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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

 

Adolphe ADAM (1803-1856) Le postillon de Longjumeau (1836) Robert Swensen (tenor) – Chapelou, postilion, later Saint-Phar, an opera-singer; Pamela Coburn (soprano) – Madeleine, Proprietress of an inn, his wife, later Mme. De Latour; Peter Lika (bass) – Bijou, a wheelwright, later Alcindor, a member of the chorus; Florian Prey (baritone) – Marquis von Corcy, theatre manager; Jürgen Linn (bass) – Bourdon, A member of the chorus Stuttgarter Choristen Rundfunkorchester des SWF Kaiserslautern/Klaus Arp Recorded live at the Festhalle, Bad Urach, Germany on 1st October 1992 CAPRICCIO 51180 [47:22 + 49:23][GF]

While not wanting to serve it as a three-course meal very often, I’m sure parts of it will occasionally be a nice snack. ... see Full Review

John ADAMS (b. 1947) I was looking at the ceiling and then I saw the sky - Song Play in Two Acts (1995) June Jordan (libretto) (1936-2002) Martina Mühlpointner (Consuelo) Kimako Xavier Trotman (Dewain) Markus Alexander Neisser (Rick) Jeannette Friedrich (Leila) Darius de Haas (David) Lilith Gardell (Tiffany) Jonas Holst (Mike) Young Opera Company Freiburg The Band of Holst-Sinfonietta/Klaus Simon Rec. 28th January to 1st February 2004, Tonstudio Oase, Freiburg, and 21st April 2004, Tonstudio R, Vienna, Austria. NAXOS 8.669003-04 [50:09 + 55:50] [DC]

Bless Naxos. Something of a sleeper on the ‘Opera’ shelves, ready to leap out and give you a fright when you get home. Try before you buy! ... see Full Review

Charles-Valentin ALKAN (1813-1888) Organ Works: Volume 1 Benedictus Op. 54 (1859) [8:53] Douze Études pour les pieds seulement (Nos. 1-6) (1869) [18:09] Onze Grandes Préludes et une Transcription du Messie de Handel Op.66 (1867) [49:51] Kevin Bowyer (organ) rec. Blackburn Cathedral, May 2005. DDD TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0030 [76:20] [PCW]

Works of stature and originality ... a strong recommendation ... see Full Review

Thomas ARNE (1710-1778) Six Favourite Concertos (published 1793): 1. Harpsichord Concerto in C [13:28], 2. Organ Concerto in G [11:36], 3. Piano Concerto in A [16:40], 4. Organ Concerto in B flat [11:26], 5. Harpsichord Concerto in G minor [12:04], 6. Piano Concerto in B flat [11:43] The Parley of Instruments Baroque Orchestra/Paul Nicholson (keyboard/director) rec. 26-28 June 1991, All Hallows, Gospel Oak, London HELIOS CDH55251 [77:41] [CH]

Some very attractive music beautifully presented. ... see Full Review

Georges AURIC (1899-1963) Phèdre - ballet (1950) [41:19] Le Peintre et son modèle (1949) [13:18] Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg/Arturo Tamayo
rec. Feb 2005, Conservatoire, Luxembourg. DDD TIMPANI 1C1090 [54:37] [RB]

Lovely music bound to please those already enthralled by Markevitch, Stravinsky and Bliss. ... see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The French Suites for Solo Keyboard No. 1 in D minor, BWV 812; Suite No. 2 in C minor, BWV 813; Suite No. 3 in B minor, BWV 814; Suite No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 815; Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV 816; Suite No. 6 in E major, BWV 817 Bob van Asperen (harpsichord) Recorded German National Museum, Nuremberg, Germany, August 2003 Hybrid SACD playable on SACD players and standard CD players AEOLUS AE-10084 [78:20][DS]

I strongly recommend that Bach keyboard music enthusiasts acquire the recording. ... see Full Review


Mily BALAKIREV (1837-1910)
CD1 [64:44] Symphony No. 1 in C major (1866-1898) [41:46] Overture to King Lear (1857) [10:39] In Bohemia Symphonic Poem (1867) [12:02] CD2 [69:20] Symphony No. 2 (1907-1908) [34:58] Piano Concerto in F sharp minor, Op. 1* (1855) [13:14] Tamara - Symphonic Poem (1867) [20:46] Howard Shelley (piano)* BBC Philharmonic/Vassily Sinaisky Rec. Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester, 28-29 August 1997 (CD1); 7-8 April 1998 (CD2). DDD CHANDOS CHAN 241-29 [64:44 + 69:20] [RB]

Irresistible if you like these couplings for the two symphonies and want very good modern recording technology. ... see Full Review

Gerald BARRY (b.1952) In The Asylum (2000) [11’26] James CLARKE (b.1957) Piano Trio (2001) [7’02] Etude for solo piano (1996) [1’26] Independence: Part1 for solo cello (1998) [6’08] Island- for solo piano (1999) [9’59] Isolation- for solo violin (1997) [8’49] Michael FINNISSY (b.1946) In Stiller Nacht [8’47] Necessary and More Detailed Thinking [1’42] Independence Quadrilles [7’03] Trio Fibonacci: André Ristic (piano), Julie-Anne Derome (violin), Gabriel Prynn (cello) rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, 15-17 September 2004. DDD NMC D107 [63’46] [TH]

Interesting items, a few of which will require more effort than others ... if you’re up for a dose of challenging chamber music, this could be for you. ... see Full Review

Gerald BARRY (b.1952) The Intelligence Park (1981-90) Opera in three acts, libretto by Vincent Deane Robert Paradies – Richard Jackson (bass-bar) D’Esperaudieu – Paul Harrhy (tenor) Sir Joshua Cramer – Stephen Richardson (bass) Jerusha Cramer – Angela Tunstall (soprano) Serafino – Nicholas Clapton (counter-tenor) Faranesi – Buddug Verona (contralto) Almeida Ensemble/Robert Houlihan Recorded live at the Almeida Theatre, London for BBC Radio 3 in July 1991 NMC D122 [45’08 + 60’47][TH]

Barry isn’t an easy proposition and this determinedly modernist opera is quite long and complex. ... see Full Review

Bela BARTÓK (1881-1945) Duke Bluebeard’s Castle (1911) Bluebeard – John Tomlinson (bass-baritone) Judith – Jeanne Michelle Charbonnet (soprano) Prologue – Matyas Sarkozi BBC Symphony Orchestra/Jukka-Pekka Saraste Recorded Live at the BBC Proms, Royal Albert Hall, 7 September 2004 WARNER CLASSICS 2564 61953-2 [60.08][RH]

A fine record of a brilliant occasion... treasure it either as a memento of a particular Prom or as a record of a fine performance by Tomlinson. ... see Full Review

Marion BAUER (1882-1955) A Lament on an African Theme op. 20a (1927) (orch. Martin Bernstein, c.1935) [5.21] Concertino for Oboe, Clarinet and Strings Op.32b (1939-43) [9:28] Trio Sonata No.1, for flute, cello and Piano Op.40 (1944) [8:11] Symphonic Suite for Strings Op.33 (1940) [11:16] Duo for Oboe and Clarinet Op.25 (1932) [8:30] American Youth Concerto Op.36 (1943) [15:59] Diana Ambache (piano), Gabrielle Lester (violin), Ruth Ehrlich (violin), Jonathan Barritt (viola), Judith Herbert (cello), Jonathan Snowden (flute), Jeremy Polmear (oboe), Eli Eban (clarinet), Ambache Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble rec. St. Silas Church, Kentish Town, London 21st-22nd October 2004 DDD NAXOS 8.559253 [58:45] [MM]

Not a strong individual voice but the impression of a strong and determined character does come across ... a CD well worth investigating. It has grown on me ... see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concerto No. 5, ‘Emperor’ in E flat major, Op. 73 (1810) [37:19] Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 (1909) [37:19] Vladimir Horowitz, piano RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner Rec. 26 April 1952 (Beethoven); 8, 10 April 1951 (Rachmaninov), Carnegie Hall, New York City, USA NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110787 [74:49] [JW]

Comparisons between decades are invariably instructive with Horowitz ... you should get to know these performances; it will cost me more to get to and from work tomorrow than to buy this disc. ... see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770 – 1827) Piano Trio No. 5 in D major, Op. 70, No. 1 ‘Ghost Trio’ [27:48]; Piano Trio No. 6 in E flat major, Op. 70, No. 2 [30:06]; Variations in E flat major, Op. 44 [13:49] Xyrion Trio (Nina Tichman, piano; Ida Bieler, violin; Maria Kliegel, cello) rec. Clara Wieck Auditorium, Sandhausen, Germany, 20-22 October, 2004 NAXOS 8.557723 [71:43] [GF]

Buy it and enjoy! ... see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonata No. 23 in f minor, Op. 57 (Appassionata) [21:37] Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op.53 (Waldstein) [22:11] Piano Sonata No. 17 in d minor, Op. 31, No. 2, (Der Sturm) [18:49] Fazil Say, piano Recorded in June 2005 in Studio Tibor Varga, Sion, Switzerland. NAÏVE V5016 [62:37] [KS]

Exciting playing, accurate and expressive and worth more than a casual listen. I hope that in the future Mr. Say might keep the vocal obbligati out of the picture. ... see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Rondo in G, Op.51/2 [9.40]; Nos. 4 and 10 of Eleven Bagatelles, Op. 119 [40.26]. Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Sonata No. 20 in A, D959 [2.15] Bernard Roberts (piano) rec. "live", Whiteley Hall, Chetham’s School of Music, Long Millgate, Manchester, 24 Aug 2005, Celebrity Recital, 5th Chetham’s International Summer School and Festival for Pianists by kind permission of the Director of Music. DUNELM RECORDS DRD0246 [52:40] [PS][IM]

This CD makes me wish I had been there for what was clearly a memorable occasion.[PS]
A valuable CD of Mr. Roberts’ great artistry in "live" performance. Well recommended.[IM] ... see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Thirty-Three Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli op.120 [53:39], 6 Bagatelles op. 126 [19:56], Rondo a capriccio in G op.129 – "Rage over a lost penny" [04:54] Artur Schnabel (piano) Recorded 30th October and 2nd November 1937 (op.120), 13th January 1937 (opp.126 &129) in EMI Abbey Road Studio no.3 CD transfers by Mark Obert-Thorn NAXOS 8.110765 [78:29] [CH]

Schnabel’s "Diabelli" set interpretative and intellectual standards which are a daunting challenge to all that followed. ... see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String quartet in E flat major, Op. 127 (1825) [33:43] String quartet in a minor, Op. 132 (1825) [41:16] Hagen Quartet (Lukas Hagen and Rainer Schmidt, violins; Veronika Hagen, viola and Clemens Hagen, cello) Recorded in the Schloss Mondsee in November 2003 and in Wiesloch, Palatin, Minnesängersall in March 2004. DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 5705 [75:07] [KS]

A highly commendable release ... beautifully paced, flawlessly executed. ... see Full Review

Larry BELL (b. 1952) Reminiscences and Reflections Op.46 (1993/8) Jonathan Bass (piano) rec. Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA, USA, June 2002 and June 2003 NORTH/SOUTH RECORDINGS N/S R 1032 [58:47] [HC]

A very attractive and nicely contrasted set of miniatures, all superbly crafted and cast in a colourful, accessible idiom. ... see Full Review

Victor BENDIX (1851-1926) Symphony No. 1 in C major Mountain Climbing’ Op. 16 (1882) [33:42] Symphony No. 2 in D major Sounds of Summer from South Russia’ Op. 20 (1888) [31:58] Symphony No. 3 in A minor (1895) Op. 25 [33:16] Symphony No. 4 in D minor (1906) Op. 30 [34:31] Omsk Philharmonic Orchestra/Evgeni Shestakov rec. Concert Hall, Omsk 1995 (1-3); July-Aug 1999 (4). DDD DANACORD DACOCD 436-437 [66.37 + 66.04] [JF]

Bendix wrote some extremely beautiful and moving music ... see Full Review

Luciano BERIO (1925-2003) Sinfonia (1968) [58’32"] Ekphrasis (1990) [18’23"] London Voices/Terry Edwards, Göteborgs Symfoniker/Peter Eötvös rec. Gothenburg Konserthuset, April 2004. DDD DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 477 5380 [77'12"] [AO]

A creative collaboration between Eötvös and Terry Edwards, providing new insights to Berio’s complexly condensed masterpiece ... see Full Review

Arthur BLISS (1891-1975) Mêlée Fantasque (1921) [12.00] Checkmate - complete ballet (1937) [53.03] Royal Scottish National Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones
rec. 1-9 August 2004, Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow. DDD NAXOS 8.557641 [65.03] [RW]

A very rewarding release and sure to give much pleasure ... one of only two recordings of the full ballet ... see Full Review

Luigi BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Cello Sonatas: in C major, G. 74 [13:59]; in G major, G. 5 [13:00]; in C minor* [13:14] Giacomo FACCO (1676-1753) Balletto No. 3 in C major for two cellos* (c. 1723) [07:26] Domenico PORRETTI (d. 1783) Cello Sonata in D major* [19: 04] Pablo VIDAL (d. 1808) Andante Gracioso* [05:18] Arpegio Armonico: Josep Bassal (cello); Wolfgang Lehner (cello); Première recordings* rec. L’Auditorium, Gerona, Spain, 29-30 December 2004. DDD NAXOS 8.557795 [72:02] [MC]

A fine release of rare and interesting repertoire that will appeal to lovers of the cello ... see Full Review

Alexander BORODIN (1833-1887) Overture Prince Igor (1887) [11:00] Polovtsian Dances (1887) [14:08] Polovtsian March (1887) [5:19] In The Steppes Of Central Asia (1880) [7:18] Symphony No. 2 in B Minor (1876) [27:16] Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Ole Schmidt rec. CTS London, 1996. DDD First issued on Tring International TRP104 REGIS RRC 1215 [65:16] [RB]

First recommendation for a single disc anthology mixing Borodin 2 and other works ... see Full Review

Rutland BOUGHTON (1878-1960) Songs for mezzo and piano: Four Songs Op.24 (1907); Five Celtic Love Songs (1910); Songs of Womanhood Op.33 (1911); Three Songs Op.39 (1914); Symbol Songs (1920); Sweet Ass (1928). Louise Mott (mezzo); Alexander Taylor (piano) rec. Music Hall, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, 24 April, 1 May 2005. World premiere recordings BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS431CD [70:33] [RB]

All credit to the BMS for yet again casting light on a neglected corner of the repertoire and for doing this professionally and with attention to scholarly detail. ... see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony no 1 in C minor op.68 [46:59] Rhapsodie op.53 for contralto, male-voice chorus and orchestra [14:42]* Lucia Valentini-Terrani (contralto)* Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI, Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano della RAI*/Peter Maag Recorded live in Turin, 9th April 1976 and Milan, 27th April 1979* ARTS ARCHIVES 43058-2 [60:35] [CH]

Maag’s big crime was that he was a romantic interpreter in a world that didn’t want romantic interpretations. ... see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90 (1883) [39.57] Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 (1885) [39.09] Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras rec. 6-11 (Symphony No. 3) and 27-30 (Symphony No. 4) January 1997, Usher Hall, Edinburgh. DDD TELARC CD-80465 [79.06][TB]

This interesting Brahms cycle brought to an imposing conclusion - allowance being made for a lack of weight in the string tone ... see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73 (1877) [42.50] Variations on the St Antony Chorale, Op. 56a (1873) [17.13] Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Charles Mackerras rec. 6-11 (Symphony) and 27-30 (Variations) January 1997, Usher Hall, Edinburgh TELARC CD-80464 [60.03] [TB]

Not a dull moment and much distinguished playing. The richness of the bass, as at the opening, is a plus-point, but the violin sound lacks bloom. ... see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Quintet in F minor Op.34 (1864) [38.32] Quintetto Chigiano Recorded 1952 PRISTINE AUDIO PACM010 MP3 download [38.32] [JW]

Decca vintage 1952 sound has great clarity and textual cleanliness. I like the restorative work considerably more than Pristine Audio’s other restorations. Good to welcome a forgotten ensemble back to the catalogue. ... see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) String Sextet No.1 in B flat Op.18 (1860) [31.02] Pro Arte Quartet with Alfred Hobday (second viola) and Anthony Pini (second cello) Recorded 1935 PRISTINE AUDIO PACM009 [31.02][JW]

Many will welcome the fine work in removing the extraneous shellac crackle but to my ears Biddulph more accurately reflects the sonority of the performers. ... see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Trio for Clarinet, Piano and Cello in A minor Op.114 (1891) [25:57] Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in F minor Op.120 No.1 (1894) [22:51] Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in E flat Op.120 No.2 (1894) [21:34] Karl-Heinz Steffens (clarinet), Michal Friedlander (piano), Ludwig Quandt (cello) Rec. Kammermusiksaal der Berliner Philharmonie, Berlin in January 2004 (Trio); Angelika-Kauffmann-Saal, Schwarzenburg in August 2002 (Sonatas) DDD TUDOR 7115 [70:42] [PCW]

Recommendable although not the last word on these great works … see Full Review

 

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) 25 Variations and Fugue on a theme by Handel (1861) [24:45] Intermezzo in b-flat minor, Op. 117, No. 2 (1892) [5:09] Rhapsody in g minor, Op. 79, No. 2 (1879) [5:40] Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Trio in B-flat, Op. 97 (Archduke) (1810) [37:O8] Solomon, piano Henry Holst, violin Anthony Pini, cello Recording Dates: Brahms Variations, 1942, Originally issued as HMV 2EA 9881-9886 – C 3301-3303; Intermezzo, 1944 HMV 2EA 10197- C3406; Brahms Rhapsody, 1944, HMV 2EA 10198 – C3406; Beethoven, 1943 HMV 2EA 10028-10039 – C 3362-3366. THE PIANO LIBRARY PL-313 [73:15] [KS]

Very nice to have these fine performances readily and relatively inexpensively available again. Good listening for collectors and the curious passerby alike. ... see Full Review

Max BRUCH (1838-1920) Eight Pieces Op.83 (1910) [36.10] Vincent D’INDY (1851-1931) Trio for clarinet, cello and piano Op.29 (1888) [35.53] Amici Ensemble Recorded at Humbercrest United Church, Toronto, May 2003 and February 2004 NAXOS 8.557347 [72.03][JW]

Whilst the d’Indy remains the principal reason for consideration the Bruch receives a pleasing, quite relaxed reading. ... see Full Review

Dietrich BUXTEHUDE (1637-1707) Sacred Cantatas, Volume 2 Das neugebor’ne Kindelein, BuxWV 13 [6:45] Quemadmodum desiderat cervus, BuxWV 92 [7:44] Nichts soll uns scheiden von der Liebe Gottes, BuxWV 77 [10:22] Dixit Dominus Domino meo, BuxWV 17 [10:03] An filius non est Dei, BuxWV 6 [12:09] Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele, BuxWV 71 [9:21] Jesu, komm, mein Trost und Lachen, BuxWV 58 [9:02] Herr, nun läßt du deinen Diener, BuxWV 37 [6:40] Jesu, dulcis memoria, BuxWV 57 [7:20] Emma Kirkby, soprano Michael Chance, counter-tenor Charles Daniels, tenor Peter Harvey, bass The Purcell Quartet (Catherine Mackintosh, violin; Catherine Weiss, violin; Richard Boothby, violone/viola da gamba) Robert Woolley, organ; Clare Salaman, violin/viola; Rachel Byrt, viola; Jane Rogers, viola; Reiko Ichise, viola da gamba; William Hunt, violone rec. St. Jude on the Hill, Hampstead, London, 8-10 September 2004. CHANDOS CHAN 0723 [79:29][JR]

A homogeneous bunch of works: listening to the disc in one sitting borders on monotony but for a collector this disc should not go unpurchased. ... see Full Review

Consort Songs - Music by William Byrd and His Contemporaries anon When Daphne from fair Phoebus did fly* [02:47] John DOWLAND (1563-1626), arr William WIGTHORPE (c1560-after 1610) Sorrow come (Dowland's sorrow, set by Mr. William Wigthorpe)* [03:46] John WARD (c1571-c1638) Fantasia a 4 [03:43] William BYRD (c1539-1623) O that we woeful wretches* [04:40] Sermone Blando [02:20] Ye sacred muses (An elegy upon the death of Thomas Tallis)* [04:42] Miserere [01:30] Out of the orient crystal skies* [03:21] Christe Redemptor [02:45] O Lord how vain* [08:48] Christe qui Lux [02:50] Richard NICHOLSON (1570-1639) Joan quoth John* [03:49] William BYRD Fantasia a 4 [02:19] anon Farewell the Bliss* [03:25] William BYRD In Nomine a 4 Alfonso FERRABOSCO I (1578-1628) Hear me, O God (A Himn to God the Father ..., sett as 'Four notes Pavan' by Mr Alfonso Ferrabosco II)* [08:33] Orlando GIBBONS (1583-1625) In Nomine a 4 [02:47] John BENNETT (c1570-1615) Venus' birds* [01:49] Jill Feldman, soprano (*) Concerto delle Viole: Roberto Gini, Kees Boeke, Marco Angilella, viola da gamba; Sabina Colonna Preti, violone Recorded in September 2003 at the Pieve SS. Tiburtio e Susanna, Badia Agnano, Arezzo, Italy DDD OLIVE MUSIC OM 004 [66:49] [JV]

An interesting and captivating programme with consort music and consort songs, well performed and 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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