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Wednesday March 31st

John ADAMS (b. 1947) My Father Knew Charles Ives, Harmonielehre - Nashville SO/Giancarlo Guerrero rec. 2018-2019 NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559854 [69:03] [WH] These brilliantly played and recorded performances might just make an ideal point of entry for those new to the composer.

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) 14 Intermezzi - Christophe Sirodeau (piano) rec. 2019 MELISM MLS-CD-022 [62:39] [MG] Intensely thoughtful accounts by a fellow composer.

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Cello Concerto; Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Cello Concerto No 1 - Victor Julien-Laferričre (cello) Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Ličge/Gergely Madaras
ALPHA 731 [66:37] [DMD] A Dvořák that goes to the top of the pile paired with moving Martinů.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Sonata in D major Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Fantasie - Piano Duo Scholtes & Janssens rec. 2020 CHALLENGE RECORDS CC72848 [43:34] [DC] A convincing challenger to Perahia/Lupu?

Youri Egorov (piano) The Complete Discography - Edited by Wim de Haan publ. 2021 Private Release [SG] Carefully collated, this splendid discography constitutes an authoritative resource.

Feminae The Female in Music - Lisa Maria Schachtschneider (piano) rec. 2020 ARS PRODUKTION ARS38314 SACD [78:31] [GT]  An outstanding recording debut.

For Clarinet and Strings Gemini/Ian Mitchell rec. 1995/2020 MÉTIER MSV28608 [72:24] [JW] 80 years of novel and enriching music for various clarinet-led combinations.

Hera Hyesang Park (soprano) I am Hera - Johannes Maria Bogner (harpsichord), Wiener Symphoniker/Bertrand de Billy rec. 2020 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4839456 [69:14] [MP] A welcome calling-card from a fully developed young artist.

Tuesday March 30th

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Musical Offering; Variations on Vom Himmel hoch - Calefax rec. 2020 PENTATONE PTC5186840 SACD [67:39] [BW] Only those without open ears and minds need steer clear.

Thomas de HARTMANN (1885-1956) Songs - Nina Lejderman, Claron McFadden (soprano) Elan Sicroff (piano) rec. 2011/2015 NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6413 [76:29] [DC] A powerful symbiosis between text and composer.

Michael HAYDN (1737-1806) Missa Sancti, Vesperae - St. Albans Cathedral Girls’ Choir, Lawes Baroque Players/Tom Winpenny rec. 2019 NAXOS 8.574163 [78:54] [GPu] An attractive addition to the Michael Haydn discography

Sir Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Songs Vol. 1 - Elisabetta Paglia (mezzo) Christopher Howell (piano) rec. 2018 DA VINCI CLASSICS C00304 [65:50] [JW] A plethora of premiere Stanford recordings from a well-established pairing.

Alessandro STRADELLA (1639-1682) Il Trespolo tutore - Andrzej Lenart, Paulina Tuzińska, Period Instrument O Fryderyk Chopin University of Music/Andrea De Carlo rec. 2018 DUX 8512 DVD [155 mins] [CRo] Ribald and energetic production of Stradella’s comic opera, not for the prudish.

Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2, Konzertstück - Ronald Brautigam (fortepiano) Kölner Akademie/Michael Alexander Willens rec. 2018 BIS BIS-2384 SACD [56:18] [RHa] Lithe, adventurous readings of an all-too-infrequently recorded trilogy in superlative stereo and surround sound.

Malcolm Arnold: Catalogue of Works by Alan J Poulton Publ. 2021 Malcolm Arnold Society 157 pages [RB] At an accessible price this, in so many beneficial ways, strikes deep roots and resilient branches for academics, musicologists and enthusiasts.

Véronique Gens (soprano) Nuits - I Giardini rec. 2019 ALPHA CLASSICS 589 [61:41] [GF] Readers who appreciate Véronique Gens as much as I do should definitely contemplate a purchase.

Monday March 29th

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony No 2, Academic Festival Overture - Gewandhausorchester/Herbert Blomstedt rec. 2019 PENTATONE PTC 5186 851 [55:00] [DMD] Joy unconfined from Blomstedt’s Indian summer

Théodore DUBOIS (1837-1924) Piano Quartet & Quintet - Oliver Triendl (piano) Nina Karmon (violin) Stefan Schilli (oboe) Anja Kreynacke (viola) Jakob Spahn (cello) rec. 2020 CPO 555 357-2 [59:51] [PRB] If you’ve a passion for discovery – and occasionally enjoy music with a spoonful or two of sugar – then these works could really prove the ideal confection.

Uuno KLAMI (1900-1961) Complete chamber music - Uuno Klami-Ensemble rec. 2020 ALBA ABCD460 [47:15] [HC] A compulsory purchase all completists of Klami’s music.

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No 10 (Cooke 3rd ed.)- Minnesota Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä rec. 2019 BIS BIS-2396 SACD [78:20] [CSa] Should certainly be considered seriously as a choice in this Symphony

Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Aladdin Suite, Maskarade & other orchestral works - Gothenburg SO/Neeme Järvi rec. 1995 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 447 757-2 [72:24] [PBW] Terrific music and authoritative interpretations, though sometimes short on atmosphere.

Heinrich SCHÜTZ (1585-1672) Geistliche Chor-Music 1648 - Ensemble Polyharmonique/Alexander Schneider rec. 2019 RAUMKLANG RK3903 [57:20] [JV] A meaningful alternative to existing interpretations.

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphonies Nos 9 and 10 - London SO/Gianandrea Noseda rec. 2018, 2020 LSO LIVE SACD LSO0828 [79:05] [RC] A prime contender.

John WORGAN (1724-1790) Complete Harpsichord Music - Julian Perkins, Timothy Roberts (harpsichord) rec. 2018, 2020 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0375 [76:34] [JW] Wit, charm and colour from an admired keyboardist of the eighteenth-century.

Sir Adrian Boult (conductor) The NBC Recordings rec. 1938 PRISTINE PASC626 [2 CDs: 160:41] [RB] Unique recordings with the dewy 1930s freshness of discovery.

Moments Musicaux Works by Schubert, Choe & Rachmaninov - Yeseul Kim (piano) rec. 2020 GENUIN GEN21725 [76:52] [DC] Well worth considering.

Friday March 26th

Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Complete Folk Songs for voice and piano - Mark Milhofer (tenor) Marco Scolastra (piano) rec. 2019/20 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 96009 [67:52 + 57:29] [RWe] A superb collection bringing new dimensions to this repertoire.

Hanns EISLER (1898-1962) Deutsche Sinfonie - Wiener Jeunesse Choir, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra/Günther Theuring rec. 1989 CAPRICCIO C5428 [66:41] [SB] An impressive work and more than a document of its time.

César FRANCK (1822-1890) Trois Pičces; Trois Chorals - Pétur Sakari (organ) rec. 2020 BIS BIS-2349 SACD [80:37] [DM]  Deeply impressive performances, rendered in top-flight sound; organ recordings don’t come much better than this.

Thomas de HARTMANN (1885-1956) Piano works - Elan Sicroff (piano) rec. 2011-2015 NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6409 [66:46 + 59:21] [DC] A supreme craftsman played with sublime musicianship.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concertos Nos 9 & 17 (arr. Lachner) - Alon Goldstein (piano) Alexander Bickard (double bass) Fine Arts Qt rec. 2019 NAXOS 8.574164 [63:46] [PRB] Lachner’s skilful makeover of Mozart piano concertos into two equally-successful chamber works.

Joaquín RODRIGO (1901-1999) Tres Piezas Espańolas, Sonata Giocosa - Narciso Yepes (guitar) rec. 1986 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 419 620-2 [57:50] [JW] Dexterous performances from Rodrigo’s acknowledged champion.

Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Symphony No. 2 - London SO/Sir Simon Rattle rec. 2019 LSO LIVE LSO0851 SACD [58:50] [JQ] A richly enjoyable performance of Rachmaninoff’s great symphony.

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphonies Nos. 3 and 4 - Czech PO/Lawrence Foster rec. 2008 PENTATONE PTC5186327 SACD [65:22] [BW] Satisfying, if slightly unexciting, performances.

Fake Bach A Journey into Bach Arrangements - Luigi Palombi (piano) rec. 2019 DYNAMIC CDS7891 [58:45] [RCh] An engaging recital for fans of Bach transcriptions.

The Taste of This Nation Works by Corbett, Pepusch & Shuttleworth - Ciara Hendrick (mezzo) Spiritato/Kinga Ujszászi rec. 2020 DELPHIAN RECORDS DCD34236 [74:26] [JV] If you like to expand your musical horizon and to hear completely unknown stuff, this is your disc.

Thursday March 25th

John ECCLES (1668-1735) Semele - Anna Dennis (soprano) Richard Burkhard (baritone) Academy of Ancient Music, Cambridge Handel Opera/Julian Perkins rec. 2019 AAM RECORDS AAM012 [72:07 + 49:20] [JW] Outstandingly well sung and performed English-language opera.

George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Almira, Königin von Castilien - Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra/Paul O’Dette and Stephen Stubbs rec. 2018 CPO 555 205-2 [4 CDs: 241:55] [CRo] Bold new recording of Handel’s first opera featuring some proactive and provocative orchestral playing if not entirely satisfactory overall.

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) La Fanciulla del West - Melody Moore (soprano), Marius Vlad (tenor), Lester Lynch(baritone) Cluj-Napoca Choir, Transylvania State PO/Lawrence Foster rec. 2019 PENTATONE SACD PTC5186778 [60:19 + 72:29] [MP] A solid and reliable new recording of Puccini’s Western opera.

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Ma Mčre l'Oye, Une barque sur l'océan, Alborada del gracioso, Rapsodie Espagnole, Boléro - Berlin Philharmonic/Pierre Boulez rec. 1993 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 439 859-2 [75:33] [RB] Music that responds well to a grand acoustic and delivers breathy delicacy as well as rippling muscularity.

Bright SHENG (b. 1955) Let Fly!, Zodiac Tales, Suzhou Overture - Dan Zhu (violin), Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra/Bright Sheng rec. 2018, 2019 NAXOS 8.570628 [67:50] [GPu] Colourful music which also makes the listener think.

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Folk Songs Volume 2 - Mary Bevan (soprano), Nicky Spence (tenor), Roderick Williams (baritone), Thomas Gould (violin), William Vann (piano) rec. 2016, 2020 ALBION RECORDS ALBCD043 [56:22] [JQ] A great deal to enjoy in this second instalment.

Lise Davidsen (soprano) Music by Beethoven, Wagner, Verdi - London PO/Sir Mark Elder rec. 2020 DECCA 4851507 [63:28] [MMB] A uniquely extraordinary voice; a recital to buy, cherish and enjoy repeatedly.

Sergio Fiorentino (piano) Live in USA rec. 1996-99 RHINE CLASSICS RH-015 [9 CDs: 673:00] [SG] Life-enriching performances.

Stephen Hough (piano) Vida Breve rec. 2018 HYPERION RECORDS CDA68260 [78:09] [RCh] Recital playing of the highest order.

Sarah Willis (horn) Horn Discoveries - Kotowa Machida (violin), Philip Mayers (piano), Klaus Wallendorf (horn) Havana Horns rec. 2014 ALPHA CLASSICS 732 [51:09] [NB] A disc to entertain and inform.



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