June 2025
Brahms: Symphonies 3 and 4 (BIS)
A lovely pairing of Brahms’ last two symphonies, elegantly and fluidly played, in ideal sound [RMo]
Mendelssohn & Reinecke: Music for piano (Da Vinci Classics)
A well-conceived and well played recital that blows the dust off some attractive rarities [RCh]
Anouar Brahem: After The Last Sky (ECM)
Soothing, hypnotic and very enjoyable [DJB]
Brahms: Violin Concerto & Schumann: Symphony 4 (Avie)
(Déjà Review) A fine advertisement for the quality of playing, and indeed the acoustic, to be heard at The Sage [JWi]
Glazunov: Symphonies 1 to 8 (BIS)
Déjà Review) If you like your Glazunov languidly accentuated then this splendidly recorded set from Otaka and the BBC NOW is for you [RB]
Arianna in Rome (Arcana)
A compelling survey of the art of female singers in Rome in the first half of the 17th century [JV]
Villa-Lobos: Complete Works for Solo Guitar (BIS)
A vibrant disc – probably the best collection of Villa-Lobos’s music for solo guitar [GPu]
Janáček: Jenůfa (LSO Live)
Jealousy, pain, loss, stifling shame, ultimate redemption – another episode in the LSO’s Janáček odyssey [PH]
Pitfield: Orchestral Music (Toccata Classics)
British Pastoralism from 1946 to 1988 – lyricism and (largely) unclouded sunshine [JW]
Leoncavallo: Pagliacci (Orfeo)
A mostly memorable night at the opera [RMas]
Handel: Music for the Chapel Royal (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) The Musicians Extra-ordinary sound like an expert group of specialists [JW]
Finzi: Orchestral Works (Lyrita)
(Déjà Review) For anyone new to Finzi this disc is an ideal place to start [GH]
Mozart: Solo, Duo, Trio, Quartet (Harmonia Mundi)
An imaginative program and a definite success [DJB]
Saariaho: Adriana Mater (Deutsche Grammophon)
A powerful opera in a good performance but with inadequate presentation [SB]
Rózsa: Sinfonia Concertante, Cello Rhapsody (Capriccio)
A fine disc all round [WK]
Dring: Complete Works for Oboe (Chandos)
A marvellous collection of works by a highly gifted composer with a sense of fun [PRJ]
Zwischen Himmel und Erde (Hänssler Classic)
A compelling lieder recital, cutting edge, joyful and poignant [DHa]
Liszt: Complete Piano Music Vol. 24 (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) One senses Andaloro’s complete involvement with the significant demands of Liszt’s challenging music [MC]
Charpentier: Te Deum H146 (Ricercar)
(Déjà Review) The mass is especially interesting for its highly original scoring and for the way it is performed here [JV]
Rachmaninov: The Bells, Symphonic Dances (London Philharmonic Orchestra)
A most attractive coupling of two of Rachmaninov’s finest scores in excellent performances [JQ]
Overtures & Dances (TRPTK)
Well-played and recorded but I have reservations about some of the repertoire [GPu]
Helen Charlston (mezzo-soprano) If the Fates Allow (BIS)
A recital of admirable expressive commitment but with question marks concerning the recording [JW]
Donizetti: Lucie de Lammermoor (Naxos)
This latest addition to the rather meagre discography of Lucie de Lammermoor will leave no one feeling shortchanged [GF]
Chopin: Chanter avec les doigts (Gramola)
An enjoyable exploration of instruments from Chopin’s time [MB]
