Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Samson et Dalila
José
Cura, Julia Gertseva, Stefan Stoll, Lukas Schmid, Badisches Staatstheater/Jochem
Hochstenbach rec. 2010
ARTHAUS MUSIK 101631 
[125:00]
[JS]
I
am sure that I will listen to it again, and equally sure that I will
have little wish to see it.
Camille
SAINT-SAENS (1835-1921)
Violin Sonata 1 Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Violin Sonata
Bruno Monteiro (violin) João Paulo Santos (piano) rec. 2007
CNM
(PORTUGAL) 451CD [54:00] [Byz]
Persuasive
performances of these two Sonatas.
Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Complete Organ Works
Ben
van Oosten (organ) rec. 2012
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 316 1767-2 [3 CDs: 57:12
+ 56:23 + 52:34] [MC]
An
excellent release that will draw in lovers of late-Romantic organ music
looking for something a little different.
Camille
SAINT-SAENS (1866-1924) Complete Piano Works -
Vol. 3
Geoffrey Burleson (piano) rec. 2011
GRAND PIANO GP609 [75:14] [Byz]
A
generously timed disc of magical music.
Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) String Quartet 1
Alexis de CASTILLON (1838-1873)
String Quartet
Quatuor de Chartres rec. 2011
BNL 112965 [66:05] [MC]
These
readings are well prepared and thoughtful ….performed with alertness
and palpable sensitivity.
Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso see Israel
Philharmonic
Esa-Pekka
SALONEN (b.
1958) Violin Concerto, Nyx
Leila Josefowicz (violin) Finnish RSO/Esa-Pekka Salonen rec. 2011/2012
DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON 479 0628 [48:23] [HC]
A
splendid release of two recent and substantial works.
Domenico
SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Cantatas
see VIVALDI
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Die Schöne Müllerin
Dietrich
Fischer-Dieskau (baritone) Andras Schiff (piano) rec. 1991
ARTHAUS MUSIC
107269 [83:00] [BW]
A
huge disappointment - stay with the Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore
recordings.
Carlos
de SEIXAS (1704-1742)
Harpsichord Sonatas Vol. 2
Débora Halász (harpsichord) rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.570216 [73:38] [JV]
I
am not convinced that this is the way to perform Seixas' sonatas.
Percy
SHERWOOD (1866-1939)
Cello Sonatas 1 & 2, Drei Stücke, Funf Kleine Stücke
Joseph Spooner (cello) David Owen Norris (piano) rec. 2012
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0145 [80:24] [RB]
Two
lanky late-romantic cello sonatas make an unmistakably confident first
entry for Anglo-German composer Percy Sherwood.
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphony 2, Pohjola’s
Daughter, The Swan of Tuonela, Finlandia
NBC SO/Arturo Toscanini rec. 1939-1940
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 364 [70:43] [DD]
A
stunning transfer of superbly conducted, life-affirming music.
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphonies 5 & 6, The
Swan of Tuonela
London PO/Paavo Berglund rec. 2003
LPO 0065 [70:34] [BR]
Berglund’s
fourth go at these symphonies, and a very good Fifth but a blah Sixth.
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865 - 1957) Luonnotar see Coloratura
Bedřich
SMETANA (1824-1884) Piano Trio see
BRAHMS
Carl
STAMITZ (1745-1801) Cello
Concerto 2
Antonín KRAFT (1749-1820)
Cello Concerto Antonín VRANICKÝ
(1761-1820) Cello Concerto
Michal Kaňka (cello) Prague CO rec. 2012
SUPRAPHON SU 4108-2 [69:31] [JW]
No
concerns about either performances or recording quality, both of which
are excellent.
Johann
STRAUSS I (1804-1849)
Strauss Edition - Vol. 22
Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina/Christian Pollack rec. 2011
MARCO POLO 8.225342 [78:09] [Byz]
It
is hard to object to such effortlessly tuneful and jauntily rhythmic
music.
Johann
STRAUSS I (1804-1849) Strauss Edition - Vol. 23
Slovak
Sinfonietta Žilina/Christian Pollack rec. 2012
MARCO POLO 8.225343 [59:35] [Byz]
A
chance to hear what was 'top of the pops' in 1848 Vienna.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864
– 1949) Three Hymns and Opera Arias
Soile Isokoski (soprano) Helsinki PO/Okko Kamu rec. 2012
ONDINE ODE 1202-2 [61:21] [GF]
Strauss
singing of the highest order. A disc not to be missed.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864
- 1949) Der Rosenkavalier
Evelyn Lear (soprano) Jules Bastin (bass) Frederica von Stade (mezzo)
Netherlands Opera Ch, Rotterdam PO/Edo de Waart rec. 1976
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9248 [3 CDs: 206:20] [GF]
Lush,
fresh and youthful.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Metamorphosen
Walter BRAUNFELS (1882-1954)
String Quintet
Gringolts Qt, David Geringas (cello) Ryszard Groblewski (viola) Dariusz
Mizera (double bass) rec. 2012
PROFIL EDITION PH12053 [64:28] [MC]
Deeply
felt and impeccably prepared performances of two fascinating works in
excellent sound.
Glenn
Gould - The Schwarzkopf Tapes Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Drei Lieder der Ophelia, Burleske
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) Glenn Gould (piano) Toronto SO/Vladimir
Golschmann rec. 1955-1988
SONY CLASSICAL 88725441362 [56:37] [JQ]
This
issue is strictly for Gould completists.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Violin Sonata see
SAINT-SAENS
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Ein Heldenleben see Mengelberg
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Also Sprach Zarathustra,
Burleske see
Gary Bertini
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
Violin Concerto Arthur HONEGGER
(1892-1955) Pacific 231, Rugby Frank
MARTIN (1890-1974) Violin Concerto
Baiba Skride (violin) BBC Ntl O Wales/Thierry Fischer rec. 2011
ORFEO C849 121 A [75:31] [JQ]
An enterprising and well-executed programme. Another fine achievement
by Baiba Skride.
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Perséphone see
TCHAIKOVSKY
Franz
von SUPPÉ (1819-1895)
Overtures and marches
Royal Scottish Ntl O/Neeme Järvi rec. 2012
CHANDOS CHSA 5110 
[79:42] [JS]
Well
chosen, well recorded and well annotated but a little impersonal.
Giles
SWAYNE (b. 1946) Magnificat I, The silent land,
Ave verum corpus, Stabat mater
The
Dimitri Ensemble/Graham Ross, Raphael Wallfisch (cello) rec. 1982/2010
NAXOS
8.572595 [68.18] [JQ]
Tremendous
performances of challenging choral pieces.
Karol
SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Nocturne and Tarantelle see
DVORÁK
Pyotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Iolanta Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
Perséphone
Ekaterina Scherbachenko, Pavel Cernoch, Ch & O Teatro Real
de Madrid/Teodor Currentizis rec. 2012
TEATRO REAL TR97011
[187:00] [JS]
Plenty
here to enjoy, relish even.
Pyotr
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony 5 Isaac
ALBÉNIZ (1860-1909) Iberia Manuel
de FALLA (1876-1946) La Vida Breve: Interlude
& Dance
Minneapolis SO/Antal Doráti rec. 1952/57
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 350 [74:40] [JW]
This
vital and energising account of Tchaikovsky 5 makes a most exciting
impact.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Capriccio italien
see FAURÉ
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Cantatas Vol. 2
Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert/Hermann Max rec. 2006
CPO 777 261-2 [51:51] [JV]
This
is a disc to treasure. It shows Telemann and the performers at their
very best.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Symphonies 5 & 8
Hallé O/Sir Mark Elder rec. 2011
HALLÉ HLL CD 7533 [68:21] [JQ]
A
splendid disc that maintains the high standards of the recordings by
Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé.
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Mass in G minor, Three Choral Hymns, A Vision of Aeroplanes
& other sacred choral works
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge/Timothy Brown rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572465 [63:11] [JQ]
A
fine reminder of Timothy Brown’s excellent work at Clare College.
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) The Wasps – Aristophanic
Suite, Fantasia on Greensleeves Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Enigma Variations
Kansas City SO/Michael Stern rec. 2011 REFERENCE RECORDINGS RR-129
[61:06] [JQ]
A
most enjoyable disc. Fine performances and superb sound.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901)
Attila
Giovanni Battista Parodi (bass) Sebastián Catana (baritone) Ch &
O Teatro Regio, Parma/Andrea Battistoni rec. 2010
C MAJOR 
721704 [118:00 + 10:00] [RJF]
Imaginatively
staged, well-sung, vibrantly and idiomatically conducted. A thrilling
winner in this series.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901)
Un giorno di regno
Guido Loconsolo (baritone) Andrea Porta (buffa bass) Anna Caterina
Antonacci (mezzo) Ch & O Teatro Reggio, Parma/Donato Renzetti rec.
2010
C MAJOR 720304
[119:00 +10:00 (bonus)] [RJF]
A
joy to watch and to hear. An absolute must for all Verdi lovers.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) I Due Foscari
Leo Nucci (baritone) Roberto De Biasio (tenor) Tatiana Serjan (soprano)
O & Ch of the Teatro Regio, Parma, Italy/Donato Renzetti rec. 2009
C
MAJOR
721104 [115:00 + 10:00] [RJF]
From
the delightful theatre at Parma, a performance of this rarely staged
early Verdi tragedy that should satisfy many of the composer’s
enthusiasts.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Ernani
Marco Berti (tenor) Carlo Guelfi (baritone) Ch & O Teatro Reggio,
Parma/Antonello Allemandi rec. 2005
C MAJOR
720904 [130:00 + 10:00] [RJF]
This
production and staging combine to overcome some vocal and acted weaknesses.
A fully satisfactory performance of an under-performed opera full of
the composer’s compositional melody and vitality.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Giovanna D’Arco
Evan
Bowers (tenor) Svetla Vassileva (soprano) O & Ch of the Teatro Regio,
Parma/Bruno Bartoletti rec. 2008
C MAJOR
721304 [128:00] [RJF]
An
excellent production and staging marred by solo singing that is generally
weak and in one case totally inadequate.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) I Lombardi alla prima crociata
Roberto
De Biasio (tenor) Michele Pertusi (bass) Cristina Giannelli (soprano)
O & Ch of the Teatro Regio, Parma/Daniele Callegari rec. 2009
C MAJOR
720704 [144:00 + 10:00] [RJF]
A
lively performance of this rarely performed work should thrill the heart
of every Verdian.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Oberto, Conte di Bonifaci
Giovanni
Parodi (bass) Francesca Sassu (soprano) Fabio Sartori (tenor) O Ch of
the Teatro Regio, Parma/Antonello Allemandi rec. 2007
C MAJOR
720104 [124:00 + 10:00] [RJF]
In
the intimate setting of the small theatre in Verdi’s hometown,
in period costume znd with simple sets, this performance and staging
have many virtues.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) The Verdi Opera Selection
- Vol. 1: Il Trovatore, Don Carlos & Rigoletto rec. 1978-2006
ARTHAUS
MUSIK 107524 [4
DVDs: 526:00] [RJF]
These
three productions represent the ancient and the more modern, even outlandish!
At the price they represent good value even if you throw one away.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Don Carlos, Otello
see Deutsche
Oper Berlin
Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Symphonies 6 & 7
Săo Paulo SO/Isaac Karabtchevsky rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.573043 [68:18] [Byz]
Works
that are grandly romantic and atmospheric, bursting with drama, local
colour and international appeal.
Giovanni
Battista VITALI (1632-1692)
Trio Sonatas
Semperconsort rec. 2009
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94405 [66:21] [GPu]
Rewarding
exemplars of the Bolognese instrumental tradition in the baroque manner.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Kyrie, Gloria,
Credo, Magnificat
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Ch, Tallinn CO/Tonu Kaljuste rec. 2002
CARUS
CLASSICS 83.325 [58.56] [RH]
Not
period style but speeds are brisk. Highly stylish and involving.
Cantatas
by Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741), Domenico
SCARLATTI (1685-1757) & Antonio
CALDARA (1671-1736)
Max Emanuel Cencic (counter-tenor) Ornamente 99/Karsten Erik Ose rec.
2003/04
CAPRICCIO C7142 [60:34 + 60:33 + 61:49 + DVD 62:00] [JW]
If
you’re an admirer of singer and repertoire then this box will
prove extremely enticing.
Richard
WAGNER (1813
– 1883) Götterdämmerung
Lance Ryan (tenor), Frankfurter Opern- und Museums Ch & O/Sebastian
Weigle rec. 2012
OEHMS CLASSICS OC 938 [4 CDs: 266:47] [GF]
I cannot endorse this Götterdämmerung. Not a library version nor even
a starting point for the beginner.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Orchestral Excerpts Vol. 3
Alessandra
Marc (soprano) Seattle SO/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1986-1992
NAXOS 8.572769 [62.26] [JWh]
A
near miss from the Delos catalogue.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Arias & lieder - Jonas Kaufmann
(tenor) Ch & O Deutschen Oper Berlin/Donald Runnicles DECCA
478 5189 [74:21] [JPr]
Kaufmann
is intelligent enough to leave these intense, stamina-sapping and vocally
demanding roles to those born to sing them.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786 - 1826) Violin sonatas, Piano quartet
- Isabelle Faust (violin) Alexander Melnikov (fortepiano) Boris Faust
(viola) Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt (cello) rec. 2011 HARMONIA MUNDI
HMC 902108 [70:11][MS]
Music
as full of substance as it is energy and nuance performed with style
and sensitivity on period instruments.
Mieczysław
WEINBERG (1919-1996)
Symphony 8
Rafał Bartmiński (tenor) Magdalena Dobrowolska (soprano)
Ewa Marciniec (alto) Warsaw PO & Ch/Antoni Wit rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572873 [58:32] [Byz]
Thrillingly
original music - an expressive, melodic work of considerable elegance
and power.
Wladyslaw
ZELENSKI (1837-1921) Piano
Quartet Juliusz ZAREBSKI (1854-1885)
Piano Quintet
Jonathan Plowright (piano) Szymanowski Qt rec. 2011.
HYPERION CDA67905 [71:30] [SA]
An
irresistible acquisition for anyone who loves 19th century
chamber works.
Sergei
ZHUKOV (b.
1951) Piano Concerto, Violin Concerto
Eleonora Bekova (piano); Elvira Bekova (violin) Karelia State SO/Marius
Stravinsky, Moscow SO/Konstantin Krimets rec. 2010/11
CAMEO CLASSICS CC9047CD [75.00] [RB]
Something
out of the ordinary rut. Surreal music that holds the listener.
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for alphabetical listings by composer:
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1 New] [Part
2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
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