RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) 33 Variations in
C major on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, op.120
(1822-23) [49:01] 12 Variations in A major
on the Russian Dance from Paul Wranitzky’s
Ballet Das Waldmädchen.WoO
71 (1796) [10:55] 
Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) rec.
29 July-2 August 2006,
Potton Hall, Suffolk,
England
DECCA 475 8401 [59.59][DC]
I
have the feeling Beethoven would have liked it ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frédéric CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Piano Sonata
No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35 (1839) [25:46]; Scherzos: No. 1 in B flat
minor, Op. 20 (1831-32) [10:54]; No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 31 (1837)
[9:47]; No. 3 in C sharp minor, Op. 39 (1839) [7:14]; No. 4 in E, Op.
54 (1842) [11:08] Simon
Trpčeski (piano). rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, 26-29 July 2006. DDD
EMI
CLASSICS 3 75586 2 [65:00][CC]
This
stunning disc runs high on my list of Discs
of the Year .. This is a must-hear experience.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
Symphony No.1, Op.55 (1908) [51:57] Sonata for Organ, Op.26 (transcr.
for orchestra by Gordon Jacob (1895-1984)) (1895) [26:05]
BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Richard Hickox rec. Brangwyn Hall, Swansea,
22-23 May 2006 CHANDOS
CHSA 5049 
[78:12][DC]
A
wonderful thing to have on your shelf or in your pocket. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hans GÁL
(1890-1987) The Complete String Quartets String
Quartets, Vol. 1 Quartet
No.1 in F minor, Op. 16 (1916) [27:29]Quartet No. 4 in B flat major,
Op. 99 (1970) [28:12]Improvisation, Variations and Finale on a theme
by Mozart, Op. 60b (1934) [15:58] The Edinburgh Quartet: (Charles Mutter
(violin); Philip Burrin (violin); Michael Beeston (viola); Mark Bailey
(cello)) rec. 24-26 November 2003, Broughton St Mary's Parish Church,
Edinburgh, Scotland. DDD MERIDIAN CDE 84530 [71:39] Hans
GÁL (1890-1987) The Complete String Quartets String
Quartets, Vol. 2 Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 35 (1929) [26:26]Quartet
No. 3 in B minor, Op. 95 (1969) [28:34]5 Intermezzi, Op. 10 (1914) [17:05]
The Edinburgh Quartet:
(Charles Mutter (violin); Philip Burrin (violin); Michael Beeston (viola);
Mark Bailey (cello)) rec. 1-4 September, 2004, Broughton St Mary's Parish
Church, Edinburgh, Scotland. DDD MERIDIAN CDE 84531 [72:11]
2CD set in slipcase: MERIDIAN CDE84557 [MC]
These
are satisfying and accessible string quartets
from Hans Gál that always have something
to say. Lovers of rare chamber music will
be in their element with this splendid set.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Edvard GRIEG
(1843-1907) Olav Trygvason, opera fragment,
Op. 50 (Text: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson) [34:10] 1. Scene 1 [7:46]; 2. Scene
2 [14:59]; 3. Scene 3 [11:22] 4. Foran Sydens Kloster (At the
Cloister Gate) Op. 20 (Text: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson) [10:15] Six Songs
with Orchestra [29:03] 5. I. Solveigs Sang (Solveig’s Song),
Op. 23 No. 19 (Henrik Ibsen) [5:27] 6. II. Solveigs Vuggevise
(Solveig’s Cradle Song), Op. 23 No. 26 (Henrik Ibsen) [4:00] 7. III.
Fra Monte Pincio (From Monte Pincio), Op. 39 No. 1 (Bjørnstjerne
Bjørnson) [4:58] 8. IV. En Svane (A Swan), Op. 25 No. 2 (Henrik
Ibsen) [2:21] 9. V. Våren (The Last Spring), Op. 33 No. 2 (A.
O. Vinje) [8:17] 10. VI. Henrik Wergeland Op. 58 No. 3 (John Paulsen)
[3:30] 11. Ved Rondane (In the Hills), Op. 33 No. 9 (A. O. Vinje)
(arr. Johan Halvorsen) [3:03]
Solveig Kringelborn (soprano) (1, 4), Ingebjørg Kosmo (mezzo) (2, 4),
Trond Halstein Moe (baritone) (1, 2), Marita Solberg (soprano) (5–11)
Bergen Philharmonic Choir (1–3), Kor Vest (Bergen Vocal Ensemble) (1–3),
Voci Nobili (4); Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra/Ole Kristian Ruud rec.
Grieg Hall, Bergen, Norway, November 2005 (1–4), June 2004 (5–11)
BIS SACD-1531
[77:38][AOz]
An excellent recording which gives a lot of
insight into Grieg’s music ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Complete
Piano Music, Vol. 25 Verdi Concert Paraphrases
and Transcriptions Rigoletto: Paraphrase de concert,
S434 (1859) [7:38] Aida: Danza sacra e duetto final, S436 (1871-79)
[11:38] Il Trovatore: Miserere, S433 (1859) [8:39] I Lombardi: Salve Maria de Jerusalem, S431 (1848) [6:48] Don Carlos:
Coro di festa e marcia funebre, S435 (1867-68) [7:07] Reminiscences
de Boccanegra, S438 (1882) [11:17] Ernani: Paraphrase de
concert, S432 (1849) [8:49]
Alexandre Dossin (piano) rec. 9-12 August 2005, Performing Arts Centre,
Country Day School, King City, Ontario, Canada. DDD
NAXOS 8.557904 [61:56][MC]
Naxos
enter the winner’s enclosure yet again with this assured recital of
highly attractive repertoire. Eminently enjoyable ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791) Cosi
fan Tutte - Dramma giocosa in two acts, libretto by Lorenzo
da Ponte (1789) Fiordiligi
(soprano) – Miah Persson; Dorabella (mezzo) – Anke Vondung; Ferrando
(tenor) – Topi Lehtipuu; Guglielmo (baritone) – Luca Pisaroni;
Despina (soprano) – Ainhoa
Garmendia; Don Alfonso (bass-baritone) – Nicolas Riveno Glyndebourne Chorus Orchestra
of the Age of Enlightenment/Ivan Fischer Directed for the stage by Nicholas Hytner
Directed for TV by Francesca Kemp rec. Glyndebourne Festival Theatre, 19 May
2006 OPUS ARTE OA0970D 
[2
DVDs:
210:00] [TH]
If
you’re in the market for stimulating theatre that will survive
trends and fads, this has to be on your shortlist ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gioachino ROSSINI
(1792-1868) La donna del lago - opera in two acts
(1819) Giacomo, James
V, King of Scotland, under the name of Uberto - Kenneth Tarver (ten);
Elena - Carmen Giannattasio (sop); Douglas d'Angus, Elena’s father -
Robert Gleadow (bass); Rodrigo di Dhu, rebel leader - Gregory Kunde
(ten); Malcolm Groeme - Patricia Bardon (mezzo); Serano, Douglas’s retainer
- Mark Wilde (ten) Albina, Elena’s confident -Francesca Sassu (mez)
Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Edinburgh Festival Chorus/Maurizio Benini
rec. live, Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 18 August 2006, Edinburgh International
Festival OPERA
RARA ORC 34 [3CDs: 39.31 + 56.40 + 63.30][RJF]
Sets
the gold standard for recorded performances of Rossini’s opera seria
composed for Naples. This cast on DVD, in the Pesaro production, would
be manna from heaven in the dreams of Rossini enthusiasts ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jean SIBELIUS (1865–1957)
Songs 1. Svarta
rosor, Op. 36, No. 1 (Ivar Hellman) [1:49] 2.
Säv, säv, suda, Op. 36, No. 4 (Ivar Hellman) [2:32] 3.
Demanten på marssnön, Op. 36, No. 6 (Ivar Hellman) [2:21]
4. På verandan vid havet, Op. 38, No. 2 [3:28]
5. Under strandens granar, Op. 13, No. 1 (Jussi
Jalas) [4:45] 6. Våren flyktar hastigt, Op.
13, No. 4 [1.40] 7. Kom nu hit, död, Op.
60, No. 1 [2:35] 8. Var det en dröm? Op.
37, No. 4 (Jussi Jalas) [2:04] 9. Flickan kom
ifrån sin älsklings möte, Op. 37, No. 5 (Ernst Pingoud) [2:57]
10. Im Feld ein Mädchen singt, Op. 50, No. 3 (Simon Parmet) [2:51]
11. Die stille Stadt, Op. 50, No. 5 (Leif Segerstam) [2:52] 12.
Aus banger Brust, Op. 50, No. 4 (Leif Segerstam) [2:21] 13. Koskenlaskijan
morsiamet, Op. 33 [9:06] 14. Lastu lainehilla, Op. 17, No.
7 (Ernst Pingoud) [1:13] 15. Illalle, Op. 17, No.
6 (Jussi Jalas) [1:27] 16. Souda, souda, sinisorsa
(Jussi Jalas) [1:15] 17. Kaiutar, Op. 72,
No. 4 (Jussi Jalas) [2:58] 18. Laulu ristilukista,
Op. 27, No. 4 [4:09] (arranger in parenthesis)
Jorma Hynninen (baritone) Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra/Leif Segerstam
rec. Tampere Hall, March 1994
ONDINE ODE 823-2 [53:49][GF]
Hynninen’s
singing is on such a high level, vocally and interpretatively, that
it is hard to believe that anyone could challenge him ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) The Complete
Songs – Vol. 2 Die Nacht Op.10 No.3 (1885) [3:08] Geduld Op.10
No.5 (1885) [4:36] Mein Herz ist stumm Op.19 No.6 (1888)
[3:13] All: mein Gedanken Op.21 No.1 (1889) [1:08] Du meines
Herzens Krönelein Op.21 No.2 (1889) [2:21] Ach Lieb, ich muß
nun scheiden Op.21 No.3 (1889) [1:53] O wärst
du mein! Op.26 No.2 (1891) [2:47] Ruhe,
meine Seele! Op.27 No.1 (1894) [3:37] Traum durch die
Dämmerung Op.29 No.1 (1895) [2:46] Schlagende
Herzen Op.29 No.2 (1895) [2:35] Nachtgang Op.29 No.3 (1895)
[3:02] Blauer Sommer Op.31 No.1 (1895)
[2:16] Weißer Jasmin Op.31 No.3 (1895)
[2:29] Das Rosenband Op.36 No.1 (1897-8) [3:06] Waldseligkeit Op.49
No.1 (1901) [3:02] In goldener Fülle Op.49 No.2 (1901)
[2:25] Wiegenliedchen Op.49 No.3 (1901) [2:05] Wer lieben will,
muß leiden Op.49 No.7 (1901) [2:36] Ach, was Kummer, Qual und
Schmerzen Op.49 No.8 (1901) [2:21] Blindenklage Op.56
No.2 (1906) [5:01] Drei Lieder der Ophelia Op.67
(1918) [8:06] 1.Wie erkenn’ ich mein Treulieb?
[2:46] 2.Guten Morgen, ’s ist Sankt Valentinstag
[1:26] 3.Sie trugen ihn auf der Bahre bloß
[3:43] Anne
Schwanewilms (soprano); Roger Vignoles (piano) rec. All Saints Church,
East Finchley, London, 22-24 August 2006. DDD
HYPERION CDA67588 [66:27][JQ]
This
fine CD is a worthy successor to Volume One in the series and an essential
purchase for all lovers of Strauss lieder ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Arleen Augér
(soprano) Robert
SCHUMANN (1810–1856) 1. Widmung, Op. 25, No. 1 [2:29]
2. Röselein, Röselein!, Op. 89, No. 6 [2:44] 3. Er ist’s,
Op. 79, No. 24 [1:29] 4. Des Sennen Abschied, Op. 79, No. 23
[1:46] 5. Mignon (“Kennst du das Land”), Op. 79, No. 29 [4:07]
6. Singet nicht in Trauertönen, Op. 98a, No. 7 [2:16] Franz
SCHUBERT (1797–1828) 7. Frühlingsglaube, D686 [3:25]
8. Der Schmetterling, D633 [1:27] 9. Nacht und Träume,
D827 [4:05] 10. Ariette: Liebe schwärmt auf allen Wegen, D239,
No. 6 (From the unfinished Singspiel “Claudine von Villa Bella”)[1:23]
11. Erster Verlust, D226 [2:01] 12. Gretchen
am Spinnrade, D118 [3:58] Arnold SCHÖNBERG
(1874–1951) Vier Lieder, Op. 2 13. No. 4: Waldsonne
[3:48] 14. No. 1: Erwartung [3:53] 15. No. 2: Schenk
mir deinen goldenen Kamm [3:55] 16. No. 3: Erhebung
[1:13] Richard STRAUSS (1864–1949)
17. Das Rosenband, Op. 36, No. 1 [3:08] 18. Mohnblumen,
Op. 10, No. 7 [1:28] 19. Die Zeitlose, Op. 10, No. 7 [2:12] 20.
Efeu, Op. 22, No. 3 [3:52] 21. Freundliche Vision, Op.
48, No. 1 [2:58] 22. Herr Lenz, Op. 37, No. 5 [1:20] Encores
Franz SCHUBERT 23. Heidenröslein,
D257 [2:14] Lee HOIBY (b. 1926)
24. The Serpent [4:17]
Arleen Augér (soprano), Dalton Baldwin (piano) rec. live, BBC Studios,
Pebble Mill, Birmingham, 2 January 1987
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4214-2 [66:01][GF]
One
of the most satisfying song recitals I have heard for a long time. This
disc will, I am sure, figure high on my list of favourite recordings
of 2007. ... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
The Long Day Closes - English
Romantic Partsongs Robert
Pearsall (1795-1856)
Lay a Garland on her Hearse [2:51]; Who shall have my Lady
Fair? [1:46] Joseph Barnby
(1838-1896)
Sweet and Low [2:43] Samuel Wesley
(1766-1837) O Sing unto my roundelay [3:29] Thomas
F. Walmisley (1783-1866)
Music, all powerful [5:48] George
Macfarren (1813-1887)
When daisies pied [2:14] Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
(1875-1912)
Summer is gone [3:20] Arthur Sullivan
(1842-1900)
Echoes [2:16] The long day closes [4:27] Charles
Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)
Heraclitus [2:27]; The Blue Bird [3:02] Charles
Wood (1866-1926)
Full fathom five [1:28] Edward Elgar
(1857-1934)
As torrents in summer [2:19]; My love dwelt in a Northern Land
[4:38]; Go, song of mine [4:53] Charles
Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918)
My soul, there is a country [3:31]; O love they wrong thee
much [2:40]; You gentle nymphs [1:23]; Love is a sickness
[1:42]; Music, when soft voices die [2:46]; My delight and
thy delight [2:21] Canzonetta
Chamber Choir/Jeffrey Wynn Davies rec. Manchester University Department
of Music, 4-5 February 1995. DDD
SOMM SOMMCD 204 [66:06] [JF]
Memorable
and finely judged performances of these beautiful and accomplished minor
works of art ... see Full Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH The
Road to Paradise In Ora Mortis Nostrae Thomas
TALLIS (c.1505-85) Miserere
nostri [3:24] The Pilgrim’s Journey Chant
Jacet granum
– Clanat pastor [5:37] Robert PARSONS (c.1535-1571/ 2)
Ave
maria [5:01] Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
A
Hymn to the Virgin [3 :53] Media Vita In Morte Sumus William
BYRD (c.1540-1623) Christe
qui lux es et dies [3:40] John SHEPPARD (c.1515-1558)
Media
vita in morte sumus [19:16] Requiem Aeternam Richard
Rodney BENNETT (b. 1936) A
Good-Night (1998) [2:33] John TAVERNER (b.
1944) Song
for Athene (1993) [6:28] John SHEPPARD
In
pace in idipsum [4:27] A Vision Of Paradise Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934) Nunc
dimittis (1915) [3:12] William H. HARRIS
(1883-1973) Bring
us, O Lord God [4:15] Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983)
Take
him, Earth, for cherishing (1963) [9:37] Chant
In
paradisum
Gabrieli Consort/Paul McCreesh rec.
July 2006, The Parish Church of S. Alban the Martyr, Holborn, London.
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 6605 [74:11][DC]
Makes
you feel as if you have died and gone to heaven ... see Full
Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Ludwig van
BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Trio No.1
in E flat Op.1/1 [32:45] Piano Trio No.5 in D Op.70/1 ‘Ghost’ [30:57]
Piano Trio No.4 in B flat Op.11 [21:46] Piano Trio No.7 in B flat Op.97
‘Archduke’ [39:23] Chung
Trio (Myung-Whun Chung (piano); Kyung-Wha Chung (violin); Myung-Wha
Chung (cello)) rec. Théâtre Impérial, Compičgne, Oise, France, 19-21
November 1991 and American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters,
New York, 3-5 December 1992. DDD
EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 3 81751 2 [63:51 + 61:09][BW]
The
only reason not to buy this excellent and inexpensive set would be a
wish to have all the Piano Trios … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Hugo
WOLF (1860-1903) 62 Lieder
18 Goethe-Lieder (1888/9) [52:54]; Sechs Lieder für eine Frauenstimme
(1877-82) [14:24]; Die Zigeunerin (1887) [3:05]; 3 Mörike-Lieder (1888)
12:26]; Spanisches Liederbuch songs (1890) [5:14]; Sechs alte Weisen
(1890) [12:23]; Italienisches Liederbuch songs (1890) [39:40]; Sonne
der Schlummerlosen (1896) [2:42];
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano); Gerald Moore (piano) rec.
London, 1956-62. 2007 digital remasters. ADD. detailed track-listing
below EMI CLASSICS
GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 00946 3 80040 2 8 [71:11 + 80:13][AOz]
This
isn’t just another recording. It’s a piece of history, and exquisitely
beautiful. ... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH The Castle of Fair
Welcome: Courtly songs of the later 15th century Robert
MORTON (c.1430-c.1479) Le souvenir de vous me tue
bcdf [3:15] Johannes REGIS
(c.1425-c.1496) Puisque ma damme/Je m’en voy abcdf
[3:06] ANON Las je ne
puis nullement durer h [1:48] Robert
MORTON Que pourroit plus bdg [5:20] John
BEDYNGHAM (d.1459/60) Myn hertis lust hi
[1:36] Gilles BINCHOIS (c.1400-1460)
Dueil angoisseux bcef [8:12] Guillaume
DUFAY (c.1400-1474) Ne je ne dors bdf
[4:52] ANON En amours
n’a si non bien b [2:14] Johannes
VINCENET de BRUECQUET (d.before1480) La pena sin
ser sabida bdef [2:24] ANON
Mi ut re ut (Venise) i [4:03] Robert
MORTON Plus j’ay le monde regardé acd [3:26]
Walter FRYE (d.1475) So
ys emprinted hi [1:56] ? CHARLES
THE BOLD, Duke of Burgundy
(1433-1477) Ma dame, trop vous mesprenés acf [1:36]
ENRIQUE (d.1488) Pues serviįio
vos desplaze bcef [1:59]
Gothic Voices (Gill Ross (soprano)a; Margaret Philpot (contralto)b;
Rogers Covey- Crump (tenor)c; Mark Ainsley (tenor)d;
Leigh Nixon (tenor)e; Peter Harvey (baritone)f ;
Patrick Ardagh-Walter (bass)g)/Christopher Page (medieval
harp)h ; with Christopher Wilson (lute)i
rec. St Jude’s Church, Golders Green, London, 16-17 October 1985. DDD.
Booklet with notes in English and French, texts and translations
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55274 [47:04][BW]
Another
excellent reissue, strongly recommended … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH The Garden
of Zephirus - Courtly songs of the early fifteenth
century Guillaume DUFAY (c.1400-1474)
J’atendray tant qu’i1 vous playra rondeau b,c,e [2:22] ANONYMOUS
N’a pas long temps que trouvay Zephirus chanson c,g [1:52]
Anthonello
Da CASERTA Amour m’a le cuer mis en tel martire ballade
stanza b,c,f [3:44] BRIQUET
Ma seul amour et ma belle maistresse rondeau b,d [3:28] Francesco
LANDINI Nessun ponga speranįa ballata c,d,f [4:05]
Guillaume
DUFAY Mon cuer me fait tous dis penser rondeau a,b,c,e
[6:05] Gacien
REYNEAU Va t’en, mon cuer, avent mes yeux rondeau a,c,d
[3:28] Matheus
De SANCTO JOHANNE Fortune, faulce, parverse
rondeau a,b,c,d [4:23] Francus
De INSULA Amours n’ont cure de tristresse rondeau
b,c,f [5:35] (Bartholomeus?)
BROLLO Qui le sien vuelt bien maintenir ballade b,c,f
[3 :28] Francesco
LANDINI Giunta vaga biltā ballata b,g [3:21]
ANONYMOUS Je la remire,
la belle rondeau b,c,f [2:35] Guillaume
DUFAY Adieu ces bons vins de Lannoys: rondeau b,c,f
[3:57] Gothic Voices
(Gill Ross (soprano) a; Margaret Philpot (contralto) b;
Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor) c; Andrew King (tenor) d;
John Mark Ainsley (tenor) e; Leigh Nixon (tenor) f
with Imogen Barford (medieval harp) g/Christopher Page (director)
rec. St Jude-on-the Hill, Hampstead, London, 28-29 June 1984, DDD.
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55289 [49:35][BW]
Go
out and buy this CD – and the other Gothic Voices reissues on Helios …
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]
