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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]
[last 5 days] [Recommended recordings]


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

Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Cello Sonata 1, Suite MERIDIAN CDE 84433 [61:43] Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Flute trio, Silvana variations, Grand sonata, Variations MERIDIAN CDE 84260 [77:06] Johann Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837) Flute trio, Rondo Brillant, Grand Rondeau Brillant, Grand Sonata MERIDIAN CDE 84217 [65:22] Christina Shillito, Charles Tunnell (cello) Christine Croshaw (piano) David Campbell (clarinet) Clive Conway (flute) [Byz]

The Weber is a winner. For sheer classical beauty the Hummel is hard to beat. The Saint-Saëns is rather short and the recording slightly recessed.

Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835–1921) Carnival of the Animals see PROKOFIEV

Alfred SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) Sketches Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra/Andrey Chistiakov rec. 1996 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9215 [52:10] [RB]

This sequence of short sound-pictures is boldly recorded and serves well to tickle the ear.

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony 9 Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphony 4 Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Parsifal: Good Friday Music Boston SO/Erich Leinsdorf rec. 1962-1964 ICA CLASSICS ICAD 5043 [DVD: 98:50] [CH]

A very truthful picture of Leinsdorf, including a great piece of Wagner conducting.

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Arpeggione Sonata, Trout Quintet Jan Vermeulen (fortepiano) Christine Busch (violin) Paul de Clerck (viola) France Springuel (cello) Jan Buysschaert (double bass) rec. 2010 ET’CETERA KTC 1431 [66:50] [GA]

These performances are really very special whether you like original instruments or not.

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) String Quartets 12-15 Guarneri Qt rec. 1971-77 NEWTON CLASSICS 8802089 [71:38 + 51:26] [RMo]

This re-issue need not detain you. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) CD 1 Piano Sonata in D major, Op. 53 D.850 (1825) [38:38] Piano Sonata in G major, Op. 78 D.894 (1826) [39:47] CD 2 Vier Impromptus op. 90, D.899 (1827) [27:18] Piano Sonata in C major, D.840 Reliquie (1825) [25:29] Drei Klavierstücke, D.946 (1828) [25:29] Paul Lewis (piano) rec. 2011, HARMONIA MUNDI HMC 902115.16 [78:40 + 78:33] [JQ]

A distinguished release which confirms the credentials of Paul Lewis as one of the leading pianists of his generation.

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Complete Symphonies Vienna PO/Riccardo Muti rec. 1993 NEWTON CLASSICS 8802081 [65:44 + 72:53] [RB]

Only one part of the picture.

Cornelis SCHUYT (1557-1616) Madrigali, Padovane e Gagliarde Camerata Trajectina rec. 2011 GLOBE GLO6068 [60:18] [JV]

A nice survey of the oeuvre of Cornelis Schuyt, one of the main Dutch composers from the 'Golden Age'.

Rodion SHCHEDRIN (b.1932) Preludes and Fugues for Piano see 20th Century Russian Piano Music

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphony 5, Piano Concerto 2 New York PO/Leonard Bernstein (piano) rec. 1960 REGIS RRC1377 [65:09] [RB]

Sensational … Phenomenal. 

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphonies 6 & 12 Royal Liverpool PO/Vasily Petrenko rec. 2009/10 NAXOS 8.572658 [69:38] [LW]

Petrenko’s Shostakovich 6 and 12 are unmissable.

Dmitry SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphonies 1 & 3 Royal Liverpool PO & Ch/Vasily Petrenko rec. 2009 NAXOS 8.572396 [64:33] [OL]

Another excellent disc in Petrenko’s impressive undertaking.

Russian Romances Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) From Jewish Folk Poetry, Suite on verses by Michelangelo Buonarroti, 6 Poems by Marina Tsvetayeva, 6 Romances on verses by English Poets, 6 Romances on words by Japanese Poets Nina Fomina (soprano) Tamara Sinjawskaja (mezzo) Arcadi Mischenkin (tenor) Cologne Radio SO/Michail Jurowski rec. 1994-1996 CAPRICCIO C5095 [60:33 + 53:07] [NB]

I would strongly urge collectors to hear this movingly confessional music in these very fine performances.

Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Preludes see 20th Century Russian Piano Music

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphonies 6 & 7, Finlandia New Zealand SO/Pietari Inkinen rec. 2009-2010 NAXOS 8.572705 [59:34] [WH]

Fine performances of three key Sibelius works made all the more commanding at the price.

Valentin SILVESTROV (b.1937) Five Pieces see HINDEMITH

Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Piano Concerto 2, Concert Variations upon an English Theme Finghin Collins (piano) RTÉ National SO/Kenneth Montgomery rec. 2010, CLAVES CD 50-1101 [65:48] [CH]

On balance the top recommendation for both works.

Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Violin Sonata 1 English Violin Sonatas

Yevhen STANKOVYCH (b.1942) Chamber Symphony No.3 see Mirror of Eternity

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Oscar STRAUS (1870-1954) The Chocolate Soldier Bumerli - Johannes Martin Kränzle, Nadina Popoff - Caroline Stein, Händel Collegium Köln/WDR Rundfunkorch Köln/Siegfried Köhler rec. 1993 CAPRICCIO C5089 [34:11 + 53:59] [IL]

A charming recording of a delightful operetta.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Richard Strauss Edition: orchestral works, operas, chamber music, lieder BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9249 [35 CDs + CD-ROM] [RB]

An ambitious lunge in the direction of comprehensive coverage - a knock-out blow.

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Piano Trios 1 & 2, Two Pieces, for piano quartet, Amelia Piano Trio Rieko Aizawa (piano) Anthea Kreston (violin) Jason Duckles (cello) Max Mandel (viola) rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.570896 [62:24] [Byz]

Lyrical beauty and classical proportions.

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Complete works for violin and piano Isabelle van Keulen (violin) Olli Mustonen (piano) rec. 1987/88 NEWTON CLASSICS 8802062 [51:45 + 43:23] [RB]

Stylish Stravinsky sampled from every style in his glossary.

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Three Pieces for clarinet solo see European Adventure

Toru TAKEMITSU (1930-1996) Distance de fée see HINDEMITH

Jeff TALMAN (b.1953) Nature of the Night Sky NEW DOMAIN RECORDS ND-11011 [50:22] [DC]

A sonic investigation of the cosmic – spacey and intriguing.

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony 5 Pittsburgh SO/Manfred Honeck rec. 2006 EXTON OVCL-00443 [46:04] [MC]

A thrilling reading – one that I will want to play again and again.

Pyotr Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphonies 1-6 London SO/Igor Markevitch rec. 1962-66 NEWTON CLASSICS 8802036 [4 CDs: 254:16] [RB]

Very good and refreshing Tchaikovsky in honest and engaging analogue sound. Not to be underestimated.

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840 - 1893) Tchaikovsky Edition: Symphonies, tone poems, suites, ballets, operas (8), trio, quartets, sextet, piano pieces, songs, a cappella choral works BRILLIANT CLASSICS 93980 [60CDs + CD-ROM: 4005:00] [RB]

The harvest of a lifetime that encompassed only 53 years. Has wide appeal that will educate, surprise and delight time after time.

Ferdinand THIERIOT (1838-1919) Clarinet Quintet see FUCHS

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Oboe Concerto see PATTERSON

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Les Vępres Siciliennes Alejandro Marco-Buhrmester, Barbara Haveman, Netherlands PO/Paolo Cargnani rec. 2010 OPUS ARTE OA1060D [2 discs: 208:00 plus 24:00 (bonus)] [RJF]

With the bicentenary of Verdi’s birth coming in 2013 we live in hope of a sensible production of this neglected opera in the language of its composition and sung by soloists who comprehend and can sing the words.

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Otello Jon Vickers (tenor) Renata Scotto (soprano) Cornell MacNeil (baritone) Metropolitan Opera O & Ch/James Levine rec. 1978 SONY 88697 910129 [144:00] [ST]

Okay, but nothing more.

Tomás Luis de VICTORIA (1548 – 1611) Missa Dum complerentur Joseph Cullen (organ continuo) Westminster Cathedtal Ch/James O’Donnell rec. 1996 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55452 [69:54] [JW]

This most accomplished disc should not be overlooked.

Jesús VILLA-ROJO (b.1940) Music for Cello: Sonata 2; Lamento; Oración Serena; Expresiones Asier Polo (cello) Amaia Zipitria, Gerardo López Laguna (piano) Rafael 'El Gallina' Romero (ethnic voice) rec. 2009 NAXOS SPANISH CLASSICS 8.572564 [69:15] [Byz]

Intelligent, memorable music played with great technical confidence, communicative commitment, sureness of touch and expressive insight.

Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concerto for two cellos, Cello sonatas see Italian Concertos and Sonatas

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Der Fliegende Holländer (1843) Matti Salminen - Ricarda Merbeth Rundfunk-Sinfonie orchester Berlin Rundfunkchor Berlin/Marek Janowski rec. 2010. DDD/DSD. Stereo/Surround PENTATONE PTC 5186 400 [78:35 + 47:54] [GD]

The artistic success of this release should come as no surprise.

Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Flute trio, Silvana variations, Grand sonata, Variations see SAINT-SAËNS

Judith WEIR (b. 1954) Choral Music Choir of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge/Geoffrey Webber/Matthew Fletcher and Annie Lydford (organ)/Jude Carlton (marimba)/Matthew Knight (trombone) rec. 2010 Original texts and English translations included DELPHIAN DCD34095 [59:26] [JQ]

An excellent survey of Judith Weir’s shorter choral music.

Alexis WEISSENBERG (b.1929) The Piano Music Simon Mulligan (piano); Frank Walden (alto saxophone) rec. 2001. DDD NIMBUS NI 5688 [69:59] [Byz]

Music that is nostalgic, attractive, if not always strictly coherent.

Eric WHITACRE (b. 1970) Choral Music: Her Sacred Spirit Soars, When David Heard, Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine, i thank you God for this amazing day Leslie De’Ath (piano) Carol Bauman (percussion) Elora Fest Singers/Noel Edison rec. 2009 NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559677 [61:50] [JQ]

A pretty representative and inexpensive introduction to Eric Whitacre’s music.

Percy WHITLOCK (1903-1946) Organ Sonata, Six Hymn Preludes Charles Hylton STEWART (1884-1932) Five Short and Easy Pieces Philip Rushforth (organ) rec. 2010 PRIORY RECORDS PRCD1070 [79:36] [WK]

Rare and not so rare organ music of the twentieth century in careful, well-thought-out performances. 

Roland WILTGEN (b. 1957) aprčs la nuit …(2010) [19:09] see Trumpet Concertos

Hugo WOLF (1860 – 1903) The Complete Songs Vol. 1 Sophie Daneman (soprano) Anna Grevelius (mezzo) James Gilchrist (tenor) Stephan Loges (baritone) Sholto Kynoch (piano) rec. 2010 STONE 5060192780086 [78:23] [GF]

This first issue has a lot to offer though it is a bit uneven.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Ermanno WOLF-FERRARI (1876-1948) Triptychon, Arabesken, Divertimento, Venezianische Suite Münchner Rundfunkorchester/Ulf Schirmer rec. 2008 CPO 777 567-2 [68:34] [JS]

Wolf-Ferrari’s later works are surely ripe for re-evaluation. Music that is good, varied and interesting as well as well-played and recorded. 

Boris YOFFE (b.1968) I sought him but I found him not, I sleep, but my heart waketh, My head is filled with dew, my locks with drops of the night, My soul went forth when he spoke Rosamunde Qtet, Hilliard Ens rec. 2009 ECM NEW SERIES 2174 [52:34] [DC]

The perfect ECM disc, rare and exquisite.


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]
[last 5 days] [Recommended recordings]


 

 



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