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Alphabetical Listing

PART 3
C-L

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]
[Recommended recordings]

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Ernest CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Symphony in B flat; Soir de fête; Viviane Orchestre (National) du Capitole de Toulouse/Michel Plasson rec. 1976-86 EMI CLASSICS 7478942 [60:54][DW] 

For many will be of historical interest only ... see Full Review

Ernest CHAUSSON (1855–1899) Chanson perpétuelle see DELAGE

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Ballade No. 2; selection of Mazurkas & Waltzes; Impromptu No. 2; Piano Sonata No. 2 Maurizio Pollini (piano) rec. 2008 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4777626 [57:08][MC]

Innate musicality and great nobility ... see Full Review

Francesco CILEA (1866-1950) Adriana Lecouvreur Union of Japan Professional Choruses; NHK Symphony Orchestra/Gianfranco Masini rec. 1976 VAI 4435 [147:00][ST]

Let’s hear it for this opera, in spite of its faults ... see Full Review

Peter CORNELIUS (1824–1874) Der Barbier von Bagdad Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra/Erich Leinsdorf rec. 1956 Carl Maria von WEBER (1786–1826) Abu Hassan Berlin Radio Symphony Chorus and Orchestra/Leopold Ludwig rec. 1944 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111337-38 [78:26 + 57:18][GF]

There is an extra frisson to this set … a prime recommendation ... see Full Review

Laurence CRANE (b. 1961) Solo Piano Pieces 1985-1999 Michael Finnissy (piano) METIER MSV28506 [80.00][DJ] 

This is quietly insistent music that exists in its own terms ... see Full Review

Brett DEAN (b.1961) Viola Concerto; Twelve Angry Men; Intimate Decisions; Komarov's Fall Brett Dean (viola); Sydney Symphony/Simone Young rec. 1997-2007 SYDNEY SYMPHONY LIVE SSO20070/BIS CD 1696 [61:05] [TP] 

An astute release showcasing a distinctive and interesting composer ... see Full Review

Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Estampes [13:47] Images, Bk.II [14:34] Préludes, Bk.II [39:34] Russell Sherman (piano) rec. 27-29 July 2005, Jordan Hall, Boston, USA. DDD AVIE AV2164 [68:01] [GPJ]

Sherman can hold his own in exalted company ... see Full Review

Claude DEBUSSY (1862–1918) Suite Bergamasque, Les soirs illuminés par l’ardeur du charbon Pour le Piano see RAVEL

Maurice DELAGE (1879–1961) Quatre poèmes hindous, Deux fables de La Fontaine, Trois poèmes désenchantés,Sept haï–kaïs Maurice JAUBERT (1900–1940) Saisir, Chants sahariens Ernest CHAUSSON (1855–1899) Chanson perpétuelle Felicity Lott (soprano), Jean–Claude Bouveresse (violin) Kammerensemble de Paris/Armin Jordan rec. 1994 VIRGIN CLASSICS 5221282 [60:02] [BBr]

Rare melodies by Jaubert and Delage finely sung ... see Full Review

Stephen DODGSON (b 1924) Sonata for brass quintet see MAW

Ernő (Ernst von) DOHNÁNYI (1877-1960) Violin Concertos 1 & 2 Michael Ludwig (violin) Royal Scottish Ntl O/JoAnn Falletta rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570833 [71:24] [DW]

This rare recording makes this issue an important and welcome one … see Full Review

Petrus de DOMARTO (fl. 1450) Missa Spiritus almus see BUSNOIS

Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797–1848) Lucia di Lammermoor Vladimir Stoyanov, Mariella Devia, Teatro Lirico di Cagliari Ch & O/Gérard Korsten rec. live 2004 DYNAMIC CDS 576/1-2 [65:15 + 71:16] [GF]

Not a top contender but deeply involving despite less than consummate singing ... see Full Review

Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Roberto Devereux Chorus of the Bergamo Musica Festival; Corrado Casati Orchestra of the Bergamo Musica Festival/Marcello Rota rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.660222-23 [54.39 + 72.39][MM-B]

Does Devereux absolute justice and is very good value for money ... see Full Review

Jan Ladislav DUSSEK (1760–1812) Piano Sonatas Markus Becker (piano) rec. 2007 CPO 777 323-2 [69:31] [BBr]

Music well worth investigating ... see Full Review

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Piano Trio No. 3 Bedřich SMETANA (1824-1884) Piano Trio Gelius Trio rec. 2007 THOROFON CTH2549 [69:03][JW]

Not a first choice but this is a trio to watch ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ross EDWARDS (b. 1943) Symphonies 1 & 4 Adelaide Chamber Singers, Adelaide Phil Ch, Adelaide SO/Richard Mills rec. 2002 ABC CLASSICS 476 6161 [60:00] [TP]

A first class production that deserves to find a wide audience ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38 (1900) [94:21] CD 1 Part I [37:20] CD 2 Part II [57:01] Alice Coote (mezzo) - The Angel; Paul Groves (tenor) – Gerontius; Bryn Terfel (bass-baritone) - The Priest and The Angel of The Agony Hallé Choir; Hallé Youth Choir Hallé Orchestra/Sir Mark Elder rec. Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 15-19 July 2008 English text included HALLÉ CD HLD 7520 [37:20 + 57:01] [JQ]

A remarkable achievement. ... see Full Review

George ENESCU (1881–1955) Oedipe Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco; Orfeón Donostiarra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo/Lawrence Foster rec. 1989 EMI CLASSICS 2088332 [79:36 + 77:02][GF]

Essential listening for opera lovers ... see Full Review

Andrew FORD (b 1957) Night and dreams: the Death of Sigmund Freud Arnold SCHOENBERG (1974–1951) Ode to Napoleon London Sinfonietta/David Atherton rec. 2000 & 1973 DECCA ELOQUENCE 4800461 [72:41][BBr]

Anyone with an interest in the music of our time will welcome this disk ... see Full Review

Luca FRANCESCONI (b. 1956) Etymo, Da Capo, A fuoco, Animus IRCAM, Ensemble Intercontemporain/Susanna Mälkki rec. 2006/7 KAIROS 0012712KAI [69:15] [HC]

I doubt that these performances will ever be bettered ... see Full Review

César FRANCK (1822-1890) Violin Sonata Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Violin Sonata Sarah Chang (violin); Lars Vogt (piano) rec. 2003 EMI CLASSICS 2081222 [68:46][JW]

Something of a miss I suppose ... see Full Review

John GARDNER (b 1917) Theme and Variations for brass quartet, op.7 see MAW

Philip GATES (b.1963) A Garland for Gatsby; Piano Quintet; The Lake Isle Philip Gates (piano); Carducci Quartet rec. 2007 MELODIST 3130CD [56:51][JW]

A most engaging disc  ... see Full Review

Christopher GIBBONS (1615-1676) Verses for organ see WISE

Vinko GLOBOKAR (b. 1934) Der Engel der Geschichte, Les Otages SWR SO Baden-Baden und Freiburg/Fabrice Bollon and Martyn Brabbins, Experimentalstudio des SWR, Freiburg Bayerischen Rundfunks SO/Arturo Tamayo rec. 2004/6 COL LEGNO WWE 2SACD 20609 [59:32 + 62:13] [DB]

A challenging pair of large-scale works … see Full Review

Christoph Willibald GLUCK (1714–1787) Iphigénie en Aulide, La Rencontre imprévue, Don Juan José Van Dam, Anne Sofie Von Otter, Lynne Dawson, L'Opéra National de Lyon O/John Eliot Gardiner rec. 1981-90 ERATO 2564 695620 [4 CDs: 66:57 + 65:50 + 73:38 + 78:10] [MC]

This is splendidly performed and recorded ... see Full Review

Georges Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893) Faust Alfredo Kraus, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Renata Scotto NHK SO & Opera Ch/Paul Ethuin rec. live 1973 VAI 4417 [187:00 + 37:00] [RJF]

Worth watching for the three principals, despite the technical limitations ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Peer Gynt Suites 1 & 2, Funeral March in Memory of Rikard Nordraak, Old Norwegian Melody with Variations, Bell Ringing Bergen PO/Ole Kristian Ruud rec. 2003-5 BIS BIS-SACD-1591 [70:50] [SV]

A must-have ... see Full Review

Carlos GUASTAVINO (1912-2000) Songs Désirée Halac (mezzo); Dalton Baldwin (piano) rec. 2008 ALBANY TROY1023 [75.16][RH]

A lovely recital ... see Full Review

Georg Friedrich HÄNDEL (1685-1759) Water Music; Music for the Royal Fireworks Ensemble L’Arte dell’Arco/Federico Guglielmo rec. 2004 CPO 7773122 [66.05][MM-B]

Will warm you even without a fire! ... see Full Review

George Frideric HANDEL (1685–1759) Orlando Orchestra ‘La Scintilla’ of the Zurich Opera/William Christie rec. 2007 ARTHAUS MUSIK 101309 [2 DVDs: 155:00][RM] 

Musically and dramatically strong but not a definitive production ... see Full Review

Furore George Frideric HANDEL (1685–1759) Opera Arias Joyce DiDonato (mezzo) Les Talens Lyriques/Christopher Rousset rec. 2008 VIRGIN CLASSICS 5190382 [75.08] [RH]

An absorbing and brilliant recital ... see Full Review

George Frideric HANDEL (1685–1759) Arias from Samson, Messiah & Judas Maccabeus (Kathleen Ferrier) see BACH

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Franz Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Complete Music for Solo Keyboard Ronald Brautigam (fortepiano) rec. 1998-2002 BIS BIS-CD-1731/33 [15 CDs: 17:04:37] [KM]

For fans of the instruments or neophytes, this is a bargain not to be missed ... see Full Review

Vagn HOLMBOE (1909-1996) Concerto No. 12, Op. 52 (M. 169) (1950) see Arabenne

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Gustav HOLST (1874-1934) Choral Folksong Arrangments see VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

 

Arthur HONEGGER (1892-1955) Film Scores Regain, Crime et Châtiment, Le Démon de l’Himalaya, L’Idée Slovak PCh, Slovak RSO/Adriano rec. 1992/3  NAXOS FILM MUSIC CLASSICS 8.570979 [74:40] [JW]

Well researched and very well performed ... see Full Review

Engelbert HUMPERDINCK (1854 – 1921) Hansel and Gretel - a fairy tale in three acts (1893) Gretel - Christine Schäfer (soprano) Hansel - Alice Coote (mezzo) Gertrude (Mother) - Rosalind Plowright (mezzo) Peter (Father) - Alan Held (baritone) The Sandman - Sasha Cooke(mezzo) The Dew Fairy - Lisette Oropesa (soprano) The Witch - Philip Langridge (tenor) The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra/Vladimir Jurowski rec. 2008 EMI CLASSICS 2063089 8 DVD [120.45] [RMk]

A virtuoso musical and acting performance ... see Full Review

Engelbert HUMPERDINCK (1854–1921) Hänsel and Gretel - opera in three acts (1893) Brigette Fassbaender (soprano) – Hänsel; Lucia Popp (soprano) – Gretel; Walter Berry (bass) – Father, Broom-maker; Julia Hamari (contralto) – Mother; Anny Schlemm (mezzo) – Witch; Norma Burrowes (soprano) – Sandman; Edita Gruberova (soprano) – Dew Fairy; Vienna Boys’ Choir - Wiener Sangerknaben (gingerbread children) Wiener Philharmoniker/Georg Solti rec. Sofiensaal, Vienna, February, March, June 1978. ADD DECCA CLASSICS OPERA SERIES 478 0143 [63:39 + 44.03] [RW]

A strong cast of principals who need no introduction ... see Full Review

Maurice JAUBERT (1900–1940) Saisir, Chants sahariens see DELAGE

Karl JENKINS (b. 1944) The Concertos Sarikiz, Quirk, La Folia, Over the Stone, Allegretto London SO/Karl Jenkins rec. 2007/8 EMI CLASSICS 5002352 [79:50] [BBr]

Nothing deep or profound, just well crafted and very enjoyable ... see Full Review

Dmitry Borisovich KABALEVSKY (1904-1987) Piano Concerto 3, Rhapsody on the Theme “School Years”, Poem of Struggle Nikolay Adreyevich RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Piano Concerto Hsin-Ni Liu (piano) Gnesin Academy Chorus Russian PO/Dmitry Yablonsky. rec. 2005/6 NAXOS 8.557794 [54:09] [MSJ]

Maybe Kabalevsky’s karma really has come home to roost ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Mieczysław KARŁOWICZ (1876-1909) Symphonic Poems Vol. 1 Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra/Antoni Wit rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.570452 [70:41][IL] 

For lovers of inflated Late-Romanticism, this is treasure trove ... see Full Review

Mieczysław KARŁOWICZ (1876-1909) Symphonic Poems Vol. 2: Returning Waves, A Sorrowful Tale, Eternal Songs New Zealand SO/Antoni Wit rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.570295 [63:13] [IL]

Unrelenting doleful, angst-ridden, somewhat derivative … plenty to admire ... see Full Review

Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1857) Violin Concerto see Richard STRAUSS

Friedrich KUHLAU (1786-1832) Sonatinas for piano Opp. 55 & 88 Jenő Jandó, (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570710 [65:09][DB] 

Some delightful piano works in the spirit of Haydn and Mozart … see Full Review

Mats LARSSON (b. 1965) Concerto for trombone and wind instruments (1995) see Arabenne

Ruggero LEONCAVALLO (1857-1919) I Pagliacci see MASCAGNI

Christian Joseph LIDARTI (1730-1795) Violin Concertos Auser Musici/Francesco D'Orazio (violin) rec. 2004 HYPERION CDA67685 [61:25][JV] 

Impressive performances of first-rate music ... see Full Review

Christian LINDBERG (b. 1958) Arabenne, for trombone and strings see Arabenne

Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Piano concerto 1 see TCHAIKOVSKY

George LLOYD (1539/40-1623) Symphony No. 4 in B, Arctic (1945-6) [65:07] Albany Symphony Orchestra/George Lloyd rec. Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, New York, 7-8 December 1987. DDD ALBANY RECORDS TROY 498 [65:07] [MG]

The better of the two recordings available and now in even better sound … 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]
[Recommended recordings]


 



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