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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]


Adolphe ADAM (1803-1856) Giselle (highlights) Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields/Sir Neville Marriner rec. 1994 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94354 [66:45] [SV]

At times the tempi are underanimated, rhythms square and the conductor's interest minimal. 

Adolphe ADAM (1803-1856) Giselle see Les Sylphides

John ADAMS (b. 1947) The Chairman Dances see TCHAIKOVSKY


RECORDING OF THE MONTH

Malcolm ARNOLD
(1921-2006) Clarinet Concerto 2 see British Clarinet Concertos

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The Works for Organ - mp3 Edition Kevin Bowyer (organ) Det Fynske Kammerkor/Alice Joensen (CD2, tracks 25-69) rec. 1991 to 2001. DDD. NIMBUS NI 1721 [8x 320kbps MP3 CDs: 30:52:00][Byz]

This grand tour of one of the greatest bodies of keyboard music in history will rank alongside the best of those already available.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Goldberg Variations, Sinfonias Dmitry Sitkovetsky (violin); Yuri Zhislin (viola); Luigi Piovano (cello) rec. 2010, DDD NIMBUS NI6199 [73:52] [OL]

Glorious. Gripping. Irresistible.

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Goldberg Variations Hristo Kazakov (piano) rec. 2010 Self-published 885767108974 [45:02] [HP-R]

This isn’t a bad recording - it just isn’t a particularly outstanding one. 

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685 - 1750) Cantatas 35 & 170, Trio sonata 3, Fantasia and fugue Maude Gratton (organ) Le Banquet Céleste/Damien Guillon (alto) rec. 2011 ZIGZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT305 [73:07] Johann Sebastian BACH Cantatas 35, 54 & 170 Maarten Engeltjes (alto) Concerto d'Amsterdam/Klaas Stok rec. 2008 QUINTONE Q08007 [60:25] [JV]

Guillon's recording is a superb achievement, Engeltjes falls short in expressive power. 

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Goldberg Variations Daniel Barenboim (piano) rec. 1992 EUROARTS 2066778 [100:00] [JW]

Unalloyed indulgence in the full range of the modern piano. 

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) The Art of Fugue Andrew Rangell (piano) rec. 2011 STEINWAY & SONS 30012 [74:26] [HPR]

A heart stopping performance, which is definitely worth a listen.

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Christmas Oratorio Chamber Choir of the Frauenkirche, Ensemble Frauenkirche/Matthias Grünert rec. 2011 BERLIN CLASSICS 0300427BC [72:56 + 66:59] [JV]

The contributions of the soloists are the most satisfying part of this live recording. 

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1760) Partitas 2 & 3 see PAR.TI.TA

Granville BANTOCK (1868-1946) Hamabdil, Hebrew melody see British Works for Cello and Piano

Amy BEACH (1867-1944) Piano Music Vol. 4 – The Late Works see end of review for track-listing Kirsten Johnson (piano) rec. 2011, GUILD GMCD 7387 [63:58] [DM]

Music of striking character and charm, superbly played.

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Trios Erick Friedman (violin) Emanuel Vardi (viola) Jascha Silberstein (cello) rec. 1977 CEMBAL D’AMOUR CD165 [71:06] [JW]

Three tonally and expressively compatible musicians elicit the most from Beethoven’s early string trios.

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphonies 1 & 7 SWR SO Baden-Baden und Freiburg/Sylvain Cambreling rec. 2000/11 GLOR CLASSICS GC12471  [65:37] [BR]

A very, very good First and an average Seventh, so this is for the serious collector. 

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphonies 5 & 7 O Révolutionnaire et Romantique/Sir John Eliot Gardiner rec. 2011 SOLI DEO GLORIA SDG 717 [72:21] [JQ]

Stimulating and bracing Beethoven: an important appendix to Gardiner’s DG cycle. 

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano sonata 8 see MUSSORGSKY

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concerto 3 see MOZART

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Rhapsodies see MUSSORGSKY

Havergal BRIAN (1876-1972) The Complete Songbook Vol. 1 Mark Stone (baritone) Jonathan Stone (violin) Sholto Kynoch (piano) rec. 2011 STONE RECORDS 5060192780154 [68:40] [JW]

This exploratory first disc in the Brian series is well worth a listen. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) War Requiem Erin Wall (soprano) Mark Padmore (tenor); Hanno Müller-Brachmann (bass-baritone) City of Birmingham SO & Ch/Andris Nelsons rec. 2012 ARTHAUS MUSIK 101659 [97:00] [JQ]

A distinguished addition to the War Requiem discography. As a performance deeply moving and a major achievement. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Benjamin BRITTEN (1913 - 1976) A Ceremony of Carols, Saint Nicholas Trinity College Cambridge Ch/Stephen Layton, rec. 2007/12 HYPERION CDA67946 [73:30] [MG]

Worcester is agreeable but Trinity is outstanding.

Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) A Ceremony of Carols, St. Nicolas Cantata, Trinity College Cambridge Ch/Stephen Layton, rec. 2007/12 HYPERION CDA67946 [73:30] [JQ]

Fine new Britten recordings set the bar high in advance of his centenary year.

Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1973) A Charm of Lullabies see The Legacy of Mahler

Max BRUCH (1838-1920) String Octet Johan SVENDSEN (1840-1911) String Octet Tharice Virtuosi rec. 2011 CLAVES 50-1207 [67:38] [CF]

These two octets are well served by the Tharice Virtusoi; only that inexplicably absent double bass in Bruch disappoints.


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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