Click
for MUSICWEB RECORDINGS
OF THE YEAR
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Piano
Sonata, Sz80a (1926). Improvisations on Hungarian
Peasant Songs, Sz74/Op. 20b (1920). Suite, Sz62/Op.
14c (1916). Out of Doors, Sz81d (1926).
Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, Sz110e (1937) 
Murray
Perahia, eGeorg Solti (pianos); eDavid
Corkhill and eEvelyn Glennie (percussion) rec. CBS
30th Studio, New York City, 3 December 1973a,
8 Augustb, 19 Novemberc 1980, 29 March
1976d, Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Suffolk 7, 9
July 1987e. ADD/DDD SONY
CLASSICAL GREAT PERFORMANCES 82876 78750 2 [73’42] [CC]
It
is difficult to imagine a better introduction to the piano music of
Bartók than this splendid disc. Perahia has a clear vision of what
he wants to say and how he says it ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony
No. 9 in D minor, op.125 Choral (1824) [72:51]
Gabriela Beňačková (soprano), Marjana Lipovšek (contralto),
Gösta Winbergh (tenor), Hermann Prey (baritone) Vienna State Opera
Chorus Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Claudio Abbado rec. live, May
1986, Musikverein, Grosser Saal, Vienna
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 5005 [72:51][CH]
One
of the great Ninths on record ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH York
BOWEN (1884-1961)
Violin Concerto in E minor, Op 33 (1913)
[37.42] Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat,
Op 11 (1903) [26.07]
Lorraine McAslan (violin) Michael Dussek
(piano) BBC Concert Orchestra/Vernon Handley
rec. 5-6 December 2005, The Colosseum, Town
Hall, Watford, England. DDD
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7169 [64.09][RB]
Such
lavish extravagance of melody and sentiment.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony
No.7 in E major (1883) [62:34] Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano
Concerto No.3 in C minor, Op.37 (1800) [38:35] Alfred
Brendel (piano) Lucerne Festival Orchestra/ Claudio Abbado
rec. live, Concert Hall of the Culture and Convention Centre
Lucerne, 10-12 August 2005 Picture: PAL 16:9 Anamorphic Sound:
PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1 Region: 0 (Worldwide) EUROARTS
DVD 2054649 
[106:00]
[DC]
Isn’t
that what we’re all after – that feeling
of renewal and joyous discovery? It is here,
in spades. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH George
CRUMB
(b. 1929) Songs,
Drones, and Refrains of Death (1962-68)
[29:04]: Refrain One [1:25]; I
The Guitar / Death Drone I [4:20]; Refrain
Two [0:52]; II Casida of the Dark
Doves [4:15]; Refrain Three [1:06];
Death-Drone II [1:49]; III Song
of the Rider, 1860 [1:56]; Cadenza
Apassionata for two drummers [1:32];
Refrain Four [1:05]; IV Casida
of the Boy Wounded by the Water [2:09];
Death Drone III [8:36] Quest
(1994) [25:41] Refrain I [1:08];
I Dark Paths [5:07]; II Fugitive
Sounds [2:09]; Refrain 2 [0:42];
III Forgotten Sounds [4:22]; IV Fugitive
Sounds [1:06]; Refrain 3 [1:04];
V Nocturnal [10:04] Nicholas Isherwood
(baritone); Alexander Swete (guitar/amplified
guitar); Franzisco Obieta (double bass/amplified
double bass); Carmen Erb (percussion); Peter
Degenhardt (piano/harpsichord); Hugo Read
(soprano saxophone); Silke Aichorn (harp).
Ensemble New Art/Fuat Kent rec. Radiostudio
Zurich, 12-15 June 2004
NAXOS 8.559290 [54:45] [JWi]
A
mesmerising and beautiful effect, with a
glistening resonance of sound. Not entirely
straightforward to grasp but grows on the
listener with repetition. Quite fascinating.
... see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Paul
DUKAS
(1865-1935) Piano
Sonata in E flat minor (1900) [45:13] Abel
DECAUX (1869-1943) Clairs de
lune (1900-1907) [19:40].
Marc-André Hamelin (piano). rec.
Henry Wood Hall, London, 26-27 August 2004
(Dukas), 15 December 2005 (Decaux). DDD
HYPERION CDA67513 [64:59] [CC]
This
has to be one of my ‘Records of the Year
2006’. Simply stunning. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Nicolas FLAGELLO
(1928-1994) Piano
Concerto No. 1 (1950) [28:48] Dante's
Farewell (1962) (orch. Anthony Sbordini)
[13:43] Concerto Sinfonico for saxophone
quartet and orchestra (1985) [22:53]
Tatjana Rankovich (piano) Susan Gonzalez
(soprano) National Radio Symphony Orchestra
of Ukraine/John McLaughlin Williams New
Hudson Saxophone Quartet Rutgers Symphony
Orchestra/Kynan Johns rec. Large Concert
Studio, National Radio Company of Ukraine
(Kiev), 22-26 June 2005; Mason Gross Performing
Arts Center, Rutgers University, New Jersey,
USA, 6 November 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.559296 [65:28] [RB]
You
will know by now whether this is for you.
It merits a wholehearted endorsement. ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Macmillan
and his British Contemporaries: Twentieth
Century Masters Volume 2 Julian
ANDERSON (b.1967)
O Sing Unto The Lord (1999)[6:59] James
MACMILLAN (b.1959)
Christus Vincit (1994) [6:33] Jonathan
DOVE (b.1959)
Ecce Beatam Lucem (1997) [5:58] Ryan
WIGGLESWORTH (b.1979)
Libera Nos (2003)[3:42] James
MACMILLAN: On The Annunciation
of The Blessed Virgin (1997) [6:49] Jonathan
DOVE: Into Thy Hands (1996) [[5:31]
Judith WEIR
(b.1954) Love Bade Me Welcome (1994)
[4:31] Robin HOLLOWAY
(b.1943)
Since I Believe [4:39] Francis
GRIER (b.1955) A Prayer of St.
Augustine [4:08] Tarik
O'REGAN (b.1978)
Surrexit Christus (2002) [2:54] Peter
WISHART (1921-1984) Jesu, Dulcis
Memoria (1968) [5:19] John
JOUBERT (b.1927) Whitsun Carol,
Op.115b (1987) [2:29] Gabriel
JACKSON (b.1962)
Salve Regina (2000) [4:51]
The Choir of New College Oxford/Edward Higginbottom
Robert Patterson; Nicholas Wearne (organ)
rec. Douai Abbey, Berkshire, England 13-15
July 2004. DDD
AVIE AV 2085 [64:08] [JQ]
This
is one of the finest choral discs to have
come my way for some time. I rejoice to
find clear evidence that so much high quality
music is being written for liturgical use
by composers of today. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Francis
POTT (b. 1957) Meditations
and Remembrances The
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin/Judy Martin, ^ Tristan
Russcher. *Tristan Russcher (organ) rec. Christ Church Cathedral,
Dublin, 21-23 October 2005. DDD SIGNUM
CLASSICS SIGCD080 [70:52] [JQ]
I
hope this recording will win a still wider audience for Francis
Pott. This is likely to be one of my Recordings of 2006 and
I recommend it with the greatest possible enthusiasm. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) The
Complete Symphonies CD 1 [50:25] Symphony
No.1 in D, Op.25 "Classical Symphony" (1917) [13:54]
Symphony No.4 in C, Op.47/112 [36:32] (Revised 1947 version)
CD 2 [66:20] Symphony No.2 in D minor, Op.40 (1924) [34:33]
Symphony No.3 in C minor, Op.44 (1928) [31:48] CD 3 [64:28]
Symphony No.4 in C, Op.47/112 [22:51] (Original 1930 version)
Symphony No.5 in B flat, Op.100 (1945) [41:38] CD 4 [72:12]
Symphony No.6 in E flat, Op.111 (1947) [40:23] Symphony No.7,
Op.131 (1952) [31:49] London
Symphony
Orchestra/Valery Gergiev
rec. live, Barbican Hall, Barbican Centre London:
1 May 2004 (Symphonies 2, 3), 1-2 May (Symphony No.1), 2 May (Symphony No.4 original
version), 2, 6 May (Symphony No.5), 6 May (Symphony No.4 revised version), 5,
8 May (Symphonies 6, 7) PHILIPS
475 7655 [4CDs: 50:25 + 66:20 + 64:28 + 72:12] [DC]
A
set with which you will be able to live for a long time, and
from which new things will always emerge from each hearing. What
else did you expect? ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828)
Winterreise D.911 (1827)
Christine Schäfer (soprano) Eric Schneider
(piano) rec. Teldex Studio, Berlin, November
2003
ONYX 4010 [68:32] [PCW]
A
Winterreise for all seasons … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Luonnotar and Orchestral Songs
Soile Isokoski (soprano) Helsinki Philharmonic
Orchestra/Leif Segerstam rec. Finlandia
Hall, Helsinki, October 2005. DDD 
ONDINE
ODE 1080-5 SACD [61:37] [AOz][RB]
An
essential recording – the finest performances
of Sibelius’s vocal work, demonstrating
how important song was in the composer’s
development [AOz]
This is a glorious disc that will delight
lovers of Scandinavian song as well as Sibelians
everywhere. ... see Full
Review [RB]
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Helen Callus
(viola) Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Suite for
viola and orchestra (Group I only) (1934) [7:53] Herbert
HOWELLS (1892-1983) Elegy for viola, string
quartet and string orchestra (1917) [10:37] William
WALTON (1902-1983) Viola Concerto in A minor (1928-29,
rev 1962) [27:31] York BOWEN (1884-1961) Viola
Concerto in C minor, Op.25 (1907) [31:51] (cadenza by Helen
Callus) 
Helen
Callus (viola) solo string quartet (principals of the NZSO):
Vesaa-Matti Leppanen (violin); David Gilling (violin); Vyvyan
Yendoll (viola); David Chickering (cello) New Zealand Symphony
Orchestra/Marc Taddei rec. Michael Fowler Center Auditorium,
Wellington, New Zealand, 9-11 February
2005. DDD ASV
CD DCA 1181 [78:24] [JF]
As
a compilation of essential English music for viola and orchestra
this CD is a vital release. Feel absolutely no hesitation in
rushing out and buying it as soon as the shops are open! ...
see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Russian
Romantic Songs Alexander
DUBUQUE (1812-1897)
Do not chide me, dearest mother [3:00],
The two farewells [3:30], Serenade [1:27],
When my eyes fall on you [1:52], Adieu [1:50];
Pyotr TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Amid the din of the ball
[2:13]; Mikhail
GLINKA
(1804-1857) Will I forget [2:25];
Alexander VARLAMOV
(1801-1848)O never speak of it, my love
[2:25], Reminder [4:38]; A.
IVANOV-KRAMSKOY (1912-1993)
(guitar solos) A sad mood (3:52),
Nocturne [2:29], Waltz [2:48], A gust of
wind [2:51]; N.
SHIRIAYEV: To hold you close,
to love and cover you with tears [3:11];V.N.
PASKHALOV (1841-1885)
Do not ask of me [2:14]; P.P.
BULAKHOV (1822-1885) A
dainty mouth pursed in anger [1:32]; Ivan
RYBASOV (1846-1877) None
but you [2:28]; A.
SPIRO: Likeness [1:23]; E.
YURYEV: In vain we love and fret
[3:38]
Kaia Urb (soprano); Heiki Mätlik (guitar)
rec. 7-9 Oct 2001, Estonian Radio, Tallinn.
HARMONIA MUNDI HMU 907 386 [51:02] [ZT]
I
challenge anybody to produce a finer example
than that provided on the review disc. It
would not surprise me to see this disc win
awards for excellence. ... see Full
Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano Sonatas – Complete Recording
Disc 1 [74:09] Sonata in A flat major,
D.557 (1817) Sonata in E minor, D.566 (1817)
Sonata in B major, D.575 (1817) Sonata in
A major, D.664 (1819) Disc 2 [72:49]
Sonata in A minor, D.845 (1825) Sonata in
D major, D.850 (1825) Disc 3 [78:29]
Sonata in A minor, D.537 (1817) Sonata in
E flat major, D.568 (1817) Sonata In C major
D.840 ‘Reliquie’ (1828) Disc 4 [74:22]
Sonata in F minor, D.625 (1818) Sonata
in A minor, D.784 (1823) Sonata in C minor,
D.958 (1828) Disc 5 [76:56] Sonata
in E major, D.157 (1815) Sonata in C major,
D.279 (1815) Sonata in G major, D.894 (1826)
Disc 6 [78:06] Sonata in A major,
D.959 (1828) Sonata in B flat major, D.960
(1828)
Michael Endres (piano) rec. WDR Funkhaus,
Saal 2. Köln. December 1993-January 1995
CAPRICCIO 49 456 [74:09 + 72:49 + 78:29
+ 74:22 + 76:56 + 78:06] [DC]
Top
drawer Schubert. Get a copy while you can.
Performances that eschew artificiality,
histrionics, eccentricity or misplaced reverence.
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Eine Alpensinfonie (An
Alpine Symphony)
Staatskapelle Weimar/Antoni Wit rec. Weimarhalle,
Weimar, Germany, 4-6 July 2005
NAXOS 8.557811 [54:14] [GPJ]
A
major contender, then, and you can cram
the one hundred and forty or so players
that this work requires into your hi-fi
for just Ł4.99 – a miracle! ... see Full
Review
A
full revision and update of the 
Directed by Tony Palmer. Region 0 PAL only
Return
to Front page