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Ella
ADAÏEWSKY (1846–1926) 24 Preludes, for voice and piano
- Books I & II 
Claudia Grimaz (soprano) Andrea Rucli (piano) Lucio Degani (violin)
rec. 2009
DYNAMIC CDS 633 [63:24]
[Byz]
Adaïewsky
is no mere imitator or dilettante, but rather an imaginative composer
with a fantastic ear for wistful melody, yearning harmony and lilting
rhythm.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Kalevi
AHO (b. 1949) In Memoriam Pehr Henrik Nordgren see
NORDGREN
Johann
Georg ALBRECHTSBERGER (1736-1809) Harp Concerto in C see
Harp Concertos
Robert
ALDRIDGE (b.1954)
Elmer Gantry
Keith Phares (baritone) Patricia Risley (mezzo) Vale Rideout (tenor)
Florentine Opera Ch, Milwaukee SO/William Boggs rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.669032-33 [69:24 + 72:14]
[JS]
There
is much to enjoy here even if I suspect that this is not a work I will
wish to return to often.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franco
ALFANO (1875-1954) Violin Sonata; Piano Quintet; Nenia
And Scherzino
Mary Ann Mumm, Elmira Darvarova (violin) Scott Dunn (piano) Craig Mumm
(viola) Samuel Magill (cello) rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572753 [66:16]
[RB]
This
is late-romantic music that sings with it face looking into radiance.
William
ALWYN
(1905-1985) Symphonies 2, 3 & 5
London PO/William Alwyn
LYRITA SRCD.228 [77:07]
[SV]
A
s hifting, shimmering palette of orchestral timbres.
William
ALWYN
(1905-1985) Concerti
Grossi 2 & 3, The Moor of Venice, Serenade, Seven Irish Tunes
Royal
Liverpool PO/David Lloyd-Jones rec. 2007/10
NAXOS 8.570145 [57:25] [JF]
This
is a magnificent achievement that I could never have imagined in my
wildest dreams some 40 years ago.
Elias
PARISH ALVARS (1808-1849)
Harp Concerto in G minor see Harp
Concertos
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Goldberg Variations
(arr. Sitkovetsky)
Leopold String Trio rec. 2010
HYPERION CDA67826 [74:45]
[DC]
Captivating,
mesmerising, and life-enhancing.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Oboe Concertos
Heinz Holliger (oboe) Camerata Bern/Erich Höbarth rec. 2010
ECM NEW SERIES 2229 [59:13]
[DC]
Winner
by a short nose.
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Die
Kunst der Fuge, Musikalisches Opfer, Canonic variations
Matteo Messori (harpsichord, organ), Capella Augustana rec. 2005-29
BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 94061 [3 CDs: 164:16] [GA]
Scholarly
performances but those who are not lovers of the harpsichord will find
this quite austere.
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) The
Art of Fugue, French Suites
Joanna MacGregor (piano) rec. 1993/5
WARNER CLASSICS/SOUNDCIRCUS 2564 672352 [3 CDs: 161:03] [DC]
Highly
recommended.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cello sonatas 1-3
Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Six cello sonatas
Antonio Janigro (cello) Robert Veyron-Lacroix (harpsichord) rec. 1956
FORGOTTEN
RECORDS FR494/95 [42:55 + 56:53] [JW]
Sympathetic,
legato-conscious performances.
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750),
arr. Sigfrid KARG-ELERT
(1877-1933) Organ arrangements
Sverker Jullander (organ) rec. 2009. DDD
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0111 [79:03]
[Byz]
A
generously packed tribute from one great organ composer to another,
performed with distinction.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Orchestral Suite 2 see
Harty
Christopher
BALL (b.1936) Cello Concerto 1, For Stjepan, Song
Without Words
Stjepan Hauser (cello) Yoko Misumi (piano) Emerald Concert O/composer
rec. 2010
MUSICAL CONCEPTS MC142 [65:36] [RB]
Music
designed to please then - mission accomplished. It deserves wide-ranging
success.
Christopher
BALL (b.1936) Horn Concerto, Oboe Concerto, Celtic
Moods, Invocations of Pan, A Summer Day
Tim Thorpe (horn) Paul Arden-Taylor (oboe/cor anglais) Roger Armstrong
(flute) Jonathan Burgess (flute) Leslie Craven (clarinet) Emerald Concert
Orch/Adderbury Ens/composer rec. 2002-2010
MUSICAL CONCEPTS MC143 [77:48]
[RB]
The
Horn Concerto is a winner.
Granville
BANTOCK (1868-1946)
Violin Sonata no.3 see English Violin
Sonatas
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945)
Piano Music - Vol. 6 Four Piano Pieces, Two Elegies, First Term
at the Piano
Jenő Jandó (piano) rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572376 [66:52]
[SA]
Another
welcome addition to the complete piano series. Jandó is, as always,
a highly intelligent and convincing interpreter.
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Violin Concerti 1 & 2 Viola Concerto
James
Ehnes (violin/viola) BBC PO/Gianandrea Noseda rec. 2010/2011
CHANDOS CHAN 10690 [77:45]
[NB]
A
disc of superb value in playing time terms as well as anything else.
Bela
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Violin sonata 2 see ENESCU
Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Les Troyens
Lance Ryan, Daniele Barcellona, Gabriele Viviani, Elisabete Matos, Valencian
Community O/Valery Gergiev rec. 2009
UNITEL CLASSICA 706008 
[144:55 + 122:10] [JZ]
An
innovative reading that complements a strong musical conception.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Sonata Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Three Character Pieces Alan RAWSTHORNE
(1905-1971) 4 Bagatelles Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Handel Variations
Sarah Beth Briggs (piano) rec. 2007
SEMAPHORE MULTIMEDIA SML MP21 [68:22]
A
winning recital with very wide appeal.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphonies 1, 2 & 7
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony
4 Detroit
SO/Paul Paray rec. February 1953-9
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR371/2 [54:16 + 75:38] [WH]
An
outstanding Beethoven Seventh, but the rest of the programme is very
mixed.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphonies 7 & 8
Netherlands SO/Jan Willem de Vriend rec. 2008/10
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72500 
[65:57] [DC]
Not
quite top, but holds plenty of interest.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Violin Concerto, Piano Trio 5
Louis Zimmermann (violin) Marix Loevensohn (cello); Jaap Spaanderman
(piano) unnamed O/Charles Woodhouse rec. 1926/30
HISTORIC RECORDINGS HRCD00100 [58:53]
[JW]
An
archival novelty.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) An die ferne Geliebte
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Schwanengesang
James
Gilchrist (tenor) Anna Tilbrook (piano) rec. 2010
ORCHID CLASSICS ORC100013 [67:34]
[JQ]
A
most enjoyable and rewarding disc.
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto 4 see Salzburg
Opening Concert 2010
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Quartet see Virtuoso
Qt
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hector BERLIOZ
(1803-1869)
Grande Messe des Morts
Robert Murray (tenor) Chetham’s School Brass Ens, Gabrieli
Players & Consort, Wrocław PO & Ch/Paul McCreesh rec. 2010
SIGNUM
CLASSICS SIGCD280 [48:25 + 40:17]
[JQ]
At
last we have a recording that, in every respect, does full justice to
the Grande Messe des Morts.
Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Le Carnaval romain Overture see
Harty
Heinrich
Ignaz Franz BIBER (1644-1704) The Rosary Sonatas for
violin and continuo
Leah Gale Nelson (violin) Daniel Swedberg (theorbo) Dongsok Shin (organ)
rec. 2010
LYRICHORD LEMS 8079 [72:57 + 52:41]
[GA]
Leah
Gale Nelson brings fire and fervour to this very fine, historically-informed
recording of the Biber Rosary sonatas.
Georges
BIZET
(1838-1875) Les Pecheurs de Perles Leila – Pierrette
Alarie, Nadir – Leopold Simoneau Zurga, – Rene Bianco, Nourbad– Xavier
Depraz Orch des Concerts Lamoureux/Jean Fournet
GUILD GHCD 2382/83 [138:45]
[DBe]
Focused
singing, clean with a tight and bright youthful sounding vibration.
Georges
BIZET (1838-1875)
Le docteur Miracle
Christiane Eda-Pierre (soprano) Robert Massard (baritone) Rémy
Corazza (tenor) Radio France O/Bruno Amaducci. rec. 1976
OPERA D’ORO GRAND TIER OPD7077 [51:57]
[RMo]
Worth
acquiring for its intrinsic, Gallic charm and the quality of the performance.
Howard
BLAKE (b.
1938) Spieltrieb, A Month in the Country, Leda
and the Swan, String Trio, Walking in the Air
Edinburgh Qt rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572688 [55:44]
[JF]
Blake’s
accessible music never fails to impress with its invention and generous
melody.
York
BOWEN (1884-1961) Violin Sonata, Cello Sonata, Suite
for Violin and Piano, Viola Sonatas 1 & 2, Phantasy for Viola and
Piano
Krysia Osostowicz (violin) Jane Salmon (cello) Michael Dussek (piano)
James Boyd (viola) Bengt Forsberg (piano) rec. 2001-2002
DUTTON EPOCH LXBOX 2011 [75.14 + 72:59]
[RB]
An
out and out romantic. The English Korngold with insurgent elements from
Tchaikovsky and Delius.
Pierre
BOULEZ (b. 1925) Notations see
Salzburg
Opening Concert 2010
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH York
BOWEN
(1884-1961) Rhapsody Alan BUSH (1900-1995)
Concert Suite Havergal BRIAN (1876-1972)
Cello Concerto
Raphael Wallfisch (cello) BBC Concert O/Martin Yates rec. 2010
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7263 [2CDs: 82:25]
[RB]
A
fine anthology of rare English cello treasures.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Die Schöne Magelone
Dominik Wörner (bass-baritone) Masato Suzuki (piano) rec. 2010
ARS PRODUKTION ARS38497 [53:59]
[JS]
A
performance very much worth hearing.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony 1 Piotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony 4
Chicago SO/Rafael Kubelik rec. 1951/1952
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR361/2 [45:23 + 43:29]
[CH]
Gentle
and musical if underpowered Brahms. The Tchaikovsky seems to miss the
point entirely.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony 4 see BEETHOVEN
Havergal
BRIAN (1876-1972)
Orchestral Music - Vol. 1 - Early and Late Works
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Garry Walker rec. 2009 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC
0110 [63:29]
[RB]
A
fully professional and committed revival of Brian's orchestral music
with more to follow.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Havergal BRIAN (1876-1972)
Cello Concerto see
BOWEN
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Billy Budd
Thomas Hampson (baritone) Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) Northern Voices,
Hallé Ch & O/Kent Nagano rec. live, 1997
ERATO 2564 67266-0 [77:02 + 71:47]
[JS]
Nagano
finds the drama and colour but overall makes it sound like the concert
performance that it was rather than like a real operatic performance
in which everyone concerned fully inhabits their roles.
Benjamin
BROENING
Recombinant Nocturnes
duo runedako rec. 2010
INNOVA 784 [62:37]
[DC]
Very
fine indeed.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
Symphony 7
Sinfonia Varsovia/Jerzy Semkow rec. 2005
DUX 0668 [65:26]
[SV]
A
sincere, spontaneous account.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Te Deum see
Salzburg
Opening Concert 2010
Fritz
BRUN (1878-1959) Symphonies 6 & 7
Moscow SO/Adriano rec. 2008/10
GUILD GMCD 7372 [74:33]
[RB]
A
sometimes halting, sometimes fluent European champion of the urgent
lyrical tradition.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Alan BUSH (1900-1995) Concert Suite see
BOWEN
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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]
[Part 6 Misc A-L] [Part
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