May 2023
Leshnoff: Violin Concerto (Naxos)
A trio of dramatic, highly accessible and very American works, skilful if not always especially memorable [RMo]
Music for Cornetto and Keyboard (BIS)
An instructive and compelling survey of Italian instrumental music from the late 16th and early 17th centuries [JV]
Bruckner: Symphony 3 (Capriccio)
Played somewhat ‘wrong,’ but much of it still right [SV]
Al-Basma: Voyage au cœur d’Al-Andalus (Ambronay)
It isn’t quite ‘what it says on the label’, but there is much to enjoy here [GPu]
Mozart: Ecstasy and Abyss (Sony Classical)
A release that will probably only appeal to superfans of clarinettist Martin Fröst [ST]
Müller-Hermann: Chamber Music (Hänssler Classic)
A chamber music pairing that reflects contrasting influences on a still little-known Austrian composer [JW]
Polish Concerti Vol. 1 (Dux)
An unusual and deeply satisfying disc – give it a try [WH]
Albéniz: Iberia (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) Sweep and clarity as well as Hamelin’s special brand of architectural understanding [JW]
Angelo Villani (piano) Transcriptions (Artémus)
Grand, heroic and intimate playing recalling pianists from the Golden Age [RCh]
Humour and Classical Music: Hindemith’s Flying Dutchman Overture
by David Barker
Sancan: A Musical Tribute (Chandos)
A worthy tribute – scintillating music played with wit, verve, insight and exceptional skill [NB]
Fantasie – 7 Composers, 7 Keyboards (Harmonia Mundi)
The most fun musical history lesson I can imagine [DMD]
Shostakovich: Symphonies 8-10 (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings)
Three magnificent Shostakovich performances [JQ]
Ervin Nyiregyházi (piano) Live Vol. 3 (Sonetto Classics)
Will appeal both to fans of Ervin Nyiregyházi and aficionados of the art of piano [SG]
Georg Nigl (baritone): Echo (Alpha Classics)
Georg Nigl is a magnificent storyteller – do not miss this well-filled disc [GF]
Hendrie: Complete Organ Music Vol. 1 (Toccata Classics)
Committed and technically outstanding performances [JF]
Bach: Sacred Cantatas for Alto (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A wonderful recording in all respects [DS]
Jistebnický Kancionál (Supraphon)
It is hard to see a better ensemble to take care of these chants than the Tiburtina Ensemble [JV]
Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos (Dynamic)
A modern-dress production that plays it pretty straight, and a very strong singing team [ST]
New Light on French Romantic Women Composers (Bru Zane)
A sumptuous box celebrates neglected women composers of the French Romantic era [JW]
Grieg: Violin Sonatas (Danacord)
A fine balance of confidence, naivety and a sense of Nordic tragedy in each sonata’s progress [JF]
In the Streets of London – A 17th Century Musical Pub Tour (Fuga Libera)
The music of the people, as heard in London in 1651, played with verve and character [GH]
Bruckner: The Symphonies – Organ Transcriptions Vol. 6 (Oehms Classics)
A virtuoso player vividly brings to life a transformed orchestral masterpiece [MSt]
Classics of American Romanticism (Bridge Records)
Intriguing early American symphonies in convincing performances [NB]
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