Nov 2016 – Alto CD

Mozart Piano Concertos 23, 24, & No.8 ‘Lützow’

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:20 +0000

‘Kempff’s performances of these concertos are uniquely poetic and inspired, and Leitner’s accompaniments are comparably distinguished … strongly recommended
(Penguin Guide 3 stars) “one of the very best records of Mozart piano concertos that it has ever been my pleasure to review … the engineers seem to have secured something like an ideal balance between piano and orchestra, and between the various departments of the orchestra itself … Rarely have I heard a pianist display such evident knowledge of the whole score, not just his own part … there is a real musical interaction between piano and orchestra: we are given large-scale chamber music … eminently civilised music-making.” (Gramophone)

Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488 [24:47]
[1] I. Allegro 11:02
[2] II. Adagio 5:55
[3] III. Allegro assai 7:49
Piano Concerto 24 in C minor, K491 (1786) [30:16]
[4] I. Allegro 13:05
[5] II. Larghetto 7:01
[6] III. Allegretto 10:10
Piano Concerto No. 8 in C Major, K. 246, “Lutzow” [21:54]*
[7] I. Allegro aperto 7:12
[8] II. Andante 6:58
[9] III. Rondeau: Tempo di minuetto 7:44

Our Christmas Sequence

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:20 +0000

“Few ‘standard carols’ but a disc to widen your choice of beautiful Christmas music including the magical ‘Christmas Sequence’, ‘Fantasy on Carols’ ‘Sussex Mummers’ Carol’, ‘Sleepers Awake’ ‘Sleighride’ ‘A Maid peerless’ ‘New Year Carol’ ‘Bethlehem Down’ ‘Christmas Day’ etc (18 tracks)

[1] Fantasy on Christmas Carols (The Holly and Ivy) 9:14
(Arnold arr. Christopher Palmer)
[2] Sleepers, Wake (‘Zion Hears the Watchmens’ Voices’) (J.S.Bach) 4:30
[3] The Sussex Mummers’ Christmas Carol 2:25
(Trad arr. Percy Grainger / Dana Pema)
[4] A Legend (from 16 Songs for Children, Op.54, No.5) 3:01
(Tchaikovsky) Solo: Thomas Colwell, treble
[5] A Spotless Rose (Howells) Solo: Martin Oxenham, baritone 3:40
[6] Sleighride (Delius ed. Beecham) 5:44
[7] The Noble Stem of Jesse (Praetorius) 1:56
[8] Es ist ein Ros Entsprungen 2:42
(A Beauteous Rose hath Blossomed) (Brahms arr. Palmer)
[9] A Christmas Sequence (M. Rosza arr. Christopher Palmer) 9:37
-Mary and Joseph (Words: Harry Robert Wilson)
-Star of Bethlehem
-Adoration of the Magi (Words: Harry Robert Wilson)
-Nativity (Words: Harry Robert Wilson)
[10] Bethlehem Down (Warlock) 5:06
[11] A Maid Peerless (Howells) Solo: Thomas Colwell, treble 5:31
[12] A New Year Carol (‘Friday Afternoons’) (Britten) 2:23
Trebles: David Nickless, Jonathan Seyghal, Connor Burrowes
[13] In Bethlehem City (Vaughan Williams) 2:17
[14] I Sing of a Maiden (Read arr. Hadley/Christopher Palmer) 3:06
[15] Christmas Day (Holst) 6:59

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 12, 17, 22, 23 (includes ‘Funeral March’ ‘Tempest’ ‘Appassionata’)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:20 +0000

“(No.17) Richter makes the most of possibilities of contrast. He plays the opening extremely slowly and then when the allegro comes, he takes it unusually fast. Far from being odd, the effect is actually breathtaking … he observes the repeats in first and last movements. Excellent sound …not to be missed” (Penguin Guide)

Piano Sonata No.12 in A flat major, Op.26 ‘Funeral March’
[1] I. Andante con variazione 7:01
[2] II. Scherzo: Allegro molto 2:48
[3] III. Marcia funebre: Sulla Morte D’Un Eroe
Maestoso andante 6:07
[4] IV. Allegro 2:14
Piano Sonata No.17 in D minor, Op.31 No.2 ‘Tempest’
[5] I. Largo – Allegro 9:18
[6] II. Adagio 7:13
[7] III. Allegretto 6:48
Piano Sonata No.22 in F major, Op.54
[8] I. in tempo d’un menuetto 5:53
[9] II. Allegretto 4:49
Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor, Op.57 ‘Appassionata’
[10] I. Allegro assai 10:44
[11] II. Andante con moto 5:52
[12] III. Allegro ma non troppo – Presto 6:59

Edvard Grieg: Lyric Pieces

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:20 +0000

“this masterly recital … contains playing of great poetic feeling and sensibility .. Bell-Ringing has a remarkable range of colour and dynamics … there are many (other) individual insights … nothing is routine, and there is a concentration that give these miniatures a freshness and depth that few artists can match” (Penguin Guide 3 stars)

1. Bell-Ringing, Op.54, No.6 4:59
2. Cradle Song, Op.38, No.1 3:10
3. Butterfly, Op.43, No.1 1:40
4. Elegie, Op.47, No.7 4:05
5. Melody, Op.4, No.3 4:02
6. Secrecy, Op.57, No.4 6:44
7. National Song, Op.12, No.8 1:28
8. Home-Sickness, Op.57, No.6 5:12
9. Brooklet, Op.62, No.4 1:42
10. Valse-Impromptu, Op.47, No.1 3:06
11. Grandmother’s Minuet, Op.68, No.2 2:06
12. Vanished Days, Op.57, No.1 7:31
13. March of the Dwarfs, Op.54, No.3 3:10
14. Summer’s Eve, Op.71, No.2 3:19
15. Elegie, Op.38, No.6 3:25
16. Scherzo, Op.54, No.5 3:21
17. Lonely Wanderer, Op.43, No.2 2:54
18. Puck, Op.71, No.3 1:55
19. Nocturne, Op.54, No.4 5:36

BALAKIREV Symphony 1; Symphonic Poems: Tamara, Russia

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:20 +0000

“These performances have passion and urgency … a natural feeling for idiomatic phrasing and rhythm … rarely if ever on disc has there been such a radiant account on disc of the lovely slow movement” (Penguin Guide) “….his masterpiece Tamara: this is a very good Tamara and every bit as colourful and mysterious” (Gramophone)

Symphony No.1 in C major
[1] Largo – Allegro vivo 11:42
[2] Scherzo: Vivo 6:53
[3] Andante 13:00
[4] Finale: Allegro moderato 8:32
Symphonic Poems:
[5] Russia 13:38
[6] Tamara 21:06

Lumbye: The Strauss of Scandinavia

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:20 +0000

“superb collection offers 76 minutes of the composer’s best music, with wonderfully spontaneous performances demonstrating above all its elegance and gentle grace…the unforgettable Copenhagen Steam Railway Galop ..the most endearing of musical railway evocations… superbly entertaining disc….lovely bloom to the whole programme” “energetic selection of sparkling Lumbye repertoire, splendidly played with much spirit by the excellent Odense Orchestra under Guth. Velocipedes ..engagingly vivacious, and the Cannons Galop has spectacular effects. Memories from Vienna has a particularly winning lilt… (Penguin Guide 3 stars)

Mozart Symphonies 39, 40, 41 ‘Jupiter’

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:20 +0000

“these Berlin Philharmonic performances are warm and magnetic, with refined and strongly rhythmic playing, and there is an attractive honesty and strength about them” “Böhm sounds mellow and cultivated but still magnetic and strong… the BPO play very beautifully and the recording is agreeably warm and full” (Penguin Guide)

Symphony No. 39 in E-Flat Major, K. 543 [25:03]
1 I. Adagio – Allegro 9:03
2 II. Andante con moto 7:37
3 III. Menuetto: Allegretto 4:14
4 IV. Finale: Allegro 4:08
Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550 [26:15]
5 I. Molto allegro 8:26
6 II. Andante 8:02
7 III. Menuetto: Allegretto 4:45
8 IV. Allegro assai 5:01
Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551, “Jupiter” [27:00]
9 I. Allegro vivace 7:36
10 II. Andante cantabile 7:36
11 III. Menuetto: Allegretto 5:21
12 IV. Molto Allegro 6:26

Guitar Jazz for Cocktails

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:20 +0000

“Relax here with almost 80 minutes of some of the best light jazz instrumentals ever recorded, all from a variety of legendary and distinguished players” (MusicalMerit)

1. Nuages – Django Reinhardt 3:15
2. But not for Me – Kenny Burrell 3:47
3. Yours is my Heart Alone – Joe Pass and Les McCann 4:46
4. Love is Here to Stay – Barney Kessel 3:25
5. Satin Doll – Charlie Byrd 4:40
6. Baubles, Bangles and Beads – Wes Montgomery 3:28
7. Speak Low – Charlie Byrd 3:43
8. September Song – Django Reinhardt 2:33
9. Dream Dust – Les Paul 2:59
10. The End of a Love Affair – Wes Montgomery 3:15
11. Autumn in New York – Kenny Burrell 5:45
12. Stairway to the Stars – Laurindo Almeida 2:59
13. Sophisticated Lady – Chet Atkins 2:48
14. Last Call for Coffee – Joe Pass 4:41
15. All the Things You Are – Wes Montgomery 3:58
16. My Old Flame – Barney Kessel 3:36
17. Teri – Joe Pass 2:54
18. Little Girl Blue – Charlie Byrd 3:46
19. I Cover the Waterfront – Django Reinhardt 3:24
20. There Will Never Be Another You – Tal Farlow 3:47
21. I’m Thru With Love – Barney Kessel 3:17