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Audiophile
Recordings |
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Ida
Haendel: The Historic Return to Chelm
Stanislaw Galonski conducting the Capella Cracoviensis
VAI Audio VAIA 1264r Reviewed by RP
At three-and-half-years old, Ida Haendel first picked up her sister Ala’s
violin and played by ear the song her mother had just been singing. So
began the prodigious career of a performer who by the age of ten was seen
at The Queen’s Hall, London playing the Brahms Violin Concerto under
Sir Henry Wood’s baton. Those impoverished Polish roots though have
never been forgotten and a return to Chelm, the town of her birth for
an emotionally-charged live recital must have been a truly cathartic experience
for a virtuoso approaching her seventy-ninth year.
A spectacular programme including Partita No.2; The Devil’s Trill;
Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen; the Wieniawski Legende and Polonaise;
Kol Nidrei and Bach’s Andante from Sonata No.2 was planned and it
could not be more technically or musically demanding. While those stamina-sapping
concertos may now be beyond her, she is quite superb here in the shorter
pieces, with no sign of any frailty, loss of dexterity or tonality. These
are the most deeply personal of interpretations, characterised by bold
colours, poignant emotional leaps and a clear-sighted purposefulness,
her technique always keeping you anchored to the music. This recording
has plenty of inner detail including Ida’s breathing and audience
noise, giving it a “you are there” quality just right for
the passion and intensity this woman with a violin still has for her art.
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Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart: Symphonies No. 38 (Prague); No. 39; No. 40; No. 41 (Jupiter).
Scottish Chamber Orch.
MacKerras Cond.
Linn Records Hybrid SACD (2 discs) CKD 308 Reviewed by RSF
Sir Charles Mackerras presents a regal account of Mozart’s last
four symphonies. The playing of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra seems more
like a much larger group and they should be proud of the high calibre
of the performances on these two discs. I must admit that I am enthralled
with the playing of this 37-member chamber orchestra; they are quite brilliant.
This is Mackerras’ third outing with these symphonies and I feel
it may be his best.
The ‘Prague’ is truly majestic and is perhaps, in the truest
sense of the word, the most exceptional performance here. I’d venture
to say the runner up in this set is definitely the ‘Jupiter’.
I must advise, however, that if you love your Mozart less spirited, you
might not warm to Mackerras’s readings of the 39th and 40th. Don’t
get me wrong. It’s not that I dislike what he’s done, it’s
that I find the more measured approach of conductors like Bruno Walter
and George Szell excels in this repertoire, whereas here they seem a little
rushed. But, Mackerras and ensemble provide superb reading of both the
Prague and Jupiter and these two alone are worth the price of admission.
Supplier: www.linnrecords.com
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Puccini:
La Boheme
Moffo, Tucker, Merrill, Tozzi
Leinsdorf / Rome Opera Orchestra & Chorus
RCA Living Stereo 82876 82621 2 Reviewed by RP
Available in this months magazine |
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Bainton:
Symphony No.3
Boughton: Symphony No.1 “Oliver Cromwell”
Handley / BBC Concert Orchestra
DUTTON CDLX 7185 Reviewed by RP
Available in this months magazine |
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Beethoven:
“Kreutzer” Sonata
Bach: Concerto for Two Violins
Heifetz;
Brooks Smith, pno;
Erick Friedman, violin;
Sargent cond. New S.O. London
Cisco Music/RCA Living Stereo LSC 2577. Reviewed by RSF
Available in this months magazine
Supplier: www.ciscomusic.com
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Brahms
& Sibelius: Violin Concertos
Dobrowen / Susskind / Philharmonia Orchestra
Ginette Neveu, violin
EMI 7243 4 76830 2 2 Reviewed by RP
Available in this months magazine |
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Liszt:
12 Études d’exécution transcendante
Claudio Arrau, pianist.
PentaTone Classics PTC 5186 171 Reviewed by RSF
Available in this months magazine
Supplier: www.pentatonemusic.com |
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Prokofiev:
Romeo and Juliet Suite No.2
Getty: Joan and the Bells
Alexander Vedernikov, cond.
Russian National Orchestra
Pentatone PTC 5186 017 Reviewed by RP
Available in this months magazine |
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