Superbudget £5.99 or less
Budget £6-7.99
Medium £8-10.99
Full price £11+
Download
John
CAGE (1912-1992) Two3, Inlets, Two4 Tamami
Tono (shō) Christina Fong (violins) Glenn Freeman (conch
shells)
rec. 2004 OGREOGRESS 34479370557 [2:38:00] [DC]
Vast
tracts of ‘zen’ music ... see Full
Review
Eve
CASTOR (b. 1969) Pleins et Delices:
Oeuvres de musiques de chambre
Various artists rec. 1996
QUANTUM QM6981 [60:21][CR]
An
individual style which fuses modernism with melody ... see Full
Review
Fryderyk CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Complete Nocturnes
Ewa Bukojemska (piano) rec. 1995
DUX 0619/0620 [64:12 + 74:17]
[ST]
A
fine set if you’re starting off your exploration of the Nocturnes
... see Full Review
Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Twelve Études,
Op. 10; Four Ballades Hugues DUFOURT
(b. 1943) La ligne gravissant la chute -
Hommage ŕ Chopin
Nima Sarkechik (piano) rec.
2008
ZIG ZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT080401 [74:10][MC]
Displaying
considerable potential Sarkechik impresses in this programme ... see
Full Review
Jonathan
COLE (b. 1970)
Testament Ben
FOSKETT (b. 1977) Violin Concerto
Luke BEDFORD (b. 1978)
Or Voit Tout En Aventure
London Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen rec. 2004-6
LONDON SINFONIETTA LABEL SINF CD1-2007 66036-2 [51:46][CR]
The
perfect place to start for exploring new repertoire ... see Full
Review
Aaron COPLAND
(1900-1990) The Tender Land Suite, Piano
Concerto, Old American Songs Vols 1 & 2
Benjamin Pasternack (piano) St. Charles Singers, Elgin SO/ Robert Hanson
rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.559297
[63:42]
[TH]
A
very desirable Copland selection ... see Full
Review
Aaron
COPLAND (1900-1990) Fanfare
for the Common Man, Appalachian Spring, El
Salon Mexico, Old American Songs various
orchestras
rec. 1985-89 EMI AMERICAN CLASSICS
2066342 [76:31] [ST]
A
really successful disc and a good introduction
to Copland’s work ... see Full
Review
Peter
CORNELIUS (1824–1874) Der Barbier von Bagdad WDR
Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of Cologne/Ferdinand Leitner
rec. 1974 PROFIL
EDITION GÜNTER HÄNSSLER PH08037 [56:07 + 45:32][GF]
Rather
amusing. The music definitely deserves a better fate than oblivion
... see Full Review
Laurence
CRANE (b.
1961) Solo Piano Pieces Includes
Three Preludes, Blue Blue Blue (1986) [7:03] Kierkegaards,
Derridas, James Duke son of John Duke, Three Pieces for James
Clapperton Michael
Finnissy rec. 2004/5 METIER
MSV28506 [80:00] [BBr]
Crane’s
art is too important and too beautiful to miss ... see Full
Review
Mythical Dances George
CRUMB (b.1929) Makrokosmos IV – Celestial
Mechanics Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Le
Sacre du printemps Belli
Piano Duo rec. 2006 WERGO
WER68072 [58:06] [DC]
Not
very wonderful ... see Full
Review
Marc-André DALBAVIE (b.
1961) Flute Concerto Michael
JARRELL (b.
1958) … un temps de silence … Matthias
PINTSCHER (b. 1971) Transir Emmanuel
Pahud (flute) Radio France PO
rec. 2006/7 EMI CLASSICS 5012262 [54:59] [HC]
Contemporary
music with considerable appeal ... see Full
Review
Louis
François DAUPRAT (1781-1868) Grand
Sextet, Grand Trios Richard
Burdick (natural horn)
rec. 2007 I CHING MUSIC CD
19 [75:46] [DC]
Off
the beaten path repertoire, and a unique sound ... see Full
Review
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862–1918) Prélude ŕ l’aprčs-midi
d’un faune; La Mer; Jeux; Suite: Children’s
Corner Orchestre
National de Lyon/Jun Märkl rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570759 [73:06][BBr]
Very
serviceable and atmospheric readings ... see Full
Review
Erno
von DohnÁnyi (1877-1960)
Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Michael Ludwig (violin); Royal Scottish National
Orchestra/JoAnn Falletta rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.570833 [71:24][WK]
Outstanding
music … hits all the required emotional stops ... see Full
Review
Jonathan
DOVE (b. 1959) Siren Song
Siren Ensemble/Henk
Guittart rec. 2007 CHANDOS
CHAN10472 [77.37][RH]
Fast
paced and illuminating - keeps us entertained and wanting more
... see Full Review
Hugues DUFOURT (b. 1943) La
ligne gravissant la chute - Hommage ŕ Chopin see
CHOPIN
Paul
DUKAS (1865-1935)
Goetz de Berlichingen, Ouverture après Goethe (1883) [13:27]
Le Roi Lear, Ouverture après Shakespeare (1883) [22:17]
Symphony in C minor (1896) [42:05]
Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen/Fabrice Ballon rec. no
details given. DDD STERLING
CDS 1074-2 [78:18]
[WK]
Two
rare and fascinating overtures but there are
better versions of the Symphony ... see Full
Review
Paul
DUKAS (1865–1935) Ariane
et Barbe-Bleue Deborah
Polaski, Slovak Philharmonic Ch, Wien RSO/Bertrand de Billy
rec. live 2006 OEHMS
CLASSICS OC915 [69:42 + 46:33] [GF]
Live
performances being rare this CD is a worthy substitute ... see Full
Review
Marcel
Dupré (1886-1971)
Organ Works - Volume 9
Ben van Oosten (organ) rec. 2007
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG31612912 [67:24]
[BW]
Very
well performed and recorded but not Dupré’s best music ... see Full
Review
Henri
DUTILLEUX (b.
1916) Le Loup – fragments symphoniques, Tout
un monde lointain, L’Arbre
des songes, Métaboles, The Shadows of Time,
Symphony No. 2 ‘Le Double’ Mstislav
Rostropovich (cello), Renaud Capuçon (violin), Radio France PO/Myung-Whun Chung
Capitole de Toulouse Ntl O/Michel Plasson, Paris O/Serge Baudo, Société des Concerts
du Conservatoire O/Georges Prętre
rec. 1961-2001 EMI CLASSICS
2068792 [69:07 + 71:16] [LW]
Two
of the greatest concerto recordings and more ... see Full
Review
Antonín DVOŘÁK
(1841–1904) Symphonic Variations, Symphony
9 Baltimore SO/Marin Alsop
rec. live 2007 NAXOS
8.570714
[64:44]
[BW]
Even
if you already have a favourite New World, get this new one ...
see Full Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Symphonies
7-9,American Suite Royal
Liverpool PO/Libor
Pešek
rec. 1987 VIRGIN CLASSICS 5220392 [75:12
+ 67:12] [JW]
Pleasant
but variably convincing, not optimally recorded ... see Full
Review
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Violin
Sonata Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Violin
Sonata 3 Charlie
Siem (violin) Andrei Korobeinikov (piano)
rec. 2007 CHALLENGE CLASSICS
CC72293 [57:36] [JW]
Very
delicate and refined – reflection at the expense of lyricism ...
see Full Review
Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Wand
of Youth Suites 1 & 2,
Nursery Suite
Dream Children Ulster O/Bryden
Thomson
rec. 1976/82 CHANDOS CHAN10422X [73:17] [BW]
Childhood-related
but mature and attractive music, well performed and recorded ...
see Full Review
Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) The
Songs Catherine
Wyn-Rogers (mezzo); Neil Mackie (tenor); Cristopher Maltman
(baritone); Malcolm Martineau (piano)
rec. 1999 SOMM SOMMCD220 [65:07] [EM]
A
good selection of some charming Elgar songs ... see Full
Review
Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845-1924) Cello
Sonatas 1 & 2, Elegie, Papillon, Berceuse, Romance, Sicilienne, Aprčs
un reve, Serenade Maria
Kliegel (cello) Nina Tichman (piano)
rec. 2005 NAXOS 8.557889 [63:06] [JW]
Refined … a
good recital though not comprehensively good ... see Full
Review
Giuseppe
FERLENDIS (1755-c.1810) Oboe Concertos
and Trios
Diego Dini Ciacci (oboe); Francesco Dainese (flute); Flavio Baruzzi
(bassoon); Orchestra Haydn di Bolzano e Trento/Diego Dini Cacci rec.
2005 CPO 7773682
[70:33][GPu]
Very
attractive concertos, pleasant chamber music … enjoyable listening …
see Full Review
Ben
FOSKETT (b. 1977) Violin Concerto
see COLE
Grant
FOSTER (b.
1945)
Celebration Overture, Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra,
Ballade for Piano and Violin, Four Voyages
Mira Yevtich (piano); Maria Safaryanc (violin) Novaya Rossia State O/Alexander
Anissimov rec. 2007
BEL AIR MUSIC BAM2041 [65:23]
[WK]
Lacking
intellectually and formally but lots of heart
and well written. ... see Full
Review
Umberto
GIORDANO (1867–1948) Marcella
Bratislava Chamber Choir; Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia,/Manlio
Benzi rec. 2007 DYNAMIC
CDS573 [64:18][GF]
Highly
attractive music unperformed for far too long ... see Full
Review
Philip
GLASS
(b. 1937) The Concerto Project, Vol. II
Piano Concerto 2, Harpsichord Concerto
Paul Barnes (piano) R. Carlos Nakai (Native American flute) Jillon Stoppels
Dupree (harpsichord) Northwest CO/Ralf Gothóni rec. 2005
ORANGE MOUNTAIN MUSIC OMM0030 [58:53]
[BB]
World
premiere recordings of two keyboard concertos by Glass ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Percy GRAINGER (1882–1961) An
Introduction Joyful
Company of Singers; BBC Philharmonic; City of London Sinfonia;
Royal Northern College of Music Wind O
rec. 1994-2000 CHANDOS CHAN2029 [77:11] [BW]
The
favourites plus less well known pieces, excellently performed and
recorded ... see Full Review
Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Violin Sonata 3 see ELGAR
Francisco
GUERRERO
(1528-1599) Missa
Sancta et immaculata etc
Westminster Cathedral Choir/James O’Donnell
rec. Westminster Cathedral, London, 1-14 March
1997. DDD. Booklet with texts and translations.
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55313 [64:53]
[BW]
Music,
singing, recording and presentation are all
of the highest quality ... see Full
Review
George Frideric HANDEL
(1685–1759) Operatic Duets
Patrizia Ciofi (soprano);
Joyce Di Donato (mezzo) Il Complesso Barocco/Alan Curtis (harpsichord)
rec. 2003 VIRGIN CLASSICS
5181792 [73:35][JW]
Superb.
A
sequence of ravishing duets. Greatly
to be welcomed ... see
Full Review
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Te
Deum in D major ‘Dettingen’ HWV
283 (1743) [38:04] Organ Concerto No. 14 in
A major HWV 296a (1739?) [17:15] Zadok
the Priest HWV 258 (1727) [5:11]
Neal Davies (bass) (Te Deum) Richard
Marlow (organ) (Concerto) The Choir of Trinity
College, Cambridge Academy of Ancient Music/Stephen
Layton rec. 29 June-1 July 2007, Chapel of
Trinity College, Cambridge
HYPERION CDA67678 [60:33]
[LW]
Superb
… all the commitment and excitement imaginable
... see
Full Review
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Italian Solo Cantatas Crudel tiranno Amor, Ah!
Che troppo ineguali, Tra le fiamme Adele
Stolte (soprano)
Händel-Festspielorchester, Halle/Thomas Sanderling.
rec. 1970 BERLIN CLASSICS 0013972BC [51:16] [BW]
Too
many reservations for a recommendation ... see Full
Review
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Ariodante,
HWV33 (1734) Ann
Murray, Joan Rodgers,
Bavarian State Opera Ch & O/Ivor Bolton rec. 2000 FARAO
CLASSICS B108030 [3
CDs: 63:27 + 63.33 + 53:09] [BW]
Not
for the outright authenticists, but otherwise a strong contender
... see Full Review
Howard HANSON (1896-1981)
Symphony No. 2 see THOMSON
Karl
Amadeus HARTMANN (1905-1963) Concerto funčbre see SCHUBERT
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphonies 22 &
49, Divertimenti Sinfonia
Classica/Gernot Süssmuth rec. 2007
LANDOR RECORDS LAN282 [72:56]
[TB]
A
secure understanding of style, modern instruments and tempi that
always sound right ... see Full Review
Joseph
HAYDN
(1732-1809)
Symphonies 94, 95, 97, 99 & 101
English CO/Jeffrey Tate rec. 1988-91
CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 5218552 [70:54 + 57:02]
[MSJ]
Nothing
less than first-class … charming, masterful ... see Full
Review
Josef
HAYDN (1732-1809) Die
Jahreszeiten RIAS
Kammerchor; The Chamber of Orchestra of Europe/Sir Roger Norrington
rec. 1991 HÄNSSLER
PH07076
[65:37 + 65:36][ST]
A
fine addition to the catalogue, if a little nondescript ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphonies
Volume 9: Nos 70, 73 & 75 Heidelberger
Sinfoniker/Thomas Fey
rec. 2007 HÄNSSLER CLASSIC
CD 98.517 [61:31] [MG]
The
most vibrant Haydn performances I’ve heard for a long time … see Full
Review
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Les
sept derničres paroles de notre Rédempteur sur la Croix -
Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze (“The Seven Last
Words”) (String Quartet version)
Klenke Quartett rec. 2006
BERLIN CLASSICS 0016312BC [74.17][JFL]
A
broader flow with flexible tone ... see Full
Review
Ferdinand
HÉROLD (1791-1833) La
fille mal gardée Carlos
Acosta, Marianela Nuńez Royal Opera House O/Anthony Twiner
rec. live 2005 OPUS
ARTE OA0992D [112:00] [RM]
A
delightful production … considerable charm and appeal ... see Full
Review
Peter
HOMANS A
Prague Spring Dinosaur
Annex
rec. 1995-2007 MMC 2168 [49:50] [CR]
Contemporary-sounding
with dissonances and atmospheric gestures ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Charles IVES (1874-1954) Orchestral
Sets 1-3 Malmö Chamber
Ch & SO/James B Sinclair rec. 2006-07 NAXOS
AMERICAN CLASSICS
8.559353 [63:36] [SH]
A
great moment in the history of recorded music ... see Full
Review
Nicholas
JACKSON (b. 1934) Choral Works
The Rodolfus Choir/Ralph Allwood rec. 2006-7
NAXOS 8.570959 [75:50][RH]
Attractive,
richly textured, accessible yet with piquant harmonies ... see Full
Review
Michael
JARRELL (b.
1958) … un temps de silence … see DALBAVIE
Joseph
JOACHIM (1831-1907) Violin Concerto No. 2 see
BRAHMS
JOSQUIN
(Des Pres)
(c.1440–1521)
Missa Sine Nomine, Missa Ad fugam
The Tallis Scholars/Peter Phillips
GIMELL CDGIM039 [68.50]
[RH]
Admirers
of Josquin will be getting near perfection
of execution ... see
Full Review
Vítěslava
KAPRÁLOVÁ (1915-1940) Chamber
Music Virginia
Eskin (piano); Stephanie Chase (violin)
rec. 2007 KOCH INTERNATIONAL
KICCD7742 [64:42] [JW]
The
performances of this too-little known music are terrifically engaging
... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Garth
Knox – Amore Garth
KNOX (b.1956) Malor
me bat (2004) [9:16] Marin
MARAIS (1656-1685) Les Folies d’Espagne
(1685) (arr. Garth
KNOX, Agnès
VESTERMAN) [10:35] Roland
MOSER (b.1943) Manners of Speaking
(2006): Poem [3:49] Anecdote [2:45] Tobias
HUME (c.1569-1645) A Pavin (1605)
(arr. Garth Knox)
[6:45] Attilio ARIOSTI
(1666-1729) Prima Lezione (1720):
Allegro [4:16] Largo [4:12] Andante [2:09]
Anonymous Celtic
Dance (arr. Garth
Knox) [1:36] I Once Loved a Lass/
Jig (arr Garth
Knox)
[2:35] Klaus HUBER
(b.1924) ... Plainte ... pour Luigi Nono
(1990) [5:15]
Garth Knox (viola d’amore), Agnès Vesterman
(cello) rec. September 2006, Propstei St.
Gerold, Austria
ECM 1925 - 4766369 [54:06]
[GPu]
Outstanding
… high musicality and ravishing sounds … see
Full Review
Joseph
Martin KRAUS (1756-1792)
Ballet Music Includes Fiskarena Swedish
CO/Petter Sundkvist rec. 2005 NAXOS 8.557498 [69:39] [DW]
Important
in appreciation of Kraus to have this illuminating disc … see Full
Review
Joseph
Martin KRAUS (1756-1792) Violin
Concerto, Olympie, Azire Takako
Nishizaki (violin) New Zealand SO/Uwe Grodd
rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.570334 [58:36] [DW]
Slight
disappointment in no way diminishes my hunger for further Kraus … see Full
Review
Joseph
Martin KRAUS (1756-1792) Amphitryon Chantal
Santon (soprano) Georg Poplutz (tenor) Bonner Kammerchor,
l’arte del mondo/Werner Ehrhardt
rec. live 2007 PHOENIX EDITION
PHCD111 [77:49] [DC]
A
grand Gustavian entertainment ... see Full
Review
Bernhard
LANG (b. 1957) I hate Mozart
Klangforum Wien
Vokalensemble NOVA/Johannes Kalitzke rec. 2006
COL LEGNO WWE20277 [64:15
+ 62:00] plus
[126:15][RH]
A
lively and rather off-the-wall little gem ... see Full
Review
André LAPORTE (b. 1931)
Symphonic and Vocal Works
Various artists rec. 1968-2001
FUGA LIBERA FUG523 [4 CDs: 64:53 + 60:03 + 62:11 + 54:00][HC]
The
best possible Laporte survey ... see Full
Review
Franz
LEHÁR (1870-1948) Die
Lustige Witwe Johann STRAUSS
II (1825-1899) Künstlerleben, Rosen aus
dem Süden, “Die Zigeunerbaron” Overture, Geschichten
aus dem Wienerwald, Kaiser-Walzer, “Die Fledermaus” Overture, An
der schönen blauen Donau Dame
Felicity Lott, Thomas Hampson, Glyndebourne Ch, London PO/Franz
Welser-Möst rec. 1990/3 EMI
CLASSICS 5209742 [74:09 + 65:28] [JS]
Such
an enjoyable performance … well worth adding to your collection
... see Full Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Complete
Piano Music Vol. 28 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770–1827) Symphony
9 (transc. two pianos by
Liszt) Leon McCawley and Ashley
Wass (two pianos) rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570466 [61:04] [BBr]
Very
exciting and satisfying. An absolute must ... see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Complete
Piano Music Vol. 29: Transcriptions for two pianos Les
Préludes, Orpheus, Mazeppa, Die Ideale Tami
Kanazawa and Yuval Admony (pianos)
rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570736 [65:49] [RM]
Mainly
of interest to those completing their Naxos/Liszt collection ...
see Full Review
Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Lieder
Ruth Ziesak (soprano); Gerold Huber (piano) rec. 2007
BERLIN CLASSICS 0016282BC [74:02][MC]
I
was highly delighted with these assured performances ... see Full
Review
Jon
LORD
(b. 1941) Durham
Concerto (2007)
(Part I, Morning, I. The Cathedral at Dawn
[11:31]; Part I, Morning, II. Durham Awakes
[8:28]; Part II, Afternoon, I. The Road from
Lindisfarne [7:18]; Part II, Afternoon, II.
From Prebends Bridge [8:31]; Part III, Evening,
I. Rags & Galas [8:25]; Part III, Evening,
II. Durham Nocturne [12:11]) Matthew Barley
(cello); Jon Lord (Hammond organ); Ruth Palmer
(violin); Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian pipes)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Mischa
Damev rec. 2007. DDD
Avie AV2145 [56:24]
[BW]
Forget
any prejudices you may have about ‘crossover’
music and enjoy ... see Full
Review
Click
for alphabetical listings by composer:
[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]
a