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Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Cello Sonata 1, Suite 
MERIDIAN CDE 84433 [61:43]
Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826)
Flute trio, Silvana variations, Grand sonata, Variations
MERIDIAN
CDE 84260 [77:06]
Johann Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837)
Flute trio, Rondo Brillant, Grand Rondeau Brillant, Grand Sonata
MERIDIAN
CDE 84217 [65:22]
Christina
Shillito, Charles Tunnell (cello) Christine Croshaw (piano) David Campbell
(clarinet) Clive Conway (flute) [Byz]
The
Weber is a winner. For sheer classical beauty the Hummel is hard to
beat. The Saint-Saëns is rather short and the recording slightly recessed.
Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835–1921) Carnival of the Animals see
PROKOFIEV
Alfred
SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) Sketches
Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra/Andrey Chistiakov rec. 1996
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9215 [52:10]
[RB]
This
sequence of short sound-pictures is boldly recorded and serves well
to tickle the ear.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony 9 Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphony 4 Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Parsifal: Good Friday Music
Boston SO/Erich Leinsdorf rec. 1962-1964
ICA CLASSICS 
ICAD
5043 [DVD: 98:50] [CH]
A
very truthful picture of Leinsdorf, including a great piece of Wagner
conducting.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Arpeggione Sonata, Trout Quintet
Jan
Vermeulen (fortepiano) Christine Busch (violin) Paul de Clerck (viola)
France Springuel (cello) Jan Buysschaert (double bass) rec. 2010
ET’CETERA
KTC 1431 [66:50] [GA]
These
performances are really very special whether you like original instruments
or not.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
String Quartets 12-15
Guarneri Qt rec. 1971-77
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802089 [71:38 + 51:26]
[RMo]
This
re-issue need not detain you.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) CD
1 Piano Sonata in D major, Op. 53 D.850 (1825) [38:38] Piano Sonata
in G major, Op. 78 D.894 (1826) [39:47] CD 2 Vier Impromptus
op. 90, D.899 (1827) [27:18] Piano Sonata in C major, D.840 Reliquie
(1825) [25:29] Drei Klavierstücke, D.946 (1828) [25:29]
Paul Lewis (piano) rec. 2011,
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC 902115.16 [78:40 + 78:33]
[JQ]
A
distinguished release which confirms the credentials of Paul Lewis as
one of the leading pianists of his generation.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Complete Symphonies
Vienna PO/Riccardo Muti rec. 1993
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802081 [65:44 + 72:53] [RB]
Only
one part of the picture.
Cornelis
SCHUYT (1557-1616) Madrigali, Padovane e Gagliarde
Camerata
Trajectina rec. 2011
GLOBE GLO6068 [60:18] [JV]
A
nice survey of the oeuvre of Cornelis Schuyt, one of the main Dutch
composers from the 'Golden Age'.
Rodion
SHCHEDRIN (b.1932) Preludes and Fugues for Piano see 20th
Century Russian Piano Music
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975)
Symphony 5, Piano Concerto 2
New York PO/Leonard Bernstein (piano) rec. 1960
REGIS RRC1377 [65:09]
[RB]
Sensational
… Phenomenal.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphonies 6 & 12
Royal Liverpool PO/Vasily Petrenko rec. 2009/10
NAXOS 8.572658 [69:38] [LW]
Petrenko’s
Shostakovich 6 and 12 are unmissable.
Dmitry
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphonies 1 & 3
Royal Liverpool PO & Ch/Vasily Petrenko rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572396 [64:33] [OL]
Another
excellent disc in Petrenko’s impressive undertaking.
Russian
Romances Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) From Jewish Folk Poetry, Suite
on verses by Michelangelo Buonarroti, 6 Poems by Marina Tsvetayeva,
6 Romances on verses by English Poets, 6 Romances on words by Japanese
Poets
Nina Fomina (soprano) Tamara Sinjawskaja (mezzo) Arcadi Mischenkin (tenor)
Cologne Radio SO/Michail Jurowski rec. 1994-1996
CAPRICCIO C5095 [60:33 + 53:07]
[NB]
I
would strongly urge collectors to hear this movingly confessional music
in these very fine performances.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Preludes see 20th
Century Russian Piano Music
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphonies 6 & 7, Finlandia
New
Zealand SO/Pietari Inkinen rec. 2009-2010
NAXOS 8.572705 [59:34]
[WH]
Fine
performances of three key Sibelius works made all the more commanding
at the price.
Valentin
SILVESTROV (b.1937) Five Pieces see HINDEMITH
Charles
Villiers STANFORD
(1852-1924)
Piano Concerto 2, Concert Variations upon an English Theme
Finghin Collins (piano) RTÉ National SO/Kenneth Montgomery rec. 2010,
CLAVES
CD 50-1101 [65:48] 
[CH]
On
balance the top recommendation for both works.
Charles
Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Violin Sonata 1 English
Violin Sonatas
Yevhen
STANKOVYCH (b.1942) Chamber Symphony No.3 see Mirror
of Eternity
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Oscar
STRAUS (1870-1954)
The Chocolate Soldier
Bumerli - Johannes Martin Kränzle, Nadina Popoff - Caroline Stein,
Händel Collegium Köln/WDR Rundfunkorch Köln/Siegfried Köhler rec.
1993
CAPRICCIO C5089 [34:11 + 53:59]
[IL]
A
charming recording of a delightful operetta.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Richard
Strauss Edition: orchestral works, operas, chamber music, lieder
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9249 [35 CDs + CD-ROM]
[RB]
An
ambitious lunge in the direction of comprehensive coverage - a knock-out
blow.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Piano Trios 1 & 2, Two Pieces,
for piano quartet,
Amelia Piano Trio Rieko Aizawa (piano) Anthea Kreston (violin) Jason
Duckles (cello) Max Mandel (viola) rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.570896 [62:24]
[Byz]
Lyrical
beauty and classical proportions.
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Complete works for violin and
piano
Isabelle van Keulen (violin) Olli Mustonen (piano) rec. 1987/88
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802062 [51:45 + 43:23]
[RB]
Stylish
Stravinsky sampled from every style in his glossary.
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Three Pieces for clarinet solo see
European Adventure
Toru
TAKEMITSU (1930-1996) Distance de fée see HINDEMITH
Jeff
TALMAN (b.1953) Nature of the Night Sky
NEW DOMAIN RECORDS ND-11011 [50:22] [DC]
A
sonic investigation of the cosmic – spacey and intriguing.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony 5
Pittsburgh SO/Manfred Honeck rec. 2006
EXTON OVCL-00443 [46:04] [MC]
A
thrilling reading – one that I will want to play again and again.
Pyotr
Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphonies 1-6
London SO/Igor Markevitch rec. 1962-66
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802036 [4 CDs: 254:16] [RB]
Very
good and refreshing Tchaikovsky in honest and engaging analogue sound.
Not to be underestimated.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840
- 1893) Tchaikovsky
Edition: Symphonies, tone poems, suites, ballets, operas (8), trio,
quartets, sextet, piano pieces, songs, a cappella choral works
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 93980 [60CDs + CD-ROM: 4005:00]
[RB]
The
harvest of a lifetime that encompassed only 53 years. Has wide appeal
that will educate, surprise and delight time after time.
Ferdinand
THIERIOT (1838-1919) Clarinet Quintet see
FUCHS
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Oboe Concerto see
PATTERSON
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Les Vępres Siciliennes
Alejandro Marco-Buhrmester, Barbara Haveman, Netherlands PO/Paolo Cargnani
rec. 2010
OPUS ARTE OA1060D [2 discs:
208:00 plus 24:00 (bonus)]
[RJF]
With
the bicentenary of Verdi’s birth coming in 2013 we live in hope of a
sensible production of this neglected opera in the language of its composition
and sung by soloists who comprehend and can sing the words.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Otello
Jon Vickers (tenor) Renata Scotto (soprano) Cornell MacNeil (baritone)
Metropolitan Opera O & Ch/James Levine rec. 1978
SONY 88697
910129 [144:00] [ST]
Okay,
but nothing more.
Tomás
Luis de VICTORIA (1548 – 1611) Missa Dum complerentur
Joseph
Cullen (organ continuo) Westminster Cathedtal Ch/James O’Donnell rec.
1996
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55452 [69:54]
[JW]
This
most accomplished disc should not be overlooked.
Jesús
VILLA-ROJO (b.1940) Music for Cello:
Sonata 2; Lamento; Oración Serena; Expresiones
Asier
Polo (cello) Amaia Zipitria, Gerardo López Laguna (piano) Rafael 'El
Gallina' Romero (ethnic voice) rec. 2009
NAXOS SPANISH CLASSICS 8.572564 [69:15]
[Byz]
Intelligent,
memorable music played with great technical confidence, communicative
commitment, sureness of touch and expressive insight.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Concerto for two cellos, Cello sonatas see Italian
Concertos and Sonatas
Richard
WAGNER
(1813-1883) Der
Fliegende Holländer (1843) Matti Salminen - Ricarda Merbeth
Rundfunk-Sinfonie
orchester Berlin Rundfunkchor Berlin/Marek Janowski rec. 2010. DDD/DSD.
Stereo/Surround
PENTATONE PTC 5186 400 [78:35 + 47:54]
[GD]
The
artistic success of this release should come as no surprise.
Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Flute trio, Silvana
variations, Grand sonata, Variations see SAINT-SAËNS
Judith
WEIR
(b. 1954) Choral
Music
Choir of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge/Geoffrey Webber/Matthew
Fletcher and Annie Lydford (organ)/Jude Carlton (marimba)/Matthew Knight
(trombone) rec. 2010 Original texts and English translations included
DELPHIAN
DCD34095 [59:26]
[JQ]
An
excellent survey of Judith Weir’s shorter choral music.
Alexis
WEISSENBERG
(b.1929) The
Piano Music
Simon Mulligan (piano); Frank Walden (alto saxophone) rec. 2001. DDD
NIMBUS
NI 5688 [69:59]
[Byz]
Music
that is nostalgic, attractive, if not always strictly coherent.
Eric
WHITACRE (b. 1970)
Choral Music: Her Sacred Spirit Soars, When David Heard, Leonardo
Dreams of His Flying Machine, i thank you God for this amazing day
Leslie De’Ath (piano) Carol Bauman (percussion) Elora Fest Singers/Noel
Edison rec. 2009
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559677 [61:50]
[JQ]
A
pretty representative and inexpensive introduction to Eric Whitacre’s
music.
Percy
WHITLOCK (1903-1946)
Organ Sonata, Six Hymn Preludes Charles Hylton
STEWART (1884-1932) Five Short and Easy Pieces
Philip Rushforth (organ) rec. 2010
PRIORY RECORDS PRCD1070 [79:36]
[WK]
Rare
and not so rare organ music of the twentieth century in careful, well-thought-out
performances.
Roland
WILTGEN (b. 1957) aprčs la nuit …(2010) [19:09] see
Trumpet Concertos
Hugo
WOLF (1860 – 1903) The Complete Songs – Vol.
1 Sophie
Daneman (soprano) Anna Grevelius (mezzo) James Gilchrist (tenor) Stephan
Loges (baritone) Sholto Kynoch (piano) rec. 2010
STONE 5060192780086 [78:23]
[GF]
This
first issue has a lot to offer though it is a bit uneven.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ermanno
WOLF-FERRARI (1876-1948) Triptychon, Arabesken,
Divertimento, Venezianische Suite
Münchner Rundfunkorchester/Ulf Schirmer rec. 2008
CPO 777 567-2 
[68:34]
[JS]
Wolf-Ferrari’s
later works are surely ripe for re-evaluation. Music that is good, varied
and interesting as well as well-played and recorded.
Boris
YOFFE (b.1968) I sought him but I found him not, I sleep,
but my heart waketh, My head is filled with dew, my locks with drops
of the night, My soul went forth when he spoke
Rosamunde Qtet, Hilliard Ens rec. 2009
ECM NEW SERIES 2174 [52:34]
[DC]
The
perfect ECM disc, rare and exquisite.
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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