September
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750)
Orgel-Büchlein 
Helmut Walcha (organ) rec. 1950/2
PRISTINE AUDIO PAKM036 [52:06 + 46:03] 
[MS]
It's
good to have these classic and interpretatively superb recordings
of one of Bach's most compelling organ works available. The transfer
quality is almost as satisfying as the performance.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Sonatas 9 &
10
Edward Dusinberre (violin) David Korevaar (piano) rec. 2009
DECCA 476 3898 [65:13] 
[GD]
Could
easily become the benchmark for a generation to come.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frank
BRIDGE (1879
- 1941) Cello Sonata Benjamin BRITTEN
(1913 - 1976) Cello Sonata Arnold
BAX (1883 - 1953) Legend-Sonata
Johannes Moser (cello), Paul Rivinius (piano) rec. 2009
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.257 [66:45]
[BBr]
A
very special issue.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony 4
Minnesota O/Osmo Vänskä rec. 2009
BIS-SACD-1746
[63:21]
[DC]
No
reservations whatsoever.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Benjamin
DALE (1885-1943) Sonata William
HURLSTONE (1876-1906) Sonata
Mark Bebbington (piano) rec. 2006
SOMM SOMMCD 097 [79:30]
[JF]
Two
of the greatest twentieth century British piano sonatas stunningly
played and beautifully recorded.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gershwin
by Grofé: Symphonic Jazz
Lincoln Mayorga (piano) Al Gallodoro (alto saxophone/clarinet/bass
clarinet) Harmonie Ens New York/Steven Richman rec. 2007
HARMONIA MUNDI HMU 907492 [54:46]
[JQ]
A
hugely entertaining and historically informed CD that’s a mandatory
purchase for all Gershwin fans
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Tommie HAGLUND
(b.1959)
Hymns to the Night, Daughter of the Voice,To the Sunset Breeze
Elizabeth Pitcairn (violin); Helsingborg SO/Hannu Koivula, John
Mills (guitar); Stephen Fitzpatrick (harp); Lysell Qt rec. 2009/10
PHONO SUECIA PSCD184 [79:48]
[NB]
What
a restoration of faith in the power of new music this disc gives
me – contemporary music that is complex, rewarding, moving and
above all human. My disc of the year without a doubt.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Manfred Symphony
Gürzenich O Köln/Dmitri Kitaienko rec. 2009
OEHMS CLASSICS OC665
[61:25]
[DM]
A
Manfred to die for.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Elina
Garanca - Habanera
Elina Garanca (mezzo) Roberto Alagna, José Maria Gallardo (guitar)
SO Nazionale della Rai/Karel Mark Chichon rec. 2010
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8776 [68:22]
[GF]
There
are a few records every year where everything is right. This is
one of them.
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Robert
Livingston ALDRIDGE (b.1954) Clarinet Concerto,
Samba Aaron COPLAND (1900-1990)
Clarinet Concerto
David Singer (clarinet) A Far Cry Orchestra, Shanghai Qt rec.
2008, 2009
NAXOS 8.559667 [49:44] 
[BR]
An
enjoyable new concerto and an old favorite, played with love and
wit
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770–1827) Piano Concerto 5, Symphony
4
Edwin Fischer (piano), Philharmonia O, Vienna PO/Wilhelm Furtwängler
rec. 1950/51
NAXOS 8.112025 [75:38]
[BBr]
Genius
is the word.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH William
BOYCE (1711-1779)
Trio Sonatas
The Parley of Instruments/Peter Holman rec. 1995
HYPERION DYAD CDD22063 [61:07 + 61:51]
[JW]
This
idiomatically played twofer makes renewed demands on lovers of
Boyce’s very individual and engaging works.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Dietrich BUXTEHUDE
(c.1637-1707) Organ Works
Lionel Rogg rec. 1977-78
EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 4563292 [77:24 + 77:57]
[BW]
An
excellent bargain for novices and seasoned collectors alike.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Orchestral Music
Franz Peter Zimmermann, Truls Mørk, Kristian Zacharias, Staatskapelle
Dresden/Wolfgang Sawallisch, Philharmonia O/Riccardo Muti, Cologne
RSO/Vonk rec. 1972-93
EMI CLASSICS 6090372 [4 CDs: 77:14 + 78:54 + 75:39 + 73:53]
[RB]
It's
no wonder the components of this set have won so many laurels.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Complete Songs
Christine Schäfer, Dorothea Röschmann, Felicity Lott, Kate Royal
(soprano) Ann Murray (mezzo) Ian Bostridge, Mark Padmore (tenor)
Simon Keenlyside, Christopher Maltman (baritone) Graham Johnson
(piano) rec. 1995-2007
HYPERION CDS44441/50 [10 CDs: 734.44]
[KM]
A
monumental set of Schumann lieder: a must-have box set.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856) Lieder and Scenes from Goethe’s
Faust
EMI CLASSICS 6090222 [6 CDs: 7:17:00]
[ST]
This
set can be warmly recommended to anyone wanting to explore this
utterly essential corner of Schumann’s output.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH John
WARD (1571-1638)
First Book of Madrigals
The Consort of Musick/Anthony Rooley rec. 1980
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 1816 [46.02 + 49.38]
[GH]
To
hear such expressive singing and to encounter Kirkby and Tubb
in their prime and freshness is unbeatable.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Hugo
WOLF (1860 – 1903) The Anniversary Edition
Various artists rec. 1955-2005
EMI CLASSICS 6886082 [8 CDs: 571:22]
[GF]
For
most readers this can very well be the only Wolf discs they will
ever need.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH
Endechar
Lament for Spain - Sephardic Romances and Songs
Capilla Antigua de Chincilla/José Ferrero rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572443 [57:31]
[GPu]
Captures
the sadness and affirmation at the heart of Sephardic song.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH
Nicolai Gedda -
Lyric
Poet of the Tenor Voice rec. 1952-77
EMI CLASSICS ICON 4560952 [11 CDs: 831:59]
[GF]
A
must for every lover of refined and ardent singing … will
give endless pleasure for years to come.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH
Tito Gobbi -
Complete
Solo Recordings
rec. 1942-1964
EMI CLASSICS ICON 4553782 [5 CDs: 390:20]
[GF]
Indispensable
… and at budget price.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Nobel
Prize Concert Maurice RAVEL
(1875-1937) Piano concerto Serge
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Romeo and Juliet Suites
1 & 2
Martha Argerich (pno), Royal Stockholm PO/Yuri Temirkanov, rec.
2009
EUROARTS 2057898 [80:00] 
[CF]
Electrifying.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Sacred
Music in the Renaissance The
Tallis Scholars Finest Recordings: 1980-1989
The Tallis Scholars/Peter Phillips rec. 1980-1989
GIMELL GIMBX 301 [4 CDs: 78:34 + 79:37 + 78:33 + 78:35]
[JQ]
An
outstandingly generous thirtieth birthday present from Gimell
Records to us.
OCTOBER
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Georges
BIZET
(1838 – 1875) Carmen
Elina Garanca, Roberto Alagna, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Ch &
O/Yannick Nézet-Séguin rec. 2010
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 073 4581 
[2 DVDs: 167:00 + 9:00] 
[GF]
This
is a great achievement
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Piano Concerto 2, Klavierstücke
Nicholas Angelich (pno), Frankfurt RSO/Paavo Järvi, rec. 2009
VIRGIN CLASSICS 2663492 [74:37] 
[JQ]
A
performance of the Brahms Second Piano Concerto that deserves
to be ranked among the very best.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH William BYRD
(1539/40-1623) Infelix ego: The Byrd Edition
- Volume 13
The Cardinall’s Musick/Andrew Carwood rec. 2009
HYPERION CDA67779 [61:17] [MG]
Performances
of palpable commitment and exceptional quality.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Francesca and
Giulio CACCINI
(1587-c.1640)
O vive rose and other songs
Shannon Mercer (soprano), Luc Beauséjour (harpsichord, organ),
Sylvain Bergeron (guitar, theorbo), Amanda Keesmaat (cello) rec.
2009
ANALEKTA AN 2 9966 [61:54]
[GPu]
Lovely
performances of fine early seventeenth-century songs.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Henri
DUTILLEUX (b. 1916) D’Ombre et de silence
- Complete Piano Music
Robert Levin, Ya-Fei Chuang (pno) rec. 2008
ECM NEW SERIES 2105 (4763653) [75.31]
[GH]
A
fascinating disc with two masterpieces most beautifully played
and recorded.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
The Kingdom
Clare Rutter, Susan Bickley, John Hudson, Iain Paterson, Hallé
Ch & O/Sir Mark Elder rec. live, 2009
HALLÉ CDHLD7526 [57:49 + 36:28] 
[JQ]
Elder
and the Hallé offer the pre-eminent digital account of
Elgar’s last oratorio.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Arthur
HONEGGER (1892-1955) Les Aventures du Roi Pausole
Mattijs van de Woerd, Opera Trionfo, Nieuw Ens/Ed Spanjaard rec.
2008
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9152 [72:05] 
[RB]
One
wonders why this work has not become more popular. A winner.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Philip SAWYERS
(b.1951)
The Gale of Life, Symphonic Music for Strings and Brass, Symphony
1
Grand Rapids Symphony/David Lockington rec. 2002/2004/2008
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6129 [63:38]
[NB]
Reflects
great credit on all involved – music of instant appeal and enduring
quality performed with zealous passion recorded in excellent sound.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jan
Dismas ZELENKA (1679 - 1745) Missa votiva
Joanne Lunn, Daniel Taylor, Johannes Kaleschke, Thomas E. Bauer,
Kammerchor Stuttgart, Barockorchester Stuttgart/Frieder Bernius
rec. 2008
CARUS 83.223 [69:15]
[JV]
Another
masterpiece by Zelenka - the performance displays the Mass in
its full glory.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jonas
Kaufmann – Verismo Arias
Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) Eva-Maria Westbroek (sop) Rosa Feola (soprano)
Cristina Reale (mezzo) O dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Roma/Antonio Pappano
DECCA 478 2258 [61 :52]
[RMo]
Kaufmann
just gets better and better.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Milo
Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Cello sonata Frank
BRIDGE (1879-1941) Cello sonata Mark-Anthony
TURNAGE (b.1960) Milo, Sleep On
Guy Johnston (cello) Kathryn Stott (piano) rec. 2009
ORCHID CLASSICS ORC100010 [64:17]
[EM]
A
disc I would recommend to anyone looking for excellent versions
of any of these works.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Moonflowers, Baby!
Works
by Hindemith, Honegger, Milhaud, Francaix, Vaughan Willaims &
Kupferman
Jonathan Cohler (clarinet) Judith Gordon (piano) rec. 1993
CRYSTAL RECORDS CD733 [62:12]
[OL]
Sensitive,
subtle, beautiful, refined.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Musica
Sacra Hungarica
Budapesti Monteverdi Kórus/Éva Kollár rec. 2010
CARUS 2.151/99 [68:22]
[WH]
A
fascinating and lovely collection from a distinguished German
publishing house.
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Luigi BOCCHERINI
(1743-1805) Sonatas for Cello and Piano
Fedor Amosov (cello) Jen-Ru Sun (piano) rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572368 [67:46]
[JS]
This
has been an exceptionally and unexpectedly enjoyable disc.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Girolamo FRESCOBALDI
(1583-1643) Frescobaldi Edition - Vols 3 & 4
Stagione Armonica, Schola Gregoriana/Sergio Balestracci, Dom Nicola
M. Bellinazzo rec. 2006/8
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 93780/1 [64:04 + 78:04]
[JV]
Two
great volumes in a major project of Brilliant Classics.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809)
Masses - Volume 3 Missa Sancti Nicolai, Missa
in angustiis
Ann Hoyt (soprano) Trinity Ch, Rebel Baroque O/J. Owen Burdick
rec. 2002/7
NAXOS 8.572123 [64:46]
[BW]
Challenges
even the best - a bargain alternative to Trevor Pinnock.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Hans Christian
LUMBYE (1810-1874)
The Best Of
Tivoli SO/Giordano Bellincampi, David Riddell, Tamás Vetö
rec. 1998-2005
NAXOS 8.556843 [71:21]
[BW]
Joins
my select list of music for cheering up.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Krzysztof
PENDERECKI (b. 1933) Credo, Cantata in
honorem Almæ Matris Universitatis Iagellonicæ sescentos abhinc
annos fundatæ
Iwona Hossa, Aga Mikolaj (sop.) Ewa Wolak (alto) Rafal Bartminski
(ten.) Remigiusz Lukomski (bass) Warsaw Boys’ Ch, Warsaw PO &
Ch/Antoni Wit, rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572032 [56:27]
[BW]
Music
which matches power and contemplation with performances to match.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Orchestral and vocal
collection
rec. 1962-1994
EMI CLASSICS 6 27910 2 [78:47 + 76.51]
[TB]
For
anyone starting out upon a Vaughan Williams collection, it would
be hard to better this EMI compilation of classic recordings reissued
at bargain price.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Bajazet
Ildebrando D’Arcangelo, David Daniels, Elina Garanca, Vivica Genaux,
Patrizia Ciofi, Europa Galante/Fabio Biondi rec. 2004
VIRGIN CLASSICS 4564592 [73:35 + 72:48]
[J-PJ]
The
best of the best in terms of Neapolitan-style opera – tuneful,
virtuosic and passionate. Virtually every number in this recording
is a highlight.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH English
Lute Songs
Robin Blaze (counter-tenor); Elizabeth Kenny (lute) rec. 1999
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55249 [70:34]
[EM]
A
superb disc of excellent programme and performance.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Byron
Janis Edition - The Legendary Concerto Recordings
Moscow PO/Kirill Kondrashin, Moscow Radio SO/Gennady Rozhdestvensky,
Minneapolis SO/Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, London SO/Herbert Menges,
Antal Dorati, rec. 1960-63
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9182 [4 CDs: 261:56]
[RB]
Classic
readings without a hint of autopilot. Demands your attention and
will reward it with generosity.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Fritz
Wunderlich - A Poet among Tenors
EMI CLASSICS ICON 6295252 [6 CDs: 533:27]
[RMo]
I
urge every lover of the tenor to buy this set
[Jan-
April] [May- Aug]
[Sept-Dec] [2009]
