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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]
[last 5 days] [Recommended recordings]


Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Piano Trios 1 & 2 Vienna Piano Trio rec. 2012 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM 942 1763-6 [64:07] [MC]

This will complement any chamber music collection. 

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Wandererfantasie, Impromptus, Sonata 16, Moments Musicaux Paul Lewis (piano) rec. 2011/12 HARMONIA MUNDI HMC 902136/37 [55:15 + 67:58] [JQ]

Another richly rewarding Schubert recital from Paul Lewis.

Erwin SCHULHOFF (1894-1942) Sonata see Czech Flute Music

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Heine Songs, Romances and Ballads Gerald Finley (baritone) Julius Drake (piano) rec. October 2007, German texts and English translations included HYPERION CDA67676 [70:09] [JQ]

An admirable recital.

Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Le Poème de l’Extase see Russian Composers around 1900


RECORDING OF THE MONTH

John SHEPPARD
(1515 - 1585) Missa Cantate, Spiritus Sanctus see GIBBONS

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1907-1975) Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 60 (1941) [73:44] City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Andris Nelsons rec. live, 2011, ORFEO C 852121 A [73:44][ST] [DM]

A worthwhile recording and decidedly more than that in places. [ST] Nelsons’ Leningrad fails on every level; a musical and sonic pile-up. [DM]

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Piano Trios Pēteris VASKS (b. 1946) Episodi e Canto perpetuo Boulanger Trio, Karla Haltenwanger (piano) rec. 2010 PROFIL PH12045 [68:12] [MC]

Up there with the finest alternatives on the market. 

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957): Kajanus conducts Sibelius – vol. 1 (1930-1932) Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39 [35:32] Pohjola’s Daughter – Symphonic Fantasy, Op. 49 [12:38] Tapiola – Symphonic Poem, Op. 112 [18:04] Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Symphony 1); London Symphony Orchestra/Robert Kajanus rec. 1930 1932. ADD NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111393 [66:13][RB]

This will reward any listener and recreates for today’s listeners how the West discovered Sibelius.


RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Bedřich SMETANA (1824-1884) String Quartet 1 see DVOŘÁK

Louis SPOHR (1784-1859) Clarinet Concerti Lausanne Chamber O/Paul Meyer (clarinet) rec. 2012 ALPHA 605  [42:16 + 49:51] [BR]

So good that it borders on essential for anyone who likes the clarinet concertos of Mozart, Weber, and Crusell. 


RECORDING OF THE MONTH

Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Clarinet Concerto see British Clarinet Concertos

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Agostino STEFFANI (1654 – 1728) Mission Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo), Philippe Jaroussky (counter-tenor) (6, 12, 18, 23), Rosario Conte (lute) (5) Coro della Radiotelevisione svizzera, I Barocchisti/Diego Fasolis Sung texts with German, English and French translations enclosed * world premiere recording on CD DECCA 478 4732 [80:28] [GF]

As perfect as anything can be!

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Josephs-Legende - ballet pantomime op.63 (1914) [61:05] Orchester der Bayerischen Staatsoper München/Robert Heger rec. 1952, ACANTA 233593 [61:05] [RMay]

A great performance, expertly directed and very well played. Heger is an experienced and convincing Strauss interpreter who has the full measure of the score.

Johann STRAUSS (1825 - 1899) Prinz Methusalem Frank Ernst (tenor) Jessica Glatte (soprano) Chor und Orch der Staatsoperette Dresden/Ernst Theis rec. 2010 CPO 777 747-2 [48:04 + 55:02] [GF]

Lovers of Viennese operetta will be delighted with this latest offering. 

Johan SVENDSEN (1840-1911) String Octet see BRUCH


RECORDING OF THE MONTH

Thomas TALLIS (1505 - 1585) Missa puer natus est nobis see GIBBONS

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Violin Concerto, Souvenir d’un lieu cher Franz Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphony 47 Christian Joseph Saccon (violin) Sara Costa (piano) O di Padova e del Veneto/Maffeo Scarpis WIDE CLASIQUE WCL 127 [76:20 + DVD 76:20] [JW]

A recommendation is most appropriately made to admirers of Saccon. 

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony 6 John ADAMS (b. 1947) The Chairman Dances World O by East-West Music/Josep Vicent rec. 2010/11 COLUMNA MUSICA 1CM 0285 [65:56] [JWh]

For members of the orchestra and maybe for those with an interest in the development of youth music. 

Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Rare Transcriptions and Paraphrases Anthony Goldstone ( piano) rec. 2012 DIVINE ART DDA25093 [63:12] [JW]

A sense of breadth and tonal imagination, and warm phrasing. 

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Nutcracker see HUMPERDINCK

Yvonne TROXLER (b.1962) Penn 1; Shergotty; Brouhaha; Susurrus; Kaleidoskop Glass Farm Ensemble rec. 2007/2011 INNOVA 835 [42:50] [DC]

Interesting and likeable baubles, but no great discoveries here. 

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) A Cotswold Romance, Death of Tintagiles Rosa Mannion (soprano) Thomas Randle (tenor) Matthew Brook (baritone) London Philh Ch/London SO/Richard Hickox rec. 1997 CHANDOS CHAN10728X [54:34] [JW]

VW admirers will be rewarded with outstanding performances and recordings. 

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) I Due Foscari Gian Giacomo Guelfi (baritone) Carlo Bergonzi (tenor) Maria Vitale (soprano) Ch & O RAI Milan/Carlo Maria Giulini rec. 1951 WARNER MUSIC 2564 66143-4 [70:02+28:23] [JS]

Little more than limited historical interest. 

Giuseppe VERDI (1813 - 1901) Otello Carlos Guichandut (tenor) Giuseppe Taddei (baritone) Cesy Broggini (soprano) Ch & SO di Torino della RAI/Franco Capuana rec. 1955 WARNER FONIT CETRA 2564 66143-8 [63:18 + 62:32] [GF]

Still has something to offer, musically and theatrically. 

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Aida Roberto Tagliavini (bass) Luciana D'Intino (mezzo) Marco Berti (tenor) Hui He (soprano) Ch & O Maggio Musicale Fiorentino/Zubin Mehta rec. 2011 ARTHAUS MUSIK 101 598 [151:00] [GF]

An honest, middle-of-the road reading with excellent playing and singing. 

Giuseppe VERDI (1813 - 1901) Aida Maria Chiara, Kristján Jóhannsson, Dolora Zajick, Arena di Verona O/Nello Santi rec. 1992 ARTHAUS MUSIK 107253 [146:00] [GF]

Many reasons to avoid this issue. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Gerald Finley (bass-baritone) Marco Jentzsch (tenor) Anna Gabler (soprano) Johannes Martin Kränzle (baritone) Glyndebourne Ch, London PO/Vladimir Jurowski rec. 2011 OPUS ARTE OA1085D [280:00] [ST]

This DVD is so good that it will always be so much more than a consolation prize. 

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Fantasies for 8 Horns ACANTA 233597 [64:23] [RMo]

Will appeal to horn devotees but for others its allure will be less compelling. 

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Orchestral Excerpts - Vol. 1 Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1987/92 NAXOS 8.572767 [69:21]  [Byz]

Just a little lacking in pathos. 

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Orchestral excerpts - Vol. 2 Alessandra Marc (soprano) Seattle SO/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1987-92 NAXOS 8.572768 [64:41] [Byz]

On the soft and slowish side.

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Orchestral Excerpts 3: Tristan und Isolde, Tannhäuser Alessandra Marc (soprano) Seattle SO/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1986-1992 NAXOS 8.572769 [62:26] [Byz]

Not really quite good enough to merit a place on the shelf. 

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Tristan und Isolde Stephen Gould, Nina Stemme, Berlin RSO & Ch/Marek Janowski rec. 2012 PENTATONE PTC5186404 [3 CDs: 227:59] [ST]

Part good, part not but top class singing filtered through some very trying conductorial decisions. 

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Piano pieces see LISZT

William Vincent WALLACE (1812-1865) Chopinesque Rosemary Tuck, Richard Bonynge (pianos) Tait CO/Richard Bonynge rec. 2011 NAXOS 8.572776 [79.20] [PCG]

Those who have enjoyed Tuck’s previous Wallace explorations will adore these enjoyable performances. 


RECORDING OF THE MONTH

Robert WHITE (1538 - 1574) Lamentations of Jeremiah see GIBBONS

Fu-Tong WONG (b.1948) Xi Shi Fantasy Chiao-Han Liao (piano) rec. 2012 WONG'S MUSIC & CULTURE (TAIWAN) WCD-004 [63:07] [Byz]

Chiao-Han Liao gives a respectful, polished reading of Wong's music.     

Eugène YSAŸE (1858-1931) Sonata see PAR.TI.TA

Mikolaj ZIELENSKI (fl. 1611) Offertoria Totius Anni 1611 - Vols 2 & 3 Collegium Zielenski/Stanislaw Galonski rec. 2010-2011 DUX 0786/0861 [57:17 & 50:58] [JV]

Well worth investigating despite shortcomings in the interpretation. 


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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