1975 recording from André Previn is one of EMI’s “Great Recordings of the Century” on CDM5668992. Also in this price range is the DG Originals recording conducted by Eugen Jochum and which had the composer’s approval (4474372). At full price I’m impressed by the recording by Simon Rattle on EMI 5578882.
A recent Naxos release has 12 excerpts from the work arranged for concert band on 8570242 – quite entertaining.
Saturday 17th March 2007
Philharmonia of the Nations Ravel Bolero
At mid price the 1966 recording from Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic in DG’s Originals series is both a fine recording and a great performance (447 4262). The other works on the CD are Debussy’s La Mer and Mussorgsky’s Pictures. I was impressed by a CD on the Zig Zag territories label of Ravel’s music played on instruments of his time by Jos van Immerseel and Anima Eterna on ZZT060901.
Beethoven Piano Concerto No 5
The series of Beethoven works from the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zurich with David Zinman has been attracting a lot of favourable reviews and one of the last in this set to appear has the 5th concerto and the Choral Fantasy. Yefim Bronfman is the pianist. Alfred Brendel’s 1976 recording with the LPO and Haitink can be found in a collection of all five concertos on the Philips label 4229372, or you might prefer his more recent recordings with the Vienna Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle.(Single CD coupled with the appassionata on 4686662 or a 3 CD box set on 4627812).
Stravinsky Rite of Spring
There is an excellent 2 CD set of the three favourite ballets (Firebird, Petrouchka and Rite) together with other works on Warner Classics Apex 2564 643772 in performances by Eliahu Inbal Also on 2 CDs is a collection of the three ballets together with les noces played by Ansermet on 4434672. The similar collection from DG has Abbado conducting the LSO on 4530852.
There is also an interesting performance of the Rite played by Peter Hill and Benjamin Frith on Naxos 8553386 using a Bosendorfer Imperial Grand.
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Thursday 22nd March 2007
With such a varied programme, it is impossible to find a CD which covers everything, although four of the items (Mozart, Chopin, Schumann and the Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody can be found on the CD released by Lang Lang last year on DG 4775976 available at full price.
Lang Lang Mozart Piano Sonata in C K330
Anyone wanting a budget collection including this sonata could do worse than going for the Regis collection of sonatas 7 – 10 played by Walter Klien on RRC 1207. Alfred Brendel’s recording of three sonatas (4629032 at full price) is also a good choice, as is the box of the complete sonatas played by Mitsuko Uchida (4683562)
Chopin Piano Sonata no3 in b minor op58
I’d be tempted to go for the 2 CD set of the sonatas played by Leif Ove Andsnes on Virgin VBD 5616182 or as an alternative, Rubenstein’s recording, on RCA 09026 630462 available at mid price, which as sonatas 2 & 3.
Schumann Kinderszenen
This can be found on a Naxos release played by Jeno Jando on 8550784. There is also a recording from Alfred Brendel which dates from the 1980s available on a mid priced CD 4347322.
Rachmaninov Prelude in b flat major op23 no 2
Rachmaninov Prelude in g minor op23 no 5
It’s back to Regis for a collection of thirteen Preludes played by Sviatoslav Richter on RRC 1022 available at budget price; alternatively Vladimir Ashkenazy’s collection has just been re-issued on Decca 4758238.
Liszt Sonetto de Petrarch no104
The Naxos recording, Jeno Jando again, on 8550549 is a bargain at budget price and is a fine performance as well. Daniel Barenboim at mid price DG4355912 is an excellent choice as is Stephen Hough on a Virgin double VBD 5614392.There is a recent CD on the Landor label (LAN 278) played by Libor Novacek which is also worth considering.
Liszt (trans. Horowitz) Hungarian Rhapsody No 2
There is a CD of this by Arcadi Volodos on Sony SK 62691 at full price or there is the 2 CD set from BMG played by Horowitz himself on 74321634712.
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Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus Handel Zadok the PriestThere is a colleection of Handel's Coronation Anthems on Naxos 8557003. There is a fine alternative from John Eliot Gardiner on Warner Apex 0927 486 832, coupled with Dixit Dominus. A triple bill on Decca, 458 6232 offers as couplings Haydn's Nelson Mass and Vivaldi's Gloria TV589, at mid price.
Handel Dixit Dominus
The forces behind the highly regarded Naxos Messiah, the Scholars Baroque Ensemble, have also released a recording of Dixis Dominus, Nisi Dominus and Salve Regina on 85553208. There is also a Double Decca of Handel Choral works (including the Coronation Anthems) on 4550412. There is an interesting account on BIS CD 301235, not least because of the coupling; the first ever recording of Handel's own Gloria sung by Emma Kirkby.
Vivaldi Spring
If you prefer the sound of modern instruments, the Warner Apex recording will not disappoint; Marieke Blankenstijn is the soloist on 8573 890 972. Also at budget price is a new Naxos recording from Cho-Liang Lin with the International Sejong Soloists on 855 7920. My own preference is Anne Sophie Mutter's later recording on DG 4632592 with the Trondheim Soloists.
Vivaldi Gloria
The Naxos recording can be found in two couplings; 8550767 offers the Beatus Vir while 8554056 has the Bach Magnificat. This uses modern instruments and a relatively small choir. Also in this price range is the Warner Apex recording which also includes Bach's Magnificat and Vivaldi's Kyrie (0927 486 812).
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London Chamber Orchestra Mozart Symphony No 1 K16
Mozart Divertimento K138
Mozart Piano Concerto no 8 in C K246
Mozart Concert Rondo in A major
Mozart Symphony No 29 in A major K201top
Saturday 5th May 2007
Czech National Symphony Orchestra Dvorak Carnival overtureNaxos have a CD which contains five of Dvorak’s overtures played by the BBC Philharmonic under Stephen Gunzenhauser on 8550600. There is also a collection from EMI which has Libor Pesek conducting Dvorak's: American Suite, Czech Suite; Overtures and Tone Poems on 349 9432. (I suspect that this may be the performances which can be found in the collection of the symphonies).
Martinu Memorial to Lidicedropped from programme
According to the R.E.D. catalogue, there are four recordings available. In no particular order they are: RRCD1318 which has the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra under Otakat Trhlik. There is a recording on Ondine, but the quality of the performances of the coupling, Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra, is suspect. This leaves two recordings from the Czech Philharmonic; under Ancerl on more recently under Jiri Belohlavek on CHAN9138.
Barber Violin ConcertoThere is a Naxos recording of this work on a 2001 recording from James Buswell with the RSNO under Marin Alsop. Other items on the CD include the Serenade for Strings and the Souvenirs Ballet Suite. Slightly more expensive is a CD from ASV Sanctuary which includes the Piano Concerto and the Adagio for Strings PLT8501. There is a 2 CD set on 74321987042 which includes the above two concertos, the cello concerto and the original piano version of Souvenirs. Worth hearing is the Regis CD which has Jennifer Stinton playing her own transcription for flute of the violin concerto (RRC1100)
Saint-Saens Symphony No 3I’ve found a couple of budget recordings of this work; There is Charles Dutoit on Decca with Peter Hurford on the Organ 467 4332. Also of interest is the EMI Encore recording 5747532 which has Maurice Duruflé on the organ. For those interested in the splendour of sound of a recording, the combination of Christian Badea directing the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Michael Murray on the organ is one of Telarc’s mid price jewels (CD 80274). At full price James Levine with the Berlin Philharmonic has been highly regarded in recent years.
AdamsA Short Ride in a Fast MachineMarin Alsop has recorded this on Naxos 8559031 which picked up a Gramophone Editor’s Choice on its release. Sir Simon Rattle’s performance on EMI CDC 5550512 is coupled with Harmonielehre which you may remember from recent years.
TartiniTrumpet concerto in d major
There are a couple of versions of this available. On Telarc CD 80232 we find Rolf Smedvig playing concertos by Haydn, Hummel, Tartini, Torelli and Bellini. There is also a collection on Cube Bohemia CBCD 2529 which is played by Marek Zvolánek. This CD includes concertos by Johann Wilhelm Hertel, Michael Haydn, František Xaver Richter and Giuseppe Tartini.
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Thursday 24th May 2007
Hallé Grieg Piano Concerto
The Naxos release has the concerto played by Norwegian pianist Havard Gimse; he should be better known. Certainly this is a performance which does much for his career (8557279). Another Norwegian, Leif Ove Andsnes, has recorded the work twice and both are available on EMI. His earlier recording on VBD5617452 dates from 1990 and has the Bergen Philharmonic accompanying him (when I went to Troldhaugen, this was the version being played). His later recording is coupled with the Schumann concerto. The orchestra is the Berlin Philharmonic under Janssons. This is amongst the best of the full price recordings (557562-2). Elgar Symphony No 2
There is a bargain to be had on Warner Apex 09274 95862. This performance from Andrew Davis and the BBC SO is both magnificently unforced and deeply moving. Well thought of at full price, it’s one to snap up at budget price. There has been a recent release on Naxos historical of the 1927 recording of the Symphony no 2 coupled with the 1928 Beatrice Harrison recording of the Cello Concerto, all conducted by Elgar on 8111260.
These pages will only be updated after each of the concerts in the series.