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          Carles Pons i Altés: 
          Bolero para un Ángel  
           
 
          Carles Pons i Altés (guitar) 
 
          SHEVA 009 [62:06][GPu] 
        Not 
          outstanding but well worth hearing if the repertoire attracts … see 
          Full Review
        American 
          Tapestry 
          Includes Howard HANSON 
          (1896-1981)  Suite from the opera ‘Merry Mount’ George 
          GERSHWIN (arr. Donald Hunsberger) 
          Rhapsody in Blue  Steven BRYANT 
          (b. 1972)  Radiant Joy Robert Russell 
          BENNETT (1894-1981)  Suite of Old American Dances 
          
 Richard Shuster (piano) 
          Lone Star Wind O/Eugene Migliaro Corporon rec. 2007 
 
          NAXOS 8.570968 [72:11] 
 
          [BM]
        Excellent
              program serves as recording debut of a new wind band ... see Full
              Review 
         Angela & Roberto
                  Forever  
 Angela
                  Gheorghiu, Robert Alagna rec. 1995-2002 
 EMI
        CLASSICS 2145992 [76:18] 
 [ST]
        Good 
          fun but it’s a mixed picture ... see Full 
          Review 
        
Apostle 
          of Ireland: 
          A Medieval Office for St. Patrick First 
          Vespers, Matins, Lauds, Second Vespers 
 
          Canty/Rebecca Tavener; William Taylor (wire-strung 
          clarsach) rec. 2007. DDD. Booklet with texts 
          and translations. 
 
          DIVINE ART DDA25065 [78:03] 
 
          [BW]  
        Spiritual 
          nourishment … an excellent successor to Canty’s 
          earlier recordings ... see 
          Full Review  
        
RECORDING
              OF THE MONTH Martha
              Argerich - Music for Two Pianos Includes Sergei
              RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Suite No. 2  Johannes
              BRAHMS (1833-1897) Sonata, Variations on a theme by
              Haydn 
 with Mirabela
              Dina, Gabriela Montero, Lilya Zilberstein, Polina Leschenko, Yefim
              Bronfman & Giorgia Tomassi
rec. live 2002-4 
 EMI CLASSICS
2076232 [69.41
+ 76.38] 
 [MM-B]
        
          Brilliant
                and uplifting … a must-have ... see Full
                Review 
          Art 
            of the Symphonic Organist - Music by Richard 
            WAGNER (1813-1883), Camille 
            SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921), Sigfrid KARG-ELERT 
            (1877-1933), Anton RUBINSTEIN (1829-1894), 
            Moritz MOSZKOWSKI (1854-1925), 
            Francis POULENC (1899-1963), Guy 
            BOVET (b.1942) and  Marcel 
            DUPRÉ (1886-1971) 
 
            Ken Cowan (organ) rec. 2006 
 
            JAV RECORDINGS JAV169 [67:52][DC] 
          Some
                  creative arrangements add interest to a substantial programme
                  ... see Full Review 
          
 
 Audivi
                      Vocem Includes Thomas
                      TALLIS (c.
                      1505-1585) In ieiunio et fletu Christopher
                      TYE (c.1505-1572) Missa Sine Nomine John
                      SHEPPARD (c. 1515-1558) Gaudete celicole omnes,
                      Laudate pueri Dominum, Beati omnes 
 Hilliard
                      Ensemble rec. 2005 
 ECM
          NEW SERIES 1936 [72:06] 
 [DC]
          Glorious
                from beginning to end ... see Full
                Review
         
         
          Bambusorgel (Bamboo Organ, 
          Philippines) 
          
 Albert Bolliger (organ) 
          
 SINUS CD4003 [54:12] 
          
 [GPu]
        An 
          entertaining chance to hear one of the most 
          special organs in the world … see 
          Full Review 
         
          The Golden Age Of Light Music Bandstand 
          In The Park – Volume 2 
 
          GUILD LIGHT MUSIC GLCD 5147 [78:40] 
 
          [BBr]  
        
Most 
          enjoyable and very well worth investigating 
          ... see Full 
          Review
        
  Miguel
                  Baselga - Vals Café 
 Miguel
                  Baselga (piano) rec. 2005 
 COLUMNA
        MÚSICA 1CM0144  [56:28][GPu] 
 
        An
                  intelligent, thought-provoking and well played programme of
                  waltzes for piano ... see Full
                  Review
        
 
          The Birth of the Cello Music 
          by Giambattista degli ANTONII 
          (c.1640-after 1696) and Domenico 
          GABRIELLI (1651-1690) 
 
          Julius Berger (cello) rec. 2007 
 
          SOLO MUSICA SM112 [74:45][GPu] 
        A 
          valuable historical document. Fascinating music from the birth of the 
          cello … see Full Review
         Boléro Music
              by Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937), Alexander
              BORODIN (1833-1887), Georges
              BIZET (1838-1875) and  Isaac
              ALBÉNIZ (1860-1909) 
 Cincinnati
              Pops Orchestra/Erich Kunzel rec. 2007 
 TELARC
        SACD60703 
 [65:27][MSJ] 
        Superfluous
                  ... see Full Review
        
 
           Andreas 
          Brantelid (cello) Camille 
          SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Cello Concerto No. 1 Pyotr 
          Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Variations on a Rococo 
          Theme Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) 
          Cello Concerto 
 
          Andreas Brantelid (cello); Danish National Symphony Orchestra DR/Michael 
          Schønwandt rec. 2007-8 
 
          EMI CLASSICS DEBUT 2130382 [61:58][ST] 
        A 
          most impressive debut and a very appealing disc ... see Full 
          Review  
        
 
          Julian Bream plays Dowland 
          and Bach 
 Julian 
          Bream (lute and guitar) rec. 1956 
 
          DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4777750 [72:20 + 68:42][EMc] 
        
Bream’s 
          enthusiasm and missionary zeal ... see Full 
          Review
        
Childhood
                   Memories – Volume 2 
          rec.1927-1957 
 GUILD
           GLCD 5144 CD [77:25] 
 
          [JS]
        Musicality, 
          ingenuity and professionalism of those working 
          in light music ... see Full 
          Review 
        
        
          Agreeable 
            yet could have been better yet. Goossens’ 
            songs are the highlight ... see Full 
            Review
           
            The 
            English Clarinet Edward 
            GERMAN (1862-1936) 
            Romance 
            for clarinet and piano (1889) [4:35] 
            Arnold BAX (1883-1953) 
            Sonata for clarinet and piano (1934) 
            [13:51] Edwin ROXBURGH 
            (b. 1937) Wordsworth Miniatures 
            for solo clarinet (1998) [8:05] Gerald 
            FINZI (1901-1956) Five Bagatelles 
            for clarinet and piano (1938-43) [15:19] 
            William Yeates 
            HURLSTONE (1876-1906) Four 
            Characteristic Pieces for clarinet and 
            piano (1899) [16:57] Paul 
            PATTERSON (b. 1947) Soliloquy 
            for solo clarinet (c.1995) [5:52] William 
            LLOYD WEBBER (1914-1982) Frensham 
            Pond for clarinet and piano (1960) [2:44] 
            Air and Variations for clarinet 
            and piano (1952) [6:38] Arthur 
            BLISS (1891-1975) Pastoral 
            for clarinet and piano (1916) [4:25] 
            
 
            John Bradbury (clarinet) James Cryer (piano) 
            rec. 2-3 June 2006, Wathen Hall, Barnes, 
            London, England. DDD 
 
            NAXOS 8.570539 [78:26] 
[MC] 
             
          A 
            splendid achievement. A strong case for 
            English clarinet music. ... see Full 
            Review 
        
 
        
RECORDING
                OF THE MONTH Ensemble Syntagma -
                Remembrance: Music by  Gautier
                D’ÉPINAL (1205/30-1272), Colin
                MUSET (13th century), Jacques
                de CYSOING (middle of 13th century), Jehannot
                de L’ESCUREL (d.1304) and  Gautier
                DE COINCY (1177-1236) 
 Ensemble
                Syntagma rec. 2006 
 CHALLENGE
        CLASSICS CC72190  [63:14][GPu] 
        Outstanding … undogmatic
                coherence and persuasive sensitivity in rare repertoire … see Full
                Review
        Four 
          Gentlemen of The Chapel Royal Works 
          by Thomas TALLIS (1505-1585)  William BYRD (1543- 1623)  Christopher TYE (1505-1572)  & Thomas TOMKINS (1572-1656)   
 
          Clare Wilkinson (mezzo); Rose Consort of Viols rec. 2006 
 
          DEUX-ELLES DXL1129 [70.00] 
 
          [GH]
        Some 
          memorable and quite remarkable music-making 
          ... see Full 
          Review 
         French
                    Touch Francis
                    POULENC (1899 – 1963) Violin
                    Sonata Maurice RAVEL (1875 – 1937) Violin
                    Sonata Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835 – 1921) Danse Macabre  Maurice
                    RAVEL (1875 – 1937) Tzigane  Jules
                    MASSENET (1842 – 1912) Meditation from Thaïs 
 Max
                    Zorin (violin), Vincent Balse (piano)
rec. 2006 
 MAX ZORIN no number [57:29] 
 [BBr]
        Well 
          worth having. Zorin sheds new light on the 
          Poulenc and Ravel ... see Full 
          Review 
         Fugas
                  y Fandangos Works
                  by De Falla, Castelnuovo-Tesdesco and Granados for two guitars 
 Susan
                  Mebes; Joaquim Freire (guitars)
rec. 1994 
 LÉMAN CLASSICS LC44401 [52:41] 
        
          The
                guitar duets of Castelnuovo-Tedesco are the standouts on an attractive
                CD … see Full Review 
         
         
          
 
          Nicolai Gedda in 
          Opera 
 
          NIMBUS PRIMA VOCE NI 7943/44 
          
[75:16 
          + 70:13] 
 
          [GF]  
        Essential
              listening … an individual and instantly recognisable 
          voice ... see Full 
          Review 
        
 
           Handel-Inspired 
           
 Paul 
          Ayres (organ) rec. 2007 
 
          PRIORY PRCD894 [72:25][GPu] 
        Beautifully 
          assembled; playing, instrument, repertoire, recording all top notch 
          … see Full Review
        
Hilde 
          Güden Arias and Songs 
 
          NIMBUS 
          PRIMA VOCE NI 7952-3 [78:48 + 78:58] 
 
          [GF] 
        Excellent 
          tribute to one of the loveliest sopranos of 
          the post-war era. ... see Full 
          Review
         
          Hymns 
          
 
          Grimethorpe Colliery Band/Phillip 
          McCann rec. St. Pauls, Huddersfield University, 
          9-10 February 2008 
 
          EGON SFZ 141 [68:37] [BM]
        Splendidly 
          played but too much of a good thing? ... see 
          Full Review 
         Hymns
                    from Hereford 
 Hereford
                    Cathedral Choir/Roy Massey & Richard
                    Lloyd 
 GRIFFIN
        RECORDS GCCD4060 [60:09][JV] 
        Mostly
                  impressive and enjoyable but some dubious quality repertoire
                  ... see Full Review
        Wilhelm 
          Furtwängler - the Early Recordings Vol. 
          2 Music by Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) 
          Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) 
          and Gioachino Antonio ROSSINI 
          (1792-1868) 
 
          Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler rec. 1926-35 
 
          NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111003  [66:38][RM] 
        A 
          worthwhile addition to a very useful series ... see Full 
          Review
        Eliette
                von Karajan My
                Life at his Side: My Favorite Recordings
 DEUTSCHE
        GRAMMOPHON 477 7541 [74:13 + 75:28] 
 [MSJ]
        Great 
          moments unlikely to be picked for your average 
          “greatest hits” CD ... see Full 
          Review
         
          Herbert von 
          Karajan: New Year’s Eve Concert 1983 ROSSINI 
          Overture: Wilhelm Tell [12.16] SMETANA 
          Die 
          Moldau [12.47] SIBELIUS 
          Valse 
          Triste Op.44 [6.59] Josef 
          STRAUSS Delirien 
          Waltz Op.212 [9.33] Johann 
          STRAUSS II Overture: Der Zigeunerbaron 
          [9.23] 
 
          Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Herbert von 
          Karajan Director: Humphrey Burton rec. Philharmonie, 
          Berlin, 31 December 1983 PAL 4:3; Dolby digital 
          
 
          SONY CLASSICAL
 
          DVD 88697296069 [50:58] 
[CF]
        Becomes 
          a dull experience ... see Full 
          Review  
        
 
           Freddy 
          Kempf (piano) Modest 
          MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures at an Exhibition 
          Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) 
          Gaspard de la nuit Mily BALAKIREV 
          (1837-1910) Islamey 
 
          Freddy Kempf (piano) rec. 2006 
 
          BIS BISSACD1580 
 
          [63:43][DM] 
        Uneven 
          Pictures but fine Gaspard and stunning Islamey ... see Full 
          Review
         The
                  King’s Singers – Greatest Hits 
 rec. 1974-1991 
 EMI
                  CLASSICS 5145872 [77:39
+ 79:41] 
 [TP]
        An
              enjoyable but flawed compilation ... see Full
              Review 
        
BARGAIN 
          OF THE MONTH 
          The Art of Christa Ludwig 
          rec. 1956–1969 
 
          EMI CLASSICS 5176082  [5 CDs: 387:44] 
 
          [GF]
        A
              worthy tribute. Should be snapped up by all lovers of great singing
              ... see Full Review 
          
           
         
        
         
           
          
        
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