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RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frédéric CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Ballades, Scherzi 
Bernd Glemser (Piano) rec. 2009
OEHMS CLASSICS OC 758 [73:22]
[RC]
This
disc is a treasure, a rarity to behold.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH George Frideric HANDEL
(1685-1759)
Water Music, Rodrigo Overture and dances
Les Musiciens du Louvre, Grenoble/Marc Minkowski rec. 2010
NAÏVE V 5234 [68:00]
[MG]
A
disc of vividly realized and thoroughly entertaining performances.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hans Werner HENZE
(b.
1926) Hans Werner Henze and the Requiem
Dimitri Vassilakis (piano) Reinhold Friedrich (trumpet) Bochumer Symphoniker/Steven
Sloane rec. 2010
CYBELE KIG003 
[3 SACDs: 159:02]
[MS]
A
strange but strangely captivating Requiem by Henze given a superb and
memorable performance with bonuses.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav
HOLST
(1874-1934)
The Planets York BOWEN
(1884-1961) Suite in Three Movements
Fiona York & John York (piano) rec. 2010
NIMBUS NI5871 [70:28]
[JF]
An
excellent recording from a totally committed duo. Utterly sympathetic
and inspired.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Nikolai KAPUSTIN
(b.1937)
2 + 2 4 Kapustin Concerto for two pianos and percussion,
Eight Concert Etudes, Sonata 14
Daniel del Pino, Ludmil Angelov (pianos) Neopercusión
NON PROFIT MUSIC
NPM1011 [6446] [RB]
CDs
of Kapustin are far too rare and it is a delight to welcome this one.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
KUHNAU (1660–1722) & Vincenzo
ALBRICI (1631-1696) Soprano Cantatas
Barbara Christina Steude (soprano) Concerto con voce/Jan Katzschke rec.
2009
CPO 777 531-2 [67:32]
[MS]
There
are few enough recordings of Kuhnau to make this a recommendable recording
even if it did not have the vibrancy and immediacy that it does.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER (1860–1911) Symphony 2
Kate Royal (soprano) Magdalena Kožená (mezzo) Rundfunkchor
Berlin, Berlin PO/Sir Simon Rattle rec. 2010
EMI CLASSICS 6473632 [86:23]
[JQ]
Acquire
this superb new Mahler Second – but hang on to your copy of Rattle’s
1986 recording too!
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 4
Sarah Fox (soprano) Philharmonia O/Sir Charles Mackerras rec. 2006
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD219 [56:43]
[JQ]
This
is a very fine Mahler Fourth and a treasurable example of the work of
a great conductor in repertoire with which he was not automatically
associated.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847)
Violin Concerto, Octet
James Ehnes (violin) Philharmonia O/Vladimir Ashkenazy, Seattle Chamber
Music Soc rec. 2010
ONYX 4060 [57:31]
[KS]
Flawless,
perfect, profound; James Ehnes scores another home run with this incomparable
performance.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gabriel PIERNÉ (1863–1937)
Variations en ut mineur, Etude de concert, Trois pičces formant suite
de concert, Passacaille
Laurent Wagschal (piano) rec. 2009
TIMPANI 1C1178 [61:41]
[HC]
A
very fine survey of Pierné’s mature output for piano.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856) Album für die Jugend
Alessandra Ammara (piano) rec. 2010
ARTS 47756-8 [73:52]
[RBe]
The
best performance of Album for the Young I have ever heard and
probably one of the best discs of Schumann piano music I have ever listened
to.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Robert SCHUMANN
(1810 - 1856) Symphonies 1-4
Robert-Schumann-Philharmonie/Frank Beermann rec. 2009/10
CPO
777 536-2 [64:19 + 57:00]
[RB]
A
glorious Schumann cycle for the ages.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741)
Ercole dul Termodonte
Rolando Villazon (tenor) Patrizia Ciofi, Diana Damrau (sopranos) Joyce
DiDonato, Vivica Genaux (mezzos) Philippe Jaroussky (counter-tenor)
Europa Galante/Fabio Biondi rec. 2008-10
VIRGIN CLASSICS 6945450 [65:05 + 78:56]
[ST]
Whether
you buy this set for some magnificent singing or to get to know a once
lost opera, you will find plenty to enjoy.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
WAGNER (1813–1883) The Ring Without Words –
A Symphonic Synthesis (arr. Lorin Maazel)
Berlin PO/Lorin Maazel rec. 2000
EUROARTS 2057604 [88:00] 
[DM]
Early
days yet, but this is already on my list of picks for 2011.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Cello
Master Class
Maria Kliegel (cello) Lynn Kao (piano)
NAXOS 2.110280-81 
[2
DVDs: c. 8 hrs] + book (198pp)
[JS]
Surely
an essential purchase for any aspiring player.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Coco
Chanel & Igor Stravinsky - Soundtrack to the
Film by Jan Kounen Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971)
The Rite of Spring, piano pieces Gabriel
YARED (b. 1949) Filmscore
Christophe Bukudjian, Gabriel Yared (piano) Berlin PO/Sir Simon Rattle,
Film O/Jeff Atmajian rec. 2003
NAĎVE V 5223 [71:15]
[MC]
Rattle
and the Berlin Philharmonic in quite magnificent form.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Scandinavian
Classics - Vol. 3 Edvard GRIEG
(1843–1907) Symphonic Dances, Norwegian Dances Harald
SĆVERUD (1897–1992) Peer Gynt Jean SIBELIUS
(1865–1957) Violin Concerto, Lemminkainen Legends
Emil Telmányi (violin) Danish State RSO/Erik Tuxen, Thomas Jensen rec.
1949-53
DANACORD DACOCD697/8 [75:46 + 78:26]
[BBr]
A
well deserved Bravo!, and three cheers to Danacord for making these
recordings available once again.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH The Art of Andres
Segovia - Vol. 6
rec. 1944-56
IDIS 6603 [56.40]
[ZT]
A
historical treasure.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Grigory
Sokolov - Live in Paris
Grigory Sokolov (pno) rec. 2002
MEDICI ARTS 3073888 [123:02]
[CC]
A
rare opportunity to savour the art of Grigory Sokolov, that most reclusive
of pianists.
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion,
Out of Doors Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Andante & variations Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) En blanc et noir
Martha Argerich, Stephen Kovacevich (pianos) rec. 1969/77
DECCA 478 2467 [68:59]
[LW]
This
disc is not to be missed.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz Josef HAYDN
(1732-1809) Missa Brevis, “Harmoniemesse”
Trinity Ch, Rebel Baroque O/J. Owen Burdick, Jane Glover rec. 2001/8
NAXOS
8.572126 [52:28]
[KS]
Exceptionally
elegant performances from a first rate band of musicians. This is almost
a must-have.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Felix
MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY (1809-1847) Symphony 2 'Lobgesang'
Ruth Ziesak, Mojca Erdmann (sop.) Christian Elsner (ten.) MDR RSO &
Ch/Jun Märkl rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572294 [68:41]
[RB]
Mendelssohn
stirringly and fervently done. Superbly crafted performance.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791)
The Piano Sonatas
Daniel-Ben Pienaar (piano) rec. 2008/9
AVIE AV2209 [5 CDs: 288:17]
[DC]
Hesitate
not - this really is new Mozart.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH David L. POST (b.1949)
String Qts 2-4, Fantasia on a Virtual Choral
Hawthorne String Qt rec. 2002-7
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559661 [59:54]
[Byz]
Post
is a remarkable composer - not only inventive and technically capable,
but also a superb communicator.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858–1924) La rondine
Angela Gheorghiu (soprano) Roberto Alagna (tenor) William Matteuzzi
(tenor) Inva Mula (soprano) London Voices, London Symphony Orchestra/Antonio
Pappano rec. 1996
EMI CLASSICS 6407482 [66:16 + 54:19]
[GF]
You
can’t expect to hear/see the opera better done.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Henry PURCELL
(1659-1695) King Arthur
Véronique Gens (soprano) Sandrine Piau (soprano) Les Arts Florissants/William
Christie rec. 1995
ERATO 2564 67743-4 [50:43 + 41:38]
[JS]
One
of the best I have heard.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Music for Two Pianos
Stephen
Coombs, Christopher Scott (pianos) rec. 1990
REGIS RRC1356 [56:07]
[DM]
A
terrific disc – and a bargain to boot. Buy it.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH George ROCHBERG
(1918-2005) Piano Music - Vol. 3 Partita-Variations,
Nach Bach, Sonata-Fantasia
Sally Pinkas (pno) rec. 1996-7
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559633 [67:26]
[DM]
Deeply
satisfying.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Richard STRAUSS
(1864 – 1949) Complete works for wind ensemble: Sonatina
1, Aus der Werkstadtt einer Invaliden; Suite; Serenade; Symphony,
Fröhliches Werkstatt
Academy Symphonic Wind/Keith Bragg rec. 2003-2006
ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC RAM034 [53:21 + 43:21]
[BBr]
This
is an exciting issue and should not be missed at any cost.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Sir ARTHUR SULLIVAN
(1842-1900) Overtures and Choruses
Royal PO, New SO London/Royston Nash, James Walker, Isidore Godfrey
rec. 1959-82
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 1285 [69.09 + 77.52]
[GH]
This
is a marvellous and well-presented double disc compilation.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Giles SWAYNE (b.
1946) Magnificat I; The silent land; Ave verum corpus; Stabat mater
Raphael Wallfisch (cello) Dimitri Ens/Graham Ross rec. 1982/2010
NAXOS 8.572595 [68.18]
[RH]
This
is contemporary choral music at its best, and it is available at super-budget
price.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Antonio VIVALDI
(1678–1741) Ottone in Villa
Maria Laura Martorana (soprano) Tuva Semmingsen (mezzo) L’Arte
dell’Arco/Federico Guglielmo rec. 2008
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94105 [72.08 + 67.51 + CD-ROM]
[MM-B]
Truly
excellent
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Joan Sutherland
- The Legendary Debut Recital Arias by Donizetti, Verdi
& Handel
Paris Conservatoire O/Nello Santi, Philomusica of London/Sir Anthony
Lewis rec. 1959
REGIS RRC1364 [63:09]
[JS]
An
immense success, the first of many, and it remains an astonishing achievement.
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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