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Alphabetical Listing

PART 3
C-L

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]



Cristian CARRARA (b. 1977) Mater, Face to Face, Liber Mundi, Tales from the Underground Francesco D’Oracio (violin) Angela Nisi (soprano) Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini/Matthieu Mantanus rec. 2011 ARTS 47759-8 [54:25] [DC]

Disconnect the phone, run the bath, pick up a cheap paperback. 

Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Les sylphides arr. Roy Douglas (1909) [30:14] Léo DELIBES (1836-1891) Coppélia (1870) adapted for TV by Margaret Dale [48:48] Adolphe ADAM (1803-1856) Giselle Act 2 pas de deux (1841) ICA CLASSICS DVD ICAD 5058 [99:46] [RMay]

This hugely enjoyable DVD.

Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano Concerto 2, Sonata 2, Ballade 4 Khatia Buniatishvili (piano) Paris O/Paavo Järvi rec. 2011/12 SONY CLASSICAL 88691971292 [70:59]  [DC]

Personal and individual, sensitive and deeply intelligent and involving. 

Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano Concertos 1 & 2 Ewa Kupiec (piano) Tasmanian SO/Sebastian Lang-Lessing, Melbourne SO/Christopher Seaman rec. 2005/11 ABC CLASSICS 4764836 [73:25] [GA]

A rather uneven Chopin concerto set from Ewa Kupiec. 

Arcangelo CORELLI (1653-1713) Concerti Grossi 1-12 The Avison Ensemble/Pavlo Beznosiuk rec. 2011 LINN CKD411 [65:10 + 64:27] [BW]

Strongly competitive with earlier issues and additionally available in SACD yet economically priced. 

Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Danse sacrée and Danse profane, Cello sonata, Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp, Violin sonata, Rhapsody 1 Fabrice Pierre (harp) Jérôme Pernoo (cello) Elisabeth Rigollet (piano) Ens Orchestral La Follia rec. 1997 INDESENS INDE042 [65:16] [WH]

Outstanding performances seriously marred by inferior technical presentation. 

Léo DELIBES (1836-1891) Lakmé Emma Matthews, Stephen Bennett, Aldo di Toro, Dominica Matthews, Opera Australia/Emmanuel Joel-Hornak rec. 2011 OPERA AUSTRALIA OPOZ56020 [143:00] [JS]

Well worth hearing but rather less so worth seeing.

Léo DELIBES (1836-1891) Coppélia see Les Sylphides

Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) French Masterworks: In a Summer Garden, Five Songs to words by Paul Verlaine, Paris: A Nocturne Henriette Bonde-Hansen (soprano) Aarhus SO/Bo Holten rec. 2011-2012 DANACORD DACOCD 728 [54:08] [MC]

Everything about these performances feels just right. 

Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) Cello sonata see British Works for Cello and Piano

Franz DOPPLER (1821-1883) & Karl DOPPLER (1825-1900) Music for flute - Vols. 2 and 3 Claudi Arimany (flute) John Steele Ritter, Alan Branch, Marta Gulyas (piano) rec. 2008-11 SAPHIR LVC1178 [79:03 + 79:09] [JS]

Fascinating repertoire. Most likely to appeal to flautists who will get much from these performances. Others may well gain unexpected pleasure from them too. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Philipp DULICHIUS (1562-1631) Sacred Motets Weser-Renaissance/Manfred Cordes rec. 2008 CPO 777 352-2 [64:46] [JV]

Immaculate and often exciting performances. 

Maurice DURUFLÉ (1902-1986) Requiem Robin MILFORD (1903-1959) Mass for five voices Christine Rice (mezzo) Mark Stone (baritone) Guy Johnston (cello) Tristan Mitchard (organ) Choir of Somerville College Oxford/David Crown rec. 2011 STONE RECORDS 5060192780208 [59.12] [PCG]

Most valuable for the Milford and the Duruflé is nicely recessed performance with charm and devotion.

Franz Xaver DUSSEK (1731-1799) Sinfonias Helsinki Baroque O/Aapo Häkkinen rec. 2010 NAXOS 8.572683 [53:53] [JWh]

Tuneful music brilliantly performed. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) String Quartet 12 Bedřich SMETANA (1824-1884) String Quartet 1 Josef SUK (1874-1935) Meditation on the Old Czech Hymn Saint Wenceslas Sacconi Qt rec. 2010 SACCONI RECORDS SACC104 [66:25] [DJB]

It really doesn’t get much better than this. 

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Symphony 9 Leos JANÁČEK (1854-1928) Sinfonietta SWR SO Baden-Baden und Freiburg/Sylvain Cambreling rec. 2005/9 GLOR CLASSICS GC11421 [67:35] [BR]

An unexpectedly thrilling New World with full emotional power. Who’d have known? 

Antonín DVORÁK (1841-1904) Sonatina in G (originally for violin and piano) see Czech Flute Music

George DYSON (1883-1964) At the Tabard Inn, The Canterbury Pilgrims, In Honour of the City Yvonne Kenny (soprano) Robert Tear (tenor) Stephen Roberts (baritone) London SO & Ch/Richard Hickox rec. 1996 CHANDOS CHAN 241-43 [57:25 + 45:23] [MC]

Indispensable listening for lovers of late-Romantic English music.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Elisenda FÁBREGAS (b. 1955) Voices of the Rainforest Kate WARING (b. 1953) Alapana Libby LARSEN (b. 1950) Slow Structures Chen YI (b. 1953) Night Thoughts Meininger Trio rec. 2010 HÄNSSLER PROFIL PH11039 [56:39] [DM]

Utterly absorbing; this music will give lasting pleasure. 

Jindrich FELD (1925-2007) Sonata see Czech Flute Music


RECORDING OF THE MONTH

Gerald FINZI
(1901-1956) Clarinet Concerto see British Clarinet Concertos

Grant FOSTER (b. 1945) The Pearl of Dubai, The Ballad of Reading Gaol Mira Yevtich (piano) Andrew Goodwin (tenor) Sergey Roldugin (cello) Novaya Russia SO, Hermitage SO, Belorussia SO & PO/Zaurbeck Gugkaev rec. 2011/12 QUARTZ QTZ 2091 [67:22 + 37:14] [JS]

Little in the way of individuality, formal interest or real drama but there is an eloquence and sincerity that endears the music to the listener. 

John FOULDS (1880-1939) Cello sonata see British Works for Cello and Piano

Giovanni GABRIELI (c.1554/7-1612) Music for the Feast of St Rocco Melodi Cantores, La Pifarescha/Elena Sartori (organ) rec. 2012 ARTS 477628 [72:11] [DC]

Thoroughly attractive. 

George GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Piano Concerto, Rhapsody in Blue, Second Rhapsody, I Got Rhythm Variations Freddy Kempf (piano) Bergen PO/Andrew Litton rec. 2011 BIS-SACD-1940 [73:54] [BR]

Loudly, proudly in a state of jazz, with snappy orchestral solos and an idiomatic sense of fun. The Bergen Philharmonic unexpectedly commands the spotlight. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Orlando GIBBONS (1583 - 1625) Hymns and Songs John SHEPPARD (1515 - 1585) Missa Cantate, Spiritus Sanctus Thomas TALLIS (1505 - 1585) Missa puer natus est nobis Robert WHITE (1538 - 1574) Lamentations of Jeremiah The Clerkes of Oxenford/David Wulstan rec. 1975/77 PHAIA MUSIC PHU005.7 [3 CDs: 175.43] [RH]

Astonishing …. Amazing. 

Christoph Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787) Orfeo ed Euridice Anita Rachvelishvili (alto) Maite Alberola (soprano) Auxiliadora Toledano (soprano) Palau de la Musica Catalana Chamber Ch, Orquesta bandArt/Gordan Nikolic (violin) rec. 2011 UNITEL/CLASSICA C MAJOR 710308 [110:00] [RJF]

An over-fussy visual spectacular that may appeal to some but does no justice to the music. 

Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Piano Concerto Franz LISZT (1911-1886) Piano Concerto 1, Fantasy on Hungarian Folk Themes Georges Cziffra (piano) Ntl O l’ORTF/Georges Tzipine, Andre Cluytens rec. 1959 ICA CLASSICS ICAC5079 [69:42] [SA]

I’ve never heard anyone play the Grieg piano concerto better. Cziffra at the very peak of his powers. 

H K GRUBER (b. 1943) 3 Mob Pieces, Busking Kurt SCHWERTSIK (b. 1935) Divertimento Macchiato Håkan Hardenberger (trumpet) Swedish CO/HK Gruber rec. 2009/10 BIS-CD-1884 [68:27] [DC]

Excellent stuff: entertaining and inspiring.

Andreas HAMMERSCHMIDT (1611/12-1675) Choral works Johann ROSENMÜLLER (1619-1684) Magnificat Gli Scarlattisti/Jochem Arnold rec. 2011 CARUS 83.375 [47:30] [JW]

A celebratory tribute making a good case for these small-scale but enjoyable works. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Acis and Galatea Jeni Bern (soprano) Benjamin Hulett (tenor) Christ Church Cathedral Choir; Oxford Philomusica/Stephen Darlington rec. 2012 English text included NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6201 [75:36] [JS]

Supplements rather than replaces the original but a delightful work in its own right. One of the most enjoyable recordings I have heard for a long time.

George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Rodelinda, Regina de’ Langobardi Renee Fleming (soprano) Andreas Scholl (counter-tenor) Metropolitan Opera O/Harry Bicket rec. 2011 DECCA 0743469 [170:00] [BW]

My Rodelinda DVD of choice, though there is better to be had on CD. 

Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Te Deum for chorus, orchestra and organ in C major, Hob. XXIIIc:2 (c. 1798/1800) [9:08] Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Cantata on the Death of the Emperor Joseph II, for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, WoO87 (1790) [37:46] Cantata on the Accession of Emperor Leopold II, WoO 88 (1790) [25:09] Eva Müllerová (soprano); Edita Adlerová (mezzo); Aleš Vorácek (tenor); Matej Chadima (bass); Alexandra Pridalová (flute); Jirí Šlechta (cello); Jan Steyer (harpsichord/organ); The Prague Mixed Choir/Jan Steyer, Jirí Petrdlík Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra of South Bohemia/Jirí Petrdlík rec. 2012, No sung texts provided ARCO DIVA, UP 0148-2 131 [72:16] [MC]

A fascinating and well performed release that Beethoven and Haydn enthusiasts will want to consider.

Franz Joseph HAYDN (1732 - 1809) Baryton Divertimenti - Vol. 1 The Esterházy Machine rec. 2004 SMITHSONIAN FRIENDS OF MUSIC FOM 36-811 [66:53] [JV]

An excellent opportunity to get acquainted with Haydn's baryton trios. 

Franz Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphony 47 see TCHAIKOVSKY

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gary HIGGINSON (b. 1952) Songs of Innocence and of Experience Charlotte de Rothschild (soprano) Danielle Perrett (harp) Chapel Ch of Selwyn College, Cambridge; Ely Cathedral Girls' Ch/Sarah MacDonald rec. 2011 REGENT REGCD381 [76:49] [DJ]

A magnificent introduction to an unjustly overlooked contemporary composer. 

Engelbert HUMPERDINCK (1854 - 1921) Hänsel und Gretel Alice Coote, Lydia Teuscher, London PO/Robin Ticciati rec. 2010 GLYNDEBOURNE GFOCD 015-10 [58:37 + 41:57] [GF]

Ticciati holds his own in illustrious company. If you missed the Glyndebourne production you will certainly not regret this purchase.

Engelbert HUMPERDINCK (1854-1921) Hänsel und Gretel Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Nutcracker Angelika Kirchschlager (soprano) Diana Damrau (soprano) Royal Opera O Covent Garden/Sir Colin Davis, Koen Kessels rec. 2008/9 OPUS ARTE OA1090BD [3 DVDs: 205:00] [PCG]

You would have to be a hard-bitten child - or adult - not to be absolutely enchanted by both these performances. 

John IRELAND (1879-1962) Complete Organ Works Stefan Kagl (organ) rec. 2008 CPO 777 481-2 [66.48] [EM-L]

Of interest to Ireland aficionados. 

John IRELAND (1879-1962) Piano Music Vol. 4 Mark Bebbington (piano) rec. 2011 SOMM SOMMCD 0115 [74:54] [JF]

The Bebbington cycle cannot be beaten. An excellent detailed exploration of some of the finest British piano music. 

Leos JANÁČEK (1854-1928) Sinfonietta see DVOŘÁK

Sigfrid KARG-ELERT (1877-1933) Organ Works Vol. 7 Stefan Engels (organ) rec. 2011 PRIORY PRCD 1062 [68:11] [Byz]

The three works here ratchet up the passion, especially in their massive, chromatically dazzling endings.

David KECHLEY (b.1947) Colliidng Objects Timetable, Eric Poland, Chris Thompson, Candy Chiu (percussion), Tom Bergeron (trumpets), Steven Bodner (saxophones), Linda Chatterton (flute), Ina Zdorovetchi (harp), Doris Stevenson (piano) rec. 2012 INNOVA 829 [76:23] [Byz]

Accessible and even quite catchy.

Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Wagner Paraphrases Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Piano pieces Asher Fisch (piano) rec. 2011 MELBA MR301141 [67:07] [GF]

Fisch’s playing is as delightful as the music.

Franz LISZT (1911-1886) Piano Concerto 1, Fantasy on Hungarian Folk Themes see GRIEG


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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