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Isaac
ALBÉNIZ (1860–1909) Iberia –
excerpts, Navarra Heitor VILLA-LOBOS
(1887–1959) Piano Concerto No. 1 
Ellen Ballon (piano) L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Ernest Ansermet
rec. 1960 (Albéniz), 1949 (Villa-Lobos)
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 0456 [65:21] 
[DM]
Ansermet’s
unfailing musicality and Decca’s pioneering studio skills…
see Full Review
Tomaso
ALBINONI (1671-1751) Oboe concertos see VIVALDI
Franco
ALFANO (1875-1954) Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano,
Sonata for Cello & Piano
Elmira Darvarova (violin), Scott Dunn (pno), Samuel Magill (cello),
rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.570928 [60:06] 
[GP]
A
side to Alfano we have rarely heard and very impressive it proves to
be … see Full Review
George
ANTHEIL
(1900–1957) His Carnegie Hall Concert of 1927 A Jazz Symphony (1925)
Violin Sonata No.2 (1923) String Quartet No.1 (1924) Ballet pour instruments
Mécanique et Percussion (1925)
rec. 1990,
NIMBUS NI 2567 [60:46] 
[BBr]
It’s
fantastic! ... see Full Review
Anton
ARENSKY (1861 – 1906) 12 Preludes Op.63; Essais
sur des rythmes oubliés Op.28; 12 Études Op.74; Arabesques (Suite) Op.67;
3 Morceaux
Anthony Goldstone (piano) rec. 2001 (Russian Piano Music Series – Volume
5) DIVINE
ART DDA25085 [71:26]
[NB]
A
superb conclusion to a triumphant life-enhancing series of discs in
which Mr Goldstone can take enormous pride. Bravo! ... see Full
Review
Sergio
ASSAD (b.1952)
Guitar Music
Thanos Mitsalas (guitar) rec. 2008
CLEAR NOTE 74412 [54:52]
[GPu]
An
attractive and well-recorded recital of music which avoids Latin clichés
… see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1759) Keybd Concerto 1, Partitas
5 & 6, F sharp min. & E Fugues from Well-Tempered Klavier bk.
2 Glenn
Gould (pno), Columbia SO/Leonard Bernstein, rec. 1957
NAXOS 8.112049 [65:09]
[DC]
Gould
revived: the version to have. ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Violin Sonatas
Viktoria Mullova (violin), Ottavio Dantone (harpsichord, organ), Vittorio
Ghielmi (viola da gamba), Luca Pianca (lute), rec. 2007
ONYX CLASSICS ONYX 4020 [54:05 + 59:22] 
[MC]
Mullova
and Dantone are impeccable in this captivating recording ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685
– 1750)
Capriccio on the departure of his most beloved brother BWV 992 (1702)
Partita No.6 in E minor BWV 830 (1725-30) The Italian Concerto in F
BWV 971 (1735)
Sergey Schepkin (piano) rec. 2007
NORTHERN FLOWERS NF/PMA 9949 [47:48]
[NB]
I’m
not sure how often I will return to this disc but return I will – a
performance to challenge not soothe ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685–1750) The Toccatas
Andrea Bacchetti (piano) rec. 2009-2010
DYNAMIC CDS 658 [79:43]
[GD]
A
desire to find beauty in every element of the music… see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Leipzig Chorales: CD 1: BWV 651-661; CD 2: BWV 662-669
Craig F. Humber (organ) rec. 2007
MUSIKPRODUKTION
DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 906 1619-6 [58:31 + 47:00]
[GD]
Craig
Humber is clearly passionate about the work of Gottfried Silbermann
... see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Matthäus-Passion (St Matthew Passion) BWV 244 Patrizia
Hardt (alto); Marie Kuijken (mezzo); Petra Noskaiová (alto); Gerlinde
Samann (soprano); Christoph Genz (tenor); Bernhard Hunziker (tenor);
Jan Van der Crabben (baritone)
La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken rec. 2009, DDD
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72357 [3 CDs: 66:08 + 51:26 + 38:04]
[MS]
A
vigorous and accurate account of the Matthew Passion on historically
informed principles. … see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Missae
Agnès Mellon (sop.), Gérard Lesne (alto), Christoph Prégardien (ten.),
Peter Kooy (bass), Ch. & Orch. of Collegium Vocale, Ghent/Philippe
Herreweghe, rec. 1989-90
VIRGIN VERITAS 5099 6 28482 2 1 [55:31 + 64:19]
[MS]
An
unspectacular - yet far from featureless - set of recordings … should
win new admirers for this less well-known repertoire. … see Full
Review
Claude-Bénigne
BALBASTRE (1727-1799)
Pièces de Clavecin - Book 1
Elizabeth
Farr (harpsichord) rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572034-35 [74:41 + 75:30]
[JV]
A
nice selection from Balbastre's oeuvre for keyboard - well played, but
on an instrument the use of which has no historical foundation ... see
Full Review
Emanuele
BARBELLA
(1718 - 1777) Sei trii per due violini e
violoncello - 'Hamilton Trios'
Ensemble Le Musiche da Camera (Egidio Mastrominico, Giuseppe Guida (violin),
Leonardo Massa (cello), Craig Marchitelli (guitar), Pier Paolo De Martino
(harpsichord)) rec. 2002, DDD
TACTUS TC 712701 [55:13]
[JV]
These sonatas make pleasant listening - the performers realise often
truly swinging performances ... see Full
Review
Amy
BEACH (1867-1944)
Rendezvous: Love songs of the Belle Epoque era
Jörg Waschinski (soprano); Meininger Trio rec. 2008
PHOENIX EDITION 188 [64:03]
[DM]
An
intriguing project, but ultimately rather disappointing ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH David BEDNALL
(b.
1979) Requiem * O come let us sing; Salvator mundi; Let all the
world
The Chamber Choir of St, Mary’s, Calne/Edward Whiting David Bednall
(organ); *Philip Dukes (viola) rec. 2009
REGENT REGCD327 [64:29]
[JQ]
Anyone
who is interested in choral music should try to hear this wonderful
disc. ... see Full Review
David
BEDNALL
(b. 1979) Flame
Celestial - Choral Music, Volume II
Wells Cathedral Choir/Matthew Owens *Jonathan Vaughn (organ) rec. 2009,
DDD English texts and Latin texts with English translations included
REGENT
REGCD320 [75:29]
[JQ]
Another
fine disc of choral music from a notable young English composer ...
see Full Review
Leonard
Bernstein Conducts Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN (1770–1827) Egmont Overture
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
String Quartet No. 6 in B flat major, Op. 18/6 (1798-1800) String Quartet
No. 13 in B flat major, Op. 130 (1825-26) Große Fuge for String
Quartet in B flat major, Op. 133 (1825-26)
Artemis Quartet (Natalia Prischepenko (violin); Gregor Sigl (violin);
Friedemann Weigle (viola); Eckart Runge (cello)) rec. 8-13 November,
16-18 December 2009, Teldex Studio, Finckensteinallee, Berlin. DDD
VIRGIN CLASSICS 50999 694584 0 8 [74:25]
[MC]
These
Beethoven Quartets are given performances of the highest quality. A
sure-fire ‘Record of the Year’ for 2010. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Cello Sonatas 3-5, Six Bagatelles
Zivian-Tomkins Duo rec. 2008
BRIDGE 9305 [77:47]
[OL]
A
lot of fun, good humor, and real enjoyment from excellent playing...
see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770 – 1827) Symphony 9 (arr. Mahler)
Gabriele
Fontana (sop.), Barbara Hölzl (alto), Arnold Bezuyen (ten.), Reinhard
Mayr (bass), Slovak Phil. Ch, Tonkunstler O Niederösterreich/Kristjan
Järvi, rec. 2006
PREISER RECORDS PR90773 [59:44]
[BBr]
For
the very curious only … see Full Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Sonata 30 see BERKEY
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Alban BERG
(1885-1935) Violin
Concerto Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
Violin Concerto Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Violin Concerto
Arthur Grumiaux, Concertgebouw O, Amsterdam/Igor Markevitch, Ernest
Bour, Vienna SO/Bogo Leskovic rec. 1956-67
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 0481 [78:55]
[WH]
An
unmissable disc from a master violinist … see
Full Review
Lennox
BERKELEY (1903-1989)
Horn trio, Flute sonatina, Viola sonata, Quintet for piano & winds
Raphael
Terroni (piano); Susanne Stanzeleit (violin); Patrick Williams (flute);
Morgan Goff (viola); New London Chamber Ens rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572288 [76:54]
[JF]
Great
works that reveal the creativity and invention of one of Britain’s
most competent composers. ... see Full
Review
Jackson
BERKEY (b.1942)
21st Century Romantic Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonata 30
Jackson Berkey (piano and harpsichord) rec. 1988/?
SDG RECORDS CD091-2 [47:43 + 62:10]
[JW]
Berkey’s
music is engaging, thoughtful and amusing, and he’s been well
served by the recorded sound. ... see Full
Review
Hector
BERLIOZ (1803–1869) Symphonie Fantastique Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770–1827) Overture Leonore No. 2
Philharmonia Orchestra/Esa-Pekka Salonen rec. 2008
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD193 [67:07]
[J-PJ]
Disappointment
has set in deeply… see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897)
Clarinet Trio in A minor Op.114 Piano Quartet No.2 in A Op.26
The Nash Ensemble (Ian Brown (piano); Richard Hosford (clarinet); Marianne
Thorsen (violin); Lawrence Power (viola); Paul Watkins (cello)) rec.
2009. Stereo. DDD
ONYX CLASSICS ONYX 4045 [73:46]
[GD][JS]
The
Nash gauge it just right ... see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Complete Variations for Piano
André de Groote and Luc Devos (piano)
TALENT DOM 3811 00+01 [63:05 + 51:44]
[DC]
An
excellent set. ... see Full
Review
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913 – 1976) Peter Grimes
Felicity Lott etc. (sop.), Sarah Walker (mezzo), Patricia Payne (alto),
Anthony Rolfe-Johnson etc. (ten.), Thomas Allen etc. (bar.), David Wilson-Johnson
(bass-bar.), Stafford Dean (bass), Ch. & Orch Royal Opera House/Bernard
Haitink, rec. 1992
EMI CLASSICS 50999 4 56943 2 5 [72.05 + 72.36 + bonus disc]
[RH]
Haitink
brings special insight ... see Full
Review
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
Symphony 4
Staatskapelle Dresden/Herbert Blomstedt
DAL SEGNO DSPRCD045 [78:20]
[SV]
Pleasing
and very much in keeping with the authentic Central European Bruckner
tradition … see Full
Review
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony 5
Residentie Orchestra The Hague/Neeme Järvi, rec. 2009
CHANDOS CHSA 5080 [62:05]
[GD]
There’s
probably scope for an interpretation that tells us something genuinely
new about Bruckner’s music, but this certainly is not it. ... see Full
Review
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony 7
Staatskapelle O Berlin/Kurt Masur, rec. 1967
ORCHESTRAL CONCERT CDs CD6/2009 [64:10]
[JW]
Masur’s
more malleable and destabilised approach ... see Full
Review
Gavin
BRYARS (b.1943)
Live at Punkt
Gavin Bryars Ens rec. live, 2008
GB RECORDS BCGBCD15 [59:39]
[DC]
What
will you use it for? … see Full
Review
Dietrich
BUXTEHUDE (c.1637-1707)
Organ Works
Masaaki Suzuki (organ) rec. 2008
BIS BIS-SACD-1809
[68:48] [DC]
A
tale of two organs ... see Full
Review
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