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Alphabetical Listing

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Click for alphabetical listings by composer:
[Part 1 New] [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
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[Recommended recordings]

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Paul SCHOENFIELD (b.1947) Four Parables for piano and orchestra; Four Souvenirs for violin and piano; Café Music for piano trio Andrew Russo (piano); James Ehnes (violin); Edward Aaron (cello); Prague Philharmonia/Joann Falletta rec. 2007 BLACK BOX BBM1109 [53:46][JQ]

Entertaining and unusual music, expertly performed ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Franz SCHUBERT (1797 – 1828) Romantic Poets - Volume 4 Florian Boesch (baritone); Burkhard Kehring (piano) rec. Radiostudio Zurich, DRS Zurich, Switzerland, 16-19 November 2006. Sung texts and English translations can be found at www.naxos.com/libretti/570067.htm NAXOS 8.570067 [58:47] [GF]

Some unknown masterpieces and a superb new Lieder singer ... see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1897–1828) The WandererLieder and Fragments Ian Bostridge (tenor) Leif Ove Andsnes (piano), Timothy Brown (horn) rec. 2001-6 EMI CLASSICS 5164432 [62:57 + 56:26] [GF]

Deep involvement and an intelligent approach ... see Full Review

Ervin SCHULHOFF (1894-1942) Sextet see MARTINŮ

Andrew SCHULTZ (b. 1960) Suspended Preludes – Chamber Music Volume 2 Various artists rec. 2004-5 TALL POPPIES TP171 [73:41][BBr] 

A real success and well worth investigating ... see Full Review

William SCHUMAN (1910–1992) Violin Concerto Leonard BERNSTEIN (1918–1990) Serenade Robert McDuffie (violin) Saint Louis SO/Leonard Slatkin rec. 1989 EMI AMERICAN CLASSICS 2066112 [64.02] [RH]

Poised and lyrical, capable and musical, without quite setting me afire ... see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphonies 2 & 3 Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Symphonies 3 & 4 London PO/Franz Welser-Möst rec. 1991/2 EMI CLASSICS 5209542 [73:36 + 66:27] [MSJ]

An opportunity to revisit some of Welser-Möst’s earlier recordings ... see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Five Pieces in Folk Style see BRAHMS

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Sonatas Nos. 1 & 3 Nikolai Demidenko (piano) rec. 1996 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55300 [67:17][PBW]

Will win many admirers for this richly characterful music ... see Full Review

José SEREBRIER (b. 1938) Symphony 3 see MUSSORGSKY

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphonies Nos. 3 & 15 Beethoven Orchester Bonn/Roman Kofman rec. 2005 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 93712106 [75:21][DC]

Has many fine qualities, but is not a real winner ... see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906–1975) Cello Concerto No.1 in E flat, op.107 (1959) [30:54] Cello Concerto No.2, op.126 (1966) [36:58] Dimitri Maslennikov (cello) NDR Sinfonieorchester/Christoph Eschenbach rec. 29 June – 1 July 2006, Rolf-Liebermann Studio, NDR Hamburg DDD PHOENIX EDITION 128 [67:52]  [BBr]

Excellent playing …magnificent direction ... see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906–1975) Dances of the Dolls, Ten Aphorisms, Piano Sonatas 1 & 2 Melvin Chen rec. 2006 BRIDGE 9238 [67:17] [BBr]

Edifying, enlightening, terrifying and entertaining ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906–1975) Symphonies 1 & 7 Chicago SO/Leonard Bernstein rec. live 1988 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 7587 [66:43 + 53:11] [BBr]

Passion and searing, white hot, insight and intensity ... see Full Review

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphony 2 see PROKOFIEV

Thomas SIMAKU (b. 1958) String Quartets 2 & 3, Due Sollo-Voci, Soliloquies I-III Kreutzer Quartet rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.570428 [74:34] [HC]

A very fine release that is well worth investigating ... see Full Review

Fernando SOR (1778-1839) Twelve Studies, Fantaisie, Six Divertimenti, Introduction et Variations sur une Thčme de Mozart Goran Krivokapić (guitar) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570502 [66:02] [ZT]

Nice playing - some interpretations won’t suit all ... see Full Review

Works for Violin and Viola Louis SPOHR (1784-1859) Duo in E minor Alessandro ROLLA (1757-1841) Duo Concertant in C minor Johann Wenzel KALLIWODA (1801-1866) Duet in C major Vaughan Jones (violin); Reiad Chibah (viola) rec. 2008 MANOR HOUSE MUSIC 001 [61:55][JW]

Energetic and pliantly authoritative playing ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Salome (1905) [112:00] Nadja Michael (soprano) – Salome Orchestra of the Royal Opera House/Philippe Jordan
rec. live, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, March 2008 Director: David McVicar
David McVicar: A Work in Progress (ITV Documentary on McVicar and work on Salome) [51:00] Region Code: 0; Aspect Ratio: 16:9; LPCM Stereo; DTS 5.1 Surround OPUS ARTE OA0996 D [2 DVDs: 163:00] [ST]

I’ll be coming back to this again and again ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864–1949) Salome (Original French version) Orchestra Internazionale D’Italia/Massimilano Caldi rec. 2007 DYNAMIC CDS572/1-2 [56:01 + 38:57][DH]

Caldi's eschews the lurid for the lucid but is still alive to the drama ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Symphonia Domestica see MOZART

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky – The Original Jacket Collection rec. 1946-1965 SONY-BMG SX9K64136 [9 CDs: 31:34 + 43:57 + 48:44 + 53:29 + 46:59 + 53:29 + 43:45 + 52:16 + 39:35][RB]

Wonderfully evocative  of the LP era and of the discovery of the many facets of Stravinsky in the 1960s ... see Full Review

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Symphony in Three Movements, Symphony of Psalms, Symphony in C Rundfunkchor Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker/Sir Simon Rattle rec. 2007 EMI CLASSICS 2076300 [75:39] [JQ]

A very successful collection of three major orchestral works by Stravinsky  ... see Full Review

Jan Pieterszoon SWEELINCK (1562-1621) Choral Works – Volume 3 Willem Bremer (cornett, bass dulcian); René van Laken (tenor shawm, tenor dulcian); Harry Ries (alto sackbut); Wim Bécu (tenor, bass sackbuts)) Nederlands Kamerkoor/Paul van Nevel rec. 1989/90 ETCETERA KTC1320 [53:32] [DC]

Still among the best available recordings anywhere ... see Full Review

Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19 (1911) [34:38] Symphony No. 3, Op. 27 (Song of the Night) (1916) [26:10] Ryszard Minkiewicz (tenor) Ewa Marczyk (solo violin) Warsaw Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra/Antoni Wit rec. Philharmonic Hall, Warsaw, Poland, 16-19 April 2007 NAXOS 8.570721 [60:48] [KS]

Harmonically interesting music performed with a great deal of aplomb. ... see Full Review

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Complete Symphonies London Philharmonic Orchestra/Mstislav Rostropovich rec. 1976-7 EMI CLASSICS 5194932 [5 CDs: 70:47 + 72:32 + 76:43 + 79:09 + 78:34][MSJ] 

A welcome and engaging set, priced very nicely ... see Full Review

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No. 4; Serenade for Strings; Elegy in memory of I.V. Samarin Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Jarvi rec. 2003-5 BIS BISSACD1458 [80:23][MG]

Well played, glowingly recorded and generous in playing time … see Full Review

Piotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Sleeping Beauty Alina Cojocaru, Federico Bonelli, The Royal Ballet Royal Opera House O/Valeriy Ovsyanikov rec. live 2006 OPUS ARTE OA0995D [135:00] [RM]

Full of character and spirit ... see Full Review

Pyotr Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Swan Lake Maya Plisetskaya, Alexander Bogatirev, Bolshoi Ballet Bolshoi Theatre O/Algis Zhuraitis rec. live 1976 VAI 4446 [141:00]
Pyotr Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893)
Swan Lake Nina Ananiashvili, Alexei Fadeyechev, Tchaikovsky Perm State Ballet Shinsei Nihon SO/Alexander Sotnikov rec. live 1992 VAI 4450 [131:00] [RM]

These are two performances well worth unearthing ... see Full Review

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) Wind Concertos Vol. 2 La Stagione Frankfurt, Camerata Köln/Michael Schneider rec. 2005/6 CPO 777 267-2 [54:37] [BW]

A very good place to embark on discovering the delights of Telemann ... see Full Review

Oboe d’Amore Concertos Georg Philipp TELEMANN (1681–1767) Concertos in G & A Johann Sebastian BACH (1685–1750) Concertos in A & D Thomas Stacey (oboe d’amore) Toronto CO/Kevin Mallon rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570735 [74:05] [BBr]

Lovely works … bright and sprightly ... see Full Review

Tippett, Hamilton and Wordsworth piano music played by Margaret Kitchin CD 1 Michael TIPPETT (1905-1998) Piano Sonata No. 1 (1937 rev.1954) [21:42] Iain HAMILTON (1922-2000) Piano Sonata Op. 13 (1951) [19:29] CD 2 William WORDSWORTH (1908-1988) Piano Sonata in D Minor Op. 13 (1939) [28:14] Cheesecombe Suite Op. 27 (1945) [14:03] Ballade Op. 41 (1949) [9:14] Margaret Kitchin (piano) rec. mono, July 1958 (Tippett, Hamilton); April 1959, July 1960 (Wordsworth). ADD Originally from LPs: Tippett, Hamilton: RCS5; Wordsworth: RCS13 Mid Price Double AD LYRITA REAM.2106 [41:21 + 51:34] [RB]

Special insights in pioneering recordings from the 1960s... see Full Review

Ernst TOCH (1887-1964) Violin Sonata 2, Burlesken, Three Impromptus for Cello, Piano quintet Spectrum Concerts Berlin rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.559324 [68:57] [JW]

Strong, potent and sensitive … realised by committed forces in fine sound ... see Full Review

Piotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No.6 Sinfonie Orchester Wuppertal/Toshiyuki Kamioka rec. 2007 TDK TDKMA301 [48:33][RM] 

It may not be too long before Kamioka’s name is more widely known ... see Full Review

Veljo TORMIS (b. 1930) Two Songs to words by Ernst Enno, Three Estonian game songs, Three songs from the epic ‘Kalev’s Son’, Livonian Heritage, Singing aboard ship, Autumn Landscapes, Four Estonian Lullabies, Childhood memory Holst Singers/Stephen Layton rec. 2007 HYPERION CDA67601 [71.50] [RH]

An excellent introduction to Tormis’s art ... see Full Review

Federico Moreno TORROBA (1891-1982) Luisa Fernanda Plácido Domingo (baritone); Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real Madrid/Jesús López Cobos rec. 2006 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4765825 [75:29][GPu] 

A splendid recording sure to appeal to all lovers of zarzuela … see Full Review

František Ignác TŮMA (1704-1774) Lytaniae Lauretanae; Partita in C minor; Stabat Mater Samuel CAPRICORNUS (1628-1665) Dixit Dominus; Justorum Animae; Magnificat Prague Madrigalists/Pavel Baxa rec. 1993 STUDIO MATOUS MK08012931 [61:34][GPu]

A valuable and enjoyable CD, throwing light on two neglected Bohemian composers … see Full Review

František Ignác Antonín TŮMA (1704-1777) Partite, Sonate e Sinfonie Concerto Italiano/Rinaldo Alessandrini rec. 2006 NAĎVE OP30436 [70:25][GPu] 

As much for admirers of Alessandrini as for those interested in Tůma … see Full Review

Johann Baptist VAŇHAL (1739-1813) Symphonies - Vol. 4 Toronto Chamber Orchestra/Kevin Mallon rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.570280 [66:12][TP] 

Little to complain about on this album and much to enjoy ... see Full Review

Pēteris VASKS (b. 1946) Musica adventus (1995, arr. 1996) [27:16] Viatore (2001) [16:35] Concerto per corno inglese ed orchestra (1989)a [22:50] Normunds Šnē (cor anglais)a Sinfonietta Riga/Normunds Šnē rec. Riga Recording Company, Studio A, 4-9 June 2007 WERGO WER67052 [67:03] [HC]

Magnificent and beautifully produced … never fails to convince with honesty and sincerity. ... see Full Review

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) On Wenlock Edge; Piano Quintet; Romance and Pastorale Mark Padmore (tenor); Schubert Ensemble rec. 2007 CHANDOS CHAN10465 [60:17][JQ]

An outstanding release ... see Full Review

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Mass in G minor etc. Laudibus/Mike Brewer rec. 2008 DELPHIAN DCD34074 [64:00][NH]

Truly superlative - a fine blend of the ascetic and mellifluous ... see Full Review

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) A Cappella choral works Laudibus/Mike Brewer rec. 2008 DELPHIAN DCD34074 [64:00][JF]

A fine introduction and essential to all who are already smitten ... see Full Review

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872–1958) Choral Works Various artists rec. 1990-3 HYPERION CDS44321/4 [4 CDs: 68:16 + 76:26 + 64:00 + 72:57][EM]

I can hardly see how this set could be bettered! ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Simon Boccanegra (1857, 1881) Simon Boccanegra - Roberto Frontali; Amelia Grimaldi - Carmen Giannattasio; Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna/Michele Mariotti ARTHAUS MUSIK NTSC 101 307 [140:00] [NdV]

Emotionally gripping ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Messa da Requiem Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Owain Arwel Hughes rec. 1994 Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Stabat Mater Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Karl Forster rec. 1960 EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 3759362 [66:33 + 71:46][SV]

So - a souvenir Verdi, and an almost-right Rossini ... see Full Review

Louis VIERNE (1870-1937) Symphonies 3 & 5 Samuel Kummer (Kern organ, Frauenkirche Dresden) rec. 2007 CARUS 83.405 [66:40] [BW]

Challenges existing recommendations ... see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Amor sacro - Motets Simone Kermes (soprano); Venice Baroque Orchestra/Andrea Marcon rec. 2004 ARCHIV 4775980 [67:06] Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Amor profano - Arias Simone Kermes (soprano); Venice Baroque Orchestra/Andrea Marcon rec. 2006 ARCHIV 4776618 [71:36][JV]

'Amor sacro': disappointing, lacks expression, 'Amor profano' much better ... see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) The Four Seasons Enrico Onofri (violin) Il Giardino Armonico/Giovanni Antonini rec. 1994 WARNER 50-51442-7865-2-1 [DVD: 42:00 + CD: 42:13] [DC]

Unlikely to disappoint, even 14 years on ... see Full Review

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Chamber Concertos Marion Verbruggen (recorder) Paul Goodwin (oboe) John Holloway (violin) Dennis Godburn (bassoon) John Toll (harpsichord) Sebastian Comberti (cello) HARMONIA MUNDI CLASSICAL EXPRESS HCX395 7046 [64:11] [BW]

Some of Vivaldi’s best music, very well performed and recorded ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Tannhäuser (Paris Version) Spas Wenkoff (tenor) – Tannhäuser Gwyneth Jones (soprano) – Venus/Elisabeth Bernd Weikl (baritone) – Wolfram von Eschenbach Orchestra and Chorus of the Bayreuth Festival/Colin Davis rec. live, Bayreuth Festival, July 1978 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 073 4446 [2 DVDs, 64:24 + 123:43] [ST]

Essential for anyone interested in the power of the theatre ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg prelude see MUSSORGSKY

William WALTON (1902-83) Henry V Christopher Plummer (speaker) ASMF & Ch/Sir Neville Marriner rec. 1990 CHANDOS CHAN10437X [67:11] [BW]

A welcome reissue ... see Full Review

Felix WEINGARTNER (1863-1942) String Quartets Nos 1 & 3 Sarastro Quartett rec. 2006 CPO 7772512 [68:38][JFL] 

A smiling soul and his Austrian charm shines through ... see Full Review

Silvius Leopold WEISS (1687-1750) The Silesian Master of Lute Jakob Lindberg (lute) rec. 2006 DUX 0581 [64:12][GPu]

A fine recital, bringing out the emotional variety of Weiss’s music ... see Full Review

Ermanno WOLF-FERRARI (1876–1948) La vedova scaltra Anne-Lise Sollied, Maurizio Muraro, Ch & O Teatro La Fenice, Venice/Karl Martin rec. 2007 NAXOS 2.110234-35 [2 DVDs: 142:00] [RW]

Certainly pleasant but not inspired ... see Full Review

Tippett, Hamilton and Wordsworth piano music played by Margaret Kitchin

Charles WUORINEN (b. 1938) Tashi, Percussion Quartet, Fortune Group for Contemporary Music, New Jersey Percussion Ensemble rec. 1993/6 NAXOS 8.559321 [67:44] [BB]

Wuorinen continues the tradition of modernist composing techniques ... 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]


 



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