Los
Ministriles in the New World 
Piffaro, Annette Bauer (recorders, dulcian) rec. 2012
NAVONA NV5875 [69:36] [JV]
A
most compelling programme of music which invites repeated listening.
A
Musical Journey - Austria and Belgium
NAXOS 
2.110333
[57.09] [RJF]
Far
too many opportunities are missed to associate the photographic views
with Mozart’s life and his final composition.
A
Musical Journey - South Tyrol
NAXOS 2.110297 [56.29]
[RJF]
Whilst
the Southern Tyrol, with its spectacular scenery and history is certainly
captivating, its repeated appearance in this series is somewhat overdone.
New
Year’s Concert
2012 - La Fenice, Venice
Jessica Pratt (soprano) Walter Fraccaro (tenor) Alex Esposito (bass)
O & Ch of The Gran Teatro La Fenice, Venice/Diego Matheuz rec. 2012
ARTHAUS
MUSIK 
108 056 [108:00] [RJF]
If
you want a New Year Concert go for Vienna and far better quality than
offered here.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Nordic Sounds 2
Swedish Radio Ch/Peter Dijkstra rec. 2011
CHANNEL CLASSICS CCS SA 32812 
[76:07] [GF]
I
can’t imagine this music, or any other music for that matter,
better sung by any choir in the world.
O
Poore Distracted World! - English songs and anthems
Les
Voix Baroques/Alexander Weimann rec. 2009
ATMA ACD2 2630 [71:42] [JV]
An
exceptionally fine collection of English sacred music of the 17th century.
Pipe
Dreams José
SEREBRIER (b.1938) Flute Concerto with Tango Adina
IZARRA (b.1959) Pitangus Sulphuratus Carl
VINE (b.1954) Pipe Dreams Alberto
GINASTERA (1916-1983) Impresiones de la Puna
Sharon Bezaly (flute) Australian Chamber Orchestra/Richard Tognetti
(violin). rec. 2009
BIS-CD-1789 [60:23] [SA]
Sumptuous
music that excites and thrills in equal measure.
Russian
String Quartets by
Afanasiev, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninov & Borodin
Leipziger Qt rec. 2011
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM 3071758-2 [76:56] [MC]
Will
surely delight lovers of Russian chamber music.
Scandinavian
Classics - Vol. 4
rec. 1937-53
DANACORD DACOCD 707/8 [74:29 + 76:42] [NB]
A
fascinating, informative and engaging set.
Slices
Contemporary works for small ensemble
Moravian Winds rec. 2011
NAVONA NV 5874 [54.30] [GH]
This
is something a little different; even a touch eccentric. Highly desirable.
Sogno
barocco Works
by Monteverdi, Cavalli, Rossi & Provenzale
Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo) Sandrine Piau (soprano) Susanna Sundberg
(contralto) Ensemble Cappella Mediterranea/Leonardo García Alarcón
rec. 2012
NAÏVE V5286 [71:00] [GF]
A
must for baroque enthusiasts.
Songs
Now :
British Songs of the 21st Century
Paul Carey Jones (baritone) Ian Ryan (piano) rec. 2011
MERIDIAN CDE84614 [67:50] [Byz]
If
this album does indeed reflect 21st century Britain then it must be
a rather sombre, serious place, with little warmth or contentment.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Passion & Resurrection
Stile Antico rec. 2012
HARMONIA MUNDI HMU807555
[71:13] [JQ]
Everything
about this disc is outstanding: it’s another very impressive achievement
by Stile Antico.
Symphonies
Spectacular and Sublime
Vol. 4 Works by Dupré &
Franck
Florence Mustric (organ) rec. 2007
MSR CLASSICS MS1273 [66:01] [HP-R]
Great
repertoire but somewhat disappointing.
Virtuoso
German violin music of the 17th century
Musica Antiqua Köln, Reinhard Goebel (violin) Henk Bouman (harpsichord)
rec. 1977
VIRGIN CLASSICS 6025082 [42:50] [JV]
Just as good and as exciting as it was when first released.
Where
late the sweet birds sang Latin Music from Tudor England
Magnificat/Philip
Cave rec. 2012
LINN RECORDS
CKD417 [75.31] [BW]
Another
triumph for Magnificat and Linn.
Other
reviews
Comedy
Classics
The Driving Instructor, The Bricklayer, Introducing Tobacco
ALTO
TAKE 2 ALN1919/1929/1939 [79:00/78:00/78:35] [RB]
Some
misfires but a lot of this pushes the button top dead centre.
The
Life and Music of Eric Coates
by Michael Payne Ashgate Publishing, 2012; 280 pages; hardback [IL]
A
most worthwhile addition to Eric Coates studies.
British
Music and Literary Context:
Artistic Connections in the Long Nineteenth Century
Music in Britain, 1600-1900 Series by Michael Allis,
The Boydell Press, Woodbridge ISBN: 9781843837305 £60.00 Hardcover
Appreciation
hard won but ultimately both challenging and rewarding.
Britten
in Pictures
Lucy Walker (ed.) The Boydell Press; 266pp. First published 2012
[CF]
A
must-buy for all devotees of one of the greatest composers of the last
century.
The
Golden Age of Light Music — A
Glorious Century of Light Music rec.1929-1961
GUILD
LIGHT MUSIC GLCD 5200 [78:38]
The
Golden Age of Light Music — Three
Great American Light Orchestras rec. 1950-1961
GUILD LIGHT MUSIC GLCD 5199 [78:46]
The
Golden Age of Light Music — Light
Music While You Work - Volume 4 rec. 1943-46
GUILD GLCD 5198 [78:25]
The
Golden Age of Light Music — Nature's
Realm rec. 1946-1961
GUILD LIGHT MUSIC GLCD 5194 [77:58]
The
Golden Age of Light Music — Stereo
into the Sixties rec. 1960-61
GUILD GLCD5192 [74:30]
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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