The Music Pages | August 2008


	Cat. No.: 477 7429 Barcode: 0028947774297 Label: DG CD Release Date: August			SIMON STANDAGE \| J.S. BACH: 3 Concerti ARTISTS Simon Standage, violin David Reichenberg, oboe Lisa Beznosiuk, flute The English Concert Trevor Pinnock TRACK LISTING J.S. BACH: Concerto for Flute, Violin, Harpsichord, Strings and Basso Continuo in A minor, BWV 1044 ‘Triple Concerto’ Concerto for Oboe, Violin, Strings and Basso Continuo in C minor, reconstructed after the Concerto for 2 Harpsichords, BWV 1060 Concerto for Oboe d'amore, Strings and Basso Continuo in A major, reconstructed after the Concerto for Harpsichord, BWV 1055 ‘As in their other Bach concerto recordings for DG Archiv, Pinnock and the English Concert prove the most persuasive practitioners of authentic performance, both vigorous and warm with consistently resilient rhythms. This collection of works transcribed from better-known originals features two wind soloists with tone warmer and less abrasive than many using baroque instruments. The recorded sound is exceptionally vivid in its sense of presence in its CD format.’ Penguin Guide ‘This is an enjoyable issue especially, perhaps, for the oboe d'amore playing. Good recorded sound.’ Gramophone RETURN TO THE TOP

	Cat. No.: 477 7434 Barcode: 0028947774341 Label: DG CD Release Date: August			GIDON KREMER \| MARTHA ARGERICH \| PROKOFIEV: Violin Sonatas ARTISTS Gidon Kremer, violin Martha Argerich, piano TRACK LISTING PROKOFIEV: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 in F minor, Op. 80 Five Melodies for Violin and Piano Op. 35bis Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in D major, Op. 94a Prizes - 1992: Diapason d'or - 1992: Record Academy Prize, Tokyo - 1993: Edison RETURN TO THE TOP

	Cat. No.: 477 7433 Barcode: 0028947774334 Label: DG CD Release Date: August			THOMAS QUASTHOFF \| JUSTUS ZEYEN BRAHMS \| LISZT: Lieder ARTISTS Thomas Quasthoff, baritone Justus Zeyen, piano TRACK LISTING BRAHMS: Wie raff' ich mich auf in der Nacht (Lieder und Gesänge Op.32) Nicht mehr zu dir zu gehen (Lieder und Gesänge Op.32) Ich schleich' umher (Lieder und Gesänge Op.32) Der Strom, der neben mir verrauschte (Lieder und Gesänge Op.32) Wehe, so willst du mich wieder (Lieder und Gesänge Op.32) Du sprichst, daß ich mich täuschte (Lieder und Gesänge Op.32) Bitteres zu sagen denkst du (Lieder und Gesänge Op.32) So stehn wir, ich und meine Weide (Lieder und Gesänge Op.32) Wie bist du, meine Königin (Lieder und Gesänge Op.32) Alte Liebe (Fünf Gesänge Op.72) Sommerfäden (Fünf Gesänge Op.72) O kühler Wald (Fünf Gesänge Op.72) Verzagen (Fünf Gesänge Op.72) Unüberwindlich (Fünf Gesänge Op.72) Mit vierzig Jahren (Fünf Lieder Op.94) Steig auf, geliebter Schatten (Fünf Lieder Op.94) Mein Herz ist schwer (Fünf Lieder Op.94) Sapphische Ode (Fünf Lieder Op.94) Kein Haus, keine Heimat (Fünf Lieder Op.94) LISZT: Pace non trovo Benedetto sia 'l giorno I' vidi in terra angelici costumi Die Loreley O lieb, so lang du lieben kannst Es muss ein Wunderbares sein ‘A notable solo debut for the Yellow Label from a young master of Lieder and a programme that impresses for its imaginative selection of Brahms and Liszt.’ Gramophone RETURN TO THE TOP

	Cat. No.: 477 7428 Barcode: 0028947774280 Label: DG CD Release Date: August			AGNES BALTSA \| ATHENS EXPERIMENTAL ORCHESTRA \| STAVROS XARHAKOS \| Songs My Country Taught Me ARTISTS Agnes Baltsa, mezzo soprano Athens Experimental Orchestra Stavros Xarhakos TRACK LISTING Garífallo st'aftí (A carnation behind your ear) Oniro pedión tis gitoniás (Dream of urban children) O tahidrómos (The postman) Méra Magioú (A day in May) To tréno févgi stis októ (The train leaves at eight) Se pótisa rodóstamo (I gave you rose-water to drink) Stou Othona ta hrónia (When Otto was king) Áspri méra ke ya mas (There will be better days, even for us) Varkarólla (Barcarolle) Ta tréna pou fígan Arhóntissa (Princess of my heart) ‘It is a compliment to her to say that if one heard this record ‘blind’ somewhere…one would sit up and take notice of the quality of the voice and the urgency of the delivery but would not immediately take it for that of an opera-singer going down-market…’ Gramophone ‘…the sureness and strength of a trained voice doing full justice to a collection of infectously melodic songs...at least we have one opera star who can let her hair down without becoming simply dishevelled.’ Hifi News RETURN TO THE TOP

	Cat. No.: 477 7430 Barcode: 0028947774303 Label: DG 2CD Release Date: August			ANNE SOPHIE MUTTER \| BRUNO GIURANNA \| MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICH BEETHOVEN: The String Trios ARTISTS Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin Bruno Giuranna, viola Mstislav Rostropovich, cello TRACK LISTING BEETHOVEN: String Trio in E flat major, Op. 3 Serenade for Violin, Viola and Violoncello in D major, Op. 8 String Trio in G major, Op. 9 No. 1 String Tio in D major, Op. 9 No. 2 String Trio in C minor, Op. 9 No. 3 ‘…the three Op. 9 Trios are splendid works: alive, ingenious and full of poetry.’ Gramophone RETURN TO THE TOP

	Cat. No.: 477 7435 Barcode: 0028947774358 Label: DG 2CD Release Date: August			CLAUDIO ABBADO \| ROSSINI: Il Viaggio a Reims ARTISTS Cecilia Gasdia \| Corinna Lucia Valentini Terrani \| Marchesa Melibea Katia Ricciarelli \| Madama Cortese Francisco Araiza \| Conte di Libenskof Samuel Ramey \| Lord Sidney Ruggero Raimondi \| Don Porfondo Prague Philharmonic Chorus Chamber Orchestra of Europe Claudio Abbado TRACK LISTING ROSSINI: Il Viaggio a Reims Prizes - 1985: Prix Rossini du Disque - 1986: Deutscher Schallplattenpreis - 1986: Edison - 1986: Gramophone Award - 1986: Grand Prix du Disque - 1986: Orphée d'or - 1990: Penguin Rosette Award ‘The set is a triumph of scholarship, musicianship and managerial enterprise. At the price, it is irresistible.’ Gramophone RETURN TO THE TOP

	Cat. No.: 477 7583 Barcode: 0028947775836 Label: DG CD Release Date: August			MARIA JOAO PIRES \| CHOPIN: Nocturnes (a selection) ARTISTS Maria Joao Pires, piano TRACK LISTING CHOPIN: Nocturne No.1 in B flat minor, Op.9/1 Nocturne No.2 in E flat major, Op.9/2 Nocturne No.4 in F major, Op.15/1 Nocturne No.5 in F sharp major, Op.15/2 Nocturne No.7 in C sharp minor, Op.27/1 Nocturne No.8 in D flat major, Op.27/2 Nocturne No.10 in A flat major, Op.32/2 Nocturne No.11 in G minor, Op.37/1 Nocturne No.13 in C minor, Op.48/1 Nocturne No.15 in F minor, Op.55/1 Nocturne No.18 in E major, Op.62/2 Nocturne No.20 in C sharp minor, Op. posth. Prizes 1996: Record Academy Prize, Tokyo 1997: CD Compact, Barcelona 1997: Grand Prix du Disque ‘In her hands the Op. 55 No. 1 becomes the proverbial 'big concert piece" Gramophone Awards Issue October 2004 ‘I have no hesitation in declaring Maria Joao Pires – a pianist without a trace of narcissism – among the most eloquent master-musicians of our time.’ Gramophone RETURN TO THE TOP

	Cat. No.: 477 7587 Barcode: 0028947775874 Label: DG 2CD Release Date: August			CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA \| LEONARD BERNSTEIN SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 7 ARTISTS Chicago Symphony Orchestra Leonard Bernstein TRACK LISTING SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 1, Op. 10 Symphony No. 7, Op. 60 ‘Leningrad’ ‘The central movements are both grippingly done, with splendid solo playing emphasizing the Mahlerian shadows of the former, and a tragic grandeur to the latter that I found particularly impressive…Whether it is a supreme masterpiece or just a masterpiece, Bernstein's is a supremely masterly performance, and I would unhesitatingly recommend it above all its rivals.’ Gramophone RETURN TO THE TOP

	Cat. No.: 477 7582 Barcode: 0028947775829 Label: DG CD Release Date: August			GÖRAN SÖLLSCHER \| Cavatina ARTISTS Göran Söllscher, guitar TRACK LISTING MYERS:Cavatina - Arr. John Williams ALBÉNIZ: Granada, Op.47, No.1 - trans. Segovia TÁRREGA: Maria TÁRREGA: Rosita BARRIOS: Villancico de Navidad YOCOH: Sakura - Theme & Variations on a Japanese folk song LLOBET: La filla del marxant Portrait LAURO: El Marabino (Valse Venezolano) CRESPO: Norteña Nevando está LLOBET: La cancó del lladre LLOBET: El Noi de la Mare NEUMANN: Kärleksvals Romance d'Amour CARMICHAEL: Georgia On My Mind ‘Göran Söllscher is at his finest here. The programme is essentially Romantic and very tuneful and atmospheric. The indelible opening Myers Cavatina is of course the justly famous Deerhunter theme, while even the anonymous Romance will be familiar. Whether in the attractive Llobet arrangements of Catalan folksongs, the two evocative portraits from Tárrega, or Yocoh's colourful Sakura (from Japan), this is the kind of music making that remains in the memory, for even while the playing is relaxed there is no doubt about Söllscher's magnetism. Hoagy Carmichael's Georgia on my mind gives the feeling of a final lollipop as the stylish closing encore. The sound is most naturally balanced, and the immediacy and realism are apparent.’ Penguin Guide RETURN TO THE TOP

	Cat. No.: 477 7584 Barcode: 0028947775843 Label: DG 2CD Release Date: August			CARLO MARIA GIULINI \| VERDI: Requiem ARTISTS Sharon Sweet, soprano Florence Quivar, mezzo soprano Vinson Cole, tenor Simon Estes, bass Ernst Senff Chamber Choir Berliner Philharmoniker Carlo Maria Giulini TRACK LISTING VERDI: Requiem ‘This version of the much-recorded Requiem must be the most spiritual, reverential, and perhaps visionary yet to appear…. I have seldom heard such a sustained legato throughout the slow movements, such warm and seamless singing, such beautiful playing... And the spacious recording, with its very wide range of dynamics (including a rather too insistent bass drum), matches the breadth and scale of the singing and playing, with the correct perspectives where Verdi calls for them—listen right near the start to the care taken over every part of the texture in the unaccompanied ‘Te decet hymnus’ or the shimmering violins at the start of ‘Lux aeterna.’ Gramophone RETURN TO THE TOP