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Alphabetical Listing

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A-B

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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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

 


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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