> Classical CD Review Archive - Classical - Dec 2002 part 2 A-B: Classical MusicWeb (UK)

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PART 2
A to B
[Detailed listing (last two days)]
[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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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

Carl Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788) Flute Concerto in G major H. 445 (Wq 169) (1747-55) Allegro di molto Largo Presto Flute Concerto in D minor H. 425 (Wq 22) (1747-55) Allegro Un poco andante Allegro di molto Flute Concerto in A major H. 438 (Wq 168) (1747-55) Allegro Largo con sordini, mesto Allegro assai Raffaele Trevisani (flute) Moscow Chamber Orchestra/Constantine Orbelian (conductor)Recorded in the Great Hall, Moscow Conservatoire, Moscow, Russia, 4-6 July 2001 DELOS DE 3312 [66.51] [CF]

Enjoyable if not always consistently riveting … see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) English Suites vol. 1 - Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806 - Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807 - Suite No. 3 in F Major, BWV 808 Glenn Gould, piano - Rec: March, April 1971; May 1971; June 1974, Eaton’s Auditorium, Toronto, Canada. SONY SMK87765 [52.02] [KM]

Yet another essential Bach recording by Glenn Gould. … see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) English Suites vol. 2 - Suite No. 4 In F Major, BWV 809 - Suite No. 5 In E Minor, BWV 810 - Suite No. 6 In D Minor, BWV 811 Glenn Gould, piano - Rec: December 1974; October 1975; May 1976, Eaton’s Auditorium, Toronto, Canada. SONY SMK87765 [59.49] [KM]

Like the first volume of the English suites, this second volume is an essential recording … see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The Sonatas for Viola da Gamba - Sonata Number 1 in G major, BWV 1027 [13:24] - Sonata Number 2 in D major, BWV 1028 [14:52] - Sonata Number 3 in g minor, BWV 1029 [15:26] Jordi Savall, viola da gamba - Ton Koopman, harpsichord - Recorded at Claydon House, Buckinghamshire, 1-3 March 1977. ADD VIRGIN CLASSICS 7243 5 62065 [43:53] [KS]

Jordi Savall is a master of baroque stringed instruments, and is arguably the finest gamba and bass viol player in the world. … see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Partita no. 1 in B flat major, BWV 825 - Partita no. 3 in A minor, BWV 827 - Partita no. 6 in E minor, BWV 830 Piotr Anderszewski, piano - Rec: November 2001, Studio de la Fondation Tibor Varga, Sion, Switzerland VIRGIN 7243 5 45526 2 5 [68.10] [KM]

Anderszewski’s approach is unique and very personal … see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Chorale Prelude; Nun Komm’ der Heiden Heiland arr Busoni BWV 659 - Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue BWV 903 - Toccata in D Major BWV 912 - Italian Concerto BWV 971 - Concerto in F Minor BWV 1056 - Concerto in D Minor BWV 1052 Mindru Katz, piano - The Pro Arte Orchestra/Harry Newstone (Concertos in F and D) CEMBAL D’AMOUR CD 112 [79.32] [JW]

Katz’s Bach is the mark of a musician of stature. … see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Brandenburg Concerto No 1 in F, BWV1046 - Brandenburg Concerto No 2 in F, BWV1047 - Brandenburg Concerto No 3 in G, BWV1048 - Brandenburg Concerto No 4 in G, BWV1049 - Brandenburg Concerto No 5 in D, BWV1050 - Brandenburg Concerto No 6 in B flat, BWV1051 Tafelmusic, directed by Jeanne Lamon - Date and location of recording not specified SONY CLASSICAL THETA SM2K89985 [2CDs: 42.03+51.24] [WH]

Phrasing is natural and affectionate, playing first-class, technically. Recording excellent. Playing sometimes a little lacking in charm. … see Full Review

DISC OF THE MONTH - Samuel BARBER (1910 – 1981) Piano Concerto Op. 38 (1962) - Die Natali Op.37 (1960) - Medea’s Meditation and Dance of Vengeance Op.23A (1946, rev. 1955) - Commando March (1943) Stephen Prutsman (piano); Royal Scottish National Orchestra; Marin Alsop - Recorded: Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, March 2001 (Die Natali) and May 2000 (Commando March); Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, March 2002 NAXOS 8.559133 [60:35] [HC]

Some of his darkest and most violent music … see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Trio in B flat major Op 97 Archduke - Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Trio No 3 in C minor Op 101 (1886) Trio di Milano (Cesare Ferraresi, violin, Rocco Filippini, cello, Bruno Canino, piano) - Recorded RSI Auditorium, Lugano 1971 (Beethoven) and 1978 (Brahms) AURA 178-2 [58.51] [JW]

Ferraresi was a good musician and his trio served music honestly and well. … see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony No.9 in d minor, op.125 Choral (1826) - Venceslava Hruba-Freiburger (soprano) - Doris Soffel (mezzo-soprano) - James Wagner (tenor) - Gwynne Howell (bass) - Leipzig Radio Chorus - Gewandhaus Chorus Gewandhaus Orchestra/Kurt Masur (conductor) - Recorded live in the Gewandhaus, Leipzig, during 1991 - Rodney Greenberg (video direction) ARTHAUS DVD 100 296 [67'20"] [PQ]

A performance which seeks to minimise conflict and to promote tonal beauty and uncomplicated flow. … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony no.5 in c minor op.67 Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony no.8 in b minor D.759, ‘Unfinished’ London Philharmonic Orchestra Recorded at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon, 8 September 1969 Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Prelude to Act I of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Prélude a l’après-midi d’un faune London Symphony Orchestra Leopold Stokowski (conductor) Recorded at the Royal Festival Hall, London, 14 June 1972 Paul DUKAS (1865-1935) The Sorcerer’s Apprentice London Symphony Orchestra/Pierre Monteux (conductor) Recorded in London in 1961 EMI CLASSICS DVA 492842-9 [93’57"] [PQ]

A paean of joy and colour. … see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Sonata No. 8 in C Minor Op. 13 Pathetique (1798) - Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor Op. 27 No. 2 Moonlight (1801) - Sonata No. 23 in F Minor Op. 57 Appassionata (1804) Glenn Gould, piano - Recorded CBS Studios New York 18 October 1967 SONY SMK87858 [57.06] [JW]

Vigorous and dramatic with slow movements unsettled and questing … see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonatas:- No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2 No. 1 (1797); No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2, 'Moonlight' (1802); No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2, 'Tempest' (1802-4); No. 28 in A, Op. 101 (1817). Malcolm Bilson (fortepiano). Rec: Maria Minor Church, Utrecht, Holland and Masterview Sound Studio, Ithaca, New York, 1996. DDD CLAVES CD50-2104 [73'45] [CC]

As a recital, this works well, providing a fluent hour and a quarter's listening. A most stimulating release. … see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Sonata No 4 in A Major Op 23 (1800) Violin Sonata No 10 in G Major Op 96 (1812) Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Violin Sonata in B Flat major K378 (1779 or 1781) Clara Haskil, piano Arthur Grumiaux, violin Recorded Ascona, 22 August 1960 AURA 126-2 [53.11] [JW]

To catch the Grumiaux-Haskil duo on the wing is prize itself. … see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Sonata in D major Op. 12 No. 1 (1797-98) Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin Sonata in G major Op. 78 (1878-79) Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Partita BWV 1004 Henryk Szeryng, violin Eugenio Bagnoli, piano Recorded Ascona, September 1975 AURA 203-2 [76.11] [JW]

Szeryng, as ever, is an excellent guide to the repertoire. … see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Missa Solemnis in D major, Opus 123 Amanda Halgrimson (soprano), Cornelia Kallisch (mezzo soprano), John Aler (tenor), Alastair Miles (bass) NDR Chorus, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart South-West German Radio Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgart Roger Norrington Rec 21-23 July 1999, Liederhalle Stuttgart HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.006 [72.58] [TB]

a DejaReview

Alban BERG (1885-1935) Violin Concerto (1935) [26:20] - Lyric Suite (1926) [18:13] - Three Orchestral Pieces (1914-15) [20:11] - Rebecca Hirsch, violin Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, Eri Klas, conductor - Recorded from 31 August to 4 September 1999 in the Netherlands Hilversum Hall, Netherlands. [DDD] NAXOS 8.554755 [64:44] [KS]

Playing of refined elegance, never overt, always in good taste with emotions displayed but not on the sleeve. … see Full Review

Michael BERKELEY (b.1948) Jane Eyre – An Opera in Two Acts (2000) - Libretto by David Malouf - Dramatis personae: Jane Eyre - Natasha Marsh (soprano) - Adele - Fflur Wyn (soprano) - Mrs. Fairfax - Beverly Mills (mezzo-soprano) - Mrs. Rochester - Emily Bauer-Jones (contralto) - Rochester - Andrew Slater (bass) The Music Theatre Wales Ensemble/Michael Rafferty - Recorded live at the Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 4 November 2000 CHANDOS CHAN 9983 [71.47] [TH]

In the best traditions of Romantic grand opera … see Full Review

Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Roméo et Juliette (1838) Olga Borodina (mezzo soprano), Thomas Moser (tenor), Alastair Miles (bass) Bavarian Radio Chorus Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Overtures: Béatrice et Bénédict (1862), Le Roi Lear (1831), Les Francs-Juges (1827), Waverley (1827), Le Corsaire (1831) London Symphony Orchestra Sir Colin Davis Recorded Dec 1977, London (Béatrice et Bénédict), October 1965, London (other overtures); June 1993, Musikverein, Vienna (Roméo et Juliette) PHILIPS 470 543-2 [2CDs: 78.57+73.19] [TB]

An ideal fusion of rhythmic attack and expressive warmth … see Full Review

Hector BERLIOZ (1803-69) Roméo et Juliettea. Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-92)
L'Ascensionb. aNadine Denize (mezzo); aPiotr Beczala (tenor); aPeter Lika (bass); aEuropaChorakademie; South West German Radio Symphony Orchestra Baden-Baden und Freiburg/Sylvain Cambreling. Recorded in the Konzerrthaus, Freiburg on aMay 28th-30th, 1998, bSeptember 13th-15th, 1999. [DDD] HÄNNSLER FASZINATION MUSIK CD93.005 [two discs] [122.00] [CC]

a DejaReView

Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Les Nuits d’été, op. 7 (1), Béatrice et Bénédict: Dieu! Que vien-je d’entendre" (2), La damnation de Faust: D’amour l’ardente flamme (2) Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Shéhérazade (1) Frederica von Stade (mezzo-soprano) Boston Symphony Orchestra/Seiji Ozawa (1) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard (2) Dates and locations not given SONY CLASSICAL SBK87797 [69’11"] [CH]

A lovely voice, beautiful singing, but Ozawa goes to sleep on the job. Couldn’t von Stade record these works again? … see Full Review

Leonard BERNSTEIN (1918 – 1991) Candide Overture (1956) West Side Story: Symphonic Dances (1957) Symphony No.2 The Age of Anxiety (1948, rev. 1965)a Jean Louis Steuerman (piano)a Florida Philharmonic Orchestra/James Judd Recorded: Au-Rene Theatre, Broward Centre, Fort Lauderdale, May 2001 NAXOS 8.556099 [63:30] [JW]

Let down by a rather unflattering recording … see Full Review

Heinrich Ignaz Franz BIBER (1644-1704) Unam Ceylum (1681) - Sonata III F major from "Sonatae Violino Solo 1681" - Sonata IV D major from "Sonatae Violino Solo 1681" - Sonata No. 81 A major (unpublished) - Sonata VI C minor from "Sonatae Violino Solo 1681" - Sonata VII G major from "Sonatae Violino Solo 1681" - Sonata No. 84 E major (unpublished) John Holloway: violin - Aloysia Assenbaum: organ - Lars Ulrik Mortensen: harpsichord - Rec: May 2001, Monastery of St. Gerold, Austria. ECM NEW SERIES 1791 [77.19] [KM]

This nearly perfect disc will help remedy Biber’s neglect … see Full Review

Ernest BLOCH (1880-1959) Concerto Symphonique for piano and orchestra (1946-48) [39.30] - Scherzo Fantasque for piano and orchestra [8.55] - Concerto Grosso No. 2 (1952) [20.03] - Micah Yui (piano) London SO/David Amos - rec June 1990, CTS Studios, Wembley Park, London, England, ADD LAUREL RECORD LR-851CD [68.33] [RB]

An unsung treasure of the Bloch discography - very well worth your ear-time ... see Full Review

Sergei BORTKIEWICZ (1877-1952) Symphony No. 1 in D major, Op. 52 "From my Homeland" [39.10] - Symphony No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 55 [32.35] - BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra - Elizabeth Layton, leader Martyn Brabbins, conductor - Recorded in City Hall, Glasgow, on 7-8 February 2002. DDD HYPERION CDA 67338 [71.58] [KS]

What we have here is an unsung master composer. … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH York BOWEN (1884-1961) Quintet in C minor for horn and string quartet op.85 (1927) [26:02] Rhapsody Trio in A minor for violin, cello and piano op.80 (1926) [14:22] Trio in Three Movements, for violin, cello and piano op.118 (1945) [23:21] Endymion Ensemble Krysia Osostowicz: violin Fiona McCapra: violin (op.85 only) Catherine Manson: viola (op.85 only) Jane Salmon: cello Stephen Stirling: horn (op.85 only) Michael Dussek: piano (op.80 and op. 118 only) Recorded at the All Saints Church, East Finchley, London, U.K. 24-26 April 2001 DDD DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7115 [63:53] [MC]

Passionate, glorious ethereal lyricism, searing emotions … See Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Quintet in f minor for Piano and String Quartet, Op. 34 (1864) Quintet in b minor for Clarinet and String Quartet, Op. 115 (1893) Thomas Friedli, clarinet Philippe Bianconi, piano Quartet Sine Nomine: Patrick Genet, François Gottreaux, violins; Nicolas Pache, viola; Marc Jaermann, ‘cello Recorded in Salle de la Fondation Tibor Varga, Sion, Switzerland, December 1996 [DDD] CLAVES CD 50-9608 [79.23] [PSh]

Award-winning performances and recording, but you may prefer a little reckless passion. … see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Sonata #1 in C, Op 1: opening passages; finale - Piano Sonata #3 in f: first movement; Scherzo - Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op 24: fugue - Five Studies for Piano: #3, Presto in G, after Bach - Idil Beret, piano - Souvenir de Russie; Waltz in E, Op 39#2 - Silke-Thora Matthies, Christian Köhn, piano 4 hands - Hungarian Dance #1 - Marat Bisengaliev, violin; John Lenehan, piano - Piano Trio #2 in C, Op 87: scherzo - Vienna Piano Trio - Serenade #1 in D, Op 11: excerpt - BRT PO, Alexander Rahbari - Piano Concerto #1 in d, Op 11: opening; finale - Jenö Jandó, piano; Polish NRSO, Antoni Wit - String Sextet in Bb Op 18: Andante, excerpt - Stuttgart Soloists - Motet: "Wenn ein starker Gewappneter," Op 109 #2 - Motet: "Ich aber bin elend", Op 110 #1 - St. Bride’s Choir, Robert Jones; Matthew Morley, organ - Trio for Piano Violin, & Horn, Op 40: finale - Jenö Keveházi, Jenö Jandó, Ildikó Hegyi - A German Requiem: "Denn alles Fleisch es ist wie Gras" - Slovak Philharmonic Choir, Slovak RSO, Alexander Rahbari - Piano Conceerto #2 in Bb, Op 83: andante; finale - Jenö Jandó, piano; BRT PO, Alexander Rahbari - Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op 56a: excerpt - Symphony #1 in c, Op 68: finale extended excerpt - Symphony #2 in D, Op 73: third movement - Academic Festival Overture: excerpt - BRT PO, Alexander Rahbari - Violin Concerto in D, Op 77: slow movement - Takako Nishizaki, Slovak PO, Stephen Guntzenhauser - Concerto for Violin & Cello in a, Op 102: slow movement - Ilya Kaler, violin; Maria Kliegel, cello; NSO Ireland, Andrew Constantine. English text written and read by Jeremy Siepmann, with Jasper Britton as Johannes Brahms; and Karen Archer, Elaine Claxton, Ruth Sillers, Neville Jason, Nicholas Boulton, Steve Hodson, and David Timson, reading, in character, excerpts from letters, etc. 136 page [English only] booklet. ISBN 1-84379-057-2 [DDD] NAXOS 8.558071-74 [4 CDs: 298.32] [PS]

An informative, accessible but not patronising examination of the life of Brahms, well written, documented, and produced, illustrated by complete musical selections. … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony No. 1 in C minor (1855-76) - Symphony No. 2 in D major (1877) - Symphony No. 3 in F major (1883) - Symphony No. 4 in E minor (1884-5) - Violin Concerto in D major * (1878) - Variations on a Theme by Haydn (‘St Anthony Chorale’) (1873) - Academic Festival Overture (1880) - Tragic Overture (1880 rev. 1881) - Alto Rhapsody † (1869) - Hungarian Dances (No. 1 in G major; No. 3 in F major; and No. 19 in B minor orch. by Dvorak) (1873) - *Bernadette Greevy (contralto) with the Hallé Choir - † Maurice Hasson (violin) Hallé Orchestra conducted by James Loughran - Recorded in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester in 1974 and 1975 and digitally remastered at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios in 1992 and 2002 CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 5 75753 2 [4 CDs: 278:56] [IL]

Excellent performances, critically acclaimed in their day and now gathered together in an irresistible super-bargain 4 CD box set. Why pay more? … see Full Review


Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Violin Concerto in D major Op. 77 (1878) Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major K216 (1775) David Oistrakh, violin Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana/Otmar Nussio Recorded Kursaal Teatro Apollo, Lugano 11 June 1961 AURA 169-2 [62.45] [JW]

Oistrakh’s tone: sumptuous and big and few could deny him the glorious lyricism he can so nobly impart. … see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor Op 108 (1888) César FRANCK (1822-1890) Violin Sonata in A Major (1886) Henryk Szeryng, violin Mindru Katz, piano Recorded privately June 1973 CEMBAL D’AMOUR CD 105 [53.06] [JW]

Playing of especially and treasurably tender intimacy … see Full Review


Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Ein Deutsches Requiem op.45
Jessye Norman (soprano) Jorma Hynninen (baritone) London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra/Klaus Tennstedt (conductor) Begrabnisgesang op.13 Schutz Choir of London Londond Classical Players/Roger Norrington (conductor) Est ist das Heil und kommen her op.29 no.1 Schaffe in mir, Gott op.29 no.2 Warum ist das Licht gegeben op.74 Choir of King’s College Choir, Cambridge/Philip Ledger (conductor) Fest- und Gedenkspruche op.109 Stockholm Radio Choir/Eric Ericson (conductor) Alt-Rhapsodie op.53* Vier Gesange op.17 *Janet Baker (contralto) London Symphony Chorus City of London Sinfonia/Richard Hickox (conductor) Nänie op.82 New Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra/Wilhelm Pitz (conductor) Triumphlied op.55** Schicksalslied op.54 Gesang der Parzen op.89 Rinaldo op.50* *Steve Davislim (tenor) **Dietrich Henschel (baritone) Ernst Senff Choir, Berlin Dresden Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra/Michel Plasson (conductor) Ten lieder, opp.42, 62, 93 and 104 Collegium Vocale Koln/Wolfgang Fromme (conductor) Liebeslieder-Walzer opp.52 and 65 Elsie Morison (soprano) Marjorie Thomas (contralto) Richard Lewis (tenor) Donald Bell (baritone) Vitya Vronsky and Victor Babin (pianos) Zigeunerlieder op.103 Quatuor Vocal de Stuttgart/Marcel Couraud (conductor) Recorded between 1957 and 2000 (no specific dates or locations given) EMI CLASSICS 575 722-2 [five discs, 5h 42’] Superbudget around £17 [PQ]

Though you can find better performances of everything on this set, its considerable virtue still lies in providing a cheap overview of the beauties and contradictions of an often overlooked body of work. … see Full Review

Havergal BRIAN (1876-1972) - CD 1 [63:14] The Tinker’s Wedding - Comedy Overture (1947-48) [7:18] - Symphony No. 31 (1967-68) [13:23] - Symphony No. 7 in C (1948) [42:16] - CD2* [52:28] Symphony No. 8 in B flat minor (1949) [24:40] - Symphony No. 9 in A minor (1951) [27:34] - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (leader: Malcolm Stewart) Conductors: Sir Charles Mackerras and Sir Charles Groves* - Recorded in the Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 3-4 May 1987 and No.1 Studio*, Abbey Road, London, 25-26 July 1977 - CD1 digital recording; CD2 digitally remastered EMI CLASSICS (BRITISH COMPOSERS SERIES) 7243 5 75782 2 6 [115:42] [MC]

Those already converted to Brian and those who wish to give his very individual music a try will welcome this set … see Full Review

Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Simple Symphony (1934) Nocturne (1958)*
Rosa Mistica (1939)^ Les Illuminations (1939)* Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor)*
Eton College Chapel Choir^; Ralph Allwood^London Mozart Players/Jane Glover Rec July 1989, All Saints Church, Newcastle (Simple Symphony), July 1989 St Barnabas Church Tooting, London (Nocturne, Les Illuminations), April 2000 Eton College Chapel (Rosa Mistica) ASV PLATINUM PLT 8503 [71.03] [TB]

Arguably the finest interpretations by a male singer. … see Full Review


Max BRUCH (1838-1920)
Scottish Fantasy Op. 46 (1879-80) Edouard LALO (1823-1892) Symphonie espagnole Op.21 (1873) Tasmin Little (violin) Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Vernon Handley Recorded in City Hall, Glasgow, 4-5 January 1996, DDD EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 7243 5 75802 2 [67’42] [TH]

In this coupling and budget format, this deserves the strongest recommendation. … see Full Review

Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony no.2 in c minor (1877 version, ed. Haas) Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra/Günter Wand (conductor) - Recorded in Cologne, 1-5 December 1981 RCA/BMG 09026 63932-2: [58’57"] [PQ]

I don’t know of a recording of the Second which is ideal, but Wand comes as close as most … see Full Review

Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony No 8 in c minor (1884) - Recorded 28 May-2 June 1979, West-Deutsche-Rundfunk Grosser Sendessaal - Symphony No 9 in d minor (1894) - Recorded 5-10 June 1978, West-Deutsche-Rundfunk Grosser Sendessaal Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra/Günter Wand RCA/BMG 09026 639382 [2 CDs: 140"00’] [PQ]

These readings distil Bruckner's ever more troubled late compositional language with an extended lifetime of wisdom. … see Full Review

Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony No. 9 in D minor (1887-96) London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Colin Davis - Recorded live at the Barbican, London February 2002 - Budget price LSO LIVE LSO0023 [65’33] [MB]

What Davis’s performance lacks is the elementalism that is part of this symphony’s mysticism. … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Alan BUSH (1900-1995) Three Concert Studies for piano trio (1947) Two Easy Pieces for cello and piano (1951) Two Melodies for viola and piano (1957) Viola Sonatina (1978) Concert-Piece for cello and piano (1936) Summer Valley for cello and piano (1988) Adam Summerhayes (violin/viola) Catherine Summerhayes (piano) Joseph Spooner (cello) rec 2001 DDD MERIDIAN CDE 84458 [66.33] [RB]

An engaging anthology illustrating Bush's styles from restrained pastoralism to tragic intensity. ... see Full Review


 
[Detailed listing (last two days)]
[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]
Revolving notes from clipart.com



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