KHACHATURIAN: SYMPHONY NO. 1 IN E MINOR, DANCE SUITE, Robert Schumann Philharmonie, Frank Beerman/CPO
It’s something of a surprise that the immensely dramatic and colourful first Symphony by Khachaturian does not enjoy the currency of his Spartacus and Gayaneh ballet suites, but perhaps this energetic and full-blooded performance will go some way to remedying that omission. Particularly as the fill up is something of a find, the 25-minuteDance Suite by the composer which is full of his typical musical fingerprints. If the performance of the symphony does not quite match the sheer élan of the earlier take by Loris Tjeknavorian, it is a great success in its own right.
MENDELSSOHN: ELIJAH, soloists, London Symphony Orchestra, Antonio Pappano/LSO live
Mendelssohn’s dramatic oratorio, a great favourite of the Victorians, is here given its first surround sound recording, and – unsurprisingly – the London Symphony Orchestra under Antonio Pappano does full justice to the piece, resolutely blowing away the Victorian cobwebs and making the piece relevant and timeless.
FILM FANTASIA: KORNGOLD, KATS-CHERNIN, JOHN WILLIAMS, Emily Sun, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra/ABC Classics
A highly impressive disc by the star violinist Emily Sun which includes pieces especially written for her. There is no doubt, however, that the choicest item on the programme is a poetic and colourful account of Korngold’s glorious Violin Concerto.
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: ROYAL THRONE OF KINGS, soloists, Kent Sinfonia, James Ross/Albion Records
Albion Records continues to burnish its reputation by providing Vaughan Williams enthusiasts with new and little-known discoveries, on this disc including music written for Shakespeare plays of which the gem is probably the original Henry V overture of 1913 which has been reconstructed from orchestral parts. Also delightful are the five songs by Vaughan Williams on texts by Shakespeare, and the disc is a reminder that no VW enthusiast can afford to ignore anything from this source.
SCHURMANN: ORCHESTRAL WORKS, Xiayin Wang, BBC Philharmonic, Ben Gernon/Chandos
As so often in the past, Chandos continues to do sterling work polishing up the neglected work of some remarkable composers. Here the BBC Philharmonic under Ben Gernon marks the centenary of the birth of Gerard Schurmann with some of his innovative and dramatic scores –definitely modern in timbre but always accessible. The performances are top-notch. If you’re familiar with the composer from his dramatic film scores (such as the powerful Horrors of the Black Museum – so full of impact that it had the British Board of Film Censors suggesting the volume should be altered!), it’s time to investigate other work by the composer.
LISZT: FAUST SYMPHONY, MEPHISTO WALTZ NO. 1, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liege, Gergely Madaras/BIS
Liszt’s Faust Symphony has enjoyed some dramatic performances over the years, but this take (in the version without chorus) is particularly notable given that it is the first in wide-ranging surround sound – a recording typical of the highly accomplished BIS engineers. And this particular combination of performance and recording renders this a very collectable disc, particularly for admirers of the composer.
DVOŘÁK: SYMPHONIES NOS 6–9, London Symphony Orchestra. Colin Davis/LSO Live
The LSO live label continues to go from strength to strength, with attractive repertoire matched by recordings of considerable depth and quality. This welcome reissue set of Dvorak symphonies may arrive in a market which is already crowded with similar entries, but these remastered discs conducted by the late Colin Davis are prime examples of the conductor’s early association with the label. Apart from the SACD versions here, they are also offered and digitally in Spatial Audio. This collection marks the 25th ‘birthday’ of LSO Live, which was established in 1999.
BRAHMS: REIMAGINED ORCHESTRATIONS, Kansas City Symphony, Michael Stern/Reference Recordings
This is truly a delectable disc for admirers of Brahms. Most collectors will have the Schoenberg orchestration of the first piano quartet – here delivered with great aplomb – but new to disc are the 11 Choral Preludes for organ orchestrated by no less than Virgil Thompson, along with a new piece called Black Swan, a version for orchestra of Brahms intermezzo, scored by Bright Sheng. It’s a disc that adds lustre to the Reference label’s already impressive roster.
MADE IN USA: Gershwin et al, Claire Huangci, piano/Alpha
Listener interest may be most piqued here by the solo piano version of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (arranged by the composer himself), but there is much of interest on the disc, and not just to aficionados of American music. In the capable hands of Claire Huangci we are given a wide-ranging programme which includes the Samuel Barber (1910-1981): Sonata in E Flat Minor for Piano, Op. 26 . The piece was commissioned in the autumn of 1947 by Irving Berlin and Richard Rodgers, to mark the 25th anniversary in 1950 of the League of Composers. Also included:
Amy Beach’s Variations on Balkan Themes, Op. 60. Much delectable playing here.
R STRAUSS: GOLDEN HORIZON: WORKS FOR HORN AND ORCHESTRA, soloists, Sinfonieorchester Aachen, Christopher Ward/Naxos
A very welcome disc of the two Strauss horn concertos in sympathetic performances along with a handful of curios. A more substantial fill up consists of the Four Last Songs, ably sung by Sonja Gornik in a version for chamber orchestra arranged by Lars Opferman. It might be argued that the arrangement will be useful for various performances where only reduced forces are available, but one wonders about its usefulness on disc when one can have Strauss’s glorious full orchestration in many other versions. Nevertheless, for the concertos, a welcome disc
CARLOS SIMON: FOUR SYMPHONIC WORKS: National Symphony Orchestra: Gianandrea Noseda/NSO
Four very approachable works by the John F. Kennedy Centre for the performing arts composer in residence, Carlos Simon. The source of inspiration for each of the pieces are disparate, and Simon brings a very individual approach to each. Particularly impressive is Tales: A Folklore Symphony which utilises African-American culture and folklore and is a piece of particular immediate appeal.
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: THE GRINKE LEGACY: Concerto Accademico (Violin Concerto in D minor), The Lark Ascending Boyd Neel – Boyd Neel Orchestra – Frederick Grinke, violin, Hymn-Tune Preludes – Eventide, Boyd Neel – Boyd Neel Orchestra – Frederick Grinke, leader /Albion Records
For those not finding the vintage sound a problem, this is an absolute treasure trove for lovers of the composer Vaughan Williams This is an ‘archive’ recording comprising LP and 78 rpm discs newly remastered for this album by Ronald Grames. Frederick Grinke was admired by Vaughan Williams, and was one of a handful of violinists for whom he composed works.