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Rare French Works for Violin and Orchestra
Graffin / The Ulster Orchestra / Fischer
Hyperion CDA67294 Reviewed by SG
While Hyperion have been providing significant quotas of romantic piano concertos, Schumann songs and countless other ongoing projects, it has also been examining French violin music. Here Phillipe Graffin explores some unusual areas of that repertoire, including one or two genuine rarities. Only the first movement of Faures abandoned Violin Concerto survives complete, while SaintSaens' Morceau de concert was intended as the frst movement of his Third Violin Concerto. Canteloube's orchestral works have nowadays all but been forgotten, as has the composer and teacher of Debussy and Dukas, Ernest Guiraud. Lalo's Fantaisie Norvegienne was reworked into his Rhapsodie, while his rarely heard Guitarre was only designed to be an encore. But while this release gets full marks for originality, supplying a treasure trove of Gallic novelties, it also scores highly with its charm and elan. Despite slightly heavy scoring in Cantaloube's Poeme, its richness should still appeal to lovers of his Chants dAuvergne, and the other pieces are delightful in every way. Graffin plays with character and intelligence, and this CD is an excellent showcase for his youthful talents. Thierry Fischer provides some lovely direction, and the Hyperion recording is always sympathetic, providing a tasteful release of discriminating charm.

Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 6 "Le Matin", 7 "Le Midi" and 8 "Le Soir"
Freiburger Barockorchester
Harmonic Mundi HMC 901767 Reviewed by SG
The trio of Die Tageszeiten (The Times of day) symphonies were a direct response by the composer to Vivaldi's Four Seasons. In fact, due to the lack of Haydn's Sinfonia designation and their musical structure, they may also have been written as baroque concerto grosso. Like Vivaldi's masterpieces, the success of these pieces lies with the quality of the crucial solo performances. Here all the soloists play with deftness, with the flute, violin and double bass making outstanding contributions. In fact, the excellence of the bass makes rivalled issues sound effectual and weak in the three Menuetto avec Trio. The conductorless Freiburger Barockorchester eclipse all rivals throughout, with their wonderful purity and poise, especially in the slower movements, and their youthful zest that brings forth textures full of colour. Despite their moderate size, they sound fuller and more dynamic than many larger orchestras but still manage to retain a certain intimacy and sensitivity, revealing their stylish phrasing and the music's witty character to the full. With Harmonic Munds's superbly balanced recording allowing every detail to be heard throughout the tuttis, in an excellent warm and palpable acoustic, this very enjoyable CD of this music's reference recording comes highly recommended.

Gibbons: The Woods so Wild: Keyboard Works
Toll
Linn CKD 125 Reviewed by SG
This CD is a real work of art and a fitting tribute to John Toll's passionate music making, having lost his battle with cancer last summer. He was a reserved, yet communicative continuo player, with an extensive discography, and was at the very hub of the early music scene, but this is his only solo disc. It was several years in the planning, and contains 24 of the 45 keyboard works that can be attributed to Orlando Gibbons with the utmost authority. All ten Fantasias are included, as are the better of the dance-like tunes, with Toll moving between harpsichord and the beautifully toned organ of Addington Hall - a wonderfully authentic instrument that missed any Victorian restorations. The Linn engineers capture both instruments superbly, but what makes this release so special is Toll's insight into the composers thoughts and beliefs, reflecting them in each beautifully crafted line with articulation and dignity. He manages to produce luxuriant textures of sweet harmony from the organ, while the harpsichord playing is fresh and light, bringing a wonderful involvement to the proceedings, and creating a disc that should be cherished all the more because we will not hear its likes again.

Joshua Bell and Edgar Meyer: Short Trip Home
Sony SK60864 Reviewed by SG
This release, along with Appalachia Waltz and Appalachian Journey, has made Sony Classical the home of American bluegrass/classical crossover albums. The common denominator in these recordings, holding each session together, has been bassist, composer and producer, Edgar Meyer, whose wonderful talents span the two distinct musical worlds with impressive naturalness. He is well known in both bluegrass and country circles, and is a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He has also composed his own String Quartet, recorded by the Emerson Quartet for Deutsche Grammophon. Along with Sam Bush (mandolin and violin) and Mike Marshall (guitar, mandolin and violin), with their bluegrass backgrounds, there is no lacking bona fide talent, but Joshua Bell might initially seem a little remote from his classical background. You might expect his violin playing to only appear at ease in the classically perceived Concerto Duo pieces, but his performances throughout never sound out of place, with his lyrical playing sustaining Meyer's compassionate writing superbly, creating a disc of intricately fused genres, with each dedicated performer constantly enjoying themselves. Sony's sound is excellent, being resolute and direct, and exhibits a natural perspective of each performer, helping to produce another highly enjoyable and noteworthy CD.

Korngold: Film Scores: The Sea Hawk / Captain Blood / The Prince and the Pauper / Elizabeth and Essex
LSO / Previn
Deutsche Grammophon 417 347-2 Reviewed by SG
Erich Korngold's conversion from master of the Viennese opera to Warner Bros' music maestro was faultless. From having his works conducted by the likes of Mahler he became the architect of the Romantic Hollywood sound of the 1930s with amazing ease, producing lush scores for the motion picture industry that still retained much of the style of his "serious" works. Previn's background in Hollywood and the London Symphony Orchestra's experience in recording film soundtracks obviously stood them in good stead for this set of extended suites taken from Korngold's four "Errol Flynn" film scores. They play with obvious enthusiasm and swagger, creating the warmth and expansive sense of grandeur that these pieces hold, revealing Mahlerian and Strauss-like melodies that few, if any, have fully realised. Previn creates almost tone poem-like sequences that reveal the music's strength and ability to stand on its own, but still managing to enhance the feelings between Elizabeth and Essex, and his devotion to his queen. With excellent sound, this album is an absolute pleasure, and should be acquired by all enthusiasts of magnificent music and film alike, making a follow-up disc of the composer's other scores a must.

Janacek: String Quartets
Skampa Quartet
Supraphon SU 3486-2 Reviewed by SG
The String Quartets of Leon Janacek are passionate affairs that ingeniously blend the traditional folk music of the composers Moravia with the dramatic passages of his own style. They are extraordinary works, with String Quartet No. 1 taking on almost operatic statures of expressive composition, revealing feelings of compassion that are underlined by a certain tragic brutality, and String Quartet No. 2 being a declaration of love that, while tense and energetic, has an underlying theme of tenderness and desire. The Skampa Quartet play with the utmost care to deliver every compositional detail, illuminating and enhancing the score to reveal every texture, bringing each performance life and commitment, as only a true Moravian ensemble can. They show a wonderful infinity for both works, enhancing the feeling of conviction and providing inspired playing of sonorous beauty. While the playing is of the utmost beauty, they provide the burning ferocity that is also required, involving the listener in Janacek's studies of life. The recording is also very revealing, with layers of texture enhancing the performance's animation and energy. These performances set new standards for these works, and while the CD only lasts for just over 40 minutes, it is a magnificent disc.

Bartók: 44 Duos for Two Violins
Ligeti: Ballad and Dance
Kurtag: Ligatura - Message to Frances-Marie, Op.31b
Keller / Pilz
ECM New Series 1729 - 465 849-2 Reviewed by SG
There are too few great works for violin duets, but Bela Bartók's 44 Duos for Two Violins has got to rank among the most exquisite. Composed for a German music teacher who graded them in order of technical difficulty they have, in the interest of variety, been shuffled on this recording. Almost all are inventive arrangements of folksongs from various traditions and societies, but from the very outset there is a certain gypsy like rhythmic quality to many. Andras Keller and Janos Pilz, two members of the Keller Quartet, play with feeling and authority to reveal both melancholic and exuberant extremes of folk-like undertones. Ligeti's Ballad and Dance and Kurtag's Ligatura are welcome bonuses, being written in the same vein as the 44 Duos, and the only puzzling anomaly is the Bartók piece Bagpipe, which makes two appearances - while they are alternate versions, they are too similar to warrant the repeat. Sound quality is up to ECM's usual high standards, with plenty in the way of hail ambience, but just misses out a little as far as presence and detail are concerned. This is a welcome issue that should appeal to both those who love the violin or the music of Bartók.

JS Bach: Keyboard Concertos 3, 5, 6 and 7
ASMF / Perahia
Sony SK 89690 Reviewed by SG
As with Murray Perahia's first instalment of Bach's Keyboard Concertos (Sony SK 89245) that I reviewed in issue 12, this recording sets new standards for performances of these works on the modern concert grand. In fact, there are such subtle variations of Perahia's articulation in the D major Concerto's Finale, the G minor's slow movement and his breathtaking trills and runs in the F major (effectively a keyboard transcription of the Fourth Brandenburg Concerto), that much can be learnt about these wonderful pieces, even by players of the harpsichord. The F minor Concerto is more dynamic, yet still full of texture, and is also blessed by the sensitive murmuring of the pizzicato strings that intertwine beautifully with the theorbo's chordial depictions in its slow movement. Sony's sound is good, but lacks a little depth and naturalness of perspective, with the Steinway sounding too large compared to the other instruments, which are played with the usual articulation and refinement by the excellent musicians of the Academy of St. Martins in the Field, and directed from the piano by Perahia. This is a splendid set of performances, full of serene elegance, that match the first volume's resplendence, creating a highly enjoyable experience.

L'Ange et le Diable - Music for the violin by Leclair and Locatelli
Kraemer / Valetti / The Rare Fruits Council
Naive Astree E 8842 Reviewed by SG
Jean-Marie Leclair and Pietro Locatelli were two of the most exciting virtuosi and composers of late baroque violin music. Supposedly they met at the court at Kassel in 1728, performing together, after which a jester commented, "The one (Leclair) plays like an angel, and that one (Locatelli) like a devil" - hence the CD's title. What is unquestionable is that the first excelled in a distinctive blend of French expressiveness and Italian exuberance, while the second advanced the boundaries of technique with remarkable feats of virtuosity, almost in the way Paganini would a century later. It is also true that anyone tackling any of the four sonatas here has to be on top form. Manfredo Kraemer and Pablo Valetti certainly are, dispatching each piece with technical brilliance and a wonderful sense of style. Each work is given the kind of performance that only comes along very rarely, leaving the listener in awe of the soloist's art, as well as the composer's imaginative skill. The remaining members of the Rare Fruits Council are also exhilarating, producing inspired music making with their imaginative and impassioned approach. With sound of the highest order, this is an exemplary issue that can be ignored only at your expense.

John Jenkins: Fantasias and Airs
The Locke Consort
Channel Classics CCS SA 17602 Reviewed by SG
This hybrid disc comprises world premiere recordings of fifteen newly discovered works by John Jenkins, one of the paramount 17th Century composers of consort music. These Suites, combining both the unregimented old-style fantasias for viol and the dance-like airs of the newly fashionable trio sonata, were probably composed in the 1660s for Charles II, and exhibit certain rhythmical qualities that were key to the King's musical enjoyment. These are supported by dance and song-like melodies, creating rather pleasant pieces that echo the works of Byrd, Coprario and Lawes. The Locke Consort plays beautifully, capturing the vibrant spirit of these pieces with proper tension in the bowing, well-shaped phrasing and confident articulation, creating fluent tempi. The use of theorbo, rather than organ, adds percussive punctuation and imaginative colouring to the violin's duet passages, and reveals a wonderful freshness in these highly developed works. The recording is one the best I have heard from this label, creating a naturalness of tone and realistic portrayal of each performer and their instrument, and so producing sound of demonstration class. This lovely release is one of the most enjoyable SACDs I have heard to date and enhances our knowledge of an already appealing composer.

Global Percussion Network - Rauk
Opus 3 CD 22011

Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble - Far More Drums
dmp SACD-10 Reviewed by SG
Audiophile labels have often found it necessary to issue recordings of drumming and percussion. Many audiophiles have purchased them, regardless of their musical enjoyment, with a view to demonstrating the capabilities of their prized equipment myself included. Whether Reference Recording's Dafos or Sheffield Lab's Drum Record, they have always found a home in the audiophile's armoury, and with the advent of SACD, specialist labels have once again started to seize upon the chance to issue such discs. Rauk is a new departure for Swedish label Opus 3. Jan-Eric Persson has for the first time recorded in the digital domain, using four microphones rather than his usual single "Blumlein" arrangement. This is of course to take advantage of SACD's multichannel capabilities, although the centre and sub-woofer channels have not been utilised. The only problem with this new technique is that for those wishing to listen in good old-fashioned stereo, there is a slight flattening to the incredible three-dimensionality found on many of the label's earlier recordings. Musically, this album is closer to Dafos than the Sheffield Drum Record, with a variety of instruments, including vibraphone, marimba and gongs, as well as keyboards and brass, producing a myriad of tonal colours. This is particularly evident in the first three tracks, while Rauk, a three-part work composed for solo vibraphone and three percussionists, is more traditionally percussion orientated. The disc closes with a short, but hauntingly, beautiful work entitled Aurora Borealis. While Rauk is subtler in its presentation, Far More Drums is closer to Sheffield Lab's Kodo disc, with all its dynamic qualities. dmp are more used to digital recordings, and this six-channel recording exhibits a tight and palpable soundstage, even in stereo, making this disc highly suitable for demonstrating SACD's capabilities. Unfortunately, the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble do not quite show the abilities of the Kodo Group - they just do not seem to have that precision that comes from Japanese discipline. While I preferred the subtleties of the Opus 3 recording, audiophiles will more likely turn to the raw dynamics of Far More Drums. But, the question has to be asked - with many collectors shying away from such recordings, creating a limited availability for sales, why do so many companies covet these recordings so? With the audiophile market already being relatively small, these discs can only represent a niche market within it.
Supplier Ruark: hififorsale - www.hififorsale.co.uk 0870-2412469
Supplier Far Moore Drums: Vivante - www.vivante.co.uk (44)(0)1293-822186

Cat Stevens - The Teaser And The Firecat
Island 546 885-1 Reviewed by RG
A continuing regard for Cat Stevens albums is as close as I could ever get to being accused of hippy tendencies. Tea For The Tillerman is a long time favourite and this, the companion piece, comes a close second. Second because the songs aren't quite as strong, second because the recording lacks a little of the startling immediacy and dynamics of Tillerman, perhaps in deference to the softer subject matter. Having said that, this 180g repressing adds body, warmth and welly compared to my original, closing the gap a little and making for a more emphatic delivery of songs such as Tuesday's Dead' and 'Bitter Blue' which were always more impressive than the insipid 'Morning Has Broken'. The incomparable beauty of 'Moonshadow' is all present and correct, and the worst thing you can say about this album is that it's over way too soon. I'm not sad enough to sit down and time it, but I'd be surprised if it breaks the half-hour mark. On the upside, they've done a beautiful job on the soft mat gatefold sleeve which, with its pale colour and lack of gloss protection, always suffered horrendously. As a result the plentiful second-hand supply is invariably extremely tatty. This re-issue, on the other hand, is sonically and visually pristine.
Supplier: Vivante - www.vivante.co.uk (44)(0)1293-822186

Rimsky-Korsakoff: Scheherezade
Reiner, Harth, Chicago SO
JVC/RCA JMCXR-0015 Reviewed by RG
If there's one recording which sums up the Living Stereo phenomenon then this is it. From the sumptuous sound of the Chicago, tamed by Refiner's stiff back and imperious baton, to the capacious acoustic of Orchestra Hall captured so convincingly by the legendary Mohr/Layton team, this performance wraps you in its warmth. This is what early stereo is all about. Unfortunately, it's a disc whose reputation has pushed it firmly into the realms of the collectable with second-hand examples commanding astronomical prices, which is the other side of the Living Stereo coin. Fortunately, with this excellent XRCD transfer, JVC have given everybody the opportunity to enjoy this fabulous recording. And whilst Scheherezade isn't exactly under represented in the classical catalogue, with a number of lauded performances vying for your attention, most notably the Beecham, this is the one that gets my money. Refiner controls the magisterial pace to perfection, the Chicago respond, brass to the fore, with a performance of sweeping magnificence. Even Harth, who might not be considered a front rank performer responds and plays with such powerful grace and lyricism that he manages to stand undaunted in the path of the orchestra. It's a sublime combination, and for once, both the recording and this re-issue do it justice.
Supplier: Vivante - www.vivante.co.uk (44)(0)1293-822186

Arturo Delmoni / Nathaniel Rosen - Music For A Glass Bead Game
John Marks Records JMR15 Reviewed by RG
Delmoni and John Marks means that we are on familiar ground here. Throw in the Cello of Nathaniel Rosen and a more than off-beat theme and it produces a disc notable for the musical breadth, inventiveness and purpose of the playing as much as the excellence of the recording. The musical selection is inspired by Hesse's novel about a future in which cultural scholars celebrate the past through a multi-disciplinary exercise, the Glass Bead Game. A players introduction to the structural forms and mathematical relationships of the game comes through music, and Bach's Inventions in particular. Here, they are transposed for Violin and Cello and form the repeating framework to which we return after excursions through Kodaly, Giordani, Martinu and Handel. It's a successful format, making the most of the close relationship that's grown between the performers over a twenty-five year shared history. The recording is open and transparent, the soundstage beautifully scaled and proportioned, the instruments' tonalities rich and real. Dynamics are impressive, especially in the pizzicato passages that bring the Kodaly so vividly to life. That and the Handel Passacaglia are the highest point on a consistently excellent disc. Highly recommended.
Supplier: hififorsale - www.hififorsale.co.uk 0870-2412469

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