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Alphabetical Listing

PART 2
A-B

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]


Alessandro APPIGNANI (b.1970?) Piano Quintet etc. Quartetto d’archi di Torino, Alessandro Appignani (piano), Yoko Hanamaru (viola), Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt (cello) rec. 2009, 11-12 Sept 2010, 23-24 Oct 2010, DDD BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9235 [53:34][RB]

Not difficult music yet with sufficient substance to engage and reward the listener prepared to try something modern and out of the way.

Richard ARNELL (1917-2009) Punch and the Child Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) An Arabesque Lord BERNERS (1883-1950) The Triumph of Neptune R Royal PO, Philadelphia O/Sir Thomas Beecham rec. 1950-55 PRISTINE AUDIO XR PASC 314 [59:16]  [RB]

A fearlessly brilliant and contrasted disc. 

Malcolm ARNOLD (1921-20061) Guitar Concerto see Julian Bream

Liaisons Vol. 3 Carl Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788) Sonatas Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) 5 Waltzes; Night-Piece; Holiday Diary Dejan Lazic (piano) rec. 2008 CHANNEL CLASSICS CCS SA 28511 [69:02] [DM]

An intriguing get-together, made worthwhile by some fine Britten.

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The Well-Tempered Clavier Book I Daniel Levy (piano) EDELWEISS EDEM 3365 [65:40 + 71:16] [DC]

Quite a rich menu, but a voice which deserves hearing.

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Goldberg Variations, BWV988* [38:27] Overture (Partita) in b minor in the French manner, BWV831** [25:28] French Suite No.5, BWV816** [16:28] Glenn Gould (piano)*rec. 1955. ADD.András Schiff (piano)**rec. 1978. DDD. MUSICAL CONCEPTS ALTO ALC1164 [79:38] [BW]

Unless you’re averse to either Gould’s or Schiff’s Bach, there’s no need to hesitate at the price.

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The English Suites Vladimir Feltsman (piano) rec. 2005, NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6176 [61:38 + 70:35] [RMo]

Hard to imagine better advocacy than that from Feltsman.

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685 - 1739) Johannes Passion Cantus Cöll/Konrad Junghänel rec. 2011 ACCENT ACC 24251 [59:53 + 49:52] [DC]

A light and portable St John Passion. 

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Chorales Chamber Ch of Europe/Nicol Matt rec. 1999 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94265 [6 CDs: 5:43:00] [ST]

A set to dip in and out of.

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Organ Works David Goode (organ) rec. 2010 SIGNUM SIGCD261 [80:26] [BW]

Inevitably in some cases I prefer other versions but this cross-section of Bach’s organ music merits an overall commendation.

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Fantasia and Fugue see BEETHOVEN

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) French Suite 2 see Vassily Primakov

Nicolas BACRI (b.1961) Piano Music Eliane Reyes (piano) rec. 2010 NAXOS 8.572530 [63:42] [Byz]

A raspberry to those who claim that new music is all tuneless, shapeless dreck. 

Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) String Quartet see The American Album

Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) Symphony 1 see HARRIS

Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945) Rhapsodies 1 & 2; Sonatas 1 & 2; Andante James Ehnes (violin) Andrew Armstrong (piano) rec. 2011 CHANDOS CHAN 10705 [80:30] [LW]

This first volume of Bartók music for violin and piano is a strong contender for both programming and performances.

Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945) The Miraculous Mandarin - Suite, op.19 see Music from the Machine Age

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) The Complete Symphonies Berlin PO/Claudio Abbado rec. 2000/1 EUROARTS 2057378 [4 DVDs: 6:53:00] [ST]

The peerless playing and outstanding direction makes it a joy to experience.

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Sextet; Septet Consortium Classicum rec. 1994 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM 301 0594-2 [60:02] [ST]

For Beethoven enthusiasts who want to explore a less well known aspect of the composer’s output.

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphonies 7 & 8; Egmont Overture Philharmonia O/Otto Klemperer rec. 1960 IDIS 6623 [75:37] [JS]

A disc to treasure as a reminder of just how great a conductor Klemperer was in these works in his prime.

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony 9 Teresa Stich-Randall (soprano) Hilde Rösel-Majdan (mezzo) Waldemar Kmentt (tenor) Gottlob Frick (bass) Ch & O Roma della RAI/Herbert von Karajan rec. 1954 DYNAMIC CDS 706 [67:17] [RMo]

I remain mystified why Dynamic thought this was worth the investment.

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony 9, The Creatures of Prometheus overture Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Fantasia and Fugue Elsie Suddaby (soprano) Nellie Walker (contralto) Walter Widdop (tenor) Stuart Robinson (bass) Albert Coates rec. 1925-28 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 296 [78:94] [JW]

Formidable and dynamic, hugely involving and intensely rousing.

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonata 18 Enrique GRANADOS (1867-1916) Goyescas (excerpts) Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Humoreske Amber Yiu-Hsuan Liao (piano) rec. 2010 MSR CLASSICS MS1368 [62:06] [OL]

Good, but not exceptional, and cannot compete with the best available choices.

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Trios Trio Zimmermann rec. 2010 BIS-SACD-1857 [73:50] [MC]

A delight from start to finish.

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonatas Walter Gieseking (piano) rec. 1939/40 NAXOS 8.112063 [78:48] [WH]

Brilliant but not barnstorming, modest but not anonymous, these five performances are not to be missed.

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770 -1827) Piano Sonatas - Volumes 9 & 10: Sonatas 29-32 Artur Schnabel (piano) rec. 1932-38 PRISTINE AUDIO PAKM 046/048 [60:59 + 68:43]  [RMo]

The finest reincarnation of these classic performances to-date, by far. 

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) The Early Quartets Budapest String Qt rec. 1943-62 BRIDGE 9342A/B [67:41 + 77:27] [JW]

It’s been well worth the wait for these performances.

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1771-1827) Triple Concerto see A Piano Evening with Martha Argerich

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concerto 2 see Martha Argerich

The Film Music of Arthur BENJAMIN (1893-1960) & Leighton LUCAS (1903-1982) Côr Caerdydd, BBC Ntl O Wales/Rumon Gamba rec. 2011 CHANDOS CHAN 10713 [67:58] [RB]

Enjoyable and recorded so as to flatter. A remarkable effort all-round.

Lennox BERKELEY (1903-1989) Chamber Works for Wind, Strings and Piano Tagore String Trio, Sarah Francis (oboe/cor anglais) Judith Fitton (flute/piccolo) Michael Dussek (piano) rec. 2011. REGIS RRC1380 [66:22] [JF]

A must for all enthusiasts of English chamber music.

Lennox BERKELEY (1903-1989) Sonatina see Julian Bream

Lord BERNERS (1883-1950) The Triumph of Neptune see ARNELL

Georges BIZET (1838-1875) Symphony see Martha Argerich

Luigi BOCCHERINI (1743-1805) Symphonies: op.37 nos 1, 3 & 4; op.41 in C minor; op.42 in D; op.45 in D minor New Berlin Chamber O/Michael Erxleben rec. 1992 PHOENIX EDITION PE460 [51:05 + 55:51] [Byz]

Sensitive, tasteful accounts in sound quality better than many recent recordings.

Sergei BORTKIEWICZ (1877-1952) Piano Works - volume 7 Jouni Somero (piano) rec. 2011. DDD FINNCONCERT FCRCD 9741 [73:13] [Byz]

Somero plays Bortkiewicz with enthusiasm and dexterity.

Wanted Pierre BOULEZ (b.1925) Piano Sonata 3 Elliott CARTER (b.1908) Night Fantasies Asbjřrn SCHAATHUN (b.1961) ????? (Physis), for amplified piano and five digital harmonisers, Adagio and Allegro Hĺkon Austbř (piano) rec. 2011 AURORA ACD5071 [64:53] [Byz]

With typical stamina and stunning technique, Austbř delivers a cogent, insistent argument of, and also for, these uncompromising pieces.

York BOWEN (1884-1961) Viola Sonatas 1 & 2, Phantasy The Bridge Duo rec. 2011 NAXOS 8.572580 [71:18]   [NB]

Those who enjoy fine viola recitals will find much to give pleasure here. 

Joly BRAGA SANTOS (1924-1988) Symphonic Overture 3; Elegy in memory of Vianna da Motta; Alfama Suite; Variations for Orchestra Royal Scottish Ntl O/Álvaro Cassuto rec. 2011 NAXOS 8.572815 [72:36] [RB]

Braga Santos: triumphantly lyrical melodist and searingly intense modernist.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin Concerto Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Violin Concerto Efrem Zimbalist (violin) Boston SO/Serge Koussevitzky; Cleveland O/Rudolf Ringwall rec. 1944/46 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 307 [77:33] [RB]

Simply glorious and even astonishing. Not to be missed on any account.

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) The Songs - Vol. 3 Simon Bode (tenor) Graham Johnson (piano) rec. 2009 HYPERION CDJ33123 [60:51] [CH]

Anti-Brahms or a revelation? 

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Symphony 1 see Toscanini

Johannes BRAHMS (1933-1897) Piano Quartet 1 see FAURÉ

Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) Phantasy in F minor see Walton

Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) 5 Waltzes; Night-Piece; Holiday Diary see CPE BACH

Max BRUCH (1838-1920) String Quartets 1 & 2 Quartetto Academica rec. 1983 DYNAMIC DM8024 [53:32] [NB]

Worthy repertoire that deserves but does not demand to be heard. 

Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphonies 4, 7 & 9 Philharmonie Festiva/Gerd Schaller rec. 2007-10 HÄNSSLER PROFIL PH11028 [4 CDs: 214:16] [RMo]

Listening to such dedicated, sensitive and musicianly performances has re-ignited my appreciation of Bruckner’s sublime genius.

Antoine BRUMEL (c.1460-?1512/13) Missa Et ecce terrae motus, Sequentia Huelgas Ens/Paul van Nevel rec. 1990 NEWTON CLASSICS 8802092 [66:19] [Byz]

Brumel was a genius here heard in superb performances.

Hans von BÜLOW (1830-1894) Ballade, Carnavale di Milano, ; La Certa, ]; Marche héroďque, Mark Anderson (piano) rec. 4-5 April. 1 August 2011, Wyastone Leys, Monmouth. NIMBUS NI 5876 [79:30] [JW]

Anderson delivers the goods in a rip-roaring way.

 


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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