April 2019 – Alto CD

John Betjeman reads Favourite Poems

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:32 +0000

“In a 1962 radio interview he told teenage questioners that he could not write about ‘abstract things’, preferring places and faces. Philip Larkin wrote of Betjeman’s work, “how much more interesting & worth writing about (his) subjects are than most other modern poets, I mean, whether so-and-so achieves some metaphysical inner unity is not really so interesting as the overbuilding of rural Middlesex.”

1. False Security 3:04
2. Hunter Trials 2:12
3. Seaside Golf 1:33
4. Norfolk 1:33
5. Sunday in Ireland 3:03
6. Remorse 1:28
7. Youth and Age on Beaulieu River 3:24
8. A Subaltern’s Love Song 4:03
9. Reproof Deserved (After the Lecture) 2:31
10. Business Women 2:53
11. Song of a Night-Club Proprietress (AKA ‘Sun & Fun’) 2:28
12. The Licorice Fields at Pontefract 2:49
13. Our Padre 1:07
14. Indoor Games Near Newbury 3:02
15. How to Get on in Society 0:56
16. Late Flowering Lust 1:14
17. Middlesex 1:47
18. Harrow-on-the-Hill 1:36
19. Trebetherick 2:01
20. The Arrest of Oscar Wilde 1:48
21. In Memoriam Walter Ramsden 2:09
22. Devonshire Street, W.1 1:54
23. In a Bath Teashop 0:27
24. The Irish Unionist’s Farewell 1:52
25. A Lincolnshire Church 2:50
26. Henley-on-Thames 1:17
27. Diary of a Church Mouse 3:05
28. In the Public Gardens 0:55
29. Eunice 2:13
30. The Last of Her Order (AKA ‘Felixstowe’) 2:32
31. Matlock Bath

Bonus Tracks read by Famous Voices & Admirers

32. To My Son Aged Eight read by Dylan Thomas 3:02
(includes introduction to Betjeman to New York audiences)
33. On a Portrait of a Deaf Man read by Dylan Thomas 1:30
34. Death at Leamington read by Robert Donat 1:27
35. Christmas read by Robert Donat 2:55

Shostakovich: Symphonies No.9 & No.15 Festive Overture; Scherzo Op.1

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:31 +0000

“(9th) They capture not only the joyful irreverence but the sense of danger lurking beneath … solo wind playing is excellent throughout…brilliantly played and vividly recorded” (CD Review) (15th) “with a superbly vivid Fifteenth, generally hard-driven à la Mravinsky but far more convincingly poised … first movement goes at a frightening lick, deserting the toy shop for the asylum, the slow movement lacks only the very last ounce of desolation and the finale, always intelligently conceived, is suitably emotive at the close. The sound has immediacy and enough depth.” (Gramophone)

[1] Festive Overture, Op.96 *** 6:01
[2] Scherzo for Orchestra in F sharp minor, Op.1 *** 5:01

Symphony No.9 in E-flat major * [26:28]

[3] I. Allegro 5:27
[4] II. Moderato 7:13
[5] III. Presto 2:53
[6] IV. Largo 4:14
[7] V. Allegretto – Allegro 6:40

Symphony No.15 in A major, Op.141 (1971) ** [40:25]

[8] I. Allegretto 7:06
[9] II. Adagio – Largo – Adagio – Largo 13:52
[10] III. Allegretto 4:15
[11] IV. Adagio – Allegretto – Adagio – Allegretto 15:10

Janáček Sinfonietta * 4 Opera Preludes * Taras Bulba

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:31 +0000

“Charles Mackerras has shown himself one of the finest Janáček conductors. His readings convey a sense of burning belief in and love of Janáček’s music; they are well prepared; yet it is as if the strangeness and beauty of the music were being revealed for the first time. The engineers have excelled themselves, matching this bold approach with an equally bold recording … In the four Preludes the performances are excellently dramatic, and most moving.” (Gramophone)

Sinfonietta, 4 Opera Preludes:
Sinfonietta (1926) [24:41]

1. Allegretto – Allegro – Maestoso 2:20
2. Andante – Alegretto – Maestoso 6:12
3. Moderato – Con Moto – Tempo Primo – Prestissimo – Moderato 5:47
4. Allegretto 3:01
5. Andante con moto – Maestoso – Allegretto – Allegro – Maestoso – Adagio 7:18

Operatic Preludes [21:12]

6. The Makropulos Affair 5:10
7. Katya Kabanova 4:44
8. The House of the Dead 5:34
9. Jenufa (prelude: ‘Jealousy’) 5:42

Taras Bulba: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / Karel Ančerl
Taras Bulba (1915-8) ‘Rhapsody for Orchestra’ [21:49]

10. Andrei’s Death 8:30
11. Ostap’s Death 4:59
12. Prophecy and Death of Taras Bulba 8:19

Bawdy Ballads of Old England -17th Century Songs & Dances

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:31 +0000

“it is no good having lewd words one cannot hear … so full marks for the City Waites and their swinging dialect style … items are sometimes accompanied, sometimes not, and this nicely provides contrast, but they are made into lively entertainments” (Penguin Guide 3*) “a taste of the broadside ballad culture which pervaded the Restoration … The Maid’s Complaint is a remarkably spontaneous scene, led by soprano Lucie Skeaping complete with a bunch of drunks who join in, late … Good fun but not very clean!” (Gramophone) “good diction allows particular clarity” (MusicWeb)

[1] Diddle Diddle or The Kind Country Lovers 3.22
[2] The Fair Maid of lslington 4.09
[3] Green Stockings 2.21
[4] The Jovial Lass or Dol and Roger 4.19
[5] Mundanga Was 2.49
[6] Lady of Pleasure 1.37
[7] The Old Wife 2.06
[8] The Beehive 2.33
[9] Blue Petticoats or Green Garters 2.02
[10] The Gelding of the Devil 6.54
[11] The Maid’s Complaint for Want of a Dil Doul 5.27
[12] Oyster Nan 2.20
[13] The Frolic 2.06
[14] The Husband who met his Match 5.27
[15] The Jovial Broom Man 2.56
[16] The Disappointment 3.49
[17] The Lusty Young Smith 2.28
[18] Greensleeves and Yellow Lace 2.31
[19] The Jolly Brown Turd 1.37
[20] Two Rounds: Tom Making a Manteau; When Celia was Learning 3.16
[21] Lady Lie Near Me 1.31
[22] Oh how you Protest 1.33
[23] A Ditty Delightful of Mother Watkin’s Ale 3.41
[24] Miss Nelly 2.30

Vivaldi: Four Seasons & Baroque Favourites

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:31 +0000

“great spontaneity and vitality…firm resonant bass…polished, strongly characterised accompaniments…the effect is exhilarating” (Vivaldi- Penguin Guide 3 stars) “playing is alive, alert, stylish & committed….sound is first class” (Penguin Guide 3 stars)

‘The Four Seasons’ (from Op.8 ‘Trial of Harmony and Invention’)

Concerto in E, P.241
‘La Primavera’ (Spring)
1. I. Allegro 3:19
2. II. Largo 2:37
3. III. Danza pastorale 4:23
Concerto in G minor, P.336
‘L’Estate’ (Summer)
4. I. Allegro non molto 4:33
5. II. Adagio 1:55
6. III. Tempo impestuoso 2:40
Concerto in F, P.257
‘L’Autumno” (Autumn)
7. I. Allegro 4:44
8. II. Adagio molto 1:50
9. III. La caccia (Allegro) 3:32
Concerto in F minor, P.442
‘L’Inverno’ (Winter)
10. I. Allegro non molto 3:10
11. II. Largo 2:02
12. III. Allegro 3:03
13. ALBINONI-GIAZOTTO Adagio in G minor 9:32
14. HANDEL: Overture to ‘Berenice’ 3:26
15. J S BACH: Air on the G String (from 3rd Orchestral Suite) 4:59
16. HANDEL: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (‘Solomon’) 3:04
17. PACHELBEL: Kanon in D (orig: for 3 Violins & Cello) 4:32
18. PURCELL: Rondeau from ‘Abdelazer’ 1:17
19. PURCELL: Chaconne (‘Chacony’) in G minor, 4 parts 5:40
20. J S BACH: Allegro Assai from BVW 1041 Violin Concerto 3:54

JUSSI BJÖRLING: In Concert (including Carnegie Hall classic)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:31 +0000

“Björling was sadly underused as a concert singer; recordings of renowned recitals such as here offer glimpses of his musicianship even in unfamiliar territory …. Included (also) are familiar encores, as well as his famous Lohengrin Farewell : after many decades they are still benchmark performances.” (James Murray)

- [1] Adelaide (Beethoven:Matthisson) 6:43
- [2] Frühlingsglaube (Schubert:Uhland) 3:24
- [3] Die Forelle (The Trout) (Schubert:Schubart) 1:53
- [4] Ständchen (Schubert:Rellstab) 4:19
- [5] Die böse Farbe (Schubert:Müller) 2:43
- [6] Traum durch die Dämmerung (R.Strauss:Bierbaum) 3:05
- [7] Cäcilie (R.Strauss:Hart) 2:05
- [8] Ständchen (Brahms:Kugler) 1:47
- [9] Il mio tesoro (Don Giovanni:Mozart:da Ponte) 4:00
- [10] Amor ti vieta (Fedora:Giordano:Colautti) 2:11
- [11] Flower Song: La fleur que tu m’avais jetée
  (Carmen:Bizet:Meilhac & Halévy) 3:43
- [12] Dream Song: Le Reve (Manon:Massenet:Meilhac & Gille) 3:44
- [13] Ideale (Tosti) 3:15
- [14] È lucevan le stelle (Tosca:Puccini:Giscosa & Illica) 3:05
- [15] L’alba separa della luce ombra (Tosti:d’Annunzio) 2:42
- [16] I Dream of Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (Foster) 3:38

Above Tracks 1–16 with Frederic Schauwecker, piano (1955)

[17] Jeg elseker dig (Grieg) 2:40
[18] M’Appari (Flotow) 3:24
[19] Berceuse (Jocelyn:Godard) 2:51
[20] O Sole Mio (Di Capua) 3:12
[21] Au Fond du Temple Saint (Les Pecheurs des Perles:Bizet) 4:30
with Robert Merrill / RCA Victor Orchestra / Renato Cellini (1951)
[22] For You Alone (Geehl:O’Reilly) 1:56
with Orchestra of the Royal Opera, Stockholm / Nils Grevillius (1937)
[23] Because (d’Hardelot:Teschemacher) 2:00
with Orchestra of the Royal Opera, Stockholm / Nils Grevillius (1948)
[24] In Fernam Land ‚Lohengrin’s Farewell‘ (Lohengrin:Wagner) 5:11

Organ Classics from King’s STEPHEN CLEOBURY at the Chapel Organ

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:31 +0000

‘Famous Organist of King’s College in popular selection, and digital sound’

Louis Vierne (1870-1937)

1. Carillon from 24 pieces in free style Op.31,No.21 3.52

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

2. Toccata & Fugue in D Minor BWV 565 9.12

Olivier Messiaen (1908-92)

3. Transports de joie (from L’ascension) 4.30

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

4. “Herzlich thut mich verlangen” BWV 727 2.35
5. “In dulci jubilo” BWV 608 1.19

Robert Prizeman (born 1952)

6. Toccata (BBC ‘Songs of Praise‘ 4.24

Sigfrid Karg-Elert (1877-1933)

7. Nun danket alle Gott” Chorale Prelude from Op.65 3.52

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-47)

8. Finale (from Sonata in D Minor Op.65, No.6 2.42

Franz Liszt (1811-86)

9. Prelude & Fugue on the name BACH 13.08

Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)

10. Ciacone in F Minor 8.51

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-47)

11. Prelude & Fugue in C Minor op.37, No.1 6.48

Joseph Jongen (1873-1953)

12. Chant de Mai, Op.53, No.1 5.23

Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)

13. Toccata from Symphony in F, Op.42, No.5 6.11

Piotyr Tchaikovsky: Symphonies 4, 5, 6

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:31 +0000

“Mravinsky’s stereo version of the 5th would occupy a distinguished place in any collection: full of Slavonic vitality … romantic and red-blooded. … exhilaratingly fast finale … reading of such fire and individuality” “his very Russian account of the 6th is justly renowned … deeply passionate, yet introduced with much tenderness … last two movements very fine indeed … finale moving without losing control”.(Penguin 3*)

CD1 [67:22]

Symphony No.4 in F minor, Op.36 [41:07]

[1] Andante sostenato- moderato con anima 18:26
[2] Andantino in modo di canzona 9:09
[3] Scherzo. Pizzicato ostinato 5:43
[4] Allegro con fuoco 7:47

Symphony No.5 in E minor, Opus 64 [42:20]

[5] Andante – allegro con anima 14:20
[6] Andante cantabile con alcuna licenza 11:43

CD2 [59:36] Symphony No.5 (Cont.)

[1] Valse – allegro moderato 5:22
[2] Satz Finale: andante maestoso allegro vivace 10:52

Symphony No.6 in B minor, Op.74 ‘Pathetique’ [43:10]

[3] Adagio – allegro non troppo 17:20
[4] Allegro con grazia 7:59
[5] Allegro molto vivace 8:12
[6] Finale. Adagio lamentoso – andante 9:39