Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Well Tempered Clavier: Book I, BWV 846-869 Till Fellner, piano Rec. Jugendstiltheater, Vienna, September 2002 ECM NEW SERIES 1853/54 B0002285-02 [54’05 + 60’41] [DS]

The set will receive serious consideration as one of my Records of the Year 2004, and I strongly urge readers to consider its acquisition. ... see Full Review

Max BRUCH (1838 - 1920) Violin Concerto No.1 in G Minor, Op. 26 (1868) Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46 (1880)Akiko Suwanai (violin) The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/Sir Neville Marriner.recorded in St. John’s Smith Square, London in July 1996. DDD PHILIPS 454 180-2 [52’59"]. [JPh]

Akiko Suwanai has a glorious-toned instrument and she knows how to play it to its maximum effect. The accompaniment is superb and there is a recording quality to match. ... see Full Review

Antonín DVORÁK (1841-1904) Piano Quintet for two violins, viola and cello, op. 81 A major (1887) [40:16] String Quintet for two violins, two violas and cello, op. 97 E flat-major (1893) [32:46] Christian Zacharias (piano) op.81 Hartmut Rohde (viola) op. 97 Leipzig String Quartet Recording: April 23-24, 2003 at Markkleeberg; July 8-9, 2003 at Furstliche Reitbahn, Bad Arolsen. DDD MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG GOLD 307 1249-2 [73:14] [MC]Deserves the highest praise ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957) Works and transcriptions of his own works for violin and piano: Much Ado About Nothing Suite for Violin and Piano (1918 arr 1920) Sonata for Violin and Piano (1912) ‘Ich ging zu ihm’ from Das Wunder der Heliane (1923-27) Serenade from Der Schneemann (1910) ‘Tanzlied des Pierrot’ and ‘Marietta’s Lied’ from Die tote Stadt (1916-20) Caprice Fantastique (1932) Joseph Lin (violin) and Benjamin Loeb (piano) Rec. Performing Arts Centre, County Day School, King City, Ontario, Canada, 26-29 August, 2002 NAXOS 8.557067 [72:06] [IL]

Excellent virtuosic and expressive performances of some of Korngold’s most enchanting music. ... see Full Review

Requiem Æternam Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983) Requiem (1935) [20’31”]; Motet: Take him, earth, for cherishing (1964) [9’05”] Frank MARTIN (1890-1974) Mass (1922/6) [26’00“] Sally Barber (sop); Julia Field (alto); Mark Johnstone (tenor); Andrew Angus (bar) Vasari Singers/Jeremy Backhouse Recording: All Hallows, Gospel Oak 18-20 February 1994 DDD SIGNUM TWO SIGCD 503 [56’30”] [JQ]

A most attractive proposition that I recommend with the highest possible enthusiasm. ... seeFull Review

 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH

 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) London Symphonies, Volume 1 Symphonies No. 93 -98Rec. 1957-8, Salle Wagram Paris; No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 5 85770 2
London Symphonies, Volume 2 Symphonies No. 99 -104 Rec. 1957-8, Salle Wagram, Paris; No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 5 85513 2 [77.08 + 78.23] [TB]

Beecham remains what he has been for nearly fifty years: a special case. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Le Nozze di Figaro (Two discarded arias for Susanna, Un moto di gioia and Al desio di chi t’adora are added as an appendix) Bo Skovhus (Count Almaviva), Marina Mescheriakova (Countess Almaviva), Judith Halász (Susanna), Renato Girolami (Figaro), Michelle Breedt (Cherubino), Gabriele Sima (Marcellina), Janusz Monarcha (Bartolo), Michael Roider (Basilio), Alexander Klinger (Don Curzio), Orsolya Sáfár (Barbarina), Peter Köves (Antonio), Hungarian National Chorus, Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia, David Aronson (continuo)/Michael Halász Recorded 26th October to 4th novembre 2002 at the Phoenix Studio, Budapest, Hungary NAXOS 8.660102-04 [3CDs: 71:54 + 61:58 + 52:48] [CH]

This is an unassailable bargain, and I wonder how many of the more expensive alternatives are really worth the extra money. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Franz Peter SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Deutsche Schubert-Lied Edition 15 - Schubert’s Friends, Vol.2 see review for titles Brigitte Geller (mezzo) Ulrich Eisenlohr (piano) Recorded at Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, 10-13 December 2002 NAXOS 8.557171 [70:10] [SA]

A truly enjoyable disc. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Bassoon Concertos - Volume 1: Concertos in: C major RV 476; F major RV487; C major RV 471; A minor RV 498; C minor RV480; B flat major RV 503; G major RV 493 Tamas Benkocs (bassoon) Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia/Bela Drahos Recorded at the Phoenix Studios, Budapest March 2002 NAXOS 8.555937 [61.32] [GH]

Benkocs whose virtuosity, lyrical tone and dexterity of finger-work is utterly superb lifts the music and the recording out of the ordinary into something approaching the sublime. ... see Full Review

 

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