PART 3
C-L

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]

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Guglielmo CAPPETTI (1875-1918) Piccola Suite, Notturno see Italian Clarinet Gems

Gilfredo CATTOLICA (1882-1962) Duo see Italian Clarinet Gems

Ernest CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Concert, Piano Trio Eric Larsen (piano) Stephen Shipps (violin) Wihan String Qt, Meadowmount Trio rec. 2000 NAXOS 8.572468 [76:20] [WK]

Impassioned and incisive performances of two of Chausson’s chamber masterworks.

Ernest CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Piano Trio in G minor Op.3 (1881) [31:56] see Vienna Schubert trio

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johannes CICONIA (c.1370-1412) Opera Omnia - Complete Works La Morra/Corina Martio/Michal Gondko, Diabolus in Musica/Antoine Guerber rec. 2010 RICERCAR RIC 316 [151.34] [GH]

I cannot praise these recordings too highly.

Muzio CLEMENTI (1752-1832) The Complete Sonatas - Vols 4 & 5 Constantino Mastroprimiano rec. 2008/9 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94024/94113 [6 CDs: 194:54 & 147:26] The Complete Piano Sonatas – Vols 5 & 6 Howard Shelley (piano) rec. 2009 HYPERION CDA67814/9 [4CDs: 145:19 & 126:39] [BW, GM]

Two recommendable series – take your pick between fortepiano and modern grand.

Pierre COCHEREAU (1924-1984) Symphonies Improvisées Pierre Cochereau (organ) rec. 1978 SOLSTICE SOCD 275 [68:40] [Byz]

Awe-inspiring and humbling that this music was thought up more or less on the fly.

Carson COOMAN (b. 1982) Piano Works Donna Amato (piano) rec. 2010 ALTARUS AIR-CD-9015 [62:40] [RB]

A most sensitively put across collection.

Aaron COPLAND (1900-1990) Quiet City, for strings, Trumpet and English Horn (1940) [10:51] see Trumpet Concertos

William CORKINE (fl. 1610-1617) Each Lovely Grace - The Second Booke of Ayres (1612) Cantar alla Viola (Nadine Balbeisi (soprano); Fernando Marín (viola da gamba, lyra-viol)) rec. 2011, . DDD NIMBUS NI6173 [1:06:45] [MS]

Unusual yet stimulating repertoire from the English Renaissance performed with style and persuasion.

Robert CRAWFORD (b.1925) String Quartets 1-3 Edinburgh Qt rec. 2010 DELPHIAN DCD 34091 [63.00] [GH]

Some reservations but worth pursuing and persevering with.

Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Première Rhapsodie for clarinet and piano see European Adventure

Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Piano Trio in G major (1880) [21:30] see Vienna Schubert trio

Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) Late Swallows [9:32] see BLISS

English Violin Sonatas Thomas DUNHILL (1877-1946) Violin Sonata 2 Granville BANTOCK (1868-1946) Violin Sonata 3 Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Violin Sonata 1 Susanne Stanzeleit (violin) Gusztáv Fenyo (piano) rec. 1994. REGIS RRC 1376 [75:34] [Byz]

Sure-fire audience pleasers.

Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797–1848) Marino Faliero Giorgio Surian (bass) Rachele Stanisci (soprano) Ivan Magri (tenor) Orch/Ch of the Bergamo Musica Fest/Gaetano Donizetti/Bruno Cinquegrani rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.660303-04 [72.40 + 71.44] [RH]

A strong performance sufficient to warrant anyone buying it to fulfil their curiosity.

Antonín DVORÁK (1841-1904) Symphony 9 Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Symphony 1 Münchner Philharmoniker/Sergiu Celibidache rec. 1988/91 EUROARTS 2066558 [112:57] [RMay]

A fascinating new DVD.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Antonín DVORÁK (1841-1904) Karajan Spectacular - vol. 2 Symphony 9, 5 Slavonic Dances Berliner Phil/Herbert von Karajan rec. 1958-1959 IDIS 6621 [65:06] [RMo]

This is a glorious disc.

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Cello Concerto, Violin Concerto Enrico Mainardi (cello) Ida Haendel (violin) Berlin PO/Fritz Lehmann, National SO/Karl Rankl rec. 1947/55 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC308 [69:00] [JW]

A good Violin Concerto and a rather nondescript Cello Concerto. 

Johannes ECCARD (1553-1611) & Johannes STOBAEUS (1580-1646) Preussische Festlieder - Sacred Songs Vocal Consort Dresden/Capella de la Torre/Peter Kapp rec. 2011 CARUS 83.265 [66.47] [GH]

For its period and for its aims the music works well.

Sir Edward ELGAR (1862-1934) see Boult conducts Elgar

Maurice EMMANUEL (1862-1938) Ouverture pour un conte gai, Symphonies 1 & 2, Suite française Orch Phil Slovène/Emmanuel Villaume rec. 2010 TIMPANI 1C1189 [61:50] [RB]

Dreamy and abstracted, heart-touchingly poignant.

Jacob van EYCK (1589/90-1657) Around Jacob van Eyck Ardalus Ens/Karen Ketels rec. 2010 PHAEDRA PH92068 [71:21] [JW]

Dutch music would be the poorer without van Eyck’s clever and attractive settings.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sebastian FAGERLUND (b.1972) Clarinet Concerto, Partita, Isola Christoffer Sundqvist (clarinet) Gothenburg SO/Dima Slobodeniouk rec. 2008 BIS BIS-SACD-1707 [58:36] [OL]

Real 21^st century music: standing on the shoulders of those who came before yet reaching higher than ever.

Leo FALL (1873-1925) Der Fidele Bauer Robert Bergmann (bass-baritone) Eugene Amersmann (tenor) Laura Scherwitzl (soprano) Ch of the Lehár Festivals, Franz Lehár O/Vinzenz Praxmarer rec. 2010 CPO 777 591-2 [66:13 + 43:52] [JS]

First rate … a rare work by a very talented contemporary of Lehár … certainly equals or even outclasses the lesser works of that master.

Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Messe de Requiem, Cantique de Jean Racine, Élegie, Pavane, Super flumina Babylonis Philippe Jaroussky (counter-tenor) Matthias Goerne (baritone) Eric Picard (cello) Paris Ch & O/Paavo Järvi rec. 2011 VIRGIN CLASSICS 0709212 [61:48] [GA]

This Fauré Requiem is rather a mixed bag, but the soloists lift its level, and the shorter choral works are very successful.

William FLACKTON (1709-1798) Viola Sonatas George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Sonata Carl Friedrich ABEL (1723-1787) Sonata Kathryn Steely (viola) Vincent de Vries (harpsichord) Adrienne Steely (cello) rec. 2010 MSR CLASSICS MS1379 [51:11] [PBW]

Pleasant but rather unmemorable.

Luís de FREITAS BRANCO (1890-1955) Violin Sonatas 1 & 2 Carlos Damas (violin) Anna Tomasik (piano) rec. 2009 NAXOS 8.572334 [51:18] [Byz]

Impressively expressive and delicate.

Robert FUCHS (1847-1927) Clarinet Quintet Ferdinand THIERIOT (1838-1919) Clarinet Quintet Stephan Siegenthaler (clarinet) Stamic Qtet Prague rec. 2005 STERLING CDA1674-2 [59:52] [JW]

If you feel an affinity for the affiliation of clarinet and quintet and are susceptible to the genre, you will enjoy these performances.

Nancy GALBRAITH (b. 1951) Missa Mysteriorum, Concerto for Piano and Wind Ensemble Donna Amato (piano) Mendelssohn Ch Pittsburgh/Robert Page, Carnegie Mellon Wind Ens/Denis Colwell rec. 2002 CARNEGIE MELLON CMRL 03-0006 [64:41] [RB]

A melodist not to be overlooked.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Philippe GAUBERT (1879-1941) Au pays basque, Violin Concerto, Poème Romanesque for cello and orchestra, Le Cortège d’Amphitrite Philippe Graffin (violin) Henri Demarquette (cello) Orch Phil du Luxembourg/Marc Soustrot rec. 2010 TIMPANI 1C1186 [66:33] [RB]

Indispensable listening for adherents of the melodic-romantic nationalism.

Georg GEBEL the Younger (1709 - 1753) Christmas Cantatas - Vol. 1 Verfolge mich, o Welt! [30:04] Gott Lob! mein Jesus macht mich rein [40:57] Veronika Winter (soprano), Britta Schwarz (contralto), Andreas Post (tenor), Matthias Vieweg (bass); Cantus Wettinianus Dresden; Les Amis de Philippe/Ludger Rémy rec. 2009 CPO 777 610-2 [71:25] [JV]

This disc proves once again that Georg Gebel is a great composer.

Roberto GERHARD (1896-1970) Tonades dels segles XVII i XVIII Nancy Fabiola Herrera (mezzo) Mac McClure (piano) rec. 2009 COLUMNA MUSICA 1CM0249 [40:08] [RB]

Blending purity with Mozartean emotion. 

Philip GLASS (b.1937) Cello Concerto 1 Wendy Sutter (cello) Orch of the Americas/Dante Anzolini rec. 2010 ORANGE MOUNTAIN MUSIC 0076 [31:48] [AM]

An only fitfully interesting concerto from Glass, well performed but ill served by a very short disc.

Umberto GIORDANO (1867-1948) Andrea Chénier Hector Sandoval, Scott Hendricks, Norma Fantini, Vienna SO/Ulf Schirmer rec. 2011 UNITEL CLASSICA/ CMAJOR 707908 [130:00] [RMay]

A striking production and three principals with powerful and skilled voices.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH André Modeste GRÉTRY (1741-1813) Zémire et Azor Hugette Boulangeot (soprano) Michel Sénéchal (tenor) Bournemouth SO/Sir Thomas Beecham rec. live, 1955 SOMM BEECHAM 30-2 [47:41 + 66:43] [JS]

A delightful experience. I would be surprised if this set does not give considerable pleasure. 

Sofia GUBAIDULINA (b.1931) Ciaconna see 20^th Century Russian Piano Music

Gene GUTCHË (1907-2000) Theme and Variations, Piano Sonatas Matthew McCright (piano) rec. 2010. DDD CENTAUR CRC 3150 [51:54] [Byz]

McCright's neutral playing style and Gutchë's well-formed music are sure to unite most tastes.

Eero HÄMEENNIEMI  (b. 1951) Red Earth and Pouring Rain, The Bird and the Wind Bombay Jayashri (voice) Laura Leisma (soprano) Avanti!/John Storgårds; rec. 2009/10 ALBA ABCD 320 [69:03] [RB]

A fine contribution to the national composer catalogue of Finnish hero, Alba.

George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Arresta il Passo Klaartje van Veldhoven (soprano) Stefanie True (soprano) Contrasto Armonico/Marco Vitale BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94230 [47.55] [RH]

The performances here might lack the gloss and sophistication of some others, but their directness has considerable charm. 

George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Sonata see FLACKTON

Howard HANSON (1896-1981) Symphony 1, The Lament for Beowulf Seattle SO & Chorale/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1988/90 NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559700 [48:34] [Byz]

Surely one of America's finest Firsts.

Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphonies 43, 44, 48, 50, 61 & 91 Twelve German Dances Nos.1-6, Cello Concerto in D Erling Blöndal Bengtsson (cello) Danish Radio Ch O/Mogens Wöldike rec. 1949-56 DANACORD DACOCD703-04 [79:22 + 77:57] [JW]

A warm welcome. Music-making of a positive and keen-eared classicist.

Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Piano Sonata 62 Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Piano Sonata 3 Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Novelletten 4 & 8 Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) Barcarolle Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) 4 Préludes Sviatoslav Richter (piano) rec. 1967 ICA CLASSICS ICAC 5004 [78:33] [JW]

Richter’s many admirers will find much here to stimulate and entertain.

Michael HAYDN (1737-1806) Duos for violin and viola see MOZART

Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Violin Sonata Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1928) Violin Sonata Toru TAKEMITSU (1930-1996) Distance de fée Valentin SILVESTROV (b.1937) Five Pieces Duo Gazzana rec. 2011 ECM NEW SERIES 2238 (476 4428) [47:17] [JW]

A rather intriguing programme: stylistically, geographically and temporally.

Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Concerto for Trumpet and Bassoon see Trumpet Concertos

Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Cello Sonata Op.11 No.3 see Očic

Jef van HOOF (1886 – 1959) Herinneringsouverture, Perzeus, Symphony 2 Janacek PO Ostrava/Ivo Venkov rec. 2010 PHAEDRA 92067 [53:21] [RB]

Affable and excitable music performed with evident commitment.

Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983) Oboe Sonata see PATTERSON

Johann Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837) Flute trio, Rondo Brillant, Grand Rondeau Brillant, Grand Sonata see SAINT-SAËNS

Giuseppe Maria JACCHINI (1667-1727) Concerto for cello, strings and bc in F, see Italian Concertos and Sonatas

From the Street Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1928) Piano sonata 1, On an overgrown path Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Valses nobles et sentimentales Sergey PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano sonata 2 Ivana Gavric (piano) rec. 2011 CHAMPS HILL RECORDS CHRCD026 [78:57] [SA]

I shall be looking out most keenly for Ivana Gavric’s next disc and if it’s anything like as good as this one it’ll be well worth waiting for!

Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1928) Glagolitic Mass, Sinfonietta Christiane Libor (soprano) Ewa Marciniec (alto) Timothy Bentch (tenor) Wojciech Gierlach (bass) Jaroslaw Malanowicz (organ) Warsaw PO & Ch/Antoni Wit rec. 2009/10 NAXOS AUDIO NBD0026 [62:54] [DM]

Doesn’t begin to challenge the best in the catalogue.

Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1928) Violin Sonata see HINDEMITH

Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1928) Pochod modráčků, Mládí suite see REICHA

André JOLIVET (1905-1974)
Concertino for Trumpet, String Orchestra and Piano (1948) [9:35] see Trumpet Concertos

James P JOHNSON (1894-1955) Victory Stride (1944) [4:06] Harlem Symphony (1932) [21:33] Concerto: Jazz A Mine for piano and orchestra (1934) [17:15] American Symphonic Suite (based on St Louis Blues by W.C. Handy) (1934) - Lament [8:49] Drums - A Symphonic Poem (ca.1942) [9:17] Charleston arr. David Rimelis (1923) [8:15] Leslie Stifelman (piano); Chris Gekker (trumpet); Lawrence Feldman (clarinet); James Pugh (trombone) The Concordia Orchestra/Marin Alsop rec. 1992, 1994, midprice NIMBUS NI2745 [70:27] [BR]

A bit of jazzy fun from the Harlem Renaissance.

JOSQUIN des Pres (c.1440-1521) Missa De beata virgine, Cambrai Credo, Missa Ave maris stella The Tallis Scholars/Peter Phillips GIMELL CDGIM 044 [75:58]  [GD]

A very satisfying listening experience indeed. 

Kara KARAYEV (1918-1982) Preludes for Piano see 20^th Century Russian Piano Music

Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Flute Concerto see Mirror of Eternity

Houtaf KHOURY (b.1967) Mirror of Eternity see Mirror of Eternity

Ladislav KUBÍK  (b.1946) Sinfoniettas 1 & 3, Piano concerto 3 Read Gainsford (piano) Jadwiga Rappé (mezzo) Ensemble 21/Jakob Hrůša, Brno PO/Alexander Jiménez, Prague RSO/Jan Kučera rec. 2005-10 NEOS 11011 [46:26] [RB]

For exploratory souls: free-thinking dissonance and potent engagement with hysteria and poetry. 

Thierry LANCINO (b. 1954) Requiem Soloists, Choir and Philharmonic Orchestra of Radio France/Eliahu Inbal rec. 2010 NAXOS 8.572771 [72:09] [WH]

A stunning performance of an important new choral work, but atmosphere outweighs memorability in the vocal writing.

Leonardo LEO (1694-1744) Concerto for cello, strings and bc in d minor see Italian Concertos and Sonatas

Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Piano Sonata, Concert paraphrase of Rigoletto, Vallée d’Obermann from Années de Pèlerinage, Elsa’s Bridal Procession from Lohengrin, Isolde’s Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde Andrew von Oeyen (piano) rec. 2009 DELOS DE 3412 [72.56] [RBe]

Turbo-charged virtuoso passage-work is played with exceptional clarity, panache and real bravura display.

Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Wagner and Weber Transcriptions Steven Mayer (piano) rec. 2009 NAXOS 8.570562 [67:32] [DM]

Beautiful, but rather lacking in soul.

Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Mephisto Waltzes 1-4 Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude, Variations on “Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen” Cyprien Katsaris (piano) rec. 1980/2 WARNER APEX 2564 67410-2 [73:15] [IL]

An eloquent Liszt recital of sacred and profane piano music. 

Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Les Préludes,Two Episodes after Lenau’s Faust,Two Legends Rotterdam PO/James Conlon rec. 1983 WARNER APEX 2564 665861 [65:28] [IL]

Good performances but there is major competition around – even at budget prices.

Donato LOVREGLIO (1841-1907) Fantasia da Concerto, based on motives from Verdi’s La Traviata, for clarinet and piano see European Adventure

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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]

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