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Alphabetical Listing

Recommendations

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]


RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770 - 1827) Symphonies 5 & 6 Basel CO/Giovanni Antonini rec 2008-09 SONY MUSIC 88697648162 [69:33] [MG]

Cambreling is good but Antonini has a special rhythmic exultation. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH  Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony 1 Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphony 3 Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Symphony 9 Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphony 5 Danish National Symphony Orchestra/Thomas Dausgaard rec. 2009 UNITEL CLASSICA/C MAJOR 710508 [2 DVDs: 213:52] [DMc]

This is special music-making. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Complete String Trios Hans GÁL (1890-1987) Serenade in D Op.41 [25:37]*; Trio in F sharp minor Op.104*[25:09] Hans KRÁSA (1899-1944) Tanec (Dance) [5:53]; Passacaglia and fuga [9:44] Ensemble Epomeo (Caroline Chin (violin), David Yang (viola), Kenneth Woods (cello)) rec.13-15 December 2011, Millfield School Concert Hall, Somerset, England *world premičre recordings AVIE RECORDS AV2259 [67:08] [SA]

In every way this is a fantastic disc that listeners will want to hear again and again.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH  Christopher GIBBONS (1615-1676) Motets, Anthems, Fantasias and Voluntaries Philippa Hyde (soprano) Jacqueline Connell (mezzo) Ch & Academy of Ancient Music/Richard Egarr (organ) rec. 2010 HARMONIA MUNDI HMU807551 [62:27] [BW]

The music of a major discovery in near-ideal performances. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH  Gabriel JACKSON (b. 1962) Requiem; In all his works; I am the voice of the wind John TAVENER (b. 1944) Song for Athene Francis POTT (b. 1957) When David heard Vasari Singers/Jeremy Backhouse rec. 2011 NAXOS 8.573049 [70:06] [JQ]

Should be investigated by all those who are interested in contemporary choral music.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wojciech KILAR (b. 1932) Choral Musik The Katowice City Singers’ Ensemble Camerata Silesia; AUKSO Chamber Orchestra of Tychy (6)/Anna Szostak rec. 2011 Liner notes but no texts enclosed DUX 0856 [55:40] [GF]

This may radically change your opinions – even your lives!

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Orlande de LASSUS (1532-1594) Missa ad imitationem Vinum Bonum Ex Cathedra; His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts/Jeffrey Skidmore rec. 1995, DDD ALTO ALC1177 [68:37] [MS]

Sublime music by Lassus superbly performed.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH György LIGETI (1923-2006) Le Grand Macabre Chris Merritt, Inés Moraleda, Ana Puche, Gran Teatre del Liceu SO & Ch/Michael Boder rec. 2011 ARTHAUS MUSIK 108 058 [122:00 + 42:00] [LW]

An important addition to the Ligeti discography and a first on video. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Elijah Rosemary Joshua (soprano) Sarah Connolly (mezzo) Gabrieli Cons; Wroclaw Philh Ch; Gabrieli Young Singers Scheme; Gabrieli Players/Paul McCreesh rec. 2011-2012 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD300 [68:30 + 67:28] [JQ]

A marvellous recording of Elijah. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphonies 2 & 3 Erin Morley (soprano), Joshua Hopkins (baritone) New York Philharmonic/Alan Gilbert rec.2011/ 2012 DACAPO 6.220623 [72:23] [JL]

Performances and the sound of a lifetime.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Seppo POHJOLA (b. 1965) Symphonies 1 & 2 Finnish RSO/Sakari Oramo rec. 2010/11 ALBA ABCD339 [60:49] [DM]

Cracking pieces, superbly played; a demonstration disc too. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Einojuhani RAUTAVAARA (b. 1928) Cello Concerto 2, Percussion Concerto, Modificata Truls Mørk (cello) Colin Currie (percussion) Helsinki PO/John Storgårds rec. 2011 ONDINE ODE 1178-2 [62:16] [DM]

Bravo, bravo and thrice bravo; my disc of the year. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH  Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) L’occasione fa il ladro Elizaveta Martirosyan, Fanie Antonelou, Gianpiero Ruggeri, Mauro Utzeri, Württemberg PO/Antonino Fogliani rec. 2005 NAXOS 8.660314-15 [45:22 + 42:11] [JS]

An idiomatic and joyous performance of this strangely neglected work.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Piano Concerto 2 Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Piano Concerto George GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Rhapsody in Blue Benjamin Grosvenor (piano) Royal Liverpool PO/James Judd rec. 2012 DECCA 478 3527 [65:45] [JQ]

A thoroughly entertaining disc. Enjoy!

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) String Quartet Voces Intimae Leos JANÁČEK (1854-1928) String Quartet 1 Erwin SCHULHOFF (1894-1942) String Quartet 1 Henschel Qt rec. 2008 NEOS CLASSICS 11006 [65:23] [MC]

Dark and melancholy is explored through compelling playing of real distinction.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) The Rite of Spring (1913) [34:14] Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphony No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 82 (1915/1916/1919) [34:10] London Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein rec. 1966, Bonus: Leonard Bernstein in conversation with Humphrey Burton [12:39] ICA CLASSICS ICAD 5082 [85:54] [DM]

Truly great performances; Bernstein at his magnetic best.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Josef SUK (1874-1935) A Summer’s Tale, Prague BBC SO/Jiří Bĕlohlávek rec. 2012 CHANDOS CHSA 5109 [79:32] [NB]

Powerful burnished beauty … simply glorious. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH 1612 Italian Vespers Music by Gabrieli, Monteverdi & Viadana I Fagiolini/Robert Hollingworth rec. 2010 DECCA 478 3506 [78.40] [GH]

All in all, a refined and significant disc. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Amoretti Arias by Mozart, Gluck & Gretry Christiane Karg (soprano) Arcangelo/Jonathan Cohen rec. 2012 BERLIN CLASSICS 0300389BC [72:52] [GF]

Don’t miss this!   

RECORDING OF THE MONTH  Amour, viens animer ma voix! - French bass cantatas by Dornel, Campra, Clérambault & Courbois Hugo Oliveira (baritone) Ludovice Ensemble/Fernando Miguel Jaloto rec. 2010 RAMÉE RAM 1107 [76:46] [JV]

Fully idiomatic and strongly expressive performances.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ladies Sing Baroque Natalie Stutzmann, Sandrine Piau, Magdalena Kozena, Patricia Petibon, Karina Gauvin, Marie-Nicole Lemieux NAÏVE V5294 [57:48 + 58:24] [GF]

Spine-chilling and heart-rending listening experiences that may change your lives. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Love and Longing Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Biblical Songs Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Shéhérazade Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Rückert-Lieder Magdalena Kožená (mezzo) Berliner PO/Sir Simon Rattle rec. 2012 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 479 0065 [64:11] [MC]

Kožená and Rattle in awesome form.

 


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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