Joseph
ACHRON (1886–1943)
Complete Suites for violin and piano 
Hagai Shaham (violin) Arnon Erez (piano) rec. 1996/2009
HYPERION CDA67841 [78:46 + 79:50] [DC]
Consistently
vibrant violin feast.
Joseph
ACHRON (1886-1943) Hebrew Melody, Hebrew
Lullaby, see SCHNITTKE
Adolphe
ADAM (1803-1856)
Giselle
Svetlana Zakharova, Roberto Bolle; Teatro alla Scala O/David Coleman
rec. 2005
ARTHAUS MUSIK 
107 289 [105:00]
Laëtitia Pujol, Nicolas Le Riche; Paris Ntl Opéra O/Paul Connelly rec.
2006
ARTHAUS MUSIK 
108 049 [111:00] [RMay]
A
narrow points win for the Paris production.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Robert
ALDRIDGE (b.
1954) Elmer Gantry - Opera in Two Acts (2007)
Libretto by Herschel Garfein based on the novel by Sinclair Lewis
Soloists, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra/William Boggs rec. 2010 libretto
in English enclosed
NAXOS 8.669032-33 [69:24 + 72:14] [GF]
Totally
captivating.
William
ALWYN (1905-1985)
Film Music arranged for wind orchestra
Royal Northern College of Music Wind O/Clark Rundell, Mark Heron rec.
2011
NAXOS 8.572747 [69.46] [PCG]
Extremely
well played and buoyantly conducted.
Anton
ARENSKY (1861-1906) Suites For Two Pianos Suites 1-4
Natalia Lavrova, Vassily Primakov (pianos) rec. 2011 LP CLASSICS
1001 [71:12] [OL]
Brilliance
and depth.
Carl
ARNOLD (1794-1873) Piano works
Torleif Torgersen (piano) rec. 2010
SIMAX PSC1305 [61:59] [Byz]
Seems
to paraphrase Chopin in spirit and in wistful tunefulness are akin to
Schubert.
Vytautas
BACEVICIUS
(1905-1970) The Complete Mots
Gabrielius Alekna (piano) (1,3-9), Matthew Lewis (organ) (2), Ursula
Oppens (piano) (7-9) rec. 2009, 2010
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0134 [63:12] [SA]
No-one who enjoys Scriabin and Messiaen not to mention Boulez, Cage,
Stockhausen and Nancarrow should shy away from giving this a listen.
Carl
Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714 - 1788) Cantatas: Die
Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu; Gott hat den Herrn auferwecket
Martina
Lins, Barbara Schlick (soprano), Paul Elliott, Christoph Prégardien
(tenor), Gotthold Schwarz, Stephen Varcoe (bass), Rheinische Kantorei,
Das Kleine Konzert/Hermann Max rec. 1984/86
PHOENIX EDITION 456 [48:03 + 51:07] [JV]
The
quality of these recordings is still unsurpassed.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Organ Transcriptions
Martin
Schmeding (organ) rec. 2011
ARS PRODUKTION ARS 38109 [75:19] [DC]
Superb
release in every regard. An all-round organ hit release.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cantatas
Andreas Scholl (counter-tenor) Basel CO rec. 2011
DECCA 478 2733 [63:25] [JQ]
A
true reflection of the artistry of Andreas Scholl in Bach.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cantatas Vol. 50
Bach Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki rec. 2011
BIS BIS-SACD-1941 
[74:57] [MC]
A must for any serious Bach devotee.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685
- 1750) Cantatas for the complete liturgical year, Vol. 12
Gerlinde Sämann (soprano) Petra Noskaiová (contralto) Christoph
Genz (tenor) Jan van der Crabben (bass) La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken
rec. 2009
ACCENT ACC25312
[70:22] [JV]
This
volume in Kuijken's cantata series shows considerable improvement in
expression.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Earthly and Divine
Various artists
ALPHA 889 [6 CDs: 439:00] [KM]
An
attractive and interesting set for those unfamiliar with Bach’s works,
and a fine sampler of music from a group of excellent record labels.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Goldberg Variations
Blandine Rannou (harpsichord) rec. 2010
ZIG-ZAG TERRITOIRES 111001 [89:29] [KM]
Love
it or hate it, you cannot deny that this unique, personal approach to
the Goldbergs is one to take note of.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Violin concertos, Keyboard concertos
Devy Erlih, Henry Merckel, Reinhold Barchet (violin), Kurt Kalmus (oboe)
Rudolf Reinhardt (harpsichord) Pro CO Munich/Kurt Redel rec. 1954/5
FORGOTTEN
RECORDS FR 275-76 [68:03 + 48:43] [JW]
Never
less than interesting.
Leonardo
BALADA (b.1933)
Caprichos 1 & 5, A Little Night Music in Harlem, Reflejos
Bertrand
Piétu (guitar) Aldo Mata (cello) Tatiana Franco (flute) Iberian CO/José
Luis Temes rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572625 [73:20] [Byz]
Balada's
blend of the avant-garde and listener-friendly melody often of a nationalistic
colour.
Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981) Historical Recordings: 1935-1960
WEST
HILL RADIO ARCHIVES WHRA6039 [8 CDs + CD-ROM] [JW]
For
those seriously interested in Barber this is an indispensable box of
historical and archival significance. Outstanding.
Francesco
BARSANTI (1690-1772)
Concerti grossi
Banchetto Musicale - Il Piacere rec. 1997
DYNAMIC DM8023 [72:53] [JV]
Good
entertainment and well worth listening to.
Sally
BEAMISH (b.
1956) Chamber Concerto Steven
STUCKY (b. 1949) Music for Saxophones and Strings
Chen YI (b. 1953) Ba Yin
Raschèr Saxophone Qt; Stuttgart CO/Robin Engelen rec. 2008
BIS-CD-1821 [57:50] [DM]
A
most colourful bouquet; Beamish is the pick of the bunch.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
The Complete Symphonies
Royal Flemish Philharmonic/Philippe Herreweghe rec. 2004-09
PENTATONE PTC 5186 312
[5 discs: 5:36.49] [ST]
Combines
the best of the old with the best of the new amid a wonderful clarity
of the sound.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphony 9
Rebecca von Lipinski (soprano); Anna Grevelius (mezzo); Peter Wedd (tenor);
Roderick Williams (bass) City of Birmingham SO Chorus, Manchester Camerata/Douglas
Boyd rec.2011,
AVIE AV2245 [64:58] [DMc]
A
gentler, more graceful side to a Symphony that is all too often played
without either.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony 9
Lotte Leonard, Jenny Sonnenberg, Eugen Transky, Wilhelm Guttmann, Bruno
Kittel Choir, Berlin State Opera Orchestra/Oscar Fried rec. 1927/28?
PRISTINE
AUDIO PASC317 [62:05] [JW]
This
extremely fine restoration presents an important document from a distinguished
Beethovenian.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto 4 Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Piano Concerto 2
Emil Gilels (piano) Hallé O/John Barbirolli, London PO/Kirill
Kondrashin rec. 1959/66
ICA CLASSICS ICAC5032 [71:37] [JW]
Performances
of subtlety and power. I’m very glad, and fortunate, to have heard
them.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concerto 4 Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano Concerto 2
Youra Guller (piano) O Ntl de France/Désiré-Émile Inghelbrechtrec. 1958/59
TAHRA
TAH719 [64:50] [JW]
These
are improvements musically on the previous instalments in this series.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Quartet
Aaron Jay KERNIS (b. 1960)
String Quartet
Jasper Qt rec. 2011
SONO LUMINUS DSL-92142 [71:12] [BR]
The
Jasper Quartet gives off joyous energy like sparks. Don’t miss this
album.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) The Creatures Of
Prometheus; Piano Concerto 1 Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Piano Concerto 2
Sviatoslav Richter (piano) Boston SO/Charles Munch rec. 1960
WEST HILL RADIO ARCHIVES WHRA-6035 [46:36 + 51:22] [JW]
A
rather mixed evening in Bawston back in November 1960.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) The Late String
Quartets
Brentano Qt rec. 2010
AEON AECD 1110 [78:21] [RMo]
A
restraint and intimacy that sometimes borders on the dull.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin sonata 8 see
MOZART
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
‘Rasumovsky’ Quartet see SHOSTAKOVICH
Arthur
BENJAMIN (1893-1960) & Leighton
LUCAS (1903-1982) Film Music
BBC Ntl O Wales/Rumon Gamba rec. 2011
CHANDOS CHAN10713 [67:58] [JF]
A superb achievement. Beautifully played.
Alban
BERG (1885-1935)
Concerto for violin and orchestra Paul HINDEMITH
(1895-1963) Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Carl Maria von
Weber ,Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Lars-Erik LARSSON (1908-1986)
Max REGER (1873-1916) Franz
BERWALD (1796-1868)
Louis Krasner (violin) Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra/Fritz Busch;
Kungliga Theatre Orchestra/Fritz Busch ¹ rec. 1938 - 1949
GUILD GHCD 2372 [78:45][JW]
Valuable
live performances.
Alban
BERG (1885-1935) Piano sonata see
Precipitando
Leonard
BERNSTEIN (1918-1990) Clarinet sonata see clarinet
sonatas
John
BISCHOFF (b.1949) Audio Combine
rec. 2010/11
NEW WORLD RECORDS 80727-2 [60:00] [DC]
Acute
and absolute abstraction.
Arthur
BLISS (1891-1975)
String Quartet No. 2 (1950) [31:31] Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934) String Quartet RTvii/8 – Movement
No.3; Late Swallows (1916-19) [9:32] Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) arr. Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1973)
Chacony in G minor Z730 [6:44] Benjamin BRITTEN
(1913-1973) String Quartet No 2 in C Major, Op 36 (1945) [30:12]
Barbirolli
Quartet rec. 2011,
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6165 [77:58] [JW]
Full
marks for this attractive compilation.
Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Divertimenti, Oboe Quintets
ad hoc chamber ensemble, Lajos Lencsés (oboe) Parisii Qt rec. 1992
PHOENIX
EDITION PE472 [64:50 + 61:47] [Byz]
A
great place for anyone to start an exploration of Boccherini’s magnificent
oeuvre.
Alexander
BORODIN (1833 - 1887) Symphonies 1-3; Notturno;
Prince Igor: Overture and Polovtsian Dances
Toronto SO/Andrew Davis; New York PO/Leonard Bernstein; St Petersburg
Camerata rec. 1969-93
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802097 [77:34 + 57:17] [PCG]
There
any many other recordings of these works, and many better ones at that.
William
BOYCE (1711-1779)
Eight Symphonies
Württemberg CO, Heilbronn/Jörg Faerber rec. 1969
KLASSIC
HAUS RESORATIONS KHCD 2012-039 [54:10] [JW]
Just
tremendous. A fantastic disc!
Joly
BRAGA SANTOS (1924-1988)
Symphonic Overture 3, Elegy in memory of Vianna da Motta, Alfama
Suite, Variations for Orchestra, Three Symphonic Sketches
Royal Scottish Natl O/Álvaro Cassuto rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572815 [72:36] [NB]
A
high quality disc displaying an impressive range of musical styles.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Trios 1-4
Eskar Trio rec. 2007/08
CPO 777 642-2 [52:23 + 60:10] [EM]
Slightly
mixed performances of these gorgeous trios.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Trio 3 Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Tristia Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Verklärte Nacht
Boulanger Trio rec. 2011
HÄNSSLER PROFIL PH11042 [59:12] [MC]
Committed
performances to turn to again and again.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto 2 see
BEETHOVEN
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Luis
de BRICEÑO (fl early 17th C) El Fenix
de Paris
Le Poème Harmonique/Vincent Dumestre rec. 2011
ALPHA 182 [71:08] [JV]
One
of the most original and exciting discs I have heard recently.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Benjamin BRITTEN
(1913-1976)
Violin Concerto, op. 15 (1939, rev. 1958) [30:32] Double Concerto in
B minor (1932) ed. Matthews (1997) [20:36] Lachrymae, op. 48a
(1950, rev. 1976) [13:08]
Anthony Marwood (violin), Lawrence Power (viola) BBC Scottish
Symphony Orchestra/Ilan Volkov rec. 2011, DDD
HYPERION CDA67801 [64:18] [MG]
Distinctive
soloists matched by sensitively weighted, varying orchestral presence.
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Les Illuminations Hans
Werner HENZE (b. 1926) Being Beauteous
Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951)
Herzgewächse Niccolò CASTIGLIONI (1932-1996)
Terzina Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937)
Slopiewnie
Anu Komsi (soprano) Ostrobothnian CO/Juha Kangas; Uusinta Chamber Ens/Sakari
Oramo rec. 2010/11
ALBA ABCD331
[58:15] [WH]
Britten’s
youthful cycle in an unusual programme, magnificently performed and
recorded.
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1973) String Quartet No 2 see
Bliss
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Cello symphony see
SHOSTAKOVICH
Max
BRUCH (1838 - 1920) Violin Concerto 1; Kol Nidrei
see TCHAIKOVSKY
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony 4
Orch Métropolitain/Yannick Nézet-Séguin rec. 2011
ATMA ACD2 2667 [67:47] [GD]
Nézet-Séguin
is a Brucknerian to be reckoned with.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony 5
BBC SO/Günter Wand rec. 1990
ICA CLASSICS ICAD5049 [79:00]
[GD]
Classic
Wand - coherent, dramatic and emotive.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
Symphonies 7 & 9
RSO Stuttgart des SWR/Kurt Sanderling, Carlo Maria Giulini rec. 1996/8
HÄNSSLER
CLASSICS CD 94.604 [71:14 + 62:18] [RMo]
Bruckner
playing of the highest order, wholly in the spirit of the composer.
Fritz
BRUN (1878-1959)
Symphonic Nr. 6 C-dur (1933) [33:51] Symphonic Nr. 7 D-dur (1937) [40:41]
Moscow
Symphony Orchestra/Adriano rec. 2008/2010. DDD
GUILD GMCD 7372 [74:34] [EM]
A
desirable CD … one that I hope will prompt others to explore Brun’s
intriguing world.
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]
[last 5 days] [Recommended
recordings]
EXPLORE
MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL 
