PART 2
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[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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Klaus AGER (b.1946) Migrations see Migrations

Kalevi AHO (b. 1949) Piano Concerto, Symphony 13 Antti Siirala (piano)
Lahti SO/Osmo Vänskä rec. 2004/5 BIS-CD-1316 [68:49] [DM]

A must-hear for those who already own the other works in this excellent cycle

William ALWYN (1905-1985) Naiades see Images and Impressions

Fikret AMIROV (1922-1984) Shur, Kyurdi Ovshari, Gyulistan Bayati Shiraz, Azerbaijan Capriccio Russian PO/Dmitry Yablonsky, rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.572170 [59:11] [BR]

A good introduction to Azeri music with riotous orchestral colours, wit and panache … see Full Review

George ANTHEIL (1900–1957) His Carnegie Hall Concert of 1927:- A Jazz Symphony (1925) [12:32] Violin Sonata No.2 (1923) [8:06] String Quartet No.1 (1924) [12:59] Ballet pour instruments Mécanique et Percussion (1925) [26:55] various artists rec. 1990 NIMBUS NI 2567 [60:46] [NB]

A must-hear disc for anyone with any kind of passing interest in the development of 20^th Century music

Violet ARCHER (1913-2000) Piano Concerto see LOUIE

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685 - 1750) The Complete Clavier Suites - Vol. 1: French Suite No. 1 in d minor (BWV 812); English Suite No. 1 in A (BWV 806); Partita No. 1 in B flat (BWV 806) John Paul (lute-harpsichord) rec. 2008 LYRICHORD LEMS 8066 [71:56] [JvV]

This disc suffers from ill-judged registration and indifferent playing

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685–1750) Violin Concertos Monica Huggett (violin); Alison Bury (violin) Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra/Ton Koopman rec. 1985 WARNER CLASSICS APEX 2564 68243-2 [44:49] [DC]

A fine set for short journeys

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Toccatas Andrea Bacchetti (piano) rec. 2009/10 DYNAMIC CDS 658 [79:16] [DC]

Delivers more the more you hear it

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The Bach Cantata Pilgrimage - Volume 11 Cantatas for the 20th & 21st Sundays after Trinity Magdalena Kožená (soprano) Monteverdi Ch; English Baroque Soloists/Sir John Eliot Gardiner. rec. 2000 SOLI DEO GLORIA SDG 168 [64:55 + 80:10] [JQ]

Those who are collecting this excellent series should add this pair of discs to their shelves as soon as possible

Nicolas BACRI (b. 1961) Concerto for Flute & Orch. Leonard BERNSTEIN (1918-1990) Halil Brett DEAN (b. 1961) Siduri Dances Christopher ROUSE (b. 1949) Flute Cto Sharon Bezaly (flute), Tapiola Sinfonietta/Jean-Jacques Kantorow, São Paulo SO/John Neschling, Swedish Ch. Orch./Brett Dean, Royal Stockholm PO/Alan Gilbert, rec. 2006-7- BIS BIS-CD-1799 [71:54] [WH]

Four contemporary flute works stunningly performed and recorded … see Full Review

Samuel BARBER (1910–1981) Koussevitsky Conducts Barber Violin Concerto, Commando March, Symphony No. 2 Ruth Posselt (violin) Boston Symphony Orchestra/Serge Koussevitsky rec. 1944, 1949 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 217 [56:32] [WK] [RB]

Long-lost recordings, restored to circulation for the Barber centennial. Of interest to all fans of the composer. [WK] … A very important and fascinating disc for Barber enthusiasts [RB] … see Full Review 

Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) Music of America SONY 88697 70278 2 [202:55] [RB]

Five three disc bargain price sets each of which celebrates independence, political and artistic, and offers a substantial slice of each composer’s music in golden age reissues

Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Fidelio Diener, Sacca, Muff, Gallo, Trattnigg, Strell, Strazanac, Zurich Opera O & Ch/Haitink rec. 2008 OPUS ARTE DVD OA 1023 D [146.37] [RF]

A rather bland account of one of the most vibrant of all operas ... see Full Review 

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonatas 21 & 29 Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) rec. 1967/73 DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 1304 [68:30] [WH]

Two celebrated Beethoven sonatas in expert but rather under-characterised performances

Leonard BERNSTEIN (1918-1990) Music of America SONY 88697 71772 2 [195:33] [RB]

Five three disc bargain price sets each of which celebrates independence, political and artistic, and offers a substantial slice of each composer’s music in golden age reissues

Manuel BLANCAFORT (1897-1987) Complete Piano Music - Vol. 5 Miquel Villalba (piano) rec. 2008 NAXOS SPANISH CLASSICS 8.572220 [71:01] [DM]

Gets better as it unfolds. Not first-rate music but still a very worthwhile purchase

Luigi BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Cello Concertos Wen-Sinn Yang (cello); Streicherakademie Bozen/Georg Egger rec. 1999 ARTS 47754-8 [79:01] [DC]

Skill and refinement all round – won’t disappoint ... see Full Review 

Alexander BORODIN (1833-1887) String 4tet 1 Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Concertino for string 4tet Nikolai MIASKOVSKY (1881-1950) String 4tet 13 Borodin 4tet, rec. 2009 ONYX 4051 [67:40] [JW]

A cautious welcome ... see Full Review

William BOYCE (1711-1779) Eight Symphonies English String O/William Boughton rec. 1992 NIMBUS NI 5345 [61:53] [JW]

Attack, articulation and detailing do suffer. Things lack crispness

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johannes BRAHMS (1833 – 1897) Piano Sonata No.3 in F minor, op.5 (1853) [32:14] Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873 – 1943) Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, op.18 (1900/1901) [31:54] Julius Katchen (piano) New Symphony Orchestra/Anatole Fistoulari rec. 1949, 1951 ADD PRISTINE AUDIO PAKM035 [64:28] [BBr]

These performances are amongst the best available … see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Cello Sonatas Torlief Thedéen (cello), Roland Pöntinen (pno), rec. 2006 BIS-SACD-1606 [82:26] [DC]

A new reference in this repertoire. ... see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Ein deutsches Requiem Solveig Kringelborn (sop.), Mariusz Kwiecien (bar.), Swedish Radio Ch., Rotterdam PO/Valéry Gergiev, rec. 2008 BIS DVD-1750 [79:20] [CC]

The circumstances of performance clearly inspired all present to give all of themselves ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Soirées musicales, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Matinées musicales, Four Sea Interludes and Passacaglia see Sir Adrian Boult

Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony No 7 in E major (ed. Haas) Staatskapelle Dresden/Herbert Blomstedt rec. 1980 DAL SEGNO DSPRCD046 [67:50] [BR]

If I had to give up all but one Bruckner album for life, this would be the survivor ... see Full Review 

Ole Bornemann BULL (1810-1880) Nocturne for violin and orchestra; The Herdgirl’s Sunday; A Mountain Vision; Adagio Religioso - A Mother’s Prayer; From ‘Polacca Guerriera’; Adagio Sostenuto; Grand March; Cantabile doloroso e Rondo giocoso; La Mélancolie; “I ensomme stunde” – In Moments of Solitude; Andante maestoso; Sigrids song; Barcarolle; Scotch Fantasy; Andante cantabile; Cantabile – Reminiscences from the concert in Fredriksværn; Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Gavotte: Forspill til Sigurd Jorsalfar; Menuet Arve Tellefsen (violin), Håvard Gimse, String Ensemble, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra/Eivind Aadland rec. 2004 SIMAX PSC1312 [73:06] [JW]

Tellefsen takes on Bull’s violinistic honours with accustomed allure and stature ... see Full Review 

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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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