November 2024

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

Lyrical and traditional but invigorating chamber works [JW]

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

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

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

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

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

Works of stature and originality [PCW]

An exciting disc that leaves one wanting more [JV]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A worthy release of outstanding playing [SG]

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

A survey by Ralph Moore

by David Jennings

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

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

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

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