l \1 LETTERS 6 Collective reactions to The Collection BEVERLY SILLS TRIBUTE 10 Sherrill Milnes recalls the adored diva EDITOR'S CHOICE 12 The best new recordings of the month ARTIST OF THE YEAR 14 The nominations for this year's Award SOUNDBITES FOR THE RECORD 16 Three high-profile signings for EMI and Sony; Slatkin joins the Pittsburgh SO MY TOP TEN 21 Thomas Trotter's guide to the best organs from around the world INTERVIEW 23 Natalie Clein on Elgar's Cello Concerto HARRIET SMITH 25 Should musicians ditch the penguin suits for a more relaxed look? PHILIP KENNICOTT 26 The addictive pleasures of YouTube THE GRAMOPHONE DEBATE 30 Just what does a conductor do? ENCOUNTERS 32 Violinist Chloe Hanslip on her firm friendship with mentor Ida Haendel USA (North American edition only) A1 Author Toni Morrison on adapting her "slave Medea" story for the opera ARMANDO IANNUCCI 35 Gaps in your musical knowledge? Fear not - even the experts can't know it all FEATURES REVIEWS ORCHESTRAL Arnold's Three Musketeers in dazzling array; Ashkenazy completes his sturdy Shostakovich cycle FILM MUSIC Sail to world's end with Captain Jack CHAMBER Brahms from the Nash and Emersons; team Shaham's perfect Prokofiev CHAMBER ROUND-UP The rise of first-rate Flamenco INSTRUMENTAL "I compose too," said Clara Schumann VOCAL Sakari Oramo directs a glorious Gerontius from Birmingham OPERA A heart-stopping Madama Butterfly and an unmissable Hansel and Gretel DVD Fischer's Aida leads a crowded field REPLAY Past and present piano greats from Naxos BOOKS Shedding light on the Messiaen enigma SOUNDWAVES TUNE SURFING A downloading sununer refresher course MUSICAL JOURNEYS SEEN AND HEARD 107 Argerich's Lugano Festival- where youth and experience meet to mutual benefit COVER STORY 36 LIVE MUSIC 111 Music's Best-Kept Secrets: Gramophone critics reveal 50 outstanding but unfairly neglected recordings Messiah meets the Caribbean in Leeds HIGH -FIDELITY VLADIMIR JUROWSKI As he takes to the LPO podium the 44 AUDIO AND VISUAL Simpler control with the HDMI system conductor discusses music and the importance of good nutrition WRITERS IN MUSIC 48 American poet ee cummings was a natural fit for both Boulez and Bernstein THE COLLECTION Haydn's Surprise Symphony - so much more than a crash and a bang 50 CONTENTS: FROM TOP: ARENAPAL, VALERIE BARBER STEPHA1\T£ GAl,LOISINANE, BRIAl'! GALLAGHER FINALE MY MUSIC 130 Italian actress Sophia Loren SUBSCRIPTIONS CLASSIFIEDS NEW RELEASES REVIEWS INDEX 28 128 o recycleWh..o)OIoro.....I...i~ . . , . I iu' . . . . . . ._~.... f . ., . . www.gramophone.co.uk GRAMOPHONE Sophia Loren's My Music GRAMOPHONE SEPTEMBER 2007 3