RECORDING OF THE MONTH
John ADAMS (b. 1947) The Wound-Dresser
see
Music for a Time of War
Thomas
ADÈS (b.1971) Darknesse Visible see Darknesse
Visible
Gregorio
ALLEGRI (1582-1652)
Missa in Lectulo Meo, Miserere mei Deus, Missa Christus
resurgens ex mortuis 
Ch King’s College, London/David Trendell, Simon Hogan (organ continuo)
rec. 2011
DELPHIAN DCD34103 [72.15] [GH]
Vibrant
and exciting … certainly worth encountering some fine and mostly
unknown music.
William
ALWYN (1905-1985) Flute concerto
see
British
Flute Concertos
Carl
Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788) Organ concerto see
JS
BACH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The RIAS Bach Cantatas
Project
RIAS CO & Ch/Karl Ristenpart rec. 1949-52
AUDITE 21.415 [9 CDs: 631:06] [JQ]
One
of the most important Bach issues for many years. A major addition to
the discography of Bach’s cantatas.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Easter
Oratorio
Südwestdeutsches CO & Motetettenchor Pforzheim/Rolf Schweizer rec.
1999
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94350 [44:54] [DMcC]
This
is an unfortunate example of “you get what you pay for”.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Cello Suites (arr. for viola)
Gérard Caussé (viola) rec. 2000
VIRGIN CLASSICS 907665 2 [78:48 + 80:17] [JW]
Warmly
textured, rhythmically somewhat devitalised but don’t always reach
to the heart of the music.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685
- 1750) Johannes Passion
Nico van der Meel, Frans Fiselier, La Furia, Concerto d’Amsterdam/Nico
van der Meel rec. 2007
QUINTONE Q08001 
[58.13 + 51.57] [RH]
Outgunned
but if you are interested in Bach’s second version then certainly
you should hear this disc.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
Motets
Monteverdi Choir/Sir John Eliot Gardiner rec. 2011
SOLI DEO GLORIA SDG 716 [72:27] [JQ]
A
superb, fresh new recording of the Bach motets.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Harpsichord concerto Carl Philipp Emanuel BACH
(1714-1788) Organ concerto Johann Christoph
Friedrich BACH (?) (1732-1795) Keyboard concerto
Musica Amphion/Pieter-Jan Belder (harpsichord, fortepiano, organ) rec.
2006
QUINTONE Q06001 [62:52] [JV]
Overall
a disc to enjoy.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685 - 1750) Mass in B minor
Dorothee Mields, Hana Blazikova (sopranos) Damien Guillon (counter-tenor)
Thomas Hobbs (tenor) Peter Kooij (bass) Collegium Vocale Gent/Philippe
Herreweghe rec. 2011
PHI LPH004 [50.47 + 50.32] [RH]
If
you are looking for a good middle of the road modern recording then
this is one to consider.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Saint John Passion
Gerlinda
Sämann (soprano) Jens Hamann (bass) La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken
rec. 2011
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72545
[33:35 + 71:49] [JQ]
A
small-scale performance of the St. John Passion that offers a rewarding
experience.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Bach for Japan
Bach Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki (organ) rec. 1995-2011
BIS BIS-CD-2011 [82:20] [Byz]
A
thoroughly seamless, always engaging programme.
Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981) The school for scandal see
BERNSTEIN
Pierre
BARTHOLOMÉE (b. 1937) Oraisons, Zigzag,
Wintry Day, Face à face, Livre d'orgue
Ophélie Gaillard (cello) Francette Bartholomée (harp)
Dominica Eyckmans (viola) Jean-Philippe Merckaert (organ)
APARTÉ AP014 [70:06] [HC]
A
superbly played and nicely recorded survey of recent works by Bartholomée.
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945)
Concerto for Orchestra, Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta
Baltimore SO/Marin Alsop rec. 2009/10
NAXOS 8.572486 [67:27] [SA]
A
thrilling and exhilarating listen.
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945)
String Quartets 1 & 2
Carmina Qt rec. 2009
SOLO MUSICA SM 168 [56:09] [MC]
Splendidly
performed.
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Rumanian
Folk Dances, Divertimento, Seven Songs see
LUTOSŁAWSKI
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Complete Piano Sonatas
Bernard Roberts (piano)
NIMBUS NI1774 [11 CDs: 10 hours: 45 minutes] [BW]
Overall,
then, I’d certainly strongly endorse the complete Nimbus set for reliable
performances.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonatas
Sviatoslav Richter (piano) rec. 1960/61
REGIS RRC1384 [65:08] [RMo]
Justly
famous for its power and poetry.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony 3, Leonore
Overture 1
SWR SO Baden-Baden und Freiburg/Sylvain Cambreling rec. 2004-09
GLOR
CLASSICS GC 11451 [55:35] [Byz]
Some
sections seem to lack a little passion and spontaneity.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Missa Solemnis
Anne
Schwanewilms (soprano) Annette Jahns (mezzo) Nikolai Schukoff (tenor)
Dietrich Henschel (bass) London PO & Ch/Christoph Eschenbach rec.
2008
LPO LIVE LPO 0061 [80:22] [GD]
Not
among the finest available but clearly expansive, exciting and even
opulent.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) The Ruins of Athens
Overture, Piano Concerto 5 Nikolay RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
(1844-1908) Scheherazade
Yefim Bronfman (piano) Royal Concertgebouw O/Andris Nelsons rec. 2011
C-MAJOR
UNITEL 
710204 [110:00] [DM]
A
delightful overture, a competent concerto, and a Scheherazade
to die for.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Bagatelles
Steven Osborne (piano) rec. 2011
HYPERION CDA67879 [67:19] [DMcC]
An
astonishing inwardness.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Missa solemnis
Heather Harper (soprano) Julia Hamari (contralto) Sven Olof Eliasson
(tenor) Peter Meven (bass) Kölner RSO & Ch/William Steinberg rec.
1973
ICA CLASSICS ICAC 5054 [74:31] [JQ]
A
fine, wise reading of Missa solemnis.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) The Creatures of
Prometheus: Overture & Ballet Music, Symphonies 2 & 5
Dresden PO/Paul van Kempen rec. 1940/41
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 327 [79:16] [CH]
These
are not exactly essential Beethoven performances but those with large
collections may conclude that the slow movements are among the finest
in their library.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonata 32
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano Sonata 21
Piotr Salajczyk (piano) rec. 2011
DUX 0838 [71:35] [BR]
Quite
worthy and very good pianism, but slight imperfections get in the way.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) The Complete Piano Sonatas
HJ Lim
(piano) rec. 2011
EMI CLASSICS 464952 2 [8 CDs: 536:50] [DC]
Fresh
new Beethoven: lively and accessible, stimulating - and frustrating.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Der glorreiche Augenblick, Choral Fantasia
City of London Ch; Westminster Boy’s Ch, Royal PO/Hilary Davan
Wetton rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572783 [57:41] [DMcC]
Hilary
Davan Wetton’s enthusiasm and love for both works is obvious.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770 1827) Romances 1 & 2 see
VIOTTI
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonatas 1, 18 &
32 see The
Lost Art of Jacob Lateiner
George
BENJAMIN (b.
1960) Upon silence , Three inventions
for chamber orchestra, Sudden time, Octet
, Upon silence
Susan Bickley (mezzo) Fretwork London Sinfonietta/George Benjamin, London
Philharmonic Orchestra/George Benjamin
rec. 1994 ;1996
NIMBUS NI 5505 [64.54] [PCG]
An
excellent promotion for a composer whose music has justifiably obtained
an international reputation, even if his output remains small.
Alban
BERG (1885-1935) Piano Sonata 1 see
The
Lost Art of Jacob Lateiner
Lennox
BERKELEY (1903-1989) Flute Concerto
see
British
Flute Concertos
Leonard
BERNSTEIN (1918-1990)
Arias and Barcarolles Samuel BARBER
(1910-1981) The school for scandal David
DIAMOND (1915-2005) Elegy in memory of Maurice
Ravel
Jane Bunnell (mezzo) Dale Duesing (baritone) Seattle SO/Gerard Schwarz
rec. 1990/1
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559709 [47.02] [PCG]
The
performances of all concerned are excellent.
Georges
BIZET (1838-1875) Carmen
Elena Obraztsova, Plácido Domingo, Vienna Boys’ Choir, Wiener Staatsoper
Ch & O/Carlos Kleiber rec. 1978
ARTHAUS MUSIK 
107
263 [154:00] [RW]
Domingo’s
sincerity is admirable throughout. There’s excellent stage business
- a joy to behold.
Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) String Trios, Symphonies
Trio
Arcophon; I Filarmonici di Bologna/Angelo Ephrikian rec. 1971
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802102 [3 CDs: 160:05] [Byz]
Finely
crafted, lively, elegant, witty, and mellifluous.
August
de BOECK (1865-1937)
Prelude to Théroigne de Méricourt, Piano concerto,
Francesca Suite
Jozef de Beenhouwer (piano) Janáček PO/Ivo Venkov rec. 2011
PHAEDRA
92071 [74:57] [HC]
A
splendid addition to de Boeck's discography with the Francesca suite
as its main attraction.
Sergei
BORTKIEWICZ (1877-1952)
Piano Works:- Vol. 8: Impressions Op.4 (1905) [21:08]; Ein
Roman für Klavier Op.35 (1928) [29:12] Vol. 9: Trois Morceaux
Op.6 (1906), nos. 2 and 3 [7:04]; Kindheit (From a story by
Leo Tolstoi) Op.39 (1930) [31:14]
Jouni Somero (piano) rec. 2011.
FINNCONCERT FCRCD-9742 [52:23 + 38:18] [SA]
Congratulations
are due him for this ... so thank you Mr Somero, thank you very much!
Alla
BORZOVA (b.
1961) Songs for Lada, To the New World
Valentina Fleer (soprano) Valentina Kozak (folk contralto) Michigan
State University Children’s Choir, Detroit SO/Leonard Slatkin
rec. 2009/10
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559706 [49:50] [SA]
A
truly different musical experience deserving of high praise.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897),
Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Clarinet Sonatas Robert SCHUMANNN
(1810-1856) Phantasiestücke
Emma Johnson (clarinet) John Lenehan (piano) rec. 2011. DDD
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6153 [78:44] [Byz]
Excellent
interpretations.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Symphonies 1-4, Haydn Variations, Tragic & Academic Festival overtures
Helsingborg
SO/Andrew Manze rec. 2009/10
CPO 777 720-2
[3 CDs: 64:28 + 69:04 + 77:19] [GA]
Manze
has stripped all the darkened varnish to bring us a terrific cycle,
swift and dynamic, but always full of feeling.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Ein deutsches Requiem
Janet
Williams (soprano) Thomas Hampson (baritone) Chicago SO & Ch/Daniel
Barenboim rec. 1992/93
WARNER APEX 2564 677176 [77:05] [SV]
Barenboim
gives a respectable idea of the power and weight of the score.
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-97) Piano Quartet No 1 in G minor, Op.25 [orch Schoenberg] [42:19]
Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Chamber
Symphony No 1, Op.9b [orchestral version] [21:59] Music
for a film scene, Op.34 [9:08]
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra: Simon Rattle, rec.2009
EMI 4 57815 2 [73:40][PCG]
For
the full orchestral version of the Chamber Symphony this recording is
an absolute must
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Variations on a theme of Paganini
see The
Lost Art of Jacob Lateiner
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Haydn Variations see
Toscanini
Frank
BRIDGE Suite for String Orchestra see BUTTERWORTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Benjamin BRITTEN
(1913-1976)
War Requiem
Ian Bostridge, Simon Keenlyside, Sabina Cvilak, Eltham College Ch, London
SO & Ch/Gianandrea Noseda rec. 2011
LSO LIVE LSO0719
[46:35 + 37:13] [DM]
I
can’t emphasise more strongly how compelling this newcomer is,
and how important that anyone who knows and loves the War Requiem should
hear it.
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) War Requiem
Evelina Dobracheva, Anthony Dean Griffey, Mark Stone, Netherlands Children's
& Radio Ch, Netherlands Radio PO/Jaap van Zweden rec. 2010
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72388
[47:00 + 35:44] [JQ]
Much
to admire in this recording but there are better versions of War Requiem
on the market.
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Songs and Proverbs of William Blake, Tit for Tat, Folk
song arrangements
Roderick Williams (baritone) Iain Burnside (piano) rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572600 [60:45] [WH]
An
outstanding performance of a mature Britten masterpiece, coupled with
juvenilia and folk-songs.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Sinfonia da Requiem
see
Music for a Time of War
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Cello Sonata see SHOSTAKOVICH
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Hymn to St. Peter see
Tu
es Petrus
Frank
BURY (1910-1944) Prelude and Fugue see
British
Music for Piano Duo
Ferruccio
BUSONI (1866-1924) Hommages à Mozart, Bach
& Chopin l
Roland Pöntinen (piano) rec. 2008
CPO 777 427-2 [78:05] [Byz]
Pöntinen's
virtuosic but insightful interpretations are all captured in good quality
sound.
George
BUTTERWORTH (1885-1916)
A Shropshire Lad, Two English Idylls , The Banks of Green Willow Charles
Hubert Hastings PARRY (1848-1918) Lady Radnor's
Suite Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941)
Suite for String Orchestra
English String Orchestra/William Boughton rec. 1986,
NIMBUS NI 5068 [60:40] [MC]
Should
be in the collection of every lover of English music.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Dieterich BUXTEHUDE
(1637/1639?-1707) Opera Omnia XV- Chamber Music 3
Catherine Manson (violin) Paolo Pandolfo (viola da gamba) Mike Fentross
(lute) Ton Koopman (harpsichord, organ) rec. 2010/11
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72254 [73:27] [MS]
Profoundly
pleasing. Another outstanding contribution to the repertoire.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dieterich BUXTEHUDE
(1637/1639
- 1707) Opera Omnia XVI: Vocal Works 6 - Membra Jesu nostri
Siri
Karoline Thornhill, Dorothee Wohlgemuth (soprano) Patrick van Goethem
(alto); Jörg Dürmüller (tenor); Klaus Martens (bass)
Amsterdam Baroque O/Ton Koopman (organ) rec. 2011
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72255 [55:43] [MS]
Another
excellent issue in this series. Truly joyful and played with profound
gusto and sympathy.
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for alphabetical listings by composer:
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