June 2024

Fučík: Dances & Marches (Marco Polo)

Enjoyable world premiere recordings of long-lost music [RM]

Lambert: Music for Brass and Organ (Toccata Classics)

Fine performances of fine music [WK]

Mozart: Symphonies 9, 14, 20 & 24 (Genuin)

Not everything gels perfectly, but when it does Klumpp impressively catches Mozart’s sense of adventure in a whole new world [MG]

Rheinberger & Mendelssohn: Choral Works (Pentatone)

A marvellous exhibition of unaccompanied choral singing [JQ]

Pärt: Passio (St John Passion) (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) Spotless intonation, and a clear sense of the rhythmic ebb and flow, world class [KS]

Sibelius: Rondo of the Waves (BIS)

(Déjà Review) Exalted performance values and rare vintage Sibelius [RB]

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Margola: Music for Violin, Piano & Orchestra (Brilliant Classics)

This disc provides a good opportunity to make the acquaintance of a talented and affable composer [GPu]

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J S Bach: Guitar Transcriptions (Naxos)

One of the best guitar recordings of music by JS Bach [ZT]

Dindy piano PCL10255

d’Indy & Magnard: Piano works (Piano Classics)

d’Indy’s sonata is impressive but Magnard’s Promenades are more entertaining [SB]

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Debussy & Strauss (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)

An auspicious launch for the Melbourne Symphony’s own label [JQ]

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Schubert: Mayrhofer Lieder Vol 2 (Naxos)

Intimacy in music encapsulated on a small circle of plastic – remarkable and breathtaking [SA]

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Sculthorpe: Music for Cello (Tall Poppies)

If you don’t know Sculthorpe, you should and this disc would provide an ideal introduction [NHo]

Absolutely Morricone v2 Da Vinci C00580

Morricone: Absolutely … Ennio Morricone Vol 2 (Da Vinci Classics)

The original orchestral film scores are matchless, but these are very fine arrangements [TMS]

Nielsen Symph 3 Flute Concerto Gardner Chandos CHSA5312

Nielsen: Symphony No 3 and Flute Concerto (Chandos)

Good performances but no special interpretative insights [PBW]

Turina Works for Strings Naxos 8.573391

Turina: Works for Strings (Naxos)

An interesting survey of Turina’s music arranged for string orchestra. A little extra glamour in the recording would have made it even more appealing [NB]

Schubert Liszt Der Wanderer Songs Piano Classics PCL10271

Schubert/Liszt: Der Wanderer (Piano Classics)

Liszt’s reworkings of Schubert are well worth considering [SB]

Respighi Belkis Queen of Sheba Oue Ref Rec RR95CD

Respighi: Belkis, Queen of Sheba Suite and The Pines of Rome (Reference Recordings)

(Déjà Review) The exotic Respighi – contrasts the little known with the very well known. Recommended [AB]

Poulenc Stabat Mater Opus Arte OA 0817D

Poulenc: Stabat Mater and Litanies à la Vierge Noire (Opus Arte)

(Déjà Review) A moving, compelling document regarding some of this unique composer’s finest music [GPJ]

brahms gimpel forgotten records

Brahms: Violin Concerto (Forgotten Records)

Performances  of elegance and charm [SG]

donizetti dalinda oehms

Donizetti: Dalinda (Oehms Classics)

Good, honest, open-throated singing in an intriguing and highly enjoyable reconstruction of a formerly lost work – and a star performance by the lead soprano [RMo]

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Blackford: La Sagrada Familia (Lyrita)

Two very different, attractive recent works by Richard Blackford in excellent performances [JQ]

delius hassan chandos

Delius: Hassan (Chandos)

A welcome new recording of a substantial Delius score as originally conceived [NB]

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Offenbach: La Belle Hélène (Regis)

Not for nothing has this Offenbach been counted among the five all-time great recordings of French opera [CH]

meulemans orchestral phaedra

Meulemans: Orchestral Works (Phaedra)

Well-crafted and superbly scored works in which Meulemans’ orchestral flair and mastery are clearly displayed [HC]