Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Alto CD

Frederick Delius: 11 Favourites

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:58 +0000

“Contains Delius’ most essential statements. Summer Night on the River, On Hearing the First Cuckoo, Brigg Fair and the Irmelin Prelude are simply magical in their effect, and Beecham’s interpretations arise out of the depths of the music itself … passages such as the introduction to Brigg Fair, seem to be outside time, one yet again wonders at the poetic rightness of every nuance, the delicately exact textural balance. His identification with the composer is so complete that one is not sure whom to credit for some features … This (collection) must surely be recognised as a gem. Sleigh Ride and the Marche Caprice are entertaining enough , but all the rest are wonderful Delius – and conducted by someone who has remained the one and only Delius interpreter. Each performance is superb.” (Gramophone)

[11] Summer Evening 6:12

Beethoven Violin Concerto & Two Romances

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

“Schneiderhan’s version is amongst the greatest recordings: the serene spiritual beauty of the slow movement and the playing of the second subject in particular have never been surpassed … Jochum provides a background tapestry of breadth and dignity” (Penguin Guide Rosette) “technically the best stereo version in the catalogue … slow-movement cadenza is rather good, with its hint of the finale theme just before the end … after the second cadenza in the finale, Jochum brings the ‘cellos and basses in with tremendous effect” (Gramophone)

Concerto for Violin in D major, Op.61
[1] Allegro ma non troppo (D major) 24:32
[2] Larghetto (G major) 10:45
[3] Rondo. Allegro (D major) 10:51
(cadenzas Schneiderhan)
Wolfgang Schneiderhan
Romances for Violin & Orchestra Opp.40 & 50
[4] Romance No. 1 in G major, Op. 40 7:19
[5] Romance No. 2 in F major, Op. 50 8:46
David Oistrakh

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

Pineapple Poll (Ballet) & Favourite Sullivan Overtures

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:19 +0000

(Poll): “This ebullient dish-up of Sullivan is played here with tremendous élan in the merry bits and delightful expressiveness in the sentimental ones. In fact this version is much better played and recorded than either of its rivals, and if one were to be solemn one might describe it as the definitive recording in stereo. Unreservedly recommended.” (Gramophone) (Overtures): “recording is first class, bright and clean with keen strings and a good firm bass, …and the performance under Sir Malcolm Sargent is so affectionately shaped” (Gramophone)

Pineapple Poll [44:30]

Opening Dance 3:32
Poll’s Solo & Pas de Deux 3:32
Belaye’s Solo 3:16
Pas de Trois 2:58
Finale 3:50
Poll’s Solo 3:53
Jasper’s Solo 3:44
Belaye’s Solo & Sailors’ Drill 3:21
Poll’s Solo 4:30
Entry of Belaye with Blanche as Bride 3:26
Reconciliation 2:58
Grand Finale 5:24

Sullivan Overtures

The Mikado 8:17
The Yeomen of the Guard 5:20
The Pirates of Penzance 7:29
HMS Pinafore 4:20
Iolanthe 7:10

Edward Elgar: Variations on an original theme ‘Enigma’ Nursery Suite; Introduction & Allegro; March No.4

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

“From the iconic 1932 photo on the steps of Abbey Road with the Composer himself, Menuhin became associated all his long life with performances and recordings of Elgar” (J.Murray) “Menuhin’s account of the Variations… is the interpretation of a musician who has lived long with this music and loves it. He …takes immense care (to) direct the listener to yet another facet of this inexhaustibly fascinating score. Nothing ‘routine’ here, nor in the RPO’s playing.” (Michael Kennedy)

[1] Pomp & Circumstance March No.4, Op.39 5:04
Nursery Suite
[2] Aubade 4:41
[3] The Serious Doll 3:26
[4] Busy-ness 2:29
[5] The Sad Doll 1:46
[6] The Waggon Passes 1:29
[7] The Merry Doll 1:32
[8] Dreaming – Envoi 7:19
[9 ] Introduction and Allegro for strings, Op.47 14:37
“Enigma” Variations, Op.36
[10] Theme 1:26
[11] C.A.E 1:56
[12] H.D.S-P 0:53
[13] R.B.T 1:21
[14] W.M.B 0:34
[15] R.P.A 2:17
[16] Ysobel 1:18
[17] Troyte 1:03
[18] W.N 1:51
[19] Nimrod 4:02
[20] Dorabella 2:54
[21] G.R.S 1:01
[22] B.G.N 2:33
[23] Romanza 3:11
[24] E.D.U Finale 5:41
TOTAL TIME: 75:00

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)

Elgar: Cello Concerto Serenade for Strings

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

“this has a freshness and vitality that suggest Tortelier has pointedly re-studied the score … Tortelier’s playing is admirably faithful to Elgar’s markings. The work’s emotional impact is projected without maudlin sentiment… all the more moving for being simple and unaffected (and how beautifully Groves and the RPO treat the accompaniment). Like the composer, Tortelier reserves the fullest weight for the finale … a bright, resonant recording, ideally balanced, to my ears…. The same lofty musicianship and quest for beauty of sound are encountered in the Rococo Variations….Dvořák’s charming Rondo in G minor, wuth faint pre-echoes of the concerto that was to follow.” © Gramophone

Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, Op.85

1. Adagio – Moderato 7:25
2. Allegro molto 4:28
3. Adagio 4:22
4. Allegro- Moderato-Allegro ma non troppo 11:42
5. Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op.33 19:14
6. Dvořák: Rondo in G minor, Op.94 7:43

Elgar: Serenade for Strings, Op.20

7. Allegro piacevole 3:32
8. Largo 6:33
9. Allegretto 3:05

Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet Suites 1 & 2, Symphony No.1, Lieutenant Kije (suite)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:41:06 +0000

“The Suites don’t conform to the order of their playing in the full ballet and often Prokofiev (eg. Montagues and Capulets) incorporates passages from other scenes. One of the highlights is Death of Tybalt which is a conflation of scenes at the end of Act 2, illustrating Romeo’s anxiety as Mercutio and Tybalt fight, his decision to take revenge, Tybalt’s death and the consequent grief…. In contrast to his earlier ballets there is much warmth and delicacy here.” (c) James Murray

Romeo & Juliet (highlights from ballet Suites 1 & 2)

[1] Montagues and Capulets / Dance of the Knights 5:30
[2] The Child Juliet 4:08
[3] Friar Lawrence 2:41
[4] Morning Dance 2:23
[5] Minuet 3:24
[6] Masks 2:07
[7] Death of Tybalt 5:41
[8] Dance 2:04
[9] Romeo at Juliet’s Grave 6:42

Symphony No.1 “Classical”

[10] Allegro 4:25
[11] Larghetto 4:23
[12] Gavotta 1:50
[13] Finale 4:12

Suite: Lieutenant Kije

[14] Birth of Kije 4:33
[15] Romance 5:09
[16] Wedding of Kije 3:04
[17] Troika 3:02
[18] Burial of Kije 6:14

Peer Gynt Suites 1 & 2, Piano Concerto, 7 Lyric Pieces

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:41:05 +0000

“in imagination and delicacy of feeling, combined with natural authoritative brilliance, this … performance is unsurpassed….moment of magic…natural spontaneous flow…consistently disarming…one of the great bargains of the catalogue” (Penguin Rosette 1998 re Concerto/Lyric Pieces) “I urge you to buy it,….. for the concerto is very special and will certainly be a candidate for my “Critics’ choice” in December.” (Gramophone)

Peer Gynt Suite No.1

[1] Morning 4:21
[2] Death of Aase 5:15
[3] Anitra’s Dance 3:32
[4] In the Hall of the Mountain King 2:26

Peer Gynt Suite No.2

[5] Ingrid’s Lament 4:52
[6] Arabian Dance 4:37
[7] Peer Gynt’s Homecoming 2:50
[8] Solveig’s Song 5:03

Piano Concerto in A minor Opus 16

[9] Allegro molto moderato 13:44
[10] Adagio 6:30
[11] Allegro moderato molto e marcato 10:22

(Seven selected) Lyric Pieces

[12] Arietta (Op.12, No.1) 1:50
[13] Elves’ Dance (Op.12, No.4) 0:44
[14] Butterfly (Op.43, No.1) 1:58
[15] To Spring (Op.43, No.6) 2:44
[16] Notturno (Op.54, No.4) 3:58
[17] Sylph (Opus 62, No.1) 1:50
[18] Summer Evening (Opus 71, No.2) 2:42

Borodin: Symphony No. 2 in B minor; Overture “Prince Igor”; Polovtsian Dances: Polotvtsian March; In the steppes of Central Asia

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:41:04 +0000

“Too long neglected on disc, (his excellent Nielsen symphonies now also ALTO) Ole Schmidt and the Royal Philharmonic, with ideal couplings, offers an outstanding version at budget price of the Second Symphony….beautifully played and recorded in vivid, open sound, one of the very finest at any price” (c) Penguin Guide, 3 stars
“rich, open orchestral sound…is just as impressive in the fill-ups” (c) Gramophone

From “Prince Igor”

[1] Overture from “Prince Igor”(completed Glazunov) 11:00
[2] Polovtsian Dances 14:08
[3] Polovtsian March 5:19

[4] In the Steppes of Central Asia 7:18

Symphony No.2 in B minor

[5] Allegro 7:03
[6] Scherzo: prestissimo 5:18
[7] Andante 7:48
[8] Finale – Allegro 7:07