MAY
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Goldberg
Variations 
Burkard Schliessmann (piano) rec. 2007
BAYER RECORDS BR100326 
[38:06 + 45:00][MSJ] 
For
those adventurous enough to enjoy hearing
an old favourite transformed into something
new ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Matthew
Passion
Dunedin Consort & Players/John Butt
rec. 2007
LINN RECORDS CKD313 [3 CDs: 67:41
+ 50:24 + 43:11]
[PB]
A
deeply satisfying and superbly recorded
one-to-a-part recording of Bach’s ‘Great
Passion’ ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Duke
Bluebeard’s Castle
Kolos Kováts (bass); Sylvia Sass (soprano);
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Georg
Solti rec. 1981
DECCA 0743254 
[56:00][DM] 
This
Bluebeard is as gripping as it gets
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Arnold
BAX (1883-1953)
Tone Poems - Vol. 2
Northern Ballads 1 & 2, Prelude
for a Solemn Occasion, Nympholept, Red
Autumn, The Happy Forest, Into the Twilight
BBC PO/Vernon Handley rec. 2006/7
CHANDOS CHAN10446 [76:44]
[RB]
Into
the Twilight reflects Bax's almost life-long
love affair with the poetry of W.B.
Yeats ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
The Nine Symphonies
Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia
Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras rec.
2006
HYPERION CDS44301/5 [5 CDs: 59:28
+ 78:40 + 71:33 + 64:40 + 61:34][OW]
A
Beethoven cycle for our times ... see
Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Missa Solemnis, Violin Concerto
Jussi Björling, Zinka Milanov, Alexander
Kipnis, Jascha Heifetz, Westminster
Ch, NBC SO/Arturo Toscanini rec. 1940
GUILD GHCD2248/9 [66:04 + 55:24]
[JW]
One
of the greatest, if not the greatest
accounts of the Miss Solmenis ever committed
to disc ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Vincenzo
BELLINI (1801-1835)
I Puritani
Valerian Ruminski, Anna Netrebko, Eric
Cutler, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra,
Chorus and Ballet/Patrick Summers rec.
live 2007
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 0734421
[2 DVDs: 149:00 + 22:00]
[RJF]
Anna
Netrebko’s acted and sung interpretation
of one of bel canto’s most demanding
roles in a traditional production is
a must for all lovers of the genre ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE
MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin
Sonatas Nos. 1-3
moderntimes_1800 rec. 2006
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72194 [64:08][TP]
Korol
and Grigorieva give us the best that
HIP can bring to Brahms’ violin sonatas
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Benjamin
DALE (1885-1943) Music
for Viola
Roger Chase (viola); Michiko Otaki (piano)
rec. 2007
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX7204 [67:43][MC]
Outstandingly
performed and recorded … richly rewarding
scores that deserve to be heard ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sigmund von HAUSEGGER (1872-1948) Natursymphonie
WDR Rundfunkchor Köln; WDR Sinfonieorchester
Köln/Ari Rasilainen
rec. 2005
CPO
7772372
[56:37][RB]
A
full-blown philosophical symphony alive
in grandeur and Mahlerian
magnificence ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frank
MARTIN (1890-1974)
Polyptyque, Maria-Triptychon, Passacaille
Muriel Cantoreggi (violin) Juliane Banse
(soprano) German RPO/Christoph Poppen
rec. 2006
ECM 2015 (173 3930) [57:57]
[DC]
Looking
for that elusive ‘tingle factor’? ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Lionel
MONKTON (1861-1924) Songs
from the Shows
Catherine Bott (soprano); Richard Suart
(baritone); New
London Light Opera Chorus; New London
Orchestra/Ronald Corp rec.
2007
HYPERION CDA67654 [77:31][IL]
A
wonderful old-fashioned treat ... see
Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano Concerto No 24 in C minor K491
(1786) [30:42] Piano Concerto No 25
in C K503 (1786) [32:25] Fantasia in
D minor K397 (1782) [6:22]
Imogen Cooper (piano & director)/Northern
Sinfonia; Bradley Creswick rec. 2007
AVIE AV2175 [70:00]
[JS]
One
of my favourite discs of these concertos
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHMIDT (1874-1939) Das
Buch mit sieben Siegeln
Wiener Singverein; Tonkünstler-Orchester
Niederösterreich/Kristjan Järvi rec.
2005
CHANDOS CHSA5061(2)
[64:04 + 48:55][RB]
Stunning
as a work, as a performance and as a
recording. For all practical purposes
the leading version of Schmidt's masterpiece
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
En Saga, Tapiola, Finlandia,
Valse Triste, Violin Concerto,
Four Lemminkainen Legends
Jan Damen (violin), Concertgebouw O,
London PO/Eduard van Beinum, Danish
RO/Thomas Jensen rec. 1952-57
DECCA ELOQUENCE 442 9487 [50:28
+ 75:38] 
[RB]
A
box of delights and discoveries for
Sibelians ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
La Traviata
Renée Fleming, Rolando Villazón, Los
Angeles Opera O & Ch/James Conlon
rec. live, 2006
DECCA 0743215
[141:00]
[RJF]
With
the benefit of the latest picture technology,
this performance goes to the top of
the list for those preferring a traditional
production ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
The
Feast of the Ascension at Westminster
Abbey
Choir of Westminster Abbey/James O’Donnell
rec. 2007
HYPERION CDA67680 [66:18]
[JQ]
Everything
about this disc is first class ... see
Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Fiesta
REVUELTAS Sensemayá
CARREÑO
Margariteña ESTÉVEZ
Mediodia en el Llano MÁRQUEZ
Danzón No.2 ROMERO
Fuga con Pajarillo
GINASTERA
Estancia
CASTELLANOS Santa Cruz
de Pacairigua
BERNSTEIN West Side Story
-- Mambo
Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra
of Venezuela/Gustavo Dudamel rec.2008,
DG 477 7457 [75:57]
[DM]
An
utterly irresistible programme ... see
Full
Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH George
GERSHWIN (1898-1937)
Rhapsody in Blue, Songbook, Piano
Concerto
Peter Donohoe (piano) London Sinfonietta,
City of Birmingham SO/Simon Rattle.
rec. 1986-90
EMI ENCORE 5089952 [67:02]
[OW]
A
fantastic bargain … all-round exceptional
performances, beautifully recorded ...
see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992)
Boxed set La Transfiguration de
Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ (1965-1969)
Visions de l’Amen (1943)
Des canyons aux étoiles
.. etc. NAÏVE
- DISQUES MONTAIGNE MO 782179
6CDs [531:07]
[DC]
Some
of Messiaen’s biggest and best, brilliantly
performed, at bargain price. ... see
Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Carl
NIELSEN (1865-1931)
The Collector’s Edition: Symphonies,
Concertos, Overtures, Choral works and
piano solos
EMI CLASSICS COLLECTORS EDITION 5194292
[7 CDs: 521:07]
[RB]
Go
for it: splendid performances radiating
an aptly wild and woolly imagination
coupled with great attention to mood
and instrumental detail ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Joaquín
RODRIGO (1902-1999) Concierto
de Aranjuez Toru
TAKEMITSU (1930-1996) To
the Edge of Dream Malcolm
ARNOLD (1931-2006) Guitar
Concerto
Julian Bream (guitar); City of Birmingham
Symphony Orchestra/Simon Rattle rec.
1990-2
EMI CLASSICS CDC 7546612 
[58:16][OW]
Bream’s
input pushes this disc way into the
category of ‘sublime’... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Edmund
Rubbra
(1901-1986) Song
of the Soul, Four Medićval Latin
Lyrics, Inscape, Veni, creator
Spiritus, Advent Cantata
Stephen Varcoe, ASMF Ch, City of London
Sinfonia/Richard Hickox rec. 1999
CHANDOS DOWNLOAD 
(CHAN9847) [56:21]
[BW]
Even
if you have never yet downloaded anything,
do make the effort to obtain this wonderful
recording ... see Full
Review
JUNE
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Latin
Church Music Vol. 1
Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Chorus/Ton
Koopman rec. 2008
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72188 [74:54
+ 75:03][BW] 
Wonderful
music – excellent performances and recording
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Leonard
BERNSTEIN (1918-1990)
West Side Story
chorus; orchestra/Leonard Bernstein
rec. 1984 The Making of West Side
Story - documentary
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4777101 
[CD: 76:36; DVD: 88:00][RB] 
Rawness,
rasp and romance... an out and out blast
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sir
Edward ELGAR
(1857-1934) Falstaff
– Symphonic Study, Op.68 (1913)
[33:19] Enigma – Variations on
an original Theme, Op.36 (1899) [29:46]
Pomp and Circumstance March No.5 in
C, Op.39 (1930) [5:41]
New Philharmonia Orchestra/Andrew Davis
rec. Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London,
4-5 January 1974. ADD.
LYRITA SRCD.301 [68:46] [BW]
Just
has the edge over Davis’s own excellent
re-makes .... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Vincent
d’INDY
(1851-1931)
Orchestral Works Vol. 1
Jour dété ŕ la montagne, La Foręt
enchantée, Souvenirs
Iceland SO/Rumon Gamba rec. 2007
CHANDOS CHAN10464 [63:25]
[DM]
A
sonic and musical treat. Not to be missed
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797–1848)
La Fille du Régiment
The Royal Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Bruno
Campanella rec. 2007
VIRGIN CLASSICS 5190029
[132:00][RJF]
Dessay’s
memorable performance as Marie will
define her career ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hugues
DUFOURT (b. 1943) Le
Cyprčs blanc; Surgir
Orchestre Philharmonique
du Luxembourg/Pierre-André Valade
rec. 2004-6
TIMPANI 1C1112
[61:01][HC]
Truly
magnificent. Vital and assured readings
of exacting scores ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Philip
GLASS
(b. 1937)
The Concerto Project - Volume
II Piano Concerto No. 2 “After
Lewis And Clark”, Concerto for harpsichord
and orchestra
Paul Barnes (piano), R. Carlos Nakai
(Native American flute) Jillon Stoppels
Dupree (harpsichord) Northwest CO/Ralf
Gothóni rec. 2005
ORANGE MOUNTAIN MUSIC OMM0030 [58:53]
[DJB]
Hypnotic
in the best Glass tradition, also moving,
thrilling and great fun! … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH George
Frideric HANDEL (1685–1759)
Ariodante
Il Complesso Barocco/Alan Curtis rec.
2007
DYNAMIC 33559
2 DVDs [157:00][RM]
A
very very good DVD of a great Handel
opera ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jonathan
HARVEY
(b. 1939) Tranquil
Abiding, Body Mandala, Timepieces, White
as Jasmine, … towards a Pure Land
Anu Komsi (soprano) BBC Scottish SO/Ilan
Volkov rec. 2007
NMC D141 [79:59]
[TH]
You
should have this disc of music by one
of the UK’s finest elder statesmen ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1811)
Symphony 10
Wiener Philharmoniker/Daniel Harding
rec. 2007
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4777347 [78.00]
[AOz]
A
truly distinctive Mahler 10, to challenge
and stimulate ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Josquin
des PRÉS (c.1440-1521)
Missa Sine Nomine; Missa
ad Fugam
The Tallis Scholars/Peter Phillips rec.
2007
GIMELL CD and DOWNLOAD CDGIM039
[69:12][BW]
Superb
performances of little-known but splendid
works ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Sakontala reconstructed
by Karl Aage
RASMUSSEN
Durwasas Kammerchor Stuttgart,
Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen/Frieder
Bernius rec. 2006
CARUS 83218 [55:52 + 30:27][MM-B]
A
historic and wonderful recording of Schubert’s
best work for the stage ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Kullervo
Soile Isokoski (soprano); Tommi Hakala
(baritone); YL Male Voice Choir,
Helsinki PO/Leif Segerstam rec. 2007
ONDINE ODE1122-5 
[77:56]
[RB]
A
fine and epic Kullervo commanding its
own place in a crowded field ... see
Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813-1901)
Il Trovatore
Leontyne Price, Franco Corelli, Vienna
State Opera Ch, Vienna PO/Herbert
von Karajan rec. live 1962
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4476592 [67:22
+ 61:26]
[ST]
The
sheer theatrical magic produced by the
best in the world in live performance
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Chant:
Music for Paradise
The Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz
rec. Sanctuary of the Relic of the Holy
Cross, Stift Heiligenkreuz, Austria,
21st March-3rd
April, 2008. DDD.Booklet with notes,
texts and translations.
UNIVERSAL CLASSICS & JAZZ UCJ176
6016 [52:45] [BW]
Already
a best-seller and deservedly so ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Karen
Geoghegan plays Bassoon Concertos Johan
Nepomuk HUMMEL
(1778-1837)
Grand Concerto W23 for Bassoon and
Orchestra in F major [23:45]; Carl
Maria von WEBER
(1786-1826) Andante e
Rondo ungarese Op 35 in C minor [9:08];
Franz BERWALD
(1796-1868) Concert Piece
in F major [11:10]; Carl
Heinrich JACOBI (1791-1852)
Introduction and Polonaise Op 9
[9:00]; Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
Romance Op 62 [5:13];
George
GERSHWIN
(1898-1937) Summertime
[4:36]
Karen Geoghegan (bassoon) Orchestra
of Opera North/Benjamin Wallfisch rec.
9-10 January 2008, St George’s Hall,
Bradford. DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10477 [51:46] [CR]
Extraordinary,
deeply expressive, bassoon playing ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Legendary
Piano Recordings The
Complete Grieg, Saint-Saëns, Pugno,
and Diémer recordings and other G &
T rarities
Edvard Grieg, Jules Massenet, Claude
Debussy, Camille Saint-Saëns, Louis
Diémer, Raoul Pugno (piano) rec. 1903-1919
MARSTON 52054-2 [77:47 + 79:50]
[JW]
Technology
applied with integrity at the service
of music. Magnificent ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH David
Nadien (violin): Volume 4 – the
celebrated live concerto performances;
Music by Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937),
Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865-1936), Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
and Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
David Nadien (violin); Various accompaniments
rec. 1965-7 Bonus DVD – David Nadien
– Life and Music, a film by Mordecai
Shehori
CEMBAL D’AMOUR CD130
[72:28 + DVD: 68:00][JW]
Bewitching
colour, tonal variety, tremendous vitality
and generosity ... see Full
Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian Bach
(1685-1750) Favourite
Organ Works
Werner Jacob rec. 1970-83
EMI CLASSICS Triple 5093932
[3CDs: 69:50 + 69:44 + 75:45] 
[BW]
An
excellent 3-CD set for beginners and
seasoned collectors alike ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858–1924)
Popular Puccini:
Tosca, Boheme, Butterfly
- films of Puccini’s most popular Operas
in one box
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 073 4417
[363:00][AB] 
Classic
films which despite minor faults are
up with the best ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906–1975)
Piano Concertos 1 & 2, Violin
Concertos 1 & 2, Cello Concertos
1 & 2, Piano Quintet
EMI CLASSICS 5094282 [3 CDs: 74:35
+ 65:22 + 66:09]
[BBr]
An
invaluable set for the generalist or
the ardent fan ... see Full
Review
JULY
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphonies 4 & 7 
The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen/Paavo
Järvi rec. 2004-6
RCA RED SEAL 88697 129332
[69:23] 
[MG]
Herreweghe
- considered and Olympian, Järvi:
spontaneous and mood-varied … see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Albert
Herring - A Comic Opera in Three
Acts Op. 39 (1947) [133:35] Lady Billows,
an elderly autocrat – Joan Cross (soprano)
Albert Herring, from the greengrocer’s
– Peter Pears (tenor)
The English Opera Group Chamber Orchestra/Benjamin
Britten rec. live 1949. DDD English
libretto included
NIMBUS NI 5824/6 [3 CDs: 51:43 +
51:52 +30:00] 
The
sheer vitality and excellence of the
work of Britten and the EOG ... see
Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
Symphony
2, In the South, Sospiri
BBC SO/Sir Adrian Boult rec. 1937-44
BEULAH 5PD15 [76:37] 
[EMc]
Wonderful
… consistent inspiration … unforgettable
... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE
MONTH Girolamo
FRESCOBALDI (1583-1643)
Keyboard Music from Manuscript Sources
Martha Folts (harpsichord) rec.
2007
NAXOS 8.570717 [73:03][JV] 
A
spectacular combination of music, instrument
and performer - not to be missed ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Charles
IVES (1874-1954)
Songs, Orchestral and Ensemble pieces
Marni Nixon (soprano); John McCabe (piano);
Henry Herford (baritone); Ensemble Modern/Ingo
Metzmacher rec. 1967 & 1991
EMI CLASSICS AMERICAN CLASSICS 2066312
[79:24][RB]
A
master of dissonance ... the magic of
mood, evocation, suggestion ... see
Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Edouard
LALO (1823-1892)
Symphonie Espagnole, Fantasie
Norvégienne,
(both works arr. violin and guitar by
Lars Hannibal)
Kim Sjřgren, (violin); Lars Hannibal,
(guitar) rec. 1992
OUR RECORDINGS 8.226903 [48:33]
[KS]
Delightful
arrangements of well known works, a
lovely little musical diversion ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Kenneth
LEIGHTON (1929-1988)
Sequence for All Saints; Chorale
Prelude: Rockingham; O God, enfold
me in the sun; Morning Canticles;
The World’s Desire
Wells Cathedral & School Chapel
Ch/Matthew Owens rec. 2007
HYPERION CDA67641 [76:23]
[JQ]
Superb:
Hyperion and the musicians have done
Leighton proud ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Nikolai
MYASKOVSKY
(1881-1950) Symphonies
17 & 21, Salutatory Overture
Russian Federation Academic SO/Evgeny
Svetlanov rec. 1991-3
ALTO ALC1023 [77:14]
[RB]
Fervent
music-making from Svetlanov and Myaskovsky
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giacomo
PUCCINI
(1858–1924)
La
Bohème (1896) Norma Fantini,
D’Annunzio Lombard, Massimiliano Pisapia
Children’s Choir, Orchestra and Chorus
of Festival Puccini/Stewart Robertson
rec. 2007 
DYNAMIC 33564 [118:00]
[GF]
A
feast for eye as well as ear! ... see
Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Julius
RÖNTGEN
(1855-1932) Aus
Goethes Faust
Machteld Baumans, Marcel Beekman, Dennis
Wilgenhof, Nationale Reisopera Enschede
Ch, Netherlands SO/David Porcelijn rec.
2007
CPO 777 311-2 [60:34]
[RB]
Extraordinary
work … totally beguiling freshness of
romantic invention ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH American
Orchestral Song Music by
Virgil THOMSON
(1896-1989), John
Alden CARPENTER (1876-1951),
Roy HARRIS
(1898-1979), Charles
Tomlinson GRIFFES (1884-1920)
and Horatio
PARKER (1863-1919)
Patrick Mason (baritone); Odense Symphony
Orchestra/Paul Mann rec. 2007
BRIDGE 9254 [57:56][RB]
Luscious
late-romantic song-cycles with orchestra
and the visionary Harris more angular
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Knotwork
Graham
FITKIN
(b.1963) Vent (1994) [8:58]Eddie
McGUIRE
(b.1948) Celtic Knotwork
(1990/94) [4:39] Pierre
Max DUBOIS
(1930-1995)
Quatuor (1964) [7:15] Lenny
SAYERS
(b.1977)
For Four (2001) [5:13] Eddie
McGUIRE
(b.1948)
Chinese Knotwork (2001) [6:57] Alfred
UHL (1909-1992) Divertimento
(1942) [12:31] Nicholas
SIMPSON
(b.1958)
Mardale Changes (2005) [9:39] Astor
PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Histoire
du Tango (1986) [18:57]
Fell Clarinet Quartet (Colin Blamey,
Helen Bywater, Marianne Rawles, Lenny
Sayers) rec. October 2007, Prestonkirk
Church, East Lothian, Scotland. DDD
DELPHIAN DCD34065 [74:20] [CR]
Accessible
and well composed music for four clarinets
– an incredible sound ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Lorraine
at Emmanuel - Celebrating the
lives of Lorraine Hunt Lieberson and
Craig Smith BACH
and
HANDEL arias
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (mezzo) The
Orchestra of Emmanuel Music/Craig Smith
and John Harbison rec.
‘live’ 1992; 1995; 1999, Emmanuel Church,
Boston, MA. DDD English texts (Handel)
and German texts with English translations
(Bach) included
AVIE AV2130 [60:58]
A
superb disc that all admirers of this
singer will want to have ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Anna
Netrebko - Opera Arias Bonus:
The
Making of the Film: Anna Netrebko.
The Woman – The Voice [14:44]
Anna Netrebko (soprano) Wiener Philharmoniker/Gianandrea
Noseda rec. 2003.
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 477 7566
[62:59 + 40:38]
[GF]
One
of the classics ... see Full
Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Aaron
COPLAND
(1900-1990) The
Tender Land Suite, Piano Concerto,
Old American Songs Vol. I, Old American
Songs Vol. II (arr. for chorus)
Benjamin Pasternack (piano) (Tender);
St. Charles Singers (Songs); * Nathaniel
Stampley (baritone); † Jeffrey Hunt
(tenor) Elgin Symphony Orchestra/Robert
Hanson rec. 2007, Song texts included
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559297
[63:42] [DM]
Lesser-known
Copland superbly played and recorded.
Indispensable. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841–1904)
Symphonic
Variations, op.78 (1877) [22:48]
Symphony No.9 in E minor, From the
New World, op.95 (1893) [41:56]
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra/Marin Alsop
rec. 2007 DDD
NAXOS 8.570714 [64:44][BBr]
Shattering
in its power and urgency ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Alexander
GLAZUNOV
(1865-1936)
Orchestral works (including
symphonies 1-8 & violin concerto)
Russian State SO/Valeri Polyansky rec.
1997-2002
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 93565 [7 CDs:
455.08]
[RB]
An
often joyous set and an astonishing
bargain ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
Alan
HOVHANESS (1911-2000)
Fanfare for the New Atlantis;
Concerto No. 2 for guitar;
Symphony No. 63
Javier Calderón (guitar); Royal Scottish
National Orchestra/Stewart Robertson
rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.559336 [59:29][RB]
Perhaps
the best Hovhaness instalment so far
from Naxos ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Carl
NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphonies
Nos. 2 & 3
Danish
National Symphony Orchestra/Michael
Schřnwandt rec.
1999
NAXOS
8.570738 [71:11][LW]
A
real bargain and the best way to have
these symphonies at very affordable
cost ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
Piano Concertos 1-5, Overture on
Jewish Themes, Visions fugitives
Michel Béroff (piano) Michel Portal
(clarinet) Gewandhausorchester Leipzig/Kurt
Masur, Parrenin Quartet rec. 1974/81
EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 5176292 [72:03
+ 75:56]
[SH]
Béroff
with Masur is as good as it gets, especially
in such a pure ADD recording ... see
Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) L’Inganno
Felice
Czech Chamber Soloists Brno/Alberto
Zedda rec. 2005
NAXOS OPERA CLASSICS 8.660233-34
[51.21 + 34.17][RJF]
A
excellent and welcome addition to the
burgeoning Naxos Rossini catalogue ...
see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Albert
ROUSSEL (1869-1937)
Symphony No. 2; Pour une fęte
de printemps; Suite in F
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Stéphane
Denčve rec. 2006-7
NAXOS 8.570529 [68:43][LW]
Superb
performances and the recorded sound
at an economic price ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Jean
SIBELIUS (1865–1957)
Symphonies 4 & 5
Berlin PO/Herbert von Karajan rec. 1976
CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 5218722 [71:24]
[BBr]
A
magnificent Fourth … an outstanding
bargain ... see Full
Review
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