Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Piano Concerti 2 & 5, Suite
algérienne 
Jean Doyen (piano) Magda Tagliaferro (piano) Concerts Lamoureux O/Jean
Fournet rec. 1954-55
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR 270 [68:57] [JW]
Great
stuff.
Erkki
SALMENHAARA (1941-2002) The Complete Solo Piano Music
Sonatina, Piano Sonatas 1-4, Thčme et Variations sur le Nom 'Erik
Tawaststjerna' 17 Little Pieces, Little Suite. Jouni Somero (piano)
rec. 2003 FC-RECORDS FCRCD 9707 [68:18 + 62:23] [Byz]
Played
with conviction and nimble fingers … a dependable advocate of Salmenhaara's
timeless music.
Pablo
SARASATE (1844-1908)
Complete works for violin & piano - Volume 4: El Ruiseñor
Diego
Tosi (violin) Denis Pascal (piano) rec. 2010/11
SOLSTICE SOCD 263 [57:35] [Byz]
Elegance,
warmth and wit, quite apart from all the virtuosity.
Domenico
SCARLATTI (1685-1757)
Keyboard Sonatas
Joanna MacGregor (piano) rec. 1991
WARNER CLASSICS SOUND CIRCUS 2564 67269-8 [61.07] [RBe]
Altogether
a very mixed recital and probably one more for MacGregor enthusiasts.
Asbjřrn
SCHAATHUN (b.1961) ????? (Physis), for amplified piano
and five digital see BOULEZ
Johann
Hermann SCHEIN (1586 - 1630) Fontana d'Israel
(Israels Brünnlein)
Rheinische Kantorei/Hermann Max rec. 1989
CAPRICCIO C5069 [53:06 + 34:44] [JV]
Choral
performances of a masterpiece from the German baroque, characterised
by great transparency and a clear delivery.
Alfred
SCHNITTKE (1934-1998)
String Quartets 1-4, Canon in Memoriam Igor Stravinsky
Molinari Qt rec. 2010
ATMA ACD2 2634 [60:15 + 43:55] [Byz]
Schnittke
the modernist - acrid chromaticism, atonality, serialism, pointillism
- little here to appeal to those with mainstream-inclined tastes.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Symphony no.5 in B flat major (1) [26:33] Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Genoveva op.81: Overture
(2) [10:37], Symphony no.2 in C major (3) [37:48]
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch rec. 1962 (1), 18 April 1961
(2), 7 April 1959 (3)
ICA CLASSICS 
[76:00] [CH]
If
Munch had set down a Schumann 2 like this in the studio it would surely
have been a top recommendation ever since.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano Quintet, Piano Trio 1
The Schubert Ensemble rec. 2003
CHAMPS HILL RECORDS CHRCD007 [72:58] [Byz]
Phrasing
splendidly expressive, technique excellent and limning of textures unbeatable.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano Sonatas D840 & 850
Shai Wosner (piano) rec. 2011
ONYX 4073 [76:23] [GD]
A
knack for making the familiar sound fresh and new.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Mass 2 Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893)
Solemn Mass
Luba Orgonášová (soprano) Christian Elsner (tenor)
Gustáv Beláček (bass) Bavarian RSO & Ch/Mariss
Jansons rec. 2007
BR KLASSIK 900114 [75:05] [MC]
I
warmly welcome this addition to the BR Klassik catalogue.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Schwanengesang see
The Art of Lied
Erwin
SCHULHOFF (1894-1942) Ogelala - Suite see
Music from the Machine Age
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Violin Sonatas
Ulf Wallin (violin) Roland Pöntinen (piano) rec. 2009/10
BIS-SACD-1784 
[74:06]
[MC]
Highly impressive playing, sound and presentation - it is hard to find
fault with this excellent release.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Violin Sonata 1 see
A Piano Evening with
Martha Argerich
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Dichterliebe see
The Art of Lied
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Humoreske see
BEETHOVEN
Mátyás
SEIBER (1905 - 1960) Yugoslav, Hungarian and Nonsense
Songs
Ch of the 21st Century/Howard Williams rec. 2011
SOMM CÉLESTE SOMMCD0105 [60:05] [RB]
Carries
these songs into our affections and into the singing repertoire of choirs
across the world.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906
- 1975) Cello Concertos 1 & 2
Enrico Dindo (cello) Danish Ntl SO/Gianandrea Noseda rec. 2010/11
CHANDOS CHSA 5093
[60:11] [DC]
A
must-have and a life-changer for Shostakovich fans.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-75)
Symphony 10
Prague SO/Václav Smetáček rec. 1968
ORCHESTRAL CONCERT CDs CD14/2011 [47:23] [JW]
This
fine performance, extremely well captured in sound, is a most worthwhile
addition to the discography.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Symphony 10 Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
(1844-1908) The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh
(excerpts)
USSR State SO/Evgeny Svetlanov rec. 1968
ICA CLASSICS ICAC 5036 [62:17] [DM]
Taut
Shostakovich, stretched to breaking point by contemporary events.
The
Soviet Experience Vol. 1 Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) String Quartets 5-8 Nikolai
MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950) String Quartet 13
Pacifica Qt rec. 2010/11
CEDILLE RECORDS CDR 90000 127 [60:05] [MC]
The
Soviet Experience series has
got off to an impressive start with these excellent performances.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Piano Concerto 1 see Evgeni
Kissin
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Piano Concerto 1 see
Martha
Argerich
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Symphonies 2 & 5
Royal PO/Charles Mackerras, Ole Schmidt rec. 1994/6
ALTO ALC 1189 [72:21] [RB]
Two
friends from the 1990s re-emerge arm-in-arm
Antonio
SOLER (1729-1783) Keyboard Sonatas 16-27 Vestard Shimkus
(piano) rec. 2009 NAXOS 8.572516 [59:43] [Byz]
Soler's
artful keyboard Sonatas seem at their most eloquent on a modern piano.
Charles
Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Cello Concerto; Rondo in
F; Ballata and Ballabile; Irish Rhapsody 3 Gemma Rosefield (cello) BBC
Scottish SO/Andrew Manze rec. 2011 HYPERION CDA67859 [70:08]
[CH]
The
Rondo is new to CD, a good performance of the Concerto, a far better
Rhapsody than the previous alternative and the first Ballata and
Ballabile complete and with orchestra.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard STRAUSS
(1864-1949) Lieder
Soile Isokoski (soprano) Marita Viitasalo (piano) rec. 2011
ONDINE ODE 1187-2 [64:05] [ST]
If
another song recital as good as this comes our way this year, then we
will be blessed indeed.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Orchestral Songs
Michaela Kaune (soprano) NDR Radio PO Hanover/Eiji Oue rec. 2004
BERLIN
CLASSICS 0017812BC [62:32] [MC]
Thoughtful
and radiantly beautiful.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Die Liebe der Danae
Manuela Uhl, Mark Delavan, Matthias Klink, Deutsche Oper O Berlin/Andrew
Litton rec. 2011
ARTHAUS MUSIK 
108 032 [155:00 + bonus: 22:00] [DBi]
A
beautiful opera well performed and recorded but further obscured by
its production.
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Le sacre du printemps,
L’oiseau de feu, Scherzo ŕ la russe, Tango 72
Budapest Fest O/Iván Fischer rec. 2010
CHANNEL CLASSICS CCS SA 32112
[63:10] [DM]
Not
an unqualified success, perhaps, but for many this new Rite
will become The Chosen One.
Adrian
SUTTON War Horse
Tim van Eyken and John Tams (vocals) War Horse orchestra and company
chorus
SONY CLASSICAL 88697 983662 [44:50] [JW]
This
music stands alone well.
Johan
SVENDSEN (1840-1911) Orchestral Works - Vol. 1
Marianne Thorsen (violin) Bergen PO/Neeme Järvi rec. 2009/10
CHANDOS
CHAN 10693 [80:03] [JW]
CD-minded
listeners will be delighted with this new Chandos series.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Prelude and Fugue, Sonata
see DEBUSSY
Joby
TALBOT (b. 1971) Tide
Harmonic
Joby Talbot, Jeremy Holland Smith (piano, celesta, harmonium) Ensemble/Jeremy
Holland Smith rec. 2009
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD260 [72:20] [JW]
Talbot’s
reputation as an accessible and enjoyable composer will take no hits
from this latest recording.
Jeff
TALMAN (b.1954) Nature of the Night
Sky
NEW DOMAIN RECORDS ND-11011 [50:22] [MMB]
Will
relax and re-energise you and if at the end of it, you were unable to
travel through space at galactic speeds, blame your imagination - or
lack of it; not the recording!
Boris
TCHAIKOVSKY (1925-1996) Violin Concerto, Violin Sonata
Viktor
Pikaizen (violin) Boris Tchaikovsky (piano) Moscow PO/Kirill Kondrashin
rec. 1962/1972
HÄNSSLER PROFIL PH11047 [56:48] [MC]
Steeped
in energy and expressive power.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony 6, Marche Slave,
Romeo and Juliet
London SO/Albert Coates rec. 1926-30
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 301 [74:46] [JW]
Fine
transfers ensure that Coates’ message comes across loud and clear.
Pyotr
Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Nutcracker
Marie
Lindquist, Anders Nordström, Jens Rosén, Alexandra Kastrinos, Royal
Swedish Opera O/Renat Salavatov rec. 1999
ARTHAUS MUSIK 107 086 [95:00]
[RMay]
Not
a first choice but certainly an interesting supplement for anyone seeking
a new slant on a popular old favourite or intending to cast a vote for
the Social Democratic Party.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano
Concerto 1 see Evgeni Kissin
Pyotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Serenade for Strings
see
DVORAK
Geirr
TVEITT (1908-1981) From A Travel Diary;
The Household God; Septet; Midsummer Eve
Fragaria Vesca rec. 2009
SIMAX CLASSICS PSC1222 [49:03] [JW]
Full of engaging, light-hearted material excellently performed and recorded.
Chinary
UNG (b. 1942) Spirals IX & XI
Susan Ung (viola and voice) Thomas Buckner (baritone and percussion)
Lynn Vartan (voice and percussion) Stephen Solook (voice and percussion)
Chinary Ung (conductor)
BRIDGE 9368 [47.42] [PCG]
The
disc is short measure. It would be perverse to wish it were longer.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Otello
Jon Vickers (tenor) Renata Scotto (soprano) Cornell MacNeil (baritone)
Metropolitan Opera Ch & O/James Levine
SONY CLASSICAL
88697 910129 [144:00] [RJF]
Vickers,
Scotto and Levine overcome old technology in a truly memorable realisation
of Verdi’s greatest dramatic work.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813 - 1901) La Forza del Destino
Alastair
Miles (bass) Nina Stemme (soprano) Ch & O Wiener Staatsoper/Zubin
Mehta rec. 2008
UNITEL CLASSICA 708108
[161:00] [DBe]
The
best modern recording of Forza del Destino – if you can stand
the staging.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) La Traviata
Marlis Petersen, Giuseppe Varano, James Rutherford, Graz PO and Opera
Ch/Tecwyn Evans rec. 2011
ARTHAUS MUSIC 108036
[110:00 + 20:00 (bonus)] [RJF]
With
competition from the likes of Fleming and Gheorghiu, this unusual production
and minimalist set is only for those who like their imagination challenged
in the extreme and do not mind the cuts.
Sándor
VERESS (1907-1992)
Hommage ŕ Paul Klee, Piano Concerto, Six Csárdás
András Schiff, Dénes Várjon (piano) Gábor Takács-Nagy (violin) Budapest
Festival O/Heinz Holliger rec. 1997/8
TELDEC 0630 199922 [63:22] [BB]
An
ideal starting point for beginners – and absolutely essential for those
already familiar with his music.
Louis
VIERNE (1924-1984) The Organ Works, Vol 1 The 6 Symphonies
Pierre Labric (organ) rec. 1969-1970 SOLSTICE SOCD 277-9 [3 CDs:
70:38 + 73:09 + 78:45] [Byz]
A
must-hear for all organ fans, and for anyone who likes their music profound,
thrilling and loud enough to blow the local church roof off.
Heitor
VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Bachianas
Brasileiras 5 see CANTELOUBE
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
The Four Seasons Op. 8 nos. 1-4 [38:01]; The Assumption
of the Virgin Mary RV 581&582
The London Mozart Players/David Juritz (violin/director) rec.1999
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6149 [62:07] [JWh]
Radiant,
beautiful and full of detail.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concerti per fagotto
II Sergio
Azzolini (bassoon) L'Aura Soave Cremona/Diego Cantalupi rec. 2011
NAÏVE
OP 30518 [76:47]
Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concerti with bassoon
II Frans
Robert Berkhout (bassoon) Georgia Browne (transverse flute) Franc Polman
(violin) Cassandra Luckhardt (cello); La Suave Melodia/Pieter Dirksen
rec. 2010/11
ET'CETERA KTC 1428 [71:46] [JV]
Whatever
the differences, I have enjoyed both recordings and would not want to
choose between them.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Teuzzone Paolo Lopez (male
soprano) Raffaella Milanesi (mezzo) Delphine Galou (contralto) Le Concert
des Nations/Jordi Savall rec. 2011 NAĎVE OP30513 [3 CDs: 60:00
+ 48:03 + 45:08] [MS]
Another
success from all angles in Naďve’s Vivaldi Edition; great singing, perceptive
playing, superb, characterful direction.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concerto Grosso see
Toscanini
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883) Götterdämmerung
Christian Franz, Deborah Polaski, Wolfgang Koch, John Tomlinson, Anna
Gabler, Philharmoniker Hamburg/Simone Young rec. 2010
OEHMS CLASSICS OC 928 [4 CDs: 266:10] [GD]
As
good as you could want.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Orchestral excerpts see
Toscanini
William
Vincent WALLACE (1812 – 1865) Maritana
Majella
Cullagh, Lynda Lee, Paul Charles Clarke, Ian Caddy, RTÉ Philharmonic
Ch & Concert O/Proinnsías Ó Duinn rec. 1995
NAXOS 8.660308-09 [64:19 + 44:55] [GF]
Beautiful, hummable melodies, rhythmically interesting, good orchestration
but lacking in true dramatic power.
William
WALTON (1902-1983) Piano Quartet in D minor (1919)
[28:49] Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941)
Phantasy in F minor (1910) [12:24] Guillaume
LEKEU (1870-1894) Piano Quartet (1893) [23:25]
Frith Piano Quartet rec. 2010
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6183 [65:38] [PCG]
Glorious
performances of some wonderful music.
Karl
WEIGL (1881-1949) Cello Sonata, Variations on an Eight
Bar Theme Johanna MÜLLER-HERMANN
(1868-1941) Cello Sonata Anton WEBERN
(1883-1945) Cello Sonata & other short pieces
Othmar Müller (cello) Leonore Aumaier (piano) rec. 2000
CAMERATA CMCD28245 [71:31] [RB]
An
attractive and even provocative recital.
Mieczyslaw
WEINBERG (1919-1996) Symphony 6, Sinfonietta 1
Vienna Boys Ch, Vienna SO/Vladimir Fedoseyev; SO Vorarlberg/Gérard Korsten
rec. 2010
NEOS 11125
[66:59] [MC]
An
ideal starting place for anyone wanting to explore Weinberg’s music.
Mieczyslaw
WEINBERG (1919-1996) String Quartets - Vol 5 String Quartets
1, 3 & 10 Quatuor Danel rec. 2007-2009 CPO 777 566-2 [77.18]
[GH]
A
good place to start your investigation of a very considerable twentieth
century figure.
Mieczyslaw
WEINBERG (1919-1996) Three Palms; String
Trio; Trumpet Concerto 1
Talia Or (soprano) EOS Quartett Wien; ad hoc trio; Jürgen Ellensohn
(trumpet) Vorarlberg SO/Gérard Korsten rec. 2010
NEOS 11129 [61:13] [Byz]
Good performances throughout this programme.
Mieczysław
WEINBERG (1919-1996)
Cello Sonata 2, Piano Quintet
Christoph Stradner (cello) Luca Monti, Doris Adam (piano) EOS Quartett
Wien rec. 2010
NEOS 11128 [67:06] [Byz]
As
brilliant and memorable a work as any written in the genre.
Hugo
WOLF (1860-1903) Möricke-Lieder see
The Art of Lied
Oswald
von WOLKENSTEIN (c.1377-1445) Lied/Love Songs Ens Unicorn/Michael
Posch rec. 2009 RAUMKLANG RK2901 [71.17] [GH]
Performed
with real character. Makes this disc a very attractive acquisition.
Definitely worth searching out.
Iannis
XENAKIS (1922-2001)
Complete Cello Works
Arne Deforce (cello) Ensemble Fabrik/James Wood rec. 2010
AEON AECD 1109 [67:56] [GD]
A
great place to start if you want to get your head around the relationships
between higher mathematics and Modern music.
Eugčne
YSAŸE (1858-1931) Andante see Franck
Benjamin
YUSUPOV (b.1962)
Viola Tango Rock Concerto
Aníbal Dos Santos (viola) Bogotá PO/Ricardo Jaramillo
rec. 2009
NAVONA RECORDS NV5865
[52:00] [JW]
A
kind of multimedia event. Predominantly dark … intense outbursts
of pummelling rock back beat and Tango intensity.
Click
for alphabetical listings by composer:
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1 New] [Part
2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part
5 S-Z]
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