Camille
SAINT-SAENS (1866-1924) Complete Piano Works -
Vol. 2 
Geoffrey Burleson (piano) rec. 2011
GRAND PIANO GP605 [53:38] [Byz]
The
technique and poetic phraseology to make light of any and all complex
passages coupled with a delicacy of touch.
Vadim
SALMANOV (1912-1978)
Complete String Quartets: Vol. 1: String Quartet No.1 (1945)
[21:34]; String Quartet No.2 (1958) [26:07]; String Quartet No.3 (1961)
[17:10]
The S.I.Taneyev Quartet: rec. 1963, 1966, 1980
NORTHERN FLOWERS NF/PMA99102 [64:41] [SA]
A
valuable disc of great music from a little known but seriously good
composer.
Tadeás
SALVA (1937-1995)
Cello Concerto, Three Arias, Little Suite, Slovak Concerto Grosso 3,
Eight Preludes
Eugen Prochác (cello) Nora Skuta (piano), Bernadette Šuňavská
(organ), Juraj Čižmarovič (violin), Ján Slávík
(cello); members of the Slovak RSO/Marián Lejeva rec. 2004-06
NAXOS
8.572509 [72:53] [WH]
Anyone
with an interest in the byways of modern music should not miss this
disc.
Pablo
SARASATE (1844-1908) Music for Violin and Piano
Vol. 3
Tianwa Yang (violin) Markus Hadulla (piano) rec. 2007-2010
NAXOS 8.570893 [78:46] [BR]
A
lot of violinists are virtuosi, but few are as all-out passionate as
Tianwa Yang in another disc of Sarasate surprises.
Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951)
Pelleas und Melisande, Op. 5 (1903) [40:58] Erwartung,
Op.17 (1909) [23:38]
Jeanne-Michèle Charbonnet (soprano) WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne/Jukka-Pekka
Saraste rec.2011 No texts provided for Erwartung
PROFIL EDITION GÜNTER HÄNSSLER PH12021 [64:36] [MC]
Mightily
impressive with the recorded sound having splendid clarity, presence
and balance.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Bei dir allein!
Camilla Tilling (soprano) Paul Rivinius (piano) rec. 2010
BIS-SACD-1844 
[61:40] [GF]
A
superb Schubert recital in every respect.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797 - 1828) Symphonies 1 & 2
Tonhalle O Zurich/David Zinman rec. 2011
BMG RCA RED SEAL 88697 87147 2 [58:34] [MG]
Spirited
accounts which revel in the liberal zeal of Schubert’s youth.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano Trios, Notturno
Trio Jean Paul rec. 2011
C-AVI MUSIC 8553236 [55:00 + 63:50] [GL]
A
nice balance between the sombre and the playful but pizzicatos sound
weak and the repeats are omitted.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797–1828) Winterreise
John Elwes (tenor) Kenneth Slowik (fortepiano) rec. 2006
FRIENDS OF MUSIC FOM 20-001 [68:24] [GF]
Shocking
but also stimulating.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Impromptus see
The
Lost Art of Jacob Lateiner
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Sonata 21 see
BEETHOVEN
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony 9 see
Toscanini
Erwin
SCHULHOFF (1894-1942) Sonata for solo violin see
135 Years of Czech Composers
Julius
SCHULHOFF (1825-1898) Piano Works
Adrian Ruiz (piano) rec. 1982
GENESIS GCD119 [73:19] [JW]
Approachable,
technically powerful and expressive performances attractively recorded.
Curious listeners will be well rewarded.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810
- 1856) Symphonies 1 & 2
London Symphony Orchestra/Yondani Butt rec. 2011
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6181 [71:56] [MG]
Creates distinctive interpretations but with mixed success.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Piano Concerto in A minor Op.54 (1845) [30:08] Introduction and Allegro
for piano and orchestra Op.134 (1853) [13:23] Konzertstück for piano
and orchestra in F major Op.86 (1849) [17:42] Introduction and Allegro
Appassionato for piano and orchestra Op.92 (1849) [15:34]
Gerhard Oppitz (piano) Bamberg Symphony Orchestra/Marc Andreae rec.
June-July 2010, Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal
TUDOR SACD
7181 [77:11]
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Piano Concerto in A minor
Op.54 (1845) [29:56] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Piano Concerto No.9 in E flat, K271 Jeunehomme
(1777) [30:40]
Sophie Pacini (piano) German State Philharmonic of Rhineland-Palatinate/Radoslaw
Szulc rec. August 2011, Philharmonie Ludwigshafen
ONYX 4088 [60:40] [JW]
Neither
really hits an unqualified level, but both display much thoughtful musicality.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Symphony 2 see GAL
Robert
SCHUMANNN (1810-1856) Phantasiestücke see
BRAHMS
Alexander
SCRIABIN (1872-1915)
A Tribute to Scriabin
Vladimir Feltsman (piano) rec. 2011
NIMBUS NI6198 [72:20] [SA]
This
is a disc no lover of Scriabin could bear to do without.
Déodat
de SÉVÉRAC (1872-1921) Piano Music
- Vol. 2
Jordi Masó (piano) rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572428 [60:42] [JF]
Not a genius but his music is attractive, competent and entertaining.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43 (1934-35) [61:59]
West German Radio (WDR) Symphony Orchestra/Rudolf Barshai rec.1996,
DDD
ALTO ALC 1169 [62:02] [LW]
Barshai’s
Shostakovich Fourth is a top contender.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Piano Concerti 1 &
2, Suite from Hamlet
Valentina Igoshina (piano) Thomas Hammes (trumpet) Deutsche Kammerakademie
Neuss/Lavard Skou-Larsen rec. 2010
CPO 777 750-2 [70:19] [NB]
With
its interesting coupling and persuasively lucid approach I could imagine
there being many satisfied purchasers.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Cello Sonata Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Cello Sonata
Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Cello Sonata
Jamie Walton (cello) Daniel Grimwood (piano) rec. 2011
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD274 [67:26] [WH]
Magnificent
performances of three fine twentieth-century cello sonatas.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Cello Concerto 1, Violin
Concerto 1
Mstislav Rostropovich, Philadelphia O/Eugene Ormandy; David Oistrakh,
Leningrad PO/Yevgeny Mravinsky
REGIS RRC1385 [64:14] [MC]
A
snip at the price.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphonies 2 & 5
Minnesota Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä rec. 2011
BIS BIS-SACD-1986 [78:04]
[WH]
Superb
performances - these go straight to the top of my list.
Marijn
SIMONS (b. 1982) The Legend of Kwahkaazuh,
Five
Simon Ensemble: Philipp Stümke (clarinet) Ron Colbers (vibraphone,
vocal) Karina Sabac (piano) Felix Giglberger (violin, viola) Sandra
Borchers (contrabass)/Marijn Simons rec. 2010
QUINTONE Q10004 [49:42] [PCG]
An
interesting concatenation between classical music and jazz soon turning
into something rather different.
Bedřich
SMETANA (1824-1884) Dalibor
Václav Zítek (baritone) Vilém Přibyl (tenor)
Eva Děpoltová (soprano) Brno State Opera Ch & PO/Václav
Smetáček rec. 1979
SUPRAPHON SU 4091-2 [79:16 + 65:19] [GD]
This
version serves Smetana and Dalibor well.
Bedřich
SMETANA (1824-1884)
From My Homeland see 135
Years of Czech Composers
Patric
STANDFORD (b.
1939) First Symphony (The Seasons – An English Year) (1972)
[32:49] Cello Concerto (1974) [27:08] Prelude to a Fantasy (The
Naiades) (1980) [9:28]
Raphael Wallfisch (cello) Royal Scottish National Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones
rec. 2011, DDD
BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS441CD [69:56] [JQ]
Major
works by Patric Standford that are well worth investigating.
Ronald
STEVENSON (b.1928) Fantasy on Peter Grimes
see Darknesse Visible
William
Grant STILL (1895-1978)
Wood Notes, Symphonies 2 & 3
Fort Smith Symphony/John Jeter rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.559676 [61:39] [WK]
Committed
recordings of works by a “golden age” American finally coming
into his own on disc.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS (1864 - 1949) Lieder
Daniel Behle (tenor), Oliver Schnyder (piano) rec. 2010/11
CAPRICCIO C5110 [57:48] [GF]
Marvellously
gifted Lieder singing.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Lieder, Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64 [52.00]
Renée Fleming (soprano) Vienna PO/Christian Thielemann rec. 2011
OPUS
ARTE/UNITEL CLASSICA OA1069D 
[84.52] [DMcC]
I
am very glad to have this for the songs, but cannot imagine I will ever
watch the Eine Alpensinfonie again.
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) The Firebird Suite see
TCHAIKOVSKY
Josef
SUK (1874-1935) Four Pieces see 135
Years of Czech Composers
Aleksander
TANSMAN (1897-1986)
Happy Time, on s’amuse au piano [44:13]* Book I (Primary) [11:36]; Book
II (Elementary) [16:29]; Book III (Intermediate) [16:08] Ten Diversions
for the Young Pianist [14:04]*
Elzbieta Tyszecka (piano) rec. 2011. *World première recordings.
ACTE PREALABLE AP0246 [58:42]Aleksander
TANSMAN (1897-1986) Pour les enfants pour piano de
difficulté progressive [54:11]* 1er Recueil, très facile [11:16]; 2e
Recueil, facile [12:13]; 3e Recueil, assez facile [12:47]; 4e Recueil,
moyenne difficulté [17:55] Piano miniatures (1945)[6:56]*
Elzbieta Tyszecka (piano) rec. 2011. World première recordings.
ACTE PREALABLE AP0255 [61:32] [SA]
Fascinating
little marvels in their own right.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Cherevichki
Valery Popov, Ludmila Shemchuk, Albert Schagidullin, Ch & O Teatro
Lirico Cagliari/Gennady Rozhdestvensky rec. 2000
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94375 [3 CDs: 174:46] [PCG]
Not
at all a bad representation of the score.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony 1 Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
The Firebird Suite
BBC SO, Philharmonia O/Yevgeny Svetlanov rec. 1996/2002
ICA CLASSICS ICAC5007 [80:40] [SV]
Svetlanov's
interpretation is spacious, atmospheric, and is realized with crisp
accents and pointed articulation.
Pyotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Violin Concerto in D, Op 35 [36:06] Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Violin Concerto in E minor, Op 64 [27:44]
Ray Chen (violin) Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Daniel Harding rec.
2011,
SONY CLASSICAL 88697984102 [63:50] [BR]
Bland
orchestral playing sinks the Tchaikovsky, and though this young virtuoso
is good, he still lacks a distinctive calling card.
Pyotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Hamlet
see Music
inspired by Shakespeare and Hamlet
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Recorder sonatas
and sonatinas
Heiko ter Schegget (recorder) Mieneke van der Velden (viola da gamba)
Benny Aghassi (bassoon) Zvi Meniker (harpsichord) rec. 2010
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 905 1693-2 [67:31] [JV]
One
doesn't need to be a recorder buff to love this disc.
Joaquín
TURINA (1882-1949) Piano Quartet, Violin Sonata
2, Sonata espagnola, Escena andaluza, Piano Trio 1, La oración
del torero
Nash Ensemble rec. 2010
HYPERION CDA67889 [72:14] [OL]
This
is very French music built out of Spanish elements.
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Sonata for Violin and Piano, Gustav HOLST
(1874-1934) Five Pieces for violin and piano: Henry
WALFORD DAVIES (1869-1941) Sonata for Violin and Piano
Rupert
Marshall-Luck (violin); Matthew Rickard (piano) rec. 2012, *World première
recordings
EM RECORDS EMR CD006 [63:23] [MC]
Sanguine
spontaneity and a natural warmth and affinity.
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Mass in G minor (1922) Sacred and Secular Songs:
Iain Simcock (organist) Christ Church Cathedral Choir/Stephen Darlington
rec. 1986, No sung texts
NIMBUS RECORDS NI 5083 [52:29] [MC]
A
winning disc of mainly sacred music that is quite beautifully sung and
recorded.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Symphony 4 see
Music
for a Time of War
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) La Traviata
Natalie
Dessay (soprano) Charles Castronovo (tenor) Ludovic Tézier (baritone)
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Ch, London SO/Louis Langrée rec. 2011
VIRGIN
CLASSICS
730798 9 [139:00] [JWh]
Natalie
Dessay dominates the stage. A superb production. Well worth seeking
out.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813–1901) Don Carlos
Josef Greindl, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Patricia Johnson, Deutsche
Oper O Berlin/Wolfgang Sawallisch rec. 1965
ARTHAUS 101621 [155:00]
[ST]
If you are looking for a first choice Don Carlo on DVD then
this is emphatically not it.
Henry
VIEUXTEMPS (1820-1881)
Violin Concertos 4 & 5, Fantasia appassionata
Viviane Hagner (violin) Royal Flemish Philharmonic/Martyn Brabbins rec.
2009
HYPERION CDA67798 [66:40] [SV]
Will
appeal particularly to those as yet unfamiliar with these works.
Giovanni
Battista VIOTTI (1765-1824)
Violin Concerto 16 Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756 1791) Rondos Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770 1827) Romances 1 & 2
Christian J. Saccon (violin) O di Padova e vel Veneto/Giovanni Battista
Rigon rec. 2008
VELUT LUNA CVLD176 [60:45] [JW]
Saccon
certainly doesn’t disappoint.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) La Cetra Concertos
Rachel
Podger (violin) Holland Baroque Society rec. 2011/12
CHANNEL CLASSICS CCS SA 33412
[60:29 + 56:56] [DC]
Exquisite
and great fun - just as it should be.
Antonio
VIVALDI:
Recorder
Concertos George Frideric HANDEL:
Recorder Sonatas
Piers Adams (recorder), David Watkin (cello), Howard Beach (harpsichord,
organ) rec. 1989, DDD
RED PRIEST RECORDINGS RP008 [56:40 + 59:13] [JV]
There
are many recordings of Handel's sonatas in the market which are
just as good or better.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Die Walküre
Frank van Aken, Eva-Maria Westbroek, Susan Bullock, Frankfurter Opern-
und Museums O/Sebastian Weigle rec. 2010
OEHMS CLASSICS OC 936 [4 CDs: 227:46] [GF]
Ruled
out due to some less than attractive singing.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Lohengrin
Plácido Domingo, Cheryl Studer, Robert Lloyd, Ch & O Wiener
Staatsoper/Claudio Abbado rec. 1990
ARTHAUS MUSIK 100957
[2 DVDs: 219:00] [JPr]
For
all its wonderful detail a little more intensity and forward momentum
at critical times would not have gone amiss.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Symphony in C major; Symphony
in E major; Huldigungsmarsch; Kaisermarsch; Rienzi
Overture
RSNO/Neeme Järvi rec. 2010/11
CHANDOS CHSA5097 [79.14]
[DMcC]
Greeted
with enthusiasm.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Lohengrin
Klaus Florian Vogt, Georg Zeppenfeld, Annette Dasch, Petra Lang; Bayreuth
Festival O & Ch/Andris Nelsons rec. 2011
OPUS ARTE
OA1071D [2 DVDs: 235.00] [JPr]
A
good gauge for those who want to know what is current at Bayreuth.
Henry
WALFORD DAVIES (1869-1941) Sonata for Violin and Piano
see Vaughan Williams
Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Der Freischütz
Karl
Paul, Werner Faulhaber, Elfride Trötschel, Staatskapelle Dresden
& Ch/Rudolf Kempe rec. 1951
PROFIL EDITION PH10032 [3 CDs: 156:39] [MC]
More
than a mere historical document. The quality of the singing makes this
a real winner.
Karl
WEIGL (1881-1949) Isle of the Dead, Pictures and Tales,
Night Fantasies, Dance of the Furies, Six Fantasies
Joseph Banowetz (piano) rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572423 [78.49] [PCG]
Nicely
intimate performances in well-rounded sound. One of the last of the
late romantics.
Mieczysław
WEINBERG (1919-1996) Clarinet Sonata, Miniatures,
Trio for Flute, Viola and Harp
Elisaveta Blumina (piano) Wenzel Fuchs (clarinet) Henrik Wiese (flute)
Mattias Baier (bassoon) Nimrod Guez (viola) Uta Jungwirth (harp) rec.
2009/10
CPO 777 630-2 [73:23] [SA]
Performances
of beauty and great skill - more please!
Charles-Marie
WIDOR (1844-1937)
Organ Symphonies 5 & 6
Joseph Nolan (organ) rec. 2011
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD292 [72:35] [DC]
The
atmosphere and timbres are all just as they should be, the performances
putting this amongst the top rank for these great works.
Hugo
WOLF (1860-1903) Complete Music for String Quartet
Quartetto Prometeo rec. 2011
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94166 [61:37] [Byz]
Here
the Quartet is athletic and elegant, luxuriating in warmth but also
plunging fearlessly into icy depths.
Hugo
WOLF (1860 - 1903) The Complete Songs Vol. 3:
Italienisches Liederbuch
Geraldine McGreevy (soprano) Mark Stone (baritone) Sholto Kynoch (piano)
rec. 2011
STONE RECORDS 5060192780116 [79:10] [GF]
A
worthy contender.
Anton
WRANITZKY (1761-1820) String Quintet; String Sextet
Ensemble
Cordia rec. 2009
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94168 [49:01] [JW]
Stylistically
apt performances and well judged recording.
Wladyslaw
ZELENSKI (1837-1921) Piano Quartet in C minor, Op.61
[38:53] Variations on an original theme in G minor, Op.21 [15:17]
Joanna Lawrynowicz (piano): Four Strings Quartet rec. 2010/2011
ACTE PRÉALABLE AP0237 [54:11] [JW]
Zelenski
is a valued follower of Brahms and his Piano Quartet is extremely well
performed and recorded
Francesco
Maria ZUCCARI (1694-1788) Cello Sonatas
Musica Perduta rec. 2010
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94306 [64:24] [Byz]
From
composer to ensemble to audio to price, an all but exemplary product.
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for alphabetical listings by composer:
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1 New] [Part
2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part
5 S-Z]
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