May 2023

Berwald Symphonies Goodman Hyperion Dyad CDD22043

Berwald: Symphonies and Overtures (Hyperion)

(Déjà Review) Deeply rewarding lyrical statements [RB]

williams trumpet hooten

Williams: Trumpet Concerto (Private release)

Film and concert genres: brilliance tautly wrought [RB]

beethoven prometheus cpo

Beethoven: The Creatures of Prometheus (cpo)

Realizes the balletic and symphonic styles, but not everything gels [SV]

Ravel Hough quartets hyperion

Ravel, Dutilleux & Hough: String Quartets (Hyperion)

An intriguing programme with an attractive new work [SB]

Divine Art at 30

An interview with label founder Stephen Sutton by Rob Barnett

Making It Better

Creating a wind repertoire in the UK by Dr Tim Reynish

busch stockholm pristine

Fritz Busch (conductor) In Stockholm (Pristine Audio)

An unusual compilation featuring some highly energised and engaging music-making [RMo]

coleridge-taylor piano welch

Coleridge-Taylor: Piano Works (Private release)

An album of piano music from the Edwardian age showing elegance and craftsmanship and performed with conviction [MSt]

Stravinsky The Soldiers Tale Elder Hallé CDHLL7560

Stravinsky: The Soldier’s Tale (Hallé)

An extremely well-produced and stylish performance of The Soldier’s Tale [MC]

Reich String Quartets DG 4863385

Reich: String Quartets (Deutsche Grammophon)

One masterpiece and two occasional works make up Reich’s contribution to the string quartet genre [SB]

Mahler: Symphony 6 (SFS Media)

(Déjà Review) A Mahler 6 with contemporary resonance, superbly played and recorded, that competes with the best [TD]

Eudice Shapiro (violin): Sonatas and duos (Biddulph)

The admirable art of violinist Eudice Shapiro, heard in core repertory [JW]

Portraits of a Mind (Albion Records)

A dazzling performance and production [JF]

Albéniz: Piano Suites (Piano Classics)

Delightful music in superior renditions [ZT]

Bach: Motets (Château de Versailles Spectacles)

This recording earns a place among the best in the catalogue [JV]

Vierne: Complete Piano Works 2 (Naxos)

A composer celebrated for his organ music shows his prowess as a creator of distinctive and rewarding piano music [MS]

Melchers: Symphony, La Kermesse, Élégie (Ondine)

Spirited and persuasive performances [SG]

Glass: Complete Piano Études (DUX)

A few tempos don’t quite work, but some of the pieces match the best [DJB]

Smetana: Má Vlast (Supraphon)

(Déjà Review) Ančerl and his wonderful orchestra are the ‘real thing’ – buy, hear and believe! [PJL]

Boughton: Of Delights and Passions (EM Records)

Expressive directness and frolicsome invention in a series of Boughton disc premieres [JW]

Bruch + Tveitt (Berlin Classics)

A well-played but unbalanced programme [NB]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 (Capriccio)

Poschner’s well-directed Complete Versions series continues [RMo]

Alphons Diepenbrock: The Life, Times and Music of a Dutch Romantic Composer (Toccata Press)

A rewarding read [SG]

Haydn: Stabat Mater (Pentatone)

Haydn’s moving Stabat Mater reimagined – a success all around [LP]