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Alphabetical Listing

PART 3
C-L

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]


Christopher CAMPBELL (b.1977) Sound the All-Clear INNOVA 750 [56:16] [Byz]

Musical in a laid-back kind of way.

Joseph CANTELOUBE (1879-1957) Chants d’Auvergne Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Bachianas Brasileiras 5 Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Vocalise Anna Moffo (soprano) American SO/Leopold Stokowski rec. 1964 NEWTON CLASSICS 8802085 [41:22] [GF]

Enjoy one of the most beautiful soprano voices on record.

Elliott CARTER (b.1908) Night Fantasies see BOULEZ

Alfredo CASELLA (1883-1947) Notte di maggio, Cello Concerto, Scarlattiana Olivia Andreini (mezzo) Andrea Noferini (cello) Sun Hee You (piano) Roma SO/Francesco La Vecchia rec. 2007-09 NAXOS 8.572416 [66:18] [CH]

The fascinating Notte di maggio is the most exciting discovery but the Cello Concerto is worth knowing.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH  Bob CHILCOTT (b. 1955) Requiem, Salisbury Motets, Downing Service Laurie Ashworth (soprano) Andrew Staples (tenor) Jonathan Vaughn (organ) The Nash Ensemble, Wells Cathedral Choir/Matthew Owens rec. 2011 HYPERION CDA67650 [79:39] [JQ]

An excellent collection of music by Bob Chilcott, including an important new Requiem.

The Chopin Piano Concertos Josef HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphony no.44 in E minor, Hob. 1:44 Mourning (1772) [22:32] Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano concerto no.2 in F minor, op.21 (1830) [34:29] Piano concerto no.1 in E minor, op.11 (1830) [43:35] Valse brillante in A minor, op.34/2 (1831) [6:27] Daniel Barenboim (piano) Staatskapelle Berlin/Andris Nelsons rec. 2010 ARTHAUS MUSIK DVD 101 577 [110:00] [RM]

Incisive rather than an especially poetic.

Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Piano Music Vera Gornostaeva (piano) rec. 1974-89 LP CLASSICS 1002 [71:04] [CH]

Gornostaeva offers a free-soaring spirit and a dedication to musical values that shine like a beacon.

Domenico CIMAROSA (1749-1801) Keyboard Sonatas 2 Victor Sangiorgio (piano) rec. 2009 NAXOS 8.572689 [76:44] [Byz]

Sangiorgio gives a faithful, cogent and infectious account of the music.

Domenico CIMAROSA (1749-1801) Sonatas see Julian Bream

Giovanni Paolo COLONNA (1637 – 1695) Laudate Dominum (1672) [5.04] Giacomo Antonio PERTI (1661 – 1756) Messa a 12 (1687) [32.29]; Sinfonia avanti la serenata [3:46]; Plaudite Mortales (1678) [6.09] Soloists, Choir and Orchestra of the Cappella Musicale di S. Petronio/Michele Vannelli rec. 2006 DYNAMIC CDS 707 [47.26] [RH]

Vivid, lively, full of joie de vivre in projecting Perti’s amazing work.

Sidney CORBETT (b.1960) Absconditus, Detroit Chronicles, Archipel Chagall I Sarah Plum (violin) Jonathan Ruck (cello) Timothy Lovelace (piano) Patricia Green (mezzo) rec. 2011 BLUE GRIFFIN RECORDING BGR235 [72:10] [Byz]

Flinty and stark, yet bewitchingly atmospheric.

Ernesto CORDERO (b. 1946) Caribbean concertos Pepe Romero (guitar) Guillermo Figueroa (violin) I Solisti di Zagreb rec. 2009/10 NAXOS LATIN AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.572707 [51:33] [RB]

Warmly accessible but not facile; tonal but not simplistic.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Pour le Piano, Estampes, L’isle joyeuse Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) Prelude and Fugue, Sonata Rafal Blechacz (piano) rec. 2011 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 9548 [62.22] [RBe]

An altogether brilliant recital from an outstanding young pianist.

Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Pelléas et Mélisande John Tomlinson (bass) Sarah Walker (mezzo) English National Opera Ch & O/Mark Elder rec. 1981 CHANDOS CHAN 3177(3) [3 CDs: 154:49] [GD]

A handsome package of interest to those who remember the show and those who have grown to love Debussy's opera since.

Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Suite Bergamasque see Vassily Primakov

Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) The Complete Delius Songbook - Vol. 2 Mark Stone (baritone) Stephen Barlow (piano) rec. 2011 STONE RECORDS 5060192780109 [75:33] [JF]

Invariably interesting, well-constructed, often beautiful and sometimes quite moving.

Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) 150th Anniversary Edition rec. 1929-99 EMI CLASSICS 0841752 [18 CDs: 22:26:00] [RB]

This competitively priced and almost comprehensive set is irresistible.

Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) An Arabesque see ARNELL

Antonín DVORÁK (1841-1904) Serenade for Strings in E, Op. 22 [27:15] Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Serenade for Strings in C, Op. 48 [29:33] Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice/Leoš Svárovský rec. 2000 ARCODIVA UP 0031-2 031 [56:48] [BR]

Top-notch performances, with rare clarity and freshness, though there’s plenty of competition.

Antonin DVORÁK (1841-1904) String Quartet 12 see The American Album

Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Elgar conducts Elgar: the complete recordings 1914-1925 MUSIC & ARTS CD-1257 [4 CDs: 296:02] [JW]

This is an impressive box.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH George ENESCU (1881-1955) Chamber Music 1895-1906 Claudia Bara (piano) Tatiana Samouil (violin) Gérard Caussé (viola) Vincent Lucas (flute) Justus Grimm (cello) Frédéric Mellardi (trumpet) Carmen-Elena Rotaru (piano) rec. 2011 INDESENS INDE036 [76:02] [Byz]

A five-star CD that should appeal to anyone with ears and a heart.

Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Messe de Requiem, Élégie, Pavane, Super flumina Babylonis Philippe Jaroussky (counter-tenor) Matthias Goerne (baritone) Eric Picard (cello) Ch & O de Paris/Paavo Järvi rec. 2011 VIRGIN CLASSICS 0709212 [62:45] [JW]

Directed with assurance, sensitivity and a fine ear for balance.

Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Piano Quartet 1 Johannes BRAHMS (1933-1897) Piano Quartet 1 Primrose Piano Quartet rec. 2010 MERIDIAN CDE84599 [68:00] [OL]

Listening to this music should not be so tiring to the ear. 

César FRANCK (1822-1890) Violin Sonata Guillaume LEKEU (1870-1894) Violin Sonata Henri Koch (violin) André Dumortier (piano) rec. 1956 FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR 337 [57:36] [JW]

Will primarily appeal to violin aficionados though not wholly confined to them.

César FRANCK (1822-1890) Violin Sonata in A (1886) [28:10] Guillaume LEKEU (1870-1894) Violin Sonata in G (1891) [34:04] Eugčne YSAŸE (1858-1931) Andante for violin and orchestra (1885) – piano reduction arranged by Jerrold Rubenstein [6:26] Jerrold Rubenstein (violin) Dalia Ouziel (piano) rec. 2010 TALENT DOM 2911 117 [70:30] [JW]

Alternative versions are to be preferred.

Roberto GERHARD (1896-1970) Tonades of the XVII and XVIII centuries Nancy Fabiola Herrera (mezzo) Mac McClure (piano) rec. 2009 COLUMNA MÚSICA 1CM0249 [40:08] [JW]

Interesting and often rewarding.

Giorgio Federico GHEDINI (1892-1965) L’Olmoneta, Litanie alla Vergine, Musical Offering Alessandro Scarlatti di Napoli O/Giorgio Federico Ghedini rec. 1952 NAXOS 8.111325 [73:32][CH]

L’Olmoneta, at least, suggests that the case for further exploration is strong.

Mauro GIULIANI (1781-1829) Guitar Concerto 1 see Julian Bream

Ola GJEILO (b. 1978) Northern Lights Ola Gjeilo (piano) Harrington String Quartet, Alison Chaney (soprano), Ted Belledin (tenor sax) Phoenix Chorale/Charles Bruffy rec. 2011 CHANDOS CHSA5100 [59:43] [KE]

A very fine disc of meditative and refined music.

Philip GLASS (b.1937) In the penal colony Michael Bennett (tenor) Omar Ebrahim (baritone) Music Theatre Wales Ens/Michael Rafferty rec. 2010 ORANGE MOUNTAIN MUSIC OMM0078 [78.56] [PCG]

The music lacks the emotional impact that the situation really needs.

Philip GLASS (b.1937) Suite from “The Hours” see Vassily Primakov

Christoph Willibald GLUCK (1714 - 1787) Ezio Sonia Prina (contralto) Max Emanuel Cencic (counter-tenor) Ann Hallenberg (soprano) Il Complesso Barocco/Alan Curtis. rec. 2008 VIRGIN CLASSICS 0709292 [69.27 + 77.26] [RJF]

Lovers of opera of a later genre will find much to enjoy here.

Alexander GOLDENWEISER (1875-1961) Piano Music, Volume 1: Skazka, Op. 39 (publ. 1961) [7:18]; Sonata-Fantasia, Op. 37 (1957-59?) [12:36]; Contrapuntal Sketches, Op. 12 (c.1932) [58:30]. Jonathan Powell (piano) rec. 2006. DDD TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0044 [78:24] [CC]

Powell’s magnificent advocacy of Goldenweiser. This is an important disc.

Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893) Solemn Mass see SCHUBERT

Enrique GRANADOS (1867-1916) Goyescas (excerpts) see BEETHOVEN

Christoph GRAUPNER (1683-1760) The Passion Cantatas Anton-Webern-Ch Freiburg, Ens Concerto Grosso/Hans Michael Beuerle rec. 2011 CARUS 83.457 [70:46] [JW]

Concise, compact, undemonstrative but not at all cold … performed with care and thoughtfulness.

André Modeste GRÉTRY (1741-1813) Zémire et Azor Michel Sénéchal (tenor) Huguette Boulangeot (soprano) Bournemouth SO/Thomas Beecham rec. 1955 SOMM-BEECHAM 030-2 [47:41 + 66:43] [JW]

Beecham admirers will be thrilled to find this recording now available.

Charles Tomlinson GRIFFES (1884-1920) The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan; The White Peacock see HARRIS

Charles Tomlinson GRIFFES (1884-1920) Two Sketches Based on Indian Themes see The American Album

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Howard HANSON (1896-1981) Symphony 1, The Lament for Beowulf Seattle SO/Chorale/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1988-1990 NAXOS 8.559700 [48:34] [DM]

Scandalously neglected music, persuasively played.

Howard HANSON (1896-1981) Symphony 2; Lux Aeterna; Mosaics Susan Gulkis Assadi (viola) Seattle SO/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1988-1994 NAXOS 8.559701 [57:06] [LW]

Reissued Hanson in excellent recordings.

Howard HANSON (1896-1981) Symphony 3, Merry Mount Suite Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1990 NAXOS 8.559702 [52:01] [SA]

Hanson’s music is beautifully lyrical and original … highly attractive to listen to.

Howard HANSON (1896-1981) Symphonies 6 & 7, Lumen in Christo Seattle SO & Chorale/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1989-94 NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559704 [60:20] [RB]

Exuberance, chattering Sibelian zest, an epic stride and a resplendent recording.

Roy HARRIS (1898-1979) Symphony 3 Charles Tomlinson GRIFFES (1884-1920) The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan; The White Peacock Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) Symphony 1 Eastman-Rochester SO/Howard Hanson rec. 1953/54 PRISTINE AUDIO XR PASC 315 [59:59] [RB]

Sturdily driven … momentum magisterially sustained … an orchestra on world-class form.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Piano Sonatas Vol. 3 Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano) rec. 2011 CHANDOS CHAN 10689 [75:22] [MG]

You may not agree with everything he does, but you know you’re in the presence of great playing.

Franz Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphonies 43, 44, 48, 50, 61 & 91, Cello Concerto, German Dances Erling Blöndal Bengtsson (cello) Danish Radio CO/Mogens Wöldike rec. 1949-1956 DANACORD DACOCD 703/704 [79:01 + 77:34] [JS]

Self-effacing devotion to the composer in recordings of clarity and immediacy.

Franz Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross Cuarteto Almus rec. 2009 COLUMNA MUSICA 1CM 2072 [64:00] [KM]

Little to recommend here: a turgid performance, poor sound, and more it detracts from Haydn’s magnificent music.

Haydn ŕ la anglaise Café Mozart (Emma Kirkby (soprano), Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor), Jenny Thomas (transverse flute), Ian Gammie (guitar), Alastair Ross (square piano))/Derek McCulloch rec. 2011, DDD NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6174 [62:31] [JV][JS]

An interesting picture of domestic music in London in Haydn's time, despite some modern 'corrections'. [JV] A disc I will return to often for sheer pleasure in its innocent music-making. [JS]

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Bernard HERRMANN (1911-1975) The Battle of Neretva; The Naked and the Dead Moscow SO/William T. Stromberg rec. 2010 TRIBUTE FILM CLASSICS TFC1007 [77:16] [RB]

Classic Herrmann. Rejoice collectors everywhere. This is a recording project done to an enviable standard.

Bernard HERRMANN (1911-1975) Jane Eyre Slovak RSO/Adriano rec. 1994 NAXOS 8.572718 [68:22] [IL]

A welcome return to the catalogues to inform and impress a new generation of film music fans.

Alfred HILL (1869-1960) String Quartets 10 & 11, 'Life' Quintet Dominion Qt, Richard Mapp (piano) vocal octet/Mark Dorrell rec. 2009/11 NAXOS 8.572844 [79:40] [Byz]

Mellifluous, beautifully crafted and basically wistful.

Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Mathis der Maler, Nobilissima Visione, Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Carl Maria von Weber Săo Paulo SO/John Neschling rec. 2008 BIS-SACD-1730 [72:41] [JQ]

An astutely planned disc, which brings together some of Hindemith’s most attractive and impressive orchestral music.

Gustav HOLST (1874-1934) Symphony, Walt Whitman Overture, Military Band Suite 2, The Perfect Fool, Scherzo Munich SO/Douglas Bostock rec. ca 1998 ALTO ALC1170 [65:03] [RB]

Reveals curious or satisfying facets of a great original.

Gustav HOLST (1874-1934) The Planets Op.32 (1914-16) (transcr. Peter Sykes) [60:08] Hansjörg Albrecht (organ) rec. 2010, OEHMS CLASSICS OC 683 [60:08][DC]

Remarkably successful – colourful and spectacular.

Gustav HOLST (1874-1934) The Perfect Fool – ballet music see Music from the Machine Age

John IRELAND (1879-1962) Piano Concerto; Legend; First Rhapsody; Pastoral; A Sea Idyll; Three Dances John Lenehan (piano) Royal Liverpool PO/John Wilson rec. 2007/11 NAXOS 8.572598 [77:00] [DM]

A good introduction to Ireland’s changing musical landscapes.


RECORDING OF THE MONTH

John IRELAND (1879-1962) Sarnia see MOERAN

John JOUBERT (b. 1927) The Choral Music of John Joubert Gloucester Cathedral Ch/Adrian Partington Ashley Grote (organ) rec. 2009 PRIORY PRCD 1028 [77:01][JQ]

An important release of some fine and distinctive music, firmly in the English choral tradition.

Nikolai KAPUSTIN (b. 1937) Concert Etudes, Preludes in Jazz Style Catherine Gordeladze (piano) rec. 2010 NAXOS 8.572272 [74:55] [BR]

Classically-oriented listeners to Kapustin could start here, with music good enough to dispose of the question: is it classical or is it jazz?

Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Flute Concerto see Mirror of Eternity

John KINSELLA (b. 1932) Symphonies 6 & 7, Prelude and Toccata, Cúchulain and Ferdia National Chamber Ch Ireland, RTÉ Ntl SO/Proinnsias Ó Duinn, Gavin Maloney rec. 2007-10 RTÉ LYRIC FM CD134 [76:51]  [HC]

A fine survey of recent works by one of the most distinguished Irish composers of his generation. 

Justin Heinrich KNECHT (1752-1817) Grande Symphonie, Orchestral works and arias Sarah Wegener (soprano) Hofkapelle Stuttgart/Frieder Bernius rec. 1997-2011 CARUS 83.228 [48:18] [JW]

Charming, pastel coloured, descriptive, sombre and lowering, radiant.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH  Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957) Die stumme Serenade Sarah Wegener, Birge Radde, Frank Buchwald, Young Opera Company, Holst-Sinfonietta/Klaus Simon rec. 2009 CPO 777 485-2 [63:24 + 55:09] [IL]

Just the thing for unrepentant romantics.

Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957) Piano Quintet, String Sextet Doric String Qt; Kathryn Stott (piano) Jennifer Stumm (viola) Bartholomew LaFollette (cello) rec. 2011 CHANDOS CHAN 10707 [66:58] [GD]

Obscure repertoire but playing of this standard deserves to find the widest possible audience.

Guillaume LEKEU (1870-1894) Violin Sonata see FRANCK

Guillaume LEKEU (1870-1894) Violin Sonata see FRANCK

Guillaume LEKEU (1870-1894) Piano Quartet see Walton String Quartet

Leighton LUCAS (1903-1982) Film Music see BENJAMIN

Witold LUTOSLAWSKI (1913-1994) Symphonic Variations; Piano Concerto; Variations on a Theme of Paganini; Symphony 4 Louis Lortie (piano) BBC SO/Edward Gardner rec. 2011 CHANDOS CHSA 5098 [67:25] [DC]

Tremendous performances and recording.

Anatoly LYADOV (1855-1914) Symphonic Works USSR State SO/Evgeny Svetlanov rec. 1970 MELODIYA MEL CD10 01873 [47:27] [RB]

Get your aural sunglasses out for a dazzling sunburst of sound and fantasy.


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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