Albeniz "Suite Espanola, Op.47" Fruhbeck De Burgos/New Philharmonia (Super Analogue Disc KIJC 9144) Japanese pressing of the original Decca. Another wonderful recording by Kenneth Wilkinson David Gilmour "Live in Gdansk" Sides 2-5, (Columbia 88697344701 DC1) Nat "King" Cole "Penthouse Serenade" (Pure Pleasure Analogue PPAN T332) |
Hubert Parry, "Symphony No. 5", "Symphonic Variations", "Elegy for Brahms" - Boult/LPO - EMI ASD 3725 (another gorgeous large orchestra recording effort by the "two Christophers" EMI recording partnership: Christopher Bishop and Christoper Parker.) ... While the English composer Hubert Parry is often considered a composer "of relative insignificance,"* I find many of his works enjoyable if not intellectually challenging. I'm not sure I "get" the sprawling Sym 5, but it sure makes for wonderful sheets of symphonic sound. The Symphonic Variations and Elegy for Brahms, on the other hand, are very engaging works. I'd still choose the Lyrita SRCS48 recording of the Variations and Elegy for the even better recording quality from Kenneth Wilkinson, also with Boult conducting. Josquin Des Pres, "Missa Pange Lingua" - Peres/Ensemble Organum - Harmonia Mundi HMC 1239 - (The Ensemble Organum gets a most unusual choral blend of voices and textures. Well worth hearing in this recording of Missa Pange Lingua, one of the great pieces of choral music in the literature.) . |
Dvorak's "Piano Trio in F minor, op65" - The Jung Trio - Groove Note GRV 1043 (This is a new direct to disc, 45 rpm, recording, mastered by Bernie Grundman and produced by Ying Tan and Joe Harley. Mike Fremer's recent review is on target about the sound quality here. The recording and engineering superbly capture the instruments in a very realistic and natural soncis. Excellent performance by this young trio. Highly recommended - the listening partner liked it!) Sibelius, "Karelia Overture," "The Bard," and "Festivo" - Gibson/ScottishNO from 1967 on EMI HQS 1070 (yes, yes - nice performances and recording) Stravinsky's "Le Sacre du Printemps (Rite of Spring)" - Ansermet/OSR, London LL 1730 mono (a lean, taut, driving performance by Ansermet, with LÂOrchestre de la Suisse Romande's uniquely piquant timbre in the winds and astringency of the strings, this is a wonderful record. It also has a great album cover!) . |
