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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.
Domenico
SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Sonatas
Mathieu Dupouy (harpsichord) rec. 2009
LABEL-HERISSON LH04 [64:33] 
[JV]
The
interpretation and the peculiar instrument make this disc stand out
among the many devoted to Scarlatti's sonatas.
Franz
SCHMIDT (1874-1939) Variationen über ein Husarenlied
see
SCHREKER
Alfred
SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) String Trio see
SCHOENBERG
Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951)
String Trio Anton WEBERN (1883-1945)
String Trio Alfred SCHNITTKE (1934-1998)
String Trio
Goeyvaerts String Trio rec. 2009
CHALLENGE RECORDS CC72375 [65:14]
[GD]
Like
the performance, the priorities for the audio appear to be precision
and detail.
Franz
SCHREKER (1878-1934) Kammersinfonie, Romantische Suite
Franz SCHMIDT (1874-1939) Variationen
über ein Husarenlied Ferruccio BUSONI
(1866-1924) Two Studies from Doktor Faust
Thomas Hampson; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Camerata Academica Salzburg/Franz
Welser-Möst; Münchner RSO/Fabio Luisi rec. 1967-1999
EMI CLASSICS 6279732 [72:31 + 76:08] 
[RB]
A
very strongly recorded and performed Schreker anthology. Well worth
the explorer's time and bank account.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Part-Songs, Vol. 1
Sibylla
Rubens; Silke Schwarz; Regina Jakobi; Ingeborg Danz; Markus Schafer;
Marcus Ullmann; Thomas Bauer; Markus Flaig; Marcus Schmidl; Ulrich Eisenlohr
rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.570961 [60:05]
[EM]
An
appropriately joyful atmosphere and an excellent disc.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Die schöne Müllerin
Mark Padmore (ten.) Paul Lewis (pno) rec. 2009
HARMONIA MUNDI HMU 907519 [69:25]
[JQ]
A
worthy successor to these performers’ persuasive account of Winterreise.
Robert
SCHUMANN
(1810-1856) Das
Paradies und die Peri,Overture, Scherzo and Finale
Julia Faulkner (soprano) Staatskapelle Dresden/Giuseppe Sinopoli rec.
1994
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94065 [54:43 + 57:56]
[RB]
The
true romantic spirit of Schumann reflected in most sensitive and responsive
music-making.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Dichterliebe, Frauenliebe und
-leben
Aksel Schiøtz, Gerald Moore, Alfred Cortot, Gerhard Hüsch, Lotte Lehmann,
Marian Anderson, Kathleen Ferrier, Bruno Walter rec. 1935-50
MUSIC & ARTS CD-1235(2) [78:35 + 62:24]
[JW]
Imperishable
listening whatever deficiencies may also have been preserved.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Carnaval, Davidsbündlertänze
Alessandra Ammara (pno) rec. 2010
ARTS MUSIC 47755-8 [69:22] 
[GD]
It's
probably not how the composer himself would have played this music,
but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Cyril
SCOTT (1879 – 1970) Violin Sonatas 1 & 3, Sonata
Melodica
Clare Howick (violin), Sophia Rahman (pno), rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572290 [74:27]
[BBr]
A
very worthwhile issue.
Alexander
SCRIABIN
(1872-1915) Piano sonatas 1-10
Anatol Ugorski (piano) rec. 2007-9
C-AVI MUSIC 8553195 [78:43 + 80:42]
[GD]
Ugorski
seems to be getting closer and closer to the spirit of the music. An
attractive proposition indeed.
Rodion
SHCHEDRIN (b.1932) Menuhin-Sonata; Echo-Sonata; Sonata
for Cello and Piano; Im Stile von Albeniz
Dmitry Sitkovetsky (violin) Rodion Shchedrin (piano) David Grigorian
(cello) Ludmila Lissovaja (piano) rec. 2002
ARS MUSICI 232371 [76:16]
[GD]
It's
not always beautiful, but it is always interesting.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony 9, Russian River,
Native Leningrad Suite
Chamber Ch Smolny Cathedral, St. Petersburg State Academic SO/Alexander
Titov
NORTHERN FLOWERS NF/PMA9976 [49:49]
[WH] [NB]
An
important document for all those seeking to understand one of the greatest
of composers [WH] I
am still reeling from the cumulative mediocrity of this disc [NB]
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Piano Quintet Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp Jane
BROCKMAN (b.1949) Trio for flute, cello and piano: Feast
of Fives
Chamber Music Palisades rec. 2005
AIX RECORDS AIX85052 
[62:01]
[BW]
Well
worth considering, but the Shostakovich is a little under-powered and
the visuals are fussy.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906–1975)
Violin Concerto 1 Samuel BARBER
(1910–1981) Violin Concerto
Dylana Jenson (violin) London SO/David Lockington
Private label (no catalogue number) [62:31] [BBr]
A
bargain!
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
24 Preludes and Fugues
Roger Woodward (piano) rec. 1975
CELESTIAL HARMONIES 14302-2 [53:53 + 71:51]
[DC]
A
milestone alternative to more familiar ‘romantic’ recordings.
Dmitry
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975)
Piano Trio 1 see St
Petersburg
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Kullervo
Randi Stene (mezzo); Peter Mattei (baritone) National Male Ch Estonia,
Royal Stockholm PO/Paavo Järvi rec. 1997
VIRGIN CLASSICS 6286522 [78:29] 
[RB]
Among
the not numerous budget price Kullervos this one stands superior.
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Violin Concerto see Art
of Ivry Gitlis
Bedrich
SMETANA (1824-1884) String Quartets 1 & 2
Bennewitz Qt rec. 2009
COVIELLO CLASSICS COV51004 [46:09]
[NB]
These
performances join a list of many powerful versions and can rank with
any.
Antonio
SOLER (1729-1783) Complete Harpsichord Sonatas Vol. 3
Pieter-Jan
Belder (harpsichord) rec. 2009
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94025 [67:47 + 77:14]
[GD]
If
this recording is anything to go by Brilliant could well be onto a good
thing.
John
STANLEY (1712-1786)
Concertos in Seven Parts
The Parley of Instruments/Peter Holman rec. 1988
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55361 [58:13]
[JW]
Fine
playing, and fine music.
Karlheinz
STOCKHAUSEN (1928-2007)
Mantra
Xenia Pestova, Pascal Meyer (pianos) Jan Panis (electronics) rec. 2009
NAXOS
8.572398 [67:33]
[MS]
A
focused, yet expansive, hence highly convincing and technically very
accomplished performance of one of Stockhausen's key works.
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) The Rake’s Progress
Dawn Upshaw, Grace Bumbry, Jerry Hadley, Robert Lloyd, Samuel Ramey,
Ch
& O de l’Opéra de Lyon/Kent Nagano rec. 1995-6
ERATO 2564 681380 [69:40 + 67:45]
[DC]
One
of the best modern recordings available.
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Violin Concerto
see Art of Ivry Gitlis
Karol
SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Violin Concerto 1, Symphony 3,
Interviews with Pierre Boulez
Christian Tetzlaff (violin) Steve Davislim (ten.) Volkhard Steude, Singverein
der Gesellschaft Der Musikfreunde/Johannes Prinz,Wiener
PO/Pierre Boulez, rec. 2009-10
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8771 [48:31 + 46:36]
[RB]
A
deluxe presentation for these two headily exotic works from Szymanowski’s
catalogue.
Thomas
TALLIS (c.1505 – 1585) Spem in alium and other
works
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury rec. 1989
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802002 [60.09]
[RH]
An
admirable re-issue and if you don’t already have a copy, go out and
buy it at once.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Variations on a Rococo
Theme, String Sextet, The Tempest
Mstislav Rostropovich; Borodin String Qt; Leningrad PO/Gennadi Roshdestvensky;
USSR SO/Evgeny Svetlanov
REGIS RRC1348 [76:22]
[NB]
Ultimately
a bit of a mish-mash of a programme but one with much to please fans
of Soviet music making.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Snow Maiden
Natalia Erassova (mezzo) Alexander Archipov (ten.) Nikolai Vassiliev
(bar.) Russian State Ch & O/Andrei Chistiakov, rec. 1994
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94038 [72:34]
[RB]
Variegated
delights: miniature pen-portraits, songs and atmosphere pieces.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concerto 1 see
BEETHOVEN
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Overtures
Carin van Heerden (recorder) L'Orfeo Barockorchester/Carin van Heerden,
rec. 2006
CPO 7772182 [68:50]
[JV]
Two
relatively little-known Overtures make this disc recommendable … the
Overture in A minor is a little disappointing.
Jesús
TORRES (b.1965)
Manantial de luz, Poética, Trio, Presencias
Trio Arbós, Cécile Daroux (flute) José Luis Estellés
(clarinet) Paul Cortese (viola) Juanjo Guillem (percussion) rec. 2008
KAIROS
0013012KA [66:18] [GPu]
Inventive
chamber music full of fascinating tone colours and resonant with more
than purely musical ideas.
Joaquín
TURINA (1882-1949)
La Oración del Torero see
VERDI
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Mark-Anthony TURNAGE (b.1960) Milo, Sleep On
see Milo
Marcel
TYBERG (1893-1944) Symphony 3, Piano Trio
Michael Ludwig (violin) Roman Mekinulov (cello) Ya-Fei Chuang (paino)
Buffalo PO/JoAnn Falletta rec. 2008/9
NAXOS 8.572236 [60:51]
[WH]
A
fine memorial to a fine composer, well presented and magnificently performed.
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.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Requiem
Margaret Price, Livia Budai, Giuseppe Giacomini, Robert Lloyd, London
PO & Ch/Jesús López-Cobos, rec. 1983
LPO0048 [43:10 + 37:25]
[RMo]
Has
merit but there might be reasons to look for a more celebrated studio
performance.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Requiem
Herva Nelli (soprano) Fedora Barbieri (mezzo) Giuseppe Di Stefano (tenor)
Cesare Siepi (bass) Robert Shaw Chorale, NBC SO/Arturo Toscanini rec.
live, 1951
PRISTINE PACO048 [77:45]
[RMo]
A
benchmark performance in unprecedentedly fine sound.
Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813-1901) String Quartet Luigi
CHERUBINI (1760-1842) String Quartet 1 Joaquín
TURINA (1882-1949)
La Oración del Torero
Britten Qt rec. 1990
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9197 [63:23]
[GPu]
Good
performances of an interesting programme.
Giovanni
Battista VITALI (1632-1692) Sonatas
Semperconsort/Luigi Cozzolino (violin and director) rec. 2008
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 93976 [56:13]
[RH]
Full
of liveliness and charm.
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.
Bruno
WALTER (1876-1962) Violin Sonata Hans
PFITZNER (1869-1949) Violin Sonata
Orfeo Duo rec. 1997
VAI AUDIO VAIA 1155 [67:38]
[RB]
Two
fully fledged expansive violin sonatas marinaded to the core in late-romantic
juices.
Anton
WEBERN (1883-1945) String Trio see
SCHOENBERG
Christoph
Ernst Friedrich WEYSE
(1774–1842) Songs see
Love Songs
Hugo
WOLF (1860-1903)
Italienisches Liederbuch
Felicity Lott (soprano) Peter Schreier (tenor) Graham Johnson (piano)
rec. 1993/4
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55385 [79:40]
[GD]
Expressive
and intimate songs by consummate performers recorded to the highest
audio standards.
Rain
WORTHINGTON Shredding Glass, Yet Still Night
Czech PO/Robert Ian Winstin, rec.
RAIN WORTHINGTON no number [10:08 & 6:02] 
[BBr]
Not
to be missed.
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.
Alexander
von ZEMLINSKY
(1871-1942) Complete
string quartets Hans Erich APOSTEL
(1901-1972) String Quartet 1
LaSalle Qut rec. 1980, ADD
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9188 [65:43 + 71:53]
[RB]
Magnificent
playing recorded with unflinching proximity.
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]
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