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John
CAGE
(1912-1992) 108,
109 & 110 
Chance Philharmonic
OGREOGRESS 884502966343 24bit/96kHz 
[128:54] [DC]
Like
the eternal winding down of some vast sonic clock.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Joseph CANTELOUBE
(1879-1957)
Songs of the Auvergne
Netania Davrath (soprano) Unnamed O/Pierre de la Roche, Gershon Kingsley
rec. 1963/1966
VANGUARD CLASSICS ATM-CD-1189 [68.04 + 51.29] [RB]
One
of the last century’s greatest recordings.
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
Joseph CANTELOUBE (1879-1957)
Počme see Rare
French works
Pau
(Pablo) CASALS (1876-1973)
Sant Martí del Canigó see TOLDRŔ
Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Compete Etudes
Wilhelm Backhaus (piano) rec. 1928
PROFIL PH10070 [53:16]
[JW]
Sadly,
excessively filtered and treble starved … a cloudy affair lacking tonal
definition and air.
Fryderyk
CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Piano Works
Maria Gabrys (piano) rec. 2010
ARCODIVA UP 0139-2 131 [49.10]
[RBe]
Delightfully
characterised with artful phrasing and rubato.
Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Complete
Songs
Olga Pasichnyk (soprano) Natalya Pasichnyk (piano) rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572499 {57:04] [GF]
The
recording is fully worthy of the interpretations and anyone wanting
a recording of this lesser known part of Chopin’s oeuvre need look no
further.
John
COPRARIO (c.1570 - 1626) Funeral Teares; Songs
of Mourning; Consort Music
The Consort of Musicke/Anthony Rooley rec. 1977-78
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 2298/9 [48:45 + 53:43]
[JV]
A
compelling portrait of John Coprario who was a true master and an important
link in English music history.
Ronald
CORP (b.1951) String Quartets 1 & 2, Country
Matters, for tenor and string quartet
Mark Wilde (tenor) Maggini Quartet rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572578 [73.23]
[Byz]
Adroit
and imaginative.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH George CRUMB (b.1929)
Complete Crumb Edition - Vol.15 The Ghosts of Alhambra; Voices
from a Forgotten World
Jamie van Eyck (mezzo) Patrick Manson (baritone) David Starobin (guitar)
Daniel Druckman (percussion) Orchestra 2001/James Freeman rec. 2008/10
BRIDGE
RECORDS 9335 [67:26]
[DC]
Superb
release – atmospheric and highly original.
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Violin Sonata see FRANCK
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934) A Mass of Life, Hassan Suite
Frederick Riddle (viola) London PCh, BBC Ch, Royal PO/Sir Thomas Beecham,
rec. 1952-6
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC270 [66:34 + 63:66]
[RB]
This
transfer of the Mass and to some degree of the Hassan Suite cannot match
the Sony reissue from 2001.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934) In a Summer Garden
see
SCHUBERT
Max
DOEHLEMANN (b.1970) New Jewish Songs
Andrea Chudak (soprano) Esther Kontarsky (cantillation) Max Doehlemann
(piano)
ANTES EDITION BM-CD 31.9267 [54:50]
[JW]
A
cross-currency that proves fruitful and inventive.
Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797
-1848) Maria Stuarda
Fiorenza Cedolins (soprano) Sonia Ganassi (mezzo) José Bros (tenor)
Ch & O Teatro La Fenice/Fabrizio Maria Carminati rec. live, 2009
UNITEL
CLASSICA/C MAJOR 704208 
[140:00] [RMK]
A
distinguished cast in a strong production.
Antonin
DVORÁK
(1841-1904) Symphony 9, Carnival Overture
San Francisco SO/Seiji Ozawa rec. 1975
PENTATONE SACD PTC 5186 168 [54:33]
[DB]
Decently
played but sluggish performances in good sound.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Antonin DVORÁK
(1841-1904) Cello Concerto, Piano Concerto
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) Frantisek Maxian (piano) Czech PO/Vaclav
Talich rec. 1951-2
REGIS RRC1368 [76:52]
[RB]
Two
historic recordings of Dvorák concertos in glorious interpretations.
Antonín
DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904)
Complete Works for Cello and Orchestra Concertos 1 & 2, Silent
Woods, Rondo
Tomáš Jamník (cello) Prague RSO/Tomáš
Netopil rec. 2010
SUPRAPHON SU4034-2 [46:14 + 43:39]
[LW]
Recommended
for fans of the cellist and Dvořák completists.
Brian
EASDALE (1909-1995)
Film music
BBC Ntl Ch & O Wales/Rumon Gamba rec. 2010
CHANDOS CHAN10636 [76:42]
[JF]
This
present excellent CD must surely act as a catalyst for a deeper exploration
of Easdale’s music.
Edward
ELGAR
(1857-1934) Violin
Concerto, Polonia
Tasmin Little (violin) Royal Scottish Ntl O/Sir Andrew Davis rec. 2010
CHANDOS
CHSA5083 
[74:52] [ST]
Outstanding
throughout.
Edward
ELGAR (1857–1934) Symphony 2, Enigma Variations
London PO/Sir Georg Solti rec. 1975/9
ICA CLASSICS ICAD5011 [84:00]
[RB]
A
chance to find out what all the fuss was about with Solti’s headlong
passionate Elgar.
Heinrich
Wilhelm ERNST
(1812-1865) Complete
Music for Violin and Piano - Volume 1
Sherban Lupu (violin) Ian Hobson (piano) rec. 2010,
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0118 [76:20]
[JW]
A
formidable start to Toccata’s Ernst series.
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Violin Concerto see
Rare French works
Grzegorz
FITELBERG
(1879-1953)
Complete works for violin and piano
Andrzej Gebski (violin) Soyeon Lim (piano) rec. 2010
ACTE PRÉALABLE AP0207 [62:28] 
[JW]
Gebski
and Lim bring this unpretentious, youthful music to life
César
FRANCK
(1822-1890) String
Quartet
London String Qt rec. 1928
ST LAURENT STUDIO YSL 78-033 [44:25] [JW]
A
reading of sweep and vitality, of sensitivity and command.
César
FRANCK (1822-1890) Violin Sonata Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Violin Sonata Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Violin Sonata
Shlomo Mintz (violin) Yefim Bronfman (piano) rec. 1985
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94160 [58:04]
[OL]
Will
appeal to those who prefer to hear the lyrical rather than dramatic
side of this music.
Girolamo
FRESCOBALDI (1583-1643)
Harpsichord and Virginals Vol 3
Richard Lester (harpsichord)
NIMBUS NI5870 [77:29]
[Byz]
Further
evidence of Frescobaldi as one of the greatest keyboard composers of
the early 1600s.
Niels
Wilhelm GADE (1817-1890) Complete Piano Trios
Trio Parnassus, Thomas Selditz (viola) rec. 2009/10
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG3031665-2 [64:04]
[GD]
This
music sits somewhere between the Classical and the Romantic.
Baldassare
GALUPPI (1706-1785) Keyboard Sonatas - Vol. 1
Matteo
Napoli (piano) rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572263 [62:19]
[Byz]
Galuppi
is an original and Napoli's performance makes this a good choice for
connoisseurs of 18th century keyboard music.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH John GARDNER
(b.1917) Music
for Brass and Organ F
Paul Archibald (trumpet); Cosmopolitan Brass/Chris Gardner Stephen King
(organ); (conductor): rec. 2010
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0048 [67:10][JS]
This
music has given me immense pleasure and I am very keen to get to know
more of this strangely under-performed and recorded composer.
George
GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Rhapsody in Blue, Catfish
Row, Concerto for piano and orchestra, Rialto Ripples
Stefano Bollani (piano) Gewandhausorchester/Riccardo Chailly rec. 2010
DECCA
478 2739 [73:37]
[DC]
This
will do just fine!
Giorgio
Federico GHEDINI (1892-1965) Complete Piano Music
- 2
Massimo Bianchi (piano) rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572330 [65:07]
[JW]
Bianchi
proves he has the full measure of the writing and the imagination and
tact to convey it to the listener.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865-1937) Complete Concertos
Rachel Barton-Pine (violin) Alexander Romanovsky (piano) Wen-Sinn Yang
(cello) Marc Chisson (saxophone) Alexey Serov (horn) Russian Ntl O/Jose
Serebrier rec. 2010
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 679465 [56:11 + 57:48]
[RB]
Straight
to the top of the recommended versions of the concertos. I cannot imagine
this set being surpassed, so strong and sympathetic are these performances
and recordings.
Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865-1936)
Elegy in G minor Op.44 see Špelina
Benjamin
GODARD
(1849-1895)
Piano Trios 1 & 2
Trio Parnassus rec. 2009
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG3031615-2 [59:47]
[SV]
Enthusiastically
recommended, particularly to devotees of the French Romantics.
Henryk
GÓRECKI (1933-2010)
The 3 String Quartets
Royal Str Qt: Izabella Szalaj-Zimak (violin) Elwira Przybylowska (violin)
Marek Czech (viola) Michal Pepol (cello) rec. 2010
HYPERION CDA67812 [48:47 + 55:54]
[RB]
Utterly
committed playing of shockingly indefatigable violence and equally concentrated
introspection … devastatingly inventive … very emotional.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Christoph
GRAUPNER
(1683-1760)
Concertos
for bassoon, strings and bc
Sergio Azzolini (bassoon) Ens il capriccio/Friedemann Wezel rec. 2007
CARUS
83.443 [73:16] [JV]
A
wonderful disc which brings the unique qualities of Graupner's music
to the fore.
Paul
GRAENER (1872-1944)
Suite, Chamber Music Poem, Piano Trio, Theodor-Storm-Music
Albrecht Pöhl (baritone), Hyperion-Trio rec. 2010
CPO 777 599-2 [62:42]
[RB]
A
serious composer in tune with his tragic and turbulently murderous times.
Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Chasing the Butterfly
Sigurd
Slĺttebrekk, Edvard Grieg (piano) Oslo PO/Michail Jurowski rec. 1903-2009
SIMAX
PSC1299 [79:10 + 29:05]
[DC]
Grieg
from a different perspective – utterly fascinating.
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
Ernest
GUIRAUD (1837-1892) Caprice see Rare
French works
Ernesto
HALFFTER (1905-1989) Carmen (music
for Jacques Feyder's 1926 silent film)
Frankfurt RSO/Mark Fitz-Gerald rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572260 [66:58]
[Byz]
Powerful,
poignant, sensual and sprinkled liberally with local colour … brings
to mind the colours and expressiveness of Falla.
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685 - 1759) Alexander's Feast or
the Power of Musick
Sophie Bevan (soprano) Ed Lyon (tenor) William Berger (bass) Ludus Baroque/Richard
Neville-Towle rec. 2010
DELPHIAN RECORDS DCD 34094 [52:58 + 29:47]
[JV]
A
fine recording, despite some stylistic shortcomings.
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685 - 1759) Orlando
Patricia Bardon (mezzo) Rosemary Joshua (soprano) Hilary Summers (contralto)
Les Arts Florissants/William Christie rec. 1996
ERATO 2564 67743-0 [3 CDs: 65.99 + 51.34 + 52.13]
[RH]
A
strong performance, beautifully sung and sensitively played.
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Aci, Galatea e Polifemo
Ruth Rosique (soprano) Sara Mingardo (mezzo) Antonio Abete (bass) Cappella
della Pietŕ de’Turchini/Antonio Florio rec. 2009
DYNAMIC 33645 [98:00]
[BW]
Too
much nonsense in the direction mars a decent, often good, performance.
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685 - 1759) Alexander's Feast
Sophie Bevan (soprano) Ed Lyon (tenor) William Berger (bass) Ludus Baroque/Richard
Neville-Towle rec. 2010
DELPHIAN RECORDS DCD 34094 [52:58 + 29:47]
[JV]
A
fine recording, despite some stylistic shortcomings.
Roy
HARRIS (1898-1979) Complete Piano Music
Geoffrey
Burleson (piano) rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.559664 [56.38]
[GH]
Harris
fans or those with an especial interest in American piano music will
find this well worth the small investment.
Hans
Werner HENZE (b. 1926) Guitar Music - Vol. 2
Franz Halász (guitar) Anna Torge (mandolin) Cristina Bianchi (harp),
ens oktopus/Konstantia Gourzi, rec. 2003-8
NAXOS 8.557345 [70:24]
[DM]
A
real mix of music: very accessible to somewhat austere. A most rewarding
disc from start to finish.
Hans
Werner HENZE (b 1926) Boulevard Solitude - Sinfonische Intermezzi
(4) see
DALLAPICCOLA
Bernard
HERRMANN (1911 - 1975) Echoes, Souvenirs de
Voyage, Psycho Suite
Julian Bliss (clarinet) Tippett Qt rec. 2010
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD234 [56.59]
[RB]
Scudding
anxiety, ascending tension, broodingly nurtured violence and terror
are all faithfully articulated.
Franz Anton HOFFMEISTER (1754-1812)
Viola Concertos see STAMITZ
Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934)
The Planets, The Perfect Fool, Egdon Heath, A Moorside
Suite, Suites 1 & 2, St. Paul’s Suite, A Fugal Concerto,
London PO/Bernard Herrmann, Sir Adrian Boult; Eastman Wind Ens/Frederick
Fennell, St Paul CO/Christopher Hogwood rec. 1955-92
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 2323 [57:02 + 78:46]
Twelve Humbert Songs, The Hymn of Jesus
Purcell Singers/Imogen Holst, BBC SO/Sir Adrian Boult rec. 1962-65
DECCA
ELOQUENCE 480 2327 [68:14]
Four Songs, Terzetto, Six Choruses
Peter Pears (tenor), Purcell Singers, English CO/Imogen Holst rec.
1965-66
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 2328 [58:26]
Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda, Sāvitri, Seven Part-Songs
Purcell Singers; English CO/Imogen Holst rec. 1965. ADD
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 2329 [69:04]
[RB]
Fine
1960s vintage Holst recordings restoring at bargain price many works
still rarely encountered. The Herrmann Planets is controversial but
never dull.
Michael
HURD (1928-2006) Pop Cantatas - Jonah-Man
Jazz, Prodigal, Rooster Rag, Swingin' Samson, Captain Coram's Kids.
John
Addison (narrator) Alexander Wells (piano) New London Orch/New London
Children's Ch/Ronald Corp rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572505 [67:02]
[RB]
A
bit old-fashioned perhaps but evinces real pleasure. Wittily engaging
music-making.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Vincent
d’INDY (1851-1931)
Orchestral Works - Vol. 4 Počme des rivages - Suite symphonique
en quatre tableaux (ed. Cyril Bongers) Symphonie italienne
Iceland SO/Rumon Gamba rec. 2010
CHANDOS CHAN 10660 [76:53]
[DM]
Sheer,
unadulterated pleasure. Go on, treat yourself.
Gordon
JACOB
(1895-1984) Complete
Music for Viola and Orchestra
Helen Callus (viola) BBC Concert O/Stephen Bell rec. 2010
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX7258 [73:36] [GO]
Another
feather in the Dutton cap.
Leoš
JANÁČEK
(1854-1928)
On an Overgrown Path, In the Mists, Piano Sonata
Andrea Pestalozza (piano) rec. 1990
DYNAMIC DM8010 [78:38]
[SA]
You
would not be disappointed with this.
Robert
JOHNSON (c.1583-1633) The Prince’s Almain and
other Dances for Lute
Nigel North (lute) rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572178 [60.17]
[GH]
A
blissful and lyrical experience capturing the differing moods of piece
with character and élan.
Erich
Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957)
Sextet in D, Op. 10 (1916) [32:51] Bohuslav
MARTINU (1890-1959)
Sextet (1932) [15:43] Arnold SCHÖNBERG
(1874-1951) Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4 (1899) [27:12]
Czech Philharmonic Sextet rec. Domovina Studio, Prague, October 1999
ARCO
DIVA UP 0019-2 131 [76:06]
[ST]
If
you want to explore this coupling then I’m sure this is a recording
you will enjoy.
Friedrich
KUHLAU (1786-1832) Drey Gedichte aus Gerstenbergs poetischen
Wäldchen see HEISE
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
Édouard LALO (1823-1892)
Fantaisie norvégienne see Rare
French works
Edouard
LALO
(1823-1892) Symphonie espagnole, Op. 24 (1874) [34:26] Concerto russe,
Op. 29 (1879) [33:04] Yuzuko Horigome (violin)
Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice/Marco Guidarini rec. no details supplied
TALENT DOM 2910 904[67:30]
[NB]
A
disc hard to recommend except with reservations.
Orlande
de LASSUS (1530/32-1594) Laudent Deum: Sacred Music
Ch of
St. John's Coll, Cambridge. His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts/Andrew
Nethsinga rec. 2010
CHANDOS CHAN0778 [71:00]
[GD]
Showing
off this fascinating and diverse composer in the best possible light.
Luise
Adolpha LE BEAU (1850-1927) Complete Works for Piano
Ana-Marija
Markovina (piano) rec. 2010
GENUIN GEN 10177 [79:48]
[Byz]
Le
Beau’s piano music is pleasant enough in an undemanding sort of way.
Kenneth
LEIGHTON
(1929-1988) Complete
Chamber Works for Cello Partita, Elegy, Sonata, Alleluia Pascha
Nostrum
Raphael Wallfisch (cello); Raphael Terroni (piano) rec. 2009/10
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS439CD [61:03]
[JF]
An
essential disc for all Leighton enthusiasts and will also appeal to
anyone who appreciates lyrical, well constructed and often deeply moving
chamber music.
Ruggero
LEONCAVALLO (1857 – 1919) Pagliacci see
MASCAGNI
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) The Complete Piano Music
Leslie
Howard (piano) rec. 1985-2009
HYPERION CDS44501/98 [99CDs: 122 hrs] [RB]
Howard
brings an archivist’s rigour and a high priest’s fervour to this project.
Alexander
LEVINE (b. 1955) Prayers
for Mankind: A Symphony of Prayers of Father Alexander Men
Tenebrae/Nigel Short rec. 2010
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD212 [68:19] [JQ]
A
notable new choral work superbly performed by Tenebrae.
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Années de Pčlerinage - Deuxičme
Année (Italie)
Michael Korstick (piano) rec. 2009
CPO 777 585-2 [79:54]
[DC]
Leaves
you wanting more.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH
Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Don Giovanni Fantasy see Great
Pianists
Joseph
LIVINGSTONE
(1847-1909) Physical
Overtures
Jo Quigley (solo violin) rec. 2009
CENTAUR CRC3034 [52:16]
[CR]
A
composer with an interesting voice and a sense of imagination.
Matthew
LOCKE
(1621/2-1677)
Musick for His Majesty's Sackbutts and Cornetts Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphony 1
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony 2
London SO/István Kertész rec. 1965/1966
BBC LEGENDS BBCL4229-2 [79:31] [SV]
Fine
musicianship and a palpable, contagious enthusiasm.
Dan
LOCKLAIR
(b.1949) Rubrics,
Salem Sonata, The Aeolian Sonata, In Mystery and Wonder,
PHOENIX Processional, Celebrations
Marilyn Keiser (organ) rec. 2007/9
LOFT RECORDINGS LRCD-1110 [69:55] [Byz]
Powerful
and moving … thoughtful and rousing.
Erik
LOTICHIUS
(b.1929) Symfonietta
for Strings, Piano Concerto 2 for piano, strings and 3 saxophones, Four
Songs on native American Poetry for mezzo and orchestra
Jo Vercruysse (violin) Eliane Rodrigues (piano) Maria Liekens, Karla
van Loo, Rudy Haemers (saxophones) Michelle Mallinger(mezzo) Prima La
Musica/Dirk Vermeulen rec. 2008
BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 9158 [60:41]
[RB]
Erik
LOTICHIUS (b.1929) Vocal works: Songs, French chansons,
ditties for mezzo, piano and alto saxophone, String Quartets 1 &
7, Hymns and French chansons for mezzo and piano.
Hantzen Houwert (mezzo) Erik Lotichius (piano) Benny Laureyn (saxophone)
Caren
van Oijen (mezzo) Alessandro Misciasci (piano) released 2001
Q DISC Q 97008 [61:04 + 48:21] [RB]
Erik
LOTICHIUS (b.1929)
Chamber Music Rebotko, for two flutes and piano, Four pieces
from Anaitalrax (15 pieces for piano),
Zephyr Quartet, Ralph van Raat (piano) Inez Lotichius (flute) Pauline
Lotichius (piano), Lilian Lotichius (piano) rec. 2001-02.
Q DISC Q97057 [59:54]
[RB]
Confident
and accessible music which does not confuse familiarity and populism
with blandness.
David
LUMSDAINE (b.1931) White Dawn – Songs and Soundscapes
Peter
Lawson (piano) Jonathan Price (cello) John Turner (recorders) Lesley-Jane
Rogers (soprano) Gemini/Martyn Brabbins rec. 1984-2004
METIER MSV 28519 [60:29 + 59:21]
[AMay]
Thanks
to this pair of CDs we can also enjoy exploring the works of one of
Australia’s most creative and individual musicians.
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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