Recommendations

Detailed listing (last five days)
[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]
[Recommended recordings]

RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sir Arnold BAX (1883-1953) Symphony No. 6 (1934) [39:32] Irish Landscape (1913) [7:28] Rogue’s Comedy Overture (1936) [10:54] Overture to Adventure (1937) [9:28] Overture: Work in Progress (1943) [8:18] New Philharmonia Orchestra/Norman Del Mar Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley rec. Kingsway Hall, London, 18-20 July 1966 (6); Kingsway Hall, London, 29 April 1976 (Irish Landscape); 18 January 1994, Watford Town Hall (overtures). ADD/DDD (overtures) LYRITA SRCD.296 [75:43] [RB]

The Del Mar/Lyrita Bax 6 is violent and phantasmal - essential Bax in performance and recording terms. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 Eroica (1803) [49:54] Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin/Kent Nagano Video Directors: Oliver Becker (documentary), Ellen Fellmann (concert) Writers: Reiner Schild and Rolf Rische rec. Philharmonic Hall, Berlin, DDD. Sound formats PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1. Picture format NTSC 16:9. Disc format DVD 9. Region code 0 (all regions). Subtitles French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish. ARTHAUS MUSIK 101 429  [105:22] [MG]

This fresh and electric performance allows you to see the Eroica in a new light.  … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Complete Works for Solo Piano: Vol. 5 Sonata No.16 in G major, Op.31 No.1 (1802) [23:14] Sonata No.17 in D minor, Op.31 No.2 ‘Der Sturm’ (1802) [22:18] Sonata No.18 in E flat major, Op.31 No.3 (1802) [21:13] Ronald Brautigam (McNulty fortepiano after Anton Walther) rec. Österåker Church, Sweden, August 2005 BIS BIS-SACD-1572 [67:49] [TH]

I love this disc and it’s hardly been out of the player since it arrived ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) Oration - Concerto elegiaco for cello and orchestra (1930) [31:07] Phantasm - Rhapsody for piano and orchestra (1931) [27:19] Julian Lloyd Webber (cello) Peter Wallfisch (piano) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite rec. October 1976, Southwark (Oration); November 1975, Kingsway Hall (Phantasm). ADD LYRITA SRCD.244 [58:32] [RB]

Two majestic and subtle master works of tragic and even sinister grandeur ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Constant LAMBERT (1905-1951) Romeo and Juliet - A Ballet in two Tableaux (1924-25) [30:00] Pomona - A Ballet in one Act (1926) [20:36] Music for Orchestra * (1927) [13:19] King Pest: Rondo Burlesca ** (1935) [9:14] English Chamber Orchestra/Norman Del Mar London Philharmonic Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth * Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Simon Joly ** rec. DDD*; July 1977, Kingsway Hall, London, ADD LYRITA SRCD.215 [73:14] [RB]

A magnificent Lambert collection … required listening ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Giuseppe Saverio MERCADANTE (1795-1870) Maria Stuarda Regina di Scozia - dramma serio in two acts (1821) (highlights) Maria Stuarda, Queen of Scotland – Judith Howarth (soprano); Olfredo, Earl of Lennox – Jennifer Larmore (mezzo); Ormondo, Royal Prince – Colin Lee (tenor); Carlo, Primate of Scotland – Manuela Custer (mezzo); Ferrando, Commander of the Royal guard – (baritone) Geoffrey Mitchell Choir Philharmonia Orchestra/Antonello Allemandi rec. Abbey Road Studios, London, April 2005 comprehensive introductory essay and synopsis in English, French, German and Italian. complete libretto with English translation OPERA RARA ORR241 [79.22][RJF]

This adventurous and superbly executed Opera Rara recording enables lovers of bel canto opera of the primo ottocento to take another step into the discovery of music by a composer whose many virtues remain largely undiscovered and neglected. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sir Hubert PARRY (1848-1918) Ode on the Nativity for Soprano solo, Chorus and Orchestra* (1912) [24:15] Gustav HOLST (1874-1934) The Mystic Trumpeter - Scena for Soprano and Orchestra Op. 18** (Ed. Colin Matthews (1904) [19:51] Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) The Sons of Light A Cantata for Chorus and Orchestra* (1950) [20:03] * Teresa Cahill (soprano) The Bach Choir; Royal College of Music Chorus London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir David Willcocks ** Sheila Armstrong (soprano) London Symphony Orchestra/David Atherton rec. March 1980, Kingsway Hall (RVW, Parry). Venue and date not given (Holst) LYRITA SRCD.270 [64.13] [JQ]

The reappearance on CD of these performances is a cause for great celebration. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) Cello Concerto in D minor (1879-1880) [27:36] Piano Concerto No.3 in Eb, Op.171 (orch. Geoffrey Bush) (1919) [37:43] Alexander Baillie (cello); Malcolm Binns (piano) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Nicolas Braithwaite rec. details not given LYRITA SRCD 321 [65:23] [JF]

This CD is a must for all enthusiasts of Stanford’s music... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Alexander Tikhonovich GRECHANINOV (1864-1956) Passion Week, Op. 58 (1911-12) Caroline Markham (mezzo), Paul Davidson (tenor), Bryan Taylor (baritone) Phoenix Bach Choir, Kansas City Chorale/Charles Bruffy rec. Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Kansas City, Kansas, USA; 26-27 March 2004 CHANDOS CHSA 5044 [74:00][DM]

A recording of spectacular range and refinement and singing of the highest calibre. A winner ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Piano Quintet Op.57 (1940) [31:48] 4 Waltzes for Flute, Clarinet and Piano (1955) [9:46] Piano Trio No.2 (1944) [28:04] Nash Ensemble (Marcia Crayford, Elizabeth Layton (violins); Roger Chase (viola); Christopher van Kampen (cello); Michael Collins (clarinet); Philippa Davies (flute); Ian Brown (piano)) rec. Henry Wood Hall, London, 1990 VIRGIN CLASSICS 3913372 [69:54] [DC]

Top-notch Shostakovich ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Ein Heldenleben (1899) [44:23]* Metamorphosen (1945) [28:55] Raymond Kobler (violin)*; David Krehbiel (horn)* San Francisco Symphony/Herbert Blomstedt rec. 1994. DDD DECCA LONDON 436 596-2 [73:28] [TP]

If you like your Richard Strauss vigorous and in full technicolour sound  - as it is scored - then you will want to hear this performance ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Georg Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Drei sind, die da zuegen im Himmel, TVWV 1:377 (1711) [12:09]* Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, TVWV 1:843 (1717) [12:10]* Wie liegt die Stadt so wüste, TVWV 1:1629 (1727) [14:27]* Er kam, lobsingt ihm, TVWV 1:377 (1759) [15:05]** Rheinische Kantorei; Das Kleine Konzert (Veronika Winter (soprano)*; Lena Susanne Norin (alto)*; Jan Kobow (tenor)*; Ekkehard Abele (bass)*; Ingrid Schmithüsen (soprano)**; Claudia Schubert (alto)**; Howard Crook (tenor) **; Gotthold Schwarz (bass)**)/ Hermann Max rec. Magdeburg, Germany, 18 March, 2006, DDD*; 25-29 April, 1997. DDD** CPO 777 195-2 [57:08] [MS]

An outstanding collection of high Baroque cantatas sung with conviction, gentle authority and perception by Rheinische Kantorei; Das Kleine Konzert with soloists under Hermann Max. Full of glorious warmth and light … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Der Ring des Nibelungen (1876) Günter von Kannen (Alberich) John Tomlinson (Wotan) Anne Evans (Brünnhilde) Siegfried Jerusalem (Siegfried) Bayreuth Festival Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim rec. Bayreuth 1991-2 Stage production by Harry Kupfer Region codes: NTSC 2,3,4,5; Picture format 16:9; Sound: LPCM stereo, Dolby digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 Surround; Subtitles in English, Français, Deutsch, Español, Italiano WARNER CLASSICS 2564 62317-2 [7 DVDs: 154 + 237 + 243 + 270 min.] [PCW]

An obvious one-stop shop for the work … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Boult Conducts George BUTTERWORTH (1885-1916) Two English Idylls [4:58 + 4:32] The Banks of Green Willow [5:33] A ‘Shropshire Lad’ Rhapsody [8:35] Peter WARLOCK (1894-1930) An Old Song for small orchestra [5:56] Patrick HADLEY (1899-1973) One Morning in Spring - Rhapsody for small orchestra [3:54] Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983) Procession [4:51] Merry-eye* [8:50] Elegy for viola, string quartet and string orchestra* [9:05] Music for a Prince*: Corydon’s Dance [7:11]; Scherzo in Arden [5:17] London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult Herbert Downes (viola)*; Desmond Bradley, Gillian Eastwood (violins); Albert Cayzer (viola); Norman Jones (cello) New Philharmonia Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult rec. 1970, 1979, 1977. ADD LYRITA SRCD.245 [68.46] [JQ]

This is a super disc, which deserves a place of honour in the collection of all lovers of English music ... see Full Review

---

BARGAINS OF THE MONTH

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Muzio CLEMENTI (1752-1832) Early Piano Sonatas: Vol. 2 Sonata in E flat major, Op. 11 (1784) [14:10] Sonata in B flat major, Op.1, No.2 (c.1781) [10:05] Sonata in G minor, Op.7, No.3 (1782) [16:59] Sonata in E flat major, Op.9, No.3 (1783) [16:34] Sonata in A major, Op.10, No.1 (1783) [13:49] Susan Alexander-Max (fortepiano) rec. 20-22 September 2004, St. Paul’s, Southgate, London NAXOS 8.557695 [71:49][GPu]

Thoroughly engaging performances, on a fine instrument, of some of Clementi’s excellent sonatas, as musically rewarding as they are historically important … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983) Sir Patrick Spens, Op. 23 (1917)* [19:49] Hymnus Paradisi (1938/1949) # [45:01] Claire Rutter (soprano)#; Katy Butler (soprano)#; James Gilchrist (tenor)*#; Roderick Williams (baritone)# The Bach Choir Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/David Hill rec. The Concert Hall, Lighthouse, Poole, Dorset, UK, 16-17 September 2006. DDD NAXOS 8.570352 [65:12] [JQ]

Dedicated and eloquent … a distinguished release and an undoubted feather in the Naxos cap ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) 46 Symphonies Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana, Torino Allesandro Arigoni (conductor) rec. dates and location not given. MEMBRAN 203300 [10 CDs: 69:06 + 69:09 + 72:30 + 72:43 + 64:48 + 58:41 + 55:29 + 67:59 + 53:53 + 56:00] [DC]

You won’t be sorry you splashed out. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Albert ROUSSEL(1869-1937) Chamber Music: Complete Piano Trio in E flat major, Op.2 (1902) [28:08] ¹ Divertissement, for wind quintet and piano, Op.6 (1906) [6:28] ² Sonata no.1, in D minor, for piano and violin, Op.11 (1907-8) [32:30] ³ Impromptu, for harp solo, Op.21 (1919) [6:48] ⁴ Deu poèmes de Ronsard, for flute and soprano, Op.26 (1924) [7:49] ⁵ Joueurs de flûte, for flute and piano, Op.27 (1924) [9:08] ⁶ Sonata no.2, for piano and violin, Op.28 (1924) [14:02] ³ Segovia, for guitar, Op.29 (1925) [3:08] ⁷ Sérénade, for flute, string trio and harp, Op.30 (1925) [15:44] ⁸ Duo for bassoon and double bass (1925) [4:07] ⁹ Aria no.2, for oboe and piano (1927-8) [2:11] ¹⁰ Trio for flute, viola and cello, Op.40 (1929) [13:55] ¹¹ String Quartet, Op.45 (1931-32) [19:48] ¹² Andante and Scherzo, for flute and piano, Op.51 (1934) [4:46] ⁶ Pipe, for piccolo and piano (1934) [0:57] ¹³ String Trio, Op.58 (1937) [13:31] ¹⁴ Music from Elpénor, Poème radiophonique, for flute and string quartet, Op.59 (1937) [8:00] ¹⁵ Andante, from an unfinished Wind Trio, for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1937) [3:13] ^{16 1} Jet Röling (piano), Jean-Jacques Kantorow (violin), Herre-Jan Stegenga (cello); ² Jet Röling (piano), Paul Verhey (flute), Hans Roerade (oboe), Frank van den Brink (clarinet), Herman Jeurissen (horn), Jos de Lange (bassoon); ³ Jean-Jacques Kantorow (violin), Jet Röling (piano); ⁴ Erika Waardenburg (harp); ⁵ Irene Maessen (soprano), Paul Verhey (flute); ⁶ Paul Verhey (flute), Jet Röling (piano); ⁷ Jan Goudswaard (guitar); ⁸ Paul Verhey (flute), Erika Waardenburg (harp), Janneke van der Meer (violin), Henk Guittart (viola), Viola de Hoog (cello); ⁹ Jos de Lange (bassoon), Quirijn van Regteren Altena (double bass); ¹⁰ Hans Roerade (oboe), Jet Röling (piano); ¹¹ Paul Verhey (flute), Henk Guittart (viola), Herre-Jan Stegenga (cello); ¹² Schönberg Quartet: Janneke van der Meer (violin), Wim de Jong (violin), Henk Guittart (viola), Viola de Hoog (cello); ¹³ Paul Verhey (piccolo), Jet Röling (piano); ¹⁴ Janneke van der Meer (violin), Henk Guittart (viola), Viola de Hoog (cello); ¹⁵ Paul Verhey (flute), Janneke van der Meer (violin), Wim de Jong (violin), Henk Guittart (viola), Viola de Hoog (cello); ¹⁶ Hans Roerade (oboe), Frank van den Brink (clarinet), Jos de Lange (bassoon) rec. April, June, December 1994, The Old Catholic Church, Delft BRILLIANT CLASSICS 8413 [3 CDs: 67:43 + 64:44 + 66:31] [GPu]

A convenient set of Roussel’s very distinctive chamber music, very decently played - and more than that at times - a real bargain … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Music for Strings Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Fünf Stücke, Op.44 No.4 (1927) [11:31]Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Visions Fugitives, Op.22 (arr. R. Barshai) (1915-17) [17:23] Béla BARTÓK (1891-1945) Divertimento for Strings, Sz.113 (1939) [26:51]Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concerto in B minor, Op.3 No.10 (pub.1711) [10:13] Concerto in D major Op.3 No.1 (pub.1711) [10:20] Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/Neville Marriner (Hindemith, Prokofiev) Moscow Chamber Orchestra/Rudolf Barshai (Bartók, Vivaldi) rec. St. John’s, Smith Square, London, July 1974 (Hindemith) and October 1972 (Prokofiev), and at Decca Studio 3, West Hampstead, London, July 1962 (Bartók, Vivaldi) DECCA ELOQUENCE 442 8414 [76:38] [DC]

With excellent sonics and musicianship and a high score in the ‘first CD release’ stakes this disc is as good as self-recommending ... see Full Review

---

Detailed listing (last five days)
[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]
[Recommended recordings]

---