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MUSICWEB Recommends - 2008

[Jan-Apr] [May-Aug] [Sept-Dec] [2007]

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JANUARY

RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

RECORDING OF THE MONTH William BYRD (1539/40-1623) Second Service & Consort Anthems The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford/Bill Ives. rec. 2006 HARMONIA MUNDI USA HMU907440 [71:05][MG]

This CD excels in many ways; most of all in the revelation that this is music of feeling ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Leo DELIBES (1836-1891) Sylvia Darcey Bussell, Roberto Bolle, Royal Ballet O (Royal Opera House)/Graham Bond rec. 2005 OPUS ARTE OA0986D [IL]

A beautiful production of this charming ballet with a wonderfully melodic score by Delibes ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Violin Sonata 1 JEAN SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Humoresques Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Sospiri, Violin Sonata Isabelle van Keulen (violin) Ronald Brautigam (piano) rec. 2006 CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72171  [MC]

Grieg, Elgar and Sibelius given the finest interpretative service ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Giulio Cesare in Egitto Andreas Scholl, Inger Dam-Jensen, Concerto Copenhagen/Lars Ulrik Mortensen rec. 2005 HARMONIA MUNDI HMD990 9008.09 [BW]

Probably the best DVD version and one of the best in any format ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wild about Liszt Franz LISZT (1811-1896) Recitals: Liszt the Poet, Liszt the Transcriber, Liszt the Virtuoso; TV appearances, Audio tracks Earl Wild (piano) IVORY CLASSICS 77777 [JW]

Wild’s playing is cut from legendary cloth ... astonishing accuracy, bravura and poetry ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Concertos for two and three pianos Alexei Lubimov, Ronald Brautigam, Manfred Huss (fortepianos) Haydn Sinfonietta Wien/Manfred Huss rec. 2006 BIS SACD1618 [MM-B]

A delight from begin to end ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Don Giovanni RIAS Kammerchor, Freiburger Barockorchester/René Jacobs rec. 2006 HARMONIA MUNDI HMC 901964-66 [3 CDs: 60:39 + 52:31 + 57:36][GF]

Wholly engrossing - this eternal masterpiece with swathes of cobweb blown away ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano concerto (documentary & performance) Martha Argerich, Gewandhaus O Leipzig/Riccardo Chailly rec. live 2006 EUROARTS 2056068 [MM-B]

A great recording of an equally great performance ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Complete Solo Piano Works Maria Lettberg rec. 2004-2007 CAPRICCIO 49586 [DC]

Very high quality indeed, in every regard ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Graham WHETTAM (1927-2007) String Quartets Nos. 1 & 4; Oboe Quartet No. 2 Jenny-Lee Keetley (oboe); Carducci Quartet rec. 2007 CARDUCCI CLASSICS CSQ5847 [63:55][RB]

A gripping voice in the annals of British music - mysteriously ignored ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Jonas Kaufmann - Romantic Arias Jonas Kaufmann (tenor); Prague Philharmonic Orchestra/Marco Armiliato rec. 2007 DECCA 4759966 [65:09][GF]

Judging from this debut recital Kaufmann is well equipped to be among the world’s lead tenors – and he will stay there. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Quijotes Jacques IBERT (1890-1962) Quatre Chansons de Don Quichotte Manuel de FALLA (1876-1946) El retablo de Maese Pedro Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Don Quichotte à Dulcinée Jesus GURIDI (1886-1961) Una aventura de Don Quijote Carlos Alvarez (baritone); Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid/Jose Ramon Encinar rec. 2005 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4763094 [55:38][IB]

A distinguished and enjoyable disc. Enterprise, imagination not restricted to the independents ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Premieres and Encores Henry Hugo PIERSON (1815-1873) Macbeth Alan RAWSTHORNE (1905-1971) Fantasy Overture. Cortèges David MORGAN (1933-1988) Contrasts Francis CHAGRIN (1905-1972) Concert Overture: Helter Skelter Peter WARLOCK (1894-1930) Serenade for Strings Malcolm ARNOLD (1921-2006) Comedy Overture: Beckus the Dandipratt rec. 1976-1978, LYRITA SRCD.318 [79.22] [JF]

Attractive and interesting … ‘must have’ CD ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Symphonic Brass Black Dyke Band/Nicholas Childs rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570726 [77:07][MC]

I can see significant interest and many converts to brass band music being generated by this disc from the Black Dyke Band ... see Full Review

 


BARGAINS OF THE MONTH

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Guillaume DUFAY (c.1397-1474) Music for Saint Anthony of Padua Binchois Consort/Andrew Kirkman rec. 1996 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55271 [BW]

Superlative performances, well recorded, of attractive music: another excellent Helios reissue ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Joseph HAYDN (1732–1809) Symphonies - Volume 32 Nos 9-12 Sinfonia Finlandia/Patrick Gallois rec. 2005 NAXOS 8.557771 [GF]

There is an energy and rhythmic vitality here that is completely irresistible ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Jean-Marie LECLAIR (1697-1764) Complete Flute Chamber Works Fenwick Smith (flute), John Gibbons (harpsichord) rec. 2003-5 NAXOS 8.557440-41 [CR]

Some of the finest playing I have heard ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano Concertos 1-4, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Preludes, Opp.23 & 32 Agustin Anievas, New PO/Moshe Atzmon, Aldo Ceccato, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos rec. 1967-73 EMI CLASSICS 5008712 [MC]

The splendid playing of Agustin Anievas admirably serves the music of Rachmaninov ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Music for the Lion-Hearted King - Music to mark the 800th anniversary of the Coronation of King Richard I of England in Westminster Abbey, 3 September 1189 Gothic Voices rec. 1988 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55292 [60:13][BW]

Yet another highly attractive reissue from Hyperion – perhaps the best yet of these Gothic Voices CDs ... see Full Review

February 2008

RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

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 Pavão Quartet rec. 2007 DISCRETE RECORDINGS DISC0701 [BBr]

An unqualified success. A truly fabulous disk ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH John DOWLAND (1563-1626)
Lute Songs Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Nocturnal after John Dowland Mark Padmore (tenor), Elizabeth Kenny (lute), Craig Ogden (guitar) rec. 2007 HYPERION CDA67648 [MG]

A terrific disc which demonstrates how flexibly Dowland’s line can be treated in expressing the nuances of the texts … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH John Herbert FOULDS (1880-1939) A World Requiem BBC Symphony Chorus & Orchestra/Leon Botstein rec. 2007 CHANDOS CHSA5058 [45:08 + 44:50][PCW]

Ventures like this give one hope for the future of recorded music … see Full Review

HISTORICAL RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ruggiero LEONCAVALLO (1858-1919) Chatterton Chorus and orchestra of Teatro alla Scala/Ruggiero Leoncavallo rec. 1908 Pagliacci Giuseppe Rosci Chorus and orchestra of Teatro alla Scala/Ruggiero Leoncavallo (as stated on labels; possibly Carlo Sabajno) rec. 1907 MARSTON 52016-2 [79.04 + 78:14][JW]

An amazing rarity transferred with care, presented with authority, and made universally available ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gustav MAHLER (1865-1911) Symphony No.9 in D (1909-10) Berliner Philharmoniker/Sir Simon Rattle rec. October 2007 Philharmonie, Berlin. EMI CLASSICS 501228-2 [84.00] [TD]

Contemplating buying a Mahler 9 for the very first time: this is the one to have ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Philippus (Philippe) de MONTE (1521-1603) Motets, Madrigals and Chansons Ensemble Orlando Fribourg; In Echo/Laurent Gendre rec. 2007 CLAVES 502712 [51:17][BW]

An unjustly neglected composer brought to life in very good performances, well recorded ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Marc NEIKRUG (b. 1946) Through Roses Will Quadflieg (speaker); Pinchas Zukerman (violin); Michel Rouilly (viola – alto); Wolfgang Bogner (cello); Gunter Rumpel (flute); Eduard Brunner (clarinet); Anne Leek (oboe); Pierre Beboux (percussion); Marc Neikrug (piano)/Christoph Eschenbach rec. 1985 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4159832 [OP]

One of the most moving pieces that I’ve ever experienced and one of my most cherished discs ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony 15 Boris TCHAIKOVSKY (1925-1996) Theme and Eight Variations for Orchestra Dresden Staatskapelle/Kyrill Kondrashin rec. live 1974 HÄNSSLER PROFIL PH06065 [JFL]

This Shostakovich 15 goes to the very top ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Richard STRAUSS (1864–1949) Vier letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs), Op. posth., TrV 296 (1948)[22:54] Brentano-Lieder, Op. 68, TrV 235 (1918, orch. 1933 (10) and 1940)[28:40] Ariadne auf Naxos, Op. 60, TrV 228a (excerpts) (1912) [8:47] Ricarda Merbeth (soprano) Weimar Staatskapelle/Michael Halász rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.570283 [60:21] [GF]

Undoubtedly thrilling and the complete Brentano with a tremendous reading of Lied der Frauen lends further importance to this disc. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Symphony No. 5; Dona Nobis Pacem London Philharmonic Orchestra & BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Ralph Vaughan Williams rec. 1936-52 SOMM CELESTE SERIES SOMMCD071 [72:04][JQ]

A priceless document ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) L’Olimpiade Sara Mingardo, Roberta Invernizzi, Concerto Italiano/Rinaldo Alessandrini rec. 2002 NAÏVE OP30451 [GPu]

A marvellous selection of some of the very best music from one of Vivaldi’s best operas, in an already classic modern performance … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Arie di bravura - Diana Damrau Arias by Salieri, Mozart and Righini Diana Damrau (soprano) Le Cercle de l’Harmonie/Jérémie Rhorer rec. 2006 VIRGIN CLASSICS 3952502 [GF]

This disc is superb in all respects and the repertoire is un-hackneyed! ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Fire Burning in Snow Baroque music from Latin America – 3 Ex Cathedra Consort and Baroque Ensemble/Jeffrey Skidmore rec. 2007,Texts and English translations included HYPERION CDA67600 [75:35] [JQ]

This is a CD that commands attention ... see Full Review

 


BARGAINS OF THE MONTH

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Kenneth FUCHS (b. 1956) United Artists; Quiet in the Land; Fire, Ice, and Summer Bronze; Autumn Rhythm; Canticle to the Sun Timothy Jones (French horn); London Symphony Orchestra/JoAnn Falletta rec. 2006 NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559335 [64:00][DM]

Fuchs’s distinctive voice, flair for orchestral colours and sheer lyricism shine through ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH John TAVERNER (c.1490-1545) O splendor gloriæ, Te Deum, Alleluia, Mass ‘The Western Wynde’ The Sixteen/Harry Christophers rec. 1991 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55056 [BW]

The only reason not to buy this excellent CD is that it will make you want the five other recordings in the series ... see Full Review

MARCH

RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Daniel BÖRTZ (b. 1943) Hans namn var Orestes (His name was Orestes); En gycklares berättelser (A Joker’s Tales) Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra/Alan Gilbert rec. 2002-4 BIS-CD-1653/54 [47:49 + 61:54][GF]

I can’t remember when a contemporary composition made such a deep impression – and the performance is absolutely superb. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Havergal BRIAN (1876-1972) Symphony No. 6 Sinfonia Tragica (1948) [19:43] Symphony No. 16 (1960) [17:41] Arnold COOKE (1906-2005) Symphony No. 3 in D (1967) [22:59] London PO/Myer Fredman (Brian); Nicholas Braithwaite (Cooke) rec. Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London, 10 April 1973 (Brian); 7 January 1974 (Cooke). ADD originally issued on LP as SRCS67 (Brian); SRCS78 (Cooke) LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD.295 [60:26] [RB]

The cool Cooke contrasts with the epic-heroic business of the Brian symphonies. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Georgy L'vovich CATOIRE (1861-1926) Violin Sonata No. 1 in B minor op. 15 (1900) [28:43] Violin Sonata No. 2 in D major Poème op. 20 (1906) [20:50] Elegy for violin and piano (1916) [4:13] Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Pièce en forme de habañera (1907) [3:10] Tzigane - rapsodie de concert (1924) [10:31] Herwig Zack (violin) Bernd Zack (piano) rec. 2007, Munich. co-production with Bayerischer Rundfunk AVIE AV2143 [67:49] [RB]

Another Milstein in the making ... music that is dramatic, fantastic, poetic ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Don Pasquale Claudio Desderi, Francisco Gatell, Laura Giordano, Ch & O Teatro Municipale Piacenza/Riccardo Muti rec. live 2006 ARTHAUS MUSIK 101303 [RJF]

Muti’s sympathetic and idiomatic baton combines with superb stage direction and period sets and costumes, to do full justice to Donizetti’s creation ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH César FRANCK (1822-1890) Complete Organ Works - Volume I Hans-Eberhard Ross rec. 2004/5 AUDITE 91.518 [2 CDs] [DM]

One hesitates to use the word ‘great’ but in this case nothing else will do ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Elizabeth MACONCHY (1907–1994) Music for Voices BBC Singers/Odaline de la Martinez rec. 2007 LORELT LNT127 [79:57][HC]

Dedication and immaculate singing of these fine, demanding and rewarding works ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gustav MAHLER (1860–1911) Symphony No.6 Melbourne Symphony Orchestra/Mark Wigglesworth rec. 2006 ABC CLASSICS 4766220 [2 CDs: 82:14][BBr]

A great conductor. Power, insight and intelligence show in this performance ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Richard WAGNER (1813–1883) Tristan und Isolde The Glyndebourne Chorus and London Philharmonic Orchestra/Jiří Bĕlohlávek rec. 2007 OPUS ARTE OA0988D (3 DVDs) [86:29 + 71:24 + 80:38][GF]

This is no doubt the most beautiful Tristan und Isolde I have seen ... see Full Review

 


BARGAINS OF THE MONTH

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The Well-Tempered Clavier Books I & II Angela Hewitt (piano) rec. 1997-99 HYPERION CDS44291/4 [4 CDs] [PB]

Highly sympathetic and rewarding performances of these magnificent creations ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Lennox BERKELEY (1903–1989) String Quartets Nos. 1-3 Maggini Quartet rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.570415 [63:02][HC]

Superb readings of these beautiful and hugely rewarding works ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Froissart; Cello Concerto; Enigma Variations The Wand of Youth – Suites Nos. 1 & 2; The Starlight Express: Songs; Dream Children Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Welsh National Opera Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras rec. 1990-2 DECCA ELOQUENCE 4428280 [76:38 + 74:26][CH]

Some very fine Elgar interpretation, especially if you like to home in on the nostalgic side ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Keyboard Sonatas Mikhail Pletnev (piano) rec. 1994 VIRGIN CLASSICS 5181862 [71:81 + 68:45] [JFL]

The kind of performance that makes me sing its praises to anyone who will listen ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Symphony 7, Tapiola, The Oceanides, Pelleas and Melisande Suite Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham rec. 1955, EMI CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 5096922 [EM]

A Great Recording of the Century, beyond a doubt ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Later Ballets: Jeu de cartes;Danses concertantes; Scènes de Ballet; Variations; Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra Philharmonia Orchestra/Robert Craft rec. 1991-9 NAXOS 8.557506 [79:07][LW]

Excellent versions relishing both the lyricism and rhythmic verve ... see Full Review

APRIL

RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Nicolae BRETAN (1887–1968) Sacred Songs Requiem etc. see review for details Ludovic Konya (baritone) Phyllis Bryn-Julson (soprano)rec 1973/74 Texts with English and French translations and German summaries enclosed. NIMBUS NI 5584 [76:06] [GF]

A strong candidate for my Recordings of the Year – for the quality of the music as well as the accomplished singing ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Nicolae BRETAN (1887–1968)
My Lieder-Land: The Songs of Nicolae Bretan - Vol. 2
Ludovic Konya (baritone), Ferdinand Weiss (piano); Martin Berkovsky (piano) rec. live, 1973-1976 Texts and translations enclosed NIMBUS NI 5640 [75:10] [GF]

Marvellous songs, melodious and expressive, congenially executed by the eloquent Ludovic Konya. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Eric COATES Sound and Vision Music for Orchestra and Songs with Orchestra BBC Concert Orchestra/John Wilson. rec. 2007 DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7198 [71:03] [RB]

Fills gaps with a consummate sweep and mastery ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) The Creation Chetham’s Chamber Choir; Gabrieli Consort & Players/Paul McCreesh rec. 2006 ARCHIV PRODUKTION 4777361 [79:27 + 29:29][JQ]

Haydn’s great masterpiece makes its full effect in this exceptional performance ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Charles IVES (1874-1954) Romanzo di Central Park (songs) Gerald Finley (baritone), Julius Drake (piano) Magnus Johnston (violin) rec. 2007 HYPERION CDA67644 [62:28] [DM]

A glorious disc ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 4 Luba Orgonášová, Tonhalle O Zurich/David Zinman rec. 2006 RCA-BMG 88697 168522 [57:21] [DM]

A performance full of wonder from a Mahlerian of real stature ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphonies Nos. 38-41 Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras rec. 2007 LINN CKD308 [66:49 + 72:29][TH]

A set worthy to stand as a benchmark for our time ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Luigi NONO (1924-1990) Prometeo, Tragedia dell’ascolto (1984-6) Petra Hoffman, Monika Baer (sopranos); Susanne Otto, Noa Frankel (altos); Hubert Meyer (tenor); Sigrun Schell, Gregor Dalal (speakers) Solistenchor, Freiburg; Ensemble Recherche; Solistenensemble des Philharmonischen Orchesters Freiburg; Solistenensemble des SWR Sinfonieorchesters Baden-Baden und Freiburg; xperimentalstudio für akustische Kunst; former Experimentalstudio der Heinrich-Stobel-Stiftung des Südwestrundfunks; Andre Richard (director); Peter Hirsch, (conductor 1); Kwame Ryan, (conductor 2) rec. 16-19 May 2003, Konzerthaus Freiburg. COL LEGNO WWE 2SACD 20605 [66:38 + 64:54] [AO]

The thieves who stole 1000 copies of this disc certainly had excellent taste! ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Heavenly harmonies Music by Thomas TALLIS (c.1505-1585) and William BYRD (1539/40-1623) Stile Antico rec. 2007 HARMONIA MUNDI USA HMU807463 [78:51][MG]

You won’t find a better demonstration of just how beautiful and powerful these pieces are  … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH To Music - An anthology of English 20th century choral music Chamber Choir of Birmingham Conservatoire/Paul Spicer, David Saint (organ) rec. 2007 REGENT REGCD274 [74:53] [JQ]

This is a splendid disc in every way and earns a resounding Bravo! ... see Full Review


BARGAINS OF THE MONTH

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Symphony 4 Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony 9 Berlin PO/Klaus Tennstedt rec. 1980/83 EMI CLASSICS ENCORE 5090222 [77:01] [TP]

Tennstedt’s fans will be glad to be able to snap this disc up ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) La donna del lago Maxim Miranov, Sonia Ganassi, Prague Chamber Ch, SWR Radio O Kaiserslautern/Alberto Zedda rec. live 2004 NAXOS OPERA CLASSICS 8.660235-36 [73.29 + 73.26] [RJF]

This recording should allow newcomers to enjoy this most melodic and romantic of Rossini’s opera seria ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Incidental Music Pelléas et Mélisande suite; Karelia Overture & Suite; King Christian II Suite Philharmonia Orchestra/Enrique Batiz & London Symphony Orchestra/Loris Tjeknavorian rec. 1982 & 1994 REGIS RRC1272 [78:14][RB] 

An atmospheric, generous and inexpensive helping of Sibelius's most instantly engaging incidental music ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Andrés Segovia: 1950s American Recordings - Volume 3 Andrés Segovia (guitar) rec. New York, 1952-56 NAXOS 8.111091 [77:33] [JW]

Really first class ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Michael Studer - The Legacy Michael Studer (piano) rec. 1972-90 CLAVES 50-2713-18 [6 CDs: 439:59] [DC]

An amazing bargain – buy it for the Bach, and become enthralled by the rest ... see Full Review

 

 

 



 


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