Carl Friedrich ABEL (1723 - 1787) Six concerti for harpsichord or fortepiano with two violins and cello, Opus 11. # 1 in F (9.47); #2 in Bb (8.58); #3 in Eb (10.12); #4 in D (9.32); #5 in G (9.40); #6 in C (10.15) (early 1770s) (all cadenzas by Sabine Bauer) Sabine Bauer, pianoforte (1, 2, 3, 6) and Harpsichord (4, 5) Michael Schneider conducting La Stagione, Frankfurt - Notes in Deutsch, English, and French. Recorded Salle des Hessischen Rundfunks, Frankfurt, Germany, 23 March 2001 CPO 999 892-2 [59.08] [PS]

Strongly recommended for admirers of the Bach sons, students of the history of the keyboard concerto and preclassical music in general … see Full Review

Gregorio ALLEGRI (1582-1652) Miserere Mei (1638?) [12’08] - Antonio LOTTI (1667-1740) Crucifixus (1730?) [3’16] - Giovanni Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (1525-1594) Stabat Mater (1589?) [8’19] - Missa Papae Marcelli (1555?) [31’14] The Sixteen/Harry Christophers - Recorded at St. Jude’s Church, London, Nov. 1989 CORO COR16014 [56’26] [TH]

Those famous tumbling high Cs in the Allegri are piercing in their exaltation … tonal splendour and vocal blend a joy throughout. … see Full Review

Jesús ARÁMBARRI (1902 – 1960) Preludio Gabon-zar sorgiñak (1930s) - Cuatro impromptus para orquesta (1930s) - Ocho canciones vascas (1932)^a - Im memoriam (1939) - Ofrenda (1946) - Viento sur – Intermedio (1952) - Fantasía española - Itxaro Mentxaka (soprano)^a Bilbao Symphony Orchestra/Juan José Mena - Recorded: Euskalduna Concert Hall, Bilbao, October 2000 NAXOS 8.557275 [57:40] [HC]

Remarkable orchestral mastery … Excellent performances, fine recorded sound. One of the loveliest and most enjoyable discs I have heard recently. … see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685 - 1750) St. Matthew Passion BWV 244 - Evangelist - Rogers Covey Crump (tenor); Jesus - Michael George (bass); Emma Kirkby (soprano); Michael Chance (counter-tenor); Martyn Hill (tenor); David Thomas (bass); The Choir of King's College, Cambridge - The Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge (soprano in ripieno) The Brandenburg Consort (leader, Roy Goodman)/Stephen Cleobury BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99676 [3CDs 67.14+40.52+52.26] [RH]

Whilst not perfect, this is a fine recording with the advantage of the King's College Choir along with some fine soloists. … See Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Organ works Toccata and Fugue in d minor, BWV 565 [8.25] Fantasia in G major, BWV 572 (Pièce d’orgue) [7.30] Canonic variations on the Christmas hymn ‘Von Himmel hoch, da komm ich her’, BWV 769 [7.30]
Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532 [9.21] Pastorale in F major, BWV 590 (Pastorella) [10.41] Prelude and Fugue in E flat major, BWV 552, ‘St Anne’ [14.17] Simon Preston (organ) Organ by Klais, Kreuzbergkirche, Bonn, Germany. Recorded at Kreuzbergkirche, Bonn, Germany, September 1988 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 471 734-2 [61.58] [CAnt]

A recommended re-mastered release featuring some of the most famous organ pieces written by Bach … see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685 - 1750) Attributed - Lukas Passion BWV 246 - Evangelist - Georg Jelden(tnoer); Jesus - Ulrich Schaible (bass); Charlotte Lehmann (soprano); Gudrun Schmid (soprano); Elisabeth Kunstler (alto); Graeme Nicolson (tenor); Wolfgang Herrlitz (bass); Balinger Kantorei Kammerorchester Collegium Musicum Tubingen/Gerhard Rehm - Licensed by courtesy of Bayer Records BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99051 [2 CDs: 58.26+59.18] [RH]

A passion that is probably not by Bach, but worth investigating anyway, though the performance leaves something to be desired. … see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685 - 1750) - Markus Passion, BWV247 - Reconstruction by Dr. Simon Heighes - Evangelist - Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor); Jesus - Gordon Jones (baritone); Connor Burrowes (treble); David James (alto); Paul Agnew (tenor); Teppo Tolonen (bass) - The Ring Ensemble European Union Baroque Orchestra/Roy Goodman - Rec. 2002 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99049 [2CDs: 53.50+47.11] [RH]

A fine performance of a speculative reconstruction of Bach's lost passion, using some of his finest music from the cantatas. … see Full Review

Ernst BACON (1898-1990) Violin Sonata (1983) [24’50]. David DIAMOND (b. 1915) Chaconne for Violin and Piano (1948) [15’49]. James Greening-Valenzuela (violin); John Walker (piano). Rec. DDD CON BRIO RECORDINGS CBR234 [39’49] [CC]

Both works on this short CD are written in an immediately approachable idiom that is most appealing. A fascinating disc, especially for the Diamond. … see Full Review

Amy BEACH (1867-1944) Piano Concerto in C sharp minor, Op. 45 (1898/9) [36’40] - Symphony in E minor, Op. 32, ‘Gaelic’ (1896-6) [42’19]. Alan Feinberg (piano); Nashville Symphony Orchestra/Kenneth Schermerhorn. Rec. Andrew Jackson Hall, Tennesee Performing Arts Centre, Nashville, USA on April 13^th-15^th, 2002. DDD NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559139 [79’02] [CC]

The Nashville orchestra plays with all the commitment one could desire, and Tim Handley’s recording is clear and atmospheric. A bargain. … see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony No. 9 in D minor Op. 125 Choral - The Consecration of the House Overture Op. 124 +, Luise Helletsgruber (soprano), Rosette Anday (contralto), Georg Maikl (tenor) and Richard Mayr (bass) - Vienna State Opera Chorus and Orchestra - London Philharmonic Orchestra +
Felix Weingartner - Recorded 1935 and 1938 NAXOS 8.110863 [74.04] [JW]

Perennially sagacious, a compound of youth and wisdom. … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH - Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony no. 3 in E flat Eroica - Symphony no. 4 in B flat Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart/Sir Roger Norrington. Rec. 1999? SWR HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD93.085 [74.53] [DCFW]

If you do not add it to your collection you will be missing something of unequalled excellence and will be all the poorer! … see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony No. 3 in E flat Eroica Overture Leonore No.3; Overture: The Creatures of Prometheus. Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Nikolaus Harnoncourt Rec. 1999 DDD ELATUS (WARNER CLASSICS) 2564-60034-2 [69 22] [DW]

If the Norrington version did not exist I would be happy with Harnoncourt. Even so, I will play the Harnoncourt again. … see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Concerto in D, op. 61 (1) Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Violin Concerto in e, op. 64 (2) Yehudi Menuhin (violin), Philharmonia Orchestra (1), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (2)/Wilhelm Furtwängler Recorded 7th-8th April 1953, Kingsway Hall, London (1), 25th-26th May 1952, Jesus Christus Kirche, Berlin (2) EMI CLASSICS CDM 5 66975 2 [71:31] [CH]

If you don’t know these two performances, they’ll probably leave you marvelling anew at the music itself. … see Full Review

Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Septet in E flat major Op. 20 for violin, viola, cello, double bass, clarinet, horn and bassoon - Quintet in E flat major Op. 4 arranged for 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, clarinet, horn and bassoon Ensemble Acht - Recorded at the Studio of North Hanover Radio, May 2002 THOROFON CTH 2440 [67.43] [GH]

Fine ensemble playing though I wondered about the tempi. Beethoven for chamber ensemble … see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony no. 4 in B flat - Symphony no. 5 in C minor Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Rec. 1999 DDD ELATUS (WARNER CLASSICS) 2564-600012-2 [79.48]

Totally unacceptable if you love your Beethoven! … see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770 – 1827) Violin Sonata No.8 in G major, Op.30, No.3 - Franz SCHUBERT (1797 – 1828) Violin Sonata No.5 in A major, D.574 - Edvard GRIEG (1843 – 1907) Violin Sonata No.3 in C minor, Op.45 Fritz Kreisler (violin) - Sergey Rachmaninov (piano) - Recorded 1928 - Victor Studios, Camden New Jersey. Victor Studios, New York City and Electrola Studios, Berlin. NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110968 [72:50] [LB]

No serious music lover, or indeed professional violinist, should be without this recording. … see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) The Five Piano Concertos Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano) Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Nikolaus Harnoncourt WARNER CLASSICS 0927 47334-2 [3CDs: 183.24] [RBr]

A revelation of how far we have moved towards a synthesis between what we expect from the music and what can still be revealed by dedicated musicians. … see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770 – 1827) Works for Cello and Piano, Volume 2 Variations on "Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen" from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte for cello and piano Op.66 Sonata in E Flat Major for cello and piano Op.64 Sonata in A Major for cello and piano Op.69 Maria Kliegel (Cello) Nina Tichman (Piano) Rec. Clara–Wieck-Auditorium, Sandhausen, Germany, 6-9 December 2001 NAXOS 8.555786 [77:09] [LB]

Another triumph for Naxos and Kliegel … bears favourable comparison with any of the treasured, landmark interpretations of the ‘big names’ … see Full Review

Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14 (1830) [56.05] - Harold en Italie, Op. 16 (1848) [40.22] - Yuri Bashmet, viola La Damnation de Faust Légende Dramatique en 4 parties (1846) [127.07] - Maria Ewing, soprano; Denes Gulyas, tenor; Robert Lloyd, baritone; Manfred Volz, bass; Christiane Oelze, soprano; Kölner Rundfunkchor; Sudfunkchor, Stuttgart; Chor des NDR Hamburg - Roméo et Juliet Symphonie Dramatique, Op. 17 (1839) [95.05] Nadine Denize, mezzo-soprano; Vinson Cole, tenor; Robert Lloyd, baritone - Kölner Rundfunkchor; Sudfunkchor, Stuttgart; RIAS-Kammerchor, Berlin. L’Enfance du Christ, Op. 25 (1854) [91.22] Margarita Zimmermann, soprano; Elke Wilm Schulte, baritone; Stanford Dean, bass; John Aler, tenor; Philip Kang, bass. Te Deum, Op. 22 (1849) [47.31] Keith Lewis, tenor; Matthias Eisenberg, organ; Vokalensemble Frankfurt; Bachchor and Currende der Christuskirche, Mainz; Kinder- und Jugenchor des Hessischen Rundfunks - Grande Messe des Morts, Op. 5 (1867) [82.31] Keith Lewis, tenor; Chor des NDR, Hamburg; Konzertvereinigung ORF-Chor. Eliahu Inbal conducting the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra - Notes in English. Texts in original languages, no translations - Recorded in Frankfurt 1987 - 1989 - Licensed from Denon-Nippon Columbia Ltd, Japan - Hector Berlioz Edition BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99999-01/11 [11 CDs: 540.03] [PS]

First rate performances of frequently heard music, brilliantly recorded, performed with careful attention to the composer’s intentions. For a lot more money you could do just a little bit better here and there … see Full Review

Sir Thomas Beecham conducts Berlioz and Franck Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Te Deum Op. 22 (1849) César FRANCK (1822-1890) Le Chasseur maudit – Symphonic Poem (1882) Alexander Young (tenor) London Philharmonic Choir/Dulwich College Boys Choir Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham Recorded: London, December 1953 and April 1954 (Te Deum) and March 1951 (Le Chasseur maudit) SONY CLASSICAL SMK87964 [60.34] [JW]

Marvellously done - panache, drive, virtuosity, wit - purists will be weeping into their hair shirts. … see Full Review

Georges BIZET (1838-1975) Carmen: Highlights (sung in Italian) Pia Tassinari (Carmen), Franco Corelli (Don José), Margherita Benetti (Micaëla), Gian Giacomo Guelfi (Escamillo), Turin RAI Chorus and Symphony Orchestra/Arturo Basile Recorded 18th April 1957, Turin Cetra Opera Collection WARNER FONIT 5050466-3294-2-4 [56:38] [CH]

Not a disc for a general recommendation. Fans of Franco Corelli will want it, and it offers a snapshot of how Carmen used to be performed in Italy. … see Full Review

Arthur BLISS (1891-1975) Premiere recordings of the music of Arthur Bliss: Volume 1 - Piano Concerto (1938-39) [34.33] - Adam Zero (1946) [26.03] - Solomon (piano) New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra/Adrian Boult - Royal Opera House Orchestra, Covent Garden/Constant Lambert - recorded in Carnegie Hall, New York, 10 June 1939 (piano concerto); world premiere broadcast on 9 May 1946 (Adam Zero) APR 5627 [56.27]

A thoroughly satisfying disc ... see Full Review

John BLOW (1649-1708) Music for Harpsichord and Spinet Prelude in G; (KL 158); Prelude in G (KL157); Sett No.1 in D minor; Sett No.2 in D minor; Sett No.4 in C; Sett No.5 in G minor; from ‘A Choice Collection of Lessons for harpsichord, Spinet etc’ (1698); Sett in G minor (from The Second Book for the harpsichord, spinet etc’ (1700); Ground in G (KL5); Ground in C (KL16); Chacone in F (KL146); Chaconne in G minor (KL71); Overture in G minor (KL169); Theatre Tunes from ‘Mr.Mountford’s Delight (1689); Morlake Ground (KL60) Robert Woolley (keyboards) Recorded at Eltham College Music School, Oct 81 and April 82 MERIDIAN CDE 84464 [75.36] [GH]

Faithful performances although the edition issue remains open … see Full Review

Luigi BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) String Quartet Op.32 #1 in Eb, G 201 (1780) [13.41] String Quartet Op.32 #2 in e, G 202 (1780) [16.06] String Quartet Op.32 #3 in D, G 203 (1780) [13.31] String Quartet Op.32 #4 in C, G 204 (1780) [15.38] String Quartet Op.32 #5 in g, G 205 (1780) [17.29] String Quartet Op.32 #6 in A, G 206 (1780) [14.07] Esterházy Quartet (Jaap Schröder, Alda Stuurop, vv; Wiel Peters, va; Wouter Moeller, vc) Recorded at Doopsgezinde Kerk, Haarlem, The Netherlands, October 1976 ADD Formerly released on Teldec Das Alte Werk 95988 and Teldec 85566-2 (#’s 3-6) ELATUS 2564-60028-2 [2 CD: 88.57] [PS]

Disks (almost) every chamber music lover will cherish and play over and over again. … see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-97) Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77 (1878) [40’46]. Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 (1888) [23’59]. David Oistrakh (violin) Cleveland Orchestra/Georg Szell (Concerto) Vladimir Yampolsky (piano) (Sonata). Rec. Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, on May 13^th and 16^th, 1969 (Concerto) and May 19^th, 1955 (Sonata) ADD stereo (Concerto) Great Recordings Of The Century EMI CLASSICS 5 67973-2 [65’05]. [CC]

The marriage of Oistrakh and Szell and his Clevelanders is magic. Szell was well known for his telepathic abilities as accompanist … a great recording of the Brahms, a multitude of insights. Strongly recommended. … see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin Sonatas: No. 1 in G, Op. 78 (1879) [27’02]; No 2 in A, Op. 100 (1886) [20’56]; No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 (1888) [21’27]. Itzhak Perlman (violin); Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano). Rec. Studio No. 1, Abbey Road, London, on April 20th-23^rd, 1983. DDD Great Recordings of the Century EMI CLASSICS CDM5 66893-2 [69’02] [CC]

As a collection of the three violin sonatas on one disc, this disc has an enormous amount to recommend it … it remains a version to return to on a regular basis. … see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Vier Zigeunerlieder, Opus 112 Nos. 3-8 (1891) Rosmarin, Opus 62 No. 1 (1874) O süsser Mai, Opus 93 No. 3 (1884) In stiller Nacht (Deutsche Volkslieder No. 8) Quartette, Opus 112 Nos. 1-2 (1891) Funf Gesänge, Opus 104 (1888) Gesänge fur Frauenchor 2 horns and harp, Opus 17 (1860) All meine Herzgedanken, Opus 62 No. 5 (1874) Waldesnacht, Opus 62 No. 3 (1874) Abschiedlied (Deutsche Volkslieder No. 9) Quartette, Opus 92 (1884) Trinitatis Kantorei/Per Enevold Ellen Refstrup (piano), Susanne Skov and Irene Lewis (horns), Sofie Guillois (harp) Recorded 2001-2, Songenfri Kirke, Virum CLASSICO CLASSCD 438 [68.42] [TB]

With good, well-balanced, sound these performances make up an unusual and distinctive programme that serves this great composer well. … see Full Review

Herbert BREWER (1865-1928) Choral Music - Let the People Praise Thee (1921) - As the Hart Pants (1917) - Blessing, Glory, Wisdom and Thanks (1909) - Magnificat in B flat (1894) - Nunc Dimittis in B flat (1894) - O Death, where is thy Sting - God is our Hope and Strength (1917) - Prevent us, O Lord (1900) - Magnificat in C (1895) - Nunc Dimittis in C (1895) - O Lord God - A Solemn Prayer (1904) - God Within (1928) - Bow down thine ear, O Lord (1916) - Magnificat in D (1927) - Nunc Dimittis in D (1927) Laudate with Joseph Nolan (organ)/ directed by Howard Ionascu - Recorded St John's Church, Holland Road April 2002 PRIORY PRCD 797 [76.58] [JW]

Attractive if slight is probably a harsh verdict but I'd put the accent on attractive. … see Full Review

Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Albert Herring (1947) - Albert Herring - Christopher Gillett (ten); Lady Billows - Josephine Barstow (sop); Florence Pike - Felicity Palmer (mezzo-sop); Superintendent Budd - Robert Lloyd (bar); Vicar, Mr Gedge - Peter Savidge (bar); Sid - Gerald Finley (bar); Nancy - Ann Taylor (mezzo-sop); Mrs Herring - Della Jones (mezzo-sop); Miss Wordsworth - Susan Gritton (sop); Mayor, Mr Upfold - Stuart Kale (ten) Northern Sinfonia /Steuart Bedford - Recorded Newcastle upon Tyne, 1996 NAXOS 8.660107-08 [2CDs: 64:10+77:09] [JL]

This outstanding 1996 recording rivals the equally excellent Chandos production of two years ago. If it’s a bargain you want, Naxos must swing it. … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) The Turn of the Screw – opera in 2 Acts (1954) - The Prologue - Philip Langridge, tenor; The Governess - Felicity Lott, soprano; Miles - Sam Pay, treble (young child in her charge); Flora - Eileen Hulse, soprano (young child in her charge); Mrs.Grose, the housekeeper - Phyllis Cannan, mezzo-soprano; Quint, a former manservant - Philip Langridge, tenor; Miss Jessel, a former governess - Nadine Secunde, soprano Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble, Brindisi Quartet/Steuart Bedford. Recorded in October 1993 in The Concert Hall, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh, UK NAXOS OPERA CLASSICS 8.660109 [2CDs: 53:06+53:17] [GPJ]

As soon as I’d finished listening to this, I immediately wanted to hear it again … an exceptionally powerful musical and dramatic experience. … see Full Review

Leo BROUWER (1939-) Guitar music Volume 3 - Sonata (1990) (15.32) - Latin American Pieces (3) (11.44) - Hika (7.24) - Suite #2 (6.14) - An Idea ‘Passacaglia for Eli’ (2.52) - Paisaje Cubano con campañas (6.25) - Rito de los Orishas (15.56) - Un dia de Noviembre (4.27) Graham Anthony Devine (guitar) - Notes in English, Deutsch, and Français. Recorded St. John Chrysostom Church, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, 24 June 2000 - Volume 1:Naxos 8.553630. Volume 2: Naxos 8.554553 NAXOS 8.554195 [70.34] [PS]

Anyone who loves modern guitar sound is bound to love this disk. Strongly recommended … see Full Review

John BULLER (b.1927) Proença (1977)^a - The Theatre of Memory (1981) - Sarah Walker (mezzo-soprano)^a; Timothy Walker (electric guitar)^a; BBC Symphony Orchestra/Mark Elder - Recorded: BBC Studio 1, Maida Vale, London, November 1979 (Proença) and January 1985 (The Theatre of Memory) NMC ANCORA D 081 [70:58] [HC]

Two major works by a distinguished composer who still has not been given his due … well served by exceptional performances. … see Full Review

Ferruccio BUSONI (1866-1924) Works for Piano and Orchestra - Concerto for Piano and String Quartet Op.17 (1878) - Concertstück for Piano and Orchestra Op.31a (1890) - Indian Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra Op.44 (1913-15) Carlo Grante (piano) - I Pomeriggi Musicali/Marco Zuccarini - No recording details given MUSIC AND ARTS CD 1047 [64.39] [JW]

Grante is impressive, enthusiastic, comprehensive, technically eloquent and idiomatic. … a most enthusiastic welcome. … see Full Review

 

[Detailed listing (last two days)]
[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]

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