RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Charles-Henri Valentin
ALKAN (1813-1888) Douze Études
dans les Tons Mineurs Op. 39 Comme le vent (Like the
wind) (A minor) [5:30] En Rythme Molossique (In Molossian
Rhythm) (D Minor) [8:44] Scherzo Diabolico (G minor) [4:30] Allegro
(C minor) [10:37] Marche Funčbre (F minor) [6:53] Menuet (B-flat
minor) [5:41] Finale (E-flat minor) [4:44] Allegro Assai (G-sharp
minor) [30:48] Adagio (C-sharp minor) [11:51] Allegro alla Barbaresca
(F-sharp minor) [11:03] Ouverture (B minor) [15:49] Le Festin
d’Esope (Aesop’s Banquet) (E minor) [9:50] 
Stephanie
McCallum (piano) rec. 28 July 2004 (4-7); 11 February 2005 (1-3);
6 October 2005 (8-10); 12 December 2005 (11); 6 December 1999
(12), Eugene Goossens Hall of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s
Ultimo Centre, Sydney. DDD ABC
CLASSICS 4765335 [46:44 + 79:31] [WK]
A
superlative set of the complete Op. 39 études-unsurpassed pianism
and enthusiasm ... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Edgar
BAINTON (1880-1956) Symphony
No. 3 in C minor (1956) [42:09] Rutland
BOUGHTON (1878-1960) Symphony
No. 1 Oliver Cromwell (1905) [36:58]
Roderick Williams (bar)
(Boughton) BBC Concert
Orchestra/Vernon Handley rec. Colosseum, Town
Hall, Watford. 12-13 July 2006. DDD DUTTON CDLX
7185 [79:26] [RB]
Resplendently
carried off. Bainton 3: treasurable, impressionistic,
phantasmal and refulgently orchestrated …
a work of ineffable beauty and wild insight.
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Arthur
BENJAMIN
(1893-1960) Overture
to an Italian Comedy (1937) [6:21] Cotillon,
A Suite of Dance Tunes (1938) [12:12] North
American Square Dance Suite (1951) [13:48]
Symphony (1945) [44:22]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Myer Fredman
(overture); London Symphony Orchestra/Nicholas
Braithwaite (Cotillon); London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth (Dance Suite;
Symphony) rec. 1971, 1982. ADD/DDD
LYRITA SRCD.314 [76:50] [RB]
Benjamin’s
light and serious sides generously represented
in vivid performances and with recording to
match ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Clarinet
Quintet in B minor, op. 115 (1891) [34:39]
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791) Clarinet Quintet
movement in B flat major, K516 (c.1791) [8:26]
Alexander GLAZUNOV
(1865-1936) Reverie Orientale,
op. 14, no. 2 (1886) [6:54] Wiliiam
SWEENEY (b. 1950) An Og-Mhadainn
(1979) [11:45]
Lesley Schatzberger (clarinets) Fitzwilliam
String Quartet rec. National Centre for Early
Music, York, 15-16, 19-20 May 2005. DDD
LINN
RECORDS CKD 278 [62:28] [MG]
This
is a challenging disc for all the right reasons.
Not always comfortable listening but rewarding.
And a great range of perspectives. … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Anton BRUCKNER
(1824-1896) Symphony No. 7 in E (1881-83, ed. Haas) [65:39]
NDR Symphony Orchestra/Günter
Wand rec. live, Musik- und Kongresshalle, Lübeck, 28 August 1999.
DDD TDK DVWW-COWAND8
[65:39][CC]
Unhesitatingly
recommended to all Brucknerians. This DVD cycle is a lasting monument
to one of the great Bruckner conductors. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Morten LAURIDSEN
(b. 1943)
Mid-Winter Songs (1983) [19:03] Les Chansons des roses
(1993) [17:12] I will lift up mine eyes (1970) [3:14]*
O come, let us sing unto the Lord (1970) [3:22]* Ave, dulcissima
Maria (2005) [7:04]* Nocturnes (2005) [14:39]
Polyphony, Britten Sinfonia (1), Polyphony, Morten Lauridsen (piano)
(2, 6); Polyphony, Andrew Lumsden (4)/Stephen Layton * first recordings
rec. Temple Church, London, 3-4 January 2006. Midwinter Songs: St. Jude
on the Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb, 3 April 2006. DDD
HYPERION CDA67580 [65:17] [JQ]
I
recommend this new disc from Polyphony without reservation. Though
2007 is only two months old I feel sure this will be one of my
Recordings of the Year ... see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Piano Concerto No.1
in E flat major, S.124 (1830-49, rev. 1853 & 56) [17:48] Frédéric
CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, Op.11
(1830) [38:32] Yundi
Li (piano) Philharmonia Orchestra/Andrew Davis rec. July 2006 Watford
Colosseum, London, England. DDD
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 6402 [56:26][MC]
Yundi
Li excites and delights with these warhorses.
He proves to be a performer of significant
stature. A remarkable concerto recording
debut. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ernest
John MOERAN
(1894-1950) Sinfonietta
(1944) [23:16] Symphony in G minor*
(1937) [44:24] Overture for a Masque
(1944) [10:36]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult
New Philharmonia Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult*
rec. 1968, 1970, 1975. ADD
LYRITA SRCD.247 [78:55] [RB]
Classic
versions still unmatched and now stealing
with nonchalant confidence the poll place
in the Moeran discography ... see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Peter
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893)
Violin Concerto in D (1878) [35:53]Sérénade mélancolique for
violin and orchestra (1875) [9:27] Valse-Scherzo for violin and
orchestra (1877) [7:46] Souvenir d’un lieu cher (Souvenir
of a beloved place) for violin and piano (1878) [15:54]*
Julia Fischer (violin) Yakov Kreizberg (piano)*
Russian National Orchestra/Yakov Kreizberg rec. Souvenir: MCO
Studio 5, Hilversum, April 2006; DZZ Studio 5, Moscow, April 2006
PENTATONE PTC5186095
[68:25] [IL]
Fischer’s
awesome talent makes for a performance that can compare with the best
in this very popular concerto. Imaginative, intelligent programming
... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958) The Wasps overture (1909) [9:59] A
Sea Symphony (1909) [66:20]
Susan Gritton (soprano) Gerald Finley (baritone) London Symphony
Chorus London Symphony Orchestra/Richard Hickox rec. Barbican Centre,
London, 3-4 June 2006. DDD
CHANDOS CHSA 5047
[76:17][MG]
Overall
the recording, playing and singing of this
Hickox version set a new standard … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Richard
WAGNER
(1813–1883) Die
Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1868)
Giorgio Tozzi (bass) – Hans Sachs; Ernst Wiemann
(bass) – Veit Pogner; Willy Hartmann (tenor)
– Kunz Vogelgesang; William Workman (baritone)
– Konrad Nachtigall; Toni Blankenheim (bass-baritone)
– Sixtus Beckmesser; Hans-Otto Kloose (baritone)
– Fritz Kothner; Kurt Marschner (tenor) –
Balthasar Zorn; Wilfried Plate (tenor) – Ulrich
Eisslinger; Jürgen Förster (tenor)
– Augustin Moser; Franz Grundheber (bass)
– Hermann Ortel; Carl Schultz (bass) – Hans
Schwarz; Karl Otto (bass) – Hans Foltz; Richard
Cassilly (tenor) – Walther von Stolzing; Gerhard
Unger (tenor) – David; Arlene Saunders (soprano)
– Eva; Ursula Boese (mezzo-soprano) – Magdalene;
Vladimir Ruzdak (baritone) – A Night Watchman
Chorus of the Hamburg State Opera; Ballet
of the Hamburg State Opera Hamburg Philharmonic
State Orchestra/Leopold Ludwig;
Set Design: Herbert Kirchhoff; Costumes: Rudolf
Heinrich; Directed by Leopold Lindtberg; Directed
for TV by Joachim Hess rec. Hamburg State
Opera, 1970 Sound format: mono; Picture format:
4:3 Colour
ARTHAUS MUSIC 101 273 (2 DVDs) [240:00]
[GF]
When
in the future I want to bask in the humour,
warmth and humanity of Wagner’s brightest
creation, this is probably the version I will
return to most often. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH The Cold Dancer
– Contemporary String Quartets from Scotland Kenneth
DEMPSTER (b.1962) String Quartet No.4 (The Cold Dancer)
(2005) [12:22] James CLAPPERTON (b.1968)
The Great Divorce for String Quartet (1990) [16:03] Judith
WEIR (b.1954) String Quartet (1990) [13:23] William
SWEENEY (b.1950) String Quartet No.3 (2004) [36:34]
Edinburgh Quartet rec. no details
DELPHIAN DCD34038 [78:24][JW]
Wherever
they were written these are fine works by four excellent composers.
Not always pretty – but invariably on the money emotively. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Exposed
Throat Heinz
Karl GRUBER (b. 1943) Exposed Throat (2000) [11:22] Daniel
BÖRTZ (b. 1943) Mĺlning (2000) [8:53] Poul
RUDERS (b. 1949) Reveille-Retraite (2003) [10:04] Robert
HENDERSON (b. 1948) Variations Movements (1967) Robin
HOLLOWAY (b. 1943) Sonata for Solo Trumpet Op.94a
(1999) [21:43] Hĺkan
Hardenberger (trumpet) rec. Nybrokajen 11, Stockholm, Sweden, January
and March 2004 BIS
CD-1281 [62:00] [HC]
Hardenberger
navigates fearlessly and almost effortlessly through all these demanding,
but ultimately highly rewarding pieces. A magnificent release ... see
Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Leopold Stokowski
Otto KLEMPERER (1885-1973) Merry
Waltz from the opera Das Ziel (1915) [3:02] Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas
Tallis (1910) [17:02] Maurice RAVEL
(1875-1937) Rapsodie espagnole (1908) [16:02] Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony No.4 in E minor Op.98 (1885)
[37:36] Ottokar NOVÁČEK (1866-1900)
Perpetuum mobile Op.5 No.4 transcribed Leopold Stokowski (1940)
[3:55] š New Philharmonia
Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski London Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski
š rec. Royal Albert Hall, 14 May 1974; 21 September 1974 (Nováček)
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4205-2
[78:24][JW]
This
Brahms Fourth - the most exciting, galvanizing and convincing of all
Stokowski’s efforts. ... see Full
Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Hugo ALFVÉN (1872-1960) Symphony No. 5 in A minor,
Op. 54 (19432-1958) [53:58] Andante religioso from Revelation Cantata, Op. 31 (1913) [3:49]* Norrköping Symphony Orchestra/Niklas Willén rec. De Geer Hall, Norrköping,
Sweden, 15-17 June 2004; 23-27 May, 2005*. DDD
NAXOS 8.557612 [57:47][TP]
Lovers
of the romantic symphony should invest in this disc without delay.
Whatever the faults of this music, its freshness, flashes of original
genius and the stunning playing offer more than ample compensation.
... see Full Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750) Das
Wohltemperierte Klavier: Book I, BWV 846-869 (1722) [133.07] Wanda
Landowska (Pleyel harpsichord) rec. 1949-1951, New York; Lakeville,
Connecticut; USA. ADD Transfer produced by Mark Obert-Thorn.
Notes in English. Original matrix numbers and recording dates
and places. Photo of artist. NAXOS
HISTORICAL 8.110314-15 [64.00 + 69.07]
Das
Wohltemperierte Klavier: Book II, BWV 870-893 (1742)
[180.04] Prelude, Fugue, & Allegro, BWV 998 (1743)
[12.50] Wanda
Landowska (Pleyel harpsichord) rec. 1949-1951, Lakeville, Connecticut;
USA. ADD Transfer produced by Mark Obert-Thorn. Notes in English.
Original matrix numbers and recording dates and places. Photo
of artist. NAXOS
HISTORICAL 8.111061-63 [3 CDs: 61.33 + 66.43 + 64.38] [PSh]
An
untarnishable masterpiece of a recording, a musical monument, even if
in some places it doesn’t sound very good. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony
No.9 in D Minor Op.125 Choral (1824) Elizabeth
Schwarzkopf (sop); Elisabeth Hoengen (cont); Hans Hopf (ten);
Otto Edelmann (bass) Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra/Wilhelm
Furtwängler rec. 29 July 1951, Festpielhaus, Bayreuth.
ADD Reissue Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn NAXOS
8.11060 [74:19] [SH]
Not
just recommended but absolutely essential to any civilised person.
... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano
Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 38 (1844) [33’19]; Fantasy in F
minor, Op. 49 (1841) [13'11] Carl
Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Konzertstück in F minor,
Op. 79 (1821) [18'20]* Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Andante and Rondo capriccioso,
Op. 14 [6'50] Claudio
Arrau (piano) Philharmonia Orchestra/Alceo Galliera* rec. No.
3 Studio, Abbey Road, London, 14-21 April 1960 (Chopin), 30 June
1951 (Mendelssohn), No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London, 19 April
1960 (Weber). ADD EMI
CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 5 62884 2 [72:11]
[CC]
Arrau's
Chopin enjoys something of classic status, and here are two perfect
examples of why this is so ... Mendelssohn that can only be described
as miraculous ... virtuoso elan ... one of the jewels of the EMI GROCs.
... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Twenty-Four
Préludesa (1836-38) [34:21]; Prélude in C sharp minor,
Op. 45b (1841) [4:07]; Berceuse in D flat, Op. 57b (1843/4)
[4:08]; Impromptusc (1837-42) – No. 1 in A flat, Op.
29 [3:45]; No. 2 in F sharp minor, Op. 36 [4:27]; No. 3 in G
flat, Op. 51 [4:52]; Fantaisie-Impromptu in C sharp minor, Op.
66c (1835) [4:34]; Barcarolle in F sharp, Op.
60c (1846) [7:52] Alfred
Cortot (piano)
rec. No. 3 Studio, Abbey Road, London, a 5 July, 20 June 1933; b 4
November 1949; c5 July 1933. ADD EMI
CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 3615412 [68:45] [CC]
These
are, indeed, classic recordings ... the remastering has (re)produced
a sound of great clarity and yet depth. Cortot's playing is what
this disc is about and while one listens he almost always convinces
one that his is the true way. Superb. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Sir Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) In the South (Alassio) – Concert
Overture op.50 (1904) [19:48] Grania and Diarmid – Incidental
Music and Funeral March op.42 (1901) [09:30] Symphony no.1 in A flat
op.55 (1908) [48:56] Introduction and Allegro op.47 (1905) [14:12]
Serenade in E minor op.20 (1892) [12:21] Symphony
no.2 in E flat op.63 (1910) [53:16] London
Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult rec.29 September 1970, 19 February
1971, All Saints’ Tooting (op.50), 4, 6, 11 February 1974,
No.1 Studio, Abbey Road London (op.42), 20, 25 September 1976, No.1
Studio, Abbey Road (op.55/I-III), 10 October 1976, Kingsway Hall, London
(op.55/IV), 10 December 1972, No.1 Studio, Abbey Road (op.47), 29,
30
October 1972, Kingsway Hall (op.20), 3 November 1975, 2, 7 January
1976, No.1 Studio, Abbey Road (op.63)
EMI CLASSICS 0946 3 82151 2 7 [78:31 + 80:06][CH]
Dedicated
performances by one of the composer’s finest interpreters, and a truly
great performance of Symphony no. 2. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Alberto GINASTERA
(1916–1983) Panambí Op.1 (1937) [39:10]
Estancia Op.8 (1941)a [33:22]
Luis Gaeta (narrator, bass-baritone)a London Symphony Orchestra/Gisčle
Ben-Dor rec. Abbey Road Studios, London, May 1997
NAXOS 8.557582 [72:32][HC]
These
scores teem with life-asserting energy … a self-commending release of
these indispensable readings of two of Ginastera’s most readily attractive
scores. ... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756–1791)
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf singt Mozart-Arien 1. Le nozze di Figaro:
Giunse alfin il momento … Deh vieni, non tardar 2. Don Giovanni:
Vedrai carino 3-4 Le nozze di Figaro: Porgi amor; Voi
che sapete 5 Don Giovanni: Crudele? … Non mi dir 6 Le nozze
di Figaro: Non so piů cosa son 7 Idomeneo: Zeffiretti lusinghieri
8 Don Giovanni: Batti, batti, o bel Masetto 9 Le nozze di
Figaro: Dove sono 10 Don Giovanni: In quali eccessi ... Mi
tradi, quell’alma ingrata 11 Il re pastore: L’amerň sarň costante
12-13 Die Entführung aus dem Serail: Welcher Kummer herrscht
in meiner Seele; Martern aller Arten
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano), Philharmonia Orchestra/John Pritchard
(1–9), Josef Krips (10); Wiener Philharmoniker/Josef Krips (11-12),
Herbert von Karajan (13) rec. London, 1 July (4, 8), 2 July (1, 2,
6), 4 July (3, 5), 9 September (9), 16 September (7) 1952; in Vienna,
23 October (13), October (12); 2 November (11) 1946, 26 September 1947
(10) PREISER RECORDS
93444 [73:26] [GF]
I
admire the whole recital tremendously and
recommend it strongly to every listener with
even a remote interest in Mozart-singing -
or singing in general. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Sergei
RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) Trio
élégiaque No. 1 in G minor
(1892) [12:39] Trio élégiaque
No. 2 in D minor, Op. 9 (1893) [44:44]
Valeri Grohovski (piano), Eduard Wulfson (violin),
Dmitri Yablonsky (cello) rec. 6-7 September
2005, Potton Hall Suffolk
NAXOS 8.557423 [57:23] [TB]
Make
no mistake; this is one of the most successful
recordings of chamber music one could wish
to encounter, and to have it available at
budget price is a cause for celebration...
see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Complete
Keyboard Sonatas Vol. 8 Sonata in A Kk181 [3:42]
Sonata in E Kk496 [4:48] Sonata in C Kk420 [4:25] Sonata in F
minor Kk466 [6:39] Sonata in B flat Kk441 [2:59] Sonata in B
minor Kk87 [6:13] Sonata in D Kk96 [4:50] Sonata in G minor Kk426
[5:48] Sonata in A flat Kk127 [5:29] Sonata in F minor Kk462
[5:18] Sonata in A minor Kk382 [2:24] Sonata in C Kk485 [5:08]
Sonata in A Kk101 [4:27] Soyeon
Lee (piano) rec. Performing Arts Centre, Country Day School,
Ontario, Canada, 6-8 January 2006 DDD NAXOS
8.570010 [62:10] [PCW]
The
recording is worth a special mention – well up to the high standard
Norbert Kraft has previously set on various discs for this label.
The documentation is also decent and the only thing that feels
cheap about this disc is the price. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Fantasia
on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (1910) [17:06] The Wasps (Overture)
(1909) [9:07] Fantasia on ‘Greensleeves’ (1928) [4:36] George
BUTTERWORTH (1885-1916) The Banks of Green Willow
(1913) [5:47] Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Variations
on an Original Theme (Enigma) Op.36 (1899) [31:13] London
Symphony Orchestra/André Previn rec. Kingsway Hall, London, 26
January 1979 and No.1 Studio, Abbey Road, London, 27-28 November
1978 (The Wasps, Enigma Variations), 30 November 1971
(Greensleeves), and 15-16 December 1976 (Green Willow).
British Composers Series EMI
CLASSICS 3 82157 2 [68:25] [DC]
Previn’s
characterisations in the ‘Enigma’ variations populate your room
with real people…... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ashokan Farewell/Beautiful
Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster Jay
UNGAR Ashokan Farewell [5:10] Molly
MASON Bound for Another Harvest Home [4:05]
Jay UNGAR Prairie Spring [3:42] Jay
UNGAR Haymaker’s Hoedown [2:45]
15th
Century German, arr.
Jay UNGAR and Molly MASON Solstice Hymn [2:54] Jay
UNGAR Thanksgiving Waltz [3:46] TRADITIONAL,
arr. Jay UNGAR, Molly MASON & Balfa Toujours La Chanson de Mardi Gras [3:50] William
STEPP/Aaron COPLAND, arr. Jay UNGAR Bonaparte’s Retreat/Hoedown
[5:09] Stephen
FOSTER (1826-1864), arr.
Jay UNGAR and Molly MASON with David ALPHER Violin
solo [0:25]
Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair [4:17]
Hard times, come again no more [5:13]
The Voice of Bygone Days [3:56]
Foster Favourites Medley [3:50]
Beautiful Dreamer [3:53]
That’s what’s the matter [3:18]
Old Home Medley [4:56]
Sweetly she sleeps, my Alice fair [3:27]
My wife is a most knowing woman [3:47]
Linger in blissful repose [3:07]
Ah! May the red rose live alway [5:21]
Jay Ungar (violin); Molly Mason (guitar); Thomas Hampson
(baritone); David Alpher (piano) Balfa Toujours appear on La Chanson
de Mardi Gras Nashville Chamber Orchestra/Paul Gambill, appears
on Bonaparte’s Retreat/Hoedown rec. BMG Studios, New York,
8-9 April, 6 May, 8-10 July 1992; Great Hall, Glen Tonche Studios, Woodstock,
New York and Austin Pea State University, Clarksville, Tennessee, 1999.
DDD EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 0946 3 82225 2 1 [77:21][PG]
Rife
with near-magical moments. It would be difficult to recommend an album
more highly. ... see Full Review
Detailed
listing (last
five 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]
[Recommended
recordings]
