May 2020 – Alto CD

Mahler: Symphony No.7

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:56 +0000

[BBC Music Magazine’s Disc of the Month]: ‘Right from the start, with those dark, dragging rhythms, there’s a sense that something special is afoot here … Gergiev charts the whole labyrinthine course with thrilling assurance [whilst] the virtuosity and sensitivity of the L.S.O – is a continual exhilarating delight.’
’ [The Times]: “This is a terrific, gripping performance from Gergiev and the L.S.O of Mahler’s Seventh, an edge-of-the-seat experience … Gergiev brings an almost palpable darkness, fear and mystery to the three central movements, giving an impression, in the central scherzo, of hot, tormenting laser lights darting in from all angles, and he imbues the outer movements with an almost frenzied momentum.”

Mahler: Symphony No. 7 in E minor

[1] I. Langsam (Adagio) – Allegro con fuoco 20:52
[2] II. Nachtmusik: Allegro moderato 13:48
[3] III. Scherzo: Schattenhaft 9:12
[4] IV. Nachtmusik: Andante amoroso 11:50
[5] V. Rondo-Finale: Allegro ordinario –
Allegro moderato ma energico 16:14

Brahms and Mendelssohn Violin Concertos Corelli ‘La Folia’ Sonata

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:56 +0000

[Brahms] “recordings are excellent, Grumiaux’s playing and interpretation equal any I have ever heard . . . balance between soloist and orchestra is natural, no praise is too high for interpretation – a most lyrical performance, full of beauty”
” [Mendelssohn] “these performances are among the best and Grumiaux’s playing has his usual purity of style and instinctive musicianship to commend it.”
[Corelli] : “a glorious tone, and he infuses Corelli’s beautiful slow movements with warm lyricism … difficult to resist such beauty” (all: Gramophone)

Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op.64 [25:56]

1. I. Allegro molto appassionato 12:00

2. II. Andante 7:28

3. III. Allegro molto vivace 6:27

Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major, Op.77 [38:26]

4. I. Allegro non troppo 21:53

5. II. Adagio 8:44

6. III. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace – Poco più presto 7:48

BONUS TRACK

7. Corelli: Violin Sonata in D minor, Op.5 No.12 “La Folia” 11:44

with Riccardo Castagnone (piano)

Britten: Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:56 +0000

“(Variations)“playing by the Philharmonia strings is of the highest order of distinction, beautifully blended tone at both ends of the dynamic spectrum. This should never be out of the catalogue” (Penguin 3*).
(Serenade) “The remarkable thing about Peter Pears’s performance … is its consistency. This first recording is wonderfully intense with Dennis Brain uniquely magnetic on the horn” (Penguin)

Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings, Op.31 [24:58]

Peter Pears (tenor) / Dennis Brain (horn)

New Symphony Orchestra, London / Eugene Goossens (1959)

[1] Prologue 1:28 [2] Pastorale 3:39 [3] Nocturne 3:29

[4] Elegy 4:45 [5] Dirge 4:03 [6] Hymn 2:03

[7] Sonnet 3:57 [8] Epilogue 1:32

Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10 [26:41]

Philharmonia Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan (1954)

[9] Introduction & Theme 1:56 [10] Adagio 2:50 [11] March 1:16

[12] Romance 1:38 [13] Aria italiana 1:17 [14] Bourrée classique 1:22

[15] Wiener Walzer 2:45 [16] Moto perpetuo 1:01 [17] Funeral March 3:51

[18] Chant 1:40 [19] Fugue and Finale 6:59

The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op.34 [18:27]

(Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell)

Philharmonia Orchestra / Carlo Maria Giulini (1962)

[20] Theme and Variations 15:26 [21] Fugue 3:00

Soirées Musicales (selection) – Rossini, arr. Britten [7:54]

London Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult (1957)

[22] 1. March 1:19 [23] 2. Canzonetta 2:27

[24] 3. Tirolese 2:09 [25] 5. Tarantella 1:57

Mozart Concertos 20, 27 & Beethoven’s Rondo

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:56 +0000

(K466) “A great virtuoso proves his virtuosity by restraint, and his quality runs right through Richter’s extremely fine performance. Richter lets Mozart’s music speak for itself, whether in the choice of tempo, a touch of rubato, or a finely moulded phrase. His mastery is always apparent.” (Penguin Guide 3*)

Mozart: Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor, K466 [33:05]

[1] I. Allegro 14:38

[2] II. Romanze 10:14

[3] III. Rondo: Allegro assai 8:12

with Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra/ Stanislaw Wislocki

Mozart: Piano Concerto No.27 in Bb major, K595 [31:51]

[4] I. Allegro 13:22

[5] II. Larghetto 9:47

[6] III. Allegro 8:41

Moscow Chamber Orchestra / Rudolf Barshai

Beethoven: Rondo in Bb major, WoO 6

[7] Rondo: Allegro – Andante – Tempo I – Presto 9:15

with Vienna Symphony Orchestra / Kurt Sanderling

Bach: Goldberg Variations; Partitas 5 & 6; 2 Fugues

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:56 +0000

(Goldbergs) “in terms of sheer keyboard wizadry …a remarkable performance”
(Penguin Guide) “Gould’s pianistic skills have been universally and freely acknowledged … he was supremely skilful in showing the patterns woven by its contrapuntal threads….As an exposition of the music’s mechanism this is remarkable”
(Partitas): “the young eccentric who walks on stage with a big handkerchief flapping, who seats himself on a chair only a few inches off the floor, who sings along and makes terrible faces. But he can play the piano. Here we see neither the chair nor gestures nor faces; but we do hear him singing along; and we also hear polished, superbly controlled, rhythmically alert piano playing. Two fugues from the Well-Tempered Clavier are included on the disc.” (Gramophone)

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 (Aria & 30 Variations) [38:28]

1. Aria 1:55 17. Variation No.16 1:17

2. Variation No.1 0:44 18. Variation No.17 0:53

3. Variation No.2 0:37 19. Variation No.18 0:46

4. Variation No.3 0:54 20. Variation No.19 0:42

5. Variation No.4 0:29 21. Variation No.20 0:47

6. Variation No.5 0:36 22. Variation No.21 1:42

7. Variation No.6 0:34 23. Variation No.22 0:42

8. Variation No.7 1:08 24. Variation No.23 0:54

9. Variation No.8 0:45 25. Variation No.24 0:56

10. Variation No.9 0:38 26. Variation No.25 6:26

11. Variation No.10 0:42 27. Variation No.26 0:53

12. Variation No.11 0:53 28. Variation No.27 0:49

13. Variation No.12 0:56 29. Variation No.28 1:10

14. Variation No.13 2:10 30. Variation No.29 1:00

15. Variation No.14 0:58 31. Variation No.30 0:48

16. Variation No.15 2:19 32. Aria da capo 2:10

Partita No.5 in G major BWV 829 [9:50]

[33] Praeambulum 1:46 [34] Allemande 1:49 [35] Courante 0:40

[36] Sarabande 2:01 [37] Tempo di Minuetto 1:04 [38] Passepied 0:47

[39] Gigue 1:39

Partita No.6 in E minor BWV 830 [22:46]

[40] Toccata 9:50 [41] Allemande 2:03 [42] Courante 2:16 [43] Air 0:42

[44] Sarabande 3:36 [45] Tempo di Gavotta 0:51 [46] Gigue 3:26

[47] Fugue in F sharp minor BWV 883 (Well-tempered Clavier Book II) 3:16

[48] Fugue in E major BWV 878 (Well-tempered Clavier Book II) 4:18

Elgar: Violin Concerto; Piano Concerto; Polonia Crown of India; Civic Fanfare

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:56 +0000

“(Concerto): Hickox unfurls the opening tutti richly, nobley, purposefully … no lack of brilliance, the fireworks are dashingly, tastefully despatched … sudden flashes of Paganinian dazzle”
(others): “The slow movement of the Piano Concerto … with a sympathetic performance from Margaret Fingerhut. Douglas Bostock is persuasive with his Elgarian rubato, which is what matters most.” (Gramophone)
“Polonia is to my mind, one of the finest works Elgar wrote … The nail-biting martial music mixes with spine-tingling Polish themes to reach a gloriously romantic and bombastic conclusion … a splendid reading by Bostock. The disc receives one of Classico’s best recordings to date with painstaking preparation in evidence throughout as his Munich players play with true commitment and dedication” (MusicWeb)

Violin Concerto in B minor, Op.61 (1910) [46:47]

[1] I. Allegro 16:53

[2] II. Andante 11:36

[3] III. Allegro molto 18:17

[4] Piano Concerto, Op.90 (slow mvt) (transcr. P.Young 1956) 6:06

(Margaret Fingerhut, piano)

[5] Polonia, Op.76 (Symphonic Prelude) 1915 12:47

The Crown of India Op.66 (exc) 1912:

[6] March 4:26

[7] Hail Immemorial Ind ! 6:33

(Mette Christina Ostergaard, mezzo)

[8] Civic Fanfare (Hereford, Three Choirs Festival, 1927) 1:22

Berlioz: Grande Messe des Morts / ‘Requiem’

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:56 +0000

Grammy Nomination 2014; Gramophone Magazine’s Editor’s Choice; MusicWeb International’s Recording of the Month: ‘[Davis’] last-ever Berlioz recording, demonstrates yet again his unique empathy with and understanding of Berlioz’s music as well as his authority in conducting it.’
Classical Source: ‘Those two concerts in Saint Paul’s were colossal events. I attended the first and have rarely been so moved by the magnificence of stately music superbly rendered … and captured here with remarkable fidelity.’ The Arts Desk: ‘This is an essential purchase – a first-rate reading of a religious work combining entertainment and spiritual uplift.’

Disc 1 [52:56]

[1] I. Requiem et Kyrie 12:14

[2] II. Dies irae 13:38

[3] III. Quid sum miser 3:23

[4] IV. Rex tremendae 6:43

[5] V. Quaerens me 5:10

[6] VI. Lacrymosa 11:46

Disc 2 [41:08]

[1] VII. Offertoire (Domine Jesu Christe) 11:48

[2] VIII. Hostias 3:47

[3] IX. Sanctus 11:27

[4] X. Agnus Dei 14:05

DIXIELAND GOES DUTCH

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:56 +0000

“a truly desirable project with the orchestra and recording team getting well into their stride in this cracker.”(MusicWeb) [Gipps] “thoroughly likeable creation … the spirit of RVW hovers benignly, and well worth getting to know, especially when given with such vigour and obvious affection” [Butterworth] “Manchester-born … Symphony was first heard under Barbirolli, though its origins trace back to Sibelius’s Sixth … copious allusions to the Finnish master … powerfully evocative of the North, strongly argued and confidently scored … a most enterprising pairing” (Gramophone)

01 At the Jazz Band Ball 2:39

02 Fidgety Feet 4:38

03 Beale Street Blues 3:02

04 The Sheik of Araby 3:44

05 Don’t Fence Me In 3:36

06 High Society 3:07

07 Mood Indigo 3:35

08 Royal Garden Blues 3:43

09 Big Butter and Egg Man 2:34

10 I Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None o’ this Jelly Roll 2:54

11 Marina 3:09

12 Savoy Blues 3:12

13 Take Your Pick 2:21

14 Wolverine Blues 3:58

15 Baby Won’t You Please Come Home 3:42

16 Bel Ami 2:15

17 You Don’t Know How Much You Can Suffer 3:19

18 Besame Mucho 2:32

19 Just a Closer Walk with Thee 3:20

20 Wilhelm Tell 2:54

21 Bei Mir Bist Du Schon 5:51

22 Tiger Rag 3:03

23 When the Saints Go Marching In 4:32