Vaughan-Williams: A London Symphony; Symphony No. 8; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra; Andrew Manze

Forty years ago Vaughan Williams' symphonies on record were dominated by Boult, Barbirolli and Previn. Then along came Vernon Handley on the EMI budget label and produced what many feel is the finest set of them all. So were does that leave this new cycle from Andrew Manze?

First of all he has the same orchestra as Handley and the playing of the RLPO has gained in depth and polish over the 25 years or so since those performances were recorded. Manze has also been performing these works around the country and his readings have been collecting glowing reviews.

The Beatles in Mono; Optimal Media [14 LPs]

This magnificent box set came after the somewhat ill advised 2012 Stereo Box Set. Those LPs were remastered from digital masters and have received mixed reviews. For most, the stereo records would be perfectly satisfactory. But for many Beatles enthusiasts and completists, back to the originals are the recordings they lust after.

Maurizio Pollini: Late works of Chopin [CD]

Reflection informs most of the performances on the latest CD release from the great Italian pianist, Maurizio Pollini. He recently celebrated his 75th birthday, maybe the perfect time for reflection, especially with the autumnal works chosen here. But let's not forget, 'autumnal' in Chopin years is 30 to 35, young by any other standard. He died at 39 of tuberculosis. And it seems a lot of worldly stress was informing his life. A break up with George Sand, fights with her kids, money troubles and lingering illness. All affected his inspiration.

In the Trenches: Audio and Music in New York City

Wow! New York City. Just like I pictured it. With skyscrapers and everythang! With apologies to Stevie Wonder, I could well imagine a person’s initial impression of the Big Apple. Bewilderment and confusion, maybe? For me, there is an excitement that touches just about everything in the city, especially its rich cultural heritage. It’s the only place on earth I feel completely energized while giving me the feeling that I am truly at the center of the world. My many trips to Manhattan have been primarily for music business, so it was with the greatest of pleasure that Andrew Chasin and I found ourselves in NYC for the purely selfish act of promoting Audiophilia Online Magazine and checking out the local scene for “The Trenches” series.

Mozart: Clarinet Quintet K581; String Quartet K421; Jörg Widmann; Arcanto Quartet

One can never have enough Mozart or Brahms Clarinet Quintet recordings in a collection. With both composers in mind, I wish Jörg Widmann would have added the Brahms to the Mozart rather than the accompanying Mozart String Quartet K421. His playing is that good. A revelation, actually.

Not that you’ll be slumming with the superb Arcanto Quartet (founded in 2002). They perform Mozart as well as any and you’ll love their performance of the second of the so called ‘Haydn Quartets’ (No. 15 in D minor K.421). Dedicated to ‘To my dear friend Haydn’, the performance by the Arcantos will have you wishing for a complete set.

Brahms/Mozart: Clarinet Quintets; Anthony McGill; Pacifica Quartet

German clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld (1856 – 1907) must have been one hell of a player. His artistry nudged a semi retired Brahms to write the seminal chamber work for the instrument, the Clarinet Quintet (1891), a fine trio and the two most famous sonatas for the instrument.

The same could be said for Austrian clarinettist Anton Stadler (1753 – 1812). His playing inspired Mozart to write an equally wonderful Clarinet Quintet (1789) and the instrument’s greatest Concerto (1791).

Schubert Piano Trios Op. 99 & 100; Andreas Staier, Fortepiano; Daniel Sepec, Violin; Roel Dieltiens, Cello; harmonia mundi; [2CD]

Andreas Staier, the German-born, Hanover and Amsterdam-trained pianist/harpsichordist is fast becoming the harmonia mundi go to man for recordings of modern instruments and the fortepiano.

For this recording of Schubert Trios, Staier is joined by Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie concertmaster, Daniel Sepec and Roel Dieltiens, cello. All three play period instruments. Happily, Staier's fortepiano, a copy of an 1827 Graf, sounds nothing like others I've heard -- poor tone and sounding hideously out of tune. Staier's piano sounds wonderful. And, in tune.


Beethoven: Concerto No. 5 (Emperor); Curzon; Knappertsbusch; Speakers Corner 180 gram LP

The Curzon Emperor Concerto is not only one of the finest performances on record of the great Concerto, it's one of the greatest performances on record, period. 

Sir Clifford Curzon is one of a handful of English pianists that can be compared with the best of the continent and the USA. I'd add Dame Myra Hess and Solomon to the mix. The difference between Curzon and many others that he made magic not only on stage but in the studio. No more than on this famous record. 

MODEST MUSSORGSKYPictures at an Exhibition; Night on Bald Mountain; TCHAIKOVSKY:Waltz from Swan Lake; Wiener Philharmoniker; Gustavo Dudamel

The 'dude', also known as Venezuelan conductor, Gustavo Dudamel, has a real affinity for this Russian music. He draws incredibly committed playing from the Vienna Philharmonic in a glorious sounding DG recording.

You can imagine a frosty Monday morning in Vienna. The orchestra members want to be home in bed and once again, the old warhorse Pictures at an Exhibition is on the stands. Again! It's at that moment the Vienna machine gets into gear. Dudamel is such a wonderful conductor, he could charm a great performance anytime, anywhere. But all musicians really outdo themselves, here.

Stravinsky Petrushka; Ansermet; OSR; Speakers Corner 180 gram vinyl; LP

Originally composed as a concertante for piano and orchestra, Stravinsky later cobbled it into the wonderful ballet Petrushka to satisfy a commission from Paris' Ballet Russe, the great impresario Diaghilev, in particular. After the grand success of his first ballet, The Firebird, the public wanted more from the young Stravinsky. Petrushka was also very successful and laid the groundwork for The Rite of Spring, an altogether different proposition.

Danse Macabre; Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal; Kent Nagano

This is the second album in a renewed partnership between Montreal's famous orchestra and Decca Records.

Although I have lived in Toronto, London and Victoria since, Montreal's my beloved hometown. The spectacular (and snowy) city is hard to remove from your DNA, even if you wanted. Montrealers don't. Some of my musical education was in Montreal. I have a lot of friends in the orchestra past and present.

Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 & Te Deum—Volkmar Andreae/Vienna Symphony Orchestra/Music & Arts

This complete set of Bruckner symphonies is in mono sound, taken from live Vienna performances in Jan/Feb 1953 by Radio Wien. Directing the Vienna Symphony (not the much more famous Philharmoniker) is Volkmar Andreae (1879 – 1962). He was a Swiss conductor who spent much of his time working in Austria, eschewing recording and disliking the jet set lifestyle of the international conductor. Hence, his lack of notoriety. He was also a composer and teacher of some note.

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Gatti; Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

This is the debut release of Italian conductor Daniele Gatti's tenure as the seventh chief conductor of the great Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam.

I've followed Gatti's career for a long time, since he conducted the Royal Philharmonic many years ago. Always an interesting musician, he managed a difficult orchestra and guided them to some wonderful recordings. His RPO Mahler 5 is a famous recording.