April 2025
Scharwenka: Symphony in C minor (Sterling)
(Déjà Review) Resolute in character, with a slight Russian accent and the regal/pastoral tendencies of Dvořák [RB]
Charles Munch (conductor) Saint-Saëns ‘Organ’ Symphony etc (RCA)
(Déjà Review) Thrilling stuff [CH]
Rediscovering Maude Valerie White
by Christopher Howell
Sibelius: String Quartet ‘Voces Intimae’
by Alan George
Brahms: Serenade No. 2
by Alan George
Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 13
by Alan George
Rachmaninov: Piano Sonatas 1 & 2 (Naxos)
One for the growing shortlist of the best recordings of the two sonatas [RWe]
Brahms & Bach orch. Schoenberg (Warner Classics)
A decent Brahms quintet, a first-class St. Anne [SV]
Malcolm Binns (piano) Homage to a great British pianist (CRQ Editions)
A tribute to Malcolm Binns with his complete recordings for World Record Club [PH]
Pettersson: Symphonies 7 and 10 (Antal Doráti Society)
Pioneering versions of this controversial Swedish composer [SB]
Greene: Jephtha (Chandos)
Maurice Greene’s accomplished, perceptive early English oratorio on disc at last, in an excellent performance [JW]
Respighi, Loevendie and Enescu: String Octets (Challenge Classics)
The Respighi is a delightful discovery, but I’m less convinced by the others [DJB]
Schubert: Impromptus (Apex)
(Déjà Review) Leonskaja is an artist of the front rank and her interpretations have their own validity and abundant strengths [TB]
Myaskovsky & Weinberg: Violin Concertos (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A gem of a disc [DS]
Telemann: Gulliver’s Travels (Christophorus)
Telemann as a master of counterpoint [JV]
Samsara – Schumann & Fauré (Alpha Classics)
An absorbing and enterprising programme, impeccably performed by a stellar partnership [RMo]
Puccini: Tosca (Deutsche Grammophon)
The best Tosca released in the past half-century [GF]
Shostakovich: Symphonies 4-6 (Decca)
Compellingly truthful performances of a triptych of Shostakovich symphonies [AG]
Americanos (Lindoro)
An engaging album of mostly unfamiliar music, well played and recorded [GPu]
Sæverud & Toch: Symphonies (Antal Doráti Society)
New symphonies from the 1950s, live in Minneapolis in Doráti-led performances [JW]
Rameau: Castor et Pollux (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A good place to start if you do not know Rameau’s fascinating operas [RH]
Medtner: Goethe Lieder (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Works of the most eloquent melodic and lyric faculty superbly presented [RB]
Dvořák & Price: Piano Quintets (Hyperion)
Winning performances [LW]
Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius (Ondine)
Much to admire but this is not a performance to challenge the leading recommendations [JQ]
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Featured Naxos review |
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