RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
Cello Suites 1-6 
André Navarra (cello) rec. 1977
PHAIA PHU017.18 [69:24 + 70:17] [JW]
The
only thing being paraded here is the music’s greatness and the
artist’s role in acting as the agent of that greatness.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Vincenzo BELLINI
(1801-1835)
Norma
Maria Callas, Mario Del Monaco, Giulietta Simionato, Nicola Zaccaria,
Ch & O Teatro alla Scala/Antonino Votto rec. 1955
PRISTINE AUDIO PACO 083 [78:15 + 76:14] [RMo]
This
recording remains the finest memorial to her most famous role.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hector BERLIOZ
(1803-1869)
Symphonie Fantastique, Le Corsaire Overture
Lyon Ntl O/Leonard Slatkin rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572886 [70:21] [JWh]
Great
performance and magnificent sound.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Felix
BLUMENFELD (1863-1931) Symphony À la
mémoire des chers défunts Georgy
CATOIRE (1861-1926) Symphony
RSNO/Martin Yates rec. 2012
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7298 [74:16] [RB]
The
‘shadows’ cast by Tchaikovsky and Glazunov sometimes imparted
light rather than suffocating shade.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Benjamin BRITTEN
(1913-1976)
On This Island, The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Seven
Sonnets of Michelangelo, Canticle I
James Gilchrist (tenor), Anna Tilbrook (piano) rec. 2011
LINN CKD404 
[62.16] [EM-L]
Of
the very highest quality in terms of performances, presentation and
sound quality.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) War Requiem
Erin Wall (soprano) Mark Padmore (tenor) Hanno Müller-Brachmann
(baritone) City of Birmingham SO & Ch/Andris Nelsons rec. 2012
ARTHAUS MUSIK 
108070 [97:00] [BW]
Even
if all other recordings were destroyed, this would serve as a first-class
reminder of the power of the War Requiem.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Anton BRUCKNER
(1824-1896)
Symphony 8
Hamburger PO/Simone Young rec. 2008
OEHMS OC638
[30:45 + 51:56] [JQ]
Bruckner’s
first thoughts on the Eighth Symphony in a superb performance.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH George Frideric
HANDEL (1685-1759)
Handel’s Finest Arias for Base Voice
Christopher Purves (bass) Arcangelo/Jonathan Cohen rec. 2012
HYPERION CDA67842 [70:54] [JW]
This
outstandingly good disc offers a wide range of music, feeling, texture
and mood.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gabriel
JACKSON (b. 1962) A ship with unfurled sails
The
State Choir Latvija/Māris Sirmais rec. 2010
HYPERION CDA67976 [78:21] [JQ]
A
memorable exhibition of unaccompanied choral singing and more fine music
by Gabriel Jackson.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Carl NIELSEN
(1865-1931)
Symphonies 2 & 3
Erin Morley (soprano), Joshua Hopkins (baritone) New York Philharmonic/Alan
Gilbert rec. 2011/12
DACAPO 6.220623
[72:23][DC]
With
this CD I thee wed.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Complete Symphonies
Les Musiciens du Louvre Grenoble/Mark Minkowski rec. 2012
NAÏVE V5299 [4 CDs: 247:06] [ST]
The
most successful Schubert set to have appeared since Abbado. Invest and
enjoy.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony 7
Mariinsky O/Valery Gergiev rec. 2012
MARIINSKY
MAR0533 [82:21] [DM]
Unflinching,
unerring and, above all, illuminating; a searing Seventh.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Alexander TCHEREPNIN
(1899-1977)
Complete Piano Music - Vol. 2
Georgio Koukl (piano) rec. 2011/12
GRAND PIANO GP632 [62:54] [SA]
A
truly superb listening experience.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Veljo
TORMIS (b.
1930) Curse upon Iron - Works for male choir
Orphei Drängar/Cecilia Rydinger Alin rec. 2012
BIS-SACD-1993
[72:48] [GF]
This
is a disc not to be missed by choral music lovers.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata
Roberto
di Biasio, Michele Pertusi, Ch & O del Teatro Regio di Parma/Daniele
Callegari rec. 2009
C MAJOR 720608 
[144:00] [ST]
Showcases
the young Verdi at his very finest.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883)
Die Walküre
Jonas Kaufmann, Anja Kampe, René Pape, Nina Stemme, Mariinsky
O/Valery Gergiev rec. 2011/12
MARIINSKY MAR0527
[4 CDs: 236:36] [ST]
If
the rest of the Wagner bicentennial produces recordings as good as this
then we are in for a great year.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hugo
WOLF (1860 - 1903) Italienisches Liederbuch
Janet
Baker (mezzo) John Shirley-Quirk (baritone) Steuart Bedford (piano)
rec. 1977
ICA CLASSICS ICAC 5076 [80:13] [GF]
A
thrilling performance of Italienisches Liederbuch.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ay,
Portugal 16th and 17th Century Music from Portugal
and Spain
Siobhan Stagg (soprano) La Compañia/Danny Lucin rec. 2011
ABC CLASSICS 476 4955 [50.20] [GH]
Pleasing,
evocative performances of a charming and haunting repertoire.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Eine
Deutsche Messe German sacred music for a cappella male voices
Ensemble
Nobiles rec. 2011-2012
GENUIN GEN12242 [69:30] [ST]
Definitely
worth exploring. Melted my heart and made me feel rather moved.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Get
Happy
- Virtuoso showtunes for piano
Jenny Lin (piano) rec. 2012
STEINWAY & SONS 30011 [64:05] [BR]
“Get
Happy”? The title sounds bossy, but it isn’t, because the
album works like a charm.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Verwandlung
Songs of a year
Christiane Karg (soprano) Burkhard Kehring (piano) rec. 2009
BERLIN CLASSICS 0016762BC [59.05] [MMB]
I
am a fervent admirer of Ms Karg’s artistry.
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