Erik SATIE (1866 - 1925) Piano Music - Volume 5 Prélude en Tapisserie (1906) [3.08] Passacaille (1906) [3.03] Douze petits chorals (1906) [13.26] Deux rêveries nocturnes (1911) [4.06] Nouvelles pièces froides (1907) [7.19] Laes pantins dansent (1913) [2.14] Préludes Flasques — pour un chien (1912) [5.28] Véritables Préludes Flasques — pour un chien (1912) [3.39] Rêverie de l’Enfance de Pantagruel (1918) [2.11] Six Nocturnes (1920) [15.25] Menuet à Claude Dubosq (1920) [2.53] Steffen Schleiermacher, piano. Piano technician, Franz Schliederer Recorded 20 Nov 2002 at the Royal Ridingschool, Bad Arolsen, Germany
Notes in English, Français and Deutsch. Drawings and a painting of the composer. MUSIK DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 613 1067-2 [64.56] [PSh]

Satie fans must probably have this whole set, but if you don’t quite get the joke yet, you should stay with Satie’s more famous music. ... see Full Review

Emil von SAUER (1862-1942) Suite moderne (1899-1906?) [34’16]. Aus lichten Tagen (date unknown) [11’26]. Drei Konzertetüden (1910) [9’35] Oleg Marshev (piano) Rec. Mantzius-Garden, Birkerod, Denmark, February 2003. DDD DANACORD DACOCD595 [61’25] [CC]

A thoroughly enjoyable disc. Marshev’s flair and seemingly limitless technique sees the project through in high style. … see Full Review

Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Eighteen Sonatas Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded in the Concert Artist Studios June and September 1997 CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9208-2 [73.41] [JW]

Scarlatti playing - the product of practical application and imagination. … see Full Review

Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Nineteen Sonatas Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded Concert Artist Studios, June and September 1997 CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9209-2 [69.23] [JW]

A persuasive and sensitive advocate; qualities that are entirely and predictably consonant with Hatto’s playing as a whole. … see Full Review

Heinrich SCHEIDEMANN (c1595-1663) Organ Works, Vol. 4 Magnificat 1. toni [12:53] Benedicam Dominum (after Lassus) [10:19] Jesus Christus, unser Heiland (III) [03:44] Praeambulum in F [01:59] Canzona in F [01:01] Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist [01:53] Praeambulum in d minor [02:22] Mensch, willst du leben seliglich [06:49] In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr (II) [06:20] Praeambulum in g minor [03:19] O Gott, wir danken deiner Güt [02:56] Herr Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn (II) [04:55] De ore prudentis procedit mel (after Lassus) Magnificat 5. toni [10:43] Julia Brown, organ Recorded in September 1999 in the Central Lutheran Church, Eugene, Oregon, USA NAXOS 8.555876 [79:02] [JV]

Organ music by one of the most important German masters of the 17th century – well played but not entirely satisfying ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Sinfonia Varsovia/Yehudi Menuhin Symphony No. 1 in D major, D.82 (1813) Symphony No. 4 in C minor, D.417 ‘Tragic’ (1816) WARNER APEX 2564 60527-2 Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, D.125 (1815) Symphony No. 6 in C major, D.859 (1818) WARNER APEX 2564 60529-2 Symphony No. 3 in D major, D.200 (1815) Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D.485 (1816) Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D.759 ‘Unfinished’ (1822) WARNER APEX 2564 60530-2 Symphony No. 9 in C major, D.944 ‘Great’ (1827) WARNER APEX 2564 60531-2 Rec. 20–29 Jan 1997, Studio 1, Polish Radio, Warsaw Complete Set 5CDs 2564605322

Yehudi Menuhin’s close and stimulating relationship with Sinfonia Varsovia reflected in this fine cycle excellently played and recorded …Everything sounds nicely in place, and there is atmosphere as well as clarity. … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797 - 1828) Symphony no. 1 in D major, D 82, Symphony no. 2 in B flat major, D 125, Symphony no. 8 in B minor, D 759 "Unfinished" Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham Recorded Walthamstow Town Hall, December 1953 Symphony no. 1); May 28^th 1954 (Symphony No. 2); Kingsway Hall, January 15^th and 24^th, May 9^th, July 11^th, 12^thand July 23^rd (Symphony No. 8) – May 9^th session at Studio No. 1 Abbey Road. SONY CLASSICAL SMK87876 [77.31] [RH]

Welcome reissue of Beecham’s sparkling late recordings of the Schubert symphonies. … see Full Review

Franz Peter SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Works: Drei Klavierstücke, D946 (1828) [32’04]. Piano Sonata in A, D664 (pre-1819) [25’58]. Two Scherzos, D593 (1817) [10’23]. Allegretto in C minor, D915 (1827) [6’18]. Adagio in E, D612 (1818) [4’51]. Elisabeth Leonskaja (piano).Rec. Fürstliche Reitbahn Bad Arolsen, Germany, February 10^th-12^th, 2003. DDD MUSIK DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG343 1194-2 [79’59] [CC]

A highly memorable recital … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Sonata No. 20 in A major D959 (1828) Three Klavierstücke D946 Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge, April 1990 and May 2000 Piano Works Volume 1 CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9063-2 [69.51] [JW]

A formidable technician whose senses of clarity and form are salient features of a profound musicality. … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Sonata No. 16 in A minor D845 (1825) Piano Sonata No. 19 in C minor D958 (1828) Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge, October 1998 Piano Works Volume 2 CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9064-2 [70.23] [JW]

Technique and instincts formidable. Full of light she avoids seeing Schubert through a glass, darkly. … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Sonata No. 4 in A minor D537 (1817) Piano Sonata No. 18 in G major D894 (1826) Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge, February 1999 and May 2000 Piano Works Volume 3 CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9065-2 [69.58] [JW]

A more briskly shaped determinism, more measured and sanguine. The performances benefit from the sympathetic acoustic – warm but not cloying … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Sonata No. 13 in A major D664 (1819) Piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat D960 (1828) Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge, April 2000 and January 1999 Piano Works Volume 4 CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9066-2 [63.04] [JW]

A particularly fine example of Hatto’s Schubert. It’s the disc that most impressed me of the four so far issued in this series. … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1796-1828) Overture in F major, D.675 (1819) Fantasie in F minor, D.940 (1828) German Dances, D.618 (1818) Variations, D.968a (1818-24) Marches héroïques, D.602 (1818-24) Jenö Jandó and Zsuzsa Kollár (piano) Recorded 1-4 April 1998, Phoenix Studio, Budapest Piano Works for Four Hands, Volume 3 NAXOS 8.554513 [59.23] [TB]

Some substantial masterworks but a good deal of ‘entertainment music’. This third volume offers examples of each approach. … see Full Review

Piano Concertos of the 1920s, Vol. 2 Erwin SCHULHOFF (1893-1942) Concerto for Piano and small Orchestra (1923) [18:42] George ANTHEIL (1900-1959) A Jazz Symphony for Piano and Orchestra (1927) [12:52] George GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra (1925) [32:24] Michael Rische (piano) Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Wayne Marshall (Antheil, Gershwin) West German Radio Symphony Orchestra of Cologne conducted by Gunther Schuller (Schulhoff) Schulhoff concerto recorded Dec 15-17, 1993 at Cologne Philharmonic Hall Antheil and Gershwin Concertos recorded Dec 2002 and Feb 2003, Jesus-Christus Church, Berlin ARTE NOVA CLASSICS 82876 [SA]

Panache and commitment … fast and furious and full of the brilliance … a thoroughly enjoyable disc … see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810 - 1856) The Complete Piano Works, Volume 9 Papillons, Opus 2 Sonata Opus 118, No. 1 in G major Intermezzi, Opus 4 Sonata Opus 118, No. 3 in C major Franz Vorraber (piano) Recorded Frankfurt/Musikhochschule, Kloster Kreuzberg. ‘Papillons’ recorded 28/1/2002; all other items recorded live, 14/5/1999 THOROFON CTH 2521 [75.53] [RH]

A slightly disappointing recital, containing some of Schumann’s lesser known piano works. … see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Music Disc 1: Papillons, Op. 2 (1832) Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6 (1837) Waldszenen, Op. 82 (1848) Disc 2: Widmung, arr. Liszt (1848) Frühlingsnacht, arr. Liszt (1872) Fantasiestücke, Op. 12 (1837) Arabeske, Op. 18 (1838) Kreisleriana, Op. 16 (1838) Leon McCawley, piano Recorded at St. George’s Bristol, England, September 2003 AVIE 0029 [2CDs: 142:08] [DS]

I give the Avie set a mild recommendation except for those who want their Schumann textures ‘clean as a whistle’. … see Full Review

Heinrich SCHÜTZ (1585-1672) Symphoniae Sacrae I, Symphoniae Sacrae II, Weihnachtshistorie Anna Mikolajczyk (soprano) Marzena Lubaszka (soprano) Piotr Lykowski (alto) Krzysztof Szmyt (tenor/alto) Robert Pozarski (tenor/alto) Harry van der Kamp (bass) Bodgan Makal (bass) Walter Testolin (bass) Gian Paolo Dal Dosso (bass) Cappella Augustana Matteo Messori (organ and direction) BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92196 [5CDs: 51.46+48.32+56.17+49.16+66.01] [GH]

A welcome super-budget edition of Schütz’s symphoniae sacrae which should tempt everyone into exploring these lovely works. … see Full Review

Déodat de SEVERAC (1872 – 1921) Le Chant de la terre (1900) En Languedoc (1903/4) Las Naïades et le faune indiscret (1908) Baigneuses au soleil (1908) Izumi Tateno (piano) Recorded: Snellman Hall, Kokkola, Finland, June 2001 WARNER APEX 2564 60625-2 [72:21] [HC]

Colourful, harmonically subtle, clear and breathing some healthy joie de vivre reflected in the use of folk-inflected dance rhythms as well as exulting in sunshine or meditating at sunset. His music sings and shines … see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975): Symphony No 5 in D minor, Op. 47 [45’18"] Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915): The Poem of Ecstasy * [18’40"] New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Dimitri Mitropoulos Recorded: 1 December 1952 and *20 March 1953 URANIA RM 11.908 [64’03"] [JQ]

If you can take the sound there’s some remarkable music making here. … see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47 (1937) [46’35]Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54 (1939) [30’55] Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra, Milan/Oleg Caetani Live recs. From the Auditorium di Milano, Italy in January 2001 (Symphony No. 5) and January 2002 (Symphony No. 6). DDD ARTS 47668-2 [79’14] [CC]

Despite some impressive moments, this disc remains ultimately unrecommendable. … see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony No. 7 in C, Op.60, Leningrad (1941) [73’35]. Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra, Milan/Oleg Caetani.Live rec. From the Auditorium di Milano, Italy in December 2000. DDD ARTS 47667-2 [73’35] [CC]

The playing is often ‘quite’ good, textures are ‘quite’ well defined, but Caetani routinely fails to evoke an exact mood and never, never draws the listener in. … see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906 - 1975) Preludes and Fugues (24), Op 87 (1951): 1- 9, 12, 15-17, 19 Arranged for wind quintet by Eduard Wesley Calefax Reed Quintet: Oliver Boekhorn, oboe; Ivar Berix, clarinet; Raaf Hekkema, saxophone; Jelte Althuis, bass clarinet; Alban Wesly, bassoon. Recorded 5 June 2003, at the Evangelische Kirche, Lienen, Germany. Notes in English, Français, Nederlands, Deutsche Photos of the composer and of the artists. Four page survey form. www.mdg.de MUSIK DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG SCENE 619 1185-2 [73.53] [PSh]

A must have for Shostakovich fans and lovers of good wind quintet music. One hopes for more of this ... see Full Review

Dmitri Shostakovich – First Recordings Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Twenty-Four Preludes Op. 34 (1932-33) No. 8 in F minor No. 14 in E flat minor No. 15 in D flat minor No. 16 in B flat minor No. 17 in A flat minor No. 18 in F minor No. 19 in E flat major No. 22 in G minor No. 23 in F major No. 24 in D minor Three Fantastic Dances Op. 5 (1922) L’Age d’Or Op. 22 – Polka (piano reduction 1935) Piano Trio No. 2 in E Op. 67 (1944) String Quartet No. 3 in F Op. 73 (1946) A Collection of Children’s Pieces Op. 69 Dmitri Shostakovich (piano) David Oistrakh (violin) and Miloš Sádlo (cello) and Dmitri Shostakovich (piano) in the Trio The Beethoven Quartet in the Quartet Undated [Trio recorded 1947, Quartet ?1960] SYMPOSIUM 1314 [79.38] [JW]

Deep sonority … contrasting bleakness and sternness … a sense of abstraction emerging powerfully directed. … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906 - 1975) String Quartets 1-15 complete Brodsky Quartet: Michael Thomas, Ian Belton vv.; Paul Cassidy, vla.; Jacqueline Thomas, vc. Recorded Teldec Recording Studio, Berlin, Germany, September 1989. Notes in English, Deutsch, Français Originally released 1991; re-released 2003 TELDEC 2564 60867 2 [378.16] [PSh]

A very satisfactory version of these milestones in the quartet form. … see Full Review

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) The Tempest Op. 109b,c (1926) [29.27] Richard ARNELL (b.1917) Punch and the Child Op. 49 (1948) [21.24] Lord BERNERS (1883-1950) The Triumph of Neptune - suite from the ballet (1926) [24.43] Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Sibelius; Arnell) Philadelphia Orchestra (Berners) cond. Sir Thomas Beecham rec. Nov 1954, Walthamstow Town Hall (Sibelius); 31 May 1950, Kingsway Hall, London; 3 Feb 1952 (Arnell); Academy of Music, Philadelphia (Berners). all mono SONY CLASSICAL SMK93009 [75.58] [RB]

Thirty-two lollipops - some soporific and some belligerently enlivening. ... see Full Review

Nikos SKALKOTTAS (1904-1949) Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello (1936) Largo (1940); Bolero (1948); Serenata (1949); Sonatina (1949); Tender Melody (1958) for cello and piano Maria Kitsopoulos, cello; Maria Asteiadou, piano; Georgios Demertzis, violin Rec. Megaron Concert Hall, Athens, Greece, September 2000. DDD BIS-CD-1224 [68.15] [GH]

Brilliantly crafted, original, highly concentrated, great rhythmic energy and excitement … magnificent, bringing out all aspects of this emotionally complex music to its fullest extent. Highly recommended … see Full Review

Antonio SOLER (1729-1783) Sonatas for Harpsichord, Vol. 10 Gilbert Rowland, harpsichord Recorded in July 2002 in the Epsom College Concert Hall, Surrey, UK. DDD NAXOS 8.557137 [73:51] [JV]

The tenth volume of Gilbert Rowland’s recording of Soler’s complete keyboard sonatas – a tiresome and undifferentiated performance ... see Full Review

Rick SOWASH (b.1950) Chamber Music with clarinet Anecdotes and Reflections for violin, clarinet, cello and piano (1989) Street Suite for violin and clarinet (1976) Daweswood; Suite for violin, clarinet, cello and piano (1980) Mirecourt Trio (Kenneth Goldsmith, violin; Terry King, cello; John Jensen, piano) Craig Olzenak (clarinet) Recorded (? 1991) GASPARO GSCD 285 [66.52] [JW]

Sowash has a happy knack of bringing energy and life to his music-making, of infusing it with delight and seemingly bringing to it his own enthusiasms and generosity. … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Sir Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Irish Rhapsodies: no. 1 in D minor, op. 78 (1902), no. 2 in F minor, op. 84 – "The Lament for the Son of Ossian" (1903), no. 3 in D, op. 137 (1913) (1), no. 4 in A minor, op. 141 – "The Fisherman of Lough Neagh and What he Saw" (1913), no. 5 in G minor, op. 147 (1917), no. 6 in D minor, op. 191 (1922) (2) Concert Variations upon an English Theme, op. 71 – "Down among the Dead Men" (c.1897-8) (3), Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor, op. 126 (1911) (3) Raphael Wallfisch (violoncello) (1), Lydia Mordkovitch (violin) (2), Margaret Fingerhut (piano) (3), Ulster Orchestra/Vernon Handley Recorded August 1986 (op.147), 7-9 September 1987 (op.141), 9-10 March 1988 (op.78), 19-23 February 1989 (opp.71, 126), 22 August 1989 (op.191), 5 November 1989 (op.137), 30 April-2 May 1991 (op. 84), Ulster Hall, Belfast CHANDOS CHAN X10116 (2) [2 CDs 77:13, 75:49] [CH]

All lovers of late-romantic orchestral music of nationalist inspiration should get this, above all for the Rhapsodies. … see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Songs: Waldseiligkeit, Opus 49 No. 1 (1901); Die Nacht, Opus 10 No. 3 (1885); Ständchen, Opus 17 No. 6 (1886); Leises Lied, Opus 39 No. 1 (1898); Schlechtes Wetter, Opus 69 No. 5 (1918); Des Dichters Abendgang, Opus 47 No. 2 (1900); Der Stern, Opus 69 No. 1 (1918); Der Verschwiegenen, Opus 10 No. 6 (1885); Die Zeitlose, Opus 10 No. 7 (1885); Blauer Sommer, Opus 31 No. 1 (1896); Ich wolt ein Straußlein binden, Opus 68 No. 2 (1918); Ruhe, meine Seele!, Opus 27 No.1 (1894); Allerseelen, Opus 10 No. 8, (1885); Einerlei, Opus 69 No. 3 (1918); Meinem Kinde, Opus 37 No. 3 (1897); Wiegenlied, Opus 41 No. 1 (1899); Mutterländelei, Opus 43 No. 2 (1899); Zueignung, Opus 10 No. 1 (1885); Winterweihe, Opus 48 No. 4 (1900); Das Rosenband, Opus 36 No. 1 (1897); Cäcilie, Opus 27 No. 2 (1894); Ach, was Kummer, Opus 49 No. 8 (1901); Drei Lieder der Ophelia, Opus 67 (1915); Morgen, Opus 27 No. 4 (1894) Felicity Lott (soprano), Graham Johnson (piano) Recorded 18-20 February 2002, Champs Hill, Pulborough, Sussex ASV CD DCA 1155 [72.43] [TB]

This is surely one of the finest lieder recitals to have entered the catalogue in recent times … see Full Review

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Suite: Pulcinella (1922) Gian Francesco MALIPIERO (1882-1973) Ricercari per undici instrumenti (1925) Alfredo CASELLA (1883-1947) Scarlattiana (1926) Anthony Spiri (piano) Basel Chamber Orchestra/Christopher Hogwood Recorded March 2003, Culture and Convention Centre, Lucerne ARTE NOVA 74321 92765 2 [59.17] [TB]

A really interesting programme … Pulcinella is one of the most celebrated examples of 1920s neo-classicism so to add the Malipiero and Casella was inspired planning. … see Full Review

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Violin Concerto (1931) Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Violin Concerto (1936) Michael Erxleben (violin) Berlin Symphony Orchestra Michael Schønwandt (Stravinsky), Claus Peter Flor (Schoenberg) Rec. (Stravinsky) April 1994, (Schoenberg) June 1989 (Schoenberg), Christuskirche, Berlin. DDD BERLIN CLASSICS 01 8362 2BC [59.31] [TB]

A strong soloist with a clearly articulated personality and confident tone. … see Full Review

Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Violin and Piano Works Violin Sonata Op. 9 (1904) Romance Op. 23 (1910) Nocturne and Tarantella Op. 28 (1915) Mity, trzy poematy Op. 30 (1915) Kołysanka (La Berceuse d’Aitacho Enia) Piotr Pławner (violin) Waldemar Malicki (piano) Rec. Pomeranian Philharmonic Concert Hall, Bydgoszcz, Poland, February 1997 DUX 0