A WELLS CHRISTMAS

Wells Cathedral Choir, Matthew Owens (director), Jonathan Vaughn (organ)
RESONUS RES10176 61’54

Resonus continues to welcome well established performers to record for the label. Here Wells Cathedral Choir under the direction of Matthew Owens presents a programme of music that is often familiar but nevertheless fresh and lively. Many traditional English carols are sung in arrangements by the likes of John Rutter, Vaughan Williams, Malcolm Sargent and David Willcocks. There are also two world premiere recordings of Bob Chilcott’s work and one by Matthew Owens himself. Two organ solos are also included. The CD ends with several more secular items, a decision that will divide opinion, I am sure.

TO BETHLEHEM – Carols & Motets for Christmas
Kantorei of Kansas City, Chris Munce (director)
RESONUS RES10175 61’29

This CD combines unusual renaissance repertoire with contemporary works in a beautiful programme for unaccompanied choir. There are some arrangements of familiar material included in the newer works but mostly this is a journey of adventure and surprise.

THE CHORAL MUSIC OF COLIN MAWBY
Choir of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
 Christopher McElroy (director), Richard Lea & James Luxton (organists)
PRIORY PRCD1163

Colin Mawby’s contribution to liturgical music, particularly in the Catholic Church, has been immense. In his 80^th year this CD showcases a wide range of his work, presented by one of the country’s leading Catholic Cathedral choirs. This is an excellent presentation and an enjoyable CD in its own right.

THE COMPLETE ORGAN WORKS OF THOMAS TERTIUS NOBLE VOL 3
John Scott Whiteley, Organ of York Minster
PRIORY PRCD 1152

This short series concludes with another CD of excellent performances by John Scott Whiteley on the organ he knows so well. The programme begins with the longest item,Theme with variations in D flat. It also features a number of voluntaries based on hymn tunes, shorter pieces and the Solemn March in E flat minor.

SIGFRID KARG-ELERT – THE COMPLETE ORGAN WORKS VOL 13
Stefan Engels, Steinmeyer organ of Michaeliskirche, Hamburg, Germany
PRIORY PRCD 1134 71’18

This longer series reaches Vol 13. It features lesser known works – Three Pastels Op 92, Music for Organ Op 145 and the Passacaglia & Fugue on B-A-C-H Op 150.

SIR CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD – THE COMPLETE ORGAN WORKS VOL 4
Daniel Cook, Organ of Westminster Abbey
PRIORY PRCD 1161 74’07

Daniel Cook continues his excellent survey of Stanford’s organ music on the organ he plays regularly at Westminster. Items included in this instalment include Symphony No 5 in A, Four Intermezzi and the extended Prelude & Fugue in E minor  and  Installation March (1908). Highly enjoyable.

JOHANN MICHAEL HAYDN – SERENADE IN D
Virtuosi Saxoniae, Ludwig Guttler (director)
CAPRICCIO ENCORE C8003

The liner notes give some background to the specific circumstances that this music was written for. Originally to be performed outside and in honour of a specific person the Serenade was often intended for one-off use. Sometimes, however, a new work would be created for repeated use from some of the original material. An interesting and enjoyable release.

SP

Glass; Einstein on the Beach

Lucinda Childs Dance Company, Chatelet Theatre, Paris, Michael Riesman

OPUS ARTE OA 1178D

The real challenge here is to simply let yourself relax into the dynamics of the performance. Not only is the score minimalist but so is a large amount of the stage movement. This becomes both hypnotic and absorbing as the work progresses on it slow but inevitable path. There is also a very real sense of humour in the staging which often comes unexpectedly to light. Musically it is spot on and the company is as fine vocally as it is choreographically.

Arrigo Boito: Mefistofele

Bayerisches Staatsoper, Omer Meir Wellber

UNITEL CMajor 73908

Roland Schwab sets his production in a corrupt wasteland. If heaven exists it is very much off stage, but as Rene Pape’s Mefistofele is the key to the whole work this makes a lot of sense. Boito is far better known today for his work as Verdi’s librettist, but this is a fine work, poised between Verdi himself and the developments that were to come with Puccini. He is happy to borrow ideas where they work – as with the voluptuous Verdian choruses – but the bridge passages are often very well structured and the dialogue terse and effective. Joseph Calleja may not be much of an actor but his heroic Faust is convincing. As a whole the recordings is a valuable addition.

Telemann: Advent Cantatas

Gudrun Sidone Otto

CPO 777 955-2

There is a surprising amount of variety in these cantatas for the Sundays leading up to Christmas. Soprano Gudrun Sidone Otto and baritone Ingolf Seidl shape the material with a keen sense of the dramatic and are not averse to the occasional humorous touch. The continuo ensemble brings an improvisatory touch which makes the whole a pleasure to listen to.

Mauro Giuliani; Music for Two Guitars

Jeffrey McFadden, Michael Kolk, guitars

NAXOS 8.572445

There are some CDs which give instant delight and this is certainly one of them. Mauro Giuliani was ‘perhaps the greatest guitarist who has ever lived’ and was a friend of Rossini, whose works he arranged for two guitars. We hear a number of these, including four overtures and some more domestic pieces. They are, without exception, perfect miniatures. The arrangements of the overtures, even when one knows the originals well, are entirely convincing. If you want to impress somebody this Christmas, this CD has to be an obvious choice.

BH

Handel: Messiah (arr Davis)

Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Mendelssohn Choir, Sir Andrew Davis

CHANDOS CHSA 5176(2)

Most professional performances of Messiah these days take account of baroque praxis even if they perform on modern instruments. Sir Andrew Davis here takes a very different approach, re-scoring much of the oratorio not only for modern instruments but for combinations which Handel could never have contemplated. For most of the time this works well. Use of clarinets and a more romantic sound for the continuo is easy enough on the ear. The moments which startle are those which involve unexpected percussion – the snare-drum in Thus saith the Lord and the cymbals in But who may abide – and occasionally the over-exuberance of the brass. But it is well sung throughout and for anybody wanting what passed for normal fifty years ago, this may be just the thing.

Wagner: Die Walkure

Honk Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Jaap van Zweden

NAXOS 8.660394-97

I had enthused about Das Rheingold when it was issued last year and this new Die Walkure certainly lives up to expectation. First of all the acoustic is splendid, giving real clarity to the voices with a sense of space around them, and an orchestral ambience which is constantly enthralling. Stuart Skelton, surely the finest heldentenor now singing, is magnificent as Sigmund, heroic and sensitive throughout and ringingly secure in the top passages. Heidi Melton is a sensitive Sieglinde who warms and develops as the evening progresses. Falk Struckmann, himself a fine Wotan, is a suitably black Hunding. Matthias Goerne and Petra Lang are perhaps better known and live up to expectations, and there are no weaknesses among the Valkyries.

I’m really looking forward to the rest of the Cycle which could easily earn its place among the finest ever recorded. Jaap van Zweden has set the orchestra among the best in the world.

MOZART – PIANO DUETS Vol 1
Julian Perkins & Emma Abbate
RESONUS RES10172 68’04

Successful piano duet playing places particular demands on the performers and here the two pianists are working very well together. This is a programme of more substantive works written for this particular genre. As well as the Sonatas in C major, D major & Bb major the programme also includes Johann Christoph Bach’s two movement Sonata in A major. A second volume, also on period instruments,  is to follow.

JOSEPH BODIN de BOISMORTIER – 6 SONATES, Op 51
Elysium Ensemble
RESONUS RES 10171 71’24

Resonus are to be congratulated on their recent output of unusual repertoire. Here is another fascinating disc presenting these six compositions for flute and violin, published in Paris in 1734. This neglected repertoire is made to sound very fresh in these performances.

MUSIC FOR A PRUSSIAN SALON
Boxwood & Brass
RESONUS RES 10177 72’53

The five piece period woodwind and brass ensemble make a lovely sound, bringing this 18^th/ early 19^th Century music to life in a way that is entertaining and very accessible. Franz Tausch’s XIII Pieces en Quatuor, Op 22 for 2 clarinets, horn & bassoon are presented in two suites which bookend the performance. Sandwiched between these are Johann Stamitz’ Three Quartets for clarinets & horns and Concert-Trio for clarinet, horn & bassoon by Bernhard Henrik Crusell.

RAVEL & SAINT-SAENS PIANO TRIOS
Fidelio Trio
RESONUS RES10173 59’58

This is the first recording by the Fidelio Trio on the Resonus label. Saint-Saens’ Piano Trio No 2 in E minor is paired here with Ravel’s only Piano Trio. A very enjoyable chamber music recital.

BEETHOVEN PIANO SONATAS Opp 31, 78, 79, 81A & 90
Paavali Jumppanen, piano
ONDINE ODE 1290-2D (2 CDs) 71’32 & 47’20

Paavali Jumppanen gives fine performances of this more traditional fare. The interesting booklet notes draw attention to some of the features of these works which trace developments in Beethoven’s compositional style.

PIERRE de la RUE – MISSA NUNCQUA FUE PENA MAYOR
The Brabant Ensemble, Stephen Rice, conductor
HYPERION CDA68150  78’55

This is an enjoyable recording of renaissance choral music from the continent by experienced performers. As well as the Mass which gives the CD its title we also hear Pierre de la Rue’s Salve Regina IV, Magnificat sexti toni and Missa Inviolata.

C.P.E. BACH – THE SOLO KEYBOARD MUSIC, Vol 31
‘FUR KENNER UND LIEBHABER’ SONATAS FROM COLLECTIONS 1 & 2
Miklos Spanyi, clavichord
BIS RECORDS  BIS-2131 73’23

It is no surprise that this prolific, but long neglected, composer’s keyboard output has already filled 30 volumes! Here are seven sonatas of varying lengths (the longest 19’07, the shortest 6’24) played on a 1991 clavichord. Very enjoyable but perhaps a release for the completist collector.

C.P.E. BACH – BURGERCAPITAINSMUSIK 1780
Barockwerk, Hamburg, Ira Hochman, director
CPO 555 016-2  62’57

This is a very interesting release of music written by CPE Bach commissioned by the Civic Captains of Hamburg, a group with great influence on the life of the city, for their annual gala. The commission was in two parts – an oratorio to be presented around noon and a serenata to accompany the evening banquet. CPE Bach composed music for these occasions in 1780 and again in 1783. Here we have the first such offering. The oratorio Hebt an, ihr Chore der Freuden is followed by the serenata Der Trommeln Schlag, der Pfeifen Spiel. A fascinating revival of music for a particular occasion.

Bravura: Vivaldi & Handel

Gabriella Di Laccio, soprano, Musica Antiqua Clio, Fernando Cordella

DRAMA MUSICA DRAMA 001

An exciting mix of the familiar – Rinaldo, Giulio Cesare – and the less so – Vivaldi’s Juditha Triumphans and L’Olimpiade. Garsington Opera showed us just what a fine work this latter one is, and the whole disc bubbles with energy and risky coloratura with which Gabriella Di Laccio has no obvious difficulties.

The Celebrated Distin Family

The Prince Regent’s Band

RESONUS RES 10179

What a wonderful find! This is exactly what we need in the build up to Christmas. Much of the music is familiar – arrangements of Meyerbeer, Donizetti, Verdi and Arne – alongside works by Henry and Theodore Distin with lesser known pieces. The Distin Family blazed a trail across Europe and the USA  thanks to an encounter with Adolphe Sax who introduced them to valved brass and the new saxhorn. I can’t recommend this too highly – it is a gem!

Schoenberg: Gurrelieder

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, Edward Gardner

CHANDOS CHSA 5172(2)

This recording has such a strong cast it could hardly fail. Alwyn Mellor, Stuart Skelton and James Creswell are in the front rank of Wagner singers which Schoenberg’s work requires, and Edward Gardner draws expressive and moving performances from them and the Bergen forces. Might we get a live performance in this country?

Debussy: Four-Hand Piano Music – 2

Jean-Pierre Armengaud, Olivier Chauzu

NAXOS 8.573463

It is difficult to raise much enthusiasm about this recording – though the playing itself is not at fault. The problem lies in the arrangements which in most cases simply don’t work if one knows the original. I can understand that they may be fun to play but the listener is left yearning for the original.

Chopin & Schumann

Horacio Gutierrez, piano

BRIDGE 9479

The 24 Preludes Op28 in a performance which focuses on the continuity which Chopin intended for the cycle – and how well this works. It is almost like a live performance where one is encouraged to see the work as a whole rather than a series of lollipops – a fate which is all too frequent for Chopin’s Preludes. Schumann’s Fantasie Op17 is a more challenging work but none the less given integrity and emotional truth here.

J S Bach: Works for Lute

Johannes Monno, guitar

HANSSLER HC 16085

The guitar is fine – and these are entertaining pieces throughout – but the lute is a different instrument altogether and there is a sense that the pieces lose something in the translation. However this is a bargain given its twenty-seven pieces across the two discs.

SP & BH