January 2025
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (Gramola)
Two classic accounts of Mussorgsky’s pictures in both the original version and Ravel’s orchestration [SB]
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique (The Cleveland Orchestra)
A considered, measured and ultimately satisfying account of the Symphonie fantastique from a legendary orchestra [PH]
Glass: Complete Etudes for piano (Delphian)
Carroll’s poetic playing comes to the fore in the slower pieces [DJB]
British Cello Works Vol 3 (Lyrita)
Further discoveries in the British cello lineage [JW]
Beethoven: Symphony No 6 & Dvořák: Slavonic Dances (Janus Classics)
Wholly satisfying performances in beautifully remastered sound featuring a somewhat neglected conductor [RMo]
Handel: Arias (Sony Classical)
Another highly attractive addition to my already impressive collection of present-day mezzos [GF]
Foulds: Dynamic Triptych (Warner Classics)
Sensational, often exhilarating, music, given sensational, sensitive and radiant performances [EML]
While The Night Falls (Levin Studios)
An unusual disc of modern chamber music, but highly approachable [GF]
Aline van Barentzen (piano) Radio Archives Edition (Meloclassic)
An absolute feast of piano recordings that greatly expands our knowledge of a pianist who has been very undeservedly forgotten [RCh]
Mahler: Symphony No 9 (High Definition Tape Transfers and Pristine Audio)
Two highly successful remasterings of a great, highly individual and even idiosyncratic recording – but Pristine take the palm [RMo]
Youri Egorov: Diary, or the secret notes (Private Release)
A fascinating snap-shot of an artist’s personality [SG]
Weber: Der Freischütz (C Major)
An extravagant, gothic horror funfest from beginning to end [MP]
The Kurt Weill Album (Deutsche Grammophon)
A stylish, first-class Weill compilation [JQ]
J C Bach: Complete Symphonies (cpo)
(Déjà Review) Brings to fruition a marvellous eight year project in one well presented box. Playing is excellent. A chance to reappraise the work of an underrated composer [JL]
MacMillan: Chamber Music (Black Box)
(Déjà Review) A comprehensive survey of the chamber music, superbly played [HC]
Humour and Classical Music: Anna Russell
by David Barker
Schubert: Winterreise (Orchid Classics)
An extraordinary recording debut: a self-accompanied recording of Winterreise which proves to be much more than just a gimmick [PT]
Donizetti: L’aio nell’imbarazzo (Naxos)
Not a forgotten masterwork but an early comedy worth rescuing from almost total oblivion for 200 years [GF]
Christine Walevska (cello) The Beauty and the Bow (Rhine Classics)
The admirable cellist Christine Walevska traced over 50 years of performances and recordings [JW]
Śmietański: Chamber Music (Acte Préalable)
The trio is certainly worthy of your time and attention, the sonata less so [RHa]
Haydn: String Quartet op. 76/3 ‘Emperor’
by Alan George
Shostakovich: Two Pieces for String Quartet
by Alan George
Shostakovich: String Quartet 1
by Alan George
Bach: Goldberg variations (Azure Sky)
Well played but very closely and reverberantly recorded, and somewhat anonymous, while the absence of repeats makes it sound truncated [RMo]
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Featured Naxos review |
Featured Naxos review |
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