December 2024
Haydn: ‘Paris’ Symphonies (Sony Classical)
Bernstein’s classic Haydn, available again on disc [LW]
Benevoli: Missa Benevola (Coro)
An impressive display of the skills of Benevoli and his colleague Carissimi [JV]
Beethoven: Complete Violin Sonatas (Cobra)
A boundary-challenging set [DC]
Puccini: La Bohème (Decca)
A classic recording in a splendid remastering [JQ]
Corvus Consort: Welcome Joy (Chandos)
A joyful celebration of women’s voices and women composers [PT]
Dvořák: Legends & Slavonic Rhapsodies (Pentatone)
Dvořák cultivates the native accent in impressive performances [PH]
Hindemith: Organ Concerto, 3 Organ Sonatas (Apex)
(Déjà Review) Excellent performances and recordings of early and late Hindemith masterpieces [PSh]
Beethoven: Piano Concertos No 1 & 5 (RCA)
(Déjà Review) This disc enjoys the privilege of being one of the worst I have heard for many a moon [CC]
Golden Thread – The Art of Piano Transcription (Acis Productions)
An interesting collection of transcriptions let down by lacklustre playing [RCh]
Mahler: Symphony No. 2 (Conifer Classics)
A beautifully performed and recorded account in which everything is done right [RMo]
Schoenberg: Unheard Recordings (Pristine Audio)
An important archive release [JQ]
A monk’s life (Hyperion)
The Brabant Ensemble chart a pathway to the monastic way of life to memorable effect [PH]
Musica Instrumentalis Imperialis – Festive Sonatas from Imperial Vienna (cpo)
Impressive playing of natural trumpets [JV]
Mussorgsky: Sorochintsï Fair & Salammbô Suite (Naxos)
A completely convincing account of a rarely performed opera in a new orchestration for chamber orchestra [MP]
Gershwin: Orchestral works (Apex)
(Déjà Review) There may well be superior recordings of each piece, but as a whole it would be difficult to best this album [PG]
J S Bach: Organ Works (Danacord)
(Déjà Review) I find these performances sure and faultless [GH]
Kaleidoscope – Contemporary Piano Music by Female Composers from Around the World (Grand Piano)
A varied collection of piano pieces by contemporary female composers, performed with passion and brilliance [GH]
Building Castles – New Music for New Audiences (Delphian)
A varied and thoroughly enjoyable showcase of Scottish musical talent [WH]
The Berliner Philharmoniker and Seiji Ozawa (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings)
A great orchestra pays its tribute to a much loved conductor [PHa]
Ernest Ansermet (conductor): Fauré Requiem, Orchestral Suites (Pristine Audio)
Historical recordings in excellent remastered sound that belies its considerable age [GF]
Kverndokk: A Desperate Light, Orchestral Works (LAWO Classics)
Imaginative sources of inspiration enable Kverndokk to compose engaging and accessible narrative music for this CD [KT]
Taylor: Orchestral Music Vol. 2 (Toccata Classics)
A fine survey of Matthew Taylor’s recent orchestral output [HC]
2024 MWI Recordings of the Year
This is the twenty-second year that MusicWeb International has asked its reviewing team to nominate their recordings…
Xenakis: Works for Large Orchestra, Vol 3 (Timpani)
(Déjà Review) The constants that characterise him are the hallmark of a great composer. One can also hear the torment, the contradictory side of the creative impulse [TH]
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