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Alphabetical Listing

PART 6
Misc. A-L

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

The Ernest Ansermet Collection from Cascavelle
(5 CDs only available separately)

These five discs certainly contain a good share of excitement and drama.

Ernest Ansermet - The Early Days various orchestras rec. 1916-55 CASCAVELLE VEL 3119 [8 CDs: 547:29] [JW]

I am glad to make the acquaintance of this set, not least for the rarer items and for those truly fine recordings among them. 

Back to Melody Wojciech KILAR (b.1932) Orawa Maciej MALECKI (b.1940) Polish Suite for String Quartet; Andante and Allegro for solo viola and five string instruments Slawomir CZARNECKI (b.1949) Quartet No.2 ‘Spiš’ Opium Quartet with Wojciech Walczak (viola) and Radoslaw Nur (double bass) rec. 2009 CD ACCORD ACD 163-2 [56:50] [JW]

I think you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise.

Barbirolli in New York New York P-SO/Sir John Barbirolli, rec. 1959 WEST HILL RADIO ARCHIVES WHRA6033 [4 CDs: 311:44] [JW]

Admirers of the conductor will find this set indispensable.

British Women Composers Ethel SMYTH (1858 – 1944) Violin Sonata Irène WIENIAWSKA (1879- 1932) Violin Sonata Phyllis TATE (1991-1987) Triptych Clare Howick (violin) Sophia Rahman (piano) rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.572291 [78:09] [BBr]

Not just for those who are passionate about British music, it’s for everyone interested in good music.

Fritz Busch Works by Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Schibert, Wagner & Alfven Winterthur SO, Los Angeles PO, Konserthus Stiftelsens O Malmö/Fritz Busch rec. 1946/9 GUILD GHCD 2366 [78:56] [BBr]

A fine disk.

Contemporary British Organ Music - Vol. 2 Avril ANDERSON (b.1953) Repetitive Strain; The Lone Piper; The Grass is Sleeping; Each Night That Dies With Dawn David SUTTON–ANDERSON (b.1956) Fantasia; Unda Maris; Three Pieces; encircling, unfolding; Happy Birthday Mr Lambert Michael Bonaventure (organ) rec. 2010 SFZ MUSIC SFZM0610 [78:39] [BBr]

Some fine music which is worth investigating.

Great Pianists: Alfred Cortot Works by Purcell, Bach, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saëns & Franck rec. 1929-37 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111381 [DC]

A real treat.

Departures Lennox BERKELEY (1903 - 1989) Tombeaux Roger QUILTER (1877 - 1953) Four Songs of Mirza Schaffy Giles SWAYNE (b.1946) The Joys of Travel Benjamin BRITTEN (1913 - 1976) Quatre Chansons Françaises Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872 - 1958) Songs of Travel Benjamin Hulett (tenor), Alexander Soddy (piano) rec. 2009 SAPHRANE S62611 [68:31] [BBr]

Benjamin Hulett has the ability to tell a story and engage us in the telling. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH In Dulci Jubilo - Romantic Choral Music for Christmas Norddeutscher Figuralchor/Jörg Straube rec. 2009 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM GOLD MDG947 1651-6 [74:57] [CC]

This is a tremendous Christmas disc with a difference. Romantic period choral writing - a superb collection. 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH English String Music Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Introduction & Allegro, Serenade, Elegy, Sospiri Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Tallis & Greensleeves Fantasias Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) Brigg Fair Sinfonia of London, New PO, Hallé O/Sir John Barbirolli rec. 1962-70 EMI CLASSICS MASTERS 6317882 [BBr]

These performances defy criticism. They really don’t make them like this any more.

Christoph Eschenbach: The Early Recordings Christoph Eschenbach (piano) London SO/Hans Werner Henze, Boston SO/Seiji Ozawa rec. 1966-74 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9189 [6 CDs: 328:19] [WH]

Very much a mixed bag, but the best is outstanding.

O felici orecchi miei! - Vecchie e celebri canzoni napoletane Domenico Balzani (baritone) Ludo Mariën (accordion) Macri Simone (piano) PHAEDRA 292023 [59:06] [GF]

Finely judged and quite restrained singing. Nothing of the Pavarotti exhibitionist – and very refreshing it is, filled with joy.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH An evening with Renée Fleming Renée Fleming (soprano) Berlin PO/Ion Marin rec. live, 2010 EUROARTS 2058078 [125:00] [RJF]

In excellent vocal form, in a stunning visual and acoustic location, Renée Fleming enthusiasts, as well as opera lovers in general, should not hesitate.

Samson François (piano) – The Chopin Recordings Monte Carlo National Opera O/Louis Frémaux rec. 1954-69 EMI CLASSICS ICON 4553572 [10 CDs: 754:55] [JW]

If it’s just Francois’s Chopin you’re after then you can’t beat this for price, or space-saving practicality.

French Ballet Music by Delibes, Debussy, Saint-Saëns, Berlioz, Gounod & Massenet Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham rec. 1957-9 EMI CLASSICS 6318162 [70:23] [SV]

Sir Thomas Beecham's aristocratic interpretations have always been an acquired taste.

The Gala Concerts From Vienna, Berlin and Dresden rec. 1998-2005 EUROARTS 2058219 [4 DVDs: 285:00] [RJF]

The Verdi concert is the pick of this selection of these so-called Gala Concerts, some of which should come with a health warning.

Girona XXI Vol. 3 Jordi CERVELLÓ (b.1935) Clarinet Concertino Moisès BELTRAN (b.1967) Esguards silents Miquel ROGER (b.1954) Divertimento per a Cordes Josep Fuster (clarinet) Joan Carlos Martínez (guitar) rec. 2009 COLUMNA MUSÍCA 1CM0236 [39 :53] [GPu]

Three interesting and diverse works, well played – but the CD offers rather short measure.

The Golden Age of Light Music War and Peace 1940-49 GUILD GLCD 5171 [78:50] [BBr]

Such variety and so much to enjoy.

The Golden Era of Light Music - Lightly Classical rec. 1942-59 GUILD GLCD 5172 [79:34] [JW]

Well transferred, and splendidly annotated, as ever.

Alfred Hertz - The Complete Recordings - Volume 4 San Francisco SO/Alfred Hertz, Detroit SO/Ossip Gabrilowitsch PRISTINE AUDIO PASC233 [65:06] [JW]

Consistently excellent work on behalf of Hertz, and I’m curious as to what’s next from this team. 

Hidden Acoustics Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945) Sonata for solo violin Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Partita 2 Ruth Palmer (violin) rec. 2008 HIDDEN ACOUSTICS NI6133 [60:19] [AM]

A stunning recital by a brilliant violinist, recorded in clear but rich sound.

The London Harp Sound The London Harp Sound/Geoffrey Simon rec. 2008 CALA CACD0119 [67:22] [JW]

Harps in all their refulgent glory.

The Jazz Age for Piano Duo Anthony Goldstone & Caroline Clemmow (piano duo) rec. 2010 DIVINE ART DDA25089 [70:43] [JW]

This is a sparkling and vivacious disc, marvellously played, and not just for jazzers only.

Jonas Kaufmann – Verismo Arias Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) O dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma/Antonio Pappano rec. 2010 DECCA 478 2258 [61:52] [ST]

Kaufmann’s many fans need not hesitate, he is on excellent form throughout.

Love Songs Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo) Brad Mehldau (piano) rec. 2010 NAÏVE V5241 [79.06] [KM]

A crossover album that features two excellent musicians. 


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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