May 2024
Grieg: Peer Gynt suites by Edvard Grieg (Vox)
The Utah Symphony and Abravanel in Grieg: understated, but never underwhelming [NC]
Danza Gaya – Music for Two Pianos (Lyrita)
Delightful from start to finish [WK]
Bach: Cello Suites (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) The best of the best in this most personal of all possible worlds [DC]
19th Century Guitar Favourites (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) In decades to come this will remain a testament to superb guitar playing, refined interpretations and good taste [ZT]
Jones: Chamber Music (Lyrita)
Neo-classical music creates a bittersweet harmonic and melodic sound world [JF]
Luxembourg Contemporary Music 3 (Naxos)
Little-known music, well worth hearing; Kontz’s and Dartevelle’s works stand out [HC]
Mercadante: Orazi e Curiazi (Opera Rara)
The best of a composer forever doomed to dwell in Verdi’s shadow, performed by a first-rate cast and starring the great Nelly Miricioiu [RMo]
Rachmaninov: Sentimental Moments (Hungaroton)
A very auspicious recording debut [JQ]
Sparks of Spirit (Audite)
This brother and sister team are winning in this engaging programme [RCh)
Strauss: Piano Quartet & Metamorphosen (B Records)
Good performances but there are preferable versions of the main work [SB]
Aho: Contrabassoon & Tuba Concertos (BIS)
(Déjà Review) Merely broaden your horizons or enter an entirely new world, either way – this is something special [DC]
Brahms: Viola Sonatas (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) Very fine performances of these late works [MC]
Bloch, Bruch & Dohnányi: Cello & Orchestra (Claves)
An impressive young cellist in an attractive programme [RWe]
Erica Morini (violin) The Complete Victor Recordings (Pristine Audio)
Youthful Erica Morini’s earliest recordings from New Jersey show her scintillating in morceaux [JW]
Peace I leave with you – Music for the Evening Hour (Coro Magdalen)
A discerningly chosen programme given accomplished performances [JQ]
Strauss: Die schweigsame Frau (BR Klassik)
A lovely supplement to the complete live recording in much better sound [RMo]
Donizetti: La favorite (Naxos)
Javier Camarena as Fernand is worth a listen, but the singing on the whole is too compromised for a general recommendation [GF]
J S Bach: The First Cantata Year Vol 1 (Hänssler Classic)
Given the quality of the existing cycles, this is a brave project but a very fine start [DJB]
Nicola Benedetti (violin) Szymanowski, Saint-Saëns & Chausson (Deutsche Grammophon)
Quite a debut – a truly excellent Szymanowski [CC]
Rossini: La Cenerentola (Warner Classics)
A welcome return to the catalogue of an excellent performance [RJF]
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No 1 & Piano Sonata No 14 (Deutsche Grammophon)
Overall, this is an unsatisfying and disappointing CD [PBW]
Raff: Welt-Ende – Gerich – Neue Welt (cpo)
Raff’s survey of ‘the Last Things’ contains some surprisingly enterprising and original writing [PCG]
Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice (Erato)
Thrilling Orfeo ed Euridice starring Jakub Józef Orliński [DF]
Mahler: Symphony No 3 (BR Klassik)
Flawlessly played, beautifully gauged and balanced and in spectacular sound, this is a lovely souvenir of the late Jansons’ prowess as a Mahler conductor [RMo]
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