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A
useful reference tool for musicologists, writers and enthusiasts ...
see Full Review
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FRIDAY
May 29th
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
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
Paul
CHIHARA (b.
1938) Ain't
No Sunshine, Piano Quintet, Minidoka, An Afternoon
on the Perfume River Pascal
Rogé (piano); Ysaye String Qt, Odense SO/Paul Mann rec.
2007 BRIDGE 9267 [59:26] [RB]
Melodic,
impressionistic, atmospheric - even nostalgic ... see Full
Review
Edward
GREGSON (b. 1945) Trumpet
Concerto, Concerto for Piano and Wind, Saxophone Concerto Ole
Edvard Antonsen (trumpet); Nobuya Sugawa (saxophone); Nelson
Goerner (piano) BBC Philharmonic/Clark Rundell rec.
2007 CHANDOS CHAN10478 [66:27] [RB]
Tangy
and often rhythmically ingenious exciting concertos ... see Full
Review
Christopher
GUNNING (b.
1944) Symphonies
3 & 4, Oboe Concerto Verity
Gunning (oboe) Royal PO/Christopher Gunning rec. 2008 CHANDOS
CHAN10525 [66:53] [BBr][RB]
Fabulous
stuff … a must [BBr] ... Rewards yielded only after repeat
listening [RB] ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Jacques
IBERT (1890-1962) Orchestral
Works Emmanuel
Pahud (flute), José Van Dam (baritone) CBSO/Louis Frémaux;
Tonhalle O Zurich/David Zinman; l'ORTF Ntl O/Jean Martinon; O
de l'Opéra de Lyon/Kent Nagano rec. 1973-2002 EMI CLASSICS
GEMINI 5176392 [75:32 + 68:17] 
[RB]
Interested
in Ibert? Sorted ... see Full
Review
Marin
MARAIS (1656-1728) Pièces
de viole Jerôme
Hantaï (bass viol); Alix Verzier (bass viol); Pierre Hantaï (harpsichord)
rec. 1996-2000 VIRGIN
VERITAS 6932132 [72:16 + 63:08] [MS]
Thoughtful
and highly articulate ... see Full
Review
Nikolai
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Scheherazade Alexander
BORODIN (1833-1887) Prince Igor: Polovtsian
Dances Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Extracts
from Masquerade, Spartacus & Gayaneh London
PO/Takuo Yuasa, Royal PO/Sir Thomas Beecham London SO/Aram
Khachaturian CLASSICS
FOR PLEASURE 2282802 [77:09] 
[SV]
A
smorgasbord of complementary items … see Full
Review
Franz
SCHMIDT (1874-1939) Symphony
1, Notre Dame (excerpts) Malmö SO/Vassily
Sinaisky rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570828 [61:02] [BBr]
It
isn’t the best music that Schmidt wrote … see Full
Review
Clara
SCHUMANN (1819-1896) Lieder Jörg
Waschinski (soprano) Aulos-Streichquartett Berlin rec. 2008 PHOENIX
EDITION 170 [42:21] [GF]
A
very special disc that fills a gap in the catalogue … see Full
Review
Giuseppe
TARTINI (1692-1770) Violin
Concertos Vol. 15 L'Arte
dell'Arco/Giovanni Guglielmo rec. 2006 DYNAMIC
CDS 591/1-2 [47:44 + 45:46] [JV]
Excellent
examples of Tartini’s art - stylish and tasteful ... see Full
Review
Mstislav
Rostropovich - The Complete EMI Recordings EMI CLASSICS
2175972 [26 CDs: ca 30 hrs & 2 DVDs] [JW]
Indefatigable
and remarkable … grace and profound illumination ... see Full
Review
THURSDAY
May 28th
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
John
CAGE (1912-1992) Credo
in US, Imaginary Landscape 1, Concert for Piano and Orchestra,
Suite for Toy Piano, Music for Carillon Michael
Dietz (percussion) Ensemble Musica Negativa/Rainer Riehn; Gentle
Fire. rec. 1971-73 EMI
AMERICAN CLASSICS 2344542 [68:26] [CC]
A
sure-fire winner ... see Full Review
Sir
William HERSCHEL (1738-1822) Symphonies London
Mozart Players/Matthias Bamert rec. 2002 CHANDOS
CHAN10048 [68:23] [GPu]
Enjoyable
for what it says of the relationships between music and science
... see Full Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Death
and the Maiden (adapted A. Stein) Symphony No. 8 in
B minor (completed B. Newbould & M. Venzago) Buffalo
PO/JoAnn Falletta rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.572051 [77:59] [ST]
I
really liked the arrangement of Death and the Maiden ... see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Rosamunde, Deutsche
Tanze Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Symphony
9 Leopold Stokowski & his
SO rec. 1947-52 CALA
CACD0550 [76:07] [JW]
Good
to have this New World back ... see Full
Review
Duos
for Cello and Bass Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Duetto Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Sonata Franz
Joseph KEYPER (1756-1815) Rondo Solo for Bass
[4:38] Jacques OFFENBACH (1819-1880) Duo Jules
MASSENET (1842-1912) Duo Charles
Nicolas BAUDIOT (1773-1849) Theme and Variations Don
THOMPSON (b.1940) In Memory of Glenn Coenraad
Bloemendal (cello) Joel Quarrington (bass) rec. 1978/2008 CRYSTAL
RECORDS CD135 [56:42] [JW]
A
wholesome disc ... see Full Review
Richard
Farrell - Complete Recordings Vol.
1 Edvard
GRIEG (1943-1907) Piano Concerto, Ballade, Lyric
Pieces Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Ballades,
Waltzes Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Piano
Concerto 1 Richard
Farrell (piano) Halle O/George Weldon rec. 1956-58 ATOLL
ACD208 [74:50 + 75:30] [JW]
A
fine reclamation ... see Full Review
Herein
Lies the Soul Includes Henryk
WIENIAWSKI (1835-1880) Variations on
an Original Theme Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Introduction
and Rondo Capriccioso Pablo de SARASATE (1844-1908) Spanish
Dance, Zigeunerweisen Nicolo
PAGANINI (1782-1840) Cantabile [3.44] Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Humoresques Steven
Moeckel (violin); Paula Fan (Steinway piano) rec. 2006 No
label [66.07] [PSh]
A
brilliant young violinist invites comparison with the very best
... see Full Review
Yehudi
Menuhin - The Great EMI Recordings rec.
1932-84 EMI CLASSICS 2641312 [51 CDs: ca 60 hrs] [JW]
Enough
rarities to entice ... see Full
Review
Stellar
Saxes Jun
NAGAO (b.1964) Paganini Lost, Lovers
on the Celestial Sphere Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Konzertstuck Masanori
KATOH (b.1972) Oriental Guy
LACOUR (b.1932) Suite en Duo Victor
MOROSCO (b.1936) Contemporary Etudes in Duet
Form Kenneth
Tse and Nobuya Sugawa (saxophones) Kazuo Murakami (piano)
rec. 2008 CRYSTAL
RECORDS CD359 [59:42] [JW]
A
saxophonic feast ... see Full
Review
West
of the Sun -
Music of the Americas Includes Astor
PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Flora’s Game, Milonga
prelude Alberto GINASTERA (1916-1983) Sonata
1 Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Chôros
No.5, Alma Brasileira Margaret BONDS (1913-1972) Troubled
Water William BOLCOM (b.1938) Nine
New Bagatelles Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) Piano
Sonata Joel
Fan (piano) rec. 2008 REFERENCE
RECORDINGS RR-119 [67:17] [JW]
Ebullient
and zesty ... see Full Review
WEDNESDAY
May 27th
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
Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Nocturnes,
Ballade 3, Scherzo 1 Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Sposalizio, Il Pensieroso, Les
Jeux d’eau à la Villa d’Este, Rhapsodie Hongroise, Liebesträume 3 Alexander
Thomas (piano) rec. 2006 RUSSIAN
COMPACT DISC RCD30110 [66:38] [JW]
Scrupulous,
thoughtful, and dedicated – nothing flashy or clumsy … see Full
Review
Jean
Baptiste Charles DANCLA (1817-1907) Petite École
de la mélodie Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Violin
sonata 1 Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Meditation from Thaïs Guido
Rimonda (violin); Cristina Canziani (piano) rec. 2007 CHANDOS
CHAN10510 [57:20] [KS]
Tuneful
throughout, this disc makes for a fine evening’s listen
... see Full Review
Leif
KAYSER (1919-2001) Symphonies
1 & 4 Aalborg
SO/Matthias Aeschbacher rec. 2008 DACAPO 8.224709 [69:04] [RB]
Concise
and romantic …surging and cresting climaxes ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791) Violin
Sonatas Jaap
Schröder (violin); Lambert Orkis (fortepiano) rec. 1989/90 VIRGIN
VERITAS 693 2182 [73:59 + 72:06] [CC]
A
lovely set of discs ... see Full
Review
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767)
Passion Cantatas Klaus
Mertens (bass-baritone) Accademia Daniel/Shalev Ad-El rec.
2006/7 CPO
777 299-2 [69:53] [MS]
Splendid,
meticulously prepared and executed ... see Full
Review
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) The
Four Seasons Francesco
GEMINIANI (1687-1762) Concerti Grosso Christina
Day Martinson (violin) Boston Baroque/Martin Pearlman rec.
2008 TELARC
CD-80698 [59:26] [DC]
Like
the good parts of the curate’s egg – yummy, but with lurking
yuk… see Full Review
Blue
Rags Ian
MUNRO (b.1963) Blue Rags Elena
KATS-CHERNIN (b.1957) Rags Ann
GHANDAR (b.1943) Ragtime Suite Graham
KOEHNE (b.1956) Blues Dmitri
YANOV-YANOVSKY (b.1963) Silhouettes Ian
Munro (piano) rec. 2005 TALL
POPPIES TP186 [77:39] [JW]
Malleable
twistings of the classicised rag … see Full
Review
The
First Carnegie Hall Euphonium Recital Antonio
CAPUZZI (1755-1818) Andante and Rondo Arthur
FRACKENPOHL (b.1924) Sonata for Euphonium and Piano Walter
ROSS (b.1936) Partita for Euphonium and Piano Samuel
ADLER (b.1928) Four Dialogs for Euphonium and Marimba John
BODA (1922-2002) Sonatina for Euphonium and Synthesiser Ermano
PICCHI Fantasia Originale Brian
Bowman (euphonium) Marjorie Lees, Steven Harlos (piano) Gordon
Stout (marimba) rec. 1978/2008 CRYSTAL
RECORDS CD393 [61:25] [JW]
A
delightfully varied recital ... see Full
Review
Patrizia
Ciofi (soprano) - Live Arias
by Traetta, Meyerbeer, Rossini, Donizetti, Piccini, Massenet & Verdi rec.
1996-2007 DYNAMIC
CDS 603/1-2 [69.08 + 68.41] [RH]
Impressive
- a highly communicative singer ... see Full
Review
Franco
Corelli - The
Tenor as Hero rec.
1958-68 EMI
CLASSICS ICON 2648872 [4 CDs: 308:34] [GF]
A
worthy tribute to this most heroic of Italian tenors ... see Full
Review
A
New Heaven Includes Sir
Hubert PARRY (1848-1918) I was glad Sir
William HARRIS (1883-1973) Faire is the heaven Sir
Edward BAIRSTOW (1874-1946) Blessed city, heavenly
Salem Henry BALFOUR GARDINER (1877-1950) Evening
Hymn Edgar BAINTON (1880-1956) And
I saw a new heaven Sir John STAINER (1840-1901) I
saw the Lord Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983) Like
as the hart desireth the waterbrooks The
Sixteen/Harry Christophers rec. 2008 UNIVERSAL
CLASSICS & JAZZ 1795732 [72:04] [MC]
Superbly
presented, quite outstanding with flawless performances ... see Full
Review
TUESDAY May 26th
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
NAÏVE V5148 [59:39][CC]
A
mixed release with coupling outshining main offering ... 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
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Symphony No.1;
Falstaff
London Symphony Orchestra/Edward Elgar rec. 1930-2
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111256 [79:35][RMay]
Central
to the Elgar discography ... see Full
Review
Simon
EMMERSON (b.1950) Points and
Pathways Various
artists/Priti Pantal (director) rec. 1993-2005
SARGASSO SCD28060 [59:47][CR]
Each
piece has a strong identity of its own ... see Full
Review
Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Symphony No.6 etc.
Royal Scottish
National Orchestra/José Serebrier rec. 2008
WARNER CLASSICS 256469627 [66:48][JW]
A
general front-runner … see Full
Review
Henryk
Mikolaj GÓRECKI (b. 1933) Symphony
No.3
Christine Brewer (soprano); Atlanta Symphony
Orchestra/Donald Runnicles rec. 2008
TELARC
CD80699 [48:56][BBr]
Brewer’s
voice is far too big and fruity for this music ... see Full
Review
Vincent
d’INDY (1851-1931) Wallenstein
etc.
BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Thierry Fischer rec. 2008
HYPERION CDA67690 [73.42][GH]
An
honourable and fine release to be enjoyed by any music-lover ... see
Full
Review
Giuseppe
MARTUCCI (1856-1909) Symphony No.1 etc.
Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma/Francesco La Vecchia
rec. 2007-8
NAXOS 8.570929 [69:38][IL]
Worth
seeking out D’Avalos ... see Full
Review
Riccardo
ZANDONAI (1883-1944) Francesca
da Rimini Orchestra
Filarmonica Marchigiana, Coro Lirico Marchigiano ‘V. Bellini’/Maurizio
Barbacini rec. 2004
ARTHAUS 101363 
[137:00][GF]
A
more than decent picture of this relative rarity ... see Full
Review
Cantatas
by DU BUISSON
(d.1710), Nicolas CLÉRAMBAULT
(1676-1749), Philippe COURBOIS
(fl.1705-1730), Nicolas BERNIER
(1665-1734), Jean-Baptiste STUCK
(c.1680-1755), Alessandro SCARLATTI (1660-1725),
Antonio CALDARA (1670-1736),
Giovanni BONONCINI (1670-1747)
and George Frideric HANDEL
(1685-1759)
Sandrine Piau (soprano); Gérard Lesne (alto); Il
Seminario Musicale/Gérard Lesne rec. 1990-8
VIRGIN
CLASSICS 3951532 [5 CDs: 62:41 + 65:20 + 67:52
+ 59:48 + 70:00][JV]
After
12 years or more these recordings still sound fresh and up-to-date -
this set is not to be missed ... see Full
Review
MONDAY
May 25th
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
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
Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano
Sonatas Nos. 2 & 3 etc.
Marc-André Hamelin (piano) rec. 2008
HYPERION CDA67706 [76:40][PPLL]
Innate
musicality, great nobility and magnificent technical command ... see
Full
Review
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Chandos
Anthems Nos. 7, 9 & 11a
Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge Academy of Ancient Music/Stephen
Layton rec. 2008 HYPERION
CDA67737 [66:09][JPJ]
Highly
enjoyable, if unspectacular ... see Full
Review
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) The
Handel Collection: Rodelinda; Theodora; A Night With Handel
Various artists rec. 1996-8
WARNER CLASSICS 505186532732
[3 DVDs: 460:00][ST]
A
good introduction to what Handel’s operatic gifts can do ... see Full
Review
Franz
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Music
for Prince Esterházy and the King of Naples
Haydn Sinfonietta Wien/Manfred Huss rec. 1992-1995
BIS-CD-1796/98
[6 CDs: 52:10 + 63:11 + 60:41 + 63:10 + 51:27 + 50:22][DC]
A
‘must have’ for Haydn fans ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
String Quartets, Opp. 12 & 13
Juilliard String Quartet rec. 1998
SONY CLASSICAL SK60579 
[55:24][SV]
An
essential "rightness" - a remarkable unanimity ... see Full
Review
Hans
Peter TÜRK (b. 1940) Siebenbürgische
Passionsmusik für Karfreitag nach dem Evangelistem Mattäus
Meissner Kantorei 1961/Chrisfried Brödel rec. 2008
MUSIKPRODUCTION
DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG90215546
[69.36][RH]
Fascinating
… interesting, approachable and highly recommendable ... see Full
Review
