Leopold Mozart: Die Bauernhochzeit, Musikalische Schlittenfahrt, Sinfonia burlesca

This is a very nice, simple CD. It's value is markedly historical, but nevertheless the music is good to listen to. The Ensemble Eduard Melkus plays authentic instruments, which adds fullness to the sonic experience. And precisely, due to the comments written by the author himself, we know how he thought of his instrumentation for the enjoyment of the pieces.
On Josef Starzer 10 Dances, I cannot say much; they are simple, enjoyable, unpretetntious, but well finished.
A Galleria ARCHIV CD.

Leopold Mozart

• Sinfonia "Bauernhochzeit", D
1. Marcia villanesca
2. Menuett
3. Andante
4. Menuett
5. Finale. Molto allegro
• Musikalische Schlittenfahrt, F
1. Intrada
2. Andante
3. Presto
4. Intrada
5. Schlittenfahrt
6. Andante, sempre piano: Das schüttelnde Pferd
7. Aufzug
8. Allegro
9. Intrada
10. Schlittenfahrt
11. Adagio: Das vor Kälte zitternde und schnatternde Frauenzimmer
12. Des Balles Anfang: Menuett/Trio
13. Deutscher Tanz I. Presto
14. Kehraus. Allegro
15. Pianissimo
16. Deutscher Tanz II
17. Kehraus. Allegro
18. Intrada
19. Schlittenfahrt
• Sinfonia burlesca G
1. Sinfonia
2. Hanswurst (Menuett)
3. Il Signor Pantalone (Andante)
4. Arlecchino (Allegro)

Josef Starzer

• 10 Tänze
1. Contredanse
2. Gavotte - Trio
3. Pas de deux
4. Menuett
5. Gavotte - Trio
6. Moderato
7. Gavotte
8. Menuett - Trio
9. Gavotte - Trio
10. Passepied - Trio

Schumann: Kinderszenen, Waldszenen, Papillons, Three Romances[Kempff]

Beautiful Eloquence/Deutsche-Grammophon CD boasting Wilhelm Kempff's interpretation of small piano pieces by Robert Schumann. Wilhelm Kempff shows his great range and amazing clear play under any circumstance.
I personally think he is too harsh sometimes, but his control is superb.

Kinderszenen and Three Romances were recorded in 1973; Waldszenen in 1974; and Papillons in 1967.

• Kinderszenen, op.15
1. Von fremden Ländern und Menschen
2. Kuriose Geschichte
3. Hasche-Mann
4. Bittendes Kind
5. Glückes genug
6. Wichtige Begebenheit
7. Träumerei
8. Am Kamin
9. Ritter vom Steckenpferd
10. Fast zu ernst
11. Fürchtenmachen
12. Kind im Einschlummern
13. Der Dichter spricht
• Waldszenen, op.82
1. Eintritt. Nicht zu schnell
2. Jager auf der lauer. Hochst lebhaft
3. Einsame Blumen
4. Verrufene Stelle
5. Freundliche Landschaft
6. Herberge. Mäßig
7. Vogel als Prophet. Langsam, sehr zart
8. Jagdlied. Rasch, kräftig
9. Abschlied. Nicht zu schnell
• Papillons, op.2
1. -
2. Prestissimo
3. -
4. Presto
5. (Grazioso)
6. -
7. Semplice
8. -
9. Prestissimo
10. vivo
11. -
12. Finale
• Three Romances, op.28
1. Sehr markiert
2. Einfach
3. Sehr markiert: (intermezzo 1:presto; intermezzo 2:etwas langsamer; wie vorher)

Saint-Saëns: Le Carneval des Animaux

This discontinued Point Classics CD has had several bad reviews, despite its minimal price. I personally enjoyed it and would still recommend it.
It includes a DDD recording from 1994: Le Carneval des animaux performed by Süddeutsche Philharmonie, conducted by Hanspeter Gmür. The sound is not as bright as we are used to in recent recordings, but still acceptable.

1. Introduction and royal march of the lion
2. Cockes and hens
3. Wild asses
4. Tortoises
5. Elephants
6. Kangaroos
7. Aquarium
8. People with long ears
9. Cuckoo in the heart of the woods
10. Aviary
11. Pianists
12. Fossils
13. The swan
14. Finale.

Symphony No. 3, Op. 78, in c minor, 'Organ,' performed by the Münchner Symphonie Orchester, conducted by Alberto Lizzio: (15) Adagio - Allegro moderato; (16) Allegro moderato; (17) Maestoso - Allegro moderato. Total playing time 56:30.

Schumman: Kinderszenen, Waldszenen, Papillons, Three Romances

Delightful. Like Mahler's on which I have just commented, this is subtle and straightforward. Wilhelm Kempff shows his lyricism with such expressive modulation.
Each piece is more beautiful than the other, in the Deutsche Grammophone CD with recordings from 1967, 1973 and 1974.
Although Three Romances (op.28) clearly contrasts with the other more situational works: Kinderszenen op.15, Waldszenen op.82, Papillons op.2. This one, I believe, does not necessarily try to evoke any particular sensations, but is, excuse my analogy, more discursive in nature, and not so descriptive.

Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn

Wow. I am surprised how subtle, strong, simple and beautiful Mahler could sound. The way it is described is right: it just sounds as an honest interpretation.

This is on of the Great Recordings of the Century, in EMI Classics. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (a:soprano), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (b:bariton, from which I already have other works), and George Szell conducting the London Symphony Orchestra, recorded live in 1968.

I have finally turned out to be a believer of vocal music.

1. Revelge, b


2. Das irdische Leben, a


3. Verlor'ne Müh, a+b


4. Rheinlegendchen, a


5. Der Tamboursg'sell, b


6. Der Schildwache Nachtlied, a+b


7. Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht, b


8. Lob des hohen Verstandes, a


9. Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt


10. Lied des Verfolgten im Turm, a+b


11. Trost im Unglück, a+b


12. Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen, a+b