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Detailed listing (last five days)]
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[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]
[Recommended recordings]






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ALPHABETICAL LISTING


Adolphe ADAM (1803-1856) Si J'étais Roi (1852) (sung in French) Liliane Berton (soprano) – Nemea; André Mallabrera (tenor) – Zéphoris; René Bianco (bass-bar) – Mossoul; Henri Medus (bass) – Kadoor; Bernard Alvi (tenor) – Piféar Orchestra of the Conservatoire Concerts Society/Richard Blareau rec. Decca/Universal Studios, Antony, France, 1960 ACCORD OPERETTE 476 2104 [46:04 + 47:59][RW]

Adams’s chief aim was to provide music that was accessible to the public. In that he succeeded triumphantly. ... see Full Review

Hail Bop - A Portrait of John ADAMS Tony Palmer’s film Picture Format: NTSC 4:3 Regions 2, 3, 4 and 5 WARNER MUSIC VISION 50-51011-4857-2 [98:00][CT]

Following on from Malcolm Arnold, John Adams is the latest subject of another masterful portrait in film by Tony Palmer. ... see Full Review

Isaac ALBENIZ (1860-1909) Asturias [6:10]; Torre Bermeja [4:18]; Enrique GRANADOS (1867-1916) La Maja de Goya [3:52]; Danza Española No. 5 [4:13]; Joaquin NIN-CULMELL (1908-2004) Six Variations on a Theme by Milan [6:14]; Joaquin RODRIGO (1901-1999) Zarabanda Lejana [4:29]; Manuel de FALLA (1876-1946) Homenaje a Debussy [2:47]; Julian ORBON (1925-1991) Preludio y Danza [3:48]; Luigi BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Quintet No. 1 in D major for Guitar and Strings G. 488 (Allegro maestoso [6:20]; Pastorale [6:55]; Fandango [6:56]); Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Etude No. 11 [3:21]. Jose Rey de la Torre (guitar) Stuyvesant String Quartet (Sylvan Schulman, Bernard Robbins, (violins); Ralph Hersh, (viola); Alan Schulman, (cello)) rec. July 1952, Village Lutheran Church, Bronxville, New York; Villa-Lobos, Etude No 11: 19 March 1961, Great Neck, NY; 6 Dec 1950, Village Lutheran Church, Bronxville, NY (Boccherini) BRIDGE 9188 [60:00] [ZT]

This is a highly important historical recording by one of the instrument’s greatest exponents. ... see Full Review

Julian ANDERSON (b. 1967) BOOK of HOURS Eden (2005) [7:26], Imagin’d Corners (2001) [10:13]; Four American Choruses (2003) [16:12]; Symphony (2003) [18:02]; Book of Hours* (2004) [24:11] City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, *Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Conductors and recording dates (in order) Martyn Brabbins, Cheltenham July 2005, Sakari Oramo, Birmingham, January 2005, Simon Halsey, Lichfield, November 2005, Sakari Oramo, Birmingham, December 2003 Oliver Knussen, RNCM, Manchester, January 2005. NMC NMC D121 [76:04] [AOz]

This is a very important recording, and repays extended listening ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johann Ludwig BACH (1677-1731) Cantatas (pre-1726) Marche dich auf, werde licht [17:55] Ja, mir hast du Arbeit genacht [19:56] Er machete uns lebendig [12:08] Die mit Tränen säen [17:32] Barbara Schlick (soprano) Mary Nichols (alto) Wilfried Jochens (tenor) Stephen Varcoe (bass) Jugendkantorei Dormagen, Die Kleine Konzert/Hermann Max rec. Neanderkirche, Dusseldorf, 2-6 November 1981 CARUS 83.186 [67:33] [JW]

A sure-footed conspectus of a gifted cousin’s seldom-performed cantatas. ... see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Well Tempered Clavier, Book I (1722), Book II (1738-42) Evelyne Crochet (piano) rec. Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City, September 2000 MUSIC & ARTS 1180 [4 CDs: 65:45 + 67:03 + 63:49 + 62:59] [DS]

Readers who love their Bach played legato should consider Crochet a mandatory item for their Bach library. ... see Full Review

Arnold BAX (1883-1953) Boult conducts Bax Northern Ballad No. 1 (1927) [10:10] Mediterranean (1920-22) [3:20] The Garden of Fand (1913-16) [16:37] Tintagel (1917-19) [13:28] November Woods (1917) [18:36] London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult. No rec. info. ADD LYRITA RECORDED EDITION SRCD231 [62:14] [TP]

For seasoned Baxians, Boult's November Woods is essential and his insights in the other items are well worth hearing. ... see Full Review

Arnold BAX (1883-1953) Complete Piano Sonatas Sonata No.1 in F sharp minor (1910 revised 1917 and 1921) [17:51] Sonata No.2 (1919-20) [24:07] Sonata No.3 in G sharp minor (1926) [26:51] Sonata No.4 (1932) [18:54] Sonata in E flat major (1921) (First Symphony) [32:25] Michael Endres (piano) rec. Klaus-von-Bismarck-Saal, WDR Cologne, January and March 2005 OEHMS CLASSICS OC 565 [69:00 + 51:26][JW]

This set offers great, rewarding and challenging playing and you will be stimulated by its insights ... see Full Review

Jeremy BECK (b.1960) Pause and feel and hark Cello Sonata no.3 ‘Moon’ (1997) [13:14] 1 Songs Without Words (1997) [9:05] 2 Black Water (1994) [40:16] 3 1 Emilio Colón (cello); Heather Coltman (piano); 2 Elizabeth Sadilek (flute); Gretchen Brumwell (harp); 3 Jean McDonald (soprano); Robin Guy (piano) rec. 1 17 May 2003, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida; 2 17 October 1998, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa; 3 24-27 May 1999, Clapp Recital Hall, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. DDD. INNOVA 650 [62:43] [GPu]

Two striking works by a highly-talented American composer, one characterised more by formal wit, the other by emotional impact, both well worth hearing … see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) The Five Piano Concertos Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Op. 15 (1795) [36:58] Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat Op. 19 (1798) [29:31] Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor Op. 37 (1800) [35:12] Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Op. 58 (1806) [33:04] Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat Op. 73 Emperor (1809) [38:30] Rondo for Piano in C major Op.41 No.1 [7:00] Rondo for Piano in G major Op.51 No.2 [8:35] Wilhelm Kempff (piano) Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Paul van Kempen rec. Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin, May 1953 and Beethovensaal, Hannover, January 1953 (Rondos) DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON DG 476 5299 [3 CDs: 66:34 + 68:21 + 54:42] [JW]

An outstanding mono cycle graced with glorious pianism and a conductor who moulds the orchestral strands with perfect judgement and awareness ... see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Complete works for Solo Piano Vol.3 Sonata No.4 in E flat major, Op.7 (1796-7) [28:52] Sonata No.5 in C minor, Op.10 No.1 (1795-8) [17:10] Sonata No.6 in F major, Op.10 No.2 (1795-8) [11:37] Sonata No.7 in F major, Op.10 No.3 (1795-8) [22:35] Ronald Brautigam (fortepiano) rec. Österåker Church, Sweden, August 2004. DDD BIS-SACD-1472 [81:35] [TH]

If you’re collecting this cycle you can continue with confidence. ... see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN - The Original Piano Roll Recordings Ignace Paderewski (piano), rec. 1927 Alfred Cortot (piano), rec. 1927 Myra Hess (piano), rec. 1927 Josef Hofmann (piano) Eugen d’Albert (piano) Wanda Landowska (piano) Harold Bauer (piano) DAL SEGNO DSPRCD 030 [54:46 + 46:41] [JW]

After my less than enjoyable time with the Mozart piano roll disc I feel slightly happier with this companion volume. ... see Full Review

Rudolf Kempe – Unpublished Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Concerto in D major Op.61 (1806) [42:19] Leonore III – Overture in C major Op.72b [14:27] Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Siegfried Idyll (1870) [19:41]* Leonid Kogan (violin) Turin RAI Symphony Orchestra, Rome RAI Symphony Orchestra*/ Rudolf Kempe rec. Turin, April 1956; Rome, 1955 (Wagner) ARCHIPEL ARPCD 0349 [76:33] [JW]

Drop-outs rather blight a fine live performance but how many Kogan Beethoven Concerto performances do you really need? ... see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonatas: No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, Pathétique (1798) [19:39]; No. 29 in B flat, Op. 106, Hammerklavier (1817/18) [44:49]; No. 19 in G minor, Op. 49 No. 1 (1798) [8:32] François-Frédéric Guy (piano) rec. Dijon Auditorium, France, September 2005. DDD NAÏVE V 5023 [73:00] [CC]

This disc makes me ask why a company as intelligent as Naïve is so fully behind an artist who seems to be nothing special? ... see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Concerto in D major op.61 [45:12] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphony no. 40 in G minor K.550 [24:35] Yehudi Menuhin (violin), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Mozart), Lucerne Festival Orchestra (Beethoven)/Wilhelm Furtwängler rec. 28-29 August 1947, Kunsthaus, Lucerne (Beethoven) 7-8 December 1948 and 15 February 1949, Grosser Saal, Musikverein, Vienna (Mozart), NAXOS 8.110996 [69:47] [CH]

The supreme Beethoven Violin Concerto and a Mozart 40th as rewarding as any in the catalogue, excellently transferred – don’t miss it. ... see Full Review

John BLOW (1649-1708) Anthems God spake sometime in visions (1685) [12:20] How doth the city sit solitary (early 1670s) [06:26] The Lord is my shepherd (1677 or before) [10:57] God is our hope and strength (late 1670s) [03:02] I beheld, and lo! A great multitude (1677 or before) [10:26] Turn thee unto me, O Lord (early 1670s) [05:49] Blessed is the man that hath not walked (1680-3) [08:35] Lift up your heads, O ye gates (?late 1670s) [04:25] O Lord, I have sinned (1670) [06:51] O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious (c.1683) [13:40] O Lord, thou hast searched me out and known me (mid 1670s) [05:38] Cry aloud and spare not (1682 or before) [06:47] Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? (c.1680) [09:26] I said in the cutting off of my days (1677) [10:39] Winchester Cathedral Choir/David Hill The Parley of Instruments/Peter Holman rec. 23, 24, 26 January, 9, 10 March 1995, New Hall, Winchester College HYPERION DYAD CDD22055 [58:21 + 58:07] [CH]

Blow established the “lofty” English style and his more penitential works are also highly expressive. ... see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony No. 1 in C minor, op. 68 (1876) [51:04] Symphony No. 3 in F major, op. 90 (1883) [39:10] Israel Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernsteinrec. live, Great Concert Hall, Jerusalem, 1-3 August 1973 Video Director: Humphrey Burton NTSC 4:3 Colour Region Code 0 (worldwide). PCM Stereo DD 5.1 DTS 5.1 EUROARTS 2072048 D [95:38] [MG]

This is a special experience which it’s a privilege to be able to share … see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op. 83a (1881) [47:19] Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, Pathétiqueb (1798/99) [18:51]. Misha Dichter (piano) aLeipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Kurt Masur. rec. aGewandhaus, Leipzig, June 1977; bDoopsgezinde Kerk, Amsterdam, May 1976. ADD PENTATONE CLASSICS SACD PTC 5186 125 [66:23][CC]

There is no doubting the oomph of the recording here, particularly where the piano is concerned, but ... musically disappointing overall. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op. 83a (1878-81) [45:31] Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1797-1827) Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111b (1822) [25:47] John Ogdon (piano) aThe Hallé Orchestra/John Barbirolli rec. aBBC Studios, Manchester, 16 September 1966; bBBC Studios, London, 5 November 1963. ADD mono BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4183-2 [71:54][CC]

This is a magical reminder of a great pianist, here caught in collaboration with a great conductor. One thing is sure - we are in the presence of genius when we listen to these astonishing performances. ... see Full Review

Brahms and Contemporaries Vol. 1 Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) String Quartet No. 1 Op. 51 No. 1 (1873) [32:15] Friedrich GERNSHEIM (1839-1916) String Quartet No. 2 in A minor Op. 31 (1875) [33:18] The Mandelring Quartet: Sebastian Schmidt (violin); Nanette Schmidt (violin) Michael Scheitzbach (viola); Bernhardt Schmidt (cello) rec. St. Bartholomäus-Kirche, Birkweiler, April 1999. DDD AUDITE MUSIKPRODUCTION-AUDITE 97.503 [65:31][WK]

Brahms’ first quartet and a charming work by one of his friends. ... see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin Sonata No. 1 in G, Op. 78 (1879) [25:47] Violin Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 100 (1886) [18:21] Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 (1888) [20:48] Hungarian Dances (arranged by Joseph Joachim): No.1 in G minor [3:12]; No.2 in D minor [4:11]; No.4 in B minor [3:26]; No. 17 in F minor [3:07] Leonid Kogan (violin) Andrei Mytnik (piano) rec. Moscow 1955 and 1959 (Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2) London 1956 (Sonata No.2) and live 1951-55 (Dances) ARCHIPEL ARPCD 0355 [79:38] [JW]

Playing that is so unforced, natural sounding, with so perfect a conjunction of tone and projection, and digitally immaculate  ... see Full Review

Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) Works for String Quartet Phantasie Quartet (1905) [10:04] Novelletten (1904) [11:00] Three Idylls (1906) [13:41] An Irish melody: Londonderry Air (1908) [7:41] Sir Roger de Coverley (1922) [4:30] Sally in Our Alley (1916) [4:06] Cherry Ripe (1916) [3:29] Three Pieces (1911) [4:20] Maggini Quartet rec. All Saints Church, East Finchley, 16-17 December 1994 NAXOS 8.553718 [59:55][GH]

A fine supplement to the Maggini’s Bridge cycle. The players are in complete accord with the style and needs of the composer. ... see Full Review

Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Rescue of Penelope (1943) [35:68] Phaedra (1975) [14:57] Janet Baker (sop) (Phaedra) narrator, Alison Hagley, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, John Mark Ainsley, Lorraine Hunt, William Dazeley Hallé Orchestra/Kent Nagano rec. BBC Studio 7, Manchester, 22-23 April, 4-5 November 1995. WARNER ELATUS 0927490102  [51:25][SH]

A feast of emerging genius in the expert hands of Nagano and the Hallé in top form. ... see Full Review

Dave BRUBECK (b. 1920) Nocturnes John Salmon (piano) rec. 6, 20, 27 February, 17 April 2005, Organ Hall, School of Music, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA NAXOS 8.559301 [55:21] [GF]

The music may not be of the barnstorming kind but the whole disc is a valuable document of one of the most versatile of American composers. ... see Full Review

Geoffrey BUSH (1920-1998) A Christmas Cantata (1947)* [28:34] Trad Chinese arr. & words by F. R. HADDEN Shiao Bao-Bao*** [3:27] Trad. Basque arr. Edgar PETTMAN The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came [2:57] Trad Welsh Ar Gyfer Heddiw’r Bore [1:38] Trad. Arr. Leslie WOODGATE Silent Night [3:22] Edward ARTHUR Tua Bethlem Dref **[1:59] G. HENDRIE As I Outrode This Enderes Night** [1:19] Trad. Arr. Richard ELFYN JONES Good King Wenceslas** [2:33] Mair Robins (soprano)/John Macintyre (oboe)/***Michael Bradley (countertenor)/**Michael Griffiths (organ)/Cardiff Polyphonic Choir and*Orchestra/Richard Elfyn Jones rec. St Augustine’s Church, Penarth, July 1985. DDD SAYDISC CD-SDL 352 [45:57] [JQ]

This is the first and, so far, only recording of Bush’s A Christmas Cantata and that makes this CD an attractive proposition ... see Full Review


Detailed listing (last five 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]
[Recommended recordings]



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