April 2016 – Alto CD

La Fanciulla del West (Puccini) Girl of the Golden West

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:58 +0000

“Tebaldi gives one of her most warm-hearted and understanding performances on record.” (Penguin Guide) “a more powerful introduction to La Fanciulla than any stage performance could do. And if we had someone who really looked like Minnie, then would she be able to sing the part as eloquently as Tebaldi? I found that this performance “caught” me completely – unusually detailed and specific scene-descriptions in the score, plus a brilliantly managed stereo recording, plus, of course–and this is the most important-music of extraordinary imaginative power and eloquence. The listener feels that he/she is really in the Polka Bar, or in Minnie’s bed-sitter, or on the edge of the Californian forest. This self-identification is not to be recommended as an approach to all operas, but it is the response Puccini aimed to secure; and it is perfectly evoked in this recording.” (Gramophone)

CD1 [61:13]
ACT 1
[1] Introduction … Hello! Hello! 3:26
[2] Hello Nick! 03:38
[3] Hooray! Hooray! … Che faranno i vecchi miei 6:41
[4] Va tutto? 03:45
[5] A tutti buona notte! … Hello Minnie! 05:03
[6] Dove eravamo? 03:50
[7] La posta! 02:49
[8] Ti voglio bene, Minnie … Minnie, dalla mia casa son partito 4:18
[9] Laggiù nel Soledad 02:28
[10] Chi c’è per farmi i ricci? 05:20
[11] La la la….. 04:05
[12] Mister Johnson, siete rimasto indietro 04:38:
[13] Non so, non so … Quello che tacete me 05:39:
[14] Ah, non temete, nessuno ardirà! 05:26
CD2 [70:55]
ACT 2
[1] Il mio bimbo è grande e piccino … Voglio vestirmi tutta 6:08
[2] Grazie…..Amici? … Oh, se sapeste 06:50
[3] Ugh…..Neve! 07:22:
[4] Hello! 04:44
[5] Vieni fuori! 05:00
[6] L’han ferito…..Che importa? 02:32
[7] Che c’è di nuovo, Jack? 05:46
[8] Una partita a poker! 05:47
ACT 3
[9] Ve lo giuro, sceriffo 04:23
[10] Ah! Ah! Ah! Urrah, ragazzi! 04:59
[11] Buona fortuna, o mio bel gentiluomo! 04:27
[12] Ch’ella mi creda libero e lontano 02:02
[13] Ah-ah-ah! È Minnie! … Non vi fu mai chi disse “Basta!” 4:27
[14] E anche tu lo vorrai … Le tue parole sono di Dio 6:22

Oscar Peterson Trio plays the Standards

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:58 +0000

“The great Oscar Peterson Trio’s inimitable swing style “crossed over” to some of the widest audiences that quality jazz has ever attracted and entertained, especially when playing American standards” (MusicalMerit)

Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings; Piano Concerto Violin Concerto; 4 Choral Pieces

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:58 +0000

“Particularly beautifully captured, are the LSO’s strings in the Adagio for Strings … However, it is the Piano Concerto which is the main attraction, with superb playing by the soloist. His piano is nicely placed in a sensible relationship with the orchestra which is itself allowed to breathe freely in the atmospheric surroundings, and there are sublime moments of extreme clarity in the persuasive slow movement. Dynamic range is used to great effect and the contrast with the final dying strains of the Adagio must be one of the greatest on record.” (Gramophone)

Violin Concerto Op.14 (1939-40)
1. Allegro 10:57
2. Andante 8:39
3. Presto con moto perpetuoso 4:14
4. Adagio for Strings, Op.11 (1938) 9:19
5. Let Down the Bars, O Death 2:03
6. Heaven-Haven 1:44
7. The Virgin Martyrs 3:23
8. God’s Grandeur 6:26
Piano Concerto, Op.38 (1962)
9. I. Allegro appassionato 13:22
10. II. Moderato 7:25
11. III. Allegro moto 6:12

Gyorgy Sviridov: The Snowstorm Pushkin’s Garland; (Three) Choruses

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:58 +0000

(Snowstorm) “Sviridov created music for the film that was epic, romantic, tinged with nostalgia and above all, tuneful, which illustrated superbly his love for Russia, its history and its cultural heritage. Snowstorm was massively successful worldwide and each time it is heard on radio, interest in the composer rises” (James Murray)
“Pushkin’s Garland is one of the richest Russian choral works of the 20th century as well as a first-rate tribute to Russia’s greatest poet. Pushkin’s full emotional range is here … Sviridov’s late-flowering choral garlands and wreaths should enter the repertoire of our own chamber choirs sooner rather than later.” (Gramophone)

The Snowstorm
1. Troika – 3:10 2. Waltz – 3:56 3. Spring and Autumn – 2:07
4. Romance – 5:35 5. Pastorale – 2:14 6. Military March – 2:26
7. Wedding Ceremony – 3:03 8. Echo of Waltz – 1:53
9. Winter Road – 2:53
Pushkin’s Garland – Concerto for Chorus
Novosibirsk Chamber Choir
Moscow Chamber Choir, artistic director & conductor Vladimir Minin
10. I. Winter Morning – 3:02 11. II. My Sweetheart – 5:55
12. III. Mary – 2:34 13. IV. Echo – 2:54
14. V. Grecian Feast – 3:47 15. VI. Musk & Camphor – 1:52
16. VII. Reveille – 4:48 17. VIII. Natasha – 1:53
18. IX. Raise thee, timid one – 5:19 19. X. Magpie Chatter – 2:54
Five Choruses to Lyrics by Russian Poets (excerpts)
The Leningrad M.Glinka Choir, conductor V. Chernushenko
20. Of My Lost Youth (N. Gogol) 4:06 (Soloist: V. Timonin, tenor)
21. On a Blue Night (S. Esenin) 4:15
22. The Herd of Horses (S. Esenin) 5:12

Prokofiev: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 Five Pieces from Cinderella

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:58 +0000

“Oistrakh’s (2nd) has never been surpassed … a beautifully balanced reading which lays stress on the lyricism; the orchestral support could hardly be improved upon.” (Penguin Guide) “a modern classic now available in a splendidly vivid stereo performance: Prokofiev’s G minor Violin Concerto, with David Oistrakh as soloist and the PhiIharmonia at its best.” “The start of the Violin Concerto No.1 is ravishingly beautiful … if you are merely interested in violin playing, then this is a lesson in itself … Oistrakh’s performance is in itself really wonderful” (Gramophone)

Violin Concerto No.1 in D major Op.19 (1915-17)
[1] Andantino 9:16
[2] Scherzo: Vivacissimo 3:47
[3] Moderato – Andante 7:33
Violin Concerto No.2 in G minor, Op.63 (1935)
[4] Allegro moderato 10:47
[5] Andante assai 10:15
[6] Allegro, ben marcato 6:11
Five Pieces from Cinderella (1940-44)
[7] Grand Waltz 5:07
[8] Winter Fairy 4:25
[9] Gavotte 2:50
[10] Passepied 1:58
[11] Mazurka 2:25

Edward Elgar: Piano Quintet; Spanish Lady Suite La Capricieuse; Elegy; Serenade Op.20

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:58 +0000

“The meat in this club sandwich is the magnificent Piano Quintet in a fine performance by The Schubert Ensemble. The Serenade for Strings with the ASMF under Sir Neville Marriner opens proceedings affectionately and the Elegy and Spanish Lady Suite from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia both bring considerable charm. ….La Capricieuse has a nicely judged salon feel.” (Gramophone)

Serenade for strings in E minor, Op.20 (1892)
1. I. Allegro piacevole 3:27
2. II. Larghetto 6:11
3. III. Allegretto 2:49
4. La Capricieuse, Op.17 (1891) 3:47
Piano Quintet in A minor, Op,84 (1918-19)
5. I. Moderato – Allegro 14:14
6. II. Adagio 12:49
7. III. Andante – Allegro 10:44
8. Elegy, Op.58 (1909) 4:18
The Spanish Lady – Suite (ed. P.Young)
9. Country Dance: Allegretto e leggiero 2:22
10. Burlesco: Allegro 1:53
11. Adagio 2:55
12. Sarabande: Maestoso 2:16
13. Bourrée: Vivace 1:36

Pyotr Tchaikovsky Liturgy of St John Chrysostom Op.41 Dmitri Bortnyansky: Concerto for Choir XXXII

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:58 +0000

“Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is the earliest sacred composition by Tchaikovsky and was written in 1878, at the time of his work on Eugene Onegin. This was recorded in the Cathedral of the Dormition, Smolensk. The performance, the acoustics of the Cathedral and the quality of this recording are all outstanding.” (Evgeni Kostitsyn, composer) “Even though Tchaikovsky’s Liturgy of St John bears little resemblance to znamenny chant, a simple block-chord style predominates, although occasionally Tchaikovsky makes use of antiphonal vocal effects and there are passages that might have dated from the previous century in parts” (J.Murray)

Liturgy Op.41 (In Church Slavonic)
1. Lord, Have Mercy 2:59
2. Glory to the Father and to the Son 3:35
3. Come, Let Us Worship 4:38
4. Alleluia 0:38
5. Glory to Thee, O Lord 3:20
6. Cherubic Hymn 8:56
7. Lord, Have Mercy 1:17
8. I Believe in One God, The Father, The Almighty 3:44
9. Merciful Peace 3:38
10. We Hymn Thee 4:09
11. It is Truly Fitting 4:42
12. Amen. And With Your Spirit, Lord Have Mercy 1:18
13. Our Father 3:32
14. Praise the Lord from the Heavens 2:24
15. Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord 5:00
Dmitri Bortnyansky (1751-1825)
16. Concerto for choir XXXII “Lord, Make Me to Know Mine End” 12:58
(Soloists: Irina Arkhipova, mezzo-soprano; Sergei Babeshko, baritone)

Carl Nielsen (1865 -1931) Springtime in Fünen (Fynsk Forår), Op. 42* Suite from Aladdin; Three Motets, Op. 55**

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:58 +0000

“(Springtime) enchanting pieces to which everyone responds … yet hardly performed outside Denmark….will give many hours of delight” (© Penguin Guide) “If you have ever wondered why Nielsen’s music inspires such devotion among his followers … marvellous performances, excellently recorded … unobtrusive genius of the work – a discovery as simple and miraculous as the sun on your face on a spring morning … should surely be a huge success in this country … the Aladdin Suite …. might well enjoy something like the popularity of Peer Gynt. (© Gramophone)

SPRINGTIME IN FüNEN*
(for soloists, chorus & orchestra Op. 42)[18:50]
[1] Fynsk Forår – Springtime in Fünen (Chorus) 4:37
[2] Den Milde dag – The day, with sun, (Tenor) 2:09
[3] De Gamle Ungkarle – The Old Bachelor (Bass) 2:37
[4] Den Blinde Spillemand – The Blind Musician (Bass) 4:00
[5] De Gamle – The Old People (Men’s Chorus) 1:34
[6] Dansevisen – Dance Ballad (Chorus) 3:31
ALADDIN SUITE (Orchestra only) [24:30]
[7] Oriental Festival March 3:27
[8] Aladdin’s Dance – Dance of the Morning Mist 2:56
[9] Hindu Dance
[10] Chinese Dance 3:26
[11] The Market in Ispahan 3:14
[12] Dance of the Prisoners 4:42
[13] Dance of the Negros
THREE MOTETS, Op.55** (for accapella choir)
[14] Afflictus sum 6.17
[15] Dominus regit me 3.48
[16] Bendictus Dominus 5.06

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