RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giovanni
BASSANO (c.1558 - 1617) Amor Sacro - Amor Profano
Monika
Mauch (soprano) Capricornus Ens Stuttgart/Henning Wiegraebe rec. 2010
COVIELLO
CLASSICS COV 21108 [71:55] [JV]
A
disc with fascinating repertoire, brilliantly sung and played.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Diabelli Variations
Andreas
Staier (fortepiano) rec. 2010
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC902091 [67:00] [KM]
The
Diabelli Variations as they were heard in Beethoven’s time. An
infectious recording that bubbles over with joy.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Vincenzo
BELLINI (1801-1835)
I Puritani
Mariola Cantarer, John Osborn, Scott Hendricks, Riccardo Zanellato,
Fredrika Brillembourg, De Nederlandse Opera Ch, Netherlands Philharmonic
Orchestra/Giuliano Carella rec. 2009
OPUS ARTE OA1091D 
[173:00 + 10:00 (bonus)] [ST]
Two
thumbs up for this Puritani.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hector BERLIOZ
(1803
– 1869) Herminie, Les Nuits d’été,
Maurice RAVEL (1875 – 1937)
Shéhérazade
Véronique Gens (soprano) Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire/John
Axelrod rec. 2000, 2009, 2010 Sung texts with English translations enclosed
ONDINE
OD 1200-2 [65:55] [GF]
Véronique
Gens must now be added to the top duo of Crespin and Baker.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ernest
BLOCH (1880 - 1959) Schelomo; From Jewish
Life; Voice in the Wilderness Max BRUCH
(1838 - 1920) Kol Nidrei
Natalie Clein (cello) BBC Scottish SO/Ilan Volkov rec. 2011
HYPERION CDA67910 [61:30] [HC]
Superb
readings and recording of Bloch's output for cello and orchestra, a
must-have for all his admirers.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ferruccio BUSONI
(1866-1924)
Eine Lustspielouvertüre, Gesang vom Reigen der Geister, Rondò
arlecchinesco, Clarinet Concertino, Flute Divertimento, Tanzwalzer
Giammarco
Casani (clarinet) Laura Minguzzi (flute) Gianluca Terranova (tenor)
Rome SOFrancesco La Vecchia rec. 2008/11
NAXOS 8.572922 [60:34] [BR]
A
wonderful raft of discoveries from Busoni’s lighter side. Maybe
my favorite album so far in the Naxos Italian Classics series.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sir Edward ELGAR
The
Apostles, Op. 49 [114:29] Soloists, Hallé Choir; Hallé Youth Choir;
Hallé Orchestra/Sir Mark Elder rec.2012 English text included
HALLÉ CD HLD 7534 [65:08 + 49:21] [MC]
Performed
beautifully. Everyone is on quite spectacular form.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann Jacob FROBERGER
(1616
- 1667) Suites and Toccatas
Alina Rotaru (harpsichord) rec. no date given. DDD
CARPE DIEM CD-16290 [63:54] [JV]
This
disc has to be ranked among the best recordings of Froberger's
music.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) The Creation
Amanda Forsythe (soprano) Keith Jameson (tenor) Kevin Deas (bass-baritone)
Boston Baroque/Martin Pearlman rec. 2011
LINN CKD401 
[69:22 + 27:21]
[ST]
Another
feather in the cap of Pearlman and Boston Baroque.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gabriel JACKSON
(b.
1962) Beyond The Stars - Sacred Choral Works Vol. II
Ch St. Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh/Duncan Ferguson, Nicolas Wearne
(organ) rec. 2011
DELPHIAN DCD 34106 [68:38] [DMcC]
Gabriel
Jackson surely has no finer advocates.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH William LAWES
(1602-1645) Consorts to the Organ
Phantasm rec. 2011
LINN CKD399
[77:44] [DC]
A
world of musical naughtiness - Fifty Shades of modal mayhem.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony 3
Michaela Schuster (alto) Kölner Dom & Oper Ch, Gürzenich
O Köln/Markus Stenz rec. 2010
OEHMS CLASSICS OC648
[33:25 + 60:38] [JQ]
This
new Mahler Third deserves to be ranked with the best.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Simon MAYR (1763-1845) Concerto Bergamasco,
Keyboard Concerto, Trio Concertante
Natalie Schwaabe (flute and piccolo), Andrea Steinberg (clarinet and
basset horn) Bavarian Classical Players/Franz Hauk rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.570927 [53:36] [DM]
Music
of lilt and loveliness, winningly played; a joyful discovery.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Complete Works for Cello and Piano
Luca Fiorentini (cello) Stefania Redaelli (piano) rec. 2012
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94368 [71:47] [SA]
A
sumptuous feast of a disc that I can’t imagine could be bettered.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) The Year 1941, Symphony 5
São Paulo SO/Marin Alsop rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.573029 [59:48] [JQ]
An
auspicious launch of Marin Alsop’s Prokofiev symphony cycle in
São Paulo.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Quam
Dilecta - French Romantic Choral Music
Ch Christ’s College, Cambridge/David Rowland, Roxy Summerfield
(organ) rec. 2011
REGENT RECORDS REGCD 375 [69:07] [MC]
A
stunning release.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Pyotr Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Piano Concerto 1 Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Piano Concerto
Van Cliburn (piano) RCA SO/Kyrill Kondrashin, Chicago SO/Fritz Reiner
rec. 1958/60
REGIS RRC1391 [65:27] [SA]
This
is a brilliant historical record of Van Cliburn’s prowess and
one to be treasured.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
American Flute Quintets
Joan
TOWER (b.1938) Rising Arthur
FOOTE (1853-1937) Two Pieces Amy
BEACH (1867-1944) Theme and Variations
Carol Wincenc (flute) Kevin Lawrence, Carolyn Stuart (violins) Sheila
Browne (viola) Brooks Whitehouse (cello) rec. 2011
BRIDGE 9373 [52:08] [SA]
A wonderful disc and the music is brilliantly played.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Il
Concerto delle Viole Barberini
Ens Mare Nostrum, Vox Luminis/Andrea De Carlo rec. 2011
RICERCAR RIC320 [59:33] [JV]
A
superb recording.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Between Two Worlds
Massimo Giacchetti (soprano and alto saxophone) Manuela Di Marco (organ)
rec. 2011
DYNAMIC CDS724 [61:51] [DM]
Simply
gorgeous; a guaranteed pick-me-up.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ferne
Geliebte Lieder
by Beethoven, Haydn, Schoenberg & Berg
Christian
Gerhaher (baritone) Gerold Huber (piano) rec. 2012
SONY 88691935432 [67:05] [ST]
A
quite extraordinary disc. Rush out and buy it!
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hirundo
Maris
Arianna Savall (voice, Gothic harp, Italian triple harp) Petter Udland
Johansen (voice, hardanger fiddle, mandolin) Sveinung Lilleheier (guitar,
dobro, voice) Miquel Àngel Cordero (double-bass, voice) David
Mayoral (percussion, voice) rec. 2011
ECM NEW SERIES 2227 [79:54] [DC]
A
magical recording which casts a spell both wide and deep.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Imagerie
Musicale Johann Kaspar MERTZ
(1806-1856) Elegie George Frideric HANDEL
(1685-1759) Sonata Carlo DOMENICONI
(b.1947) Koyunbaba Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750) Chaconne Luigi
LEGNANI (1790-1877) Fantasie Ástor
PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Milonga del Ángel, Primavera
Porteña
Maud Laforest (guitar) rec. 2011
MAUD LAFOREST 120811 [71:10] [Byz]
A
hugely entertaining recital.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Nobuyuki
Tsujii - Live at Carnegie Hall Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonata 17 Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Etude de concert; Rigoletto
Paraphrase Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)
Pictures at an Exhibition
rec. 2011
EUROARTS 2059084 
[97:00]
[DM]
A
profound and bewitching talent; inspiring in every way.
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