Barry Forshaw
FLORENT SCHMITT: ORCHESTRAL WORKS
Peter Donohue, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Yan Pascal Tortelier/Chandos
How does Chandos do it? How do they continue to find vibrant, colourful orchestral music from the late 20th century and grant it the kind of deluxe treatment it had not received before? This collection of orchestral works by Florent Schmitt is a good case in point, and this could well be the most beguiling collection that the company has issued in some while, particularly as every nuance of orchestration is given the kind of stunning surround sound recording that Chandos is particularly celebrated for. This disc is a considerable winner.
BRAHMS: SYMPHONIES 1 & 2
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester, Hamburg, Kent Nagano/BIS
It goes without saying that there are umpteen alternatives for these much-loved symphonies, but Kent Nagano demonstrates that his mastery of Brahmin repertoire is evident in every bar. The BIS SACD recording is extremely analytical in the best sense of the word. Some pieces are particularly lucky on disc, and Brahms’ first two symphonies are such works. In order to make a mark, any new recordings have to offer persuasive and nuanced performances in impeccable sound, and these latest takes from Nagano more than fulfil this requirement – and, what’s more, are presented in the kind of richly detailed surround sound picture that the BIS label is famous for.
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: A SEA SYMPHONY; MACONCHY: NOCTURNE FOR ORCHESTRA
Soloists, London Symphony Orchestra & chorus, Sir Antonio Pappano/LSO Live
Maestro Antonio Pappano’s highly impressive readings with the London Symphony Orchestra of Vaughan Williams’s fourth and sixth symphonies was an absolute winner, so it’s hardly a surprise that this disc of the of the composer’s first symphonic venture, the ‘Sea Symphony’, maintains the upward trajectory of its predecessor. The London Symphony Orchestra, of course, is an aggregation famous for its interpretation of this glorious corpus of work (in earlier decades, under Previn, a Vaughan Williams set with the orchestra was a market leader), and this new cycle is proving equally revelatory. The First Symphony is here dispatched with great sensitivity and drama, as is Maconchy’s wining ‘Nocturne’.
BANTOCK: HEBRIDEAN SYMPHONY& OTHER WORKS
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Rumon Gamba/Chandos
Given the considerable weight of his achievement, it’s somewhat surprising that the orchestral works of the British composer Bantock have been somewhat neglected, although the Hebridean Symphony has enjoyed some attention. At a stroke, however, this new take from the BBC Scottish Symphony orchestra under Rumon Gamba becomes the definitive version, particularly as it is couched in the impeccable Chandos soundscape. The other pieces on the disc, too, are no mere makeweights but further proof that this is a composer who needs to be pulled firmly into the spotlight again.
LISZT: DANTE SYMPHONY; LISZT/JOHN ADAMS: THE BLACK GONDOLA
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liege, Gergely Madrass/BIS
Liszt’s ‘Dante’ Symphony has enjoyed some dramatic performances over the years, but this take is particularly notable given that it is the first in wide-ranging surround sound – a recording coup typical of the highly accomplished BIS engineers. And the particular combination of performance and recording renders this a very collectable disc, particularly for admirers of the composer. Gradually, the orchestral works of Franz Liszt are becoming available in a variety of performances, but few have the sheer character of this reading, along with the coupling, John Adams‘ adroit orchestration of Liszt’s ‘The Black Gondola’.
MENOTTI: ORCHESTRAL DISCOVERIES, GOYA SUITE
Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano, Francesco Cilluffo/Orfeo
The composer Menotti is perhaps best remembered for the first television opera, ‘Amal and the Night Visitors’ – along with his association with another much more heavyweight American composer, Samuel Barber. But as this charming disc from the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano under Francesco Cilluffo demonstrates, Menotti is no one hit wonder. Certainly, there are no groundbreaking masterpieces here, but colourful and cannily orchestrated works that demand attention.
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: FROM URSULA WITH LOVE
Recordings of the music of Vaughan Williams from the collection of Ursula Vaughan Williams,
Various artists/Albion Records
This is a particularly tempting selection showcasing the brilliance of the music and the subtleties of interpretation. In this disparate group of Vaughn Williams pieces drawn from the collection of the composer’s partner Ursula Vaughan Williams, the Albion Records label once again demonstrates its commendable dedication to the music of one of the greatest of English composers.
WAGNER: DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NURNBERG
Soloists, Choir and orchestra of the Bayreuth Festspiele, Danielle Gatti/C Major
For many, Meistersinger is a favourite Wagner opera – always approachable, and a perfect demonstration of the composer’s genius. This exemplary performance is one of the most transporting that the listener is likely to encounter, perfectly judged in every way and recorded in notably faithful sound.
JOHN WILLIAMS: FLUTE CONCERTO; BERNARD HERRMANN: SOUVENIRS DE VOYAGE
Soloists, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Darrell Ang, Joshua Tan/Pentatone
Admirers of the best film music will be attracted to this enterprising programme – but they are likely to notice a signal difference between the contributions of John Williams and Bernard Herrmann. The former has always tried to distinguish his ‘serous’ works from such classic film scores as Close Encounters and Superman. and the intriguing flute concerto is notably less accessible. Bernard Herrmann, on the other hand, saw no distinction between his serious work and film scores which inhabit the same sound world.
AN AMERICAN DREAM: GERSHWIN,RODGERS et al
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Barbara Hannigan/Alpha Classics
Another demonstration of the very disparate skills of Barbara Hannigan – from conductor to singer – in a programme of some highly attractive American music from such composers as George Gershwin and Richard Rodgers.
LOESSER:GUYS AND DOLLS
Soloists, Sinfonia of London, John Wilson/Chandos
After the considerable success for his versions of musicals by Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Lowe, John Wilson turns his attention to another Broadway classic – and one of the best loved of all musicals, Frank Loesser’s immortal Guys and Dolls. This spirited, superbly sung version of the Damon Runyon-Inspired classic is quite the equal of its illustrious predecessors and captures both the beauty of the ballads and the sardonic wit and attack of the comic songs. Long may John Wilson’s excavations of Broadway’s past continue.