Feb 2021 – Alto CD

Red Army Choir Favourites Alexandrov Ensemble

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:46:40 +0000

“Combine the stirring sound of a large smooth choir, with balalaikas, and great Russian baritones with the varying rhythms of folksong and marches and you have a worldwide success, as the legendary Alexandrov realised in the 1930’s”

1. Kalinka 4:07

2. Volga Boat Song 3:19

3. Stenka Razin 6:05

4. Dubinushka 3:40

5. Along Peter’s Street/Pyotrskaya 3:02

6. Vinogradov / Katyusha 2:19

7. The Birch Tree 3:01

8. Meadowlands / Cossack Patrol 2:45

9. On the Mountain 2:35

10. Oi Ty Rosh 4:45

11. A Soldier’s Song 3:21

12. Snow Flakes 2:39

13. Notschenka 3:58

14. The Partisans’ Anthem 3:17

15. Russia my Native Land 4:52

16. You are always Beautiful 3:28

17. Travel Song 3:32

18. Dark Eyes / Ochi Chyornye 4:35

19. Annie Laurie 4:26

20. Oh No John, No ! 1:57

21. The Marseillaise 1:44

22. Soviet National Anthem 1:16

Cavalleria Rusticana

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:46:40 +0000

“Tebaldi offers a forthright, lusty account of Mascagni’s piece of blood and thunder and has the distinction of three excellent soloists. She is most moving in Voi lo sapete and the rich firmness of Bastianini’s baritone is beautifully caught. As always, Björling shows himself the most intelligent of tenors” [Penguin Guide]

(Mascagni: Targioni-Tozzetti & Menasci)

Santuzza (soprano) Renata Tebaldi

Turiddu (tenor) Jussi Björling

Lola (mezzo) Lucia Dani

Alfio (baritone) Ettore Bastianini

Mamma Lucia (mezzo) Rina Corsi

Orchestra & Chorus, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Alberto Erede

1. Preludio 2:18

2. O Lola c’hai di latti la cammisa … Ah! 5:27

3. Gli aranci olezzano 7:32

4. Dite, Mamma Lucia 4:13

5. Il cavallo scalpita 2:29

6. Beato voi, compar Alfio … Regina Coeli 7:28

7. Voi lo sapete, o mamma 5:35

8. Tu qui Santuzza? 4:03

9. Fior di giaggiolo 3:08

10. Ah! lo vedi, che hai tu detto? 5:59

11. Oh! Il Signore vi manda, compar Alfio! 5:07

12. Intermezzo 3:45

13. A casa, a casa, amici 2:42

14. Viva il vino spumeggiante, nel bicchiere scintillante 2:36

15. A voi tutti, salute! 5:04

16. Mamma! Quel vino è generoso 6:02

Leoncavallo: Pagliacci

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:46:40 +0000

“especially notable for the contribution of the tenor Franco Corelli, as Canio, which calls for some superlatives… he shows natural feeling for the phrases. … not just a question of big glorious noise – though of course he does that too – a performance like this puts several others by more starry names, in the shade.” [Penguin Guide]

Canio (tenor) Franco Corelli

Nedda (soprano) Lucine Amara

Tonio (baritone) Tito Gobbi

Beppe (tenor) Mario Spina

Silvio (baritone) Mario Zanasi

Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan

Conductor: Lovro von Matačić; Chorus Master: Norberto Mola

Prologue

[1] Prologue. Si può? Si Può? 7:28

Act I: Scene I

[2] Eh!… Son qua! Son qua! 3:04

[3] Un grande spettacolo a ventitré ore 2:47

[4] Un tal gioco, credetemi…4:30

[5] Don, din, don, din…2:40

Act I: Scene II

[6] Qual fiamma avea nel guardo?… Hui! Stridono lassù 4:52

[7] Sei là? Credea che te ne fossi andato 0:59

[8] So ben che difforme contorte son io 3:54

[9] Nedda!… Silvio! A quest’ora che imprudenza 1:18

[10] E fra quest’ansie in eterno vivrai! 2;25

[11] Non mi tentar! 1:17

[12] E allor perché, di’, tu m’hai stregato 3:32

[13] Cammina adagio e li sorprenderai! 4:43

[14] Recitat!… Mentre preso dal delirio 0:54

[15] Vesti la giubba 2:51

[16] Intermezzo 3:11

Act II

[17] Ohè! Ohè! Presto! Presto! 3:53

Act II: The Play

[18] Pagliaccio, mio marito 1:39

[19] Oh! Colombina, il tenero… 1:33

[20] Di fare il segno convenuto 4:06

[21] Arlecchin!… Colombina! 2:36

[22] Coraggio! Un uomo era con te 2:00

[23] No, Pagliaccio non son 3:36

[24] Suvvia, così terrible 2:43

Rachmaninov: Liturgy of St.John Chrysostom,Op.31

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:46:19 +0000

“although the best-known Rachmaninov works are not uncharacteristic, they represent only one side of his musical personality. Some of his finest scores have nothing to do with the piano, or the orchestra, and ranking high among them are his two major religious pieces, the Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, and the Vespers … the culmination of 100 years of effort by Russian composers to fuse liturgical and art music. Certainly they were not unexpected for Rachmaninov, because the tones of Russian religious choirs – dark, rich, sonorous – haunted his inner ear as much as the sound of piano” (Gramophone)

Recorded at the Smolensk Cathedral of the Dormition in 1988

Settings by Chesnokov, Arkhangelsky, Davidovsky

Irina Arkhipova, mezzo-soprano; Sergei Babeshko, baritone

Pavel Chesnokov (1877-1944): 1. Let My Prayer be set forth before Thee 7:48

2. O Fervent Intercessor, Most Holy Queen, Op.43 No.6 4:29

3. The Eternal Council, Op. 40 No.2 3:35

Alexander Arkhangelsky (1846-1924): 4. Praise Ye the Name of the Lord 5:28

Gregory Davidovsky (1866-1952): 5. Lord now lettest Thy Servant Depart 2:16

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943): Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op.31 [53:53]

6. Bless the Lord, O My Soul 4:05 7. Glory be to the Father and Only-Begotten Son 2:39

8. In Thy Kingdom remember us, O Lord (3rd Antiphon) 4:52

9. The Little Entrance: Come, let us Worship 1:33

10. Lord, be Merciful to the Faithful and the Trisagion 3:48

11. Augmented Litany 3:34 12. Cherubic Hymn 5:10

13. The Creed 6:06 14. A Mercy of Peace 3:52

15. To Thee we Sing 3:07 16. Hymn to the Mother of God: It is Truly Meet 2:20

17. The Lord’s Prayer 4:05 18. Communion Hymn: Praise the Lord 2:11

19. Blessed is He and we have seen the True Light 1:28

20. Let our Mouths be filled with Thy Praise 3:28

21. Blessed be the Name of the Lord 0:38 22. [Dismissal]: Glory be to the Father 0:52

Rostropovich plays Cello Concertos & Russian Encores

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:46:19 +0000

[Prokofiev]: “The performance is an eloquent one, and Rostropovitch’s playing shows his beautiful tone and masterly technique … a very faithful recording, a true balance of tone between soloist and orchestra” [Saint-Saens]: “The best performance of all, however (and best recording) is that of Rostropovich – more fanciful altogether, and backed up by orchestral playing from the Philharmonia under Sargent that is a genuine contribution to an exciting performance. (Gramophone)

Prokoviev: Symphony-Concerto in E minor, Op.125 [38:10]

1. Andante 10:52

2. Allegro giusto 17:20

3. Andante con moto 9:38

[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Malcolm Sargent]

4. Glazunov: Mélodie 7:57

[U.S.S.R State Radio Orchestra /Nikolai Anosov]

5. Glazunov: Minstrel’s Song / Chant du Ménestral 4:32

[Moscow Youth Symphony Orchestra/ Kyrill Kondrashin]

6. Tchaikovsky: Pezzo Capriccioso 7:32

[Moscow Youth Symphony Orchestra/ Kyrill Kondrashin]

Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No.1 in A minor, Op.33 [18:30]

7. Allegro non troppo 5:17

8. Allegretto con moto 4:52

9. Tempo primo 8:20

[Philharmonia Orchestra / Malcolm Sargent]

España ! Chabrier Favourites +Lalo : Namouna Suite No.1

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:46:19 +0000

“Paray’s whimsically relaxed and sparkling account of España gives great pleasure and his rubato in the Fête is equally winning …wholly delightful … warm and polished …beautifully balanced” [Lalo Namouna Suite] “What delightful music this is, particularly in such expert hands” (both: Penguin Guide 3*)

[1] España (Rhapsody) 6:30

[2] Overture to ‘Gwendoline’ 8:36

[3] Fête Polonaise (from ‘Le Roi Malgré Lui’) 7:30

[4] Danse Slave (from ‘Le Roi Malgré Lui’) 5:04

Suite Pastorale (1960) [15:51]

[5] i. Idylle 4:03 [6] ii. Danse villageoise 4:18

[7] iii. Sous bois 2:56 [8] iv. Scherzo-Valse 4:32

[9] Habanera * 3:37

Orchestre Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet*

[10] Bourrée Fantasque 6:05

[11] Joyeuse Marche 3:32

Lalo: Namouna Suite No.1 (1958)[19:40]

[12] i. Prélude 5:10 [13] ii. Sérénade 1:38 [14] iii. Thème varié 5:00

[15] iv. Parades de foire 4:29 [16] v. Fête foraine 3:21