Jaroslaw
ADAMUS (b.1960) Logos et Sentiment 
Ensemble Cello Fan; Ensemble Chromatica; Zespólim G.P. Telemanna, Delphine
Georges (voice); Jaroslaw Adamus (violin); Hanna Holeska (piano) rec.
2011,
ACTE PRÉALABLE AP0247 [69:16] [JW]
Rooted
in new spirituality: intense, expressive, sometimes mystic, sometimes
unsettling.
Francisco
António de ALMEIDA (c.1702-c.1755) La
Spinalba
Ana Quintans (soprano) Luis Rodrigues (bass) Os Músicas do Tejo/Marcos
Magalhães rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.660319-21 [3 CDs: 206.51] [PCG]
A
well performed rarity in a nicely natural acoustic of which we are unlikely
to have another version at any time in the immediate future.
Anton
ARENSKY (1861-1906) Violin Concerto see
TCHAIKOVSKY
Richard
ARNELL (1917-2009)
Overture 1940, Sinfonia, Dagenham Symphony, Landscapes
and Figures
Royal Scottish Ntl O/Martin Yates rec. 2012
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7299 [78:20] [RB]
Re-setting
musical and historical compasses while at the same time providing stimulating
musical experiences.
Malcolm
ARNOLD (1921-2006) Clarinet Concerto 2 see
STANFORD
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
Cello Suites 1-6
André Navarra (cello) rec. 1977
PHAIA PHU017.18 [69:24 + 70:17] [JW]
The
only thing being paraded here is the music’s greatness and the
artist’s role in acting as the agent of that greatness.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Harpsichord concertos
- Vol. 1
Aapo Häkkinen (harpsichord) Helsinki Baroque O rec. 2010
AEOLUS AE-10057 [65:17] [JV]
Whatever
one's assessment of the artistic merits of this disc, it certainly is
an intriguing contribution to the Bach discography.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Violin concertos
Vesko Eschkenazy (violin) Tjeerd Top (violin) Alexei Ogrintchouk (oboe)
Concertgebouw CO rec. 2012
PENTATONE PTC5186460 
[60:16] [DC]
Very
good indeed, but only one of so many.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Une cantate imaginaire
Nathalie
Stutzmann (contralto) Mikaeli Kammarkör, Orfeo 55 rec. 2012
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4810062 [79:47] [ST]
Stutzmann
has a unique voice and uses it to good effect here.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Brandenburg Concertos
1-6
Oregon Bach Fest O/Helmuth Rilling rec. 1994
HÄNSSLER CD94.615 [43:40 + 52:03] [BW]
On
the whole well worth considering but you could do at least as well for
less money with other similar recordings.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Keyboard concerto,
Brandenburg Concerto 5, Three Part Inventions
Glenn Gould (piano) CBC SO/Nicholas Goldschmidt, Detroit SO/Paul Paray
rec. 1955-1960
ISTITUTO DISCOGRAFICO ITALIANO IDIS 6643 [57:33] [HP-R]
Quality
of playing - superb; quality of sound - disappointing.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The Well-Tempered Clavier
Books 1 & 2
András Schiff (piano) rec. 2011
ECM NEW SERIES 2270-73 [4 CDs: 243:52] [KM]
A
fine recording of Bach’s great 48.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Brandenburg Concertos 1-6, Concerto for two harpsichords Carl
Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788) Harpsichord Concerto
Lionel
Salter, George Malcolm (harpsichord) London Baroque Ensemble/Karl Haas
rec. 1952/53
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR 671-72 [67:52 + 79:09]
Johann Sebastian BACH Brandenburg Concertos 1-6, Italian
Concerto, Chromatic fantasia and fugue
Boyd Neel O/Boyd Neel George Malcolm (harpsichord) rec. 1954/56
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR 731-32 [61:23 + 64:09] [JW]
It’s
good to have these discs restored so well. They offer some great instrumentalists
but only one set offers viable performances.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Violin Concertos Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Concerto
Roman Totenberg (violin) Poznan Philharmonic SO/Stanislaw Wislocki rec.
1950
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR700 [79:58] [JW]
Admirers
of Totenberg will rejoice that these rather elusive discs are back in
the catalogue.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Brandenburg Concerto 3
see Warsaw Philharmonic
Chamber Orchestra
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cantata 196 see
BÖHM
Claude
BAKER (b. 1948) The glass bead game; Awaking
the winds; Shadows: Four dirge-nocturnes; The mystic trumpeter
St Louis
Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin, Hans Vonk rec. 1990-1999
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559642 [66:41] [PCG]
The
performances here are everything that could be wished.
Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981) Cello Sonata see
WEILL
Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981)
Cello Concerto see Erling
Bengtsson
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945)
Works for Piano Duo
Adrienne Soós, Ivo Haag (piano); Christian Hartmann, Andreas
Berger (percussion) rec. 2011/12
TELOS MUSIC TLS 142 [70:50] [MC]
Worthy
advocates for fine music played with conviction and incisive rhythmic
sense.
Sir
Arnold BAX (1883-1953) Viola Sonata see
Idylls and Bacchanals
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Diabelli Variations, Variations on ‘God Save the King’, Variations on
‘Rule Britannia’, Variations on a Swiss Air
Alfred Brendel (piano) rec. c. 1961-64
ALTO ALC1194 [78:32] [JW]
A
seriously mature piece of work, though not yet as considered, or as
well recorded, as it was to become.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony 3
Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Symphony 4
Tafelmusik Baroque O/Bruno Weil rec. 2012
TAFELMUSIK TMK1019CD [77:37] [JS]
This
Eroica is worth adding to any collection, however large.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano sonatas
Bruce Hungerford (piano) rec. 1967-76
PIANO CLASSICS PCLM0036 [5 CDs: 360:22] [JW]
Outsize
Beethovenian vehemence and disinclination to emote. For those who want
to be stirred, and sometimes shaken.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Late String Quartets
Lydian String Qt rec. 2003-10
CENTAUR CRC 3212-14 [3 CDs: 196:14] [DC]
Alas,
doesn’t really have that ‘magic’.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Sonatas Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano works
Sviatoslav Richter (piano) rec. 1976
PARNASSUS PDVD 1201 
[125:00]
[JW]
A
specialist release for Richter adherents: admirable performances in
decent sound and tolerable vision.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concertos 2 &
4 Ingrid
Jacoby (piano) Sinfonia Varsovia/Jacek Kaspszyk rec. 2001
ICA CLASSICS ICAC 5086 [64:23] [JQ]
An
enjoyable and successful coupling.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Complete String Quartets and Piano Quartets
Quatuor Pascal, Arthur Balsam (piano) rec. 1952
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR245/6, 255/6, 267/8 & 293/4 [8 CDs: 553:39]
[JW]
Pioneering
but ultimately unconvincing.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Concerto see
BACH
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony 6 see
Karel
Šejna
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Vincenzo BELLINI
(1801-1835)
Norma
Maria Callas, Mario Del Monaco, Giulietta Simionato, Nicola Zaccaria,
Ch & O Teatro alla Scala/Antonino Votto rec. 1955
PRISTINE AUDIO PACO 083 [78:15 + 76:14] [RMo]
This
recording remains the finest memorial to her most famous role.
Arthur
BENJAMIN (1893-1960) Symphony see
VAUGHAN
WILLIAMS
Richard
Rodney BENNETT (1936-2012) My
Dancing Day: Choral music and arrangements
BBC Singers/Paul Brough rec. 2012
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD293 [64:27][JQ]
Attractive,
expertly crafted choral music by Richard Rodney Bennett.
Niels
Viggo BENTZON (1919-2000) Cello Concerto 1 see
Erling
Bengtsson
Alban
BERG (1885-1935) Violin Concerto see
BRAHMS
Alban
BERG (1885 - 1935) Seven Early Songs
see Von
ewiger Liebe
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hector BERLIOZ
(1803-1869)
Symphonie Fantastique, Le Corsaire Overture
Lyon Ntl O/Leonard Slatkin rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572886 [70:21] [JWh]
Great
performance and magnificent sound.
Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Requiem
Nicolai Gedda (tenor) Chor des Norddeutsches Rundfunks/Kölner Rundfunkchor
& Sinfonie-Orchester/Dimitri Mitropoulos rec. 1956
ICA CLASSICS ICAC5075 [82:22] [JQ]
Mitropoulos
has the measure of this vast score and is able to convey its gaunt majesty,
its beauty and its grandeur.
Richard
BLACKFORD
(b. 1954) Mirror of Perfection, A Westminster Te Deum
BBC Singers/David Hill, Bournemouth Sinfonietta/Richard Blackford rec.
1997/2012
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6205 [66.41] [PCG]
Sung with passion yet at the end one is left feeling warmed but slightly
unsatisfied.
Howard
BLAKE (b.1938)
The Passion of Mary, Four Songs of the Nativity
Patricia Rozario (soprano) London Voices, Royal PO/Howard Blake
rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572453 [76:25] [JQ]
Two
attractive and important works by Howard Blake in definitive performances.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Felix
BLUMENFELD (1863-1931) Symphony À la
mémoire des chers défunts Georgy
CATOIRE (1861-1926) Symphony
RSNO/Martin Yates rec. 2012
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7298 [74:16] [RB]
The
‘shadows’ cast by Tchaikovsky and Glazunov sometimes imparted
light rather than suffocating shade.
Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) String Quartets
Nicolò PAGANINI (1782-1840) String Quartet
Guilet
Qt rec. 1950-52
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR 456 [53:01] [JW]
Guilet
- silvery assurance and confidence.
Georg
BÖHM (1661-1733) Mein Freund ist mein
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Der Herr denket an uns; Was seind das vor grosser Schlösser
Johann Christoph BACH (1642-1703)
Meine Freundin, du bist schön
Soloists; Clematis/Leonardo Garciá Alarcon rec. 2011
RICERCAR RIC 323 [68:05] [JW]
Good
fun is ensured, unless you’re of the stuffy disposish.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Songs - Vol. 4
Robert Holl (bass-baritone) Graham Johnson (piano) rec. 2010
HYPERION CDJ33124 [76:06] [GF]
Another
valuable addition to the veritable lieder goldmine that is Hyperion’s
ever-growing catalogue of song recordings.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Violin Concerto Alban BERG (1885-1935)
Violin Concerto
Renaud Capuçon (violin) Vienna PO/Daniel Harding rec. 2011
VIRGIN CLASSICS 9733962 [67:14] [ST]
Capuçon’s
playing is a delight throughout.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Ballades, Klavierstücke, Variations on a Theme of Paganini
Alessio Bax (piano) rec. 2012
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD309 [74:15] [MC]
I
relished this recital from start to finish.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Violin Concerto
Ginette Neveu (violin) North German RSO/Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt
rec. 1948
ACANTA 233585 [40:05] [JW]
Truly
memorable - short playing time though.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Symphonies 1 & 3
London PO/Klaus Tennstedt rec. 1983/92
LPO-0068 [48:56 + 35:34] [JQ]
Acquiring
these live performances will offer two opportunities to hear a great
conductor in action.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Piano Trio 1 Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937)
Piano Trio
Beaux Arts Trio rec. 1960
HÄNSSLER CD 93.715 [53:26] [JW]
Performances
and excellent broadcast quality warrant investigation from this group’s
admirers.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto 2 Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Images; Book I Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano Sonata 3
Emil Gilels (piano) Cologne Radio SO/Mario Rossi rec. 1971-1974
ICA CLASSICS ICAC 5077 [80:10] [JW]
A
worthwhile acquisition for Gilels admirers.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-97) Symphony 1
Vienna SO/Sergiu Celibidache rec. 1952
WIENER SYMPHONIKER WS 002 [45:58] [MC]
A
useful historical document if not the most worthy testament to this
talented yet controversial conductor.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Hungarian Dances see
PFITZNER
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Cello Sonata 1 see Duo
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833 - 1897) Zigeunerlieder
see Von
ewiger Liebe
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Phantasien see
Leonard
Shure
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Clarinet Quintet see
CANO
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony 1 see
Romantische Sinfonien
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Benjamin BRITTEN
(1913-1976)
On This Island, The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Seven
Sonnets of Michelangelo, Canticle I
James Gilchrist (tenor), Anna Tilbrook (piano) rec. 2011
LINN CKD404
[62.16] [EM-L]
Of
the very highest quality in terms of performances, presentation and
sound quality.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) War Requiem
Erin Wall (soprano) Mark Padmore (tenor) Hanno Müller-Brachmann
(baritone) City of Birmingham SO & Ch/Andris Nelsons rec. 2012
ARTHAUS MUSIK 
108070 [97:00] [BW]
Even
if all other recordings were destroyed, this would serve as a first-class
reminder of the power of the War Requiem.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Anton BRUCKNER
(1824-1896)
Symphony 8
Hamburger PO/Simone Young rec. 2008
OEHMS OC638
[30:45 + 51:56] [JQ]
Bruckner’s
first thoughts on the Eighth Symphony in a superb performance.
Anton
BRUCKNER
(1824-1896) Symphony 7
BBC Scottish SO/Donald Runnicles rec. 2012
HYPERION CDA67916 [60:02] [JQ]
A
direct and unfussy view of Bruckner.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony 8
Boston SO/William Steinberg rec. 1962
ICA CLASSICS ICAD5071
[66:01] [JQ]
With
the best will in the world this release has only very limited appeal.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony 4 see
Romantische Sinfonien
Dieterich
BUXTEHUDE (c.1637-1707)
Complete organ works - Volume 5
Christopher Herrick (organ) rec. 2012
HYPERION CDA 67964 [77:46] [Byz]
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