Album Reviews

Gustavsen is usually heard at the head of a trio, but here the Norwegian pianist branches out with a quintet for an adventurous programme. His trademark glacial poise is still intact, and complimented by the Jan Garbarek-like saxophone playing of Tore Brunborg, but the real interest happens on four tracks featuring singer Kristin Asbjornsen – a setting of WH Auden's Another Time, and three wordless vocals, where her husky voice and a contemplative calm from the instrumentalists combine to beguiling effect. AV

Basil Hodge: Sound Reasoning (Zeal) 10.99

Here's the second CD from the fine British pianist Basil Hodge, and it's a well-played and energetic session of hard bop that makes good use of a resourceful quintet. Hodge himself performs well on his originals. He's a fluent player and his work on a two-part composition, The 13th Amendment, written to commemorate the abolition of slavery, is appealingly heartfelt. Saxophonist Tony Kofi and trumpeter Fulvio Sigurta perform well, and there is good support from bassist Larry Bartley and excellent drummer Winston Clifford. AV

Verdi: Luisa Miller Sony 88697581382 (2CDs) 12.99

Few studio recordings so readily take us into the opera house, the performance sizzling with reality, Placido Domingo and Aprile Millo singing their hearts out as the two lovers, with Paul Plishka as a skin-creeping Wurm and Vladimir Chernov the sonorous Miller. Big confrontation scenes burn at white heat, while James Levine whips up the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra into the most vivid supporting role. The engineers open up a wide dynamic range to make this my number one recommended recording. DD

Corp: Piano Concerto No.1/Symphony No.1/Guernsey Postcards Dutton CDLX 7233 11.99

Leon McCawley, prizewinner in the 1993 Leeds International Piano Competition, is the soloist in Ronald Corp's effervescent and brilliantly scored concerto, the smoochy and jazzy outer movements giving the score ready appeal. More easy listening classics in the atmospheric pictures in Guernsey Postcards and ending with the First Symphony composed last year. Nielsen and Malcolm Arnold are in there with the finale a big "Last night at the Proms" number. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic with Corp conducting do him proud. DD