Contents
GRAMOPHONE
LETTERS
6
Paying tribute to Tear’s career EDITOR’S CHOICE 10 The best new recordings of the month
SOUNDBITES FOR THE RECORD
12
Rolando Villazón to undergo surgery; Okko Kamu takes over in Lahti MY TOP 10 16 A new day dawns: musical sunrises INTERVIEW 17 Mariss Jansons explains what it takes for a good orchestra to be the world’s best DIARY 18 Last Night of the Proms trumpeter Alison Balsom is not only a leading musician but an accomplished sailor too ONE TO WATCH 19 Beijing-born pianist Yuja Wang records her first disc for the Yellow Label PHILIP KENNICOTT 20 The music of a respected teacher continues to influence today THE GRAMOPHONE DEBATE 22 How best to approach a musical score ENCOUNTERS 26 Paul Robertson’s brush with death coincides with Tavener’s new work Towards Silence
FEATURES THE COLLECTION
28
History has accounted Handel’s Solomon a success – but which recording is best? USA (North American edition only) A1 Incoming New York Philharmonic principal conductor Alan Gilbert prepares for the rewards and challenges of the task ahead PROMS SPECIAL 35 Pianist and Gramophone guest editor Stephen Hough not only kicks off the Proms this year with Tchaikovsky’s Third Concerto, he also leads our festival coverage by interviewing fellow Proms performer Steven Isserlis. We also explore Stravinsky’s relationship with his choreographers, Henry Wood on disc, David Zinman’s thoughts on the Proms’ influence stateside and composer Paul Vivier. Plus full 2009 listings
COVER MARK HARRISON, CHRIS LEE/NY PHILHARMONIC CONTENTS LEBRECHT MUSIC & ARTS, HORACE ABRAHAMS/ HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES, BRIAN GALLAGHER COVER CD SHUTTERSTOCK
REVIEWS ORCHESTRAL
56
A fine Bruckner Second from Jaap van Zweden; there’s more to Christopher Gunning than Poirot’s theme ORCHESTRAL ROUND-UPs 65 A century of Nordic output; Previn at 80 FILM MUSIC 69 Shore finds the right tone for Doubt CHAMBER 70 Karen Geoghegan demonstrates the bassoon’s expressive range INSTRUMENTAL 76 Liszt’s Swiss and Italian adventures INSTRUMENTAL ROUND-UP 81 Richard Farrell – forgotten no more VOCAL 82 Korngold Lieder to warm the heart; glorious choral music from Mathias OPERA 92 Alessandrini selects the perfect Handel DVD 96 Bartoli’s winning Malibran project REPLAY 98 The great Guarneri Quartet BOOKS 103 A helpful chronicle of American music
SOUNDWAVES TUNE SURFING
Historic issues and reissues on the web
104
MUSICAL JOURNEYS SEEN AND HEARD 107 Julian Lloyd Webber travels east LIVE MUSIC 111 The NY Phil celebrates the Fourth of July
HIGH-FIDELITY AUDIO AND VISUAL
Connecting your PC to your hi-fi
FINALE MY MUSIC
Dramatist Ronald Harwood SUBSCRIPTIONS
CLASSIFIEDS
NEW RELEASES
REVIEWS INDEX
112
130
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120
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128
35Stephen Hough explores this year’s Proms
40 The Rite stuff: Stravinsky’s ballets
42 Henry Wood’s recorded legacy
118 Sony’s high-end SACD player 130 Ronald Harwood’s musical pleasures www.gramophone.co.uk
GRAMOPHONE JULY 2009 3
