Not Unduly Christmassy

The latest edition of BBC Music magazine has an organ recital as the free cover disc. Messaien : La Nativite du Seigneur Hakim : Le Tombeau d'Olivier Messaien Performer : Naji Hakim organ. Played on the organ of Messiaen's church where Hakim was his successor, Church of La Trinite Paris.

A Very Personal Requiem

Howells : Hymnus Paradisi Performers : BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Richard Hickox, chorus master Stephen Jackson. Joan Rodgers soprano, Anthony Rolfe Johnson tenor Purchased after seeing this piece performed at this years BBC Proms. Disc also contains A Kent Yeoman's Wooing Song with the same forces apart from Alan Opie baritone instead of Anthony Rolfe Johnson.

Across The 20th Century Piano Spectrum

Stravinsky : Three Movements From Petrushka Prokofiev : Piano Sonata No 7 Webern : Variations for Piano Boulez : Second Sonata for Piano Performer : Maurizio Pollini piano.

Off The Beaten Clarinet Track

Francaix : Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra ; Theme and Variations for Clarinet and String Orchestra. Prokofiev : Sonata Op 94 ( originally for flute and piano, transcribed for clarinet and orchestra by Kent Kennan ) Performers : Shirley Brill, clarinet. National Radio Orchestra of Romania conducted by Adrian Morar. The Prokofiev transcription works especially well.

Cavalier Airs

William Lawes : Consorts to the Organ. Performers : Phantasm with Daniel Hyde organ. Seven sets of fantasies, airs and dances with a maverick edge.

It's A Gas, Gas, Gas

Artistically, the worst thing to happen to Rod Stewart was Maggie May being such a massive worldwide hit, which led to entry into the then fledgling tabloid celeb scene and a descent into crowd and record company pleasing middle of the road lowest common denominator mediocrity. And laughing all the way to the bank ! But lest it be forgot, for a short spell the Faces were a stonking rock band and his early solo career showed surprising sensitivity and understated musicality which is best represented on Gasoline Alley, one of those essential albums and one to best represent his career.

Discovering Martin

Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Frank Martin Violin Concerto. Performers: Baiba Skride violin, BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Thierry Fischer Orchestral fillers : Honegger Pacific 231 and Rugby and Stravinsky Circus Polka. The Martin is the real discovery.

Sound Of Dresden

A disc by violinist Johannes Pramsohler leading the International Baroque Players of violin concertos from Dresden associated in some way with the figure of Pisendel. Works included are by Fasch, Heinichen, Handel, Telemann and Pisendel himself. I saw this ensemble in concert at St John's Smith Square presenting a very similar programme and enjoy this disc, which is only marred slightly by an over bright and metallic recorded sound with very abrupt fades to black at the end of each movement.

A Rolls Royce Of An Orchestra

As part of the celebration of the centenary of the birth of Sir Georg Solti, the latest BBC Music magazine free cover disc features the World Orchestra for Peace which he founded. The works featured are Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra and Rossini's William Tell Overture, both conducted by Solti, and Stravinsky's Petrushka conducted by his successor Valery Gergiev. A Rolls Royce of an orchestra and in markedly better sound than most of these BBC Music discs.

Requiem For The 20th Century

Britten : War Requiem Performers : London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Choir of Eltham College. Sabina Cvilak soprano, Ian Bostridge tenor, Simon Keenlyside baritone. Consucted by Gianandrea Noseda. Not a piece for everyday listening but a masterpiece, powerful and humane but on a human scale using large forces sparingly.