Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Violin Sonata 1 see
French Impressions
Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Clarinet sonata in E flat, see clarinet
sonatas
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
SCHELLE (1648 - 1701) Sacred Music 
The King's Consort/Robert King rec. 2000, Texts and translations
included
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55373 [78:54] [JV]
If
you didn’t get this recording when first released this is your chance
to make up for lost time. Don't miss it.
Othmar
SCHOECK (1886-1957) Bass clarinet sonata, see clarinet
sonatas
Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Verklärte Nacht see
BRAHMS
Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Herzgewächse see BRITTEN
Phillip
SCHROEDER (b.
1956) Passage Through a Dream,
A Necessary Autumn, Oceans of Green,
On Occasion, Sky Blue Dreams
Erin Bridgeman (soprano) Michael Henson, Marty Walker (clarinets) Jennifer
Amox (flute) Jamie Lipton (euphonium) Rick Dimond (accordion, vibraphone)
Jane Grothe (harp) Phillip Schroeder (piano, multi-tracked four-hand
piano, electric bass) rec. 2011
INNOVA 781 [50:26] [OL]
I
wouldn’t mind passing through this dream over and over again.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony 9 Royal Flemish Phil/Philippe
Herreweghe rec. 2010 
PENTATONE
CLASSICS PTC 5186 372 [57:49] [JQ]
A
performance that blows away the cobwebs.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony 9 Hans
GÁL (1890-1987) Symphony 2
Northern Sinfonia/Thomas Zehetmair rec. 2010
AVIE AV2225 [55:09 + 43:28] [JW]
Perfectly structured work, excellently proportioned.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1765-1807)
String Quartets, Fantasy, Piano Trio
Busch Qt, Rudolf Serkin (piano) rec. 1931-38
REGIS RRC 3012 [3 CDs: 158:37] [Byz]
Impassioned
but unsentimental … musicians at the peak of their prowess.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Eight Impromptus; Ecossaises
Michel
Dalberto (piano) rec. 1991-93
DAL SEGNO DSPRCD062 [69:00] [GA]
Dalberto
renders the full spectrum of Schubert’s moods with clarity and humanity.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Die Schöne Müllerin
Dietrich
Fischer-Dieskau (baritone) Gerald Moore (piano) rec. 1951
REGIS RRC1383 [65:23] [JS]
Should
be in the collection of anyone with a love for the music of Schubert.
Clara
SCHUMANN (1819-1896) Piano Trio in G minor
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Trio in D minor
The
Castle Trio rec. 1992
SMITHSONIAN CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY FOM 36-801 [61:10] [Byz]
Utterly
genial performances.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphonies 1-4
Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano and Trento/Gustav Kuhn rec. 2010
COL LEGNO CLASSICS WWE 2CD 60021 [72:22 + 64:42] [RB]
Deflect
the abnegation of the packaging and you will be surprised how good this
is.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphonies 3 & 4 Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Overture to The Flying Dutchman
(1843) [11:36]
London SO/Yondani Butt rec. 2011
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6163 [78:33] [WK]
Presentable,
but not really exciting. The Wagner is better. Wonderful playing though.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Trios 1 & 3
Voces Intimae rec. 2011
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72520 [58:40] [MC]
Insufficient
intensity, deeply felt passion and spontaneity.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Cello Concerto
Benedict Klöckner (cello) Deutsche Streichphilharmonie/Michael
Sanderling rec. 2010
GENUIN GEN11215 [45:34] [JS]
Likely
to increase both knowledge and love of this most endearing, if flawed,
masterpiece.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Papillons, Piano sonata, Kinderszenen, Fantasie,
Waldszenen, Geister Variations
András Schiff (piano) rec. 2010
ECM NEW SERIES 2122/23 60.29 + 69.73] [RBe]
Immaculate
phrasing and a wonderful selection of colours and contrasts.
Alexander
SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Poèmes
Pascal Amoyel (piano) rec. 2005
CALLIOPE CAL9353 [75.02] [PCG]
One
is extremely grateful to hear these rarities in such excellent performances
and recordings.
Leif
SEGERSTAM (b.1944) Symphonies 81, 162, 181
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra rec. 2003/08
ONDINE ODE1172-2 [71:29] [RB]
Forbidding
only in the profoundly awesome volume of such prodigiously imaginative
music.
Mátyás
SEIBER (1905-1960)
Choral Music - a cappella
Choir of the 21st Century/Howard Williams
rec. 2011,
SOMM SOMMCD 0105 [60:05] [JF]
Interesting
and deserving of our attention. Let us hope that there is plenty more
Seiber in the offing.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphonies 1-3
Netherlands Radio PO & Ch/Mark Wigglesworth rec. 2006/10
BIS-SACD-1603 
[81:13] [DM]
A
triumph for all concerned.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975)
Seven Preludes from Op.34 (arr Yevgeny Strakhov) [9.45] Viola Sonata,
Op.147 [30.03] Five Pieces from The Gadfly, Op.97 (arr Vadim
Borisovsky) [17.14]
Lawrence Power (viola); Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano) rec. 2010
HYPERION CDA 67865 [57.05] [PCG]
Absolutely
essential for the Viola Sonata but the Gadfly pieces make a superb additional
cause for heartfelt recommendation.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Cello Concerto 1 Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Cello symphony
Johannes Moser (cello) WDR SO Köln/Pietari Inkinen rec. 2011
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 98.643 [62:24] [Byz]
Eloquent,
rich-toned and enchanting.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) String Quartet No.
7 , String Quartet No. 8 Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Quartet,‘Rasumovsky’
Valentin
Berlinsky Quartet rec. 2010,
AVIE AV2253 [73:58] [DM]
Fine
Shostakovich, unmissable Beethoven. More, please.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony 5 see
TAKEMITSU
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Jazz Suite No. 2 see Fellini,
Jazz & Co
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Sonata for Violin and Piano, see SCHNITTKE
Charles
Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Cello Concerto, Rondo
for cello and orchestra, Ballata and Ballabile, Irish Rhapsody
3 Gemma Rosefield (cello) BBC Scottish SO/Andrew Manze rec. 2011
HYPERION CDA67859 [70:08] [RB]
Originally
conceived and executed … smoothly fervent.
Alessandro
STRADELLA (1639 - 1682) Italian Arias
Harmonices Mundi/Claudio Astronio rec. 2011
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94258 [67:34 + 62:19] [JV]
An
interesting project gone astray.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) An Alpine Symphony
Royal
Flemish Phil/Edo de Waart rec. 2010
RFP LIVE RFP001 [51:58] [GD]
Edo
de Waart makes the most of the climaxes but also injects momentum and
drive.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Die Liebe der
Danae
Manuel Uhl (soprano) Mark Delavan (bass) Thomas Blondelle (tenor) O
& Ch Deutsche Oper Berlin/Andrew Litton rec. 2011
ARTHAUS MUSIK 
101 580 [155:00 + 22:00 (bonus)] [ST]
Deutsche
Oper has done a fantastic job of resurrecting a neglected work by a
great composer and doing so triumphantly. Fans of Strauss need not hesitate.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Ariadne auf Naxos
Susan
Anthony (soprano) Jon Villars (tenor) Íride Martinez (soprano) Ch Staatsoper
Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden/Sir Colin Davis rec. 2000
ARTHAUS MUSIK
100171 [130:00] [ST]
A
lovely memento of a musically excellent production.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Lieder
Gillian Keith (soprano) Simon Lepper (piano) rec. 2009
CHAMPS HILL RECORDS CHRCD 018 [60:06] [Byz]
Keith
is thoroughly convincing and communicates the emotional content of Strauss's
ravishing music to great effect.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971) The Rake’s Progress
Miah Persson (soprano) Topi Lehtipuu (tenor) Matthew Rose (baritone)
Glyndebourne Ch, London PO/Vladimir Jurowski rec. 2010
OPUS ARTE
OA1062D [140:00 (opera) + 19:00 (extras)] [WH]
A
brilliant performance of an opera like no other, in a classic Glyndebourne
production.
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) L’Oiseau de feu;
Orchestrations and arrangements
Bergen PO/Andrew Litton rec. 2009/10
BIS BIS-SACD-1874
[71:40] [DC]
A
stunning treat, and one which will give lasting pleasure.
Barbara
STROZZI (1619-1677) Ariette a voce
sola
Tadashi Miroku (alto) Silvia Rambaldi (harpsichord) rec. 2009
TACTUS TC 616901 [59:26] [JV]
Strozzi's
music is captivating but doesn’t quite come off in this recording.
Georg
SZELL (1897-1970) Variations on an Original
Theme Robert HEGER (1886-1978)
Verdi Variations Hans von BÜLOW
(1830-1894) Nirwana Felix
WEINGARTNER (1863-1942) Lustige Overture
Ntl PO of Lithuania/Leon Botstein rec. 2000
ARABESQUE Z6752 [67:22] [RB]
The
ever-questing and inspiriting Botstein makes these works sing anew.
Karol
SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Slopiewnie see BRITTEN
Toru
TAKEMITSU (1930-1996) From me flows what you
call time Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Symphony 5
Berlin PO/Yutaka Sado rec. 2011
EUROARTS 2058744 
[91:00
+ 16:00] [DM]
This is a most rewarding disc and the Takemitsu is a feast for even
the most jaded palates.
Pyotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Violin Concerto
Max BRUCH (1838 - 1920) Violin
Concerto 1; Kol Nidrei
Michèle Auclair (violin) Austrian SO/Kurt Wöss, Wilhelm Loibner rec.
1950
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR 126 [59:22] [JW]
Energetic,
abrasive and charged with intensity.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
The Unknown Tchaikovsky Symphony of Life (No.7), Elegy
for strings in Memory of Ivan Samarin, Overture in C minor, Overture
in F major
Russian State Cinematographic Orchestra/Sergei Skripka rec. 1987, DDD
MUSICAL
CONCEPTS MC116 [70:47] [RB]
If
it's Tchaikovsky it has to be passionate, stormy even, and melodious.
So it is with these rarities.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
A Tribute to Tchaikovsky
Vladimir Feltsman (piano) rec. 2011,
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6162 [68:10] [JWh]
Tchaikovsky
miniatures intimately played.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concerto 1 see
LISZT
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concerto 2 see
BEETHOVEN
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Georg Philipp TELEMANN
(1681-1767)
Der Tag des Gerichts, Die Donnerode, Der Herr ist
König
Barbara Schlick, Harry van der Kamp Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine
Konzert/Hermann Max rec. 1990/92
CAPRICCIO C5098 [70:45 + 65:30] [JV]
This
set is a must for every Telemann fan.
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Trio
sonatas, Quatour
Jan Dismas ZELENKA (1679-1745)
Trio sonata Christoph SCHAFFRATH
(1709-1763) Duetto
Syntagma Amici/Jérémie Papasergio (bassoon) rec. 2010
RICERCAR RIC 314 [73:00] [JV]
A
delightful disc with some of the finest music for the bassoon.
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) A Journey
through Literature
Les Esprits Animaux rec. 2011
AMBRONAY ÉDITIONS AMY302 [69:20] [JV]
A
promising debut.
Barbarian
Beauty - Concertos for viola da gamba: Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Concerto for recorder,
viola da gamba, strings and bc Johann Gottlieb
GRAUN (1702-1771) Concerto for viola da gamba, strings
and bc Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Concerto for violin, violoncello all'inglese, strings and bc Giuseppe
TARTINI (1692-1770) Concerto for viola da gamba, strings
and bc
Vittorio Ghielmi (viola da gamba) Dorothee Oberlinger (recorder) Mayumi
Hirasaki (violin) Marcel Comendant (cymbalon) Il Suonar Parlante Orchestra/Vittorio
Ghielmi rec. 2010
PASSACAILLE 972 [57:44] [JV]
A
disc which raises various questions in regard to the style of performance
and scoring.
Henri
TOMASI (1901-1971) Six mélodies populaires corses;
Chant Corses; Deux mélodies sur des poèmes de Paul Fort;
Clairières dans le ciel; Cyrnos
Johanne Cassar (soprano) Laurent Wagschal, Sodi Braide (piano) rec.
2011
INDESENS INDE 037 [54:49] [RB]
A discovery waiting on your delight.
Henri
TOMASI (1901-1971) Works for trumpet
Eric Aubier (trumpet) Thierry Escaich (organ) Frédéric Mellard (trumpet)
Nikolaos Samaltanos (piano) Orchestre de l‘Opéra Nationale de Paris/Marius
Constant; Ens de Cuivres et Choeur de Rouen/Jean-Philippe Dambreville;
Orchestre de Bretagne/François-Xavier Bilger rec. 1988-2011
INDESENS IND 038 [71:34] [RB]
Adventurous
listeners rewarded with quite remarkable music - tonal yet gaunt, serene
and exciting.
Henri
TOMASI (1901-1971) Trumpet concerto see
Great
French Concertos
Christopher
TYE (c.1505–1573) Quæsumus omnipotens
et misericors Deus [6:25] Missa Euge bone (6vv.) [22:04]
Give almes of thy goods [1:47] Christ rising [3:40]
Peccavimus cum patribus nostris [11:39] Western Wynde
Mass (4vv.) [24:39] Nunc dimittis [3:33]
The Choir of Westminster Abbey/James O’Donnell rec. 2011
HYPERION CDA67928 [73:41] [BW]
Despite
the strong competition, this has strong claims of its own.
Pèteris
VASKS (b. 1946) Te Deum, Viatore, Canto di forza,
Musica seria, Cantus ad pacem Tuomas Pyrhönen (organ) rec. 2010
ALBA
ABCD 325 [76:24] [DM]
No
matter how low your ‘difficulty threshold’, this music really isn’t
hard to assimilate and enjoy. A most desirable issue.
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Five Mystical Songs see
Rise
Heart
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Aida
Roberto Tagliavini (bass) Luciana D'Intino (mezzo) Marco Berti
(tenor) Ch & O Maggio Musicale Fiorentino/Zubin Mehta rec. 2011
ARTHAUS
MUSIK
108 040 [151:00] [RJF]
A
technical limitation at crucial moments in the central scene stops this
fine performance, and interesting staging, receiving greater accolades.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Ernani
Carlo Bergonzi (tenor) Cornell MacNeil (baritone) Leontyne Price (soprano)
Metropolitan Opera O & Ch/Thomas Schippers rec. 1962
SONY CLASSICAL 88691 90996 2 [37:53 + 65:51] [RMo]
The
most vital and uninhibited singing you will ever hear from Leontyne
Price. Self-recommending as long as you are tolerant of mono sound.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Ballet Music from the Operas Bournemouth
SO/José Serebrier rec. 2011 NAXOS 8.572818-19 [54:09 + 61:13]
[PG]
The
performances under Serebrier are lively, responsive, and dramatic …
very well performed and recorded.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) La forza del destino
Alastair
Miles (bass) Nina Stemme (soprano) Salvatore Licitra (tenor) Carlos
Alvarez (baritone) O & Ch Vienna State Opera/Zubin Mehta rec. 2008
UNITEL
CLASSICA/C MAJOR
708204 [161:00] [RJF]
Not
helped by quirky producer ideas, updated costumes and variable singing
among some of the principals, this hardly competes in one of Verdi’s
most melodic scores.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) La Traviata
Licia
Albanese (soprano) Jan Peerce (tenor) Robert Merrill (baritone) NBC
SO & Ch/Arturo Toscanini rec. 1946
MUSIC & ARTS CD-4271 [57:07 + 46:45] [JW]
Aimed
squarely at Toscanini collectors who will find the dress rehearsals
of some documentary significance.
Verdi
Heroines and Mad Scenes –
Maria Callas Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901), Gaetano DONIZETTI
(1797-1848) Vincenzo BELLINI
(1801-1835)
Maria Callas (soprano) Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra/Nicola Rescigno
rec.1958 CD sleeve notes in English, no sung texts included
ALTO ALC1156 [77.30] [MMB]
A
wonderful tribute to a legendary voice. Callas admirer or not this is
a disc that will enrich any collection.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) La traviata see
Italian Operas
Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Complete Solo Piano
Works Vol.2: Bachianas Brasileiras 4; A Lenda Do Caboclo; Saudades
das Selvas Brasileiras; Choros 5; Ciclo Brasileiro
Marcelo Bratke (piano) rec. 2010
QUARTZ QTZ 2092 [60:13] [SA]
It is the sort of music that you miss as soon as it’s over and feel
the need to play again immediately.
Giovanni
Battista VIOTTI (1755-1824)
The Music World of Viotti
DYNAMIC CDS 689/1-9 [9 CDs: 570:42] [JW]
A
handy, cheap and well played Viotti box without specialising in all
the violin concertos.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Vivaldi’s Children: Flute Concertos, Op.10
Wissam Boustany (flute) Peter Manning, Stephen Morris (violins); Philip
Dukes (viola); Tim Hugh (cello); Mary Scully (double bass); Steven Devine
(harpsichord) rec. 1998. DDD. Formerly available on BOU1103.
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6167 [47:21] [BW]
Fine
performances of attractive music and in support of a good cause.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Flute Concertos Barthold Kuijken
(flute) La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken (conductor/violoncello de
spalla) rec. 2010 ACCENT
ACC 24241 [66:12] [CR]
Unmissable.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Two Symphonies, Huldigungsmarsch,
Kaisermarsch, Rienzi Overture
Royal Scottish Ntl O/Neeme Järvi rec. 2010/11
CHANDOS CHSA5097
[79.14] [PCG]
A
most valuable release which enshrines excellent performances and recordings
of some very rare music indeed.
Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Concertante Works for Clarinet
and Horn Clarinet Concertino, Clarinet Concertos 1 & 2,
Horn Concertino Stephen Stirling(horn) City of London Sinf/Michael
Collins (clarinet) rec. 2011 CHANDOS CHAN 10702 [67:29] [MC]
Impressive
performances. A fine release.
Mieczyslaw
WEINBERG (1919-1996) Clarinet sonata, see clarinet
sonatas
Felix
WEINGARTNER (1893-1942)
String Quartets, vol. 3 String Quartet no.2 in F minor,
op.26 [29:38] String Quartet no.4 in D, op.62 [28:23]
Sarastro Quartet (Ralph Orendain (violin); Roman Conrad (violin); Hanna
Werner-Helfenstein (viola); Stefan Bracher (cello)) rec. 2008. DDD
CPO 777 253-2 [58:02] [Byz]
You
will surely be left wanting more by this superb volume.
Philip
WILBY (b. 1949) Heaven in Ordinarie -
Choral and Organ Music
The Exon Singers/Matthew Owens Jeffrey Makinson (organ) rec. 2009
REGENT
REGCD338 [64:03] [JQ]
A
disc of fine music by Philip Wilby and it’s hard to imagine it receiving
better performances.
John
WILLIAMS (b. 1932) A Tribute
Various orchestras/John Williams
SONY 88691942532 [70:56] [IL]
A
nice nostalgic trip.
Debbie
WISEMAN (b.1963) Piano Stories
Debbie Wiseman (piano) rec. 2011
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 671888 [79:28] [RB]
Gentle,
touching, unassuming and companionable music played by the composer.
Eric
WHITACRE (b.
1970) Water Night **
Julian Lloyd Webber (cello); *** Hila Plitmann (soprano) Eric Whitacre
Singers; London Symphony Orchestra/Eric Whitacre Texts included
DECCA 2796323 [75:56] [JQ]
A
further collection of pieces by Eric Whitacre, including many first
recordings, in first rate performances
Jan
Dismas ZELENKA (1679-1745) Trio sonata
see TELEMANN
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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