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MONDAY
November 23rd
York
BOWEN (1884-1961) The
Piano Sonatas 
Danny
Driver (piano)
rec. 2008 HYPERION
CDA67751/2 [68:47
+ 49:55] 
[RB]
A
major romantic reprise ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Mendelssohn
Edition 5 - Keyboard and Chamber Music Annie
d’Arco (piano) Marie-Claire Alain (organ) Trio Fontenay,
Kreuzberg and Eder Qts, Olivier Charlier (violin), Monte-Carlo
PO/Lawrence Foster, Maxim Vengerov (violin) Alexander Markovich
(piano) rec. c.1960-1991 WARNER
CLASSICS 2564 69267-4 [5 CDs: 319:45] 
[JS]
Very
enjoyable and worthwhile … see Full
Review
Kai
NIEMINEN (b.1953) Palomar,
Through Shadows I Can Hear Ancient Voices, Vicoli in ombra Mikko
Raasakka (clarinet) Sinfonia Finlandia Jyväskylä/Patrick
Gallois (flute) rec. 2006 NAXOS
8.572061 [58:31] [JW]
A
contemporary portfolio of approachable colour and incident ...
see Full Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Il
Turco in Italia Marco
Vinco (bass) Alessandra Marianelli (soprano) Prague Chamber Ch,
Haydn O Di Bolzano e Trento/Antonello Allemandi rec. live, 2007 NAXOS
2.110259 
[165.09] [RJF]
Has
some fine qualities, especially its leading lady ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Alessandro
SCARLATTI (1660-1725) Davidis
pugna et victoria (The Fight of David and his Victory) Roberta
Invernizzi (soprano) Academia Montis Regalis/Alessandro De Marchi
rec. 2009 HYPERION
CDA67714 [64:50] [BW]
As
dramatic as any early opera and a performance to do it full justice
... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Winterreise Mark
Padmore (tenor); Paul Lewis (piano) rec. 2008 HARMONIA
MUNDI HMU907484 [74:18] [JQ]
This
deserves to be ranked alongside the very best ... see Full
Review
Wilhelm
STENHAMMAR (1871-1927) Piano
Concertos 1 & 2 Seta
Tanyel (piano) Helsingborg SO/Andrew Manze rec. 2008 The Romantic
Piano Concerto Vol. 49 HYPERION
CDA67750 [75:16] [RB]
Two
leonine concertos of the Scandinavian romantic persuasion ... see Full
Review
Cheryl
Barker - Great Operatic Arias London
PO/David Parry rec. 2009 CHANDOS
CHAN3161 [67:43] 
[GF]
Chandos
can be proud with this latest addition to their Opera in English
series ... see Full Review
The
Best of Bond Mary
Carewe (vocalist) Simon Bowman (vocalist)
Royal PO/Carl Davis rec. 2008 RPO
SP017 [52:39] [RB]
A
nostalgic experience stunningly recreated ... see Full
Review
Ultimate
Campoli Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Violin
Concerto in E minor Max BRUCH (1838-1920) Scottish
Fantasy Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Havanaise, Introduction
et Rondo Capriccioso Alfredo
Campoli (violin) London PO/Adrian Boult, Anatole Fistoulari rec. 1953/8 BEULAH
7PD10 [69:33] [JW]
Charm,
personality, technical eloquence and hugely musical instincts ...
see Full Review
FRIDAY
November 20th
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685 - 1739) St.
John Passion Ian
Honeyman (tenor) Werner van Mechelen (bass) Il Fondamento/Paul
Dombrecht rec. live, 1996 PASSACAILLE
912 [34.17 + 76.31] [RH]
Little
to set it apart from its rivals ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Rondos,
Andante favori, Seven Bagatelles, Alla ingharese quasi un Capriccio Natalia
Valentin (fortepiano) rec. 2009 PARATY
109.104 [56:11] [CC]
Valentin
is a player of huge talent … a real affinity for Beethoven.
... see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano
Concerto 1 Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Sonata
13 Solomon
(piano) RAI Turin O/Lorin Maazel rec. 1956 GUILD
GHCD2353 [66:58] 
[JW]
Guild’s
commitment here is to be applauded ... see Full
Review
Klaus
Ib JØRGENSEN (b.1967) Moon-Pain,
Goblin Dance, Lisbon Revisited Iris
Oja (mezzo) Remix, KlettWood/Paul Hillier rec. 2008 DACAPO
8.226505 [72:33] [DC]
Uncommon
and rarefied realms. ... see Full
Review
Brooke
JOYCE Waves of Stone Brooke
Joyce (percussion; melodica; toy
piano) Carol Hester (flute; piccolo) Stephanie Zelnick (clarinet)
Jubal Fulks (violin) Eric Kutz (cello) Miko Kominami (piano)
Michael Geary (percussion) Andrew D Whitfield (baritone) Spencer
Martin (viola) Unison Piano Duo rec. 2008/9 INNOVA
753 [76:05] 
[CR]
A
sense of character and imagination … see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Sinfonia
concertante, Violin Concerto 4 Walter
Barylli (violin); Paul Doktor (viola) Vienna PO/Clemens Krauss,
Vienna State Opera O/Felix Prohaska rec. 1944/51 PREISER
90760 [57:54] [JW]
A
fascinating retrieval ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Sonata 13 see BRAHMS
Carl
NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphonies
4 & 5 Danish
Ntl SO/Michael Schønwandt rec. 1999 NAXOS
8.570739 [75:03] [DM]
Schønwandt’s
unwavering grip ... see Full Review
Louis
SPOHR (1784-1859) Double
String Quartets 1 & 2 Forde
Ensemble rec. 2008 NAXOS
8.570963 [51:22] [BW]
Attractive
... but try Spohr’s Octet and Nonet first ... see Full
Review
Piotr
Anderszewski at Carnegie Hall Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Partita 2 Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Faschingsschwank aus Wien Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1938) V
mlhách Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Sonata
31 Piotr
Anderszewski (piano) rec. 2008 VIRGIN
CLASSICS 2672912 [42:48 + 41:40] [JW]
Some
music doesn’t require kite-flying to make its point ... see Full
Review
Musique
pour basson et piano -
Vol. 2 Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Basson
Sonata Olav BERG (b.1949) Vertigo Othmar
SCHOECK (1886 - 1957) Basson sonata Olav
BERG (b.1949) Bassoon sonatine Otmar
NUSSIO (1902-1990) Variazioni Isang
YUN (1917-1995) Monologue Manfred
SCHOOF (b.1936) Two Impromptus Dag
Jensen (bassoon); Midori Kitagawa (piano) rec. 1997 MUSIKPRODUKTION
DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG6030831-2 [71:00] [CR]
Highly
enjoyable and the playing is excellent throughout … see Full
Review
THURSDAY
November 19th
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cantata
Pilgrimage Vol. 9: For the 17th and 18th Sundays after Trinity Monteverdi
Ch, English Baroque Soloists/John Eliot Gardiner rec. 2000 SOLI
DEO GLORIA SDG159 [70:22 + 68:19] [ST]
Gardiner
gets to the heart of the music’s spirituality much more profoundly
than others ... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
The Complete Piano Sonatas Alfred
Brendel (piano) rec. 1992-5 DECCA
478 1821 [10 CDs: 646:55] [DC]
Still
one of the best at any price ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Lieder Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Dichterliebe Simon
Keenlyside (baritone) Malcolm Martineau (piano) rec. 2009 SONY
CLASSICAL 88697 566892 [76:40] [ST]
A
fine recital ... see Full
Review
Mario
CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO (1895-1968) Music
for Two Guitars - Vol. 2 The Well Tempered Guitars Brasil
Guitar Duo rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570779 [54:16] [AS]
Thoroughly
enjoyable ... see Full Review
Franz
LEHÁR (1870-1948) Friederike Kristiane
Kaiser, Sylvia Schwartz, Bayerischen RCh, Münchner RSO/Ulf
Schirmer rec. live, 2008 CPO
777 330-2 [47:04 + 59:10] [IL]
Another
Lehár hit from CPO … see Full
Review
Giuseppe
MARTUCCI (1856-1909) Piano
Concerto 2, Momento musicale, Novelletta, Serenata, Colore
orientale Gesualdo
Coggi (piano) Roma SO/Francesco La Vecchia rec. 2007/8 NAXOS
8.570932 [68:56] [BBr]
There’s
a lack of fire … see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Dichterliebe see BRAHMS
Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony
3, 1812 Overture, Hamlet London
PO/Adrian Boult rec. 1952 RETROSPECTIVE
93185 [78:36] [JW]
An
authoritative trio of performances ... see Full
Review
Daniel
TOSI (b.1953) Horizons
Chimériques Dominique
Regef (vielle) La Camerata de France/Daniel Tosi rec. live, 2008 SOLSTICE
SOCD255 [65:09] [DC]
Fascinating,
but not without flaws ... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Lakeuden
Risti urut Includes Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Concert-etude 3 César
FRANCK (1822-1890) Choral III Pierre
COCHEREAU (1924-1984) Scherzo Symphonique Kalevi
KIVINIEMI (b. 1958) Fantasia Oskar
MERIKANTO (1868-1924) Passacaglia Kalevi
Kiviniemi (organ) rec. 2009 FUGA
9285 [62:39] [DM]
Sensational
- a high-water mark in the history of organ recording ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Missa
Gotica (anon. 14th cent.) Ensemble
Organum rec. 2009 ZIGZAG
TERRITOIRES ZZT090601 [51:30] [MS]
An
outstanding and immensely enjoyable CD of glorious fourteenth century
polyphonic liturgical music … see Full
Review
WEDNESDAY
November 18th
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Sonatas
for flute and continuo: CD 1: Sonata in B minor BWV 1030
[18:48]; Sonata in E minor BWV 1034 [14:15]; Sonata in E major BWV 1035
[12:35]; Sonata in A major BWV 1032 [14:35]; CD 2: Sonata in
G minor BWV 1020 [13:27]; Sonata in C major BWV 1033 [9:08]; Sonata
in E flat major BWV 1031 [11:27]; Partita in C minor BWV 997 [20:07];
Partita in A minor BWV 1013 [13:30]
Hansgeorg Schmeiser (flute); Ingemar Rainer (harpsichord); Orhmar Muller
(cello) rec. 2007 and 1996, DDD
NIMBUS NI 5829/30 [60:20 + 67:46]
[CR]
A
wonderful collection of recordings which feel natural and well-considered.
Excellent … see Full Review
Rutland
BOUGHTON
(1878 - 1960)
Songs
Louise Mott (mezzo); Alexander Taylor (piano) rec.2005
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS431CD [70:33]
[NB]
An
excellent way of gaining an insight into this singular British composer
... see Full Review
Arnold
COOKE
(1906 - 2005) Sonata
No.2 for Violin and Piano (1951) [22:24] Sonata for Viola and Piano
(1937) [21:20] Sonata No.2 for Cello and Piano (1980) [23:58]
Susanne Stanzeleit (violin); Morgan Goff (viola); Raphael Wallfisch
(cello); Raphael Terroni (piano) rec. 2005
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS 432CD [67:45]
[NB]
Another
excellent disc from the British Music Society ... see Full
Review
Thomas TALLIS (1505-1585)
The
Best Of Tallis: O sacrum convivium [4:49]; Audivi vocem [3:51];
Lamentations (Set I) [8:25]; Discomfort them, O Lord [6:36]; Loquebantur
variis linguis [3:49]; Lamentations (Set II) [12:29]; Videte miraculum
[13:21]; Mass For Four Voices - Sanctus [2:48]; I call and cry to thee,
O Lord [4:13]; Salvator mundi [3:58]; Spem in alium [12:16]
Oxford Camerata/Jeremy Summerly rec. no information provided. DDD
NAXOS 8.556842 [77:40]
[CR]
Impressive
throughout … an excellent way to explore his output … see
Full Review
Dream
Land
- Contemporary Choral Riches from the Hyperion
Catalogue - sampler disc
Original Texts and English translations included
HYPERION HYP41 [71:55]
[JQ]
An
excellent opportunity to sample Hyperion’s choral riches ... see
Full Review
The Near Past of the Hungarian
Flute János
DECSENYI (b.1927) Sonatina pastorale for flute and piano
(1956) [8:24] Mátyás SEIBER
(1905 - 1960) Pastorale and Burlesque (1952) [7:45]György
KOSA (1897 - 1984) Notturno (1966) [12:16] Csaba
SZABO (1936 - 2003) Sonata con ritmo di ballo (1963)
[19:44] Endre SZERVANSZKY
(1911-1977) Sonatina for flute and piano (1952) [9:18]
Kamillo LENDVAY
(b.1928) Quattro duetti (1965) [8:37]Ferenc
FARKAS (1905-2000) Meditazione (1990) [4:22] Pá
JARDANYI (1920 - 1966) Sonatina (1952) [4:40]
Zoltan Gyöngyössy (flute); Zsuzsa Kollär (piano) rec.
2008, . DDD
HUNGAROTON CLASSIC HCD 32578 [75:23]
[CR]
A
fascinating insight into Hungarian flute repertoire…. see Full
Review
Risonanza -
Modern Czech Music for Oboe, Harp and Piano
Jan HANUš
(1915-2004) Trio concertante Op.59b for oboe, harp
and piano (1978) [23:34] Sonata quasi una fantasia Op.61 for oboe and
piano (1968) [12:22] Petr EBEN
(1929-2007) Risonanza for harp solo (1986) [6:40]
Ordo modalis for oboe and harp (1964) [13:07] Pavel
HAAS (1899-1944)
Suite for oboe and piano (1939) [14;26]
Kateřina Englichová (harp) Vilém Veverka (oboe) Ivo
Kahánek (piano) rec. January 2009, Bohemia Music Studio, Prague
SUPRAPHON
SU 3993-2 [70:42]
[JW]
Three
of the country's brightest young musicians in pure accord ... see Full
Review
Es
ist ein Ros’ entsprungen -
Christmas Music for Choir and Organ
Vox Bona/Karin Freist-Wissing; Stefan Horz (organ) rec. 7-9 February
2009, Ev. Emmanuel-Kirche, Köln-Rondorf (choir); Kreuzkirche, Bonn
(organ)
AUDITE 92.565 [80:49]
[DM]
Worth
buying for the choral items alone; don’t expect much from the
rest. ... see Full Review
Frohlocke
nun! (Rejoice
Now!) - Christmas music from Berlin between Baroque and Romanticism
Dennis
Chmelensky (treble); Olivia Vermeulen (contralto); Jan Kobow Patrick
Vogel (tenor); Matthias Vieweg (bass) Staats- und Domchor Berlin, Lautten
Compagney Berlin/Kai-Uwe Jirka rec. 2009
CARUS 83.442 [70:40]
[JV]
A very good recording of music for Christmastide most of which has never
been recorded before ... see Full
Review
Karl
JENKINS
(b.1944) Stella
Natalis, Joy to the World
Kate Royal (soprano); Alice Halstead (chorister); Alison Balsom (trumpet);
Jody K Jenkins and Zands (percussion); Tenebrae; Adiemus Singers; Marylebone
Camerata/Karl Jenkins rec. Angel Recording Studios, London, 3-4, 19
July 2009. DDD. Texts included.
EMI CLASSICS 50999 6886482 [79:33]
[BW]
Guaranteed
enjoyment for fans of Karl Jenkins ... see Full
Review
TUESDAY
November 17th
Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) The
Well-Tempered Clavier: Books I and II (1722-1744)
Angela Hewitt (piano) rec. 8-16 September 2008, Jesus-Christus-Kirche.
Berlin. DDD
HYPERION CDA67741/4 [4 CDs: 58:55 + 59:13 + 75:38 + 77:20]
[PL]
Offers
a greater human dimension grown from within … see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897)
String Quintet No.1 in F, op.88 (1859) [26:33] String Quintet No.2
in G, op.111 (1864) [29:04]
The Nash Ensemble; Philip Dukes (viola) rec. Great Hall, City of London’s
Boy’s School, London, 7, 20, 21 December 2008. DDD.
ONYX 4043 [55:40]
[JL]
Bold
excursions into some of Brahms’ most striking music … see
Full Review
John
JOUBERT
(b.
1927) Temps Perdu - Variations for String
Orchestra Op.99 (1984) [19:18] Sinfonietta (1962) [17:26] The
Instant Moment Op.110 (1987)1 [25:54]
Henry Herford (baritone)1; English String Orchestra/William
Boughton rec. no details given but other sources indicate Adrian Boult
Hall, Birmingham, 21 March 1987.
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS 419CDH [63:04]
[NB]
An
absolute winner ... see Full Review
Nikolay
Andreevich RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
(1844-1908) Evgeny Svetlanov -
The Anthology of Russian Symphony Music Complete track-listing
at foot of this review
The State Academic Symphony Orchestra/Evgeny Svetlanov rec. 1971-1993
SVET
57-009-1/6 [6 CDs: 67:03 + 63:19 + 70:03 + 76:16 + 58:51 + 72:37]
[DM]
All
lovers of Russian music will find much to treasure in this box ... see
Full Review
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797 - 1828)
Symphony No. 5 in B♭, D 485 (1816) [25:18] Symphony No. 9 in C,
Great, D944 (1825) [49:15] Polish Sinfonia Juventus Orchestra/Jerzy
Semkow rec. 17-20 December 2008, Pomeranian Philharmonic Concert Hall,
Bydgoszcz. DDD
CD ACCORD ACD 146-2 [74:48]
[BBr]
There’s
no heart to these performances…see Full
Review
Charles
Villiers STANFORD
(1852-1924) Piano
Music - Land of Sunset Glories
Christopher Howell (piano) rec. 28-29 July 2008, Studio L’Eremo,
Lessona, Italy. DDD
SHEVA 019 [63:36]
[JW]
Desirable
... see Full Review
Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901) Requiem
(1874) [84:19]
Anja Harteros (soprano); Sonia Ganassi (mezzo); Rolando Villazon (tenor);
René Pape (bass) Coro e Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale
di Santa Cecilia/Antonio Pappano rec. in concert, 8-13 January 2009,
Sala Santa Cecilia, Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome
EMI CLASSICS 698936 2 [47:29 + 37:50]
[ST][JB]
Turn
to this version with confidence ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH The
Golden Age of English Polyphony
The Sixteen/Harry Christophers Christopher Royall, countertenor and
Paul Nicholson, organ; Fretwork rec. 1982-1992. DDD. Texts and translations
included.
HYPERION CDS44401/10 [10 CDs]
[BW]
No
need to hesitate - buy this set ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Christmas
Preludes - Preludes for Holy Christmastide
Johannes Strobl (organ) rec. 2008, The Abbey Church of Muri, Canton
Aargau, Switzerland
AUDITE 92.573 [73:04]
[DM]
The
perfect complement to a festive feast ... see Full
Review
Joy
In The Morning
Ex Cathedra/Jeffrey Skidmore, Andrew Fletcher (organ)
rec. 10-11 July 2009, St Paul’s Church, Birmingham. DDD Original
texts and English translations included
ORCHID CLASSICS ORC100008 [75:33]
[WH]
A
superb Christmas disc guaranteed to gladden the heart … see Full
Review
Masterwork
Index: 
