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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
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 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
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
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
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
The
Best of Vaughan Williams
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
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for alphabetical listings by composer:
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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]
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