Nov 2012 – Alto CD

Rachmaninov : PIANO CONCERTOS No.2 & No.4

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:39:57 +0000

(Richter) “a performance so commanding and so utterly marvellously played that it gives endless pleasure” (Gramophone) “..sense of mastery that he conveys in every note….does not however let himself be rushed in the great secondary melody, so this is a reading of vivid contrasts…The Rachmaninov really fits the description ( of ‘legendary recording’)” (Michelangeli) “this is one of the most brilliant piano records ever made” (both: Penguin Guide)

PIANO CONCERTO No.2 in C minor, Op.18

1. Moderato 11:05
2. Adagio sostenuto 11:48
3. Allegro scherzando 11:28

PIANO CONCERTO No. 4 in G minor, Op.40

4. Allegro vivace 9:30
5. Largo 5:59
6. Allegro vivace 8:58

Christmas at King’s College Cambridge

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:39:57 +0000

‘The number of boy choristers was fixed at 16 by King Henry in 1453 and it is 16 still. While originally there were six lay clerks, there are now 12 choral scholars, who are undergraduates of the college studying for degrees. (The Director) therefore loses about a third of his most experienced singers every year, as the boys’ voices break and the men graduate…. There is, however, a compensatory factor in that much of the music for which the choir is famous is new to a third of its members each year, thus contributing to the remarkable vitality and spontaniety of the singing.’ (Gramophone)

1. O Come All Ye Faithful 3.59
2. In Dulci Jubilo (setting J.L.Pearsall) 3.31
3. Blessed be that Maid 2.35
4. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen 3.19
5. Lutebook Lullaby 2.01
6. Ding Dong Merrily on High 2.00
7. Myn Lyking 2.55
8. See Amid the Winter’s Snow (Goss) 3.49
9. Personent Hodie 2.37
10. In the Bleak Midwinter 4.45
11. Coventry Carol 2.13
12. O Little Town of Bethlehem (Walford Davies) 4.00
13. Sussex Carol (On Christmas Night..) 1.56
14. Away in a Manger 2.19
15. Shepherds in the Field Abiding 3.00
16. King Jesus Hath a Garden 3.49
17. Torches 1.34
18. Vaughan Williams Fantasia 11.19
(Hervey Alan bass-baritone / London Symphony Orchestra)
19. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 3.33

Tatiana Nikolayeva plays Bach for Piano

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:39:57 +0000

“Toccata and Fugue in D minor:-, Nikolayeva’s version of the same work, played with due majesty and sense of drama, and given something of an organ-like palette of colour . …(she) is, however, a romantic at heart and so too is her view. The Chaconne is.. majestic and heartfelt ..but it isn’t ‘baroque’. …As a statement of love and respect by a superb pianist this is an eloquent recording “. (Gramophone)

Italian Concerto, BWV 971

[1] Allegro 3:40
[2] Andante 4:39
[3] Presto 3:37

******

[4] Toccata & Fugue in D minor BWV 565 (arr. Busoni) 9:29
[5] Jesu bleibet meine Freude (Cantata 147) (arr. Hess) 3:42
[6] Chorale Prelude; Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
BWV 645 (arr. Busoni) 4:41
[7] Fugue in G minor, BWV 578 (arr Busoni) 5:38
[8] Chorale Prelude: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland
BWV 659 (arr. Busoni) 5:58
[9] Chaconne in D minor BWV1004-5 (arr. Busoni) 16:54
[10] Chorale Prelude: Ich ruf zu dir, Herr BWV 639
(arr. Busoni) 4:33
[11] Siciliano in G minor (from flute sonata) BWV1031
(arr. Wilhelm Kempff) 5:21

Boris Godunov (Mussorgsky: complete)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:39:57 +0000

“A superbly authentic Boris at a near-irresistible price: The old Bolshoi style was irresistible: huge choruses on stage, dozens of extras – and great personalities. In this 1982 Boris Godunov (re-mastered 1992, 2012), the voices are well forward…but one senses a performance tradition, a way of declaiming the text that would be impossible for non-Russian singers….On stage it must have been overwhelming. Ognivtsiev as Pimen …sings with beauty and subtlety, Atlantov, is …melodramatic (but) the voice is magnificent, as always. Obraztsova is regal and forceful, and relentlessly loud in her dealings with Atlantov. Mazurok is a superbly wily Rangoni. Conductor Mark Ermler displays all the necessary understanding of the opera. The edition used is now seldom heard but (formerly) the one most often used on both sides of the Iron Curtain. At its super-budget price, this 1982 set is an easy recommendation” (Gramophone)

CD One [61:22]

Prologue – Scene One

1. Nu, shtozh vy? 6.31
2. Pravoslávnyye! nye umolin boyárin! 3.10
3. Sláva tebyé, tvorstu vsevýshnemnu, 2.59

Prologue – Scene Two

4. Da zdrávstvuet tsar Boris Feódorovich! 4.46
5. Skorbít dusha! 4.15

Act One – Scene One

6. Yeshchó odnó poslyédneye skazánye 4.52
7. Bózhe krépky, právy 5.16
8. Nye syétuy, brat 4.17
9. Davnó, chestnóy, otyéts 5.00

Act One – Scene Two

10. Poymála ya siza seleznyá 5.40
11. Kak vo górode býlo vo Kazáne 7.06
12. Vy shto za lyúdi? 7.24

CD Two [49:14]
Act Two

1. Gdye ty, zhenikh moy 5.28
2. Skázochka pro to i pro syo 1.32
3. Chevó? Al lyúty zvyer 1.30
4. A ty, moy syn 1.54
5. Dostig ya výshey vlásti 4.49
6. Ay, kysh! 4.53
7. Velíky gosudár, chelóm byu 7.20
8. Uf! tyazheló! 3.48

Act Three – Scene One

9. Na Víslye lazúrnoy, 4.42
10. Skúchno Marínye 3.30
11. Akh, éto ty, moy otyéts 9.42

CD Three [79:06]
Act Three – Scene Two

1. V pólnoch……….v sadú…u fontána 3.01
2. Tsaryévich! 6.48
3. Polonaise (orchestra)… Váshey strásti
ya nye vyéryu 3.48
4. Iezuit lukávy 2.22
5. Dimítry! tsaryévich Dimítry! 11.26

Act Four – Scene One

6. Chto, otosha ovyednya 4.17
7. Trrr, trrr, trrr, trrr 8.08

Act Four – Scene Two

8. Shtozh? poydóm na golosá 5.56
9. Ya sózval vas, boyáre 1.57
10. Smiryénny ínok 4.35
11. Oy; dúshno! dúshno! 5.41
12. Zvon! Pogrebálny zvon! 4.01

Act Four – Scene Three

13. Valí syudá! 4.41
14. Sólntse, luná pomyérknuli 3.40
15. Domine, domine, salvum fac 4.13
16. My, Dimítriy Ivánovich 4.24

The Christmas Memories Album

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:37:41 +0000

The Christmas Memories Album various artists Catalogue Number: ALN 1920 Number of Discs: 1

Medieval Christmas

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:35:49 +0000

“A spicy Christmas feast, from a time when classic and folk music mixed. There was little difference in the popular music of the church or the tavern! Often more Chaucer than Christian… A lively record to sit back and enjoy! The attraction of the melodies and especially the exciting rhythms of Medieval music has influenced composers like Vaughan Williams and popular icons such as Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull. Many pieces are as popular today as they were centuries ago.”
– James Griffett

32 tracks including:

This Yol (anon. England 14/15c.)
Synge we to thys mery companye (anon. England 15c)
Orientis partibus (Song of the Ass, anon. France 13c)
Goday my Lord Sir Christemasse (anon. England 15c)
Danse real (anon. France 13c)
Ther ys no rose (anon. England 15c)
Nowel, synge we (anon. England 15c)
Nowel, owt of your slepe (anon. England 15c)
Hail Mary (anon. England 15c)
Beata viscera (Perotin)
Graduale: Viderunt Omnea (In Nativitate Domini Advertiam Missam, Gregorian Chant)
Portugaler (anon. France 14/15c)
Angelus ad Virginem
Nova, nova (anon. England 15c)