Feb 2018 – Alto CD

Verdi: Requiem Mass

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

‘Sir Colin Davis conducts the Requiem with a judicious mix of fire and meditative calm’ (Gramophone) ‘a strong set of soloists … Every note fills me with affection and wonder, and that’s rare … his performance really feels like a live one as if we’re hearing this glorious score straight out of the crucible in which it was forged … From the Domine Jesu Christe onwards everyone seems gripped by the unfolding drama, prompting them to give of their individual and collective best … there’s a tension in the orchestra – a sense of approaching finality … that dark, tolling figure in the Lux Aeterna is unforgettable, the soloists singing with a liberating loveliness that’s equally memorable … Dies irae is (another) case in point … Sir Colin’s performance is in another league entirely’ (MusicWeb)

Disc 1 [45:39]

1. I. Requiem Aeternam 9:09
2. II. Dies Irae 2:17
3. III. Tuba Mirum 3:26
4. IV. Liber Scriptus 5:02
5. V. Quid Sum Miser 3:36
6. VI. Rex Tremendae 3:35
7. VII. Recordare 3:58
8. VIII. Ingemisco 3:28
9. IX. Confutatis 5:27
10. X. Lacrymosa 5:37

Disc 2 [36:25]

1. XI. Domine Jesu Christe 4:17
2. XII. Hostias 5:29
3. XIII. Sanctus 2:36
4. XIV. Agnus Dei 4:28
5. XV. Lux Aeterna 6:15
6. XVI. Libera Me, Dies Irae, Requiem Aeternam 7:24
7. XVII. Libera Me 5:52

Very Best of – Dixieland New Orleans

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

“78 mins of well-remastered vintage classic tracks chosen by experts – a great romp !”

1. When the Saints go Marching in (Trad.) 2:57
Bunk Johnson and his Band (1945)
2. My Melancholy Baby (Burnett/Norton) 2:49
Eddie Condon and his Orchestra (1948)
3. Mahogany Hall Stomp (Williams) 3:43
George Lewis and his New Orleans Band (1955)
4. One Sweet Letter from You (Warren/Brown/Clare) 3:06
Bunk Johnson and his Band (1945)
5. Tiger Rag (La Rocca) 3:02
Firehouse Five Plus Two (1955)
6. Hindustan (Wallace/Weeks) 4:14
Wilbur De Paris (1959)
7. Chinatown, My Chinatown (Schwarz/Jerome) 2:22
Firehouse Five Plus Two (1957)
8. Chicago (Fisher) / Muggsy Spanier (1947) 4:02
9. Panama (Tyers) / Bunk Johnson’s Superior Jazz Band (1945) 2:54
10. Savoy Blues (Ory) 4:37
George Lewis and his New Orleans Band (1955)
11. Bourbon Street Parade (Barbarin) / Wilbur De Paris (1957) 3:57
12. Down by the Riverside (Trad.) / Bunk Johnson Band (1942) 2:41
13. Careless Love (Handy) / Kid Ory & Creole Jazz Band (1945) 3:02
14. That’s A-Plenty (Pollack/Gilbert) 4:10
Wild Bill Davison and his Commodores (1943)
15. The Sheik of Araby (Snyder/Wheeler/Smith) 3:33
Edmond Hall Sextet (1944)
16. Sweet Sue, Just You (Young/Harris) 4:23
Muggsy Spanier and his Band (1947)
17. Darktown Strutter’s Ball (Brooks) 3:12
Bunk Johnson and his New Orleans Band (1945)
18. Coal Cart Blues (Armstrong/Harding) 2:55
Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven (1940)
19. Honeysuckle Rose (Waller/Razaf) 2:52
Sidney Bechet (1941)
20. The World is Waiting for the Sunrise (Seitz/Lockhart) 3:11
Jimmy McPartland and his Orchestra (1939)
21. Ballin’ The Jack (Smith/Barris) 2:54
Eddie Condon and his Band (1939)
22. New Orleans Function (Trad./Armstrong) 6:44
Louis Armstrong and his All Stars (1950)

Tchaikovsky Piano Recital

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:26 +0000

“Richter given first-class modern digital sound, and on top technical form…playing of consistent poetry…charming nostalgia…first recommendation for Tchaikovsky’s piano music”( © Penguin Guide 3*) “breathtaking, inspiring artistry” (Gramophone)

1. Nocturne in F major, Op.10 No.1 4.29
2. Waltz-Scherzo in A minor, Op.7 4.14
3. Humoresque in G major, Op.10 No.2 2.39
4. Capriccioso in B flat major, Op.19 No.5 3.52
5. Chanson triste Op.40, No.2 2.57
6. Waltz in A flat major, Op.40 No.8 3.20
7. Romance in F minor, Op.5 6.34
8. Romance in F major, Op.51 No.5 8.39
9. Un poco di Chopin, Op.72 No.15 3.25
10. L’espiègle, Op.72 No.12 2.07
11. Réverie du soir, Op.19 No.1 4.20
12. Menuetto-Scherzoso, Op.51 No.3 4.07
13. Valse de salon, Op.51 No.1 5.04
14. Méditation, Op.72 No.5 5.19

From “The Seasons” Op.37 bis

15. No.5 May. White Nights (Andantino-allegro giocoso) 4.28
16. No.6 June. Barcarolle (Andante cantabile) 5.43
17. No.11 November. Troika (Allegro moderato) 2.55
18. No.1 January. By the fireplace
(Moderato semplice ma espressivo) 5.13

Mozart Symphonies 32, 35 ‘Haffner’, 36 ‘Linz’, & 38 ‘Prague’

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:06 +0000

“These from his landmark complete cycle … all well received and I enjoyed hearing them again. Böhm is as excellent a Mozart conductor as Karajan, playing the quick movements in the most lively manner … Haffner is enjoyable, with a faster tempo in the finale, and plenty of momentum to the first movement. K318 has a vital and dramatic performance, The Linz minuet and finale both have sturdy, solid playing; a powerful performance … Böhm is really in his element with the Prague : the first movement is magnificent, superbly played, superbly architected” “(Overall)… he shows an exceptional ability to bring subtle emphasis to the felicities of the writing … (Gramophone)

[1] Symphony No.32 in G Major, K.318 [8:37]
Allegro spirituoso – Andante – Tempo primo

Symphony No.35 in D Major, K.385 [17:39]

[2] I. Satz: Allegro con spirito 5:29
[3] II. Satz: Andante 4:47
[4] III. Satz: Menuetto 3:30
[5] IV. Satz: Finale: Presto 3:52

Symphony No.36 in C Major, K.425, “Linz” [24:29]

[6] I. Satz: Adagio – Allegro spirituoso 7:55
[7] II. Satz: Andante 7:12
[8] III. Satz: Menuetto 3:30
[9] IV. Satz: Presto 5:51

Symphony No.38 in D Major, K.504, “Prague” [25:04]

[10] I. Satz: Adagio – Allegro 10:18
[11] II. Satz: Andante 8:30
[12] IV. Satz: Finale Presto 6:15

Szymanowski Violin Concerto, Violin Sonata, Hindemith Violin Concerto (‘Romantic Violin’)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:06 +0000

“Szymanowski is among the most exciting of twentieth century composers … a highly individual style which owes nothing to anyone … Try the first few bars of this recording; I should be surprised if you wanted to (stop) before the end … his early sonata, has many signs of that strange genius … Its melodies, like its structural features, allow a highly personal rather than nationalistic flavour, in this very well recorded performance” … “Oistrakh’s superbly poised and eloquent performance of the Hindemith Concerto … when a great artist does take up a modern work, what a difference it makes! … this is a really outstanding violin concerto – one of the finest of our time; and exquisitely beautiful at times.” (Gramophone)

Szymanowski: Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor, Op.35 (1916)

[1] Vivace assai 11:09
[2] Vivace scherzando 8:18
[3] Cadenza – Allegro moderato 4:35

Szymanowski: Violin Sonata in D minor, Op.9 (1904)

[4] Allegro Moderato. Patetico 8:28
[5] Andantino Tranquillo e Dolce 6:28
[6] Finale: Allegro Molto, Quasi Presto 5:20

Hindemith: Violin Concerto (1939)

[7] I. Mäßig bewegte Halbe 9:21
[8] II. Langsam 9:36
[9] III. Lebhaft 10:11

Bruckner Symphony No.4 ‘Romantic’

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:06 +0000

“Great hushes, mighty crescendos, time for every duplet and triplet to be grounded and yet to resonate with momentum. This was Bruckner’s maximal minimalism at its most majestic” (The Times) “the LSO’s principal horn (David Pyatt) here sets down a wonderful opening benchmark for what follows … Haitink’s conducting is a master-class in the art of control while appearing to stand back and let everyone play their best … This version easily holds its own with the best.” (Classic FM magazine)

Symphony No. 4 in E flat major

[1] I. Bewegt, nicht zu schnell 20:33
[2] II. Andante quasi Allegretto 15:07
[3] III. Scherzo. Bewegt – Trio: Nicht zu schnell.
Keinesfalls schleppend 11:11
[4] IV. Finale: Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell 22:17

Mozart: Requiem Mass K.626

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:06 +0000

this is a grandly scaled, nobly contoured reading, by turns monumental and ferociously dramatic. With biting choral attack, searing, spitting strings and scything trumpets, the Dies irae has a terrifying intensity I have rarely heard equalled. The Rex tremendae, too, is overwhelming in its desperate fervour and grimly sustained impetus, with the inexorable dotted rhythms hewn from granite … If you want a traditionally conceived budget-price Requiem, well sung, superbly played and vividly recorded, Davis’s performance has much to commend it.” (Gramophone)

1. Requiem und Kyrie 7:13
2. Dies Irae 1:44
3. Tuba mirum 3:37
4. Rex tremendae 2:14
5. Recordare 6:03
6. Confutatis maledictis 2:44
7. Lacrimosa 2:58
8. Domine Jesu 4:15
9. Hostias 4:36
10. Sanctus 1:46
11. Benedictus 4:33
12. Agnus Dei 8:46

Shostakovich: Symphony No.11 ‘The Year 1905’

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:06 +0000

“A superb performance with excellent sound makes this a benchmark recording and my top CD choice of the year. Shostakovich fans ignore this release at their peril !” (MusicWeb) “A searing new live account by Rostropovich, well-recorded and unmissable – (he) has something unique to say about this work, transcending any doubts about his conducting … the finale is articulated with tremendous cut and thrust, the sheer heft of the strings mightily impressive … the brass project powerfully as they do in real life, the woodwind audibly composed of individual stylists, the strings sound virile. It’s all here … Play loud or not at all.” (Gramophone)

[1] I. Palace Square: Adagio 20:18
[2] II. 9th January: Allegro 21:40
[3] III. In memoriam: Adagio 13:15
[4] IV. Tocsin: Allegro non troppo 17:19