WALTON: VIOLIN CONCERTO, ORCHE

THROUGH GILDED TRELLISES - A C

"A well-assembled programme of attractive works from 1905 (Ravel) to 1973 (Francaix), played by an expert ensemble and recorded with striking fidelity, all detail being warm but clear. . . . [A] group of rich-toned and serious-minded artists, whose ensemble is flawless; they excel in lyrical passages, such as the tender opening of the Francaix Octet’s slow movement . . . . [A] very recommendable disc." -- Lionel Salter, Gramophone

Mozart: Requiem in D Minor, K.626

Mozart: Piano Quartets Nos. 1 & 2

REQUIEM

Music For You: Prokofiev — Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64 (Excerpt

A warm welcome back to the catalogue for one of the all-time great cello discs. The original Columbia LP by Leonard Rose and Leonid Hambro was recorded in New York City on May 12-13, 1955. Sony's new remastering reduces any slight astringency in higher cello registers to insignificant levels, but the slightly enclosed feel of the studio acoustic persists. Schubert's "Arpeggione" Sonata sounds crystalline and pure in its every utterance. Among vintage recordings, only Pierre Fournier's 1968 account with Pierre Fonda on DG brings similarly elegant restraint and musical understanding, but Rose imparts a sense of zest and spontaneity to the piece, suggesting the delight of fresh discovery. Superlatively played throughout, the finale especially brings a display of amazing bravura, as in the clean-cut precision of Rose's string-crossing in the flighty rondo, and in arpeggio writing high above the staff during the closing pages. The first-movement exposition repeat was omitted to accommodate the performance on a single LP side.

The immaculately-performed fillers, cello sonatas by Boccherini (the famous one in A major) and Sammartini, filled the B side of the original LP. As Yo-Yo Ma comments in his introduction, "Mr. Rose set the standard for integrity in artistry...if there is an ideal sound for the cello, he had it...And I know he was particularly proud of this recording." An outstanding reissue.

--Michael Jameson, ClassicsToday.com

Verdi: Overtures & Preludes

ESSENTIAL CLASSICS:RAMPAL

This selection is also available in Super Audio CD format.
This selection is a DSD (Direct Stream Digital) recording.
John Williams is known to most people through his scores for blockbuster films such as JURASSIC PARK, SCHINDLER'S LIST, JAWS, and the STAR WARS series, among others, but he is also a noted composer of concert works as well as a renowned conductor. This set features his compositions for cello, performed here by the inimitable Yo-Yo Ma with the composer himself wielding the baton. The album gets off to a rousing start with the Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, a piece that's vintage Williams: a cinematic blend of majestic themes, brassy fanfares, and dramatic flourishes.
The two other orchestral works on the disc are impressionistic tone poems that demonstrate the variety of Williams's sonic palette--the Elegy for Cello and Orchestra sets plaintive melodies amid lush, swirling pastels, while Heartwood evokes a restless moodiness through dense, dark-hued harmonies. The Three Pieces for Solo Cello are showcases for the instrument that explore the full range of its sonorities, incorporating folk elements and touches of Americana along the way. Ma brings his usual artistic commitment and technical brilliance to the proceedings, dispatching the challenges and demands of the works with his customary aplomb. Williams's crowd-pleasing compositional style and Ma's dazzling artistry make a winning combination.

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14, H. 48 - Dukas: L'app

Composed of live and studio recordings from the 1960s and '70s, this compilation of Horowitz favorites proves that simple, poetic pieces can be very powerful. Loved by his audiences, Horowitz considered these relatively short works to be rich, crystalline, and full of feeling, each able to be carved in a very personal way. Arranged arbitrarily without regard to contrast of tempo, or stylistic unity, the program resembles that of encore pieces performed at the artist's whim, creating the illusion of spontaneity. The record's variety nonetheless showcases Horowitz's multifaceted artistry, displaying his crisp touch and rock-steady rhythm.
The disc contains works from Schubert, Chopin, Scarlatti, and Debussy, to name a few, all extremely romantic in nature, somewhat improvisatory, and performed with a passion that seethed from the pianist's very soul. The album's coup de grace, Schumann's "Traumerei" is so dreamy it almost drifts away before the artist's fingers can play the last dangling keystrokes. Perhaps closest to his heart, these colorful works come alive through accordance with Horowitz's own consciousness. It is from his passion as a pianist that this music is brought so intensely to life.

This selection is a DSD (Direct Stream Digital) recording.

Track Listing
1. Christmas Song, The - (with Tony Bennett)
2. O Holy Night - (with Charlotte Church/Plácido Domingo)
3. Do You Hear What I Hear - (with Vanessa Williams)
4. Jesus De Nazareth - (with Plácido Domingo)
5. Winter Wonderland - (with Tony Bennett/Vanessa Williams)
6. Silent Night - (with Charlotte Church)
7. My Favorite Things - (with Vanessa Williams/Tony Bennett/Plácido Domingo)
8. White Christmas - (with Tony Bennett/Vanessa Williams)
9. Hacia Belen Va Un Burro - (with Plácido Domingo)
10. Through The Eyes Of A Child - (with Vanessa Williams)
11. First Noel, The - (with Tony Bennett/Plácido Domingo)
12. Somewhere In My Memory - (with Gumpoldskirchner Spatzen Chorus)
13. I Saw Three Ships - (with Plácido Domingo/Vanessa Williams)
14. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - (with Tony Bennett)
15. Hijo De Dios - (with Plácido Domingo)
16. I'll Be Home For Christmas - (with Tony Bennett/Plácido Domingo)
17. Joy To The World - (with Plácido Domingo/Vanessa Williams)
18. Angels We Have Heard On High - (with Tony Bennett/Vanessa Williams/Plácido Domingo)
19. Silent Night
20. One More Year - (with Plácido Domingo/Vanessa Williams)

Musicians include: Tony Bennett, Charlotte Church, Placido Domingo, Vanessa Williams (vocals); Steven Mecurio (conductor); Ralph Sharon Quartet; Gumpoldskirchner Spatzen Children's Choir; Vienna Symphony.

Recorded live at the Konzerthaus, Vienna, Austria in December 2000.

This stellar line-up, recorded live in Vienna, performs a program of quintessential Christmas songs in a rich variety of styles, from the light pop of "My Favorite Things" to traditional Spanish tunes such as "Hacia Belen Va Un Burro" and English equivalents like "Angels We Have Heard on High." Tony Bennett kicks the whole thing off with a typically warm rendition of "The Christmas Song." He's followed by a pretty straight reading of "O Holy Night" by the Welsh teen classical prodigy Charlotte Church and the inimitable Placido Domingo, and Vannessa Williams' gospel-tinged version of "Do You Hear What I Hear?"

It's an evening of familiar favorites, impeccably performed, with the added bonus of the Gumpoldskirchner Spatzen Children's Choir providing an appropriately child's-eye view of the holiday. OUR FAVORITE THINGS is a worthy addition to the bulging repertoire of Christmas collections, in a gimmick-free traditional setting.