BRIEF NOTES
A review round-up of 24 further new releases, including choral works by Byrd and Britten, Haydn masses and Nielsen’s complete organ music
Atilla Symphony No. 2 ‘Gallipoli – The 57th Regiment’
Onur Senler (cello), Angela Ahiskal (soprano); Bilkent Symphony Orchestra/burak Tüzün
Naxos 8.579009
The 46-year-old Turkish composer’s cinematic elegy to the memory of his nation’s 57th Regiment, wiped out during World War I’s Gallipoli campaign, is heartfelt and lavishly scored, but the music doesn’t quite get to the core of the tragedy. (OC)
JS Bach Two-part inventions Nos 1-15; Three-part inventions Nos 1-15; Six Little Preludes; Duets Nos 1-4
Vladimir Feltsman (piano) Nimbus NI 6223
Two-part inventions and three-part sinfonias recorded 17 years apart in very different acoustics. But Feltsman brings a tonal richness and a pleasing sense of line to these miraculous miniatures. (OC) JS Bach Organ works II
Miklós Teleki (organ)
Hungaroton HCD 32782
The bright-sounding Aquincum organ in the Hungarian town of Siófok is closely recorded which reveals plenty of detail but can be wearing on the ears, particularly the high principals and mixtures. Teleki’s Bach playing, however, is spirited.
(OC)
Beethoven Kreutzer Sonata
(arr. Czerny and Franchomme) Schnabel Sonata for solo cello Moór Ballade in E
Samuel Magill (cello),
Beth Levin (piano)
Navona Records NV6024
I’m not altogether convinced by the
Kreutzer Sonata arranged for cello, despite the distinguished arrangers and performers. The atonal solo sonata by Schnabel is another tough listen, but you couldn’t ask for a more committed performance. (RF) Byrd • Britten Choral works
The Choirs of Jesus College, Cambridge; Bertie Baigent & Jordan Wong (organ); Mark Williams (director) Signum SIGCD48
These are good performances of two British composers by both choirs of Jesus College, Cambridge. The College Choir, which uses female undergraduate singers, gains the edge over the choristers in a focused, sparkling performance of Byrd’s
Laudibus in sanctis. (EC)
Casella • Donatoni • Ghedini • Malipiero Works by Casella, Donatoni, Ghedini, †Malipiero Orchestra della Svizzera italiana/ Damian Iorio
Naxos 8.573748
Colourful and characterful playing by this Lugano-based orchestra makes this exploration of music by 20th-century Italian composers a pleasure. Casella’s quirky and quick
Divertimento per fulvia is a particular treat. (EC)
Downes Orchestral works Czech Phil/ondrej Vπabec Artesmon AS 744-2
There’s a Sibelian quality to Downes’s work – wide open spaces that both entrance and unnerve. The Czech Phil gives fine performances. (OC)
Guretzky Cello Concertos etc Harmonious Society of Tickle-fiddle Gentlemen Chandos CHAN 0816
Writing for a celloobsessed count in the early 18th-century, Guretzky is a composer well worth exploring. These performances of his concertos are every bit as frisky and fun as the music itself. (JP)
Haydn Paukenmesse; Nelson Mass
City of London Choir; RPO/ Hilary Davan Wetton RPO RPO SP 054
Refreshing to hear Haydn on modern instruments – fast movements take splendid flight, although slow tempos can drag under the weight of the ensemble. (OC)
Kodály • Dohnányi
Chamber works for strings Smith, Hayes (violin), Silverthorne (viola), Jenkinson (cello)
Resonus RES10181 mins
Lively, refined performances of two significant 20th-century Hungarians. Folk music sparked Kodály’s imagination, while Dohnanyi’s joyful Serenade has hints of Brahms. (RF)
Mozart Arias
Anett Fritsch (soprano); Munich Radio Orchestra/de Marchi
Orfeo 903 161 A
Appearing in Covent Garden’s forthcoming Mitridate Re di Ponto,
this versatile young soprano records the great Mozart/da Ponte arias, attractively but with some inevitable sameness. (MSR)
Nielsen Organ Works
Bine Bryndorf (organ),
Torsten Nielsen (baritone)
Dacapo 6.220635
Interspersed with songs, this is an indispensable introduction to Nielsen’s organ music.
Commotio is the major work on this disc, but there is plenty of interest elsewhere. (JP)
Pärt Choral works Latvian Radio Choir/sigvards Klava Ondine ODE 1286-2
You’ll be hard-pushed to find a disc of Pärt choral music more enjoyable than this. Immaculate control and balance does not mean lack of drama – there’s intensity and vibrancy too. (JP) Prado Cartas Celestes Nos 4-6 Aleyson Scopel (piano) Grand Piano GP710 Here are three chunky instalments of the Brazilian composer Almeida Prado’s celestial 18-movement piano cycle, convincingly performed with otherworldly atmosphere by Scopel. (RF) Saint-saëns • Ravel • Gershwin Piano concertos Andrew von Oeyen (piano); PKF Prague Philharmonia/villaume Warner Classics 9029590848 Von Oeyen is a terrific player with a good sense of drama and mischief; the orchestra could do with fewer histrionics and more Gallic suavity. It’s all a bit strait-laced. (OC) Schumann Cello Concerto; Symphony No. 2
Jan Vogler (cello); Dresden Festival Orchestra/ivor Bolton Sony Classical 88985372122 Vogler finds a deep, powerful sound for the Cello Concerto contrasting with the light touch of the Dresden orchestra, which also gives us a fulsome Symphony No. 2.
(EC) Vasks Flute Concerto; Symphony No. 3
Krenberga (flute); Liepa¯ja Symphony Orchestra/lakstigala Wergo WER 7349 2 Vasks’s fraught Third Symphony shares the same soundworld as Shostakovich and, here and there, Khachaturian. The Flute Concerto is a more melodic and mellow affair. Excellent performances. (JP) Composing the Island A century of music in Ireland, 1916-2016
Various artists RTE CD153 Taking us from Elgarian orchestral bombast and lyrical chamber works to pieces written just last year, this is a fascinating journey through Irish musical history. (RF)
Confessions of Faith Choral Concertos by Bortniansky & Schnittke
MDR Rundfunkchor/risto Joost Genuin GEN 17450
A compelling coupling of Russian composers. The choir sings with flair and passion – the Schnittke has stunning moments – though with the occasional rough edge. (JP) Consolation Works by Lysenko, Kosenko, Skoryk et al
Natalya Pasichnyk (piano) et al BIS BIS-2222 Pianist Natalya Pasichnyk and friends explore rare gems from the time of Soviet occupation of Ukraine. Enlightening booklet notes and strong performances. (EC) Dansa Works by JS Bach, Henryson and Sandstrom
Zilliacus (violin), Willemark (voice) BIS BIS-2159 (hybrid CD/SACD) The D minor Partita’s hypothetical chorale roots are explored via interwoven chorale quotations performed by a Swedish folk singer. It’s strange but interesting. (RF) Homeward Bound Songs Angus Benton (treble), Archer (piano) Convivium Records CR035 A 2015 Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year, Benton has a terrific, crystal clear voice. Sadly, this disc of bland song arrangements does him few favours. (JP)
Revive Opera arias El¯ına Garanωa; Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana/r Abbado Deutsche Grammophon 479 5937
The mezzo is on fruity, rich form in French, Russian and German arias, exploring ‘strong women in moments of weakness’. Her Mignon is especially moving. (RF) Sequenza Ysaÿe, Brustad et al Janusz Wawrowski (violin) Warner Classics 08256 4 65065 5 9 This fast and furious recording offers a whirlwind tour of solo violin repertoire. Wawrowski is at his best in magical Brustad and virtuosic Ysaÿe. (EC)