Man Sings With Friends

J.S. Bach : Cantatas Vol. 50 Cantatas From Leipzig 1726-29. BWV 149, 145, 174, 49. Performers : Bach Collegium Japan directed by Masaaki Suzuki. Hana Blazikova soprano, Robin Blaze counter-tenor, Gerd Turk tenor, Peter Kooij bass. Superb sound recording of wonderful performances.

Gothic Voices

Leonin and Perotin : Sacred Music from Notre-Dame Cathedral. Tonus Peregrinus Atmospheric plainchant and beyond. Not totally authentic since a mixed choir is used but true to the spirit of the music.

He's Not So Scary

Schoenberg : Pelleas und Melisande, Symphonic Poem for Orchestra. Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Matthias Bamert Schoenberg : Piano Concerto. Danish National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Schonwandt. Amalie Malling, piano.

Award Winning Piano

Schumann : Humoresque, Studies For The Pedal Piano, Morning Songs. Piotr Anderszewski, piano. Won BBC Music magazines disc of the year award for 2011. Highly subjective of course but a fine record regardless if it is due that accolade.

Spanish Impressionism

Turina Chamber Music : The Nash Ensemble Piano Quartet in A minor, Violin Sonata No 2, Escena Andaluza for viola and piano quintet, Piano Trio No 1 and La Oracion del Torero for string quintet. Spanish flavours give a twist to early 20th century impressionism.

Recovering A Lost Symphony

E. J. Moeran : Sketches for Symphony No 2 realised and completed by Martin Yates. Performers : Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates. I don't know how much is Moeran but Yates has done a fine job in compiling a very worthwhile addition to the mid - 20th century English symphonic repertoire. The fillers on the disk fall a bit too close to the light music genre for my taste, Moeran's Overture for a Festival as orchestrated by Rodney Newton and John Ireland's Sarnia : An island sequence for orchestra.

Another Composer Overdue A Re-assessment

This month's free cover disc from BBC Music magazine is a 60th anniversary celebration of the BBC Concert Orchestra. A bit of a jack of all trades work horse orchestra, it can play well given the opportunity. A lot of the work is with very light material and that is shown here with Coates's The Three Elizabeth's Suite, conducted by Barry Wordsworth and by J Strauss II's Tritsch - Tratsch Polka and Enescu's Romanian Rhapsody No 1 conducted by Johannes Wildner. I could happily never hear these again but the most substantial piece on the disc in terms of length and content is admirable, Arnold's First Symphony conducted by Keith Lockhart. Another composer overdue a re-assessment.

Not Only An Opera Composer

Massenet : Scenes Dramatiques, Scenes de feerie, Scenes Alsaciennes, Scenes Pittoresques, Don Quichotte Interludes, Le Dernier Sommeil de la Vierge. Orchestre National de L'Opera de Monte Carlo conducted by John Eliot Gardner. Known for his operas but colourful orchestral suites.