Best Of The Year Discs for 2006
Classical/Hi-Res/Reissues/Jazz/Pop/DualDiscs
ALBENIZ-FRÜHBECK DE BERGOS: Suite Española - New Philharmonia/ Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos - Decca/First Impression Music xrcd24 FIM XR24 068
"Angel Dances" - The 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic, with guests Jocelyn B. Smith, Markus Stockhausen & Members of the Berlin Radio Choir - EMI Classics 94635 70302 3
Marta Argerich and Friends: Live from Lugano Festival 2005 -
EMI Classics 0946 3 58472 2
CPE BACH: Symphonies 1-4, Cello Concerto in A - Alison McGillivray, cello. The English Concert conducted by Andrew Manze - Harmonia Mundi HMU 807405
Adolf Busch plays BACH - 2-CD IDIS 6490/91 (Distrib. Qualiton)
BARTOK: Concerto for Orchestra; GIDEON KLEIN: Partita for Strings; MARTINU: Memorial to Lidice - The Philadelphia Orchestra/ Christopher Eschenbach - Ondine Multichannel SACD ODE 1072
La Flute de Pan Baroque / The Baroque Panpipe - Simion Stanciu, panpipes - Works of CIMAROSA, VIVALDI, MARCELLO, ALBINONI, BACH, MOZART, TELEMANN, STAMITZ, BARTOK, BACH, HANDEL, SARASATE, VERACINI, BOCCHERINI & STANCIU - Cascavelle REF VEL 3086 (2 CDs + video DVD)
BEETHOVEN: Complete Works for Cello and Piano - Pierre Fournier, cello/Friedrich Gulda, piano - 2-CD DGG 00289 477 6266 (Distrib. Universal)
BEETHOVEN: Piano Trios Op. 1 and Op. 97 Daniel Barenboim, piano Pinchas Zukerman, violin Jacqueline du Pre, cello - 2-CD EMI Classics 0946 3 50798 2
BEETHOVEN: Fidelio - Moedl, Windgassen, Frick, Edelmann, Poell, Jurinac/Furtwaengler cond. Vienna State Opera Chorus and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - Naxos 8.111020
LUIGI BOCCHERINI: "Fandango" (Quintet No. 4 for guitar & strings); Sinfonia in d minor "Grande"; Sinfonia in A major; "La Musica Notturna di Madrid" - Rolf Lislevand/Bruno Cocset/ Manfredo Kraemer/ Pablo Valetti/ José de Udaeta/ Le Concert des Nations/ Jordi Savall - AliaVox Multichannel SACD AVSA9845 (Distr. Harmonia mundi)
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 108 - (Haas Version) - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/ Bernard Haitink, cond. laureate - RCO Live Multichannel SACDs (2) RCO 05003
CHOPIN: Piano Sonatas 2 and 3; Polonaises Alfred Cortot - Naxos 8.110065
FALLA: The Three-Cornered Hat (complete ballet) - Barbara Howitt, soprano/ London Symphony Orchestra/ Enrique Jorda - Everest 35mm mag film recording reissued as Classic Records 3-channel HDAD2019 (CD/DVD-V audio/DVD-A audio) - Also on F.I.M. xrcd24 LIM XR24 014
Kirsten Flagstad: Live in Concert, 1949-1957 - Vai Vaia 1248 (Distrib. Naxos)
Virgil Fox Encores = BACH: Fugue in G Minor "Little;" Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring; Trio Sonata No. 6 in G; Now Thank We All Our God; Air on the G String; HANDEL: Concerto No. 4: Allegro; Concerto No. 1 for Strings: Aria; BOYCE: Ye Sweet Retreat; MULET: Thou Art the Rock; PURCELL: Trumpet Voluntary; SCHUMANN: Canon in B Minor; WIDOR: Symphony No. 5 in F Minor: Toccata - Virgil Fox, organ of Riverside Church - RCA Red Seal Living Stereo Multichannel (three-channel) SACD 82876-71626-2
CÉSAR FRANCK - Oeuvres pour Orgue = Grande pièce symphonique; Choral No. 2 in B minor; Prière, Op. 20; Final, Op. 21 - Roberta Gary, organ - Arsis Multichannel SACD 401
FRANCK: Violin-Piano Sonata in A major; DEBUSSY: Violin-Piano Sonata in G minor; ROBERT SCHUMANN: Fantasy Pieces - Dora Schwarzberg, violin/ Martha Argerich, piano - Avanti Classic Multichannel SACD 5414706 10232
FRANCK: Symphony in D minor; CHAUSSON: Symphony In B-flat Op. 20 - Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/ Marek Janowski - PentaTone Classics Multichannel SACD PTC 5186 078
MAURO GIULIANI: Guitar Concerto No. 1 in A; RODRIGO: Concierto Madrigal for Two Guitars and Orchestra; Sones en la Giralda - Pepe Romero & Angel Romero, guitars/ Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/ Sir Neville Marriner - PentaTone Classics Multichannel SACD PTC 5186 14
MORTON GOULD Showcase - Dutton Classics CDUS 3030 (Distrib. Harmonia mundi)
GRIEG: Symphonic Dances; Elegiac Melodies; Norwegian Dances; Holberg Suite - Estonian National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paavo Järvi - Virgin Classics 3-44722-2
Friedrich Gulda, Live at the Brucjhsaler Schlosskonzerte - Golden Melodram GM 4.0080 (Distrib. Albany)
HANDEL: Messiah (complete) – Kerstin Avemo/ Patricia Bardon/ Lawrence Zazzo/ Kobie van Rensburg/ Neal Davies / Choir of Clare College/ Freiburger Barockorchester/ Rene Jacobs – Harmonia mundi Multichannel SACD HMC 801928.29, (2 discs)
MICHAEL HAYDN: Concertos - Claudio Brizi (claviorgan), Luca Ranieri (viola, Mario Ancillotti (flute), Luca Arcese (violin) and the I Solisti di Perugia conducted by Thomas Indermühle - Camerata CMCD-28069
"Kiri Sings Karl" - Kiri Te Kanawa in Songs of Mystery & Enchantment Composed & Arranged by KARL JENKINS - London Symphony Orchestra and guest artists - EMI 32572 0
ELENI KARAINDROU: Elegy of the Uprooting - Maria Farantouri, voice/13-piece ensemble with the composer at the piano/Traditional instruments ensemble/Hellenic Radio-TV Choir/Camerata orchestra/Alexandros Myrat cond. - ECM New Series 1952/53 (2 CDs)
LISZT: Dante Sonata; 3 Petrarch Sonnets; Mephisto Waltz No. 1; Impromptu for Princess Gortschakoff; Valse-Impromptu; Song Transcriptions: Fruehlingsnacht; Widmung; Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 - Jon Nakamatsu, piano - Harmonia mundi HMU 90740
LISZT: Piano Sonata in B Minor; Six Paganini Etudes - George-Emmanuel Lazaridis, piano - Linn Multichannel SACD CKD 282
MAHLER: Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp minor - San Francisco Symphony/Michael Tilson Thomas - SF Symphony Multichannel SACD 821936-0012-2
MAHLER: Symphony No. 6 in A minor; HANS WERNER HENZE: Sebastian im Traum (2003-4) - Royal Concertgebouw orchestra/ Mariss Jansons - RCO Live Multichannel SACD 06001 (2 discs)
MAHLER: Symphony No. 9 in D Major Gunter Herbig Rundfink Sinfonieorchester Saarbrucken - Berlin Classics 0017952BC (Distrib. Albany)
MARTINU: String Quartets Kocian Quartet - Praga PRD DSD 250 205 (Distrib. Harmonia mundi)
DAVID MASLANKA: A Child's Garden of Dreams; In Memoriam; Symphony No. 4 - Dallas Wind Symphony/Jerry Junkin - Reference Recordings HDCD RR-108
MENDELSSOHN Discoveries - Roberto Prosseda, piano - Decca 476 3038 (Distrib. Universal)
Messe Noire - Piano Works by STRAVINSKY, SHOSTAKOVICH, PROKOFIEV and SCRIABIN - Alexei Lubimov, piano – ECM 1679
MOZART Symphonies 35, 38, 40 and Concert Arias - Carl Schuricht conducts - Hanssler CD 93.152 (Distrib. Allegro)
MOZART: Symphonies - Ferenc Fricsay - 2-CD DGG 00289 477 5807 (Distrib. Universal)
MOZART: Solo Piano Works - Lili Kraus - Music & Arts CD-1001 (5 CDs, Distrib. Albany )
MOZART: Così fan tutte - Schwarzkopf, Merriman, Panerai, Simoneau, Otto, Bruscantini, with the Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus conducted by Herbert von Karajan - EMI Classics 3-36789-2 (3 CDs)
MOZART: La Clemenza di Tito - Mark Padmore/ Alexandrina Pendatchanska/, Bernarda Fink/ Marie-Claude Chappuis / Freiburger Barockorchester and RIAS Kammerchor /René Jacobs - Harmonia Mundi SACD 801923.24
MOZART & MOLTER: Clarinet concertos - Kari Kriikku, clarinet in D & basset clarinet, with the Tapiola Sinfonietta conducted by John Storgårds - Ondine ODE 1056-2
MOZART: 3 Violin Concertos (K. 216, 218 and 219) - Andrew Manze, violin and leading The English Concert - Harmonia mundi Multichannel SACD 907385
MUSSORGSKY-STOKOWSKI: Pictures at an Exhibition; Entr'acte from Khovanshchina; Night on Bare Mountain; Symphonic Synthesis of Boris Godunov; TCHAIKOVSKY: Humoresque; Solitude - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/ José Serebrier - Naxos Multichannel SACD 6.110101
ORFF: Carmina Burana Suite; ARTHUR BIRD: Serenade for Wind Instruments; H. OWEN REED: La Fiesta Mexicana - Peabody Conservatory Wind Ensemble/ Harlan D. Parker - Naxos 8.570242
Portraits = Music by NORDGREN, BRUCH, BARTÓK, SALLINEN, RAUTAVAARA, GRIEG and JALKANEN - Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra conducted by Juha Kangas - Alba Super Audio CD ABCD 205
PROKOFIEV: Alexander Nevsky Cantata; Lieutenant Kijé Symphonic Suite - Claudine Carlson, mezzo-soprano /Arnold Voketaitis, bass-baritone/ St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Leonard Slatkin - Vox/Mobile Fidelity
RESPIGHI: Fountains of Rome; Pines of Rome; DEBUSSY: La Mer - Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner - RCA Red Seal Living Stereo Multichannel SACD 82876-71614
Leone Rysanek, 1926-1998 - Preiser 93448 (Distrib. Albany)
SAINT-SAENS: Samson et Dalila - Jon Vickers, Oralia Domnguez, Ernest Blanc/Netherlands Radio Orchestra and Chorus/ Jean Fournet Opera D'Oro OPD 7028 (Distrib. Allegro)
SCHOENBERG: Verklaerte Nacht, (Transfigured Night) Op. 4; ZEMLINSKY: Piano Trio, Op. 3; MAHLER: Piano Quartet - Vienna Piano Trio/ Johannes Fiedler, viola (in Mahler) - MDG Gold 342 1354-2
SCHUBERT: Piano Trio No.2, D. 929. Sonatensatz, D. 28 - Kungsbacka Piano Trio - Naxos 8.555700
SCHUMANN: Carnaval, Op. 9; Beethoven Sonata No. 7 in D; Sonata No. 16 in G - Annie Fischer - BBC Legends BBCL 4199-2 (Distirb. Koch)
SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartets 3, 7 and 8 - Hagen Quartet - DGG 0289 477 6146 (Distrib. Universal)
"Spin" - LAGQ (Los Angeles Guitar Quartet) - (John Dearman, William Kanengiser, Scott Tennant, Andrew York - with Colin Currie, percussion) - Telarc Multichannel SACD-6064
STRAVINSKY: Petruschka; RACHMANINOFF: Symphonic Dances - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/ Mariss Jansons - RCO Live Multichannel SACD RCO 0500
Sviatoslav Richter at Carnegie Hall, New York October 19-30, 1960 - Doremi 6-CD DHR 7864-9 (Distrib. Allegro)
STRAVINSKY: The Soldier's Tale Suite (L'Histoire du Soldat) - Ars Nova Ensemble/Robert Mandell - HDDT DVD-R (96K/24bit)
Stephen Stubbs & Teatro Lirico - Music by CACCINI, CAZZATI, CORELLI, VALENT, RUIZ DE RIBAYAZ, FARINA, BATTISTA GRANATA, PAOLO FOSCARINI, and STUBBS - ECM New Series 000592302
SZYMANOWSKI: Harnasie - Iwona Sobotka/Katarina Karnéus/ Timothy Robinson/ cond. by Sir Simon Rattle - EMI 3 644352 2
Hommage a Marcelle Meyer - TAHRA TAH 579/580 (Distrib. Harmonia mundi)
TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto in D Major; Serenade melancolique in B Minor; Valse-Scherzo; Souvenir d'un lieu cher - Julia Fischer, violin/ Russian National Orchestra/ Yakov Kreizberg, conductor and piano - PentaTone Multichannel SACD 5186 095
Jacques Thibaud: The Complete Solo Recordings, 1929-1936 - Appian 2-CD 6003 (Distrib. Albany)
VERDI: La Traviata (complete opera) – Anna Moffo, Richard Tucker, Robert Merrill/ Rome Opera Orchestra and Chorus/ Fernando Previtali - RCA Red Seal Living Stereo Multichannel (3) SACD 82876-82623-2, (2 discs)
"Vienna" – Chicago Symphony Orchestra /Fritz Reiner, conductor – Sony/BMG 82876-71615-2 Living Stereo Series – Multichannel (3-channel) SACD
Virgil Fox Encores = BACH: Fugue in G Minor "Little;" Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring; Trio Sonata No. 6 in G; Now Thank We All Our God; Air on the G String; HANDEL: Concerto No. 4: Allegro; Concerto No. 1 for Strings: Aria; BOYCE: Ye Sweet Retreat; MULET: Thou Art the Rock; PURCELL: Trumpet Voluntary; SCHUMANN: Canon in B Minor; WIDOR: Symphony No. 5 in F Minor: Toccata - Virgil Fox, organ of Riverside Church - RCA Red Seal Living Stereo Multichannel (three-channel) SACD 82876-71626-2
VIVALDI: Vivaldi, il furioso! - Music from Naïve’s Vivaldi Edition - Various singers, soloists, ensembles and conductors - Naïve OP 30432
ERIC WHITACRE: "Cloudburst" and 13 other choral works - Polyphony/Stephen Layton - Hyperion CDA67543
JAZZ & POP
Incl. Hi-Res, Standard CDs, DualDiscs
Michel Camilo & Tomatito (piano & acoustic guitar) - Spain Again - Universal Music Classics Group B0007179-0
John Coltrane - Lush Life - Rudy Van Gelder Remasters - Prestige PRCD-8103-2
Workin' With the Miles Davis Quintet - Prestige RVG Remasters, mono PRCD-30080
Dire Straits (Mark Knopfler and his five-piece band) - Brothers in Arms - Vertigo/Universal xrcd2 5483572 (Distr. May Audio)
Sacred Music of Duke Ellington - Soloists/Chorus/Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra/ Clarence Acox & Michael Brockman, Co-Directors - Origin 8245 (2 CDs)
Donald Fagen - Morph the Cat - Reprise Multichannel DVD-A, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1 + separate standard CD 49976-2
Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band - The Phat Pack - Immergent CD + surround DVD 284404-2
Dick Hyman & Randy Sandke - Now & Again - Arbors Jazz Records ARCD 1931
The Symphonic Jean Michel Jarre - 20 Selections from past albums in orchestral versions - Crouch End Festival Chorus/ The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra/ Nic Raine - 2 HDCD CDs + DVD-A with stills and DD 24-bit 5.1 surround mix, TADLOW003
Symphonic Jobim - Live Concert, Sao Paulo, Brazil with members of Orquestra Sinfonica do Estado de Sao Paulo cond. by Roberto Minczuk. Special guest: Milton Nascimento - Adventure Music AM1016 2 (2 discs)
Kraftwerk - Minimum-Maximum - EMI (UK) Multichannel SACD 334 996 2, (2 discs)
Diana Krall - From This Moment On - with the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra - Verve B0007323-0
Joe Lovano - Streams of Expression - Blue Note 0946 3 41092 2 2V
Mike Marshall & Hamilton De Holanda - New Words - Adventure Music CD + DVD AM1029 2
Metheny/Mehldau - Nonesuch B000GQLAZW
The Microscopic Septet - History of the Micros, Vol. 1, "Seven Men in Neckties" - Cuneiform Records 236/237 (2 discs) - The Microscopic Septet - History of the Micros, Vol. 2, "Surrealistic Swing" - Cuneiform Records 238/239 (2 discs)
Mingus Big Band - Live in Tokyo At the Blue Note (12/31/2005) - Sue Mingus Music 3042 (Distr. by Universal)
Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall. (Thelonious Monk, piano; John Coltrane, saxophone; Ahmed Abdul-Malik, bass; Shadow Wilson, drums) - Blue Note 35173
Progressions - 100 Years of Jazz Guitar (Compilation of 4 CDs in boxed set with 148-page booklet; featuring 78 guitar legends from 33 different labels) - Columbia Legacy K86462-S1
Sonny Rollins - Sonny, Please - Doxy Records DR9730-
Maria Schneider Orchestra — Concert in the Garden CD ArtistShare000
Bud Shank Big Band - Taking the Long Way Home (Recorded Live at the LAX 4 Points Sheraton 5/28/05) - Jazzed Media 1015
Frank Sinatra – "Vegas" – Frank Sinatra, vocals; with Antonio Morelli and his Orchestra (disc 1); with Count Basie and his Orchestra, conducted by Quincy Jones (disc 2); with Vincent Falcone, piano (disc 3); with orchestra conducted by and featuring Bill Miller, piano (discs 4 and 5); many others – Reprise R2 74075 – 4 standard CDs: 216 min. + DVD
Talking Heads – More Songs about Buildings and Food - Rhino R2 76450 DualDisc
The Anthony Wilson Trio - Savivity (Anthony Wilson, guitar/ Joe Bagg: B-3/ Mark Ferber, drums) - Groove Note stereo SACD GRV1030
Phil Woods - This is How I Feel About Quincy (Phil Woods, alto sax, clarinet; Brian Lynch, trumpet, flugelhorn; Bill Charlap, piano; Steve Gilmore, bass; Bill Goodwin, drums - With added Little Big Band: Nelson Hill, Bari and tenor sax; Tom Hamilton, tenor sax; Bobby Routch, French horn, flugelhorn; Rick Chamberlain, trombone and euphonium) - Jazzed Media #JM 1004
Yes - Fragile - Mobile Fidelity Original Master Recording Gold CD UDCD 766
