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Carles Pons i Altés:
Bolero para un Ángel
Carles Pons i Altés (guitar)
SHEVA 009 [62:06][GPu] 
Not
outstanding but well worth hearing if the repertoire attracts … see
Full Review
American
Tapestry
Includes Howard HANSON
(1896-1981) Suite from the opera ‘Merry Mount’ George
GERSHWIN (arr. Donald Hunsberger)
Rhapsody in Blue Steven BRYANT
(b. 1972) Radiant Joy Robert Russell
BENNETT (1894-1981) Suite of Old American Dances
Richard Shuster (piano)
Lone Star Wind O/Eugene Migliaro Corporon rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.570968 [72:11] 
[BM]
Excellent
program serves as recording debut of a new wind band ... see Full
Review
Angela & Roberto
Forever Angela
Gheorghiu, Robert Alagna rec. 1995-2002 EMI
CLASSICS 2145992 [76:18] [ST]
Good
fun but it’s a mixed picture ... see Full
Review
Apostle
of Ireland:
A Medieval Office for St. Patrick First
Vespers, Matins, Lauds, Second Vespers
Canty/Rebecca Tavener; William Taylor (wire-strung
clarsach) rec. 2007. DDD. Booklet with texts
and translations.
DIVINE ART DDA25065 [78:03]
[BW]
Spiritual
nourishment … an excellent successor to Canty’s
earlier recordings ... see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Martha
Argerich - Music for Two Pianos Includes Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Suite No. 2 Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Sonata, Variations on a theme by
Haydn with Mirabela
Dina, Gabriela Montero, Lilya Zilberstein, Polina Leschenko, Yefim
Bronfman & Giorgia Tomassi
rec. live 2002-4 EMI CLASSICS
2076232 [69.41
+ 76.38] 
[MM-B]
Brilliant
and uplifting … a must-have ... see Full
Review
Art
of the Symphonic Organist - Music by Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883), Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921), Sigfrid KARG-ELERT
(1877-1933), Anton RUBINSTEIN (1829-1894),
Moritz MOSZKOWSKI (1854-1925),
Francis POULENC (1899-1963), Guy
BOVET (b.1942) and Marcel
DUPRÉ (1886-1971)
Ken Cowan (organ) rec. 2006
JAV RECORDINGS JAV169 [67:52][DC]
Some
creative arrangements add interest to a substantial programme
... see Full Review
Audivi
Vocem Includes Thomas
TALLIS (c.
1505-1585) In ieiunio et fletu Christopher
TYE (c.1505-1572) Missa Sine Nomine John
SHEPPARD (c. 1515-1558) Gaudete celicole omnes,
Laudate pueri Dominum, Beati omnes Hilliard
Ensemble rec. 2005 ECM
NEW SERIES 1936 [72:06] [DC]
Glorious
from beginning to end ... see Full
Review
Bambusorgel (Bamboo Organ,
Philippines)
Albert Bolliger (organ)
SINUS CD4003 [54:12]
[GPu]
An
entertaining chance to hear one of the most
special organs in the world … see
Full Review
The Golden Age Of Light Music Bandstand
In The Park – Volume 2
GUILD LIGHT MUSIC GLCD 5147 [78:40]
[BBr]
Most
enjoyable and very well worth investigating
... see Full
Review
Miguel
Baselga - Vals Café Miguel
Baselga (piano) rec. 2005 COLUMNA
MÚSICA 1CM0144 [56:28][GPu]
An
intelligent, thought-provoking and well played programme of
waltzes for piano ... see Full
Review
The Birth of the Cello Music
by Giambattista degli ANTONII
(c.1640-after 1696) and Domenico
GABRIELLI (1651-1690)
Julius Berger (cello) rec. 2007
SOLO MUSICA SM112 [74:45][GPu]
A
valuable historical document. Fascinating music from the birth of the
cello … see Full Review
Boléro Music
by Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937), Alexander
BORODIN (1833-1887), Georges
BIZET (1838-1875) and Isaac
ALBÉNIZ (1860-1909) Cincinnati
Pops Orchestra/Erich Kunzel rec. 2007 TELARC
SACD60703 
[65:27][MSJ]
Superfluous
... see Full Review
Andreas
Brantelid (cello) Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Cello Concerto No. 1 Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Variations on a Rococo
Theme Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Cello Concerto
Andreas Brantelid (cello); Danish National Symphony Orchestra DR/Michael
Schønwandt rec. 2007-8
EMI CLASSICS DEBUT 2130382 [61:58][ST]
A
most impressive debut and a very appealing disc ... see Full
Review
Julian Bream plays Dowland
and Bach Julian
Bream (lute and guitar) rec. 1956
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4777750 [72:20 + 68:42][EMc]
Bream’s
enthusiasm and missionary zeal ... see Full
Review
Childhood
Memories – Volume 2
rec.1927-1957 GUILD
GLCD 5144 CD [77:25]
[JS]
Musicality,
ingenuity and professionalism of those working
in light music ... see Full
Review
Agreeable
yet could have been better yet. Goossens’
songs are the highlight ... see Full
Review
The
English Clarinet Edward
GERMAN (1862-1936)
Romance
for clarinet and piano (1889) [4:35]
Arnold BAX (1883-1953)
Sonata for clarinet and piano (1934)
[13:51] Edwin ROXBURGH
(b. 1937) Wordsworth Miniatures
for solo clarinet (1998) [8:05] Gerald
FINZI (1901-1956) Five Bagatelles
for clarinet and piano (1938-43) [15:19]
William Yeates
HURLSTONE (1876-1906) Four
Characteristic Pieces for clarinet and
piano (1899) [16:57] Paul
PATTERSON (b. 1947) Soliloquy
for solo clarinet (c.1995) [5:52] William
LLOYD WEBBER (1914-1982) Frensham
Pond for clarinet and piano (1960) [2:44]
Air and Variations for clarinet
and piano (1952) [6:38] Arthur
BLISS (1891-1975) Pastoral
for clarinet and piano (1916) [4:25]
John Bradbury (clarinet) James Cryer (piano)
rec. 2-3 June 2006, Wathen Hall, Barnes,
London, England. DDD
NAXOS 8.570539 [78:26] [MC]
A
splendid achievement. A strong case for
English clarinet music. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ensemble Syntagma -
Remembrance: Music by Gautier
D’ÉPINAL (1205/30-1272), Colin
MUSET (13th century), Jacques
de CYSOING (middle of 13th century), Jehannot
de L’ESCUREL (d.1304) and Gautier
DE COINCY (1177-1236) Ensemble
Syntagma rec. 2006 CHALLENGE
CLASSICS CC72190 [63:14][GPu]
Outstanding … undogmatic
coherence and persuasive sensitivity in rare repertoire … see Full
Review
Four
Gentlemen of The Chapel Royal Works
by Thomas TALLIS (1505-1585) William BYRD (1543- 1623) Christopher TYE (1505-1572) & Thomas TOMKINS (1572-1656)
Clare Wilkinson (mezzo); Rose Consort of Viols rec. 2006
DEUX-ELLES DXL1129 [70.00]
[GH]
Some
memorable and quite remarkable music-making
... see Full
Review
French
Touch Francis
POULENC (1899 – 1963) Violin
Sonata Maurice RAVEL (1875 – 1937) Violin
Sonata Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835 – 1921) Danse Macabre Maurice
RAVEL (1875 – 1937) Tzigane Jules
MASSENET (1842 – 1912) Meditation from Thaïs Max
Zorin (violin), Vincent Balse (piano)
rec. 2006 MAX ZORIN no number [57:29] [BBr]
Well
worth having. Zorin sheds new light on the
Poulenc and Ravel ... see Full
Review
Fugas
y Fandangos Works
by De Falla, Castelnuovo-Tesdesco and Granados for two guitars Susan
Mebes; Joaquim Freire (guitars)
rec. 1994 LÉMAN CLASSICS LC44401 [52:41]
The
guitar duets of Castelnuovo-Tedesco are the standouts on an attractive
CD … see Full Review
Nicolai Gedda in
Opera
NIMBUS PRIMA VOCE NI 7943/44
[75:16
+ 70:13]
[GF]
Essential
listening … an individual and instantly recognisable
voice ... see Full
Review
Handel-Inspired
Paul
Ayres (organ) rec. 2007
PRIORY PRCD894 [72:25][GPu]
Beautifully
assembled; playing, instrument, repertoire, recording all top notch
… see Full Review
Hilde
Güden Arias and Songs
NIMBUS
PRIMA VOCE NI 7952-3 [78:48 + 78:58]
[GF]
Excellent
tribute to one of the loveliest sopranos of
the post-war era. ... see Full
Review
Hymns
Grimethorpe Colliery Band/Phillip
McCann rec. St. Pauls, Huddersfield University,
9-10 February 2008
EGON SFZ 141 [68:37] [BM]
Splendidly
played but too much of a good thing? ... see
Full Review
Hymns
from Hereford Hereford
Cathedral Choir/Roy Massey & Richard
Lloyd GRIFFIN
RECORDS GCCD4060 [60:09][JV]
Mostly
impressive and enjoyable but some dubious quality repertoire
... see Full Review
Wilhelm
Furtwängler - the Early Recordings Vol.
2 Music by Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826)
and Gioachino Antonio ROSSINI
(1792-1868)
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler rec. 1926-35
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111003 [66:38][RM]
A
worthwhile addition to a very useful series ... see Full
Review
Eliette
von Karajan My
Life at his Side: My Favorite Recordings DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON 477 7541 [74:13 + 75:28] [MSJ]
Great
moments unlikely to be picked for your average
“greatest hits” CD ... see Full
Review
Herbert von
Karajan: New Year’s Eve Concert 1983 ROSSINI
Overture: Wilhelm Tell [12.16] SMETANA
Die
Moldau [12.47] SIBELIUS
Valse
Triste Op.44 [6.59] Josef
STRAUSS Delirien
Waltz Op.212 [9.33] Johann
STRAUSS II Overture: Der Zigeunerbaron
[9.23]
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Herbert von
Karajan Director: Humphrey Burton rec. Philharmonie,
Berlin, 31 December 1983 PAL 4:3; Dolby digital
SONY CLASSICAL
DVD 88697296069 [50:58] [CF]
Becomes
a dull experience ... see Full
Review
Freddy
Kempf (piano) Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures at an Exhibition
Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937)
Gaspard de la nuit Mily BALAKIREV
(1837-1910) Islamey
Freddy Kempf (piano) rec. 2006
BIS BISSACD1580
[63:43][DM]
Uneven
Pictures but fine Gaspard and stunning Islamey ... see Full
Review
The
King’s Singers – Greatest Hits rec. 1974-1991 EMI
CLASSICS 5145872 [77:39
+ 79:41] [TP]
An
enjoyable but flawed compilation ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH
The Art of Christa Ludwig
rec. 1956–1969
EMI CLASSICS 5176082 [5 CDs: 387:44]
[GF]
A
worthy tribute. Should be snapped up by all lovers of great singing
... see Full Review
Click
for alphabetical listings by composer:
[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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recordings]
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