RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Robert
ALDRIDGE (b.
1954) Elmer Gantry 
Soloists, Milwaukee SO/William Boggs rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.669032-33 [69:24 + 72:14] [GF]
Totally
captivating.
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.
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.
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.
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, Double Concerto, Lachrymae
Anthony Marwood (violin), Lawrence Power (viola) BBC Scottish
SO/Ilan Volkov rec. 2011
HYPERION CDA67801 [64:18] [MG]
Distinctive
soloists matched by sensitively weighted, varying orchestral presence.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Fryderyk CHOPIN
(1810-1849)
Complete Waltzes and Impromptus
Vladimir Feltsman (piano) rec. 2-3 June, 2010, DDD
NIMBUS NI 6184 [70:28] [RMo]
This
goes straight to the top of my list of favourite Chopin CDs.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Claude
DEBUSSY (1906-1975)
Complete Orchestral Works for track listing see end of
review
Orchestre National de Lyon/Jun Märkl rec. 2007-2011
NAXOS 8.509002 [9 CDs: 9:08.49] [PCG]
Important
for its completeness but it has other claims to our attention as well.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Anton EBERL
(1765-1807) Trio, Potpourri en Trio, Grand Sextet
Trio Van Hengel; Alida Schat (violin) Vappu Helasvuo (viola) Bart Aerbeydt
(horn) rec. 2009/10
RAMEE RAM1103 [69:15] [Byz]
This
really is excellent music: as deep as it is broad, brimming with vigour,
poetry, harmony and brilliance.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sofia GUBAIDULINA
(b. 1931) The Lyre of Orpheus, The Canticle of the Sun
Gidon Kremer (violin) Marta Sudraba (cello) Kremerata Baltica Nicolas
Altstaedt (cello) Andrei Pushkarev, Rihards Zalupe (percussion) Rostislav
Krimer (celesta) Riga Chamber Ch/Mãris Sirmaisrec. 2006-2010 ECM
NEW SERIES 2256 [69.07] [GH]
No
praise can be too high.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Herbert
HOWELLS (1892-1983)
Choral Works
The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge/Stephen Layton Simon Bland and
Jeremy Cole (organ) 2011, DDD Original texts and English translations
included
HYPERION CDA67914 [64:09][JQ]
A
most distinguished release of glorious music by Herbert Howells, superbly
performed.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
MARTUCCI (1856-1909) Piano Concerto 1, La canzone
dei ricordi
Gesualdo Coggi (piano) Silvia Pasini (mezzo) Roma SO/Francesco La Vecchia
rec.2007/8
NAXOS 8.570931 [67:53] [CH]
On
this showing La Vecchia was born to conduct Martucci. A masterly, even
great, vocal performance from Silvia Pasini.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH NEIDHART
(c.1185-c.1240)
A Minnesinger and his 'Vale of Tears' : Songs and Interludes
Ensemble
Leones rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572449 [64:39] [Byz]
Peerless
musicianship.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Francis POTT
(b. 1957) In The Heart Of Things
Grace Davidson (soprano) Commotio/Matthew Berry rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572739 [66.58] [PCG]
A
most beautiful disc of some absolutely beautiful music.
RECORDING
OF THe MONTH Albert
ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Le festin de l’araignée,
Pâdmavatî suites
Royal Scottish Ntl O/Stéphane Denève rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572243 [54:42] [BR]
As
sad as it is that this Naxos series had to end, the final volume is
just as glorious as the first four.
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.
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, Viola Sonata, Five Pieces from The Gadfly
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.
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.
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.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH From the Old
World to the New Songs by
Loeffler, Brahms, Bridge & Copland
Karina
Lucas (mezzo) Rebecca Jones (viola) Simon Lane (piano) rec. 2009
SONIMAGE
SON11101 [76:05] [SA]
A
true partnership of equals.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH A
Musical Journey - Norway
Featuring music of Edvard Grieg
NAXOS 2.110274
[55.57] [RJF]
A
winner for all lovers of Grieg’s music, and his captivating country,
alongside spectacular photography.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
A Musical Odyssey in St
Petersburg
Renée
Fleming (soprano) Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone) Ivari Ulja, Olga Kern
(piano) State Hermitage O/Constantine Orbelian rec. 2009
DECCA 074 3383
[91:00 + 23:00 (bonus)] [RJF]
A
must for every lover of fine singing in wonderful venues in a magnificent
city.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Orlando Furioso
Madrigals on the poem by Ludovico Ariosto
La Compagnia del Madrigale/Giuseppe Maletto rec. 2009/10
ARCANA A363 [69:49] [JV]
The
repertoire on this disc is of supreme quality, and so are the performances.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Songs
of the Baltic Sea
National Youth Choir of Great Britain/Mike Brewer rec. 2010
DELPHIAN DCD34052 [76:59] [JQ]
A disc that confirms and enhances the National Youth Choir’s reputation
for excellence and enterprise.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH A
Song of Farewell Music
of Mourning and Consolation
Gabrieli Consort/Paul McCreesh 2009
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD281 [75:56] [JQ]
A
disc of great distinction.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sublime
Discourses The Complete Instrumental Music of John Milton
and Martin Peerson
Fretwork; Michael Chance (alto) Sophie Yates (virginals) rec. 2009/10
REGENT
RECORDS REGCD341 [61:34] [JV]
This
disc should receive the full attention of all who are interested in
the music of the English renaissance.
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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