December 2022
Bach: Goldberg Variations (Warner)
Spirited, mercurial playing, compromised by a poor recording from Warner [RMo]
Leoncavallo: Zingari (Opera Rara)
An all-round excellent effort to document a forgotten opera that likely won’t be returning to the stage anytime soon [MP]
Mendelssohn/Kubelik: Violin Concertos (Hanssler)
The romantic First Violin Concerto of Jan Kubelík receives a premiere recording [JW]
Henryk Szeryng (violin) Rediscovered (Rhine)
One of the twentieth century’s greatest violinists, a musical aristocrat with superb polished technique and a phenomenal intellect [SG]
The Secret Theatre (Opus Arte)
A novel and inventive seasonal treat from Scottish Ballet [RMay]
Humfrey: Sacred Choral Music (Delphian)
Interesting interpretational concept, but musically not really satisfying [JV]
Wagner: The Golden Ring (Decca)
A glorious sampler heralding a complete project which promises the best sound yet for this greatest of Wagner recordings [RMo]
de Hartmann: Orchestral Music Vol. 2 (Toccata)
A great Romantic symphony and an unusual concerto [LD]
Suppé: Die Reise (Naxos)
A musical world tour broadens our knowledge of von Suppé’s considerable output [RMay]
Le Voyage en Orient (Hortus)
A well executed esoteric program, let down by the lack of useful documentation for the casual listener [MP]
Britten: String Quartets (BIS)
Britten’s music for string quartet, a comprehensive collection [SB]
A Breath Between the Strings (Dynamic)
The British Harmonica School in safe Italian hands [JW]
Vaughan Williams: Symphonies 7 & 8 (Pristine)
Another triumph for Pristine’s re-masterings of the Boult/Decca cycle [PCG]
Thoresen: Lyden av Arktis (2L)
An Arctic artistic spectacular, but will you be convinced [DC]
Yun: Silla (BIS)
An important release of this major Korean composer’s orchestral masterpieces [GT]
Vivaldi: Concerti di Parigi (Château de Versailles)
Not a dull moment, thanks to Vivaldi and the engaging performances [JV]
Pascoe: Secular Requiem (Regent)
A major achievement which articulates many profound emotions [JQ]
20C Cello Sonatas (Alpha)
Fine performances of four major 20th century cello sonatas [LW]
Salon de Budapest (Gramola)
Wit and warmth from the Budapest of operetta and salon [JW]
Vaughan Williams: Symphonies (Chandos/Halle)
Two very highly accomplished sets, either of which any listener would be happy with, but ultimately my heart belongs to the Chandos box [ST]
Chilcott: On Christmas Night (Priory)
Creditable performances of two attractive works, somewhat compromised by the recorded sound [JQ]
Bernstein conducts Stravinsky (DG)
A flawlessly played, atmospherically interpreted and beautifully presented collection of Stravinsky’s three major ballets with interesting bonuses [RMo]
Balbastre: Suites de Noël (Temperaments)
Baumont does exactly what these suites need to make for a nice hour of listening, not only at Christmastide [JV]
The Art of Vadim Muntagirov (Opus Arte)
You will seldom find better, more compelling or beautiful performances than the ones recorded here [MMB]
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