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Alphabetical Listing

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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]


Superbudget £5.99 or less Budget £6-7.99 Medium £8-10.99 Full price £11+ Download

Pablo de SARASATE (1844-1908) Music for Violin and Orchestra - Vol. 1 Zigeunerweisen, Airs Espagnols, Peteneras, Nocturne, Viva Sevilla!, Fantasie sur la Dame Blanche Tianwa Yang (violin) avarra SO/Ernest Martínez Izquierdo rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.572191 [53:29] [CF]

A tasty dish. 

Pablo SARASATE (1844-1908) Music for violin & orchestra - Vol. 2 Tianwa Yang (violin) Navarra SO/Ernest Martínez Izquierdo, rec. 2008-9 NAXOS 8.572216 [58:19] [BR]

All young prodigies are madly virtuosic, but Tianwa Yang is also madly in love with the music.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Alessandro SCARLATTI (1660 - 1725) La Santissima Trinita Roberta Invernizzi, Veronique Gens, Vivica Genaux, Europa Galante/Fabio Biondi rec. 2003 VIRGIN CLASSICS 6286472 [67.27] [RH]

One of my discoveries of the year. Very fine singing and playing, combined with a work which seems to have an abundance of variety, displaying Scarlatti’s genius at its best.

Alessandro SCARLATTI (1660 - 1725) Vespro della Beata Vergine Roberto Fernández de Larrinoa (violone) Menno van Delft (organ) Netherlands Chamber Ch./Harry van der Kamp, rec. 2007 ATMA ACD2 2533 [59:46] [JV]

Fine performances of seven beautiful sacred pieces by Alessandro Scarlatti, largely written in the stile antico.

Alfred SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) Concerto grosso 1, Symphony 9 Sharon Bezaly (flute) Christopher Cowie (oboe) Cape PO/Owain Arwel Hughes rec. 2008 BIS-CD-1727 [61:24] [CF]

There is much highly attractive music here.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Moses und Aron Dale Duesing (baritone) Andreas Conrad (tenor) Chorwerk Ruhr, Bochum SO/Michael Boder rec. live, 2009 EUROARTS 2058178 [106:00] [ST]

Altogether outstanding: a thumping, exciting, visceral experience, but a challenge too and something any serious music lover should rise to.

Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) String Quartet 1 see SIBELIUS

Paul SCHOENFIELD (b.1947) Six British Folk Songs; Peccadilloes; Refractions James Tocco (piano) Paul Schoenfield (piano) Yehuda Hanani (cello) Alexander Fiterstein (clarinet) rec. 2008 NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559380 [62:26] [OL]

Energetic, cerebral music with a mischievous grin.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Franz SCHUBERT (1797–1828) Die Schöne Müllerin Daniel Behle (tenor) Sveinung Bjelland (piano) rec. 2009 CAPRICCIO 5044 [65:46] [GF]

Should win admirers around the world.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphonies 1-9, Grand Duo, Rosamunde Overture CO Europe/Claudio Abbado rec. 1986/7 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8687 [5 CDs: 330:04] [LW]

Abbado’s winning set still provides hours of truly wonderful music-making and at low cost. 

Clara Wieck SCHUMANN (1819-1896) Concerto Movement see Robert SCHUMANN

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Concerto, Introduction and Allegro appassionato, Introduction and Allegro concertante Clara Wieck SCHUMANN (1819-1896) Concerto Movement Oleg Marshev (piano) South Jutland SO/Vladimir Ziva rec. 2009 DANACORD DACOCD688 [73:41] [RBe]

Beautifully phrased and well executed. 

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Kinderszenen, Davidsbündlertänze, Piano Sonata 2 Angela Hewitt (piano) rec. 2009 HYPERION CDA67780 [75:32] [DC]

Fans and newcomers alike will find much to enjoy here. 

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Carnaval see Solomon

Oliver Iredale SEARLE (b.1977) On a Summer Night see BRITTEN

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) 24 Preludes, Piano Qnt David Kadouch (piano) Quatuor Ardeo rec. 2008 TRANSART TR162 [64:5] [BBr]

Exhilarating performances.

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) 24 Preludes and Fugues Roger Woodward (piano) rec. 1975 CELESTIAL HARMONIES 14302-2 [NB]

A pleasure to rediscover in all its grandeur one of the peaks of the 20th Century piano repertoire in a performance of such power and insight.

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Festive Overture see RACHMANINOV

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphonies 1 & 3 New Zealand SO/Pietari Inkinen, rec. 2009 NAXOS 8.572305 [70:04] [BR]

A dull Sibelius First and a superb Third make this a hard disc to review.

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphonic Poems and Cantatas Estonian Ntl SO/Paavo Järvi rec. 1996 - 2002 VIRGIN CLASSICS 6484032 [4 CDs: 281:15] [RB]

An apt and irresistible collection enhanced by bargain price.

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) String Quartet Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) String Quartet 1 Tetzlaff Qt rec. 2009 C-AVI MUSIC 8553202 [75:31] [MC]

 Beautifully played and recorded.

Lawrence SIEGEL Kaddish Maria Jette (soprano) Krista J Palmquist (mezzo) Anders Eckman (tenor) James Bohn (bass-baritone) VocalEssence Chorus and Chamber Singers/Philip Brunelle rec. live, 2008 NAVONA RECORDS NV5834 [59.56] [RH]

A great deal of love and thought has gone into this disc. 

Bedrich SMETANA (1824 - 1884) String Quartet 1 see MOZART

Ethel SMYTH (1858 – 1944) Violin Sonata see British Women Composers

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH John Philip SOUSA (1854-1932) Sousa’s Greatest Marches Royal Artillery Band/Keith Brion rec. 1999-2002 NAXOS WIND BAND CLASSICS 8.572651-2 [53:43 + 54:59] [DM]

Huzzahs all round. 

Louis SPOHR (1784-1859) Violin Concerto 8 see MOZART

Karlheinz STOCKHAUSEN (1928-2007) Mantra, Work No. 32 Pestova/Meyer Piano Duo, Jan Panis (electronics) rec. 2009 NAXOS 8.572398 [67:33] [LW]

Fans of Stockhausen and the avant-garde should hear this.

Richard STRAUSS Vier letzte Lieder, Der Rosenkavalier Yvonne Kenny (soprano) Queensland SO/Johannes Fritsch rec. 2008 ABC CLASSICS 476 3954 [GF]

Not an unqualified success then, but Yvonne Kenny’s many admirers will find a lot to savour.

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Rosenkavalier-Suite, Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Vier Letzte Lieder Anja Harteros (soprano) Bayerischen RSO/Mariss Jansons rec. 2006/9 BR KLASSIK ARCHIVE 900707 [63:33] [JQ]

A fine and well-chosen Strauss programme, which will give collectors a great deal of pleasure.

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Cello Sonata Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Cello Sonata 1 Ludwig THUILLE (1861-1907) Cello Sonata Jamie Walton (cello) Daniel Grimwood (piano) rec. 2009 JCL RECORDS JCL516 [78.54] [RBe]

Displays a considerable range of pyrotechnics, tone colour and textural variation.

Josef SUK (1874-1935) Symphony, Ripening New London Chamber Ch; BBC SO/Jirí Belohlávek rec. 2010 CHANDOS CHSA5081 [78:33] [JW]

If you value a cogent pair of readings – brisk but not brusque – then you will find that this latest entrant fits the bill admirably.

David SUTTON–ANDERSON (b.1956) Organ Works see Contemporary British Organ Music

Giles SWAYNE (b.1946) The Joys of Travel see Departures

Phyllis TATE (1911 – 1987) Triptych see British Women Composers

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Nutcracker Berliner Philharmoniker/Sir Simon Rattle rec. 2009 EMI CLASSICS 6316212 [43:47 + 42:37] [MC][RB]

Beautifully played and recorded this sumptuously presented release will I’m sure be a runaway Christmas success. [MC] Fortunate the child who discovers the Nutcracker experience at Christmas through this set. [RB]

Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Nutcracker Ricardo Cervera, Miyako Yoshida, Royal Ballet, Ch & O Royal Opera House/Koen Kessels rec. live, 2009 OPUS ARTE OA1036 D [127:00 + extras] [JS]

A fine performance of a justified favourite is given the presentation it deserves.

Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphonies 4-6 O dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia/Antonio Pappano, rec. 2006 EMI CLASSICS 6318112 [71:24 + 65:03] [BR]

They are labelled as “great recordings” after just three years, but not without reason.

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concerto 1 Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Piano Concerto 1 Alice Sara Ott (piano) Münchner Philharmoniker/Thomas Hengelbrock rec. 2009 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8779 [54:47] [GD]

Nobody else sounds quite like this.

Piotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Cherevichki Olga Guryakova, Vsevolod Grivnov, Larissa Diadkova, Maxim Mikhailov, Royal Opera House O/Alexander Polianichko rec. 2009 OPUS ARTE OA1037D [DVD: 155:00] [BW]

This DVD is likely to become one of my regular Christmas visitors.

Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840 – 1893) Symphony 6 see A Romantic Evening

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Nutcracker Suite see DVOŘÁK

Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Nocturne, Pezzo Capriccioso, Andante cantabile see DAVIDOFF

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840 – 1893) Variations on a Rococo Theme see DVORÁK

Ludwig THUILLE (1861-1907) Cello Sonata see STRAUSS

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Philharmonia O/Malcolm Sargent see ELGAR

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872 - 1958) Songs of Travel  see Departures

Ian VENABLES (b.1955) Songs Andrew Kennedy (tenor) Iain Burnside (pno) Richard Hosford (clarinet) rec. 2009 NAXOS 8.572514 [66:04] [BW]

All lovers of English song should purchase this CD at their earliest opportunity.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Requiem, Quattro Pezzi Sacri Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Janet Baker, Christa Ludwig, Nicolai Gedda, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Philharmonia Ch & O/Carlo Maria Giulini rec. 1962-64 EMI CLASSICS 6318212 [67:00 + 61:41] [MS]

One of the last century's greatest, most captivating, stimulating and thoroughly enjoyable choral recordings from a team at the peak of their various forms reissued. Don't miss it; though be prepared to live with some acoustic imperfections.

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Messa da Requiem Barbara Frittoli (soprano) Olga Borodina (mezzo) Mario Zeffiri (tenor) Ildar Abdrazakov (bass) Chicago SO & Ch/Riccardo Muti rec. live, 2009 CSO RESOUND CSOR9011008 [48:31 + 41:13] [JQ]

Despite a few reservations, overall this is an impressive recording. 

Giuseppe VERDI (1813–1901) Duetti verdiani Amarilli Nizza (soprano), Roberto Frontali (baritone) O del Teatro di Silesia e Moravia “A. Dvorak”/Gianluca Martinenghi DYNAMIC CDS661 [69:22] [GF]

Readers who fancy a collection of fine Verdi duets need look no further.

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Don Carlo Ferruccio Furlanetto, Rolando Villazón, Simon Keenlyside, Royal Opera House Ch & O/Antonio Pappano rec. 2008 EMI CLASSICS 6316099 [2 DVDs: 126:00 + 85:00] [RJF]

An enjoyable, if not wholly memorable evening at Covent Garden, in Verdi’s longest opera.

Antonio VIVALDI (1675-1741) Concertos for Oboe & Strings Alex Klein (oboe) New Brandenburg Collegium/Anthony Newman rec. 1993 CEDILLE CDR 7003 [75:00] [KS]

Stravinsky got it wrong when he quipped that Vivaldi wrote the same concerto five hundred times. These elegant and beautifully played show-pieces for oboe will delight any listener.

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Arie per tenore Topi Lehtipuu (tenor) I Barocchisti/Diego Fasolis rec. 2010 NAĎVE OP 30504 [65:28] [JV]

Vivaldi in overdrive: too fast and too loud.

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’inventione, L’estro armonico Concertos Europa Galante/Fabio Biondi (violin) rec. 1997-2000 VIRGIN CLASSICS 6484082 [4CDs: 202:59]
Antonio VIVALDI
The Four Seasons, La Stravaganza John Holloway (violin) Taverner Players/Andrew Parrott, La Stravaganza Köln/Andrew Manze rec. 1983/91 DAL SEGNO DSPRCD058 [64:17] [BW]

Two recommendable reissues that will appeal to different sets of purchasers.

Richard WAGNER (1813-1833) Der Ring des Nibelungen Theo Adam; Birgit Nilsson; Gustav Neidlinger; Wolfgang Windgassen; Bayreuth Festival O & Ch/Karl Böhm rec. live, 1966/7 DECCA 478 2367 [14 CDs: 13:39:00]  [GD]

However many interpretations of the Ring Cycle you have already heard, the Böhm is definitely worth hearing. 

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Orchestral highlights from the operas, Siegfried Idyll Philharmonia O/Otto Klemperer rec. 1960/1 EMI CLASSICS 6318272 [79:16 + 78:55] [JS]

Should be on the shelves of any admirer of the composer.

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Rienzi Torsten Kerl, Camilla Nylund, Kate Aldrich, Ch & O Deutsche Oper Berlin/Sebastian Lang-Lessing, rec. 2010 ARTHAUS MUSIK 101521 [155:00] [ST]

If you really want to explore Wagner’s first success then you shouldn’t hesitate in acquiring this DVD.

Irčne WIENIAWSKA (1879- 1932) Violin Sonata see British Women Composers


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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