Christmas
CD Reviews are on a separate page HERE
LATEST
CD & DVD REVIEWS
251
reviews completed so far this month.
Wednesday
October 31st
Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913
- 1976) Winter Words, Three Folk Song Arrangements, Seven
Sonnets of Michelangelo, Three Folk Song Arrangements 
Nicholas Phan (tenor), Myra Huang (piano) rec. 2009/2010. DDD. Booklet
includes sung texts and English translations for op. 22.
AVIE AV2238 [58:17] [MG]
Enjoyable
performances, freshly sung and played.
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934)
Brigg Fair - An English Rhapsody (1907) [18:43] Piano Concerto
- Early version in three movements (1897-1904) [30:01] Idylle de
Printemps - Morceau symphonique (1889) [10:18] Paris -
A Nocturne (The Song of a Great City) (rev. ed. Beecham)
(1899) [18:43] 
Howard Shelley (piano) Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Sir Andrew
Davis rec.2011
CHANDOS CHAN 10742 [75:35][IL]
An
enchanting addition to the Delius discography. [IL] Even the best of
teams can have an off-day. [NB]
Complete
String Trios Hans
GÁL (1890-1987) Serenade in D Op.41 [25:37]*; Trio in
F sharp minor Op.104*[25:09] Hans KRÁSA
(1899-1944) Tanec (Dance) [5:53]; Passacaglia and fuga [9:44]
Ensemble
Epomeo (Caroline Chin (violin), David Yang (viola), Kenneth Woods (cello))
rec.13-15 December 2011, Millfield School Concert Hall, Somerset, England
*world premičre recordings
AVIE RECORDS AV2259 [67:08] [SA]
In
every way this is a fantastic disc that listeners will want to hear
again and again.
Juliusz
LUCIUK
(b.1927) Gesang am Brunnen — oratorio for soprano,
tenor, baritone, mixed choir and chamber orchestra (c.1993)
Orkiestra Kameralna Polskiego Radia w Krakowie/José Maria Floréncio
rec. 1996, Texts, but not translated into English
ACTE PRÉALABLE AP0240 [54:51] [JW]
An
interesting slant on yet another strand of contemporary Polish religious
music.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Homage: the Six Quartets Dedicated to Haydn
Alexander String Quartet (Zakarias Grafilo (violin), Frederick Lifsitz
(violin), Paul Yarbrough (viola), Sandy Wilson (cello)) rec. 2003/2004.
DDD
FOGHORN CLASSICS CD-1985 [3 CDs: 61:49 + 56:05 + 66:16] [Byz]
Immaculate
professionalism … huge and telling ensemble experience, instrumental
mastery practically faultless … Classical elegance and textural clarity.
Vitezslav
NOVÁK (1870-1949) In the Tatras (1902)
[17.10] South Bohemian Suite (1937) [30.04] Eight Nocturnes
for voice and orchestra Op. 39 (1908) [29.28]
Daniela Straková (soprano) Carlsbad Symphony Orchestra/Douglas Bostock
rec. 1998
ALTO ALC 1199 [76.42] [GH]
Hooked
on Novák since the 1970s. This budget price collection is a compulsive
purchase.
Domenico
SCARLATTI (1685-1757)
The Complete Sonatas MP3 Edition
Richard Lester (harpsichord, fortepiano, organ) rec. 2001-2006 ; DDD
Contains mp3 files at 320 kbs
NIMBUS NI1719 [9 mp3 CDs: 41:00:00] [BW, KM] NOTE:
These sets cannot be played on a normal CD player. You will need one
of the following: a computer; a portable MP3 device (like an iPod, but
not limited to iPods) a DVD player; or the latest generation of in-car
disc players.
A
notable bargain – but take it in small doses. [BW] Sometimes you get
what you pay for; the poor sound of this set isn’t compensated for by
its bargain price. [KM]
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Lieder
Heinrich Schlusnus (baritone) Franz Rupp, Sebastian Peschko (piano)
rec. 1927 – 1943. ADD
NIMBUS PRIMA VOCE NI7883 [77:20] [RMo]
A
master-class in the Lieder-singer’s art.
Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Liederkreis, Op. 39 (1840) [26:59] Sechs Gedichte aus dem Liederbuch
eines Malers, Op. 36 (1840) [15:59] Liederkreis, Op. 24 (1840) [21:30]
Gerald
Finley (baritone); Julius Drake (piano)
rec. 2011/2012, DDD German texts and English translations included
HYPERION CDA67944 [64:30][JQ]
This
fine disc is a worthy successor to Gerald Finley’s earlier Schumann
disc.
Barbara
THOMPSON (b.1944)
Perpetual Motion
Apollo Saxophone Orchestra rec. 2012, Royal Northern College of Music.
DDD
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI6200 [52:06] [JW]
Inspiring
musicians playing with terrific verve.
Tuesday
October 30th
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Complete Violin
Sonatas
Josef Suk (violin) Jan Panenka (piano) rec. 1966-67
SUPRAPHON SU 4077-2 [4 CDs: 242:07] [JW]
Valuable,
thoughtful and convincing … one of the most outstanding duos of
its time.
Francesco
CAVALLI (1602-1676) La Didone
Anna Bonitatibus, Krešimir Špicer, Les Arts Florissants/William
Christie rec. 2011
OPUS ARTE 
OA1080D [176:14] [BW]
This
is the Cavalli DVD to own; it should also appeal to Monteverdi
fans.
Jonathan
DOVE (b. 1959) There Was a Child
Joan Rodgers (soprano) Toby Spence (tenor) CBSO Ch,Youth Ch, Children’s
Ch & O/Simon Halsey rec. 2011
SIGNUM SIGCD285 [50:47] [DMcC]
Powerful
spiritual communication in this fabulous performance. I was very touched
by the music and the performance.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Concertone, Violin
Concerto 5
Piero Toso (violin) Orch di Padova e del Veneto/Christian Joseph Saccon
(violin) rec. 2007
WIDE CLASIQUE WCL 134 [56:00 + DVD 58:00] [JW]
Scrutiny
and admiration are very evident.
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Tosca
Maria Callas (soprano) Giuseppe Di Stefano (tenor) Tito Gobbi (baritone)
Ch & O of La Scala, Milan/Victor de Sabata rec. 1953
PRISTINE AUDIO PACO 080 [72:03 + 35:54] [JS]
I
have had considerable pleasure from this re-mastering.
Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Winterreise
Maarten Koningsberger (baritone) Roger Braun (piano) rec. 2002
QUINTONE Q11003 [73:30] [GF]
Koningsberger’s
is a perfectly valid reading, worth anyone’s money.
Ittai
SHAPIRA (b.1973) The Old Man and the
Sea, Concierto Latino
Ittai Shapira (violin) Royal Liverpool PO/Neil Thomson, London Serenata/Krzysztof
Chorzelski rec. 2010-2012
CHAMPS HILL RECORDS CHRCD 032 [52:41] [Byz]
A
memorably orchestrated, romantic modern masterpiece, full of imagination,
passion and beautiful melody.
Viktor
ULLMANN (1898-1944) The Complete Piano Sonatas
Jeanne
Golan (piano) rec. 2011
STEINWAY AND SONS CD 30014 [66.13 + 59.10] [GH]
Golan
plays this music so convincingly … Ullmann is a fascinating figure.
Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Orchestral Excerpts Vol. 3:
Tannhäuser, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg & Tristan und
Isolde
Alessandra Marc (soprano) Seattle SO/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1986-1992
NAXOS 8.572769 [62.26] [PCG]
One
cannot help but feel that this could well have been left to gather dust.
Insomnia
A Nocturnal Voyage in Song
William Berger (baritone) Iain Burnside (piano) rec. 2012
DELPHIAN DCD34116 [55:42] [ST]
Just
not to my taste.
Monday
October 29th
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685
- 1750) Brandenburg Concertos 1-6
La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken rec. 2009
ACCENT ACC24224 [51:31 + 45:20] [JFL]
The
most chamber-music like of Kuijken’s Brandenburgs yet.
Frederick
DELIUS (1862-1934)
Appalachia, Sea Drift
Leon Williams (baritone) Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Florida O/Stefan
Sanderling rec. 2012
NAXOS 8.572764 [60.11] [PCG]
The
orchestra relishes Delius’s contrasts.
Aram
KHACHATRIAN (1903-1978)
Violin Concerto, Cello Concerto, Funeral Ode, Masquerade Suite, Gayane,
Piano Concerto
Leonid Kogan (violin) Sviatoslav Knushevitsky (cello) Antonín
Jemelík (piano) USSR State Radio and Television SO/Aram Khachaturian,
Alexander Gauk Prague RSO/Aram Khachaturian rec. 1946-60
SUPRAPHON SU4100-2 [79:54 +78:20] [JW]
I
had a superb time with this and so will any Khachaturian admirer.
Erich
Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957)
String Sextet, Piano Quintet
Camerata Freden rec. 2011
TACET 198 [68:00] [IL]
Technically
accomplished performances but, at times, a little cold-hearted.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Le nozze di Figaro
Teddy Tahu-Rhodes, Taryn Fiebig, Sian Pendry, Peter Coleman-Wright,
Opera Australia Chorus, Australian Opera and Ballet O/Patrick Summers
rec. live, 2010
OPERA AUSTRALIA OPOZ56002BD 
[183.00] [MM-B]
Not
a memorable production but certainly likeable.
Sir
Charles Hubert Hastings PARRY (1848-1918)
Te Deum, The Birds of Aristophanes Suite, The Glories
of Our Blood and State, Magnificat
Amanda Roocroft (soprano) BBC Ntl Ch & O Wales/Neeme Järvi
rec. 2012
CHANDOS CHAN10740 [75:15] [JF]
A
moving tribute to one of Britain great composers.
Krzysztof
PENDERECKI (b.
1933) Hymne an den heiligen Adalbert, Song of Cherubim,
Canticum canticorum Salomonis, Kosmogonia, Strophen
Olga
Pasichnyk (soprano) Rafał Bartmiński (tenor) Tomasz Konieczny
(bass) Warsaw PO & Ch/Antoni Wit rec. 2008-10
NAXOS 8.572481 [57:18] [MC]
Impressively
performed and well recorded.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Violin Concerto Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931)
Violin Concerto
Vilde Frang (violin) Danish Ntl SO/Elvind Gullberg Jensen rec. 2011
EMI
CLASSICS 6025702 [71:48] [WH]
Two
very individual and magnificent performances.
Pēteris
VASKS (b.
1946) String Quartet 4 Erwin SCHULHOFF
(1894 - 1942) Five Pieces for String Quartet Anton
WEBERN (1883 - 1945) Langsamer Satz Jaan
RÄÄTS (b. 1932) Concerto for Chamber Orchestra
Prezioso
String Qt rec. 2011/2
ESTONIAN RECORD PRODUCTION ERP 5912 [68:54] [HC]
Prezioso's
first disc is a splendid calling card while offering a most attractive
programme.
Yo-Yo
Ma - 30 Years Outside the Box
SONY
CLASSICS 88697 523072 [90 CDs + Book] [KM]
Ma
is an excellent cellist and never boring.
Friday
October 26th
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685 - 1750) Italian Concertos
Matthias
Havinga (organ) rec. 2010
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94203 [74:56] [JV]
A
very fine debut of this young Dutch organist.
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) String
Quartet 15 Luigi BOCCHERINI
(1743-1805) String Quartet Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791) String Quartet 17
Quartetto Italiano rec. 1965
ICA CLASSICS ICAC 5070 [77:07] [JW]
The
Quartetto Italiano captured live.
Anton
BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony 7, The Triumphant
Return (documentary)
Berlin PO/Sergiu Celibidache rec. 1992
EUROARTS 2011408 [144:00]
[JWh]
A
great documentary and concert from a genius of the podium.
Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Preludes (orch. Peter
Breiner)
Royal Scottish Ntl O/Jun Märkl rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572584 [36.54 + 39.31] [PCG]
A
supplement to Märkl’s readings of the Matthews orchestrations.
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 9
Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester/Claudio Abbado rec. 2004
EUROARTS 205 4004
[84:00] [DM]
A
no-hoper, thanks to appalling sonics.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) String Quartet Voces Intimae
Leos JANÁČEK (1854-1928)
String Quartet 1 Erwin SCHULHOFF (1894-1942)
String Quartet 1
Henschel Qt rec. 2008
NEOS CLASSICS 11006 
[65:23]
[MC]
Dark
and melancholy is explored through compelling playing of real distinction.
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony 2
Russian National O/Mikhail Pletnev rec. 2011
PENTATONE PTC 5186382
[48:12] [DMcC]
A
most frustrating and disappointing release.
Giuseppe
VERDI (1813-1901) Un ballo in maschera
Ferruccio
Tagliavini, Giuseppe Valdengo, Maria Curtis Verna, RAI Torino/Angelo
Questa rec. 1954
WARNER FONIT 2564 66143-9 [75:06 + 44:30] [RMo]
A
vintage Ballo.
Tomás
Luis de VICTORIA (1548-1611) Officium Defunctorum;
Motets
Collegium Vocale Ghent/Philippe Herreweghe
PHI 005 [59:40] [DG]
A
distinctive interpretation that’s as good as any of the rivals.
Georg
Christoph WAGENSEIL (1715-1777) Concertos for
Organ
Elisabeth Ullmann (organ) Piccolo Concerto Wien/Roberto Sensi rec. 2002
ACCENT
ACC 24248 [62:27] [Byz]
Utterly
winsome music with appealing foot-tapping rhythms and catchy melodies
piled high.
Thursday
October 25th
William
BYRD (1539/40-1623)
Complete Fantasias for Harpsichord
Glen Wilson, Naoko Akutagawa* (harpsichord) rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572433 [77:30] [JV]
The
quality of music, performance, instrument and programme notes makes
this a splendid release.
George
Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Rinaldo
Sonia Prina (mezzo) Tim Mead (counter-tenor) Luca Pisaroni (bass) O
Age of Enlightenment/Ottavio Dantone rec. 2011
OPUS ARTE
OA1081D [161:32] [BW]
Visually
distracting, aurally very well worth considering.
Ferdinand
HILLER (1811-1885) Die Zerstörung Jerusalems
Die Gewandhauschor, Leipzig, Vocalconsort Leipzig, Camerata Lipsiensis/Gregor
Meyer rec. 2011
QUERSTAND VKJK1202 [52:23 + 53:30] [JS]
Historical
interest but little here to compel a second hearing.
György
LIGETI (1923-2006) String Quartet 2
Matthias PINTSCHER (b. 1971) Study IV for Treatise on the
Veil John CAGE (1912-1992) String
Quartet Iannis XENAKIS (1922-2001)
Tetras
JACK Qt rec. 2011
WIGMORE HALL LIVE WHLIVE0053 [72:40] [LW]
A
real showcase for the talents of the JACK Quartet.
Anton
RUBINSTEIN (1829-1894) Symphony 4
State SO of Russia/Igor Golovchin rec. 1993
DELOS DRD2012 [65:24] [NB]
Can
I go back to sleep now please?
Johann
Hermann SCHEIN (1586-1630) Israelsbrunnlein
Dresdner
Kammerchor/Hans-Christoph Rademann rec. 2000/12
CARUS 83.350 [47.07 + 47.25] [RH]
Performances
of great charm.
Thomas
TELLEFSEN (1823-1874) Complete Piano Works
Jørgen Larsen (piano) rec. 2010/11
2L 2L-080-PABD
[198:00] [KM]
Attractive
piano music from a student, then friend of Chopin.
The
Godowsky Edition Vol. 7
Carlo Grante (piano) rec. 2011
MUSIC & ARTS CD-1259 [65:37] [JW]
Collectors
of this unfurling series will find very much to their liking here.
Neomonology
Works by Bayolo, Smooke & Hersch
Jeffrey
Weisner (double bass) rec. 2011
INNOVA 833 [45:36] [DC]
Musically
rewarding - and not just a virtuoso showcase.
Salve
Regina Del Signor Monteverde Newly discovered pieces by
Monteverdi and Frescobaldi
Il Pegaso/Maurizio Croci rec. 2012
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94286 [54:37] [JV]
An
interesting disc because of the little-known music.
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]
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