Elgar – Alto CD

Elgar: Violin Concerto; Piano Concerto; Polonia Crown of India; Civic Fanfare

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:56 +0000

“(Concerto): Hickox unfurls the opening tutti richly, nobley, purposefully … no lack of brilliance, the fireworks are dashingly, tastefully despatched … sudden flashes of Paganinian dazzle”
(others): “The slow movement of the Piano Concerto … with a sympathetic performance from Margaret Fingerhut. Douglas Bostock is persuasive with his Elgarian rubato, which is what matters most.” (Gramophone)
“Polonia is to my mind, one of the finest works Elgar wrote … The nail-biting martial music mixes with spine-tingling Polish themes to reach a gloriously romantic and bombastic conclusion … a splendid reading by Bostock. The disc receives one of Classico’s best recordings to date with painstaking preparation in evidence throughout as his Munich players play with true commitment and dedication” (MusicWeb)

Violin Concerto in B minor, Op.61 (1910) [46:47]

[1] I. Allegro 16:53

[2] II. Andante 11:36

[3] III. Allegro molto 18:17

[4] Piano Concerto, Op.90 (slow mvt) (transcr. P.Young 1956) 6:06

(Margaret Fingerhut, piano)

[5] Polonia, Op.76 (Symphonic Prelude) 1915 12:47

The Crown of India Op.66 (exc) 1912:

[6] March 4:26

[7] Hail Immemorial Ind ! 6:33

(Mette Christina Ostergaard, mezzo)

[8] Civic Fanfare (Hereford, Three Choirs Festival, 1927) 1:22

Edward Elgar: Piano Quintet; Spanish Lady Suite La Capricieuse; Elegy; Serenade Op.20

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:58 +0000

“The meat in this club sandwich is the magnificent Piano Quintet in a fine performance by The Schubert Ensemble. The Serenade for Strings with the ASMF under Sir Neville Marriner opens proceedings affectionately and the Elegy and Spanish Lady Suite from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia both bring considerable charm. ….La Capricieuse has a nicely judged salon feel.” (Gramophone)

Serenade for strings in E minor, Op.20 (1892)
1. I. Allegro piacevole 3:27
2. II. Larghetto 6:11
3. III. Allegretto 2:49
4. La Capricieuse, Op.17 (1891) 3:47
Piano Quintet in A minor, Op,84 (1918-19)
5. I. Moderato – Allegro 14:14
6. II. Adagio 12:49
7. III. Andante – Allegro 10:44
8. Elegy, Op.58 (1909) 4:18
The Spanish Lady – Suite (ed. P.Young)
9. Country Dance: Allegretto e leggiero 2:22
10. Burlesco: Allegro 1:53
11. Adagio 2:55
12. Sarabande: Maestoso 2:16
13. Bourrée: Vivace 1:36

EDWARD ELGAR: Complete Organ Music

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

“(Sonata 1) Hunt gives a very fine performance indeed and the recording is dynamic, forward and exciting…(Vesper Voluntaries) are much slighter pieces but display considerable charm throughout. Hunt is assiduous in reducing the range of timbre and dynamic of the Worcester organ to match the scale of the original smaller instrument on which they were composed….The Second Sonata was an arrangement of Elgar’s Severn Suite. Although not a true sonata in form, Ivor Atkins’ arrangement, made with the composer’s approval, works extremely well and provided a much-needed outlet at the time of the first performance in 1933. Again Hunt plays superbly …To make good length, (ALTO) has also licensed two additional tracks. Lindley’s Imperial March transcription ends the CD in fine style” (MusicWeb International)

Organ Sonata #1 in G major, Op.28

[1] Allegro moderato 8:15
[2] Allegretto 4:47
[3] Andante espressivo 6:08
[4] Presto comodo 7:19

Vesper Voluntaries, Op.14

[5] Introduction 1:30
[6] Andante 1:23
[7] Allegro 2:05
[8] Andantino 2:04
[9] Allegretto piacevole / Adagio 2:13
[10] Poco lento 1:58
[11] Moderato 1:36
[12] Allegretto pensono 1:45
[13] Poco allegro / Adagio 3:31

Organ Sonata #2 in B flat, Op.87a

[14] Introduction 2:54
[15] Toccata 4:28
[16] Fugue 3:26
[17] Cadenza 2:09
[18] Coda 2:04

“Nimrod” Transcription (Organ: Hugh Davies, Carlisle Cathedral)

[19] Nimrod 3:46

“Imperial March” (Organ: Simon Lindley, Leeds Parish Church)

[20] Imperial March 4:55

English Music for Strings

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:13 +0000

“With gloriously full and real recording, most beautiful string textures, this is one of Groves’s finest records…RPO players give deeply felt, vibrant accounts of four great masterpieces of English string music” (Rosette award, Penguin Guide) “fresh and vital performances, …a thrilling challenge for any string orchestra which the RPO players meet splendidly, with real wit and convincing intensity of feeling …music superbly evocative of England… Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia; this is a radiant, richly textured and spacious account…. a most desirable collection.” © Gramophone

Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934): Serenade for Strings
in E minor, Op.20

1. Allegro piacevole 3.34
2. Largo 6.34
3. Allegretto 3.08

Sir Benjamin Britten (1913-76): Variations on a Theme
of Frank Bridge, Op.10

4. (i) Introduction & theme (lento maestoso) – (ii) adagio 4.44
5. March (presto) 1.09
6. Romance (allegretto grazioso) 1.23
7. Aria Italiana (allegro brillante) 1.23
8. Bourree Classique (allegro e pesante)* 1.36
9. Wiener Walzer (lento-vivace) 2.57
10. Moto Perpetuo (allegro molto) 1.10
11. Funeral March (andante ritmico) 3.55
12. Chant (lento) 1.42
13. Fugue & Finale (allegro molto vivace – lento e solenne) 7.53

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958): “Tallis Fantasia”

14. Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis* 15.19

Sir Michael Tippett (1905-98): “Corelli Fantasia”

15. Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli* 19.13
(adagio-vivace: variations 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)