The
Martyred Virgins A Gregorian memorial to female
victims of violence 
Schola Cantorum Karolus Magnus/Stan Hollaardt rec. 2011
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94314 [72.31] [GH]
Atmospheric
and appropriate and gentle and reflective.
Millennial
Masters Vol. 2
ABLAZE RECORDS AR00007 [60:21] [Byz]
A
second heterogeneous collection from Ablaze.
Muses
Nine
Becky Billock (piano)
Self-released [62:48] [BR]
An
adventurous recital of eight interesting composer, played by a ninth;
for those keen to explore music from 1892 to 2010.
A
Musical Journey Night Music Vol. 1
NAXOS 2.110549 
[55.27]
[RF]
Uncertainty
of objectives again.
A
Musical Journey South Tyrol
NAXOS 2.110303
[59.50] [RJF]
One
of the better of this series with plenty here to ravish both the eye
and the ear.
Music
In and On the Air Works by Franck, Bach & Villa-Lobos
Clara
Rockmore (theremin) Nadia Reisenberg (piano) Erick Friedman (violin)
Cellos of the Violoncello Soc. rec. 1979
ROMÉO RECORDS 7286 [76:12] [JW]
Certainly
something of an oddball … I enjoyed it though.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH New
Favourites
Swedish
Chamber Choir/Simon Phipps rec. 2011
MUSICA REDIVIVA MRSACD103 
[73:47] [WH]
A
magnificent collection of modern Swedish choral music.
Polish
Mazurkas
Elzbieta Karas-Krasztel (piano) rec. 1995
DUX 0795 [64:37] [BR]
An
encyclopedia of the mazurka, from Chopin to Zulawski, with many delights
between.
La
Polyphonie Flamande
RICERCAR RIC 102 [8 CDs: 624:16] [KM]
An
attractive set with a fine selection of Flemish polyphonic music from
the Renaissance.
Postcage
OGREOGRESS 885767203839 
[124:00] [KM]
An
eclectic compilation of new compositions from mostly little-known composers.
Some gems, some duds, this disc is for those interested in new music.
Pour
un plaisir - Songs and tientos by Antonio de Cabezón
and his contemporaries
Véronique Musson-Gonneaud (renaissance double harp) rec. 2010
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94351 [45:02] [JV]
The
harp is a good alternative for the keyboard in this Spanish repertoire.
Quartet
Movements Works
by Wolf, Puccini, Orff, Rihm, Ives, Schubert & Webern
Signum Qt rec. 2011
CAPRICCIO C5064 [56:30] [Byz]
The
Signum play with passion and intelligence, as well as terrific attention
to detail and each other.
Red
Cross Benefit Concert 1944
New York P-SO, NBC SO/Arturo Toscanini rec. 1944/45
IMMORTAL PERFORRMANCES IPCD 1014-2 [59:25 + 76:32] [JW]
Highly
effective restoration of this two-disc offering.
The
Red Piano
Yundi (piano) China NCPA Concert Hall O/Chen Zuohuang rec. 2011
EMI CLASSICS 0886582 [62:11] [RMay]
Can
we expect the candelabra next?
Sviatoslav
Richter in the 1950s - Vol. 7 Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Rondos, Variations, Sonatas
12 & 27, Diabelli Variations
rec. 1950/1
PARNASSUS PACD 96046-47 [62:53 + 62:04] [JW]
This
exclusive focus on Beethoven nourishes Richter’s early discography significantly.
Christine
Schäfer Arias by Strauss, Handel, Bellini, Verdi & Messiaen
Christine
Schäfer (soprano) Deutsches SO Berlin/Julien Salemkour rec. 2011
SONY
CLASSICS 88697 913992 [66:37] [MC]
Schäfer
is in magnificent form … fascinating.
Carl
Schuricht Studio Recordings 1941-42 César
FRANCK (1822-1890) Le Chasseur maudit
Riccardo ZANDONAI (1883-1944) Serenata Medioevale
Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Symphonia Domestica
Berlin State O, O of La Scala Milan
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC320 [77:44] [JW]
These
unusual Berlin and Milan recordings fit quite well together and have
been splendidly transferred.
Serious
Cabaret
Mary Carewe (voice) Philip Mayers (piano) rec. 2007-10
ORCHID CLASSICS ORC1000021 [72.49] [GH]
Much
enjoyment … considerable fun.
Songs
of Hope Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Singet dem Herrn Benjamin BRITTEN
(1913-1976) Rejoice in the Lamb Leonard
BERNSTEIN (1918-1990) Chichester Psalms Stephen
PAULUS (b. 1949) A Dream of Time
Bach Choir of Bethlehem; Bach Festival O/Greg Funfgeld rec. 2011
ANALEKTA AN29983 [62:16] [WH]
Some
good things, and some not so good, in this collection from a big American
choir.
Yuri
Temirkanov at the BBC Proms
Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Le
Corsaire Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Manfred Symphony
St Petersburg PO/Yuri Temirkanov rec. 1992
ICA CLASSICS ICAD5065
[72:00] [DM]
An
indispensable record of a memorable night.
This
is the Day Music on Royal Occasions
Elin Manahan Thomas (soprano) Andrew Lucas (organ) The Cambridge Singers;
Aurora O/John Rutter rec. 2012
COLLEGIUM COLCD 136 [75:21] [JQ]
A
very good and well-conceived musical celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s
Diamond Jubilee.
Le
Tombeau de Debussy
Jan
Michiels (piano) rec. 2011
FUGA LIBERA FUG590 [77:42] [SA]
Michiels
is an excellent advocate of this music. He plays with obvious love and
understanding.
Tune
thy Musicke to thy Hart Tudor and Jacobean music
for private devotion
Stile Antico/Fretwork rec. 2011
HARMONIA MUNDI HMU 807554 [64:45] [JQ]
This
release offers a most interesting perspective on the sacred vocal music
of the period and exemplary performances.
Günter
Wand Edition - Vol. 20
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Piano Concerto 1 Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)
Pictures at an Exhibition
Jorge Bolet (piano) NDR SO/Günter Wand rec. 1982/5
PROFIL EDITION PH09029 [69:03] [MC]
Valuable
documents of Wand’s special talent.
The
Great Violinist Endre Wolf The complete Danish Tono recordings
1949-51
DANACORD DACOCD 714-715 [76:56 + 79:07] [JW]
These
Tono transfers are just the thing.
OTHER REVIEWS
BOOK
REVIEW The
Idea Was Good
- The story of Benjamin Britten’s War
Requiem By Michael Foster 142pp Published 2012
COVENTRY CATHEDRAL BOOKS [JQ]
Invaluable;
a piece of scholarship and a labour of love. An indispensable read.
MOVIE
REVIEW The Curse of the Gothic
Symphony
A film by Randall Wood and Veronica Fury [DJB]
An
outstanding documentary of one man’s seemingly unachievable dream.
EQUIPMENT
REVIEW
HRT
HeadStreamer A
portable headphone DAC by High Resolution Technologies [DM]
Very
well screwed together and it excels where it matters - with its sound.
Herman
FINCK (1872
- 1939) Finck Album
Kelli Uustani; Pirjo Levandi (sopranos); Mart Sander (baritone) Bel
Etage Theatre Orchestra/Mart Sander rec. 2007, No texts
DIVINE ART DIVERSIONS DDV 62402 [67.54] [JF]
Captures the Edwardian mood and spirit.
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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