John
CAGE (1912-1992)
How to Get Out of the Cage - A film by Frank Scheffer [56:00]
Five Experimental films by Frank Scheffer [92:00]: Wagner’s Ring
(1987); Stoperas I and II (1987); Nopera (1995); ChessFilmNoise
(1988); Ryoanji (2011) rec. various locations, 1987. 
EUROARTS 2059168 [148:00] [KM]
For
fans of John Cage’s work, this documentary gives an opportunity to listen
to the composer discuss his work.
John
CAGE (1912-1992) String Quartet see LIGETI
Francesco
CAVALLI (1602-1676) La Didone
Anna Bonitatibus, Krešimir Špicer, Les Arts Florissants/William
Christie rec. 2011
OPUS ARTE 
OA1080D [176:14] [BW]
This
is the Cavalli DVD to own; it should also appeal to Monteverdi
fans.
Alfredo
CASELLA (1883-1947)
Suite, Pagine di guerra, Concerto for Orchestra
Rome SO/Francesco La Vecchia rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.573004 [69:58] [DM]
Great
fun; buy now and beat the rush.
Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano Concertos 1 & 2
Edward Auer (piano) Shanghai Qt, Peter Lloyd (double bass) rec. 2010
CULTURE/DEMAIN
[74:45] [RMay]
Technically
very assured and very enjoyable.
Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Grande Polonaise Brillante, Ballade
4 see Alexandra
Dariescu
Osvaldo
COLUCCINO (b.1963) Attimo, Aion,
Eco Immobile, Talea
Teatro La Fenice String Qt, Achille Gallo (piano) rec. 2010
NEOS 11130 [55:13] [Byz]
Tricky
post-modernist pieces tackled with spirit and skill.
Aaron
COPLAND (1900-1990)
Quiet City, Eight Poems of Emily Dickinson Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981) Knoxville: Summer of 1915,
Capricorn Concerto George GERSHWIN
(1898-1937) Summertime
April Fredrick (soprano) Orchestra of the Swan/David Curtis rec. 2011.
SOMM
SOMMCD0118 [70:20] [IL]
A
very satisfying concert.
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Preludes (orch. Breiner)
Royal
Scottish Ntl O/Jun Märkl rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572584 [36.54 + 39.31] [PCG]
A
supplement to Märkl’s readings of the Matthews orchestrations.
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Violin Sonata see FRANCK
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934)
Appalachia, Sea Drift
Leon Williams (baritone) Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Florida O/Stefan
Sanderling rec. 2012
NAXOS 8.572764 [60.11] [PCG]
The
orchestra relishes Delius’s contrasts.
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934)
Brigg Fair - An English Rhapsody (1907) [18:43] Piano Concerto
- Early version in three movements (1897-1904) [30:01] Idylle de
Printemps - Morceau symphonique (1889) [10:18] Paris -
A Nocturne (The Song of a Great City) (rev. ed. Beecham)
(1899) [18:43] 
Howard Shelley (piano) Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Sir Andrew
Davis rec.2011
CHANDOS CHAN 10742 [75:35][IL]
An
enchanting addition to the Delius discography. [IL] Even the best of
teams can have an off-day. [NB]
David
DEL TREDICI (b. 1937) Gotham Glory; Aeolian Ballade;
Ballad in lavender; Ballad in yellow; S/M Ballade
Marc Peloquin (piano) rec. 2009
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559680 [79.36] [PCG]
A
series of towering performances.
Anthonius
DIVITIS (c.1470 - c.1530)/Antoine
DEFÉVIN (c.1470 - 1511/12) Lux perpetua
- Requiem
Organum/Marcel Pérès rec. 2010
AEON AECD 1216 [65:55] [JV]
A
highly fascinating reading.
Ernst
von DOHNÁNYI (1877-1960) Variations on a
Nursery Tune see Dohnányi
in London
Ernö
von DOHNÁNYI (1877-1960) Konzertstück see
KODÁLY
Jonathan
DOVE (b. 1959) There Was a Child
Joan Rodgers (soprano) Toby Spence (tenor) CBSO Ch,Youth Ch, Children’s
Ch & O/Simon Halsey rec. 2011
SIGNUM SIGCD285 [50:47] [DMcC]
Powerful
spiritual communication in this fabulous performance. I was very touched
by the music and the performance.
Gabriel
DUPONT (1878-1914) Les Heures Dolentes,
La Maison dans les Dunes
Bernard Paul-Reynier (piano) rec. 2008
PASSAVANT MUSIC PAS 225043 [62:20 + 45:15] [Byz]
Vivid,
endlessly imaginative music in very satisfying, stylish interpretations.
Franz
Xaver DUSSEK (1731-1799) 4 Sinfonias
Helsinki Baroque O/Aapo Häkkinen rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572683 [53:53] [DMcC]
First-rate
performances featuring excellent energetic playing, all at budget price.
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Rusalka
Kristine
Opolais, Klaus Florian Vogt, Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper/Bayerisches
Staatsorchester/Tomáš Hanus rec. 2010
UNITEL CLASSICA 706504 
[156:00] [LW]
This
Rusalka is a travesty as a production, though its musical values are
high.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Symphony 9
see BRAHMS
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Biblical Songs
see Love
and Longing
Antonín
DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) String Sextet see
SCHOENBERG
Sir
George DYSON (1883-1964) At the Tabard Inn, The
Canterbury Pilgrims,In Honour of the City
Yvonne Kenny (soprano) Robert Tear (tenor) Stephen Roberts (baritone)
London SO & Ch/Richard Hickox rec. 1996
CHANDOS CHAN 241-43 [57:25 + 60:42] [JQ]
A
splendid set, containing some hugely enjoyable music in first rate performances.
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934)
The Light of Life
Judith Howarth (soprano); Linda Finnie (mezzo); Arthur Davies (tenor);
John Shirley-Quirk (baritone) London SO & Ch/Richard Hickox rec.
1993
CHANDOS CHAN 10726X [62:48] [JW]
A
work of embryonic, fitful quality … at its best resplendent and
moving.
Edward
ELGAR (1857
- 1934) Symphony 2, Enigma Variations
Hallé O/Sir John Barbirolli rec. 1954/6
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 337 [79:38] [MG]
These
earlier JB recordings are leaner and more stimulating.
Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
The Longed for Light - Elgar’s Music in Wartime
Simon Callow (speaker) Susan Gritton (soprano) BBC Concert O/John
Wilson rec. 2012
SOMM CD247 [75:10] [IL]
Majesty
and grief delivered in the grand manner but Oh that OTT narration!
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934)
Variations on an original theme (Enigma), Op.36 [30.56] Cockaigne
(In London Town), Op.40 [15.07] Froissart, Op.19 [14.23]
Pomp and Circumstance Marches Nos. 1-5, Op.39 [27.46]*
English Symphony Orchestra/William Boughton rec. Great Hall, Birmingham
University, 28-30 July 1989 and 18-19 June 1988*
NIMBUS
NI 9001 DVD-Audio [88.30] [PCG]
Will
appeal strongly to those who would want to experience the sensation
of a live performance with a real sense of place.
Sir
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
The Apostles, Op.49 [114.29]
Rebecca Evans (soprano); Alice Coote (mezzo); Paul Groves (tenor); Jacques
Imbrailo, David Kempster (baritones); Brindley Sherratt (bass) Hallé
Youth Choir, Choir and Orchestra/Sir Mark Elder rec. 2012
HALLÉ HLD 7534 [65.08 + 49.21] [PCG]
Quite
simply the best performance ever of The Apostles on disc.
Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845-1924) Violin Sonata 1 see FRANCK
Morton
FELDMAN (1923-1987) Crippled Symmetry
The
Feldman Soloists rec.2000
FROZEN REEDS fr1/2 [44:10 + 44:47] [DC]
One
of the finest performances you’re likely to hear anywhere.
Gerald
FINZI (1901-1956) Seven poems of Robert Bridges see
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
César
FRANCK (1822-1890)
Symphony Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Romeo and Juliet
Roma SO della RAI, Torino SO della RAI/Sergiu Celibidache rec. 1957/60
ISTITUTO
DISCOGRAFICO ITALIANO IDIS 6611 [63: 51] [SV]
Striking
a good balance between weight and propulsion.
César
FRANCK (1822-1890) Violin Sonata Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845-1924) Violin Sonata 1
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Violin Sonata
Jacques Thibaud (violin) Alfred Cortot (piano) rec. 1927-1931
PRISTINE PACM 080 [65:54] [JW]
A
cornerstone historic violin sonata disc - a first port of call for those
who want to know what the French violin school was all about.
Peter
FRIBBINS (b.1969) String Quartet 2, Piano
Concerto Fantasias 1 & 2
Chilingirian Qt, Anthony Hewitt, Diana Brekalo (piano) Sarah-Jane Bradley
(viola) Royal PO/Robertas šervenikas rec. 2010/11
GUILD GMCD 7381 [64:32] JW]
Fribbins
has much to say musically speaking … very well served by the thoughtful
and imaginative musicians.
Hans
GÁL (1890-1987)
Music for Cello Sonatas for Cello Solo, Sonata for Cello and
Piano
Alfia Nakipbekova (cello) Jakob Fichert (piano) rec. 2010
TOCCATA TOCC 0043 [63:39] [JW]
These
are valuable performances.
Hans
GÁL (1890-1987) The Complete Piano Duos
Anthony
Goldstone and Caroline Clemmow (pianos) rec. 2001,
DIVINE ART DDA 25098 [58:42] [JW]
Gál
in unbuttoned mood … a source of great entertainment and vitality.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Complete String Trios Hans
GÁL (1890-1987) Serenade in D Op.41 [25:37]*; Trio in
F sharp minor Op.104*[25:09] Hans KRÁSA
(1899-1944) Tanec (Dance) [5:53]; Passacaglia and fuga [9:44]
Ensemble
Epomeo (Caroline Chin (violin), David Yang (viola), Kenneth Woods (cello))
rec.13-15 December 2011, Millfield School Concert Hall, Somerset, England
*world première recordings
AVIE RECORDS AV2259 [67:08] [SA]
In
every way this is a fantastic disc that listeners will want to hear
again and again.
Baldassare
GALUPPI (1706-1785) Keyboard Sonatas Vol. 3
Matteo Napoli (piano) rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572672 [65:13] [Byz]
Galuppi's
almost total neglect highlights the typically mindless nature of musical
fashion.
George
GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Rhapsody in Blue. (Original jazz
band version, orchestrated by Ferde Grofé.) see Saint-Saens
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Christopher
GIBBONS (1615-1676) Motets, Anthems, Fantasias and Voluntaries
Philippa
Hyde (soprano) Jacqueline Connell (mezzo) Ch & Academy of Ancient
Music/Richard Egarr (organ) rec. 2010
HARMONIA MUNDI HMU807551 
[62:27] [BW]
The
music of a major discovery in near-ideal performances.
Philip
GLASS (b. 1937) Symphony 9
Bruckner Orchestra Linz/Dennis Russell Davies rec. 2011/12
ORANGE MOUNTAIN MUSIC OMM0081 [45:56] [JW]
A
strong and purposeful work that grows more memorable on repeated listening.
Reinhold
GLIÈRE (1875-1956)
Symphony No. 3 in B minor Ilya Muromets Op. 42 (1911) [93:02]
Cello Concerto Op. 87 (1946-47) [46:26]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Harold Farberman (Symphony) Sergei Sudzilovsky
(cello) Russian Cinematic Symphony Orchestra/Sergei Skripka rec. Dec
1978, All Saints Church, Tooting, London. DDD (symphony); Mosfilm Studio,
Moscow, July 1986 (concerto). DDD
ALTO ALC 2019 [65:29 + 74:07] [CF]
Gliere’s
epic Muromets - readily accessible to the admirer of tuneful material.
Christoph
GLUCK (1714-1787)
Orfeo ed Euridice
Anita Rachvelishvili, Maite Alberola, Orquesta bandArt/Gordan Nikolic
rec. 2011
UNITEL/C MAJOR 710404
[110:00] [KM]
Fine
singing from Anita Rachvelishvili cannot save this disastrous staging.
Christoph
GRAUPNER (1683-1760)
Concerto, Sonatas & Ouvertures
Ars Antiqua Austria/Gunar Letzbor rec. 2011
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72539
[74:41] [DC]
A
fine and festive feast of gustative goodness.
Georg
Friedrich HANDEL (1685-1759) Apollo e Dafne;
Concerto grosso; Overture; Suites
Andrea Lauren Brown (soprano) Dominik Worner (bass-baritone) Cantus
Firmus Consort/Andreas Reize rec. 2008
CPO 777 228-2 [74:41] [EML]
Not
a disc that shows Handel at his best.
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Song for St Cecilia’s
Day; Concerto Grosso; Look Down, Harmonious Saint
Mary Bevan (soprano) Ed Lyon (tenor) Ludus Baroque/Richard Neville-Towle
rec. 2011
DELPHIAN DCD34110 [79:55] [ST]
A
local, hugely talented musical enterprise made deservedly much more
widely known.
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Rinaldo
Sonia Prina (mezzo) Tim Mead (counter-tenor) Luca Pisaroni (bass) O
Age of Enlightenment/Ottavio Dantone rec. 2011
OPUS ARTE
OA1081D [161:32] [BW]
Visually
distracting, aurally very well worth considering.
Ferdinand
HILLER (1811-1885) Die Zerstörung Jerusalems
Die Gewandhauschor, Leipzig, Vocalconsort Leipzig, Camerata Lipsiensis/Gregor
Meyer rec. 2011
QUERSTAND VKJK1202 [52:23 + 53:30] [JS]
Historical
interest but little here to compel a second hearing.
Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963)
Viola Sonata Benjamin BRITTEN
(1913-1976) Lachrymae Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Viola Sonata
Yuri Bashmet (viola) Sviatoslav Richter (piano) rec. 1985
ALTO ALC 1186 [68:34] [JW]
Allowing
for the sonics this is mightily impressive.
Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934) The wandering scholar,
Suite de ballet, A song of the night
Ingrid Attrot (soprano) Neill Archer (tenor) Alan Opie (baritone) Donald
Maxwell (bass) Lesley Hatfield (violin) Northern Sinf/Richard Hickox
rec. 1996
CHANDOS CHAN 10725X [53.10] [PCG]
This
well accoutred reissue is welcome indeed.
Arthur
HONEGGER (1892-1955) Symphonies 1 & 3
Basel SO/Dennis Russell Davies rec. 2011/12
SINFONIEORCHESTER BASEL SOB02 [55:00] [MC]
These
radiant Basel performances make a strong impact.
Arthur
HONEGGER (1892-1955) Symphony 2 Henri
LAZAROF (b.1932) Concerto for Orchestra 2, Poema
Seattle SO/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1989-1993
NAXOS 8.572748 [61:32] [WK]
For
fans of Lazarof and for Seattle Symphony completists.
Alan
HOVHANESS (1911-2000) Symphonies 1 & 50, Fantasy
on Japanese Woodprints
Ron Johnson (marimba) Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1990, 1992
NAXOS
8.559717 [65:40] [GH]
Good
Hovhaness, superbly played and recorded. Well worth the modest investment.
Herbert
HOWELLS (1892-1983) Hymnus Paradisi, A
Kent Yeoman’s Wooing Song
Joan Rodgers (soprano) Anthony Rolfe-Johnson (tenor) Alan Opie (baritone)
BBC SO & Ch/Richard Hickox rec. 1998
CHANDOS CHAN 10727X [65:12] [JQ]
A
splendid recording of Hymnus Paradisi coupled with a Howells rarity.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gabriel
JACKSON (b. 1962) Requiem; In all his works;
I am the voice of the wind John TAVENER
(b. 1944) Song for Athene Francis POTT
(b. 1957) When David heard
Vasari Singers/Jeremy Backhouse rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.573049 [70:06] [JQ]
Should
be investigated by all those who are interested in contemporary choral
music.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Leos JANÁČEK (1854-1928)
String Quartet 1 see SIBELIUS
Mieczysław
KARŁOWICZ (1876-1909) Serenade for Strings see
MERCADANTE
Aram
KHACHATRIAN (1903-1978)
Violin Concerto, Cello Concerto, Funeral Ode, Masquerade Suite, Gayane,
Piano Concerto
Leonid Kogan (violin) Sviatoslav Knushevitsky (cello) Antonín
Jemelík (piano) USSR State Radio and Television SO/Aram Khachaturian,
Alexander Gauk Prague RSO/Aram Khachaturian rec. 1946-60
SUPRAPHON SU4100-2 [79:54 +78:20] [JW]
I
had a superb time with this and so will any Khachaturian admirer.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wojciech KILAR
(b.
1932) Choral Musik
The Katowice City Singers’ Ensemble Camerata Silesia; AUKSO Chamber
Orchestra of Tychy (6)/Anna Szostak rec. 2011 Liner notes but no texts
enclosed
DUX 0856 [55:40] [GF]
This
may radically change your opinions – even your lives!
Zoltán
KODÁLY (1882-1967) Háry János
Suite, Dances of Galánta Ernö
DOHNÁNYI (1877-1960) Konzertstück
János Starker (cello) Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1988-1990
NAXOS
8.572749 [65:19] [BR]
A
very desirable CD, especially for the Dohnányi but the Kodály
is better than you’d expect.
Erich
Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957)
String Sextet, Piano Quintet
Camerata Freden rec. 2011
TACET 198 [68:00] [IL]
Technically
accomplished performances but, at times, a little cold-hearted.
Erich
Wolfgang KORNGOLD
Violin Concerto see Nicola Benedetti
Hans
KRÁSA (1899-1944)
String trios see GAL
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Orlande de LASSUS
(1532-1594) Missa ad imitationem Vinum Bonum
Ex Cathedra; His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts/Jeffrey Skidmore rec.
1995
ALTO ALC1177 [68:37] [MS]
Sublime
music by Lassus superbly performed.
William
LAWES (1602-1645) The Passion of Musicke
Sophie
Gent (violin) Giovanna Pessi (harp) Eduardo Eguez (theorbo) Philippe
Pierlot (bass & lyra viols) rec. 2006
FLORA 1206 [60.50] [RH]
Substantial
and supremely rewarding ... consummate playing.
Guillaume
LEKEU Piano Quartet see WALTON
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH György LIGETI
(1923-2006)
Le Grand Macabre
Chris Merritt, Inés Moraleda, Ana Puche, Gran Teatre del Liceu
SO & Ch/Michael Boder rec. 2011
ARTHAUS MUSIK 108 058
[122:00 + 42:00] [LW]
An
important addition to the Ligeti discography and a first on video.
György
LIGETI (1923-2006) String Quartet 2
Matthias PINTSCHER (b. 1971) Study IV for Treatise on the
Veil John CAGE (1912-1992) String
Quartet Iannis XENAKIS (1922-2001)
Tetras
JACK Qt rec. 2011
WIGMORE HALL LIVE WHLIVE0053 [72:40] [LW]
A
real showcase for the talents of the JACK Quartet.
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Hungarian Rhapsody 1 see
Dohnányi in London
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Ballade 2, Isoldens Liebestod
see Alexandra
Dariescu
Juliusz
LUCIUK
(b.1927) Gesang am Brunnen — oratorio for soprano,
tenor, baritone, mixed choir and chamber orchestra (c.1993)
Orkiestra Kameralna Polskiego Radia w Krakowie/José Maria Floréncio
rec. 1996, Texts, but not translated into English
ACTE PRÉALABLE AP0240 [54:51] [JW]
An
interesting slant on yet another strand of contemporary Polish religious
music.
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 
