September 2023
Bruckner: Symphony No. 6, Te Deum (Testament)
An alpha performance of the Te Deum, but an omega one of the symphony [LD]
Hummel: Concertos & Septet (Alto)
Hummel’s music doesn’t aim for profundity, but its elegance, grace and intelligence are well-served in this reissue [GPu]
Grosz: Achtung, Aufnahme!! (Channel Classics)
Werner Herbers’s swansong with his Ebony Band: more previously unrecorded Weimar delights [JW]
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerti (Deutsche Grammophon)
A fine contribution to the Rachmaninoff 150 celebrations [JQ]
Strauss: Works for Cello (RCA)
(Déjà Review) Isserlis’s truly heartfelt performance expresses the Don’s humour, gravity, irony and pathos with marvellous subtlety [SF]
Laura Strickling (soprano): 40@40 (Bright Shiny Things)
An attractive collection of newly written songs – and volume two is to follow [GF]
Spontini: La Vestale (Bru Zane)
Far from ideal, but on balance the best of the French versions and its appeal is enhanced by excellent sound and conducting [RMo]
Louis Kaufman (violin): Violin Sonatas (Biddulph)
A stylish release featuring a quartet of sonatas played by the sumptuous tonalist Louis Kaufman [JW]
Britten: Albert Herring (Opus Arte)
An unmatchable and irreplaceable video makes a welcome return to the catalogues [PCG]
Haydn: 6 London Symphonies (Philips)
(Déjà Review) There is a sense that the musicians are really listening to one another, obtaining a chamber-music-like delicacy [CH]
Forqueray: Jupiter (Signum Classics)
(Déjà Review) The arrangements are interesting, the music delightful and melodically satisfying [KM]
Mozart: Piano Concertos (SWR Classic)
Michelangeli’s Mozart at its most ebullient, masculine and human [JW]
Atterberg: Aladin (cpo)
A decent performance of Atterberg’s last opera, a tuneful rendition of a fairy tale in an exotic musical setting [EJW]
Martin & Franck: Piano quintets (CAvi-Music)
Superb performances of both works: a rewarding coupling [SB]
British Piano Concertos (Lyrita)
Five-star performances and recordings of second tier works [NB]
Handel: Acis and Galatea (Dorian)
A delightful recording that captures the energy of a live performance [KM]
Britten: Michelangelo Sonnets (Hyperion)
A convincing collection, well-sung, played and recorded [CG]
Transcend (Genuin)
An exciting collection of new music for accordion, guitar, and chamber orchestra [SW]
Rachmaninov & Tchaikovsky: Romances (Pentatone)
A valuable addition to the discography of the songs of Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky with sensitive and deeply considered performances [GF]
Anne-Sophie Mutter – Vivace (SWR Classic)
A revealing documentary sheds light on a superstar career [RMay]
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (Opus Arte)
Sir Bryn Terfel triumphs in Mussorgsky’s original vision of his conscience-stricken Tsar [PCG]
Carissimi: Ten Motets (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Music helped by the beautiful and beatific voice of bass Garrick Comeaux [GH]
Bach: The Six Partitas (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) Angela Hewitt again shows her mastery of Bach’s keyboard music [KM]
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