July 2023

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Beethoven: Violin Sonatas (CAvi-Music)

Outstandingly characterful Beethoven to begin a new series [NH]

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Stainer: The Crucifixion (Naxos)

Naxos has done English choral music proud in the last few years and this is another fine release [JQ]

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Sculthorpe: Songs of Sea & Sky (ABC Classics)

Deeply moving music – one of the most revelatory and frankly astonishing CDs I’ve encountered [EML]

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Verdi: Don Carlo (C Major)

A splendid memento of a magnificent production, despite too many cuts having been inflicted on the score [MP]

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Alessandro Licata (organ) At Selby Abbey (Selby Abbey Organ Masters)

A rather disappointing inclusion in the Selby Abbey series [MSt]

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Khachaturian: Symphony 3 (cpo)

A competent performance not good enough to make the case for a gaudy symphony [NB]

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Eugene Goossens – Cincinnati Symphony Vol 2 (Pristine Audio)

So-so Stravinsky, nervous hyper-fast Schumann and masterly Tchaikovsky [RB]

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New College – Commissions and Premieres (Linn)

A fine programme, outstanding performances [JF]

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Ledrede: Red Book of Ossary (Heresy)

An exciting unorthodox project, well realised and richly thought-provoking [GPu]

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Mussorgsky: Songs and Dances of Death (Warner Classics)

(Déjà Review) Anyone who wants this particular coupling need not hesitate [GF]

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Mozart: Piano and Violin Sonatas (Decca)

(Déjà Review) One of the most rewarding and enjoyable Mozart discs in recent years [DS]

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Anton Bruckner: Eleven Symphonies (Bruckner Society of America)

A highly informative and accessible guide through the thickets of Bruckner scholarship [RMo]

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Schumann: Etudes Symphonique (ClassicVoice)

A disappointing recording of one of the masterpieces of the romantic piano repertory [MSt]

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Mozart: Concertos (Alpha Classics)

Youthful but remarkably distinguished Mozart concerto performances [NH]

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Deified (Pentatone)

Resplendent brass playing with Wagner’s Ring ruling lesser contemporary works [NB]

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Tchaikovsky: Symphony 4 (Vox)

A conductor and orchestra in the shadows of time takes a step out and is not found wanting [RB]

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Britten: Noye’s Fludde (Pristine Audio)

Two world première Britten recordings remastered by Pristine make an enticing offering [PCG]

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Piazzolla: Tangos (SOMM Recordings)

(Déjà Review) Piazzolla sans bandoneon but with added colour and played with fervour and sensitivity [IL]

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Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano) Ravel & Carter (Warner Classics)

(Déjà Review) Aimard positively revels in complexities, eating up fistfuls of notes and spitting them out with ease [TH]

Castro & Ponce: Conciertos Románticos (Cedille)

Two rarely recorded piano concertos, well worth investigating [EJW]

Stevenson: Piano Music Volume Six (Toccata Classics)

Another strong entrant in an excellent series of recordings from Toccata [MSt]

Mozart: Symphonies 34-36 (Hänssler Classic)

Symphonies 34 and 35 get entertainingly fresh, well balanced, focussed and detailed accounts but Symphony 36 is less secure [MG]

Sibelius: The Tempest (Naxos)

Okko Kamu gives voice to one of Sibelius’s most enigmatic utterances [RB]

More Bach (Challenge Classics)

Vibrant and energetic performances, a standout Third Brandenburg, but the disc is underfilled [DJB]