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Thursday April 30th

Coriún AHARONIÁN (1940-2017) Una carta - Ens Aventure, SWF SO Baden-Baden/Zoltán Peskó rec. 1993-2019 WERGO WER7374-2 [63:16] [RHa] I implore one and all – don’t miss this unique Uruguayan.

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) The Piano Concertos - Stephen Hough (piano) Finnish RSO/Hannu Lintu rec. 2019 HYPERION CDA68291/3 [3 CDs: 172:19] [JQ] A deeply rewarding and distinguished set of the Beethoven piano concertos.

James HEWITT (1770-1827) Complete Piano Works - Kirsten Johnson (piano) rec. 2017-18 CENTAUR CRC3736-39 [4 CDs: 302:45] [GH] Very fine performances, but the music is rather forgettable.

Marcus PAUS (b. 1979) The Beauty That Still Remains Maja S.K. RATKJE Asylos - Schola Sanctae Sunnivae/Anne Kleivset, Det Norske Jentekor/Anne Karin Sundal-Ask rec. 2018/19 2L RECORDS 2L157SABD SACD/Blu-ray [72:15] [DC] Very fine, innovative and often moving choral music.

Giovanni Battista PERGOLESI (1710-1736) Stabat Mater Nicola Antonio PORPORA (1686-1768) Salve Regina Leonardo LEO (1694-1744) Beatus vir qui timet - Sandrine Piau (soprano), Christopher Lowrey (countertenor), Les Talens Lyriques/Christophe Rousset rec. 2018 ALPHA 449 [66:11] [SSi] Piau and Lowry shine in this wonderful performance which surpasses Rousset’s earlier recording.

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Introduction and Allegro Albert ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Sérénade Florent SCHMITT (1870-1958) Suite en Rocaille, Clavecin obtempérant - Quintette Marie-Claire Jamet, Marcelle de Lacour (harpsichord) rec. 1957, 1960 FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR1574 [57:12] [SG] A selection of French music with captivating appeal.

Józef WIENIAWSKI (1837-1912) Complete Chamber Works Vol. 1 - Tono Quartet, Iwona Kalinowska-Grohs (violin), Barbara Pakura (piano), Szczepan Kończal (piano), Łukasz Tudzierz (cello) rec. 2016-2019 ACTE PRÉALABLE AP0468 [80:19] [PRB] An interesting selection with the Cello Sonata as the highlight.

Belle Époque Daniel Hope (violin), Lise de la Salle, Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano), Jane Berthe (harp), Zürcher Kammerorchester rec. 2019 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 483 7244 [2 CDs: 144.50] [IL] A wide selection which is mostly successful.

Fading The Gesualdo Six/Owain Park rec. 2019 HYPERION CDA68285 [63:59] [BW] This music for, and associated with, Compline across the centuries is well worth choosing.

Reginald Goodall (conductor) Works by Dukas, Messiaen & Schumann - Royal Opera House O rec. 1961 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC581 [75:43] [DD] A lovely surprise … three excellent performances, very well restored by Andrew Rose.

Wednesday April 29th

Carl Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788) Complete Original Works for Violin & Keyboard - Tamsin Waley-Cohen (violin) James Baillieu (piano) rec. 2018 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD573 [3 CDs: 153:12] [SSi] A first-rate performance, even if not quite to my taste.

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony No.3, Egmont overture - Klangkollektiv Wien/Rémy Ballot rec. 2019 GRAMOLA 99210 [58:45] [DC] Very admirable, but hard to recommend over others.

Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Ballades, Berceuse, Barcarolle, Fantaisie - Rafal Luszczewski (piano) rec. 2016/17 DUX 1627 [61:26] [DD] A very fine and highly enjoyable Chopin recital.

Paul JUON (1872-1940) Violin Sonatas - Charles Wetherbee (violin) David Korevaar (piano) rec. 2014-16 NAXOS 8.574091 [77:14] [RHa] Attractive and fluent music; decent performances and sound.

Pietro MASCAGNI (1863-1945) Cavalleria rusticana Ruggero LEONCAVALLO (1857-1919) Pagliacci -  Ezgi Kutlu (mezzo) Aldo Di Toro (tenor) Aurelia Florian (soprano) Grazer PO/Oksana Lyniv rec. 2019 OEHMS CLASSICS OC987 [71:39 + 73:02] [GF] Wholehearted involvement, though the solo singing is a bit varied.

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano sonatas Nos 1 & 6, Cinderella, Etudes  - Stefania Argentieri (piano) rec. 2019 DIVINE ART DDA25156 [79:39] [RC] A new talent who has much to say in Prokofiev's brilliant music.

Arlene ZALLMAN (1934-2006) Sei la terra che aspetta rec. 1998-2008 BRIDGE 9323 [59:12] [GPu] Much well-made and inventive music of distinctive beauty.

Escales Sinfonia of London/John Wilson rec. 2019 CHANDOS CHSA5252 SACD [79:05] [BW] Another very enjoyable and highly successful offering from this team.

Victor Schiřler (piano) The Great Danish Pianist Vol. 4 rec. 1941-66 DANACORD DACOCD867-68 [79:53 +79:58] [JW] Another excellently compiled and transferred volume.

Treasures of Devotion European Spiritual Song ca. 1500 - The Boston Camerata/Anne Azéma rec. 2017 MUSIC & ARTS CD-1296 [53:14] [JV] Quite fascinating.

Tuesday April 28th

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Missa Solemnis - Leeds Festival Ch, Philharmonia O/Jascha Horenstein rec. 1958 PRISTINE AUDIO PACO168 [77:01] [JQ] Jascha Horenstein leads a memorable interpretation of Beethoven’s towering choral masterpiece.

Georges BIZET (1838-1875) Carmen Suite No. 1,  Symphony No. 1 Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893) Petite Symphonie - Scottish CO/François Leleux (oboe) rec. 2019 LINN CKD624 [63:30] [MC] A quite delightful release.

Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) Etudes - Radoslav Kvapil (piano) rec. 1997 RUSSIAN COMPACT DISC RCD30109 [66:23] [DD] Wonderful, life-affirming music played with panache by a pianistic veteran.

Juan ESQUIVEL (c.1560-before 1630) Missa Hortus conclusus - De Profundis/Eamonn Dougan rec. 2019 HYPERION CDA68326 [69.29] [GH] This could well be a disc that will achieve awards.

Sir William HARRIS (1883-1973) The Complete Organ Works - Daniel Cook (organ) rec. 2017/19 PRIORY PRCD1187 [78:43 + 79:54] [WK] A magnificently performed and recorded set of music that does full justice to the composer.

Pawel ŁUKASZEWSKI (b. 1968) Daylight Declines - Tenebrae/Nigel Short rec. 2016 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD521 [69:45] [SB] Łukaszewski’s choral music is now well established and this is a useful collection, expertly sung.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphonies No. 39-41 - Ensemble Resonanz/Riccardo Minasi rec. 2019 HARMONIA MUNDI HMM902629.30 [66:43 + 39:40] [DC] Supremely exciting or too hard-hitting?

Joseph Joachim RAFF (1822-1882) Complete Violin Sonatas Vol. 1 - Laurence Kayaleh (violin) Jean-Fabien Schneider (piano) rec. 2017 NAXOS 8.573841 [72:47] [SSi] A welcome addition to any collection of Raff’s music, and of romantic violin sonatas as a whole.

Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Piano Concertos Nos 2, 4  & 5 - Jeanne-Marie Darré (piano) rec. 1953-1965 SOLSTICE SOCD 363-64 [62:53 + 74:48] [JW] Darré’s inexhaustible sensitivity and éclat radiate from every bar of this invigorating release.

Ignaz Friedman (piano) Complete Recordings rec. 1923-1941 DANACORD DACOCD 861-864 [6 CDs: 335:49] [SG]  A magnificent set, indispensible for pianophiles with a passion for the Golden Age.

Monday April 27th

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Keyboard Concerti Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Cello Concerti - Einar Steen-Nøkleberg (piano), Alexander Zagorinsky (cello), Vologda Philharmonic Society CO/Alexander Loskutov rec. 2018 MELODIYA MELCD1002592 [67:00] [DD] Played with consummate aplomb and excellently recorded.

Leonard BERNSTEIN (1918-1990) Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 - Anna Larsson (mezzo) Roland Pöntinen (piano) Arctic Philharmonic/Christian Lindberg rec. 2017 BIS BIS-2298 SACD [59:43] [JQ] Christian Lindberg is a fine and convincing guide to Bernstein’s first two symphonies.

Joseph Bodin de BOISMORTIER (1689-1755) Sonates - Olivier Brault (violin), Sonate 1704 rec. 2018 ANALEKTA AN28769 [65:16] [JV] Lovers of the baroque violin should not hesitate to add this disc to their collection.

Nadia BOULANGER (1887-1979) & Lili BOULANGER (1893-1918) Mélodies - Cyrille Dubois (tenor) Tristan Raës (piano) rec. 2018 APARTÉ AP224 [66 mins] [MC] Dubois and Raës make a compelling case for these Boulanger mélodies which deserve to be heard far more often.

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Complete String Quartets - Shostakovich Quartet rec. 1978-1988 ALTO ALC5002 [5 CDs: 378:57] [RWe] Brings us close to the Russian wellspring of this great music. 

Ronald STEVENSON (1928-2015) Piano Music Vol. 2 - Kenneth Hamilton (piano) PRIMA FACIE PFCD107 [73:55] [SSi] This rewarding disc shows Stevenson to be a major player in the world of twentieth century British piano music.

Johann STRAUSS II (1825-1899) Blindekuh - Robert Davidson (bass-baritone), Kirsten Kunkle (soprano), Sofia PO & Ch/Dario Salvi rec. 2019 NAXOS 8.660434-35 [49:55 + 55:16] [GF] I had a very nice couple of hours in the company of this score.

Johann THEILE (1646-1724) St Matthew Passion - Weser-Renaissance Bremen/Manfred Cordes rec. 2019 CPO 555 285-2 [61:09] [DC] A Passion that still communicates with its own poetic power.

British Violin Sonatas Clare Howick (violin) Simon Callaghan (piano) rec. 2019 SOMM SOMMCD0610 [72:00] [SG] A fascinating collection, well worth your attention.

Erbe Works by Haapamäki, Smolka & Bauckholt - Ens Musikfabrik/Sian Edwards, Clement Power rec. 2015/18 WERGO WER6870-2 [59:03] [RHa] The beautiful instruments of the immortal Harry Partch in strange new garb.

Sir Hamilton Harty (conductor) Music of the British Isles - London PO, Hallé O rec. 1926-35 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC592 [74:52] [JW] This Harty series is moving on with considerable distinction.

Friday April 24th

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony No. 5 - MusicAeterna/Teodor Currentzis rec. 2018 SONY 19075884972 [30:34] [DD] Just Beethoven 5 on its own at full price; interesting in parts but too cold-blooded to challenge the greats.

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) The Final Piano Pieces - Stephen Hough (piano) rec. 2014/18 HYPERION CDA68116 [69:08] [WH] Brahms’s farewell to the piano in performances of great subtlety and style.

Franz HUMMEL (b. 1939) Hercher Variations - Christoph Preiss (piano) rec. 2019 TYXART TXA19134 [44:30] [DC] Full of fun and verve.

Sir Hubert PARRY (1848-1918) Judith - Sarah Fox (soprano) Kathryn Rudge (mezzo) Crouch End Festival Ch, London Mozart Players/William Vann rec. 2019 CHANDOS CHSA5268 SACD [61:40 + 69:32] [JW] Many memorable moments and characteristic elements that are worthy of repeated listening, but lacking a consistency of tone.

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphonies Nos 5 & 15, Incidental Music to Hamlet Zoltán KODÁLY (1882-1957) Háry János - Suite - Philadelphia O/Eugene Ormandy, Boston Pops O/Arthur Fiedler rec. 1968-1975 DUTTON EPOCH 2CDLX7370 SACD [72:07 + 63:22] [JQ] Well worth your attention.

20th Century Oboe Sonatas by Bowen, Eben, Dutilleux, Bozza, Poulenc & Saint-Saens - Alex Klein (oboe) Phillip Bush (piano) rec. 2018 CEDILLE CDR90000186 [79:24] [SSi] A perfect partnership, providing enjoyment from start to finish.

Isabel Bayrakdarian (soprano) The Other Cleopatra - Kaunas City SO/Constantine Orbelian rec. 2019 DELOS DE3591 [64:06] [RC] Rare yet rewarding repertory.

Elīna Garanča (mezzo-soprano) Soly y Vida - O Filarmónica de Gran Canaria/Karel Mark Chichon rec. 2018 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 483 6217 [65:37] [GPu] The singing is a delight, full of vitality and warmth, but the documentation and presentation leave a lot to be desired.

Nun danket alle Gott Julie Roset (soprano), Clematis/Stéphanie de Failly, Brice Sailly rec. 2019 RICERCAR RIC415 [62:09] [BW] One of most uplifting recordings to have come my way recently.

Quartet Quintet LSO Percussion Ensemble rec. 2018/19 LSO LIVE LSO5090 [79:31] [DM] A varied and vibrant programme, impeccably played and recorded; percussion albums don’t come much better than this.

 



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