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Alphabetical Listing

PART 5
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RECORDING OF THE MONTH Philip SAWYERS (b.1951) The Gale of Life, Symphonic Music for Strings and Brass, Symphony 1 Grand Rapids Symphony/David Lockington rec. 2002/2004/2008 NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6129 [63:38] [NB]

Reflects great credit on all involved – music of instant appeal and enduring quality performed with zealous passion recorded in excellent sound.

Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Sonatas Mathieu Dupouy (harpsichord) rec. 2009 LABEL-HERISSON LH04 [64:33] [JV]

The interpretation and the peculiar instrument make this disc stand out among the many devoted to Scarlatti's sonatas.

Franz SCHMIDT (1874-1939) Variationen über ein Husarenlied see SCHREKER

Alfred SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) String Trio see SCHOENBERG

Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) String Trio Anton WEBERN (1883-1945) String Trio Alfred SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) String Trio Goeyvaerts String Trio rec. 2009 CHALLENGE RECORDS CC72375 [65:14] [GD]

Like the performance, the priorities for the audio appear to be precision and detail. 

Franz SCHREKER (1878-1934) Kammersinfonie, Romantische Suite Franz SCHMIDT (1874-1939) Variationen über ein Husarenlied Ferruccio BUSONI (1866-1924) Two Studies from Doktor Faust Thomas Hampson; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Camerata Academica Salzburg/Franz Welser-Möst; Münchner RSO/Fabio Luisi rec. 1967-1999 EMI CLASSICS 6279732 [72:31 + 76:08] [RB]

A very strongly recorded and performed Schreker anthology. Well worth the explorer's time and bank account.

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Part-Songs, Vol. 1 Sibylla Rubens; Silke Schwarz; Regina Jakobi; Ingeborg Danz; Markus Schafer; Marcus Ullmann; Thomas Bauer; Markus Flaig; Marcus Schmidl; Ulrich Eisenlohr rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.570961 [60:05] [EM]

An appropriately joyful atmosphere and an excellent disc.

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Die schöne Müllerin Mark Padmore (ten.) Paul Lewis (pno) rec. 2009 HARMONIA MUNDI HMU 907519 [69:25] [JQ]

A worthy successor to these performers’ persuasive account of Winterreise.

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Das Paradies und die Peri,Overture, Scherzo and Finale Julia Faulkner (soprano) Staatskapelle Dresden/Giuseppe Sinopoli rec. 1994 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94065 [54:43 + 57:56] [RB]

The true romantic spirit of Schumann reflected in most sensitive and responsive music-making.

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Dichterliebe, Frauenliebe und -leben Aksel Schiøtz, Gerald Moore, Alfred Cortot, Gerhard Hüsch, Lotte Lehmann, Marian Anderson, Kathleen Ferrier, Bruno Walter rec. 1935-50 MUSIC & ARTS CD-1235(2) [78:35 + 62:24] [JW]

Imperishable listening whatever deficiencies may also have been preserved.

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Carnaval, Davidsbündlertänze Alessandra Ammara (pno) rec. 2010 ARTS MUSIC 47755-8 [69:22] [GD]

It's probably not how the composer himself would have played this music, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Cyril SCOTT (1879 – 1970) Violin Sonatas 1 & 3, Sonata Melodica Clare Howick (violin), Sophia Rahman (pno), rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.572290 [74:27] [BBr]

A very worthwhile issue.

Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Piano sonatas 1-10 Anatol Ugorski (piano) rec. 2007-9 C-AVI MUSIC 8553195 [78:43 + 80:42] [GD]

Ugorski seems to be getting closer and closer to the spirit of the music. An attractive proposition indeed.

Rodion SHCHEDRIN (b.1932) Menuhin-Sonata; Echo-Sonata; Sonata for Cello and Piano; Im Stile von Albeniz Dmitry Sitkovetsky (violin) Rodion Shchedrin (piano) David Grigorian (cello) Ludmila Lissovaja (piano) rec. 2002 ARS MUSICI 232371 [76:16] [GD]

It's not always beautiful, but it is always interesting.

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony 9, Russian River, Native Leningrad Suite Chamber Ch Smolny Cathedral, St. Petersburg State Academic SO/Alexander Titov NORTHERN FLOWERS NF/PMA9976 [49:49] [WH] [NB]

An important document for all those seeking to understand one of the greatest of composers [WH] I am still reeling from the cumulative mediocrity of this disc [NB]

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Piano Quintet Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp Jane BROCKMAN (b.1949) Trio for flute, cello and piano: Feast of Fives Chamber Music Palisades rec. 2005 AIX RECORDS AIX85052 [62:01] [BW]

Well worth considering, but the Shostakovich is a little under-powered and the visuals are fussy.

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906–1975) Violin Concerto 1 Samuel BARBER (1910–1981) Violin Concerto Dylana Jenson (violin) London SO/David Lockington Private label (no catalogue number) [62:31] [BBr]

A bargain!

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) 24 Preludes and Fugues Roger Woodward (piano) rec. 1975 CELESTIAL HARMONIES 14302-2 [53:53 + 71:51] [DC]

A milestone alternative to more familiar ‘romantic’ recordings.

Dmitry SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Piano Trio 1 see St Petersburg

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Kullervo Randi Stene (mezzo); Peter Mattei (baritone) National Male Ch Estonia, Royal Stockholm PO/Paavo Järvi rec. 1997 VIRGIN CLASSICS 6286522 [78:29] [RB]

Among the not numerous budget price Kullervos this one stands superior. 

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Violin Concerto see Art of Ivry Gitlis

Bedrich SMETANA (1824-1884) String Quartets 1 & 2 Bennewitz Qt rec. 2009 COVIELLO CLASSICS COV51004 [46:09] [NB]

These performances join a list of many powerful versions and can rank with any.

Antonio SOLER (1729-1783) Complete Harpsichord Sonatas Vol. 3 Pieter-Jan Belder (harpsichord) rec. 2009 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94025 [67:47 + 77:14] [GD]

If this recording is anything to go by Brilliant could well be onto a good thing.

John STANLEY (1712-1786) Concertos in Seven Parts The Parley of Instruments/Peter Holman rec. 1988 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55361 [58:13] [JW]

Fine playing, and fine music. 

Karlheinz STOCKHAUSEN (1928-2007) Mantra Xenia Pestova, Pascal Meyer (pianos) Jan Panis (electronics) rec. 2009 NAXOS 8.572398 [67:33] [MS]

A focused, yet expansive, hence highly convincing and technically very accomplished performance of one of Stockhausen's key works. 

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) The Rake’s Progress Dawn Upshaw, Grace Bumbry, Jerry Hadley, Robert Lloyd, Samuel Ramey, Ch & O de l’Opéra de Lyon/Kent Nagano rec. 1995-6 ERATO 2564 681380 [69:40 + 67:45] [DC]

One of the best modern recordings available.

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Violin Concerto see Art of Ivry Gitlis

Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Violin Concerto 1, Symphony 3, Interviews with Pierre Boulez Christian Tetzlaff (violin) Steve Davislim (ten.) Volkhard Steude, Singverein der Gesellschaft Der Musikfreunde/Johannes Prinz,Wiener PO/Pierre Boulez, rec. 2009-10 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8771 [48:31 + 46:36] [RB]

A deluxe presentation for these two headily exotic works from Szymanowski’s catalogue.

Thomas TALLIS (c.1505 – 1585) Spem in alium and other works Choir of King’s College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury rec. 1989 NEWTON CLASSICS 8802002 [60.09] [RH]

An admirable re-issue and if you don’t already have a copy, go out and buy it at once.

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Variations on a Rococo Theme, String Sextet, The Tempest Mstislav Rostropovich; Borodin String Qt; Leningrad PO/Gennadi Roshdestvensky; USSR SO/Evgeny Svetlanov REGIS RRC1348 [76:22] [NB]

Ultimately a bit of a mish-mash of a programme but one with much to please fans of Soviet music making.

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Snow Maiden Natalia Erassova (mezzo) Alexander Archipov (ten.) Nikolai Vassiliev (bar.) Russian State Ch & O/Andrei Chistiakov, rec. 1994 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94038 [72:34] [RB]

Variegated delights: miniature pen-portraits, songs and atmosphere pieces.

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concerto 1 see BEETHOVEN

Georg Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Overtures Carin van Heerden (recorder) L'Orfeo Barockorchester/Carin van Heerden, rec. 2006 CPO 7772182 [68:50] [JV]

Two relatively little-known Overtures make this disc recommendable … the Overture in A minor is a little disappointing.

Jesús TORRES (b.1965) Manantial de luz, Poética, Trio, Presencias Trio Arbós, Cécile Daroux (flute) José Luis Estellés (clarinet) Paul Cortese (viola) Juanjo Guillem (percussion) rec. 2008 KAIROS 0013012KA [66:18] [GPu]

Inventive chamber music full of fascinating tone colours and resonant with more than purely musical ideas. 

Joaquín TURINA (1882-1949) La Oración del Torero see VERDI

RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Mark-Anthony TURNAGE
(b.1960) Milo, Sleep On see Milo

 

Marcel TYBERG (1893-1944) Symphony 3, Piano Trio Michael Ludwig (violin) Roman Mekinulov (cello) Ya-Fei Chuang (paino) Buffalo PO/JoAnn Falletta rec. 2008/9 NAXOS 8.572236 [60:51] [WH]

A fine memorial to a fine composer, well presented and magnificently performed.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH  Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Orchestral and vocal collection rec. 1962-1994 EMI CLASSICS 6 27910 2 [78:47 + 76.51] [TB]

For anyone starting out upon a Vaughan Williams collection, it would be hard to better this EMI compilation of classic recordings reissued at bargain price.

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Requiem Margaret Price, Livia Budai, Giuseppe Giacomini, Robert Lloyd, London PO & Ch/Jesús López-Cobos, rec. 1983 LPO0048 [43:10 + 37:25] [RMo]

Has merit but there might be reasons to look for a more celebrated studio performance.

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Requiem Herva Nelli (soprano) Fedora Barbieri (mezzo) Giuseppe Di Stefano (tenor) Cesare Siepi (bass) Robert Shaw Chorale, NBC SO/Arturo Toscanini rec. live, 1951 PRISTINE PACO048 [77:45] [RMo]

A benchmark performance in unprecedentedly fine sound. 

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) String Quartet Luigi CHERUBINI (1760-1842) String Quartet 1 Joaquín TURINA (1882-1949) La Oración del Torero Britten Qt rec. 1990 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9197 [63:23] [GPu]

Good performances of an interesting programme.

Giovanni Battista VITALI (1632-1692) Sonatas Semperconsort/Luigi Cozzolino (violin and director) rec. 2008 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 93976 [56:13] [RH]

Full of liveliness and charm.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Bajazet Ildebrando D’Arcangelo, David Daniels, Elina Garanca, Vivica Genaux, Patrizia Ciofi, Europa Galante/Fabio Biondi rec. 2004 VIRGIN CLASSICS 4564592 [73:35 + 72:48] [J-PJ]

The best of the best in terms of Neapolitan-style opera – tuneful, virtuosic and passionate. Virtually every number in this recording is a highlight.

Bruno WALTER (1876-1962) Violin Sonata Hans PFITZNER (1869-1949) Violin Sonata Orfeo Duo rec. 1997 VAI AUDIO VAIA 1155 [67:38] [RB]

Two fully fledged expansive violin sonatas marinaded to the core in late-romantic juices.

Anton WEBERN (1883-1945) String Trio see SCHOENBERG

Christoph Ernst Friedrich WEYSE (1774–1842) Songs see Love Songs

Hugo WOLF (1860-1903) Italienisches Liederbuch Felicity Lott (soprano) Peter Schreier (tenor) Graham Johnson (piano) rec. 1993/4 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55385 [79:40] [GD]

Expressive and intimate songs by consummate performers recorded to the highest audio standards.

Rain WORTHINGTON Shredding Glass, Yet Still Night Czech PO/Robert Ian Winstin, rec. RAIN WORTHINGTON no number [10:08 & 6:02] [BBr]

Not to be missed.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Jan Dismas ZELENKA (1679 - 1745) Missa votiva Joanne Lunn, Daniel Taylor, Johannes Kaleschke, Thomas E. Bauer, Kammerchor Stuttgart, Barockorchester Stuttgart/Frieder Bernius rec. 2008 CARUS 83.223 [69:15] [JV]

Another masterpiece by Zelenka - the performance displays the Mass in its full glory.

Alexander von ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942) Complete string quartets Hans Erich APOSTEL (1901-1972) String Quartet 1 LaSalle Qut rec. 1980, ADD BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9188 [65:43 + 71:53] [RB]

Magnificent playing recorded with unflinching proximity.


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]
[last 5 days] [Recommended recordings]


 

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