February 2024

Bruckner Symph 7-Nowak 1885 Haitink BR Klassik 900218

Bruckner: Symphony No 7 (BR Klassik)

Haitink displays remarkable consistency in this grand and spacious account [RMo]

Beethoven Harp String Quartet Chiaroscuro BIS2668SACD

Beethoven: String Quartets Opp 74 & 130 (BIS)

A very fine recording of the Harp Quartet, although the outer movements of the Op130 quartet are lacking in power and thus take the disc down a notch [MZ]

Schumann Symphs 1&3 Herreweghe PHI LPH040

Schumann: Symphonies Nos 1 and 3 (PHI)

Once accustomed to Herreweghe’s robust bass and firm sforzandos, I enjoyed his overall rounded approach and the superb brass playing [MG]

Mozart and the Organ LAWO LWC1257

Mozart and the Organ (Lawo Classics)

Most of the epistle sonatas and the three late organ works on one convenient disc [SB]

Gill Love Illuminates Regent REGCD574

Gill: Love Illuminates (Regent)

Restraint is the key-word here. Joanna Gill’s mottos: love, peace, reconciliation are whispered, not shouted. Smile governs over tears. Light over darkness [GF]

Ecoles de Paris Eda 048

Écoles de Paris – Paris pour École (EDA)

The Foreign Legion conscripted to the School of Paris with vitalising results [JW]

Vivaldi Four Seasons Plewniak Chateau de V CVS138

Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagioni (Château de Versailles)

Too strident for my liking [DJB]

Bernstein Symphonies Slatkin Chandos CHAN9889

L Bernstein: Jeremiah and Age of Anxiety (Chandos)

(Déjà Review) This disc in excellent sound is a worthy alternative to the composer’s own [JW]

rimsky-korsakov christmas eve naxos

Rimsky-Korsakov: Christmas Eve (Naxos)

A dazzling achievement all around [MP]

Charpentier’s Louise

by Ralph Moore

new millennium signum

New Millenium (Signum Classics)

Anyone who cares about the role of music in the liturgy today should hear this disc [JQ]

hindemith ludus tonalis dux

Hindemith: Ludus Tonalis (DUX)

An admirable new account of Hindemith’s piano masterpiece [SB]

elgar orchestral lso

Elgar: Orchestral Works (LSO Live)

Best avoided – there are many far superior options [RMo]

maliszewski quartets pscm

Maliszewski: String Quartets (PSCM Records)

Conventional and a little quirky; a minor composer slowly emerges [JW]

fraser-simson milne prima facie

Fraser-Simson: Songs of AA Milne (Prima Facie)

No one will go away unhappy after hearing this music [WK]

H2O Respighi Rimsky-Korsakov Ravel ANCLEF 20240322

H2O (ANCLEF)

Water three ways with piano four-hands – superb! [DC]

arrau early years marston

Claudio Arrau (piano) The Early Years (Marston)

(Déjà Review) No Arrau admirer would want to be without it [JW]