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Alphabetical Listing

Recommendations

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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RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

RECORDING OF THE MONTH  Cheryl FRANCES-HOAD (b.1980) The Glory Tree Nicholas Daniel (oboe) Lendvai String Trio, Ensemble na Mara, London Mozart Trio rec. 2008 CHAMPS HILL RECORDS CHRCD021 [77:00] [CR]

Refreshingly engaging and unapologetic, with a strong sense of identity and emotional depth.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Denis LEVAILLANT (b.1952) La Petite Danseuse de Degas Ballet & O de l’Opéra National de Paris/Koen Kessels EUROARTS 108 026 [112:00; Interviews: 20:00] [IL]

An inspired and visually ravishing creation. This ballet deserves to go from success to success.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Harmonies du soir Nelson Freire (piano) rec. 2011 DECCA 478 2728 [56.09] [RBe]

An absolutely superlative recital.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Arias Ildebrando d’Arcangelo (bass-baritone) O del Teatro Regio di Torino/Gianandrea Noseda rec. 2010 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 9297 [60:45] [GF]

One of the most thrilling bass recitals that has come my way.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sergey PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Romeo and Juliet Tamara Rojo, Carlos Acosta, Royal Ballet Sinfonia/Boris Gruzin rec. 2007 DECCA 074 3336 [138:00] [DM]

Nureyev and Fonteyn will always be iconic but this is in another league entirely. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano Concertos 1 & 4, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Simon Trpceski (piano) Royal Liverpool PO/Vasily Petrenko rec. 2009-2011 AVIE AV2191 [77:09] [JQ]

If you haven’t already sampled this fine partnership of Trpceski and Petrenko in Rachmaninov, don’t delay any longer!

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Venezia Johann ROSENMÜLLER (1619-1684) Sonatas Giovanni LEGRENZI (1626-1690) Sonatas Alessandro STRADELLA (1639-1682) Sinfonias Rare Fruits Council/Manfredo Kraemer rec. 2010 AMBRONAY AMY028 [81.53] [GH]

Not just a disc for specialists. Exemplary musicianship, breath-taking virtuosity and superb presentation. Sheer musical pleasure.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) L’Oiseau de Feu, Petrouchka, La Sacre du Printemps, Pulcinella Monte Carlo PO/Yakov Kreizberg rec. 2010 OPMC CLASSICS OPMC001 [3 CDs: 159:54] [BW]

Individually these performances are at or near the top of the pile; collectively this is an irresistible offering.  

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Svend Erik TARP (1908-1994) Piano Works Theme with variations, Suite, Sonatinas, Improvisations, Sonata Tonya Lemoh (piano) rec. 2010 DACAPO 8.226053 [58:32]

A quality artefact that all but recommends itself [Byz] Do try this most intriguing and musically valuable disc [RB]

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Giuseppe VERDI (1813 – 1901) La traviata Patrizia Ciofi (soprano) Roberto Saccŕ (tenor) Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone) Eufemia Tufano (mezzo) Orch/Chor of the Teatro La Fenice/Lorin Maazel rec. 2004 ARTHAUS 107 227 [146:00] [GF]

This Violetta has looks, acting ability and voice placing her among the best.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Antonio VIVALDI (1678 - 1741) The Complete Cello Sonatas David Watkin (cello) Helen Gough (cello continuo) David Miller (theorbo, archlute, guitar) Robert King (harpsichord, organ) rec. 1993 HYPERION DYAD CDD22065 [65:35 + 50:02] [JV]

Don’t delay; purchase this reissue today.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johann Rudolph ZUMSTEEG (1760 - 1802) Die Geisterinsel Kammerchor Stuttgart, Hofkapelle Stuttgart/Frieder Bernius rec. live 2010 CARUS 83.229 [3 CDs: 139:26] [JV]

Enjoyable Singspiel in a fine performance with an impressive cast.  

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Duos for Violin & Cello Works by Martinů, Süss, Klein, Dünser, Schulhoff & Toch Eufonia Duo Vienna rec. 2010 VMS MUSICAL TREASURES VMS224 [76.00] [SA]

76 minutes of aurally sublime and fascinating music.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Lamentarium Luigi ROSSI (1597-1653) Marco MARAZZOLI (1602-1662) Marc'Antonio PASQUALINI (1614-1691) Atalante (Nadine Balbeisi (soprano)*, Theodora Baka (mezzo)**, Paulina van Laarhoven, Annalisa Pappano, Nora Roll (viola da gamba), Erin Headley (viola da gamba, lirone), Siobhán Armstrong (arpa doppia), Elizabeth Kenny, Andrew Maginley (chitarrone))/Erin Headley
rec. 2010, DDD NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6152 [67:17] [JV]

One of the best recordings I have heard all year.

 

BARGAINS OF THE MONTH

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945) Piano Concertos 1-3 András Schiff (piano) Budapest Fest Orch/Iván Fischer rec. 1996 WARNER APEX 2564 67437-8 [76:04] [DM]

Peerless performances, alert, alive, astounding.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonata8, 17 & 23 Ingrid Fliter (piano) rec. 2011, EMI CLASSICS 094573 2 [72:58] [WH]

Outstanding performances of three favourite minor-key Beethoven sonatas.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Roméo et Juliette Olga Borodina (mezzo) Thomas Moser (tenor) Alastair Miles (bass) Bayerischen Rundfunks Ch, Vienna PO/Sir Colin Davis rec. 1993 NEWTON CLASSICS 8802046 [53:12 + 43:07] [JQ]

If you haven’t got a recording of this Berlioz masterpiece in your collection, you really can’t do better than this.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH  Franz LISZT (1811-1886) A Faust Symphony Charles Bressler (tenor) Choral Art Society, New York PO/Leonard Bernstein rec. 1964 SONY 88697 857572 [71:10] [IL]

White heat roller-coaster thrills.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Faust & Dante symphonies, Dante Symphony, Dante sonata, Piano sonata, Hungarian Rhapsody 2, Verdi Paraphrases Plácido Domingo, Berlin PO/Daniel Barenboim (piano) rec. 1985-98 WARNER CLASSICS 2564 67440-3 [3 CDs: 211:26] [MC]

Barenboim and Liszt make a perfect combination making this a desirable Warner Classics box set. 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Sergei RAKHMANINOV (1873-1943) The piano Concertos Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, John Lill (piano) BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Tadaaki Otaka rec. 1993-1996. DDD NIMBUS NI 1720 [3 CDs: 64:37 + 71:53 + 71:17] [JQ RB]

Consistently satisfying performances that reveal Rachmaninov’s music to the listener faithfully and without unnecessary ostentation. [JQ] An evocative synthesis of ursine majesty and razory melancholy. [RB]

 

 


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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