RECORDINGS
OF THE MONTH
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cantatas, Vol. 33
Jesu, nun sei gepreiset, BWV 41 (1725) [27:40] Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn, BWV
92 (1725) [30:12] Herr Gott, dich loben
alle wir, BWV 130 (1725) [15:08] 
Yukari Nonoshita
(soprano), Robin Blaze (counter-tenor), Jan Kobow (tenor), Dominik Wörner
(bass) Bach Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki rec. April 2005, Kobe
Shuin Women’s University Chapel, Japan
BIS-SACD-1541 3892-2 
[74:12][TB]
Together
Masaaki Suzuki and Bach Collegium Japan have achieved some remarkable
successes in their Bach odyssey, and this latest collection must rank
among their finest to date. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH César
FRANCK (1822-1890) Symphony
in D minor (1886-1888) [35:06] Ernest
CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Symphony in B flat (1890) [33:05] Suisse
Romande Orchestra/Marek Janowski rec. Dinemec Studio, Gland/Geneva,
Switzerland, July 2006 PENTATONE
CLASSICS PTC5186078 [68:25]
[CH]
I’m
delighted to be able to recommended a version
of the much maligned and often maltreated
Franck Symphony that matches the great versions
of the past. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Patrick
HADLEY
(1899-1973) The
Trees so High: Symphonic Ballad in
A minor (1931) [34.07] Thomas Allen (baritone)
Guildford Philharmonic Choir New Philharmonia
Orchestra/Vernon Handley Gerald
FINZI (1901-1956) Intimations
of Immortality - Ode for tenor solo,
chorus and orchestra (1949) [43.12]
Ian Partridge (tenor) Guildford Philharmonic
Choir and Orchestra/Vernon Handley rec. 1970s.
ADD original recordings made in association
with the Finzi and RVW Trusts (Finzi); RVW
Trust (Hadley)
LYRITA SRCD 238 [77:19] [RB]
Matchless
versions of major works. Outstanding achievement
by composers, performers and technicians.
Substantial and frankly irresistible. ...
see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ferdinand HÉROLD
(1791-1833) La Somnambule (1827)
Orchestra Victoria/Richard
Bonynge rec. Iwaki Auditorium, Melbourne, Australia, July 2004
MELBA MR301087
[69:30][RW]
How
could such fine music as this have remained neglected until now? ...
see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH John IRELAND
(1879-1962) Tritons,
symphonic prelude (c.1905) [10:29] The Forgotten Rite, prelude
(1913) [7:07] Mai-Dun, symphonic rhapsody (1920-21) [11:23] A
London Overture (1936) [11:57] Epic March (1942) [8:12] Themes
from Julius Caesar (arr. Geoffrey Bush) (Scherzo; Cortège)
(1942) [6:45] The Overlanders, suite (ed. Charles Mackerras)
(Scorched Earth; Mary & Sailor; Open Country; The Brumbies; Night
Stampede) (1946-47) [20:07]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Adrian Boult rec. 1960s. ADD recordings
originally made in association with John Ireland Trust
LYRITA SRCD 240 [76:04] [RB]
A
classic John Ireland collection – magically
done ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Peter LIEBERSON (b.
1946)
Neruda Songs (2005) [31:11] Si no fuera porque tus
ojos tienen color de luna [5:04]; Amor, amor, las nubes a
la torre del cielo [5:48]; No estés lejos de mi un
solo día, porque cómo [6:23]; Ya eres mía. Reposa
con tu sueño en mi sueño [7:26]; Amor mío,
si muero y tú no mueres [7:10] Lorraine
Hunt Lieberson (mezzo) Boston Symphony Orchestra/James Levine rec.
25-26 November 2005, Boston Symphony Hall NONESUCH
79954-2 [31:11] [AOz]
An
artistic testament by two brave human beings confronting imminent
separation and turning their anxieties into something which can,
perhaps, help others when they, too, face such situations ...
see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Années de pèlerinage – Suisse: Première
Année – Suisse S160 (1855) Chapelle de Guillaume
Tell [6:18] Au lac de Wallenstadt [3:06] Pastorale [1:47] Au bord
d’une source [3:48] Orage [4:33] Vallée d’Obermann [14:07]
Eglogue [3:35] Le mal du pays [5:50] Les cloches de Geneve [6:20]
Scherzo and March S177 (1851) [12:42] Joyce
Hatto (piano) rec. Concert Artist Studios, Cambridge, April 2003
(Années de pèlerinage); June 2003 (Scherzo and March) CONCERT
ARTIST CACD 91622 [62:35] [JW]
Joyce
Hatto characterises with vivid finesse and imagination ... vital
and all-embracing playing ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano
Concerto No. 17 in G major, K 453* (1784) [35:32] Symphony No.
39 in E flat major, K 543 (1788) [34:42] Wiener
Philharmoniker/Leonard Bernstein *(piano conductor) rec. Grosser
Musikvereinssaal, Vienna, 3-11 October 1981. DDD Video Director:
Humphrey Burton NTSC 4:3 Colour; Region Code 0 (worldwide); PCM
Stereo; DD 5.1; DTS 5.1 EUROARTS
2072098 
[72:13][MG]
Bernstein
applies the Vienna Philharmonic’s luxury veneer
to his highly responsive approach to Mozart
and does so to distinctive effect. … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony
No.4 in F minor Op.36 (1877) [42:57] Symphony
No.5 in E minor Op.64 (1888) [47:28] Symphony
No.6 in B minor Op.74 Pathétique
(1893) [46:09]
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa
Cecilia (Rome)/Antonio Pappano rec. live,
Sala Santa Cecilia, Auditorium Parco della
Musica, Rome, 3-15 July 2006
EMI CLASSICS 3 53258 2 [71:27 + 65:05]
[DC]
These
discs are a real ‘concert in your pocket’,
and genuinely satisfying. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741) Heroes Orlando
finto pazzo - Se in ogni guardo (1714) [3:11] Giustino
- Vedro con mio diletto (1724) [5:11] Ottone in
villa - Frema pur, si lagni Roma (1713) [4:24] L'Olimpiade
- Mentre dormi amor fomenti [7:42] Tito Manlio
- Vanne perdida... Frà le procelle (1718) [5:05] Andromeda
liberata - Sovente il sole (1726) [9:23] Demofoonte
- Sperai vicino il lido [5:36] Giustino - Deh perché... Bel riposo
de'mortali (1724) [4:15] Il Tigrane - Farà la mia spada
[2:44] Tieteberga - Sento in seno [4:06] Orlando furioso - Cara
sposa (1713; 1714 version) [2:41] Farnace - Perdona o figlio amato (1731;
1738 version) [6:29] Orlando finto pazzo - Alla rosa ruggiadosa [2:22]
Philippe Jaroussky
(counter-tenor) Ensemble Matheus/Jean-Christophe Spinosi rec.
Auditorium de l’Ecole Nationale de Musique, de Danse et d’Art Dramatique,
Brest, July 2006
VIRGIN CLASSICS 00946 363414 2 2 [63:15][JW]
A
most convincing and successful recital – varied and nuanced. Most impressive
all round. ... see Full Review
BARGAINS
OF THE MONTH
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano
Concerto No. 4 in G, Op. 58 (1805/6) [33:10] Piano Concerto No.5 in
E flat, Op. 73, “Emperor” (1809) [39:16] Emil
Gilels (piano) Philharmonia Orchestra/Leopold Ludwig rec. No. 1 Studio,
Abbey Road, London, 26-27, 30 April, 1 May 1957. ADD EMI
CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS
OF THE CENTURY 4768282 [72:35] [CC]
Classic
accounts of Beethoven ... These performances demand to be heard.
... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH François
COUPERIN (1668-1733) 4
Livres de pièces de clavecin - Complete harpsichord music Michael
Borgstede (harpsichord) rec. March-April 2004, January, February, June
2005, Maria Minor Church, Utrecht, Westvestkerk in Schiedam and Hervormde
Kerk in Rhoon, Netherlands. DDD BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 93082 [11 CDs:] [JV]
An
impressive recording of Couperin's complete harpsichord music
- Borgstede's interpretation fully answers the 18th century ideal
of 'bon goût' ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) String
Quartet No. 14 in D minor D.810 Death and the Maiden (1824)
[33:06];
String Quartet No. 15 in G major D.887 (1826) [39:58] Busch
Quartet (Adolf Busch; Gösta Andreasson (violins); Karl Doktor (viola); Hermann
Busch, (cello)) rec. 16 October 1936 (D.810); 22, 30 November 1938, Studio 3,
Abbey Road, London
(D.887). ADD MONO. EMI CLASSICS
GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 3615882 [73.33] [ED]
The
Busch’s feeling for the music is unsurpassed nearly seventy years
after it was recorded. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) String
Quartets: A minor, Op. 41, No. 1 [25:56]; F major, Op. 41,
No. 2 [21:06]; A major, Op. 41, No. 3 [32:03] Fine
Arts Quartet: Ralph Evans (violin); Efim Boico (violin); Yuri Gandelsman
(viola); Wolfgang Laufer (cello) rec. Library of Wittem Monastery
(Klooster Wittem), Netherlands, 11, 13-15 February 2006 NAXOS
8.570151 [79:05] [GF]
At
Naxos price, readers who have so far fought shy of these quartets
should give them a try and, like me, they may possibly find that
this is eminently well-wrought and attractive music ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Kinderszenen, op.
15 (1838) [20.00]; Etudes Symphoniques, op. 13 (1837) [37.47] Luiza
Borac (piano) rec. St Dunstan’s Church, Mayfield, 25-28 April 2001.
DDD. AVIE GBELZ0200011-40 [57.47]
[ED]
Worth
serious consideration, even to sit alongside other versions of
choice you might own. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Johann
STRAUSS II (1825–1899) Die
Fledermaus (1874) Nicolai
Gedda (tenor) – Gabriel von Eisenstein; Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
(soprano) – Rosalinde; Helmut Krebs (tenor) – Alfred; Rita Streich
(soprano) – Adele; Karl Dönch (baritone) – Frank; Erich Kunz
(baritone) – Falke; Rudolf Christ (tenor) – Prince Orlofsky;
Erich Majkut (tenor) – Dr. Blind; Franz Böheim (speaking part) – Frosch;
Luise Martini (speaking part) – Ida; Philharmonia Orchestra and
Chorus/Herbert von Karajan;
rec. 26–30 April 1955, Kingsway Hall, London Appendix: Historical Recordings
of Die Fledermaus: Overture (arr. Korngold) [8:20] The Palace Theatre
Orchestra/Richard Tauber
rec. July 1945, London; Mein Herr, was dächten Sie von mir [2:55] Lotte
Lehmann (soprano); Berlin State Opera Orchestra/Frieder Weissmann rec. 26 May
1931, Berlin; Mein Herr Marquis [3:21] Elisabeth Schumann (soprano); Orchestra/Karl
Alwin
rec. 11 November 1927, Queen’s Small Hall, London; Spiel’ ich die Unschuld
vom Lande [3:27] Elisabeth Schumann (soprano); Vienne State Opera Orchestra/Karl
Alwin
rec. 6 September 1929, Mittlerer Saal, Musikvereinsaal, Vienna; Klänge der
Heimat [4:15]
Maria Ivogün (soprano); Berlin State Opera Orchestra/Leo Blech rec. October 1932,
Berlin; Herr Chevalier, ich grüsse Sie! … Brüderlein, Brüderlein und Schwesterlein [4:08]; Genug,
damit, genug! [3:48] Richard Tauber (tenor); Lotte Lehmann (soprano); Karin
Branzell (mezzosoprano); Waldemar Staegemann (baritone); Grete Merrem-Nikisch
(mezzo); Berlin State Opera Orchestra and Chorus/Frieder Weissmann rec. 17 December,
1928, Berlin NAXOS 8.111036-37 [79:07
+ 60:37] [GF]
Whatever
other version you own, Karajan’s is definitely one to add and at
Naxos price you can still afford a bottle of champagne to go with
your Wienerschnitzel. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Richard
STRAUSS (1864–1949) Vier
letzte Lieder (1949) [19:10]
1. Frühling (Hesse) [3:24];
2. September (Hesse) [4:07];
3. Beim Schlafengehn (Hesse) [4:27];
4. Im Abendrot (Eichendorff) [7:11] Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) Philharmonia
Orchestra/Otto Ackermann
rec. 25-26 September 1953, Watford Town Hall Arabella (1933), highlights
[57:41]
5. Ich danke, Fräulein [8:21];
6. Welko, das Bild! [13:11];
7. Mein Elemer! [7:55];
8. Sie wollen mich heiraten [8:49];
9. Und jetzt sag’ ich adieu [13:26];
10. Das war sehr gut, Mandryka [6:00] Elisabeth
Schwarzkopf (soprano) – Arabella;
Joseph Metternich (baritone) – Mandryka; Nicolai Gedda (tenor) – Matteo; Anny
Felbermayer (soprano) – Zdenka; Walter Berry (bass) – Count Lamoral; Harald Pröglhöf
(baritone) – Count Dominik; Murray Dickie (tenor) – Count Elemer; Waiter; Theodor
Schlott (bass) – Count Waldner Philharmonia Orchestra/Lovro von Matacic rec.
27–29 September, 6 October 1954, Kingsway Hall, London. ADD NAXOS
8.111145 [76:51] [JW]
This
disc is worthy of a place in any Strauss collection. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Ernst TOCH (1887-1964) Tanz-Suite for
Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Double Bass and Percussion, Op.30 (1923-4)
[29:53] * Concerto for Cello and Chamber Orchestra,
Op.35 (1924-5) [27:10] Christian
Poltéra (cello); Spectrum Concerts Berlin: Priya Mitchell*, Julia-Maria
Kretz (violin); Hartmut Rohde* (viola); Frank Dodge (cello);
Stacey Watton* (double-bass); Marieke Schneemann* (flute); Nigel
Shore (oboe); Lars Wouters van der Oudenwijer* (clarinet); Catherine
Maguire (bassoon); Bernhard Krug (horn); Daniel Tummes* (percussion)
/ Thomas Carroll. rec. 1-3 May 2006 *; 3 May 2006; Kammermusiksaal,
Philharmonie, Berlin NAXOS
8.559282 [57:35][GPu]
An
outstanding recording and performance of fascinating music, by
a composer still not as well known as he should be, and therefore
not as widely-enjoyed as he should be … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Elisabeth
Schumann – Aria Recordings 1926–1938 Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) 1. Exsultate jubilate, K 165: Alleluia [2:24];
2. Il re pastore: L’amerò, sarò costante [4:24]; Le nozze
di Figaro: 3. Non so più [3:27]; 4. Venite, inginocchiatevi [3:13];
5. Voi che sapete [3:43]; 6. Deh vieni, non tardar [3:49];
Don Giovanni: 7. Batti, batti, o bel Masetto [3:45]; 8. Vedrai
carino [3:24] Johann STRAUSS
II (1825–1899) Die Fledermaus: 9. Mein Herr Marquis [3:24];
10. Spiel’ ich die Unschuld vom Lande [3:24] Carl
ZELLER (1842–1898) Der Vogelhändler: 11. Wie mein
Ahn’l zwanzig Jahr [3:23]; 12. Wie mein Ahn’l zwanzig Jahr ’Nightingale
Song’ [3:30]; Der Obersteiger: 13. Sei nicht bös’ [3:28] Carl
Michael ZIEHRER (1843–1922) Der Landstreicher: 14. Sei
gepriesen du lauschige Nacht [3:11]; Der Fremdenführer: 15. O
Wien, mein liebes Wien [3:12] Heinrich
BERTÉ (1858–1924) Das Dreimädelhaus: 16. Was macht
glücklich [3:29] Richard
HEUBERGER (1850–1914) Der Opernball: 17. Im chambre
separée [2:45] Fritz KREISLER (1875–1962) Sissy:
18. Ich glaub’ das Glück [3:40] Josef
STRAUSS (1827–1870) 19. Spährenklänge [3:38] Ralph
BENATZKY (1884–1957) 20. Ich muss wieder einmal in
Grinzing sein [3:24] Rudolf
SIECZYNSKI (1879–1952) 21. Wien, du Stadt meiner
Träume [3:25] Elisabeth
Schumann (soprano) Orchestra/Georg Byng (1, 2, 5, 7, 8); Lawrance
Collingwood (3, 4, 6, 12, 13, 18); Carl Alwin (9); Vienna State
Opera Orchestra/Carl Alwin (10, 11); Orchestra/Walter Goehr (14-17,
20, 21); Leo Rosenek rec. 19 May 1926 (1, 5, 7); 7 June 1926 (2,
8); 1 February, 1927 (3, 4); 4 February, 1927 (6); 11 November
1927 (9); 6 September 1929 (10, 11); 17 February 1930 (12, 13);
23 June 1934 (19); 20 November 1935 (18); 25 November 1936 (16,
21); 11 March 1937 (14, 15); 8 June 1938 (20); 11 June 1938 (17).
ADD NAXOS 8.111100 [72:12]
[GF]
Grading
the singing greats for loveliness and charm Elisabeth Schumann
inevitably occupies the top position. This disc shows her at her
most lovely. ... 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]
