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         Made
                  in the Americas: Symphonies and Soundscapes: Vol.1
                  Set 1  Millennium
                  SO/Robert Ian Winstin rec. 2008,
 Millennium
                  SO/Robert Ian Winstin rec. 2008,  ERMMEDIA
        ERM5572 [74.49 + 72.25] [PSh]
 ERMMEDIA
        ERM5572 [74.49 + 72.25] [PSh]
         The
              first great American symphony of the twenty-first century ... see Full
              Review 
         Yehudi
                Menuhin - The Great EMI Recordings rec.
        1932-84 EMI CLASSICS 2641312 [51 CDs: ca 60 hrs]  [JW]
 [JW]
        Enough
              rarities to entice ... see Full
              Review 
         RECORDING
               OF THE MONTH 
            Midsummer
             Night 
            - Kate Royal (soprano) ALWYN, 
            STRAVINSKY, WALTON, 
            FLOYD, DVOŘÁK, 
            BRITTEN,  LEHÁR, 
            BARBER, MESSAGER,
             HERRMANN, KORNGOLD
RECORDING
               OF THE MONTH 
            Midsummer
             Night 
            - Kate Royal (soprano) ALWYN, 
            STRAVINSKY, WALTON, 
            FLOYD, DVOŘÁK, 
            BRITTEN,  LEHÁR, 
            BARBER, MESSAGER,
             HERRMANN, KORNGOLD  Kate Royal (soprano) Crouch End Festival Chorus, Orchestra of English
             National Opera/Edward Gardner rec. 2008/9, DDD
 
            Kate Royal (soprano) Crouch End Festival Chorus, Orchestra of English
             National Opera/Edward Gardner rec. 2008/9, DDD  EMI CLASSICS 2681922 [61:45]
 
            EMI CLASSICS 2681922 [61:45]  [ST]
 
            [ST]
        Never 
          less than beautiful and frequently far more ... see Full 
          Review 
        Milestones 
          –Thirty 
          Years of Chandos ALBINONI, 
          BAX, 
          BOULANGER, 
          CHOPIN,  DELIUS,  ELGAR, GRAINGER, 
          GRECHANINOV, HANDEL, 
          HARTY, HOLST, 
          HUMMEL, JANÁČEK, KODÁLY, 
          PROKOFIEV, 
          PURCELL , RACHMANINOV 
          , RESPIGHI , SHOSTAKOVICH,, 
          STANFORD, STRAUSS, 
          TCHAIKOVSKY, 
          VANHAL, VAUGHAN WILLIAMS, 
          BUTTERWORTH, VAUGHAN 
          WILLIAMS' WALTON , The 
          Complete Champions, The King’s Singers, 
          Music from the novels of Louis de Berničres  
            CHANDOS ANNI 0030 [30 CDs – circa 26:00:00]
 
          CHANDOS ANNI 0030 [30 CDs – circa 26:00:00]  [RB]
 
          [RB]
        Begin 
          your collection with this set and you can count yourself blessed ... 
          see Full 
          Review 
         
           
          Heinrich 
          Neuhaus – Russian Piano School Johannes 
          BRAHMS (1833-1897) Eight Piano Pieces Op.76; 
          Intermezzos Op.119 Nos.1 & 2 Robert 
          SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Kreisleriana  Heinrich Neuhaus (piano) rec. Moscow 1947-1952
 
          Heinrich Neuhaus (piano) rec. Moscow 1947-1952   RUSSIAN COMPACT DISC RCD16246 [57:35][JW]
 
          RUSSIAN COMPACT DISC RCD16246 [57:35][JW]  
 
           
        Artistry; 
          that’s what this disc gives us time and again ... see Full 
        Review         
        
  A
                  New Heaven Includes Sir
                  Hubert PARRY (1848-1918)  I was glad  Sir
                  William HARRIS (1883-1973)  Faire is the heaven  Sir
                  Edward BAIRSTOW (1874-1946) Blessed city, heavenly
                  Salem  Henry BALFOUR GARDINER (1877-1950) Evening
                  Hymn  Edgar BAINTON (1880-1956)  And
                  I saw a new heaven  Sir John STAINER (1840-1901) I
                  saw the Lord  Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983)  Like
                  as the hart desireth the waterbrooks
 A
                  New Heaven Includes Sir
                  Hubert PARRY (1848-1918)  I was glad  Sir
                  William HARRIS (1883-1973)  Faire is the heaven  Sir
                  Edward BAIRSTOW (1874-1946) Blessed city, heavenly
                  Salem  Henry BALFOUR GARDINER (1877-1950) Evening
                  Hymn  Edgar BAINTON (1880-1956)  And
                  I saw a new heaven  Sir John STAINER (1840-1901) I
                  saw the Lord  Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983)  Like
                  as the hart desireth the waterbrooks   The
                  Sixteen/Harry Christophers
rec. 2008
 The
                  Sixteen/Harry Christophers
rec. 2008 UNIVERSAL CLASSICS & JAZZ
1795732 [72:04]
 UNIVERSAL CLASSICS & JAZZ
1795732 [72:04]  [MC]
 [MC]
        
Superbly
              presented, quite outstanding with flawless performances ... see Full
              Review 
        New 
          Year’s Concert 2003  Vienna PO/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
 
          Vienna PO/Nikolaus Harnoncourt  ARTHAUS MUSIK 107 013
 
          ARTHAUS MUSIK 107 013  [122:00 + 27:00 special features]
 
          [122:00 + 27:00 special features]  [JS]
 
          [JS] 
        Such
                wonderful musicians playing such marvellous music ... see Full
                Review 
         RECORDING
              OF THE MONTH The
              NMC Songbook rec.
              2008
RECORDING
              OF THE MONTH The
              NMC Songbook rec.
              2008  NMC D150 [4
        CDs: 299:25]
 NMC D150 [4
        CDs: 299:25]  [CR]
 [CR]
        A
              stunning anthology ... see Full
              Review 
         
          No 
          Seasons Astor 
          PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) arr. Leonid Desyatnikov (b.1955) 
          Four Seasons in Buenos Aires for Violin and String Orchestra 
          [25:17] Joan VALENT (b.1964) Quatre 
          Estacions A Mallorca for Violin, Piano, String Orchestra and Percussion 
          [26:52] Jorge GRUNDMAN (b.1961) 
          Four Sad Seasons Over Madrid for Soprano, Violin, Piano and String 
          Orchestra [16:20]  Ara Malikian 
          (violin) Susana Cordón (soprano); Daniel del Pino (piano) Non Profit 
          Music Chamber Orchestra/Ara Malikian
 Ara Malikian 
          (violin) Susana Cordón (soprano); Daniel del Pino (piano) Non Profit 
          Music Chamber Orchestra/Ara Malikian 
 NON 
          PROFIT MUSIC NO CATALOGUE NUMBER [68:31]
NON 
          PROFIT MUSIC NO CATALOGUE NUMBER [68:31]  [RB]
 
          [RB]
          
          A fresh take on the seasons ... see Full 
          Review 
         
          Manoug 
          Parikian in Sweden Wolfgang 
          Amadeus MOZART (1756 - 1791) Divertimento in B flat for 2 
          Horns and String Quartet, K287 (1777) [33:48] Ludwig 
          van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String 
          Sextet Op.81b (1794-95) [17:37]  Manoug Parikian (violin) Tore Johnsen (violin) Bengt Andersson (viola) 
          Jan Neander (cello) Gunnar Wennberg (horn) Bengt Sundberg (horn) rec.1971,1974
 
          Manoug Parikian (violin) Tore Johnsen (violin) Bengt Andersson (viola) 
          Jan Neander (cello) Gunnar Wennberg (horn) Bengt Sundberg (horn) rec.1971,1974 
           ALTFIOL AIVCD004 
          [51:25]
 ALTFIOL AIVCD004 
          [51:25]  [JW]
 
          [JW]  
        
This 
          pleasurable souvenir ... see Full Review 
           
        
Phoenix 
          in Flight  
          Carl Maria von WEBER (1786 – 1826) 
           Clarinet Concertino & Concerto 2 Giovanni BOTTESINI (1821 – 1889)  Duetto Claude DEBUSSY (1862 – 1918)  Premiere Rhapsodie 
          Peter Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840 – 1893)  Herbstlied 
           Richard Stoltzman (clarinet); 
          Richard Fredrickson (double bass) Slovak RSO/Kirk Trevor rec. 2002-5
 Richard Stoltzman (clarinet); 
          Richard Fredrickson (double bass) Slovak RSO/Kirk Trevor rec. 2002-5 
           NAVONA RECORDS NV5861 
          [59:52]
 NAVONA RECORDS NV5861 
          [59:52]  [BBr]
 
          [BBr] 
        
Well 
          worth a listen ... see Full Review
         BARGAIN 
          OF THE MONTH André 
          Previn - The Great Recordings - The LSO Years: 1971-1980  
          rec. 1971-80. Stereo/ADD Full details at end of review
BARGAIN 
          OF THE MONTH André 
          Previn - The Great Recordings - The LSO Years: 1971-1980  
          rec. 1971-80. Stereo/ADD Full details at end of review  EMI CLASSICS 50999 2679692 [10 CDs: circa 13:00:00]
 
          EMI CLASSICS 50999 2679692 [10 CDs: circa 13:00:00]  [RB]
 
          [RB] 
        Magnificent 
          Previn recordings as fresh as proverbial paint ... see Full 
          Review 
         
          Pourquoi, 
          Madame? Georges 
          BOULANGER, Grigoras DINICU, Jupp SCHMITZ, Ludwig SCHMIDSEDER, Oskar 
          NEBDAL, Vittorio MONTI, Franz LEHÁR, Gustl EDELMANN, Seress REZSÖ, Jo 
          KNÜMANN, Trad arr. Wiesław Pipczynski 
           Prima Carezza 
          (Michaela Paetsch-Neftal and Klaus Neftal (violins); Wiesław Pipczynski 
          (accordion))
  Prima Carezza 
          (Michaela Paetsch-Neftal and Klaus Neftal (violins); Wiesław Pipczynski 
          (accordion))  TUDOR 
          7160 CD [69:24]
 TUDOR 
          7160 CD [69:24]  [JS]
 
          [JS]  
        
A 
          very positive impression … a very impressive panache ... see Full 
          Revie
         Reflections of France 
          Includes Roger BOUTRY (b. 1932) Divertimento 
          Jean FRANÇAIX (1912-1997) Cinque danses exotiques 
          Alfred DESENCLOS (1912-1971) Prélude, cadence 
          et finale Robert PLANEL (1908-1994) Prélude et saltarelle 
          Darius MILHAUD (1892-1974) Scaramouche
 
          Reflections of France 
          Includes Roger BOUTRY (b. 1932) Divertimento 
          Jean FRANÇAIX (1912-1997) Cinque danses exotiques 
          Alfred DESENCLOS (1912-1971) Prélude, cadence 
          et finale Robert PLANEL (1908-1994) Prélude et saltarelle 
          Darius MILHAUD (1892-1974) Scaramouche  Christian Forshaw (saxophone) Stephen De Pledge (piano) rec. 2007
 
          Christian Forshaw (saxophone) Stephen De Pledge (piano) rec. 2007  INTEGRA RECORDS ING1002 [66:04]
 
          INTEGRA RECORDS ING1002 [66:04]  [DM]
 
          [DM]
        Dazzling
              technique but real punch and personality? ... see Full
              Review 
        By 
          the River in Spring 
          Includes Hamilton Harty 
          (1879-1941)  In Ireland Edward 
          German (1862-1936) 
          Suite for Flute Michael Head 
          (1900-1976)  By the River in Spring William 
          Alwyn (1905-1985) 
          Flute Sonata Thomas Dunhill 
          (1877-1946) Valse Fantasia Kenneth 
          Leighton (1929-1988) 
          Flute Sonata Stanford Robinson 
          (1904-1984) The Moon-maiden's Dance  Kenneth Smith (flute); Paul Rhodes (piano) rec. 1927-2007
 
          Kenneth Smith (flute); Paul Rhodes (piano) rec. 1927-2007  DIVINE ART DDA25069 [77:34]
 
          DIVINE ART DDA25069 [77:34]  [JF]
 
          [JF]
        Well-planned
              and beautifully played ... see Full
              Review 
         Mstislav
                Rostropovich - The Complete EMI Recordings  EMI
                CLASSICS 2175972 [26 CDs: ca 30 hrs & 2 DVDs]
 EMI
                CLASSICS 2175972 [26 CDs: ca 30 hrs & 2 DVDs]  [JW]
 [JW]
        Indefatigable
              and remarkable … grace and profound illumination ... see Full
              Review
         Russian
                Violin Concertos Nikolai RAKOV (1908-1990) Violin
                Concerto No. 1 (1944) [30:07] Dmitri
                KABALEVSKY (1904-1987) Violin Concerto in C major,
                Op. 48 (1948) [30:07] Vissarion SHEBALIN (1902-1963) Violin
                Concerto, Op. 21 (1940)
Russian
                Violin Concertos Nikolai RAKOV (1908-1990) Violin
                Concerto No. 1 (1944) [30:07] Dmitri
                KABALEVSKY (1904-1987) Violin Concerto in C major,
                Op. 48 (1948) [30:07] Vissarion SHEBALIN (1902-1963) Violin
                Concerto, Op. 21 (1940)  Andrew
                Hardy (violin) Symphony Orchestra of Russia/Veronika Dudarova
                rec. Moscow Film Studios, 1995. DDD previously issued as Olympia
                OCD573
 Andrew
                Hardy (violin) Symphony Orchestra of Russia/Veronika Dudarova
                rec. Moscow Film Studios, 1995. DDD previously issued as Olympia
                OCD573  REGIS
        RRC1310 [79:52]
 REGIS
        RRC1310 [79:52]  [RB]
 [RB]
        Wonderfully
                lyrical and completely unhackneyed ... see Full
                Review 
         Salmow 
          Kernewek – Contemporary Choral Music from Cornwall 
          by Russell PASCOE, Paul 
          DRAYTON (b. 1944), Jonathan CARNE, 
          Paul COMEAU  and Graham 
          FITKIN (b. 1963)  St. Mary’s Singers/Christopher Gray rec. 2008
 
          St. Mary’s Singers/Christopher Gray rec. 2008  REGENT REGCD291 [77.55][RH]
 
          REGENT REGCD291 [77.55][RH]  
 
           
        Well-made 
          and useful music ... see Full 
          Review
        
Hermann
                Scherchen conducts Beethoven  Westminster
                Archives – Scherchen Vol. 5  Paul
                Badura-Skoda (piano) Vienna State Opera O, English Baroque O/Hermann
                Scherchen rec. 1951-58
 Paul
                Badura-Skoda (piano) Vienna State Opera O, English Baroque O/Hermann
                Scherchen rec. 1951-58  TAHRA
        WEST 3009-10 [69:30 + 59:15]
 TAHRA
        WEST 3009-10 [69:30 + 59:15]  [JW]
 [JW]
        
Once
                more Tahra West bears fruit ... see Full
                Review 
         Elisabeth
                Schwarzkopf: Rare Recordings - 1946–1954    Elisabeth
                Schwarzkopf (soprano) rec. 1946-54
 Elisabeth
                Schwarzkopf (soprano) rec. 1946-54  IDIS
                6563 [63:29]
 IDIS
                6563 [63:29]  [GF]
 [GF]
        Shows
                the high artistic level of whatever Elisabeth Schwarzkopf did.
                ... see Full
                Review
         
          Andrés 
          Segovia plays J.S. BACH, HAYDN, FRESCOBALDI, RAMEAU, TANSMAN, Hans HAUG, SCRIABIN, VILLA-LOBOS, LAURO, RODRIGO, CASSADÓ and LLOBET   Andrés Segovia (guitar) rec. 1952-6
 
          Andrés Segovia (guitar) rec. 1952-6  ALTO ALC1050 [72:25][RB]
 
          ALTO ALC1050 [72:25][RB] 
        Candid 
          and straight-talking ... see Full 
          Review 
         Andrés Segovia 1950s American Recordings 
          Vol. 1
 
          Andrés Segovia 1950s American Recordings 
          Vol. 1 
           Andrés Segovia (guitar) 
          rec. 1952-5
 Andrés Segovia (guitar) 
          rec. 1952-5   NAXOS 8.111089 
          [66:42]
 NAXOS 8.111089 
          [66:42]  [GF]
 
          [GF]
        As
              self-recommending as the other five volumes ... see Full
              Review 
        Songs 
          of the Sky 
          Steve MARTLAND 
          (b. 1959) Tiger Dancing  Huw 
          WATKINS (b. 1976) Dream  Tarik 
          O’REGAN (b. 1978) Raď  Jason 
          YARDE (b. 1970) Who Knows the Beauty?  John 
          TAVENER (b. 1944) Songs of the Sky   Britten Sinfonia/Jacqueline Shave rec. 2005-7
 
          Britten Sinfonia/Jacqueline Shave rec. 2005-7   SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD149 [76:14]
 
          SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD149 [76:14]  [HC]
 
          [HC]
        Never
              outstays its welcome ... see Full
              Review 
        The 
          Sound of Scandinavia 
           rec. 1960-2002  EMI CLASSICS 2681612 [6 CDs: 469:20]
 
          EMI CLASSICS 2681612 [6 CDs: 469:20]  [RB]
 
          [RB]
        A
              beguilingly calculated mix ... see Full
              Review 
         Stellar
                  Saxes	 Jun
                  NAGAO (b.1964) Paganini Lost, Lovers
                  on the Celestial Sphere Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Konzertstuck Masanori
                  KATOH (b.1972) Oriental Guy
                  LACOUR (b.1932) Suite en Duo Victor
                  MOROSCO (b.1936) Contemporary Etudes in Duet
                  Form  Kenneth
                  Tse and Nobuya Sugawa (saxophones) Kazuo Murakami (piano) rec.
                  2008
 Kenneth
                  Tse and Nobuya Sugawa (saxophones) Kazuo Murakami (piano) rec.
                  2008 CRYSTAL
        RECORDS CD359 [59:42]
 CRYSTAL
        RECORDS CD359 [59:42]  [JW]
 [JW]
        A
              saxophonic feast ... see Full
              Review 
         La 
          traverse miraculeuse  Les Charbonniers de l'Enfer rec. 2008
 
          Les Charbonniers de l'Enfer rec. 2008  ATMA CLASSIQUE ACD22588 [52:01][RB]
 
          ATMA CLASSIQUE ACD22588 [52:01][RB] 
        Gallic, 
          tangy, rough-textured and folk-orientated ... see Full Review
        Variations 
           REBaroque/Maria 
          Lindal rec. 2008
 REBaroque/Maria 
          Lindal rec. 2008   PROPRIUS 
          PRCD2046 [55:14]
 PROPRIUS 
          PRCD2046 [55:14]  [JS]
 
          [JS]
        Mixing
              music in ways that constantly surprise ... see Full
              Review 
         
          The 
          Virtuoso Pianolist  Rex Lawson (pianola) rec. 1998
 
          Rex Lawson (pianola) rec. 1998  OTHER MINDS OM10012 [71:35][DC]
 
          OTHER MINDS OM10012 [71:35][DC] 
        No 
          mere novelty – the Stravinsky is a must for serious fans ... see Full Review
          West
                  of the Sun -
                  Music of the Americas Includes Astor
                  PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Flora’s Game, Milonga
                  prelude Alberto GINASTERA (1916-1983) Sonata
                  1 Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Chôros
                  No.5, Alma Brasileira Margaret BONDS (1913-1972) Troubled
                  Water William BOLCOM (b.1938) Nine
                  New Bagatelles Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) Piano
                  Sonata
 West
                  of the Sun -
                  Music of the Americas Includes Astor
                  PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Flora’s Game, Milonga
                  prelude Alberto GINASTERA (1916-1983) Sonata
                  1 Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Chôros
                  No.5, Alma Brasileira Margaret BONDS (1913-1972) Troubled
                  Water William BOLCOM (b.1938) Nine
                  New Bagatelles Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) Piano
                  Sonata  Joel
                  Fan (piano) rec. 2008
 Joel
                  Fan (piano) rec. 2008  REFERENCE
                  RECORDINGS RR-119 [67:17]
 REFERENCE
                  RECORDINGS RR-119 [67:17]  [JW]
 [JW]
        Ebullient
              and zesty ... see Full Review 
          
        
 
        BOOK 
          REVIEWS 
        Parry’s
                Creative Process by
                Michael Allis Music in 19th-Century
        Britain Series ASHGATE ISBN 978-1-84014-681-3 - Ł54:00 [JF] 
        A
              useful reference tool for musicologists, writers and enthusiasts
              ... see Full Review 
        
         
        
        Click 
          for alphabetical listings by composer:
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          1 New] [Part 
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          [Part 4 M-R] [Part 
          5 S-Z]
          [Part 6 Misc A-L] [Part 
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          [last 5 days] [Recommended 
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