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Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Trio No. 2 see RAVEL

Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Symphony no.3 in C minor, op.78 (Organ Symphony) (1886) [37:17] Le Rouet d’Omphale, op.31 (1869) [8:50] Danse macabre op.40 (1874) [7:20] Emmanuel CHABRIER (1841-1894) España - rhapsody for orchestra (1883) [6:48] Joyeuse Marche 1888) [3:59] Pierre Segon (organ) L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Ernest Ansermet rec. Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland; October 1952 (Saint-Saëns opp. 31, 40; Chabrier); May 1962 (Saint-Saëns op.78). ADD DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 0082 [64:43]  [RMay]

A perfectly worthwhile and enjoyable release ... see Full Review 

Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Vladimir Sofronitsky, live at the Scriabin Museum Vladimir Sofronitsky (piano) rec. 1960 ARBITER 157 [72:38][JW] 

This is a special recital ... see Full Review

Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Piano Music Xiayin Wang (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570412 [66:12][GF]

Stunning pianism and clever programming … see Full Review

Claudin de SERMISY (1490-1562) Si bona suscepimus see PHINOT

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony No. 4 Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra/Mark Wigglesworth rec. 2005 BIS-SACD-1553 [66:44][TB] 

A great performance of a symphony among Shostakovich’s greatest ... see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony 10 Veljo TORMIS (b. 1930) Overture 2 Cincinnati SO/Paavo Järvi rec. 2008 TELARC CD-80702 [67:35]  [WH]

Two responses to tyranny - others are more convincing in the Shostakovich … see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony 13 Sergei Aleksashkin (bass); Moscow Chamber Ch, Moscow Radio Tchaikovsky SO/Vladimir Fedosseyev rec. live, 2006 RELIEF CR991081 [76:49] [WH]

A stunning live performance of Shostakovich’s great choral symphony … see Full Review 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) The Nose Vladislav Sulimsky (baritone) Alexei Tanovitski (bass) Tatiana Kravtsova (soprano) Mariinsky Theatre Ch & O/Valery Gergiev rec. 2008 MARIINSKY MAR0501 [50:41 + 50:56] [DM]

Gergiev sets new standards for this work ... see Full Review

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphonies 2& 7,Finlandia Adelaide SO/Arvo Volmer rec. 2007 ABC CLASSICS 476 6167 [71:09] [SV]

Unless curious about this orchestra I'd bypass this one ... see Full Review

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphony No. 3 in C Major op. 52 (1907) [27:41] Symphony No. 6 in D Minor op. 104 (1923) [25:42] Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Violin Concerto in D major (1931) [20:40] Northern Sinfonia/Thomas Zehetmair (violin/director) rec. 2007, 2008, Hall One, The Sage, Gateshead. DDD AVIE AV2150 [74:22] [CC]

A wonderful testament to the talents of the Northern Sinfonia. ... see Full Review 

Roberto SIERRA (b.1953) Missa Latina ‘Pro Pace’ Heidi Grant Murphy (soprano); Nathaniel Webster (baritone) Milwaukee SCh & O/Andreas Delfs rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.559624 [68:17] [NB]

Powerful and individual, exemplary skill and commitment ... see Full Review 

Mischa SPOLIANSKY (1898-1985) Film Music Mark Coles (bass); Roderick Elms (piano); John Wright (organ) BBC Concert O/Rumon Gamba rec. 2008 CHANDOS MOVIES CHAN 10543 [73:03] [RB]

Often imaginative; a professional to the fingertips ... see Full Review

Sir Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Symphony No. 1; Clarinet Concerto Robert Plane (clarinet); Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570356 [70:39][JQ]

A fitting culmination to the Naxos cycle of Stanford symphonies ... see Full Review

Karlheinz STOCKHAUSEN (1928-2007) Zyklus, Spiral I & II, Pole, Japan, Wach, Tierkreis, In Freundschaft Harald Bojé, Peter Eötvös, Christoph Caskel, Markus Stockhausen, Margareta Hurholz rec. 1971-92 EMI CLASSICS 6955982 [66:30 + 75:08]

There is always hope! ... see Full Review 

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Richard Strauss recorded live at the Salzburg Music Festival Don Quixote Op.35 - Fantastische Variationen über ein Thema ritterlichen Charakters [43:52] Also sprach Zarathustra Op.30 [35:13] Mstislav Rostropovich (cello); Ulrich Koch (viola) Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Herbert von Karajan rec. 1975, 1979 HIGH DEFINITION TAPE TRANSFERS HDTT HDCD174 [79:05] [NB]

Powerfully performed testaments to great artists at their peak. ... see Full Review 

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Salome Maria Ewing, Kenneth Riegel, Royal Opera House O/Edward Downes rec. live, 1992 OPUS ARTE OAR3108D [104:00] [ST]

Could well be your first choice ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Elektra Astrid Varnay, Hans Hotter, Kolner RSO & Ch/Richard Kraus rec. 1953 CAPRICCIO 5008 [35.30 + 64.59] [DH]

What a pity the original engineers did not set up a single “mike” and let rip ... see Full Review

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) The Rake’s Progress Jayne West, Jon Garrison, Gregg Smith Singers, St. Luke’s O/Robert Craft rec. 1993 NAXOS 8.660272-3 [74:31 + 53:32] [WH]

Well sung and brilliantly played, but not really a theatrical experience … see Full Review

Tomas SVOBODA (b. 1939) String Quartets - Volume 1 String Quartets: No. 1 op. 29 (1960) [10:51]; No. 2 op. 151 (1994) [25:44]; No. 3 op. 175 (2002) [19:55]; No. 4 op. 179 (2002) [19:36] Martinů Quartet rec. 27 January, 23 April, 16 September 2005, Arco Diva studio, Prague Domovina, Czech Republic. DDD NORTH PACIFIC MUSIC NPM LD 022 [76:32]
Tomas SVOBODA (b. 1939) String Quartets - Volume 2 String Quartets: No. 5 op. 180 (2003) [18:33]; No. 6 op. 185 (2005) [17:06]; No. 7 op. 187 (2005) [20:53]; No. 8 op. 190 (2006) [19:34] Martinů Quartet rec. 17 May, 11 October 2006, Arco Diva studio, Prague Domovina, Czech Republic. DDD NORTH PACIFIC MUSIC NPM LD 031 [76:14]
Tomas SVOBODA (b. 1939) Overture of the Season op. 89 (1978) [8:42] Marimba Concerto op. 20 (1993) [25:48] Symphony No. 1 Of Nature op. 20 (1956) [36:02] Niel DePonte (marimba) Oregon Symphony/James DePreist rec. 9-10 January 2000 (Overture, Marimba); 13 June 2000 (symphony), Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, Oregon. DDD ALBANY TROY604 [70:59]
Tomas SVOBODA (b. 1939) Piano Concerto No. 1 op. 71 (1974) [18:40] Piano Concerto No. 2 op. 134 (1987) [44:21] Norman Krieger (piano) (2); Tomas Svoboda (2)
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra/Neal Gittleman rec. 20-21 February, 20-21 November, 1999, Montgomery County’s Memorial Hall. DDD ARTISIE 4 1006 [63:01]

Fascinating. The Quartets are a special discovery as is the Overture. ... see Full Review 

Piet SWERTS (b. 1960) Heilige Seelenlust Ann De Renais (soprano); Jan Caals (tenor) Lemmens Institute Ch & O/Edmond Saveniers rec. live, 2008 PHAEDRA 92059 [72:39] [HC]

A most welcome addition to Piet Swerts’ discography … see Full Review 

Francisco TÁRREGA (1852-1909) Jota Michael Erni (guitar) rec. 2008 GUILD GMCD7332 [61:33][JW] 

A somewhat guarded welcome ... see Full Review

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) CD 1 Capriccio Italien, Op. 45 [14:22] Eugene Onegin, Op. 24: Polonaise; Valse [4:10 + 5:36] The Nutcracker - Suite, Op. 71a (Miniature Overture; March; Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy; Russian Dance (Trepak); Arabian Dance (Coffee); Chinese Dance (Tea); Dance of the Reed Pipes; Waltz of the Flowers) [22:31] London Philharmonic Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski CD 2 Francesca da Rimini, Op. 32 [22:37] Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48 [28:12] London Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski rec. 1973-4 ADD
DECCA ELOQUENCE 442 8335 [47:15 + 50:49] [RB]

Delicacy and sumptuous dazzle side by side ... see Full Review 

Boris TCHAIKOVSKY (1925 - 1996) Four Poems by Josef Brodsky (1965)a [11:06] From Kipling (1994)b [5:42] String Trio (1955)c [14:14] Two Poems by Mikhail Lermontov (1940)a [4:09] Two Pieces for Balalaika and Piano (1991)d [2:55] Lyrics of Pushkin (1972)a [27:04] Olga Filonova (soprano)a; Svetlana Nikolayeva (mezzo)b; Alexey Khutoriansky (violin)c; Lev Serov (viola)bc; Marina Archakova (cello)c; Kirill Ershov (balalaika)d; Olga Solovieva (piano)ad TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0046 [65:10] [HC]

A most welcome and substantial addition to the discography … see Full Review

Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Orchestral Suites Nos. 1-4 New Philharmonia Orchestra/Antal Dorati rec. 1966 DECCA THE ORIGINALS 4781708 [77:53 + 65:30][RB]

Compact good value and pleasing musical sense ... see Full Review

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Francesca da Rimini - Fantasy op. 32 (transc. Karl Klindworth (1830-1916)) [24:09] Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Sonata op. 2 No. 2 () [22:31] Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Etudes-Tableaux: op. 39, nos, 1,3, 8; op. 33 no. 3 [12:24] Dennis Plutalov (piano) rec. 4 December 2007, 25 September 2005, Kimball Recital Hall, USA, (Francesca; Etudes); 1 December 2004, Crowford Hall (LVB). DDD SHEVA COLLECTION 017 [59:37] [NB]

Missionary zeal of the Francesca performance. A superb interpretation. ... see Full Review 

Piotr Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Sleeping Beauty Viviana Durante, Zoltán Solymosi, Royal Ballet Royal Opera House O/Barry Wordsworth rec. live 1994 OPUS ARTE OAR3107D   [132:00] [RMay]

What an embarras de richesses from Opus Arte! ... see Full Review

Georg Phillipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Flute concertos see Frederick II

Veljo TORMIS (b. 1930) Overture 2 see SHOSTAKOVICH

Bramwell TOVEY (b. 1953) Coventry Variations, Pictures in the Smoke, The Lincoln Tunnel Cabaret, Nine Daies Wonder Joseph Alessi (trombone); Mark Fewer (violin) Foden's Band/Bramwell Tovey rec. 2006-9 EGON SFZ 136 [64:32] [CT]

An entertaining Bramwell Tovey anthology performed magnificently ... see Full Review

Joaquín TURINA (1882-1949) Violin sonatas 1 & 2, Variaciones clásicas, Euterpe, El poema de una sanluqueña Eva León (violin); Jordi Masó (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570402 [61:55] [JW]

Panache and passion - you won’t be disappointed ... see Full Review 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Erkki-Sven TÜÜR (b. 1959) Wallenberg Jesper Taube, Priit Volmer, Estonian Ntl Opera Ch & SO/Arvo Volmer rec. live a 2007 ESTONIAN RECORD PRODUCTIONS ERP1808 [1:58:05] [GF]

Should be seen by as many as possible … see Full Review

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) on the ALBION label - A triumphant contribution [RB]
Invaluable to the legion of RVW enthusiasts - do not miss Folksongs of the Four Seasons ... see Full Review 

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Mystical Songs Trinity College Ch, Melbourne U/Michael Leighton Jones rec. 2007 ABC CLASSICS ABC 476 6906 [77:14] [JQ]

I’m sorry that I can’t give a warmer welcome to this disc ... see Full Review

Tomás Luis De VICTORIA (1548–1611) Missa Gaudeamus and other works Lay Clerks of Westminster Cathedral/Matthew Martin rec. 2008 HYPERION CDA67748 [73:20]  [GH]

The Lay Clerks sound as if they have been singing plainchant all their lives ... see Full Review 

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) The French Connection Concertos Adrian Chandler (violin); Katy Bircher (flute); Peter Whelan (bassoon) La Serenissima/ Adrian Chandler rec. Hospital of St Cross, Winchester, 21-24 January 2009. DDD AVIE AV2178 [75:36] [JPJ]

One can’t help feeling disappointed by that elusive French connection ... see Full Review 

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) New Discoveries Modo Antiquo/Federico Maria Sardelli rec. 2008 NAĎVE OP30480 [57:37][MS]

Delightful and thought-provoking pieces newly attributed to Vivaldi  ... see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) The Four Seasons John Corigliano (violin); Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York/Guido Cantelli rec. 1955 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC176 [44:26][JW]

For admirers of Vivaldian string saturation, Cantelli style ... see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Juditha Triumphans, RV644 (Oratorio) (1716)
Sally-Anne Russell (mezzo) - Juditha; Sara Macliver (soprano) - Abra; Fiona Campbell (mezzo) - Vagaus; David Walker (counter-tenor) - Holofernes; Renée Martin (mezzo) - Ozias; Cantillation; Pinchgut Opera; Orchestra of the Antipodes/Attilio Cremonesi rec. live, City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney, Australia, 5, 8-10 December 2007. DDD. Texts and translations included. ABC CLASSICS 476 6957 [59:51 + 58:02] [BW]

Despite fierce competition, this has a great deal going for it. ... see Full Review 

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Arias Magdalena Kozena (mezzo); Venice Baroque Orchestra/Andrea Marcon rec. 2008 ARCHIV 4778096 [77:19][ZT] 

Vivaldi arias at their best ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813 - 1883) Die Walküre Hans Hotter, Birgit Nilsson, Ch & O Teatro alla Scala di Milano/Herbert von Karajan rec. live, 1958 IDIS 6549/51 [3 CDs: 62:47 + 78:57 + 63:51] [RMo]

So much fine singing but an inadequate Siegmund ... see Full Review 

William WALTON (1902-1983) Façade - Suites 1 and 2 (1922/1926/1938) [21:03] Charles LECOCQ (1832-1918) Mam'zelle Angot - Suite (arr. Leonide Massine) (1872/1943) [23:58] Royal Opera House Orchestra, Covent Garden/Anatole Fistoulari recording data not given HDTT HDCD152 [45:12] [SV]

The sonic results are first-rate ... see Full Review 

László WEINER (1916-1944) Chamber Music With Viola Duo, Sonata, String Trio, Concerto for Piano, Flute, Viola Dirk Hegemann (viola) Stuttgart & Saarbrücken RSO/Julian Kuerti rec. 2007 HUNGAROTON HCD 32607 [68:28] [NB]

Well performed and recorded music by composer still finding his own musical path ... see Full Review

Felix WEINGARTNER (1863-1942) Fruhling; Symphony No. 6 Sinfonieorchester Basel/Marko Letonja rec. 2007 CPO 777102-2 [57:30][RB] 

A loquacious symphony and a more interesting tone poem ... see Full Review

Paul WHITTY (b. 1970) Thirty–nine pages Darragh Morgan (violin); Mary Dullea (piano) rec. 2007 METIER RECORDS MSV28509 [62:04][BBr]

Give the music time to get inside you … see Full Review

Erich ZEISL (1905-1959) Piano Concerto, Pierrot in der Flasche suite Gottlieb Wallisch (piano) Vienna RSO/Johannes Wildner rec. 2006 CPO 777226-2 [62:49] [RB]

Euphoric and melodious ... see Full Review 

Johann ZUMSTEEG (1760-1802) Cello Concerto see HAYDN

 


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[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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