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Antonio
CALDARA
(1670-1736) Sonate
a Violoncello solo col basso
L’aura soave: Marco Frezzato (cello); Francesco Saverio Pedrini
(organ); Leonardo Morini (harpsichord); Diego Cantalupi (theorbo) rec.
21-24 January 2000, Sala del Podestà, Soresina, Cremona. DDD
TACTUS TC 670302
[68:36]
[GPu]
A
chance to enjoy some of Caldara’s rare instrumental music …
see Full Review
Mario
CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO
(1895-1968) Complete Music for Two
Guitars - Volume 2 The Well-Tempered Guitars
Brasil Guitar Duo rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.570779 [54:16]
[NB]
Refinement
and beauty … technical sophistication and musical taste.
... see Full Review
Ernest
CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Poème see ELGAR
Michael
DAUGHERTY (b.
1954) Metropolis
Symphony (1988-93) [42:36] Deus ex Machina for Piano and
Orchestra (2007) [33:19]
Terrence Wilson (piano); Mary Kathryn van Osdale (violin); Erik Gratton
(flute); Ann Richards (flute) Nashville Symphony Orchestra/Giancarlo
Guerrero rec. Laura Turner Concert Hall, Schermerhorn Symphony Center,
Nashville, Tennessee, USA, 31 May-2 June 2007 (Deus); 20-22 November
2008 (Metropolis). DDD
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559635 [75:55]
[RB]
Dynamic
accessible fibrous works played to the hilt ... see Full
Review
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Piano Music
Jean-Bernard Pommier (piano) rec. c.1989
VIRGIN CLASSICS 6994712 [61:14][WH]
Misses
some of Debussy’s intimacy and magic … see Full
Review
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Douze Préludes: Livre 1 (1910); Douze Préludes: Livre
2 (1910/1913) - excerpts: Danseuses de Delphes (Bk 1 - No.1) [3:40];
La Puerta del Vino (2 - 3) [3:44]; Des pas sur la neige (1 - 6 ) [4:04];
La danse de Puck (1 - 11) [3:26]; La Sérénade interrompue
(1 - 9) [2:54]; Le Vent dans la plaine (1 - 3) [2:58]; Bruyères
(2 - 5) [3:10]; General Levine - eccentric (2 - 6) [2:57]; Canope (2
- 10) [3:06]; Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest (1 - 7) [3:48]; La fille aux
cheveux de lin (1 - 8) [2:47]; Minstrels (1 - 12) [2:31]; La cathédrale
engloutie (1 - 10) [6:23]; Ondine (2 - 8) [3:42]; La Terrasse des audiences
du clair de lune (2 - 7) [4:52]; Feux d'artifice (2 - 12) [5:07]
Jorge Bolet (piano) rec. September 1988, Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco,
USA. DDD DECCA ELOQUENCE
480 1131 [59:54]
[BBr]
These
performances show very little insight into the music … see Full
Review
Devoted
to Debussy Claude
DEBUSSY (1862 - 1918) Piano Music
Roberta Rust (piano) rec. July 2006, Wertheim Performing Arts Center,
Florida International University, Miami, Florida, DDD
CENTAUR CRC 2867 [71:18] [BBr]
The
programme is attractive … see Full
Review
Frederick
DELIUS
(1862-1934) Violin Sonatas
Susanne Stanzeleit (violin);
Gustáv Fenyő (piano) rec. 1994
NAXOS 8.572261 [77:13]
[IL]
Cannot
compete with Little and Lane on RCA-BMG ... see Full
Review
Edward
ELGAR (1857-1934) Violin
Concerto Ernest CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Poème Philippe
Graffin (violin) Royal Liverpool PO/Vernon Handley rec. 2005 AVIE
AV2091 [62:20] [JQ]
I'd
say that Graffin loves the concerto very much and that comes
through. ... see Full Review
Sir Edward ELGAR
(1857-1934)
Violin Concerto Gil Shaham
(violin) Chicago SO/David Zinman rec. live, 2007
CANARY CLASSICS CC06 [48:28]
[JQ]
This
splendid recording joins the shortlist of top recommendations ... see
Full Review
Manuel
de FALLA (1876-1946)
El Amor Brujo - extracts (arr. de Falla) (1915) [12:59] Homenaje
(1920) [3:07] Fantasía Baetica (1919) [13:43] Canción
(1900) [2:13] Serenata Andaluza (1900) [4:10] Quatro Piezas
Españolas (1906-1908) [15:49] El Sombrero de Tres Picos
- extracts (arr. de Falla) (1916-1919) [9:48] Pour le Tombeau
de Paul Dukas (1935) [3:48] Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Novelette
No. 3 in E minor on a theme of M. de Falla (1960) [2:03]
Jason Cutmore (piano) rec. April 2007, SUNY Purchase College, Purchase,
NY, USA CENTAUR RECORDS
CRC 2952 [68:10]
[OL]
Spain
in every note, masterfully conveyed ... see Full
Review
Johan
Friedrich FASCH (1688-1758) Concerto for flute & oboe see
Frederick
II
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845-1924) Piano Quintets Nos.
1 & 2
Cristina Ortiz (piano); Fine Arts Quartet rec.
2007
NAXOS 8.570938 [63:24][IL]
Magical,
enchanting works in alluring performances ... see Full
Review
Gabriel
FAURÉ
(1845-1924)
Cello Sonatas 1 & 2 and other works for cello & piano
Ina-Esther Joost Ben-Sasson (cello) Allan Sternfield (piano) rec. 2007
NAXOS DIGITAL 8.570545
[69:32]
[BR]
Charmless,
emotionless, unnecessary … see Full
Review
Arthur
FOOTE (1853-1937) Francesca
da Rimini, Serenade, Four Character Pieces, Suite
Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1997-2005
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559365 [59:20]
[GP]
Always
competent, Foote's music is sometimes capable of rather more
see Full
Review
Vladimír FRANZ (b. 1959) Goldilocks
Soloists and corps de ballet of the National Theatre Prague Berg
Orchestra/Peter Vrábel rec. 2008
SUPRAPHON SU7018-9
[148.22][MM-B]
A
pleasant piece of entertainment for the whole family ... see Full
Review
Frederick
II ‘The Great’
(1712-1786) Flute concerto 3 Georg
Phillipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Flute concertos Johan
Friedrich FASCH (1688-1758) Concerto for flute and oboe
Konrad Hünteler, Günther Höller, Christoph Huntgeburth
(flutes), Günther Höller (recorder), Helmut Hucke (oboe) Capella
Coloniensis/Ulf Björlin, Georg Fischer, Hans-Martin Linde rec.
1978-88 PHOENIX EDITION
172 [48:36]
[CR]
Good
playing, unforced and well phrased. ... see Full
Review
Steven R. GERBER (b.1948)
Diverse Chamber Works
Various artists rec. 2002
NAXOS 8.559618 [64:39][NB]
Diverse
modern chamber works splendidly performed ... see Full
Review
George
GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Transcriptions
for Clarinet and String Orchestra
Michel Lethiec (clarinet); Sinfonia Finlandia/Patrick
Gallois rec. 2007
NAXOS DIGITAL
8.570939 [63:51][BR]
Not
as fun as it could have been … see Full
Review
George
GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Who
Cares: The Gershwin Songbook for Piano and Orchestra
Viv McLean (piano); Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Simon
Lee, John Baltimore rec. 2007
ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA RPOSP012 [78:11][IL]
This
new recording shows up very well in terms of performance and sound ...
see Full Review
Carlo
GESUALDO, Prince of Venosa (1566-1613)
Madrigals - Book 5 Kassiopeia
Quintet rec. 2007
GLOBE GLO5225 [56.27]
Carlo GESUALDO Madrigals
- Book 6 Kassiopeia Quintet rec.
2008 GLOBE GLO5226
[67.15][GH]
Beautifully
prepared and expressive performances ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Alberto
GINASTERA (1916 - 1983) String
Quartets 1-3 Ensõ Qt;
Lucy Shelton (soprano) rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570780 [73:31] [NB]
Jaw-dropping
prowess revealing masterpieces of the quartet literature ... see Full
Review
Umberto
GIORDANO (1867-1948) Marcella
Serena Daolio, Danilo Formaggia,
Internazionale O d’Italia/Manlio Benzi rec. 2007
NAXOS 2.110263
[66:51]
[GF]
Dull
filming but good acting and singing … see Full
Review
Alexander
Konstantinovich GLAZUNOV (1865-1936)
Complete Orchestral Works
- Volume 18
Gnesin Academy Chorus; Russian
Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky rec.
2006
NAXOS 8.570211 [66:57][NB]
Appealing
yet very rare music performed with great aplomb ... see Full
Review
Théodore
GOUVY (1819-1898)
Symphonies 3 & 5 Deutsche
Radio Philharmonie/Jacques Mercier rec. 2007
CPO 777 379-2 [55:23]
[RB]
Symphonies
in an idiom between Bizet, Beethoven & Mendelssohn ... see Full
Review
Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Peer Gynt Suites
1 & 2, Six Orchestral Songs Inger
Dam-Jensen (soprano) Palle Knudsen (baritone) Malmö SO/Bjarte
Engeset rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.570236 [65:45]
[SV]
Makes
a strong case for the greatness of the Peer Gynt music ... see Full
Review
Joan GUINJOAN
(b.1931) Chamber Music
Trio Kandinsky rec. 2009
Columna Música 1CM0217 [68:24][GPu]
Fine
performances of chamber works by a major Catalan composer … see Full
Review
Reynaldo
HAHN (1875-1947) Ciboulette
Ensemble Choral
Jean Laforge, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo/Cyril Diederich
rec. 1981-2 EMI CLASSICS
3951282 [56:34 + 58:08][GF]
Charming
music, performed by an outstanding cast … see Full
Review
George
Frideric HANDEL
(1685 - 1759) Concerti
Grossi Op. 3 Linde Consort/Hans-Martin
Linde rec. 1985 VIRGIN
CLASSICS 6994722 [70.27]
[RH]
Shop
around for a more recent alternative ... see Full
Review
George
Frederick HANDEL (1685-1759) Alexander’s
Feast; Ode for St Cecilia’s Day
Kölner Kammerchor; Collegium Cartusianum/Peter Neumann rec. 2008
CARUS 83.424
[57:06+78:28][JS]
Very
good reasons to add this set to your collection ... see Full
Review
George
Frideric HANDEL
(1685-1759)
Judas Maccabaeus
Timothy Bentch, Bryn Mawr Boy and Girl Ch, Ama Deus Ensemble/Valentin
Radu rec. live, 2009
LYRICHORD LEMS8070 [50.08 + 57.39]
[RH]
Live
performances on disc are always a little risky ... see Full
Review
George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Arias, Recitatives and Overtures
Sandrine Piau (soprano) Sara Mingardo (contralto) Concerto Italiano/Rinaldo
Alessandrini rec. 2008
NAÏVE OP 30483 [72:28]
[J-PJ]
Very
enjoyable and desirable ... see Full
Review
Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1809) Favourite Symphonies
[New] Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer rec. 1960-71
EMI CLASSICS 2153002 [3 CDs: 77:06 + 76:21 + 62:23][JW]
Partnership
of conductor and orchestra at something like its best ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Piano
Sonatas - Volume 2 Sonatas 34, 41, 46, 48, 52, 56,
58 & 59 Marc-André Hamelin,
(piano)
rec. 2008 HYPERION
CDA67710 [74:03 + 78:54] [MC]
Some
of the finest performances I have heard ... see Full
Review
Joseph
HAYDN (1732 - 1809) Recollection English
canzonets, Scottish and Welsh folk songs Martina
Janková (soprano);
Gérard Wyss (piano) Gauthier Burgunder (violin) Gunta Abele (cello) rec.
2009 SUPRAPHON
SU4005-2 [70:28] [GF]
A
fine alternative and complement to Ameling … see Full
Review
Joseph
HAYDN
(1732-1809)
Cello Concertos Johann ZUMSTEEG (1760-1802)
Cello Concerto Sebastian
Comberti (cello) Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment rec. 2008
CELLO CLASSICS CC1023 [69:05]
[MC]
I
enjoyed this recording but the competition is very fierce ... see Full
Review
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Lo speziale
Liszt Ferenc
Chamber Orchestra, Budapest/György Lehel rec. 1978
HUNGAROTON HCD11926 [72:03][GF]
A worthy representation of
early Haydn ...
see Full Review
Gary
HIGGINSON (b. 1952) From Above
Various artists PRIVATE
RECORDING [50:39 + 49:29][JQ]
A
useful introduction to an inventive composer ... see Full
Review
Vagn HOLMBOE
(1909-1996) The Key Masterpieces
Danish National Symphony Orchestra/Michael Schřnwandt rec. Denmark,
1992-2004 DACAPO PERSPECTIVES
8.226101-02 [72:06 + 76:25][RB]
Ambitious
and wonderfully engaging ... see Full
Review
Leoš
JANÁČEK
(1854-1928) Taras Bulba (1915/1918)
[22:30] Concertino for piano and chamber ensemble (1925) [16:27]
Sinfonietta (1926) [21:51]
Rudolf Firkušný (piano) Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/Rafael
Kubelik rec. 1970/1
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON ELOQUENCE 480 0643 [60:54]
[BBr]
You
cannot afford to be without this disk … see Full
Review
Dmitry
Borisovich KABALEVSKY (1904-1987) Preludes Alexandre
Dossin (piano)
rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570976 [76:22] [BR]
Minor
masterworks all-too-rarely performed … see Full
Review
Aram
Il’yich KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978)
Cello Concerto; Concerto-Rhapsody
Dmitry Yablonsky (cello); Russian Philharmonia/Maxim
Fedotov rec. 2007
NAXOS DIGITAL DOWNLOAD 8.570463
[56:46][BR]
Vintage
Khachaturian, rediscovered … see Full
Review
Justin
Heinrich KNECHT (1752 - 1817) Die
Aeolsharfe Christina
Landshamer, Mark Adler, Kammerchor Stuttgart, Hofkapelle Stuttgart/Frieder
Bernius rec. live, 2008
CARUS 83.220 [3 CDs: 61:02 + 53:19 + 34:37]
[GF]
Many
pleasant surprises in store
see Full
Review
Zoltán
KODÁLY (1882-1967) Choral
Music MR Children’s
Choir; MR Choir/Ádám Fischer rec. 2008
BMC (BUDAPEST MUSIC CENTRE) BMCCD144 [55:06][WH]
A
beautiful collection superbly sung and recorded … see Full
Review
Erich
Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897 -
1957) Violin
Concerto, Overture to a Drama, Much Ado About Nothing Philippe
Quint (violin) Mineria SO/Carlos Miguel Prieto rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570791 [53:40] [GF]
Quint’s
thin tone is at odds with the romantic warmth of the music … see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann KRIEGER (1651-1735) Geistliche
Arien und weltliche Lieder aus Neue musicalische Ergätzlichkeit Philipp
Friedrich BUCHNER (1614-1669) Sonaten Jan
Kobow (tenor), Julia von Landsberg (soprano) United Continuo Ensemble
rec. 2006 CPO
777 433-2 [71:01] [GF]
My
baroque discovery of the year… see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Liszt Abroad
Rebecca Evans
(soprano); Andrew Kennedy (tenor); Matthew Rose (baritone); Iain Burnside
(piano) rec. 2007-8
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD155 [79:32][GF]
Another
five star disc, should be heard by every lover of songs … see Full
Review
Steve
LAW
(b. 1973)
Piano Music - Volume 1 Piano Sonata, Preludes, Waltz for Laura,
Theme for an American Movie
Steve Law (piano) STEVE
LAW SL01 [77:21]
[RB]
Melody,
subtle shifting impressionism and a bluesy syncopated sway ...
see Full Review
David
LUMSDAINE (b. 1931) Complete Music for
Solo Piano Mark
Knoop (piano) rec. 2006
TALL POPPIES TP198 [79:42][HC]
Not
easy stuff but well worth the effort ... see Full
Review
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