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Thanks, John. It'll need to be first class to compete with Leslie Howard's set on Hyperion. Maybe the recording quality will be a factor in its favour, given the 1989 (?) date of the Hyperions. I've not played them in a while so can't recall.

The only other recordings currently available that cover the gamut of this particular area in Alkan's output are the ones by Kevin Bowyer, recorded 20-40 years ago, so they have been ripe for rediscovery for some time!

Thanks for alerting us to these. I have the Bowyers and, much as I like Alkan, I am now wondering if it's worth the outlay to get the new recordings, when one has to count the pennies. I'd love to hear if anyone has an opinion.

Ooh, I obviously need to do some further listening, Ilja.

Anyone share my view that it's a very fine work?

Oh, thank you so much, Wheesht.    I got as far as Messer then came to a dead end.

Can someone please identify this music? As I don't understand German, the introductory comment doesn't help me. I had it tagged as "King Cymbeline" but I can't quite match it to Potter's overture, so I'm in the dark as to what it really is. Sorry for the sound quality - it's been on my computer for many years!

https://www.mediafire.com/file/wknldwy9owvqse3/King_Cymbeline_Overture_%2526_Overture_in_A_minor.mp3/file

To be released on April 23rd on CPO. A symphonic poem and a ballet.

....just hook it to my veins.

Ooh, courageous!    But, yes, looking forward to this one.

One site I find useful, that seems to go beyond the usual labels is:
https://laboiteamusique.eu/product-category/genre/classical/

Yes, I agree. I had assumed it was some sort of public-spirited initiative by MDG, but clearly I was naïve.

Yes, me too, Disappointing.

They do, but boy do they make you work to find and hear any of it.

I gave up. Life is too short!

Yes, I don't blame you. It is very awkward. You have to click on the arrow which comes up next to MP3 VBR, then scroll down the interminable list until you arrive at whatever track you want to hear/download. I just set it playing and leave it running while I'm working.....

I see that the very fine MDG label have uploaded a great deal, if not all, of their catalogue on YT, in 1521 files. Stunning quality recordings, which may include some music appropriate to our remit.

https://archive.org/details/mdg-musikproduktion-dabringhaus-und-grimm

Thank you for that update, Gareth. It's a step in the right direction. Do we know if it has ever been performed?

I see that Signum Classics are to release a recording (expected in April) of orchestral music by contemporary English composer William Mival. His name is new to me, and I have no idea whether the music complies with our remit here at UC, but one short piece which appears on the CD is already available on YT in a live performance by the RCM Phil, cond. Brabbins, and I think it counts as neo-romantic. I am looking forward to seeing if the Symphony is of similar garb.

https://laboiteamusique.eu/product/william-mival-vale-a-pastoral-symphony-tristan-still-pluen-feather-martyn-brabbins/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeTC_ZR8g_0&list=RDQeTC_ZR8g_0&start_radio=1

the "Festival Overture for the Unveiling of the John Boyer Centenary Monument" (Hans Franke, Op. 999)

 

I'm with the majority on this one, by the way. I love the bold, brassy sound  (and I was snared by the drum).

Wheesht - That's a creative and perhaps brave programme. I hope it's a great success. Were I in Worthing, I would go