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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) 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

 

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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]

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