PART 6
Misc A-L

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BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Twentieth-Century Masterpieces EMI CLASSICS 2175002 [16 CDs][WH]


Snap it up before it disappears for ever ... see Full Review

Adagio: Let the World Be Still Various artists Universal Classics and Jazz 4763377 [75:33 + 75:27][GPu]  

A real mixed bag of an album … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH American Spectrum Michael DAUGHERTY (b. 1954) Sunset Strip John WILLIAMS (b. 1932) Escapades Ned ROREM (b. 1923) Lions (A Dream) Christopher ROUSE (b. 1949) Friandises Branford Marsalis (saxophones) North Carolina SO/Grant Llewellyn rec. 2008 BIS BISSACD1644 [75:28] [DM]

BIS at their best: inspired programme and top-notch sound ... see Full Review 

Victoria de Los Angeles Lucero mío Lullabies and folk songs Victoria de Los Angeles (soprano)(1-24) Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)(9), Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano)(24); rec. 1950 - 1992 Sung texts enclosed COLUMNA MUSICA 1CM0198 [54:21] [GF]

The voice of an angel, indeed! ... see Full Review 

Ataúlfo Argenta – Zarzuela and Spanish Orchestral Music Orquesta Nacional de España & Gran Orquesta Sinfónica/Ataúlfo Argenta rec. 1953-6 MEDICI ARTS MM034-2 [78:43][JS] 

A very worthwhile reissue ... see Full Review

Daniel Behle - Lieder by Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828), Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827), Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907), Benjamin BRITTEN (1813-1976) and Manfred TROJAHN (b. 1949) Daniel Behle (tenor); Oliver Schnyder (piano) rec. 2008 PHOENIX EDITION 154 [55:14][GF]

Should win the young singer hordes of new admirers ... see Full Review

Frances Bourne The Truth about Love - Songs by Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976), Kurt WEILL (1900-1950) and Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Frances Bourne (mezzo); James Holmes (piano); Matrix Ensemble/Robert Ziegler rec. 2008 SONY 88697293431 [78.35][RH] 

Stylish and enjoyable ... see Full Review

The Brothers Kreisler – Fritz Kreisler Original compositions and arrangements Various artists rec. 2001 OK MOZART 001 [74:39][JW]

A generous lightness of touch ... see Full Review

The Celtic Viol Jordi Savall (treble viols & fiddle); Andrew Lawrence-King (Irish Harp & Psalterium) rec. 2008 ALIA VOX AVSA9865 [75:53] [BW]

Enjoyable but mainly of interest to specialists ... see Full Review

The Contest of Apollo and Pan Apollo & Pan rec. 2004 CHANDOS CHAN0756 [73:14][JV]

Good performances but could have been more adventurous ... see Full Review

Dancer's Dream: Raymonda Documentary film (1999) [83:00] Choreography and stage direction by Rudolf Nureyev Music by Alexander Glazunov Artists of the Ballet de l'Opéra National de Paris Orchestra of the Ballet de l'Opéra National de Paris/Alexander Anissimov Directed by François Roussillon ARTHAUS MUSIK 107 015 [83:00] [RMay]

Why is Glazunov's Raymonda not better known? ... see Full Review

Dedications Pehr Henrik NORDGREN (1944-2008) Solemnity-Euphony Pēteris VASKS (b. 1946) Musica appassionata Anders ELIASSON (b. 1947) Sinfonia per archi Ostrobothnian CO/Juha Kangas rec. 2007 ALBA ABCD245 [70:27] [HC]

Another feather in Alba’s cap ... see Full Review 

Simone Dinnerstein - The Berlin Concert: Music by Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750), Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) and Philip LASSER (b.1963) Simone Dinnerstein (piano) rec. 2007 TELARC CD80715 [74:37][JFL]

I will file it under “L”, and regard it highly ... see Full Review

Divos and Divas Juan Diego Flórez, Plácido Domingo, Bryn Terfel, Roberto Alagna, José Carreras, Cecilia Bartoli, Renée Fleming, Angela Gheorghiu DECCA 478 1469 [52:15 + 68:39] [GPu]

A largely enjoyable miscellany not designed for specialists in opera … see Full Review

Plácido Domingo - Live Georges BIZET (1838-1875) Carmen (1875) Plácido Domingo (tenor); Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper/Carlos Kleiber rec. 1978 TDK DV-CLOPCAR [154:00] Umberto GIORDANO (1867-1948) Fedora Plácido Domingo (tenor); Coro & Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala/Gianandrea Gavazzeni rec. 1993 TDK DVWW-OPFED [113:00] Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Il trovatore Plácido Domingo (tenor); Chor & Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper/Herbert von Karajan rec. 1978 TDK DV-CLOPIT (2 DVD) [151:00] TDK DV-GOLDBOX2 (4 DVD)[GF]

No opera lover is likely to be seriously disappointed with this ... see Full Review

An English Recital Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS The Lake in the Mountains, Hymn-Tune Prelude on 'Song 12' by Orlando Gibbons, Suite of Six Short Pieces Gustav HOLST Two Pieces for Piano, Two Northumbrian Folk Tunes John IRELAND Sonatina Arnold BAX Allegretto quasi andante Peter WARLOCK Five Folk-Song Preludes Ernest John MOERAN Bank holiday Benjamin BRITTEN Night Piece John JOUBERT Dance Suite Op.21 John McCabe (piano) rec. St. George the Martyr, Holborn, London, 20 May 1972 and London, 20-22 May 1968 (Britten) BMS103CDH [70:12] [HC]

This beautifully produced release is a timely tribute to John McCabe ... see Full Review

The English Stage Jig The City Waites/Lucie Skeaping rec. 2008 HYPERION CDA67754 [78:17][JS] 

I cannot imagine this being better or more convincingly performed ... see Full Review

Evocaciones de España Joaquin RODRIGO, Enrique GRANADOS, Federico Morena TORROBA, Joaquin NIN, Manuel de FALLA, Isaac ALBENIZ, Hector VILLA-LOBOS, Paul COLES, Delfín COLOMÉ PUJOL, Satoshi TANAKA (b.1956) Jones-Mauri Duo: Agustin Mauri (guitar); Michael Kevin Jones (cello) rec. 17-19 October, 2007, Santa Eufemia de Cozollos, Olmos de Ojeda, Palencia (Spain). DDD EMEC E-075 [78:29] [GPu]

The familiar transformed and the altogether unfamiliar … thoroughly engaging … see Full Review

Walter FELSENSTEIN Edition Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Fidelio (1956) Leoš JANÁČEK Das schlaue Füchslein (1965) Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART Don Giovanni (1966) Giuseppe VERDI Othello (1969) Jacques OFFENBACH Hoffmanns Erzählungen (1970) Jacques OFFENBACH Ritter Blaubart (1973) Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART Die Hochzeit des Figaro (1975/76) Full details at end of reviewARTHAUS 101345 [7 DVD set] [KJK][JL]

An unbending will in pursuit of theatrical truth. ... see Full Review

French Saxophones – 25 Years Jubilee Album Aurelia Saxophone Quartet rec. 1990 CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72331 [70:16 + 59:09][RB]

A most entertaining collection ... see Full Review

Gregorian Chant from Westminster Cathedral Westminster Cathedral Choir/Stephen Cleobury rec. 1980 GRIFFIN GCCD4068 [74:14][MS]

Dated and somewhat unidiomatic ... see Full Review

Christopher Herrick - Organ Fireworks XIII Christopher Herrick (Organ of Västerås Cathedral, Sweden) rec. 2008 HYPERION CDA67734 [78:19][GF]

Magnificent instrument and excellent playing, but variable music ... see Full Review

Intimate Studies Leos JANÁČEK (1854-1928) In the Mist, Intimate Studies Pavel HAAS (1899-1944)Suite for Piano Op. 13, Allegro Moderato Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Film en Miniature, Spring Josef SUK (1874-1935) Spring Lada Valešová (piano) rec. 2008 AVIE AV2142 [75:43] [JW]

A delightful recital, warmly and sensitively played … see Full Review

The Artistry of Emma Kirkby Emma Kirkby (soprano); various other artists rec. 1999-2007 BIS BIS-CD-1734/35 [4 CDs: 73.19 + 74.30 + 72.36 + 72.07][RH]

Essential listening for all lovers of vocal music ... see Full Review

Jiří Kylián & The Netherlands Dance Theatre Svadebka, Symphony of Psalms, Torso - Music by Stravinsky & Takemitsu rec. 1983/4 ARTHAUS MUSIK 102115 [68:00] [J-PJ]

Unclear who this will appeal to ... see Full Review

Lincolnshire Posy Percy Aldridge GRAINGER (1882-1961) Lincolnshire Posy (completed 1937)¹ [14:29] Hill Song No. 2 (1907)² [5:50] Vincent PERSICHETTI (1915-1986) Symphony for Band (Symphony No. 6) (1955-6)² [17:01] Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Two Armenian Dances (1943)² [5:58] Walter S. HARTLEY (b. 1927) Concerto for 23 Winds (1957)² [16:43] Bernard ROGERS (1893-1968) Three Japanese Dances: Dance with Pennons; Mourning Dance; Dance with Swords (1933, rev.1953)¹ [11:01] Eastman Wind Ensemble/Frederick Fennell rec. Eastman Theater, Rochester, NY, USA, March 1958¹; May 1959². ADD. DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 2089 [71:28] [BW]

An attractive collection of the familiar and unfamiliar ... see Full Review 

 

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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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