August 2025
Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) Essential Messiaen [DC]
Northern Light. Echoes From 17th-Century Scandinavia (Harmonia Mundi)
This will be one of my recordings of the year [JV]
Monteux conducts Ravel Vol. 2 (Pristine Audio)
These three works present a perfect summation of both Ravel’s and Monteux’s art, now sonically enhanced by Pristine [RMo]
Dancing in Vienna (Somm Recordings)
Enjoyable accounts of music from the dance floor and the concert hall [RMay]
Price: Concertos (Naxos)
A convenient gathering of all Price’s concertos [SB]
Pachulski: Piano Music Vol. 4 (Acte Préalable)
A fine feast of romantic piano in this fourth volume [RCh]
Chisholm: Music for Piano Volume 5 (Divine Art)
(Déjà Review) A fine production, essential for enthusiasts of British piano music [JF]
Brahms: Double Concerto, Violin Concerto (Deutsche Grammophon)
Déjà Review) The best sounding of the Brahms double, and a fine Violin Concerto to match [RB]
Marschner: Overtures and Stage Music, Vol 3 (Naxos)
A few appealing selections, amid a lot of filler [SV]
Sacred Treasures of Rome (Hyperion)
A celebration of Palestrina on his quincentenary supplemented with works by eight Roman contemporaries [RMo]
Schaeuble: Music for Clarinet and String Orchestra (Solo Musica)
A fine introduction to Schaeuble’s underrated music, well played and recorded [HC]
Field: Complete Nocturnes (Deutsche Grammophon)
Field’s exquisite nocturnes in wonderfully personal performances [RCh]
Brahms: Lieder (Sony Classical)
Gerhaher isn’t quite on his finest form here, but his expressivity still marks him out as a consummate lieder interpreter [ST]
Avison: Concerti Grossi after Scarlatti (Divine Art)
(Déjà Review) Understanding and affectionate respect [GPu]
Bach JS: Toccata and Fugue & Organ Works (MSR Classics)
(Déjà Review) A very satisfying collection [JS]
A Tribute to Mikhail Vysotsky: Works for guitar (Prima Classic)
A fine performance of obscure nineteenth-century theme and variations for the Russian seven-string guitar [SW]
Mozart: The Last Six Symphonies (Pristine Audio)
Grand, weighty performances suffused with a wise humanity [RMo]
I Have Lived & Loved – Songs by Vaughan Williams & friends (Albion)
Unusual repertoire or unusual versions of familiar songs but not wholly compelling [NB]
Julius Katchen (piano) Concert Tours 1951-1965
Katchen in fine fettle in his favourites as well as an excellent rarity [RCh]
Pictures from Finland (Chandos)
Thoroughly enjoyable if not especially memorable [DJB]
Abril: Madre Asturias (Naxos)
Sheerly enjoyable … marvellous! [IB]
JS Bach: Keyboard Works (Dynamic)
A superb piano collection and one-stop Bach archive [DC]
Shostakovich, Stravinsky & Glazunov: Viola and Piano (Brilliant Classics)
A well played recital of Russian music for the viola [DHa]
Duranowski and Lolli: Violin Duets (Prospero)
The technical skills of the performers are impressive, but they are not used to show off [JV]
