2004-2005 Recommended Recordings

October 30th 2004

J.S. Bach
Harpsichord Concerto No 1

We immediately hit a choice of instrument with this work. There is always a danger that the harpsichord may be almost inaudible in live performance, a problem which is avoided on CD. There are recordings and fine performances using pianos and I’ll mention one later..With regard to harpsichords, the Naxos recording on 8554604 has Robert Hill, a former student with Gustav Leonhardt in Amsterdam, in a performance with the Cologne Chamber Orchestra under Helmut Brüller-Brühl. Other concertos on this CD are BWV1053, 1055 and 1056, and surprisingly the soloists are all different. Moving up to £9-99 brings an Elatus release into contention. Played by Ton Koopman directing the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, this is on 2564 603292. Other concertos included are BWV1053, 1056 and 1057. The latest release in this series in on 2564 617752 and sees Ton Koopman in concertos for more than one harpsichord. Here he is playing BWV 1060-1062 and 1065. There is a DG Archiv collection which offers great value and consists of 3 CDs containing all the harpsichord concertos. Trevor Pinnock directs all the concertos with the English Concert using authentic instruments.
One full price recording worthy of note using a piano is Murray Perahia on Sony SK89245, it may not be authentic, but it is great music making.

Dvorak
Serenade for Strings

One excellent recording at budget price is that from Alexander Schneider and the COE on ASV CD COE801. The Naxos performance from Jaroslav Krcek and the Capella Istropolitana comes with a choice of couplings; Suk on 8550419 or Tchaikovsky on 8554048. In the mid price bracket, there is a recording on the Decca Legends series from Neville Marriner and the ASMF – a delightful collection of the Serenades for Strings by Dvorak and Tchaikovsky, together with Grieg’s Holberg Suite on 4702622.

Duruflé
Requiem

The budget priced CD from Naxos on 8553196 uses the 1961 version of this work, but at this price I would be tempted to go for the Warner Apex recording which has the added benefit of being conducted by the composer. A bargain on 2564 611392. Also from Warner Classics is the mid price Elatus recording on 09274 90012 using the full orchestral version. Conducted by Michel Legrand, it boasts soloists of Thomas Hampson and Jennifer Larmore. Thomas Hampson is also one of the soloists on Michel Plasson’s EMI recording (full price CDC 5568782), a recording which people will buy for the sheer quality of the orchestral playing (but a shame about the vocal contributions from the chorus and the conductor).

It may also be worth mentioning that the Manchester Camerata released a CD earlier in the year of Beethoven symphonies 2 and 5 on Avie 0040.

January 12th 2005

J.S. Bach
Brandenburg Concerto no 3

There is a recording available on Warner’s Apex label at budget price which has Ton Koopman with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra on 2564 613632. Moving up the price range brings in a Double Decca of all six of the concertos, in 1969 recordings with the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Britten. One of the best performances of the first three in the set can be found on a DG Archiv Blue recording with the English Concert under Trevor Pinnock. Played on original instruments, this would make an ideal choice (471 7202 – mid price).

Purcell
Chaconne in g minor.

A recent CD from Warners, Lachrymae – Music for Strings has this work in Britten’s arrangement, played by the COE recorded live in St John’s, Smith Square. Other music on this full price CD includes Pärt, Vaughan Williams, Walton and Tippett (2564 601902).

Corelli
Concerto Grosso in F, op6 no 2

The Naxos recording features the Capella Istropolitana under Krechek on 855 0402. This picks up three stars in the Penguin Guide (as does the companion CD 855 0403). For a CD which has a higher accolade, we need to move up to the DG Archiv recording from Trevor Pinnock on 4749072 which picked up a Gramophone Award in 1989.

Vivaldi
Concerto for 4 violins and cello op 3 no 10

There is a Naxos recording on 855 0160 which features lively performances from the Capella Istropolitana. However, top billing must go to the Chandos release on CHAN0689 with Christopher Hogwood; a very enjoyable set according to the Penguin Guide.

Vivaldi
Four Seasons

This work is well represented in the catalogue. On the Warner Apex label 8573 890972, we find Marieke Blankestijn with the COE – a good performance on modern instruments. At mid price the September 1969 recording from Neville Marriner brings to the work an “element of fantasy” not found in other recordings, according to Gramophone. This is available on Decca’s Legends series 4662322.
My own choice is Anne Sophie Mutter’s second recording of this work, this time with the Trondheim Soloists on DG 463 2592, a recording with all the intimacy of chamber music.

In between writing these notes and the concert I learned that one of the CDs originally mentioned had been deleted; hence these notes here are not quite the same as written in the programme

February 8th 2005

Elgar
Introduction and Allegro

A well filled CD on the Warner Apex label has the BBC Symphony Orchestra with Andrew Davis at the helm in an all Elgar programme including Cockaigne, Enigma and the Serenade for Strings on 09274 13712 Moving up to mid price brings several recordings into the frame. EMI’s Great Recordings of the Century series is represented by Sir John Barbirolli’s account with the Sinfonia of London and the Allegri String Quartet on CDM 5672402. My own preference is a new recording from the Hallé on their own label which also includes what is for me the definitive performance of the Second Symphony conducted by Mark Elder on CDHLL 7507.

Debussy
Danses sacrées et profanes

One of the highlights in the Philips Duo range is the recording of Debussy Orchestral music on 4387422. In addition to tonight’s pieces, there are also the Prélude à l’aprés-midi and La Mer. A well chosen selection.

Ravel
Mother Goose

An excellent choice for this work would be the Naxos CD 8550173 which also includes the Daphnis & Chloé Suite no 1 and Bolero. (You might also investigate the Naxos CD Classics Explained 8559032-33 which also includes Bolero). There is also a Philips CD which also has Carnival of the Animals and L’apprenti sorcier – catalogue number 4629382 – mostly played by the Pittsburgh SO under Previn.

Holst
The Perfect Fool

At budget price Arte Nova have a coupling with The Planets conducted by Adrian Leaper on 74321277852. You might also want to check out the version for two pianos on Naxos 8554369. At mid price there is a 2 CD set from Virgin Classics VBD 5615102 which also has The Planets as well as Orff’s Carmina Burana.

Elgar
In the South (Alassio)

One choice for this work would be the “exuberantly performed” 1990 recording by Neville Marriner and the ASMF, formerly on Collins Classics, but now released under licence by Regis at budget price on RRC1016 – (quotation from Gramophone.)
At mid price I would recommend the combination of Mark Elder and the Hallé on CDHLL7500 - a performance of exhilarating swagger and sighing poignancy (Gramophone again).Both of these come with the First Symphony.

March 9th 2005

Recordings of this work are in very short supply. I did find a reference to one on the Olympia label, but this is no longer available. We are left with an old (1942) recording by Willem Mengelberg on the Pearl label GEM0008 where the couplings are pieces by Richard Strauss

Beethoven
Piano Concerto no 1 in C

If you’ve enjoyed tonight’s performance by one Dutch orchestra in this work then the Philips Eloquence recording of Claudio Arrau with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under Bernard Haitink might be worth considering. This comes with a recording of the Triple Concerto on 4681582 (budget price). Moving up to mid price recordings we find Melvyn Tanand the London Classical players under Sir Roger Norrington. This is a coupling of the first and second concertos played on a fortepiano (VER 5612962), however the full set is a better buy on 5622422.My choice for a full price CD would be that genius of the keyboard, Martha Argerich, in a recording from EMI on which she also plays the Mozart Piano Concerto no 26 (CDC 556974-2).

Brahms
Symphony No 2

The series of Brahms symphonies on the LSO live series includes a performance of the symphony conducted by Bernard Haitink which picked up a Gramophone Editor’s Choice accolade in 2004. The symphony is coupled with the Double Concerto on LSO0043. At full price the recording from Claudio Abbado on DG 427 6432 is a persuasive rendition, coupled with the Alto Rhapsody.
You may want to go for sets of the symphonies and if so, the Classics for Pleasure set on 5757532 is a 4 CD cornucopia of Brahms works from the Halle under James Loughran. Another set worth considering is from Barenboim and the Chicago SO on 2564 618922.

April 16th 2005

There is a Naxos recording, highly thought of in the Observer, which has the Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge performing some of Stanford’s Choral music; this CD can be warmly recommended (8555794). Moving up to mid price brings a recording from Edward Higginbottom with New College Choir into the frame – again a well respected rendition, this time on CRD3497. At full price, the recommendation is for the Hyperion recording CDA66964 – with Winchester Cathedral Choir.

Stanford
Three Biblical Songs

There would appear to be only three recordings which give the three songs performed this evening; the cheapest comes from Priory with Kenneth Lucas accompanied by Andrew Lucas on PRCD733. Apart from this, it’s a choice between Chandos and Hyperion. On Chandos CHAN9548 the performers are Steven Varcoe and Ian Watson. The Hyperion CD, CDA66965, follows each of the songs with a hymn, to in the style of a cantata. Tonight’s songs are sung on the CD by William Kendall, a baritone. Four items from tonight’s performance can be found on a CD on the Lammas label LAMM163D, performed by Manchester Cathedral Choir, available at full price.

Stanford
Fantasia and Toccata

Of the recordings of this work, one recording stands out above the others; this is Keith John on the organ of Gloucester Cathedral as recorded on Priory PRCD370. The Gramophone reviewer praised its “dazzling virtuosity”, “technical brilliance and immense musicianship turn this into … an indescribably sumptuous feast”.

Rachmaninov
Vespers

At the budget end of the range there is a first-rate recording on Regis which has the National Academic Choir of the Ukraine in a highly charged rendition from Kiev Cathedral on RRC1043. Also at this end of the market is a recording from Virgin Classics with the Swedish Radio Choir under Tonu Kaljuste. The catalogue number is VM5618452. This can also be recommended warmly.

There is a full priced CD released this month on the Harmonia Mundi label by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir under the direction of Paul Hillier; HMU907384.

However, the recording which sets the standard for all others is from the St Petersburg Capella under the direction of Vladislav Chernushenko on the Chant du Monde label RUS788050. Under various names, this choir has existed since the 15th century and carries the unmistakable stamp of authority in this work. You can almost sense the snow on their boots in their singing, indeed they perform as if their souls depend on it. Absolutely outstanding.

May 14th 2005

Strauss
Don Juan

There is a bargain priced CD on the Arte Nova label which contains tonight’s work together with Till and Zarathustra on Arte Nova 74321 87071-2. At mid price Karajan’s 1974 recording is still highly regarded and the result is a well filled CD in DG’s Originals series (447 4412) containing Zarathustra, Till Eulenspiegel, Don Juan and Salomé’s Dance. The first three of these also occur on a 2CD set coupled with Heldenleben and Tod und Verklärung (459 5152).
My own preference is for the new CD on the Hallé’s own label, catalogue number CDHLL7508, a 2004 recording under Glorious Mark featuring “playing of the highest technical and musical order” (International Record Review). The couplings are Macbeth op23 and seven of Strauss’s lieder.

Dvorak
Violin Concerto

The Penguin Guide gives three stars to the Naxos recording from Ilva Kaler with the Polish NRSO on 8550758. Also in this price range is the Philips Eloquence recording by Salvatore Accardo coupling the Dvorak concerto with the Sibelius (468 1442) – fine performances, but the documentation is minimal. One of the May releases from Chandos is a new recording of the concerto by James Ehnes with the BBC Philharmonic under Gianandrea Noseda (CHAN 10309), I’ve not heard this as yet, but with the quality of the conductor and orchestra, it should be good. Another recording worthy of consideration is the account from Maxim Vengerov which is available in a bargain box from Warner Classics as part of the 100th Anniversary celebrations 2564615282.

Sibelius
Symphony No 1

The Naxos recording which couples the 1st and 3rd symphonies from the Iceland SO under Sakari would be a good budget choice (8554102). At mid price Rattle’s EMI recording with the CBSO impressed me when I heard it (CDM7641192), although a live performance from Osmo Vänskä showed the work in a new light. His performance was taken at a breathtaking speed, a testament to the confidence he had in that orchestra’s ability. He has recorded the work with a Finnish Orchestra to critical acclaim on the BIS label BISCD861.
A 5CD box of the symphonies, conducted by Ashkenazy on the Decca label is well thought of – it also includes the violin concerto and some of the tone poems 473 5902 – a bargain at under £30.

Janine Jansen’s account of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons has appeared recently on the Decca label 4756188 in a performance which sparkles with new life and energy.