Isaac ALBÉNIZ
(1860-1909) Iberia (Books One and Two) España
Daniel Barenboim
(piano) Teldec Studio Berlin December 1999/February 2000
TELDEC 8573-81703-2 [62:25] [GB]
How refreshing to hear such delightful Spanish music played so sensitively and with such style.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
St Matthew Passion [161.02] 
King's College Choir, Jesus College Choir , Rogers Covey-Crump, tenor (evangelist)
, Michael George, bass (Jesus), Emma Kirkby, soprano, Michael Chance, alto
Martyn Hill, tenor David Thomas, bass Brandenburg Consort, Roy Goodman Direction:
Stephen Cleobury Rec: 1994, King's College Chapel.
REGIS RRC 3001 [161.02] [KM]
A solid performance of one of the greatest works of western music. While not one of the best, its low price makes it a great value
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) The Six Partitas 
Angela Hewitt, piano Rec: June 1996 (CD1) and January 1997 (CD2), Beethovensaal,
Hanover, Germany. HYPERION
CDA67191/2 [143.22] [KM]
Another excellent recording by Angela Hewitt, who shows her mastery of Bach's keyboard music. If you like Bach on piano, this is for you.
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945)
Complete Solo Piano Music, Volume 7 Dance Suite,
Rhapsody, Opus 1 (long version) Rhapsody, Opus 1 (shortened version), Four
Piano Pieces, Marche funebre (Kossuth)*
Zoltan Kocsis Rec 3-4 August 1998*, 21-24 August 1999, Friedrich Ebert Halle,
Hamburg PHILIPS 464 639-2
[76.38] [TB]
Performances exemplary, but this is a disc for the specialist, or for the collector who likes things to be absolutely complete.
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945)
Solo Piano Music Sonata, Out of Doors, Two Rumanian Dances, Three
Hungarian folk dances from Csik, Rumanian Christmas Carols; Fourteen Bagatelles,
Sonatina Zoltan Kocsis
PHILIPS 464 676-2 [78.37] [DW]
I do not think Kocsis has the right style or approach.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Missa
Solemnis in D major, Opus 123 
Amanda Halgrimson (soprano), Cornelia Kallisch (mezzo soprano), John Aler
(tenor), Alastair Miles (bass) NDR Chorus, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart South-West
German Radio Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgart Roger Norrington Rec 21-23 July
1999, Liederhalle Stuttgart
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.006 [72.58] [TB]
This new recording of one of music's major works is a mixed success, although there are undoubtedly some visionary and compelling moments.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Sonatas - No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, 'Pathétique'; No. 21
in C, Op. 53, 'Waldstein'; No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata'.
Artur Rubinstein (piano). Recorded in Webster Hall, New York City on December
28th and 30th, 1954. RCA RED
SEAL Rubinstein Edition 09026 63033-2 [ADD] [66'08] [CC]
It is difficult to muster great enthusiasm for Rubinstein's Beethoven on this disc and it is better to go to some of the other volumes for evidence of his undoubted genius.
Harrison
Birtwistle Refrains
and Choruses
Richard Shaw (piano) The Galliard Ensemble;
Recorded December 2000 at Leighton Park School, Reading.
DEUX-ELLES DXL1019 [73 mins] [GH]
A well planned disc with a wide variety of music demonstrating Birtwistle's ability to write in different styles, some of which would not be readily associated with him.
Georges
BIZET
(1838-1875)
arranged Rodion SHCHEDRIN (1932-
) Carmen Ballet (choreography Mats Ek)
The Cullberg Ballet, Swedish TV 1991
ARTHAUS MUSIK 100 182, 
DVD
Format 4:3, PCM Stereo, 51mins [AB]
At only 50 minutes the disc may seem poor value for money but the force and power of this production makes this a truly memorable artistic experience. Recommended.
Joly
BRAGA SANTOS (1924
- 1988) Symphony
No.3 in C Op.15 (1948)
London Symphony Orchestra; Alvaro Cassuto Recorded: Henry Wood Hall, London,
June 1986 STRAUSS SP 4182
[38:32] [HC]
The composer's confidence blends his numerous influences into a wholly satisfying symphony.
Joly
BRAGA SANTOS (1924
- 1988) Symphony
No.4 in E minor Op.16 (1949)
"George Enescu" Choir, Rumanian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra;
Silva Pereira Recorded: Rumanian Radio Studios, Bucarest, November 1978
STRAUSS SP 4059 [47:31] [HC]
Silva Pereira secures a very fine performance and gets committed support from his Rumanian forces who sing and play with utmost conviction.
Joly
BRAGA SANTOS (1924
- 1988)
Symphony No.5 "Virtus Lusitaniae" Op.39
(1965/6) RDP Symphony Orchestra; Silva Pereira Recorded: November 1968
STRAUSS SP 4043 [33:16]
Silva Pereira has the full measure of this virile, forward thriving music and conducts a wonderful reading of this powerfully dramatic piece of music.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-97)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op. 83a. Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16b. 
Artur Rubinstein (piano); aBoston Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch;
bRCA Victor Symphony Orchestra/Antal Dorati. Recorded at aSymphony
Hall, Boston on August 11th, 1952, bRepublic Studios, Hollywood
on August 22nd, 1949.
RCA RED SEAL Rubinstein Edition 09026 63022-2 [ADD] [70'00]. [CC]
This is a remarkably successful coupling and one which, despite some reservations, is well worth the outlay.
Benjamin
BRITTEN
(1913-1976) Seven sonnets of Michelangelo, Op.
22 , Canticle 1, Op. 40 Four folksong settings: Down by the Salley Gardens,
The trees they grow so high, Little Sir William, O Waly, Waly, Winter words,
Op. 52 Anthony Rolfe Johnson
(tenor), Graham Johnson (piano) rec 5 - 6 July 1985
HYPERION CDH55067 [59.29] [CG]
A
convincing collection of Britten songs, well-sung, played and recorded.
Anton
BRUCKNER Symphony
No. 9 in D minor 
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/Carl Schuricht (Recorded in the Herkulessaal,
Munich. 8th March 1963)
ORFEO D'OR C 548 001 B [56.57] [TD]
An interesting performance of Bruckner's final work from a conductor of "the old school."
[Part 1 New] [Part
2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part
5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc]
Return to Front page