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Alphabetical Listing

PART 5
S-Z

Click for alphabetical listings by composer:
[Part 1 New] [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part 5 S-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L] [Part 7 Misc M-Z]
[last 5 days] [Recommended recordings]

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Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Samson and Dalila Chorus and Orchestra of the Opera Bastille/Myung-Whun Chung rec. 1991 EMI CLASSICS 5091852 [46.16 + 77.15][EM]

A fine work in a superb performance ... see Full Review

Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Introduction and rondo capriccioso see PAGANINI

Giovanni Battista SAMMARTINI (1700/01-1775) Gerusalemme sconoscente ingrate, Confitebor, Symphonies Silvia Mapelli (soprano); Miroslava Yordanova (mezzo); Giorgio Tiboni (tenor) Filippo Ravizza (harpsichord) Symphonica Ensemble/Daniele Ferrari rec. 2005 NAXOS 8.570253 [58:13] [EM]

Rather mixed works and performances ... see Full Review

Alessandro SCARLATTI (1660-1725) Il martirio di Santa Cecilia I Barocchisti/Diego Fasolis rec. 2000 CPO 7772582 [51:34 + 57:15][JV]

A fairly good account but doesn't fully explore its dramatic power ... see Full Review

Giacinto SCELSI (1905-1988) Preludi, Serie I–IV Alessandra Ammara (piano) rec. 2008 ARTS 47721-8 [73:10][MS]

Musicological puzzles and rewards ... highly satisfying ... see Full Review

Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Suite for Piano see BACH

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Quintet The Trout Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Piano Trio Dumky Jörg Demus (piano); Schubert Quartet rec. 1958-9 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON ELOQUENCE 4800489 [67:00][RB]

Fine vintage performances with the enduring power to enthral ... see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Trios Wu Han (piano); Philip Setzer (violin); David Finckel (cello) rec. 2008 ARTIST LED 108022 [79:37][KS]

Utterly winsome … absolute masters of chamber music ... see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797–1828) Deutsche Schubert-Lied-Edition Vol. 29: Settings of Various Poets Ferdinand von Bothmer (tenor); Ulrich Eisenlohr (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570838 [56:11] [GF]

A disc for Schubert completists ... see Full Review

Franz  SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Music for Flute and Piano Arpeggione Sonata, Six Schubert Songs, Variations on Trockne Blumen Uwe Grodd (flute); Matteo Napoli (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570754 [69:23] [CR]

The music is allowed to sing and there is no surrender to self-indulgence ... see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Complete Overtures Vol. 1 Prague Sinfonia/Christian Benda rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.570328 [63:08] [JS]

Sheer delight … one engaging work follows another ... see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) String Quartets 10 & 13, Quartetsatz Belcea Quartet rec. 2002 EMI CLASSICS ENCORE 2357382 [73:21]

I was sold on these performances from the start … see Full Review

Clara SCHUMANN (1819-1896) Complete Songs Dorothea Craxton (soprano); Hedayet Djeddikar (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570747 [70:17]

Valuable programme but far too much compromised singing ... see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Violin Sonatas 1-3 Carolin Widmann (violin), Dénes Várjon (piano) rec. 2007 ECM NEW SERIES 2047 (476 6744) [72:01] [JFL]

My favorite recording of these works ... see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Konzertstück for Four Horns see DVOŘÁK

Rodion SHCHEDRIN (b.1932) The Ancient Melodies of Russian Folk-songs (2007) [17:53] Cello Sonata (1996) [34:24] In the Style of Albeniz (1959) [4:36] Quadrille from Nicht nur Liebe (1961) [6:57] Raphael Wallfisch (cello) Rodion Shchedrin (piano) rec. Wyastone, Monmouthshire, 25 May 2007 NIMBUS NI 5831 [63:53] [JWi]

The quality of performance alone makes this disc worth buying ... see Full Review

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) CD 1 [59:16] Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43 [42:31] Tapiola, Op. 112 [16:23] CD 2 [55:30] Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphony No. 4 in A minor. Op. 63 [35:37] Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) The Isle of the Dead, Op. 29 * [19:33] L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Ernest Ansermet Paris Conservatoire Orchestra/Ernest Ansermet (Rachmaninov) rec. Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland, October 1963 (Symphony No. 2), November 1963 (Symphony No. 4, Tapiola); La Maison de la Mutualité, Paris, France, September 1954 (Rachmaninov). * MONO. ADD DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 0044 [59:16 + 55:30] [RB]

Not to be missed by dedicated Sibelians  ... see Full Review

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) The Sibelius Edition - Volume 7 [363:22] The Complete Solo Songs Anne Sofie von Otter, Monica Groop, Jorma Hynninen, Bengt Forsberg (piano); Love Derwinger (piano); Jaakko Kuusisto (violin); Marko Ylönen (cello); Joel Laakso (cello) rec. 1989-2008 BIS BISCD1918-20 [5 CDs: 363:22] [RB]

Erudition and the delight of discovery ... see Full Review

Roger SMALLEY (b. 1943) Through a Glass Darkly Piano Quintet, Horn Trio, String Quartet 2 Australian String Qt; Roger Smalley (piano) Darryl Poulsen (horn); Paul Wright (violin) MELBA RECORDINGS MR301112 [62:35] [RB]

Rewarding works from a lion of contemporary tonality ... see Full Review

Bedřich SMETANA (1824-1884) Má Vlast Leipzig Gewandhaus O/Václav Neumann BERLIN CLASSICS 0014412BC [79:56] [CC]

Gloriously rounded sound, technical excellence and Václav Neumann ... see Full Review

Alan Louis SMITH (b.1955) Vignettes: Covered Wagon Woman see BEACH

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Fernando SOR (1778-1839) Fantasias y Estudios Manuel Babiloni (guitar) rec. 2008 EDITS E.G. TABELET 1017 [65:52][ZT] 

No finer recording of this Sor repertory is available ... see Full Review

Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Piano Music - Land of Sunset Glories Various Christopher Howell (piano) rec. 2008, DDD SHEVA 019 [63:36] [JF]

Well worth waiting for ... see Full Review

Max STEINER (1888-1971) The Charge of the Light Brigade- complete film score (1936) [90:02] Moscow Symphony Orchestra/William Stromberg rec. Mosfilm Studio, Moscow, February 2008 TRIBUTE FILM CLASSICS TFC-1005 [65:18 + 34:54] [IL]

Superb performances, blisteringly exciting, tenderly romantic ... see Full Review

Johann STRAUSS II (1825-1899) Die Fledermaus Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy rec. 1950-1 PRISTINE AUDIO PACO030 [34.05 + 55.42][RMo]

Singularly underwhelming ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) CD 1 Don Quixote, Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Der Rosenkavalier: Waltzes CD 2 Metamorphosen, Capriccio: Sextet,Die Frau ohne Schatten: Symphonic Fantasy, Feuersnot: Love Scene, Salome: Dance of the Seven Veils Bernard Haitink/Eugen Jochum /Karl Münchinger /Giuseppe Sinopoli DDD ELOQUENCE 480 0478 [74.22 + 77.18] [WH]

A superb collection including two “must have” performances ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Sinfonia Domestica, Parergon zur Sinfonia Domestica, Eine Alpensinfonie, Macbeth Gary Graffman (piano), Vienna PO/André Previn Los Angeles PO/Zubin Mehta Detroit SO/Antal Dorati (Macbeth) rec. 1968-95 DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 0408 [67:10 + 67:55] [ST]

There’s a lot to enjoy here ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) CD 1 Burleske, Duet-Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon, Concerto for Oboe CD 2 Aus Italien, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, Herbert Blomstedt/Vladimir Ashkenazy/Lorin Maazel rec. 1966-2004 DDD DECCA ELOQUENCE 4800404 [64:09 + 77:32] [PL]

A most welcome addition to your collection ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864–1949) Four Last Songs etc. Christine Schäfer (soprano); Karita Mattila (soprano); Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Claudio Abbado rec. 1997-8 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON ELOQUENCE 4800414 [65.27][RH] 

Not ideal but comes moderately close and gives us some superb Strauss singing ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Canticum Sacrum; Agon; Requiem Canticles SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart; SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg/Michael Gielen rec. 2004-7 HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD93226 [57:52][DC]

Not sure about late Stravinsky? This is the path to enlightenment ... see Full Review

Arthur SULLIVAN (1842-1900) HMS Pinafore; Trial by Jury EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 2134332  [57:38 + 53:21] Mikado EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 2134442 [54:25 + 36:22] Pirates of Penzance EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 2134542 [47:47 + 64:44] Ruddigore EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 2134542 [55:43 + 41:15] Yeomen of the Guard EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 2134542 [55:49 + 37:39] Iolanthe see review for details of artists and recording dates EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 2134392 [62:47 + 43:05][JW]

Have they ever really been away? ... see Full Review

Piet SWERTS (b. 1960) Fantasia para un Marqués Peter CABUS (1923 – 2000) Concerto classico for guitar Jozef van LOOY (1927 – 2001) Guitar Concerto Wim Brioen (guitar) Slovak Sinfonietta, Zilina/Tom van den Eynde; Ivo Venkov (van Looy) rec. 2007/8 PHAEDRA 92057 [63:55] [HC]

Very attractive and ultimately rewarding ... see Full Review

Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) String Quartets 1 & 2 Ludomir RÓŻYCKI (1884-1953) String Quartet   Royal String Quartet rec. 2008 HYPERION CDA67684 [70:20][JW]

A strong front-runner ... see Full Review

Giuseppe TARTINI (1692-1770) Devil’s Trill Sonata see VIVALDI

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Complete Symphonies etc. London Philharmonic Orchestra/Mstislav Rostropovich rec. 1976-7 EMI CLASSICS 5194932 [5 CDs: 70:47 + 72:32 + 76:43 + 79:09 + 78:34][RMay] 

Significantly less than the sum of its parts ... see Full Review

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Complete Symphonies Melbourne Symphony Orchestra/Oleg Caetani rec. 2007-8 ABC CLASSICS 4766442 [6 CDs: 40:23 + 75:34 + 39:34 + 46:27 + 43:50 + 54:03][RMay]

I have listened with so much pleasure to these accounts ... see Full Review

Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No.5 in E minor, Op.64 (1888) [48:04] Francesca da Rimini - Orchestral Fantasy Op. 32 (1877) [25:33]    Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela/Gustavo Dudamel rec. live. 2008 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8022 GH [73:37]  [RB]

DG continue to mine a rich vein of fervent music-making ... see Full Review

Piotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Nutcracker Choreography by Maurice Béjart and Marius Petipa Damaas Thijs, Elisabet Ros, Béjart Ballet Lausanne, Colonne O/Edmón Colomer rec. live, 2000 EMI CLASSICS 2165869 [99:00] [RMay]

What exactly are those bearded drag queens doing in our beloved Nutcracker? ... see Full Review

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840 – 1893) Romances Christianne Stotijn (mezzo); Julius Drake (piano) rec. Champs Hill, Pulborough, England, 5-7 July 2008 Transliterated sung texts and English translations enclosed. ONYX 4034 [63:16] [GF]

Should be savoured by all lovers of good song interpretation ... see Full Review

Piotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Trio Antonín  DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Piano Trio 2 Smetana Trio rec. 2008 SUPRAPHON SU3949-2 [73:12] [CC]

Born of the utmost musical integrity yet informed with first-flush freshness ... see Full Review

Piotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Songs see DVOŘÁK

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Nutcracker Suite see PROKOFIEV

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Simon Boccanegra Rome Opera Orchestra and Chorus/Gabriele Santini rec. 1957 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110119-20 [62:12 + 78:09] also REGIS RRC2083 [62:12 + 78:09][ST]

A great ensemble performance the like of which we just don’t get these days ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Aida - Highlights Leontyne Price (soprano); Chorus and Orchestra of the Rome Opera/Georg Solti rec. 1961 DECCA ELOQUENCE 4801283 [71.13][RJF]

The best of Aida and a memento of Leontyne Price’s first recording ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Otello Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Colón de Buenos Aires/Sir Thomas Beecham rec. 1958 IDIS 6547/48 [65:15 + 69:24][JS] 

Caveat emptor maybe, but also carpe diem ... see Full Review

Pietro VINCI (1515–1584) Ricercars Antonio IL VERSO (1560–1621) Ricercars Diego Cannizzaro (organ) rec. 7-9 September 2008, Church of San Pantaleone, Alcara Li Fusi, Messina, Italy. DDD TACTUS TC 512201 [60.20] [RH]

More of a disc to dip into than to play in its entirety ... see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concertos for two violins Viktoria Mullova, Giuliano Carmignola (violins); Venice Baroque Orchestra/Andrea Marcon rec. 2007 ARCHIV PRODUKTION 4777466 [61.02][MC] 

One of the most consummate displays of period instrument playing ... see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) The Four Seasons Giuseppe TARTINI (1692-1770) Devil’s Trill Sonata Joshua Bell (violin); Academy of St. Martin in the Fields rec. 2007-8 SONY BMG 88697110132 [53:59][PPLL]

A recording you will come to remember ... see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1687-1741) Complete Recorder Concertos Cappella Academica Frankfurt/Michael Schneider rec. 2007 CPO 777 304-2 [66:39] [BW]

Attractive, but seven works for recorder make for lack of variety ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Das Rheingold Falk Struckmann, Peter Galliard, Wolfgang Koch, Hamburg PO/Simone Young rec. 2008 OEHMS CLASSICS OC925 [76:27 + 75:10] [CC]

A thoroughly enjoyable Rheingold ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Tannhäuser: Dich, teure Halle Der fliegende Holländer: Senta’s Ballad, Wie aus der Ferne Lohengrin: Einsam in truben Tagen Die Walküre: Act III, Scene 3 Tristan und Isolde: Mild und leise Birgit Nilsson, Hans Hotter (baritone) Philharmonia O/Leopold Ludwig rec. 1957 EMI GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 5097022 [82:13] [CC]

Magnificent singing - must be heard by all self-respecting Wagnerites ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg - Act I Prelude see BRUCKNER

Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Overtures New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Antoni Wit rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.570296 [76:24][LW]

I am happy to welcome this collection ... see Full Review

Leó WEINER (1885-1960) Toldi North Hungarian Symphony Orchestra/László Kovács rec. 2008 HUNGAROTON HCD32608 [65:55][RB]

A colourful national epic … full of romantic atmosphere ... see Full Review

Egon WELLESZ (1885-1974) Symphonies Nos. 1-9 etc. Radio Symphonieorchester Wien/Gottfried Rabl rec. 2001-04 CPO 777183-2 [4 CDs: 71:10 + 75:05 + 63:22 + 70:44][RB]

Deeply serious and sometimes unsettling symphonies ... see Full Review

Ermanno WOLF-FERRARI (1876-1948) Orchestral Works Karen Geoghegan (bassoon) BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Gianandrea Noseda rec. 2008 CHANDOS CHAN 10511 [79:28] [CR]

Sumptuous and enormously enjoyable ... see Full Review

 


Click for alphabetical listings by composer:
[Part 1 New] [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part 5 S-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L] [Part 7 Misc M-Z]
[last 5 days] [Recommended recordings]


 



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