Quarterly Critic’s Choice

2/2009

Published: 15. May 2009

DVD and Video Productions

• Georg Friedrich Händel: Semele. Cecilia Bartoli, Liliana Nikiteanu, Birgit Remmert, Isabel Rey, Charles Workman, Anton Scharinger, La Scintilla Orchestra, Chor des Opernhauses Zürich, Dir. William Christie. Stage Direction Robert Carsen, Film Direction Felix Breisach. Decca DVD 074 3323 (Universal)

• Igor Strawinsky – Once, at a border. Direction Tony Palmer. Tony Palmer Films TPDVD 126 (Naxos)

Orchestral Music and Concertos

• Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2. Simona Saturová (Soprano), Yvonne Naef (Mezzo Soprano), The Philadelphia Singers Chorale, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Dir. Christoph Eschenbach. Ondine 1134-2D (Note 1)

• Josef Suk: Asrael op. 27. Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Dir. Vladimir Ashkenazy. Ondine 1132-5 (Note 1)

• Karol Szymanowski: Violin Concertos No. 1 op. 35 and No. 2 op. 61; Benjamin Britten: Violin Concerto D minor op. 15. Frank Peter Zimmermann (Violin), Philharmonisches Orchester Warschau (Dir. Antoni Wit), Schwedisches Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester (Dir. Manfred Honeck). Sony 88697439992

Keyboard Music

• Frédéric Chopin: Sonatas B flat minor op. 35 and B minor op. 58, Berceuse op. 57, Nocturnes op. 27, Barcarolle op. 60. Marc-André Hamelin. Hyperion CDA 67706 (Codaex)

• Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Octet op. 20 (Version for Piano for four Hands), Symphony No. 1 C minor op. 11 (Version for Piano for four Hands, Violin and Violoncello). Yaara Tal and Andreas Groethuysen (Piano), Oliver Wille (Violin), Mikayel Hakhnazaryan (Violoncello). Sony 88697431602

• Jeanne Demessieux: Organ Works. Stephen Tharp. Aeolus 3 CD 10561 (Note 1)

• Tilo Medek: Organ Works. Martin Schmeding. Cybele 060.801 (Codaex)

Opera

• Francesco Cavalli: Gli amori d’Apollo e di Dafne. Anders Dahlin, Rosa Domínguez, Emanuela Galli, Stephan van Dyck, Paola Quagliata et al., Ensemble Elyma, Dir. Gabriel Garrido. K617 2 CD K 617211/2 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

Choral Works, Early Music

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Cantatas Vol. 42 (Cantatas BWV 72, 32, 13 and 16). Rachel Nicholls (Soprano), Robin Blaze (Countertenor), Gerd Türk (Tenor), Peter Kooij (Bass), Bach Collegium Japan, Dir. Masaaki Suzuki. BIS SACD-1711 (Klassik Center Kassel)

• Virgilio Mazzocchi: Vespro della beata Vergine. Cantus Cölln, Concerto Palatino, Dir. Konrad Junghänel. Harmonia Mundi HMC 902001 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

Lieder and Vocal Recital

• La Diva – Arias for Cuzzoni; Opera Arias by Georg Friedrich Händel. Simone Kermes (Soprano), Lautten Compagney, Musical Direction: Wolfgang Katschner. Berlin Classics 001642 2 (Edel)

Historical Recordings

• Leopold Stokowski conducts the Radio-Symphony-Orchester Stuttgart and the Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks Baden-Baden (1954/55). Hänssler Classic 94204 (Naxos)

• Meister des Bogens – Georg Kulenkampff (Vol. 5+8). Podium Legenda POL-1022-2 and POL-1025-2 (Continuo)

Contemporary Classical Music

• James Tenney: Arbor Vitae; Quartets and Quintets. Quatuor Bozzini et al. CQB 2 CD 0806 (no man’s land)

• Helmut Lachenmann: Salut für Caudwell, Les Consolations, Concertini. Wilhelm Bruck, Theodor Ross (Gitarre), Schola Heidelberg, Dir. Walter Nußbaum, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Klangforum Wien, Dir. Johannes Kalitzke. Kairos 00126552KAI (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

Film Music

• Alexandre Desplat: Der seltsame Fall des Benjamin Button. Hollywood Studio Symphony, Dir. Alexandre Desplat. Concord CRE-31231ADV (Universal)

Spoken Word

• Thomas Bernhard-Siegfried Unseld: Briefwechsel. Peter Simonischek, Gert Voss, Reader. Der Hörverlag, ISBN 3-86717-275-2

Nu and Extreme

• Anthony Joseph & The Spasm Band: Bird Head Son. Heavenly Sweetness HS014VL (Loop 23)

• Mount Kimbey: Maybes. EP, Hotflush Recordings HFR008 (hotflushrecordings.com)

German Songs, Folk and Folklore

• Pippo Pollina/Linard Bardill: Caffè Caflisch. Jazzhaus Records JHR 023

• Cara Dillon: Hill of the Thieves. Charcoal Records CHARCD002 (Rough Trade)

Traditional Ethnic Music

• Oumou Sangare: Seya. World Circuit WCD 081 (Indigo)

• Houria Aïchi et L’Hijâz’Car: Cavaliers de l’Aurès. Accords Croisés AC 126 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

World Music

• René Lacaille: Cordéon Kaméléon. Connecting Cultures CC50068 (Galileo)

Jazz and Blues

• Various Artists: Jazz In Deutschland. Bear Family 16909-16912 (4 Digipacks With je drei CDs)

• Jon Hassell: Last night the moon came dropping its clothes in the street. ECM 2077 (Universal)

• Clusone 3: Soft Lights And Sweet Music. hatOLOGY 657 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

• Louisiana Red & Little Victor’s Juke Joint: Back to the Black Bayou. Ruf Records Ruf 1149

Recordings for Children and Youth

• Brigitte Jünger: Kunst-Stücke für Kinder. Leonardo da Vinci »Mona Lisa«. Reader: Ernst-August Schepmann, Marion Mainka, Friedhelm Ptok et al. Igel Genius, ISBN 978-3-89353-261-2

• Wilhelm Hauff: Das kalte Herz. Reader: Christian Brückner. Edition See-Igel, ISBN 978-3-935261-17-3 (2 CDs)

Crossover Productions

• Pago Libre Sextett: platzDada! Christoph Merian Verlag Basel, ISBN 978-3-85616-372-3 (VVA arvato)