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Isaac Albéniz
(1860-1909) Piano Music Vol. 3 Danzas
espańolas, Pequeńos valses, Mazurkas de salón 
Guillermo González (piano) rec. 2008
NAXOS SPANISH CLASSICS 8.572196 [69:42] 
[JF]
Sheer
enjoyment and technical accomplishment ... see Full
Review
Emilio
ARRIETA (1823–1894)
La conquista di Granata
Mariola Cantarero (soprano), Ana Ibarra (mezzo), José Bros (tenor) Madrid
SO & Ch/Jesús López Cobos rec. live, 2006
DYNAMIC CDS618/1-2 [56:22 + 77:05] 
[GF]
Lovers
of mid-19th century Italian opera should grab the opportunity ...
see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Das
wohltemperierte Clavier Book 2 Craig
Sheppard (piano)
rec. 2008 ROMÉO RECORDS 7269-70 [73:24
+ 79:45] 
[TB]
Sheppard’s
version can stand comparison with any ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Well
Tempered Clavier Book 2 Masaaki
Suzuki (harpsichord) rec. 2005 BIS
BIS-CD-1513-4 [82:08
+ 78:16] [TB]
Strongly
imaginative and flexible ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH (1650-1750) Keyboard
Concerto, Preludes & Fugues Hélčne
Grimaud (piano) Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen rec. 2008 DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON 477 7978 [76:03] [CC]
A
major release. Future releases eagerly awaited. ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
Harpsichord Concerto in d minor, BWV 1059 (Reconstructed by Gustav Leonhardt)
Musical Offering, BWV 1079 (1747) (Realisation by Nicholas Jackson)
Trio Sonata in d minor, BWV 527 (arr. From Organ Sonata No. 3 by Nicholas
Jackson)
Concertante
of London/Nicholas Jackson rec. St George’s Church, London W8, 23-25
July 2007. DDD
SOMM CÉLESTE SOMMCD077 [69:30]
[BW]
Attractive
performances but competition is strong ... see Full
Review.
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Sonatas 1-3, Partitas 1-3
Viktoria Mullova (violin) rec. 2007/8
ONYX CLASSICS 4040 [64:50 + 67:32]
[JFL]
A
recording to be appreciated, liked, and finally loved ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685 – 1750) Arias
Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo); Karin Roman (soprano); Anders J. Dahlin
(tenor); Tomas Medici (tenor) ; Jakob Bloch Jespersen (bass-baritone)
; Concerto Copenhagen/Lars Ulrik Mortensen (organ) rec. 2008
ARCHIV PRODUKTION 477 7467 [57:04]
[GF]
Admirers
of von Otter can safely invest without further ado ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Cantatas
Agnes Giebel (soprano); Sheila Armstrong (soprano); Rotraud Hansmann
(soprano); Julia Falk (alto); Helen Watts (alto); Bert van t’Hoff (tenor);
Kurt Equiluz (tenor); Jacques Villisech (bass); Max van Egmond (bass)
Monteverdi-Chor Hamburg/Jürgen Jürgens. Recordings published 1963-1969
DAS ALTE WERK 2564 69599-2 [75:42 + 72:51] 
[JQ]
These
performances take their place in the CD catalogue with pride. ... see
Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Toccatas
and Goldberg Variations
Bob van Asperen (harpsichord) rec. 1990
VIRGIN VERITAS 6931982 [67:04 + 79:18][BW]
A
mixed blessing but well worth having for the Toccatas ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Mass in B minor
La Petite Bande/Sigiswald
Kuijken rec. 2008
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72316 
[50.35
+ 51:27][DC]
Postcard
from Bach: ‘Wish I was there...’ ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The Voice
of Bach
Daniel Taylor (counter-tenor, conductor); Choir of the Theatre of Early
Music rec. 2007 SONY
BMG 88697290312 [44:20][JQ]
A
beautifully produced and skilfully executed programme ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Trio
sonata arrangements for recorder & discant viol Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Adagio and
fugues (after Bach) Johann Sebastian BACH/Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART Sonata for recorder & discant
viol Quadro
Hypothesis rec. 2006 HÄNSSLER
PROFIL PH08034 [60:16] [JV]
Fails
to convince or move ... see Full
Review
Mily
BALAKIREV
(1837-1910) Piano Concertos 1 & 2, Grande
Fantasie Anastasia Seifetdinova
(piano) Russian PO/Dmitry Yablonsky. rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.570396 [69:44]
[CC]
A
fascinating release well worthy of investigation ... see Full
Review
Sándor
BALASSA (b.
1935) Journeys
in Bihar County, Civis Town of Debrecen, Praise
of Knightly Virtues MR
(Hungarian Radio) SO/Adam Medveczky
rec. 2008 HUNGAROTON CLASSIC
HCD32585 [74:14] [BBr]
Nice
isn't enough ... see Full Review
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Works for Solo
Piano (4) Zoltán
Kocsis (piano) rec. 1991-2007
HUNGAROTON HCD32527 [65:35][CC]
Stimulating
music, breathtakingly performed and recorded ... see Full Review
Sir
Arnold BAX
(1883-1953) Symphonic Variations, Concertante
for Piano Ashley Wass (piano)
Bournemouth SO/James Judd rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.570774 [68:11]
[IL]
Powerful
and poetic ... see Full Review
Amy
BEACH (1867-1944) Piano
Music Vol. 2 - The Turn of the Century Includes Variations
on Balkan Themes, Children’s Album, Eskimos Kirsten
Johnson (piano)
rec. 2007/8 GUILD GMCD7329 [60:48] [JW]
Another
splendidly performed slice of Amy Beach ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin
Sonatas 5 & 9 Kalina
Macuta (violin) Daniel Blanch (piano)
rec. live 2008 COLUMNA MUSICA
1CM0202 [64:12] [KS]
A
dud. There’s not much more to say … see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
Piano Concertos 3-5
Artur Pizarro (piano) Scottish CO/Sir Charles Mackerras
rec. 2008
LINN RECORDS CKD336 [67:34 + 35:48]
[ST]
A
wonderful issue: sheer musicianship and sense of fun ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano
Concerto No. 4; Quintet for Piano and Wind
François-Frédéric Guy (piano); Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra/Philippe
Jordan rec. 2006-8
NAĎVE V5148 [59:39][CC]
A
mixed release with coupling outshining main offering ... see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Complete
Violin Sonatas
Uri Pianka (violin); Jonathan Zak (piano) rec. 1983
ROMÉO 7266/7/8 [217.46][GH]
A
true partnership … well worth searching out ... see Full Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Triple
concerto see BRAHMS
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Sonata in B flat major, Op. 106
Hammerklavier (1819) [40:06] Sonata in E flat major, Op.
81a Les Adieux (1813) [15:37] Bagatelles, Op. 119
(1819) [14:04] Stephen
Kovacevich (piano) rec. 17-23 October 2001 (Opp. 106, 119); 24-29 June
2002 (Op. 81a), Lyndhurst Hall, Air Studios, London
EMI CLASSICS 2 28515 2 [70:39] 
[TB]
Kovacevich’s
version can stand comparison with any ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Symphonies 1-9, Leonore &
Egmont overtures NBC SO/Arturo
Toscanini rec. 1939
MUSIC & ARTS CD-1203 [5 CDs: 372:38]
[CC]
A
remarkable testament to Toscanini and well worth the investment.
... see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Trio
Op. 1, No. 3 Sergey RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Piano Trio “Élégiaque” Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Trio Op. 101
Trio Cracovia rec. 2008
DUX 0626 [62:18][ABo]
I
really enjoyed this CD … interesting and absorbing ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin
Sonatas Midori
Seiler (violin); Jos van Immerseel (piano) rec. 2007 ZIGZAG
TERRITORIES ZZT070802 [54:48] [CC]
Notable
... demands attention ... see Full
Review
Luciano
BERIO
(1925-2003)
Piano Works
Andrea Bacchetti (piano) rec. 2000/2001
DECCA 476 1944 [43:24] 
[DC]
Pretty
much definitive, as performances. ... see Full
Review
Luciano
BERIO (1925-2003) Orchestral
Music Vienna
RSO/Martyn Brabbins, Bertrand de Billy & Stefan Asbury
rec. 2007 COL
LEGNO WWE1CD20281 [70:41][TH]
Valuable
for the music … generally very well played and recorded ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String
Quartets 11-16 Colorado
Qt rec. 2004-6 PARNASSUS
PACD96042/4 [3
CDs: 215:41] [CC]
An
admirable set in almost every way ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Leonard BERNSTEIN (1914-1990) Mass Randall
Scarlata,
Tölzer Knabenchor, Chorus sine nomine, Absolute Ensemble
Tonkünstler O Niederösterreich/Kristjan Järvi
rec. 2006 CHANDOS CHSA5070 [42:15
+ 64:52] [DM]
Bravo
and thrice-triple bravo! Bernstein’s flower child finally comes
of age ... see Full Review
Alexander
BORODIN (1833-1887) Symphonies
1-3, Petite Suite, Polovtsian Dances Royal
Stockholm PO/Gennady Rozhdestvensky
rec. 1992-94 BRILLIANT CLASSICS
93348 [62:56 + 75:00] [RB]
Lovely
music in poetically accented readings at bargain price ... see Full
Review
Alexander
BORODIN (1833-1887) Polovtsian Dances see RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Sergei
BORTKIEWICZ (1877-1952) Piano Concertos
Nos. 2 & 3
Stefan Doniga (piano); Czech Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra/David
Porcelijn rec. 2008
NEDERLANDS MUZIEK INSTITUUT C13172 [58:32][RB]
Superheated
romance and silvery Slav nationalism ... see Full Review
Lili BOULANGER (1893-1918) D'un soir triste
etc. see DEBUSSY
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Double concerto Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Triple concerto
Yehudi Menuhin (violin); Maurice Gendron (cello); Hephzibah Menuhin
(piano); London Symphony Orchestra/István Kertész rec. 1964
BBC LEGENDS BBCL4252-2 [68:30][RMay]
Something
of a non-starter ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Piano
Trios 1-3
Trio Fontenay rec. 1987-9
TELDEC/WARNER APEX 2564692093
[67:40 + 55:43][ST]
On
the whole very worthwhile ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano
Sonata No. 3 etc. Ronan
O’Hora (piano) rec. 1996 REGIS
RRC1302 [76:47][WH]
A
fine bargain ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF
THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Clarinet Quintet see MOZART
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Trio Op. 101 see BEETHOVEN
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Six Songs for Cello and Piano see MARTUCCI
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Ballades, Waltzes see Farrell
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frank
BRIDGE
(1879-1941)
Piano Quintet H49a (1905) [28:16] Three Idylls H67 (1907) [13:32]
String Quartet No.4 H188 (1937) [23:00]
Goldner String Quartet (Dene Olding (violin); Dimity Hall (violin);
Irina Morozova (viola); Julian Smiles (cello)) Piers Lane (piano) rec.
2008, HYPERION CDA67726
[65:19]
[JF]
All
Bridge enthusiasts will want to have this recording ... see Full
Review
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) The Collector’s
Edition EMI CLASSICS
2175262 [37 CDs: circa 42:00:00][RB]
A
bargain alternative route to Britten, full of surprises and pleasures
... see Full
Review
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) War
Requiem Annette
Dasch (soprano) James Taylor (tenor) Christian Gerhaher (baritone)
Aurelius Sängerknaben Calw, Festivalensemble Stuttgart/Helmuth
Rilling
rec. 2007 HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD98.507 [2CDs:
82:40] [DM]
A
worthy performance but nowhere near the best … see Full
Review
Anton
BRUCKNER
(1824-1896) Symphony
No. 8 in C minor (ed. R. Haas) [85:25] Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphony No. 38 in D major, K
504 ‘Prague’* [28:36] Staatskapelle
Dresden/Bernard Haitink rec. Semperoper, Dresden, 3 December 2002; *Kulturpalast,
Dresden, 2 September 2002. DDD
PROFIL EDITION GÜNTER HÄNSSLER PH07057 [59:53 + 54:11]
[JQ]
A
master conductor at work with a magnificent orchestra ... see Full
Review
Fridrich
BRUK (b.1937) Symphony
No. 3 Estonian
Ntl Male Ch, RAM Estonian National Opera SO/Erkki
Palola rec. 2002 ESTONIAN
RECORD PRODUCTIONS ERP402 [63:59][JW]
Will
appeal to the Naxos-Milken constituency ... see Full
Review
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