Balalaika Favourotes

The Driving Instructor - 20 Comedy Classics

The Bricklayer - 17 more Comedy Classics - Vol. 2

Introducing Tobacco 22 more Comedy Classics Vol.3

The Christmas Memories Album

The English Anthem Collection
Magdalen College Choir, Oxford/John Harper
rec. Magdalen College Chapel, 1983-88
Full track-listing at end of review
ALTO ALC 4001 [4 CDs: 77:02 + 71:33 + 72:49 + 76:25]

Modest Petrovich MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)
Boris Godunov – Musical Drama in four parts with prologue and epilogue after Pushkin's drama (1869-1874, rev. Rimsky-Korsakov and Ippolitov-Ivanov, 1896-1908) [189:42]
Boris Godunov – Yevgeny Nesterenko (bass)
Choir of the Bolshoi Theatre/A.Rybnov
Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra/Mark Ermler
ALTO ALC 2504 [3 CDs: 61:22 + 49:14 + 79:06]

Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931)
Symphony No.4, Op.29 Inextinguishable [34:02]
Symphony No.5, Op.50 [35:43]
London Symphony Orchestra/Ole Schmidt
ADD stereo, 1974
ALTO ALC 1236 [69:45]

Carl ORFF (1895-1982)
Carmina Burana [58:05]
Die Kluge (highlights) [17:50]
Janice Harsanyi (soprano), Rudolph Petrak (tenor), Harve Presnell (baritone)
Rutgers University Choir
Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy
Philharmonia Orchestra/Wolfgang Sawallisch (Die Kluge)
rec. ADD, stereo, 1960/1
ALTO ALC 1219 [75:45]

Thomas WEELKES (1576 - 1623)
Anthems and Madrigals
The Consort of Musicke (Emma Kirkby, Evelyn Tubb (soprano), Mary Nichols (contralto), Andrew King, Joseph Cornwell (tenor), Simon Grant (bass), with Penny Vickers (contralto), John Hancorn (baritone))/Anthony Rooley
rec. Oct 1994, Forde Abbey, Dorset, UK. DDD
ALTO ALC 1217 [61:09]

Michel-Richard DE LALANDE (1657-1726) Choral Music for Versailles - Three Grand Motets
Regina coeli S53 1698 [8:42]
De profundis S23 1689 [22:01]
Cantate Domino … quia mirabilia S72 1707 [25:59]
Ex Cathedra Chamber Choir
Ex Cathedra Baroque Orchestra/Jeffrey Skidmore
rec. n/d, St Paul's Church, Birmingham, England. DDD
ALTO ALC 1216 [56:04]

Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Dido and Aeneas
Dame Janet Baker (mezzo) – Dido; Patricia Clark (soprano) – Belinda; Raimund Herincx (baritone) – Aeneas; Monica Sinclair (contralto) – Sorceress; Eileen Poulter (soprano) - 2^nd woman; John Mitchinson (tenor) – Sailor; Rhianon James and Catherine Wilson (mezzo) – Witches; Dorothy Dorow (soprano) – Spirit; St Anthony Singers, Thurston Dart (harpsichord), Terence Weill (cello)
English Chamber Orchestra/Sir Anthony Lewis
rec. 1961
bonus tracks
The Tempest: Arise, ye subterranean winds*; Halcyon days
Dioclesian: What shall we do?
Jennifer Vyvyan (soprano), Hervey Alan (baritone),*
Philomusica of London/Sir Anthony Lewis
rec. 1958
ALTO ALC 1210 [65.45]

American Brass
Aaron COPLAND (1900-1990) Fanfare for the Common Man (1942) [3:07]
Leonard BERNSTEIN (1918-1990) Suite from ‘West Side Story’ (1957) (arr. Eric Crees)
Aaron COPLAND El Salón México (1936) (arr. Eric Crees) [11:07]
Henry COWELL (1897-1965) Fanfare for the Latin American Allies (1942) (arr. Eric Crees) [1:49]
Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) Mutations from Bach’s ‘Christe du Lamm Gottes’ (1968) [4:50]
Charles IVES (1874-1954) Variations on ‘America’ (?1891) (arr. Eric Crees) [7:17]
Aaron COPLAND Ceremonial Fanfare (1969) [3:52]
Leonard BERNSTEIN Prelude, Fugue and Riffs (1949/1955) (arr. Eric Crees) [7:44]
ALTO ALC 1209 [63.37]

Franz SCHUBERT (1797 – 1828)
Die schöne Müllerin
plus 5 Bonus Lieder
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)
Gerald Moore

French Chamber Music for Harp and Ensemble
Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937)
Introduction and Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet [10:20]
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Sonata for flute, viola and harp [15:19]
Albert ROUSSEL (1869-1937)
Sérénade for flute, string trio and harp, Op.30 [15:48]
Joseph Marie Guy ROPARTZ (1864-1955)
Prélude, Marine et Chansons [11:37]
François-Adrien BOIELDIEU (1775-1834)
Concerto for Harp* [21:43]
Osian Ellis (harp); Melos Ensemble; Marie-Claire Jamet (harp)
Orchestre de Chambre Paul Kuentz de Paris/Paul Kuentz
rec. 1962, ADD stereo
ALTO ALC 1203 [75:03]

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 [68:44]
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone), Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano)
Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus/Otto Klemperer
Antonin DVORÁK (1841-1904)
Biblical Songs, Op. 99, No. 1: Rings um den Herrn sind Wolken und Dunkel; No. 4: Gott ist mein Hirte; No. 10: Singet ein neues Lied [8:12]
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone), Jörg Demus (piano)
rec. 1962 (Brahms), 1960 (Dvorák). ADD
ALTO ALC1202 [76:56]

Baroque Bohemia and Beyond VI
Christoph SCHIMPKE (1725-1789) Sinfonia in F [21:54]
Leopold Florian GASSMANN (1729-1774) Symphony in C minor [23:33]
Vojtech JÍROVEC (1763-1850) Symphony in F major [26:22]
Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra/Petr Chromcák
rec. June 2012, St. Francis Church, Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia
ALTO ALC 1201 [72:03]

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 [29:33]
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23 [35:35]
Sviatoslav Richter (piano)
Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra/Stanislaw Wislocki
Vienna Symphony Orchestra/Herbert von Karajan
rec. 1959 and 1962. ADD stereo
ALTO ALC 1200 [65:00]

Joan Sutherland Collector's Album: Rare Broadcasts
ALTO ALC 1185 [79:31]

Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Missa in Angustiis (Nelson Mass) Hob XXII:11 [40:13]; William CROFT (1678-1727) The Burial Service [14:38]; Thomas TALLIS (1505-1585) Glory to Thee, my God, this night [2:53]; Orlando GIBBONS (1583-1625) Drop, drop slow tears; Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) St John Passion – Chorale O Lord who dares to smite Thee [2:05]; Chorale O mighty King [2:03]; Chorus Rest calm [10:58]
Sylvia Stahlman (soprano); Helen Watts (mezzo); Wilfred Brown (tenor); Tom Krause (baritone); The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
London Symphony Orchestra (Haydn); Philomusica of London (Bach)/David Willcocks
rec. 1960 (Bach), 1961 (the rest)
no text or translations included
ALTO ALC1184 [74:42]

Tudor Masters: Taverner and Gibbons

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43 (1934-35) [61:59]
West German Radio (WDR) Symphony Orchestra/Rudolf Barshai
rec. April and June 1996, Philharmonie, Köln, Germany DDD
ALTO ALC 1169 [62:02]

Vitezslav NOVÁK (1870-1949)
In the Tatras (1902) [17.10]
South Bohemian Suite (1937) [30.04]
Eight Nocturnes for voice and orchestra Op. 39 (1908) [29.28]
Daniela Straková (soprano)
Carlsbad Symphony Orchestra/Douglas Bostock
rec. Lazne III, Carlsbad, Czech Republic, January 1998
ALTO ALC 1199 [76.42]

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Don Juan, Op.20 [16.49]
Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op.28 [14.38]
Also sprach Zarathustra, Op.30 [33.44]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras
rec.. Abbey Road Studios, London, March 1995
ALTO ALC 1197

Andrés Segovia - Maestro: Guitar
Andrés Segovia (guitar)
rec. 1960-1; *1954. ADD/AAD
ALTO ALC 1195 [69:37]

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Diabelli Variations, Op.120 (1823) [53:05]
Bagatelle in A minor, WoO59 Für Elise (1808-10) [2:45]
Rondo a Capriccio in G major, Op.129 Rage over A Lost Penny (1795) [6:07]
Seven Variations on ‘God Save the King’ in C major, WoO78 (1803) [8:43]
Five Variations on ‘Rule Britannia’ in D major, WoO79 (1803) [4:29]
Six Easy Variations on a Swiss Air in F major WoO64 (before 1793) [2:52]
Alfred Brendel (piano)
rec. c.1961-64
ALTO ALC1194 [78:32]

The Merrymakers – British Light Classics
Concert Orchestra/Iain Sutherland
rec. 1983/8. DDD
ALTO ALC 1192 [78:29]

Christmas at King's College Cambridge
Choir of King's College Cambridge/David Willcocks
Simon Preston (organ)
Argo / Decca stereo ADD

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Symphony No. 2 (1901) [43:04]
Symphony No. 5 in E Flat Major Op. 82 (1914) [29:05]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Charles Mackerras (2); Ole Schmidt (5)
rec. CTS Studios, London, 1994 (2); 1996 (5). DDD.
ALTO ALC 1189 [72:21]

Organ Extravaganza!
Kevin Bowyer (organ)
rec. Taylor organ, De Montfort Hall, Leicester, 1998; *Hill, Norman & Beard organ, Royal Hospital School Chapel, Holbrook, Suffolk, 2000. DDD
ALTO ALC 1187 [78:34]

Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963)
Viola Sonata in F major Op.11 No.4 (1919) [17:35]
Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Lachrymae for viola and piano Op.48 (1950) [15:06]
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Viola Sonata Op.147 (1976) [35:49]
Yuri Bashmet (viola)
Sviatoslav Richter (piano)
rec. June 1985, live, Freiburg
ALTO ALC 1186 [68:34]

Orlande de LASSUS (1532-1594)
Missa ad imitationem Vinum Bonum
Ex Cathedra; His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts/Jeffrey Skidmore
rec. July 1995, Oscott College, Sutton Coldfield, England. DDD (previously released on ASV Gaudeamus CDGAU 150)
ALTO ALC1177 [68:37]

RECORDING OF THE MONTH

Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, Op.18 [34:21]
Sviatoslav Richter (piano)
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra/Stanislaw Wislocki
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op.40 [24:27]
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra/Ettore Gracis
DG and EMI, stereo, 1960
ALTO ALC 1175 [59:00]

Julian Bream in Concerto
Mauro GIULIANI (1781-1829) Guitar Concerto No. 1 in A major, Op. 30 [23:10]
Malcolm ARNOLD (1921-20061) Guitar Concerto, Op. 67 (1959) [21:53]
Lennox BERKELEY (1903-1989) Sonatina, Op. 51 (1957) [10:40]
Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Pavane pour une infante défunte [6:47]
Albert ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Segovia for guitar, Op. 29 (1924) [2:23]
Domenico CIMAROSA (1749-1801) Sonata in C sharp minor; Sonata in A Major [3:00 + 1:48]
Julian Bream (guitar)
Melos Ensemble/Malcolm Arnold
rec. 1960. ADD
ALTO ALC 1174 [70:02]

Dvorak Piano Works
Radoslav Kvapil

ALTO ALC1171

Gustav HOLST (1874-1934)
Symphony in F, Op. 8 The Cotswolds (1900) [27:20]
Walt Whitman Overture, Op. 7 (1899) [7:35]
Suite No. 2 for Military Band in F major, Op. 28 No. 2, H106 arr. Jacobs (1909-11, orch. 1945) [12:01]
The Perfect Fool, Op. 39/H 150: Ballet Music (1918-22) [12:05]
Scherzo for Orchestra, H192 (1934) [5:55]
Munich Symphony Orchestra/Douglas Bostock
rec. no details given but Munich circa 1998
ALTO ALC1170 [65:03]

J.S.Bach Goldberg Variations
Glenn Gould
Overture in the French Manner
Andras Schiff
Alto ALC1164 [79'38]

Brahms Clarinet Quintet
Mozart Clarinet Quintet
David Campbell (Clarinet)
Bingham Quartet

Alto ALC1161 [69'45]

Beethoven
Piano Sonatas No 3, 4, 27
Sviatoslav Richter

Alto ALC1158 [66'23]

Joseph CANTELOUBE (1879-1957)
Songs of the Auvergne (1923-1935):
Netania Davrath (soprano)
Orchestra/Pierre de la Roche
rec. Baumgarten Hall, Vienna, Austria, 27 March 1963, 16 March 1966. ADD
ALTO ALC 1151 [77:24]

South American Guitar Classics: Ponce, Barrios, Piazolla, Villa Lobos, Lauro, Reis
Marcelo Kayath Guitar

Alto ALC1149 [75'15]

Giovanni Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (1525 - 1594) Lamentations of Jeremiah I-III: Book IV for five and six voices
Feria V. in Coena Domini [25:10]
Feria in Parasceve [25:01]
Sabbato Sancto [23:56]
Pro Cantione Antiqua (Timothy Penrose (counter-tenor); Ashley Stafford (counter-tenor); James Griffett (tenor); Neil Jenkins (tenor); Ian Partridge (tenor); Michael George (bass); Christopher Keyte (bass); Stephen Roberts (bass))/Bruno Turner
rec. 1988, St. Alban's Church Brook Street, London DDD
Originally issued, 1988 Novello/Allegro
ALTO ALC 1142 [74:31]

Zoltán KODÁLY (1882-1967)
Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7 (1914) [24:03]
Capriccio for Solo Cello (1915) [5:21]
Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8 (1915) [32:37]
Karine Georgian (cello); Marco Rizzi (violin)
rec. The Warehouse, London, 2000. DDD
ALTO ALC 1138 [62:04]

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Oboe Concerto (1945) [24:15]
*Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche, op.28 (1895) [15:01]
*Der Rosenkavalier - 'First' Waltz Sequence (1944) [11:32]
*Der Rosenkavalier - Second Waltz Sequence (1911) [8:17]
Witold LUTOSLAWSKI (1913-1994)
Concerto, for oboe, harp and chamber orchestra (1979-80) [19:26]
Heinz Holliger (oboe); Ursula Holliger (harp)
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/Michael Gielen; *Thomas Schippers
rec. 11 April 1983. *1976. No venues given. DDD. *ADD.
ALTO ALC 1134 [78:56]

Medieval Christmas
English Medieval Wind Ensemble/Mark Brown
Pro Cantione Antiqua

Reinhold GLIÈRE (1875-1956)
Symphony No. 3 in B minor Ilya Muromets Op. 42 (1911) [93:02]
Cello Concerto Op. 87 (1946-47) [46:26]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Harold Farberman (Symphony)
Sergei Sudzilovsky (cello)
Russian Cinematic Symphony Orchestra/Sergei Skripka
rec. Dec 1978, All Saints Church, Tooting, London. DDD (symphony); Mosfilm Studio, Moscow, July 1986 (concerto). DDD
ALTO ALC 2019 [65:29 + 74:07]

The Singers of the Century
35 supreme voices in their prime

ALTO ALC2016 2CDs[147'45]

Matthew CURTIS (b.1959)
Orchestral Works (Volume III)
On the Move
Flute Concerto
Five dances for string Orchestra
Divertimento Concartante
At Twilight
Partita
Royal Ballet Sinfonia/Gavin Sutherland
DDD
British Composer series
CAMPION CAMEO 2055 [79.47]

Gene GUTCHË (1907-2000)
Theme and Variations, op.6 no.2 (1949) [20:32]
Fugue in C minor, op.3 (1948) [3:58]
Utilitarian Fugue, in D minor, op.9 (1948) [4:14]
Piano Sonata, op.32 no.1 (1963) [11:10]
Piano Sonata, op.32 no.2 (1963) [12:00]
Matthew McCright (piano)
rec. Carleton College Concert Hall, Northfield, Minnesota, 29-30 November 2010. DDD

Viktor Stepanovych KOSENKO (1896–1938)
Piano Music – Vol. 2: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Sonata for Piano no 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 13 (1922) [17:32]
Sonata for Piano no 2 in C-sharp minor, Op. 14 (1924) [20:07]
Sonata for Piano no 3 in F minor, Op. 15 (1926-29) [12:05]
Natalya Shkoda (piano)
rec. 10-11 June 2009, Katzin Concert Hall, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA.
World premiere recordings
CENTAUR RECORDS CRC 3109 [49:44]

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Violin Sonata no.1 in A minor, op.105 (1851) [17:21]
Violin Sonata no.2 in D minor, op.121 (1851) [31:22]
Clara SCHUMANN (1819-1896)
Drei Romanzen, for violin and piano, op.22 (1855) [9:51]
Bruno Monteiro (violin)
João Paulo Santos (piano)
rec. Great Hall, Escola Superior de Música, Lisbon, Portugal, 1-2 March 2010. DDD
CENTAUR CRC 3086 [58:35]

Musical Concepts MC116

£13.95 post-free World-wide

UK sale £28

EU sale £32

Overseas sale £36