Superbudget £5.99 or less 
Budget £6-7.99 
Medium £8-10.99 
Full price £11+
Download
Ahmed
Adnan SAYGUN (1907-1991) Piano
Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 
Gülsin Onay (piano); Bilkent Symphony Orchestra/Howard Griffiths rec.
2006 CPO 777289-2
[52:36][RB] 
Dissonant
concerto with a heroic and impressionistic overlay ... see Full
Review
Alessandro
SCARLATTI (1660-1725)
Euridice dall'Inferno etc.
Ars Lyrica Houston rec. 2005-6
NAXOS 8.570950 [57:41][JV] 
Well
worth exploring and executed rather well ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828)
Deutsche Schubert-Lied-Edition 31: Sturm und
Drang Poets Caroline
Melzer (soprano); Konstantin Wolff (bass-baritone); Ulrich Eisenlohr
(piano) rec. 2008 NAXOS
8.572036 [72:50]
[GF]
Not
everything is gold but some deeply satisfying readings here ...
see Full Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Mass
in E flat major D.950 Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Vesperae
solennes de Confessore K339
Staatsopernchor Dresden; Staatskapelle Dresden/Sir
Charles Mackerras rec. 2008
CARUS 83.249 [76:45][JS] 
Should
not be missed ... see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Papillons,
Waldszenen Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Klavierstücke Dejan
Lazić (piano)
rec. 2007 CHANNEL CLASSICS CCSSA27609 
[67:32] [DC]
Very
good - a debatable first choice however ... see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Genoveva Ruth
Ziesak (soprano); Arnold Schoenberg Choir; Chamber Orchestra
of Europe/Nikolaus Harnoncourt rec. 1996 TELDEC
2564691261 [69:46 + 58:28][MC]
A
neglected opera with a fine cast featuring the excellent soprano
Ruth Ziesak ... see Full
Review
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Concerto see
BRAHMS
Franz
SCHMIDT
(1874-1939) Symphony No.1
in E (1896/1899) [45:31] Orchestral excerpts from the opera Notre
Dame, op.2 (1904): Introduction, Interlude and Carnival Music [15:21]
Malmö
Symphony Orchestra/Vassily Sinaisky rec. 22-23 (Notre Dame),
27-30 (Symphony) August 2007, Malmö Concert Hall
NAXOS 8.570828 [61:02] 
[JW]
Youthful,
testosterone filled, sap-rising ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) String
Quartets Anton WEBERN (1883-1945) Five
Movements, String Quartets Alban BERG (1885-1935) Lyric
Suite, String Quartet Margaret
Price (soprano) LaSalle Qt rec. 1968-70 BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 9016 [4 CDs: 72:41 + 62:41 + 57:00 + 45:48] [MC][RB]
Outstanding
playing from the LaSalle … a most welcome return to the catalogue
[MC] ... An inexpensive and stylish way of becoming au fait with
the chamber music of the Second Viennese School [RB] ... see Full
Review
Heinrich
SCHÜTZ (1585-1672) Lukas-Passion
Jesus Ars Nova
Copenhagen/Paul Hillier rec. 2007
DACAPO 8.226019 [52:41][MS]
A
stylish account of a completely different approach to the passion ...
see Full
Review
José SEREBRIER (b.1938) Symphony
1 see Stokowski
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) 24
Preludes and Fugues David
Jalbert (piano)
rec. 2007 ATMA CLASSIQUE ACD2
2555 [66:14
+ 81:11] 
[JFL]
I
am respectfully indifferent towards Jalbert’s Shostakovich
... see Full Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony
15, Hamlet Russian
Ntl O/Mikhail
Pletnev
rec. 2008 PENTATONE CLASSICS
PTC5186331 [64:42] [DC]
Unexpectedly
beige ... see Full Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Violin Concerto No.1
see BARTÓK
Jean SIBELIUS
(1865-1957) The
Sibelius Edition - Volume 8 Orchestral Works: Violin Concerto,
concertante pieces, suites and lighter pieces Leonidas
Kavakos (violin); Dong-Suk Kang (violin); Jaakko Kuusisto (violin);
Marko Ylönen
(cello); Raimo Laukka (baritone); Soloists: Heikki Laitinen and Taito
Hoffren (folk singers) Lahti
Symphony Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme
Järvi rec. 1982-2008 BIS CD-1921-23
[6 CDs: 420:03]
[RB]
A
majestic enterprise ... see Full
Review
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) String
Quartets 1890-1922: Adagio,
String Quartet, Voces Intimae, Andante Festivo Tempera
Qt
rec. 2004/5 BIS CD-1466 [78:50] [RB]
Vivid
music-making and not a sniff of academic completism ... see Full
Review
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphony 5 see NIELSEN
Howard
SKEMPTON (b.1947) The Cloths
of Heaven - Choral Music and Songs
The Exon Singers/Mathew Owens rec. 2008
DELPHIAN DCD34056 [70:17][JQ]
A
disc that serves Howard Skempton’s music very well indeed ... see Full
Review
Louis
SPOHR (1784-1859) Clarinet Concertos
Nos. 3 & 4
Michael Collins (clarinet); Swedish Chamber Orchestra/Robin O'Neill
rec. 2006 HYPERION CDA67561
[52:43][SV]
Real
elegance, skilful and effective orchestration, appealing themes ...
see Full
Review
John
STAINER (1840-1901) The
Crucifixion Michael
George (bass); James Griffett (tenor) Peterborough Cathedral
Choir/Stanley Vann
rec. 1978(?) REGIS RRC1307 [61:00] [RB]
Vann
makes the best possible case for this sentimental ikon ... see Full
Review
Ronald
STEVENSON (b.1928) Passacaglia
on DSCH Ronald
Stevenson (piano)
rec. 1964 APR 5650 [74:43]
The Transcendental Tradition Ronald
Stevenson (piano)
rec. live, 1976 APR 5630 [76:00] [RB]
Simple
fluency to intricately tempestuous complexity ... see Full
Review
Bernardo STORACE (c.1637–c.1707) Works
for Harpsichord & Organ Jörg
Halubek (harpsichord, organ) rec. 2006 CPO
777444-2 [72:41][JV]
Decent
and stylish but lacks passion ... see Full
Review
Johann
STRAUSS II (1825-1899) Der Zigeunerbaron
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/Otto Ackermann rec. 1954
NAXOS 8.111329-30 [56:01 + 62:09][GF]
Should
be in every true operetta lover’s collection ... see Full
Review
Richard STRAUSS (1864–1949) Rote
Rosen - Lieder
Camilla Tilling (soprano); Paul Rivinius (piano) rec. 2008
BIS-SACD-1709
[59:10]
Worthy
of a place near the top ... see Full
Review
Richard
STRAUSS
(1864-1949)
Lieder Inger
Dam-Jensen (soprano); Malcolm Martineau (piano) rec. 2007
ALTARA ALT1033 [69:50]
[GF]
A
pleasant journey with two most charming and eloquent guides ...
see Full Review
Arthur
SULLIVAN (1842-1900) H.M.S.
Pinafore; Trial by Jury
Glyndebourne Festival Chorus Pro Arte Orchestra/Sir Malcolm Sargent
rec. 1958-60 CLASSICS
FOR PLEASURE 2134332 [57:38 + 53:21][SV]
It's
fun … see Full
Review
Karol
SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Piano Sonata
No. 3 etc.
Roland Pöntinen (piano) rec. 2005
BIS-CD-1137 [77.37][GH]
A disc I shall come back to often ... see Full
Review
Karol
SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Harnasie,
Mandragora, Kniaź Potomkin
Warsaw Philharmonic Ch & O/Antoni Wit rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.570723 [73.17]
[GH]
Hours
of fascinating listening ... see Full
Review
Karol
SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Symphonies
1 & 4, Concert Overture,
Study Ewa Marczyk (violin) Warsaw
PO/Antoni Wit
rec. 2007/8 NAXOS 8.570722 [67:18] [DM]
A
splendid addition to an indispensable cycle ... see Full
Review
Marko TAJCEVIC (1900-1984)
Complete Piano Music: Seven Balkan Dances (1926); Five Preludes (1935);
Songs from Mur Island (1938); Sonatina (1923); Serbian Dances (1937);
Variations on a Theme in C minor (1948); For Children (1938); Sonatina
(c. 1947); Two Little Suites (1937); For the Young (1935); Six Miniatures
(1920); Music Box (1930)
Radmila Stojanovic-Kiriluk (piano) rec. January 2004, Omni Classic Recording
Studio, Tempe, Arizona
TOCCATA TOCC0041 [79:13]
[RB]
Pastoral
nationalist piano solos ripe for exploration ... see Full
Review
Hilary
TANN
(b. 1947)The
Walls of Morlais Castle, Songs of the Cotton Grass, The
Cresset Stone, From the Song of Amergin, Duo, Nothing
Forgotten Matthew Jones
(viola, violin); Elizabeth Donovan (soprano); Alun Darbyshire (oboe);
Thomas Carroll (cello); Lucy Wakeford (harp); Kathryn Thomas (flute);
Michael Hampton (piano) rec. 2008
DEUX-ELLES DXL1132 [63:18]
[HC]
Beautifully
melodic and warmly lyrical ... see Full
Review
Jukka
TIENSUU (b. 1948) Minds and Moods Tampere
Philharmonic Orchestra/Susanna Mälkki rec. 2005
ALBA ABCD224
[65:19]
Jukka TIENSUU (b. 1948) nemo; Puro; Spiriti Avanti!/Susanna
Mälkki rec. 2005-7 ALBA
ABCD258
[68:35][HC]
Often
thought-provoking, gripping and beautiful ... see Full
Review
Charles
TOURNEMIRE
(1870-1939)
L’orgue mystique - Vols 3 & 4
Sandro R. Müller (organ) rec. 1995
CYBELE 050.103/4 [73:40 + 70:36]
An
accessible mountain with hidden depths ... see Full
Review
Charles
TOURNEMIRE
(1870-1939)
L’orgue mystique Vols 6-8
Sandro R. Müller (organ) rec. 1996/7
CYBELE CD050.106-8 [77:54 + 78:15 + 76:07]
[DC]
Catholic
mystery embodied in music ... see Full
Review
Franz
TUNDER (1614-1667) & Nicolaus
HASSE (1605-1670) Complete Organ Works Friedhelm
Flamme (organ)
rec. 2006 CPO 777 370-2 [67:03
+ 66:48] [DC]
Will
stand proudly in any collection of baroque organ music ... see Full
Review
Pēteris
VASKS (b.
1946) Musica appassionata see Dedications
Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813-1901)
Macbeth Giuseppe
Altomare, Olha Zhuravel, Marchigiana Fil O/Danielle Callegari rec. live,
2007 NAXOS 2.110258
[152.27]
[RJF]
The
atmosphere is well caught in this open air performance ... see Full
Review
Louis
VIERNE (1870-1937) Poème de l’amour
etc. Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Histoires Naturelles
Corinne Orde (soprano); Jonathan Cohen (piano) rec.
2007-8
RODDARD RDD001 [66:11 + 65:24][IB]
Not
the last word but worthy of a serious audition ... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI
(1678-1741)
The Four Seasons Astor PIAZZOLLA
(1921-1992) Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas (The Four
Seasons of Buenos Aires)
Lara St. John (violin) Simón Bolívar Youth O Venezuela/Eduardo
Marturet ANCALAGON ANC134
[64:19]
[MC]
Enjoyable
performances but the competition is extremely fierce ... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) The
'Four Seasons' & other concertos (arr. solo piano) Jeffrey
Biegel (piano)
rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.570031 [60:32] [BR]
Absent
any compelling writing, all we can do is yearn for the originals … see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Tristan
und Isolde
Gwyneth Jones (soprano) - Isolde Rene Kollo (tenor) – Tristan; Orchestra
and Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin/Jiří Kout rec. 1993
TDK DV-OPTRIS
[85:45 + 168:16][ST]
I
will be coming back to this again and again ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Das Rheingold (1869)
Staatskapelle Weimar/Carl St. Clair. Directed by Michael Shulz. rec.
Deutsches Nationaltheater, Weimar, 2008. DVD
ARTHAUS MUSIK 101
353 [166:00]
[TD]
Intense
concentration and new insight ... see Full
Review
Richard
WAGNER
(1813-1883) Der Ring des Nibelungen
Hans Hotter, Gustav Neidlinger,
Astrid Varnay, Wolfgang Windgassen, Bayreuth Festival Ch & O/Hans
Knappertsbusch rec. 1956
MUSIC & ARTS CD-4009 [13 CDs: 908:00]
[DH]
Poor
engineering prevents this from being a first or even second Ring
... see Full Review
Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883)
Sydney Opera House Gala Opening Concert
Birgit Nilsson (soprano) ![[image]](wagner-nilsson-mackerras-sydney-opera-house-gala-abc-moore/wagner-nilsson-mackerras-sydney-opera-house-gala-abc-moore-1.jpg)
Sydney SO/Sir Charles Mackerras rec. 1973
ABC CLASSICS 476 6440 [74:15]
[RMo]
A
thoroughly enjoyable souvenir of a special evening ... see Full
Review
Carl
Maria von WEBER
(1786-1826) Der
Freischütz (1817) [134:19] Endrik Wottrich (tenor)
- Max Luba Orgonasova (soprano) - Agathe Christine Schäfer (soprano)
- Ännchen Matti Salminen (baritone) - Caspar Wolfgang Holzmair
(baritone) - Ottokar Gilles Cachemaille (bass) - Cuno Kurt Moll (bass)
- Hermit Rundfunkchor
Berlin, Berlin Philharmonic/Nikolaus Harnoncourt rec. live, concert
performances, September 1995, Philharmonie, Berlin
WARNER TELDEC 2564 69125-2 [70:11 + 64:08]
[ST]
A
distinctive period rasp and thwack ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Anton
WEBERN (1883-1945) Five Movements,
String Quartets see SCHOENBERG
Ermanno
WOLF-FERRARI (1876-1948) La
vedova scaltra Anne-Lise
Sollied (soprano); Milord Runebif - Maurizio Muraro (bass) Ch & O
Teatro La Fenice, Venice/Karl Martin
rec. live, 2007 NAXOS 8.660225-26 [75:25
+ 66:17] [GPu]
An
engaging performance of an entertaining comic opera … see Full
Review
Ivan
WYSCHNEGRADSKY (1893-1979) Piano Works see Piano
Works during and after Russian Futurism
Johann
Rudolf ZUMSTEEG (1760-1802) Lieder see SCHUBERT
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]
[last 5 days] [Recommended
recordings]
