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Isaac
ALBÉNIZ (1860-1909) Piano Music Vol. 6:
Rapsodia Espańola, Navarra, Piano Sonata 5, 3rd Suite Ancienne,
Azulejos, Piano concerto 1 
Miguel Baselga (piano), Tenerife SO/Lü Jia, rec. 2007/9
BIS-CD-1743 [75:43] 
[JF]
Stunning
playing that characterises the music with sympathy and understanding.
Jean-Henry
d'ANGLEBERT (1635-1691) Chaconne de Phaeton see
RAMEAU
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Charles AVISON
(1709-1770)
Sonatas
Gary Cooper (harpsichord) Pavlo Beznosiuk, Caroline Balding (violins)
Robin Michael (cello) rec. 2008
DIVINE ART DDA21215 [65:33 + 46:36] 
[JW]
Recording
quality (first class), performances and music come together in a wholly
splendid way in this disc, one which advances Avison’s cause still
further.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750) Cantatas - Vol. 46:
BWV17, 19, 45 & 102
Hana Blažíková (soprano), Robin Blaze (counter-tenor), Gerd Türk (tenor),
Peter Kooij (bass); Bach Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki rec. 2009
BIS BIS-SACD-1851 
[76:24] 
[PB]
Now
on the home straight this is perhaps the finest of all Suzuki’s recordings
of Bach’s cantatas released so far.
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) The
Bach Cantata Pilgrimage - Vol. 12
Monteverdi Ch, English Baroque Soloists/Sir John Eliot Gardiner. rec.
2000
SOLI DEO GLORIA SDG 171 [68:13 +72:40]
[JQ]
The
penultimate volume is another mandatory purchase for all those who have
been collecting this series.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
The
Bach Cantata Pilgrimage - Vol. 18
The Monteverdi Ch, English Baroque Soloists/Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
rec. 1999/2000
SOLI DEO GLORIA SDG174 [78:53 + 52:16]
[JQ]
The
final, excellent instalment of Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s epic
Bach Cantata Pilgrimage.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750)
Complete
Works
Helmuth Rilling 172 CDs, CD ROM & 2 books HÄNSSLER 098.620.000
[c. 178 hrs] 
[KM]
An
excellent bargain, containing 178 hours of Bach. For completists or
casual Bach fans, this set is full of great recordings.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The Well-Tempered Clavier,
Book I
Vardo Rumessen (piano) rec. 2009
ESTONIAN RECORD PRODUCTIONS ERP 3620 1/2 [64:36 + 62:50] [DC]
Another
new perspective on WTC Bk 1.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
The Complete Keyboard Concertos
András Schiff (piano) Peter Serkin (piano) CO Europe, Camerata
Bern rec. 1989-93
DECCA 478 2363 [4 CDs: 53:02 + 52:46 + 62:18 + 55:53]
[DC]
Largely
enjoyable, but not without flaws.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
St John Passion
Charles Daniels, Stephen Varcoe, Stephan Logue Yorkshire Baroque Soloists/Peter
Seymour rec. 2010
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD0209 [33:22 + 73:16]
[GD]
A
coherent, articulate and engaging performance that balances well the
work's twin identities as narrative and contemplation.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) A
Bach Book for Harriet Cohen and other British transcriptions
Jonathan
Plowright (piano) rec. 2008
HYPERION CDA67767 [79:03]
[JW]
Plowright
proves to be an interpreter of marvellous tonal resources. This series
continues to impress in every way.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Concerto
for 2 violins
see
Menuhin & Enescu
Samuel
BARBER
(1910–1981) Complete Orchestral Works
Royal Scottish Ntl O/Marin Alsop
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.506021 [6 CDs] [BBr]
Enjoy
a master composer at work. This will not disappoint.
Béla
BARTÓK (1881–1945)
Piano Concertos 1-3
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano) BBC Philharmonic/Gianandrea Noseda rec.
2009
CHANDOS CHAN10610 [73:28]
[DC]
Electric
synergy, more please!
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945) String Quartet 3 see
BEETHOVEN
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Eroica Variations, Variations on themes by Haibel, Wranitzky, Salieri
& Süssmayr
Ian Yungwook Yoo (piano) rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572160 [74:18]
[BR]
The
birth of Beethoven, before our ears.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concertos 2 & 3
Rudolf Serkin (pno) Roma della RAI SO/Ferruccio Scalia, “Alessandro
Scarlatti” O di Napoli della RAI/Franco Caracciolo rec. 1958
IDIS 6597 [62:05] [KS]
Skilfully
played and even more skilfully accompanied, these recordings will be
of interest to collectors. Sound quality is the main drawback in what
is otherwise a fine release.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Complete Works for Solo Piano - Vol. 9 Kurfürsten Sonatas,
Leichte Sonatinen, Zwei Stücke
Ronald Brautigam (fortepiano) rec. 2008
BIS BISSACD1672
[60:54]
[GD]
Repertoire-wise,
this wouldn't be my first choice from the Brautigam Beethoven cycle,
but in terms of performance and recording it is the equal of any of
its predecessors.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concerto 5 George
ENESCU (1881-1955) Suite 2 Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Polonaise
Mindru Katz (piano), Hallé O/John Barbirolli rec. 1958/9
CEMBAL D’AMOUR CD148 [71:51]
[JW]
Usefully
documents Katz’s highly persuasive musicianship on the grandest and
most intimate of scales.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1828) Symphony 5, Performance
Professor
Wulf Konold (speaker), Berlin PO/Claudio Abbado, rec. 2001
EUROARTS 2056028 [67:00] 
[JS]
Even
if the documentary may not work for the newcomer in introducing the
greatness of the work then this performance certainly will.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Complete music for cello and piano Sonatas 1-5, Variations, Behind
the Beethoven Project
Laurence Lesser (cello); HaeSun Paik (piano) rec. 2009
BRIDGE 9329A/C [CDs: 75:12 + 61:03 & DVD: 50:58]
[JS]
Immensely
satisfying and enjoyable, and worth hearing for its sheer musicianship
and obvious devotion to the music itself.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Sonatas 28 & 29
Vladimir Feltsman (piano) rec. 1998
NIMBUS NI2561 [64:33]
[JW]
I
find Feltsman’s playing here frustrating and awkward, and, in a word,
inhibited.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Piano Sonatas 15, 18, 21
& 30
Wilhelm Backhaus (piano) rec. 1969
AUDITE 23.420 [68:15 + 17:41]
[JW]
The
last testament of this eminent musician.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
String Quartets 1 & 12
Artemis Qt rec. 2010
VIRGIN CLASSICS 6286590 [60:05]
[MC]
Remarkable
rapport, impressive technical prowess and flawless intonation.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
String Quartet ‘Harp’ Arne NORDHEIM (1931-2010)
String Quartet Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945)
String Quartet 3
Engegĺrdkvartetten rec. 2009
2L RECORDS 2L71
[66:29] [DC]
A
shining jewel in 2L’s already richly studded crown.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Concerto Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Violin Concerto 5
Josef Wolfsthal (violin), Berlin PO/Manfred Gurlitt, Berlin State Opera
O/Frieder Weissmann rec. 1928-29
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC239 [67:21]
[JW]
Wolfsthal’s
tone is neither big nor especially variegated, but it is very sweet
and is applied intelligently throughout.
Alban
BERG Lulu Suite see
Second Viennese School
Michael
BERKELEY
(b. 1948)
For You Alan Opie (baritone) Christopher Lemmings (tenor)
The
Music Theatre Wales Ens/Michael Rafferty rec. 2008
SIGNUM SIGCD208 [56:23 + 65:28] [MS]
A
study expanded with music of conviction and compulsion in a felicitous
marriage libretto and music.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Heinrich Ignaz Franz BIBER (1644-1704)
Violin sonatas see A
Virtuoso Faceoff
Ernest
BLOCH
(1880-1959)
From Jewish Life see reVISIONS
Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) String Quartets see
MENDELSSOHN
Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Cello Sonata
3 see Portrait
David
BOWERMAN A Fantasy Idyll
Gould Trio, Felicity Lott (soprano), Graham Johnson, Benjamin Frith
(piano) Alice Neary (cello) rec. 2007-9
CHAMPS HILL RECORDS CHRCD005 [72:44]
[EM]
Assured
works and Bowerman must be commended for his efforts.
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833 – 1897) Symphonies, Haydn Variations, St Antoni Chorale,
Academic Festival Overture, Tragic Overture
London SO/Yondani Butt
NIMBUS NI 6130 [3 CDs: 66:29 + 79:48 + 67:37]
[BBr]
Not
for repeated hearings … they lack personality and strength.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Complete Symphonies and Concertos
Claudio
Arrau (pno) Henryk Szeryng (violin) János Starker (cello) Royal Concertgebouw
O/Bernard Haitink, rec. 1969-80
DECCA 4782365 [7 CDs: 491:43]
[RB]
Overall
excellence and a total identity of integrity in the coincident visions
of Haitink and Brahms.
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897)
Violin sonatas
Genevičve Laurenceau (violin) Johan Farjot (piano)
rec. 2010
ZIG ZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT100802
[GD]
A
good recording, and is worth hearing simply for the quality of the violin
playing.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Fantasien, Variations and Fugue on a Theme
of Handel see SCHOENBERG
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Cello Sonata 1 see Portrait
Johannes
BRAHMS Klavierstücke
see SCHUMANN
Frank
BRIDGE (1879-1941) Orchestral Works Vols 1-6
BBC Ntl O Wales/Richard Hickox rec. 2000-4
CHANDOS CHAN9950, 10012, 10112, 10188, 10246 & 10310
[RB]
This
splendidly conceived, presented and executed Chandos series treats Bridge
with authoritative style and sensitive musicianship.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Unknown
Britten Realisation
and orchestrations of Britten works by Colin Matthews
Sandrine Piau (soprano) Michael Collins (clarinet) Northern Sinf/Thomas
Zehetmair rec. 2008/9
NMC D140 [78:12]
[MG]
Brilliant
orchestrations and realizations which enhance our appreciation of Britten’s
creative potential.
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Cello sonata see
Cello
Rhapsody
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Winter Words see
LEIGHTON
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1895)
Symphony 4
Staatskapelle Dresden/Herbert Blomstedt
DAL SEGNO DSPRCD045 [67:03]
[BBr]
Would
grace any record shelf.
Ole
BULL (1810
- 1880) Violin Concerto, Concerto Fantastico, La Verbena de San
Juan, A Mountain Vision
Annar Follesø (violin) Norwegian Radio O/Ole Kristian Ruud rec.
2009
2L 067SABD 
[69:23]
[AB]
Recently
rediscovered, interesting and attractive substantial works.
Ferruccio
BUSONI (1866-1924)
Piano Concerto, Berceuse élégiaque, Turandot Suite, Sarabande
and Cortège, Sonatinas 3 & 6, Chopin Variations,
John Ogdon, Thomas Adès (piano) Royal PO/Daniell Revenaugh, New
PO/Frederick Prausnitz, PO della Scala/Riccardo Muti rec. 1967-1993
EMI
CLASSICS 4563242 [76:56 + 71:11]
[J-PJ]
This
bumper set will go a long way towards restoring Busoni’s reputation.
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]
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