April 2023
Humour and Classical Music: Dudley Moore
by David Barker
Bruckner: Symphony 5 (Philips)
(Déjà Review) A classic recording rightly restored to the catalogue in good sound and an example of Jochum’s Bruckner at its best [TD]
Das Partiturbuch (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) An entertaining and instructive collection, which whets the appetite for more music by these composers [GPJ]
Weill: Die sieben Todsünden (First Hand Records)
Two rarities; the performance of the main work is quite disappointing [SB]
Radigue: Occam Delta XV (Collection QB)
One of the greatest musical minds of our era [DMD]
Bellini: Bianca e Fernando (Dynamic)
A first video release of Bellini’s early work features some attractive singing and an elegant, if quirky, production [MP]
Vaughan Williams: Symphonies 7 & 9 (Hyperion)
A beautifully rendered conclusion to the Brabbins/Hyperion survey of the Vaughan Williams symphonies [NB]
Hamal: Motets (Musique en Wallonie)
This is how to put a relatively little-known composer on the map [JV]
Brahms, Ligeti & Sierra: Horn Trios (IBS Classical)
Two old horn trios and one new – terrific performances and a flawless programme [LW]
Beethoven: Late String Quartets (Nimbus Alliance)
(Déjà Review) Technically highly assured performances which communicate Beethoven’s vision well [PCW]
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 14 (BIS)
(Déjà Review) A superb performance by all concerned; a worthy addition to the catalogue [JP]
Bruckner: Symphonies 3 & 6 (Unitel Editions)
Today’s pre-eminent Bruckner conductor conducts the essential Bruckner orchestra in superb live accounts of two of the more elusive symphonies [RWe]
Chopin: Piano Sonatas (Deutsche Grammophon)
Performances of authority and distinction [SG]
El cielo y sus estrellas (Orchid Classics)
An interesting disc with little-known repertoire from the New World [JV]
Stravinsky: Rite of Spring (Decca)
A disappointingly bland and flaccid Rite of Spring balanced by a far more compelling Firebird [RMo]
Broken Branches (Pentatone)
A superlative Songs from Chinese can’t quite redeem indifferent singing elsewhere [DM]
Vaughan Williams: Live Vol. 4 (SOMM)
Fascinating Vaughan Williams performances from both sides of the Atlantic in excellent transfers [JQ]
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos (Archiv Produktion)
(Déjà Review) An excellent recording of the first three Brandenburg concerti [KM]
Arthur Grumiaux (violin) The Boston Recordings (Parnassus)
(Déjà Review) Some of the most lofty and beautiful playing; I shall return to this disc with equal excitement and pleasure [JW]
Piccinni: Didon (Bongiovanni)
The level of the singing is such that I cannot, with the best will in the world, recommend this issue [GF]
Legacy (Naïve)
An imaginative programme, given fine performances [DJB]
Blow/Purcell: Operas (Opus Arte)
A delightful baroque double bill in an enjoyable period production and setting [PCG]
Patiño: Música sacra para la Corte (Lauda)
An interesting survey of the impressive qualities of Patiño as a composer of sacred music for the liturgy [JV]
Dvořák: Slavonic Dances (Sony Classical)
A reissue of an imperishable “classic of the gramophone” – the greatest music of its genre in the best of 60s stereo sound [RMo]
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