{"id":6857,"date":"2022-07-25T13:15:15","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T12:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.larkreviews.co.uk\/?p=6857"},"modified":"2022-07-25T13:15:15","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T12:15:15","slug":"cds-july-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/?p=6857","title":{"rendered":"CDs July 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

WILLIAM McCLELLAND \u2013 WHERE THE SHADOW GLIDES: Songs, Solo Piano & Choral Works<\/span>
\nKRISTA RIVER, mezzo-sop THOMAS MEGLIORANZA, baritone<\/span>
\nDONALD BERMAN & BLAIR McMILLEN, piano DAVID ENLOW, organ<\/span>
\nTHE NEW YORK VIRTUOSO SINGERS, HAROLD ROSENBAUM, conductor<\/span>
\nNAXOS 8.559906 72\u201959<\/span><\/p>\n

This \u2018American Classics\u2019 release from Naxos shows a composer writing expressively and for different forces. All the works here are inspired by a wide-ranging selection of poetry, dating from 1st C BC to recent decades. The longest pieces here are the three choral works, Caedmon\u2019s Hymn<\/em>, Hail Lovely & Pure<\/em> and These Last Gifts<\/em> together with Five for Piano.<\/em>
\nThis will repay many playings, especially if following the well produced booklet with accompanying texts and background.<\/p>\n

PETER BOYER \u2013 BALANCE OF POWER: Orchestral Works<\/span>
\n LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, PETER BOYER, conductor<\/span>
\n NAXOS 8.559915 59\u201912<\/span><\/p>\n

Containing a number of recent works by one of America\u2019s leading orchestral composers there are many premiere recordings here in what may be assumed to be definitive performances under the composer\u2019s direction. Much of this music is distinctly American and has soundtrack-like qualities, whether in the more reflective Rolling River (Sketches on Shenandoah) and Elegy or in the rousing Curtain Raiser and slowly building In the Cause of the Free. An interesting item is Fanfare for Tomorrow composed for Joe Biden\u2019s inauguration as President. Great stuff!<\/p>\n

ROBERT FARNON \u2013 BRITISH LIGHT MUSIC 9<\/span>
\n SLOVAK RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, ADRIAN LEAPER, conductor<\/span>
\n NAXOS 8.574323 64\u201915<\/span><\/p>\n

This series continues in good form with a re-issue of a Marco Polo recording spotlighting the work of the prolific Robert Farnon. Many favourites are to be found hear including Portrait of a Flirt, The Peanut Polka, The Westminster Waltz, Colditz March<\/em> and State Occasion<\/em>. Of music new to me I particularly enjoyed the laid back cocktail piano and strings of Little Miss Molly<\/em>.<\/p>\n

EDWARD GREGSON \u2013 CHAMBER MUSIC<\/span>
\n NAVARRA QUARTET & SOLOISTS<\/span>
\n NAXOS 8.574223 67\u201904<\/span><\/p>\n

A lovely programme of world premiere recordings of music by a composer known primarily for his band music and concertos. Throughout there is much to interest. Music of emotion and character as well as some unusual additional timbres to the string quartet.<\/p>\n

CESAR GUERRA-PEIXE: SYMPHONIC SUITES 1 & 2<\/span>
\n GOIAS PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, NEIL THOMSON, conductor<\/span>
\n NAXOS 8.573925 58\u201929<\/span><\/p>\n

I continue to enjoy the releases in this Music of Brazil series from Naxos. Here we have music from a versatile composer whose music is often exuberant, drawing on his native musical traditions and skilfully deploying his orchestral resources. The 2 Suites<\/em> are coupled with Roda de Amigos (Circle of Friends)<\/em>, the latest work to be included here.<\/p>\n

KEMAL BELEVI: CYPRIANA \u2013 WORKS FOR VIOLIN & GUITAR<\/span>
\n SILVIA GRASSO, violin, LIVIO GRASSO, guitar<\/span>
\n NAXOS 8.579104 63\u201929<\/span><\/p>\n

The title work draws heavily on Belevi\u2019s roots in Cyprus and much of the other music on this CD also has a Mediterranean colour. Some of the works here have been rearranged to be played by the combination of violin and guitar, whilst others were originally conceived in that form.<\/p>\n

OLIVIER MESSIAEN: LES OFFRANDES OUBLIEES \u2013 POEMES POUR MI \u2013 CHRONOCHROMIE<\/span>
\n SARAH LEONARD, soprano, ORF VIENNA RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA<\/span>
\n MICHAEL GIELEN, conductor<\/span>
\n ORFEO C250131 58\u201941<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a marvellous programme of significant works from this giant of the 20th Century. Deeply spiritual, this music looks at emotional responses to human relationships and the wider universal experience of time, sound and colour.<\/p>\n

EVOCATIONS \u2013 CONTEMPORARY ORGAN MUSIC<\/span>
\n CHRISTIAN VON BLOHN, Great (West) organ of Magdeburg Cathedral<\/span>
\n NAXOS 8.579122 58\u201948<\/span><\/p>\n

It is always pleasing to see new releases of relatively recent organ repertoire. Here we have some wonderful performances of a range of music from contemporary composers. The earliest work (Annum per annum<\/em> by Arvo Part) dates from 1980 with the latest being the performer\u2019s own Dialogue vers les etoiles<\/em> (2021). There is also another large scale work by Barry Jordan (Praise Song) Sternenklange<\/em> by Theo Brandmuller and Thierry Escaich\u2019s Evocation II<\/em>. Much of this music is brash and forthright but there are also some more reflective moments.<\/p>\n

ORGAN MUSIC IN TRENTO IN THE TIMES OF COUNT MATTEO THUN<\/span>
\n SIMONE VEBBER, Organ of Chiesa di San Cristoforo, Pomarolo<\/span>
\n TACTUS TC 770001 68\u201910<\/span><\/p>\n

Whilst the concept of this CD might seem rather obscure it does provide opportunities to hear music from a range of unfamiliar composers and gives a fascinating insight into the Italian organ repertoire of the time. Some of the music is composed according to the traditional structures of the Sonata<\/em> and the Toccata.<\/em> Other music has freer forms and rhythms and harmonies similar to those we know from Lefebure-Wely. Much to discover here.
\nJOHANN PACHELBEL: ORGAN WORKS VOL 2<\/span>
\n MATTHEW OWENS, Aubertin organ (2015), private residence, East Sussex<\/span>
\n RESONUS RES10303 76\u201920<\/span><\/p>\n

This second volume in the series brings further fine performances from Matthew Owens on an interesting organ. Chorale preludes<\/em> and the Chorale Partita: Christus, der ist mein Leben<\/em> make up much of this volume. There is also a Toccata and a Fugue<\/em> (both in D major) and a set of Magnificat Fugues<\/em>.<\/p>\n

JOHN FREDERICK LAMPE: THE DRAGON OF WANTLEY<\/span>
\n MARY BEVAN, CATHERINE CARBY, MARK WILDE, JOHN SAVOURNIN<\/span>
\n THE BROOK STREET BAND, JOHN ANDREWS, conductor<\/span>
\n RESONUS RES10304 1\u201947:56 (2 CDs)<\/span><\/p>\n

This is brilliant! I had never heard of this spoof on the opera of Handel\u2019s day, praised by Handel himself. English composer Lampe, together with librettist Henry Carey composed this amusing piece in 1737. Brought back to life by combining and editing the two surviving different versions of this work the musicians do a great job in this world premiere professional recording. There is something very satisfying about hearing lines like these sung in Handelian style- \u201cA dismal noise was heard within the Hall.\/Away they flew, the dragon scar\u2019d them all.\/He drank up all their coffee at a Sup\/And next devour\u2019d their toast and butter up.\u201d<\/p>\n

OSCAR SHUMSKY PLAYS MOZART<\/span>
\n OSCAR SHUMSKY, violin, ERIC SHUMSKY, viola<\/span>
\n SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA, YAN PASCAL TORTELIER, conductor<\/span>
\n BIDDULPH 85014-2 51\u201965<\/span><\/p>\n

A re-release of this recording from 1985, one of the first digital recordings ever made and previously only available on LP. Featuring Oscar Shumsky\u2019s own cadenzas in the Violin Concerto No 3<\/em> and father and son pairing in the Sinfonia Concertante<\/em> this is an interesting release for those interested in historical recordings.<\/p>\n

NATHAN MILSTEIN: ARMED FORCES STUDIO RECORDINGS<\/span>
\n NATHAN MILSTEIN, violin VALENTIN PAVLOVSKY, piano<\/span>
\n BIDDULPH 85015-2 72\u201950<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a compilation of a number of mono recordings of a performer regarde as one of the greatest 20th Century violinists. Violin Sonatas<\/em> by Vivaldi and Brahms are joined with a number of popular arrangements including Rimsky-Korsakov\u2019s Flight of the Bumble Bee<\/em>, Faure\u2019s Apres un Reve<\/em>, Schubert\u2019s Ave Maria<\/em> and the Meditation from \u2018Thais<\/em>\u2019 by Massenet. There are also two virtuoso works by Wieniawiski.<\/p>\n

CHARLES KOECHLIN \u2013 SEVEN STARS\u2019 SYMPHONY<\/span>
\n SINFONIEORCHESTER BASEL, ARIANE MATIAKH, conductor<\/span>
\n CAPRICCIO C5449 56\u201932<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a very interesting and enjoyable recording. The Seven Stars<\/em> of the title piece, written in 1933, are not constellations but \u2018stars\u2019 of the entertainment world including Douglas Fairbanks, Greta Garbo, Merlene Dietrich and Charlie Chaplin. Brilliantly chosen timbres (including ondes martenot \u2013 hurray!) with shifting harmonies and exotic melodies abound. The work is coupled with an orchestral nocturne, Vers la Voute Etoilee<\/em> (1939)<\/p>\n

SP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WILLIAM McCLELLAND \u2013 WHERE THE SHADOW GLIDES: Songs, Solo Piano & Choral Works KRISTA RIVER, mezzo-sop THOMAS MEGLIORANZA, baritone DONALD BERMAN & BLAIR McMILLEN, piano DAVID ENLOW, organ THE NEW YORK VIRTUOSO SINGERS, HAROLD ROSENBAUM, conductor NAXOS 8.559906 72\u201959 This … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6857"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6857"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6857\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6861,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6857\/revisions\/6861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6857"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6857"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6857"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}