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Kaija
SAARIAHO (b. 1952) Clarinet Concerto, Laterna Magica,
Leino Songs 
Kari Kriikku (clarinet) Anu Komsi (soprano) Finnish RSO/Sakari Oramo
rec. 2010
ONDINE ODE 1173-2 [67:28] 
[DC]
Music
which is a tuning fork held up to the harmonies and dissonances of existence.
Aulis
SALLINEN (b. 1935) Complete symphonies and concertos
Norrköping
SO, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz/Ari Rasilainen rec.
2002-2007
CPO 777 640-2 [5 CDs: 330:06] [RB] 
A
fine, virile and far from effete imaginative contribution to the two
centuries in which this music was created.
Erik
SATIE (1866-1925) Piano works
Joanna MacGregor (piano) rec. 1989
WARNER CLASSICS SOUND CIRCUS 2564 67263-5 [66:52] [DJ] 
A
very persuasive selection of Satie's piano music showing his full stylistic
range.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Arnold SCHOENBERG
(1874-1951)
Accompanying Music to a Film Scene, Chamber Symphony 1
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Quartet 1 (orch.
Schoenberg)
Berlin PO/Sir Simon Rattle rec. 2009
EMI CLASSICS 4578152 [73:40] 
[MC]
Without
doubt, this release will be a strong contender for my Recordings of
the Year.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz SCHUBERT
(1797
- 1828) Winterreise
Natalie Stutzmann (contralto), Inger Södergren (piano) rec. 2003
SAPHIR
LVC1153 [76:21]
[GF]
No
performance of Winterreise has touched me as much as this one.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Schwanengesang, Auf dem Strom, Die Sterne
Mark Padmore (tenor) Paul Lewis (piano) Richard Watkins (French horn)
rec. 2010
HARMONIA MUNDI HMU907520 [67:25]
[JQ]
A
magnificent reading of Schwanengesang.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) ‘Arpeggione’ Sonata Pyotr
Ilych TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Variations on a Rococo Theme
Max BRUCH (1838-1920) Romance
Maxim Rysanov (viola) Swedish CO/Muhai Tang rec. 2010
BIS BIS-SACD-1843 
[52:18]
[DC]
The
last spoonful of sugar in your most indulgent cup of tea.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797–1828) Winterreise
Nikolay Borchev (baritone) Friedrich Suckel (piano) rec. 2010
TROUBADISC TRO-CD 01439 [74:48]
[GF]
Borchev
already worthy of the attention of lovers of this eternally fascinating
song-cycle.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony 8 see STRAUSS
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) String Quartets 1-3
Doric String Qt rec. 2011
CHANDOS CHAN 10692 [74:15]
[GD]
Close
to ideal Schumann interpretation, and it augurs well for the future.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Trios 1-3
Ilya Gringolts (violin) Dmitry Kouzov (cello) Peter Laul (piano) rec.
2010
ONYX 4072 [55:45 + 27:53] [PB-W]
Will
bring lasting pleasure. The total emotional commitment is admirable.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Concerto
Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Piano Concerto
Idil Biret (piano) Bilkent SO/Antoni Wit rec. 2006
IBA/BMP 8.571270 [65:00] [SV]
There’s
much to enjoy here.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Fantasy, Arabesque, Symphonic Studies
Sergei
Edelmann (piano) rec. 2009
TRITON EXCL-00025
[79:28] [DC]
Not
to be dismissed, but only one in a crowded market.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810
– 1856) Lieder Edition 6: Myrthen, Sechs Gedichte
und Requiem
Andrea Lauren Brown (soprano) Thomas E Bauer (baritone) Uta Hielscher
(piano) rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.557079 [68:27]
[GF]
Any Schumann lover who wants a recording of
Myrthen and the Op. 90 in the bargain can confidently invest in this
super-budget issue.
Kurt
SCHWERTSIK (b.1935) Nachtmusiken, Herr K. Entdeckt
Amerika, Baumgesänge
BBC PO/H K Gruber rec. 2010
CHANDOS CHAN10687 [59:52]
[Byz]
Elegantly
orchestrated, witty, generally melodic music, written for audience enjoyment
rather than maven approbation.
Vissarion
SHEBALIN (1902-1963)
Complete
A Cappella Choral Cycles
Russkaya Conservatoria Chamber Capella/Nikolay Khondzinsky rec. 2008
TOCCATA
CLASSICS TOCC0112 [53:13]
[RB]
Treasurable
and inwardly lit singing of these secular delights with pinpoint dynamic
control.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975)
Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43 (1936) [65:30]
Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
Mainz/Daniel Raiskin rec. 2009,
C-AVI 8553235 [65:30]
[DM]
Shattering,
unforgettable Shostakovich.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) New Babylon
Basel Sinf/Mark Fitz-Gerald rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572824-25 [43:15 + 48:08]
[NB]
Without
doubt this is one the finest all-round achievements by Naxos.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Music From the Films – Vol.
5
State Cinematograph O/Byelorussian RTV SO/Walter Mnatsakanov rec.
1997
DELOS DRD 2005 [62:45]
[DM]
Shostakovich
at his most disarming, rasping and delightful.
Christopher
SHULTIS (b.1957) Openings, Songs of Love and Longing,
"A Little Light, in Darkness", Devisadero
University of New Mexico Wind Symphony Eric Rombach-Kendall, Leslie
Umphrey (soprano) Falko Steinbach (piano) Carrie Koffman (soprano saxophone)
New Mexico Winds rec. 2001/2009
NAVONA RECORDS NV 5849 [66:38]
[Byz]
You
can safely order the disc and enjoy the fruits of Shultis’s constitutionals.
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Violin Concerto
Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Violin Concerto
Maxim Vengerov (violin) Chicago SO/Daniel Barenboim rec. 1996
WARNER APEX 2564 673005 [69:36] [RB]
These
are really fine and very inexpensive Sibelius and a Nielsen readings
and recordings.
Arlene
SIERRA (b. 1970) Chamber works
Vassily Primakov (piano) Susan Narucki (soprano) Charles Neidich (clarinet)
Raman Ramakrishnan (cello) Stephen Gosling (piano) Daedalus Qt, International
Contemporary Ens/Jayce Ogren
BRIDGE 9343 [72:30] [WH]
A
remarkable and challenging collection of brilliantly conceived and written
ensemble works, but the composer’s booklet notes get in the way.
Christian
SINDING (1856-1941)
Violin Concerti 1-3, Works for Violin and Orchestra: Legend, Romance,
Suite and Abendstimmung
Andrej Bielow (violin) NDR Radiophil Hannover/Frank Beermann rec. 2004/2005
CPO
777 114-2 [59:01 + 53:07]
[MC]
Appealing
and with its share of impressive moments although there’s very little
in the way of memorable melodies.
Bedrich
SMETANA (1824-1884) Polkas
András Schiff (piano) rec. 1998
WARNER APEX 2564 672756 [56:36]
[JW]
Schiff
is not the best guide to these lovely, but tricky-to-convey Polkas.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Charles Villiers
STANFORD (1852-1924)
Piano Trio 1, Legend, Irish Fantasies, Piano Quartet 2
Gould Piano Trio, David Adams (viola) rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572452 [79:47]
[JF]
How
anyone could listen to this CD and still believe that Stanford’s
music is ‘as dry as dust’ totally evades me.
Sir
Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924)
Cello Concerto, Rondo, Ballata and Ballabile, Irish Rhapsody 3
Gemma Rosefield (cello) BBC Scottish SO/Andrew Manze rec. 2011
HYPERION CDA67859 [70:08]
[MC]
Lovers
of the late-Romantic should not hesitate with this Hyperion release.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Allan
STEPHENSON (b.1948?) Double bass
concerto, Burlesque, Cello concerto
Leon Bosch (double bass) Peter Martens (cello) Cape PO/Allan Stephenson
rec. 2010
MERIDIAN CDE84602 [62:00] [RB]
Power-floated
melodies of sumptuous breadth and superb emotional impact.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Capriccio
Renée Fleming, Anne Sofie von Otter, Robert Tear, Paris Ntl Opéra O/Ulf
Schirmer rec. 2004
ARTHAUS MUSIK 
107
327 [2 DVDs: 148:00]
[ST]
Watching
it helped me to rediscover afresh the joys of Strauss’s final masterpiece,
and that’s high praise to give to any recording.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Ein Heldenleben Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony 8
BBC Northern SO/Kurt Sanderling rec. 1975/78
BBC LEGENDS BBCL4262-2 [70:25]
[RMay]
Had
me listening with an unexpected level of attention and fresh ears.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Elektra
Iréne Theorin (soprano) Waltraud Meier (mezzo) René Pape
(bass) Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor, Wiener Philharmoniker/Daniele
Gatti rec. 2010
ARTHAUS MUSIK 101 560 
[109:00]
[DM]
A
most welcome addition to the list of operas on Blu-ray.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Tod und Verklärung see
DVORÁK
John
TAVERNER (d. 1545) Imperatrix inferni
Alamire/David
Skinner rec. 2010
OBSIDIAN CD707 [70:21] [JQ]
Everything
about this release exudes quality. Taverner’s music is brought vividly
to life.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony 5, Francesca
da Rimini
Russian Ntl O/Mikhail Pletnev rec. 2010
PENTATONE
PTC 5186 385 [71:41] [IL]
A
sizzling Francesca with a Symphony that’s also very good but which is
spoilt by the delivery of that vital horn solo in the second movement.
A Tribute
to Tchaikovsky Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Piano works
Vladimir Feltsman (piano) rec. 2011
NIMBUS NI6162 [68:10]
[OL]
Little
gems, performed with love and understanding.
Mihailo
TRANDAFILOVSKI (b.1974) Chamber Music Strike-Flow,
Six Pieces from Cekori, Crystal Threads, A+de+scent, Quartet,
Violin Concerto
Peter Sheppard Skćrved (violin) Kreutzer Quartet; Caroline Balding (violin)
Mihailo Trandafilovski (violin) Lontano/Odaline de la Martinez rec.
2009-2010
LORELT LNT1332 [66:49]
[RB]
Fascinating
rather than ingratiating.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Joaquin
TURINA (1882–1949) Songs
Carolina Ullrich (soprano) Débora Halász (piano) rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.570707 [71:29]
[GF]
A
whispered breeze directly from the Virgin Mary’s lips.
Pyotr
Ilych TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Variations on a Rococo Theme
see SCHUBERT
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Symphony 2, Oboe concerto
Stéphane Rancourt (oboe) Hallé O/Sir Mark Elder rec. 2010
HALLÉ CDHLL7529 [65:56]
[JQ]
This
disc continues the rich vein of recordings of English music by Sir Mark
Elder and the Hallé.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Messa da Requiem
Barbara Frittoli (soprano) Olga Borodina (mezzo) Mario Zeffiri (tenor)
Ildar Abdrazakov (bass) Chicago SO & Ch/Riccardo Muti rec. 2009
CSO
RESOUND CSOR9011006 [48:08 + 41:20]
[JZ]
Insightful
interpretation and the intensity of a live performance enhance the strength
of this outstanding recording.
Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Suite Floral;
Cirandas; String Quartets 5 & 12; Danças Características
Africanas
Brazilian Guitar Qt rec. 2010
DELOS DE 3409 [75:41]
[DC]
Very
fine arrangements and performances.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) The Art of Vivaldi's Lute
Ronn
McFarlane (lute) The Bach Sinf/Daniel Abraham rec. 2010
DORIAN SONO LUMINUS DSL-92132 [67:48] [JV]
A
varied and entertaining programme which gives a good impression of Vivaldi's
writing for the lute.
Richard
WAGNER (1813–1883) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
(Symphonic compilation arr. Henk de VLIEGER), Eine Faust-Ouvertüre,
Deux Entreactes tragiques, Overture to ‘Columbus’
Royal Scottish Nat O/Neeme Järvi rec. 2010
CHANDOS
CHSA5092 [79:54]
[BW]
Not
exactly ‘symphonic’ but well worth hearing.
William
Vincent WALLACE (1812-1865) Opera Fantasies and Paraphrases
Rosemary
Tuck & Richard Bonynge (piano) rec. 2009/10
NAXOS 8.572774 [78:15]
[CH]
A
very nice evocation of Victorian musical evenings, but does the music
have dimensions not explored here?
Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826)
Missa Solemnis 1, Offertorium
Maria Taborsky (soprano) Gerda Kink (alto) Hermann Pöllman (tenor)
Hans Huber (bass) Ch & O St Michael of Munich/Ernest Ehret rec.
1964
EDITIONS ANDRÉ CHARLIN AMS43 [44:25]
[JS]
An
honest and essentially musical performance which does at least provide
a valuable opportunity to get to know some very remarkable and enjoyable
music.
Matthias
WECKMAN (1616-1674) Abendmusiken
Les Cyclopes/Bibiane Lapointe, Thierry Maeder rec. 2010
ZIG-ZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT110502 [64:42]
[MS]
A
real find.
Kurt
WEILL (1900-1950)
Symphonies 1 & 2, Suite aus der "Dreigroschenoper"
The
Gulbenkian Orchestra/Michel Swierczewski rec. 1990 DDD
NIMBUS NI 5283 [74:13]
[LW]
Good
accounts of Weill's symphonies and a fine Threepenny Opera suite.
Charles
Henry WILTON (1761-1832) String Trios see HUMMEL
Eugčne
YSAŸE (1858-1931) String Quintet; String Quartet 'Le
Londres'; Andante; Paganini Variations
Kryptos Qt, Vlad Bogdanas (viola) rec. 2009
ETCETERA KTC 4034 [58:37]
[Byz]
Felicitous,
untheatrical music - a superb addition to the quartet repertoire, an
instantaneous audience-pleaser.
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for alphabetical listings by composer:
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1 New] [Part
2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part
5 S-Z]
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