cello – Alto CD

String Quartets from Vienna: Korngold & Kreisler

amuletts — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:04:39 +0000

“Kreisler and Korngold … both shared the same Viennese musical roots and both fled Vienna for the USA to escape Nazi persecution. Also, both of the string quartets presented here possess a haunting Viennese nostalgia. Kreisler’s Quartet is a delightful discovery containing much memorable melodic material … many impressive moments … Korngold’s is a later work, of a Vienna gone for ever. As ever, his melodic gifts are prolific throughout. The Angeles Quartet are exceptionally fine and committed throughout… highly recommendable” (Gramophone)

Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962)

Quartet in A minor (1921) [30:06]

1 Fantasia 8:20

2 Scherzo 6:56

3 Prelude & Romance 5:47

4 Finale 9:03

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957)

Quartet No.3, Op.34 (1945) [27:38]

5 Allegro moderato 7:34

6 Scherzo: Allegro molto 4:28

7 Sostenuto: Like a Folk Tune 9:20

8 Finale: Allegro con fuoco 6:15

Recorded August 1993 at Whitman Auditorium, Steamboat Springs, CO; Produced/engineered 1995

for Koch International by Joanna Nickrenz & Marc Aubort, Elite Recordings Inc., NYC

The Young Janos Starker (1948)

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

Never on CD; NEW Compilation

Kodály: Sonata for unaccompanied cello, Op. 8 [26:07]

1. Allegro maestoso ma appassionato [7:46]

2. Adagio con gran espressione [8:33]

3. Allegro molto vivace [9:43]

Pacific 6160/3 (1948)

Hindemith: Sonata for cello & piano, Op. 11, No. 3 [22;53]

1. Mässig schnelle Viertel. Mit kraft; Lebhaft, sehr markiert [10:39]

2. Langsam ‑ Sehr lebhaft [12:09]

Leon Pommers, piano

Period SPL 715 c. 1954)

Tcherepnin: Ode for cello & piano [2:17]

Pacific PI 1565, mx. AI 0513-2

Falla: Suite populaire espagnole [12:30]

Pacific 6170/1

Torroba: Fandanguillo [1:51]

Pacific PI 1565, mx. A1 0512-2

Georges Szolchanyi, piano

(all Pacific recordings 1948)

Gaspar Cassadó: Romantic Cello Music & Transcriptions

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

“NEW recordings and discoveries! Revelation and sheer enjoyment here for Cello lovers, of beautifully performed samples by Marina Tarasova of pieces new to the ears of many” (MusicalMerit)

Suite for Cello Solo – G. Cassadó

1. I. Prelude-Phantasia 7:23 2. II. Sardana 4:25
3. III. Intermezzo e Danza 6:43
4. Liebestraum No.3 (Liszt) transcr. Cassadó 5:56
5. Toccata (G. Frescobaldi) transcr. Cassadó 4:38

Sonata in Old Spanish Style – G. Cassadó *
Sonata Nello Stile Antico Spagnuolo

6. I. Introduzione e Allegro 4:11 7. II. Grave 5:24
8. III. Danza con variazione 5:23
9. Allegretto grazioso (Schubert) * 3:41
10. Pastorale (F. Couperin) transcr. Cassadó * 3:00
11. Dance of the Green Devil Danse du Diable Vert – G. Cassadó 4:05
12. Intermezzo from Goyescas (Granados) transcr. Cassadó* 4:34
13. Requebros – G. Cassadó * 4:27
14. Arioso – G. Muffat transcr. Cassadó 4:06
15. Dance of the Elves – D. Popper transcr. Cassadó 2:27
16. Minute-Waltz – F. Chopin transcr. Cassadó 2:47

Rachmaninov & Prokofiev Cello Sonatas + Encores

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:12 +0000

“Legendary cellist Rostropovich alongide Richter no less, in their famous 1950 Moscow recording of Prokofiev’s 1949 Sonata (dedicated to the cellist). Also, his early recording, later reissued, of Rachmaninov’s Sonata and some of his earliest favourite ‘Encores’ for extra value !” (MusicalMerit)

Rachmaninov
Sonata for Cello & Piano in G minor Op.19*** [31:50]

[1] I. Lento – allegro moderato 10:05
[2] II. Allegro scherzando 5:57
[3] III. Andante 6:04
[4] IV. Allegro mosso 9:44
[5] Vocalise Op.34 No.14 ** (transcr. Rostropovich) 6:45
[6] Oriental Dance Op.2/No.2** 7:09

Prokofiev
Sonata for Cello & Piano in C major, Op.119* [22:39]

[7] I. Andante grave – Moderato animato 10:49
[8] II. Moderato – Andante dolce 4:37
[9] III. Allegro, ma non troppo 7:13
[10] Prokofiev: Adagio from Cinderella. Op.87** 5:34
[11] Popper: Dance of the Elves / Elfentanz**** 2:30

Korngold: Cello Concerto; Much ado about Nothing (Suite); Straussiana; Opera aria/Interlude

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:05 +0000

“all performances warmly sympathetic…sound with full amplitude and plenty of range to suit the music” “operatic excerpts make up a warmly enjoyable programme” (Penguin Guide 3 stars); “Zuill Bailey proves a superbly stylish soloist in the single-movement Cello Concerto ….and I enjoyed it a lot. What a wonderfully compact and affecting work ! “ “Excellent sound: not to be missed.” (Gramophone)

Suite: Much Ado About Nothing, Op.11 (excerpts)

[1] 1. Ouverture 5:14
[2] 3. Mummenschanz (Hornpipe) – Prelude Act 2 2:26
[3] 4. Festmusik – Act 2 Scene 1 3:30
[4] 6. Gartenmusik (Garden Music) – Prelude Act 3 3:54
[5] 7. Intermezzo – An Open Scene 2:08
[6] 8. Holzapfel und Schlehwein – Prelude Act 3 Scene 2 2:33
[7] 9. Madchen im Brautgemach (Girl in Bridal Chamber) Prelude Act 4 3:34
[8] 12. Trauermusik – Prelude Act 5 4:59
[9] 14. Schlusstanz – Finale Act 5 2:37
[10] Prelude to Act 2 of Die Tote Stadt, Op.12 7:26
(Karen Robertson, soprano; Tibor Pazmanay, organ)
[11] Cello Concerto in C, Op.37 12:45
[12] Interlude from Das Wunder der Heliane, Op.20 8:28

Suite: Straussiana

[13] Polka 1:28
[14] Mazurka 2:19
[15] Waltz

Brahms: Cello Sonatas including (exc) Cello Sonata Op.78 (trans)

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

“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

Cello Sonata No.2 in F (Op. 99) 28:59

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

Alfred Schnittke: Concerto Grosso 1, 2

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:42 +0000

(C.G No.1) “This is a special work. It begins with a dialogue between the soloists, cello and viola which seems very elaborated. Then starts a Handel-like concerto grosso sound which is in that context very mad. Soon join drums and electrical guitar to the orchestra. This is a great fun and could be called a remix of old classical music with modern parts … Orchestra, Soloists and Conductor are the best of that time in Russia” (Discogs)

Concerto Grosso No. 1 for Two Violins, Harpsichord,
Prepared Piano and Strings (1977)
[1] I. Prelude
[2] II. Toccata
[3] III. Recitative
[4] IV. Cadence
[5] V. Rondo
[6] VI. Postlude
Concerto Grosso No. 2 for Violin, Cello and Orchestra (1982)
[7] I. Andantino – Allegro
[8] II. Pesante
[9] III. Allegro
[10] IV. Andantino

Alfred Schnittke: Viola & Cello (no.1) Concertos

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:57 +0000

“Both these especially lyrical works were composed specifically for (these) star players whose recordings have generally been accepted as definitive….(Viola) Improving on Yuri Bashmet’s recordings…was never going to be an easy task. Other performers may play the piece, but Bashmet lives it” (Cello):“The Schnittke concerto was written for Gutman, and she takes possession of it with playing that blazes with emotional conviction as well as technical command…(It) comes to life…in a finale that seems to cross the anguished soul-searching of the last section of Berg’s Violin Concerto with the heaven-storming assertions that conclude Mahler’s Third Symphony. Schnittke added (this) after his near fatal illness in 1985, and its blend of triumph and foreboding is awesome” (© Gramophone)

Viola Concerto (1985) (35.21)

[1] Largo 4:52
[2] Allegro molto 13:00
[3] Largo 17:39

Cello Concerto No.1 (1986) (42.14)

[4] Pesante. Moderato 14:58
[5] Largo 10:23
[6] Allegro vivace 3:34
[7] Largo 13:18

Beethoven String Quartets Op.59 (1-3) ‘Razumovsky’ Op.74 ‘Harp’

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:36 +0000

“(They) open Op.59/I like a relaxed invitation … (their) nourishing perceptions are worth anyone’s time” (Gramophone) “Extra sharpness of characterization as well as the extra warmth, compared with their earlier cycle … (No.2): the sublime molto adagio has an inner hush beyond the earlier set. (‘Harp’): fun brought out in the first movement … the adagio treated songfully…excellent sound.” ( Penguin Guide 3 stars)

Disc One (74:54)

String Quartet in F, Op.59 No.1 (‘Razumovsky’)

[1] I: Allegro 11:13
[2] II: Allegretto vivace e sempre scherzando 9:20
[3] III: Adagio molto e mesto – 14:18
[4] IV: Thème Russe (Allegro) 8:32
String Quartet in C, Op.59 No.3 (‘Razumovsky’)
[5] I: Introducione (Andante con moto) – allegro vivace 10:44
[6] II: Andante con moto quasi allegretto 8:52
[7] III: Menuetto (Grazioso) 5:13
[8] IV: Allegro molto 6:38

Disc Two (68:08)

String Quartet in E minor, Op.59 No.2 (‘Razumovsky’)

[1] I: Allegro 12:59
[2] II: Molto adagio 12:32
[3] III: Allegretto 6:57
[4] IV: Presto 5:26

String Quartet in E flat, Op.74 (‘Harp’)

[5] I: Poco adagio – allego 9:47
[6] II: Adagio, ma non troppo 8:50
[7] III: Presto – 4:59
[8] IV: Allegretto con variazioni 6:34

Mozart: The Two Piano Quartets K478, K493

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:36 +0000

“Mozart’s piano quartets, sharply contrasted, are among the finest of his chamber works, with K478 bringing depths that G minor always seems to draw from him. This new performance … has a better, more just balance, so that sparkling piano is a constant delight … partnered by an exceptionally strong trio of string players … lighter and faster than rivals, yet dazzlingly clear… The E flat K493 … more orchestral texture, but again this performance is lighter and the slow movement more tenderly expressive. In the finale too the Nash play with extra sparkle, with rhythms jauntily sprung … far more charming than … rivals, and the rapid triplet figuration is a delight to the ear … this new offering stands among the finest.”(Gramophone)

Piano Quartet in G minor, K478 (1785)
[1] I: Allegro 14:24
[2] II: Andante 6:57
[3] III: Rondo: Allegro moderato 7:45
Piano Quartet in E flat, K493 (I786)
[4] I: Allegro 15:20
[5] Il: Larghetto 13:22
[6] III: Allegretto 8:51