Quarterly Critic’s Choice

3/2006

Published: 15.8.2006

DVD and Video Productions

• Gaëtano Donizetti: Roberto Devereux. Edita Gruberova, Roberto Aronica, Jeanne Piland, Albert Schagidullin et al., Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Friedrich Haider; Christof Loy (Stage Direction), Brian Large (Film direction). Deutsche Grammophon 073 4185 (Universal)

• Georg Friedrich Händel: Giulio Cesare in Egitto. Sarah Connolly, Angelika Kirchschlager, Danielle De Niese, Patricia Bardon et al., Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Glyndebourne Chorus, William Christie, David McVicar (Stage Direction), Robin Lough (Film direction) Opus Arte OA 0950 D (3 DVD; Naxos)

• Schostakowitsch gegen Stalin. Die Kriegssinfonien. Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Kirov Orchestra, Valery Gergiev; Larry Weinstein (Stage Direction). Philips UNI 743117 (Universal)

• Günter Wand Edition Part II – Works by Anton Bruckner, Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms and Ludwig van Beethoven. NDR-Sinfonieorchester, Günter Wand. TDK DVWW-COWANDBOX2 (4 DVD)

Orchestral Music and Concertos

• Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 12 »De Döda på torget«. Chor und Sinfonieorchester des Schwedischen Rundfunks, Eric Ericson Kammerchor, Manfred Honeck. cpo 777 146-2 (jpc)

• Albert Roussel: Symphony No. 2, Bacchus et Ariane op. 43 Suite No. 1 and No. 2. Orchestre de Paris, Christoph Eschenbach. Ondine ODE 1065-2 (Note 1)

• Edward Elgar: Cello Concerto op. 85; William Walton: Cello Concerto op. 68. Daniel Müller-Schott, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, André Previn. Orfeo C 621 061 A

Chamber Music

• Robert Schumann: Piano Quartet op. 47 and Piano Quartet C minor (1829). Trio Parnassus, Hariolf Schlichting. MDG 903 1414-6 (SACD; Codaex)

Keyboard Music

• Johann Sebastian Bach / Leopold Godowsky: Transcriptions of the Suites for Violoncello BWV 1008, 1009 & 1011. Konstantin Scherbakov. Marco Polo 8.225267 (Naxos)

• Claude-Bénigne Balbastre: Musique de Salon. Mitzi Meyerson. Glossa GCD 921803 (2 CD; Note 1)

• Mozart on Italian Organs. Liuwe Tamminga. Accent ACC 24172 (Note 1)

Choral Works

• Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Hebe deine Augen auf. Kirchenwerke VII. Ruth Ziesak, Sonntraud Engels-Benz, Kammerchor Stuttgart, Frieder Bernius. Carus 83.206 (Note 1)

• Richard Strauss, Luigi Nono, Richard Wagner: Choral Works. SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Les Percussions de Strasbourg, Marcus Creed. Hänssler Classic 93.179 (Naxos)

• Antonio Vivaldi: In furore iustissimae irae RV 626, Laudate pueri RV 601 et al. Sandrine Piau, Stefano Montanari, Accademia Bizantina, Ottavio Dantone. Naïve OP 30416 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

Lied and Vokalrecital

• »Invitation au Voyage« – Lieder by Henri Duparc, Ildebrando Pizzetti, Gustav Mahler and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Dietrich Henschel, Fritz Schwinghammer. Harmonia Mundi France HMC 901875 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

Historical Recordings

• Richard Wagner: Die Walküre (Recording Bayreuth 1955). Astrid Varnay, Hans Hotter, Gré Brouwenstijn, Ramón Vinay et al., Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele, Joseph Keilberth. Testament SBT4 1391 (4 CD; Note 1)

• Johann Strauß: Die Fledermaus (Recording 1955). Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Rita Streich, Nicolai Gedda, Helmut Krebs, Erich Kunz et al. Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus, Herbert by Karajan. Naxos 8.111036-37 (2 CD)

Contemporary Classical Music

• Nicolaus A. Huber: Seifenoper, Don’t fence me in, Traummechanik, First play Mozart. ensemble recherche. Coviello Contemporary COV 60606 (Note 1)

Film Music

• Alfred Schnittke: Film music Vol. II – Clowns and Children, The Walse, The Glass harmonica, The Ascent. Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Frank Strobel. Capriccio 71061 (SACD; Delta Music)

Spoken Word

• Samuel Beckett: Wir sind Zauberer – Godot und die anderen. Samuel Beckett, Heinz Rühmann, Billie Whitelaw, Martin Wuttke et al. Der Hörverlag ISBN 3-89940-802-0 (6 CD)

• Bertolt Brecht: Dramen – Radio Play Edition. Elisabeth Schwarz, Ernst Jacobi, Günther Lüders et al. Der Audio Verlag ISBN 3-89813-529-2 (10 CD)

Pop and Rock

• Paul Simon: Surprise. Warner 9362-49982-2

• Gnarls Barkley: St. Elsewhere. Warner 2564-63267-2

Singer/Songwriter and German Songs

• Wortfront: Lieder eines postmodernen Arschlochs. Sandra Kreisler, Roger Stein. Wortfront / Extraplatte ISBN 3-221-95310-0 (Sunny Moon)

Traditional Ethnic Music

• Women of Egypt 1924–1931. Pioneers of Stardom & Fame. Various Artists. Topic TSCD931 (Rough Trade)

World Music

• Lila Downs: La Cantina »Entre Copa Y Copa…« Peregrina PM50452 (In-Akustik)

Jazz and Blues

• The Phil Woods Quintet: American Songbook. Kind Of Blue KOB 10005 (Rough Trade)

• Trio Beyond: Saudades. ECM 1972/73 (2 CD; Universal)

• Manfred Häder und Bänd: Exbluesiv. Rendler Records RR0601 (www.manfred-haeder.de)

Recordings for Children and Youth

• Peter Schindler: Hoppel Hoppel Rhythm Club. Jazz for all children below 100 years. Peter Schindler, Peter Lehel, Obi Jenne, Mini Schulz. Finetone FTM 8015 (Heinzelmann)

• Leuw by Katzenstein: Der Schrecken der Ozeane. Rainer Strecker, Andreas Fröhlich, Cornelia Schirmer, Wolfgang Niedecken et al. Hörcompany ISBN 3-935036-88-4 (5 CD; Indigo)

Crossover Productions

• Vittorio Ghielmi, Ensemble Il Suonar Parlante: Full of Colour – Works by Elway Bevin, Tobias Hume, John Jenkins, Ernst Reijseger et al., Winter & Winter 910 119-2 (Edel)

(The name of the German distributor appears in brackets if it differs from the label name.)