MUSIC WEEK JANUARY 14, 1978

O n n ^ 1 EMI-Melodiya: 0* CBS: Bernstein from Russia v.- with love UNDER ITS tie-up with the with everything f Melodiya label, EMI classical is \ having something of a Russian ''BERNSTEIN WITH everyihing" with, respectively, Ravel's complete v month with five releases in its might well be the cry from CBS ballet score Daphnis El Chlo5 i. M 9 current schedule given over to classical division this month as it (Bernstein, conductor); Beethoven's Russian composers and artists. releases five albums featuring First Piano Concerto and the Third m Most significantly, ASD 3363 (pictured right) Leonora Overture (Bernstein, soloist couples together two rare as composer, conductor, pianist and and conductor); and Rach- s* symphonies of the Russian romantic narrator. The records — collectively maninoffs Second Piano Concerto school: Taniev's Second, in B flat, entitled The Joy Of Music — are due and Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini (Bernstein, conductor). and Glazounouv's Fifth, in the same for release on January 20 in order to key. Taniev, a distinguished tic in with Bernstein's British visit On 61814, though, Bernstein vies composer of his day who has been the following month. for attention with Angela Rippon in virtually neglected for the past half- On 61816 the many-sided maestro a performance of Prokofiev's Peter conducts the New York century, was a pupil of Philharmonic in his own Fancy Free And The Wolf (here coupled with Tchaikovsky. HMV has recently Sainl-Saens's Carnival Of The been promoting Glazounouv's Ballet, Overture To 'Candide', and Animals). The only difference is that Three Episdodes (from 'On The output with releases of his Fourth Town'). More unusually, Benny he actually conducts the orchestra as and Sixth Symphonies and the Goodman (clarinet) and the well as being the narrator. Saxophone Concerto (ASD 3238 and Columbia Jazz Combo perform Also due for release from CBS on 3383). Neither work in the January Bernstein's Prelude, Fugue, And January 20 is a recording (76672) of acsa list is represented in the British Riffs. Beethoven's Fifth conducted by catalogues. The Moscow Radio Records 61815, 61817 and 61802 Lorin Maazcl — his first version of Symphony Orchestra is conducted comprise more traditional fare, this work for 17 years. by Vladimir Fedoseyev. 'A Festival Of Russian folk Songs is the title of HQS 1409, and features Three Beethoven works from Jubilee EDITED the USSR Russian Chorus under the by direction of Alexander Sveshnikov. DECCA'S NEW budget-priced (JB21 and JB24). A Strauss Family enjoying good sales of Antal The release is made up almost Jubilee label, launched last Concert with the Vienna Dorati's new interpretation of NICHOLAS WEBBER entirely of traditional music in September with a dozen releases, has Philharmonic under Boskovsky Haydn's (D50D2 — authentic performances — issued a second batch of recordings includes a number of well-known £8.50 for two records). something which European choruses which brings the total to 20. Unlike works by the Strausscs, father and The casting includes , have found difficult to achieve. many marketing ideas in jubilee year son; and there is a reissue of von Werner Hollweg, , Helena A stranger sound to Western ears, the label's concept was to feature Karajan's interpretation of Hoist's Dose and , with the Estrella still however, will be found on HQS "popular classical works in top , also with the Vienna Brighton Festival Chorus and Royal 1410, which is a programme of quality performances and Philharmonic (JB30). Mahler's Das Philharmonic Orchestra. arrangements of Russian music for recordings" rather than specifically Leid Von Der Erde (JB13), with the in custody The company has also released a balalaika ensemble. This stringed celebratory items. VPO conducted by Bernstein, is THE ARGENTINIAN concert instrument is to Russia what the Three of the eight new releases are perhaps a more unusual inclusion. two-disc Phase Four tribute to the harp is to Wales or the bagpipes to Beethoven symphonies — numbers 3 The Jubilee series retails at £2.50 late Leopold Stowkowski (D94D) at pianist Miguel Angel Estrella was £5.00. still in the custody of the Uruguayan Scotland, and is played here by the (JB6). 4 (JB7) and 5 (JB18) — and (LP) and £2.75 (cassette). authorities at press-time despite a Osipov Balalaika Orchestra. two are Tchaikovsky symphonies In its full-price catalogue Decca is personal appeal for his release by the Two Tchaikovsky works are violinist . Estrella is coupled on HQS 1411: the Third alleged to be a member of a guerrilla Piano Concerto, with the Moscow Much attention to detail terrorist cell and was one of four Radio Symphony Orchestra/ Mozart: La Clemenza Di Tito. performance by.choks and orchestra Argentinians arrested by order of Rozhdestvensky (Igor Zhukov, Baker, Minton, Burrows, Von alike while the more sober Te the military government before solo); and the Seventh Symphony, Stade, Popp, Lloyd; Orchestra and Deum — fitting climax to Jubilee Christmas. with theUSSRSO/Ginzburg. Chorus of , Year — compensates in dignity for Covent Garden/. what it lacks in fervour. The Producer not credited. Philips 7603 recording, however, has a very wide Sinfonietta 10th anniversary 079 (3 records). dynamic range, from the almost This opera — far less well-known inaudible to fortissimo and more. AT THE tenth anniversary concert considered a tribute to the work of than Mozarts' Cosi Fan Tulle or This makes for a degree of Comparative reviewing — delight of of the London Sinfonietta on the ensemble — which comprises up Idomeneo — was successfully bominess, particularly in the nit-picking critics on both sides of January 24 two of the world's best- to 22 players — in the 20th-cenlury mounted at Covent Garden in 1976, timpani division. But that hardly the Atlantic — is a task which the known contemporary composers field, both for recording and concert and the Philips album gives those to detracts from first-class presentation discerning reviewer hales and will be making rare visits to Britain performance. whom it remains something of a generally. despises the most. Who is to say, in to conduct the orchestra in their own The anniversary concert in the mystery the chance of hearing it cold print, that one person's X is works. Queen Elizabeth Hall will also again with very much the same substantially any better than Witold Lutoslawski, a Pole, will include the premiere of Carmen forces. From the vigour of the Rubbra: Improvi/ation For Siring another's Y? Yet the difficulty is conduct Differences and Points On Arcadiae Mechanicae Perpetuum by overture, with its well-realized sense Orchestra. Britten: Concerto For compounded when one receives two The Curve To Find, while Luciano the English composer Harrison of phrasing, to the passionate Violin And Orchestra. Sidney new releases of the same work within Berio, an Italian, will conduct Binwistle, and will be principally conclusion it is clear that much Harth, Paul Kling (violins). a short space. Here are two versions Preludes and Fugue. Their conducted by Simon Rattle. attention to detail (witness the Louisville Orchestra/Whitney. of Schubert's celebrated A flat acceptance of the engagement is finely-shaded harpsichord continuo) Producers: not credited. RCA Gold Mass; and the almost embarrassing has been lavished on this Seal GL 25096. conclusion for the retailer must be production. Janet Baker, Yvonne Although no dale of origination that one shines on the technical Conversions at Aldeburgh appears on this album, the fact that front, although not musically, and Minion, and Frederica von Stade (as both works appear in versions of the the three "stars") treat the score the other is musically excellent but THE SNAPE Mailings Foundation, offices, and accommodation for tl with necessary lightness, while Lucia late 'Fifties and that the recording is deficient in the reproductive stakes. founded by the late Benjamin electronically reprocessed to give Argo's account is generally sober Britten to administer the Aldeburgh Gustav Hoist Library. The rccit; Popp excels in the comparatively stereo effect points to a fairly elderly room is expected to be ready for small pan of Servilia. But what is and well-judged rather than exciting Festival, has embarked on a series of John Piper exhibition in June. memorable about this presentation production. This does not disparage — although the boys' tone is crisply building conversions at its Suffolk is the magnificently enthusiastic the fine playing of the Louisville enthusiastic — and the lay clerks' base which are to cost a total of Amongst artists appearing '< chorus — usually the dogsbody of Orchestra under Robert Whitney, oily delivery is uncompromisingly £380,000. Of this, a £50,000 Snape during the spring will be Pelt the operatic world. That is not to however, or the two excellent English, in the pejorative sense. This contribution has been made by the Pears, John Shirley-QuiH detract from the magnificence of the soloists. Rubbra's improvization — is most noticeable in a bloated Arts Council. Cambridge University Choir an recitativi, or indeed the gloriousncss commissioned by this orchestra — is Sanclus. The lyrical string tone Work has already begun on Orchestra, The Gabrieli Strin of the soloists in ensemble; just to essentially a sad little piece, its hardly compensates for a musical converting the present rehearsal Quartet and the Prague Chambe say that this homespun chorus bitter sweet and melismatic flavour non-event, even if the production room and undeveloped south block Orchestra. The 31st Aldeburg ensures the difference between a fine owing something to the school of lulls the senses. It is a pity that the into a recital room sealing 150, nine Festival will open with production and one that is merely Prokofiev and Stravinsky. The Nonesuch recording is — practice rooms, common rooms, performance of Britten's Death I very good. Technically, too, the set Britten is altogether more formal uncharacteristically — so poor, since Venice. has great merits. and intense. the forces used have much more idea *•* of what this music is all about. The Schubert: Mass in A flat. Ealhornc, Gloria, particularly, has infinitely Davies music set to film Walton: Bclshazzar's Feast. Grccvy, Evans, Kcyte; Choir of St more drive and the soprano tone is A NEW 49-minuie film about the Coronation Te Deum. London John's College Cambridge, brightly enthusiastic throughout life and times of the contemporary soundtrack. Among them is / Philharmonic Choir; Choirs of Academy of St Martin-in-thc-Fields, (and well complemented by the other British composer Peter Maxwell Maris Stella, which, like the ot Salisbury, Winchester and John Scott (organ)/Gucsl. parts). Although there is dramatic Davies, specially subsidized by the music, is played by the Fires Chichester Cathedrals; LPO/Soltl. Producer: Chris Hazell. Argo ZRG use of sforzandi, the soloists are Arts Council, will be receiving its London. Producer: James Maliinson. Decca 869. uniformly sensitive and fragile. Note preview to critics today (14). One Foot In Eden (the film's ti SET 618. Schubert: Mass In A flat. Sabo, De especially the Osanna, supremely Ahhough the AC stresses that the concludes with part of Maxv Altogether a splendid account of Gaetani, Spcrry, Guinn; Carlcton alive. But much can happen to a disc film - directed by Barric Gavin - Davies's opera The Martyrdom these two widely differing works by College Choir, Chamber Ensemble St Magnus, which will be taken our greatest exiled English 'twixt recording and pressing; and is more an evocation of the Orkneys and Festival Chorale/Wells; St Paul what aishame that Nonesuch should m. relation to the composer's music an Arts Council regional tour at composer. The strangely enigmatic Chamber Orchestra/Dennis Russell be robbed of full credit through than a portrait of Maxwell Davies end of the month. The large-sc Feast, with all its tinselled orchestral Davies. Producer: Marc J Aubort. technical malfeasance. 11 himself, many extracts from his work is so far unrecorded; finery, is given an enthusiastic Nonesuch H-71335. scores are included on the received its English premiere a recent Promenade concert. PAGE 14