The Music Pages | February 2010


	Cat. No.: 478 2132 Barcode: 0028947821328 Label: Decca CD Release Date: February			Claudio Arrau \| Beethoven: Pathétique, Appassionata & Moonlight Sonatas ARTISTS Claudio Arrau, piano TRACK LISTING BEETHOVEN Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op.13 “Pathétique” Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata” Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight” Rondo in G major, Op. 51 No. 2 A generously-filled disc in which the great Chilean pianist Claudio Arrau performs three popular Beethoven sonatas taken from his complete cycle recorded in the 1960s; also included is Arrau’s recording of the rarely-heard Rondo, Op. 51 No. 2. RETURN TO THE TOP

	Cat. No.: 477 8621 Barcode: 0028947786214 Label: DG 2CD Release Date: February			Rafael Kubelik \| SCHUMANN: The Four Symphonies ARTISTS Berliner Philharmoniker Rafael Kubelik TRACK LISTING SCHUMANN The 4 Symphonies "Genoveva" & "Manfred" Overtures For Schumann Year 2010 Deutsche Grammophon is reissuing this distinguished cycle of Schumann symphonies by Rafael Kubelik, whose first major project for the Yellow Label this was. Hitherto available on CD consistently only in France, it deserves wider circulation. "Rafael Kubelik and the Berlin Philharmonic light up Schumann's often unappreciated powers of orchestration. [...] This set must now be considered the top buy for Schumann's symphonies" Classic CD, September 1994 "There can be little doubt that Rafael Kubelik's first (BPO) set of the Schumann symphonies - generously coupled with the Genoveva and Manfred Overtures - will compete successfully among other bargain contenders for 'top bargain recommendation'" Rob Cowan, Gramophone, July 1994 RETURN TO THE TOP

	Cat. No.: 477 8620 Barcode: 0028947786207 Label: DG CD Release Date: February			Leonard Bernstein \| MAHLER: Symphony No 9 ARTISTS Berliner Philharmoniker Leonard Bernstein TRACK LISTING MAHLER Symphony No. 9 Reissued specially in the run-up to Mahler Year 2010, this legendary, not to say cult recording - of the single occasion when Leonard Bernstein conducted (or was permitted to conduct) Herbert von Karajan's Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra - is now available on only 1 CD at mid-price instead of 2 CDs at high price, in which category it has been a steady seller for almost 20 years. "The recording is really rather good [...] An extraordinary night. Warts and all, a collector's item." Edward Seckerson, Gramophone, May 1992 "The sound itself is magnificent [...] Karajan's celebrated performance of three years later is decisively put in its place by this properly uncomfortable rendering." Michael Tanner, Classic CD, April 1992 RETURN TO THE TOP

	Cat. No.: 477 8618 Barcode: 0028947786184 Label: DG CD Release Date: February			Ivo Pogorelich BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata Op. 111 SCHUMANN: Symphonische Etüden; Toccata CHOPIN: Nocturne in E flat Op. 55 No. 2; Etudes Op. 10 Nos. 8 & 10, Op. 25 No. 6 ARTISTS Ivo Pogorelich, piano TRACK LISTING BEETHOVEN Piano Sonata Op. 111 SCHUMANN Symphonische Etüden SCHUMANN Toccata CHOPIN Nocturne in E flat Op. 55 No. 2 CHOPIN Etude Op. 10 No. 8 CHOPIN Etude Op. 10 No. 10 CHOPIN Etude Op. 25 No. 6 When Ivo Pogorelich was not admitted to the final round at the 1980 Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Martha Argerich resigned from the jury in protest, thereby catapulting the young pianist to immediate worldwide fame. This new coupling presents part of the debut album of works by Chopin that he recorded shortly afterwards - its centrepiece, the B flat minor Sonata, has already been released on 463 678-2 in The Originals series - together with his entire second album, which immediately courted controversy with its provocative juxtaposition of Beethoven's timeless mature masterpiece with two of Schumann's most spectacularly virtuoso creations. All the recordings are now available for the first time at mid-price. "The brilliance, the daring the lofty role-playing in the Schumann, and the many unignorable moments of a rapt and surprising introspection are a sufficient lure [...] Pogorelich's love of the energy and beauty of Beethoven's music is wise enough, vividly and limpidly purveyed" Richard Osborne, Gramophone, October 1983 "[The Beethoven is] quite fascinating for the clarity of execution, every note scrupulously placed, timed and nuanced. The Schumann is, on the whole, probably the most completely sensitive, literally the most appreciative, reading of the work that I can remember." William Mann, The Times Preview, 12.2.1982 RETURN TO THE TOP

	Cat. No.: 477 8624 Barcode: 0028947786245 Label: DG CD Release Date: February			Reinhard Goebel \| Le Parnasse Francais ARTISTS Musica Antiqua Köln Reinhard Goebel TRACK LISTING MARAIS La Sonnerie de Sainte-Geneviève du Mont de Paris MARAIS Sonate à la Marésienne REBEL Tombeau de Monsieur de Lully F. COUPERIN Sonate "La Sultane" LECLAIR Ouverture Op. 13/2 LECLAIR Ouverture du Trio en la majeur, Op. 14 "The playing is vital, clean, and so full of evident enjoyment as to be irresistible. This is an absolute winner of a record" Lionel Salter, Gramophone, May 1979 (Leclair) "The pleasure of the music is enhanced by the playing, which is not only efficient but imaginative. [...] There is no doubt that the Cologne Musica Antiqua are determined to project the music's emotional power. They are clearly virtuoso players, with concern for balance, for lively rhythms and sweet tone. We must hope to hear more from them. The recording is excellent." Denis Arnold, Gramophone, March 1979 (Parnasse) "French consort music - as opposed to solo keyboard and vocal works - has been all but eclipsed by that of the Germans and Italians. From the evidence of this disc, the reasons for its neglect cannot be laid at the feet of these able composers. [...] Reinhard Goebel's ensemble obviously has an affinity for these works" Classics, January 1993 "This programme is superbly well put together by a brilliant ensemble of young artists. [...] They achieve a crystalline clarity of texture in all this music that is really quite astonishing, and the music itself is of quite exceptional interest" Records and Recording, March 1979 RETURN TO THE TOP

	Cat. No.: 477 8619 Barcode: 0028947786191 Label: DG CD Release Date: February			Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau BRAHMS: Liebeslieder-Walzer Op. 52 & Op. 65; Drei Quartette Op. 64 ARTISTS Edith Mathis, soprano Brigitte Fassbaender, contralto Peter Schreier, tenor Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone Karl Engel, piano Wolfgang Sawallisch, piano TRACK LISTING BRAHMS Liebeslieder, Op. 52 Neue Liebeslieder, Op. 65 Three Quartets, Op. 64 Among the many distinguished recordings made specially by Deutsche Grammophon for its Complete Brahms Edition on LP released for the composer's 150th birth anniversary in 1983, that of the Liebeslieder Waltzes, with its star-studded cast, is one of the finest. It is now available at mid-price for the first time. "It has taken a while for a recording of Brahms's Liebeslieder Walzer to appear which could justly take its place alongside the 1947 Seefried/Hotter version. Deutsche Grammophon's assembly of Mathis, Fassbaender, Schreier and Fischer-Dieskau is inspired: each voice is of sufficiently bright character to colour many a forgotten detail, yet they work together as true chamber musicians. The rare elegance and stylishness of Karl Engel's and Wolfgang Sawallisch's piano-playing, too, lifts the Op. 52 way above the party pieces these can so often become; they energize the bolder variety of the Op. 65 group, and enhance the word-painting of the three Op. 64 Quartets." Hilary Finch, The Times, London, July 1983 RETURN TO THE TOP