Alessandro
APPIGNANI (b.1970?)
Piano Quintet etc. 
Quartetto d’archi di Torino, Alessandro Appignani (piano), Yoko Hanamaru
(viola), Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt (cello) rec. 2009, 11-12 Sept 2010,
23-24 Oct 2010, DDD
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9235 [53:34][RB]
Not
difficult music yet with sufficient substance to engage and reward the
listener prepared to try something modern and out of the way.
Richard
ARNELL (1917-2009)
Punch and the Child Frederick DELIUS
(1862-1934) An Arabesque Lord
BERNERS (1883-1950)
The Triumph of Neptune
R Royal PO, Philadelphia O/Sir Thomas Beecham rec. 1950-55
PRISTINE AUDIO XR PASC 314 [59:16] [RB]
A
fearlessly brilliant and contrasted disc.
Malcolm
ARNOLD (1921-20061) Guitar Concerto see Julian
Bream
Liaisons
Vol. 3 Carl
Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788) Sonatas Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) 5 Waltzes; Night-Piece;
Holiday Diary
Dejan Lazic (piano) rec. 2008
CHANNEL CLASSICS CCS SA 28511 
[69:02] [DM]
An
intriguing get-together, made worthwhile by some fine Britten.
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) The
Well-Tempered Clavier Book I
Daniel Levy (piano)
EDELWEISS EDEM 3365 [65:40 + 71:16] [DC]
Quite
a rich menu, but a voice which deserves hearing.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Goldberg Variations, BWV988* [38:27] Overture (Partita) in b minor in
the French manner, BWV831** [25:28] French Suite No.5, BWV816** [16:28]
Glenn Gould (piano)*rec. 1955. ADD.András Schiff (piano)**rec. 1978.
DDD.
MUSICAL CONCEPTS ALTO ALC1164 [79:38] [BW]
Unless
you’re averse to either Gould’s or Schiff’s Bach, there’s no need to
hesitate at the price.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
The English Suites
Vladimir Feltsman (piano) rec. 2005,
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6176 [61:38 + 70:35] [RMo]
Hard
to imagine better advocacy than that from Feltsman.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685
- 1739) Johannes Passion
Cantus Cöll/Konrad Junghänel rec. 2011
ACCENT ACC 24251 [59:53 + 49:52] [DC]
A
light and portable St John Passion.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Chorales Chamber
Ch of Europe/Nicol Matt rec. 1999 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94265 [6
CDs: 5:43:00] [ST]
A
set to dip in and out of.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Organ Works
David Goode (organ) rec. 2010
SIGNUM SIGCD261 [80:26] [BW]
Inevitably
in some cases I prefer other versions but this cross-section of Bach’s
organ music merits an overall commendation.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Fantasia and Fugue see BEETHOVEN
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) French Suite 2 see
Vassily
Primakov
Nicolas
BACRI (b.1961)
Piano Music
Eliane Reyes (piano) rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572530 [63:42] [Byz]
A
raspberry to those who claim that new music is all tuneless, shapeless
dreck.
Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981) String Quartet see
The American Album
Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981) Symphony 1 see
HARRIS
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Rhapsodies 1 & 2; Sonatas
1 & 2; Andante
James Ehnes (violin) Andrew Armstrong (piano) rec. 2011
CHANDOS CHAN 10705 [80:30] [LW]
This first volume of Bartók music for violin and piano is a strong contender
for both programming and performances.
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) The Miraculous Mandarin
- Suite, op.19 see Music from the Machine
Age
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
The Complete Symphonies
Berlin PO/Claudio Abbado rec. 2000/1
EUROARTS 
2057378 [4 DVDs: 6:53:00] [ST]
The
peerless playing and outstanding direction makes it a joy to experience.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Sextet; Septet
Consortium Classicum rec. 1994
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM 301 0594-2 [60:02] [ST]
For
Beethoven enthusiasts who want to explore a less well known aspect of
the composer’s output.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphonies 7 & 8;
Egmont Overture
Philharmonia O/Otto Klemperer rec. 1960
IDIS 6623 [75:37] [JS]
A disc to treasure as a reminder of just how great a conductor Klemperer
was in these works in his prime.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony 9
Teresa Stich-Randall (soprano) Hilde Rösel-Majdan (mezzo) Waldemar Kmentt
(tenor) Gottlob Frick (bass) Ch & O Roma della RAI/Herbert von Karajan
rec. 1954
DYNAMIC CDS 706 [67:17] [RMo]
I
remain mystified why Dynamic thought this was worth the investment.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Symphony
9, The Creatures of Prometheus overture
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Fantasia and Fugue
Elsie
Suddaby (soprano) Nellie Walker (contralto) Walter Widdop (tenor) Stuart
Robinson (bass) Albert Coates rec. 1925-28
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 296 [78:94] [JW]
Formidable
and dynamic, hugely involving and intensely rousing.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonata 18
Enrique GRANADOS (1867-1916) Goyescas (excerpts)
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Humoreske
Amber Yiu-Hsuan Liao (piano) rec. 2010
MSR CLASSICS MS1368 [62:06] [OL]
Good,
but not exceptional, and cannot compete with the best available choices.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
String Trios
Trio Zimmermann rec. 2010
BIS-SACD-1857
[73:50] [MC]
A
delight from start to finish.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonatas
Walter
Gieseking (piano) rec. 1939/40
NAXOS 8.112063 [78:48] [WH]
Brilliant
but not barnstorming, modest but not anonymous, these five performances
are not to be missed.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770
-1827) Piano Sonatas - Volumes 9 & 10: Sonatas 29-32
Artur Schnabel (piano) rec. 1932-38
PRISTINE AUDIO PAKM 046/048 [60:59 + 68:43]
[RMo]
The
finest reincarnation of these classic performances to-date, by far.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
The Early Quartets
Budapest String Qt rec. 1943-62
BRIDGE 9342A/B [67:41 + 77:27] [JW]
It’s
been well worth the wait for these performances.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1771-1827) Triple Concerto see
A Piano Evening with
Martha Argerich
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concerto 2 see
Martha
Argerich
The
Film Music of Arthur
BENJAMIN (1893-1960) & Leighton
LUCAS (1903-1982)
Côr Caerdydd, BBC Ntl O Wales/Rumon Gamba rec. 2011
CHANDOS CHAN 10713 [67:58] [RB]
Enjoyable
and recorded so as to flatter. A remarkable effort all-round.
Lennox
BERKELEY (1903-1989)
Chamber Works for Wind, Strings and Piano
Tagore String Trio, Sarah Francis (oboe/cor anglais) Judith Fitton (flute/piccolo)
Michael Dussek (piano) rec. 2011.
REGIS RRC1380 [66:22] [JF]
A
must for all enthusiasts of English chamber music.
Lennox
BERKELEY (1903-1989) Sonatina see Julian
Bream
Lord
BERNERS (1883-1950)
The Triumph of Neptune see ARNELL
Georges
BIZET (1838-1875) Symphony see Martha
Argerich
Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Symphonies: op.37 nos 1,
3 & 4; op.41 in C minor; op.42 in D; op.45 in D minor New Berlin
Chamber O/Michael Erxleben rec. 1992 PHOENIX EDITION PE460 [51:05
+ 55:51] [Byz]
Sensitive,
tasteful accounts in sound quality better than many recent recordings.
Sergei
BORTKIEWICZ (1877-1952)
Piano Works - volume 7
Jouni Somero (piano) rec. 2011. DDD
FINNCONCERT FCRCD 9741 [73:13] [Byz]
Somero
plays Bortkiewicz with enthusiasm and dexterity.
Wanted
Pierre BOULEZ (b.1925)
Piano Sonata 3 Elliott CARTER (b.1908)
Night Fantasies Asbjřrn SCHAATHUN
(b.1961) ????? (Physis), for amplified piano and five digital
harmonisers, Adagio and Allegro Hĺkon Austbř (piano) rec. 2011 AURORA
ACD5071 [64:53] [Byz]
With
typical stamina and stunning technique, Austbř delivers a cogent, insistent
argument of, and also for, these uncompromising pieces.
York BOWEN (1884-1961)
Viola Sonatas 1 & 2, Phantasy
The Bridge Duo rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572580 [71:18] [NB]
Those
who enjoy fine viola recitals will find much to give pleasure here.
Joly
BRAGA SANTOS (1924-1988) Symphonic Overture 3;
Elegy in memory of Vianna da Motta; Alfama Suite;
Variations for Orchestra
Royal Scottish Ntl O/Álvaro Cassuto rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572815 [72:36] [RB]
Braga
Santos: triumphantly lyrical melodist and searingly intense modernist.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Violin Concerto Jean SIBELIUS
(1865-1957) Violin Concerto
Efrem Zimbalist (violin) Boston SO/Serge Koussevitzky; Cleveland O/Rudolf
Ringwall rec. 1944/46
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 307 [77:33] [RB]
Simply
glorious and even astonishing. Not to be missed on any account.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
The Songs - Vol. 3
Simon Bode (tenor) Graham Johnson (piano) rec. 2009
HYPERION CDJ33123 [60:51] [CH]
Anti-Brahms
or a revelation?
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony 1 see Toscanini
Johannes
BRAHMS (1933-1897) Piano Quartet 1 see
FAURÉ
Frank
BRIDGE (1879-1941) Phantasy in F minor see
Walton
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) 5 Waltzes; Night-Piece;
Holiday Diary see CPE
BACH
Max
BRUCH (1838-1920)
String Quartets 1 & 2
Quartetto Academica rec. 1983
DYNAMIC DM8024 [53:32] [NB]
Worthy
repertoire that deserves but does not demand to be heard.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphonies 4, 7 & 9
Philharmonie Festiva/Gerd Schaller rec. 2007-10
HÄNSSLER PROFIL PH11028 [4 CDs: 214:16] [RMo]
Listening
to such dedicated, sensitive and musicianly performances has re-ignited
my appreciation of Bruckner’s sublime genius.
Antoine
BRUMEL (c.1460-?1512/13) Missa Et ecce terrae
motus, Sequentia
Huelgas Ens/Paul van Nevel rec. 1990
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802092 [66:19] [Byz]
Brumel
was a genius here heard in superb performances.
Hans
von BÜLOW (1830-1894)
Ballade, Carnavale di Milano, ; La Certa, ]; Marche héroďque,
Mark Anderson (piano) rec. 4-5 April. 1 August 2011, Wyastone
Leys, Monmouth.
NIMBUS NI 5876 [79:30] [JW]
Anderson
delivers the goods in a rip-roaring way.
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