August 2014 Representing Today’S Great Labels This Month's Highlights
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CONSUMER INFORMATION SERVICE: NO. 271 AUGUST 2014 REPRESENTING TODAY’S GREAT LABELS THIS MONTH'S HIGHLIGHTS Select Music and Video Distribution Limited 3 Wells Place, Redhill, Surrey RH1 3SL Tel: 01737 645600 Fax: 01737 644065 Jan Ladislav DUSSEK Highlight of the month The Classical Piano Concerto, Volume 1 Piano Concerto in G major, Op. 1; Piano Concerto in C major, Op. 29; Piano Concerto in E flat major, Op. 70 Howard Shelley, Ulster Orchestra Following on from Hyperion’s hugely popular ‘Romantic Piano Concerto’ series, the ‘Classical Piano Concerto’ focuses on the lesser-known concertos from the dawn of the genre. Between about 1770 and 1820 - the high classical period dominated by Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven - musicians including Clementi, Cramer, Dussek, Steibelt and Woelfl made their names as composers and performers of piano concertos. This series aims to be the first in-depth recorded survey of this forgotten repertoire. CDA68027 The Romantic Violin Concerto, Volume 16 BUSONI: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35a; Benedictus from Beethoven's 'Missa Solemnis' STRAUSS: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 8 Tanja Becker-Bender BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Garry Walker German violinist Tanja Becker-Bender returns to the 'Romantic Violin Concerto' series having dazzled CDA68044 the critics with her 'great lyrical force and tremendous sense of drama' in her recording of the Reger concerto. Here she appears with the Hyperion house band, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Garry Walker in Volume 16; these concertos by Busoni and Strauss represent each composers' only example of the genre. Canticles from St Paul’s Malcolm ARCHER: Benedicite, omnia opera Thomas ATTWOOD WALMISLEY: Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in D minor Sir Michael TIPPETT: Magnificat and Nunc dimittis ‘Collegium Sancti Johannis Cantabrigiense’ Alan GRAY: Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in F minor Sir William WALTON: Coronation Te Deum Sir Charles VILLIERS STANFORD: Evening Service in B flat, Op. 10 Alec ROTH: Jubilate Charles WOOD: Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in F ‘Collegium Regale’ CDA68058 Simon Johnson St Paul’s Cathedral Choir, Andrew Carwood The Canticles are the crowning glory of the Anglican liturgy and have afforded the greatest opportunity for musical development within the Anglican rite. Thousands of people daily hear the world-famous St Paul’s Cathedral Choir and organist Simon Johnson under their director of music Andrew Carwood singing these settings. Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Early Cantatas Corydon Singers, Corydon Orchestra, Matthew Best CDH55479 (from CDA66880) Arvo PÄRT Berliner Messe & Magnificat Polyphony, Stephen Layton (from CDA66960) CDH55408 2 AUGUST 2014 Felix MENDELSSOHN Elijah, Op. 70 Willard White Rosalind Plowright Linda Finnie Arthur Davies London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox ‘Never was there a more complete triumph’, wrote The Times after the premiere of Mendelssohn’s Elijah. The performance, conducted by the composer at the 1846 'Birmingham Music Festival', marked the beginning of the life of Elijah as one of the best-loved choral works in the repertoire, a status it still upholds. CHAN 241-48 Sir Edward ELGAR The Apostles, Op. 49 Alison Hargan Alfreda Hodgson David Rendall Bryn Terfel Robert Lloyd Stephen Roberts London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox On this ‘2-for-1’ release Richard Hickox, a true champion of British music, conducts the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. The two most prominent roles, Mary Magdalene and Judas, are sung by Alfreda Hodgson and Robert Lloyd, respectively. The recording also features an outstanding performance from a young Bryn Terfel as Peter. The set is CHAN 241-49 released as part of the 'Richard Hickox Legacy' series. Sir William WALTON Troilus and Cressida Judith Howarth, Yvonne Howard, Arthur Davies, Nigel Robson, Brian Cookson, Peter Bodenham, Keith Mills, Alan Opie, James Thornton, Clive Bayley, Bruce Budd, Stephen Dowson, David Owen-Lewis Chorus of Opera North, English Northern Philharmonia, Richard Hickox Released as part of the 'Richard Hickox Legacy' series, this essential recording of Walton’s Troilus and Cressida is widely recognised as the finest available. Edward Greenfield wrote in Gramophone that ‘even among Chandos’ many bold achievements over the years, this magnificent set of Troilus and Cressida stands out... [Hickox’s] expressive warmth is matched by his understanding of Walton’s fiery side, with magnificent performances from the entire cast’. CHAN 241-50 Benjamin BRITTEN The Rape of Lucretia, Op. 37 Catherine Pierard, Patricia Rozario, Ameral Gunson, Jean Rigby, Nigel Robson, Donald Maxwell, Alan Opie, Alastair Miles City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox The recording, made in 1993, is reissued as part of the 'Richard Hickox Legacy' series with the renowned Britten conductor leading the City of London Sinfonia. Hickox was praised for his ‘clear-sighted direction’ and there were also high marks for the ‘vivid, beautifully disciplined response from the City of London Sinfonia’ (Hi-Fi News). The recording includes Jean Rigby’s ‘beautifully sung and movingly felt performance’ (The Sunday Times) as Lucretia, and the excellent supporting cast. CHAN 241-51 AUGUST 2014 3 Edward ELGAR (1857 - 1934) Highlight of the month Symphony No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 55 Cockaigne (In London Town) Overture, Op. 40 Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Sakari Oramo Conducting this all-Elgar programme is Sakari Oramo, the Finnish conductor who has been all but adopted by English music-lovers and orchestras; for ten years he was music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and since 2013 he holds the post as chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. BIS1939 Sofia GUBAIDULINA (b. 1931) Repentance (2008); Serenade (1960); Piano Sonata (1965); Sotto Voce (2010/13) Wen-Sinn Yang, Franz Halász, Jacob Kellermann, Lucas Brar, Philipp Stubenrauch, Débora Halász, Hariolf Schlichtig Within the output of Sofia Gubaidulina, solo and chamber music occupies a position of great prominence, the composer having written more than eighty such works. BIS2056 C. P. E. BACH (1714-1788) Concerto in F major Wq46; Concerto in A minor, Wq166; Hamburg Symphony No. 1 in D major, Wq183/1; Hamburg Symphony No. 4 in G major, Wq183/4 J. C. BACH (1735-1782) Symphony for Double Orchestra in E flat major, Op. 18, No. 1 Alexei Lubimov, Yury Martynov (forte pianos), Reinhard Czasch (flute) Haydn Sinfonietta Wien, Manfred Huss Once valued even higher than his father, J. S. Bach, and revered by Haydn, Mozart (‘He is the father of us all…’) and Beethoven, C. P. E. Bach’s music has since become the preserve of BIS2098 musicologists and specialists. Manfred Huss has been a long-time champion of C. P. E. Bach, and the present disc combines recordings that he made with the Haydn Sinfonietta Wien in 2005 and 2006. Viktor ULLMANN (1898-1944) Complete Piano Music Disc 1: Piano Sonatas Nos. 1-4 Disc 2: Piano Sonatas Nos. 5-7; Variations and Double Fugue on a theme by Arnold Schoenberg Christophe Sirodeau In the booklet notes, Christophe Sirodeau explains his aim in making this recording: ‘Viktor Ullmann should be studied and played not as a victim of the Nazis but on his own merits, which in my opinion earn him an illustrious place in twentieth-century music’. BIS2116 Øystein BAADSVIK (b. 1966) Concerto for tuba and chamber orchestra Jon Øivind NESS (b. 1968) Bogey Thresher, for tuba and orchestra Christian LINDBERG (b. 1958) Panda in Love, concerto for tuba and orchestra Øystein Baadsvik Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra, Christian Lindberg BIS2005 One of today’s foremost exponents of his instrument, the Norwegian tuba player Øystein Baadsvik is also an untiring champion when it comes to expanding the tuba repertoire. He is himself a composer and arranger, whose works can be heard on several previous BIS releases. 4 AUGUST 2014 Max BRUCH Violin Concerto 2; Scottish Fantasy; Adagio appassionato Antje Weithaas NDR Radio Philharmonie, Hermann Bäumer 777833-2 Max Bruch is perhaps the most famous one-work composer. He enjoys worldwide renown as the author of his first Violin Concerto, and his Scottish Fantasy continues to be performed. Richard STRAUSS Josephs Legende Staatskappelle Weimar, Stefan Solyom During a guest performance in Berlin in 1913 Richard Strauss saw Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes and was so delighted by them that he declared his readiness to compose the ballet pantomime 777902-2 Josephs Legende for this extraordinary ensemble. Heinrich von HERZOGENBERG Totenfeier; Requiem Franziska Bobe, Barbara Bräckelmann, Maximilian Argmann, Jens Hamann, Monteverdichor Würzburg, Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha, Matthais Beckert 777755-2 It is a unique case in music history for a composer to have dealt with the theme of dying and death on the basis of three very different texts. Herzogenberg's Requiem, whose classic subject is the 'Catholic Mass for the Dead', is a work best described as a Lutheran cantata drawing on German texts from the Bible and hymn stanzas, as well as a poem of his own authorship. August ENNA Violin Concerto; Overture Cleopatra; Symphonic Fantasy Kathrin Rabus NDR Radiophilharmonie, Herman Bäumer 777674-2 Enna’s talent for instrumentation was a skill virtually unrivaled in the music of his Danish contemporaries. Anton BRUCKNER Symphonie No. 8 Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Mario Venzago This is the final volume in the series of Bruckner’s symphonies conducted by the magnificent Mario Venzago. 777691-2 Matthais WECKMANN Complete Organ Works Friedhelm Flamme Volume twelve of CPO’s complete organ works of the North German Baroque focuses on Matthais Weckmann. 777873-2 AUGUST 2014 5 George ENESCU Symphony No. 5; Isis Marius Vlad NDR Chor, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern, Peter Ruzicka During the 1990s Pascal Bentoiu completed and instrumented these works. In Isis, a symphonic poem 777823-2 for female choir and orchestra, the female voices blend with, and become part of the orchestra. Enescu’s fifth symphony calls for a full complement of musicians, lending it a powerful sound quality and folkloric colours.