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Alphabetical Listing

PART 5
S-Z

Click for alphabetical listings by composer:
[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]

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Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757) Complete Keyboard Sonatas - Volume 11 Gottlieb Wallisch (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570468 [63:35] [BW]

I don’t normally like Scarlatti on the piano but I enjoyed this ... see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797–1828) Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9; Entr’acte from Rosamunde BBC Symphony Orchestra/Adrian Boult; National Symphony Orchestra/Anatole Fistoulari & Basle Symphony Orchestra/Felix Weingartner rec. 1928-44 BEULAH 1PD32 [71:36][BBr]

Well worth having ... see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Winterreise Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Man is for the Woman Made Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Folksong Arrangements Peter Pears (tenor); Benjamin Britten (piano) rec. 1964-70 DECCA 0743257 [118:53][JQ]

An invaluable reminder of a remarkable musical partnership ... see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony 9 Philharmonia O/Sir Charles Mackerras rec. 2006 SIGNUM SIGCD133 [59:04] [MG]

A performance of consummate skill … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Franz SCHUBERT (1797–1828) Die Winterreise Hans Hotter (baritone); Michael Raucheisen (piano) rec. 1942 MUSIC & ARTS CD-1061 [75:50] [GF]

Belongs among the Desert Island Disc recordings of Winterreise ... see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810–1856) Lieder Edition 5: Frauenliebe und –leben, 7 Lieder, Gedichte der Königin Maria Stuart, 8 Gesänge Sibylla Rubens (soprano), Uta Hielscher (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.557078 [47:16] [GF]

Not top-drawer Schumann but Rubens is a pleasure to listen to … see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810–1856) Lieder Sharon Rostorf-Zamir (soprano); Jonathan Zak (piano) rec. 2007 ROMÉO RECORDS 7260 [58:07][GF]

Should appeal to most lovers of German songs ... see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Festive Overture, Symphony 5 Philharmonia O/Vladimir Ashkenazy rec. 2001 SIGNUM SIGCD135 [50:10] [MSJ] /

Ashkenazy’s Philharmonia version becomes first choice ... see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Cello Concerto 2 Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Cello Symphony Jamie Walton (cello) Philharmonia O/Alexander Briger rec. 2008 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD137 [69:33] [MG]

Concentration and engaging lyricism … see Full Review

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Kullervo, The Oceanides, Karelia Suite, Scènes historiques, Tapiola, Finlandia, Two Serenades, Bournemouth SO/Paavo Berglund rec. 1970-5 EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 2176742 [71.45 + 76.10] [RB]

Good inexpensive way to explore the lesser-known pieces ... see Full Review

Padre Antonio SOLER (1729-1793) Piano Sonatas Marie-Luise Hinrichs (piano) rec. 2006 CPO 777 200-2 [61:45] [TP]

An attractive disc ... see Full Review

Wilhelm STENHAMMAR (1871–1927) Piano Music Piano Sonatas,Nights of Late Summer, Three Fantasies, Martin Sturfält (piano) rec. 2007 HYPERION CDA67689 [76:05] [WK][RB]

Victorious command and a heart-direct eloquence ... see Full Review  

Zygmunt STOJOWSKI (1870-1946) Suite for Orchestra, Le Printemps, Prayer for Poland Marta Wróblewska (soprano); Maciej Bogumil Nerkowski (baritone); Rafal Sulima (organ) Podlasie Opera & Ph Ch & O Bialystok/Marcin Nalecz-Niesiolowski rec. 2007 DUX 0625 [53:56] [JW]

A real find … much to excite and stimulate ... see Full Review

Alessandro STRADELLA (1639-1682) Cantata for Christmas Eve: Si apra al riso ogni labro [26:39] Sinfonia in A major [5:49] Sinfonia in F major [11:37] Cristina Miatello (soprano); Caterina Calvi (contralto); Roberto Abbondanza (bass) La Magnifica Comunità/Enrico Casazza rec. Chiesa della Santissima Trinità, Pernumia, Italy, 1999. DDD Booklet notes in English. Texts provided but no translations. BRILLIANT CLASSICS 93367 [51:18] [DW]

Unfortunately, the poor quality of the vocal contributions makes this a non-starter … see Full Review

Johann STRAUSS (1825–1899) Die Fledermaus RIAS Kammerchor, RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester/Ferenc Fricsay rec. 1949 AUDITE 23.411 [39:09 + 74:51][GF]

Splendid singing, outstanding conducting and lively action ... see Full Review

Johann STRAUSS (1825 - 1899) Die Fledermaus (1874)Julius Patzak (tenor) - Gabriel von Eisenstein; Hilde Güden (soprano) - Rosalinde; Kurt Preger (baritone) - Frank; Sieglinde Wagner (contralto) - Prince Orlofsky; Anton Dermota (tenor) - Alfred; Alfred Poell (baritone) - Dr Falke; August Jaresch (tenor buffo) - Dr Blind; Wilma Lipp (soprano) - Adele The Chorus of the Vienna State Opera,TheVienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Clemens Krauss rec. Musikvereinsaal, Vienna, 22 June, 16-22 September 1950 plus Die Fledermaus Gala
NIMBUS NI 7954/5 [74:46 + 69:30] [GF]

By some distance the most idiomatically Viennese recording of the operetta ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864–1949) Ariadne auf Naxos Gundula Janowitz, Sylvia Geszty, Staatskapelle Dresden/Rudolf Kempe rec. 1968 EMI CLASSICS 2088242 [38:28 + 79:41] [GF]

Definitely a recommendable buy ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Salome Nadja Michael, Peter Bronder, La Scala, Milan O/Daniel Harding rec. live 2007 TDK DVWW-OPSALOME [108:00] [ST]

Sounds a lot better than it looks ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Eine Alpensinfonie, Don Juan Royal Concertgebouw O/Mariss Jansons rec. live, 2007 RCO LIVE RCO08006 [70:22] [IL]

A stunning Alpine ascent and a robust and opulent Don Juan ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Ein Heldenleben, Tod und Verklärung Fritz Görlach (violin) RIAS SO/Karl Böhm rec. 1950/1 AUDITE 95.586 [71:33] [GP-J]

A fascinating document that Strauss lovers will undoubtedly want to hear ... see Full Review

Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Violin Concertos 1 & 2, Symphonies 3 & 4, Litania do Marii Panny, Demeter, Stabat Mater Konstanty Kulka (violin); Piotr Paleczny (piano) Polish Radio National SO & Ch/Antoni Wit; Jerzy Maksymiuk rec. 1978-83 EMI CLASSICS 2068702 [72:55 + 68:37] [EM]

An excellent addition to the catalogue ... see Full Review

Sergei Ivanovich TANEYEV (1856-1915) String Trios Leopold String Trio rec. 2008 HYPERION CDA67573 [67.29] [GH]

All in all a fine release ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Sir John TAVENER (b.1944) Ex Maria Virgine – A Christmas Sequence for Choir and Organ (2005)* 1[37:57] Birthday Sleep (1999) [5:27] O, Do Not Move (1990) [2:00] A Nativity (1985) [2:14] Marienhymne (2005)* [4:42] O Thou Gentle Light (2000)2 [4:41] Angels (1985/96)3 [6:45] James McVinnie (organ)1; Stefan Berkieta (baritone)2; Simon Thomas Jacobs (organ)3 Choir of Clare College, Cambridge/Timothy Brown rec. Norwich Cathedral, England, 6-8 July 2008.  DDD. Texts and translations included. * World Première Recording. NAXOS 8.572168 [63:46] [BW]

Major new music, well worth coming to terms with ... see Full Review

Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Manfred Symphony; The Voyevoda Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Vasily Petrenko rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570568 [68:51][IL]

A thrilling, darkly-hued Manfred ... see Full Review

Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Nutcracker - ballet in two acts (1891-2) San Francisco Ballet San Francisco Ballet Orchestra/Martin West choreography by Helgi Tomassonrec. live, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 19, 21 December 2007 OPUS ARTE OA1002D [13:00] [IL,GL]

Truly magical.  The ideal family Christmas present. ... see Full Review

Georg Philipp TELEMANN (1682-1767) Sonate Corellisante for 2 violins see CORELLI

Ludwig THUILLE (1861-1907) Cello Sonata see DOHNÁNYI

Michael TIPPETT (1905-1998) String Quartets 1, 2 & 4 The Tippett Quartet rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570496 [64:37] [TH]

Playing of tremendous power and persuasion ... see Full Review

Donald Francis TOVEY (1875-1940) Sonata for two cellos see DOHNÁNYI

Gomidas VARTABED (1869-1935) Gomidas Songs Isabel Bayrakdarian (soprano) Armenian PO/Eduard Topchjan rec. 2005 NONESUCH 511487-2 [55.10] [MM-B]

Traditional and evocative, yet universal in melodic appeal. ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) La Traviata Kristiane Kaiser, Jean-François Borras, Slovak PO & Ch/Ernst Märzendorfer rec live, 2008 EUROARTS 2057218 [134:00] [IL]

A satisfactory production ... see Full Review

Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Piano Music - Volume 7 Includes Amazonas, Prelúdios para Guitarra Sonia Rubinsky (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570503 [69:11] [BW]

Another very good volume in this recommendable series but not the place to start ... see Full Review

Stanley WALDEN (b. 1932) Maquettes for two pianos; Sh’mah - duo for violin and cello; Five Similes for piano; Trio for horn, violin and piano Spectrum Concerts Berlin rec. 2007-8 NAXOS 8.559355 [53:52][JW]

Music that is never obvious and can be subtly withdrawn ... see Full Review

Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Aufforderung zum Tanze (Invitation to the Dance) see BEETHOVEN

John WHITE (b. 1936) Piano Sonatas 1, 4, 5 & 9 Alun HODDINOTT (1929-2008) Piano Sonatas 1 & 2, Nocturnes 1 & 2, Elegy Colin Kingsley (piano); Valerie Tryon (piano) rec. 1960/2 LYRITA REAM.2108 [41:38 + 43:19] [BBr]

Authoritative performances of pieces which tend to be overlooked ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Tandem Eugène YSAŸE (1858 - 1931) Sonata for 2 violins see PROKOFIEV

 


Click for alphabetical listings by composer:
[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]




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