RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Harpsichord Concertos
Retrospect
Ensemble/Matthew Halls (harpsichord) rec. 2011
LINN RECORDS CKD410 
[64:24]
[BW]
Intimate
performances that complement other recordings and may well be your first
choice.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Sonatas Vol. 2
François-Frédéric Guy (piano) rec. 2010/11
ZIG-ZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT304 [3 CDs: 213:13] [BR]
I
greet this along with Volume 1 with enthusiasm … some of the best,
most consistently excellent performances in the century so far.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847)
Elijah
Rosemary Joshua, Sarah Connolly, Robert Murray, Simon Keenlyside, Wrocław
Philharmonic Ch; Gabrieli Consort, Young Singers Scheme & Players/Paul
McCreesh rec. 2011/12
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD300 [68:30 + 67:28] [ST]
Worth
every bit as much praise as McCreesh’s Berlioz.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ottorino RESPIGHI
(1879-1936)
Marie Victoire
Takesha Meshé Kizart (soprano) Markus Brück (baritone) Ch
& O Deutschen Oper Berlin/Michail Jurowski rec. 2009
CPO 777 121-2 [3 CDs: 164:45] [NB]
A
major release of great value and interest.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Canto
Oscuro Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Chaconne, Prelude, Chorales Sofia
GUBAIDULINA (b. 1931) Chaconne Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963) 1922 Suite
Anna Gourari (piano) rec. 2011
ECM NEW SERIES 2255 [59:45] [DC]
Beautiful,
haunting and stimulating.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Dawn of Czech Modernism
Bedřich
SMETANA (1824-1884) String Quartet 2 Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Piano Quintet Vitězslav
NOVÁK (1870-1949) Piano Quintet
Graffe String Qt, Michiko Otaki (piano) rec. 2010/12
RADIO SERVIS CRO545-2 [65:02] [SA]
A
joy to listen to from start to finish.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Golden
Jubilee! Works
by Casken, Dove & MacMillan
Kerry Beaumont (organ)
HERALD HAVPCD 377 [74:53] [Byz]
Masterly,
confident, expressive, technically brilliant, making the most of this
organ's amazing capabilities.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH The
Guerra Manuscript Vol. 2 17th century secular Spanish vocal
music
Juan Sancho (tenor) Ars Atlántica (Eligio Luis Quinteiro (guitar)
Manuel Vilas (harp) rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572876 [64:53] [JV]
A
disc full of gems.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Lieux retrouvés
Works by Liszt, Janáček, Fauré, Kurtág & Adès
Steven
Isserlis (cello); Thomas Adès (piano) rec. 2011
HYPERION CDA67948 [76:44] [LW]
A
wonderful programme containing a stunning new work by Adès for
cello and piano.
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.
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.
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]
[last 5 days] [Recommended
recordings]
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