May 2025
À Tre – 18th Century Cello Trios (Da Vinci Classics)
This ensemble’s debut could not have been any better [JV]
Franck: Symphony and other symphonic organ works (Hyperion)
Adeptly done, but for organ devotees only [SV]
Benjamin Appl (baritone): Lines of Life (Alpha Classics)
An absorbing, rewarding recital – another feather in the cap for Benjamin Appl [PT]
Wood conducts Bach and Handel (Pristine Audio)
Performances from another era, in fine transfers, which can be enjoyed without apology [PSt]
Andrée: Symphony No.1, Fritiof-Svit (cpo)
A worthy symphony is paired with an enjoyably Romantic suite [RMay]
Leoncavallo: Pagliacci (Orfeo)
Plácido Domingo‘s formidable reading of the title role, and excellent singing by others [GF]
Haydn: Symphonies No.30, 53, 69 (Apex)
(Déjà Review) Harnoncourt captures all the drama, humor and elegance with which these scores are rife [KS]
Mathias: Ave Rex, Elegy for a Prince, This Worlde’s Joie (Lyrita)
(Déjà Review) Recordings that do the greatest of service to Mathias’s music [CC]
R Strauss: Salome (Chandos)
A superb new recording of Strauss’s disturbing masterpiece [SB]
Verdi: Un giorno di regno (Fryderyk Chopin Institute)
Diverting but not definitive [SW]
Capponi: 6 Sonatas for Mandolin and Basso Continuo (cpo)
A delectable addition to the repertoire of music for mandolin [CRo]
Le Beau: Chamber Music and Songs (Oehms Classics)
Discover more about a woman described as Germany’s first great female composer [GH]
Niemann: Piano Music Vol. 2 (Toccata Classics)
Inventive and evocative late Romantic piano music rescued from an obscurity that belies its one-time fame [RCh]
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem (BIS)
A very fine, deeply satisfying account of Brahms’ great masterpiece [JQ]
An English Pastoral (SOMM Recordings)
A certain stylistic sameness compromises the fine performances [NB]
Victoria: Second Vespers of the Feast of the Annunciation (Delphian)
(Déjà Review) A most enjoyable release to which I’m very happy to give an unreserved welcome [JQ]
Dualities: Arrangements for piano duo (Divine Art)
Highly effective and inventive works, neatly expanding the repertoire for two pianists [RCh]
Shostakovich: Symphony 8
A memorable and historically important concert, faithfully captured in Pristine’s re-mastering of the 78s [GPJ]
Vivaldi: La fida ninfa (cpo)
A Vivaldi opera performed with sensitivity, warmth and charm [MP]
Orchestral Anthems (Delphian)
An excellent follow-up to these performers’ previous disc of orchestral anthems [JQ]
Donizetti: Lucie de Lammermoor (Naxos)
A thoroughly enjoyable, beautifully sung outing for this rarely heard version of Donizetti’s masterpiece [RMo]
Bruckner: Symphony 7 (Capriccio)
Possibly the worst Bruckner Seventh I have ever heard [LD]
Cello Tango (Aparté)
Some real highlights among the lesser-known Piazzolla selections [DJB]
Feinberg: Piano Sonatas Nos 1-6 (BIS)
Revelatory – hypnotic in the extreme, close to Scriabin in mystical mode [CC]