Click
for MUSICWEB RECORDINGS
OF THE YEAR
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685 - 1750)
Passion According to St. John,
BWV 245 (1724, rev. 1749) [108.49] 
Gerd Türk, tenor; Midori Suzuki, soprano;
Robin Blaze, counter-tenor; Chiyuki Urano,
bass-baritone; Stephan MacLeod, bass; Bach
Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki rec. 28 July
2000, Suntory Hall, Tokyo, Japan. Video
direction by Shokichi Amano. Notes in English,
Deutsch, and Français. Complete track list.
Menus in English and Deutsch. Subtitles
in English, Deutsch, Français. Sound 48kHz
16 bit PCM 2.0; Dolby Surround 5.1.; 16:9
anamorphic NTSC DVD 9 region 0 [all regions]
Previews of other DVDs of Bach’s music [5.00]
EUROARTS INVITATION 2050396 
[117.00] [PSh]
The
finest recorded version of this work, performance
and recording, setting a standard for the
future that may be equalled, but could not
be surpassed. If you don’t have a DVD player,
buy one just to play this disk. ... see
Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Brian
FERNEYHOUGH (b.
1943) Shadowtime
(2003-4) Libretto by Charles Bernstein
Nicolas Hodges (piano, speaker); Mats Scheidegger
(guitar) Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart; Nieuw
Ensemble/Jurjen Hempel rec. live, English
National Opera, London Coliseum, July 2005.
DDD In conjunction with BBC Radio 3.
NMC D123 [64:42 + 62:02][AOz]
An
echo inside a shadow wrapped in cellophane
says the text: an apt description of this
amazing, fascinating and complex masterpiece
that repays repeated listening. ... see
Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH John
FOULDS
(1880-1939)
Dynamic Triptych for piano and orchestra
Op. 88 (1927-29) [25:38] April - England
(Impressions of Time and Place No. 1)
for orchestra Op. 48 No. 1 (1926 orch. 1932)
[7:56] Music-Pictures Group III op.
33 (1912) [19:06] The Song of Ram Dass
(1935) [3:13] Keltic Lament Op. 29
No. 2 (Keltic Suite) (1911) [4:38]
Peter Donohoe (piano) City of Birmingham
Symphony Orchestra/Sakari Oramo rec. Symphony
Hall, Birmingham, 11, 13, 15-16 Jan 2006.
DDD
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62999-2 [61:05]
[JF]
This
is big music. This is unique. This is essential.
Donohoe’s playing is brilliant. What more
can I say? ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF
THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony No 7 (1905)
Lucerne Festival Orchestra/Claudio Abbado
rec. live, Lucerne, August 2005 DVD - all
regions
EUROARTS 2054629
[78:00][AOz]
One
day the Lucerne concerts will be appreciated
for their role in developing Mahler performance
practice ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643)
Vespers
- The complete 1610 publication:
Disc 1: Vespers [70:25] Disc 2: Magnificat
a 7 [18:15]; Magnificat a 6 [15:47]; Missa
In illo tempore [32:24]
Carolyn Sampson, Rebecca Outram (soprano)
Daniel Auchincloss, Nicholas Mulroy (high
tenor) Charles Daniels, James Gilchrist
(tenor) Peter Harvey, Robert Evans, Robert
Macdonald (bass) The King’s Consort/Robert
King rec. St. Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead
Garden Suburb, London, 6-11 February 2006
also available as SACDA67531/2
HYPERION CDA67531/2 [70:25 + 66:40]
[DC]
Truly
mind-blowing. Vespers virgins need seek
no further. I can’t imagine it being replaced
any time soon. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791)
Così fan tutte - Dramma
giocoso in two acts
Fiordiligi … Edita Gruberova (soprano) Dorabella
… Delores Ziegler (mezzo-soprano) Guglielmo
… Ferruccio Furlanetto (bass) Ferrando
… Luis Lima (tenor) Despina
… Teresa Stratas (soprano) Don Alfonso
… Paolo Montarsolo (bass) Vienna Philharmonic/Nikolaus
Harnoncourt Filmed at Munich, Bavaria Studios,
1-15 June 1988 Sound Recording: Vienna,
Studio Rosenhügel, 25 February – 12 March
1988 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00440 073 4237
[90.59 + 84.30][RM]
What
a thought provoking school for lovers …
what a superb production. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Niccolò
PAGANINI
(1782–1840) Twenty-Four
Caprices op. 1 (arr. for saxophone)
Raaf Hekkema (alto saxophone; soprano saxophone)
rec. 27–31 August 2005, Hervormde Kerk,
Mijnsheerenland, The Netherlands
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM
MDG 619 1379-2 [81:28][GF]
I
can’t believe that anyone will be disappointed
when hearing this – unless jealousy is a
hampering factor. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Alfred
SCHNITTKE (1934-1998)
Quasi una sonata for violin and chamber
orchestra (1968/1987) [22:22] Moz-Art à
la Haydn (1977) [11:43] Suite in the Old
Style, arranged for chamber orchestra (1972/1987)
[15:49] Concerto Grosso No.6 (1993) [13:12]
Ulf Wallin (violin); Meri Englund (violin);
Tero Latvala (violin); Ralf Gothóni (piano)
Tapiola Sinfonietta/Ralf Gothóni rec. December
2003, Tapiola Concert Hall, Finland
BIS-CD-1437 [64:26][DC]
Self-recommending.
You can never have too much Schnittke,
and with such excellent performances and
recordings as these you can save yourself
ever again needing to look out those scratchy
old Melodiyas ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Cyril
SCOTT (1879-1970)
Piano Concerto No. 1 (1913-14) [30:42]
Symphony No. 4 (1951-52)* [28:21] Early
One Morning - Poem for Piano and Orchestra
(1930-31, revised 1962) [13:54]
Howard Shelley (piano) BBC Philharmonic/Martyn
Brabbins rec. Studio 7, New Broadcasting
House, Manchester, 8-9 September 2005 *
premiere recording
CHANDOS CHAN 10376 [73:05][RB]
A fine
addition to the shelves of any collector
of twentieth century melodic music. ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Violin
Concerto No.1 in A Minor, op.77 (1947) (rev.
1955 as op.99) [43:23] Violin Concerto No.2
in C Sharp Minor, op.129 (1967) [33:03]
Romance from The Gadfly, op.97
(arr. Levon Atovmian) (1955) [ 5:56]
Daniel Hope (violin) BBC Symphony Orchestra/Maxim
Shostakovich rec. 7-9 November 2005, Studio
1, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, England.
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62546-2 [77:59]
[SA]
I
found it the most supremely listenable disc
I have heard in a long time. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
String
Quartet No.3 in F major, Op.73 (1946) [30:57]
String Quartet No.7 in F sharp minor, Op.108
(1960) [11:47] String Quartet No.8 in C
minor, Op.110 (1960) [20:21]
Hagen Quartett: Lukas Hagen (1st
violin); Rainer Schmidt (2nd
violin); Veronika Hagen (viola); Clemens
Hagen (cello) rec. November 2005, Große
Universitätsaula, Salzburg
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 477 6146 [63:25]
[DC]
This
disc is up to the Hagen’s usual phenomenal
standard. Right there at the ‘unsurpassed’
level ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Bedřich
SMETANA
(1824-1884) String
Quartet No 1 in E minor From My Life
(1876) [29:19] String Quartet No 2 in D
minor (1883) [19:19]
Wihan Quartet rec. Domovina Studio, Prague,
October-November 2005. DDD
ARCO DIVA UP 0086-2 131 [48:33][PCW]
The
music making on this disc has a feeling
of "rightness" that makes comparisons
largely superfluous … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sir
Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924)
Songs
of the Fleet, op.117 for baritone, chorus
and orchestra (1910)* [26:04] The Revenge:
A Ballad of the Fleet, op.24 for
chorus and orchestra (1886) [25:17] Songs
of the Sea, op.91 for baritone, male
chorus and orchestra (1904) [18:00]
Gerald Finley (baritone)* BBC National Chorus
of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Richard
Hickox rec. 6-8 July 2005, Brangwyn Hall,
Swansea, Wales. DDD
CHANDOS CHSA 5043 SACD [69:37]
[CH]
The
"popular" Stanford, and the best
recordings so far of the two song-cycles.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Richard
WAGNER (1860-1911)
Siegfried (1876)
Siegfried: Heinz Kruse, Mime: Graham Clark,
Der Wanderer: John Bröcheler, Alberich:
Henk Smit, Fafner: Carsten Stabell Erda:
Anne Gjevang, Brünnhilde: Jeannine Altmeyer,
Waldvogel: Stefan Pangratz, Rotterdam Philharmonic
Orchestra, Der Nederlandse Opera/ Hartmut
Haenchen, Stage Director: Pierre Audi, rec.
live, Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam, 1999
DVD - all regions
OPUS ARTE OA 0948D
[3 DVDs: 273:00] [AO]
Haenchen
is superb, galvanising a tight, precise
and very animated performance. It’s faster
paced than usual and surprisingly lucid.
This is a Siegfried to listen to, as well
as watch (though missing Clark’s Mime would
be a shame) ... Very highly recommended
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wilhelm
Kempff Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Sonata in F K.332 [16:37] Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Sonata in
B flat D.960 [36:53] Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Sonata
in A op.101 [19:13] Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Intermezzi:
B minor op.119/1 [03:13], C major op.119/3
[01:45]
Wilhelm Kempff (piano) rec. 7 October 1967,
Whitworth Hall, Manchester University. ADD
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4169-2 [78:14] [CH]
Kempff
the free spirit in glorious form ... see
Full Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Christianne
Stotijn: Fantasies and Dream-Figures
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Im Walde
D.708 [06:59]; An den Mond D.193 [05:09];
Nachtstück D.672 [05:20]; Der Zweig D.771
[05:15]; Abendstern D.806 [02:17]; Auflösung
D.807 [02:24]; Nacht und Träume D.827 [03:35];
Erlkönig D.328 [04:22] Alban
BERG (1885-1935) 4 Lieder
op.2 [08:47] Hugo
WOLF (1860-1903) Mörike-Lieder:
Die Geister am Mummelsee [03:48]; Gesang
Weylas [02:10]; Elfenlied [02:19]; Um Mitternacht
[03:38]; Auf eine Christblume I [06:25];
Lied von Winde [02:43]
Christianne Stotijn (mezzo), Joseph Breinl
(piano)
rec. 21-23 July 2005, Potton Hall, Dunwich,
Suffolk, UK
ONYX 4009 [63:33] [CH]
A
highly original programme sung by an up-and-coming
singer who can bear comparison with even
the greatest lieder-singers ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Women's
lives and
loves Frauenliebe und –Leben - A
Liederspiel devised by Graham Johnson [see
review for full details] Felicity
Lott (soprano) Angelika Kirchschlager (mezzo)
Graham Johnson (piano) rec. All Saints Church,
East Finchley, London, 2-4 August 2005.
DDD. HYPERION CDA67563 [71’46] [ED]
Deeply
rewarding; a disc to live with and love.
... see Full
Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Luciano BERIO (1925 – 2003) Sequenzas
I – XIV Nora
Shulman (flute); Erica Goodman (harp); Tony Arnold (soprano);
Boris Berman (piano); Alain Trudel (trombone); Steven Dann
(viola); Matej Šarc (oboe); Jasper Wood (violin); Joaquin Valdepeñas
(clarinet); Guy Few (trumpet); Pablo Sáinz Villegas (guitar);
Ken Munday (bassoon); Joseph Petric (accordion); Darrett Adkins
(cello); Wallace Halladay (saxophones) rec. St John Chrysostom
Church, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, 1998-2004 NAXOS
8.557661-63 [3 CDs: 63:02 + 60:09 + 58:48] [HC]
Splendid
- a thirty-four year musical odyssey that will remain as one
of the peaks of 20th century instrumental music. ...
see Full Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Max
BRUCH
(1838-1920) Violin
Concerto No.1 in G minor, Op.26 (1864-68)
[25.21] Konzertstück for violin and
orchestra in F sharp minor, Op. 84 (1910)
[17.53] Romance for violin and orchestra
in A minor, Op. 42 (1874) [10.13]
Maxim Fedotov, violin Russian Philharmonic
Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky rec. Studio 5,
Kultura TV and Radio Company, Moscow, Russia,
28 Nov-3 Dec 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557689 [53.27] [MC]
An
excellently performed and recorded release
from Naxos that will provide considerable
pleasure. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH André
CAPLET (1878-1925)
Conte fantastique after Edgar
Allan Poe's Masque of the Red Death
(1919) [17:08] Elisabeth Glab (violin),
Marie-Josée Ritchot (violin), Michel Renard
(viola), Isabelle Veyrier (cello), Laurence
Cabel (harp) Les prières (1917)
[9:12] Elisabeth Glab (violin), Marie-Josée
Ritchot (violin), Michel Renard (viola),
Isabelle Veyrier (cello), Laurence Cabel
(harp), Sharon Coste (soprano) Divertissements
(2) for harp (1924) [9:56] Laurence
Cabel (harp) Sonnets (2) for
soprano and harp (1924) [3:37] Laurence
Cabel (harp), Sandrine Piau (soprano) Septet
for three female voices and string
quartet (1909) [14:24]
Sharon Coste (Soprano), Sandrine Piau (soprano),
Sylvie Deguy (mezzo), Elisabeth Glab (violin),
Marie-Josée Ritchot (violin), Michel Renard
(viola), Isabelle Veyrier (cello) Ensemble:
Musique Oblique rec. February 1992, Arsenal
de Metz, Salle de l'Esplanade. DDD
HARMONIA MUNDI HAR MUSIQUE D'ABORD HMA1951417
[55:18][RB]
Music
for connoisseurs and especially for those
with an interest to follow up in Debussy's
circle … but do not expect a Debussy apprentice.
... see Full Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Organ Concertos Op. 4: No. 1 in G minor
HWV 289 (1738) [15.27]; No. 2 in B flat
major HWV 290 (1738) [10.26]; No. 3 in G
minor HWV 291 (1738) [10.01]; No. 4 in F
major HWV 292 (1738) [13.48]; No. 5 in F
major HWV 293 (1738) [8.16]; No. 6 in B
flat major HWV 294 (1738) [11.35] Organ
Concertos Op. 7: No. 1 in B flat major
HWV 306 (1761) [17.26]; No. 2 in A major
HWV 307 (1761) [12.09]; No. 3 in B flat
major HWV 308 (1761) [14.15]; No. 4 in D
minor HWV 309 (1761) [16.13]; No. 5 in G
minor HWV 310 (1761) [12.37]; No. 6 in B
flat major HWV 311 (1761) [7.50]
Ton Koopman (organ) Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra
rec. Sint Bartholomeuskerk, Beek-Ubbergen,
Netherlands, 1984
WARNER APEX 2564 62760-2 [72.40 + 78.43][RH]
A
major milestone in the performance of Handel’s
organ concertos and one to which I have
returned regularly since it was first issued.
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791)
Overtures: Le nozze di Figaro
K492 [4.17]; Bastien und Bastienne
K50 [1.47]; Der Schauspieldirektor
K486 [4.11]; Lucio Silla K135 [7.38];
Così fan tutte K588 [4.41]; La
finta giardiniera K196 [7.15]; Die
Entführung aus dem Serail K384 [5.24];
Il re pastore K208 [3.28]; Idomeneo
K366 [5.00]; La clemenza di Tito
K621 [5.01]; Don Giovanni K527
[5.47]; Die Zauberflöte K620 [6.50]
Staatskapelle Dresden/Colin Davis rec. Lukaskirche,
Dresden, 1999. DDD
BMG-RCA RED SEAL CLASSIC LIBRARY 82876 762352
[61.22] [JW]
Davis
cleaves to traditional values with his superlative
orchestra, splendidly recorded. Look no
further. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Hans
PFITZNER (1869-1949)
String
Quartet No. 2 in C sharp minor, Op. 36 (1925)
[33'57]. Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) String
Quartet No. 4, Op. 37 (1936) [33'12].
Wihan String Quartet (Leos Cepicky, Jan
Schulmeister, violins; Jirí Zigmund,
viola; Ales Kasprík, cello). rec.
3-4 (Pfitzner), 7, 20 (Schoenberg) April
2000. DDD
ARCO DIVA UP 0028-2 [67:20] [CC]
An
inspired coupling from Arco Diva. The Pfitzner
is an impressive work ... the recording
is a fine one ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ned
ROREM (b.1923) Pilgrims
(1958) [7:14] Flute Concerto (2002)
[31:21] Violin Concerto (1985) [24:07]
Jeffrey Khaner (flute) Philippe Quint (violin)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/José
Serebrier rec. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool,
June 2005. DDD
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559278 [62:42]
[PCW]
Just
click on the “Buy Now” link right away …
see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
String Quartet
in C Quartettsatz,
D103 (1814) [8:01] Five Minuets and Trios,
D89 (1813) [12:38] String Quartet No. 14
in D minor Death
and the Maiden, D810 (1824) [37:59]
Maggini Quartet (David Juritz (violin);
David Angel (violin); Martin Outram (viola);
Michal Kaznowski (cello)) rec. live, Wigmore
Hall, London, 1 June 1993 (Death
and the Maiden);
remainder All Saints, Petersham, 21 April
1994. DDD
RESONANCE CD RSN 3036 [59:00][JWi]
I
would re-iterate that this is a lively and
exciting performance of a stirring work,
and a disc I have found most enjoyable.
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Bedřich
SMETANA (1824-1884)
Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 15 B104 (1855)
[29:28] Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Piano
Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90, Dumky,
B 166 (1891) [32:39]
Czech Trio (Milan Langer (piano), Dana Vlachova
(violin), Miroslav Petras (cello)) rec.
Domovina Studio Prague, 6-7 July
1999. DDD
ULTRAPHON UP 0017- 2 131 [62.16] [DD]
Two
dark Czech trios performed by a trio that
must know them very well. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Healey
WILLAN
(1880-1968) Hymns,
Anthems, Motets In the heavenly kingdom,
Op. 380 B380 (1924 completed F.R.C.Clarke
1979) [8:45] St Osmund, Op. 449 B449 (1927)
[3:20] Sun of Righteousness, Op. 438 B438
[3:22] How they so softly rest, Op. 302
[B302] (1917) [3:48] Anthem on Ye watchers
and ye holy ones, Op. 403 B403 [4:35] Missa
Brevis No. 11, "Sancti Johannis Baptistae",
Op. 226 B266 Kyrie [2:05] Sanctus [1:05] Benedictus
qui venit [1:20] Agnus Dei [2:40] I looked,
and behold a white cloud, Op. 344 B344 (1907)
[7:16] (Joseph Schnurr, tenor / Matthew
Larkin, organ) Preserve us, O Lord, Op.
310 B310 (1928-37) [1:44] O King all glorious,
Op. 311 B311 [2:44] Anthem on Picardy, Op.
405 B405 [5:06] Christ hath a garden, Op.
352 B352 (1940) [3:33] Anthem on O quanta
qualia, Op. 394 B394 [3:52] O how glorious,
Op. 304 [1:35] O praise the Lord, Op. 377
B377 (revised 1963) [7:50] Rise up, my love,
my fair one, Op. 314 B314 [2:26]
Elora Festival Singers/Noel Edison, Matthew
Larkin (organ) rec.St John’s Church, Elora,
November 2004. DDD
NAXOS 8.557734 [67.07] [JW]
Appetites
whetted for more Willan have been handsomely
met with this release ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH ¡Ay,
Dulce Pena! - Tonos
humanos del Barroco español Juan
del VADO (c.1625-1691) A Pascal no le puede
[4:58] Juan HIDALGO
(1614-1685) ¡Ay
de mi dolor! [7:47] José
Martínez de ARCE (c.1660-1721)
¿Para qué son las iras? [3:26]
ANONYMOUS ¿A quién me quejaré [6:04]
ANONYMOUS ¿Qué quiere amor? [4:06]
Juan HIDALGO
(1614-1685) ¡Ay
amor, ay ausencia! [6:15] ANONYMOUS
Sobre las ramas de un sauce
[3:51] Juan
del VADO (c.1625-1691) Las campanas [10:34]
Juan HIDALGO
(1614-1685) Con tanto respeto adoran
[5:37] ¡Ay,
corazón amante! [7:34] ANONYMOUS
Sarao de la minué francés [3:13]
Marta Almajano (soprano), Juan Carlos Rivera
(archlute, baroque guitar), Mike Fentross
(baroque guitar), Ventura Rico (viola da
gamba), Pedro Estevan (percussion) rec.11-13
February 2001, Church of Sant Corneli, de
Collbató (Barcelona).
HARMONIA MUNDI HMA 1957028 [63:05][GPu]
A
delicious recital, which no one with an
interest in seventeenth-century music should
miss … see Full
Review
HISTORICAL
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
His Complete Recordings
BMG-RCA RED SEAL 82876-67892-2 [10 CDs:
67:49 + 62:45 + 62:30 + 65:03 + 66:00 +
58:14 + 58:54 + 71:52 + 65:39] Superbudget
[CH]
In
spite of the booklet, the opportunity to
gather the entire legacy of one of the greatest
of all pianists in a single box is not one
to be missed. ... see Full
Review
Directed by Tony Palmer. Region 0 PAL only
Return
to Front page