A load of Lieder and a great conductor
This month’s selection also includes Albéniz and historical instruments
Anthony Collins was a jack of all trades, emerging as a violist in the 1920s and going on to perform as principal for the LSO. That he went on to become an Oscar-nominated film composer would seem enough, if he hadn’t also been a much admired conductor here in the UK. In the Complete Decca Recordings (Eloquence 484 1467) we’re treated to 14 discs of recordings made 1945-56, largely with the LSO. It’s a real chocolate box of a set, with everything from Mozart to Walton. At its heart, though, is a complete – and cracking – Sibelius symphony cycle.
Imitating the Human Voice (Arcana A206) is a 13-disc collection of recordings made by Italian violinist Enrico Gatti and his Ensemble Aurora between 1994 and 2016. Theirs has been a long journey involving the study of 17th-and 18th-century repertoire, specifically its relation to sounds of nature and the human voice. As such their rich recordings of music by Corelli, Stradella, JS Bach, Veracini, Mozart and Tartini – on historical instruments, or copies – seeks to retain and preserve as much of its original sound and articulation as possible.
Another impressive journey is that of baritone Christian Gerhaher and pianist Gerold Huber, whose desire to record the complete songs and Lieder of Robert Schumann has come to fruition. Schumann – Alle Lieder (Sony Classical 19439780112) gathers their efforts in an 11-disc set recorded 2004-20. Gerhaher and Huber’s acclaimed albums Frage, Myrthen, Dichterliebe and Melancholie are at the heart of what is a truly compelling set, with the remaining discs actually representing new recordings. Definitive.
Pianist Miguel Baselga also takes us through a thorough analysis of a composer’s repertoire in Albéniz – Complete Piano Music (BIS BIS2613). The nine-disc collection brings together the Spaniard’s recordings, released 19982017. It’s a colouful collection with delightful individual cover art. Every corner of Albéniz’s life at the keyboard has been investigated, resulting in a comprehensive and captivating set that takes the listener from masterpieces like Iberia and Suite Espagnole to rare childhood compositions and two works for piano and orchestra – featuring the Tenerife Symphony.
At the heart of the collection is a cracking Sibelius symphony cycle