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The
McCormack Edition Vol. 8 - Acoustic Recordings (1918-1920)
John
McCormack (tenor) Victor O/Josef Pasternack rec. 1918-1920
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.112056 [78:10] 
[JW]
Unruffled
charm and affectionate lingering dominate.
Piano
Transcriptions by Frédéric Meinders Works
by Schumann & Chopin
Frédéric Meinders (piano) rec. 2010
DANACORD DACOCD687 [77:40] 
[JF]
I
thoroughly enjoyed this CD.
Yehudi
Menuhin & George Enescu Concertos by Mendelssohn, Dvorak,
Bach & Wieniawski
Yehudi Menuhin, Colonne Concerts O/George Enescu, Paris Conservatoire
O/George Enescu (violin), Paris SO/Pierre Monteux rec. 1932-38
DUTTON CDVS 1916 [78:46]
[JW]
A
reading notable for its spontaneity and effulgence, a certain youthful
radiance permeating its grooves
Mi
Alma Mexicana (My Mexican Soul)
Americas PO/Alondra de la Parra rec. 2010
SONY CLASSICAL 88697 755552 [66:14 + 59:37] 
[LW]
An
excellent example of the variety in Mexican music.
From
Mozart to Wagner
Lucio
Gallo (baritone) Münchner Rundfunk O/Ulf Schirmer rec. 2009
SOLO VOCE 8553198 [59:59]
[GF]
Not
a disc for voice-fanciers but for those who value truthfulness and insight.
A
Musical Journey - Italy and Austria
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Capella Istropolitana/Barry Wordsworth
NAXOS 
2.110245
[57.49]
[RF]
This
Musical Journey has a wonderful start but loses its way somewhat despite
Mozart’s music.
The
Mystery of Sign. Mouthon
10 Concerti à 5
Ars Antiqua Austria/Gunar Letzbor rec. 2009
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72336 [59:40] [JV]
The
identity of the composer is a mystery, but his music is something to
treasure.
David
Nadien César FRANCK (1822-1890)
Violin Sonata Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Violin Sonata Sergei RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943)
Daisies Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
Sonata for Two Violins
David Nadien (violin) David Hancock (piano) rec. 1968-70
CEMBAL D’AMOUR CD151 [54:51]
[JW]
I’m
sure Nadien adherents will want to get to know these inscriptions.
The
NYFA Collection
INNOVA 223 [5 CDs: 75:09 + 73:29 + 61:47 + 71:13 + 78:32]
[KM]
From
the ridiculous to the sublime, a motley collection of new music, with
some pearls that deserve to be noticed.
Newman Taylor Baker - Drum - Suite –
Life
INNOVA 238
BLOB Earphonious Swamphony
BLOB, Ralph Carney
INNOVA 237
Anne LeBaron 1,2,4,3 - The harp in Improv
Land
INNOVA 236
Barton McLean - Soundworlds
INNOVA 234
[RB]
Four
discs tracking the adventurous leading edge of the avant-garde and taking
risks a few of which pay off.
Officium
Novum
Jan
Garbarek (soprano and tenor saxophones) Hilliard Ens rec. 2009
ECM NEW SERIES 2125 [61:10]
[DC]
More
of the same?
Complete
Organ Works Vol. 5 Works of Radeck, Brunckhorst, Steffens, Hanff,
Ritter & Erich
Friedhelm Flamme (organ) rec. 2006
CPO 777 271-2 
[68:51] [JV]
This
disc gives a good impression of the virtuosity of composers from the
North-German organ school.
Organs
of Edinburgh
DELPHIAN
DCD34100 [4 CDs] [ST]
Snap
it up while you still can.
Path
Works by Yanov-Yanovsky, Pärt, Medyulyanova, Vrebalov, Tavener and
Nadarejishvili
Carducci Qt, Patricia Rozario rec. 2010
LOUTH CONTEMPORARY MUSIC SOCIETY LCMS1001 [65:33]
[GD]
Music
that engages with a wider cultural context, yet has intensity of feeling
and emotional focus.
Portrait
Works
for cello & piano by Boccherini, Faure, Rachmaninov, Popper, Ligeti
& Brahms
Stjepan Hauser (cello) Yoko Misumi (piano)
MERIDIAN CDE 84589 [64:58]
[WH]
A
very enjoyable recital ending with a fine performance of the Brahms
sonata.
André
Previn - A
Celebration
rec.
1975-2002
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8114 [6 CDs: 7:17:00]
[RB]
We
are told that the conductor selected his favourite recordings for this
collection and we have every reason to applaud his good judgement.
Quartet
at the Crossroads – works for saxophone quartet from
the American Composers Alliance
New Hudson Saxophone Qt
RAVELLO RR7805 [61:31]
[RB]
Stimulation
and challenge.
Rarities
of Piano Music at Schloss vor Husum
Daniel
Berman, Boris Bloch, Philip Fowke, Peter Froundjian, Marc-André
Hamelin, Rainer M. Klaas, Michael Ponti, Eckart Sellheim, Roberto Szidon,
Nina Tichman, Peter Westenholz (piano) rec. 1987-88
DANACORD DACOCD299 [73:49 + 78:02]
[JW]
This
most enjoyable collection takes us back to the very beginning of the
Husum Festival.
Rarities
of Piano Music at Schloss vor Husum - Vol. 21 - from the 2009 Festival
Jonathan
Plowright, Artur Pizarro (piano) rec. 2009
DANACORD DACOCD 699 [79:45]
[JF]
Every
note or every piece is performed with sympathy, technical understanding
and enthusiasm.
reVISIONS
Claude
DEBUSSY
(1862-1918) Suite (arr. Beamish) Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Deux mélodies
hébraïques (arr. Tognetti) Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Concertino (arr.
Blok) Ernest BLOCH (1880-1959) From
Jewish Life (arr. Palmer)
Steven Isserlis (cello) Tapiola Sinfonietta/Gábor Takács-Nagy rec. 2009
BIS
BIS-SACD-1782
[58:10]
[DC]
Beautiful
production and performance.
Rhythm
and Texture
Maurice RAVEL (1875–1937) String
Quartet George GERSHWIN (1898–1937)
Lullaby Maria LAVISTA (b.1943) Reflejos
de la noche Javier ALVAREZ (b.1956)
Metro Chabacano Osvaldo GOLIJOV (b.1960)
Tenebrae
Brodsky Qt rec. 2009
ORCHID CLASSICS ORC1000012 [72:37]
[BBr]
I
cannot imagine that there are many who would want the Ravel and Gershwin
in this coupling.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH
Sacred Music in the Renaissance Vol.
2:
Finest Recordings 1990-1999
The Tallis Scholars/Peter Phillips rec. 1990-1999
GIMELL GIMBX302 [4 CDs: 310:27]
[JQ]
An
astonishing bargain.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Sacred
Music in the Renaissance –
Vol. 3 The Tallis Scholars’ Finest Recordings: 2000-2009
Tallis Scholars/Peter Phillips, rec. 2000-9
GIMELL GIMBX 303 [4 CDs: 79:31 + 79:40 + 78:15 + 75:30]
[JQ]
The
final instalment in a wonderful celebration of thirty years of dedicated
and highly skilled recording by The Tallis Scholars and Gimell Records.
Satie’s
Socrate
French Songs
by de Menasce, Chabrier, Honegger, Roussel, Poulenc & Satie
Hugues Cuenod (tenor) Geoffrey Parsons (piano) rec. 1977?
NIMBUS NI 5027 [68:40]
[JW]
Specialists
and generalists on the prowl for unfamiliar French repertoire should
(re)acquaint themselves with this fine disc.
Scandinavian
Classics - Vol. 3
Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Symphonic
Dances, Norwegian Dances Harald SÆVERUD
(1897-1992) Peer Gynt Jean SIBELIUS
(1865-1957) Violin Concerto, Four Lemminkainen Legends
Emil Telmányi (violin) Danish RSO/Erik Tuxen, Thomas Jensen,
Statsradiofoniens SO/Erik Tuxen rec. 1949-53
DANACORD DACOCD 697-98 [75:46 + 78:26]
[RB]
This
is the latest in a line valuable because it brings back into circulation
iconic Danish analogue recordings from the 1940s and 1950s.
The
Second Viennese School
Arnold SCHOENBERG Gurrelieder,
Chamber Symphony 1, Erwartung, Variations for Orchestra, Five Orchestral
Pieces, A Survivor from Warsaw , Brahms Piano Quartet orchestration
Anton
WEBERN Orchestral Pieces Alban
BERG Lulu Suite
City of Birmingham SO/Sir Simon Rattle rec. 1984-2001
EMI CLASSICS 4575622 [5 CDs: 348:39]
[MC]
For
those that find the music of the ‘Second Viennese School’ a listening
challenge there is nothing here that cannot be enjoyed with a combination
of an open mind and a reasonable degree of concentration.
Sextuor
à Vent
Harvey Pittel (alto saxophone), Westwood Wind Quintet, rec. 1966-2010
CRYSTAL
RECORDS CD353 [62:31]
[RB]
A
smoothness that transcends the mechanical aspects of the instrument.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
A Song without Words
- the
legacy of Paul Taffanel
Kenneth Smith (flute) Paul Rhodes (piano) rec. 2008/9
DIVINE ART DDA21371 [3 CDs: 77:41 + 76:41 + 78:14] 
[JS]
Charm,
craftsmanship and a special kind of poetic feeling.
Southern
Harmony
Ohio State University Wind Symphony/Russel Mikkelson rec. 2008-9
NAXOS 8.572342 [60:20]
[BM]
A
mixed bag.
Stabat
Mater -
Motets to the Virgin Mary
Philippe Jaroussky (counter-tenor) Ensemble Artaserse rec. 2005
VIRGIN CLASSICS 6939072 [71:31]
[JW]
This
splendid disc of Marian motets reappears newly re-minted.
A
Surprise in Texas
The 13th International
Van Cliburn Piano Competition
Takacs Qt; Fort Worth SO/James Conlon rec. 2009
EUROARTS 2058168 [KM]
This
documentary is moving and interesting, and it’s a fine way to experience
a top-class music competition and see tomorrow’s pianists.
Synergy
Columbus
State University Wind Ensemble/Robert W. Rumbelow rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.572319 [67:46]
[BM]
A
very satisfying program focused on great solo clarinet playing.
Til
Jomfru Maria (Songs to our Lady)
Elisabeth Meyer-Topsøe (soprano); Birgitte Ebert (organ) rec. 2009
DANACORD DACOCD700 [74.57]
[GH]
For
these reasons it is quite difficult to recommend this CD unless you
are attracted by this particular combination of songs and drawn to the
whole, clever concept of this CD.
A
Touch of France Donato
LOVREGLIO Concert Fantasy on Verdi’s La Traviata
Arthur BENJAMIN Le Tombeau de Ravel
Claude DEBUSSY Première rhapsodie,
Petite pièce Francis
POULENC Clarinet Sonata Camille
SAINT-SAËNS Clarinet Sonata Ernesto
CAVALLINI Carnival of Venice
Anna Hashimoto (clarinet) Daniel Smith (piano)
MERIDIAN CDE84581 [72:56] [OL]
The
program is very attractive, and the performance is brilliant. A new
star of the clarinet.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH A Virtuoso
Faceoff Works by Biber
& Muffat
Petri Tapio Mattson (Baroque violin) Markku Mäkinen (organ) Eero Palviainen
(archlute) rec. 2006/8
ALBA ABCD311 [73:46]
[DC]
Duet
or duel? – who cares, everyone’s a winner here.
Wolf
Rounds Michael DAUGHERTY
(b.1954) Ladder to the Moon David MASLANKA
(b.1943) Concerto for Trombone and Wind Ensemble Christopher
ROUSE (b.1949) Wolf Rounds
Frost Wind Ensemble at the University of Miami/Gary Green rec. 2007
NAXOS
8.572439 [70:43]
[BM]
Three
excellent contemporary works, deserving of a wide audience.
York2:
One piano Four hands Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
Le sacre du printemps Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Rapsodie espagnole Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
La mer
Fiona York, John York (piano) rec. 2010
NIMBUS NI5866 [75:21]
[OL]
One
of those performances that justify the existence of four-hand piano
transcriptions of orchestral music.
BOOK REVIEWS
Canto
di Tenore
An operatic novel by M G da Mota. Formats: ePub, Mobi; ebooksforpleasure.com
$8.99 ISBN: 978-1-61766-032-0 [PCW]
An
operatic, electronic page turner
Organs
of Edinburgh
Author not identified, 88pp £59.99. ISBN 801918341007 [ST]
Snap
it up while you still can.
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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