ch

Chris Howell

Beethoven: Piano Works (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) Schnabel’s “Diabelli” set interpretative and intellectual standards which are a daunting challenge to all that followed [CH]

Handel arias 2564605192

Handel: Arias for mezzo soprano (Apex)

This music springs to life as Handel’s operatic music rarely does [CH]

Dvorak Rusalka Chalabala Supraphon SU00132612

Dvořák: Rusalka (Supraphon)

(Déjà Review) This is a recording which instilled in me a love of the opera which has so far not died; it will surely do the same for many new listeners [CH]

Stanfordian Thoughts 28. Shamus O’Brien in North America

by Christopher Howell

Beethoven: Symphony No 9 (Music & Arts)

(Déjà Review) Harshly recorded, but for some Toscanini enthusiasts it is the greatest of his preserved Ninths [CH]

Stanfordian Thoughts 27. A Recitation that was and a Ballet that wasn’t

by Christopher Howell

Stanfordian Thoughts 26. The Requiem in Chicago

by Christopher Howell

Stanfordian Thoughts 25. “East to West” in Chicago and Cincinnati

by Christopher Howell

Stanfordian Thoughts: 24. Stanford and the Irish Choral Society of Chicago

by Christopher Howell

Deja Review Sibelius Symphs etc Berglund EMI 5744852

Sibelius: Complete Symphonies and Selected Orchestral Works (EMI Classics)

(Déjà Review) One of the greatest symphonic cycles under a conductor who shows a deep understanding and profound identification with it [CH]

Stanfordian Thoughts: 23. Stanford & Chadwick’s Book of Choruses

by Christopher Howell

offenbach helene regis

Offenbach: La Belle Hélène (Regis)

Not for nothing has this Offenbach been counted among the five all-time great recordings of French opera [CH]

Schubert: Mayrhofer-Lieder Volume 2 (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) An outstanding contribution to lieder on record [CH]

Brahms Sextets Menuhin Gendron Aronowitz EMI CDE5749572

Brahms: Sextets No 1 & No 2 (EMI Classics)

(Déjà Review) The quite wonderful playing of No 1, in particular, makes this an essential disc [CH]

Stanfordian Thoughts: 22. Hymn Tunes

by Christopher Howell

Stanfordian Thoughts 21. Lullabies and Hush Songs

by Christopher Howell

Rachmaninov: Piano Concerti (Hyperion)

(Déjà Review) Some fleet playing but 2 & 3 are too superficial to make the cycle recommendable as a whole [CH]

Beethoven Symphs 5 & 7 Klemperer Warner 5678512

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos 5 & 7 (Warner Classics)

(Déjà Review) The stuff of legends, but what are legends made of? [CH]

cherubini medea warner

Cherubini: Medea (Warner Classics)

(Déjà Review) The set should be heard for its documentation of an extraordinary musical meeting [CH]

svendsen symphonies chandos

Svendsen: Symphonies (Chandos)

(Déjà Review) Not quite masterpieces but they are more than just easy-listening and could be widely enjoyed [CH]

Stanfordian Thoughts 20. Six Bible Songs

by Christopher Howell

Stanford: Songs Vol. 2 (Hyperion)

(Déjà Review) A good representation of the strength and variety of the central, most important, part of Stanford’s career [CH]

brahms richter rca

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 (RCA)

A legendary, visionary version of the sonata, but don’t make this your only version of the concerto [CH]

Stanfordian Thoughts: 19. Molly Brannigan

by Christopher Howell