NEW & RECENT ARTICLES

[New] East-Central Europe & Balkan symphonies discography - a major update by Mike Herman

Christmas recordings 2016 by Brian Wilson

Ralph Vaughan Williams' The First Nowell by John France

A late autumn retrospective by Brian Wilson

2016 MusicWeb International Recordings of the Year

NOTICES

ArkivMusic's Best of 2016

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Publishing schedule
Monday: Other reviews (nostalgia, books, other music); Friday: Articles.
Live performance reviews posted daily at Seen and Heard
Jazz reviews posted weekly

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LATEST REVIEWS

Friday December 30th

Josep GALLÉS (1758-1836) Harpsichord Sonatas - Michele Benuzzi (harpsichord) rec. 2015 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95228 [78:51] [SSi] An excellent disc. Performances that should win converts for Gallés.

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Cello Concerto, Symphony No. 2 - Jan Vogler (cello) Dresden Fest O/Ivor Bolton rec. 2016 SONY CLASSICS 88985 372122 [58.44] [SG] As Schumann performances go, these traversals set the bar high.

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Firebird Suite, Violin Concerto, Symphony of Psalms - Ida Haendel (violin) Danish Radio Ch & SO/Nikolai Malko rec. 1959 FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR1230 [58:25] [JW] A good example of Malko’s sympathetic response to Stravinsky.

A Christmas Celebration Hallé Ch & O/Stephen Bell rec. 2014 HALLÉ CDHLL7545 [76:04] [BW] One of the most enjoyable of the many Christmas offerings that I sampled this year.

Thursday December 29th

Carl Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788) Sonatas for Harpsichord & Violin - Roberto Loreggian (harpsichord) Federico Guglielmo (violin) rec. 2013 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94902 [74:30] [JV] I can hardly imagine better performances than these sonatas receive here.

Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Harold in Italy, Roman Carnival, Reverie and Caprice, Benvenuto Cellini Overture - Lise Berthaud (viola), Lyon Ntl O/Leonard Slatkin rec. 2013 NAXOS 8.573297 [70:31] [SV] Slatkin's is a controlled, orderly 'Harold', but it hardly captures the score's visceral excitement.

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Complete Violin Sonatas - Christian Tetzlaff (violin) Lars Vogt (piano) rec. 2015 ONDINE ODE1284-2 [72:50] [JW] These are thought-provoking and scrupulously intelligent performances.

Marc-Antoine CHARPENTIER (1643-1704) Pastorale de Noël - Ensemble Correspondances/Sébastien Daucé rec. 2016 HARMONIA MUNDI HMC902247 [81:20] [JV] This disc is one of the best with French music for Christmastide.

Wednesday December 28th

Sir Richard Rodney BENNETT (1936-2012) The Mines of Sulphur - Kristopher Irmiter (bass-baritone) Beth Clayton (mezzo) Glimmerglass Opera O/Stewart Robertson rec. 2004 CHANDOS CHSA5036(2) SACD [56:42 + 50:26] [RB] Stimulating and disturbing: no cause to regret this issue and everything to celebrate.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Georg Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767) Fantaisies pour la Basse de Violle - Thomas Fritzsch (viola da gamba) rec. 2015 COVIELLO CLASSICS COV91601 [84:46] [JV] This is a most fascinating recording of twelve excellent pieces for the viola da gamba.

Bernard ZWEERS (1854-1924) Concert Overture Saskia, Symphony No. 2, Gijsbrecht van Aemstel Suite - Holland RPO/Jean Fournet, Netherlands RSO/Antoni Wit rec. 1973-2001 STERLING CDS1061-2 [57.26] [JW] An intriguing and very worthwhile release.

Christmas Concertos Cappella Gabetta/Andrés Gabetta (violin) rec. 2016 DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 88985332982 [62:15] [BW] A little lacking in the awe and mystery of Christmas but worth having for the three rarities, two of them not otherwise available.

Tuesday December 27th 

Alan RAWSTHORNE (1905-71) A Portrait rec. 2000-16 PRIMA FACIE PRCD053 [78:07] [JF] An essential recording for all Rawsthorne enthusiasts.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) String Quartets Nos 5 & 8 - Dante Qt rec. 2015 SOMM SOMMCD0160 [67.12] [MC] There is so much to admire in this fine Somm album.

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Violin Concerto, Pulcinella, Jeu de Cartes - David Oistrakh (violin), Lamoureux O/Bernard Haitink, Philharmonia O/Otto Klemperer, Bavarian RSO/Igor Stravinsky rec. 1957-63 PRAGA DIGITALS PRD250329 [78:37] [JW] A somewhat ungainly hodgepodge, but much in the performance is top class and the notes and sound are both good.

Twelve Days Of Christmas The King’s Men rec. 2015 KING’S COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE KGS0017 [46:30] [ST] Something pleasantly different for Christmas.

Monday December 26th

Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) String Quartets - Belcea Qt rec. 2014 EUROARTS 2072768 DVD [94:00] [RWe] Every lover of chamber music should have a recording of these terrific works, and the Belcea Quartet is a splendid guide to their glories.

Anton BRUCKNER (1824 -1896) Symphony No.3 - Staatskapelle Dresden/Yannick Nézet-Séguin rec. 2008 HÄNSSLER PROFIL PH12011 [72:01] [BW] Strong competition, even for the 1873 original, but this new recording joins those at the top of the pile for any version.

Camille and Julie Berthollet Guillaume Vincent (piano) Thomas Dutronc (guitar) Monte-Carlo PO/Julien Masmondet rec. 2016 WARNER CLASSICS 9029 593810 [73:50] [JW] An enjoyable album by two young and talented French sisters.

The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book Vol. 4 Pieter-Jan Belder, Gerhard Boogaard (harpsichord) rec. 2014/15 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95254 [68:27 + 64:38] [JV] Pieter-Jan Belder is a trustworthy guide through the labyrinth of the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book.