February 2024
Rossini: Semiramide (Decca)
A feast of stylish bel canto singing for the two stars but the rest of the cast can only struggle though [MP]
Puccini: I Canti (BR Klassik)
A disc that no Puccini admirer can dispense with [GF]
Mozart: Piano concertos (Academy of Ancient Music)
A total delight [ST]
Bach: Goldberg Variations (Deutsche Grammophon)
Freshness, new life, vitality and a wealth of new insights are bought to this oft-recorded work [SG]
Fairy Tales (Quartz)
An eclectic programme, dynamically played if lacking complete virtuosic ease [NB]
R Strauss: Choral works (Hyperion)
Choral singing of formidable accomplishment [JQ]
Glass: Signature (Analekta)
For the Glass waverers out there, this might be the disc that dispels doubts [DJB]
An Eternal Harmony (Coro)
A well-balanced recital, beautifully sung, mixing old and new [RH]
Dreams Desires Desolation – English Song (Divine Art)
An interesting disc of English Parlour Songs suffers from a lack of personality and variety [PT]
Mustonen: Symphonies Nos 2 & 3 (Ondine)
Two attractive works by this gifted Finnish composer [SB]
Wranitzky: String Quartets (cpo)
A good introduction to the chamber music of a marginalised composer [SA]
Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana (Prospero)
The original version of Mascagni’s masterpiece unfortunately let down by singing that cannot do justice to the music or drama [MBu]
Mozart: Sonatas for Piano & Violin (Deutsche Grammophon)
A magical new recording of the Mozart sonatas for piano and violin [RMa]
Hughes: Oratorio – Dewi Sant (Rubicon)
A fine new recording of a Welsh oratorio [JQ]
Maderna: Serenata per un satellite & other works (Dynamic)
An important Maderna monograph seems to fill some gaps in the catalogue. One for the specialist, however, rather than the general listener [RHa]
Holmboe: Preludes for Sinfonietta Vol 2 (Dacapo)
(Déjà Review) Anyone who loves the symphonies will find these works as satisfying as the larger pieces. They are easy to listen to, once the Holmboe idiom has been assimilated, and will repay the listener ten times over [JP]
Sciarrino: Paesaggi con macerie (Kairos)
A remarkably original voice in contemporary Italian music [GH]
Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur (Sony Classical)
A near total success that still wins the day among available recordings [MP]
Messiaen: Des Canyons aux Étoiles (Seattle Symphony Media)
This gorgeous recording now becomes my prime recommendation [DMD]
Striggio: Mass in 40 Parts (Coro)
A fascinating portrait of Striggio, but the performances are rather disappointing [JV]
Bruckner: Symphony 8 (Fontec)
Another decent performance blighted by the conductor’s very audible vocal intrusions [RMo]
Don’t Forget About Me (Toccata Press)
A powerful and moving study of a potential great of Czech 20th Century music [NB]
The Great Organ of Aarhus Cathedral (Danacord)
Superb performances, great sound quality, brilliant documentation and rewarding programming [JF]
Wagner: Lohengrin (Decca)
(Déjà Review) This set wins hands down [JP]
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