| Home January 2000 January 1999 January 1998 ... December 1997 ASGER HAMERIK ALEXANDER GLAZUNOV (1865-1936): Coronation Cantata, Op. 56, Symphony No. 2 in F Sharp Minor, Op. 16. First CD recording of Glazunov's 1895 cantata celebrating the coronation of what would prove to be Russia's last Tsar; the program of the text was progress inspired by the West and there is some Wagnerian influence in places. The four soloists represent the compass points of the Russian empire and their music contains a significant amount of Russian folk elements. The Glazunov of The Seasons and Raymonda also gets a look-in here and there while a rousing finale pays tribute to Glinka's epilogue of A Life for the Tsar. Olga Lutsiv-Ternovskaya (soprano), Ludmila Kuznetsova (mezzo), Vsevolod Grivnov (tenor), Dmitri Stepanovich (bass), Russian State Symphonic Capella and Symphony Orchestra; Valeri Polyansky. Chandos 9709 (England) LEOPOLD KOZELUCH (1747-1818): Symphonies in D, G Minor and F. The "Contemporaries of Mozart" series now moves to the Bohemian Kozeluch, whose D major symphony is new to CD. The latter has an arresting slow opening and a strapping minuet with a finale full of Haydnesque wit; the G minor has the dramatic, tense and agitated spirit of its counterparts in the same key by J.C. Bach, Mozart, Vanhal and Haydn. London Mozart Players; Matthias Bamert. Chandos 9703 (England) GIACOMO PUCCINI (senior) (1712-1781): La Confederazione dei Sabini con Roma. Maria Billeri (mezzo), Susanna Rigacci (soprano), Polifonica Lucchese, "Luigi Boccherini" Chamber Orchestra; Herbert Handt. Bongiovanni GB 2227 (Italy) | |
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