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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

Erik SATIE (1866 - 1925) Piano Music - Volume 5 Prélude en Tapisserie (1906) [3.08] Passacaille (1906) [3.03] Douze petits chorals (1906) [13.26] Deux rêveries nocturnes (1911) [4.06] Nouvelles pièces froides (1907) [7.19] Laes pantins dansent (1913) [2.14] Préludes Flasques — pour un chien (1912) [5.28] Véritables Préludes Flasques — pour un chien (1912) [3.39] Rêverie de l’Enfance de Pantagruel (1918) [2.11] Six Nocturnes (1920) [15.25] Menuet à Claude Dubosq (1920) [2.53] Steffen Schleiermacher, piano. Piano technician, Franz Schliederer Recorded 20 Nov 2002 at the Royal Ridingschool, Bad Arolsen, Germany
Notes in English, Français and Deutsch. Drawings and a painting of the composer. MUSIK DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 613 1067-2 [64.56] [PSh]

Satie fans must probably have this whole set, but if you don’t quite get the joke yet, you should stay with Satie’s more famous music. ... see Full Review

Emil von SAUER (1862-1942) Suite moderne (1899-1906?) [34’16]. Aus lichten Tagen (date unknown) [11’26]. Drei Konzertetüden (1910) [9’35] Oleg Marshev (piano) Rec. Mantzius-Garden, Birkerod, Denmark, February 2003. DDD DANACORD DACOCD595 [61’25] [CC]

A thoroughly enjoyable disc. Marshev’s flair and seemingly limitless technique sees the project through in high style. … see Full Review

Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Eighteen Sonatas Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded in the Concert Artist Studios June and September 1997 CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9208-2 [73.41] [JW]

Scarlatti playing - the product of practical application and imagination. … see Full Review

Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Nineteen Sonatas Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded Concert Artist Studios, June and September 1997 CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9209-2 [69.23] [JW]

A persuasive and sensitive advocate; qualities that are entirely and predictably consonant with Hatto’s playing as a whole. … see Full Review

Heinrich SCHEIDEMANN (c1595-1663) Organ Works, Vol. 4 Magnificat 1. toni [12:53] Benedicam Dominum (after Lassus) [10:19] Jesus Christus, unser Heiland (III) [03:44] Praeambulum in F [01:59] Canzona in F [01:01] Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist [01:53] Praeambulum in d minor [02:22] Mensch, willst du leben seliglich [06:49] In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr (II) [06:20] Praeambulum in g minor [03:19] O Gott, wir danken deiner Güt [02:56] Herr Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn (II) [04:55] De ore prudentis procedit mel (after Lassus) Magnificat 5. toni [10:43] Julia Brown, organ Recorded in September 1999 in the Central Lutheran Church, Eugene, Oregon, USA NAXOS 8.555876 [79:02] [JV]

Organ music by one of the most important German masters of the 17th century – well played but not entirely satisfying ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Sinfonia Varsovia/Yehudi Menuhin Symphony No. 1 in D major, D.82 (1813) Symphony No. 4 in C minor, D.417 ‘Tragic’ (1816) WARNER APEX 2564 60527-2 Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, D.125 (1815) Symphony No. 6 in C major, D.859 (1818) WARNER APEX 2564 60529-2 Symphony No. 3 in D major, D.200 (1815) Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D.485 (1816) Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D.759 ‘Unfinished’ (1822) WARNER APEX 2564 60530-2 Symphony No. 9 in C major, D.944 ‘Great’ (1827) WARNER APEX 2564 60531-2 Rec. 20–29 Jan 1997, Studio 1, Polish Radio, Warsaw Complete Set 5CDs 2564605322

Yehudi Menuhin’s close and stimulating relationship with Sinfonia Varsovia reflected in this fine cycle excellently played and recorded …Everything sounds nicely in place, and there is atmosphere as well as clarity. … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797 - 1828) Symphony no. 1 in D major, D 82, Symphony no. 2 in B flat major, D 125, Symphony no. 8 in B minor, D 759 "Unfinished" Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham Recorded Walthamstow Town Hall, December 1953 Symphony no. 1); May 28th 1954 (Symphony No. 2); Kingsway Hall, January 15th and 24th, May 9th, July 11th, 12thand July 23rd (Symphony No. 8) – May 9th session at Studio No. 1 Abbey Road. SONY CLASSICAL SMK87876 [77.31] [RH]

Welcome reissue of Beecham’s sparkling late recordings of the Schubert symphonies. … see Full Review

Franz Peter SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Works: Drei Klavierstücke, D946 (1828) [32’04]. Piano Sonata in A, D664 (pre-1819) [25’58]. Two Scherzos, D593 (1817) [10’23]. Allegretto in C minor, D915 (1827) [6’18]. Adagio in E, D612 (1818) [4’51]. Elisabeth Leonskaja (piano).Rec. Fürstliche Reitbahn Bad Arolsen, Germany, February 10th-12th, 2003. DDD MUSIK DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG343 1194-2 [79’59] [CC]

A highly memorable recital … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Sonata No. 20 in A major D959 (1828) Three Klavierstücke D946 Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge, April 1990 and May 2000 Piano Works Volume 1 CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9063-2 [69.51] [JW]

A formidable technician whose senses of clarity and form are salient features of a profound musicality. … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Sonata No. 16 in A minor D845 (1825) Piano Sonata No. 19 in C minor D958 (1828) Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge, October 1998 Piano Works Volume 2 CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9064-2 [70.23] [JW]

Technique and instincts formidable. Full of light she avoids seeing Schubert through a glass, darkly. … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Sonata No. 4 in A minor D537 (1817) Piano Sonata No. 18 in G major D894 (1826) Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge, February 1999 and May 2000 Piano Works Volume 3 CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9065-2 [69.58] [JW]

A more briskly shaped determinism, more measured and sanguine. The performances benefit from the sympathetic acoustic – warm but not cloying … see Full Review


Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano Sonata No. 13 in A major D664 (1819) Piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat D960 (1828) Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge, April 2000 and January 1999 Piano Works Volume 4 CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9066-2 [63.04] [JW]

A particularly fine example of Hatto’s Schubert. It’s the disc that most impressed me of the four so far issued in this series. … see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1796-1828) Overture in F major, D.675 (1819) Fantasie in F minor, D.940 (1828) German Dances, D.618 (1818) Variations, D.968a (1818-24) Marches héroïques, D.602 (1818-24) Jenö Jandó and Zsuzsa Kollár (piano) Recorded 1-4 April 1998, Phoenix Studio, Budapest Piano Works for Four Hands, Volume 3 NAXOS 8.554513 [59.23] [TB]

Some substantial masterworks but a good deal of ‘entertainment music’. This third volume offers examples of each approach. … see Full Review

Piano Concertos of the 1920s, Vol. 2 Erwin SCHULHOFF (1893-1942) Concerto for Piano and small Orchestra (1923) [18:42] George ANTHEIL (1900-1959) A Jazz Symphony for Piano and Orchestra (1927) [12:52] George GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra (1925) [32:24] Michael Rische (piano) Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Wayne Marshall (Antheil, Gershwin) West German Radio Symphony Orchestra of Cologne conducted by Gunther Schuller (Schulhoff) Schulhoff concerto recorded Dec 15-17, 1993 at Cologne Philharmonic Hall Antheil and Gershwin Concertos recorded Dec 2002 and Feb 2003, Jesus-Christus Church, Berlin ARTE NOVA CLASSICS 82876 [SA]

Panache and commitment … fast and furious and full of the brilliance … a thoroughly enjoyable disc … see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810 - 1856) The Complete Piano Works, Volume 9 Papillons, Opus 2 Sonata Opus 118, No. 1 in G major Intermezzi, Opus 4 Sonata Opus 118, No. 3 in C major Franz Vorraber (piano) Recorded Frankfurt/Musikhochschule, Kloster Kreuzberg. ‘Papillons’ recorded 28/1/2002; all other items recorded live, 14/5/1999 THOROFON CTH 2521 [75.53] [RH]

A slightly disappointing recital, containing some of Schumann’s lesser known piano works. … see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Music Disc 1: Papillons, Op. 2 (1832) Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6 (1837) Waldszenen, Op. 82 (1848) Disc 2: Widmung, arr. Liszt (1848) Frühlingsnacht, arr. Liszt (1872) Fantasiestücke, Op. 12 (1837) Arabeske, Op. 18 (1838) Kreisleriana, Op. 16 (1838) Leon McCawley, piano Recorded at St. George’s Bristol, England, September 2003 AVIE 0029 [2CDs: 142:08] [DS]

I give the Avie set a mild recommendation except for those who want their Schumann textures ‘clean as a whistle’. … see Full Review

Heinrich SCHÜTZ (1585-1672) Symphoniae Sacrae I, Symphoniae Sacrae II, Weihnachtshistorie Anna Mikolajczyk (soprano) Marzena Lubaszka (soprano) Piotr Lykowski (alto) Krzysztof Szmyt (tenor/alto) Robert Pozarski (tenor/alto) Harry van der Kamp (bass) Bodgan Makal (bass) Walter Testolin (bass) Gian Paolo Dal Dosso (bass) Cappella Augustana Matteo Messori (organ and direction) BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92196 [5CDs: 51.46+48.32+56.17+49.16+66.01] [GH]

A welcome super-budget edition of Schütz’s symphoniae sacrae which should tempt everyone into exploring these lovely works. … see Full Review

Déodat de SEVERAC (1872 – 1921) Le Chant de la terre (1900) En Languedoc (1903/4) Las Naïades et le faune indiscret (1908) Baigneuses au soleil (1908) Izumi Tateno (piano) Recorded: Snellman Hall, Kokkola, Finland, June 2001 WARNER APEX 2564 60625-2 [72:21] [HC]

Colourful, harmonically subtle, clear and breathing some healthy joie de vivre reflected in the use of folk-inflected dance rhythms as well as exulting in sunshine or meditating at sunset. His music sings and shines … see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975): Symphony No 5 in D minor, Op. 47 [45’18"] Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915): The Poem of Ecstasy * [18’40"] New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Dimitri Mitropoulos Recorded: 1 December 1952 and *20 March 1953 URANIA RM 11.908 [64’03"] [JQ]

If you can take the sound there’s some remarkable music making here. … see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47 (1937) [46’35]Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54 (1939) [30’55] Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra, Milan/Oleg Caetani Live recs. From the Auditorium di Milano, Italy in January 2001 (Symphony No. 5) and January 2002 (Symphony No. 6). DDD ARTS 47668-2 [79’14] [CC]

Despite some impressive moments, this disc remains ultimately unrecommendable. … see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony No. 7 in C, Op.60, Leningrad (1941) [73’35]. Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra, Milan/Oleg Caetani.Live rec. From the Auditorium di Milano, Italy in December 2000. DDD ARTS 47667-2 [73’35] [CC]

The playing is often ‘quite’ good, textures are ‘quite’ well defined, but Caetani routinely fails to evoke an exact mood and never, never draws the listener in. … see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906 - 1975) Preludes and Fugues (24), Op 87 (1951): 1- 9, 12, 15-17, 19 Arranged for wind quintet by Eduard Wesley Calefax Reed Quintet: Oliver Boekhorn, oboe; Ivar Berix, clarinet; Raaf Hekkema, saxophone; Jelte Althuis, bass clarinet; Alban Wesly, bassoon. Recorded 5 June 2003, at the Evangelische Kirche, Lienen, Germany. Notes in English, Français, Nederlands, Deutsche Photos of the composer and of the artists. Four page survey form. www.mdg.de MUSIK DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG SCENE 619 1185-2 [73.53] [PSh]

A must have for Shostakovich fans and lovers of good wind quintet music. One hopes for more of this ... see Full Review

Dmitri Shostakovich – First Recordings Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Twenty-Four Preludes Op. 34 (1932-33) No. 8 in F minor No. 14 in E flat minor No. 15 in D flat minor No. 16 in B flat minor No. 17 in A flat minor No. 18 in F minor No. 19 in E flat major No. 22 in G minor No. 23 in F major No. 24 in D minor Three Fantastic Dances Op. 5 (1922) L’Age d’Or Op. 22 – Polka (piano reduction 1935) Piano Trio No. 2 in E Op. 67 (1944) String Quartet No. 3 in F Op. 73 (1946) A Collection of Children’s Pieces Op. 69 Dmitri Shostakovich (piano) David Oistrakh (violin) and Miloš Sádlo (cello) and Dmitri Shostakovich (piano) in the Trio The Beethoven Quartet in the Quartet Undated [Trio recorded 1947, Quartet ?1960] SYMPOSIUM 1314 [79.38] [JW]

Deep sonority … contrasting bleakness and sternness … a sense of abstraction emerging powerfully directed. … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906 - 1975) String Quartets 1-15 complete Brodsky Quartet: Michael Thomas, Ian Belton vv.; Paul Cassidy, vla.; Jacqueline Thomas, vc. Recorded Teldec Recording Studio, Berlin, Germany, September 1989. Notes in English, Deutsch, Français Originally released 1991; re-released 2003 TELDEC 2564 60867 2 [378.16] [PSh]

A very satisfactory version of these milestones in the quartet form. … see Full Review

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) The Tempest Op. 109b,c (1926) [29.27] Richard ARNELL (b.1917) Punch and the Child Op. 49 (1948) [21.24] Lord BERNERS (1883-1950) The Triumph of Neptune - suite from the ballet (1926) [24.43] Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Sibelius; Arnell) Philadelphia Orchestra (Berners) cond. Sir Thomas Beecham rec. Nov 1954, Walthamstow Town Hall (Sibelius); 31 May 1950, Kingsway Hall, London; 3 Feb 1952 (Arnell); Academy of Music, Philadelphia (Berners). all mono SONY CLASSICAL SMK93009 [75.58] [RB]

Thirty-two lollipops - some soporific and some belligerently enlivening. ... see Full Review

Nikos SKALKOTTAS (1904-1949) Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello (1936) Largo (1940); Bolero (1948); Serenata (1949); Sonatina (1949); Tender Melody (1958) for cello and piano Maria Kitsopoulos, cello; Maria Asteiadou, piano; Georgios Demertzis, violin Rec. Megaron Concert Hall, Athens, Greece, September 2000. DDD BIS-CD-1224 [68.15] [GH]

Brilliantly crafted, original, highly concentrated, great rhythmic energy and excitement … magnificent, bringing out all aspects of this emotionally complex music to its fullest extent. Highly recommended … see Full Review

Antonio SOLER (1729-1783) Sonatas for Harpsichord, Vol. 10 Gilbert Rowland, harpsichord Recorded in July 2002 in the Epsom College Concert Hall, Surrey, UK. DDD NAXOS 8.557137 [73:51] [JV]

The tenth volume of Gilbert Rowland’s recording of Soler’s complete keyboard sonatas – a tiresome and undifferentiated performance ... see Full Review

Rick SOWASH (b.1950) Chamber Music with clarinet Anecdotes and Reflections for violin, clarinet, cello and piano (1989) Street Suite for violin and clarinet (1976) Daweswood; Suite for violin, clarinet, cello and piano (1980) Mirecourt Trio (Kenneth Goldsmith, violin; Terry King, cello; John Jensen, piano) Craig Olzenak (clarinet) Recorded (? 1991) GASPARO GSCD 285 [66.52] [JW]

Sowash has a happy knack of bringing energy and life to his music-making, of infusing it with delight and seemingly bringing to it his own enthusiasms and generosity. … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Sir Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Irish Rhapsodies: no. 1 in D minor, op. 78 (1902), no. 2 in F minor, op. 84 – "The Lament for the Son of Ossian" (1903), no. 3 in D, op. 137 (1913) (1), no. 4 in A minor, op. 141 – "The Fisherman of Lough Neagh and What he Saw" (1913), no. 5 in G minor, op. 147 (1917), no. 6 in D minor, op. 191 (1922) (2) Concert Variations upon an English Theme, op. 71 – "Down among the Dead Men" (c.1897-8) (3), Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor, op. 126 (1911) (3) Raphael Wallfisch (violoncello) (1), Lydia Mordkovitch (violin) (2), Margaret Fingerhut (piano) (3), Ulster Orchestra/Vernon Handley Recorded August 1986 (op.147), 7-9 September 1987 (op.141), 9-10 March 1988 (op.78), 19-23 February 1989 (opp.71, 126), 22 August 1989 (op.191), 5 November 1989 (op.137), 30 April-2 May 1991 (op. 84), Ulster Hall, Belfast CHANDOS CHAN X10116 (2) [2 CDs 77:13, 75:49] [CH]

All lovers of late-romantic orchestral music of nationalist inspiration should get this, above all for the Rhapsodies. … see Full Review


Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Songs: Waldseiligkeit, Opus 49 No. 1 (1901); Die Nacht, Opus 10 No. 3 (1885); Ständchen, Opus 17 No. 6 (1886); Leises Lied, Opus 39 No. 1 (1898); Schlechtes Wetter, Opus 69 No. 5 (1918); Des Dichters Abendgang, Opus 47 No. 2 (1900); Der Stern, Opus 69 No. 1 (1918); Der Verschwiegenen, Opus 10 No. 6 (1885); Die Zeitlose, Opus 10 No. 7 (1885); Blauer Sommer, Opus 31 No. 1 (1896); Ich wolt ein Straußlein binden, Opus 68 No. 2 (1918); Ruhe, meine Seele!, Opus 27 No.1 (1894); Allerseelen, Opus 10 No. 8, (1885); Einerlei, Opus 69 No. 3 (1918); Meinem Kinde, Opus 37 No. 3 (1897); Wiegenlied, Opus 41 No. 1 (1899); Mutterländelei, Opus 43 No. 2 (1899); Zueignung, Opus 10 No. 1 (1885); Winterweihe, Opus 48 No. 4 (1900); Das Rosenband, Opus 36 No. 1 (1897); Cäcilie, Opus 27 No. 2 (1894); Ach, was Kummer, Opus 49 No. 8 (1901); Drei Lieder der Ophelia, Opus 67 (1915); Morgen, Opus 27 No. 4 (1894) Felicity Lott (soprano), Graham Johnson (piano) Recorded 18-20 February 2002, Champs Hill, Pulborough, Sussex ASV CD DCA 1155 [72.43] [TB]

This is surely one of the finest lieder recitals to have entered the catalogue in recent times … see Full Review

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Suite: Pulcinella (1922) Gian Francesco MALIPIERO (1882-1973) Ricercari per undici instrumenti (1925) Alfredo CASELLA (1883-1947) Scarlattiana (1926) Anthony Spiri (piano) Basel Chamber Orchestra/Christopher Hogwood Recorded March 2003, Culture and Convention Centre, Lucerne ARTE NOVA 74321 92765 2 [59.17] [TB]

A really interesting programme … Pulcinella is one of the most celebrated examples of 1920s neo-classicism so to add the Malipiero and Casella was inspired planning. … see Full Review

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Violin Concerto (1931) Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Violin Concerto (1936) Michael Erxleben (violin) Berlin Symphony Orchestra Michael Schønwandt (Stravinsky), Claus Peter Flor (Schoenberg) Rec. (Stravinsky) April 1994, (Schoenberg) June 1989 (Schoenberg), Christuskirche, Berlin. DDD BERLIN CLASSICS 01 8362 2BC [59.31] [TB]

A strong soloist with a clearly articulated personality and confident tone. … see Full Review

Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Violin and Piano Works Violin Sonata Op. 9 (1904) Romance Op. 23 (1910) Nocturne and Tarantella Op. 28 (1915) Mity, trzy poematy Op. 30 (1915) Kołysanka (La Berceuse d’Aitacho Enia) Piotr Pławner (violin) Waldemar Malicki (piano) Rec. Pomeranian Philharmonic Concert Hall, Bydgoszcz, Poland, February 1997 DUX 0287 [67.48] [JW]

Inward and introspective … finely judged portamenti … evinces a fine silken tone with splendidly supportive pianism. … see Full Review

Toru TAKEMITSU (1930 – 1996) Uninterrupted Rests (1952, 1959)Piano Distance (1961)For Away (1973)Les Yeux clos I (1979)Les yeux clos II (1989)Rain Tree Sketch (1982)Rain Tree Sketch II (1992)Litany (1990) Izumi Tateno (piano) Recorded: Järvenpää Hall, Järvenpää, Finland, September 1996 WARNER APEX 2564 60624-2 [56:02] [HC]

Slow-moving, meditative, impressionistic with an undeniable 20th century harmonic touch … see Full Review

Josef TAL (b.1910) Symphonies 1 (1953), 2 (1960), 3 (1978), Hizayon Hagigi (Festive Vision) (1959) NDR Radiophilharmonie/Israel Yinon Recorded September 2002, NDR, Grosse Sendesaal, Studio 1 CPO 999 921-2 [57:31] [CH]

Worth getting for the very fine first symphony. I hope you will find more in the rest than I did. … see Full Review

  Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concerto No.1 in B flat minor, Op.23 (1874): Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso – Allegro con spirito; Andantino semplice – Prestissimo – Tempo I; Allegro con fuoco Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Prelude in G-flat minor, Op.23 No.10; Moment Musical in E-flat minor, Op.16 No.2; Daisies, Op.38 No.3; Prelude in G major, Op.32 No.5; Oriental Sketch; Melodie in E major, Op.3 No.3; Concert Paraphrase on ‘Polka Italienne’ Arcadi Volodos (piano) Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Seiji Ozawa Rec. 06/2002 (Tchaikovsky): Philharmonie, Berlin; 04/2003: Scoring Stage, Berlin SONY SICC 135 [54’19] [MM]

Dream Team fails to deliver in Tchaikovsky: Solos steal the show.... see Full Review

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Winter Daydreams, Op. 13 Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Little Russian, Op. 17 Symphony No. 3 in D, Polish, Op. 29 Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Pathétique, Op. 74 Francesca da Rimini, Op. 32 Marche slave, Op. 31 Fate, Op. 77 Romeo and Juliet - fantasy overture Capriccio Italien, Op. 45 Swan Lake - Suite Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Yuri Temirkanov Rec. 28 Feb 1991 Walthamstow Assembly Hall (Francesca); 20, 23 July 1993 (1); 16-17 Sept 1990 (2); 9-10 June 1993 (Swan Lake); 18-19 Feb 1991 (3 Marche); Watford Town Hall; 11 Mar 1990 (Capriccio Italien) EMI Studio 1, Abbey Road; 16-17 Sept 1990 (4), 18-19 Feb 1993 (Fatum); 20, 23 July 1990 (6) Watford Town Hall; 19, 22, 25 Sept 1989 (5, R&J), All Saints Church, Tooting. DDD Previously issued as RCA 09026 61821-2 Complete Collection series BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 55781 2 [6 CDs: 67.29+60.40+59.59+65.08+64.47+69.53] [RB]

Highly personal, not bland, provocative and probably wrong-headed on some occasions ... it will not allow your attention to drift. … see Full Review

Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17, ‘Little Russian’ (1872) [35’08]. Sleeping Beauty (1889) – Suite, Op. 66a (arr Fedoseyev) [36’43]. Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio/Vladimir Fedoseyev. Rec. 1999, venue unspecified. DDD RELIEF CR991055 [72’01] [CC]

Well worth investigating, if not a first choice recommendation in the symphony. … see Full Review

Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No. 3 in D, Op. 29, Polish (1875) [47’11] Hamlet, Op. 67 (1888) [19’02] Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio/Vladimir Fedoseyev. Rec. February (Op. 29), June (Op. 67) 1999, venue unspecified. DDD RELIEF CR991050 [66’42] [CC]

Another Fedoseyev/Relief disc with much to recommend it. … see Full Review

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893) Symphony #4 in f, Op. 36 (1878) [42.07] Vienna State Opera Orchestra/Hermann Scherchen restored from Westminster WL 096/XWN 18522 by Alessandro Nava Alban Berg (1885 - 1935) Symphonic Suite from "Lulu" (1934) [36.56] Annelies Kupper, soprano Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/Hermann Scherchen Rec. 20 February 1953 (Berg); June 1951 (Tchaikovsky) "registrazione di pubblico dominio efettuate a Vienna e a Monaco" Notes in Italiano and English. URANIA URN 22.248 [79.10] [PSh]

Very good sounding restorations, a must for your Scherchen collection … see Full Review

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No. 5 in e minor, Op. 64 [47:36] The Tempest: Symphonic Fantasy to Shakespeare’s Drama, Op. 18 [23:06] U.S.S.R. Symphony Orchestra/Evgeni SvetlanovRecorded 1967 (Symphony 5) and 1970 (Tempest). Locations not given. ADD CDKM 1010 DDD [70:42] [KS]

A passionate and soulful performance, and if you can stand the intonation mess, you have an exciting rendition on your hands. … see Full Review

Piotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony no. 6 in B minor, op. 74 – "Pathétique" Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Tristan und Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler Recorded October-November 1938 (Tchaikovsky), 11th February 1938 (Wagner), Berlin CD transfers by Mark Obert-Thorn NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110865 [67:05] [CH] [JW]

Those who lack the back-up knowledge to read the performances and recordings in their right context should proceed with caution.[CH]
Furtwängler’s ability to think in terms of paragraphs pays the richest rewards here and is by no means a commonplace gift. … [JW]
… see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Peter llyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Romeo and Juliet – Fantasy Overture (1880) Symphony No.6 in B minor, Op.74 ‘Pathétique’ (1893) Philharmonia Orchestra/Guido Cantelli Romeo and Juliet recorded 13th October 1951, No.1 Studio, Abbey Road; Symphony No.6 recorded 22-28th October 1952, Royal Festival Hall. Full Price TESTAMENT SBT 1316 [61’44] [MB]

A mandatory purchase for anyone interested in great conducting and great orchestral playing. Only very rarely will you ever hear anything as thrilling. … see Full Review

Peter Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840 - 1893) Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra (1877) * Manfred Symphony, Op. 58, edited Jordania (1885) * Dong-Oo Lee, cello Russian Federal Orchestra/Vakhtang Jordania Moscow 23rd September 2000. DDD ANGELOK 1 CD 9911 [67’00"] [JPh]

I would recommend this issue to anyone who wants to hear the modification to the score since in itself it is rather fun, but not if you are wanting a top notch interpretation of the score. … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Suite from the The Nutcracker, Op.71a: Miniature Overture; March; Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy; Trepak; Arab Dance; Chinese Dance; Dance of the Reeds; Flower Waltz Capriccio Italien, Op.45 Eugene Onegin, Op.24: Waltz and Polonaise Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra/Alexander Lazarev Recorded Moscow, 1992 WARNER APEX 2564 608822-2 [50:12] [JL]

This disc freshens up some popular old Tchaikovsky numbers with superb playing, proving that a special, vibrant Russian orchestral sound still lives. … see Full Review


Georg Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Concertos and Chamber Music, Volume 1. Sonata in F, TWV43:F1 [8’53].Concerto in C for Recorder, Two Violins, Viola and Basso Continuo, TWV51:C1 [16’30]. Overture in F sharp minor, TWV55:fis [18’45]. Quadro in G minor, TWV43:g4 [8’33]. Concerto in G for Viola Solo, Two Violins, Viola and Basso Continuo, TWV51:G9 [12’58]. Musica Alta Ripa (Danya Segal, recorder; Anne Röhring,Cosima Taubert, violins; Ursula Bundies, violin/viola; Christian Heidemann, viola; Juris Teichmanis, cello; Jacques van der Meer, double-bass; Ulrich Wedemeier, theorbo; Bernward Lohr, harpsichord). Rec. Oranienburg Schloss, Nordkirchen, February 27th-28th; March 1st-2nd, 2003. DDD DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM GOLD MDG309 1189-2 [65’49][CC]

This is a marvellous disc. That it is called ‘Volume 1’ should be a cause for celebration, for that means more is sure to follow. … see Full Review

Ernst TOCH (1887-1946) String Quartet No. 7 Op. 15 [1907] String Quartet No. 10 Op. 28 [1923] Dedication [1948] Buchberger Quartett Rec. Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Cologne, January/March 2001 String Quartets Volume 4 CPO 999 775-2 [59.55] [GH]

The Tenth Quartet is gripping throughout … almost Bergian in it obsessive intensity … this is my first experience of the thirteen string quartets and I will investigate them further. … see Full Review

Mark Anthony TURNAGE (b. 1960) Scorched (1996-2002) John Scofield (guitar) John Patitucci (electric bass) Peter Erskine (drums) Hr Big Band Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra/Hugh Wolff Recorded live on 7 September 2002 at the Alter Oper, Frankfurt, Germany DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 474 729-2 [63’53] [TH]

The jazz/classical fusion style that Turnage has been seeking so long, is finally found. … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Otello (1884-86) Opera in four acts, libretto by Arrigo Boito Otello – Placido Domingo (tenor) Iago – Leo Nucci (baritone) Desdemona – Barbara Fritolli (soprano) Cassio – Cesare Catani (tenor) Roderigo – Antonello Ceron (tenor)
Emilia – Rossana Rinaldi (mezzo) Lodovico – G. Battista Parodi (bass) Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan/Riccardo Muti Stage Director – Graham Vick TV Director – Carlo Battistoni Recorded at La Scala, Milan, December 2001 TDK DVOPOTEL
[140 minutes] [TH]

It is hard not to give this a completely unqualified recommendation. … see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Il Trovatore (1853) - opera in four acts.
Plus bonus tracks of Zinka Milanov singing six traditional Yugoslav songs (recorded 1944) Manrico, Jussi Björling (ten). Leonora, Zinka Milanov (sop). Di Luna, Leonard Warren (bar). Azucena, Fedora Barbieri (mezzo). Ferrando, Nicola Moscana (bass). Ines, Margaret Roggero (sop). Ruiz, Paul Franke (ten) RCA Victor Orchestra. Robert Shaw Chorale/Renato Cellini Il Trovatore, recorded in Manhattan Center, New York 21st February to 16th March 1952 Bargain Price NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110240-41. [2 CDs: 62.07+72.34] [RF]

Verdi singing of this calibre is no longer to be heard anywhere … deserves to be in the collection of any Verdi enthusiast or lover of great singing. Its modest price is an added bonus for both the affluent and the impecunious. … see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) The Four Seasons (Le Quattro Stagioni) arranged Red Priest Arcangelo CORELLI (1653-1713) The Christmas Concerto (Concerto grosso in G minor Op. 6 No. 8 Fatto per la Notte di Natale arr Red Priest Red Priest - Piers Adams (recorders) Julia Bishop (violin) Angela East (cello) and Howard Beach (harpsichord) Recorded Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, New York, January 2003 DORIAN DOR 90317 [50.33] [JW]

As ever with Red Priest one is in for a big surprise. … see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) The Four Seasons [39:06] Concerto in d minor for Viola d’amore [12:08] ‘La Notte’ - Concerto in g minor for flute, bassoon, strings and harpsichord [9:05] Nils Erik Sparf, baroque violin Monica Huggett, viola d’amore Jakob Lindberg, lute Clas Pehrsson, recorder Michael McGraw, baroque bassoon Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble Recorded on June 7,9-11 1984 (Four Seasons) December 6-7 1984, Viola d’amore concerto, May 27/30 1984, Flute/Bassoon concerto in the Petrus Church, Stocksund, Sweden DDD BIS CD 300275 [61:45] [KS]

Specially priced, this one is not to be missed. … see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Vivaldi in Arcadia – Concertos and Arias Concerto for 2 violins, 2 cellos, strings and basso continuo in G (RV 575) [10:03] Concerto for 3 violins, cello and basso continuo in D ‘La Pastorella’ (RV 95) [10:54] Concerto for 3 violins, strings and basso continuo in F (RV 551) [09:37] Dorilla in Tempe, opera (RV 709)*: Mi lusinga il dolce affetto, aria of Elmiro (Act I,1) (Johann Adolf Hasse, 1699 – 1783) [06:29] Bel piacer saria d’un core, aria of Nomio (Act II,7) [07:27] Rete lacci, aria of Filindo (Act I,9) (Geminiano Giacomelli, 1692 – 1740) [04:54] Concerto for 4 violins, viola and basso continuo in B flat (RV 553) [10:00] Concerto for 2 violins, strings and basso continuo in A (RV 520) [09:02] Concerto for 2 violins, 2 cellos, strings and basso continuo in D (RV 564) [10:05] Mhairi Lawson, soprano (*) La Serenissima: Adrian Chandler, Matthew Truscott, Sarah Sexton, Persephone Gibbs, Katarina Bengtson (violins), Sarah Moffat (violin and viola), Peter Collyer, Samantha Hutchins (viola), Gareth Deats, Sarah McMahon (cello), Peter McCarthy (double bass), Eligio Quintero (theorbo), Robert Howarth (harpsichord) Rec. Sept 2003, Church of St Mary the Virgin, Salehurst, East Sussex, England DDD AVIE AV0031 [79:30] [JV]

This recording underlines the virtuoso aspects of Vivaldi’s music at the cost of its theatrical character ... see Full Review.
You may sample, download or purchase this disc

Antonio VIVALDI (1678 - 1741) Vivaldi – Musica Sacra Volume 4: Vespri sollenne per la festa dell’Assunzione di Maria Vergine Reconstruction by Frederic Delamea and Rinaldo Alessandrini. Concerto in F major RV 584 for two violins and two organs, Intonation: Deus in adiutorium Domine ad adiuvandum me festina RV 593 for soli, two choirs and two orchestras, Introduction to Dixit Dominus: Ascende laeta RV 635 for soprano and strings, Psalm 109 Dixit Dominus RV 594 for soli, two choirs and two orchestras, Antiphon: Assumpta est Maria in caelo, Antiphon: Maria Virgo assumpta est, Psalm 112 Laudate pueric RV 600 for soprano and orchestra, Antiphon: Maria Virgo assumpta est, Antiphon: In odorem unguentorum, Psalm 121 Laetatus sum RV 607 for choir and orchestra, Antiphon: In odorem unguentorum, Antiphon: Benedicta filia tua Domino, Psalm 126 Nisi Dominus RV 608 for contralto and orchestra, Antiphon: Benedicta filia tua Domino, Antiphon: Pulchra es et decora, Psalm 147 Lauda Jerusalem RV 609 for soli, two choirs and two orchestras, Antiphon: Pulchra es et decora
Ave Maris Stella, Antiphon to the Magnificat, Magnificat RV 610a for soli, two choirs and two orchestras, Concerto in C major RV 581 for violin and strings, Salve Regina RV 616 for contralto and two orchestras Gemma Bertagnolli (soprano) Roberta Invernizzi (soprano) Anna Simboli (soprano) Sara Mingardo (contralto) Gianluca Ferrarini (tenor) Matteo Bellotto (baritone) Antonio De Decondi (violin) Concerto Italiano/Rinaldo Alessandrini (director) Recorded July 2003, Teatro Olimpico, Rome, Italy OPUS 111 OP 30383 [76.42+76.23] [RH]

Stunning performances by Concerto Italiano are the highlight of this speculative reconstruction of a vespers service by Vivaldi. … see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813 – 1883). Die Walküre. Acts I and II Siegmund, Lauritz Melchior (ten); Wotan, Hans Hotter (bar); Brünnhilde, Marta Fuchs (sop); Sieglinde, Lotte Lehmann (sop); Hunding, Emanuel List (bass); Fricka, Margarete Klose (mezzo). Note: The brief passages of Wotan and Brünnhilde in the closing scene of Act 2 are sung by Alfred Jerger and Ella Flesch Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Bruno Walter; Berlin State Opera Orchestra/Bruno Seidler-Winkler Act I recorded 20th –22nd June 1935 in the Musikvereinsaal, Vienna; Act II recorded 22nd June 1935 in the Musikvereinsaal, Vienna, and 19th and 20th September 1938 in Berlin Bargain Price NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110250-51 [2 CDs: 73.41+70.22] [RF]

Had this recording gone as planned it would have been an all-time great … Nowhere in the world is it possible to hear Wagner singing of this quality today. … see Full Review

Kurt WEILL (1900-1950) The Seven Deadly Sins (1933) Little Threepenny Music – concert suite (1928-29) Julia Migenes (soprano) Robert Tear and Stuart Kale (tenors) Alan Opie (baritone) Roderick Kennedy (bass) London Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tilson Thomas Recorded London, April 1987 (The Seven Deadly Sins) and April 1988 (Little Threepenny Music) SONY ESSENTIAL CLASSICS SBK90376 [55.22] [JW]

Unalloyed admiration – and pleasure … see Full Review


Werner WILDE (b.1949)
Melodies for Christmas A Christmas Story for Orchestra; Raise your eyes to the sky, Hosanna to the son of David, Ave Maria, Magnificat, Silent Night, A rose has blossomed, Honoured by God in the heavens, You come from the stars, In dulci jubilo, O come all ye faithful. HAENSSLER CD 98.457 [53.30] [RB]

Light music - inventively orchestrated and delicate treatments of traditional Christmas melodies ... see Full Review


Charles WILLIAMS (1893-1978) The Music of Charles Williams
High Adventure (Friday Night is Music Night) (c1950) Model Railway (1951) Young Ballerina (The Potter’s Wheel) (1951) The Bells of St Clements (1940s) The Dream of Olwen (1947) * Cutty Sark (1951) Nursery Clock (1933) The Night has Eyes (1942) Devil’s Gallop (1948) Starlings (1950) The Voice of London (1946) The Music Lesson (1955) * Girls in Grey (TV Newsreel) (1950) The Humming Top (1938) Destruction by Fire (c 1940s) The Old Clockmaker (Jennings at School) (1949) Little Tyrolean (1935) Throughout the Years (1951) Blue Devils (1929) Jealous Lover (The Apartment) (1949) * Rhythm on Rails (1950) Sally Tries The Ballet (1951) Cross Country (1954) London Fair (1955) Roderick Elms (piano) * BBC Concert Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth All arrangements by Charles Williams except those by John Bell, Sidney Torch, Philip Lane, Bobbie Field, George Zalva, Robin White, Gavin Sutherland and Adolf Lotter – all arrangements and reconstructions noted in the booklet Recorded February 2003, The Colosseum, Watford ASV WHITE LINE CD WHL 2151 [75.01] [JW]

An expert craftsman with an unostentatious charm that lends colour and glamour to some of these invigorating pieces … see Full Review

Yehudi WYNER (b.1929) The Second Madrigal: Voices of Women (1999) * Quartet for Oboe and String Trio (1999) # Horntrio (1997) + Dominique Labelle (soprano), Daniel Steppner (violin), Judith Eissenberg (violin), Mary Ruth Ray (viola), Rafael Popper-Keizer (cello), Carolyn Davis Fryer (bass), Susan Gall (flute), Peggy Pearson (oboe), Katherine Matasy (clarinet), Janet Underhill (bassoon), Jean Rife (horn), Robert Schulz (percussion), Yehudi Wyner (conductor) * Peggy Pearson (oboe), Bayla Keyes (violin), Mary Ruth Ray (viola), Rhonda Rider (cello) # James Buswell (violin), Jean Rife (horn), Yehudi Wyner (piano) + Recorded at Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA and The Studio, Roslindale MA, December 2000-May 2002 BRIDGE 9134 [67.41] [JW]

Wyner’s is an imaginative voice in contemporary American composition and this is a fine slice of his creativity. … see Full Review

Alexander ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942) Die Seejungfrau (1902-3) [38.51] Symphony in D minor (1892-93) [31.31] Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Antony Beaumont rec. Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague, 12-14, 22-23 Mar 2003. DDD CHANDOS CHAN 10138 [70.23] [RB]

Smiles and magical opulence ... see Full Review

Anton ZIMMERMANN (?1741-1781) String Quartets, Op. 3 – No. 1 in E flat [24’09]; No. 2 in B [22’30]; No. 3 in F [21’05]. Musica Aeterna Soloists (Peter Zajíček, Milos Valent, violins; Ján Gréner, viola; Peter Királ, cello). Rec. Gothic Church of Liptovská Osada on May 28th-30th, 1994. DDD NAXOS 8.553952 [67’44]

A very enjoyable disc. The music will not stretch the intellect too far, neither will it move the emotions to extremes. Eminently well-crafted music, expertly performed, equally expertly recorded. … 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]



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