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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]



John CAGE (1912-1992) Piano Music Vol. 4 Giancarlo Simonacci (piano) rec. 2011 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9263 [3 CDs: 201:47] [MS]

An excellent, persuasive and technically brilliant set of performances of some of Cage's most important piano works.

John CAGE (1912-1992) Sonatas & Interludes for prepared piano Cédric Pescia (prepared piano) rec. 2011 AEON AECD 1227 [64:00] [DC]

Cage-lite: beauty in abundance but, in the end, no cigar. 

Francesco CAVALLI (1602 - 1676) Il Giasone Christophe Dumaux, Katarina Bradic, Robin Johannsen, Vlaamse Opera/Federico Maria Sardelli rec. 2010 DYNAMIC CDS 663/1-3 [3 CDs: 191:10] [RH]

A dramatic and engaging live event.

Luigi CHERUBINI (1760-1842) Piano Sonatas 1-6 Francesco Giammarco (piano) rec.1990 NEWTON CLASSICS 8802120 [67:25] [GPu]

Pleasant, if largely unchallenging music, of some considerable historical interest. 

Luigi CHERUBINI (1760-1842) Koukourgi Stefan Cerny, Çiğdem Soyarslam, Leonardo Galeazzi, Daniel Prohaska, Kärntner Sinfonieorchester/Peter Marschik rec. 2010 ARTHAUS MUSIK 101 638 [115:00] [JS]

A very enjoyable piece that adds to our understanding of Cherubini.

Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Nineteen Nocturnes Ivan Moravec (piano)
rec. 1965 SUPRAPHON SU 4097-2 [53:22 + 52:07] [BR]

The only reason this new re-mastering doesn’t say ‘Recording of the Month’ is that everyone already agrees it was a ‘Recording of the Century’.

Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Etudes Hardy Rittner rec. 2011 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM 904 1747-2 [62:43]  [DC]

Crushingly depressing at crucial moments. 

Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) Polonaises, Ballade 1 see Gilels

Rebecca CLARKE (1886-1979) Trio for violin, cello and piano see British Piano Trios

Rebecca CLARKE (1886-1979) Viola Sonata see British Piano Trios

Aaron COPLAND (1900-1990) Ballet Suite: Billy the Kid see San Francisco Symphony at 100

Ronald CORP (b.1951) And All The Trumpets Sounded Michael HURD (1928-2006) The Shepherd’s Calendar Mark Stone & Roderick Williams (baritones) The London Chorus, New London Children’s Ch, Bournemouth SO/Ronald Corp rec. 2011 DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7280 [69:01] [JW]

Warlike and pastoral works heard in premiere recordings and making for abrupt but affecting programming. 

Ronald CORP (b. 1951) Things I didn’t say Aspara/Ronald Corp Edward Batting (organ) rec. 2010/11 STONE RECORDS 5060192780185 [77.41] [PCG]

Those who are unfamiliar with the music of Ronald Corp as a composer should certainly investigate this disc.  

Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) La mer, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, Nocturnes Flemish Radio Ch, Brussels PO/Michel Tabachnik rec. 2010 BRUSSELS PHILHARMONIC RECORDINGS BPR001 [58:00] [SV]

Will undoubtedly find its parochial following but I can't imagine it'll transfer successfully to the international market. 

Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) A Mass of Life, Prelude and Idyll Janice Watson (soprano) Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo) Andrew Kennedy (tenor) Alan Opie (baritone) Bach Ch, Bournemouth SO/David Hill rec. 2011 NAXOS 8.572861-62 [47:31 + 70:48] [ST]

This has done more than any other to win me over to the Mass of Life. 

Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Chansons de Bilitis Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Sonnetti di Petrarca Henri DUPARC (1848-1933) Songs Marion van den Akker (mezzo) Rian de Waal/Paul Komen (piano) rec. 2004-2012 WWW.VALTHERMONDRECORDINGS.COM no number [72:27] [DC]

Exquisitely refined and deeply moving.

David DEL TREDICI (b. 1937) Gotham Glory - Piano Works Vol. 1 Marc Peloquin (piano) rec. 2009 NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559680 [79:35] [DM]

Mellow and mischievous; an unexpected treat.

Josquin DES PREZ (c.1450/55-1521) Miserere mei, Deus see RICHAFORT

Jonathan DOVE (b. 1959) There Was a Child Joan Rodgers (soprano) Toby Spence (tenor) City of Birmingham SO & Ch/Simon Halsey rec. 2011 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD285 [50:47] [JQ]

A fine recording of an impressive new work by one of Britain’s leading composers. 

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Masterworks Ivan Zenaty (violin) Igor Ardašev (piano) Mischa Maisky (cello) Prague SO/Jiří Bělohlávek, Petr Altrichter, Libor Pešek rec. 1993 ARTHAUS MUSIK 107 513 [3 DVDs: 277:00] [RMay]

Enjoyment offered in generous abundance.

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Symphony 8; Piano Concerto see Kubelík

Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Pomp and Circumstance Marches 3 & 5; Nimrod; Sonata; Sospiri; Severn Suite; For the Fallen Robert Quinney (organ) SIGNUM SIGCD266 [74.36] [EML]

I could not fault this excellent disc.

Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Sir John Barbirolli conducts Elgar Variations on an Original Theme, Enigma, Op. 36 Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 Elegy, Op. 58 André Navarra (cello) Hallé Orchestra/Sir John Barbirolli rec. 1956-57, IDIS 6624 [59:08] [RMo]

Will give great pleasure to the connoisseur of the partnership between Elgar and Barbirolli.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sir Edward ELGAR The Apostles, Op. 49 [114:29] Soloists, Hallé Choir; Hallé Youth Choir; Hallé Orchestra/Sir Mark Elder rec.2012 English text included HALLÉ CD HLD 7534 [65:08 + 49:21] [MC]

Performed beautifully. Everyone is on quite spectacular form.

Morton FELDMAN (1926-1987) Spring of Chosroes, Extensions, Vertical Thoughts, Piece for Four Pianos, For John Cage Andreas Seidel (violin) Steffen Schleiermacher (piano) rec. 2009 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS AND GRIMM MDG 613 1524-2 [68:19 + 76:21]  [KM]

A collection of Feldman’s works for these two instruments, with especially the 76-minute For John Cage, a great late work. 

Gerald FINZI (1901-1956) Eclogue Charles Hubert PARRY (1848-1918) An English Suite Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) An Irish melody, There is a willow grows aslant a brook Martin Jones (piano) English String O/William Boughton rec. 1992 NIMBUS NI 5366 [70.31] [PCG]

In terms of performances Boughton’s readings are fine.


RECORDING OF THE MONTH

Arthur FOOTE (1853-1937) Two Pieces see American Flute Quintets

António FRAGOSO (1897-1918) Allegro, Suite Romantique, Piano trio Carlos Damas (violin) Jian Hong (cello) Jill Lawson (piano) rec. 2011 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94158 [52:27] [Byz]

One of the finest piano trios ever to have come out of Portugal. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Johann Jacob FROBERGER (1616 - 1667) Suites and Toccatas Alina Rotaru (harpsichord) rec. no date given. DDD CARPE DIEM CD-16290 [63:54] [JV]

This disc has to be ranked among the best recordings of Froberger's music.

Joseph GEHOT (1756 - c.1795) Trios Bacchanalia Baroque Ensemble rec. 2009 EROICA JDT3466 [58:39] [JV]

Nice music to listen to on a quiet afternoon.

George GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Porgy & Bess (1935) Suite - arr. Carl Davis (Summertime [3:14]; A Woman is a Sometime Thing [2:36]; Bess, You is My Woman Now [5:35]; It Ain't Necessarily So [2:38]) Jerome KERN (1885-1945) six songs George GERSHWIN Lullaby for String Quartet (1919) [7:11] Joan Enric Lluna (clarinet) Alexander String Quartet rec. 2011 FOGHORN CLASSICS CD2008 [48:15] [DM]

A very disappointing issue.

Morton GOULD (1913-1966) Concerto Grosso, World War I, Holocaust, Formations Suite Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz. rec. 1994/95 NAXOS 8.559715 [60:55]  [GPu]

An enjoyable reissue offering glimpses of some of the many sides of an underrated composer. 

Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) An Old Norwegian Romance with Variations see SAINT-SAËNS

Georg Friederich HÄNDEL (1685-1759), Georg Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) & Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Sonatas and Trio Sonatas Concordi Musici rec. 2011 AUDIOGUY RECORDS AGCD 0032 [55:53] [DC]

Intriguing timbres, nice recording and presentation.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH  Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) The Creation Amanda Forsythe (soprano) Keith Jameson (tenor) Kevin Deas (bass-baritone) Boston Baroque/Martin Pearlman rec. 2011 LINN CKD401 [69:22 + 27:21] [ST]

Another feather in the cap of Pearlman and Boston Baroque.

Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphonies 93, 94 & 103 Dresdner Philharmonie/Günther Herbig rec. 1974/75 BERLIN CLASSICS 0300354BC [73:02] [MC]

Mightily impressive playing. 

Michael HEAD (1900-1976) Songs Ailish Tynan (soprano) Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo) Roderick Williams (baritone) Christopher Glynn (piano) rec. 2009/10 HYPERION CDA 67899 [76.30] [EM-L]

A good mixture of songs evoking different moods; they deserve to be better known and here are persuasively advocated.

Steve HEITZIG (b.1959) Wild Songs, Three Graces for Hildur Lori LAITMAN (b. 1955) Four Emily Dickinson Songs Polly Butler Cornelius (soprano) Heather Barringer, Patti Cudd (percussion) Victoria Fischer Faw (piano) rec. 2011 INNOVA 825 [35:02] [DC]

A recital with real substance and depth.

Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) String Quartets 2 & 3 Amar Qt rec. 2009/10 NAXOS 8.572163 [64:39] [Byz]

The first disc in what is likely to be a must-have cycle for all lovers of 20th century music. 

Imogen HOLST (1907-1984) Choral works Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) orch. I HOLST Rejoice in the Lamb: A Festival Cantata (1943, orch 1952)** [15:46] *Tanya Houghton (harp); ** Cressida Sharp (soprano); *Robert Cross (counter-tenor); ** Stefan Kennedy (tenor); **Dominic Sedgwick (bass) Choir of Clare College, Cambridge The Dmitri Ensemble/Graham Ross rec. 2011, Original texts, English (Mass in A minor), French, German translations HARMONIA MUNDI HMU907576 [72:35] [JQ]

Imogen Holst’s fastidiously crafted and enjoyable choral music in excellent performances

Arthur HONEGGER (1892-1955) Jeanne d’Arc au Bûcher Vera Zorina, Raymond Gerome (speakers) Frances Yeend (soprano) Martha Lipton (contralto) David Lloyd (tenor) Temple Univ Ch, St. Peter’s Boys Ch Philadelphia O/Eugene Ormandy rec. 1952 PRISTINE AUDIO PACO073 [72:12] [JQ]

Ormandy’s recording of Jeanne d’Arc au Bûcher is an important part of the performance history of the work and has much to commend it.

Alan HOVHANESS (1911-2000) Symphonies 1 & 50, Fantasy on Japanese Woodprints Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz rec. 1990/92 NAXOS 8.559717 [65:40] [SA]

A wonderful introduction to this amazing composer’s music.

Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983) Clarinet sonata see British Clarinet Sonatas Vol. 1

Michael HURD (1928-2006) The Shepherd’s Calendar see CORP

Vincent d’INDY (1851-1931) La Forêt Enchantée see SAINT-SAËNS

John IRELAND (1879-1962) Phantasie in A minor see British Piano Trios

John IRELAND (1879-1962) Fantasy Sonata see British Clarinet Sonatas Vol. 1

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gabriel JACKSON (b. 1962) Beyond The Stars - Sacred Choral Works Vol. II Ch St. Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh/Duncan Ferguson, Nicolas Wearne (organ) rec. 2011 DELPHIAN DCD 34106 [68:38]   [DMcC]

Gabriel Jackson surely has no finer advocates. 

Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1928) Otčenáš see Music for Choir and Harp

Mauricio KAGEL (1931-2008) Das Konzert, Phantasiestück, Pan Michael Faust (flute, piccolo) Paulo Alvares (piano) Ens Contrasts/Robert HP Platz; Sinfonia Finlandia Jyväskylä/Patrick Gallois rec. 2010 NAXOS 8.572635 [65.44] [PCG] 

If you appreciate the music of Kagel this will definitely be one for you. 

Heinrich KAMINSKI (1888-1946) A survey: Works for String Orchestra String Quintet in F sharp minor (1914/16 rev. 1927) arranged for string orchestra by Reinhard Schwarz-Schilling [53:22] CPO 777 578-2 [52:22]
Sacred A-Cappella Works: Texts with English translations included OEHMS CLASSICS (SACD) OC 608 [79:22]
Music is Confession
: Erwin SCHULHOFF (1894-1942) Viktor ULLMAN (1898-1944) Adolf BUSCH (1891-1952) Heinrich KAMINSKI (1888-1946) String Quartet in F major (c. 1917) TELOS MUSIC RECORDS TLS 111 [63:06] Chamber Music for Strings:Prelude and Fugue on A-B-E-G-G for String Quartet (1931) [8:25] String Quintet in F sharp minor (1914/16 rev. 1927) [53:03] CHRISTOPHORUS CHR 77148 [61:39] [MC]

An accomplished composer with a lot to say. Kaminski’s current neglect is unmerited.

Sigfrid KARG-ELERT (1877-1933) The Complete Organ Works Vol. 6 Stefan Engels (organ) rec. 2011 PRIORY PRCD 1059 [76:16] [Byz]

Karg-Elert represented by works that are generally of a slower, softer, more reflective nature. 

Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Spartacus RIAS-Kammerchor, Deutsches SO Berlin/Michail Jurowski rec. 1996/7 CAPRICCIO C5112 [75:47 + 61:03] [OL]

An ideal socialist realist work. 

Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Violin Concerto Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) Violin Concerto, Adagio for Strings Mikhail Simonyan (violin) London SO/Kristjan Järvi rec. 2011 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 9827 [70:33] [OL]

Passionate and memorable.

Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Gayane see RIMSKY-KORSAKOV

Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Concerto-Rhapsody see Armenian Rhapsody

Leon KLEPPER (1900-1991) Concertino for Flute, Viola and String Orchestra see Concertos

Joseph Martin KRAUS (1756-1792) Viola Concertos, Concerto for Viola & Cello David Aaron Carpenter (viola) Riitta Pesola (cello) Tapiola Sinfonietta/Janne Nisonen rec. 2011 ONDINE ODE 1193-2 [61:51] [JW]

The performances and recording are fine but no major rediscoveries. 

Edouard LALO (1823-1892) Concerto Russe, Romance-Sérénade, Fantaisie-Ballet, Guitare, Piano Concerto Jean-Jacques Kantorow (violin) Pierre-Alain Volondat (piano) Tapiola Sinfonietta/Kees Bakels rec. 2011 BIS-SACD-1890 [71:36] [Byz]

An appealing, if sometimes strait-laced account of Lalo's music. 

Siobhan LAMB (b. 1963) The Nightingale and the Rose Gerard Presencer (trumpet) Danish National Vocal Ensemble, Danish Radio Big Band/Siobhan Lamb PROPRIUS PRCD 2068 [55.40] [PCG]

This setting is by and large a gem.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH William LAWES (1602-1645) Consorts to the Organ Phantasm rec. 2011 LINN CKD399 [77:44] [DC]

A world of musical naughtiness - Fifty Shades of modal mayhem.

Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Piano works - Vol. 1 Cyprien Katsaris (piano) German SO Berlin/Arild Remmereit rec. 1973 -2011 PIANO 21 P21 041N [74:17 + 63:34] [JW]

Flamboyant, passionate, declamatory and exciting. 

Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Fantasia on themes from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Grandes études de Paganini, Hungarian Rhapsodies see Gilels

 


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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