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Adolphe
ADAM (1803-1856) Giselle Riccardo
DRIGO (1846-1930) Le Corsaire Ludwig
MINKUS (1826-1917) La Bayadère Act IV 
London
Festival Ballet O/Terence Kern, Sydney SO/John Lanchbery rec.
1972/83 EMI
CLASSICS
9682052 [72:50 + 69:58] [RMay]
Plenty
to stir the widest range of emotions and jerk the feet into motion ...
see Full Review
John
ADAMS
(b. 1947) Nixon
in China – an opera in three acts (1987) [154:53] Richard Nixon:
- Robert Orth Henry Kissinger: - Thomas Hammons Mao Tse-tung: - Marc
Heller
Opera Colorado Chorus/Douglas Kinney Frost, Colorado Symphony Orchestra/Marin
Alsop rec. live, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver, Colorado, 6-14
June 2008. DDD
NAXOS AMERICAN OPERA CLASSICS 8.669022-24 [3 CDs: 66:22 + 51:04
+ 36:27]
[JZ]
A
convincing performance in excellent sound, affordably priced, easy to
obtain … see Full Review
Tomaso
ALBINONI (1671-1751) Complete
oboe concertos, op. 7 & 9 Thomas
Indermühle (oboe); Jacques Tys (oboe) I Solisti di Perugia/Paolo
Franceschini
rec. 2006/7 CAMERATA
CM-20097-8 [75:14
+ 50:29] [J-PJ]
Measured
elegance … immediately attractive … graceful … charming
... see Full Review
Hugo
ALFVÉN (1872-1960) Swedish Rhapsody 1 see
SIBELIUS
Thomas
ARNE
(1710–1778)
Artaxerxes – An English Opera (1762) (Reconstructed and
edited by Peter Holman) Artaxerxes - Christopher Robson (counter-tenor)
The
Parley of Instruments/Roy Goodman rec. The Warehouse, Waterloo, London,
March 1995. DDD.
Texts included.
HYPERION DYAD CDD22073 [72:26 + 67:50]
[BW]
An
excellent introduction to a neglected composer; follow up with my other
Arne recommendations ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sir Malcolm ARNOLD
(1921-2006)
Ballet
Music Homage to the Queen - suite op. 42 (1953) [19:43] Rinaldo
and Armida - dance-drama in one act op. 49 (1954) [20:57] Sweeney
Todd - concert suite op. 68a (1959) (prepared 1984, David Ellis
with composer) [20:16] Electra - ballet in one act op. 79 (1963)
[14:49]
BBC Philharmonic/Rumon Gamba rec. Studio 7, New Broadcasting House,
Manchester, 9-10, December 2008
CHANDOS CHAN 10550 [76:14] [JQ][RB]
A
disc that no admirer of Arnold’s music will want to be without. [JQ]
A splendid collection [RB] ... see Full
Review
Sir
Malcolm ARNOLD (1921-2006) English Dances see
Boult
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
Italian Concerto, Partitas 1, 5 & 6
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonata 17
Walter Gieseking (piano) rec. 1931-40
NAXOS 8.111353 [79:15]
[JW]
A
notably fine selection, finely engineered ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Suites for unaccompanied cello
(c.1721) Angela
East (baroque cello, England, 1725; 5-stringed cello after Amati, 2000)
rec. François-Bernier Concert Hall, Le Domaine Forget, Saint-Irénée,
Canada, May, 2001 (nos.1, 3, 5 and 6) and Troy Savings Bank Concert
Hall, New York, February 2004 (nos. 2 and 4). DDD.
RED PRIEST RECORDINGS RP006 [70:35 + 78:07]
[BW]
Interesting
performances, even where they differ from the norm, but hardly a first
choice ... see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) & Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Preludes and Fugues for
Piano Bernd
Glemser
(piano)
rec. 2009 OEHMS
CLASSICS
OC738 [81:11] [JFL]
I
very much like the Shostakovich but surely this disc wasn’t
meant to be attractive just for four Shostakovich Prelude & Fugue
pairs … see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685–1750) Concertos for
Solo Harpsichord Elizabeth
Farr (harpsichord) rec. 2008 NAXOS
8.572006-7 [76:26 + 74:09] [BW]
Reservations
about the instrument and some tempi aside, this is an enjoyable
set ... see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Magnificat see MENDELSSOHN
Nicolas
BACRI (b.
1961) Concerto
amoroso, Flute concerto, Concerto nostalgico,
Symphony 4 Lisa
Batiashvili
(violin)
Sharon Bezaly (flute) Riita Pesola
(cello) François Leleux (oboe) Tapiola Sinfonietta/Jean-Jacques Kantorow
rec. 2006 BIS
BIS-CD-1579 [58:54] [HC]
A
fine selection from Nicolas Bacri’s varied output in excellent
readings and recording … See Full
Review
Mily
BALAKIREV (1837-1910) Islamey see Shehori
Claude-Bénigne
BALBASTRE (1727–1799) Music for Harpsichord Elizabeth
Farr (harpsichord) rec. 2008 NAXOS
8.572034-35 [74:41 + 75:30] [BW]
An
enterprising and convincing set of performances; Naxos rescues
another neglected composer ... see Full
Review
Sir Arnold BAX (1883-1953) Tintagel see
Boult
Albert
BECKER (1834-1899) Bleibe, Abend will es werden
- Romantische Chormusik
Kammerchor CONSONO/Harald Jers rec. 2009
CARUS 83.438 [73:00]
[JQ]
Rather
conservative choral music by a minor German Romantic composer ... see
Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
Symphony No.1 in C major Op.21 (1800) [24:27] Bohuslav
MARTINU (1890-1959)
Concerto for oboe and Small Orchestra H 353 (1954-55) [18:10] Miloslav
KABELAC (1908-1979) Symphony No.4 in A Camerata Op.36
(1954-58) [25:46]
Vilem Veverka (oboe) Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice/Marko
Ivanovic rec. Pardubice House of Music, 2-4 September 2009. DDD
ARCODIVA UP 01232 131 [68:42]
[RB]
A
very varied feast of accomplished musicmaking ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony
3 Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphony
29 Royal
Stockholm PO,
Bavarian RSO/Otto Klemperer
rec. 1956/8 MEDICI
MASTERS
MM037-2 [78:09] [JW]
Reinforces
the changeable quality of Klemperer’s interpretations forcibly
and movingly ... see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Egmont Overture Zoltán
KODALY (1882-1967) Dances of Galánta Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony 1 Hungarian
State
SO/János Ferencsik
rec. 1966 ORCHESTRAL
CONCERTS CD5/2009 [73:03] [JW]
A
powerful reading of the Brahms graced by a powerful dark bass line
... see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Missa Solemnis (1818-23) Robert
Shaw Chorale, NBC SO/Arturo Toscanini rec. 1953 PRISTINE
AUDIO PACO034 [79:27] [RMo]
Toscanini’s
famed combination of discipline, rhythmic precision and overt emotionalism
... see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concerto 2 Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Quintet Glenn
Gould (piano) Columbia SO/Leonard Bernstein Montreal String
Qt rec. 1957 NAXOS
HISTORICAL 8.111341 [65:19] [JW]
One
for Gouldians ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonata 17 see
BACH
Franz
BENDA (1709-1786) Flute
concerto, Violin concerto Georg Anton BENDA (1722-1795) Keyboard
concertos Jan
De Winne (transverse flute); Ryo Terakado (violin); Shalev Ad-El
(harpsichord); Il Gardellino
rec. 2008 ACCENT
ACC24215 [76:42] [JV]
A
fine introduction to the music of the highly gifted Benda brothers
- their compositions are served well by Il Gardellino ... see Full
Review
Hector
BERLIOZ
(1803-1869) Benvenuto Cellini (1834-38)
[163:35] Benvenuto Cellini – Soloists
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna State Opera Chorus/Valery Gergiev
rec. Salzburg Festival, Großes Festspielhaus, Salzburg, 5, 10, 15 August
2007.
NAXOS
2.110271
[164:00]
[JPJ]
Good
but hardly inspired ... see Full Review
Leonard
BERNSTEIN (1918 – 1990) Mass Jubilant
Sykes, Peabody Children’s Ch, Baltimore SO/Marin Alsop rec.
2008 NAXOS
8.559622-23 [65.11 + 38.50] [RH]
You
can’t help but admire the commitment and intensity … a diverse but cohesive
whole. … terrific value ... see Full
Review
Leonard
BERNSTEIN
(1918-1990)
Wonderful Town
Kim Criswell (mezzo) Audra McDonald (soprano) Thomas Hampson (baritone)
London Voices; Birmingham Contemporary Music Group/Sir Simon Rattle
rec. 1998
EMI CLASSICS 9671362 [66:44]
[ST]
If
you give it a chance then I’m sure you’ll want to come back
to it. ... see Full Review
Harrison
BIRTWISTLE
(b. 1934) The
Mask of Orpheus (1973-1986) [162:17] Soloists
BBC Singers BBC Symphony Orchestra/Sir Andrew Davis rec. live, Royal
Festival Hall, London, 11-12 April 1996.
NMC D050 [3 CDs: 67:29 + 48:21 + 46:27]
[DC]
Definitive
and superlative recording and performance. ... see Full
Review
Arthur
BLISS
(1891-1975)
Film Music Christopher Columbus,
Seven Waves Away, Men of Two Worlds
Slovak RSO/Adriano rec. 1990
NAXOS 8.572226 [60:11]
[JW]
Admirers
of quality film music, and Bliss’s in particular, need no
second invitation ... see Full
Review
Arthur
BLISS (1890 - 1975) Viola Sonata see English
Viola
Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) String Quartet see Birth
Felipe
BOERO (1884-1958) El Matrero see MENDELSSOHN
York
BOWEN
(1884-1961) The Piano Sonatas
Danny Driver (piano) rec. August 2008, Henry Wood Hall, London
HYPERION CDA67751/2 [68:47 + 49:55]
[MC]
A
splendid set that should broaden York Bowen’s appeal still further.
... see Full Review
Brian
BOYDELL (1917 - 2000) Elegy and Capriccio see Clarinet
Variations
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Ein deutsches Requiem Elisabeth
Grümmer (soprano); Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone) Ch St.
Hedwig’s Cathedral Berlin; Berlin PO/Rudolf Kempe rec. 1955 NAXOS
8.111342 [76:53] [WH]
A
marvellous performance from 1950s Berlin … see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony 1 see BEETHOVEN
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897)
Variations on a Theme by Haydn see Argerich
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin concerto see MOZART
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Quintet see BEETHOVEN
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jan
Josef Ignác BRENTNER
(1689 - 1742) Arias Šimon BRIXI
(1693-1735) Graduale Pro Dominica Quinquagesimae proprium in a minor
'Tu es Deus' [03:34]
Hana Blažíková (soprano) Collegium Marianum/Jana Semerádová rec. June
2003, September 2005, May 2009, Church of Our Lady Queen of Angels,
Prague, Czech Republic. DDD
SUPRAPHON SU 3970-2 [60:42]
Spirited
and stylish performances of music by a Czech composer of the early 18th
century ... see Full Review
Frank BRIDGE (1879 - 1941) Short works
see English
Viola
Benjamin
BRITTEN
(1913-1976) The
Beggar’s Opera, Op. 43 (1948), Ballad Opera (after John GAY,
1728) [117:52] Susan Bickley (mezzo) - Mrs Peachum; Jeremy White (bass-baritone)
- Mr Peachum; Leah-Marian Jones (mezzo) - Polly Peachum; Tom Randle
(tenor) - Captain Macheath; Robert Anthony Gardiner (tenor) - Filch;
Donald Maxwell (baritone) - Lockit; Sarah Fox (soprano) - Lucy Lockit;
Frances McCafferty (mezzo) - Mrs Diana Trapes.
City of London Sinfonia/Christian Curnyn rec. Blackheath Halls, London,
1-4 February 2009. Booklet incl. spoken and sung texts.
CHANDOS CHAN 10548(2) [52:43 + 65:09]
[MG]
Must now be first choice for this work … see
Full Review
Šimon
BRIXI
(1693-1735)
Graduale Pro Dominica Quinquagesimae proprium in a minor 'Tu es Deus'
see BRENTNER
Anton
BRUCKNER
(1824-1896) Symphony No. 6 in A (1879-81) [57:35]
Munich
Philharmonic/Günter Wand rec. Munich, June 1999
HÄNSSLER PROFIL PH06047 [57:35] [SV]
Wand’s
cohesive, gripping renditions of the outer movements represent a considerable
achievement … see Full Review
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony No. 7 Staatsoper
Berlin/Oskar Fried (acoustic
rec 1924) see Oskar Fried Volume
4
George
BUTTERWORTH (1885-1916) A Shropshire Lad, The
Banks of Green Willow see Boult
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