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MUSICWEB RECOMMENDS - 2010
[Jan- April] [May- Aug] [Sept-Dec] [2009]



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September

RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Orgel-Büchlein Helmut Walcha (organ) rec. 1950/2 PRISTINE AUDIO PAKM036 [52:06 + 46:03] [MS]

It's good to have these classic and interpretatively superb recordings of one of Bach's most compelling organ works available. The transfer quality is almost as satisfying as the performance. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Sonatas 9 & 10 Edward Dusinberre (violin) David Korevaar (piano) rec. 2009 DECCA 476 3898 [65:13] [GD]

Could easily become the benchmark for a generation to come.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Frank BRIDGE (1879 - 1941) Cello Sonata Benjamin BRITTEN (1913 - 1976) Cello Sonata Arnold BAX (1883 - 1953) Legend-Sonata Johannes Moser (cello), Paul Rivinius (piano) rec. 2009 HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.257 [66:45] [BBr]

A very special issue. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony 4 Minnesota O/Osmo Vänskä rec. 2009 BIS-SACD-1746 [63:21] [DC]

No reservations whatsoever.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Benjamin DALE (1885-1943) Sonata William HURLSTONE (1876-1906) Sonata Mark Bebbington (piano) rec. 2006 SOMM SOMMCD 097 [79:30] [JF]

Two of the greatest twentieth century British piano sonatas stunningly played and beautifully recorded.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gershwin by Grofé: Symphonic Jazz Lincoln Mayorga (piano) Al Gallodoro (alto saxophone/clarinet/bass clarinet) Harmonie Ens New York/Steven Richman rec. 2007 HARMONIA MUNDI HMU 907492 [54:46] [JQ]

A hugely entertaining and historically informed CD that’s a mandatory purchase for all Gershwin fans

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Tommie HAGLUND (b.1959) Hymns to the Night, Daughter of the Voice,To the Sunset Breeze Elizabeth Pitcairn (violin); Helsingborg SO/Hannu Koivula, John Mills (guitar); Stephen Fitzpatrick (harp); Lysell Qt rec. 2009/10 PHONO SUECIA PSCD184 [79:48] [NB]

What a restoration of faith in the power of new music this disc gives me – contemporary music that is complex, rewarding, moving and above all human. My disc of the year without a doubt.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Manfred Symphony Gürzenich O Köln/Dmitri Kitaienko rec. 2009 OEHMS CLASSICS OC665 [61:25] [DM]

A Manfred to die for.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Elina Garanca - Habanera Elina Garanca (mezzo) Roberto Alagna, José Maria Gallardo (guitar) SO Nazionale della Rai/Karel Mark Chichon rec. 2010 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8776 [68:22] [GF]

There are a few records every year where everything is right. This is one of them.

 

BARGAINS OF THE MONTH

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Robert Livingston ALDRIDGE (b.1954) Clarinet Concerto, Samba Aaron COPLAND (1900-1990) Clarinet Concerto David Singer (clarinet) A Far Cry Orchestra, Shanghai Qt rec. 2008, 2009 NAXOS 8.559667 [49:44] [BR]

An enjoyable new concerto and an old favorite, played with love and wit

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770–1827) Piano Concerto 5, Symphony 4 Edwin Fischer (piano), Philharmonia O, Vienna PO/Wilhelm Furtwängler rec. 1950/51 NAXOS 8.112025 [75:38] [BBr]

Genius is the word.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH William BOYCE (1711-1779) Trio Sonatas The Parley of Instruments/Peter Holman rec. 1995 HYPERION DYAD CDD22063 [61:07 + 61:51] [JW]

This idiomatically played twofer makes renewed demands on lovers of Boyce’s very individual and engaging works. 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Dietrich BUXTEHUDE (c.1637-1707) Organ Works Lionel Rogg rec. 1977-78 EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 4563292 [77:24 + 77:57] [BW]

An excellent bargain for novices and seasoned collectors alike.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Orchestral Music Franz Peter Zimmermann, Truls Mørk, Kristian Zacharias, Staatskapelle Dresden/Wolfgang Sawallisch, Philharmonia O/Riccardo Muti, Cologne RSO/Vonk rec. 1972-93 EMI CLASSICS 6090372 [4 CDs: 77:14 + 78:54 + 75:39 + 73:53] [RB]

It's no wonder the components of this set have won so many laurels.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Complete Songs Christine Schäfer, Dorothea Röschmann, Felicity Lott, Kate Royal (soprano) Ann Murray (mezzo) Ian Bostridge, Mark Padmore (tenor) Simon Keenlyside, Christopher Maltman (baritone) Graham Johnson (piano) rec. 1995-2007 HYPERION CDS44441/50 [10 CDs: 734.44] [KM]

A monumental set of Schumann lieder: a must-have box set.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Lieder and Scenes from Goethe’s Faust EMI CLASSICS 6090222 [6 CDs: 7:17:00] [ST]

This set can be warmly recommended to anyone wanting to explore this utterly essential corner of Schumann’s output.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH John WARD (1571-1638) First Book of Madrigals The Consort of Musick/Anthony Rooley rec. 1980 DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 1816 [46.02 + 49.38] [GH]

To hear such expressive singing and to encounter Kirkby and Tubb in their prime and freshness is unbeatable. 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Hugo WOLF (1860 – 1903) The Anniversary Edition Various artists rec. 1955-2005 EMI CLASSICS 6886082 [8 CDs: 571:22] [GF]

For most readers this can very well be the only Wolf discs they will ever need.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Endechar Lament for Spain - Sephardic Romances and Songs Capilla Antigua de Chincilla/José Ferrero rec. 2009 NAXOS 8.572443 [57:31] [GPu]

Captures the sadness and affirmation at the heart of Sephardic song.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Nicolai Gedda - Lyric Poet of the Tenor Voice rec. 1952-77 EMI CLASSICS ICON 4560952 [11 CDs: 831:59] [GF]

A must for every lover of refined and ardent singing … will give endless pleasure for years to come. 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Tito Gobbi - Complete Solo Recordings rec. 1942-1964 EMI CLASSICS ICON 4553782 [5 CDs: 390:20] [GF]

Indispensable … and at budget price.  

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Nobel Prize Concert Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Piano concerto Serge PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Romeo and Juliet Suites 1 & 2 Martha Argerich (pno), Royal Stockholm PO/Yuri Temirkanov, rec. 2009 EUROARTS 2057898 [80:00] [CF]

Electrifying.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Sacred Music in the Renaissance The Tallis Scholars Finest Recordings: 1980-1989 The Tallis Scholars/Peter Phillips rec. 1980-1989 GIMELL GIMBX 301 [4 CDs: 78:34 + 79:37 + 78:33 + 78:35] [JQ]

An outstandingly generous thirtieth birthday present from Gimell Records to us.

OCTOBER

RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Georges BIZET (1838 – 1875) Carmen Elina Garanca, Roberto Alagna, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Ch & O/Yannick Nézet-Séguin rec. 2010 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 073 4581 [2 DVDs: 167:00 + 9:00] [GF]

This is a great achievement

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto 2, Klavierstücke Nicholas Angelich (pno), Frankfurt RSO/Paavo Järvi, rec. 2009 VIRGIN CLASSICS 2663492 [74:37] [JQ]

A performance of the Brahms Second Piano Concerto that deserves to be ranked among the very best.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH William BYRD (1539/40-1623) Infelix ego: The Byrd Edition - Volume 13 The Cardinall’s Musick/Andrew Carwood rec. 2009 HYPERION CDA67779 [61:17] [MG]

Performances of palpable commitment and exceptional quality.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Francesca and Giulio CACCINI (1587-c.1640) O vive rose and other songs Shannon Mercer (soprano), Luc Beauséjour (harpsichord, organ), Sylvain Bergeron (guitar, theorbo), Amanda Keesmaat (cello) rec. 2009 ANALEKTA AN 2 9966 [61:54] [GPu]

Lovely performances of fine early seventeenth-century songs.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Henri DUTILLEUX (b. 1916) D’Ombre et de silence - Complete Piano Music Robert Levin, Ya-Fei Chuang (pno) rec. 2008 ECM NEW SERIES 2105 (4763653) [75.31] [GH]

A fascinating disc with two masterpieces most beautifully played and recorded.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) The Kingdom Clare Rutter, Susan Bickley, John Hudson, Iain Paterson, Hallé Ch & O/Sir Mark Elder rec. live, 2009 HALLÉ CDHLD7526 [57:49 + 36:28] [JQ]

Elder and the Hallé offer the pre-eminent digital account of Elgar’s last oratorio.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Arthur HONEGGER (1892-1955) Les Aventures du Roi Pausole Mattijs van de Woerd, Opera Trionfo, Nieuw Ens/Ed Spanjaard rec. 2008 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9152 [72:05] [RB]

One wonders why this work has not become more popular. A winner.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Philip SAWYERS (b.1951) The Gale of Life, Symphonic Music for Strings and Brass, Symphony 1 Grand Rapids Symphony/David Lockington rec. 2002/2004/2008 NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6129 [63:38] [NB]

Reflects great credit on all involved – music of instant appeal and enduring quality performed with zealous passion recorded in excellent sound.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Jan Dismas ZELENKA (1679 - 1745) Missa votiva Joanne Lunn, Daniel Taylor, Johannes Kaleschke, Thomas E. Bauer, Kammerchor Stuttgart, Barockorchester Stuttgart/Frieder Bernius rec. 2008 CARUS 83.223 [69:15] [JV]

Another masterpiece by Zelenka - the performance displays the Mass in its full glory.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Jonas Kaufmann – Verismo Arias Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) Eva-Maria Westbroek (sop) Rosa Feola (soprano) Cristina Reale (mezzo) O dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia Roma/Antonio Pappano DECCA 478 2258 [61 :52] [RMo]

Kaufmann just gets better and better.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Milo Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Cello sonata Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) Cello sonata Mark-Anthony TURNAGE (b.1960) Milo, Sleep On Guy Johnston (cello) Kathryn Stott (piano) rec. 2009 ORCHID CLASSICS ORC100010 [64:17] [EM]

A disc I would recommend to anyone looking for excellent versions of any of these works. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Moonflowers, Baby! Works by Hindemith, Honegger, Milhaud, Francaix, Vaughan Willaims & Kupferman Jonathan Cohler (clarinet) Judith Gordon (piano) rec. 1993 CRYSTAL RECORDS CD733 [62:12] [OL]

Sensitive, subtle, beautiful, refined. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH   Musica Sacra Hungarica Budapesti Monteverdi Kórus/Éva Kollár rec. 2010 CARUS 2.151/99 [68:22] [WH]

A fascinating and lovely collection from a distinguished German publishing house.

 

BARGAINS OF THE MONTH

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Luigi BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Sonatas for Cello and Piano Fedor Amosov (cello) Jen-Ru Sun (piano) rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.572368 [67:46] [JS]

This has been an exceptionally and unexpectedly enjoyable disc.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Girolamo FRESCOBALDI (1583-1643) Frescobaldi Edition - Vols 3 & 4 Stagione Armonica, Schola Gregoriana/Sergio Balestracci, Dom Nicola M. Bellinazzo rec. 2006/8 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 93780/1 [64:04 + 78:04] [JV]

Two great volumes in a major project of Brilliant Classics.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Masses - Volume 3 Missa Sancti Nicolai, Missa in angustiis Ann Hoyt (soprano) Trinity Ch, Rebel Baroque O/J. Owen Burdick rec. 2002/7 NAXOS 8.572123 [64:46] [BW]

Challenges even the best - a bargain alternative to Trevor Pinnock. 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Hans Christian LUMBYE (1810-1874) The Best Of Tivoli SO/Giordano Bellincampi, David Riddell, Tamás Vetö rec. 1998-2005 NAXOS 8.556843 [71:21] [BW]

Joins my select list of music for cheering up. 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Krzysztof PENDERECKI (b. 1933) Credo, Cantata in honorem Almæ Matris Universitatis Iagellonicæ sescentos abhinc annos fundatæ Iwona Hossa, Aga Mikolaj (sop.) Ewa Wolak (alto) Rafal Bartminski (ten.) Remigiusz Lukomski (bass) Warsaw Boys’ Ch, Warsaw PO & Ch/Antoni Wit, rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.572032 [56:27] [BW]

Music which matches power and contemplation with performances to match.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH  Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Orchestral and vocal collection rec. 1962-1994 EMI CLASSICS 6 27910 2 [78:47 + 76.51] [TB]

For anyone starting out upon a Vaughan Williams collection, it would be hard to better this EMI compilation of classic recordings reissued at bargain price.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Bajazet Ildebrando D’Arcangelo, David Daniels, Elina Garanca, Vivica Genaux, Patrizia Ciofi, Europa Galante/Fabio Biondi rec. 2004 VIRGIN CLASSICS 4564592 [73:35 + 72:48] [J-PJ]

The best of the best in terms of Neapolitan-style opera – tuneful, virtuosic and passionate. Virtually every number in this recording is a highlight.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH English Lute Songs Robin Blaze (counter-tenor); Elizabeth Kenny (lute) rec. 1999 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55249 [70:34] [EM]

A superb disc of excellent programme and performance.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Byron Janis Edition - The Legendary Concerto Recordings Moscow PO/Kirill Kondrashin, Moscow Radio SO/Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Minneapolis SO/Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, London SO/Herbert Menges, Antal Dorati, rec. 1960-63 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9182 [4 CDs: 261:56] [RB]

Classic readings without a hint of autopilot. Demands your attention and will reward it with generosity.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Fritz Wunderlich - A Poet among Tenors EMI CLASSICS ICON 6295252 [6 CDs: 533:27] [RMo]

I urge every lover of the tenor to buy this set

 

 

[Jan- April] [May- Aug] [Sept-Dec] [2009]

 

 


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