Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Piano Concerto 2 Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Fantasia on Hungarian Folk Themes Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini 
Elisso Bolkvadze (piano) Tbilisi SO/Jansug Kakhidze rec. 1993/4
CASCAVELLE VEL 3151 [65:52] [JW]
Probably
time these performances were given an ‘honourable retirement’.
Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Symphony 3 see
POULENC
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Violin Sonata 1 see French
Impressions
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Pablo
SARASATE (1844-1908)
Music for Violin and Piano - Volume 3 
Tianwa Yang (violin); Markus Hadulla (piano) rec. 2007, 2010
NAXOS 8.570893 [78:55] [JWh]
An
amazing violinist does wonders with Sarasate.
Maurice
SAYLOR (b. 1957) The Hunting of the Snark,
Publicity Pays Phil CARLUZZO (b.
1980) Stolen Goods
Andrew Earle SIMPSON (b. 1967)
Too Many Mammas
Cantate Chamber Singers, Holton-Arms Lower School Ch, Snark Pit-band/Gisčle
Becker; Snark Ens rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572685 [73:59] [PCG]
Even
more fun than del Tredici’s
Alice pieces.
Tibor
SERLY (1901-1978) Concerto for violin and wind orchestra
with percussion see
Vardi
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Wanderer Fantasie;
Complete Impromptus
Viviana Sofronitsky (fortepiano) rec. 2010
C-AVI MUSIC 8553250 [77:40] [DC]
Worth
it for a staggering ‘Wanderer Fantasie’.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Complete Symphonies
The Hanover Band/Roy Goodman, Camerata Salzburg/Sándor Végh
BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 94218 [4 CDs: 254:44] [JZ]
A
good choice … fine interpretations and excellent sound. This collection
has much to offer.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphonies 8 & 9 see
Günter Wand
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Impromptus see
Peter
Katin
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Piano Sonata 2, Carnaval Op.9
CAMEO CLASSICS CC9029CD [62:53] Fryderyk CHOPIN
(1810-1849) Scherzi 1-4, Fantasie, Piano Sonata 3
CAMEO CLASSICS CC9028CD [74:00] Franz LISZT
(1811-1886) Années de Pélerinage - Deuxième
Année (Italie), Piano Sonata
Angela Brownridge (piano) rec. 2011. Great Pianist Composers Vols
1-3
CAMEO CLASSICS CC9045CD [71:16] [JW]
Sympathetic
performances.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Symphony 1 see Berlin
Philharmonic Orchestra
Cyril
SCOTT (1879-1970)
Songs Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
Five Mystical Songs, Songs of Travel
Robbert Muuse (baritone) Micha van Weers (piano) rec. 2011
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72527 [64:53] [JW]
The
Scott songs offer a valuable slice of repertory.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Symphonies 2 & 15
Royal Liverpool PO & Ch/Vasily Petrenko rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572708 [67:03] [JQ][DM]
This
is another fine instalment in this important Shostakovich symphony cycle
and I hope we won’t have to wait too long for the next release. [JQ]
Outwardly bright, inwardly dull; not remotely competitive. [DM]
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975)
Symphony 8 Richard WAGNER (1813-1883)
Rienzi: Overture Richard STRAUSS
(1864-1949) Salome: Dance of the Seven Veils
Royal Concertgebouw O/Andris Nelsons rec. 2011
C MAJOR UNITEL CLASSICA 709908 
[100:00] [JQ]
A
remarkable concert, splendidly captured on DVD.
also
Bu-ray review
Joseph
SCHWANTNER (b. 1943) Percussion Concerto; Morning’s
embrace; Chasing light
Christopher Lamb (percussion) Nashville Symphony/Giancarlo Guerrero
rec. 2010/11
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559678 [68:00] [PCG]
Very worthwhile.
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Jazz suite 2 see
Fellini, Jazz & Co
Louis
SPOHR (1784-1859) Symphonies 7 & 9, Festmarsch
O della
Svizzera Italiana/Howard Shelley rec. 2011
HYPERION CDA67939 [69:07] [JW]
Numerous
felicities.
DOWNLOAD
OF THE MONTH Richard STRAUSS
(1864-1949)
Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (1895-1896) [29:56] Gustav
HOLST (1874-2934) The Planets, Op. 32/H.125
(1914-1916) [45:58]
Boston Symphony Orchestra/William Steinberg rec. 1970-1971, MP3, 16-bit
lossless and 24-bit Studio Master Pdf cover art; no booklet
LINN/UNIVERSAL UNI016 Download [75:54] [DM]
A
fine Zarathustra and a distinguished Planets, presented in analogue
sound of rare subtlety and presence.
Johann
STRAUSS II (1825–1899) Die Fledermaus Hilde
Gueden (soprano) Waldemar Kmentt (tenor) Erika Köth (soprano) Walter
Berry (bass-baritone) Vienna St Op Ch/Vienna PO/Herbert von Karajan
rec. 1960 PRISTINE PACO 068 [57:03 + 60:02] [RM]
A
dashing performance with breathless, heady excitement.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Metamorphosen; Waltzes
from Der Rosenkavalier; Divertimento
Bamberg SO/Clemens Krauss rec. 1953/54
PRISTINE CLASSICAL PASC311 [76:20] [GA]
Real authority and total commitment if rather variable sound quality.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Salome
Kim Begley, Doris Soffel, Alan Held, Angela Denoke, Deutsches SO Berlin/Stefan
Soltesz rec. 2011
ARTHAUS MUSIK 
108 037 [112:00] [DM]
Some
fine singing; pity the production is so perverse.
Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Till Eulenspiegels lustige
Streiche see MAHLER
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) The Firebird,
Petrushka, The Rite of Spring
Philharmonic SO New York/Igor Stravinsky rec. 1946/50
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.112070 [73.40] [PCG]
Stravinsky’s
interpretations of his own music while he was in his prime.
Arthur
SULLIVAN (1842 - 1900) The Mikado
Richard
Alexander (bass) Kanen Breen (tenor) Opera Australia Ch/O Victoria/Brian
Castles-Onion rec. 2011
OPERA AUSTRALIA OPQZ56015BD
[144:00] [MG]
A
rip-roaring, don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-it Mikado and a lot of fun.
Joseph
TAWADROS (b.
1983) Concerto of the Greater Sea
Joseph Tawadros (oud); Richard Tognetti (violin); James Tawadros (req
and bendir); Christopher Moore (viola); Matt McMahon (piano); Australian
Chamber Orchestra rec.2006 and 2011
ABC CLASSICS 476 4745 [74:04] [PCG]
Interesting,
often rewarding, and generally pleasant.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893)
Complete Symphonies
Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Yuri Simonov, Vladimir Fedoseyev rec.1983-98
BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 94307 [7 CDs: 442:00] [RMo]
A
bargain box of extraordinary quality and desirability … could
hardly be bettered.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Violin Concerto
Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Violin Concerto
Ray Chen (violin) Swedish RSO/Daniel Harding rec. 2011
SONY 88697984102 [63.50] [PCG]
Technically
irreproachable but more romantic fervour is called for.
Pyotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Eighteen Piano
Pieces, Op.72
Konstantin Shamray (piano) rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572225 [67:09] [SA]
These
little gems sparkle with light and are simply delightful.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony 1,
March Slave
Russian Ntl O/Mikhail Pletnev rec. 2011
PENTATONE PTC 5186 381 
[55:21] [GD]
A
distinct lack of drama and drive.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony 5 Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Egmont
Overture
Boston SO/Erich Leinsdorf rec. 1963/69
ICA CLASSICS ICAD 5059
[57:00] [CH]
Leinsdorf
belatedly enters the select list of the greatest Tchaikovsky performances
on record.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) My First
Tchaikovsky Album
NAXOS 8.578214 [74:47] [Byz]
Enough
here to keep children entertained. What happens then is up to parents.
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767)
Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst - Vol. 4
Bergen Barokk (Franz Vitzthum (alto), Peter Holtslag (transverse flute),
Markku Luolajan-Mikkola (cello), Hans Knut Sveen (harpsichord, organ))
rec. 2007, DDD
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0084 [67:20] [JV]
Every
reason to be thankful for this project even if this disc doesn't
deliver the ideal.
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681 - 1767) Complete Violin Concertos
Vol. 3 Overture for violin, strings and bc in D (TWV 55,D14)
Overture for violin, strings and bc in A (TWV 55,A7) Concerto
for 2 violins, strings and bc in G (TWV 52,G2)
Elizabeth Wallfisch, Susan Carpenter-Jacobs (violin) The Wallfisch Band/Elizabeth
Wallfisch rec. 2009
CPO 777 473-2 [60:42] [JV]
No
collector of Telemann recordings will want to miss this disc.
Christopher
TYE (c.1505-1573) Missa Euge bone,
Western Wynde Mass
Ch of Westminster Abbey/James O’Donnell rec. 2011
HYPERION CDA67928 [73:49] [DMcC]
Exhilarating
music that receives excellent advocacy from choir, conductor and label.
Viktor
ULLMANN (1898-1944) Piano Sonatas 5-7
Lala Isakova (piano) rec. 2010
CRYSTAL CLASSICS N67070 [53:05] [SA]
Leaves
us with an extremely satisfying feeling of a composer well served.
Ralph
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Five Mystical Songs,
Songs of Travel see SCOTT
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901) Macbeth
Simon Keenlyside, Liudmyla Monastyrska, Raymond Aceto; Ch & O Royal
Opera House, Covent Garden/Antonio Pappano rec. 2011
OPUS ARTE OA1063D
[170:00] [ST]
An
excellent release, altogether, and something that any fan of the opera
would enjoy.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Complete Ballet Music from the
Operas
Bournemouth SO/José Serebrier
NAXOS 8.572818-19 [54:09 + 61:13] [DM]
Two
hours of pure, unadulterated pleasure.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Luisa Miller
Giorgio Tozzi, Richard Tucker, Montserrat Caballé, Metropolitan Opera
O & Ch/Thomas Schippers rec. 1968
SONY CLASSICAL 88691 909942 [66:54 + 62:54] [RMo]
Some
great singing here and Sony makes a very good case for the work’s dramatic
impact.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901)
Ernani
Carlo Bergonzi, Leontyne Price, Metropolitan Opera Ch & O/Thomas
Schippers rec. 1965
SONY CLASSICS 88691 909962 [37.53 + 65.51] [RJF]
With
savage cuts, mono sound and questionable recording quality, this is
hardly recommendable despite the presence of Bergonzi and Price.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Macbeth
Leo Nucci, Shirley Verrett, Samuel Ramey, Veriano Luchetti, Teatro Communale
Bologna/Riccardo Chailly rec. 1986
DECCA 4783470 [63.31 + 73.19] [RJF]
Hardly
a recommendable reissue given the quality of rivals also at mid-price.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1830-1901) Il Trovatore
Luciano Pavarotti, Antonella Banaudi, Shirley Verrett, Leo Nucci, O
& Ch of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino/Zubin Mehta rec. 1990
DECCA 478 3478 [65:31 + 65:21] [PCG]
Not
a natural sound and given the state of some of the voices here it does
the singers no great favours either.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678 - 1741) Il Cimento dell'armonia
e dell'inventione Opus 8
Avison Ens/Pavlo Beznosiuk (violin) rec. 2009
LINN RECORDS CKD
365 [57:54 + 56:16] The Four Seasons - Violin Concertos,
Concerto in B flat, Concerto in e minor 'Il favorito',
Concerto in E 'L'amoroso'
Elizabeth Blumenstock (violin) Philh Baroque O/Nicholas McGegan rec.
2010
PHILHARMONIA BAROQUE PRODUCTIONS PBP-03 [75:30] [JV]
Both
recordings have nice things to offer, but they fall short in fully exploring
the character of Vivaldi's concertos.
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741)
The Four Seasons Op. 8 nos. 1-4 [38:01] Concerto in D major for violin
and double orchestra The Assumption of the Virgin Mary RV 582 [11:52]
Concerto in C major for violin and double orchestra RV 581 The Assumption
of the Virgin Mary [12:14]
The London Mozart Players/David Juritz (violin/director) rec. 1999
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6149 [62:39] [DC]
Highly
recommendable – dynamic and dramatic.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Rienzi: Overture Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) Salome: Dance of
the Seven Veils Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906-1975) Symphony 8
Royal Concertg O/Andris Nelsons rec. 2011
C-MAJOR UNITEL 710004 Blu-ray
[100:00] [DM]
Fine
Wagner, good Strauss, inspired Shostakovich.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Die Walküre – music-drama in three
acts (1870)
The Hallé/Sir Mark Elder rec.2011 DDD. Booklet with synopsis included.
Text and translation on CD5.
HALLÉ CDHLD7531 [4 CDs: 71:32 + 68:13 + 30:59 + 77:13 + CD 5: libretto
and translation] [BW]
A
very welcome alternative to existing recordings – and at a competitive
price.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Götterdämmerung
Kirsten Flagstad (soprano) Set Svanholm (tenor) Op Ch/Oslo PO/Norwegian
St Radio O/Řivin Fjeldstad rec. 1956
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.112066-69 [4 CDs: 52:10 + 59:59 + 69:37 + 77:56]
[JWh]
A
welcome reminder of Flagstad’s art. Magnificent – needs to be heard.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883)
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Robert Dean Smith (tenor) Edith Haller (soprano) Albert Dohmen
(bass-baritone) Berlin RSO & Ch/Marek Janowski rec. live, 2011
PENTATONE PTC5186402
[4 CDs: 253:15] [ST]
The
game needs to be upped if this project is going to attract listeners
to invest. We shall see.
Richard
WAGNER (1813 - 1883) Tristan und Isolde
Kirsten
Flagstad, Ludwig Suthaus, Josef Greindl, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Philharmonia
O/Wilhelm Furtwängler rec. 1952
PRISTINE AUDIO PACO 067 [4 CDs: 256:24] [RMo]
This Pristine re-mastering is a revelation.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Opera scenes & excerpts see
BRUCKNER
William
WALTON (1902-1983) Viola Concertosee
Vardi
Raymond
WARREN (b. 1928) A Lough Neagh Sequence, Piano
Sonata 2 In My Childhood
Phillip Mead (piano) Seamus Heaney (speaker) Olivia Robinson (soprano)
UH Chamber Ensemble/Robin Browning rec. 2010
UH RECORDINGS 02001 1023 [65:01] [NB]
Fascinating
music with one real discovery. I trust that this will prove to a herald
of many more discs.
Judith
Lang ZAIMONT (b.
1945) Sonata, Nocturne, A Calendar Set
Christopher Atzinger (piano) rec. 2010
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559665 [65.55] [PCG]
Those
who have already discovered the composer will need no incentive to invest
in this disc.
Jan
Dismas ZELENKA (1679-1745) Cantatas for Holy Sepulchre:
Immisit Dominus pestilentiam; Attendite et videte;
Deus dux fortissime
Hana Blažiková, David Erler, Tobias Hunger, Tomáš Král, Collegium Marianum/Jana
Semerádová rec. 2011
SUPRAPHON SU 4068-2 [65:33] [JW]
Splendid,
incisive, rhythmically well sprung.
Alexander
von ZEMLINSKY (1871–1942) Clarinet trio
Olivier MESSIAEN (1908–1992) Quartet for the End of Time
Ens
Liaison; Wilma Smith (violin) rec. 2010
MELBA RECORDINGS MR 301132 [77:38] [DC]
A
fascinating coupling … plenty of drama, but less ferocity and fury at
the extremes.
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1 New] [Part
2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
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