May 2023 – Alto CD

Orthodox Hymns of Ukraine

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:48:35 +0000

“The Kyiv Patriarchate, established in 1992, was denounced by Moscow and the schism between the two Orthodox churches has become part of the geopolitical confrontation between Russia and Ukraine since 2014, even more so since Moscow Patriarch Kyrill has made warlike speeches. All Composers here were born in Ukraine.”

Orthodox Hymns of Ukraine

Male Choir ‘Ukraina’ (Neu-Ulm) / Conductor: Evhen Zadarko

[1] Bud imja Hospodnje / Blessed be the Name of the Lord 2:46

Myrna Ektenia / Prayers for Peace

[2] Slawa Otzju i Synu / Glory be to the Father, and to the Son 3:39

[3] Dmytry Bortniansky (1751-1825) Ukrainian Composer

Cherubic Hymn / My Cheruwymiw 6:06

[4] Credo / Wiruju* (‘Kyiv’ tune and Choral movement: A. Hnatyschyn) 8:02

[5] Dmytry Bortniansky: Swjat / Sanctus 2:18

[6] Dostojno je / Homage to Mary / (Soloist: Volodomyr Panczuk) 2:27

[7] Mikhailo Verbytsky (1815-70): Lord’s Prayer / Ottsche nasch 3:53

D. Bortniansky:

[8] Bohorodyze, do Tebe / Mother of God, we beg thy Protection* 4:40

Artemy Vedel (1767-1806) Ukrainian Composer

[9] Hospody, uslyschy / O Lord, hear my Prayer* 5:56

Semen Hulak-Artemovsky (1813-73) Ukrainian Composer

[10] Wladyko neba i semli Almighty / Lord of Heaven and Earth* 5:40

[11] Welyczaj, dusche moja, Hospoda / Praise the Lord, my Soul 3:16

Mykola Lysenko (1842-1912) Ukrainian Composer

[12] Boshe welykyj jedynyj / Great and only God* 3:18

Setting for Male Choir: Myroslaw Antonowycz

D. Bortniansky

[13] Jak sylnyj slawnyi / Great and Glorious is the God of Zion 5:02

RICHTER plays PROKOFIEV ‘War Sonatas’ 6-7-8

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:48:34 +0000

(6th) “Richter’s friendship with him dated back to these student years, and Prokofiev entrusted him with the premieres of the Sixth and Seventh Sonatas and wrote the Ninth Sonata for him”. (7th) “a superb achievement” “a big wartime work … that can easily sound sentimental if played with less elegance than this, and a brilliant final toccata in 7/8 rhythm [Gramophone] (8th) “(the recording) is the Prokofiev 8th Sonata which encompasses breadth and depth in a way none can match”[Penguin Guide3*]”

Piano Sonata No.6, Op.82 [25:39]

[1] Allegro moderato 8:30

[2] Allegretto 3:47

[3] Tempo di valzer lentissimo 6:52

[4] Vivace 6:29

Piano Sonata No.7, Op.83 [17:47]

[5] Allegro inquieto – poco meno – andantino 8:02

[6] Andante caloroso – poco piu animato – piu largamento – un poco agitato 6:14

[7] Precipitato 3:31

Piano Sonata No.8, Op.84 [29:48]

[8] Andante dolce – Allegro moderato – Andante dolce – Allegro 15:50

[9] Andante sognando 4:17

[10] Vivace – Allegro ben marcato – Andantino – Vivace 9:40

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

[12] Gavotte from Cinderella 2:22

Originally issued Melodiya 1961 [1-4], 1959 [5-7], 1956 [12];

Deutsche Grammophon 1961 [8-10] 1962, [11]

Re-mastered for Alto by Paul Arden-Taylor (www.dinmore-records.co.uk)

ERNEST BLOCH (1880-1959) ‘Israel’ Symphony Schelomo (Rhapsody for Cello) ; Three Jewish Poems

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:48:34 +0000

“Bloch’s Israel Symphony is a large-scale work anticipating the Hollywood film composers’ styles for biblical epics … the vigour and spontaneity of Abravanel’s Utah performances … transferred to CD with great success” [Penguin Guide] “Nelsova’s Schelomo , with Abravanel’s support, is a fitting setting for the cellist who was Bloch’s own choice for the work.” “The Three Jewish Poems hints towards Respighi’s Roman triptych (then yet to be composed) … Bloch’s subtly coloured canvasses seem custom-built for an age increasingly attracted to late-romantic musical tone-painting. We are therefore greatly indebted to Sedares for these clear-headed, sensitively turned performances, extremely well engineered. Anyone with a taste for atmospheric evocations cannot fail to enjoy” [Gramophone]

Trois Poèmes Juifs (Three Jewish Poems) (1913) [25:46]

[1] Dance: Poco animato 8:53

[2] Rite: Calmo (Andante moderato) 7:16

[3] Funeral Procession: Lento assai 9:36

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / James Sedares

Recorded October 1993 at Symphony House, Wellington, New Zealand

Producer/Engineer: Michael Fine Assistant Producer: Tamra Saylor Fine

Production Coordinator: Susan Napodano Technical Assistant: Geoffrey Eyles

[4] Schelomo, Hebraic Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra* [19:19]

Zara Nelsova, cello* / Utah Symphony Orchestra / Abravanel

‘Israel’ Symphony [29:10]

[5] Adagio molto, ‘Prayer in the Desert’ 4:30

[6] Allegro agitato, ‘Yom Kippur’ 13:09

[7] Moderato, ‘Succoth’ 11:03

Blanche Christensen & Jean Basinger Fraenkel, sopranos

Christina Politis & Diane Heder, altos Don Watts, bass

Utah Symphony Orchestra / Maurice Abravanel

(4-7) Recorded April 1967 in Salt Lake City, Utah; Producer: Seymour Solomon

Engineer: Ed Friedner; Digital Remastering: David Baker

[4-7] Licensed from Vanguard Classics, [1]-[3] from Koch International

Mastered for Alto by Paul Arden-Taylor (www.dinmore-records.co.uk)