John
ADAMS (b.
1947) Complete Piano Music Phrygian Gates
(1977-78) [24:37] American Berserk (2001) [6:04] China Gates (1977)
[5:15] Hallelujah Junction (1996)* [16:05] 
Ralph van Raat, Maarten van Veen* (pianos) rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk,
7-8 January 2006. DDD
NAXOS 8.559285 [52:01] [LW]
For
someone interested in Adams’ piano works, then, this disc can be
safely recommended ... see Full
Review
Kalevi
AHO (b.
1949) Symphony No.5 (1975-1976) [29:05]
Symphony No.7 Insect Symphony (1988) [43:40] Leipzig
Radio Symphony Orchestra/Max Pommer
rec. 1991. DDD ONDINE ODE765 
[72:45]
[TP]
Unfailingly
inventive, bold, colourful and well constructed.
Not “difficult” for a listener to appreciate,
nor does it pander to the masses ... see Full
Review
Isaac ALBÉNIZ (1860-1909)
Recuerdos
de viaje (1886-7) (I. En el mar [04:30]; I. Leyenda [04:17]; III. Alborada
[04:48]; IV. En la alambra [04:14]; V. Puerta de tierra [03:47]; VI.
Rumores de la caleta [04:01] VII. En la playa [04:23]) Espagne (Souvenirs)
(1896-7) (I. Prélude [06:47]; II. Asturias [03:53]) Azulejos
(completed by Granados) (1909) [10:06]La Vega, "Fantaisie espagnole"
(1897) [15:32] Navarra (fragment, completed by D. de Séverac)
(1909) [06:16] Guillermo
González (piano) rec. Real Conservatorio de Música de
Madrid, 14-17 November 2004.
NAXOS SPANISH CLASSICS 8.570553 [72:35] [JF]
I
look forward to subsequent Albéniz
releases and am confident that Guillermo González
is the man to do them. ... see Full
Review
Johann
Christian BACH (1735-1782) Symphonies
Concertantes Johann Christian BACH
(1735-1782) Volume 1 Symphonies Concertantes:- Eb
major with Two Violins and oboe C33a [18.02]; G major
with Two Violins and cello (C32) [19.29] Eb major with Two Violins
and Cello C40 [19.48] The Hanover Band/Anthony Halstead rec. Rosslyn
Hill Chapel, December 1995
CPO 999 348-2 [57.21] Johann Christian
BACH (1735-1782) Volume 2 Symphonies Concertantes:-
in Bb major with Violin and Cello (C46) [21.40] F major
with oboe and bassoon C38 [11.40] D major with Two violins
C35 [18.29] The Hanover Band/Anthony Halstead rec. Rosslyn Hill Chapel,
3-9 July 1997 CPO 999
537-2 [52.26] Johann Christian
BACH (1735-1782) Volume 3 Symphonies Concertantes:-
E major with Two Violins, cello and flute C44 [14.06] Eb
major with two clarinets, Bassoon, Two Horns and flute (C41) [16.50]
A major with violin and cello (C79) [14.07] Flute Concerto in
D major - Larghetto -1st movement (C34) [6.54] The Hanover
Band/Anthony Halstead rec. Rosslyn Hill Chapel, 3-9 July 1997
CPO 999 538-2 [52.37] Johann Christian
BACH (1735-1782) Volume 4 Symphonies Concertantes:-
C major with Two Violins and Cello (36b) [14.47] Eb major
with flute, oboe and bassoon (C37) [11.59] G major (C inc 5)
with two Violins, cello and flute (C76b) [16.45] Violin Concerto in
C major (76b) [21.23] The Hanover Band/Anthony Halstead rec. Rosslyn
Hill Chapel, 9-11 July 1998
CPO 999 627-2 [65.42] Johann Christian
BACH (1735-1782) Volume 5 Symphonies Concertantes:-
C major with Two Violins and Cello (36a) [25.15] D major with
Two flutes, two violins and cello (C39) [13.54] Eb major with
Two Oboes, Two horns, two Violins and Two Violas (C40) [14.53] The Hanover
Band/Anthony Halstead rec. Rosslyn Hill Chapel, 22-24 September 1999
CPO 999 628-2 [54.47]
Johann Christian BACH (1735-1782)
Volume 6 Symphonies Concertantes:- Bb major
with Oboe, Violin, Viola and cello and fortepiano (C48) [25.57] C
major with Flute, Oboe, Violin, cello and orchestra (C43) [19.24]
Fortepiano Concerto with two violins and cello (C60 B) [20.31]
Cadenza in Major (attrib to J.C.Bach) for Oboe, violin and Cello
[2.57] The Hanover Band/Anthony Halstead rec. Rosslyn Hill Chapel, 3-5
September 2001 CPO 999
845-2 [69.33] Box of the above six CPO CDs: CPO 777 292-2
[GH]
J.C.
Bach – music that is charming, easy on the ear, cleverly composed and
beautifully performed ... see Full
Review
Johann
Christoph Friedrich BACH (1732-1795)
Trio in D major for pianoforte, cello and transverse
flute [15:09] Sonata in A for cello and continuo
[13:26] Sonata in e minor for Transverse flute,
viola and continuo [14:19] Sonata in G for cello
and continuo [8:32] Trio in G for pianoforte,
violin and viola [15:13] Works published between
1770-1785, exact dates not given.
Camerata Köln (Karl Kaiser (flute); Ingeborg Scheerer (violin and viola);
Andreas gerhardus (viola); Rainer Zipperling (cello); Julianne Borsodi
(cello); Sabine Bauer (pianoforte and harpsichord)) rec.
Deutschlandfunk Kammermusiksaal, 12-14 January 2004. DDD
CPO 777087-2 [66:58][KS]
Well
executed and rather elegant music from a composer content
to stay at
home and play ... see Full Review
Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750) Bach to Cuba Brandenburg
Concerto No. 3 (1st Movement) [4.15]
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 (1st Movement)
[3.14] Suite No. 3 BWV 1068 (Aria) [4.01] Suite No. 2 BWV
1067 (Badinerie) [1.20] Brandenburg Concerto No.3
(3rd Movement) [5.40] Brandenburg
Concerto No.5 (3rd. Movement) [5.30]
Suite No 2 BWV 1067 (Rondeau)
[1.34] Brandenburg Concerto No 4 (3rd
Movement) [5.11] Suite No 3 BWV
1068 (Gavotte) [4.57]
Tenerife Symphony Orchestra/Emilio Aragon rec. live, Juan Ramos,
Auditorio de Tenerife, 14-17 June 2006
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 7031GH [41.00][LB]
An
interesting and worthwhile project which becomes rather tedious at times.
However a good 'fun' treatment of Bach. ... see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Goldberg
Variations, BWV 988 [78.02]
Simone Dinnerstein (piano) rec. March 2005, Academy of Arts and Letters,
New York. TELARC CD80692
[78.02][KM]
An
excellent recording of the Goldbergs, by a “new” pianist … see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Goldberg Variations BWV 988 (1741)
Andrea Bacchetti (piano) rec. Villa
Trissoni-Marzotto (Vicenza), Italy, 2006 (DVD) and Teatro Chiabrera,
Savona, 17 January 2007 (CD) Picture Format: NTSC 16:9 performance,
4:3 documentary Sound Format: PCM Stereo Dolby Digital 5.1 Region Code:
0 ARTHAUS MUSIK 101
447 
[DVD: 106:00 + CD: 77:30][DC]
This
is something about which all Bach and piano fans can get a little excited.
... see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cantatas
39, 73, 93, 105, 107, 131 Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu
dir BWV 131 (1707) [21:49] Herr, wie du willt, so schicks mit
mir BWV 73 (Epiphany III, 1724) [13:49] Herr, gehe nicht ins
Gericht mit deinem Knecht BWV 105 (Trinity IX, 1723) [22:03] Brich
dem Hungrigen dein Brot BWV 39 (Trinity I, 1726) [23:15] Wer
nur den lieben Gott läßt walten BWV 93 (Trinity V, 1724) [19:50]
Was willst du dich betrüben BWV 107 (Trinity VII, 1724) [18:05]
Barbara Schlick
(soprano); Agnès Mellon (soprano); Gérard Lesne (alto); Charles Brett
(alto); Howard Crook (tenor); Peter Kooy (bass) Chorus and Orchestra
of Collegium Vocale, Ghent/Philippe Herreweghe rec. Minderbroederskerk,
Ghent, Belgium, December 1990 (CD1) and October 1991 (CD2)
VIRGIN VERITAS 5 62025 2 [57:55 + 61:10][BW]
An
excellent introduction to Bach’s cantatas.
Even those collecting complete sets such as
those by Suzuki or Koopman would find this
inexpensive set an excellent pendant … see
Full
Review
Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750)
Sonatas
and Partitas for Solo Violin and Cello Suites
(played on lute)
Nigel North (lute) rec. July 1993, March 1994,
October 1995, March 1996, St Martin’s Church,
East Woodhay CDs also available separately
as: CDK013; CDK029; CDK049; CDK055.
LINN CKD 300 [4 CDs: 69.15 + 67.33 + 63.50
+ 71.30] [KMc]
A
lovely must-have set for fans of Bach or the
lute … a huge pleasure to listen to … see
Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Italian Concerto see
SCARLATTI
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Italian Concerto see
MOZART
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Erbarme dich, mein
Gott (from St Matthew Passion) see PURCELL
Sir
Granville BANTOCK (1868-1946) Overture
to a Greek Tragedy: Oedipus at Colonus (1911) [15:40] Josef
HOLBROOKE (1878-1958) The Birds of Rhiannon [15:50] Cyril
ROOTHAM (1875-1938) Symphony No. 1 (1932) [30:57]
(Adagio – Allegro ritmico [7:45]; Adagio molto (alla
Marcia) [8:40]; Scherzo
Allegro molto [7:08]; Allegro con spirito [7:24]) Philharmonia
Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite (Bantock) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon
Handley (Holbrooke, Rootham) rec. Kingsway Hall, London, January 1979 (Bantock),
Henry Wood Hall, London September
1976 (Holbrooke, Rootham). ADD LYRITA
SRCD.269 [62:30] [EM]
Bantock
and Holbrooke: excellent … fascinating to hear the Rootham, of
which the LPO and Handley give a top-rate performance ... see Full
Review
Michel
de la BARRE (1675–1745) Music
for Louis XV – Ten Suites for two flutes [7e Livre,
1721] 10e Suite in d minor [05:36] 11e Suite in G [06:32] [9e
Livre, 1722] 1er Sonate in B flat [06:35] 2e Sonate in G [06:11]
[10e Livre, 1722] 16e [Suite] in F [07:09] 17e [Suite] in C
[05:14] [11e Livre, 1724] 18e Suite in g minor [06:44] 19e
Suite in B flat [07:53] [12e Livre, 1725] 20e Suite in b minor
[08:28]
21e Suite in D [05:55] John Solum,
Richard Wyton (transverse flute) rec. August 2006, parish hall, St Matthew's
Church, Bedford, N.Y., USA. DDD MSR
CLASSICS MS 1191 [66:23] [JV]
A
missed opportunity to show the qualities of La Barre's duets for
two flutes ... see Full Review
Agustín
BARRIOS (1885–1944)
Guitar Music – Volume 3 Caazapá – Aire
popular Paraguayo (arr. McFadden) [3:15] Don Pérez Freire
(tango) [3:13] Medallon Antiguo [2:59] Vals Tropical [2:46]
Arabescos (Estudio No. 4) [1:25] Escala y Preludio
[1:43] Estudio Vals [1:34] Estudio in A [2:00] Estudio
inconcluso [0:57] País de Abanico [4:26] Fabiniana
[2:27] Tango No. 2 [3:21] Tua imagem – Vals [3:35] Leyenda
de España [4:09] Capricho Español [2:54] Alegro Sinfonico
[2:37] Luz Mala [1:34] Minuet en la [2:50] Estilo Uruguayo
[2:57] Danza Guaraní [1:34] Tarantella (arr. McFadden)
[3:35] Jeffrey McFadden
(guitar) rec. 2-5 February 2006, St John Chrysostom Church, Newmarket,
Ontario, Canada NAXOS
8.557807 [55:54] [GF]
Barrios’s
music is always agreeable to listen to and the playing here is
deeply assured ... see Full Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Belá
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Concerto for Orchestra (1945) [38:49]
The Miraculous Mandarin (1919) [31:36]*
Laurenscantorij Rotterdam Choir*, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Riccardo
Chailly rec. May 1995 and May 1997*, Great Hall, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.
DDD DECCA 458 841-2
[70:54][TP]
An
individual and essential Bartók album ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Bela
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Music
for Strings, Percussion and Celesta (1936) (I: Andante tranquillo
[6:51]; II: Allegro [7:38]; III: Adagio [6:12]; IV: Allegro molto
[6:40]) Concerto for Orchestra (1944) (I: Introduzione-Andante
non troppo-Allegro vivace [10:54]; II: Giuco delle coppie- Allegro
vivace [7:15]; III: Elegia –Andante non troppo [8:34]; IV: Intermezzo
interrotto-Allegro [4:38]; V: Finale – Pesante-Presto [9:53]) Boston
Symphony Orchestra (Music), NBC Symphony Orchestra (Concerto)/Guido
Cantelli rec. 27 March 1954 (Music); 29 January 1949 (Concerto).
ADD Pristine Audio XR remastering by Andrew Rose June-July 2007 PRISTINE
AUDIO PASC081 [68:36] [SH]
You
must have this CD. It’s the very reference model of the works in
sound so close to real that it’s truly amazing. Simply essential
... see Full Review
Bela
BARTOK (1881-1945) Divertimento for String Orchestra see STRAVINSKY
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphony No. 9 in D Minor Op.125 Choral (1824) [67:05]The
British National Anthem [3:53]
Sylvia Fisher (soprano), Nan Merriman (mezzo), Richard Lewis (tenor),
Kim Borg (bass) Edinburgh Festival Chorus Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Thomas
Beecham rec. live, Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 19 August 1956
BBC LEGENDS BBCL4209-2 [71:35] [JW]
The
constituency for this will be Beecham admirers and the like. The performance
is memorable in places but strongly flawed as well ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major Op. 73 Emperor (1810)
[38:17] Piano Sonata No.21 in C major Op. 53 Waldstein (1804)
[22:19] Fryderyk CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Etudes Op.25 (1832-36): No.1 in A flat major [2:09];
No.2 in F minor [1:27]; No.3 in F major [1:50]; No.6 in G sharp minor
[2:04]; No.8 in D flat major [1:08]; No.9 in G flat major [1:07]; No.5
in G flat major [1:44]
Wilhelm Backhaus (piano) Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra/Georg Solti
rec. Funkhaus, Saal 1, WDR Cologne, June 1956 (Concerto); Beethovenhalle,
Bonn, September 1959 (Sonata); Lugano, June 1953 (Etudes)
MEDICI ARTS MM006-2 [72:33] [JW]
An
exciting and important concerto performance
and the Chopin conforms to all that we know
about Backhaus’s invariable slowing up and
withdrawal in his playing of the Études ...
see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin
Concerto in D, Op. 61 (1806) [45:49] Violin Sonata No. 9 in A, Op. 47
“Kreutzer” (1802) [38:18]
Vadim Repin (violin) Martha Argerich (piano) Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Riccardo
Muti rec. Vienna Musikverein, Grosser Saal, February 2007; Lugano, Auditorio
“ Stello Molo” RSI, June 2007. DDD
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 6596 [45:49 + 38:18][KS]
Repin
has thought this music through completely and put his own stamp on it,
a stamp that stands to become more and more collectible as this fine
artist matures! One of the most satisfying Beethoven recordings to hit
the shelves in some time ... see Full
Review
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Sonata
for piano and violin in G major, Op.96 (1812) [19:21] Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Fantasia for piano and violin in C major
"Sei mir gegrüsst" D 934 (Op. posth. 159) (1827) [29:31]
Sei mir gegrüsst, D 741 (Op.20, No.1) (1822) [3:56]
Liza Ferschtman (violin), Inon Barnatan (piano) rec. 13-15 September
2006, Suny Purchase Collage, New York, USA. DDD
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72174 [52:48] [TP]
This
disc is a delight. ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Overture:
Egmont, Op. 84 (1809) Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 (1806)
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin
Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108* (1888)
Wolfgang Schneiderhan (violin) London Symphony Orchestra/Istvan Kertész
Carl Seeman* (piano) rec. 13 March 1964, Royal Festival Hall (Beethoven),
5 September 1956, Usher Hall, Edinburgh (Brahms)
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4217-2 [75:59][TB]
Egmont
and the concerto recordings feature some of the best sound to be encountered
in this important series. All credit to the original recording engineers.
It seems scarcely credible that the performances took place 43 years
ago. ... see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770–1827)
Violin Sonata No. 1 in D major Op.12 No.1 (1798) [21:20] Violin Sonata
No. 3 in E flat major Op.12 No.3 (1798) [18:32] Violin Sonata No. 10
in G Op. 96 (1812) [27:14]
David Oistrakh (violin), Sviatoslav Richter (piano) rec. Moscow, 6 May
1970 DOREMI DHR7800
[67:14] [JW]
Without
doubt as a formidable meeting of colleagues this has specialist appeal
... see Full Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
Violin Sonata No.5 in F major Op.24 'Spring' (1801) [25:08] Violin Sonata
No.7 in C minor Op.30 No.2 (1802) [28:17] Violin Sonata No. 9 in A minor
Op.47 ‘Kreutzer’ (1803) [35:53] Violin Sonata No.10 in G major Op.96
(1812) [29:01] Yehudi Menuhin
(violin), Jeremy Menuhin (piano) rec. No.1 Studio, Abbey Road, London,
October 1985, July 1986 (7 & 10)
EMI CLASSICS 3817562 [61:04 +57:26] [JW]
Deeply
humane and musically rewarding … failing to summon up the tonal
glories of youth but conferring instead accumulated wisdom and
perception ... see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Quartet No.12 see MOZART
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Mass in
C major, Op.86 (1807) [47:27] Elegisher Gesang, Op. 118 (1814)
[7:31] Meeresstille und Glückliche Fahrt, Op. 112 (1815) [7:38]
Henriette Schellenberg
(soprano); Marietta Simpson (mezzo); Jon Humphrey (tenor); Myron Myers
(bass) Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Robert Shaw rec. 6-7 November
1989; 7-8 May 1990, Symphony Hall, Atlanta, Georgia Texts and translations
into English included. DDD
TELARC CD-80248 [63:17][LW]
Anyone
who cares about Beethoven or nineteenth-century choral music should
at least hear one of these versions of the Mass in C ... see Full
Review
Paul
BEN-HAIM (1897-1974) Violin Concerto (1960) see
CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO
Richard
Rodney BENNETT (b.
1936) Piano
Concerto (1968) [24:19]
Five Studies for Piano (1962-4) [10:29]Capriccio for Piano Duet (1968)
[6:50]Commedia IV (two trumpets, horn, trombone, tuba) (1973) [13:45] Stephen
Kovacevich (piano, Concerto), Richard Rodney Bennett (piano, Studies, Capriccio),
Thea Musgrave (piano, Capriccio) London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Alexander Gibson
(Concerto) Philip Jones Brass Ensemble (Philip Jones (trumpet); Elgar Howarth
(trumpet); Ifor James (horn); John Iveson (trombone); John Fletcher (tuba): Commedia)
rec. September 1971, Kingsway Hall (5 Studies; Capriccio); 12-13 January 1971.
Wembley Town Hall (concerto); December 1974 (Commedia IV). ADD Piano Concerto
first issued on LP with Jazz Calendar, recorded with the London Jazz Ensemble.
LP: (March 1972) 6500 301; CD: (May 1999) 456 880.2PM2 and on CD again (February
2002) Decca 470 371.2 LYRITA
SRCD.275 [55.28] [RB]
Emblematic
of Bennett and of the metropolitan 1960s. Magnificently played,
documented and recorded ... see Full
Review
Alban
BERG (1885-1935) Concerto for violin and orchestra
(1935) see TIPPETT
Charles-Auguste De BÉRIOT
(1802-1870) Violin Concerto
No. 7 in G major, Op. 73 (1851) [20:53] Violin
Concerto No. 2 in B minor, Op. 32 (1841) [31:56] Violin
Concerto No. 4 in D minor, Op. 46 (1844) [11:47]
Laurent Albrecht Breuninger (violin) Northwest
German Philharmonic/Frank Beermann rec. Herford,
Schützenhof, October 2004
CPO 777 167-2 [64:29][SV]
This
is beautiful music. So why don't we hear it more frequently? ... see
Full Review
Lennox
BERKELEY (1903-1989) Piano
Concerto in B flat Op.29 (1947) [26:13] Concerto for Two Pianos
and Orchestra Op.30 * (1948) [32:17] David
Wilde (piano) New Philharmonia Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite
Garth Beckett, Boyd McDonald (pianos) * London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Norman Del Mar rec. 1975 and 1978 (Concerto in B
flat) LYRITA
SRCD.250 [58.33]
[JW]
Berkeley
holds the serious and the lighter sides of his musical nature in
fine equipoise in these valuable, indeed laudable readings ...
see Full Review
Lennox
BERKELEY (1903-1989) Symphony
No. 1 (1940) [30:59] Symphony No. 2 (1956-57 rev. 1976) [1957
rev. 1976] London
Philharmonic Orchestra/Norman Del Mar (1); Nicholas Braithwaite
(2) rec. 1975 and 1978 ADD LYRITA
SRCD.249 [62:03] [JW]
Norman
Del Mar and Nicholas Braithwaite are the heroes of the hour, energizing
their orchestras in the idiom with flair and introspective intensity
... see Full Review
Ernest Bloch (1880-1959) Four Episodes
(1926) [15:06] (Humoresque macabre [3:04]; Obsession [3:23]; Calm [4:53];
Chinese [3:47]) Two Poems (Winter-Spring) (1905) [13:59] (Winter [6:16];
Spring [7:43]) Concertino for Flute, Viola and Strings (1948) [9:20]
Suite Modale for Flute and Strings (1956) [14:04]
Noam Buchman (flute) (Concertino; Suite); Yuri Gandelsman (viola) (Concertino);
Soloists of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra/Dalia Atlas (Four Episodes)
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/Dalia Atlas (Two Poems); Atlas Camerata
Orchestra/Dalia Atlas (Concertino; Suite) rec. 31 October 2005, Yaffo
Tel Aviv Music Center (Episodes); 28-29 June 2006, Concert Hall of Slovak
Radio (Two Poems); 31 October 2001, Bloch Concert Hall, Haifa (Concertino;
Suite). DDD Naxos
8.570259 [52:29][WK]
Lesser
known works conducted by the current doyenne of Bloch’s music.
... see Full Review
Alexander BORODIN (1833-1887)
In the Steppes of Central Asia
(1880) [7:02] Symphony No.1 in E flat major
(1862-1867) [35:01] Symphony No.2 in B minor
(1869-1876) [26:57]*
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Vladimir Ashkenazy rec.
London, May 1991*, April-May 1992. DDD
DECCA LONDON 436 651-2
[69:35][TP]
If
you appreciate the picturesque and lyrical qualities of Borodin's music,
then this disc is for you. ... see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
CD1
Symphony No. 1 (1868) [44.50] Schicksalslied (1868) [15.53]
Academic Festival Overture (1880) [9.53]CD2 Symphony No.
2 (1869) [35.34] Symphony No. 3 (1883) [38.32] CD3 Symphony
No. 4 (1885) [41.36] Haydn Variations (1873) [12.37] Tragic
Overture (1880) [18.39]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Wolfgang Sawallisch rec. Abbey Rd, Studio
1, June 1989 (2, 4); Apr 1990 (Variations, Tragic), Apr 1991 (1, Academic,
Schicksalslied), Dec 1991 (3). DDD
EMI CLASSICS TRIPLE 5009132 [3 CDs: 70:33 + 78.53 + 72:52]
[RB]
Sawallisch
emerges from this set undemonstrative but with honours high ... see
Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897)
Symphony No.3 in F Op.90 (1883) [35:46] Symphony No.4 in E Op.98 (1885)
[38:05] Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie
Bremen/Daniel Harding rec. Studio Stollberger Strasse, Cologne, November
2000 (Symphony No.4) and June 2001 (Symphony No.3)
VIRGIN CLASSICS 3913302 [73:58] [JW]
An
idiosyncratic coupling that can’t merit a more obviously general
recommendation ... see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Symphony No.1 in C minor, op.68 (I. Poco sostenuto - Allegro [13.12];
II. Andante sostenuto [8.06]; III. Un poco allegretto e grazioso [4.30];
IV. Adagio - Allegro ma non troppo [16.13])
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Guido Cantelli rec. 27 March 1954, WGBH-FM
Boston broadcast. ADD
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC083 [42:01] [BB]
I
could not live without this performance. I wouldn’t want it as
my sole recording but alongside Boult and Horenstein it can certainly
hold its own ... see Full
Review
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin
Sonata No. 3 see BEETHOVEN
Havergal
BRIAN (1876-1972) Symphony
No. 2 in E minor (1930-31) [53:28]Festival Fanfare (1967)
[1:44] Moscow
Symphony Orchestra/Tony Rowe. DDD rec. Mosfilm Studio, Moscow,
May 1996 NAXOS
8.570506 [55:12]
[CC]
I
keep on asking myself is there no end to Brian's invention? We
are privileged to be able to hear these scores at all, and it is
good that the Moscow Orchestra gives its all. We need much more
of the same ... see Full Review
Frank
BRIDGE
(1879-1941) Dance Rhapsody (1908) [18:22]
Dance Poem (1913) [15:38] Two Jefferies Poems (1916): The Open Air [7:44];
The Story of My Heart [4:25] Overture Rebus (1940) [10:38] Allegro Moderato
for string orchestra (1941) [14:47]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite rec. 1979. ADD
LYRITA SRCD.243 [71:38] [JW]
Lyrita’s
Bridge recordings of 1979, with the LPO and Nicholas Braithwaite
on rhythmically vital form, return to the current of things in
this first class restoration ... see Full
Review
Frank
BRIDGE (1879-1941) Oration -
Concerto elegiaco for cello and orchestra H180 (1930) [31:07] Phantasm for
piano and orchestra H182 (1931) [27:19] Julian
Lloyd Webber (cello); Peter Wallfisch (piano) London Philharmonic
Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite rec. Southwark, October 1976
(Oration) and Kingsway Hall, November 1975 (Phantasm) LYRITA
SRCD.244 [58:32] [WK]
Two
standard-bearing recordings of the Bridge revival re-released in
improved sound ... see Full
Review
Frank
BRIDGE (1879-1941) Rosemary, Suite for string orchestra,
Sally in our Alley, Cherry Ripe, Lament for string orchestra see IRELAND
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony
No. 3 in D minor (version 1888-9 ed. Nowak) [66:42]
((i) Mehr langsam, Misterioso [25:07] (ii) Adagio, bewegt,
quasi Andante [16:38] (iii)
Ziemlich schnell [7:46] (iv) Allegro [15:04]) Münchner Philharmoniker/Sergiu
Celibidache rec. live, Philharmonie am Gasteig, München, Germany,
19-20 March 1987. DDD EMI
CLASSICS 7243 5 56689 2 9
[66:42]
Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
Symphony No. 6 in A (1879-81) Ed. Haas ((i) Majestoso [17:02] (ii)
Adagio. Sehr feierlich [22:01] (iii) Scherzo. Nicht schnell – Trio.
Langsam [8:18] (iv) Finale. Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell [15:08])
Münchner Philharmoniker/Sergiu
Celibidache rec. live, Philharmonie am Gasteig, München, Germany, 29
November 1991. DDD
EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 56694 2 1
[65:46][PCW]
Magnificence
in Munich … see Full Review
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824–1896) Aequalis
Nos. 1 and 2 (1847) [4.02] Libera Me (1854) [7.20] Mass
in E minor (1866) [41.48]
Corydon Singers Colin Sheen, Roger Brenner, Phillip Brown (trombones)
Thomas Martin (double bass) John Scott (organ) English Chamber Orchestra
Wind Ensemble/Matthew Best rec. 29-30 March, 1 April 1985. DDD
HELIOS
CDH55277 [53.12][RH]
These are fine performances which have stood
the test of time. Perhaps not quite blemish free, but pretty near perfect
given the taxing nature of Bruckner’s writing. ... see Full
Review
Martin
BUTLER (b. 1960) American Rounds
(1998) [13:20] Siward’s River Song (2001)a [5:43] Suzanne’s
River Song (1999)b [4:46] Nathaniel’s Mobile (1995)c
[9:07] Funérailles (2005)c [16:03] Two Scarlatti Sonatas
(arr. Butler, 2005) Sequenza Notturna (2003) [11:37] Walden Snow (2004)d
[3:17] The Schubert
Ensemble (William Howard (piano)bcd; Simon Blendis (violin)b;
Douglas Paterson (viola)d; Jane Salmon (cello)a;
Peter Buckoke (double-bass)) rec. Champs Hill, Pulborough, West Sussex,
June 2006. DDD Notes in English
NMC D120 [72:03][DW]
The
playing and musicianship are faultless and the recording is superb to
match, making this a highly recommendable disc for anyone remotely interested
in 20th and 21st century chamber music… see Full
Review
Dietrich
BUXTEHUDE (c.1637-1707) Membra
Jesu nostri BuxWV 75 (?1680) [56:21] Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese
Zeit BuxWV 102 [4:07] Walts Gott, mein Werk ich lasse BuxWV
103 [7:44] Christina
Kaiser, Astrid Werner, Anja Zügner (soprano); Alexander Schneider (alto);
Tobias Hunger (tenor); Matthias Lutze, Marek Rzepka (bass); Daniel Deuter,
Margaret Baumgartl (violin); Juliane Laake, Benjamin Dreßler, Katharina
Schlegel, Renate Pank (viola da gamba); Matthias Müller (viola da gamba;
violone); Michaela Hasselt (organ); Michael Dücker (theorbo); Dresdener
Kammerchor/Hans-Christoph Rademann rec. live, 11 February 2007, Lukaskirche,
Dresden Texts and translations included
CARUS 83.234 [69:01][GPu]
An
accomplished performance of a fascinating work, but perhaps not one
which claims a place at the very top of the tree … see Full
Review
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