January 2025
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos 3 and 29 (Hyperion)
Hamelin at his finest in these two wildly different sonatas [RCh]
Piston: Symphonies Nos 2 & 6 (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) The merit of this distinguished 1988 recording, in its new incarnation, burns just as brightly [JW]
Fibich: Symphonies Nos 1-3 (Supraphon)
(Déjà Review) Enthusiastically recommended to lovers of romantic symphonies [CH]
Stevenson: Piano Music Vol 7 (Toccata Classics)
A great opportunity to hear two significant arrangers and transcribers at work [JF]
Exile (Alpha Classics)
The playing by both soloists and Camerata Bern is faultless [SA]
Higgins: Horn Concerto, The Faerie Bride (Lyrita)
Excellent recordings of three highly imaginative scores [JQ]
Verdi: Complete Ballet Music (BR Klassik)
If you like ballet music, this engaging CD should be in your collection [KT]
Zandonai: Francesca da Rimini (Urania)
A classic vintage account of a complex, absorbing, yet neglected opera in excellent mono sound, sung by a stellar cast [RMo]
Andrés Segovia and his Contemporaries Vol 16 (Doremi)
Segovia in Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Concerto live from Lucerne and a phalanx of historical guitar recordings [JW]
Röntgen: Symphony No. 3 (cpo)
(Déjà Review) A fine start to cpo’s Röntgen symphony series [RB]
Puccini: La Bohème (Opus Arte)
(Déjà Review) A cinematographic representation helped by the stunning sets and Mula’s Mimi [RJF]
Praise Him with Trumpets (Delphian)
Bristol Choral Society in fine fettle, rising to the challenges of a varied selection of pieces [JQ]
Debussy: String Quartet & Sonatas (Hyperion)
Impressive Debussy from a British institution celebrating 60 years of chamber music making [PH]
Sibelius: Violin Concerto (Chandos)
This is a disc that no lover of Sibelius will want to miss [WH]
Prokofiev: Ivan the Terrible (Vox)
If you’re looking for Ivan the Terrible with narration—and in English—this is the recording to get [RC]
Shura Cherkassky (piano) The Ambassador Auditorium Recitals 1981-9 (First Hand Records)
Autumnal never-before-released Cherkassky recitals show few signs of fatigue [JW]
Grigory Sokolov (piano) Purcell and Mozart (Deutsche Grammophon)
Authoritative and heartfelt performances, warmly recommended [SG]
Shostakovich: The Fall of Berlin & The Unforgettable Year 1919 (Marco Polo)
(Déjà Review) Overall, the playing is polished and expressive and the sound of pleasingly warm ambience [DK]
Vivaldi: Late Violin Concertos (Sony Classical)
(Déjà Review) These are magnificent accounts to cherish. A must for lovers of late baroque music [MC]
Building A Collection: Symphonies
by Lee Denham
Yevgeny Svetlanov (conductor) Debussy & Rachmaninoff (ICA Classics)
Outstanding live performances by the great Russian conductor with three different London orchestras [GPJ]
Mahler: Symphony 2 (Exton)
A moderate but detailed approach to Mahler’s great second symphony [KC]
Ravel: Apothéose infernale (Anclef)
Anyone for a Ravel world premiere? [DC]
Lie: Complete Chamber Music (Simax Classics)
A delicious programme, excellently played, that should win Sigurd Lie a host of new admirers [GF]
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Featured Naxos review |
Featured Naxos review |
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