upclass.htm

Updated Classical CD's

Composer Title Performers CD # Comments

Thomas Ades Living Toys London Sinfonietta/ Endellion Quartet, Thomas Ades, etc.... EMI 572271-2 This 1971 born British Composer is a genius. Definitely buy this CD is you like contemporary music

Shumann Complete Works for Piano and Orchestra Perahia, BPO, Abbado Sony SK 64577 Reference performance and good enough recording

Prokofiev
Bartok Piano Concertos 1 + 3 (Prokofiev), Piano Concerto 3 (Bartok) Argerich, Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Dutoit EMI 556654-2 Very good performance and good recording

Handel La Resurrezione Les Musiciens du Louvre, Marc Minkowski Archiv 447767-2 Excellent live recording with electrifying energy. Not to miss!

Kamran Ince Fall of Constantinople,
Arches, Remembering Lycia Albany Symphony Orchestra, Miller Argo
455151-2 Very picturesque contemporary tone poems from talented Kamran Ince. Excellent recording is a bonus.

J.S. Bach The Musical Offering Ensemble Sonnerie Veritas
545139-2 Make yourself an offering by discovering how well Frederick The Great's theme is composed, performed and recorded

Messiaen
Saint-Saens
Milhaud
Ravel French Violin Sonatas Isabelle Van Keulen, Ronald Brautigam Koch
3-6416-2 Played with zest. They enjoy what they are doing or at least this is the feeling you get. Beautifully recorded too!

Monteverdi Ottavo Libro dei Madrigali Concerto Italiano, Rinaldo Alessandrini Opus 111
OPS 30-187 Very well deserved GRAMOPHONE 1998 award. What more can I say?

J.S. Bach Cantatas Vol. 8
BWV22, 23, 75 Bach Collegium Japan, Suzuki BIS
CD-901 Tasteful interpretations. This one is the most recent volume but you may buy all issued volumes without hesitation. Excellent recording!

Mondonville Grands Motets Les Arts Florissants, Christie Erato
0630-17791-2 This was a DIAPASON magazine recommendation. I liked it very much.

Varese The Complete Works Royal Concertgebouw, Asko Ensemble, Chailly London
289 460 208-2 Varese's sonic sculptures have inspired most avant-garde composers and even Frank Zappa. His complete works in 2 CD's. Conducted by the artist of the year 98: Ricardo Chailly

Rossini Il Turco in Italia Bartoli, Corbelli, Pertusi, Vargas, La Scala Orchestra, Chailly London
289 458 924-2 Awarded as "Best Opera CD of 1998" by GRAMOPHONE magazine. Features Bartoli and Chailly. Decca recording at its best!

Brahms
R. Strauss Piano Concerto 2
Burleske Rudolf Serkin,
Cleveland Orch., Philadelphia Orch., Szell, Ormandy Sony
Essential Classics
SBK 53262 Buy it if only for R. Strauss' Burleske. Beautifully played by Rudolf Serkin. A reference. This 1966 recording is very good.

Prokofiev Piano Sonatas 2, 7, 8 Pletnev DG
289 457 588-2 The sonatas and Pletnev's performances are masterly. This is a very recent CD (1998) and the DG recording is top quality.

Beethoven Synphony No. 3, 4 Tonhalle Zurich, Zinman Arte Nova
74321 59214-2 I bought this CD due to high praises in the GRAMOPHONE magazine. It is indeed deserving them. The performances and recording are very good. This CD sells for $4.99 at Music Boulevard. It may be the steal of your life!

Bartok
Kodaly
Weiner
Cantata profana
Psalmus hungaricus
Serenade
Budapest Festival Orchestra, Solti London
289 458 929-2 This is Sir Georg Solti's last recording, in his native country. All three composers were his teachers. Wonderful music and recording.

Toru Takemitsu
(1930 - 1996) Quotation of Dream London Sinfonietta, Knussen DG
453 495-2 I very much liked Takemitsu's world premiere recording. The music is rich in melody, post impressionistic with peaceful Japanese landscapes. DG recording is excellent.

Ravel Piano Concertos,
Valses nobles et sentimentales Zimerman, Boulez, Cleveland Orch., LSO DG
289 449 213-2 Possibly I cannot recommend any other CD as strongly as this one. Beautiful performance by Zimerman and Boulez and excellent recording by DG!

Wagner Wesendonk Lieder, Arias Julia Varady, Deutches Symphonie Orchester Berlin, Fischer-Dieskau Orfeo
C 467 981 A A great achievement in every respect!

Lekeu Chamber Music Ensemble Musique Oblique Harmonia Mundi
HMA 1901 455 This CD arrived three days ago and I keep listening to it. Excellent chamber music very well performed and recorded.

Penderecki Violin Concerto No.2 "Metamorphosen"
(+ Bartok Violin Sonata No.2) Anne-Sophie Mutter, LSO, Penderecki DG
289 453 507-2 World Premiere Recording of the latest beautifully lyrical violin concerto written by the Polish composer Penderecki and dedicated to Mutter. Excellent piece with a divine last movement! And WHAT A RECORDING!!! Bravo DG!

Schnittke The Complete String Quartets Kronos Quartet Nonesuch
79500-2 If you like avant-garde music, Schnittke's Quartets are very captivating. Outstanding performance by Kronos and excellent recording.

Franck
Chausson Sonata
Concert Rosand (violin)
Lipkin (piano)
with the Miami String Qt. Audiofon
CD 72039 Excellent performances. Especially Franck sonata is not to be missed. Recordings are also demo quality.

Vivaldi Concerti per Liuto e Mandolino Il Giardino Armonico Teldec
4509-91182-2 If you like Vivaldi, do not hesitate: buy this one.

John Adams Violin Concerto
+ Shaker Loops Gidon Kremer, LSO, Nagano Nonesuch
79360-2 When we were in Chicago, I heard this concerto live performed by Vadim Repin. John Adams was himself conducting the CSO. I liked it very much and on the way out I bought this CD. Kremer's interpretation is even better and the recording is excellent.

Schumann Piano Trios (No.1 +2) The Florestan Trio Hyperion
CDA 67063 This CD was recommended by GRAMOPHONE magazine. And now also by me. You can feel that they enjoy their playing. Great performances and a very life like, well balanced, natural recording.

Carl Orff Carmina Burana Deutschen Oper Berlin, Thielemann DG
289 453 587-2 I liked very much this new performance by Thielemann. Fresh, dynamic and very well recorded.

Arvo Part Tabula Rasa, Fratres, Symphony No.3 Gil Shaham, Gothenburg SO, Jarvi DG
457 647-2 If you like Arvo Part, consider also this new title. Good recording is a bonus.

Laurindo Almeida

First Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra Almeida, The Los Angeles Orchestra de Camera, Ramsey Concord
CCD-42001 Brazilian guitarist Almeida plays his own concerto composed in 1979. This is a beautiful small scale, neo-classical latin flavored concerto. The recording is decent.

Dvorak

Rusalka opera Fleming, Heppner, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Mackerras Decca
289 460 568-2 This CD received GRAMOPHONE magazine's "Record of the Year" 1999 award which is fully deserved. Great music, performance and excellent recording!!!

Shostakovich Violin Sonatas Op.134 and Op.147 Isabelle van Keulen, Ronald Brautigam Vanguard Classics
99021 These two beautiful sonatas are very well played and recorded. There is a second CD in the package: the chamber symphonies, but I found the Sonatas CD much more interesting.

Brahms, Fruhling, Schumann Clarinet Trios Steven Isserlis,
Michael Collins,
Stephen Hough RCA
9026-63504-2 Beautiful performances combined with excellent recording. This CD is a MUST for all chamber music lovers.

Handel Dixit Dominus, Salve Regina, Laudate Pueri, Saeviat Tellus Les Musiciens du Louvre, Marc Minkowski Archiv
459 627-2 Minkowski has done it again. This handel CD is as good as the "La Resurrezione" that I recommended earlier (see above). The recording is top quality too!!!

Nicholas Maw Violin Concerto Joshua Bell, LPO, Norrington Sony Classical
SK 62856 Nicholas Maw was born in 1935, but his Violin Concerto, composed in 1993, is far from being modern or contemporary. It is a typical romantic concerto very much like the extension of Brahms' works to 20th century. It is a beautiful oeuvre very well performed by Joshua Bell. The recording is excellent.

Bruckner Symphony No.4 "Romantic" Berliner Philharmoniker, Wand RCA
09026-68839-2 Supreme performance!!!
This CD is a MUST HAVE even if you don't like Bruckner. The live recording is truly excellent!

Bruckner Symphony No.5 Berliner Philharmoniker, Wand RCA
09026-68503-2 Same comments as above.

John McCabe String Quartets 3, 4, 5 The Vanbrugh Quartet Hyperion
CDA67078 Wonderful contemporary chamber music compositions by McCabe, played with zest by The Vanbrugh Qt. and recorded truthfully by Hyperion. Strongly recommended!

Bruch,
Vieuxtemps

Concerto No.1,
Scottish Fantasy
Concerto No.5 Heifetz, New Symphony Orchestra of London, Sir Malcolm Sargent RCA
6214-2-RC The recordings are from 1961 and 1962. Probably the best Scottish Fantasy performance ever played from the greatest violin virtuoso of the last century. The recordings are amazingly good: lots of detail, body, air. Strongly recommended!

Marin Marais Pieces de Viole
du troisieme Livre 1711 Jordi Savall, Tom Koopman, Hopkinson Smith Astree
E 8761 Late 17, early 18 century French composer Marais was himself a bass viol player. So he wrote these beautiful pieces for his own instrument. Rendered with a lot of zest by Jordi Savall and his friends. The recording is excellent.

Bruckner

Symphony No.9 Berliner Philharmoniker, Wand RCA
74321 63244-2 Gunter Wand did it again. Like his other two Bruckner recordings (see above), this one is also LIVE.
Again, another wonderful performance! A must buy if you like Bruckner. Great live recording too.

Colin Matthews

Broken Symmetry,
Sun Dance,
Fourth Sonata London Sinfonietta, Knussen DG
447 067-2 Colin Matthews (b.1946) is a contemporary composer and his music is very rich, creative and original (not of the "postmodern-romantic" kind). Difficult to summarize in few words. Do buy the CD and you'll understand what I mean. Also, great recording!

Ravel, Kodaly, Bach

Duos for Violin & Cello Kennedy, Harrell EMI
56963-2 It is rare to find pieces written for Violin and Cello alone. Well Kennedy and Harrell found them. Beautiful music indeed, well performed and recorded.

Vivaldi

La tempesta di mare
Concerti con titoli Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante Virgin Veritas
45424-2 Fabio Biondi compiled the thematic concertos of Vivaldi. "La tempesta di mare" is only one of them. There are six others on the same CD. I liked the music and the playing very much. Very well recorded too.

For more CD recommendations visit the
"Odyofilya SokaklarI" ("The Streets of Audiophilia")
section

Home

Composer	Title	Performers	CD #	Comments
Thomas Ades	Living Toys	London Sinfonietta/ Endellion Quartet, Thomas Ades, etc....	EMI 572271-2	This 1971 born British Composer is a genius. Definitely buy this CD is you like contemporary music
Shumann	Complete Works for Piano and Orchestra	Perahia, BPO, Abbado	Sony SK 64577	Reference performance and good enough recording
Prokofiev Bartok	Piano Concertos 1 + 3 (Prokofiev), Piano Concerto 3 (Bartok)	Argerich, Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Dutoit	EMI 556654-2	Very good performance and good recording
Handel	La Resurrezione	Les Musiciens du Louvre, Marc Minkowski	Archiv 447767-2	Excellent live recording with electrifying energy. Not to miss!
Kamran Ince	Fall of Constantinople, Arches, Remembering Lycia	Albany Symphony Orchestra, Miller	Argo 455151-2	Very picturesque contemporary tone poems from talented Kamran Ince. Excellent recording is a bonus.
J.S. Bach	The Musical Offering	Ensemble Sonnerie	Veritas 545139-2	Make yourself an offering by discovering how well Frederick The Great's theme is composed, performed and recorded
Messiaen Saint-Saens Milhaud Ravel	French Violin Sonatas	Isabelle Van Keulen, Ronald Brautigam	Koch 3-6416-2	Played with zest. They enjoy what they are doing or at least this is the feeling you get. Beautifully recorded too!
Monteverdi	Ottavo Libro dei Madrigali	Concerto Italiano, Rinaldo Alessandrini	Opus 111 OPS 30-187	Very well deserved GRAMOPHONE 1998 award. What more can I say?
J.S. Bach	Cantatas Vol. 8 BWV22, 23, 75	Bach Collegium Japan, Suzuki	BIS CD-901	Tasteful interpretations. This one is the most recent volume but you may buy all issued volumes without hesitation. Excellent recording!
Mondonville	Grands Motets	Les Arts Florissants, Christie	Erato 0630-17791-2	This was a DIAPASON magazine recommendation. I liked it very much.
Varese	The Complete Works	Royal Concertgebouw, Asko Ensemble, Chailly	London 289 460 208-2	Varese's sonic sculptures have inspired most avant-garde composers and even Frank Zappa. His complete works in 2 CD's. Conducted by the artist of the year 98: Ricardo Chailly
Rossini	Il Turco in Italia	Bartoli, Corbelli, Pertusi, Vargas, La Scala Orchestra, Chailly	London 289 458 924-2	Awarded as "Best Opera CD of 1998" by GRAMOPHONE magazine. Features Bartoli and Chailly. Decca recording at its best!
Brahms R. Strauss	Piano Concerto 2 Burleske	Rudolf Serkin, Cleveland Orch., Philadelphia Orch., Szell, Ormandy	Sony Essential Classics SBK 53262	Buy it if only for R. Strauss' Burleske. Beautifully played by Rudolf Serkin. A reference. This 1966 recording is very good.
Prokofiev	Piano Sonatas 2, 7, 8	Pletnev	DG 289 457 588-2	The sonatas and Pletnev's performances are masterly. This is a very recent CD (1998) and the DG recording is top quality.
Beethoven	Synphony No. 3, 4	Tonhalle Zurich, Zinman	Arte Nova 74321 59214-2	I bought this CD due to high praises in the GRAMOPHONE magazine. It is indeed deserving them. The performances and recording are very good. This CD sells for $4.99 at Music Boulevard. It may be the steal of your life!
Bartok Kodaly Weiner	Cantata profana Psalmus hungaricus Serenade	Budapest Festival Orchestra, Solti	London 289 458 929-2	This is Sir Georg Solti's last recording, in his native country. All three composers were his teachers. Wonderful music and recording.
Toru Takemitsu (1930 - 1996)	Quotation of Dream	London Sinfonietta, Knussen	DG 453 495-2	I very much liked Takemitsu's world premiere recording. The music is rich in melody, post impressionistic with peaceful Japanese landscapes. DG recording is excellent.
Ravel	Piano Concertos, Valses nobles et sentimentales	Zimerman, Boulez, Cleveland Orch., LSO	DG 289 449 213-2	Possibly I cannot recommend any other CD as strongly as this one. Beautiful performance by Zimerman and Boulez and excellent recording by DG!
Wagner	Wesendonk Lieder, Arias	Julia Varady, Deutches Symphonie Orchester Berlin, Fischer-Dieskau	Orfeo C 467 981 A	A great achievement in every respect!
Lekeu	Chamber Music	Ensemble Musique Oblique	Harmonia Mundi HMA 1901 455	This CD arrived three days ago and I keep listening to it. Excellent chamber music very well performed and recorded.
Penderecki	Violin Concerto No.2 "Metamorphosen" (+ Bartok Violin Sonata No.2)	Anne-Sophie Mutter, LSO, Penderecki	DG 289 453 507-2	World Premiere Recording of the latest beautifully lyrical violin concerto written by the Polish composer Penderecki and dedicated to Mutter. Excellent piece with a divine last movement! And WHAT A RECORDING!!! Bravo DG!
Schnittke	The Complete String Quartets	Kronos Quartet	Nonesuch 79500-2	If you like avant-garde music, Schnittke's Quartets are very captivating. Outstanding performance by Kronos and excellent recording.
Franck Chausson	Sonata Concert	Rosand (violin) Lipkin (piano) with the Miami String Qt.	Audiofon CD 72039	Excellent performances. Especially Franck sonata is not to be missed. Recordings are also demo quality.
Vivaldi	Concerti per Liuto e Mandolino	Il Giardino Armonico	Teldec 4509-91182-2	If you like Vivaldi, do not hesitate: buy this one.
John Adams	Violin Concerto + Shaker Loops	Gidon Kremer, LSO, Nagano	Nonesuch 79360-2	When we were in Chicago, I heard this concerto live performed by Vadim Repin. John Adams was himself conducting the CSO. I liked it very much and on the way out I bought this CD. Kremer's interpretation is even better and the recording is excellent.
Schumann	Piano Trios (No.1 +2)	The Florestan Trio	Hyperion CDA 67063	This CD was recommended by GRAMOPHONE magazine. And now also by me. You can feel that they enjoy their playing. Great performances and a very life like, well balanced, natural recording.
Carl Orff	Carmina Burana	Deutschen Oper Berlin, Thielemann	DG 289 453 587-2	I liked very much this new performance by Thielemann. Fresh, dynamic and very well recorded.
Arvo Part	Tabula Rasa, Fratres, Symphony No.3	Gil Shaham, Gothenburg SO, Jarvi	DG 457 647-2	If you like Arvo Part, consider also this new title. Good recording is a bonus.
Laurindo Almeida	First Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra	Almeida, The Los Angeles Orchestra de Camera, Ramsey	Concord CCD-42001	Brazilian guitarist Almeida plays his own concerto composed in 1979. This is a beautiful small scale, neo-classical latin flavored concerto. The recording is decent.
Dvorak	Rusalka opera	Fleming, Heppner, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Mackerras	Decca 289 460 568-2	This CD received GRAMOPHONE magazine's "Record of the Year" 1999 award which is fully deserved. Great music, performance and excellent recording!!!
Shostakovich	Violin Sonatas Op.134 and Op.147	Isabelle van Keulen, Ronald Brautigam	Vanguard Classics 99021	These two beautiful sonatas are very well played and recorded. There is a second CD in the package: the chamber symphonies, but I found the Sonatas CD much more interesting.
Brahms, Fruhling, Schumann	Clarinet Trios	Steven Isserlis, Michael Collins, Stephen Hough	RCA 9026-63504-2	Beautiful performances combined with excellent recording. This CD is a MUST for all chamber music lovers.
Handel	Dixit Dominus, Salve Regina, Laudate Pueri, Saeviat Tellus	Les Musiciens du Louvre, Marc Minkowski	Archiv 459 627-2	Minkowski has done it again. This handel CD is as good as the "La Resurrezione" that I recommended earlier (see above). The recording is top quality too!!!
Nicholas Maw	Violin Concerto	Joshua Bell, LPO, Norrington	Sony Classical SK 62856	Nicholas Maw was born in 1935, but his Violin Concerto, composed in 1993, is far from being modern or contemporary. It is a typical romantic concerto very much like the extension of Brahms' works to 20th century. It is a beautiful oeuvre very well performed by Joshua Bell. The recording is excellent.
Bruckner	Symphony No.4 "Romantic"	Berliner Philharmoniker, Wand	RCA 09026-68839-2	Supreme performance!!! This CD is a MUST HAVE even if you don't like Bruckner. The live recording is truly excellent!
Bruckner	Symphony No.5	Berliner Philharmoniker, Wand	RCA 09026-68503-2	Same comments as above.
John McCabe	String Quartets 3, 4, 5	The Vanbrugh Quartet	Hyperion CDA67078	Wonderful contemporary chamber music compositions by McCabe, played with zest by The Vanbrugh Qt. and recorded truthfully by Hyperion. Strongly recommended!
Bruch, Vieuxtemps	Concerto No.1, Scottish Fantasy Concerto No.5	Heifetz, New Symphony Orchestra of London, Sir Malcolm Sargent	RCA 6214-2-RC	The recordings are from 1961 and 1962. Probably the best Scottish Fantasy performance ever played from the greatest violin virtuoso of the last century. The recordings are amazingly good: lots of detail, body, air. Strongly recommended!
Marin Marais	Pieces de Viole du troisieme Livre 1711	Jordi Savall, Tom Koopman, Hopkinson Smith	Astree E 8761	Late 17, early 18 century French composer Marais was himself a bass viol player. So he wrote these beautiful pieces for his own instrument. Rendered with a lot of zest by Jordi Savall and his friends. The recording is excellent.
Bruckner	Symphony No.9	Berliner Philharmoniker, Wand	RCA 74321 63244-2	Gunter Wand did it again. Like his other two Bruckner recordings (see above), this one is also LIVE. Again, another wonderful performance! A must buy if you like Bruckner. Great live recording too.
Colin Matthews	Broken Symmetry, Sun Dance, Fourth Sonata	London Sinfonietta, Knussen	DG 447 067-2	Colin Matthews (b.1946) is a contemporary composer and his music is very rich, creative and original (not of the "postmodern-romantic" kind). Difficult to summarize in few words. Do buy the CD and you'll understand what I mean. Also, great recording!
Ravel, Kodaly, Bach	Duos for Violin & Cello	Kennedy, Harrell	EMI 56963-2	It is rare to find pieces written for Violin and Cello alone. Well Kennedy and Harrell found them. Beautiful music indeed, well performed and recorded.
Vivaldi	La tempesta di mare Concerti con titoli	Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante	Virgin Veritas 45424-2	Fabio Biondi compiled the thematic concertos of Vivaldi. "La tempesta di mare" is only one of them. There are six others on the same CD. I liked the music and the playing very much. Very well recorded too.