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RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sir
Arnold BAX
(1883-1953) Piano Quintet Frank
BRIDGE (1879-1940) Piano Quintet 
Ashley Wass (piano) Tippett Qt rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572474 [68:18] 
[IL]
Stunning
performances of two important British piano quintets.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
The Complete Violin Sonatas
Renaud Capuçon (violin) Frank Braley (piano) rec. 2009
VIRGIN CLASSICS 6420010 [3 CDs: 71:44 + 77:45 + 73:47]
[MC]
Can
stand alongside the finest sets available.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Christoph GRAUPNER
(1683
- 1760) Christmas Cantatas
Veronika Winter (soprano) Franz Vitzthum (alto) Jan Kobow (tenor) Markus
Flaig (bass) Das Kleine Konzert/Hermann Max rec. 2010
CPO 777 572-2 [73:44] 
[JV]
There
is hardly a better way to get to know Graupner's individual vocal style
than with this disc.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Leoš JANÁČEK
(1854-1938)
String Quartets
Mandelring Qt, Gunter Teuffel (viola d’amore) rec. 2009
AUDITE 92.545 
[67:14]
[SR]
A
must-have for Janáček-fans and chamber music aficionados
alike.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Charles Martin LOEFFLER
(1861-1935)
Two Rhapsodies Five Songs Gabriel PIERNÉ
(1863-1937) Sonata da Camera Maurice DURUFLÉ
(1902-1986) Prelude, recitative and variations
William Dazeley (baritone) London Concord Ens rec. 2001/2
CHAMPS HILL CHRCD010 [61:31] 
[KS]
Elegant
music, flawlessly performed. This is one of the finest recordings that
I have encountered in some time.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Witold
LUTOSLAWSKI (1913-1994) Symphony 3, Chain 3; Concerto
for Orchestra
BBC SO/Edward Gardner rec. 2010
CHANDOS CHSA5082
[69:56] [WH]
Magnificent
performances of three masterpieces from a master composer.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Alessandro MELANI
(1639-1703)
Motetti
Concerto Italiani/Rinaldo Alessandrini rec. 2006
NAÏVE OP30431 [67:07]
[JV]
Brilliant
performances of sacred music by a great composer.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano Concertos 3 & 4
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano) London SO/Antonio Pappano rec. 2009
EMI CLASSICS 6405162 [67:14]
[IL]
Another
winning Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Maurice RAVEL
(1875-1937)
Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, Piano Concerto, Miroirs
Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano) Cleveland O/Pierre Boulez rec. 2010
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8770 [70:32]
[IL]
An
excellent recording of a terrific partnership between soloist and orchestra
and of beautifully sculpted solo performances.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
(1844-1908) Scheherazade, Russian Easter Festival Overture
Royal
PO/Charles Dutoit rec. 2010
ONYX 4064 [61:15]
[BBr]
This
Scheherazade is too good to miss.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Alessandro SCARLATTI (1660
- 1725) La Santissima Trinita
Roberta Invernizzi, Veronique Gens, Vivica Genaux, Europa Galante/Fabio
Biondi rec. 2003
VIRGIN CLASSICS 6286472 [67.27]
[RH]
One
of my discoveries of the year. Very fine singing and playing, combined
with a work which seems to have an abundance of variety, displaying
Scarlatti’s genius at its best.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951)
Moses und Aron
Dale Duesing (baritone) Andreas Conrad (tenor) Chorwerk Ruhr, Bochum
SO/Michael Boder rec. live, 2009
EUROARTS 
2058178
[106:00]
[ST]
Altogether
outstanding: a thumping, exciting, visceral experience, but a challenge
too and something any serious music lover should rise to.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797–1828) Die Schöne Müllerin
Daniel
Behle (tenor) Sveinung Bjelland (piano) rec. 2009
CAPRICCIO 5044 [65:46]
[GF]
Should
win admirers around the world.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) 24 Preludes, Piano Qnt
David Kadouch (piano) Quatuor Ardeo rec. 2008
TRANSART TR162 [64:5]
[BBr]
Exhilarating
performances.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Baroque
Christmas in Hamburg Works
by Praetorius, Selle, Scheidemann, Bernhard, Scheidt, Förtsch &
Weckmann
Bremer Barock Consort/Manfred Cordes rec. 2009,
CPO 777 553-2 [72:18]
[JV]
A
compelling programme of Christmas music from 17th-century Hamburg.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
In Dulci Jubilo -
Romantic Choral Music for Christmas
Norddeutscher Figuralchor/Jörg Straube rec. 2009
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM GOLD
MDG947 1651-6 [74:57]
[CC]
This
is a tremendous Christmas disc with a difference. Romantic period choral
writing - a superb collection.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Puer
natus est - Tudor Music for Advent and Christmas 
Stile Antico rec. 2010
HARMONIA MUNDI
HMU807517 [78:09] [JQ] 
Acquire
this exceptionally fine disc and let the radiance of the music and the
performances illuminate your Christmas.
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Violin Sonatas 1, 4, 7 & 8
Alina Ibragimova (violin); Cédric Tiberghien (piano) rec. live, 2009
WIGMORE
HALL LIVE WHLIVE0036 [82:24] 
[CC]
This
is clearly a very special musical partnership, on the evidence of this
disc. As fresh and invigorating music-making as one is likely to hear.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Symphonies, Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2, Fidelio
Vienna
PO, Berlin PO, CBSO/Sir Simon Rattle rec. 1995-2003
EMI CLASSICS 4575732 [9 CDs: 10:00:00]
[ST]
The
keynote of the set is energy: pulsating, crackling,
electrifying energy.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Georges BIZET
(1838 – 1875)
Carmen
Jessye Norman (soprano) Mirella Freni (soprano) Neil Shicoff (tenor)
Ntl O de France/Seiji Ozawa rec. 1988
DECCA 478 2488 [79:55 + 78:39]
[GF]
A
remarkable recording. Jessye Norman’s assumption of the title role is
unforgettable.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Anton BRUCKNER
(1824-1896) Symphony 6
London PO/Christoph Eschenbach rec. live 2009
LPO LIVE LPO0049 [59:59]
[GD]
It's
a great recording and worth every penny.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Frédéric CHOPIN
(1810–1849) Piano Concerto 1, Nocturnes, Ballade 1, Polonaise 6
Maurizio
Pollini (piano) Philharmonia O/Paul Kletzki, rec 1960/8
EMI CLASSICS 6317802 [72:56]
[BBr]
This
is a great disc which should not be missed.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Piano Concerto 2, Variations on Là ci darem la mano, Andante
Spianato and Grande Polonaise brillante
Eldar Nebolsin (piano), Warsaw PO/Antoni Wit rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572336 [62:53]
[JS]
Near
the ideal in the performance of Chopin.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Rodolphe KREUTZER
(1766-1831) Violin Concertos 17-19
Axel Strauss (violin), San Francisco Conservatory O/Andrew Mogrelia
rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.570380 [71:45]
[BR]
Lovely
violin concertos which have me waiting for the rest of the series.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828)
Symphonies 1-9, Grand Duo, Rosamunde Overture
CO Europe/Claudio Abbado rec. 1986/7
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8687 [5 CDs: 330:04]
[LW]
Abbado’s
winning set still provides hours of truly wonderful music-making and
at low cost.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH John Philip SOUSA
(1854-1932)
Sousa’s Greatest Marches
Royal Artillery Band/Keith Brion rec. 1999-2002
NAXOS WIND BAND CLASSICS 8.572651-2 [53:43 + 54:59]
[DM]
Huzzahs
all round.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
Requiem, Quattro Pezzi Sacri
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Janet Baker, Christa Ludwig, Nicolai Gedda, Nicolai
Ghiaurov, Philharmonia Ch & O/Carlo Maria Giulini rec. 1962-64
EMI CLASSICS 6318212 [67:00 + 61:41]
[MS]
One
of the last century's greatest, most captivating, stimulating and thoroughly
enjoyable choral recordings from a team at the peak of their various
forms reissued. Don't miss it; though be prepared to live with some
acoustic imperfections.
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
English String Music
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Introduction
& Allegro, Serenade, Elegy, Sospiri Ralph VAUGHAN
WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Tallis & Greensleeves Fantasias
Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) Brigg
Fair
Sinfonia
of London, New PO, Hallé O/Sir John Barbirolli rec. 1962-70
EMI
CLASSICS MASTERS 6317882
[BBr]
These
performances defy criticism. They really don’t make them like this any
more.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH
Mélodies Françaises
Gérard Souzay (baritone)/Dalton Baldwin (piano) rec. 1960-8
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802007 [4 CDs: 288:28]
[JQ]
Lovers
of French music and all connoisseurs of great singing should lose no
time in acquiring this set, which represents an unmissable bargain.
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]
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