Sept 2017 – Alto CD https://altocd.com Classical Music and Nostalgia CDs Thu, 27 Jun 2024 20:20:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Lehar: The Merry Widow Die Lustige Witwe (Complete on 1 CD) https://altocd.com/product/lehar-the-merry-widow-die-lustige-witwe-complete-on-1-cd/ Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:05 +0000 https://amuletts.com/altocd/?post_type=product&p=52057 Lehar: The Merry Widow Die Lustige Witwe (Complete on 1 CD) Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Emmy Loose Anton Niessner Erich Kunz Nicolai Geda Otakar Kraus Philharmonia/ Ackermann Catalogue Number: ALC 1363 Number of Discs: 1 Date/Runtime: Time: 79:00, AAD, 1953 Barcode: 5055354413636]]>
“Merry Widow hats, corsets, dresses, cocktails and cigarettes all became the height of fashion. Sheet music sales rocketed and made Lehár the richest composer in the business. From 1907, the piece was subsequently filmed three times by MGM… This classic recording features perhaps the most famous “widow” of all in Elisabeth Schwarzkopf” © James Murray “There is a glorious lightness to her performance; she creates a vivid character rather than just singing a string of lovely melodies … the way she caresses a phrase sends tingles up your spine.”(MusicWeb International)

    1. Overture – 8.29
    Act One
    2. Verehrteste Damen und Herren – 2.43
    3. Und jetzt, meine Herrschaften – 0.47
    4. So kommen Sie!…Ich bin eine anständ’ge Frau – 4.18
    5. Excellenz, Excellenz! Die Glawari kommt! – 0.11
    6. Bitte meine Herr’n – 3.15
    7. Gnädige Frau ich rechne es mir zu hohen – 0.15
    8. Njegus, waren Sie beim Count Danilo? – 0.53
    9. O Vaterland du mächst bei Tag – 2.07
    10. Ach Njegus, Geliebter, wo ist Vaterland? – 4.00
    11. Damenwahl! Hört man rufen rings im Saal! – 3.06
    12. Wie die Blumen in Lenze erblüh’n – 6.08
    Act Two
    13. Ich bitte, hier jetzt zu verweilen – 2.49
    14. Nun lasst uns aber wie daheim…Viljalied – 5.36
    15. Was sagen Sie, Njegus – 1.39
    16. Heia, Mädel, aufgeschaut – 2.55
    17. Herr von Cascada – 0.19
    18. Wie die Weiber? – 2.41
    19. Valencienne, bitte geben Sie mir wenigstens ein Andenken! – 0.22
    20. Mein Freund, Vernunft! – 1.32
    21. Wie eine Rosenknospe – 2.21
    22. Sieh dort den kleinen Pavillon – 2.17
    23. Die Baronin und Herr Rosillon sind im Pavillon – 1.19
    24. Ha! Ha! – 3.08
    25. Nun wissen Sie, meine Herrschaften – 5.04
    26. Es waren zwei Königskinder – 3.21
    Act Three
    27. Njegus, was ist das mit der Musik? – 0.45
    28. Ja, wir sind es, die Grisetten – 2.30
    29. Gospodina, pravalni! – 0.43
    30. Bei jedem Walzerschritt – 1.57
    31. Excellenz, man hat im Pavillon diesen fächer gefunden – 0.20
    32. Finale: Ja, das Studium der Weiber ist schwer – 0.38

]]> Puccini: Tosca (complete opera) PLUS Callas sings Puccini’ bonus album (2CDs) https://altocd.com/product/puccini-tosca-complete-opera-plus-callas-sings-puccini-bonus-album-2cds/ Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:05 +0000 https://amuletts.com/altocd/?post_type=product&p=52058 Puccini: Tosca (complete opera) PLUS Callas sings Puccini' bonus album (2CDs) Maria Callas Tito Gobbi Giuseppe di Stefano Orchestra La Scala Milan Victor de Sabata Bonus album conducted Serafin/ Karjan Catalogue Number: ALC 2030 Number of Discs: 2 Barcode: 5055354420306]]>
“There has never been a finer recorded performance of Tosca than Callas’ first, with Victor de Sabata conducting and Tito Gobbi as Scarpia. Gobbi makes the unbelievably evil police chief into a genuinely three-dimensional character, and Di Stefano, as the hero Cavaradossi, was at his finest” © Penguin Guide

    Disc 1:
    AAD 73:10
    (1-14) Act I
    (15-23) Act II

    Disc II
    AAD 77:28
    (1-2) Act II (conclusion)
    (3-10) Act III
    BONUS ALBUM TRACKS ‘Callas sings Puccini’
    11. In quelle trine morbide (Manon Lescaut) 2.51
    12. Sola, perduta, abbandonata (Manon Lescaut) 5.48
    13. Si, mi chiamano Mimi (La Bohème) 4.50
    14. Donde lieta usci (La Bohème) 3.21
    15. Un bel di vedremo (Madama Butterfly)** 4.44
    16. Senza mamma (Suor Angelica) 5.29
    17. O mio babbino caro (Gianni Schicchi) 2.36
    18. Signore, ascolta (Turandot) 2.29
    19. In questa reggia (Turandot) 6.19
    20. Tu che di gel sei cinta Turandot) 2.44

]]> Very Best of John McCormack’s Irish Ballads https://altocd.com/product/very-best-of-john-mccormacks-irish-ballads/ Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:05 +0000 https://amuletts.com/altocd/?post_type=product&p=52059 Very Best of John McCormack's Irish Ballads John McCormack (tenor) with Edwin Schneider & Gerald Moore Catalogue Number: ALN 1962 Number of Discs: 1 Date/Runtime: Time: 71:45, AAD Barcode: 5055354419621]]>
“Clear phrasing and beautiful tone, from the quintessential Irish Tenor, who starred at the New York Metropolitan Opera before a second career in these classic ballads”

  • 1. The Garden where the Praties Grow (Patterson arr.Liddle) 2.29
    with Edwin Schneider (Piano) Rec.1930
  • 2. The Kerry Dance (Molloy) 4.08
    with Orchestra conducted by Lawrance Collingwood Rec.1936
  • 3. The Star of the County Down (Trad. arr. Hughes/MacGarvey) 2.00
    with Gerald Moore (Piano) Rec.1939
  • 4. Londonderry Air (Mary Dear) (Trad. arr. Schneider/McCormack) 3.16
    with Edwin Schneider (Piano) Rec.1935
  • 5. Mother Machree (Ball/Olcott/Young) 3.10
    with Edwin Schneider (Piano) Rec.1927
  • 6. Down by the Sally Gardens (Trad. arr. Hughes) 2.38
    with Gerald Moore (Piano) Rec.1939
  • 7. Sweetly She Sleeps My Alice Fair (Foster/Eastman) 2.56
    with Edwin Schneider (Piano) Rec.1934
  • 8. Believe Me if all those Endearing Young Charms 2.56
    (Trad. arr. Schneider/Moore) with Edwin Schneider (Piano) Rec.1935
  • 9. The Rose of Tralee (Glover/Spencer) 3.17
    with Orchestral Accompaniment Rec.1930
  • 10. Kathleen Mavourneen (Crouch/Crawford) 4.16
    with Edwin Schneider (Piano) 1927
  • 11. I Dream of Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (Foster) 2.59
    with Edwin Schneider (Piano) Rec.1934
  • 12. The Lass with the Delicate Air (M.Arne arr. Lehmann) 2.20
    with Gerald Moore (Piano) Rec.1940
  • 13. I’ll Walk Beside You (Murray/Lockton) 2.07
    with Gerald Moore (Piano) Rec.1939
  • 14. Passing By (E.Purcell/Herrick) 2.00
    with Gerald Moore (Piano) Rec.1940
  • 15. The Old House (O’Connor) 2.24
    with Gerald Moore (Piano) Rec.1939
  • 16. Is She Not Passing Fair (Elgar/Charles/Costello) 2.11
    with Edwin Schneider (Piano) Rec.1932
  • 17. When Irish Eyes are Smiling (Ball/Olcott/Graff) 3.09
    with Orchestra conducted by Rosario Bourdon Rec.1916
  • 18. Terence’s Farewell to Kathleen (Dufferin) 3.26
    with Edwin Schneider (Piano) Rec.1934
  • 19. She Moved Thro’ the Fair (Trad. arr. Hughes) 2.29
    with Gerald Moore (Piano) Rec.1941
  • 20. She is Far from the Land (Moore arr.Lambert) 3.35
    with Orchestra conducted by Lawrance Collingwood Rec.1936
  • 21. By the Short Cut to the Rosses (Hopper/Fox) 1.24
    with Edwin Schneider (Piano) Rec.1928
  • 22. Off to Philadelphia (Haynes/Temple)
    3.28
    with Gerald Moore (Piano) Rec.1941
  • 23. Bantry Bay (Molloy) 3.19
    with Gerald Moore (Piano) Rec.1941
  • 24. I Hear You Calling Me (Marschall/Harford) 3.38
    with Edwin Schneider (Piano) Rec.1927
]]> Beethoven Symphonies 3 ‘Eroica’ and No.8, Op.93 https://altocd.com/product/beethoven-symphonies-3-eroica-and-no-8-op-93/ Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:04 +0000 https://amuletts.com/altocd/?post_type=product&p=52055 Beethoven Symphonies 3 'Eroica' and No.8, Op.93 London Symphony Orchestra Wyn Morris Catalogue Number: ALC 1353 Number of Discs: 1 Date/Runtime: Time 78:28, stereo 1988/9 Barcode: 5055354413537]]>
“dark and intense Eroica, with urgent allegros … the LSO responds with bite and refinement. Excellent bargain” (Penguin 3 stars) “Fiery, noble, and imposing was how I described Wyn Morris’ earlier recording … and this remake has those qualities and even finer playing and modern recording. [I had dubbed Morris our Celtic Furtwängler, a phrase that later appeared in adverts!] … but the fact remains, Morris knows his Beethoven and conducts it (like Burton speaking Shakespeare) with an ardour and love of tonal splendour that is close to that old revered school of German interpretation: closer than anything we are likely to get nowadays” (Gramophone)

    Symphony No. 3 in Eb major, Op. 55 ‘Eroica’ [52:36]
    [1] I. Allegro con brio 17:28
    [2] II. Marcia funebre – Adagio assai 17:21
    [3] III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace 5:29
    [4] IV. Allegro molto 12:18
    Recorded at Walthamstow Town Hall, October 1988

    Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93 [25:41]
    [5] I. Allegro vivace e con brio 9:05
    [6] II. Allegretto scherzando 4:07
    [7] III. Tempo di menuetto 4:52
    [8] IV. Allegro vivace 7:37
    Recorded at Watford Town Hall, August 1988

]]> Bruch: Violin Concerto No.1; Scottish Fantasy; Brahms: Hungarian Dances 5,8,9 https://altocd.com/product/bruch-violin-concerto-no-1-scottish-fantasy-brahms-hungarian-dances-589/ Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:04 +0000 https://amuletts.com/altocd/?post_type=product&p=52056 Bruch: Violin Concerto No.1; Scottish Fantasy; Brahms: Hungarian Dances 5,8,9 David Oistrakh (violin) London Symphony Orchestra conducted Lovro von Matacic & Jascha Horenstein Vladimir Yampolsky (piano) Catalogue Number: ALC 1356 Number of Discs: 1 Date/Runtime: Time 63:29, ADD, 1956/62 Barcode: 5055354413568]]>
“A first-class recording helps this Concerto into a winner; that, with Oistrakh’s first-class performance. His technical wizardry can be taken for granted, but here is too, some unbending towards the warm romanticism the work requires … all these virtues result in an unhesitating recommendation”. (Fantasia) “The performance is superlative … The recordings have satisfying balance between soloist and orchestra, and both are excellent.” (Gramophone)

    Bruch: Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor, Op. 26
    1. Vorspiel: Allegro moderato 8:22
    2. Adagio 8:34
    3. Finale: Allegro energico 7:15

    Bruch: Scottish Fantasia, Op.46
    4. Introduction (Grave) – Adagio Cantabile 8:32
    5. Allegro 5:13
    6. Andante Sostenuto 7:37
    7. Finale (Allegro Guerriero) 9:16

    Brahms: Hungarian Dances WoO1. (arr. for violin Joachim)
    with Vladimir Yampolsky (piano)
    8. Hungarian Dance No.9 2:29
    9. Hungarian Dance No.8 2:38
    10. Hungarian Dance No.5 2:20

]]> Handel Favourites: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba; Water Music; Royal Fireworks; Oboe Concerto Largo; Concerto a due Cori https://altocd.com/product/handel-favourites-arrival-of-the-queen-of-sheba-water-music-royal-fireworks-oboe-concerto-largo-concerto-a-due-cori/ Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:43 +0000 https://amuletts.com/altocd/?post_type=product&p=52015 Handel Favourites: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba; Water Music; Royal Fireworks; Oboe Concerto Largo; Concerto a due Cori L.S.O / George Szell Pro Arte/ Mackerras E.C.O / Somary Eugene Goossens (Oboe) Yehudi Menuhin Catalogue Number: ALC 1340 Number of Discs: 1 Date/Runtime: Time 78:19, ADD, 1959/74 Barcode: 5055354413407]]>
(Fireworks) “The resulting sound is splendid, helped along by judicious editing the brass and percussion do often kindle a glorious blaze which is caught beautifully by the recording, an extravaganza which can scarcely fail to become a collectors’ piece.” (Concerto a due Cori) “chief praise to Mr. Mackerras for uncovering this splendid Concerto for two wind bands – a transcription of some of Handel’s arrangements from oratorio and organ concertos – I expect to see it widely performed.” (Water Music) “orchestral playing throughout is quite outstanding: the strings wonderfully expressive, the horns excel. A splendid bargain.”(Penguin Guide)

    [1] Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (Solomon) ECO / Somary 3:12

    Water Music Suite (arr. Hamilton Harty) LSO / George Szell
    [2] Allegro 2:38 [3] Air 6:28
    [4] Bourree & Hornpipe 1:45 [5] Andante espressivo 4:23
    [6] Allegro deciso 3:17

    [7] Largo (arr) (Ombra mai fù from Xerxes) LSO / George Szell 3:13

    Oboe Concerto No.3 in G minor
    Leon Goossens, oboe / Bath Festival Orchestra / Yehudi Menuhin
    [8] Grave 3:06 [9] Allegro 1:46
    [10] Sarabande 1:43 [11] Allegro 1:59

    Concerto a Due Cori (suite arr. Mackerras)
    Pro Arte Orchestra / Charles Mackerras
    [12] Pomposo – Allegro 4:13 [13] A Tempo Giusto 2:44
    [14] Largo 2:46 [15] Allegro ma non troppo 3:47
    [16] Allegro ma non troppo 3:07 [17] Andante larghetto 4:53
    [18] Allegro 1:54

    Fireworks Suite (original Handel instrumentation)
    Pro Arte Orchestra / Charles Mackerras
    [19] Overture 9:55 [20] Bourree 1:39
    [21] La Paix 4:14 [22] La Rejouissance 1:55
    [23] Menuet I & II 3:06

]]> Granados: Orchestral: Dante (symphonic Poem); Cinco Piezas; Two excerpts Goyescas https://altocd.com/product/granados-orchestral-dante-symphonic-poem-cinco-piezas-two-excerpts-goyescas/ Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:43 +0000 https://amuletts.com/altocd/?post_type=product&p=52016 Granados: Orchestral: Dante (symphonic Poem); Cinco Piezas; Two excerpts Goyescas Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria / Adrian Leaper Frances Lucey soprano Nancy Fabiola Herrera mezzo Catalogue Number: ALC 1348 Number of Discs: 1 Date/Runtime: Time: 69:20, DDD, 2001 Barcode: 5055354413483]]> ‘

“A simmering first recording of Granados’ luscious Dante and strong performances of Goyescas and Piezas, all vividly recorded. Dante is a find, a two-part symphonic poem, the first section not quite Tchaikovskian, using luscious post-Wagnerian chromaticism which even brings voluptuous hints of Scriabin and early Schoenberg … When Francesca tells her story, there are even hints of Puccini. The vocal entry, beautifully prepared, is longingly and entreatingly sung by Herrera … How beautifully they introduce the bewitching highlight of Goyescas, ‘La maja y el ruiseinor’ ! simply and beautifully sung by Lucey. Anselm Ferrer’s orchestration of the Piezas sobre cantos populares re-creates the music in orchestral terms, to make an entertaining centrepiece in a first-class collection, richly recorded.” (Gramophone)

    DANTE – symphonic poem

  • [1] Dante e Virgilio 12:51
  • [2] Paolo e Francesca * 18:11

    • CINCO PIEZAS SOBRE CANTOS POPULARES ESPAÑOLES
    (arr. Ferrer)

  • [3] Añoranza 3:20
  • [4] Ecos de la Parranda 5:10
  • [5] Zapateado 4:20
  • [6] Zambra 5:28
  • [7] Miel de la Alcarria: Jota 5:47
  • [8] LA MAJA Y EL RUISEÑOR (Goyescas) (1916) ** 9:06
  • [9] INTERMEZZO (Goyescas) (1916) 5:03
]]> Brahms: Cello Sonatas including (exc) Cello Sonata Op.78 (trans) https://altocd.com/product/brahms-cello-sonatas-including-exc-cello-sonata-op-78-trans/ Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:43 +0000 https://amuletts.com/altocd/?post_type=product&p=52017 Brahms: Cello Sonatas including (exc) Cello Sonata Op.78 (trans) Karine Georgian (cello) Pavel Gililov (piano) Catalogue Number: ALC 1352 Number of Discs: 1 Date/Runtime: Time 75:14, DDD, 1989/90 Barcode: 5055354413520]]>
“Neither Georgian, a pupil of Rostropovich, nor Gililov had come my way before but I hope such persuasive musicians will soon do so again. Their sympathy for Brahms struck me as of the unforced, intuitively perceptive kind. The two cello sonatas are keenly contrasted: (Op.99) Adagio is played with a totally committed intensity by both and the songful finale has an endearing spring-like freshness” (Gramophone)

    Cello Sonata No.l in E minor (Op. 38) 27:56
    [1] I Allegro non troppo 15:14
    [2] II Allegretto quasi Menuetto 6:00
    [3] III Allegro – Piu presto 6:41

    Cello Sonata No.2 in F (Op. 99) 28:59
    [4] I Allegro vivace 9:02
    [5] II Adagio affetuoso 7:50
    [6] III Allegro passionato 7:19
    [7] IV Allegro molto 4:47

    BONUS on CD:
    Cello Sonata in D (Op. 78) 18:18
    [8] II Adagio – Piu andante – Adagio 8:49
    [9] III Allegro molto moderato – Piu moderato 9:29

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