June 2013 – Alto CD

Turandot (complete opera)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:40:43 +0000

“the stereo version, as sheer sound, is pretty staggering. Indeed from the purely technical view this set can stand beside the Decca Rheingold… The Rome Opera chorus and orchestra certainly acquit themselves well here….Erich Leinsdorf …. knows how to build up an exciting climax; and he paces the riddle scene admirably. Nilsson’s Turandot is superbly sung, and with the greatest of ease. Hers is a natural Turandot voice, but she knows also how to make it sound beautiful. Björling, as was to be expected, is a patrician Calaf, and sings with the elegance and style one expects of him.” (‘Opera’)

Princess Turandot – Birgit Nilsson, soprano
Calaf – Jussi Björling, tenor
Liù – Renata Tebaldi, soprano
Ping – Mario Sereni, baritone
Pang – Piero De Palma, tenor
Pong – Tommaso Frascati, tenor
Timur – Giorgio Tozzi, bass
Emperor Altoum – Alessio De Paolis, tenor
Erich Leinsdorf conductor /Orchestra & Chorus of
Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. Recorded at the Rome Opera.

Act 1

1 Act 1. Popolo di Pekino! / Indietro cani! 5:29
2 Act 1. Gira la cote! / Perchè tarda la luna? 6:27
3 Act 1. O giovinetto! Grazia, grazia! 4:28
4 Act 1. Figlio, che fai? 1:39
5 Act 1. Ferno! Che fai? T’arresta / Non indugiare! 6:00
6 Act 1. Signore, ascolta! 2:32
7 Act 1. Non piangere, Liù! / Ah! Per l’ultima volta! 5:05

Act II

8 Act 2. Scene 1. Olà, Pang! Olà Pong! 3:18
9 Act 2. Scene 1. Ho una casa nell ‘Honan 3:00
10 Act 2. Scene 1. O mondo, o mondo… / O tigre! O tigre! 5:39
11 Act 2. Scene 2. Introduzione 1:09
12 Act 2. Scene 2. Gravi, enormi ed imponenti 3:06
13 Act 2. Scene 2. Un giuramento atroce mi costringe 3:53
14 Act 2. Scene 2. Popolo di Pekino 1:35

CD2 [60:45] Act II (cont)

1 Act 2. Scene 2. In questa Reggia 6:04
2 Act 2. Scene 2. Straniero, ascolta 6:36
3 Act 2. Scene 2. Gloria, gloria, o vincitore! / Figlio del cielo! Padre augusto! 4:16
4 Act 2. Scene 2. Tre enigmi m’hai proposto 3:49

Act III

5 Act 3. Scene 1. Introduzione. Cosi comanda Turandot 3:22
6 Act 3. Scene 1. Nessun dorma! / Tu che guardi le stelle 7:23
7 Act 3. Scene 1. Principessa divina! / Tanto amore segreto 7:17
8 Act 3. Scene 1. Tu che di gel sei cinta 3:13
9 Act 3. Scene 1. Liù! Liù! Sorgi! 4:28
10 Act 3. Scene 1. Principessa di morte 3:32
11 Act 3. Scene 1. Che è mai di me? 2:38
12 Act 3. Scene 1. Del primo pianto 3:34
13 Act 3. Scene 1. So il tuo nome! 2:08
14 Act 3. Scene 2. Diecimila anni al nostro Imperatore! 2:11

BRUBECK’S BEST – The Dave Brubeck Quartet

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:40:43 +0000

“During the 50’s, the Dave Brubeck Quartet became one of America’s most successful groups, playing ‘West Coast Cool Jazz’. Their second album Jazz Goes to College sold over 100,000 and Brubeck became the first jazz musician to feature on the cover of Time magazine, Before then, jazz had rarely engaged the white middle-class students and ‘pop’ audiences of the late 1950’s that surfed the Elvis phenomenon and indicated the arrival of ‘teenagers’ with money !

1. Take Five 1959 5:23
2. Blue Rondo à La Turk 1959 6:42
3. Unsquare Dance 1962 2:02
4. It’s a Raggy Waltz 1962 5:11
5. In your own Sweet Way 1955 4:58
6. Three to Get Ready 1959 5:22
7. Pick up Sticks 1959 4:16
8. Blue Shadows in the Street 1962 6:35
9. Two-Part Contention 1956 5:37
10. The Waltz 1956 3:50
11. Everybody’s Jumpin’ 1959 4:22
12. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World 1962 5:17
13. I Feel Pretty (Bernstein/Sondheim) 1962 5:08
14. Camptown Races 1962 1:57
15. Take The ‘A’ Train (Strayhorn) 1959 6:12

Jazz for Cocktails – further late night COOL cuts

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:40:43 +0000

“This inspired instrumental series features Piano, Sax and Guitar Masterpieces by All-Time Great artists providing superior musical evenings”

1. Desafinado (Jobim/Mendonca) / Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, 1962 5:50
2. Watermelon Man (Hancock) / Herbie Hancock, 1962 7:09
3. My Favourite Things (Rodgers/Hammerstein) 5:39
John Coltrane Quartet, 1960
4. Blue Rondo à La Turk (Brubeck) / Dave Brubeck Quartet, 1959 6:42
5. Maids of Cadiz (Delibes/arr.Davis) / Miles Davis & Gil Evans, 1957 3:47
6. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (Kern/Harbach) / Ramsey Lewis Trio, 1961 2:48
7. Summertime (G. & I. Gershwin/Du Bose Heyward) / Nina Simone, 1959 2:55
8. Night and Day (Porter) / Zoot Sims, 1960 2:57
9. Our Love is Here to Stay (G. & I. Gershwin) 3:12
Quincy Jones Orchestra, 1960
10. I Should Care (Stordahl/Weston/Cahn) / Chet Baker, 1959 2:44
11. Jeepers Creepers (Warren/Mercer) / Barney Kessel, 1956 3:48
12. All of You (Porter) / Modern Jazz Quartet, 1956 4:28
13. There’s a Small Hotel (Rodgers/Hart) / Errol Garner Trio, 1956 3:09
14. Moonlight Becomes You (Van Heusen/Burke) 2:59
George Shearing Quintet & Orchestra, 1960
15. Almost Like Being in Love (Loewe/Lerrner) 3:24
Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet, 1956
16. Darn That Dream (Van Huesen/DeLange) 3:49
Gerry Mulligan Quartet, 1955
17. Easy Living (Robin/Rainger) / Clifford Brown Sextet, 1955 3:42
18. The End of a Love Affair (Redding) / Wes Montgomery Trio, 1959 3:15
19. Profile of Jackie (Mingus) / Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop, 1956 3:0

John Dowland & Friends

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:40:42 +0000

“Anthony Rooley and the Consort have been acknowledged world specialists in Dowland’s music since they began their first complete survey of his works in 1976”

Come Again John Dowland 4:20
Las, Je m’y Plains Claudin de Sermisy 1:27
Would My Conceits John Dowland 5:28
O Let Me Live for True Love Thomas Tomkins 4:06
Deep Lamenting Thomas Morley 4:01
Leave Now Mine Eyes Thomas Morley 3:35
Cease Sorrows Now Thomas Weelkes 3:10
Weep No More, Thou Sorry Boy Thomas Tomkins 2:51
Shall I Strive John Dowland 3:22
Woeful Heart John Dowland 3:10
Sleep Wayward Thoughts John Dowland 3:39
Break, Distracted Heart Matthew Locke 5:46
Toss Not My Soul John Dowland 4:11
From Silent Night John Dowland 3:28
Go Nightly Cares John Dowland 3:06
Sorrow Stay John Dowland 3:30
In Darkness Let Me Dwell John Dowland 4:10
Thou Mightie God John Dowland 7:41

Britten: Simple Symphony ; Spring Symphony; Four Sea Interludes

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:40:42 +0000

(Spring Sym) “confirmed in my admiration by this, both technically and musically among the best things the gramophone has given us. The music is not difficult for any open-minded listener to enjoy…filled with the composer’s ecstatic response to the manifold beauties of springtime, of innocence and eager youth… Such a performance, and such a recording, were worth waiting for” (Gramophone) “Memorable as it is joyous” (Penguin Guide) (Four Sea Interludes) “evokes the very different moods of the Sea Interludes intensely and atmospherically”(Gramophone)

Simple Symphony Op.4
I Musici directed by Felix Ayo Rec.1959

[1] I. Boisterous Bourée 2.31 [3] III. Sentimental Sarabande 7.20
[2] II. Playful Pizzicato 3.12 [4] IV. Frolicsome Finale 2.47

Peter Grimes – Four Sea Interludes
Royal Opera House Orchestra conducted Benjamin Britten Rec.1958

[5] Dawn 3.35 [7] Moonlight 4.20
[6] Sunday Morning 3.49 [8] Storm 4.14

Spring Symphony Op.44
Jennifer Vyvyan (Sopr); Norma Proctor (Contralto); Peter Pears (Tenor) with the
Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden;
Chorus of Boys from Emanuel School, Wandsworth, London

[9] Part 1 Introduction: Shine Out (Anon. 16th century)
The Merry Cuckoo (Spenser) Spring the Sweet Spring (Nashe)
The Driving Boy (Peele, Clare) The Morning Star (Milton) 17.43
[10] Part 2 Welcome Maids of Honour (Herrick)
Waters Above Out on the Lawn I Lie in Bed (Auden) 11.14
[11] Part 3 When will my May Come (Barnefield)
Fair and Fair (Peele) Sound the Flute (Blake) 5.53
[12] Part 4 Finale:London, To thee I do Present (Beaumont/Flatcher) 7.18

Copland: Appalachian Spring; Billy the Kid Rodeo (4 Dance Episodes)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:40:42 +0000

“Dorati pioneered the first stereo recordings of the complete Billy the Kid and (this) caused a sensation …for precision of detail and brilliance of colour, while the generous acoustics offered ambient warmth…The gunshots were and remain electrifying….(Penguin Guide 3 stars) “The Dorati performance of Rodeo is excellent” (Gramophone)

Billy the Kid (complete ballet)

1. Introduction: The Open Prairie 3:40 6. Celebration (after Billy’s capture) 4:55
2. Street in a Frontier Town 3:32 7. Waltz from Billy the Kid 4:48
3. Mexican Dance & Finale 8:32 8. Billy’s Death 1:11
4. Prairie night (Card game at night) 3:05 9. The Open Prairie again 2:12
5. Gun Battle 2:01

Appalachian Spring (ballet suite) [24:52]

10. Very slowly 2:43 14. Solo Dance of the Bride 2:50
11. Allegro 2:45 15. Meno mosso 2:22
12. The Bride and her Intended 3:28 16. Variations on a Shaker Hymn 3:20
13. The Revivalist and his Flock 3:53 17. Moderato: Coda 3:28

*Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo [19:08]

18. Buckaroo Holiday 8:05 20. Saturday Night Waltz 4:06
19. Corral Nocturne 3:30 21. Hoe-Down 3:25

Richter plays Prokofiev / Sviatoslav Richter

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:40:42 +0000

“(the DG recording from London) is the Prokofiev 8th Sonata which encompasses breadth and depth in a way none of the others can match” (Penguin Guide 3*) (5th Concerto) “Richter’s account is a classic..it cannot be recommended too strongly…..this concerto could have sounded contrived BUT when put over with the rhythmic bite, the technical aplomb, and the pungency of characterisations that we see here….a very different story !” (Penguin Guide 3 stars)

Piano Concerto No.5 in G, Op.55*

[1] I. Allegro con brio 5:04
[2] II. Moderato ben accentuato 4:01
[3] III. Toccata: allegro con fuoco 1:54
[4] IV. Larghetto 6:42
[5] V. Vivo 5:04

with Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Witold Rowicki
Piano Sonata No.7 in B flat major, Op.83****

[6] 1. Allegro inquieto – poco meno – andantino 8:02
[7] II. Andante caloroso – poco piu animato – piu largamento –
un poco agitato 6:14
[8] III. Precipitato 3:32

Piano Sonata No.8 in B flat major, Op.84**

[9] 1. Andante dolce – allegro moderato – andante dolce – allegro 15:50
[10] II. Andante sognando 4:17
[11] III. Vivace – allegro ben marcato – andantino – vivace 9:39

Visions Fugitives***

[12] Visions Fugitives Nos. 3, 6 & 9 2:36

GLINKA: „Kamarinskaya“ Orchestral Dances

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:40:42 +0000

“almost 80 minutes of Russian-sourced dance music by Glinka and all in vivacious, colourful and spatially well-upholstered recordings. Ballet recordings conducted by Ermler are already well known. Here we are treated to the pointedly delicate, airily danceable and charming music from Ruslan, the Paganini-style bel canto and chuckle of the Dance for violin and orchestra.. (while) Demchenko is a gracious conductor creating space for these Bellinian confections drizzled over with a Russian accent” (Rob Barnett, MusicWeb) “Kamarinskaya, another hugely influential work (Tchaikovsky wrote that the ‘Russian symphonic school is all in Kamarinskaya, just as the whole oak is contained in the acorn’)” (James Murray)

Dances from Ruslan & Lyudmila

[1] Dances in Naina´s Castle 14:56
[2] Eastern Dances in the Black Sea Castle 7:25
[3] Dance for Violin and Orchestra 8:23
Irina Lebedeva (violin), Boris Demchenko, 1992
[4] Dance for Oboe & Cello with Orchestra 7:54
oboe Anatoly Lyubimov, cello Fedor Luzhanov,
Boris Demchenko, Moscow 1992
[5] Andante Cantabile & Rondo 11:50
Boris Demchenko, Moscow 1992
[6] Majestic Polonaise 4:35
Ilmar Lapins, Moscow 1994
Dances from Ivan Susanin Vladimir Fedoseyev, 1984
[7] Valse 5:56
[8] Krakowiak 5:47
[9] Mazurka 4:39
[10] Kamarinskaya 6:34
Konstantin Ivanov, Moscow 1982

Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:40:21 +0000

“For many, Opera is not just about large sopranos and dashing tenors sharing tender moments in duets, or villainous baritones, or even erring daughters; we also relish the thrill of a fine chorus rising to an old favourite such as the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, the Aida Grand March and other noble melodies. Such pieces have long been popular; they are also extremely rewarding for the singers …. Since many operas open with a chorus, the responsibility falls upon choristers to set the standard” (James Murray)

1. Gloria del’Egitto (Aidea:Verdi) 5.32
Singverein der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan (1959)
2. Va pensiero* (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) (Nabucco:Verdi) 4.50
3. Anvil Chorus* (Il Trovatore:Verdi) 2.46
4. Soldiers’ Chorus* (Il Trovatore:Verdi) /Chorus of Maggio Musicale, Fiorentino / 2.20
Orchestra Grand Théatre de Genève /Alberto Erede (1957)
5. Zitti, zitti* (Rigoletto:Verdi) 1.39
6. Noi siamo zingarelle…Di Madride noi siam Mattadori (La Traviata:Verdi) 5.47
Chorus & Orchestra of Rome Opera / Tullio Serafin, Rec.1958
7. Fuoco di Gioia! (Otello:Verdi) Vienna State Opera Chorus / 2.47
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan, Rec.1960
8. Humming Chorus** (Madama Butterfly:Puccini) / Tullio Serafin (1957) 3.18
Chorus & Orchestra Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome /
9. Giro la cote (Turandot:Puccini) / Alberto Erede (1957) 7.26
10. Easter Hymn** (Cavalleria Rusticana:Mascagni) /Giulietta Simionato/Serafin (1960) 4.25
11. Bell Chorus** (I Pagliacci:Leoncavallo) / Francesco Molinari-Pradelli (1958) 2.33
12. Soldiers’ Chorus* (Faust:Gounod) 4.01
13. Les voici, les voici*(Carmen:Bizet) 3.57
14. O fortuna (Carmina Burana:Orff) 2.45
Rutgers University Choir / Philadelphia Orchestra / Eugene Ormandy (1960)
15. Coronation Scene*** (Boris Godunov:Mussorgsky) 4.47
Chorus & Orchestra Bolshoi Theatre / Mark Ermler, Rec.1985
16. Prisoner’s Chorus (Fidelio:Bethoven) /Kurt Wehofschitz & Raymond Wolansky 3.03
Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra / Otto Klemperer, Rec.1962
17. Huntsmen’s Chorus (Der Freischutz:Weber) 2.35
Chorus & Orchestra of Bavarian Radio / Eugen Jochum, Rec.1960
18. Steurmann, lacht die wacht (Der Fliegende Holländer:Wagner) 3.07
Chorus and Orchestra Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Antal Dorati (1960)
19. Bridal Chorus* (Lohengrin:Wagner) 4.53
20. Wach auf * (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg:Wagner) 2.48

Respighi: The Birds; Ancient Airs & Dances; Canzone e Danza

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:40:21 +0000

Birds) “vividness of detail particularly suits Dorati’s spirited account of The Birds, bringing pictorial piquancy of great charm and strongly projected dance rhythms” (Penguin Guide 3 stars) (Ancient Airs) “The Hungarian string players are exceptionally gifted technically, and their intonation …is absolutely perfect. A vast improvement, both technically and musically, on the earlier recordings….. My favourite movement, the anonymous Italiana from Suite III, is played with great affection and warmth, and the pizzicato notes of the lower strings sound lusciously vibrant. If you like old music tastefully renovated, beautifully played and magnificently recorded, this is the record for you” (Gramophone)

THE BIRDS

1 Prelude 3:05
2 The Dove 4:24
3 The Hen 3:02
4 The Nightingale 4:26
5 The Cuckoo 4:15

BRAZILIAN IMPRESSIONS

6 Canzone e Danza 4:33

ANCIENT AIRS AND DANCES
Suite No.1 for orchestra

7 Balletto detto “Il Conte Orlando” (Simone Molinaro) 3:07
8 Gagliarda (Vincenzo Galilei) 3:56
9 Villanella (Anon) 5:16
10 Passo mezzo e mascherada (Anon) 4:09

Suite No.2 for orchestra

11 Laura soave: Balletto con gagliarda, saltarello e canario (Fabrizio Caroso) 4:07
12 Danza rustica (Jean Baptiste Besard) 4:13
13 Campanae Parisienses (Anon) – Aria (Marin Mersenne) 5:10
14 Bergamasca (Bernardo Gianoncelli) 5:40

Suite No.3 for string orchestra

15 Italiana (Anon) 3:45
16 Arie di corte (Jean Baptiste Besard) 7:52
17 Siciliana (Anon) 3:06
18 Passacaglia (Ludovico Roncalli) 4:07