Komei
ABE
(1911-2006) Symphony
No.1 (1957) [18:54] Divertimento for alto
saxophone and orchestra (1951 orch. 1960)
[19:58] Sinfonietta (1964) [25:43] 
Aleksey Volkov (alto saxophone) Russian Philharmonic
Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky rec. 2005
NAXOS 8.557987 [64:35] [JW]
Exciting
music energetically performed, not always
subtle but torridly lyric ... see Full
Review
John
Luther ADAMS (b. 1953)
Dark
Waves; Among Red Mountains; Qilyuan; Red Arc/Blue
Veil
Stephen Drury – Yukiko Takagi (pianos); Scott
Deal, Steve Gerber (vibraphone, crotales,
bass drums) rec.
2004–7
COLD BLUE CB0026 [51:50][BBr]
Nothing
and everything. Nowhere and everywhere ...
see Full Review
Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909) Recuerdos
de viaje; Espagne (Souvenirs); Azulejos; La Vega, ‘Fantaisie
espagnole’; Navarra
Guillermo González (piano) rec. 2004
NAXOS SPANISH CLASSICS 8.570553 [72:35][GPu]
An
interesting juxtaposition of fairly early and (very) late works by Albéniz
… see Full Review
Alfonso
X of Castile ‘El Sabio’
(1221-1284) Cantigas of Santa María
Martin Best Medieval Ensemble rec. All Saints’ Church, Tooting,
10-12 June 1984. DDD. Booklet with summaries and/or translations but
not original texts.
NIMBUS NI5081 [51:30] [BW]
Lively
and approachable music in performances which
should readily appeal to the modern listener
... see Full
Review
Charles-Valentin ALKAN
(1813-1888) Organ Works: Volume 2
Kevin Bowyer (organ) rec. Blackburn Cathedral, May 2005. DDD
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0031 [73:40] [RC]
This
CD demands to be heard by a wide musical audience
and not only by Alkan aficionados ... see
Full Review
Leroy
ANDERSON (1908-1975)
Orchestral Music Vol.1
BBC Concert Orchestra/Leonard
Slatkin rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.559313 [61:54] [BBr]
The
performances are all you could wish for … just like allowing
yourself that second Mars Bar ... see Full
Review
Malcolm
ARNOLD (1921-2006) Oboe Quartet see REICHA
Carl
Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788) The
Solo Keyboard Music - Volume 17 Miklós
Spányi (clavichord) rec. 2003 BIS
CD1424 [KM]
Another
excellent recording in Spányi’s series of
this Bach’s solo keyboard music played on
clavichord ... see Full
Review
Wilhelm
Friedemann BACH (1710-1784) Keyboard
Works Volume 1 Twelve Polonaises, Sonata,
Fantasia Robert Hill (fortepiano)
rec. 2005 NAXOS 8.557966 [GPu]
Good
performances of music which offers difficulties both technically
and interpretatively, given on a beautiful instrument and well-recorded … see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Violin
Concerto BWV in A minor 1041 (1717-23) [16:11]
Violin Concerto BWV in E major1042 (1717-23)
[18:08]Double Concerto for Two Violins in
D minor BWV 1043 [15:31] Chaconne from the
Violin Partita in D minor BWV 1004 [14:37]
Yehudi Menuhin (violin) George Enescu (violin)
(BWV 1043) Orchestre Symphonique de Paris/George
Enescu Orchestre Symphonique de Paris/Pierre
Monteux (BWV 1043) rec. Paris, 1932/3/4
EMI CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY
3 91963 2 [75:05] [JW]
The
young Menuhin in seraphic form ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
The Well Tempered Clavier
- Books I and II
Edwin Fischer (piano) rec.
1933-36 EMI CLASSICS
3919582 [3 CDs: 79:30 + 81:41 + 76:37][JW]
A
tonally diffused, unrepresentative approximation
of Fischer’s playing ... see
Full Review
Johann Sebastian
BACH
(1685-1750)
Italian Concerto in F major BWV971 (1735)
[12:56] Toccata in C minor BWV 911 (1710s)[11:39]
Four Duets BWV 802-805 [11:00] English Suite
No.6 in D minor BWV 811 (c.1722) [26:03]
Angela Hewitt (piano) rec. Le Chaux-de-Fonds,
Switzerland, October 1985
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON ELOQUENCE 442 9446
[62:01] [JW]
This
DG has strong claims of its own ... see Full
Review
Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
Cantatas - Volume 37 Gott soll allein mein Herze haben,
BWV169; Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust, BWV170; Geist
und Seele wird verwirret, BWV35
Robin Blaze (alto) Bach Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki rec. 2005/6
BIS SACD1621 
[DC]
Contains
some of the richest and strangest jewels of J.S. Bach’s sacred
cantatas ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685–1750) arr. Robert
SCHUMANN (1810–1856) St John Passion
Rheinische Kantorei, Trebles of the Kölner Domchor, Das
Kleine Konzert/Hermann Max rec. 2006
CPO 7770912
[62:00 + 51:24][JV]
This
impressive recording sheds light on Schumann's role in the rediscovery
of Bach's sacred music ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Sonatas
for viola da gamba and harpsichord BWV1027-29, Trios BWV583-4,
Keyboard Sonatas BWV963 & 967 Mikko
Perkola (viola da gamba),
Aapo Häkkinen (harpsichord) rec. 2006 NAXOS
8.570210 [JS]
Not
a “safe” option; too idiosyncratic for that ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685–1750) Chaconne (arr. for piano) see BUSONI
Francis
Edward Bache (1833-1858) Piano
Concerto see STERNDALE
BEnnett
William
BAINES
(1899-1922)
Piano Music E. J. MOERAN (1894-1950)
Piano Music Eric Parkin
(piano) rec. May 1971, April 1970,
LYRITA SRCD266 [79.26] [JW]
Rich
and evocative music, splendidly preformed
and presented ... see Full
Review
Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981) Songs Gerald
Finley (baritone)/Julius Drake (piano)
rec. 2005/7 HYPERION CDA67528 [JQ]
Those
wanting a high quality single-disc selection of Barber’s songs
need look no further ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sir
Arnold BAX (1883-1953)
Symphony
No. 2 (1924-6) [37:39] Symphony No. 5 in C
sharp minor (1931-2)* [40:46]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Myer Fredman
(2); Raymond Leppard* (5) rec. 1970,1971
LYRITA SRCD.233 [78.28] [RB]
Bax
whirls the listener into the action and the
call is irresistible. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Arnold BAX (1883–1953) String
Quartet 1 Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) String
Quartet Pavăo
Quartet rec. 2007 DISCRETE
RECORDINGS DISC0701 [BBr]
An
unqualified success. A truly fabulous disk ... see Full
Review
Sir
Arnold BAX (1883-1953) Violin Sonata No.2;
Ballad for Violin and Piano; Legend for Violin and Piano; Sonata in
G minor; Sonata in F major (1928)
Laurence Jackson (violin); Ashley Wass (piano) rec. 2004-5
NAXOS 8.570094 [73:30][MC]
Bax’s
reputation can only gain from this superb second volume of violin sonatas
from Naxos ... see Full Review
Arnold
BAX (1883-1953)
Music for Two Pianos
Ashley Wass and Martin Roscoe (pianos) rec.
2007
NAXOS 8.570413 [BBr]
Take
your time and there’s much to admire here.
... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) (arr. Ulf-Guido Schäfer) Harmoniemusik
for wind quintet: Incidental
music to “Egmont”; Ballet music from “Die
Geschöpfe des Prometheus”; Music for “Die
Ruinen von Athen”
Ma’alot Quintet rec.
2007
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG34514762
[58:41][JS]
Considerable and
perhaps unexpected pleasure ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concertos 1-5 Staatskapelle
Berlin/Daniel Barenboim rec. 2007
EUROARTS 2056778 
[MG]
Barenboim
realizes the poetic aspects wonderfully but the powerhouse ones
are understated … see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin
Concerto Max BRUCH (1838
- 1920) Violin Concerto 1 Kyung-Wha
Chung, Concertgebouw O, (Beethoven), London PO (Bruch)/Klaus
Tennstedt
rec. 1989/90 EMI CLASSICS 5034102 [JW]
Lacking
the ultimate in romantic allure ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano
Sonatas 28 & 29 Mitsuko
Uchida
rec. 2007 PHILIPS 4758662 [CC]
A
mixed reception. Never less than fascinating, but these readings
cannot sit in the pantheon of the greats ... see Full
Review
Heinrich
BIBER (1644-1704) Mensa
Sonora, seu Musica instrumentalis, Sonata The
Purcell Quartet rec. 2006 CHANDOS
CHACONNE CHAN0748 [MS]
Delightful,
carefully conceived music with more to it than might at first appear
played with style and insight ... see Full
Review
Georges
BIZET (1838-1875) Carmen -
excerpts RIAS-Kammerchor & Symphonie-Orchester,
Berlin/Ferenc Fricsay rec. 1951 AUDITE
95497 [GF]
Not
for the general opera-lover but a must for
admirers of Fricsay and many other collectors
too ... see Full
Review
Sir
Arthur BLISS (1891-1975)
Music
for Strings (1935) [26:36] Meditations
on a Theme by John Blow (1955) [33:39]
A Prayer to the Infant Jesus for unaccompanied
women’s voices* (1968) [5:38]
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Hugo
Rignold Ambrosian Singers/Philip Ledger* rec.
January 1966, Kingsway Hall, London (except
A Prayer to the Infant Jesus) LYRITA
SRCD.254 [65:59] [JQ]
This
is another wonderful Lyrita restoration ...
see Full Review
Ernest
BLOCH (1880-1959) Violin
Concerto, Baal Shem, Suite Hébraďque Zina
Schiff (violin) Royal Scottish Ntl O/José Serebrier rec. 2006 NAXOS
8.557757 [JW]
For
those who prefer red blooded Bloch, this is a viable, Biblical
alternative ... see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony
4, Hungarian Dances Nos. 2, 4-9 (arr. by Peter Breiner) London
PO/Marin Alsop rec. 2005/6 NAXOS
8.570233 [JW]
A
good, intelligent and thoughtful performance at a can’t-argue price
bracket ... see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano
Concerto 1,
Intermezzos Clifford Curzon, London
SO/George Szell
rec. 1962/3 LONDON 
4176412 [TP]
As
fierce and combative a reading as you will hear, yet shot through
with Curzon's poetry ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto 2 (w/rehearsal
excerpts) see CHOPIN
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto
No.2 Stephen
Hough (piano); BBC Symphony Orchestra/Andrew Davis rec. 1990
VIRGIN CLASSICS 3913662 [51:01][JW]
Not
really a contender ... see Full Review
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) String
Quartet Op.51/2 Felix Otto
DESSOFF (1835-1892) String
Quartet Op.7
Mandelring Quartett rec. 1998
AUDITE 97505 [60:21][JFL]
Worth
a strong recommendation for Brahms A minor alone and the Dessoff is
immediately and lastingly enjoyable ... see Full
Review
Nicolae BRETAN (1887–1968)
Songs
Ruxandra Donose (mezzo); Julius Drake (piano) rec.2005 texts and English
translations included
NIMBUS NI 5809 [69:35] [GF]
I
urge those interested in good songs and superlative
singing to investigate this issue. ... see
Full Review
Nicolae
BRETAN (1887–1968)
Songs
Alexandru Agache (baritone), Martin Berkofsky
(piano) rec. at 2005 texts and English translations
included
NIMBUS NI 5810 [74:20] [GF]
Another
worthy collection of Bretan’s songs ... see
Full Review
Frank
BRIDGE
(1879-1941) Dance
Rhapsody (1908) [18:22] Dance Poem (1913)
[15:38] Two Jefferies Poems: (1) The Open
Air; (2) The Story of My Heart (1916) [7:44;
4:25] Overture Rebus (1940) [10:38] Allegro
Moderato for string orchestra (1941) [14:47]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite
rec. 1979. ADD
LYRITA SRCD.243 [71:38] [EM]
Splendid
pieces given the artists’ very best. A delight.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Nocturnal after John Dowland see DOWLAND
Leo
BROUWER (b. 1939)
Guitar Music - Vol. 4
Graham Anthony Devine (guitar) rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.570251 [70:24][GF]
Devine
confirms through this disc his position as
one of the most accomplished guitarists now
before the public ... see Full
Review
Max
BRUCH (1838 - 1920) Violin Concerto 1 see BEETHOVEN
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
Symphony No. 7
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Bernard Haitink
rec. 2007
CSO RESOUND CSOR901704 [67:31][PCW]
Should
be heard by all Brucknerians … see Full
Revie
William
BUSCH (1901-1945)
Cello
Concerto (1940/1941) [23:27] Piano Concerto (1937/1938) [28:18]
Raphael Wallfisch (cello) Piers Lane (piano) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon
Handley rec. details not supplied, 1994? DDD
LYRITA SRCD320 [51.45] [JW]
Well
worth the wait. ... see Full
Review
Alan
BUSH (1900-1995) Piano Sonata see ELGAR
Ferruccio
BUSONI (1866-1924) Seven
Elegies Johann Sebastian BACH (1685–1750) Chaconne
(arr. for piano Busoni) David
Rubinstein rec. 2007 MUSICUS
1001 [BBr]
Busoni’s
most approachable piano works in the modern style in performances
worthy of the music. ... see Full
Review
Dietrich BUXTEHUDE
(c.1637-1707) Complete Works for Organ Vol. 6
Bine Bryndorf rec. 2007
Dacapo
6.220530 [BW]
A
very fine conclusion to a valuable series: Bryndorf just has the
edge over her Naxos rivals ... see Full
Review
Dietrich
BUXTEHUDE
(c.1637-1707) Organ Music Vol. 7
Julia Brown rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.570312 [BW]
A
good cross-section of Buxtehude’s music in good, unforced, performances,
well recorded ... see Full Review
Dietrich
BUXTEHUDE (c.1637-1707) Vocal
Music - 2 Copenhagen
Royal Chapel Choir; The Dufay Collective/Ebbe Munk rec. 2000
NAXOS 8.570494 [51:02][BW]
Fine
music in measured performances, just slightly lacking in vitality and
not quite the equal of Volume 1 ... see Full
Review
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