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Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
String Quartets 1 & 2 
Fine Arts Qt rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572454 [62:48]
[RMo]
Not
easy listening but repeated encounters will pay dividends to the dedicated
chamber music enthusiast.
Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Cello Concerto 1 see
HAYDN
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Havanaise
see WALTON
Domenico
SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Salve Regina, Keyboard sonatas
Charles AVISON (1709-1770)
Concertos
Carlos Mena (alto) Nicolau de Figueiredo (harpsichord) Sevilla Bar O/Nicolau
de Figueiredo rec. 2007
ORQUESTRA BARROCA DE SEVILLA OBS-002 [67:07] [JV]
The
programme convincingly shows 'the other side of Domenico Scarlatti'
as well as his influence on his contemporaries.
Domenico
SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Complete Keyboard Sonatas
- Vols I & II
Carlo Grante (piano) rec. 2009
MUSIC & ARTS CD-1236 [6 CDs: 392:15] & CD-1242
[6 CDs: 454:03] [Byz]
Music
of relentless originality in outstanding performances attractively packaged.
Arnold
SCHÖNBERG (1874-1951) Verklärte Nacht
see BRAHMS
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828)
Piano Trios 1 & 2, Nocturne, Sonata D28
Claus-Christian Schuster (piano); Boris Kuschir (violin); Martin Hornstein
(cello) rec. 1991
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6137 [48:17 + 61:17]
[DC]
High-impact,
masculine performance and recording.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
String Quintet in C major, D.956 (1828) [54:09]
Brandis Quartett rec. 1992,
NIMBUS NI 5313 [54:09] 
[OL]
An
excellent performance, intense and thrilling, elegant and thought-provoking.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Trios 1 & 2
Beaux Arts Trio rec. 1977/87
ICA CLASSICS ICAD 5010 
[81:00] [KM]
Poor
sound mars this “historic” DVD.
Franz
Peter SCHUBERT (1797-1828) String Trio see
MOZART
Clara
SCHUMANN (1819 - 1896) Lieder see
R
SCHUMANN
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810
- 1856) Dichterliebe, Liederkreis Clara
SCHUMANN (1819 - 1896) Lieder
Maximilian Schmitt (tenor) Gerold Huber (piano) rec. 2010
OEHMS CLASSICS OC 819 [56:47]
[GF]
Quite
a good stab but it is to be hoped he will come back with something even
better.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Waldszenen,
Grande sonata see Ciccolini
Heinrich
SCHÜTZ (1585-1672)
Matthäus-Passion
Julian Podger (tenor) Jacob Bloch Jespersen (bass) Ars Nova Copenhagen/Paul
Hillier rec. 2010
DACAPO 8.226094 [54:42]
[Byz]
The
beautiful voices of Ars Nova Copenhagen float in the lovely acoustic
of the Garnison Church.
Heinrich
SCHÜTZ (1585-1672) Geistliche Chor-Music
Dresdner Kammerchor, Cappella Sagittariana Dresden/Hans-Christoph Rademann
rec. 2006/07
CARUS 83.232 [53:30 + 48:39]
[MS]
A
splendid recording … blends care and precision with a broad musicality.
Alexander
SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Complete impromptus and other early
pieces
Boris Bekhterev (piano) rec. 2010
CAMERATA CMCD-28231 [69.05]
[SS]
Bekhterev
seems to select the right tempi intuitively. A pianist with insight
and understanding.
Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Symphony 2, Karelia Suite
New Zealand SO/Pietari Inkinen rec. 2008/10
NAXOS 8.572704 [61:55]
[BR]
The
least disappointing of Inkinen’s cycle, with a very good Second.
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
Christian SINDING (1856-1941) Suite
im alten Stil
see WALTON
Alexander
SKRIABIN (1872-1915) Piano Sonata 1 see Prokofiev
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Ein Heldenleben Antonín DVORÁK
(1841-1904) Symphony 9
Royal PO/BBC SO/Rudolf Kempe rec. 1974/1975
ICA CLASSICS DVD ICAD
5009 [89:18]
[RM]
This new DVD preserves some superb performances
directed by a conductor of the highest calibre, performing live and
at the peak of his abilities.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Till Eulenspiegels lustige
Streiche, Ein Heldenleben
Chicago SO/Daniel Barenboim rec. 1990
WARNER APEX 2564 67716-3 [62:39] [BW]
A
Heldenleben to rival the best – and Till is not far behind.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Richard STRAUSS (1864
- 1949) Violin Sonata see GRIEG
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Burleske see
REGER
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Pétrouchka, Le Sacre
du Printemps
Bergen PO/Andrew Litton rec. 2008/9
BIS BISSACD1474 
[69:00] [DC]
Stop
press: crusty old cynic declares recording as ‘near definitive’.
Igor
STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971)
The Rite of Spring (1913, arr. for two pianos by the composer) [34:34]
Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures
at an Exhibition (1874, arr. for two pianos by Tim Seddon) [34:10] Tamriko
Siprashvili, Mark Anderson (pianos) rec. December 2003, DDD NIMBUS
NI 5733 [68:44]
[OL]
The
playing is good, but in today’s competitive market it is not enough
to be just good.
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Suite (after Pergolesi) see
Echoes of Paris
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Four Last Songs Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Arias from operas
Aga Mikolaj (soprano) WDR RO Köln/Karl Sollak rec. 2009
CPO 777 641-2 [67:30]
[Byz]
Mikolaj
certainly deserves to be heard alongside the greats.
Giuseppe
TARTINI (1692-1770) The Violin Concertos -
Vol.16
L'Arte dell'Arco rec. 2009
DYNAMIC CDS 613/1-2 [58:36 + 76:59]
[Byz]
That
these musical treasures have lain hidden away from humankind for so
long is scandalous, and kudos to Dynamic and L'Arte dell'Arco for bringing
them out of the vaults and on display.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony 5; 1812
Overture Alexander GLAZUNOV (1865-1936)
Sten'ka Razin
Berlin State Opera O, Berlin PO/Alexander Kitschin rec. 1928-29
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 268 [72:21]
[JW]
A
rather amazing disc.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Forgotten Pages: The
Storm; Fatum; Hamlet
State Academic SO/Evgeny Svetlanov rec. 1990
MELODIYA MEL CD10 01736 [58:53]
[GD]
Focused,
driving, energetic, and above all, deeply Russian.
Pyotr
TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Romeo
and Juliet see FRANCK
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681 - 1767) Wind Concertos
Vols 4 & 5
Michael Schneider (recorder, transverse flute) Karl Kaiser (transverse
flute) Martin Stadler (oboe, oboe d'amore) La Stagione Frankfurt/Michael
Schneider rec. 2007/9
CPO 777400-2 [60:47]
777401-2 [67:48] [JV]
Those
who have discovered Telemann's genius should not hesitate to add these
discs to their collection.
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1727) Trios & Quartets
Epoca
Barocca rec. 2006
CPO 777 441-2 [65:57] [BW]
Pleasant
music, well played and recorded, but there are better Telemann pickings
to be had.
Spanish
Works for String Orchestra Joaquín
TURINA (1882-1949) Joan MANÉN
(1883-1971) Joaquín RODRIGO
(1901-1999) Ricard Lamote de GRIGNON
(1899-1962)
Orquestra Nacional de Cambra d’Andorra/Gerard Claret (concertino-director
and solo violin) rec. November 1997, Auditori Nacional d’Andorra
NIMBUS
NI 5570 [56:52]
[JW]
A
well worked programme; not to be overlooked in the welter of releases
and re-releases that continue to saturate the market.
John
VEALE (1922-2006) String Quartet
Robert CRAWFORD (b.1925) Elegiac quintet, Clarinet quintet
Linda
Merrick (clarinet) John Turner (recorder), Adderbury Ens rec. 2009
METIER MSV 28520 [77.41]
[GH]
Superb
and understanding performances – a fascinating and enterprising disc.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) The Verdi Opera Experience
WARNER CLASSICS 2564679409 [79.22 + 75.44] [RJF]
A
bargain bag of Verdian pot-pourri. Some good performances mixed with
others better left in the archives.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Requiem
Zinka Milanov (soprano) Charles Kullman (tenor) Bruna Castagna (contralto)
Nicola Moscona (bass) Schola Cantorum, NBC SO/Arturo Toscanini rec.
1938/43
IMMORTAL PERFORMANCES IPRMS IPCD1009-2 [61:53 + 79:05]
[JW]
Collectors
will be highly impressed by the standard of care exercised by IP.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678 - 1741) Vivaldi sulle sei corde:
Trios & concertos for mandolin/lute
Giuliano Belotti, Carles Herràiz (guitar) O de Cambra del Principal
de Catalunya/Cristoforo Pestalozzi rec. 2010
COLUMNA MÚSICA 1CM0265 [62:16]
[JV]
This
disc will appeal more to guitar aficionados than to those who like to
hear Vivaldi's music in its original state.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678–1741)
Gloria Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756–1791) Exsultate, jubilate
Pierrette Alarie (soprano) Marie-Therese Cahn (alto) Ensemble Vocal
de Paris, O de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire/André Jouve
rec. 1952
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR 420 [45:33]
[GF]
Deeply
satisfying.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg
Prelude Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
Cello Concerto Johannes BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Symphony 1
Alisa Weilerstein (cello) Berlin PO/Daniel Barenboim rec. 2010
EUROARTS 2058064 
[89:00]
[MG]
Interpretations
of considerable substance complemented by crispness of picture and clarity
of sound.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Der Ring des Nibelungen:
Highlights
Juha Uusitalo (Wotan) Jennifer Wilson (Brunnhilde) Lance Ryan (Siegfried)
Orq de la Comunitat Valenciana/Zubin Mehta rec. 2007-2009
UNITEL CLASSICA 704608
[130:00]
[DB]
A
great success overall and this DVD needs watching just once before you
go out and buy the whole thing.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Der Ring des Nibelungen
Martha Mödl, Hilde Konetzni (soprano) Wolfgang Windgassen, Ludwig Suthaus
(tenor) Ferdinand Frantz (bass-baritone) RAI SO/Wilhelm Furtwängler
rec. 1953
EMI CLASSICS 9081612 [13 CDs: 902:00]
[DH]
A
rich bass-up orchestral palette, cumulative architecture over large
spans, rhythmic grip and narrative heart.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
- orchestral excerpts César FRANCK (1822-1890)
Symphony Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924)
Pelléas et Mélisande – concert suite
Boston SO/Charles Munch rec. 1959-1961
ICA CLASSICS DVD
ICAD 5015 [70:28]
[RM]
A
very significant musical record.
Transfiguration
Richard WAGNER
(1813 -1883) Arias from Lohengrin, Tannhäuser & Tristan
und Isolde Richard
STRAUSS (1864 -1949) Arias from Arabella, Daphne, Ariadne
auf Naxos & Salome
Camilla Nylund (soprano) Tampere PO/Hannu Lintu rec. 2010
ONDINE ODE 1168-2 [73.21]
[RH]
A
promising recital rather than a great one.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH William
WALTON (1902-1983) Violin Concerto
Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Havanaise Christian SINDING (1856-1941)
Suite im alten Stil Mario CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO
(1895-1968) Violin Concerto 2 ‘The Prophets’
Jascha Heifetz (violin) Philharmonia O/William Walton, RCA Victor SO/William
Steinberg, Los Angeles PO/Alfred Wallenstein rec. 1950-4
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111367 [77:25] [BW]
One
of the greatest historical bargains that I’ve heard for a long time.
Sir
William WALTON (1902-1983) String Quartets
Doric String Qt rec. 2010
CHANDOS CHAN10661 [62:17] [MC]
Thoroughly
enjoyable and I’m sure I will return to it often.
Meira
WARSHAUER
(b.1949)
Symphony No. 1 Living Breathing Earth (2005) [26:20] Tekeeyah
(a call) (2008) [24:38]
Haim Avitsur (trombone/shofar) Moravian Philharmonic/Petr Vronsky rec.
no details given
NAVONA RECORDS NV5842 [50:58]
[RB]
Warshauer’s
music is shot through with and inspired by mystical and spiritual matters
that span a love and respect for Mother Earth and the Jewish faith.
Mieczyslaw
WEINBERG (1919-1996)
Cello Solo Sonatas 2-4
Josef Feigelson (cello) rec. 1997
NAXOS 8.572281 [59:49]
[BR]
Emotional
Soviet solo cello. If that’s what you’re looking for, this is hard to
beat.
Mieczyslaw
WEINBERG
(1919-1996) Violin Sonatas 3 & 4
Barbara Trojanowska (violin) Elzbieta Tyszecka (piano) rec. 2008/10
ACTE
PRÉALABLE AP0209 [44:19]
[JW]
A
logical coupling but it makes for very short timing.
Gernot
WOLFGANG (b.1957) Short Stories
Judith Farmer (bassoon) Nico Abondolo (contrabass) Joanne Pearce Martin
(theremin, piano) Tereza Stanislav (violin) rec. 2010
ALBANY RECORDS TROY1248 [65:52]
[Byz]
An
attractive prospect with committed performances and very good sound
quality.
Fu-Tong
WONG (b.1948) Symphony:
The Hero with Great Eagle [63:35]
Voronezh State Symphony Orchestra/Mak Ka-lok rec. Symphony Hall, Voronezh,
Russia, 26 January, 2 February 2004. DDD
WONG'S MUSIC & CULTURE WCD 002 [63:35] + Bonus DVD [ST]
Seamlessly
incorporated melodic ideas, narrative interest and timbral imagination.
Fu-Tong
WONG
(b.1948)
Postcards from China
Cho-Liang Lin (violin) Evelyn Chen (piano) rec. Concert Hall, Rice University,
Houston, Texas, 17-18 May 2010. DDD
WONG'S MUSIC & CULTURE WCD 003 [61:07]
[ST]
Crammed
with gorgeous Far Eastern melodies but fundamentally Western harmonies,
instruments and techniques that is all but guaranteed to appeal to almost
any music-lover.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jan
Dismas ZELENKA (1679-1745) Officium defunctorium,
Requiem
Collegium 1704 & Vocale/Václav Luks rec. 2010
ACCENT ACC 24244 [61:26 + 40:04] [DC]
Drop
dead gorgeousness.
Alexander
ZEMLINSKY
(1871-1942) String Quartet No. 1 in A major, Op.
4 (1896) [26:20] String Quartet No. 2, Op. 15 (1915) [38:18]
Artis Quartett Wien rec.1997, Stereo. DDD
NIMBUS NI 5563 [64:48]
[JW]
The
Artis still rank very high in this repertoire and are worthy of serious
consideration.
Alexander
ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942) String Quartet No. 3 Op. 19 (1923)
[21:50] String Quartet No. 4 Op. 25 (1936) [23:31] Johanna
MÜLLER-HERMANN (1868-1941)
String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 6 (1908) [22:10]
Artis Quartett Wien rec. 1998. Stereo. DDD
NIMBUS NI 5604 [67:50]
[JW]
The
Artis fully deserve a high place in the quartet discography.
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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