April 2018 – Alto CD

French Piano Impressions Debussy – Fauré – Ravel – Satie

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:27 +0000

“Tirimo is a fine pianist with first-rate technical command, and understands Debussy’s world well.” (© Gramophone) “probably first choice for those wanting a modern digital recording offering the complete set…recording most realistic and natural” (© Penguin Guide) [Fauré] “A most enjoyable recital, and one for which listeners will be grateful … What is Impressive is the pianist’s integration of fragility and firmness, simplicity and complexity ” (Gramophone) [Ravel]: “I’m glad to be able to praise a fluid but unhurried Jeux d’eau that is well served, too, by the velvety-rich recorded sound … it ‘s attractive. So are the Sonatine, and the tenderly solemn Pavane pour une infante défunte” (Gramophone) [Satie] “Dickinson made Satie’s music a centrepoint of his repertoire, and his thoughtful approach to this highly rewarding music is all his own … variety of articulation and colour is fully at the service of the composer.” (Penguin Guide)

Debussy Piano Favourites* 78+ mins

[1] Clair de Lune (from Suite Bergamasque) 5:23

Children’s Corner Suite (16:27)

[2] Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum 2:24
[3] Jimbo’s Lullaby 3:31
[4] Serenade for the Doll 2:33
[5] The Snow is Dancing 2:31
[6] The Little Shepherd 2:32
[7] The Golliwog’s Cakewalk 2:52
[8] Arabesque No.1 4:29

Preludes (selection from Book I)

[9] The Hills of Anacapri / Les Collines d’Anacapri 3:10
[10] Girl with the flaxen hair / Fille aux cheveaux de Lin 2:45
[11] The Interrupted Serenade / La Sérénade Interrompue 2:39
[12] The Submerged Cathedral / La Cathédrale Engloutie 5:57
[13] Minstrels 2:26
[14] Général Lavine – Eccentric (from Book II) 2:50

Estampes

[15] Pagodes 5:56
[16] An Evening in Granada (La Soirée dans Grenade) 6:04
[17] Gardens in the Rain (Jardins sous la Pluie) 3:51

Images

[18] Reflections in the Water (Reflets dans l’eau) (Book I) 5:24
[19] Goldfish (Poissons d’or) (Book II) 4:26
[20] The Happy Island (L’Isle Joyeuse) 6:31

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)** 76+mins

[1] Nocturne in E flat minor, opus 33 No 1. 8:22
[2] Impromptu No 2 in F minor, opus 31 3:23
[3] Barcarolle No 1 in A minor, opus 26 5:10
[4] Nocturne No 6 in D flat major, opus 65 8:53
[5] Barcarolle No 11 in G minor, opus 105 5:07
[6] Barcarolle No 6 in E flat major, opus 70 3:12
[7] Barcarolle No 7 in D minor, opus 90* 4:03
[8] Barcarolle No 2 in G major, opus 41* 7:13
[9] Barcarolle No 5 in F sharp minor, opus 66 6:13
[10] Nocturne No 4 in E flat major, opus 36 8:11
[11] Barcarolle No 4 in A flat major, opus 44 4:14
[12] Barcarolle No 12 in E flat major, opus 106* 3:50
[13] Valse-caprice No 4 in A flat major, opus 62* 8:27

MAURICE RAVEL (1875-1937)** 72 mins
Le Tombeau de Couperin

[1] Prélude 3:00
[2] Fugue 3:27
[3] Forlane 5:52
[4] Rigaudon 2:51
[5] Menuet 5:05
[6] Toccata 3:57
[7] Jeux d’eau 6:09

Sonatine

[8] Modéré 5:03
[9] Mouvement de Menuet 3:07
[10] Animé 3:46
[11] Pavane pour une infante défunte 6:54

Gaspard de la nuit

[12] Ondine 6:54
[13] Le gibet 6:26
[14] Scarbo 9:16

Erik Satie Favourites*** 77+ mins
Trois Gymnopédies (1888)

[1] Lent et douloureux 3:14 [2] Lent et triste 2:39 [3] Lent et grave 2:29
[4] Le Piège de Méduse (1913) 3:18
Quadrille – Valse – Pas vite – Mazurka – Un peu vif – Polka – Quadrille
Croquis et agaceries d’un gros bonhomme en bois (1913)
[5] Tyrolienne turque 1:57 [6] Danse maigre 2:43 [7] Españana 1:18
[8] Poudre d’or (c.1901) 4:27
Chapitres tournés en tous sens (1913)
[9] Celle qui parle trop 1:02 [10] Le porteur de grosses pierres 2:19
[11] Regrets des enfermés – Jonas et Latude 1:22
Le fils des étoiles (c.1891)
[12] Prelude to Act 1 – Le Vocation 3:25 [13] Prelude to Act 2 – L’Initiation 2:58
[14] Prelude to Act 3 – L’Incantation 3:09
[15] Le Piccadilly (1904) 1:54
[16] Prélude en tapisserie (1906) 3:18
Véritables préludes flasques (pour un chien) (1912)
[17] I. Sévère reprimand 0:52 [18] II. Seul à la maison 1:31 [19] III. On joue 0:42
[20] Je te veux (Valse pour piano) (c.1901) 5:16
Sonatine bureaucratique (1917)
[21] Allegro 1:02 [22] Andante 1:25 [23] Vivache 1:30
Pièces froides (Airs à faire fuir) (1897)
[24] D’une manière très particulière 2:58 [25] Modestement 1:19 [26] S’inviter 3:01
Sports et divertissements (1914)
[27] Nos. 1-5 2:52 [28] Nos. 6-10 3:02 [29] Nos. 11-16 2:59 [30] Nos. 17-21 3:19
[31] Vexations (1893) 3:52

Rachmaninov Symphony No.1 Isle of the Dead

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:27 +0000

“Svetlanov’s volcanic 1966 recording … heartbreakingly intense yet grippingly coherent conception, brimful of insight and flair … shoots off like a rocket … finale enshrines as adrenalin-fuelled a ride to the abyss as you will ever hear … the pathos of the symphony’s Largo has to be heard to be believed (decibel levels defeated plucky Soviet engineers) … “if forced to take just one version down from the shelves, I’d plump for the great Evgeni Svetlanov’s unforgettably visceral first recording, warts and all” (Gramophone, 2006). (Isle of the Dead): “(Rachmaninov) later recalled the ‘massive architecture and mystic message of the painting made a marked impression on me’. …This inspired what is surely (his) orchestral masterpiece” © James Murray

Symphony No. 1

[1] Grave. Allegro ma non troppo 14.21
[2] Allegro animato 8:20
[3] Larghetto 12:16
[4] Allegro con fuoco 12:41

Isle of the Dead

[5] Symphonic poem inspired by Boecklin’s painting 20:30

Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937) Symphony No.2 & No.4*; Stabat Mater **

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:27 +0000

[2nd] “a natural inheritor of Scriabinesque exoticism, Szymanowski brings out the best in Scriabin’s most imaginative interpreters, which is why Gergiev proves such a convincing interpreter … excellent playing from the LSO” [4th] “Matsuev has his feet…firmly planted on terra firma … the gorgeous return to lushness in the second movement suggests an almost Ravelian sensibility…Matsuev and Gergiev turn the finale into Szymanowski’s danse generale.” (Gramophone) [Stabat Mater] “is beautiful and Gergiev has the full measure of its 23 gorgeous minutes.” (MusicWeb)

1. I. Allegro Moderato. Grazioso 11:18
2. II. Theme – III. Variation I – IV. Variation II 4:34
3. V. Variation III – VI. Variation IV – VII. Variation V 6:44
4. VIII. Finale Introduction – Variation VI – IX. Finale – Fugue 6:56

Stabat Mater [23:25]

5. I. Stabat mater dolorosa 7:13
6. II. Quis est homo qui non fleret 2:09
7. III. O, Eia, Mater, fons amoris 4:01
8. IV. Fac me tecum pie flere 2:44
9. V. Virgo virginum praeclara 2:49
10. VI. Christe, cum sit hinc exire 4:27

Symphony No.4* ‘Sinfonie Concertante’ Op.60 [23:00]

11. I. Moderato – Tempo comodo 9:24
12. II. Andante molto sostenuto 7:31
13. III. Allegro non troppo, ma agitato ed ansioso 6:04

Beethoven: Mass in C, Op.86 Symphony No.9 – 4th Mvt ‘Ode to Joy’

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:27 +0000

‘Colin Davis leads a superb quartet of soloists and brings out all the humanity and tenderness of the music with his customary skill. The LSO Chorus responds brilliantly’ (Classic FM) ‘Colin Davis who meets the work on its own particular ground with such imagination and style in this version. The great fugal perorations are crisper under Davis – more Haydnesque, you might say’ (Gramophone) [9th sym] BBC Radio 3 CD of the Week. ‘This has impressed everyone … a feeling of immediacy and drama tempered with vision and maturity.’ (BBC) ‘Feel the warmth of Finley’s opening bass solo, marvel at the open throats of the LSO Chorus.’ (The Times)

Mass in C [46:06]*

[1] I. Kyrie 5:40
[2] II. Gloria 10:13
[3] III. Credo 11:20
[4] IV. Sanctus 3:34
[5] V. Benedictus 7:39
[6] VI. Agnus Dei 7:38

Symphony No 9 (Op.125); 4th Movement **

[7] Presto – Allegro ma non troppo –
Vivace – Adagio cantabile 24:30

Suppé & Favourite French Overtures

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:27 +0000

Mastered fromMercury Living Presence LPs. ‘Mercury is all about the placement of the microphones. Paul Paray, the conductor who made the Detroit Symphony one of the finest ‘French’ orchestras on the planet’ (Gramophone) “Suppé and Auber prove an ideal spirit-raiser. The Beautiful Galatea balances handsome playing with real swagger, and Poet & Peasant is intense and beautifully shaped. There are nine overtures, each parading similar virtues – brilliance, energy, a consistent rhythm and line, (and) felicitous phrasing … Berlioz (is) the best music, and here the virtuosity of Paray’s orchestra really comes into its own. I do not ever remember having heard the climax of Le Carnaval Romain whipped up more excitingly” (Gramophone)

Franz von Suppé:

[1] Die schone Galathée / Beautiful Galatea 6:22
[2] Pique Dame 7:30
[3] Leichte Kavallerie / Light Cavalry 6:29
[4] Dichter und Bauer / Poet & Peasant 9:25
[5] Ein Morgen, ein Mittag, ein Abend in Wien /
Morning, Noon & Night in Vienna 7:31
[6] Boccaccio 6:41
[7] Daniel Auber: The Bronze Horse 6:44
[8] Daniel Auber: Fra Diavolo 7:22
[9] Ferdinand Hérold: Zampa 7:23
[10] Heitor Berlioz: Le Carnaval Romain 8:17

Beethoven Symphonies nos 5 & 7

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:27 +0000

“Karajan injects plenty of drive into the first movement … and is splendid in the development section. I find his second movement noble and he’s very good, too, in the third … the 4th movement is very well handled by Karajan and the sound from the orchestra as the finale bursts upon us is commanding … fiery and powerful”
[7th] “mobile and fluent yet the pace is not so fleet as to compromise the stature of the music … On to the finale where Karajan’s athleticism and drive is impressive … highly competitive. (MusicWeb) “this symphony can stand forceful treatment and thrive on it … the white heat of Karajan’s energy sweeps one along, and there is little use uttering any complaint … of the extra vitality here” (Gramophone)

Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 [30:49]
1. Allegro con brio 7:11
2. Andante con moto 9:55
3. Allegro 4:51
4. Allegro 8:50
Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 [33:35]
5. Poco sostenuto – Vivace 11:15
6. Allegretto 7:59
7. Presto – Assai meno presto 7:45
8. Allegro con brio 6:34

Jean Sibelius Symphonies nos 4 & 7

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:27 +0000

“What makes Davis’s Sibelius compelling is that he manages to have it both ways. He gives these fine players the encouragement to turn individual passages into moments of spine-tingling magic …But he never loses sight of the bigger objective, which is to pull together, bit by bit, the seemingly disparate themes … I doubt whether I shall ever hear an orchestra and conductor achieve a closer rapport in Sibelius” (BBC Radio 3) “one of the finest performances of Sibelius’s Seventh ever on disc” (Classic FM) “Mature wisdom and beautiful playing” (The Times)

Symphony No.4 in A minor Op.63 [38:37]

[1] I. Tempo Molto Moderato, Quasi Adagio 11:42
[2] II. Allegro Molto Vivace 4:57
[3] III. Il Tempo Largo 12:40
[4] IV. Allegro 9:17

Symphony No.7 in C major Op.105 [22:27]

[5] I. Adagio – Un pochettino meno adagio –
Vivacissimo – Adagio – Allegro molto moderato –
Vivace – Presto – Adagio 22:27

Britten: War Requiem

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:27 +0000

“a scintillating achievement…Sabina Cvilak’s soprano has the focus … Bostridge brings piercing sincerity … Keenlyside – sonorous, commanding … an important issue: Noseda’s judgement of pace is unerring, and the orchestra and chorus simply superb. (BBC Music 4*) “LSO and Chorus are on cracking form, the soloists are as good as you will get…No one should be without (Britten’s) but 50 years later, Noseda’s dramatic, pulsating account represents another landmark.” (Financial Times) “Noseda seeks to take the audience from the edge of consciousness to the blazing fires of the battlefield…Bostridge spins a beautiful line … Keenlyside is excellent throughout…Decisive and confident, Sabina Cvilak has the Slavic edge that has seemed hard-wired into the part since the incomparable Vishnevskaya” (Gramophone) “[Noseda] brings a strong sense of Italianate lyricism to bear on the score, reminding us of Britten’s debt to Verdi … choral singing is fervent and intense, the playing fierce and sensitive ” (The Guardian 4*) “Another essential recording” (The Times 4*)

Disc 1

1. i. Requiem Aeternam – Requiem aeternam 3:36
2. ii. Requiem Aeternam – Te decet hymnus 3:00
3. iii. Requiem Aeternam ‘What passing-bells for these
who die as cattle?’ 2:36
4. iv. Requiem Aeternam – Kyrie eleison 1:32
5. v. Dies Irae – Dies irae 3:31
6. vi. Dies Irae – “Bugles sang, saddening the evening air” 2:31
7. vii. Dies Irae – Liber scriptus 2:59
8. viii. Dies Irae – “Out there, we’ve walked
quite friendly up to Death” 1:41
9. ix. Dies Irae – Recordare Iesu pie 3:50
10. x. Dies Irae – Confutatis maledictis 1:04
11. xi. Dies Irae – “Be slowly lifted up, thou long black arm” 2:09
12. xii. Dies Irae – Dies irae 3:00
13. xiii. Dies Irae – “Move him into the sun” 4:10
14. xiv. Dies Irae – Pie Iesu Domine 1:34
15. xv. Offertorium – Domine Jesu Christe 1:18
16. xvi. Offertorium – Sed signifer Sanctus 1:51
17. xvii. Offertorium – “So Abram rose, and clave the wood” 3:22
18. xvii. Offertorium – Hostias et preces tibi 2:39

Disc 2

1. xix. Sanctus – Sanctus 7:04
2. xx. Sanctus – “After the blast of lightning from the East” 3:33
3. xxi. Agnus Dei – “One ever hangs where shelled roads part” 3:09
4. xxii. Libera Me – Libera me 8:02
5. xxiii. Libera Me – “It seemed that out of battle I escaped” 2:50
6. xxiv. Libera Me – “ ‘None’, said the other” 6:49
7. xxv. Libera Me – “Let us sleep now…” In paradisum 4:26
8. xxvi. Libera Me – Requiescant in pace 1:15

The Gift of Poetry

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:27 +0000

‘

“Over 78 minutes of sustained quality in favourites, all performed by legendary voices and looks like another UK best-seller”

1 W.H.Auden: The Night Mail / John Laurie 2:13
2 Laurie Lee: April / Laurie Lee 1:21
3 Oscar Wilde: Ballad of Reading Gaol/ Frank Duncan 6:34
4 Robert Burns: Red, Red Rose / John Neville 0:46

Alec Guinness reading: (*with Osian Ellis, harp)

5 E.E.Cummings: Sweet Spring 1:05
6 E.E.Cummings: When Faces Called Flowers…. 1:20
7 E.E.Cummings: The Moon Looked into my Window 1:04
8 Thomas H. Bayly: Ask Me Not For Sportive Lays* 1:04
9 Cornelius Whur: The Female Friend* 1:52
10 Thomas H. Bayly: Toujours Le Meme* 2:08
11 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Exelsior* 2:34

Richard Burton reading:

12 Thomas Hardy: Wessex Heights 2:48
13 Thomas Hardy: The Voice 0:54
14 John Clare: Autumn 0:47
15 Christopher Marlowe: The Passionate Shepherd 0:58
16 Walter Raleigh: Nymph’s Reply 1:13
17 Bishop Henry King: from Exequy on his Wife 0:39
18 William Dunbar: from Lament of the Makers 0:45
19 Robert Graves: Welsh Incident 2:33

John Betjeman reading Betjeman:

20 The Church’s Restoration 1:14
21 Olympic Girl 1:26
22 Seaside Golf 1:07
23 Business Women 1:00
24 Indoor Games near Newbury 2:25
25 How to get on in Society 0:55
26 Licorice Fields at Pontefract 1:29

Robert Donat reading:

27 A. E. Housman: From Far from Eve and Morning 0:42
28 John Betjeman: Death at Leamington 1:27
29 Coventry Patmore: The Toys 1:54
30 T. S. Eliot: Gus, the Theatre Cat 3:09
31 Yuan Jie: Drunk Song on Stone Fish Lake 1:10
32 Robert Browning: Ring and the Book (extract). 2:34
33 Wm Shakespeare: On her Reign (from Henry VIII) 1:18
34 Shakespeare: ‘Dirge for Fidele’ from Cymbeline
(Fear no more the Heat of the Sun…) 1:31
35 William Wordsworth: Intimations of Immortality 11:01
36 John Donne: A Devotion (No Man is an Island) /
Orson Welles 4:10
37 Langston Hughes: Freedom Train / Paul Robeson 2:53
38 Abraham Lincoln: The Gettysburg address
/ Orson Welles 2:48