May
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Thomas ADÈS
(b. 1971) Tevot, Violin Concerto, Three Studies
from Couperin, Powder Her Face 
Berlin PO/Sir Simon Rattle, Anthony Marwood, CO Europe/Thomas
Adès rec. 2007/9
EMI CLASSICS 4578132 [66:43] 
[LW]
An
important disc of remarkable contemporary music … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
Motets
Bach Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki rec. 2009
BIS BISSACD1841 
[75:28] 
[MC]
Suzuki
provides immaculate performances of the Bach Motets ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
St Matthew Passion
Thomas Quasthoff (bass) Thomanerchor Leipzig; Tölzer Knabenchor
Gewandhaus O/Riccardo Chailly rec. 2009
DECCA 478 2194 [80:31 + 79:39]
[DC]
Blows
away a few cobwebs - very high quality.... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH York BOWEN
(1884-1961) Piano Works - Vol. 4 Partita, Suite Mignonne,
Third Suite, Three Sketches, Sonatina, Three Novelettes, Polonaise,
A Whim
Joop Celis (pno), rec. 2009
CHANDOS CHAN10593 [79:35]
[JF]
A
fantastic CD ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Herbert HOWELLS
(1892-1983)
St John's Magnificat and other
choral works
Ch St John’s College, Cambridge/Andrew Nethsingha rec. 2009
CHANDOS CHAN10587 [75:33]
[JF]
There
are at least four excellent reasons why this CD should be at the
top of the list for all Herbert Howells enthusiasts ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giovanni LEGRENZI
(1626-1690)
Messa a 4 Voci e Doi Violini, Vesperae Solemnes de Confessore
Oficina Musicum/Riccardo Favero rec. 2008
DYNAMIC CDS653 [35:45 + 67:30]
[MS]
Superbly
persuasive … so complete and sheerly lovely that one cannot
wait for more … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
2
Yvonne Kenny (soprano); Jard van Nes (mezzo); London PO &
Ch/Klaus Tennstedt rec. live, 1989
LPO LIVE LPO 0044 [25:02 + 67:48] 
[JQ]
A
most exciting release. Tennstedt working in a white-hot interpretative
crucible. ... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony 2
Anne Schwanewilms, Lioba Braun, Bayerische SCh, Bamberg SO, Bayerische
Staatsphilharmonie/ Jonathan Nott rec. 2008
TUDOR 7158
[32:53 + 51:24]
[DM]
Not
to be missed ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony 4
Miah Persson (soprano) Budapest Festival O/Iván Fischer
rec. 2008
CHANNEL CLASSICS CCS SA 26109
[57:00] [LW]
Fischer’s
Mahler Fourth is tops … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jules
MASSENET (1842-1912) Manon
Tamara Rojo, Carlos Acosta, José Martín, Christopher Saunders,
Laura Morera, Royal Ballet, Orch. of Royal Ballet/Martin Yates,
Filmed 2008
DECCA 074 3346 
[117:00 (ballet) + 45:00 (bonus)]
[I&GL]
A
truly spellbinding production with superb dancing from Rojo and
Acosta ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Aribert REIMANN
(b.1936) Lear (1978) Soloists
Chor der Oper Frankfurt, Frankfurter Museumsorchester/Sebastian
Weigle rec. 2008, Notes and plot summary in English and German.
Libretto in German only.
OEHMS CLASSICS OC 921 [71:31 + 79:08]
[GPu]
A
striking recording of a modern operatic masterpiece … See Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Piano Concertos
1-3, Concert Fantasia
Stephen Hough (piano) Minnesota O/Osmo Vänskä rec. live,
2009
HYPERION CDA67711/2 [65:39 + 75:31]
[IL]
A
triumph ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Götterdämmerung
Jennifer Wilson, Lance Ryan, Franz-Josef
Kapellmann, O de la Comunitat Valenciana/Zubin Mehta
rec. live, 2008
UNITEL CLASSICA 701108
[287:00]
[ST]
A
Ring on DVD to live with and to return to
again and again. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Kurt
WEILL
(1900-1950)
Kleine Dreigroschenmusik Ernst TOCH
(1887-1964) Egon und Emilie Erwin
SCHULHOFF (1894-1942) H.M.S. Royal Oak
Capella Amsterdam; Ebony Band/Werner Herbers rec. 1998-2006
CHANNEL CLASSICS CCS25109 [69:24]
[DC]
Astounding,
remarkable, wunderbahr! … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Between
Life and Death:
Songs and arias
Christoph Prégardien (tenor) Michael Gees (piano) rec.
2008
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72324
[41:50 + 44:47]
[DM]
It’s
quality and not quantity that counts here … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Diminuito
Rolf Lislevand (lutes, vihuela de mano); Linn Andrea Fuglseth,
Anna Maria Friman (voice) rec. 2007/8
ECM NEW SERIES 2088 [58:11]
[DC]
Transcendent
music making - and great fun as well ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Visions of Beyond
Late works by Liszt, Brahms, Beethoven, Debussy, Chopin,
Schubert and Schumann
Edward Rosser (piano) rec. 2007
CONNOISSEUR SOCIETY CD4260 [63:49]
[BR]
Not
a recital but a great narrative in music … see Full
Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Howard
BLAKE
(b.1938) The Passion of Mary, Four Songs
of the Nativity
London Voices, Royal PO/Howard Blake rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572453 [76:25] 
[BB]
Far
too good to miss … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Frédéric
CHOPIN
(1810-1849)
Kissin Plays Chopin
Evgeny Kissin (piano) rec. 1993-2004
BMG-RCA 88697 625302 [5 CDs: 317:31]
[DC]
Powerful
and sometimes wayward, but not to be avoided ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1868) Lucrezia Borgia
Montserrat Caballé, Alfredo Krauss, RCA Italiana Opera
Ch & O/Jonel Perlea rec. 1966
SONY OPERA HOUSE 88697575942 [60.53 + 73.22]
[RJF]
The
preferred choice among CD recordings of this dramatic work from
Donizetti’s pre-Lucia period ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz
Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809)
The Complete String Quartets
Kodaly Qt rec. 1989-2000
NAXOS 8.502400 [25CDs: 25:42:24]
[SA]
The
Kodaly Quartet plays with a shared intelligence that makes for
thrilling listening - nothing could persuade me to live without
it … see Full
Review
HISTORICAL
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS (1864 – 1949) Der
Rosenkavalier
Lotte Lehmann (soprano) Richard Mayr (bass) Elisabeth Schumann
(soprano) Vienna State Opera Ch, Vienna PO/Robert Heger rec. 1933
PRISTINE AUDIO PACO036 [59:46 + 38:40]
[GF]
No
one who loves this music can afford to be without this recording
... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958)
Dona Nobis Pacem, Sancta Civitas
Matthew Brook (baritone); Christina Pier (soprano); Andrew
Staples (tenor) The Bach Ch, Bournemouth SO/David Hill rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572424 [64:39]
[JQ]
Two
English choral works of great stature in fine new recordings ...
see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH
English Viola Sonatas
by Jacob, Ireland, Arnold, Delius and Berkeley
Martin Outram (viola); Julian Rolton (piano) rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572208 [72:04]
[BBr]
A
fabulous disk … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Moviebrass
Leonard
BERNSTEIN (1918-1990) West Side Story Suite Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981)
Adagio for Strings John WILLIAMS
(b. 1932), Jerry GOLDSMITH
(1929-2004), James
HORNER (b. 1953) and David
ARNOLD (b. 1962) Space Brass John
WILLIAMS Indiana Jones:
Main Title Theme (arr. Marco Pierobon) [4:27] Danny
ELFMAN (b. 1953)
The Simpsons Theme (arr. Marco Pierobon) [1:38] Franco
MICALIZZI (b.
1939) and Yuji OHNO (b. 1941) Lupin
III: Main Title Theme (arr. Marco Pierobon) [3:17]
Gomalan Brass Quintet rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.572244 [59:03]
[RB]
Whoop
it up with the Gomalan. ...
see Full Review
JUNE
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH David
BEDNALL
(b.
1979) Requiem * O come let us sing; Salvator mundi; Let all
the world 
The Chamber Choir of St, Mary’s, Calne/Edward Whiting David Bednall
(organ); *Philip Dukes (viola) rec. 2009
REGENT REGCD327 [64:29] 
[JQ]
Anyone
who is interested in choral music should try to hear this wonderful
disc. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
String Quartet No. 6 in B flat major, Op. 18/6 (1798-1800) String
Quartet No. 13 in B flat major, Op. 130 (1825-26) Große Fuge
for String Quartet in B flat major, Op. 133 (1825-26)
Artemis Quartet (Natalia Prischepenko (violin); Gregor Sigl (violin);
Friedemann Weigle (viola); Eckart Runge (cello)) rec. 8-13 November,
16-18 December 2009, Teldex Studio, Finckensteinallee, Berlin.
DDD
VIRGIN CLASSICS 50999 694584 0 8 [74:25]
[MC]
These
Beethoven Quartets are given performances of the highest quality.
A sure-fire ‘Record of the Year’ for 2010. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Muzio CLEMENTI
(1752-1832)
The Complete Sonatas -Vol. 5 Sonatas op. 34, 37 & 46
Howard Shelley (piano) rec. 2009
HYPERION CDA67814 [77:51 + 67:28]
[MS]
The
fifth of six sets containing all of Clementi's piano sonatas -
played with great flair, expertise but above all insight. Another
winner … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Antonín
DVORÁK (1841-1904)
Symphonic Poems The
Water Goblin, The Noon Witch, The Golden Spinning
Wheel, The Wild Dove,
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras rec. , 2001,
2008, 2009
SUPRAPHON SU 4012-2 [79:42]
[BR]
The
new standard recordings of Dvorák’s symphonic poems … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH George
Frideric HANDEL
(1685 – 1759) Giulio
Cesare in Egitto (1724) Complete recording of the 1724
version.
Kristina Hammarström (mezzo) – Giulio Cesare; Emanuela Galli (soprano)
– Cleopatra; Mary-Ellen Nesi (mezzo) – Sesto; Irini Karaianni
(mezzo) – Cornelia; Romina Basso (mezzo) – Tolomeo; Tassis Christoyannis
(baritone) – Achilla; Petros Magoulas (bass) – Curio; Nikos Spanatis
(bass) – Nireno; Orchestra of Patras/George Petrou rec. 24-30
July 2006, Patras, Greece Italian libretto with English translation
enclosed
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 609 1604-2 [3 CDs:
75:50 + 78:48 + 77:23]
[GF]
A
knock-out from the very first bars of the overture ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809)
Opera at Eszterháza: Arias - La Circe
Miah Persson (soprano) Haydn Sinfonietta Wien/Manfred Huss rec.
2008/9
BIS BISSACD1811 
[71.31] [MM-B]
A
joy from beginning to end ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Aleko (1892-1893)
Sergey Murzaev (baritone) - Aleko; Svetla Vassileva (soprano)
- Zemfira; Evgeny Akhimov (tenor) - Young Gypsy; Gennady Bezzubenkov
(bass) - Old Gypsy; Nadezhda Vasilieva (mezzo) - Old Gypsy Woman;
Coro del Teatro Regio del Torino; BBC Philharmonic/Gianandrea
Noseda. rec. 2009. DDD
CHANDOS CHAN10583 [50:55]
[CC]
My
Recording of the Month, by a long way. The BBC Philharmonic sounds
simply superb … Noseda conducts intelligently, sensitively, with
full structural awareness of the dramatic trajectory. ... see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sven-David
SANDSTRÖM (b.
1942) Messiah
Festivalensemble Stuttgart/Helmuth Rilling rec. live, 2009
CARUS 83.453 [36:06 + 54:15]
[GF]
One
of the finest large-scale choral works during the whole post-war
era … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS
(1864–1949) Ein
Heldenleben, Op. 40 (1898)[47:29] Anton
WEBERN (1883-1945) Im Sommerwind* (1904) [15:03]
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Bernard Haitink rec. 2009. DSD
CSO-RESOUND CSOR 901 1004 [62:32] [JQ]
A
magnificent CD, including as fine a CD version of Ein Heldenleben
as I can recall ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Visions
– Lavinia Meijer Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Suite, Op. 83 (1969)
Paul PATTERSON
(b. 1947) Spiders, Op. 48 (1985) Bugs,
Op. 93 (2006) Garrett BYRNES
(b. 1971) Visions in Twilight (2000)
Isang YUN (1917-1995) In
Balance (1987) Toru TAKEMITSU
(1930-1996) Stanza II for harp and tape (1971)
Lavinia Meijer (harp) rec. 2009
CHANNEL CLASSICS CCS
SA 29709 [63:08]
[DM]
A
must-have for harp aficionados and audio buffs alike. ... see
Full Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Alban BERG
(1885-1935) Violin
Concerto (1935) [24:40] Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971) Violin Concerto in D (1931) [20:18] Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 (1878) [33:50]
Arthur Grumiaux (violin) Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam/Igor
Markevitch (Berg) and Ernest Bour (Stravinsky) and Vienna Symphony
Orchestra/Bogo Leskovic (Tchaikovsky)
rec. Vienna, November 1956 (Tchaikovsky) and Concertgebouw, Amsterdam,
December 1966 (Stravinsky) and January 1967 (Berg)
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 0481 [78:55] 
[WH]
An
unmissable disc from a master violinist … see
Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Gioachino
ROSSINI
(1792-1868) L’Italiana
in Algeri - Comic opera in two acts (1813)
Samuel Ramey (bass); Kathleen Battle (soprano) I Solisti Veneti;
Prague Philharmonic Choir/Claudio Scimone rec. 1980
ERATO OPERA COLLECTION 2564 68335 9 [71.30 + 69.21] 
[RF]
A
welcome return to the catalogue of this excellent performance
which is a must for all Rossini enthusiasts. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Die schöne Müllerin
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone); Gerald Moore (piano) rec.
1961
EMI CLASSICS 9659402 [62:30] 
[KM]
Perhaps
the best recording of this work, available in a new edition ...
see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH
Early One Morning:
Finnish Orchestral Favorites
Turku Philharmonic Orchestra (CD1), Camerata Finlandia (CD2)/Jorma
Panula rec. 1995,1996,2007
NAXOS CD 8.578143-44 [70:33 + 53:15]
[BR]
I
loved this two-disc sampler of lesser-known Finnish composers
… see Full Review
JULY
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833
– 1897) Piano Sonata 3 Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873 – 1943) Piano Concerto 2 
Julius Katchen (piano) New SO/Anatole Fistoulari rec. 1949/51
PRISTINE AUDIO PAKM035 [64:28] 
[BBr]
These
performances are amongst the best available … see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ruggero
LEONCAVALLO (1857-1919) I Medici
Plácido Domingo (tenor) Daniela Dessi (soprano) Ch & O Maggio
Musicale Fiorentino/Alberto Veronesi rec. 2007
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON DG 477 7456 [78:43 + 46:21] 
[JS]
With
luxury forces throwing themselves unsparingly into an idiomatic,
well focused and vigorous performance this is a significant achievement
and DG’s enterprise deserves to be richly rewarded
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
WAGNER (1813–1883)
Lohengrin
Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) Anja Harteros (soprano) Ch & O Bayerische
Staatsoper/Kent Nagano rec. 2009
DECCA 0743387
[2 DVDs: 207:00]
[ST]
Marvellous
singing and intelligent stagecraft
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Rosso
:
Italian baroque arias by Sartorio, Stradela, Handel,
Vivaldi, Scarlatti, Porpora & Marcello
Patricia Petibon (soprano) Venice Baroque O/Andrea Marcon rec.
2009
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8763 [75:24]
[BW]
Well-known
and unknown arias, all made to sound superb
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Symphony 8
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Vasily Petrenko rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572392 [61:57] 
[JQ] [BBr]
A
powerful, stirring performance of this dark, brooding symphony
[JQ] A real success [BBr] ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Sir
Adrian Boult The 1956 Nixa-Westminster stereo recordings,
Vol. 1 Sir
William WALTON (1902-1983) Symphony 1 Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Falstaff,
Symphony 2, Cockaigne Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Soirées musicales, The
Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Matinées musicales,
Four Sea Interludes and Passacaglia
London PO/Sir Adrian Boult rec. 1956
FIRST HAND RECORDS FHR06 [3 CDs: 77:05 + 76:34 + 75:59]
A
splendid set, which all admirers of Sir Adrian Boult should hear
[JQ] These recordings have never sounded as good. [RB]
AUGUST
RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Keyboard
Works 
Angela Hewitt (piano) rec. 1994-2008
HYPERION CDS44421/35 [15 CDs: 17:39:00] 
[DC]
A
truly valuable and life enhancing collection.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Sonatas
3 & 9
Viktoria Mullova (baroque violin), Kristian Bezuidenhout (fortepiano),
rec. 2009
ONYX 4050 [54:34] 
[MC]
This
stunning Onyx release can compete with the very best
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770 –1827) The Complete Piano Concertos
Paul Lewis (piano) BBC SO/Jirí Belohlávek rec. 2009/10
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC 902053.55 [3 CDs: 67:48 + 69:31 + 38:53]
[JQ]
This
set of the Beethoven piano concertos is a very considerable achievement
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frédéric (Fryderyk)
CHOPIN
(1810-1849)
Cello Sonata Simon (Szymon) LAKS
(1901-1983) Cello Sonata Karl (Karol)
SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937)
Cello Sonata
Raphael Wallfisch (cello); John York (piano) rec. 2010
NIMBUS NI5862 [75:53]
[BW]
One
of the unexpected highlights of the Chopin year for me.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frédéric
CHOPIN
(1810–1849)
Songs
Konrad Jarnot (baritone); Eugčne Mursky (piano) rec. 2009
HÄNSSLER PROFIL PH04068 [53:34]
[GF]
Those
who still look down on Chopin’s songs should give this a listen.
I’m sure they will be converted – just as I was.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Kenneth LEIGHTON
(1929 – 1988) Works for Solo Piano Sonatas, Preludes,
Winter Scenes
Margaret Fingerhut (piano) rec. 2009
CHANDOS CHAN10601 [70:16]
[NB]
Interpretations
of the very highest order
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Lorenzo
PALOMO (b.1938)
Dulcinea
Ainho Arteta (soprano) Ch & O Deutsche Oper Berlin/Miguel
Angel Gómez Martínez rec. live, 2006
NAXOS 8.572577 [58:15]
[GPu]
A
compelling piece recorded live at its premiere
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
L’Inganno Felice
Raúl Giménez, Annick Massis, Le Concert des Tuileres/Marc
Minkowski rec. live, 1996
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 681484 [78.11] 
[RJF]
A
welcome return to the catalogue at a price that should ensure
that all Rossini-lovers add it to their collection if it is not
already there.
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848)
L’Elisir d’amore
Mariella Devia, Roberto Alagna Tallis Chamber Ch, English CO/Marcello
Viotti rec. 1992
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 681478 [61:07 + 69.12]
[RJF]
A
very warm welcome to the return to the catalogue of this idiomatic
and well sung performance.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Antonín DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904) Piano Quartets
Helena Suchárová-Weiser (pno), Vlach Qt Prague, rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572159 [71:11]
[SV]
Beautiful
playing … at Naxos prices an absolute steal
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
The Complete Works - 150th Anniversary Edition
EMI CLASSICS 6089852 [16 CDs: ca 19 hrs]
[ST]
This
set is a real treat, and an unmissable bargain.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Kirsten
Flagstad - The Supreme Wagnerian Soprano
rec. 1923–52
EMI CLASSICS ICON SERIES 4553462 [5 CDs: 377:55]
[GF]
The
Voice of the Century!
[Jan-
April] [May- Aug]
[Sept-Dec] [2009]
