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RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Piano Sonata Nos. 17, 21, 31, 
David Wilde (piano) rec. 2010,
DELPHIAN DCD34090 [71:45] 
[BR]
A
huge surprise — superb Beethoven in the romantic mode, with great color
and poetry.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Late String Quartets Vol. 2
Cypress
String Qt
CYPRESS PERFORMING ARTS ASSOCIATION CSQ2010 [44:00] [BW]
Joins
the great recordings of these wonderful works.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Violin Concerto Antonín DVORÁK
(1841-1904) Symphony 9 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Egmont Overture Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Overture The Sicilian Vespers
Gil Shaham (violin) Berlin PO/Claudio Abbado rec. 2002
EUROARTS 2051954 
[108:01]
[DBi]
A
superb concert containing a top recommendation for the Dvorák New
World. As great a performance as has ever been given.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Billy Budd
John Mark Ainsley (tenor) Jacques Imbrailo (baritone) Glyndebourne Ch,
London PO/Mark Elder rec. live 2010
OPUS ARTE 
OA1051D
[86:00 + 87:00]
[ST]
For
my money this is the best opera DVD of the year so far, and quite possibly
the best in a considerably greater time period.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Max BRUCH
(1838-1920)
Violin Concerto 1, Romance, String Quintet
Vadim Gluzman, Sandis Šteinbergs (violin) Maxim Rysanov (viola)
Ilze Klava (viola) Reinis Birznieks (cello) Bergen PO/Andrew Litton
rec. 2009,
BIS-SACD-1852 [58.04] 
[CF]
Quite
the finest performance of the Bruch concerto I have ever heard.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934) Appalachia, The Song of the High
Hills
Olivia Robinson (soprano) Christopher Bowen (tenor) Andrew Rupp (baritone)
BBC SO & Ch/Andrew Davis rec. 2010
CHANDOS CHSA5088
[64:24] [IL]
Beautifully-shaped
and sensitive readings.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Friedrich
Ernst FESCA (1789-1826) Flute Quartets
Linos Ens rec. 2005
CPO 777 126-2 [69:04]
[CR]
Charming
repertoire. Enjoyable sound. Breathtaking flute playing.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johan HALVORSEN
(1864
- 1935) Orchestral Works - Vol. 3 Symphony 3, Fossegrimen,
Bergensiana
Ragnhild Hemsing (Hardanger fiddle) Bergen PO/Neeme Järvi
rec. 2009/10
CHANDOS CHAN10664 [79:53]
[NB]
Utterly
beguiling.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav MAHLER
(1860
– 1911)
Kindertotenlieder (1901-1904) Lieder eines fahrenden
Gesellen (1883 – 1885) Rückert-Lieder (1901 –
1904)
Katarina Karnéus (mezzo) Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Susanna Mälkki
rec. 2007,2010 sung texts with English translations enclosed
BIS-SACD-1600
[64:11] 
[GF]
Don’t
miss this issue, dear reader.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Thea MUSGRAVE
(b.
1928) An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Green, Wild
Winter I
London Sinf/Thea Musgrave, Scottish Ens, Red Byrd, Fretwork rec. 1981-2008
NMC
D167 [64:54]
[WH]
Three
magnificent works, superbly performed and recorded by the BBC.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) The Gambler
Misha Didyk (tenor) Kristine Opolais (soprano) Vladimir Ognovenko (bass)
Stefania Toczyska (mezzo) Staatskapelle Berlin and Staatsopernchor/Daniel
Barenboim rec. 2008
UNITEL CLASSICA/KULTUR 701708
[136:15] 
[RC]
This
is a major triumph.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Einojuhani RAUTAVAARA
(b.
1928) Kaivos
Hannu Niemelä, Johanna Rusanen-Kartano, Jorma Hynninen, Kaivos
Ch, Tampere PO/Hannu Lintu rec. 2010
ONDINE ODE1174-2 [75:52]
[HC]
A
magnificent performance of Rautavaara’s first and finest opera.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Heinrich SCHEIDEMANN
(c.1595-1663) Magnificat settings for organ
Karin Nelson (organ) rec. 2010
INTIM MUSIK IMCD 116 [53:34 + 62:42]
[Byz]
An
outstanding disc in every regard.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975)
Piano Trios 1 & 2, Seven Romances on Poems of Alexander Blok
Susan Gritton (soprano) Florestan Trio rec. 2010
HYPERION CDA67834 [61:53]
[LW]
A
superb disc of Shostakovich’s piano trios and Blok songs by the
Florestan Trio and guest.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Cantiones Sacrae 1575
Motet sequence by Tallis & Byrd
Alamire/David Skinner rec. 2009/10
OBSIDIAN OBSID-CD706 [74:37 + 55:47]
[JQ]
An
exceptionally fine complete recording.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Rhythms & Blues
Works by Barber, Rubin, Scherzinger, Adams, Bolcom, Morton & Swigger
Jocelyn
Swigger (piano) rec. 2009
CON BRIO RECORDINGS CBR21046 [70:33]
[BR]
What
a great surprise: American rags, blues, and minimalism together in a
superb program.
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cello Suites 1-6
Luigi Piovano (cello) rec. 2008
ELOQUENTIA AL 1021 [80:30 + 78:00] 
[GA]
A
stunning recording of the Six Cello Suites of Bach. It has it all: beauty
of sound, musical intelligence and emotional depth.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Domenico SCARLATTI
(1685-1757) Complete Keyboard Sonatas - Volume 1
Carlo Grante (piano) rec. 2009
MUSIC & ARTS CD1236 [6 CDs: 392:15]
[JW]
Profoundly
impressive.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Edward ELGAR
(1857-1934) The violin music: Violin
concerto, Serenade, Salon pieces, Violin sonata
Marat Bisengaliev (violin) Benjamin Frith (piano) West Kazakhstan PO/Bundit
Ungrangsee rec. 1999-2009
NAXOS 8.572643-45 [3 CDs: 194:31]
[GA]
A
captivating Elgar Violin Concerto is worth the price of the set by itself,
and the rest is very fine.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Erich
Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957) Songs Vol. 1
Britta Stallmeister (soprano) Uwe Schenker-Primus (baritone) Klaus Simon
(piano) rec. 2007/8
NAXOS 8.572027 [76:53] [IL]
A
delightful programme comprising the lesser-known Korngold songs delivered
to perfection.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Hungarian Rhapsodies 1-19
Misha Dichter (piano) rec. 1977-1985
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802049 [72:45 + 69:27]
[BR]
A
fantastic set, at bargain price, which treats the rhapsodies more respectfully
than most.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ottorino RESPIGHI
(1879-1936) Violin Concerto, Suite, Aria, Rossiniana
Laura
Marzadori (violin) Respighi CO New York/Salvatore Di Vittorio rec. 2010
NAXOS
8.572332 [77:32]
[IL]
A
notable release for Respighi enthusiasts.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Carl
NIELSEN
(1865-1931) The
Six Symphonies
BBC Scottish SO, Lahti SO/Osmo Vänskä rec. 1999-2006
BIS BISCD1839/40 [3 CDs: 241:23]
[JQ]
A
compelling box, offering a Nielsen cycle of uncommon distinction and
authority in superb sound.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Nikolay
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Sheherazade, The
Tale of Tsar Saltan Suite, Flight of the Bumblebee
Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572693[66:36] [OL]
The
best Sheherazade I’ve heard.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Pablo SARASATE
(1844-1908)
Works for violin ands orchestra Vol. 3
Tianwa Yang (violin) Navarra SO/Ernest Martínez Izquierdo rec. 2009,
NAXOS
8.572275 [58:45]
[BR]
Tianwa
Yang’s best Sarasate yet, which is really saying something. Absolutely
fantastic.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975)
String Quartets 4, 11 & 14
Hagen Qt rec. 1993/4
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802056 [70:48]
[WH]
Magnificent
performances from the nineties of three challenging Shostakovich Quartets.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Voices from
Heaven Maurice DURUFLÉ
(1902-1986) Requiem, Quatre Motets Herbert
HOWELLS (1892-1983) Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis, Requiem
Ch St
John’s College, Cambridge/Christopher Robinson, George Guest
REGIS
RRC1341 [78:54] [JQ]
Beautifully
crafted, inspired music in immaculate performances.
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for alphabetical listings by composer:
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1 New] [Part
2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
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