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Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Morceau de concert see
Rare French works for violin and orchestra
Pablo
de SARASATE (1844-1908) Zigeunerweisen see
TCHAIKOVSKY
Erik
SATIE (1866-1925) Complete Piano Works 
Cristina Ariagno (piano) rec. 2006
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94087 [6 CDs: 379:10]
[DC]
Whiffs
of promise, but ultimately tedious and unlovely.
Scarlatti,
Hasse: Salve Regina - Cantatas and Motets Domenico
SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Salve Regina Alessandro
SCARLATTI (1660-1725) Su le sponde del Tebro
Johann Adolf HASSE (1699-1783)
Salve Regina Alessandro SCARLATTI
Infirmata vulnerata, O di Betlemme altera
Deborah York (soprano) James Bowman (alto) Crispian Steele-Perkins (natural
trumpet) The King's Consort/Robert King rec. 1996
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55354 [77:04]
[JV]
James
Bowman's performances are the main attraction of this disc.
Alessandro
SCARLATTI (1660-1725) Sonata 9 see VIVALDI
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Domenico SCARLATTI
(1685-1757) Keyboard Sonatas
Alexandre Tharaud (piano) rec. 2010
VIRGIN CLASSICS 6420160 [70.45]
[RBe]
Absolutely
superb … a glorious addition to the Scarlatti discography.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Mass 5, Magnificat in C
Immortal Bach Ens, Leipzig CO/Morten Schuldt-Jensen rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572114 [48:51]
[MC]
Certainly
worth investigating.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) The Last Three Piano Sonatas
Craig Sheppard (piano)
ROMÉO RECORDS 7283-4 [MB]
This
is virile, exciting Schubert
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Dance Suite see Fritz
Busch
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Erwin SCHULHOFF
(1894-1942)
Suite, Sonatas 1 & 2, Sonata for solo violin
Tanja Becker-Bender (violin) Markus Becker (piano) rec. 2010
HYPERION CDA67833 [67:10]
[DC]
Can
only be described in superlatives.
Svend Simon SCHULTZ (1913-1998)
Serenade see NIELSEN
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Humoreske, Studien Fur Den
Pedalflugel, Gesänge der Frühe
Piotr Anderszewski (piano) rec. 2010
VIRGIN CLASSICS 9486252 [63.31]
[RBe]
This
is a really wonderful Schumann recital and one of the most moving piano
recitals I have ever heard.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Kreisleriana
Heinz HOLLIGER (b. 1939) Partita
Alexander Lonquich (piano) rec. 2008
ECM NEW SERIES 2104 [DC]
Transcendent
stuff.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Der Rose Pilgerfahrt
Christoph Prégardien (tenor) Anna Lucia Richter (soprano) Michael Dahmen
(baritone) Michael Gees (piano) South German Chamber Choir/Gerhard Jenemann
rec. 2009
CARUS 83.450 [62:33]
[CC]
Well
worth experiencing the piano version especially when as sensitively
delivered as this.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Cello Concerto 1, Symphony 5
Jonathan Ayling (cello) London Shostakovich O/Christopher Cox rec. live,
2004
DUNELM RECORDS DRD0227 [28:46 + 55:33]
[SV]
Hard
to recommend this issue as a "basic library" choice, or even a supplement.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony 9 see
TCHAIKOVSKY
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Symphonies 4 & 5
New Zealand SO/Pietari Inkinen rec. 2008/9
NAXOS 8.572227 [69:44]
[BR]
A
Fifth with ugly-sounding horns in the finale. Is that a first?
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) The Swan of Tuonela see
Toscanini
Bedrich
SMETANA
(1824-1884) String Quartets 1 & 2 Josef
SUK (1874-1935) Meditation on an old Czech hymn Leoš
JANÁČEK (1854-1928)
String Quartet 1
Talich Qt, Vanbrugh Qt, rec. 1991
ALTO ALC 1079 [69:38]
[JW]
These
performances offer highly satisfying rewards.
Fernando
SOR (1778–1839) 20 Studies
Cristiano Porqueddu (guitar) rec. 2009
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9205 [52:08]
[ZT]
Virtuosity
reigning over pedantry.
Louis
SPOHR (1784-1859) Symphonies 8 & 10, Der Zweikampf
mit der Geliebten Overture
Svizzera Italiana O/Howard Shelley rec. 2010
HYPERION CDA67802 [68:10]
[RB]
Spohr
- urbane and civilised.
Richard
STRAUSS (1886-1949)
Oboe
Concerto Jean FRANÇAIX (1912-1997)
L'Horloge de Flore Bohuslav MARTINU
(1890-1959) Oboe Concerto
John Anderson (oboe) Philharmonia O/Simon Wright rec. 1990
NIMBUS NI5330 [57:30]
[RB]
Not
as crisply recorded or performed as some but certainly engaging.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Elektra
Eva Marton (soprano) Marjana Lipovsek (mezzo) Cheryl Studer (soprano)
Bavarian RSO & Ch/Wolfgang Sawallisch rec. 1990
EMI CLASSICS 6407792 [53.35 + 48.32]
[DH]
This
is a sensible and impressive performance with no significant weak links.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Der Rosenkavalier
Ann Murray (mezzo) Anna Tomowa-Sintow (soprano) Kurt Moll (bass) O &
Ch Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Andrew Davis rec. 1995
OPUS ARTE OACD9006D [GF]
This
live recording has a great deal to offer.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Ariadne on Naxos, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme suite
Christine Brewer (soprano) Robert Dean Smith (tenor) Scottish CO/Sir
Richard Armstrong rec. 2010
CHANDOS CHAN3168 [75:11 + 77:43]
[GF]
This
can confidently be listed among that select company of excellent Ariadnes.
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
The Rite of Spring, Petrushka Ballet Suite
London SO/Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos rec. 1989
ALTO ALC1131 [68:24]
[RB]
Spectacularly
recorded ... the full cream Decca-like treatment: voluptuous, elemental
… an orchestra caught in headlong flight.
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Suites 1 & 2; Symphony in
Three Movements; Symphonies of Wind Instruments; Danses Concertantes;
Violin Concerto; Ebony Concerto; Capriccio; Pulcinella
rec. 1974-99
EMI CLASSICS 9072512 [78:23 + 71:08]
[BW]
Despite
small individual reservations you should snap up this latest manifestation
of EMI’s generosity.
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
The Firebird Suite, The Rite of Spring, Petrouchka, Symphony in Three
Movements
London SO/Gennadi Rozhdestvensky rec. 1987
NIMBUS NI 5714/5 [59:31 + 59:57]
[RB]
Very
crisp and natural recordings with no hint of applied heat or of technicolor
chrome but too relaxed.
Josef
SUK (1874-1935) Meditation on an old Czech hymn see
SMETANA
Otar
TAKTAKISHVILI (1924-1989) Symphony 2, Mogrelian Songs,
Gurian Songs
Rustavi Vocal Ens, Academic Grand Ch, State Academic SO/Evgeni Svetlanov;
Leningrad CO, USSR TV/Radio Large SO/composer rec. 1970s?-1992
RUSSIAN DISC RDCD 00768 [72:35]
[RB]
Lyrical
and heroic music with a touch of shimmering magic.
Germaine
TAILLEFERRE (1892-1983) Sonata for Harp see
20th
Century Harp Classics
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concerti 1-3
Viktoria Postnikova (piano) Wiener SO/Gennady Rozhdestvensky rec. 1982
NEWTON
CLASSICS 8802027 [56:23 + 49:50]
[RB]
Bold
as brass, red-blooded, wide-stage and almost luridly exciting in the
grandest Decca FFRR tradition.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Symphonies 2 & 3
Large SO Ministry of Culture, Russian Federation/Gennadi Rozhdestvensky
rec. 1988-89
ALTO ALC 1103 [78:03]
[RB]
Powerhouse
performances and recordings to win converts to these wallflowers. Not
to be missed.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) A
Symphony of Life ("No. 7," arr Bogatyryov) (1892) [35:11]
Elegy in Memory of Samarin for Strings (1884) [7:34] Serenade for String
Orchestra, Op. 48 (1880) [29:22]
Moscow Symphony Orchestra/Sergei Skripka
CLASSIC TALENT DOM 2910 83 [73:19]
[SV]
Control
problems become an increasing liability as things progress.
Pyotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840–1893) Swan Lake - Suite Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873–1943) Symphonic Dances
St Petersburg PO/Yuri Temirkanov rec. 2008
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD229 [74.38]
[RB]
Good
concert performances with the Rachmaninov enjoying more than its fair
share of eminent moments.
Pyotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concerto
2 Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony
9 Andreas
Boyde (piano) Freiburg PO/Johannes Fritzsch rec. 1997
ATHENE ATHCD16 [73:31]
[BR]
Andreas
Boyde is a strong pianist, but this concert did not deserve CD release.
Pyotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Violin Concerto Julius CONUS (1869-1942)
Violin Concerto Pablo de SARASATE (1844-1908)
Zigeunerweisen Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD
(1897-1957) Violin Concerto
Jascha Heifetz (violin) Philharmonia O/Walter Susskind; RCA Victor SyO/Isler
Solomon, William Steinberg; Los Angeles PO/Alfred Wallenstein rec. 1950-3
NAXOS
HISTORICAL 8.111359 [79:12]
[AM]
1950s
Heifetz recordings of the highest class in vivid transfers from the
ever dependable Mark Obert-Thorn.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony 5
The Polish Sinfonia Iuventus O/Jerzy Semkow rec. 2009
CD ACCORD ACD 164-2 [48:49]
[MC]
A
very fine recording with playing that radiates enthusiasm, skill and
passion.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Trio see
MENDELSSOHN
Alexander
TCHEREPNIN (1899-1977) Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos
Noriko Ogawa (piano) Singapore SO/Lan Shui rec. 1999-2001-2002
BIS-CD-1717/18 [RB]
This
box represents a fascinating and sometimes very engaging insight into
the unfamiliar world of Alexander Tcherepnin
Michael
TIPPETT (1905-1998)
Ritual
Dances & Sosostris's Aria, Praeludium, Suite for the Birthday of
Prince Charles
Opera North Ch, English Northern Phil/Sir Michael Tippett rec.1989
NIMBUS NI 5217 [60:55]
[RB]
If
these pieces attract you then there is no need to hold back from purchasing
what in 1991 was the first and brilliant fruit of Nimbus’s joint project
with the 84 year old composer.
Michael
TIPPETT (1905-1998)
Triple Concerto, Piano Concerto
Ernst Kovacic (violin) Gerard Caussé (viola) Alexander Baillie (cello)
Martino Tirimo (piano) BBC PO/Sir Michael Tippett rec. 1990/1
NIMBUS NI5301 [72:32]
[RB]
A
unique and generous coupling of two contrasted works. Of the two it’s
the magical Triple Concerto I shall return to most often.
Anton
Ferdinand TITZ (1742-1810) String Quartets Vol. 3
Hoffmeister Qt rec. 2009
HÄNSSLER PROFIL PH10030 [67:27]
[RB]
A
flair for the fluent and the effective.
Eduard
TOLDRÀ (1895-1962) Complete works for voice and piano
Assumpta
Mateu (soprano) Lluís Vilamajó (tenor) Francisco Poyato (piano)
COLUMNA MÚSICA 1CM0190 [74:18 + 74:27]
[JW]
A
complete Toldrà collection songs is very rare to find and this now allows
us a broad sweep of the songs leaving a happy impression.
Eduard
TOLDRA
(1895-1962) Vistes
al mar, Quartet en do menor Pau CASALS
(1876-1973) Sant Marti del Canigo Xavier
MONTSALVATGE (1911-2002) Concertino 1 + 13, Tres postals
il-luminades
Gerard Claret (violin) Orquestra Nacional de Cambra d'Andorra/Gerard
Claret rec. 1996
NIMBUS NI 5482 [64:11]
[RB]
An
original and completely unhackneyed collection of Catalan music for
string orchestra.
Charles
TOURNEMIRE
(1870-1939)
Songs
Michael Bundy (baritone) Helen Crayford (piano) rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572347 [71:24]
[WH]
Superb
performances of unusual and challenging French song repertoire
Jan
TRUHLÁR (1928-2007)
Two Compositions for Violin and Guitar see DUO
TERES
Antonín
TUČAPSKÝ (b.1928)
Duo Concertante for Violin and Guitar see DUO
TERES
Joaquín
TURINA (1882-1949) Círculo see Estilo
Español
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Phantasy Quintet, String Quartets 1 & 2
Medici String Qt, Simon Rowland-Jones (viola) rec. 1989
NIMBUS NI5191 [65:12]
[RB]
A
popular grouping of RVW’s chamber works played with emotional fervour.
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Songs
see English
Songs
Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813–1901) Simon
Boccanegra
Placido Domingo, Ch & O Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Antonio
Pappano
EMI CLASSICS 
9178259 [2 DVDs: 171:00]
[ST]
Not
a first choice. Primarily for committed fans of Domingo or those who
love the Covent Garden production.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) La traviata
Maria Callas (soprano) Cesare Valletti (tenor) Covent Garden Opera Ch
& O/Nicola Rescigno rec. 1958
ICA CLASSICS ICAC 5006
[RMo]
An
enormously subtle creation enshrined for posterity.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) La Traviata
Victoria de los Angeles, Carlo Del Monte, Mario Sereni, Ch and O Teatro
dell'Opera di Roma/Tullio Serafin rec. 1959
EMI CLASSICS DOUBLE FORTE 573824 2 [58.35+ 60.27]
[DBe]
An
excellent bargain which competes with the very best versions on record.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Tomás
Luis de VICTORIA (1548-1611) The Victoria Collection
Tenebrae Responses; Lamentations of Jeremiah; Requiem; Taedet animam
meam; Versa est in luctum
The Tallis Scholars/Peter Phillips
GIMELL GIMBX304 [3 CDs: 177:00]
[JQ]
A
self-recommending collection of excellent recordings of music by one
of the great masters of polyphony.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) The Complete Choros and Bachianas
Brasileiras
São Paulo SO & Ch/Naomi Munakata, John Neschling, Roberto Minczuk
rec. 1994-2006
BIS-CD-1830/32 [RB]
This
set is the place to go for a single collection conjoining the Choros
and the Bachianas Brasileiras - brilliantly ignited and sustained from
intimate solo works to seismic extravagance
Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Piano Trio 1 Astor
PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas Lucio
BRUNO-VIDELA (b.1968) Yumba-Verwandlung
Villa-Lobos Trio
OEHMS CLASSICS OC776 [56:05]
[Byz]
An
excellent, if rather short, disc.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1675-1741)
Concertos for Oboe and Strings
Alex Klein (oboe) New Brandenburg Collegium/Anthony Newman rec. 1993
CEDILLE
FOUNDATION CDR7003 [75.00]
[RH]
Klein’s
technique and sound are entrancing. His beautifully toned account of
the virtuosic solo parts contributes to a highly seductive whole.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concertos Francesco
MANCINI (1672-1737) Sonata 4 Alessandro
SCARLATTI (1660-1725) Sonata 9
Concordi Musici rec. 2010
AUDIOGUY RECORDS AGCD 0022 [55:53]
[DC]
Wholeheartedly
commended.
Antonio
VIVALDI
(1678-1741) The Best of La Cetra II Concertos 2, 3, 4, 5, 10
& 11
L’arte Dell’arco/Giovanni Gugliemo (violin/conductor) rec. 1995
DYNAMIC DM8011 [76:35]
[DC]
Robust
and rustic.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678–1741) Concertos see
FACCO
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Der Ring des Nibelungen
Staatsorchester Stuttgart/Lothar Zagrosek rec. 2002-3
EUROARTS 2057368
[7 DVDs: 15hrs 21]
The Ring Cycle (in English)
English National Opera O/Reginald Goodall rec. 1973-7
CHANDOS CHUSB0005 
[contents
of 16CDs: 16 hrs 23]
[BW]
Goodall:
a classic performance in an adventurous new format, well worth having.
Zagrosek: a gimmicky set of productions, not redeemed by musical qualities,
apart possibly from Götterdämmerung.
Richard
WAGNER (1813 – 1883) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Franz Hawlata (baritone) Artur Korn (bass) Bayreuth Festival Ch &
O/Sebastian Weigle rec. 2008
OPUS ARTE OABD7078D [Opera 276:04; Documentary 29:16] 
[RC]
Performances
reasonably good but the happenings on stage are a bit radical, especially
for Wagner.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Tristan und Isolde (An Orchestral
Passion), Overtures: Das Liebesverbot, Die Feen
Royal Scottish Ntl O/Neeme Järvi rec. 2010
CHANDOS CHSA 5087 [70:53] 
[RB]
Järvi
on best of best form here.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Siegfried’s Funeral Music see
Toscanini
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Tristan and Isolde - Prelude
& Liebestod, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg –
Prelude & Interlude see Fritz
Busch
Henry
WALFORD DAVIES (1869-1941) Sonata in A Major for Violin and
Piano see BLISS
William
WALTON
(1902-1983)
Symphony 1, Violin Concerto
Salvatore Accardo (violin) London SO/Richard Hickox, Philharmonia O/Louis
Frémaux rec. 1991. DDD
ALTO ALC 1130 [75:11]
[RB]
Good
but not wonderful.
Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Euryanthe overture see
Toscanini
Matthias
WECKMANN (c.1616-1674) Kommet her zu mir alle see
BUXTEHUDE
Kurt
WEILL
(1900-1950)
Symphonies 1 & 2, Kleine Dreigroschenmusik
Gulbenkian O/Michel Swierczewski rec. 1990
NIMBUS NI5283 [74:13]
[RB]
The
finest pair of Weill symphonies in the catalogue.
Henryk
WIENIAWSKI (1835-1880) Violin
Concerto 2 see Heifetz
Earl
WILD (1915-2010)
Grand Fantasy on Porgy and Bess, Seven Virtuoso Études,
Improvisation on Someone to Watch over Me, Piano Sonata
Xiayin Wang (piano) rec. 2010
CHANDOS CHAN10626 [79:01]
[BR]
A
superb recital of Earl Wild’s jazzy, Gershwin-inspired piano music.
Bruce
WOLOSOFF (b. 1955) Songs without Words
Carpe
Diem String Qt rec. 2008
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559663 [56:21]
[OL]
Interesting
idea and great fun, though not wearing well over repetitive listening.
Yehudi
WYNER (b. 1929) Shir Hashirim; The Torah Service; Friday
Evening Service
Wellesley College Ch, New York Virtuoso Singers, Susan Davenny Wyner,
Yehudi Wyner rec. 1996/2009
BRIDGE 9333 [54.49]
[RH]
The
performances are not perfect, but under the composer’s own direction
they have a significant authority and illuminate the different pathways
of Jewish sacred music.
Wladislaw
ZELENSKI (1837-1921) String Quartet in F major, Op.28
(before 1885) [36:15] String Quartet in A major, Op.42 [35:13]
Four Strings Quartet rec. August-September 2010, The Palace and Park
Complex, Mloszowa
ACTE PRÉALABLE AP0236 [71:33] 
[JW]
The
A major quartet is tautly argued with elastic urgency, considerable
warmth and high melodic inspiration.
Hardenack
Otto Conrad ZINCK (1746-1832) Piano Works Vol.
1
Thomas Trondhjem (piano) rec. 2006-7
CDKLASSISK CDK 1012 [75:29]
[RB]
Zinck's
place in the catalogue as a Beethoven vassal is now secured – quite
a tonic.
Johann
Rudolf ZUMSTEEG (1760-1802) Cello Concerto see
KRUMPHOLTZ
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