Kalevi
AHO (b.
1949) Chamber Symphony No.1 (1976)a [13:13] Chamber Symphony
No.2 (1991/2)a [16:05] Chamber Symphony No.3 (1995/6)b
[26:18] 
John-Edward Kelly (alto saxophone)b Tapiola Sinfonietta/Stefan
Asburya, Jean-Jacques Kantorowb rec. 2005, 2008
BIS-SACD-1126
[56:40] [HC]
A
most welcome addition to Aho's steadily expanding discography.
Isaac
ALBENIZ (1860-1909) Piano Music
Vol. 7
Miguel Baselga (piano) rec. 2010
BIS-CD-1953 [71:09] [JF]
An
excellent balance of masterpieces, salon music of the very best quality
and some unknown quantities. The playing is superb.
William
ALWYN (1905-1985)
Overture, Derby Day (1960) [6:38] Symphonic Prelude, The
Magic Island (1952) [10:15] Four Elizabethan Dances (1957)
[12:28] Sinfonietta for Strings (1970) [26:24] Festival March
(1950) [8:20]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/William Alwyn recording data not provided
LYRITA
SRCD.229 [64:06] [SV]
Glad
to have this vividly recorded program - just wish it were better.
William
ALWYN (1905-1985) Film Music in wind band arrangements
Royal
Northern College of Music Wind O/Clark Rundell; Mark Heron rec. 2011
NAXOS
8.572747 [69:46] [IL]
Generally
satisfying.
Malcolm
ARNOLD (1921-2006) Recorder concerto see
HARVEY
Carl
Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714 - 1788) Die Israeliten
in der Wüste
Gudrun Sidonie Otto (soprano) Michael Schopper (bass) Salzburger Hofmusik/Wolfgang
Brunner rec. 2008
CPO 777 560-2 [75:46] [JV]
An
impressive recording which perfectly communicates the evocative way
in which Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach set this subject to music.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Brandenburg Concertos 1-6
O des Cento Soli/Hermann Scherchen rec. 1954
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR 197-98 [52:07 + 64:44] [JW]
Performances
of generosity and warmth.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Orchestral Transcriptions
by RESPIGHI and ELGAR: Three Choral Preludes, Sonata in E minor,
Prelude and Fugue in D major, Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, Fantasia
and Fugue in C minor
Ilkka Talvi (violin) Seattle SO/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1989-1991
NAXOS 8.572741 [57:19] [JWh]
Some
fabulous, exciting playing in wide-ranging sound – buy it.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Saint John Passion (1724)
Charles Daniels (tenor) - Evangelist; Shannon Mercer (soprano); Matthew
White (alto); Jacques-Olivier Chartier (tenor); Tyler Duncan (bass)
- Pilatus; Joshua Hopkins (bass) - Jesus; Cappella Romana; Portland
Baroque Orchestra/Monica Huggett (violin) rec. 2011, DDD
AVIE AV2236 [30:55 + 70:10] [MS]
A
compelling, persuasive yet smaller-scale period instrument account by
performers who obviously adore the music and bring out most of its strong
points.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) St John Passion
Charles
Daniels, Stephen Varcoe, Yorkshire Baroque Soloists/Peter Seymour rec.
2010
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD209 [33:27 + 73:16] [JQ]
Quite
a lot to enjoy and admire but this St John doesn’t disturb
existing recommendations.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Books I & II
Christine Schornsheim (harpsichord) rec. 2010/11
CAPRICCIO 7115 [4 CDs: 255:22] [DC]
A
fine synergy: superb instrument, performer and recording.
Friedrich
Gulda plays Beethoven and Bach Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) English Suite in G
minor Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Eroica Variations, Piano Sonata 29
rec. 1970
EUROARTS 
DVD
2058698 [79:00] [JW]
Mainly
for the confirmed Guldian.
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cello Suite 6 see
BRITTEN
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Concerto for Orchestra see
Europa Konzert
Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Suite Paysanne Hongroise
for flute and piano (arrangements of Chants populaires tristes,
for flute and piano, by Paul Arma) see Sounds
from Within
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphony 1 see Günter
Wand
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770 - 1827) Complete Works
for Piano and Orchestra
Howard Shelley (piano) Tasmin Little (violin) Tim Hugh (cello) Ch &
O Opera North/Howard Shelley rec. 2011-2012
CHANDOS CHAN10695(4) [4 CDs: 80:41 + 79:19 + 78:28 + 77:59] [ST]
Rekindle
a love of music well known and opens my eyes anew to the genius that
Beethoven displays on every page.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) The Complete Symphonies Annette
Dasch (soprano) Mihoko Fujimura (mezzo) Piotr Beczala (tenor) Georg
Zeppenfeld (bass) Wiener Singverein/Johannes Prinz Wiener Phil/Christian
Thielemann rec. 2008-2010 SONY CLASSICAL 88697927172 [6 CDs:
61:26 + 56:26 + 71:16 + 45:31 + 64:59 + 72:00] [RMo]
Joyous,
released and sheerly infectious … full of drive, impish wit and manic
ecstasy.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770–1827)
Symphony no. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60 [31:53] Symphony no. 5 in C minor,
Op. 67 [33:32] 
London Symphony Orchestra/Yondani Butt rec. 2011
NIMBUS CD NI6147 [65:15] [JZ]
Solid
performances of these familiar works with an excellent modern orchestra.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony 9
Lotte Leonard (soprano) Jenny Sonnenberg (alto) Eugen Transky (tenor)
Wilhelm Gottman (bass) Bruno Kittel Ch/Berlin St Op O/Oskar Fried rec.
1928
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC317 [62:04] [CC]
A
different era, different values, different performance traditions. Fascinating
and uplifting.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Leonore Overture No.3
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphony
88 Paul DESSAU (1894-1979)
In memoriam Bertolt Brecht Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911) Lieder eines Fahrenden Gesellen
Anneliese
Burmeister (contralto) Berlin Staatskapelle O/Kurt Masur rec. 1967
ORCHESTRAL CONCERT CDs CD13/2011 [68:43] [JW]
No
quirks interpretatively … enjoyable stuff.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphonies 2 & 3
Netherlands
SO/Jan Willem de Vriend rec. 2009/10
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72532
[34:25 + 46:45] [GD]
Engaging listening but ...
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
‘Eroica’Variations, 1802 [21:45]
Ronald Brautigam (fortepiano) rec. 2010,
BIS BIS-SACD-1673 [73:35] [DC]
Something
of a highlight even by this series’ standards.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concertos 1-5
Rudolf Buchbinder (piano and conductor) Vienna PO rec. 2011
UNITEL CLASSICA/C MAJOR 708904 
[186:00 + 29:00 bonus] [GM]
This
is a disc well worth seeing as well as hearing.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Egmont
Overture see
TCHAIKOVSKY
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Eroica Variations, Piano Sonata
29 see
BACH
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Moonlight Sonata
see Peter
Katin
Arthur
BENJAMIN (1893-1960) & Leighton
LUCAS (1903-1982) Film Music
BBC Ntl O Wales/Rumon Gamba rec. 2011
CHANDOS CHAN 10713 [67:58] [NB]
Exceptionally
well played, beautifully recorded and lovingly presented.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hector BERLIOZ
(1803-1869) Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14 (1830) [54:58]
Overture : Béatrice et Bénédict (1862) [8:14]
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Robin Ticciati rec. 2011, Stereo
and multichannel
LINN CKD 400 [63:12] [DM]
Palate-cleansing,
ear-pricking performances. Not to be missed.
Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869)
Harold en Italie, Op. 16 [39:10] Les Nuits d’Été,
Op. 7 [28:31] Le Roi de Thulé (La Damnation de Faust,
Op. 24) [5:17]
Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo); Antoine Tamestit (viola) Les Musiciens
du Louvre-Grenoble/Marc Minkowski rec. 2011, French texts, English and
German translations included
NAĎVE V 5266 [73:04] [JQ]
One
of the most stimulating Berlioz releases that I’ve heard in recent years.
Hector
BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Grande Messe des Morts
(1837) [88:42] Robert Murray (tenor)
Wroclaw PO & Ch/Paul McCreesh rec. 2010
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD280 [48:25 + 40:17] [DM]
A
triumph of performance and scholarship, but the crown still belongs
to Davis.
Philip
BLACKBURN (b.1962) Ghostly Psalms
Ch of
Clare College Cambridge, Gary Verkade & Lars Sjöstedt (organ) rec.
2010/11
INNOVA 246 [63:48] [Byz]
Superbly
produced recordings probably only suitable for those interested in experimentalism.
Armonie
dello Spirito
Luigi BOCCHERINI
(1743-1805) Stabat Mater Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791) Adagio and Fugue
Gemma Bertagnolli (soprano) Ensemble Aurora rec. 2011
EUROARTS 2072558
[49:00] [JS]
Much
that is worthwhile here … very high quality music and performances.
Luigi
BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) String Quartets, op.8
Venezia Quartet rec. 1994
DYNAMIC DM 8027 [76:54] [Byz]
Inventive,
aromatic and breezy.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Pierre BOULEZ
(b. 1925) Mémoriale, Dérive 1 & 2
Fabrice Jünger (flute) Ens Orchestral Contemporain/Daniel Kawka rec.
2011
NAĎVE MO 782183 [63.10] [GH]
This
is great music but undoubtedly challenging. Important and of lasting
value.
Wissam
BOUSTANY (b.1960) Improvisation I for solo
flute see Sounds from
Within
William
BOYCE (1711-1779)
Eight Symphonies Op.2 (published 1760; composed 1737-56) [50:18]
I Solisti di Zagreb/Antonio Janigro rec. 1969,
KLASSIC HAUS RESTORATIONS KHCD 2010-013 [50:18] [JW]
Excellence of execution, surety of attack and highly effective conducting.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Clarinet Quintet in B minor (1891) [36:34] Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Clarinet Quintet in A (1789)
[33:11] David Campbell
(clarinet) Bingham Quartet rec. 1997
ALTO ALC 1161 [69:45] [ST]
This
coupling can take its place among the best, especially at this budget
price.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony
1 see Günter
Wand
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Ein deutsches Requiem Heinrich
SCHÜTZ (1585-1672) Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen
Katharine Fuge (soprano) Matthew Brook (baritone) Monteverdi Choir/Orch
Révolutionnaire et Romantique/Sir John Eliot Gardiner rec. 2007-2008
SOLI DEO GLORIA
SDG 706 [76:54] [JQ]
The
final instalment in the SDG Brahms cycle: as absorbing and distinguished
as its predecessors.
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Intermezzo; Ballade see
Nightbreak
Herbert
BREWER (1865-1928)
The Complete Organ Works
Daniel Cook (organ) rec. 2011
PRIORY PRCD 1057 [77:50] [WK]
A
long overdue disc of music by a friend of Parry and Elgar - well worth
looking into.
Havergal
BRIAN (1876
– 1972) Orchestral music vol. 2 - Music from the operas
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Garry Walker rec. 2009. DDD
TOCCATA TOCC 0113 [72:36] [NB][RB]
Fascinating
… sumptuously romantic … sometimes gawky.
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Cello Suite 3 Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cello Suite 6 György
LIGETI (1923-2006) Sonata
Miklós Perényi (cello) rec. 2009
ECM NEW SERIES 2152 [58:21] [WH]
A superb recital from a master cellist, highly recommended if the programme
appeals.
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-76) Lachrymae see Sprezzatura
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Anton BRUCKNER
(1824-1896)
Symphony 9
Berlin PO/Sir Simon Rattle rec. 2012
EMI CLASSICS 9529692 [82:10] [RMo]
Massive
solidity … rich sonority … magical.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphonies 4, 5, 6, 8 &
9 see Günter
Wand
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony 4
Toronto SO/Peter Oundjian rec. 2007
TSO LIVE 
[73:27] [JQ]
A
convincing and enjoyable live Bruckner Fourth from Toronto.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
Symphonies 3-5 & 7-9 Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883) Opera scenes & excerpts
Bavarian State Opera O, Berlin PO, Munich PO, Vienna PO/Hans Knappertsbusch
rec. live, 1949-59
MUSIC & ARTS CD-1256 [6 CDs: 427:15] [JW]
Performances
of outstanding power and eloquence and a remastering of fine quality.
Dieterich
BUXTEHUDE (c1637-1707)
Membra Jesu Nostri BuxWV 75 (1680) [53:09] Fried- und Freudenreiche
Hinfahrt BuxWV 76 (1671) [12:02]
La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken rec. 2010
ACCENT ACC24243 [65:11] [DC]
Total
immersion Lutheran ecclesiastical mourning.
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