Best Of The Year Discs for 2007
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
