Aug. 4, 2015
Storytelling and music go hand-in-hand, as our reviewers found this month. They discovered the music of Richard Wagner's operas retold in versions for orchestra, for piano and harmonium duet, and for solo piano. Francis Poulenc turned the fables of Jean de La Fontaine into a ballet, Les Animaux modèles, recently recorded by Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz led by Ariane Matiakh. Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is given an appealing operatic makeover by Will Todd. And did you know, storyteller E.T.A. Hoffmann, author of The Nutcracker, also wrote music? There's a new recording of some of it by Michael Alexander Willens and the Kölner Akademie here, among all the other albums and music reviewed in July.
Blair Sanderson
Claudio Abbado, Orchestra Mozart - Schubert: The "Great" C major Symphony
Iveta Apkalna - Bach, Glass
Martha Argerich - Martha Argerich & Friends: Live from Lugano 2014
Martha Argerich, Claudio Abbado - Martha Argerich & Claudio Abbado: Complete Concerto Recordings
Anna Fedorova - Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2; Cello Sonata
Festival Ensemble Spannungen - Mahler: Symphony No. 4 (Fassung Erwin Stein)
Goldstone & Clemmow Piano Duo - Franz Schubert: The Unauthorised Piano Duos, Vol. 3
Howard Griffiths, NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra - Louis Spohr: Symphonies 7 & 9; Erinnerung an Marienbad
Howard Griffiths, Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt - Brahms: Symphonies 1 & 2
Haydn Quartet, Rudolf Leopold - Goldmark: Streichquartett; Streichquintett
Jan Hennig, Ernst Breidenbach - Sigfrid Karg-Elert: Opern von Richard Wagner in Bearbeitungen für Harmonium und Klavier
Richard Hickox, Rumon Gamba - Sir Malcolm Arnold: Complete Symphonies
Marek Janowski, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande - Bruckner: The Symphonies
Marek Janowski, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra - Hans Werner Henze: Symphonies Nos. 1-10
Paavo Järvi, Russian National Orchestra - Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7
Daniel Klajner, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie - Richard Wagner: Der Ring - Symphonisch
Sabine Liebner - Giacinto Scelsi: Suite 9 & 10 per pianoforte
Fabio Luisi, Philharmonia Zurich - Wagner: Preludes and Interludes
Kevin Mallon, Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra - Franz Ignaz Beck: Symphonies, Op. 2
Benjamin Moser - Beethoven & Schubert: The Last Sonatas
Angelika Nebel - Bach: Illuminationes
Roger Norrington - Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem
Garrick Ohlsson - Debussy, Bartók, Prokofiev: Études
Andrea Padova - Johann Sebastian Bach: Goldberg Variations
Itzhak Perlman, Emanuel Ax - Fauré & Strauss: Violin Sonatas
Mikhail Pletnev, Russian National Orchestra - Scriabin: Symphony No. 1; The Poem of Ecstasy
Martin Schmeding, Münchener Bach-Orchester, Hansjörg Albrecht - Grand Musical Entertainment: Händel for Organ & Orchestra
Nickolai Sheikov - Domenico Scarlatti: Sonatas
Speidel-Trenkner Piano Duo - Beethoven: Music for Piano Duo
Markus Stenz, Gürzenich Orchestra Köln - Schoenberg: Gurre-Lieder
Morton Subotnick - Morton Subotnick: The Wild Beasts
Jaap van Zweden, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra - Bruckner: Symphony No. 1
Various Artists - Simply the Best Classical Anthems
Christophe Vaultier - Wagner, Liszt: Tristan und Isolde; Parsifal
Ulf Wallin, Roland Pöntinen - Liszt: Works for Violin and Piano
Michael Alexander Willens, Kölner Akademie - E.T.A. Hoffmann: Symphony; Overtures; Friedrich Witt: Sinfonia in A
Simone Young, Hamburg State Philharmonic Orchestra - Bruckner: Sinfonie No. 9
James Manheim
Armonico Consort, Christopher Monks - Purcell: Dido & Aeneas
David Atherton, London Sinfonietta - Birtwistle: Angel Fighter
Bang on a Can All-Stars - Field Recordings
Mona and Rita Bard - Françaix: Concertos for 2 Pianos and Orchestra; Poulenc: Les Animaux Modèles Suite
Ian Bostridge - Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin; Winterreise; Schwanengesang
Ian Bostridge, Julius Drake - Schubert: Lieder, Vol. 2
Cinquecento - Lassus: Missa super Dixit Joseph & Motets
Alan Feinberg - Fugue State
Heiko Mathias Förster - Antonín Dvorák: Alfred
Andrei Gavrilov, Lodnon Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle - Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 1; Ravel: Concerto for the Left Hand
Alon Goldstein, Fine Arts Quartet - Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 and 21
Gryphon Trio - Elements Eternal
Augustin Hadelich, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Miguel Harth Bedoya - Bartók: Violin Concerto No. 2; Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto
Pablo Heras-Casado, Balthasar-Neumann Chor und Ensemble - Praetorius
Monica Huggett, Portland Baroque Orchestra - J.S. Bach: Concertos for One, Two and Three Violins
Marek Janowski - Richard Strauss: Symphonica Domestica & Die Tageszeiten
Vadym Kholodenko - Grieg, Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos
Lutoslawski Quartet - Grazyna Bacewicz: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 1
Steven Mayer - Louis Moreau Gottschalk: A Night in the Tropics
Monks of Norcia - Benedicta: Marian Chant from Norcia
Joseph Moog - Grieg & Moszkowski: Piano Concertos
Musicians of Shakespeare's Globe, Claire van Kampen - Wolf Hall: Tudor Music Soundtrack from the Original Miniseries
Andris Nelsons, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra - Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony; March Slave
Gordan Nikolic, Netherlands Chamber Orchestra - Charles Gounod: The Symphonies
Opera Holland Park - Will Todd: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Renata Pokupic, Roger Vignoles - Songs by Tomásek
Polyphony, Stephen Layton - Barber, Bernstein, Copland, Thompson
John Potter, Anna Maria Friman, Ariel Abramovich, Jacob Heringman - Amores Pasados
Quatuor Élysée - Benjamin Godard: Les Trois Quatuors
Red Note Ensemble - Eddie McGuire: Entangled Fortunes
András Schiff - Franz Schubert
Leif Segerstam, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra - Sibelius: Belshazzar's Feast
The Sixteen, Harry Christophers - Purcell: The Indian Queen
Arabella Steinbacher - Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto, Op. 64; Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto, Op. 35
Christianne Stotijn - If the Owl Calls Again
Syrinx - The Saxon Alternative: Telemann Music for Wind Band
Daria van den Bercken - Keys to Mozart
Vox Luminis, Lionel Meunier - Johann Bach, Johann Christoph Bach, Johann Michael Bach: Motetten
Jamie Walton, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Okko Kamu - Glazunov: Concerto Ballata, Op. 108; Prokofiev: Concertino, Op. 132; Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33
William Youn - William Youn plays Mozart Sonatas, Vol. 2
Blair Sanderson
Claudio Abbado, Orchestra Mozart - Schubert: The "Great" C major Symphony
Iveta Apkalna - Bach, Glass
Martha Argerich - Martha Argerich & Friends: Live from Lugano 2014
Martha Argerich, Claudio Abbado - Martha Argerich & Claudio Abbado: Complete Concerto Recordings
Anna Fedorova - Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2; Cello Sonata
Festival Ensemble Spannungen - Mahler: Symphony No. 4 (Fassung Erwin Stein)
Goldstone & Clemmow Piano Duo - Franz Schubert: The Unauthorised Piano Duos, Vol. 3
Howard Griffiths, NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra - Louis Spohr: Symphonies 7 & 9; Erinnerung an Marienbad
Howard Griffiths, Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt - Brahms: Symphonies 1 & 2
Haydn Quartet, Rudolf Leopold - Goldmark: Streichquartett; Streichquintett
Jan Hennig, Ernst Breidenbach - Sigfrid Karg-Elert: Opern von Richard Wagner in Bearbeitungen für Harmonium und Klavier
Richard Hickox, Rumon Gamba - Sir Malcolm Arnold: Complete Symphonies
Marek Janowski, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande - Bruckner: The Symphonies
Marek Janowski, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra - Hans Werner Henze: Symphonies Nos. 1-10
Paavo Järvi, Russian National Orchestra - Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7
Daniel Klajner, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie - Richard Wagner: Der Ring - Symphonisch
Sabine Liebner - Giacinto Scelsi: Suite 9 & 10 per pianoforte
Fabio Luisi, Philharmonia Zurich - Wagner: Preludes and Interludes
Kevin Mallon, Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra - Franz Ignaz Beck: Symphonies, Op. 2
Benjamin Moser - Beethoven & Schubert: The Last Sonatas
Angelika Nebel - Bach: Illuminationes
Roger Norrington - Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem
Garrick Ohlsson - Debussy, Bartók, Prokofiev: Études
Andrea Padova - Johann Sebastian Bach: Goldberg Variations
Itzhak Perlman, Emanuel Ax - Fauré & Strauss: Violin Sonatas
Mikhail Pletnev, Russian National Orchestra - Scriabin: Symphony No. 1; The Poem of Ecstasy
Martin Schmeding, Münchener Bach-Orchester, Hansjörg Albrecht - Grand Musical Entertainment: Händel for Organ & Orchestra
Nickolai Sheikov - Domenico Scarlatti: Sonatas
Speidel-Trenkner Piano Duo - Beethoven: Music for Piano Duo
Markus Stenz, Gürzenich Orchestra Köln - Schoenberg: Gurre-Lieder
Morton Subotnick - Morton Subotnick: The Wild Beasts
Jaap van Zweden, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra - Bruckner: Symphony No. 1
Various Artists - Simply the Best Classical Anthems
Christophe Vaultier - Wagner, Liszt: Tristan und Isolde; Parsifal
Ulf Wallin, Roland Pöntinen - Liszt: Works for Violin and Piano
Michael Alexander Willens, Kölner Akademie - E.T.A. Hoffmann: Symphony; Overtures; Friedrich Witt: Sinfonia in A
Simone Young, Hamburg State Philharmonic Orchestra - Bruckner: Sinfonie No. 9
James Manheim
Armonico Consort, Christopher Monks - Purcell: Dido & Aeneas
David Atherton, London Sinfonietta - Birtwistle: Angel Fighter
Bang on a Can All-Stars - Field Recordings
Mona and Rita Bard - Françaix: Concertos for 2 Pianos and Orchestra; Poulenc: Les Animaux Modèles Suite
Ian Bostridge - Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin; Winterreise; Schwanengesang
Ian Bostridge, Julius Drake - Schubert: Lieder, Vol. 2
Cinquecento - Lassus: Missa super Dixit Joseph & Motets
Alan Feinberg - Fugue State
Heiko Mathias Förster - Antonín Dvorák: Alfred
Andrei Gavrilov, Lodnon Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle - Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 1; Ravel: Concerto for the Left Hand
Alon Goldstein, Fine Arts Quartet - Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 and 21
Gryphon Trio - Elements Eternal
Augustin Hadelich, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Miguel Harth Bedoya - Bartók: Violin Concerto No. 2; Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto
Pablo Heras-Casado, Balthasar-Neumann Chor und Ensemble - Praetorius
Monica Huggett, Portland Baroque Orchestra - J.S. Bach: Concertos for One, Two and Three Violins
Marek Janowski - Richard Strauss: Symphonica Domestica & Die Tageszeiten
Vadym Kholodenko - Grieg, Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos
Lutoslawski Quartet - Grazyna Bacewicz: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 1
Steven Mayer - Louis Moreau Gottschalk: A Night in the Tropics
Monks of Norcia - Benedicta: Marian Chant from Norcia
Joseph Moog - Grieg & Moszkowski: Piano Concertos
Musicians of Shakespeare's Globe, Claire van Kampen - Wolf Hall: Tudor Music Soundtrack from the Original Miniseries
Andris Nelsons, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra - Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony; March Slave
Gordan Nikolic, Netherlands Chamber Orchestra - Charles Gounod: The Symphonies
Opera Holland Park - Will Todd: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Renata Pokupic, Roger Vignoles - Songs by Tomásek
Polyphony, Stephen Layton - Barber, Bernstein, Copland, Thompson
John Potter, Anna Maria Friman, Ariel Abramovich, Jacob Heringman - Amores Pasados
Quatuor Élysée - Benjamin Godard: Les Trois Quatuors
Red Note Ensemble - Eddie McGuire: Entangled Fortunes
András Schiff - Franz Schubert
Leif Segerstam, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra - Sibelius: Belshazzar's Feast
The Sixteen, Harry Christophers - Purcell: The Indian Queen
Arabella Steinbacher - Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto, Op. 64; Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto, Op. 35
Christianne Stotijn - If the Owl Calls Again
Syrinx - The Saxon Alternative: Telemann Music for Wind Band
Daria van den Bercken - Keys to Mozart
Vox Luminis, Lionel Meunier - Johann Bach, Johann Christoph Bach, Johann Michael Bach: Motetten
Jamie Walton, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Okko Kamu - Glazunov: Concerto Ballata, Op. 108; Prokofiev: Concertino, Op. 132; Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33
William Youn - William Youn plays Mozart Sonatas, Vol. 2