MusicWeb International One of the most grown-up review sites around 2023
Approaching 60,000 reviews
and more.. and still writing ...

Search MusicWeb Here Acte Prealable Polish CDs
 

Presto Music CD retailer
 
Founder: Len Mullenger                                    Editor in Chief:John Quinn             


Some items
to consider

new MWI
Current reviews

old MWI
pre-2023 reviews

paid for
advertisements

Acte Prealable Polish recordings

Forgotten Recordings
Forgotten Recordings
All Forgotten Records Reviews

TROUBADISC
Troubadisc Weinberg- TROCD01450

All Troubadisc reviews


FOGHORN Classics

Alexandra-Quartet
Brahms String Quartets

All Foghorn Reviews


All HDTT reviews


Songs to Harp from
the Old and New World


all Nimbus reviews



all tudor reviews


Follow us on Twitter


Editorial Board
MusicWeb International
Founding Editor
   
Rob Barnett
Editor in Chief
John Quinn
Contributing Editor
Ralph Moore
Webmaster
   David Barker
Postmaster
Jonathan Woolf
MusicWeb Founder
   Len Mullenger



Advertising on
Musicweb


Donate and keep us afloat

 

New Releases

Naxos Classical
All Naxos reviews

Hyperion recordings
All Hyperion reviews

Foghorn recordings
All Foghorn reviews

Troubadisc recordings
All Troubadisc reviews



all Bridge reviews


all cpo reviews

Divine Art recordings
Click to see New Releases
Get 10% off using code musicweb10
All Divine Art reviews


All Eloquence reviews

Lyrita recordings
All Lyrita Reviews

 

Wyastone New Releases
Obtain 10% discount

Subscribe to our free weekly review listing

 


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]

Superbudget £5.99 or less Budget £6-7.99 Medium £8-10.99 Full price £11+
Download

Giovanni Battista SAMMARTINI (1700/01-1775) Symphonies Orchestra da Camera Milano Classica/Roberto Gini rec. 2005 DYNAMIC CDS460 [72:56][JV]

Disappointing that this doesn't fully reveal the quality of Sammartini's music ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) String Quartet No.2 Anton WEBERN (1883-1945) Langsamer Satz Alban BERG (1885-1935) Largo desolato from “Lyric Suite” Christine Schäfer (soprano); Petersen Quartet rec. 2007 PHOENIX EDITION 133 [46:52][JFL]

This might be your Second Viennese School CD of the year ... see Full Review

Franz SCHREKER (1878-1934) Intermezzo, op.8 (1900) [6:37] Scherzo, op.8 (1900) [6:34] Julius BÜRGER (1887-1995) Legende (orchestral song) (1919) [12:43] Stille der Nacht (orchestral song) (1919) [10:15] Ernst KRENEK (1900-1991) Sinfonie No.1, op.7 (1900) [36:45] Dietrich Henschel (baritone)
Lucerne Symphony Orchestra/John Axelrod rec. KKL Luzern Concert Hall, Switzerland, 4-5 July 2006 NIMBUS NI5808 [71:47] [JL]

Many inspired touches of orchestral coloration ... see Full Review

The Budapest String Quartet Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) String Quintet Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) String Quartets Nos. 1-3 Budapest String Quartet rec. 1941-54 BIDDULPH 802202 [75:14 + 67:07][JW]

Vital and exciting examples of the Budapest’s way with core repertory ... see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Schwanengesang Robert Holl (bass-baritone); Roger Vignoles (piano) rec. 2008 HYPERION CDA67657 [63:17][ST]

Disappointing … mismatch of voice to repertoire and poor balance ... see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1797–1828) Lieder Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770–1827) Ah, perfido!; Fidelio: Abscheulicher! Wo eilst du hin? Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano); Edwin Fischer (piano) rec. 1952-4 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111287 [72:45][GF]

One of the most famous Schubert recitals, and some glorious Beethoven ... see Full Review

Franz SCHUBERT (1897–1828) Schubert-Lied-Edition: 28 - Schubert’s Friends, Vol. 3 Rainer Trost (tenor); Ulrich Eisenlohr (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.557567 [69:20][GF]

Schubert lovers should find a lot to admire on this disc ... see Full Review

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphonies Nos. 1-4 etc. Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester/Hans Vonk rec. 1991-1994 EMI CLASSICS TRIPLE 2153102 [63:50 + 66:38 + 65:23][ST]

Tremendous value, appealing on every level in a competitive field ... see Full Review

Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Complete Piano Sonatas Vladimir Stoupel (piano) rec. 2005 AUDITE 21.402 [3 CDs: 67.12 + 57.45 + 43.45][GH] 

There are moments in these performances which I shall treasure ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Piano music of Roger Sessions and Ralph Shapey Roger SESSIONS (1896-1985) Sonatas Nos 1 & 3 Ralph SHAPEY (1921-2002) Mutations; Mutations II; 21 Variations David Holzman (piano) rec. 2007 BRIDGE 9243 [79:31][MS]

Something rather special. Expert, perceptive and technically brilliant ... see Full Review

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH String Quartet No 5 Atrium Quartet see BEETHOVEN SQ10

Bedřich SMETANA (1824-1844) Má Vlast Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Libor Pešek rec. 1989 VIRGIN CLASSICS 5221292 [76:29][ST] 

A very strong contender ... see Full Review

Sir Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Symphonies Nos. 3 & 6 Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones rec. 2006-7 NAXOS 8.570355 [80:18][JQ]

This fine disc is an excellent introduction to Stanford’s symphonies ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) An Alpine Symphony Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester/Franz Welser-Möst Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Te Deum Mozart-Chor Linz; London Philharmonic orchestra/Franz Welser-Möst rec. 1995 & 2005 EMI CLASSICS 2081172 [66:36][GPJ] 

Some slight reservations but a worthwhile issue nevertheless, and great value ... see Full Review

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Songs with orchestra; Metamorphosen Gundula Janowitz (soprano); Academy of London/Richard Stamp rec. 1988-9 VIRGIN CLASSICS 5221302 [59:33][GPJ]

Janowitz’s voice is truly in a class of its own, one of a kind ... see Full Review

Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4, Violin Concertos; King Roger etc. City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle rec. 1993-2006 EMI CLASSICS 5145762 [4 CDs: 65:13 + 71:20 + 64:59 + 78:28][JWi]

Perhaps not perfect but very useful and very good value ... see Full Review

Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Stabat Mater etc. Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir/Antoni Wit rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570724 [59:26][EMc]

An excellent collection of Szymanowski’s choral works in first class sound ... see Full Revie

The Devil’s Trill Music by Giuseppe TARTINI (1692-1770) and Francesco Maria VERACINI (1690-1768) Palladians rec. 2006 LINN CKD292 [61:23][GPu]

Sensitive, broodingly expressive virtuosity … see Full Review

Peter TCHAIKOVSKY (1840–1893) Eugene Onegin Wiener Staatsopernchor; Wiener Philharmoniker/Daniel Barenboim rec. 2007 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 0734434 [2 DVDs: 157:00][GF]

Some wonderful singing and acting … somewhat quirky production ... see Full Review

TIPPETT Piano Sonata No 1 - two recordings:
A Tribute to Phyllis Sellick, pianist (1911-2007) François COUPERIN (1668-1733)
Pièces pour clavencin 3eme Livre, 14eme ordre Le carillon de Cithère [1:56] Le Pavolet Flotant [2:22] Louis-Claude DAQUIN (1694-1772) Pièces pour clavecin 1er Livre Le Coucou [1:39] Jean-Philippe RAMEAU (1683-1764) From Pièces de clavecin (1724), Suite in D Les Tendres Plaintes [2:59] Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Pastourelle (L’Eventail de Jeanne no.8) [2:13] JACQUES IBERT (1890-1962) Histoires – Le petit ane blanc [1:47] Les Biches – Adagietto (1924) [3:24] Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Images: Book 1 (1905) I. Reflets dans l'eau [4:40] Préludes – Book 2 (1913) Feux d’artifice [4:16] Maurice RAVEL (1875 -1937) Le Tombeau de Couperin (1917) Prelude [2:13]; Rigaudon [2:19]; Toccata [3:54] Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) Prelude - Op.28 No.10 in C sharp minor (1836-1839) [0:26] Etudes - Op.10 No.5 in G flat major (1829-33) [1:44] Harry HODGE Waltz in A flat [2:11] Gavotte and Musette [3:00] Variations in G minor [9:03] Toccatina [2:28] Michael TIPPETT (1905-1998) Piano Sonata No. 1 (1937) [21:11] Phyllis Sellick (piano) rec. 1941/1942 SOMM CD079 [73:56]
Tippett, Hamilton and Wordsworth piano music played by Margaret Kitchin
CD 1 Michael TIPPETT (1905-1998)
Piano Sonata No. 1 (1937 rev.1954) [21:42] Iain HAMILTON (1922-2000) Piano Sonata Op. 13 (1951) [19:29] CD 2 William WORDSWORTH (1908-1988) Piano Sonata in D Minor Op. 13 (1939) [28:14] Cheesecombe Suite Op. 27 (1945) [14:03] Ballade Op. 41 (1949) [9:14] Margaret Kitchin (piano) rec. mono, July 1958 (Tippett, Hamilton); April 1959, July 1960 (Wordsworth). ADD Originally from LPs: Tippett, Hamilton: RCS5; Wordsworth: RCS13
Mid Price Double ADD LYRITA REAM.2106 [41:21 + 51:34] [JW]

Kitchin’s pioneering discs … Sellick’s trail-blazing Tippett ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Geirr TVEITT (1908–1981) Songs Per Vollestad (baritone); Sigmund Hjelset (piano) rec. 2008 SIMAX PSC1223 [60:38][GF]

One of the finest song discs in a long time ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Falstaff (arr. Tony Britten) Andy Morton Music Theatre London/Jonathan Gill rec. 2006 SIGNUM VISION SIGDVD001 [118.00][RH]

Much is lost and not a lot is gained ... see Full Review

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Otello NBC Symphony Orchestra and Choruses/Arturo Toscanini rec. 1947 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111320-21 [75:17  + 75:04][PBW]

Among the essential recordings of this magnificent work ... see Full Review

The Best of Vaughan Williams Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Various artists NAXOS 8.556835 [79:00][JWi] 

Some very enjoyable pieces here ... see Full Review

Henri VIEUXTEMPS (1820-1881) Sonata for Viola and Piano Op.108 [32:31] Unfinished Sonata for Viola and Piano Op. Postume No.14 (pub.1884) [28:03] Pierre-Henri Xuereb (viola) Angéline Pondepeyre (piano) No recording details given TALENT DOM 2910 122 [61:33] [DC]

Interesting, if more academic duty than blissful bounty. ... see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI Gloria, RV589 Barbara Hendricks see BACH Magnificat

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) The Four Seasons; L’Estro Armonico Virtuosi di Roma/Renato Fasano rec. 1958-1962 EMI CLASSICS 5094492 [3 CDs; 70:27 + 53:02 + 64:47][JW]

Before musicologists and their vibrato-free Elysium ... see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Six Concertos for Flute, Strings and Basso Continuo op. 10 Konrad Hünteler (flute); Camerata of the 18th Century rec. 1995 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG31106402 [46:47][CR]

Expressive, sensitively played … sparkle and drive ... see Full Review

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Gloria Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Magnificat Various artists rec. 1991 CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 2282842 [74.35][RH]

Stylish and done with clarity and great warmth ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Overtures and Preludes Various artists rec. 1960-85 BERLIN CLASSICS 0014432BC [58:37][RM]

In spite of short measure I enjoyed this disc a great deal ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Wesendock Lieder; Prelude to Tristan und Isolde Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Lieder; Metamorphosen Lisa Gasteen (soprano); West Australian Symphony Orchestra/Simone Young rec. 2007 ABC CLASSICS 4766811 [73:41][ST]

Done better elsewhere ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Sadler’s Wells Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Reginald Goodall rec. 1968 CHANDOS CHAN3148(4) [4 CDs: 74:34 + 79:54 + 76:50 + 61:26][JFL] 

Ranks with a good handful of the most desirable versions ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Parsifal Radio Choruses Leipzig and Berlin, Thomaner Choir; Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra/Herbert Kegel rec. 1975 BERLIN CLASSICS (EDEL CLASSICS) 0184402BC [3 CDs: 79:06 + 75:29 + 65:58][JFL]

As likely to find ardent supporters as vociferous opponents ... see Full Review

Richard WAGNER (1813–1883) Der Ring des Nibelungen: The Copenhagen Ring Royal Danish Opera Chorus (Götterdämmerung) and Orchestra/Michael Schønwandt DECCA 074 3264 [7 DVDs:920:00 + Bonus: 36:00] [TD]

This is the Wagnerian ride of your life. Take it. ... see Full Review

Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Der Freischütz Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Berlin Philharmonic/Joseph Keilberth rec. 1958 EMI CLASSICS 2088212 [65:27 + 68:37][ST] 

Enjoy it for what it is and at a very attractive price ... see Full Review

Kurt WEILL (1900-1950) The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny Audra Macdonald (soprano); Los Angeles Opera Orchestra and Chorus/James Conlon rec. 2007 EUROARTS 2056258 [133:00 + 22:00][AOz] 

Outstanding is Audra Macdonald as Jenny Smith ... see Full Review

Mieczyslaw WEINBERG (1919–1996) Children’s Songs, Op. 13 (1944/45) [13.35] Beyond the Border of Past Days, Op. 50 (1951) [22:03] Rocking the Child, Op. 110 (1973) [24.32] Olga Kalugina (soprano); Svetlana Nikolayeva (mezzo); Dmitry Korostelyov (piano) rec. Concert Hall of the Gnessin Musical College, Moscow, January 2006, 19, 23 December 2006, 12 April 2007. TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0078 [60.12] [RH]

Should win many converts for an alternative view of Soviet modernism ... see Full Review

Felix WEINGARTNER (1863–1942) String Quartets Nos. 1 & 3 Sarastro Quartett rec. 2006 CPO 7772512 [68:38][BBr] 

Interesting but be warned, Weingartner was no Mahler ... see Full Review

Charles WOOD (1866-1926) St. Mark Passion Edward BAIRSTOW (1874-1946) Organ Voluntary Jonathan Vaughn (organ); The Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge/Daniel Hyde rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.570561 [61:46][JQ]

An excellent performance of a work that deserves more attention ... see Full Review

Alexander ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942) Die Seejungfrau; Sinfonietta; Lyrisches Symphony; Operatic Preludes; Cymbeline Suite; Frühlingsbegräbnis; Ein Tanzpoem Gürzenich-Orchester, Köln/James Conlon rec. 1995-2001 EMI CLASSICS TRIPLE 5094562 [3 CDs: 67:07 + 78:18 + 77:04][AOz] 

Conlon is important to the genre ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Alexander ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942) Three Pieces for Cello and Piano; Sonata in A minor for Cello and Piano; Trio in D Minor for Clarinet, Cello and Piano Othmar Muller (cello); Ernst Ottensamer (clarinet); Christopher Hinterhuber (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570540 [64:21][JWi] 

Exceptional rather than merely pleasant ... see Full Review


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]




EXPLORE MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL

Making a Donation to MusicWeb

Writing CD reviews for MWI

About MWI
Who we are, where we have come from and how we do it.

Site Map

How to find a review

How to find articles on MusicWeb
Listed in date order

Review Indexes
   By Label
      Select a label and all reviews are listed in Catalogue order
   By Masterwork
            Links from composer names (eg Sibelius) are to resource pages with links to the review indexes for the individual works as well as other resources.

Themed Review pages

Jazz reviews

 

Discographies
   Composer
      Composer surveys
   National
      Unique to MusicWeb -
a comprehensive listing of all LP and CD recordings of given works
.
Prepared by Michael Herman

The Collector’s Guide to Gramophone Company Record Labels 1898 - 1925
Howard Friedman

Book Reviews

Complete Books
We have a number of out of print complete books on-line

Interviews
With Composers, Conductors, Singers, Instumentalists and others
Includes those on the Seen and Heard site

Nostalgia

Nostalgia CD reviews

Records Of The Year
Each reviewer is given the opportunity to select the best of the releases

Monthly Best Buys
Recordings of the Month and Bargains of the Month

Comment
Arthur Butterworth Writes

An occasional column

Phil Scowcroft's Garlands
British Light Music articles

Classical blogs
A listing of Classical Music Blogs external to MusicWeb International

Reviewers Logs
What they have been listening to for pleasure

Announcements

 

Community
Bulletin Board

Give your opinions or seek answers

Reviewers
Past and present

Helpers invited!

Resources
How Did I Miss That?

Currently suspended but there are a lot there with sound clips


Composer Resources

British Composers

British Light Music Composers

Other composers

Film Music (Archive)
Film Music on the Web (Closed in December 2006)

Programme Notes
For concert organizers

External sites
British Music Society
The BBC Proms
Orchestra Sites
Recording Companies & Retailers
Online Music
Agents & Marketing
Publishers
Other links
Newsgroups
Web News sites etc

PotPourri
A pot-pourri of articles

MW Listening Room
MW Office

Advice to Windows Vista users  
Questionnaire    
Site History  
What they say about us
What we say about us!
Where to get help on the Internet
CD orders By Special Request
Graphics archive
Currency Converter
Dictionary
Magazines
Newsfeed  
Web Ring
Translation Service

Rules for potential reviewers :-)
Do Not Go Here!
April Fools




Untitled Document


Reviews from previous months
Join the mailing list and receive a hyperlinked weekly update on the discs reviewed. details
We welcome feedback on our reviews. Please use the Bulletin Board
Please paste in the first line of your comments the URL of the review to which you refer.