RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
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.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
Motets
Monteverdi Choir/Sir John Eliot Gardiner rec.2011. DDD German texts,
English & French translations included
SOLI DEO GLORIA SDG 716 [72:27] [JQ]
A
superb, fresh new recording of the Bach motets.
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.
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.
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
Denève 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Domenico MAZZOCCHI
(1592-1665)
La Catena d'Adone, Favola boschereccia
Scherzi Musicali/Nicolas Achten rec. 2010
ALPHA 184 [57:56 + 74:13] [JV]
If
you like 17th-century operas, don't miss this one. A jewel.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791)
Apollo et Hyacinthus
Sophie Bevan (soprano) Lawrence Zazzo (counter-tenor) The Orchestra
of Classical Opera/Ian Page rec. 2011
LINN CKD398 [76:38] [JS]
I
cannot imagine a better start to Linn’s intended series of recordings
of Mozart’s operas by Classical Opera.
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.
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.
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.
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.
RECORDING
OF THE MONT Fantasia
Yuja Wang (piano) rec. 2011
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 479 0052 [68.56] [DMcC]
An
extremely accomplished artist.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Music
for a Time of War
Charles IVES (1874-1954)
The Unanswered Question John ADAMS
(b. 1947) The Wound-Dresser Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Sinfonia da Requiem Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Symphony 4
Sanford Sylvan (baritone) Oregon Symphony/Carlos Kalmar rec. 2011
PENTATONE CLASSICS PTC5186 393
[78:04] [JQ]
An
uncommonly interesting programme, excellently performed and recorded.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Summertime
Felicity Lott (soprano) Graham Johnson (piano) rec. 2000
CHAMPS HILL RECORDS CHRCD008 [74:35] [Byz]
A
gorgeous, unmissable disc for all seasons.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Le
triomphe de l'amour Arias by
Rameau, Lully, Rebel & Charpentier
Sandrine Piau (soprano) Les Paladins/Jérôme Corréas
rec. 2011
NAÏVE OP 30532 [60:57] [JV]
A
superior disc which displays the features of French opera in full glory.
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]
EXPLORE
MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL 
