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Alfredo
CASELLA (1883-1947)
Symphony 1, Concerto for strings, piano, timpani and percussion 
Desiree Scuccuglia (piano) Antonio Ceravolo (percussion) Roma SO/Francesco
La Vecchia rec. 2008/9
NAXOS 8.572413 [66:22] 
[JW]
Two
sides to Casella: striving and romance-hungry and terse and increasingly
astringent.
Alfredo
CASELLA (1883-1947) Symphony 2, Scarlattiana
Martin
Roscoe (piano) BBC PO/Gianandrea Noseda rec. 2009/10
CHANDOS CHAN10605 
[76:58] 
[DM]
Is
this flac worth the extra hassle and expense? Emphatically, yes.
Mario
CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO
(1895-1968)
Shakespeare Overtures - Vol. 1
West Australian SO/Andrew Penny rec. 1994,
NAXOS ITALIAN CLASSICS 8.572500 [65:07]
[DM]
The
music itself is unremarkable, although I do wonder whether a better
band would bring more life and sparkle to these pieces.
Qigang
CHEN (b.1951) Wu Xing: Five Elements see
MAHLER
Chopin
Celebration
Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Piano concertos 1 & 2, Grande valses, Valses
Marek Drewnowski (piano) Polish National RSO of Katowice/Antoni Wit
NVC
ARTS 5051865 710622 [112:20] 
[RMay]
For
anyone who enjoys spending an evening at their neighbours’ house
looking at slide shows of the latest holiday.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Luigi CHERUBINI (1760–1842)
Requiem
Schola Gregoriana Tübingen, Kammerchor Stuttgart, Hofkapelle Stuttgart/Frieder
Bernius rec. 2010
CARUS 83.227 
[42:12] 
[MC]
A
superb achievement for Frieder Bernius and Carus.
Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Polonaise see BEETHOVEN
Edward
Elzear ‘Zez’ CONFREY
(1895-1971) Piano Music
Mordecai Shehori (piano) rec. 2009
CEMBAL D’AMOUR CD147 [76:51]
[JW]
Sensitive
and authoritative. Brio and charm predominate but deeper feelings are
also on show.
Arnold
COOKE (1906-2005)
Chamber Music Piano Sonatas 1 & 2, Three Songs of
Innocence, Flute Quartet, Nocturnes
Raphael Terroni (piano) Melanie Lodge (soprano) Jonathan Jaggard (horn)
Patrick Williams (flute) Warren Zielinski (violin) Morgan Goff (viola)
Justin Pearson (cello) Lorraine Schulman (clarinet) rec. 2008
DUTTON CDLX7247 [76:32]
[JW]
Cooke
emerges as a vitalising chamber composer. And how pleasing to get the
piano sonatas after so long a wait.
Ronald
CORP (b.
1951) Songs
Mark
Stone (baritone) Simon Lepper (piano) rec. 2010
STONE RECORDS 5060192780031 [73:20]
[GHu]
There
are thirty-nine songs on this disc and it is a tribute to all involved
that interest very seldom wanes. More please.
William
CROFT (1678-1727) Keyboard Music
Colin Booth (harpsichord) rec. 1998
SOUNDBOARD SBCD 991 [63:44]
[JV]
Colin
Booth has done Croft's music a great favour with these fine performances.
Alvin
CURRAN (b.1938)
Solo Works - The 1970s: Songs and Views from the Magnetic
Garden, Light Flowers Dark Flowers, Canti Illuminati I
& II, The Works
rec. 1974-82
NEW WORLD RECORDS 80713-2 [3 CDs: 49:56 + 78:02 + 64:25]
[DC]
Valuable
and influential - the bonus is these are nice to listen to as well.
Alvin
CURRAN (b.1938)
Maritime Rites
rec. 1985
NEW WORLD RECORDS 806252 [76:15 + 65:19]
[DC]
Remarkable
and stimulating.
Michael
DAUGHERTY (b.1954) Ladder to the Moon see
Wolf Rounds
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Cello sonata see
Cello
Rhapsody
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Suite pour Violoncelle et Orchestre
see reVISIONS
Claude
DEBUSSY La mer see
York2
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Première rhapsodie see
French
Clarinet Rhapsody
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Violin
Sonata see Nadien
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gaetano DONIZETTI
(1797–1848) L’Elisir d’amore
Maria Bayo, Rolando Villazon, SO & Ch Gran Teatre del Liceu/Daniele
Callegari, rec. 2005
VIRGIN CLASSICS 2672779 [152:00]
[GF]
So
charming, so entertaining and so human.
Gaetano
DONIZETTI
(1797–1848) Lucia
di Lammermoor
Beverly Sills (soprano) Luciano Pavarotti (tenor) Ch & O San Francisco
Opera/Jesús López-Cobos rec. live, San Francisco Opera rec. 1972
GOLDEN MELODRAM GM 5.0072 [73:59 + 44:20]
[GF]
Only
the Simon Estes Fan Club need consider this issue.
Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797–1848) Lucia di Lammermoor
Desiree Rancatore, Bergamo Musica Festival Gaetano Donizetti Ch &
O/Antonino Fogliani rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.660255-56 [62.33 + 70.07]
[RH]
Too
much of a danger that you will listen to it and wonder what all the
fuss is about.
Franz
DOPPLER (1821-1883)
& Karl DOPPLER (1825-1900)
Music for two flutes
Claudi Arimany and Shigenori Kudo (flutes); Alan Branch (piano) rec.
2007
SAPHIR LVC1119 [73:33]
[JS]
An
interesting and enterprising series.
Antonín
DVORÁK
(1841
– 1904) Cello Concerto see
Beecham
Antonín
DVORÁK
(1841
– 1904) Violin Concerto see
Menuhin
& Enescu
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Edward ELGAR
(1857-1934)
Violin Concerto
Nikolaj Znaider (violin) Staatskapelle Dresden/Sir Colin Davis rec.
2009
BMG-RCA RED SEAL 88697 605882 [49:35]
[MG]
An
exceptional, finely rounded performance.
Roderick
ELMS (b. 1951) Concertino for Celesta; Four Seasonal
Nocturnes; Cygncopations; Chiarore del Mare; El Paean; Elegie; Gazelle;
Il Cygnet; Fandango Fantastico; Back to Bach
Roderick Elms (celesta, piano) Royal PO/Stephen Bell rec. 2005/6
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7175 [66.13]
[EM]
Attractive,
unashamedly light, tonal and romantic music.
George
ENESCU (1881-1955) Suite 2 see BEETHOVEN
Johann
Friedrich FASCH (1688-1758) Overture see
HEINICHEN
Gabriel
FAURE
(1845-1924) Aprčs un Ręve see
Portrait
Howard
FERGUSON (1908-1999)
Piano Sonata, Discovery, Five Bagatelles, Partita
Raphael Terroni, Vadim Peaceman (piano)† Phillida Bannister (alto)
rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572289 [60:11]
[RB]
This
is a most attractive recital with Discovery lending contrast.
Brian
FERNEYHOUGH (b.1943)
Terrain, No time (at all), La Chúte D'Icare,
Incipits, Les Froissements d'Ailes De Gabriel
Graeme Jennings (violin); Geoffrey Morris (guitar); Ken Murray (guitar);
Carl Rosman (clarinet); Erkki Veltheim (viola) ELISION Ens/Franck Ollu,
Jean Deroyer
KAIROS 0013072KAI [60:09]
[GD]
Full
of life and impulsive energy.
César
FRANCK (1822-1890)
Violin Sonata see Nadien
César
FRANCK (1822-1890) Piano Quintet see
Hymns
and Prayers
Luís
de FREITAS BRANCO (1890-1955) Orchestral Works
- Vol. 3: Symphony 3, The Death of Manfred, Suite Alentejana
2
RTÉ Ntl SO/Álvaro Cassuto rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572370 [72:13]
[GH]
The
music is highly recommendable and at Naxos price a gift.
Peter
FRIBBINS (b.
1969) Piano Trio, String Quartet 1, Cello Sonata, Clarinet Quintet
Angell
Trio, Allegri String Qt, Raphael Wallfisch (cello) John York (piano)
James Campbell (clarinet) rec. 2004-8
GUILD GMCD7343 [70:03]
[MS]
Peter
Fribbins' approachable and melodic style is somewhat unusual and likely
to appeal to a wide audience.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Oskar FRIED (1871-1941)
Prelude and Double Fugue, Die Auswanderer, Fantasy on themes
from Hansel & Gretel, Verklärte Nacht
Berlin RSO/Matthias Foremny rec. 2008-9
CAPRICCIO CAP5043 [60:21]
[MC]
A
composer of worth. For those that enjoy something away from the mainstream
this release demands to be heard.
Giovanni
GABRIELI (c.1554/1557–1612) 3 pieces see
MONTEVERDI
Jack
GALLAGHER (b.1947) Diversions Overture; Berceuse; Sinfonietta;
Symphony in One Movement
London SO/JoAnn Falletta rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.559652 [63:47]
[NB]
Simply
put, many other discs must surely demand your consideration first before
this one.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Gershwin by Grofé: Symphonic Jazz George
GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Includes “I Got Rhythm”
Variations, Rhapsody in Blue
Lincoln Mayorga (piano) Al Gallodoro (clarinet/bass clarinet/alto saxophone)
Harmonie Ens/Steven Richman rec. 2004-7
HARMONIA MUNDI HMU 907492 [54:40]
[BR]
Even
my neighbors agree: it’s the recording of the year!
Carlo
GESUALDO da Venosa (1566-1613)
Madrigals Book 1
Delitiae Musicae/Marco Longhini rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.570548 [56:15]
[JV]
Approach
this disc with considerable caution.
Armstrong
GIBBS (1889-1960) Complete Piano Trios
London Piano Trio rec. 2006?
ALTAMIRA ABI230105 [44:05]
[RB]
Shortish
playing time but warmly recorded and passionate readings of music from
a master of the understated pastoral lyrical persuasion.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Lodovico GIUSTINI
(1685-1743)
Sonate da Cimbalo di piano e forte
Wolfgang Brunner (fortepiano) rec. 2009
CPO 777 207-2 [71:10]
[JV]
The
copy of a Cristofori fortepiano of 1726 and the sonatas by Giustini
are an ideal match under the hands of Wolfgang Brunner.
Johann
Gottlieb GRAUN (1703-1771) Overture see
HEINICHEN
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Christoph
GRAUPNER (1683-1760) Orchestral Works - Vol.
3
Nova Stravaganza/Siegbert Rampe rec. 2004/9
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM 3411628-2 [60:51]
[JV]
This
disc proves once again that Graupner was his own man - Nova Stravaganza
delivers excellent performances.
Christoph
GRAUPNER (1683-1760) Overture see
HEINICHEN
Francisco
GUERRERO (1528-1599) Missa Congratulamini mihi, Ave
Maria a 4, Regina Caeli a 8, Dum esset rex, Maria Magdalena & altera
Maria, Post dies octo a 5, Regina Caeli a 4, Thomas
CRECQUILLON (c.1505-c.1557) Congratulamini mihi
Cardinall’s Musick/Andrew Carwood rec. 2009
HYPERION CDA67836 [65:09]
[GH]
Cardinall’s
Musick will not disappoint.
Christopher
GUNNING
(b. 1944) The
Film and Television Music
BBC Philharmonic/Rumon Gamba rec. 2009/10
CHANDOS CHAN10625 [75:50]
[RB]
Romantic
music for the screen - smooth and touching.
Johan
HALVORSEN (1864
- 1935) Entry March of the Boyars, Andante religioso, Suite
from Mascarade, Symphony 1
Marianne Thorsen (violin) Bergen PO/Neeme Järvi rec. 2009
CHANDOS CHAN10584 [76:48]
[AB]
A
most enjoyable disc.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann HALVORSEN
(1864-1935) Orchestral Works - Vol. 2 Suite ancienne, Three Norwegian dances,
Air norvégien, Symphony 2
Marianne Thorsen (violin) Bergen PO/Neeme Järvi rec. 2009
CHANDOS CHAN10614 [75:19]
[DJB]
If
you respond to Dvorak, Borodin and Bruch, I’m sure that you will be
thoroughly entertained.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Marc-André
HAMELIN (b.
1961) 12 Études in all the minor keys, Con intimissimo
sentimento, Theme and Variations
Marc-André Hamelin (piano) rec. 1998-2009
HYPERION CDA67789 [76:10]
[DM]
It’s
always a pleasure to hear artists who wear their virtuosity so lightly
- one of the finest piano records of the year.
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Flavio, Re de’ Longobardi
Tim Mead (counter-tenor) Rosemary Joshua (soprano) Early Opera Company/Christian
Curnyn rec. 2010
CHANDOS CHAN 0773(2) [77:03 + 69:20]
[JS]
In
a really committed performance like this Flavio stands out as one of
Handel’s best operas.
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Berenice, Regina d’Egitto
Klara Ek; Ingela Bohlin; Franco Fagioli; Romina Basso, Il Complesso
Barocco/Alan Curtis rec. 2009
VIRGIN CLASSICS 6285362 [3 CDs: 60:29 + 51:14 + 54:52]
[JW]
Performances
a little variable but never worryingly so - a flawed opera fully deserving
of this fine recording.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Lou HARRISON
(1917 – 2003) Music for Orchestra, Ensemble and Gamelan
Brooklyn PO, Cabrillo Music Festival O, Dennis Russell Davies
NIMBUS 2571/74 [4 CDs: 75:51 + 74:08 + 61:20 + 68:12]
[BBr]
On
no account, should you miss this very special issue.
Jonathan
HARVEY (b. 1939) Scena; Jubilus; Speakings
Elizabeth Layton (violin) Scott Dickinson (viola) BBC Scottish SO/Ilan
Volkov rec. 2009
AEON AECD1090 [55:22]
[HC]
A
must for all admirers of Harvey’s music.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Joseph HAYDN
(1732
- 1809) String Quartet 'The Rider' Felix
MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY (1809-1847) String Quartet No.
6 Josef SUK (1874-1935) Meditation
on the Old Czech Hymn St. Wenceslas
Graffe Qt rec. 2009
STUDIO MATOUS MK0807 [57:07]
[RB]
The
playing is amongst the most sheerly beautiful I have heard from any
string quartet.
Johann
David HEINICHEN (1683-1729)
Overture Christoph GRAUPNER (1683-1760)
Overture for 3 chalumeaux, strings and bc Johann
Friedrich FASCH (1688-1758) Overture for two orchestras
Johann Gottlieb GRAUN (1703-1771)
Overture
Cappella Coloniensis/Hans-Martin Linde rec. 1987-91
PHOENIX
173 [66:03]
[JV]
These
recordings from the archives of WDR Cologne are worthwhile because of
the repertoire - the performances are not top notch.
Hans
Werner HENZE (b. 1926) Ondine
Miyako Yoshida, Edward Watson, Royal Opera House O/Barry Wordsworth,
rec. 2009
OPUS ARTE OA 1030 D [114:00]
[DM]
A
wonderful DVD and a most desirable addition to any ballet collection.
Hans
Werner HENZE (b. 1926) Hans Werner Henze and the
Requiem
Reinhold Friedrich (trumpet), Dimitri Vassilakis (piano), Bochumer Symphoniker/Steven
Sloane rec. 2010
CYBELE RECORDS 3SACDKiG003
[3 SACDs : 67:24 + 49:19 + 42:19]
[DC]
A
historically significant document.
Alun
HODDINOTT
(1929–2008) Songs
Claire
Booth (soprano) Nicky Spence (tenor) Jeremy Huw Williams (baritone)
Andrew Matthews-Owen (piano) Michael Pollock (piano) rec. 2009/10
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS437CD [60:07]
[MS]
The
only collection of all Hoddinott's solo vocal music for piano currently
available. Technically expert. Interpretatively convincing. A little
treat.
York
HÖLLER (b. 1944) Sphären; Der ewige Tag
WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln/Semyon Bychkov rec.
2001
NEOS 11039 [62:11]
[HC]
Two
substantial scores by a most distinguished composer whose music is still
too little known.
Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934) The Planets
London PO/Vladimir Jurowski rec. 2009
LPO LIVE LPO0047 [43:06]
[MC]
A
rip-roaring performance that would enhance any collection.
Johann
Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837) Mathilde von Guise
Kristine
Gailite; Philippe Do; Pierre-Yves Pruvot; Hjordis Thebault; Choir Alea;
Solamente Naturali/Didier Talpain rec. 2008
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94043 [57.00 + 45.09]
[RH]
At
Brilliant’s budget price, highly recommendable for anyone interested
in what was happening to German opera in the period between Beethoven
and Wagner.
John
IRELAND
(1879-1962)
Violin Sonatas 1 & 2, Cello Sonata
Lucy Gould (violin); Alice Neary (cello); Benjamin Frith (piano) rec.
2009
NAXOS 8.572497 [79:05] [JW]
Plenty
of character and perceptive musicianship.
Charles
IVES (1874-1954) Piano Sonatas 1 & 2
Jeremy Denk (piano), Tara Helen O'Connor (flute) rec. 2010
THINK DENK MEDIA TDM2567 [73:43]
[GD]
Not
easy but staggeringly original and a lot of fun too.
Gordon
JACOB (1895-1984) Chamber Music with Recorder
Annabel
Knight (recorder); Robin Bigwood (harpsichord and piano); Maggini Qt;
Fontanella rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572364 [74:41]
[GO]
A
fine tribute to the composer. Sparkling performances.
Nicolň
JOMMELLI (1714-1774) Le Lamentazioni del profeta Geremia
per il Mercoledi Santo
Gérard Lesne (contr.), Véronique Gens (sop.), Il Seminario Musicale/Christophe
Rousset, rec. 1996?
VIRGIN CLASSICS 6286282 [73:58]
[BW]
Affective
music in good performances – well worth considering, but beware the
lack of texts
Dimitri
KABALEVSKY (1904-1987)
Piano Sonatas 1-3, Recitative and Rondo, Four Preludes
Arthur Pizarro (piano)
REGIS RRC1324 [71:02]
[WK]
Spectacular
pianism in the service of some surprisingly good music.
Giya
KANCHELI (b.1935) Silent Prayer see
Hymns
and Prayers
Tolga
KASHIF (b.
1962) The Genesis Suite
Freddy Kempf (piano) Tomo Keller (violin) Caroline Dale (cello) London
SO/Tolga Kashif rec. 2010
LIGHTSONG MEDIA GROUP LMGRCD1 [72:58]
[JW]
Strongly
engaging music-making.
Aram
KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Piano Concerto; Violin Concerto;
Spartacus excerpts; Masquerade Suite
Mindru Katz, Cristina Ortiz, David Oistrakh; London SO, Philharmonia
O/Aram Khachaturian; London PO/Sir Adrian Boult; Hollywood Bowl SO/Alfred
Newman rec. 1954-77
EMI CLASSICS 6278902 [78:43 + 72:33]
[J-PJ]
Time-fillers
rather than notable musical works yet this Oistrakh recording places
the violin concerto on a much higher shelf of fine concertos.
Józef
KOFFLER (1896-1944?) String Trio, Die Liebe
Konstanty REGAMEY (1907-1982) Quintet
Barbara
Hannigan (soprano), Members of the Ebony Band/Werner Herbers rec. 2007/9
CHANNEL
CLASSICS CCS31010 [60:13]
[DC]
Step
outside the usual repertoire and discover some rare gems.
Édouard
LALO (1823
-1892) Symphonie Espagnole Henri VIEUXTEMPS
(1820-1881) Violin Concerto 5 Camille SAINT-SAËNS
(1835-1921) Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso
Shlomo Mintz (violin) Israel PO/Zubin Mehta rec. 1988
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94070 [60:01]
[BBr]
A
solid introduction to all three works.
Kenneth
LEIGHTON (1929-1988)
Earth, Sweet Earth Benjamin BRITTEN
(1913-1976) Winter Words
James Gilchrist (tenor) Anna Tilbrook (piano) rec. 2008 DDD
LINN CKD329 [63:46]
[JF]
An
ideal and imaginative pairing.
Lowell
LIEBERMANN
(b.1961)
Flute concerto Georges LÜE
(1858-1948) Fantasie Francis
POULENC (1899-1963) Flute Sonata (orch. L. Berkeley) Carl
NIELSEN (1865-1931): Flute concerto
Katherine Bryan (flute) Royal Scottish Ntl O/Paul Daniel rec. 2009
LINN CKD 367
[64:11]
[GD]
Sheer
musicality - the result is a must for flute fans and audiophiles alike.
György
LIGETI (1923-2006)
Sonata for Solo Cello see Portrait
Stefan
LINDGREN (b.
1960) Chamber Music - Music for the Environment 2010 Cello,
flute & bassoon sonatas, Songs
Stefan Lindgren (piano), Elemer Lavotha (violoncello) Kinga Práda
(flute) Knut Sönstevold (bassoon) Sten Niclasson (baritone)
NOSAG CD177 [73:38]
[GF]
Incisive
rhythms and sharp contrasts.
Georges
LÜE (1858-1948)
Fantasie see LIEBERMANN
Hans
Christian LUMBYE (1810-1874) The Best of Lumbye
Tivoli
SO/Giordano Bellincampi, David Riddell, Tamás Vetö
NAXOS 8.556843 [71:21]
[JS]
Every
one is a little masterpiece of its genre.
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]
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