November 2024

Benjamin Appl (baritone) The Christmas Album (Alpha Classics)

This disc will certainly be my favourite Yuletide companion for years to come [GF]

Busch: Chamber Music (Lyrita)

Lyrical and traditional but invigorating chamber works [JW]

Rutter Naxos8574564

Rutter: Brass at Christmas (Naxos)

This album is a gem from start to finish and will make many listeners’ Christmases merry [KT]

StraussR SU43462

R Strauss: Tag und nacht (Supraphon)

A disc of Strauss songs that’s fine, but unremarkable in light of the competition [ST]

Beethoven piano AMC017

Beethoven: Piano Concertos 2 & 3 (Amchara Classical)

Well conceived and beautifully played performances from South America [NB]

Sibelius VC CHSA5267

Sibelius: Violin Concerto (Chandos)

Cool, restrained and beautifully played in Nordic style [RMo]

Chopin: Études – (Transc. Godowsky) (Warner Classics)

Starts with brief, polite applause and finishes with rapturous cheering, something I would have been actively joining in [TH]

Alkan vol1 TOCC0030

Alkan: Organ Works Vol 1 (Toccata Classics)

Works of stature and originality [PCW]

Viadana Sacri Concentus Passacaille PAS1142

Viadana: Sacri Concentus (Passacaille)

An exciting disc that leaves one wanting more [JV]

Hesketh Hande Piano Music Paladino PMR0137

Hesketh: Hände – Music for Piano (Paladino Music)

A programme infused with qualities of permanence and necessity [DC]

Handel Il Messia De Marchi cpo 5555902

Handel: Il Messia (cpo)

Perhaps little more than an abridged curiosity, but mostly well done within the limitations of the form [RMo]

Franck Symphony Faure P et M DG 4866008

Franck: Symphony and Fauré: Pélleas et Mélisande (Deutsche Grammophon)

A look back at favourites from France in Barenboim’s Berlin return [PH]

Faure Complete Works Erato 5054197947490

Fauré: The Complete Works (Erato)

Erato marks the centenary of Fauré’s death with a big box that mines his discography in all its richness [JW]

Dvorak Symphs 7 8 9 Bychkov Pentatone PTC51872162

Dvořák: Symphonies Nos 7-9 (Pentatone)

Strong Dvořák performances for the Year of Czech Music, but they’re expensive in light of the competition [ST]

Holmboe Symphs 11-13 Hughes BIS CD728

Holmboe: Symphonies Nos 11-13 (BIS)

(Déjà Review) Drama and skill, production values of the highest … a major voice in the symphonic canon of the twentieth century [JW]

Love From a Stranger Film Music NMC D073

Love from a Stranger – Four British Film Scores (NMC)

This is an extraordinary album – outstanding readings, a detailed recording set in a generously broad acoustic [DW]

Rosand memoriam RH029

Aaron Rosand (violin) In Memoriam (Rhine Classics)

A worthy release of outstanding playing [SG]

Shostakovich: Symphony 10 (Exton)

A Titanic Shostakovich Tenth of almost unique power and darkness [MB]

Recordings of fifteen lesser-known Massenet operas

A survey by Ralph Moore

Robin Field (composer) – An Obituary

by David Jennings

Cziffra live SOCD41112

György Cziffra (piano) Live in Concert (Solstice)

Nothing new to his discography but Cziffra is heard in previously unreleased, energising performances [JW]

Schubert LinnCKD748

Schubert: Symphonies 5 & 8 (Linn)

Emelyanychev convinces me that Symphony 5 is Schubert’s first symphonic masterpiece and he demonstrates the distinctiveness of Symphony 8, too [MG]

Respighi trilogy PASC725

Respighi: Roman Trilogy (Pristine Audio)

Toscanini’s reference Respighi in even better sound [MBu]

tennstedt live doremi

Klaus Tennstedt (conductor) Live Recordings Vol. 3 (Doremi)

Despite slight reservations, these are performances of exceptional quality [PSt]