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David
CARLSON (b.1952) True Divided Light, Cello sonata
Geraldine
Walther (viola) Emil Miland (cello) David Korevaar (piano) rec. March
2009
MSR CLASSICS MS 1283 [43:56]
[Byz]
David
Carlson's chamber music is worth anyone's money.
Paul
CARR (b.1961) Requiem for an Angel
Sophie Bevan (sop.) Mark Stone (bar.) Angelorum Ch, Bath Phil/Gavin
Carr, rec. 2010
STONE RECORDS 5060192780048 [71:37]
[JF]
Entertains,
sometimes challenges and most importantly of all, moves the soul and
gives encouragement and solace to the spirit.
Mario
CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO (1895-1968)
Shakespeare Overtures - Vol. 2 The Winter’s Tale,
King John, Much Ado about Nothing, The Merchant of
Venice, As you like it
West Australian SO/Andrew Penny rec. 1994
NAXOS 8.572501 [59.12]
[GH]
The
music is unfailingly attractive, is colourfully orchestrated and sympathetically
played.
Marc-Antoine
CHARPENTIER
(1643 - 1704) Actéon,
Orphée descendant aux enfers, La pierre philosophale
Boston Early Music Festival Vocal & Chamber Ens/Paul O'Dette, Stephen
Stubbs rec. 2009
CPO 777 613-2 [66:19]
[JV]
Lively
performances of three compositions which show Charpentier's theatrical
instincts.
Luigi
CHERUBINI (1760-1842)
Requiem
Kammerchor & Hofkapelle Stuttgart/Frieder Bernius rec. 2010
CARUS 
83.227 [46:12] [LW]
A
highly desirable new recording of Cherubini’s C minor Requiem.
Luigi
CHERUBINI (1760-1842) Hymne à la Victoire see
BERLIOZ
Erik
CHISHOLM (1904-1965)
Music for Piano - Vol. 6 Ceol Mor Dances, Dunedin Suite,
Scottish Airs, Night Song of the Bards
Murray McLachlan (piano) rec. 2006
DIVERSIONS DDV24149 [77:30]
[JF]
The
playing is superb, and reflects the massive commitment that Murray McLachlan
has made to the piano music of Erik Chisholm.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frédéric CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Ballades, Scherzi
Bernd Glemser (piano) rec. 2009
OEHMS CLASSICS OC 758 [73:22]
[RC]
This
disc is a treasure, a rarity to behold.
Frederic
CHOPIN (1810-1849)
24 Preludes, Barcarolle, Nocturnes
Daniel Grimwood (piano) rec. 2009
SFZ MUSIC SFZM0210 [51.07]
[RBe]
Something
of a mixed bag.
Franz
DANZI (1763-1826)
Variations on Mozart’s Là ci darem la mano see
SPOHR
Michael
DAUGHERTY (b. 1954) Route 66, Ghost Ranch,
Sunset Strip, Time Machine
Bournemouth SO/Marin Alsop rec. 2008
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559613 [68:49]
[NB]
Great
fun.
Karl
Yulyevich DAVIDOV (1838-1889) Cello Concertos 1 &
2 Marina
Tarasova (cello) Davydov SO/Konstantin Krimetz rec. 1995
ALTO ALC1066 [77:51]
[RB]
Ms
Tarasova has a healthy sense of how Davidov’s music should go.
Carl
DAVIS (b. 1936) Carl’s War
Czech Ntl SO/Carl Davis rec. 2010
CARL DAVIS COLLECTION CDC009 [67:56]
[RB]
Music
that carries acrid remorseless tragedy as overwhelmingly romantic grandeur.
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) En blanc et noir see
BARTÓK
Christoph
DEMANTIUS (1567-1643) St John Passion &
Motets
KammerChor Saarbrücken/Georg Grün rec. 1997
CHRISTOPHORUS CHE0149-2 [58:43]
[JV]
Demantius'
expressive music in the stile antico is given immaculate performances.
Lawrence
DILLON (b.1959) Insects and Paper Airplanes
String Quartets 2-4
Daedalus Qt, Benjamin Hochman rec. 2009/10
BRIDGE 9332 [72:35]
[JW]
The
youngest composer to earn a doctorate at Juilliard.
Ernst
von DOHNÁNYI (1877–1960) Variations on a Nursery Tune see
Dohnányi in London
Gaetano
DONIZETTI
(1797–1848) Great
Singers in Donizetti
rec. 1906-47
NIMBUS PRIMA VOCE NI7892/3 [74:17 + 67:53]
[RMo]
A
pleasing, if slightly obtuse and incomplete survey of Donizetti singing
from the first part of the twentieth century.
René
DUCHIFFRE (b. 1961) Concerto for Two Violas
see VIVALDI
Maurice
DURUFLE (1902-1986)
Requiem, Quatre Motets sur des thèmes grégoriens, Messe “Cum Jubilo”
Iain
Farrington (organ) William Clements (baritone) Kathryn Turpin (mezzo)
John Todd (cello) Ch St. John’s College, Cambridge/ Christopher Robinson,
rec. 1998
NIMBUS NI5599 [69:20]
[WH]
A
beautifully sung collection of Duruflé masterpieces that could have
done with a little more blood.
Antonín
DVORÁK
(1841-1904) Symphonies 6 & 9
Baltimore SO/Marin Alsop rec. 2007-8
NAXOS 
NBD0014 [87:28]
[DBi]
Well
turned but slightly careful performances in very fine sound.
Antonin
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Serenade for Strings Josef SUK (1874-1935)
Serenade for Strings Hugo WOLF (1860-1903)
Italian Serenade Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907)
Holberg Suite
Stuttgart CO/Karl Münchinger rec. 1956-75
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 0447 [79:56]
[SV]
An
excellent buy at a low price.
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Symphony 9 Leoš
JANÁCEK (1854-1928)
Missa Glagolitica
Prague Phil. Ch, Czech PO, Mahler Jugendorchester/Václav Neumann rec.
1987/91
ARTHAUS MUSIK 101 535 [99:00] 
[DM]
Neumann’s
contrasting demeanour – relaxed and avuncular in the Dvořák, unsmiling
and visibly tense in the Janácek – is a pretty good guide to the qualities
of these two performances.
Brian
EASDALE (1909-1995) Film Music
BBC Ntl O Wales/Rumon Gamba rec. 2010
CHANDOS CHAN10636 [76:42]
[RB]
Easdale’s
rewarding film music is given Chandos’s full regal panoply.
Petr
EBEN (1929-2007) Symphonia Gregoriana
Gunther Rost (organ) Bamberger Symphoniker, Bayerische Staatsphilharmonie/Gabriel
Feltz rec. 2009
OEHMS CLASSICS OC643 [56:35]
[DM]
A
must for Eben aficionados and inquisitive listeners alike.
Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
Symphonies 1 & 2, Serenade, Pomp & Circumstance marches 1-6,
In the south, Enigma variations
Sydney Symphony/Vladimir Ashkenazy rec. 2008
EXTON
EXCL00027-30 [4CDs: 208:29]
[JQ]
These
performances have their merits but don’t disturb existing recommendations.
Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845–1924) Complete Nocturnes
Stefan
Irmer (piano) rec. 2010
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 618 1626-2 [78:59]
[ST]
Irmer’s
playing was rather uniform throughout but there are certainly moments
of great beauty, and the dying chords of No. 8 are a fine way to end.
Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845–1924) Violin Sonata 1 see
BEETHOVEN
Girolamo
FRESCOBALDI
(1583-1643)
Keyboard Works - Vols 1 & 3
Richard Lester (harpsichord, virginal) rec. 2009/11
NIMBUS NI5850/70 [72:29 & 77:29]
[BW]
These
recordings bring the music to glorious life.
Armstrong
GIBBS (1889–1960) Complete works for violin
and piano
Robert Atchison (violin) Olga Dudnik (piano) rec. 2010
GUILD GMCD 7353 [72:10]
[NB]
So
a treasure trove for those who enjoy the lyrical English pastoral tradition.
Umberto
GIORDANO (1867-1948) Fedora see A
Tribute to Mirella Freni
Philip
GLASS (b.
1937) Violin Concerto No.2 The American Four Seasons
Robert McDuffie (violin) London PO/Marin Alsop rec. 2010
ORANGE MOUNTAIN MUSIC OMM0072 [40:14]
[AM]
An
appealing new concerto let down by a poor performance from its dedicatee.
Philip
GLASS
(b. 1937)
Dances 2 & 4, Satyagraha Act III Finale Christopher
BOWERS-BROADBENT (b.1945) Duets and Canons
Kevin Bowyer (organ) rec. 1999
NIMBUS NI 5664 [71:50]
[DC]
A
fine recording and superhuman performances.
Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Symphony 6, Raymonda,Triumphal
March
Royal PO, London SO/Yondani Butt rec. 1987
REGIS RRC1359 [76:27]
[RB]
If
you would like to sample the Glazunov orchestral music then this is
a good place to start your journey.
Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Piano Concertos 1 & 2
Elena Glazunov (piano) Hamburg PO/Alois Melichar rec. 1956
PRISTINE CLASSICAL PASC249 [51:00]
[RB]
This
is a true representation of the best in Glazunov interpretation. No
half measures.
Henryk
GORECKI (1933-2010) Kantata see PÄRT
Stephen
GOSS (b. 1964) The Albeniz Concerto see
RODRIGO
François-Joseph GOSSEC
(1734-1829) Symphonie Militaire, Marche Lugubre see
BERLIOZ
Percy
GRAINGER
(1882–1961) The
Grainger Edition rec. 1992-2002
CHANDOS CHAN10638(19) [19 CDs: c.23 hrs]
[RB]
Grainger
emerges as far more than pretty, cosy or genteel; more a case of romantic,
folksy, dangerous, exultant, tumultuous and, yes, sentimental. Glorious.
A uniquely cornucopiac offering.
Percy
GRAINGER (1882–1961) Salute to Percy Grainger
rec. 1927-94
DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 2205 [73:18 + 44:34]
[RB]
A
very substantial helping of the essential Grainger in performances and
recordings that are exemplars to the rest – praise-be!
Aleksandr
Tikhonovich GRECHANINOV (1864-1956)
All-Night Vigil
Holst Singers/Stephen Layton rec. 1998
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55353 [63:16]
[RMo]
If
you are already familiar with, and love, the sonorous incantation of
Rachmaninov’s so-called “Vespers”, this disc is definitely for you.
Alexandr
Tikhonovich GRECHANINOV (1864-1956) Liturgy of St.
John Chrysostom 4 see Russian
Orthodox Chant
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Edvard GRIEG (1843–1907) Symphonic Dances, Norwegian Dances
see Scandinavian
Classics
Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Holberg Suite see
DVOŘÁK
Sofia
GUBAIDULINA (b.1931) Hell und dunkel see
PÄRT
Johan
HALVORSEN (1864-1935)
Orchestral Works - Vol. 1 Entry March of the Boyars, Andante
religioso, Mascarade Suite, Symphony 1
Marianne Thorsen (violin) Bergen PO/Neeme Järvi rec. 2009
CHANDOS CHAN10584 [76:48]
[DJB]
Some
amusing light music, and more serious works which channel Bruch and
Tchaikovsky.
Marc-André
HAMELIN (b.1961) Twelve Études, Little Nocturne,
Theme and Variations
Marc-André Hamelin (piano) rec. 1998-2009
HYPERION CDA67789 [76:10]
[JW]
Richly
characterful, played with dazzling control and sumptuously recorded.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH George Frideric HANDEL
(1685-1759)
Water Music, Rodrigo Overture and dances
Les Musiciens du Louvre, Grenoble/Marc Minkowski rec. 2010
NAÏVE V 5234 [68:00]
[MG]
A
disc of vividly realized and thoroughly entertaining performances.
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Serse
Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo) Sandrine Piau (soprano) Les Arts Florissants
Ch & O/William Christie rec. live, 2003
VIRGIN CLASSICS 6407082 [3 CDs: 165:01]
[ST]
Arrestingly
beautiful, sung with passion and intensity.
Johann
Adolf HASSE (1699–1783) Te Deum, Litaniae Laurentanae,
Tantum ergo, Regina Coeli
Sächsisches Vocalensemble, Batzdorfer Hofkapelle/Matthias Jung rec.
2009
CPO 777 462-2 [68.24]
[RH]
This
isn't great music, but it is well crafted and attractive and is presented
in persuasive performances.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz Josef HAYDN
(1732-1809) Missa Brevis, “Harmoniemesse”
Trinity Ch, Rebel Baroque O/J. Owen Burdick, Jane Glover rec. 2001/8
NAXOS
8.572126 [52:28]
[KS]
Exceptionally
elegant performances from a first rate band of musicians. This is almost
a must-have.
Franz
Josef HAYDN (1732-1809) Organ concertos
Ton Koopman (organ) Catherine Manson (violin) Amsterdam Baroque O rec.
2009
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72390 [62:41]
[DC]
A
very welcome release indeed.
Joseph
HAYDN (1732–1809) Composés par Mr. Hayden
Divertimento, String Quartets
Fitzwilliam String Qt rec. 2001
DIVINE ART DIVERSIONS DDV24151 [62:45]
[MG]
Faithful
accounts full of character and expression.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hans Werner HENZE
(b.
1926) Hans Werner Henze and the Requiem
Dimitri Vassilakis (piano) Reinhold Friedrich (trumpet) Bochumer Symphoniker/Steven
Sloane rec. 2010
CYBELE KIG003
[3 SACDs: 159:02]
[MS]
A
strange but strangely captivating Requiem by Henze given a superb and
memorable performance with bonuses.
Jennifer
HIGDON (b.1962) Violin
Concerto Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Violin
Concerto Hilary
Hahn (violin) Royal Liverpool PO/Vasily Petrenko rec.2008/2009 DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON 477 8777 [68:16] [GD]
Hahn,
Petrenko and the RLPO are on fine form here.
Paul
HINDEMITH
(1895 - 1963) Three
Sonatas Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951)
Variations on a Recitative, Two fragments of a Sonata Ernst
PEPPING (1901-1981) Three Fugues on BACH
Kevin Bowyer (organ) rec. 1993
NIMBUS NI5411 [79:30]
[DC]
As
good as any, and better than most if not all.
Franz
Anton HOFFMEISTER (1754-1812)
Double Bass Quartets 2-4 Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Arpeggione Sonata
Norbert Duka (double-bass) Ernő Sebestyén (violin) Helmut
Nikolai (viola) Martin Osertag (cello) Phillip Moll (piano) rec. 1980/4
NAXOS
8.572187 [66:15]
[Byz]
These
are by no means important works, but for historical novelty and general
attractive musicianship, this CD is worth any music-lover's consideration.
Jexper
HOLMEN (b.1971) Oort Cloud Martin
Stig ANDERSEN (b.1973) Cosmogyral Echo
Torben Snekkestad (soprano saxophone) Frode Andersen, Frode Haltli (accordions)
rec. 2009
DACAPO 8.226562 [56:23]
[Byz]
Only
for those who are comfortable in the Kuiper Belt of experimentalism.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav
HOLST
(1874-1934)
The Planets York BOWEN
(1884-1961) Suite in Three Movements
Fiona York & John York (piano) rec. 2010
NIMBUS NI5871 [70:28]
[JF]
An
excellent recording from a totally committed duo. Utterly sympathetic
and inspired.
Toshio
HOSOKAWA (b. 1955) Flute music
Kolbeinn Bjarnason (flute, alto flute) Caput Ens/Snorri Sigfus Birgisson
rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572479 [57:23]
[HC]
A
very fine survey of Hosokawa’s music for flute.
Engelbert
HUMPERDINCK (1854–1921) Hänsel und Gretel
Elisabeth
Grümmer (mezzo) Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) Philharmonia O/Herbert
von Karajan rec. 1953
EMI CLASSICS 6407162 [2CDs: 108:10]
[GD]
A
modern makeover for an old favourite.
Gunnar
IDENSTAM (b.1961)
Jukkaslåtar (Songs for Jukkasjärvi)
Simon Marainen (yoik, vocals) Brita-Stina Sjaggo (vocals) Sandra Marteleur
(violin) Thorbjörn Jakobsson (saxophone) Jonas Sjöblom (percussion)
Gunnar Idenstam (organ, tapes) rec. 2010
BIS BIS-SACD-1868
[65:40]
[Byz]
New
Age simplicity cross-over … really rather samey.
Charles
IVES (1874-1954)
String Quartets 1 & 2
Juilliard String Qt rec. 1966/7
SONY 
77117 [48:30] [LW]
A
warm welcome to the Juilliard performances of the Ives Quartets.
Hyacinthe
JADIN (1776-1800) Overture see BERLIOZ
Leoš
JANÁCEK (1854-1928) Works for piano, violin &
cello In the Mist, Violin Sonata, Fairy Tale
Radoslav Kvapil (piano) Petr Messerieur (violin) Evzen Rattay (cello)
rec. 1989
REGIS RRC1312 [76:41]
[RB]
Eloquent
and authoritative readings of Janácek’s chamber works in superbly immediate
sound.
Leoš JANÁCEK
(1854-1928) Missa Glagolitica see DVOŘÁK
Dmitri
KABALEVSKY (1904-1987)
24 Preludes, Sonatina, Piano Sonata 3
Murray McLachlan (piano) rec. 1991
ALTO ALC1084 [71:39]
[RB]
McLachlan
knows his Russian repertoire and his recordings show this in full.
Vasily
KALINNIKOV (1866-1901) Symphony 1 Nikolai
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Sinfonietta on Russian Themes,
Overture on Russian Themes
USSR SO/Evgeny Svetlanov rec. 1975/85
REGIS RRC 1351 [79:03]
[RB]
An
amply timed disc to please the explorer who harbours any sympathies
for the Russian nationalists - splendid Kalinnikov and imaginative folksy
Rimsky.
Giya
KANCHELI (b.
1935) Themes from the Songbook
Dino Saluzzi (bandoneon) Gidon Kremer (violin) Andrei Pushkarev (vibraphone)
rec. 2010
ECM 2188 [59:46] [WH]
Kancheli’s
music for stage and screen, reinterpreted; surprising and different.
Perfect relaxed, late night listening.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Nikolai KAPUSTIN
(b.1937)
2 + 2 4 Kapustin Concerto for two pianos and percussion,
Eight Concert Etudes, Sonata 14
Daniel del Pino, Ludmil Angelov (pianos) Neopercusión
NON PROFIT MUSIC
NPM1011 [6446] [RB]
CDs
of Kapustin are far too rare and it is a delight to welcome this one.
Aram
KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Spartacus, Gayane
(excerpts)
Bournemouth SO/Kirill Karabits rec. 2010
ONYX 4063 [72:48]
[DM]
As
a recording and a performance this disc bodes well for the BSO/Karabits/Onyx
partnership.
Charles
KOECHLIN (1867–1950) Pieces for Piano -
Vol 3
Michael Korstick (piano) rec. 2009
HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 93.261 [76:39]
[MC]
An
accomplished player who easily shifts from ardent vitality to delicate
sensitivity.
Rodolphe
KREUTZER (1766-1831) Violin Concertos 17-19
Axel Strauss (violin) San Francisco Conservatory O/Andrew Mogrelia rec.
2009
NAXOS 8.570380 [71:52]
[JW]
Marvellously
warm textures and instinctive control.
Franz
KROMMER (1759-1831) Concerto for two clarinets see
MOZART
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
KUHNAU (1660–1722) &
Vincenzo ALBRICI (1631-1696)
Soprano Cantatas
Barbara Christina Steude (soprano) Concerto con voce/Jan Katzschke rec.
2009
CPO 777 531-2 [67:32]
[MS]
There
are few enough recordings of Kuhnau to make this a recommendable recording
even if it did not have the vibrancy and immediacy that it does.
Franz Paul LACHNER (1803-1890) Sängerfahrt
see SCHUMANN
Orlando
di LASSO (1532-1594)
Prophetiae Sibyllarum, Christmas motets
Weser-Renaissance Bremen/Manfred Cordes rec. 2009
CPO 777 468-2 [64.44]
[RH]
Cordes
and his musicians fall just short of bringing these pieces to life.
Kenneth
LEIGHTON
(1929-1988) Complete
Chamber Works for Cello
Raphael Wallfisch (cello) Raphael Terroni (piano) rec. 2009/10
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS439CD [61:03]
[RB]
A gripping and variegated musical experience.
Franz
LISZT (1811–1886) Piano Concertos 1 & 2, Harmonies
poétiques et religieuses (excerpts)
Alfred Brendel (piano) Vienna Pro Musica/Michael Gielen
REGIS RRC1362 [73:56]
[IL]
Brendel
is imposing on this early Vox reissue.
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Hungarian Rhapsody 1 see
Dohnányi in London
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Piano sonata see SCHUMANN
Sergey
Mikhaylovich LYAPUNOV (1859-1924)
Violin Concerto, Symphony 1
Maxim Fedotov (violin) Russian PO/Dmitry Yablonsky rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.570462 [64:26]
[IL]
Derivative
music yet nonetheless appealing and melodious and with such good performances
as these, it is well worth exploring.
Sergey
Mikhaylovich LYAPUNOV (1859-1924) Piano concertos 1 &
2, Rhapsody on Ukrainian Themes
Shorena Tsintsabadze (piano) Russian PO/Dmitry Yablonsky rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.570783 [58:32]
[KS]
Hearty
and robust performances of music that is at times most interesting and
at others somewhat mechanical. The second concerto makes the whole effort
worthwhile.
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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