Superbudget £5.99 or less 
Budget £6-7.99 
Medium £8-10.99 
Full price £11+
Download
John
CAGE (1912-1992) Six
Melodies for Violin and Keyboard,
Two4,
Two6 
Andreas
Seidel (violin) Steffen Schleiermacher (piano)
rec. 2008 MUSIKPRODUKTION
DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG61316072 [67:30] [DC]
An
attractive one-stop choice for all of Cage’s violin and piano
works ... see Full
Review
Francesco
CAVALLI (1602-1676) Ercole
Amante Luca
Pisaroni (bass-baritone) Veronica Cangemi (soprano); Nederlandse
Opera Ch; Concerto Köln/Ivor Bolton rec. live,
2009 OPUS
ARTE
OA1020D 
[2 DVDs:
261:00] [BW]
Not
Cavalli’s masterpiece, but this excellent production comes
close to making it seem so ... see Full
Review
Marc-Antoine
CHARPENTIER
(1643-1704) David et Jonathas (David and Jonathan,
H490) (1688) Pinchgut Opera:
Cantillation; Orchestra of the Antipodes/Antony Walker rec. 2008. DDD.
ABC
CLASSICS 476 3691 [57:51 + 62:26]
[BW]
Thoroughly
enjoyable music in a convincing performance and recording ... see Full
Review
Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Complete Études, Complete
Waltzes, Great Polonaises, Preludes &
Impromptus, Chamber Music, Complete Mazurkas
Vol.1 & 2
Garrick Ohlsson (pno), Warsaw PO/Kazimierz Kord, Leila Josefowicz (violin),
Carter Brey (cello), rec. 1989, 1993, 1995-8, 2000
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55380 [67:07] ,
81 [75:30] ,
82 [74:34]
83 [71:21] ,
84 [76:13] ,
91 [71:18] ,
92 [69:25]
[DC]
Never
less than superbly played. … see Full
Review
Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Complete Waltzes
Alice Sara Ott (piano) rec. 2008
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8095 [57:00]
[DC]
Will
appeal to your insightful and literary side ... see Full
Review
CHOPIN/Pauline
VIARDOT-GARCIA (1821 – 1910) aus 12 Mazurkas
für Singstimme
und Klavier see
Keep talking
Domenico
CIMAROSA (1749-1801) Keyboard
sonatas - Vol. 1 Victor
Sangiorgio (piano)
rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570718 [66:49] [GPu]
Keyboard
miniatures of some charm … see Full
Review
Ronald
CORP (b. 1951) Guernsey Postcards, Piano
Con. 1, Symphony 1 Leon
McCawley (pno), Royal Liverpool PO/Ronald Corp, rec. 2009 DUTTON
EPOCH CDLX 7233 [65:57] [RB]
This
fine disc deserves to do well. ... see Full
Review
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Pelléas
et Mélisande Pierre
Mollet, Suzanne Danco, Suisse Romande O/Ernest Ansermet rec.
1952 DECCA
ELOQUENCE
480 0133 [72:15
+ 76:05] [JS]
A
set which anyone interested in the opera should possess despite
its age … see Full
Review
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Le
Martyre de Saint Sébastien Heidi
Grant Murphy (soprano); Dagmar Pecková (mezzo); Nathalie
Stutzmann (alto); Dörte Lyssewski (speaker) Collegium Vocale
Gent/Christoph Siebert SWR SO Baden Baden und Freiburg/Sylvain
Cambreling
rec. 2005 GLOR
CLASSICS
GC08181 [77:08] [J-PJ]
A
project that was misconceived from the start ... see Full
Review
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934) Complete
Violin Sonatas Susanne
Stanzeleit (violin); Gusztav Fenyo (piano) rec. 1994 NAXOS
8.572261 [77:13] [EM]
You
can’t go wrong with this recording … see Full
Review
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934) Prelude
to Irmelin, La Calinda see DVOŘÁK
Ernst
von DOHNÁNYI (1877-1960) String Quartet 2 see
Flonzaley
Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Lucia
di Lammermoor London
Voices, Hanover Band/Sir Charles Mackerras rec. 1997 SONY
OPERA HOUSE 88697575932 [66.54+70.00] [RF]
The
only recording of the work with a period band, and with Mackerras
on the rostrum it will appeal to adherents of the genre. ...
see Full Review
Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797
– 1848) Maria Stuarda
Laura
Poverelli (mezzo) Maria Pia Piscitelli (soprano) O Filarmonica Marchigiana/Riccardo
Frizza
rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.660261-62 [60.41 + 55.55]
[RH]
Nowhere
near a library recommendation ... see Full
Review
Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797 - 1848) Arias from La Favorita, La Fille
du Regiment, L'Elisir d'Amore, Don Pasquale and Lucia di Lammermoor see BELLINI
Henri
DUTILLEUX (b.1916) Tout un monde lointain, Trois
strophes sur le nom de Sacher see LUTOSŁAWSKI
Henri
DUTILLEUX (b.1916) Sonatine see Ballade
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Symphony
9 Jan NOVÁK (1921-1984) Philharmonic
Dances Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) Prelude
to Irmelin, La Calinda Brno
PO/Jiří Waldhans
rec. 1966 ORCHESTRAL
CONCERTS CDs CD1/2008 [68:39] [JW]
It’s
good that such performances have been preserved, and presented
in this way ... see Full Review
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Symphony
9 Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Symphony
2 Cincinnati
SO/Paavo
Järvi rec. 2005 TELARC
CD-80616 [68:16] [SV]
It's
hard to recommend this disc … see Full
Review
Klaus
EGGE (1906-1979)
Sonata No.2 (Patética) see Norwegian
Imperatives
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) The
Kingdom, Violin Concerto, The Dream of Gerontius – Prelude
and The Angel’s Farewell Thomas
Zehetmair (violin); Alice Coote (mezzo) Hallé O/Mark Elder
rec. 2005/8 HALLE
CD HLL 7521 [74:54] [JW]
Zehetmair’s
unopulent, somewhat wiry approach has a Szigeti-like integrity
... see Full Review
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) In the South (Alassio), Sea
Pictures, Chanson de Matin Gladys
Ripley (contralto), LSO/George Weldon, rec. 1953-4 PRISTINE
AUDIO PASC196 [55:16] [JQ]
Very
good, reliable Elgar performances in fine transfers ... see Full
Review
Edward
ELGAR (1857
- 1934) Cello Concerto, Sea Pictures see BRITTEN
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Manuel de FALLA (1876-1946) El
Sombrero de Tres Picos, Zarzuela
Arias Victoria
de los Angeles, Montserrat Caballé, Philharmonia O/Raphael Frühbeck
de Burgos rec. 1964/6 HIGH
DEFINITION TAPE TRANSFERS HDCD193 [76:48] [RB]
The
de Falla is from a great vintage and the Caballé consituency need
to hear the young diva in her grandest sunrise. ... see Full
Review
Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845-1924) Sonata 1 see Ballade
Thomas
FORTMANN (b. 1951) Sax Music Steve
Potts, Davide Vallini, Ruber Marani (sop. sax), Marco Falaschi
(sop., alto sax), Francesca Corsi (alto, bar. sax), Milo Vanelli
(ten. sax), Roberto Frati (bar. sax), Marco Podesta, Ettore
Candela, Carlo Lapegna (pno), Devis Tarolli (drums), Quartetto
Berlioz, rec. 2009? METIER
MSV 28512 [51:40] [JW]
Music
locked into jazz, rock backbeat and the sinuous song of saxophonic
yearning ... see Full Review
Michael
GARRETT (b.1944) Piano
Works Barbara
Karaskiewicz (piano) rec. 2009 ACTE
PRÉALABLE AP0232 [65:26] [JW]
A
welcome breath of sincere, dogma-free generosity of spirit ...
see Full Review
Edward
GERMAN (1862-1936) Tom
Jones Richard
Morrison, Marianne Hellgren Staykov,
National Festival Ch & O/David Russell Hulme
rec. 2008 NAXOS
8.660270-71 [75:49
+ 34:20] [JW]
Uniformly
enjoyable ... see Full
Review
George
GERSHWIN (1898-1937) 2nd Rhapsody, Pno Concerto see
BENNETT
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Jean GILLES
(1668-1705) Messe des Morts - Requiem [43.58]
Michel CORRETTE (1709-1795) Carillon
des Morts [4.46]
Anne-Marie Rodde (soprano); Jean Nirouet (counter-tenor); Martyn Hill
(tenor); Ulrich Studer (baritone); Peter Kooy (bass) Collegium Vocale
Gent; Musica Antiqua Köln/Philippe Herreweghe rec. 1981. DDD
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 93890 [48.45]
[GH]
At
bargain price this is a fine catch ... see Full
Review
Alberto
Evaristo GINASTERA (1916 – 1983) Cello Sonata see Anatolijus
ŠENDEROVAS
Christoph
Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787) Orfeo ed Euridice Ewa
Podles, Ana Rodrigo, Elena de la Merced, Coro de la Comunidad
de Madrid, Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia/Peter Maag rec. 1998 ARTS
47753-8 [34:29 + 69:14] 
[JZ]
It
has its strengths but it would be difficult to recommend as a first
choice … see Full Review
Christoph
Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787) Sicilienne
see BEETHOVEN
Johann
Gottlieb GRAUN (1702
- 1771) String
concertos Ilia
Korol (violin, viola), Proska Batori (violin) moderntimes_1800/Ilia
Korol rec. 2008 CHALLENGE
RECORDS CC72317 [47:36 + 39:40] [JV]
A
fine production which sheds light on a composer whose violin concertos
need to be further explored ... see Full
Review
Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Peer
Gynt, Symphonic Dance, In Autumn, Old Norwegian
Folksong Ilse
Hollweg (soprano); Beecham Choral Soc, Royal PO/Thomas Beecham
rec. 1955-9 EMI
CLASSICS
MASTERS 9659342 [76:43] [RB]
Beguiling
musical qualities still there to be appreciated ... see Full
Review
Lita
GRIER 5 Songs for Children, Sneezles,
5 Songs from A Shropshire Lad, 2 Songs from Emily Dickinson,
Songs from Spoon River, Reflections of a Peacemaker
Michelle Areyzaga, Elizabeth Norman (sop.), Scott Ramsay (ten.), Alexander
Tall, Levi Hernandez, Robert Sims (bar.), Welz Kauffman, William Billingham,
John Goodwin (pno), Anne Bach (oboe), Tina Laughlin (percussion), Chicago
Childrens Ch./Josephine Lee rec. 2008-9
CEDILLE RECORDS CDR 90000 112 [67.45]
[RH]
If
the alternative, tonal pathways of late 20th century music interest
you then do try this disc. ... see Full
Review
Charles
Tomlinson GRIFFES (1884-1920) Poem see Ballade
Manfred
GURLITT (1890-1972) Goya-Sinfonie, Four
Dramatic Songs Christiane
Oelze (soprano) Berlin RSO/Antony Beaumont
rec. 2007 PHOENIX EDITION 114 [70:14] [RB]
A
lyric composer but not a lavish late-romantic ... see Full
Review
George
Frederick HANDEL
(1685-1759) Alexander’s
Feast
Gerlinde Sämann (soprano) Knut Schoch (tenor) Klaus Mertens (bass)
Junge Kantorei; Frankfurt Baroque O/Joachim Carlos Martini
rec.
2008
NAXOS 8.572224 [79:49]
[JS]
I
came away from hearing this version with renewed enthusiasm for the
work … see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH George
Frideric HANDEL
(1685 - 1759) Brockes-Passion (HWV
48)
Soloists; Kölner Kammerchor, Collegium Cartusianum/Peter Neumann rec.2009
CARUS
83.428 [78:25 + 74:58]
[JV]
An
excellent performance with no weak links ... see Full
Review
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685
- 1759) Messiah Trinity
Ch & O/Owen Burdick
rec. 1996 NAXOS
8.554511-12 [76.32
+ 65.47] [RH]
Charming,
approachable and likeable … see Full
Review
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685
- 1759) La Resurrezione Contrasto
Armonico/Marco Vitale rec. 2008 BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 93805 [69:31 + 53:37] [JV]
Interesting
because of various aspects of performance practice, but the performance
lacks real drama ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Barbara HARBACH
Vocal
Music
Stella Markou (soprano) with Paula Kasica (flute); Paul Garritson (clarinet
and bass clarinet); Donita Bauer (bassoon); Ayako Watanabe (harp); David
Gillham (violin); Joanna Mendoza (viola); Kurt Baldwin (cello); James
Richards (conductor) (Abigail!); Alla Voskoboynikova (piano) (Pleasure,
Emily! And Light); Paul Hecht (trumpet) (Emily!); Diana Haskell (clarinet);
Barbara Harbach (piano) (Pioneer Women); Thomas F George (piano) (21st
Century) rec. 2008,DDD
MSR RECORDS MS 1256 [69:49]
[BBr]
This
is something very special … see Full
Review
Karl
Amadeus HARTMANN
(1905-1963)
String Quartet no. 1 Carillon (1934) [21:52] String Quartet no.
2 (1945) [28:48] Hanns EISLER (1898-1962)
String Quartet Op. 73 (1937) [13:36]
Vogler Quarett Berlin rec. Wyastone Leys, Monmouthshire, 19-21 February
2001, Stereo DDD
NIMBUS RECORDS NI5729 [64:16]
[GD]
A
fascinating disc, of most interest to those with a taste for 20th
century string quartets who are seeking to fill in the gaps ... see
Full Review
Johann
Adolf HASSE (1699-1783) Cantatas
- Volume I Lia
Serafini (soprano); Gabriella Martellacci (alto) Accademia
del Ricercare/Pietro Busca rec. 2008. BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 93636 [64:00] [KS]
Outstanding
performances of some heretofore lost gems for voices lovingly
coupled with instrumental works that are sure to please! … see Full
Review
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Organ
Concertos 1 & 2 Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Organ
Concerto Georges
Athanasiadès (organ) Eurasia Sinfonietta/Jin Wang rec.
2009 TUDOR
7165 [70:35] [J-PJ]
Despite
some shortcomings, a very pleasant disc with an interesting mix
... see Full Review
Josef
HAYDN (1732-1809) The
Seasons Fairfield
County Chorale; Amor Artis Classical O/Johannes Somary
rec. 2009 LYRICHORD
LEMS8071 [65:30+57:25] [BW]
An
enjoyable recording of The Seasons in a new English translation, but
don't forget Colin Davis's version ... see Full
Review
Bernard
HERRMANN (1911-1975) Hangover Square, Concerto
Macabre, Citizen Kane Orla
Boylan (sop.), Martin Roscoe (pno), BBC PO/Rumon Gamba, rec.
2009 CHANDOS
CHAN 10577 [77:31] [BBr/RB]
A
most rewarding and desirable issue [BBr] / Chandos once again notch
up a lavish production in every single aspect [RB] ... see Full
Review
Hildegard
of Bingen (1098-1179)
antiphons and responses Peter ABELARD (1079-1142);
Anonymous Aquitanian Repertory (mid 13th century)
Ensemble Für Fruhe Musik, Augsburg rec. Germany? 1990? DDD
CHRISTOPHORUS CHR 77314 [65:02]
[MS]
An
atypical presentation of largely vocal pieces by one of music's
earliest
composers still has much to delight … see Full
Review
Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes
by Carl Maria von Weber see RESPIGHI
Josef
HOLBROOKE
(1878-1958) The
Piano Music - Volume 2
Panagiotis Trochopoulos (piano) rec. the Library, Lilhac, France, 7-8
December 2009. DDD
CAMEO CLASSICS CC9036CD [69:35]
[RB]
Holbrooke
continues to surprise - much to enjoy from the tempestuous to the poetic
... see Full Review
Philippe
HUREL (b. 1955) Phonus: Phonus ou
la voix du Faune, Figures libres, Quatre Variations Benoît
Fromanger (flute), Matthew Ward (perc.), Oslo PO/Christian
Eggen, Ensemble Court-Circuit/Pierre-André Valade, Argento
Chambert Ens./Michel Galante, rec. 2004-5 PLUSLOIN
MUSIC PL S217 [56:46] [CR]
A
strong sense of character in this music … it has much to
offer on multiple hearings. ... see Full
Review
Vincent
d’INDY (1851 - 1931) Cello sonata, Lied
see French
Cello Sonatas
Charles IVES (1874 - 1954) Violin sonata
2 see American
Visions
Leoš JANACEK (1854-1928) The
Makropulos Case, Lachian Dances Elisabeth
Söderstrom, Vienna PO & State Opera Ch/Charles Mackerras
rec. 1970/8 DECCA
478 1711 [66:02 + 51:55] [JW]
A
remarkable and vivid example of Söderström’s art … see Full
Review
Jan
JANCA (b. 1933) Organ and choir works - Vol.
3 Andreas
Sieling, Felizitas Rodach, Wolfgang Baumgratz (organ), Opus
Vocale/Volker Hedtfeld, rec. 2007-8 MUSIKPRODUKTION
DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 606 1572-2 [65:23] [DM]
Good,
workmanlike pieces, winningly played; worth acquiring for the delightful
Suite alone.... see Full Review
Émile
JAQUES-DALCROZE (1865-1950) Violin Con. C min., Počme
(Violin Con. 2)
Rodion Zamuruev (violin) Moscow SO/Alexander Anissimov rec. 2008
GUILD GMCD 7336 [73:26]
[JW]
An
agile player who helps make a plausible case for these two flawed works.
... see Full Review
John
JOUBERT
(b. 1927) Symphony
1 William MATHIAS
(1934-1992) Symphony 1
London PO/Vernon Handley, Royal PO/Sir Charles Groves rec.
1969/95
LYRITA SRCD.340 [62:02]
[RB]
Two
turbulent symphonies of the British Isles written a decade apart and
driven each by their own dynamic and poetic elementals. ... see Full
Review
Dimitri
KABALEVSKY (1904-1987) Piano Sonata 3 see
Shostakovich
and Comrades
Dmitri
Borisovich KABALEVSKY
(1904 – 1987) Cello Sonata in B flat major Op.71 see Anatolijus
ŠENDEROVAS
Mieczyslaw
KARLOWICZ
(1876 – 1909) 12
Lieder see
Katarzyna Dondalska
Arvid
KLEVEN (1899-1929) Symphonic
Fantasy, The Sleeping Forest, Lotusland, Sinfonia Libera Stavanger
SO/Susanna Mälkki
rec. 2005 BIS-CD-1542 [64:53] [RB]
From
ecstatic impressionism to dissonance - a Norwegian pioneer ...
see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Zoltán KODÁLY (1882-1967) Orchestral
Works Philharmonia
Hungarica/Antal Doráti, London SO/István
Kertész
rec. 1968-73 DECCA
COLLECTORS
EDITION 478
2303 [4 CDs: 294:26] [RB]
Authentic
national flavours and vivacious golden age analogue Decca sound
- an irresistible acquisition ... see Full
Review
Erich
Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957) Much
Ado about Nothing Suite see American
Visions
Joseph
Martin KRAUS (1756-1792) Aeneas in Carthage Sinfonia
Finlandia Jyväskylä/Patrick Gallois rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570585 [69:49] [GPu]
Outstanding
orchestral music from a still underrated contemporary of Mozart … see Full
Review
Morten
LAURIDSEN (b.
1943) Choral
Works Elora
Festival Singers/Noel Edison
rec. 2006 NAXOS
AMERICAN
CLASSICS 8.559304 [68:28] [DM]
Fans
will flock to buy, safe in the knowledge that it won’t tax
them. Others looking for more variety, interest and more distinguished
singing will have to look elsewhere ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH György LIGETI (1923-2006) String
Quartets 1 & 2,
Andante and Allegretto Parker
Qt
rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570781 [55:46] [LW]
Superb
renditions of the Ligeti Quartets at bargain price … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hannibal
LOKUMBE (b.1948)
Dear Mrs Parks Taylor
Lee Gardner (child soprano); Janice Chandler-Eteme (soprano); Jenetta
Steele (alto); Kevin Deas (baritone) Brazeal Dennard Ch, Rackham Community
Ch, Detroit SO/Thomas Wilkins rec 2009 NAXOS
8.559668 [59:03] [BBr]
An
important composer … see Full Review
Witold
LUTOSŁAWSKI (1913-1994) Cello
concerto, Sacher Variation Henri
DUTILLEUX (b.1916) Tout un monde lointain, Trois
strophes sur le nom de Sacher Christian
Poltéra (cello) ORF Vienna RSO/Jac van Steen
rec. 2008 BIS
BIS-SACD-1777 [70.04] [GH]
I
can think of no other versions which quite match up to the demands
of modern day listeners ... 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]
[last 5 days] [Recommended
recordings]
EXPLORE
MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL 
