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Alphabetical Listing

Recommendations

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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RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Agustín BARRIOS (Mangore) (1885-1944) Confesión Alexander-Sergei Ramírez (guitar) rec. 2000 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 471 532-2 [75:19] [ZT]

A treat for all aficionados of fine music - a must for Barrios devotees … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Manuel de FALLA (1876-1946) El Sombrero de Tres Picos, Zarzuela Arias Victoria de los Angeles, Montserrat Caballé, Philharmonia O/Raphael Frühbeck de Burgos rec. 1964/6 HIGH DEFINITION TAPE TRANSFERS HDCD193 [76:48] [RB]

The de Falla is from a great vintage and the Caballé consituency need to hear the young diva in her grandest sunrise. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH George Frideric HANDEL (1685 - 1759) Brockes-Passion (HWV 48) Soloists; Kölner Kammerchor, Collegium Cartusianum/Peter Neumann rec.2009 CARUS 83.428 [78:25 + 74:58] [JV]

An excellent performance with no weak links ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Barbara HARBACH Vocal Music Stella Markou (soprano) with Paula Kasica (flute); Paul Garritson (clarinet and bass clarinet); Donita Bauer (bassoon); Ayako Watanabe (harp); David Gillham (violin); Joanna Mendoza (viola); Kurt Baldwin (cello); James Richards (conductor) (Abigail!); Alla Voskoboynikova (piano) (Pleasure, Emily! And Light); Paul Hecht (trumpet) (Emily!); Diana Haskell (clarinet); Barbara Harbach (piano) (Pioneer Women); Thomas F George (piano) (21st Century) rec. 2008,DDD MSR RECORDS MS 1256 [69:49] [BBr]

This is something very special … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Hannibal LOKUMBE (b.1948)
Dear Mrs Parks Taylor Lee Gardner (child soprano); Janice Chandler-Eteme (soprano); Jenetta Steele (alto); Kevin Deas (baritone) Brazeal Dennard Ch, Rackham Community Ch, Detroit SO/Thomas Wilkins rec 2009 NAXOS 8.559668 [59:03] [BBr]

An important composer … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johann Joachim QUANTZ (1697-1773) Flute Sonatas Verena Fischer (transverse flute); Klaus-Dieter Brandt (Baroque cello); Léon Berben (harpsichord) rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.557805 [63:28] [CR]

A lovely disc … enjoyable and of real quality from beginning to end ... see Full Review 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Lionel SAINSBURY (b.1958) Violin Concerto Haydn WOOD (1882-1959) Violin Concerto, Adagio Lorraine McAslan (violin) BBC Concert O/Barry Wordsworth, Gavin Sutherland rec. 2009 DUTTON EPOCH CDLX7245 [71:47] [RB]

Two strong works written in captivating romantic idioms that while not identical have more in common than you might expect ... see Full Review 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Vier letze Lieder, 12 Orchestral Songs Elizabeth Schwarzkopf (sop.) Radio SO Berlin, London SO/George Szell, rec. 1965/8 EMI CLASSICS MASTERS 9659412 [64:34] [BW]

The pick of EMI’s latest reissue series ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Georg Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Die Tageszeiten, Nun danket alle Gott Basler Madrigalisten; L'arpa festante/Fritz Näf rec. 2009 CARUS 83.439 [66:24] [MS]

Full of surprises, depth and energy, this CD is a delight … see Full Review 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Donald TOVEY (1875-1940) The Bride of Dionysus – excerpts Sally Silver, Yvonne Fontane, Robert Johnston, Michael Bundy, Belfast PCh, Ulster O/George Vass rec. 2009 DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7241 [77:49] [RB]

A truly grand opera in which passion and Brahmsian nobility commingle amid the most exalted lyrical writing. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Tender is the North Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Two Pieces Niels W. GADE (1817-1890) Tre Tonestykker Áskell MÁSSON (b.1953) Larghetto Knut NYSTEDT (b.1915) Variasjoner Otto OLSSON (1879-1964) Sonata Iain Quinn (organ) rec. 2009 CHANDOS CHAN10581 [71:02] [DC]

Superlative performance, interesting and inspired programming ... see Full Review

 

BARGAINS OF THE MONTH

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The Works for Organ (MP3 Edition) Kevin Bowyer (organ) rec. 1991-2001 NIMBUS NI1721 [8 CDs of MP3 files: 30:52:00] [Equivalent to the 17 volume CD series] [BW] [KM]

All this wonderful music at such a low price; you can’t go wrong [KM] Not only Bargain of the Month, but almost certainly Bargain of the Year [BW] ... see Full Review
.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Georges BIZET (1838-1875) CD 1 Carmen Suite; L'Arlésienne Suite; Patrie! – Ouverture dramatique; CD 2 Symphony in C; Jeux d'enfants (Petite Suite); La jolie fille de Perth Suite Joaquin TURINA (1882-1949) Danzas fantásticas L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Ernest Ansermet rec. 1958-1960 ADD DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 0457 [74:56 + 66:07] [DM]

Very desirable indeed … a chance to make amends for earlier misjudgements. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Jean GILLES (1668-1705) Messe des Morts - Requiem [43.58] Michel CORRETTE (1709-1795) Carillon des Morts [4.46] Anne-Marie Rodde (soprano); Jean Nirouet (counter-tenor); Martyn Hill (tenor); Ulrich Studer (baritone); Peter Kooy (bass) Collegium Vocale Gent; Musica Antiqua Köln/Philippe Herreweghe rec. 1981. DDD BRILLIANT CLASSICS 93890 [48.45] [GH]

At bargain price this is a fine catch ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Zoltán KODÁLY (1882-1967) Orchestral Works Philharmonia Hungarica/Antal Doráti, London SO/István Kertész rec. 1968-73 DECCA COLLECTORS EDITION 478 2303 [4 CDs: 294:26] [RB]

Authentic national flavours and vivacious golden age analogue Decca sound - an irresistible acquisition ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH György LIGETI (1923-2006) String Quartets 1 & 2, Andante and Allegretto Parker Qt rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570781 [55:46]  [LW]

Superb renditions of the Ligeti Quartets at bargain price … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Complete Symphonies Collector's Edition Conductor: Leonard Bernstein DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8668 [11 CDs: 746:00] [ST]

A hugely dynamic achievement that deserves to be appreciated, warts and all. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphonies 3 & 6, Ruth Güldbæk (soprano); Eric Sjøberg (baritone) Danish State RSO/John Frandsen, Thomas Jensen rec. 1946-55 DUTTON CDBP9796 [62:12] [RB]

Jensen: sheer delight in intricacy and joyously precise; Frandsen: powerful with mordant accentuation of rhythmic impact and idyllically understated pastoral warmth ... see Full Review 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Gioachino ROSSINI (1792 - 1868) La Cenerentola Joyce DiDonato (mezzo) Juan Diego Flórez (tenor) Gran Teatre del Liceu Ch & SO/Patrick Summers rec. 2008 DECCA/UNITEL CLASSICA 074 3305 [2 DVDs: 179:00] [RMK]

Splendid escapism … An enchanting romantic bubble of joy ... see Full Review 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH John RUTTER (b.1945) Gloria Leonard BERNSTEIN (1918 - 1990) Chichester Psalms Francis POULENC (1899 - 1963) Quatre petites Prières de Saint François d'Assise, Litanies à la Vierge Noire Ch Clare College Cambridge, Corydon Singers/Matthew Best rec. 1995 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9087 [60:04] [BBr]

Don’t miss it on any account … see Full Review  

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Ballet and Symphonies London Sinf, Berliner PO, CBSO/Sir Simon Rattle rec. 1977-2007 EMI CLASSICS 2427542 [4 CDs: 263:50] [CR]

A strong overview in which Rattle’s flair and panache make for an essential collection ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Un ballo in Maschera Carlo Bergonzi, Leontyne Price, RCA Italiana Opera Ch & O/Erich Leinsdorf rec. 1966 SONY OPERA HOUSE 88697581322 [68.36 + 59.35] [RJF]

Verdi singing does not come much better than this. This 1966 recording and performance has stood the test of time ... 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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