January 2023
McClelland: Where The Shadow Glides (Naxos)
A splendid collection of music inspired by poetry [BMC]
Verdi: Aïda (Pristine)
Pristine illuminates afresh a vintage account of a perennial favourite, always very listenable but now even better [RMo]
Martinů: Cello Sonatas (Pentatone)
A warmly sympathetic duo rates highly in Martinů Cello Sonatas [JW]
Piano Music From Vienna (Gramola)
A vivid evocation of the opulence and spirit of Vienna [RCh]
Thomas Jensen (conductor) Legacy Vol 14 (Danacord)
New and adventurous repertoire from Thomas Jensen’s broadcasts [JW]
Jacob Lateiner (piano) Lost Art Of (Parnassus)
More live Lateiner; a pianist of probity, directness and high gifts [JW]
Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana (CSO Resound)
The orchestral playing and the choral contributions are impressive; the final scene is as spine-chilling as ever [GF]
Joan Sutherland (soprano) Personal Choices (Alto)
Stellar singing but scanty recording information and some tracks are in poor sound [RMo]
Vikingur Ólafsson (piano) From Afar (DG)
A very personal programme which has divided opinions, but does have much to commend it [DJB]
Sivelöv: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 5 (Naxos)
Stimulating and imaginative scores, painted in vivid colour [SG]
Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings (BIS)
A wholly successful compilation of deeply melancholy and Romantic melodies for those with a sweet tooth [RMo]
Donizetti: Signor Gaetano (Pentatone)
A magnificent full-size portrait of a truly great bel canto artist [GF]
S:t Sigfrids Officium – Celebrimus karissimi (Sterling)
For those who are interested in ancient liturgical practices, this is a very interesting disc to have [JV]
Tuma: Te Deum (Supraphon)
A little-remembered Bohemian on the cusp of Classicism [JW]
Gina Bachauer: Mercury Masters (Eloquence)
Gina Bachauer’s powerful Mercury legacy, collated in its entirety for the first time in a single box [JW]
Brahms: Symphonies (Channel)
A variable Brahms cycle, let down by inconsistent conducting decisions and an unfortunate lack of contextual information in the booklet [ST]
The Bright Day is Done (Claves)
A day full of music, never a bad thing [RCh]
Carulli: Rediscovered (Dynamic)
Will challenge entrenched attitudes toward the solo music of Ferdinando Carulli [ZT]
Martin, Vladigerov & Turina: Trios (Avi-Music)
Very intelligent programming, and very fine performances [DJB]
Scriabin: Orchestral (BIS)
Good, solid orchestral performances, very well recorded; the sonata is a welcome bonus [DM]
Fréderick Franssen (horn) (Challenge)
A virtuoso hornist addresses newly discovered Baroque repertoire [SV]
Julius Prüwer (conductor) Forgotten maestro (Pristine)
A welcome to a neglected conductor from the early electrical recording period in Berlin [GT]
Pablo Casals: Philips Legacy (Eloquence)
Late Casals in imperfect recordings, attractively remastered and presented [JW]
Mozart: La Clemenza di Tito (Alpha)
A very good new Tito which marks a new chapter in the development of Nicky Spence as the title character [ST]
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