John
CARBON
(b. 1951) Benjamin 
Stephen Kalm (baritone) Valerie Bernhardt (mezzo) Franklin & Marshall
College Opera Theatre/William Wright rec. live 2006
ZIMBEL RECORDS ZR114 [65:47 + 66:58] 
[JW]
A
very likeable work ... see Full
Review
Luigi CHERUBINI
(1760-1842) Missa Solemnis, Antifona, Nemo
gaudeat Bayerischen
Rundfunks SO/Ricardo Muti rec. 2006/7
EMI CLASSICS 3943162 [50:53] 
[JW]
Another
authoritative entrant in the Cherubini lists; not perfect but
attractive ... see Full Review
Frederic
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Sonata No. 3;
Berceuse Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
En Rêve, Nocturne; Sonata in B minor
Mu Ye Wu (piano) rec. 2007
ZIG-ZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT071101 [63:26][RC] 
A
strong contender, especially for the Liszt ... see Full
Review
Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Benno Moiseiwitsch - Volume 11: Chopin Recordings 1916-27
Includes Waltzes No.6, 11 & 14, Impromptus 1 & 2, Etudes 3,
10, 11 & 15 Benno Moiseiwitsch
(piano) rec. 1916-27
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111117 [69:08] 
[JW]
Glittering,
idiosyncratic, aristocratic and wilfully wonderful ... see Full
Review
Domenico CIMAROSA (1749-1801)
Overtures - Volume 1 Includes La baronessa
Stramba, Il matrimonio segreto, L’infedeltà fedele, Il ritorno di Don
Calendrino Il convito
Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia/Alessandro Amoretti rec. 2000
NAXOS 8.570508 [69:06]
[DW]
A
worthwhile collection of music from a period when Mozart didn’t
have it all his own way in the opera house … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Eric COATES Sound
and Vision Music for Orchestra and Songs with Orchestra
BBC Concert Orchestra/John Wilson. rec. 2007
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7198 [71:03] [RB]
Fills
gaps with a consummate sweep and mastery ...
see Full Review
Dinos
CONSTANTINIDES
(b. 1929) Celestial
Symphony No. 6 [24:33] Concerto for alto
saxophone and chamber orchestra - Midnight
Fantasy II (1989, rev. 1991) [16:57] Concerto
No. 3 for alto saxophone and orchestra [14:17]
Homage - A Folk Concerto for alto saxophone
and orchestra (1988) [17:19]
Theodore Kerkezos (alto saxophone) Nürnberger
Symphoniker/Stefanos Tsialis rec. 2005, Nürnberger
Symphoniker Hall. DDD
CENTAUR CRC 2871 [71:06]
[RB]
Seraphic,
peaceful, awed yet dance plays its part too.
... see Full
Review
Francesco
Bartolomeo CONTI (1682-1732) David
Falti Il Complesso
Barocco/Alan Curtis rec. 2003
VIRGIN CLASSICS 3788772 [76:03 + 79:05][JW]
A
triumphantly assured and important recording ... see Full
Review
James COOK
(b. 1966) From Wonderland to Heaven
– Music for voices, organ and harp
Voces Oxonienses/Rufus Frowde rec. 2006
DIVINE ARTS DIVERSIONS DDV24123 [77:13][DM]
A
curious enterprise that promises much but
fails to deliver ... see Full
Review
Aaron COPLAND
(1900–1990)
Appalachian
Spring – suite (1944) [24:48] Nonet
for Strings (1961) [16:28] Two Pieces
for String Quartet (1924/1928) [8:50]
St Luke’s Chamber Ensemble/Dennis Russell
Davies rec. October/November 1989, The Performing
Arts Center, SUNY Purchase, New York. re-issue
of MusicMasters 67055 (1990)
NIMBUS NI 2506 [50:06]
[BBr]
Serviceable
performances and quite enjoyable, but better
interpretations are available.... see Full
Review
Noël COWARD
(1899-1973) The Noël Coward Songbook
Ian Bostridge (tenor); Sophie Daneman (soprano); Jeffrey Tate (piano)
rec. 2001 EMI CLASSICS
ENCORE 5090192 [63:13][OW]
A
project doomed from the start ... see Full
Review
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
La Demoiselle élue see MASSENET
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Arabesques
Nos. 1 & 2; Children's Corner; Images: Books 1 & 2; Clair de
lune; L'isle joyeuse
Simon Trpčeski (piano) rec. 2007
EMI CLASSICS 5002722 [62:27][DM]
Some
really lovely, idiomatic playing but if only Trpčeski’s musical
judgment were more consistent ... see Full
Review
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934)
Songs
Yvonne Kenny (soprano); Piers Lane (piano) rec. 2006
HYPERION CDA67594 [62:09][EM]
Performed
with passion and flair. Good stuff ... see
Full Review
David
DIAMOND (1915-2005) Kaddish for
cello and orchestra see
From Jewish
Life
Franz
and Karl DOPPLER (1821-1883); (1825-1900)
Music for Flutes and Orchestra
Patrick Gallois (flute); Kazunori Seo (flute) Sinfonia Finlandia Jyväskylä/Patrick
Gallois rec.2006 NAXOS
8.570378 [66:26][CR]
Thoroughly
enjoyable, with excellent playing throughout
... see Full
Review
Justus
Johann Friedrich DOTZAUER (1783-1860)
Duo for violin and cello Op.124 (1830s)
see
Duos
Johan DUIJCK
(b. 1954) Alma de la Música; Cantar del
Alma; Alma, búscate en Mí
Gents Madrigaalkoor; Vlaams Radio Koor; Collegium Instrumentale Brugense/Johan
Duijck rec. 2007 PHAEDRA
92054 [70:12][HC]
Superbly
made, eminently singable and often quite beautiful ... see Full
Review
George
DYSON (1883-1964) Choral Music
Royal
College of Music Chamber Choir; Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir
David Willcocks rec. 1985-7
SOMM SOMMCD014
[70:48][EM]
Good
performances of works that should be heard
more frequently ... see Full
Review
George DYSON (1883-1964)
Includes Nebuchadnezzar, Woodland Suite, Three Songs of Praise
Mark Padmore (tenor);
Neal Davies (bass-baritone); BBC SO & Ch/Richard Hickox rec. 2006
CHANDOS CHAN10439 [68:57]
[RB]
Enthusiasts
for the festive yet idiosyncratic mainstream of British choral
music need look no further ... see Full
Review
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934)
CD
1 [64:01] Symphony No. 1 in A flat, Op.
55 (1908) [49:33] Overture Cockaigne,
Op. 40 (1900) [14:21] CD 2 [73:40]
Symphony No. 2 in E flat, Op. 63 (1910) [52:57]
Sea Pictures, Op. 37* (1899) [20:28]
Della Jones (mezzo) London Symphony Orchestra/Sir
Charles Mackerras (CD1)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras
(CD2) rec. Walthamstow Assembly Hall, CD1:
April 1990; CD2: March 1993. DDD
DECCA ELOQUENCE 442 8277 [64:01 + 73:40]
[RB]
Readings
that satisfy with insight and excitement ...
see Full
Review
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Cello
Concerto Nikolai MIASKOVSKY (1881-1950) Cello
Concerto Jamie
Walton (cello)
Philharmonia O/Alexander Briger
rec. 2006 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD116 [54:56] [JW]
Affecting
but not lachrymose, noble but not unyielding ... see Full
Review
Roberto
FABBRICIANI (b. 1949) Glaciers in Extinction
Roberto Fabbriciani
(hyperbass flute) rec. 2005
COL LEGNO WWE1CD20254 [57:14][CR]
I
was captivated with this unique music from beginning to end ... see
Full Review
Gerald
FINZI (1901-1956)
Dies natalis, Prelude, The Fall of the Leaf, Two Sonnets,
Nocturne, Farewell to Arms
James Gilchrist (tenor) Bournemouth SO/David Hill rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.570417 [66:40]
[RB]
Finzi’s
melancholy, rapture and nobility articulated
with fidelity ... see Full
Review
Grant FOSTER (b.
1945) Celebration Overture; Rhapsody for
Piano and Orchestra; Ballade for Piano and Violin; Four Voyages
for Piano
Mira Yevtich (piano); Maria Safaryanc (violin); Novaya Rossia State
Orchestra/Alexander Anissimov rec. 2007
BEL AIR MUSIC BAM2041 [65:23][RB]
Entertaining
music from a master agile at moving among a world of distinctive styles
... see Full Review
Jean
FRANCAIX
(1912-1997)
Quintet No. 2 for flute, string trio and harp (1989) [17:06]
Charles BORDES
(1863-1909) Suite Basque Op. 6 (world premiere
recording) (1887) [22:23] Vincent D’INDY (1851-1931)
Suite en parties for obbligato flute, violin, viola, cello and
harp, Op. 91 (1927) [16:14] Gabriel PIERNÉ
(1863-1937)
Voyage au "Pays du Tendre" d’après la Carte du Tendre
for flute, violin, viola, cello and harp (1936) [12:05] Andre
JOLIVET (1905-1974) Chant
de Linos for solo flute, violin, viola, cello and harp (1944) [11:16]
Carlo Jans (flute),
Kateřina Englichová (harp)
Martinů Quartet: Lubomír Havlák, Irena Herajnová (violins), Jan
Jíša (viola), Jitka Vlašánková (cello) rec. May, Sept 2007, Domovina
Studio, Prague. DDD
ARCO DIVA UP 0104-2 131 [79:35]
A
fascinating recital drawing strength and passion
from all the performers ... see Full
Review
Steven
R. GERBER (b.
1948) Spirituals
for String Orchestra, Clarinet Concerto,
Serenade Concertante
Jon Manasse (clarinet); José Miguel Cueto
(violin); Natalia Malkova (violin) St Petersburg
State Academic Symphony/Vladimir Lande rec.
2005
ARABESQUE RECORDINGS Z6803 [56:06]
[CR]
A
strong accessibly modern voice … moments of excellence, strong
melodic lines ... see Full
Review
Roberto GERHARD
(1896-1970)
Symphony
No. 4 ‘New York’ (1967) [26:04] Violin Concerto (1942-5) [34:03]*
Yfrah Neaman (violin) BBC
Symphony Orchestra/Colin Davis rec. 1972, London. ADD originally released
as Decca Argo ZRG701
LYRITA SRCD.274 [60.10] [JF] 
A
vital, interesting, impressive and deeply
moving composer who well deserves our attention
... see Full
Review
Philip
GLASS
(b. 1937) Another
Look at Harmony, part 4 [1975/77] (60.29)
Christopher Bowers Broadbent (organ) The Choir of the 21st
Century/Howard Williams rec. 3-5 June 2007, Gray’s Inn Chapel, London
SOMM SOMMCD 072
[60.29] [RH]
A
striking new sound to Glass’s familiar world
... see Full
Review
Reinhold GLIERE
(1875-1956) Huit morceaux Op.39 (1909):
No.1 Prelude [2:28]; No.3 Berceuse [2:32];
No.4 Canzonetta [1:36]; No.7 Scherzo [2:52]
... see Duos
Christoph
Willibald GLUCK (1714–1787) Orphée
et Eurydice Anne
Sofie von Otter, Barbara Hendricks, Monteverdi Ch, Orchestre
de l’Opéra National de Lyon/Sir John Eliot Gardiner rec. 1989 EMI
CLASSICS 5091612 [41:52
+ 47:55] [GF]
For
an exalted level of singing the present set requires to be heard
by all lovers of this opera ... see Full
Review
Stephen
GOSS (b. 1964) Frozen Music;
Uneasy Dreams; Dark Knights and Holy Fool; Under Milk Wood Songs; Sonata
for Guitar
Students from the Yehudi Menuhin School rec. 1993-2007
CADENZA MUSIC CACD0711 [67.43][RH]
Accessible
but distinctively thought-provoking material ... see Full
Review
Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893)
Faust Plácido
Domingo, Mirella Freni, Nicolaï Ghiaurov, Thomas Allen, Ch & O Théâtre
National de l'Opéra de Paris/Georges Prêtre rec. 1978
EMI CLASSICS 5091662 [3 CDs]
[MC]
Splendid
performances do the talking here on this valuable EMI Classics
set ... see Full Review
Edvard
Grieg
(1843-1907) Symphonic Dances see
Mozart
Carlos GUASTAVINO
(1912-2000) The Complete
Piano Music
Martin Jones (piano) rec. Concert Hall, Wyastone
Leys, Monmouth, UK, 5-6 December 2005; 24-25
April 2006
NIMBUS NI 5818/20 [3 CDs: 75:43 + 65:00
+ 72:40]
[DC]
An
enticing combination of Argentinean nostalgia,
dancing rhythms and peerless singing melodies.
... see Full
Review
Joseph
GHYS (1801-1848) Variations brillantes
sur 'God save the King' Op.38 (c.1835) [10:51]
...see Cello Duos
George Frideric HANDEL
(1685–1759)
Concerti Grossi Op. 6/7-12
Boston Baroque/Martin Pearlman rec. 2007
TELARC CD80688 [79:33]
[DC]
Spirited
performances of the utmost clarity and refinement ... see Full
Review
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphonies Nos.
102 & 104
English Chamber Orchestra/Jeffrey Tate rec. 1985
EMI CLASSICS ENCORE 5090152 [61:18][BW]
Excellent
performances and recording add up to a real
bargain ... but don’t forget the superb Davis
and Beecham complete sets ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809)
The Creation
Chetham’s Chamber Choir; Gabrieli Consort & Players/Paul McCreesh
rec. 2006 ARCHIV PRODUKTION
4777361 [79:27 + 29:29][JQ]
Haydn’s
great masterpiece makes its full effect in this exceptional performance
... see Full Review
Rilke-Lieder
Paul HINDEMITH (1895–1963)
6 Lieder from Das Marienleben Regina
WITTEMEIER (b. 1956) Ich lebe mein Leben in wachsenden
Ringen – acht Lieder nach Rainer Maria Rilke
Barbara Sauter (soprano), Richard Wiedl (tenor), Fabian Dobler (piano)
rec. 2005 THOROFON CTH2458
[46:28]
[BBr]
Unfortunate
that Wittemeier had her songs coupled with the selection from Hindemith
... see Full Review
Alun HODDINOTT
(1929-2008)
Horn
Concerto Op.65 (1969) [13:05] Humphrey
SEARLE (1915-1982) Aubade for
Horn and Strings Op.28 (1955) [7:07] Don
BANKS (1923-1980) Horn Concerto
(1965) [20:16] Nicholas
MAW (b. 1935) Sonata for
Strings and Two Horns (1967) [22:04]
Barry Tuckwell Alan Civil; Ian Harper (horns);
rec1971-74
LYRITA SRCD.335 [60.00]
Horn
concertos of the 1960s in language typical
of the era but with more romance than you
might expect. ... see Full
Review
Alan
HOVHANESS
(1911-2000) CD
side [59:00] Janabar ‘Journey’ for piano, trumpet and orchestra
op. 81 - I Fantasy (1950) [11:54] Talin – for viola and
orchestra op. 93 – II Estampie (1951) [1:51] Shambala –
for sitar, violin and orchestra op. 228 (1969) [45:00] Audio DVD
side [126:00] Janabar ‘Journey’ for piano, trumpet and orchestra
op. 81 (1950) [37:01] Talin – for viola and orchestra op. 93
(1951) [16:19] Shambala – for sitar, violin and orchestra op.
228 (1969) [45:00] Interviews and Talking: Alan Hovhaness and Antony
Hopkins [28:00] Christina
Fong (violin; viola) Gaurav Mazumdar (sitar) Paul Hersey (piano) Michael
Bowman (trumpet) Slovenská Filharmónia/Rastislav Štúr
rec. Bratislava , Slovakia. DDD 
OGREOGRESS
PRODUCTIONS no number [CD: 59:00 + DVD-audio: 126:00]
A
celebration of Hovhaness’s otherworldliness
idiomatically done – invaluable... see Full
Review
Jacques IBERT
(1890–1962) Symphonie Concertante pour Hautbois
et Orchestre à Cordes see MARTIN
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Charles IVES
(1874-1954)
Romanzo di Central Park (songs)
Gerald Finley (baritone), Julius Drake (piano) Magnus Johnston (violin)
rec. 2007 HYPERION CDA67644
[62:28]
[DM]
A
glorious disc ... see Full Review
Leoš
JANÁČEK
(1854 - 1928)
From The House Of The Dead
- Z mrtvého domu - Opera
in three Acts (1930) Libretto by the composer
after Dostoevsky. Sung in Czech. Olaf Bär,
Eric Stoklossa, Stefan Margita etc.
Mahler Chamber Choir, Arnold Schoenberg Choir,
Pierre Boulez Conductor. rec2007
DGG
00440 073 4426 [ 100 ' + 48 ' bonus tracks] [BK]
.....
A tour de force production of a little known
operatic rarity. All Janáček fans, and
opera lovers in fact, should rush out an buy
this immediately ... see Full
Review
Michael
JARRELL (b.
1958) prisme/incidences, Sillages,
Trois Etudes de Debussy, Abschied Hae-Sun
Kang (violin) Emmanuel Pahud (flute) Paul Meyer (clarinet)
François Leleux (oboe) Marino Formenti (piano) Orchestre de
la Suisse Romande/Pascal Rophé rec. 2005 AEON
AECD0752 [64:39] [HC]
Gripping,
often beautiful and strongly communicative
for all its complexity ... see Full
Review
Giovanni
Girolami KAPSBERGER (1580-1651)
Libro Secondo d’Arie - Songs
of Human and Divine Love (1623) Bellerofonte
CASTOLDI (b. 1622) Sonata 2a ;
Mustazzin corrente; ANON
(b. c.1620) Canzona ; Toccata
Gian Paolo Fagotto (tenor); Janet Youngsdahl
(soprano); Julie Harris (soprano); Paul Grindley
(bass) Victor Coelho (archlute; theorbo);
David Dolata (theorbo); Neil Cockburn (harpsichord)
Il Furioso/Victor Coelho rec. Wyatt Recital
Hall, Mount Royal College, Calgary, Alberta,
3-7 June 2004.
TOCCATA TOCC 0027 [54.07]
[GH]
As
good a recording of early music as I have
ever heard ... see Full
Review
Zoltan
KODALY (1882-1967)
Duo
for violin and cello Op.7 (1914) see
Duos
Charles KOECHLIN (1867-1950)
Violin Sonata; Viola Sonata
Marie Viaud (violin); Mireille Guillaume (piano); Michel Michalakakos
(violia); Martine Gagnepain (piano) rec. 1997
SKARBO DSK1985 [64:26][RB]
Two
large-scale poignant sonatas for stringed instruments ... see Full
Review
Markus
KRALER/Andreas SCHETT
Schubertlieder
Franui rec. 2007
COL LEGNO WWE1CD20301 [69:11]
[GMH]
A
fine experiment – and it works ... see Full
Review
Keith
KRAMER
Causal Dualism
David Taylor (bass trombone), Gottfried Stoger (soprano
saxophone), Jade Strings/Keith Kramer, Moravian PO/Vit Micka rec. 2003/6
MMC 2167 [67:51]
[CR]
Imaginative
and individual ... see Full
Review
Franz LACHNER
(1803-1890) Complete Organ Works
Rudolf Innig (organ) rec. 2007
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG31714872 [67:30] [DC]
An
enjoyable and enterprising organ release ... see Full
Review
Edouard
LALO (1823–1892) Symphonie
espagnole Johannes
BRAHMS (1833–1897) Violin Concerto
Nathan Milstein (violin); Orchestre Nationale
de Paris/André Cluytens; NDR-Sinfonieorchester/Paul Kletzki rec.
1955-60
CLAVES 502708 [62:22][BBr]
A
must for all interested in performance and great fiddling ... see Full
Review
György
LIGETI (1923-2006) Cello Sonata see BRITTEN
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Symphonic Poems:
Hungaria; Héroïde funèbre; Le Triomphe funèbre
de Tasso
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Michael Halász rec. 2005
NAXOS 8.557847 [58:16][CC]
Naxos
seems to have some affinity with Liszt. I enjoy the Masur traversal
but Halász is a viable alternative ... see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) En Rêve, Nocturne; Sonata in B minor see
CHOPIN
Jon
LORD
(b. 1941)
Boom of the Tingling Strings, Disguises
Nelson Goerner (piano) Odense SO/Paul Mann rec. 2006
EMI CLASSICS 3905282 [72:14]
[RB]
Sweetly
and cradlingly nostalgic – full of soft light ... see Full
Review
Witold
LUTOSŁAWSKI (1913-1994) Double
Concerto for Oboe, Harp and Chamber Orchestra see MARTIN
Elisabeth
LUTYENS
(1906-1983) Quincunx
(after Sir Thomas Browne) for baritone, soprano and orchestra op.
44 (1960) [24:14] And Suddenly it’s Evening Op. 66 for tenor
and chamber ensemble (to words by Salvatore Quasimodo) (1966) [23:52]
David BEDFORD (b.1937) Music
for Albion Moonlight (Kenneth Patchen) for soprano, flute, clarinet,
melodica, piano, violin, cello (1965) [29:10]
Josephine Nendick (soprano); John Shirley-Quirk (baritone); Jane Manning
(soprano) BBC Symphony Orchestra/Norman Del Mar/John Carewe rec1968-70
LYRITA SRCD.265 [77.25][RB]
Toughest
going so far from Lyrita … drawing on the crystalline rugged style of
the 1970s avant-garde. ... see Full
Review
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