Len of MusicWeb
2006-08-08 16:07:56 UTC
With reference to various allegations about other review agencies in the
newsgroups and blogs I can state that all these reviews are current and no
record company has been coerced into advertising with MusicWeb International
in order to get their discs reviewed (are we unique in this?)
To read the full reviews click on the links on
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/Aug06/listing.htm
This will give you access to the latest 50 reviews and articles.
-------------------------------------------
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685 - 1750) English Suites No. 1-3 - João Carlos
Martins (piano) rec. 1994 LABOR RECORDS LAB 7025-2 [77.11] [PSh]
Some will think these exceptional recordings are the best Bach-on-the-piano
ever, others will hate them; you deserve the right to make up your own mind.
... see Full Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Complete piano sonatas Wilhelm Backhaus
(piano) rec 1952-1979 DECCA ORIGINAL MASTERS 475 7198 [8 CDs: 67:40 + 67:12
+ 64:53 + 69:06 + 75:34 + 67:13 + 73:55 + 55.52] [IB]
I enjoyed this set very much. Do I recommend it? - with provisos,
definitely. Is it the only set to own? - with Beethoven, how could it be.
Nevertheless.enjoy! ... see Full Review
Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) The Piano Music: Volume 1 - Mark Bebbington (piano)
rec. 2006 SOMMCD 056 [77:24] [CH]
In Bebbington's hands this work - supposedly one of the masterpieces of 20th
century British music - emerges as an amorphous, sprawling piece of mediocre
ranting. ... see Full Review
Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Music for String Orchestra Holberg Suite etc. Oslo
Camerata/Stephan Barratt-Due rec. 2005 NAXOS 8.557890 [51:58] [MC]
Superbly performed string scores by the Oslo Camerata. A Naxos release that
could have proved even more desirable if the playing time had been more
generous. ... see Full Review
Witold LUTOS·AWSKI (1913-1994) Derwid Popular Songs - Mariusz Klimek (vocal)
rec. 2005 ACTE PRÉALABLE APO134 [61:04] [GPu]
An unusual album, which can be recommended to Lutos·awski completists or to
broadminded jazz enthusiasts . see Full Review
Wilfrid MELLERS (b. 1914) Grains of Sand CD1 Music by Wilfrid MELLERS (b.
1914) CD2 Music for Wilfrid MELLERS: Robin WALKER (b. 1953) ; Peter
SCULTHORPE (b. 1929); Philip GRANGE (b. 1956); David MATTHEWS (b. 1943);
John PAYNTER (b. 1931) ; Stephen DODGSON (b. 1924) ; Howard SKEMPTON (b.
1947) ; Ned ROREM (b. 1923) ; Aaron COPLAND (1900-1990) - Lesley-Jane Rogers
(soprano) 2004. DDD CAMPION CAMEO 2051/52 [62:02 + 51:02] [RC]
SPECIAL PRICE FROM MUSICWEB of £16 post-free world-wide
Devoted to music written both by and for Wilfrid Mellers, this handsome and
imaginatively put together double CD provides a conspectus of a composer,
now in his 93rd year. ... see Full Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Matilde di Shabran - Melodramma giocoso in two acts (1821) Matilde, Annick
Massis (sop); Corradino Ironheart, Juan Diego Florez (ten);rec. live,
Rossini Opera Festival, Pesaro, Italy, August 2004 DECCA 475 7688 [3 CDs:
68.23+52.56+67.36] [RF]
In outstanding fashion this fills an important gap in the composer's
discography. A work of Rossini's compositional maturity, I cannot see it
being bettered. ... see Full Review
Matthew TAYLOR (b. 1964) Piano Trio Op. 17 (1993-94) [29:12] String Quartet
No. 3 Op. 18 (1995) [17:45] Conflict and Consolation Op. 19 (1996) [17:38]
Lowbury Piano Trio, Schidlof Quartet, Members of the BBC Symphony
Orchestra/Martyn Brabbins rec. 1996-7 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0015 [65:14]
[CT]
Matthew Taylor makes a powerful case for the survival of the symphonic
composer in the twenty-first century. ... see Full Review
String Quartets with Soprano Richard WERNICK (b.1934) String Quartet No. 5
(1995) Alberto GINASTERA (1916-1983) String Quartet No. 3 Op. 40 (1973) John
HARBISON (b.1938) The Rewaking (1991) Benita Valente (soprano) Juilliard
String Quartet rec: 1999-2000 BRIDGE 9192 [67:42] [GH]
An important disc of ground-breaking quartets performed by their dedicatees,
some of America's most respected and important musicians of the late 20th
century. ... see Full Review
Symphony For The Spire - Appeal concert for Salisbury Cathedral Ofra Harnoy
(Cello); Placido Domingo (tenor); Jessye Norman (soprano); Kenneth Branagh
and Charlton Heston, The Philharmonia Chorus English Chamber
Orchestra/Richard Armstrong rec. 1991 WARNER MUSIC/NVC ARTS DVD VIDEO
50-51011-2773-2-0 [83:00] [IL]
This 'Pop' classics collection has its moments - all the soloists shine -
but the grander choral and orchestral items seem oddly flat. ... see Full
Review
......................................................................
Len Mullenger
Founder: MusicWeb-International
The Internet CD review site
32,000 reviews read every day
www.musicweb-international.com
mobile: 07913 999009
You click with us and you may find we'll click with you.
-------------------------o0o--------------------------
newsgroups and blogs I can state that all these reviews are current and no
record company has been coerced into advertising with MusicWeb International
in order to get their discs reviewed (are we unique in this?)
To read the full reviews click on the links on
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/Aug06/listing.htm
This will give you access to the latest 50 reviews and articles.
-------------------------------------------
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685 - 1750) English Suites No. 1-3 - João Carlos
Martins (piano) rec. 1994 LABOR RECORDS LAB 7025-2 [77.11] [PSh]
Some will think these exceptional recordings are the best Bach-on-the-piano
ever, others will hate them; you deserve the right to make up your own mind.
... see Full Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Complete piano sonatas Wilhelm Backhaus
(piano) rec 1952-1979 DECCA ORIGINAL MASTERS 475 7198 [8 CDs: 67:40 + 67:12
+ 64:53 + 69:06 + 75:34 + 67:13 + 73:55 + 55.52] [IB]
I enjoyed this set very much. Do I recommend it? - with provisos,
definitely. Is it the only set to own? - with Beethoven, how could it be.
Nevertheless.enjoy! ... see Full Review
Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) The Piano Music: Volume 1 - Mark Bebbington (piano)
rec. 2006 SOMMCD 056 [77:24] [CH]
In Bebbington's hands this work - supposedly one of the masterpieces of 20th
century British music - emerges as an amorphous, sprawling piece of mediocre
ranting. ... see Full Review
Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Music for String Orchestra Holberg Suite etc. Oslo
Camerata/Stephan Barratt-Due rec. 2005 NAXOS 8.557890 [51:58] [MC]
Superbly performed string scores by the Oslo Camerata. A Naxos release that
could have proved even more desirable if the playing time had been more
generous. ... see Full Review
Witold LUTOS·AWSKI (1913-1994) Derwid Popular Songs - Mariusz Klimek (vocal)
rec. 2005 ACTE PRÉALABLE APO134 [61:04] [GPu]
An unusual album, which can be recommended to Lutos·awski completists or to
broadminded jazz enthusiasts . see Full Review
Wilfrid MELLERS (b. 1914) Grains of Sand CD1 Music by Wilfrid MELLERS (b.
1914) CD2 Music for Wilfrid MELLERS: Robin WALKER (b. 1953) ; Peter
SCULTHORPE (b. 1929); Philip GRANGE (b. 1956); David MATTHEWS (b. 1943);
John PAYNTER (b. 1931) ; Stephen DODGSON (b. 1924) ; Howard SKEMPTON (b.
1947) ; Ned ROREM (b. 1923) ; Aaron COPLAND (1900-1990) - Lesley-Jane Rogers
(soprano) 2004. DDD CAMPION CAMEO 2051/52 [62:02 + 51:02] [RC]
SPECIAL PRICE FROM MUSICWEB of £16 post-free world-wide
Devoted to music written both by and for Wilfrid Mellers, this handsome and
imaginatively put together double CD provides a conspectus of a composer,
now in his 93rd year. ... see Full Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Matilde di Shabran - Melodramma giocoso in two acts (1821) Matilde, Annick
Massis (sop); Corradino Ironheart, Juan Diego Florez (ten);rec. live,
Rossini Opera Festival, Pesaro, Italy, August 2004 DECCA 475 7688 [3 CDs:
68.23+52.56+67.36] [RF]
In outstanding fashion this fills an important gap in the composer's
discography. A work of Rossini's compositional maturity, I cannot see it
being bettered. ... see Full Review
Matthew TAYLOR (b. 1964) Piano Trio Op. 17 (1993-94) [29:12] String Quartet
No. 3 Op. 18 (1995) [17:45] Conflict and Consolation Op. 19 (1996) [17:38]
Lowbury Piano Trio, Schidlof Quartet, Members of the BBC Symphony
Orchestra/Martyn Brabbins rec. 1996-7 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0015 [65:14]
[CT]
Matthew Taylor makes a powerful case for the survival of the symphonic
composer in the twenty-first century. ... see Full Review
String Quartets with Soprano Richard WERNICK (b.1934) String Quartet No. 5
(1995) Alberto GINASTERA (1916-1983) String Quartet No. 3 Op. 40 (1973) John
HARBISON (b.1938) The Rewaking (1991) Benita Valente (soprano) Juilliard
String Quartet rec: 1999-2000 BRIDGE 9192 [67:42] [GH]
An important disc of ground-breaking quartets performed by their dedicatees,
some of America's most respected and important musicians of the late 20th
century. ... see Full Review
Symphony For The Spire - Appeal concert for Salisbury Cathedral Ofra Harnoy
(Cello); Placido Domingo (tenor); Jessye Norman (soprano); Kenneth Branagh
and Charlton Heston, The Philharmonia Chorus English Chamber
Orchestra/Richard Armstrong rec. 1991 WARNER MUSIC/NVC ARTS DVD VIDEO
50-51011-2773-2-0 [83:00] [IL]
This 'Pop' classics collection has its moments - all the soloists shine -
but the grander choral and orchestral items seem oddly flat. ... see Full
Review
......................................................................
Len Mullenger
Founder: MusicWeb-International
The Internet CD review site
32,000 reviews read every day
www.musicweb-international.com
mobile: 07913 999009
You click with us and you may find we'll click with you.
-------------------------o0o--------------------------