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Download
American
Piano Music from 78rpm Recordings
Jeanne
Behrend, Rudolph Ganz (piano) rec. early 1940s
PRISTINE PAKM 044 [46:57]
[RB]
Pristine
extend their arm yet deeper into the most exotic corners of the American
repertoire.
Aprčs
un ręve Songs by Strauss, Fauré, Mendelssohn,
Chausson, Poulenc, Bouchot & Britten
Sandrine Piau (soprano) Susan Manoff (piano) rec. 2010
NAĎVE V 5250 [59:00]
[GF]
A
delectable programme, delectably performed.
Arcadia
Lost Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
The Lark Ascending, Flos Campi, On Wenlock Edge Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Sinfonia da Requiem
Michael Dauth (violin) Roger Benedict (viola) Steve Davislim (tenor)
Cantillation, Hamer Qt; Sydney SO/Mark Wigglesworth rec. 2009/10
MELBA
MR301131
[74:17] [RB]
A
disc that proclaims character in every aspect.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Martha Argerich
Edition: Chamber Music
rec. 1991-2008
EMI CLASSICS 0940142 [8 CDs: 9:51:00] [SA]
A
set that no chamber music lover should be without.
Azerbaijani
Piano Concertos Fikret AMIROV
(1922-1984) and Elmira NAZIROVA (b. 1928)
Piano Concerto after Arabian Themes Yasif
ADIGEZALOV (1935-2006) Piano Concerto 4
Farhad
BADALBEYI (b.1947) The Sea
Farhad Badalbeyi (piano) Murad Adigezalzade (piano) Joan Rodgers (soprano)
Royal PO/Dmitry Yablonsky rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572666 [68:52]
[SA]
This
disc is a brilliant introduction to the classical music of Azerbaijan.
Another
Night Before Christmas and
Scrooge 
*Simon Callow (narrator) RTÉ Concert Orchestra/Gavin Sutherland +Royal
Ballet Sinfonia/Gavin Sutherland rec. 2008, . DDD
NAXOS 8.572744 [79:20] 
[JS]
An
undemanding, unhackneyed and unexciting collection of Christmas orchestral
music.
Armenian
Rhapsody Works by Khachaturian, Zakarian, Zarafyan & Komitas
Alexander Chaushian (cello) Vache Zarafyan (piano) Emmanuel Hovhannisyan
(duduk) Armenian PO/Eduard Topchjan rec. 2010
BIS BISCD1948
[71:56] [Byz]
The
APO's considerable team talents are put to fine use on this quality
all-Armenian disc.
The
Ballad Singer
Gerald Finley (tenor) Julius Drake (piano) rec. 2010
HYPERION CDA67830 [71:28] [EM]
Extremely
well-presented. A refreshing counterpoint to the lieder and chanson
that adorn the catalogues.
Barbaric
Beauty - Telemann and
18th Century Dance Manuscripts Georg Philipp
TELEMANN (1681-1767) and others
Milos Valent (violin, voice) Holland Baroque Soc rec. 2011
CHANNEL CLASSICS CCS
SA 31911 [77:32]
[JV]
In
many ways an ear-opener.
Baroque
in Hanover
Ens alla polacca, Franz Vitzthum (alto) Petr Wagner (viola da gamba)
rec. 2009
ARS PRODUKTION ARS 38 076
[66:43] [JV]
An
interesting and well-performed survey of the music at the court in Hanover
around 1700.
Central
Europe – Works for Cello and Piano Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Arpeggione Sonata Antonín
DVORÁK (1841-1904)
Rondo, LeoŠ JANÁčEK
(1854–1928) Pohádka Bohuslav MARTINů
(1890-1959) Variations on a Slovak Theme
Adam Mital (cello) Olimpia Tolan (piano) rec. 2009
SOLO MUSICA SM 153 [66:09]
[MC]
Much
to enjoy: excellent spirited performances with refreshing ardour and
engaging sensitivity.
Chamber
Vespers Giacomo FINETTI (fl.1605–1631)
Laudate pueri Francesco PETROBELLI
(d.1695) Laetatus sum Natale MONFERRATO
(c.1615–1685) Lauda Jerusalem Adriano
BANCHIERI (1568–1634) Magnificat
The Gonzaga Band rec. 2010
CHANDOS CHACONNE CHAN 0782 [62.16]
[RH]
Subtle
charm, intelligence, commitment and clever programming.
Christmas
The King’s Singers
SIGNUM SIGDVD008 
[53:09]
[ST]
A
good selection, but I’m not convinced that it works as a DVD.
Codex
Chantilly Vol.
II
Ensemble
Tetraktys/Kees Boeke rec. 2010
ETCETERA KTC1905 [76.40]
[GH]
The
singing is elegant and the instrumental work delicate and neat. The
overall production is colourful, easy to grasp and smartly presented.
The
Colours of Christmas –
JOHN RUTTER
Full contents list at end of review
The Bach Choir, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, John Birch (organ),
Over the Bridge, onductor John Rutter rec. 2011
DECCA 2782129 [73:27]
[NB]
Very
good and enjoyable.
Court
of the Sun King – The Glory of the French Baroque
rec.
1953-1998
ERATO 2564 67523-9 [10 CDs: 12:08:33]
[EML]
Too
many of these interpretations belie the life, vigour, enthusiasm and
sheer delight that characterised the court of this most artistically
exuberant of monarchs.
Delícías
Spanish Delights for Piano Duo
Anthony Goldstone and Caroline Clemmow (pianos) rec. 1990/2011
DIVINE ART DDA 25101 [75:13] [JW]
I’ve
enjoyed this disc immensely.
The
Complete Vanguard Deller Recordings Vol. 4 - Music of Handel, Bach
and the English Renaissance
Alfred Deller (counter-tenor)
VANGUARD CLASSICS MC195 [6 CDs: 392:00] [EM]
Overall,
this is not an especially good advocate for the music of Bach, Handel
and their contemporaries.
Epiphany
at St Paul’s
St Paul’s
Cathedral Ch/John Scott, Huw Williams (organ) rec. 2001
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55443 [72:13]
[JS]
A
musically and emotionally satisfying seasonal feast.
Devy
Erlih (violin) Works by Sarasate & Kreisler
André Collard, Maurice Bureau (piano) rec. 1955-7
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR 298 [59:40]
[JW]
Erlih
fans should eagerly snap up this disc.
La
Fenice - New Year's Concert 2004
Stefania Bonfadelli (soprano) Roberto Aronica (tenor) Ch & O Teatro
La Fenice/Lorin Maazel rec. 2004
ARTHAUS MUSIK 107 081 [59:00]
[RF]
Lacking
verve and vitality this is also rather short measure for a New Year’s
Day Concert.
Flights
of Fancy Works by Duparc, Gates, Koechlin, Poulenc and Satie
Andrew
Knights (oboe, cor anglais, oboe d'amore) Philip Gates (piano) rec.
2011
MELODIST CD5683 [67:31]
[RB]
A
warm landscape … comforting stillness. An atmospherically consistent
and reflectively assembled anthology.
France:
A Musical Tour of Provence
NAXOS 2.110544
[52.54] [RJF]
A
great opportunity missed to range over one of the most interesting regions
of France. This issue is more about photography than about Provence.
Dan
Godfrey Encores
Bournemouth SO/Ronald Corp rec. 2011
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7276 [74:40]
[JF]
Brilliant
with an obvious enthusiasm for these ‘lost’ or misplaced works.
The
Golden Age of Light Music A Second A-Z of Light Music rec. 1936-1960
GUILD
LIGHT MUSIC GLCD5182 [77:28] [JW]
From
A-Z there’s much fun to be had from this latest compilation.
Hanson
conducts American Music: Volume 1 Howard
HANSON Symphony No. 4 Charles
Martin LOEFFLER Memories of my Childhood Howard
HANSON Songs from 'Drum Taps'* Randall
THOMPSON The Testament of Freedom*
*David Meyers (baritone) *Eastman School of Music Chorus Eastman-Rochester
Symphony Orchestra/Howard Hanson rec. 1952/3/4
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC292 [72:17]
Hanson conducts American Music: Volume 2 Walter
PISTON Symphony No. 3 Henry
COWELL Symphony No. 4 Charles
Martin LOEFFLER Poem for Orchestra ("La Bonne Chanson")
Eastman-Rochester
Orchestra/Howard Hanson rec. 1953/4
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC295 [70:33]
Hanson conducts American Music: Volume 3 Elliott
CARTER The Minotaur, Ballet Suite Wallingford
RIEGGER New
Dance Edward MACDOWELL Suite
No. 2, Op. 48 Indian
Eastman-Rochester Orchestra/Howard Hanson rec.1953,1955
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC302 [64:19] [RB]
A
fascinating slice of American musical history from the 20C all romantically
and energetically spun by Hanson.
Howard
Hanson conducts
the Eastman-Rochester Orchestra
John Alden CARPENTER (1876-1951) Adventures
in a Perambulator (1917) [27:30] Roger
SESSIONS (1896-1985)
The Black Maskers - Suite (1928) [21:16] Charles
IVES (1874-1954) Symphony No. 3 Camp Meeting (1908-10)
[20:44]
Eastman-Rochester Orchestra/Howard Hanson rec. 1956-7
HIGH DEFINITION TAPE TRANSFERS HDCD216 [69:30] 
[RB]
A
most skilled and satisfying transfer.
Homage
to Maria Callas
Favourite Opera Arias
Angela Gheorghiu (soprano) Royal PO/Marco Armiliato rec. 2010/11
EMI
CLASSICS 6315092 [60:40]
[RMo]
A
sumptuous and very tasteful production.
Into
Thy Hands – The Music of the Grosvenor Chapel Works by Mozart,
Purcell & Handel
Ch of the Grosvenor Chapel/Richard Hobson (director and organ) Joseph
Sentance (organ) rec. June 2010
REGENT REGCD351 [62:32]
[JS]
A
diverse, very interesting and enjoyable choice of music makes this an
admirable introduction to a fine choir.
Joy
to the World
The King’s Singers rec. 2010. DDD Full track-list at end of review
SIGNUM SIGCD268 [58.39]
[RB]
An
eminently enjoyable release that will please fans of The King’s Singers
and lovers of Christmas music alike.
L’âme
Russe
Grigory Sokolov,Laurent Cabasso (piano) Sergey Khachatryan (violin)
Sonia Wieder-Atherton (cello) France Ntl O/Kurt Masur, Toulouse Capitole
Ntl O/Tugan Sokhiev rec. 1984-2006
NAĎVE V5271 [4 CDs: 274:56]
[SA]
A
set worth having.
Libera
– The Christmas Album Joy
to the World; Still, still, still; Carol of the Bells;
Veni, veni Emmanuel; Once in Royal David’s City; O
Holy Night; White Christmas; Corpus Christi Carol;
In Dulci Jubilo; Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas;
Sing the Story; Coventry Carol; The First Nowell;
Jubilate Deo; While Shepherds Watched their Flocks; Lullabye
Libera/Robert
Prizeman rec. 2011. stereo/DDD
EMI CLASSICS 50999 0 88635 2 2 [61:19]
[EML]
If
you like your Christmas complete with fairies, glitter, inflatable snowmen
and gold-leafed angels, this is the disc for you.
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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