February 2025
British Cello Works – Vol 3 (Lyrita)
Four fine cello sonatas, played with obvious skill and enthusiasm [JF]
Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine (Warner Classics)
Soggy tempos and slack pacing entirely fail to convince [RH]
Martin: Tripytchon (ECM)
An extremely high quality product which deserves recognition [CR]
Scriabin: Complete Piano Sonatas (Et’cetera)
An impressive debut in this demanding repertoire [SB]
Handel: Ópera Viva (IBS Classical)
Underwhelming singing compromises the attractiveness of this medley of Handel numbers from his operas played in strict period style [RMo]
Saint-Saëns: Music for Two Pianos (Somm Recordings)
A well-filled disc of two piano delights [PRJ]
Yevgeny Svetlanov (conductor) Debussy & Rachmaninov (ICA Classics)
A formidable Soviet conductor with legendary technique directs three London orchestras in music from Russia and France [PH]
Arc III: Brahms and Schubert piano works (First Hand Records)
The way Orion Weiss plays reflects his love of the works he has chosen [SA]
Turnage: Greek (Decca)
(Déjà Review) Whether uncomfortable or not this remains essential listening for lovers of contemporary music theatre [TH]
Korngold: Symphony and The Sea Hawk (Delos)
(Déjà Review) As good as it gets [CF]
Delius: String Quartet
by Alan George
Tchaikovsky: Symphony 1
by Alan George
Shostakovich: String Quartet 7
by Alan George
Verdi: Il trovatore (Pristine Audio)
This Pristine remastering is now the best option for hearing a classic, vintage account [RMo]
Maestros in the Mirror: Bach & Walther (Da Vinci Classics)
Interesting comparison between two colleagues and distant cousins [JV]
Paris 1913: L’Offrande lyrique (Nimbus)
A pleasing recital of French chansons all tied to the year 1913 [MP]
Richard Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Don Juan (Evil Penguin Classic)
Compromised accounts do not displace classic versions [RMay]
Mahler & Gunning: Symphonies (Colorado MahlerFest)
An excellent Mahler performance and the premiere of an impressive new symphony [JQ]
Dufay: The Court of Savoy (Hyperion)
Superb and convincing [MS]
Donizetti: Roberto Devereux (Naxos)
The cast as a whole makes this the best set so far [GF]
Telemann: Ino (cpo)
Telemann’s dramatic cantata “Ino” alongside an attractive selection of his opera arias [CRo]
Getty: Goodbye, Mr. Chips (Pentatone)
A touching opera, finely sung, permeated by deep humanity [GF]
Sibelius: Symphonies 6 & 7 (Alpha Classics)
Superb accounts of Sibelius’ last two symphonies put the seal on a triumphantly successful series [RMo]
Schumann, Brahms: Love Songs (C Major)
A Lieder masterclass, seen and heard from the best seat in the Musikverein [RWe]
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Featured Naxos review |
Featured Naxos review |
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