Gary CARPENTER
(b. 1951) Ein Musikalisches Snookerspiel,
Da Capo, Distanza, Van Assendelft’s Vermeer, After Braque, Die Flimmerkiste
Pamela Nash (clavichord);
Ensemble 10/10/Gary Carpenter, Clark Rundell rec. 2006/7
NMC D111 [HC]
Accessible,
attractive works, superbly played - engaging from first to last … see Full
Review
Elliott
CARTER (b.1908)
String Quartets Nos. 1
& 5
Pacifica Quartet rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.559362 [60:32][MC]
Carter’s
quartets are superbly served … the Pacifica
play with assurance and enviable unison ...
see Full Review
Brian
CHAPPLE (b. 1945)
1. Burlesque for two pianos, four
hands (2000, adapted 2005) [11:35]; 2. Piano
Sonata (1986) [17:01]; 3. Bagatelles diverses,
for piano solo (2005) [23:08]; 4. Requies,
for piano solo (2005) [11:38]; 5. Four pieces
from "A Bit of a Blow", for
piano duet (2005) [7:18]
Anthony Goldstone (piano) (1, 2, 4, 5); Caroline
Clemmow (piano) (1, 3, 5) rec. St John the
Baptist Church, Alkborough, North Lincs, 2007
DIVINE ART DDA25056 [70:21] [JS]
A
composer who has something to say with economy
of means, careful craftsmanship and precision
of effect. ... see Full
Review
Erik CHISHOLM
(1904-1965) Music for
Piano - Volume 3 Piobaireachd
[14:17] Sonatina No.1 [7:20] Sonatina No.2
[7:03] Two Piobaireachd Laments [13:44] Cornish
Dance Sonata (1926) [33:58]
Murray McLachlan (piano) rec.2006
DUNELM RECORDS DRD 0224 [76:37] [JW]
A
progressive absorption of diverse influences:
Gaelic folk music and Bartók prominent
among them ... see Full
Review
Fryderyk
CHOPIN
(1810-1849)
Piano Concerto 2, Polonaise “Heroic” Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto
2 (w/rehearsal excerpts)
Artur Rubinstein (piano) Warsaw PO/Witold
Rowicki rec. live 1960
ALTARA ARCHIVE ALT1021 [2 CDs] [JW]
General
listeners will probably prefer the easier aural ride generated
by commercial recordings ... see Full
Review
Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849) The
1981 Baldwin Recordings Earl
Wild rec. 1981 IVORY
CLASSICS 77002
Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) The Complete Etudes Earl
Wild
rec. 1992 IVORY CLASSICS 76003
Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Scherzos and Ballades Earl
Wild
rec. 1990 IVORY CLASSICS 75001 [68:40]
[MC]
Not
my first choice recommendations but splendidly performed. I’m sure
that I will return to them often ... see Full
Review
Frydéryk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Nocturne Cello
Sonata,
Introduction et Polonaise brillante & transcriptions Truls
Mřrk (cello) Kathryn Stott (piano) rec. 2006 VIRGIN
CLASSICS
3857842 [JW]
Naturalness
is all in this refined and splendidly elegant recital ... see Full
Review
Muzio
CLEMENTI (1752-1832) Symphonies
1-4 Philharmonia
O/Claudio Scimone rec. 1978 WARNER
APEX 2564 627622 [SV]
Who'd
have thought that Clementi would, in the symphonic arena, have
been a full-fledged innovator ... see Full
Review
Jérôme
COMBIER
(b. 1971) Vies silencieuses
Ensemble Cairn/Guillaume
Bourgogne rec. 2007
AEON AECD0754 [HC]
Aspects
of Nature and the ‘mineral’ sound-world all imaginatively evoked
... see Full Review
Carson
COOMAN
(b. 1982) Symphonies
2 & 3, Partita for baroque flute, Piano Concerto, Vision; Songlines,
Sun Dreaming; Sonata for Violin and Organ
Bohuslav Martinu PO, Slovak RSO/Kirk Trevor rec. 2005/6
NAXOS 8.559329 [JFL]
Music
that is unashamedly pleasant and presumably without pretensions
to greatness ... see Full Review
John
CORIGLIANO (b.
1938) The
Red Violin Concerto, Sonata for Violin and Piano Joshua
Bell (violin) Jeremy Denk (piano) Baltimore SO/Marin Alsop
rec. live 2006/7 SONY
82876 880602 [JFL]
I’m
very glad to have Corigliano’s work now for
repeat listening - and well balanced too ...
see Full
Review
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Piano Music – Volume 1
Images,
Images (Oubliées), Estampes, Masques,
L’isle joyeuse
Noriko Ogawa (piano)
rec. August 2000,
BIS-CD-1105 [73 :28] [CH]
This
first instalment of an ongoing cycle should
be collected by all Debussy enthusiasts who
have so far missed out on it. ... see Full
Review
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Piano
Music - Volume 3 Includes Préludes – Book 2, La Boîte ŕ joujoux Noriko
Ogawa rec. 2004/5 BIS
CD-1355 [CH]
You
cannot afford to miss this “Boîte ŕ joujoux”. However many versions
of “Préludes” you may have you’ll not regret adding this one ...
see Full Review
Les
Enregistrements Erato Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Works for Piano Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Works for Piano Monique
Haas (piano) rec. 1968-72 ERATO
2564 69967-2 [6 CDs] [CH]
Some
supreme performances here by a fine exponent of the classical
French school. ... see Full
Review
Leo
DELIBES (1836–1891) Lakmé
- Highlights
Paris Opéra-Comique Chorus and Orchestra/Alain Lombard rec. 1970
CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 3933682 [68:48][DL]
For
readers who are satisfied with the plums this well filled highlights disc
at budget price will be exactly what they need ... see Full
Review
Paul DESSAU
(1894–1979) House
of Frankenstein see
SALTER
Felix
Otto DESSOFF (1835-1892) String
Quartet Op.7 see BRAHMS
Antal
DORÁTI (1906-1988) Notturno and Capriccio for oboe
quintet see REICHA
John
DOWLAND (1563-1626) Lute Music
Volume 3: Pavans, Galliards and Almains
Nigel North (nine-course lute) rec. 2005
NAXOS 8.570449 [66:22] [BW]
Another excellent recording in this thoroughly
recommendable series … see Full Review
John
DOWLAND (1563-1626) Lute
Music -Volume 3: Pavans, Galliards and Almains Nigel
North rec. 2006 NAXOS
8.570449 [JW]
The
high standards set in this series have been outstandingly maintained
here ... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH John DOWLAND (1563-1626) Lute
Songs Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Nocturnal
after John Dowland Mark Padmore
(tenor),
Elizabeth Kenny (lute), Craig Ogden (guitar) rec. 2007 HYPERION
CDA67648 [MG]
A
terrific disc which demonstrates how flexibly Dowland’s line can
be treated in expressing the nuances of the texts … see Full
Review
Paul
DUKAS (1865-1935) Ariane et Barbe-Bleue
BBC Singers, BBC Symphony
Orchestra/Leon Botstein rec.
2007
TELARC CD80680 [68:48 + 45:32][JFL]
The
best opera recording of the year: rarity and
beauty ... see Full
Review
Vernon
DUKE (Vladimir Dukelsky) (1903-1969) Piano
Concerto,
Cello Concerto, Homage to Boston Scott
Dunn (piano), Sam Magill (cello) Russian PO/Dimitry Yablonsky
rec. 2006/7 NAXOS 8.559286 [BBr]
One
of the very best, and, for me, most interesting, releases in Naxos’s
American Classics series ... see Full
Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) The
Dvořák Cycle - Volume 1: Symphony 7, Slavonic Dances
Op 72,
Romance for violin and orchestra Ivan
Zenaty (violin)
Prague SO/Jiří Bĕlohlávek
rec. live 1993 ARTHAUS MUSIK
102135 [JS]
Three
of Dvořák’s best works played idiomatically and very enjoyably
... see Full Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Violin
Concerto,
Piano Concerto, Waldesruhe Christian
Tetzlaff (violin) Czech PO/Libor Pešek, Claire Désert (piano) Strasbourg PO/Theodore
Guschlbauer, Timothy Walden (cello) Royal Liverpool PO/Libor Pešek
rec. 1994-96 VIRGIN CLASSICS
3913462 [JW]
The
violin concerto scores highly amongst contemporary performances
but the piano companion won’t really do ... see Full
Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Violin
Concerto, Piano Quintet 2 Sarah
Chang, London SO/Colin Davis Leif Ove Andsnes (piano); Sarah
Chang (violin); Alexander Kerr (violin); Wolfram Christ (viola);
Georg Faust (cello) rec. 2001/2 EMI
CLASSICS 5034152 [JW]
A
fastidious and technically admirable player but no real affinity
with the life-blood of the music ... see Full
Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841–1904) Serenade
see TCHAIKOVSKY
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Symphony
1 (transc. for solo piano by Sigfrid
Karg-Elert) Alan
BUSH (1900-1995) Piano Sonata Mark
Bebbington rec.
2006 SOMM SOMMCD069 [CSS]
I
am not sure how, or to what purpose, we are offered this Elgar
disc ... see Full Review
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Cello
Concerto, Arrangements for cello & orchestra Natalie
Clein, Royal Liverpool PO/Vernon Handley rec. 2007 EMI
CLASSICS 5014092 [JW]
A
warm, highly expressive, though very closely recorded performance
... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) String Quartet see BAX
Edward
ELGAR (1857–1934) Serenade see
TCHAIKOVSKY
Johann Friedrich
FASCH (1688-1758)
Passio
Jesu Christi
Capella Savaria Baroque Orchestra/Mary Térey-Smith
rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.570326 [71:24][JV]
Fasch's
Brockes-Passion, recorded here for the first
time, needs a more idiomatic performance than
this ... see Full
Review
Gerald FINZI
(1901-1956) A Young Man’s Exhortation, Till
Earth Outwears, Oh Fair to See
John Mark Ainsley (tenor); Iain Burnside (piano) rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.570414 [DW]
For
lovers of English song, this is an indispensable disc, especially
with this thoughtfully compiled programme ... see Full
Review
Johann Caspar Ferdinand FISCHER (1656-1746) Le
Journal du Printemps L'Orfeo
Barockorchester/Michi Gaigg rec. 2005 CPO
7771502 [JV]
An
excellent interpretation of these Fischer
suites, written in the French style ... see
Full Review
Wilhelm FITZENHAGEN
(1848-1890) Cello
Concerto No.2 in A minor Op.4 [19:50] Elegie
Op.21 [4:40] Capriccio Op.40 [5:05] Serenade
Op.35 [4:39] Gavotte Op.42 [4:24] Impromptu
Op.43 [4:09] Ave Maria Op.41 [3:49] Ave Maria
Op.41 – for cello and harmonium [4:27] Dämonenfantasie
Op.34 – after motifs from the opera Damon
by Anton Rubinstein [15:41]
Jens Peter Maintz (cello) Munich Radio Orchestra/Peter
Rundel Paul Rivinius (piano and harmonium)
rec.2003/2005
OEHMS CLASSICS OC 702 [67:18] [JW]
A
worthy and worthwhile salute to the memory
of Fitzenhagen ... see
Full Review
George
FLYNN (b.
1937) Trinity Frederik
Ullén (piano) rec. 2004 BIS
CD1593/94 [DC]
A
powerful contribution to global culture ...
see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH John Herbert
FOULDS
(1880-1939) A World Requiem
BBC SC & O/Leon Botstein rec. 2007
CHANDOS CHSA5058 [45:08
+ 44:50] [PCW]
Ventures
like this give one hope for the future of recorded music … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Kenneth FUCHS (b.
1956) United Artists; Quiet in the Land;
Fire, Ice, and Summer Bronze; Autumn Rhythm; Canticle to the Sun
Timothy Jones (French horn); London Symphony Orchestra/JoAnn Falletta
rec. 2006 NAXOS AMERICAN
CLASSICS 8.559335 [64:00][DM]
Fuchs’s
distinctive voice, flair for orchestral colours
and sheer lyricism shine through ... see Full
Review
Janos
FUSZ (Johann Evangelist FUSS)
(1777–1819)
Songs
Maria Zadori (soprano) Timothy Bentch (tenor) Aniko Horvath (fortepiano)
rec. 2005 HUNGAROTON
HCD32404 [RH]
By
no means masterpieces but charming and the best are fascinating
A glimpse into the world of the Kleinmeister ... see Full
Review
Louis
Moreau GOTTSCHALK (1829–1869) Complete
Works for Orchestra Hot
Spring Festival Symphony Orchestra/Richard Rosenberg rec. 1999-2006 NAXOS
8.559320 [GF]
As
close as possible to what Louis Moreau Gottschalk had in mind
when he wrote the music. ... see Full
Review
Clémence
de GRANDVAL (1828–1907) Works
for oboe Includes Oboe concerto Lajos
Lencses (oboe, cor anglais) rec. 2005/6 HÄNSSLER
CLASSICS CD98.295 [RH]
Charming
pieces and anyway well worth searching out
if you are interested in the musical life
in 19th century Paris ... see Full
Review
Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907)
Ballad for Edvard Grieg (documentary
film); Ballade in G minor; Piano concerto
in A minor Lyric Pieces
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano) Bergen Philharmonic
Orchestra/Ole Kristian Ruud
EMI CLASSICS 5121289
[140:00][RMa]
Andsnes’s
many admirers will love this; will certainly
pass a few hours in his company most informatively
and enjoyably ... see Full
Review
Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Choir Music Det
Norske Solistkor/Grete Pederson rec. 2006 BIS
SACD-1661 [JFL]
I
have been particularly enchanted by this disc ... see Full
Review
Edvard
GRIEG (1843–1907) Slĺtter;
Norwegian Peasant Dances (Slĺtter) in the tradition after Knut
Dahle Ingfrid
Breie Nyhus (the Steinway Grand Piano at Troldhaugen); Ĺshild
Breie Nyhus (Hardanger fiddle) rec. 2007 SIMAX
PSC1287 [GF]
Of
interest to a wide audience: lovers of Grieg, of piano music,
of folk music – especially fiddle music ... see Full
Review
Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907)
Piano Concerto, Ballade, Lyric Pieces
Leif Ove Andsnes, Berlin PO/Mariss Jansons rec. 2001-7
EMI CLASSICS 3943992 [CH]
If
you like the idea of the popular Piano Concerto with further exploration
of Grieg’s relationship with the piano, you couldn’t find a better
disc ... see Full Review
George
Friederic HANDEL (1685-1759) Opera
Arias Dame
Emma Kirkby, Catherine Bott, Brandenburg Consort/Roy Goodman
rec. 1995-99 HYPERION
CDS44271/3 [3
CDs] [KM]
This
collection highlights Emma Kirkby’s wonderful voice in beautiful
arias by Handel … see Full
Review
George
Frederic HANDEL (1685-1759) Amadigi
di Gaula Maria
Riccarda Wesseling, Elena de la Merced, Al Ayre Espańol/Eduardo
López Banzo rec. 2006 NAĎVE
AMBROISIE AM133 [2 CDs] [ST]
The
performance is very strong but if you don’t like Handel opera then
this isn’t going to change your mind ... see Full
Review
George
Frederick HANDEL (1685-1759)
Solomon
Winchester Cathedral Choir; Göttingen Festival
Orchestra/Nicholas McGegan rec. 2007
CARUS 83.242
[3 CDs: 60:20 + 49:15 + 47:04][JW]
Doesn’t
really alter the balance of power in the discography stakes ... see
Full Review
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685–1759) Arias Danielle
de Niese (soprano)
Les Arts Florissants/William Christie DECCA
475 8746 [GF]
In
spite of some reservations this is an endearing disc, with wonderful
music and not a dull moment ... see Full
Review
Josef
HAYDN (1732-1809) String Quartets
Op. 9 London Haydn
Quartet rec. 2007 HYPERION
CDA67611 [2 CDs] [GH]
Slightly
mixed feelings but I will play it again as the music is of such
enchantment ... see Full Review
Johann
Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837) Le
retour de Londres – Grand Rondeau brilliant, Variations
and Finale, Oberons Zauberhorn, Variations Christopher
Hinterhuber (piano)
Gävle SO/Uwe Grodd rec. 2006 NAXOS
8.557845 [TP]
Hummel’s
virtuosic music calls for finesse rather than barnstorming, and
these cultivated artists know just how to play it ... see Full
Review
Johann
Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837)
Selected Masterpieces
Various artists rec. 1994-2000
DYNAMIC CDS 554/1-6 [71:39 + 68:35 + 57:08
+ 64:33 + 57:32 + 76:06][MS]
A selection of some
of Hummel’s most enticing and satisfying music
… real value for money though the level of
inspiration may be bettered elsewhere ...
see Full
Review
Engelbert
HUMPERDINCK (1854–1921)
Hänsel
und Gretel (1893)
Theo Adam (bass) – Peter, a broom-maker; Gisela
Schröter (mezzo) – Gertrud, his wife;
Ingeborg Springer (contralto) – Hänsel,
their son; Renate Hoff (soprano) – Gretel,
their daughter; Peter Schreier (tenor) – Witch;
Renate Krahmer (soprano) – Sandman/Dew Fairy;
Members of Dresdner Kreuzchor; Staatskapelle
Dresden/Otmar Suitner rec. Lukaskirche, Dresden,
1969 German libretto enclosed
BERLIN CLASSICS 0184182BC [54:23 + 40:37]
[GF]
Several
other sets are more recommendable but Suitner’s
big-boned reading shouldn’t be overlooked
– and Peter Schreier’s witch cries out to
be heard ... see Full
Review
Jacques
IBERT (1890-1962) Divertissement for Small Orchestra see
OFFENBACH
Sigurd ISLANDSMOEN (1881-1964)
Requiem
Hilde Haraldsen Sveen (soprano); Marianne Beate Kielland (alto); Ulf
Řien (tenor); Trond Halstein Moe (bass) Det Norske Solistkoor, Kristiansand
SO/Terje Boye Hansen rec. 2006
2L 36
[DC]
A
revival which I hope will set a trend for
neglected masterpieces elsewhere ... see Full
Review
Friedrich KIEL
(1821-1885) Piano
Quartets Nos. 1-3
Ulrike-Anima Mathé (violin); Hariolf Schlichtig
(viola); Xenia Jankovic (cello); Oliver Triendl
(piano) rec. 2005
CPO 7770762 [77:46][MC]
Lovers
of Romantic chamber music should not hesitate
... see Full Review
Hans
KÖßLER (KOESSLER) (1853-1926) String
Quintet, String Sextet Frankfurter
Streichsextett rec. 2003/4 CPO
777269-2 [GH]
Wonderful
performances and very fine music excellently documented ... see Full
Review
Joseph
Martin KRAUS (1756-1792) Violin
Concerto, Olympie - incidental music, Azire -
ballet music Takako
Nishizaki (violin) New Zealand SO/Uwe Grodd rec. 2006 NAXOS
8.570334 [JW]
Restores
some worthwhile and valuable music to public audition ... see Full
Review
Uwe KREMP (b. 1964) ‘…tief
im blauen Traum…’ see SCHUMANN
György
KURTÁG (b. 1926) … concertante …, Zwiegespräch, Hipartita, Játékok,
Transcriptions Hiromi
Kikuchi,
Hungarian Ntl PO/Zoltán Kocsis,
Keller Quartet,
Márta and György Kurtág
rec. 2006 BMC CD129 [2
CDs]
[PB-W]
Outstanding
performances of some of the most riveting
music composed in the last thirty-forty years
... see Full
Review
Klaus
LANG (b.
1971) Missa Beati Pauperes Spiritu Peter
Gerwig Romirer (cantor) Natalia Pschenitschnikova (voice) Roland
Dahinden (trombone) Gunter Meinhardt (percussion) Thomas Musil
and IEM Graz (live electronics) Trio RGB
rec. live 2005 COL LEGNO WWE1CD
20271 [DB]
An
interesting and extremely understated piece recommended for fans
of Feldman and Eno … see Full Review
HISTORICAL
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ruggiero LEONCAVALLO
(1858-1919) Chatterton
Chorus and orchestra of Teatro alla Scala/Ruggiero Leoncavallo rec.
1908 Pagliacci Giuseppe Rosci Chorus and orchestra of
Teatro alla Scala/Ruggiero Leoncavallo (as stated on labels; possibly
Carlo Sabajno) rec. 1907
MARSTON 52016-2 [79.04 + 78:14][JW]
An
amazing rarity transferred with care, presented with authority, and
made universally available ... see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886)
BACH-LISZT
TRANSCRIPTIONS
Karl-Andreas Kolly (piano)
PAN CLASSICS 510 [2 CDs] [CH]
By
likening these works to Bach-on-the-piano
as we know it today, Kolly may win friends
for them among listeners who enjoy Bach but
do not particularly relish either the harpsichord
or the organ. ... see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT Mephisto
Waltz no. 1 etc
Janina Fialkowska (piano) rec. Canada, pub.
1990
CBC RECORDS MVCD 2-1035 [65:25] [CH]
A
particularly interesting "Mephisto Waltz".
I have become Fialkowska-conscious and would
like to hear some of her more recent work.
... see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886)
recital
Michel Dalberto (piano)
rec. 1990 (CD 1), 1992 (Années), 1993
(La notte)
DENON CO 77289/CO 75500 [CH]
This
pair of Liszt discs is a very fine achievement.
... see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Donizetti - Operatic
Reminiscences and Transcriptions
William Wolfram (piano) rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.570137 [65:57][DM]
There’s
nothing modest about the pianistic talents of William Wolfram ... see
Full Review
Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
St. Elisabeth (The Legend of Saint Elisabeth),
Melanie Diener, Dagmar
Pecková, Mario Hoff, Hungarian Radio Ch, Staatskapelle Weimar/Carl St.
Clair rec. 2007 CPO
777339-2 [2 CDs] [MC]
Splendidly
performed and recorded. Deserves to be part
of any Liszt collection ... see Full
Review
Jan LUNDGREN
(b. 1966) Magnum Mysterium
Jan Lundgren (grand piano, keyboards); Gustaf
Sjökvist Chamber Choir/Gustaf Sjökvist rec.
2007
ACT 9457-2 [53.34][RH]
A
little too constrained for jazz enthusiasts
and too free with source material for classical
folk ... see Full
Review
[Click
here for the most recent reviews (last
five days)]
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]
[Recommended
recordings]