Quarterly Critic’s Choice

3/2007

Published: 15. August 2007

DVD and Video Productions

• Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Die Soldaten. Soloists, Bochumer Symphoniker, Steven Sloane. David Pountney (Stage Direction), Hannes Rossacher (Image direction). DVD Ruhrtriennale (www.ruhrtriennale.de)

• Nathan Milstein in portrait – Some memories of a quiet magician. Film by Christopher Nupen. Allegro Films A 06CN D (2 DVDs; Naxos)

• Wolfgang Haffner: Shapes – live in concert. Haffner Music HM 007 (www.wolfganghaffner.com)

Orchestral Music and Concertos

• Franz Xaver Richter: Symphonies No. 29 G minor, No. 43 F minor, No. 52 D major, No. 53 D major, No. 56 D minor. London Mozart Players, Matthias Bamert. Chandos CHAN 10 386 (Codaex)

• Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 1 C minor op. 68; Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 C major op. 21. Münchner Philharmoniker, Günter Wand. Profil Hänssler PH 06044 (Naxos)

• Max Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 G minor op. 26; Hans Pfitzner: Violin Concerto B minor op. 34; Wolfgang Fortner: Concerto for violin and big chamber orchestra. Gerhard Taschner (Violin), SDR-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart, Hans Müller-Kray, RIAS-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Rudolf Kempe, SWR-Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden, Hans Rosbaud. Historical Recordings of 1954, 1955, 1950. MDG Archive 642 1443-2 (Codaex)

• Luciano Berio: Solo; Iannis Xenakis: Troorkh; Mark-Anthony Turnage: Yet Another Set To. Christian Lindberg (Posaune), Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Peter Rundel. BIS 1638 (SACD; Klassik Center Kassel)

• Johannes Brahms: Violin Concerto D major op. 77, Double Concerto A minor op. 102. Julia Fischer (Violin), Daniel Müller-Schott (Violoncello), Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Amsterdam, Yakov Kreizberg. PentaTone Classics PTC 5186 066 (SACD; Codaex)

Chamber Music

• Béla Bartók: String Quartets Nos. 5 and 6. Arcanto Quartett. Harmonia Mundi France HMC 901963 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

• Béla Bartók: String Quartets Nos. 1, 2 and 3. Quatuor Ébène. Mirare MIR 029 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

Keyboard Music

• Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Vol. IV. Sonatas No. 12 A flat major op. 26, No. 13 E flat major and No. 14 c sharp minor (Mondschein) op. 27, No. 15 D major (Pastorale) op. 28. András Schiff. ECM New Series 1944 (Universal)

• Christoph Graupner: Frühling & Winter. Partitas for Harpsichord Vol. 6. Geneviève Soly (Harpsichord). Analekta 2 9119 (Codaex)

• Gatto. Niederösterreichische Barockorgeln. Works by Georg Muffat, Johann Speth, Johann Sebastian Bach et al. Marcus Hufnagl. Extraplatte EX 740-2 (Sunny Moon)

Opera

• Francesco Cavalli: L’Ormindo. Martin Oro; Howard Crook, Dominique Visse et al., Les Paladins, Jérôme Correas. Pan Classics 10196 (2 CDs; Note 1)

Choral Works

• Frank Martin: Le vin herbé. Sandrine Piau, Steve Davislim, Jutta Böhnert, RIAS Kammerchor, Scharoun-Ensemble, Daniel Reuss. Harmonia Mundi France HMC 901935.36 (2 CDs; Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

• Heinrich Schütz: Opus ultimum SWV 482–­494. Collegium Vocale Gent, Concerto Palatino, Philippe Herreweghe. Harmonia Mundi France HMC 901895.96 (2 CDs; Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

Lieder and Vocal Recital

• Irmgard Seefried; Lieder by W.A. Mozart, F. Schubert, J. Brahms et al. (With Erik Werba, Piano). Historical Recordings 1953–1960. Deutsche Grammophon 477 6514 (2 CDs; Universal)

• Frank Martin: Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke. Christianne Stotijn (Alto), Orchester Musikkollegium Winterthur, Jac van Steen. MDG 901 1444-6 (SACD; Codaex)

Contemporary Classical Music

• György Kurtág: Botschaften des verstorbenen Fräuleins R.V. Trussowa op. 17; Jörg Widmann: …umdüstert… Claudia Barainsky (Soprano), Österreichisches Ensemble for Zeitgenössische Music, Rüdiger Bohn. NEOS 10708 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

Film Music

• Benjamin Britten: Britten on Film. Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Martyn Brabbins. NMC D 112 (Note1)

Spoken Word

• Da machste was mit… 100 Jahre Kabarett. Texts and Chansons 1901–1933, 1933–1955, 1955–1970, 1970–2001. Various Authors. Bear Family BCD 16 901/04 CP (4 Sets à 3 CDs)

Pop and Rock

• Wilco: Sky Blue Sky. Nonesuch 7559-79987-9 (Warner)

Independent, Nu and Extreme

• The Sea And Cake: Everybody. Thrill Jockey THRILL 186 (Rough Trade)

• Dominik Eulberg: Heimische Gefilde. Traum Schallplatten CD19

• By Südenfed: Tromatic Reflexxions. Domino WIG190 (Rough Trade)

Folk and Folklore

• Maria Farantouri: Way Home. Peregrina Music PM50472 (In-Akustik)

Traditional Ethnic Music

• Out of Babylon – The music of Baghdadi-Jewish migrations into Asia and beyond. Various Artists. Celestial Harmonies 13274-2 (Naxos)

Jazz and Blues

• Joe Lovano, Hank Jones: Kids – Live At Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. Blue Note 0946 3 702812 4 (EMI)

• 30 Years Vienna Art Orchestra: 3. American Dreams. European Visionaries. Visionaries & Dreams. Emarcy 06025 172 2879 5 (3 CDs; Universal)

• Michael Brecker: Pilgrimage. WA Records / Emarcy 06025 172 6351 2 (Universal)

• Duke Robillard: Duke Robillard’s World Full of Blues. Dixiefrog DFG 8627 (2 CDs; Fenn Music)

Black Music

• Sa-Ra Creative Partners: The Hollywood Recordings. Babygrande Records BBG CD 313 (Groove Attack)

• J Dilla: Ruff Draft. Stones Throw STH2153 (2 CDs; Rough Trade)

Recordings for Children and Youth

• Uri Orlev: Der Mann von der anderen Seite. Ulrich Pleitgen (Reader). Beltz & Gelberg, ISBN 978-3-407-81013-7 (2 CDs)

• Katharina Neuschaefer: Von allen Saiten. A Story for Orchestra and Narrator. Udo Wachtveitl (Reader), Münchner Rundfunkorchester. Igel-Genius CD 171 (2 CDs; Naxos)

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