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Download
Adolphe
Charles ADAM (1803-1856) Giselle see
Invitation to the Dance
John
ADAMS
(b.1947) Road
Movies, John’s Book of Alleged Dances, Shaker Loops 
Angčle Dubeau (violin) Louise Bessett (piano) La Pietŕ rec. 2010
ANALEKTA AN28732 [60:26] 
[DC]
A
potent anti-depressant – fab stuff.
Gheorghi
ARNAOUDOV
(b. 1957) The
Way of the Birds, Footnote (...und Isolde/ns Winkfall Lassen...)
Various artists rec. March 1991, August 1995, August 1996
LABOR RECORDS LAB 7068 [57:31]
[RB]
Arnaoudov’s
pursuit of materials from ancient folk sources has certainly not produced
desiccated academic results. That’s for sure.
Concert
Arias by Johann
Christian BACH (1735-1782)
& Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1759-1791)
Hiroko Kouda, Hjördis Thébault (sopranos) Gustáv Belácek (bass-baritone)
Solamente Naturali/Didier Talpain rec. 2008
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94116 [64:56] 
[JV]
An
interesting programme of concert arias with obbligato instruments -
the vocal performances are uneven.
Johann
Christian BACH (1735-1782)
Symphonies
Netherlands CO/David Zinman rec. 1974-6
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802065 [74:44 + 70:55]
[JS]
Much
enjoyment to be had here; charm certainly, but much more than that.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cello Suites 1-6
Luigi Piovano (cello) rec. 2008
ELOQUENTIA AL 1021 [80:30 + 78:00] 
[GA]
A
stunning recording of the Six Cello Suites of Bach. It has it all: beauty
of sound, musical intelligence and emotional depth.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Cello Suites 1-6
Tanya Tomkins (cello) rec. 2010
AVIE AV2212 [79.01 + 73:42] 
[DC]
Confusing...
beautiful in many ways, but ...
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Six
suites for unaccompanied cello
Hekun Wu (cello) rec. 2008
MSR CLASSICS MS 1385 [71:44 + 76:03] [GA]
This
recording of the Bach Cello Suites is lacking in tonal and rhythmic
variety.
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Sonatas
and Partitas for solo violin (ca. 1720)
David Juritz (violin) rec. 2009,
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6142 [66:03 + 68:03]
[DC]
Tremendous
achievement, and worthy of serious consideration.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Partitas 1 & 2 Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Three Preludes and Fugues for Organ (arr.
Liszt)
David Theodor Schmidt (piano) rec. 2010
HäNSSLER PROFIL PH11025 [67.26]
[RBe]
Overall,
this was a good recital but there is scope for this talented artist
to up his game further.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Magnificat; Missa Brevis(4
masses)
Barbara Bonney (soprano) Brigit Remmert (mezzo) Rainer Trost (tenor)
Olaf Bär (baritone) RIAS Kemmerchor/Kammerorch CPE Bach/Peter Schreier
rec. 1993
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802057 [55:59 + 77:02]
[JS]
A
handy package from which to get to know the music, all of superb quality.
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) St.
Matthew Passion
Soloists, The Netherlands Bach Society/Jos van Veldhoven rec. 2010
CHANNEL
CLASSICS CCSSA32511 
[3 CDs: 165:25] [GD]
A
distinctive Matthew Passion and one that sheds fresh light on much of
the music.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Cantatas for the Complete Liturgical Year - Vol. 13 Easter Oratorio,
Cantata BWV6
Yeree Suh (soprano) Petra Noskaiová (alto) Christoph Genz (tenor)
Jan Van der Crabben (bass) La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken rec. 2009
ACCENT
ACC25313
[59:36] [GD]
At
its best this combines spontaneity with a sense of intimacy.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Complete flute sonatas
Lisa Beznosiuk (flute) Richard Tunnicliffe (cello) Paul Nicholson (harpsichord)
rec. 2000/01
HYPERION DYAD CDD22077 [58:53 + 62:45]
[DC]
Still
a top choice for these pieces.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1759) Chorales see
Stokowski
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Brandenburg Concerto 2,
Passacaglia and Fugue see Toscanini
BACH
Family Chamber music for two flutes
Hansgeorg Schmeiser (flute); Jan Ostrý (flute); Eszter Haffner (viola);
Othmar Müller (cello); Ingomar Rainer (harpsichord) rec. 2008
NIMBUS NI 5869 [79:22] 
[Byz]
Seventy-nine
minutes of 24-carat music very ably performed.
Arnold
BAX (1883-1953) Winter
Legends Morning Song ‘Maytime in Sussex’ Saga Fragment
Ashley
Wass (piano) Bournemouth SO/James Judd rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572597 [56:13]
[JF]
Naxos
have given Chandos a run for their money.
Antonio
BAZZINI (1818-1897)
Violin Sonata, Novellette, Morceaux
Luigi Alberto Bianchi (violin) Aldo Orvieto (piano) rec. 1999
DYNAMIC DM 8018 [67:14]
[JW]
Absolutely
charming … a rapport that is a joy to hear.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Late String Quartets Vol. 2
Cypress
String Qt
CYPRESS PERFORMING ARTS ASSOCIATION CSQ2010 [44:00] [BW]
Joins
the great recordings of these wonderful works.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
Symphony 3, Overtures: The Creatures of Prometheus, Fidelio, King
Stephen, Consecration of the House
London SO/Yondani Butt
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6144 [79:50]
[Byz]
Intelligent,
relaxed, neutral, even if the LSO at times sound more professional than
passionate.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) 'Razumovsky'
Quartet Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) String Quartet
16 Anton WEBERN
(1883-1945) Fünf Sätze, Sechs Bagatellen
Hagen
Qt rec. 2010
MYRIOS CLASSICS
MYR006 [75:36] [MC]
Beautifully
played and recorded this recital is characteristic of the Hagen Quartet.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concertos 1 & 2
Felicja Blumental (piano) Vienna SO/Robert Wagner
BRANA BR0034 [68:48]
[CH]
Tempi
sound spontaneously right, the phrasing natural and musical.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Trios (arrangements)
Beethoven
Project Trio rec. 2009
CEDILLE RECORDS CDR90000118 [59:57]
[BW]
For
all who know and love the ‘regular’ Beethoven Piano Trios.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto 5, Piano Sonata 28
Robert Casadesus (piano) Concertgebouw O/Hans Rosbaud rec. 1961/4
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802050 [55:31]
[JW]
A
mixed bag but at its best it alerts one to Casadesus’s stature.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphonies 1, 2, 3 & 5
Philharmonia O/Otto Klemperer rec. live, 1960
ISTITUTO DISCOGRAFICO ITALIANO IDIS6610/2 [77:09 & 71:46]
[JS]
These
discs are an essential adjunct to more recent and better recorded versions,
and I look forward with great eagerness to the remaining volumes in
the series.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Piano Sonata 17, 21 & 31
David Wilde (piano) rec. 2010,
DELPHIAN DCD34090 [71:45]
[BR]
A
huge surprise — superb Beethoven in the romantic mode, with great color
and poetry.
Ludwig
Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Trio Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Piano Trio Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-56) Piano Trio 1
Vienna Piano Trio rec. 2010
MDG 342 1685-2 [75:27]
[MC]
A
wonderful heavyweight recital played with natural assurance.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Sonatas 16-18
Thomas Sauer (piano) rec. 2009
MSR CLASSICS MS1284 [69:05]
[BW][GM]
Everything
is in place but other players bring something extra to these sonatas.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Egmont Overture
see BRAHMS
Music
of Tribute - Vol. 6: Alban Berg
Giacinto
SCELSI (1905-1988)
Poema No. 4: Passage du počte (A la mémoire d’Alban Berg) (1936-39)
[8:58] Alban BERG
(1885-1935) Sonata for piano, Op. 1 (1908) [12:56]
Franghiz ALI-ZADEH (b. 1947) Sonata
for piano No. 1 in memoriam Alban Berg (1970) [12:59] Alban
BERG 4 Songs, op. 2 for voice and piano (Schlafen, schlafen
(Friedrich Hebbel) [2:58]; Schlafend trägt man mich [1:11]; Nun
ich der Riesen stärksten überwand [0:58]; Warm die Lüfte [3:09]
(Alfred Mombert)) Ross Lee FINNEY
(1906-1997) Variations on a theme by Alban Berg (1952)
[7:47] Jacob GILBOA (1920-2007)
Reflections on Three Chords of Alban Berg (1979) [7:07] Alban
BERG/Hans Erich APOSTEL (1901-1972) Variations from Berg’s
opera Lulu for piano four hands (1935) [2:46]
Ieva Jokubaviciute (piano); Marjorie Dix (mezzo) rec. 2009, . DDD
LABOR LAB 7086 [60:53]
[RB]
A
tangy Berg tribute which also serves to introduce a formidable young
pianist in her recording debut.
Alban
BERG (1885-1935) String Quartet see SCHUBERT
Leonard
BERNSTEIN
(1918-1990) Symphony 3, Chichester Psalms
Karita
Mattila, Joseph Mills, Yehudi Menuhin (speaker) Maîtrise/Chœur/Orch
Phil de Radio France/Yutaka Sado rec. 1998
WARNER APEX 2564 67717-9 [61:56]
[BW]
A
more approachable Kaddish than Bernstein’s own versions, at a very attractive
price.
Howard
BLAKE
(b.1938) Spieltrieb,
for string quartet, op.594 (2008) [14:10] A Month in the Country,
op.611 (2010) [13:53] Leda and the Swan, op.249a (1977) [9:37]
String Trio, op.199 (1975/2010) [11:41] Walking in the Air (from:
The Snowman Suite for string quartet, op.615) (2010) [6:24]
Edinburgh Quartet rec. 2010. DDD
NAXOS 8.572688 [55:44]
[Byz]
Coherent
if restless … serious as well as exciting and often quite beautiful.
Arthur
BLISS
(1891-1975) Sonata for Piano and Violin* [11:00]
Henry WALFORD DAVIES (1869-1941)
Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano* (1893 rev 1895) [21:56] York
BOWEN (1884-1961) Sonata for Violin and Piano, Op. 112 [20:10]
Rupert
Luck (violin); Matthew Rickard (piano) rec. 16 August 2010, Wyastone
Concert Halls, Wyastone Leys, Monmouth. DDD *world premičre recordings
EM
RECORDS EMR CD001 [53:06]
[JW]
A
most enjoyable disc.
Alexander
BORODIN (1833-1887) Cello sonata see RACHMANINOV
York
BOWEN (1884-1961) Violin Sonata see BLISS
David
W. BOWERMAN (b.
1936) Favoured Fantasies
Bridget McCrae (cello) Julian Milford (piano) Bronte Qt
CHAMP HILL RECORDS CHRCD015 [76:55]
[PK]
The
music is easy to listen to, and rouses one’s interest in hearing
his first CD.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Violin Concerto Antonín DVORÁK
(1841-1904) Symphony 9 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Egmont Overture Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Overture The Sicilian Vespers
Gil Shaham (violin) Berlin PO/Claudio Abbado rec. 2002
EUROARTS 2051954 
[108:01]
[DBi]
A
superb concert containing a top recommendation for the Dvorák New
World. As great a performance as has ever been given.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin Concerto Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Violin Concerto
Henryk Szeryng (violin) Concertgebouw O/Bernard Haitink rec. April 1973/1976
NEWTON
CLASSICS 8802053 [70:06]
[JW]
Whatever
one’s view on the matter, Szeryng was an outstanding player.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
A German Requiem Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Serenata notturna
Elisabeth Grümmer (soprano) Hermann Prey (baritone) Cologne RSOa/Otto
Klemperer rec. 1954/6
ICA CLASSICS ICAC5002 [78:02]
[JW]
An
invigorating reading that adds an exciting new vista to the conductor’s
performances of the German Requiem.
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Piano
Concerto 2, Rhapsody Fryderyk CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Nocturne
Arthur Rubinstein (piano) Cologne RSO/Christoph von Dohnányi rec. 1963/6
ICA
CLASSICS ICAC5003 [74:39] [JW]
A
treasurable disc, offering lasting virtues, and performances of subtlety,
warmth and humanity.
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Schumann & Handel Variations Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Kinderszenen
Sheila Arnold (piano) rec. October 2008/2010 DDD
C-AVI MUSIC 8553215 [64:32]
[OL]
Pages
of intimate diaries. I just can’t stop listening to this disc.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony 3 see SCHUBERT
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833 1897) Symphony 2 see Stokowski
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Billy Budd
John Mark Ainsley (tenor) Jacques Imbrailo (baritone) The Glyndebourne
Ch, London PO/Mark Elder rec. live, 2010
OPUS ARTE 
OA1051D
[86:00 + 87:00]
[ST]
For
my money this is the best opera DVD of the year so far, and quite possibly
the best in a considerably greater time period.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Max BRUCH
(1838-1920)
Violin Concerto 1, Romance, String Quintet
Vadim Gluzman, Sandis Šteinbergs (violin) Maxim Rysanov (viola)
Ilze Klava (viola) Reinis Birznieks (cello) Bergen PO/Andrew Litton
rec. 2009
BIS-SACD-1852 [58.04]
[CF]
Quite
the finest performance of the Bruch concerto I have ever heard.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) String Quintet Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Capriccio Prelude
Raphael Ens rec. 1993
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55372 [57:37]
[RMo]
The
Raphael Ensemble play superbly.
Gavin
BRYARS (b.1943) After Handel’s Vesper, Ramble on Cortona,
Piano Concerto (The Solway Canal)
Ralph van Raat (piano) Capella Amsterdam, Netherlands Radio Chamber
Philharmonic/Otto Tausk rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572570 [52:42]
[KM]
Bryars’
compositions for piano are few, and, while they didn’t grab this reviewer,
others may appreciate them.
Dieterich
BUXTEHUDE (c.1637-1639 - 1707) Opera Omnia XIII Chamber
Music Vol. 2 - Trio sonatas
Ton Koopman (harpsichord, organ) Catherine Manson (violin) Paolo Pandolfo
(viola da gamba) Mike Fentross (lute) rec. 2010
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72252 [59:53] [MS]
Truly
beautiful, inspiring and original - the latest in an excellent series.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
William BYRD (1643-1623) Motets see
Cantiones Sacrae 1575
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