Cristian
CARRARA (b.
1977) Liber Mundi & other orchestral works 
Francesco d’Orazio (violin) Angela Nisi (soprano) Filarmonica
Arturo Toscanini/Mathieu Mantanus rec. 2011
ARTS 47759-8 
[54:25] [DM]
Dull
and dispiriting.
Aaron
CASSIDY (b. 1976) The Crutch of Memory
Elision
Ens
NEOS 11201 [56:40] [PCG]
Only
for listeners whose devotion to the Darmstadt school and their followers
is unbounded.
Mario
CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO (1895-1968) Piano Concerti
1 & 2, Four Dances from Love’s Labour’s Lost,
Alessandro
Marangoni (piano) Malmö SO/Andrew Mogrelia rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572823 [76:43] [GH]
If
you fancy piano concerto by-ways then at Naxos prices you can’t
go far wrong with this disc.
René
CLAUSEN (b.
1953) Life and Breath
Kansas City Chorale/Charles Bruffy rec. 2011
CHANDOS CHSA5105
[62:25] [JQ]
Beautifully
crafted, accessible music performed by a flawless choir.
Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Nocturnes
Marisa Montiel (piano) rec. 2011
COLUMNA MUSICA 1CM0271 [51.48 + 59.23] [GH]
Montiel’s
dolce e legato touch is absolutely perfect.
Fryderyk
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Preludes, Mazurkas, Polonaise see
The
Lost Art of Jacob Lateiner
David
DIAMOND (1915-2005) Elegy in memory of Maurice
Ravel see BERNSTEIN
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) La Mer; Prélude
à l’après-midi d’un faune; Images
France
Ntl O/Daniele Gatti rec. 2011
SONY CLASSICAL 88697 974002 [68:42] [DMC]
No
matter how many versions you have of this repertoire, do add this to
your shelves.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Claude DEBUSSY
(1862-1918)
Orchestral Works
Women of the RSNO Chorus (Nocturnes) Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Stéphane
Denčve rec. 2011/2012
CHANDOS CHSA 5102(2) [78:04
+ 68:22] [ST]
An
outstanding release and a praiseworthy contribution to Debussy anniversary
year. Invest with confidence.
Claude
DEBUSSY (1906-1975)
Complete Orchestral Works
Orchestre National de Lyon/Jun Märkl rec. 2007-2011
NAXOS 8.509002 [9 CDs: 9:08.49] [DM]
Despite
early miscalculations, this box deserves to do well.
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) La mer Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) La valse Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures at an Exhibition
Suisse Romande O, Paris Conservatoire O/Ernest Ansermet rec. 1951/53
PRISTINE
AUDIO PASC 289 [67:41] [SV]
This
dazzling 1953 Pictures testifies to what the Decca engineers could do
even working in monaural.
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Suite bergamasque see
Darknesse Visible
Leo
DELIBES (1836-1891)
Lakmé
Joan Sutherland, Henri Wilden, Huguette Tourangeau, Australian Opera
Ch, Elizabethan SO/Richard Bonynge rec. 1976
OPERA AUSTRALIA OPOZ56012CD [77.35 + 71.34] [RH]
Probably
for Sutherland completists and AO supporters only.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934)
Orchestral music transcribed for two pianos - Vol. 1
Simon Callaghan and Hiroaki Takenouchi (pianos) rec. 2011.
SOMM SOMMCD0112 [68:04] [IL]
A
splendid recording.
Gaetano
DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Sonatas, Overtures and Waltzes
for Piano
Elisabetta Dessě, Franco Calabretto, Eddi de Nadai (piano) rec. 1993/96
NEWTON
CLASSICS 8802107 [55:15 + 61:21] [Byz]
A
double CD of great geniality that should appeal to music-lovers of all
persuasions.
Antonín
DVORÁK (1841-1904)
Symphony 9, Slavonic Dances
Brussels PO/Michel Tabachnik rec. 2010/11
BRUSSELS PHILHARMONIC RECORDINGS BPR002 [73:53] [JWh]
An
amiable New World that’s well worth a listen.
Antonín
DVORÁK
(1841-1904) Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945)
piano pieces
Orion Weiss (piano) rec. 2010
BRIDGE 9355 [77:46] [SA]
Orion
Weiss - a name to keep an eye out for.
Antonín
DVORÁK (1841-1904) Symphonies, Symphonic Variations,
Overtures & Symphonic Poems
Czech PO/Vacláv Neumann rec. 1968-1980
SUPRAPHON SU 4090-2 [8 CDs: 511:46] [CH]
This
set has broadened my knowledge and love of the composer
Antonin
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Cello Concerto Nicolai MIASKOVSKY (1881-1950)
Cello Concerto
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) Czech PO/Václav Talich, Philharmonia
O/Malcolm Sargent rec. 1952/6
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 321 [67:38]
Antonin DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Cello Concerto Ernst von DOHNÁNYI
(1877-1960) Konzertstück
Raphael Wallfisch (cello) London SO/Charles Mackerras rec. 1988
CHANDOS
CHAN10715X [64:17] [WH]
A
very fine and thoroughly recommendable modern Dvořák Cello
Concerto, and an indispensable historic reading.
Antonín
DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904)
Four Romantic Pieces, Sonatina see 135
Years of Czech Composers
Edward
ELGAR Serenade for Strings in E minor, for
piano duet
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Enigma Variations see
Toscanini
Mohammed
FAIROUZ (b.1985)
Critical Models
ad hoc wind Qt, Lydian String Qt rec. 2011
DORIAN SONO LUMINUS DSL-92146 [59:05] [Byz]
Fairouz's
polystylism with its 'old-fashioned' structure, tonality and melody
means that he is likely to reach bigger and better audiences.
Julian
FONTANA (1810-1869)
Complete Piano Works Volume 3
Philippe Devaux (piano) rec. 2011 Includes Appendix CD [5:00] with a
performance of Nocturne Op.20 performed by Joanna Lawrynowicz (piano)
ACTE
PRÉALABLE AP0262 [43:22] [JW]
Seldom
without interest, often replete with exciting melodies
César
FRANCK (1822-1890) Violin Sonata Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Violin Sonata
Ossy Renardy (violin) Eugene List (piano) rec. 1953
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR484 [42:11] [JW]
A
sophisticated approach to portamenti coupled with super-fast finger
vibrato.
Girolamo
FRESCOBALDI (1583-1643)
Stylus Fantasticus and the art of variation 
Luca Gugliemi (harpsichord and organ) rec.2008,
ACCENT ACC 24226 [61:53] [DC]
A
very good place to linger in long-lost Italy.
Robert
FUCHS (1847-1927) Serenades 3-5
Cologne Chamber O/Christian Ludwig rec. 2009-10
NAXOS 8.572607 [68:45] [BR]
After
the joy of Fuchs’ first two serenades, the fact that these three
are so boring is a bit of a surprise.
Hans
GÁL (1890-1987)
Symphony 4 Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Symphony 2
Orchestra of the Swan/Kenneth Woods rec. 2011,
AVIE AV2231 [73:09] [CH]
If
you like late Strauss, give the Gál a try.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Aleksandr GLAZUNOV
(1865-1936)
Raymonda
Olesia Novikova, Friedemann Vogel, Mick Zeni, Ballet & O Teatro
alla Scala/Michail Jurowski rec. 2011
ARTHAUS 101630 
[154:00] [I&GL]
A
lavish production; a feast for the eye; with awesome dancing from the
principals.
Louis
Moreau GOTTSCHALK (1829-1869)
Piano music for two and four hands
*Alan Marks, Nerine Barrett (piano) **Alan Marks (piano) rec. 1984
and 1991,
NIMBUS NI 7045/6 [46:35 + 60:07] [DM]
Energetic
and entertaining; a must for Gottschalk groupies.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Edvard GRIEG
(1843-1907) String Quartet 1, Two Elegiac Melodies, Holberg Suite
Australian
CO/Richard Tognetti rec. 2010
BIS BISSACD1877
[63:30] [DC]
A
disc to covet.
Agostino
GUERRIERI (c.1630-c.1662) Violin sonatas
Parnassi musici rec. 2008
CPO 777 543-2 [59:58] [JV]
Anyone
who likes to broaden his musical horizon should consider this disc.
Ernesto
HALFFTER (1905-1989)
The Piano Music
Martin Jones (piano) rec. 2006/7
NIMBUS NI5894 [79:23] [OL]
Martin
Jones is a perfect advocate for this beautiful music.
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685 - 1739) Alceste
Lucy
Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company/Christian
Curnyn rec. 2011
CHANDOS CHAN0788 [63.16] [RH]
If
you haven't yet made the acquaintance of Handel's personable score,
then this is the time to do so and this is the recording to go for.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Howard
HANSON (1896-1981) Symphonies 6 & 7; Lumen
in Christo
Seattle Chorale, Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1989-94
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559704 [60:19] [DM]
Works
of distinction and delight, winningly played.
Barbara
HARBACH (b.1946)
Music for strings
London PO/David Angus rec. 2011
MSR CLASSICS MS1258 [67:39] [BR]
Immediately
attractive new music doesn’t have to be simple; in other words,
this is both very appealing and very good.
Joseph
HAYDN (1732 - 1809) Complete Keyboard Sonatas
- Vol. 3
Geoffrey Lancaster (fortepiano) rec. 2010
TALL POPPIES TP216 [66:22] [MG]
At
his best Lancaster fully absorbs you in his intensity.
Erdem
HELVACIOGLU (b.
1975) Eleven Short Stories
Erdem Helvacioglu (prepared piano)
INNOVA 245 [47:47] [DC]
Superb
sound - atmospheric but, alas, also rather full of wind.
Alfred
HILL (1869-1960) String Quartets 10 & 11,
Quintet for Piano and Strings
The Dominion Quartet, 8 Vocalists/Mark Dorrell (conductor) rec. 2009-2011
NAXOS
8.572844 [79:40] [WK]
Imaginative,
energetic, moving and well-played.
Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934)
Cotswolds Symphony, A Winter Idyll, Walt Whitman Overture,
Indra, Japanese Suite
Ulster O/JoAnn Falletta rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572914 [65.55] [PCG]
Some
really worthwhile and rewarding music. I wish this disc all possible
success.
Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934)
Five Pieces for violin and piano see VAUGHAN
WILLIAMS
Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934) Elegy, The Planets for
piano duet
Arthur
HONEGGER (1892-1955) Cello concerto
see MARTIN
Othmar
SCHOECK (1886-1957) Cello concerto see
MARTIN
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Charles IVES (1874-1954) The Unanswered Question
see
Music for a Time of War
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gabriel JACKSON
(b.1962)
Sacred Choral Works - Volume II: Beyond the Stars
Choir St. Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh/Duncan Ferguson, Nicholas
Wearne (organ) rec. 2011
DELPHIAN DCD34106 [68:38] [JQ]
A
splendid disc that further enhances the reputation of Gabriel Jackson.
Leos
JANÁČEK
(1854-1928)
Taras Bulba, Lachian Dances, Moravian Dances
Warsaw PO/Antoni Wit rec. 2010/11
NAXOS 8.572695 [54.38] [PCG]
You
will definitely want this for the best performance currently available
of the Moravian Dances.
Leoš
JANÁČEK
(1854-1928)
Violin Sonata see 135
Years of Czech Composers
Charles
KOECHLIN (1867-1950) Les heures persanes
Ralph
van Raat (piano) rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572473 [56:43] [DM]
Richly
rewarding; an ideal gateway to Koechlin’s fascinating soundscapes.
Andrzej
KOSZEWSKI (b.1922)
Trio for violin, cello and piano (1950)* [28:49] Tadeusz
SZELOGOWSKI (1899-1963) Trio for piano, violin and
cello* [22:57] Andrzej PANUFNIK
(1914-1991) Piano Trio [16:46]
Poznan Piano Trio (Laura Sobolewska (piano), Anna Ziólkowska (violin),
Dagny Czarnecka (cello)) rec. 2009 *World Premičre recordings
ACTE PRÉALABLE AP0243 [68:35] [SA]
Highly
successful and enjoyable piano trios, very well recorded and beautifully
played.
Keith
KRAMER (b.1970?)
Emerge
Joseph Satava, David LaVorgna, Jessica Hanel Satava, George Weremchuk,
Allam Ngim, Hye-jung Hong, Keith Kramer, Helen Garner, Charles P. Richardson
Various ensembles DDD
NAVONA RECORDS NV5859 [76:12 + 64:15] [Byz]
Relatively
approachable but unequivocally modernistic, making much use of extended
or experimental techniques, atonality, serialism and microtonality.
Friedrich
KUHLAU (1786-1832) William Shakespeare Overture
see Music
inspired by Shakespeare and Hamlet
Edouard
LALO (1823-1892) Symphonie espagnole; Rapsodie
norvégienne
Devy Erlih (violin) London PO/Désiré-Émile Inghelbrecht
rec. 1956
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR 132 [45:47] [JW]
Often
exciting, frequently elastically phrased, but not always tonally seductive.
Giovanni
LEGRENZI (1626-1690) Testamentum
Lia
Serafini (soprano) Roberta Giua (soprano) Oficina Musicum/Riccardo Favero
rec. 2009-12
DYNAMIC CDS 710 [58:42] [MS]
Splendid
music: well-conceived, well performed and well projected in almost every
way.
Franz
LEHÁR (1870-1948) Der Graf von Luxembourg
Eberhard
Wächter, Lilian Sukis, Kurt Graunke SO, Munich/Walter Goldschmidt
rec. 1972
ARTHAUS
101 626 [96:00] [IL]
An
enchanted evening of romance and comedy.
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886)
Années de Pèlerinage Books I & II
Craig Sheppard (piano) rec. 2011
ROMÉO RECORDS 7289/90 [46:43 + 47:22] [CH]
Either
Sheppard is not attuned to Liszt or I am not attuned to his way of seeing
Liszt.
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Hamlet
see Music
inspired by Shakespeare and Hamlet
The
LOEILLET Family The Submission: Suites, Concertos
& Sonatas
Les Goűts-Authentiques/Jan Devlieger rec. 2010
ETCETERA KTC 1434 [66:33] [JW]
Splendid
authority and sonority, full of colour and command, passion and precision.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Fernando
LOPES-GRAÇA (1908-1993) Suite Rústica
1, December Poem, Festival March, Symphony
Royal Scottish Ntl O/Álvaro Cassuto rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572892 [66:30] [HC]
A
superb selection of some of Lopes-Graça's finest works.
Jean-Baptiste
LULLY (1632-1687) Ouvertures: Phaëton,
Atys, Armide
Capriccio Barockorchester/Dominik Kiefer rec. 2011
TUDOR 7185 [63:06] [JV]
I
have greatly enjoyed these performances which bring out the splendour
and colourful nature of these suites.
Witold
LUTOSŁAWSKI (1913-1994) Musique funèbre
Béla BARTÓK
(1881-1945) Rumanian Folk Dances, Divertimento, Seven
Songs
Hungarian Radio Children’s Ch, Stuttgart CO/Dennis Russell Davies
rec. 2010
ECM NEW SERIES ECM 2169 [60:45] [DC]
Good
place for a Lutosławski/Bartók fix - albeit a slightly disjointed
one.
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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