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Alphabetical Listing

PART 5
S-Z

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]

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Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 see FRANCK

Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Pelleas und Melisande; Erwartung Philharmonia Orchestra/Robert Craft rec. 1999-2000 NAXOS 8.557527 [68:59][BW]

Not likely to win converts for either work ... see Full Review

Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, A Survivor from Warsaw, Prelude to Genesis, Dreimal Tausend Jahre, Psalm 130, De Profundis, Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte Rolf Schulte (violin); David Wilson-Johnson (narrator); Jeremy Denk (piano); The Fred Sherry Quartet; Simon Joly Chorale Philharmonia O/Robert Craft rec. 1999-2007 NAXOS 8.557528 [71:03] [EMc]

A fascinating collection of music by one of the 20th century greats ... see Full Review

Arnold SCHOENBERG (1974–1951) Ode to Napoleon see FORD

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) String Quintet; Lieder Chilingirian Quartet; Dame Janet Baker; Geoffrey Parsons (piano) rec. 1971-81 CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 2282822 [76:42][BW]

A recommendable bargain but I very slightly prefer the Aeolians ... see Full Review

William SCHUMAN (1910-1992) A Song of Orpheus see PERRY

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Songs of Love and Loss Gedichte der Königin Maria Stuart, Liederkreis, Frauenliebe und -leben, Sarah Connolly (mezzo); Eugene Asti (piano) rec. 2007 CHANDOS CHAN10492 [65:58] [TB]

Connolly’s is a distinguished addition to the catalogue ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Quintet Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Quintet Leif Ove Andsnes (piano); Artemis Quartet rec. 2006 VIRGIN CLASSICS 3951432 [68:33] [DJB]

I was entranced, enraptured and enthralled – you have to have this one … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Violin Concerto see BRAHMS

Reinhard Schwarz-Schilling (1904-1985) Introduction and Fugue, Symphony in C, Sinfonia diatonica Staatskapelle Weimar/José Serebrier rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570435 [65:40] [WK]

Sincere music filling a major gap in our knowledge of post-war German music ... see Full Review

Alexander Nikolayevich SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Vers la flamme, Five Preludes, Sonata 5 see MUSSORGSKY

Bedřich SMETANA (1824-1884) Má Vlast Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Libor Pešek rec. 1989 VIRGIN CLASSICS 5221292 [76:29][JW]

Only a rather limited market for this 1989 Má Vlast ... see Full Review

Bedřich SMETANA (1824-1884) Piano Trio see DVOŘÁK

Hugo STAEHLE (1826-1848) Symphony 1 see BURGMÜLLER

Sir Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Symphony No. 1 in Bb major (1876) [48:36] Clarinet Concerto Op.80 (1903) [22:03] Robert Plane (clarinet) Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones rec. 2007. DDD Sir Charles Villiers Stanford: Symphonies - Volume 4 NAXOS 8.570356 [70:39] [JF]

Stanford the consummate craftsman, music that is subtle and unpredictable ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Richard STRAUSS (1864–1949)
Salome (sung in English, translation from German by Tom Hammond) (1905) Susan Bullock (soprano) – Salome John Graham-Hall (tenor) – Herod Philharmonia Orchestra/Charles Mackerras rec. 2007 Salome’s dance of the Seven Veils (concert version) CHANDOS CHAN 3157(2) [61:39 + 52:40] [DH]

Real emotional and sonic surge ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864–1949) Lieder Alban BERG (1885–1935) Sieben frühe Lieder Michiyo Iida (soprano), David Lutz (piano) rec. 2008 PREISER RECORDS PR90755 [55:21] [GF]

There are enough alternatives in the catalogues that are better buys ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Don Juan Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1857) Violin Concerto Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Rückert-Lieder František Novotný (violin) Karla Bytnarová (mezzo) Brno PO/Martin Turnovský rec. live, 2007 ARCO DIVA UP 0108-2 131 [61:56] [GP-J]

Overall a firm ‘also-ran’, despite Novotný’s impressive and valuable Korngold ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) The Rite of Spring (1911-13, revised 1947) [34:14] Apollon Musagète (1927-28, revised 1947) [29:36] Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra/Jaap van Zweden rec. 2006 EXTON OVCL 00330 [63:50] [DM]

A very fine Rite indeed. One of my discs of the year. ... see Full Review

Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Stabat Mater; Veni Creator; Litania do Marii Panny; Demeter; Penthesilea Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir/Antoni Wit rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570724 [59:26][MS]

Superb singing, faultless technique and interpretative breadth ... see Full Review

Piotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano concerto 2Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Piano concerto 1 Shura Cherkassky (piano) RIAS SO/Ferenc Fricsay rec. 1951/2 AUDITE 95.499 [53:53] [RMAY]

If the Tchaikovsky is your main point of interest you’ll enjoy this very much. ... see Full Review

Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Manfred symphony, The Voyevoda Royal Liverpool PO/Vasily Petrenko rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570568 [68:51] [RMAY]

Exciting and illuminating ... see Full Review

Simeon TEN HOLT (b. 1923) Canto Ostinato Kees Wieringa (piano); Polo de Haas (piano) rec. 2007 ET’CETERA KTC1367 [75.29] [GH]

Highly thought-provoking, but I may not play it again ... see Full Review

Randall THOMPSON (1899-1984) The Peaceable Kingdom, Alleluia, The Last Invocation, Mass of the Holy Spirit, Fare Well Schola Cantorum of Oxford/James Burton rec. 2008 HYPERION CDA 67679 [77.02] [GH]

In every way a fine CD ... see Full Review

Virgil THOMSON (1896-1989) Cello Concerto see PERRY

Sir Michael Tippett (1905-1998) String Quartets Vol. 1 Quartets 1, 2 & 4 Tippett Quartet rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570496 [64:37] [JF]

Will appeal strongly to all interested in Tippett’s chamber music ... see Full Review

Ernst TOCH (1887–1964) Violin Sonata No. 2; Burlesken, for piano; Three Impromptus, for cello; Piano Quintet Spectrum Concerts Berlin rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.559324 [68:57][BBr] 

Excellent disk, fine performances and crystal clear recording ... see Full Review

Joaquín TURINA (1882-1949) Rapsodia Sinfónica; Danzas Fantásticas; Sinfonía Sevillana; La Procesión del Rocio; La Oración del Torero London Philharmonic Orchestra, Mexico City Philharmonic/Enrique Bátiz rec. 1983 REGIS RRC1299 [71:52][BW] 

Colourful performances, brightly recorded, of attractive music ... see Full Review

Edgard VARESE (1883-1965) Orchestral Works 2 Includes Amériques, Ecuatorial, Nocturnal, Ionisation Elizabeth Watts (soprano); Maria Grichiwska (flute); Thomas Bloch (ondes martenot); Men’s Voices of Camerata Silesia, Polish National RSO/Christopher Lyndon-Gee (piano and conductor) rec. 2005 NAXOS 8.557882 [67:14] [CR]

This is unmissable ... see Full Review

Canti Drammatici Peteris VASKS (b.1946) Piano Quartet Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Quartet 3 Ensemble Raro rec. 2007 SOLO MUSICA SM119 [70:12] [TB]

This CD should bring long-term rewards ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) and Gustav HOLST (1874-1934) Choral Folksong Arrangments London Madrigal Singers/Christopher Bishop; Baccholian Singers of London rec. 1969-74 EMI CLASSICS 2161552 [78:23][MSJ]

A favourite LP appears on CD, expanded with extras ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813–1901) La Traviata Angela Gheorghiu, Ramón Vargas, Roberto Frontali, Teatro alla Scala di Milano O & Ch/Lorin Maazel rec. 2007 ARTHAUS MUSIK 101343 [134:00] [RMc]

A towering performance by Gheorghiu ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) La forza del destino (1869 revised version) Maria Callas (soprano) – Leonora; Richard Tucker (tenor) – Don Alvaro; Orchestra of La Scala, Milan/Tullio Serafin rec. 1954, Teatro alla Scala, Milan Appendix: Highlights from La forza del destino Zinka Milanov (soprano) – Leonora; Jan Peerce (tenor) – Don Alvaro;Robert Shaw Chorale/Robert Shaw RCA Victor Orchestra/Renato Cellini (twelve numbers) RCA Victor Orchestra/Jonel Perlea (three numbers) rec. 1950-55 NAXOS GREAT OPERA RECORDINGS 8.111322-24 [3 CDs: 75:58 + 56:59 + 78:37] [PB-W]

A great Callas performance in a wonderful Verdi opera ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Macbeth The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Children’s Chorus/James Levine rec. 2008 EMI CLASSICS 2063049 [155:36][ST] 

With stronger casting could well have been a top contender ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Il Trovatore Bruno Preved, Gwyneth Jones, Covent Garden Opera Ch & O/Carlo Maria Giulini rec. live, 1964 ROYAL OPERA HOUSE HERITAGE SERIES ROHS011 [66.39 + 60.29] [RJF]

Three great Verdi voices are heard in one of the composer’s most vocally demanding works ... see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678–1741) Sacred Music Vol. 3 Magnificat, Salve Regina, Nisi Dominus, Kyrie, In fuore iustissimae irae, Carla Huhtanen (soprano) Lynne McMurtry (mezzo) Eve Rachel McLeod (soprano) Jennifer Enss Modolo (mezzo) Aradia Ensemble/Kevin Mallon rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570445 [73.51] [RH]

Mallon’s soloists are capable but they don’t quite thrill me ... see Full Review

Georg Christoph WAGENSEIL (1715–1777) Symphonies Volume 2 Stuttgarter Kammerorchester/Johannes Goritzki rec. 2004 CPO 7771122 [54:24] [BBr]

Sprightly and well thought out music played with some brilliance ... see Full Review

Carl Maria von WEBER (1786–1826) Euryanthe Siegfried Vogel, Nicolai Gedda, Jessye Norman, Tom Krause, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Staatskapelle Dresden/Marek Janowski rec. 1974 BERLIN CLASSICS 0184412BC [3 CDs: 64:53 + 45:20 + 63:59] [GF]

Wholeheartedly welcomed ... see Full Review

Anton WEBERN (1883 – 1945) Quartett see BERIO

Carl Maria von WEBER (1786–1826) Abu Hassan see CORNELIUS

Michael WISE (c.1648-1687) Sacred choral music Christopher GIBBONS (1615-1676) Verses for organ The Choir of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge/Geoffrey Webber rec. 2007 DELPHIAN DCD34041 [70:15] [JV]

An important release but the performances are disappointing ... see Full Review

Ermanno WOLF-FERRARI (1876–1948) La vedova scaltra Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro La Fenice, Venice/Karl Martin rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.660225-26 [75:25 + 66:17][GF]

A far from negligible reading of an attractive opera ... see Full Review

Eugene YSAYE (1858-1931) Six Sonatas for solo violin, Poème élégiaque, Rêve d’enfant, Philippe Graffin (violin); Pascal Devoyon (piano) rec. 1997 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55226 [78:30] [EM]

A real love and comprehension shines through ... see Full Review

 


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]


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