Nicholas Anderson enjoys releases by some legendary 20th-century performers
February round-up
Wilhelm Backhaus: The Complete 1940s Recordings brings together Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert. Backhaus was still recording for HMV prior to the acrimonious circumstances which led to his move to Decca in 1950. The disc contains pieces issued in their entirety for the first time. The major work is Mozart’s Coronation Concerto No. 26, K537. Fluent, unfussy and purposeful, Backhaus illuminates the music of some of his favourite composers.
His playful understanding of the outer movements of Bach’s Italian Concerto and his gentle view of its Andante are perhaps of especial appeal. (APR 5637 ★★★★)
In 1920 Arturo Toscanini was appointed artistic director of La Scala, Milan. The First Recordings, 1920-1926 mostly features his newly formed Orchestra of La Scala in a programme mainly of short pieces with some excerpts. It is a pity we only have such excerpts in the case of Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 and Beethoven’s Symphonies
Nos 1 and 5, since Toscanini’s characteristically vital responses are irresistible. Even in a recorded sound of such venerable age, something of his legendary perfectionism shines through. Among the items are The Hungarian March from
The Damnation of Faust by Berlioz, a composer dear to his heart, pieces from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night ’s Dream, Bizet’s Carmen and the Overture to Donizetti’s Don Pasquale. (Guild GHCD 3504 ★★★)
The importance of the Boyd Neel Orchestra in promoting Baroque music, especially that of Handel, hardly can be overstated. It features here in two Handel concertos, one of which is with harp soloist Osian Ellis. Both involve Thurston Dart, whose role both as continuo player and director, was paramount in moulding the stylistic authority for which it became celebrated. The principal work on the disc, however, is Handel’s dramatic cantata Apollo e Dafne. It is directed by Geraint Jones, another luminary of our resurgent interest in Baroque music. The vocal protagonists are baritone Thomas Hemsley – here on splendid form – and soprano Arla Mandikian. (Cameo Classics CC 9127 ★★★)
Schubert – The Symphonies sees live recordings from the 1988 Styriarte Festival, Graz, by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
Well known for his deep scepticism and deliberate avoidance of performing tradition, Harnoncourt breathes new life into the music by looking afresh at the sources and encouraging his players to do likewise. The approach has resulted in readings of pulsating energy whose luminous instrumental textures further enhance our enjoyment. To quote his wife, Alice ‘we can hear the works infused with new life, with their fresh colours offering a genuine new listening experience.’ (ICA Classics ICAC 5160 ★★★★)
Secrets is a compilation of bootleg recordings made between 1978 and 1981 of recitals given by Hungarian pianist Annie Fischer. Fischer disliked studio work, and without these unofficial tapes her wonderful legacy would be considerably smaller. These discs feature music by Schubert, Schumann and Chopin. With Schubert’s Sonatas in A minor, D845, and A major D959 we are drawn into Fischer’s intimately personal world. Many endearingly distinctive aspects of her playing further suffuse her interpretation of Schumann’s Fantasiestücke. Recorded sound is never less than acceptable and, for the most part much more than that. (Hungaroton HCD 32845-46 ★★★★)