Verdi: Rigoletto

Bregenzer Festspiele, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Enrique Mazzola

UNITEL 751608

This is a distinctly marmite experience. Set on the lakeside at Bregenz, the set is a huge clown’s head (big enough that the jaw is used as a balcony) and two huge articulated hands on either side. The cast are mainly dressed as circus characters and behave as such. The music itself is splendid but I found that the action constantly failed to live up to the intensity of the narrative or of Verdi’s magnificent score. Stephen Costello is a fine Duke and Vladimir Stoyanov a strongly focussed Rigoletto though he lacks sympathy. As a one off it was interesting but I’m not sure I would be drawn back to it.

The Romantic Piano Concerto: 80

Howard Shelley, piano, Sinfonieorchester St Gallen.

HYPERION CDA 68264

Hyperion seems to have a bottomless barrel of splendid yet totally unknown works. Here is another pair which are instantly appealing. August Dupont’s Piano Concerto No3 in F minor is a richly impressive work, not as dark toned as one might imagine from the minor key and one I will certainly return to. Peter Benoit’s Symphonic poem for piano and orchestra may not have quite the impact but is a substantial work in its own right and certainly maintained my attention throughout. Howard Shelley is a totally committed soloist and conductor throughout.

Vaughan Williams; Symphonies 3 & 4; Saraband Helen

BBC Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins

HYPERION CDA 68280

New recordings of familiar, but none the less welcome, symphonies in exemplary versions. But the real gem is the new realisation of the Saraband Helen which dates from 1913-14 but remained unpublished. For those of us who regard the Serenade to Music as one of the finest things Vaughan Williams ever wrote, Helen comes as something of a revelation as it easily sits alongside the more familiar choral work. Helen is set for tenor solo – David Butt Philip – based on a short verse, which is lovingly supported and orchestrated. The cd is more than worth it just of this final piece.

Litolff: Piano Trios; Serenade for violin and piano

Leonore Piano Trio

HYPERION CDA 68305

Surprisingly this is the first recording of the second piano trio and the serenade. Though they may not be masterpieces when judged against the finest, they are striking and most approachable works, ideal I would have thought for a chamber music series where you want to slip in something just a little different but one you know is sure to please your audience. The Leonore Piano Trio bring vitality and commitment to their playing which is a pleasure throughout.

Del Signor Graun

Ludovice Ensemble

VM021

The two cds bring us six sonatas for flute and harpsichord by Carl Heinrich and Johann Gottlieb Graun writing in the mid eighteenth century. I wish I could be a little more enthusiastic but the pieces come across as worthy rather than exciting. There is certainly nothing wrong with the playing but the scores themselves lack the excitement one might need for a live performance.