Friday, March 5, 2010

Gramophone Awards 2007

Recording of the year: Brahms - Piano Concertos; Nelson Freire (piano); Gewandhausorchester, Riccardo Chailly; Decca: 4757637; Spotify link

Baroque Instrumental: Handel: Concerti grossi Op. 3 Nos. 1-6, HWV312-317; Sonata a 5 HWV 288; The Academy of Ancient Music, Richard Egarr; Harmonia Mundi: HMU907415; Spotify link

Baroque Vocal: Handel: Messiah; (Dublin version, 1742); Susan Hamilton (soprano), Annie Gill (mezzo), Clare Wilkinson (alto), Nicholas Mulroy (tenor), Matthew Brook (bass), Edward Caswell (bass); Dunedin Consort, John Butt; Linn: CKD285; Spotify link

Chamber:  Haas, P: String Quartet No. 2, Op. 7 'From the Monkey Mountains'; Janacek: String Quartet No. 2 'Intimate Letters'; Pavel Haas Quartet; Supraphon: SU38772; Spotify link not found

Choral:  Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45; Dorothea Röschmann (soprano) & Thomas Quasthoff (baritone); Berliner Philharmoniker & Rundfunkchor Berlin, Simon Rattle; EMI: 3653932; Spotify link

Contemporary: Anderson, Julian: Alhambra Fantasy; Khorovod; London Sinfonietta; The Stations of the Sun; The Crazed Moon; Diptych; BBC Symphony Orchestra, Oliver Knussen; World Premiere Recordings; Ondine: ODE10122; Spotify link not found

Early Music: William Byrd: Laudibus in sanctis; The Cardinall’s Musick, Andrew Carwood; Hyperion: CDA67568; label not @ Spotify

Historic Archive: Wagner: Götterdämmerung; Jutta Vulpius, Elisabeth Schärtel, Maria Graf, Gustav Neidlinger, Astrid Varnay, Maria von Ilosvay, Wolfgang Windgassen, Georgine von Milinkovic, Mina Bolotine, Hermann Uhde, Josef Greindl, Gré Brouwenstijn; Bayreuth Festival Chorus & Orchestra, Joseph Keilberth; Testament: SBT41393; label not @ Spotify

Historic Reissue: Moeran: Sinfonietta; Symphony in G minor; Overture for a Masque; London Philharmonic Orchestra & New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult; Lyrita: SRCD247; Spotify link not found

Instrumental:  Bach - The Cello Suites; Steven Isserlis (cello); Hyperion: CDA67541/2; label not @ Spotify

Opera: Rossini: Matilde di Shabran; Annick Massis (sop), Juan Diego Florez (ten), Bruno Taddia (bass), Hadar Halevy (mezzo), Marco Vinco (bass), Bruno de Simone (bass), Chiara Chialli (sop), Carlo Lepore (bass), Gregory Bonfatti (ten), Lubomir Moravec; Orquesta Sinfonica De Galicia with the Prague Chamber Choir, Riccardo Frizza; Decca: 4757688; Spotify link

Orchestral: Prokofiev - The Complete Symphonies; London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev; Philips: 4757655; Spotify link

Solo Vocal: R Strauss – Lieder; Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) & Helmut Deutsch (piano); Harmonia Mundi: HMC901879; Spotify link not found

Editor's Choice:  Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C minor 'Resurrection'; Lisa Milne (soprano) & Birgit Remmert (alto); Budapest Festival Orchestra & The Hungarian Radio Choir, Ivan Fischer; Channel: CCSSA23506; Spotify link not found

NB. Let me know if you can find the missing CDs (i.e., “Spotify link not found”).

Monday, March 1, 2010

Specialist Classical Chart: week ending February 27 2010

1. Forever Vienna; André Rieu; Decca 5323879; Spotify link not found

2. Adès - Violin Concerto. Tevot etc; Marwood, Berliner Philharmoniker / Rattle; EMI 4578132; Spotify link

3. Elgar - Violin Concerto; Nikolaj Znaider, Dresden Staatskapelle / Davis; RCA Red Seal 88697 60588-2; Spotify link

4. Rachmaninov - Symphonic Dances. The Isle of the Dead; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic / Vasily Petrenko; Avie AV2188; Spotify link not found

5. Live In Buenos Aires; Britten Sinfonia / Joanna MacGregor; WCJ 2564684759; Spotify link not found

6. Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet; London Symphony Orchestra / Valery Gergiev; LSO Live LSO0682; Spotify link

7. Ceremony and Devotion: Music for the Tudors; The Sixteen / Harry Christophers; Coro COR16077; Spotify link not found

8. Fantasie; Nicola Benedetti; DG 476 3399GH; Spotify link not found

9. The Farewell Concerts; Alfred Brendel, Vienna Philharmonic / Charles Mackerras; Decca 478 2116; Spotify link

10. Schubert - Die schöne Müllerin; Jonas Kaufmann, Helmut Deutsch; Decca 478 1528; Spotify link not found

11. Goodall - Enchanted Voices; Enchanted Voices; Classic FM CFMD7; Spotify link not found

12. Bolivian Baroque Vol 3; Florilegium; Channel Classics CCSSA28009; Spotify link not found

13. Prokofiev - String Quartets Nos 1 & 2; Pavel Haas Quartet; Supraphon SU 3957-2; Spotify link not found

14. Sullivan - Ivanhoe; Soloists, BBC NOW / David Lloyd-Jones; Chandos CHAN105783; Spotify link not found

15. Alma Mater - Music from the Vatican; Pope Benedict XVI; Geffen 476 3664; Spotify link

16. Glass. Nyman. Tavener; Amy Dickson, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Mikel Toms; RCA Red Seal 88697 37679-2; Spotify link

17. Whitbourn - Luminosity; Gillett, Andrade, Commotio / Matthew Berry; Naxos 8 572103; Spotify link not found

18. Vaughan Williams - Sacred Choral Music; Clare College Choir / Timothy Brown; Naxos 8 572465; Spotify link not found

19. Sheppard - Media vita; Stile Antico; Harmonia Mundi HMU80 7509; Spotify link not found

20. New Year's Day Concert 2010; Vienna Philharmonic / Georges Prêtre; Decca 478 2113; Spotify link

NB. Let me know if you can find the missing CDs (i.e., “Spotify link not found”).

Gramophone Discs of the Month and Editor’s choices 2009

January
  • Handel: Acis and Galatea; Original Cannons Performing Version 1718; Susan Hamilton, Nicholas Mulroy, Thomas Hobbs, Nicholas Hurndall Smith & Matthew Brook; Dunedin Consort & Players, John Butt; Linn: CKD319; Spotify link
  • Favourite Works for Strings; Grieg: Holberg Suite, Op. 40; Mozart: Serenade No. 13 in G major, K525 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik'; Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48; Moscow Soloists, Yuri Bashmet (director); Onyx: ONYX4037; Spotify link
  • Bach, J S: Partita No. 4; Beethoven: Diabelli Variations; Stephen Kovacevich (piano); Onyx: ONYX4035; Spotify link
  • Beethoven - Complete String Quartets, Quintets and Fragments; Endellion String Quartet; Warner Classics: 2564694713; Spotify link
  • Pergolesi: Missa Romana; Scarlatti, A: Messa per il Santissimo Natale; Concerto Italiano, Rinaldo Alessandrini; Naive: OP30461; Spotify link

February
  • Holst - Orchestral Works Volume 1; The Morning of the Year; The Lure; The Golden Goose; The Perfect Fool: ballet music; Joyful Company of Singers & BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Richard Hickox; Chandos: CHSA5069; Spotify link
  • Purcell: Dido and Aeneas; Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano), Gerald Finley (baritone), Lucy Crowe (soprano), Patricia Bardon (mezzo-soprano), William Purefoy (counter-tenor), Sarah Tynan (soprano), John Mark Ainsley (tenor), Carys Lane (soprano) & Rebecca Outram (soprano); Choir of the Age of Enlightenment & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Steven Devine and Elizabeth Kenny (directors); Chandos: CHAN0757; Spotify link
  • Composers in Person; EMI: 2175752; Spotify link
  • Bellini: La Sonnambula; Cecilia Bartoli (Amina), Juan-Diego Flórez (Elvino), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Il Conte Rodolfo), Liliana Nikiteanu (Teresa), Gemma Bertagnolli (Lisa), Peter Kalman (Alessio) & Javier Camarena (Un Notaro); Orchestra La Scintilla, Alessandro De Marchi; Decca: 4781087; Spotify link
  • Piano Rarities - Vol 1: Transcriptions; Cyprien Katsaris (piano); Piano 21: P21030; Spotify link

March
  • James Ehnes – Homage; James Ehnes (violin and viola) & Eduard Laurel (piano); Onyx: ONYX4038; Spotify link
  • Glazunov: Symphony No. 6 in C minor, Op. 58; La Mer (Fantasie); Introduction and Dance of Salome, Op. 90; Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Jose Serebrier; Warner Classics: 2564696270; Spotify link
  • Donna, Mozart opera and concert arias; Diana Damrau (soprano); Le Cercle de l’Harmonie, Jérémie Rhorer; Virgin: 2120232; Spotify link
  • Pure Mendelssohn; Sebastian Knauer (piano); Berlin Classics: 0016372BC; Spotify link

April
  • Händel:  Coronation Anthems; The Sixteen, Harry Christophers; Coro: COR16066; Spotify link
  • Schubert - Schwanengesang & Songs After Seidl; Christoph Prégardien (tenor) & Andreas Staier (fortepiano); Challenge Classics: CC72302; Spotify link
  • Dvorák & Herbert - Cello Concertos; Gautier Capuçon (cello); Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi; Virgin: 5190352; Spotify link
  • Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 5; Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel; DG: 4778022; Spotify link
  • Jean-Marie Leclair – Sonatas; John Holloway (violin), Jaap ter Linden (violoncello) & Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord); ECM: 4766280; Spotify link

May
  • Bernstein: Mass; Randall Scarlata (baritone); Celebrant Absolute Ensemble, Chorus sine nomine, Company of Music, Tölzer Knabenchor & Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich, Kristjan Järvi; Chandos: CHSA5070(2); Spotify link

June
  • The Berlin Recital; Bartók: Sonata for Solo Violin, BB 124, Sz. 117; Violin Sonata No. 1, Sz 75; Kreisler: Liebesleid; encore; Schön Rosmarin; encore; Schumann: Violin Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 121; Kinderszenen, Op. 15; Martha Argerich (piano) & Gidon Kremer (violin); EMI: 6933992; Spotify link
  • Shchedrin: The Sealed Angel; Clare Wills (oboe); The Choir of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge & The Choir of King's College London, Geoffrey Webber & David Trendell; Delphian: DCD34067; Spotify link

July
  • Handel - Opera Duets and Arias; Sandrine Piau (soprano) & Sara Mingardo (contralto); Concerto Italiano, Rinaldo Alessandrini; Naive: OP30483; Spotify link
  • Handel: Faramondo; Max Emanuel Cencic, Philippe Jaroussky, Sophie Karthäuser, Marina de Liso, ,Xavier Sabata, Terry Wey, In-Sung Sin & Fulvio Bettini; Choeur de la Radio Suisse, Lugano & I Barocchisti, Diego Fasolis; Virgin: 2166112; Spotify link
  • Korngold - Sonnett fur Wien; Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano), William Dazeley (baritone) & Iain Burnside (piano); Signum: SIGCD160; Spotify link

August
  • Adès: The Tempest; Simon Keenlyside, Kate Royal, Toby Spence, Ian Bostridge, Cyndia Sieden, Philip Langridge, Donald Kaasch, Jonathan Summers, David Condier, Stephen Richardson & Graeme Danby; The Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Thomas Adès; EMI: 6952342; Spotify link
  • Piotr Anderszewski at Carnegie Hall; Piotr Anderszewski (piano); Virgin: 2672912; Spotify link
  • Hans Hotter; Hans Hotter (bass-baritone), Gerald Moore (piano - most works); EMI: 2649012; Spotify link

September
  • Bernstein: Mass; Jubilant Sykes (baritone); Morgan State University Choir, Peabody Children's Chorus, Morgan State University Marching Band & Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop; Naxos - 8559622-23; Spotify link
  • Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 5 (Complete); Boris Berman (piano) & Horacio Gutierrex (piano); Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Neeme Järvi; Chandos: CHAN10522(2)X; Spotify link; Spotify link
  • Britten - Before Life and After; Mark Padmore (tenor) & Roger Vignoles (piano); Harmonia Mundi : HMU907443; Spotify link
  • Purcell: The complete Fantazias; Fretwork; Harmonia Mundi : HMU907502; Spotify link

October
  • Verdi: Requiem; Anja Harteros, Sonia Ganassim Rolando Villazon & Rene Pape, Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Antonio Pappano; EMI: 6989362; Spotify link
  • Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto & Piano Trios; Leonidas Kavakos (violin); Sony: 88697433032; Spotify link
  • Liszt Abroad; Rebecca Evans (soprano), Andrew Kennedy (tenor), Matthew Rose (baritone) & Iain Burnside (piano); Signum: SIGCD155; Spotify link
  • Weber - Clarinet Concertos; Fabio di Casola (clarinet); Chamber Philharmonic of St Petersburg, Juri Gilbo; Sony – 88697376322; Spotify link
  • Haydn: The Seasons; Genia Kühmeier (soprano), Werner Güra (tenor) & Christian Gerhaher – baritone; Concentus Musicus Vienna & Arnold Schoenberg Chor Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt; Deutsche HM: 88697281262; Spotify link
  • Veronique Gens - Tragediennes 2 (from Gluck to Berlioz); Veronique Gens (soprano); Les Talens Lyriques, Christophe Rousset; Virgin – 2165742; Spotify link

Awards Issue
  • Unknown Britten; Les illuminations, Op. 18; Orchestrated by Colin Matthews; Sandrine Piau (soprano); Northern Sinfonia, Thomas Zehetmair; Rondo Concertante for piano and strings; Rolf Hind (piano); In memoriam Dennis Brain for 4 horns and strings; Michael Thompson, Richard Watkins, Peter Francomb & Chris Griffiths (horns); Northern Sinfonia, Thomas Zehetmair; Untitled Fragment for strings; Northern Sinfonia, Thomas Zehetmair; Variations for piano solo; Rolf Hind (piano); Movements for a Clarinet Concerto for clarinet and strings; Realized by Colin Matthews; Michael Collins (clarinet); Northern Sinfonia, Thomas Zehetmair; NMC: NMCD140; Spotify link
  • Jonas Kaufmann sings Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven & Wagner; Jonas Kaufmann (tenor), Mahler Chamber Orchestra & Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Claudio Abbado; Decca: 4781463; Spotify link

November
  • Schubert: Winterreise D911; Mark Padmore (tenor) & Paul Lewis (piano); Harmonia Mundi: HMU907484; Spotify link
  • Bad Boys; Bryn Terfel (baritone), Balcarras Crafoord; Swedish Radio Choir & Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Paul Daniel; DG: 4778091; Spotify link

December
  • Salzburg; Martha Argerich & Nelson Freire (piano); DG: 4778570; Spotify link
  • Ravel; Daphnis et Chloé - Suite No. 2; Valses nobles et sentimentales; La Valse; Ma Mère l'Oye; Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin; EMI: 9663422; Spotify link
  • Rossini - Colbran, the Muse; Opera arias; Joyce DiDonato; Orchestra dell' Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma, Edoardo Muller; Virgin – 6945790; Spotify link

NB. The list above includes only those Discs of the Month and Editor’s choices that Spotify links were found for.