October 2024

schoenberg unheard pristine

Schoenberg: Unheard Recordings (Pristine Audio)

An extraordinarily vivid sonic refurbishment of Stokowski’s 1941 vibrant Pelleas [RMo]

Bendix syms 8224742

Bendix: Symphonies nos 1 & 3 (Dacapo)

Performances that challenge the only other available recording [EJW]

Wagner parsifal 4865877

Wagner: Parsifal (Deutsche Grammophon)

The best new Parsifal recording since Kubelik [SSc]

Elman victor 850502

Mischa Elman (violin)The complete Victor recordings (1926-32) (Biddulph)

Elman’s glittering morceau (and some others) in splendid transfers [JW]

Ponce sonatas IBS122024

Ponce: Guitar sonatas (IBS Classical)

Treasures from the 20th century guitar repertory, very well played [ZT]

French album ORC100317

The French Album (Orchid Classics)

This is a very fine disc; in fact, c’est magnifique! [JQ]

romance reverie albion

Romance and Reverie: Holst and his contemporaries (Albion Records)

Well played but unevenly programmed [NB]

Beethoven trios 8557723

Beethoven: Piano Trios (Naxos)

A wonderful disc, well recorded and containing some magnificent playing [CC]

Kuwabara Sounded Voice Kairos 0022202KAI

Kuwabara: Sounded Voice, Voiced Sound (Kairos)

Yu Kuwabara’s frequently beautiful work projects both delicacy and vigour, and harnesses ancient and modern influences to thrilling effect [RHa]

Beethoven Odyssey v9 Sonatas 28-29 Brawn MSR1473

A Beethoven Odyssey Vol. 9 (MSR Classics)

The final disc in James Brawn’s Beethoven piano sonata cycle crowns the project with yet another success [RC]

Ysaye Transformations Max Tan Centaur CRC4129

Ysaÿe: Transformations (Centaur)

Bizarre transcriptions, fantastic performances [RMas]

Winterberg Chamber Music v1 EDA051

Winterberg: Chamber Music, Vol 1 (EDA)

The terse art of a Czech-German composer influenced by Bartók, Hindemith and Janáček [JW]

Ridil Orchestral Music Genuin GEN24903

Ridil: Music for Orchestra (Genuin)

A veritable cornucopia of delights [PRJ]

Broughton Oboe Concerto String Theory Naxos 8.559958

Broughton: And on the Sixth Day & String Theory (Naxos)

A pair of impressive and enjoyable scores authoritatively performed [NB]

Gabriel Vicens Mural Stradivarius STR37292

Vicéns: Mural – Chamber Ensemble Works (Stradivarius)

Music by a young composer who cares if you listen, but will not pander to contrive a connection [NC]

Deja Review Guarnieri Symph 2 3 BIS CD1220

Guarnieri: Symphonies Nos 2 and 3 (BIS)

(Déjà Review) Likely to appeal strongly to those who are already captivated by Villa-Lobos and by the Latino Copland [RB]

Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles

A survey by Ralph Moore

arnold brass beckus

Arnold: Music for Brass Band (Beckus)

Fine performances of much-loved brass band originals complemented by some sympathetic transcriptions [PHm]

mythos alpha

Schubert & Loewe: Songs (Alpha Classics)

A well-structured programme, excellent performance and recording [RWe]

Poulenc piano M3K44921

Poulenc: Complete Solo Piano Music (Sony Classical)

Delicious music, played with refinement and character by this masterly pianist [GPJ]

osgood magnificat convivium

Osgood: Magnificat (Convivium Records)

Thoroughly tonal and thoroughly enjoyable [DJB]

radwan sakuraphon

Auguste de Radwan (piano) Complete Recordings (Sakuraphon)

An unknown Leschetizky pupil whose recordings are strictly for those interested in the Polish pedagogue’s legacy [RCh]

nobilissimo istromento passacaille

Nobilissimo Instrumento (Passacaille)

This still, calm collection of Renaissance lute pieces offers a rewarding listening experience [KB]

Vaughan Williams: The Grinke Legacy (Albion Records)

Frederick Grinke’s recordings restored for a new generation – and high time too [JW]