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MONDAY
August 31st
Johannnes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Violin Concerto; Double Concerto 
Vadim Repin (violin); Truls Mørk (cello) Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Riccardo
Chailly rec. 2008
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4777470 [72:50][RB] 
Fervour
that’s the word ... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH John ECCLES (c.1668-1735) The Judgment of Paris
etc.
Early Opera Company/Christian Curnyn
rec. 2008
CHANDOS CHAN0759 [62.14][RH] 
A
forgotten gem which deserves to be rediscovered ... see Full
Review
Richard
FRANCK (1858-1938) Orchestral Music
Württembergische
Philharmonie Reutlingen/Christopher Fifield rec. 2008
STERLING CDS1078-2 [69:09][JQ]
Enjoyable,
skilful and attractive music ... see Full
Review
Haflidi
HALLGRIMSSON (b. 1941) Concerto
for Cello and Orchestra; Herma
Truls Mørk (cello); Scottish Chamber Orchestra/John Storgårds rec. 2007
ONDINE ODE1133-2
[57:21][GH]
Challenging,
subtle and interesting ... see Full
Review
John
IRELAND (1879-1962) Piano Trios etc.
Gould Piano Trio
rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.570507
[60:34][MC] 
A
pleasure to review … will enhance any collection ... see Full
Review
Ståle
KLEIBERG (b. 1958) Concerto for
Violin and Orchestra; Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra
Marianne Thorsen (violin); Göran Sjölin (double-bass); Trondheim Symfoniorkester/Daniel
Reuss rec. 2007-8
2L59 
[50:54][RB]
Passion
and impressionistic panache ... see Full
Review
William
Rhys MEEK (b. 1963) On Salisbury
Plain – Music for Piano
William Rhys Meek (piano) rec. 2008
PRIVATE PRESSING [32:22][NH]
Overall,
a real triumph ... see Full Review
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Mystical
Songs
Choir of Trinity College, University of Melbourne Australian Chamber
Brass Ensemble/Michael Leighton Jones rec. 2007
ABC CLASSICS 4766906 [77:14][MC]
This
valuable disc just grew and grew on me ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Alexander von ZEMLINSKY
(1871-1942) Symphonic Fantasy: Die
Seejungfrau; Sinfonietta
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/James Judd rec.
2006
NAXOS 8.570240 [63:26][IL]
Irresistible
... see Full Review
American
Choral Premieres
William Ferris Chorale/Paul French rec. 2007-8
CEDILLE RECORDS CDR90000109 [64:10][JQ]
Very
worthwhile and immaculately performed ... see Full
Review
FRIDAY
August 28th
Gaetano DONIZETTI
(1797-1848) La
Figlia del Reggimento, Lucia di Lammermoor, L'Elisir
d'amore, Poliuto, Maria di Rohan
various orchestras & conductors, rec. 1988/9
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92462 [10 CDs: c.512:00]
[RJF]
Worth
the bargain price to hear the two more rarely performed works included
... see Full Review
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Alexander's Feast, Concerto
Felicity Palmer (soprano) Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) Stephen Roberts
(bass) Stockholm Bach Ch, Concentus Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
rec. 1977
TELDEC DAS ALTE WERK 2564 69056-2 [56:55 + 39:48]
[BW]
A
very decent performance but not top of the list ... see Full
Review
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Theodora
Arnold Schoenberg Ch, Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt rec.
1990
TELDEC DAS ALTE WERK 2564 69056-4 [64:43 + 68:00]
[GF]
Not
as immediately appealing as some but worth anyone's acquaintance … see Full
Review
Jón LEIFS
(1899-1968) Scherzo concreto,
Quintet, Variazioni pastorale, Elegies
Thórunn Gudmundsdóttir (mezzo); Rut Ingólfsdóttir
(violin) Reykjavík CO/Bernharthur Wilkinson. rec. 2002-5
SMEKKLEYSA SMK46 [54:50]
[RB]
Hot
as a furnace & cold as ice ... see Full
Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959)
Cello Concertos 1 & 2, Cello Concertino
Raphael Wallfisch (cello) Czech PO/Jirí Belohlavek rec. 1991
CHANDOS CLASSICS CHAN10547X [76:27] 
[RB]
Delightful
... see Full Review
Stephen PAULUS (b. 1949)
To Be Certain Of The Dawn
Minnesota Chorale; Minnesota Boychoir; The Basilica Cathedral Choir;
The Cathedral Choristers Minnesota O/Osmo Vänskä rec. 2008
BIS BISCD1726 [59:13]
[JQ]
A
thoughtful and thought-provoking piece. I urge you to hear it.
... see Full Review
Krzysztof
PENDERECKI (b. 1933)
Utrenja ('Morning Prayer')
Warsaw PCh & O/Antoni Wit rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572031 [74:50]
[DM]
A
welcome release, despite variable singing and recording ... see Full
Review
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695)
Purcell Edition III - Odes, Anthems and Ceremonial Music
Monteverdi Choir; Equale Brass Ensemble; English Baroque Soloists/John
Eliot Gardiner
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 69140-7 [4 CDs: 288:00]
[ST]
A
reliable bargain ... see Full
Review
A
little Music for a Few Friends
Halle Wind Quintet, Michael Davies
(violin); John Adams (viola); Ian Rudge (cello) rec. 1975/6
CAMPION CAMEO 2076 [57:22]
[CR]
World-class
playing ... see Full Review
Charles Munch in New York
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Iberia Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937)
Le Tombeau de Couperin, Daphnis et Chloé Suite 2 Albert
ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Bacchus et Ariane Suite 2
NBC SO, New York PSO/Charles Munch rec. 1949/54
MUSIC & ARTS CD-1208 [68:13] 
[JQ]
Self-recommending
to all collectors who prize great conducting ... see Full
Review
THURSDAY
August 27th
Helmer
ALEXANDERSSON (1886-1927) Overture,
Symphony 2 Uppsala
CO/Paul
Mägi
rec. 2006 STERLING CDS 1076-2 [48:48] [NB]
For
Swedish symphonic music completists only ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Goldberg-Variationen Martin
Schmeding (organ) rec. 2009 CYBELE
030.802 [74:44] [SR]
Great
sound and marvellous musicianship ... see Full
Review
Christopher
BALL (b.
1936) Violin
Concerto, From the Hebrides, Five Bagatelles, Celtic Twilight Thomas
Gould (violin) Emerald Concert O/Christopher Ball rec. 2008 OMNIBUS
CLASSICS CC5003 [74:40] [RB]
Deeply
attractive music - an instant winner ... see Full
Review
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Violin
Concerto 2, Violin Sonata 1 Yehudi
Menuhin (violin) Philharmonia O/Wilhelm Furtwängler Adolph
Baller (piano) rec. 1947/53 NAXOS
8.111336 [68:43] [JW]
The
place to go to appreciate Menuhin’s grip on Bartók’s
grammar ... see Full Review
Leonid
Alekseevic POLOVINKIN (1894-1949) Piano
Works Anait
Karpova (piano) rec. 2007/8 FUGA
LIBERA FUG555 [60:08] [RB]
Tougher
music from the deeps of the Soviet era. ... see Full
Review
Hieronymus
PRAETORIUS (1560-1629) Magnificats
and motets The
Cardinall's Musick/Andrew Carwood rec. 2008 HYPERION
CDA67669 [68:30] [JV]
An
important addition, despite some shortcomings in the interpretation
... see Full Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony
9, Rosamunde Entr’acte 3 Berlin
PO, Vienna PO/Wilhelm Furtwängler (Rosamunde) rec. 1942/4 TAHRA
FURT2006 [58:20] [JW]
The
most unbridled, unfettered and unclassical of performances ...
see Full Review
Giovanni
Battista VIOTTI (1755-1824) Chamber
Music for Flute and Piano Mario
Carbotta (flute) Carlo Balzaretti (piano) rec. 2007 DYNAMIC
CDS 620/1-2 [42:59 + 45:40] [CR]
Interesting,
unusual repertoire and enjoyable ... see Full
Review
Del
sonar pitoresco -
Musical pleasures in the Venetian countryside
at the time of Tiepolo Antonio LOTTI (c.1667-1740) Sonata
a 4 Giovanni Benedetto PLATTI (1697-1763) Sonata Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Trio Sonata Giovanni
Antonio BRESCIANELLO (1685-1757) Concerto Agostino
STEFFANI (1654-1728) Chomigioia Antonio
LOTTI Echo Sonata
a 4 Francesco MONTANARI (1676-1737) Sonata Ensemble
Barocco Sans Souci rec. 2008 DYNAMIC
CDS637 [64:47] [JV]
First
recordings of pieces for oboes and bassoon - well executed & recorded
... see Full Review
Hallé Centenary
Concert Carl
Maria WEBER (1786-1826) Der
Freischütz Overture Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano
Concerto 2 Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Symphony
1, A conversation with Sir John Barbirolli Clifford
Curzon (piano); Hallé O/Sir John Barbirolli rec. 1958 BARBIROLLI
SOCIETY SJB1033-34 [64:06 + 65:54] 
[JQ]
A
fine souvenir of a great partnership ... see Full
Review
WEDNESDAY
August 26th
Erik
CHISHOLM
(1904-1965)
Music for Piano - Volume 5 Piobaireachd for solo piano (undated)
[24:29] Sonatina No.5 (undated) [6:07] Sonatina No.6 (1946)
[6:54] Cameos (1926) [10:01] Sonatina Ecossaise (1929
rev. 1951) [10:51] Harris Dance (undated) [3:36] Tango (1926)
[3:04] Sonata Electra (undated) [4:35] Dance Bacchanal
(1924) [4:42] Murray
McLachlan (piano) rec. 18 -22 December 2006 Whiteley Hall, Chetham's
School of Music, Manchester
DIVINE ART DIVERSIONS DDV24140 [74:37]
[JF]
A
fine production and essential for enthusiasts of British piano music.
... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Aaron COPLAND (1900
- 1990)
Dance Panels (1959) [29:00] Eight Songs of Emily Dickinson (1948-50
orch. 1960s) [21:13] Short Symphony (1933) [15:55]
Helene Schneiderman (mezzo) Orchestra of St. Luke's/Dennis Russell
Davies rec. no information given - original release MusicMasters 1992
NIMBUS NI2545 [66:47] [NB]
A
life-enhancing disc of the highest possible quality ... see Full
Review
Léo
DELIBES
(1836-1891) Coppélia
(1870) [86:32] Sylvia - Suite (1876) [16:18] Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Daphnis et Chloé - Suite
No.2 (1912) [16:36] L'Orchestre
de la Suisse Romande/Ernest Ansermet rec. April 1957 (Coppélia);
April 1959 (Sylvia); November 1960 (Daphnis et Chloé), Victoria
Hall, Geneva, Switzerland. ADD DECCA
ELOQUENCE 480 0083 [62:18 + 57:29]
[PL]
Idiomatic,
distinctly danceable ... see Full
Review
John
IRELAND
(1879-1962) Mai-Dun
(1921) [11:04] The Forgotten Rite (1913/18) [7:09] Satyricon
Overture (1944/46) [8:45] The Overlanders Suite (1946/47) (arr.
Sir Charles Mackerras) [19:27] A London Overture (1936) [12:14]
Epic March (1942) [8:18]
Hallé Orchestra/John Wilson rec. 24-25 March 2007, BBC Studio
7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester, England. DDD
HALLÉ CDHLL7523 [67:41] [MC]
Wilson
and the Hallé on splendid form ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
(a) Symphony No 38 in D major K504 'Prague' [23:26] (b) Flute
Concerto No 2 in D major K314 [19:12] (c) Motet 'Exultate, jubilate'
K165 [14:54] (d) Serenade in B flat major K361 'Gran Partita'
[38:03]Leopold MOZART (1719-1787)
(e) Trumpet Concerto in D major [8:53]
André Pepin (flute) (b); Janine Micheau (soprano) (c); Michel
Cuvit (trumpet) (e); L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (a,b,d,e);
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra (c); Ernest Ansermet (conductor) (a-e)
rec. Radio Hall, Geneva July 1947 (a), Maison de la Mutualité,
Paris, May 1948 (c), Victoria Hall, Geneva November 1957 (b), May 1955
(d), March 1968 (e)
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 0379 [57:54 + 47:06]
[JS]
Much
to enjoy here ... see Full Review
Georgs
PELĒCIS
(b.1938) Revelation [15:07] Nevertheless
(1994) [27:41] Astor Piazzolla, Oskar Strock and Me/Buena
Riga [19:13] The Last Song [4:58]
Gidon Kremer (violin) Katia Skanavi (piano, Revelation, Nevertheless)
Jānis Šipkēvis (contralto) and Gabor Boldoczki (trumpet,
Revelation) Kremerata Baltica rec. Radio Studios, Riga, November
2005 MEGADISC CLASSICS
MDC 7797 [67:03] [DC]
Great
beauty, plenty of padding. ... see Full
Review
PROKOFIEV
REISSUES ON CHANDOS - THE AUGUST RELEASES
Sergey PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Ivan
the Terrible Concert Scenario [59:14] CHANDOS CHAN 10536
X [59:14]
Sergey PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Cantata
for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution, Op. 74 [46:32]
Excerpts from The Tale of the Stone Flower, Op. 118 [25:58]
CHANDOS CHAN 10537 X [72:43]
Sergey PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Symphonic
Suite from War and Peace (arr. C. Palmer) [27:02] Summer
Night: Suite from 'The Duenna', Op. 123 [22:31] Russian
Overture Op. 72 [14:08] CHANDOS CHAN 10538 X [63:03]
Sergey PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Romeo
and Juliet: Suites Nos. 1-3 CHANDOS CHAN 10539 X [78:48]
Sergey PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Violin
Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19 [21:56] Violin Concerto No.
2 in G minor, Op. 63 [25:47] Sonata No. 1 for Violin and
Piano in F minor , Op. 80 [29:45] CHANDOS CHAN 10540 X [77:50]
Sergey PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Eugene Onegin -
Melodrama in Sixteen Scenes Op. 71 [124:11] CHANDOS CHAN 10541(2)
X [74:05 + 50:06]
[RB]
A
fascinatingly varied and provocative crop - rhetoric and poetry ...
see Full Review
Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
L'Histoire
du Soldat (1918) [29:57] Ottorino RESPIGHI
(1879-1936) Rossiniana (1925) [22:58]
Ars Nova/Robert Mandell (Stravinsky) Vienna State Opera Orchestra/Robert
Zeller rec. Carnegie Hall, 25 May 1956 (Stravinsky) and no date or location
given (Respighi).
HIGH DEFINITION TAPE TRANSFERS HDCD 111 [53:47]
[DC]
Great
initiative, and a worthwhile restoration. ... see Full
Review
Battaglia
d'amore Bellerofonte
CASTALDI (1580 - 1649) Girolamo
FRESCOBALDI (1583 - 1643) Bellerofonte
CASTALDI Il
Furioso (Eugenia Cirrieri, Laura Fabris, Janet Youngdahl (soprano),
Gian Polo Fagotto, Claudio Zinutti (tenor), Victor Coelho (archlute,
theorbo, tiorbino), David Dolata (theorbo, tiorbino), Neil Cockburn
(harpsichord))/David Dolata rec. 2006, DDD
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0081 [76:33]
[JV]
An
interesting and musically captivating portrait of an intriguing personality
... see Full Review
British Clarinet Music
Charles
Harford LLOYD (1849 - 1919) Suite in the
Old Style (1914) [9:48] Charles Villiers
STANFORD
(1852 - 1924) Three Intermezzi Op.13 (1879) [8:03] Sonata
in F major Op.129 (1911) [18:25] William
Yeates HURLSTONE (1876 - 1906) Four Characteristic Pieces
[14:34]
Cecil Armstrong GIBBS (1889 - 1960)
Three Pieces (1957) [7:56] Gerald FINZI (1901
- 1956) Five Bagatelles (1943) [13:49]
Alessandro Travaglini (clarinet); Christopher Howell (piano) rec. 2009
SHEVA COLLECTION SH021 [75:59] [NB]
A
beautiful disc of essentially lyrical English clarinet music ...
see
Full Review
TUESDAY
August 25th
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The
Thrill of the Chase
Florence Mustric (organ) rec.
2007
MSR CLASSICS MS1271 [65:23][JS]
A
very satisfying collection ... see Full
Review
Maurice DURUFLÉ (1902-1986)
Requiem Jean-Jacques
GRUNENWALD (1911-1982) Psalm
129
Vasari Singers/Jeremy Backhouse rec. 2008
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD163 [74:08][WH]
One
of the most beautiful works in the choral repertoire ... see Full
Review
Howard
GOODALL (b. 1958) Choral works
Choir of Christ
Church Cathedral; Oxford/Stephen Darlington rec. 1994-6
UNIVERSAL 4763331 [61:46][JQ]
An
appealing collection of attractive pieces ... see Full
Review
Francisco
de PEÑALOSA (c.1470-1528) The
Complete Motets
Pro Cantione Antiqua/Bruno Turner rec. 1991
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55357 [67:53][MS]
Sumptuous
and expertly-sung ... see Full Review
Thomas
L READ (b. 1938) Night
Pageantry
Various artists rec. 1982-2008
ZIMBEL RECORDS ZR118 [59:09][BBr]
Faceless
and without charm ... see Full Review
The Art of Campoli – Volume
III Alfredo
Campoli (violin); London Philharmonic Orchestra/Arthur Bliss, National
Symphony Orchestra/Victor Olof, Eric Gritton (piano) rec. 1946-55
BEULAH 6PD10 [77:28][JW]
Another
worthily re-ordered entrant to the Campoli lists ... see Full
Review
I was Glad
Choir
of St. Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh/Michael Harris rec. 2008
YORK AMBISONIC YORKCD201 [62:36][JQ]
Carefully
prepared but lacks just a vital bit of character ... see Full
Review
Lydia
Mordkovitch plays Russian Works for Violin/Viola
by Dimitri Borisovich KABALEVSKY (1904-1987),
André Mikhaylovich VOLKONSKY (1933–2008),
Ivan Yevstafyevich KHANDOSHKIN (1747-1804),
Sergei Sergeyevich PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
and Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
Lydia Mordkovitch (violin/viola); Nicholas Walker/Julian Milford (piano)
rec. 1998-2008 CHANDOS
CHAN10526 [76:07][MC]
An
appealing and fascinating mix ... see Full
Review
Robert Riefling (1911-1988)
- Great Norwegian Performers 1945-2000: Volume IV, Music by
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Robert Riefling
(piano) rec. 1979-86
SIMAX PSC1833 [65:12 + 75:22][JW]
A
somewhat problematic release ... see Full
Review
Stokowski conducts Schubert
and Dvořák Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Rosamunde - Incidental Music
Antonín DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904) Symphony No. 9
Leopold Stokowski and his Symphony Orchestra rec.
1947-52
CALA CACD0550 [76:07][NB]
Breathtaking
Schubert, baffling Dvořák ... see Full
Review
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