CD Review - 20/12/2008

Andrew McGregor introduces Radio 3's weekly programme devoted to all that's new in the world of recorded music. Guests Rob Cowan, Hilary Finch and Stephen Johnson choose some of their favourite new recordings of the past year and Radio 3 listeners set them some Christmas challenges. Hilary Finch Schubert Schwanengesang and Songs after Seidl Christoph Pregardien (tenor), Andreas Staier (fortepiano) Challenge Classics CC72302 (Hybrid SACD) Songs by Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky and Ned Rorem Gerald Finley (bass-baritone), Julius Drake (piano) Wigmore Hall Live WHLive0025 (CD, Mid Price) Saariaho (Notes on Light/Orion/Mirage) Karita Mattila (soprano), Anssi Karttunen (cello), Orchestre de Paris, Christoph Eschenbach (conductor) Ondine ODE 1130-2 (CD) Brett Dean: composer and performer Brett Dean (viola), Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Simone Young (conductor), Hugh Wolff (conductor) BIS-CD-1696 (CD) Rob Cowan Schoenberg / Sibelius Violin Concertos Hilary Hahn (violin), Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen (CD) Deutsche Grammophon 477 7346 (CD) Beethoven Symphony No. 7 Budapest Festival Orchestra, Ivan Fischer (conductor) Channel Classics CCS SA 25207 (CD) Ludwig van Beethoven The Piano Sonatas (Volumes VII and VIII) Andras Schiff (piano) ECM 476 6189 (CD), ECM 476 6192 (CD) Scarlatti/Bartok Liaisons Volume 1 Dejan Lazic (piano) Channel Classics CCS SA 23407 (CD) Charles Munch in Boston: The Early Years Claudio Arrau (piano), Boston Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch (conductor) plus other artists West Radio Hill Archives WHRA-6015 (7 CDs, Mid Price) Stephen Johnson Mozart Symphonies Nos. 38-41 Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Charles Mackerras (conductor) Linn Records CKD308 (2 Hybrid SACDs, Mid Price) Mahler Symphony No. 7 London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev (conductor) LSO Live LSO0665 (Hybrid SACD, Mid Price) Monteverdi Fire & Ashes I Fagiolini, Robert Hollingworth (conductor) Chandos CHAN0749 (CD) Schubert Trios Op. 99 & 100 Trio Wanderer Harmonia Mundi HMC 902002.03 (2 CDs)