Best of the Year Discs for 2007

by | Jan 2, 2008 | Best of the Year | 0 comments

CLASSICAL, incl. Hi-Res & Reissues

BACH: Six Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Solo – Lara St. John, violin – Ancalagon Records Multichannel SACD AR 132 (2 discs)

BACH: St. John Passion – Soloists/ Rheinische Kantorei/ Das Kleine Konzert/ Hermann Max, conductor – CPO Multichannel SACD 777091-2 (2 discs)

BACH: The Goldberg Variations – Glenn Gould’s 1955 performance re-created in hi-res surround sound and hi-res binaural sound by Zenph – Sony Classical Multichannel SACD 88697-03350-2

BACH: Mass in B minor – The Netherlands Bach Society/ Jos van Veldhoven, conductor/ soloists – Channel Classics multichannel SACD CCS SA 25007 (2 discs)

BACH: Missae Breves BWV 233-236 – Cantus Cölln/ Konrad Junghanel – Harmonia Mundi HMC 901939-40 (2 discs)

BEETHOVEN: The Late String Quartets – Quartetto Italiano – Philips 475 8685

BEETHOVEN – Symphony No. 1 in C major; Symphony No. 2 in D major – Polish Chamber Orchestra-Sopot/Wojciech Rajski – Tacet Multichannel SACD & Stereo all tubes; Tacet 157.

BEETHOVEN – Symphony No. 7 in A major; Symphony No. 8 in F major – Polish Chamber Orchestra-Sopot/Wojciech Rajski – Tacet Multichannel SACD & Stereo all tubes; Tacet 149.

BEETHOVEN: Symphonies Nos. 1 – 9; Triple Concerto; Leonore Overture No. 2 – London Symphony Orchestra/ Bernard Haitink (live recordings) – LSO Live Multichannel SACDs (6 discs) – LSO0598

BEETHOVEN: Fidelio (Complete Opera) – Christine Brewer (Leonora/Fidelio)/ John Mac Master (Florestan)/ London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/ Colin Davis, conductor – LSO Live Multichannel SACDs (2 discs) LSO059

BERG: Seven Early Songs, Three Pieces from the Lyric Suite (Orch. version); WEBERN: Variations for Orchestra, Op. 30; SCHOENBERG: String Quartet, Op. 10, No. 2 – Claudia Barainsky, sop./ Orchester Musikkollegium Winterthur/ Jac van Steen – MDG Multichannel SACD 5.1 901 1425-6

Alban Berg Quartett – Homage – EMI Classics 3 97629 2

Maria Callas: The One and Only – EMI Classics 3 96341 2

“Daughter of Zion, Rejoice” – The Pfeiffer Trumpet Consort  – Cantate Multi-channel SACD C5802

DEBUSSY Orchestrations = Children’s Corner (Caplet); Six Epigraphes antiques (Ansermet); Clair de lune (Stokowski); Sarabande (Ravel); Danse (Ravel); more – Orchestre symphonique de Quebec/ Yoav Talmi – Atma Classique Multichannel SACD2 2377

The Elfin Knight = Ballads and Dances from Renaissance England – Joel Frederiksen, bass and director/ Ensemble Phoenix Munich – Harmonia Mundi HMC 901983

EDWARD ELGAR: The Collector’s Edition – EMI Classics 30-CD Box Set

The Art of Samuel Feinberg – Classical Records CR-088

VLADIMIR GODÁR: Mater – Iva Bittova, voice/ Milos Valent, violin and viola/ Chamber Orchestra Solamente Naturali/ Bratislava Conservatory Choir/ Marek Stryncl, conductor – ECM 850602

Harmonia Mundi Fiftieth Anniversary Boxed Set – Various Artists – Harmonia mundi HMX 2909250.70 (30 discs!)
HANDEL: Concerti grossi Op. 3; Sonata a 5 – Academy of Ancient Music/ Richard Egarr – Harmonia mundi multichannel SACD 807415

“Heifetz Double Concertos” = BACH: Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins; MOZART: Sinfonia concertante in E-Flat; BRAHMS: Concerto in A Minor for Violin and Cello – Jascha Heifetz, violin/ Erich Friedman, violin/ William Primrose, viola/ Gregor Piatigorsky, cello/ others/ RCA Victor Sym. Orch./ Alfred Wallenstein – RCA Red Seal Living Stereo 3-chan. SACD 88697-04605-2

CHARLES IVES: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4; Central Park in the Dark – Dallas Symphony Orchestra/ Andrew Litton – Hyperion Multichannel SACDA67540

CHARLES IVES: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 “The Camp Meeting;” General William Booth enters into Heaven – Dallas Symphony Orchestra/ Andrew Litton; Donnie Ray Albert, baritone (Booth) – Hyperion Multichannel SACDA67525

“Lachrimae Caravaggio” – Compositions by Jordi Savall and Improvisations by Le Concert des Nations & Hesperion XXI incl. Andrew Lawrence-King, harp, and Ferran Savall, voice – Alia Vox Multichannel SACD AVSA 9852

Volodos Plays LISZT = Vallee d’Obermann, Il Penseroso, St. Francis d’Assise – le prédication aux oiseaux, Bagatelle ohne Tonart, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 13, & others – Arcadi Volodos, piano – Sony Classical Multichannel SACD 8869706500

The London Trumpet Orchestra – 28 London trumpet players cond. by Geoffrey Simon – Works of JANACEK, CLARKE, MOZART, ROSSINI, RODRIGO, HANDEL, COPLAND, LENNON/McCARTNEY, PRIMA, GARNER – Cala Multichannel SACD CACDS4113

Los Angeles Guitar Quartet – ”LAGQ Brazil” – Telarc Multichannel SACD-60686

MAHLER: Symphony No. 4 – Christine Schafer, soprano/ Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/ Bernard Haitink – RCO Live multichannel SACD RCO 07003

MARTINU: Flute and Violin Concerto, H 252; Duo Concertante for Two Violins; Concerto for Two Violins – Janne Thomsen, flute/ Bohuslav Matousek, violin/ Regis Pasquier, violin/ Jennifer Koh, violin – Czech Philharmonic/ Christopher Hogwood – Hyperion CDA67671

MEDTNER: The Complete Skazki – Hamish Milne – Hyperion CDA67491/2

“Musique Héroïque” – BREWER: March Héroïque; DUBOIS: Marche Héroïque de Jeanne d’Arc; DUPRE: Poéme Héroïque; STANFORD: Sonata Eroica; TELEMANN: 2 movements from Musique Héroïque; JONGEN: Sonata Eroïca – Eric Plutz, organ/Washington Symphonic Brass (Dupré) – Pro Organo multichannel SACD 7203

“Piazzolla” – PIAZZOLLA: Las Cuatro Estaciones porteñas; Two tangos for orchestra and strings; Fuga y Misterio; Milonga del Angel; La Muerte del Angel; JOSE BRAGATO: Graciela y Buenos Aires – Les Violons du Roy/ Jean-Marie Zeitouni – Atma Classique Multichannel SACD  2 2399

Richter The Master, Vol. 8: BACH – DGG 475 8631

“Espana” = RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Capriccio Espagnol; GRANADOS: Andaluza, Danza Espanola No. 5; CHABRIER: Espana; MOSZKOWSKI: Spanish Dances, Book 1 – London Symphony/ Ataulfo Argenta – Decca/First Impression Music LIMXR24 016

Romantic Trombone Concertos = Music of HOLMBOE, HYLDGAARD, JØRGENSEN, GRØNDAHL – Jesper Juul, trombone/ Danish National Symphony Orchestra/ Thomas Dausgaard, Henrik Vagn Christensen, cond. — DaCapo Multichannel SACD 6.220526

SAINT-SAËNS: Symphony No. 3 in C minor “Organ;” BARBER: Toccata Festiva for organ and orchestra; POULENC: Concerto for Organ, Strings, and Timpani – Olivier Latry, organ/ The Philadelphia Orchestra/ Christoph Eschenbach – Ondine Multichannel SACD ODE 10984-5

SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto in A Minor; BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat, “Emperor” – Van Cliburn, piano/ Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Fritz Reiner – RCA Red Seal Living Stereo 3-channel SACD 88697 08283-2

SCHUTZ: Opus ultimum (Schwanegesang) – Collegium Vocale Gent/ Concerto Palatino/ Philippe Herreweghe – Harmonia mundi HMC 901895.96 (2 CDs)

SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Trios Nos. 1, op. 8, and 2, Op. 67; PAUL JUON: Piano Trio op. 17; Trio-Miniaturen – Trio Paian – Coviello Classics Multichannel SACD COV 5050

SIBELIUS: Kullervo (complete symphonic poem for soloists, chorus & orchestra) – Soloists/ Men of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus/Norman Mackenzie; Atlanta Symphony Orchestra/Robert Spano – Telarc multichannel SACD-60665

JEAN SIBELIUS:  The Symphonies = Symphony No. 1 in E minor; Symphony No. 2 in D major; Symphony No. 3 in C major; Symphony No. 4 in A minor; Symphony No. 5 in E flat major; Symphony No. 6 in D minor; Symphony No. 7 in C major – Gothenburg Symphony/ Neeme Järvi – DGG Multichannel SACD set (4 discs) 28947 7568

SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 4; Katerina Ismailova Suite – Rozhdestevensky cond. London Symphony Orchestra – BBC Legends BBCL 4220

SMETANA: Ma Vlast: Vysehrad; Vltava -The Moldau; Sarka; From Bohemia’s Meadows and Forests; Tabor; Blanik – Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/ Vaclav Talich -Naxos Historical 8.111237

STRAVINSKY: The Rite of Spring/Firebird Suite – Monteux cond. Paris Conservatory Orchestra – HDTT CD-R or DVD-R 105

Tempo e del Disinganno, Tamerlano, Samson, Rodelinda, Esther, Jeptha, L’Allegro, Il Penseroso, ed Il Moderato – Mark Padmore, tenor/ Lucy Crowe, soprano/ Robin Blaze, countertenor/ English Concert/ Andrew Manze – Harmonia mundi 907422

JOAN TOWER: Made in America; Tambor; Concerto for Orchestra – Nashville Symphony/Leonard Slatkin – Naxos American Classics 8.55932

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Symphony No. 5; Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis; Serenade To Music – Telarc multichannel SACD-60676

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: On Wenlock Edge; WARLOCK: The Curlew; BLISS: Elegiac Sonnet; GURNEY: Ludlow – Soloists/ Fitzwilliam String Q. – Linn Multichannel SACD CKD 296

Hyunah Yu, soprano = Bach and Mozart Arias – Prague Philharmonia/ Shuntaro Sato – EMI 0946 3 68255 2 6

JAZZ, incl. Hi-Res

Terence Blanchard – A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina) – Blue Note/EMI 0946 3 91532 2

Michael Brecker and sextet – Pilgrimage – Heads Up Multichannel SACD HUSA 9095

Ray Sings: Basie Swings (with the Count Basie Orchestra dir. by Bill Hughes) – Telarc

The Bob Florence Limited Edition – Eternal Licks & Grooves – MAMA 1030

Five for Freddie: Bucky’s Tribute to Freddie Green – Arbors Jazz ARCD 1934

Bill Holman Band –  Hommage –  Jazzed Media JM 102

Chie Imaizumi – Unfailing Kindness – Capri 74081-2

Milt Jackson Sextet – Invitation – Riverside/Mobile Fidelity Original Master Recording, Stereo-only SACD UDSACD 2031

Hank Jones – Hanky Panky – East Wind/Test of Time Records TOT-9

Claire Martin: He Never Mentioned Love (Remembering Shirley Horn) – Claire Martin, vocals – with Gareth Williams, piano; Clark Tracey, drums; Laurence Cottle, bass; Steve Watts, double bass – Linn Records Multichannel Hybrid SACD – AKD 29

Oliver Nelson – Screamin’ the Blues – Prestige 824

Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol. 1- The Complete Abashiri Concert, Nov. 22, 1981 – Widow’s Taste APMC 06001  (2 CDs)

Frank Rosolino & Carl Fontana – Trombone Heaven – Uptown Records Flashback Series – UPCD 27.52

Maria Schneider Orchestra – Sky Blue – ArtistShare A50065

McCoy Tyner – Horizon –  Milestone Keepnews Collection MCD 30206

Gerald Wilson Orchestra – Monterey Moods – Mack Avenue MAC 1039

MUSIC DVDs

Astor Piazzolla – The Next Tango (1986/2007) – Unitel/DGG00440 073 4319

BEETHOVEN: Fidelio (complete opera) – Leonard Bernstein cond. – DGG

Brotherly Jazz – The Heath Brothers (2006) – DanSun Productions 102

Charles Mingus, Live in ‘64 (2007) – Reelin’ in the Years Productions 2119006

Chicago (Blu-ray, 2002/2007) – Miramax 53532

Classical Destinations – An armchair guide to classical music (2007) – BBC Worldwide/EMI 0946 392442 9 4 (2 DVDs + 2 CDs)

Copland and the American Sound (Keeping Score series) (2006) – SF Sym. Orch./MTT – SF Sym. Production

DVORAK: Requiem (1988) – Vaclav Neumann cond. – Arthaus Musik 102 063

Ennio Morricone – Arena Concerto (2002) – Morricone cond. – Euphonia/DRG Records 18005

FRANK ZAPPA: Apostrophe /  Over-nite Sensation (2007)
– Eagle Rock Entertainment

Honoring James Taylor, Musicares Person of the Year Tribute – Rhino Records RH1471642D

John Coltrane, Live in ’60, ’61, & ’65 – Jazz Icons (Distr. by Naxos) DVD 2119007

Keeping Score – STRAVINSKY’s Rite of Spring (2006) – SF Sym. Orch./MTT – SF Sym. Production

Legendary British Performers, 1954-1972 – EMI 38846192

Monterey Jazz Festival 1975 (2007) – Storyville Films 26021

“New Year’s Concert” – Orchestra and Chorus of the Mariinsky Theatre/Valery Gergiev – Bel Air classiques DVD BAC 031

The Other Side of the Mirror – Bob Dylan, Live at the Newport Folk Festival 1963-1965 – Columiba 88697 15537 9

Pat Metheny Group – The Way Up, Live (Blu-ray) (2006) – Eagle Vision EVBRD 33014

The Plow That Broke the Plains & The River (1936 & 37) – With orig. scores by VIRGIL THOMSON – Naxos 2.110521

RICHARD STRAUSS: Josephs Legende (The Legend of Joseph), ballet – DGG/Unitel

Tennstedt Conducts Mahler 1st & 8th Symphonies
– EMI Classics (2 discs) DVD 0946 67743 9

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