Feb 2022 – Alto CD

Dvořák Piano Concerto/ Piano Quintet Op.81

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:04 +0000

[Concerto: Richter insisted on playing Dvořák’s originally-conceived version and not the then-standard, as transcribed by Vilém Kurz] … “Richter pronounced that it was the most difficult concerto he had ever tackled but somehow he made Dvořák’s original, unrevised piano-writing – sound totally convincing” [Quintet] “Quick and sensitive as Richter’s playing is, … with the Borodin Quartet supporting him sympathetically the performance has vigour and charm” (Gramophone)

Piano Concerto in G minor, Op.33 (1876) [38:11]

[1] I. Allegro agitato 18:09

[2] II. Andante sostenuto 8:59

[3] III. Allegro con fuoco 11:01

Sviatoslav Richter

Prague Symphony Orchestra / Václav Smetáček

(live, Prague Smetana Hall, 1966)

Piano Quintet No.2 in A major, Op.81 (1887) [40:55]

[4] I. Allegro, ma non tanto 13:40

[5] II. Dumka: Andante con moto 16:30

[6] III. Scherzo: Furiant – Molto vivace 3:40

[7] IV. Finale: Allegro 7:03

Sviatoslav Richter / Borodin Quartet

(live, Moscow, 1983)

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) Symphony in A min/ Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:04 +0000

“(His) Symphony is a very likeable discovery. Both middle movements display a disarming melodic felicity and assurance, and admiring glances towards Dvořák, although Stanford (his teacher) was never happy with the finale. It was first played by RCM students in 1896 (including Holst and Vaughan Williams !). Although it went down well, it gathered dust for over a century. Bostock’s alert and affectionate lead enjoy making its acquaintance … crisp and clear sound for this world premiere recording. In every respect, a solid thumbs-up” [Gramophone] “The much-loved Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast recalls the extraordinary excitement of its first performance. Coleridge-Taylor was then 23 and the work an immediate and wild success. Parry suggested that because of the composer’s West African father, “he loved plenty of sound, plenty of colour, simple and definite rhythms and, above all, plenty of tune”. All these qualities kept it popular, and are admirably captured here: the Philharmonia provide the orchestral colour, and Sir Malcolm keeps the admirable Royal Choral Society on their rhythmic toes. Richard Lewis gives a suitably romantic Onaway! Awake, beloved ! Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast has been done proud in every way” [Gramophone]

Symphony in A minor, Op.8 (1896) [36:23]

[1] I. Allegro appassionato 11.26

[2] II. Lament: Larghetto affettuoso 7.26

[3] III. Scherzo: Allegro ma non troppo 7.21

[4] IV. Allegro maestoso ed energico 10.09

Aarhus Symphony Orchestra / Douglas Bostock (2006)

Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast, Op.30 No.1 (1898) [31:36]

[5] You shall hear how Pau-Puk-Keewis 6.49

[6] Then the handsome Pau-Puk-Keewis 1.53

[7] He was dress’d in shirt of doe-skin 2.24

[8] First he danc’d a solemn measure 3.23

[9] Then said they to Chibiabos 2.52

[10] Onaway! Awake, beloved* 5.36

[11] Thus the gentle Chibiabos 1.31

[12] Very boastful was Iagoo 5.18

[13] Such was Hiawatha’s wedding 1.42

Royal Choral Society / Philharmonia Orchestra / Malcolm Sargent

Richard Lewis (tenor)* (1962)

Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, Op.18 Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, Op.43

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:04 +0000

‘A passionately committed performance … outstanding recommendation’ [BBC Radio]; ‘I enjoyed the whole sweep of his conception, his commanding pianism and complete sympathy with the music … I enjoyed both performances enormously … The recording has an overall sound that is full and rich’ [Gramophone] ‘this is the best recording of the Paganini Rhapsody I’ve ever heard’. [Fanfare, USA]

Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, Op.18 [34:11]

[1] Moderato 10:47

[2] Adagio sostenuto 11:47

[3] Allegro scherzando 11:36

Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, Op.43 [23:43]

[4] Introduction – Variation 1 – Theme – Variations 2-6 3:32

[5] Variations 7-11 4:34

[6] Variations 12-15 3:46

[7] Variations 16-18 6:21

[8] Variations 19-24 5:28

Great Anthems & Choruses

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:04 +0000

(Hickox) “fine digital collections sung with fervour and discipline … zestfully infectious … shaped beautifully … brass resonantly sonorous … fully in the demonstration bracket” (Penguin Guide)

01. O Fortuna (Carmina Burana – Orff) 2:48

02. Les Voici (Carmen – Bizet) 4:00

03. A Deux Cuartos (Carmen – Bizet) 2:04

04. Anvil Chorus (Il Trovatore – Verdi) 2:57

05. Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (Nabucco – Verdi) 5:18

06. Soldiers’ Chorus (Faust – Gounod) 3:00

07. Gli arredi festivi (Nabucco – Verdi) 4:40

08. Grand March (Aida – Verdi) 4:14

09. Polovtsian Dances (extract) (Prince Igor – Borodin) 3:45

10. Zadok the Priest (Handel) 2:58

11. See the Conquering Hero (Judas Maccabeus – Handel) 2:52

12. Hallelujah (Messiah – Handel) 3:38

13. Lacrimosa (Requiem – Mozart) 2:57

14. Shepherds’ Farewell (L’Enfance du Christ -Berlioz) 4:33

15. Lord of the Dance (S.Carter) 3:04

16. Myfanwy (J.Parry) 2:50

17. Linden Lea (Vaughan Williams) 2:03

18. All Thro’ the Night (Trad./E.Jones) 2:36

19. The Long Day Closes (A.Sullivan) 3:49

20. Nkosi Sikele’le Afrika (E.Sotonga) 3:10

21. Ode to Joy (extract) (Symphony 9 – Beethoven) 8:35

Russian Legends & Dances

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:04 +0000

“Abravanel is very good in this music – crackling with energy tempered with tender ways with the great melodies. Antar is a neglected prize among Rimsky’s works ranking with Sheherazade …Caucasian Sketches have These You Have Loved status with Procession of the Sardar establishing the idiom for a thousand Hollywood triumphal and barbarous marches … The Glière is a fun piece that stamps emphatically and clearly influenced by Mussorgsky’s Pictures from an Exhibition.
As an inexpensive single disc collection of less obvious Russian repertoire this is difficult to top. I recommend it strongly.” (Rob Barnett / MusicWeb International)

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: ‘Antar’ Suite (Symphony), Op.9 [29:25]

[1] I. Largo – Allegro giocoso – Allegretto vivace 11:15

[2] II. Allegro 5:01

[3] III. Allegro risoluto alla marcia 5:20

[4] IV. Allegretto vivace – Andante amoroso 7:47

Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov: Caucasian Sketches, Op.10 [21:59]

[5] I. In a Mountain Pass 9:51

[6] II. In a Village 4:43

[7] III. In a Mosque 3:29

[8] IV. Procession of the Sardar 3:54

Reinhold Glière: The Red Poppy, Op.60

[9] Russian Sailors’ Dance 3:27

Aram Khachaturian: Gayaneh Ballet Suite [22:52]

[10] I. Sabre Dance 2:35

[11] II. Lullaby 6:08

[12] III. Dance of the Rose Maidens 2:22

[13] IV. Dance of Ayshe 4:13

[14] V. Dance of the Kurds 1:57

[15] VI. Dance of the Young Kurds 2:26

[16] VII. Lesginka 3:07

Kathleen Ferrier sings J S Bach & Handel

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:04 +0000

“in 1952 Kathleen Ferrier made her last and perhaps greatest record … four arias each of Bach and Handel. The (engineers) ensured the utmost fidelity” (Penguin Guide Rosette) “This is a recording that honours all concerned and in which Ferrier shows the English art of oratorio singing at its finest. She is in superb voice and is accompanied with scrupulous artistry by Boult and the L.P.O. …The finest thing of all is All is Fulfilled … The hushed way (she) sings “This mournful night” and the sudden broken utterance “It is finished”, dwell long in the memory. Having listened to contraltos singing Return, O God of Hosts at competitions, I can pay no higher compliment to Ferrier than to say I felt I was hearing it for the first time … It is rare that a disc gives such satisfaction in almost every respect” (Gramophone)

J S Bach:

[1] Qui Sedes (Mass in B Minor) (Oboe d’amore:Michael Dobson) 5:43

[2] Grief for Sin (St.Matthew Passion) 5:57

[3] All is Fulfilled (St.John Passion)(Viola da gamba:Ambrose Gauntlett) 5:14

[4] Agnus Dei (Mass in B Minor) 5:36

G F Handel:

[5] Return O God of Hosts (Samson) 4:26

[6] O Thou that Tellest Good Tidings (Messiah) 5:37

[7] Father Of Heaven (Judas Maccabaeus) 7:48

[8] He Was Despisèd (Messiah) 6:39

All 8 Above with London Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult

BONUS tracks:

[9] Like as the Love-lorn Turtle (Atalanta) 6:50

with Phyliss Spurr (piano)(Norwegian Radio broadcast, 1949)

[10] Art Thou Troubled? (Rodelinda) 4:40

[11] Largo:Ombra mai fu (Serse) 4:39

Both with London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Malcolm Sargent

[12] Bach: Ah Tarry Yet my Dearest Saviour (Cantata BWV.11) 7:28

Above with the Jacques Orchestra / Reginald Jacques

[13] Bach: Have Mercy, Lord (Erbame Dich)(St.Matthew Passion)

(sung in English) (violin: David McCallum) 8:12

Above with National Symphony Orchestra / Sir Malcolm Sargent